From: Svetlana info@cafeintercafe.com Sent: Fri, Jun 1, 2018 9:47 am Subject: Hello, Sorry, but I couldn't answer you sooner. I hope you got and read all my previous letters? In my last latter, I wrote to you about my hobbies. Here is my home address, - to Svetlana. Number apartment: - 1, Name street - Kavaleriyskaya 9, City - Novosibirsk, Region (state) - Novosibirskaya oblast, Zip code - 630105, Country - Russia. - in case you decide to send me a card or a hand-written letter. Unfortunately, I can't talk to you on-line, as I write letters to you from the internet cafe and the time is limited there. I wish I could chat with you but right now it is just impossible as I don't have a personal PC. But I shall continue to send you email letters and pics. As I already told you I rent my apartment and I don't have a phone there. Therefore I can not call to you. I have already given my phone number to you. I hope you get it. But my phone does not allow calls to other countries. For the reason of limits here in Russia. Yes, I am going to come to your country. Somewhere in a month. I am going to enter the University or college. I am doing all the paperwork for this now. That's why I asked you about the colleges or Universities close to your place. So I could study and meet with you there. I shall live in campus. Do you want it? You want that I lived near to you in your district? Do not forget to send me your photos. As soon as I finish this letter I will go and have a short walk. You know walking is one of the things I adore. It is so nice to have a long walk and then find some small cafe and get a cup of coffee there. I don't have a car and I don't really want to have it right now. And it is too expensive for me. I have no money to buy a car. I have never tried to drive a car and I have no license. Walking is much more pleasant. Unfortunately, most of the times I have to walk alone. All my friends are married and they try to spend more time with their families. I also like to go to the movie a lot. But do it rather seldom. Usually I go there with my friends, but they don't do this often. They try to spend more time with their husbands and children. As I don't have children and a husband, I try not to bother them often. Sometimes I feel rather lonely but I try not to think of this often. Any way, my city is too beautiful not to walk. My city is very beautiful. There are so many places of culture there, lots of monuments. It is very green. It is especially beautiful in spring and in summer time when everything is awaken after the winter. There are also many parks and we have one boulevard with fountains. And it is gorgeous. Also we have some really beautiful churches. I am Christian but I am not really religious. I have my own faith inside. And I go to the church but do it seldom. I am not fanatic about this. I like nature very much and it is always a please to go somewhere to the country-side and to spend a day there. I like picnics, camping a lot. It is great to spend a day on the fresh air, especially when you are with friends or family. I try to enjoy it every time we do it but sometimes I feel very sad as I miss not having my second half near. Well, I am not going to be sad, as I am sure everything will be fine. Please, tell me about your city ? What is it ? What's interesting there ? Svetlana. Hello,Sorry, but I couldn't answer you sooner.I hope you got and read all my previous letters?In my last latter, I wrote to you about my hobbies.Here is my home address,to Svetlana.Number apartment: - 1,Name street - Kavaleriyskaya 9,City - Novosibirsk,Region (state) - Novosibirskaya oblast,Zip code - 630105,Country - Russia.in case you decide to send me a card or a hand-written letter.Unfortunately, I can't talk to you on-line, as I write lettersto you from the internet cafe and the time is limited there.I wish I could chat with you but right now it is just impossibleas I don't have a personal PC. But I shall continue to sendyou email letters and pics. As I already told youI rent my apartment and I don't have a phone there.Therefore I can not call to you. I have already givenmy phone number to you. I hope you get it. But my phonedoes not allow calls to other countries. For the reasonof limits here in Russia.Yes, I am going to come to your country. Somewherein a month. I am going to enter the Universityor college. I am doing all the paperwork for this now. That'swhy I asked you about the colleges or Universities close toyour place. So I could study and meet with you there.I shall live in campus.Do you want it? You want that I lived near to you in your district?Do not forget to send me your photos.As soon as I finish this letter I will go and have a short walk.You know walking is one of the things I adore. It is so nice tohave a long walk and then find some small cafe and get a cupof coffee there. I don't have a car and I don't really want tohave it right now. And it is too expensive for me. I have no moneyto buy a car. I have never tried to drive a car and I have no license.Walking is much more pleasant. Unfortunately, most of the timesI have to walk alone. All my friends are married and they tryto spend more time with their families. I also like to go to themovie a lot. But do it rather seldom. Usually I go there with myfriends, but they don't do this often. They try to spend moretime with their husbands and children. As I don't have childrenand a husband, I try not to bother them often. Sometimes I feelrather lonely but I try not to think of this often.Any way, my city is too beautiful not to walk. My city is verybeautiful. There are so many places of culture there, lots ofmonuments. It is very green. It is especially beautiful inspring and in summer time when everything is awaken afterthe winter.There are also many parks and we have one boulevard with fountains.And it is gorgeous.Also we have some really beautiful churches. I am Christianbut I am not really religious. I have my own faith inside.And I go to the church but do it seldom. I am not fanaticabout this.I like nature very much and it is always a please to go somewhereto the country-side and to spend a day there. I like picnics,camping a lot. It is great to spend a day on the fresh air,especially when you are with friends or family. I try to enjoyit every time we do it but sometimes I feel very sad as I missnot having my second half near.Well, I am not going to be sad, as I am sure everything willbe fine. Please, tell me about your city ? What is it ?What's interesting there ?Svetlana. From: Svetlana info@cafeintercafe.com Sent: Sun, Jun 3, 2018 2:55 pm Subject: Hey darling, again me. . Hey darling, It is me again. I hope you got my last letter with my home address ? Do you like my pics ? I have friend Vika. She is close friend. She makes all my pics. She likes to photographe me. It's her hobby. I like to pose her. I decided to come to the Internet cafe again to write you. I already spoke you - I shall arrive to you in a month. I still choose college in which I shall go to study. I shall inform you the name when I shall know. I shall know all the information in a week. I am going from the post office. I decided to send my parents a letter. As I already told you I am not really in good relations with them. But any way, they are my parents and I love them. I also have a brother and he is younger than me and they give him all the love they have. They always loved him more than me and didn't pay much attention to me. My mum wanted to have a son very much and she couldn't get pregnant for a long time and she was very happy when she got to know she was going to have a son. Of course, it hurts to know that they love him a lot and are not very interested in my life. But if they are happy, I am glad for them. My last relations were 2 years ago. Unfortunately, it didn't work out as he was too busy spending good time with his friends all the time and he almost paid no attention to me. I was just like a beautiful thing for him and nothing more. Since that time I had no relations with other men. You know that I write from the internet cafe. I have to go now. People are coming and coming to the internet cafe and you know my time is limited (15min). Internet cafe is a place where everyone can come and use a computer there. We have to pay for such a service. It is not a library where you can use computers free of charge. When I lived in Australia I often went to the library and could use computer there as long as I needed. But here the time is limited as there are too many people who need to use them. Please, tell me about your family. What relations do you have with them ? I want to send you a card and my picture. Or perhaps, I will send you a hand written letter. Svetlana. P.S. I asked you in my previous letter to send me your address.I want to send you a card and my picture. Or perhaps, I willsend you a hand written letter.Svetlana. From: Svetlana info@cafeintercafe.com Sent: Fri, Jun 8, 2018 2:18 pm Subject: Darling, write me your thoughts and your dreams ! But I am not really in a good spirit today. I had a very bad conflict at work. Some people here in Russia think that if they have lots of money they can do and say everything they want. I had a conflict with one very rich woman at work. She didn't like the quality of the clothes. And was so rude with me. But I am just a shop-assistant. I am not the owner and I just sell things. Sometimes I feel that I am very tired from my life in Russia. I have nothing. I rent a very small apartment and can't afford anything better. I get a very small salary and prices increase here every year. But salaries are still the same. I was shocked when I get to the store to buy some food yesterday. They increased prices again for milk products. Milk costs about one Euro which is too much. For-example, my salary is 120 Euro a month. And a half of it I pay for the apartment. And what is left I spend for food. Therefore I wish to leave to live in other country. Therefore I save money for a trip. I am just tired from a hard life here. And I want to move to a foreign country. I want to get another education, to find a good job there. That is why I am trying to get a student visa. I shall study and work. I shall work to pay training and my life there. I haven't decided yet what University I am going to come to. I am still searching information. I would like it to be close to you. I am doing the paperwork now. And as they told me my visa would be ready in a month. But I don't know the exact dates. It is just the way things are done here. As soon as I know everything, I will let you know. I want to have a more stable life for me and my future family. And what is more important I want have a strong man near me and to have a comfortable life for us. So I am trying to save money any way I can for my trip and studies. Please, forgive me for writing this to you. But I need to talk to you. It is sometimes so hard to be just by myself. And sometimes I need a strong shoulder and a friend to cry and to get an advice. I know that you are a very understanding person. So, please, try to understand me. You are my friend and I trust you. Now I shall go to a bathroom. I like to lay in bathing with foam. It would be great to take a bath together. It is very relaxing. And I think it is rather romantic. You want it with me ? PLease,let me know what you think of this. Write me your thoughts and your dreams. Write a reply to me. Your letter will make me glad. I will wait with hope. Svetlana. How are you today ?But I am not really in a good spirit today.I had a very bad conflict at work. Some people here in Russiathink that if they have lots of money they can do and sayeverything they want. I had a conflict with one very rich womanat work. She didn't like the quality of the clothes. And wasso rude with me. But I am just a shop-assistant. I am not theowner and I just sell things.Sometimes I feel that I am very tired from my life in Russia.I have nothing. I rent a very small apartment and can't affordanything better. I get a very small salary and prices increasehere every year. But salaries are still the same. I was shockedwhen I get to the store to buy some food yesterday. Theyincreased prices again for milk products. Milk costs aboutone Euro which is too much. For-example, my salary is 120Euro a month. And a half of it I pay for the apartment.And what is left I spend for food.Therefore I wish to leave to live in other country.Therefore I save money for a trip.I am just tired from a hard life here. And I want to move toa foreign country. I want to get another education, to finda good job there. That is why I am trying to get a student visa.I shall study and work. I shall work to pay training and my life there.I haven't decided yet what University I am going to come to.I am still searching information. I would like it to be close toyou. I am doing the paperwork now. And as they told me myvisa would be ready in a month. But I don't knowthe exact dates. It is just the way things are done here. As soonas I know everything, I will let you know.I want to have a more stable life for me and my future family.And what is more important I want have a strong man near meand to have a comfortable life for us. So I am trying to savemoney any way I can for my trip and studies.Please, forgive me for writing this to you. But I need to talkto you. It is sometimes so hard to be just by myself. Andsometimes I need a strong shoulder and a friend to cry and toget an advice.I know that you are a very understanding person. So, please,try to understand me. You are my friend and I trust you.Now I shall go to a bathroom. I like to lay in bathing with foam.It would be great to take a bath together. It is veryrelaxing. And I think it is rather romantic.You want it with me ?PLease,let me know what you think of this.Write me your thoughts and your dreams.Write a reply to me. Your letter will make me glad.I will wait with hope.Svetlana. From: Lyubov info@cafeintercafe.com Sent: Sat, Jun 9, 2018 7:25 pm Subject: Darling, my address ! you got and read all my previous letters? In my last latter, I wrote to you about my hobbies. Here is my home address, - to Lyubov. Number apartment: - 1, Name street - Kavaleriyskaya 9, City - Novosibirsk, Region (state) - Novosibirskaya oblast, Zip code - 630105, Country - Russia. - in case you decide to send me a card or a hand-written letter. Unfortunately, I can't talk to you on-line, as I write letters to you from the internet cafe and the time is limited there. I wish I could chat with you but right now it is just impossible as I don't have a personal PC. But I shall continue to send you email letters and pics. As I already told you I rent my apartment and I don't have a phone there. Therefore I can not call to you. I have already given my phone number to you. I hope you get it. But my phone does not allow calls to other countries. For the reason of limits here in Russia. I am going to come to your country. Somewhere in a month. I am going to enter the University or college. I am doing all the paperwork for this now. That's why I asked you about the colleges or Universities close to your place. So I could study and meet with you there. I shall live in campus. Do you want it ?You want that I live near to you in your district ? Do not forget to send me your photos. As soon as I finish this letter I will go and have a short walk. You know walking is one of the things I adore. It is so nice to have a long walk and then find some small cafe and get a cup of coffee there. I don't have a car and I don't really want to have it right now. And it is too expensive for me. I have no money to buy a car. I have never tried to drive a car and I have no license. Walking is much more pleasant. Unfortunately, most of the times I have to walk alone. All my friends are married and they try to spend more time with their families. I also like to go to the movie a lot. But do it rather seldom. Usually I go there with my friends, but they don't do this often. They try to spend more time with their husbands and children. As I don't have children and a husband, I try not to bother them often. Sometimes I feel rather lonely but I try not to think of this often. Any way, my city is too beautiful not to walk. My city is very beautiful. There are so many places of culture there, lots of monuments. It is very green. It is especially beautiful in spring and in summer time when everything is awaken after the winter. There are also many parks and we have one boulevard with fountains. And it is gorgeous. Also we have some really beautiful churches. I am Christian but I am not really religious. I have my own faith inside. And I go to the church but do it seldom. I am not fanatic about this. I like nature very much and it is always a please to go somewhere to the country-side and to spend a day there. I like picnics, camping a lot. It is great to spend a day on the fresh air, especially when you are with friends or family. I try to enjoy it every time we do it but sometimes I feel very sad as I miss not having my second half near. Well, I am not going to be sad, as I am sure everything will be fine. Please, tell me about your city ?What is it ? What's interesting there ? Lyubov. Hello darling,you got and read all my previous letters?In my last latter, I wrote to you about my hobbies.Here is my home address,to Lyubov.Number apartment: - 1,Name street - Kavaleriyskaya 9,City - Novosibirsk,Region (state) - Novosibirskaya oblast,Zip code - 630105,Country - Russia.in case you decide to send me a card or a hand-written letter.Unfortunately, I can't talk to you on-line, as I write lettersto you from the internet cafe and the time is limited there.I wish I could chat with you but right now it is just impossibleas I don't have a personal PC. But I shall continue to sendyou email letters and pics. As I already told youI rent my apartment and I don't have a phone there.Therefore I can not call to you. I have already givenmy phone number to you. I hope you get it. But my phonedoes not allow calls to other countries. For the reasonof limits here in Russia.I am going to come to your country. Somewherein a month. I am going to enter the Universityor college. I am doing all the paperwork for this now. That'swhy I asked you about the colleges or Universities close toyour place. So I could study and meet with you there.I shall live in campus.Do you want it ?You want that I live near to you in your district ?Do not forget to send me your photos.As soon as I finish this letter I will go and have a short walk.You know walking is one of the things I adore. It is so nice tohave a long walk and then find some small cafe and get a cupof coffee there. I don't have a car and I don't really want tohave it right now. And it is too expensive for me. I have no moneyto buy a car. I have never tried to drive a car and I have no license.Walking is much more pleasant. Unfortunately, most of the timesI have to walk alone. All my friends are married and they tryto spend more time with their families. I also like to go to themovie a lot. But do it rather seldom. Usually I go there with myfriends, but they don't do this often. They try to spend moretime with their husbands and children. As I don't have childrenand a husband, I try not to bother them often. Sometimes I feelrather lonely but I try not to think of this often.Any way, my city is too beautiful not to walk. My city is verybeautiful. There are so many places of culture there, lots ofmonuments. It is very green. It is especially beautiful inspring and in summer time when everything is awaken afterthe winter.There are also many parks and we have one boulevard with fountains.And it is gorgeous.Also we have some really beautiful churches. I am Christianbut I am not really religious. I have my own faith inside.And I go to the church but do it seldom. I am not fanaticabout this.I like nature very much and it is always a please to go somewhereto the country-side and to spend a day there. I like picnics,camping a lot. It is great to spend a day on the fresh air,especially when you are with friends or family. I try to enjoyit every time we do it but sometimes I feel very sad as I missnot having my second half near.Well, I am not going to be sad, as I am sure everything willbe fine. Please, tell me about your city ?What is it ?What's interesting there ?Lyubov. From: Svetlana info@cafeintercafe.com Sent: Sat, Jun 9, 2018 8:17 pm Subject: Do you like my joke foto ? Do you like my joke foto ? In the first lines of this message I want to apologise for complaining in my previous letter. I don't really want to complain and I don't want to talk about it. This was the first and the last time I did it. I was just in a very bad spiring while writing my last letter to you. Sometimes we have bad periods in life and we need a strong shoulder of a friend. I hope that you let me think you are my friend. And I trust you that is why I decided to share my thoughts with you. If you ever need to talk and if you ever need a friend, you can always talk to me. . I have been thinking a lot about our meeting and I want to meet with you a lot. I am doing all the paperwork now to get a student visa. And I do hope to get it. So if I get it I will be in your country. and I think it is really a very good opportunity for us to meet. Please, tell me do you really want to see me ? Do you want me to visit you ? Do you think that we could like each other and be together in the future? Please, be honest with me and tell me the truth. I know that you are being tired with this question. But you should understand my concerns. This is a very major decision to move to the other country. Perhaps, you wonder why I have such a big desire to move from here. The reason is very simple. I have nobody and nothing to stay here. I will miss my friends, but they already have their families and they live with their own lives. I have parents but you know we are not in good relations with them. And I think they will not miss me. I have no good job, have no stability. I have no family. It is very hard to live in Russia and I don't think it will ever be better. And I am really tired from this life. That's why I have such a strong desire to get a student visa, to come there, to get a new education, to settle down and already to have a family. I hope that you understand me and that you support me in my decision. Please, don't be offended if I don't always answer your questions. I do it because my time in the internet cafe is limited. I don't always answer your questions because I am in a rush when I answer your letters. I come here 3 times a week and have only 15 minutes to write to you. I wait your answer on my questions. . Svetlana. Darling,Do you like my joke foto ?In the first lines of this message I want to apologise forcomplaining in my previous letter.I don't really want to complain and I don't want to talk about it.This was the first and the last time I did it.I was just in a very bad spiring while writing my last letterto you.Sometimes we have bad periods in life and we need a strong shoulderof a friend. I hope that you let me think you are my friend. AndI trust you that is why I decided to share my thoughts with you.If you ever need to talk and if you ever need a friend, you canalways talk to me. .I have been thinking a lot about our meeting and I want tomeet with you a lot.I am doing all the paperwork now to get a student visa. AndI do hope to get it. So if I get it I will be in your country.and I think it is really a very good opportunity forus to meet.Please, tell me do you really want to see me ? Do you want meto visit you ? Do you think that we could like each other and betogether in the future? Please, be honest with me and tell methe truth.I know that you are being tired with this question. But youshould understand my concerns. This is a very major decision tomove to the other country.Perhaps, you wonder why I have such a big desire to move fromhere. The reason is very simple. I have nobody and nothing tostay here. I will miss my friends, but they already have theirfamilies and they live with their own lives. I have parents butyou know we are not in good relations with them. And I thinkthey will not miss me.I have no good job, have no stability. I have no family. It isvery hard to live in Russia and I don't think it will ever bebetter. And I am really tired from this life. That's why I havesuch a strong desire to get a student visa, to come there, toget a new education, to settle down and already to have a family.I hope that you understand me and that you support me in my decision.Please, don't be offended if I don't always answer your questions.I do it because my time in the internet cafe is limited. I don'talways answer your questions because I am in a rush when Ianswer your letters. I come here 3 times a week and haveonly 15 minutes to write to you.I wait your answer on my questions. .Svetlana. From: Svetlana info@cafeintercafe.com Sent: Mon, Jun 11, 2018 3:17 pm Subject: Darling, would you like to meet me ? Today I am writting to you why I am alone. I am so tired that males sees on me as on beautiful pic only but not on woman. I think you like my spirit mainly not my appearance. That's why I feel so easy myself with you. I have never felt it with another males. I feel that you like my spirit firstly and then appearance. I want you to understand that I do really like you very much. And I think that we have much in common and may be if meet we will understand that we are a good match. I am trying to get more information about the student visa and I am doing a paperwork that is neccesary for it. There are so many things that I should do for this but I think it is worth it. I am going to come to your country. I am sure I will get my visa. And I want to know will you meet me there ? You are my friend and you are a very close person to me already. And I like you very much. I feel that there is something between us. I hope you too have the same feelings. Of course, I can't say that I know you very well. But I feel that you are close to me. I wish to know you better. I wonder how it can be to spend time with you, to be with you, to cook together, to have dinner together, to watch movies, to walk holding hands. Letters are good, they help to understand people better. But only meeting can show the real feelings. When you can touch, look into each other's eyes, it says a lot. Please, tell me what you think of this. Would you like to meet me ? Any way you can be my friend. I will be in a foreign country and I will need a person I can trust. And I trust you already and I hope you do the same. Please, think on this and let me know if you too want to meet with me. I want it very much. I want to see you in real life, to talk to you, to know you real but not only through the letters. I think, I can trust you ? I already wrote to you, that all my pics is done by my friend Vika. She says I have a beautiful body. She is a very talanted photographer and I like to be her model. She is my friend and is a very good girl. She usually takes pics of me. We went to work together. She works close to my place. She is a shop-assistant too. Also today she has made 2 pics me and my passport. I shall attach to you it in the following letter. I will go now to get more information about visa. I am going to get very important information. I hope to hear good news. I shall have information approximately in half an hour. Svetlana. Darling,Today I am writting to you why I am alone. I am so tired thatmales sees on me as on beautiful pic only but not on woman.I think you like my spirit mainly not my appearance.That's why I feel so easy myself with you. I have never feltit with another males. I feel that you like my spirit firstlyand then appearance.I want you to understand that I do really like you very much.And I think that we have much in common and may be if meet wewill understand that we are a good match.I am trying to get more information about the student visaand I am doing a paperwork that is neccesary for it. There areso many things that I should do for this but I think it is worth it.I am going to come to your country. I am sure I will get my visa.And I want to know will you meet me there ? You are my friendand you are a very close person to me already. And I like youvery much. I feel that there is something between us.I hope you too have the same feelings. Of course, I can't saythat I know you very well. But I feel that you are close to me.I wish to know you better. I wonder how it can be to spendtime with you, to be with you, to cook together, to have dinnertogether, to watch movies, to walk holding hands.Letters are good, they help to understand people better. Butonly meeting can show the real feelings. When you can touch, lookinto each other's eyes, it says a lot.Please, tell me what you think of this. Would you like to meet me ?Any way you can be my friend. I will be in a foreign country andI will need a person I can trust. And I trust you already andI hope you do the same.Please, think on this and let me know if you too want to meetwith me. I want it very much. I want to see you in real life,to talk to you, to know you real but not only through the letters.I think, I can trust you ?I already wrote to you, that all my pics is done by my friend Vika.She says I have a beautiful body.She is a very talanted photographer and I like to be her model.She is my friend and is a very good girl. She usually takes picsof me. We went to work together.She works close to my place. She is a shop-assistant too.Also today she has made 2 pics me and my passport.I shall attach to you it in the following letter.I will go now to get more information about visa.I am going to get very important information.I hope to hear good news.I shall have information approximately in half an hour.Svetlana. From: Lyubov info@cafeintercafe.com Sent: Mon, Jun 11, 2018 11:46 pm Subject: Darling, do you like my pics ? Do you like my pics ? I have afriend Vika. She is close friend. She makes all my pics. She likes to photographe me. It's her hobby. I like to pose her. I decided to come to the Internet cafe again to write you. I already spoke you - I shall arrive to you in a month. I still choose college in which I shall go to study. I shall inform you the name when I shall know. I shall know all the information in a week. I am going from the post office. I decided to send my parents a letter. As I already told you I am not really in good relations with them. But any way, they are my parents and I love them. I also have a brother and he is younger than me and they give him all the love they have. They always loved him more than me and didn't pay much attention to me. My mum wanted to have a son very much and she couldn't get pregnant for a long time and she was very happy when she got to know she was going to have a son. Of course, it hurts to know that they love him a lot and are not very interested in my life. But if they are happy, I am glad for them. My last relations were 2 years ago. Unfortunately, it didn't work out as he was too busy spending good time with his friends all the time and he almost paid no attention to me. I was just like a beautiful thing for him and nothing more. Since that time I had no relations with other men. You know that I write from the internet cafe. I have to go now. People are coming and coming to the internet cafe and you know my time is limited (15min). Internet cafe is a place where everyone can come and use a computer there. We have to pay for such a service. It is not a library where you can use computers free of charge. When I lived in Australia I often went to the library and could use computer there as long as I needed. But here the time is limited as there are too many people who need to use them. Please, tell me about your family. What relations do you have with them ? P.S. I asked you in my previous letter to send me your address. I want to send you a card and my picture. Or perhaps, I will send you a hand written letter. Lyubov. Hello darling, itis me again.Do you like my pics ?I have afriend Vika. She is close friend. She makes all my pics.She likes to photographe me. It's her hobby. I like to pose her.I decided to come to the Internet cafe again to write you.I already spoke you - I shall arrive to you in a month.I still choose college in which I shall go to study.I shall inform you the name when I shall know.I shall know all the information in a week.I am going from the post office. I decided to send my parentsa letter. As I already told you I am not really in good relationswith them. But any way, they are my parents and I love them.I also have a brother and he is younger than me and they give himall the love they have. They always loved him more than me and didn'tpay much attention to me. My mum wanted to have a son very much andshe couldn't get pregnant for a long time and she was very happywhen she got to know she was going to have a son. Of course,it hurts to know that they love him a lot and are not veryinterested in my life. But if they are happy, I am glad for them.My last relations were 2 years ago. Unfortunately, it didn'twork out as he was too busy spending good time with his friendsall the time and he almost paid no attention to me. I was justlike a beautiful thing for him and nothing more. Since that timeI had no relations with other men.You know that I write from the internet cafe.I have to go now. People are coming and coming to the internetcafe and you know my time is limited (15min). Internet cafe is aplace where everyone can come and use a computer there. We have topay for such a service. It is not a library where you can usecomputers free of charge. When I lived in Australia I oftenwent to the library and could use computer there as long asI needed. But here the time is limited as there are too manypeople who need to use them. Please, tell me about your family.What relations do you have with them ?P.S. I asked you in my previous letter to send me your address.I want to send you a card and my picture. Or perhaps, I willsend you a hand written letter.Lyubov. From: Lyubov info@cafeintercafe.com Sent: Wed, Jun 13, 2018 5:45 pm Subject: Darling, write me your thoughts and your dreams. . How are you today ? But I am not really in a good spirit today. I had a very bad conflict at work. Some people here in Russia think that if they have lots of money they can do and say everything they want. I had a conflict with one very rich woman at work. She didn't like the quality of the clothes. And was so rude with me. But I am just a shop-assistant. I am not the owner and I just sell things. Sometimes I feel that I am very tired from my life in Russia. I have nothing. I rent a very small apartment and can't afford anything better. I get a very small salary and prices increase here every year. But salaries are still the same. I was shocked when I get to the store to buy some food yesterday. They increased prices again for milk products. Milk costs about one Euro which is too much. For example,my salary is 10,000 Russian rubles a month. That's about 120 euros, so you understand how small it is. And a half of it I pay for the apartment. And what is left I spend for food. Therefore I wish to leave to live in other country. Therefore I save money for a trip. I am just tired from a hard life here. And I want to move to a foreign country. I want to get another education, to find a good job there. That is why I am trying to get a student visa. I shall study and work. I shall work to pay training and my life there. I haven't decided yet what University I am going to come to. I am still searching information. I would like it to be close to you. I am doing the paperwork now. And as they told me my visa would be ready in a month. But I don't know the exact dates. It is just the way things are done here. As soon as I know everything, I will let you know. I want to have a more stable life for me and my future family. And what is more important I want have a strong man near me and to have a comfortable life for us. So I am trying to save money any way I can for my trip and studies. Please, forgive me for writing this to you. But I need to talk to you. It is sometimes so hard to be just by myself. And sometimes I need a strong shoulder and a friend to cry and to get an advice. I know that you are a very understanding person. So, please, try to understand me. You are my friend and I trust you. Now I shall go to a bathroom. I like to lay in bathing with foam. It would be great to take a bath together. It is very relaxing. And I think it is rather romantic. You want it with me ? PLease,let me know what you think of this. Write me your thoughts and your dreams. Write a replay to me. Your letter will make me glad. I will wait with hope. Lyubov. Hello darling,How are you today ?But I am not really in a good spirit today.I had a very bad conflict at work. Some people here in Russiathink that if they have lots of money they can do and sayeverything they want. I had a conflict with one very rich womanat work. She didn't like the quality of the clothes. And wasso rude with me. But I am just a shop-assistant. I am not theowner and I just sell things.Sometimes I feel that I am very tired from my life in Russia.I have nothing. I rent a very small apartment and can't affordanything better. I get a very small salary and prices increasehere every year. But salaries are still the same. I was shockedwhen I get to the store to buy some food yesterday. Theyincreased prices again for milk products. Milk costs aboutone Euro which is too much. For example,my salary is10,000 Russian rubles a month.That's about 120 euros, so you understand how small it is.And a half of it I pay for the apartment.And what is left I spend for food.Therefore I wish to leave to live in other country.Therefore I save money for a trip.I am just tired from a hard life here. And I want to move toa foreign country. I want to get another education, to finda good job there. That is why I am trying to get a student visa.I shall study and work. I shall work to pay training and my life there.I haven't decided yet what University I am going to come to.I am still searching information. I would like it to be close toyou. I am doing the paperwork now. And as they told me myvisa would be ready in a month. But I don't knowthe exact dates. It is just the way things are done here. As soonas I know everything, I will let you know.I want to have a more stable life for me and my future family.And what is more important I want have a strong man near meand to have a comfortable life for us. So I am trying to savemoney any way I can for my trip and studies.Please, forgive me for writing this to you. But I need to talkto you. It is sometimes so hard to be just by myself. Andsometimes I need a strong shoulder and a friend to cry and toget an advice.I know that you are a very understanding person. So, please,try to understand me. You are my friend and I trust you.Now I shall go to a bathroom. I like to lay in bathing with foam.It would be great to take a bath together. It is veryrelaxing. And I think it is rather romantic.You want it with me ?PLease,let me know what you think of this.Write me your thoughts and your dreams.Write a replay to me. Your letter will make me glad.I will wait with hope.Lyubov. From: Svetlana info@cafeintercafe.com Sent: Thu, Jun 14, 2018 4:11 pm Subject: Darling, sorry, I feel shame. . I do not know what to start my letter. . I feel shame and offended. I just want to tell you that I am completely serious. I have serious intentions to come and I am not going to lie to you. I am not a silly little girl that plays games to get money. Can't you see it from my letters ? I asked you to send me 300 euros. And I feel shame for this. But I had no other choice then to ask you. The problem is that I have only 7-10 days to pay for my visa. I didn't realize I would Need the money so urgently. They took my papers and told me that I wouldn't pay in 7-10 days, they would just refuse me. And then I will not have another chance to get visa. It was a shock for me. I thought that I could just leave the papers and then pay for it before the trip. I think I would be able to find the money by that time. But it was beyond my forces. I was shocked. - I went to all my friends and acquaintances. But all refused to me. They don't give such a big sum of money. - I don't ask my parents as they just don't give me money. When the last time I asked them to help me, they refused me. They told me they had to support my brother and themselves. It hurt me. That is why I do not ask them about anything any more and I almost don't talk to them. - I asked my friend Vika to help me, but she had not such money. She is married and has a child. And recently they have bought an apartment and took it in credit. - I also went to the bank to check there. But they even didn't listen to me. My salary is only 120 euros. And they just can't give me 300. - I had tears. That is why I decided to ask you. And I feel shame for this. I understand that it is very difficult for you to trust the girl you have never seen before. Lots of Russian women lied to foreigners. But I am not the same. I am real. And I am not going to lie to you! I promise! I ask you this money not as A present to me, I am going to give them back to you. As soon as I come there and start working I will give you money back. I told you I was going to study and to work. I will be able to pay for my studies and for my accommodation. I already told you I was going to get a student visa. I will be able to come to your country and to choose any university or college. I can stay there as soon as I finish it. I am going to choose the one that is close to you to be able to see you often. I ask you one more time, please, understand me and send me 300. Svetlana. Darling,I do not know what to start my letter. .I feel shame and offended.I just want to tell you that I am completely serious.I have serious intentions to come and I am not going to lie toyou. I am not a silly little girl that plays games to get money.Can't you see it from my letters ?I asked you to send me 300 euros. And I feel shame for this.But I had no other choice then to ask you. The problem is thatI have only 7-10 days to pay for my visa. I didn't realize I wouldNeed the money so urgently. They took my papers and told methat I wouldn't pay in 7-10 days, they would just refuse me.And then I will not have another chance to get visa.It was a shock for me. I thought that I could just leave thepapers and then pay for it before the trip. I think I would beable to find the money by that time. But it was beyond my forces.I was shocked.I went to all my friends and acquaintances. But all refused to me.They don't give such a big sum of money.I don't ask my parents as they just don't give me money.When the last time I asked them to help me, they refused me.They told me they had to support my brother and themselves.It hurt me. That is why I do not ask them about anything anymore and I almost don't talk to them.I asked my friend Vika to help me, but she had not such money.She is married and has a child. And recently they have boughtan apartment and took it in credit.I also went to the bank to check there. But they even didn't listento me. My salary is only 120 euros. And they just can't give me 300.I had tears. That is why I decided to ask you. And I feel shame forthis. I understand that it is very difficult for you to trust the girl youhave never seen before. Lots of Russian women lied to foreigners.But I am not the same. I am real. And I am not going to lie to you!I promise! I ask you this money not as A present to me, I am goingto give them back to you. As soon as I come there and start workingI will give you money back. I told you I was going to study and towork. I will be able to pay for my studies and for my accommodation.I already told you I was going to get a student visa.I will be able to come to your country and to choose any universityor college. I can stay there as soon as I finish it. I am going to choosethe one that is close to you to be able to see you often.I ask you one more time, please, understand me and send me 300.Svetlana. From: Svetlana info@cafeintercafe.com Sent: Thu, Jun 14, 2018 5:35 pm Subject: Darling, another letter for you. . Darling, this is another letter today for you. I wish to tell, that you did not worry for tickets. I need about 600 USD to buy tickets. But I don't need it now. I will need to buy the ticket when I shall receive the visa. I will try to find money by this time. I understand what you think now. If I can't find 300 USD then how could I find 600 USD. It is easy. I am going to sell my fur coat. It is a very expensive fur and I can sell it for 600-800 USD. I have already made an advertisement of sale. But I may not be able to sell it for some days. If I do not do it now, then they could just refuse me in it. Don't worry ! I will have money for the ticket. I promise you! I already told you that you have to send me money to my city. You should use Western Union or Money Gram for this. And use my address that I have sent to you. You should send money to Novosibirsk for my name. - My full name - Svetlana Ryabkova. Svetlana - this is my name. Ryabkova- is my last name. I already wrote to you, my address - Number apartment: - 1, Name street - Kavaleriyskaya 9, City - Novosibirsk, Region (state) - Novosibirskaya oblast, Zip code - 630105, Country - Russia. - I don't know what else to say for you to send me money as soon as possible as my time is limited. Next time they will just refuse me in visa. I wrote you all the truth in this letter. I am sincere and open with you. I hope that you will understand me and decide to meet with me. Please, believe me and send me 300 USD. And please, remember that I have only 7-10 days to pay for it. Svetlana. You don't need anything else to send the money.I don't know what else to say for you to send me money assoon as possible as my time is limited.Next time they will just refuse me in visa. I wrote you allthe truth in this letter. I am sincere and open with you.I hope that you will understand me and decide to meet withme. Please, believe me and send me 300 USD. And please, rememberthat I have only 7-10 days to pay for it.Svetlana. From: Lyubov info@cafeintercafe.com Sent: Fri, Jun 15, 2018 5:33 pm Subject: Darling, my apologise. . Hi , Do you like my joke foto? In the first lines of this message I want to apologise for complainingin my previous letter. I don't really want to complain and I don't want to talk about it. Thiswas the first and the last time I did it. I was just in a very bad spiring while writing my last letter toyou. Sometimes we have bad periods in life and we need a strong shoulder of a friend. I hope that you let me think you are my friend. And I trust you that is why I decided to share my thoughts with you. If you ever need to talk and if you ever need a friend, you can alwaystalk to me. . I have been thinking a lot about our meeting and I want to meetwith you a lot. I am doing all the paperwork now to get a student visa. And I do hope to get it. So if I get it I will be in your country. and I think it is really a very good opportunity for usto meet. Please, tell me do you really want to see me? Do you want me to visit you? Do you think that we could like each other and be together in the future? Please, be honest with me and tell me thetruth. I know that you are being tired with this question. But you should understand my concerns. This is a very major decision to moveto the other country. Perhaps, you wonder why I have such a big desire to move from here. The reason is very simple. I have nobody and nothing to stay here. I will miss my friends, but they already have their families and they live with their own lives. I have parents but you know we are not in good relations with them. And I think theywill not miss me. I have no good job, have no stability. I have no family. It is very hard to live in Russia and I don't think it will ever be better. And I am really tired from this life. That's why I have such a strong desire to get a student visa, to come there, to get a new education, to settle down and already to have a family. I hope that you understand me and that you support me in my decision. Please, don't be offended if I don't always answer your questions. I do it because my time in the internet cafe is limited. I don't always answer your questions because I am in a rush when I wait your answer on my questions. . Lyubov. I answeryour letters. I come here 3 times a week and have only15 minutes to write to you.I wait your answer on my questions. .Lyubov. If you received a similar letter, please ignore it. Do not answer it. If you do, you will end up on more of the mailing lists used by the criminals behind this fraud. Read more.... Drew Angerer/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- After special counsel Robert Muellers prosecutors and Paul Manafort meet in court on Friday, there is a chance the former Trump campaign chairman could leave in handcuffs. Manaforts freedom has become more precarious in the run-up to his scheduled appearance at the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. Judge Amy Berman Jackson will consider whether to revise or revoke Manaforts bail conditions a decision that could land him behind bars pending trial. The hearing is the latest in a series of moves by the prosecutors that applies immense pressure on the 69-year-old lobbyist and political operative, who has pleaded not guilty to a heavy raft of tax and financial crimes. The goal, his friends and legal experts tell ABC News, is to persuade him to cut a deal for lenience in exchange for testimony about others, possibly including President Donald Trump,. "Every gram of weight that they're putting on Paul Manafort is designed to get him to give information to hurt the president," Michael Caputo, a longtime friend of Manaforts told ABC News. The stepped up pressure has included three superseding indictments in two federal courts, amounting to more than 40 charges related to money laundering, tax and bank fraud, conspiracy, and other financial crimes that largely predate his time on the Trump campaign. Prosecutors have repeatedly sought to challenge Manaforts proposals to make bail, and confined him to his home, where he is monitored by an ankle bracelet. Prosecutors have brought charges against two of Manaforts former colleagues. One, former business partner Rick Gates, has already pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with the federal probe of possible campaign collusion with the Russians. Last week, government prosecutors argued in a new court filing that Manafort abused that home confinement by contacting and, they allege, seeking to tamper with potential witnesses. Two former federal prosecutors who are now white collar criminal defense attorneys, Shanlon Wu and Peter Zeidenberg, agreed that the tough tactics employed by Mueller were either designed to pressure Manafort into providing incriminating evidence against other potential targets, including the president, or intended to produce a swift guilty plea to simply save time and resources on a trial. Manafort must know a lot of stuff about a lot of Russians doing a lot of bad stuff, Zeidenberg, the former federal prosecutor, told ABC News. Im sure he has a lot of information they would like to get. Manafort was one of the highest-ranking Trump campaign aides charged as part of Muellers investigation into Russian meddling during the 2016 presidential campaign. The investigation that has already issued nine indictments covering 20 individuals and three businesses, and securing five guilty pleas. Having served as Trumps campaign chairman for nearly six months in 2016, Manafort was involved in some capacity with a number of events the special counsel is said to be investigating, including the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting between members of the Trump campaign and several Russians, including a Kremlin-connected lawyer. For Manafort, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, the stakes on Friday couldnt be higher. In March, the federal judge overseeing Manaforts case in Virginia, T.S. Ellis III, warned that if the 69-year-old is found guilty of any or all charges stacked against him, he faces the very real possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison. Earlier this year, Manaforts legal team mounted a promising effort to have his $10 million bail deal revised in an Manafort off home confinement, but the effort was ultimately derailed over disputes about the actual value of his properties some of which are also under investigation by the special counsel. But in the past week, the special counsel has attempted to dent Manaforts chances of making bail at all. Lawyers for Manafort have called the new tampering allegations dubious. But Zeidenberg said they understand the gravity of the charge. Its a big deal, he said, noting the challenges of trying to prepare for trial when Manaforts attorneys dont have ready access to him. To be a defense attorney in one of these cases, you need your client on the computer reviewing the documents, even if its remote from his couch, Zeldenberg explained. Youre sending emails back and forth all day long. Its time sensitive. Try to do that when a guy is locked up. Its not possible. You go into the jail maybe twice a week. Its just almost impossible. Wu, who has served as a federal prosecutor and white collar defense attorney, said it is exceedingly rare to have individuals charged with white collar crimes imprisoned ahead of a trial and for a process that could take months, or even a year. Theyre not usually dangerous, he said. If his bail were to be revoked, Manafort would likely be held in a Washington or Alexandria, Va., city detention facility, according to numerous law enforcement and legal sources. If Judge Jackson decides to maintain his "24-hour-a-day lockdown, he would likely remain on electronic monitors in his Alexandria home where one Manafort friend told ABC News he has been comfortable. "He lives in a luxury condo. And he's got a good wife and they like spending time together. It's a lot of pressure on him but he's hanging in there," the friend said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized by Manafort to discuss it. "He's doing okay." Caputo said in an interview that, no matter where Manafort is headed after Fridays hearing, he does not think the former Trump campaign chief will cut a deal. "Not a chance," he said. He is cool under pressure, Caputo told ABC News. I think this is the kind of pressure you never ever want to face, but Paul is handling it characteristically." Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. | BY Ricki Green | To mark its 10th anniversary, iKOU, an iconic Australian Organic Skincare and Spa Lifestyle brand, has commissioned a brand film and content based on its philosophy of a reconnection through nature. With products created from local and natural ingredients, the sensory experience of being in nature is at the heart of the project. The brand film was shot by Infinity Squared director Phillip Sage. Says Naomi Whitfeld, founder, iKOU: Were incredibly happy with the tone and emotional feel weve achieved in this film. Phillip has done a beautiful job blending subtle elements from our unique Australian landscape with the experiences of the characters we see onscreen. For us this resonates and reflects everything we want to share with our customers. In conjunction with its 10 year anniversary iKOU is currently launching into Europe. iKOU Founders: Naomi & Paul Whitfield Production: Infinity Squared Director: Phillip Sage Producer: Honae MacNeill & Morgan Benson-Taylor DOP: Brett Brown Drone: Cam Batten Edit: Brad Hurt Post: White Chocolate | BY Ricki Green | The NGEN community has continued their great tradition of the fiercely competitive Charity Cup Dodgeball tournament and raised over $27,000 for Whitelion, an UnLtd charity partner. Now in its fifth year, the annual tournament is a chance for the NGENers to get competitive, throw some fast balls at their rivals and raise some much-needed funds for UnLtd charity partners. The Dodgeball winners were UM & oOh! Media (Brisbane), Starcom (Sydney) and Amobee (Melbourne) and the coveted Charity Cup for the most funds raised was awarded to MCN (Brisbane), Starcom (Sydney) and CHE Proximity (Melbourne). Special mention goes to Wavemaker who missed out on the Charity Cup by just one dollar in Sydney. In the lead up to the event, the NGEN community got creative with various fundraising activities ranging from a Wear White for Whitelion day to cake sales, a car wash and throwing pies at each others faces. Says Kathleen Beddoes, head of NGEN: Each year the NGENers continue to surprise us with their passion and determination to get involved and be social change makers and we are so proud of all their efforts. A special thank you to oOh! Media for once again sponsoring the event nationally, we couldnt have done it without their support. The funds raised go to support the important work Whitelion does with at risk young people. Says Adam Gibson, business development and partnership manager from Whitelion: We are so grateful for the support from MFA and the NGEN community. The funds raised will have a huge impact on the lives of young people at risk. The donation will allow nearly 50 young people to obtain a Certificate III in hospitality at our If It Wasnt For This Coffee barista training program, giving them valuable training and qualifications that give them a chance of finding employment and turning their lives around. Says Nina Nyman, head of marketing and partnerships at UnLtd: The NGEN community is full of passionate young people who want to make a difference and use their skills for good and we are delighted to be working with MFA and the NGEN community on not just the Dodgeball tournament but on many other initiatives. Congratulations to all the teams for the great fundraising effort! NGEN Dodgeball Charity Cup 2018 Results Brisbane: $6,596 Charity Cup Winners MCN ($1,168) Dodge Winners UM oOh! Media & UM joined forces Sydney: $15,534 Charity Cup Winners Starcom ($1,750) Wavemaker losing to them by one dollar! Dodge Winners Starcom Melbourne: $5,610 Charity Cup Winners CHE Proximity ($820) Dodge Winners Amobee | BY Ricki Green | Cannes Lions has today announced that WARC, the global authority on advertising and media effectiveness, will become a part of its digital offering following its acquisition by Ascential. Cannes Lions customers will now be able to unlock even richer analysis and benchmarking for their marketing campaigns, from conception to analysis. WARC brings expert guidance and insight on marketing effectiveness to Cannes Lions. In time WARC will come together with Cannes Lions The Work to form a digital product that spans creative excellence and marketing effectiveness. Launched in May this year by Cannes Lions, The Work is a unique digital platform that enables businesses to access over 200,000 pieces of Cannes Lions-winning creative work, allowing customers to intelligently access the worlds greatest examples of creativity, as well as the data and insights surrounding it. WARC, a long-time partner of Cannes Lions, is a global digital subscription service offering advertising best practice, evidence and insights from the worlds leading brands. The core focus of the business is for brands, agencies and media platforms to understand, measure and maximise advertising effectiveness across all channels. They do this primarily via: 14,000+ Advertising, marketing and PR effectiveness case studies 22,000+ thought leadership, research papers and best practice reports Event reports highlighting key marketing trends from 60+ events worldwide WARC Plus which provides a bespoke Q&A service, primarily for brands WARC Data providing global advertising data, trend reports and benchmarks Gunn Reports rankings of creativity, effectiveness and media excellence in advertising Cannes Lions plans to leverage more insights with other Ascential proprietary data in areas such as e-commerce to offer brands an even richer, holistic view of performance. This will provide measurement and effectiveness insights that are critical to help Cannes Lions customers whether brand, agency or media owner thrive in the next phase of the digital economy. Says Philip Thomas, CEO of Ascential Events and chairman-elect, Cannes Lions: Cannes Lions is the benchmark of global creative excellence, which puts us in a powerful position to offer insights and tools that will help our customers win in the digital economy. With WARC sitting alongside Cannes Lions The Work, we can now provide measurement and effectiveness insights alongside the best creative thinking in the world. Thursday, June 14, 2018 at 4:57PM Wine bottle labels are sometimes the reason consumers will pick a new bottle to try. Now with Augmented Reality (AR) wine labels can be so much more thanks to the Living Wine Labels app which uses cameras in iOS and Android devices to bring the labels to life. This is really suited to Australian Winemaker 19 Crimes, who derives branding inspiration from outlaws banished to Australian prison. The result, as seen above, is both delightful and a little eerie, but it also reflects that AR can have a commercial purpose outside of games and app experiences. As for the wine itself? I thoroughly enjoyed both the Shiraz and the Cabernet Sauvignon bottles. The Lee Building Industry Association hosted its yearly fishing event on Captiva Island for the first time. Held at the South Seas Island Resort, the 11th Annual Bricks & Sticks Fishing Tournament took place on June 2, with 72 registered boats and a total of 265 anglers participating. The teams targeted two each of snook, redfish and ladyfish, with cash prizes awarded to the top three to reel in the most total inches. In addition, the redfish were weighed at the marina as part of a Calcutta challenge. Its a fun way of getting everybody together, Special Events Director Emily Bumsted said. Eric Carstensen, Mike Carstensen, Miles Meredith and Kristin Carstensen of Team Better Buildings Inc. took home the first place prize of $5,000. Second place and $3,000 went to Shane Dooley, Sherry Dooley and Amanda Jones with Team Dooley Charters. Third place, which came with a $2,000 cash prize, was awarded to Jayson Rider, Nelson Diaz and Richard Fruend of Team HONC Industries. For 10 years, the tournament was held at the Tarpon Point Marina in Cape Coral. We grew out of that space, she said. It was just a little too tight for us. Bumsted noted that South Seas also had amenities desired by sponsors and participants. We really wanted to make it family-oriented, so people could bring their families out for the weekend, she said, adding that it also served to kick off the summer for all involved. Theres not a whole lot of options for big tournaments like ours, Bumsted said. She called the new venue a success for the event. Its all been positive feedback. They were all really happy with the way things turned out, Bumsted said. We knew that South Seas was probably going to take the tournament to a new level. The event kicked off on May 31 with a captains dinner at The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon in Fort Myers. The proceeds raised will benefit the Lee BIA in serving the Lee County building industry. We do a lot of government advocacy and education in the community, she said. After the tourney, an awards party was held on the resorts grounds. The Lee BIA raised $20,000 through a live auction for Lee BIA Builders Care, which serves as its charitable arm. Builders Care provides emergency construction services to elderly and disabled community members in need. Bumsted explained that those interested apply for assistance. It could be for a new roof, a new A/C system, she said. It could be for a wheelchair ramp. It could be a bathroom remodel to make it more accessible. Some of the backers for this years event included platinum sponsors Five County Insurance and Builders Insurance Group, beverage sponsor Better Buildings Inc., cabana sponsor Wayne Wiles Floor Coverings and hat sponsor Cape Coral Plumbing. This years tournament has been the most successful to date, Executive Vice President Phillip Ford said. It would not have been possible without our generous sponsors, event partners, anglers and committee members that show up year after to year to support our association and Lee BIA Builders Care. For more information about Lee BIA, visit www.BIA.net or call 239-936-5525. Cypress Cove at HealthPark Florida officials and guests gathered Thursday morning to celebrate the completion of the Life Plan communitys multiple million dollar 14-villa home expansion project. The two- and three-bedroom villa additions, featuring lakeside and preserve-view homes, increases Cypress Coves Villas home community to 44. Constructed by Fort Myers-based Chris-Tel Construction Inc., the spacious new villa homes, with large lanai and attached garages, boast from 1,700 to slightly more than 1,900 square feet of living space. Since 2016, Cypress Coves expansion has not only included the upscale villa homes, but also the opening of its nationally-acclaimed memory care assisted living facility (The Cottage), a large state-of-the-art rehabilitation and therapy center (The Mead Therapy Center), renovation of its 64-private room skilled nursing facility and of its 44-apartment assisted living community. Attending Thursdays festivities were members of Cypress Coves Board of Directors, representatives from Lee Healthcare Resources and directors and residents of Cypress Cove. The new villas offer a full range of amenities and appliances with the spacious layouts. Over 600 residents live on the Cypress Cove campus in independent, assisted and skilled living communities. Four local nonprofits, a church mission trip and a high school senior were this years recipients of funds from the Jordan Ashley Gutheim Foundation Fund and the Jordan Ashley Gutheim Scholarship Fund, funds of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation. This is the second year for Jordans blessings, which now totals $226,700 with over $108,000 already distributed. The funds were established in memory of Jordan Gutheim, a 20-year-old who graduated from Evangelical Christian School and was a junior at Florida State University. Jordan and her boyfriend, Benji Piechoczek, were killed in a car accident May 12, 2016, while waiting to make a legal turn. Born in Fort Myers, Jordan was known for her fun and loving spirit, her happiness, sensitivity and interest in going out of her way to help others. This years recipients included Cape Coral Animal Shelter, the Lee County Sheriffs Office Teen Driver Challenge, Valeries House and the Dr. Ella Piper Centers Foster Grandparents Program. In addition, Sylvia Canko of Cape Coral High School is the scholarship recipient of the Jordan Ashley Gutheim Scholarship for four years $2,000 per year and a grant was made to New Hope Presbyterian Church to aid with a mission trip to Puerto Rico planned for this summer. $10,000 was also committed to While Were Waiting, a faith-based retreat for bereaved parents. According to her family, Jordan was passionate about animals, seniors, families, and helping those in need in impoverished countries. The funds support what Jordan loved, including no-kill animal shelters, seniors facing dementia, humanitarian mission trips, driver safety and family services. Annually, the foundation also awards a 4-year scholarship to FSU. Jordans light shined so bright with her outpouring of love for her family, friends and people in need. Our family, and the world for that matter, lost someone irreplaceable, said her family. Jordan loved to travel, exercise, experience new things, and make others laugh. We miss her more and more each day, and through this fund, our wonderfully kind and caring daughter will live on and continue to help others. The fund is available for anyone who would like to contribute at http://bit.ly/JordanAshleyGutheim, or send a check to the Southwest Florida Community Found-ation. For more information about Jordan, please visit www.jordangutheim.org. The Southwest Florida Community Foundation, founded in 1976, cultivates regional change for the common good through collective leadership, social innovation and philanthropy to address the evolving community needs in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. Last year, the Foundation partnered with individuals, families and corporations who have created nearly 400 philanthropic funds. Thanks to them, the Foundation has invested $5 million in grants and programs to the community. With assets of more than $93 million, it has provided more than $67 million in grants and scholarships to the communities it serves since inception. For more information about the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, call 239-274-5900 or visit floridacommunity.com. Local churches, organizations to host food distribution June 16 Mission Community Church, a new church starting in downtown Fort Myers, and One Generation Away, an organization based in Nashville, Tenn., has partnered with Team Music is Love(TN), Feed America First and House of Ride Nature to host a 40,000-pound food distribution in downtown Fort Myers on Saturday, June 16. The event, which will be held at The House of Ride Nature, 2464 Second St., is open to the public and grocery cart of food to will be distributed to each family in attendance (first come, first serve). The June 16 event will be from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., and will help those families still in need of assistance from the ongoing effects of the hurricane. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Mission Community Church at info@mymissioncc.com or www.mymissioncc.com for more details. Christ Lutheran Churchs Vacation Bible School June 18-21 Christ Lutheran Church invites all children ages 4 1/2-9 to attend its Hero Central Vacation Bible School, June 18-21, from 6-8 p.m., at the church, located at 2507 Del Prado Blvd., S. (Christ Lutheran shares space with Epiphany Episcopal Church). A free family supper will be served from 5:30-6 p.m., followed by the program. This superhero adventure experience includes music that will energize your ears, interactive Bible fun, super science experiments, cool crafts, hands-on mission hero work, snacks, games, community speakers and more. To be part of the super fun at VBS?Hero Central, call Julie Rieb at 239-542-2709, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pastor Jeannes Farewell Concert June 22 at Beach United Methodist Paul Todd & Friends will perform at Pastor Jeannes Farewell Concert Friday, June 22, at 7 p.m., at Beach United Methodist Church, 155 Bay Road, Fort Myers Beach. A free-will offering will be taken to support the churchs ministry. The church also invites everyone to join the congregation Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m., with a hymn sing at 10:15. The gatherings will be held in Fellowship Hall for the summer. For additional information abut the celebration or the church, please call 239-463-9656, e-mail fmbumc@comcast.net or visit www.beachunitedmethodist.org The Cape Coral Police Department is requesting the publics help finding a missing, endangered resident. Frank Anthony Coneglio, 77, described as a white male, standing 5-foot-9, with a thin build, was last seen wearing a light blue shirt and gray sweatpants. According the the CCPD, Coneglio left the area of the 200 block of Santa Barbara Boulevard around 2 p.m. on foot, but may have used a taxi to leave the area. He suffers from Alzheimers. Anyone with information on Coneglios whereabouts is asked to call the Cape Coral Police Department at 239-574-3223 or 911. Update: A discussion of the LCEC franchise agreement was added to the Cape Coral City Council agenda on Friday: ADDENDUM: Unfinished Business LCEC Franchise Agreement discussion (Brought forward by Mayor Coviello) Original post: The Cape Coral Council for Progress has tendered a new franchise agreement it hopes will resolve a three-year contract impasse between the city and its electric utility provider. Council for Progress members Joe Mazurkiewicz and Brian Rist began meeting again with Lee County Electric Cooperative officials after previous negotiations fell apart again late last year. Now, the neutral, third-party facilitators say a new agreement has been reached with the utility and submitted to the city for its consideration. We, being the Council for Progress, presented a contract we believe LCEC will sign off on to the mayor and all of the council members last Monday, Mazurkiewicz said. Although the city and LCEC each accused the other of failing to make meaningful concessions last go-round, Mazurkiewicz said the Council for Progress membership thought the business advocacy group should try again and believes its latest effort two years in the making- is as good a deal as can be reached. I can tell you that I and Brian Rist do not believe this is the best franchise agreement that we have negotiated but believe it is the best we can negotiate understanding the position of the (LCEC) Board of Trustees and their CEO, Mazurkiewicz said. The proposed franchise agreement calls for a 30-year term that provides: * A continuation of the citys current 3 percent pass-through franchise fee with an option for the city to increase that fee to 4.5 percent in years two to five and to 6 percent after five years. City adoption of any increase in the fees passed on to Cape ratepayers via their electric bills would require a public hearing and Council approval. * An audit of franchise fees collected within the citys boundaries once every five years with an annual audit of fees from any newly annexed areas. The companion memorandum of understanding addresses customer rates, reliability standards, the rate paid for street lights by the city and the sharing of construction schedules and tree-trimming plans. The proposed memorandum also would create a new technology workgroup to include members from the city, LCEC and the Council for Progress or other business organization; provides that LCEC would maintain a presence in the citys Emergency Management Center when the center is activated; and calls for a non-disparagement clause for both parties. It also eliminates the city buyout option contained in the previous, and now expired, 30-year franchise agreement. LCEC is open to the terms as presented, co-op officials said. We find the terms agreeable and we are thankful that the Council for Progress continues to work on a solution that is in the best interest of the residents of Cape Coral, LCEC spokesperson Karen Ryan said via email. We are cautiously optimistic that an agreement can be reached soon. City staff is a whole lot less optimistic on both counts. Analyses regarding rates, reliability, transparency, return of customer equity, new technologies and economic development issues from the citys special utility counsel and Economic Development Office solicited by City Manager John Szerlag are not favorable and Szerlag has informed City Council that staff is months away from presenting its recommended options. As you know, our foremost goal is to partner with an electric service provider that can meet the needs of the 9th largest city in the state of Florida in the above-mentioned areas, Szerlag wrote in a June 6 email to Council. This is a generational decision, and we must follow a course that will achieve the best electric service for our Cape Coral community now and for the future. To that end, staff is not ready to bring a recommendation to the full Council. Please know my intent remains to finalize our analysis of electric options, and determine our next steps with City Council at a Committee of the Whole meeting this fall, Szerlag said. According to the analysis provided to Szerlag by special counsel Brian Armstrong, the LCEC terms now being advanced by the Council for Progress, with one minor exception, are strikingly similar to LCECs last take it or leave it final offer. As I have indicated previously, these take it or leave it terms reflect LCECs intent to punish its largest customer base (Cape Coral), and include terms rejected by the CFP and the City just a short time ago, Armstrong wrote. The city would lose its right to purchase, lose previously proposed reasonable rates requirements, provide for inferior audit rights, provide no commitment to improve service reliability and would not provide for bulk rates for street light charges which would provide for significant taxpayer savings, Armstrongs May 24 analysis to Szerlag states. The proposed length of service for the new agreement that increases the previously proposed 20-year term to 30, and the elimination of the purchase provision, carry a heavy downside, according to Armstrong. When combined with CFPs abandonment of the Citys right to purchase this 30-year term likely becomes in perpetuity as Cape Coral will have significantly hampered its ability to chart its own course by changing electric providers in the future, he wrote. This shackles Floridas 10th largest city to a rural electric cooperative business model that provides inferior technology, higher rates, less reliability and inferior customer service. City Economic Director Dana Brunett said the proposed agreement misses an important point: Economic Development was not discussed as being a part of the updated terms. Benefits exist outside LCECs territory that puts Cape Coral at a disadvantage as we look to recruit new businesses and must compete with local FPL serviced territories, he wrote adding that competitive advantages provided by FPL include lower rates and additional electrical incentives, programs and support. Multiple city officials confirm that staffs latest exploration replaces its previous effort that looked at the possible purchase of LCECs assets within the city limits and the creation of a municipal electric utility with a purchase flip the city would buy those assets and sell them to Florida Power & Light, the states largest electric utility and the entity from which the non-profit electric co-operative buys the electricity it then sells to its customers. If LCEC is not amenable to a sale, staff is exploring the option of a lawsuit, at an estimated cost of $200,000 to start with and a price tag of $1 million-plus if additional legal counsel needs to be brought on board, those officials said. When asked if the Council for Progress facilitators had reached out to FPL to weigh interest, Mazurkiewicz confirmed that they had. Based on their conversations, it does not appear that FPL would be open to the purchase of LCECs assets within the city alone, he said. Yes, we had a meeting with FPL to better understand their position with this issue, he said. They see themselves as already serving the customers of Cape Coral through LCEC; they already see us as being their customers through their agreement with LCEC, which they are very happy with. There are also legal impediments to bring FPL into the city-LCEC franchise agreement talks. Not only no interest, they are legally restrained from doing it due to their contract with LCEC, Mazurkiewicz said of bringing FPL into the mix. They would be in tortious interference with a contract they have with LCEC; that was the first big aha moment, he said. The second was that the franchise agreement that LCEC offered would not be offered by FPL. The only things FPL negotiates in its franchise agreements are length of term, the amount of the franchise fee and right to audit, he said. Those are boiler plate items in all their franchise agreements, Mazurkiewicz said, adding that means the things added to the proposed LCEC agreement would not even be open for discussion. So no guarantee for new technology, no rate guarantees, no reliability provision, no language supporting economic development or construction projects, no tree-trimming schedules, he said. Regarding the concerns related to economic development, he and Rist sought input from Council for Progress members and other members of the business community. We asked point blank whether they would rather work with FPL or LCEC and it was unanimous, they would rather work with LCEC. They didnt even have to think about it. We found no one who would rather work with FPL than LCEC, Mazurkiewicz said. LCEC took particular issue with the citys economic development concerns. LCEC has been part of developing the City of Cape Coral from the time the very first home and business broke ground, Ryan said in the email. We have partnered with City leaders to ensure infrastructure is in place well before it is needed. We have consistently demonstrated an ability to stay in front of growth and we plan to continue to honor our obligation to provide service where needed within the City. LCEC has earned a great reputation for sustaining economic development throughout our five-county service territory. The co-op has long been involved in the business community and has a number of business partners, she added. This memo is disappointing because Mr. (Brunett) has never approached LCEC with any indication of his concerns about LCECs limited capabilities. He has not approached us to request support for new commercial business to the area either. All indications from local research and feedback points to sustainable workforce and attainable housing as challenges for economic growth. To our knowledge, access to reliable electricity has not been a barrier for commercial business in Cape Coral, Ryan said. At least one Cape Coral City Council member agrees consideration of the newly proposed franchise agreement would be warranted. I think its reasonable, and I do want to move forward, Councilmember Marilyn Stout said. She is satisfied with the service provided by LCEC and is concerned about mounting costs with more to come, especially if the city opts to pursue a lawsuit. I have, from the beginning, felt that LCEC is a quality company and I believe they do a good job with providing us with the best rates they can provide, she said. I did not believe we should be continuing to spend the time and the money; the money, especially when you consider the attorney fees. We have attorney fees on both sides. Mazurkiewicz agreed that litigation to force a sale would be costly. It also would come with no guarantees as to outcome, including the substantially lower rates the city says it can obtain, even if the municipality were to prevail, he said. Its just a huge, huge risk, too risky for even me, Mazurkiewicz said. Southwest Florida anglers looking to get out on the water this weekend for a boat-load of fun and prizes while supporting a great charity need not look any further than the 2018 Coastal Outfitters Cat Daddy Challenge at Port Sanibel Marina. 99.3 ESPN Southwest Florida, along with 96 K- Rock are hosting the third annual cat-fishing tournament Saturday with proceeds going to Calebs Crusade a local nonprofit organization geared towards raising money for pediatric cancer families. 99.3 ESPN radio host Pete Sheppard, of the Shemon and Sheppard show, said the event is a blast for anyone who loves fishing and fun. Last year was a tremendous experience. It was my first real event after moving to Southwest Florida and I had a great time. Even Shemon got out there and well tried to fish, he said jokingly. This is a great way to kick-off Fathers Day weekend what better way to spend some time with Dad than fishing in beautiful Gulf waters, organizers said. Its a great family experience, added Sheppard. Makes a great Fathers Day gift. Its a big bonding moment. We have friends and family who havent seen each other in a while, and this brings them together. The two-day event begins with a Captains Party at Rustys Raw Bar and Grill in Cape Coral starting tonight at 6 p.m.. This will be the last opportunity to register to compete and all captains must be present. Complementary appetizers will be available to participants, with a silent auction from 6-8, which will carry over to the event the next day ending at 4:30 p.m. all proceeds will go to Calebs Crusade. You may also enlist at catdaddychallenge.com, though attendance at the Captains Party is necessary. Registration is $350 per team up to four people including a captain, $50 for each additional angler. $5,000 worth of cash and prizes will be up for grabs. The Cat Daddy starts at the Port Sanibel Marina in Fort Myers with a 7 a.m. honor time. Captains will have until 4 p.m. to fill their bucket (lid closed) with catfish. The team with the heaviest bucket will take home the first place prize of $3,000. Second will be awarded $1,000, third $700 and 21st $300. Weigh-ins will be from 1-4 p.m. with the weigh master being the final decision maker. An awards dinner and ceremony will be held following the conclusion of the tournament at the Landshark Party Pavilion on site at the marina, beginning at 4:30. Food will be provided by Burgerque. A $10 wrist band may be purchased for family members not on the boat, so they may enjoy food at the Captains Party and awards dinner. Other prizes include raffles, gift cards, Bass Pro Shops items and more. You must be a Florida resident and have a valid fishing license to compete, all Florida fishing and boating laws apply. At least one person on the boat must be 21 years of age or older. A full list of contest rules can also be found on the website. You dont find many fishing tournaments like this down here, Sheppard continued. Its competitive, but everyone has a good time. Serious but fun. Theres some great anglers down here. It brings out the best in people. Not to mention how charitable the event is. Calebs Crusade was started by parents Rob and Monique Whan, after their son Caleb passed away due to a rare form of leukemia in 2008. He had just turned 4. They promised to make a difference for families who also have children battling childhood cancer after his passing, starting the nonprofit in 2009. We felt huge support from the community during our trying time, and we want to give back and help as many families as we can, Rob said. The Fort Myers native and his wife are constantly playing a role for childhood cancer across the country, including 20 trips to Washington, D.C. to champion federal funding. Weve worked on numerous bills, including the Star Act that was just signed by President Trump last week, he said. The Childhood Cancer Star Act is the most in-depth childhood cancer legislation to ever be taken up by Congress. Its designed to advance pediatric cancer research and child-focused cancer treatments, while also improving childhood cancer surveillance and provide enhanced resources for survivors. Rob said that getting funding from the National Cancer Institute can be tough, and that the rarer forms of cancer, such as the leukemia Caleb had, gets pushed down the list. Less than 4 percent of the NCIs budget goes towards childhood cancer research. Some of the assistance Calebs Crusade provides to families include rent/mortgage, utilities, car payments, groceries, emotional support and more. We are helping out seven families at the moment, he added. We have been providing each of them $500-$1000 a month to help with costs; one family, we have been paying their monthly mortgage in full. In 2016, Calebs Superheros Playground was constructed in Fort Myers at The Villas Civic Association grounds, a playground dedicated to Caleb whose parents said he loved to swing more than anything in the world. We wanted a brick-and-mortar legacy for Caleb, something we could give to the community that we could visit, a playground was the perfect idea where better than right in our own neighborhood? Rob said. He was shocked the funding for the park happened so fast and the support they received was mind-blowing. They had a 5-year plan in place for construction, it happened in 6 months. Its a beautiful thing, Rob remarked. This weekend, Calebs Crusade looks forward to having a day filled with fishing, fun and spending time with one another. This is our second year being involved in the Cat Daddy Challenge and we hope it continues for many years, said Rob. Jason Jones, tournament coordinator, or Big Mama to radio listeners of B103.9, contacted the Whans last year and said he had has his eye on the charity for some time and that there is no more hard working charity than Calebs Crusaders. Those sentiments stuck with the family. This year, Rob is inviting a special guest to fish with him, 5 year-old Joey Jones, who has leukemia, along with his father. Hopefully well make some great memories. Its a great opportunity to serve a lot of people and have fun fishing while doing it. To donate to Calebs Crusade, visit www.calebcrusade.org/donate/. Other sponsors that make the Cat Daddy Challenge possible are Port Sanibel Marina, Victory Layne Chevrolet, Florida Community Bank, Rustys Raw Bar and Tow Boat U.S. 99.3 ESPN and 96 K-Rock are owned by Beasley Media Group, LLC. Rustys Raw Bar and Grill is at 4631 S.E. 10th Place, Cape Coral. Port Sanibel Marina is at 14341 Port Comfort Road, Fort Myers. 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 Captiva Erosion Prevention District adopted three resolutions two tied to the islands future beach renourishment project and approved its not-to-exceed millage rate for next fiscal year. At its June 13 meeting, the commission voted 4-0 to approve a rate cap of 0.2984 an increase over last years set millage rate of 0.2720. Millage rates can be lowered prior to approval, but not raised. The district must hold two public hearings on the rate and proposed 2018-2019 budget before voting on it. The first hearing is tentatively set for Sept. 13, with the final one scheduled for Sept. 27. Administrator Damon Grant reported that the Lee County Property Appraiser has estimated the total assessed value of non-exempt property as $1.45 billion. Only an approximation of the taxable value on the 2018 Tax Roll, it will issue the final numbers for budget preparations and millage rates by July 1. Last years rate of 0.2720 brought in $362,826 in revenue. The rolled-back rate the rate needed to bring in the same amount of tax revenue collected during the previous fiscal year is 0.2632. To collect the same amount, we will need a 0.2632 millage rate, he said. Grant noted that the rolled-back rate is lower than last years approved millage rate. The reason it went lower is our property values increased, he said. Grant presented three scenarios to the commission. One showed the anticipated general operating budget based on approving the rolled-back rate as the rate, resulting in 17 percent in reserves. We have a 17 percent reserves number based on this scenario, he said. I think wed like to keep it at around 20 percent. The 0.2984 rate would be required to raise reserves to 20 percent, as outlined by another scenario. However, Grant pointed to the line item consulting and professional fees for Hans Wilson and Associates. He explained that the costs to the CEPD are split two-thirds in the operating budget and one-third in the capital budget. Grant suggested evenly splitting the costs between the budgets. He said it would enable them to keep the rolled-back rate and raise reserves to 32 percent. Grant also noted for the commission that the CEPD would have additional expenses in terms of advertising and such with the upcoming beach renourishment project, and that the Lee County Tourist Development Council had not yet approved funding for the CEPD as of the date of the meeting. Vice Chair Mike Mullins motioned to set the not-to-exceed rate at 0.2984. We can always lower it, he said. We cant go higher. The commission voted in support of the motion; Commissioner Michael Lanigan had to leave the meeting early and was unable to cast a vote. Also at the meeting, three resolutions were approved unanimously 5-0. Resolution 2018-04 supported activities outlined in the local government funding request to the Florida Department Environmental Protection and affirmed the districts commitment to provide local funding. Grant explained that it confirms the CEPDs commitment to the state and paying its funding portion. In essence, this is something weve done year after year, he said. This is just some housekeeping. Resolution 2018-03 established a referendum to decide if a majority of voters are in favor of the districts proposal to issue bonds to finance a portion of the cost of the beach renourishment, erosion control and coastal protection project, and provided an effective date for the referendum election. This is the boards acceptance that we will be moving forward, Grant said of the project. The special election will be held on March 5, with the bonds not to exceed $15 million. It only plays a part if we elect to pursue a bond on the next assessments, he said. The referendum for the last project eight years ago received nearly an 80 percent approval. Tied into Resolution 2018-04, Resolution 2018-05 allowed for and ordered the construction of the erosion prevention project, such as maintenance renourishment and placement of fill on-island. SUMMER RECREATIONAL SURVEY Dr. William Stronge, who presented at the meeting the results of the Recreational Use of Captivas Beaches and Economic Impact study from February and March, recommended a second study. We cant just look at the winter, he said. Stronge noted that a summer study was conducted in 2010, adding that the noticeable changes in the results of the 2018 and 2010 winter studies suggest that a summer study for 2018 should be done. We really need to do a small-scare survey in the summer to have some grounds, he said. Stronge recommended a survey half the size of the winter one, or 200 people. Just to give us some basics, some numbers, he said. Stronge added that if the CEPD is challenged, it can produce year-round figures and facts. Chairman Dave Jensen made a motion to approve the study at a cost of $9,000. I think the key thing that Bill said was, in case were challenged,' he said. The commission voted 5-0 to approve. ASSISTANT TO THE ADMINISTRATOR RECRUITMENT Hans Wilson, president of the consulting firm Hans Wilson and Associates, provided an update on the recruitment for a CEPD assistant to the administrator to replace John Bralove, who plans to retire. We are having a difficult time getting anybody to respond, he said. Wilson noted that the position is part-time and includes a daily commute to Captiva. Its been difficult to find people to fit the position, he said. Wilson added that there have been interviews. In part, its because the economy is really good right now, he said. Lanigan questioned where the firm has been advertising and suggested looking at colleges. Weve advertised in all the local papers, Hans said, noting that the position does not warrant a nationwide search. The information is out there the advertisements are out there. Treasurer Bob Walter, also the regional managing director for South Seas Island Resort, explained that the resort spends hundreds of thousands of dollars on incentives to draw employees out to the island. Jensen, co-owner of Jensens Twin Palm Cottages, echoed that. Ive been in business for awhile, he said. We cant get help, period. Hans recommended advertising the position as full-time. The discussion was paused and moved to the end of the meeting to tackle higher priority agenda items before Lanigan had to leave. When the commission picked it back up, it asked for Braloves opinion. I, personally, believe that starting soon it requires a full-time person, he said. Grant added that the CEPD is taking on and planning to take on additional duties and responsibilities, which have to be covered, plus all the the public relations for the beach project. We havent really ramped up, in my opinion, for what were talking about in getting involved in, he said. Mullins made a motion to advertise the position as full-time. The commission approved the motion in a 4-0 vote. IN OTHER NEWS Grant reported that a review of the 1988 easements revealed about 5 percent of the documents had additional writing and notations on them, with the majority cosmetic and not altering language. However, they were forward to the districts attorney for review and feedback. Grant reported that the CEPD will be filing an extension for using its Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement of about $1.139 million from Hurricane Irma. He explained that there is an 18-month deadline on using the monies, which started with the date of the storm. So were going to ask for an extension, Grant said. The last thing we want to do is lose this FEMA money thats been give to us, he said, adding that the probability of that happening is very unlikely. They just want to see that were making progress. Bralove reported that some commissioners had requested tablets to do CEPD work. He noted that there is $3,000 available in the budget to cover them. Walter and Jensen stated that they did not want or need one. Mullins noted that he wanted one to keep CEPD business off of his personal computer. Damon instructed those who wanted one to see staff and they would take care of it. A $500 budget was approved for some type of recognition for former Administrator Kathy Rooker. The commission and staff discussed that she did not seem to want a plaque or the traditional lunch. Grant was tasked with coming up with something. The commission moved the Aug. 8 regular meeting to Aug. 15. In addition, Grant pointed out that the Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association conference will be held on Sept. 19-21 in Clearwater Beach and the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association conference will be held on Oct. 30 to Nov. 2 on Galveston Island. Im planning on attending and whatever commissioners are welcome to come, he said. ABC News(OVERLAND PARK, Kan.) -- Parents of a 5-year-old Kansas boy were hit with a $132,000 bill after their son knocked over an art sculpture on display at a local community center. Surveillance video captured the little boy reaching for the sculpture, called Aphrodite di Kansas City on display in the lobby of the Tomahawk Ridge Community Center in Overland Park, Kansas, when it toppled over. Then a few days later, the family received a $132,000 claim from the city of Overland Parks insurance company, saying that the piece had been damaged beyond repair. Youre responsible for the supervision of a minor child your failure to monitor could be considered negligent, the insurance letter read in part. I was surprised, absolutely, more so offended to be called negligent, said the boys mother Sarah Goodman. They were treating this like a crime scene. The sculptures artist, Bill Lyons, told ABC News it took him about two years to create the piece and it was listed for sale at $132,000. He examined the piece himself, he said, and concluded it could not be repaired. Its beyond my capabilities and desires to rebuild it, he said. City officials say the piece was not permanently attached but it was secured to the pedestal with clips and that it was a not an interactive piece. Weve had other pieces there [and] weve not had problems, said city spokesman Sean Reilly. Weve not had this situation weve not had kids climb on our pieces. But Goodman argued the sculpture should have been better secured. She also disputes the citys claim that her child wasnt being supervised. Goodman said she and her husband were out of frame of the surveillance camera, saying their goodbyes during a wedding reception that they were leaving, when the incident occurred. No one would ever to expect that to come into a place that kids are invited and have to worry about a $132,000 dollar piece of art falling on their child, Goodman said. Because he didnt maliciously break that. It fell on him. It was not secure, it was not safe -- at all. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Photo: Penticton Elvis Festival People just can't help falling in love with the annual Elvis Festival in Penticton, and this year's celebration of the King of Rock is ready to roll. From June 21-24, Elvis enthusiasts from far and wide will convene at Okanagan Lake Park and the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre to celebrate the man and the music. "We always have one of the top 10 Elvis tribute artists in the world, according to Memphis," said festival chairman Terry Michaels. "That's a proud thing that we do, we bring in an entertainer that perhaps a lot of people would not have the opportunity to see." This year, that's Dean Z, winner of the Ultimate Elvis competition in 2013 and Heart of the King competition in 2014, who will perform his act on the Saturday night at the convention centre. He'll have an opening act as well. "This time for the first year in a while we're having a comedian, just like a Las Vegas-style show," Michaels said. Stand-up comic Patrick Maliha will open for Dean Z Saturday night. During the day Saturday, 28 Elvis tributes, which includes 15 non-professionals and 13 professionals, will compete at Okanagan Lake Park. On Sunday morning, there will be a Gospel Showcase, which Michaels said is the most attended event of the weekend. "One of the artists will sing 'Teddy Bear,' and we have a teddy bear toss," Michaels said, explaining that attendees are encouraged to bring a stuffed animal. "Last year we filled up two pickups of teddy bears. We give them to the policemen, to the firemen, St. John's Ambulance, so that when they're having trauma with kids, they can give them a teddy bear." The weekend wraps up with a party in the ballroom at the Penticton Lakeside Resort. For more information on ticketing, click here. Photo: Contributed The former bingo hall on Eckhardt Avenue in Penticton. The vacant building that formerly housed the Penticton Bingo Palace is on its last legs, as it's expected to be demolished soon to make room for a new hotel on the property. The bingo hall closed in March of 2017, and four months later city council approved a new large-scale Fairfield by Marriott Inn and Suites. The hotel was originally slated to open this year, but now the company behind it is expecting an opening date around Christmas in 2019. Ron Mundi, president of Mundi Hotel Enterprises, said construction will begin soon after the company's new Coast Hotel in Oliver opens in about two weeks. Mundi said the old bingo hall building will likely be demolished in the first week of August, and construction on the hotel should commence later in the month. The four-storey hotel is expected to have 98 rooms, Mundi said slightly more than the original plan of 95. Apart from hotel plans in Penticton and Oliver, Mundi's company also purchased the Coast Hotel in Osoyoos on May 1. "Penticton, Oliver and Osoyoos is really, I call, a tourism hub," Mundi said. "Some people are thinking this is a seasonal business, but I don't think that's the case. Lots of business in the winter time also." Photo: Colin Dacre Penticton's Kindness Meter has been moved from the 200 block of Main Street to the 100 block, in front of city hall. Penticton city staff have moved the kindness meter a block down Main Street, from the breezeway on the 200 block to in front of city hall. City manager Peter Weeber said the 100 block is a higher-traffic area for the meter. "Where it was with two garbage cans in front of it wasn't the most pleasant place for it," he said. Garbage cans were installed in the breezeway by the city last month, a common location for panhandling. Funds from the kindness meter directly benefit 100 Homes Penticton, a non-profit program that began in the fall of 2016 with a goal to help house 100 homeless residents by July of 2018. Weeber added the electrical box next to the new location will be wrapped with information on 100 Homes. In February, the program's chair said they have helped house 57 people to date. The meter was first installed in March of 2017. Similar mechanisms exist in Vernon. Photo: Colin Dacre Dr. Steve Mathias speaking at a fundraising event in Penticton Thursday Years of work will come to fruition this November, when the Foundry youth mental health centre opens downtown Penticton within the YES Project at 501 Main Street. Foundry executive director Dr. Steve Mathias made the announcement Thursday during the kickoff for the second phase of fundraising for the youth centre. Whats really exciting about it, is your kids, grandkids, sisters and brothers wont have to go to Kelowna to get help, he said. Theyll be able to get it here. The centre will serve as the anchor tenant for the YES Project Penticton youth centre, providing mental health and substance use services. Over the past two years, seven similar centres have opened up across B.C. with support from the provincial government and private donors. Mathias said the idea was spawned in 2014 when he had a mother from Salmon Arm call in him in Vancouver where he was serving as a psychiatrist at a homeless shelter. She asked if she could drive her daughter down to the shelter so she could be seen by a psychiatrist, because of the lack of resources in the Okanagan. In that moment I realized, we have a really big problem in the province, he said. And it turns out we have this problem across Canada. Local Grade 12 student Mia McBryde recalled Feb. 22, 2017 the day she learned the tragic news of a friend's suicide. Looking back at the day, I can vividly remember the dark energy of the first block classroom. Everyone could sense the lump in the teachers throat, bracing themselves for the next stream of bad news, she told the crowd at the fundraiser. This had terrifyingly become a norm at our school. Oh my goodness, another one, had become the tragic response to the news of suicide, he continued, explaining shes experienced 10 suicides in Penticton since Grade 9. McBryde has been one of the YES Projects youth volunteers for four years, and said shes excited to see the plan finally come to fruition. The YES Project is seeking to raise another $1.2M for more renovations to get the Foundry open. The first $1M raised last year went towards securing and building and the first phase of renovations. The YES Project is already $400,000 towards its $1.2M phase two goal, with large donations coming from Area 27, Penticton Foundry Ltd. and other private donors. You can donate online here. Chelsea Powrie The new Naramata Wine Vault opened its doors to the public for the first time Thursday evening. The vault has repurposed an old B.C. Tree Fruits packinghouse which has long been left empty. "It started as a discussion about how this building has been derelict for 10 years, and it really is the village centre in Naramata," said one of the partners in the business, David Enns. "So I've been driving by it for 10 years and I finally said, 'that's enough.'" He and three partners revamped the property into a co-op style wine cellar facility, with wineries from around the region using it for storage. "Since 1980, this was storing apples and fruits that were farmed around the village here, and now it's used for storing fruits that are farmed around the village only this time it's grapes, and wines, and glass and barrels," Enns said. Former resident Lesley Chapman came out to the open house, and remembers what the facility used to be like. "I remember when it was really busy with the forklifts running around, and then when I moved away and every time I came back it was just empty, it was so sad," Chapman said. "To hear that it was rejuvenated as a wine vault, it's such a great idea, and it's nice that they kept as much of the original parts as they could." Enns said that in the future they hope to include a regional tasting room on the premises, though that could be a few years off. He hopes the venture will be part of a larger rejuvenation of the core area of Naramata. Photo: The Canadian Press A black, four-door 2007 to 2011 Nissan Versa sedan is shown in this police handout photo taken from video surveillance. Police are searching for a male suspect after a "brazen" daylight shooting at an east Toronto playground left two young sisters injured Thursday afternoon. Officers say the suspect opened fire at a man who was at the playground, amongst 11 children. They say the girls, aged 5 and 9 respectively, underwent surgery at the Hospital for Sick Children and are now in stable condition. Police say they are searching for a "vehicle of interest" in the case, described as a black, four-door 2007 to 2011 Nissan Versa sedan. Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders said Thursday evening that he would use every available resource to ensure the suspect is found. Saunders called the shooting a cowardly and stupid act. Photo: The Canadian Press Dr. Harry Janssen, director of the Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, is shown. Clinicians and researchers attending an international conference say all Canadian children should be vaccinated against hepatitis B starting at birth to prevent the development of potentially deadly liver disease later in life, a policy recommended by the World Health Organization. Currently, most provinces and territories immunize children against the liver-destroying virus when they are much older, including Ontario and Nova Scotia, which suggest children be vaccinated as late as 12 years old. Hepatitis B is transmitted through blood and other bodily fluids. The virus attacks the liver, causing ongoing scar-forming inflammation that over time can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure or liver cancer. The call for at-birth immunization comes from international experts attending the Global Hepatitis Summit in Toronto, which runs through Sunday. "There is a misconception that we only need to offer older children vaccination in the years before they become sexually active, since sexual activity is one of the routes of transmission," said Dr. Harry Janssen, director of the Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, who is attending the conference. "Hepatitis B is not just a disease that is transmitted by sexual activity, it's also transmitted by blood-to-blood contact," Janssen said in an interview. "Children play with each other ... bite each other, scratch each other, share each other's toothbrush. There's household contact with people who have hepatitis B. "So there is a definite risk of getting this infection in childhood." An estimated 230,000 Canadians are infected with hepatitis B, but many are unaware they harbour the virus. Less than 60 per cent of those infected have been diagnosed and only a quarter of those eligible for treatment are believed to be receiving it, doctors say. Worldwide, an estimated 257 million people are living with hepatitis B, says WHO. In 2015, almost 900,000 people died as a result of the disease, which is known as a "silent killer." With no discussion, the East Ridge City Council passed on first reading a budget for next year, Thursday night at City Hall. City Manager Scott Miller told the council that the $13.66 million General Fund budget includes the addition of five new city employees and will not require the city to dip into its $5.16 million reserve funds to balance. The property tax rate of $1.33 will remain the same and there will be no new rate or fee increases. John Davis, the city's insurance broker, told the council that he negotiated a one percent decrease in the city's health insurance premium with Cigna for the next fiscal year. Mr. Davis explained that data provided by Cigna showed the city's premiums last year exceeded claims by about $300,000. Davis said he leveraged that information in favor of the city. The fiscal year 2018-19 budget will receive a second reading at the council's June 28 meeting where the full council - Mayor Brent Lambert and Councilman Brian Williams were absent at Thursday night's meeting - will vote. A public meeting on the budget is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., prior to the council meeting. Members of Local 735 of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers presented a $500 check to the East Ridge Needy Child Fund. Sgt. Scott Butcher, the president of the newly formed ERPD chapter, said that during the formation of the chapter it was the desire to work with the community that the police department serves in hopes of building a much closer relationship with the citizens of East Ridge. "The dedication and hard work of our union members along with the fantastic public support we've received, made tonight's presentation possible," Sgt. Butcher said during the check presentation. The rezoning of two properties - one on Ringgold Road and another on Fountain Avenue - drew the scrutiny of citizens. The owner of the property at 3636 Ringgold Road applied to rezone the eight acres from General Commercial (C-2) to Warehouse and Wholesale District (M-3). The largest building on the property was once home to the bowling alley. A smattering of other buildings on the property are home to various retail businesses. Kenny Custer, director of Community Services, told the council that he had met with the owner of the property, Pryor Bacon, who agreed to withdraw his application for the rezoning. Last month, the city's Planning Commission voted against the plan to rezone the property to allow a "cold storage" facility to operate in the old bowling alley building. Vice-Mayor Larry Sewell, who was running the meeting in Mayor Lambert's absence, verbally agreed to the owner's withdrawal. However, City Manager Miller emphasized that he wanted the record to reflect that the entire council had accepted Bacon's withdrawal of the rezoning request. The public hearing concerning the rezoning of property at 3623 Fountain Ave., owned by Sweetbay Apartments, drew vocal opposition. A part of the property where Sweetbay is located is zoned residential, and has been since the late 1980s, city officials said. Custer said that parcel was "legally non-conforming" because it had been in operation for many years. Several Sweetbay buildings were closed for renovation and not used for six years. Those buildings have been condemned by the city. The owners of Sweetbay are attempting to get financing to raze and rebuild the buildings. But because they are currently zoned residential, new banking policies will not allow a loan until the buildings are zoned for apartments. Charles McCullough, a Reeves Avenue resident, told the council that he didn't believe that more apartment buildings in East Ridge would spur the revitalization of the west end of East Ridge. "This council needs to make decisions that benefit the city as a whole and not just developers and landlords," Mr. McCullough said. Laura Mathis, a strident critic of the city, told the council that it needed to first address the demolition of the derelict buildings on the Sweetbay property before hearing the issue of rezoning. Laura Seneker, who filed an ethics complaint last month against Mayor Lambert, scored the city for taking six years to address the derelict buildings on the Sweetbay property, while citing average residents to appear before the Administrative Hearing Officer after having not addressed code violations within 30 days. Ms. Seneker also noted that there are two other large apartment complexes in the area. Adding dozens of new apartment units on Fountain Avenue would increase traffic in the area. "I would hope, especially you Ms. Helton since you want to move on to the State House, that you would listen to citizens as we will be voting in November," she said. Councilwoman Esther Helton is seeking the Republican nomination for the District 30 seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Lesley Bostain, who lives nearby, showed the council photos she had recently taken of the dilapidated buildings at Sweetbay. She asked if the property were rezoned allowing apartments if the owners could then rebuild and offer the apartments for short-term rental. She noted that an adjacent property is being advertised for VRBO - vacation rental by owner - that would accommodate up to 10 people. City Attorney Mark Litchford said the apartment owners could apply for a city certification to do just that. "That's a little concerning," Ms. Bostain said. Councilman Jacky Cagle made a motion that the rezoning be tabled and heard at at time when all five council members were present. That motion was passed unanimously. The council approved resolutions allowing the police department to purchase headsets for the SWAT team at a cost of $15,000. It also approved accepting a donation of three "dynamic entry" kits from Aegis Law Enforcement Foundation of Greater Chattanooga. The council passed a resolution authorizing an agreement with S&ME Inc. to provide engineering and survey work for proposed improvements to Camp Jordan Park. The cost of S&ME services will be about $43,000. The council passed a resolution authorizing CTI Engineering to oversee the construction of stormwater improvements on South Seminole Drive and Boyd Street. Teh cost of CTI's services will be $22,600. (Dick Cook operates the news website East Ridge News Online. http://www.eastridgenewsonline.com) In a unanimous opinion, the Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled that when a party to a divorce case violates a statutory injunction and then dies while the case is pending, a trial court may, after considering the equities of the parties, remedy the violation of the injunction. Under Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-4-106(d)(2), when a divorce complaint is filed and served, an injunction goes into effect prohibiting both parties from changing the beneficiary on any life insurance policy that names either party as the beneficiary without the consent of the other party or a court order. Upon the death of one of the parties, however, the divorce case ends, and the injunction is no longer effective. In the case before the Court, Jessica Olson sued her husband, Bryan Olson, for divorce. A week later, in violation of the statutory injunction, Ms. Olson changed the primary beneficiary on her life insurance policy from her husband to her mother and named the Olsons child as the contingent beneficiary. Ms. Olson died a few days later from a serious illness. Her mother, Rose Coleman, collected the life insurance benefits. In a separate case, Ms. Coleman sued Mr. Olson for grandparent visitation under Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-6-306. Mr. Olson responded that Ms. Coleman was not entitled to court-ordered visitation because he did not oppose visitation. He also countersued Ms. Coleman to recover the life insurance benefits, alleging fraud, forgery and undue influence. The trial court found no forgery, fraud or undue influence, but awarded the insurance benefits to the Olsons child, finding that Ms. Olson had intended to remove Mr. Olson and substitute their child as the insurance beneficiary. In addition, the trial court granted Ms. Colemans petition for grandparent visitation. The Court of Appeals reversed, awarding the life insurance benefits to Mr. Olson because Ms. Olson had violated the injunction and denying Ms. Colemans request for court-ordered visitation because there was no proof that Mr. Olson had opposed visitation. The Tennessee Supreme Court granted Ms. Colemans request to hear the case. In an opinion authored by Justice Sharon G. Lee, the Supreme Court held that after a divorce case ends due to the death of a party, a trial court has the authority to remedy a violation of the statutory injunction by considering the equities of the parties. Even though a divorce case ends and the statutory injunction becomes ineffective upon the death of a party while the case is pending, the Supreme Court concluded that a trial court should have the authority to right a wrong and remedy an injustice based on equitable considerations when a party violates a statutory injunction and later dies while the divorce action is pending. In its ruling, the Supreme Court reversed the trial courts decision to award the insurance benefits to the Olsons child because neither party had asked for this relief and the evidence did not support creating what amounted to a constructive trust for the child. In addition, the Supreme Court reversed the decision of the Court of Appeals to award the life insurance benefits to Mr. Olson because there was insufficient evidence of the parties circumstances. Because this ruling announced a new approach in these kinds of cases, the Supreme Court sent the case back to the trial court so the parties could present evidence to enable the trial court to determine fairly whether either or both parties should receive all or a portion of the life insurance benefits. As to the issue of grandparent visitation, the Supreme Court affirmed the holding of the Court of Appeals that Ms. Coleman is not entitled to court-ordered visitation because Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-6-306(a) requires evidence of actual parental opposition to grandparent visitation rather than likely future opposition. Ms. Coleman neither alleged nor proved that Mr. Olson opposed her visiting with her grandchild. To read the unanimous opinion of the Court in Rose Coleman v. Bryan Olson, authored by Justice Sharon G. Lee, please visit the Opinions section of tncourts.gov. Superconductors contain tiny tornadoes of supercurrent, called vortex filaments, that create resistance when they move. This affects the way superconductors carry a current. But a magnet-controlled "switch" in superconductor configuration provides unprecedented flexibility in managing the location of vortex filaments, altering the properties of the superconductor, according to a new paper in Nature Nanotechnology. "We work on superconductors and how to make them better for applications," said Boldizsar Janko professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Notre Dame and co-corresponding author on the paper. "One of the major problems in superconductor technology is that most of them have these filaments, these tiny tornadoes of supercurrent. When these move, then you have resistance." Researchers have been trying to design new devices and new technologies to "pin," or fasten, these filaments to a specified position. Previous efforts to pin the filaments, such as irradiating or drilling holes in the superconductor, resulted in static, unchangeable arrays, or ordered arrangements of filaments. A new, dynamic system discovered by Janko and collaborators will enable ongoing adjustments, altering the material's properties over time. The collaborators' solution overlays the superconductor with an artificial spin ice consisting of an array of interacting nanoscale bar magnets. Rearranging the magnetic orientations of those nano-bar magnets results in a real-time rearrangement of the pinning on the superconducting site. This makes possible multiple, reversible spin cycle configurations for the vortices. Spin is a particle's natural, angular momentum. "The main discovery here is our ability to reconfigure these spinning sites reversibly and instead of having just one spin cycle configuration for the vortices, we now have many, and we can switch them back and forth," Janko said. The magnetic charges have the same pinning effect as drilled holes in other systems but are not limited to a static configuration, he described. For example, the magnets could be arranged to create more or less resistance in the superconductor. The elementary unit potentially could be combined into a circuit capable of logic manipulation. Yong-Lei Wang, research assistant professor in the Department of Physics and co-first/co-corresponding author on the paper, who is also affiliated with Argonne National Laboratory and Nanjing University, had previously described an artificial spin structure, or magnetic charge ice, which could be tuned to various relatively stable configurations. The structures are called ice because they involve patterned atomic deformations similar to that of oxygen bonds when water freezes. In the current study, Janko proposed applying the system to superconductors. "We demonstrated that unconventional artificial-spin-ice geometries can mimic the charge distribution of an artificial square spin ice system, allowing unprecedented control over the charge locations via local and external magnetic fields," Wang said. "We show now that such a control over magnetic charges can be exploited in the control of quantum fluxes in a spin-ice/superconductor heterostructure." He added that the success resulted from close collaboration between experimentalists and theorists. Because the control of the quantum fluxes is difficult to visualize in an experiment, simulations were required to successfully reproduce the results, said Xiaoyu Ma, a doctoral student in the Department of Physics who conducted the computer simulation in the study and is the co-first author on the paper. The simulations allowed researchers to see the detailed processes involved. "The number of vortex configurations that we can realize is huge, and we can design and locally reconfigure them site by site," Ma said. "This has never been realized before." The research is expected to provide a new setting at the nanoscale for the design and manipulation of geometric order and frustration -- an important phenomenon in magnetism related to the arrangement of spins -- in a wide range of material systems, Wang noted. These include magnetic skyrmions, two-dimensional materials, topological insulators/semimetals and colloids in soft materials. "This could lead to novel functionalities," Wang said. "We believe this work will open a new direction in application of geometrical frustrated material systems." As the academic year at Eastern Washington University is winding down, the most recent funds given to EWU was the College Spark Washington Grant. This grant will provide EWU with $149,573. The organization gave $1.5 million overall in community grants to help low-income students earn their college degree. The money will go towards the Easterns department of mathematics and it will be used to develop, pilot and scale co-requisite courses, which should help first-year students in the university. During these classes, students are placed into a college-level course that requires extra support sessions. This helps them to take a first college-level course in their college careers and helps be successful in the course along with the following classes. EWUs math department is excited to spearhead this effort to support students in completing college level math earlier, EWU professor Jackie Coomes said in a press release. We expect the characteristics of the courses to greatly improve many students progress to college completion. According to the College Spark website, all projects that receive Community Grants funding must measure their impact with one or more of the programs outcome indicators. All funded projects must be designed to both improve student outcomes over an established baseline and to generate knowledge about how to better serve students that will be useful to other organizations. Even though most living-wage jobs require a college degree or credential, far too many Washington students either dont have the opportunity to go to college or face daunting challenges when they get there, Christine McCabe, executive director at College Spark said in the press release. These programs were selected because they have the potential to improve persistence and completion rates for low-income students, leveling the playing field for social mobility. Since 2005, the College Spark Community program has given more than 100 community grants that equal about $18 million. For College Spark, the outcomes they strive for focus on the successful transition to college that reducing the rate of students who are required to enroll in developmental education courses. It also has a goal to increase the rate of students who earn their first college-level English or math credits. Grace Pohl can be reached at grace@cheneyfreepress.com. Paul Salopek, Pulitzer Prize in international reporting for his reporting of the political strife and disease epidemics ravaging Africa, witnessed firsthand as he traveled, sometimes by canoe, through rebel-controlled regions of the Congo. Walgreens was born in Chicago with one small pharmacy on the South Side, and their big new presence in one of our citys most iconic locations is a great way to look to the future, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in the news release. This is a smart decision by an innovative company, it will contribute to our city's thriving tech sector, and we are looking forward to cutting the ribbon and welcoming 1,800 members of the Walgreens team to Chicago. Deerfield-based Walgreens has been familiar with the building for some time, having considered it in 2014 when the structure was under different ownership. If completed, the Walgreens lease will represent a vital step for current property owner 601W Cos., which is in the midst of an $800 million-plus redevelopment. It will give 601W a big, prominent tenant, likely creating momentum toward additional office leases. Launched in 1971 by a group of Carleton College graduates as a free weekly, the Reader became known for its ambitious long-form journalism, arts news and offbeat classified ads. Like many print publications, the Reader has struggled in the digital age, leading to a series of ownership changes. According to court documents, the federal government paid insurers $12 billion less in risk corridor money than what insurers expected from 2014 to 2016. In court filings, Land of Lincoln has said it relied on receiving its full share of risk corridor dollars when it opened for business and set its prices lower than it otherwise would have in anticipation of getting the federal money. (While) it's premature to comment on the potential impact on our business, we are on top of the situation and have undertaken measures over the last few months to mitigate risk, such as increasing our inventory levels in non-U.S. markets where we own our own distribution, Brown-Forman Chief Financial Officer Jane Morreau said on an earnings call earlier this month, according to a transcript of the call. Prosecutors had sought to bar Millers testimony, stating in a March court filing that the jury does not need (him) to tell them what thoughts were going through the defendants mind before and during the shooting, because only the defendant can know that information. Any testimony related by (Miller) in that regard is inadmissible, self-serving hearsay. Living in Lake County at the time, Mark, 54, who asked that his real name not be used, said he owned his own home and had a good-paying job, as well as his own car and a company car. His mothers health began deteriorating and he turned to alcohol and cocaine to cope, ultimately losing his job when he failed a drug test. Since the day it opened, Stephanie Izard's Girl & the Goat (809 W. Randolph St.) has been one of Chicagos busiest restaurants. Seriously, have you ever tried to snag a reservation for a Saturday night? Now it has the chance to be one of Los Angeles' most packed joints too. Miguel Cervantes, who plays Alexander Hamilton in the Chicago production of the hit musical, will perform live at Marianos in Lakeview from 11 a.m. until noon. The performance marks the launch of a coffee blend created in honor of his daughter, Adelaide, who is fighting childhood epilepsy. You can get through it in about 30 minutes, but allow for two full hours to really dig your heels into this excellent retrospective. To complement your visit, head to the second floor in the main building to tour El Grecos The Assumption of the Virgin and St. Francis Kneeling in Meditation, and Winslow Homers The Herring Net off of the Sculpture Court in the first- floor galleries of early American Art. White spent many hours admiring these artists work in the Art Institutes galleries as a youth. And be sure to spend some time with other American realists like Edward Hopper or Stuart Davis, and with Diego Rivera. And bookmark Thursday for a 6:30 p.m. conversation about Whites life and work with Oehler, Ian White and Kerry James Marshall (for a small extra fee). Marshall, who was featured at the MCA in 2016, names White as one of his greatest influences. The centerpiece of the suite arrived with the third movement, Raga to Raga Journey, a tour de force intertwining of vocal, solo instrumental and orchestral sonorities. Hitesh Master Nayaks Indian vocal chant would have proved mesmerizing if hed held the stage by himself, thanks to the twists and turns of his long-lined phrases and the ever-changing character of his vocal inflections. But his intensely charismatic singing was embellished and enriched by Kalyan Pathaks staccato vocal improvisations and telegraphic hand percussion, Howard Levys blues-inspired response on harmonica and, of course, the pulsing accompaniment of the CJP. Raga to Raga Journey could stand alone in concert as a model of cultural synthesis. The Harris, you might say, still needs the Harris family, especially in a era when changing tastes and levels of demand have lead to a cut in the number of performances offered by such entities as the Lyric Opera of Chicago. That in turn has led to more availability in rental spaces around town, which can mean that there is pressure to cut rental costs in order to compete. For all the developments at the Harris, the theater remains wedded to philanthropy. That will not change. Murphy has previously said that series mainstays Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, and Kathy Bates will lead the eighth season of the series. Paulson appeared as Billie Dean Howard in the "Murder House" season, a role which she reprised in Season 5, aka "AHS: Hotel." She went on to play Miss Robichaux's Academy headmistress Cordelia Foxx in "Coven." Peters played murderous ghostly teen Tate Langdon in "Murder House" and frat president Kyle Spencer in "Coven." Bates did not appear in "Murder House." She joined the show during "Coven" in the role of Madame Delphine LaLaurie. She will host E! News alongside Jason Kennedy starting Sept. 4. Its unclear if the Rancics will relocate to Los Angeles, where E! News is taped. Giuliana and Bill, a native of the Chicago area, split their time between Chicago and L.A. for years while she co-hosted the show. Hamm doesnt seem to be holding a grudge against the Tribune. Hamm recently talked to reporter Teddy Greenstein about Cubs fan Bill Murray swiping his Cardinals hat and tossing it into the alley while they were at Murphys Bleachers after Game 5 of the World Series. Hamm also recounted that story though he couldnt remember the bar name on Jimmy Kimmel Live. One of the travel diaries he wrote during a months-long voyage in the 1920s reveals that in his private moments, the Nobel-winning physicist portrayed people of other races, such as Chinese and Indians, in a stereotypical, dehumanizing way. Einstein's unfiltered musings about the people he saw and interacted with during his journey show that even the civil rights icon and "paragon" of humanitarianism harbored racist thoughts about those who did not look like him, said Ze'ev Rosenkranz, senior editor and assistant director of the Einstein Papers Project at the California Institute of Technology . Allies need to know when their voice is needed and appreciated, and when it is not, Storms said. During Pride, in particular, realize that while your attendance is welcome, the event isnt for you, nor is it an excuse to get drunk and be disruptive. Storms said going with an LGBTQ friend or loved one can remind allies of the purpose of the event. Heres where our story gets a little dicey. I had just had my knives sharpened, Vettel says. And so, when he split his avocado into two perfect halves, the blade slid through the fruit as if through butter. His anticipation increased. But the pit, that woody, pingpong ball-sized orb in the middle, was stubborn. I couldnt get it out, says Vettel, so I started to dig in with the tip of the knife. Unfortunately, he was holding the avocado and pit in his unprotected hand, which is where the freshly sharpened knife ended up when it slipped, jamming deep into his finger. He remained calm. He waited. But the bleeding wouldnt stop. And so Vettel wound up at the emergency room, where he found out that he wasnt the first foodie to fall victim to his love for avocados. A: At COS, design and quality are the most important things. We have an in-house creative team in London, and they do everything from design to pattern cutting. We really hope we can offer something very unique coming to Chicago. We hope we can offer something new. When a person comes in and they really make it their own, (thats) always amazing to see the inspiration by the customer. They really make it their own and create their own unique style. We hear that a lot from our customers, they can wear it in so many different ways. Chicago will next begin one-on-one negotiations with The Boring Co., after which an agreement will be presented to the City Council. During the negotiation phase, the company will be required to further develop its plans and ensure they meet all necessary safety, construction, financing and operating requirements, according to the city. Twitter/@dschapira(PHOENIX) -- A state lawmaker in Arizona is in hot water over comments that he made about immigration and the racial makeup of the border state. A video clip of David Stringer, a representative in the Arizona State House, has been shared online showing a portion of a speech he gave to a local Republican group. Stringer, a Republican, is heard saying "there aren't enough white kids to go around" and "the demographics of our country will be irrevocably changed." Stringer said that 60 percent of Arizona's public school children are minorities, and argued that statistic showed that the state and country are in for massive change. "That complicates racial integration because there aren't enough white kids to go around," Stringer said Monday at a local Republican group's event. "Now when you look at that 60 percent number for our public school students, just carry that forward 10 years, 15 years: it's going to change the demographic voting base of this state and that's what's going on around this country. Immigration is politically destabilizing. President Trump has talked about this. Im very concerned about this. "Immigration today represents an existential threat to the United States. If we don't do something about immigration very, very soon, the demographics of our country will be irrevocably changed and we will be a very different country. We will not be the country you were born in," he is heard saying on the video. The video was shared by David Schapira, a candidate for the state's public school superintendent. Schapira told ABC News that he first saw a roughly 20-minute video which included the 51-second clip was originally posted on Stringer's own Facebook page on Tuesday, but has since been deleted. Stringer posted a statement Wednesday afternoon, attempting to characterize the story as "fake news" and a distortion of his views. "My political opponents have taken 51 seconds out of a 16 minute speech to try to distort my message and mislead voters. We recognize the tactic. I'm not interested in taking the fake news bait," Stringer said in a statement on his Facebook page. "My comments about school integration were factually accurate and were intended to illustrate the challenges facing successful integration when white students are a rapidly declining percentage of the whole. This issue cries out for honest and open public discussion. Regrettably, my political opponents seek to shut down discussion with name calling and vile accusations," he said in the statement. The controversial comments prompted criticism from both sides of the aisle. Arizona Republican Party chairman Jonathan Lines issued a statement this afternoon calling for Stringer to resign, saying these words have no place in our party, or in our state. Earlier, Arizona Republican Party spokesperson Ayshia Connors issued a statement calling on Stringer to apologize to his constituents, and to the people of Arizona. We are proud of our diverse, vibrant state and believe that Mr. Stringers comments have no place in our party, or in the state of Arizona." Ed Gogek, a Democrat running for Stringer's seat, told ABC News that he thinks Stringer is "clueless." "I don't think he really understands how racist this is," Gogek told ABC News. "The people he's talking about, these are American citizens but because they're not white he doesn't see them that way." Jan Manolis, another Democrat running for Stringers seat, called him an extreme right-winger and told ABC News she found his comments disgusting. Carlos Galindo-Elvira, the regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, said that the group found the comments "shockingly inappropriate." "Quite frankly there's no place within our state government for this kind of type of hateful messaging by an elected official," Galindo-Elvira told ABC News. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. While prepping him for the deposition, an attorney from the citys Law Department, Tom Aumann, had Mosqueda listen to a different dispatch recording that mentioned an Oldsmobile Aurora possibly involved in a crime, according to the Police Boards report. The report doesnt indicate why Aumann, who is no longer with the Law Department, played a different recording. A Law Department spokesman had no comment about why Aumann prepared Mosqueda by playing a different dispatch recording. Brackett is still in a coma and in critical but stable condition after she was involved in a bike incident, Mary Field, Chicago Tonight executive producer, wrote in an email. Bracketts coma is not medically induced, and she fractured at least one vertebra in her neck. It appears that all her vertebrae are properly aligned despite the fracture, so she will not need surgery, Field said. It was the first of three shootings involving Sierra two of them fatal in less than six months in 2011. In 2016, IPRA ruled the other fatal shooting was unjustified. Prosecutors looked into at least one of the shootings, but Sierra has not been criminally charged. He resigned from the Police Department in 2015. Warner quit the Chicago police force not long after the shooting on the North Side in 2011, and says it took a long time to come to grips with what he had done, even though the department said he had done nothing wrong. When has it ever become legal to shoot someone because theyre pulling off in your car? she asked. Even if (Macklin) did that, if he did steal the car. Youve got insurance let him go to jail. I wouldve rather had to get a call to go bail him out of jail than to get a phone call that hes dead. Friday morning, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the agency responsible for flooding prevention, waste treatment and water quality, tweeted that the contractor did not have a permit to pump the slurry into the river, nor had it applied to send the waste into the sewer. Well be taking appropriate action, the tweet concluded. Ive told these people, You may be my backup if I get pinned in, and they understand that and they take it serious, Boewe said. Ive never had the first complaint about someone trying to act like a cop and, you believe me, were clear with them that they better not get to acting above the law. For most people, salmonella causes diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps between 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food, and affected individuals usually recover without treatment after four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be severe enough to require hospitalization, and the elderly, infants and people with compromised immune systems are more likely to suffer severe illness, according to the IDPH news release. The amount of moon dust in the vial, which is about the size of a cigarette, would be unheard of in the public domain, he said. It would also run counter to a federal law that grants Apollo astronauts ownership of artifacts they kept from their missions excluding material from the moon. A person of interest was being questioned Friday afternoon after police released surveillance photos of a man suspected of punching and seriously injuring a woman in her 60s on a northbound Red Line train in Rogers Park, the third violent incident on the line this week, according to Chicago police. I honestly just wanted to see if anybody else had this problem and how they solved it, he said. It's generally a bunch of really good people on that Chicago subreddit, and they know a lot about what's going on. In the nine years since his arrest, Mayfield said he has worked hard to educate himself. Hes become a mentor to others in jail and helped tutor other inmates. Most of all, he said, he now realizes that he has the intelligence and the ambition to contribute as a free member of society. Asked why he didnt make a report the same day as required by Police Department regulations Gawrys said he could only assume it was because the identification was unreliable due to Valentins condition at the time. He said he ultimately decided to put it in the report and let the states attorneys office decide whether it was usable in court. The lawsuit alleges that Silva, 51, was forced to jump from her third-floor apartment on June 5 when she had no other way to escape heat and flames which had engulfed some or all of the defendants building. We are pleased to add another Latina to the ranks of Alderman and look forward to working with her in the Chicago City Council. Her experience in the General Assembly along with her strong work ethic and dedication to the people she serves, make her an asset to the residents in her ward and throughout the city, the statement said. MADISON, WIS. The state Department of Justice's push to analyze untested sexual assault evidence kits has yielded its third set of criminal charges. The agency Thursday charged Jason Smith with sexual assault of a child while armed. According to a criminal complaint, Smith encountered a 13-year-old girl on the street in Beloit in 2000, displayed a revolver and sexually assaulted her. The state crime lab notified police in March that a test of the girl's sexual assault kit produced a DNA profile matching Smith, who is currently incarcerated after he was convicted in 2005 in a separate sexual assault. DOJ spokeswoman Rebecca Ballweg declined comment on why the girl's kit went untested for years. A DOJ website indicates most of Rock County's untested kits went unanalyzed because prosecutors felt they didn't offer any evidence or police chose not to investigate. She became our pro bono attorney, he said in a phone message. She helped us get out of jail whenever we had nonviolent sit-ins at the chain stores to get them to stop selling grapes. She was a real champion for the farm workers, but then I know that she was a real champion for every worker. That was her life as a labor attorney. If you had told Ronald Reagan in 1988 that in 30 years, the president of the United States would be chummy with communist dictators in China and North Korea, eager to please a brutal Kremlin autocrat, and indifferent to the needs of our military allies, he might have said: Thats what you get for electing a Democrat. By any measure, Pruitt has failed the simplest test of leadership that posed by President Abraham Lincoln: "If you want to test a man's character, give him power." Conflict-of-interest laws are in place to prevent and deter corruption. Corruption has a cost because it deprives Americans of the services and programs to which we are entitled. How can any American no matter what he or she may think of environmental regulation now feel any confidence that EPA is functioning to serve anyone's interests besides Pruitt's? Even erstwhile far-right supporters like the American Future Fund, a dark money group sometimes funded by the Koch brothers, and the Fox News host Laura Ingraham are now calling for him to go, and rightly so. If a deal is to be done with Iran, it will happen for the same reason that North Korea came to Singapore. Kim has a lot to gain if he relinquishes his nuclear arsenal. Khamenei, too, has much to gain if Iran surrenders its ability to ever build a nuclear weapon and launch an attack. Mayor Rahm Emanuels decision to select Musks passenger pod proposal for his vision for a high-speed transit link between the Loop and OHare has us tantalized. And the mayors insistence that the design, construction and operation of the project be privately funded makes the idea palatable for Chicago taxpayers. That said, weve written that city projects touted as private-sector-paid endeavors can wind up dipping into taxpayers' pockets. We remember Mayor Richard M. Daley's pledge to Chicagoans in 2001 that they wouldn't pay a dime for the ugly rebuild of Soldier Field. A decade later, taxpayers learned they would have to make up for a shortfall created when hotel tax revenue earmarked for the project proved insufficient. Emanuel huffed, "I don't want the taxpayers of the city of Chicago to be treated as if they're just an ATM machine." That brings us to former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for essentially cynical governance and thumbing his nose at the political power structure. Query a hundred citizens and nearly all will glaze over in cluelessness of his wrongdoing. Blago didn't make a dime from his political shenanigans and did infinitely less damage to the needy of Illinois than the current governor who legally withheld a budget for three years, causing severe economic hardship that will take years to redress, if ever. Sadly, pols and pundits push back on calls to release a harmless fool based mainly on his refusal to admit guilt and show remorse. That's simply cutting off one's economic nose to spite one's fiscal face. If Blago must remain inmate No. 2,300,000 in the world's largest people cage, those folks looking for remorse should cough up the $35,000 to cage Blago for another year. Having been immersed in clashes over race, class, and economic insecurities in recent American politics, Clarence Page writes that he is intrigued by the ways such issues have popped up on theater and at-home screens, not just here, but across the industrialized world. I think aldermen are being too quick in their decision, she said. They let the building stand there for years neglected and now they have decided something needs to be done. Our group wants to help the city raise funds because the cost for renovation is so surmountable. We see the value in the building and its history. During my remarks, I said its so amazing that with 4,000 employees at Belmont Village, it took one resident from Belmont Village Buffalo Grove, Bart, to come up with this wonderful idea. It was so commendable and it was his birthday today, so its a double whammy for him, Sussman said. It made Bart feel so important and very much appreciated by everyone. When I heard the story behind it, I wouldnt miss it. According to the Chicago Zoological Society, there are about 65 Amur leopards left in the wild, mostly in an isolated population in the Russian Far East. Poaching, retribution hunting and a shrinking habitat threaten the animals' survival. What buyers are getting is a souvenir plot of land reserved in their name in a nature preserve. Because the plots are too small to register, according to information on the Scottish Parliament website, there is no true purchase involved as no title can be obtained. But it goes on to say: The Registers of Scotland have no knowledge of any problems caused by them. I just think that it is a wonderful thing when the schools in the area work together on something because were all here for the support of our students and whatever effort and contacts and thoughts that we can pool together is better for all of us, she said. When theres an existing issue of public trust, it behooves officials to really promote strong transparency, to make sure they are informing the public and rebuilding that trust, he said. They should notify the public how they fixed the jail to assure the public they wont have breakouts, that the safety of officers and detainees is going to be assured. The Marist math team completed its competitive season in fourth place in the state in division 3AA at the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics final in May at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. They also finished as the number one Catholic school team in the state. The senior team of Martha Kowalski (Hickory Hills), Kyle McNamara (Orland Park), Valerie Pavilonis (Mt. Greenwood), Jake Rahn (Oak Lawn), Benjamin Rickey (Midlothian), and Elise Viz (Homer Glen) were crowned state champions in pre-calculus. The freshman-sophomore relay team of Nieve Boland (Oak Lawn), Tommy Kavanaugh (Oak Lawn), Emily Patula (Homer Glen), and Ken Polit (Clearing) took third. The sophomore written geometry team of Conor McNamara (Orland Park), Jack Molenhouse (Mt. Greenwood), Ken Polit (Clearing), Kezen Sanchez (Oak Lawn), Zack Stack (Orland Park), and Nicole Viz (Homer Glen) finished second in state. Juniors Ricardo Aguilar (Burbank), Nick Brown (Lansing), Michael Consentino (Oak Lawn), Sean Geary (Evergreen Park), Courteney Schulz (Palos Heights), and Eddie Stifter (Oak Lawn) made up the Algebra 2 written team, which finished third in state. Marist placed in the top ten in eight of the 12 events at the state final. The search turned up a felony amount of marijuana, scales and packaging materials, as well as two shotguns and cash that were also seized, according to the release. Ive thought of a solution to getting a date at 20,000 feet, he wrote. Of course my suggestion is only a substitute and would never be adopted but I think that it would be swell if we could have a midflight nurse on each flight to take care of our bruised bodies and give us sympathy. What do you think? He said the village is waiting on final approval of the first phase of engineering for the work and completing agreements for the second phase of engineering. Both phases of engineering, estimated at $3.75 million, are being funded through the Southwest Conference of Mayors surface transportation program, according to Zarebczan. Visitors to the mall will see a sneak peek of Toy Story Land concept art and be able to hop into an interactive photo booth, according to BoxLunch. The digital photo booth will give the sense of being inside a claw machine game, and there will be a Buzz Lightyear box that people can step into for photo opportunities, according to Christopher Duran, with BoxLunch. If the commission is split, the complaint is not investigated and then it is buried. No one will ever know, and the public has no way of holding commission members accountable for what they choose not to investigate. So you can imagine what happens if there is ever a complaint about a prominent member of one party. Prosecutors say Hernandez Gutierrez and Vazquez took turns sexually assaulting the barely conscious young woman while at the home of a friend in Elgin, the release said. Cruz used his cellphone to record the rapes, capturing the three laughing, making gang hand signs and referencing their gang during the incident, according to the release. The DNA has picked up the torch and adopted the project, giving it a renewed mission, Fukala said. Our goal is to utilize this annual project to reach out into the neighborhoods surrounding our downtown, positively impact maintenance conditions for mutual benefit and build relationships in our community beyond the boundaries of downtown. Our view is helping the surrounding neighborhoods improve and succeed also helps the overall perception and success of downtown. We should be committed to casting a wide net, as we have discussed in the past, to ensure that we find the most qualified pool of applicants from both inside and outside of our organization, Powell said. Having an open and transparent process that includes providing opportunities for citizen engagement along the way and defining our values as a community are an essential component of this process. Because the honor is from the 2016-2017 school year, most of the nine-member ensemble had already moved on from Leyden, with one student returning as a senior in the upcoming 2018-2019 school year. That left Cunningham contacting the members to ask if they wanted to give it one more go in front of the board. The tollway has relocation counselors to explain how the tollway buys the property it needs and to help businesses and residents who must move because of tollway projects. Ryan Brandys said he has already told them his family will need more time than the typical homeowner. He is asking for from 18 months to two years after the tollway buys their house to find and/or build a new home. Obviously, there is no transparency or accountability, Yingling said, adding that he is seeking the change through legislative means because the county board has no way of putting the issue on the ballot, and a voter-driven referendum is possible but would take thousands of signatures and hundreds of hours of manpower to pursue. Wallace was arrested by detectives Thursday in the area of Route 120 and South Lincoln Avenue in Waukegan, according to authorities, and allegedly was found to be in possession of nine individually-packaged bags of heroin and four individually-packaged bags of cocaine at the time of his arrest. The residents were then told that they had failed to appear for jury duty, and that they are required to proceed to the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan immediately. Once at the courthouse, they were instructed to call the person who contacted them back to state that they had left their residence, according to the statement. The more the students see Waukegan, the more engaged they seem to be in history in general, Bill said. I think there's just this strong tie to 'Oh my gosh, this is right down the street from me,' or 'I've walked past that a million times,' or 'I've wondered why there's just empty space in the city.' The South Korean troops were far from home in Southeast Asia because of a very powerful public as well as government commitment to the American alliance. This in turn provides a firm foundation for long-term diplomatic cooperation and more informal but comprehensive economic, educational and technical interchange. The human dimension is especially important in South Korea-U.S. relations. An Illinois State Police report also revealed early on that a trooper came across Bethunes vehicle at just after midnight the same evening, and that Bethune had a red mark on his face and told the officer that a man hed offered a ride to punched him and then ran into the woods. The officer scanned the woods and then left, the report stated. There was apparently no follow-up, though state police said at the time that the trooper might not have been aware of a subsequent missing-person report on Varughese. In the final months of the management arrangement, Guenther, Lark and Village Administrator John Lobaito proposed ordinances and received permission to sell the villages 100-foot ladder truck, contract with Libertyville for shared use of its ladder truck, and change staffing to have three lieutenants one for each shift and a training lieutenant instead of two lieutenants per shift. Our officers and investigators did an outstanding job piecing together the events of this case and gathering all of the evidence necessary to secure these charges, Deputy Police Arres said in the release. I would like to thank those in the community who came forward and assisted us in this investigation and the DuPage County States Attorneys Office for working closely with us to ensure proper charges were filed. We do provide a well-balanced meal for students with breads, grains, different colors of veggies and fruits, but it is challenging when kids eat fast food when they aren't at school. They often want the same things here, but that is not always the best choice, she said. But in recent years, I see kids becoming more aware of what they eat. They want to see food prepared and want to know what they are eating. Things are changing. Were not favoring anybody, consultant Mark Pruitt said. We always want to see if we can save some money versus [current ComEd rates]. The village is not obligated to enter into any agreement or extend their current agreement. If you dont have a new agreement, its not like the lights go off. Youd revert back to ComEd. Its just my recommendation to go ahead and get prices in the same format we have in the past while evaluating other opportunities. Despite the organization dissolving, residents of Oak Park will continue to benefit every day from the work that the VMA has done to make Oak Park what it is today, said VMA President Lynn Kamenitsa. From its roots in fighting for a village manager form of government, to its legacy in promoting fair housing, to its many years of ensuring Oak Parkers had well-qualified candidates on the ballot, the members and supporters of the VMA have helped shape the village. Are we ever going to get to one system that encapsulates both? How do we reconcile with our parents if we have two (school) grades that are not even close, he said. What does that say about our schools and our districts? Trimming the debt was one of the objectives of the state when it hired Gary Schools Recovery. The DUAB offered performance-based incentives up to $1.45 million over two years, in part, for decreasing the districts debt. Smith introduced the informant to Truitt as the undercover agents waited in a vehicle, and the informant said he had $2,000 to purchase the firearms, according to court documents. Graham then lifted his shirt and displayed to the informant an unknown caliber firearm in the waistline of his pants, the complaint states. Truitt asked the informant where the money was. Councilwoman Margaret Uzelac, D-4th, said her constituents miss the former Strack & Van Til location and that a grocer is the ideal choice for the location. There are already several storage facilities in the 4th Ward, she said. The lease, renewed multiple times after it was first signed in 1999, was last extended by commissioners for 10 years in 2014, even though the county was only two years into a seven-year agreement with the building owner at the time. Additionally, the lease agreement wasnt on the agenda for the 2014 meeting when commissioners extended the lease, a meeting at which one commissioner and the only one who is still on the board was absent due to illness. Each year, the FBI releases its hate crime statistics where law enforcement agencies submit data to the reports. Between 2007 and 2016, Munster, Hammond, Highland and Portage reported at least one or more hate crime incident in their jurisdiction, the reports show. Indiana, however, is one of a few states with no specific hate crime legislation on the books. He was told that a Real ID-compliant credential is now required for everyone applying for a new Indiana drivers license, learners permit, or state identification card. Applicants must bring original versions or certified copies of certain documents to a BMV branch to prove their identity, Social Security number, lawful status in the United States, and Indiana residency. To the Quickly reader who sees nothing but pro-Trump comments in real life but just the opposite in Quickly: it is because of the kind of people you hang around with. Educated people with jobs are going to be pro-Trump because they can relate to his vision and have no bitterness from Hillary's loss over 500 days ago. Anti-Trump people have been avoiding getting a job or getting schooled and are still hoping for that big payout the Democrats promised them for the last elections. I voted for Trump in the last election because of the great improvements he wanted to do for our country. I voted against Hillary because of the corrupt union funding backing her up-she would have Illinoized the USA. But I cannot believe all of the witch hunts the Democrats keep creating that keep our president from accomplishing all of his great objectives. Is this never going to end? The poor man spends half of his time fighting off witches and that prevents us middle class working families from reaping all of the benefits of his wisdom. Is this the way it is going to be from now on? According to Jeff Sessions, who cited the Bible for support, anything Trump and his Republican government decide to do is right and good, because God has ordained it. That includes (and excuses) taking children from their parents. So much for the separation of church and state. We are rapidly becoming a theocracy. Prosecutors said Brooks could have been sentenced to as many as 15 years in prison on the felony theft charge alone. They said she was charged with felony official misconduct because she stole the money from a government institution, in that case a school. Pueblo's 9 most haunted hangouts Pueblo is home to a diverse and complex history. It is also home to these 9 haunted houses and hangouts. You are here: Arts Filmmakers from China and Pakistan announced Thursday that they will jointly produce a movie on international trade cooperation along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The movie named "The Journey" will tell stories of Chinese businesses participating in the construction of the corridor in response to the Belt and Road Initiative, said Wang Haiping, director of the scriptwriting committee of the China Television Artists Association. "The intimate friendship of the people from the two countries will be highlighted in the movie," he said at the ongoing first Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) film festival in Qingdao, Shandong Province. Wang, also scriptwriter of the movie, said the movie will be based on real life stories. Chinese and Pakistani parties will cooperate in scriptwriting, shooting, post-production, and screening of the movie, according to Wang. Shooting is expected to start in early 2019. As a major cultural exchange activity following the recent SCO summit in Qingdao, a five-day SCO film festival has attracted films produced in the past two years by 12 countries, including 23 vying for the film awards and 55 slated for screening. The 49th edition of Art Basel opened to the public on Thursday with Chinese artists also making a show in the thousands of artworks displayed by galleries from 35 countries and regions. Held at the Messe Basel exhibition hall, the event will run through June 17 in the northwest Switzerland city on the Rhine River that is renowned for its art world. The commercial exhibits of Art Basel are considered the world's premier fair. The nearby Basel Art Museum or the Kunstmuseum, as it is often known, with its more traditional works has special opening times during the exhibition as it features parallel shows at other museums in the city. It is reported that 6 galleries are making their Basel debut this year, including White Space Beijing, Los Angeles' Freedman Fitzpatrick, and New York's Essex Street Gallery. Last year more than 95,000 visitors came to this medieval Swiss city for Art Basel. Art Basel brings the international art world together, with 290 of the world's leading galleries showing the works of over 4,000 artists. Among the Chinese artists displayed is Yu Hong from Beijing's Long March Space with his 2017 work -- Old Man Yu Gong Is Still Moving Away Mountains. ARTnews said that Art Basel main sector is titled Galleries and that "by some measures, the participants in this section are the most significant galleries in the world for modern and contemporary art". Swissinfo, the website of the national broadcaster reported, "Art Basel and its circus is mainly about the arts market: a perfect setting for packaged artworks, buyers and sellers, whereas artists are just supporting actors, at best." The English version of Death Notice, a popular Chinese crime fiction by contemporary writer Zhou Haohui, was published in Britain Thursday. The crime thriller has been sold more than 1.2 million copies in China. The translated story, set in southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu, follows an elite police squad as they hunt a vengeful killer who sends death notices to and then executes criminals the law cannot reach. Its British publisher, Head of Zeus, introduced the book on its website as "a hi-octane, hi-concept, cat-and-mouse thriller that adds an exhilarating new gear to the police procedural". Nicolas Cheetham, publisher of Head of Zeus, told Xinhua that he was struck by the book's "exemplary plotting and pace", and the final twist in particular is brilliantly done. He believed that good stories, helped by good translation, can transcend national borders and win the hearts of global readers. "Certainly that is so for science fiction and crime fiction," he suggested, "the most important thing about a translation is that it shouldn't read like a translation. So you need, first and foremost, a good translator." The translator Zac Haluza, currently lives in Shanghai, is a freelance translator and writer from the United States. Head of Zeus is building a list of the best genre fiction from around the world, including historical fiction, science fiction, romance, and crime fiction. "Chinese fiction is a particular focus," Cheetham told Xinhua, noting that they had published Liu Cixin's Three-Body trilogy to huge success, with 400,000 copies sold to date, and they have books coming from a selection of China's best science fiction writers. "Given the success of Chinese science fiction in our market, it is not surprising that we started looking for the best in Chinese crime fiction," he added. A leading contemporary master of suspense in China, Zhou Haohui is the author of more than ten novels exploring the intersection of human nature, criminal motive, and the art of detection. Zhou's works have been translated into French, English, Korean, and Japanese, and many have been adapted for film and television. A documentary in development about a Chinese plastic surgeon who is also a performance artist has won the Whickers Film and TV Funding Award at the Sheffield International Documentary Festival in the United Kingdom. This means its producers will receive 80,000 pounds ($106,700) in prize money to finish it. The documentary Mirror Mirror on the Wall is being co-produced by Berlin-based DOCDAYS Productions and Hong Kong-based CNEX Foundation. Its director is Sascha Schoberl, a German moviemaker who lives in Beijing. The film follows a plastic surgeon who seeks to build a large social media following by livestreaming surgical procedures. The surgeon, whose name is secret until post-production, also conducts surgery-themed art performances. Harriet Armston-Clarke, one of the competition's judges, said the film provides a critique on the concepts of beauty and fame in the social media age. "It really gets under the skin of our beauty-obsessed world, putting selfie-culture on the operating table and calling into question the impact this is having on us all both as individuals and society," she said. Schoberl said he sought to reveal how social media has joined the movie and advertising industries in promoting unreasonable beauty standards. "No matter which country you live in, we all experience the magic mirror," Schoberl said. "On social media, other people's lives seem more perfect than our own. Women are prettier, younger and thinner, men are more buff and more successful." Schoberl said he has shot 60 percent of the documentary and, with the help of the Whickers funding, he will finish the project. "China has the most developed social media industry," Schoberl said. "Social media is the new performance stage. So, this is also a story about modern China. However, the greed for attention is an international phenomenon, and I want this story to be a conversation starter. I want the viewer to reflect on how much power we want to give those likes'." The other finalists in the competition were from the Philippines, Japan, Spain and another production from China. The other documentary from China, Where the Peach is in Bloom, follows the lives of teenagers at a Chinese juvenile reform school. It is being directed by Jiang Chunhua, a graduate student at the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts in Beijing, and is being produced by CNEX Foundation. Second place in the competition, and a 15,000-pound prize, went to Disappearing Village, a documentary about a sake brewer who tries to reverse the fortunes of a struggling community in rural Japan by starting up an organic rice farm. It is being directed by Japanese moviemaker Megumi Inman and produced by UK-based Sweet Take Studios. China will speed up the drafting and implementation of rules and regulations on carbon emissions trading, a senior official said on Wednesday after the country celebrated its sixth Low Carbon Day, an annual event launched in 2013 by the State Council to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Speaking at a seminar on carbon emissions trading in Beijing, Li Gao, director of climate change at the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, said documents already published will be amended if State Council institutional reforms require such action. According to the reforms, the task of tackling climate change has been transferred to the ministry from the National Development and Reform Commission, the top economic planner. Carbon emissions trading will be launched nationwide, first in the power generation sector and gradually extended to other industries, Li said. The NDRC published a carbon emissions trading plan for the power generation industry in December, marking the start of the construction of a national carbon emissions trading system, he added. Under the system, enterprises are assigned emissions quotas, and those producing more than their share are allowed to buy unused quotas on the market. He said his department will help government bodies and power generation enterprises be better prepared for the coming carbon emissions trading platform, and training will be provided. The country launched a pilot carbon emissions trading program in 2011 in seven regions, including Beijing, Shanghai and Hubei province. By the end of September, pilot programs in these regions covered almost 3,000 entities from more than 20 industrial sectors, according to a 2017 report published by the NDRCs Energy Research Institute. Li said no more pilot regions will be added, and his department will discuss with the seven pilot regions on how best to proceed toward a unified nationwide carbon market platform. According to its Paris Agreement pledges, China will have to reduce carbon emissions per unit of GDP by 60 to 65 percent by 2030 from 2005 levels. Xie Zhenhua, Chinas special representative on climate change, said at a March summit that the country reached its 2020 carbon emissions target last year. By the end of 2017, China had cut carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 46 percent from 2005 levels, Xie was quoted by Xinhua News Agency as saying. China has recently started building a new cutter-suction dredger that its designer called the biggest and best of its kind in Asia. This type of dredger is known as an "island-maker" due to such ships' major role in land reclamation. Construction of the new vessel, which has yet to be named, began in mid-May at Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Co in Guangzhou, a subsidiary of the industry giant China State Shipbuilding Corp. It is expected to take about a year, according to Zhang Xiaofeng, the ship's chief designer at the Marine Design and Research Institute in Shanghai, one of CSSC's research arms. Zhang told China Daily in an exclusive interview that engineers and workers are building the ship's primary sections. It is scheduled to be moved into water in mid-2019. He said the vessel will be 148 meters long, have a fullload displacement of 18,700 metric tons, and will be capable of breaking and dredging coral reef or hard rocks from 38 meters below the sea's surface. After sand, clay, rock or crushed coral is drawn out of the waters, it can be conveyed as far as 15 kilometers away from the ship thanks to the world's most powerful and longest conveyance system. Suctioned material can be piled up to form new land. The new ship's cutters will be stronger and more powerful than those mounted on its predecessors, enabling the vessel to deal with harder rock and more complex seabed conditions, the chief designer said. China has been advancing so fast in the field of cutter-suction dredgers that every few months it produces anew entry at the top of the rankings of Asia's largest and most powerful "island-maker". Before the new ship takes its place in the rankings, the crown is being held by Tiankun, which just finished its first sea trial and is set to be delivered to the user soon. Before Tiankun, the Tianjing, a vessel codesigned by Chinese and German engineers and now deployed by China Communications Construction Co's Tianjin Dredging Co, had been Asia's No 1 dredger for more than seven years and had taken part in land reclamation operations in the South China Sea. In addition to cutter-suction dredgers, other types of dredgers have recently been designed by the Marine Design and Research Institute such as trailing suction hopper dredgers. Such dredgers are often used to maintain navigable waterways or to build new land, according to the institute, which is now building four trailing suction hopper dredgers. The Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs published a notice in May 2017 that no individual or entity is allowed to export large dredgers unless it is expressly permitted by the government. Beijing's sub-center will upgrade its public transportation network through various projects this year, including the construction of the Guangqu Road Bus Rapid Transit System (Guangqu Road BRT) and the Tuqiao Bus Center Station, as well as the continued optimization of its bus routes, according to the Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission. The Guangqu Road BRT project, which connects downtown Beijing to its sub-center, officially started construction on May 28. The project plans to set up 16 pairs of stations on a 26-kilometer BRT system that starts from the Guangqumen Bridge on the East Second Ring Road and goes all the way to the East Xiaoying Bus Center Station in Tongzhou district. The project integrates transportation facilities such as bus lanes, elevated expressways and underground tunnels along the line, which will effectively shorten travel time and increase the transportation efficiency between downtown Beijing and the city's sub-center. The Tuqiao Bus Center Station is located at the northeast corner of the junction of Linheli Road and Jiukeshu East Road in Tongzhou district. The station covers 29,000 square meters. Once completed, the project will become the only pure electric bus station in the sub-center as well as in Tongzhou. With a daily charging capacity to serve 210 vehicles, the station will play a leading role in promoting new energy vehicles in both the sub-center and Tongzhou district. In addition, the Beijing Public Transport Group is continuingly optimizing and adjusting the bus routes. At present, 82 regular bus routes travel across Tongzhou, bringing convenience to residents in downtown Beijing, Tongzhou, and the neighboring counties and cities in Hebei province. The formation of the new Italian government is widely considered a threat for the EU. The collaboration between the country's anti-establishment Five-Star Movement and the far-right League party empowers two euroskeptic political parties to bring their agenda to the European level and push for its implementation. As the inaugural speech of the Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte in Parliament indicated, his government intends to increase spending, support economic growth, introduce a flat tax, overcome the Dublin Regulations governing asylum-seekers in the EU, and search for an opening up with Russia. Attention has naturally turned toward the economic program of the new Italian government, which is not in line with the European fiscal pact. As opposed to the German-led emphasis on austerity, Italy seems determined to change course, or at least achieve some flexibility due to the country's ongoing hardship. As a matter of principle, Germany will disagree and reject such an approach, just as it has in the past. Aftercomingto power in January 2015 and similarly questioning its country's bailout agreements, Greece's Syriza party was ultimately forced to accept the austerity requirements pushed by Germany. Of course, the case of Italy is different from that of Greece. Italy is the third-most powerful economy in the eurozone and its debt equals 2.3 trillion euros (US$2.7 trillion). Out of this debt, Italians hold 1.5 trillioneurosand foreigners 732 billioneuros. This means that a bailout decision could not be easily made due to the large amount of money required. The exposure of foreign creditors to the Italian debt is not insignificant either. More importantly, the Italian crisis if uncontrolled might pose a systemic risk for the eurozone, principally for debt-ridden Spain. The Five-Star Movement and the League will have the opportunity to challenge the German economic logic of Europe if they are prepared not to clash with the EU but instead to be engaged in serious and careful negotiations, as well as to accept compromises. In such a scenario, the EU will find it hard to remain adamant about its initial positions. Its image in Italy is already negative, and will further deteriorate if it continues todictateausterity measures. A recent Eurobarometer survey suggests that only 39 percent of respondents in Italy regard their country's membership in the EU a "good thing." Rules have to be respected, especially by countries wishing to be equal members in the eurozone and to cover existing gaps due to their maladministration. Italy is one of them. However, taking into account that EU leaders never acted in good times in preparation for bad times, they now need to combine the need of fiscal discipline with some room for growth. Unemployed citizens and young people who have lost their hope for a bright future deserve better treatment than lessons about the importance of austerity. Euroskepticismis not only a smart tactic used by the populist politicians of different member states but also a widespread tendency in European societies. Even in Spain, where 68 percent of respondents consider their country's membership in the EU a "good thing" according to Eurobarometer, disenchantment with the modus operandi of Brussels in times of crisis is straightforward. The new prime minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, is more moderate and pro-EU in comparison to the leaders of the Five-Star Movement and the League. Nevertheless, as the Financial Times reveals, he is "more in line with France than Germany" in pursuing a eurozone reform project that includes greater economic and financial cooperation between member nations.The situation in Spain, unlike that in Italy, is not politically worrying for the EU. Even if Sanchez, who lacks a majority in the parliament, calls a snap election in the medium term, the pro-EU character of the most important political parties is not questioned. Spain is facing its own internal problems such as the fate of Catalonia and therefore seeks no clash with the EU. Only the leftist Podemos party iseuroskeptic, but the capitulation ofSyrizain Greece has made it less ambitious. At present, most analysts are focusing on the differences between Italy and Spain, and are stigmatizing the new government of the former. But the reality is that both seek a change in Europe's course. In fact, it is primarily their style that differs, which is why the new Italian government of Conte needs to soften its tone and take advantage of its momentum. Surprisingly,FrenchPresident Emmanuel Macron will find in Italy and Spain two important partners in his effort to persuade German Chancellor Angela Merkel to accept his plan for a new EU. That is excellent news for Europe. George N. Tzogopoulos is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/GeorgeNTzogopoulos.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. Flash Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday in Beijing. Yang, also director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, said a healthy and stable development of China-U.S. relations is in the fundamental interests of both peoples. He expressed hope that the United States will work with China to expand practical cooperation in various fields, properly handle differences and promote the bilateral ties for bigger progress. Pompeo said the United States adheres to the one-China policy, and stands ready to enhance cooperation with China in order to make bilateral relations more fruitful. They also exchanged views on the Korean Peninsula issue. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Pompeo on Thursday. Wang said China and the United States have wide and important common interests. He called on the United States to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by their leaders and promote a healthy development of bilateral ties. Wang called on both sides to constantly inject impetus into their cooperation, and settle the trade issues properly with a win-win approach. He said the two countries should be aware that common interests as well as dialogue and cooperation remain the mainstream of the China-U.S. relationship, and both sides should respect each other's core interests and major concerns, adding that he hopes the United States will firmly adhere to the one-China principle and handle Taiwan-related issues properly. The meeting between the leaders of the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has important historic significance, as it brought the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue onto the right track of dialogue and peaceful settlement, Wang said. China will continue its constructive role in the political settlement of the Peninsula nuclear issue, he said. You are here: World Flash U.S. President Donald Trump was enraged on Thursday after his charitable foundation was accused of illegal conduct. New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood sued the Donald J. Trump Foundation along with its directors -- the president and three of his children -- in State Supreme Court in Manhattan earlier in the day. The lawsuit accused the foundation of illegally coordinating with Trump's presidential campaign, "repeated and willful self-dealing transactions" and failing to follow related laws for over a decade. The complaint alleges that the Trump Foundation engaged in repeated and willful self-dealing transactions to benefit Trump's personal and business interests. Underwood asked a court to dissolve the foundation and order it to pay a fine of 2.8 million U.S. dollars. Trump immediately attacked the lawsuit, calling it in a Twitter post as a "ridiculous case," claiming that he would not settle it. Three of Trump's children, Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump, were also named as defendants in the lawsuit, adding to legal challenges facing the president. The foundation, based in New York, was established by Trump in 1988. Flash Ex-FBI Director James Comey deviated from norms of the agency and the Department of Justice (DOJ) in handling the probe of Hillary Clinton's use of private email server, according to an internal report released on Thursday. The report, conducted by Inspector General Michael Horowitz, also concluded that Comey's decisions during the 2016 U.S. presidential election race were not driven by political bias to help either side. The highly-anticipated report found that Comey was insubordinate when making some key decisions with regard to the probe of Clinton's email use while she was secretary of state, including his public announcement in July 2016 that there would be no charges against Clinton. The former FBI chief was accused of violating DOJ policy by revealing days before the election that the agency was examining new materials possible relevant to the Clinton probe, a decision that, as Clinton has argued, contributed to her loss in the race. In addition, the report was highly critical of two FBI staff members who exchanged highly charged political messages, finding that their texts created the appearance of bias and cast cloud over the FBI. "While we did not find that these decisions were the result of political bias on Comey's part, we nevertheless concluded that by departing so clearly and dramatically from FBI and department norms, the decisions negatively impacted the perception of the FBI and the department," the report read. In response to the report, Comey tweeted that he respects the Inspector General's office and the "conclusions are reasonable," even though he disagreed with some of them. He said that "people of good faith" can see the "unprecedented situation differently." Comey was fired by President Donald Trump in May 2017, which led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller, who is looking into whether the president obstructed justice in the Russia probe, among other things. Trump has repeatedly criticized Comey for his handling of the Clinton probe and also targeted the FBI and the DOJ, which analysts say were intended to undermine the Mueller probe. At the White House briefing Thursday, press secretary Sarah Sanders said the report is reaffirming Trump's suspicions about the "political bias among some of the members of the FBI." Mark Wilson/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- The top federal ethics official is pressuring the Environmental Protection Agency's watchdog to look into new questions raised about Administrator Scott Pruitt's conduct- and to finish those investigations as soon as possible. Friday's letter is the second time that allegations against Pruitt have caught the attention of the highest-ranking official in the Office of Government Ethics, which is responsible for oversight of ethical questions in the executive branch. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee recently released testimony from one of Pruitt's aides, Millan Hupp, in which she said she was asked to help Pruitt find a new apartment and even try to purchase a used mattress from the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. Chick-fil-A also confirmed that an EPA aide set up a meeting with Pruitt where he asked about setting up a franchise for his wife, which was first reported by the Washington Post. The reports that Pruitt directed EPA aides to help him with personal favors or used his influence as EPA administrator to help his wife get a job have raised questions about whether he broke rules that prohibit government officials from using their office for personal gain or directing subordinates to do personal favors for them on government time. Acting Director of the Office of Government Ethics David Apol wrote to the EPA's independent internal watchdog on Friday asking him to expand ongoing investigations to include whether Pruitt misused his position by asking subordinates at EPA to help him look for housing and furniture, asking his security detail to complete personal errands, and whether he used his official position to seek business opportunities for his wife. Apol cited reports in the Washington Post, New York Times, and Wall Street Journal from the last week. "We ask you to complete your report, as soon as possible, so that we can decide when to begin a formal corrective action proceeding and make a recommendation to the President," Apol wrote in the letter to EPA inspector general Arthur Elkins. A "formal corrective proceeding" refers to a process laid out under federal law where the Office of Government Ethics can initiate its own procedure to recommend disciplinary action against an employee who violates ethics rules if the agency investigation is taking too long or if the broader office has reason to believe there are violations the agency did not address. In this case, if Apol had reason to believe that Pruitt violated an ethics rule that, for some reason, was not addressed in the inspector general report, the broader ethics office could make its own recommendation to the president on what kind of disciplinary action should be taken. President Donald Trump said Friday that he is "not happy" about some of the stories about Pruitt but still praised his work at the EPA. "I'm looking at Scott and Scott's done a fantastic job at EPA but you know well, I'm not happy about certain things I'll be honest. I'm not happy about certain things but he's done a fantastic job running the EPA," Trump told reporters on Friday. Former director of the Office of Government Ethics Walter Schaub tweeted that Pruitt's ethical issues will be a case study for future ethics officials after the letter was released. Schaub, who ran the ethics office under the Obama administration until he resigned last year, said earlier this week that Pruitt would have been fired under previous administrations. Apol also wrote to the EPA's general counsel in April, which prompted the inspector general to expand ongoing investigations into Pruitt's actions since taking office. The EPA inspector general is already looking into ethical questions around Pruitt's use of subordinates time, whether he retaliated against employees who raised concerns about his decisions, the cost of his travel and security detail and his living arrangement in a Capitol Hill condo connected to lobbyists. The chairman of the Senate committee with oversight of EPA Sen. Mike Barrasso, R-Wyo., wrote to appropriations committee to make sure that the EPA inspector general's office is fully funded in the 2019 fiscal year. Elkins previously wrote that a proposed funding cut to his office "will virtually eliminate the [office of the inspector general's] ability to conduct discretionary audits." A spokeswoman for the EPA inspector general said they had not yet received Apol's letter at the time it was publicly released on Friday. More than 100 members of Congress, including some Republicans, have called on Trump to fire Pruitt or for the administrator to step aside amid the allegations of misconduct. This past week some of Pruitt's staunchest defenders began to doubt whether he should stay in office, saying that the reports show unethical conduct that is a distraction for the administration. "This is no way for any public official to treat taxpayers. It also makes it practically impossible for Pruitt to make the case for the Trump administrations environmental policies a case that we continue to believe deserves to be made," the editorial board of the conservative magazine the National Review wrote. Conservative Fox News commentator Laura Ingraham also called for Pruitt to resign or be fired this week, saying that his "bad judgment" is hurting the president. "I'm sorry but he's hurting the president, he's hurting the president because he has, I'm sorry, bad judgment after bad judgment after bad judgment. The money you want to spend whether its redecorating your office, if you want to drain the swamp you've gotta have people in it who forego personal benefits and don't send your aides around doing personal errands on the taxpayers dime because you make everyone else look bad," Ingraham said in an interview on her radio show with one of Pruitt's longtime supporters, Oklahoma Sen. James Inhofe. Inhofe, a Republican on the Senate committee with oversight of EPA, said he had to agree "100 percent" that the news around Pruitt hurt the administration, even though he still considers himself Pruitt's friend and supporter. "I'm afraid my good friend Scott Pruitt has done some things that really surprise me," Inhofe said in the interview. Inhofe didn't go as far as Ingraham in calling on the president to fire the EPA administrator but said he wants to talk to Pruitt about his concerns. "He's capable of doing the job but he needs to do the job and quit worrying about all these other things because every day something new comes out. So I've kind of taken the position that if that doesn't stop I'm going to be forced to be in a position where I'm going to say 'Scott you're not doing your job," he said. Other members of the Environment and Public Works Committee, including Republicans, have called for Pruitt to answer questions about his conduct in front of the committee. The committee's chairman has said he is following the results of the pending investigations into Pruitt's conduct and plans to hold a hearing later this year but a date has not yet been set. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. China Aviation Daily | Jun. 15, 2018 With the peak summer season just a flip flop away, Cyprus' largest airline, Cobalt Air, has unveiled Cobalt Holidays, offering great package deals on flights and accommodation across its network. The new website, www.cobaltholidays.com, enables passengers to book air fares and hotels in one single booking, without the need for a deposit. The website enables passengers to make the most of discounted rates when booking their Cobalt flight and hotel together. Catering for the backpacker through to the well-heeled traveller, Cobalt Holidays offers a cost-effective and convenient solution with properties ranging from hostels and b&bs to five-star hotels, but all at great prices. With its home base in Larnaca and a network covering over 20 destinations around the world, Cobalt has gone from strength to strength since commencing revenue scheduled flights in 2016. Earlier this month it announced an interline agreement with Etihad Airways, significantly increasing its reach in the Middle East. The launch of Cobalt Holidays further expands the scope of its business. There's a vast range of properties to choose from in Cyprus, with inbound packages available for Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Protaras, Ayia Napa and Paphos. Cobalt's extensive network means there are also plenty of options for those wanting to book a sun-kissed getaway in destinations such as Mykonos, Crete, Beirut, Tel Aviv, Athens and Abu Dhabi. Whether it's a family of four looking for a quiet getaway in Thessaloniki or young travellers wanting a long weekend partying in Ayia Napa, Cobalt Holidays offers an easy one-stop solution for all travel requirements. A visit to the site shows that there are still hundreds of many great value holidays available this Summer. Paul Simmons, CCO of Cobalt Air, commented: "We are thrilled to be launching Cobalt Holidays. The new website is an exciting addition to our portfolio and it is in direct response to demand from our customer base of savvy travellers who want to know they are getting the best deal. Being the biggest airline in Cyprus, we are passionate about all that this year round friendly sunshine Mediterranean island has to offer. Our prime objective is to provide value and choice." Contributed by Cobalt Air 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 Leung remains deeply committed to the nation's opening-up Updated: 2018-06-15 07:24 (HK Edition) Former CE is on a lifelong crusade to promote a stronger economy through greater global ties, Honey Tsang reports. It was May 16, the rainy season in Cambodia's central lowlands, where Leung Chun-ying jostled along on a hot, steamy morning, on the two-and-a-half hour drive along the banks of the Mekong River, from Phnom Penh International Airport to Kampong Cham, a southeastern province of Cambodia. It's a pleasant drive over the 123 km from the capital, tracing the banks of one of the world's great rivers, now in flood, passing through tranquil rural landscapes and quaint villages, dotted with houses and hovels. The province, stretching lazily along the bank, is little known to outsiders, except for tourists who travel the desolate backroad to the Haong waterfall to receive blessings from the solitary monk resident there. But Hong Kong's former chief executive is on a journey down the Silk Road, the fulfillment of a personal vision that traces back to his youth, when he was a still a student, attending university in the UK. Finally the car pulled into the driveway of the LBN Asian Hotel, along the river bank. Leung is meeting with a medical team of eight from Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. Four of the team members are ophthalmologists, the other four are nurses. All are volunteers to the humanitarian campaign organized by Leung. That campaign is to provide free surgery to save the eyesight of some 8,000 cataract sufferers in Cambodia's most populous province. Cambodia is a developing nation along One Belt One Road trade route. Leung's initiative, known officially as the Belt and Road Cataract Blindness Eradication Campaign, aims to restore normal vision to cataract patients in the province. Leung started work last September, enlisting surgeons from Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland; reaching out to the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and to the Chinese business community in Cambodia. It took eight months before the moment when surgery commenced and Leung arrived in Kampong Cham to coordinate the work. "We're keen to set a good example for Chinese that we not only run businesses in Belt and Road countries, but also incline to give away our resources to communities overseas," Leung told China Daily in an one-on-one interview upon his arrival. The surgery program, which goes beyond the traditional economic and commercial ties between countries, is a campaign aimed at helping real people with real problems. The result is expected to build a strong medical partnership between the mainland, Hong Kong and Cambodia. The project reveals much about Leung, the Hong Kong SAR's former chief executive and now vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Sitting in his hotel room, in pink linen shirt and in high spirits, one might have expected him to be exhausted after his hours-long expedition from Hong Kong to Cambodia in the early morning. Instead, he was buoyed by the queue of people seeking help. He opened up to China Daily, in about how the project came to be over a span of decades. One leads to another Leung, now 63, has blazed a long trail of helping what have become Belt and Road countries. His zeal to pitch in began with China's reform and opening-up - the national policy laid out in 1978. Leung saw the new economic policy as the spur to national economic rejuvenation. That was 40 years ago. Leung had just graduated from the Bristol Polytechnic, now known as the University of the West of England, and was ready to become an active crusader, on China's march toward opening-up. In 1979, one of Leung's closest schoolmates graduated as a PhD in Physics from the UK and went to mainland with resolve. He pitched himself to the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, and had been worked there for over a decade ever since. He'd greatly enlightened Leung on his later devotion to expediting China's urbanization. Leung and his friends became part of the unfolding of the Chinese economic miracle that saw 800 million Chinese people lifted from poverty, establishing the nation as the world's second largest economy. Its per capita GDP has soared from $100 to over $8,000 today. "We, as college students, cared very much about China's development. Many of us aspired to return and serve the country," he told China Daily. Some even plucked up courage to knock on the door of the Chinese embassy in the UK, to pitch their credentials for work opportunities in China. Leung opted to return to Hong Kong. He signed up to the Association of Experts for the Modernization of China, a self-run organization made up of local professionals. There were lawyers, accountants, engineers, architects, planners and surveyors - all set on offering good counsel to mainland officials, in areas such as urban planning, land auctions, property rights and so on. They'd held conviction that the opening-up policy was to lift the nationwide economy from ground up. The association was founded by 30 or so Hong Kong professionals in 1979, a year after the launch of the opening-up scheme. During the late 1970s to 1980s, the members toiled themselves away, staunchly developing the once barren Shekou into today's pivotal industrial district in Shenzhen. One of them was Leung himself. Leung's degree was in valuation and estate management. He was asked to help formulate the nation's first Special Economic Zone in Shenzhen. There were plenty of officials who wanted to absorb Hong Kong's expertise and Leung found himself bouncing back and forth between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, giving counsel on how Hong Kong ran its land use system and property market. "When the Chinese mainland was in the first few years of opening-up, it was still an underdeveloped and isolated place," the form CE said of the late-1970's landscape of the mainland. He described trekking over countless miles across the boundary, trying to do his part to help the nation's rapid economic growth. He acted as a tutor - holding forth in a small stone-clad cottage in Shekou - which was later dubbed "Yan'an University" by the students. He had to start from scratch, his students, officials and city officials were virtually clueless on the subject. He was nervous. The majority were political veterans, a good deal older than Leung. On top of that, he could barely speak Mandarin. Much of his message had to be filtered through interpreters. The infrastructure at Shenzhen at the time was rudimentary at best, leading to exhausting entanglements commuting across the boundary, especially when the boundary posts closed at 5 pm sharp, every day. "Or we wouldn't have enough time to get things done," Leung recounted. The early closures also required that Leung and his associates spent the night across the boundary. Accommodation wasn't very welcoming. There was a hostel, now called the Overseas Chinese Building Hotel, next to the Luohu Port. Leung recalled having to queue up for meals, meal voucher in hand. "We even had to sleep in the hallway (sometimes), or worse, by the washrooms in a sting environment, during peak season when all rooms were rented out." Most of Leung's expenses came out of his own pocket. "It's axiomatic to say that I'm a Chinese. I steeled myself to engage in the national development because I wanted China to thrive," he said with a smile. In 1978, the people crossing the boundary numbered only about 40 people daily. It's a stark contrast to today's bilateral flow of hundreds of thousands of visitors, to and from Shenzhen, he added. The mainland boundary city in the intervening years has been transformed from a city of 300,000-populated fishing village into today's metropolis with over 12.5 million residents, now hailed as the world's next Silicon Valley, generating 2.2 trillion yuan last year. The year 1988 saw Leung's breakthrough. China had opened up to foreign investment and he made certain he was a participant in that milestone. His first effort was to help settle the nation's first international bidding for land leases. It was a 1.29-hectare plot in Hongqiao District in Shanghai. A Japanese real estate developer finally was awarded the lease, but more importantly, the deal opened up the land-lease market to worldwide investors. The success of the bid has opened the door to foreign investment flowing into the mainland through land leases. The inflow of large amounts of foreign cash paid for local infrastructure and investment in more land lease projects. It's how many of China's modern, urbanized metropolises were built. The first wave of construction came around 1991 in Shanghai. In just over 30 years the city has transformed into a vibrant metropolis, a compelling cityscape of landmark architecture, and glamour. Leung was a part of all that - and he's still amazed by the transformation. "Now, the mainland has world's highest home ownership rate, which is a very remarkable achievement," he added. "The bid later set the nation's home ownership reform in motion, and gave rise to the high home ownership rate across the Chinese mainland." Leung had also suggested the Shanghai government to embark on housing reform. Later in 1993, the government inaugurated the sales of 83 blocks of public housing, which laid the foundation of affordable and investable housing for the grassroots. Over the past 40 years, China has undergone major transformations, from 1980's rural household contract responsibility system, to the formation of seven Special Economic Zones and to the establishment of 11 pilot, free trade zones, all the major thrusts forward. Now with the One Belt One Road Initiative, Leung remains fully engaged. His cataract eradication campaign in Cambodia is part of the opening up, even though it has no commercial elements. Nation and city Having spent around four decades serving the nation and the city where he was born and raised, the fourth-term chief executive of the HKSAR said, in conclusion, there are two things that have been of utmost importance in his life. "One is of that I engaged myself in the entire process of the handover of Hong Kong in 1997," said Leung. He contributed to the consultation and later to the drafting of the Basic Law between 1988 and 1990. "The second is that I had involved in works that helped our nation prosper since the opening-up. It's been my lifelong honor," he cited. For much of his life, Leung has dedicated himself to integrating Hong Kong with the motherland, even prior and during handover. He voices amazement at the influence the opening-up policy has had on Hong Kong's economy over the past 40 years. One thing that strikes him most was the changeover of the city's manufacturing industry. After 1978, the sector began to expand as local factories progressively moved to the Pearl River Delta region and tapped into its resources and cost-effective labor market. The change was disruptive and might have meant the loss of a million jobs. Local factory workers laboring in mundane production, making watches, textiles and plastic goods might have ended up on the streets, along with their families. Instead, the workers adapted, and became part of the city's burgeoning service sector. The retail, hotel and food industry then blossomed. There was a sea change from blue-collar to white-collar work, from manual to intellectual work. The transition became the underpinning of today's Hong Kong economy, generating 92.2 percent of the city's total gross domestic product in 2016. "It seemed miraculous to see how Hong Kong local enterprises tapped into the opportunities offered by the reform. They've developed from local enterprises, to large-scale firms, with roots in the mainland, then they grew into international conglomerates within only 40 years," he added. Leung spoke with enthusiasm about the economic miracle, noting its role in spurring multilateral trade and foreign investment. Connect to the world From his youth, Leung has held to his conviction that urbanization was the way of the future. He made his contribution, helped to propel him into the political arena - and all the way to the top of the ladder. He was elected chief executive, in 2012. Today, a year since he stepped down, he's still striving for stronger economies, for the betterment of people everywhere. And thus, finds himself in Cambodia, leading the Guangxi medical team that's doing cataract surgery at Kampong Cham Provincial Hospital. The day after his arrival in Cambodia, Leung stood beside a group of patients who underwent cataract surgery the day before. He walked up to an old lady, reached out to take off the patch from her right eye. A second later, both of them were joyous, for one that was glad, after living with cataract for years, to be able to see again, and for one that could bright brightness to her and many other Cambodians. Up until that point, over 440 local patients had undergone cataract surgery by the Guangxi volunteer medical team. Leung referred to previous efforts that had offered only short-term solutions for cataract patients. Medical teams stayed in place for weeks or months but many patients who were in need were unable to make the journey to have the surgery. This time, Leung said the campaign is committed to root out the cataract problem, relieving approximately 8,000 cases, in Kampong Cham, over 18 months. "Our Chinese medical team will stay until the last cataract patient in the province undergoes the surgery," Leung said with resolve. The campaign is conceived and run under the Belt and Road framework. It itself is in pursuit of the principle of "achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration", a major part of the initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, Leung stressed. Leung also credits Chinese businessmen like those belonging to the China Hong Kong & Macao Expatriate & Business Association of Cambodia, who promoted the campaign through their local network and donated a minibus to fetch cataract patients. Leung suggested the youth in Hong Kong should visit the mainland more frequently to keep track of the nation's rapid development. He believes young people would no doubt see business opportunities. And with a more connected infrastructure set to be in service, including the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the Hong Kong's aspiring youths could get around to visit the mainland daily with ease. "They can now flex their muscles on the mainland business stage, without having to live on the mainland." Leung said he will do his best implementing future Belt and Road campaigns - be it economic or people-to-people efforts such as medical, educational and cultural exchange. Their intention is to meld the nation with neighboring countries, creating deeper, broader bonds and the brighter prospect of "shared prosperity." Contact the writer at honeytsang@chinadailyhk.com (HK Edition 06/15/2018 page7) Yantai, a coastal city in East China's Shandong province, held a press conference in Beijing on May 15 to announce its upcoming international entrepreneurship contest from May to August. More than 50 media agencies, representatives from 35 research institutions and talents who want to start businesses took part in the conference. Hosted by the Yantai municipal government, the event aims to lure high-caliber talents at home and abroad to start their businesses in Yantai city and to fuel its innovation-driven growth. It is also the first time for the city to set up additional contests in Europe and North America. The award-winning projects will be invited to Yantai Business Park and will enjoy a series of preferential policies including office rent exemptions, financing matching services and startup subsidies of up to 6 million yuan ($ 967,741). At the conference, Wang Zhong, vice mayor of Yantai, detailed the city's advantages for overseas talents. Yantai, at the core of the International Economic Circle in Northeast Asia, enjoys a solid industrial foundation, favorable investment environment, and good ecological environment. He said that Yantai welcomes overseas talents' starting up in the port city and the government will provide more tailor-made support policies based on the demands of their businesses. By the end of 2017 Yantai had attracted 35,200 new talents in various sectors bringing its total to more than 1.7 million, ranking first among all cities in Shandong province. The contest includes three parts -- registration, preliminary, and the final. Contestants in China can sign up through the website: http://chuangye.ytrc.gov.cn. Taiyuan firms further trade with SCO members ( chinadaily.com.cn ) Updated: 2018-06-15 Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi province, has been developing closer economic and trade ties with member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), as the city has joined in the promotion of the Belt and Road Initiative in recent years. Nearly 200 local companies have been trading with member states of Shanghai Cooperation Organization since 2010, with trade value reaching $35 billion, accounting for 20 percent of the companies' total foreign trade value, according to Taiyuan bureau of commerce. The major exports to SCO member states are cellphones, mining shovels, stainless steel, flat rolled materials, railway and vehicle parts, refractory clay and optical instruments. As for imports, Taiyuan mainly imports from those countries ferrochrome, unwrought unalloyed nickel and nickel alloy, chromium ore and concentrate. Companies in Taiyuan have been contributing significantly to expanding the markets in SCO member states. At the Russia and Kirghizstan stops of the Shanxi Brands Silk Road Tour in 2015 an annual promotion event for Shanxi products launched by Shanxi provincial government 21 businesses took part in the exhibitions and promotions. The India stop on the tour in 2016 saw contracts worth more than $6 million signed between nine Taiyuan companies and Indian businesspeople and companies. Apart from the promotion events sponsored by Shanxi government, Taiyuan companies are also active in industrial exhibitions, expos and conferences in SCO member states, including IGATEX Pakistan and Kazakhstan International Building and Interiors Exhibition, negotiating with local businesspeople and signing orders. Increasingly frequent and further communication and cooperation between Taiyuan companies and SCO members has become a notable achievement in the citys foreign trade. From January to April this year, the import-export value between Taiyuan and SCO member countries realized a significant increase compared with that of the same period in 2017, with the foreign trade value amounting to 2.01 billion yuan ($314.14 million), a year-on-year growth of 12.1 percent and 6 percent of the citys total. The trade volume with Russia, India, Kazakhstan and Pakistan was 1.05 billion yuan, 220 million yuan, 690 million yuan and 50 million yuan. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. Jeremy Zhou Appointed to China Regional Sales Manager for VJ Electronix, Inc. Published: 15 June 2018 by Chelsey Drysdale by Chelsey Drysdale June 2018 VJ Electronix, Inc., a leading global provider of advanced X-ray inspection, component counting systems and PCB rework technologies, today announced that Jeremy Zhou was promoted to China Region Sales Manager. In this capacity, Zhou will be responsible for the companys sales and technical support activity in China. Zhou joined VJE in 2009 as senior applications engineer. He has held the roles of technical support manager and technical sales support manager. VJ Electronix has a strong team and valuable customer base in China, commented Ron Lindell, VJE Global Sales Manager. VJE is committed to developing a technical support capability for all of our Asian customers from our Suzhou Headquarters. Jeremy is a great addition to our team and another step forward in our commitment to our Asian customers. Register now for PCB WEST, the largest trade show for the printed circuit and electronics industry in the Silicon Valley! Coming Sept. 11-13 to the Santa Clara Convention Center. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Market Highlights: The study reveals that the market of Next-Generation Firewall is trending in North America region. The Next-Generation Firewall market is driven by the latest data and network security protection which is integrated with next generation firewall platform that reduce the complexity. A recent trend of providing superior scalability to meet the changing needs of businesss security. Get Sample Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/3261 The study also signifies that adoption of next-generation is blocking of more threats and is effective to the next-gen IPS and advanced malware protection firewall in North America. In these regions, the network security policy enforcement and network traffic inspection is considered and this leads to the gaining good pace of next generation firewall utilizations. Key Players: The prominent players in the Next-Generation Firewall market are Cisco Systems, Inc. (US), Fortinet, Inc. ( US), Barracuda Networks, Inc. (US), Juniper Networks, Inc. (US), Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (US), Forcepoint LLC (US), Zscaler, Inc. (U.S), WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. (US), Sophos Group Plc. (UK) and Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (US) among others. Next-Generation Firewall Market Segmentation The Next-Generation Firewall Market has been segmented on the basis of security type, services, organization size, solution, end users and region. Looking through the end-user segment it has been observed that government and defense along with BFSI is showing a large scale of usage firewall protection for securing all kind of confidential data and also enables safe Internet use simultaneously protecting from threats and malware. The analysis indicates that the other sectors like small or large scale industries is also showing the interest towards Next-Generation Firewall. Regional Analysis: The regional analysis of Next-Generation Firewall market is being studied for region such as Asia pacific, North Americas, Europe and Rest of the World. Where, North America is leading with the highest growth across the world, Europe region is chasing with high CAGR due to widely used in data center, enterprise, small business or home office in these regions. Asia-Pacific countries like China, Japan and India is on the upsurge of next level growth in the Next-Generation Firewall market. Access Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/next-generation-firewall-market-3261 Intended Audience System Security Government agencies NGFW vendors Managed Security Service Providers Information Technology security agencies Next-Generation Firewall Agencies Network solution providers Independent software vendors Value-Added Resellers Cyber security vendors System integrators Technology Integrators Research/Consultancy firms Table of Contents 1 Market Introduction 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Scope of Study 1.2.1 Research Objective 1.2.2 Assumptions 1.2.3 Limitations 1.3 Markets Structure 1.3.1 Global Next-Generation Firewall Market: By Security Type 1.3.2 Global Next-Generation Firewall Market: By Services 1.3.3 Global Next-Generation Firewall Market: By Organization Size 1.3.4 Global Next-Generation Firewall Market: By Solution 1.3.5 Global Next-Generation Firewall Market: By End User 1.3.6 Global Next-Generation Firewall Market: By Region 2 Research Methodology 2.1 Research Type 2.2 Primary Research 2.3 Secondary Research 2.4 Forecast Model Continue... List of Tables Table 1 Global Next-Generation Firewall Market, By Security Type Table 2 Global Next-Generation Firewall Market, By Services Table 3 Global Next-Generation Firewall Market, By Organization Size Continue... List of Figures Figure 1 Research Methodology Figure 2 Global Next-Generation Firewall Market: By Security Type (%) Figure 3 Global Next-Generation Firewall Market: By Services (%) Continue... About Market Research Future: At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions. Contact Us: Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Pune 411028 Maharashtra, India Phone: +91 841 198 5042 Mail: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Adhesives and Sealants Market - Overview The product characteristics and efficacy of the Adhesive and Sealant have changed significantly in the last few years. Market analysis of the chemicals and materials in the market. The market for Adhesives and Seals is expected to develop at a reasonable rate in the period of the forecast period. New consumer products have increased the demand for the Adhesives and Sealants to new levels. The use of adhesive & sealants has been indispensable since its inception. With the rise of synthetic polymers and the chemical industry, the range of adhesive and sealant formulations has expanded to a great extent. The penetration level of the products in daily applications has led to heightened demand levels for the market. Industry Segments The Adhesives & Sealants Market globally is segmented based on application, technology, and product. On the basis of the technology, the market is segmented into hot melt, water, solvent, and reactively based segments. The market on the basis of the product is further categorized into acrylic, polyvinyl acetate, polyurethane, epoxy, and others. Lastly, by applications, the market is additionally categorized into pressure sensitive, automotive, furniture, construction, packaging, and others. Get Sample of Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/792 Detailed Regional Analysis The Adhesives & Sealants Market consists of regions such as Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, the Middle East & Africa and Latin America. The Asia Pacific region controls a considerable portion of the market owing to the increasing consumption of acrylic adhesives in pressure sensitive, automotive, construction, furniture, packaging, and others. The pressure sensitive segment controls a principal portion and is expected to carry on its dominance of the market due to mounting demand for the market from the end-user industries for the duration of the forecast period. The North American region is also demonstrating significant growth owing to an amplified consumption of water-proof sealants in furniture, packaging, and other related sectors. It is expected that rising investments in the end-user industries are likely to drive the market in the region during the forecast period. The rising use of high-temperature adhesives in pressure sensitive and automotive segments have motivated market growth in various countries in the region. On the other hand, the European market has perceived a steady growth rate owing to the application of new rules and regulations proposed by the government. These factors have encouraged the manufacturers and investors to shift their focus to eco-friendly products in nations such as the Germany, U.K, Italy, and France. The Latin American region is estimated to growing consumption of composites and rising awareness of eco-friendly products in the industry which is expected to contribute to the industry positively. Moreover, the Middle East & African region is estimated to observe a higher growth rate in the market owing to the rising demand for silicone sealants in the end-use industries. Global Competitive Analysis The room for improvement within the market appears to be promising through the forecast period. The key trends and players have been established as an advantageous tone for development. The chances for developing revenue inflows into the commercial enterprise will probably be multiplied through the forecast duration. Portfolio improvement is being widely encouraged by market competitors to acquire high growth rates. Costs focused on customer retention, and attraction The elements of the market associated with the pricing strength and income margins are likely to be significant. The ripple effects of the market will be the aggressive backdrop of the marketplace. Trafic for growth in the market. The noteworthy players in this market are Ashland Inc, Avery Dennison Corporation, BOSTIK SA (France), The Dow Chemical Company (US), Eastman Chemical Company (US), Ellsworth Adhesives (US), HB Fuller Company (US), Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (Germany) 3M, B Fuller, Bolton Group BV, Beardow & Adams (Adhesives) Ltd and Adco Global Read More about Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/adhesives-sealants-market-792 About Market Research Future: At the Market Research Future (MRFR), we provide our customers to unearth the complexity of our industries through our Cooked Research Reports (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR) ), and Market Research & Consulting Services. MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimal quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Applications, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enabling our clients to see more important questions. Contact: Market Research Future +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Andrew Harrer/Pool/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Nearly 24 hours after the release of the Department of Justice inspector generals investigation, President Trump tweeted his reaction, calling the blistering report a total disaster for former FBI Director James Comey and his minions. FBI Agent Peter Strzok, who headed the Clinton and Russia investigations, texted to his lover Lisa Page, in the IG Report, that well stop candidate Trump from becoming President, Trump fired off on Twitter, adding, Doesnt get any lower than that! The nearly 500-page report released Thursday was especially harsh on senior FBI agent Peter Strzok, who exchanged a trove of text messages with an FBI colleague in the months before the presidential election. In one August 2016 text message, Strzok -- as he was leading the Clinton probe and the FBI investigation of Russia's efforts to interfere in the 2016 election -- said he and his team would "stop" Trump from becoming president if necessary. Inspector General Michael Horowitz said such statements from Strzok and others helped create a "cloud" over the FBI, and Horowitz said he could not discount that political bias played a role in at least one of Strzok's missteps during the Clinton case. In response, FBI Director Christopher Wray said the FBI will review the inspector generals findings and will take any appropriate action to hold people accountable. While the president remained mum on the reports findings, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders offered the first reaction. It reaffirmed the presidents suspicions about Comeys conduct and the political bias among some of the members of the FBI, Sanders said in a Thursday press briefing. Trump continued on Twitter, saying on Friday that Comey will officially go down as the worst leader, by far, in the history of the FBI. I did a great service to the people in firing him, the president wrote, justifying his firing of Comey. The report took Comey to task for publicly announcing in July 2016 that Clinton would not face charges, even as he accused her of mishandling classified information. The report also rebuked Comey for disclosing just days before the election that the FBI was reopening the Clinton case to review hundreds of thousands of newly discovered emails -- emails that turned out to be of little consequence. Comey, however, said he acted appropriately in his handling of the Clinton email investigation. Nothing in the inspector generals report makes me think we did the wrong thing, Comey wrote in an op-ed published Friday by The New York Times. He added, I do not agree with all of the inspector generals conclusions, but I respect the work of his office and salute its professionalism. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Being great in one area of your life doesn't mean you can't be completely awful in another. For instance, we can name every single spaceship in the Star Wars universe, but only found out last year that taxes don't "do" themselves. Or, in the case of the following people, they earned the admiration of the world through their genius work while also doing terrible things. Like how ... 5 The Creator Of The Heimlich Maneuver Intentionally Infected HIV Patients With Malaria To "Cure Them" What You Know Him For: The Heimlich maneuver, duh. Dr. Henry Heimlich described the first aid procedure in 1974. Since we still have some space left in this section, here's a link to some choking first aid tips. Why He Was An Asshole: It wasn't enough for Heimlich that he'd come up with this lifesaving, easy-to-perform procedure, and received instant fame and recognition for it. He wanted more. So he started promoting the use of his maneuver for drowning victims, despite that being an incredibly, incredibly bad and dangerous idea (assuming you don't want the other person to die, that is). When the American Heart Association said "Hell no," Heimlich dropped by a U.S. Lifesaving Association seminar and equated following the AHA guidelines with being a Nazi war criminal ordered to kill people. By saving them. And having nothing to do with Nazis. Within minutes of the secret meeting of Brexit saboteurs in Smith Square finishing on Wednesday, Roland Rudd, the shadowy multi-millionaire spin doctor behind the campaign to derail Brexit, was in receipt of a full report. In his open-plan office on the 13th floor of the iconic Adelphi Building, with its panoramic views of Westminster, the man dubbed the godfather of Remain was on the phone, demanding that every cough and spit be relayed to him. Increasingly, he believes he scents victory. Rudd, an oleaginous charmer with just a hint of the spiv, is the boss of a City PR firm and a lifelong EU fanatic who set up the pressure group Open Britain immediately after the EU referendum in June 2016. Roland Rudd, an oleaginous charmer with just a hint of the spiv, is the boss of a City PR firm and a lifelong EU fanatic who set up the pressure group Open Britain immediately after the EU referendum in June 2016 It would, he promised, lead the fightback to stay in Europe, to keep Britain in the single market and customs union, and to ensure free movement of people continues. The first page of the Open Britain website makes its intent clear. As the Brexit process continues, facts are starting to come to light which no one could have known at the time of the referendum. The architect of Article 50, Lord Kerr, confirmed that Brexit is reversible if people change their minds, it says. In an attempt to concentrate firepower, Rudd has now moved eight other anti-Brexit organisations into the Open Britain war room based at Millbank Tower, a few hundred yards from Parliament. They include Best For Britain; European Movement UK; Scientists For EU; Healthier IN the EU; and Britain For Europe. It is, however, Open Britain that is the unofficial cabal of Labour MPs, Tory rebels, peers of all parties, City folk, aides and fellow spin doctors whom Rudd has recruited to the cause. Several of them were present at the meeting exposed in yesterdays Mail at the European Commissions Smith Square HQ in Central London. Rudds researchers provide facts and figures for their speeches and articles and organise their media interviews. He has ploughed many hundreds of thousands of pounds of his 45 million fortune into the venture and mobilised his formidable network of contacts. There is, of course, a revolving door of visitors to Millbank from Westminster, and the usual suspects include Chuka Umunna, the Labour MP, who makes no secret of his wish to overturn Brexit. Rudd is also close to Tory MP Anna Soubry, who famously almost broke down in tears at a Remain rally after the referendum (and later denied being inebriated) and, of course, former Education Secretary Nicky Morgan and former Attorney General Dominic Grieve. The main opposition to Brexit must come from within Parliament, Rudd has insisted. Rudds 23 million home in Kensington is also put to good use, with recent guests including Sir Nick Clegg, the former Lib Dem leader, and former Labour Foreign Secretary David Miliband. Earlier this year, the two men shared a platform at anti-Brexit event. Roland Rudd's younger sister, Amber, was Home Secretary until she resigned last month over the Windrush scandal Former EU Commissioner Lord Mandelson who under Tony Blair was sacked twice from the Cabinet is a friend and ally. Indeed, Mandelson is godfather to of one of Rudds three children with his wife, dress designer Sophie Hale. Sir John Major, the former Tory Prime Minister who made a passionate (for him) plea against Brexit in February, had been in close contact with Rudds team beforehand. Open Britain raised 50,000 on the back of that speech. Turn on BBC and you often hear Alastair Campbell, Tony Blairs bully-boy mouthpiece (present in Smith Square this week), attacking Brexit. Chances are the interview was fixed by Rudds outfit. Roland Rudds influence on the war on Brexit cannot be over-stated, and his team is now focused on organising a mass march from Hyde Park to Westminster later this month to demand a Peoples Vote on the final terms of the deal negotiated with Brussels. They are putting it about that one million will attend. A Peoples Vote is a classic EU tactic if you cant get the vote you want in an EU referendum hold another. Roland Dacre Rudd, 57, was educated at Millfield School where today he is chairman of the board of governors. His younger sister, Amber, was Home Secretary until she resigned last month over the Windrush scandal. Their father Tony, a financial journalist turned corporate financier, was criticised by an official inquiry into the 1982 takeover of investment firm Greenbank Trust, a company he owned with his business partners. The report concluded that Rudd and his associate were totally unfit to be directors. At the little-known Oxford College, Regents Park, Roland Rudd studied Philosophy and Theology, and became president of the Union at the third attempt. He started out in journalism at the Financial Times, where he and his great friend Robert Peston, now the political editor of ITV, were known as The Pest and The Rat. According to a former colleague at that time, they were both tall, dark and ambitious, though the Pest was considered the better journalist, while the Rat (named after the TV character Roland Rat) was the handsome charmer. As the City expanded and deregulation offered unprecedented opportunity, Rudd recognised that a new type of financial PR was needed, one in which he and his team operated as counsel and confidante to CEOs and high-flyers. Roland Rudd started out in journalism at the Financial Times, where he and his great friend Robert Peston (pictured), now the political editor of ITV, were known as The Pest and The Rat In 1994 he founded Finsbury Group and built on an already extensive network with his penchant for designer suits, he was known as the Serpentine schmoozer which he is now exploiting in the anti-Brexit cause. In 2001, he sold the business to Sir Martin Sorrells WPP, banking a reputed 45 million in the process. Today, Rudd is chairman of Finsbury, Britains largest communications company and the third biggest in the U.S. He represents more than a quarter of FTSE 100 companies. Last year he paid himself 4.5 million. In addition to his West London home, the family spends weekends at an eight-bedroom Grade I-listed mansion in Somerset. Rudds friendship with Peston has remained intact and on occasion raised a few eyebrows. In 2007, in the run up to the financial crash, Peston who was then the BBCs new business editor, broke the story about the Northern Rock bank. Rudd just happened to be handling the banks PR. A year later, Peston picked up the scoop that Lloyds TSB, headed by Sir Victor Blank, was about to step in and rescue its foundering rival, HBOS. There had been fears that a run on the bank could wreck the deal. But Pestons exclusive saw the HBOS share price rally. Sir Victors PR adviser? Roland Rudd. (Rudd has said previously hed never leak anything that hadnt been pre-ordained and discussed [with a client] and when people get stories, particularly somebody as good as Robert, he never writes it on the basis of one person.) Certainly, Rudd has form for working behind the scenes on the EU. In 2006 he hosted a dinner at his home for Tony Blair, the then Prime Minister, and leading businessmen. Blair spoke passionately about the opportunities for Britain with Bulgaria and Romania joining the EU the following year. On behalf of his business guests, Rudd issued a statement urging the Government to resist Tory calls to limit migrants from the new member-states. It said: If Bulgaria and Romania join the EU next year, the UK should continue with its open-door policy. A pause in migration would be tantamount to a reversal of policy and could work against Britain. No mention was made of Blair being at the dinner nor were any minutes kept a highly unusual occurrence for a serving PM. Even now Rudd insists that unlimited immigration is a positive. The prospect of further migration that triggers economic growth is a cause for celebration, not cowardice, he says. How ironic that he cannot accept a simple truth: that it was the very issue of unfettered migration that was a significant factor for millions in the referendum that delivered a decisive vote for Leave. George III was on the throne when Daniel Thwaites started brewing beer on this spot and his descendants have been here ever since. On through the Battle of Waterloo, the Victorian era and two World Wars, they have kept the beer flowing. This summer the family were preparing to make a commemorative farewell beer ahead of a move to a new plant three miles up the road. Now, however, those plans to celebrate Thwaitess historic ties to the Lancashire town of Blackburn have been consigned to the same bin as the broken glass, the soiled carpets and pretty much everything else here at one of Englands oldest and best-known breweries. After 211 years of ale-making, Daniel Thwaites Plc has this week been forced to declare the premature closure of its brewery following an invasion by travellers who razed the place to the ground over the last Bank Holiday weekend. Their three-day orgy of crime has so crippled the brewery that it can barely brew a cup of tea, let alone a pint of its famous Thwaites Original or Nutty Black mild. As a result, the company has had to take emergency measures to accelerate its relocation plans and get its new premises up and running in the next few weeks. Their three-day orgy of crime has so crippled the brewery that it can barely brew a cup of tea, let alone a pint of its famous Thwaites Original or Nutty Black mild What has appalled everyone across Lancashire and beyond even more is not so much the damage which runs to more than 100,000 but the fact that not a single perpetrator left in handcuffs. At the end of a long weekend of criminal damage, theft, threatening behaviour and what the IRA used to call a dirty protest plus a shoplifting spree in a neighbouring supermarket the 100-strong gang drove off in broad daylight, laden with stolen goods. And they did so without so much as a parking ticket after wait for it negotiating with the police. Only now, three weeks later, have the police finally said that they have a suspect or two, though few are holding their breath. The more that we learn about this deplorable story, the more awkward the questions which must be asked not just of Lancashire Police but of the Government. We can at least applaud the gang members for one thing their timing. For this latest scandal has fallen at the very moment that the Government completes a nationwide investigation of the vexed issue of illegal traveller sites, led by housing minister Dominic Raab. The consultation phase formally closed last night and ministers and officials will now start examining the evidence. I hope the story of Thwaites is at the top of the pile when they get to work. It is hard to think of a case which lends greater credence to a theory supported by every single person I meet in Blackburn: that there is one law for some and one for others. Up to now, reports on this episode have focused mainly on the beer. Entire vats of award-winning real ale had to be poured down the drain for fear of contamination. Given the repulsive way that the travellers wilfully contaminated some of the offices human waste on the carpets, just a few feet from fully functioning lavatories the brewery management had no choice. Who knew what added ingredients there might be in that particular batch of Nutty Black? Not that the travellers were particularly interested in Thwaites beer anyway. Instead, they simply ransacked the booze section of the Morrisons supermarket next door (there were three separate incidents of theft reported and no arrests there, either). But this is about much more than an unpaid drinks bill. The first suggestion of trouble came as local pubs and bars were filled on May 26 for the start of the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool. Shortly after 8pm, the security guard at the main entrance to the Thwaites Brewery found himself under siege. A gang of travellers had pulled up. And they werent in search of somewhere to rest their weary heads. They were using an angle grinder to cut through the locks on the main gate, right in front of him. The guard dialled 999. By the time the police arrived ten minutes later, a couple of trucks and caravans were already through the gates. According to locals, one police car positioned itself across the entrance and prevented any further incursions while officers assessed the situation. Had the police car remained there, the whole incident might have been contained. But the police were then reassigned to join the hunt for a man on the loose with a knife. So, having received assurances from the travellers already on site that they would be leaving in a couple of days, the cops drove off. At which point the poor security guard could only stand back as the rest of a cavalcade of trucks and caravans piled in through the gates. Around 100 travellers started taking the place apart. Pictured are smashed plates and paperwork scattered all over the floor of one of the offices Our security guard did the right thing, says Andrew Buchanan, Thwaitess director of pub operations and brewing. He called the police and got out of the way. We are sitting in a meeting room where what used to be a glass door is covered in chipboard. Like everything else in this place, it was smashed in. There are generators in the yard providing enough electricity to run computers and lighting but nothing more. If the staff want any food or drink, they have to go into town. All the vending machines have been pulverised. Mr Buchanan explains that he cannot go in to too much detail as matters are still under investigation. Most of the site is now sealed off. The real damage, he tells me, has not been the loss of a few thousand pints of beer. What is far worse is the violation of a place where generations of Blackburnians had worked all their lives together with the complete loss of mains electricity. A brewery needs energy and lots of it. Now, Thwaites has virtually none. This was not a random act of vandalism. This was a well-planned targeted raid to remove all the copper cable from a plant which had tons of the stuff serving three separate sub-stations. At 4,000-a-ton in current scrap copper prices, the travellers had a field day. Make no mistake, there is no defence for what happened here. We can ignore any bleating about these travellers having nowhere else to go, poor lambs, or being victims of a witch-hunt. The local MP, Kate Hollern, has called this absolutely appalling criminality and she happens to be the parliamentary private secretary to one Jeremy Corbyn. Quite rightly, mainstream traveller organisations have condemned these thugs, too. This was organised crime, plain and simple. So why did police just watch? Come the Sunday morning, the Thwaites management were extremely worried. The office wing of the plant contained family and company heirlooms dating back to the founder, Daniel Thwaites, who was born in 1777. The brewery passed down to his son, Daniel II, MP for Blackburn, and thence to Daniel IIs daughter Elma, who ran the brewery with her husband Robert Yerburgh. In due course it passed to her grandson John, who fought with the Irish Guards during World War II and then came home to run the family business. His widow, Ann Yerburgh, is the current chairman of the company. Its heritage is part of Blackburns history. With its dray horses and towering presence in the heart of the town, Thwaites is to Blackburn what Guinness is to Dublin. Thwaites Brewery was forced to throw away 1,700 pints of beer after 100 travellers invaded the site and turned it into 'a disgusting mess' So we can imagine the mounting desperation of the family and staff that morning as they watched the stand-off at the gates while the rampaging continued, unchecked, within. Eventually, the police agreed that the management should be allowed to retrieve a few of their belongings. They helped us gain access through a separate entrance for an hour and we managed to recover some computer records and historical items, Mr Buchanan explains. I ask him if he was able to speak to the travellers. They were dictating who came on and off the site and there was no communication. None that I could repeat, anyway. It was intimidating. Thwaites had been evicted during one of the busiest weekends of the year. Were in the hospitality industry. We work on Bank Holidays, Mr Buchanan explains. With hundreds of staff and nearly 300 pubs and hotels in operation, the company had to establish a temporary headquarters elsewhere, there and then. The travellers were equally busy inside. While one group went through the offices, floor by floor, the copper thieves were systematically tearing out the electrics from each floor of the ten-storey brewing tower and dropping it all down the stairwell. One of the engineers shows me a shocking photo of the loose ends of thick cables dangling down from the ceilings. They knew what they were doing or theyd have been electrocuted, he explains. The stolen copper was then loaded on to vans, at which point we come to another inexplicable part of this story. The travellers were seen driving off with their axles practically scraping the floor as one member of staff puts it and yet the police did nothing. Nor did they intervene when these vans returned considerably lighter later on. Why were the criminals allowed to come and go at will when the dimmest police officer must have been aware that they might be in possession of stolen goods? In a statement to the Mail, a spokesman says: We didnt stand by and let things happen. We took decisions based on the resources we had available at the time during an extremely busy weekend of unprecedented demand, along with consideration for our officer safety due to numbers of travellers and their potential hostility, not to go to the site. Officer safety is and has to be integral to any operational decision. That might explain why the police did not go inside. But it still fails to explain why vehicles were allowed to come and go unchallenged. By Sunday evening, the staff of Thwaites were at their wits end. Section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act states that the police have every right to remove two or more persons who are trespassing if they have caused damage, used threatening behaviour or have more than six vehicles. This lot were bang to rights on all counts. Yet the police stood by. Finally, on Monday afternoon, the marauders loaded up all the remaining loot and drove off. We negotiated with the travellers to encourage them to move, which they eventually did, Superintendent Andrea Barrow told the BBC. Having issued a statement noting the co-operation of the travellers, the police presumably hoped that this would be the end of the story. In fact, it is just the start. The Daniel Thwaites alcohol has been brewed at Blackburn for dozens of years Thwaites staff who cut short their holiday breaks to return to their workplace were astounded. The mess was indescribable. They had pulled apart all our desks, looking for loose change I suppose, and they even pinched our coats, says a woman in the accounts department who does not wish to be named. The one place they didnt touch was the toilets. They dont seem to have used them. They just used our offices instead. Officially, the company is grateful to the authorities. But the workforce and locals are furious. When I drop in at the nearest Thwaites pub, The Sun, everyone in the place asks the same question Why didnt they arrest anyone? before offering the same theory. The police, they argue, are either afraid of travellers or afraid of being accused of picking on them. When I put this to the police, they revert to the argument that it would not have been feasible to arrest 100 people. That, though, is not the point. No one expected them to charge in and handcuff women and children. But why did they not check any vehicles leaving the site? Why not pick off a ringleader? We have yet to find out. But the feeble response has already attracted criticism from a senior former officer. There were offences at the very start, offences on the site, offences off the site at the supermarket and then the handling of stolen goods, says former detective superintendent Mick Gradwell, who spent 30 years with Lancashire Police. Someone at the top took the decision not to search vehicles or use the usual investigational tools. The public really do need answers on this. He points out that Lancashire Police always expect heightened traveller activity on the late May Bank holiday weekend since it falls in the run-up to the Appleby Horse Fair, a popular annual gathering of gypsies and travellers just up the M6 in Cumbria. A police spokesman reiterates that there was unprecedented demand over the weekend, adding: We are looking into our response on the day to see whether any lessons can be learned. The Chief Constable, Andy Rhodes, went on Radio Lancashire a few days later to assure people that arrests will be made, though he added: Logistically, we cant just lock up 100 people. We dont know who had done what because we dont have the evidence. Presumably that might be because the villains drove off with it. From Clive Grunshaw, Lancashires police and crime commissioner, comes an equally underwhelming response: I understand the concerns. I am being kept informed, but this is a live investigation and has to take its course. No wonder people are livid. We have been here before. Last summer, I reported how the Norfolk resort of Cromer was invaded by a gang of travellers over the August Bank Holiday weekend. We were promised arrests and lessons learned there, too. A Freedom of Information request later revealed that the police had been alerted to 53 separate incidents, including a sexual assault. The number of convictions stands at, well, zero, though one person has been charged with theft. But then, it only requires one look at the Twitter feed of Lancashires Chief Constable to see the priorities expected of the modern top cop. It is a textbook display. Mr Rhodes is obviously a decent chap, with his stream of impeccably correct tweets about mental wellbeing, diversity, award-winning staff and support for a gay aviation event (plus rainbow flag emoji). All very laudable. But right now, the people of Lancashire would be much happier if they had a senior officer who, when confronted with brazen anarchy, did not negotiate but, instead, put on a hard hat and declared: Youre nicked. With wedding season coming up, many maids of honor and best men find themselves polishing their speeches and who better than a former White House speechwriter to tell them how to deliver a flawless address? Sarah Hurwitz, 40, worked at the White House from 2009 to 2017, first serving as a speechwriter for President Barack Obama before becoming Michelle Obama's chief speechwriter. The Harvard Law School graduate is responsible for the former first lady's speeches at the Democratic National Conventions of 2012 and 2016, as well as her talks during the 2016 presidential election cycle. Sarah shared her best public speaking tips earlier this month during a talk at the Teen Vogue Summit at The New School in New York City, Bustle reported. She offered advice ranging from the importance of using examples to the power of a strong stance. Tips: Sarah Hurwitz, 40, once worked as Michelle Obama's speechwriter. The Harvard Law School grad (pictured in an archive shot) shared her tips for public speaking earlier this month 1. Write like you speak While it might be tempting to use complicated words in an attempt to sound more knowledgeable, Sarah recommended using colloquial language in speeches, according to Bustle. To that end, she makes it a rule to avoid words that wouldn't naturally pop up in a conversation. She previously explained this during a talk for Heleo with psychologist Adam Grant, in which she urged others to 'talk like a person'. 'It seems so obvious but you see people who get up onstage and they start to lose their minds and they start to give a speech and it's very fake and stilted and it's kind of embarrassing,' she added. 'You see it in business when people are like, "I'm here to catalyze the leveraging verticals to un-silo the..." It's like, I don't, I don't know what you do. It's like in politics when it's like, "We need to put hard-working middle-class American family values first." 'It's like, what? I would never say that to you. It's like oh, Adam, hey, we're at a bar. You know what we need to do? It's to put fa 'Talk like a person. Just be normal. If you wouldn't say something to one person, I wouldn't recommend saying it many people.' Pressure: Sarah worked with Michelle during the 2016 presidential election; the former first lady is pictured at a Hillary Clinton event in Philadelphia in November 2016 Keep it simeple: The speechwriter (pictured with Michelle in an archive shot) says using simple words is key when writing an address 2. Show, don't tell This classic writing tip applies crucially to speechwriting, according to Sarah, who highlighted it during her talk at The New School. That is because anecdotes have the power of creating strong images in the listener's mind, and make speeches much more entertaining than just a list of adjectives. Sarah gave an example of how efficient showing can be in her discussion with Adam, by describing a person named John in two different ways. The first time around, she relied on a string of adjectives, telling him: 'My friend John, is super obsessive. He's really neurotic, really exacting, he wants everything exactly the way he wants it, he's really compulsive.' The second time, she said: 'I left my friend John alone in my kitchen for 20 minutes, and when I came back he had rearranged my spice rack by alphabetical order and was arranging all the condiments in my refrigerator by expiration date.' She pointed out how the second version enables people to get a stronger sense of who John is as a person, much more so than the first. Sarah also referenced how Michelle once used the technique 'beautifully' when she spoke at Maya Angelou's funeral in 2014. 'She was making the point that growing up as a young black girl on the South side of Chicago, she didn't have a lot of role models of black women in newspapers, magazines and on TV. There just weren't a lot of images and so Dr. Angelou was a really important role model for her,' Sarah recounted. 'She could have gone on and on and said, "It was really hard, I felt like I didn't see myself represented, I felt invisible, it was tough." 'But instead what she said was this: "Growing up, my first doll was a Malibu Barbie." One sentence. So what do you all see in your head? 'You see an image of this little black girl playing with this blonde, horrible doll and you kind of have a sense, like, this is awful and what is this doing to this child? You really see it and feel it as opposed to just having a string of adjectives that vaguely alludes to it.' Knowledge: Sarah shared her best public speaking tips earlier this month during a talk at the Teen Vogue Summit at The New School in New York City 3. Check your facts Because speeches will get quoted and referenced, it is important to make sure everything in them is true. Sarah underlined the importance of fact-checking while talking to the crowd at the Teen Vogue Summit earlier this month, and also gave a glimpse of how rigorous the process was when she was working at the White House during her conversation with Adam. After completing a draft, she typically sent it to some of her colleagues with expertise in different areas such as policy, the law, and communications, and she also provided it to fact-checkers. 'The White HouseI mean, previous White Housesare really into fact-checking,' she said in her talk with Adam in a thinly-veiled jack at Donald Trump's administration. 'Every word of every line of every speech I ever wrote was rigorously fact-checked to a point that often drove speechwriters crazy but that I'm really grateful for because we wanted to make sure that everything we were saying was true.' 4. Read the speech out loud ahead of time A speech is meant to be said, not readand this should be taken into account during the writing process, according to Sarah. 'Writing to be heard versus writing to be read are two different art forms,' she told Adam previously. 'If you looked at one of my speeches, even the final draft, you'd just think, "This woman doesn't have a lot of command of punctuation and grammar." They seem weird, but I read it to you, it would actually sound really good.' Reading the draft out loud, and amending it accordingly, is a good way to make sure the words flow and nothing sounds awkward. 'If you're doing this, you'll feel like, this part is slow,' she said. 'Or this part is way too long or it's too hard to say.' Career: Sarah (pictured with Barack Obama in an archive shot) first served as a speechwriter for President Obama before becoming Michelle Obama's chief speechwriter 5. Write your notes on the top half of the page Sarah shared a practical tip during the Teen Vogue Summit, explaining that it is helpful to use only the top half of a page if using written notes during a speech. This helps the speaker avoid having to look down too much in order to read their notes, which can cause them to break eye contact with the audience and might also keep them from enunciating properly. 6. Don't ignore the tension in the room If put in the uncomfortable position of having to speak in tense circumstances, don't pretend nothing is happening, Sarah recommended. Instead, acknowledge the tension and put yourself in the shoes of the people who might not agree with you, as a way of validating their presence in the room. After you have done so, you can offer them a different perspective to give them an opportunity to expand their mindset. If faced with a frankly hostile audience, Sarah recommends being considerate and always addressing those in the room with respect. 7. Watch your stance Delivering a great speech is not just about the words or the tone of your voicebody language matters too, Sarah said during her talk at the Teen Vogue Summit. She urged speakers to make sure both of their feet are planted firmly on the ground, thus projecting a strong image. This grounded stance makes the speaker more self-assured, and can help them fend off stage fright. 8. Know that less can be more Sometimes, a good speech is a short speech. While some might revel in entertaining crowds for long stretches of time, there is nothing wrong with keeping it to the point when needed, Sarah explained. This applies especially to those who don't feel at ease in front of a crowd and might want to stick to the essentials while cutting out the more decorative parts of a talk. This is the heartwarming moment a tiny goat that's legs were CHEWED OFF by an angry dog ran for the first time thanks to new prosthetic legs. Miracle, a nine-month-old pygmy goat, lost her front legs to the knee when her farmer's great pyrenees chewed them off as they stuck out of her mother during birth. Sarah Austin, 41, a veterinary assistant from St Johnsville, New York, was called to the gruesome scene by the distressed farmer to help deliver the mutilated kid, who was stuck in her mother's birth canal. Sad: Sarah Austin, a veterinary assistant from New York, rescued the goat after her legs got chewed off by a dog when she was first born Survivor: Miracle is a nine-month-old pygmy goat who lost her front legs at birth Distressing: Her legs were sticking out at birth when the dog chewed them off. She was rushed to the vet where her wounds were sutured and dressed Sarah said the sight of Miracle's chewed off legs was nauseating but she persevered and managed to deliver the kid naturally on September 1. Newborn Miracle was surrendered by the farmer, and Sarah rushed the goat to a local vet where her serious wounds were sutured and dressed. Just one week later, the tiny goat underwent orthopedic surgery in Cornell University's Nemo Farm Animal Hospital, where her stumps were shaved to allow her to be fitted with prosthetics. Miracle has been getting around in her nifty wheelchair ever since but attempts to fit practical prosthetics had been unsuccessful due to her short stumps. After three attempts, Miracle's medical team finally managed to fit prosthetics that worked for her last weekend. The moment Miracle ran for the first time was captured on camera by animal lover Sarah last Sunday. Just a baby: One week after Miracle was born, she went to the hospital to undergo surgery that would shave her stumps so she could eventually be fit with prosthetics Active: The goat was given a nifty wheelchair to travel around without needing her front legs Fighter: The medical team tried three separate times to fit the goat with prosthetic legs The damage: Miracle never experienced walking because she lost her legs at birth Sarah said: 'It was really gruesome because the goat went into labor overnight and as the kid was being born the farmer's dog had actually chewed off her front leg bones as they were sticking out of her mother. 'They were completely chewed off when I arrived. It was horrible. It turned my stomach. 'I did an internal to reposition the kid and that's when I realized she was still alive. I worried about how much pain she must be in. 'She eventually was born naturally and the traumatized farmer surrendered her into my care. 'Miracle's front legs were completely chewed off to the knee but luckily they weren't bleeding too much. 'She was rushed to the local vet and her wounds were cleaned up. She had her first orthopedic surgery one week later in Cornell. 'During this surgery they smoothed out what was left of her joint so that she would be a suitable candidate for prosthetics. 'About two months ago she got her first set but they sadly didn't work because her stumps were too small. 'She just got her third set this past Sunday and from the second she got them on she was running around. 'Oh my God, it was overwhelming. I almost cried. It was amazing to see her running around like a normal little goat for the first time.' So sweet: The goat had a hard beginning to her life, but eventually the vets were able to find prosthetic legs that worked for her Friends: Miracle lives with 30 other goats who were rescued by Sarah's animal organization On the go: Sarah said it brought tears to her eyes after Miracle was able to walk on her own Miracle is now living it up with 30 other goats rescued by Sarah's animal organization, Sarah's Birds of Prey, which she founded with husband Ryan Austin, 38. Sarah said: 'We take care of more than 30 rescue goats on our farm but Miracle particularly loves Kimber, a Nigeran Dwarf Goat who has a crooked neck. 'She loves hanging out with the other pygmy goats too, Marshall and Wee One. 'It's been so lovely to see her act like a normal goat.' Despite everything Miracle has been through, Sarah said she is a very perky kid. Sarah said: 'Miracle is the sweetest, most gentle goat. She's so silly and goofy and she is never unhappy. 'She loves life despite what she's been through which is so great.' Many women know them well. Feelings of irritability, cravings and fatigue are as common around the time of your period as the cycle itself. But what you might not know is what is causing your premenstrual symptoms (PMS) and how to deal with it. Fertility specialist, Dr Nat Kringoudis, believes that stress is one of the major factors that contributes to PMS. She also shared the eight ways you can beat or at least relieve symptoms around your time of the month, and the one superfood that will help to balance your hormones. Fertility specialist, Dr Nat Kringoudis (pictured), believes that stress is one of the major factors that contributes to PMS - she shared the eight ways you can beat it or relieve it 'Stress in the body undermines nearly every bodily function,' Dr Kringoudis said - therefore, it definitely impacts the body's ability to regulate hormones effectively (stock image) Writing on her blog, Melbourne-based Dr Kringoudis explained exactly why a hard time at work or home might contribute to your PMS. 'Stress in the body undermines pretty much every bodily function, and given our reproductive systems are the most sensitive, stress will definitely impact its function,' she said. The specialist added that 'during PMS, that stress can impact our body's ability to regulate hormones effectively - the additional cortisol and other stress hormones can upset functioning levels of progesterone'. Progesterone is the 'feel good' hormone, and Dr Kringoudis said that when it goes 'too low, too quickly in our luteal phase, it can feel like PMS is getting the best of us'. When it comes to beating PMS, Dr Kringoudis (pictured) said it's a good idea to load up on Vegemite, which is loaded with B vitamins to balance out oestrogen The eight things you should do to beat PMS 1. Drink chamomile tea. 2. Pull in the reins and go gently. 3. Eat Vegemite. 4. Take some gentle exercise. 5. Prioritise rest. 6. Get some sunshine in. 7. Bathe in lavender oil. 8. Stock up on Maca powder. Advertisement So how can you beat PMS, or at least relieve the symptoms when you're feeling low? First, there is one superfood that Dr Kringoudis believes we should all incorporate into our daily regimes: Maca powder. 'Maca gets the title of a superfood because it delivers on the nutrition front,' she said. 'It's totally full of vitamins and minerals as well as enzymes and amino acids... It's full of B vitamins, which are good for energy, and magnesium - one of my favourite all-round period fixers.' Next, she said there are eight other things you can do to regulate your hormones and reduce feelings of nausea, bloating and irritability. 'Drink chamomile tea, as it will help to keep you calm and can also help alleviate cramping associated with menstrual bleeding.' Dr Kringoudis also recommends loading your plate up with Vegemite, which is 'loaded with B vitamins which immediately balance out oestrogen and boost the feel good hormones, dopamine and serotonin'. Maca powder (stock image) is one of the fertility specialist's 'favourite all-round period fixers' - and is also loaded with vitamins Why is Maca so good for your hormones? * Maca is filled with B vitamins (or the energy vitamins). * It also contains a great source of bioavailable calcium and magnesium magnesium being one of Dr Kringoudis's favourite all round period fixers as well as iron, potassium and vitamin C. * Maca stimulates and benefits the hypothalamus and pituitary glands two very important master controllers when it comes to regulating hormones. * Maca is an adaptan, which basically means it 'adapts' or adjusts your body depending on the body's individual requirements. * Maca enhances fertility, because it influences the hormones. Dr Kringoudis recommends it especially for headaches in the pre menstrual phase as well as for menopausal issues. Source: Dr Nat Kringoudis Advertisement Other tips for combatting PMS include getting some gentle exercise into your day, taking it easy and prioritising rest, and bathing with lavender oil. 'This is an instant mood lifter as well as tension ease,' Dr Kringoudis explained. Finally, again incorporating some Maca into your day, which is 'the perfect hormone balancing food, excellent for headaches and PMS'. To read more from Dr Nat Kringoudis, please visit her website here. YouTube sensation Dr. Pimple Popper is taking on the largest cyst she has ever seen on her new TLC series and the footage is not for the faint of heart. The dermatologist, whose real name is Sandra Lee, earned online fame after she started sharing videos of herself extracting everything from blackheads to tumors on her YouTube channel, which has more than 3.7 million subscribers. The doctor first made her foray into television with her TLC special Dr. Pimple Popper: This Zit, which aired earlier this year, and her new series features all the cringeworthy squeezes and pops her fans have come to expect from her. Scroll down for video Small screen star: Dr. Sandra Lee, who is best known as Dr. Pimple Popper, is extracting everything from blackheads to tumors on her new TLC show, which premieres July 11 Impressive: This season, Dr. Lee meets a man with the largest cyst she has ever seen Yikes: The lump is located just above his knee, and she tells him: 'I think you've got the world's biggest cyst' In a preview clip for the six-episode season, which premieres on July 11, Dr. Lee meets a man who has the largest cyst she has ever seen. 'It's so painful. I just have to scream my lungs out,' he says of the massive growth located above his knee. 'It's taken over my life.' The graphic clip shows the man writhing in pain as Dr. Lee slices open the growth and sticks her gloved finger in it. 'I think you've got the world's biggest cyst,' she tells him, prompting him to ask: 'Is it too late to back out of this?' Ouch: 'It's so painful. I just have to scream my lungs out,' the man says of the massive growth located above his knee. 'It's taken over my life' Struggling: The man appears to in excruciating pain when Dr. Lee touches his cyst Creamy white fluid is later seen flowing out of the man's open cyst, and Dr. Lee is quick to note: 'That is a lot of cyst.' In addition to popping cysts, the doctor will be treating her patients abnormal lumps, protruding veins, and tumors. Although the footage may be gory to some (and memorizing to others), Dr. Lee says the show 'provides a complete window' into her world as a dermatologist and allows viewers to go on a 'journey' with her patients. 'You meet the patients in their hometown and see how their skin condition affects their life and the people around them,' she explains. Procedure: A clip from the series shows the dermatologist slicing into the massive cist Eww: The cyst is filled with creamy white fluid, and an assistant pulls over a bucket to catch the liquid Now that's a hard pop: The white fluid pours into the bucket as Dr. Lee pushes on the cyst 'You understand how devastating their condition really is, how it affects their everyday life, and how they interact with others and the world. 'I evaluate every patient and decide on a treatment course to help their skin conditions and afterward, we see how we have really transformed their lives.' One woman who has pustules on her stomach admits that it 'smells like rotten trash,' and even her parents are appalled by them. 'I've seen them and I could not stomach it myself,' her mom tells her. 'Nobody completely understands. They don't,' the woman laments. By the time she gets to Dr. Lee's office, she's close to tears. Hard to handle: 'Nobody completely understands. They don't,' one woman says of the pustules on her stomach Oozing: 'It smells like rotten trash,' she says of her pussing skin Creeped out: 'I've seen them and I could not stomach it myself,' her mom tells her Support: Dr. Lee assures her that she is going to help her take control over skin condition 'You are a strong woman that is trying to take control, and I am going to help you to do that,' the doctor assures her. Another woman is plagued with growths hanging from the back of her ears, and she notes that her hair gets caught in it. 'The pain is major,' she says. One of Dr. Lee's patients struggles with a large lump on his shoulder. You either love it or hate it! Dr. Lee earned online fame after she started sharing videos of herself extracting everything from blackheads to tumors on her YouTube channel Claim to fame: Dr. Lee is doing similar extractions on her new show (pictured) More heartwarming than you think: 'You meet the patients in their hometown and see how their skin condition affects their life and the people around them,' she explains Painful: One woman is plagued with growths hanging from the back of her ears, and she notes that her hair gets caught in them 'I hate it': This man calls the lump on his shoulder a 'hindrance' 'It's just embarrassing, aggravating. It's a hindrance,' he explained. 'I hate it.' 'The difference between my YouTube series and this show is that with the show, you see the doctor-patient interaction and the patients' backstory how they dealt with their skin condition on a daily basis before coming to see me,' Dr. Lee told Refinery29. 'You're able to see how drastically their lives are changed [and] its gratifying,' she added. 'It makes me so happy that this series was able to be produced because it's truly helping people.' Maybelline's SuperStay Foundation is on sale at Priceline Australia for just $15 Finding the right foundation can be a challenge. With a growing number of brands claiming to give you a cake free, flawless complexion at the stroke of a makeup brush, making the choice about which product to invest in can seem almost impossible. Many factors influence our decision when it comes to the all important foundation purchase: coverage, consistency, colour and perhaps most crucially, cost. So when a pharmacy brand is ranked the number one foundation of the year so far and also receives widespread praise for its very reasonably priced offering, it's one to remember. Slide me New Zealand based YouTuber Shannon Harris (pictured) recently tried the foundation and was pleased with the results Maybelline's SuperStay Full Coverage Foundation is the brand's first long lasting makeup base that provides up to 24 hour pigmented coverage. The formula conceals blemishes and imperfections 'without a hint of caking', according to a representative for the beauty giant. According to beauty aficionados, it does this while still achieving a lightweight, breathable matte finish which creates the perfect complexion, day and night. Model and budding fashion design collaborator Gigi Hadid (pictured) is the current face of Maybelline (and with her flawless complexion, it's not hard to see why) One Priceline customer said that after switching from a luxury brand foundation to Maybelline's SuperStay, she couldn't believe the lasting coverage which went the distance without cracking or creasing. 'This is better than any expensive, high end foundation!' according to the customer. Another reviewer called it her 'new go-to foundation' and praised the formula's luminosity. Maybelline has used globally famous faces including Adriana Lima, Jourdan Dunn, Gigi Hadid and most recently Josephine Skriver as brand ambassadors Another user advised that the product is quite 'tacky' on application, requiring a setting powder on top which means it is probably not suitable for oily skin. Maybelline has used globally famous faces including Adriana Lima, Jourdan Dunn, Gigi Hadid and most recently Josephine Skriver as brand ambassadors. Maybelline's popular offering a serious bargain and is on sale now from Priceline for just under $15. At a glimpse of her social media accounts, 25-year-old business owner Jasmin Smith appears to be living a carefree, enviable life in the sunshine. But there is a lot more going on behind the scenes for Ms Smith, who recently found herself hospitalised after ongoing stress and anxiety took a serious toll on her health. The young cafe owner shared a snap of herself in hospital with her 27,000 followers recently to share her battle with debilitating ovarian cysts - a condition that flared up severely after she launched her business in 2017. 'I have been suffering these cysts since I was 15,' Ms Smith told FEMAIL. At a glimpse of her social media accounts, 25-year-old business owner Jasmin Smith appears to be living a carefree, enviable life in the sunshine But there is a lot more going on behind the scenes for Ms Smith, who recently found herself hospitalised after ongoing stress and anxiety took a serious toll on her health 'My first symptoms were bad cramps and aches mid cycle so doctors then put me on the pill to stop ovulation - this failed because I could still feel them every month but continued to deal with it. 'The pill caused me to be depressed, I held a lot of fluid and I generally hated being on it so I chose to stop taking the pill after a few years and wanted to go back to the normal rhythm of my body.' Ms Smith was fine for five years until she experienced 'sudden, horrible pain' in October 2017. 'It felt like the worst period cramp of my life; I was bloated and it hurt to do almost everything,' she recalled. The young cafe owner shared a snap of herself in hospital (pictured) with her 27,000 followers to share her battle with debilitating ovarian cysts - a condition that flared up severely after she launched her business in 2017 What is an ovarian cyst? An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled structure associated with the ovary. Ovarian cysts may be normal (ovarian cysts form in every womans ovary during the process of ovulation) or abnormal. Most abnormal ovarian cysts are benign growths of the ovary. Ovarian cancer, while rare, is the main concern and will need to be excluded. Source: Mater Hospital Advertisement 'I presented to the emergency room where I wasn't taken very seriously. They scanned me and it showed a five centimetre complex cyst (full of blood).' Ms Smith was sent home with some medication and told to see her GP - but when she turned up for her appointment two days later her cyst had grown to eight centimetres. The following morning she had surgery to remove it and by the time it was removed it was 15 centimetres in size. Ms Smith thought that was it until she experienced the pain again in April. 'I presented to emergency again I went in for surgery the following morning for two cysts, one on each side,' she said. 'I presented to emergency again I went in for surgery the following morning for two cysts, one on each side,' she said 'The whole experience was very confronting as I was told I may lose my ovary if it kept happening because it isn't healthy to have surgery after surgery. I don't have endometriosis or polycystic ovaries so doctors have had many issues with trying to figure out how to stop the cysts. 'I was also advised I should consider having children sooner or later which is very confronting when you like to control and decide the way you want your own life but I felt so out of control of my body, I didn't know what it was capable of anymore.' Ms Smith went through four weeks of recovery before experiencing the pain again - and once more found herself back in the operating theatre. 'I couldn't believe it, I thought no way could I have a cyst yet, but unfortunately a few days later I had a scan and found another 5cm cyst. I thought "please just give me a break",' Ms Smith said. 'The whole experience was very confronting as I was told I may lose my ovary if it kept happening because it isn't healthy to have surgery after surgery,' she said 'It was unbelievably draining on me mentally. The cycle happened again and I was in theatre two weeks post surgery for another cyst, and they decided to take my appendix at the same time to avoid further surgery in the future.' Ms Smith spent eight weeks in bed, was suffering depression and was left unable to run her two businesses. 'I don't have endometriosis or polycystic ovaries so doctors have had many issues with trying to figure out how to stop the cysts from growing back,' she said. 'I decided to do a diary of the events around when my cysts appeared and found it very interesting that I had huge personal and emotional events happen two weeks before every episode.' 'I was working seven days, juggling friendships, relationships and also trying to look after myself. It was just too much to handle,' she said (pictured after one of her surgeries) What are the symptoms of ovarian cysts? Lower abdominal pain or pelvic pain Painful periods or a change in the pattern of your periods Pain during sex A change in appetite or feeling full quickly A distended or swollen abdomen Difficulty in falling pregnant which may be linked to endometriosis Advertisement Ms Smith, who has been running businesses for five years, said the most stressed she has ever been was when she launched her cafe - an event that coincided with her first episode. 'I was working seven days, juggling friendships, relationships and also trying to look after myself. It was just too much to handle,' she said. 'I've learnt so much from this experience and I've learnt how important it is to look after yourself. Being able to step back and physically being unable to do my usual routine turned my world upside down.' 'People need to realise the impact of stress and working themselves too hard. At the end of your day, you're nothing without your health.' Ms Smith said she shared the photo of herself on Instagram was to show the impact of stress and anxiety on the body. Ms Smith said she shared the photo of herself on Instagram was to show the impact of stress and anxiety on the body 'I was standing there with a big swollen stomach, ratty hair from laying in bed for three days and I thought to myself "well this is life",' she said. 'It was hard to post something like that. It took me a week to finally post the photo after thinking about what the reactions could be. No one likes to feel vulnerable and to show weakness. I suffer severe anxiety now because I haven't felt in control of my body. Every pain scares me. 'I had girls telling me how brave I was to be able to show such a vulnerable side of myself. I felt so alone, doctors couldn't give me answers, I couldn't trust my body. If I helped one person not feel alone like I did, then my job here was done.' Ms Smith said she also wanted to show that while she does live a great life that she has worked hard for, she wanted to show people 'that life actually happens behind the scenes of social media platforms'. 'Instagram is a platform where we don't usually see the behind the scenes of people's lives, it's always showing the best moments, the achievements, the killer bodies,' she said. 'Instagram is a platform where we don't usually see the behind the scenes of people's lives, it's always showing the best moments, the achievements, the killer bodies,' she said 'I used to be a signed model and I know the feeling of having to portray yourself as always looking good, having nice things, going places in life. 'Being a model was so much pressure, it was bad for my health in other areas because I got the point where I wouldn't even eat properly because I thought I'd get fat. I am a real person and now all I care about is being real.' Now six weeks post surgery, Ms Smith is still experiencing severe sharp and stabbing pains in her abdomen. 'I am currently waiting to see a surgeon next week to see if I need to have surgery to release adhesions (scar tissue) from my multiple surgeries,' she said. All in all, Ms Smith hopes that by sharing her story, she can inspire others to put themselves first and take the time to prioritise their health 'I suffer severe anxiety now because I haven't felt in control of my body. Every pain scares me. On a better note, I have been doing a lot of stress relief practices such as meditation and yoga.' All in all, Ms Smith hopes that by sharing her story, she can inspire others to put themselves first and take the time to prioritise their health. 'I have put a lot of systems in place while I have been down the past eight weeks and now I have succeeded in setting up my cafe to run without me even being there,' she said. 'Before I lost my health I would of laughed if you told me the place could run without me in it. I can't stress enough now to teach people that its okay to let go a little and how important setting time for yourself in your weekly routine.' 'I have put a lot of systems in place while I have been down the past eight weeks and now I have succeeded in setting up my cafe to run without me even being there,' she said Ms Smith also urges people to remember that it's okay for 'life not to be perfect'. 'We can't always choose what happens in life and I think it's better to try to take the good from the bad,' she said. 'Feeling sorry for myself wasn't going to make myself feel better so sharing my story helped to release a lot of emotions I was holding towards the situation. 'Working hard can be amazing but I just don't want people to forget to find balance, live your life and look after you. The healthier you are, the more you'll succeed.' Two women who live on opposite sides of the world have been pen pals for 53 years. Kay McIvor, from south-east Queensland, started penning letters to Francy Redding, who lives in a small town in Canada, in 1965. Fast forward, the pair have astonishingly maintained an everlasting friendship through handwritten letters and sharing intimate family pictures. For more than five decades, the duo shared everything together, including the exciting births of their children and the tragic deaths of their parents. Appearing on the Today show, the two best friends revealed how they now consider each other as family after more than 50 years of handwritten letters. Two women - Kay McIvor (left) and Francy Redding (right) who live on opposite sides of the world have been pen pals for 53 years Fast forward, the pair have astonishingly maintained an everlasting friendship through handwritten letters and sharing intimate family pictures 'It was like I knew her, had known her all my life basically,' Kay said of the emotional moment the pen pals met face-to-face for the first time. 'We're definitely sisters.' Kay and her husband have visited Canada many times over the years, and they even attended the wedding of Francy's son. In a trip Down Under, Francy recently visited Kay in Queensland for the first time. 'I don't want to go back to minus 45 degree weather,' Francy said, laughing. Despite now being surrounded by modern technology, social media and emails, the two best friends insist they will continue to write letters to each other Despite now being surrounded by modern technology, social media and emails, the two best friends insist they will continue to write letters to each other. 'It's always exciting to get a letter from overseas,' Kay said. And while they live worlds apart, the pair will always be friends. 'You never say goodbye,' Francy said, as she fought back tears. A fashion student who was diagnosed with cancer after her chest pains were dismissed by doctors has revealed how she's decided to ditch the wigs while receiving chemotherapy. Olivia Smith, 22, from Southampton, explained how she began experiencing chest pains after having just a sip of alcohol while on holiday in Menorca, Spain. A GP dismissed her chest pains initially, before doctors misdiagnosed her with costochondritis, an inflammation of the cartilage in the rib cage. It was only when Olivia noticed a few lumps had appeared on her neck that she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. She has since been sharing her inspiring journey to recovery on Instagram, explaining why she has decided to not wear wigs anymore - because she doesn't want to hide 'the hardest battle of my life so far'. Fashion student Olivia Smith, 22, from Southampton, was diagnosed with cancer after doctors dismissed her chest pains at first Olivia (pictured before her cancer diagnosis) described how the pains were dismissed by doctors at first Olivia described how she first began experiencing chest pains while on holiday in Menorca. 'I started to notice something was wrong whilst I was on holiday in Menorca last year. When I drunk even just a sip of alcohol I would get a pain in my chest,' Olivia said. 'This went on for a few weeks, so I made an appointment with my GP. First of all, the doctor told me that there was no possible correlation between drinking alcohol and having a pain in your chest. 'I was told to simply not drink any alcohol. But being the sociable twenty-one-year-old that I was I didn't stop, I simply just ignored the pain but after a few months the pain got worse. Olivia (pictured wearing a wig) has also revealed why she decided to stop wearing wigs 'I made another GP appointment where I was again misdiagnosed with costochondritis. 'A few weeks later I noticed a few lumps had appeared on my neck, so I went back to the GP where they then referred me to see the lymphoma specialist.' The fashion communications students said she had never heard of Hodgkin's Lymphoma before her diagnosis. 'Before this day I had never even heard of the word Lymphoma. On the day I went to the lymphoma clinic I had an X-ray that day. It became pretty clear that I did have cancer because the X-ray showed several growths,' she said. Olivia explained how she's stopped wearing wigs because she doesn't want to hide 'the hardest battle of her life so far' Olivia (pictured during her chemotherapy treatment) has been sharing her story with others on Instagram 'The weeks that followed were full of a lot of "why me" tears; I would fill my drive to work with plans of how I would tell my family the news and mostly worrying about how ugly I would look with no hair. 'This was the point where I realised why people are secretive about things like this. It is obviously so reassuring to know I have such a huge support network, but I began to feel like an alien. 'It is not until something of this nature happens to you that you learn the right way to act towards a person going through it. 'People want to be there for you, and that is so kind, but to be so upset that I actually end up consoling them over the situation is frustrating and you leave the conversation feeling down yourself.' The fashion student (pictured in hospital) admits that has been difficult to remain positive Olivia described how she thought 'why me' after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma Olivia has decided now to document her journey online, and has so far gained 5,000 followers on Instagram. She said: 'I have now replaced the "why me" tears with a strong trust in my journey; I have fully come to terms with the fact I am battling cancer at age twenty-two and it truly has taught me so much. 'Yes, I feel like cancer has stolen a year of my life. But, Hodgkin's is curable. I am being cured; my recent scans show no remaining tumours after only two cycles of Adriamycin bleomycin vinblastine dacarbazine (ABVD) chemotherapy. 'I still have to go through the full six months of chemo to ensure that they have got it all. But I believe everything happens for a reason. That reason being I will grab life with both hands after all of this. Olivia (pictured with her natural hair) said she has come to terms with the fact she is battling cancer aged 22 The student (pictured on holiday in Menorca) wants to raise awareness after her cancer was misdiagnosed 'I believe my future would have been entirely different had I not been faced with this at such a young age. I used to be so comfortably numb, but now I feel everything with such passion.' Olivia also explained her decision to no longer wear a wig, after losing her hair following chemotherapy. 'I have wasted so much time looking for wigs, trips to London, entering competitions, endless meetings and conversations with The Little Princess Trust trying to find the perfect wig,' she said. 'But one day I realised why am I trying to cover up the fact that I am fighting the hardest battle of my life so far? Olivia (pictured wearing a wig) explained she feels more confident now she's not trying to conceal her cancer The student (picture before her diagnosis) said she believes 'everything happens for a reason' 'It took me a long time to realise that cancer isn't something to be embarrassed of, but actually a battle to be proud I am fighting. 'I feel so much more confident now that I am not trying to conceal my cancer, and I am helping so many other young people fighting cancer to feel the same. 'To know that sharing my struggle is helping and inspiring so many others has made me realise that there was a reason for all of this; and my purpose is to share and spread awareness. 'I also rely heavily on my family to look after me, I have had to learn to let go of my independence a little and be driven around and cooked for.' Olivia (pictured during chemotherapy) said she wants to help others by sharing her journey Olivia (pictured while mid-way through chemotherapy) said she used to worry about how ugly she would look with no hair The student described the mental part of her cancer journey as being the most difficult part WHAT IS HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA? Hodgkin's lymphoma is a type of cancer that starts in the white blood cells. It affects around 1,950 people each year in the UK. A common early symptom is having a painless swelling in the armpits, neck and groin. Some people also experience heavy night sweating, extreme weight loss, itching, shortness of breath and coughing. Hodgkin's lymphoma is most common between the ages of 20 and 24, and 75 and 79. It has been linked to people with lowered immunity, a family history of the condition, smokers and those who are overweight. Treatment may include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, steroids and stem cell or bone marrow transplants. Source: Cancer Research UK Advertisement Olivia says that the hardest part of the process has been staying positive, but sharing her journey with the public has helped her come to terms with her illness. 'The mental aspect of this has been the hardest part by a mile. This week I feel I've made the most progress I've made yet so far,' she said. 'Sometimes you don't have to step forward to make progress, sometimes sitting still is the best progress. 'The truth so many people miss is that happiness doesn't start with a relationship, with a degree or with the perfect job. Happiness is realising what a precious privilege it is to be alive. 'Sometimes there will be sadness and struggle in our lives but we must realise the beauty, we must keep putting one foot in front of the other because you never know what's around the bend.' 'Make peace with your past and don't let it spoil the present. I am lucky enough to be given another chance at life. I have fallen apart and oh boy am I putting the pieces back together differently.' Advertisement The king and queen of Spain, Louisiana's governor and the mayor of New Orleans gathered to celebrate their historic ties during the city's tricentennial. And Queen Letizia looked stunning in a deep pink button-up dress as she met with the city's officials to celebrate their shared past. She and her husband King Filipe are on a tour of the US that will take in both New Orleans and San Antonio - cities which have close historical ties with Spain. Pretty in pink: King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain receive ceremonial keys to the city given to them by New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell This only the second official visit by King Filipe since he graduated from Georgetown University in the U.S. Pictured:King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain arrive at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport The warmest of welcomes: A brass band and dancers from a social aid & pleasure club perform as the royals disembark their aircraft King Felipe VI said the city's cultural heritage and immense archives deserve to be better known and studied. Mayor LaToya Cantrell met with the royal pair, gifting them ceremonial keys and telling them that the city's strength has always been rooted in diversity. Louisiana was a Spanish colony from 1763 to 1802, but Felipe noted that historical links date back to 16th and 17th-century Spanish explorers. This is only the second official visit to the US by Georgetown University graduate King Felipe, 50, who ascended the Spanish throne in June 2014 - after his father King Juan Carlos abdicated - and his wife Letizia, 45, a former journalist. During her time as a news anchor for several Spanish networks, Letizia reported on a wide range of breaking stories, among them the 2000 US presidential elections and the 9/11 attacks. By the time she met her husband-to-be, Felipe in 2002, Letizia was working for popular TV channel 24 Horas, where along with anchoring the popular Telediario 2 evening news bulletin The Airbus A310 carrying King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain flies Spanish and American flags as it arrives at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport at sunset The mother-of-two's background includes family tragedy, an allegation that she had an abortion after falling pregnant by her first husband a year before she met King Felipe and controversy over plastic surgery. She is known as one of the most stylish European royals, and has a fondness for sleek Hugo Boss tailoring. A statement from the White House Press Secretary ahead of the visit said: 'As their majesties visit the United States to celebrate the 300th anniversaries of the founding of the great American cities of New Orleans, Louisiana, and San Antonio, Texas, we will recognize the historical ties between the United States and Spain that serve as a foundation for our deep partnership and friendship today.' Security for the Spanish royal family stand by with a towering cumulonimbus cloud off in the distant background New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell dances with a brass band and dancers from a social aid and pleasure club, after greeting King Felipe VI of Spain and Queen Letizia of Spain King Felipe is in New Orleans to help celebrate the city's 300th anniversary, which was a Spanish colony from 1763 to 1802 'San Antonio is proud to commemorate the special bonds that tie us to Spain,' San Antonio's Mayor Ron Nirenberg said of the royal visit. 'We welcome their Majesties during our Tricentennial year to collaborate and build a stronger foundation now and in the future. The everlasting impact of Spain's culture is woven into the fabric of San Antonio's legacy for generations to come.' During the visit, King Felipe said that returning to the US brought about 'a lot of emotion' as he remembered his time in Washington as a student. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards speaks at a welcoming ceremony for the royal pair The Spanish royal couple share two daughters Princess Leonor, 12, and Sofia, 10 Queen Letizia struck up a warm relationship with Michelle Obama during the 2015 visit, and the pair caught up again when the President and First Lady visited Madrid in June 2016. However, the Spanish monarchs will be the first European royals to pay an official visit to the US since Trump became president. Queen Letizia and King Felipe share two daughters, Princess Leonor, 12, and Sofia, 10. The queen is a Special Ambassador for Nutrition for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and takes a special interest in cancer prevention. She addressed the World Health Organisation on climate change in March this year, delivering an impassioned speech on the issue. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall enjoyed a walk on the beach as they continued their tour of the Republic of Ireland on Friday. Camilla, 69, kicked off her shoes to join her husband for the stroll along the sand at Derrynane beach, County Kerry. The royal couple, who are on the second day of a two-day visit, looked relaxed as they walked along the windy coastline. Relaxed: The Duchess of Cornwall, 69, kicked off her shoes to join her husband Prince Charles for the stroll along the sand at Derrynane beach, County Kerry, on Friday Back to nature: The royal couple, who are on the second day of a two-day visit, looked relaxed as they walked along the windy coastline Comfort is key: The Duchess of Cornwall felt the sand between her toes on Friday Shaking off the sand: Camilla brushed off her feet before climbing into the waiting helicopter Charles was smartly dressed in a three-piece suit and tie and kept his leather shoes on for the stroll. However Camilla, who wore a teal skirt suit, clearly wanted to feel a little more comfortable and opted to go barefoot for the outing. Camilla was seen shaking off her shoes before climbing into the helicopter and on to her next engagement. Charles and Camilla have had an action packed few days touring Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. Stroll: The royal couple walk through the grounds of the home of the 19th century Irish lawyer and politician known as the Liberator Blustery: Charles and Camilla were joined by a group as they braved the windy weather Exploring: The party made their way down towards the beach from the historic property Going green: The royals meet schoolchildren learning about plastic pollution on the beach Quiet moment: The couple enjoyed some time alone away from the group during the outing Today they were taken on a guided tour of the home of the 19th century Irish lawyer and politician known as the Liberator. Charles and Camilla walked through the rooms where Daniel O'Connell, who campaigned for rights for all Irish people, lived and worked. O'Connell, who was born in the late 18th century, was famed for his 'monster meetings' - enormous public gatherings where hundreds of thousands of people would congregate to hear him speak. Royal welcome: Musicians greeted Charles and Camilla as they arrived at Derryanne House Historic importance: The property was home to Daniel O'Connell, who campaigned for rights for all Irish people Ceremonial carriages: O'Connell, who was born in the late 18th century, was famed for his 'monster meetings' - enormous public gatherings where hundreds of thousands of people would congregate to hear him speak. Pictured, carriages used by the lawyer Local wildlife: The Duchess of Cornwall stands beside a stuffed eagle and squirrel He gained an international reputation and played a leading role in the movement to abolish slavery. The royal couple were visiting his home Derrynane House in County Kerry, a large mansion in a picturesque setting where O'Connell escaped the pressures of political life. The building tells the story of the campaigner's life through his personal artefacts and possessions. The Prince of Wales watching a performance during their visit to the Siamse Tire National Folk Theatre of Ireland The royals were enthralled as they watched performers dancing on the stage, pictured Charles and William walked up on stage after the performance to congratulate the performers They appeared in good spirits as they shook hands with the cast beneath the stage lights The cast included young dancers and performers who looked thrilled to meet the duchess Stella McCartney is releasing 3,500 replicas of Meghan's wedding reception gown - but only 46 lucky customers will be able to get hold of one. The British brand has announced that it will be selling a limited number of the halterneck gown following the royal wedding. Half of the collection will be lily-white, like Meghan's dress, while half will be a classy onyx-black. However, the dresses will only be available to view by private appointment - and only clients who have received a personal reply from McCartney will be able to see the gowns. The exclusive 'Made With Love' collection is being launched to coincide with the opening of McCartney's new global flagship store on Old Bond Street. Scroll down for video Stella McCartney is releasing 3,500 replicas of Meghan's wedding reception gown (above) Speaking to Vogue, McCartney explained: 'I knew when I was working on the dress with Meghan that it was beautiful. 'I knew it would be a dress that people would want, and, in that moment, you can think, "Nobody can have it!", or you can share it. 'It's a very "Stella McCartney"dress, so it didn't feel like I was cheating anyone, or not being us.' McCartney had previously spoken of her 'pride' at make the stunning halterneck dress for the evening reception at Frogmore House - calling the commission 'a big deal'. The designer said when working on the gown, she knew it 'would be a dress that people would want'. Pictured is a sketch of the dress Speaking to the BBC, McCartney explained she was determined to get it right because the wedding reception would be Meghan's final appearance before taking on her 'very austere, very serious' royal role as the Duchess of Sussex. The show-stopping white halterneck gown was 'the last moment' that Meghan, 36, could reflect 'the human within her', McCartney added. The British designer said: 'It was very much her dress, and I felt very proud that she came to me for that part of the wedding, and that she got to reflect [herself] in it. When asked whether the Duchess had approached her with ideas, the 46-year-old replied: 'Yeah, we worked together. 'When you come to a wedding you don't just go, here this is what you're wearing. That person has to feel like a million dollars, they need to feel like they own it.' Meghan wowed in the halterneck gown as she left Windsor Castle to attend the evening reception at Frogmore House last month McCartney described how the show-stopping gown was 'the last moment' that Meghan, 36, could reflect 'the human within her' She added: 'The role that she's taken on is very austere, it's very serious and I think there's a great weight that she has acquired though that and I think she takes it very seriously. 'I think it was the last moment that she could reflect, sort of the other side to her and, you know... the joy, and the human within her. 'I was aware that we had to get the right positioning, the right pace, the right voice. There was a delicate line.' When asked whether she was disappointed at not being invited to the wedding, the designer laughed: 'I'm not answering that question, that's ridiculous.' McCartney first spoke of her pride at designing the dress in an interview with WWD the day after the wedding. Stella has spoken of her 'pride' at make the stunning halterneck dress for the reception at Frogmore House - calling the commission 'a big deal' Earlier this week, the British designer opened her new London flagship store with a star-studded party (pictured with Kylie Minogue, left, and Kate Moss, centre) She said: 'I am so proud and honored to have been chosen by the Duchess of Sussex to make her evening gown and represent British design. 'It has truly been one of the most humbling moments of my career and I am so proud of all the team on this stunning sunny royal day.' While the neckline was modest, the backless number allowed Meghan to show off her toned shoulders and back, while the figure-hugging gown featured a dramatic fluted skirt. Celebrity stylist Lucas Armitage told Femail that such a gown would probably cost around 80,000 for fabric, design and fittings. Former jailbird Michaella McCollum was spotted taking her twin baby boys out to a local cafe on Friday. The 'Peru Two' drug mule, 24, was joined by her mother Norah for the trip to the eatery in Belfast. Michaella, who welcomed her sons last month, carried one of her sons in a car seat while proud grandmother Norah took care of the other. Both women appeared relaxed as they settled the babies at a table outside before mother-of-two Michaella popped in for an ice cream. Baby's day out! Michaella McCollum carried one of her sons in a baby carrier to the cafe Attentive: Michaella and her mother, Norah, were seen tending to the babies at the eatery The new mother, who shot to notoriety in 2013 as one half of the 'Peru Two', looked glamorous in a figure-hugging black ensemble for the family outing. She mixed textures by pairing fitted faux leather trousers with a strappy top with lace detailing and finished the look with a scarlet tweed-effect blazer, red slides and oversized black shades. While many new mothers might find themselves struggling in the weeks after giving birth, Michaella appeared perfectly polished with a splash of red lipstick and her hair in coiffed waves. Michaella and Norah chatted as they carried the twins from the car to the cafe. Helping hand: Norah was on hand to help her daughter by taking one of the baby's carseats Close family: Mother and daughter chatted as they made their way from car to cafe Pop of colour: Michaella wore a figure-hugging black ensemble with red accessories Michaella peered down into the car seats to check both of her sons were settled before heading inside. The new mother has been busy taking her babies out and about and was most recently spotted taking them on a walk in the park. She was seen cooing over both babies as she held them on her lap on a bench. The new mother announced the news of their birth on Instagram last month by sharing a sweet clip with her newborns, captioned: 'My little darlings, 1 week today.' In control: The former jailbird looked relaxed despite having two young babies with her Settling down: The mother reached down to make sure her baby was comfortable in his seat Protected: Grandmother Norah lifted the hood to shade the baby from the sun And she certainly hasn't held back when it comes to chronicling the realities of motherhood, writing on a recent post: 'Not often these days when I'm not covered in pee and spew.' She also revealed her joy at being able to fit into her pre-pregnancy clothes, but has so far declined to share who their father is - prompting speculation that she is embarking on this next chapter alone. Michaella shot to notoriety in 2013 when she and her friend Melissa Reid were arrested in Lima for smuggling drugs and dubbed the Peru Two in the press. The pair met in Ibiza in 2013 where they were employed by a drug-dealing gang. Summer snack: Michaella left her mother with the twins as she popped inside for an ice cream Well-behaved: The babies didn't stir as their mother ran in to pick up the sweet treat They were sentenced to spend six years and eight months inside a grim jail in Lima, after they were caught at the airport trying to smuggle 1.5M worth of cocaine. However, they were released after serving three years with Michaella returning to Northern Ireland in June 2016. Since her release from prison, Michaella has become something of a public figure, attending events and escaping the chilly British weather on a string of sun-kissed holidays last summer. Bringing the glamour: Michaella wore a figure-hugging black ensemble with red blazer Checking the order? The mother-of-two reappeared and seemed to be asking a question Dressing for the sun: The former jailbird kept it casual in a pair of red slide sandals Her bikini-clad snaps on various sunny getaways have become something of a regular fixture in the media. By contrast her former accomplice Reid, landed a charity job at Citizens Advice after she was released from jail in South America in June 2016. Michaella was also reportedly offered 250,000 for a tell-all book deal detailing her criminal exploits and time behind bars in Lima, although no details of the publication have been released. Notoriety: Michaella McCollum Connolly (left) and Melissa Reid after being arrested at the airport in Lima, Peru in 2013 A woman who named her daughter have Reese's has been rewarded for her superfan status with $10,000 and a year supply of the chocolate peanut butter candy. Renee Cupp, 33, from Elizabethtown, North Carolina says her whole family loves Reese's cups and, of course, their last name gives them something in common with the candy. So when it came time for Renee and her husband to name their second child, who is now eight years old, she and her husband, Eric, 38, decided to embrace their love of the brand and 'take the humor and run with it' by naming their daughter Reese E. Cupp. Dedications: A North Carolina couple named their daughter Reese E. Cupp Superfans: They ended up winning a contest for $10,000 and a year supply of candy 'Its our favorite candy for sure. We have it in the house almost all the time. We have the Half Pound Big Cup in our freezer and the Reeses spread in our pantry,' Renee told People. Her older daughter, Erica, also used to ask for Reese's a lot when she was younger though in their family, they pronounce the brand's name as 'Rees-ees' (it's actually pronounces Rees-is'). Clearly an enthusiastic group of Reese's lovers, the family went all-in when naming the youngest member, calling her Reese Eve Cupp or Reese E. Cupp. 'Everyone calls her "Rees-ee,"' Renee added. 'She loves her name. She always says, "Oh, little Reese Cup. Im a little Reese Cup." She loves everything chocolate.' While the name was fun for the family, it also had a major payoff this year when Reese's announced a contest for superfans. They asked social media followers to share their 'outrageous' fan moments, prompting Renee to share a picture of her daughter. Sense of humor: Renee Cupp and her husband say they love Reese's candy an thought, given their last name, that naming their daughter Reese would be funny A sweet result: They say the little girl loves her name and everyone calls her Reesee Fan: Another woman who entered the contest also named her daughter Reese While others showed off pictures of their Reese's tattoos, Reese E. Cupp's name took home the grand prize. Of course, she's not the only person to be called Reese, though her name is especially spot-on. Another woman who entered the contest, Shannon Dorchak, said she named her daughter Reese too. The Michigan mom told People she is 'obsessed' with the candy. 'My husband has loved the name Reese forever, and I was like "everyone is going to think that we named her that because I am obsessed with candy,"' Dorchak says. 'Sure enough, the candy started pouring in. Now everyone calls her Reeses Pieces or Reese Cup or little nicknames like that.' The candy brand has made it clear how much they love people who share their name, including actress Reese Witherspoon. On Instagram, Witherspoon's account is the only one that Reese's follows, a discovery that sent fans going wild earlier this year. Love it: Reese's and actress Reese Witherspoon also have a mutual love of each other Making a statement: On Instagram, the Reese's account only follows one person - Reese Biggest fan: Twitter users discovered the move earlier this year, prompting the brand to reply that 'she has a great name' Mutual appreciation: Reese's has also tweeted a few puns about the star In on it: And Reese has made jokes about her name being like the candy name before Candy: Reese tweeted herself with the candy last year, saying she had a secret stash 'She has a great name,' the brand has explained. Both Reese the person and Reese's the brand have taken advantage of their shared names before. Before Halloween in 2016, Witherspoon took to Twitter to share a picture of a huge display of Reese's Pieces candy, which had a sign saying 'Reese's Pieces' in front of it. The actress joked that the sign was giving her ownership, writing on the photo: 'My pieces!' Reees's the brand got in on the fun, tweeting in response: 'FINALLYweve had a joke ready for this exact moment. 'How does Reese Witherspoon eat her Reeses? WIT-HER-SPOON,' they joked, adding the hashtag #NoWrongWayToEatAReeses.' For any business, an endorsement from the Kardashians is worth its weight in goldand the founder of Spanx knows it perhaps better than anyone else. Sara Blakely, whose net worth is estimated to reach $1.11 billion according to Forbes, told TMZ on Friday just how thankful she is for the repeated shout-outs the Kardashians have given her brand over the years. 'Thank you Kardashians for promoting Spanx!' the entrepreneur said in an interview at LAX. Priceless: Spanx creator Sara Blakely (pictured in April) said on Friday just how thankful she is for the repeated shout-outs the Kardashians have given her brand over the years Sara, a native of Clearwater, Florida, who launched her now-cult product in 2000 by hand-selling it at Neiman Marcus, praised all the women who have contributed to giving more visibility to her company. 'They give so many shout-outs to the brand and I'm always very grateful to all the women that shout out Spanx,' she told the website. While she wouldn't confirm whether the Kardashian clan has helped put 'millions' in her pocket, Sara acknowledged that any mentions of her shapewearsuch as when a celebrity accidentally flashes her Spanx during a public outing'absolutely' help market her company. 'Spanx is a word-of-mouth brand,' she said. 'For 16 years we didn't advertise at all and it was all word of mouth, so it was women loving the product that much that they talked about it in public. 'And flasha lot people flash their Spanx. I get flashed everywhere I go.' Revealing: Kim flashed her Spanx last month during an event in New York City as she sat cross-legged in a yellow gown The Kardashians have made no secret of their love of Spanx, and have been pictured wearing various designs by the company. Back in 2016, Kim, 37, revealed that she is so fond of the products, she sometimes wears two at once when she's looking for more support. Day job: Sara worked selling faxes door to door before she created Spanx Sometimes I wear two pairs of body shapers on top of each otherespecially when I am heavier, I def double it up,' she wrote on her website. 'My favorite styles are the Body Wrap shorts and the Spanx footless tights. I put one pair on after the other, and if there's a longer pair, I always put those on first. But usually, I wear two pairs that are the same length. 'I try not to layer two different lengths, because I don't want there to be visible seams; I want there to always just be one seam.' Kim further detailed her shapewear taste, adding that she only wears the brand's shorter shorts with short dresses 'instead of underwear'. 'But I prefer the super high-waisted shorts that come all the way down to my knee,' she added. 'In the photo above, you can actually see my Spanx line right above my knee, and I usually don't like that. 'I just recently got introduced to the footless tights, which I can wear with longer dresses like thisso you'll NEVER see my Spanx line because the seam is lower. I typically like them past the knee or right at the knee.' The reality star then linked to three different products by the brand, to make it easy for her followers to shop the same designs she loves. She was also seen on Keeping Up With The Kardashians wearing flesh-colored capris by the brand, and last month flashed her Spanx during an event in New York City. Kim wore a yellow gown with a slit going all the way up to her hip, and as she sat with her legs crossed, revealed the pair of nude shorts she was wearing under her dress. Plug: Kim was seen on Keeping Up With The Kardashians wearing nude shapewear capris Endorsement: Kylie Jenner, 20, previously called her Spanx 'bomb' on social media Khloe and Kylie have also flashed their shapewear in the past while wearing it with dresses, making it clear that Kim is not the only fan of the brand. The Kardashians' former stylist Monica Rose has named Spanx as one of her staples. 'I use a lot of Spanxthat's definitely my go-to brand,' she told InStyle in 2016. 'I use the high-waist ones that go all the way down to the calf. If you do the one that's short, it always leaves a line, so I always use the longer ones. I also use BodyWrapit doesn't leave lines, and it makes your booty look better, so I've been using them a lot.' Sara, a former Disney employee who worked selling faxes door to door before she created Spanx, was inspired to invent her own kind of shapewear when, looking to wear a new pair of cream slacks to a party, she cut the feet of her pantyhose and wore the resulting garment underneath her pants. 'But they rolled up my legs all night,' she told Forbes in 2012. 'I remember thinking, "I've got to figure out how to make this." I'd never worked in fashion or retail. I just needed an undergarment that didn't exist.' With $5,000 in savings, Sara researched her future product over the course of two years, and after convincing Neiman Marcus to take on her products, also won over Bloomingdale's, Saks, and Bergdorf Goodman. Sara also sent samples to Oprah Winfrey's stylist, and in November 2000, the talk-show host named Spanx her favorite product of the year, helping the company make $4 million in its first year. Spanx shapewear has now become a celebrity essential, with scores of A-listers resorting to it on the red carpet or during various outings. The brand is currently sold in 55 countries. A Harry Potter fan was charmed by the very-special engagement ring that her fiance designed to pop the question and he didn't even have to get Professor Flitwick involved. Reddit user Katiemack777 took to the online community this week to post a picture of her new jewelry. The engagement ring features a diamond, of course, but also has a small gemstones in red, green, blue, and yellow to represent each of the four Hogwarts houses. Gryffin-ja'dore! Reddit user Katiemack777 shared a photo of her three-part engagement ring Accio, love of her life! In addition to a diamond, it has colored stone for Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff The Ron to her Hermione! Redditors agreed that her man is a 'keeper' His kiss is better than a Dementor's, for sure! Quite a few people were fans of the ring No Sorting necessary! The Redditor said, 'I love him, and I love how much creativity he used and how much work he put into this' 'My (now) fiance knows that I love Harry Potter almost as much as I love him, so he designed a pretty special ring for me,' she wrote. The ring which is actually three rings fused together features a gold center band with a round diamond in the center. The two outer bands have smaller diamonds, as well as a quartet of precious stones in the colors of Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. She explained that the blue and yellow are both sapphires, the red stone is a ruby, and the green is tsavorite. Her husband designed it himself, and went to Shane Co. to have it made. 'I love him, and I love how much creativity he used and how much work he put into this,' she gushed. 150 points for this guy! In 2017, Uriel Palma from Florida proposed to girlfriend Trechsel Hall and had the ring put in a box that looks like a Golden Snitch Alohamora! The box could only be opened using a tiny charm in the shape of a Nimbus 2000 broomstick Quidditch fans: Palma (right) enlisted the help of New Zealand jeweler Asher Freeman to make their Potter dreams come true Other Redditors clearly loved it to, and the post earned thousands of upvotes and hundreds of comments. Her fiance even chimed in too, explaining: 'I knew I needed to have an extraordinary ring for such an extraordinary girl. It turned out better than I ever could imagine. The ring is definitely enchanted.' The Reddit user is just the latest Potter fan to get engagement bling inspired by the books. Ontario-based jewelry designer Miranda Scott's sells a ring that looks like a Golden Snitch, with features a golden topaz as the main stone and has two silvery wings off to the sides. Game over: Miranda Scott sells this Golden Snitch-themed ring on Etsy Keep your eye on the Snitch: The impossibly fast mechanical creation is one of the key elements of Quidditch, a competitive team sport played by the wizards in Harry Potter While countless pieces of Potter jewelry can be found online, particularly on Etsy, a handful of truly dedicated fans have had pieces specially made for big occasions. In 2017, Uriel Palma from Florida proposed to girlfriend Trechsel Hall and enlisted the help of New Zealand jeweler Asher Freeman to make their Potter dreams come true. Freeman spent 60 hours handcrafting a box for a diamond ring, which was made in the form of a golden snitch. The box could only be opened using a tiny charm in the shape of a Nimbus 2000 broomstick. It turned out to be a double dose of jewelry, as Hall can wear the ring inside as well as the snitch box, which was made into a necklace. While some people love hitting the hay as early as possible, plenty of night owls enjoy staying up so much they have turned it into a lifestyle of its own. People who have gotten into the habit of going to bed well past midnight have opened up about what they like to do with their extra chunk of time while the rest of the world gets some shuteye. Many find that nighttime is their peak productivity period, especially since staying up allows them some uninterrupted alone time, meaning they are able to work distraction-free. Activities: Night owls have opened up about what they like to do with their extra chunk of time, from doing creative work to enjoying some me time (stock picture) Creative work is a frequent activity for night owls, including 27-year-old Anna McNaught, a photographer and graphic designer who typically goes to bed between 1:30 and 2:30 am. After having dinner with her fiance, checking out social media, brushing her teeth and applying her skincare products, Anna, who is part of a group of night owls who detailed their habits to Self, begins by reading her emails at 10 pm, before delving into photo editing. At midnight, her fiance goes to bed while Anna switches to a different project. In the schedule she outlined, she said she thought about sleeping at 2 am, but ended up doing more work and didn't go to bed until 3 am. 'I've found night to be the time of day when I'm most productive,' Anna told the magazine. 'For whatever reason, I just end up in a creative zone at night. I usually work until I feel sleepy, but if I get into a groove, I could probably keep working all night!' I produce better artwork and stories later at night and my creativity goes into full effect Young night owls, too, sometimes feel particularly creative after the sun sets. 'I used to do this more when I was younger, but I would act out sketches in my room,' one Reddit user as part of a thread dedicated to night owls' habits. 'I'd dress up as different characters, and even play multiple roles in one sketch. They weren't funny or anything, just little mini dramas or something. 'When I was ready to go to sleep, I had a particular line of dialogue I would recite that ended with falling asleep.' Another Reddit user said they, too, feel especially inspired when it's dark outside. 'I love the night for several reasons. First off, I love the dark night sky, as opposed to the bright blue sky. Secondly, for whatever reason, I produce better artwork and stories later at night and my creativity goes into full effect,' that person wrote in a different thread. 'Third, I love the quietness of it. For some reason, whether I got a full night rest or not, I have always hated everything about mornings. I hate the idea of getting up when things are just opening around town or when the sun is just rising, I hate the idea of breakfast (eating in the early hours makes me vomit anyway) and so forth.' There is, however, one drawback to staying up: not being able to communicate with friends if a genius idea happens to pop up. 'I'd say one of the best things about being a night owl is the ability to work without being bothered. I don't have people texting me to do stuff, or the temptation of seeing what my friends are doing later, because everyone else is asleep,' another Reddit user wrote. 'One thing that sucks though is when you get a super good idea for plans and you can't run it by your friends to see if they would be interested until the next day.' While some are busy working in front of a computer, others find that staying up is a great way to get some me time. Bonnie Winston, 54, a professional matchmaker, typically goes to bed between 1 and 3 am. While the schedule she gave Self shows that she does work until around 12:30 am, she also stays up a bit longer doing activities she enjoys. One of the best things about being a night owl is the ability to work without being bothered First, Bonnie, a fan of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, watches some TV, before switching to reading at 1:30 am. 'I like going to sleep late, because I'm in a business where I have to always be 'on'scouting people, networking, etc,' she said. 'It's nice to have some me time, and the quiet hours between 11 pm and 2 am give me that.' One Reddit user has also come to enjoy the peace and quiet of the later hours. Asked about what they like to do at night, they wrote: 'Just sit and look outside of the window without talking. It sounds really dumb but it's really nice and always leaves me feeling calm and peaceful. 'Throughout the entire day people are interacting with me (which is fine) but it's always nice to have alone quiet time. That, and watching Netflix.' Another way to get productive at night is to learn a new skill, which is what Joanna Lin, a 29-year-old social media consultant, has been doing, Joanna, who usually heads to bed between 2 and 3 am, told Self she likes to practice her French online on Duolingo for 30 minutes, before dedicating some time to writing as well as editing photos and videos. Some night owls certainly get creative with how they fill their hours, such as the Reddit user who finds nighttime to be 'the best time' to go shopping at Walmart. 'There are like two other people in the store, there's close parking and no lines,' the Reddit user wrote. 'Employees are all restocking, so everything's restocked and you can ask them where stuff is. Plus, they make a maze out of the store, which is fun.' First, it was their Provencale Rose that sent wine drinkers around the world into a spin. Next it was a $23 bottle of whisky that was named as one of the best in the world. And now, Aldi's Le Pave is winning accolades around Australia, with many comparing the $6 creamy cheese to D'Affinois that retails for three times the price in other supermarkets. Aldi's Le Pave (right) is winning accolades around Australia, with many comparing the $6 creamy cheese to D'Affinois that retails for three times the price in other supermarkets A 200 gram box of Le Pave from Aldi (left) costs just $5.99, while D'Affinois (right) retails for $17 or $18 in other supermarkets Even though the Le Pave is not one of Aldi's notoriously quick to sell out 'special buys', the 200 gram product flies off the shelves faster than some of their most popular items. Hundreds of customers on Facebook have written about both how good the cheese is, but also how hard it is to get their hands on it. 'I haven't managed to find it yet,' one person posted. 'I never thought I would say this, but it's actually better than D'Affinois,' another woman told whimn.com.au of Le Pave. 'It's soft and creamy with a decent bite,' a further fan added. Hundreds of customers on Facebook have written about both how good the cheese is, but also how hard it is to get their hands on it from an Aldi store (stock image) D'Affinois retails for around $17 or $18 in major supermarkets - a figure more than three times the $5.99 price of Aldi's Le Pave. 'We are proud of the award-winning cheese range on offer at Aldi, including our popular Le Pave cheese,' a spokesperson from Aldi told Daily Mail Australia. 'Crafted from the heart of France, we have been stocking Le Pave cheese ($5.99/200g) at Aldi since April 2017. 'Le Pave is produced within the Pays de la Loire region of France at one of the largest remaining dairy cooperatives in the country. To ensure its quality, the product is airfreighted to Australia on a weekly basis.' 'Le Pave is currently available at Aldi stores nationally.' 'I never thought I would say this, but it's actually better than D'Affinois,' another woman said of Le Pave 'Le Pave is produced in the Pays de la Loire region of France. To ensure its quality, the product is airfreighted to Australia on a weekly basis,' a spokesperson told FEMAIL (stock image) For those looking to get their hands on the cut-price cheese, thanks to its sellout nature you'll have to be quick. Aldi's spokesperson also said if you like the Le Pave, there is another alternative from the supermarket that you should try: 'Customers who enjoy our Le Pave should also try our "La Brique" cheese a soft mild washed cheese that brings flavour from its own unique region. It combines perfectly on a platter with our Le Pave.' MPs and fans of classic British puddings are furious after Parliament chefs revealed they would be rebranding 'Spotted Dick' as 'Richard'. The move was said to be made to avoid sniggering or embarrassment - but now Twitter users are up in arms over the decision. Taking the opportunity to use cheeky innuendo, dozens have called for the Strangers Dining Room, the 19th-century restaurant used to entertain the guests of MPs, to change the name back to 'Spotted Dick'. Spotted Michael Fabricant, MP for Lichfield, was among those who tweeted about the name change Michael Fabricant, the MP for Lichfield, led the charge and tweeted: Call a dick a dick, I say!' Dr Majorie Bark gleefully added: 'Oh grow up! It's Dick! Dick! Dick! Dick! If you're too bashful, order the treacle tart. 'I'm going to start a campaign to rename custard to something suitably suggestive.' It is thought that the staff hoped the decision to rebrand the iconic sponge pudding dessert - which is studded with raisins or currants and usually served with custard - would cause less of a stir with guests but it appeared to have had the opposite effect. People on social media were furious that the iconic British pudding's name had been changed in a Parliament dining room What is Spotted Dick? Spotted Dick is a classic British pudding, made with suet and dried fruit, usually currants or raisins, and often served with custard. It is made from suet pastry sprinkled with dried fruit, which is then rolled into a round shape. It is steamed and then served hot. 'Dick' was widely used as a term for a plain pudding in the 19th century, despite being the subject of double-entendres today. Advertisement Andrea Jenkyns, Conservative MP for Morley and Outwood, revealed that her waiter had offered her a slice of 'Spotted Richard' from the special desserts menu. Ms Jenkyns told The Telegraph he had 'to bite on my lip to stop myself from laughing'. 'I had to ask twice, just to be sure,' she continued. 'They have a traditional desserts section, which changes daily, so I asked what the dessert was and that's when they said it.' Now the rebrand has gone viral on social media, with several Twitter users saying it was an example of 'political correctness gone mad'. Another also railed against the 'posh' name for custard, Creme Anglais, and said trying to make it seem 'pretentious' was just as irritating as renaming Spotted Dick. The pudding was said to be created in 1849 by Alexis Soyer. A frozen food range from Iceland has picked up the title of best own-brand label of the year at a prestigious awards. Iceland's Luxury range - which includes 11 Uncooked Canadian Lobster Tails and 3 Wagyu Steak Burgers - beat discount rival Aldi as well as ASDA, M&S and the Co-op to be awarded a Grocer Gold medal at the The Grocer Gold Awards 2018. The range is mostly made up of frozen items, such as 10 Luxury Chateaubriand with Red Wine Sauce, and 2.50 Luxury Venison Quarter-Pounders. Iceland's Luxury range includes 11 Uncooked Canadian Lobster Tails Tesco was also named Britain's Favourite Supermarket, while Aldi won Best Grocer of the Year. Ocado was crowned best Online Supermarket of the Year. Iceland's own-brand range has expanded hugely in the last year, adding 60 new items including a 6 Raspberry and Pistachio Four-Layered Pavolva and 1 Four-Slice Brioche Rolls. The Luxury range was introduced by Iceland to give its shoppers more choice and to attract more customers. Iceland's range also includes Luxury Wagyu Beef Quarter Pounders (3, left), and Venison Quarter Pounders (2.50, right) Iceland's Head Chef Neil Nugent, who worked with the Craft Guild of Chefs to test the range, said: 'We have developed our Luxury range with care and precision, only adding the very best food to the label. 'We're so proud of the Grocer Gold win and we'll continue to create delicious products to join the rest of the range.' The retailer has sold over half a million lobsters every year since the Cooked Canadian Lobster was introduced for Christmas 2014. Other winners at the Grocer Gold Awards, which were held this weelk, included Londis, which was awarded Symbol/Franchise Convenience Retailer of the Year. Sainsbury's picked up two gongs for Availability and Customer Service, while ASDA won a price award. The state of Kentucky has sued Walgreens for distributing so many opioids, so frequently, that it seemed suspicious - but was never reported. The store filled out prescriptions at 'such an alarming rate and volume that there could be no legitimate medical purpose associated to their use,' according to the lawsuit filed on Thursday. The only possible explanation for the large quantities, lawmakers say, was that some of the drugs were distributed to addicts and abused or diverted for illegal uses, the complaint said. In a searing attack on the pharmacy, Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear directly blames this over-distribution for the drug addiction, overdoses and deaths that have crippled the state's citizens. The only possible explanation for the large quantities, lawmakers say, was that some of the drugs were distributed to addicts and abused or diverted for illegal uses, the complaint said 'While Walgreens' slogan was "at the corner of happy and healthy," they have significantly harmed the health of our families in fueling the opioid epidemic,' Beshear said in a statement. The lawsuit by Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear was his sixth to date seeking to hold corporations like drug manufacturers and distributors responsible for their roles in the drug abuse crisis. The lawsuit, filed in state circuit court in Boone County, said Walgreens failed to report suspicious orders to authorities. The lawsuit seeks damages and penalties as well as an injunction. Deerfield, Illinois-based Walgreens declined to comment. Opioids were involved in more than 42,000 overdose deaths in 2016, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Kentucky had 1,404 overdose deaths in 2016, the lawsuit said. The state had the third highest drug overdose rate in 2015 behind West Virginia and New Hampshire, according to Beshear's complaint. States, counties and cities have filed hundreds of lawsuits, accusing drugmakers of pushing addictive painkillers through deceptive marketing, and accused wholesale distributors of failing to report suspicious drug orders. Beshear is pursuing similar cases against drug distributors AmerisourceBergen Corp, Cardinal Health Inc and McKesson Corp as well as drugmakers Johnson & Johnson and Endo International Plc. Fears have been raised over the potential spread of a strain of bird flu that kills more than a third of people it strikes. H7N9 is currently circulating poultry in China - but the virus has also killed hundreds of humans and infected scores more. In a desperate battle to stop it from becoming a pandemic, the UK Government is now investigating the lethal virus. They will track its geographical spread and changes in the genetical structure - to see if it possesses the ability to spread between humans. Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy chief medical officer for England, told the Daily Telegraph: 'It's possible that it could be the cause of the next pandemic.' H7N9 is currently circulating poultry in China - but the virus has also killed hundreds of humans and infected scores more He added: '[H7N9] is an example of another virus which has proven its ability to transmit from birds to humans.' Professor Van-Tam's comments come after the World Health Organization earlier this year listed 'Disease X' among its list of lethal pathogens. It was the first time ever 'Disease X' - representing a pathogen currently unknown to scientists - was mentioned in the WHO's annual list. The body claimed it was one of 10 killer viruses that poses the most 'urgent' threat to humanity. Ebola and Zika were also named. This year marks the 100 year anniversary of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, which killed 50 million people across the world - three times more than World War 1. H7N9 was first identified in humans in March 2013 and has since struck 1,625 people. Two cases were imported to Canada and one to Malaysia. At the moment, H7N9 can not spread from person to person. But scientists fear this could change at any time as the virus is constantly mutating WHAT IS H7N9? H7N9 was first identified in humans in March 2013 and has since struck 1,625 people. Two cases were imported to Canada and one to Malaysia. Of those infected, it has killed 623 - a fatality rate around the 38 per cent mark. At the moment, H7N9 can not spread from person to person. But scientists fear this could change at any time as the virus is constantly mutating. Scientists last year warned they had identified three mutations that, if they occurred at the same time in nature, could make it spread between people. The virus initially causes a fever and cough. However, it can rapidly progress into pneumonia, sepsis or even multi-organ failure. Like most strains of flu, pregnant women, older people, children and those with compromised immune systems are most at risk of death. Advertisement Of those infected, it has killed 623 - a fatality rate around the 38 per cent mark. But Professor Van-Tam claims it would kill much less in a pandemic. He told the Telegraph: 'Mortality is about 38 per cent of known cases, higher than any of the human pandemic viruses. 'But it would be wrong to think we could have a pandemic virus in future that could kill 38 per cent of people. It would change.' At the moment, H7N9 can not spread from person to person. But scientists fear this could change at any time as the virus is constantly mutating. Scientists last year warned they had identified three mutations that, if they occurred at the same time in nature, could make it spread between people. Scripps Research Institute researchers published their worrying findings, derived from tests in the laboratory, in the journal PLOS Pathogens. An outbreak of H7N9 was reported among poultry in Tennessee last March - but officials at the time warned the risk of human infection was low. The virus initially causes a fever and cough. However, it can rapidly progress into pneumonia, sepsis or even multi-organ failure. Like most strains of flu, pregnant women, older people, children and those with compromised immune systems are most at risk of death. Professor John Oxford, a virologist at Queen Mary University of London, also spoke of his concern over the potential spread of H7N9. He pointed to H5N1 - another form of bird flu - and claimed that it 'had its chance to cause a worldwide pandemic' - but has yet to. Professor Oxford told the Telegraph's Anne Gulland: 'H7N9 is younger and stronger and is now waiting for its opportunity.' A mother-of-four living in Honduras is desperately seeking help after giving birth to conjoined twins whom doctors refuse to separate because one would die. Jennifer Pamela Martinez, 27, gave birth to the twin girls, who share a heart and liver, by caesarean section. The babies are relying on extra oxygen to keep them alive and are fused by their chests and abdomens, meaning they face each other. Their parents have admitted they will struggle to afford specialist care for them. Ms Martinez said she had been delighted when she found out she was expecting twins, but when doctors told her it was Siamese twins she had not even heard of the condition. They remain in the Escuela Universitario hospital in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa about 75 miles from the border with Nicaragua where doctors are keeping them alive. But Ms Martinez says she loves them just as much as her other children and is desperate to find an overseas doctor who can save them. Maria Fernandez and Maria Jose Martinez were born by caesarean section and are joined by the chest and abdomen, sharing a heart and liver About one in every 200,000 live births in the world are conjoined twins, although on around 35 per cent of them survive for more than a day. Because the condition is rare it is difficult to study so is not fully understood. However, it is thought to be caused when a woman's fertilised egg splits into two the process which produces twins but does not fully separate. Ms Martinez's daughters, Maria Fernandez and Maria Jose, have to remain in hospital because their blood is not oxygenating properly likely because they only have one heart between them. However, they are able to eat, according to the hospital. 27-year-old mother Jennifer Martinez says she had not even heard of conjoined twins before it happened to her, and she is desperate for a doctor to save her babies The girls are being kept at Escuela Universitario hospital in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa where they rely on extra oxygen to keep them alive WHAT ARE CONJOINED TWINS? Conjoined twins occur when siblings have their skin or internal organs fused together. It affects around one in 200,000 live births. Conjoined twins are caused by a fertilised egg beginning to split into two embryos a few weeks after conception, but the process stops before it is complete. The most common type is twins joined at the chest or abdomen. Separation surgery success depends on where the twins are joined. Doctors can only tell which organs the siblings share, and therefore plan surgery, after they are born. At least one twin survives 75 per cent of the time. The condition is also known as Siamese twins, named after the first pair of internationally famous conjoined twins, Chang and Eng Bunker (18111874), who were from Siam. Source: University of Maryland Medical Center Advertisement Separation would kill one of the twins, hospital says Miguel Osorio, spokesman of the hospital said 'a separation is not possible' because surgery would involve the death of one of them and 'we are not going to do that'. Ms Martinez and her husband, who only has casual employment, are in search of help in looking after their babies. The couple say they will struggle to provide the girls with the specialist care they will need, as well as nappies, milk and clothes. Ms Martinez added she is also desperate to find a second opinion from an overseas medical team about what the future might hold for her babies. 'I love my newborns the same as my other children' The mother-of-four said of shock at the diagnosis: 'I did not know what Siamese meant and searched on the internet and I got shocked because it is not an easy thing. 'I feel the same love for my two newborns that I feel for my other two children, I love both the same.' Conjoined twins bodies can be connected by any part of the body but thoraco-omphalopagus twins, like Maria Fernandez and Maria Jose, are most common and make up around 28 per cent of cases. Doctors are unsure why, but about 70 percent of conjoined twins are girls, who tend to have better survival rates than boys do after birth. The condition is also known as Siamese twins, named after the first pair of internationally famous conjoined twins, Chang and Eng Bunker (18111874), who were from Siam. Texas sisters joined in the same way were successfully separated A pair of sisters in Texas who were joined in the same way as the Honduran twins, and also shared a heart and liver, were successfully separated in January this year. Anna Grace and Hope Elizabeth Richards were born attached at the chest and abdomen when they were born on December 29, 2016. Conjoined twin girls Hope and Anna Richards were successfully separated in January One of the teams of doctors that operated on Anna and Hope makes an incision in the girls' shared skin, an early step in their separation After spending a year in a neonatal intensive care unit sharing a liver, diaphragm and part of a heart, they were carefully split during a seven-hour surgery on January 13. The operation took place at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, where a team of 75 surgeons, specialists and nurses practised the procedure for months. The shared heart was split into two and each had their own blood supply connected, then plastic surgeons placed once-shared tissue and skin over their chests and abdomens. Gene therapy could help hundreds of thousands of paralysed patients regain control of their arms and legs again, scientists believe. Researchers gave the treatment to paralysed rats - and found it allowed them to pick up sugar cubes using their paws. The breakthrough study, by a team of neurosurgeons at King's College London, has been branded 'exciting' and 'life-changing'. Charities yesterday said it is some of the most 'compelling' evidence that people left paralysed can regain the use of their arms and hands. The breakthrough study, by neurosurgeons at King's College London, has been branded 'life-changing' as it may help paralysed people gain the ability to use their hands again Spinal cord injuries Figures estimate there are 40,000 people living with a spinal cord injuries in the UK and up to 350,000 in the US. Patients often lose their ability to perform everyday actions that require coordinated hand movements, such as holding a toothbrush. Regaining hand function is the top priority for patients and charities claim it would dramatically improve independence and quality of life. After a traumatic spinal injury, dense scar tissue forms which then prevents new connections being made between nerve cells. No regenerative treatments are currently available - but the new study offers hope of a potential way of helping patients regain function. 'Exciting' evidence Professor Elizabeth Bradbury, who led the study, told the BBC: 'We find this really exciting, recovery of this type of function.' She also claimed that for many spinal injured patients, their 'highest priority' is to get their hand function back. 'Being able to pick up a coffee cup, hold a toothbrush, these types of things will have a dramatic increase on their quality of life and their independence,' she added. Researchers gave the treatment to paralysed rats - and found it allowed them to pick up sugar cubes using their paws (stock) Dr Mark Bacon, from the charity Spinal Research, told the BBC: 'The data is some of the most compelling I've seen demonstrating restoration of skilled forelimb function. 'It's exciting, but getting approval for gene therapies represents a particular, but not insurmountable, challenge to getting it to the clinic. 'Transferred to the clinic, this research could be life-changing for the millions of people worldwide with paralysis caused by a spinal cord injury.' How was the study carried out? Rats and humans use a similar sequence of coordinated movements when reaching and grasping for objects. COULD SILK REPAIR DAMAGED SPINAL CORDS? Silk could help repair damaged spinal cords by producing material which acts as a 'scaffold', scientists claimed last October. A team of British researchers found cleaned, sterilised silk from a breed of moths had properties well suited to spinal repair. A modified version of the lightweight material could support nerve growth across damaged regions, they said at the time. Dr Fritz Vollrath, from Oxford University, said the findings were the 'most important and exciting' conducted on the values of silk yet. Advertisement Rats with spinal injuries that closely mimicked those that humans can sustain in car crashes and falls were given gene therapy. The experimental technique caused the cells of rats to produce an enzyme, called chrondroitinase, that breaks down scar tissue. The therapy used in the new trial, published in the medical journal Brain, could be switched on and off by a common antibiotic. What did they find? Researchers found that after two months, the rats given gene therapy were able to reach and grasp sugar pellets with their paws. They also discovered a 'dramatic' increase in activity in the spinal cord of rats, which suggested new connections had been made by nerve cells. Professor Bradbury said: 'What is exciting about our approach is we can precisely control how long the therapy is delivered by using a gene "switch". 'This means we can hone in on the optimal amount of time needed for recovery. GT provides a way of treating large areas of the spinal cord with only one injection.' First evidence it works Professor Joost Verhaagen, of the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, who was part of the study, praised the findings. He said: 'The use of a stealth gene switch provides an important safeguard and is an encouraging step toward an effective gene therapy for spinal cord injury. 'This is the first time a gene therapy with a stealth on/off switch has been shown to work in animals.' However, the KCL researchers warned the gene therapy is not yet ready for humans because of an error in the treatment. The study showed a small part of the gene remained active - even when the therapy was switched off. They hope to switch it off. Being fat as a child increases the risk of developing arthritis in the hips and knees, a study has found. Adult obesity is known to contribute to and worsen arthritis, but new research suggests being obese as a child also increases the likelihood of arthritis in later life. A person's weight as a child actually affects their chance of developing hip arthritis more than their weight in adulthood does, the research shows. The research comes after figures revealed a third of children leaving primary school are overweight in the UK, with 22,000 of them classed as obese. Obesity is being called a global health crisis and is known to have serious consequences like cancer and heart disease. Scientists who carried out the study say its results should add more urgency to efforts to get people to slim down. Being obese in childhood increases a person's risk of developing arthritis in their hips or knees in later life, research shows The study, by the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR), found links between obesity in children and osteoarthritis the most common form of the condition and the one usually associated with old people. Osteoarthritis causes joint pain, stiffness, swelling and tenderness and can get worse over time. It is caused by cartilage in the joint breaking down, reducing the protection between bones, commonly in the knees, hips and hands. Being overweight can make this worse because it puts extra strain on the joints, and the new research suggests this could begin long before the condition is diagnosed. 'This data should add urgency to tackling obesity' Johannes W. Bijlsma, president of the EULAR said: 'Obesity in both childhood and adulthood is an important public health issue. 'These data showing a causal relationship with osteoarthritis should add further impetus to tackle the issue of obesity and reduce related disability.' The study was based on people's Body Mass Index (BMI) measurements, which compare someone's height and weight to determine whether they are overweight. People with a BMI of over 30 are considered to be obese, unless they are extremely muscular, and a healthy range is 18.5 to 24.9. Arthritis risk increases by half a percentage per extra BMI point JUNK FOOD WORSENS ARTHRITIS PAIN Junk food exacerbates arthritis and joint pain, research published in April claims. The study by the University of Rochester Medical Center in the US shows that bacteria in the gut appears to be the driving force behind inflammation that leads to painful 'wear and tear' of the bones in overweight people. When mice were fed fatty foods their colons were dominated by pro-inflammatory bacteria, and almost completely lacked beneficial probiotic bacteria. Osteoarthritis was long assumed to simply be a consequence of undue stress on the joints, and that losing weight could prevent the condition. But this research shows balancing gut bacteria with a prebiotic supplement reverses the symptoms in mice even if their weight stayed the same. When the mice consumed prebiotics instead of fatty foods the healthy bacteria crowded out those which cause inflammation. That, in turn, decreased inflammation in the body and slowed down cartilage breakdown in the mice's arthritic knees. Advertisement EULAR's research found that for each extra BMI point in an obese child their risk of being diagnosed with knee or hip arthritis as an adult increases by 0.6 per cent, which scientists say is significant. In obese adults, each extra BMI point raises their risk of knee arthritis rises by 1.3 per cent and hip arthritis by 0.4 per cent. There is no link between obesity and arthritis in the hands, according to the research. Study author Professor Daniel Prieto-Alhambra added: 'Our results suggest the effect of adult BMI seems to be stronger on knees, whilst childhood BMI might impact both knee and hip osteoarthritis risk similarly. 'Interestingly our findings contradict previous studies that found an association between obesity and hand osteoarthritis.' Extra bodyweight puts extra strain on the joints Obesity can make it more likely for someone to develop arthritis because the heavier they are, the more work weight-bearing joints like the hips and knees have to do to support their bodyweight. Then once a person already has arthritis, the strain puts stress on the already-damaged joint. According to the Arthritis Foundation, every pound of excess bodyweight exerts about four pounds (1.8kg) of extra pressure on the knees. So a person who is 10lbs (4.5kg) overweight has 40lbs (18kg) of extra pressure on their knees. If a person is seven stone (44kg) overweight for example, someone who is 5'9 and 15st7lbs that is 28st5lbs (181kg) of extra pressure on their knees. If your boss constantly breathes down your neck and gives you ridiculous demands, you may fear a breakdown. But now scientists claim they can tell if you really are at risk of burnout - simply by taking a swab of your saliva. The new test, devised by Austrian researchers, looks for elevated levels of cortisol, a hormone that helps to fight stress. Preliminary trials show the method is almost 100 per cent accurate, even more so than blood tests designed to look for cortisol. Samples can be analysed in just four hours, allowing doctors to identify those at risk and to give them help to combat their stress. Scientists claim they can tell if you're at risk of burnout - simply by taking a swab of your saliva People under extreme stress have higher levels of cortisol, which is released by the body to suppress inflammation. In comparison, those not under incredible stress can have no measurable levels of the hormone in their body by the evening. Scientists at the Medical University of Vienna trialled their new saliva test on 66 volunteers, of which 40 had burnout. They compared the work-related stress derived from questionnaires - and cortisol levels between the two groups. Previous saliva tests have tried to analyse cortisol levels in the morning, when the hormone is naturally produced. The new method took swabs of saliva from the participants between 11.30am and 12.30pm and straight before going to bed. It was found people experiencing burnout had noticeably higher cortisol levels at both time intervals. WHAT IS BURNOUT? As many as one in three workers are estimated to become victims of burnout at some time in their career. Even celebrities are not immune, as Kendall Jenner, Lady Gaga, Rita Ora and Ellie Goulding have all been struck in the past. It also can lead to physical effects such as insomnia and headaches, while the prolonged stress raises the risks of heart disease. The financial costs are also high, with one study estimating that overly stressed employees cost their companies between $150 (113) and $300 (225) billion each year. Advertisement Upon further analysis of the samples, the researchers were able to spot almost all of the volunteers who had burnout. Their study, published in Scientific Reports, backed up previous evidence that early morning samples were not as accurate. Some of the patients who were identified as being at risk of burn out using the new test were treated in a special stress clinic. Writing in the journal, researchers said: 'This means that we can use these markers for preventively identifying people who are at greater risk of burnout.' However, the researchers, led by a team of three, have now called for further trials to confirm the accuracy of the swabs of saliva. As many as one in three workers are estimated to become victims of burnout at some time in their career. Even celebrities are not immune, as Kendall Jenner, Lady Gaga, Rita Ora and Ellie Goulding have all been struck in the past. It also can lead to physical effects such as insomnia and headaches, while the prolonged stress raises the risks of heart disease. Rolls-Royce boss Warren East slammed the firms financial performance as abysmal as he axed 4,600 jobs in a bid to save 400million per year. Middle managers and office staff are being axed in the engineers biggest round of job cuts in almost two decades. About 3,000 jobs are expected to go in the UK, about 13 per cent of its total staff, with its headquarters in Derby the worst affected. It comes on top of 2,000 marine division roles and 800 managers chopped since East took over in 2015 and set about trying to turn around the business. Rolls-Royce boss Warren East has struggled to streamline the company since he took the controls in 2015 Consultancy firm Alvarez & Marsal has been helping Rolls decide where to make the cuts, which employs more than 55,000 people worldwide. East said that rather than leaving it understaffed, the job cuts will strip out duplication of roles and speed up decision-making in a bid to ensure that the company is more competitive. Asked if he would be happy with the shape of the company after this round of cuts, he added: I think broadly the shape of the company will be right its always a very competitive business. We need to keep our eyes on being competitive on a continuous basis, and one of the challenges we have here is we have been concentrating on developing technology, on modernising our facility, on scaling up volume production. For many years we probably havent been paying much attention to making ourselves competitive as a business. Its a big correction to not paying attention to the business side of it for quite a long time. This is a pivotal moment in our history. East, 56, who was paid 2.3million last year, has been trying to double the number of airplane engines that Rolls produces, as well as generate up to 1billion cash even as he has cut staff. He is also planning on slimming the company down from five to three core divisions civil aerospace, defence and power systems. However, he has been beset by problems, including having to pay a record 671million fine in 2017 over historic allegations it paid bribes to win export contracts. Ongoing problems with its flagship Trent 1000 engines, which is in service with airlines around the world, has forced it to divert engineers and resources. Justifying the latest round of cuts, East said there should be six to seven layers of management between the chief executive and the shop floor, rather than up to 11, as at present. He added: We are a roughly 15billion turnover business ,and in 2017 we generated 273million cash. That is approximately 2 per cent. Thats abysmal. Last year Rolls announced 150million of investment in its facilities in Derby. Previous commitments with unions will be honoured but most of the staff affected by this round of cuts are not unionised and some face compulsory redundancies. Steve Turner, assistant general secretary for aerospace at Unite union, warned of the potential economic impact on communities in Derby and elsewhere dependent on jobs at the engineer. He added: There is a real danger that Rolls-Royce will cut too deep and too fast with these jobs cuts, which could ultimately damage the smooth running of the company and see vital skills and experience lost. A schoolboy who has lived most of his life in Glasgow is facing deportation after his mother died before her asylum claim was processed. Church of Scotland minister Reverend Brian Casey launched a petition to help keep Giorgi Kakava in Scotland on Thursday, with more than 50,000 people having signed it in the last three days. The youngster was just three when he fled Georgia with his mother Sopio Baikhadze, after she discovered his father who later died owed money to gangsters there. The minister, who met the boy at primary school, became more involved with helping him when his mother who was known as Sophie died in February after suffering a 'long and painful illness'. Giorgi Kakava and his mother (Church of Scotland/PA) Rev Casey, of Springburn Parish Church, said: 'I conducted her funeral and have been supporting Giorgi ever since. 'Sophie was in the middle of an asylum application when she died and this has left Giorgi at threat of deportation to a country he doesn't know and a language he cannot speak.' The minister said: 'Giorgi came here after his mother discovered that his father owed money to gangsters. They threatened Georgi's life and his mum Sophie fled Georgia and came to Glasgow. 'I have known Giorgi since he went to the primary school I am the chaplain for and he is a gentle, thoughtful, intelligent and funny boy. A typical 10-year-old Scottish boy.' Reverend Brian Casey with Ketino Baikhadze (Chuech of Scotland/PA) He added: 'Giorgi is, to all intents and purposes, Scottish and is doing well at his primary school. If he was returned to Georgia against his will, he would be under threat.' Giorgi's grandmother Ketino Baikhadze, who is also seeking asylum in Glasgow, also fears his life would be in danger if he returned to Georgia, the minister said. He described the support for the Celtic-supporting schoolboy as 'incredible', and added: 'My heart is warmed to know that despite the current climate regarding immigration, we can still show love and compassion to those who come here from other places.' Communities Secretary Angela Constance said: 'This is a tragic situation, and it is heart-breaking to hear what Giorgi has been through. More than 30,000 people have signed the petition to #saveGiorgi from deportation since yesterday! 8k in the last 2 hours! Have you signed? https://t.co/vQt6IPlh2Z Ross Greer (@Ross_Greer) June 2, 2018 'However, it is encouraging to hear how the community has rallied round to support Giorgi at this difficult time. 'We believe that people seeking asylum must be treated with dignity and respect at all times and must receive the support they need to ensure that their cases are fairly assessed. 'Under an asylum system that remains reserved, there needs to be a more humane, compassionate and common-sense approach that recognises individual circumstances, especially where children are involved. 'We call on the UK Government to urgently review Giorgi's case.' Glasgow MSP and Scottish Green co-convener Patrick Harvie said: 'As far as I'm concerned he's just as Glaswegian as me or anyone else in this city, and Giorgi and his grandmother deserve the right to live permanently in the place they call home.' A Home Office spokeswoman said: 'The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need our protection and every case is assessed on its individual merits.' They caused chaos when they invaded Sydney's Martin Place earlier this week and made Sydneysiders happy by handing out cash on Friday, but did you spot the Doritos Colossal Steak dinosaurs? The big beasts were spotted all around the city but despite onlookers initial fright it turns out they were actually on the hunt for the new limited edition Doritos Colossal Steak crisps. On Friday morning the friendly dinosaurs were even eager to get closer to members of the public and Sydneysiders were rewarded for their bravery. Every person who hugged a dinosaur saw themselves walk away with $20 cash. Surprise: On Friday morning the friendly Doritos Colossal Steak dinosaurs made people happy by handing out cash (pictured) Feel the love: Every person who hugged a dinosaur saw themselves walk away with $20 cash Busy: The hungry creatures congregated in the city, where they gave out the hugs (pictured) On Tuesday morning 30 of the Doritos Colossal Steak dinosaurs startled commuters as they made their way to work. The hungry creatures congregated at Martin Place and it was only when hero Crisp Pratt stepped in that the pandemonium subsided. Thankfully, the dinosaur trainer was on hand to calm the beasts down, and it was only after they were given new Doritos Colossal Chargrilled Steak crisps, that order was restored. One witness said: 'It was hilarious watching the dinosaurs running around - no-one knew what was happening'. One witness said: 'It was hilarious watching the dinosaurs running around - no-one knew what was happening' Big prize: Lucky winners were given $20 in cash as a reward Making their way: Some Doritos dinosaurs were seen emerging from the station in Martin Place 'Once I'd given them the snacks they calmed down a lot. They're really just big softies at heart - they're pretty harmless.' After the dinosaurs had fed on the new Doritos Colossal Chargrilled Steak chips they settled down and were even seen interacting with the public. Bystanders were treated to some cuddles and many of the beasts even posed for pictures. Snack attack: After the dinosaurs had fed on the new Doritos Colossal Chargrilled Steak chips (pictured) they settled down Pack: The bright orange beasts were spotted all over the city from the early hours of Tuesday morning and they met in Martin Place And one youngster who watched the stampede turned to his father and said: 'Look daddy the dinosaurs are hungry!'. Crisp Pratt, 38, holidaying in Sydney after a strenuous couple of weeks in Hollywood, explained: 'Initially I thought that the beasts were coming for me because I had some dinosaur eggs in my pocket.' 'They have a strong sense of smell so I thought it was the eggs that they were after, but I soon realised that they were actually after the new tasty Doritos I was carrying.' Expert: Thankfully Crisp Pratt was in the vicinity and realised that the dinosaurs were after the NEW Doritos Colossal corn chips Feeding time: The expert dinosaur handler, who is in Sydney on holiday from his home in Jurassic World was seen giving the beasts the Doritos Colossal Chargrilled Steak chips 'Once I'd given them the snacks they calmed down a lot. They're really just big softies at heart - they're pretty harmless.' After the dinosaurs had fed on the new Doritos Colossal Chargrilled Steak chips they settled down and were even seen interacting with the public. Bystanders were treated to some cuddles and many of the beasts even posed for pictures. A bag for everyone: The huge orange beasts were happy once they got their claws on bags of the Doritos chips In good spirits: The animals proved they weren't a danger to humans The dinosaurs were first spotted across the city in the early hours of the morning, with reports coming in to Daily Mail Australia from concerned citizens. At around 6am this morning there were sightings of the huge creatures at iconic locations across the city including at Bondi Beach, Hyde Park and Circular Quay. Happy creatures: The dinosaurs calmed down once they were fed the tasty NEW Doritos Colossal corn chips But by 8am the group had congregated in Martin Place and by this stage the animals were ravenous. Thankfully Crisp's quick thinking saved the day and he was able to usher the beasts away after feeding them some new Doritos flavours. Four members of a smuggling gang involved in the gruesome deaths of 71 migrants have been jailed for 25 years in Hungary. The ruling followed a year-long trial which took over proceedings from Vienna after it emerged that the migrants had suffocated on Hungarian soil. The incident, where a truck was abandoned on an Austrian highway in 2015, prompted German Chancellor Angela Merkel to open her country's borders. Gang ringleader Samsoor Lahoo is sentenced over the grisly deaths of 71 migrants The migrants were found in an abandoned truck on an Austrian highway in August 2015 Prosecutors had sought life terms without parole for the four men involved in the deaths of 59 men, eight women and four children, including a baby girl. The bodies, from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, were in an advanced state of decomposition when they were discovered in an abandoned poultry refrigerator lorry. Investigations showed they had been dead for two days, suffocating shortly after being picked up in Hungary, then a key transit country on the Balkan migrant trail. Ringleader Samsoor Lahoo and the other mostly Bulgarian suspects denied knowing that the migrants were dying in the back of the truck. Afghan national Lahoo allegedly told drivers to let the migrants die and dump their bodies But evidence presented to the court indicated they had been aware of what was happening. 'The defendants were well aware these vehicles were not suited for human passengers,' Judge Janos Jadi said. 'This is torture under the law even if the passengers were not beaten by the smugglers.' Lahoo, a young Afghan aged 31 who had fled his troubled homeland, told the court in a final statement that he 'had not wanted anyone's death'. But police intercepts of phone calls revealed he had ordered the truck drivers not to open the doors. 'Let them die instead. That's an order,' Lahoo allegedly says in one of the calls. 'If they die, let him dump them in a forest in Germany.' Burly guards in balaclavas and bullet-proof vests stood as the verdicts were read out Hungary built a fence to try to control the influx of migrants coming through the Balkans Challenged with this evidence, Lahoo told the court they were simply 'thoughtless remarks'. Hungary's legislation regarding trafficking was tightened in the aftermath of the deaths. The men were accused of trafficking more than 1,100 charging up to 1,500 euros (now around 1,300) a head into western Europe at the height of the continent's 2015 migrant crisis. The victims were among hundreds of thousands of desperate people fleeing war and misery in the Middle East and elsewhere. The deaths led a shocked Angela Merkel to announce she would open Germany's doors. Her policy eventually allowed in more than one million refugees, mostly from Syria. The men's verdicts come at a time when migration is once again under the spotlight, with Merkel facing a rebellion from hardliners in her coalition over refugees. The fate of the Aquarius ship, which was left stranded for two days in the Mediterranean with 629 rescued migrants after Italy refused to allow it to dock, has also sparked a war of words among European allies. Prosecutors immediately appealed the sentences arguing that they were too lenient. Prosecutor Gabor Schmidt said Lahoo showed only 'endless greed' and 'frightening indifference' to the migrants desperate to get to Europe. 'The ruling does not sufficiently reflect the seriousness of the crime,' he told the court. Ten other suspects were also found guilty and handed prison sentences of up to 12 years in the packed courtroom in Kecskemet yesterday. Three were tried in absentia. Presidential attorney Rudy Giuliani thinks former vice president Joe Biden is too old and too stupid to run for the top job at the White House. 'Joe Biden is a moron,' the former New York City mayor told HuffPost. 'Im calling Joe Biden a mentally deficient idiot.' Giuliani also claimed Biden graduated from Syracuse University law school at the bottom of his class. That's close, but not strictly accurate: Following a report in Newsweek, Biden was forced to acknowledge in a 1987 press conference that he finished in 76th place out of 85 graduates in his class. Rudy Giuliani says Joe Biden is too old and stupid to challenge Donald Trump for the presidency in 2020 Biden has run for the White House twice, served for decades as a U.S. senator and wonthe vice presidency on Barack Obama's ticket; he did graduate near the bottom of his law school class, however Giuliani believes Trump is likely to win re-election unless the Democratic Party nominates a fresh face Biden was running for the Democratic Party's 1988 presidential nomination. That effort was derailed, in part, by revelations that he plagiarized some of his work in law school and used portions of a speech by British Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock without credit. The future veep had claimed earlier in the campaign that he had finished law school in the top half of his class. 'I guess every single word I've said is going to be dissected now,' he told The new York Times then, not quite grasping what the new age of presidential politics would be like. Of his law school class ranking, he said, 'I exaggerate when I'm angry, but I've never gone around telling people things that aren't true about me.' Biden, now 75, is just three years older than President Trump Democratic political strategists are panicking because Barack Obama is on the sidelines and yet represents the only center of vital energy in the party. One says: 'Theres f***ing no one else. ... Bill Clinton is toxic, Carter is too old, and theres no one else around for miles' Biden ran for president again 20 years later, ultimately becoming Barack Obama's 2008 running mate. And he has been sending signals that he's ready for a third bite at the apple. He considered running in 2016 but ultimately sat out the election after his son Beau died of brain cancer. Giuliani said Biden's age, 75, would make him too old to run for the White House. President Donald Trump is just three years younger. Giuliani thinks the president will win a second term, provided the Democratic Party doesn't nominate a fresh face with novel qualities that might lead to nationwide enthusiasm. Biden ran for the 1988 Democrtaic presidential nomination but was doomed to fail after news surfaced that he had inflated his law school resume and plagiarized some of his work Obama has been holding secret meetings with potential 2020 challengers like Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, 76, and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, 68 'They need someone new, who would be more threatening to us' than someone like Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, he said. 'Theyve got to hit us with a surprise.' Democrats in general are looking more and more backward for political inspiration, urging Obama to come off the sidelines and fire up voters for a 'blue wave' in November. A political strategist told The Hill this week: 'Theres f**king no one else. ... Bill Clinton is toxic, Carter is too old, and theres no one else around for miles.' 'The desire among Democrats for Obama to take a more leading role in the midterm fight and party building in general is just getting stronger, particularly with the lack of alternatives.' A Guyanese man heroically rushed a dying snakebite victim through winding jungle roads to hospital - only for police to refuse to let him off for speeding. Kevin Rodrigues and his friends Lizzy and Nikhel were hunting in isolated jungle and left camp late at night to check on their boat. Suddenly, Lizzy, 19, felt something bite her leg and Kevin turned his torch on the undergrowth to reveal a deadly labaria snake. Lizzy, 19, was bitten by a deadly labaria snake during a hunting trip with two friends deep in the jungle of Guyana (pictured with the 4WD they took on the trip) Lizzy survived after she was rushed to hospital in the capital Georgetown by her friends 'I knew instantly she had very little time to live and we had to get the poison out of her and get her to hospital,' he told MailOnline. He and Nikhel dragged her to the 4WD and after pulling a zip-tie around her leg, cut open the area around the bite and massaged out the 'bad blood'. Kevin then sped to the nearest medical centre about an hour away in Mabura Hill, but was turned away there because the guard didn't want to wake the nurses. After having no luck in the next settlement they drove five hours through the jungle to a hospital in Linden. 'I'm racing through the horrible roads to get her out and all she's doing is crying and screaming so it's making me nervous and I'm just praying to get her out,' Kevin said. Doctors in Linden gave Lizzy first aid but did not have the right anti-venom to properly treat the deadly snakebite. Nikhel with Lizzy as she recovered in hospital after he earlier cut open her leg to get some of the venom out Kevin Rodrigues (pictured with Lizzy on the hunting trip) heroically rushed the dying snakebite victim through winding jungle roads to hospital The friends rushed from their camp in Mango Landing to a medical centre in Mabura Hill that was closed, then to a hospital in Linden that didn't have anti-venom, before dashing to Georgetown The trio got back in the car and rushed towards the capital Georgetown, another 108km away, but were pulled over by police when speeding around a bend. 'I explained to the officer what happened and that she needs the anti-venom he then said "that's not my problem and no excuse to break the law",' Kevin said. 'Guyana police force can hire some real a**holes without common sense or care for a person's well-being. Isn't the public safety suppose to be first?' He said the officer refused to let them go while Lizzy lay dying in the back seat, and threatened to search the jeep and look for extra things to fine him for. 'I knew instantly she had very little time to live and we had to get the poison out of her and get her to hospital,' Kevin said Kevin said doctors told him Lizzy would have died if they hadn't cut open the bite area and then rushed her to hospital 'Be happy it's only one charge I'm giving you because your vehicle has too much mud on it and I cant make out the number plates,' Kevin said the officer told him. The group eventually made it to Georgetown and doctors managed to save Lizzy's life with anti-venom and she is now on the mend. Kevin said they told him she would have died if they hadn't cut open the bite area and then rushed her to hospital. He said he would appear in court next Wednesday and planned to fight the speeding ticket. Attorney General Jeff Sessions cited the Bible on Thursday in his defense of his border policy that is resulting in hundreds of immigrant children being separated from their parents after they enter the U.S. illegally. Sessions, speaking in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on immigration, pushed back against criticism he had received over the policy. On Wednesday, a cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church said that separating mothers from their babies was 'immoral.' Sessions said many of the recent criticisms were not 'fair or logical and some are contrary to law.' 'I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13, to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained them for the purpose of order,' he said. Attorney General Jeff Sessions cited the Bible on Thursday in his defense of his border policy that is resulting in hundreds of immigrant children being separated from their parents after they enter the U.S. illegally A two-year-old Honduran asylum seeker cries as her mother is searched and detained near the U.S.-Mexico border on June 12 'Orderly and lawful processes are good in themselves and protect the weak and lawful.' Last month, the attorney general announced a 'zero tolerance' policy that any adult who enters the country illegally is criminally prosecuted. U.S. protocol prohibits detaining children with their parents because the children are not charged with a crime and the parents are. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, more than 650 children were separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border during a two-week period in May. Demonstrators line up to protest Sessions and immigration reform at Parkview Field in Fort Wayne, Indiana on Thursday Last month, the attorney general announced a 'zero tolerance' policy that any adult who enters the country illegally is criminally prosecuted White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Thursday that she hadn't seen Sessions' comments but affirmed that the Bible did back up the administration's actions. 'I can say that it is very biblical to enforce the law. That is actually repeated a number of times throughout the Bible,' she said. 'It's a moral policy to follow and enforce the law.' In an unusually tense series of exchanges in the White House briefing room, Sanders wrongly blamed Democrats for the policy separating children from parents and insisted the administration had made no changes in increasing the use. Until the policy was announced in April, such families were usually referred for civil deportation proceedings, not requiring separation. U.S. protocol prohibits detaining children with their parents because the children are not charged with a crime and the parents are According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, more than 650 children were separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border during a two-week period in May 'The separation of illegal alien families is the product of the same legal loopholes that Democrats refuse to close, and these laws are the same that have been on the books for over a decade, and the president is simply enforcing them,' she said. 'We don't want this to be a problem,' she said. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, the archbishop of Galveston-Houston, told the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on Wednesday that he was joining other religious leaders in opposing the government's border policy. 'Our government has the discretion in our laws to ensure that young children are not separated from their parents and exposed to irreparable harm and trauma,' DiNardo said in a statement. A former tyre fitter turned drug kingpin has admitted to selling ice and ecstasy pills to finance his flashy Gold Coast lifestyle, a court heard. Matthew Delander, 25, pleaded guilty in a Queensland court on Thursday to 30 charges, including trafficking ice and ecstasy, firearms offences and possession of counterfeit money. Police have claimed Delander's drug trafficking paid for prostitution, his lavish Gold Coast stays at the Sheraton and overseas holidays with his ex-girlfriend model Kylie Gould, The Courier Mail reports. Matthew Delander, 25, has pleaded guilty to 30 charges, including the trafficking of ice and ecstasy, firearms offences and possession of counterfeit money The drug kingpin admitted to police that he also paid $20,000 to a criminal syndicate for $50,000 worth of counterfeit money. Leading up to his conviction, Delander worked with police to unveil stashes of explosives and bomb-making equipment hidden in bushland. The explosive stash included three pipe bombs, 39 electronic detonators and 40kg of ammonium nitrate. Delander (pictured) admitted to selling ice and ecstasy pills to finance his lavish lifestyle on the Gold Coast with his ex-girlfriend Kylie Gould, a court heard (pictured) Police have claimed Delander's drug trafficking paid for prostitution, his lavish stays at the Sheraton and overseas holidays with his ex girlfriend model Kylie Gould (pictured) Crown prosecutor Danny Boyle told the court Delander was not charged over the explosives and bombs. Justice Peter Davis said: 'There is a huge public benefit of the removal of these bombs from the public domain.' Delander has been sentenced to nine years in prison and is eligible for parole in October 2020. Delander's ex girlfriend Kylie Jean Gould pleaded guilty to four charges including the trafficking of ice and ecstasy in the Supreme Court in Brisbane on March 29. The ex-girlfriend of a man who was engulfed in flames after his granny flat was allegedly set on fire has been charged with murder amid allegations she tampered with the water supply. Jeffrey Lindsell, 39, was at a pub with friends on the evening of October 6, 2017, before heading back to the Gymea, south Sydney, residence he shared with his elderly parents. Hours later his parents watched on in horror as their son ran out of his burning flat while on fire. The ex-girlfriend of a man who was engulfed in flames after his granny flat was allegedly set on fire has been charged with murder Jeffrey Lindsell, 39, died of his injuries in hospital on October 9 Mr Lindsell died of his injuries in hospital two days later on October 9. On Thursday, NSW Police charged 46-year-old Amanda Zukowski with murder. She appeared at Newtown Local Court where she was formally refused bail to reappear at the same court on August 14. In court, police alleged Zukowski tampered with the water supply and 'deliberately' lit the fire in the granny flat knowing Mr Lindsell was inside. Detective Superintendent Linda Howlett in February described Mr Lindsell as a 'loveable' man who was held in high regard by his friends. She said police believed someone was with Mr Lindsell inside the flat and knows how the fire started. Jeffrey was killed when someone set his granny flat behind his parent's Sydney home alight on October 7 last year One boy is dead and his mother and brother in a critical condition following a multiple shooting in a suburban parking lot. Westminster police said that they were called to a shooting yesterday, in the parking lot of a business at 80th Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard in Westminster, northwest of Denver, Colorado. In a statement, they said: 'When officers arrived on scene, they found two adults and two children suffering from gunshot wounds. Law enforcement officials investigate the scene of the shooting in a parking lot behind a dental clinic on Thursday, June 14, in Westminster, near Denver, Colorado All four victims were shot in the parking lot of the business complex. One, a boy, died from his wounds. A man has been taken into custody in relation to the shooting Law enforcement officials escort a man away from the front door of a dental clinic as police investigate the scene of the shooting 'All four victims were shot in the parking lot of the business complex. There were no additional victims in any of the businesses. 'An adult male who was shot is expected to survive his injuries. There is no relation between this victim and [the other three] victims. 'An adult female and her two male children were also struck by gunfire. The female and one of the children sustained life threatening injuries and are in critical condition.' Police investigate the scene of a shooting in a parking lot behind the dentist's office Officers surround the complex that holds several dental offices, using yellow tape to block access to the area and placing evidence markers She added that, 'a juvenile male succumbed to his injuries. The identities of the victims are not being released at this time.' Department spokeswoman Cheri Spottke said a man suspected of carrying out the attack is in custody. A motive was not immediately clear, she added. Authorities have not as yet released his name, explaining in a press release: 'We believe we have the person responsible for this incident in custody and there is not a danger to the public. Police who arrived at the scene found four people with gunshot wounds at the Colorado business complex parking lot Investigators have been interviewing people who were inside or near the complex at the time of the shooting 'Due to the ongoing nature of this investigation and the need to complete photo lines ups with several witnesses, we are not releasing the identity of the adult male at this time. 'We will release his information as soon as we complete the initial part of this investigation. We anticipate being able to release the identity of the suspect sometime tomorrow.' The police had initially called for the public's help in locating a black, four-door Toyota Corolla, which was seen leaving the area at the time of the shooting. People were warned: Any occupants of the vehicle should be considered armed and dangerous. Do not approach the vehicle or occupants. In a recent update, however, the police said that the vehicle was located about three hours after the shooting, and investigators were interviewing the driver. Investigators have also been interviewing people who were inside or near the business complex at the time of the shooting. Cheri Spottke said there were, 'a lot of witnesses to talk to and get information. Obviously, they're upset.' Police surrounded the complex that holds several dental offices, using yellow tape to block access to the area and placing evidence markers. A road next to the business park was temporarily closed to traffic, and police also closed several lanes of another major road nearby. All roads were reopened by Thursday night. Theresa May will unveil plans next week to use the Brexit dividend to pour billions more into the NHS. The Prime Minister is finalising the details of a new long-term plan for the NHS designed to avoid a repeat of last winters crisis. The deal will include a funding package expected to involve annual funding rises of around three per cent in real terms. Mrs May will also make it clear the new settlement will be funded in part by the Brexit dividend generated by the UK no longer having to pay EU membership fees. In doing so she will overrule Chancellor Philip Hammond, who has been fighting to prevent a direct link between Brexit and extra cash for the NHS. The decision will help deliver on one of the most high-profile pledges of the Leave campaign, which was emblazoned across its tour bus. It represents a victory for Brexiteer ministers such as Boris Johnson and Michael Gove, who have been urging the PM to make good on the referendum pledge for months. It is timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the NHS in July and designed to give the health service the funding needed to adapt to the demands of an ageing society. Theresa May is finalising long-term plans for the NHS using cash taken from Brexit Mrs May's decision will overrule one made by Chancellor Philip Hammond. He is pictures arriving for a cabinet meeting at No 10 Ministers are keen to avoid a repeat of last winters NHS crisis, which led to thousands of patients having to wait for treatment on trolleys. The Prime Minister said in March that she wanted to see a new long-term funding plan for the health service. Mr Hammond then announced in the Budget that the NHS would be taken out of the normal spending review and treated as a special case. He has publicly dismissed the idea that a Brexit dividend could be used to fund the NHS, and sources claim he has been resisting the idea behind the scenes. One Cabinet source said: Hammond seems determined to block anything that could be seen as a win for the Brexiteers. It is ridiculous. One of the central messages of the referendum campaign was that people want to take back control of the money we send to Brussels and spend it on domestic priorities like the NHS. We have to spend more money on the NHS anyway, so why not use it as a Brexit positive and show people they are getting what they voted for? Its an open goal. Whitehall sources said Mr Hammond had been overruled by Mrs May. This is a multi-year settlement. In the later years there will be a lot of cash freed up by the fact we are no longer in the EU and the Prime Minister is very clear that should be spent on domestic priorities. The biggest priority is the NHS. A three per cent rise in real terms would equate to about 5billion a year extra for the NHS, although Mr Hammond is still pushing for a lower overall figure. While the Prime Minister is expected to make her pledge next week, final decisions on how it will be paid for will be left until the Budget. The Chancellor has vetoed plans for a dedicated NHS tax involving putting 1p on National Insurance. But he is warning that other tax rises will have to be identified to generate funding on the scale required. Reports have suggested the Chancellor is considering a freeze on taxation thresholds, which could raise 3.7billion by the end of the parliament in 2022. Scrapping planned cuts to corporation tax would raise a further 5.7billion. Some in government believe much of the money could be funded temporarily by borrowing or raiding the reserves until the Brexit dividend comes good. The UKs net contribution to the EU fluctuates but is around 10billion a year. Mrs May said it March that she wanted to see some of this money used to fund public services, adding: There will be money available for us to spend on our priorities. Priorities like the NHS and schools. Hillary Clinton has responded to the news in James Comey used his private Gmail account for FBI business while investigating her for doing almost the exact same thing. The former Secretary of State shared the news about the former FBI director - accompanied with just three words of her own; 'But my emails.' Clinton's cutting tweet was met with glee by her supporters on Twitter who hailed it as the 'single best tweet I have read in my life' and as simply 'Hillary-ous.' Many believe that Comey's reopening of the investigation into Clinton's emails shortly before the 2016 election, shook public confidence and could even have cost her the presidency. So it's likely the 70-year-old will be savoring the ironic revelation that Comey appears to have done the exact thing she was accused of. Justice Department inspector general Michael Horowitz's report, released today, found 'numerous instances' where Comey used his Gmail account to conduct the bureau's business, which was 'inconsistent' with Justice Department policy. Ironically, the report noted when Comey spoke at an FBI conference in October 2016, he warned employees they would be in 'huge trouble' if they used a private email service as Clinton did. Hillary Clinton has responded to the news in James Comey used his private Gmail account for FBI business while investigating her for doing almost the exact same thing James Comey used his personal Gmail account to conduct FBI business on numerous occasions He was investigating Hillary Clinton for the same thing Comey, when he spoke at the FBI's annual SAC Conference in San Diego, said: 'I have gotten emails from some employees about this, who said, 'If I did what Hillary Clinton did I'd be in huge trouble.' ' 'My response is you bet your ass you'd be in huge trouble,' Comey said in that speech. 'If you used a personal email, Gmail or if you [had] the capabilities to set up your own email domain, if you used an unclassified personal email system to do our business in the course of doing our business even though you were communicating with people with clearances and doing work you discussed classified matters in that, in those communications, TS/SCI, special access programs, you would be in huge trouble in the FBI,' Comey said. 'Of that I am highly confident,' he added. 'I'm also highly confident, in fact, certain you would not be criminally prosecuted for that conduct.' Nick Merrill, who was Clinton's spokes person on the 2016 campaign, retweeted a reporter's tweet about Comey's Gmail use with the words: 'I'll just leave this here.' Comey was criticized in IG report for usurping the power of the attorney general in his handling of the investigation into Clinton's use of a private email server for State Department business. The then FBI director said in July 2016 that he was not recommending any criminal charges in Clinton's case. But he caused a huge kerfuffle when, days before the election, he announced he would revisit the probe after the discovery of new emails, a move that the Clinton camp has blamed for her loss. None of the emails Comey sent to his Gmail account contained classified information, according to IG report. Comey defended his use of his Gmail to investigators, saying he only used it for public speeches and statements. I used it 'when I needed to word process an unclassified [document] that was going to be disseminated broadly, [such as a] public speech or public email to the whole organization,' he told them. The former FBI director also said his use of his Gmail was 'incidental' and because he made sure the work got forwarded to a government account so 'I wasn't worried from a record-keeping perspective.' He added: 'I wasn't doing classified work there, so I wasn't concerned about that.' He explained to investigators 'I did not have an unclass[ified] FBI connection at home that worked.' The IG report found five instances when Comey forwarded an unclassified FBI email to his personal Gmail account. Those included one on November 8, 2016, that proposed a post-election message for all FBI employees that was entitled 'Midyear thoughts.' The report from Justice Department inspector general Michael Horowitz found five instances where Comey used his personal Gmail Hillary Clinton's campaign spokesman tweeted his response to the news In late December 2016, Comey forwarded multiple drafts of a proposed year-end message to FBI employees. On December 30, 2016, Comey forwarded proposed responses to two requests for information from the Office of Special Counsel. On January 6, 2017, Comey forwarded an email from Chief of Staff Jim Rybicki highlighting language that needed to be corrected in a Wall Street Journal article. In mid-March 2017, Comey sent from his personal email account to his own and Rybicki's unclassified FBI accounts multiple drafts of Comey's proposed opening statement for his March 20, 2017 testimony to the House Intelligence Committee. Investigators asked Comey if the use of his personal email was in accordance with FBI regulations. 'I don't know,' he said. 'I think so, but I don't know. I remember talking to Jim [Rybicki] about it at one time, and I had the sense that it was okay.' Rybicki was also asked by investigators to explain the email use. He responded to them via email: 'In rare circumstances during his tenure, Director Comey sends unclassified emails from his official FBI.gov email account address to [his Gmail account]. This permits him to open attachments and use his personal laptop to then work on a speech or other content intended for wide dissemination. He then sends drafts or the completed text to his official FBI.gov email account or to another FBI.gov email account from [his Gmail account]. He opened this personal account at about the time he became Director.... To ensure a high level of cybersecurity, Director Comey routinely deletes all emails from his [Gmail] account each day, and then clears the deleted messages folder. He began this practice about two years ago. The Director does not recall receiving and/or seeking advice concerning the use of these accounts.' Comey offered his response to the IG report in an op-ed he wrote for the New York Times, which did not include any mention of his use of his Gmail account. 'The inspector general's team went through the F.B.I.'s work with a microscope and found no evidence that bias or improper motivation affected the investigation, which I know was done competently, honestly and independently,' he wrote. 'The inspector general's office has now reached that very conclusion. Its detailed report should serve to both protect and build the reservoir of trust and credibility necessary for the Department of Justice and the F.B.I. to remain strong and independent and to continue their good work for our country.' Advertisement A cruise ship being filmed for a Channel 4 reality show allegedly descended into a 'drug-fuelled orgy' during a 'mad' week-long sojourn around the Mediterranean. Guests said the Vision of the Seas was a 'floating Geordie Shore' where people were snorting cocaine and 'all over each other' on deck beds as partygoers vomited in the swimming pool and over the ship's side. One holidaymaker claimed drug dealers were offering a 260 'meal deal' consisting of large amounts of cocaine and told MailOnline: 'It was easier to get a bag of coke on board than it was to get a drink'. Another person said the trip was 'carnage on a new level of wrongness' and saw group sex all over the 'lawless' ship, adding drink and drugs were so rife: 'I'm surprised no-one died'. The hedonistic scenes during Anchored 2018 are laid bare in photographs showing one passenger slumped in a wheelchair being pushed by crew to his cabin and other people passed out in the corridors. Stars including Calum Best, Sid Owen and rapper Chipmunk are said to have visited the ship on its 5-day journey around the Med - but there is no suggestion they were involved in the debauchery. One woman on board told MailOnline: 'It was absolutely horrendous. I've literally never seen chaos like it. People vomiting into the swimming pool, you would have to step across crashed out party goers on the way to breakfast and people snorting cocaine from the backs of their hands up on deck'. After the first night of partying as the cruise ship went from Barcelona to Cannes a British man was arrested as it docked in France while a film crew aboard captured the madness for upcoming reality series Shipmates. A partygoer on board, who paid 1,400 for his five-day trip, described the experience to MailOnline as 'really, really disgusting' while another fled the ship with eight friends because they 'couldn't cope with the carnage'. This stricken passenger was shown passed out in the corridor by a holidaymaker who said the party on board a cruise ship being filmed by Channel 4 was so debauched he left after three days when they landed in Ibiza This passenger was photographed slumped in a wheelchair and wrapped in a blanket while being wheeled to his bed after a night on Vision of the Seas One passenger claims that these are five bags of cocaine sold as part of a 300 euro 'meal deal' available of on board and claims drugs were easier to get than booze This is a 'spray party' on board the party ship where chaos appeared to reign during filming for a Channel 4 documentary The ship had 2,000 people on board but shipmates said that the men outnumbered the woman Passengers said people were snorting cocaine, sleeping in corridors and getting 'all over each other' on beds by the swimming pool on the Vision of the Seas (pictured) for the Anchored Cruise After an extraordinary spray party where everyone is doused in Champagne on the deck he said he was charged 1,200 for the booze without taking part. One guest said: 'When we challenged it we were called liars by Royal Caribbean staff'. Another man on board said the trip was so horrifying he and friends got off when they landed in Ibiza and refused to go back calling it 'an insane and an utter joke of a cruise' He said: 'I will never ever again go on such a trashy trip. The crowd was very Geordie Shore. Utter rip off. 'I know of drug dealers making an absolute killing and running out as the demand was so high. We left after 3 days as it was a joke'. A worker on board said: 'Staff were being abused. Guests walked around the ship half naked. They were drunk and clearly on drugs. I've never seen anything like it'. Channel 4's reality show involved ten young Britons in their twenties joining 2,500 holidaymakers on a luxury cruise liner turned into an ultimate party boat. The ship's journey started in Barcelona on June 7 and sailed around the Med via Cannes, Ibiza and Mallorca before landing back on the Spanish mainland five days later. But it appears the cruise descended into a chaotic mix of debauched behaviour fuelled by drink and drugs. The five-part series filmed over five days will be shown on Channel 4 later this year. The two teams of five competed in a host of challenges and relied on fellow passengers to vote for their favourite team. Ecstasy was said to be available for 10 euros a pill and Ketamine was around 70 euros - one passenger who took pictures on board claimed drug dealers were booked on the trip and started approaching punters as they waited to board flights at Heathrow Partygoers took to Instagram t share footage and pictures from the event where people danced into the night, drank and smoked suspicious looking roll-ups (left to right) Many people on board the ship said that the trip was so chaotic it ruined their trip and they would never go again Partying on the trip is said to have got out of the control on the trip this year - some said they had a great time others were less sure One passenger said: 'Sometimes you didn't know if you were on a cruise or in the middle of some drug-fuelled orgy.' Some of the out-of-control guests were said to have been in such a bad state they needed to be pushed around the ship on wheelchairs. One passenger reportedly vomited into the swimming pool on the cruise. Drinks packages offered on board included 5,000 for two magnums of vodka, ten bottles of Cristal champagne and two bottles of spirits. The hedonistic scenes during Anchored 2018 are laid bare in photographs showing one guest slumped in a wheelchair being pushed by crew to his cabin and other people passed out in corridors. One passenger showed a photo which was claimed to show five bags of cocaine sold as part of a meal deal available on board. Other photos claimed to have been taken aboard the liner showed ecstasy tablets and ketamine. The ship - carrying 765 crew and up to 2,500 passengers - set off from Barcelona before stopping at Cannes, Ibiza, Palma and then returning to Spain. For this trip the liner was given a 'millennial makeover' and chartered by a firm called Anchored Cruise for young holidaymakers to 'let their hair down with an itinerary of pool parties and big name DJs'. Anchored's website promised 24-hour bars and cocktail stations as well as fitness centres and a climbing wall, with prices from 499 per person for a room shared by three guests, up to 10,000 for a spot in the Royal Suite. In a slick video for the cruise, Anchored calls itself Europes first floating festival and shows glamorous models frolicking in bikinis and drinking champagne. Channel 4 commissioned the series Shipmates to follow two teams of friends on board the party boat. The broadcaster said in a promotional press release that the two groups would 'join thousands of tanned and toned twenty-somethings for a once-in-a-lifetime party aboard one of Europe's most lavish cruise liners'. Becky Cadman, Channel 4's commissioning editor for factual entertainment, said the series was 'guaranteed to be full of sun, sea and sass'. But there is no suggestion anyone involved in the production of Shipmates was involved in any wrongdoing. Channel 4 said it could not comment on the behaviour of other passengers. A spokesman said that the debauched incidents did not involve contestants. He added: 'Any suggestion that an arrest or drug investigation involved anyone in the programme is untrue. We cannot comment on the behaviour of other passengers'. Anchored Cruises chartered the ship from operator Royal Caribbean Cruises. Royal Caribbean Cruises confirmed the arrest was made in Cannes. A spokesman said: 'We have a zero tolerance policy for the use or possession of illegal drugs on our ships. Ship charters are held to the same strict standards. We operate with the health and safety of our guests and crew as our highest priority, and we cooperate fully with law enforcement when we are aware of violations'. Anchored did not respond to a request for a comment. One partygoer on a ship used for a reality TV show said it was easier to buy cocaine than a drink on board the Vision of the Seas (pictured) Theresa May was facing a dramatic Commons showdown with Tory Brexit rebels last night, after a compromise on vital legislation collapsed in acrimony. Diehard Tory Remainers warned that the Prime Minister faced crunch time in the Commons next week after throwing out their demands for Parliament to be given a veto over Brexit. Government sources acknowledged the vote next Wednesday would be incredibly tight and could even be lost. But they said the principle that the referendum result should be respected in all circumstances was so important it could not be surrendered to MPs who will stop at nothing to thwart Brexit. Diehard Tory Remainers warned that the Prime Minister faced crunch time in the Commons next week after throwing out their demands for Parliament to be given a veto over Brexit Mrs May bought off a Tory rebellion over the EU Withdrawal Bill on Tuesday after promising talks with Tory rebels over their demands for a meaningful vote on the Brexit process. After 48 hours of wrangling, ministers last night tabled compromise proposals that would give MPs a vote even if talks with Brussels collapse and there is no deal to consider. But rebel MPs reacted furiously after the Prime Minister vetoed their demand to be able to direct the Government to go back to Brussels or delay Brexit if there is no deal. The collapse in talks sets up a high-stakes showdown next week. The House of Lords will consider the Governments amendment on Monday, when they are expected to reject it. Mrs May bought off a Tory rebellion over the EU Withdrawal Bill on Tuesday after promising talks with Tory rebels over their demands for a meaningful vote on the Brexit process In its place they are set to impose plans drafted by rebel ringleader Dominic Grieve which would put Parliament, rather than the Government, in the driving seat for the final stage of the Brexit talks if ministers fail to clinch a deal acceptable to MPs. It will then return to the Commons on Wednesday, with government sources saying Mr Grieves demands were unacceptable. One said of the rebels: Weve decided its time to call their bluff. What is the row over a meaningful vote on Brexit about? Tory rebels have been fighting to force Theresa May to agree to give Parliament a meaningful vote on the Brexit deal. The government has already committed that there will be a vote on the terms reached with Brussels. But Tory rebels want her to go further . They say that if the PM does not get a Brexit deal by November she must take a motion setting out her strategy to parliament - and this will be voted on by MPs. If she has still not reached a deal by next February next year then Parliament should be able to give her orders on what to negotiate. And if the PM does not get a deal, they want MPs to vote on it. Facing the prospect of a humiliating defeat in the Commons earlier this week, the PM thrashed out a verbal compromise with the backbenchers. But her compromise amendment has failed to win the support of the rebels. The PM has set the three red lines she says the compromise cannot cross. These are: 1. Not overturn the referendum 2. Undermine the negotiations 3. Not change the convention which gives the Government the power to negotiate Advertisement 'Dominic Grieve said he wanted a meaningful vote, and this will be one, and he said he didnt want to stop Brexit and now he cant. Another said: There was always going to have to be a showdown at some point. The PM is clear that we have to deliver on the verdict of the referendum. Last night, a YouGov poll for The Times found voters were opposed to the idea of allowing Parliament to block Brexit by a margin of 49 per cent to 32. Mrs Mays intervention last week saw the Government throw out the Lords demands on a meaningful vote by 324 votes to 298. Ahead of the vote, the Prime Minister held talks with at least 13 Tory rebels in a bid to head off defeat. In the end only two voted against the Government former ministers Ken Clarke and Anna Soubry. The Governments compromise amendment would give MPs a vote in the event of there being no deal by January 21 next year. But the vote would be on a neutral motion, which would allow MPs to debate and take note of the fact, but not to affect what happens next. Unlike most parliamentary motions, it could not be amended meaning rebel MPs would have no opportunity to block Brexit at the final moment. Last night Miss Soubry said the rebels had been betrayed and many more would vote against the Government next week. Mr Grieve said the Governments plans were unacceptable. Yesterday the Daily Mail revealed that Mr Grieve, the leader of the rebels, held private talks in the European Commissions London headquarters with senior figures from campaigns trying to halt Brexit or engineer a second referendum. Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg accused Mr Grieve of supping with the devil following the talks with Tony Blairs former spin doctor Alastair Campbell, former Sunday Telegraph editor Patience Wheatcroft and a string of anti-Brexit peers. The collapse in talks sets up a high-stakes showdown next week. The House of Lords will consider the Governments amendment on Monday, when they are expected to reject it PM names replacement for minister who quit over Brexit Theresa May has appointed a replacement for justice minister Phillip Lee, who quit her administration in order to be able to vote against the Government on Brexit. Edward Argar was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice. Mr Argar, 40, was elected to the Commons as MP for Charnwood in Leicestershire in 2015, and has not previously held ministerial rank. He supported Remain in the 2016 EU referendum. Dr Lee quit as justice minister after two years in the post on Tuesday in order to join Tory rebels voting for a greater say for Parliament over the final Brexit deal. In the event, Mrs May was able to see off the rebellion with the offer of a compromise amendment, and the Bracknell MP ended up abstaining on the vote. Advertisement Mr Grieve denied being involved in a conspiracy to stop Brexit, adding: I disagree with the characterisation of any of the people present as being the devil. It emerged last night that Mr Grieve may not face the voters over his attempts to thwart Brexit, with the Conservative Home website reporting that he may not stand again in Beaconsfield. Tory MP Tom Tugendhat said MPs already had the power to bring down the Government if they were unhappy with the final deal. I think were going to get a meaningful vote anyway, he said. The meaningful vote is going to be either the Governments deal is accepted, in which case thats the meaningful vote accepted. Or it isnt accepted. In which case, frankly, theres going to be a new Government. Labours shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, signalled his party would back the Tory rebels, saying: The Governments amendment is simply not good enough. The YouGov poll also found that Jeremy Corbyn has fallen further behind Mrs May in the popularity stakes. She extended her lead to 15 points, with 39 per cent saying she was the most suitable for the job of Prime Minister. The Labour leader was backed by 24 per cent. A message addressing violence against women has resurfaced in the wake of the tragic death of a comedian who was allegedly raped and murdered by an autistic teenager. Eurydice Dixon, 22, texted her boyfriend to say 'I'm almost home safe' just moments before she was sexually assaulted and killed in Melbourne's Princes Park on Tuesday night. When 17-year-old schoolgirl Masa Vukotic was stabbed to death in the city's east in 2015, Victoria Police's then homicide boss suggested 'people, particularly females... shouldn't be alone in parks'. That message was echoed by Local Superintendent David Clayton on Thursday when he said: 'Make sure you have situational awareness, that you're aware of your surroundings.' A post penned by journalist and feminist Jane Gilmore after Ms Vukotic's murder has been widely circulated this week. Eurydice Dixon, 22, texted her boyfriend to say 'I'm almost home safe' moments before she was sexually assaulted and killed in Melbourne's Princes Park on Tuesday night A post penned by journalist and feminist Jane Gilmore in 2015 has been widely circulated following the death of Ms Dixon When 17-year-old schoolgirl Masa Vukotic (left and right) was stabbed to death in the city's east in 2015, Victoria Police's then homicide boss suggested 'people, particularly females... shouldn't be alone in parks' 'Women, if you want to be safe, stay at home. Except that you are more likely to be killed at home by someone who claims they love you, so don't stay at home,' Ms Gilmore wrote. 'Make sure you don't have a boyfriend because he's the most likely person to kill you, but don't go out without your boyfriend because you need someone to protect you. Don't show too much skin or laugh too loud or dance too much, but come on love, give us a smile. 'Carry your keys and your phone at all times and make sure you run far enough to burn off all those calories but don't do it in public and for god's sake don't run in shorts, that's just asking for trouble. 'Public transport is dangerous, but so are taxis and walking and driving on your own and did I mention that staying at home is really risky, so don't do any of those things OK? Men, just carry on as you were, this is not your problem OK?' Ms Dixon left Highlander Bar in Melbourne's central business district with her boyfriend of four months Tony Magnuson Ms Dixon blew a kiss to her boyfriend and began the short journey home. She never made it Ms Dixon left Highlander Bar in Melbourne's central business district shortly after 10.30pm following a comedy gig Among those to share the post this week was The Project's Lisa Wilkinson, who captioned it with a touching tribute to the 22-year-old. 'A hugely promising young comedian, with a unique take on life, and a love for it... gone in the most unspeakable circumstances,' she wrote. 'My heart goes out to her family and friends and the unimaginable heartbreak they must be going through... Rest in peace Eurydice.' Ms Dixon left Highlander Bar in Melbourne's central business district with her boyfriend of four months Tony Magnuson - shortly after she finished performing a comedy show at the popular venue at around 10.30pm. Insisting on walking alone after enjoying a Dr Pepper and a protein bar, Ms Dixon blew a kiss to her boyfriend and began the short journey home, the Herald Sun reported. 'I'm almost home safe, HBU [how about you],' she wrote to Mr Magnuson at about midnight Highlander Bar staff member James Forman said Ms Dixon (pictured) was a regular at the bar and performed to packed houses Well-known in the inner city Melbourne arts community, Ms Dixon (pictured, right) performed to capacity crowds at the Melbourne Comedy Festival in March and April 'I'm almost home safe, HBU [how about you],' she wrote to Mr Magnuson at about midnight. But she would never make it home. Her accused killer, Jaymes Todd, handed himself into police on Wednesday night and was charged over the alleged murder and sexual assault on Thursday morning. The 19-year-old has been remanded in custody to reappear in Melbourne Magistrates' Court on October 3. Police have confirmed there was no relationship between Ms Dixon and the accused (pictured) 'Light a candle on William's 7th birthday': A call to action from Tyrrell's foster parents William Tyrrell's foster parents are holding out hope the little boy will be found alive - ahead of his seventh birthday in 11 days' time. But his biological grandmother says the renewed police search for clues in Kendall, on the NSW mid-north coast, is 'all for show' and has claimed he is dead. The divisions in the two arms of William's family were on show on Friday, almost four years after he vanished, as the official campaign to find him called for action. The 'Bring Him Home' campaign - closely associated with his foster parents - said: 'William's loved ones continue to hold out hope he will be found.' 'On his 7th birthday we invite all those who love and care for William to light a candle in his honour to share the heartfelt hope that William will soon be found'. As the police search for clues in scrub near where he vanished in Kendall entered its third day, grandmother Natalie Collins said: 'He isn't there and police know that. 'They are just putting on a big show for the world because we haven't heard anything for a while, and his birthday is coming up,' she said. 'They just want everyone to think they are actually still looking for him.' Ms Collins has long been vocal in casting blame about the boy's disappearance. Natalie Collins spoke with Daily Mail Australia on Thursday as police combed the bushland behind William's foster-grandmother's former home in Kendall, NSW William Tyrell's grandmother is furious with police who have failed to find the young boy after four years Police and emergency services personnel are combing the bushland near Kendall for clues to William's disappearance. The effort continues for four weeks SES workers joined the fray on Thursday with chainsaws and other power tools for clearing bush Police on Wednesday launched a new four-week effort to comb the scrub backing onto William's foster grandmother's home. Detective Chief Inspector Gary Jubelin, the homicide squad officer in charge of the investigation, said the search was to show 'beyond reasonable doubt' the boy's disappearance was the result of human intervention, not misadventure. It is the second major search of nearby forest, creeks and paddocks in the past four years. William's grief-stricken grandmother claimed that she has never been questioned by police. Daily Mail Australia understands she saw the boy on occasion but did not always get along with William's mother Karlie. 'I think this has been handled wrong from the beginning,' Ms Collins said. 'I have never even been interviewed by police, not once in all this time. Police began a four-week effort to comb the scrub in an effort to prove the boy was truly abducted 'I could have had him the whole time and I have not had one police officer knock on my door to check.' 'I could have had him the whole time and I have not had one police officer knock on my door to check.' She is furious that William's parents Karlie Tyrell and Brendan Collins were treated like criminals - when they have been devastated since hearing he had disappeared. 'Police knocked on their door, handcuffed them and treated them like criminals. 'They were so confused and had no idea what was going on. 'They have been treated so poorly this whole time - everyone forgets it is there son that is gone.' Her son, Brendan Collins, has been 'in and out of jail' in the four years since William disappeared 'They have been treated so poorly this whole time - everyone forgets it is there son that is gone,' Ms Collins says, Karlie Tyrell is pictured The grandmother avoids watching news about William's disappearance - as it 'is extremely difficult for everyone' Mr Collins has been 'in and out of jail' in the four years since William disappeared. 'No one cares that my son has been through hell and back because of this,' she said. Despite his difficulties since the disappearance of his eldest son Brendan is 'going good'. 'He is off the drugs and getting help with doctors and stuff - but that's only because he went to jail they didn't give a s*** about him before that.' The grandmother avoids watching news about William's disappearance - as it 'is extremely difficult for everyone'. Ms Collins is torn between wanting the little boy's body to be found so she can 'say goodbye' and having the mystery remain unsolved 'I just don't know what finding him will do to Brendan - I don't know how he will handle that,' she said She believes if her son had been able to keep custody of William he would be 'a happy little boy looking forward to his birthday' 'If I watch it then I will bring it up with Brendan and it hurts him so much to think about it - he feels so bad about everything because if William hadn't been taken away he wouldn't have been lost.' Ms Collins is torn between wanting the little boy's body to be found so she can 'say goodbye' and having the mystery remain unsolved. 'I just don't know what finding him will do to Brendan - I don't know how he will handle that,' she said. She believes if her son had been able to keep custody of William he would be 'a happy little boy looking forward to his birthday'. Since leaving prison, Brendan has claimed he has gone out with a shovel to look for the boy himself. He told the Daily Telegraph from western Sydney: 'I've been out looking for you with a shovel digging in bushland... I know there's no point. 'I think you're dead, I think someone has hurt you bad. I'm so sorry I couldn't help you.' Karlie Tyrrell has kept her silence since news of the renewed search effort broke on Monday. A Tory MP today blocked a bid to make 'upskirting' a criminal offence punishable by two years in jail despite the Government backing the reform. Sir Christopher Chope shouted 'object' when the draft law was raised in the Commons today, slamming the brakes on the attempt to change the law. There were cries of 'shame' in the Commons - including from minister Victoria Atkins - when Sir Christopher made his shock move as MPs were invited to wave the change in the law through. Prime Minister Theresa May later expressed her 'disappointment' at the block, and pledged the Government would back moves to get the anti-upskirting legislation through Parliament. Sir Christopher Chope (pictured in the Commons today) shouted 'object' when the draft law was raised in the Commons today, slamming the brakes on the attempt Mrs May said: 'Upskirting is an invasion of privacy which leaves victims feeling degraded and distressed. 'I am disappointed the Bill didn't make progress in the Commons today, and I want to see these measures pass through Parliament - with Government support - soon.' Campaigner Gina Martin, 26, who was a victim of upskirting told the BBC Sir Christopher had told her he opposed the change in the law because it had not been debated. Justice Minister Lucy Frazer insisted tonight the law would be changed as Tory MPs reacted with horror to their colleague's obstruction. Tory MP Bob Neill wrote to the Prime Minister demanding the Government to make time to pass the new law. Senior Tory Tom Tughendhat said it was 'shaming' for the party while Business Minister Margot James insisted the Government was determined to defy Sir Christopher and change the law. Liberal Democrat Wera Hobhouse (pictured moving her bill today) had secured support from the Ministry of Justice to try and change the law from the backbenches Former minister Nick Boles attacked Sir Christopher as an MP 'whose knuckles drag along the ground'. The draft law came forward today after Liberal Democrat Wera Hobhouse was backed by the Ministry of Justice to try and deliver it from the backbenches. But because it was not debated in full, any MP could stop the reform from making progress by simply shouting 'object'. Lack of debate is frequently cited by Sir Christopher - who has blocked dozens of pieces of legislation in the same way - as a reason for objecting to a Bill on principle. Home Office minister Victoria Atkins, who is also minister for women, joined cries of 'shame' after Sir Christopher blocked the bill that had been proposed by Liberal Democrat Wera Hobhouse. Moments later, the 71-year-old also opposed Government-backed plans to give police dogs and horses extra legal protections from attack. The issue was thrust into the spotlight by 26-year-old Gina Martin, who launched a petition to make upskirting a sexual offence after realising some some took a photo up her skirt at a music festival in Hyde Park last July when she took a selfie (pictured right). The alleged perpetrators are obscured in black and ringed. After Sir Christopher's intervention, Ms Hobhouse told Sky News: 'I think it's very frustrating and annoying that one MP can block a consensus that had been built over several months. 'One MP can block this - it's shameful, it's annoying. It's not the end of the road, but I'm very angry.' The issue was thrust into the spotlight by Miss Martin, who launched a petition to make upskirting a sexual offence after someone took a photo up her skirt at a music festival in Hyde Park last July. She claimed police told her there was nothing they could do as the man involved had 'done nothing illegal'. Following the stalling of the new laws, Miss Martin said: 'I am obviously extremely upset and disappointed that Sir Christopher decided to object on this vitally important Bill for the women of England and Wales. How was the ban on upskirting blocked? Tory Sir Christopher Chope was able to block the proposed ban on upskirting with a single word today. Because the change in the law was being introduced from the backbenches and not by the Government, it can only be debated on a Friday and must take its place in a queue. The draft legislation today was eighth in the queue - meaning it was never going to be debated in full. MPs had a chance to wave it over its first Parliamentary hurdle without debate - but because there was no debate any MP can shout 'object' to stop this happening. This is what Sir Christopher did today. Advertisement 'I remain positive, though. We knew this was a risk - but I now stand with powerful, passionate women and men behind me and I am confident that (Justice Minister) Lucy Fraser is committed to - and will - close this gap in the law.' Miss Martin said she had spoken to Sir Christopher and was 'hopeful that he will become a supporter of the Bill'. Miss Martin can be identified because what happened to her is not covered by anonymity rules in the Sexual Offences Act. The highly intrusive practice typically involves individuals secretly taking photographs under a person's clothing without them knowing with the intention of viewing their genitals or buttocks. There have been a string of cases of men caught using smartphones to capture illicit images on public transport, in busy shops and at music venues. But because upskirting has not been classified as a separate crime, offenders often escape punishment as securing a conviction has proved notoriously difficult. Theresa May is facing calls to use Government time to change the law on upskirting after the measure was blocked by one of her MPs Tory MP Bob Neill wrote to the Prime Minister (pictured) calling on the Government to change the law during main business instead of leaving it to the procedural traps of backbench discussions on a Friday Furious Tory MPs lashed out at their colleague for blocking the attempt at changing the law, accusing him of being a 'dinosaur' living in a different century. Culture Secretary Matt Hancock said: 'The Government is determined to make it illegal to photograph people under their clothes without consent. Individual MPs can delay, but not prevent this from becoming law. We will make it happen.' Tory MP Bob Neill, who is chairman of the Commons justice committee wrote to the Prime Minister asking that Government time be made available to allow the Voyeurism (Offences) Bill to have its second reading. Business Minster Margot James said: 'The Goverment is determined that it becomes illegal to photograph people under their clothes without consent, Chope can delay, but not prevent, Wera Hobhouse's bill from becoming law.' Business Minster Margot James said: 'The Goverment is determined that it becomes illegal to photograph people under their clothes without consent' East Renfrewshire MP Paul Masterton warned: 'This kind of thing does far more damage to the public's view of our party than endless debates about customs arrangements.' 'Do not underestimate just how furious many Tory MPs are about this.' Senior Tory Tom Tughendhat said it was 'shaming' for the party and blasted: 'The Conservatives I joined believe in human dignity and welcoming ideas that protect our community. 'Chope is wrong and should apologise.' Conor Burns said: 'Embarrassing behaviour by Chris Chope this afternoon. Not for the first time. 'I share a constituency boundary with him. But clearly not a century. Pleased Govt will now work to bring legislation in after his wrecking of the Private Members Bill.' East Renfrewshire MP Paul Masterton warned: 'This kind of thing does far more damage to the public's view of our party than endless debates about customs arrangements.' Senior Tory Tom Tughendhat said it was 'shaming' for the party Under the current law, culprits can potentially be charged with voyeurism or outraging public decency. But voyeurism legislation is generally only used against people who hide cameras in changing rooms and public toilets. This is because it applies to activities in a private, rather than a public place such as a festival, bus or school hall. The law on outraging public decency requires an image to be lewd, obscene or disgusting, and experts say 'upskirt' photos do not always meet these criteria. A Government spokesman insisted efforts would continue to change the law - but did not commit to doing so in Government time to avoid the procedural trick used today. They said: 'This behaviour is a hideous invasion of privacy which leaves victims feeling degraded and distressed. 'It cannot be tolerated, so it is absolutely right that the government supports this Bill to make 'upskirting' a specific offence. Because the proposed change to the law was not debated in full, any MP could stop the reform from making progress by simply shouting 'object' (pictured is the Commons during debates today) Who is Sir Christopher Chope and why did he block the new law? Christchurch MP Sir Christopher Chope has made a career out of blocking back bench legislation in Parliament. The Tory MP, 71, has halted progress on laws about the Hillborough disaster, a pardon for Alan Turing and wild animals in circuses. He has yet to confirm why he blocked today's Bill but frequently cites a lack of debate, faulty drafting or duplication of law. Among dozens of Bills he had blocked, Sir Chistopher has also opposed: Free hospital parking for carers Making revenge evictions a crime Laws on same-sex marriage Protecting police dogs Careers advice for sixth formers National standards for taxi licenses Sir Christopher, first elected in 1983, has repeatedly criticised the ability of MPs to make small changes to the law from the backbenches. Despite his opposition to many backbench bills, the father of two is also the architect of dozens of his own - typically as a way to take up time and block other proposals. He was knighted earlier this year for 'political and public service'. Advertisement 'Whilst we are disappointed this Bill did not pass second reading today, we look forward to supporting these measures through the House at the earliest possible opportunity.' Following a campaign, Justice Secretary David Gauke has confirmed the Government will support legislation to close the loopholes in order to protect victims and increase convictions. Justice minister Lucy Frazer said: 'This behaviour is a hideous invasion of privacy. 'By making upskirting a specific offence, we are sending a clear message that this behaviour will not be tolerated, and that perpetrators will be properly punished.' The new law would bring the punishment for upskirting in line with other existing voyeurism offences, and the changes will see offenders face a maximum of two years in prison. The most serious offenders will be placed on the sex offenders register. The offence will cover instances where the purpose is to obtain sexual gratification or cause humiliation, distress or alarm. Katie Ghose, head of Women's Aid, said: 'We hope that this new criminal offence will be another step forward in challenging the prevailing sexist attitudes and behaviours.' Banks have been accused of abandoning their customers as brutal cuts have led to the closure of 60 branches every month. An unprecedented number of branches are due to shut this year as the largest players seek to cut costs by driving their customers online. Already 670 are due to be axed, and this figure likely to rise. Lenders have closed or unveiled plans to shut 2,868 outlets since 2015 working out as 60 every month, according to consumer group Which? Bosses claim that they are merely following customers as more and more go online for basic financial services. An unprecedented number of branches are due to shut this year as the largest players seek to cut costs by driving their customers online Lenders have closed or unveiled plans to shut 2,868 outlets since 2015 working out as 60 every month, according to consumer group Which? Bosses claim that they are merely following customers as more and more go online for basic financial services But critics argue that lenders are abandoning isolated towns and villages where vulnerable people and shopkeepers need them most. Gareth Shaw of Which? said: Bank branch closures are happening at an alarming rate, stripping customers and communities of access to the financial services they need. While the decision is clearly a commercial one for a bank to take, it is also crucial that banks do recognise the needs of the communities they serve. Santander has got rid of 169 outlets, the Co-op Bank has axed 154, and 134 have been shut by the owner of Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks. TSB has slimmed down its network by 82 The importance of branches was highlighted by an IT disaster at TSB in April which left 1.9million customers unable to access online banking Which? found that Natwest owner Royal Bank of Scotland has announced the most closures since 2015, at 1,023. This was followed by Lloyds with 508; HSBC with 440; and Barclays with 243. RBS, Lloyds and Barclays have not ruled out further cuts, although HSBC has said it is now happy with the size of its network. Santander has got rid of 169 outlets, the Co-op Bank has axed 154, and 134 have been shut by the owner of Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks. TSB has slimmed down its network by 82. The rest are mostly smaller cuts by building societies. So far 670 closures have been announced for this year and, with further cuts likely, the total being shut is expected to surpass 2017s record of 879. The importance of branches was highlighted by an IT disaster at TSB in April which left 1.9million customers unable to access online banking. It led to large queues forming outside the lenders outlets, many of which were overwhelmed by the sudden flood of visitors. There are also growing concerns that shutting branches could trigger a rise in fraud, as customers unused to the internet are forced online to become easy prey for crooks. Mike Cherry of the Federation of Small Businesses said: Alarmingly, we continue to see the UKs bank branch network under attack by big banks. This is not just an attack on bank branches, but an attack on access to cash. Closures, coupled with poor broadband and the removal of free cashpoints, are creating cashless communities. Mike Cherry of the Federation of Small Businesses said: Alarmingly, we continue to see the UKs bank branch network under attack by big banks' This situation hits our already struggling high streets leading to less footfall, less cash in the local economy and less revenue for local small firms. Equally, the loss of bank branches, and access to cash, hurts the most disadvantaged in our society. It comes after a Mail investigation revealed that banks downplay the number of visitors to make branches seem less popular than they are. A spokesman for industry group UK Finance said that branch visits have dropped by a quarter since 2012, and that customers can use their nearest Post Office for basic banking. He said decisions to close a branch are only ever taken after all other options, such as reducing opening hours and staff numbers, have been exhausted. Labour saw its majority slashed in the Lewisham East by-election last night as the new MP vowed to oppose 'hard Brexit'. In a sign that Jeremy Corbyn's chaotic stance might be turning off voters, Janet Daby secured the safe seat by a far smaller margin than her predecessor. Turnout was barely a third in the poll triggered by Heidi Alexander's decision to quit, and the Lib Dems surged into second place. In her acceptance speech, Ms Daby (pictured) said her victory meant 'we will not tolerate an extreme Brexit in Lewisham East' The election was called after Heidi Alexander resigned so she could work for Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. Pictured: The votes being counted last night Mr Corbyn (pictured in the Commons this week) faced a massive rebellion after ordering MPs not to back membership of the EU single market In her acceptance speech, Ms Daby said her victory showed that voters in the London constituency - which overwhelmingly backed Remain in the referendum - 'will not tolerate an extreme Brexit'. 'We refuse to stand by and let a Tory government devastate our schools, our health service and our housing,' she added. Speaking to reporters afterwards, she said: 'One of the ongoing issues is to do with Brexit and people not wanting an extreme Brexit and ideally people not even wanting to leave the EU.' Mr Corbyn suffered a huge revolt in the Commons this week after ordering Labour MPs to abstain in a vote on whether the UK should be in the EU single market. Six frontbenchers quit and more than 70 MPs defied his orders as the party split three ways on the issue. Asked how much distance there was between her and Mr Corbyn's views on Brexit, Ms Daby said: 'In terms of the single market, our Labour view on this is that we would have a new single market where we have the same access that we presently do. Lewisham East results Janet Daby (Lab) 11,033 (50.2%, -17.75%) Lucy Salek (LD) 5,404 (24.59%, +20.17%) Ross Archer (C) 3,161 (14.38%, -8.62%) Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah (Green) 788 (3.59%, +1.88%) Mandu Reid (Women) 506 (2.30%) David Kurten (UKIP) 380 (1.73%, +0.04%) Anne Marie Waters (FBM) 266 (1.21%) Maureen Martin (CPA) 168 (0.76%, +0.28%) Howling Laud Hope (Loony) 93 (0.42%) Lab maj 5,629 (25.61%) 18.96% swing Lab to LD Electorate 66,140; Turnout 21,979 (33.23%, -36.05%) Advertisement 'For me it's about ensuring that we have as close a relationship to the EU as possible and that's what I'll be arguing for and that's what I'll be putting forward my views on. 'In terms of Jeremy Corbyn I voted for Jeremy Corbyn twice in the leadership election and obviously within politics not everybody will agree on everything... but we need to find a way around it that holds the Tories to account.' The election was called after Ms Alexander resigned so she could work for Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. Only a third of eligible voters cast a ballot. Ms Daby won 50.2 per cent of the votes - compared to 68 per cent for Ms Alexander last year. Lucy Salek for the Liberal Democrats came second with 25 per cent, up 20 points on the party's performance at the general election. Ross Archer came third with 14 per cent of the vote, doing eight per cent worse than the party did last year. Ukip candidate David Kurten lost his 500 deposit after polling just 1.73 per cent. The former chemistry teacher said he 'wanted to put the case for Brexit' on doorsteps and attacked funding cuts to police budgets, saying it had contributed to a 'spike' in violent crime in the capital. Mr Kurten, who sits on various London Assembly committees, added: 'Who knows, there may well be another election coming up given the febrile state of the two main parties.' Anne Marie Waters, the controversial For Britain candidate, lost her deposit after receiving just 266 votes. She added she left the Labour Party as she could 'no longer tolerate the direction it was going in', citing the party 'overseeing the multicultural transformation of the country'. Laura Smith, Rosie Duffield and Ellie Reeves (file images from left to right) were among those to quit Labour's front bench on Wednesday night amid a Brexit meltdown Only a third of eligible voters cast their ballot last night. Pictured: Ballot papers are counted last night A teenage woman has died in a suspected drink-driving tragedy on Manus Island. The Papua New Guinean woman, 18, was a passenger in a truck containing five people when it overturned on a main road on Wednesday. The driver, an Afghan refugee without a license, has been arrested and charged with dangerous driving causing death. He fractured his shoulder in the crash. Another refugee in the car has been charged with consuming alcohol in a vehicle and is in custody. A teenage woman has died in a suspected drink-driving tragedy on Manus Island. Pictured: Detention centres on the island The Papua New Guinean woman, 18, was a passenger in a truck containing five people when it overturned on a main road on Wednesday. Pictured: Refugees on Manus Island Manus province police commander David Yapu said: 'They were on a drinking spree during the night up until the next day when they were involved in an accident.' He said that the refugees had to stay in custody to protect them from retaliatory attacks from the teenage girl's mother and family. 'This is our fear, that is the reason we have taken them into custody, both the driver and the other refugee,' he said. 'We are being kept on alert in the event the relatives attack those refugees or even the other refugees. 'That is something that we are monitoring.' Manus Island housed detention centres for refugees relocated from Australia until 2017. Almost 4000 people looked on as a 73-year-old man climbed into a steel container under a busy street in Hobart, Tasmania. Performance artist Mike Parr submerged beneath Macquarie Street on Thursday for his third and final artwork at MONA's Dark Mofo Winter Festival. The steel container is fitted with a fan forced air supply where Parr will spend the next three days fasting, meditating, reading and drawing in his sketchbook. Parr's activities will be monitored using security cameras and he will be removed from the container 'in minutes' in case of an emergency. The artist is 'an endurance performer' and has been doing this for years now. Mike Parr (pictured) submerged beneath Macquarie Street last night for his third artwork Parr will have a bucket with him for toilet emergencies while he is in the container (pictured) The artist took a copy of Robert Hughes's The Fatal Shore and his sketchbook while he is sealed underneath. Parr will be consuming a 'strictly limited amount of liquids' during his 3 day trip underground. Previously, the 73-year-old has hacked at his own prosthetic arm, laid motionless as he was splattered in large amounts of his own blood, and has had his face sewn together all in the name of art. Parr's conceptual practice in relation to the piece, entitled 'Underneath The Bitumen The Artist' is reflective of the 20th century totalitarian violence in all it's forms. 'To my knowledge, it will be Tasmania's first monument referencing both the Black War and the convict system,' Dark Mofo creative director Leigh Carmichael said. 'It is a story that is not well known, but is ever-present, just beneath the surface of our contemporary culture.' His reference to the under ground way in which this historical moment is cultivated in Australia is evident in his desire to take his performance under the surface of the busy Macquarie Street, where he will fast, draw and meditate as cars continue about their commute directly above him. Parr has incorporated large amounts of his own blood (pictured) into his art pieces previously Whilst the performance isn't out of the ordinary in considering Parr's previous performance pieces, it has certainly divided audiences thus far. Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre chief executive Heather Sculthorpe was insulted by the project, according to The Mercury. She said Dark Mofo's representation of the Aboriginal story in Tasmania is insulting and 'some old fella under a road is not the way to do it'. The box has been sealed but in case of an emergency Parr will be removed 'in minutes' Since her statement, spokesperson for the centre, Michael Mansell released a second statement. 'The Aboriginal people of Tasmania are right behind [Parr] for making the point that Tasmania's historical treatment of Aboriginal people has been hidden buried, as it were for far too long.' Hobart Mayor Ron Christie voted against the location of the performance, voicing his concern for traffic control during the construction of the room. Parr will emerge from the container at 9:00pm on Sunday, and concrete will be poured to fuse the chamber and its contents as a time capsule. On the outskirts of a remote village in Bangladesh, an 18-year-old girl runs for her life down a dusty track. Screaming with fear, she falls into the arms of a waiting police officer who immediately bundles her into a nearby car. The teenager is so terrified that she wedges herself into the footwell, begging them to drive as fast as they can. Prepared for such an eventuality, the police have put in place roadblocks that successfully stop her pursuers in their tracks. So great is the danger, that young girls who fear they are at risk are even being advised to hide a metal spoon in their underwear to trigger airport scanners, giving them the chance to alert security personnel before they are taken out of the country But from whom had she been fleeing? And why was she so scared? The answers will shock many in Britain. Because, while her terrifying ordeal may have unfolded thousands of miles away, its roots are very much in this country. The young woman was born and raised in Leeds. She had recently sat A-levels and was planning to go to university. But, unknown to her, her parents had very different ideas. On the pretence of a family holiday, they travelled to Bangladesh, their home before moving to Britain. Once there, they announced that their daughter was to be married to her first cousin. When she refused, her mother swore at her and threatened violence. Her father told her that having brought her up for 18 years with love, he would chop her up in 18 seconds if she disrespected him by not going through with the marriage. But he had not counted on his daughters bravery, ingenuity and determination. Alerting the British authorities to her plight and her location, she was able to make her dramatic escape. Returning home to the UK, her parents were arrested, charged and, last week, found guilty of forced marriage by a jury at Leeds Crown Court. Campaigners including charity Karma Nirvana which helps victims of honour-based abuse and forced marriage warn that with the summer holidays just around the corner, thousands could be taken abroad and forced into marriages against their will. The pair, who cannot be named to protect their daughters anonymity, will be sentenced later this month. By coincidence, the same week the mother of another teenage girl was jailed for the same offence at Birmingham Crown Court, marking the first conviction for forced marriage in England since it was made a criminal offence in 2014. The 18-year-old girl who escaped marriage in Bangladesh was only the second case, and while this is undoubtedly welcome, the two convictions barely scratch the surface of the problem. Campaigners including charity Karma Nirvana which helps victims of honour-based abuse and forced marriage warn that with the summer holidays just around the corner, thousands could be taken abroad and forced into marriages against their will. So great is the danger, that young girls who fear they are at risk are even being advised to hide a metal spoon in their underwear to trigger airport scanners, giving them the chance to alert security personnel before they are taken out of the country. A last resort. And one, it is claimed, that is only necessary because teachers, doctors, social workers and police are so fearful of being branded racist that they shy away from earlier interventions. A forced marriage by definition ends in rape. Those professionals who fail to act so as not to cause offence or rock the cultural boat form part of the problem and only give strength to the perpetrators,' said Louise Casey One who did not shy away was Detective Sergeant Pal Singh, who risked the wrath of his Metropolitan Police bosses by accusing the Crown Prosecution Service of dropping honour crime cases for fear of causing unrest in Asian communities. After DS Singh spoke out, Tory MP Nusrat Ghani said she had seen too many women not get the support they are entitled to because the violence meted out to them is explained away as cultural difference. She said: Ive spoken to police officers who have seen these cases not dealt with as they would in other circumstances because the term brings in so much other baggage. But it is just domestic violence. And Louise Casey who led an investigation into social services in Rotherham where Asian sex gangs had abused as many as 1,600 children told a Policy Exchange think-tank in London in 2016: We let forced marriage happen because we were so wrapped up in political correctness and wanting our multicultural Britain. We forgot to talk about equality and we forgot to talk about equal rights. When is Britain going to wake up to this? asks Jasvinder Sanghera, chief executive and founder of the Karma Nirvana charity. Families may try to disguise it as being part of their religion, tradition or culture but that is not the case. A forced marriage by definition ends in rape. Those professionals who fail to act so as not to cause offence or rock the cultural boat form part of the problem and only give strength to the perpetrators. The professional is worried about causing offence, being called a racist and therefore looks at it differently and not for what it is, which is child abuse. Forced marriage is described by the Home Office as one in which one or both spouses do not consent to the marriage and where violence, threats, or any other form of coercion is involved. Coercion may include emotional force, physical force or financial pressure. It differs from an arranged marriage in which the family may have chosen a partner but where both parties have consented to the union and can still refuse to marry if they choose. Under the laws introduced in 2014, forcing someone to marry is a criminal offence, carrying a maximum sentence of seven years in jail. But securing convictions has proved extremely hard. Victims are often young and understandably fearful of the consequences of going to the authorities. Under the laws introduced in 2014, forcing someone to marry is a criminal offence, carrying a maximum sentence of seven years in jail As the two recent cases demonstrate, a successful prosecution is likely to involve them giving evidence against family members, which could ultimately see them jailed. The pitifully low conviction rate should not conceal the scale of the problem. According to a recent Freedom of Information request, more than 3,500 reports of forced marriage were made to police between 2014 and 2016. Over the same three-year period, the Karma Nirvana helpline received 22,000 calls from individuals or agencies concerned about the issue. In 2017 this included more than 200 from or about children under 15. The charity also gave advice regarding eight new clients under ten. Meanwhile, the governments own Forced Marriage Unit was contacted about 1,196 cases in 2017. Of these roughly 30 per cent involved victims below the age of 18. The largest number related to London, followed by the West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber. Three-quarters related to women. Since it was established in 2005, the FMU has handled cases connected to more than 90 countries across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and North America. Sunny Angel, who was forced to marry a man by her Indian parents when she was 20 In 2017, the countries with the highest proportion of cases were Pakistan, 37 per cent, Bangladesh, 11 per cent, followed by Somalia and India. With criminal prosecutions rare, preventative action can be taken through the civil courts. Since 2008 more than 1,500 Forced Marriage Protection Orders have been granted. These can be sought by the local authority, police or individuals. A judge can attach any conditions believed necessary to prevent a forced marriage, including requiring passports to be handed over. A breach of the order is a criminal offence punishable by up to five years behind bars. But still the concern is that the authorities are too slow to react and that one of the main stumbling blocks is political correctness. We had a police officer call our helpline they often ring for advice, recalls Ms Sanghera. He said: I have been told to call you guys because you deal with the cultural things, dont you? I have got an issue and just wanted to check I am doing the right thing because I dont want to offend anyone here. I have a 26-year-old man from a minority group in a full-blown relationship with a 12-year-old girl. He says it is acceptable in his culture and I just want to check with you. The call handler told him to forget the cultural issues and just tell her what he saw which was a raft of possible offences, including rape. It is a point echoed by Sunny Angel, who was forced to marry a man by her Indian parents when she was 20. They kept saying it was an arranged marriage but it wasnt they were pushing me into it, recalls Sunny, now 39, who has changed her name to protect her familys identity. The man on the other side was forced into it as well because he had a mental disability and didnt understand what was happening. Her parents believed it was her duty to marry, while his wanted him to marry so they could have grandchildren specifically a grandson. They forced him to rape me every night, she says. The first night after he had raped me he rang his mum and said Can I come home now? When she said no he said: Can I have the chocolate you promised me? She said yes and told him he didnt have to share it. The pitifully low conviction rate should not conceal the scale of the problem. According to a recent Freedom of Information request, more than 3,500 reports of forced marriage were made to police between 2014 and 2016 After five months of abuse, Sunny went on hunger strike, forcing her parents to pick her up and take her home. Estranged from her family, she has now written a book, Wings, about her experience in the hope it will help others and stop those who can help from turning a blind eye. Nurses, doctors and teachers have to come forward and ask people they are worried about if they are OK. People dont want to offend anyone because they are worried if they say the wrong thing they might be called racist. We need to break those boundaries. Forced marriage is not a cultural practice. Its a form of child abuse and modern slavery and should be investigated and prosecuted as such, she says. Concerns about the inaction of the authorities were also raised during and after the case in Birmingham. The court heard how the 17-year-old victim was flown to Pakistan by her mother under the pretence of a family holiday and, once there, forced to marry a cousin 16 years her senior who wanted a British passport. The girls mother threatened her with black magic if she spoke out. I told my mum I didnt want to get married and I was crying, the teenager told the court. I didnt want him to put [the ring] on my hand because I didnt want to get married to him. It also emerged during the hearing that her husband had previously raped and impregnated her as a 13-year-old on a previous trip to Pakistan. After having an abortion on her return, the girl went off the rails and turned to drink and drugs. As a result she was under the voluntary care of Birmingham Childrens Services when the mother revealed plans to take her daughter back to Pakistan in 2016. Despite social workers expressing concerns to superiors, the trip was allowed and the girls passport handed over to the mother. The 45-year-old mother, who was found guilty of two counts of forced marriage, and one count of perjury, was jailed for four and a half years. Speaking afterwards the girls father branded his ex-wife pure evil but also criticised the authorities for letting her go. Why did social workers hand her passport over so easily? he said. They knew about my daughters history, they knew how vulnerable she is. They knew what happened to her in 2013. How could they even consider her returning to the country in 2016? Penny Thompson, independent chair of the multi-agency Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board, said: This is a sad and complex case and Id like to commend all those who helped bring it to court, particularly the brave young victim who came forward. We will look at the best way of sharing any learning. As for the other case, that came to a happy conclusion thanks to the bravery of the victim and a healthy dose of international co-operation. Having realised what her parents plans were for her on arriving in Bangladesh in the summer of 2016, the teenager borrowed her sisters phone and managed to send a number of increasingly desperate WhatsApp messages to her boyfriend back in Britain. One read: Yesterday they said I was getting married and I was screaming and crying and just denying this was all true. Then they were constantly trying to persuade me. My mum kept saying to my dad hit her, hit her. And my dad kept coming closer and raising his hand to show hes gonna slap me up. Another message was even more chilling: He said he would rather go to jail with me dead because he still has a reputation rather than me not listening to his demands. Today he came into my room and swore at me saying if he saw one more tear he would strangle me and tear me apart with a knife. The victims boyfriend contacted police in Leeds who began an investigation and started liaising with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office to ensure her safety. At the same time, the victim searched online for help and contacted the British High Commission in Bangladesh who began setting up a rescue operation. They were able to track her phone and were sent screenshots of the surroundings to help them pinpoint her exact location. When her father left with the groom to try on wedding outfits, she took the opportunity to flee. The victim, who left with nothing but the clothes she had on, her phone and a Leeds bus pass, was flown back to the UK the following day. Her parents were arrested days later when they arrived at Heathrow airport and her siblings were taken into care. Praising her after the case, investigating officer Detective Superintendent Pat Twiggs said: I think she has clearly recognised how important it is for her to stand up, not just for herself, but for other victims who will follow. I know she wants her case to show other victims that they can come forward to the authorities with confidence that they will be listened to and safeguarded. A message which, with the summer holidays fast approaching, one can only hope proves to be true Several dead rabbits (one of which is pictured) have been thrown through windows of student flats at the University of Kent's Canterbury campus over the past fortnight A university is set to launch an investigation to catch a mysterious ghoulish figure who has been throwing dead rabbits through open windows on campus. Several dead rabbits have been thrown through windows of student flats at the University of Kent's Canterbury campus over the past fortnight. There are 5,400 rooms in a series of housing blocks set in more than 300-acres of parkland - but the 'phantom rabbit flinger' is upsetting students by tossing fluffy bunnies through flat windows. One male student was hit by a flying rabbit after it was lobbed through a window as he stood in his girlfriend's room on June 1 and other rabbits have been thrown through open kitchen windows. Shocked business studies student Kaylin Moir, 18, said she watched in horror as dead rabbit came flying into her pal's flat, hitting her friend's boyfriend. When she later returned to her own shared flat, she found another dead rabbit lying dead on her kitchen draining board. Speaking this week, she said: 'I was outside my friend's room with the window open. 'We were just talking and then I felt an object pass my head - it (the rabbit) hit her boyfriend and fell on the bed.' She told the KentLive website this week that after going back to her own flat - just six doors down from her pal - she spotted a dead bunny in her kitchen on the draining board. She added: 'I went back to my house, but when I went to grab some water I saw the dead rabbit and called campus security.' Other students said they had also been victim of the 'bunny flinger', with one saying: 'I came back home and saw a dead rabbit lying on the kitchen floor.' Shocked business studies student Kaylin Moir, 18, said she watched in horror as dead rabbit came flying into her pal's flat, hitting her friend's boyfriend. Pictured: Some of the rabbits Another, who was not named, said the university had to 'take action', adding: 'This might sound like a daft student prank, but it's really upsetting to find dead rabbits in your home. 'The university needs to take action and find out who is doing this.' Campus security at the University of Kent were called out and the dead bunnies have been disposed of. Bosses at the university have been informed of the incidents and are set to launch an investigation. Melania and Donald Trump will fly together on his first official trip to England next month Melania Trump will join the US President when he flies into London, after being mostly absent since her kidney operation last month. The working trip, understood to take place on July 13, will be Donald Trump's first visit to Britain, despite him having been in power since late 2016. The couple are expected to stay at the US Ambassador's residence of Winfield House at Regent's Park in the capital, and will meet the Queen at Windsor Castle on their visit, reported The Sun. He is expected to have a photograph opportunity with Her Majesty but not a carriage procession, sources claim. However it is believed Mr and Mrs Trump will be honoured by No 7 Company of the Coldstream Guards, Britain's oldest regiment, who have served in nearly every major battle since the Civil War. The Coldstream Guards are one of five regiments which make up the Queen's Guard, infantry and cavalry soldiers best known for standing outside Buckingham Palace and other royal residences. They are said to be rehearsing a ceremonial welcome band, national anthems and a presidential inspection ahead of Mr and Mrs Trump's visit next month. It is believed Mr and Mrs Trump will be honoured by No 7 Company of the Coldstream Guards, Britain's oldest regiment, pictured being inspected by the Queen at Windsor Castle in 2012 Mrs Trump went unseen for 27 days as she battled a kidney problem. She then emerged for a military family reception, followed by a briefing on hurricane preparedness on June 6 (above) The Trumps are expected to stay at the US Ambassador's London residence of Winfield House Previous visits to England have been cancelled following fears of mass protests, but this occasion appears to be going ahead. It will be Mrs Trump's first official trip as First Lady since she disappeared before the kidney op, with her lengthy absence stoking theories she had split with her husband. Her first public appearance following the surgery was on June 5, at a reception for military families who have lost a relative in action - 27 days after she first vanished. She was seen again the next day in Washington DC at a briefing from the Federal Emergency Management Agency on hurricane preparedness. The President, reading from a note card, introduced 'our great First Lady' at the briefing and said: 'She went through a little rough patch but she's doing great.' Mrs Trump (pictured in October 2017) has not been able to travel, and did not accompany her husband to the G7 in Canada or to his historic summit with Kim Jong Un in Singapore Mr Trump and his wife are expected to stay at the US Ambassador's residence while in the UK The Queen and Prince Philip greet Barack and Michelle Obama at Windsor Castle in April 2016 The room applauded the First Lady at his words. 'The people love you... thank you, honey,' he added and reached out to touch her hand. The First Lady sat next to the President during the briefing. Reports from inside the room said she looked well and healthy. But she did not attend the G7 in Canada or the Singapore summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, claiming she could not fly for a month following her surgery. She was checked into the Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC on May 14 and was in hospital for five days. MailOnline has today contacted the Foreign Office, Buckingham Palace and the US Embassy in London about the Trumps' visit. The Church of England is to launch a fresh campaign for Britain to give up its nuclear weapons. In a move approved by leading bishops, the Church is set to call for Theresa May to 'engage' with a treaty that would lead to a surrender of the nuclear deterrent. The push comes 35 years after a bid by Left-wing bishops to support unilateral disarmament was firmly rejected by the Church's parliament, the General Synod. The Church of England is to launch a fresh campaign, approved by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, for Britain to give up its nuclear weapons The call will be led at a Synod in York next month by a motion from the Bishop of Chelmsford, the Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell. It also has the support of leading clergy including the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby. The motion will call on the Prime Minister to 'respond positively' to a UN treaty drawn up last year, which calls for all nations which have nuclear weapons to give them up. A document published by the Church yesterday said that the Synod will 'examine whether Britain should sign the ban treaty and take more purposeful steps to dismantle its nuclear arsenal'. It 'welcomes' the UN move and says churches should work for the 'elimination' of nuclear arms. The call will be led at a Synod in York next month by a motion from the Bishop of Chelmsford, the Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell (pictured with Queen Elizabeth II) Church officials said yesterday that it is not promoting unilateralism and that its approach to nuclear weapons takes account of the view that they are necessary to maintain peace. However, they acknowledged that the debate will give a platform to unilateralists. Senior Tories were scathing about the Church's intervention. Former defence minister Sir Gerald Howarth said: 'The Church of England's approach is completely irrelevant. 'It should be speaking about Christian values rather than wasting its time and that of the public on matters on which it has no expertise whatsoever.' Taxpayers have spent almost $60 million refurbishing the offices of public servants so they could have new gyms, designer kitchens and even a display fridge in a cafe. The revelation bureaucrats were given plusher digs on the public purse came in the same week federal MPs were given hefty pay rises, with one MP suggesting the 'profligate self-indulgence' was angering voters and could spark a 'revolution'. While Australian workers are continuing to struggle with low wages growth, public servants who don't even interact with the public were given office upgrades in 2017, costing taxpayers $58.6 million. In response to the news, the angry MP said the massive spending had given him 'rage and hatred' of politicians. Australian taxpayers spent almost $60 million refurbishing the offices of public servants in just one year (including this $210,000 kitchen for Department of Jobs and Innovation bureaucrats in Melbourne) Bureaucrats from cabinet minister Michaelia Cash's department also benefited from a new $38,274 'tea point' for public servants to sit down and enjoy a soy chai latte Bureaucrats in Melbourne from cabinet minister Michaelia Cash's Department of Jobs and Innovation benefited from a new $210,000 kitchen, which included a $38,274 'tea point' for public servants to sit down and enjoy a soy chai latte. The Prime Minister's office was also a drain on the public purse, with $6,133 spent on four luxury French Chateau chairs in the executive wing of Malcolm Turnbull's department in Canberra. The spending didn't stop there with $2,200 spent on a timber coffee table. Not to be outdone, public servants in Canberra from the Department of Agriculture were given a new $313,000 gym, before their former minister Barnaby Joyce resigned in February as his affair with his former media adviser Vikki Campion dominated the news. The Prime Minister's office was also a drain on the public purse, with $6,133 spent on four luxury French Chateau chairs in the executive wing of Malcolm Turnbull's department The designer kitchen cost $210,000 which is what millionaires normally spent on their homes In March 2017, his Department of Agriculture and Water Resources ordered blockout blinds for the senior bureaucrats, which was installed in late May at a cost of $61,070. Questions on Notice from Labor senator Kimberley Kitching to public service bosses, during recent Senate estimates hearings, have revealed Australian taxpayers coughed up $58.6 million in 2017 refurbishing the offices of bureaucrats. Josh Frydenberg's Department of Environment spent $11,964.92 on two new treadmills for the staff gym and another $2,640 on 40 shiny new sandwich presses. Peter Dutton's new Department of Home Affairs spent $141,132.91 on office refurbishments, including $9,100 for a display fridge at the staff cafe. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's office for comment on Friday. Department of Agriculture mandarins were given a new $313,000 gym, before their former minister Barnaby Joyce resigned in February as his affair with his former media adviser Vikki Campion dominated the news Bob Katter, a maverick MP from outback far north Queensland, feared public disgust at this spending would spark an armed revolution. 'It is pre-revolutionary stuff,' he told Daily Mail Australia. The 73-year-old former National Party member said his constituents were so angry at the government in general they were thinking of taking up arms. 'There was one bloke who got up, he said, "It's time to take up rifles and no longer time to talk". So I shouted him down.' The Katter's Australian Party leader, who represents the vast electorate of Kennedy, said he had 'rage and hatred of the people that I sit in that parliament with'. 'The party system in Australia has become so gentrified that the public servants in Canberra and the ministers are cut off completely from reality,' he said. Mr Katter, who was National Party minister in Queensland during the 1980s, said any bureaucrat who called for a new gym to cheer up 'depressed' public servants deserved to be punished. Bob Katter, a maverick MP from outback far north Queensland, fears public disgust at this spending will spark an armed revolution. 'It is pre-revolutionary stuff,' he said 'I wouldn't say anything. I'd nod my head, take their name down and they would get punitive transfer to somewhere where I knew they would not take this job,' he said. 'Our cattle numbers are down around 25 per cent, our sheep herd is down near enough to 65 per cent, our sugar production is down 17 per cent and our dairy production is down nearly 30 per cent and the agriculture department is spending their time figuring out the accouterments for their gymnasiums.' This week, the Remuneration Tribunal awarded federal MPs a two per cent pay increase, which from July 1 will see a backbencher's salary rise from $203,030 to $207,100. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who lives in a Sydney Harbour mansion, will see his salary climb from $527,878 to $538,460. His cabinet ministers will see their remuneration jump from $350,227 to $357,248. A killer who stabbed a man to death in a shopping centre in 1995 has issued a vile outburst as he was jailed for murder. Karl Michael Hague, 44, was found guilty in April for killing Ricky Balcombe at Geelong's Market Square shopping centre in May 1995, a crime he got away with for decades. Hague was finally brought to justice in the Supreme Court on Friday when Justice Lex Lasry jailed him for 26 years with a non-parole period of 20 years. As he was led from the dock, Hague yelled at Channel 10 senior reporter Candice Wyatt, saying: 'Get your story right you f***ing sl*t.' It is not clear what Hague was referring to. Karl Michael Hague (pictured outside court today) was found guilty of killing Ricky Balcombe at Geelong's Market Square shopping centre in May 1995 As he was led from the dock, Hague yelled at Channel 10 senior reporter Candice Wyatt (pictured), saying: 'Get your story right you f***ing sl*t' Hague, 21 at the time of the murder, has denied killing the 16 year-old for decades and maintains the stance that he was not at the shopping centre at the time of the stabbing. It was revealed in court that Balcombe's murder was revenge for smashing Hague's car during a gang fight two weeks prior to his death. It is believed that Balcombe's friends and gangmates attacked the car with weapons as Hague was seated inside with friends, the Geelong Advertiser reported. The parents of Ricky Balcome, Graeme Loader (left) and Christine Loader (second from the left) with supporters Just a few hours before Balcombe let loose on the car, Hague had beaten the much younger teen in Malop street. The jury was told that Hague ambushed Balcombe and friend Paul Bellia near the lifts at the crowded Market Square shopping centre around 3.20pm on Friday May 15 in 1995. Hague used a 13cm kitchen knife to stab Balcombe three times. Balcombe was just 16 years old when he was horrifically stabbed to death in a shopping centre in Geelong Christine Loader, Ricky's mother, after court this morning where she said she was pleased with the sentencing Balcombe received two fatal stabs to his back that punctured his lungs and heart and one to his leg. The stabbing was witnessed by a few people yet few got a clear view of the killer's face. The court heard that police were notified of the run-ins within hours of Balcombe's death, and Hague was interviewed just three days after the murder. Hague was charged with murder in 1996, yet the charged was withdrawn as key witness, Bellia, was suffering from mental health issues. In August last year he was arrested once again before he went to trial for seven weeks in late February. Following the guilty verdict in April, defence barrister Felicity Gerry QC argued that Hague had tried to harm Ricky but in no way intended to kill. She stated that the killing wasn't planned but was rather 'spontaneous'. Ricky Balcombe's mother has been waiting 23 years for justice for the death of her son Balcombe's mother Christine expressed the heartbreak she felt the day her 'beautiful son' was murdered. Hague's mother and partner believe that he is innocent and have ambitions to appeal the guilty verdict. As he was lead away in handcuffs, his mother and partner yelled out to him 'It's not over', according to 9News. Corynne Pyle, girlfriend of Hague leaving the Supreme Court of Victoria after the 26-year sentencing was laid out Supporters of Hague clashed with media outside of the Supreme Court on Friday When exiting court after his sentencing, Hague's partner told reporters that it's 'devastating' her partner is being sent to jail. 'An innocent man goes to jail, when they can't to their job properly.' Hague has served 670 days in custody over two stints 20 years apart, which will count towards his sentence. Asia Argento has revealed her struggle with grief in the wake of her boyfriend Anthony Bourdain's suicide. The Italian actress, who is spending time with friends in Berlin after Bourdain's remains were cremated in France, posted a note on her Instagram story which first read 'I'm a f**king mess inside'. The sentence was crossed out and underneath were the words 'I'm fine'. Argento, who had been dating the celebrity chef since 2016 and whom she called 'my love, my rock, my protector,' has been seeking comfort from her grief in her friends, music and even in God. She shared a post of a prayer in Spanish, asking for God's guidance. Asia Argento posted a note on her Instagram story which first read 'I'm a f**king mess inside' The Italian actress is spending time with friends in Berlin in the wake of her boyfriend Anthony Bourdain's (pictured with her in April) suicide Argento also shared a picture of herself, posing with a friend, which she captioned 'Berlin Sisterhood', while a short video clip, taken in a dark car, appeared to show Rose McGowan. The 42-year-old mother-of-two has also been turning to music to help her make sense of the tragic loss. This morning she posted that she was listening to David Bowie's Lazarus which includes lyrics such as; 'Look up here, I'm in heaven. I've got scars that can't be seen.' Earlier, she shared a post showing she was listening to Judee Sill's 1971 breakup song 'Jesus Was a Cross Maker.' Sill also died by suicide, aged 35, in 1979. The actress also shared a picture of her back, where the word 'saved' superimposed on the photo. Chef, writer and television host Bourdain was found hanged in his French hotel room, where he was filming another episode of Parts Unknown on June 8. Argento also shared a picture of herself, posing with a friend, which she captioned 'Berlin Sisterhood as well as a post of a prayer in Spanish, asking for God's guidance A short video clip, taken in a dark car, appeared to show Rose McGowan (right) His remains have since been cremated and his ashes are expected to be flown back to the United States on Friday, a source claimed to People Magazine. Days after Bourdain's death, Argento shared her grief on social media, calling him an inspiration and herself 'beyond devastated'. 'Anthony gave all of himself in everything that he did. His brilliant, fearless spirit touched and inspired so many, and his generosity knew no bounds. He was my love, my rock, my protector. I am beyond devastated. My thoughts are with his family. I would ask that you respect their privacy and mine,' Argento wrote. On Sunday, his mother Gladys told Page Six the family were awaiting approval from the French Government to return Bourdain's body to America, and were expecting it to take a few days. The Parts Unknown host, 61, was found dead in his room at the Le Chambard hotel in France on Friday after hanging himself. Friend Eric Ripert, who had been helping the father-of-one make an upcoming episode of his show, was the one to make the grim discovery. Anthony Bourdain has reportedly been cremated in France just days after he died by suicide Bourdain and actress Asia Argento began dating a year after meeting in 2016 He went to Bourdain's hotel room after he did not attend dinner or breakfast, which they were scheduled to eat together, where he found his friend had hanged himself. Christian de Rocquigny, the prosecutor of Colmar in France's eastern Alsace region, said on Saturday there did not appear to be much planning ahead of Bourdain's suicide. Asia also shared a cryptic photo of her back with the word 'saved' superimposed on it 'There is no element that makes us suspect that someone came into the room at any moment,' he said, adding a medical expert had concluded that there were no signs of violence on Bourdain's body. Rocquigny said toxicology tests were being carried out on Bourdain's body, including urine tests, to see if he took any medications or other drugs, in an effort to help his family understand if anything led him to kill himself. Bourdain's funeral will be organised by his ex-wife, Ottavia, as she is still legally his next of kin, his mother Gladys has claimed. 'Although they're separated, she'll be in charge of whatever happens,' she said on Sunday. 'We haven't talked for a couple days. I'm sure she's as broken up as I am.' Ottavia was seen heading inside her New York home on Wednesday night, dressed casually in activewear and wearing sunglasses. The jiu-jitsu fanatic, and mother to Bourdain's only child, shared a photograph of the couples' 11-year-old daughter Ariana on stage in a pair of knee-high studded boots on Monday. 'Our little girl had her concert today,' she wrote in the emotional caption. 'She was amazing. So strong and brave. She wore the boots you bought her. I hope you are having a good trip, wherever you are.' Argento (center right) spent Wednesday with actress and close friend Rose McGowan (left) and two other women She shared pictures of herself listening to Jesus Was a Cross Maker, a song performed by a woman who committed suicide at the age of 35, on the same day her boyfriend was reportedly cremated Ms Bourdain said she 'never would have dreamed' her son would commit suicide, though she knew he was in a bad place mentally in the days leading up to his death. His mother told The New York Times Ripert had contacted her and said Bourdain had been 'in a dark mood these past couple of days', but she said she still never saw his suicide coming. 'He had everything,' she said. 'Success beyond his wildest dreams. Money beyond his wildest dreams.' But the celebrity chef opened up about his history of destructive behavior, including regular thoughts of suicide following the destruction of his marriage, in his 2011 book Medium Raw. After his first marriage to wife Nancy Putkoski ended in 2005, Bourdain recalled being 'aimless and regularly suicidal'. During a stint in the Caribbean, he wrote of getting 'the kind of drunk where you've got to put a hand over one eye to see straight' and would 'peel out' in his 4x4 for nightly trips to the brothels. Bourdain had also previously been open about his past struggles with drugs and spoke of being a recovering heroin addict. Bourdain's estranged wife Ottavia (pictured) was seen heading into her New York apartment on Wednesday night Busia has only recently broken her silence following Bourdain's death, and will be the one to organize his funeral In addition to the celebrity chef's feats in the culinary world, he was also hailed for being one of the loudest male voices in the #MeToo movement. Argento has accused Harvey Weinstein of rape. Bourdain's funeral will be organized by his estranged second wife Ottavia Busia Bourdain (pictured together in 2015) In an essay written after fellow chef Mario Batali was accused of sexual assault, Bourdain wrote that 'one must pick a side ... I stand unhesitatingly and unwaveringly with the women.' Argento wrote on Twitter on Friday that Bourdain 'was my love, my rock, my protector.' It emerged this week that friends of the celebrity chef had begun to become concerned with his infatuation with Argento shortly before his death. 'He would have done anything for her, and that was a little red flag for some of his friends,' a source told People. 'Like, he was crazy in love with her, crazy being the keyword.' Bourdain's longtime publicist for Parts Unknown, Karen Reynolds, told People that he seemed 'giddy' and was uncharacteristically communicative in the days in the run up to his suicide. Reynolds said he appeared to be delighted with his latest episode, filmed in Hong Kong and directed by Argento. 'He was so happy. I didn't talk to him this week but all I know was he was so happy last week. I mean giddy,' she said. 'He was texting me and emailing me which he doesn't normally do about publicity for episodes but he was like, 'This is a high water mark, this is the best thing I've ever done.' He was so excited to be working with Christopher Doyle. I saw nothing that would indicate what happened. Like, why this would happen? 'We're just floored. A complete shock.' The friend of Bourdain's told People that, while they knew he was overworked and struggling with the breakdown of his marriage, no one had any idea he'd been suicidal. Shining star: On Monday, Ottavia posted a photo of their 11-year-old daughter Ariana performing at a concert to Instagram (pictured), wearing the boots gifted to her by Bourdain Bourdain, a father-of-one, was loud voice in the #MeToo campaign and was in a relationship with actress Asia Argento, who has leveled sexual assault claims towards Harvey Weinstein 'None in our circle of friends knew he was struggling in any life-or-death way. Honestly, I don't think anyone knew. I don't think Eric [Ripert] knew the depths of his pain,' he said. 'The shock of Tony's death is almost as profound as the pain. Even his closest friends are still waiting for some mystery to be uncovered,' they added. 'We knew his nerves were shattered a little; his marriage had fallen apart, he was way, way overworked and overdriven, but unstable. No one had a clue.' Three days before Bourdain was found hanged in his French hotel room, where he'd been filming the latest episode of Parts Unknown, Argento had been photographed with journalist Hugo Clement in Rome. The pair were photographed hugging, holding hands and smiling as they strolled through the Italian capital. They were later seen dancing together and sharing a close embrace in an Italian bar. The photos have since been taken down by the photographer in question. For confidential help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or click here For confidential support on suicide matters in the UK, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here For confidential support in Australia, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or click here Two tradesmen got the fright of their lives after opening up an air conditioning unit to find a huge python. Unfortunately the men found the two-metre snake dead inside the unit at a home in Earlwood in Sydney's inner west. Resident Dave Marchant, 47, told the Sydney Morning Herald he believed the creature had likely been electrocuted weeks ago. Two tradesmen have had the fright of their lives after opening up an air conditioning unit to find a huge python He had noticed a strong smell coming from the unit, but thought it was just a rat until it was opened up this week. 'The installers were just relieved it wasn't alive. At first they weren't 100 per cent sure it was actually dead. I said no, look, nothing alive smells like that.' One of the tradesmen said in his 18 years at work he never seen anything like it. His young apprentice certainly hadn't either. 'The young offsider was so shocked he could barely speak, he just kept shaking his head,' the tradesman said. A new air conditioning unit was installed on Thursday afternoon. Bill Cosby has fired his entire legal team in the lead up to his September 24 sentencing for aggravated indecent assault. The 80-year-old, who was found guilty on three counts by a jury in April is 'angry' with his high-powered team, a source told Radar on Thursday. 'He's angry. They let him down, and these aren't easy times,' they said. Cosby faces up to thirty years behind bars, ten years for each count of assault after he was convicted of drugging and molesting Andrea Constand at his home in January 2004. Bill Cosby has replaced his entire legal team in the lead up to his sentencing. Cosby, 80, was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault by a jury in April and faces up to 30 years behind bars His legal team included Tom Mesereau, who saw Michael Jackson acquitted on child molestation charges, Page Six reported. Mesereau was gracious in his defeat and told the website: 'I wish Mr Cosby, his family, and his new defense team all the best'. Cosby's new representation is reported to include Joseph P Green Jr, a PA lawyer whose website claims the defense lawyer 'is recognized by his peers as a preeminent criminal trial lawyer'. 'He is an exceptionally experienced litigator, having tried over 100 cases to jury verdict, including acquittals in nationally significant federal criminal cases, white-collar, CCE and drug-related criminal cases,' the website reads. '[Green] is presently litigating a number of sex offender registration cases in state and county courts, including challenges to the retroactive application of SORNA II and other sex offender registration laws.' Replaced: Tom Mesereau (left) was canned from Cosby's legal team, and replaced with PA lawyer Joseph P Green Jr (right) This is not the first time Cosby has replaced his legal team. After his first trial, declared a mistrial when the jury could not come to a verdict, Cosby fired his defense team, led by Philadelphia lawyer Brian J. McMonagle. Other defense attorneys told the New York Times it is not uncommon for someone who has been convicted to change up their legal team - especially if they are planning to appeal. Cosby's former team announced they would be appealing after the disgraced actor was found guilty in April. Drought, fire, flood, and now COVID - the resilience of rural women COVID has affected the business on the dairy farm, but so has the floods, the droughts and everything that has come with it, the women said. BridgeClimb has been stripped of its Sydney Harbour Bridge contract after 20 years taking four million people and plenty of international celebrities to the top of the world-famous landmark. Scenic World's parent Hammons Holdings takes over on October 1, throwing into doubt the validity of thousands of tickets that tourists had already booked, with prices of up to $388 for a panoramic dawn view of the city. The New South Wales's government's Roads and Maritime Services agency announced on Friday that BridgeClimb had failed in its bid to win a new 20-year contract, despite pioneering the popular experience that has attracted legions of overseas tourists to Sydney and lots of celebrity royalty. Scroll down for video Scenic World's parent Hammons Holdings takes over on October 1, throwing into doubt the validity of thousands of tickets that tourists had already booked American singer Meghan Trainer has scaled the summit of the Sydney Harbour Bridge as one of many international celebrities who have looked out over the renowned harbour since BridgeClimb began in 1998 Billionaire daytime TV queen Oprah Winfrey climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 2011 when she hosted a special about Australia's great tourist attractions BridgeClimb has run the popular tourist experience since October 1998, attracting high-profile climbers from Hollywood actor Will Smith to pop stars Katy Perry, Sam Smith, Demi Lovato and Meghan Trainor. Billionaire daytime TV queen Oprah Winfrey, the late artist Prince and another Prince, Harry, have also been among the celebrity royalty to have looked out over Circular Quay standing above the traffic. Jamaican Olympic sprinting prodigy Usain Bolt has also done his signature pointing gesture on top of the arch bridge built in 1932. Australian television personalities David Koch and Samantha Armytage, from Sunrise, have also made the pilgrimage. BridgeClimb will be operating the night and day experience until September 30. Chairman Paul Cave more than two decades ago came up with idea of giving climbers, in special overalls, the chance to take a panoramic look over the Opera House, the mouth of Sydney Harbour and out west to the Blue Mountains past the city's urban sprawl. The New South Wales's government's Roads and Maritime Services announced on Friday BridgeClimb had failed in its bid to win a new 20-year contract Jamaican Olympic sprinting prodigy Usain Bolt has also done his signature pointing gesture on top of the arch bridge built in 1932 BridgeClimb prices A premium dawn experience costs $388 for an adult, while a twilight climb is $368. Prices for a 90-minute adventure start at $168 during a weekday but rise to $263 for a night experience of the city lights. A BridgeClimb in Mandarin costs $303 per person during the week. Advertisement After their contract expires, customers who have bought tickets for later this year are advised to contact Hammon Holdings, which runs Scenic World at the Blue Mountains. 'For any customers with Climb bookings for after 30 September 2018, BridgeClimb will be in contact when there is further clarity regarding these bookings,' BridgeClimb said. BridgeClimb also expressed its disappointment. 'We will not be making any further statements at this time,' it said. American singer Demi Lovato has seen the Sydney Opera House from the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge Katy Perry encountered some overcast weather when she took a look over Sydney Harbour 'Our focus is on our customers, our team, and on preserving our brand, equipment and expertise for future opportunities.' A Hammons Holdings spokesman told Daily Mail Australia customers who booked climbs after October 1 would have their tickets honoured. 'Yes they will,' he said. A Roads and Maritime Services spokesman said Hammons Holdings, a third-generation family-owned company that was established during the 1940s, had outlined a 'strong and clear vision'. BridgeClimb, which pioneered the popular tourist attraction in October 1998, has taken more than four million climbers including Hollywood star Will Smith in January History of BridgeClimb The idea of taking tourists over the Sydney Harbour Bridge was born in 1989, when BridgeClimb founder and chairman Paul Cave took delegates from the Young Presidents Organisation World Congress for a special tour. Nine years later, on October 1, 1998, the BridgeClimb company took its first paying customers over the landmark arches. Before starting the world-famous venture, Cave was a manager with B&D Roll-A-Door, a garage door company. At age 29, in 1974, Cave founded the Amber tile and paving retailer. He was bestowed a Queen's Birthday honour in 2010 and has also been a director with Domino's pizza. Advertisement 'The government is excited to be ushering in a new chapter for what is one of Sydney's, if not Australia's, most iconic structures,' he said in a statement today. 'This was a highly competitive process with 13 expressions of interest received from Australian and international tenderers of the highest quality.' Hammons Holdings beat 12 other contenders for the contract, including Ardent Leisure, the operator of Dreamworld on the Gold Coast where four people died on a theme park ride in October 2016. The company's chief executive David Hammon said he wanted 'to inject new life into the Bridge experience for local, interstate and international visitors'. 'We acknowledge the pioneering work of Paul Cave in developing the Bridge into a popular tourist destination and look forward to working in partnership with the government to build on that work,' he said. BridgeClimb said it had turned the Sydney Harbour Bridge 'from a postcard to a global bucket list experience'. 'The Climb is renowned as a world class experience and operation, and has an unblemished safety record, without one serious injury in 20 years,' it said. British singer Sam Smith, who topped the charts a rendition of Stay With Me, was among the 4 million people to have climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge BridgeClimb gas been stripped of its Sydney Harbour Bridge contract after 20 years operating the lucrative service (Sunrise personalities Samantha Armytage, Natalie Barr, David Koch and Mark Beretta pictured) While Barack Obama has been holding secret meetings with potential 2020 challengers to Donald Trump and fundraising for Democratic candidates ahead of midterm elections, some of his backers aren't satisfied with his lead as of late. Left-wing strategists, supporters and aides to the former US president are urging Obama to return from the sidelines and take on a stronger role in the midterm election fight. A political strategist told The Hill this week: 'Theres f**king no one else... Bill Clinton is toxic, Carter is too old, and theres no one else around for miles. 'The desire among Democrats for Obama to take a more leading role in the midterm fight and party building in general is just getting stronger, particularly with the lack of alternatives.' Trump's predecessor's political group, Organizing for Action, has been actively working to create the anticipated outcome of a 'blue wave' for midterm elections in early November. Left-wing strategists, supporters and aides to former US president Barack Obama are urging him to take stronger lead in the midterm elections. Obama is pictured above in Chicago in May 2018 One political strategist told The Hill: 'Theres fing no one else... Bill Clinton is toxic, Carter is too old, and theres no one else around for miles.' Above: (L-R) Rep. John Lewis, former president Jimmy Carter and former president Bill Clinton are seen in Washington in August 2013 Obama's political group, Organizing for Action, has been working to create the anticipated 'blue wave' outcome for midterm elections. Obama is seen above in Washington, D.C. in April 2015 The group, erected during Obama's campaign operation, said in a statement they aim to defeat Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, elect a Democrat to succeed House Speaker Paul Ryan and flip control of the state Senate,' according to the Associated Press. The nonprofit organization has targeted 27 House races since the beginning of the year. Although the organization is Obama-led - he doesn't hold an official title - as the group is largely run by aides and strategists. While speaking to The Hill, one Obama bundler said the former president has been too quiet during a time of need for the Democratic party. 'There are a lot of people who think hes played too little a role or almost no role in endorsing or fundraising and hes done jack shit in getting people to donate to the party,' the individual said. Obama has been holding secret meetings with potential 2020 challengers to Donald Trump. This includes Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, seen above in February 2016 in New Hampshire Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren has also reportedly met with Obama. Warren is seen above in February 2015 in Washington, D.C. A former Obama aide added: 'He always wanted to help, without a doubt. He cares tremendously about our country and our party. 'But I think he always intended to be a little more on the sidelines than hes been. I think he realizes he is needed and needed badly.' Obama, recently, has been hosting top-secret meetings with as many as nine potential presidential candidates. The sessions have been held in Obama's personal office located on the third floor of the World Wildlife Fund building in Washington D.C., Politico reported. The would-be contenders got one-on-one talks with the former commander-in-chief. Obama remains close to his former Vice President Joe Biden. The two talk on the phone often and Biden will reportedly make a decision about running for president after the 2018 election. Biden is seen above in October 2012 in Kentucky Former Massachusetts Democratic Governor Deval Patrick has met with Obama and sits on the board of his foundation. He is seen above in Massachusetts in September 2009 Potential candidates include Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Elizabeth Warren, former Vice President Joe Biden and former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. Obama, who has been reluctant about any information regarding the meetings getting leaking to the public, has not promised to support any of the said candidates. He refused to endorse anyone until a nominee takes lead in the upcoming race. And while he has been reluctant to be a public face of the Democrats, privately, he is fundraising for the Democratic National Committee. Obama has appeared at fundraisers for senators such as Claire McCaskill of Missouri, who is in a tough race this year. The former president has also met with other prominent Democrats like former Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid. He speaks regularly to Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. A mother in Georgia is heartbroken, shocked and angry after her babysitter's German Shepherd, who had been part of their family, mauled her five-month-old girl to death Wednesday. Terika George's daughter, Paige Bradley, was being babysat by her mother's roommate, who police described as a longtime friend of the family's, in their Forest Park home Tuesday night. Her roommate told police he had put the infant to sleep on a bed, then he fell asleep in a different room. George told police that when she returned home, she saw her roommate was asleep, and she went to check on the baby. Paige Bradley, 5-months-old, was mauled to death by her babysitter's German Shepherd Paige's mother, Terika George, is shocked and angry, and said the dog ate, slept and even watched over the baby. George says she has no idea why or how this happened Then, at around 3am, someone frantically called police, screaming and unable to communicate what the emergency was. Animal control officials euthanized the German Shepherd. Paige's mother said the dog had been around her newborn since birth, and was always around her older daughter, and they had never noticed any aggressive behavior. In fact, George told WSB-TV through tears, the dog even watched over the baby when she was placed in her car seat. 'He ate by us, he slept by us, he followed us and sometimes I had her in her car seat and he would go over and check on her and walk away,' George said. Paige's mother told the station she has been constantly crying and that she apologized to her baby ''because I always take you with me.' George says with this horrific tragedy she is leaning on her faith to get her through. The horrific incident happened inside George's home (pictured) in Forest Park, that she shares with the man who was babysitting Paige 'I just gave it to God and I told him to figure this all out for me,' the heartbroken mother said. At the end of the investigation, police did not find any evidence of neglectful or unlawful acts by anyone in the home. No charges have been filed. The family has a GoFundMe page set up to help with funeral expenses. President Donald Trump reportedly told G7 leaders that he believed Crimea was part of Russia because people there spoken Russian. Last week, Trump argued that Russia should be allowed to rejoin the G7 during the summit in Quebec, Canada. Russia was kicked out of the then-G8 in 2014 following the violent annexation of the peninsula from Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin defended the move saying that he had the right to protect Russian citizens and Russian speakers in Ukraine. Now diplomatic sources, who spoke anonymously to Buzzfeed, say Trump went as far as to appear to defend Russia's actions, saying that most people in Crimea spoke Russian anyway. President Trump reportedly told G7 leaders that he believed Crimea was part of Russia because people there spoken Russian During a discussion on foreign affairs on Friday, Trump apparently questioned why the G7 leaders were siding with Ukraine, saying that 'Ukraine is one of the most corrupt countries in the world,' according to the source. When pressed about the president's comments on Thursday, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders claimed she wasn't there so couldn't comment. 'I'm not aware of any comment like that,' Sanders said. 'I know it been reported but I'm not going to comment on a private conversation I wasn't a part of.' It is not yet clear whether Trump's comments indicate a change in policy. But the president made his feelings on the matter very clear last week, telling reporters as he left the White House for the summit in Canada that Russia should be readmitted to the G7 which represents the world's seven most advanced nations, and includes the US, Germany, France, Italy, the UK, Japan, and Canada. During a discussion on foreign affairs on Friday, Trump apparently questioned why the G7 leaders were siding with Ukraine (President Donald Trump (R) talking with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C) and surrounded by other G7 leaders during a meeting of the G7 Summit) L-R: British Prime Minister Theresa May, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, US President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Italian Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte On the second day of the summit, dismissed the annexation of Crimea as 'something that happened a while ago' which shouldn't now stand in the way of peace. 'This used to be the G8, not the G7,' Trump said at a press conference on Charlevoix near Quebec after attending a breakfast earlier in the day with foreign leaders. 'I have not spoken to Vladimir Putin for quite a while. It has been discussed and some people quite like the idea of bringing Russia back in.' 'Something happened a while ago and I think it would be an asset to have Russia back in. 'I think it would be good for Russia and I think the G8 would be better having Russia back in would be a positive thing. 'We're looking for peace in the world. We're not looking to play games,' he said. Later, when pushed on whether or not he supported Putin taking control of the peninsula, he was vague. 'Crimea was let go during the Obama administration and Obama can say all he wants but he allowed Russia to take Crimea. Russian President Vladimir Putin defended the move saying that he had the right to protect Russian citizens and Russian speakers in Ukraine 'I may have had a much different attitude. 'Why did he do that? Why did he do that? 'That being said, it's been done a long time,' he said. He added: 'I would rather see Russia in the G8 as opposed to the G7. 'The G8 is a more meaningful group than the G7.' Russia continues to remain under U.S. and European sanctions for its annexation and incursion into part of Ukraine. Russia got kicked out of the group after it annexed Crimea. 'They should let Russia come back in because we should have Russia at the negotiating table,' Trump said before boarding Marine One on his way home from the summit. 'Why are we having a meeting without Russia being in the meeting?' Trump asked. 'They threw Russia out. They should let Russia come back in.' His unexpected gesture toward Moscow came in an extended extemporaneous press event under the roar of Marine One's engines, where the president also: THE ANNEXATION OF CRIMEA The Republic of Crimea is a small peninsula between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. In February 2014, Russia, under Putin's watch, took control of it from Ukraine in a violent take-over which saw Kremlin-backed troops descend on the region. Police officers arrest a protester in Moscow, March 2, 2014, during clashes over Russia's annexation of Crimea The majority of Crimea's 2million residents speak Russian and had voted to join Russia officially in a referendum but the vote was deemed illegal by Ukraine and by the rest of the West. There also remained a huge portion of the population who consider themselves Ukrainian and not Russian, along with the Crimean Tatar population - a predominantly Muslim community who suffered under Russian leaders in the past. The dispute sparked violent clashes in the area and was condemned internationally. President Obama slammed Putin's seizure of it as 'illegitimate' and he slapped sanctions on Russia as a result. At the time, Putin was part of the G8 but its leaders moved to expel him in response. In a statement at the time, they said it went against the principles of the international community. The region had been fought over for years. From 1793 until 1954, it was part of Russia. In the 1950s, it was transferred to Ukraine by the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. During Russia's control of it, particularly in the years of Stalin's leadership, Crimean Tatars were persecuted. Stalin believed they had worked with German occupiers and sent many of them in exile to parts of Asia. Advertisement Trump cast his opinion on Russia in pragmatic terms, though he said it was up to the group. 'I would recommend, and it's up to them, but Russia should be in the meeting. It should be a part of it,' he said. 'You know, whether you like it or not, and it may not be politically correct, but we have a world to run,' Trump told reporters in extended remarks before his trip. 'And in the G7, which used to be the G8, they threw Russia out. They should let Russia come back in,' the president said. It is just the latest in a series of times the president has sought to bolster ties with the Kremlin, including resisting a sanctions bill pushed by Congress that he ultimately signed, calling for warmer relations with Moscow, and restating Russian President Vladimir Putin's denials of election interference after a one-on-one meeting. The opinion is sure to ruffle other European leaders who were unanimous in their expulsion of Russia from the group in 2014. They condemned both Putin and Ukraine - which held an illegal referendum on the status of Crimea - saying at the time that both violated international laws and ethics. A handshake, or an embrace: Trump was effusive as he greeted Justin Trudeau who is hosting the G7, but it was Emmanuel Macron who was hugged by the Canadian. The French and Canadian leaders were both attacked by Trump on twitter Time for business: Trump sat beside Justin Trudeau at the start of the first formal G7 session. The Canadian prime minister was hosting and therefore chairing the summit Complaint: Trump had been said to be tired of British minister Theresa May's tone and did not appear to be offering her warm looks 'International law prohibits the acquisition of part or all of another state's territory through coercion or force," according to a joint statement at the time. "To do so violates the principles upon which the international system is built. We condemn the illegal referendum held in Crimea in violation of Ukraine's constitution.' The statement continued: 'We also strongly condemn Russia's illegal attempt to annex Crimea in contravention of international law and specific international obligations.' Trump's bold pronouncement came after he already has been engaged in angry back-and-forth with traditional allies France and Canada in a trade war. The Trump administration slapped tariffs on steel and aluminum imported form the allies, citing a national security exception. The Canadian prime minster blasted back mentioning Canada's military contributions in Afghanistan, while French President Emanuel Macron said Thursday the remaining six G6 nations could operate without U.S. leadership. And at the summit, he got a warm welcome from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, but his scheduled meeting with French President Emanuel Macron got scratched at the outset. Aides were able to cobble together a meeting for later on Monday. 'We've had really a very good relationship, very special,' Trump said at first. 'A lot of people wrote a couple of things that weren't quite true a little bit accurate, perhaps we've had a little test every once in a while when it comes to trade,' the president then acknowledged. It capped off a brief stop in Quebec where he appeared isolated by other world leaders. Despite reports of frosty relations between them, Trump insisted that his relationships with other countries were 'a 10'. On Saturday, as the G7 met in Quebec, Putin held a summit of his own with the President of Iran, one of Trump's political enemies. They grinned as they posed for photographs in China together as the European leaders and Trump discussed how to combat Iran's nuclear plans and support of terrorist groups. A Canadian company which claims to conduct DNA testing that proves indigenous ancestry is suspected of fraudulently manufacturing results after it failed to distinguish a dogs genetic material from those of humans. Viaguard Accu-Metrics, a genetic testing company from Toronto, has reportedly been confirming indigenous ancestry for non-Indians so that they can use their status to receive tax and other financial benefits. The alleged scam was exposed by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Louis Cote, a resident of Mascouche, Quebec, was working with the Confederation of Aboriginal People of Canada (CAPC), an organization that represents indigenous Canadians who do not live on recognized reserves. The group, however, is not recognized by the Assembly of First Nations or the Canadian government. Viaguard Accu-Metrics, a genetic testing company from Toronto, has reportedly been confirming indigenous ancestry for non-Indians so that they can use their status to receive tax and other financial benefits The Assembly of First Nations is a Canadian advocacy organization that represents indigenous communities throughout the country. Canadas government officially recognizes citizens with aboriginal ancestry by granting them Indian status. This status makes them eligible for tax benefits as well as subsidized health care, housing, and education. Both CAPC and Viaguard Accu-Metrics apparently saw an opportunity to make money off of peoples supposed eligibility for Indian status, CBC is reporting. Cote was tasked by CAPC to collect DNA samples of those who believed that they were partly aboriginal. For $250, CAPC would arrange a DNA test for a prospective member. The Confederation of Aboriginal People of Canada (CAPC) is an organization that represents indigenous Canadians who do not live on recognized reserves The test would be conducted by Viaguard. If the test confirmed indigenous ancestry, CAPC would charge an additional $80 for a membership card. This card would then be used by newly minted aboriginals to claim benefits in the marketplace, though this would be illegal since the Canadian government doesnt recognize CAPC cards as legally binding documents. Since CAPC cards bear a resemblance to official Canadian government IDs given to those with Indian Status, they often receive benefits even though they are not legally entitled to them. Cote began to get suspicious. I heard some things that were not straight with these tests, he said. I thought it was a joke, Cote said. The company is fooling people the tests are no good. So he decided to ask for a DNA test, only this time he would submit two samples - one of his, and one from his girlfriends chihuahua, Snoopy. When Cote received the results, he found that both he and Snoopy have indigenous ancestry - 12 per cent Abenaki and 8 per cent Mohawk. I don't feel very good for the people who paid for these tests, Cote said. They may have paid for nothing. While CAPC members are not legally entitled to tax exemptions, they take advantage of them anyway. Harvey Tenenbaum (above) heads Viaguard Accu-Metrics. The company has 'tested' DNA and 'confirmed' that indigenous ancestry - without knowing that DNA samples it received were actually those of dogs Merchants don't know the laws, so they will take anything presented to them, said Daniel Brabant, a former CAPC member from Quebec who says he has witnessed people exploiting the scam. I know somebody who bought over a quarter of a million [dollars] to do some renovations and saved over 35 grand in taxes, he said. Brabant began to suspect that CAPC was handing out memberships to people who were only interested in the economic benefits. That's the message: you're Indian so you get the same right as the guy that lives on the reserve. You can go fishing, you can go hunting any time you want, you can use the [CAPC membership] card for tax purposes, and that's all there is to it. So Brabant also ordered a DNA test through the same Toronto lab approved by CAPC. For one test, he received two separate results. One test said he had 19 per cent aboriginal ancestry. Five weeks later, he received another notice saying that it was 30.4 per cent. Brabant said that he then heard about Cotes experiment with his dog. So he sent in a DNA sample from Mollie, his French poodle. Daniel Brabant is a former CAPC member who submitted his own and his dog's DNA - both of which 'confirmed' indigenous ancestry The lab found that Mollie was 5 per cent indigenous - 2 per cent Oji-Cree, 2 per cent Saulteaux, and 1 per cent Mississauga. There has got to be something wrong there a dog that's got Indigenous heritage? Brabant said. CBC reported that it conducted its own experiment. It ordered testing kits for three of its employees - two of whom were born in India and one who was born in Russia. CBC used both the Toronto lab preferred by CAPC as well as an independent lab, 23andMe, which was recommended by experts. Viaguard, the Toronto lab, sent results which confirmed that the three CBC employees were 20 per cent indigenous. The other firm, 23andMe, found that none of the CBC employees were of Native American origin. Viaguard told CBC in a statement: Samples submitted in this matter may be useful from an informational perspective but do not meet standards of forensic scientific validity required for a legal test nor are they intended to unless collected appropriately. Over the years, [Viaguard has] developed links to a small number of tribes and developed algorithms which indicate possible linkage to those few tribes. When asked about the DNA samples collected from dogs, Viaguard said it had no way to determine whether samples were sent from non-humans. Louis Cote, a former CAPC employee, suspected that something was wrong, so he also sent his dog's DNA to the lab. The result showed that the dog was also Native American DNA that comes from any foreign cellular material can be present by either direct or indirect transfer in the process of taking swabs, the company said. We know that breathing, coughing or sneezing deposits foreign DNA on the swab. Guillaume Carle, the founder and leader of CAPC, says he has confidence in Viaguard, which has conducted hundreds of tests for the organization. I inquired about it, Carle told CBC. It's my job as the grand chief to make sure that we don't get any BS from anybody saying somebody is something and yet they're not. But independent experts say its a scam. The results are comical, given that they can't tell the difference between dog and human DNA, said Steve Carr, a geneticist at Memorial University in St. Johns. All of this is called being lied to. Several taxi medallions that formerly belonged to New York City kingpin Evgeny Freidman were auctioned for more than $24million on Thursday. The auction for the convicted felon's medallions took place on the second floor of the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel in Queens, according to the New York Daily News. The 47-year-old Russian-born businessman pleaded guilty to felony tax fraud that amounted to a whopping $5million last month. The Daily News reports that a total of 139 taxi medallions were sold during the highly-anticipated auction. Businessman Evgeny A. Freidman attends the UJA-Federation of New York's Russian Leadership Division's Charity Ball at The Bowery Hotel June 3, 2009 in New York City. An auction selling his former taxi medallions took place in Queens on Thursday The Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel in Queens is shown, where the auction took place A combination of medallions were up for grabs - including '20 for hybrid taxis and 32 for accessible taxis.' Freidman told the Daily News he was happy to part with the medallions, and believes the bidders forked out more cash than what they were worth. Freidman is seen in this 2017 photo provided by the New York State Office of the Attorney General 'I hope they enjoy them at that price. I think they overpaid for them,' Freidman said. The dubbed 'Taxi King' once operated a taxi medallion business with President Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen. Freidman agreed to cooperate with the government as part of state and federal investigations into Cohen, according to a New York Times report late last month. The agreement was part of a plea deal for Freidman. Freidman initially faced four counts of criminal tax fraud and one of grand larceny. All carry a max sentence of 25 years behind bars. Freidman, however, pleaded guilty to one count of evading $50,000 in taxes and will receive five years of probation under the agreement. International visitors may have to pay a little extra to enter New Zealand if a proposed tourism tax gets the green light. The government announced on Friday it will investigate a potential international visitor levy so they contribute to the tourism infrastructure they use and help to conserve the country's natural environment. The proposed levy would be up to $35 for per international tourist entering the country for 12 months or less, which would generate between $60-80 million in its first year. Tourists wanting to visit Auckland (pictured) could pay an extra $35 if a proposed international visitor levy is approved Proceeds would help conserve New Zealand's natural environment. Pictured is Tarupo Lake The proposal is subject to public consultation until July 15. The good news is that Australians, visitors from most Pacific island nations and permanent residents would be exempt from the levy. Children under the age of two and visitors travelling for business are also exempt. New Zealand attracts 3.8 million tourists every year, which is expected to grow to 5.1 million by 2024. The New Zealand government has welcomed feedback from the public on how levy proceeds should be spent. Pictured is Mitre Peak 'In many places, our tourism infrastructure is creaking at the seams,' tourism minister Kelvin Davis said on Friday. 'We don't believe that the financial burden should rest purely on the shoulders of New Zealanders. We do believe that visitors should pay their fair share. This levy is an important step in ensuring the growth is managed well.' The government welcomed public input on how the proceeds of the levy would be best spent. 'One outcome I am keen to explore is how this money can help places like Franz Joseph, and Tekapo where not many ratepayers live, but a lot of people go and visit,' Mr Davis said. News of a proposed international tourist levy sparked a mixed reaction on social media Tourism Industry Aotearoa Chief Executive Chris Roberts said the new visitor tax must be spent wisely. 'No final decisions have been made on the split between conservation and tourism, what sort of projects should be funded, or how the decisions should be made,' he said. 'Our international visitors will be more accepting of being charged to come to New Zealand if they can clearly see it is going to support infrastructure and services that enhance their visit. Our key priority with this new charge is ensuring the revenue is directed to where it can do the most good, relieving pressure on infrastructure and ensuring we continue to deliver outstanding visitor experiences.' If approved, the levy is expected to be implemented in mid to late 2019. The proposal sparked a mixed reaction from international tourists currently visiting New Zealand. The New Zealand government has vowed to take the tourism industry's concerns into account. Pictured is Tongariro National Park in Wellington 'If you want to come and work here you have to pay $200 for a visa, but if you come as a visitor for three months you don't have to pay,' French tourist Lucile Cardona told Stuff. But US tourist Elisabeth Steiger added: 'Fifty dollars would be the most I'd pay overall but anything above that would be a bit ridiculous, especially with how many tourists come here at the first place.' Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Jim Boult believed a bed tax was a more 'logical' concept. 'We are wearing the pain of New Zealand's largest industry tourism,' he told Stuff. 'For us to continue to present Queenstown as a beautiful place, as it is, we need more money and a bed tax is the most painless way to do it.' Australians, visitors from most other Pacific island nations and permanent residents would be exempt from the levy The news sparked a mixed reaction on social media. 'Big mistake tourists already spend money in NZ create employment and pay as they spend. A double whammy that will damage tourism to NZ & why exempt Australia?' one man tweeted. But public policy expert Dr Valentina Dinica added: 'Great decision to finally charge international tourists a conservation &levy in NZ. But funds must meaningfully help ecosystem recovery. Many large operators with mono/oligopoly in NatParks pay tiny fees but charge huge prices.' Mr Davis said he has taken the tourism industry's concerns into account. 'But we know, given the projected growth in visitors that doing nothing, is not an option,' he said. A man accused of a dozen terror charges who was set to face trial has instead pleaded guilty to two offences. Queensland man Agim Kruezi has pleaded guilty to preparing for incursion into a foreign state and preparing or planning for a terrorist act, reported Courier Mail. During a brief hearing at Brisbane Supreme Court, Kruezi had ten other charges withdrawn. Kruezi was found in possession of a firearm, machete, balaclava, military fatigues, a compound bow and arrow and a jerry can of petrol He was initially charged with stockpiling weapons for a terror attack in Australia and also attempted to recruit members for Islamic State. It was also alleged that he was preparing for incursions into Iraq and Syria and had stockpiled weapons for a terrorist attack in Australia. Kruezi was found in possession of a firearm, machete, balaclava, military fatigues, a compound bow and arrow and a jerry can of petrol. Australian Federal Police raided an Islamic bookstore in Logan where they were conducting an anti-terrorism investigation. He has been behind bars since his arrest in September 2014 alongside Omar Succarieh. Succarieh pleaded guilty to four foreign incursion offences in 2016 after he was charged for more terror-related crimes and was sentenced to a minimum of three years in prison. Agim Kruezi was accused of a dozen terror charges has pleaded guilty to two offences Sucarrieh's brother was fighting alongside terror group Jabhat al-Nursa in 2014 and Saccarieh sent him $US43,700 ($AU57,356). He believed it was his duty to his religion to involve himself in the Syrian conflict, the court heard. Details regarding the charges to which Kruezi pleaded guilty to are still to be finalised, crown prosecutor Ben power said on Friday. Kruezi is due to be sentenced in late July at a two-day hearing. A high ranking cop and state investigator who was hailed a hero for shooting a suspect in a hold-up, has been fired from the Miami-Dade State Attorney's office for making violent threats. Jose Alfonso was fired by the Miami-Dade State Attorney's office after his daughter's alleged he said he couldn't stand the sight of attorneys, and that he sometimes wanted to shoot them, according to the Miami-Herald. Alfonso, who is going through a contentious divorce, was investigated for two weeks by State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle's office, according to the Miami New Times, who first reported the story. The state attorney investigators suggested he resigned. When he refused, he was fired. Jose Alfonso (left) was fired by State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle's office, after he allegedly made threats about shooting attorneys However, Alfonso is arguing that his daughter misled investigators and took his comments out of context. 'It's all a lie. it's not true,' he told the Herald. 'I'm done with the state attorney. They're worried about their image not their investigators. My daughter lied about all this because I'm going through a divorce.' Alfonso became a hero when he was off-duty at a CVS in Perrine in October and saw a masked robber screaming and pointing a gun at employees. Jumping to action, Alfonso dischaged his weapon and struck suspect William Munoz, who then drove himself to a hospital. Alfonso was hailed a hero when he shot armed robbing suspect William Munoz (pictured) which ultimately let to his arrest Police were able to locate Munoz, 38, five days later and arrested him. He was charged with armed robbery. The Florida Police Benevolent Association called Alfonso 'a hero' for his quick thinking, and potentially life saving maneuvering. During Alfonso's state investigation he disclosed that his wife wanted a large chunk of his pension, his salary and to pay her attorney fees as well. Alfonso's daughters first became concerned with their father's behavior on May 3 when one of them allegedly received a text from him saying he wanted to resign and shoot all of the attorneys, including non state attorneys. Alfonso said the 'threat' was simply a case of auto-correct gone awry. He claimed his cellphone changed 'shut down' to 'shoot down.' During the course of the two week investigation, at one point Alfonso turned himself into a mental health facility. He was released and a doctor told the investigators on his case that he showed no sign that he would hurt himself or others. When Alfonso was encouraged to resign by the State Attorney's office back on May 16, he was told that in doing so he would have a better 'chances of getting future law-enforcement employment.' Alfonso refused and was terminated less than a month later. A 'terror plot' was foiled after a landlord evicted two tenants then allegedly found a cache of suspicious materials. Axes, knives and combat clothing were found inside the residence in Whitefield, Bury, Greater Manchester, officials said. Police arrested Hisham Mohammad, 24, and Faisal Ahmad, 23, in relation to the suspicious materials on June 4. A 'terror plot' was foiled after a landlord evicted tenants in Bury, Greater Manchester. Pictured: Police outside the home on June 4 Axes, knives and combat clothing were found inside the residence in Whitefield, Bury, Greater Manchester, officials said When going through the home, police said they found axes, knives, bear-claws and extremist material supporting the Islamic State on electronic devices. Police also allegedly found balaclavas, combat gear and camouflage makeup. Mohammad was charged with preparing for acts of terrorism in the UK, as it's believed he was planning on targeting police and military buildings or events. Ahmad allegedly knew about the planned attack and was charged with failing to alert officials about the terrorist plans. Anti-terror police charged Hisham Mohammad, 24, and Faisal Ahmad, 23, in relation to the suspicious materials Both appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday and were remanded in custody. They were ordered to appear at the Old Bailey on June 29. Speaking of the time police raided the home, neighbour Tracey Donnelly, 55, said: 'It is scary. You don't expect it to be on your front doorstep. 'The bomb squad is here, streets have been shut off and people have been evacuated.' Dodgy businessmen are making didgeridoos in Bali and selling them as 'Australian made' products. The shocking scam has angered the Aboriginal community who say 'it's not their cultural resources to sell'. In a promo clip ahead of 60 Minutes program on Sunday Night, a Indonesian man can be heard telling a reporter they put 'made in Australia stickers' on didgeridoos. Scroll down for video Unfortunately the market for fake Aboriginal art has grown in recent years (fake product right) The shocking scam has angered the Aboriginal community who say 'it's not their cultural resources to sell' 'We put sticker-made in Australia. Customers don't know they are made in Bali,' the man says. Didgeridoos are just one of a number of fake Aboriginal artefacts businessmen are selling. 'It's not their cultural resources to sell,' and Aboriginal woman told 60 Minutes. 'This is hard work, preparation, carving them out.' 'We'd like to see them stopped.' Unfortunately the market for fake Aboriginal art has grown in recent years. 'These commercially-produced goods mostly aimed at the tourist market are often made from non-traditional materials and feature inauthentic and culturally inappropriate designs. They range from bamboo didgeridoos to key rings to paintings,' the Indigenous Art Code states on their website. Dodgy businessmen (left) are making didgeridoos in Bali and selling them as 'Australian made' products Artist Banduk Marika, Yolngu does not want to see her culture exploited. 'The ecosystem, the environment we live in is full of natural resources. Our art is our resource, it belongs to us, we use it in a ceremonial context; it is a resource for our survival. If control of that resource is taken away from us, we cannot meet our cultural obligations; we cannot use it for our families' benefit. Exploiting our resource needs to be negotiated on our terms, we need to have control of how that's done,' she said. Melbourne is haunted by shocking deaths of young women walking at night - so much so that the city's own female mayor has admitted feeling unsafe. There has been a huge outpouring of emotion following the killing of talented comedian Eurydice Dixon, 22, as she headed home from a bar on Tuesday night. The alleged circumstances of her death - raped and brutally murdered while walking home through the city's Princes Park - have sparked massive public concern. Even the city's newly elected Lord Mayor Sally Capp confirmed on Friday that she did not feel safe walking around at 'all hours of the night'. 'No (I don't),' Ms Capp said. 'I think the practical outcome of that is no. And it's going to be difficult to achieve that, really.' 'Hoping that people use those (safe areas to walk, cycle and drive) is important, but at the end of the day we should all be able to move around our safely.' Eurydice Dixon, 22, texted her boyfriend to say 'I'm almost home safe' moments before she was killed in Melbourne's Princes Park on Tuesday night, police alleged Ms Dixon left Highlander Bar in Melbourne's central business district with her boyfriend of four months Tony Magnuson Ms Dixon blew a kiss to her boyfriend and began the short journey home - but never made it all the way Jill Meagher (left), 29, was abducted and killed walking home from the pub in 2012, while Masa Vukotic (right) was stabbed to death in the park in 2015 The details of Ms Dixon's final moments, as alleged by police, echo the horrifying evening killings of ABC worker Jill Meagher and school student Masa Vukotic in 2012 and 2015. Like them, Ms Dixon was walking the streets at night when police allege she was savagely attacked by a total stranger. She had only just said goodbye to her boyfriend and had even messaged her friend saying 'I'm almost home safe' before she was allegedly set upon. Ms Meagher, 29, was walking home from the pub about 1.30am on September 22, 2012, when she was cornered by violent criminal Adrian Ernest Bayley. Her body was found six days later, about 50km to the north of Melbourne, and the community's grief was palpable. Thousands marched the streets to 'reclaim the night' - including the then-Victorian premier Denis Napthine. 'I won't close with fear, I'll open up with love,' a popular sign said. Three years later, on March 17, 2015, Masa Vukotic, 17, was savagely stabbed to death by Sean Christian Price. The circumstances were a little different. Ms Vukotic, an aspiring lawyer, was taking an evening walk around the park near her home in Doncaster, in the city's north, when deranged killer Price came after her, stabbing her 49 times. He was on bail at the time. Eventually, both Bayley and Price were sentenced to jail terms of more than 30 years. Jill Meagher's tragic last moments were captured by shopfront closed circuit TV cameras A mountain of flowers formed out the front of the store where Jill Meagher was last seen alive Thousands packed the street (above) for a 'peace march' to mark the anniversary of Jill Meagher's murder Ms Vukotic's death led Victoria Police's then homicide boss to suggest 'people, particularly females... shouldn't be alone in parks'. This week, that message was echoed by Local Superintendent David Clayton on Thursday when he advised: 'Make sure you have situational awareness, that you're aware of your surroundings.' The police statement sparked a social media furore, with a short, outraged post by feminist Jane Gilmore deluging social media feeds. 'Women, if you want to be safe, stay at home,' Ms Gilmore wrote. 'Except that you are more likely to be killed at home by someone who claims they love you, so don't stay at home ... 'Public transport is dangerous, but so are taxis and walking and driving on your own and did I mention that staying at home is really risky, so don't do any of those things OK? 'Men, just carry on as you were, this is not your problem OK?' Well-known in the inner city Melbourne arts community, Ms Dixon (pictured, right) performed to capacity crowds at the Melbourne Comedy Festival in March and April Ms Dixon left Highlander Bar at 10.30pm and her body was found four hours later at Princes Park 'We're so sorry that this world failed you, Eurydice': A floral tribute left at Princes Park Police patrol the area near where Ms Dixon's body was discovered more than 48 hours earlier In a statement, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews distanced himself from the police safety message controversy. 'Our message to Victorian women is this. Stay home. Or don't,' Mr Andrews wrote on Facebook. 'Go out with friends at night. Or don't. 'Go about your day exactly as you intend, on your terms.' 'Because women don't need to change their behaviour. 'Men do.' A vigil will be held for Ms Dixon at the park where she died on Monday. Three people have been arrested over a plot to smuggle 300kg of South American cocaine into Australia via PNG and Singapore. Two men and a woman were arrested by the joint organised crime task force of Queensland, following raids yesterday in Woodridge, Airlie Beach and Sydney. The two men, aged 57 and 63, were arrested in Sydney and are expected to be charged with conspiracy to import cocaine in Australia. Queensland woman charged in connection to a cocaine haul worth $105 million The South American drug was meant to reach Australia via PNG and Singapore Last year, Australian Federal Police's Operation Harmanecka last year after identified an Australian and Papua New Guinean syndicate suspected of planning to import cocaine from Peru. The investigation also revealed that a sea container was aboard a cargo ship headed from Peru to Singapore and later forwarded to PNG, where it's alleged the syndicate was expecting to collect 300 kg of cocaine. The drugs were then to be smuggled into Australia on a boat via the Torres Strait. The drugs were then to be smuggled into Australia on a boat via the Torres Strait (AFP) Authorities seized 1.2 tonnes of cocaine and thwarted a planned second attempt Another attempt was to follow but authorities were quick to bust the syndicates Peruvian arm and seize 1.2 tonnes of cocaine. The Australian Federal police will allege that a Peruvian businessman conspired with syndicate members based in Australia and PNG. AFP Acting Assistant Commissioner Bruce Hill, National Manager Organised Crime, said, 'We will be relentless in our pursuit of transnational organised crime. This result is a clear example of what the combined powers of all of our agencies can achieve.' There are additional arrests expected as the investigation continues. Authorities were quick to bust the syndicates Peruvian arm and seize 1.2 tonnes of cocaine (AFP) AFP allege a Peruvian businessman conspired with syndicate members in Australia and PNG. This is the incredible moment a huge gorilla at Miami Zoo communicates in sign language and then coyly breaks the rules, but not before making sure his trainer isn't looking. Footage captured by a tourist shows the gorilla signing to crowds that he's not allowed to be fed. Despite it being against the rules, one visitor then throws an orange at the cheeky gorilla. He then slyly catches it and looks around to see if his trainer is looking before taking a bite. The video was taken in 2013 but has recently resurfaced online and racked up praise on social media. An array of comments online with praise the mammal's vivacity. 'I love how casually he catches it, and turns his head to see if the zookeeper noticed' one said. 'The way he caught it was so epic' said another. Teaching sign language to gorillas is a known practice in the US, with the most famous case being Koko the gorilla at San Francisco Zoo. Her trainer Francine Patterson is believed to have taught her more than 1000 words. The gorilla grabs a cheeky bite of the orange when he thinks his trainer isn't looking The Miami Zoo gorilla communicates in sign language and then coyly breaks the rules - and eats an orange when his trainer isn't looking Footage captured by a tourist shows the gorilla signing to crowds that he's not allowed to be fed Shocking footage has emerged for the first time from a deadly 2016 crash that shows a plane smashing into a hangar on takeoff. The clip shows the small plane taking off and beginning to turn to launch. But as it begins its ascent it swiftly hits a hangar and bursts into flames. The engine is separated from the plane and went through the hangar, punching a hole into the wall. The footage later shows the open hole with black smoke billowing out of it. The pilot of the plane, 70-year-old Rex L. Grimsley, was killed at Bentonville Municipal Airport in Arkansas, when it crashed. He wasn't carrying any passengers. Brandon Nolker, an aircraft maintenance technician told the North West Arkansas Democrat Gazette at the time 'I was standing right beside him 10 minutes before the crash. 'He came into the hangar to talk about getting some maintenance done on his aircraft. There was nothing wrong with it, it just needed some scheduled maintenance.' 'A guy I work with yelled,"Look out!" and then we heard the crash and saw the smoke. 'We went outside and could see he hit the hangar just above the door and the hole in the side where the engine went through.' Shocking footage has emerged from a deadly 2016 plane crash that shows a plane smashing into a hangar on takeoff Buckingham Palace were clearly leaving nothing to chance on yesterday's royal 'away day' to Cheshire. As well as Meghan, Duchess of Sussex having her own assistant private secretary, Amy Pickerill, the Queen had brought along three of her most senior members of staff to guide her new granddaughter-in-law. They included her private secretary Eddie Young - the most senior member of staff in her office - and her new assistant private secretary, 7ft 2in tall genial Northern Irishman Matthew Magee. Among the senior staff members behind the royals in Chester yesterday were 1: Amy Pickerill, Meghan's assistant private secretary; 2: Matthew Magee, the Queen's assistant private secretary; 3: Samathan Cohen, the Queen's outgoing private secretary; 4. The Honourable Mary Morrison, the Queen's lady-in-waiting; and 5. Eddie Young, the Queen's private secretary The Queen brought along three of her most senior members of staff to guide her new granddaughter-in-law through the day's events in Cheshire Also present was her outgoing assistant private secretary Samantha Cohen, a formidable Australian who is soon going to work for Meghan and her husband Prince Harry for six months. Indeed it was Mrs Cohen - who reluctantly handed her notice in last year amid a staffing battle between royal households - who notably chaperoned a clearly hesitant Meghan on their joint walkabout. It was the hugely experienced mother-of-three directing her where to go and when to accept gifts and flowers, demonstrating what a valuable asset she will be in the early months of the new royal's married life. Popular Mrs Cohen has also served as the Queen's press secretary and had been tipped for the top job until her unexpected resignation. Pictured behind Meghan is Amy Pickerill (wearing red), her assistant private secretary Samantha Cohen (far left), who is soon going to work for Harry and Meghan for six months, was behind the royals along with the Queen's private secretary Eddie Young (far right) She was persuaded to stay on by the Queen to organise April's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and is now working in a bridging role between Buckingham and Kensington Palaces. She will work for the newlyweds after the imminent departure of Harry's long-standing private secretary, Ed Lane Fox, until early next year, while a long-term replacement is sought. Private secretaries are the linchpin of any member of the royal family's office, organising their diaries, working schedules and public engagements. Also on the Queen's team was her equerry and her lady in waiting The Hon Mary Morrison. Theresa May is braced for a titanic Commons battle over Brexit after furious Tory rebels warned that giving MPs control is the only way to avoid an 'apocalyptic' no-deal. The Prime Minister incurred the wrath of pro-EU Conservatives last night after they claimed she U-turned on private pledges about Parliament having a 'meaningful vote' on the outcome of talks with Brussels. Rebel ringleader Dominic Grieve said they were now ready to force the issue to a potentially explosive division in the House next week - with Mrs May's whole Brexit strategy on the line. Government sources admitted the vote on the flagship EU Withdrawal Bill next Wednesday will be 'incredibly tight'. Ahead of the battle returning to the Lords on Monday, Brexit Secretary David Davis wrote to peers urging them to back down and give up on their amendments. Rebel ringleader Dominic Grieve (pictured on the BBC's Question Time last night) said they were now ready to force the issue to a potentially explosive division in the House next week Mrs May (pictured in Downing Street this week) is braced for a titanic Commons battle over her Brexit strategy The collision course was set after an extraordinary 48 hours of wrangling, which saw ministers and rebels seemingly compromise, before finally ending in acrimony. Davis pleads with peers to end Brexit Bill war David Davis today wrote to peers pleading with them to end a war over the Brexit Bill. Flagship legislation paving the way for Brexit will be back in the Lords on Monday night. It is the latest stage of 'ping pong' as MPs and Peers vie to confirm the final disputes in the crucial laws. Ahead of the peers debate, Mr Davis said in a letter: 'Where the Commons has backed the Government, I hope that noble Lords will let it have its way.' Advertisement Mrs May initially headed off the rebellion over the EU Withdrawal Bill on Tuesday after promising talks with Tory rebels over their demands for a 'meaningful vote' on the Brexit process. Ministers last night tabled compromise proposals that would give MPs a vote even if talks with Brussels collapse and there is no deal to consider. But rebel MPs reacted angrily after the Prime Minister vetoed their demand to be able to 'direct' the Government to go back to Brussels or delay Brexit if there is no deal. Mr Grieve only learned of the volte face by Mrs May after he boarded the train to Wales for an appearance on the BBC's Question Time. He told the programme his amendment to the Bill was essential to avoid an 'apocalyptic moment' where no Brexit deal had been done by February next year, and Parliament was unable to prevent Britain crashing out of the EU. Ahead of the battle returning to the Lords on Monday, Brexit Secretary David Davis wrote to peers (pictured) urging them to back down and give up on their amendments On the meaningful vote row, the Brexit Secretary told peers the new amendment reflected talks with rebels in the Commons What happens next in battle over Brexit Bill? The government has tabled what it regards as a 'compromise' amendment in the Lords on giving Parliament a 'meaningful vote'. It would commit ministers to tabling a motion and holding a vote if talks with the EU fail. However, the division will be on a 'neutral' wording - so the House will not give a collective view. Peers are expected to reject the plan on Monday. In its place they are set to impose plans drafted by rebel ringleader Dominic Grieve, attempting to put Parliament, rather than ministers, in the driving seat for the final stage of the Brexit talks. The legislation will then return to the Commons on Wednesday, where MPs will hold a crunch vote. Advertisement Mr Grieve said he would listen to the Government's arguments but would tell ministers 'I can't understand what's got into you' after the 'last minute' change. 'I don't understand this final twitch at the end of this negotiation,' he said. Asked if he had been tricked by Mrs May, he said: 'No, I don't think the Prime Minister was tricking us. I'm afraid that, when it came to the end, she wasn't - for some reason - in a position to deliver to us.' Another Tory rebel, Stephen Hammond, suggested the PM had been 'hijacked' by hard line Brexiteers. 'I'm sure and I'm convinced the Prime Minister intends to honour her word,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 'What I think has happened is some people in the Government may have got involved in the process late in the day, people who weren't at that meeting, people who hadn't been involved earlier in the negotiations and who may unfortunately have hijacked the process.' The House of Lords will consider the Government's amendment on Monday, when they are expected to reject it. The text of the Government motion requires ministers only to provide a 'neutral motion' on the Brexit deal - meaning the Rebels would not be able to amend it to make their own demands for negotiations The rules set by the Government motion would require a statement by a minister on the negotiations within two weeks of a vote on January 21, 2019, if there is no deal Journalist Isabel Oakeshott launched a searing attack on Dominic Grieve during the programme last night Mr Grieve was appearing on the BBC's Question Time programme in Wales last night Ahead of the peers debate, Mr Davis said in a letter: 'Where the Commons has backed the Government, I hope that noble Lords will let it have its way.' On the meaningful vote row, the Brexit Secretary said: 'Our new amendment reflects these discussions and ensure that in the unlikely event Parliament rejects the final deal or no agreement in principle can be reached... the Government must make a statement to Parliament and that statement must be followed by a vote in both the Commons and the Lords.' What is the row over a meaningful vote on Brexit about? Tory rebels have been fighting to force Theresa May to agree to give Parliament a meaningful vote on the Brexit deal. The government has already committed that there will be a vote on the terms reached with Brussels. But Tory rebels want her to go further . They say that if the PM does not get a Brexit deal by November she must take a motion setting out her strategy to parliament - and this will be voted on by MPs. If she has still not reached a deal by next February next year then Parliament should be able to give her orders on what to negotiate. And if the PM does not get a deal, they want MPs to vote on it. Facing the prospect of a humiliating defeat in the Commons earlier this week, the PM thrashed out a verbal compromise with the backbenchers. But her compromise amendment has failed to win the support of the rebels. The PM has set the three red lines she says the compromise cannot cross. These are: 1. Not overturn the referendum 2. Undermine the negotiations 3. Not change the convention which gives the Government the power to negotiate Advertisement In its place they are set to impose plans drafted by rebel ringleader Dominic Grieve which attempts to put Parliament, rather than the Government, in the driving seat for the final stage of the Brexit talks. It will then return to the Commons on Wednesday, with government sources saying Mr Grieve's demands were 'unacceptable' and they would 'call the bluff'. Last night, a YouGov poll for The Times found voters were opposed to the idea of allowing Parliament to block Brexit by a margin of 49 per cent to 32. Mrs May's intervention last week saw the Government throw out the Lords' demands on a meaningful vote by 324 votes to 298. Ahead of the vote, the Prime Minister held talks with at least 13 Tory rebels in a bid to head off defeat. In the end only two voted against the Government former ministers Ken Clarke and Anna Soubry. The Government's compromise amendment would give MPs a vote in the event of there being no deal by January 21 next year. But the vote would be on a 'neutral motion', which would allow MPs to debate and take note of the fact. Last night Miss Soubry said the rebels had been betrayed and many more would vote against the Government next week. A benefits cheat who hid 170,000 took her family on a dream trip to Disneyland while claiming to be on the breadline. Christine Angell swindled 50,000 in benefits while she had her family inheritance stashed away. The 61-year-old from Cardiff took her family on the 15,000 trip to California and another holiday to Orlando, Florida, prosecutor Jeffrey Jones revealed in court. 'The money was inherited from her brother and partner,' he said. 'Her benefits were paid on the basis that she would inform the authorities of any changes in her circumstances.' The 61-year-old (pictured on the steps of Cardiff Crown Court) initially denied wrongdoing but later admitted three counts of benefit fraud She wrongly claimed 47,315.97 in housing benefit as well as employment and support allowance over five-and-a-half years. When the Department for Work and Pensions found she was not declaring large sums of money, Angell said she didn't think she was obliged to declare 'gifts'. She had five bank accounts with NatWest and received nearly 40,000 in April 2012 - followed by another 20,000 and 15,000 a month later. A deposit of 50,000 was made to her account followed by another 47,000 in December 2013. Christine Angell (pictured outside Cardiff Crown Court) said she didn't think she had to declare the money after hiding 170,000 Angell also received monthly payments ranging from 1,000 to 3,750 from her brother's assets in Switzerland. When she was interviewed in June 2017, Angell denied any wrongdoing despite admitting that she accepted the money after her brother died in 2008 and her partner in 2011. But she later admitted three counts of benefit fraud and Cardiff Crown Court heard 'she felt obliged' to honour her partner's wish that the money be spent on the family and complied. Mr Jones said there was not point trying to get the money back through confiscation proceedings because the funds had 'depleted'. An application was made for 340 towards prosecution costs. Judge Michael Fitton QC adjourned for sentence in July. President Donald Trumps embattled attorney is trying to silence porn actress Stormy Daniels's lawyer with a gag order. But Michael Avenatti, who is representing the porn star, has hit back, slamming the legal move as 'a complete joke and baseless'. In a court filing in Los Angeles, Brent Blakely, an attorney for Michael Cohen the presidents personal lawyer has asked a judge to stop Michael Avenatti from talking about Cohen to the press and via Twitter. Michael Avenatti, lawyer of adult-film actress Stormy Daniels, speaks to members of the media outside federal court in New York, U.S., on Wednesday, May 30 Michael Cohen, personal lawyer to US President Donald Trump, arriving at federal court in New York in late May. His attorney has sought to gag Michael Avenatti Michael Avenatti is the lawyer for porn star Stormy Daniels, pictured above He argued that Avenatti, who is representing Daniels, has been tainting the case with a 'publicity tour' that has included making 121 television appearances over the past three months, and tweeting 439 times about him or the case since the porn star filed her lawsuit in March. Cohens attorney said Daniels's lawyer was 'mainly driven by his seemingly unquenchable thirst for publicity'. Blakely demanded a restraining order against Avenatti last night. Tweeting his response to the latest legal move, Michael Avenatti hits back at Michael Cohen Brent Blakely, an attorney for Michael Cohen the presidents personal lawyer has asked a judge to stop Michael Avenatti from talking about him to the press and via Twitter But Avenatti refused to be muted, hitting back via Twitter to his 539,000 followers: We just learned that Mr Cohen and his atty [attorney], Brent Blakely, are going to file a motion seeing to have the court issue a gag order preventing me and others from providing info and docs to the media and the public. They want it all hidden. Is this OK? He later tweeted: 'The motion for a gag order is a complete joke and baseless. Mr Cohen and Brent Blakely cant deal with the truth, the facts, and the law, so they have to resort to unethical, meritless motions. This must be their birthday present to Mr Trump. President Donald Trump's personal attorney wants a federal judge to stop the lawyer for porn actress Stormy Daniels from speaking to reporters. An attorney for Michael Cohen filed court papers Thursday night, June 14, alleging Daniels' lawyer Michael Avenatti is tainting the case Blakely argued in court documents that Avenattis behaviour, including almost daily tweets about Cohen, was unethical, threatened his clients ability to have a fair trial and was turning the case into a 'media circus'. He wants a judge to sign a restraining order that would prohibit Avenatti from speaking to reporters or publicly releasing details about the case, adding that the 'malicious attacks on Mr Cohen must be stopped in its tracks'. However Avenatti told Associated Press: 'The only unethical lawyers in this case are Mr Cohen and his lawyer Mr Blakely. 'They want to hide the truth from the American people because Mr Cohen and Mr Blakely believe that conspiracy and cover-up are acceptable. They want the cover-up to continue.' Publicity tour rapped Late last month, a judge overseeing the case rapped Avenatti for his non-stop publicity tour. His decision came hours after a contentious court hearing, where Judge Kimba Wood suggested he wouldn't be able to keep up his wall-to-wall TV appearances should a criminal case against Donald Trump lawyer Michael Cohen lead to charges or trial. 'I say publicity tour not in a derogatory sense,' the judge told him. 'You're entitled to publicity. I can't stop you, unless you're participating in a matter before me.' Cohen's lawyer, Stephen Ryan, opposed Avenatti's effort to be able to represent his client in court. Ryan said Avenatti had done 170 TV appearances, and accused Avenatti of leaking derogatory financial information about Cohen that gets maintained by law enforcement and banks. Avenatti denied having chosen his role on TV over the courtroom. 'Were not going to stop and were not going to change our approach, period,' he said. As soon as he left the courtroom, Avenatti brandished his knack for PR, demanding that Michael Cohen immediately release the 'Trump tapes' that he says will show the president 'conspiring' with his longtime personal attorney. Advertisement Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has said she had sex with Trump in 2006 when he was married. He has denied it. The porn star is suing Trump and Cohen and is seeking to invalidate a non-disclosure agreement she signed days before the 2016 presidential election. She argues the agreement should be nullified because Cohen signed it, but the president did not. Cohen had sought to delay the legal fight after his home and office were raided by the FBI in April. Agents were seeking records about the non-disclosure agreement, among other items. A federal judge agreed in April to delay the case for 90 days after Cohen argued that the criminal investigation overlapped with issues in the lawsuit and his right against self-incrimination would be adversely affected because he would not be able to respond and defend himself. But Avenatti has asked the court to reconsider the delay, force Trump to answer questions under oath and allow him to obtain documents in the lawsuit. The presidents lawyers said they would oppose that request and a hearing is set for later this month. Avenatti recently tweeted that his client, should be celebrated for her courage, strength and intelligence. 'She is one of the most credible people I have ever met regardless of gender. Eight skulls believed to belong to a family murdered by their Nazi father have been found at a cemetery in Poland. The shocking discovery was made by a group of conservationists who were repairing a headstone when they came across multiple bodies in one grave. An 81-year-old woman from the village claims to know how they got there. The remains, including eight skulls, were discovered by conservationists in a village in Poland A woman in the area said they belonged to a German family whose Nazi father murdered them after World War II The shocking discovery was made at an an old evangelical cemetery Why Nazi Germans turned to suicide at the end of WWII With the fall of Nazi Germany during World War II came thousands of reported suicides, or 'selbstmord', from civilians who could not stomach defeat. Many took their own lives instead of living under occupation in areas liberated by Western forces. Others feared torture or mistreatment from invading Russians. The Soviet Union's Red Army advanced through occupied Poland in January 1945 in their final offensive on the Eastern Front an indication Germany's defeat was imminent. Military leaders began killing themselves to avoid capture. Suicide was also encouraged by Nazi rulers. At one of the Berlin Philharmonics final performances, members of the Hitler Youth handed out cyanide capsules to members of the audience. In April 1945 in Demmin, north of Berlin, an estimated 1,000 townspeople killed themselves within just 72 hours after news of Adolf Hitler's death. As American troops reached Leipzig, mayor Ernst Kurt Lisso poisoned himself, his wife and his daughter in widespread suicides across the city. There were over 7,000 reported suicides in Berlin alone in 1945, but believed to have been many more undocumented. Germans faced harsh treatment under new Soviet rule in any territories they attempted to remain after the war, including parts of Poland. Advertisement The remains were discovered in April along with a large pair of shoes believed to be a German soldier's, according to specialists. Urszula Sagan remembers a German family of teachers with five children whose father was a Nazi. She said they were harassed by locals after the war after many Germans stayed in the area despite being given orders to leave Soviet-ruled Poland. Urszula Sagan claims the skulls belonged to a family of teachers with five children Bodies were found with a large pair of shoes that specialists say are a German soldier's It was in 1947, Urszula claims, when a man named Gustav Gleesne dressed his family in Sunday suits and killed them all then himself. Life wasn't easy for them in the village, she said. 'He was scared and preferred to kill the whole family and put an end to it,' the OAP added. Urszula Sagan recalled a grisly incident in 1947 where a man killed his family then himself When locals found out, they put the bodies on a trolley and transported and threw them onto a local pastor's grave. Conservationists were trying to secure the broken gravestone of evangelical pastor Friedrich August Fuchs who died in 1856 when they made the find. As of yet there is no official confirmation of Urszula's theory. This is the millionaire British expat who was shot dead outside his 300-acre French estate having dedicated his life to turning it into a dream home. David Daniels, 72, was allegedly shot dead by elderly French farmer Jean Moreau after a feud over the appearance of his farm on the estate outside the village of Edon, in Charente, Western France. Mr Daniels, a businessman who made his fortune selling kitchenware to top restaurants around the world, bought the property in 1997 but moved there full time in 2015. He joined the village heritage association, attended a meeting about increasing tourist visits and was said to be enthusiastic about creating a 'postcard' view from his window. But the farm where Mr Moreau had lived for 51 years would not be appearing on any postcards. David Daniels (pictured) wanted his 300-acre estate in France to look like a 'postcard' - but was allegedly killed after a feud with a neighbour Mr Daniels, 72, died of his injuries in his car as his wife Gay, 77, drove him to the nearest doctor after he was shot at his home near the small village of Edon in south west France. Pictured: Mr Daniels' home David Daniels, 72, was allegedly shot dead by elderly French farmer Jean Moreau after a feud over the appearance of his farm on the estate outside the village of Edon, Western France It was littered with old tractor tyres, cattle feed and the detritus of agriculture, according to neighbours. Mr Daniels had argued with Mr Moreau and this allegedly came to a head when the farmer shot him dead outside his estate this week. Mr Daniels died of his injuries in his car as his wife drove him to the nearest doctor. The former executive's tenant, named locally as Pascal Moreau, 48, and his father Jean, 84, had both been helping police with their inquiries after a murder investigation was opened earlier this week. After hearings with magistrates yesterday Jean Moreau was charged with 'murder committed with premeditation or ambush' and was remanded in custody. His son was released last night and has not been charged over the shooting. French newspaper Charente Libre printed a photo yesterday purporting to show Mr Daniels. This morning, it emerged that Mr Daniels had been involved in a land row with his neighbours and had become increasingly frustrated with them since moving there permanently three years ago. The Moreau family are believed to have been tenants on the farm for 51 years and used the land for cattle farming and growing crops, reports Adam Sage for The Times. But Mr Daniels, who originally bought the property as a second home in 1997, is said to have been dissatisfied by the view from his house. According to The Times, the brother and son of the tenants, Roland Moreau, said Mr Daniels had wanted a 'picture postcard' scene - but was instead confronted with 'an ordinary farm and he didn't like that'. He added that Mr Daniels wanted the area 'tidied up' and did not want cattle on the farm. Mr Moreau also claimed that the former executive wanted Pascal and Jean 'out'. A feud then broke out between the two parties, but Mr Moreau suggested there 'could have been other conflicts with other people too' - apparently casting doubts that the row involving his relatives had led to Mr Daniels' death. David Daniels' house in Edon, where he was shot - allegedly by a tenant over a land row Locals in Edon, in the Charente region of West France, had earlier said the men had been involved in a long-running dispute over the upkeep of land Mr Daniels, an American who took British citizenship, and his wife, were registered to a home in central London from 1999 to 2013, The Times reports, adding that the house was sold for 3.4million in 2014. Locals in Edon had earlier revealed the men had been involved in a long-running dispute over the upkeep of land. The Daniels own a large area of farmland, with a forest, cows and crops. Mr Daniels, who locals said had made his money selling industrial kitchen equipment to restaurants, had been taking out the rubbish when he was shot. The gunman was hiding in a tree opposite the farmhouse gates, waiting for Mr Daniels to bring out the bin bag. There is CCTV outside the house, meaning the attack may have been caught on camera. Pascal described by locals as a keen hunter lives with his father in a farmhouse next to the Daniels' home. Local mayor Patrice Petit said Mr Daniels, a classic car enthusiast, was well-known and well-liked for his 'kindness, open mindedness and love of heritage'. His death was a 'big loss to the village', Mr Petit added. 'He was a man I knew very well, a man much appreciated in the commune where he had lived for a long time.' Villagers in Edon, which is home to just 270 people and in an area of France popular with British expats, have spoken of their shock after the murder. Marie Lacellerie, owner of Au Petit Creux, a restaurant in Edon told The Local: 'It's a tragedy. He'd been here a long time and was known by everyone. He was a straightforward, good guy.' Hidden: The spot where the gunman lay in wait for British farmer David Daniels in Edon Mr Daniels had competed in the Circuit des Remparts vintage race in nearby Angouleme, and was driving in Pau in the Pyrenees at the weekend before he was shot on Tuesday afternoon. Police said the dispute related to the lease of the land with both having a 'different vision of what was to become of the farm'. According to The Local, a hunting rifle was confiscated by police at Pascal and Jean Moreau's property. More than 20 gendarmes are involved in the investigation. Jean-David Cavaille, state prosecutor, said the investigation had been opened as an 'assassination, a murder with premeditation' pending further inquiries, including the results of a post-mortem examination. Mr Daniels was pronounced dead in Dignac, where his wife had driven him, reports said. A UK Government spokesman said: 'Our staff are assisting the family of a British man following his death in France, and are in contact with the gendarmerie.' This is the moment terrified holidaymakers flee the sea as an eight-foot blue shark prowls the shoreline in Spain. A red flag was hoisted by local authorities at the popular Arenal d'en Castell beach in Menorca yesterday, after the eight-foot shark appeared in the water menacingly. It stayed in the area for several hours before disappearing, with swimmers banned from entering the water for the entire afternoon. Scroll down for video This is the moment holidaymakers on the island of Menorca in Spain watch on as a shark swims past them just a few feet from the shoreline. A red flag was hoisted by local authorities at the popular Arenal d'en Castell beach in Menorca yesterday, after the eight-foot shark appeared in the water menacingly One tourist could be heard saying in English as the shark appeared in the surf: 'It's coming. Oh my God, I think it's dead.' A woman, believed to be a relative, replied 'No, it's not dead' as other tourists were overheard screaming in the background before she added: 'Every time we go to the beach something happens.' Several tourists standing on the shoreline as the drama unfolded got their phones out and recorded the scene in front of them. Francesa Ametller, mayor of Es Mercedes which covers the area where the shark was spotted, said the animal did not appear aggressive and said the decision to ban people from going into the sea was taken as a precaution. It stayed in the area for several hours before disappearing, with swimmers banned from entering the water for the entire afternoon. One tourist could be heard saying in English as the shark appeared in the surf: 'It's coming. Oh my God, I think it's dead' Arenal d'en Castell, on Menorca's northern coast, and half an hour from the island capital Mahon, is popular with British holidaymakers. It has a horseshoe-shaped bay which made it difficult for the shark to leave the resort, the largest holiday resort along with its nearest neighbour Son Parc on the north east coast. There have been several blue shark scares in Spain in recent years. Arenal d'en Castell, on Menorca's northern coast, and half an hour from the island capital Mahon, is popular with British holidaymakers Red flags were hoisted along several miles of coastline in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol after one was spotted in May. Last year bathers fled the sea in Cala Major near the Majorcan capital Palma. Extraordinary pictures showed terrified holidaymakers running out of the water on June 24 as a blue shark described at the time as eight foot long headed towards families with children on lilos. Three beaches ended up being closed briefly over two days although no-one was hurt. A woman, believed to be a relative, replied 'No, it's not dead' as other tourists were overheard screaming in the background before she added: 'Every time we go to the beach something happens' The shark thought to be at the centre of the scare ended up being caught and taken to shore. Local reports at the time said it had a serious head injury, caused by a harpoon, believed to have led it to becoming disorientated and approaching packed holiday beaches instead of staying at high sea as is normal. The same type of shark was blamed for an attack on a holidaymaker in Elche near Alicante in July 2016. The same type of shark was blamed for an attack on a holidaymaker in Elche near Alicante in July 2016 The 40-year-old victim was rushed to hospital and given stitches to a wound in his hand. First aiders described the bite as 'large' and said he had come out of the sea with blood streaming from the injury. The Catholic Church has says it will refuse report confessions of child sex abuse despite a law that requires priests to do so, defending the practice as 'sacred.' The South Australian Catholic Church will not adhere to a change in law requiring priests to report confessions of child sex abuse, the Acting Archbishop of Adelaide says. Under the new law, set to take effect in October, priests who hear confessions about child abuse will have a legal obligation to report the matter to police. South Australian Catholic Church will refuse to report child abuse confessions says Acting Archbishop of Adelaide Greg O'Kelly (pictured) 'Politicians can change the law, but we can't change the nature of the confessional, which is a sacred encounter between a penitent and someone seeking forgiveness and a priest representing Christ,' Bishop Greg O'Kelly told ABC Radio Adelaide on Friday. 'It doesn't affect us. 'We have an understanding of the seal of confession that is in the area of the sacred.' Canon (Church) law lays down that 'it is absolutely forbidden for a confessor to betray in any way a penitent in words or in any manner and for any reason'. The penalty for violating the seal of confessional is excommunication, as every priest knows. The law also stipulates that anyone else who happens to hear or overhear someone confessing sacramentally is also obliged to observe the seal. Not reporting abuse will carry a maximum $10,000 fine, and brings expectations of priests in line with those of social workers, teachers, medical professionals and others in positions of authority. The new law will mean not reporting abuse will carry a maximum $10,000 An Attorney-General's Department spokesperson said authorities intend to follow up instances where the law has been broken, and prosecution may result. 'Where there is clear evidence to indicate a minister of religion... has failed to abide by their mandatory reporting requirements, the matter would need to be investigated by authorities, with further action - including prosecution - taken as appropriate,' a statement read. The law forms part of the South Australian government's response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse, released by Attorney-General Vickie Chapman on Tuesday. Bishop O'Kelly said the church had not been made aware of the change, which was legislated last year, until Thursday. A grieving daughter has blamed 'stealth tax' hospital parking charges for her father's death. Father-of-two Brian Akers, 57, died hours after leaving Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, Essex, because he did not have any change for a ticket machine. He was trying to visit the A&E when he was suffering with chronic chest pains, but worried he would be fined, he drove the 30 miles to a GP. A doctor put the condition down to an infection, rather than a fatal blood clot, and just hours later he was found slumped in his bed by his wife. Father-of-two Brian Akers, 57, (centre) pictured with his daughter Kerry and son Phillip, died hours after leaving hospital because he did not have any change for a ticket machine Mr Akers, of South Woodham Ferrers, Essex, had died from a massive aneurysm on the same day he went to hospital on November 20, 2012. Kerry Akers, 32, told the Daily Express: 'I truly believe hospital parking charges killed my father. 'If he had gone to A&E he would have seen a specialist who wouldn't have dismissed it as an infection. 'Who knows who else this has happened to?' Mr Akers with his son Phillip (right) and Ms Akers on holiday with her brother She has now backed Tory MP Robert Halfon's campaign to axe the 'stealth tax on the sick' the Daily Express reports. He launched a petition after nationwide outcry over parking charges at hosptials in England. Ms Akers, an Oxfam humanitarian worker from Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, said: 'Almost six years after dad died we are still searching for answers. 'I get angry when I think 2.50 could have saved his life but his death has motivated me to seek change.' Mid Essex Hospital Trust, which runs Broomfield Hospital (pictured) made 1.625million from car parking charges last year Mr Akers was trying to visit the hospital's A&E (pictured) when he was suffering with chronic chest pains The official cause of Mr Akers's death was given as pulmonary thromboembolism, a blockage of an artery in the lungs. No inquest was held, and the family did not claim compensation. His ex-wife Lynne Akers, 62, who also faced paying parking charges when she was admitted to Queen's Hospital in Romford with a brain tumour, said: 'My ex-husband lost his life unnecessarily. Brian's death was needless death.' Kerry's brother Phillip, 29, is also backing the campaign to end hospital car parking charges, and is getting married later this year. NHS trusts in England are free to set their own rates with patients now paying on average 2 for a one hour stay. FIVE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE HOSPITAL CAR PARKS HOSPITAL TRUST Charge for 1 hour Total made 2016/17 Royal Surrey County, Guildford 4 1,547,000 Northampton General 3.20 1,671,000 Southend University Hospital, Essex 3.10 1,801,000 Royal Free, North London 3 2,042,000 Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool 3 2,679,000 In 2016/17, they pocketed a record 174million from parking fines. Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust in the West Midlands made 4,865,000 while Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust raised 3,946,312. Englands most expensive car park is the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford which charges 4 an hour and 6.50 for between four and six hours. Tory MP Robert Halfon has launched a campaign to scrap hospital car parking charges Mr Halfon, the MP for Harlow, Essex, has said: 'We cannot say, in good faith, that the NHS is free at the point of access if people face extortionate and unfair car parking fees to get to their hospital appointments, go to work in our vital public services or visit sick relatives. 'Rather than allowing drivers to fund hospital deficits through this stealth tax, we must scrap hospital car parking charges to ensure the NHS really is free at the point of access for all.' A spokesman for Mid Essex Hospital Trust, which runs Broomfield Hospital and made 1.625million from car parking charges last year, said: 'It is necessary to charge for parking to provide the funds to contribute to the provision and upkeep of the facilities [and] also to continue to contribute to the wider transport planning and to provide income for the trust to support the delivery of care for patients.' The Department for Health and Social Care said: We have made it very clear that patients, their families and our hardworking staff should not be subjected to unfair parking charges.' It said it was keeping the issue 'under review.' A Sydney father-to-be accused of flashing female joggers has pleaded guilty to stalking, common assault and acts of indecency. Police alleged a rope, balaclava, gloves and a muzzle were found at his Freshwater home on Sydney's northern beaches after Andrew James Grant was arrested in March. An unsuccessful bail application the NSW Supreme Court last month heard Grant's partner was expecting their first child in July. Scroll down for video A father-to-be (pictured) accused of flashing female joggers has pleaded guilty to stalking, common assault and acts of indecency. Police released this image after a spate of alleged attacks on the popular Bay Run NSW Police said some of the alleged incidents on the Bay Run (pictured) in Sydney's inner west in January and February happened as early as 7.30am and others at 10pm Grant pleaded guilty in Central Local Court on Thursday to four counts of stalking and intimidation, two acts of indecency and common assault. Other charges - including assault with an act of indecency, wilful and obscene exposure, behaving in an offensive manner, and other counts of stalking and intimidation - were withdrawn or dismissed. Police previously said some of the alleged incidents on the Bay Run in Sydney's inner west in January and February happened as early as 7.30am and others at 10pm. Grant was accused of stalking one victim at 3.30pm before targeting her again three hours later. His behaviour had been escalating and 'becoming increasingly unpredictable and brazen', police said during Grant's first court appearance. 'Police fear he may be unable to control his future urges and may sexually assault any future victims,' documents tendered to the court stated. Andrew James Grant pleaded guilty to four counts of stalking and intimidation, two acts of indecency and common assault in Central Local Court (pictured). He will be sentenced in August Police alleged female victims were approached between late January and mid-February on the Sydney Bay Run earlier this year He was nabbed after police released an image of the alleged flasher and called for the public's help identifying him. It was previously revealed in court Grant had previously been convicted of indecently exposing himself at a park in Perth, Western Australia. Grant is scheduled to be sentenced in Central Local Court on August 8. A critically endangered chimpanzee has been born at Chester Zoo. The female newcomer a Western chimpanzee is the first of its kind to be born at the zoo for nearly a decade. Primate experts say the baby is in good health and inseparable from her mother, 24-year-old ZeeZee. The little girl has even been adorable captured on camera playing with her mum. Her birth follows a scientific project, spanning several years, which has examined genetics and identified the chimps at Chester as a critically important breeding population. It is estimated that there could be as few 18,000 remaining in the wild. The study has confirmed that the chimps at Chester are the highly threatened West African subspecies one of the rarest in the world establishing the group as a critically important breeding population. The last chimpanzee born at the zoo was Tina, the new born's big sister who was born in February 2009. This is the third child for Mum ZeeZee who herself was born at the zoo. Mike Jordan, Collections Director at the zoo said: 'The new arrival is particularly important as it contributes to better genetic diversity in the European Western chimpanzee population. It comes after a five-year-long scientific study of chimpanzees in zoos across Europe confirmed that the group of chimps at Chester is one of the rarest in the world making it even more important to conservation breeding than was ever thought. 'In the wild, the Western chimpanzee is under huge threat from bush-meat hunting as well as extensive and increasing habitat loss and fragmentation from human activity, so much so that it is the first ever chimpanzee subspecies to join the list of critically endangered great apes. It makes the group at Chester an important conservation insurance population and the new baby is hugely significant.' The female newcomer a Western chimpanzee is the first of its kind to be born at the zoo for nearly a decade Primate experts say the baby is in good health and inseparable from her mother, 24-year-old ZeeZee The Western chimpanzee is found in West Africa where it is patchily distributed from Senegal to Ghana and is already thought to be extinct in Benin, Burkina Faso and Togo. In Chester, the new arrival has increased the number in the group to 20 and zoo primate experts say the baby has excited other chimps in the family. Tim Rowlands, Curator of Mammals, added: 'Mum and baby have bonded positively and ZeeZee is naturally being incredibly protective of her newborn. 'She's a wonderful, experienced mother and has learnt much of her parenting skills from her own mum Mandy, who is also part of the group and always on hand to lend her support. 'The interactions between the group are incredibly fascinating to watch. A new baby brings a new dynamic and the group is in a real state of excitement particularly given that they haven't seen a baby in their group for the best part of a decade.' The little girl has even been adorable captured on camera playing with her mum The son of Welsh politician Carl Sargeant was pictured arriving at a coroner's court for his father's inquest - three months after taking over his job. The Welsh Assembly member, 49, hanged himself at home in Connah's Quay, Deeside four days after he was sacked over allegations of 'unwanted attention, inappropriate touching and groping'. He killed himself in the utility room while his wife Bernie, 48, was upstairs, leaving a note on the door warning her not to come in. His son Jack, 24, replaced him as Welsh Assembly Member for Alyn and Deeside just three months after his death on November 7 last year. He was pictured at a pre-inquest hearing in Ruthin, north Wales, this afternoon where a coroner will assess whether the Welsh Assembly acted sufficiently to protect Mr Sargeant's mental health. Jack Sargeant, 24, is pictured arriving for a pre-inquest hearing into his father Carl's death in Ruthin, north Wales this afternoon Carl Sargeant's son Jack Sargeant, 24 (pictured with him) took his father's seat in a by-election in January 2018 that was triggered by his death A previous hearing on November 13 last year was told Jack, Mr Sargeant's daughter Lucy and wife Bernie helped paramedics in their desperate bid to revive him, which lasted between 20 and 30 minutes. Senior coroner for north Wales John Gittins gave a provisional cause of death as hanging and an 'apparent act of self harm'. Mr Sargeant Jr and his family have been vocal in their criticism of Welsh Labour's reaction to Mr Sargeant's death. Mr Sargeant's son Jack (pictured left) arrives with other friends and family members at the Coroner's Court in Ruthin, north Wales this afternoon The former Assembly Member's son Jack, 24 (pictured second right) replaced him as member for Alyn and Deeside just three months after his death on November 7 last year The Labour Welsh Assembly member (pictured) denied the allegations against him Carl Sargeant's wife Bernie, 48, (pictured together) found her husband dead at their home in Connah's Quay on November 7, four days after he was accused of 'touching' women Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones has resisted calls to step down over his former colleague's death. Coroner Mr Gittins said last year his inquest will not consider the truth of allegations made against Mr Sargeant or making adjudications on 'who is right or wrong'. He said: 'My responsibilities as a coroner require me to give consideration to the prevention of future deaths. 'With this aspect of my role in mind I shall be examining carefully the steps taken by the Assembly to have regard to Mr Sargeant's mental welfare prior to his death.' For help and support The Samaritans can be contacted any time for free on 116 123. Police vehicles are pictured outside Mr Sargeant's home in Connah's Quay, Deeside after his death on November 7 Jack Sargeant looks at the ground as he walks into a pre-inquest hearing into his father's death A 'wicked' and sex mad army sergeant who cheated on his wife and then tried to murder her to snaffle her 120,000 life insurance was jailed for life today. Emile Cilliers will serve a minimum of 18 years for trying to gas his wife Victoria at home before he tampered with her parachute sending her plummeting from 4,000ft three days later in 2015. Mrs Cilliers was at Winchester Crown Court to see him sentenced for two counts of attempted murder. She somehow survived the fall and has said since he is a 'kind and loving' man, has refused to accept he did it and has admitted she has no plans to divorce him. Mrs Cilliers looked at her husband when he came in to court but looked away quickly as he glanced at her. Neither reacted as he was jailed. Sentencing Cilliers, Mr Justice Sweeney said: 'This was wicked offending of extreme gravity.' Victoria Cilliers arrives at WInchester Crown Court to see her husband jailed for twice trying to kill her and he was given 18 years today for his 'wicked' crimes Cilliers was cheating on his wife and wanted to get hold of her life insurance money to start a new life without her He added: 'Your offending was extremely serious with your two attempts to murder your wife. They were planned and carried out in cold blood for your own selfish purposes which include financial gain.' Describing the impact on Mrs Cilliers, the judge continued: 'That your wife recovered at all was miraculous, she undoubtedly suffered severe physical harm and she must have suffered psychological harm in the terror of the fall and since. 'She appears to have recovered from the physical harm but not, having seen her in the witness box at length, from the psychological harm.' Emile CIlliers first tried to gas his wife with their children in the house but the smell alerted her to the danger and she later jokingly texted him to say: 'Are you trying to kill me?!'. Three days later he suggested his wife, an experienced parachutist, go skydiving over Easter weekend 2015 and then sabotaged her kit on the eve of her 4,000ft jump at Netheravon Airfield, Wiltshire. Cilliers tangled her main canopy and removed vital links from her reserve in a toilet cubicle after he told Mrs Cilliers one of their children needed the loo. The father-of-six, who the prosecution called a 'charmless unfaithful penniless scoundrel', was also sleeping with his ex-wife Carly, Mrs Cilliers and a Tinder lover named Stefanie Goller. The soldier, described as a 'boobaholic' by his wife who knew he was part of a sex club, also contacted prostitutes about meeting up on the proviso sex was unprotected and he could film the liaison - but cancelled after they tried to charge 60 instead of 50. He also signed up to a sex club and swingers' site to find a 'f*** buddy'. His first six-week trial collapsed last year when the jury couldn't reach a verdict after his wife became a 'hostile witness' and admitted she had lied to police about her husband to 'get her own back'. But a jury found him guilty of two counts of attempted murder after a retrial that ended last month. Emile Cilliers tried to kill his wife (pictured in happier times) while he was sleeping with at least two other women The father-of-six, who the prosecution called a 'charmless unfaithful penniless scoundrel', was sleeping with Tinder lover Stefanie Goller (pictured) Physiotherapist and former Army Captain Victoria Cilliers, who had 2,600 jumps to her name, leapt from the plane at Netheravon Airfield, Wilts, both parachutes failed and she plummeted helplessly to the ground. Carly Cilliers met her husband in a pub and would later rekindle their relationship around a decade after their divorce Miraculously, Mrs Cilliers, then 40, survived the terrifying fall on April 5, 2015, suffering a broken pelvis, ribs and spinal injuries. But despite what he did to her Mrs Cilliers says she still 'struggles to accept' he wanted to murder her. In an extraordinary interview after his convictions she even appeared to defend him, suggesting the jurors failed to see his 'kind and loving side'. She told Good Morning Britain: 'It's such a massive thing to get your head around and I'm still pretty stunned. I'm struggling to accept he tried to kill me. It's such a massive thing to accept. 'It's hard to conceive someone so close to you would want to cause you some kind of harm. 'I never had any indication that there was another side to him. I hope he didn't hate me. I really don't know. I love the husband I had and I'm grieving for that marriage. We've had no contact for the last three years. 'He's a very confident individual. The side that they don't see is that he was a kind and loving husband'. She added: 'I've been through every emotion under the sun I've had plenty of time to think about things. Which is why I'm not overtly angry. I've got children I can't be angry or bitter. I need to keep going for them'. Pakistani Taliban leader Mullah Fazlullah has been killed in a US-Afghan air strike in Afghanistan, a senior Afghan Defence Ministry official said on Friday. The US military said it had carried out a strike aimed at a senior militant figure in Kunar, which is on the Pakistani border, on Thursday. A US official said the target was believed to be Fazlullah. Scroll down for video Mullah Fazlullah famously ordered the attack leading to the shooting of Malala in 2012 Pakistan's 'most-wanted' militant also masterminded a school massacre that killed 132 children A coffee shop in Islamabad in 2013 when Mullah Fazlullah was elected leader of the Taliban Fazlullah was notorious for attacks that included the 2012 shooting of schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai, who was later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In 2014, Pakistan's most-wanted militant led school massacre that killed 132 children. A spokesman for Afghan defence ministry told Reuters: 'I confirm that Mullah Fazlullah, leader of the Pakistani Taliban, has been killed in an joint air operation in the border area of Marawera district of Kunar province.' The air strike was carried out at about 9am on Thursday. Malala, seen in Birmingham in 2013 and 2014, later received the Nobel Peace Prize for her campaigning Soldiers shift injured Malala, then 14, from a helicopter after the attack by gunmen in Peshawar Fazlullah's death is likely to ease tension between the United States and Pakistan. Afghanistan is currently observing an unprecedented three-day ceasefire with the larger Afghan Taliban. Pakistan is considered key to persuading Afghan Taliban leaders, who Washington believes shelter on Pakistani soil, to open negotiations to end the 17-year-old war. Video grabs of 'hardliner' Fazlullah who had a reputation for fiery radio broadcasts In March, the United States offered a $5 million (3.75 million) reward for information on Fazlullah. A member of the Pakistani Taliban told Reuters on Friday the group was trying to get word from Afghanistan, where most of the Pakistani Taliban fighters are based. 'We have been hearing since early Friday that our Emir (leader) was martyred along with four other militant commanders in Marawar area of Kunar. 'They were staying at a house when a drone fired missiles and martyred them,' said Taliban member Maulvi Abdur Rasheed. Fazlullah emerged as an Islamist leader in the Swat Valley, northwest of the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, more than a decade ago. He was known as 'Mullah Radio' for his fiery broadcasts. He was reviled in Pakistan for the 2014 assault on an army-run school in the city of Peshawar in which Pakistani Taliban gunmen killed at least 132 children. He is also believed to have ordered the 2012 shooting of then-15-year-old Yousafzai over her advocacy of girls' education. The Pakistani Taliban have waged a decade-long insurgency seeking to establish a harsh interpretation of Islamic rule but most of their fighters have now fled to Afghanistan. They are separate from the Afghan Taliban who ruled Afghanistan for five years before being ousted in a 2001 U.S.-led military action. Washington and Kabul accuse Pakistan of harbouring Afghan Taliban and the allied Haqqani network, which Islamabad denies. Islamabad says the Pakistani Taliban maintain sanctuaries in Afghanistan. Hen parties repeatedly descending on a rented luxury home in a sleepy West Yorkshire town have caused neighbours 'six weekends of hell'. Brides-to-be and their excitable friends have been heading to Holmfirth for wild nights of drinking and partying at the house, listed online as Hillside View Spa. It boasts six bedrooms, a private hot tub, a pool table and a karaoke machine. But their antics have angered locals - with one resident saying she was left feeling physically ill from having to listen to up to 20 'screaming' women every weekend. Scroll down for video Hillside View Spa in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, where hen parties have descended for wild nights of partying six weekends in a row Brides-to-be and their excitable friends (stock image) have been renting out the property for their pre-wedding celebrations Residents in the town - home to sitcom Last of the Summer Wine - found the house on the Celebration Cottages website. It is advertised as 'the perfect location for your Hen Party/Girly Weekend', with prices ranging from 185 to 339 per person for a two-night stay at the property in Burnlee Road. The homeowners apologised to neighbours after complaints were made about the noise and said they had been 'naive' not to anticipate problems. Paul Kemp, service director at Kirklees Council, told The Huddersfield Examiner: 'After receiving reports of the house being used as a commercial party venue the council contacted the property owner and advised that they did not have the relevant planning permission to operate this business from the premises. 'The owner agreed to stop using the property in this way and to cancel all future bookings - as such no further action was required. A seating area outside Hillside View Spa. Hen parties have repeatedly rented out the property for noisy celebrations which have upset people living nearby The jacuzzi at the luxury rented property. The local council has prohibited any more hen party booking being taken by the homeowners Hillside View Spa boasts six bedrooms, a private hot tub, a pool table and a karaoke machine (stock image) 'In most circumstances where a home is being used as a 'party venue' it would require planning consent. 'Whilst the council will always engage with the owner to resolve the issue in the first instance, we will and have previously used our enforcement powers when it has been necessary.' A spokesman for Holmfirth-based Celebration Cottages told The Huddersfield Examiner the council was wrong to suggest such properties were 'party venues'. He said they were booked for all kinds of gatherings including family events and holidays, adding: 'The council were wrong to suggest that the property was a party venue and did not look into any of the bookings as most of the bookings for the year were family groups. A still from footage filmed by a neighbour of Hillside View Spa. Shouting and screeching can be heard coming from behind the large wall which surrounds the property 'They jumped to this conclusion before asking for a list of all the bookings taken. 'Over 2.5 million holiday lets would be in breach of planning in the UK if this was the case. 'If you book a holiday let for a birthday celebration with your family then the council are suggesting this isn't a holiday let and needs planning. 'Holiday lets that cause a disturbance should be dealt with by environmental health not planning. The council have got this the wrong way around. 'As an agency we take bookings for anniversaries, family gatherings, family celebrations - just the same as Sykes Cottages and other large holiday let agencies. 'They are not party houses and just simply holiday lets.' An activist who was refused service at Officeworks for attempting to print out anti-Islamic posters has hit out at the chain store, claiming his right to freedom of speech has been violated. Avi Yemini and Ralf Schumann of the Australian Liberty Alliance are both regular customers at the Officeworks branch in South Melbourne: printing and laminating any materials there that are too large to print in their own office. Like, for example, an armful of flyers for an upcoming rally they've organised in support of free speech and defense of Sonia Kruger. Avi Yemini (pictured: left) and Ralf Schumann (pictured: right) were refused service at an Officeworks store in South Melbourne for attempting to print out anti-Islamic posters The store manager allegedly told Mr Schumann that Officeworks 'will not print anything that is offensive to Muslims and especially not in the holy month of Ramadan' 'We went there this afternoon like we have for 3 or 4 years,' Mr Schumann told Daily Mail Australia. 'The chap on the counter puts the USB stick in like he always does, gets the first screen up like he always does - and calls his young manager over. '[The manager] then gives me a lecture on their shop policy and tells me that they will not print anything that is offensive to Muslims and especially not in the holy month of Ramadan.' One of the posters declares that: 'Criticising perverse ideologies is not racial discrimination. Islam does not equal race'. The second features the face of Sonia Kruger - who is due to face the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal over blasphemy and vilification charges - alongside the text: 'Mass blasphemy! Half of Australia agrees with Sonia #LetsTalkAboutIslam.' The flyers were for an upcoming rally the Australian Liberty Alliance has organised in support of free speech and defense of Sonia Kruger Mr Schumann went on to explain how the store manager told him 'we [Officeworks] can't print these racist things.' 'So I wrote a brief email to the manager to tell him that his store policy does not override federal or state anti-discrimination laws,' said Mr Schumann. 'These laws happen both ways: you can't discriminate on religious grounds OR political grounds.' Mr Schumann insists that, in this case, he's the one who is the victim of discrimination. 'Absolutely I've been discriminated against,' he declared. 'You go into a shop and they tell you 'I don't serve you because of your political opinion.' Well, we're happy to cry fowl over political discrimination.' Mr Schumann (pictured) insists that, in this case, he's the one who is the victim of discrimination, saying 'These laws happen both ways: you can't discriminate on religious grounds OR political grounds' Officeworks refused to comment when approached by Daily Mail Australia. The company has, however, since posted a comment on a Facebook video that Mr Yemini uploaded on Friday. In the video, Mr Yemini trumpets to his 168,000 followers how the chain store has disrespected his right to freedom of speech. 'At Officeworks, we respect our customers' right to free speech,' the company's comment reads. 'However our policy prohibits customers from printing any materials which may be threatening, abusive or incite hatred on any person. 'In relation to your recent visit to our South Melbourne store, our team member has misinterpreted the policy. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.' Officeworks has since issued a statement declaring that: 'our policy prohibits customers from printing any materials which may... incite hatred on any person... [but] In relation to your recent visit to our South Melbourne store, our team member has misinterpreted the policy' Mr Yemini further claims the office supplies chain's refusal to print the posters is in violation of consumer law Mr Schumann asserts that: 'Nothing on those two placards was in any way inciting violence or being nasty to any person or group of persons.' Mr Yemini further claims that the office supplies chain's refusal to print the posters is in violation of consumer law. 'If they have a complaint under racial discrimination they can refuse it, but this wasn't racial discrimination,' he said. 'We criticised Islam, and that in [the store clerk's] eyes during the holy month of Ramadan is unacceptable. Unfortunately Officeworks took his side, protecting Islam before Australian values.' Marie Amesbury, 46, claims she's been harassed by rival ice cream sellers in Lyme Regis, Dorset Police are investigating a suspected vendetta being waged against a new ice cream seller in a seaside town by rival traders. Mother-of-two Marie Amesbury, 46, left her stressful life behind for a more serene existence selling treats from a vintage tricycle in picturesque Lyme Regis, Dorset. But her presence on the promenade has allegedly enraged owners of other ice cream parlours in the town, furious that she has been granted a 'peddlars licence'. Ms Amesbury says she has been regularly sworn at, spat at twice and threatened with violence unless she gives up her business. It escalated to the point that the single mother made a dossier of the alleged abuse and reported the matter to the police. And she said that even though officers have actively begun investigating, the unseemly treatment towards her has not stopped. There are around half a dozen ice cream businesses in Lyme Regis and Ms Amesbury said three of them are the main protagonists in the campaign. 'They have been unbelievable in their response,' she said. 'I don't want to name them as the police are involved.' Her presence on the promenade has allegedly enraged owners of other ice cream parlours in the town, furious that she has been granted a 'peddlars licence' Ms Amesbury previously was a management consultant earning 45,000 per year but wanted a 'change of lifestyle' and moved to Lyme Regis, Dorset (pictured) She is legally entitled to sell ice creams from her trike with a pedlar's certificate and has a food hygiene rating of five stars. Despite this she claimed other traders see her as a threat and one has even started a petition calling for a by-law to be introduced that would prevent unauthorised trading in the town. In a post on social media she described a fellow ice cream seller approaching her, swearing and spitting at her. It said: 'Sadly a local business owner turned up with some colourful language and narrowly missed me when they spat their mouthful of sputum towards me... and to think they work in the catering industry in our town.' Ms Amesbury moved from Somerset with her two daughters, aged 10 and 17, and started her business at Easter in April. She said she found a quiet spot by the beach in Lyme Regis where there were no other ice cream sellers. Ms Amesbury believes the bitterness stems from the fact she paid just 12.25 for the licence which gives her the right to trade legally along the seafront. 'What aggrieves them is I don't have a fixed premises so I have no shop overheads and business rates to pay,' she said. 'But I am totally legal and am registered with HMRC, have five star food hygiene and public liability insurance.' Ms Amesbury believes the bitterness stems from the fact she paid just 12.25 for the licence which gives her the right to trade legally along the seafront She continued: 'My licence allows me to travel around selling wares and was an ancient law used by tinkers and hawkers but also applies to ice cream. 'It started off with business owners making themselves known that they were aggrieved but things escalated from there. 'There is police involvement now after I was spat at intentionally, which has happened twice now. 'I have been chased, harassed and photographed and threatened with violence. It is escalating. 'I have kept in contact with the council, who are aware it is escalating. But they need to do more to make it very clear that what I am doing is lawful as some seem to be under the impression it is not. 'It has been a worrying and stressful time. This is only a small community and I am worried about my safety if this is allowed to continue.' Ice cream has been sold on a tricycle in Lyme Regis for more than a century and was a staple part of a visit to the British seaside decades ago. Ms Amesbury previously was a management consultant earning 45,000 per year but wanted a 'change of lifestyle'. Her new job produces just 97p profit per ice cream. She has worked hard to recreate the 'vintage' feel in her business and offers a range of old favourites including cherry bombs, mango melbas and sprinkles and sauces. Ms Amesbury says she has been regularly sworn at, spat at twice and threatened with violence unless she gives up her business There are around half a dozen ice cream businesses in Lyme Regis and Ms Amesbury said three of them are the main protagonists in the campaign She added: 'They seem to be under the impression I am peddling an illicit substance but the only white stuff I peddle is vanilla ice cream. 'It is such a disproportionate response. It is only ice cream, sprinkles and sauces yet I am being bullied horrendously over it. 'Ice cream has been sold on a tricycle in Lyme Regis for more than a century. There are lovely old pictures of a young girl buying one on the seafront from a tricycle just like mine. 'This is part of British seaside history and I am pleased to continue that in the modern day. 'Everything now is so hyped up and so fast paced that I just think it is a nice piece of nostalgia that you can visit the seaside and buy ice cream from a tricycle. 'I try to take it all back to the old day with cherry bombs, mango melba, sprinkles, sauces that sort of thing. Marie previously was a management consultant earning 45,000 per year but wanted a 'change of lifestyle' 'I want to play and look the part from a vintage point of view as it facilitates so much happy energy. 'I am not a whizz kid by any means. Anyone could have done this and bought a licence.' 'But it can only be down to jealously. They could have got on a tricycle and done this. There is nothing stopping them.' Ms Amesbury, who moved to the Lyme Regis from Somerset, started the business at Easter and said it was a place she had happy childhood memories of. She said: 'It was like a dream to go to the seaside and sell ice cream but I have been really astounded by he response from a vicious minority. 'On the whole there has been an outpouring of support on facebook with most people here wishes me well. 'I have loved getting fit, being outdoors and meeting lots of people who come to chat and enjoy my ice cream. It is just a real shame it has been tainted by a few jealous businessmen. 'Ont of the perpetrators started a petition where he wants me to be outlawed and has gained some support from other businesses. 'This would need to be a bylaw that goes all the way to the secretary of state. Just for little old me - one lone ice cream seller - that is how disproportionate this all is. 'There have been two occasions when I have been spat at. One business owner who launched a barrage of abuse emptied his mouthful of bile at me. It was shameful behaviour from someone who works in the food and drink industry.' A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: 'We are currently investigating reports of harassment against a woman in Lyme Regis. The allegations are said to have occurred between 7 April 2018 and 25 May 2018.' The Archbishop of Canterbury hopes to rejuvenate the Church of England by taking inspiration from the evangelical style displayed at Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle. The Most Rev Michael Curry heads the Anglican church in the US and was praised by the CofE leader for his energetic preaching. Justin Welby said Curry blew the place open during his service at Windsor Castle with a delivery akin to the Pentecostal churches gaining traction in the UK. Bishop Michael Curry's passionate 14-minute address entitled 'The Power of Love' (pictured) was the most tweeted about moment of Meghan and Harry's big day Pentecostal services are defined by charisma and often include dancing, upbeat songs with live bands and clapping, something The Times reports could be emulated in the established church. The African-American's delivery inspire the CofE to reach out to British churches in black communities already practising the evangelical style of preaching. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle listen as US Bishop Michael Curry addresses the congregation at their wedding The institution will change its rules in order to allow independent pastors to bring their charisma to the church's pulpits. It is a move the General Synod is expected to approve next month. The Archbishop of Canterbury's ecumenical adviser, Rev Dr Will Adam, says the church was inspired by hearing Bishop Curry preach 'with passion and without reserve' in a way that made the nation sit up and listen. Justin Welby (pictured) hopes his church will be rejuvenated by a more energetic style of preaching to tackle a drop in numbers He added that forging closer relationships with the country's most dynamic churches could bring new life to the church. Jamaican-born Pentecostal bishop at Church of God of Prophecy Dr Joe Aldrer welcomed the plans and said the CofE 'needs livening up'. Current canon law means the church can only form official links with churches rooted in national institutions, including the Roman Catholic and Methodist denominations. Italy's populist Prime Minister has called for the EU to set up processing centres for migrants in their own countries after talks with French President Emmanuel Macron. Giuseppe Conte said there needed to be a 'radical paradigm change' as he suggested asylum claim facilities should be set up in African nations that have seen an exodus towards Europe in recent years. Macron, who met with Conte at the Elysee palace in Paris, backed the proposal and called for greater protection of Europe's borders, saying 'the existing system doesn't work.' Today's meeting came after the two leaders were involved in a spat over Rome's decision to stop a rescue ship the Aquarius packed with migrants from docking in Italy. It is now on its way to Spain after a event which has demonstrated the growing power of anti-immigrant populist parties within the EU. Conte's interior minister and coalition partner is the leader of the far right, Matteo Salvini who has demanded a crackdown on immigrants as part of his deal to govern with the populist Five Star movement. Meanwhile in Germany, Angela Merkel is fighting to save her conservative coalition government in a heated battle over immigration while also trying to push other EU member states to show more solidarity on the issue of distributing refugees. She is also being challenged by her hardline interior minister, Horst Seehofer, who wants Germany to unilaterally turn back migrants and overturn Merkel's unpopular 'open door' policy. Italy's populist Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte (left today) has called for the EU to set up process centres for migrants in their own countries after talks with French President Emmanuel Macron (right) In Germany, Angela Merkel (pictured today with her Interior Minister Horst Seehofer) is fighting to save her conservative coalition government in a heated battle over immigration while also trying to push other EU member states to show more solidarity on the issue of distributing refugees Amid a growing feud over how to deal with asylum seekers arriving in the continent, Emmanuel Macron today said that Europe's response to mass migration has not adapted to the times and that reform is needed. European solidarity had not fulfilled its role in recent years with Italy, the first EU country on the migration route from North Africa, he said. Sparks had flown between the two leaders over Italy's new populist government turned away the Aquarius, a rescue boat packed with 629 migrants picked up off the coast of Libya. Macron called Italy's decision 'irresponsible' but has since apologised, while Aquarius is due to arrive in Spain tomorrow and in Germany Angela Merkel faces her own battle for survival over migration. Despite efforts by both sides to play down their testy exchanges, the clash underscores the deep political divisions in Europe over how to handle the massive influx of migrants from across the Mediterranean in recent years. Hardliners shaping the response to Europe's migration crisis Italy's refusal to admit the migrant-packed Aquarius ship met little protest from other EU countries apart from France, which analysts see as a sign of how hardliners are now shaping the EU's solution to the migration crisis. French President Emmanuel Macron denounced Rome's 'irresponsibility' but failed to sway a European Union now bent on protecting its external borders after years of division over the worst such crisis since World War II. The European Commission, the EU's executive arm in Brussels, limited itself to appeals for solidarity. Rome's refusal to admit the Aquarius marks a 'radical' departure from European attitudes five years ago when Italy launched a humanitarian maritime mission to save migrants . 'This change in Italy's political landscape resembles what one sees in European countries in general,' said Yves Pascouau, a researcher at Nantes University in France. The Aquarius saga shows the 'victory of more restrictive, harder positions' that favour locking EU borders. The EU's former communist countries in the east, like Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland, have embraced such positions for years. They have either completely opposed or resisted quotas that EU member countries endorsed in 2015, at the peak of the migration crisis, when more than 1.26 million people applied for asylum in the bloc. But several other EU countries have since joined them. The EU was early on 'very divided between the east and west, but the situation has changed,' Elena Sanchez Montijano at the Spanish think tank CIDOB told AFP. Sanchez pointed to the election successes of anti-migrant arguments in several countries, including in Italy and Austria where the extreme right has gained power. She added that in Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel, who had opened the country up to refugees, today faces 'a serious internal crisis' where her interior minister Horst Seehofer takes a hard line against her. It is precisely with Seehofer and his Italian counterpart that Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz says he wants to build an 'axis of the willing' against illegal migration. Austria, which next month assumes the EU's six-month rotating presidency, said it will focus on pursuing all steps needed to protect the bloc's external borders. Vienna also confirmed it is working with countries like Denmark on a plan that had been considered unlikely: building camps (dubbed 'reception centres') outside the EU to separate genuine asylum seekers from economic migrants. 'Even though the numbers of arrivals have dropped greatly, the political salience of the issue in a number of EU member states has increased,' said Stefan Lehne, an expert with Carnegie Europe. Since the year began, only about 35,000 people have landed in Europe, mainly as a result of EU deals with Turkey and Libya, the main gateways to the bloc. 'As stoking fear of migration is a core element of their business model, (the populists) have every interest in preserving an atmosphere of insecurity,' Lehne told AFP. In this political context, 'there is only one possible consensus, which is 'we will strengthen the external borders',' Pascouau said. 'Everything else is no longer on the table,' he added, referring to years of bitter negotiations to reform the so-called Dublin system of asylum rules. Under the current rules, the countries of first arrival are required to process asylum requests. Critics say that puts an unfair burden on Greece and Italy. But just two weeks before the self-imposed deadline of the June 28-29 EU summit in Brussels, EU countries remain deadlocked on how to relocate asylum seekers in the event of a new crisis. 'This Commission proposal is essentially dead,' Lehne said, adding that Italy's new government and some others 'see the best option' as preventing people reaching Europe. Days before the Aquarius saga, Belgium's hardline migration minister Theo Francken said he was 'convinced that if all the doors were closed, all the countries would agree to show more solidarity.' And Pascouau said: 'That's what Italy did.' Spain's new Socialist government has since agreed to allow the Aquarius and its 629 migrants to dock in Valencia. Advertisement In Germany, meanwhile, Merkel is embroiled in a showdown with the Bavarian right wing of her governing alliance, which is demanding that she immediately ditch her liberal migration policy and tighten border controls. Bavaria was on the frontline of a migration crisis in 2015, when an 'open door' policy adopted by Merkel led to around a million refugees flooding into Germany. Merkel has pleaded for more time to negotiate with her European partners on a common response ahead of an EU summit on June 28-29. There are few signs that European leaders are anywhere near being ready to coordinate their policies despite a looming end-of-June deadline to change the EU's current asylum rules. In a telephone call Wednesday to turn the page on days of bickering, Macron and Conte called for 'new initiatives' to ease the pressure on Italy, Greece and Spain - the three countries on the frontline of the migrant crisis. 'It's time for collective action,' Macron said afterwards. The Aquarius rescue vessel at the centre of this week's row was on Friday continuing to make its way across the Mediterranean to Spain, which agreed to take the 629 migrants aboard after Italy and Malta refused the ship permission to dock. Spain's foreign minister Josep Borrell said he hoped the spectacle of the migrants - mostly Africans, including pregnant women and scores of children - would 'move' other European states into showing more solidarity. Conte's interior minister and coalition partner is the leader of the far right, Matteo Salvini (pictured during a press conference in Genoa, Italy today) who has demanded a crackdown on immigrants as part of his deal to govern with the populist Five Star movement Stranded migrants are pictured aboard an Italian Coast Guard boat while being transferred from the SOS Mediterranee's Aquarius to Italian vessels to continue the journey to Spain Under the EU's Dublin Agreement, which is currently up for review, migrants hoping to apply for asylum must do so in the first country they enter, a policy which has placed a huge burden on Italy in particular. The influx has encouraged the rise of far-right and populist parties - leading most recently to an anti-migrant coalition government taking power in Italy. 'We need to work on reform of the Dublin Agreement,' Conte stressed ahead of his Paris visit. Earlier this week his interior minister joined forces with his German and Austrian counterparts in an 'axis of the willing' to combat illegal immigration. Other countries meanwhile, such as Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, have either refused outright or resisted taking in refugees under a contested EU quota system. The spat between France and Italy erupted this week after Macron accused Rome of 'cynicism and irresponsibility' for refusing to let the Aquarius dock. Italy's new government hit back, accusing Paris of giving 'hypocritical lessons' and threatening to pull out of the meeting with Macron on Friday. Rome also summoned the French ambassador over the dispute - the second time it has done so over the migrant crisis in two months. Macron's critics said he was hardly in a position to lecture, noting that France had taken in far fewer migrants since the start of the crisis than the likes of Germany and Sweden, and has sealed off its border to most migrants trying to cross into the country from Italy. The French leader, who has taken a hard line on migration from African countries that are not at war, said Thursday that 'none of his comments were intended to offend Italy and the Italian people'. In a further gesture of reconciliation the French foreign ministry said it was ready to welcome migrants aboard Aquarius who 'meet the criteria for asylum' after they arrive in Spain. Italy itself has appeared eager to avoid too harsh a response. After turning the Aquarius away, it allowed a coast guard ship carrying over 900 migrants land on Sicily on Wednesday. And on Thursday, the Italian coast guard brought fresh supplies to the Aquarius as it made its way past Sardinia. It is due to arrive in Spain at the weekend. Drunken tourists in Magaluf are being targeted by an organised gang of up to 20 teenagers who have nicknamed their exploits 'Make a Maga'. Police say they are homing in on the nightlife areas and pick on holidaymakers who appear worst for wear after hours of clubbing. The young muggers, aged around 17 or 18, deliberately bump into the tourists in a bid to steal possessions such as backpacks, handbags, wallets or jewellery. If their target tries to resist, they are attacked. Around 20 youngsters are said to be carrying out the crimes in the tourist hotspot of Magaluf (file photo) A number of incidents were detected by the Civil Guard last year but there has already been an escalation this summer in what is being described as 'a new phenomenon'. They believe there are about 20 youngsters in the gang who make a beeline for Magaluf, particularly on a Friday and Saturday night. Their favourite haunt is the Punta Ballena strip and they usually work in groups of five or six. Police say they are Mallorcans who know the area well and are calling their exploits 'Make a Maga'. Local residents say action must be taken in the same way as efforts to crackdown on prostitutes, drunken behaviour, bottle parties and high jinks. Both Calvia council and the Civil Guard are pledging to try and change the image of the party resort with more patrols and new fines for a raft of offences under new 'co-existence' rules. Last month, the council processed 411 complaints for breaches, up on May 2017 when there were 345 complaints. Local police say the gang is targeting the drunkest tourists in the resort as part of the crimewave (file photo) Most of these were for illegal sales by street vendors but 34 fines were handed out to unauthorised masseurs on the beaches; 31, for consumption of alcoholic beverages on public roads; 28, for possession of narcotic substances; eight for having sex on public roads and three for practicing nudism or seminudism in unauthorised places. The council is also getting tough by fining businesses for handing out publicity material in the street without prior authorisation. The pubs and clubs involved could face a fine of upto 6,000 euros. Promotions can only be carried out in four specific areas and the PRs have to wear official vests given out only when a licence is approved. They can then only tout between the hours of 6pm and 4am. The mother of a baby boy who died from a preventable disease has slammed a controversial anti-vaccination billboard that has been erected in the Perth CBD. Catherine Hughes became a vocal advocate for the importance of vaccinating children after her baby boy Riley died from whooping cough when he was just 32 days old. The billboard, which reads: 'Do you know what's in a vaccine?' could influence vulnerable parents and make the anti-vaccine movement more money, she said. Both the State Government and the Australian Medical Association have said they are angry that the sign was put up Catherine Hughes (pictured) has slammed the controversial billboard 'To be honest I'm pretty surprised that somebody was willing to accept money from the anti-vaccine lobby to display this billboard,' Mrs Hughes told Sunrise. 'I was really disappointed as a parent who lost a child to a vaccine-preventable disease because they were too young to to be vaccinated.' The billboard links to a radical American anti-vaccination group called Learn the Risk. Ms Hughes isn't the only one concerned with the emergence of the Billboard. The buildings owner Tony Yozzi, told PerthNow that he wants the sign taken down. 'I didn't realise because it hasn't been there long,' he said. 'I've been told it's anti-vaccination so if it is then it's not supposed to be there.' Ms Hughes became a vocal advocate for the importance of vaccinating children after her baby boy Riley (pictured) died from whooping cough when he was just 32 days old Both the State Government and the Australian Medical Association have said they are angry that the sign was put up, arguing that the anti-vaccine lobby were spreading 'dangerous misinformation'. 'Vaccination is a life saver it's the best way to protect children from potentially deadly diseases,' said Health Minister Roger Cook. He has called for an investigation into the billboard and whether it might be deemed as a health risk and removed. The billboard, which reads: 'Do you know what's in a vaccine?' could influence vulnerable parents, says Ms Hughes Ms Hughes says each billboard erected could make the movement more money and that parents-to-be should worry about the diseases, not what's in the vaccines. 'I think signs like this try to make parents worried about what's in the vaccines but I want parents to think about what's in these diseases,' she said. Learn the risk is a non-porift organisation with a mission 'for educating people worldwide on the dangers of pharmaceutical products, including vaccines and unnecessary medical treatments' it's website states. The site also states that it was founded by former pharmaceutical insider Brandy Vaughan, an ex-Merck sales executive, and calls for things like 'natural treatments' for cancer patients such as filtering water, defusing essential oils throughout the house and sleeping on organic mattresses. The organisation claims to link vaccines to a myriad of 'chronic health problems' A Twitter hoax has sparked chaos in Germany after claiming Angela Merkel's coalition had fallen apart. Bavaria's Christian Social Union (CSU) was forced to deny it planned to dissolve its decades-old alliance with the Chancellor's Christian Democrats. The post on a hoax Twitter account came as Merkel holds tense negotiations with her coalition partners over immigration in a stand-off that could ultimately cost her job. Hardline CSU interior minister Horst Seehofer wants Germany to unilaterally impose tougher migration controls, while Merkel fears that will further divide the EU and wants to coordinate controls through Brussels. Bavaria was on the frontline of a migration crisis in 2015, when an 'open door' policy adopted by Merkel led to around a million refugees flooding into Germany. Mr Seehofer wants Germany to turn away all asylum seekers who arrive at its borders without identification papers. That risks further intensifying internal divisions within the EU as Italy turns away migrant boats that arrive at its shores. A Twitter hoax has sparked chaos in Germany after claiming Angela Merkel 's coalition had fallen apart Hans Michelbach, deputy head of the CSU faction in the federal parliament, said the report was 'rubbish', stressing the CSU wanted to maintain its alliance with the CDU and preserve the coalition. Earlier, a Twitter account claiming to be that of the Hessischer Rundfunk state broadcaster had said CSU Interior Minster Horst Seehofer had announced the end of the alliance in an internal message. Minutes later, the broadcaster confirmed the account was fake. The incident comes with Merkel fighting to save her conservative coalition government in a heated battle over immigration. An opinion poll Friday showed most Germans support the tougher line of her rebel interior minister. The survey found that 62 per cent of respondents were in favour of turning back undocumented asylum seekers at the border, in line with the stance of Seehofer who is openly challenging Merkel. And 86 per cent want faster deportations of rejected asylum seekers, a process now often held up by bureaucratic hurdles, according to the Infratest dimap poll. The survey heightens pressure on Merkel, who has faced a backlash for allowing into Germany more than one million people fleeing war and misery in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere since 2015. The mass influx sparked the rise of the far-right and anti-Islam AfD party, which entered parliament last September. Merkel's welcome to refugees also infuriated Seehofer and his CSU, the sister party of her Christian Democrats in the southern state of Bavaria, the main entry point for most arrivals. In an unprecedented split between the CDU and CSU, Seehofer has openly defied Merkel with a demand to allow border police to turn back migrants who lack valid identity papers or are already registered in another EU country. Earlier, a Twitter account claiming to be that of the Hessischer Rundfunk state broadcaster had said CSU Interior Minster Horst Seehofer (pictured) had announced the end of the alliance in an internal message. Minutes later, the broadcaster confirmed the account was fake Merkel argues that Germany must not take the sudden and unilateral step of rejecting most asylum seekers at the border, which would heighten the burden for frontline countries like Italy, Greece and Spain. She has pledged instead to seek bilateral agreements with these countries and a wider solution by the EU, which holds its next summit on June 28-29. The CSU - which faces an election threat from the AfD in October state polls - has refused to budge and set Merkel an effective ultimatum of next Monday. Seehofer will on that day seek CSU party backing to use his ministerial authority to order border police to turn back the asylum seekers. The feuding parties have reportedly asked parliamentary Speaker Wolfgang Schaeuble, the 75-year-old former finance minister, to mediate in the bitter dispute. For Merkel, in power for over 12 years, the stakes couldn't be higher as she leads an uneasy coalition government with a narrow majority that took half a year to cobble together. If Seehofer decides to go it alone, Merkel would have to fire him, sparking an unprecedented CDU-CSU split, political scientist Heinrich Oberreuter told business daily Handelsblatt. In that scenario, Merkel could lead a minority government with the third party in the coalition, the Social Democrats (SPD), or call fresh elections that would likely benefit only the AfD, he said. Amid the chaos, the SPD's Finance Minister Olaf Scholz called for cool heads to prevail, tweeting that "the task of governing our country is serious and not an episode of Game of Thrones". Donald Trump's popularity among members of his own party in is higher than any other post-war President except for George W. Bush. On day 500 of his term of office, which fell on June 4, Mr Trump's approval rating among Republicans stood at 87 per cent, according to Gallup. The figure puts him head of John F. Kennedy or Barack Obama who found favour with 85 per cent and 79 per cent of Democrats on same day. How post-war presidents have polled among their own supporters since the Second World War Only George W. Bush has been more popular than Donald Trump among Republican voters Another poll, published by the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute, put his overall approval rating at 43 percent. That marks a slight increase on April's figure and is level with his highest score, recorded in March 2017. The survey was conducted by telephone in the two days after Mr Trump met Kim Jong-un. Seven-in-10 voters said the meeting was a good idea is up from 63 per cent in late April, including 93 per cent of Republicans, 74 per cent of independents, and 49 per cent of Democrats. Only 20 per cent say the Singapore meeting was a bad idea. In addition, just under half of respondents said the meeting made Trump stronger as opposed to 13 per cent who thought it made him look weaker with 38 per cent saying it made no difference. Kim Jong Un received similar numbers to the President, with 45 per cent saying it made him look stronger, 9 per cent weaker, and 39 per cent saying it didn't change his international stature. Seven-in-ten American voters believe the President was correct to meet Kim Jong-un Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute, said: 'The event was clearly a good photo op for both leaders, but the top goal from the US perspective was reducing the nuclear threat posed by Kim's regime. 'The public is more optimistic than pessimistic that this will be an outcome of these talks, but only just slightly.' But the president remains a divisive figure within the country and his popularity within the Republican base has strengthened his grip on the party, increasing the prospect of a second term. Mark Sanford, a Republican congressman in South Carolina who had been critical of Mr Trump, lost his seat in a primary contest to Katie Arrington, an enthusiastic Trump supporter. Corey Stewart, who has made defending Confederate monuments his cause, became the Republican nominee for one Virginia's state's two Senate seats. He has been disowned by much of the Republican Party but was congratulated by Mr Trump for his primary win. This is the shocking moment violence breaks out between undercover police officers and a group of men in the middle of a quiet residential street. The confrontation seemingly begins with a drugs search of a van. One of the men can be heard saying 'these are not my drugs' as another man is held against a wall by an officer. About a dozen men surround the the undercover policemen filming the unfolding event. Scroll down for video This is the shocking moment an undercover police officer and a group of men brawl in the middle of a quiet residential street. The confrontation seemingly begins with a drugs search, with one of of the men heard saying 'these are not my drugs,' as a man is held against a wall In the background a dispute between a policeman and a member of the crowd becomes heated, with one of the residents heard saying: 'What are you gonna do? What are you gonna do?' The group of men who become more agitated surround the officer until one of the policemen appears to kick out at one of the men. Two of the officers then quickly try to apprehend one of the men as the man recorded the footage loses his temper and begins shouting outraged. 'Why did you do that? You kicked him, what the f*** are you doing, you kicked him?' is shouted repeatedly as one man under arrest fights back. One of the officers appears to take a blow to the nose and another withdraws his kosh and takes aim at the suspect's legs. In the background the man recording can be heard accusing the officers of causing the brawl - though footage appears to show the suspect resisting arrest. The ugly confrontation descends further with the man accusing the officers of assault. It is not known if the man who was placed under arrest was also found to have drugs The officers drag the man to the floor while the cameraman shouts that the police have caused unrest in the community and calls them 'f******* idiots.' The ugly confrontation descends further with the man accusing the officers of assault. It is not known if the man who was placed under arrest was also found to have drugs. EastEnders stars have paid tribute to actor Leslie Grantham, who performances as 'Dirty Den Watts' captivated millions. The TV star, who had recently returned to the UK for treatment after living for some time in Bulgaria, passed away this morning aged 71, his agent announced. A statement from his representative said: 'We formally announce the loss of Leslie Grantham, who passed away at 10.20am on the morning of Friday 15th June 2018.' Grantham had been visited by close friends from TV in the weeks before his death and he told some he had terminal cancer. Hollyoaks actor Joe Tracini tweeted: 'Last week he could barely hold his head up or make a sound. I held his hand for a while, kissed his forehead and told him I loved him. 'As I left, he bellow - "What am I f****** dying or something?" We'll miss you, Les x' Leslie Grantham, pictured earlier this year filming in north London, has died aged 71 Grantham was best known for playing Den Watts alongside his on-screen wife Anita Dobson (left), who played Angie. He is pictured, right, with ex-wife Jane Lawrie. They divorced in 2013 Grantham shares three children, Spike, 31, Jake, 29, and Daniel, 23, with his ex-wife, Jane Laurie, who he was married to for 31 years. His agent said: 'His ex-wife and sons have asked for their privacy to be respected at this difficult time. There will be a private funeral which will be attended by close family and friends only.' EastEnders co-stars and friends paid tribute to the veteran actor soon after his death was announced. Co-star Letitia Dean, who played his on-screen adoptive daughter Sharon, said: 'I have very special memories of working with Leslie and will cherish them always. He and Anita looked after me in my early days and showed me the ropes, always with care and kindness. 'He never failed to make me laugh and I will remember him with love, affection and gratitude forever. See you up there Leslie! Thank you for everything. Love and respect always, Tish. X' Gillian Taylforth, who plays Kathy Beale, said: 'I'm deeply saddened to hear the very sad news. I have so many happy memories of working with Leslie, he was always great fun and we shared many laughs. 'Those iconic Christmas episodes were legendary and they will always be part of EastEnders history. My heart goes out to his loved ones. ' Dot Cotton actress June Brown said he 'always had a twinkle in his eye when he said outrageous things'. Grantham moved to Bulgaria, where he is pictured in a show called The English Neighbour in 2011, following the break-up of his marriage. He had recently flown back to the UK Grantham looked tired when he was pictured in February filming a drama about the Kray twins On-screen wife Anita Dobson pays tribute to 'charming rogue' Grantham's death was announced at the same time as Anita Dobson, his on-screen wife for so many years, was attending the memorial service for another of her friends, Professor Stephen Hawking. Dobson, who played Angie Watts in EastEnders over three decades, told BBC News that her former co-star was 'the archetypal charming rogue'. Anita Dobson, who played Grantham's on-screen wife in EastEnders, was seen at Professor Stephen Hawking's Service of Thanksgiving today when Grantham's death was announced She said: 'He was a good-looking guy, he was a charmer, he was funny, he was a good actor. And he was fun to be around, we were good mates. 'But I think theres always that kind of look about him that you just didnt know what he was going to do next, and that was his ace in the hole, there was always that bit about him that was slightly unpredictable, which I liked and what gave him the edge on TV.' Dobson added: 'I came from nothing, from the East End with no money, and Leslie, as you know, had a chequered life before EastEnders, but we sort of understood each other, we understood that life can be tough. 'And we were fortunate, we were catapulted to an exotic place, but we were playing real people, people that we knew and we loved it.' Advertisement Tracy Ann Oberman, who starred opposite Grantham as his on-screen wife Chrissie Watts from 2004 until 2005, tweeted: 'Really sorry to hear about Leslie Grantham. A very very good actor and one who created an iconic character with Dirty Den #RIPLeslieG.' EastEnders' executive consultant John Yorke said: 'Everyone at EastEnders is deeply saddened to hear that Leslie has passed away. 'We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to his family and friends at this extremely difficult time.' Ray also posted a screengrab, which showed Grantham advising him to 'always eat a hearty breakfast' because 'it sets you up for the day'. Grantham had looked frail when he was last seen in public in February filming for The Krays: Dead Man Walking, which is set for release in December. Friends of the actor said he was 'gaunt and grey' in recent weeks and had been living alone in a friend's empty terrace house London. A friend, who asked not to be named, said this week: 'Last time I saw him I said to him, 'you alright Les?'. He said: 'I'm fine' but from the outside he looked bad. 'He was positive about it all but once you get cancer. He was saying he had it. He said he had it and it went but it came back.' Grantham is understood to have been single in his final months, having said in 2016 that he didn't want to 'mess up someone else's life'. He told an interviewer: 'I've messed up so many people's lives, why mess up someone else's?' I don't get lonely because I have friends. And when I'm writing, that's the world I live in.' In an unlikely comeback, he returned to EastEnders in 2003 before leaving for good in 2005 Grantham told an interviewer in 2016 that he had remained single since splitting from his wife. He is pictured, right, with his on-screen family played by Anita Dobson and Letitia Dean Grantham became famous playing Watts in EastEnders, originally from 1985 to 1989. A 1986 Christmas Day episode drew an audience of more than 30 million viewers, who watched as Watts handed over divorce papers to on-screen wife Angie. His character was apparently killed off in 1989 but made a shock return to Albert Square in 2003. Grantham had originally been a soldier, having enlisted in the British Army in 1965 and being sent to West Germany with the Royal Fusiliers. In 1966, however, he was involved in a struggle with a taxi driver he was attempting to rob in Osnabruck, Lower Saxony. The driver, Felix Reese, was shot in the head and died and, in 1967, Grantham was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Former co-stars and friends paid tribute to the actor on Twitter following his death today It was during his time behind bars - he spent ten years in British jails - that he first took to acting. Speaking about his past in 2016, Grantham said: 'Life isn't a straight line. It's like travelling the motorway. Every now and then, you have to take a diversion. Unfortunately, some of my diversions have been quite catastrophic. But I'm safe in the knowledge that what I do now is good. 'Of course I have regrets, but you can't go round wearing a hair shirt all your life, otherwise you'll never get out of bed in the morning. I f***** up, now I'm going to move on.' In 2004, Grantham was exposed by a Sunday newspaper after he took part in webcam chats while performing a sex act and sucking his finger in his dressing room. He apologised to his family for the embarrassment but later said he was 'set up'. Grantham said he was so devastated after the scandal that he attempted suicide. Grantham, with co stars Anita Dobson, Tom Watt), Nick Berry, Gretchen Franklin and Gillian Taylforth in 1975 In other tributes today: Blue singer Antony Costa, who starred alongside Grantham in Dunstable's Cinderella pantomime in 2015, said: 'Just heard the news my friend and ex panto colleague Leslie Grantham has passed. 'RIP big man...loved working with ya in panto...you made me laugh and I learnt a lot from you too..absolutely gutted. You was West Ham...I am spurs but that didn't matter. x' Citizen Khan star Adil Ray tweeted: 'What a life Leslie Grantham led. Brilliant character in EE. He was proof of how you can turn your life around. 'He was kind enough to give me some nutrition advice last summer too! Rest in peace. Thoughts with Leslie's family and friends.' Former soldier was convicted of murder as a teenager but discovered acting in prison and went on to become one of Britain's best-known soap stars Grantham was jailed for murdering a taxi driver while he was a soldier in Germany. He is pictured being marched to his court martial in 1966 Leslie Grantham was known to millions of viewers for his role as adulterous Queen Vic landlord Dirty Den. More than 30 million viewers tuned in to see Den Watts serve divorce papers to wife Angie, played by Anita Dobson, in the famous episode on Christmas Day 1986, with the words 'Happy Christmas, Ange'. Dirty Den was believed to have been shot dead by a hitman in 1989, but Grantham made a shock return to Albert Square in 2003. And some 17 million viewers watched his return to the BBC One soap. Off screen, London-born Grantham had an eventful personal life. He was born in Camberwell, south London and, according to his sister, burgled houses from the age of 15. He joined the Army in his teens and, aged 18 and serving in Germany in 1966, he was convicted of murdering a German taxi driver, Felix Reese, during an alleged robbery. Grantham always denied the charge. He is said to have told his parents it was an accident but his sister, with whom he fell out, suspected he had run up debts in Germany and needed some money. Grantham pictured outside Walford's Queen Vic pub, the place where many will remember him Grantham served an 11-year sentence and later returned to Leyhill Open Prison in Gloucestershire as a VIP guest to open an art exhibition. He said the jail fostered his interest in amateur dramatics. After his release, he was signed up for EastEnders and, shortly afterwards, the details of his past crime were reported. Rather than being an embarrassment for the show, the news boosted ratings and Grantham's notoriety. He became an overnight sex symbol and women would ask them to sign their breasts. Grantham turned his life around after being convicted of murder as a teenager In 2004, Grantham was exposed after taking part in webcam sex sessions from his EastEnders dressing room at Elstree Studios. He issued an apology for the scandal, which had also seen him criticise his co-stars, describing his actions as 'a moment's stupidity' of which he was 'wholeheartedly ashamed'. Dirty Den was killed off for the second and final time - by his second wife Chrissie, played by Tracy-Ann Oberman - in 2005. More than 14 million viewers watched Den's demise. Grantham felt that EastEnders was not what it once was. 'With Den and Angie, one minute he'd make you laugh, the next he'd cut your legs off. There was humour. Everyone thought Den was a lovable rogue. He wasn't evil, he was just Jack the lad,' he told the Press Association. 'When he came back a second time, he suddenly became this Machiavellian character. I'm not saying it was better when I was in it, but when you're doing four episodes a week, you can't keep up that level of consistency.' Grantham and actress Jane Laurie, the mother of his three sons, divorced in 2013 after being married for more than 30 years. He said of the split: 'Its very sad. I am to blame. Its not Janes fault. She is a fantastic mother. It's very sad but we have to move on now. The marriage was a huge chapter of my life and the divorce is a very sad episode.' Spike, the eldest of his three children, is a successful executive for the ESL Gaming Network and lives in Los Angeles with his partner Lauren Slater. His younger brother Jake is a luxury menswear entrepreneur, specialising in Italian tailoring. Daniel, the youngest of the three brothers, is a successful actor with Downs syndrome who has appeared on Call the Midwife. Having almost disappeared from the small screen, Grantham in his later years focused on touring theatre work and panto. Grantham, pictured launching his book 'Life and Other Times: A Memoir' In 2016 he published his debut children's fantasy novel Jack Bates And The Wizard's Spell. He was offered reality shows but turned down what he called 'humiliation TV'. Grantham moved to Bulgaria after making friends in the country while filming soap The English Neighbour in 2010. Speaking in 2013, he said: I made a lot of friends out there and I am planning to move out when the financial details of my divorce are finalised. I am an old man now and I want to go somewhere it is hot. I really enjoyed it there. I had to learn Bulgarian and even Hungarian. They said they were going to dub the show for me but on the first day of filming I had to speak Bulgarian. In one of his last interviews, he said: 'Life isn't a straight line. It's like travelling the motorway. Every now and then, you have to take a diversion,' he said. 'Unfortunately, some of my diversions have been quite catastrophic. But I'm safe in the knowledge that what I do now is good.' President Donald Trump lashed out Friday at the FBI director hs fired last year and a pair of romantically involved disgraced Bureau employees following the release of a damning report from the Justice Department's inspector general. The law enforcement couple, a special agent and a, FBI lawyer, chatted electronically in 2016 about how to stop Trump from winning the White House. 'FBI Agent Peter Strzok, who headed the Clinton & Russia investigations, texted to his lover Lisa Page, in the IG Report, that well stop candidate Trump from becoming President,' Trump tweeted. 'Doesnt get any lower than that!' The president also took a shot at James Comey, whose time in forced retirement has been a parade of attacks on him. President Trump broke his silence about the DOJ's inspector general report, slamming James Comey and a pair of texting anti-Trump lovers Trump tweeted his disgust about the actions of a few FBI employees but managed to keep quiet about it all day Thursday while marking his 72nd birthday 'The IG Report is a total disaster for Comey, his minions and sadly, the FBI. Comey will now officially go down as the worst leader, by far, in the history of the FBI,' he wrote. 'I did a great service to the people in firing him.' Trump also boasted that 'good instincts' led him to give Comey his walking papers amid political partisanship in the FBI, and expressed confidenve that his replacement, Christopher Wray, will restore order to the agency. Thursday's bombshell report outlined conversations between Strzok and Page that had never before seen the light of day. In one message on August 8, 2016, Strzok reassured Page that she needn't worry about Trump winning the White House. Trump is 'not ever going to become president, right? Right?!' Page texted Strzok. 'No. No hes not. Well stop it,' he responded. Strzok separately wrote to Page that although she had insisted 'theres no way he gets elected,' there were things they could do to make sure. 'Im afraid we cant take that risk,' he added. 'Its like an insurance policy in the unlikely event you die before youre 40.' Inspector General Michael Horowitz wrote that '[s]everal FBI employees who played critical roles in the investigation sent political messages,' and concluded that 'the conduct by these employees cast a cloud over the entire FBI investigation.' 'When one senior FBI official, Strzok, who was helping to lead the Russia investigation at the time, conveys in a text message to another senior FBI official, Page, that well stop candidate Trump from being elected after other extensive text messages between the two disparaging candidate Trump it is not only indicative of a biased state of mind but, even more seriously, implies a willingness to take official action to impact the presidential candidates electoral prospects,' Horowitz concluded. 'This is antithetical to the core values of the FBI and the Department of Justice.' The long anticipated inspector general's bombshell report on the Clinton email investigation pointed fingers of blame at 'insubordinate' James Comey but didn't call hm politically biased FBI Special Agent Peter Strzok and former FBI lawyer Lisa Page exchanged text messages about keeping Donald Trump from becoming president Yet Horowitz declared in the same report that the IG's office 'did not find documentary or testimonial evidence that improper considerations, including political bias, directly affected the specific investigative actions we reviewed.' FBI Director Christopher Wray told reporters Thursday evening that he would make sure heads rolled, but emphasized that no one had proven a political motive behind any misconduct. Comey didn't come out of the IG report unscathed, despite Horowitz's conclusion that there was no evidence an overt 'political bias' was responsible for his decision not to charge Hillary Clinton with a crime for exposing classified information to foreign powers by using an unsecured email server while she was secretary of state. Clinton maintained a private, home-brew email server for her communications while she was secretary of state, and classified material was found on it; Comey cleared her of criminal wrongdoing in July 2016 but rebooted the probe in October, a move that she has said doomed her presidential hopes FBI Director Christopher Wray told reporters at a press conference: 'We're going to hold employees accountable for any potential misconduct' The lengthy report found that Comey 'deviated' from the standard practices of his agency and was 'insubordinate' for making unilateral decisions about the Clinton case without ever consulting Loretta Lynch, who was then the U.S. attorney general. Wray said in a press conference that 'Itake this report very seriously and we accept its findings and recommendations. The report does identify errors of judgment, violations of, or even disregard for, policy and decisions that at the very least with the benefit of hindsight were not the best choices.' He added: 'We're going to hold employees accountable for any potential misconduct.' Neither Comey nor Page are still FBI employees. Strzok was the lead investigator in the Clinton case and was later moved to a similar role on Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe before news of his texting relationship with Page became front-page news. He still draws a salary from the FBI. The Trump White House is still reeling from the months-long public relations blitz associated with Comey's self-laudatory book, 'A Higher Loyalty,' which painted Trump as an integrity-compromised villain and cast Comey as the unfairlly deposed carrier of America's moral torch. A pair of young sisters and their dog have become best friends after the pet walked half an hour to see them every day for two years. The female dog, named 'Big Yellow', shows up at the girls' school gate at 8am every morning to greet them; it then waits by the gate patiently for seven hours until the siblings finish their class at 3pm. The loyal pooch would meet the sisters come rains or shine, according to a teacher at the school. Hello, Big Yellow: Zhang Xingyu (left) and Zhang Yingying (right) meet their dog in their school Best friend forever: The pet has walked to meet the siblings every day for two years in China The sisters, from rural Guizhou Province in southern China, are eight and six years old. They study at the Lishu Primary School in Nidang Town outside Xingyu City. The elder sister, Zhang Xingyu, is a first grade pupil and lives in school from Monday to Friday. The school also has two pre-school classes to teach children aged six and seven. The younger sister, Zhang Yingying, is at one of the pre-school classes and she goes home every day. Daily greetings: The elder sister, Xingyu, strokes Big Yellow through the school gate Well-behaved: After meeting the sisters, Big Yellow waits for them quietly outside the school Always together: Whenever the girls finish a lesson, they come to spend time with Big Yellow (left). They even eat their lunch while sitting near their dog, which is their best friend (right) Big Yellow walks for half an hour every morning to see the girls, said teacher Luo Zhonghua. Ms Luo, 27, teaches Chinese at the school of 171 children. According to her, Big Yellow accompanies the younger sister, Yingying, home every afternoon after the school is over. The elder sister, Xingyu, sometimes walks home with Yingying and Big Yellow, then returns to school. The teacher said she often saw the dog sitting outside the school, but didn't know it was there to meet its masters until the elder sister Xingyu told her the other day. Ms Luo was surprised to find out that the dog had been doing so for two years - since Xingyu started to study at the school in 2016. She said it was raining in their town today and she saw Big Yellow by the gate again. Sisters and their school: The sisters walk on a village road with Big Yellow (right) after their day at the Lishu Primary School (left). Xingyu, who lives at the school, would then return to campus Sweet moment: Elder sister Xingyu (right) is eight years old while Yingying (left) is aged six Xingyu and Yingying are the so-called China's 'left-behind' children, whose parents have moved to big cities for work, leaving them behind in small villages. The siblings are looked after by their grandparents. Both of their parents live in cosmopolitan Guangzhou, which is more than 540 miles away. They only get to see their mother once a year during the Lunar New Year, and their father barely comes back. Therefore, the sisters have formed a special bond with Big Yellow, which they consider their best friend. The sisters' friendship with their dog has been documented by their teacher Luo Zhonghua Their teacher, Ms Luo, said she was so surprised and touched after hearing about the story Ms Luo described the elder sister to be 'outgoing' and the younger sister to be 'timid'. She added she was touched by the pure friendship between the girls and their pet. She told MailOnline: 'At first, I found it surprising. I was surprised by the dog's loyalty. 'Then I also felt very heart-warming. I thought emotional things like this would only happen on TV, and I didn't expect to find an example among my students.' The story of Big Yellow and the girls is now one of the trending topics on Chinese social media after Ms Luo took pictures and videos of them. Ms Luo said she was glad to share the empowering story with the public. She also urged people to pay more attention to the 'left-behind' children like Xingyu and Yingying. The grieving mother of a man who died after being found unconscious on the side of a street, has welcomed the murder investigation launched. Adrian Trett, 45, was found lying alongside his scooter with a serious head injury in Mannum, South Australia around 7am on Monday April 23. He was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital where he died 12 days later. Mr Trett's mother Mira said she always suspected her son's death was the result of foul play, and lent her support to the investigation after it was announced on Friday. Mira Trett (Pictured) has said she welcomes the investigation into her sons death Adrian Trett, 45, (pictured) was found lying alongside his scooter (bottom right) with a serious head injury. he had been wrapped in three blankets (top right) Mr Trett's mother Mira told 9News the launch of the investigation confirmed what his family had feared. 'I always had this suspicion it would be a murder,' she said. 'It's terrible, not only my son, but any human being. It is just a terrible, terrible thing to do. 'You don't give birth to a child to bury them,' Ms Trett added. Police are looking for three people that they suspect were seen wrapping blankets around him. 'Our inquiries not only concern how Mr Trett sustained his head injury, but how and why he came to be in David Street,' said Inspector Billy Thompson, from the Major Crime Investigation Branch in a statement. Mr Trett died 12 days after being found lying on the road at the Royal Adelaide hospital His mother (pictured left) has said she 'had this suspicion it would be a murder' 'We are still investigating the full circumstances of this matter.' 'We have reports from witnesses that up to three people were standing near him, but we don't know the identity of those people. It is suspected they were wrapping these three blankets around him,' Inspector Thompson said. Police have released the image of the blankets Mr Trett was found wrapped in and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward. 'I'm appealing for anyone that may have any information about these blankets, or the identity of the three people, to come forward.' He was found on a footpath (pictured) in a regional town in South Australia Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has pulled out of the party's state conference to be by the side of his terminally ill brother. Timothy Joyce was taken to the intensive care unit of Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital on Thursday, according to a Nationals spokesperson who addressed the conference in Cowra, New South Wales. 'The family has been called, he has terminal cancer and I just wanted you all to keep him in your thoughts and prayers,' said the spokesperson. Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce (pictured) has pulled out of the party's state conference to be by the side of his terminally ill brother The news follows considerable speculation as to whether Joyce would be showing his face at the NSW Nationals' annual conference, given his turbulent position within the party of late, The Daily Telegraph reports. 'The reality is, as a member of the party, he's entitled to come,' Nationals NSW state leader John Barilaro said during a press conference on Friday. 'And Barnaby's choice, he's decided not to come and it's probably a good decision where he's looking after his family.' Timothy Joyce was taken to the intensive care unit of Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital (pictured) on Thursday, according to a Nationals spokesperson Former deputy prime minister Joyce has been on sick leave since May, after his new partner and former staffer Vikki Campion gave birth to their son. In his absence, a large contingent of Nationals MPs, members and delegates will debate a range of party policies at the Cowra summit over Friday and Saturday. The prostitute who injected a Google executive with a fatal dose of heroin before leaving him to die has revealed her regrets five years after he died. Alix Tichelman, 31, was jailed for six years over the death of Forrest Hayes, a father-of-five found dead on a yacht in California in 2013, but was released last year after serving just two before being deported to Canada. Speaking from her new home, Tichelman said she thinks about Hayes every day and is wracked with guilt for not calling 911 as he fell unconscious. Alix Tichelman, 31, served two years of a six year sentence for injecting Google executive Forrest Hayes with a fatal dose of heroin on a yacht in California in 2013 Tichelman, who now lives in Canada after being deported, says she regrets abandoning Hayes as he died and thinks about him 'every day' In an interview with The Sun, she said: 'I just wish I had done something different, then his kids would still have a father. 'I take responsibility for what I did. I should have stayed, I should have called 911.' Tichelman revealed she met Hayes through website Seeking Arrangement which matches up 'sugar daddies' with male or female 'sugar babies'. She claims the pair met just once before the night in question when they had dinner. Hayes then invited her on board the yacht in November 2013 and asked her to bring a stash of drugs with her. She said he was not interested in a sexual relationship, contradicting police claims that she met Hayes several times for drug-fueled sex, but instead wanted her to inject him with heroin. Tichelman said he gave her a Valium pill before they climbed aboard the boat and that she dosed herself with heroin first, before giving a dose to him. 'He wasn't very experienced with heroin but he seemed very at ease and excited about it,' she said. Almost immediately after injecting him, Tichelman said he began to 'drop off' but she initially didn't think anything was wrong, having passed out herself several times while using heroin. The former prostitute rejects police claims she calmly and coldly abandoned Hayes to his fate, saying she flew into a blind panic and didn't know what she was doing But after she was unable to rouse him she claims she flew into a panic, before collecting her things and leaving. Police said she 'calmly and coldly' collected her things and left, stepping over Hayes' body to finish a glass of wine before dropping the blinds to hide his body from view. She disputes that claim, saying she flew into a blind panic and agonized over calling 911 while driving back to Sacramento. Knowing that Hayes was a family man she decided against alerting the authorities and tried to make it look as if he was alone on the yacht. Tichelman admits that Hayes' five children might still have a father if she had decided to call 911 after he 'dropped off' Because he gave an alias of 'Tim' during their meetings she had no way of knowing that he had died until police arrested her eight months later in a sting operation. She was initially arrested for first degree murder but the charge was later downgraded to involuntary manslaughter, for which she was given six years. Tichelman, who had a privileged upbringing in Atlanta, Georgia, and then California, was freed from prison on March 29 last year. As soon as she stepped outside the prison gates, ICE agents took her into their custody. Tichelman completed drug rehab programs during her time in jail because she was addicted to heroin. She grew up in a wealthy, upper-class family but rejected her privileged upbringing. Tichelman became addicted to heroin and turned to high-class prostitution to support herself. According to her Facebook profile, Tichelman went to high school in Atlanta, Georgia, majored in journalism at Georgia State University, and worked as a dancer, makeup artist, and model. Her ex-boyfriend, 53-year-old monkey trainer Dean Riopelle, died from a heroin overdose in Georgia two months before Hayes' death. His death was ruled as accidental. After Tichelman was charged in California, police in Milton, Georgia, took another look at the 2013 overdose death of Riopelle. He was the owner of a popular Atlanta music venue, the Masquerade After Tichelman was charged in California, police in Milton, Georgia, took another look at the 2013 overdose death of Riopelle. He was the owner of a popular Atlanta music venue, the Masquerade. Authorities said a panicked Tichelman had called Milton police, saying Riopelle had overdosed on drugs and wasn't responding. Tichelman was not charged. An autopsy report listed Riopelle's death as an accidental overdose of heroin, oxycodone and alcohol. WSB-TV reported that Tichelman had been arrested two weeks prior to Riopelle's death for biting him, and friends called their relationship volatile and abusive. Captain Shawn McCarty with the Milton Police Department said: 'It's still conjecture, looking at the similarities of the two situations, but obviously we're going to go back and look at it and make sure that everything determined to be correct, almost a year ago, is still factual and still accurate. 'Both subjects in these cases died of heroin overdoses so there's just several factors we want to look at to make sure that we didn't miss anything.' Technical problems forced one of American Airline's regional carriers to cancel nearly 700 of flights. Thousands of travelers have been stranded at US airports after American's PSA Airlines carrier canceled 275 flights Thursday and 400 flights Friday because of the glitch. Travel through Charlotte-Douglas International Airport was hit particularly hard as nearly half of PSA's cancellations were out of the North Carolina airport. The problem was with the system that affects crew scheduling and dispatch operations. The airline says it has been resolved and service was expected to resume at noon on Friday. American's PSA Airlines cancelled 675 flights due to a 'technical issue' Thousands were left stranded, sleeping on the floor and took to Twitter to express their frustrations About half of the cancellations hit Charlotte-Douglas International Airport in North Carolina, where travelers are seen sleeping on the floor The company issues a statement Friday saying flights are planned to resume by noon In all, 675 flights were cancelled. The airline says it's working to accommodate passengers on American flights and other regional carriers. There were no problems with American Airlines itself or other regional carriers. It didn't take long for Twitter users to express their frustration over the cancellations. Images from the airport show crowds of people lined up at the gates, while others are seen laying flat on the floor or slumped over in a chair. Other passengers were forced to pay for new flights with other airlines entirely because the cancellations were far too delayed. One woman stranded in Texas replied to American Airlines saying '1/2 price hotel vouchers don't cut it!' 'Our team members are focused on taking care of our customers by accommodating them on mainline flights or other regional carriers,' the airline said. 'We never want to disrupt our customers' travel plans, and we are sorry for the trouble this caused. Customer relations will be reaching out to all of those who have been impacted by this issue.' A teenager jailed for stabbing a youth worker to death who told him to stop dealing drugs posed with a knives in chilling Instagram posts just three weeks before the killing. The 17-year-old boy, who can't be named for legal reasons, was today sentenced to eight year's detention for the manslaughter of Omid Saidy, 20, in Parsons Green, west London. He attacked the youth worker after he told him to stop dealing drugs outside his home on October 16 last year. In one of the images he is holding a Samurai sword, and in another he brandishes a hunting knife while sitting on a sofa. Scroll down for video: In one of the images the teenager is holding a Samurai sword, and in another he brandishes a hunting knife while sitting on a sofa One of the pictures, which is believed to have been put online less than three weeks before the fatal stabbing, was captioned: 'Always moving aggy wen I'm pokin, the Evening Standard reports. The sentence comes amid a surge in knife violence on London's streets, with figures showing this year alone there have been 46 fatal stabbings in the capital. The court heard the youth worker chased the crack and heroin dealer, then aged 16, through the streets. He called on his friend Omotosho 'Femi' Oluwafemi, 18, to help tackle the teenager. Omid Saidy suffered wounds to his neck, torso and backside and was pronounced dead shortly after the attack Mr Oluwafemi was then knifed by Sadiq Smith, 20, after arriving at the scene and crashing his moped in a desperate attempt to scare the pair off. The 17-year-old was convicted of manslaughter and jailed for eight years while Smith was convicted of wounding Mr Oluwafemi with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Smith was jailed for more than six years and one month for wounding with intent. Mr Saidy, from Fulham, suffered wounds to his neck, torso and backside and was pronounced dead shortly after 8.30pm. The victim's mother, Virginia Jerome told the court: 'The 16 October 2017, was the day this nightmare began. But it is not a nightmare. It is real. 'He was taken from us in the most cruel and senseless way. Omid was the brightest star who brought life and love to everyone around him. 'As parents we cannot come to terms with the fact that we will never see our child again. We will never see him get married or have children of his own. 'We spent his 21st birthday crying for him and no parent should have to go through what we have. He was a remarkable young man and he will never be forgotten. 'We used to have a family Sunday but it will not be the same without Omid so now we do not have it anymore.' Smith and the juvenile, now 17, were both cleared by an Old Bailey jury of the murder of Mr Saidy. But the youth was convicted of manslaughter while Smith was convicted of wounding Femi with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Police at the scene of the stabbing near Parsons Green Tube station in west London Judge Anne Molyneux refused to allow the 17-year-old to be identified because he is 'vulnerable.' She said: 'Knives do not protect. They maim, injure and kill and you chose to carry knives that day.' 'As a child or young person, your decision making can be affected by immaturity or negative influences and they may not be capable of fully understanding the stress caused to the victims of their crimes.' 'Your vulnerability, your life history of living in care homes and being homeless, your anxiety for which your receiving treatment and your feelings of abandonment and rejection are all taken into consideration.' Victim's father: London is sick of knife crime Majid Saidy told the court: 'Because of knife crime, so many families are now going through hell since all these kids are carrying knives. 'Youths are not considering what is really happening to the families who are effected, who are crying everyday over lost family. 'Everyone in London are watching these young kids being killed. London is fed up and the sentences should be harsh.' Advertisement She told Smith that 'the court concluded that you do not pose a significant risk of serious threat.' Jurors heard the two victims had also been carrying knives and prosecutor Timothy Cray said: 'Should they have chased the defendants? 'Absolutely not, dealing with drug dealers is the work of the police and the events show how quickly violence can spread if individuals try and take the law into their own hands.' He said Mr Saidy made a decision that 'set off a chain of events' which led to 'terrible consequences for himself and for his family' by opting to confront the drug-dealing duo. 'Omid believed that these defendants were selling drugs outside his family home, he was going to confront these defendants and tell them to stop,' he said. He called Mr Oluwafemi who arrived on his moped where all four ended up at Parsons Green tube station. During the violent confrontation Mr Saidy was attacked with a blade and kicked as he lay defenceless on the floor. Despite emergency treatment he died at the scene at around 8.30pm from the loss of blood. Mr Oluwafemi rode up on the pavement to try and drive the pair off but crashed into a number of parked cars. Rather than back off, Smith closed in on the fallen rider before picking him up and plunging the knife into his chest, puncturing his lung. Smith was arrested on October 19 and admitted to officers that he was at the scene but claimed he acted in self-defence and had no idea the youngster was armed. The teenager ran off and 'disposed' of the knife but was arrested by police within about 15 minutes of the brawl. Mr Cray said the teen also suffered wounds that were later treated with stitches, but he put photographs of his injuries on Instagram saying he was stabbed. He initially denied any knowledge of the incident before claiming he was a victim of crime. The youth, from the Durham area, denied and was cleared of murder but was convicted of manslaughter by the jury. Smith, of Wandsworth was also cleared of murder but convicted of wounding with intent. A California man has been arrested for DUI after drunkenly riding a horse that trampled over a young boy. Families were lining the streets at the Colusa County Fair, as Armando Martinez Ruiz and other riders on horses trotted down the road. The moment Ruiz loses control of his brown horse was caught on camera by a bystander in the crowd. The video catches the horse acting erratically and throwing Ruiz off. It then is seen charging toward the crowd, where it disappears form frame but proceeds to trample an eight-year-old boy and break several bones in his leg. Armando Martinez Ruiz is pictured being dragged on the floor after allegedly drunkenly riding a horse during the Colusa County Fair. He has been arrested for DUI Armando Martinez Ruiz is seen walking away after his horse threw him off (left). The horse is seen (right) charging the crowd where it trampled the boy Police say Ruiz was in fact intoxicated while riding the horse and taking part in the fair. 'In California, the same laws apply when riding horses as driving cars,' the Colusa Police Department wrote on Facebook. Ruiz was arrested and booked into jail for a felony DUI because of the boy's injuries. A man in the crowd recorded the moment the horse bucked Ruiz off and came charging into the crowd. Men are seen on the video wearing cowboy hats on horseback while music is playing as part of the fair's tradition. As they come down the road, chaos ensues when Ruiz's horse gets spoooked. Ruiz is seen on the ground, attempting to hold onto the horse's reins, but it gets away and heads toward the camera. ENLOE Medics and CFD personnel attended to the child after the June 8 incident. Police say the horse was located and the boy is recovering. Colusa Police Sgt Elden Tamez told Fox 40 that in his 20 years, this was his 'first time charging somebody for this.' 'The problem was him, not the horse, let me tell you something,' he said. 'We're just thankful it wasn't bigger than it was and I'm sure we're probably gonna take a look at including horses in our future parades,' Tamez added. Innocent motorists escaped death in this chilling crash which saw a ute fly off an exit ramp across six lanes of traffic to land above three cars. There were no fatalities in the incident caught on a towing truck's dashcam on Pumicestone Road near Caboolture, South-East Queensland on Thursday morning around 8:30am. Two women were hospitalised after being trapped and removed from their vehicles using hydraulic equipment by the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service. Scroll down for Video Innocent motorists escaped death in this chilling crash which saw a ute fly off an exit ramp across six lanes of traffic to land above three cars A Clayton's Towing driver was the first to assist at the scene as other drivers moved their vehicles to make room for emergency services. The screams of one victim who was driving a Mazda 6 can be heard in the video captured on dashcam. The victims daughter took to social media to say: 'God sake my poor mum screaming, this makes me sick.' The daughter also updated Facebook users on the victims condition. 'Mums doing really well thankyou. One of her lungs looks like it may collapse but apart from that 6 broken ribs and a massive bruise on her shoulder, she's doing great. She is in so so much pain but that was to be expected.' Two women were hospitalised after being trapped and having to be removed from their vehicles using hydraulic equipment by the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service A Clayton's Towing driver was the first to assist at the scene as other drivers moved their vehicles to make room for emergency services The victim is recovering in the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. There have also been reports of other victims and two dogs involved in the incident, who are reportedly also recovering well. Other Facebook users are stunned by the efforts of the witnesses who quickly reacted to the situation. Police said drug utensils, including an ice pipe were found inside the ute which caused the incident The tow-truck driver has not gone unnoticed with plenty of thanks being directed towards his efforts. 'He was in the right place at the right Time fate has a funny way like that,' said a Facebook user, 'That towie deserves a medal didn't even think twice about running up and helping,' one man said. Police said drug utensils, including an ice pipe were found inside the ute. The 23-year-old driver was arrested but charges have not been laid. President Donald Trump said Friday that James Comey's actions prior to his firing were 'criminal' and called the agency's past leadership 'scum' 'They just seem like criminal acts to me. What he did was criminal,' Trump said of the fired FBI chief, during an impromptu half-hour appearance on 'Fox & Friends.' 'What he did was a terrible thing to the people,' the president added of the law enforcement nemesis whom he canned in May 2017. 'What he did was so bad in terms of our Constitution, in terms of the well-being of our country. What he did was horrible.' But 'should he be locked up?' Trump asked. 'Let somebody make a determination.' He added that he would personally 'never want to get involved with that.' SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO President Donald Trump spent a half-hour Friday on 'Fox & Friends,' the morning program that has been the most reliably friendly to him, sniping about fired FBI director James Comey The president was mobbed as he left the West Wing, with reporters staking out the location following a tweet foreshadowing his appearance Trump also covered immigration, trade, the G7, Russia and his birthday on Thursday during Firday morning's media extravaganza Trump said he's popular among the FBI's rank-and-file. 'I mean the real FBI, not the scum on top.' He told reporters during another 18-minute session on his way back into the White House that the 'real FBI' is on his side. 'Those guys love me, and I love them,' the president proclaimed. The FBI scandal was just one of many topics Trump covered Friday morning, both on the air and afterward in what became the biggest press scrum of the year. He said the global crisis that unfolded after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 wasn't his fault because if happened during his predecessor's administration. 'I want to make it [clear] so the fake news prints it properly,' he sniped. 'President Obama lost Crimea because Putin didn't respect President Obama, didn't respect our country.' Secret Service everywhere: Trump's security detail accompanied him to the North Lawn from the West Wing before his surprise appearance on Fox News The president stood and took questions from mostly non-Fox reporters for another 18 minutes after his TV interview The president boasted of his summit with Kim Jong-un, brushing off a question about why he's letting the North Korean dictator off the hook for human rights violations in the pursuit of more important goals. 'You know why? Because I dont want to see a nuclear weapon destroy you and your family,' Trump said. 'I dont want to see a nuclear weapon destroy you and your family. I want to have a good relationship with North Korea. When I came in people thought we were probably going to war with North Korea. If we did, millions of people would have been killed.' He also joked that he wishes his own staff would 'sit up at attention' like Kim's terrified aides, some of whom have been fired, exiled or executed. And, the president added, Kim now has a 'very direct' phone number to reach him at the White House. Comey has become a one-man Trump wrecking crew this year, promoting a book that casts himself as a moral crusader and Trump as a corrupt autocrat. The release of a Justice Department inspector general report on Thursday what Trump called 'a horror show' added more fuel to the White House's return-fire flamethrower. 'Maybe more importantly than anything, it totally exonerates me,' he said of the 568-page tome. 'There was no collusion, there was no obstruction, and if you read the report youll see that.' 'What youll really see, is youll see bias against me and millions, and tens of millions of my followers. That is really a disgrace.' The report showed Comey presided over an agency where senior officials talked privately about how much they hated Trump and how far they would go to stop him from winning the White House. Peter Strzok and Lisa Page in particular were faulted for their biases. The president is pictured here with press aides Hogan Gidley (center) and Raj Shah (right) after his marathon TV interview and press availability The president's sudden emergence from the West Wing was closely watched nationwide Yet despite ample suggestion of a political slant animating people like Strzok, who led investigative teams for both the Clinton email probe and the special counsel's Russia investigation, the IG concluded that there was no harm, no foul. Trump wasn't buying it. 'The end result was wrong. There was total bias,' he insisted. 'The IG blew it at the very end.' He compared it to Comey's famous July 5, 2016 press conference in which he listed examples of Clinton mishandling classified information before declaring that she hadn't committed any crimes. 'It was almost like Comey,' the president said Friday. 'He goes point after point about how guilty Hillary is' before exonerating her. And 'don't forget,' Trump cautioned, 'all of these people like Strzok what he did was criminal. Strzok and so many others.' Trump's Friday morning capped a crazy week that included a Singapore nuclear summit and a contentious G7 trade meeting The long anticipated inspector general's bombshell report on the Clinton email investigation pointed fingers of blame at 'insubordinate' James Comey but didn't call hm politically biased FBI Special Agent Peter Strzok and former FBI lawyer Lisa Page exchanged text messages about keeping Donald Trump from becoming president Trump foreshadowed his surprise Fox appearance by tweeting a hint before going to the North Law. 'McCabe is now up, they all work for Comey,' he said of former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. 'And Comey knew everything that was going on. You think McCabe didn't tell him everything?' 'I think Comey was the ringleader of this whole den of thieves. It was a den of thieves,' Trump said. The president also hinted that Strzok's days with a government job could be numbered. 'I don't know how Peter Strzok is still working there, to be honest,' he said, but declared that he intended to remain hands-off about Justice Department personnel matters. 'I may not stay uninvolved,' he added, however. Speaking to the larger group of reporters, the president said that Strzok 'should have been fired a long time ago, and others should have been fired.' Trump had already lashed out Friday at the FBI director he pink-slipped last year and a pair of romantically involved disgraced Bureau employees following the release of the damning IG report. The law enforcement couple, a special agent and a, FBI lawyer, chatted electronically in 2016 about how to stop Trump from winning the White House. 'FBI Agent Peter Strzok, who headed the Clinton & Russia investigations, texted to his lover Lisa Page, in the IG Report, that well stop candidate Trump from becoming President,' Trump tweeted. 'Doesnt get any lower than that!' Trump tweeted his disgust about the actions of a few FBI employees earlier on Friday but managed to keep quiet about it all day Thursday while marking his 72nd birthday 'The IG Report is a total disaster for Comey, his minions and sadly, the FBI. Comey will now officially go down as the worst leader, by far, in the history of the FBI,' he wrote. 'I did a great service to the people in firing him.' Trump also boasted that 'good instincts' led him to give Comey his walking papers amid political partisanship in the FBI, and expressed confidenve that his replacement, Christopher Wray, will restore order to the agency. Thursday's bombshell report outlined conversations between Strzok and Page that had never before seen the light of day. In one message on August 8, 2016, Strzok reassured Page that she needn't worry about Trump winning the White House. Trump is 'not ever going to become president, right? Right?!' Page texted Strzok. 'No. No hes not. Well stop it,' he responded. A man who has been accused of sexually assaulting a young mother in front of her son insists he 'didn't do anything wrong.' The 21-year-old was with her son at Main Beach on the Gold Coast when the 78-year-old approached them about midday on Wednesday. After approaching her multiple times when the woman realised he was coming back again she quickly switched her phone to camera mode and began recording. Scroll down for video A young mother has confronted an elderly man after he allegedly grabbed her chest and attempted to kiss her (pictured) Footage captured shows the alleged offender who insists he 'didn't do anything wrong' In the video, the man ruffles the hair of her two-year-old son and gives him $20 telling him,'You take that and let mummy take you to the coffee place.' The man then strokes the woman's arms before allegedly groping her chest and attempting to kiss her. 'I was so scared and was just thinking of how I could get out of the situation and also didn't want to aggravate him, especially having my son,' she wrote on social media. 'He asked me if I wanted to have a coffee. I said ''no sorry'' and then he was saying how pretty I was and that he likes my hair. Just weird s**t,' the post read. 'He then was grabbing me again, but this time more forcefully. He grabbed my face and tried kissing me on the lips and then grabbed my boob. I pushed him away and said 'I don't like that!' After contacting the authorities, she later spotted him in the car park and went over to tell him that his actions were inappropriate. 'I then thought f**k this I'm going to say something to him.. I turned back around and parked near him put my phone on video and had a word with him.' After the incident she spotted him in the car park (pictured) and she confronted him about it In the second video she tells him through tears that he made her feel very uncomfortable and that he should not do that ever again to any other woman. The man handed himself in to police and Surfers Paradise Sergeant John Goobanko told Nine News that the man 'wanted to give his version of events'. 'We received a version of events which included a remorseful account,' Sgt Goobanko said. The man has told Nine News he would like to apologise to the mother after the alleged incident. He has been issued with a notice to appear in court. First Lady Melania Trump took a trip to New York this week, despite it being President Donald Trump's birthday. Melania was seen sitting in the back of an SUV flanked by Secret Service and New York Highway Patrol officers as she rode through the city on Thursday. A spokesperson for the first lady said Melania was in town on Wednesday and Thursday for a series of meetings, though it is unknown who she was meeting with or the reason for the meetings. She was seen leaving Trump Tower in a black SUV on Thursday. The trip to New York coincided with President Donald Trumps 72nd birthday, which he celebrated at the White House in Washington, DC. First Lady Melania Trump was in New York for a series of meetings, according to a spokesperson, though it is unclear who the meetings were with or what they were about The trip to New York coincided with President Donald Trumps 72nd birthday, which he celebrated at the White House in Washington, DC Melania's spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said that the first lady flew to New York for her meetings When asked about birthday celebrations on Friday by Fox News' Steve Doocy, Trump said that he 'got a lot of kisses' from his 'beautiful wife'. Melania's spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said that the first lady flew to New York for her meetings. Trump had previously said that Melania was unable to go to Singapore because she couldn't fly for 30 days following her kidney surgery. Grisham clarified the comment to NBC by saying that Melania was not cleared to fly internationally. A flight from Washington, DC, to New York takes just over an hour. The trip could be the first of many following her kidney operation last month, as it was revealed on Thursday that Melania will join Trump as he flies to London for his first visit to Britain as president. Before heading to the UK, Trump will go to the NATO summit in Brussels on July 11 and 12. Trump and Melania will then arrive in England on July 13 and are expected to stay at the US Ambassador's residence of Winfield House at Regent's Park in the capital. While in the UK it is believed the first couple will meet the Queen at Windsor Castle. When asked about birthday celebrations on Friday by Fox News' Steve Doocy, Trump said that he 'got a lot of kisses' from his 'beautiful wife' Melania was seen sitting in the back of an SUV flanked by Secret Service and New York Highway Patrol officers as she rode through the city Trump is expected to have a photograph opportunity with the Queen, but not a carriage procession. However it is believed Mr and Mrs Trump will be honoured by No 7 Company of the Coldstream Guards, Britain's oldest regiment, who have served in nearly every major battle since the Civil War. The Coldstream Guards are one of five regiments which make up the Queen's Guard, infantry and cavalry soldiers best known for standing outside Buckingham Palace and other royal residences. They are said to be rehearsing a ceremonial welcome band, national anthems and a presidential inspection ahead of Mr and Mrs Trump's visit next month. Previous visits to England have been cancelled following fears of mass protests, but this occasion appears to be going ahead. It will be Mrs Trump's first official trip abroad as First Lady. While it is unknown who Melania met with while in New York, she was seen leaving Trump Tower in a black SUV alongside secret service agents While it is believed she arrived in the city on Wednesday, it is unclear when on Thursday Melania left to return to Washington DC for Trump's birthday Her first public appearance following the surgery was on June 5, at a reception for military families who have lost a relative in action - 27 days after she first vanished. She was seen again the next day in Washington DC at a briefing from the Federal Emergency Management Agency on hurricane preparedness. The President, reading from a note card, introduced 'our great First Lady' at the briefing and said: 'She went through a little rough patch but she's doing great.' The room applauded the First Lady at his words. 'The people love you... thank you, honey,' he added and reached out to touch her hand. The First Lady sat next to the President during the briefing. Reports from inside the room said she looked well and healthy. But she did not attend the G7 in Canada or the Singapore summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, claiming she could not fly for a month following her surgery. She was checked into the Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC on May 14 and was in hospital for five days. Cristiano Ronaldo has accepted a 16million fine and a two-year suspended prison sentence for tax evasion in Spain - local media report. Ronaldo was accused by Spanish prosecutors in June last year of defrauding tax authorities of 14.8million (13million.) According to Spanish newspaper El Mundo, the Portugal and Real Madrid forward has admitted the charge in exchange for a reduced penalty. But because the star has no previous convictions, he will not serve any time behind bars. The Portuguese forward, pictured arriving at Moscow airport last Saturday, is currently on duty with his country at the 2018 World Cup in Russia He will be required to pay the Spanish government 19million in total - made up of 5.7million in taxes and 13.3million in fines and interest Ronaldo, often described by pundits as the 'best player in the world', originally denied the charges when they were brought against him last summer. The striker reportedly admitted a total of four tax offences on Friday after prosecutors agreed to significantly reduce the amount he was required to pay back from 14.7million to 5.7million. The rest of the 19million total Ronaldo is required to pay the Spanish government is made up of interest and fines. According to Spanish media, the agreement hasn't yet been signed, but once formalised it will settle the case against him once and for all. Ronaldo in a training session at the Portuguese national team's base camp in Kratovo, outskirts of Moscow on Monday Ronaldo evades a challenge from teammate Andre Silva in training ahead of Portugal's opener with Spain on Friday Ronaldo is currently on duty with Portugal at the World Cup in Russia having flown into Moscow last Saturday with the national team. Portugal are set to kick off their campaign with a crunch match against longstanding Iberian rivals Spain at the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi on Friday. The European champions will be relishing the occasion after Spain manager Julen Lopetegui was sacked on Thursday just two days before the match. Police have released a dramatic 911 call made moments after an alligator attack that killed a 47-year-old woman while she was out walking her dogs in a Florida park. Shizuka Matsuki, from Plantation, was dragged into a pond by the 12-foot beast in Silver Lakes Rotary Nature Park on Friday. When the animal was cut open they found a human arm. The 911 caller tells the operator, 'I think an alligator got this lady', before explaining how he had been alerted to what had happened after seeing her dogs running into the parking lot, where he was standing. Shizuka Matsuki, from Plantation, was dragged into a pond by the 12-foot beast (pictured) in Silver Lakes Rotary Nature Park on Friday Identifying himself only as 'Rich', the man said he followed two of the dogs to the back of the park where he found a third dog barking alone by the water and a huge alligator. The owner, who he had seen by the water earlier, could not be found. 'I think an alligator got this lady,' he said. 'Her two dogs came running out into the parking lot and I followed to the back of the park and one of her dogs was still hanging out of the water and I saw a huge alligator. 'Two of her dogs are in the car and one of the dogs is still back by the water and the alligator is hanging out there. I saw her go in but did not see her come out.' The caller then ran through a description of his location before the operator said she had sent an officer out. Police were called to the pond at 9.45am, and trappers caught the alligator later that afternoon. They found an arm inside its stomach which they identified as Matsuki's from a tattoo. The rest of her body was found in the pond at around 10pm. Locals say the reptiles are known to frequent the water and that they know not to let their dogs off the leash there because of it. The 12ft-long alligator was captured by trappers on Friday afternoon. Rangers found a human arm inside it which was identified as the 47-year-olds from a tattoo Jim Borrelli, a friend of Matsuki, said on Friday that she and her husband have walked their dogs in the park previously. HOW TO SURVIVE AN ALLIGATOR ATTACK Alligator attacks on humans are rare, and you can usually stay safe by keeping far away from them and ensuring your dogs are on a leash. Avoid swimming in water likely to contain them from dawn to dust, when they are most active. In the unlikely event of an attack - RUN - Humans are generally faster than alligators on land MAKE NOISE - Alligators like to keep away from humans so making lots of noise can scare them away FIGHT - If the top two steps don't work, then you should lash out at the alligator in an effort to scare it away. 'Your size if what saves you from these things,' Jim Darlington, curator of reptiles at St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park in Florida, told CBS News. A spokesman told Dailymail.com: 'If anybody has a concern about an alligator wherever it may be they can call our 24 hour hotline. 'If the alligator needs to be removed - and certain criteria that has to be met is met - we can remove it at no cost.' Advertisement After the attack that killed Matsuki, one of her dogs was found with a gash in its side. The couple did not live in the neighborhood, but he said she liked to find different places to walk the dogs. Borrelli said Matsuki's husband, who is out of town and trying to fly home, sent him to the park to get more information after being contacted by Davie Police. Borrelli said he was also asked to break the news to the couple's son, who is in his 20s and lives in New York. A man who identified himself as Matsuki's brother and several other family friends gathered at the scene on Friday. He declined to talk but friends described the missing woman as a great friend who loved to cook. Alligators are known to become more active in the spring and early summer as temperatures heat up. Silver Lakes is popular among dog walkers and has two large bodies of water. One woman on social media claimed to have seen a 7ft alligator swimming in the water earlier this week. Another woman told Local 10 that her poodle vanished near the water at Christmas and that she suspected it had been eaten. The alligator was filmed swimming in the water at Silver Lakes Rotary Park shortly after it dragged Matsuki into the water at 9.45am on Friday Video courtesy of Local 10 Local resident Amy Brehm told DailyMail.com that she was at the park on Wednesday night and saw the alligator in the water. 'I was there with a friend, I go almost every day to watch the sun set. 'While we were sitting in the gazebo an alligator swims by just off the shore. The alligator just did laps around the lake. The park ranger had just left not even five minutes before I saw it. 'I waited around until nightfall for him to come back and tell him. I waited over an hour and he never showed so I left. 'The park is a known park for animals to swim in. There is even a rope swing that people jump off to swim in,' she said. Florida Fish and Wildlife said they had received 11 calls about alligator activity in the Silver Lake Rotary Nature Park area since 2005. Eight permits had been issued for alligator removals since 2005, but none were removed before Friday. Search teams on Friday near to where Matsuki's body was found at the Silver Lakes Rotary Nature Park The most recent complaint came from a park ranger on March 26. It was about a 7-foot gator that was a threat to pets and people. A spokesman told Dailymail.com: 'If anybody has a concern about an alligator wherever it may be they can call our 24 hour hotline. 'If the alligator needs to be removed - and certain criteria that has to be met is met - we can remove it at no cost.' Fatal attacks on humans remain rare, however. According to the wildlife commission, the likelihood of a Florida resident being seriously injured during an unprovoked alligator incident in Florida is roughly only 1 in 3.2 million. From 1948 to 2017, the commission has documented 401 people bitten by alligators, including 24 fatalities. The most recent death occurred in 2016, when a 2-year-old boy playing near the water's edge at a Walt Disney World resort was killed. Advertisement Thousands of people lined the streets of a Scottish town for one of the oldest Borders festivals today. The Selkirk Common Riding event dating from the Battle of Flodden in 1513, remembers the story of The Battle of Flodden, the largest battle between England and Scotland. Selkirk sent 80 men into battle with the Scottish King. One man returned, bearing a blood stained English flag. The Flodden legend came to be associated with the Common Riding held in Selwick. There is also some suggestion that the Selkirk Common Riding celebrations date back further, to commemorate the men who were tasked with riding the borders of the town, ensuring no one encroached on common land. The event has a Royal Standard Bearer as the central figure, while its main ceremony includes the 'casting of the colours' which sees different groups cast their banners. Riders arriving back in Selkirk today after the Common Riding event. The event marks the Battle of Flodden where James IV was killed and became the last monarch from the British Isles to die in battle Riders ford the river Ettrick, as they take part in the town's Common Riding which dates back to 1513 when the battle occurred Standard Bearer Peter Forrest and his attendants arrive back in the town (left) and members of the public walk around the town (left) The battle was fought in the county of Northumberland in northern England on 9 September 1513, between an English army commanded by the Earl of Surrey. Pictured a rider at the Common Riding in Selkirk There were many smiling faces at the Selkirk Common Riding, one of the oldest borders festivals After the Common Riding, there are activities at the Market Place in Selkirk such as solemn casting of the colours where various trades and corporations are represented The English were the victors and in terms of troop numbers in the Battle of Flodden. Pictured a band member at the Common Riding in Selkirk Standard Bearer Peter Forrest crosses the River Ettrick holding a Scottish flag and riding a horse The event dating from the Battle of Flodden in 1513, remembers the story of Flodden, when Selkirk sent 80 men into battle with the Scottish Kind. Our picture shows riders ford the river Ettrick, as they take part in Selkirk's Common Riding One man returned from the Battle of Flodden holding a blood-stained, English flag. Pictured a band playing at Common Riding in Selkirk Selkirk rises early to follow the band and witness the bussing of the Burgh Flag. Pictured two riders arriving back in the town at the Common Riding Members of the public walk around the town during the Selkirk Common Riding which remembers the story of Flodden The Earl of Surrey (pictured left) led the English into battle while King James IV commanded the invading Scottish The battle of Flodden was the largest battle fought between the two countries. King James IV was killed in the battle and became the last monarch from the British Isles to die in battle A 24-year-old woman has been arrested after being accused of killing her four-year-old stepson at their California home. Rose Marie Schmittle was taken into custody on Tuesday by officers from the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department after authorities received information from family members that Benjamin Schmittle's injuries were not accidental. First responders found Benjamin 'unresponsive' at a home near Rhineland Drive in Fort Irwin around 5.30pm on June 7. Rose Marie Schmittle, 24, the stepmother of four-year-old Benjamin Schmittle (pictured), has been arrested after being accused of killing the little boy last week inside their California home Rose Marie Schmittle was taken into custody on Tuesday by officers after they received information from family members that Benjamin's injuries were not accidental. Benjamin is pictured with his biological mother Jacqueline Brockman First responders found Benjamin 'unresponsive' at a home near Rhineland Drive in Fort Irwin around 5.30pm on June 7 Benjamin (left and right) was transported to a hospital at the Fort Irwin National Training Center, a military training facility He was then airlifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center due to the severity of his injuries Benjamin was transported to a hospital at the Fort Irwin National Training Center, a military training facility. He was then airlifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center due to the severity of his injuries. Benjamin was placed on life support while at the medical center but on June 8, just 24 hours after he was found unresponsive, he was pronounced dead. According to a GoFundMe account set up by the boy's grandmother, Benjamin suffered a brain aneurysm and was in a coma. His family said Benjamin would have turned five years old in July. Benjamin was living with his father, James Schmittle, who is a helicopter pilot in the Army, and stepmother at the time of the incident. Benjamin was placed on life support while at the medical center but on June 8, just 24 hours after he was found unresponsive, he was pronounced dead According to a GoFundMe account set up by the boy's grandmother, Benjamin suffered a brain aneurysm and was in a coma. He's pictured with his mother, Jacqueline Brockman Heartbreaking photos of Benjamin in the hospital were also posted on the GoFundMe account. Several photos show him with his mother, Jacqueline, as they hold hands before he quietly slipped away Another photo shows his mother watching videos on her smart phone as she sat next to him His biological mother, Jacqueline Brockman, and his sister, Kayla, traveled from another state to be by his side. Heartbreaking photos of Benjamin in the hospital were also posted on the GoFundMe account. Several photos show him with his mother, Jacqueline, as they hold hands before he quietly slipped away. Another photo shows his mother watching videos on her smart phone as she sat next to him. Benjamin was living with his father, James Schmittle (pictured), and stepmother at the time of the incident. His biological mother, Jacqueline Brockman (left), and his sister, Kayla, traveled from another state to be by his side His family said Benjamin would have turned five years old in July. Benjamin is pictured with his father (left), who is a helicopter pilot (right) in the Army According to the family, Benjamin (pictured with his canine pal) remained on life support until Sunday in order 'to donate his organs to those in need' According to the family, Benjamin remained on life support until Sunday in order 'to donate his organs to those in need'. Following interviews with family members, detectives arrested Rose Schmittle for murder. She was then booked into the West Valley Detention Center where she is being held without bail. On Thursday, Schmittle pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and assault on a child causing death. Authorities have not released any other details involving the case. A North Carolina father bought a giant digital billboard to recognize his son as valedictorian after the teen's high school decided to do away with the honor. Gary Allmon said his son Joshua ranks No. 1 in this year's senior class at East Wake High School but administrators decided not to name a valedictorian because of a new policy. The proud father said in a Facebook post that since the school was refusing to recognize his son's hard work, he purchased a digital billboard letting Wake County know what the teen accomplished. 'Congrats Josh Allmon. You will always be our valedictorian,' the blue and gold sign reads. He bought a digital billboard recognizing his son as the valedictorian after the school refused to do so because of a new policy The post was filled with comments wishing Joshua good luck and saying congratulations to the teen, who according to his Twitter had a 5.31 GPA, the highest out of 270 seniors. In addition to his high GPA, Joshua was the Beta Club and NHS president, the FCA leader, participated in two sports, held a job his entire senior year, completed 450 hours of community service and was the North Carolina state chancellors leadership scholar. According to News & Observer, the school district announced in May that it would no longer have a valedictorian and was replacing it with Latin honors, a ranking system that 'recognizes students who may have barely missed being named valedictorian or salutatorian by several decimal places'. The rule wasn't supposed to go into effect until next school year, but Joshua said East Wake High School decided to do it earlier. 'It's a stupid rule that will hurt students down the line, but I'll accomplish their goal of making everyone feel equal,' Joshua tweeted. The teen, who will attend North Carolina State University in the fall for chemical engineering and paper science engineering, told Fox News that his dad told him about getting the billboard, but he didn't think he would actually go through with it. Joshua Allmon (pictured center with his parents) was ranked No. 1 in his graduating class but did not receive the coveted title because the school recently adopted a new policy that removed valedictorians and salutatorians Allmon, who finished with a 5.31 GPA, said he will attend North Carolina State University for chemical engineering and paper science engineering 'I was flabbergasted when I first saw the billboard, and enjoyed the recognition that it gave, but was also appreciative of the fact that it allowed for a broader message/warning to be shared,' he said. Joshua added in a tweet that he hopes the billboard will cause the district to think twice about how the new policy may affect students. 'It was a public statement, geared towards an increased public awareness on the negative effects that come with such policies. High achieving students have their reputations undermined by them,' he said. 'It's impossible to compete on the national stage when your accomplishments are limited by the system you have no choice but to come through. New policies are aimed at making everyone feel as if they achieved equally; this is simply not the case. Some people simple work harder'. The billboard was on display for 10 days. It was removed on June 12, the same day East Wake High School students graduated. It was a boys' night for Steve Mnuchin and Jared Kushner on Thursday. While his wife Louise Linton was away in Los Angeles and Ivanka enjoyed some quality time with her daughter Arabella, Kushner had Mnuchin over at his house. Donald Trump's son-in-law was joined by the Treasury Secretary and another unidentified man. Kushner arrived at his home first and was seen carrying a manila folder as he walked to the front door. Scroll down for video While Steve Mnuchin's wife was away in Los Angeles and Ivanka Trump enjoyed some quality time with daughter Arabella, the Treasury Secretary headed to Jared Kushner's home Mnuchin was seen walking up the steps of Kushner and Ivanka's Washington DC home on Thursday night Kushner arrived at his home first and was seen carrying a manila folder as he walked out of his car on Thursday Mnuchin arrived empty-handed while his guest carried a notebook with the Seal of the President, seeming to indicate that he worked for the White House. Both men were still wearing their suits from the day. It remains unknown if there was any official business behind Mnuchin and the unidentified man's visit to Kushner's residence. Meanwhile, Linton has been enjoying time away from her $12.6million Massachusetts Avenue Heights mansion with a trip to Los Angeles. Linton participated in the Frontrunners 10K Pride Run with Dr Patrick Mahaney, a California veterinarian who she referred to on Instagram as one of her 'best friends'. 'Supporting inclusion and the LGBTQI community!' Linton wrote in the caption of her post, including the hashtags #LAPride and #JustBe. Mnuchin arrived empty-handed while his guest carried a notebook with the Seal of the President, seeming to indicate that he worked for the White House It remains unknown if there was any official business behind Mnuchin and the unidentified man's visit to Kushner's residence Linton also included a video of herself crossing the finish line and hugging Mahaney after completing the race. 'We did it!' she said, breathless after the run. 'It was really hard! I thought it was never going to end!' Linton ran the race wearing yoga pants, a bright pink crop top, and a hat that said Scotland in honor of her native country. Mahaney, who lives in Los Angeles, also posted a picture of himself with Linton on Instagram after the race. 'I generally do the the Los Angeles Frontrunners Pride Run by myself, but this year I was joined by a fitness-focused Louise Linton, who made the 10K much more fun for me,' he wrote in the caption. Louise Linton has been enjoying time a trip to Los Angeles, where she did the Frontrunners 10K Pride Run with California veterinarian Dr Patrick Mahaney (pictured together) Linton proudly shared photos of her and Mahaney with a friend after completing the race And the best friends happily did a dance together for a boomerang on her Instagram page The Pride race is just another example of how Linton has given her Instagram a a make-under following criticism earlier this year. Linton came under fire as she shared photos of herself holding up money with Mnuchin and walking out of private jets, tagging the designer labels she wore. The former Scottish actress, who married Mnucin last June, said she had turned to pop culture to try and figure out how to behave as a political wife. 'I was tagging things [on Instagram] because I thought I had seen other actresses doing that, and I was like, I should do that, too,' she told Elle. Linton included a video of herself crossing the finish line and hugging Mahaney after competing the race Linton described Mahaney (pictured together after the race) as one of her 'best friends' in the caption of the video on Instagram 'I should be more fashionable. I need to play that role, I need to be more elegant, I need to be more stylish.' 'I wasn't thinking about who I am. I wasn't thinking, I am the wife of this person and thus I should act like the wife of this person.' Now Linton's Instagram page is filled with pictures that show her volunteering at soup kitchens, vouching for animal rights, and showing off her newly adopted dog. While Mnuchin's wife has done a complete 180 on social media, it is Kushner's partner who is now receiving flack on Instagram instead. Ivanka has now been called out twice by celebrities and high-profile journalists for sharing adoring pictures of her kids amid the Trump administration's policy to separate children from their parents at the border. Many, including Patton Oswald, Chelsea Handler, and Morning Joe's Mika Brzezinski have called Ivanka 'tone deaf' for her posts amid the devastating headlines. An Argentine woman has been freed after being found naked and chained to a bed in a house where she was held captive for 20 years. Marisa Almiron, 42, spent decades as a prisoner of her own family after she was locked up by her father 'for having a boyfriend' as a young woman, local media reports. The extraordinary incarceration has shades of the infamous Josef Fritzl case in Austria that shocked the world in 2008. The house in the city of Sante Fe in Argentina where Marisa Almiron was locked up for 20 years Reports say police found Marisa with clear signs of malnutrition, surrounded by her own excrement and that she has been 'psychologically affected' by her 20-year confinement. She was kept locked up at a house in the city of Venado Tuerto in the northern Argentine province of Santa Fe and is now being treated at hospital. According to reports, Marisa's father first imprisoned her as a young woman. After eight years, when the father died, her brother Mario is said to have continued the practice and has allegedly kept her chained up for the past 12 years. There are six siblings in total and all of them knew what was happening under the family roof, according to official sources. The victim was finally rescued thanks to a concerned neighbour, who told local media: 'My home became a living hell because of the screams I could hear through the walls. That woman suffered a lot of bad things.' The neighbour said that she had been reporting the situation for years, but police never acted on her warnings. The case is a reminder of 'monster' Josef Fritzl (left) who kept his daughter Elisabeth Fritzl prisoner in his Austria home for 24 years When the authorities did arrive, Mario would not let them in and told them they needed a warrant. He reportedly said that he only kept his sister chained to her bed because she had 'psychological problems'. According to the neighbour: 'The sisters threatened me and told me to leave things be. 'I now see the man (Mario) freely walking around as though nothing has happened. This is incredible and places some of us (neighbours) in danger.' So far, Mario has not been arrested. The investigation continues. The bus driver convicted in a Chattanooga crash which killed six children in 2016 has been accused of statutory rape. Johnthony Walker, 25, was arrested on Thursday in Nashville where he is free on bond while appealing his conviction for the bus crash. He is alleged to had sex with a 14-year-old on at least five different occasions. According to charging documents, Walker was having sex with the girl while staying at her family home. Police were called by her parents when they discovered the relationship. While it is claimed the girl willingly had sex with him, she is too young to give consent and the crime is therefore considered rape. Johnthony Walker, 25, is pictured in his mugshot on Thursday after being arrested for statutory rape. He is said to have admitted to police that he slept with a 14-year-old girl five times over the last several months after being taken into custody Walker wept in April as he apologized to the families of the six children he killed in the bus crash WRCB tv in Tennessee reports that Walker admitted having sex with her five times over the last several months. He remains in custody. The 25-year-old is appealing his conviction for six counts of negligent homicide. In 2016, he was driving too fast and using his phone as he drove 37 children from Woodmere Elementary School when he crashed while trying to swerve out of the way of a car. Six children aged between six and nine died. They are D'Myunn Brown, six; Zyaira Mateen, six; Zyanna Harris, 10; Keonte Wilson, eight; Cor'Dayja Jones, nine, and Zoie Nash, nine. Walker was sentenced to four years imprisonment but appealed the conviction. Walker is pictured in February at his trial as he described the crash. He argued that he was not on the phone for as long as prosecutors claimed and that he wasn't speeding This was what was left of the bus after he crashed it on November 22, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with 37 children on board D'Myunn Brown, six, (left), Keonte Wilson, eight (center), and Zyanna Harris, 10 (right) Zoie Nash, nine (left), and Zyaira Mateen, six (center), Cor'Dayja Jones, nine (right) also died In April, he gave a tearful apology to the children's families as he appeared in court, saying: 'I just want to apologize for taking the lights out of your lives and how it has impacted everybody. Prosecutor Crystle Carrion said Walker was doing 50mph on a narrow, winding Chattanooga road when the bus ran off the pavement, hit a pole, and then flipped into a walnut tree. 'It all could have been avoided if Johnthony Walker would have just slowed down and gone the speed limit and stayed off his phone,' Carrion said in opening statements. Walker was found guilty of 34 charges, including six for vehicular homicide because of the children who died in the crash. Walker denied that he was on the phone and claimed he was only traveling at 35mph around the curve. The Chinese ride-hailing app Didi Chuxing is slated to soon launch in Melbourne, according to the BBC. The company, which expanded its services to Mexico recently, is in the midst of a major international expansion. The apps official launch in Melbourne comes after its recent completion of a month-long trial period in the nearby city of Geelong. Reportedly valued at a staggering $56 billion (39.4 billion), the ride sharing company is the worlds most valuable startup and merged with rival Uber in China back in 2016. Didi Chuxing's new expansion into Australia follows its efforts to break into Japan and Mexico Uber is still the predominate ridesharing company in Australia, though its faced recent competition from Taxify, Ola and GoCatch. Didi Chuxing has reportedly already started recruiting drivers in Australia and also confirmed that its Melbourne services will be provided by its primary Didi Express services. According to a Didi Chuxing spokesperson: What I can say is that Melbourne drivers are continuing to respond exceptionally well to the product we are offering... in fact, nearly 100 drivers attended a driver registration day on Wednesday. The ridesharing companys app can be downloaded in Australia starting on June 15, with discounts being available starting from June 25 until July 31. Didi Chuxing certainly isnt the first ridesharing company to expand internationally and take aim at a competitor recently. Uber recently rolled out a slimmed-down version of its app called Uber Lite to compete with Ola in India. What is Didi Chuxing? Didi Chuxing is a Chinese rideshare company that currently boasts more than 550 million users worldwide. The company, launched in June 2012, is currently headquartered in Beijing and employs over 7,000 people. Its reportedly both the most valuable startup in the world and the worlds largest ridesharing company, carrying more than 25 million passengers per day. The company has recently undertaken global expansion efforts targeting Australia, Mexico and Japan. It also began to develop an English language version of its app in May 2017. Australia is losing the war on drugs which could destroy the country's future generations. New South Wales Deputy Premier John Barilaro said there had been years of neglecting drug problems which may overrun the country. Dangerous drug smuggling gangs believe Australia is a 'growing market' for methamphetamine - a drug flooding many regional towns. Australia is losing the war on drugs which could destroy the future generations according to New South Wales Deputy Premier John Barilaro (pictured) Dangerous drug smuggling gangs believe Australia is a 'growing market' for methamphetamine - a drug flooding many regional towns (stock image) Mr Barilaro said the war on ice was something we are already 'losing our next generation' to (stock image) Mr Barilaro said the war on ice was something we are already 'losing our next generation' to, according to the Daily Telegraph. The politician, who also wants to slash immigration in half from 190,000 to 100,000, said he wanted to meet regional communities to determine what services were needed to combat the drug. The comments come as the nation finds itself in the grips of an ice fight where a full time Australian Federal Police officer is stationed deep in the Mexican jungle to target the dealers and cease importation. Authorities claim cheap methamphetamine - which is often touted as a drug that does not discriminate - is being used by children as young as nine-years-old, putting the country at crisis point. Australia uses about eight tonnes of ice each year and is easily accessible, according to a 60 Minutes report in April. 'Ice is absolutely killing us in the rural areas,' Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad commander Detective Superintendent Peter McErlain previously told Daily Telegraph. Authorities claim cheap methamphetamine is being used by children as young as nine-years-old (stock image) 'It's one of the biggest issues in terms of violence, in terms of the gun crime that's associated with it, and in terms of destroying whole communities and kids' lives. It's a bad, bad thing.' Earlier this year, police stopped a massive 313 kilograms of drug ice from being sold on Australian streets. The huge bust prevented about $270 million worth of methamphetamine being distributed and causing destructive damage. The haul was the biggest South Australian bust in history but was minor compared to the 1.2 tonnes of ice seized in Western Australia in December last year worth more than $1 billion. American computer analysts have uncovered a fresh hacking campaign by North Korea, just days after Trump's historic summit with Kim Jong-un. The Department of Homeland Security and FBI said on Thursday that they had detected a Trojan virus which they believe was issued by the rogue state. The virus is called TYPEFRAME and is designed to give hackers complete control over an infected computer. The Department of Homeland Security and FBI have detected a new computer virus which they believe was issued by North Korea, just days after Trump's summit with Kim North Korea is well-known for its state-sponsored hacking campaigns and was widely believed to be behind the WannaCry hack in May last year. The virus shut down hundreds of thousands of computers around the world, with Russia, India, Ukraine and Taiwan being the worst affected. In Britain computers used to run the National Health Service were affected, while machines in America were also caught up in the hack to a lesser extent. According to the DHS and FBI, TYPEFRAME is a 'remote access Trojan' that works by installing itself into the operating system of Windows machines. Once installed it allows a third party to access all parts of the machine, including creating and deleting files, downloading and uploading files, and deleting itself. The fresh threat was detected just two days after Trump met Kim in Singapore and hailed a new era of relations for both countries. Both Kim and Trump hailed a new era of relations between North Korea and America during their historic meeting in Singapore earlier this week It marked the first time that leaders of the two countries have met. Trump promised the pair would sign a 'comprehensive' document on nuclear disarmament at the summit, but what emerged was a vague pledge to work towards 'complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula'. In return Trump said America will provide unspecified 'security guarantees' for the North Korean regime. But Trump also announced he will be meeting Kim again, possibly for summits in Washington and Pyongyang, paving the way for a more concrete agreement later. Trump did secure the repatriation of the remains of American soldiers killed during the Korean War in return for stopping joint military drills with the South. Breakthrough video and dashcam footage has come to light in the investigation of the rape and kidnap of an 11-year-old schoolgirl. The girl was kidnapped and raped during a five-hour ordeal on Tuesday morning in Adamstown Heights, near Newcastle, New South Wales. Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec said the young victim was brave and 'committed to assisting our investigators and finding the person responsible for this crime'. He said on Friday it was 'only a matter of time' before they caught the predator. Scroll down for Video Breakthrough video and dashcam footage has surfaced in the investigation of a predator who kidnapped an 11-year-old and raped her for five hours on Tuesday morning in Adamstown Heights, near Newcastle Police are closing in on the manhunt for the attacker which has escalated since Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec (pictured) was called in 'We are closer, we're closer because we have moved some 3, 4 days from the event,' he said. 'We won't give up on this investigation until we find the person responsible,' Det Supt Kerlatec said. Police said they were throwing every resource they could at the investigation in an attempt to catch the man responsible for the 'horrendous' attack. It was revealed the attacker was driving a red sedan when he dropped his victim at the car park of Kotara railway station about 2.15pm on Tuesday afternoon. It has been revealed the attacker was driving a red sedan (like the example pictured) when he dropped his victim at the car park of Kotara railway station about 2.15pm on Tuesday afternoon Police have described the man, who was wearing a black and grey hoodie at the time, as having a chubby face and hands and messy, dark hair. His teeth are said to have brown stains on them and he has wrinkles around his mouth and forehead. She described him as smelling of cigarette smoke or body odour, and speaking with an Australian accent. Police are still urging the public to come forward as the carpark is adjacent to a busy road and behind it is a tennis club so it is likely someone saw something Police urged anyone with information to come forward. 'The most valuable resources I imagine that we may need are from the community members who come forward,' Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec told reporters in Newcastle on Thursday. Pamphlets are being distributed by police in the area encouraging locals who may have seen something to come forward. Pamphlets are being distributed by police in the area encouraging locals who may have seen something to come forward Police have also reminded residents to be extra cautious while the attacker is still on the run. 'Until we find this person I'd be more vigilant than ever,' Detective Superintendent Kerlatec said. Detective Chief Inspector Paul Jacob from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad described the horrific five-hour ordeal as 'a worrying crime committed in broad daylight', the Newcastle Herald reported. 'It's our mission to get this person and remove him from the community as quickly as we possibly can,' Chief Inspector Jacob said. 'Let me just say it was a horrible series of attacks on this young lady and I'm very thankful that we have a very brave young woman who's been able to help us so valuably in our continuing enquiry.' Police have also reminded residents to be extra cautious while the attacker is still on the run (pictured; the park where the girl was kidnapped) An 11-year-old girl was abducted and sexually assaulted during a five-hour ordeal in Newcastle (pictured are investigators at one of the crime scenes) The girl was walking through Hudson Park in the Newcastle suburb of Adamstown Heights just after 9.15am on Tuesday (pictured is one of the crime scenes) The girl was threatened with a knife by a man who sexually assaulted her, police said (pictured is an area under investigation by police) Police were called when the 11-year-old returned home and the girl was taken to John Hunter Hospital for medical examination. A crime scene was established at Hudson Park and forensically examined while Newcastle police and the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad commenced inquiries. Police are urging anyone who was in the Adamstown Heights area or anyone with information that may assist to contact Crime Stoppers. The editorial board of the Boston Globe's Opinion section is making the case to disband Google in an opinion piece published on Thursday. In arguing for its breakup, the Globe also implicated Facebook, saying the two companies together dominate close to 75 per cent of all online advertising while at the same time controlling the flow of information on the internet and acquiring massive amounts of user data. 'Never in the history of the world has a single company had so much control over what people know and think,' the piece starts. 'Yet Washington has been slow to recognize that Googles power is a problem, much less embrace the obvious solution: breaking the company up.' The Boston Globe published an opinion piece by its editorial board on Thursday calling for the breakup of Google The op-ed calls for the United States to follow in the steps of European countries which have been fighting for privacy rights and data regulation, and take up the charge to dismantle tech monopolies, and namely, Google. 'Google is a monopoly because weve allowed it to become one,' the article reads. 'Weve allowed it to grow at the expense of copyright holders. At the expense of rival search and advertising ventures. At the expense of startups that might someday challenge the giants. At the expense of a narrowing of the way a society acquires information. Today, the act of searching for an answer is synonymous with Googling. And the first answer for how to rein in this digital giant is also the best: break it up.' What the board means when they talk about breaking up Google, specifically, is really breaking up Alphabet. Alphabet is the holding company that was formed in October 2015 and owns Google, which makes up the largest piece of the overarching organization, by far. The list of subsidiaries owned by Alphabet is long, but the board paid most attention to Google search, Android, YouTube, Google's advertising units (DoubleClick and AdMob), and Google's cloud services (Gmail, cloud storage, and maps). The article notes that more than 80 per cent of Alphabet's revenue comes from advertising dollars, and Google controls 88 per cent of the search advertising market, which is something its been able to achieve by not charging its users anything for using its platform to search the internet. What the board means when they talk about breaking up Google, specifically, is really breaking up Alphabet, the holding company that was formed in October 2015 and owns Google, which makes up the largest piece of the overarching organization, by far The list of subsidiaries owned by Alphabet is long, but the board paid most attention to Google search, Android, YouTube, Google's advertising units (DoubleClick and AdMob), and Google's cloud services (Gmail, cloud storage, and maps) It's been said many times that, 'If youre not paying for the product, you are the product,' which has proved to be true, as Google continues to harvest much coveted user data from those who benefit from the convenience of its many services. Google has then used that data to grow into the tech giant it's become today. It's also been accused of favoring promotion of its services over those of competitors, resulting in a $2.7 billion fine from European regulators in 2017. 'A handful of people working at a handful of tech companies steer the thoughts of billions of people every day,' former Google design ethicist Tristan Harris said. It's been suggested that Google 'has likely been determining the outcomes of upwards of 25 per cent of the national elections in the world for several years now, with increasing impact each year as Internet penetration has grown,' according to one study cited by the board, which surveyed 10,000 people from 39 countries. Not surprisingly, the op-ed notes that publishing companies have suffered as Google has thrived in the advertising space, changing the way media outlets have had to allocate their budgets. The board listed a few ways it would recommend breaking up the massive company, citing separating the advertising portion from Google search as the simplest and probably, most effective. It also suggested making YouTube and the advertising units into separate, stand-alone organizations. To take things a step further, the board would separate each of YouTube, Android, and all Google cloud services, plus make Google search independent of each entity. As alternatives to slicing and dicing Alphabet up, the Globe suggested different forms of increased regulation. One approach mentioned holding Google accountable for copyright violations by its users, which create content where Google places ads and therefore makes money. Another suggestion involved more oversight when Google attempts to purchase start-ups that have either been proven to be or might one day become competitors. It accuses Google of 'frustrating competition, discouraging innovation, punishing American business, and distorting the free marketplace of commerce and ideas,' in part by acquiring much of its competition. By this logic, the board also believes the disruption of Google would encourage human creativity, learning and competition, all of which are things the editorial board says Google once promoted, but now stifles. Google was founded in 1998 by Sergey Brin (left) and Larry Page (right), who now serve as the president and CEO, respectively, of Alphabet Finally, the Globe suggested the government might want to treat Google like a utility company, and force it to license its algorithms to upstarts, much like it did with the telephone industry in 1956, before ultimately forcing the Bell System to break itself up, some thirty years later. In closing, the editorial board of the Globe brought up Microsoft and John D. Rockefellers Standard Oil, noting that in the early days of those organizations, no one knew how much influence they would come to yield over the public. Ellen Clegg, the Editorial Page Editor of the Boston Globe told DailyMail.com that Globe Opinion editor and columnist Dante Ramos and Deputy Ideas Editor Alex Kingsbury oversaw the Globe's project in drafting the op-ed. Google was founded in 1998 by Sergey Brin and Larry Page, who now serve as the president and CEO, respectively, of Alphabet. President Donald Trump on Friday accused President Obama of having 'lost' Crimea blaming his predecessor for Russia's invasion and annexation of Ukrainian territory. 'I want to make it so the fake news prints it properly. President Obama lost Crimea,' Trump told reporters, after making the case to reverse the Obama-era decision of kicking Russia out of the G7 group of industrialized nations. That move was one of many efforts undertaken by the Obama administration seeking to penalize and ostracize Russia for its aggressive behavior. Trump's language drew on the Cold War rhetoric of the 1950s when there was a political blame game for who 'lost' China and allowed it to fall to communism. President Donald Trump said President Barack Obama 'lost' Crimea, blaming his predecessor for Russia's invasion and annexation of the territory Asked at an impromptu press conference why it shouldn't be Putin's fault for invading territory that Russian nationalists considered part of greater Russia. The invasion occurred, Trump said: 'Because, because Putin didn't respect President Obama. President Obama lost Crimea, because President Putin didn't respect President Obama, didn't respect our country. And didn't respect Ukraine.' Trump continued, 'President Obama, not Trump when it's my fault I'll tell you, but President Obama, gave away.' The Obama administration demanded Russia cease its invasion and imposed stiff sanctions during the 2014 seizure, but did not muster a military response to its nuclear-armed rival over territory that many pragmatists said was more important to Russia than to the U.S. Russia has a strategic naval base there. Russia seized the territory in 2014 despite condemnation from the U.S. and western allies. Among the tactics deployed was the use of Russian-speaking fighters in unmarked uniforms. Trump campaigned on improving relations with Russia, and strongly opposed a congressional effort to tighten sanctions on Russia for its election meddling, though he ultimately signed a bill into law. Trump appeared to say Obama's inaction in Syria sent a signal that allowed the invasion to occor. 'Now President Obama by not going across the red line in the sand that he drew, I went across it, with the 59 missile hits, but President Obama, when he didn't go across the red line, what he gave away nobody even knows,' Obama said. President Trump spoke about Crimea during an impromptu press conference Friday Trump stressed his point for emphasis. 'One more time: President Obama gave away Crimea. That should have never happened,' he said. His effort to turn the heat on Obama came after Trump drew international criticism for arguing to let Russia back into the G8 and telling G7 leaders he believed Crimea was part of Russia because people there spoken Russian. Last week, Trump argued that Russia should be allowed to rejoin the G7 during the summit in Quebec, Canada. Russia was kicked out of the then-G8 in 2014 following the violent annexation of the peninsula from Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin defended the move saying that he had the right to protect Russian citizens and Russian speakers in Ukraine. Now diplomatic sources, who spoke anonymously to Buzzfeed, say Trump went as far as to appear to defend Russia's actions, saying that most people in Crimea spoke Russian anyway. President Trump reportedly told G7 leaders that he believed Crimea was part of Russia because people there spoken Russian During a discussion on foreign affairs on Friday, Trump apparently questioned why the G7 leaders were siding with Ukraine, saying that 'Ukraine is one of the most corrupt countries in the world,' according to the source. When pressed about the president's comments on Thursday, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders claimed she wasn't there so couldn't comment. 'I'm not aware of any comment like that,' Sanders said. 'I know it's been reported but I'm not going to comment on a private conversation I wasn't a part of.' It is not yet clear whether Trump's comments indicate a change in policy. But the president made his feelings on the matter very clear last week, telling reporters as he left the White House for the summit in Canada that Russia should be readmitted to the G7, which represents the world's seven most advanced nations, and includes the US, Germany, France, Italy, the UK, Japan, and Canada. During a discussion on foreign affairs on Friday, Trump apparently questioned why the G7 leaders were siding with Ukraine (President Donald Trump (R) talking with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C) and surrounded by other G7 leaders during a meeting of the G7 Summit) L-R: British Prime Minister Theresa May, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, US President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Italian Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte On the second day of the summit, dismissed the annexation of Crimea as 'something that happened a while ago' which shouldn't now stand in the way of peace. 'This used to be the G8, not the G7,' Trump said at a press conference on Charlevoix near Quebec after attending a breakfast earlier in the day with foreign leaders. 'I have not spoken to Vladimir Putin for quite a while. It has been discussed and some people quite like the idea of bringing Russia back in.' 'Something happened a while ago and I think it would be an asset to have Russia back in. 'I think it would be good for Russia and I think the G8 would be better having Russia back in would be a positive thing. 'We're looking for peace in the world. We're not looking to play games,' he said. Later, when pushed on whether or not he supported Putin taking control of the peninsula, he was vague. 'Crimea was let go during the Obama administration and Obama can say all he wants but he allowed Russia to take Crimea. Russian President Vladimir Putin defended the move saying that he had the right to protect Russian citizens and Russian speakers in Ukraine 'I may have had a much different attitude. 'Why did he do that? Why did he do that? 'That being said, it's been done a long time,' he said. He added: 'I would rather see Russia in the G8 as opposed to the G7. 'The G8 is a more meaningful group than the G7.' Russia continues to remain under U.S. and European sanctions for its annexation and incursion into part of Ukraine. Russia got kicked out of the group after it annexed Crimea. 'They should let Russia come back in because we should have Russia at the negotiating table,' Trump said before boarding Marine One on his way home from the summit. 'Why are we having a meeting without Russia being in the meeting?' Trump asked. 'They threw Russia out. They should let Russia come back in.' His unexpected gesture toward Moscow came in an extended extemporaneous press event under the roar of Marine One's engines, where the president also: THE ANNEXATION OF CRIMEA The Republic of Crimea is a small peninsula between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. In February 2014, Russia, under Putin's watch, took control of it from Ukraine in a violent take-over which saw Kremlin-backed troops descend on the region. Police officers arrest a protester in Moscow, March 2, 2014, during clashes over Russia's annexation of Crimea The majority of Crimea's 2million residents speak Russian and had voted to join Russia officially in a referendum but the vote was deemed illegal by Ukraine and by the rest of the West. There also remained a huge portion of the population who consider themselves Ukrainian and not Russian, along with the Crimean Tatar population - a predominantly Muslim community who suffered under Russian leaders in the past. The dispute sparked violent clashes in the area and was condemned internationally. President Obama slammed Putin's seizure of it as 'illegitimate' and he slapped sanctions on Russia as a result. At the time, Putin was part of the G8 but its leaders moved to expel him in response. In a statement at the time, they said it went against the principles of the international community. The region had been fought over for years. From 1793 until 1954, it was part of Russia. In the 1950s, it was transferred to Ukraine by the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. During Russia's control of it, particularly in the years of Stalin's leadership, Crimean Tatars were persecuted. Stalin believed they had worked with German occupiers and sent many of them in exile to parts of Asia. Advertisement Trump cast his opinion on Russia in pragmatic terms, though he said it was up to the group. 'I would recommend, and it's up to them, but Russia should be in the meeting. It should be a part of it,' he said. 'You know, whether you like it or not, and it may not be politically correct, but we have a world to run,' Trump told reporters in extended remarks before his trip. 'And in the G7, which used to be the G8, they threw Russia out. They should let Russia come back in,' the president said. It is just the latest in a series of times the president has sought to bolster ties with the Kremlin, including resisting a sanctions bill pushed by Congress that he ultimately signed, calling for warmer relations with Moscow, and restating Russian President Vladimir Putin's denials of election interference after a one-on-one meeting. The opinion is sure to ruffle other European leaders who were unanimous in their expulsion of Russia from the group in 2014. They condemned both Putin and Ukraine - which held an illegal referendum on the status of Crimea - saying at the time that both violated international laws and ethics. A handshake, or an embrace: Trump was effusive as he greeted Justin Trudeau who is hosting the G7, but it was Emmanuel Macron who was hugged by the Canadian. The French and Canadian leaders were both attacked by Trump on twitter Complaint: Trump had been said to be tired of British minister Theresa May's tone and did not appear to be offering her warm looks 'International law prohibits the acquisition of part or all of another state's territory through coercion or force,' according to a joint statement at the time. 'To do so violates the principles upon which the international system is built. We condemn the illegal referendum held in Crimea in violation of Ukraine's constitution.' The statement continued: 'We also strongly condemn Russia's illegal attempt to annex Crimea in contravention of international law and specific international obligations.' Trump's bold pronouncement came after he already has been engaged in angry back-and-forth with traditional allies France and Canada in a trade war. The Trump administration slapped tariffs on steel and aluminum imported form the allies, citing a national security exception. The Canadian prime minster blasted back mentioning Canada's military contributions in Afghanistan, while French President Emanuel Macron said Thursday the remaining six G6 nations could operate without U.S. leadership. And at the summit, he got a warm welcome from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, but his scheduled meeting with French President Emanuel Macron got scratched at the outset. Aides were able to cobble together a meeting for later on Monday. 'We've had really a very good relationship, very special,' Trump said at first. 'A lot of people wrote a couple of things that weren't quite true a little bit accurate, perhaps we've had a little test every once in a while when it comes to trade,' the president then acknowledged. It capped off a brief stop in Quebec where he appeared isolated by other world leaders. Despite reports of frosty relations between them, Trump insisted that his relationships with other countries were 'a 10'. On Saturday, as the G7 met in Quebec, Putin held a summit of his own with the President of Iran, one of Trump's political enemies. They grinned as they posed for photographs in China together as the European leaders and Trump discussed how to combat Iran's nuclear plans and support of terrorist groups. The son of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has spoken about he claims is the 'toxic' racist culture he experienced at the prestigious Brooklyn public school he attended. Dante De Blasio, who is currently at Yale, graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School, considered one of the most selective high schools in the country. But in an opinion article for the New York Daily News, he outlines what he said were instances of racism, including a teacher laughing at a black student when she shared her dream of becoming a doctor. Dante de Blasio, pictured in Germany last year, is now a student at Yale. He graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 2015 New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, right, and his son, Dante, march in the West Indian Day Parade in the Brooklyn, New York He said white and Asian students used racial slurs to about black students, when teachers ignored a black student's complaints after he was called the N-word and 'monkey' by his peers. The year after he graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School, the hashtag #BlackinBrooklynTech started appearing is his social media. Black students and recent alumni used it to share stories of overt acts of racism at the school,' 'Older Black alumni soon got involved, and they shared many of their own stories at a public meeting with the principal. 'The current and former students who drove the campaign were sick of having to defend their right to earn an elite education in the face of adversity from the students and faculty meant to support their success. 'I understood exactly where my fellow Black alumni were coming from. I'd had many of my own experiences. Some of them might seem innocuous. 'For example, I remember being the only Black kid in many of my classes (something that seemed normal to many of my classmates). However, many experiences displayed the racism which was all too common in the school. Brooklyn Technical High School, considered one of the most selective high schools in the country Dante De Blasio watches on as his father is sworn in for a second term as mayor at City Hall in New York 'Once, I was sitting near a loud group of white students during lunch when a Black cafeteria worker walked over and asked the group to be quieter. 'As the cafeteria worker started to walk away, one of the white students asked her friends why the cafeteria worker didn't "back off and go back to Africa".' Much of the blame for the atmosphere he describes can be laid at the door the school's admission test, which he claimed meant only people of color made up only 15 per cent of the students 'It seems obvious that a major contributor to the toxic nature of race relations at the school is the simple fact that so few people of color are offered admission,' said De Blasio. His father has introduced a plan to change the way students will be chosen for eight of the city's elite specialized high schools. Under his proposal, 20 percent of seats at the schools would be reserved for students from under-resourced middle schools who score just below the cutoff score on a standardized test, which is now the sole criterion for entry. Jose Lopez (pictured), 19, has been arrested and charged with murder in the death of New York teenager, Josue Amaya Leonor, 17 A 19-year-old man has been arrested in the death of a Long Island teenager who police identified as a victim of the violent MS-13 gang. Jose Lopez is scheduled for arraignment on a murder charge Friday in the killing of 17-year-old Josue Amaya Leonor. Leonor's body was found on May 30, two years after he was reported missing. Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said at the time there was 'no doubt' Leonor was a victim of the notorious MS-13 gang. Police did not say if Lopez was a member of the gang. Leonor's remains were found in a wooded area in Roosevelt, New York. Nassau County police said last week that the bone fragments from Leonor's body were discovered on the same day a third person was arraigned on murder charges in the death of 16-year-old Angel Soler. Scroll down for video Leonor's (pictured) body was found on May 30, two years after he was reported missing Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said at the time there was 'no doubt' Leonor was a victim of the notorious MS-13 gang. Police pictured at the scene where Leonor's body was found last month MS-13 is believed to be behind 25 killings on Long Island during the past two years. Police at the scene of the crime in Long Island Soler was attacked in July 2017 by a group of alleged MS-13 gang members and was hacked to death with a machete. His body was found in October. Leonor, a Freeport High School student, had been friends with schoolmates Soler and 20-year-old Kerin Pineda. Pineda's body was also found in October and he's believed to be a victim of MS-13. MS-13 is believed to be behind 25 killings on Long Island during the past two years. The gang has become a prime target of President Donald Trump's administration. Last month, Trump called on Congress to 'finally close deadly loopholes that have allowed MS-13 to break into our country'. 'They're not people, these are animals and we have to be very, very tough,' Trump said during a discussion on immigration while visiting Long Island. A baby died at a Melbourne hospital after being kept waiting for treatment for over two hours. The Sunshine Hospital in west Melbourne announced an internal review after the child's death last week. According to 7 News, a triage nurse initially assessed the baby after it was brought in by its mother. But it was only after two hours of waiting in the hospital's paediatric waiting room that the child was eventually taken elsewhere in the facility for treatment. The baby was left waiting for two hours by staff at the Sunshine Hospital in Melbourne last week Doctors said by that time the baby's condition had deteriorated 'rapidly' and it tragically died later on. Western Health, who oversee the hospital's operations, said they would be looking into the incident. 'Following assessment, the mother and baby were requested to wait in the paediatric waiting room,' Western Health Chief Medical Officer Dr Paul Eleftheriou said. 'The baby was later transferred to the paediatric area of the emergency department for assessment and care. 'Unfortunately, the baby's condition deteriorated rapidly and a short time later, sadly the baby died.' Donald Trump has called the decision to revoke Paul Manafort's bail 'very unfair' after a federal judge sent the former campaign manager to await trial behind bars. In a tweet sent on Friday afternoon, the president incorrectly refers to the pre-trial detention as a 'tough sentence.' 'Wow, what a tough sentence for Paul Manafort, who has represented Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole and many other top political people and campaigns. Didn't know Manafort was the head of the Mob. What about Comey and Crooked Hillary and all of the others? Very unfair!' he tweeted. The former Trump aide has not been convicted of any crimes or sentenced to prison. Manafort, who was indicted on witness tampering charges last week, had asked to remain on house arrest until his trial which is set to begin on September 17 in Washington. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson revoked his bail, ruling in favor of prosecutors who had been pushing for Manafort to be jailed because they did not believe his release terms would prevent him from committing further crimes. In issuing her ruling, Jackson said she had 'struggled' with the decision but she couldn't 'turn a blind eye' to his conduct. 'This is not middle school. I can't take his cell phone,' she said, while adding that he had 'abused the trust placed in you six months ago.' A federal grand jury indicted Manafort and a longtime associate, Konstantin Kilimnik, last week on charges of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice, adding to the multiple felony counts he already faced. Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort had his bail revoked during his arraignment on Friday Manafort had been on house arrest since last year and had been forced GPS monitoring device Last week, Special Counsel Robert Mueller indicted Manafort on a new charge of witness tampering, and had asked for his bail to be revoked Manafort was accused of sending text messages in an effort to influence witness testimony. He had been confined to his home in the Washington suburb of Alexandria, Virginia and forced to wear a GPS monitoring device since October. He had repeatedly requested to end his home confinement in exchange for pledging $10 million in real estate as collateral - which Judge Jackson had rebuffed. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. Manafort has been indicted by Mueller in both Washington and Virginia on a raft of charges including conspiracy against the United States. His trial on the related charges in Virginia is set for July 25. Mueller, whose investigation could threaten Trump's presidency, is also investigating whether the president's 2016 campaign colluded with Moscow and whether Trump has unlawfully sought to obstruct the Russia probe. The president has called Mueller's investigation a witch hunt and has denied wrongdoing. A June 8 indictment charged Manafort and Konstantin Kilimnik, a Manafort aide and political operative with alleged ties to Russian intelligence, with tampering with witnesses about their past lobbying for Ukraine's former pro-Russian government. Manafort's wife Kathleen Manafort, was seen leaving without him after his arraignment on a third superseding indictment against him by Special Counsel Robert Mueller on charges of witness tampering Kathleen was escorted through the crowd of protesters and photographers as she left the Federal Courthouse in Washington The indictment accused Manafort and Kilimnik of attempting to call, text, and send encrypted messages in February to two people from a political discussion group - the so-called Hapsburg Group - that Manafort worked with to promote Ukraine's interests in a bid to sway their testimony. The messages - sent on WhatsApp - were an 'effort to influence [witness] testimony and to otherwise conceal evidence', the FBI said. Mueller's team this month asked the judge to revoke Manafort's bail, saying his "obstructive" conduct "instills little confidence that restrictions short of detention will assure Manafort's compliance with the court's orders and prevent him from committing further crimes." Manafort has longstanding ties to a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine and a Russian oligarch close to the Kremlin. The charges against Manafort in Washington include conspiracy to launder money, conspiracy to defraud the United States and failing to register as a foreign agent for the pro-Russia Ukrainian government under former President Viktor Yanukovych. Manafort was seen going through security on his arrival at federal court, Friday U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson ruled in favor of prosecutors who for months had been pushing for Manafort to be jailed because he is a flight risk A toddler boy has tripped himself on an escalator and had his genitals trapped between gaps at a shopping mall in central China. The one-year-old, who was wearing a pair of open-crotch pants,suffered horrifying injuries as his penis got firmly stuck in the comb plate. He was sent to hospital with bleeding in his private part. Doctors treated the boy and said the penile injury would not affect the boy's fertility in the future. A toddler in central China fell over and got his penis trapped at the comb plate of an escalator The little boy, known by his nickname Kunkun, was out at a shopping mall in Hong'an, Wuhan of Hubei Province, with his grandfather after dinner on May 24, stated Zaker News. The pair was at a playground on the first floor until Kunkun suddenly ran towards the moving stairs and tripped himself near the entrance, the grandfather was quoted as saying. Kunkun got his penis stuck between gaps in the comb plate as his open-crotch pants left his genitals exposed. Onlookers and his grandfather ran up to him and pressed on emergency button to stop the escalator. Firefighters and paramedics were alerted to the scene to free the toddler and send him to Wuhan Children's Hospital. Doctor suggested parents not to dress toddlers in open-crotch pants to avoid getting injured Dr Wang Jun of the department of urology inspected Kunkun's injury and said that the boy's penis was exposed due to the tear of the foreskin. A team of medical staff performed a reconstructive operation on the boy and removed all damaged tissues during early hours of May 25. Dr Wang said the boy was luckily sent into the hospital for treatment in time and believed that the incident would not affect the boy's fertility, stated the report. Open-crotch pants are commonly seen on babies and toddlers in China as parents see it as alternatives to diapers. However, Dr Wang said the pants had no protection to the children's private parts and the crotch-less design left the children's private parts exposed to infection easily. A second-hand Samsung Galaxy S7 has heated up in a woman's hands before exploding on Wednesday afternoon - her one-year-old son escaped injury. Mother, Yani Barwick from Beenleigh, South-East Queensland is thankful that her son Jackai, one, was not playing with her phone at the time. The phone began smoldering before she threw it into the yard as it exploded with puffs of grey smoke and sparks. A second-hand Samsung Galaxy S7 has heated up in a woman's hands before exploding on Wednesday afternoon - her one-year-old son escaped injury 'If it happened to my son, it would be a completely different story. We would probably be in hospital right now with him,' she told 9News. The phone was purchased from a friend of Ms Barwick and was believed to be free from any defects. Her Samsung Galazy S7 is one of many that has exploded in recent years. The phone began smoldering before she threw it into the yard as it exploded with puffs of grey smoke and sparks The Galaxy S7 model is not on the Product Safety Australia recall list but the Samsung Galaxy S7 Note is. In 2016, sales of the S7 Note were suspended and recalled globally due to faulty batteries. Ms Barwick is not currently seeking any compensation for the incident, simply wanted to warn others about the potential danger. Another man also took to social media this year to warn followers his friend's phone exploded. 'My colleague's Samsung Galaxy S7 just exploded on his table. Those whatsapp messages our mothers' have been sending us are true, guys,' he said. The Galaxy S7 model is not on the Product Safety Australia recall list but the Samsung Galaxy S7 Note is A Samsung Electronic Australia spokesperson said: 'Product quality and customer safety are our top priorities'. 'We are aware of this issue and eager to conduct a full investigation of this matter.' Electronic repairers advise to seek genuine parts from good quality phone repairers to avoid explosions like this one. Liam Allen, 22 (pictured outside Lewes Crown Court) was sentenced to eight years in prison for the rape, which happened after a University freshers night out in October 2016 The social secretary of a university military unit has been jailed after he violently raped another student after a freshers' week pub crawl. Liam Allen, 22, was sentenced to eight years in prison for the attack, which happened after a freshers night out in October 2016. Allen, of Brighton, insisted on walking his victim home after a drunken bar crawl in the city and claimed he needed to charge his phone before getting the bus. She then fell asleep in her flat to him raping her. She told him to stop but he carried on. His victim, 20, gave a harrowing victim impact statement at Lewes Crown Court, describing how she now suffers from anxiety and depression and had to abandon her degree. Allen, wearing a black suit with his hair dyed blonde, showed no emotion as His Honour Judge Roger Chapple sent him to prison. 'It is altogether obvious that what you did has had the most profound effect on your victim,' the judge said. 'It was at time harrowing listening to her distress and to read and listen to that Victim Impact Statement which was taken only a couple of days ago. 'I can only hope she can start to rebuild her life although you have left a permanent mark on her. 'She was obviously particularly vulnerable due to the drink she had consumed. 'She was very close to being comatose with drink. Incapable at times of even moving. 'What makes matters unpalatable too, is the offence happened in her own home, in her own bedroom. 'The place she should feel safest. Under the pretence of making sure she was safe, you raped her.' Allen attacked the young woman in her bed following the Freshers Week pub crawl round Brighton in October 2016. He insisted on taking the woman and her friend back to their student flat in the city. Allen, 22, who hoped to work for the Navy or GCHQ when he graduated, organised a pub crawl round the city for his university military unit. His victim told police she had drunk heavily after going out during themed Freshers Week night out and could not remember getting home. She woke to find the defendant on top of her. 'I said stop, he pinned me down, he was holding my arms, I couldn't move him off. I was trying to push him off me and he was holding me harder. 'He was just stopping me from moving. I think I tried to sit up. 'Every time I said Stop, he would just hold me down again.' Pictured: Liam Allen has been jailed for raping a fellow student after a night out in Brighton Asked how she felt, the young woman said: 'Horrible. I didn't want it to happen.' In a harrowing victim impact statement, the victim said: 'My mum became disabled when I was about 13 and I missed out a lot of my childhood as her carer. 'University was my chance to grow. I was starting my new life, finding out who I was and gaining confidence. 'I had a picture of where my life was going. I cannot talk about that day or say the words of what has happened. 'I could not keep going to the university campus I would see the defendant there and I would panic. 'I stopped studies in January after stopping the degree I had worked so hard for. 'Even now intimacy is very difficult for me and this is not what a couple in their early 20s should be living though. 'We left Brighton, a place we loved, in August 2017. I often wake from nightmares. 'I cannot even go to the corner shop without someone going with me. I've had a lot of trouble getting help. I've been diagnosed with depression and anxiety. 'I am unable to work or face studying and rarely leave the house and cannot face studying. 'The police investigation was hard to live though my video interview was awful. 'Having to use words I cannot even think about let alone say. To hear the lies he said about me and my relationship in court makes me feel sick. 'It was an overwhelming experience which will never leave me. The tablets help a bit. 'I'm a pathetic, weak version of me. I don't want to think this is my life but I don't see my future.' Allen said he was lonely and knew the attack was sick and twisted when he was confronted with the attack by his victims boyfriend. He put his number into her phone and sent messages thanking her for a good night, the court heard. Her boyfriend recorded the call to Allen the day after the attack. After the phone call, Allen searched online for information on being accused of rape, the minimum sentence for rape and CPS guidelines for rape. In a dramatic final day of deliberations, the jury asked to see the police video taped interview with the victim. They were called back into court where the recording was played for them a second time and His Honour Judge Chappel went over his notes of her evidence. The jury took just over an hour longer to reach their unanimous decision to find Allen guilty of rape. Allen had used his time in the witness box to rant about his mistrust of the legal system. By coincidence, Allen has the same name as another student who was falsely accused of rape. Detective Constable Aran Boyt of the Brighton Safeguarding Investigations Unit said: 'Allen had organised the pub crawl round the city during themed Freshers Week night out for his university in October 2016. 'The victim told us she had drunk heavily and woke to find Allen on top of her, having held her down and raped her in her own student flat. 'She tried to sit up and stop him but he just held her down, and this young woman was in such a state she was incapable of consenting to sex, so Allen took advantage of her state. 'The day after the alleged rape, Allen spoke on the phone to the victim and her boyfriend, saying he was lonely and she was a good looking girl. 'He said he was sick and twisted for sleeping with her but alleged that she was able to consent.' 'He clearly thought about his options after the event, because when we searched his mobile phone we found search terms including 'accused of rape', 'minimum sentence for rape' and 'CPS guidelines for rape'. 'This was a complex investigation but we were careful throughout to ensure that every possible aspect was explored so that the court was able to consider the full picture in arriving at a verdict. 'The victim was traumatised by this experience and has left her university course. 'We have worked to help her and give her access to further sources of counselling, which everyone reporting such an offence is entitled to, no matter what the circumstances.' A third Chinese national has been arrested over the discovery of over 101 kilograms of ephedrine concealed in cow milking machines. The 25-year-old was arrested in Hobart and is the third person charged by Australian Border Force (ABF) in the milking machine ephedrine bust. ABF officers targeted a batch of goods from China at the Sydney Container Examination Facility on 11 July, 2017. X-ray screening revealed abnormalities in the milking machines. Officers took the machines apart and found more than 60 foil packages containing ephedrine which is used to make methamphetamine or ice. Over 101 kilograms of ephedrine (pictured) was found concealed in cow milking machines On 20 July 2017, a 25-year-old male Chinese national and a 26-year-old male Chinese national were arrested by ABF investigators after accessing the consignment in Sydney, ABF said in a statement. Both men were charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled precursor and the cases are currently ongoing before the courts. On Thursday, ABF officers and Tasmania Police executed multiple search warrants on residential addresses and discovered documentary evidence relating to the importation of the ephedrine which led to the arrest of another 25-year-old man. He was charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled precursor. Arrangements are being made for him to be extradited to NSW. ABF Commander Enforcement Command, Graeme Grosse, commended the officers and warned criminals they will be caught for these offences. 'Our investigators have pursued this case for almost 12 months and the ABF have once again stopped a significant amount of ephedrine entering the country,' Commander Grosse said. 'We know the significant damage 'ice' is having on communities around the country which is why we are committed to stopping these substances from hitting the street and catching those responsible for bringing them into Australia'. President Donald Trump argued that a statement he dictated to the media about his son Don Jr.'s meeting with Russians faced a lower threshold of veracity since it wasn't done for a 'high tribunal.' Trump appeared to argue that the statement need not be entirely accurate, since it was only done for a story by the New York Times an outlet he branded 'phony.' There is no legal requirement that officials make true statements to the media although Don Jr.'s statement about the meeting has come under intense scrutiny by investigators probing whether it was an episode in a campaign of potential obstruction of justice. Asked Friday if he dictated the statement, President Trump responded: 'Let's not talk about it. You know what that is? It's irrelevant. It's a statement to the New York Times,' he said. President Donald Trump suggested a misleading statement he dictated about son Donald Trump Jr's meeting with Russians faced a lower threshold of veracity since it wasn't done for a 'high tribunal.' 'The phony, failing New York Times. It's not a statement to a high tribunal of judges. That's a statement to the phony New York Times,' he said. Trump's lawyers wrote in a legal filing that Trump 'dictated' the statement. The statement referred to a June 2016 meeting in Trump Tower that Trump Jr. and top campaign officials attended after getting an offer of political dirt on Hillary Clinton. But in the initial statement to the Times last July, Trump Jr. said that at the meeting 'we primarily discussed a program about the adoption of Russian children that was active and popular with American families years ago and was since ended by the Russian government, but it was not a campaign issue at the time and there was no follow up.' Trump defended a misleading statement his son, Donald Trump. Jr., gave to the 'phony' New York Times. Trump Jr. said it would be 'crazy' for his father to sit down with Robert Mueller's investigators. Trump made the statement to reporters on Friday at the White House It was only on the following day, after the Times learned that the meeting was with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya after the promise of dirt on Clinton, that the statement acknowledged the premise for the meeting. 'I was asked to have a meeting by an acquaintance I knew from the 2013 Miss Universe pageant with an individual who I was told might have information helpful to the campaign,' Trump Jr. said in his second statement. 'I was asked to attend the meeting by an acquaintance, but was not told the name of the person I would be meeting with beforehand,' he said last year. A leaked letter President Trump's legal team sent to Special Counsel Robert Mueller said the president dictated the statement. It has been reported that he did so from Air Force One while surrounded by aides. Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya 'You have received all of the notes, communications and testimony indicating that the President dictated a short but accurate response to the New York Times article on behalf of his son, Donald Trump, Jr.,' according to the statement. 'His son then followed up by making a full public disclosure regarding the meeting, including his public testimony that there was nothing to the meeting and certainly no evidence of collusion.' Trump also defended fired National Security Advisor Mike Flynn, who has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI and is cooperating with prosecutors. 'I feel badly for General Flynn. He's lost his house; he's lost his life,' Trump said Friday. 'And some people say he lied and some people say he didn't lie. I mean, really, it turned out maybe he didn't lie.' Trump Jr. this week on Fox News said it would be 'stupid' for his father to sit down with Robert Mueller's investigators. Trump Jr. made the comments on Fox News, his father's preferred network, on the president's birthday Thursday 'I wouldn't do it. I think it would be stupid,' he told Fox News on Thursday, shortly after his father returned from Asia for a period of intensified negotiations over whether he will appear before Mueller. 'I wouldn't sit down with them, because you can sit there and ask questions for 50 hours or 100 hours, ask the same thing 100 times and it's 'oh, the comment's different here. Now we got you!' he said. He characterized a potential interview as an effort to entrap Trump into making statements that were 'somewhat off.' Waheba Issa Dais, 45, (pictured in a police mug shot) tried to recruit people to carry out attacks including the poisoning of a reservoir with deadly ricin, according to a criminal complaint released by the FBI on Wednesday A Wisconsin mother-of-two has been charged with using hacked Facebook accounts to recruit for ISIS and share a 'virtual library' on bomb making and poisons with potential attackers. Waheba Issa Dais, 45, tried to recruit people to carry out atrocities including the poisoning of a reservoir with deadly ricin, according to a criminal complaint released by the FBI on Wednesday. Dais, who called herself a 'housewife' on a US visa application, faces charges of trying to help a foreign terrorist organization after agents tracked her activities to a computer at her home in the Milwaukee suburb of Cudahy. Dais, who was arrested on Wednesday, has a bond hearing on Friday. She faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. In the hacked social media accounts, the FBI said it found conversations with self-proclaimed IS members where Dais discusses possible attacks. In one case, she suggested using the deadly toxin ricin in a government building or a reservoir somewhere in the U.S., according to the FBI's report. Dais, who called herself a 'housewife' on a US visa application, faces charges of trying to help a foreign terrorist organization after agents tracked Dais' activities to a computer inside her Milwaukee home (pictured) In another instance, she suggested street festivals and summer celebrations as possible targets, the FBI said. Dais was born in Jerusalem and was married to a U.S. citizen when she arrived in Chicago in 1992, according to the FBI. They divorced in 2003 and Dais remained in the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident. When she applied for her visa, she said she wanted to stay in the U.S. 'permanently as a housewife' and said she was fluent in Arabic and English. Her two children are believed to be minors, according to the FBI. The FBI said it found that Dais maintained multiple accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and email, all containing what prosecutors described as a 'virtual library of instructions on how to make bombs, biological weapons, poisons and suicide vests.' The FBI said it found that Dais maintained multiple accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and email, all containing 'a virtual library of instructions on how to make bombs' She also communicated with IS members overseas, the FBI said. When accounts were hacked, profile pictures and names were changed, and friends were removed and others were added, the FBI said. Authorities suspect Dais' activities began in January. In one Facebook post in February, she pledged her support for IS, according to the FBI's report. '#Caution. When I publish any statement I completely believe in it. I was and I continue to be on the doctrine of the Islamic State,' the post read. In one online exchange, Dais told a potential recruit to 'act like an ordinary person' and that complete secrecy was needed to carry out attacks, the FBI said. An FBI confidential informant told investigators that Dais is unemployed and that her 'Islamic husband' paid the bills. The informant also reported that Dais was 'constantly on social media promoting ISIS' and that her accounts were frequently shut down for that reason. Elizabeth Makowski, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office in Milwaukee, declined to say whether authorities believe Dais has any connection to an alleged plot in Germany involving a Tunisian man who prosecutors say created ricin using castor bean seeds. Sief Allah H., whose last name wasn't given in line with German privacy laws, was taken into custody Tuesday during a raid on his apartment in Cologne. Dais' public defender, John Campion, did not immediately respond to phone and email messages seeking comment on the allegations. Richard Joseph Schwartz Ives, 47, has been suspended from school after being charged with sex crimes involving a 15-year-old child A teacher at a private school in Missouri has been arrested after being caught in his car with an underage boy whom he allegedly met through the dating app Grindr. Richard Joseph Schwartz Ives, 47, was an arts teacher at the prestigious Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School in Ladue. He was pulled over early Wednesday after running a stop sign. It was at that point an officer noticed a boy who was mumbling and rambling inside the car, according to court documents obtained by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. After being asked to step out of the vehicle, Ives told the deputy that he picked up the boy at a corner and then drove him to a nearby parking lot, where Ives said they kissed as the boy sat on his lap. The boy who is 15, then told police about a number of additional sex acts he performed with Ives. Cops found $200 in small bills in boy''s hoodie. The teen is not a student at the 1,200-student school where Ives works and he didn't attend the school's summer camp which Ives also ran. Ives, 47, wont be allowed back on the Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School campus, pictured, while the case is pending Ives has taught at the school for 23 years but has now been placed on leave and is banned from the campus while his case is pending. 'The safety, health and well-being of all children is our first priority,' Head of School Lisa Lyle said in a statement. 'We conduct thorough, periodic background screenings on all employees, provide training regarding child safety, and respond immediately and appropriately to all reports of misconduct.' Ives faces charges of second-degree statutory sodomy, felony enticement of a child, patronizing prostitution and sexual misconduct involving a child. He was released from jail late Wednesday after posting $50,000 bail. President Donald Trump said Friday that he was impressed with how enthusiastically aides to North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un obeyed him during their summit this week in Singapore. After telling the audience of 'Fox & Friends' that a White House visit with Kim 'could happen,' he complimented the tyrant's authoritarian leadership style. 'Hey, hes the head of a country. And I mean he is the strong head dont let anyone think anything different. He speaks, and his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same!' Trump was gesturing to the White House behind him as he commented, suggesting 'my people' referred to his staff, not the overall U.S. population. President Donald Trump marveled Friday at how dictator Kim Jong-un's aides snapped to atention when he saw them during Tuesday's nuclear summit in Singapore Trump then said he wished 'my people' would 'sit up at attention' a reference to his White House staff but unlike Kim's, they don't live in constant fear of execution Trump later was asked if he was serious and said he was kidding and being sarcastic and then mocked the CNN reporter who asked him the question Trump gave the Fox News Channel show an unscheduled 30-minute interview on the North Lawn of the White House after disappearing from public view on Thursday, his 72nd birthday. Minutes later, amid a shouting scrum of journalists clustered around him as he wsalked back to the West Wing, the president was asked if he was serious about being impressed with Kim's autocratic management style. 'Im kidding,' he scolded. 'You dont understand sarcasm.' Then the president demanded to know the inquisitive reporter's media affiliation. 'Who are you with?' he asked. 'CNN,' came the reply the TV outlet he most loves to hate. 'You're with CNN!' Trump boomed. 'Hey, you are the worst!' Kim's extraordinarily attentive underlings might not get Trump's sense of humor about staff etiquette. The 34-year-old despot has ordered the execution of at least 30 high-ranking officials in the past seven years, and was behind the deadly nerve-agent poisoning of his half-brother Kim Jong-nam last year. A South Korean think tank, the Institute for National Security Strategy, believes Kim's purge of government officials has been much larger, numbering at least 140 people of the more than 300 he has ordered killed. Kim Jong-un had his education vice premier Kim Yong Jin (circled) executed by firing squad because he did not sit with proper posture during a meeting North Korea's defence minister Hyon Yong-Chol was executed by an anti-aircraft gun in Pyongyang after falling asleep during a meeting in 2015 A ZPU-4 anti-aircraft gun like this one can shred a person to bits in seconds Kim's defense ministers, in particular, tend to have short shelf-lives: He purged five of them in the first five years of his reign. Most of his high-profile victims have met their ends via firing squad, like top education minister Kim Yong-jin in 2016. He was put to death for displaying a 'bad attitude' during the country's Supreme People's Assembly meetings. His crime consisted of having 'bad sitting posture' in front of his country's ruling despot. He was interrogated and found to be an 'anti-revolutionary agitator.' Kim Jong-un has ordered more grisly deaths for a few. In May 2015, Kim had Defense Minister Hyon Yong-chol blown to bits with an anti-aircraft gun at a Pyongyang military school, in front of an audience that included members of his family. He had dozed off during a military ceremony. General Hwang Pyong-so, once the most senior military official in North Korea and vice-marshall to the supreme leader, frequently snapped to attention but was executed in 2016 In 2017 five senior officials from the State Security Department faced the same fate for issuing what Kim called 'false' reports that were critical of his regime. Three years earlier, Kim ordered his deputy public security minister O Sang-hon tied to a stake and burned alive with a flamethrower. He had been accused of corruption. Kim Jong-nam was killed in a nerve-gas poisoining attack last year that was ordered by his half-brother, Kim Jong-un Less than a year after taking power upon his father's death in 2011, he became enraged by army vice minister Kim Chol 'disrespecting' him and had him executed on the spot with a military mortar round. Trump is in the position of having to negotiate with Kim, now armed with weapons of mass destruction. The U.S. president insisted Friday that America now has 'a really great relationship for the first time ever' with the hermit kingdom, and told a reporter that he agreed to Tuesday's Singapore summit because that way 'there won't be nuclear weapons and they won't be aimed at you and your families.' The White House's openness with Pyongyang is a marked contrast from what the Obama administration called a philosophy of 'strategic patience.' The Trump doctrine has so far consisted of a 'maximum pressure' campaign that the administration says forced Kim to the bargaining table. Jang Song-thaek, Kim Jong-un's uncle and the man who was once considered the second most powerful figure in the country, was executed for corruption in 2013 Trump's goal is to force Kim to destroy his nuclear weapons program by tightening a near-global stranglehold over his national economy. But talks continue, and the president said Friday that Kim knows how to reach him. 'I gave him a very direct number,' the president said. 'He can now call me if he has any difficulties. I can call him. We have communications. Its a very good thing.' Kim's most infamous and grisly execution may be a reported slaughter of 11 musicians shortly after he took over the country The third-generation despot forced 10,000 people to watch the mass bloodshed after the victims were strapped to the end of anti-aircraft guns. After they were dead, according to one defector, military tanks crushed the remains into the ground. A recent college graduate desperate to recover a family heirloom mistakenly left curbside when he moved out of his apartment is plastering his neighborhood with signs warning, 'My mother will kill me.' Colin Trimmer is offering a reward for the return of his great-grandmother's iron and brass bed frame, given to him by his mother when he moved into his apartment near Tufts University. 'REWARD! Iron & brass bed painted white,' the sign reads. 'Accidentally put on street by new roommates at end of May. 'Family heirloom - my mother will kill me. Please help!' Trimmer is hoping that the sign will put him back on his mom's good side. Colin Trimmer is offering a reward for the return of his great-grandmother's iron and brass bed frame, given to him by his mother when he moved into his apartment near Tufts University 'I feel awful,' Trimmer shared with the Boston Globe. 'It took an entire week to tell my mother about it because I knew she loved the bed and I was loaned it with the condition that nothing would happen to it.' Kazmer had planned to move out of his room on June 1 and was staying with his girlfriend in late May when a roommate thought he had already moved and placed the bedframe on the curbside. Trimmer's mother, Carol Kazmer, shared that bed frame was one of the few items her grandmother had to leave to her 17 grandchildren 'They moved in before I was scheduled to move out, that's why this situation, I feel, was unfair and kind of tragic,' Trimmer said. 'It was a beautiful bed frame. . . . Of course someone snapped that up.' Trimmer's mother, Carol Kazmer, shared that bed frame was one of the few items her grandmother had to leave to her 17 grandchildren. But the 19th century heirloom had been passed down from several generations and had even traveled across multiple countries. She said: 'I was in law school at the time, and needed a bed, and it was sort of bequeathed to me because I was the one who had the most need at the time. I considered myself exceedingly lucky. It's beautiful.' Kazmer had planned to move out of his room on June 1 and was staying with his girlfriend in late May when a roommate thought he had already moved and placed the bedframe on the curbside Kazmer said her grandmother grew up in a poor home in Cleveland. She met her husband while picking scraps from a garbage heap. Kazmer's grandmother moved the bed with her husband to California so that she could raise her four children. When Kazmer got the bedframe she moved it from California to Oregon and then eventually to Massachusetts. Roommate Liam Knox was not the one who placed the bed frame on the curb And when Trimmer first shared the news, his mother was slightly upset. 'I was pretty sad about it because I loved that bed and it was sort of a tie to my grandmother, as all of these family heirlooms are,' Kazmer said. 'But then I said, 'It's just a thing, it's fine.' And then I said, 'But it was my bed!' ' Kazmer would like the bedframe back and the reward would be 'sizable.' The bill to make upskirting a criminal offence has been blocked by Tory MP Christopher Chope after he objected to the second reading of the bid, despite Liberal Democrat Wera Hobhouse introducing the private members bill and justice minister Lucy Frazer having backed it. This resulted in MPs in the House of Commons shouting at the Conservative MP for Christchurch after he announced his objection to the Voyeurism (Offences) Bill, which would make it illegal for offenders to take a picture under someones clothing without their consent. Sir Christopher Chope, who objected to the upskirting bill, speaking in the House of Commons After months of meetings, Gina Martin, who had launched the campaign was left disappointed due to the vote having taken place after 2:30pm, when a single objection could stop a bill from progressing. Alongside this, because of other parliamentary business, MPs had a limited amount of time to debate the bill. This means that the Bill will have to return for another debate at the Friday Private Members Bill session, scheduled for July 6, 2018, if it is to have any hope of being voted into law this Parliamentary term, but even then, it could take another dissenting voice to put a stop to the progress. What is upskirting? Upskirting is the act of taking a photograph under a womans skirt without her permission. This phrase is also used to refer to any generic voyeur photography that is sexually invasive. In a campaign launched by Gina Martin, who is a victim of upskirting and had photos secretly taken under her skirt at a music festival in London's Hyde Park in July 2017. After starting a petition, she said that police had told her there was nothing that they could do as the man involved had done nothing illegal. Ms Martins case is not the only example: there have been a string of cases of men caught using smartphones to capture illicit images in a number of different places, but because upskirting has not been classified as a crime, offenders escape punishment. However, culprits can be charged with voyeurism or outraging public decency. This legislation is usually used for those who hide cameras in changing rooms and public toilets. This does not apply to activities that happen in public places. Tory MP Bob Neill wrote to the Prime Minister calling on the Government to change the law As of February 2018, the Government said that the law around upskirting is under review after official figures revealed that complainants as young as 10 have come forward with only one-third of police forces in England and Wales having data on upskirting. The proposed new law would have sent a clearer message with offenders potentially facing a maximum of two years in prison. In addition to this, the most serious offenders would be placed on the sex offenders register. Taking upskirting photographs is already illegal in Scotland. The law was changed by the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 which introduced a voyeurism offence. Who is Gina Martin? Gina Martin started an online campaign for upskirting to be criminalised after police declined to prosecute the man she had accused of taking pictures of her on his phone at a London music festival in 2017. Because she had been wearing underwear, the photograph was not deemed illegal. Her petition and campaign caught the attention of justice minister Lucy Frazer, who said: This behaviour is a hideous invasion of privacy which leaves victims feeling degraded and distressed. By making upskirting a specific offence, we are sending a clear message that this behaviour will not be tolerated, and that perpetrators will be properly punished. Id like to thank Wera Hobhouse, Gina Martin, and all other campaigners for their tireless work, and look forward to seeing the bill progress through parliament, she said. The Liberal Democrat MP led the charge to get the private members bill into the House of Commons. Hobhouse said: I got involved in politics to change things that my constituents and I care about. I am incredibly grateful to Gina Martin for starting this campaign, and for giving me the opportunity in my first year in parliament to do exactly that. The fact that the government have listened to our calls is testament to the widespread consensus that there was a gap in the law that needed to be addressed. The bid for the upskirting bill to pass was blocked in the House of Commons by Tory MP Christopher Chope, who shouted object when the subject of the law was raised, to which the other MPs shouted shame. Who is Christopher Chope? Sir Christopher Robert Chope OBE MP was born on May 19, 1947 and is a British barrister and Conservative politician, making a career out of blocking back bench legislation in Parliament. After being first elected in 1983, he has repeatedly criticised the ability of MPs to make small changes to the law. Having been an MP for over 25 years after being first elected as an MP for Christchurch in 1997, he held Ministerial Office in the Governments of Margaret Thatcher and John Major and also shadow posts under William Hague and Michael Howard. Chris Chope was born in Putney and is the son of a judge, Robert Chope. He was educated in Eastbourne before attending Queen's College at the University of St. Andrews, where he was awarded an LLB degree in 1970. After finishing his education at the Inns of Court School of Law, he was called to the bar at the Inner Temple. Chope was then elected as a councillor on the Wandsworth London Borough Council in 1974 and five years later, became the council leader. He was elected to Parliament in 1982. Because the proposed change to the law was not debated in full, any MP could stop the reform Sir Christopher also worked at the consultancy Ernst & Young from 1992 to 1997 during a short hiatus from the government. In 2009, he called for the minimum wage to be abolished and said that his version of the Employment Opportunities Bill would introduce more freedom to the job market. However, during the expenses scandal, Chope was found to have claimed a whopping 136,992 in 2007 and 2008, which included 881 to repair a sofa. He has also hosted meetings for climate-science sceptics and led backbench support, calling for a European Referendum. Chope also came under fire for referring to House of Commons staff as 'servants' and voted against same-sex marriage in 2013. He also was one of the few who camped outside Parliament on what they dubbed the 'Alternative Queen's Speech'. Some of the policies that they were campaigning for included the reintroduction of the death penalty, conscription and banning the burka from public places. In 2018, he was appointed a Knight Bachelor in the New Year Honours, for political and public service. House of Commons vote The upskirting draft legislation was the eighth in the queue, which meant that it was never going to be debated in full. MPs had the chance to wave it over the first Parliamentary hurdle, but any Member of Parliament can shout the word object to stop it from happening, as Chope did. This resulted in cries of shame in the Commons and Gina Martin commented on the decision: I am obviously extremely upset and disappointed that Sir (Christopher) Chope decided to object on this vitally important Bill for the women of England and Wales. I remain positive, though. We knew this was a risk but I now stand with powerful, passionate women and men behind me, and I am confident that (junior minister) Lucy Frazer is committed to and will close this gap in the law. Im positive and hopeful that he (Sir Christopher) will become a supporter, she said in her statement that she posted on Twitter. My official statement on Sir Christopher Chope blocking our bill to make upskirting a sexual offence. pic.twitter.com/xWxu7rZaYb Gina Martin (@ginamartinuk) June 15, 2018 Christopher Chope upskirting bill objection social media reactions In addition to Gina Martins statement, many social media users took to Twitter to condemn Sir Christopher Chopes decision, with some opting to email the MP their complaints. I am unspeakably angry. If you feel the same, please email Christopher Chope chopec@parliament.uk and ask him why he thinks men should be allowed to photograph women's genitals without their consent, one user said. Another said: The upskirting bill was blocked at the last minute by Christopher Chope after being intentionally pushed back by Philip Davies filibustering. As it was blocked, another MP yelled "Shame!". Shame indeed. There arent enough walls to kick. Another, who contacted Philip Davies after Christopher Chopes email inbox had become too full, received a reply from the Tory MP: Philip Davies everyone pic.twitter.com/30HAiZvGRQ Hannah Price (@HannahPrice___) June 15, 2018 Trying to work out if financially I can support myself by taking the next two months up to spend upskirting Christopher Chopes trouser legs Mollie Goodfellow (@hansmollman) June 15, 2018 Christopher Chope has the punishment of being Christopher Chope, imagine having to be so tedious all day long, to truly care about nothing but parliamentary procedure must be a hollow existence. Jess Phillips MP (@jessphillips) June 15, 2018 I spend a lot of time trying to defend MPs and while we often disagree I think most make their decisions in good faith. Christopher Chope is the exception Jess Phillips MP (@jessphillips) June 15, 2018 Disgusted to see that Tory MP Christopher Chope blocked the Upskirting Bill in Parliament today. Labour have supported this campaign from the start, it's time for the government to bring legislation and not rely on Private Members Bills, which their own MPs have undermined. Richard Burgon MP (@RichardBurgon) June 15, 2018 Christopher Chope: Abused Parliamentary expenses Supports vulture funds Wants to abolish minimum wage Climate change sceptic Against same-sex marriage Hardline Brexiter https://t.co/UJ6UUNxY7o Jo Maugham (@JolyonMaugham) June 15, 2018 Conservative MP Christopher Chope has just prevented a ban on..... taking upskirt photographs. A new low from the Chope/Philip Davies axis of scum Matt Zarb-Cousin (@mattzarb) June 15, 2018 Why the hell would Tory Christopher Chope block a law making it illegal for sleazy people to creepily take photos up women and girls skirts? You can ask him by emailing him here: chopec@parliament.uk Will Black (@WillBlackWriter) June 15, 2018 This is Christopher Chope, who just blocked law making it an offence for perverts to take photos of girls crotches without their consent. Given a Knighthood this year for public service. He is, of course, a member of the Rees-Moggs ERG fundamentalist posse. Its a full house. pic.twitter.com/F6idKI2429 Alex Andreou (@sturdyAlex) June 15, 2018 Sandra Holmes, of Llanrwst, North Wales, took her father to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland to end his life A daughter will not be prosecutred for taking her war hero father to Dignitas assisted suicide clinic to fulfil his final wishe. Former nurse Sandra Holmes, 66, took 93-year-old John Lenton from his care home to the clinic in Switzerland. The devoted daughter said her father asked her to take him around six months before his death in October. But after spending 15,000 to carrying out his final wishes, Sandra then had the agonising wait to find out whether she would be prosecuted by the law. The Crown Prosecution Service has now concluded it is not in the public interest to pursue a case against Sandra and son Scott, 40, who both took John to end his life. Sandra, of Llanrwst in North Wales, said: 'The whole family is greatly relieved that we are finally able to draw a line under this now, and although we never expected to be prosecuted, it's nice to know for definite that we won't be. 'The police have been very supportive of us and we've also had massive support on social media and in the community ever since sharing dad's story. Sanda pictured with her son Scott said they wanted to open up debate in the hope that the law will change to allow people to die with dignity in the UK John Lenton was a proud and private man who had lived a full and active life. He is pictured in both photos during his days in the army 'In fact, perfect strangers have even come up to me in the street saying they admire what we did, I've not had one negative reaction. 'Everyone is supportive of the right to die. 'One thing that I wanted to come out of dad's death was to get people talking about this and open the topic up for discussion. 'The more we bring this out into the open, the more chance we have of hopefully getting the law changed.' Sandra said she was willing to go to prison and said she new it might come to that. With her son, Scott, they hired a car so they weren't followed to the airport or stopped from letting 93-year-old John Lenton end his life at the euthanasia clinic, Dignitas. As an outdoorsy person, Mr Lenton enjoyed climbing and walked up hills and mountains throughout his life Today, the 66-year-old former nursery nurse from Llanrwst broke her silence about her family's emotional ordeal and their strong belief in the right to die. Speaking to the Daily Post, the family said they wanted to open up debate in the hope that the law will change to allow people to die with dignity in the UK. 'This is my dad's story, not mine,' Sandra explained. 'And I am telling it now as we strongly believe in everyone's individual choice to make their own decisions at the end of their life.' John Lenton was a proud and private man who had lived a full and active life. He was was born and brought up in Newport, South Wales and from there, he joined the Army. John's life in the armed forces started off as a soldier in the South Wales Borderers before he volunteered to join the Parachute Regiment, rising to Colour Sergeant. He fought in Italy, Algeria, Tunisia, France, Greece, Palestine and Egypt. He was also part of the forerunner to the SAS. Married to Jeanne, they lived in London after John left the Army and their only child Sandra was born in 1952. An active person all his life, he climbed and walked the hills and mountains. John was head hunted by Quinton Hazel where he worked as a production control manager and moved to Nebo with his wife 39 years ago. Mr Lenton died at the controversial Dignitas facility (above) in Switzerland Sandra described him as a 'massively intelligent man.' 'Mathematics, quantum physics, the historic movement of peoples and languages - these were not only his life but what he read to relax,' she said. 'He was independent in the extreme, renovating their old cottage in the hills himself - from the roof to the smallest screw was done entirely by Dad. 'He was very physical, clever but also a very private man - his family was his life, we were very close.' Once the couple retired, they bought a touring caravan and would spend three months of the year in Scotland. They were married for 64 years until Jeanne died in 2011. As John aged, his physical health started to deteriorate and following a hernia operation in 2011, he required a permanent catheter which at that stage he dealt with himself. The care home contacted the local safeguarding adults team, who advised it to contact police He was extremely deaf and wore two hearing aids. In early 2017, he became bowel incontinent and his hearing worsened. He battled on, but Parkinson's disease also had him in its grip and he fell several times, often ending up in hospital, and couldn't move from his chair without help. The final straw came last year when he was diagnosed with eye disorder dry macular degeneration, which was causing him to go blind, taking away his only remaining pleasure - watching his beloved news, nature programmes and sport on television. Semi-retired herself, Sandra became a carer for her father, visiting him countless times throughout the day and night after he moved from Nebo to a flat in Llanrwst to be close to her. She said: 'The total indignity of having his daughter care for him, changing and cleaning him was, for him, so humiliating. 'Followed by young people (carers) - excellent though they were - cleaning and changing him was just so awful for a man that held privacy and independence so dear.' She added: 'All of my adult life I have known that my mum and dad believed strongly in the right to die when you had reached a stage where you had no quality of life left. 'We all believe the same. 'So in the spring of 2017, Dad asked me if we would be willing to accompany him to Switzerland to Dignitas, I was not surprised at all. 'We talked about it many times and I spoke to Scott and my partner Ted as well. 'We all agreed that if that was his wish then we would do this for him. 'At no time did he have any doubts.' The process was a long and arduous one taking seven months to plan. John needed a passport for a start, but in the meantime, his health continued to decline and then Scott suffered a stroke at the age of 40. Looking after them both left Sandra exhausted. The family decided that the best thing to do was to move John into a home and he was offered an emergency place at Cartref Bryn yr Eglwys in Pentrefoelas. Family man: John was very physical, clever but also a very private man - his family was his life, and they were very close. Here he is pictured with his grandson Scott 'We all knew that was the best thing to do because Dad would be cared for while I was helping Scott. I've nothing but praise for the staff there,' Sandra said. 'But we also knew it would only be a short term measure. 'Dad never said a word about our plans the whole time he was there, he was mentally ahead of us all. 'But for me, the emotional stress of carrying on a normal daily life and not being able to confide in anyone about what we were going to do was sometimes overwhelming.' The pensioner would go on to spend a month-and-a-half being cared for at the Pentrefoelas home before his daughter and grandson were ready to put their plan into action. Scott said: 'We told the home we were taking Grandad on holiday in the UK for five days, we needed to find a reason to take him out of there without arising suspicion. 'The care home called a doctor to assess whether he was well enough, and after a long talk with him, the GP decided that not only was he fit to travel, but he was more than capable of making his own decisions.' But that was just the start of the obstacles they would face. Sandra said: 'It's all very nerve wracking, it isn't the easy process that some people think. 'You are on pins and even getting to the airport was a nightmare because the law here can stop you leaving the country and you can be arrested. 'Because of this, we hired a car so that our car couldn't be followed or tracked to the airport, this is the lengths that the law drives you to. 'Even though everything was in place, you are living in fear that you will be stopped and that the person you love so much will be left stuck in a half life they don't want. 'There is no feeling of safety until that plane takes off.' As John's needs were complex, travel wasn't easy, he was in a wheelchair and the family booked assisted travel to ease the time spent in the airport. The whole process was increasingly stressful with the family worried someone somewhere had alerted the police and they could get a tap on the shoulder at any moment. Sandra added: 'In your heart you know that no one could possibly know and stop us but you don't relax until the aeroplane doors are closed and it starts taxiing down the runway. 'And not because of the consequences for Scott and I, if they arrested us, we'd cope with it, but because it would scupper the plan and Dad would go on suffering. 'From an emotional point of view, however difficult it was, we knew we were doing it because it was what Dad wanted.' Keeping conversation to a minimum due to John's poor hearing, it wasn't until the trio got to their hotel in Switzerland before they could finally speak openly about Dignitas. But even then, doctors had to assess whether they believed John was in the right mind to go through with it. Sandra holds a family photo of her father John with her mother Jeanne and Sandra's son Scott Sandra explained: 'You have to be in Switzerland for two consecutive days before you can go to the clinic, and an independent doctor has to come out both days and make sure it's what the patient wants, and that they know why they are there, and that they are happy to continue with the course of action. 'If the doctor has any doubts or feels they are under any pressure, then they will call the whole thing off.' But those two days gave the family time to relax and chat, and Sandra and Scott were able to find out where John wanted his ashes scattered. Sandra recalled: 'Dad was able to have perfectly intelligent conversations and the thing that I found strange was that I thought two days in a hotel room would be a long haul with Dad not being able to do much, when actually, it was quite nice because the pressure was off. 'You're in a country where you can say why you're there and what you're doing, so there was a feeling of complete relief and we had time to sit and chat. 'We talked about Dad's wishes for his funeral and what he wanted to happen afterwards. 'We discussed a place where he and my mum loved and he asked that their ashes be scattered together. 'If we hadn't had those two days, we never would have pinned down all the details. 'It sounds weird but it was actually quite a pleasant time, Dad looked 10 years younger and you could see the weight had gone from his shoulders because we'd made it there and it was going to be ok.' Scott added: 'You could see a dramatic change in his whole demeanour, he was very relaxed and happy to be there. 'His main and major concern was what would happen to us when we came back but that was something we were prepared to deal with later.' Now that they'd made the journey to Switzerland, another set of emotions emerged when mother and son took John on his final journey to the clinic on October 25. 'The day is very practical to start with because you have to arrange taxis and transport to get there,' explained Scott. 'They're lovely people there, very understanding, it's quiet and secluded and they sit you around a table to talk you through everything that's going to happen, all the while they are reassuring, making sure the person understands and that there are no surprises. 'You still have to fill out lots of paperwork and grandad had to sign so many forms when we got there, it's a misconception that you just take people there and they pop off. 'Grandad was just so glad it was happening, he just wanted it to be over.' Sandra and Scott described the apartment room as homely with a couch, coffee table, bed and a couple of chairs. Relatives are able to sit and talk for as long as they like, but John was keen to press on. 'He was the most relaxed I'd seen him in years because it was finally happening and his suffering was coming to an end,' said Sandra. 'He didn't have to put up with carers young enough to be his granddaughter changing his nappy, as he called it. 'You could see it was all just stopping.' The family recalled how they 'waited quietly' as the pensioner was given an anti-sickness drink, followed by a lethal powdered drug dissolved in a glass of water. Within 15 minutes, John had drifted out of consciousness and into a coma before peacefully passing away. 'It was just like watching him fall asleep,' remembered Sandra. 'The staff leave the room and come back into the background when it's over, it's all handled very sensitively. 'It's peaceful, there's no pain or agony and no dying frightened like some people do in hospital. 'It's just calm and dignified and so much what Dad wanted and what he had planned.' Sandra and Scott admitted it was strange dealing with the range of emotions afterwards. 'It's the strangest combination of feelings, you're upset because your loved one's just died, but there's a relief for him that he is set free from what he was suffering from,' said Scott. 'There's a gladness that it's over - all overridden by the fact that he's gone. 'You feel guilty because you feel glad, it's very strange, you just feel resolute.' They didn't shy away from telling close friends and family when they got home to North Wales. John Lenton was living at the Cartref Bryn yr Eglwys home (above) in Pentrefoelas, Conwy 'For the first time, we could be honest and tell people what had happened and actually talk about what we all believed in. 'It didn't matter what happened to us because of it, because we're tough enough to cope, the main thing was, Dad couldn't be affected anymore and that was my overriding feeling, along with exhaustion.' But Sandra and Scott had to prepare themselves to face any consequences and after informing the care home of John's death in Switzerland, North Wales Police were duly notified. Under UK law, it is a crime to encourage or assist a suicide, and the offence carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison. With end of life choice limited under current UK law, it is believed up to 10 British citizens a month choose to die at the Swiss clinic, which was set up in 1998. According to the charity Dignity In Dying, prosecution is less likely when the person had reached a voluntary, clear, settled and informed decision to end their life and the person suspected of assisting them was wholly motivated by compassion. Scott said: 'Although we'd done so much research around Dignitas, you can't find out what's going to happen to you afterwards, you can't ask anyone or pop into a police station. 'But no one has ever been prosecuted on their return to the UK before. 'If Grandad hadn't have been in a care home, and we'd have taken him there from his flat, no one would have been any the wiser, all you have to do is register the death certificate.' Sandra added: 'The law here is so antiquated. I think Dad's concern was that we'd step onto British soil and be arrested immediately, it was never going to happen, lots of people go to Dignitas. 'It's a very caring organisation and offers tremendous support, indeed it was the only support.' Assisted suicide, in which the dying person takes an active role in ending their own life, is legal in Switzerland but is a crime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland under the 1961 Suicide Act. It carries a penalty of up to 14 years in jail. John Lenton's death was reported to North Wales Police who were duty bound to investigate Sandra and Scott's role. She is currently awaiting a decision by the Crown Prosecution Service on whether it is in the public interest to prosecute them. Sandra said: 'The police have been wonderful. They didn't have an option but to investigate it but they've been very understanding and handled it with great care. 'The law should protect people who want to help loved ones die peacefully. 'From a financial point of view, the only reason we could do this was because my dad had worked all his life. His savings paid for everything from air fare, taxis, hire cars to fees to Dignitas and his own cremation. 'The whole cost is astronomical. It was around 15,000 in total for everything and, if it was down to us funding it, we couldn't have afforded it. 'Dad kept saying he felt guilty about not leaving his money to Scott and I but we just said 'forget it,' and told him it was his own well-earned money he'd worked for. He should do with it, whatever he wanted. 'If not for his savings, he'd have had to go on suffering as so many people are.' 'The main aim of us speaking out about our experience with Dad is in order to bring it out into the open, discuss it and to fight for the right to die in this country and to make it clear that the right to die is an individual's choice. 'Throughout it all, Dad was determined that this was right for him. 'It has to be an individual choice, right for the person making that decision and no-one else.' A CPS spokesman said: 'We considered the circumstances of the case in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors and taking account of the relevant CPS legal guidance. 'We concluded a prosecution is not in the public interest and therefore no charges have been authorised.' For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123, visit a local Samaritans branch or see www.samaritans.org for details A prominent newspaper editor was shot dead by gunmen on motorbikes, along with two police bodyguards, as he left his office in Kashmir. Syed Shujaat Bukhari, editor of Rising Kashmir, had just entered his car in Srinagar when the assassins fired at close range on Thursday night. Other journalists found Bukhari slumped over in the back seat and one of the bodyguards with a gruesome head wound. Syed Shujaat Bukhari, editor of Rising Kashmir, was shot dead by gunmen on motorbikes and found slumped in the back seat of his car He had just entered his car outside his office in in Srinagar when the assassins fired at close range on Thursday night (body of police guard pictured) The 50-year-old was hit multiple times in the head and abdomen and was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital about 7.30pm. His driver was also seriously wounded by the hail of bullets on the streets of India's Jammu and Kashmir state. Mohammed Omar, a manager of Bukhari's newspaper group, said he usually walked to his car with him but stopped to take a phone call. 'In the meantime as he left I heard sounds of intense firing. I rushed to his vehicle where I saw him in a pool of blood,' he said. Bukhari was an advocate for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute and was often part of peace conferences Bukhari was shot dead alongside two police bodyguards with the driver badly wounded Other journalists found Bukhari slumped over in the back seat and one of the bodyguards with a gruesome head wound The 50-year-old was hit multiple times in the head and abdomen and was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital about 7.30pm Zubair Qadri was on Friday arrested after he was caught on camera stealing a pistol from one of the guards after they were gunned down. 'The pistol has since been recovered and he is being questioned about his presence at the scene of the crime,' Inspector General of Kashmir SP Pani said. 'So far, he has not been able to give any convincing answers.' Pani described the murder as a terrorist attack and said the identities of the three other gunmen were still being ascertained. 'We need to understand the larger conspiracy. It's a terror-related crime and we are investigating,' he said. Bukhari was an advocate for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute and was often part of peace conferences between India and Pakistan attended by former diplomats and generals from both countries. Zubair Qadri was on Friday arrested after he was caught on camera stealing a pistol from one of the guards after they were gunned down Pani described the murder as a terrorist attack and said the identities of the three other gunmen (pictured) were still being ascertained 'It appears to be a very well-planned attack. The attackers knew the routine,' police said Police believed the father-of-two's assassination could be related to his involvement in a private peace effort with activists and members of the Indian and Pakistani governments. 'It appears to be a very well-planned attack. The attackers knew the routine,' they said. Militant groups Lashkar-e-Taiba and United Jehad Council also condemned the killing and denied involvement. Instead, they blamed 'Indian agencies'. Bukhari's final tweet, sent just a few hours before his murder, was a link to his website's reporting of the UN human rights chief calling for a major investigation into abuses committed by both India and Pakistan in Kashmir. Rebel groups fighting Indian rule of Kashmir as well as government forces have been accused in the past of abducting, attacking and threatening journalists. Paramedics prepare to carry out the body of journalist Shujaat Bukhari Kashmiri men carry the coffin of Bukhari during his funeral procession at Kreeri, 40 km (25 miles) from Srinagar Bukhari was the 14th journalist killed in Kashmir since 1990 in the powder-keg region India and Pakistan have argued over since partition in 1947. He told the BBC during riots in 2016 that journalists in Kashmir 'had to work on a razor's edge in what is effectively the world's most heavily militarised zone'. 'Threats to life, intimidation, assault, arrest and censorship have been part of the life of a typical local journalist,' he said. 'If a local journalist reports an atrocity by the security forces, he risks being dubbed 'anti-national'. 'Highlighting any wrongdoing by the militants or separatists could easily mean that he is 'anti-tehreek' (anti-movement) or a 'collaborator'.' Bukhari, who founded Kashmir Rising in 2008, had five police guards assigned to him around the clock - three at his home and two travelling with him. Thousands flocked to a funeral service on Friday at the Jamia Masjid grand mosque in Srinagar before the burial in his native village in northern Kashmir His colleagues returned to work straight after his death to rewrite the paper with a full-blown portrait of Bukhari on its front page against a black background. 'We won't be cowed down by the cowards who snatched you from us. We will uphold your principle of telling the truth howsoever unpleasant it may be,' the paper wrote in an obituary. Thousands flocked to a funeral service on Friday at the Jamia Masjid grand mosque in Srinagar before the burial in his native village in northern Kashmir. Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh described Bukhari's murder as an 'act of cowardice'. 'It is an attempt to silence the saner voices of Kashmir. He was a courageous and fearless journalist,' he said. Kashmir's top elected official, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, also condemned the killing as an 'act of mindless violence.' Bukhari was the 14th journalist killed in Kashmir since 1990 in the powder-keg region India and Pakistan have argued over since partition in 1947 'Terrorism has hit a new low with Shujaat's killing. We must unite against forces seeking to undermine our attempts to restore peace. Justice will be done,' he said. Top rebel leader Syed Salahuddin, who heads the United Jihad Council, an umbrella group of 13 Kashmiri rebel organisations, called for an international investigation. 'The killing of Shujaat Bukhari at a time when the UN Human Rights Commission released a report on the human rights abuses by Indian forces in Kashmir raises many questions,' he said. More than 130 people have been killed this year in militant violence in Kashmir. India has long accused Pakistan of training and arming militants and helping them infiltrate across the Line of Control that separates the two sides in the region, a charge Islamabad denies. Humberto Guzman-Garcia (pictured), 35, allegedly abducted a four-year-old girl and sexually assaulted her behind a shed A four-year-old Pennsylvania girl who was abducted from her bedroom and sexually assaulted by a stranger told authorities that 'a monster took me when I was sleeping'. Humberto Guzman-Garcia, 35, broke into the family's Avondale home around 3.30am Sunday and knocked on the family's door, according to the Chester County district attorney's office. The little girl, whose room is located near the front door, woke up and opened the door. Authorities said the door was still locked by the top latch, but Guzman-Garcia reached in, opened the latch and took the child from the home. Guzman-Garcia allegedly took her outside to a shed and sexually assaulted her. When the girl's parents could not locate her, the father went outside and saw Guzman-Garcia with his pants unbuckled near the shed about 50 yards away. Authorities said Guzman-Garcia ran off but was later found hiding in an abandoned car in a parking lot. 'Vigilance on the part of the young girl's parents and quick work from responding troopers were instrumental in apprehending a dangerous predator,' said Captain James H. Fisher, commanding officer of Pennsylvania State Police Troop J. Police said Guzman-Garcia broke into the family's Avondale apartment building (pictured) around 3.30am Sunday and knocked on the girl's bedroom door He allegedly took her outside to a shed (pictured) and sexually assaulted her Officials said Guzman-Garcia is a complete stranger to the victim's family. It's unknown whether he had observed the victim earlier in the day and followed her to the family's residence. 'This crime is every parent's nightmare,' Chester County District Attorney Thomas Hogan said in a statement. 'This is proof that evil exists in this world.' Hogan also called the attack 'bold and brazen'. He said that given the nature of the attack, authorities 'are concerned that there could have been prior victims'. The child's mother, who didn't want to be identified, told NBC 10 in Spanish that her daughter seems okay and she's just happy that police caught the man her daughter called a 'monster'. Investigators said the man admitted to abducting the girl and committing a sexual act on her. When the girl's parents could not locate her, the father went outside and saw the attack in progress outside the shed (pictured) The child's mother (pictured), who didn't want to be identified, told NBC 10 in Spanish that her daughter seems okay and she's just happy that police caught the man her daughter called a 'monster' Guzman-Garcia has been charged with kidnapping, aggravated indecent assault, attempted rape and related charges. He's being held at the Chester County Correctional Facility awaiting a June 22 preliminary hearing after he failed to post $500,000 bail. Guzman-Garcia, who was born in Mexico but is a US citizen, had previously pleaded guilty in Chester County to charges of public drunkenness and criminal trespass. The district attorney's office is asking the public to call Trooper Stefano Gallina at (610) 268-2022 if they have any information about Guzman-Garcia. Talks with the United States over how to reform the main U.N. rights body have failed to meet Washington's demands, activists and diplomats say, suggesting that the Trump administration will quit the Geneva forum whose session opens on Monday. A U.S. source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the withdrawal appeared to be 'imminent' but had no details. Diplomatic sources said it was not a question of if but of when the United States retreats from the Human Rights Council, which is holding a three-week session through July 6. A separate U.S. official in Geneva had no information about a looming pull-out during the upcoming talks, saying: 'We are still moving ahead with our engagement for the coming session.' U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, shown talking with Israel's Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon (right) on Wednesday, is poised to withdraw the United States from the UN's Human Rights Council, which is widely regarded as anti-Israel Haley has a seat on the UN Human Rights Council but is often one of very few delegates to vote against sweeping and controversial measures condemning Israel An anti-government activist was arrested during clashes in Caracas, Venezuela on July 28, 2017 when protesters took over streets in a show of defiance to President Nicolas Maduro, whose country of Venezuela has a seat on the UN Human Rights Council Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, publicly told the Council a year ago that Washington might leave the body unless a 'chronic anti-Israel bias' were removed. The forum, set up in 2006, has a permanent standing agenda item on suspected violations committed by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories, which Washington wants removed. Washington says the Council is stacked with opponents of Israel and boycotted it for three years under President George W. Bush before rejoining under Barack Obama in 2009. The 47-member forum last month voted to set up a probe into killings in Gaza and accused Israel of excessive use of force. The United States and Australia cast the only 'no' votes. Israel's ambassador in Geneva, Aviva Raz Shechter, castigated the Council for 'spreading lies against Israel.' China still carries out public executions like this one in the southern Guangdong province; the official number of executions is a tightly held state secret; China has a seat on the UN Human Rights Council Talks held in Geneva and in New York for months could not find consensus around a new agenda, according to activists and diplomats who have taken part. While the Trump administration has yet to announce a decision, any suspension or withdrawal would be the latest U.S. rejection of multilateral engagement after pulling out of the Paris climate agreement and the deal with world powers over Iran's nuclear programme. Diplomats said it could also lead to Israel being even more isolated in the Human Rights Council and could bolster countries such as Cuba, Egypt, Pakistan and Russia who resist what they see as U.N. interference in sovereign issues. The European Union failed to find a common position, mainly due to Belgium's wish to keep violations in individual countries firmly on the agenda of each session, they said. The United States also wants to make it easier to kick off member states with egregious rights records. Haley has cited Venezuela, China and Saudi Arabia as violating standards. Haley speaks to other members of the UN Security Council before posing for a photo wearing the jerseys of their country's soccer teams on Thursday the U.S> has long complained that human-rights-abusing countries like Cuba, Venezuela, China, Saudi Arabia and Burundi are permitted to sit on the Human Rights Council The Council has ongoing investigations into violations in hotspots including Myanmar, South Sudan, and Syria, with a view to gathering evidence that could lead to future prosecutions. Marc Limon, executive director of the think tank Universal Rights Group, said there were 'rumours and mutterings' of a 'political decision' having been taken in Washington to disengage. 'They could either leave the seat empty, which could happen in June, or if withdrawing, formally notify the General Assembly,' he told Reuters. Swiss Ambassador Valentin Zellweger said: 'The decision by the Americans will have a profound impact on the Council. If they withdraw, we can expect significant consequences.' The United States had long played a 'leadership role' in the Council, Zellweger said, adding: 'Unfortunately I agree with them that not all members fulfil the (membership) criteria.' Mr Butcher's ring disappeared in hospital A heartbroken woman claims her father's wedding ring was stolen in hospital after his death. George Butcher's ring disappeared in the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff on March 17 after he died aged 82. A photo taken by the partner of his daughter Debbie Rowlands during his last moments shows the teaching assistant holding her father's hand as he wore the ring on his finger. The wedding ring was the only item that Debbie desperately wanted to keep and she was left devastated after it went missing as her father was taken from the ward to the mortuary. Debbie, who wanted to have the ring altered to wear alongside one owned by her late mother Stella, said: 'Two rings were signed off at ward A4 but only one ring was signed off at the mortuary. 'It's so sad, it's my dad's wedding ring and I wanted to keep it with my mum's. 'It was the only sort of personal item that I wanted to keep. I know I can't replace it, it's sentimental value.' George Butcher hours before his death holding his daughter's hand and wearing the ring George Butcher and his wife of more than five decades Stella Debbie, 54, said she feels bad for the 'exceptional' staff who treated her father during his last weeks. She said: 'My dad was taken to hospital last July and the care throughout everything was absolutely fantastic. I couldn't praise them enough, but obviously procedure wasn't followed. 'It's awful for all the staff who were on duty at the time, everyone has come under suspicion and only one individual has done it. 'It's so sad that one person can put every body in a bad light. 'So many people are totally honest but unfortunately when my dad passed that one person that was around wasn't honest.' 'Hopefully procedures can now be put in place.' The incident is being investigated by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. Debbie and her family are not optimistic about getting the ring back, and have advised others to ask for family jewellery to be removed at the time of death. Ms Rowlands, a mother-of-two, from Barry, said: 'We have resigned ourselves that we are never going to get it back. 'Police took statements from staff but are unable to prove anything so we have come to the end of the line.' She added: 'He passed away at 4.30am in the morning so we were there and they asked did we want to take his jewellery. 'It was so sudden so it's the last thing you think of. You don't think it's appropriate even though I know my father would have said to. 'We said we would collect it off the undertaker. I never thought for a minute about it.' A spokeswoman for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: 'We are sorry for any distress this incident has caused to the patient's family. 'All cases of reported missing property from patients are thoroughly investigated by the hospital. 'A full investigation took place but, unfortunately, failed to shed any light on what happened to the ring.' The last words an Oregon woman spoke to her family included a joke about being murdered, before she died while hiking with her boyfriend in 2009. Julia Simmons, the mother of Rhonda Casto, shared what her daughter said with Maria Elena SLaines of Investigative Discovery's The Real Story, in an interview that airs on Monday. Casto's last words to her grandmother and aunt before embarking on the Eagle Creek Trail along Oregons Columbia River Gorge on March 16, 2009, with Stephen Nichols were supposedly, 'He is either going to give me a ring or throw me off a cliff, ha ha ha,' Simmons said. Nichols, who was first charged with murder in 2015 for Casto's death, instead pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and coercion in May 2017, and was sentenced to three years of probation, with credit for 19 months of jail time. Casto and Nichols shared a daugther, named Ava. The last words Rhonda Casto (right) spoke to her family included a joke about being murdered, before she died while hiking with her boyfriend, Stephen Nichols (left) in Oregon in 2009 The plea deal for Nichols came after the Oregon Supreme Court ruled in March 2017 that a detective should have stopped interrogating Nichols when the suspect said he did not want to discuss Castos death. The interview occurred shortly after Nichols February 2015 arrest at San Francisco International Airport, nearly six years after his partners death. A Hood River County judge had ruled the statement inadmissible, but the state appealed to the higher court, and lost. Nichols, who has maintained he had nothing to do with Casto's death, told People magazine, 'She was so happy' on the day of the hike. When asked about what she allegedly said to her family that day, he said, 'The simple answer is I dont think she ever actually said that.' But Simmons paints a different picture, having previously told People, 'She was going to move out, but she was trying to get up the courage to do it.' Simmons added: 'She was worried about not having enough money to support Ava.' Nichols, then a recently divorced 30-year-old day trader, met Casto, a 20-year-old aspiring model, in 2005 after Casto's mother introduced them Nichols was originally charged with murder in 2015, but that charge was dropped when he took a plea deal that landed him three years of probation, with credit for 19 months of jail time On the day Casto dies, Nichols called 911 at around 6pm that night to report Casto's 100-foot-fall to her death. He has said that he slid down the ravine toward her, and had to cross an icy creek to reach her body, but by the time he got there he collapsed on top of her, overcome with exhaustion and hypothermia. The popular hiking destination has been the scene of other accidents in the past due to a few narrow sections that drop off on one side into a ravine. The trail was even more dangerous that day due to a battering of sleet and hail that made the path treacherous. Records show that several months before the incident, Nichols, then working as a day trader, increased Castos life insurance policy to $1 million. Court documents show Nichols and Casto became romantically involved in 2005, according to The Oregonian. Casto and Nichols reportedly both took out $1 million life insurance policies on each other shortly before her untimely death in March 2009 Treacherous path: The hiking trail where Casto fell to her death has a few narrow sections that drop off on one side into a ravine In an interview with CBS' 48 Hours, Casto's mother, Julia Simmons, said that she was the one who introduced Nichols to her daughter while renting a room in his three-bedroom condominium in Portland. Nichols was 30 years old and recently divorced, and Casto was 20 at the time. 'Everything about her was impressive,' Nichols said in the March 2015 interview, adding, 'and I just immediately fell in love with her.' Before long, Casto moved into Nichols' home, and three years later they welcomed their baby daughter, who is now seven. The papers reveal that the couple each bought a $1 million life insurance policy in late 2008 from MetLife and named each other as beneficiaries. Their daughter was named as contingent beneficiary. Nichols eventually agreed to split the money with Casto's mother and with the estate of his daughter. In the 48 Hours interview, Nichols said that after delivering their baby, Casto said she wanted to lose the baby weight so she could start modelling again, so the couple took up hiking. Simmons said that in the weeks leading up to the fatal March 2009 outing to the Eagle Creek Trial, her daughter told her that Nichols had been trying to convince her to go for a hike for a month. Nichols said that day started off as a nice day but the weather turned inclement as the couple were making their up the narrow, moss-covered trail As they reached a particularly slippery portion of the pathway, Casto fell off the cliff to her death. Nichols said he hiked down to the spot where his girlfriend came to rest and tried to give her CPR, but it was too late. He would later claim that the 23-year-old mom was high that afternoon, was acting silly and running on the slick trail before disaster struck. The Real Story with Maria Elena Salinas airs on Monday at 10.00pm Eastern on Investigation Discovery. never forgave herself for being unable to save her beloved boy Kelly-Ann Carter with her son Lucas and partner Andy Hough An eight-year-old boy died after a severe fire caused by a pumpkin candle swept through his home, an inquest found. Lucas Carter was asleep upstairs when the flicker from two tealights inside the Halloween lantern caught the living room curtains on October 30, 2016. With minutes, the flames engulfed the whole lounge and then spread to the hall of the house in Platt Avenue in Sandbach, Cheshire. His mother Kelly Carter, 35, was so distraught she killed herself just two weeks later because she couldn't forgive herself for being unable to save him. A separate inquest into her suicide last year heard she drank brandy then hanged herself at the home of boyfriend Andrew Hough whilst he was asleep in bed. 'She couldn't forgive herself and didn't want to be here without him. He was her world, he was her best,' her best friend Sarah Blakey told the inquest. 'To her he was her greatest achievement and he was an absolute credit, a lovely little boy.' Kelly Carter, 35, from Cheshire, attempted to rescue son Lucas when when the deadly blaze broke out at their family home - but she was beaten back by the force of the flames Just two weeks later, whilst in a state of anger at being being unable to save her child whom she called 'her world and her best', Miss Carter drank brandy then hanged herself at the home of boyfriend Andrew Hough whilst he was asleep in bed On the night of the fire, Lucas watched a scary Halloween film with his mother before going to bed, an inquest in Crewe heard on Friday. She then dozed off on the couch after drinking some wine and lighting the candles, awaking to find the bay window curtains 'orange' with flames. The fire was so severe Kelly was beaten back as she tried to rescue Lucas from his bedroom upstairs, where a passerby heard him cry 'mum' before he succumbed to the smoke. The Offley Primary pupil was rushed to Leighton Hospital but he suffered a cardiac arrest and died. The cause of death was determined to be smoke inhalation. The inquest heard that the distraught mother told police on the night of the fire: 'If you can do anything again, don't light candles.' Barman Daniel Gall had just finished his shift at the Tavern pub when he heard an alarm and spotted the fire on his way home. The fire was caused by a lit pumpkin and soon swept through the home, an inquest found Firefighters called to the scene found Miss Carter outside the property with serious burns and found Lucas upstairs in his bedroom He said he saw Kelly screaming outside the property. 'She was saying, 'could you get him out of there'. 'She had burns on both arms and her face was black with soot.' Daniel tried the doors, but the fire was too intense to get inside, so and another neighbour put a ladder against the wall. Ms Carter's inquest heard in November that she told her best friend she would 'do the same as your mother' who also committed suicide, but not until after Lucas' funeral They had just smashed a side window when fire crews arrived. Lucas was carried outside and firefighters began CPR on the front lawn. Fire investigation officer Ian Pugh told today's hearing that the balance of probabilities was the the lit pumpkin started the blaze. Concluding it was an accidental death, Cheshire coroner Claire Welch said her 'heart went out' to Lucas and Kelly's family for their double loss. 'This was nothing more than a truly horrific accident. It is perhaps a salutary reminder of the dangers of using naked flames in the home,' she said. Ms Carter's inquest heard in November that she told Ms Blakey she would 'do the same as your mother' who also committed suicide, but not until after Lucas' funeral. She said she tried to take a dressing gown cord with knots tied in from Ms Carter, on the night before her death, but she wouldn't let her. 'Lucas was buried on November 18 and Kelly's funeral was the following Friday,' she said. Mr Hough, 33, said he left her downstairs watching TV and came downstairs at 5am to wake her up from the couch and get her to come to bed. She said she tried to take a dressing gown cord with knots tied in from Ms Carter, on the night before her death, but she wouldn't let her Kelly-Ann Carter who hanged herself just two weeks after she was forced to watch son Lucas die in a fire at the family home in Sandbach 'At 9:36am I went downstairs and as I got to the bottom step I saw Kelly. I phoned my mum and Kelly's sister Gemma,' he said. Police agreed with their version of events: '[Mr Hough] had come down in the morning to find her hanged against the bannister of the staircase. 'The overall view was that we didn't believe there was any suspicious circumstances or third party involvement because of the fact that she lost a loved one earlier on and it was too much for her.' Radicalised asylum seekers have murdered or injured more than 1,000 people in terror attacks in Europe since 2014, a new report has revealed. In the past four years, 32 Islamist plots have involved those who had sought sanctuary or 16 per cent. Three of the potential atrocities were in the UK, including Parson Green tube bomber Ahmed Hassan. An analysis by academics found 44 refugees had either carried out atrocities or been thwarted before they could bring bloodshed to the streets. The findings echo warnings by law enforcement chiefs that some so-called Islamic State fanatics who are bent on murder posed as refugees fleeing war and persecution. It was claimed they exploited the migrant crisis by pretending to be asylum seekers to sneak into Europe and cause carnage. Terror expert Robin Simcox, of the Heritage Foundation think-tank in Washington DC, said it was 'disturbingly simple' for jihadists to hide among genuine refugees because the Continent's borders were under huge strain. Munir Muhammed (pictured) was jailed for life after plotting a bomb campaign European leaders had 'inadvertently increased the terrorist threat' as a direct result of their 'catastrophic' handling of controversial immigration and open-border policies. He singled out German Chancellor Angela Merkel who sparked fury by throwing open the doors to Syrian refugees, leading to an influx of more than one million people in 2015. It raised concerns that undercover jihadists were able to make their way across Europe unhindered once they had made it to the EU's passport-free Schengen zone, ending up in northern France in a bid to reach the UK. Mr Simcox made clear that the fault for 11 successful attacks involving asylum seekers, which killed 182 people and injured 814, lay with the terrorists. The report said: 'Ill-conceived immigration policies have made it easier for them to strike. European leaders were either naive about the risks or failed to communicate honestly with the public the impact that accepting such large amounts of people would have on security. 'The fall-out from the decision to take in such a large amount of unvetted people in such a short time will continue for decades to come.' The study found that there were 194 Islamist terror plots between January 2014 and December 2017. The total casualties were 357 deaths and 1,678 injuries. Of those, 32 involved asylum seekers or refugees. They included the attack by IS-inspired gunman and suicide bombers who murdered 129 innocent people in Paris in November 2015 and Tunisian-born Anas Amri who killed 12 when he drove a truck into a Christmas market in Berlin in 2016. Three plots took place in Britain. Sudanese asylum seeker Munir Mohammed, 36, was jailed for life with a minimum of 14 years in February this year after seducing a chemist he met through a Muslim dating website into helping him plot a bombing campaign. Iraqi refugee Ahmed Hassan, 18, was jailed for life in March after he detonated a bomb containing on the London Underground at Parson Green in September 2017, an attack which injured 51. He told Home Office officials that he had been trained to kill by IS but was still allowed to stay in the country. The third case involves a chip shop terror suspect behind an alleged Islamist Christmas bomb plot which was foiled in December. Andy Sami Star, 31, who came to Britain from Iraqi Kurdistan, is awaiting trial. Ahmed Hassan was jailed for life in March IS had direct connections to the majority of plots, with Germany targeted most and Syrians more frequently involved than other nationalities. Nearly three-quarters of plotters carry out, or have their plans stopped, within two years of arriving in Europe. Most refugee and asylum-seeker plotters were radicalised prior to their entry to Europe. However, brainwashing occurring after arrival in Europe often via propaganda videos on the internet - has become increasingly commonplace since late 2016, said the report. Mr Simcox said: 'Europe has faced a severe threat from Islamist terrorism for years. Yet Chancellor Merkel's decision to open Germany's borders in 2015 unfortunately increased that threat. 'While only a minority of asylum seekers pose a security risk, the plots carried out by those exploiting migrant routes in Paris, London, Berlin, Stockholm and elsewhere across Europe demonstrate that even a low number of extremists can still cause huge amounts of damage.' The report called on European leaders to tackle the threat by reducing the number of refugees from war zones scarred by Islamist conflicts, prioritise monitoring of high-risk recent arrivals and review intelligence used by the security services. In 2016, Rob Wainwright, then director of Europol, the EU crime-fighting agency, revealed that increasing numbers of jihadists were using fake documents to sneak into Europe and some were posing as refugees. A Minnesota Red Lobster is under fire after it allegedly discriminated against a Muslim family who was trying to break their fast for Ramadan. The family, who was visiting the Red Lobster in Rochester, said they repeatedly asked for water multiple times while waiting to break their fast. After 30 minutes went by and no water has been brought to their table, the family asked to see the manager. The family said that after they suggested to the manager that racial bias may be involved, he replied: 'You people love to play the race card whenever you can.' A Red Lobster in Rochester, Minnesota (pictured) is under fire after it allegedly discriminated against a Muslim family and refused to give them water to break their fast for Ramadan When the family said they planned to complain about how they were being treated to the corporate office, the manager allegedly replied 'go ahead'. He also allegedly told the family that no one would believe their complaint because it was 'your word against mine', according to Fox News. The family said a sever then interjected into the conversation, claiming they 'know all about Ramadan'. 'A Muslim hit my car the other day because she was too hungry to drive in Ramadan,' the server allegedly said. 'I almost got injured because of Ramadan.' Ramadan, which occurs in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad, includes a strict month of fasting from sunrise to sunset. The Minnesota Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) has since filed a complaint against the Red Lobster. 'It is unconscionable that a family seeking to observe their religious principles would be so harshly treated by those paid to serve the public and who are legally bound to offer that service without discrimination,' Ellen Longfellow, a civil rights attorney for CAIR-MN, said in a statement. CAIR-MN is demanding the restaurant give the family a written apology, updates its anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies, and has employees undergo sensitivity training. The organization is also demanding that the Red Lobster pay compensation to be donated to charity. Red Lobster has since said they are aware of the incident and have opened an investigation. 'We welcome everyone in our restaurants for a great seafood dining experience,' a spokesperson said. 'All our guests should be treated equally and given the respect they deserve.' A 23-year-old man has been accused of opening fire on four people outside a suburban Denver dental office, killing a boy and wounding his mother and brother, in what police on Friday called an act of road rage. Police in the city of Westminster, Colorado said Jeremy Webster did not know or have any connection to the victims. They have not provided more detail about what led to the shooting Thursday in the parking lot of a business complex about 14 miles northwest of Denver. Law enforcement officials investigate the scene of the shooting in a parking lot behind a dental clinic on Thursday, June 14, in Westminster, near Denver, Colorado. A man has been arrested All four victims were shot in the parking lot of the business complex. One, a boy, died from his wounds. Jeremy Webster, 23, has been taken into custody in relation to the shooting Law enforcement officials escort a man away from the front door of a dental clinic as police investigate the scene of the shooting The slain boy's mother and brother were in critical condition, authorities said. Webster faces charges of first-degree murder, first-degree assault and attempt to commit a felony. He is being held in jail without bond, according to online records and is due in court Monday morning. Jail records do not indicate if Webster has an attorney to speak on his behalf. Authorities have not released a photo of Webster, saying they were continuing to speak with witnesses. A man unrelated to the family also was shot but less seriously wounded. Police have not released their names or ages. Police investigate the scene of a shooting in a parking lot behind the dentist's office Officers surround the complex that holds several dental offices, using yellow tape to block access to the area and placing evidence markers Police who arrived at the scene found four people with gunshot wounds at the Colorado business complex parking lot Investigators have been interviewing people who were inside or near the complex at the time of the shooting Investigators have also been interviewing people who were inside or near the business complex at the time of the shooting. Cheri Spottke said there were, 'a lot of witnesses to talk to and get information. Obviously, they're upset.' Police surrounded the complex that holds several dental offices, using yellow tape to block access to the area and placing evidence markers. Illegal: One of the fishermen posted this photo on social media Romanians have been illegally plundering prized carp from lakes and boasting about it on social media, anglers claim. They say up to 20 men have been seen stealing the fish from pools in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire before flaunting their catch on Facebook. They are ignoring multilingual signs telling them to throw fish back into the water, instead of taking them home to eat. The Royal Forest of Dean Angling Club says it is a growing problem across the country, with illegal fishermen occasionally becoming violent when confronted. Regular anglers have now been made aware of Facebook posts that show two offenders proudly posing with dead carp. In one photo shared on Facebook on June 9, a man grins next to a row of eight carp laid out in his kitchen. It will cost the angling club 2,000 to replace them. In another image, a man poses next to Lightmoor Pool in Cinderford, Gloucestershire, with a common carp dangling from his fingers. Adrian Lane, 55, the angling clubs water bailiff, said he and other members recognised both men as repeat offenders in the area. He added: This problem has been going on for about five years but its gradually getting worse. We have noticed a reduced stock of fish in our lakes. These Romanians and Poles are exchanging pictures of their catches on social media. As soon as I saw those pictures on Facebook, I reported them to the police and it is now in their hands. But we have been dealing with these thieves on a daily basis and asking them to leave. We have had to step up patrols. We now have 24-hour patrols to protect our waters. We catch the thieves once or twice a week. A lot of them are repeat offenders. Eastern Europeans either ignore or plead ignorant to the law requiring catches to be thrown back. Carp are considered a delicacy in many countries such as Poland, Romania and Bulgaria, where they are often served as a treat for Christmas dinner. Boasting: An angler shows off a haul of carp on Facebook. Eastern Europeans either ignore or plead ignorant to the law requiring catches to be thrown back Mr Lane said: They are killing them to eat and there isnt a law against eating a carp. But they are stealing the carp from the angling club, and every angling club in the country is suffering from this problem. The cost of replacing the fish is astronomical carp cost between 70 and 90 a pound. In the picture, the man is posing with eight dead carp. Those fish would cost over 2,000 to replace. He added: It makes me very angry. We have 200 club members who pay a yearly fee of 35. It is less than a pound a week to fish we dont go out to make a profit, we just want to cover the costs. Now we need to raise money to replace fish stocks because so many are being stolen. We cant have these people coming on to our waters and stealing the fish. If you want to eat carp, you can buy it off the shelf in Morrisons. Mr Lane acknowledged that British men have also been caught illegally fishing on the lakes. Police have been supporting the angling club in its efforts to catch offenders. Although it is certain the stolen fish came from its lakes, the club has been unable to definitively prove it, meaning no prosecutions have been brought. Mr Lane says he is looking into microchipping carp in an attempt to track them better. Most parts of Britain have limits on the size and species of fish anglers can take, and in all areas they are banned from keeping large carp. Last year, the Angling Trust warned that poachers are piling pressure on dwindling stocks of freshwater fish. Gloucestershire Constabulary: No arrests have been made and no offenders identified but officers from our rural crime team are working with the Angling Trust and the Environment Agency. They conduct regular patrols to identify and deter potential offenders. The force is signed up to Operation Leviathan, the multi-force, multi-agency initiative which tackles the illegal taking of fish. The neighbor who attacked Sen Rand Paul over yard debris has been sentenced to 30 days in prison. Rene Boucher, 60, pleaded guilty to tackling the Republican politician in Bowling Green, Kentucky and breaking six of his ribs last year. Boucher must also serve a year of supervised release, pay a $10,000 fine, and serve 100 hours of community service. He was also told not to have any intentional contact with the Kentucky senator or his family. Rene Boucher, the neighbor who attacked Rand Paul over yard debris, has been sentenced to 30 days in prison. He is pictured here leaving the courthouse after his sentencing on Friday Boucher, 59, pleaded guilty to tackling the Republican politician (pictured in September) in Bowling Green, Kentucky last year and breaking six of his ribs Federal prosecutors had sought a 21-month prison sentence for Boucher, but Paul called the judge's decision 'appropriate'. 'A felony conviction with jail time is appropriate and hopefully will deter the attacker from further violence,' Paul said in a statement. 'I commend the FBI and Department of Justice for treating this violent, pre-meditated assault with the seriousness it deserves.' US District Judge Marianne Battani called the November attack a 'dispute between neighbors' and an 'isolated incident' that was not motivated by politics. After pleading guilty in March, Boucher, a retired doctor, was released on a $25,000 unsecured bond and was told he was not allowed to contact Paul or his family. Boucher had said he 'lost his temper' when Paul repeatedly placed yard debris on the property line between their homes before the altercation. On the day before the November 3 attack, Boucher burned some debris left by Paul, according to the document obtained by the Daily News of Bowling Green. The next day, Paul placed more debris on the spot where the pile had been burned. Boucher (pictured on Friday) must also serve a year of supervised release. Paul called the judge's decision 'appropriate' US District Judge Marianne Battani called the November attack a 'dispute between neighbors' that was not motivated by politics. Boucher is pictured here in November Paul was mowing his yard in November 2017 while wearing headphones when Boucher approached him from behind and dragged him to the ground. He was taken to hospital with multiple fractures and later sought treatment for pneumonia. Court documents say Boucher saw Paul stacking more brush and 'had enough.' Boucher's attorney, Matt Baker, characterized the attack as a dispute that boiled over and had nothing to do with politics. But a spokesman for Paul disputed the claim that there was an ongoing disagreement between the two men. After the attack, it was believed that Boucher held a grudge against Paul because he felt the Kentucky senator was spoiling his view and thus bringing down the property of his home Sen. Paul was mowing his yard in November, 2017, while wearing headphones when Boucher approached him from behind and dragged him to the ground. The front yard of Paul's home is seen in the above photo The spokesman told DailyMail.com: 'Before Senator Paul was violently attacked from behind, he had no conversations or discussions with the attacker. 'There was no "longstanding dispute". This description is untrue. It is impossible to have a dispute when no words of disagreement were ever spoken - neither immediately nor at any other time before the attack occurred,' they said. The spokesman described Boucher's attack as a 'pre-meditated assault', and claimed that calling it a 'yard dispute' was justifying 'such violence and misses the point'. 'In the decade prior to the attack, Senator Paul had no contact with the attacker,' the spokesman said. 'The attack was a pre-meditated assault that broke six of the Senator's ribs and was complicated by fluid and blood around the lung and recurrent pneumonia.' Shortly after the attack, it was revealed that Boucher may have held a grudge against Paul because he felt the Kentucky senator was spoiling his view and thus bringing down the value of his home. Boucher was said to have told Paul in the wake of the mauling that he hadn't been able to sell his $740,000 house for ten years because the congressman's trees were 'in the way' This is the picturesque private lake that forms the centerpiece of their upscale gated community Boucher was said to have told Paul in the wake of the attack that he hadn't been able to sell his $740,000 house for 10 years because the congressman's trees were 'in the way'. It's believed Boucher was referring to woodland at the back of Paul's property that blocks the doctor's views of the picturesque private lake that forms the centerpiece of their upscale gated community. Boucher was arrested on November 3, 2018, after attacking Rand at his home in Bowling Green, Kentucky Friends say it could explain why the retired anesthesiologist has failed to find a buyer for his five-bedroom, 1.36-acre home, which is nonetheless described on property websites as 'overlooking' the lake. A look at boundary maps and overhead photographs also shows many of the 'offending' trees are on Paul's land - although one realtor told DailyMail.com that Boucher's property probably didn't sell simply because it was overpriced. Property records confirm that Boucher has put his house on the market five times over the past decade without success, at one point becoming embroiled in a messy lawsuit when a prospective buyer pulled the plug at the last minute. Boucher, a divorced father-of-two, was originally charged by the state of Kentucky with a fourth-degree misdemeanor assault due to the relatively minor injuries. He pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charge. The seriousness of the assault became apparent days later when Paul revealed he suffered broken ribs and a buildup of fluid around the lung known as pleural effusion. The federal government then added the more seriously felony charge of assaulting a member of Congress. Police on the Caribbean island of St Lucia say a man will be charged with murdering his wife after a post-mortem examination is carried out. Anna Mitchell, 68, a retired British estate agent was stabbed to death at her villa in the north of St Lucia. The elderly man, thought to be James Mitchell and believed to be in his late 70s, is now in custody after Anna Mitchell, in her 60s, was found dead yesterday. Mitchell's lifeless body was discovered by police in the driveway of her residence on Flamboyant Crescent, Cap Estate, Gros Islet after 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. Her Dominica-born British husband James Mitchell, 77, has been in police custody since the gruesome discovery and is set to be charged with her murder. Anna Mitchell, 68, a retired British estate agent was stabbed to death at her villa in the north of St Lucia Ms Mitchell, a mother of two worked in property in the UK before moving to the Caribbean more than 20 years ago The elderly man, thought to be James Mitchell and believed to be in his late 70s, is now in custody after Anna Mitchell (pictured), in her 60s, was found dead yesterday 'We are waiting for the full results of the post-mortem examination on the victim's body. We have most of the evidence already. In This country, everything has to be solid before we can proceed.' said a police source in Castries, St Lucia's capital. 'It looks increasingly likely that we are going to charge her husband with her murder. At the moment he is in custody and he will be charged with her murder.' Ms Mitchell, a mother of two worked in property in the UK before moving to the Caribbean more than 20 years ago. An island source revealed that authorities on the island have been waiting for the arrival of her two children in Britain who will legally identify her body as they are her legal guardians so that the post-mortem can be completed. 'We will release a statement on this ongoing matter soon.' said the police spokesman. Her death has shocked the community on the idyllic island, which is home to fewer than 200,000 people. According to St Lucia News Online, Anna had her head 'bashed in' and a murder probe has now been opened. There were reports of a domestic dispute at the couple's home. Her death has been recorded as the 16th homicide so far this year on the island. Anna loved Saint Lucia and was preparing to host a charity event at her home next month when she died, Ann-Marie Joseph, a close friend of the deceased told the St Lucia Times. Joseph, a former magistrate on the island, described the deceased as someone who was 'extremely generous' with her time. She disclosed that the death has sent shock waves through the Cap Estate community where Mitchell lived and among charitable organisations on the Island. According to Joseph, the deceased ran a swim programme from her home where she lived with her husband, offering her pool to assist with charitable ventures. She noted that Anna was youthful and she ate well and was a yoga enthusiast. Her death has shocked the community on the idyllic island (pictured), which is home to fewer than 200,000 people A police release Wednesday said that officers attached to the Gros Islet Police Station were summoned to a residence at Cap Estate, about 4.10 pm on Tuesday. Pictured: St Lucia 'She did not have very much. Although she lived in Cap Estate in a beautiful house she did not have very much. But whatever she had, she was willing to share,' she told the St Lucia Times. Joseph estimated that Mitchell, a retired realtor, must have been living in Saint Lucia for at least twenty years. 'She came out here because she loved Saint Lucia. She came here on a visit she landed here via Dominica and she fell in love with the island,' she explained. Anna had two children, both of whom are in the UK, it was revealed. Joseph told the St Lucia Times that Anna also loved children. 'We used to have a baby swim programme here and she adopted all the children as her own grandchildren. She was very warm. I remember her for her warmth, her sense of fun and her sense of humour.' A police release Wednesday said that officers attached to the Gros Islet Police Station were summoned to a residence at Cap Estate, about 4.10 pm on Tuesday. 'On arrival, the body of Anna Mitchell was discovered along her driveway and appeared to be lifeless,' the release stated. It said medical assistance was sought and she was pronounced dead on the scene by a medical practitioner. It was reported that there had been a domestic dispute at the home. Eight suspected British paedophiles are being investigated over claims they watched live online broadcasts of children being horrifically abused in the Far East. The National Crime Agency has referred the cases to police in the Philippines. Colonel Villamor Tuliao, a senior officer in the Philippines National Police, said growing numbers of Westerners watching Filipino children being abused online was now a very serious problem. The NCA passed across evidence about eight British suspects. Hand in hand: A young boy is led away by a volunteer after being rescued by police But Colonel Tuliao conceded the scale of online child sexual exploitation is likely to be much higher, as the crime is often hidden on the internet and difficult to detect without the help of internet firms. Western paedophiles are using Western Union, PayPal and even cryptocurrency Bitcoin to pay people in the Philippines to rape and sexually abuse children with some spending as little as 15 to watch online. The International Justice Mission, a global organisation that protects the poor from violence throughout the developing world, released to the Daily Mail a series of harrowing photographs from the Philippines of victims of online child sexual exploitation being rescued, their abusers being arrested and crime scenes. It said it had assisted in the rescue of dozens of child abuse victims as a result of information about British paedophiles. The pictures showed children being led away by social workers. Images were also released of the interior of properties, where the young victims were subjected to appalling ordeals, on the orders of Western paedophiles watching online. Childrens toys could be seen in some of the pictures. Photographs of equipment such as smartphones and laptops used to transmit footage of the sex attacks were also disclosed. The International Justice Mission said: Criminals engage in online sexual exploitation because they can make easy money... and they think they wont get caught. Crime scene: Inside one of the raided properties, with children's toys on show So far this year, at least 27 children have been rescued by the Philippines police from online child sex abuse directed by Western paedophiles. Last year 70 children were removed from danger while in 2016 the figure was 48. Those rescued from abuse include a three-month-old baby. Colonel Tuliao said: Based on the rescue operations we have conducted, the victims are usually given toys, bags, cell phones for their services. There are two methods used by Westerners in sexually exploiting children online. One, there is a facilitator who sells the children online they make the children perform the sexual acts in front of a camera on the web. The other is they befriend the children, aged 13-17 years old, through social media. They make them friends and lure them by giving them money or other material things, and then they meet them in the Philippines and have a sexual encounter with them. Most of the facilitators of abuse are close relatives of the children who are offering them to foreigners over the web. They are using different platforms to stream the abuse or send images of it... Facebook Messenger, Skype, and other social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Snapchat. Refuge: Child victims of international online abuse are rescued from their abusers He said Facebook and Skype have a social responsibility to stop Western paedophiles watching live streams of children being abused online. The senior officer said the amounts paid for a child to be molested over social media on the instructions of a Western paedophile varies from 20 US dollars (15.05) up to 500 US dollars (376.37) or more. It is a very serious problem in the Philippines now, he said. We need the help of these internet companies in dealing with crimes against children for them to raise a red flag about child abuse and explicit materials on the internet. Facebook said: We have zero tolerance for child exploitation. It is immediately removed and reported to relevant law enforcement agencies when it is detected. Microsoft, which owns Skype, said: Child sexual exploitation is a horrific crime, and weve been working over the long term to prevent it and to help law enforcement fight it. It said its staff of agents quickly investigates reports of violating content on our platforms, including Skype, and removes it. While these efforts are not a perfect solution, we continuously invest in new ways to address the problem, a Microsoft spokesperson added. John Travolta plays John Gotti, the notorious Gambino family crime boss, in Gotti which was released on Friday to cutting reviews John Travolta's new mob film Gotti has been torn apart by critics after its release following nearly a decade of efforts by the film star to get it off the ground. In the film, Travolta plays legendary New York mobster John Gotti who was the head of the Gambino crime family. It is the story of his life as told by his son John A. Gotti - best known as Junior - and has been hotly anticipated by film fans since Travolta started trying to put it in production nine years ago. Entourage actor Kevin Connolly is the director and also stars Travolta's real-life wife Kelly Preston. They play a couple on screen too. The film was shown at the Cannes Film Festival in May and failed to impress critics there. After its New York City premiere on Thursday night, the criticism got even worse. The New York Times labeled it 'idiotic', 'jumbled' and 'incoherent' in places, giving most of the insults to the film's structure than to Travolta's performance. So, is John Travoltas Gotti any good? Hey, fuhgeddaboutit. No, seriously. Forget. About. It.' 'That the long-gestating crime drama Gotti is a dismal mess comes as no surprise. 'What does shock is just how multifaceted a dismal mess it is,' its writer, Glen Kenny, wrote. The movie is so terrible, in viewers' opinion, it got a rare zero percent score on the Rotten Tomato tomatometer which stands for the number of expert site critics who have approved the movie. Amateur critics, ie movie watchers, liked it and of 6,536 who had voted by Friday afternoon, 85% said they enjoyed it. The family: Victoria Gotti poses next to Kelly Preston, John Travolta and John Junior at the premiere in New York City on Thursday night The film received a 0% score on the Tomatometer which is a gauge of how many of its approved critics would recommend the movie. 15 said it was 'rotten', 0 said it was 'fresh'. Viewers, however, liked it and 84% of the 6,500 who had seen it by Friday gave it positive feedback The professionals' reviews were less merciful. 'Gotti starring John Travolta is just as bad as you might imagine, and then some. 'I cant say I blame director Kevin Connolly, who took over from a long series of unfortunate incidents that led to this production. Gotti starring John Travolta is as bad as you might imagine, and then some 'Connolly was hamstrung by Travolta, by a really grossly bad script, and a series of producers some of whom had criminal records,' Roger Friedman wrote for Showbiz 411 on Friday. The New York Daily News, which reported contemporaneously on Gotti's widespread crimes, wrote: 'So, is John Travoltas Gotti any good? Hey, fuhgeddaboutit. No, seriously. Forget. About. It.' Variety, in its review of the movie last month, questioned why it had been allowed to show at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. 'Shame on Cannes. In what appears to be a deal with the devil, or one made with a gun to the back of his head, Cannes director Thierry Fremaux inexplicably agreed to give Gotti - the myth-building, record-cleansing inside story of notorious Gotham mob boss John Gotti, as seen by his oldest son a spot at the prestigious film festival.' Teflon Don: John Gotti, the notorious crime boss Travolta plays in the movie, is shown above outside the New York Federal Courthouse in 1990. He won the nickname 'teflon don' from police who could not get charges to stick to him for years. He died in jail in 2002 Travolta plays John Snr. and Spencer Rocco Lofranco assumes the role of John Junior. The film is based on his real life book about his father and has been criticized for its sympathetic, allegedly minimizing treatment of the family's crimes John Travolta, his wife Kelly Preston (who plays his wife in the film) are pictured with John Gotti Jr. on June 12 at a pizzeria in Brooklyn. They befriended the Gotti family in the production process Travolta tried for years to get the project off the ground. The film's biggest faux, the critics say, is failing to recognize the monstrosity of Gotti's crimes. Known as the Teflon-Don for many years because police could not get charges to stick to him, Gotti is considered one of the most prolific and violent criminals in modern US history. It was supposed to be released in December 2017 but ten days before its release date, Lionsgate pulled back on the distribution deal they had and sold the rights back to the production company. Travolta said at the time it was because they were considering a limited release which would not have given it a big enough stage. Travolta said that any reports which suggested Lionsgate backed out because they lost faith in the film were 'fake news'. The process began in 2002 when the first producer, Marc Fiore, secured the rights to Junior Gotti's story and has since endured claims of underpayment and feuding stars. Lord Ivar Mountbatten, son of the 3rd Marquess of Milford Haven and cousin to the Queen, is in a reflective mood. He picks up a photograph taken 24 years ago on the day of his wedding to his former wife Penny, the mother of their three daughters. 'That was the best day of my life,' he says. 'I loved it.' Two years ago, Lord Ivar created quite a stir when he confessed to having struggled with his sexuality throughout most of that 16-year marriage. Finally, he admitted he was gay after finding contentment with his new love James Coyle, whom he met in the swish Swiss ski resort of Verbier. Later this summer, the two men will marry in the private chapel on his magnificent country estate in Devon. It will be the first ever same-sex marriage in the extended Royal Family. Lord Ivar Mountbatten (right) with his fiancee James Coyle and former wife lady Penny Mountbatten at their home in Uffculme in Devon For the sake of their daughters, Ella, 22, Alix, 20, and 15-year-old Luli, Lord Ivar, Penny and James, who now considers the girls to be his children, too, want the announcement to be handled with dignity. This is why we are all here in this, shall we say, rather unconventional family's Grade I listed home near the village of Uffculme in Devon. 'We really are a funny threesome,' quips Lord Ivar as he shows me into the drawing room. Penny and James both look bemused. 'Not in that way.' He roars with laughter but knows he is enormously fortunate in the way life has turned out for him and his family. For not only is Penny, from whom he was divorced eight years ago, incredibly supportive of the union, but she is actually going to give her former husband away at the ceremony. 'It was the girls' idea,' says Penny in her first interview on this most sensitive of subjects. 'It makes me feel quite emotional. I'm really very touched.' Touched? Many women would be trashing the family pile. Penny is the sort of attractive, sparky woman that most red-blooded males would be falling over themselves to whisk up the aisle. Isn't it, well, a little odd to be handing over the husband she once loved with all her heart to another man? 'Not at all. You and I have got on from the first ten seconds of meeting each other, haven't we?' she says to James, the man who is due to become her former husband's husband. 'What I don't think Ivar realises is how much he has changed as a man since he 'came out'. James is hugely responsible for that because he's so much fun. 'Ivar is so much more relaxed these days. He's so much kinder. He's become a great cook. I now call him Fanny Cradock. He probably wasn't even aware that by keeping his sexuality a secret it was really quite tormenting him. Now it's 'out' he's a completely different person. Everybody says they've never seen him happier.' The former couple pose with their three daughters at a polo match in West Sussex in 2005 This impending marriage, indeed, has the full blessing of their extended family and those closest to them, including Lord Ivar's lifelong friend Prince Edward, to whose eldest child he is a godparent. The Earl and Countess of Wessex are also godparents to his two eldest daughters. 'Sophie and Edward know of our plans and are really excited for us,' says Lord Ivar. 'Sadly they can't come to the wedding. Their diaries are arranged months in advance and they're not around, but they adore James. Everyone adores him. 'All my good friends have accepted James. I basically told everyone: 'I've found somebody it's a bloke.' They just started laughing. Then they met James and one particular mate said: 'If I was gay, I'd certainly go for him.' He lowers his voice conspiratorially as Penny and James disappear together to sort out lunch. 'Now they're both out of the room, I can say they are both so similar. James hates it when I say that, but, oh God, they're so caring and so giving. Aristocratic ideal: Lord Ivar Mountbatten and Penny on their wedding day 24 years ago 'Growing up in Glasgow was challenging for James. He once overheard his father, who was a strict Catholic, calling him 'the queer one'. He wondered who he was referring to. 'James was once dangled by his ankles from a bridge, 40ft over the River Kelvin, by a bunch of thugs. When one of the thugs said, 'Let him go,' he assumed they were going to allow him to escape. They were actually going to drop him in the river. He's so sweet. He just thinks the best of everybody.' He replaces the photograph of his earlier wedding, attended by Princess Margaret and Prince Edward, on the side. 'I loved Penny when we were married, as I still do very much, and I loved our family unit,' he says. 'I never thought this would happen. It's brilliant, but I never thought I'd marry a man. 'When I mentioned it to our eldest daughter, Ella, she said, 'Oh Pap, it's not a big deal. It's so normal nowadays'. Of course that generation, they're completely cool about the concept of this maybe not so cool about their own father, which is completely understandable.' He sits forward on the sofa. 'Being completely truthful, it doesn't sit comfortably with me that I'm going out with a man,' he confides. 'I've lived my whole life as a heterosexual. So, all of a sudden, having a bloke around is unusual even now. It's brilliant but I suppose in an ideal world I would prefer to have a wife because that has always been the norm. We were talking with friends in Bermuda about this nature-nurture business not so long ago. I knew from the age of eight I was more attracted to men. I definitely think it's in the genes. You're either gay or you're not.' Penny and James, an airline cabin services director, return to the room. 'Everything all right?' he asks James. The two men are clearly inordinately fond of one another. Intriguingly, it is Lord Ivar who insisted upon marriage. 'I really wanted to do it for James,' he says. 'He hasn't been married. 'For me, what's interesting is I don't need to get married because I've been there, done that and have my wonderful children; but I'm pushing it because I think it's important for him. 'James hasn't had the stable life I have.' He turns to his partner. 'I want to be able to give you that.' James returns his smile. 'It's a very modern marriage,' says James. 'There was no proposal, just an acceptance of this great love. He cares. I care. The girls are very accepting. Three years ago [they met in March 2015] they were saying: 'Wow. Are you guys going to get married?' 'We said: 'Don't be ridiculous. It's absolutely not on the radar at all.' But gradually it has become something that makes sense. Now we've started to get a plan in place, I'm getting a lot more excited. We went to a wedding a couple of weeks ago and said: 'We're not doing that. We're not cutting cakes. We're not having a first dance.' 'We'll be pronounced partners in marriage, but the ceremony itself will be very small. It's just for the girls and close family and friends. 'Everyone else about 120 friends will arrive for the party afterwards. We'll have lovely food and really good music, but there won't be two men in tuxedos on a cake, white doves or anything twee or contrived like that, will there?' Lord Ivar looks appalled at the very thought of it. 'We'll probably have cheese, instead of cake.' Penny, who now shares her life with her partner of two years, IT consultant David Hurst, in central London, is helping James with the wedding arrangements, because, she teases, 'Ivar will just delegate, won't you darling?' With a flourishing career as a brand ambassador, she has, she says, 'never been happier'. This is the only interview she has given since her former husband came out and she is determined to do so with absolute honesty. What will James Coyle's title be? The unprecedented marriage begs the question as what title Lord Ivar's fiancee will take. If Lord Ivar, the third son, was to marry a woman, she would take the title of lady. But hereditary titles that are passed down do not yet make provision for same-sex marriages. The Equality (Titles) Bill was introduced by Lord Lucas in the House of Lords on 13 May 2013. It would allow both female first-born descendants to inherit hereditary titles as well as for 'husbands and civil partners' of honours recipients 'to use equivalent honorary titles to those available to wives'. This would mean Coyle would become a Lord. However, the Bill is currently in Committee stage. Advertisement 'I married Ivar with a completely open heart and an open mind about sexuality. Ivar had told me he was bisexual before he proposed. I didn't have any fears about it because I loved him, and love conquers all, doesn't it? 'What I hadn't realised is how jealous I would feel down the line when he was finding men attractive and how, ultimately, that made me feel that I wasn't good enough. 'When I started feeling lonely and depressed, I dulled those feelings with alcohol and of course that made me more depressed. That was difficult for Ivar. If there were two things Ivar and I could have changed about ourselves in our marriage, I wouldn't have drunk so much and you would, perhaps, have changed your sexuality?' Lord Ivar nods. 'Certainly, without doubt, most gay blokes my age would prefer to be heterosexual. The hassle of having to keep it a secret, the . . .' He looks truly anguished. James does too. 'First of all there's the suppression of it and disbelief. Then there's denial. Thankfully, attitudes have changed. 'I had a really happy childhood but I could never tell my parents I was gay. Where I grew up, gay men were called poofs, queers, everything derogatory under the sun. 'In 15, 20 years' time people will struggle to understand how we came to be having such conversations. People will look back and say, 'What's the big deal?' But for our generation it was.' Penny, the daughter of a Sotheby's representative, was 27 years old and had known Lord Ivar for two months before he confessed to her about his attraction to men. After studying to be a geologist, he told her he'd had a brief relationship with a man in Venezuela before returning to in his late-20s to run the family's huge Grade 1 listed Elizabethan country house, Moyns Park, in Steeple Bumpstead, Essex. 'I didn't want to get married and have a secret,' he explains today. 'It would be unfair to trap someone into a marriage and then tell them you're bisexual,' he says. 'I hadn't really told anybody else. It was a little secret that a lot of men had at that time. My fling in Venezuela just felt . . . how do I describe it? Right. But I sort of had to suppress those feelings, particularly in my position. 'I didn't want to go and have assignations that might cause controversy. It was the convention of our generation that you got married to a woman.' Penny says she was deeply touched by his confession. 'When I met Ivar he seemed so alone, so I kept inviting him to all the parties and events I was organising,' she says. 'We were in Hampshire, where I was renting a cottage, and we went for a long walk when we had a chat about the fact he thought he might be bisexual at least he said he was attracted to men as well as women and never thought he would get married. 'I could sense he was quite relieved sharing his secret, particularly with someone who was so receptive. Because I have lots of gay friends and cousins, I'm very open-minded about sexuality. He seemed like he'd offloaded a huge burden. It definitely made us closer from that moment onwards because he trusted me.' Over the following months their friendship deepened. 'We first got together when Ivar invited me up for his 30th birthday party at Moyns. I stayed on afterwards to help him start his event management business and sort of never left after that. 'I guess we fell in love while organising Moyns as a business and riding horses daily around the estate making plans. 'Then, one day, Ivar said, 'If I ask you to marry me would you say yes?' ' She said she would. And did. Penny gestures to the photograph of that very proper wedding back in April 1994. 'I was wearing the heavy family tiara which made my hair flop forwards. I remember Princess Margaret was sticking in the pins to hold it on when we signed the register.' Those early years of marriage were blissfully happy times: glamorous trips around the world, family holidays in Bermuda, long weekends spent with Joan Collins in the South of France. Lord Ivar readily admits the Mountbatten name opens doors, but it comes with a responsibility too. 'I think you're always aware of that,' he says. 'I mean you can't run naked down the High Street, can you?' They left Moyns for Bridwell when their daughter Ella was nearly two and Penny was pregnant with Alix. 'It was idyllic,' says Penny. 'Bridwell is the most wonderful family home. The girls learnt to ride their bikes on the drive and every evening we'd have plays or they'd be swimming in the pool. We used to fill this house every weekend with house parties and entertain all the time, didn't we?' On the face of it, the Mountbattens had one of the happiest marriages in the aristocratic circles within which they mixed. But, privately, Lord Ivar was discretely exploring his sexuality. 'Penny accepted me for who I was, so perhaps I relaxed and felt I could explore that part of me as our marriage matured. Maybe what happened is, with me being so open, I'd mention it to Penny and that would make her upset. 'Perhaps, on reflection, I shouldn't have said anything but, again, I don't want ever to hide anything from anybody.' Penny interjects: 'But I always asked for and demanded complete honesty from Ivar. Perhaps that is a self-destructive part of me, but I wanted to know. I gave him his freedom because I wanted him to be happy.' Lord Ivar considers this. 'I was never unhappy in our marriage,' he says. 'I adored Penny really loved her. But I always describe it as trying to get a square peg into a round hole. Deep, deep down, since her childhood, Penny hasn't valued herself very highly and couldn't accept I loved her.' Happy as each of them is now, their regret is a palpable thing. 'Ultimately, I remember you saying I want to have someone who wants me for me, and I couldn't give you that,' says Lord Ivar. Fifteen years after that joyous wedding day, Penny left him. 'I gave back all the chattels, all the Mountbatten jewels and left with nothing,' she says. 'There was quite a lot of judgment 'Why has she done this?' because hardly anyone knew about Ivar's sexuality, which was hard to swallow. 'But I was approaching 40 and thought, 'It's now or never. I'm going to stay in this marriage, where I don't feel our relationship can ever be whole, or leave.' I knew Ivar couldn't be his authentic self unless I left. We both had to take wing and be the people we needed to be.' Today, Bridwell is on the market. Lord Ivar wants to begin his married life in a new, smaller home where each of his daughters has a bedroom, but he is able to travel at whim with James. 'As you get older you want an easier life,' he says. 'A big house can be a real burden. I think I'd have done a lot more with my life if I hadn't had to come back from South America to look after my family home, Moyns, which was vast. 'I'm a geologist by profession and would have been really happy to continue living in South America. Once Penny and I parted company I knew I didn't want to keep up the pretence. Then when I met James, I thought, 'This is exactly the route I want.' We want to grow old together.' Meanwhile, Penny spends her time in London where she can concentrate on her new business, Penny Mountbatten London. Her career, she says, 'became my lifeline' in those first difficult years of her life apart for Lord Ivar. 'I said to James this morning, 'I don't think I've ever felt as happy as I do right now.' I've always loved Ivar wholeheartedly and he knows me better than anyone else on this planet, he often tells me how proud he is of what I've achieved. 'I'm proud too. Finally I am able to love myself and the reason this marriage is acceptable to all of us, particularly our lovely daughters, is because of the character of James, the nature of the beast the gorgeous beast.' President Trump stunned fellow leaders at last week's gathering of the world's wealthiest nations by making coarse jokes about illegal immigration and terrorism. Trump told Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the Wall Street Journal reports, that he could send him over '25 million Mexicans' to give him a taste of the migration problems that plaguing Europe and America. He is also said to have told French President Emmanuel Macron that' all the terrorists are in Paris' during the discussions that took place over the course of the two-day summit. President Trump stunned fellow leaders at last week's gathering of the world's wealthiest nations by making course jokes about illegal immigration and terrorism President Trump denied at a news conference following his early departure that there was any bad blood between himself and his foreign counterparts over the steel and aluminum tariffs he slapped on their countries just before the annual annual conference. He also said that a picture of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and France's Macron leering over him while Abe stood poised with his arms crossed was misleading. In the same few moments before the photo was taken, a frame shows the leaders laughing over something that he'd said. 'I have a great relationship with Angela Merkel of Germany, but the Fake News Media only shows the bad photos (implying anger) of negotiating an agreement - where I am asking for things that no other American President would ask for!' he said in a Friday tweet revisiting the topic. Trump left the conference in Canada ready to sign a joint communique with six other nations. At his unscheduled news conference just before he departed, the president called his relationships with America's partners in Europe and North America great. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said just after Trump left, however, that he'd confronted President Trump about the tariffs on his country and the fact that as a top ally, he finds them wholly unnecessary. The slap at Trump led to a full-scale assault from the White House, with the president yanking his name from the joint statement and sending his senior economic and trade advisers on TV to hit Trudeau as a back-stabber. A Wall Street Journal report says, however, that tensions flared behind the scenes as the president rejected a panel that Merkel suggested to make an assessment on the actualities of the United States' trade deficits. Macron is said to have pointed out that the playing field is not level based on individual markets, bringing up European exporters' access apple and pear markets. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker also argued that Trump ought to look at the overall trade relationship with any nation, including European investments in the United States economy. Trump is said to have called Juncker a 'brutal killer' in response over antitrust and EU rules that disallow the U.S. from negotiating with member nations directly. 'I think he meant it as a compliment but Im not so sure,' Juncker said in Germany on Thursday. Trump curtly told his closest friend of all the leaders that he'd be 'out of office' if he had the migration issues affecting the U.S. 'Shinzo, you dont have this problem, but I can send you 25 million Mexicans and youll be out of office very soon,' he reportedly stated. And during a discussion on Iran and terrorism, he reportedly told Macron, 'You must know about this, Emmanuel, because all the terrorists are in Paris.' After the meeting was over, Trump said, 'it was not contentious' and that 'what was strong was the language that this cannot go on.' 'But the relationships are very good, whether it be President Macron or with Justin. We had Justin did a really good job. I think the relationships were outstanding.' He went on to say 'that the level of relationship is a 10' and 'we have a great relationship. Angela and Emmanuel and Justin. I would say the relationship is a 10.' 'A lot of these countries actually smile at me when Im talking. And the smile is we couldnt believe we got away with it. Thats the smile,' he said. 'So its going to change. Its going to change. They have no choice. If its not going to change, were not going to trade with them.' Bill Cosby's new lawyer said his job will be 'complicated' after the disgraced television star fired his entire legal team this week. Joseph Green Jr said on Friday that he was 'looking forward' to representing Cosby in the post-verdict proceedings and sentencing. 'There are complicated legislative and constitutional issues unique to Pennsylvania law that have to be addressed prior to sentencing,' he said in a statement. 'I will make no further comment at this time.' Cosby, who was found guilty on three counts of felony sexual assault in April, got rid of all seven of his lawyers in the lead-up to his September 24 sentencing. Bill Cosby's new lawyer has released a statement after news broke that the disgraced TV star had fired his entire legal team Joseph Green Jr (right) said he was 'looking forward' to representing Cosby. Green replaces Tom Mesereau (left), who saw Michael Jackson acquitted on child molestation charges Sources said that the 80-year-old, who is currently on house arrest, was said to have been 'angry' at his high-powered legal team. 'They let him down,' a source told Radar on Thursday. 'And these aren't easy times.' Cosby faces up to thirty years behind bars, 10 years for each count of assault, after he was convicted of drugging and molesting Andrea Constand at his home in January 2004. His legal team included Tom Mesereau, who successfully defended Michael Jackson on child molestation charges. 'I wish Mr Cosby, his family, and his new defense team all the best,' Mesereau said in a statement. Another source told ABC that Cosby's family believed that Kathleen Bliss, a former federal prosecutor, 'didn't do a good job'. Cosby faces up to thirty years behind bars, 10 years for each count of assault, after he was convicted of drugging and molesting Andrea Constand (pictured) at his home in January 2004 'They felt the case...should have had more of Mesereau's hand on the wheel,' they said. 'There's a lot of disappointment and anger there.' Cosby will be Green's first high-profile client. The Philadelphia lawyer's website claims he 'is recognized by his peers as a preeminent criminal trial lawyer'. 'He is an exceptionally experienced litigator, having tried over 100 cases to jury verdict, including acquittals in nationally significant federal criminal cases, white-collar, CCE and drug-related criminal cases,' the website reads. '[Green] is presently litigating a number of sex offender registration cases in state and county courts, including challenges to the retroactive application of SORNA II and other sex offender registration laws.' This is not the first time Cosby has replaced his legal team. After his first trial ended with a hung jury and mistrial, Cosby's attorneys Brian McMonagle and Angela Agrusa filed a motion to withdraw form the case. It remains unknown why both attorneys decided to withdraw. Cosby's former team announced they would be appealing after the disgraced actor was found guilty in April. Amid the legal team shake-up, Cosby is also hitting back at rumors that he is splitting with Camille Cosby - his wife of 54 years. Amid the legal team shake-up, Cosby is also hitting back at rumors that he is splitting with Camille Cosby - his wife of 54 years (pictured together in June 2017) Andrew Wyatt, Cosby's representative, said the rumors that Camille was moving out of the couple's Philadelphia home was a 'ridiculous story'. 'The accusations they have made in their tabloid are absolutely false,' Wyatt said, referring to a story published by Radar. 'Mrs and Mr Cosby are not getting divorced and she's with him in the Philadelphia home as we speak.' Wyatt also said there were 'no issues in the marriage' and 'no issues with the children', who are now in their forties and fifties. 'It's amazing how people can make things up,' Wyatt said. Dale Winton fans said the star looked 'like he was wasting away' before he died two months ago. The Supermarket Sweep host appeared on Channel 5 last night for the second and final installment of Florida Fly Drive. In it, the television presenter embarked on a 1,500-mile, month-long tour of the sunshine state. It became his last ever show for Channel 5. Scroll down for video Dale Winton appeared on Channel 5 last night for the second and final installment of Florida Fly Drive The television presenter embarked on a 1,500-mile, month-long tour of the sunshine state The glamour-filled show kicked off with a tour of Casa Casuarina, better known as the Versace mansion, where designer Gianni was assassinated in 1997 Now a boutique hotel, Winton visited the 1,200 dollar-a-night empire suite - Versace's old bedroom - before heading off to South Beach Viewers were quick to remark on Winton looking 'unwell' through the programme, which was filmed before he died in April aged 62. Paul Walker wrote: 'Dear me. Poor #dalewinton didn't look very well during the filming of #floridaflydrive - RIP Dale.' Paul Styles commented: 'Bloody hell, just switched to Channel 5 and Dale Winton's on #floridaflydrive and looking painfully ill. How close to his death was this filmed?' @OurCluurr added: 'The #dalewinton programme is uncomfortable. He looks in pain and to be struggling physically. Viewers were quick to remark on Winton looking 'unwell' through the programme, which was filmed before he died in April aged 62 'Even so, you can still see the Dale Winton sparkle underneath that!' The glamour-filled show kicked off with a tour of Casa Casuarina, better known as the Versace mansion, where designer Gianni was assassinated in 1997. Now a boutique hotel, Winton visited the 1,200 dollar-a-night empire suite - Versace's old bedroom - before heading off to South Beach. The show featured a touching moment where Winton remembers his close friend and restaurateur Prady Balan, who died two years ago. Dale, left with Cilla Black, had been suffering from depression before his death according to his closest friends His cause of death is still unknown and a coroner is set to conduct an inquest but friends said the star had suffered from depression before he passed away The former radio DJ, who visits Balans restaurant on Lincoln Road, reflects on his friend who he shared milestones with. His funeral took place last month and was peppered with celebrity friends who came to pay tribute to him. Mr Winton's white coffin, covered with a beautiful large display of white roses, was carried from a hearse into the venue, followed by members of his family. His cause of death is still unknown and a coroner is set to conduct an inquest. Friends said the star had suffered from depression before he passed away. Elidon Habilaj (pictured) claimed to be fleeing torture in war-torn Kosovo After sneaking into Dover illegally on a lorry, Elidon Habilaj claimed to be fleeing torture in war-torn Kosovo. In truth, he had come from Albania but he was able to claim asylum by using a fake name. Having hoodwinked the authorities and won the right to stay, he might have kept a low profile. Instead, he conned his way into a job with the 'British FBI' hunting fugitives only to go on the run himself when he was finally found out. The 40-year-old was jailed for 18 months in his absence after gaining UK citizenship by lying to officials. Now the Mail has tracked down the former Scotland Yard and Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) intelligence officer to his bolthole in the seaside resort of Vlore in his homeland. He has spent six years there hiding from the UK authorities he once worked for even boasting of his experience with the British police to gain security work in Albania. Ironically, Soca now part of the National Crime Agency, nicknamed the British FBI had been investigating Habilaj without realising he was one of its employees. The Albanian arrived in Britain in 1998, and claimed he was a Kosovan named Bekim Ademi. He said his brother had been tortured to death and his father killed by the Kosovan Liberation Army. British authorities believed him, and he was granted full asylum in November 2001, and citizenship five years later. He was hired by the Metropolitan Police and later Soca, where he worked as an intelligence officer in its London-based 'fugitive location team', helping to find suspected criminals wanted for extradition. He was finally unmasked after checking his own file on a work database of people of interest. Habilaj even called up a photo of himself on his computer screen in front of his boss. Belated checks revealed that he had been born in Albania rather than Kosovo, he never had a brother, and his father was alive and still living in his home town. After he absconded before his trial, Judge Martyn Zeidman QC issued a bench warrant, which instructs police to arrest Habilaj if he is traced. The warrants remain live and legally in force until the suspect is caught or voluntarily returns to face justice. Habilaj was subsequently tried in his absence and jailed at Snaresbrook Crown Court in January 2013 after being convicted of obtaining leave to enter or remain in the UK by deception and fraud. The sentencing judge Simon Wilkinson said: 'He pretended to be a Kosovan and he was an Albanian who made up tales of atrocities to evoke sympathy.' But he has successfully evaded British authorities, and this week we found him overseeing building work on a hotel he manages on the outskirts of Vlore. He also touts himself as a 'freelance security consultant' and boasts to locals of his time working for the British police without revealing how his time in the UK came to an abrupt end. When approached by the Mail, Habilaj angrily demanded: 'Who has sent you? Who was it who brought you here?' He then ordered one of his building workers to chase us off the premises. Now a father of one, Habilaj boasts online that he has a degree and master's in criminology, and also claims to have written books on the subject. In a post written in Albanian and posted on Facebook in 2015, he described how he worked for the 'highest British agency against crime for almost two years.' He added: 'Before that, I did work for the Metropolitan Police in London at its prestigious centre of Scotland Yard. It is an organisation dedicated to perfection and professionalism. I was one of them capable of doing the job, recruited for my academic achievements in the field of criminology.' A spokesman for the National Crime Agency said: 'We continue to work with the Home Office in relation to this case.' Charles Horton (pictured) has resigned as chief executive of Govia Thameslink Railway A rail boss at the centre of the timetabling fiasco has been forced to step down but he stands to keep collecting his six-figure salary for months. Charles Horton, the chief executive of Govia Thameslink Railway with a 482,000-a-year pay package, said he recognised passengers' anger at the 'significant disruption' caused by timetable changes introduced on May 20. A rail industry source stressed Mr Horton had decided to do the 'honourable' thing by resigning. But last night it emerged he also came under pressure to step down from Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, who has blamed bosses at Govia and Northern, as well as Network Rail, for the latest chaos on the trains. Network Rail confirmed yesterday that its outgoing 820,000-a-year chief executive Mark Carne will now give up his 74,000 bonus for this year following the scandal. But Tory MP Grant Shapps said Mr Carne should 'do the decent thing' and also hand back his CBE for services to the rail industry, announced last week. Mr Shapps said: 'It's good to hear that a railway boss is finally taking responsibility for the chaos on our railways. Other rail executives including at Northern need to follow suit.' Govia, the biggest rail franchise in the UK, runs the beleaguered Thameslink and Great Northern services in the South. The lines have suffered thousands of delays and cancellations since the botched timetable changes. Govia, the biggest rail franchise in the UK, runs the beleaguered Thameslink and Great Northern services in the South. Pictured: Charles Horton and Rail Minister Claire Perry at Blackfriars Station A poll by the consumer group Which? found that 40 per cent of commuters say their health has been damaged by the chaos as they struggle to make it to work or home to their families. Govia said Mr Horton will remain in the post he has held since 2014 'for a short period' to oversee a temporary timetable. He will still be paid during his notice period and a successor will be announced 'in due course'. Govia refused to give any details of his pay arrangements or notice period duration, but this typically lasts at least six months for executives. Based on his pay package, Mr Horton is in line for a six-figure sum for doing nothing. In a letter to colleagues explaining his decision, Mr Horton said he would remain in his post for a 'few weeks' to ensure a 'smooth handover'. He admitted the 'implementation of the new timetable has not been as successful as any of us would have wished' but blamed an 'industry-wide failure'. Govia and Northern rail have complained they were presented with the new timetable by Network Rail too late to adequately prepare train drivers for new routes. Mr Horton has been called to explain the fiasco in front of MPs on the Commons transport committee on Monday. Its chairman Lilian Greenwood said: 'This resignation might satisfy some as the price exacted for the shambolic train timetabling we've just experienced. But rail passengers who have suffered the costs in real terms are entitled to a full explanation. That's exactly what the committee intends to uncover.' Northern said its managing director David Brown who has only been in the role for eight months has no plans to forfeit his bonus or step down. Oxfam is preparing to axe jobs and relief work to fill a 16million black hole as it struggles to cope with the fallout from the Haiti sex scandal. The charity will have to save substantial amounts of money to put [us] on a more stable and sustainable footing, according to an internal briefing sent to staff last week by chief executive Mark Goldring. It is clear that the size of our programmes will be substantially reduced for this year and next. This means making tough choices. Jobs are set to be axed as a result of the fallout caused by the Haiti sex scandal The confidential seven-page document adds that job losses are inevitable, according to The Guardian. Selling high street branches and reducing the number of countries where Oxfam operates may also contribute to cost- cutting measures. The charity has previously admitted that it has lost the confidence of the public and its donors after allegations that members of staff used prostitutes during a mission to Haiti in 2010. The internal document details Oxfams plan to tackle the reduction in funding in the UK. It says decisions will have to be taken quickly to avoid further erosion of financial and organisational health. Oxfam Great Britain chief executive Mark Goldring announced his resignation last month It revealed that savings are required because of a 16million shortfall in its unrestricted budget money raised from shops and individuals to be spent however the charity deems necessary. The document says the figure represents around 10 per cent its relevant income. Oxfam confirmed the 16million figure, adding the appalling behaviour of some former staff in Haiti means we now have less money to provide clean water, food and other support to people who need it. Earlier this week Haiti banned Oxfam from working there because of the charitys violation of its laws and serious breach of the principle of human dignity. Oxfam said it was disappointed but understood the decision, and added that it would continue to work in Haiti through affiliate members in Italy, Spain and the Canadian province of Quebec. The scandal also prompted a temporary ban on funding from the Department of International Development. Jeremy Hunt want pensioners to dip into their housing wealth to meet social care bills Pensioners could be told to dip into their housing wealth to meet social care bills. Jeremy Hunt is expected to say property should not be off limits when announcing long-awaited reforms next month. The Health Secretary will also suggest the idea of compulsory insurance to protect against crippling old age care costs. Government sources said it was right that those with substantial assets should pay more. The move raises the spectre of the dementia tax that wrecked Conservative election hopes last year. However there would now be a cap on contributions, allowing parents to pass on some of their wealth. Damian Green, who was in charge of social care until he resigned from the Cabinet in December, said older people should give up a small proportion of the wealth tied up in their houses. The alternative, he said, was higher taxes for workers, which would risk intergenerational unfairness. The Health Secretary is set to suggest the idea of compulsory insurance to protect against crippling old age care costs. Pictured a stock photo of a pensioner looking at her pension book Mr Hunt, whose brief covers social care, is expected to publish a green paper just before Parliament breaks up for the summer recess. Its aim is to reform a system under which people are liable for the full cost of their care until their savings including housing wealth are down to just 23,500. Mr Green said: Its a very difficult nettle to grasp but if we all dont want to face the prospect of second-rate social care in old age then more money has to be found. For working people this may come from taxes but for those beyond working age the most likely source is a small proportion of the wealth tied up in their houses. Caroline Abrahams, of the charity Age UK, said that if the value of an older persons home were used as a means test for care at home, some would choose to live without it and therefore put themselves at risk. An electric scooter travelling on a busy road in south-east China suddenly burst into flames after plumes of smoke were seen emerging from the engine. The driver, who noticed something was wrong with his bike, was trying to park his vehicle on the side of the road - but it suddenly caught fire before coming to a stop. The driver and the passenger quickly sprung from the motorcycle and suffered from minor injuries. The fire reportedly broke out from the scooter's lithium-ion battery, which was not equipped with a protection circuit. An electric scooter travelling on a busy road in Jiangxi province, south-east China suddenly burst into flames after plumes of smoke were seen emerging from the engine Footage of the shocking incident on June 6 shows two men riding a scooter on the middle lane of the road in Ganzhou city when thick clouds of smoke started spewing from its engine. Seeing this, the driver tried to move the vehicle slowly to the right lane of the road. In less than a second - the motorcycle suddenly burst in into flames, engulfing the entire scooter. The driver quickly jumped off the scooter and appeared unhurt. However, the passenger was not able to react in time and suffered injuries to his left leg, according to the Nanchang fire department in Jiangxi province. The driver, who noticed something was wrong with his bike, was trying to park his vehicle on the side of the road - but it suddenly caught fire before coming to a stop The passenger was not able to react in time and suffered injuries to his left leg Policemen patrolling in the area saw the fire and immediately tried to put out the blaze with an extinguisher. But the fire came back to life twice and subsequently lasted for almost 20 minutes before extinguishing itself. The driver, Qiu Zhenjie, told CCTV that he heard a series of 'small explosive noises' prior to the blaze. 'I was trying to park my scooter to the side of the road to check on it,' Mr Qiu told CCTV. 'Then it suddenly caught fire.' He was reportedly riding a friend's motorcycle to run errands when the accident happened. Policemen immediately tries to put out the giant blaze with an extinguisher The man was riding a friend's motorcycle to run errands when the accident happened He added that the fire is caused by the scooter's lithium-ion battery, which was not equipped with a protection circuit. 'The vehicle itself was not safe,' he admitted. Additionally, the brand of the vehicle is not listed under China's approved list of battery-powered automobile companies, according to the CCTV report citing local police. 'We would like to remind members of the public to purchase such vehicles in qualified automobile shops,' the police added. A massive snake found hiding under a car bonnet has been caught after a shocked female driver called the police in China. Ms Jin first spotted an 11-foot-long serpent resting at the front wheel of her car, and it later slithered up to the engine. The python was removed after a reptile expert and the local police officers. A python is spotted hiding under Ms Jin's car bonnet outside a hotel in north China Policemen and a reptile expert carefully drag the snake out while covering its head by a mop The 3.4-metre-long (11-foot-long) python was said to be seeking shelter under a car that was parked outside the Badain Jaran Hotel in Alxa League on June 11, according to local reports. The terrified Ms Jin called Helanshan Forestry Police soon as she noticed the snake hiding at the wheels when she was about to get in the car. Forestry officers brought along an expert at around 4:55pm and found the snake had already slithered into Ms Jin's car. Mobile phone footage taken by onlookers shows the giant snake curling up at the right corner under the bonnet. The officers warned the public not to go close to the car as they tried to remove the non-venomous snake from the car. They can be seen carefully covering the snake's head and pulling its tail off the car. The python was placed in a bucket, however it's not sure where it would be placed. Onlookers watch as the officers struggling to put the protected species in a bucket The snake is identified as a reticulated python with diamond-like pattern on its body (left). The snake is not harmed and will be kept by the forestry police in the meantime (right) The officers said they would investigate how the reptile had appeared in north China. Pythons are usually found in hotter environment, most likely in the south-east part of the country. Experts have confirmed that the snake was a reticulated python - judging by its repeated 'X' patterns on its body. According to China's list of endangered species, pythons are considered as a grade-one protected species. You know you are tempted. You know it would make good economic sense. But, as a homeowner with a spare bedroom, could you really take on a live-in lodger? Most homeowners, if they are honest, would give a resounding no. Lodgers spell, not trouble exactly, but inconvenience. They come and go at odd times. They have odd habits. The list of potential flash-points, red lines being crossed, just goes on and on. No drama: Drama students, Max and his wife have discovered to their delight, are pure comedy gold From the 1927 Hitchcock film The Lodger, in which the lodger was a suspected serial killer, to the classic Seventies sitcom Rising Damp, the landlord-lodger relationship has been fraught with difficulties. It can end in tears and you dont have to go far to find a home-owner who has had an off-putting experience. In 21st-century Britain, however, the live-in lodger is a fact of life. There are more of them; they are getting older, and with property ownership becoming ever more elusive, those trends seem certain to continue. A recent study by Knight Frank found that 21 per cent of British households set to rise to 24 per cent by 2021 live in private rented accommodation. And the average age of live-in lodgers is 31, according to LV insurance. You can now become a landlord without having to deal with semi-house-trained students who are strangers to toilet brushes. Rental space: In Frenchay, near the university, this detached house has seven bedrooms, two of which are en suite, and a separate utility room And you will do so with the full blessing of the Government, who have introduced fiscal incentives to encourage homeowners to take in lodgers. Under the Rent a Room scheme, outlined on gov.uk, owner-occupiers or tenants who let out furnished accommodation in their main home can earn up to 7,500 tax-free, or 3,750 if they are letting jointly. So why not just take the plunge? Thats what weve done. My wife and I middle-aged home-owners in Oxford have always baulked at the idea of taking in lodgers, not because we are anti-social, but because our house is just not lodger-friendly. There is only one bathroom, and the kitchen is what estate agents call petite. What if our lodger were a curry enthusiast? Central location: Five bedrooms and two bathrooms are across separate floors in this 19th-century Grade II-listed town house close to the city centre Or liked taking 20-minute showers? We did briefly take on a teenage lodger nearly 15 years ago and, although we got on well and remain friends, it was weeks after his departure before the smell of heated-up frozen lasagne his meal of choice, seven days a week receded. We are creatures of habit, and we found living under the same roof as someone with different habits, disconcerting. It was only when the son of some friends got a place at the Oxford School of Drama, and was looking for cheapish digs, that we decided to have another stab at being landlords. A mature drama student he is 22 would surely be preferable to a first-year undergraduate. And from what we knew of the boy, he had no vices or irritating habits. Months into his tenancy, we are still pinching ourselves that things are going so well. Victorian dwelling: Theres a two-bedroom penthouse flat plus four bedrooms in this four storey Victorian house. It has a large garden and a driveway and garage Sharing a bathroom and kitchen has been largely stress-free, we have settled into a harmonious routine and, best of all, we enjoy his company. It is loneliness, not lodgers, which home-owners should be fearing. Better to have human interaction, even if it takes effort, than empty rooms and long silences. Home truth Twice as many households have a lodger compared to five years ago, with the average spare room let within eight days Advertisement The life of our household has been transformed, and for the better. Before it was just us, Darby and Joan, incorrigibly set in our ways. Now it is Darby and Joan plus one. Drama students, we have discovered to our delight, are pure comedy gold. When our lodger asked us for a hot-water bottle, we thought his bedroom must be too cold. Not a bit of it. His tutor had told him to place the hot-water bottle on his diaphragm to enhance his voice production. Imagine! Snatches of Shakespearian verse percolate through the house. Some of his vocal exercises have to be heard to be believed. Did Judi Dench and Benedict Cumberbatch have to go through all this malarkey? If he turns up in the kitchen in a leotard, we know it is dance and movement day. If he tiptoes in at 3am we know he has been out on the razzle. My daughters fled the nest years ago, so sharing someone elses formative years, watching them grow and develop in pursuit of their dreams, feels more of a privilege than a hassle. Indeed, it has been an education. And when our one-time lodger is playing Hamlet at the RSC, we will be in the front row, cheering him to the rafters. With just two per cent of UK housing designed specifically for older people much of which is priced at the higher end of the market the pressure is on to build more affordable retirement schemes. In March, the normally pricey retirement-housebuilder Audley secured planning permission to begin work on its first affordable scheme, Mayfield Villages. The site, in Watford, will offer 253 one-and-two-bedroom apartments priced from 262,500. Solution: Quadra in Hackney Mayfield Villages will be on larger sites and offer a lower price per square foot, says Audley CEO Nick Sanderson. The mid-market represents about 4.5million consumers, nearly twice the size of the luxury sector. These new-build villages will typically be found in urban and suburban environments. A total of 1,250 units are planned at sites over the next five years (mayfieldvillages.co.uk). According to a report by Knight Frank, 46 per cent of households aged over 65 live in a property with an average value of up to 250,000 not enough to buy a modern retirement property with money left over to enjoy a decent lifestyle. Affordable options are coming, but not enough. Inspired Villages is offering ten affordable one-bedroom homes in phase one of its Gifford Lea Retirement Village in Cheshire. Five properties will be for rent and the other five can be bought on a shared ownership basis, from 185,250 (inspiredvillages.co.uk). Shared ownership can give many people an opportunity to find a new home that is appropriate for them with a more flexible financial approach than 100 per cent ownership, says Inspired CEO Jamie Bunce. For great grandmother Mo Ewen, 78, and her cockapoo Murphy, the shared-ownership scheme at Guinness Homes Quayside retirement development on the River Dart in Devon solved her problem finding an affordable home. Shared Ownership enabled me to release some money to pay for services and to enjoy my retirement, she says. The 30 one and two-bedroom apartments at Quayside are close to doctors surgeries, a pharmacy, supermarket and leisure centre, and are a short drive from the beaches in Paignton. Shared-ownership: Mo Ewen lives in Quayside shared-ownership complex Prices start from 143,250 for a one-bedroom apartment and 171,000 for a two-bedroom apartment and are being sold on a 75 per cent shared ownership basis (guinnesshomes.co.uk). Stamp duty is another disincentive preventing older people from moving. Crossbench peer Lord Best, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Housing and Care for Older People, argues retirees should be treated like first-time buyers and excused from paying stamp duty. Retirees selling the family home would start a chain of purchasers, who would be paying stamp duty. No one of pensionable age should pay stamp duty when they move no matter what they buy, he says. This would stimulate the property market and increase stamp duty receipts overall. The retirement rental sector is increasing, offering another option to cash-strapped retirees. Quadra, a scheme of one and two-bedroom apartments in Hackney, East London, operated by Hanover, has properties priced from 237 a week (quadra.hill.co.uk). Google published its fifth annual diversity memo and few are happy with the results. From a broad viewpoint, the search giant's workforce is still predominantly male and white. However, it made incremental improvements in hiring more women in leadership roles, as well as in hiring more females overall. Scroll down for video Google published its fifth annual diversity memo and few are happy with the results. From a broad viewpoint, the search giant is still predominantly male and white GOOGLE'S DIVERSITY REPORT: BY THE NUMBERS Google released its annual diversity report this week. Here's the state of its diversity and inclusion efforts: Females make up 30.9% of the company, while 69.1% of the workforce is male 53.1% of employees are white 36.3% of employees are Asian 2.5% of employees are Black 3.6% of employees are Latinx 0.3% of employees are Native American 4.2% of employees are two or more races Advertisement It marks Google's first diversity report since former employee James Damore was fired from the company for circulating a controversial memo that said gender differences were the reason behind the lack of female engineers at the company. Damore later sued Google for firing him, but the lawsuit was thrown out by the National Labor Relations Board in February. In the diversity report, Google acknowledges it has some more work to do. 'The data in this report shows that despite significant effort, and some pockets of success, we need to do more to achieve our desired diversity and inclusion outcomes,' Google's chief diversity and inclusion officer Danielle Brown said in a statement. 'We care deeply about improving workforce representation and creating an inclusive culture for everyone' 'While were moving in the right direction, we are determined to accelerate progress,' she added. Google bumped the percentage of its female employees up by a tenth of a percentage point to 30.9 percent. Black and Latino workers grew a tenth of a percent to 2.5 and 3.6 percent Brown noted that Google is making 'some changes' to how it deals with diversity and inclusion at the company, saying Google plans to focus not just on hiring more employees from underrepresented groups, but also fostering a company-wide culture of inclusivity. It marks Google's first diversity report since former employee James Damore (pictured) was fired from the company for circulating a controversial memo about female engineers Google bumped the percentage of its female employees up by a tenth of a percentage point to 30.9 percent. Despite falling more than 2 percent, white workers remained the majority at 53.1 percent, while Asians grew more than a percentage point to 36.3 percent. Black and Latino workers grew a tenth of a percent to 2.5 and 3.6 percent. Additionally, 0.3% of Google's US employees are Native American, while 4.2% were two or more races among its US employees. For the first time, Google also provided data on attrition, or how many people left the company, with rates for black and Latinx employees being the highest in 2017. 'A clear low light, obviously, in the data is the attrition for black and Latinx men and women in the U.S.,' Brown told TechCrunch. 'Thats an area where were going to be laser-focused.' Women appear to be leaving the company at a lower rate than men overall. While the firm made some strides in its diversity and inclusion goals, Brown said the challenges will take time to solve, adding that they're 'systemic.' For the first time, Google also provided data on attrition, or how many people left the company, with women leaving the company at a lower rate than men overall 'You know as well as we do that its a long game. Do we ever get to good? I dont know,' Brown told TechCrunch. 'Im optimistic well continue to make progress. Its not a challenge well solve over night. Its quite systemic' 'Despite doing it for a long time, my team and I remain really optimistic that this is possible,' she added. The comments come a week after shareholders voted down proposals to study linking executive pay to diversity goals as it grapples with ongoing lawsuits over gender discrimination. Alphabet argued that the executive compensation proposal wouldn't have any meaningful impact, according to Gizmodo. Still, shareholders including Zevin Asset Management said Google's failure to address diversity and inclusion issues could create risks for its parent company Alphabet. Apple wants to get into the movie business, according to the latest rumours. The firm is close to finalising a deal to acquire the rights to a feature-length animated film to bolster its upcoming video streaming service, sources say. Its unclear whether the movie, which is still a year from completion, will be exclusive to its rumoured Netflix-style streaming service, or whether it will receive a theatrical release as well. Cartoon Saloon, the Irish animation studio behind the film, has received Academy Award nominations for all three of its previous efforts. Streaming rivals Amazon and Netflix have both invested heavily in original films, with the latter paying $90 million (67 million) for the Will Smith blockbuster 'Bright'. Scroll down for video Kilkenny-based studio Cartoon Saloon received an Academy Award nomination in the Best Animated Feature for its film The Breadwinner earlier this year The feature film, which is produced by Angelina Jolie, follows a young girl as she disguises herself as a boy to be able to provide for her family after her father is wrongly arrested The deal is not finalised and could still fall through, according to anonymous sources speaking to Bloomberg. However, the talks with Cartoon Saloon hint at a new level of ambition for Apple as it prepares to challenge Amazon Prime, YouTube and Netflix in the video streaming space. Amazon and Netflix are investing heavily in original content for their respective streaming platforms, with the companies rumoured to have set aside $4.5 billion (3.3 billion) and $8 billion (6 billion) for their 2018 slates, respectively. Netflix has enjoyed huge critical and commercial success with its original television shows, like 'Orange Is The New Black', 'House Of Cards', and 'Queer Eye'. Amazon recently announced plans to film a television series based on the 'Lord Of The Rings' trilogy by JRR Tolkien, after it beat out a bid from rival Netflix. The rights to the series cost the studio $250 million (188 million), when coupled with the five-season commitment signed as part of the deal, and the production expenses, is likely to make this adaptation the most expensive show of all time. Some estimates place the total cost of the series north of $1 billion (755 million). Apple has already struck a number of deals for original television shows and documentaries. The iPhone company has announced a remake of Steven Spielbergs Amazing Stories anthology series from the mid-80s, and an as-yet untitled drama series set in the world of morning television starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. Apple also bought the worldwide distribution rights for the Ed Sheeran documentary Songwriter back in April for a low to mid-seven figures, according to Bloomberg. Other potential film deals with Cartoon Saloon are also being mooted, sources have said. Apple has long enjoyed a position as one of the biggest venders of television shows and movies through its popular iTunes Store, which is available to buy and rent across its devices. Apple already enjoys a strong position within the entertainment industry thanks to the iTunes Store, which sells television episodes and feature films to customers around the world However, the company has since started to fund its own television shows, like Carpool Karaoke, which are broadcast via its music streaming service, Apple Music. Last year, Apple hired industry heavyweights Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg the pair who helped Sony achieve commercial and critical success with shows like The Crown and Breaking Bad. Erlicht and Van Amburg were given a war chest of $1 billion (755 million) to spend in a year on original programming. Apple has yet to reveal how it will distribute its original television shows, documentaries, and feature-length films. The company has a dedicated steaming box, which connects to a TV via HDMI and brings a slew of video and music streaming services, and iPhone-style games. Apple rolled-out a dedicated TV app to its Apple TV and iOS users in 2016. The software aggregates content from a variety of video on-demand providers, including BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub, as well as purchases and rentals made via iTunes. Apple uses machine learning to recommend shows based on your viewing habits, and your progress in a show or individual episode is synced in the cloud so you can move between devices. Apple rolled-out its dedicated TV app to iPhone, iPad and Apple TV devices in 2016. The app aggregates content from a variety of video on-demand providers, including BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub, as well as purchases and rentals made from the iTunes Store The company also has dedicated streaming hardware, Apple TV, which brings on-demand video and music services to customers' television via a HDMI connection The app could easily incorporate an in-house video on-demand service from Apple. Its unclear whether Apple plans to make its Netflix competitor available on rival platforms, like it has done with Apple Music on Android, or use the service to lure new customers to its ecosystem. According to the latest rumours, Apple hopes to launch its first original shows next year. Cartoon Saloon is based in Kilkenny, Ireland. The studio has received three Academy Award-nominated animations for its feature-length films, Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, and The Breadwinner. The animation studio is also behind the Emmy-nominated series Puffin Rock, which is aimed at kindergarten-age children and streams globally on Netflix in more than 25 languages. Advertisement An incredible image of Earth has emerged that reveals the true beauty of our tiny, fragile planet. The blue marble appears to float against the void of space, with the surrounding darkness highlighting the vibrant colours of Earth. The mesmerising image was taken on May 28 by China's Longjiang-2 microsatellite from around 238,000 miles away. Scroll down for video The blue marble appears to float against the void of space, with the surrounding darkness highlighting the vibrant colours of Earth. The mesmerising image was taken on May 28 by China's Longjiang-2 microsatellite from around 238,000 miles away. The image reveals the east coast of Africa beneath a cover of thin clouds, with the Arabian peninsula clearly visible The image reveals the east coast of Africa beneath a cover of thin clouds, with the Arabian peninsula clearly visible. The shadow from the sun can be seen across the photo, which for those on Earth marks the border between night and day. The image came to light from journalist Andrew Jones, who tweeted: 'This is kind of incredible.' The Longjiang-2 microsatellite weighs about 100 pounds and is roughly the size of a filing cabinet. It was initially part of a pair, but Longijang-1 suffered a failure on launch and went offline. Although Longjiang-1 is doomed to drift throughout space, its twin is fully functioning. The two small satellites are non-essential and were added bonuses for the much bigger Queqiao spacecraft. Queqiao is currently in a Lagrange point, an area of no gravity, and is destined to become an essential bridge for China's missions to explore the far side of the moon. 'The name Queqiao means 'magpie bridge' in Chinese and comes from a Chinese folk tale, a love story about a flock of magpies that form a bridge crossing the Milky Way once a year to reunite lovers known as the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, as well as their children' according to a blog post by Luyuan Xu at the Planetary Society. Images of Earth, sent back from satellites thousands of miles away, never fail to capture the imagination. Last month, a tiny satellite bound for Mars captured an incredible image of the Earth and the moon that really made all of humankind look insignificant against the backdrop of the cosmos. This shot shows both our home planet and its natural satellite as tiny dots floating in the eternal darkness of space. Earth appears as a tiny blue blob on the right of the image, while our orbiting moon is an almost indistinguishable speck to the left in the image taken from 621,371 miles (1 million kilometres) away. Slide me Earth appears as a tiny blue blob on the right of the image, while our orbiting moon is an almost indistinguishable speck to the left in the image taken from 621,371 miles (1 million kilometers) away. The positions are marked in the right image The picture was taken by one of two tiny CubeSats that were launched together on May 5 as part of the InSight Lander project and are now heading to Mars. One of the CubeSats, called Marco-b and affectionately known as 'Wall-E', used a wide angle 'fisheye' lens to snap the photo. Capturing the Earth and the moon was a fortunate coincidence, as the image was only intended to test whether the craft's antennae had deployed correctly. Nasa decided to release the image taken by the miniature satellites in homage to one of the space exploration programmes most famous predecessors, the Voyager mission. Voyager 1 and 2 took advantage of a once in a lifetime event where a spacecraft could use the gravitational pull from different celestial bodies to visit all four giant outer planets - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. In 1990, Voyager 1 took an iconic image which captured Earth and the solar system from an incredible distance. Speaking about the latest shot, Andy Klesh, Marco's chief engineer at Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, said: 'Consider it our homage to Voyager.' 'CubeSats have never gone this far into space before, so it's a big milestone,' Dr Klesh added. 'Both our CubeSats are healthy and functioning properly. We're looking forward to seeing them travel even farther.' Capturing the Earth and the moon was a fortunate coincidence as the image was only intended to see if the antennae had deployed correctly. The image was taken by one of the CubeSats, called Marco-b (and affectionately known as 'Wall-E') that used a fisheye camera to snap the photo on May 9 A Nasa engineer tests a Mars Cube One (MarCO) satellite before launch. They will follow the InSight Lander to Mars as Nasa wants to see if the small satellites can relay information back to Earth from the car-sized satellite that is analysing the geology of the red planet The tiny satellites will follow the InSight Lander to Mars, as Nasa wants to see if the small satellites can relay information back to Earth. If they survive the extreme cold of deep space and successfully send the data, it may prove that smaller satellites have a place in space exploration alongside much larger, bulkier crafts. Formally known as Marco-b and its twin Marco-a, the two briefcase-sized objects are the only CubeSats to ever be launched into deep space. Most never go beyond the orbit of Earth, they generally stay below 497 miles (800 kilometres) above the planet. This artist's rendition of the two Mars-bound CubeSats flying through space shows what the two CubeSats will look like in transit.If they survive the extreme cold of deep space, it may prove that smaller satellites have a place in space exploration alongside much larger, bulkier crafts WHAT ARE CUBESATS? A CubeSat is a miniature satellite that has been sent into space. Nasa defines them as a class of nanosatellites that use a standard size and form factor. Each unit, or U, is 10cm x 10cm x 10cm (4 in x 4 in x 4 in) and the cubes can be pieced together to create larger structures. These can include 1.5, 2, 3, 6, and even 12U objects. They are often made of commercial off the shelf products and are a low-cost option for space exploration. CubeSatS have a variety of functions. The small satellites are intended for low Earth orbit (LEO) where they perform a number of scientific research functions and explore new space technologies. They were originally developed to teach university students about satellites, CubeSats are now a major commercial technology, providing data on everything from shipping routes to environmental changes. Each unit, or U, is 10cm x 10cm x 10cm (4 in x 4 in x 4 in) and the cubes can be pieced together to create larger structures. These can include 1.5, 2, 3, 6, and even 12U objects Advertisement Nasa decided to release the image taken by the minuscule satellites in homage to one of the space exploration programmes most famous predecessors, the Voyager missions. In 1990, Voyager 1 took an iconic image which captured Earth and the Solar system from an incredible distance The Voyager crafts have set numerous records since they were launched in 1977, including Voyager 1 becoming the only spacecraft to have entered interstellar space. Nasa launched the Voyager 1 spacecraft on September 5 1977, and the Voyager 2 on August 20 1977. Each spacecraft carries a golden record on board a record that includes sounds, pictures and messages of Earth. Mr Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for Nasa's Science Mission Directorate said: 'I believe that few missions can ever match the achievements of the Voyager spacecraft during their four decades of exploration. 'They have educated us to the unknown wonders of the universe and truly inspired humanity to continue to explore our solar system and beyond.' Despite being more than 40 years old, the Voyagers are still transmitting sporadically, but Nasa expects it will go silent by 2030. Voyager 1 is currently 13 billion miles away from Earth, travelling northward through space. It's sibling, Voyager 2, is now 11 billion miles from Earth, travelling south towards the interstellar region. It's flattering for a man to get an unsolicited nude picture sent to him by a woman. But if a man does the same thing, he's branded a pervert. At least, that's the conclusion of a new study by scientists in Texas that has shed light on double standards when it comes to sexual harassment. They looked into the differences in how men and women respond to messages that include nude photos. According to the latest findings, both genders were judged equally when sending solicited sexts. But researchers found unsolicited racy messages got a very different reaction depending on the gender of the person that sent them. Scroll down for video Explicit photographs sent from women were more likely to be seen as 'flattery' while men who said the same text were branded as sexual harassment (Stock Image) The study, conducted by Southwestern University, in Texas, asked 122 university undergraduates to read a brief vignette which described either a woman or a man sending a solicited or unsolicited nude picture to an acquaintance of the opposite sex. Participants who were equally split between men and women were then asked to report back on their perceptions of the scenario. The results were damning for men, with a majority of participants labelling the behaviour as sexual harassment, compared to the flattering reaction that their female counterpart received. Dr Traci Giuliano, corresponding author of the study, told MailOnline she anticipated the study would show a harsher reaction towards male behaviour. Honestly, I wasnt surprised by the results, she said. As the mother of a high school student who just graduated, Ive seen much to my dismay over the past 4 years that the unsolicited sending of nude pictures to females by males is pretty rampant and started in middle school, at least in the US. My daughter and other girls certainly feel harassed by the barrage of unsolicited pictures often accompanied by requests for pictures of the girls. 'Our results bear out that others have the same reaction. According to the study, female sext message senders are more likely to be seen as likeable, compared to men who send the same type of text. This graph shows the perceived appropriateness of the sender of a sexually explicit text message, between genders and whether the sext was solicited or unsolicited The study notes: This pattern of results is consistent with previous research showing that women tend to have more negative attitudes and outcomes regarding unsolicited sext messages, such as feeling uncomfortable or threatened, whereas men tend to express feelings of flattery. Men are subject to stereotypical masculine ideals that dictate an obligatory sexual interest in womens bodies, it adds. According to the researchers, these latest findings demonstrate how education around sexually explicit messages needs to improve. While female recipients often see unsolicited sext messages as inappropriate, men tend to forgive the behaviour because of societal pressure to react positively to a sexual advances. IS IT HEALTHY TO SEND SEXTS TO YOUR PARTNER? People who regularly sexually explicit messages to their partners are insecure in their relationship and more likely to cheat, a new study by the University of Alberta has revealed. Partners who frequently 'sext' one another are also more likely to seek out online pornography and exhibit 'infidelity-behaviours' on social media sites. But there is a bright side couples who sext also reported higher levels of sexual satisfaction in the bedroom, compared to those who have never sent a titillating text. Researchers looked into the effects of sexting on 615 people and found that it is rarely a feature of a healthy relationship. 'This does not seem to be something that's part of a normal, healthy adult relationship,' psychology professor Michelle Drouin, who helped to oversee the study, told CBC Radio. 'They had low levels of commitment to their partner, more insecure attachment to the partner maybe fearing the partner would leave, or not feeling very connected.' The study looked at heterosexual and same-sex couples of various ages, ethnicities, income and education levels. Researchers say the study was much broader than many previous research into sexting, which typically focus on young adults or teenagers. Advertisement This could blur the inappropriateness of unsolicited sext messages sent from women, the researchers warn. Dr Giuliano, who works in the Department of Psychology at Southwestern, said: Im hopeful that the recent attention to issues like this from the Harvey Weinstein scandal to the intense focus on Title IX on US college campuses will make everyone aware of how unsolicited sexts are received and potentially decrease their occurrence', Dr Giuliano and the team believe future research should examine participants rationale behind why they rated some genders as more inappropriate than others. The researchers have also suggested looking into whether men and women are judged differently when they forward a nude photograph they have received to a friend. The study, entitled Not Cool, Dude: Perceptions of Solicited vs. Unsolicited Sext Messages from Men and Women', was published today in the journal, Computers in Human Behavior. Potentially deadly glass fibers caused by Hawaii's erupting volcano are taking over the Big Island. Kilauea has been erupting now for more than 40 days and has already destroyed 600 homes on Big Island, but now the state is facing an additional crisis with the arrival of dangerous threads called 'Pele's hair'. The thin glass fibers are created when gas bubbles within the lava burst at the surface, and they bear a remarkable resemblance to human hair. Potentially deadly glass fibers caused by Hawaii's erupting volcano are taking over the Big Island. The strands are just one-thousandth of a millimeter or two in diameter, but often get tangled together 'The skin of the bursting bubbles flies out, and some of the skin becomes stretched into these very long threads, sometime[s] as long as a couple of feet or so,' Don Swanson, a research geologist at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said to Live Science. The strands are just one-thousandth of a millimeter or two in diameter, but often get tangled together. 'You can get drifts of Pele's hair that may be a foot or two thick interwoven with one another,' Swanson said. 'It can be quite striking.' The strands of glass usually have a small sphere at the end, but they frequently get broken off creating sharp ends. Pele's hair is named for Pele, the creator of the Hawaiian Islands and the Goddess of fire, lightning, wind and volcanos. The strands of glass usually have a small sphere at the end, but they frequently get broken off creating sharp ends In the Hawaiian religion, many people believe Kilauea is the home of a family of fire gods, including Pele. The lightweight glass is getting blown downwind of the eruption. 'Pele's hair and other lightweight volcanic glass from high fountaining of Fissure 8 are falling to the west of the fissure and accumulating on the ground within Leilani Estates,' the US Geological Survey said. 'Winds may waft lighter particles to greater distances. Residents are urged to minimize exposure to these volcanic particles, which can cause skin and eye irritation similar to volcanic ash.' In previous eruptions, Pele's hair invaded drinking water after landing on the roofs of Hawaiians who collect rainwater for drinking. Pele's hair is a collection of soft glass needles formed from volcanic eruptions. In previous eruptions, Pele's hair invaded drinking water after landing on the roofs of Hawaiians who collect rainwater for drinking Thin glass fibers called Pele's hair are created when gas bubbles within the lava burst at the surface 'If the filters aren't fine enough to filter out the hair, then you can get hair in the water,' which can harm anyone who drinks it, Swanson said. 'Imagine inhaling tiny slivers of glass. That's what the Pele's hair is,' he continued. 'It can inflame and irritate anything that comes in contact with it.' Previously the strands also invaded drinking water at cattle farms, injuring bovines' stomachs and esophagi. However, there are currently no reports of injuries from Pele's hair. WHAT IS THE KILAUEA VOLCANIC ERUPTION? The Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island has been erupting for more than 30 years but bubbled up in May 2018 after the volcano's summit rose in the weeks leading up. In recent years the volcano has mostly released lava in hard-to-reach areas inside a national park or along the island's coastline. Lava from the bubbling volcano has now destroyed over 600 homes and forced nearly 2,000 residents to evacuate. Researchers have tracked the event since it began but say there is no indication when the destructive lava flow will come to a halt. This is partly because scientists are still unsure what started the sudden outpouring of lava. Advertisement Around 600 homes have been swallowed since the eruption began on May 3 but thankfully, there have been no casualties as a result of it. On Monday, as the lava found a path towards the ocean, authorities started moving people back into their homes. While the island's people are safe, the eruption is wreaking havoc on marine life and will continue to do so for decades. When lava - which emits sulfur dioxide and hydriodic acid - mixes with water, it changes the acidity in the water. If the acidity changes enough, it could have a deleterious effect on sensitive marine life, which would either leave the area or stay away from it in the future. Families booking package holidays could be paying up to 1,300 more than if they booked hotels and flights to the exact same place separately, new research has revealed. A study looked at the price of 12 package deals for a family of four departing Gatwick in August to destinations including Majorca, Gran Canaria, Cyprus and Rhodes. This was then compared like for like with the price of booking flights and accommodation separately to the exact same hotel on the same board basis on the same dates. Booking a hotel and flight separately to a resort in Rhodes, pictured, worked out over 1,300 cheaper than booking a package deal to the same place with Thomas Cook And the research, conducted by currency experts FairFX, found that in 75 per cent of cases, holidays were cheaper when booked independently rather than as part of a package. In one instance, FairFX claims that the largest saving it found was 1,333 for a holiday at the Esperides Beach Hotel in Rhodes. The experts found that a family of four departing Gatwick on August 4 would spend 3,133 on the trip when booking their flights and accommodation independently, compared to 4,466 for a package deal from Thomas Cook. A saving of 1,333 is equivalent to 42 per cent of the total price for the trip when arranged independently. The second-largest saving FairFX found was to the Clubhotel Riu Gran Canaria where a family could save 771 on the same week-long all-inclusive break from Gatwick on August 4 by booking separately rather than via the package on offer from TUI. Meanwhile the third largest saving was for a seven-night break at the Ola Club Maioris in Majorca, where the Thomas Cook all inclusive package cost 747 more than the component parts of the trip. A table showing the difference in price for 12 holidays that are package deals compared to when they are booked independently. The Jet2 holidays fly from Stansted Airport Other package deals it's claimed are more expensive than the equivalent trip booked independently are a Thomas Cook trip to Sentido Cypria Bay by Leonardo, Cyprus (622 more expensive), a Jet2 package to Lindos Royal, Rhodes (594), a Jet2 trip to IFA Buenaventura, Gran Canaria (551), a TUI holiday to Hotel Louis Imperial Beach, Cyprus (255), a TUI deal to Hotel Atlantica Princess, Rhodes (210) and a Thomas Cook trip to Gloria Palace Amadores Thalasso Spa, Gran Canaria (205). And, whilst booking independently may incur some additional costs like airport transfers, included as standard on many package trips, FairFX claims the savings on offer would more than cover these extras. However, FairFX did find holidays with both TUI and Jet2 where the package deals were cheaper than independently booking flights and accommodation. One TUI trip to Protur Biomar, Majorca, is 43 cheaper than an independently arranged trip. And Jet2Holidays offers a package deal to St Raphael Resort, Cyprus, that's 178 cheaper and a deal to THB S Coma Platja, Majorca, that's a whopping 616 cheaper. Gran Canaria, pictured, was another place where a package deal was more expensive Ian Strafford-Taylor, CEO of FairFX, said: 'Holidaymakers looking for good value this summer could find that they are able to get more holiday for their money by planning further ahead. 'Being smarter at the booking stage and making that extra effort beforehand could leave holidaymakers with more money to enjoy their trip once they're there, with additional trips and experiences falling within budget thanks to savings made upfront. 'Booking a package holiday might seem an attractive low-hassle option, but those still planning to book a break should consider investing some time in costing up the trip independently to ensure they're getting the best value possible, after all, a little extra time online pricing things up and making bookings isn't hugely taxing given the potential benefits.' And it's not just on package deals consumers are paying over the odds for. FairFX has also found that the 'convenience' factor of exchanging currency at the airport rather than by topping up a prepaid currency card in advance can cost holidaymakers the equivalent of 65 in spending money. Added to the average 371 saving by booking a holiday separately, FairFX calculates that 'convenience' is costing families on average 436 per trip. So what's the package tour operators' defence? They claim that their customers are paying for peace of mind and convenience - and dispute the 'like for like' research... A spokesperson for Thomas Cook said: 'We take care of everything for our customers when they book a package holiday with us so they can relax and enjoy their time away. This includes tailoring the perfect holiday to suit their needs, transfers to and from the airport as well as being there every step of the way. 'In the unlikely event of something going wrong, booking with a tour operator adds an extra layer of protection when on holiday, with our 24 hour team on hand to help.' People booking a package holiday will benefit from financial protection should their travel company go out of business, and legal protection Abta A spokesman for TUI said: 'While we haven't been consulted on this research or had the opportunity to see it in full, what we can say is that when it comes to holiday pricing, it's a complex area and there are many variables which have to be taken into account. 'TUI and First Choice customers have peace of mind that everything is taken care of when booking our holidays, including airport transfers and a team of people in-resort to offer any support needed. Other benefits include Atol and Abta protection and the protection of the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulation. 'We offer exceptional value for money and wherever possible, we offer discounts to TUI and First Choice customers throughout the year, even in peak periods, as an incentive to book. 'We encourage our customers, particularly those that need to travel during the school holidays, to book early. This allows them to not only secure the property and destination of their choice while there is still availability, but also to take advantage of our many early booking discounts, which include free child places.' Abta said: 'People booking a package holiday will also benefit from financial protection should their travel company go out of business' A Jet2 spokesman said: 'This research does not provide a like-for-like comparison, and does not include the many benefits that customers get when they book an award-winning package holiday with Jet2holidays such as 24-hour assistance in resort, 60 per person deposit, airport transfers, 22kg baggage allowance and Atol protection.' An Abta spokesman added: 'The cases are not like-for-like comparisons, for example luggage costs and transfers don't seem to be included, flight times have not been taken into consideration, which can significantly impact on prices, and package holidays provide a range of services either not available to independent travellers or only at an additional cost. 'People booking a package holiday will also benefit from financial protection should their travel company go out of business, and legal protection, such as a refund if bad weather means your holiday cannot take place. 'Package holidays are competitively priced and can often be cheaper than booking your travel arrangements separately. Our advice to get the best deal is to book early and shop around.' She's been enjoying a working holiday in Paris over the past few days. And Jessica Alba looked the height of style as she returned to Los Angeles after spending some time in one of the fashion capitals of the world. The 37-year-old stunned in blue as she walked through the international terminal at LAX on Thursday. Scroll down for video Back home! Jessica Alba kept a low profile in chic navy dress after returning from her Parisian getaway on Thursday Jessica was seen in a wrap midi-dress with a white slip underneath. She kept cosy with a navy overcoat which was effortlessly thrown over her shoulders. The co-founder of the successful organization The Honest Company, completed her casual airport look with slip on white sneakers. Effortless beauty: The 37-year-old stunned in blue as she walked through the international terminal at LAX Relaxed: Jessica kept a low profile while walking through the terminal with a matching color fedora hat and large designer sunglasses. Jessica kept a low profile while walking through the terminal with a matching color fedora hat and large designer sunglasses. She appeared to be wearing minimal makeup and was seen wheeling her white handbag and black hard-shell suitcase. The Fantastic Four actress had her brunette locks left out and natural. Parisian style! Jessica was seen in a wrap midi-dress with a white slip underneath Touched down! She appeared to be wearing minimal makeup and was seen wheeling her white handbag and black hard-shell suitcase Jessica's trip saw her lend executive experience to a panel of industry insiders during a visit to the Deutsche Bank Global Consumer Conference. Her return will see her reunite with her husband of ten years, actor Cash Warren, 39. The couple are parents to three children: daughters Honor, 10, and Haven, six, and son Hayes, five-months. Working holiday: Jessica's trip saw her lend executive experience to a panel of industry insiders during a visit to the Deutsche Bank Global Consumer Conference Homesick: Her return will see her reunite with her husband of ten years, actor Cash Warren, 39 The red carpet continues to roll out for this year's Sydney Film Festival. And Wolf Creek star John Jarratt was among the many who attended the annual event on Thursday evening. The 65-year-old was spotted with a bandaged nose as he posed for photographs and greeted fans at Event Cinemas in George Street. Is everything OK? Wolf Creek's John Jarratt walks the 2018 Sydney Film Festival red carpet with a bandaged nose Daily Mail Australia has reached out to the actor's representatives for a comment. Despite his bandaged nose, the actor appeared to be in good spirits. Joining John on the red carpet was Mad Max director, George Miller. The renowned filmmaker rugged up in a black jacket and grey scarf, teamed with his signature round-rimmed tinted glasses. The 65-year-old had his nose bandaged as he posed for photographs and greeted fans at Event Cinemas in George Street All smiles: Despite his bandaged nose, the actor was appeared to be in good spirits. Joining John on the red carpet was Mad Max director, George Miller Classy and chic: David Wenham and Marta Dusseldorp made a fine pair on the red carpet at the annual event at the Dendy Opera Quays on Tuesday John and George weren't the only two notable Australian cinema veterans to make an appearance at the Sydney Film Festival this year. Actors David Wenham and Marta Dusseldorp made a fine pair on the red carpet at the annual event at the Dendy Opera Quays on Tuesday. The lauded actors looked classy and chic as they posed side by side in front of the media wall. The pair played an important part in this year's festival, chairing the 2018 Lexus Australia Short Film Fellowship Jury which awarded four up and coming filmmakers a $50,000 grant to make their short film. Love Island Australia's Justin Lacko was described as 'camp' by some of his co-stars. And on Friday's The Kyle and Jackie O Show, Elias Chigros refused to comment when asked about Justin's sexuality. 'I really don't want to speculate on someone's sexuality, to be honest,' the 27-year-old said. 'I don't ask about his sexuality': Love Island Australia's Elias Chigros (left) refused to speculate on whether his friend and co-star Justin Lacko (right) is gay during a radio interview on Friday 'I've never really gone that far down the rabbit hole,' Elias said when asked whether he thinks Justin is gay. 'I really don't want to speculate on someone's sexuality, to be honest, even as a friend.' The personal trainer and model added: 'I'm going to take whatever he says to heart, and if he says he's not, it is what it is.' It comes after Justin's fellow Islanders told him that some of the female contestants thought he was 'camp'. Tight-lipped: 'I've never really gone that far down the rabbit hole,' Elias told The Kyle and Jackie O Show when asked whether he thinks Justin is gay 'Camp' is a slang term for someone with an exaggerated personality or who is seemingly homosexual. When Justin had asked the guys in a previous episode why he might not be forming romantic bonds with the women in the villa, Elias responded: 'Girls have said that they think you're camp. 'Not referring to your sexuality at all, but like the way that you're flamboyant... Anyone who deserves to be with you, should easily be able to see past that.' Hurtful: It comes after Justin's fellow Islanders told him earlier this week that some of the female contestants thought he was 'camp' Justin told the boys that he was a little upset that he had not yet found anyone in the villa to have a relationship with. 'I'm just personally waiting for someone to come in that's going to take my breath away,' he said at the time. However, unfortunately for Justin, he was evicted on Thursday night's episode. Love Island Australia continues Sunday at 8:30pm on 9Go and 9Now viewers thought that Thursday's Love Island was all about the tension between Dr Alex and Eyal. But in a sudden outburst near the end of the episode, Megan was seen telling Eyal she thinks Georgia is 'a fake b***h', while Hayley suddenly told her partner Charlie to 'shut the f**k up' as tensions mounted. Megan and Eyal - who are currently coupled up - were seen trying to decide which of the villa's couples are the 'least compatible'. And while the other couples on the show were selecting the more obvious partnerships, such as Samira and Dr Alex, Megan seemed keen to throw Georgia under the bus for no apparent reason. Nasty: In a sudden outburst near the end of Thursday's episode of Love Island, Megan was seen telling Eyal that she thinks Georgia is 'a fake b***h' Hitting out: Hayley also erupted during the tense episode, telling her partner Charlie to 'shut the f**k up' because he was 'p*****g her off' Megan told Eyal: 'I think Georgia is too over the top with everything. If you're here to find love, chill out and spend time with the person you're with. 'Don't be like all jazz hands, calm down. But that's not the question, it's about who is the most compatible. Just because I think she's a fake b***h!' She was discussing Georgia's current coupling with Josh. Tempers also frayed between Hayley and Charlie as they tried to make their decision, with the model telling her partner he was 'p*****g me off' and to 'shut the f**k up' in a sudden outburst as they struggled to agree. Fans of the show were far from impressed with Megan's outburst - especially seeing as she has been the root of the issues between Dr Alex and Eyal. Outburst: Megan seemed keen to throw Georgia under the bus for no apparent reason Fake? Megan was discussing Georgia's current coupling with Josh 'I am shook that Megan called Georgia a fake b****h, what did Georgia do to you?? Megan and Eyal can go in the bin together Alex deserves better,' one person tweeted. Another posted: 'I was rooting for Megan but shes a proper serpent slithering round the villa someone tell Georgia she called her a fake b***h. I want the drama ASAP!' A third wrote: 'I really hope they do that challenge where they reveal whos mugged off who so that Georgia can find out Megan called her a fake b***h for absolutely no reason.' A fourth typed: 'Megan calling Georgia a fake b***h... Pot kettle hun?' Short lived: Dr Alex and Samira or Hayley and Charlie [pictured] will be leaving Love Island during Friday night's instalment Tense: Charlie and Hayley rowed throughout making their decision, but eventually decided they would vote for Megan and Eyal and Samira and Dr Alex 'No need for Megan to go in on Georgia like that! Bit sly like! Her and Eyal gotta go!' remarked another The nasty comment came after a shock bombshell was dropped on Thursday evening's edition of the ITV2 dating show when a text revealed that the two 'least compatible' couples would be facing an early exit from the series. And the results were in at the end of the episode - revealing that Dr Alex and Samira or Hayley and Charlie will be leaving the series during Friday night's instalment. Each coupling were tasked with selecting two of their fellow couples to vote as the least suited - prompting Megan's cruel remark about Georgia. Ouch! Megan's cruel comments came as she and Eyal struggled to decide which couples they felt were the least compatible on the show Is this the end? As Dr Alex and Samira [pictured], Hayley and Charlie had the most amount of votes, this meant the public would be voting between these two pairs As Hayley, Charlie, Dr Alex and Samira had the most amount of votes, this meant the public would be voting between the two pairings. Meanwhile, Dani and Jack and Adam and Rosie received no votes at all. And since the news was announced, bookmakers say there is a clear favourite to be ejected, with Paddy Power making Hayley and Charlie the odds-on 1/2 shot to be the pair to leave. Alex and Samira are rated 6/4. A spokesman for Paddy Power said: 'The villa has thrown up its first major twist tonight, and theres an obvious choice on who will be booted off the show. 'Its Hayley and Charlie I mean, it probably wasnt going to work after Hayley told him she needed to dye his eyebrows in their first ever conversation.' Worried: Dr Alex and Samira appeared panicked, given that they're not in a 'romantic' pairing, and are merely friends The various couples were seen discussing the situation, with the likes of Hayley and Charlie bickering over their decision. Likewise, Dr Alex and Samira appeared panicked, given that they're not in a 'romantic' pairing, and are merely friends. Rosie was seen telling Adam that she thinks 'Wes and Laura have been too perfect', with Adam arguing that Megan and Eyal should be voted out. He stated a case for Alex and Samira, saying 'they're compatible as people'. Hayley told Charlie that she thinks 'Eyal isn't being genuine towards Megan' while Eyal told Megan that 'Hayley doesn't deserve to be here as she doesn't know what she wants'. Uh oh: Shock waves were sent through the Love Island villa on Thursday night, when an unexpected dumping was announced Meanwhile, Megan replied with some harsh feelings towards Georgia, saying: 'She is too over the top with everything. I think she's a fake b***h.' Laura and Wes said that they had to put their friendships and feelings towards each individual person aside. 'The only fair way to do this is to answer the question, which is based on pure compatibility,' Wes said. 'It's not about who we like the most, who we get on the most with. I think that's completely unfair to do that. It's not something to be taken light-heartedly.' Shocked by the news, Megan reflected in the Beach Hut afterwards: 'There's going to be a weird atmosphere after.' Big decision: Horrified by the news, the couples soon retreated to their own private spaces to decide who they want to send home Tense: Alex and Samira realised they are in the most 'vulnerable' position, having chosen to stay coupled up as friends until a potential love interest enters the villa Despite the task unravelling various previously undisclosed feelings about certain Islanders, the public will have the final say on who should leave on Friday. When Eyal first received the text announcing the task, he broke the news to his co-stars: 'Islanders, tonight each couple must vote for the two couples who they think are least compatible. 'Those who receive the most votes risk being dumped from the island tomorrow. You must now discuss in your couples who you are going to choose and then submit your decision by text. 'You must not discuss your decision with anyone else #theglovesareoff #judgementday.' Horrified by the news, the couples soon retreated to their own private spaces to decide who they wanted to send home. Private: Each couple discussed their decision alone, before casting their votes over text Tough: Shocked by the news, Megan reflected in the Beach Hut afterwards Kendall Rae-Knight is the only contestant to have been dumped from the show so far. The former beauty queen was the first to leave the villa after Adam Collard opted to ditch their pairing and couple up with solicitor Rosie Williams instead. While he was not eliminated, the ITV2 series has also seen the departure of Niall Aslam, who chose to leave on Tuesday for 'personal reasons'. A source close to the star has since revealed to MailOnline that his departure stemmed from insecurities about his ears and his struggle with stress. The insider said: 'Niall left for personal reasons regarding himself only. He doesn't deal well with stress or criticism, and would hate to have situations where he's involved in conflict publicised. Farewell: Kendall Rae-Knight is the only contestant to have been dumped from the show so far Sudden exit: While he was not eliminated, the ITV2 series has also seen the departure of Niall Aslam, who chose to leave on Tuesday for 'personal reasons' 'It's an emotionally stressful environment and he over worries to the point where he gets stressed. 'Before he got his ears pinned back, if anyone wasn't interested in him or made a joke he'd assume it was about his ears and put a hat on for the rest of the day just to avoid people seeing.' The shock dumping will no doubt only add to the drama of the fourth series - which has been confirmed as the most successful to date. The series premiere drew in a record-breaking 5.1 million viewers earlier this month, making it ITV2's most watched programme. He recently burnt a wad of $10,000 bills while soaking in a bathtub in a bizarre video clip. And on Thursday, the son of respected television journalist Terry Willesee, Jesse Sunset, 30, put on another feigned gangster display in California. The flamboyant musician set tongues wagging as he made sizzurp - a cough syrup drink - posed with a Hitachi vibrator and cuddled up to his naked girlfriend Ashley. Just a quiet night in? Terry Willesee's gold-toothed rapper son Jesse Sunset made sizzurp, posed with a Hitachi vibrator and cuddled up to his naked girlfriend on Thursday night Jesse seemed particularly proud of his sizzurp-making efforts and meticulously documented the process on his Instagram Stories. Sizzurp, a drink that's popular with the hip-hop community, is made by mixing prescription-strength cough syrup with a soft drink. When drunk in large amounts, the active ingredients in the cough syrup - codeine, a narcotic, and promethazine, an antihistamine - produce a dazed, sleepy effect with an induced high and can cause hallucinations. Wannabe gangster: Jesse seemed particularly proud of his sizzurp-making efforts and meticulously documented the process on his Instagram Stories Oh dear: Sizzurp, a drink that's popular with the hip-hop community, is made by mixing prescription-strength cough syrup with a soft drink and can cause a dazed sleepy effect and hallucinations Not content with just his drink, Jesse ensured he caused plenty of controversy by waving a vibrator around. He also cuddled up to Ashley, who posed topless and covered her modesty using just her hair. The brunette later stripped off completely and was filmed lounging on the bed, laughing as Jesse turned the camera to face her. Dare to bare: He also cuddled up to Ashley, who posed topless and covered her modesty using just her hair Avert your eyes: The brunette later stripped off completely and was filmed lounging on the bed, laughing as Jesse turned the camera to face her Jesse's raucous night in comes after he took to Instagram last month to conspicuously flaunt his wealth, using a lighter to ignite a wad of $100 bills believed to total $10,000. While lounging in a bubble bath in Los Angeles, the socialite proudly told his social media followers: 'This is for all my broke boys and girls!' Eccentric Jesse wore a blue du-rag on his head and a trendy pair of sunglasses while rapping about his wealth and active sex life. 'This is for all my broke boys and girls!' Jesse's wild night in comes after he burned $10,000 while boasting about his sex life in the bath last month He began: 'I be broke and burning fat stacks, that's facts, hows that? This is for all my broke boys and girls who ball out when they're broke.' Jesse then waved around the large wad of money before using the lighter's flame to set it ablaze. Slowly catching fire, the notes began to blacken at the edges, prompting Jesse to say: 'Doesn't burn very well, but I still be burning it!' 'Doesn't burn very well, but I still be burning it': The flamboyant musician took to Instagram to flaunt his wealth, using a lighter to ignite a wad of $100 bills believed to total $10,000 He continued to rap: 'Ballin' isn't about money, it's a mother f**king attitude. How I be broke and hopping out in BMWs in Hollywood. 'How I be broke and dating models, how I be broke and burning fat stacks, no cap - that's facts!' He also boasted about his active sex life, adding: 'I be broke and f**king' your b**ch, how's that?' 'Quite frankly I'm rich, b***h': In February, Jesse hit back at social media critics who claimed that his obnoxious display of wealth was simply because of his father's fortune The Willesee family legacy is well-known, with Jesse's uncle Mike Willesee, 75, creating Channel Nine's A Current Affair and helping launch Paul Hogan's career. Mike's younger brother and Jesse's father Terry, 72, first moved to America in 1992 to anchor A Current Affair Extra, returning to Australia three years later. Their late father Don Willesee was a longtime member of the Australian senate and Whitlam Government minister. Raised in the affluent Northern Beaches enclave of Avalon, Jesse Willesee has now adopted the moniker 'Jesse Sunset' in an attempt to launch his career in rap music. She is a talented presenter who is known for her chic fashion sense. And Laura Whitmore pulled off another sartorial triumph as she stepped out at the Maison St Germain x House of Holland Opening Night in Mayfair, London on Thursday. The blonde beauty, 33, went braless in a plunging red and white printed minidress as she confidently posed at the bash. Daring: Laura Whitmore pulled off another sartorial triumph as she stepped out at the Maison St Germain x House of Holland Opening Night in Mayfair, London on Thursday The thigh-skimming number also drew the eye to her toned legs, and she added extra height with crushed velvet plum ankle boots. Her blonde tresses were styled sleek and straight while her pretty features were enhanced with fluttery lashes and a red lipstick. The star is happily loved-up with Love Island voiceover artist Iain Stirling, 30. The close couple became firm friends in 2017 and their romance was a slow burner, due to their jam-packed work schedules, not developing until the summer. Toned: The blonde beauty, 33, went braless in a plunging red and white printed minidress as she confidently posed at the bash Leggy: The thigh-skimming number also drew the eye to her toned legs, and she added extra height with crushed velvet plum ankle boots Initially coy over their budding romance, rumours were swirling for weeks before the lovebirds went public with their affections for each other. In March, Iain 'happily' admitted that he was punching above his weight by developing a romance with the blonde beauty. During the Chris Ramsey Show, the host expressed his disdain for people who judged people's relationships. People tell you, and I do not agree with this and I hate it when people say this to blokes, people tell you youre punching above your weight, and I dont like that, said Ramsey, whose guests included Iain, Chris Hughes and Brooke Vincent. One, youre a good looking lad. I find it underhanded. I find it snide. Its basically someone going, Id f*** your girlfriend, and I dont like it. I dont like it at all. And I dont think youre punching above your weight. I think youre a beautiful man. Strut: Her blonde tresses were styled sleek and straight while her pretty features were enhanced with fluttery lashes and a red lipstick But the comedian best known for his voice-over role on ITV2 show Love Island admitted he was unfazed by the comments, because he agrees with them. I dont mind it, because it just means Ive done better havent I? he said. Ive got someone whos like me, but much, much better. And Lauras got someone whos like her, but much worse. I think Ive done quite well out of it, but Im dead happy because shes lovely and stuff. In a cosy chat with MailOnline while filming in South Africa for Survival Of The Fittest, Iain's ladylove Laura excitedly discussed her love. I think the first time I met him was at the Childrens BAFTAs, she said. I was presenting an award and he won an award, so I met him there. I dont know if we were in other relationships but I was just friendly with him. That was before the last series of Love Island. So we were just mates, and we were friendly for a while before it developed into something more, but we didnt tell anyone for ages. Again, you dont really know until you decide and you dont want everyone knowing your business so we decided to keep it quiet as much as possible. Hugs: The star embraced a pal as she made her way into the bash Masculine look: Suranne Jones as Anne Lister, who always wore black As a town councillor, a devout Catholic, and the owner of a large estate, John Lister was the pillar of the community in Victorian Halifax. His family seat was the magnificent Tudor half-timbered Shibden Hall, where he had lived for 40 years since 1855, when he was eight years old. While growing up, Lister was always aware of the legacy of a relative who had died in 1840 seven years before he was born as she had spent much time and money improving both the house and its extensive grounds. Her name was Anne Lister, and although John had heard tales about her eccentricities as a spinster, there was much that he did not know. Thankfully, Anne left her diaries 26 volumes containing four million words. One day in the mid-1880s, John Lister removed them from behind a set of panels where they had been kept and went through them. He soon realised that not only was his relative an extraordinarily dynamic woman who single-handedly managed the estate, even ran a coal mine, and travelled extensively the diaries were also a rich source of social and local history, and he persuaded the local newspaper to run extracts from them for nearly five years. But the diaries also contained a mystery. Throughout the thousands of pages, there were hundreds of entries written in a secret code. Intrigued, Lister tried to crack the code which consisted of numbers, Greek letters, and symbols but he failed. Lister asked a schoolteacher from Bradford called Arthur Burrell to help. Burrell took a volume back home, and after a few days, he returned to Shibden and told Lister that he thought he had managed to crack the code for the letters h and e. Together, the two men soon identified the word hope in one coded passage. With these four letters almost certain, Burrell later recalled, we began very late at night to find the remaining clues. We finished at 2am. What the men found shocked them. In Burrells words, the material was unpublishable and very unsavoury. He said: It is an intimate account of homosexual practices among Miss Lister and her many friends; hardly one of them escaped her. Throughout the thousands of pages, there were hundreds of entries written in a secret code Considering the extreme details of these friendships described by Anne Lister, Burrell recommended that they should be burned. If the contents were discovered, it would not only tarnish the memory of Anne Lister, who, like John, had been a leading member of Yorkshire society, but it might also bring scandal to Lister himself. But he refused to burn the diaries, and locked them behind the panels, where they remained until his death in 1933, after which Shibden and the diaries passed into the hands of the Borough of Halifax because of Listers bankruptcy. The only man who knew how to solve the code was Burrell, and before his own death, he entrusted the key to the code to the towns chief librarian, who locked it in his safe. As a result, Anne Listers lesbianism stayed hidden for many decades to come. But now, thanks to a new BBC drama series currently being filmed, the secrets will be made public about this most extraordinary figure, who was nicknamed Gentleman Jack because of her masculine appearance and clothing. Starring Suranne Jones hardly the most masculine of actresses, and best known for her role as the vengeful GP in the TV drama Doctor Foster the eight-part BBC series will chart Listers life and loves, and her attempts to marry her long-term lover, an unthinkable idea in early 19th-century Yorkshire. Lister is today regarded as a lesbian heroine. Although she may have largely kept her sexuality secret, the coded passages of her diaries show that she had no qualms in exploring her lesbianism from the age of 15 until her death at the age of 49 when she was travelling in the Caucasus. But there was a lot more to Lister than her sexuality. Born in Halifax in April 1791, her father Jeremy was a former soldier who had fought and was wounded in the American War of Independence But there was a lot more to Lister than her sexuality. Born in Halifax in April 1791, her father Jeremy was a former soldier who had fought and was wounded in the American War of Independence. Educated at home until her early teens, Anne was sent to board at Manor House School in York, where she met her first love, Eliza Raine. The two girls shared an attic bedroom called the Slope. This made the union an easy one, says Helena Whitbread, one of Listers biographers. Anne eagerly stepped into her lesbian sexuality. It was around this time that Anne began her diary, in which she recorded her most private thoughts. I am resolved not to let my life pass without some private memorial that I may hereafter read, perhaps with a smile, when Time has frozen up the channel of those sentiments which flow so freely now, she would write. Those sentiments were certainly strong. Even in the first entry, in August 1806, the 15-year-old Anne records how she was missing Eliza, and how they exchanged three letters in six days, until on 18th of that month came a parcel from her Music, Letter & Lavender. Despite their evident fondness for each other, it appears that Anne and Eliza were not shy of playing the field. In October 1808, Anne wrote in code of course about spending the evening with a Miss Alexander: Drank tea at Mr As and supped also after tea, at Elizas instigation, I had Miss A on my knee, kissed her. It appeared that Anne was more comfortable with such raciness than Eliza, for, according to Helena Whitbread, Annes affairs with other women drove Eliza literally mad, and she was never to recover. As Anne emerged into adulthood, people in Halifax began to notice the masculinity of Listers appearance, and her habit of always wearing black clothes. Today, she might be called butch, but back then, she earned the nickname of Gentleman Jack. Anne once noted in her diary an observation made about her by a Mrs B: What a pity that she does not pay more attention to her appearance, for those who do not know her judge from this . . . There was no doubt Anne was attracted to rather more manly pursuits than drinking tea with refined Yorkshire ladies. A particularly keen shot, she slept with two loaded pistols under her pillow, which, along with a sword, she at least once intended to use against a nocturnal trespasser. I stood ready to put into execution what seemed really necessary, she wrote, but Annes mother managed to shoo the man away with words rather than with a hail of lead from her tomboyish daughter. There was also something of the geek about Anne. She meticulously recorded the daily air temperature and pressure, as well as the precise time she took her readings. According to another biographer, Jill Liddington, by time she was 20, Anne had already started obsessively recording exactly how many hours she spent on each activity. The precise length of sermons was noted to the minute, and she would read dull but worthy books on subjects such as improving the postal service, while she walked around the estate. Meanwhile, her pursuit of female lovers continued unabated. In men, she had no sexual interest whatsoever. I love & only love the fairer sex & thus beloved by them in turn, my heart revolts from any other love than theirs, she wrote in January 1821. After she split from Eliza, her next great passion was for Isabella Tib Norcliffe, who was keen to settle down with Anne for life. However, Listers feelings were somewhat more cool. Ah, my Isabel, you have indeed loved me truly &, after all, perhaps it may be fate that you & I shall get together at last, she wrote in June 1817. But on this subject, I dare not think. God knows what is best. What turned out to be best for Anne was a severance although they remained occasional lovers. I love & only love the fairer sex & thus beloved by them in turn, my heart revolts from any other love than theirs, she wrote in January 1821 Her next passion was a woman named Mariana Belcombe, with whom Anne had a passionate affair, which continued even after Mariana got married. However, it appeared that Marianas husband was no more faithful than his wife, and after he contracted a venereal disease from a servant, he passed it onto Mariana, who in turn passed it on to Anne. Lister would describe the symptoms in her diary very graphically and she would remain infected until her dying day. But Anne was much more than a lover of women. When she inherited the family estate in 1826, she proved herself immensely capable of running it. Though it was only 400 acres, the estate made a good income from timber, turnpikes (toll roads), rents, shares in a canal, and providing stone and water. What the land was also blessed with was coal a vital ingredient in the industrial revolution and rather than lease out the land to be mined by a tenant, Anne established two collieries of her own. Despite Anne being a tough businesswoman and a lesbian, any attempts by feminists today to claim that she had progressive politics or enlightened social attitudes would be fruitless. Like most Yorkshire landowners at the time, she was very traditional. Anne was a staunch conservative with very decided views about the positive role of the monarchy, the Church and Toryism in Britain, according to Whitbread. On December 6, 1819, Anne recorded how she had scoffed at an article in the Manchester Observer a forerunner of the Manchester Guardian, which in turn would become todays Guardian about Rights of Women and calling for women to have the vote. What will not these demagogues advance, careless what absurdity or ruin they commit! she thundered in her diary. Of course, had women enjoyed the rights they do today, then Anne would have been free to marry her final long-term lover, Ann Walker, who went to live with Lister in 1834. The nearest the couple got to wedlock was a church blessing of their friendship, which would have been unusual enough at the time. Thanks to a healthy bank balance, the couple were able to indulge their love for travel. Lister was the first woman to climb Monte Perdido in the Pyrenees, and more impressively, in 1838, she became the first person to ascend Mont Vignemale, the highest peak in the French Pyrenees. Today, a memorial to her achievement stands high on its slopes. But her wanderlust proved to be her nemesis. The next year, she and Ann set out on an epic journey to Georgia across Europe. In September 1840, she contracted a fever, and died near Tbilisi. Her body was embalmed and returned to Halifax, where she lies in the Lister family vault in St Annes Church, Southowram. Her life had been a remarkable one, but it would not be until the 1980s, with the publication by Whitbread of the first volume of Listers diaries, that the world would know of Annes secret life. Some even believed the graphic passages were a hoax, but a perusal of the diaries themselves shows them to be true. Throughout her life, Anne was certainly aware of her individuality. I am not made like any other I have seen, she once wrote. I dare believe myself to be different from any others who exist. She was most certainly that. Gentleman Jack is currently being filmed and will air on BBC One at a date to be confirmed from next year. Game Of Thrones star Kit Harington, who is filming his final scenes on the last season of the series, will share the stage with Johnny Flynn in a new production of Sam Shepard's True West, opening in the West End this winter. The play the tale of two brothers locked in a titanic battle will run for a season at the Vaudeville Theatre from November 23. Harington will play the seemingly strait-laced Austin, a screenwriter researching a film set in the Old West. Kit Harington (left) will share the stage with Johnny Flynn (right) in a new production of Sam Shepard's True West Flynn (scorching in Martin McDonagh's acclaimed play Hangmen) will play his unstable elder brother, Lee, who pushes him to a psychological breakdown. Harington told me that by the time the last of Game Of Thrones reaches TV screens, he will have spent close to ten years playing Jon Snow. He said his theatre career got 'whipped away from me' when the show turned into a record-busting juggernaut. But he has made great friends through it, too; and met Rose Leslie the actress who will soon become his wife on set in Belfast. 'I'm incredibly excited about getting married,' he told me. Harington revealed that with 'the final scenes being shot' he has become 'a bit of an emotional wreck'. 'I'm not someone who cries very easily, but I keep bursting into tears. We've all spent nine, nearly ten years together, and the final goodbye is more than a hug.' While grateful for the success Game Of Thrones has given him, he said he never set out to pursue fame. He did two plays after leaving Central (Royal Central School of Speech and Drama) War Horse and Posh and assumed he would have a mainly stage career. (He did an 'out there' Doctor Faustus a couple of years ago). He insisted that he's 'in something that's famous . . . it's not me that's famous!' Although both Harington and Flynn have friends in common, they've never met, but are looking forward to doing so when rehearsals begin in the autumn with director Matthew Dunster. Flynn told me he sees his character, Lee, as the embodiment of the rough and ready West. But Lee soon trades in his louche ways, when he discovers the kind of money his brother, Austin, is being paid to write about the American West for a film. The actor, whom I tracked down in Bogata, Colombia where he's working on a BBC radio documentary series, said he was taken by the power of Shepard's writing and the play's social-political subtext. He also wanted to work with Dunster (who directed him in the McDonagh play) again. 'It's the poetry of Shepard's words that grabs you,' he said. 'He brings the American landscape alive.' He said he was struck, too, by 'how explicit' Shepard who died last year was in his notes in the script. 'His notes about how the set is dressed and what the cast wear intrigued me.' Flynn had a conversation with Mark Rylance, who was in Matthew Warchus's London production of the play in the early Nineties. 'Mark said it was amazing to do.' Flynn is writing original songs for the Vaudeville show. Later, he'll be seen in Vanity Fair on TV, and in an episode of the BBC dramatisation of Les Miserables. Samantha Barks (pictured) played Eponine in the Les Miserables movie Samantha Barks doesn't need rescuing, and nor does the iconic Pretty Woman she plays in the musical version of the Julia Roberts film. The actress is getting ready to make her Broadway debut as Vivian Ward, the savvy sex worker whose meeting with troubled businessman Edward Lewis (Richard Gere in the film) turns both their lives upside down. The British star, who played Eponine in the Les Miserables movie, insists that Pretty Woman is 'not the traditional Cinderella story, in that she's lost and needs saving. 'She saves him. He's got an empty, sad life. Yes, he has lots of money and yes she has a glamorous transformation but she has the moral compass,' Barks says when we meet to discuss the show. After a successful, out-of-town run in Chicago, Barks will start working on the musical in New York from Monday. Full rehearsals are scheduled for June 25 with director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell and leading man Andy Karl (whose wife, Orfeh, is also in the show). Previews start at the Nederlander Theatre on July 20. Barks was magnificent when I saw her in Chicago, opposite Steve Kazee as Edward. (Kazee was unable to move with the show to Broadway for family reasons.) She notes that Vivian is 'not the damsel in distress some people think she is'. 'There has been this post-#MeToo thing going on where people think Vivian's being exploited by him . . . with the clothes, the apartment, the car and so on. But what she wants is for him to invest in a relationship, and love. 'Some people think: billionaire businessman good, and prostitute bad. But he's the one who needs her guidance. 'Why can't a prostitute be a goddess? This idea that people can be viewed as less because of circumstance is wrong,' says Barks, who hails from the Isle of Man. She adds forcefully: 'When you think about it, he's the one who learns the most from her! She's the one who's empowered. Women are having a moment, and that moment is here to stay.' Although the creative team is all male, director Mitchell has ensured Barks has her say. 'He welcomes ideas from others, and throws his ideas out if they don't work,' Barks tells me. 'The greatest thing about Jerry is that he's not precious. He'll listen.' Also, the production is led by producer Paula Wagner: a formidable force in Hollywood. 'Paula's the strongest of the strong and she's our leader,' Samantha says. Mitchell and his associates will implement a lot of changes for Broadway to make the musical sharper and funnier. They are adding a couple of new songs to the score by rocker Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance. Barks has dreamt of being on Broadway and is excited to be in a production based on a film she has 'loved my whole life'. Actually, as the title character, she pretty much is the show, despite support from a brilliant company. That means stamina is important, so she has been working out and going to yoga and Pilates. She tells me she was 'well behaved' in Chicago (not out till the early hours) and will apply that same discipline in New York. 'There is a lot of pressure, and you have to look after yourself and those tiny muscles right here,' she says, pointing to her throat. She was without her closest companion during her three months in Chicago. But happily Ivy, her cava-poo-chon (that's a cavalier King Charles spaniel, miniature poodle, bichon frise mix), has arrived in Manhattan, on a dog passport. 'She's such a star she'd join me on stage if she could.' She adds: 'I don't have a boyfriend, so having a little pal to be responsible for keeps you grounded.' She keeps up with the friends she made on Les Miserables and hopes to bump into Hugh Jackman while she's in New York. A few weeks ago, in London, she accompanied Russell Crowe who played Javert in Les Miz and Jimmy Carr to watch an episode of Britain's Got Talent. Laughing at the memory, she says 'sitting between Russell Crowe and Jimmy Carr is how everyone should watch BGT'. And sitting in the Nederlander Theatre, as Pretty Woman weaves its web, is how everyone should watch Samantha Barks. John Tiffany's production featured British stars such as Noma Dumezweni (pictured) as Hermione Harry Potter and America's magic boom The wizard of a play that is Harry Potter And The Cursed Child, which won six Tony Awards, could generate thousands of jobs across the United States. Producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender told me that their plans would 'revolutionise' how Broadway shows are seen in the rest of America. Although director John Tiffany's production which featured British stars such as Noma Dumezweni as Hermione, pictured above has a marvellously non high-tech sensibility, it is anything but. It takes five months to kit out a theatre for each new production. Sixteen weeks to get everything in place followed by five weeks of technical run through. Friedman said the usual touring schedule of a few weeks or months in a major U.S. city wouldn't work. 'We're looking at a two to three-year run for the show in an American city, and we've been looking for cities that can sustain Cursed Child for that amount of time,' Friedman explained. Within a decade there could be up to three productions playing across America for two to three-year stints. Each production requires a cast of 42, plus 40 people working backstage and some 200 working to support it in advertising, marketing and other related businesses. A Melbourne production of the Cursed Child is casting a mix of Australian and British actors and will open early next year. 'It's British theatre magic and it's being exported all over the world,' said Friedman, who produces the show with Callender and Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling. As a model and TV host, she lives an impossibly glamorous lifestyle. But when it comes to her children eating healthy, Rebecca Judd has to struggle just like everyone else. And every parent will relate to the mum of four's latest Instagram story post, which sees her twirling an half-eaten apple discovered in her child's lunchbox. 'Anyone else's kids eat their apples like this?' WAG Rebecca Judd reflects every parents' struggle to get their children to eat healthy after discovering half-eaten fruit in her child's lunchbox 'Anyone else's kids eat their apples like this,' she asks. 'There's so much apple left.' The footy WAG, 35 has had a rough week at home. On Saturday, she rushed to hospital with her 20 month-old son, Darcy, who was desperately ill with a virus but has since recovered. Yummy mum! The footy WAG, 35 has had a rough week at home, with two out of her four kids falling ill 'Darcy is finally eating again after 5 days,' the exhausted mum revealed in an Instagram post. 'NBM [nil by mouth], 2 ED [emergency department] visits, cracking fever, full body rash, photophobia, couldnt walk, sleeping 20 hours a day, screaming for the 4 hour awake time etc etc.' Later on Thursday, Rebecca revealed that 4 year-old daughter Billie was poorly with croup. 'Finally eating again!' Rebecca, 35 revealed 20 month-old Darcy [pictured left, with twin brother Tom] has recovered from a virus Married to former AFL star, Chris Judd, whom she also shares son Oscar, 6 and Darcy's twin brother Tom, Rebecca said she had to prevent her little girl from infecting the rest of the household. '[She] is quarantined to her bedroom with Beanie Boo bribes to keep her in there,' she said, 'and not spread her new germs to the rest of us (and in particular, Darcy).' Poorly: On Thursday, Rebecca revealed that 4 year-old daughter Billie was bedridden with croup Rebecca then admitted she was over Winter already and fancied a move from chilly Melbourne to balmy Noosa in Queensland. 'And....... its only day 14 of Winter,'she wrote. 'Seriously, Melbourne breaks me at this time of year. I think I need to move to Noosa until September. 'And people wonder why Im a germaphobe!' 'I need to move to Noosa till September!' The Melbourne mum bemoaned the Victorian winter and declared she wants to move to Queensland to escape the chill Victoria Pendleton showed off her trim figure in a stylish all-black look on Thursday as she attended the launch of Camilla Fayed's newest book in London's Farmacy. The 37-year-old Olympic gold-medallist put on a stylish display in the bardot-style top and tapered trousers, finishing off the look with grey leather platform brogues. Victoria joined Camilla herself and fashion designer Stella McCartney at the event, with the book containing all manner of clean-eating recipes. On point: Victoria Pendleton showed off her trim figure in a stylish all-black look on Thursday as she attended the launch of Camilla Fayed's newest book in London's Farmacy Victoria oozed Parisian chic in the simple but stylish look as she arrived at the event, highlighting her flawless decolletage in the bardot top. The Strictly Come Dancing star accentuated her slender waist with the paperbag-style trousers and comfy grey brogues with gold star detailing, accessorising with a brown suede chain-strap bag. Victoria sported a sleek ombre blonde bob for the evening as she highlighted her complexion with barely-there makeup. Looking good: The 37-year-old Olympic gold-medallist put on a stylish display in the bardot style top and tapered trousers, finishing off the look with comfy grey leather brogues Pals: Victoria posed with the book's writer Camilla Fayed and designer Stella McCartney at the event Camilla herself was a vision in white at the event as she happily posed with Victoria and designer Stella McCartney. The daughter of billionaire Mohamed Al-Fayed went for hippie chic in the cut-out maxi dress with black strapped heels, pulling up her blonde tresses into a lightly-curled updo. Camilla added another summery twist to her look by sporting several chunky gold bangles, and barely-there makeup showed off her amazing complexion. Hippie chic: Camilla went for a summer inspired look as she sported a white crochet maxi dress with black strapped sandals for the event Beaming: The daughter of billionaire Mohamed Al-Fayed was in attendance to celebrate the launch of her new cookbook, which celebrates clean eating Friends: Also in attendance for the evening was fashion designer Stella McCartney, who went for a stylish all-black look Camilla was joined at the event by designer Stella, who sported one of her classic all-black looks for evening along with a chic chain-strapped clutch. The event took place in honour of Camilla's new Farmacy cookbook, which celebrates the best recipes in clean and plant-based eating. This comes after the socialite famously opened the eatery in London two years ago, converting to vegan eating following the birth of her two children. Naya Rivera's divorce from ex Ryan Dorsey was finalized on Thursday. The Glee actress had filed for divorce back in December after the couple got into a domestic dispute on Thanksgiving and split. And the 31-year-old will share custody of their two-year-old son Josey Dorsey according to court documents obtained by TMZ. It's a wrap! Naya Rivera's divorce from ex Ryan Dorsey was finalized on Thursday Upon Naya's request, they will have joint physical and legal custody while neither will pay spousal support. Naya previously filed for divorce from Ryan, 34, in 2016 after two years of marriage. But in October she ended legal proceedings. After an alleged altercation over Thanksgiving weekend, she was arrested for misdemeanor domestic battery but got out on a bond of $1,000 - and according to Us Weekly, it was her father-in-law who collected her from court. However, multiple websites, including TMZ, ran Ryan's police photos after the alleged assault, showing minimal to no actual physical damage to him. Trouble: The Glee actress had filed for divorce back in December after the couple got into a domestic dispute on Thanksgiving and split; (pictured in 2015) Nearly two weeks after the incident, TMZ reported that Naya filed for divorce and was being represented by the formidable celeb divorce lawyer Laura Wasser. The Blast also published court documents revealing that Naya and Ryan have temporarily decided on joint custody of their two-year-old son Josey. In January, reports also showed that the domestic battery charges against Naya had been dropped. Later that month, Naya was hit by the news that her ex-boyfriend and co-star Mark Salling had died of an apparent suicide just weeks before he was due to be sentenced on child pornography charges. Naya is known for playing Santana Lopez on Glee. Ryan is also an actor and has appeared on shows including Pitch and Nashville. She split with her ex 'husband' Telv Williams just a few months ago. But Married At First Sight star Sarah Roza has had no trouble moving on, and was spotted on a hot double date on Thursday with her new beau, James Stephens. The duo were also joined by her best friend, celebrity psychic Harry T., and her other friend Mary. The more the merrier! Sarah, James, Harry, and Mary were all at Kingpin Crown on Thursday to celebrate Harry's 29th birthday Approving: Much fun was had by Harry, who seem approving of Sarah's new beau The foursome went to Kingpin Crown in Melbourne for Harry's 29th birthday, and the reality star kept her fans updated on the fun with a series of posts on her Instagram stories. Laughs, drinks, cake, and bowling were all on the cards during the evening. A number of photos featured Sarah posing with a smiling Harry, who is clearly approving of her new flame. Showing that her relationship with James is blossoming nicely, the MAFS star shared a group photo in which she nestled comfortably in his lap. Getting cozy: The MAFS star kept her fans updated on the fun with a series of posts, one of which showed her nestled comfortably in his lap Sarah and James' double date follows another outing last week, during which the couple flaunted their relationship at Tracey's Jewel's book launch in Melbourne. It's not just Sarah who has moved on in her personal life, her ex 'husband' is also back on the dating scene. Telv has been dating Maddie Carolan, 27, since splitting with Sarah back in March. Flaunting: Sarah and James' relationship appears to be blossoming, having been spotted together last week at Tracey's Jewel's book launch in Melbourne Moving on: Sarah's ex 'husband' has been dating Maddie Carolan since March NW reported on Monday that the FIFO worker had proposed to Maddie after just three months of dating. 'Telv has confided in a few friends that he and Maddie are engaged,' sources said to NW. Telv and Sarah first met on MAFS at the start of this year, where they quickly became a fan favourite couple. The pair initially seemed well-matched, and ended up renewing their vows during the final commitment ceremony episode, but confirmed their split in March. It was recently claimed that he formed an 'Anti-Tracey Club' with former Married at First Sight castmates, Nasser Sultan and Ryan Gallagher. But Tracey Jewel's ex Sean Thomsen has rubbished claims he and his fellow reality stars continue 'to hate on her publicly.' 'I think Tracey is holding herself in a bit of a high regard if she thinks we're taking the time out of our lives to form a club,' he told E News. 'She's not that important!': MAFS' Sean Thomsen rubbishes claims he founded an 'Anti-Tracey Jewel Club' with co-stars Nasser Sultan and Ryan Gallagher 'She's not that important!' In a recent chat with Confidential, the Goddess Means Business author said the trio should quit criticising her publicly and 'grow up!' She added: 'If they're going to be like that, I can't be bothered, I'm going to take the high road,' she said of their 'immature behaviour. That's not very nice! Rumours emerged that Sean, Nasser Sultan and Ryan Gallagher had formed an 'anti-Tracey Jewel' club Echoing Sean's sentiments rubbishing the supposed club, Nasser told E! News: 'We know better than to mess with The Goddess.' Before he found fame on the small screen, Sean was a 'fly in, fly out' or FIFO mining worker. The 34-year-old was employed for stints at a remote mine at Port Hedland, Western Australia. Sean and Tracey split after five months of dating. That was quick! Sean and Tracey split after five months of dating Speaking to Daily Mail Australia about her break up with Sean, Tracey said that the nature of the split was 'a little bit dicey.' When asked to elaborate on 'dicey' the reality star said: 'Put it this way, and again I don't want to throw anybody under the bus but I made it very clear what type of relationship I wanted.' She added: 'And that was a long-term, serious, committed relationship and I think where he's at in his life and the stage he's at in his life didn't match mine.' Split: Speaking to Daily Mail Australia about her break up with Sean, Tracey said that the nature of the split was 'a little bit dicey' 'Hot Felon' Jeremy Meeks' now-ex-wife is headed to Las Vegas. Melissa Meeks, 37, on Thursday posted an advertisement for a divorce party she's hosting at the Crazy Horse III in Sin City scheduled for June 30, in the wake of her divorce from the convict-turned-model, 34, being finalized, as he recently welcomed a child with heiress Chloe Green, 27. The ad, which reads, 'From Ex-Con to Ex-Wife,' features Melissa in black bra and panty lingerie, with her brown locks parted and cascading into curls. Scroll below for video Viva Las Vegas: Melissa Meeks, 37, on Thursday posted an advertisement for a divorce party she's hosting at the Crazy Horse III in Sin City scheduled for June 30 'Known for her open format style and her dynamic versatility, DJ Kay The Riot will set the mood for Meeks new single life with an electrifying performance,' an ad for the outing read, according to Page Six. Sources told TMZ that Jeremy and Melissa have reached a conclusion regarding their assets, with the paperwork expected to be filed in the coming days. Jeremy will pay $1000 per month in child support for their son, Jeremy Jr, nine. He and Melissa separated in July 2017 when the convict was pictured kissing and hugging Chloe aboard a $150,000-a-week yacht moored off the glamorous Turkish resort of Bodrum. MailOnline contacted representatives for Jeremy and Melissa for comment at the time. And as news of their arrival and of Jeremy's divorce broke, Melissa took to Instagram to share a cryptic note that read: 'I'm thankful for all of it. The highs. The lows. The blessings. The lessons. The setbacks. The comebacks. The love. The hate. Everything.' On the road again: Melissa shared traveling shots on her Instagram Stories Thursday that looked to be in her native Northern California Moving on: Chloe and Jeremy welcomed their first child together just days ago and have called him Jayden (pictured October 2017) Thankful: As news of Jeremy and Chloe's baby arrival and of Jeremy's divorce broke, Melissa took to Instagram to share a cryptic note Chloe and Jeremy confirmed their baby news on their Instagram accounts on Thursday, writing: 'We are pleased to announce the birth of our beautiful baby boy Jayden Meeks-Green. 'Born May 29th 2018. Mommy and Baby both doing well... Much love Chloe & Jeremy'. The Topshop heiress, who is thought to be engaged to the convict, kept her pregnancy under wraps until earlier this month when she unveiled her eye-popping baby bump during a holiday on her father Sir Philip's superyacht in Monaco. All over: Jeremy and Melissa separated in July 2017 when the convict was pictured kissing and hugging Chloe aboard a $150,000-a-week yacht moored in Turkey Happy days: The reports come as it was revealed Chloe and Jeremy have welcomed their first child together, a baby boy Their new arrival is the first for Chloe, who was allegedly determined to give birth and spend the start of motherhood at sea. Chloe and Jeremy are said to have first set eyes on each other at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2017, where Jeremy was modelling for Phillip Plein, shortly before they became practically inseparable. It was first reported in March that the couple were expecting, after which multiple sources confirmed the happy news. Following the announcement, Chloe's kooky birthing plan was revealed, shortly before she embarked on her yacht trip with her family. Happy days! They confirmed the news on their respective Instagram accounts, writing: 'We are pleased to announce the birth of our beautiful baby boy Jayden Meeks-Green. Born May 29th 2018. Mommy and Baby both doing well... Much love Chloe & Jeremy' Insiders told The Sun she intended to give birth at sea: 'Chloe has been telling friends she is going to give birth on board her yacht. Her doctor will be there for the last few weeks of the pregnancy and will stick around for the first few weeks... 'The yacht will be sailing in Europe - probably somewhere in the Mediterranean when she gives birth. Then they want to spend at least six months on board ... 'Chloe has always dreamed of giving birth at sea - she feels comfortable there. She wants to be alone with her family and away from prying eyes while she adjusts to motherhood - and thinks that being on the yacht will be the best chance of that.' Ahead of the impending arrival of their little one, the couple had been spending time in Monaco, relaxing at their own apartment in the same block where her parents own a 7million penthouse as well as various yacht trips. 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. It's all over: Melissa is throwing a DIVORCE party in Las Vegas... after her 'Hot Felon' husband Jeremy welcomed first baby with Chloe Green Happy days: Ahead of the impending arrival of their little one, the couple had been spending time in Monaco, relaxing at their own apartment in the same block where her parents own a 7 million penthouse (pictured in Paris in January) A source told The Daily Mail: 'The family are fully on board planning a wedding, and Tina [Chloe's mother] is looking forward to being a grandmother. Chloe has been telling everyone that she is having a little boy.' Earlier this month, the former gang member said he 'couldn't be happier to be welcoming a child' with his heiress girlfriend. The model said: 'I've never been in this place mentally, emotionally, physically, that I'm in right now. I've never been in such an amazing place.' Adding his final thoughts on what love means to him, Meeks added: 'Love means everything, everything to me. It's what keeps people alive, it's what keeps people going, to love and to be loved.' Wedding bells? 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 Jeremy Meeks gained notoriety in 2014 after the Stockton Police Department posted his mugshot online following his arrest in connection with gang activity and resisting/obstructing justice. The mugshot caught fire on social media, vaulting Meeks to fame - and a modeling career following his release from prison two years later. 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. She is known for enviable sense of style. And Roxy Jacenko has demonstrated once again her great taste in outfits, by slipping into a stunning red ruffled gown for a photo shoot. The 38-year-old showed off her frock in a behind-the-scenes snap on Friday. Ravishing in red! Roxy Jacenko slips into a stunning scarlet gown for glamorous photo shoot In the image, Roxy leans back while getting worked on by her make-up artist Max May, before slipping in front of the camera. A glimpse of the blonde beauty's eye-catching red gown is also teased. Showing off her slender shoulders and arms, Roxy's strapless dress hugs her enviable figure before billowing out into a flowing sea of red fabric. Red isn't the only shade of eye-catching colour that Roxy has pulled off recently. The PR queen celebrated her 38th birthday last week, where she pulled out all the stops, donning a chic leaf-print mini dress and towering scarlet stilettos. And more recently, Roxy held an 'In Conversations With' seminar on Wednesday in Sydney. The blonde beauty took centre-stage in a pale pink lace dress by Valentino, which featured a flirty fluted hem and delicate lace embroidery. Roxy's Sydney event drew a packed house of 450 with the PR guru giving out an array of prizes, including a $7000 diamond ring. Looking good: Red isn't the only shade of eye-catching colour that Roxy has pulled off recently. The PR queen celebrated her 38th birthday last week, where she pulled out all the stops, donning a chic leaf-print mini dress and towering scarlet stilettos They first met on the set of the 1987 film The Experts. And John Travolta and Kelly Preston looked as loved up as could be after all these years at the Gotti premiere in New York City on Thursday. The 64-year-old actor in the biographical crime drama portrays John Gotti, boss of the Gambino crime family, while Kelly, 55, plays the mobster's wife Victoria. Loved up: John Travolta and Kelly Preston looked as loved up at the Gotti premiere in New York City on Thursday Daring to impress, Kelly was as pretty as a petal in a sophisticated chic floral gown. The couture number featured a cold shoulder element that allowed her toned and tanned arms to be on full display. The Christine actress had a chance to pose with the real life Victoria Gotti who was a vision herself in black. Acting chops: The 64-year-old actor in the biographical crime drama portrays John Gotti, boss of the Gambino crime family, while Kelly, 55, plays the mobster's wife Victoria Impressive: Daring to impress, Kelly was as pretty as a petal in a sophisticated chic floral gown John cut a dapper figure in a maroon jacket as he posed with the John Gotti himself. Pitbull and the director of the film - former Entourage actor Kevin Connolly -posed with the beautiful couple. The crime drama also stars Stacy Keach, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Spencer Lofranco, William DeMeo, Leo Rossi and Victor Gojcaj. Lovely ladies: The Christine actress had a chance to pose with the real life Victoria Gotti who was a vision herself in black Bosses: John cut a dapper figure in a maroon jacket as he posed with the John Gotti himself Gotti premiered last month at the Cannes Film Festival. It is scheduled to be released on June 15. Gotti focuses on New York City mobster John Gotti and his son John Gotti Jr who left the criminal underworld shortly before his father's death in 2002. This comes just days after she joined husband John Travolta as he was honored at a Brooklyn pizza restaurant as the borough celebrated his contribution to the area through his role on Saturday Night Fever. Gangs all here! The foursome commanded attention on the red carpet Famous friends: Pitbull and the director of the film - former Entourage actor Kevin Connolly -posed with the beautiful couple Hi, there: The blonde beauty appeared in great spirits as she shared a hug with 50 Cent Mad about plaid: Kelly posed with the chart-topping rapper who rocked a blue patterned suit The 64-year-old actor celebrated the special day named in his honor at Lenny's Pizza, the establishment made famous by the hit 1977 movie. In the scene, Travolta - playing Tony Manero - orders two slices of pizza and walks down the street eating them at the same time, while Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees plays. MoviePass Ventures, a producer on the film hosted the Gotti premiere after-party. Hundreds of fans gathered as a 'double decker slice' was named after the Hollywood legend, as New York State Senator Marty Golden praised his efforts in putting Brooklyn on the map. Beaming: The Old Dogs actress put on a giddy display as she hit the red carpet with her ensemble Host of celebs: Kelly, 50 Cent and John appeared in good company as they posed with George Furla (left), film producer Marc Fiore (second from right) and Reprisal producer Randall Emmett (right) Close pals: Pitbull - real name Armando Christian Perez - shook hands with the star of the film as they hit the red carpet 'I'm so humbled, it's amazing,' John told PIX 11 as police escorted him through the crowds. Kelly and John have been married since 1991. They share a son Jett, daughter Ella, 18, and son Benjamin, 8. Their eldest son Jett suffered a seizure and died in 2009. Afterparty: Edward Walson (second from left), Deana Martin (second from right) and John Griffeth (right) joined the host of celebs as they celebrated the release of the film hosted by MoviePass Ventures Advertisement She's one of Australia's most in-demand models, having featured in campaigns for Dolce & Gabbana, Estee Lauder and Tommy Hilfiger, among countless others. And on Thursday, Elyse Taylor looked even better at 31 than she did almost a decade ago when she walked her first runway for Victoria's Secret. The mother-of-one, who is based in New York City, put on a sensationally sexy display as she stripped down for a beach photoshoot in her native Sydney on Thursday. She looks brr...illiant! Former Victoria's Secret model Elyse Taylor, 31, flashed a glimpse of underboob while showing off her incredible bikini body during a beach photoshoot in Sydney on Thursday Elyse looked fit and fabulous as she braved the cold Australian winter to model a series of stylish - and very revealing - bikinis. Appearing completely in her element, she didn't let the chilly climate stop her having a good time as she laughed and smiled in-between poses. While she has lived in America since she was 18, Elyse certainly seemed happy to be back in her home country. Stellar career: She's one of Australia's most in-demand models, having featured in campaigns for Dolce & Gabbana, Estee Lauder and Tommy Hilfiger, among countless others Wow! Elyse looks even better at 31 than she did almost a decade ago when she walked her first runway for Victoria's Secret Sex symbol: The mother-of-one, who is based in New York, looked sensational as she stripped down for a beach photo shoot Confident: Elyse didn't let the chilly climate stop her having a good time as she laughed and smiled in-between poses Dare to bare! She braved the cold Australian winter to model a series of stylish - and very revealing - bikinis Elyse recently told Daily Mail Australia that her trips to Australia are typically whirlwind affairs, as she doesn't want to spend too much time away from her daughter, Lila Louise. She schedules numerous commitments at once, which allows her to hop on a plane back to JFK Airport within a matter of weeks or less. 'My focus is on my daughter,' she said on Wednesday. 'My trips to Australia are super cramped together, and I go 100 miles an hour because it's time away from my daughter, who is back home in New York.' Down Under: While she has lived in America since she was 18, Elyse certainly seemed happy to be back in her home country Just stopping by! Elyse recently told Daily Mail Australia that her trips to Australia are typically whirlwind affairs, as she doesn't want to spend too much time away from her daughter, Lila Louise Whistle-stop tour: She schedules numerous commitments at once, which allows her to hop on a plane back to JFK Airport within a matter of weeks or less Family first: 'My focus is on my daughter,' Elyse said on Wednesday. 'My trips to Australia are super cramped together, and I go 100 miles an hour because it's time away from my daughter, who is back home in New York' 'I will definitely support her': Elyse, who is an ambassador for Nude by Nature, also spoke to Daily Mail about her parenting philosophy and how she feels about Lila, four, following in her footsteps and becoming a model Elyse, who is an ambassador for Nude by Nature, also spoke to Daily Mail about her parenting philosophy and how she feels about Lila, four, following in her footsteps and becoming a model. 'If [Lila] feels strongly about anything in her life, and if that's modelling, then I will definitely support her and encourage her,' she said. 'That's all you can do for your children.' Elyse shares her daughter with her ex-husband Seth Campbell, whom she split with in May 2016. Supportive: 'If [Lila] feels strongly about anything in her life, and if that's modelling, then I will definitely support her and encourage her,' she said. 'That's all you can do for your children' Single mother: Elyse shares her daughter with her ex-husband Seth Campbell, whom she split with in May 2016 After giving birth to Lila in March 2014, Elyse soon returned to the catwalk. She was first discovered at age 18, later moving to New York where she was booked by Dolce & Gabbana, Tommy Hilfiger, Moschino and Trussardi, among others. In late 2015, Elyse was unveiled as Nude by Nature's first-ever brand ambassador, and regularly commutes to Australia for its product launches. She helped launch the label's latest cruelty-free lipstick collection in Sydney on Wednesday. Bouncing back: After giving birth to daughter Lila in March 2014, Elyse soon returned to the catwalk Early days: She was first discovered at age 18, later moving to New York where she was booked by Dolce & Gabbana, Tommy Hilfiger, Moschino and Trussardi, among others The Face: In late 2015, Elyse was unveiled as Nude by Nature's first-ever brand ambassador, and regularly commutes to Australia for its product launches Home girl: She helped launch the label's latest cruelty-free lipstick collection in Sydney on Wednesday Glam squad! During the photo shoot, Elyse was attended to by celebrity makeup artist Max May and another crew member Good to be home! Elyse is one of Australia's most successful modelling exports He shares two little girls, Sailor, 7 and Scout, 2 with his beloved wife Chezzi. But Grant Denyer has claimed his marriage would be over if his parents were in the delivery room during the birth of the couple's children. 'It would have been the end of my marriage,' he revealed during Friday morning's Em, Grant & Ed on Sydney's 104.1 2DAYFM. 'It would have been the end of my marriage': Grant Denyer claims wife Chezzi would have called it quits if he insisted on his parents in the delivery room 'And rightfully so if I had suggested that. 'It's all about the experience of the mother, making sure she's comfortable in that situation,' the 40 year-old added. 'And not having two in-laws at the business end making comments acting like a cheer squad.' The conversation kicked off after a pregnant listener complained about her husband insisting his parents will be staying in the delivery room when their twins are born. Family ties: The Family Feud presenter shares daughters, Sailor, 7 and Scout, 2 with wife, Chezzi Daddy's girls: Grant, 40 enjoys a super close relationship with daughters Co-host Ed Kavalee, who has a newborn Arnold with wife Tiffany Hall, echoed Grant's sentiments. 'How can a husband force his parents into a delivery room and what kind of in-laws want to be there,' he said Thumbs up: Grant and Chezzi's daughter Sailor was rushed the emergency room on Tuesday and diagnosed with a concussion after cartwheel tumble Grant's seven-year-old daughter Sailor was rushed to hospital on Tuesday, diagnosed with a concussion after she took a shocking tumble during her first cartwheel. Her mother Chezzi revealed the couple were worried sick when their girl began 'vomiting 40 hours after hitting her head real hard.' And on Thursday, the mum of two thanked fans for their well wishes while sharing a shot of the little tyke undergoing and MRI x-ray on Instagram. Brave tyke: After being told her daughter had a mild concussion, Chezzi, 38 was worried when Sailor began vomiting 40 hours after 'Thanks for all the lovely messages and apologies I havent been able to get back to everyone just yet,' she captioned. 'We will know the results from the MRI tomorrow. 'Sails is still feeling a little unwell and dizzy at times,' she added, 'but we know theyre signs of concussion and we arent worried at this point.' Chezzi, 38, then went on to send good wishes to all parents of sick and unwell kids. 'To all this parents out there going through medical issues or traumas or accidents,' she said, 'I wish you the very biggest and best telepathic hug. 'I cannot begin to imagine what you must be going through. Sending you big big love. Xoxoxo' Waleed Aly's wife Susan Carland marked the end of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, in an Instagram post on Thursday. The 38-year-old academic, author and feminist reflected on fasting in the caption, writing: 'Saying farewell with a massive coffee.' Susan shared an image of herself sitting in the backseat of her Uber ride, with a coffee flask in hand. 'Saying farewell with a massive coffee': Waleed Aly's wife Susan Carland marks the end of Ramadan as she reflects on month of Islamic fasting The social commentator wrote in the caption: 'Sitting in the back of my Uber, saying farewell to Ramadan with what was a massive coffee. 'Ramadan, you were like a soft blanket that fell over my weary shoulders and wrapped my tired soul in your gentle warmth. You emptied me out in the best of ways. I will miss you,' she added. Reflection: Susan shared an image of herself sitting in the backseat of her Uber ride, with a coffee flask in hand, writing: 'Sitting in the back of my Uber, saying farewell to Ramadan with what was a massive coffee' Also taking to her Instagram Story, she wrote: 'And just like that, Ramadan is gone' Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar that sees one fasting from sunrise to sunset. No food or drink is to be consumed during those hours, however a meal is served before sunrise and after sunset. During the month of spiritual reflection, Muslims are encouraged to not only refrain from food and drink but also from selfish desire and wrong-doing. Susan continued in a later clip: 'May we leave it better people than we started it' Raised a Christian, Susan switched to the Baptist Church as a teenager, but later became a Muslim when she was 19. Susan met Waleed when they were both 16, and the couple tied the knot in 2002. When Waleed, 39, won the coveted Gold Logie in 2016 for Best Personality On Australian Television, he thanked his wife during his acceptance speech. Susan and Waleed share two children, daughter Aisha, 14, and son Zayd, 10. She's one of the country's most loved newsreaders, having spent close to four decades on our screens. And Jo Hall looked as youthful as ever on Friday, as she celebrated her 60th birthday with her closest family and friends at Bibelot in South Melbourne. The Channel Nine presenter exuded elegance in a high-neck navy dress and chic nude courts as she mingled with her loved ones. Scroll down for video 'I'm so lucky!' Ageless newsreader Jo Hall exuded elegance in a chic navy dress as she celebrated her 60th birthday with her family and friends. Pictured left at her birthday and right, in 2000 Sweeping her golden tresses back in a slick ponytail, the presenter framed her features with a sweep of smoky shadow and nude lipstick. Letting her statement dress do all the talking, she accessorised simply with a pair of stylish drop earrings. Jo, who turns 60 on June 25, shared a series of sweet snaps from the pre-birthday bash on Instagram. She captioned them: 'A day filled with favourites: family, work family, footy and friends. So spoilt, so lucky. Thank you for the early birthday.' Jo, who has been at Nine News for 39 years, was joined by Anthony Callea who sung happy birthday, while both Peter Hitchener and Tony Jones gave speeches. Glamorous: Sweeping her golden tresses back in a slick ponytail, the presenter framed her features with a sweep of smoky shadow and nude lipstick Woman of the hour: Letting her statement dress do all the talking, she accessorised simply with a pair of stylish drop earrings Jo, who shares four adult children with her ex-husband Jason Danda, previously defined herself as a 'long-term single'. 'I guess I have been so busy and I have so much going on,' Jo revealed to 9 Honey in regards to her relationship status last year. She added: 'It is kind of quite hard to meet people.' Family affair: She posed happily with her two sons and daughter at the early birthday bash Proud: Jo, who turns 60 on June 25, shared a series of sweet snaps from the pre-birthday bash on Instagram However, the star stated that her kids are hoping that she finds Mr Right, and are even encouraging her to 'get out more'. The doting mum revealed her son Tysyn, 26, told her: ''Listen, youre not going to meet anyone if youre sitting at home here with us''. And while Jo is open to the possibility of finding love, don't expect to see her popping up on dating apps anytime soon. Happy: She captioned them: 'A day filled with favourites: family, work family, footy and friends. So spoilt, so lucky. Thank you for the early birthday' As for her perfect man, the veteran journalist said told 9 Honey she's almost certain she'd like to be in a relationship with another parent. In the meantime, however, the star has a multitude of professional roles that keep her busy. She currently presents Nine's Local News in Victoria, and hosts her own radio program on 3AW. Kurt Coleman has been a social media sensation since he was in his early teens. But now, at the age of 21, it seems the selfie-obsessed cyber-personality is all grown up. On Friday, the model took to Instagram to unveil a sophisticated new look, much to the delight of his 144,000 followers. All grown up! Social media sensation Kurt Coleman, 21, unveiled a sultry new look on Instagram on Friday - sporting a lighter skin tone and a trendy haircut Gold Coast- born Kurt once sported shaggy brown hair and very severe spray tan. However, after recently moving to Melbourne, he seems to have tailored his looks to fit into the hipster-soaked city. 'Me right now just sitting down thinking about myself x,' Kurt captioned a series of sultry new snaps in which he flaunted his changed appearance. Way back when! Gold Coast- born Kurt once sported shaggy brown hair and very severe spray tan The personality now has a lighter skin-tone and a trendy haircut. His artsy 'undercut' hairstyle is cropped closely at the sides but left long on top, echoing indie musicians of the 80s such as Morrisey and the Cocteau Twins. Fan were quick to flock to the comments section of Kurt's snaps to share their thoughts. Really, really good looking: Kurt is well-known for his distinctive looks and his love of selfies (pictured in 2017) 'Legit perfection!' cooed one. 'Handsome devil!' fawned another. On his popular Instagram page, Kurt also shares a number of throwback pics, showing just how much he has transformed since his days as a young child. The last flick ended with him coming to his death. But Chris Pine was seen back on set for the film Wonder Woman: 1984 alongside co-star Gal Gadot in Washington, DC on Thursday. With the Israeli beauty, 33, opting for a chic ensemble, the American actor, 37, looked every inch the hunk as he transformed into Steve Trevor for the sequel of the 2017 smash-hit. He's back! Chris Pine, 37, was seen back on set for the film Wonder Woman: 1984 alongside co-star Gal Gadot, 33, in Washington, DC on Thursday Gal, who takes on the leading role, looked sensational in a light beige trouser suit which she teamed with a crisp white shirt. Teaming it with a belted knit and towering high heels, Gal cut a confident figure as she strutted along. Her brunette locks were slicked off her face and her sensational features were enhanced with a striking coat of make-up. Meanwhile, Chris dressed his muscular frame in a black bomber jacket and matching bottoms. Twosome: With the Israeli beauty opting for a chic ensemble, the American actor looked every inch the hunk as he transformed into Steve Trevor for the sequel of the 2017 smash-hit Stylish: Gal, who takes on the leading role, looked sensational in a light beige trouser suit which she teamed with a crisp white shirt His belongings were toted in a white fanny pack across his front as he sauntered along with his gorgeous co-star. No doubt, fans have been confused by Pine's appearance during filming as he was killed off in last year's flick. Also, the movie is set in 1984, which is almost 70 years after the WWI setting of the first film. Sensational: Teaming it with a belted knit and towering high heels, Gal cut a confident figure as she strutted along Mane attraction: Her brunette locks were slicked off her face and her sensational features were enhanced with a striking coat of make-up Comic book characters have a tendency to not stay dead, and theories such as time travel, resurrection, and alternate universes have all been flouted as possible explanations. There is also the theory that Pine is playing his character Trevor's son this time around. The follow up is set in 1984, and both stars' wardrobes on Wednesday certainly reflected that. Meanwhile, director Patty Jenkins recently tweeted the first official still from the film: Pine in the very same outfit, looking a bit bewildered in a shopping mall. Hunk: Chris dressed his muscular frame in a black bomber jacket and matching bottoms Trendy: His belongings were toted in a white fanny pack across his front as he sauntered along with his gorgeous co-star 'Welcome to WONDER WOMAN 1984, Steve Trevor! #WW84,' wrote Patty, whose first Wonder Woman outing earned widespread critical acclaim. In the 2017 Wonder Woman film, the military pilot gives up his own life to prevent a German gas attack, so how exactly he returns for the sequel is still a mystery. Gadot, who plays the franchise's title superhero, swung by Twitter Wednesday and posted a snap of herself as Wonder Woman staring at a set of 12 TV monitors. They have a union that spans almost two decades in showbiz. But Pierce Brosnan, 65, and Keely Shaye Smith, 54, looked like honeymooners as they shared a joke while arriving at Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday. The James Bond star was dapper as usual, wearing a pair of blue jeans with a navy shirt, and adding a grey blazer which emphasised his broad shoulders. Power couple: Pierce Brosnan, 65, and Keely Shaye Smith, 54, looked like honeymooners as they shared a joke while arriving at Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday The actor's wife of 17 years looked sophisticated in a black summer dress, nipped in at the waist. She added a pair of black and silver ballet flats and a beaded necklace, carrying a flower as she strode into the airport. Both chose to wear sunglasses to shield their eyes from the bright Los Angeles sunshine. The Malibu-based couple have been inseparable since meeting on a Mexican beach back in 1994. Ready for the sun: Keely looked sophisticated in a black summer dress, nipped in at the waist Suave: The James Bond star looked at dapper as usual, wearing a pair of blue jeans with a navy shirt, and adding a grey blazer which emphasised his broad shoulders The pair both dote on their two sons together - IMG model Dylan, 21, and Next model Paris, 17. The actor tragically lost both his first wife Cassandra Harris and daughter Charlotte to ovarian cancer. He also had sons Chris, 45, and Sean, 34, with his late wife. The Pierce and Keely love story goes back to 1994 when the couple first set their sights on one another on a Mexican beach. In love: The Malibu-based married couple have been inseparable since meeting on a Mexican beach back in 1994 They didn't marry until seven years later in a romantic ceremony at Ballintubber Abbey, in Ireland in 2001. Although he is one of the best actors in Hollywood, it is evident that Pierce is a family man at heart as only last month he was offering his youngest son some advice. As Paris hits the runways and gets photo shoots under his belt as he breaks into the modelling industry, the Bond actor has been keeping a close eye on him. Tagging in Paris in an Instagram post, he penned: 'Out in to the world they go ... do good things ... work hard, love life, be lucky, courage always, and dont forget to have lots of laughs...be kind... there ya go now lads.' Family orientated: Although he is one of the best actors in Hollywood, it is evident that Pierce is a family man at heart as only last month he was offering his youngest son some advice She showcased an eyeful of her ample assets in a recent Instagram post. And on Friday, Imogen Anthony fearlessly put her backside on display in a raunchy photo shoot. The topless model, 27, stripped down to a black G-string in the Instagram photo to flaunt her latest tattoo additions. Putting her back into it! Imogen Anthony goes topless in raunchy photo shoot to showcase her newest tattoos wearing a black G-string The stunner, who donned a brunette wig, flaunted her slender figure and tattooed back, along with a pair of Ugg boots. Imogen appeared to get into the character of a seductress by holding a smoldering gaze towards the camera. Her following photo was a zoomed out version of the image that revealed she was wearing a black G-string that peaked over her neon pink sweatpants. Hottie with a body! In the glamorous photo, she appeared to get into the character of a seductress by holding a smoldering gaze Who needs clothes? This comes after she shared photos of herself posing topless She raved over the quality of her phone in the caption, writing: 'The iPhone X camera, seriously.' Fans were equally excited about her racy look and showered her with compliments, including one who wrote: 'Wow!!! Youre so gorgeous.' Another added: 'You look like Lady Gaga!' Missing something? In one snap, Imogen is seen barely covering her ample assets with her arms, while posing seductively Strike a pose! Wearing an exaggerated winged cat eye, the stunner showcased her flawless complexion, adding touches of highlighter to enhance her striking features Wearing only a brown wig and electric blue contact lenses, the model girlfriend of Kyle Sandilands shared three topless photos. In one snap, Imogen is seen barely covering her ample assets with her arms, while posing seductively. Wearing an exaggerated winged cat eye, the stunner showcased her flawless complexion, adding touches of highlighter to enhance her striking features. In another snap, the famed face showed off her upper body tattoos, while delicately covering her bust. Imogen, who has been dating KIIS FM radio personality Kyle Sandilands since 2012, recently marked his 47th birthday with a special dinner. She hasn't been afraid to share her opinion on Love Island's first evictee Kendall Rae-Knight. So it's no surprise Amber Davies has hit out at the ex-hopeful's bond with her former boyfriend Kem Cetinay in an interview with Capital Breakfast's Roman Kemp, Vick Hope and Sonny Jay on Friday morning. When asked whether she believes 26-year-old Kendall suits the Little Bit Leave It hitmaker, 22, the TV personality, 21, held nothing back as she insisted she 'rather watch paint dry'. Not a fan: Amber Davies has hit out at Kendall Rae-Knight and Kem Cetinay's relationship in an interview with Capital Breakfast's Roman Kemp, Vick Hope and Sonny Jay on Friday Kicking off their discussion, presenter Roman asked: 'The big question thats been texted in by several people this morning - Amber, do you think Kendall makes a better match for Kem than you?' Making a fierce dig at the pair - who recently shared a kiss - the reality star replied: 'Are you joking me? Id rather watch paint dry!' Much to the hosts' shock, radio journalist Vick said: 'Oh, savage! I told you!' Not impressed: When asked whether she believes 26-year-old Kendall suits the Little Bit Leave It hitmaker, 22, the TV personality, 21, held nothing back as she insisted she 'rather watch paint dry' Amber went on to clarify her comment, as she stated: 'No, do you know what, good on them, do you know what I mean? Let them do what they want to do.' The pint-sized brunette continued to give her verdict on the Love Island cast, admitting she would take forlorn Dr Alex 'on a good date'. Amber continued to gush over the A&E employee as she branded him a 'lovely gentleman' after seeing his struggle on the show, despite admitting she was not initially attracted to him. Blossoming romance: The shoe shop manager's love-life seems to have changed fortune after she was spotted sharing a kiss with last year's winner Kem during a romantic first date She's interested! The pint-sized brunette continued to give her verdict on the Love Island cast, admitting she would take forlorn Dr Alex 'on a good date' The former nightclub worker's comments come after Kendall and Kem were spotted sharing a kiss during a romantic date in London. In pictures obtained by The Sun, the dumped Islander and the Romford barber seemed to hit it off as they dined at a swanky hotel bar before sharing a passionate smooch at the end of the date. Amber, who won Love Island with ex-beau Kem in 2017, wrote on Twitter previously, 'Kendall is adorable', and retweeted her own comment after the kiss with the add-in 'Well I take that back', but has since deleted the tweet. Steamy: The former nightclub worker's comments come after Kendall and Kem were recently spotted sharing a kiss during a romantic date in London A source told the publication: 'They went on a date and they did kiss, but they didn't spend the night together. 'They both left at the end of the night, but they are keen to see each other again.' Kem has remained single since his split with his ex-girlfriend Amber but appeared smitten with Kendall during her appearance on Aftersun on Sunday night. Former flames: Amber won Love Island with ex-beau Kem in 2017, before splitting after just four months together Kendall revealed she's swapped numbers with the Dancing On Ice star after catching his eye on This Morning on Monday. The Northern beauty, who bears a striking resemblance to the Welsh beauty, and Kem set tongues wagging after they shared a number of cosy snaps together following their appearance on ITV2 spin-off show. Kendall fuelled speculation that she could date the Essex TV personality after she admitted he was her 'type'. Moving on: The potential romantic interest comes after Kendall was cruelly dumped by Adam Collard on last week's Love Island only for him to share a smooch with Rosie Williams (left) The former Love Island hopeful shared: 'We had a little chat. He's lovely, he's so nice. He is my type ... yeah.' The potential romantic interest comes after Kendall was cruelly dumped by Adam Collard on last week's Love Island only for him to share a smooch with Rosie Williams just minutes later. Tune in to Capital Breakfast with Roman Kemp, week days 6am 10am and Saturdays 6am 9am. Commanding attention: Later that day, Amber stepped out for a low-key stroll in London's Leicester Square Turning heads: The petite star accentuated her legs in a pair of flare pinstripe trousers, tied in with a blue denim jacket Florence Alexandra has been the guest on many radio shows as part of her media obligations for the Bachelor and Bachelor In Paradise. And it seems after a multitude of interviews the 28-year-old has been inspired to dive into the radio business. The stunner made her co-hosting debut on Friday, telling Daily Mail Australia: 'Since I have done so many radio shows after Bachelor and Bachelor In Paradise I really started enjoying doing it.' From TV screens to the airwaves! Bachelor and Bachelor In Paradise star Florence Alexandra has announced she will be co-hosting a radio show on Southern FM She revealed: 'Then I got offered a permanent role as a presenter which is awesome!' When asked about what aspect of the new job excited her, she said: 'I'm just excited about exploring the radio field and doing this as good as I can.' The model added that she was also eager to be on the other side of the microphone asking questions instead of being the one being interviewed. The Dutch-born beauty told her Instagram followers to tune in to her lunch time program, called the Flo, Mike and Louie Show, from 12pm to 2pm. Radio star: She made her co-hosting debut on Friday and told Daily Mail Australia: 'Since I have done so many radio shows after Bachelor and Bachelor In Paradise I really started enjoying doing it.' Pictured: Florence with co-host Michael Thompson and their guest Jemma Siles In her post she shared a screenshot of the show's official Instagram account, writing: 'So this brand new show is happening every Friday from 12-2pm. We'll be providing lunch radio on 88.3 Southern FM.' The community radio station based in Brighton, Victoria, is the same network Bachelor 2016 winner Alex Nation used to co-host her drive show on. In the post, she encouraged her legions of followers to follow the show's brand new Instagram account, with the added incentive that they will follow back. Promo time! In her post she shared a screenshot of the show's official Instagram account spruiking her 88.3 Southern FM show. The community radio station based in Brighton is the same network Bachelor 2016 winner Alex Nation used to co-host her drive show on Following in footsteps: Florence's path from match making reality show to radio stardom is a very similar path to that followed by fellow Bachelor alumna Alex Nation and Sam Frost 'You can listen online as well if you're not in Melbourne but still want to hear my s**t chat and jokes,' she wrote, as well as providing a link to Southern FM's live streaming. Florence's path from match-making reality show to radio stardom is a very similar path to that followed by fellow Bachelor alumni Alex Nation and Sam Frost. In April 2017, Alex announced she would co-host Southern FM's drive show called The Drive Out with Jay, Foz and Alex. Southern FM's former talent: Fellow Bachelor alumna Alex Nation also co-hosted Southern FM's drive show called The Drive Out with Jay, Foz and Alex' before quitting in January 2018 Unfortunately for the blonde beauty her radio stint was short lived when she called it quits on the show in January 2018. Sam Frost also joined the radio business in 2015 with beloved TV presenter Rove McManus for 2Day FM's breakfast slot. However poor ratings forced their show to be axed in 2016 and replaced by the Em Rusciano show with Harley Breen, which has since changed hosts. She embarked on a romance with cinematographer Michael Barrett in November, three months after announcing the end of her marriage to Chris Pratt. And Anna Faris, 41, showed just how settled she is in her new relationship on Thursday, as she enjoyed a fun-filled family day at sea with a group that included her new beau, and her and Chris' five-year-old son Jack, in Portofino, Italy. Attentive Michael was seen bonding with adorable little Jack as the pair swam together in the Mediterranean Sea, before lifting the youngster back onto their boat. Bonding: Anna Faris' new boyfriend Michael Barrett was seen bonding with her son Jack during their family getaway to Portofino, Italy, on Thursday As the pair swam together Jack, wearing goggles and a life jacket, was seen getting a piggyback ride from Michael, who kept his arms protectively wrapped around the boy as they waded into the shallow end of the water. Jack appeared to be comfortable in Michael's company as they splashed about together and laughed, before joining the rest of the group on their speedboat. However, the youngster's Avengers: Infinity War star dad Chris who turns 39 on June 21 wasn't far from his mind, as he wore a blue Avengers T-shirt. He's in safe hands: The cinematographer kept the five-year-old safe as they swam together Piggyback: The adorable youngster appeared thrilled as he enjoyed a splashy piggyback ride Jet set: Hollywood actress Anna Faris recently jetted off to Europe with her son and beau Anna looked loved up during the leisurely excursion, sharing kisses and hugs with Michael as they enjoyed their day out among their small group. Overboard star Anna looked casually cool a blue zip-up hoodie over a matching navy tee with off-white shorts, while she shielded her eyes with a pair of sunglasses. Michael, who has credits on Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Ted, also kept everyone hydrated during the boat party, pouring drinks and passing blue cups around. Anna and Michael met on the set of her new movie Overboard and have been seen stepping out together on several occasions since. They were first seen in early autumn of last year. Beverages: The small group were seen enjoying beverages as they relaxed together in the sun All together now! Everyone made sure Jack was safe as he hopped back onboard after his swim Safety first! Little Jack wore a little life vest with an eye-catching aquatic scene design on it Anna and ex Chris announced their split in August, posting a joint statement on Facebook, which read: 'We tried hard for a long time, and were really disappointed. 'Our son has two parents who love him very much and for his sake we want to keep this situation as private as possible moving forward. 'We still have love for each other, will always cherish our time together and continue to have the deepest respect for one another.' The couple met in 2007, at table read for Take Me Home Tonight, and went on to tie the knot on July 9, 2009, in a romantic ceremony in Bali, Indonesia. Kiss: The actress and her cinematographer shared kisses with each other during their trip First mate! Jack was seen curiously peering over the side of the boat during their fun-filled day Cooling off: Shirtless Michael cooled off by hopping into the water in a pair of blue trunks Blonde beauty Anna recently spoke to Marie Claire about her life following the split from her husband of nine years. 'I do think I'm a romantic because I love the small things in life. Just like the little pleasures of life that feel like secrets,' she said. 'I still always want to keep that as a part of my life, does that make any sense at all? Maybe. I don't know.' During an appearance on the Graham Norton Show last month, Chris hilariously admitted that he has allowed his son to freely curse during their fishing trips something Jack put into action as he referred to a bass as a 'f***ing p**sy'. New couple: New couple Anna and Michael were first spotted in early autumn of last year Cheers! Michael, who has credits on Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Ted, also played bartender during the boat party Take this! While everyone sat down to chat, he was seen pouring and passing blue cups around the group until everyone had their own Relaying the incident on the British talk show, Chris revealed that he previously told Jack he was only allowed to swear during their fishing trips together. 'He catches a fish and it flops out of his hand and the fin pokes him in the hand,' the hunky star explained before revealing Jack began to cry. So much was his agony that Jack told him: 'Dad, Im about to swear! That bass that bass is stupid!' 'Stupid, stupid bass!' Jack continued through tears, leaving Chris to encourage him to get all of him emotions out. Then suddenly, he blurted out: 'That stupid bass is a f***ing p**sy!' High and dry! Jack wrapped up in a blue towel after taking a dunk with mom's beau Ex factor: Meanwhile, Anna's ex Chris Pratt was at the Sirius XM Studios in New York City promoting Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom on Thursday afternoon Blue: He was joined by co-star Bryce Dallas Howard, who looked stylish in a blue ensemble She enjoyed a glamorous night out with the A-list at the star-studded Ocean's 8 premiere on Wednesday. But Sam Faiers enjoyed some quality time with her family as she and boyfriend Paul Knightley, 30, doted on baby daughter Rosie, seven months, while enjoying a swanky lunch date at Nobu restaurant in London's Mayfair on Thursday. The reality star, 27, teamed a nude polo-neck top with a similarly coloured combat-style jacket which she tied in at the waist. Family fun: Sam Faiers and Paul Knightley, 30, doted on baby daughter Rosie, seven months, while enjoying a swanky lunch date at Nobu restaurant in London's Mayfair on Thursday The Mummy Diaries favourite wore a plain pair of black, ankle-grazing trousers, and was jewellery-free except for a simple silver watch on her wrist. Adding a designer edge to the look, Sam carried her Louis Vuitton tote bag and slipped into a pair of black and brown Fendi trainers. The brunette kept her tresses off her face in a half-up, half-down style, and shielded her eyes with mirrored shades. The mother-of-two looked radiant with a healthy bronzed make-up look and a dash of pink lipstick. Low-key: The reality star, 27, teamed a nude polo-neck top with a similarly coloured combat-style jacket which she tied in at the waist Property developer Paul opted for an equally casual get-up, wearing skinny jeans and a navy T-shirt with a pair of dark blue plimsolls. The couple looked happy as they chatted and smiled while walking to the Japanese fusion eatery in central London. They took turns holding Rosie, seven months, with their adorable little one falling asleep in Paul's arms at one point. Keeping it classy: The Mummy Diaries favourite wore a plain pair of black, ankle-grazing trousers, and was jewellery-free except for a simple silver watch on her wrist The pair have been dating since 2015, and after welcoming son Paul Jnr in December 2015 they became proud parents to their daughter in November 2017. Sam, who has moved from Essex to Hertfordshire in the last year, told Lorraine in 2017 that she has no plans to return to her TOWIE roots, after she quit the longstanding reality series in 2014. Sam's own show The Mummy Diaries has been a big ratings hit over two series for ITVBe, with the latest run also co-starring her sister Billie, 28. Love Island's latest evictee Justin Lacko has adamantly stated he is straight, after being labelled 'camp' by his reality TV co-stars. And on Thursday, the male model claimed while there was speculation regarding his sexuality, questions could also be raised about his former villa stars. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia from Spain, he said: 'I find it quite funny because if anything I would be questioning maybe some of the other guys.' Scroll down for video EXCLUSIVE 'I would be questioning some of the other guys': Love Island's Justin Lacko (above) hits back at speculation regarding his sexuality as he claims a few of his male co-stars shower NAKED together off-camera 'I could say the same thing about some of the boys who have like a massive bromance, and some of the guys shower naked together. I could say the exact same thing, but I don't need to because I don't really care,' Justin stated. When asked who of his cast members were participating in communal showers, he responded: 'All of them are showering naked together really, it changes, so yeah.' However, the Melbourne-based hunk denied involvement: 'I'm one of those guys that's happy to just have a shower by myself and I didn't need to, so, yeah.' 'All of them are showering naked together really, it changes, so yeah': Justin claimed while the males all participate in communal showers, he chose not to Buff! The male hunks on the series are regularly seen flaunting their ripped physiques shirtless around the villa 'I didn't think Elias would say something like that': Justin claimed the comments made by Elias were 'confronting' and was shocked that his sexuality had become a topic of conversation 'Quite frankly I don't understand when I've come on to a television show looking for love, why my sexuality would be a topic of sentence between any of the islanders,' the 27-year-old added. Clearing up any miscommunication, Justin continued: 'In this day and age a lot of people do question sexuality. I'm just going to keep doing the same thing. People have asked me that and i'm going to answer it the exact same way, I am straight!' It comes after model pal Elias Chigros said the girls thought he was 'camp', after Justin asked why he wasn't able to form romantic bonds with females in the villa. 'I am straight!' Clearing up any miscommunication, Justin stated he wasn't ashamed of his feminine side and was looking for love as a straight man 'Girls have said that they think you're camp': Elias claimed he wasn't referring to Justin's sexuality with the comment, instead noting his 'flamboyant' personality 'Not referring to your sexuality at all, but like the way that you're flamboyant... Anyone who deserves to be with you, should easily be able to see past that,' Elias said at the time. Justin told Daily Mail Australia he felt Elias' comment came across as a 'personal attack': 'It was confronting because I didn't think Elias would say something like that... I left thinking why he of all people would say something like that.' Elias, who also spoke to Daily Mail Australia after his eviction, said: 'I'm not going to speculate on his sexuality, but I hope he can come to terms with whatever he has to come to terms with.' 'I tried to say it (the camp comment) in the most diplomatic way possible': Elias claimed there was no malice in his comment and hoped his friend could 'move on from it' 'I tried to say it (the camp comment) in the most diplomatic way possible, unfortunately off camera there was quite an adverse reaction and after that he didn't speak to me for the entirety of the week to us leaving,' the model confessed. The last couple standing at the Love Island finale will be awarded the opportunity to take come a $50,000 cash prize. Love Island returns on Sunday from 8.30pm on NineGo! and NineNow Former Crown actress, Vanessa Kirby, debunked speculation that she was dating Tom Cruise on The View and said that despite only meeting the actor once, rumours had emerged that she was in line to be her Mission: Impossible - Fallout co-stars fourth wife. While reflecting on the tragic love story of her character Princess Margaret on the Netflix series, Vanessa Kirby spoke about how The Queen had forbidden her sister from marrying her lover, Peter Townsend, because he was divorced and a commoner. Kirby, still furious about this historic moment, drew parallels between the rejection of this union and the most recent Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and said that this is an important step for the Royals. But who is Vanessa Kirby? Vanessa Kirby of The Crown , debunked rumours that she was dating Tom Cruise on The View Who is Vanessa Kirby? Born on April 18, 1988, in Wimbledon, London, Kirby was educated at Lady Eleanor Holles School before being turned down by Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Vanessa embarked on a gap year before studying English at the University of Exeter. She then turned down her place at the prestigious LAMDA and was signed to a talent agency, where she met the theatre director David Thacker. Kirby starred in productions of Arthur Millers All My Sons, Henrik Ibsens Ghosts and Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream. After a number of different theatre productions such as Women Beware Women and As You Like It, she made her television debut in the BBCs The Hour and also played Estella in the mini-series of Great Expectations. Vanessa Kirby movies and TV shows After appearing in Labyrinth and The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman, Vanessa starred alongside Rachel McAdams in About Time. She then flitted between film and theatre, having featured roles in The Rise, Edward II and A Streetcar Named Desire. Vanessa Kirby pictured here in a still from the television programme Labyrinth, on Channel 4 Other notable films include Kill Command, Jupiter Ascending, Queen and Country, Everest The Dresser and Me Before You before landing her role on The Crown. Vanessa Kirby The Crown After it was revealed that Vanessa Kirby would not be returning to the The Crown from Season 3 and would be replaced by Helena Bonham Carter, she said that The Queen is a big fan of the biographical royal drama. In the Netflix series, Vanessa Kirby played Princess Margaret and explained that a friend had overheard one of the princesses reveal that Queen Elizabeth likes the show. She spoke of this encounter further on The Graham Norton Show: 'One of the women said, "My granny kind of likes it". It turns out it was one of the princesses The Queens granddaughter. Its quite a reliable source ish so I am sure she is a fan.' The first season of The Crown is set between 1947 and 1955 and focuses on the Queens marriage to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, while the second moves on from 1956 to 1964, documenting the birth of Prince Edward and the Suez Crisis. Vanessa Kirby seen here as Princess Margaret in the Netflix show The Crown's Season 1 As the third season moving forward in time to 1964 to 1970, the cast will be replaced with a whole host of new stars to match the time period. Claire Foy will be replaced by Olivia Coleman who will play The Queen. Talking about her departure from the show and the takeover, the actress said about her character: 'I love her with all my heart. I couldnt love her more. 'I am so pleased Helena is taking her on. She has been lovely and told me she will need some Margaret lessons.' For her role on The Crown, Vanessa won the Best Supporting Actress at the Television BAFTAs in 2018. Vanessa Kirby in Julie Vanessa Kirby has received rave reviews for her role in the adaptation of August Strindbergs Miss Julie called Julie and the play has been transported to contemporary London in this version at the National Theatre in London. The production will close on September 8, 2018 and tickets have limited availability for shows that have not already sold out. Mission: Impossible - Fallout Vanessa Kirbys latest release is Mission: Impossible - Fallout, where she plays opposite Tom Cruise in his iconic role as Ethan Hunt. The film will be released in cinemas on Friday, July 27, 2018. Vanessa Kirby attending the Virgin TV British Academy Television Awards 2018 in London Callum Turner Vanessa Kirby is currently dating fellow actor Callum Turner and he has starred in Waterloo Road, Leaving, The Town, The Borgias, Ripper Street and Glue after starting out as a model for Next and Reebok. Vanessa Kirby and Tom Cruise Vanessa Kirby and Tom Cruise dating rumours have been circulating since November 2017 when The Crown actress was forced to quash speculation that the pair were engaged to marry. Theres literally zero truth in it, she said of the suggestions, which first arose when she began filming Mission: Impossible 6 with Tom Cruise. Kirby continued: Ive been in a relationship for two years! The rumours came out after Id met Tom, once, in a roomful of people. We hadnt started filming, and all of a sudden were getting married! Its so bizarre. My boyfriend found it hilarious. Vanessa then revealed that the rumours had emerged because her relationship was not made public and said that she had never discussed it with Tom. I didnt bring it up. And he never mentioned it. I dont think he even knows. The whole things ridiculous. In June 2018, Kirby addressed these rumours again on The View and said: I had met him once in a room full of people! I was like, that was fast! We were filming on the river bank in Paris, and we have to kiss, and then the paparazzi [were] taking pictures. Kirby then confirmed that the pair had spoken about the rumours and revealed that It was embarrassing. Most of all for him probably. Vanessa Kirby net worth Vanessa Kirbys net worth has accumulated to approximately $4 million (3m), according to Celebrity Net Worth. He recently sparked engagement speculation as he stepped out with Kristina Wurtemberg during an intimate dinner, where she flashed a huge ring on her wedding finger. And James Stunt was in good company once again with the Canadian beauty as they attended Robert Tchenguiz's daughter Violet's Bat Mitzvah Shabbat bash at Kensington Gore in London earlier this week. The businessman, 36, cut a typically suave figure in a white blazer, tied in with a plain black top and jeans. Beaming: James Stunt was in good company with Kristina Wurtemberg as they attended Robert Tchenguiz's daughter Violet's Bat Mitzvah Shabbat bash in London earlier this week James - who is estimated to be worth around 4billion - put on a cosy display with the 26-year-old aspiring actress as he wrapped his arm around her at the glitzy party. Complementing her slender figure, the stunning Nova Scotia native slipped into a pale pink skater dress, which featured intricate floral details. Kristina enhanced her natural beauty in hints of dewy foundation, teamed with lashings of mascara and light pink gloss. Star-studded: The pair were also joined by tycoon Robert, 57, his girlfriend Julia Dybowska (pictured), 27, as well as his estranged wife Heather Bird, 48 The pair were also joined by tycoon Robert, 57, his girlfriend Julia Dybowska, 27, as well as his estranged wife Heather Bird, 48. Robert's relationship with Heather hit headlines following BBC documentary Robbies War: The Rise And Fall Of A Playboy Billionaire last month. In the show, viewers see Robert living luxuriously on the airy upper floors with his glamorous partner Julia, while his wife Heather resides in a tiny room with their two kids on the lower floors. Dapper: James cut a typically suave figure in a white blazer, tied in with a plain black top and jeans (pictured with Claire Rubinstein, left, and Matthew Steeples, second from left) The Iran-born businessman hit out at the portrayal of their relationship in the documentary, stating: My wife does not live in a cupboard. Heather and the children have three very large rooms with bathrooms for their use. They also have access to all the house, except for my bedroom.' 'I was shocked extremely shocked, he says. I have a very civil relationship with my ex-wife. We travel together. We still live together. Shes the mother of my children and Ive done everything to ensure she has what she wants. What was portrayed in this programme is... bewildering.' James display comes after it was reported Kristina has been staying at the billionaire gold bullion dealer's Belgravia townhouse in central London for the last three weeks. Controversial: Robert's relationship with Heather hit headlines following BBC documentary Robbies War: The Rise And Fall Of A Playboy Billionaire last month Different conditions: In the documentary, viewers see Robert living luxuriously on the airy upper floors with his glamorous partner Julia, while his wife Heather resides in a tiny room with their two kids on the lower floors 'My wife does not live in a cupboard!': The Iran-born businessman hit out at the portrayal of their relationship in the show The brunette bombshell set tongues wagging last week when she was photographed in James' Lamborghini as they headed to dinner at one of the capital's top restaurants. The pair were later seen huddled together smoking in a doorway outside C London in Mayfair and she was snapped wearing a huge diamond ring on her wedding finger, sparking rumours they are engaged. A friend of Kristina's claims they first met last summer but Stunt was reluctant to begin a relationship while his divorce from Petra was ongoing. Cosy: James display comes after it was reported Kristina has been staying at the billionaire gold bullion dealer's Belgravia townhouse in central London for the last three weeks She is said to have been lavished with gifts of clothes and jewellery worth several hundred thousand pounds by the businessman. The pal said: 'She met James last August when she was in London with two girlfriends.A week later one of his bodyguards picked her up and they really hit it off.' 'James had long since split up with Petra, but he didn't want to get involved in a romance until the divorce was finalised. He didn't want to get involved with anyone while that was going on so Kristina went back to Canada and they remained in contact', she added. Close bond: A friend of Kristina's claims they first met last summer but Stunt was reluctant to begin a relationship while his divorce from Petra was ongoing (pictured with Joe Haddad) The insider continued: 'She is being treated like a princess. James was amazingly generous and must have spent at least 200,000 buying her gifts. 'She is forever shopping in Harrods and buying so many clothes and items of jewellery.' James - who was previously linked to Samantha Rowley - also hit headlines following his bitter 5.5 billion divorce battle with his ex-wife Petra Ecclestone last year. Lavish: James is allegedly 'treating Kristina like a princess', her pal claims (pictured with Dr Ali Dizaei) James and his former partner Petra tied the knot in at lavish 12 million wedding at a castle in Rome, Italy, in 2011. The couple enjoyed an extraordinary life together, splashing out 100 million on a Chelsea mansion and 158 million on a 123-room home in Los Angeles, and went on to have three children. But the marriage ended in a costly divorce battle at London's High Court last year. Megan Barton Hanson branded Georgia Steel a 'fake b***h' in a shock outburst on Thursday night's show. And Love Island fans will see the blonde beauty continue to lay into the confident student on Friday, questioning her motives and branding her self-centred and loud. The former stripper's harsh critique comes as Georgia goes on her first date with love interest Josh, during which they hit it off and share a kiss. Brutal: Love Island fans will see Megan Barton Hanson continue to lay into Georgia Steel on Friday, questioning her motives and branding her self-centred and loud In upcoming scenes, Georgia is talking to some of the boys about her livewire nature. She explains that her personality has calmed down since settling into villa life but that she would still do things like jump in the pool if the boys dared her to. Megan, Rosie and Samira are looking on, gossiping about Georgia, and Megan admits she doesn't understand her personality. Fun in the sun: The former stripper's harsh critique comes as the confident student goes on her first date with love interest Josh, during which they hit it off and share a kiss Not a fan: Megan branded Georgia Steel a 'fake b***h' in a shock outburst on Thursday night's episode of the ITV2 dating show She muses: 'I dont know if its me because Ive not been around that kind of person but to me it just seems very full on. 'All my friends at home just seem really real. I dont know whether everything is dramatised. 'Is she genuinely here to find love or is she here to be the centre of attention?' 'I do know what you mean, shes just a lot isnt she. Confident,' Samira says. Awkward: Rosie is left feeling awkward and goes to tell partner Adam about Megan speaking about Georgia behind her back As the girls look on, Georgia jumps in the pool. She is followed by Adam, Charlie, Wes and Josh then Alex and Jack jump in too. Megan doesnt seem impressed, and later tears into her co-star in the Beach Hut. She explains: 'Obviously shes young and she just wants to have fun but I feel like [at any opportunity] it will be The Georgia Show. 'Im not that type of person so maybe it seems exaggerated to me.' Finally: Meanwhile, Georgia has other things on her mind since she gets a chance to enjoy a first 'official' date with hunky love interest Josh Unfortunately for Megan, her comments risk getting back to Georgia via petite brunette's close confidente Rosie. The solicitor is left feeling awkward and goes to tell Adam about Megan speaking about Georgia behind her back. Rosie tells Adam: 'I just didnt know what to say. Georgia is my friend and Im not a bitchy person... It was quite in on Georgia.' Meanwhile, Georgia has other things on her mind since she gets a chance to enjoy a first 'official' date with hunky love interest Josh. Romantic: The pair go snorkelling together before settling down to a beach picnic. 'Champagne, sun, sea decent looking girl, I cant complain,' Josh says The pair go snorkelling together before settling down to a beach picnic. 'Champagne, sun, sea decent looking girl, I cant complain,' Josh says. The cheeky chappie asks Georgia what her type is, and is pleased that he ticks all of her boxes. She says: 'Mixed race guys, someone has a bit about them, bit edgy, I like tattoos and I like someone a bit older. Thats my usual type.' Georgia admits she has been single for two years and is looking to find a serious boyfriend, while Josh confesses he recently split from his ex of six years. The pair cheers to a good date, as Georgia coos: 'Its only onwards and upwards from here hopefully!' Advertisement Newcastle nightclub owner Paul Burns tragically passed away aged just 37 earlier this month. And Vicky Pattison was leading the arrivals at her best friend Paul's funeral on Friday, where she joined her former Geordie Shore co-stars including Charlotte Crosby and Marnie Simpson as they paid their respects to the local legend. Hundreds of mourners gathered at Saltwell Crematorium in Gateshead for the emotional service in loving memory of the Botantist restaurant and bar boss. Tragedy: Vicky Pattison was leading the arrivals at her best friend Paul Burn's funeral in Newcastle on Friday, where she joined her former Geordie Shore co-stars including Charlotte Crosby and Marnie Simpson as they paid their respects Paying their respects: The Geordie Shore cast past and present were seen arriving at Saltwell Crematorium in Gateshead The late star was known as Mr Newcastle and was a key figure of the Geordie party scene, loved and respected by many. Mourners were clad in bright plaid shirts and patterned ensembles, flouting funeral traditions and instead paying tribute to Paul with their colourful attire. As Paul's coffin was carried inside the crematorium, the Tina Turner hit Simply The Best was played to the crowd. The wake will be taking place at Paul's own venue The Botanist following the funeral. Devastating loss: Vicky spoke out about her 'pain and grief' following the tragic passing of her best friend Paul, who passed away on Saturday June 2 (pictured with the reality star on the Friday night before his sudden death) Heartbroken: The reality star previously posted a tribute to Paul on her Instagram, in the heartbreaking message she ended it with: 'I will think of you everyday my friend' followed by a heart emoji Tragic: Also in attendance was Geordie Shore star Kyle Christie as he joined his former co-stars to pay respect to Paul Colourful: Mourners, including Marnie Simpson, were clad in bright plaid shirts and checked ensembles, flouting funeral traditions Vicky was accompanied by her supportive fiance John Noble and her mother Caroll as she arrived at the crematorium, shielding her eyes behind a large pair of sunglasses. Standing further apart from the star was her former castmate Charlotte, who joined Marnie Simpson on the sidelines of the procession. Earlier this month, Vicky spoke out about her 'pain and grief' following the tragic death of her best friend Paul, who passed away on Saturday June 2. The devastating news spread on social media with stars of Geordie Shore, including Charlotte, Marty McKenna and Kyle Christie, paying homage to the nightclub and events manager, who was dubbed 'a beautiful human being'. Dress code: Paul's friends and family were paying tribute to the local legend with their colourful attire Emotional: Vicky shielded her eyes behind a pair of sunglasses as she greeted her friends at the funeral Popular: Paul was dubbed 'a beautiful human being' by his plethora of his reality star pals Show of support: The reality star was accompanied by her supportive fiance John Noble and her mother Caroll Following his shock passing, Vicky first broke her silence on the Monday after his death, however returned to Instagram the following day to share a montage of images with her 'oldest and best friend' alongside an emotional caption. Heartbroken Vicky shared a touching tribute to 'one of the most amazing people', as she branded the past days 'a nightmare' in a heartbreaking message. The star, who spent Paul's last evening with him on Friday, penned the next day: 'Grief is like an ocean, it comes in waves, ebbing and flowing... Sometimes the water is calm and sometimes it is overwhelming. Paying tribute: A mourner held a hand crafted sign aloft, paying tribute to the late 'King of Newcastle' Fitting tribute: As Paul's coffin was carried inside the crematorium, the Tina Turner hit Simply The Best was played In loving memory: The wake will be taking place at Paul's own venue The Botanist following the funeral Tough time: Following his sudden death two weeks ago, his friends paid homage to the nightclub and events manager, who was dubbed 'a beautiful human being' 'All we can do is learn to swim... Thats how I feel now - overwhelmed and like Im drowning in my own pain and grief. Im not ready to accept the fact that we wont laugh together again. I am not ready to believe youre gone... 'The injustice of all of this is too much to bear and theres nothing I wouldnt give to be able to hear your voice again. We may have loved you Paul, but God loved you a lot more... I will think of you everyday my friend'. Vicky's Instagram has often been littered with snaps of Paul, and vice versa, and she took to the photosharing site to post an image as she celebrated Paul's birthday, while adding a sweet caption in tribute to her pal. She penned: 'Celebrating this amazing ones birthday a little bit late but oh so well with the help of @dessertsdeliveredbakery!! This Nutella cake literally blew everyone away!! THANKYOU so much!! @mrpaulburns1- love you forever'. Support: Mourners were seen hugging each other as they struggled to deal with the passing of Paul Devastating: She shared a montage of images with her 'oldest and best friend' alongside a heartbreaking caption She penned: 'My heart is broken. I know I will never get over losing you and this still doesnt feel real- Im desperately just waiting for the moment I wake up from this nightmare...' She waited two days before posting a tribute, as she penned: 'I dont know what to post. I dont know what to say. But this seemed fitting. you are my best friend, my oldest friend and one of the most amazing people in the world... 'My heart is broken. I know I will never get over losing you and this still doesnt feel real- Im desperately just waiting for the moment I wake up from this nightmare... 'The only solace I can take from this is that I spent your last night with you and all of our best friends and you knew how much we loved you. How important you were to us and how you kept us together as a group... 'I never met a more selfless person. Some of the best moments of my life I shared with you and the lasses. I do not want to accept that you wont be at my wedding... Devastated: Former Geordie Shore star Kyle Christie also took to social media after the news broke Shocked: Alongside this photo collage, Charlotte Crosby wrote, 'Words cannot describe the pain this weekend has brought It still doesnt feel real. I dont want it to be real' 'The world will forever be less bright without you in it. But I suppose you were just too special. You were too good for us Paul and I hope they look after you in heaven. Show them how its done boot off burns'. She attached the words to a quote reading: 'The reality is you will grieve forever. You will not 'get over' the loss of a loved one; you will earn to live with it. You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. 'You will be whole again but you will never be the same again. Nor should you be the same, nor should you want to'. It was revealed on Facebook that a candlelit vigil would be held in popular nightspot Tup Tup Palace. In shock: Vicky spent Paul's last evening with him before his sudden death on Saturday June 2 Vicky said: 'We may have loved you Paul, but God loved you a lot more... I will think of you everyday my friend' Hours after her night out with him, news surfaced revealing he had died, as Charlotte took to Twitter to write: 'Today has just felt awful. Really really awful. This is just not right... RIP PB.' She also took to Instagram to share a collage of images with Paul, while adding the touching caption: 'Words cannot describe the pain this weekend has brought It still doesnt feel real. I dont want it to be real. 'I am so so so happy to be able to of shared some amazing memories with you that I will never ever forget. Without you Newcastle has lost its sparkle. My thoughts are with All of Pauls family and best friends...RIP Paul burns....love you.' Her ex-flame and Gaz Beadle penned: 'I actually cant believe I am reading this on Facebook. Paul Conrad Burns RIP literally loved by everyone never not smiling... Local legend: The late star was known as Mr Newcastle and was a key figure of the Geordie party scene, loved and respected by many Greatly missed: Paul was remembered by the general manager of his work place, The Botanist A statement read: 'Paul genuinely touched the hearts of everyone he worked with and loved, and his huge personality and infectious smile will live on in all of us forever. The city has lost a true gent, one that will never be replaced' 'One of the first people I met out and about in Newcastle and never let you go past him without a big smile and a hug. Honestly cant believe it taken way to early.' Her former co-star Kyle, shared a snap with Paul with the caption: 'Ill always remember my first night out in town where you took me under your wing and made sure I was well looked after in night life trade that was 10 years ago. 'Heaven has definitely got one hell of a vip up there with you sorting it out love you brother till we meet again!' Vicky's sister Laura Pattison shared a screenshot of her WhatsApp conversation with Paul from last month, in which he penned 'I love you more'. She added the caption: 'No darling I love you more.. I can't cope RIP my best friend paul life will never ever be the same without you. Emotional: Former Geordie Shore regular Marty McKenna was seen leaving the crematorium, holding his head in his hands Tough: Marty was visibly upset as he was pictured leaving the emotional gathering 'Writing these words is making me sick I will never ever cope the same without you. Love you forever rest in peace my gorgeous best friend. Thank god I got to see you last night'. The general manager of his work place, The Botanist, where he was pictured with Vicky on Friday, released a statement reading: 'To do great things you have to be a great man, and this was Paul. He worked with a smile... 'A style that was infectious and passionate. He was Mr Newcastle no doubt, but he was also Mr Botanist. Also loyal and committed, Newcastle Botanist would not be where it is today without this amazing mans talent and support. 'Paul genuinely touched the hearts of everyone he worked with and loved, and his huge personality and infectious smile will live on in all of us forever. The city has lost a true gent, one that will never be replaced.' In attendance: Geordie Shore star Sophie Kasaei was also in attendance, wearing bright red plaid trousers Solemn: The star looked downcast as she emerged in a pair of shades Close bond: Geordie Shore and Just Tattoo Of Us star Scott Timlin, aka Scotty T, was also in attendance A statement from Newcastle nightspot, Bonbar read: 'Everyone at Bonbar is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our old front of house team member Paul Burns. 'One of the nicest people to ever work for us and never went anywhere without the big grin on his face. You will be truly missed by everyone in Newcastle. RIP'. Other Twitter users wrote on the site: 'Spend life with those who make you happy, not who you have to impress'... Paul Burns... Absolutely gutted to hear the sad news, another wonderful person taken far too soon! Sad: Guests gathered to pay their tributes at the funeral for Paul Heartbreaking: Hundreds of mourners gathered at Saltwell Crematorium in Gateshead for the emotional service in loving memory of the Botantist restaurant and bar boss 'A face of Newcastle, it wont be the same without you! RIP Paul 'Conrad' Burns... RIP Mr Paul burns. Gentleman always and forever... Along with the rest of Newcastle, I'm gutted to hear about Paul Burns. Such a lovely bloke, taken far too soon... 'RIP... What absolutely awful news!! R.I.P Paul burns! What a bloke and gentlemen. Sleep tight mate... RIP Paul Burns you beautiful human being.' A representative for Vicky declined to comment when approached by MailOnline. The cause of death is unknown at time of publication. Hard day: Earlier on in the day, Vicky Pattison and her fiance John Noble were spotted arriving back at Newcastle International Airport Another GOOD Music production has arrived. Kanye West hosted a listening party in New York City for Nass new album, Nasir, on Thursday. The entire event was streamed on YouTube for viewers who werent able to attend. Previous GOOD Music productions by Kanye, 41, and Kid Cudi were streamed on the Wav application. The streams were rife with problems as thousands of fans tuned in to listen, which may be the reason the Nasir stream was hosted on YouTube. Nas debuted his first album in several years with a star-studded listening party in New York City on Thursday night Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were among the many famous folks invited to Nas's Nasir listening party in New York City on Thursday So, what do you need to know about Nasir, Nass first album in more than five years? Check it out. Name of Nass new album? Nass new album is called Nasir. The title is an homage to himself. The rappers full name is Nasir Bin Olu Dara Jones. The Kids Are Our Future. NASIR out everywhere tomorrow! Executive Produced by @kanyewest #NASIR pic.twitter.com/gpRUBT7FPU Nasir Jones (@Nas) June 14, 2018 Nas album release date 2018 Nasir was released on Friday, June 15, 2018. Nas Nasir track list Like both Kanye West and Kid Cudis joint album with the father of three, Nass album has seven songs. Kanye revealed the full track list for the project, Nasir, on Twitter on Tuesday. Just wanted to say Im up in the morning working on the Nas album and Im so humbled by all the love were getting on these albums. Were still the kids we used to be. ye (@kanyewest) June 11, 2018 The tracklist for Nass latest album is as follows: Everything Bonjour Not for Radio Adam and Eve Simple Things Cops I Can Explain Listen to Nass new album Nass album hasnt yet been added to streaming services. You can listen to the stream from the Nasir listening party in New York City on YouTube while you wait, however. The music begins at the 48:00 mark on the video. Nasir will eventually be uploaded for streaming and purchase on Spotify and Apple Music. Nasir listening party On Thursday, Nas, 44, gathered celebrities beneath the Queensboro Bridge in Queens, the New York City borough from which the rapper hails. Kim Kardashian, 2 Chainz, Chris Rock and more were among the famous invited guests. Music journalists were also in attendance. According to tweets from attendees, the event had a military vibe. Nas was transported via military hummer to the stage at his listening party, which set the tone. Nas debuted merchandise during the event that featured an image of young black children standing before a brick wall holding weapons in their hands which are raised in the air. The recently celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary. But love was still in the air for Kelly Ripa and husband Mark Consuelos, who are both 47, when they took a stroll around New York with family and friends on Thursday. Taking a break from the pack to check their phones, at one point, Mark was seen giving the morning show host a sweet kiss on her shoulder. Going strong: Kelly Ripa received a kiss from husband Mark Consuelos during a romantic stroll around New York on Thursday Kelly opted for a grey singlet. She paired the top with a blue patterned midi-skirt skirt that read 'Trunk' on it. The Live With Kelly And Ryan star completed her look with flat brown sandals and was seen carrying a backpack on her back. Stylish: Kelly paired her grey singlet top with a blue patterned midi-skirt skirt that read 'Trunk' on it He's been working out! Mark was also dressed down in a dark Henley t-shirt that drew attention to his bulging biceps Kelly appeared to be wearing minimal makeup and kept a low profile with shades on. Her blonde locks were slicked back into a ponytail. Mark was also dressed down in a dark Henley t-shirt that drew attention to his bulging biceps. Sharing the love: Neither Kelly nor Mark are shy when it comes to showing their affection for each other in public 22 years strong! Taking to Instagram last month during their vacation to the Bahamas, the loved up duo were seen planting kisses on one another whilst in an intense yoga session The actor paired his look with taupe colored trousers and yellow sneakers. Neither Kelly nor Mark are shy when it comes to showing their affection for each other in public. Taking to Instagram last month during their vacation to the Bahamas, the loved up duo were seen planting kisses on one another whilst in an intense yoga session. 'Relationships are all about trust and flexibility, or something like that,' she captioned the series of shots. After meeting on All My Children in 1995, the co-stars eloped the following year. The stars are parents to three children: sons Michael Joseph, 21, Joaquin Antonio, 15, and daughter, Lola Grace, 16. Last month, former Married At First Sight star Clare Verrall revealed she was raped when she was a teenager. On Friday, she slammed fellow MAFS alum Sean Thomsen for making comments on a post she shared about the recent death of Eurydice Dixon. Clare took to Instagram on Friday to share a heartfelt tribute to the Melbourne comedian, who was allegedly raped and murdered on Tuesday night. Former MAFS star Clare Verrall has slammed Sean Thomsen for a comment he made on a post she shared about the death of Eurydice Dixon Clare captioned the post, which highlighted the hypocrisy of asking women to be responsible for their own safety, with: 'It infuriates me how true this is. (Words by Jane Gilmore) #RIPEurydiceDixon #InstaWomen #EurydiceDixon #WomensSafety #ThisIsBS #ripeurydice.' The sentiment was met with a flurry of support from followers, but the conversation took a confrontational turn when Clare responded to Sean's comments. Sean's comment simply read: 'awesome'. Heartfelt: Clare took to Instagram on Friday to share an emotional tribute to the Melbourne comedian, who was allegedly raped and murdered on Tuesday night Clare pulled no punches in her response to Sean's comment, accusing the West Australian FIFO worker of employing a bot to gain followers by posting irrelevant comments on random posts. '@seanythomsen - DUDE THIS HAS TO BE A BOT! Turn it off bro,' Clare commanded. Sean responded, protesting that his comment was organic, with: '@clare_verrall nah its not aye.' Not satisfied with his response, Clare doubled down on the criticism. The sentiment was met with a flurry of support from followers, but the conversation took a confrontational turn when Clare responded to Sean's comments Unacceptable: After accusing Sean of using a bot, Clare doubled down on her criticism '@seanythomsen - so your thoughts on the rape and murder of a woman walking home from the shops is "awesome!," she wrote. 'Um. What the f**k? Why on earth would you write that? Can you please elaborate, as at the moment I am struggling to understand why you would write such a comment on this situation?' Despite Clare's insistence, Sean did not write anything that would indicate he was describing the tragic incident as 'awesome.' He was using the word 'awesome' as a complimentary comment on the inspiring nature of her post. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Sean Thomsen for comment. Despite Clare's insistence, Sean did not write anything that would indicate he was describing the tragic incident as 'awesome' Clare took to Instagram in April to make the shocking admission that she was raped when she was just 16 years old. 'The first time I was raped I was 16 years old,' she wrote. 'He took not only my virginity, but part of my soul that day.' In 2015, Clare was also physically attacked by a man while walking her dog near her Melbourne home. The vicious attack left her with a black eye, broken nose and broken toe, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Advertisement It has been four years since he proposed to the love of his life. And it wasn't difficult to see why Rhian Sugden's fiance Oliver Mellor was smitten with her as she sunbathed topless during a romantic getaway to Ibiza on Thursday. Proving unapologetically body confident, the lingerie model, 31, forewent her bikini top to show off her eye-popping assets as she topped up her bronzed glow with her other half. Sizzling: It wasn't difficult to see why Rhian Sugden's fiance Oliver Mellor was smitten with her as she sunbathed topless during a romantic getaway to Ibiza on Thursday Racy display: Proving unapologetically body confident, the lingerie model, 31, forewent her bikini top to show off her eye-popping assets as she topped up her bronzed glow with her other half Soaking up the scorching sun, bikini-clad Rhian looked completely at ease as she relaxed with Oliver on a sun-lounger. However, hoping for a more even tan the former Page Three stunner was seen taking off her bikini top to expose her sensational cleavage, as well as her flat stomach. Oliver appeared thrilled at the shedding of her clothes as he continued to check out her incredible figure during their conversation. Saucy: Soaking up the scorching sun, bikini-clad Rhian looked completely at ease as she relaxed with Oliver on a sun-lounger Brave: However, hoping for a more even tan the beauty was seen taking off her bikini top to expose her sensational cleavage, as well as her flat stomach Admiration: Oliver appeared thrilled at the shedding of her clothes as he continued to check out her incredible figure during their conversation Loving life: Rhian decided to get even more comfortable as she reclined on the sun-lounger to make the most of the sun Rhian decided to get even more comfortable as she reclined on the sun-lounger to make the most of the sun. The photogenic beauty propped a turquoise towel on her stomach as she continued to flaunt her assets during the low-key day. Still proving smitten, Oliver, who was clad in a pair of black and white swimshorts, continued to cosy up next to the blonde bombshell. Rhian relied on her naturally striking features, opting for a simple slick of make-up while her tresses sported a soft, tousled look. Beauty: The photogenic beauty propped a turquoise towel on her stomach as she continued to flaunt her assets during the low-key day Eyes on her: Still proving smitten, Oliver, who was clad in a pair of black and white swimshorts, continued to cosy up next to the blonde bombshell Envy-inducing: Rhian's bikini body was on full display in the scanty two-piece, which was bold red in colour and sported stylish gold tassel detailing Stunning: Rhian relied on her naturally striking features, opting for a simple slick of make-up while her tresses sported a soft, tousled look Covering up: Rhian proved slightly shy later on as threw on a yellow cover-up Looking good: Oliver, who used to be on Coronation Street, looked every inch the hunk as he went shirtless Rhian's bikini body was on full display in the scanty two-piece, which was bold red in colour and sported stylish gold tassel detailing. The pair looked every inch the lovebirds as they continued their sun-drenched getaway. Rhian and former Coronation Street actor Oliver are due to tie the knot later this year, after he proposed at a sold-out Manchester theatre in 2014. Before she met Oliver, Rhian was involved in a scandal with Vernon Kay, with the starlet first coming to the forefront when she went public with several racy messages sent by the married TV presenter in 2010. Happy: The pair looked every inch the lovebirds as they continued their sun-drenched getaway Smitten: Oliver couldn't peel his attention away from Rhian The next step: Rhian and former Coronation Street actor Oliver are due to tie the knot later this year, after he proposed at a sold-out Manchester theatre in 2014 Controversy: Before she met Oliver, Rhian was involved in a scandal with Vernon Kay, with the starlet first coming to the forefront when she went public with several racy messages sent by the married TV presenter in 2010 Learning his lesson: Vernon went on to promise live on air that he would no longer contact Rhian or the four other women he had been caught messaging at the time Male attention: Rhian also recently hit headlines amid reports she fended off footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, after he allegedly 'bombarded' her with late-night messages Vernon went on to promise live on air that he would no longer contact Rhian or the four other women he had been caught messaging at the time. Rhian also recently hit headlines amid reports she fended off footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, after he allegedly 'bombarded' her with late-night messages. The Portuguese striker - who recently welcomed baby girl Alana Martina with girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez - allegedly send the lingerie star texts from his hotel asking her to call him in Facebook messenger. According to The Sun, the footballer texted Rhian: 'I will call in one hour if you send a number be private number. Im at my hotel (sic).' She allegedly replied: 'I'm just about to pick my fella up from work and then we are going for drinks. I don't think he'd approve of me talking to you at 11pm.' Scandal: The Portuguese striker - who recently welcomed baby girl Alana Martina with girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez - allegedly send the lingerie star texts from his hotel asking her to call him in Facebook messenger Message: According to The Sun, the footballer texted Rhian: 'I will call in one hour if you send a number be private number. Im at my hotel (sic)' Rhian allegedly replied: 'I'm just about to pick my fella up from work and then we are going for drinks. I don't think he'd approve of me talking to you at 11pm' Stepping up: Rhian was reportedly left alone after her fiance sent Cristiano a warning to back off Rhian was reportedly left alone after her fiance sent Cristiano a warning to back off. Despite her jolly holiday, sources recently told The Sun Rhian has growing concerns that her ovarian cysts have returned after she previously had surgery to remove two giant growths. They claim the star is fearful a second surgery could 'affect her chances of becoming a mum', as operating on the ovaries too much can be 'dangerous'. Heath concern: Despite her jolly holiday, sources recently told The Sun Rhian has growing concerns that her ovarian cysts have returned after she previously had surgery to remove two giant growths Risks: They claim the star is fearful a second surgery could 'affect her chances of becoming a mum', as operating on the ovaries too much can be 'dangerous' The paper reports that Rhian's cysts have sadly grown back, after she had them surgically removed last year. Having shared a number of hospital selfies in recent weeks, the blonde is now waiting to see if she requires more surgery - but is 'trying to stay positive', amid fears a second operation will hinder her chances of having a child. A source said: 'It's quite dangerous for surgeons to operate on a person's ovaries once, let alone twice, as it can lead to infertility.' Concern: Having shared a number of hospital selfies in recent weeks, the blonde is now waiting to see if she requires more surgery - but is 'trying to stay positive', amid fears a second operation will hinder her chances of having a child In love: Rhian couldn't help but pack on the PDA with her other half He recently spent five weeks at the McLean Hospital in Belmont, Boston, after checking himself in for unspecified mental health issues in March. And James Packer, 50, joined his scanty-clad ladylove Kylie Lim at the Club 55 Beach in Saint Tropez, France for a sun-drenched getaway on Friday. The casually-clad Australian businessman led the way, with his stunning girlfriend was hot on his heels as they explored the idyllic location together. Holiday vibes: James Packer joined his scantily-clad girlfriend Kylie Lim for St. Tropez holiday on Friday after leaving $35,000-a-week psychiatric hospital James sported his fuller figure in his form-fitting pink polo shirt, which he teamed with cut-off shorts and flip flops. New York socialite Kylie flaunted her toned tummy in her off-the-shoulder crop top which also had elegant flowing sleeves. James' squeeze paraded her long legs and showcased her sun-kissed tan in infinitely tiny denim shorts and nude sandals. The lovebirds, who are yet to go official with their love, weren't shy about their romantic feelings as they were seen holding hands. Heading out: James sported his fuller figure in his form-fitting pink polo shirt, which he teamed with cut-off shorts Going strong: The lovebirds, who are yet to go official with their love, weren't shy about their romantic feelings as they were seen holding hands Lovely lady: New York socialite Kylie flaunted her toned tummy in her off-the-shoulder crop top which also had elegant flowing sleeves Leggy lady: James' squeeze paraded her long legs and showcased her sun-kissed tan in infinitely tiny denim shorts and nude sandals Making the most of the scenic views in the coastal town on the French Riviera, the couple headed out onto a boat. The couple have gone from strength to strength since they were first romantically linked in December, just six months ago. James and Kylie have been keeping their romance under wraps as they are yet to officially confirm their relationship. The cosy pair were first romantically linked as they enjoyed an intimate getaway to Aspen, Colorado. Yacht a day out! Making the most of the scenic views in the coastal town on the French Riviera, the couple headed out onto a boat Having fun: The lovers were delighted to be joined by a whole bevy of pals for the holiday It's true love: The couple showed they had a close emotional bond as they walked hand-in-hand on their low-key outing James has been soaking up the sunshine in St. Tropez after checking himself out of a private psychiatric clinic. The troubled casino star stayed at the ultra-exclusive, 11-bedroom facility which reportedly charges its patients a lavish $35,000-a-week. It followed James' decision to step down as Chairman of Crown Resorts for 'personal reasons' in March earlier this year. Inseparable: The couple have gone from strength to strength since they were first romantically linked in December, just six months ago Secret: James and Kylie have been keeping their romance under wraps as they are yet to officially confirm their relationship Revealed: James has been soaking up the sunshine in St. Tropez after checking himself out of a private psychiatric clinic Feeling refreshed: The troubled casino star stayed at the ultra-exclusive, 11-bedroom facility which reportedly charges its patients a lavish $35,000-a-week Low-key: James sported a relaxed ensemble as he enjoyed a day in the sun, finishing his outfit with brown leather flip flops Revealing: James and Kylie were joined by a group of pals for the outing, with one sporting a skimpy silver chained maxi dress United: The duo are yet to go public with their relationship Birthday girl North West had the time of her life on Friday. Celebrating her fifth birthday, the preschooler was doted on by daddy Kanye West, who took her to pick out a new pet fish at a store in New York. The delighted youngster, who sported newly straightened hair, rode on Kanye's shoulders, her long locks flipping as they walked. It's North West day! North shows off her new hair as birthday girl rides on daddy Kanye West's shoulders in new York on Friday Hair raising: The delighted youngster, who was turning five, grinned happily as she rode on daddy Kanye West's shoulders, her long luscious hair flipping as they walked Best friends: Rapper Kanye grinned at the cameras as he walked, holding tight to his precious girl, while North's best friend Ryan Romulus hung onto Kanye's sweater The five-year-old's obvious happiness was clearly infectious, with her daddy wearing as wide a smile as his oldest child as they headed into the shop. Rapper Kanye grinned at the cameras as he walked, holding tight to his precious girl, while North's best friend Ryan Romulus hung onto Kanye's sweater. Ryan is the daughter of Kanye's former publicist Tracy Nguyen Romulus, who now works for long-term friend Kim as the head of KKW Brands. Having fun: The five-year-old's obvious happiness was clearly infectious, with her daddy wearing as wide a smile as his oldest child Daddy duty: Kanye was in charge of the girls on North's birthday Holding hands: The trio head inside And the friendship has passed down a generation, with Ryan North's closest friend. Ryan joined the celebrations as North spent her big day alongside brother Saint in New York. Kanye was being a hands on dad, lifting North out of the car, then removing and pocketing the cell phone she and Ryan were playing on - clearly deciding she had enjoyed enough screen time. The boss: Kanye was being a hands on dad, lifting North out of the car, then removing and pocketing the cell phone she and Ryan were playing on - clearly deciding she had enjoyed enough screen time Kanye camp: The girls are based in Los Angeles but were visiting the Big Apple New hair: North's new locks look just like mom Kim's sleek hair While North and Ryan were enjoying their day out together, Tracy Romulus was posting pictures of the best friends to Instagram. 'Happy 5th Birthday North!' wrote Tracy, who like Kim is a mother of three, with musician husband Ray Romulus. 'You are the sweetest, smartest, funniest little girl and the most thoughtful, kindest and loving best friend to my Ryan. We love you so much.' BFFs: While North and Ryan were enjoying their day out together, Tracy Romulus was posting pictures of the best friends to Instagram Hugs! The two friends embrace in one of Tracy's photos Silly times: It's clear their mother's friendship has been passed down a generation Drink up: The pair share breakfast after a sleepover Ariel and Anna: The Disney fans rock their costumes Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique! A trip to DisneyLand with one's BFF The pictures included sleepovers, Disney days and plenty of silly faces. Meanwhile grandmother Kris Jenner, 62 - who prefers to be called Lovey - also shared several images to Instagram with a sweet note. One of the photos showed the child smiling as she sits in a car. Happy kid: North West turned five years old on Thursday. And to celebrate, grandmother Kris Jenner, shared several images to Instagram with a sweet note. One of the photos has never been seen before Only a few weeks old: One of the images was of North as a little baby. She was swaddled in a white blanket and was laying on a shaggy white rug Cutie: Another image shows baby North barefoot in a darling skunk outfit for Halloween Kris, who dates Corey Gamble, wrote: 'Happy birthday to our sweet angel North!! I cant believe you are 5 today! 'I love you so much, you are the greatest blessing, and it brings me so much joy to watch you grow into such a beautiful, fun-loving, spirited, kind, smart and funny little lady! 'Love, Lovey #HappyBirthdayNorth.' One of the images was of North as a little baby. She was swaddled in a white blanket and was laying on a shaggy white rug. Kim lived with Kris at her Hidden Hills mansion when North was first born in 2013 as her home had yet to be remodeled. Another image shows baby North barefoot in a darling skunk outfit for Halloween. And then there is a more recent photo of the child holding her little brother Saint while in a concrete bathtub. And finally there is a shot of the child in a tub as she wears a pink neon hoop earring. Siblings: And then there is a more recent photo of the child holding her little brother Saint while in a concrete bathtub Fun in the tub: And finally there is a shot of the child in a tub as she wears a pink neon hoop earring Close: Mom Kim also shared a note very early in the morning. In the image she was holding North at her joint birthday party with Penelope Disick. The note read, 'My baby girl turns 5 today. Never did I think back then that I would have my best friend for life!' Mom Kim also shared a note very early in the morning. In the image she was holding North at her joint birthday party with Penelope Disick. The note read, 'My baby girl turns 5 today. Never did I think back then that I would have my best friend for life! Im so honored to be your mom Northie! You have brought more joy into my world than I ever could have imagined. I cant believe your so big now! The luckiest girl in the world to be best friends with your cousins and have the most magical parties together! I love you so much birthday girl!' The day before Kim and North were seen with longtime pal Jonathan Cheban getting treats at Dylan's Candy Bar in NYC. She's a runway queen that's known for her sartorial excellence. And Winnie Harlow proved she can rock any style with as she posed up a storm alongside Toni Garrn, 25, at the Montblanc cocktail party in Florance, Italy on Thursday. The stunning model, 23, looked uncharacteristically toned down but still put on an eye-catching display in a thigh-skimming pinstripe blue shirt dress. Sensational: Winnie Harlow, 23, put on a leggy display in office chic shirt dress as she joins glamorous Toni Garrn at Montblanc cocktail bash on Thursday Winnie's endless stems were boosted by a pair of chic black strapped stilettos as she posed up a storm at the star-studded bash. Leaving all the glitzy accessories by the wayside, the catwalk queen polished off her office chic ensemble with a classic black strap watch. Winnie let her voluminous black corkscrew curls fall freely around her face, while smokey make-up accentuated her natural beauty. Stunning: German beauty Toni Garrn, 25, looked sensational in her strapless LBD, with a saucy thigh-slit drawing attention to her slender pins Ultra chic: Leaving all the glitzy accessories by the wayside, the catwalk queen polished off her office chic ensemble with a classic black strapped watch Winnie was discovered by America's Next Top Model host Tyra Banks on Instagram, and became one of the 14 finalists of the twenty-first cycle in 2014. Since then she has soared to fame in the industry and fronted campaigns for Desigual, Diesel and Swarovski atop a host of magazine covers. Earlier in April, the catwalk stunner discussed the changes in the modelling industry in an interview with ELLE Magazine. Keeping busy: Winnie let her voluminous black curls fall freely around her face, while smokey make-up accentuated her natural beauty She explained: 'There is a big shift happening in the fashion industry in terms of beauty standards, and I feel Im part of that shift. 'I remember on Americas Next Top Model, Tyra Banks asked me if a photographer told me to cover my skin for a shoot, would I do it? I said no. I dont care who it is, or who thinks I should. Im going to stay true to myself. Meanwhile, German beauty Toni Garrn looked sensational in her strapless LBD, with a saucy thigh-slit drawing attention to her slender pins. Catwalk queen: Winnie made sure to strike her signature modellesque pose with Montblanc CEO Nicolas Baretzki Smiles: Winnie was discovered by America's Next Top Model host Tyra Banks on Instagram, and became one of the 14 finalists of the twenty-first cycle in 2014 The blonde bombshell elongated her statuesque frame in metallic killer heels as she posed alongside of the Mont Blanc luggage. Toni's glossy blonde locks framed her face in a sleek straight style, while rosy make-up amplified her stunning beauty. The model followed in Winnie's footsteps to forgo the heavy accessories, instead opting for some silver rings and a black timepiece. All black everything: The blonde bombshell elongated her statuesque frame in metallic killer heels as she posed alongside of the Mont Blanc luggage Toni - who previously dated Hollywood A-lister Leonardo DiCapiro - made her acting debut in November as Reeva Steenkamp, the South African model murdered by paralympian boyfriend Oscar Pistorius, in TV film Oscar Pistorius: The Blade Runner Killer. While the film was slammed by Steenkamp's family, Toni revealed she was proud of her work and spoke about what it was like for her to portray Reeva for television audiences. 'It is such a tragic and horrible story,' she told Channel 24. 'This was a young woman who simply fell in love with the wrong person and that it could happen to any woman including myself.' It's the end of the line for the show that celebrated life through food. The final episode of The Chew aired on ABC Friday, in what turned out to be a tearful but festive finale. Co-hosts Michael Symon, Clinton Kelly and Carla Hall toasted viewers as they paid tribute to their fans for a fabulous seven year run. This comes six months after the shows most high-profile co-host, Mario Batali, was fired following sexual misconduct allegations. Scroll down for video Farewell: Co-hosts Michael Symon, Clinton Kelly and Carla Hall toast viewers in series finale Finale: The final show did not have any guests, but instead, focused on favorite moments The love fest started before the show, when Carla, Michael, and Clinton ran through the backstage area and gave high-fives to the crew members. Then when they made it to the set they were greeted with a standing ovation from the audience. That was just the beginning of what would be a wide range of emotions for the stars. All three hosts welled-up with some tears when the episode started. But once the chatter and food kicked-off they seemed to settle in and laugh. Emotional: There were tears, laughter and appreciation for the viewers during the finale Successful run: The Chew won two Daytime Emmy Awards; show ran for seven seasons, aired 1,500 episodes and covered over 6,000 recipes For the finale, the hosts opted not to cook or have guests, but instead, reminisced about their favorite moments from the series. While eating Chinese food, pizza and ice cream, the co-hosts interviewed each other, talked with the producers and played the Food Pyramid one last time. 'Ive heard time and time again that this is not normal, to have two incredible hosts, and to work with an incredible crew,' Hall said through tears in the final moments. 'Were just the people kicking the ball in the goal. It takes a whole team to get the ball down the field.' Symon added, 'This is the most fun any of us have ever had doing television. Its because of the crew that makes the show possible. And obviously, the reason we were able to be on for seven years and 1,500 shows is because all you fans watched every day.' Kelly closed with an emotional farewell, '... Im happy for the opportunity to work with you guys, to work with everybody else here and to come into your living rooms every day and entertain you and inspire you to try something new. Its really meant a lot to me and to us, and I love you guys very, very much.' The team: The co-hosts shared a final goodbye with executive producers Aimee Householder and Gordon Elliott during the final episode ABC cancelled the show three weeks ago in favor of a third hour of Good Morning America. There is a bit of a silver lining for Chew fans though; previously unaired episodes will continue to air on ABC through June 28, and then reruns will be shown throughout the rest of the summer. The Chew premiered back on September 26, 2011. The show won the 2016 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show/Informative It's current co-hosts won the 2015 trophy for Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host a honor they shared with former host Daphne Oz, who exited last season, and Batali. Batali was fired in December after an ABC investigation into multiple sexual misconduct allegations against the celebrity chef. In the end, The Chew ran for seven season, aired 1,500 episodes and covered over 6,000 tasty recipes. Teresa Giudice has had her bankruptcy case, which dates back to 2009, dismissed. A New Jersey federal bankruptcy judge on Monday agreed to dismiss the case so it donesn't complicate The Real Housewives of New Jersey star's malpractice lawsuit against her former bankruptcy lawyer. The bulk of Teresa and husband Joe's debts from the original bankruptcy case have since been resolved however they still owe the IRS and the New Jersey Department of Treasury for which they have payment plans in place. Almost resolved: Teresa Giudice has had her bankruptcy case, which dates back to 2009, dismissed by a New Jersey judge According to Law360.com Judge Stacey L. Meisel said that she would dismiss the matter in order for Teresa, 46, to finalize a settlement with her former bankruptcy attorney James A. Kridel Jr. and avoid further litigation in the malpractice suit. Teresa filed a malpractice lawsuit against her former attorney in December 2014 claiming he made mistakes in the couple's original bankruptcy filing which ultimately led to her and her husband's fraud convictions in 2014. In 2016 Teresa's former bankruptcy trustee, John W. Sywilok made a claim for any potential winnings saying in court documents that any settlement money Teresa gets should be considered an asset that predates the bankruptcy. Sywilok asked that the Chapter 7 be reopened (after it was initially closed in 2014), and that a trustee be appointed to deal with the case. Working on it: The bulk of Teresa and husband Joe's debts from the original bankruptcy case have been resolved however they still owe the IRS and the New Jersey Dept of Treasury for which they have payment plans in place Teresa's lawyers have been fighting Sywilok on the matter but eventually they agreed to share any award, with Teresa getting 55 percent and her creditors 45 percent. Kridel lost his second bid to toss the lawsuit in June 2017 and the parties engaged in mediation and reached the settlement on January 25. Teresa and Joe filed for bankruptcy in October 2009 saying they owed $8.7 million in liabilities to mortgage lenders, credit card companies, lawyers, contractors and others. In 2010 the couple were accused of hiding assets and income in the filing including the $280,000 advance Giudice received for her Skinny Italian cookbook and her monthly salary of over $7,000 from ROHNJ. She's suing: Judge Stacey L. Meisel said that she would dismiss the matter in order for Teresa, 46, to finalize a settlement with her former bankruptcy attorney James A. Kridel Jr. and avoid further litigation in the malpractice suit The following year Joe abandoned his bankruptcy filing which requested to have millions of dollars forgiven in federal bankruptcy court. He pleaded his Fifth Amendment rights when his creditors' bankruptcy trustee questioned him about allegedly hiding his assets and lying about his income. In 2013 the couple were indicted on 39 counts of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, bank fraud, loan application fraud and bankruptcy fraud. The following year they both plead guilty to fraud charges with Joe facing possible deportation. Turned it around: Teresa is thriving after completing 12 months in jail in 2015, she is pictured last week competing in the Bikini Division of the NPC South Jersey Bodybuilding Championships Joe admits to avoiding and not paying up to $1 million in income taxes between 2004 and 2008. Teresa was sentenced to a 15-month prison sentence which she finished three months early in December 2015 while Joe is currently still behind bars completing his 41-month sentence at Fort Dix federal prison. In 2014 the reality of the TV couple's lavish lifestyle was laid bare when it was revealed in court documents that they owed $13 million and had very little equity of their own. In the end, many of their creditors walked away with nothing including five banks which loaned them millions of dollars. Her social media is littered with sizzling bikini selfies and glamorous snaps. And Amber Turner defended her figure after cruel trolls lashed out at her following her red carpet appearance at the annual Caudwell Children Butterfly Ball in London on Thursday. The TOWIE star, 24, hit back at online commentators who poked fun her for looking 'pregnant' in a photo from the evening she proudly posted to Instagram, and wasted no time setting the record straight. Stunning: Amber Turner, 24, hit back at cruel trolls for looking 'pregnant' after showcasing her sensational figure in a plunging satin dress Caudwell Children Butterfly Ball in London During the star-studded event, Amber put her recently surgically-enhanced assets on display in a low-cut satin gown with a perilously slow neckline. The red number highlighted Amber's enviable physique, but some of her followers pointed out her stomach in the slinky design. 'Preggers or just ate too much in Greece?! That aint no hip. Embrace it rather than defend it!' said one teasing fan. Enviable bod: Her social media is littered with sizzling bikini selfies and glamorous snaps Not OK: But Amber didn't take the comment seriously, writing back: 'Its my hip sticking out which caused shadowing on the satin material of my dress but thankssssss' But Amber didn't take the comment to heart, writing back: 'Its my hip sticking out which caused shadowing on the satin material of my dress but thankssssss'. Other loyal fans were quick to jump to Amber's defense, with one fan posting: 'Glamourus beautiful gorgeous amazingly incredibly refreshingly unique figure of a wonderful woman'. 'Look stunning as ever Amber' commented another. 'That ain't no hip': The red number highlighted Amber's enviable physique, but some of her followers pointed out her stomach in the slinky design A third disgruntled fan said: 'Why do people have to be so rude... she looks stunning wish my hip looked like that!!! X' Amber recently confirmed she had gone under the knife back in January, as she flaunted her enhanced chest in an Instagram clip in her quest for body perfection. 'I got them for me, not anyone else, and I feel more 100 times more confident. They've changed my life.' she told The Sun. Glamorous: Amber recently confirmed she had gone under the knife back in January, as she flaunted her enhanced chest in an Instagram clip in her quest for body perfection The reality star said the decision to undergo cosmetic enhancing surgery was not a quick or easy one, explaining it was something she had researched for years due to her body insecurities. She added: 'Every time summer came round the one thing that I felt so so insecure and uncomfortable with was my boobs. I was a 34B so I did have a bit of boob but I felt not in proportion. 'I also had one boob that was slightly smaller than the other (this is very common) & I wanted them both to to be even size'. Katie Price has denied that she has hired a new 18-year-old nanny, after firing the previous one for allegedly sleeping with her estranged husband Kieran Hayler. The glamour model, 40, was pictured with a mystery blonde, who The Sun claimed was her children's new minder, while running errands around her hometown on Friday. However the TV personality has since denied speculation that she has hired the woman as a replacement for her ex-nanny, Nikki Brown. Denial: Katie Price has denied that she has hired a new 18-year-old nanny, after firing the previous one for allegedly sleeping with her estranged husband Kieran Hayler She appeared to have welcomed the blonde beauty, named as Lauryn Cook, into her home as the pair were pictured outside her house in Brighton, reports the Sun. When asked about the image and the story, a spokesman simply said: 'There is no new nanny.' Lauren, who is not much older than her son Harvey, 16, appears to have the same sense of style as the mother-of-five. She regularly takes to Instagram to post sultry selfies in an array of form-fitting ensembles, making sure to copy Katie's signature pout. Sultry: The glamour model, 40, was spotted with a mystery blonde named as Lauryn Cook (pictured), who appeared to be her children's new minder, while running errands around her hometown on Friday although this was denied by Katie's rep Elsewhere, Katie recently revealed her former nanny is taking her to an employment tribunal, after she accused of having an affair with Kieran. Nikki hit headlines after she firmly denied accusations of cheating with Katie Price's husband last year. But she has reportedly confirmed she slept with Kieran Hayler in documents, as part of an employment tribunal, according to The Mirror. The reality star recently revealed she is facing legal action against her former nanny, who is claiming 'thousands of pounds' in unpaid wages. A source told the publication: 'Nikki claims Katie owes her thousands of pounds, which Katie disputes. As part of the tribunal, Nikki is admitting for the first time that the affair took place, confirming they slept together on three or four occasions.' MailOnline previously contacted Katie's representatives for comment. Nikki had worked for the model and her former stripper husband for two-and-a-half years. However, the relationship broke down after Katie claimed she came across 'intimate emails' between the nanny and her husband. Katie also accused Nikki of having sex with her husband 'even in the kids' bathroom', in an interview with The Sun last year. Other woman: Nikki hit headlines after she firmly denied accusations of cheating with Katie Price's husband last year Nikki hit back at the allegations in an interview with MailOnline, she said: 'I'm going to clear my name. I'm not going to be just somebody else that she's disposed of. It's not going to happen. She's vile.' 'It's all just a complete lie. There were no intimate emails. I have the emails. If she'd have sent the emails to the press, they'd have seen there's no intimacy in them emails. It's all a little story that comes from her head.' In response, a source close to Katie said: 'Kate discovered the affair via the email. She didn't have any other evidence of it at all. Just the emails. She's seen everything she needed to see.' The source also denied the nanny's claims to The Sun newspaper that Katie owed her 'thousands of pounds'. 'There's no money owed from Kate's part to her. No money owed,' the source told MailOnline. 'Kate's been straight on to her lawyer because there's no money owed. She's got to be careful what she says.' Former Nanny: Nikki had worked for the model and her former stripper husband for two-and-a-half years In a recent interview with OK! magazine, Katie kept mum on the details on the employment tribunal, but admitted that her two younger children - four-year-old Jett and three-year-old Bunny - had a close relationship with Nikki, during her time as a nanny for the family. The Loose Women star told the publication: 'She was more there for the younger kids. Princess and Junior were not that fond of her. 'I can't say any more about Nikki because she's taking us to an employment tribunal.' You can make a claim to an employment tribunal in the UK if you think someone has treated you unlawfully, such as your employer, a potential employer or a trade union. Unlawful treatment can include unfair dismissal, discrimination and unfair deductions from your pay and the case must be brought within three months of employment being terminated. The Employment Tribunals are a judicial body put together to resolve disputes between employees and employers over their rights. Katie and Kieran share son Jett and daughter Bunny together. She is also mother to Harvey, 15, from her previous relationship with Dwight Yorke, as well as Junior, 12, and daughter Princess, 10, with ex husband Peter Andre. Court documents reveal Jennie Garth had a prenup with soon-to-be ex husband Dave Abrams. Abrams filed for divorce from the 46-year-old Beverly Hills 90210 star in April, according to TMZ. The gossip site says Garth agreed with the 37-year-old actor as to the date of their separation and 'wants to change her name back'. Family feud: Court documents reveal Jennie Garth had a prenup with soon-to-be ex husband Dave Abrams. Pictured with Garth's daughter Lola from a previous marriage in 2017 The Mystery Girls actress' husband apparently cited irreconcilable differences when he filed earlier this year, according to TMZ. Abrams and Garth were married back in 2015 and do not share any children. According to the outlet, the pair actually separated back on August 29, 2017. Sad news: Garth's husband Dave Abrams, 37, apparently cited irreconcilable differences when he filed for divorce in April Abrams has also requested that the right to spousal support be terminated. This will be Garth's third marriage to go south since 1994, when she married her first husband Daniel B. Clark. When that relationship came to an end, she then married Peter Facinelli with whom she had three daughters: Lola, 14, Fiona, 11, and Luca, 20. Try number one: This will be Garth's third marriage to go south since 1994, when she married her first husband Daniel B. Clark (pictured together in 1992) Round two: When that relationship came to an end, she then married Peter Facinelli with whom she had three daughters: Lola, 14, Fiona, 11, and Luca, 20 While the news is unfortunate, it is by no means unexpected. Jennie's representative confirmed she and husband of two years Dave were putting a pause on their relationship in late November. A source said to US Weekly at the time: 'They are taking time apart and working on their marriage. Jennie and Dave are not living together, but 'are still trying to make it [their marriage] work.' In the past: Jennie's representative confirmed she and husband of two years Dave were putting a pause on their relationship in late November (pictured with daughter Fiona Facinelli in October right before the split) 'They love each other, but like every marriage, it takes work. Jennie is taking the time to focus on her girls and herself.' Jennie and Dave tied the knot in an intimate Californian ceremony in July 2015, after having first met on a blind date on December 2, the year prior. While Garth is best known for her role as Kelly Taylor in the famed Beverly Hills, 90210, Abrams had a role on 2 Broke Girls and appeared in The Hike. A weekly round-up of news affecting your health FOOD POISONING Reusable bags used for grocery shopping can be a risk of food poisoning, experts warn. The Food Safety Information Council has launched its food safety advice for re-usable shopping bags in the lead up to the single use plastic bag ban on July 1. "This ban is great for the environment but there can be the risk of food poisoning from reusable bags," said Council Chair, Rachelle Williams. Ms Williams says there are tips shoppers should follow to make sure their reusable bags remain safe, including the use of separate leak-proof, easily washable bags for meat/poultry/seafood and fruit and vegetables. Also, people are advised to get a cooler bag for refrigerated and frozen food and use a clean trolley or basket. Never put fresh fruit and vegetables that won't be peeled or cooked before eating directly into the trolley. People should instead use a clean bag, Ms Williams advised. BLOOD PRESSURE AND DEMENTIA People aged 50 who have high blood pressure are at an increased risk of developing dementia in later life, according to an Oxford University Study. Published in the European Health Journal, the study of more than 10,000 people found the risk of dementia was present in participants who didn't have other heart or blood vessel-related health issues. "Previous research has not been able to test the link between raised blood pressure and dementia directly by examining the timing in sufficient detail," said author Dr Jessica Abell. "In our paper we were able to examine the association at age 50, 60 and 70, and we found different patterns of association. This will have important implications for policy guidelines, which currently only use the generic term 'midlife'," said Dr Abell. AUTISM New research shows children with autism could be more likely to have allergies. Analysis of data from almost 200,000 US children found those on the autism spectrum were almost three times more likely to have food allergies compared to children not on the autism spectrum. They were also more likely to have respiratory allergies, for example pet allergies or hay fever, and skin allergies. Children with ASD, compared to children without ASD, were more likely reported to have: * Food allergy (11.25 per cent vs. 4.25 per cent) * Respiratory allergy (18.7 per cent vs. 12 per cent) * Skin allergy (16.8 per cent vs. 9.8 per cent) "In a nationally representative sample of US children, a significant and positive association of common allergic conditions, in particular food allergy, with ASD was found," the authors concluded. The findings, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), warrant further research to explain the link, the authors said. SUPER SATURDAY OF BY-ELECTIONS: * Australia has never had five federal by-elections on the one day, with federal Speaker Tony Smith setting the date for July 28. * Voter rolls close on June 22, while nominations close on July 5. THE SEATS AND CANDIDATES SO FAR: * LONGMAN - Queensland seat held by Labor's Susan Lamb with margin of 0.8 per cent. Lamb's dual British citizenship triggered the by-election, but she will recontest. The Liberal National Party, standing former state MP Trevor Ruthenberg, will be the largest beneficiary of One Nation preferences. Labor will need a strong primary vote and Greens preferences to hold the seat. * BRADDON - Tasmanian seat held by Labor's Justine Keay on 2.2 per cent margin. Keay was also a victim of the dual citizenship saga, acquiring British citizenship through her father. She will recontest. Former independent senator Jacqui Lambie has ruled out a tilt. Liberals believe former MP Brett Whiteley can win it back, having lost it in 2016. * FREMANTLE - WA seat held by Labor's Josh Wilson on a 7.5 per cent margin. Another victim of the citizenship saga. He will recontest. Wilson has a healthy margin in the seat of former Labor prime minister John Curtin. The Greens will contest, but are unlikely to succeed. The Liberals won't stand a candidate. * MAYO - South Australian seat of Centre Alliance (formerly Nick Xenophon Team) Rebekha Sharkie, held by 5 per cent. Sharkie's British dual citizenship led to the by-election. She will recontest but with the new party brand Centre Alliance, not the Xenophon name. The Liberal Party wants its seat back and have chosen Georgina Downer, daughter of former federal minister Alexander Downer. * PERTH - WA seat held by Labor's Tim Hammond on a 3.3 per cent margin. Hammond is retiring to spend more time with his family. Labor has preselected its state secretary Patrick Gorman, a former Kevin Rudd staffer and mastermind of Labor's 2017 WA state election victory. The Liberals are not contesting it, which has angered party members. Labor is likely to hold the seat. A Victorian man is accused of asking children he met online to send him child abuse material created by them. The 28-year-old man from Swan Reach has been charged with two counts of using a carriage service to groom a person under 16 and he is expected to face the Bairnsdale Magistrates Court on Friday. The arrest came after federal and Victorian police raided a caravan park on Thursday, seizing two digital devices. Investigators will allege the man engaged children online and requested they send him child abuse material created by them. The maximum penalty for the offences is 12 years' jail. Queensland Treasurer Jackie Trad is seeking a meeting with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to avoid the state being docked more than $1 billion in GST revenue. The federal government is yet to respond to a Productivity Commission report recommending a reallocation of GST revenue that could see Queensland's slice of the pie drop by as much as $1.6 billion. Ms Trad has told state parliament she's been worried by reports Tasmania has received assurances it won't lose any funding, and she's seeking clarification about Queensland's position. Police search teams are scouring bushland north of Sydney in an attempt to find the body a Chinese woman allegedly murdered by her teenage roommate. Twenty-eight-year-old Qi Yu is believed to have gone missing last Friday night from her Campsie home in the city's southwest. Her friends reported her missing on Saturday after they woke to find her missing from her room. Her car, a white Toyota Corolla - with number plates DLK-13P - was dumped four kilometres away in Burwood on Saturday. On Wednesday, 19-year-old Shuo Dong was arrested upon his release from hospital and charged with murder. Using phone records, police on Friday revealed that they had tracked the movements of Ms Yu's car to the areas in the city's north around Hornsby, Berowra, Cowan and Mt Kuring-gai on the night she went missing. It is believed the car, which has green P-plates, was dumped in Burwood around midnight, police said. Detective Superintendent Kerrie Lewis appealed for help from the public. "Really we would like to appeal to anyone who might be bushwalking in that area over the weekend - mountain biking," she told reporters in Campsie on Friday. She urged people to keep an eye out for women's clothing or bedding which may help them narrow down the search area. Dong did not appear in Burwood Local Court on Wednesday and bail was formally refused. Ms Yu's family has arrived in Sydney from China. Malcolm Turnbull's personal income tax plan will go to the Senate on Monday despite not having full support from Labor. The federal government's plan brings in tax cuts for the coming financial year, as well as abolishing an entire tax bracket in 2024. Labor supports the tax cut for low- and middle-income workers, but says getting rid of the tax bracket is a step too far. The coalition could target Pauline Hanson's One Nation to provide key votes in the Senate, as she has already flip-flopped a number of times on her support for corporate tax cuts. The company tax cut has stalled in the Senate, but the coalition is only a few votes from getting the support it needs. "If Labor continues to stand in the way of us legislating a globally more competitive tax rate then yes, the Australian Senate would be holding the Australian economy, jobs and wages back," Finance Minister Mathias Cormann told Sky News on Friday. Senator Cormann called on the Senate to pass both the income tax cuts and the company cuts. Laws making it illegal to send out text messages which appear to come from federal government bodies will also go to parliament next week. The laws are being put in place to stop a repeat of the "Mediscare" campaign in 2016, where Labor sent messages that appeared to come from Medicare. Senators will also examine the national redress scheme for survivors of institutional child sex abuse, which the government wants in place before July 1. The government and opposition will use the lower house to press home their election messages ahead of the July 28 'Super Saturday' by-elections. The coalition is campaigning on its economic record, jobs growth and the personal income tax cuts, while Labor is fighting against tax handouts for big businesses and the promise of an even larger personal tax cut. The writs for the elections in Braddon, Mayo, Longman, Fremantle and Perth were officially issued on Friday, with Labor expected to hold the WA seats comfortably, but battle the Liberals in Queensland and Tasmania. The Liberals' Georgina Downer and Centre Alliance's Rebekha Sharkie will fight it out for South Australia's Mayo. MPs in the lower house will debate veterans affairs laws, and laws making it harder for newly-arrived migrants to access welfare payments. A concerned One Nation senator Peter Georgiou has expressed doubts about his preselection, but been told he has nothing to worry about. Long-time One Nation member Brian Burston this week quit the party due to a dispute over company tax cuts and serious doubts over whether he would keep the top spot on the party's NSW ticket for the Senate. Senator Georgiou told The West Australian he was also unclear if he would keep top spot in his state for Pauline Hanson's party. "There's been a lot of rumours thrown around," Senator Georgiou told the newspaper. "I am the sitting senator. I am assuming I would be (named in the number one spot), but anything's possible." However AAP understands One Nation powerbrokers have told him he has nothing to worry about over his preselection. One Nation's Senate candidate teams for the election due by May 2019 will be announced within the next three weeks. The founder of Sydney's Harbour Bridge climb experience has lost its contract after 20 years in business, with the NSW government handing operations to another company. The operators of Scenic World in the Blue Mountains, the most visited privately-owned tourist attraction in Australia, has been awarded a 20-year contract, the NSW Roads and Maritime Services announced on Friday. Family business Hammons Holdings - which will take over from BridgeClimb Sydney on October 1 - is promising new climb routes, improved accessibility and new technologies for a "more interactive visitor experience". Indigenous mayors from across Queensland are travelling to Canberra in a last-ditch lobbying effort for remote housing funding. They will meet with Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion and demand he stump up the cash or face job losses in communities already crippled by unemployment as well as a decline in people's health due to overcrowding. "There are a lot of families living in a bedroom, and you can see the health effect, there's always skin disease outbreaks, rheumatic fever has been up on the rise," Lockhart River Mayor Wayne Butcher told AAP. A Hobart man who stole almost $282,000 from his sick elderly mother, leaving her without money to pay for nursing home care, has been jailed. Ronald Peter Walker, 71, transferred money to bank accounts belonging to himself and his two children after being granted power of attorney of his widowed mother Rena's estate in June 2009. "Some was wasted on trivialities and luxury domestic items, but he offered no explanation for how the rest was spent," Justice Robert Pearce said in sentencing at Hobart Supreme Court this week. "The money was not his but he used it as his own. It has all gone." The court heard Walker had transferred $105,000 out of his mother's account by the time she moved into a nursing home in July 2009. She was suffering from dementia and was unable to manage her own affairs. About two months after Rena moved into the nursing home, her Berriedale home was sold, with $189,586 in proceeds paid into a bank account opened by Walker in his mother's name. "It meant that by March 2012 ... there was not enough of her money left to meet the cost of her nursing home care," Justice Pearce said of the fraud. When a representative of the nursing home raised the matter with Walker he said there was no money left in either of two bank accounts because his mother "gave most of it to us". Rena died in March 2014 aged 95. The court heard Walker had also taken his sister's inheritance, likely to be more than $100,000. Walker was sentenced to two years and eight months' jail and will be eligible for parole after half that time. He had earlier pleaded guilty to 112 counts of fraudulently dealing with trust property. Walker has been ordered to pay back $281,962 to his mother's estate. It's hard to imagine a lone pussycat on a hilltop, calmly licking his paws as calamity billows behind him. But even though it seems unlikely that a cat could outlive 10 men in a volcanic landslide punctuated by spewing sulphur, it did actually happen 100 years ago on New Zealand's White Island. The story of how Peter the tabby became the lone survivor of a a shocking geological catastrophe in 1914 has become a legend in a country already brimming with myths and fantastic, heroic stories. About 10 miners had set up camp to get a sulphur-harvesting operation underway on the island - about a 90-minute boat ride in today's terms from coastal township Whakatane. The country's most active marine volcano was dangerous terrain with sulphur spurting, shooting and steaming out of angry yellow chasms amid an environment acidic enough to literally digest you as you work. Still, no one was expecting to turn up one day and see the landscape had shifted so dramatically, with seemingly no survivors. But standing amongst the rubble, looking every bit the risen Phoenix, was Peter the cat - quickly renamed Peter the Great. Peter was whisked away to the nearby mainland township of Opotiki, where the fecund feline sired many kittens, considered exceptionally good luck by the townsfolk. There's something fantastical about this landscape that lends itself to legends, so it's not surprising this story remains in the region's modern folklore. This is the region the Maori first arrived in 800 years ago searching for new land and the highly prized green stone - commonly known today as jade. But while new tales are firmly entrenched in the region's zeitgeist, the old stories were starting to fade away. On a trip to White Island - known in Maori as Whakaari - tour sea operations manager Paul Kingi tells me how Maori people are scrambling to reclaim their history, their stories, their language, and halt all of this treasure "going to the grave". Paul, 53, is able to trace his Maori ancestry back 27 generations to a tribal chief who first arrived in New Zealand via this remarkable coastline in his weka (canoe). He says it's important for Maori people to preserve their stories across the nation as best they can. It's a recent thing - when Paul was at school, the government had banned children from speaking Maori . The same went for his mum and his gran. It's only today's generation that again is encouraged to learn its native tongue. But along with the banning of the Maori language went their stories too. Luckily, young Maori people in New Zealand these days are speaking their native tongue together, bringing fresh energy and a resurrection to their culture, which some say they almost lost. Paul says it's vital for Maori people to know their history, stories and language. "Unless you know where you come from, you probably won't know where you're going to go," he says. Perhaps one of the oldest stories Paul tells me is a rather sweet - and odd - love story. White Island, or Whakaari, is a female mountain who was pursued by the already-married mountain Taranaki. The problem was that mountains can only move at night, and they can only move once, and by the time the sun had come up, Taranaki had not even come close to Whakaari. Another legend highlights a beautiful statue of a young girl at the Whakatane waterfront. Wairaka was the daughter of a Maori chief who first came to the region. She heroically saved the women of her group from floating out to sea. The boat trip to White Island is wonderful - dolphins frolic beside the vessel and staff are on-hand to share the region's stories. But arrival at the island is most magical of all. Sulphur hisses, steams and spouts out of holes. Certain parts of the terrain are a strict no-no for walking - the land here is like eggs full of molten rock - so you need to be careful where you put your feet lest those "eggs" crack open. But it's not inaccessible - visitors are permitted to taste the sulphur rocks found on the ground, and even sample the iron-rich "volcano juice" - streams of hot water that flow from the mountain itself. A walk around the island is also full of stories - of a tragic suicide by an explorer, whose shoes were found beside a notorious volcanic ledge. Another story tells the tale of a would-be miner who tied himself to a post when he saw the treacherous terrain. More recently, Kiwi supermodel Rachel Hunter made waves when she returned to the island for a glamorous photoshoot. But far from being a distraction from Maori history, these modern stories seem only to continue the folklore - and the magic. And it's the very telling of the stories - to tourists, to journalists, or to anyone who listens - that keeps that history alive. IF YOU GO GETTING THERE: White Island Tours will pick you up from the waterfront at Whakatane and take you on a half-day tour. Price is $NZ219 ($A204). The nearest airports to Whakatane are Rotorua and Tauranga. Travellers from Australia can fly to Auckland and onwards with Air New Zealand. STAYING THERE: White Island Rendezvous shares its reception area with the tour check-in, and it's across the road from the pick-up area. Accommodation starts at $NZ119 ($A110) a night. Tour and accommodation package deals can be booked at www.whiteisland.co.nz OTHER LEGENDARY VOLCANOES WORTH VISITING: Mt Tarawera at Rotorua offers an incredible crater walk experience. Visit www.kaitiaki.co.nz/guided-tours. Skyline Rotorua is a family fun experience with a scenic chairlift, followed by a luge ride and a massive, sumptuous buffet on the top of Mount Ngongotaha. The island volcano Rangitoto is another option for those visiting Auckland. See www.rangitoto.org For more, www.newzealand.com The writer travelled as a guest of Tourism New Zealand A handful of lucky Sydney commuters scored a 10 per cent discount when topping up their Opal cards at a CBD counter due to a short-lived Woolworths system error. The tip-off was posted on discount website OzBargain at 7.12am after a user received a discount off his $100 top up at Town Hall Woolworths. The user wrote that one staff member told him "Opal is offering 10 per cent off", while another confirmed it was "a system error". "Massive queue at Woolies Town Hall right now," Kerfuffle posted on the bargain website. "Guy in front of me is going to take a while as he's topping up two Opal cards." Other commuters joined the thread posting screenshots showing receipts with prices marked down before Woolworths fixed the technical error. Woolworths has not confirmed what caused the technical glitch, however, staff at the top-up counter confirmed to AAP the problem had been rectified after two hours. One Woolworths employee thought the discount was compensation after Transport Minister Andrew Constance announced earlier this week that Opal fares were going up from July 2. The death of a man who was found wrapped in a blanket on a street in regional South Australia is being treated as suspicious. Adrian Trett was found unconscious on David Street at Mannum on April 23. He was transported to the Royal Adelaide Hospital but died on May 5. The 45-year-old had suffered a serious head injury, SA Police inspector Billy Thompson says. "We do not believe his injuries were sustained in David Street and we know he was at an address in Asmus Street in the days leading up to this incident," Insp Thompson said. Police are appealing for witnesses especially three people who were seen standing near Mr Trett. "It is suspected they were wrapping these three blankets around him," Insp Thompson said. The trial of Australian filmmaker and accused spy James Ricketson has been postponed in a Cambodian court after a bench of three judges granted him more time to prepare his defence. Ricketson has told the Phnom Penh court he was told he would be charged with espionage only last week and he has not been served with a formal indictment. "I have not been provided with a summons to appear in court," he told Judge Seng Leang on Friday. "I have no understanding of the statement of facts that is being used to indict me. "I only have a one-page document from the prosecutor in which he recommends that I be indicted under Article 446. The document provides no evidence that I am guilty of any crime at all." Ricketson has denied charges of espionage. Prosecutors recently finished a year-long investigation, combing for evidence that might support charges of espionage tied to the now-dissolved opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP). The CNRP has been banned by the courts from contesting national elections on July 29 after Prime Minister Hun Sen claimed its leaders were fomenting a colour revolution. The court was expected to begin formal hearings on espionage charges on Friday. His lawyer was not present, citing pressing business elsewhere. Looking tired and dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit, Ricketson, 69, asked the court for a one-month delay. "I only heard on the grapevine that I was to be charged with espionage," he told AAP. Judge Seng Leang agreed with Ricketson's submission, saying a fresh date would be set and the defence would be informed. Ricketson's case has been marked by repeated delays over bail hearings and investigations by prosecutors, with recent appearances restricted to question-and-answers over about 15,000 emails that were stored on his computer. His health has deteriorated amid a number of complaints including scabies, a persistent chest infection and dizzy spells. In early May, he was transferred from a cramped cell to a prison infirmary. Outside court, Ricketson's son Jesse said he was relieved the delay was granted. "We were surprised his case came up so quick," he said, adding the decision to prosecute on breaches of national security was made only a week ago. "Whether he's actually been indicted is still an open question. We don't know, we can't proceed without one." Ricketson's plight has moved many in Australia, where a petition calling for his release has received about 76,200 signatures. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has intervened and written a letter to the Cambodian government on Ricketson's behalf. A Queensland man set to face trial over a dozen terror charges has instead pleaded guilty to two offences. On Friday it emerged that Agim Kruezi has pleaded guilty to preparing for incursion into a foreign state and preparing or planning for a terrorist act, while 10 other charges were withdrawn during a brief hearing at Brisbane Supreme Court. Kruezi has been behind bars since being arrested with Omar Succarieh in a series of counter-terrorism raids in September 2014. Succarieh pleaded guilty to four foreign incursion offences in 2016 after more serious terror-related charges were withdrawn. He was jailed for a minimum of three years. Succarieh sent $US43,700 ($A57,356) to his brother Abraham Succarieh in 2014 while he was fighting alongside terror group Jabhat al-Nusra. The pair spoke in code to arrange the payments, describing cash and how much he would send in the terms of "sweets" and "kilos". The court had heard Succarieh believed it was his religious duty to involve himself in the Syrian conflict. Details around the charges to which Kruezi has pleaded guilty are yet to be finalised, crown prosecutor Ben Power said on Friday. When he was initially charged it was alleged he was preparing for incursions into Iraq and Syria and had recruited people for ISIS, and had also stockpiled weapons for a terrorist attack in Australia.. Kruezi is due to be sentenced at a two-day hearing in late July. An advertising executive and commentator is refusing to delete a social media post mocking Queensland opposition frontbencher Jarrod Bleijie, despite being referred to the parliament's powerful Ethics Committee. Dee Madigan last month posted a gif of Mr Bleijie ripping up a piece of paper in state parliament with the comment "Your taxes at work. A toddler tantrum for @JarrodBleijieMP". Mr Bleijie complained to the speaker Curtis Pitt, who referred Ms Madigan to the committee, because under parliamentary rules vision from the floor of the house can't be used for "satire or ridicule". A pensioner who admits stabbing his son to death told detectives it wasn't a pleasant sensation but he did the right thing because the 23-year-old was "like a terrorist". The body of Matthew Kyle Fisher-Turner was uncovered in the backyard of his family's Perth home in late October 2016 after his father Ernest Albert Fisher, 67, confessed to the killing under questioning by police, and told them it was there. In a video-recorded interview played in the Supreme Court of WA on Friday, Fisher initially said he believed his son was "over east" but admitted the crime after about one-and-a-half hours of questioning, saying he did it because Matthew was a violent "arsehole". Fisher cracked after it was pointed out to him he'd been speaking about his son in the past tense and when a detective asked him if another family member had done it. "It was me. I'd already decided," Fisher said. He claimed his son had left him with bruises from beatings, raising his shirt to show them, and he'd also been aggressive towards his siblings, including threatening to set bikie friends onto them. "He was an arsehole. A complete and utter arsehole," Fisher said. On the day of the killing, about four weeks before the confession, Matthew had taken his father's car keys after reporting a problem with his own vehicle, and that angered Fisher, who planned to drive to a friend's house to watch the AFL grand final. He said he thought about it for about "five minutes" before retrieving two big kitchen knives from the shed and returning to the house, where he stabbed his son about five times in the side as he stood in his brother Joshua's room. "Footy was a priority - I didn't want to miss it," Fisher told detectives. "I wanted to get the jump on him. He went down and that was it. "It wasn't a pleasant sensation, killing your own son. "I think I've done the right thing in a twisted sort of way." Fisher said he started digging a hole in the backyard then left to watch the match. Asked where Matthew was when he returned home some six hours later, Fisher replied "in the ground", then laughed. Fisher is charged with murder but is arguing self-defence in a bid to be found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter. Two of his other children, Joshua Douglas Fisher-Turner and Hannah Jayde Fisher-Turner, are accused of being accessories. The trial continues. The South Australian Catholic Church will not adhere to a change in law requiring priests to report confessions of child sex abuse, the Acting Archbishop of Adelaide says. Under the new law, set to take effect in October, priests who hear confessions about child abuse will have a legal obligation to report the matter to police. "Politicians can change the law, but we can't change the nature of the confessional, which is a sacred encounter between a penitent and someone seeking forgiveness and a priest representing Christ," Bishop Greg O'Kelly told ABC Radio Adelaide on Friday. The NSW Nationals have voted in support of laws that would force religious clergy to break confessional to report child abuse. Former state education minister Adrian Piccoli interrupted the NSW Nationals annual conference proceedings to call for the government to introduce expanded mandatory reporting laws on Friday. Mr Piccoli requested an urgency motion at the Nationals conference in Cowra, requiring religious clergy to report knowledge or suspicions of child abuse, regardless of the seal of confession. The motion was seconded by NSW Police Minister Troy Grant. "Two weeks ago I spoke to a Catholic priest and I said 'if you became aware through the confessional that my son was being sexually abused, would you tell me, or would you tell any authority?' and he said 'no'," Mr Piccoli told the conference. "I don't think there could be anything more important than child protection." Federal Nationals senator John Williams spoke against the motion, telling the conference there was no way priests would adhere to the laws. "No matter what law you make, you will never, ever get a priest to breach confidentiality of the confession. Never ever," Senator Williams said. However, Mr Piccoli said arguments around canon law held no weight. "The laws of Macquarie Street and Canberra take precedence over canon law, sharia law, or anything else," he said. The motion passed comfortably after a short debate. Authorities in the Northern Territory have ruled out the widespread destruction of citrus plants to protect the industry despite an eighth case of canker disease being detected. The latest canker cases were found at Marrakai, south-east of Darwin, with more cases detected in WA at Kununurra and Wyndham along with eight in the Top End. That has prompted major Queensland citrus grower Craig Pressler to this week call to protect the $750 million industry by immediately destroying all citrus trees in restricted and control areas in WA and the NT, and for owners to be compensated. However the current restrictions - which had left fruit to rot because it could not be sold interstate - were sufficient and there was no need to destroy plants currently, NT Director for Biosecurity and Animal Welfare Sarah Corcoran said. Those restrictions were relaxed this week with interstate access again provided. That is because all canker cases involve plants bought from a Darwin nursery that sells potted products. The disease was not naturally spreading and therefore does not threaten orchards producing fruit that ends up in Australia's supermarkets and grocers. "There has still been no detection of citrus canker on any commercial citrus-growing properties in the Northern Territory," Ms Corcoran said. However they are tracking 3000 citrus plants sold by the nursery that were moved interstate in the last 12 to 18 months. Mr Pressler this week called for the destruction of the plants to try and "save the 28,000 ha of trees in the rest of the country that may be in the path of the outbreak of Asiatic citrus canker". His property is at Emerald in Queensland, where a disastrous outbreak of canker in 2004 resulted in the deliberate destruction of millions of dollars worth of crops and half a million trees but it worked and eradicated the disease, he said. "They (growers) want the same action taken now as in Emerald in 2004 - discard the cookie-cutter option and destroy all host plants in the NT before the disease has a chance to spread," he said. Canker is a contagious bacterial disease that greatly affects the quality of fruits such as limes, lemons, citron, mandarins, oranges and grapefruit. The disease spreads rapidly in tropical climates by wind-blown rain. The Queensland government says it supports 244 of the 409 recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The government tabled its response to the Royal Commission in parliament on Friday, accepting 88 recommendations and supporting 156 in principle, while almost 90 were referred for further consideration and the rest were noted. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said one of those accepted was signing up to the National Redress Scheme, to which $550 million of this week's state budget was allocated. In this regard, the Head of State remarked this initiative is the outcome of public and private sectors' efforts aimed at placing value on regions . Plus, he made a call to pursue this path in the future. A Sydney father-to-be who was accused of flashing female joggers has pleaded guilty to stalking, common assault and acts of indecency. After Andrew James Grant was arrested in March, police alleged a rope, balaclava, gloves and a muzzle were found at his home. An unsuccessful bail application the NSW Supreme Court last month heard Grant's partner was expecting their first child in July. The 29-year-old pleaded guilty in Central Local Court on Thursday to four counts of stalking and intimidation, two acts of indecency and common assault. Other charges - including assault with an act of indecency, wilful and obscene exposure, behaving in an offensive manner, and other counts of stalking and intimidation - were withdrawn or dismissed. Police previously said some of the alleged incidents on the Bay Run in Sydney's inner west in January and February happened as early as 7.30am and others at 10pm. Grant was accused of stalking one victim at 3.30pm before targeting her again three hours later. His behaviour had been escalating and "becoming increasingly unpredictable and brazen", police said during Grant's first court appearance. He was nabbed after police released an image of the suspected flasher and called for help identifying him. Grant is scheduled to be sentenced in the same court on August 8. Brad Fittler's hopes of carrying an unchanged NSW side into State of Origin II have been thrown into doubt with Penrith prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard suffering a suspected broken jaw. The Blues starting front-rower left the field midway through the first half of the Panthers' clash with the Sydney Roosters, following a hit from opposing prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. Penrith have confirmed the 24-year-old will not return, meaning he will likely require scans on the injury - placing him in doubt for next Sunday's match at ANZ Stadium. Supermarket chain Woolworths has reportedly changed its mind and will allow a Melbourne car park to be the scene of a nude shoot by world-renowned photographer Spencer Tunick. Woolies says it will now be able to clear the Prahran rooftop car park for the mid-winter Monday morning group shot, according to the Herald Sun. Thousands have signed up to pose for New York-based Tunick as part of the Provocare Festival of the Arts in July. Five thousand people posed for him on the Princes Bridge when he visited Melbourne in 2001. The artist last visited Australia in 2010, photographing nude people on the steps of the Sydney Opera House. He has also staged photos at New York's Grand Central Station and United Nations building. Two men have been extradited from NSW to Queensland after being charged with serious drug offences over an alleged failed plot to import 300kg of South American cocaine into Australia. The Sydney men, aged 57 and 63, were arrested after raids in Rozelle and Maroubra and charged with conspiring to import a commercial quantity of drugs, an offence which carries a maximum life imprisonment. Australian Federal Police have accused the men of being key organisers of a criminal syndicate intending to import the drugs, which were to be transported from Peru via Singapore and Papua New Guinea. Logan woman Dulcie Wagambio was charged with dealing in the proceeds of crime in relation to the AFP's investigation with international counterparts. Wagambio appeared at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday where she received bail and her case was adjourned to July 27. The cocaine, which is estimated to have a street value of $105 million, was to travel from PNG to Queensland through the Torres Strait, the AFP believes. Victoria Police will spend the day at the Melbourne park where a young woman was raped and murdered to talk to the public about safety. Officers will be at Princes Park at North Carlton from 10am to 2pm on Saturday along with counsellors and support people from the Red Cross and Victorian Council of Churches. The death of aspiring comedian Eurydice Dixon, 22, this week has sparked a public debate about the safety of women. Broadmeadows 19-year-old Jaymes Todd has been charged with her murder and police believe the two had no previous connection. Ms Dixon reportedly messaged her boyfriend "I'm almost home safe HBU (how about you)" before she was attacked. "Victoria Police would like to reassure the community that they can go about their usual business," the force said in a statement. "As police, it is our role to provide people with both reassurance but also tips on how we can all stay safe in our community." Premier Daniel Andrews took to social media on Friday to urge women to not change their behaviours. "Go about your day exactly as you intend, on your terms, because women don't need to change their behaviour. Men do," he wrote in a Facebook post. But Police Minister Lisa Neville and Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp admit they do not always feel safe themselves. "I want to be able to be safe in my community, I want to be able to walk through the streets, I want to be safe at home and unfortunately that's not the case," Ms Neville told reporters. A vigil has also been organised for Monday evening at Princes Park, aimed at reclaiming the public space where Ms Dixon was found. Todd will reappear in Melbourne Magistrates' Court in October. His father Jason Todd told Fairfax his family were in shock and offered Ms Dixon's family "our deepest condolences". People keen to get their kit off on a Melbourne supermarket car park in the middle of winter rejoice - Woolworths is giving world-renowned photographer Spencer Tunick's shoot the green light. Woolies says it will now be able to clear the Prahran rooftop car park for the July morning group shot, according to the Herald Sun. Thousands have signed up to pose for New York-based Tunick as part of the Provocare Festival of the Arts in July. Five thousand people posed for him on the Princes Bridge when he visited Melbourne in 2001. The artist last visited Australia in 2010, photographing nude people on the steps of the Sydney Opera House. He has also staged photos at New York's Grand Central Station and United Nations building. Police mounted a rescue operation, calling in divers, after a car crashed into a dam in Tasmania. Witnesses reported a vehicle had run off Boyer Road in Dromedary, northwest of Hobart, and into a dam on Friday night but were unable to tell police if the driver had been in it. The car was fully submerged and with poor visibility, divers were unable to tell if there was anyone in it. When police pulled the vehicle from the dam, they found it was empty. A man was then located near the scene suffering from hypothermia. He was taken to hospital for treatment and is assisting police with their inquiries. Boyer Road was closed for several hours during the operation. Two men say their vehicle has been pursued and fired on in the early hours of the morning in Albury. A 47-year-old man and a 31-year-old man say they chatted with a man they didn't know at a unit block on Kaitlers Road, Lavington, at 12.30am before getting into their Holden Commodore and driving away. As they did so, they noticed the man and two other men get into a grey Ford Falcon and begin chasing their car at high speed. A number of shots were allegedly fired in the direction of the Holden. Eventually the victims lost the pursuing Ford, at which time they noticed damage consistent with a shotgun shell to the rear bumper of the Holden. One tyre was also deflated. The car is being forensically tested. A woman has been indecently assaulted after her phone was stolen in Melbourne. The woman told police she was at a shopping centre in Broadmeadows on the evening of June 8 when she left her mobile phone momentarily unattended at a kiosk, with a man running off it. She made contact with the man who demanded money for the phone. She agreed to meet the man in Pascoe Vale South, where he indecently assaulted her and fled with both the cash and phone. Police have released images and CCTV vision of a man they believe may be able to assist with their inquiries. He is perceived as being of southern European appearance, about 30 years of age and approximately 170-175cm tall with a stock build, dark shaved hair and a beard and moustache. The man was wearing a black hooded top with a white snake motif on the front and back, olive green pants and black runners. A Pakistani civil society activist holds a placard bearing the image of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader Maulana Fazlullah during a protest in Islamabad on January 16, 2015 The US military said Thursday it carried out a strike targeting a senior militant leader in Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province, where Pakistani Taliban chief Maulana Fazlullah is believed to be hiding. "US forces conducted a counterterrorism strike, June 13, in Kunar province, close to the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which targeted a senior leader of a designated terrorist organization," Lieutenant Colonel Martin O'Donnell said in a statement. The statement did not name Fazlullah, but added that US forces were continuing to "adhere to a ceasefire" which Kabul has entered into with the Afghan Taliban, the country's main insurgents, seemingly ruling out any targets from that group. Afghanistan's defence ministry spokesman said that Fazlullah was among the dead. "I can confirm that the TTP leader Fazlullah was killed in a joint Afghan and US operation in Kunar on Thursday," Mohammad Radmanesh said, using the group's Urdu name, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). There was no official confirmation from Pakistan, but a Pakistani senior security source told AFP that Fazlullah is believed to have been killed. Without access to the area such incidents are difficult to verify, and top militant leaders have been reported dead before only to resurface. The US State Department in March announced a $5 million reward for help locating Fazlullah, who has been linked to bloody attacks in Pakistan and the 2010 attempted Times Square car bombing in New York. It said the group has "demonstrated a close alliance with Al-Qaeda" and had given explosives training to Faisal Shahzad, the would-be Times Square bomber. The group was behind the massacre of more than 150 people at a Peshawar school in December 2014, and nine dead in another attack in December 2017 in the same city. It was also responsible for the October 2012 shooting of Malala Yousafzai, who became a global symbol of the fight for girls' rights to schooling. According to Pakistani officials, Fazlullah, who is believed to be in his forties, took refuge in Afghanistan after the TTP was pushed out of Pakistan following multiple offensives by the military on its safe havens. Snapchat rocketed to popularity, especially among teens, after the initial app was released in September 2011 Snapchat messaging service on Thursday set out to spread its reach, and panache, to other smartphone apps with a software kit that promised to share little data about users. Parent company Snap said people will be able to use Snapchat credentials to sign into apps the way they might do using Facebook or Google credentials, while strictly limiting access to personal data or activity tracking. The software kit will also allow free Snapchat features such as filters, stories or "Bitmojis" to appear in other applications, according to the California-based firm. The kit, aimed at making Snapchat more ubiquitous in the world of smartphone apps, was built with privacy as a priority, Snap vice president of product Jacob Andreou told AFP. "We did not want to lower privacy expectations," Andreou said. The move comes as Facebook deals with aftershocks of a data privacy scandal that rocked the leading online social network. Facebook admitted that up to 87 million users may have had their data hijacked by British consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica. The firm, which was working for US President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign, has since declared bankruptcy. Snap committed to making the kit well before the scandal involving Cambridge Analytica getting data about users from a psychological research app. Facebook has since been hammered with criticism for not guarding more carefully user data collected by apps synched to the social network. - 'Snappening' lessons - Snapchat sign-ins to other apps will use nicknames and "Bitmoji" avatars instead of personal data from profiles, according to the company. Snap also vowed to carefully scrutinize what applications do with the new software tools. Snap deputy general counsel Katherine Tassi said that the service learned from an incident nearly four years ago when a huge trove of evidently intercepted Snapchat images and videos were exposed online. In what was referred to in late 2014 as "The Snappening," people who used a third-party program instead of the official Snapchat application had copies of supposedly transient missives squirreled away by hackers who then posted them online. Snap wanted to "make sure that we build security and privacy into the design" when creating the kit for outside developers, according to Tassi. Snap has been modifying the app, sometimes to the chagrin of users, in the name of broadening the appeal of the youth-oriented service. "We are now focused on optimizing the redesign based on our ongoing experimentation and learning," Snap co-founder and chief executive Evan Spiegel said last month during an earnings call with analysts. Users had complained about an abrupt overhaul of the service late last year. Snapchat rocketed to popularity, especially among teens, after the initial app was released in September 2011. Created by then Stanford University students, the app allows the sending of messages that disappear shortly after being viewed. George Tyndall, former University of Southern California gynecologist, allegedly used his position to abuse student patients Los Angeles police on Thursday raided the home of a university gynecologist accused of sexually abusing thousands of students over decades. The widening firestorm surrounding George Tyndall, which has already led to the resignation of the University of Southern California's president, centers on accusations spanning from 1990 to 2016 -- roughly his entire tenure. "These warrants were investigative in nature. The doctor has not been arrested," department spokesman Mike Lopez said, adding that detectives were interviewing more than 100 people who came forward. He said nothing had been turned over yet to prosecutors, although the Los Angeles Times reported that evidence was seized from Tyndall's residence and a storage facility. A Los Angeles Times investigation said Tyndall was allowed to continue working despite patients complaining about his sexually charged comments, inappropriate touching and taking of photographs during examinations. He was removed only after a nurse reported him to the rape crisis center, according to former patients and staffers interviewed by the Times. Around a dozen lawsuits have been filed against the university and Tyndall, while celebrated women's rights lawyer Gloria Allred recently announced she would be adding 23 plaintiffs to an existing action. In one of the lawsuits, a former student says Tyndall penetrated her with ungloved fingers, took pictures of her genitalia and made inappropriate sexual comments, asking what she enjoyed during sex. Tyndall was paid a substantial financial settlement to resign following an internal investigation of complaints against him in 2016, according to various plaintiffs. More than 400 students have contacted a university hotline about the physician, and the controversy led to the May 25 resignation of the school's president, Max Nikias. A shipping container is loaded with soybeans at a Ruff Bros. Grain elevator on June 13, 2018 in Blackstone, Illinois; US soybean futures have plunged today on fears of retaliatory measures if the US imposes wide ranging tariffs on Chinese goods US President Donald Trump on Friday was due to unveil a final list of Chinese imports that would face punishing tariffs, fanning fears of a trade war as Beijing warned that it could swiftly strike back. The threat of massive duties on billions of dollars of goods sent Shanghai stocks to their lowest level since September 2016, though it remained uncertain whether Trump would hold fire as part of a negotiating strategy. The deadline to release the list comes as Washington faces a dizzying array of parallel diplomatic horse trading, as Trump is increasingly dependent on Beijing to help advance efforts at North Korean denuclearization, while also using aggressive trade tactics on all major US economic partners. The president's trade team, including senior officials from the Commerce and Treasury departments, were due to gather Thursday at the White House to finalize the list of Chinese goods on the hit list. A report in the Wall Street Journal quoting sources close to the matter said Thursday evening the list had been approved and would affect about $50 billion worth of goods, the same figure that was first announced in March. China has pledged any tariffs will void progress made in recent trade talks between Beijing and Washington and has drawn up its own list of $50 billion in US goods to target. "If the US side adopts unilateral protectionist measures and damages China's interests, we will immediately react and take necessary measures to firmly safeguard our legitimate rights and interests," foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said in Beijing. China has pledged any tariffs will void progress made in recent trade talks between Beijing and Washington "All the results from the negotiations will not go into effect," Geng repeated. Trump has frequently reversed course, threatening and then backing away, or vice versa, but he has appeared determined to take a hard line with Beijing. "What we're seeing here is a bargaining process in which the Trump team has found that by continuing to put pressure on China, the offers have become better and better," said Dennis Wilder, head of a Georgetown University program on US-China relations. "My guess is that the Trump administration will announce but not implement. They want to give the Chinese a little more time," the former senior CIA official for East Asia told AFP. The confrontation with China began in March when Trump announced 25 percent tariffs on about $50 billion in Chinese goods to punish the country against the theft and forced transfer of American technologies and know-how. China immediately threatened to retaliate on $50 billion in US goods, so Trump upped the ante, vowing to hit another $100 billion of goods. A preliminary list of about 1,300 Chinese export goods was released in April by US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, with about 70 percent of the goods coming from categories covering nuclear reactors, electrical machinery and optical equipment. - A mystified Beijing - However, the list was due to be trimmed after a public comment period to reduce the negative impact on US companies and consumers, so the final total is not confirmed. CNBC reported Thursday Trump officials planned to winnow that list to between 800 and 900 goods. It was also unclear when the tariffs would take effect. The White House said last month the final list would be unveiled on June 15, with the duties to be imposed "shortly thereafter." Analysts say that repeated about-faces and turmoil among US officials during trade talks have left Chinese officials unsure of Trump's goals or which of the several senior emissaries from Trump's Cabinet actually has the power to seal a deal. The US confrontation with China began when Trump announced 25 percent tariffs on about $50 billion in Chinese goods "I think the Chinese have been mystified by what the administration wants," said Nicholas Lardy, an expert on the Chinese economy at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Trump has moved to save the Chinese telecommunications giant ZTE from US sanctions imposed in April that brought it the verge of collapse, sparking outrage from congressional Republicans. Last month the White House effectively declared a truce in the trade hostilities with China, before deciding weeks later to press ahead with tariffs. Analysts say the tariffs that Washington is preparing are a pittance when compared to the size of the world's two largest economies -- limiting their power to bend Beijing to Trump's will. But others worry about the sign it sends, and the potential to damage the world economy. Trump faces competing objectives in pursuing a North Korean deal while seeking comprehensive economic concessions from China, which might loosen economic pressure on Pyongyang if Washington presses too far. "We're asking them to completely change who they are and we're shaking this little stick in front of them," said Derek Scissors, an expert on the Chinese economy at the American Enterprise Institute. "I'm a China-basher on trade," he told AFP, but added: "I don't see why we're imposing $50 billion worth of tariffs on China. It's not going to do any good." The "Pitch Perfect" star said she will challenge a court ruling that slashed a record US$3.4 million defamation payout to her from a magazine publisher to $452,000 Australian actress Rebel Wilson has vowed to challenge an "absolutely flippant" Australian appeals court ruling that slashed a record US$3.5 million defamation payout to her from a magazine publisher to $452,000. The "Pitch Perfect" star was awarded Aus$4.5 million in damages against Bauer Media last September over articles claiming she lied about her age and background to further her career. It was the largest defamation win in Australian legal history and Bauer appealed, arguing the size of the settlement set a dangerous precedent and there were errors of law in the judgement. The Victorian Court of Appeal agreed on Thursday, cutting the payout to Aus$600,000. Tweeting from Europe, where she is filming, Wilson, 38, said the appeals court ruling included "some really bizarre things ... that are so obviously challengeable". "Everybody knows I lost money after those maliciously defamatory articles were printed about me by @BauerMedia in 2015. The learned trial judge and Australian jury on the case who heard all the evidence clearly agreed," she tweeted. "But somehow the Court of Appeal have been absolutely flippant with regards to my economic loss, not to mention my overall hurt and distress at having to stand up to these bullies," she wrote. Wilson had previously vowed to give her entire payout to charity and lamented that the latest ruling means "less going to less fortunate Australians and leaves a billionaire corporation, proven guilty of malicious defamation, being able to get away with their seriously harmful acts for a very low pay day." "Clearly not fair. Come on Australia," she concluded. Wilson had claimed a series of articles in Woman's Day, Australian Women's Weekly and OK Magazine had portrayed her as a serial liar and damaged her reputation. The Sydney-born actress told the trial she was sacked from DreamWorks animated feature films "Trolls" and "Kung Fu Panda 3" following the stories. But the Court of Appeal said there was no basis for her to receive financial damages for the potential loss of roles. It found that the previous judge had relied on evidence from Wilson and two Hollywood agents to draw the conclusion that she had lost job opportunities. "The Court of Appeal held that, for a considerable number of reasons, the critical inferences drawn by the judge could not be upheld," the summary of judgement said. The appeal court ruling can be overturned by Australia's High Court, if it agrees to hear the case. The inhabitants of the mainly Muslim PK5 neighbourhood demonstrate in front of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central Africa Republic, in Bangui, on April 11, 2018; MINUSCA has backed CAR's request for Chinese weaponry France, Britain and the United States on Thursday put a hold on a request from the Central African Republic for UN Security Council approval of Chinese weapons deliveries for its national forces. CAR's defense minister asked a UN sanctions committee on June 5 to grant an exemption to an arms embargo and allow the shipments of Chinese-made armored vehicles, machine guns, tear gas grenades and other weaponry for its army and police. France said it had "concerns concerning some lethal equipment included in this exemption request," citing anti-aircraft weapons and ammunitions, according to a document obtained by AFP. The French mission to the United Nations requested "additional justifications concerning this lethal equipment in order to be able to take a decision." The United States noted that there was "no threat of an air attack in CAR" and questioned deliveries of eight grenade launchers, four anti-aircraft machine guns as well as anti-personnel grenades and rockets. Britain said it was concerned that the shipments would pass through Cameroon unescorted to the border with CAR. In her request to the United Nations, CAR Defense Minister Marie Noelle Koyara said the weaponry would help strengthen national forces who are "confronted with the strength and escalating violence of armed groups whose illegal activities pose a threat to civil order." The council imposed an arms embargo on the Central African Republic in 2013 when the country descended into bloodshed but its sanctions committee last year gave the green light for Russia to supply weapons to the national forces. China wants to donate military equipment which includes 12 armored vehicles and four assault vehicles, 50 pistols, six sniper rifles, ten submachine guns with silencers and some 30 machine guns of various calibers. The list of equipment from China's Poly Technologies also includes 300 rockets, 500 anti-tank grenades, some 725,000 rounds of ammunition of various types and 15,000 tear gas grenades. - Weapons request backed by UN - The request for the Chinese weaponry is backed by a European Union military training mission and by the UN peacekeeping operation MINUSCA, which has come under repeated attacks from armed groups. Five peacekeepers have been killed this year. In its note detailing objections, the US mission to the United Nations argued that special training was needed to operate the grenade launchers "which we are not certain has been provided." Most of the armored vehicles and other weaponry would be used by special forces trained by Rwanda and certified by the EU training mission. Units of CAR's gendarmerie and police were trained by the United Nations police. In her request, the defense minister argued that tear gas would help gendarmerie and police deal with crowd control as the "units do not currently possess any of this equipment designed to maintain order." The Central African Republic exploded into violence following the 2013 overthrow of longtime leader Francois Bozize, prompting France to intervene with its Operation Sangaris. MINUSCA took over an African Union-led mission in 2014, deploying some 12,000 troops and police, but the country remains overrun with militias, many of whom claim to protect Christian or Muslim communities. CAR's leaders have repeatedly asked the Security Council to ease the arms embargo to allow shipments of equipment that will beef up the national forces. Under CEO Masayoshi Son, SoftBank, has increasingly been seen as an investment firm, ploughing funds into a range of companies and projects outside its core telecoms business Japan's SoftBank is planning to invest between $60-100 billion in a solar power project in India, a Japanese report said Friday, as the firm looks to expand its interests into various sectors. The report by public broadcaster NHK comes after SoftBank announced in March it would partner Saudi Arabia on a multi-billion dollar solar project that the company's founder called the largest in the world. NHK said the massive investment in India would be funded jointly by SoftBank and Saudi Arabia, which have already partnered to create the Vision Fund investment vehicle. A spokesman for SoftBank declined to comment on the report. NHK said the deal would likely be announced by SoftBank and the Indian government after details were finalised, without giving a timeline. Under CEO Masayoshi Son, SoftBank, which started as a software firm, has increasingly been seen as an investment firm, ploughing funds into a broad range of companies and projects outside its core business. In recent years it has completed deals with the likes of French robotics firm Aldebaran and e-commerce Chinese giant Alibaba. In March, Son said it would fund the "largest solar project ever", in Saudi Arabia. The project aims to generate 200 gigawatts of energy by 2030, with building beginning in 2018 and operations to start the following year. The entire project is expected to cost $200 billion, with the first phase costing $5 billion. SoftBank's $100-billion Vision Fund, created in 2016 with money from Saudi and other investors, will contribute $1 billion to the first phase. A picture dated November 18, 2016 from the Middle East Broadcasting Center shows Saudi actor Nasser al-Gasabi (C) with the cast and crew of 'Al-Assouf' in Abu Dhabi A Saudi television drama that glorifies a period before the rise of religious fundamentalism has evoked nostalgia about the kingdom's "modern past" -- and fury from arch-conservatives sidelined in a much-publicised liberalisation drive. "Al-Assouf", set in the 1970s and aired on satellite broadcaster MBC during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, has emerged as a cultural flashpoint that has pitted hardliners against more moderate proponents of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's reforms. It portrays a different Saudi Arabia -- a traditional but tolerant society where the sexes mingle unfettered, some women blithely pursue lovers and appear unveiled in musical soirees, and the men appear disinterested in controlling what they wear. That image of Saudi society, dismissed as a distortion by hardliners, chimes with Prince Mohammed's repeated assertion that the kingdom was a cradle of moderate Islam until 1979, a turning point that marked the birth of radicalism. That year saw an Islamic revolution in arch-rival Iran and a militant siege of Mecca's Grand Mosque, which the crown prince has said gave conservatives free rein to enforce an austere vision of Islam. Al-Assouf, which portrays the pre-1979 era -- widely hailed as Saudi Arabia's "modern past" -- has left conservatives bristling. "To picture a community that accepts the mixing of genders, adultery and children born out of wedlock... is a disaster," prominent cleric Abdulbaset Qari said in a YouTube video. A picture dated November 5, 2016 from the Middle East Broadcasting Center shows Saudi actors Nasser al-Gasabi and Reem Abdallah filming a scene of 'Al-Assouf' in Abu Dhabi "They (the show) want to spread immorality, to normalise this culture." One Al-Assouf scene showing a young Saudi boy leaning over a neighbourhood boundary wall to talk to a girl was widely criticised on social media. "Young children flirting!" tweeted Abdulrahman al-Nassar, a Kuwaiti cleric popular in the kingdom. "The ugly distortion of childhood in Saudi Arabia." But moderates, including Al-Assouf's lead actor Nasser al-Kasabi, have fiercely defended the show. "Extremists are against it because they believe it is an attempt to destroy what they built over the next two decades (since 1979), which they refer to as the 'awakening'," columnist Abdulrahman al-Rashed wrote in the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat. "They are attacking Al-Assouf because it has cast light on an era that was deliberately made dark. The raison d'etre of the extremists is to extinguish this light." - 'Second awakening' - The backlash has laid bare what observers call an undercurrent of resentment over the waning influence of arch-conservatives, once a swaggering force with unbridled powers, as Prince Mohammed pursues reforms that mark the biggest cultural shake-up in Saudi Arabia's modern history. A picture dated December 30, 2016 from the Middle East Broadcasting Center shows filming of 'Al-Assouf' in Abu Dhabi The reforms have ended decades-long bans on women driving and cinemas and allowed mixed-gender concerts, sidelining hardliners who were once the traditional backers of the royal family. Prominent Salafist clerics with millions of followers on social media have been jailed. Others who made regular appearances on television have disappeared from the public eye, and some long known for virulently opposing women's rights have mysteriously come out in support of the prince's pro-women reforms. Columnists in Saudi newspapers have openly called for abolishing the kingdom's once-feared religious police, whose powers have been clipped. The modernisation drive has been lauded by the prince's supporters as a "second awakening", an idea that Al-Assouf appears to promote. "Our communities are in need of an Al-Assouf that is capable of sending us back to our first life, or in the correct sense, our simple life before we changed for the worse," Ali al-Zuabi, a professor at Kuwait University, told AFP. - 'Careful dance' - The flagship MBC show, aired daily during Ramadan, was filmed two years ago in Abu Dhabi. A picture provided by the Middle East Broadcasting Center, dated December 20, 2016, shows filming of 'Al-Assouf' in Abu Dhabi The broadcaster said the delay in airing was caused by production reasons, adding that the top-rated show will have two more seasons. The delay had prompted speculation about trouble with censors in the kingdom, which remains wary of antagonising religious sensitivities despite the liberalisation drive. "Modernising Saudi Arabia may not be a march so much as a careful dance," Simon Henderson, a Gulf expert, recently wrote for the Washington Institute. In tandem with reforms, Prince Mohammed has pursued a sweeping crackdown on dissent, most recently arresting several women driving activists, some of whom have been labelled "traitors" by state-backed media. Analysts said the arrests seemed calculated to placate clerics incensed by the modernisation drive, allowing the prince to better position himself against a conservative backlash in advance of the end of the women driving ban on June 24. "How can you achieve moderate Islam when you harshly oppress those who spearhead a moderate discourse in the kingdom?" Abdullah Alaoudh, a Saudi scholar at Yale Law School, told AFP. "Moderate Islam without moderate Muslims?" Tourists to New Zealand are to be charged a special tax, under new government plans to deal with the growing influx of holidaymakers coming from overseas. Visitor numbers have surged by nearly a third in the past three years to 3.8 million in the 12 months to April - almost as big as the country's population. 'This rapid growth has impacted on the costs and availability of publicly-provided infrastructure,' tourism minister Kelvin Davis said on Friday. Many regions are struggling to cope and urgently need improved infrastructure, from toilet facilities to car parks.' Visitor numbers in New Zealand have surged by nearly a third in the past three years to 3.8 million in the 12 months to April - almost as big as the country's population A tax of NZ$25-35 (US$17-24, 12-18) will be imposed on international visitors from the middle of 2019, while price hikes for immigration fees and visas will take effect this November. Australians and most Pacific Island forum countries will be exempt from the new charges. Tourism is a key pillar of the New Zealand economy and the new tax is expected to raise up to NZ$80 million in its first year, which will be split between tourism infrastructure and conservation initiatives. The main opposition National Party claimed the new tax system would make New Zealand a 'less attractive' destination. But Davis believed the impact on tourist numbers would be minimal. 'When you're talking about the additional cost to, say, someone coming from the United States who are already paying about NZ$1,200, an extra NZ$25-NZ$30 isn't going to make that much of a difference,' he said. Locals in many parts of the world are angry at the rising costs and congestion that comes with hordes of tourists According to data released by Tourism New Zealand in September last year, despite overall support for tourism, 35 percent of citizens think 'international visitors put too much pressure' on the country. The New Zealand tax plan comes as locals in many of the top tourist destinations around the world grow frustrated with tourists who boost the economy but also put pressure on infrastructure and raise the cost of living. Many residents complain that the cost of providing facilities - like public transport and emergency healthcare - and cleaning up after hordes of tourists is borne by taxpayers. Growth in tourism, fuelled by the rise of budget airlines and holiday rental services, has also led to housing shortages, property speculation and rising rents, pricing out locals in hubs like Barcelona, Venice and Berlin. The resulting anger has forced authorities around the world to tighten regulations on short-term rentals, such as Airbnb. In Paris and Japan, for example, governments have moved to cap the number of days per year a property can be given to short-term renters. One part of Tokyo only allows rentals on weekends. Other cities have enforced similar limits. Japan has seen record numbers of tourists recently and expects 40 million in 2020 when Tokyo hosts to Olympic Games. But a study has warned that the crush could lead to 'fatal congestion' and paralyse the city's subway system. Local media reported Friday that Japan was also weighing measures to bar visitors who use Japanese medical facilities without paying their bills. The lower floors of the 12-storey Yun Tsui residential building pancaked when a 6.4-magnitude quake struck the tourist hotspot of Hualien A Taiwanese developer was indicted Friday over the partial collapse of a building that killed 14 people during an earthquake in February, prosecutors said. The building's architect and a civil engineer were also charged with causing death and injury by professional negligence, punishable by a maximum five-year jail term. The lower floors of the 12-storey Yun Tsui residential building -- which also housed a restaurant and hotel -- pancaked when a 6.4-magnitude quake struck the tourist hotspot of Hualien on February 6. A total of 17 people died across the eastern coastal town, 14 of them in the Yun Tsui building. Developer Liu Ying-lin was unlicensed and did not have the necessary engineering qualifications but oversaw the building's construction instead of contracting a professional firm, said Hualien District Prosecutors Office. "Yun Tsui building collapsed within eight seconds of the earthquake... due to serious flaws in design, supervision and construction," said Wang Yi-jen, a spokesman for the office. The flaws included inadequate pillars and reinforcing steel that significantly weakened the building's seismic capacity, he added. Despite its comparative wealth and a reputation for cutting-edge technology, Taiwan still often sees deadly building collapses during quakes. The Hualien quake came exactly two years to the day after a similar sized tremor struck the western city of Tainan, killing 117 people -- most in a single apartment block which tumbled. Five people were later found guilty over the disaster, including the developer and two architects, for building an inadequate structure. The island's worst tremor in recent decades was a 7.6-magnitude quake in September 1999 that killed around 2,400 people. That quake ushered in stricter building codes but many of Taiwan's older buildings remain perilously vulnerable to even moderate quakes. Uganda's former police chief Kale Kayihura was once regarded as the most powerful military officer in the country Uganda's former police chief Kale Kayihura has been arrested and is being held for questioning by the military, an official and his wife said Friday. Kayihura, 62, was sacked by President Yoweri Museveni in March and was bitterly criticised for failing to solve a string of high profile murders, kidnappings, robberies and deaths. "He was picked (up) by the army in a helicopter on Wednesday from the farm in Lyantonde and brought to Kampala and is now held in the barracks," Kayihura's wife Angella told AFP. "We don't know why he was arrested," she added. Lyantonde, where Kayihura has a rural property, is about 200 kilometres (124 miles) west of the capital Kampala. The former military officer fought alongside Museveni in the rebel war that brought the president to power in 1986. Appointed inspector general of police in 2005, Kayihura was regarded as a strong loyalist willing to deploy officers to break up opposition protests and rallies. Army spokesman Brigadier Richard Karemire confirmed Kayihura's detention, but would not be drawn on the reasons. It is "true we have him and he is being questioned on matters I cannot at the moment go into," he told AFP. Karemire said the former police chief was being held at Makindye barracks in Kampala. Losing Geddes Ridge After a last-ditch legal battle, two U-M physicians were evicted from their dream home in May. by Michael Betzold From the June, 2018 issue Radiologists Brad Foerster and Myria Petrou moved into their Geddes Ridge mansion in November 2016. Less than three months later, their builder sued to enforce nearly a quarter-million dollars' worth of liens. The doctors responded with a dizzying array of litigation. They've sued dozens of defendants--including the builder, their architects, mortgage and title companies, the city, and even Petrou's mother--who they claim conspired to drive them from the home. They sued the Observer, too, after it reported on the lawsuits ("The Battle of Geddes Ridge," January 2018). That federal case was dismissed after the judge concluded that it was filed with a forged signature, but large parts live on in another suit filed in Washtenaw County Circuit Court in January. Acting as their own attorneys, the doctors accused twenty-three individual and corporate defendants of everything from mortgage fraud to legal malpractice. And they sought an injunction against being evicted from the Geddes Ridge house, which was foreclosed on last summer. The injunction wasn't granted, and in early May the doctors' belongings were piled in the dirt outside their dream house. It's unclear where they're living now, and no one responded to emails to the address listed in the complaint. At least the cats emerged unscathed. In one of the story's strangest twists, neighbors who read the January Observer story looked at the doctors' blog--where they spotted photos of their own two missing cats ("Cat Fight," Inside Ann Arbor, April). When the doctors refused to return them, David and Stacy Markel sued. Their attorney--their daughter Alexandra Markel--confirms that Bear and Atticus are now back home. The doctor's own nearly 600-page January lawsuit remains active, but judge Carol Kuhnke has already dismissed eleven defendants. Kuhnke also awarded two of their former lawyers almost $38,000 in sanctions, reflecting their cost to defend themselves against the doctors' "frivolous" claims. But the doctors aren't giving up. The same day they filed the fruitless request for an injunction, they ...continued below... apparently wrote a letter to Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election. In the letter, a copy of which was provided to the Observer anonymously, they claim to have information about election meddling--and a racketeering network that launders Russian money in Cyprus.[Originally published in June, 2018.] US President Donald Trump is due to unveil a final list of roughly $50 billion in Chinese imports that would face punishing tariffs China vowed to "immediately" retaliate to US tariffs on Friday as Washington moved closer to imposing duties that could trigger a trade war. US President Donald Trump is due to unveil later Friday a final list of roughly $50 billion in Chinese imports that would face punishing tariffs, though his administration has not yet publicly said when the measures will be imposed. "If the US side adopts unilateral protectionist measures and damages China's interests, we will immediately react and take necessary measures to firmly safeguard our legitimate rights and interests," said foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang during a regular news briefing. The news sent Shanghai stocks spiralling downwards Friday to end at the lowest level since September 2016. China has pledged that any tariffs will void progress made in recent trade talks between Beijing and Washington and has drawn up its own list of $50 billion in US goods to target. "All the results from the negotiations will not go into effect," Geng repeated, and added China's commerce ministry had made a formal response to the US's unilateralism in early April when the Trump administration first unveiled the tariffs. The response included tariffs on US goods roughly equal in value to those to be sanctioned by the US. China's list included America's largest exports to China such as soybeans and a slew of other US products including cars, frozen beef, and whiskey. If implemented, the tariffs will dent economic growth on both sides of the Pacific, analysts say. A man rides a motorbike past destroyed buildings in Daraa city on June 1, 2018 Syrian government shelling on a rebel-held southern region has killed at least six civilians, hours after US warning not to jeopardise talks on the area's fate, a monitoring group said Friday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the casualties, who included two children, were killed in shelling on two villages in the north of Daraa province. The Britain-based monitor, which relies on a large network of sources inside Syria, said the shelling came from army positions that had recently received reinforcements. The US State Department had on Thursday warned Damascus against any military action that could scupper ongoing talks aimed at finding a settlement for the complex southern front. "We reiterate that any Syrian government military actions against the southwest de-escalation zone risk broadening the conflict," spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement. "We affirm again that the United States will take firm and appropriate measures in response to Syrian government violations in this area." The United States, Russia and Jordan agreed to a de-escalation deal in the southern province, and negotiations are continuing in a bid to reach a deal that would remove the need for a government offensive. The Observatory said Friday's shelling had caused the highest civilian toll since the de-escalation deal, reached almost a year ago. The region borders Jordan and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. Rebel groups, who still control about two thirds of Daraa, have so far refused to negotiate with the Syrian regime. In an interview with Iran's Al-Alam television channel earlier this week, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said contacts were ongoing between Russia, the US and Israel over the southern front. "We are giving the political talks a chance, but if they fail, there will be no choice but liberation by force," he said. The regime wants rebels to withdraw from the area either by force or under a deal similar to those that saw armed groups transferred from their bastions in and around Damascus. Also at stake in the current talks are the future of a US military base in southeastern Syria and the presence of Iranian and allied forces in southern parts of Syria near the border with Israel. Afghan Muslims were celebrating their first peaceful Eid since 2001 Afghans greeted the beginning of Eid with prayers on Friday as the Muslim holiday dawned in peace for the first time since the 2001 US-led invasion, after the Taliban agreed to an unprecedented ceasefire. Flocking to mosques for special morning worship marking the first day of the festival, youngsters in the war-battered country expressed cautious optimism, following the suspension of fighting between Afghan security forces and the militants. Afghan Muslim men offer prayers at the start of Eid al-Fitr in Herat "On almost every Eid we have had attacks -- this is a rare Eid without violence," Samiullah, 17, who is almost the same age as the conflict, told AFP after prayers at the Shah-e Do Shamshira mosque in central Kabul. "We are hopeful peace will come to Afghanistan." Fourteen-year-old Sohrab Ahmad, who earns money polishing shoes outside the mosque, said he could not remember an Eid without fighting. Azerbaijani Muslims pray at the mosque of Tezeh Pir in Baku "I believe there will be peace between the Taliban and the Afghan government," he said. But not everyone was so hopeful. "I don't think there will be peace in Afghanistan. We are seeing an increase in attacks on a daily basis," Imran, 13, told AFP. Muslim women wait for the Eid-Gah, the prayer on the morning of Eid Al-Fitr at the Rasooli Masjid in Pretoria, South Africa. Defence ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanesh told AFP there had been no reports of Taliban attacks on Afghan forces since the start of the holiday. President Ashraf Ghani announced last week that police and troops would cease operations against the Taliban for eight days, starting Tuesday -- though he warned that operations against other groups, including the Islamic State group, would continue. Muslims offer Eid prayers on the roof of an unfinished mosque in Manila The Taliban said Saturday their fighters would stop attacking Afghan security forces for the first three days of Eid, the first time the Taliban had declared a nationwide ceasefire in the nearly 17-year conflict. Libyan Muslim worshipers take a picture prior to performing Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Martyrs' Square in the capital Tripoli They said they would continue attacking US-led NATO troops. Eid al-Fitr is one of Islam's most significant holidays, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, and is typically celebrated by feasting and gift-giving by Muslims all over the world. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes new Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte to the Elysee Palace in Paris ahead of talks on Friday French President Emmanuel Macron met Italy's new premier Giuseppe Conte Friday to try to patch up relations after sparks flew between the two countries over Rome's rejection of a migrant rescue ship. Conte arrived at the Elysee Palace in Paris for afternoon talks ahead of a press conference, with both smiling as Macron greeted the Italian leader. Despite efforts by both sides to play down testy exchanges in recent days, the clash underscores deep divisions in Europe over how to handle the massive influx of migrants from across the Mediterranean in recent years. In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel is embroiled in a showdown with the right wing of her governing coalition, which is demanding that she immediately ditch her liberal migration policy and tighten border controls. An opinion poll by Infratest Dimap suggests 62 percent of Germans back the tougher stance favoured by her interior minister, including turning back undocumented migrants at the border and deporting rejects faster. Merkel has pleaded for more time to negotiate with her European partners on a common response ahead of an EU summit on June 28-29. It was all smiles when Macron welcomed Conte, as the two leaders try to patch up relations after a row over migrants But there are few signs that European leaders are anywhere near being ready to coordinate their policies despite a looming end-of-June deadline to change the EU's current asylum rules. - Italy 'pushed around' - The Aquarius rescue vessel at the centre of this week's row was continuing on Friday to make its way across the Mediterranean to Spain, which agreed to take the 629 migrants aboard after Italy and Malta refused the ship permission to dock. Italy's hardline new interior minister Matteo Salvini said he hoped the boat would get "a rousing welcome" in Spain, adding that his country was set to present ideas for migration reform to European partners. "I have already shared a fundamental idea with the Germans and the Austrians -- that of defending external borders with men and money, including the Mediterranean," he said. "We have had enough of being pushed around by others," he told residents in the northern Italian city of Genoa. A migrant onboard the Aquarius rescue ship as it heads towards Spain Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of Spain, where the Aquarius is expected to arrive on Sunday, called on Twitter for "a new Europe where national egoism does not prevail". Under the EU's Dublin Agreement, which is currently up for review, migrants hoping to apply for asylum must do so in the first country they enter, a policy which has placed a huge burden on Italy in particular. The influx has encouraged the rise of far-right and populist parties -- leading most recently to an anti-migrant coalition government taking power in Italy. "We need to work on reform of the Dublin Agreement," Conte stressed ahead of his Paris visit. Earlier this week Salvini joined forces with the German and Austrian foreign ministers in an "axis of the willing" to combat illegal immigration. Other countries meanwhile, such as Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, have either refused outright or resisted taking in refugees under a contested EU quota system. - 'Hypocritical lessons' - The Aquarius rescue ship, which has 629 migrants aboard, has been the centre of a European row after being turned away by Italy and Malta The spat between France and Italy erupted this week after Macron accused Rome of "cynicism and irresponsibility" for refusing to let the Aquarius dock. Italy's new government hit back, accusing Paris of giving "hypocritical lessons" and threatening to pull out of the meeting with Macron. Rome also summoned the French ambassador over the dispute -- the second time it has done so over the migrant crisis in two months. Macron's critics said he was hardly in a position to lecture, noting that France had taken in far fewer migrants since the start of the crisis than the likes of Germany and Sweden, and has sealed off its border to most migrants trying to cross into the country from Italy. The French leader, who has taken a tough line on migration from African countries that are not at war, said Thursday that "none of his comments were intended to offend Italy". In a further gesture of reconciliation the French foreign ministry said it was ready to welcome migrants aboard Aquarius who "meet the criteria for asylum" after they arrive in Spain. The path taken so far by the refugee ship Aquarius Italy itself has appeared eager to avoid too harsh a response. After turning the Aquarius away, it allowed a coast guard ship carrying over 900 migrants land on Sicily on Wednesday. And on Thursday, the Italian coast guard brought fresh supplies to the Aquarius as it made its way past Sardinia. Shujaat Bukhari, a leading journalist in Indian-administered Kashmir, was shot dead outside his office Thousands of mourners Friday thronged the funeral of a veteran journalist shot dead by unidentified gunmen on a motorbike outside his office in the main city of Indian Kashmir. Shujaat Bukhari, a leading journalist and editor of the English-language daily Rising Kashmir, was leaving his office in Srinagar on Thursday evening when three assailants roared up and fired several shots from close range. Bukhari, 50, was rushed to hospital but was later declared dead. Two of his personal security guards also died. On Friday, funeral prayers were held at the Jamia Masjid grand mosque in Srinagar before the burial in his native village in northern Kashmir. Bukhari, who was given police protection following three attacks on him in the past decade, had been a strong advocate of peace in Kashmir. The Himalayan territory has been divided since the end of British colonial rule in 1947 and both India and Pakistan claim it in full. New Delhi has about 500,000 soldiers in the part of Kashmir it controls, where armed groups are fighting for independence or a merger with Pakistan. Bukhari took part in informal peace talks on Kashmir with Pakistani representatives in Dubai last year. His final tweet, sent just a few hours before his murder, was a link to his website's reporting of the UN human rights chief calling for a major investigation into abuses committed by both India and Pakistan in Kashmir. The identity of the attackers and the motive for the killing remains unclear but Srinagar police released CCTV footage of three men on the motorbike and said a fourth suspect had been arrested. The suspect was identified from a video which showed him taking a pistol from Bukhari's vehicle after the attack and vanishing from the scene of crime. "We need to understand the larger conspiracy. It's a terror-related crime and we are investigating," police inspector general S.P. Pani said at a news conference. Syed Salahuddin, chief of the United Jihad Council, an amalgam of militant groups, condemned Bukhari's killing and accused India of his murder. - Muzzling press - The government of Jammu and Kashmir has initiated a high-level investigation into the attack that came just ahead of the major Muslim festival of Eid. Rising Kashmir on Friday carried a full-blown portrait of Bukhari on its front page against a black background. "We won't be cowed down by the cowards who snatched you from us. We will uphold your principle of telling the truth howsoever unpleasant it may be," the paper wrote in an obituary. The murder has been condemned by both Indian and Pakistani leaders who hailed Bukhari as a fearless and courageous journalist. In Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, some 250 protesters gathered outside the Central Press Club and demanded an independent investigation into Bukhari's death. Uzair Ahmed Ghazali, chairman of Pasbaan-e-Huriat, a representative group of refugees from Indian-administered Kashmir, said Bukhari was killed because of his contributions to the UN report on Kashmir. There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack but journalists have regularly faced intimidation and attacks by anti-India militant groups and government forces for their coverage of the dispute. At least a dozen journalists have been killed in the nearly 30 years of the conflict in the restive region. The string of killings began at the peak of the armed insurgency in the early 1990s when the head of a state television station was shot dead allegedly by militants. Another newspaper editor was killed in 1991, followed by the 1995 bombing of a BBC correspondent's office that also left an AFP photojournalist dead. A video journalist with a local cable TV channel was shot dead by government forces in 2008 while a photojournalist lost both his eyes after police fired shotgun pellets at him while he was covering anti-India protests in 2016. Most of the murders remain unsolved. Advertisement A flamboyant new casino designed by Zaha Hadid opened its doors in Macau on Friday featuring futuristic curves and skeletal steel structures characteristic of the acclaimed late architect. Rows of exposed elevators glide up and down the imposing lobby inside the $1.1-billion 'Morpheus' resort, a 42-storey addition to Macau's glitzy skyline named after the Greek god of dreams and developed by Melco International. Iraqi-British Hadid, who died in 2016, was the first woman to win the prestigious Pritzker Prize for architecture. Her major works in China included the Guangzhou Opera House and a mega mall in Beijing. A flamboyant new casino designed by Zaha Hadid opened its doors in Macau on Friday featuring futuristic curves and skeletal steel structures characteristic of the acclaimed late architect Iraqi-British Hadid, who died in 2016, was the first woman to win the prestigious Pritzker Prize for architecture Rows of exposed elevators glide up and down the imposing lobby inside the $1.1billion 'Morpheus' resort, a 42-storey addition to Macau's glitzy skyline named after the Greek god of dreams and developed by Melco International Melco's chairman Lawrence Ho told AFP he had 'wanted to find the most iconic architect that can do something just insane' before the project started in 2013 For her first Macau project, finished posthumously, two tower blocks were merged using curvaceous bridges to create 'voids' and allow as much light in as possible, Viviana Muscettola of Zaha Hadid Architects told AFP. Describing the design as a 'jump into the unknown', Muscettola said the exterior ribbons of steel hold up the building and free up space inside by minimising the need for vertical columns. Melco's chairman Lawrence Ho told AFP he had 'wanted to find the most iconic architect that can do something just insane' before the project started in 2013. A waitress prepares tea at a restaurant in the 'Morpheus' resort. Extravagant duplex villas with their own in-room gym and massage quarters are located on the top floors of Morpheus for VIPs, along with a gaming area exclusively for these residents Hadid's major works in China included the Guangzhou Opera House and a mega mall in Beijing For this, Hadid's first Macau project, which was finished posthumously, two tower blocks were merged using curvaceous bridges to create 'voids' and allow as much light in as possible, Viviana Muscettola of Zaha Hadid Architects told AFP Semi-autonomous Macau is the only place in China where gambling is legal, bringing in revenue that easily dwarves Las Vegas. The resort's opening comes as the enclave is undergoing something of a renaissance, with gaming revenues bouncing back after being hard hit by a corruption crackdown launched by China's President Xi Jinping in 2012. While the big spenders have returned to the territory - high-rollers were Macau's biggest drivers of revenue growth in 2017, according to Bloomberg News - analysts say the mass market is also behind growth seen so far this month. Semi-autonomous Macau is the only place in China where gambling is legal. It brings in revenues that dwarf those amassed by Las Vegas The resort's opening comes as the enclave is undergoing something of a renaissance, with gaming revenues bouncing back after being hard hit by a corruption crackdown launched by China's President Xi Jinping in 2012 Extravagant duplex villas with their own in-room gym and massage quarters are located on the top floors of Morpheus for VIPs, along with a gaming area exclusively for these residents. There is also a rooftop pool, while two restaurants by Alain Ducasse, one of the chefs awarded the most Michelin stars, are part of efforts to court luxury-seeking crowds. Revenues slid after Xi declared his war on graft with many mainland big spenders staying away from Macau, which had gained a reputation as a centre for laundering illicit money out of China. In response to the crackdown casino giants launched a slew of new mega-resorts, offering everything from theme parks to luxury spas as they looked to attract more mass-market gamblers to compensate for the fall in high-rollers. But Macau's monetary authorities this month issued a warning to financial institutions against the illegal use of UnionPay cards as China continues to crack down on capital outflows. Ho's father Stanley, 96, who made his riches by transforming Macau from a sleepy Portuguese outpost into the world's biggest casino hub, officially stepped down from his flagship casino empire SJM earlier this week. Japan has announced plans to ease immigration restrictions and bring in more foreign workers to tackle a serious labour shortage caused by the country's ageing, shrinking population Japan announced Friday plans to ease immigration restrictions and bring in more foreign workers to tackle a serious labour shortage caused by the country's ageing, shrinking population. The government has proposed a new visa status that would allow more overseas workers to fill the employment needs of specific sectors. "Labour shortages have become more acute," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters. "It is necessary to create a mechanism to broadly accept foreign personnel who are work-ready with certain expertise and skills," Suga said, adding that the government plans to "quickly" draw up new bills to revise immigration law. But Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government has stressed that the reforms are not intended as a wholesale overhaul of Japanese immigration policy, and mass immigration is not expected. "Japanese society will not rely heavily on foreign immigrants," a cabinet office official told AFP before the policy was announced. The policy is expected to target sectors that have been worst affected by the country's labour shortage including agriculture, nursing, construction, hotels and shipbuilding, according to local media. It requires workers to demonstrate some Japanese language skills but the level required would vary by sector. The government has not set a target for foreign workers under the new proposals, although local media put the figure at more than 500,000 people by 2025. Those workers would be able to stay for up to five years and only certain skilled workers would be permitted to bring family members with them. Japan had fewer than 240,000 foreign skilled workers and just over 250,000 foreign trainees in the country in late 2017, according to government figures. It has bilateral deals admitting limited numbers of nurses and careworkers from other parts of Asia, and allows foreign students to work on a part-time basis. But businesses have long lobbied for looser rules, saying they struggle to find workers in a country where unemployment hovers around 2.5 percent and there are 159 job offers to every 100 job seekers. Hiroaki Nakanishi, head of the influential Keidanren business lobby, told reporters earlier this week that the policy was about more than addressing labour shortages. "Increasing diversity is inevitable for improving Japan's industrial competitiveness and research and academic levels," he said. Facing an ageing population and a declining birth rate, Abe's government has tried to get more women and elderly people into the workforce, but economists say those measures alone may be insufficient. The government put the number of foreign workers in Japan in 2017 at 1.28 million people, twice the number a decade ago. But over 450,000 of those are foreign spouses of Japanese citizens, ethnic Koreans long settled in Japan, or foreigners of Japanese descent, rather than workers coming to Japan simply for jobs. Another nearly 300,000 are students, who are allowed to work part-time during their studies but are expected to return home afterwards. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) personnel aided rescued migrants this week on board an Italian coastguard ship following their transfer from the NGO-chartered ship Aquarius Italy's refusal to admit the migrant-packed Aquarius ship met little protest from other EU countries apart from France, which analysts see as a sign of how hardliners are now shaping solutions to the migration crisis. French President Emmanuel Macron denounced Rome's "irresponsibility" but failed to sway a European Union now bent on protecting its external borders after years of division over the worst such crisis since World War II. The European Commission, the EU's executive arm in Brussels, limited itself to appeals for solidarity among the 28 member states and for humanity toward migrants adrift at sea. Rome's refusal to admit the Aquarius marks a "radical" departure from European attitudes five years ago, said Yves Pascouau, a researcher at Nantes University in France. He recalled that in 2013, faced with a lack of response from its neighbours, Italy took the opposite approach by launching the humanitarian maritime mission Mare Nostrum. "This change in Italy's political landscape resembles what one sees in European countries in general," Pascouau told AFP. The Aquarius saga shows the "victory of more restrictive, harder positions" that favour locking EU borders. - 'Very divided' - The EU's former communist countries in the east, like Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland, have embraced such positions for years. They have either completely opposed or resisted quotas that EU member countries endorsed in 2015, at the peak of the migration crisis, when more than 1.26 million people applied for asylum in the bloc. But several other EU countries have since joined them. The EU was early on "very divided between the east and west, but the situation has changed," Elena Sanchez Montijano at the Spanish think tank CIDOB told AFP. Sanchez pointed to the election successes of anti-migrant arguments in several countries, including in Italy and Austria where the extreme right has gained power. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is fighting to save her government in a battle over immigration with her interior minister Horst Seehofer She added that in Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel, who had opened the country up to refugees, today faces "a serious internal crisis" where her interior minister Horst Seehofer takes a hard line against her. It is precisely with Seehofer and his Italian counterpart that Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz says he wants to build an "axis of the willing" against illegal migration. Austria, which next month assumes the EU's six-month rotating presidency, said it will focus on pursuing all steps needed to protect the bloc's external borders. Vienna also confirmed it is working with countries like Denmark on a plan that had been considered unlikely: building camps (dubbed "reception centres") outside the EU to separate genuine asylum seekers from economic migrants. "Even though the numbers of arrivals have dropped greatly, the political salience of the issue in a number of EU member states has increased," said Stefan Lehne, an expert with Carnegie Europe. Since the year began, only about 35,000 people have landed in Europe, mainly as a result of EU deals with Turkey and Libya, the main gateways to the bloc. "As stoking fear of migration is a core element of their business model, (the populists) have every interest in preserving an atmosphere of insecurity," Lehne told AFP. - 'Essentially dead' - In this political context, "there is only one possible consensus, which is 'we will strengthen the external borders'," Pascouau said. "Everything else is no longer on the table," he added, referring to years of bitter negotiations to reform the so-called Dublin system of asylum rules. Under the current rules, the countries of first arrival are required to process asylum requests. Critics say that puts an unfair burden on Greece and Italy. But just two weeks before the self-imposed deadline of the June 28-29 EU summit in Brussels, EU countries remain deadlocked on how to relocate asylum seekers in the event of a new crisis. "This Commission proposal is essentially dead," Lehne said, adding that Italy's new government and some others "see the best option" as preventing people reaching Europe. Days before the Aquarius saga, Belgium's hardline migration minister Theo Francken said he was "convinced that if all the doors were closed, all the countries would agree to show more solidarity." And Pascouau said: "That's what Italy did." The migrant rescue ship Aquarius had to head to Spain after Italy denied it access to its ports Spain's new Socialist government has since agreed to allow the Aquarius and its 629 migrants to dock in Valencia. Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna appears set to be ousted according to preliminary election results The Cook Islands faced a political shake-up Thursday after preliminary results from the general election gave minority parties the balance of power and the island nation's preferred leader was also defeated. The sitting Cook Islands Party (CIP) won only 10 seats in the 24-seat parliament while the main opposition leader Tina Browne lost the seat she was contesting despite pre-election polls rating her the South Pacific island nation's preferred leader. Independent candidates held two seats with one seat for the One Cook Islands party. Current prime minister and CIP leader Henry Puna won his seat but as horse trading began, indications from the parties was that the Democrats would form a coalition government with former leader William Heather to become prime minister. Te-Hani Brown, a 22-year-old candidate from the Democratic Party, was set to become the youngest member of parliament after defeating health minister Nandi Glassi who had been an MP for 12 years. Yemeni pro-government forces in position to the south of Hodeida airport, on June 15, 2018 Yemeni pro-government forces fought to close in on a rebel-held airport Friday as they pressed an offensive on a key Red Sea port city, sparking UN fears for vital aid shipments. Fighting has raged around Hodeida, the entry point for the vast majority of Yemen's imports, since the Wednesday launch of a sweeping Saudi and UAE-backed operation to seize it from Huthi rebels. The battle has since killed at least 139 fighters, according to medical and military sources. The assault has sparked fears for the area's 600,000 residents, with aid and rights groups warning it could spell disaster across Yemen, a country already teetering on the brink of famine. The capture of Hodeida would be the Saudi-led coalition's biggest victory in a three-year war that has claimed almost 10,000 lives and displaced millions. An image grab from video shows Yemeni pro-government forces firing a heavy machine gun to the south of Hodeida airport in Yemen on June 15, 2018 Neither the Saudi and Emirati-backed government forces nor the Huthi rebels show any signs of backing down in the fight for Hodeida. The city and its port have been under Huthi control since 2014, when the Iran-backed insurgents drove the government out of the capital Sanaa and much of the country, forcing President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi to flee into exile. - 'Quagmire for invaders' - Huthi chief Abdelmalik al-Huthi urged his forces Thursday to keep fighting, saying they would recapture areas taken by pro-government forces and turn Yemen's western coastline into a "quagmire for the invaders". Yemeni women receive food aid in the coastal city of Hodeidah Huthi urged his troops to "confront the forces of tyranny", warning they would recapture areas taken by pro-government forces by bringing "huge numbers" of fighters to the battle, according to the rebels' Al-Masirah TV. Military and medical sources say the vast majority of those killed in three days of fighting were rebels. But a rebel attack along the coast on Friday left 12 soldiers dead. A military official told AFP on Friday the government alliance had approached to within two kilometres of Hodeida's international airport, just inland from the port. The disused airport serves as a base for Huthi ground forces. But a Huthi attack some 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of the city provided a diversion, cutting loyalist forces off from the government-held ports of Khokha and Mokha, sparking fresh clashes along the coastline. Hodeida airport has been defunct since 2014, when Yemen's rebels seized the capital and drove the government south, prompting the intervention of Saudi Arabia and its allies six months later. The ground offensive south of Hodeida is led by the United Arab Emirates, a key ally of both Saudi Arabia and the US military. The UAE said four of its troops were killed on the first day of the offensive. - 'Devastating impact' - The United Nations, which has described Yemen as the world's worst humanitarian disaster, on Thursday demanded the port be kept open to deliveries of vital food and aid supplies. Yemeni pro-government forces look on to the south of Hodeida airport on June 15, 2018, three days into a Saudi-backed offensive to take Hodeida city from Huthi rebels The Security Council, the only UN body with the power to pass legally binding resolutions, on Thursday brushed aside a call by non-permanent member Sweden for a pause in fighting to allow for talks on a rebel withdrawal from Hodeida. Aid groups warned a major humanitarian catastrophe was looming as fighting drew closer to Hodeida. Thousands will likely flee the violence in the coming days, the International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday, warning the city was "bracing for the worst", via twitter. Human Rights Watch said Friday the battle for Hodeida could be disastrous for civilians across the country. "The battle for Hodeida could have a devastating impact on civilians both in the city and elsewhere in Yemen," said Sarah Leah Whitson, HRW's Middle East director. "The UN Security Council should urgently warn senior officials on both sides they will face sanctions if they fail to provide civilians access to desperately needed aid." Des proches de Zhang Chaolin lors d'une ceremonie d'hommage au couturier chinois assassine en aout 2016 Two French youths appeared in court on Friday over the death of a Chinese tailor in one of a string of violent robberies targeting Asians in high-rise Paris suburbs. The death of 49-year-old Zhang Chaolin in August 2016 caused an outcry in the Chinese community, with thousands taking to the streets to protest what they called an increase in "racism against Asians". Zhang was on his way with a friend to a restaurant in the suburb of Aubervilliers when three teens attacked them on the street. The father of two fell and hit his head on a wall after being kicked in the chest. He died five days later in hospital, while his friend received minor injuries. The attack fitted a pattern of robberies targeting Chinese tourists and traders in low-income Paris suburbs. Zhang's attackers made off with a bag containing nothing more than a phone charger and some sweets. During police questioning one of Zhang's assailants said they had targeted the pair because they had heard Asians "carry a lot of cash". Two suspects, who were 17 and 19 at the time of the assault, appeared Friday in a juvenile court charged with violent robbery causing death and injury of a racist nature. A third, who was 15 at the time, was handed a two-year sentence at a separate trial. One of the defendants' lawyers, Steeve Ruben, argued that the attack was not racist. "The victims' ethnic origin was not a motive," he said, adding the trio "would have attacked anybody carrying a bag". Fellow defence lawyer Marlene Viallet said that while stereotypes about Asians were rife in low-income suburbs, "there is no hatred towards them". The attack on Zhang, she said, was purely an act of "delinquency". Around 10,000 people of Chinese origin live in Aubervilliers, Europe's biggest textile import-export hub, which has a population of 80,000. Since Zhang's death, security has improved, according to community leaders. In the coastal village of Naunde, seven people were hacked to death and 164 houses were set alight Fatima Uaide stood in the shallow, warm water of the Indian Ocean off the shore of northern Mozambique, waiting for a ferry to a tropical holiday island a few miles away. But Fatima and her five children were not travelling out of choice. They abandoned their rice fields, livestock and simple existence in Nathuco village after it was targeted by jihadists who have left a trail of destruction through the region in recent weeks. "I'm going to Matemo. I left everything in the fields," she said as the water lapped her bare feet and her children plucked small crabs from the soft sand. "It's the rice harvesting season but I'm going to lose everything. We are going to starve -- but it is best to escape to save the lives of these children." Thousands of villagers like her have fled their homes in northern Mozambique for the safety of a chain of nearby tourist islands after coming under attack from a shadowy group that officials say is made up of radical jihadists. More than 30 people have been killed in similar attacks since last month and many more injured -- but no one knows how many been displaced by the violence. Many of those who have fled are forced to sleep rough. The more fortunate among them have sought refuge with family or been taken in by strangers elsewhere in the majority-Muslim Cabo Delgado region. - 'Escape the danger' - Attacks on coastal communities have triggered a massive displacement of people to the Quirimbas archipelago, described by tour operators as "breathtakingly beautiful" and popular with tourists for its diving reefs and whale and dolphin sightings. Others have fled to the provincial capital Pemba or Macomia, another town. The islands are ill-equiped to handle such an influx and have no schools or hospitals, raising the spectre of a humanitarian crisis. Thousands have fled their homes for the safety of a chain of nearby tourist islands "This place has made it easier to escape the danger we faced there," said Atanasio Nacir, a teacher from Naunde who had taken refuge in an administrative building. Attackers recently killed and beheaded seven villagers in the village, prompting more than half of its 2,300 people to flee. "The village school had 378 students -- but now pupils are scattered in different places and we don't know where," said the teacher who added that the crisis had forced the school to close. The government has not yet set up shelters for many of those displaced by the attacks or delivered aid to those most in need. "What we need most are tents to house the people whose homes were burned down," Maurice Miranda, a village leader in Naunde, told AFP. "There are families here who have lost their homes, they are sleeping under the trees. We have not received any help yet". - 'Nobody is helping' - Luiz Fernando Lisboa, Pemba's Catholic bishop, has criticised the government for failing the victims of the region's nascent insurgency. "Unfortunately these terrible events have had no clear response from the central government," said Lisboa, adding that 900 displaced people have sailed to Ibo, another Matemo island. Mozambican soldiers with Nuance mayor Joaquina Nordine "We're giving support to those who've been displaced -- but it's not enough. There are homes where more than 20 people are living." Seven days after the Naunde village attack, Macomia town official Joaquina Nordine delivered charitable donations to the survivors. "We showed our solidarity with clothes, buckets and other utensils -- all contributions from the people," said Nordine. Matemo and Ibo islands, which sit a short boat ride from the villages targeted by attackers, have already been deluged by survivors now living in cramped conditions. "The situation is chaotic and nobody is helping the displaced," said an island tour guide reached by telephone. For the country's National Institute of Disaster Management (INGC) to intervene, the cabinet must first declare an emergency. Something that the survivors sheltering on Matemo hope will happen soon. Selasse Gebremeskel, 80, says 'Eritreans can start living here once my time runs out. But not before then' If Ethiopia's reformist prime minister Abiy Ahmed wants to end a decades-long conflict with neighbouring Eritrea, he will first have to go through the people of Badme. A dusty grid of bars, coffee houses and little hotels that Ethiopia controls but a United Nations-backed boundary commission says is Eritrean soil, the town was at the centre of a 1998-2000 conflict that ended in a bitter stalemate. Badme's residents want it to stay Ethiopian, despite Abiy's declaration that he will turn the town over to Eritrea in a bid to end the neighbours' cold war. "We don't just give away land for the sake of establishing peace," says a defiant local administrator, Tilahun Gebremedhin. Abiy's announcement last week that Ethiopia will respect the boundary ruling issued in 2002 reverses years of national policy, meets a long-standing Eritrean demand and offers the potential for normalising relations. But it also means that 18,000 Ethiopians in Badme might find themselves living under their former bitter adversary. Frustration with Abiy's announcement erupted into a street protest in the town earlier this week. The Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF), an influential political party that administers Badme, has called for an emergency meeting of Ethiopia's ruling coalition to discuss the issue. "Eritreans can start living here once my time runs out. But not before then," says Selase Gebremeskel, an 80-year-old woman who has lived most of her life in Badme. - Scars of war - Acceptance of the boundary ruling was among a raft of reforms announced by Abiy, 42, who took office in April after years of anti-government protests and political turmoil that speeded his predecessor's end. Once an Ethiopian province, Eritrea voted to secede in 1993, taking Ethiopia's entire coastline -- and therefore access to the sea -- with it. A dusty grid of bars, coffee houses and little hotels line Badme The town of Badme fell under Ethiopian control when the two countries split, but Eritrea objected and pressed its claim with a nine-month occupation that started the war. It is remembered by residents as a time of torture, beatings and extortion. "We didn't know if they were bad or good. But after they invaded Badme, we found out they were bad," recalls Fissahy Gebremedhin, a police officer who lived through the occupation. A 2000 peace treaty ended the armed dispute after around 80,000 deaths, but Ethiopia's rejection of the subsequent boundary ruling deadlocked sour relations between the two countries, rendering Badme a border town on a closed frontier. This week Ethiopian troops maintained their fighting positions less than three kilometres (two miles) from Badme. The soldiers, like the townspeople, are showing no signs of departure, yet. "A bird won't leave, let alone a human being!" Tilahun declares. - 'This land is ours' - Ethiopia encouraged settlement in Badme after the war. The town boasts a new school but has a remote, time-worn feel, marooned at the end of a gravel road far from the nearest town and still dotted with the wreckage of houses levelled in battle. The graves of Ethiopian soldiers who died during the battle against Eritrea are painted in the colors of the Ethiopian flag Gold prospectors have flooded in recently, giving brisk business to bars. Beer-fuelled brawls punctuate evenings. The newcomers join a community of retired war veterans who have little patience for an historic tribunal ruling handed down by foreigners and belatedly recognised by politicians in the distant capital Addis Ababa. "They sit there and sell our country, but this land is ours," spits retired soldier Mekonen Tadese Getebo stabbing at the earth with a tree branch. Ethiopia is poor but growing and Abiy is looking for ways to keep the economy booming amid rising debt and a shortage of foreign currency. Abiy's plans to liberalise major sectors of the economy could sustain that growth. So, too, could giving up Badme, offering the hope of improved relations with Eritrea and the use, once again, of its Red Sea ports, boosting trade. But helping Ethiopia's economy has little currency in Badme. Bar brawls are common in Badme What, Tilahun wonders, would they do about the cemetery at the edge of town, where the corpses of dozens of Ethiopian soldiers are entombed, their graves painted the national colours? "We dont think Eritrea will take Badme," Tilahun says, gazing at graveyard. "But if they do, they can bury us here too." Pentagon chief Jim Mattis at NATO in Brussels in June 2018 US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis assailed Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, accusing him of attacking western democracy and trying to break up NATO. Mattis's remarks came just hours after President Donald Trump repeated his assertion that Russia should be invited back into the G7 group of industrialized nations, from which it was kicked out for annexing Crimea in 2014, an event he blamed on his predecessor Barack Obama. "For the first time since World War II, Russia has been the nation that has redrawn international borders by force of arms in Georgia and Ukraine, while pursuing veto authority over their neighbors' diplomatic, economic and security decisions," Mattis said at a US Naval War College graduation ceremony in Rhode Island. "Putin seeks to shatter NATO. He aims to diminish the appeal of the western democratic model and attempts to undermine America's moral authority." The Pentagon chief added that Putin's actions were designed not to directly challenge America's military prowess, but rather "to undercut and compromise our belief in our ideals." Earlier Friday, Trump said Russia should be invited back to the negotiating table with other industrialized countries. "A few years ago, Putin was in what was called the G8. I think it's better to have Russia in, than to have Russia out," Trump told reporters. "Because just like North Korea, just like somebody else, it's much better if we get along with them than if we don't. So it's possible." Protests have been held around the United States against the Trump administration policy of separating migrant families President Donald Trump's administration is erecting tent structures near the US-Mexico border in Texas to house the increasing number of migrant children in government custody, US media reported. Children who are traveling alone or have been separated from relatives can be held by authorities under US rules, while Trump's administration has also backed separating immigrant children from parents, including those seeking asylum, as part of efforts to deter illegal immigration. The new temporary shelter site is located near an official border crossing point about 35 miles (55 kilometers) southeast of the city of El Paso, and will initially house 360 children in large air-conditioned tents, according to media reports. The shelter was expected to be ready in the next few days. A similar "temporary holding center" was constructed in 2016 at the same location for unaccompanied migrant children and detained families. The existing network of more than 100 government shelters has begun to fill up. Another Texas shelter, a converted Walmart building, is housing as many as 1,500 boys aged 10 to 17. The Department of Health and Human Services, which is tasked with caring for the children, had been considering military bases as potential sites for additional temporary shelters, according to media reports. The shelter near El Paso is the first to be erected by the administration. Texas State Representative Mary Gonzalez, a Democrat whose district includes the El Paso area, tweeted that the shelter was not appropriate for children. "Nor is it a location that has adequate numbers of counselors or therapists to assist these children," she said. Activists around the country on Thursday organized a day of protest against the policy of separating families, which they say is inhumane and dangerous. The practice has sparked international criticism, with the United Nations denouncing a serious violation of children's rights. There has also been bipartisan pushback at home, with Democrats criticizing the separations and even some Republicans expressing reservations. Trump meanwhile doubled down Friday on his assertion that Democrats are to blame for the family separations, having passed "bad legislation" and then failed to change border security laws. "I hate the children being taken away. The Democrats have to change their law. That's their law," he told reporters. Democrats have countered that no law requires the government to separate children from their parents. Trump has made opposition to immigration a focal point of his presidency. His demand for building a border wall was a constant campaign theme, and he has lately referred to some immigrants, particularly gang members, as "animals." A migrant waits for a a host house at the Italian Red Cross camp in Ventimiglia on June 15, 2018 Emmanuel Macron is not a welcome guest in the Italian border town of Ventimiglia, a flashpoint in Europe's migration crisis. Residents are furious at the French president for charging Rome with "cynicism and irresponsibility" this week after it turned away a rescue boat carrying more than 600 asylum-seekers. "It's bad what happened to the Aquarius (ship) but how dare Macron criticise Italy!" vented retired teacher Fulvia Semeria who volunteers for the Secours Catholique charity, a key aid group for migrants. "It's unacceptable from a country that does nothing for migrants and even rejects them," she said, calling his remarks "insulting and totally unfair". The pretty northern town at the gates of the French Riviera has received tens of thousands of asylum seekers pushed back by France since the eruption of Europe's worst migration crisis three years ago. The pretty Italian border town at the gates of the Cote d'Azur has been dubbed the 'Calais of Italy' because of its high number of migrants This is in addition to scores of desperate African refugees landing on its shores after undertaking the perilous journey across the Mediterranean. The influx has seen Ventimiglia dubbed the "Calais of Italy", in reference to the French coastal town notorious for its sprawling migrant camps. Tapping into anger over the arrivals, the far-right League party reaped a record result of 30 percent in March elections here. The score helped catapult the party and its leader Matteo Salvini into a coalition with the anti-establishment Five Star Movement. Semeria laments Rome's rejection of the migrant vessel last weekend -- triggering a diplomatic spat between France and Italy -- but says it may have been a much-needed "wake-up call for Europe". "I have been volunteering here for years and seen so many children and even pregnant women being turned back by France." - 'Italy's fed up' - At least 16 migrants have died trying to cross from France into Italy since September 2016, falling off mountains, being hit by cars or electrocuted while hiding under train carriages. Every morning, Secours Catholique hands out food, clothes and medicine to hundreds of asylum seekers -- many from Sudan, South Sudan and Eritrea -- in central Ventimiglia. Some 400 migrants currently stay a Red Cross camp outside Ventimiglia The struggle to help them increased last summer when police shut a nearby migrant camp, opened by the local church following an appeal from Pope Francis, after receiving complaints from residents. Instead, some 400 migrants are now hosted at a Red Cross site outside town. "It's enough, Italy's fed up! Why should it all fall on us?" exclaimed vendor Giuseppe Piccolo, 60, at Ventimiglia's famed market. The fresh produce draws many French visitors who travel in the opposite direction of the migrants for their weekly shopping. "Yes, I've voted for the League, against the migrants," Piccolo told AFP. Fellow vendor Davide Regina, 59, praised Salvini -- now interior minister -- for blocking the Aquarius migrant ship. "Sadly, Salvini was right to do so. It needs to serve as a lesson because we can't cope here anymore," Regina said. - 'Out of place' - Under a current bilateral agreement, France can return more than 85 percent of all rejected migrants to Italy. For now, French officials say that the system continues to work. However, during a February visit to Ventimiglia on his campaign trail, Salvini vowed to "do what the French do: control the borders, welcome those who have the right to stay and reject the hundreds of thousands of people who don't have the right to stay in Ventimiglia or the rest of Italy." With limited beds available at migrant camps, some are forced to sleep rough in Ventimiglia Since entering government, he has reiterated his pledge to clamp down on illegal immigration and already made good to on his promise to turn away boats. In light of recent developments, the centre-left mayor's office is feeling the heat ahead of regional elections in 2019. Deputy mayor Silvia Sciandra called Macron's comments "out of place", stressing what was really needed was a common EU migrant policy. "From one day to the next in 2015, we found ourselves with hundreds of people at our train stations," she told AFP. "We are doing what we can to maintain the dignity of migrants and of our citizens who have the right to not see their town turn into a camp." US President Donald Trump says the direct contact and close relationship he has established with Kim Jong Un has ended the threat of nuclear war US President Donald Trump said Friday that he and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have "great chemistry" and claimed the stand-off with the nuclear-armed Asian nation is "largely solved." Trump, speaking to reporters outside the White House, said he had given his "very direct" telephone number to Kim, adding: "He can now call me if he has any difficulty." "That's a very important thing," Trump said. "We have communication." In a video message released later by the White House, Trump said Tuesday's summit with the young North Korean leader in Singapore was "open, direct and very, very productive." "If there's a chance at peace, if there's a chance to end the horrible threat of nuclear conflict then we must pursue it at all costs," he said. The results of the Singapore meeting, at which Kim and Trump signed a pledge "to work towards complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," have been greeted with skepticism by many observers. Kim has not yet taken any concrete step to dismantle his nuclear programs. Trump said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would be "working directly with North Korea" in the coming weeks and months to "implement the denuclearization deal." "In the meantime, sanctions will remain in place," he added. Trump's unilateral decision to reduce tension by cancelling joint military exercises by US and South Korean forces meanwhile appeared to catch both close ally Seoul and some Pentagon officials by surprise. But Trump recalled that when he came to office last year, his predecessor Barack Obama had warned that North Korea's growing missile and nuclear threat was the United States' "most dangerous problem." "I have solved that problem," Trump told reporters. "Now we're getting it memorialized and all, but that problem is largely solved. "We signed a very good document," he added. "But more importantly than the document, I have a good relationship with Kim Jong Un. "We have a great chemistry together." - 'Possible new avenue to peace' - Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Friday praised a "possible new avenue to peace" with North Korea, but warned the United States must remain vigilant to countries pursuing nuclear weapons. But Trump seems keen to claim a quick diplomatic victory, and the halt to US military exercises on the peninsula is a significant concession to both Pyongyang and Washington's rival China. US President Donald Trump has called a halt to the regular "war games" held by South Korean and US troops to prepare for any conflict with the North Some of Trump's domestic critics condemned his decision to halt what the president calls "war games" with South Korea -- using a pejorative term for military drills that US officials have previously rejected. "Making unnecessary and unreciprocated concessions is not in our interests -- and it is a bad negotiating tactic," Republican Senator John McCain said. "Parroting Chinese and North Korean propaganda by saying joint exercises are 'provocative' undermines our security and alliances." US and South Korean forces have trained together for decades, and routinely rehearse everything from beach landings in the North to pre-emptive "decapitation" strikes targeting the North Korean regime. Pyongyang typically reacts furiously. Following drills last year, the North fired ballistic missiles over Japan, triggering global alarm and ratcheting up a diplomatic war of words between Trump and Kim. Those harsh exchanges are now apparently over -- since the summit, Trump has lavished praise on Kim, once a global pariah credibly accused of torturing and starving tens of thousands of his own citizens. - Sarcastic remark - Trump praised Kim again on Friday, in what turned into a lengthy unplanned interview with his favorite television show "Fox and Friends." US President Donald Trump said he has developed 'great chemistry' with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "Hey, he is the head of a country and I mean he is the strong head. Don't let anyone think anything different. He speaks and his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same," he said. Trump later told reporters that his remark about Americans standing to attention was "sarcasm." But, asked why he had praised Kim at all, given his history of rights abuses and the death of US student Otto Warmbier after he fell into a coma in North Korean custody, Trump set up a stark choice. "Because I don't want to see a nuclear weapon destroy your family," he told one reporter. And as to the military drills, Trump said he had wanted to halt them long before he travelled to Singapore to meet Kim. Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump's former campaign manager, has been ordered to jail pending trial A US federal judge sent Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump's former campaign manager, to jail on Friday ahead of his trial on money laundering, tax and bank fraud charges. Judge Amy Berman Jackson revoked Manafort's bail over claims he was tampering with witnesses in the case against him brought by special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating possible collusion between Trump's 2016 election campaign and Russia. Manafort, 69, had been under house detention while awaiting trial later this year in Washington and in Virginia. "You have abused the trust placed in you six months ago," The Washington Post quoted Jackson as telling Manafort. "The government motion will be granted and the defendant will be detained." Manafort is the first former member of Trump's presidential campaign to be jailed in connection with the Mueller investigation. Mueller filed new obstruction of justice charges last week against Manafort, who has pleaded not guilty to the multiple counts against him. The new indictment came four days after prosecutors said Manafort had tried to contact two witnesses in his money laundering and bank fraud case via Russian fixer Konstantin Kilimnik to persuade them to make certain representations to investigators. Kilimnik, a former army-trained linguist with alleged ties to Russian intelligence, was included in an updated indictment of Manafort that accused both of witness tampering. It took the number of people indicted by the 13-month-old investigation by Mueller to 20, with three companies also facing charges. - 'Very unfair' - Trump has denounced the Mueller probe as a political "witch hunt" and denied there was any collusion with Russia by members of his election campaign. Trump said Friday that the ruling that sent Manafort to jail was a "tough sentence" and "very unfair." "Wow, what a tough sentence for Paul Manafort, who represented Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole and many other top political people and campaigns," Trump tweeted. "Didn't know Manafort was the head of the Mob," he said. "Very unfair!" Speaking to reporters earlier, Trump sought to play down Manafort's influence on the campaign, saying he "worked for me for a very short period of time. "He worked for me, what, for 49 days or something?" he said. The Manafort case focuses on his work between 2004 and 2014 in Ukraine for pro-Russia politicians including former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych. Kilimnik worked with Manafort in Ukraine during that time, and during the 2016 election they were reportedly in regular contact. According to a Washington court filing earlier this week, Manafort contacted Kilimnik recently to get his help to influence two unnamed people -- said to be European-based public relations consultants -- in their testimony to Mueller on the so-called Hapsburg Group. The Hapsburg Group were onetime European politicians Manafort allegedly secretly paid more than two million euros ($2.5 million) to lobby for Yanukovych in 2012-2013. The group included one unidentified former European chancellor. Soybeans are a key US export to China, an economic tie that makes the trade back-and-forth between the US and China a source of anxiety throughout the American farm belt Soybean prices tumbled this week in Chicago, along with other key agricultural commodities, amid rising trade tensions culminating in Friday's announcements of new US and Chinese tariffs. A bushel of soy for July delivery fell to $9.22 on Friday from $9.69 a week earlier after having earlier dropped to $9.03, the lowest level in a year. Soybeans are a key US export to China, an economic tie that makes the back-and-forth between the US and China a source of anxiety throughout the American farm belt. "The market realizes that the US has carried through what they threatened to do," said Bill Nelson, senior economist at Doane Advisory Services, a research firm. US President Donald Trump announced tariffs of 25 percent targeting $50 billion in Chinese imports. China responded swiftly, saying it would imposed "equal" tariffs on US products. The Chinese government did not specify which goods will be targeted, but Beijing has previously threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on American soybean imports. The US move "is raising concerns that the Chinese will retaliate against soybeans," said Dewey Strickler of Ag Watch Market Advisors. Since US and China trade tensions began heating up in April, Nelson has seen no shift in Chinese demand for US soybeans. "We have to wait to see in the next few days if there are cancellations or diverting of ships," he said. Prices of other key farm commodities wheat and corn also fell this week in the wake of trade uncertainties. A picture taken on November 29, 2017 shows Dutch soldiers of the MINUSMA (United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali) contingent at their base in Gao, Mali The Netherlands is to stop sending troops to the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali and will shift focus to beef up operations in Afghanistan, the defence ministry announced Friday. "The Netherlands will halt its current (military) contribution to the UN mission by 1 May 2019," the ministry said in a statement issued in The Hague, adding it will "extend and intensify" the mission to Afghanistan. The announcement comes two days after a highly critical report by the Dutch Audit Chamber -- which looks at government spending -- saying the country "barely managed to get units ready to deploy to Mali". The report lashed the defence minister, saying Dutch blue helmets "lacked material, had insufficient training and and defective equipment," on the Mali mission. Dutch troops formed part of the MINUSMA stabilisation mission in the west African nation since April 2014, and at one time numbered as many as 400 backed by four Apache attack helicopters and three Chinook transports. The Dutch helicopters were withdrawn early last year. Currently some 250 troops are reportedly stationed alongside French and other forces to fight jihadist insurgents who overran the country's northern territory. But the Dutch mission has been plagued by a series of mishaps which saw four Dutch military personnel lose their lives. In 2015 an Apache attack helicopter crashed killing two pilots, while a year later, two soldiers died when a mortar shell unexpectedly went off during a live-fire exercise. Dutch safety inspectors heavily criticised the deaths of the two men, saying they were using old ammunition stocks bought back in 2006. Former Dutch defence minister Jeanine Hennis resigned in the wake of the report into the soldiers' deaths, saying although she was not minister at the time of the purchase, she was "politically responsible". More than 11,000 UN police and military are currently serving in Mali, attempting to bring security to lawless swathes of the vast Sahel nation. Although jihadists were largely ousted by a French-led military operation in January 2013, extremist groups still pose a threat. by Shafique Khokhar The politician signs the cheques for the first month. More than 2,000 ex workers, 90 per cent of whom are Christian, have been waiting since the start of 2018, of which. Pensions range from 22 to 88 dollars a month, depending on the years of service. Many beneficiaries who suffer from work-related illnesses cannot pay for their medications. Faisalabad (AsiaNews) After six months of waiting, the former employees of the Faisalabad City Waste Management Company received their monthly pension. At least 2,200 people, 90 per cent of whom are Christian, were waiting for this since the start of the year. Last Sunday, they organised a protest in front of the companys offices, pledging to come back today for more. But yesterday, to prevent it, mayor Malik Razzaq signed the cheques. Pensions range from 2,500 to 10,000 Pakistani rupees (US$ 22 to US$ 88), based on the years of service. In total, the mayor paid out 161,000 rupees (US$ 1,400), promising that the pensions for the next four months will be paid following Eid celebrations, which mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan. After the announcement, the sanitation workers decided to suspend todays demonstration. However, the pensioners union pledged more protests to hold the mayor to his word. Sundays action was organised by trade unions and Christian associations like the Ittehad Labour and Staff Union, Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) and the National Minorities' Alliance Pakistan. The organisations representing workers engaged in what few want to do had complained that the city was late in paying. They stressed that on 10 May, the Lahore High Court had ordered the payment of back pensions but nothing had happened. For Ittehad Labour and Staff Union leader Abrar Younas, the responsibility for the delays lay with the mayor himself. "He used pension funds for his political campaign, Younas said. This is a major violation of pensioners rights. Some of the latter have serious health problems." In fact, because of the toxic substances present in the waste, sanitation workers have inhaled noxious fumes over the years. As a result, many of them have contracted asthma, skin allergies, heart problems, intestinal disorders, hepatitis. Robin Daniel, president of the National Minorities' Alliance Pakistan, notes that since this started, "seven people have died from lack of medicines and stress. We are worried about families health and the economic situation. Most former employees have no other means to live on except their pension. We will continue our battle until we get justice." HRFP president Naveed Walter also slammed the threats against pensioners, adding We will continue to provide them with legal support. We leave all options open, including an appeal to the Supreme Court." Based in The Hague, the International Court of Justice was set up in 1945 to rule on border and territorial disputes between nations The UN's highest court will hold public hearings this month in an urgent case between United Arab Emirates and Qatar, which accuses its Gulf rival of "human rights violations and "discrimination". Doha's lawyers will lay out their arguments before the International Court of Justice on June 27 at a three-day hearing in which Abu Dhabi will also be given the chance to respond, a court statement said. A year ago Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt abruptly severed ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism and Iran. Doha denies the claims. The four countries expelled Qataris, and the country's only land border with Saudi Arabia has been closed for the past year. Diplomatic efforts have so far proved fruitless in what was previously one of the most stable regions in the Arab world. Qatar said the dispute is an attack on its sovereignty and punishment for pursuing an independent foreign policy. On Monday, the Qatari foreign ministry denounced "human rights violations arising from the UAE's discrimination against Qatar and Qatari citizens". It also condemned "an unlawful land, sea and air siege against Qatar as part of a campaign of political and economic coercion". "The unlawful measures imposed by UAE have torn apart families," the ministry said in a statement quoting Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. "The UAE deprived Qatari companies and individuals of property and assets and denied fundamental access to education, medicine and justice in the UAE courts," he added. Because of this, the ministry said, Qatar had started proceedings against the UAE at the Hague-based ICJ which rules in disputes between countries. The small peninsula nation "requests the court as a matter of urgency" to order Abu Dhabi to "cease and desist... any form of racial discrimination against Qatari individuals," the statement said. "In particular the UAE shall immediately cease and desist from violations of human rights of Qataris," it said, citing the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), which both countries have signed. Doha also demands Abu Dhabi "make full reparations, including compensation for the harm suffered as a result of the UAE's actions." The towers of Eskom Power plant are seen in Hendrina, south Africa on February 22, 2018 South Africa's state-owned power utility Eskom has resumed electricity rationing for the first time in several years after workers went on strike for higher pay. Eskom, which generates more than 95 percent of the country's electricity, has blamed the power shortage on industrial action and "sabotage". It said on Friday it had commenced "load shedding" -- a term for regularly-scheduled power cuts that reduce demand for energy. "This is due to the impact of the current illegal protest action by some Eskom employees at various sites over wage increases," it said. On Thursday, the company announced electricity generation was being "constrained... (due to) acts of sabotage and intimidation." The workers have rejected any blame. "Eskom has no evidence to back up allegations that our members are responsible for sabotaging power supply," said Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, spokeswoman for the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA). Eskom's workers are demanding a pay rise of up to 15 percent, but the company has ruled out any increase, saying it has liquidity problems. On Thursday, employees went on strike and began to picket power plants. The government of Cyril Ramaphosa is reining in on loss-making state-owned companies, some of which have been at the centre of corruption scandals under his predecessor Jacob Zuma, who was forced to resign in February. Eskom first introduced load-shedding in 2008, affecting commerce and industry while also plunging many neighbourhoods into darkness. The highly unpopular measure, which continued until 2015, was long blamed for hobbling economic growth. In 2006, the economy expanded by 5.6 percent, but it fell back sharply in subsequent years. The most recent official statistics show that South Africa's gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 2.2 percent from January to March compared with the preceding three months, the sharpest contraction in nearly a decade. Pakistani Taliban chief Maulana Fazlullah is believed to have ordered the failed assassination of Malala Yousafzai, now an activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, shown here in March 2018 Afghan President Ashraf Ghani confirmed Friday that Pakistani Taliban chief Maulana Fazlullah had been killed in a US drone strike. Fazlullah is believed to have ordered the failed 2012 assassination of Malala Yousafzai, who became a global symbol of the fight for girls' rights to schooling, and who later won the Nobel Peace Prize. US forces targeted Fazlullah in a counterterrorism strike on Thursday in eastern Kunar province, close to the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, US officials said, without confirming his death. "I spoke with Prime Minister of #Pakistan Nasir ul Mulk and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and confirmed the death of Mullah Fazlullah," Ghani tweeted, adding: "His death is the result of tireless human intel led by #Afghan security agencies." Ghani added the Pakistani leaders had assured him the strike was a "a great step toward building trust between the two nations," while urging them to "bring (the) Afghan Taliban residing in Pakistan to the negotiation table." Pakistan has long been accused of supporting the Afghan Taliban and providing safe haven to its leaders -- charges Islamabad denies. Pakistan, in return, has accused Afghanistan of sheltering the Pakistani Taliban. Pakistan's army called Fazlullah's apparent death a "positive development." Fazlullah's group -- Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Urdu -- was behind the massacre of more than 150 people at a Peshawar school in December 2014, and nine dead in another attack in December 2017 in the same city. He went into hiding in Afghanistan in 2009 and his death "gives relief to scores of Pakistani families who fell victims to TTP terror including the (school) massacre," the Pakistani army statement added. But the Pentagon would not confirm Fazlullah's death, saying it can take time to gather definitive proof. Top militant leaders have been reported dead before -- only to later resurface. "We targeted (Fazlullah) but we're not ready to call jackpot yet," a US defense official told AFP. A second defense official also confirmed the strike had targeted Fazlullah. - 'Who is Malala?' - The US State Department in March announced a $5 million reward for help locating Fazlullah, who has been linked to bloody attacks in Pakistan and the attempted Times Square car bombing in New York in 2010. It said the group has "demonstrated a close alliance with Al-Qaeda" and had given explosives training to Faisal Shahzad, the would-be Times Square bomber. A Pakistani civil society activist holds a placard bearing the image of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader Maulana Fazlullah during a protest in Islamabad on January 16, 2015 According to Pakistani officials, Fazlullah, who is believed to be in his 40s, took refuge in Afghanistan after the TTP was pushed out of Pakistan following multiple offensives by the military on its safe havens. As a schoolgirl, Malala became an activist who chronicled her life under the Taliban. She became a global symbol for human rights after a gunman boarded her school van on October 9, 2012, asked "Who is Malala?" and shot her. The Pakistani Taliban accused her of "anti-Islamic" activities and of "smearing" the militant group in statements released after the attack. She was treated for her injuries in the English city of Birmingham, where she also completed her schooling. Malala's near-miraculous survival and subsequent fierce education campaigns have turned her into an instantly recognizable force for human rights. The Oxford-educated Marques, who runs the news website Maka Angola, is no stranger to Angola's courts An Angolan prosecutor on Friday sought the conviction of outspoken rights activist and journalist Rafael Marques for accusing a former attorney general of corruption in a real estate deal. Pedro Pederneira said Marques had insulted public authority in the 2016 article where he alleged that Joao Maria de Sousa had been involved in a dodgy land purchase. The verdict is due on July 6. Marques, who is on trial with another journalist, risks a three-year prison term if convicted. 'Public prosecutor calls for my conviction for crimes of insult to public authority & against the state. He exonerates his ex boss - the plaintiff - of corruption & blames local admin instead,' the 46-year-old Marques tweeted in English after the court hearing. The Oxford-educated Marques, who runs the news website Maka Angola, is no stranger to Angola's courts, having been arrested and detained several times. In 2015, he was convicted of defaming military generals in a book and was handed a six-month suspended prison sentence. In September, President Joao Lourenco succeeded Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, who had ruled Angola for 38 years. Lourenco assumed power promising to tackle corruption in the oil-rich nation. No caption It has long been a tradition in Iraq's second city Mosul for young boys to celebrate the Eid al-Fitr holiday by running riot with firecrackers or toy guys -- scaring their sisters and grandparents. But nearly a year after security forces reclaimed a devastated city at the end of a brutal battle to dislodge the Islamic State group, there is little tolerance even for pretend warfare. During the three-year rule by the jihadists, primary school mathematics often consisted of counting bullets and grenades, while youngsters were trained for frontline combat. So for the first time, 50-year-old widow Umm Berqis refused to buy plastic guns for her four boys, as she geared up to celebrate the end of the month-long dawn to dusk Ramadan fast. "Weapons have destroyed our city and wounded our children," she told AFP. "This year, there's no question of buying toy guns. We hate everything that reminds us of the violence". Her desire to reclaim innocence on behalf of her children is shared by many others, including 35-year-old father Ali Moayed. "It's not a good idea (to buy toy guns) and anyway I haven't found one in my neighbourhood this year", he said. - 'Send a message' - Iraqis shop for nuts, sweets, and dried fruits at a market on the last day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan before the Eid al-Fitr holiday on June 14, 2018 Toy weapons and firecrackers are still for sale in the historic Nabi Younes market. But one concerned local is determined to remove all traces -- by buying up entire stocks of the offending items, ahead of parents and children. "I try to send a message to the vendors, so they stop putting them on their stalls", he told AFP, preferring to remain anonymous. "I even hope to obtain an official ban due to the enormous harm guns inflict on children and society in general", he said. It is a moral stand that has struck a chord with Mosul's imams. During the Eid prayer early on Friday morning, sermons across the city urged traders to spread "joy" and "optimism" by selling alternative gifts. Their message could not be clearer -- the violence is over for a population weary of warfare and free of the merciless IS yoke. This year, not even celebratory firecrackers were heard in some of Mosul's districts, so keen were people to avoid triggering memories of incessant shelling and machine gun fire. On one bank of the River Tigris, the predominant noise was that of children laughing and crying -- the cacophony of family picnics in parks across the world. - 'End of the nightmare' - On the opposite river bank, Sheikh Ali Hatem wore a long traditional robe and turban and like every year, he lead the Eid prayer in the Al-Baher mosque. He insisted on keeping the tradition going in the heart of the old city, even surrounded by burned out cars and the rubble of former homes, where some bodies are yet to be pulled from the debris. Iraqi worshippers attend a sermon given by a Sunni Muslim cleric during Eid al-Fitr prayers as they mark the religious holiday after the end of the holy month of Ramadan at a mosque early in the morning in the northern city of Mosul on June 15 "We will rebuild and if God wishes, next Eid we will pray" in a rebuilt mosque here, he said. For centuries a cultural and commercial crossroads, the historic old city lost many of its treasures during the fight against IS. Several landmarks were razed, including the Nuri mosque and the emblematic "Al-Hadba" (Hunchback) leaning minaret. "This year, I finally feel joy during Eid after the end of the IS nightmare", said 32-year-old civil servant Umm Sarmad. "We must put the sadness behind us if we want the city we adore to return to normal life." And despite the death and destruction, there are signs the process is well underway. "Women no longer wear the black full veil, men are no longer in Afghan style dress and we can visit the cemeteries again", a tradition IS forbade, Umm Sarmad rejoiced. Many find joy in these restored simple pleasures. "In previous years, I spent Eid shut in the house and cried... because I was scared of the jihadists" said 41-year-old housewife Umm Maher. This year "we are free, we are done with these criminals," she added. Protests have been held around the United States against the Trump administration policy of separating migrant families President Donald Trump's administration has erected a temporary encampment near the US-Mexico border in Texas to house the increasing number of migrant children in government custody, a government official confirmed Friday. Immigrant children traveling alone or separated from relatives can be held by authorities under US rules. The Trump administration has backed family separations, including in asylum cases, as part of efforts to deter illegal immigration. The new shelter consisting of large temporary tent structures opened Thursday with the capacity for 360 children near an official border crossing point about 35 miles (55 kilometers) southeast of the city of El Paso, according to Kenneth Wolfe of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). "It is already open," Wolfe told AFP, and is designated for "minors referred by DHS (Department of Homeland Security) to HHS for our unaccompanied alien children program." He described the large tents housing the children as containing "a full heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, as well as a floor and doors." HHS is tasked with caring for "unaccompanied alien children," which by law is any minor that arrives at the border without parents or relatives, or for whom loved ones were not "available to provide care and physical custody." The Trump administration is facing mounting outrage over its decision to systematically bring criminal charges against undocumented immigrants detained at the border, which forces them into federal prisons where children cannot stay. Previous policy usually allowed families to remain together and often released them into the country until their appointed immigration court dates. Between April 19 and May 31 of this year, 1,995 children were separated from their undocumented parents or adult guardians, according to DHS. The temporary shelter near El Paso is the first to be erected by the Trump administration since the new "zero tolerance" policy. The facility became an almost immediate lightning rod for critics. Texas State Representative Mary Gonzalez, a Democrat whose district includes the El Paso area, tweeted that the shelter was not appropriate for children. "Nor is it a location that has adequate numbers of counselors or therapists to assist these children," she said. Activists around the country on Thursday organized a day of protest, decrying the family separations as inhumane and dangerous. There has also been bipartisan pushback, with Democrats criticizing the separations and even some Republicans expressing reservations. President Donald Trump's announcement of China tariffs brings the world's two largest economies to the brink of an all-out trade war US President Donald Trump on Friday ignited his trade war with China, slapping tariffs on tens of billions in Chinese imports and sparking immediate retaliation from Beijing. The moves brought the world's two largest economies to the verge of an all-out confrontation long feared by markets and industry. And the China trade offensive is only one side of Trump's multi-front battle with all major US economic partners. The announcement caps months of sometimes fraught shuttle diplomacy in which Chinese offers to purchase more American goods failed to assuage Trump's grievances over the soaring trade imbalance and Beijing's aggressive industrial development policies. And as Trump warned of "additional tariffs" should Beijing hit back with tit-for-tat duties on American goods, China unveiled 25 percent duties on $50 billion in US imports. "The United States can no longer tolerate losing our technology and intellectual property through unfair economic practices," Trump said. "These tariffs are essential to preventing further unfair transfers of American technology and intellectual property to China, which will protect American jobs." But at least initially, Trump's new China tariffs will not cover the full $50 billion that Trump announced Friday. China-US economic ties US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said the punitive duties will apply on 818 Chinese products valued at $34 billion starting July 6, with a second list of $16 billion to be considered under a new review process -- bringing the total possible affected import volume to $50 billion. But it is likely companies will seek more exemptions so the final total could fall short of that amount. Beijing's countermeasures closely mirrored Washington's, with 545 American exports, also valued at $34 billion, facing punitive duties as of July 6, including agricultural products and vehicles, according to the official Xinhua news agency. The State Council said another 114 items will be subject to tariffs at a later date, according to Xinhua. US farmers are especially concerned about the impact of a trade war, since they are sure to feel the hit. - Stinging reprisals as vote looms - China's Ministry of Commerce said the decision to impose tariffs meant "all previously agreed trade negotiation results are no longer valid." American farmers are especially worried about a trade war, as they are sure to feel the hit "It is deeply regrettable that in disregard of the consensus between the two sides, the US has demonstrated flip-flops and ignited a trade war," the ministry said. It also called on other countries to "take collective action" against this "outdated and backwards behavior." But the White House maintains that any Chinese countermeasures would be unjust and could be met with further US sanctions. "We have taken essentially a defensive action," a senior US official told reporters, adding that "further threats that are going to hurt other industries... would be a mistake." The official, who asked not to be identified, declined to say whether Trump would make good on a March threat to hit another $100 billion in Chinese goods with tariffs in response to Beijing's retaliation. China in April already put punitive duties on 128 US goods, including pork, wine and certain pipes in response to global US tariffs on steel and aluminum imposed by Trump the month before. The US president outraged Canadian, Mexican and European leaders last month by imposing the steel and aluminum tariffs to protect American producers from allegedly unfair competition. Brussels, Ottawa, Beijing and Mexico City already have shown they intend to inflict damage on export industries in politically-sensitive voting districts -- something which could prove damaging to Republicans already facing a loss of power in November's mid-term elections. In a conversation on Friday with French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump "called on the European Union to enter into negotiations to reduce trade barriers," the White House said in a statement. On Capitol Hill, influential Texas Republican lawmaker Kevin Brady, chairman of a House tax legislation committee, said he was "alarmed" by the tariffs which he said exposed US industries to "devastating retaliation." "I am concerned that these new tariffs will hurt American manufacturers, farmers, workers and consumers," he said. And the powerful US Chamber of Commerce warned that hundreds of thousands of Americans could lose their jobs if the trade war escalated and included the auto import tariffs that Trump has threatened. "If these actions continue, our businesses will lose customers, workers will lose jobs, and American consumers will lose family income through higher taxes and higher prices," Chamber President Thomas Donahue said. He also noted that the metals tariffs have pushed steel prices 40 percent higher since January. Former Democratic Republic of Congo vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba had already spent a decade behind bars before being acquitted on appeal of war crimes Former Democratic Republic of Congo vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba has arrived in Belgium after being acquitted on appeal of war crimes, the International Criminal Court said Friday. The one-time rebel leader, who had already spent a decade behind bars, was "released provisionally under specific conditions," the Hague-based court said in a statement. In a surprise decision, judges on Friday overturned the 2016 verdict against Bemba and quashed his 18-year prison sentence, saying he could not be held criminally liable for crimes committed by his troops in the Central African Republic in 2002-2003. According to a source close to the case, Bemba left the ICC detention centre on Wednesday but remained under the supervision of the court pending approval from Belgian authorities for him to join his wife and children in Brussels. A lawyer for Bemba confirmed that he was in the country. Bemba's wife and children are believed to be living in a villa in the suburb of Rhode-Saint-Genese, some 15 kilometres south of Brussels, where he was originally arrested in May 2008 at the ICC's request. Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, a onetime Silicon Valley star who claimed to have developed a revolutionary blood-testing process, was charged with criminal fraud Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of blood-testing startup Theranos and a onetime Silicon Valley star, has been hit with criminal charges accusing her of defrauding investors and others, prosecutors announced Friday. The Justice Department said a federal grand jury in California indicted Holmes, 34, and Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani, 53, who had been president and chief operating officer. The indictment claims that Holmes and Balwani falsely claimed that they had developed revolutionary technology that could quickly provide a range of clinical tests from a small drop of blood. "Today's indictment alleges that through their company, Theranos, CEO Elizabeth Holmes and COO Sunny Balwani not only defrauded investors, but also consumers who trusted and relied upon their allegedly-revolutionary blood-testing technology," acting US Attorney Alex Tse said in a statement. The wire fraud and conspiracy charges could lead to prison terms up to 20 years and fines up to $250,000 if they are convicted. The indictment says the fraud caused hundreds of patients or their insurers to pay for blood tests and test results, sometimes following referrals from their defrauded doctors. "In addition, the defendants delivered to doctors and patients blood results that were inaccurate, unreliable and improperly validated," according to a statement from Tse's office. Theranos was founded in 2003 by Holmes when she was only 19. She became a media darling, attracting millions of dollars in investment based on claims of innovative technology. But Theranos came under scrutiny after The Wall Street Journal published articles questioning its claims. In March, US securities regulators accused the youthful entrepreneur of an "elaborate, years-long fraud." Theranos said separately that Holmes has been replaced as chief executive. A statement by the board of the California startup said only that Holmes "has stepped down as chief executive officer" and that David Taylor, the company's general counsel, has been appointed CEO. "Ms Holmes remains with the company as founder and chair of the board," the statement said. Holmes was seen for a time as a rising star in Silicon Valley, appearing at events like the Women In Technology and Politics dinner hosted by Glamour and Facebook, the Vanity Fair New Establishment Summit and events hosted by the Wall Street Journal and TechCrunch. She and Balwani pitched a tale in investor presentations, product demonstrations and media articles about the startup's key product -- a portable blood analyzer -- which they claimed could revolutionize the industry by inexpensively conducting comprehensive tests from drops of blood from fingers. When adults are taken into custody at the US border, as shown here in Texas in 2017, their children are split from them because the children are not themselves charged with a crime Nearly 2,000 minors were separated from their parents or adult guardians who illegally crossed into the United States over a recent six-week period, officials said Friday, as debate raged over how to end the deeply controversial practice. President Donald Trump, facing mounting anger over his administration's "zero tolerance" border security policy, repeated he is incensed about the family separations but continued to blame opposition Democrats for the crisis, which critics say is one of his own making. And the president signalled the drama could drag on. After Trump initially seemed to say he was not keen on a Republican compromise bill that includes a fix to the separation issue as well as DACA protections for young migrants who arrived illegally as children, the White House walked back his remarks. According to a Department of Homeland Security spokesman, between April 19 and May 31, 1,995 children were separated from 1,940 adults who were being held by US border patrol. Amid an outcry over the detentions, the DHS official insisted the minors were held in decent conditions. "We have some of the highest detention standards in the world for children," he said. Some 1,500 boys are being held in a former Walmart supermarket in Texas, and the government is erecting tent structures near the border to house the increasing number of migrant children, including unaccompanied minors, in custody. With the crackdown in full swing, the detained parents are "in jail settings," the official said, awaiting adjudication and possible prosecution for crossing the border. The process can take several weeks. "This administration has made it clear that we are not going to ignore the law any longer," the official said. Critics of a Trump administration policy that separates children from their parents when they are detained after crossing the US border are demanding changes to the policy, as at this protest in Los Angeles Meanwhile, congressional Republicans have struggled to craft a viable immigration plan. The Republican-led House of Representatives may vote next week on two immigration measures -- a hard-line bill drafted by House Judiciary chairman Bob Goodlatte, and a compromise measure that limits legal immigration while also ending the family separations. "I'm looking at both of them," Trump told Fox News. "I certainly wouldn't sign the more moderate one." Trump's opposition would deal a body blow to efforts to tamp down the border crisis, which has raised alarm among evangelical leaders who backed Trump's campaign. "The administration shows no sign of backing down from its policy of separating children from their parents despite powerful new condemnation from faith leaders," Tom Jawetz, vice president for immigration policy at progressive group Center for American Progress, told AFP. Hours after Trump's comments, the White House issued a statement saying the president had misspoken. "The president fully supports both the Goodlatte bill and the House leadership bill," according to White House spokesman Raj Shah. - 'Horrific policy' - US President Donald Trump is at the center of a firestorm about illegal immigration, with his administration implementing a "zero tolerance" policy that has upset opposition Democrats as well as some in his own Republican Party The compromise House Republican bill reportedly would provide $25 billion for a border wall, and detail a process giving young undocumented immigrants permanent residency and a pathway to citizenship. On Twitter, Trump addressed what he specifically wants in new legislation including "full funding for the Wall;" an end to a diversity visa lottery and certain categories of family-based migration; and a shift toward "merit based immigration" for skilled workers. He also accused Democrats of "forcing the breakup of families at the border" because they are pushing their own "cruel" uncompromising legislative agenda. Democrats went on the counterattack, with top House Democrat Nancy Pelosi calling the Republican proposal "simply unworthy of America." Family separation "is an immoral, horrific policy," added Senator Dianne Feinstein, who has introduced legislation to keep immigrant families together. Trump stressed he opposes the separations. "I hate the children being taken away," he said. But he also repeated the falsehood that Democrats, currently in the minority in Congress, are responsible for a law that mandates family separations. There is no law that requires parents be separated from their children at the border. But if parents in the United States are jailed, their children are split from them because the children are not themselves charged with a crime. The DHS official also rejected as "not true" various reports of wrongdoing, including the turning away of some asylum-seekers. He also refuted the claim that agents were surreptitiously misleading children and parents in order to separate them, as well as one report which detailed a mother being separated from her child during breastfeeding. "We do not separate breastfeeding children from their parents," the DHS official said. "That does not exist, that is not policy." "I've seen too much poverty, too many jobless young men and too many families without medical care," Wu said. With more than 2,500 local staff, the group has made it a priority to improve living standards of the employees and their families. And Wu Dongzheng, general manager of China Railway International Group in the South Pacific, told Xinhua Chinese news agency that the company's impact in the picturesque, palm-tree laden paradise goes far beyond the bricks and mortar. PORT MORESBY A Chinese executive of a major construction company says the relationship between Chinese enterprises and the local people has never been stronger. China Railway International Group in discussions with PNG officials as its starts a public relations offensive in the country That's why the company is focused on providing staff with technical training and professional qualifications, as well as offering financial incentives. "Many families have changed their way of life because of this, and sent their children to primary schools and even universities," Wu explained. Papua New Guinean employee Daniel Nere said the most important part of his job over the last decade has been to ensure local participation in projects "We make sure the local people get contracts, subcontracts and are employed as we work along the corridors of the constructions path," he said. "It has been my job to figure out the interrelationship between the company and the government here, and the Chinese understand us, they have much respect for PNG people like me." The company says PNG is riding an economic wave of success as it prepares to host the 2018 APEC leaders' meeting. At the end of 2017, Wu signed an agreement with Eastern and Western Highlands provincial governments to develop two industrial agriculture parks. "I think developing agriculture is the most important thing for this country," Wu said. "But there is no road network to deliver agricultural products. So I invited the PNG government to join China's Belt and Road Initiative to improve connectivity and services." There is also a plan to establish six or seven advanced farming sites across PNG that Wu says will sell eco-friendly products to the world, totally revolutionising the local economy. Signing the project's memorandum of understanding, prime minister Peter ONeill said, "China is one of our strongest development partners and this direct investment is an example of the huge confidence that China and Chinese companies have in Papua New Guinea. "The projects we have agreed on will deliver positive change for people in many towns and villages and I thank the government of China and the China Railway Company for their ongoing commitment to Papua New Guinea." Meanwhile, O'Neill has launched a half billion kina million power project for the Highlands which is funded by China. A loan from the Exim Bank of China is helping fund the construction of 189 kilometres of transmission lines and four sub-stations between Mount Hagen and Tari. GROS ISLET, St. Lucia (AP) - Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal held out on the opening day of the second test against West Indies on Thursday with an undefeated 119 but ran out of partners as his team was dismissed for 253. In reply, West Indies survived two overs to go to stumps at 2-0 in its first innings with Kraigg Brathwaite (2) and Devon Smith at the crease in the three-test series. The hosts dominated the opening session with Sri Lanka 79-3 at lunch, and Chandimal on 8. Sri Lanka revived to reach 157-5 at tea with Chandimal on 53 at Gros Islet. Right-arm pacers Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach inflicted nearly all the damage for West Indies, with nine wickets between them after Sri Lanka won the toss and judged the wicket to be batting-friendly. Gabriel ended on 5-59 off 16 overs and Roach took 4-49 off 18 overs. Chandimal, who hit 10 fours and a six in his 11th test century, shared a 67-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Kusal Mendis, who was out for 45 after being caught by wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich off a delivery from medium-fast Jason Holder. West Indies won the first test at Port of Spain by 226 runs. The teams will play a third test, a day-night encounter, beginning June 23 at Bridgetown, Barbados. WASHINGTON (AP) - The Justice Department's watchdog has finally weighed in on the FBI's handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation and nobody comes out looking good. The report paints a deeply unflattering portrait of former FBI Director James Comey and other senior bureau officials. And it is unlikely to satisfy either Republicans looking for an anti-Trump deep state or Democrats angry at an FBI they believe torpedoed Clinton's candidacy. Here are a few key takeaways: Part of the the Department of Justice Inspector General's report after its release in Washington, Thursday, June 14, 2018. The report documented in painstaking detail one of the most consequential investigations in modern FBI history and revealed how the bureau, which for decades has endeavored to stand apart from politics, came to be entangled in the 2016 presidential election.(AP Photo/Jon Elswick) ___ 'INSUBORDINATE' COMEY The report drags Comey over the coals. It calls him "insubordinate" for not revealing to then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch his plans to make a public announcement revealing that Clinton would not be charged in the case. It says the announcement itself violated protocol and says he "usurped" the authority of the attorney general in making it. And it found that Comey "made a serious error in judgment" by notifying Congress, just days before Election Day, that the FBI had discovered additional Clinton emails on the laptop of disgraced congressman Anthony Weiner. The report skewers Comey's often-repeated explanation that he was faced with a decision between doors labeled "speak" and "conceal." Calling the comparison a "false dichotomy," the report says, "the two doors were actually labeled 'follow policy/practice' and 'depart from policy/practice." ___ A 'CLOUD' OF POLITICAL BIAS President Donald Trump and his supporters have spent months looking for conclusive evidence of an anti-Trump deep state. In the report, they will find a wealth of politically biased text messages by a handful of FBI employees, including counterintelligence agent Peter Strzok and bureau attorney Lisa Page. The report found that the communications, many derogatory of Trump, were "deeply troubling" and "cast a cloud" over the handling of the Clinton email investigation. The inspector general singles out an August 2016 text exchange in which Strzok tells Page "we'll stop" then-candidate Trump from being elected. The report says the text is "not only indicative of a biased state of mind but, even more seriously, implies a willingness to take official action to impact the presidential candidate's electoral prospects." ___ BUT NO CLEAR SMOKING GUN While torching Strzok, Page and other FBI officials for the "appearance" of impropriety created by their texts, the report found that the big decisions in the Clinton case weren't motivated by political bias. Of the decision not to charge Clinton, the inspector general "found no evidence that the conclusions by the prosecutors were affected by bias or other improper considerations; rather, we determined that they were based on the prosecutors' assessment of the facts, the law and past department practice." Similarly, investigators determined that neither Comey's public statement about the closing of the case nor his notification to Congress was influenced by "an effort to influence the election" or "political preferences" respectively. ___ TRUMP-RUSSIA CROSSOVER Some of the same agents in the Clinton investigation were also involved in the early months of the FBI's investigation into Russian election interference. And the inspector general singled out one episode of crossover for particular criticism. The report faults the FBI for a nearly monthlong delay in obtaining a warrant to search the Weiner laptop. The report doesn't fully answer the question of what caused the delay, saying it couldn't find a "persuasive or consistent" explanation. The inspector general did not accept the FBI's explanations, including that some Clinton email team members had been reassigned to the Russia investigation, which "was a higher priority." Investigators were particularly skeptical of Strzok, saying they couldn't be confident his personal decision to prioritize the Russia investigation over the Clinton probe "was free from bias" because of the nature of his text messages. Still, the inspector general examined the conduct of dozens of other FBI officials involved and found no evidence the search of the laptop was "deliberately placed on the back-burner" to protect Clinton. ___ Follow Chad Day and Eric Tucker on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChadSDay and https://twitter.com/etuckerAP ___ Read the report: http://apne.ws/UW6V5LZ DALLAS (AP) - An ex-physician has been charged with capital murder in the February death of a woman who was left incapacitated in 1988 after being sexually assaulted and strangled in a case that a team of prosecutors, investigators and victim advocates funded by a federal cold case grant helped reinvigorate. George Guo, a former prisoner who is a registered sex offender, was arrested Wednesday in Houston in connection to the June 1988 attack on Dr. Katherine Bascone, according to the Dallas County District Attorney's Office. The 56-year-old was being held Thursday on a $5 million bond in the Dallas County Jail. Bascone suffered a brain injury because of the strangulation, leaving her blind and needing lifetime care. She died in February, and a medical examiner ruled her death a homicide. This photo provided by the Dallas County Jail shows George Guo, who is being held Thursday, June 14, 2018, on a capital murder charge. Prosecutors in Dallas say Guo, an ex-physician, has been charged in the death of a woman left incapacitated after being sexually assaulted and strangled in 1988. (Dallas County Jail via AP) An affidavit shows evidence from the scene and hospital was tested at the time, but it did not lead to the identification of a suspect. After Bascone's death, it was resubmitted and DNA evidence identified Guo as the perpetrator, the document says. Last week, Bascone's sister spoke with authorities and said the assault on Bascone along with chronic disabilities "had been devastating to the entire family and changed their lives forever," according to the affidavit. Guo was convicted in 1991 for burglary of a habitation after breaking into the apartment of a student who attended Southern Methodist University in the Dallas area. Authorities broke down the apartment door and caught Guo with condoms, a ski mask, military tear gas and syringes filled with sedatives, according to prosecutors. The suspect is a graduate of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, prosecutors said, and was a licensed physician at the time of the break-in. Guo also was convicted of burglary of a habitation with intent to commit sexual assault in a 1999 incident in which he was caught breaking into a girl's residence, the district attorney's office said in a statement. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison. He was released in 2013. Online records don't list an attorney for Guo. The district attorney's office said a team within the office worked with authorities in Highland Park, the wealthy Dallas enclave where Bascone was attacked three decades ago, to investigate and file the criminal charge. The team is funded by a Department of Justice grant that allows the office to prosecute and investigate sexual assault cases that have gone cold. On Thursday, Dallas County District Attorney Faith Johnson praised the team's efforts and said her office remains committed to pursuing such cases. "We are not going to give up," she said. Her office said the federal grant funds two victim advocate positions and two investigator positions, along with two prosecutor positions. BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) - U.S. Sen. Rand Paul's neighbor was sentenced Friday to 30 days in prison for tackling the lawmaker while he was out doing yard work at his Kentucky home. Paul, who suffered broken ribs, had hoped for a harsher penalty. He said in a statement that the 21 months in prison sought by prosecutors "would have been the appropriate punishment." Rene Boucher, 60, pleaded guilty in March to assaulting a member of Congress in the Nov. 3 attack. Boucher said he was triggered by Paul repeatedly stacking debris near their property line in Bowling Green and "lost his temper." Rene Boucher, right, exits the courthouse, Friday, June 15, 2018, at the William H. Natcher Federal Courthouse in Bowling Green, Ky. Boucher, a neighbor of U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, was sentenced to 30 days in prison on Friday for attacking the senator in a dispute over yard waste. (AP Photo/Dylan Lovan) U.S. District Judge Marianne Battani, a special judge called in from Michigan, said she surmised the attack to be a "dispute between neighbors" and an "isolated incident," not motivated by politics. Boucher's attorney, Matt Baker, said his client, a retired physician, was irritated by the debris and removed the waste on his own three times. Battani told Boucher he should have spoken directly to Paul about the problem, but also suggested Paul would have known "by your removal that you did not like those debris being there." Boucher must serve a year of supervised release after the prison time, stay away from the Paul family and pay a $10,000 fine. They remain next-door neighbors. Paul said in the statement that "no one deserves to be violently assaulted. A felony conviction is appropriate and hopefully will deter the attacker from further violence." He called the attack a "violent, premeditated assault." Boucher spoke in court Friday to ask the judge for leniency. "What I did was wrong," he said. "It's not something I'm proud of. I'm very embarrassed by it. I never thought I'd be in a courthouse in the middle of all this." He asked for forgiveness from the Paul family but said he would understand if they were not ready to grant it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Shepard called the attack "vicious and unprovoked." "When you look at what happened here, it was absolutely deplorable," Shepard said in court. Several records were sealed from public view in the case, including a victim impact statement from Paul. Boucher's attorney called a Catholic priest to testify on behalf of his client's character, along with Jim Skaggs, a resident of the tony subdivision where Paul and Boucher live. Skaggs, who developed the subdivision, said he is friendly with Boucher and never had trouble with him. But "if I had broken ribs, maybe I would feel differently about it," Skaggs said. Boucher had brought the brush pile issue to Skaggs' attention, but Skaggs said it never rose to the level of a complaint and he never spoke to Paul about it. Rene Boucher exits the courthouse, Friday, June 15, 2018, at the William H. Natcher Federal Courthouse in Bowling Green, Ky. Boucher, a neighbor of U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, was sentenced to 30 days in prison on Friday for attacking the senator in a dispute over yard waste. (Austin Anthony/Daily News via AP) Rene Boucher, left, exits the courthouse, Friday, June 15, 2018, at the William H. Natcher Federal Courthouse in Bowling Green, Ky. Boucher, a neighbor of U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, was sentenced to 30 days in prison on Friday for attacking the senator in a dispute over yard waste. (Austin Anthony/Daily News via AP) White House: Trump supports GOP leaders' immigration bill WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump ignited eleventh-hour confusion Friday over Republican efforts to push immigration legislation through the House, saying he wouldn't sign a "moderate" package. The White House later walked back the comments, formally endorsing the measure and saying Trump had been confused. The campaign-season tumult erupted as GOP leaders put finishing touches on a pair of Republican bills: a hard-right proposal and a middle-ground plan negotiated by the party's conservative and moderate wings, with White House input. Only the compromise bill would open a door to citizenship for young immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children, and reduce the separation of children from their parents when families are detained crossing the border - a practice that has drawn bipartisan condemnation in recent days. "I'm looking at both of them," Trump said when asked about the proposals during an impromptu interview on Fox News' "Fox & Friends," adding: "I certainly wouldn't sign the more moderate one." The comment prompted widespread confusion on the Hill and jeopardized Republicans' plans for votes on both bills next week. Leaders released a schedule for next week that included "possible consideration" of immigration legislation. Earlier this week, House Speaker Paul Ryan had told colleagues that Trump supported the middle-ground package. White House aide Stephen Miller, an immigration hard-liner who has been accused of trying to sabotage immigration deals in the past, told conservative lawmakers at a closed-door meeting that the president backed that plan. ___ DHS reports about 2,000 minors separated from families WASHINGTON (AP) - Nearly 2,000 children have been separated from their families at the U.S. border over a six-week period during a crackdown on illegal entries, according to Department of Homeland Security figures obtained Friday by The Associated Press. The figures show that 1,995 minors were separated from 1,940 adults from April 19 through May 31. The separations were not broken down by age, and included separations for illegal entry, immigration violations or possible criminal conduct by the adult. Under a "zero tolerance" policy announced by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Department of Homeland Security officials are now referring all cases of illegal entry for criminal prosecution. U.S. protocol prohibits detaining children with their parents because the children are not charged with a crime and the parents are. Sessions announced the effort April 6, and Homeland Security began stepping up referrals in early May, effectively putting the policy into action. Since then, stories of weeping children torn from the arms of their frightened parents have flooded the media and the policy has been widely criticized by church groups, politicians and children's advocates who say it is inhumane. A battle in Congress is brewing in part over the issue. ___ Judge jails ex-Trump campaign chair Manafort ahead of trial WASHINGTON (AP) - Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was jailed Friday after a federal judge revoked his house arrest over allegations of witness tampering in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. The order by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson adds to the already intense pressure on President Donald Trump's former top campaign aide in the special counsel's probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election campaign and the possible coordination with Trump aides. Manafort, who is 69, now loses the relative freedom he enjoyed while preparing for two criminal trials, and he faces the possibility, if tried and convicted, of spending the rest of his life in prison. Still, it's unclear if the move will push Manafort to cooperate with prosecutors. Manafort witnessed several key episodes under investigation by Mueller's team. But he has not shown a willingness to help investigators, instead vigorously maintaining his innocence and attacking his prosecution as illegitimate. Prosecutors have also given no indication they are pursuing a plea deal or consider his testimony essential to the probe given the amount of evidence - and other cooperators - they've amassed in the last year. No one on the campaign, including Manafort, has been charged with a crime directly related to Russian attempts to sway the election. ___ China hikes tariffs on US soybeans, electric cars, fish BEIJING (AP) - China fired back Saturday in a spiraling trade dispute with President Donald Trump by raising import duties on a $34 billion list of American goods including soybeans, electric cars and whiskey. The government said it was responding in "equal scale" to Trump's tariff hike on Chinese goods in a conflict over Beijing's trade surplus and technology policy that companies worry could quickly escalate and chill global economic growth. China "doesn't want a trade war" but has to "fight back strongly," said a Commerce Ministry statement. It said Beijing also was scrapping agreements to narrow its multibillion-dollar trade surplus with the United States by purchasing more American farm goods, natural gas and other products. The United States and China have the world's biggest trading relationship but official ties are increasingly strained over complaints Beijing's industry development tactics violate its free-trade pledges and hurt American companies. Europe, Japan and other trading partners raise similar complaints, but Trump has been unusually direct about challenging Beijing and threatening to disrupt such a large volume of exports. "In this trade war, it's the U.S. who is playing the role of provocateur, while China plays defense," said the Global Times, a newspaper published by the ruling Communist Party. "China is a powerful guardian and has enough ammunition to defend existing trade rules and fairness." ___ Justice report provides ammo for both Trump and his critics WASHINGTON (AP) - A Justice Department watchdog report has turned into Washington's latest Rorschach test, with President Donald Trump and his critics each cherry picking what they want to see from its findings to either discredit or defend investigators conducting the probe into the White House. The 500-page report, which was more than a year in the making, offered a nuanced conclusion about the bureau's handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe, criticizing the FBI and its former director James Comey personally but not finding evidence that political bias tainted the investigation in the months and days leading up to Trump's election. But Trump wielded it as a blunt instrument on Friday, bludgeoning the integrity of the Justice Department by pointing to the politically-charged communication among FBI employees as proof that the FBI was biased "at the top level" and "plotting against my election." "The end result was wrong. There was total bias," Trump declared Friday. "Comey was the ring leader of this whole, you know, den of thieves. It was a den of thieves." Trump allies seized upon text messages between agents, pointing to one from August 2016 that said "We'll stop it" with regard to a potential Trump victory and another from a bureau lawyer that said "Viva le resistance." And Trump took it one step further, barreling out of the White House Friday for an unannounced, early-morning television interview that turned into a nearly hour-long freewheeling give-and-take with reporters, during which he returned time and again to assert that report had exonerated him amid Mueller's ongoing probe into Russian election interference. ___ A trade war looms as Trump slaps tariffs on Chinese imports WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump brought the world's two biggest economies to the brink of a trade war Friday by announcing a 25 percent tariff on up to $50 billion in Chinese imports to take effect July 6. Beijing quickly responded that it would retaliate with penalties of the same scale on American goods - and it spelled out details to impose tariffs on 545 U.S. exports, including farm products, autos and seafood, according to the Xinhua state news agency. In announcing the U.S. tariffs, Trump said he was fulfilling a campaign pledge to crack down on what he contends are China's unfair trade practices and its efforts to undermine U.S. technology and intellectual property. "We have the great brain power in Silicon Valley, and China and others steal those secrets," Trump said on "Fox & Friends." ''We're going to protect those secrets. Those are crown jewels for this country." The prospect of a U.S.-China trade war weighed on financial markets Friday. The Dow Jones industrial average was down more than 220 points in mid-afternoon trading before recovering somewhat to finish down 84 points. Other stock averages also declined. ___ Trump holds chaotic news conference on White House lawn WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump gives few news conferences, and when one came Friday it was sudden, unexpected and chaotic. After making a surprise visit to the White House lawn for a half-hour interview with "Fox & Friends" host Steve Doocy, Trump took 20 minutes of questions from a boisterous group of White House reporters. It was televised live on cable news. Trump's remarks - about North Korea, his zero tolerance immigration policy, the investigation into his campaign's ties with Russia - offered enough fodder for television talkers to chew over all day and into the weekend. No one had any idea it was going to happen an hour before the president emerged. Doocy, typically New York-based, was in Washington this week to cover the congressional baseball game. He stayed over to help anchor Trump's favorite morning show from the area on the White House grounds where television reporters usually congregate for live shots. No guests were expected; the White House offered a trade representative and Fox turned them down. Doocy nearly didn't get in; Secret Service officials couldn't find his pass and barred him at the gate. He was sitting on the curb outside the White House at 6:10 a.m., and his colleagues started "Fox & Friends" without him. ___ Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes charged with criminal fraud NEW YORK (AP) - Federal prosecutors indicted Elizabeth Holmes on criminal fraud charges for allegedly defrauding investors, doctors and the public as the head of the once-heralded blood-testing startup Theranos. Federal prosecutors also brought charges against the company's former second-in-command. Holmes, who was once considered a wunderkind of Silicon Valley, and her former Chief Operating Officer Ramesh Balwani, are charged with two counts conspiracy to commit wire fraud and nine counts of wire fraud each, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California said late Friday. If convicted, they could face prison sentences that would keep them behind bars for the rest of their lives, and total fines of $2.75 million each. Prosecutors allege that Holmes and Balwani deliberately misled investors, policymakers and the public about the accuracy of Theranos' blood-testing technologies going back to at least 2013. Holmes, 34, founded Theranos in Palo Alto, California, in 2003, pitching its technology as a cheaper way to run dozens of blood tests. Holmes said Theranos had discovered a new way of doing blood testing, one able to do dozens of tests with just a prick of a finger and few droplets of blood. A notoriously secretive company, Theranos shared very little about its blood-testing machine, nicknamed Edison, with the public or medical community. Holmes said she was inspired to start the company in response to her fear of needles. She carefully crafted her image as well, wearing almost entirely black turtleneck sweaters that earned her the moniker in Silicon Valley as "the next Steve Jobs." ___ Fierce fighting intensifies outside Yemen's Hodeida airport SANAA, Yemen (AP) - A Saudi-led coalition and Yemeni fighters backing the country's government were on the verge of seizing control of the airport of a vital rebel-held port as fighting intensified Friday, with pro-government forces within meters (yards) of the airport gates. The death toll climbed to at least 280 on the third day of the campaign aimed at driving out the Iranian-backed Shiite rebels, known as Houthis, from the Red Sea port of Hodeida that is the main entry point for food and aid supplies in a country teetering on the brink of famine. The Saudi-Emirati coalition bombed Houthi positions while rebels said in a statement that they fired a ballistic missile at pro-government forces, but gave no report of causalities. The fighting comes at a time when Muslims around the world are celebrating the Eid al-Fitr holiday at the end of the holy month of Ramadan. But in Hodeida, people were stockpiling what little food they could for fear of an imminent siege and streets were empty except for beggars and fighters. Yemeni officials said dozens of pro-government fighters have been killed since the assault began Wednesday, mainly from land mines and roadside bombs disguised as rocks or sacks of wheat. On the rebel side, bodies of Houthi fighters were strewn across the front lines. ___ AP: Trump 2020 working with ex-Cambridge Analytica staffers WASHINGTON (AP) - A company run by former officials at Cambridge Analytica, the political consulting firm brought down by a scandal over how it obtained Facebook users' private data, has quietly been working for President Donald Trump's 2020 re-election effort, The Associated Press has learned. The AP confirmed that at least four former Cambridge Analytica employees are affiliated with Data Propria, a new company specializing in voter and consumer targeting work similar to Cambridge Analytica's efforts before its collapse. The company's former head of product, Matt Oczkowski, leads the new firm, which also includes Cambridge Analytica's former chief data scientist. Oczkowski denied a link to the Trump campaign, but acknowledged that his new firm has agreed to do 2018 campaign work for the Republican National Committee. Oczkowski led the Cambridge Analytica data team which worked on Trump's successful 2016 campaign. The AP learned of Data Propria's role in Trump's re-election effort as a result of conversations held with political contacts and prospective clients in recent weeks by Oczkowski. In one such conversation, which took place in a public place and was overheard by two AP reporters, Oczkowski said he and Trump's 2020 campaign manager, Brad Parscale, were "doing the president's work for 2020." In addition, a person familiar with Data Propria's Washington efforts, who spoke on condition of anonymity to protect business relationships, confirmed to the AP that Trump-related 2020 work already had begun at the firm along the lines of Cambridge Analytica's 2016 work. WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump got the history-making handshake he wanted with North Korea's Kim Jong Un. Now, with the smiling snapshot a part of history, new details are emerging about the bizarre behind-the-scenes negotiations that led up to the summit - and about the president's post-summit frustrations with how it's being portrayed. Setting up the Singapore meeting was no easy feat for the technically still-warring heads of state, requiring planners to accommodate confounding requests and paranoia. But neither has it been easy for Trump to sell the plan to a doubting class of experts, allies and the media. He's chafing at the skepticism swirling about the nuclear accord that he wants to define his legacy. Scenes from inside the summit: FILE - In this Tuesday, June 12, 2018, file photo, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump shake hands prior to their meeting on Sentosa Island in Singapore. Trump got the history-making handshake he wanted with Kim. Now that the snapshot is a part of history, new details are emerging about the behind-the-scenes negotiations that led up to the summit. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) "ALIEN" TERRITORY? Like talking with "aliens." Sitting at tables at the luxurious Capella Hotel in Singapore or in the sparse Demilitarized Zone on the Korean Peninsula, that's how U.S. officials involved in negotiations with their North Korean counterparts described their conversations ahead of the summit. The North Koreans had never before participated in an event of the sort, were unfamiliar with notions of press access and deeply afraid about both espionage and assassination. The North Korean logistics teams struck the Americans as organized, detail-oriented and mission-focused, said one official involved in the planning. There were also a number of women involved in senior roles, surprising to the U.S. side. On the day before the summit, U.S. and North Korean officials met throughout the day in Singapore to hash out areas of agreement for what became the joint statement issued by the two leaders on Tuesday. The U.S. team wanted to send in an official photographer to capture the moment for history - a manifestation of the White House's desire to turn the summit into an international media event - but the North Koreans balked. "How do we know she's not a spy?" protested the North Koreans. They eventually agreed the photographer could attend, said an official familiar with the discussions with the North Koreans who wasn't authorized to discuss it and insisted on anonymity. Similar worries had come up earlier in the talks when the Korean delegation voiced concerns that cameras belonging to the press could be concealed weapons. THE TRUST GAP There was hardly trust on the U.S. side either. Kim, after all, is accused by the U.S. of ordering the murder of his half brother with a nerve agent last year. From the first logistical talks in Singapore, it was clear to U.S. officials that overcoming the security trust gap was among the most significant hurdles to getting the two leaders into the same room. For every person the White House wanted to put in the room for the meetings, the North wanted to know how they would know the person was not there to spy on the proceedings or harm Kim. U.S. officials credited the Singaporean government for helping to prevent the mistrust from sinking the summit. Checkpoints were jointly patrolled by U.S., North Korean, and Singaporean officials, with some journalists on site required to undergo separate security sweeps by each of the three parties. U.S. officials agreed to cap the number of U.S. government officials they allowed onto the luxury summit property to match the far smaller North Korean delegation. It left all but the most senior American negotiators, including many subject matter experts, monitoring the proceedings via television and emailed updates from the president's hotel, a 20-minute drive away. OLD HABITS DIE HARD At a formal signing ceremony Tuesday afternoon, a gloved North Korean official inspected Kim's chair and the black felt-tipped pen bearing Trump's signature in gold that was positioned for Kim's use. At the last minute, Kim's sister, Kim Yo-jong, who was standing to his side, provided a pen of her own for his use. The U.S.-supplied pen was later retrieved, unused, by a White House staffer. EQUAL PARTNERS Throughout the summit preparations, U.S. officials described the North Koreans as focused on ensuring they were not the junior partner in the talks. In a symbolic concession, the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) was listed above the U.S. in the official summit logo on credentials for the summit. The White House also agreed to limit the number of journalists allowed to cover some events to mirror the North Korean contingent of state-run media. Still, Trump appeared to be in the driver's seat, clapping Kim on the back and directing over to their interpreters to start their one-on-one meeting. The U.S. president also signaled for reporters in the room to be escorted out - after both took questions from the journalists. FRUSTRATION FACTOR On the final day before the summit, officials at the White House National Security Council back in Washington grew incensed over a New York Times report suggesting that "science is unwelcome" in Trump's administration and that the U.S. negotiating team was devoid of nuclear physicists. So the White House issued a directive to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo: He would go in front of cameras in Singapore and call out the newspaper by name, an official familiar with the instruction said. Pompeo complied. "Before discussing the summit, I want to address a report in The New York Times," Pompeo opened. "Any suggestion that the United States somehow lacks the technical expertise across government or lacks it on the ground here in Singapore is mistaken." Now that he's back home, Trump has been fuming privately and publicly over the skeptical news coverage about his signed agreement with Kim. Never steeped in details or history, the president feels he has made ground-breaking progress, as evidenced by his grand statements telling the world to "sleep well." Back in DC, in a terrible mood, he is frustrated by all the questions about the fine print. Trump has been calling lawmakers to express enthusiasm for the agreement - but also complaining that he has not had more robust support from GOP lawmakers, said a person with knowledge of the calls, who spoke on condition of anonymity to share internal conversations. While the president calls the summit a "first step," with more meetings sure to come, he also has been arguing that he has already done more than his predecessor, President Barack Obama. GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Several thousand Gaza worshippers knelt on prayer rugs spread on sandy soil, near the perimeter fence with Israel, joining hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world Friday in marking the holiday that caps the fasting month of Ramadan. The three-day Eid al-Fitr holiday is traditionally a time of family visits and festive meals, with children getting new clothes, haircuts and gifts. In the Middle East, celebrations were once again marred by prolonged conflict in hot spots such as Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen and the Gaza Strip. In Syria, two people visiting graves of relatives during the holiday were killed in government shelling of a cemetery, activists said. In Yemen, officials said dozens of fighters from a Saudi-led coalition backing an exiled government were killed in fighting over the rebel-held port of Hodeida, the main entry point for food into a country already on the brink of famine. A Palestinian boy wearing a traditional uniform stands in front of Muslim women performing Eid al-Fitr prayers, marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Eastern Gaza City, Friday, June 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) In Gaza, an Israeli drone attacked a tent used to prepare kites and balloons rigged with incendiary devices for launch into Israel, a witness said. The balloons and kites are the latest tactic in weeks-long protests against a blockade of Gaza, imposed by Israel and Egypt after the 2007 takeover of the territory by the Islamic militant group Hamas. Since late March, more than 120 Palestinians have been killed and more than 3,800 wounded by Israeli army fire in the area of the fence. Most were unarmed. Israel says it has been defending its border and accuses Hamas of using the protests as cover for attacks. But it has also acknowledged making "mistakes." The Israeli military said just a few dozen Palestinians protested at the barrier during the day, a sharp contrast to previous weeks. But Friday evening, the military said an airstrike targeted a Hamas observation post located next to an area where "arson balloons" had been launched. It said it "views the use of incendiary balloons and kites with great severity and will operate to prevent their use." Earlier Friday, several thousand Gaza worshippers performed the traditional morning prayers of the holiday in areas several hundred meters away from the fence. Ismail Haniyeh, the top Hamas leader, joined worshippers in an area east of Gaza City. Some activists later approached the fence, burning tires. The protests have been organized by Hamas, but turnout has been driven by growing despair in Gaza about blockade-linked hardships; unemployment now approaches 50 percent and electricity is on for just a few hours every day. Hamas has also billed the protests as the "Great March of Return," suggesting they would somehow pave the way for a return of Palestinian refugees and their descendants - about two-thirds of Gaza's residents - to return to ancestral homes in what is now Israel. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were expelled or fled in the Mideast war over Israel's 1948 creation. Haniyeh told reporters after Friday's prayers, which were also being held outdoors in another location east of the town of Khan Younis, that protests would continue. He said a recent U.N. General Assembly resolution blaming Israel for the Gaza violence "shows that the marches of return and breaking the siege revived the Palestinian issue and imposed the issue on the international agenda." The resolution also said Israel had used excessive force against Palestinian protesters. Israel says it is defending its territory and civilians living near Gaza. It has accused Hamas of using the protests as cover for damaging the fence and trying to carry out cross-border attacks. Israel and Egypt argue that the blockade is needed to contain Hamas, which has a history of violence and refuses to disarm. Later Friday, the Israeli military said an aircraft fired warning shots at Palestinians preparing balloon bombs, and at a nearby vehicle. Such a device landed in Israel earlier Friday and was detonated by police. Israel has been battling large fires caused by kites and balloons rigged with incendiary devices, or attached to burning rags, launched by Palestinians in Gaza that have damaged forests, burned agricultural fields and killed animals in recent weeks. Israel's Channel 2 News showed footage of dozens of residents of Nir Am, a Kibbutz near the Gaza border that has been hit hard by the fire bombs, launching colorful balloons carrying candy toward Gaza. It said they will plant trees in areas devastated by the fires Saturday. Mohammed al-Tayyar, a member of a Gaza group that calls itself the "burning kites unit," said Friday large numbers of kites and balloons would be sent in the coming days. In Jerusalem, senior Muslim cleric Muhammad Hussein told tens of thousands of worshippers that a plan for an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, expected to be unveiled by the Trump administration, is unfair and "aims at the liquidation of the Palestinian cause." President Donald Trump has promised to negotiate the "ultimate deal" but the plan's reported - though unconfirmed - parameters have been dismissed by the Palestinians as favoring Israel. The Palestinian issue also loomed large in Iran. President Hassan Rouhani said in a holiday message that he believes the "land of Palestine will be returned to owners of the land with the help of God." Iran and Israel are bitter foes. In Afghanistan, a U.S. drone strike killed Pakistan Taliban chief Mullah Fazlullah, the insurgent leader who ordered the assassination of Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai. A Defense Ministry spokesman said Friday that Fazlullah and two other insurgents were killed early Thursday morning, just hours before Afghanistan's Taliban began a three-day cease-fire to mark Eid al-Fitr. ___ Associated Press writers Ian Deitch in Jerusalem and Karin Laub in Jericho, West Bank, contributed. Indonesian Muslims offer Eid al-Fitr prayers to mark the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan as Mount Merapi is seen in the background at Sleman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Friday, June 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Slamet Riyadi) Pakistani faithful offer Eid al-Fitr prayers to celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan in Peshawar, Pakistan, Friday, June 15, 2018. Eid al-Fitr is being celebrated in parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday while rest of Pakistan will begin the festivities on Saturday. (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad) A woman prays near the grave of her relative during the first day of Eid al-Fitr in Ghazali cemetery, Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, June 15, 2018. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the Muslims' holy month of Ramadan. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban) Bangladeshi Muslims maneuver their way on the roof of an overcrowded train to travel home for Eid al-Fitr celebrations, at a railway station in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, June 14, 2018. Hundreds of thousands of people working in Dhaka are leaving for their hometowns to celebrate the upcoming Eid al-Fitr with their families. (AP Photo/A.M. Ahad) Malaysian Muslims offer prayers during the first day of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday, June 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) Bosnian Muslims offer prayers during the first day of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at the Begova Mosque in Sarajevo, Bosnia early Friday, June 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Amel Emric) Men hug each other after Eid al-Fitr prayers outside of Shah-e-Dushamshera mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, June 15, 2018. Taliban, an insurgent group who fight against NATO and Afghanistan's government, announced that they will start a 3-day ceasefire, starting in the first day of Eid al-Fitr. (AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini) Muslims try to catch balloons distributed for free after Eid al-Fitr prayers, marking the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan outside al-Seddik mosque in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, June 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) A woman wearing a "Niqab" sprays snow from a can as she joins others celebrating Eid al-Fitr prayers, marking the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan outside al-Seddik mosque in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, June 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) People throw money from a balcony as gifts to passing Muslims celebrating Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan outside al-Seddik mosque in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, June 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) Turkey's Muslims offer prayers during the first day of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at the the Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, early Friday, June 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) People offer prayers on the last Friday of fasting holy month of Ramadan ahead of Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, June 15, 2018. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash) The Saduc Grand Mosque, the biggest mosque that reopened near the former battle area between troops and Islamic extremists, is seen through a bullet-riddled wall as survivors gather for Eid al-fitr to mark the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Marawi city, southern Philippines, Friday, June 15, 2018. Thousands of displaced residents celebrated Eid al-Fitr inside emergency shelters and the threat of Islamic extremists and unexploded bombs lingers in the rubble after a disastrous five-month siege by Islamic State group-aligned fighters that began more than a year ago. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) The Saduc Grand Mosque, the biggest mosque that reopened near the former battle area between troops and Islamic extremists, is seen through a bullet-riddled wall as survivors gather for Eid al-fitr to mark the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Marawi city, southern Philippines, Friday, June 15, 2018. Thousands of displaced residents celebrated Eid al-Fitr inside emergency shelters and the threat of Islamic extremists and unexploded bombs lingers in the rubble after a disastrous five-month siege by Islamic State group-aligned fighters that began more than a year ago. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Young girls hold hands as they walk towards Eid al-Fitr celebrations to mark the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan at an evacuation center in Marawi city, southern Philippines on Friday, June 15, 2018. Thousands of displaced residents celebrated Eid al-Fitr inside emergency shelters and the threat of Islamic extremists and unexploded bombs lingers in the rubble after a disastrous five-month siege by Islamic State group-aligned fighters that began more than a year ago. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) A girl climbs up a post to get a better view of games as part of their Eid al-Fitr celebrations to mark the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan in Marawi city, southern Philippines on Friday, June 15, 2018. Thousands of displaced residents celebrated Eid al-Fitr inside emergency shelters and the threat of Islamic extremists and unexploded bombs lingers in the rubble after a disastrous five-month siege by Islamic State group-aligned fighters that began more than a year ago. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Thousands of anti-poverty activists have launched a campaign in recent weeks modeled after the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Poor People's Campaign of 1968. Like the push 50 years ago, advocates are hoping to draw attention to those struggling with deep poverty from Appalachia to the Mississippi Delta, from the American Southwest to California's farm country. The latest effort is led by the Rev. William Barber of Goldsboro, North Carolina, and the Rev. Liz Theoharis of New York City, who are encouraging activists in 40 states to take part in acts of civil disobedience, teach-ins and demonstrations to force communities to address poverty. They say poverty continues to be ignored and only a "moral revival" can bring it to the nation's consciousness. FILE - In this May 10, 1968 file photo, sign-carrying participants in the southern leg of the Poor People's Campaign march through Atlanta. Thousands of anti-poverty activists have launched a campaign in May 2018 modeled after Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Poor People's Campaign of 1968. Like the push 50 years ago, advocates are hoping to draw attention to those struggling with deep poverty from Appalachia to the Mississippi Delta, from the American Southwest to California's farm country. (AP Photo, File) The new campaign also has brought new attention to the tumultuous summer of 1968 when the two leading backers of the campaign - King and Robert F. Kennedy - were assassinated two months apart. Here's a look at the two campaigns: THE ORIGINAL CAMPAIGN Before his assassination, King sought to organize a campaign to direct the country's attention toward poverty. He felt attacking poverty was the next phase of the civil rights movement and the 1968 campaign would push for a guaranteed income, the end to housing discrimination and reducing the nation's growing trend toward militarism. At the time, around 13 percent of U.S. citizens lived in poverty. King reached out to Mexican-American, Native American and Appalachia white leaders to build a multiethnic, multiracial coalition that would come from their hometowns on "mule carts" and "old trucks" to Washington, D.C., to dramatize the plight of the poor. Following King's assassination in Memphis, members of the coalition began to fight with each other. Thousands of poor people set up a shantytown they called "Resurrection City" on the Washington National Mall but became demoralized by racial tensions, a lack of leadership and eventually, the assassination of Kennedy. THE REBOOT Organizers of the 2018 campaign said they wanted to use the 50th anniversary of the 1968 effort to restart conversations around the struggles that poor people continue to face, especially since the U.S. poverty rate is roughly back to around 13 percent. This time, Barber and Theoharis said the campaign won't be centered solely in Washington and would include events around the country. For 40 days, demonstrators planned to hold acts of civil disobedience like blocking traffic and refusing to leave public buildings every Monday nationwide. Hundreds of activists, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson, have been arrested so far. Theoharis said the purpose is to build "a season of organizing" to create a long-term movement aimed at restoring the Voting Rights Act, ending gerrymandering and helping bolster the minimum wage. She said organizers also hope to influence the midterm elections this November and the 2020 presidential election. Because the nation is more diverse than in 1968, Barber said the new campaign also calls for protection of immigrants, LGBT residents and refugees from the Middle East. THE CHALLENGES Barber said media coverage of poverty has been ignored and overshadowed by what he calls "Trump porn" - excessive coverage of President Donald Trump's tweets, the investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 U.S. election and the legal fight with adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Small newspapers that used to cover poor rural areas like Linden, Tennessee, and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota also have faced cutbacks. Not since Kennedy's 1968 presidential campaign have national politicians regularly visited rural, poor areas and focused on poverty in their platforms. In addition, Barber said many Christians have ignored the plight of the poor since megachurches regularly focus on the "prosperity gospel." Others have been focused solely on abortion and fighting gay rights, he said. Barber said the multifaith campaign seeks to reaffirm messages that religious figures like Jesus were primarily concerned about helping the poor and that the country has a moral obligation to tackle poverty. He also promised that organizers plan to pressure for media coverage of U.S.-Mexico border areas like El Paso, Texas, and Native American communities like San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona. ___ Associated Press writer Russell Contreras is a member of the AP's race and ethnicity team. Follow Contreras on Twitter at http://twitter.com/russcontreras Gary Horton, at right, president of the Erie chapter of the NAACP, organized about 160 people as they prepared to march from the Martin Luther King Center, 312 Chestnut St., to Perry Square in Erie on Thursday, June 14, 2018. They were taking part in the Poor People's Campaign march, on the 50th anniversary of the original campaign, which was inspired by a speech made by the Rev. Martin Luther King a few days before he was killed in April 1968. Several groups organized Thursday's march in Erie, including the Erie Benedictines for Peace, Erie County United and the Erie chapter of the NAACP, among others. (Christopher Millette/Erie Times-News via AP) FILE - In this April 2, 2018 file photo, Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, center, and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, left, co-chairs of the Poor People's Campaign, speak at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tenn. They announced the campaign is preparing for 40 days of non-violent "direct action" in about 30 states that will climax with a rally in Washington this June. The organization is the rekindling of the campaign to help poor people that the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was working on when he was killed April 4, 1968, in Memphis. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) FILE - In this March 4, 1968 file photo, civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., president of the Southern Christian Baptist Leadership Conference (SCLC), displays the poster to be used during his Poor People's Campaign this spring and summer of 1968. Thousands of anti-poverty activists have launched a campaign in recent weeks modeled after Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Poor People's Campaign of 1968. Like the push 50 years ago, advocates are hoping to draw attention to those struggling with deep poverty from Appalachia to the Mississippi Delta, from the American Southwest to California's farm country. (AP Photo/Horace Cort, File) FILE - In this June 20, 1968 file photo, police move and break up a demonstration by Poor People's Campaign near the Agriculture Department in Washington. Thousands of anti-poverty activists have launched a campaign in May 2018 modeled after Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Poor People's Campaign of 1968. Like the push 50 years ago, advocates are hoping to draw attention to those struggling with deep poverty from Appalachia to the Mississippi Delta, from the American Southwest to California's farm country. (AP Photo/Bob Daugherty, File) FILE - In this June 19, 1968 file photo, supporters of the Poor People's Campaign gather at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. Thousands of anti-poverty activists have launched a campaign in May 2018 modeled after Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Poor People's Campaign of 1968. Like the push 50 years ago, advocates are hoping to draw attention to those struggling with deep poverty from Appalachia to the Mississippi Delta, from the American Southwest to California's farm country. (AP Photo/Harvey Georges, File) GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - The Latest on Eid al-Fitr (all times local): 3 p.m. Syrian activists say two people were killed when the government shelled a cemetery where they were visiting the graves of their relatives on the first day of the Eid al-Fitr holiday. Malaysian Muslims offer prayers during the first day of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday, June 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) Mahmoud al-Hamawi says three others were wounded when they came under fire as they were visiting their deceased around dawn on Friday. He said ten rockets fell on the cemetery in the village of Latamneh, in the north Hama countryside, which is contested between rebels and the government. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported the casualties. The Observatory said another 5 civilians were killed in government shelling in south Syria, where the military has vowed to clear rebels from the city of Daraa. The Syrian Civil Defense search-and-rescue group reported the same toll. Friday is the first day of Eid al-Fitr, a holiday marking the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, when believers fast each day from dawn till dusk. President Bashar Assad prayed on Friday with worshippers at a mosque in the coastal town of Tartous. ___ 2:15 p.m. A Palestinian witness says an Israeli drone struck a tent used to prepare kites and balloons rigged with incendiary devices for launch into the Jewish state. Mohammed al-Tayya says the airstrike came after protesters launched several such balloons at Israel Friday, the Eid al-Fitr holiday that comes at the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Israel's military said an aircraft had fired warning shots at Palestinians preparing balloon bombs, and at a nearby vehicle. It said it views the devices with "great severity" and will act against them. Such a device landed in Israel earlier and was detonated by police. Israel has been battling large fires caused by kites and balloons rigged with incendiary devices or burning rags, launched by Palestinians in Gaza that have destroyed forests, burned crops and killed wildlife. Gaza protest organizers said they planned to launch large numbers of kites and balloons with incendiary materials throughout the day at Israel. ___ 2:00 p.m. Yemenis are celebrating Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that comes at the end of the holy month of Ramadan, amid an assault by a Saudi-led coalition to retake the strategic port of Hodeida Residents say Friday rebel snipers are stationed on rooftops of buildings in Hodeida to counter pro-government advances toward the rebel-held city. Resident Mahdi Ayesh says people in Hodeida face "difficult times" as they fear fighting will enter their neighborhoods. "Today's Eid is not like previous ones. It comes as the three-year-long war rages," he said. The U.S.-supported, Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen's exiled government began its assault Wednesday on Hodeida, the main entry for food into a country already on the brink of famine. ___ 1:45 p.m. Israeli police say bomb disposal units have detonated an explosive device attached to a balloon fired from Gaza that floated on to a highway. Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said it was spotted by civilians Friday, the first day of the Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Israel has been battling large fires caused by kites and balloons rigged with incendiary devices, or attached to burning rags, launched by Palestinians in Gaza that have damaged forests, burned agricultural fields and killed animals in recent weeks. In Gaza, organizers of weekly border rallies said they will deploy large numbers of kites and balloons with incendiary materials throughout the day, in hopes they will land in Israel. A group said it will launch bigger more dangerous balloons after 10 days unless the Israeli-Egyptian blockade, set after the Islamic militant group Hamas took over Gaza, is lifted. ___ 12:05 p.m. Egyptians are celebrating Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that comes at the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The holiday comes as President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's government presses ahead with austerity measures that led to price hikes. The measures, which have included slashing fuel and electricity subsidies, imposing a value-added tax and a currency flotation, are part an economic reform program linked to a three-year, $12 billion bailout loan from the International Monetary Fund, which Egypt secured in 2016. The government recently raised fares for Cairo's subway and the price of tap water and electricity. A new round of fuel subsidy cuts is expected soon. ___ 11: 55 a.m. More than 90,000 thousand Palestinians have worshipped at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem for Eid al-Fitr prayers. The Mufti of Jerusalem criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's peace plan in his sermon there. Sheikh Muhammad Hussein said Friday, "this is an unfair plan that aims at the liquidation of the Palestinian cause." Trump has promised the "ultimate deal" between Israelis and Palestinians and is expected to unveil the plan soon. Trump's relocation of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem this year angered Palestinians who view the move as siding with Israel on the most sensitive issue in the conflict. Palestinians say it disqualifies the U.S. as Mideast peace broker. Israel captured east Jerusalem, sacred home to Jews, Muslims and Christians, in the 1967 war from Jordan. ___ 10:50 a.m. Syrian President Bashar Assad has attended Eid al-Fitr prayers at a mosque in Tartous, a town in the coastal region that has remained loyal to the president through seven years of civil war. The coastal region is home to Syria's minority Alawite population that has been the core of Assad's support. Assad, an Alawite, traces his family's origins to Qardaha, a town in the mountains nearby. Tens of thousands of men from the coastal region are believed to have been killed fighting for the president since 2011, according to Syrian monitoring groups. The government in Damascus does not publish official figures. In May, with Assad claiming victory against the last insurgents near the capital, the government discharged soldiers conscripted before the 2011 uprising against Assad's rule, letting them return to civilian life for the first time in eight years. ___ 10:30 a.m. Palestinians have performed the traditional morning prayer of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr near Gaza's perimeter fence with Israel, as part of weeks-long protests against a blockade of the territory. The protests have been led by Hamas, the Islamic militant group ruling Gaza, with turnout driven by despair over blockade-linked hardships. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh joined about 2,000 worshippers Friday in one of the areas near the fence, pledging that protests would continue. More than 120 Palestinian protesters have been killed and more than 3,800 wounded by Israeli army fire since March. Haniyeh says the protests have "revived the Palestinian issue" by refocusing world attention. He praised a recent U.N. General Assembly resolution earlier this week that accused Israel of using excessive force against the protesters. ___ 8:45 a.m. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is addressing the nation during Eid al-Fitr prayers. He praised citizens for showing up at massive rallies last Friday in support of the Palestinians on al-Quds, or Jerusalem Day. That day was initiated by Iran in 1979 to express support for the Palestinians and oppose Israel. Says Khamenei: "This year and despite hot weather, people participated in Quds-day rallies more remarkable than previous years." President Hassan Rouhani said in an Eid al-Fitr message: "I believe the land of Palestine will be returned to owners of the land with the help by god." ___ 8:25 a.m. Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani is touting a three-day cease-fire with the Taliban in an address to the nation heralding the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr. The holiday marks the end of the Ramadan holy month, when devout Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. The cease-fire took effect at midnight Friday and lasts through the three-day holiday. Ghani is using the opportunity to appeal for a lengthier cease-fire and call for the Taliban to come to the negotiating table instead of returning to the battlefield. The Taliban agreed to the cease-fire but leader Haibaitullah Akhunzada reiterated his demand for talks with the U.S. before sitting down with the Afghan government. Across Asia, the faithful are celebrating the end of the holy month in Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia and the Philippines. A Muslim boy plays with bubbles as he attends Eid al-Fitr prayers to mark the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Bali, Indonesia, Friday, June 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati) Iraqi security forces stand guard outside the 17th Ramadan mosque, background, as Muslims gather for prayers on the first day of Eid al-Fitr in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, June 15, 2018. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the Muslims' holy fasting month of Ramadan. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim) Muslims greet each other after offering prayers on the first day of Eid al-Fitr at the 17th Ramadan mosque in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, June 15, 2018. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the Muslims' holy fasting month of Ramadan. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim) Indonesian Muslims offer Eid al-Fitr prayers to mark the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan as Mount Merapi is seen in the background at Sleman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Friday, June 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Slamet Riyadi) Children stand amidst Filipino Muslims praying to celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan known as Eid al-Fitr Friday, June 15, 2018 at the Blue Mosque in suburban Taguig city, east of Manila, Philippines. Muslims all over the world mark Eid al-Fitr with prayers, family reunions and gift-givings. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) Filipino Muslims pray to celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan known as Eid al-Fitr Friday, June 15, 2018 at the Blue Mosque in suburban Taguig city, east of Manila, Philippines. Muslims all over the world mark Eid al-Fitr with prayers, family reunions and gift-givings. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) A Muslim boy waits for parents offer prayers during the first day of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday, June 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) A Palestinian boy wearing a traditional uniform stands in front of Muslim women performing Eid al-Fitr prayers, marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Eastern Gaza City, Friday, June 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) LONDON (AP) - A law that would make it a criminal offense in the U.K. to take "upskirting" photos was blocked Friday in Parliament despite receiving backing from the British government. The initiative was stopped by a single Conservative Party legislator who objected when the bill was put forward in the House of Commons. Some lawmakers who supported the measure shouted "shame" after Christopher Chope singlehandedly thwarted the proposal simply by shouting "Object!" Parliamentary rules make it hard for bills introduced by backbench lawmakers, rather than the government, to make progress. They can be halted by an objection from one lawmaker. Upskirting involves taking a photo or video under someone's clothing without their consent. It has become more common in recent years with the adoption of smartphones. The government had endorsed the legislation earlier Friday. British Justice Minister Lucy Frazer called the practice "a hideous invasion of privacy which leaves victims feeling degraded and distressed." She said making upskirting a specific offense would send a clear message that perpetrators will be punished. The law would allow for prison sentences of up to two years in the most egregious cases. It is expected to be resubmitted in July. Upskirting already is illegal in Scotland. Drought, flood, fire, famine and occasionally abundance ensured that our numbers were always in balance with nature. Humans evolved into our modern form about 300,000 years ago but for a long time we were just one of many species of animal subject to the whims of nature. There is an exception however. Humans. The Israeli historian, Yuval Noah Harari, in his 2011* book Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, wrote that all animals only experience major behavioural shifts when their genetics change. That is, when they experience an evolutionary change. TUMBY BAY - Bear with me, this is a bit esoteric and complicated. Then, about 70,000 years ago, there was a dramatic change in our numbers and we began to multiply exponentially. It wasnt genetic change or climate change that caused this. It came with our ability to tell stories. Humans are the only organism where behaviour can radically change because of the fictions they create. Fictions so great and powerful that they bind people into larger and larger groups that can accomplish greater and greater things. Yuval Noah Harari described these as imagined realities, social constructs and myths. Humans have the special ability to unite millions of strangers around common myths. Ideas such as freedom, human rights, gods, laws, and capitalism exist in our imagination, yet they can bind us together and motivate us to cooperate on complex tasks. They are imagined realities because they arise in peoples minds and have no scientific basis. The French Revolution is a good example of a myth that changed human behaviour almost overnight. In 1789 the French people rejected the myth of the divine right of kings to rule and adopted the myth of the sovereignty of the people. The human ability to create a social construct, imagined reality and a myth and believe in them led directly to our ability to cooperate in our thousands and then in our millions. These constructs gave us cooperation and cooperation made us the mightiest species on earth. For any human society to survive and progress, imagined realities, myths and social constructs need to be carefully nurtured. This is done through stories, through literature, the telling of which lead to the imagination of new realities that contribute to new and better social constructs. Lets simplify this a bit. Someone thinks of a good idea, something different and something new a new and different way of doing something. So what do they do with this idea? How do they tell people about it? They write it down. Maybe as a political tract, maybe as an essay, maybe as a novel or a play. Have you read Leonard Fong Rokas book, Bougainville Manifesto? If you have youll know what I mean. People read it, think about it and if it sounds good may adopt its arguments and premises and encourage others to do the same. Thats how the French Revolution started and progressed. It therefore seems logical that any society interested in being progressive will encourage the diffusion of ideas through writing and literature. A progressive society will encourage its thinkers to imagine new realities and create the conditions in which people write their ideas so other people can read them and consider them. It is only be the most repressive or stupid societies that reject change that wont do this. I can think of a couple of places like that. Maybe you can too. *Originally published in Hebrew and translated into English in 2014. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - After being blindsided by President Donald Trump's decision to shelve major U.S. military exercises in South Korea, Seoul appears to be going along with it. A senior South Korean presidential official said Friday that Washington and Seoul have begun discussions on temporarily suspending the massive "Ulchi Freedom Guardian" exercises that usually take place in August and possibly other joint drills while nuclear diplomacy with North Korea continues. Seoul's Defense Ministry said Defense Minister Song Young-moo held "deep" discussions about the drills with U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis in a telephone conversation Thursday evening. The presidential official, who didn't want to be named, citing office rules, said an official announcement on the drills is "coming soon, within the next few days" and it seems almost certain the exercises will be halted. Members of People's Democratic Party shout slogans during a rally to oppose military exercises between the United States and South Korea near the U.S. embassy in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, June 15, 2018. U.S. President Donald Trump promised to end "war games" with South Korea, calling them provocative, after meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un earlier this week.The signs read " Stop Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) exercises and withdrawal of U.S. troops." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) The official spoke a day after South Korean President Moon Jae-in, holding a National Security Council meeting for the first time since a North Korean long-range missile test in November, said the allies can be flexible about their military pressure on the North. But that's only as long as North Korea, which launched a diplomatic initiative in 2018, remains sincerely engaged in negotiations on its nuclear disarmament, Moon said. Moon's assessment highlights the big "if." There are lingering questions over whether North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will ever agree to fully relinquish a hard-won nuclear arsenal he may see as a stronger guarantee of his survival than whatever security assurances the United States could provide. Those doubts only increased after Tuesday's summit between Kim and Trump in Singapore, where they issued an aspirational vow to seek the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula without describing when and how it would occur. The joint drills and the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea have been the core of the alliance between the two countries. Trump's decision to suspend the exercises, coupled with the vague joint statement issued after his summit with Kim, have reinforced fears in South Korea that the North is attempting to take advantage of a U.S. president who appears to care less about the traditional alliance than his predecessors. Such concerns are shared in Japan, the region's other major U.S. ally. Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodra told reporters Friday that the joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea are "important pillars in maintaining regional peace and stability." Not everyone thinks suspending the war games is a bad idea. Some analysts say putting off the drills is a necessary trust-building step with North Korea following nearly 70 years of hostility and would allow the allies to push the process forward more easily. But others are decidedly more critical, saying Trump wasted critical leverage against North Korea, which has yet to take material steps toward denuclearization. "We will know whether it was a good move or not in a month or two," said Du Hyeogn Cha, a visiting scholar at Seoul's Asan Institute for Policy Studies. "If the North responds by providing evidence of its claimed closure of a missile engine test site and also freezes and shuts down some of its nuclear facilities, then the suspension of the drills can be chalked up as a success. If the North doesn't take quick steps toward denuclearization, then we gave up the drills for nothing." Kim Jae-yeop, a professor of defense strategy at South Korea's Hannam University, said the suspension of the drills was likely the one clear move the allies had to lure North Korea into a denuclearization process. He said it would have been a colossal mistake to pre-emptively lift the heavy economic sanctions against North Korea, and that Washington couldn't unilaterally remove the most stringent measures anyway because they were passed by the U.N. Security Council. Washington and Seoul tried to entice North Korea with a possible declaration to formally end the Korean War, which halted 65 years ago with an armistice, not a peace treaty, but apparently that wasn't enough for Kim Jong Un. "Unlike sanctions, the allies can just snap their military exercises back on if it becomes clear North Korea won't be delivering on their end," said Kim, the professor, who said the allies would be able to maintain operational readiness with routine and lower-level drills. He also noted that the allies have used the war games as a bargaining chip before. To entice North Korea to sign on to a non-nuclear agreement, Seoul and Washington called off the now-defunct "Team Spirit" drills in 1992. But, annoyed with North Korea's refusal to allow nuclear inspections, they revived the exercises the following year. This year, the allies delayed their springtime drills for weeks to encourage North Korean participation in the Winter Olympics in South Korea. The U.S. and South Korea hold major joint exercises every spring and summer in South Korea. The spring one - actually a pair of overlapping exercises called "Key Resolve" and "Foal Eagle" - includes live-fire drills with tanks, aircraft and warships, and usually involves about 10,000 American and 200,000 Korean troops. The summer Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise consists mainly of computer simulations to hone joint decision making and planning. Some 17,500 American and 50,000 South Korean troops participated last year. North Korea has always reacted to the exercises with belligerence and often its own demonstrations of military capability. During last year's Ulchi exercises, North Korea fired a powerful new intermediate range missile over Japan in what its state media described as a "muscle-flexing" countermeasure to the drills . North Korean leader Kim then called for more weapons launches targeting the Pacific Ocean to advance his country's ability to contain Guam, a U.S. military hub. North Korea did not carry out a threat to lob missiles toward Guam. During the Ulchi drills in 2016, North Korea successfully test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile, a critical military breakthrough that raised alarm in South Korea and Japan. Shortly after the drills, the North carried out its fifth nuclear test. The suspension of the drills could allow more diplomatic space for Washington and Seoul to resolve the nuclear standoff with North Korea. But for Seoul, the way Trump announced the decision is also a cause for concern, some experts say. In addition to not consulting with South Korea before saying the war games should be stopped, Trump called the exercises "very provocative," contradicting countless previous declarations by Washington and Seoul over the years that the drills are routine and defensive in nature. Trump also complained that the drills "cost a fortune" and said he would eventually want to bring home all U.S. troops from South Korea. Nam Sung-wook, a North Korea expert at Seoul's Korea University, said Trump's comments indicate he considers the stoppage of the drills and the eventual withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea as a goal, rather than a concession to be granted to North Korea if it takes irreversible and verifiable steps to relinquish its nuclear weapons, facilities and materials. "What has become clear is that the security provided by the U.S.-South Korea alliance has likely reached its limit," said Nam, a former analyst for South Korea's spy agency. "South Korea has to start thinking about new defense strategies so that it could maintain security against North Korea on its own." An editorial published Friday in the conservative Chosun Ilbo, South Korea's largest newspaper, echoed Nam's concern, saying the U.S.-South Korean alliance is being substantially undermined while the prospects for disarming the North are getting murky. "Now everyone is concerned about the security of the North Korean regime, but who's looking after the safety and security of South Korean people?" the newspaper said. ___ Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this story. CAIRO (AP) - The Latest on the battle for Hodeida in Yemen (all times local): 6: 15 pm. The United Arab Emirates says it has started flying and sailing aid to Yemen's port city of Hodeida, where its troops in a Saudi-led coalition are fighting Shiite rebels. FILE - In this Friday, Feb. 2, 2018, file photo, a Yemeni soldier allied to the country's internationally recognized government unslings his machine gun on the outskirts of Sanaa, Yemen. Yemen's yearslong war between Shiite rebels and a Saudi-led coalition backing its exiled government has escalated with an assault on the insurgent-held port city of Hodeida. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell, File) A statement on the state-run WAM news agency Friday night said 10 UAE ships carrying 13,500 tons of food and aid, as well as three flights of aid, were planned for Hodeida. WAM said one vessel was due to arrive June 22. The UAE also acknowledged "the port remains open and operational." The Saudi-led coalition began its assault Wednesday on Hodeida, the main entry for food into a country already on the brink of famine. ___ 2:45 p.m. Yemeni officials say dozens of coalition-backed fighters have been killed mostly by Shiite rebel Houthi land mines and roadside bombs as fighting outside the airport of Hodeida intensifies. The officials - one media and one medical - told The Associated Press on Friday that Houthis used thousands land mines and roadside bombs covering large areas on the outskirts of the Hodieda airport. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak to the press. "Nearly 95 percent of the causalities are because of land mines and roadside bombs," the medical official said. He shared pictures land mines and bombs that were disguised as rocks and wheat sacks. The United States has turned down three requests within the past 24 hours from the UAE to provide more support, including minesweepers. The request was diverted to France, which agreed. The Conflict Armament Research Center said earlier that the bombs are similar to those used by Iranian-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and by insurgents in Iraq and Bahrain, suggesting an Iranian role in their manufacture. The officials declined to give death toll. The injured are taken to hospitals in Khoukha, Mocha and Aden, the medical official said. Maggie Michael in Cairo ___ 2:15 p.m. The International Committee of the Red Cross is warning "more and more fighters" are in the Yemeni port city of Hodeida amid a Saudi-led campaign to capture it. The committee issued a series of tweets Friday describing the situation in Hodeida, which is held by Shiite rebels known as Houthis and their allies. It described the streets of the city as "nearly empty." It says those living in Hodeida are stocking up on fuel and food, fearing a possible long siege. It also says: "Hospitals cannot function properly because there is no electricity, generators are not working, or there is no fuel to run them." The Saudi-led coalition began its assault Wednesday on Hodeida, the main entry for food into a country already on the brink of famine. ___ 11:20 a.m. Yemeni commanders say pro-government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition have reached a town at the entrance of the port city of Hodeida and are just "meters" from the international airport. The Saudi-led coalition is trying to retake the port from Shiite rebels known as Houthis. Ahmed al-Kawkabani, who leads a force known as the Tohama Brigade, tells The Associated Press on Friday that fighting is ongoing at the town of Dawar-al-Hodeida at the outskirts of the city. A report by the Saudi-owned satellite network Al Arabiya has quoted commander Abu Zarah al-Mahrami as saying government forces are "within meters" of the airport. Previously, a Saudi military spokesman told the channel that forces were within six kilometers (four miles) of Hodeida's airport. The Saudi-led coalition began its assault Wednesday on Hodeida, the main entry for food into a country already on the brink of famine. ___ 10:45 a.m. A top Emirati official says a Saudi-led campaign to retake Yemen's port city of Hodeida "means that the Houthis will no longer be able to impose their will at the barrel of a gun." Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash made the comments on Twitter on Friday. Friday marked the third day of an offensive to retake Hodeida. Emirati forces are leading irregular and loyalist forces on the ground while Saudi pilots conduct airstrikes. Gargash also said: "If they keep Hodeida and its revenues and its strategic location, the war will last a long time and the suffering of the Yemeni people." ___ 10:40 a.m. An international rights group has urged the United Nations Security Council to warn parties to the Yemen war that they will face sanctions if they fail to provide civilians access to desperately needed aid. The call from Human Rights Watch comes as a Saudi-led coalition tries to retake the port city of Hodeida from Shiite rebels known as Houthis. HRW's Sarah Leah Whitson said Friday "the coalition and Houthi forces, now fighting for Hodeida, have atrocious records abiding by the laws of war." The rights group called on all parties of the conflict to minimize civilian harm during the fight for Hodeida. The Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen's exiled government began its assault Wednesday on Hodeida, the main entry for food into a country already on the brink of famine. COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - A Swedish court on Friday found a man guilty of spying for China by gathering information on Tibetans who had fled to Sweden, and sentenced him to 22 months in jail. The Sodertorn District Court, near Stockholm, convicted Dorjee Gyantsan, a 49-year old Tibetan who worked for a pro-Tibetan radio station, of "gross illegal intelligence activity" carried out from July 2015 to February 2017. Judge Daniel Eriksson said the Swedish intelligence service's investigation had proven that Gyantsan "several times traveled to Poland to meet a Chinese intelligence officer" and that those meetings were "part of a comprehensive intelligence campaign aimed at people of Tibetan descent." The information passed on by Gyantsan "may have caused great damage to Tibetans both in Sweden and abroad," Eriksson added. The court said Gyantsan was paid for the information that included personal matters, ranging from where people lived and family relations to political activities, trips and meetings. Swedish media reported the man had received 50,000 kronor ($6,000) on at least one occasion and had his expenses paid. His lawyer, Mikael Soderberg, told Swedish news agency TT that his client denies any wrongdoing, saying he didn't know that he person he met was an intelligence officer. Soderberg said his client would appeal. Gyantsan was arrested Feb. 26, 2017, in Sweden by the country's security service, SAPO, which had him on their radar for some time. No further details were provided. China has controlled Tibet for more than half a century. It sent troops to occupy the Himalayan territory following the 1949 communist revolution and contends that the region has been part of Chinese territory for centuries. Many Tibetans claim a long history of independence. People exposed to this kind of spying "can be deterred from using their democratic rights," said Daniel Stenling, head of SAPOs counterespionage. He said it was "a serious matter" that was solved "thanks to close cooperation with other European police authorities." He didn't identify any of the cooperation partners. The verdict comes at a time of tense relations between Stockholm and Beijing. China is holding a Chinese-born Swedish national on suspicion of leaking state secrets and has rebuked Sweden for demanding his release. Hong Kong-based bookseller Gui Minhai, 53, was taken off a train by police in eastern China on Jan. 20, while in the company of two Swedish diplomats with whom he was traveling to Beijing. COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - A Danish court on Friday ordered the country's Defense Ministry to compensate 18 Iraqi civilians detained by Iraqi security troops during a 2014 military operation in Iraq in which Danish soldiers assisted. The Eastern High Court in Copenhagen says the Danish soldiers did not abuse any of the Iraqi civilians but they knew the detainees were "in real danger of being exposed to inhumane treatment in terms of being hit and kicked" by the Iraqi forces. The court said Friday it was the responsibility of the Danish troops because they didn't intervene. The court said each civilian should get 30,000 kroner ($4,716) in compensation, adding the Iraqi security forces had rounded up the detainees "on suspicion of being armed terrorists or rebels." Defense Minister Claus Hjort Frederiksen said his ministry would appeal. The ruling "is problematic because it puts Denmark in a very difficult situation when we send out soldiers," he said, adding that "in some situations it means that we cannot contribute to improving the security situation - hence the human rights situation - in conflict areas. That doesn't benefit anyone." Christian Harlang, who handled the case for 23 Iraqi plaintiffs, called the ruling "an important victory" because Western countries "in the future should observe the rules of not only military engagement, but also human rights as binding standards for military operations." Of the 23, only 18 were granted compensation. PARIS (AP) - The Latest on the flow of migrants to Europe (all times local): 9:10 p.m. Germany's interior minister has fired the head of the country's migration authority amid a scandal over the allegedly improper approval of over a thousand asylum requests. This June 12, 2018 photo released Wednesday, June 13, 2018 by French NGO "SOS Mediterranee" shows migrants being transferred from the Aquarius ship to Italian Coast Guard boats, in the Mediterranean Sea. Italy dispatched two ships Tuesday to help take 629 migrants stuck off its shores on the days-long voyage to Spain in what is forecast to be bad weather, after the new populist government refused them safe port in a dramatic bid to force Europe to share the burden of unrelenting arrivals. (Kenny Karpov/SOS Mediterranee via AP) News agency dpa reported the German Interior Ministry said Friday that minister Horst Seehofer had informed Jutta Cordt of her dismissal. Cordt, who took over the agency at the beginning of 2017, was caught in the fallout from a scandal centering on the Bremen branch of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. Last month, Seehofer banned that branch from making asylum decisions. Germany took in more than a million refugees and migrants in 2015-2016, mostly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Authorities at the time were overwhelmed with a flood of asylum applications. The agency scandal is separate from a standoff between Seehofer and Chancellor Angela Merkel over migrant policy. ___ 8:55 p.m. Italy's transport minister says members of the country's coast guard are rescuing some 500 migrants who set off from Libya aboard four different boats. Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said Italy's actions on Friday show that "no one can say we aren't fulfilling our responsibilities, or that we're racist or xenophobic." Toninelli said Italy is now waiting for a "strong sign" from the European Union that it will help Italy manage the large number of migrants who arrive in the country after attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea. Italy was criticized - and praised - this week for refusing to let a humanitarian rescue ship dock. The Aquarius is now on a dayslong voyage to Spain with its 629 migrant passengers. The new Italian government's policy apparently bars foreign-flagged rescue ships from docking, but allows entry to Italian vessels. ___ 7:50 p.m. Italian news reports say a U.S. Navy ship will offload the 40 migrants its crew rescued earlier this week onto an Italian coast guard vessel that will bring them to shore. The arrangement reported Friday by the ANSA news agency would be in keeping with Italy's new migration policy to not allow foreign-flagged rescue vessels to dock in Italian ports. The Trenton rescued the 40 migrants Tuesday. At least 12 other people died when their dinghy capsized. The Trenton had asked the nearby humanitarian rescue ship Sea Watch-3 to take the migrants, but Sea Watch declined unless Italy assigned it a nearby port to dock. Sea Watch feared that it would end up like the Aquarius, a rescue ship that has been on a dayslong voyage to Spain with 600 migrants aboard after Italy refused it entry. Calls and emails to the 6th Fleet were not answered late Friday. __ 4:10 p.m. Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte says Italy is working on a proposal for a "radical paradigm change" in the way Europe manages migration that focuses on the countries of migrants' origin and transit. Conte told a press conference alongside French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday that existing European Union regulations on asylum applications aren't working. He says Italy plans to share the proposal for an "integrated" approach to migration when Austria takes over the EU's rotating presidency on July 1. Amid a quarrel this week over which country should welcome more than 600 passengers from a migrant rescue ship, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz proposed an "axis of the willing" to tackle the problem of illegal migration. Kurz said Italy and Germany would be the other members of the troika. Conte says it was "time to turn the page" on Italy's dispute with France over the Aquarius, which is now bound for Spain. ___ 3:55 p.m. French President Emmanuel Macron says Europe's response to mass migration has not adapted to the times and insists reform is needed. During a joint news conference with Italian Prime minister Giuseppe Conte on Friday, Macron said "the proper response is European, but the existing European response is not adapted." The French leader says European solidarity didn't fulfill its role in recent years with Italy, the first European country on the migration route from North Africa. Macron called for greater protection of Europe's borders, saying "the existing system doesn't work." ___ 3 p.m. Italy's foreign minister has met with his Maltese counterpart following a clash over a migrant rescue boat that escalated into a European-wide showdown. The Italian foreign ministry said that Italy's Enzo Moavero Milanesi and Malta's Carmelo Abela, met Friday in Rome and expressed "the shared desire to work together in tight coordination, especially in European capitals, about migration in terms of revising" EU asylum regulations. Italy had initially insisted that Malta take in the Aquarius rescue ship and the 629 migrants onboard rescued in a series of operations last weekend. Malta refused, saying it wasn't involved in the rescue. Italy refused as well, leaving the migrants stranded at sea until Spain stepped up to take the Aquarius in. The Aquarius is currently en route to Valencia, having changed course Thursday due to rough weather. ___ 2:40 p.m. Spain's maritime rescue service says it has rescued around 270 migrants and recovered three bodies from more than 30 boats trying to cross from Africa by sea. The rescue service says Friday's fog is cramping rescuers' efforts to locate three more boats in the Alboran Sea, east of the Strait of Gibraltar. Nine rescue boats, a helicopter and an airplane from the European border agency, Frontex, are taking part in the operation. Fleeing violent conflicts or extreme poverty, the migrants attempt the perilous journey into Europe in smugglers' dinghies or fragile, inflatable recreational boats. At least 792 migrants have died so far this year trying to cross the Mediterranean, according to the United Nations. Through the first five months of 2018, 35,455 migrants reached European shores, with 11,792 of them arriving in Spain. ___ 2:15 p.m. The Spanish government says it will pass a decree to extend public health care to foreigners without residence permits as part of new migration policies. The government's spokeswoman, Isabel Celaa, announced Friday a series of measures that will "put people's rights first" and distance the new center-left cabinet from the previous conservative administration. Celaa says the government will assess through technical reports how to remove, "without losing any security," the barbed wire capping the fences of Ceuta and Melilla, the two Spanish enclaves in northern Africa. Hundreds suffer injuries every year when they try to get onto European soil from Morocco. Celaa, also minister of education, says the new measures shouldn't encourage more arrivals, because migrants are on the move anyway to escape poverty and violence. ___ 2:05 p.m. Pope Francis says that the Gospel teaches that it's wrong to leave migrants "at the mercy of the waves," an apparent critique of Italy's new migration policies. The pope made the comments Friday during an audience with Italian workers. It was the second time in as many days that the Argentine Jesuit has referred to the plight of refugees after Italy's decision to refuse entry to a rescue boat with 600 migrants aboard. In his speech, Francis lamented how many people in the world are excluded from work because of war or environmental degradation and said that those living comfortable lives should seek to help them. The Gospel, he said, "teaches us and our world to not leave to the mercy of the waves those who leave their lands hungry for bread and justice." ___ 9:55 a.m. French President Emmanuel Macron and new Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte meet Friday amid tensions between the two countries over migration. Conte, who heads a populist government, will have a working lunch with the pro-European Macron at the Elysee palace. They will then hold a joint news conference. Macron's office said the discussions will focus on migrant-related issues and other major European topics ahead of an EU summit at the end of the month. A feud was triggered this week by Macron's tough assessment of Italy's decision to shut its ports to a rescue ship carrying 629 migrants - he called the Italian government's behavior "irresponsible." Both leaders agreed Thursday to maintain the planned meeting after a phone call they described as cordial. Macron said he never "meant to offend" Italy. French president Emmanuel Macron, left, welcomes Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte prior to their meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Friday, June 15, 2018. French President Emmanuel Macron and new Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte meet Friday amid tensions between the two countries over migration. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) This photo made available Wednesday, June 13, 2018 shows a man rescued at sea on a stretcher as he lifted onto the USNS Trenton, in the Mediterranean Sea, Tuesday, June 12, 2018. The U.S. Sixth Fleet, which is based in Naples, Italy, said in a brief statement to The Associated Press that the USNS Trenton on Tuesday "rendered assistance to mariners in distress that it encountered while conducting routine operations in the Mediterranean Sea." (U.S. Navy via AP) Pope Francis leaves after an audience with an association of people honored by the Italian Presidency for their commitment to their work, in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Friday, June 15, 2018. The pontiff has indirectly criticized Italy over its new migration policy by saying the Gospel teaches that it's wrong to leave migrants "at the mercy of the waves." (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) This June 12, 2018 photo released Wednesday, June 13, 2018 by French NGO "SOS Mediterranee" shows migrants waving after being transferred from the Aquarius ship to Italian Coast Guard boats, in the Mediterranean Sea. Italy dispatched two ships Tuesday to help take 629 migrants stuck off its shores on the days-long voyage to Spain in what is forecast to be bad weather, after the new populist government refused them safe port in a dramatic bid to force Europe to share the burden of unrelenting arrivals. (Kenny Karpov/SOS Mediterranee via AP) French President Emmanuel Macron, left, welcomes Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Friday, June 15, 2018. French President Emmanuel Macron and new Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte meet Friday amid tensions between the two countries over migration. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte, left, is welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Friday, June 15, 2018. French President Emmanuel Macron and new Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte meet Friday amid tensions between the two countries over migration. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Authorities are investigation after police in Kansas City, Missouri, fatally shot a 29-year-old woman seen brandishing a sword in a residential area. Police on Friday identified the woman as Ashley Fulkerson of Kansas City. She was one of three people killed in two separate officer-involved shootings on Thursday. Officers were called to a residential area of the city's north side. Police Capt. Lionel Colon says Fulkerson had barricaded herself in a shed after she was seen outside with a sword. Officers recovered a sword from the scene. About an hour later, police fatally shot two men who were fighting in a downtown public square. Their names have not been released, but police say officers recovered a gun from one of the deceased men. Police have released few other details. ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Greece will need a "credible package" of measures to help deal with its oversize debt as it leaves its eight-year international bailout program in August, the European Commission's vice president said Friday. Helping Greece manage its debt, which stands at just under 180 percent of gross domestic product, is one of the crucial elements of an agreement on the country's bailout exit. Greece hopes to hammer out the deal with creditors at a meeting of eurozone finance ministers on June 21. "What we are emphasizing here is that we need debt measures which alleviate the burden in the first post-program years to ensure that Greece can return to the markets in a gradual way," Valdis Dombrovskis said after meeting with Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos. "Also to manage debt-servicing costs." Valdis Dombrovskis, Vice-President of the European Commission addresses the audience during an economic conference at Lagonissi resort, south of Athens, Thursday, June 14, 2018. The European Commission's vice president says Greece's exit from its bailout in August would be "a delicate yet perfectly doable exercise, provided that all parties show commitment and act responsibly." (AP Photo) Greece has depended on international emergency loans since 2010, and is to emerge from its third and final bailout program on Aug. 20. Once it does so, it will have to ensure it can finance itself on international bond markets. In return for the bailout funds, mostly from other eurozone countries but also from the International Monetary Fund, Greece has had to make rounds of deep spending cuts, structural reforms and privatizations through the years. Its economy has been under strict supervision, with creditors carrying out regular reviews. That supervision will continue even after the country's bailout formally ends this summer, and will be more stringent than that imposed on other European countries that have emerged from bailouts. Portugal, Spain, Ireland and Cyprus all received some form of bailout help in recent years, but on a far smaller scale than Greece. "Because Greece has received much more money than any other country, and because there has been debt relief and there may well be additional debt relief, the surveillance will be tighter than in other cases," said Klaus Regling, the head of the European Stability Mechanism, the eurozone's rescue fund. The last review of Greece's third and final bailout is expected to be concluded at next week's eurozone finance ministers' meeting, which is also expected to see the officials approve the final disbursement of bailout loans. Regling said preliminary indications were that the final batch of emergency loans would be 10-12 billion euros, "but the ministers will look at that again." RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A federal judge has sentenced a Mexican citizen to eight years in prison for an immigration conviction - more than double the recommended term - citing his lengthy criminal history and the fact that he's already been deported three times. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that 45-year-old Victor Santos-Ochoa pleaded guilty to illegal re-entry after his latest arrest, on charges of assault and battery of a 5-year-old family member. U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson told Sanchez-Ochoa on Thursday that he's "the type of individual U.S. immigration policy is intended to keep out of the United States." Prosecutors say Santos-Ochoa has 18 misdemeanor convictions in California, Georgia and Virginia and spent eight years in state and federal prisons. ___ Information from: Richmond Times-Dispatch, http://www.richmond.com LONDON (AP) - Actor Leslie Grantham, who became a British TV icon during the 1980s as arch-villain "Dirty" Den Watts on the soap opera "EastEnders," has died. He was 71. Grantham's management company, Advocate Agency, said he died Friday but did not disclose the cause. "EastEnders" first aired in 1985, chronicling life in the fictional working-class London neighborhood of Walford. Grantham's unscrupulous, adulterous character ran the Queen Vic pub with his wife, Angie, and their tempestuous relationship was central to many of the soap's most dramatic plots. This Sept. 11, 1997 file photo shows actor Leslie Grantham in London. Leslie Grantham, who played arch-villain "Dirty Den" Watts on British soap opera "EastEnders," has died at the age of 71. Grantham's management, Advocate Agency, says he died Friday, June 15, 2018 but did not disclose the cause of death. "EastEnders" debuted in 1985, and Grantham's Watts, landlord of the Queen Vic pub, soon became one of its most popular characters. (Fiona Hanson/PA via AP, file) Half of Britain's population, some 30 million people, watched a 1986 Christmas episode in which Den handed his wife divorce papers with the words "Happy Christmas, Ange." "Everyone thought Den was a lovable rogue," Grantham said later. "He wasn't evil, he was just Jack the lad." Grantham left the show in 1989, when his character was apparently shot - only to be resurrected in 2003. The character was killed off again in 2005, shot by his second on-screen wife. Born in London in 1947, Grantham joined the British Army as a teenager. While stationed in Germany, he was convicted in 1967 of killing a taxi driver during a robbery attempt. He began acting while serving a decade in prison. Grantham had a few small television parts before auditioning for "EastEnders," which made him a star. In 2004, he was ensnared in a tabloid scandal after taking part in webcam sex sessions with an undercover reporter from his "EastEnders" dressing room. He left the show soon afterward. Outside "EastEnders," Grantham performed onstage, hosted a TV game show, wrote a children's novel and appeared in a television series in Bulgaria. Grantham is survived by his ex-wife, Jane Laurie, and three sons. His representatives said there would be a private funeral for close friends and family. MOSCOW (AP) - The Kremlin says President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have discussed the situation along Syria's border with Israel. The Kremlin said the leaders discussed "the situation in Syria in the context of joint efforts to ensure security around the Syrian-Israeli border" on a Friday call. It added they "voiced readiness to strengthen coordination on Syria, including on combating international terrorism." The conversation follows up on the two leaders' talks in Moscow and the Israeli defense minister's visit to Russia last month. The Syrian government's plans to recapture rebel-held areas near the border raised Israeli concerns its other backers besides Russia - Iran and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah - could reaffirm their presence there. Israel has warned it wouldn't allow Iran to maintain a military presence in Syria. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chinese automaker Qoros Auto signed cooperation agreements with another 51 tier-one dealers on June 14 after the company achieved a massive year-on-year growth of 366% in Jan-to-May sales. At the signing conference, Qoros Auto signed a strategic agreement with Yixin Group, a China's online automobile retail transaction platform to conduct in-depth cooperation in new retail channels and business modes as well as automobile financing, etc. Reportedly, Yixin Group, a listed company on HK stock market, focuses on providing consumers with one-stop automobile transaction solutions based on the intelligent automobile big data transaction system and the database integrating consumers with vehicles. Qoros Auto set an annual sales goal of 80,000 vehicles in 2018. Although it has only completed 30% of the goal with 23,754 vehicles delivered in the first five months, there is still reason to be optimistic that the company may fulfill its target by the end of this year with the increasingly growing month-by-month sales volume and sales channels. In terms of the products' planning, Qoros Auto plans to launch its first BEV (battery electric vehicle) model at the end of this year, which is expected to achieve a mileage up to 700km and some applications of intelligent connectivity. In 2019, the company will release its second BEV model. In addition, Qoros Auto is improving its C-class, D-class vehicle and BEV platforms with the aim of widely covering segments of 7-seat SUV, 7-seat MPV and mid-to-large sedan models. MINSK, Belarus (AP) - Ukrainian authorities have charged a second suspect for allegedly organizing a murder plot against a Russian journalist whose killing was faked last month. Ukrainian police last month said journalist Arkady Babchenko, a strong critic of the Kremlin, had been shot to death in his apartment building in Kiev. But the next day Babchenko appeared at a news conference and authorities said the ruse was aimed at uncovering a Russian plot to kill dozens of journalists. One suspect was arrested that day. On Friday, Bogdan Tivodar of the Ukrainian Security Service said another suspect, Vyacheslav Pivovarnik, had been charged in absentia with organizing terrorist acts. Pivovarnik is believed to be in Russia, he said. Tivodar says Pivovarnik tried to recruit Ukrainian citizens as attackers. MOSCOW (AP) - The Kremlin says it's holding the door open for a possible summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump this summer. Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said "we don't exclude" the possibility of a Russia-U.S. summit, but added that no specifics have been discussed. Peskov's remark came after he was asked Friday to comment on Trump's statement Friday that "it's possible" he'll meet Putin this summer. Trump said he thinks "it's much better if we get along with" Russia "than if we don't." Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his speech prior to the match between Russia and Saudi Arabia which opens the 2018 soccer World Cup as FIFA President Gianni Infantino, left, applauds at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, June 14, 2018. (Alexei Druzhinin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Putin said last weekend he was ready to meet with Trump when the U.S. administration was set for a summit. He cited Austria as a nation offering to host it. Putin says he shares the concern Trump expressed by phone in March about a renewed arms race. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - Helena Ramsay was wise beyond her years, shy until you got to know her and discovered she had a wicked wit. She dreamed of seeing the pink dolphins in the Brazilian rainforest - a dream her mother said was cut short by the gunman who killed Ramsay and 16 others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Anne and Vinnie Ramsay spoke publicly Friday for the first time since the February massacre. The couple is asking a mental health facility that treated Nikolas Cruz, who's charged with the shootings, to release the teen's records from the years leading up to the shooting. It's the first step to prepare for a possible malpractice or wrongful death case. Henderson Behavioral Health has also been sued by other victims' families. While mental health and other medical records are protected by law, there are times when public interest overcomes the law, said their attorney Craig Goldenfarb. Anne Ramsay, mother of Parkland High School shooting victim Helena Ramsay, speaks to the media during a news conference on Friday, June 15, 2018, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The family is suing to obtain mental health records of shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) "One of my jobs is to figure out everybody ... that may have had an opportunity to prevent this tragedy and did not," he said. "Perhaps (Henderson) dropped the ball and they should have Baker Acted Mr. Cruz," said Goldenfarb, referring to an involuntary hospitalization which should have prevented Cruz from buying a gun. Josh Walker, an attorney for Henderson, said the company supports releasing the records but needs a judge to issue a court order allowing it. Health records are generally protected by state and federal privacy laws but can be released in criminal and civil court cases. Since Cruz is not a plaintiff in any civil case, Walker said a judge must order the records released. "Henderson has nothing to hide. In fact, Henderson wants these records out there for the public to see," he said. "We are not allowed to release these records under state and federal law unless we get a court order." Walker said the company would support a court order allowing attorneys for all victims' families who file lawsuits to have access to Cruz's records. Prosecutors and defense attorneys in Cruz's criminal case have already obtained the records, but they have not been released publicly. Helena, a junior who watched Jeopardy daily, was considering studying abroad. She was intrigued by the United Nations, and would have been a great asset thanks to her sensible way of thinking, family said. "She was blossoming. She would have definitely been a leader," her mother said. She was always thinking about others, travelling to Orlando for a concert after the Pulse night club massacre to support the community, her mother said. And even in her final moments, she was ordering her best friend to grab a book to shield herself from the gunman's bullets as they huddled behind a bookcase, holding hands. Her parents and their attorney said numerous red flags regarding Cruz were missed over the years by local authorities, the FBI and potentially Henderson Behavioral Health. They want a thorough investigation to ensure no other family has to endure a similar nightmare. At home, a stack of condolence cards and tokens lays untouched, too painful to open. The couple has found comfort meeting with a group of other Parkland parents who also lost their children in the shooting. "We do meet up. We do support each other and it's just tough. We're grateful we do have the group that we can just sit and share," said Anne Ramsay. The family said they refuse to let the memory of Helena and the other children get lost. "They all had special skills, strengths, just beautiful children. None of them should have been put in that situation where they're struggling to defend themselves or survive," said the grieving mother. The Ramsays are intensely private and said they declined to speak until now because they needed time to heal and come to terms with their loss. "I've just been disabled," said Anne Ramsay. "It's like the active shooter may as well have just shot us, you know. It affects everyone." Anne Ramsay, mother of Parkland High School shooting victim Helena Ramsay, speaks to the media during a news conference on Friday, June 15, 2018, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The family is suing to obtain mental health records of shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) Curtis Page, left, cousin of Parkland High School shooting victim Helena Ramsay, and her parents Anne, center, and Vinnie Ramsay speak to the media during a news conference on Friday, June 15, 2018, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The family is suing to obtain mental health records of shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) Anne, left, and Vinnie Ramsay, parents of Parkland High School shooting victim Helena Ramsay, speak to the media during a news conference on Friday, June 15, 2018, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The family is suing to obtain mental health records of shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - Marlins Man got taken deep. A bookkeeper pleaded guilty this week to embezzling $1.5 million from South Florida lawyer Laurence Leavy, who often sits in the best seats at major sporting events nationwide bedecked in his bright orange Miami Marlins visor and jersey. The SunSentinel reports Maria Alonso pleaded guilty in federal court to issuing more than 1,000 fake checks to herself since 2009 and received a four-year sentence. She worked 17 years for Leavy. Leavy wears his orange getup to games, which makes him noticeable on TV. The workers compensation attorney often buys several of the best seats and then treats random fans, just asking them that they pay the good deed forward. BOSTON (AP) - A U.S. Marine from Massachusetts who died during the World War II Battle of Tarawa in November 1943 is coming home. The remains of Pfc. John W. Mac Donald, of Somerville, are scheduled to be buried with full military honors June 22 at the Massachusetts veterans' cemetery in Bourne. Mac Donald was 19 when he was killed on the first day of fighting on Betio Island in the Tarawa Atoll in the Central Pacific. He received a field burial, and although post-war efforts were made to recover the remains of U.S. servicemen, Mac Donald was among those a military review board in 1949 declared unrecoverable. That changed in 2015 when a non-governmental organization discovered the burial site of 35 Marines on Betio Island. Mac Donald's remains were identified in August 2016 by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. On April 22, 2016, eight members of the Rhoden family were found dead across four crime scenes in what's been described as a methodical, deliberate attack in Pike County, Ohio. The deceased were: Christopher Rhoden Sr, 40; his ex-wife Dana Rhoden, 37; their children Clarence 'Frankie' Rhoden, 20, Hanna Rhoden, 19, and Christopher Rhoden Jr, 16; Christopher Rhoden Sr's brother Kenneth Rhoden, 44; a cousin, Gary Rhoden, 38; and Hannah Gilley, 20, the fiancee of Frankie Rhoden. (left) Christopher Roden Sr, 40 (right) Dana Rhoden, 37 (left) Hanna Rhoden, 19, (right) Christopher Rhoden Jr, 16 (left) Frankie Rhoden, 20, and (right) fiancee Hannah Hazel Gilley, 20 (left) Gary Rhoden, 38, (right) Kenneth Rhoden, 44 More than two years after the murders, the investigation has gone cold as no arrests have been made and the motive remains a mystery. As of April 2018, two agents from the Ohio's Bureau of Criminal Investigation and a member of the Pike County Sheriffs Office remain assigned to the case full-time. POSSIBLE MOTIVES A drug turf war - About a month after the murders it was revealed that three of the four properties where bodies were found had been used for marijuana production, leading investigators to speculate that the massacre may have been the result of a turf war. Additionally, only of the bodies was said to have been found covered in dollar bills. Inter-family tensions - As of April of this year, authorities have focused their investigation on the Wagner family, who had ties to the Rhodens and moved to Alaska following the massacre. Angela Wagner and Christopher Rhoden Sr were longtime friends and alleged business partners - whom members of the community have claimed had a falling out before the massacre. Jake Wagner and Hanna Rhoden share a daughter, Sophia, and had come to a custody agreement in 2016. Some family members have said the negotiations were contentious. However, Wagners have continued to adamantly deny any involvement in the murders. While investigators would not specifically name the family - George 'Billy', mom Angela and adult sons Jake and George - as suspects, it appeared that they very well might be. In May 2017 a poster was issued to media outlets in Ohio and Alaska asking anyone with information about the family-of-four to call investigators. The poster asked specifically for information about 'interactions, conversations, dealings or transactions that the public may have had with these individuals, which could be personal, business, or otherwise. Specifically, information could include, but is not limited to, information regarding vehicles, firearms, and ammunition.' It is unclear whether any useful information has been collected as a result of the poster. TOMAHAWK, Wis. (AP) - A Wisconsin high school valedictorian decided against speaking at commencement after school administrators required she not reference discrimination, school shootings and gender inequality. Instead, a local newspaper published her speech. Cait Christenson, who was among six valedictorians at Tomahawk High School, said administrators reviewed a written version of her speech and wanted to censor some topics for fear of provoking disagreement, judgment and making others feel attacked. While administrators gave her the option of rewriting her speech, Christenson said she decided against speaking at Sunday's ceremony because it would get rid of the message she wanted to convey. The 18-year-old said she wanted to spark critical thinking, not advocate any specific policy changes, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported . "The reasons I was not allowed to speak opposed exactly what I was trying to get across in my speech: being able to open a conversation civilly, and critically think about and accept other's opinions and values," Christenson said. Principal Ryan Huseby confirmed that staff asked Christenson to edit her speech, but he emphasized it was her decision not to speak at the Sunday ceremony. "We support our students' right to express their opinions in positive and productive ways," Huseby said. "As our graduates embark on the next stage in their lives, we encourage them to continue thinking critically and exercising their freedom of speech." The Tomahawk Leader newspaper published her speech Tuesday. In it, Christenson wrote: "Instead of encouraging negative stereotypes and passing slurs throughout our society; instead of punishing the victims; instead of telling others how they should live and express themselves - put yourself in their shoes before passing judgment, incriminating and disrespecting others." She added that "we can make changes in our nation and even around the world, just by promoting positivity, acceptance and equity." Christenson said she's received a lot of support following the speech's publication. "I feel more encouraged to share my passions and values with others now, because it's getting others to consider taboos that are often overlooked," she said. Christenson will study community and nonprofit leadership at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the fall. ___ Information from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, http://www.jsonline.com LISBON, Portugal (AP) - Portugal's parliament has given final legislative approval for the use of marijuana-based medicines, which are already permitted in other European countries. An initial parliamentary debate five months ago considered a provision allowing patients to grow and use marijuana, but that possibility was struck down when the bill passed through a committee stage and was not included in the final vote Friday. All parties voted in favor of the bill except for the center-right Popular Party, which abstained. Marijuana-based medicines will be available only with a doctor's prescription and sold only in pharmacies. The law will come into force on July 1. NEW YORK (AP) - The streaming juggernauts Migos will receive the ASCAP Vanguard Award for their successful year in music. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers said on Friday the trio of Quavo, Offset and Takeoff will earn the honor on June 21 in Los Angeles at its 31st annual Rhythm & Soul Music Awards. Migos has dominated on the pop and rap charts, as well as streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, with songs like "Bad and Boujee," ''MotorSport," ''Stir Fry" and "Walk It Talk It." Their albums - last year's "Culture" and this year's "Culture II" - have reached platinum status and each hit the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart. FILE - In this May 7, 2018 file photo, Takeoff, of Migos, from left, Offset and Quavo attend The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating the opening of the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination exhibition in New York. The streaming juggernauts Migos will receive the ASCAP Vanguard Award for their successful year in music. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers said on Friday, June 15, 2018, the trio of Quavo, Offset and Takeoff will earn the honor on June 21 in Los Angeles at its 31st annual Rhythm & Soul Music Awards.(Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) The Grammy-nominated Atlanta group will launch a tour with Drake next month. ___ Online: https://www.ascap.com/music-creators/genres/rhythm-and-soul http://migosonline.com/ Wilko Johnson, "Blow Your Mind" (UMe/Chess) Wilko Johnson's new album is a raucous blast of life, overshadowed by mortality. At 70, the British guitarist has been invigorated by a reprieve from death. In 2012, Johnson - former member of U.K. blues-rock rabble-rousers Dr. Feelgood -was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was told it was terminal. He went on a farewell tour and recorded a "final" album with Roger Daltrey of The Who. FILE - In this March 6, 2013, file photo, Wilko Johnson, guitarist and founding member of Dr. Feelgood, performs one of four farewell concerts in the UK, at the Koko club in north London, following his announcement that he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer of the pancreas and has chosen not to undergo chemotherapy. Johnson celebrates life and muses on mortality on his new gritty blues-rock album "Blow Your Mind," which comes after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer, then unexpectedly reprieved. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP, File) Then a fan who was also a cancer specialist offered to help. After surgery to remove a 3-kilogram (6.6-pound) tumor, Johnson announced in 2014 he was cancer-free. Now he's back with "Blow Your Mind," his first album of new material in three decades, and a record Johnson says he thought he'd never make. Musically, he hasn't changed much from the raw-boned musician who emerged from England's Canvey Island in the 1970s with a choppy, relentless guitar style and a thousand-yard glare - a look terrifying enough to earn him a role as a silent executioner on "Game of Thrones." Joined by longtime collaborators Norman Watt-Roy on bass and drummer Dylan Howe, he offers up dirty, bluesy rock on tracks like the swaggering love anthem "Blow Your Mind," the catchy, singalong-style "Tell Me One More Thing" or the strutting "That's the Way I Love You." The lyrics, written in the shadow of death, sometimes take a melancholy turn. "Marijuana" muses on anxiety as darkness steals in. "Somewhere in the dark there's a clock ticking out my time," Johnson sings to Steve Weston's spicy, soulful harmonica backing. "Low Down" is meditative blues, seasoned with Weston's harmonica and organ from former Style Council keyboardist Mick Talbot. The poignant penultimate song, "Say Goodbye," finds Johnson musing: "Lucky river, rolling on .... Now it's time to say goodbye." But not just yet. The album closer, "Slamming," is a romping instrumental that sees Johnson's guitar cavorting with Talbot's boogie-woogie piano. Even in dark times, let the good times roll. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Changhe Auto announced on June 15 that Suzuki, the Japanese shareholder of Changhe Suzuki, has transferred its entire stake in the Sino-Japanese joint venture to Changhe Auto, which made Changhe Suzuki the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Chinese investor, according to local media. The equity transfer has been approved by the government and the administrative registration of the joint venture's equity and name changing has been completed on May 30. Reportedly, Baoneng Group and Changhe Auto have built a joint working team to discuss and research the detail plan about Baoneng acquiring Changhe Auto's stakes. Limited by monotonous car portfolio, retarded product upgrading, relatively low product positioning and lack of advanced technologies, Changhe Suzuki has faced depressed performances in sales and profit in recent years. According to China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), Changhe Suzuki suffered a month-on-month decline of 10% with only 1,301 units delivered in April. By the end of April this year, the joint venture's year-to-date sales reached 5,301 units, ranking 98th among all Chinese automakers. The stagnant sales performance inevitably led to an unpleasant profit for Suzuki. In March, Yao Zhenhua, chairman of Baoneng Group, said that the group plans to invest RMB 10 billion annually in the R&D of automobile businesses and successively build R&D centers in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Xian as well as foreign countries like Japan, Germany and the U.S., etc. Some reports analyzed that Suzuki's capital withdrawal possibly makes Baoneng Group see the opportunity to further enlarge its automobile cause. In addition to rich resources in mini and sub-compact cars, Changhe Suzuki has obtained governmental approval in January to manufacture all-electric passenger vehicles. BAIC Group, who became the largest shareholder of Changhe Auto in 2013, has reportedly been replanning for its subsidiary's development when Suzuki let go of the joint venture. Xu Heyi, chairman of BAIC Group, announced at the end of last year, BAIC Weiwang was officially merged into Changhe Auto as an electric vehicle brand. At the same time, the group's mini car businesses were also incorporated into Changhe Auto. CLEVELAND (AP) - American Greetings has apologized for a Father's Day card that drew criticism on social media for depicting a black couple over the words "Baby Daddy." The inside of the card reads: "You're a wonderful husband and father - and I'm so grateful to have you as my partner, my friend, and my baby daddy! Happy Father's Day." American Greetings says the front page communicated "an unintentional meaning that is out-of-touch and offensive." Communications director Patrice Molnar says the company is adding steps to its product review process "to ensure cards like this are not created." Retailer Target saw the discussion on social media and asked American Greetings to remove the card from 900 stores where it was available. Spokesman Joshua Thomas says it was never the company's intent to offend. NEW YORK (AP) - Giuliana Rancic will return to E! News this September as co-host of its nightly news program with Jason Kennedy, three years after leaving the gig. She will replace Maria Menounos, who left last July following surgery to remove a brain tumor. When Rancic left E! News, she stayed the network on as a co-host of its red-carpet coverage at award shows and on "Fashion Police," which aired its series finale in 2017. FILE - In this Sept. 16, 2016, file photo, Giuliana Rancic, TV host and best-selling author, hosts the Macy's Presents Fashion's Front Row event at Macy's Aventura Mall in Miami. Rancic will return to E! News this September as co-host of its nightly news program with Jason Kennedy, three years after leaving the gig. She will replace Maria Menounos who left last July following surgery to remove a brain tumor. (Jesus Aranguren/AP Images for Macy's, File) While anchoring E! News, Rancic's likeability and humor landed her a reality series with her husband, winner of season one of "The Apprentice," Bill Rancic. But she received backlash in 2015 when she critiqued Zendaya's dreadlocks on a red carpet with what some believed were racist remarks. Rancic apologized and said the full context of her comments were edited out. Months later she left E! News, though she was a guest host a handful of times. The network was thrust into the Time's Up conversation when correspondent Catt Sadler quit over a pay disparity with Kennedy. E! said the two had different jobs and therefore were compensated differently. People was first to report Rancic's return. ___ Online: http://www.eonline.com/ ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Underground pockets of boiling water and steam that could have been tapped to produce electricity are now off limits as one national forest in northern New Mexico has said no to the prospect of geothermal development. The decision by the Santa Fe National Forest follows years of study and public testimony after a Nevada-based company and others had shown interest in leasing areas with geothermal resources within the Jemez Mountains - a tourist draw that includes a national preserve and a neighboring monument. Santa Fe National Forest wrote in a decision made public Thursday that the area also includes places held sacred by Native American tribes. FILE - In this Sept. 3, 2010, file photo, the East Fork of the Jemez River cuts through Valles Caldera National Preserve, in N.M. Underground pockets of boiling water and steam that could have been tapped to produce electricity are now off limits as the Santa Fe National Forest that borders Valles Caldera National Preserve in northern New Mexico has said no to the prospect of geothermal development.(AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan, File) Forest Supervisor James Melonas' decision covers more than 300 square miles (785 square kilometers) of the mountainous terrain even though the companies had interest in only a fraction of that. Melonas said geothermal energy development could have potential effects on forest resources, recreational opportunities and tribal cultural and spiritual interests. His office consulted with more than 30 tribes from around the American Southwest and held two listening sessions with tribal leaders. "The tribes are committed to preserving their cultural ties to this sacred landscape," the decision states. "They made it clear that they will not sanction man-made disturbances at the scale required for energy production." The decision comes as the National Park Service weighs a proposal that would allow for extra federal protection to limit or prevent any negative effects from tapping geothermal energy on land surrounding the Valles Caldera National Preserve in the heart of the Jemez Mountains. If approved, the preserve - dubbed the "Yellowstone of the Southwest" - would become the 17th U.S. park unit with designated thermal features. Yellowstone, Crater Lake and Hawaii volcanoes already are on the list of parks with federally protected geothermal features. Ernie Atencio with the National Parks Conservation Association said that although geothermal energy is a valuable resource, development in the Jemez Mountains could dry up many of the features that make Valles Caldera so unique. Efforts to tap the steam beneath the caldera and the surrounding area date back decades, with the energy crisis of the 1970s spurring the first major wave of interest in the nation's geothermal resources. The U.S. Energy Department, Union Oil Co. and Public Service Co. of New Mexico spent millions of dollars looking into the feasibility of developing a geothermal power plant on what was then private property. The idea was ultimately abandoned in the 1980s. Experts have said the caldera is still hot enough to produce steam and could generate electricity if harnessed. Interest in New Mexico's geothermal resources picked up again about a decade ago after the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management issued an environmental review aimed at facilitating geothermal development in a dozen western states. California has two of the largest geothermal reservoirs in the U.S., and land managers say Nevada has 18 operating geothermal power plants with federal interest and that more exploration and development is underway in that state. Utah has two geothermal plants, and the Forest Service is reviewing leasing proposals for more projects there. In New Mexico, the Bureau of Land Management confirmed it has not received any new expressions of interest for geothermal development since 2015, when the forest's environmental review process began. Environmentalists are touting the Santa Fe Forest's decision against geothermal development as a win, saying well pads, pumps and other infrastructure don't belong in such a heavily visited area. "This outcome is a direct result of New Mexicans standing together to say with a collective voice that this area is too special to be harmed," said Mark Allison, executive director of New Mexico Wild. The case spurred several hundred comments to be submitted to the Santa Fe National Forest. NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Rapper Juelz Santana can go on tour while he's facing weapons charges, providing he's monitored by an electronic ankle bracelet ... and mom. A federal judge on Friday modified the bail conditions for Santana, whose real name is LaRon James, to allow him to play the first five shows of his upcoming 15-city nationwide tour. Among the conditions: that Santana's mother accompanies him on the trips, that he drives instead of flies and that they don't travel with other members of the tour. FILE - In this Oct. 2, 2008, file photo, Rapper Juelz Santana arrives at the VH1 Hip Hop Honors in New York. A federal judge ruled on Friday, June 15, 2018, that Santana, whose real name is LaRon James, can go on tour while he's facing weapons charges, providing he's monitored by an electronic ankle bracelet ... and his mother. Authorities said he tried to bring a gun on a plane at Newark Liberty International Airport in March. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, File) In court Friday, Santana told the judge that his mother, who wasn't in attendance, had consented to join him on the tour. Santana will be back in court next month for a review of "how things went" and to discuss whether he can play other shows, U.S. District Judge Michael Hammer said. "I view it as a reasonable and productive exercise of his time to work and provide for his family," Hammer said. Prosecutors had opposed changing the bail conditions. Santana has pleaded not guilty to charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and carrying a weapon on an aircraft. He faces up to 20 years in prison. Authorities say Newark Liberty International Airport security on March 9 found a loaded .38-caliber handgun and non-prescribed oxycodone pills in a carry-on bag containing Santana's identification. He has been free on $500,000 bail and living with his mother and brother. "I just want to say thank you to the judge," he said as he left the courtroom. The shows in question are in Hampton, New Hampshire; Norfolk, Virginia; Baltimore, and Charlotte and Greensboro, North Carolina. "We're pleased he'll be able to work and he'll be able to demonstrate to the court his continued responsibility as a performer and as a person under pre-trial supervision," Santana's attorney, Brian Neary, said. Assistant U.S. Attorney Desiree Latzer argued Friday that Santana had been en route to a show when he was arrested and that he could easily carry a gun with him in a car. She also noted that other performers on the tour have prior weapons arrests and that the electronic ankle bracelet can monitor where Santana is but not what he's doing. "It's a very long leash," she said. Citing prior domestic violence issues, Hammer delayed ruling on Santana's motion to be allowed to return his home in Totowa, New Jersey, with his girlfriend and children. Santana pleaded guilty to making a terroristic threat to commit a crime of violence in 2011 after an incident during which he also was charged with violating a restraining order. A trial date hasn't been set. NEW YORK (AP) - President Donald Trump is distancing himself from attorney Michael Cohen, who is facing an FBI investigation of his business dealings. "I've always liked Michael. I haven't spoken to Michael in a long time," Trump said to reporters at the White House on Friday. Asked if Cohen, long among Trump's most trusted fixers, was still his attorney, the president said no. "No he's not my lawyer anymore. But I've always liked Michael. And I think he's a good person," he said. FILE - In this April 26, 2018 file photo, Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's personal attorney, leaves federal court in New York. Cohen wants a federal judge to stop the lawyer for porn actress Stormy Daniels from speaking to reporters. An attorney for Cohen filed court papers Thursday night, June 14, 2018, alleging Daniels' lawyer Michael Avenatti is tainting the case. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File) Prosecutors in New York said in a court filing later Friday that they are still processing material seized from Cohen in an April raid. Investigators haven't charged Cohen with any crime, but have said publicly that they are looking into allegations involving fraud and Cohen's personal business dealings. Agents seized paper files, computerized documents and phones from Cohen's home, safety deposit box and office in April. In their court filing Friday, prosecutors said they had reconstructed about 16 pages of shredded documents that had been found inside a shredder during the raid. They also said that they had recovered the equivalent of more than 700 pages of encrypted messages sent by secure applications on Cohen's devices. A judge had set Friday as a deadline for Cohen's lawyers to identify documents they believe are protected by attorney-client privilege. Prosecutors agreed to extend that deadline by 10 days, if the judge approves. BOSTON (AP) - A federal judge says a lawsuit brought by a transgender woman seeking to be transferred from an all-male Massachusetts prison to a women's facility can move forward. Judge Richard Stearns denied the Massachusetts Department of Correction's attempt to dismiss the lawsuit Thursday. The lawsuit filed in November says the inmate, who has gender dysphoria, has been traumatized by being forced to "eat, sleep, shower and live with men." Stearns said the inmate can pursue her claim that her placement in the male prison violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. The director for GLAD's Transgender Rights Project called the ruling "hugely significant." Jennifer Levi said the judge is giving prison officials the opportunity to "do the right thing." The Department of Correction didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. BOSTON (AP) - Biopharmaceutical industry leaders are demanding change after a corporate event featured topless dancers. The Boston Globe reports the "Party At BIO Not Associated With BIO" drew the ire of attendees last week in Boston. The annual networking party, which takes place during the BIO International Convention, included topless female dancers with corporate logos painted on their bodies. The event is not affiliated with the convention. Momenta Pharmaceuticals Director of Strategy Kate Strayer-Benton wrote an open letter condemning the event. She drew on a previous letter by Karen Bernstein and Kate Bingham, two biotech leaders who had criticized a 2016 party at the JP Morgan Healthcare conference that included scantily clad models in waitress costumes. BIO chairman and CEO John Maraganore said companies that sponsor the party in the future will be expelled. ___ Information from: The Boston Globe, http://www.bostonglobe.com NEW YORK (AP) - New York's attorney general isn't done taking on Trump family charities after suing the president over allegations he treated his nonprofit like a personal piggy bank. Barbara Underwood's spokeswoman said Friday that a separate investigation remains open into the Eric Trump Foundation, run by Donald Trump's son. The Associated Press reported in 2016 that the children's charity flouted nonprofit standards in part by financially benefiting charities with Trump family connections. Underwood sued Donald Trump on Thursday. The Democrat alleges he illegally used his charity's money to settle business disputes and boost his political fortunes. Eric Trump and two siblings are also named as defendants. Eric Trump's charity, renamed Curetivity, says it has raised millions of dollars to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. A Trump family spokeswoman didn't immediately respond to a message. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A Connecticut man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges that he defrauded Walmart nearly $1 million through identity theft and hundreds of bogus checks. U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson in Louisiana sentenced Walter Glenn on Wednesday. U.S. Attorney Brandon Fremin's office said in a news release that Glenn and others used the personal information of more than 400 people to create bogus identification cards and counterfeit checks. Prosecutors say Glenn and others traveled the country and tried to cash more than 800 counterfeit checks worth more than $2 million at more than 450 Walmart stores in 23 states from January 2014 through August 2015. In December, a jury convicted Glenn of charges including aggravated identity theft after a weeklong trial in Baton Rouge. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The king of Spain and New Orleans' mayor saluted the city's centuries-old Spanish heritage during its tricentennial celebration Friday. "It might be said that Spain's history here in Louisiana is not sufficiently well-known, despite the wealth of painstaking research by historians and academics," King Felipe VI said during a ceremony Friday in 165-year-old Gallier Hall , which was renovated for the anniversary. "Therefore, we must work to make this Spanish heritage and - no less importantly - the enduring Spanish legacy here, more widely known." Three New Orleans streets are named after Spanish governors of Louisiana - Bernardo de Galvez, Estaban Rodriguez Miro and Manuel Gayoso de Lemos, Gov. John Bel Edwards said. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain receive ceremonial keys to the city given to them by New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, left, at a welcoming ceremony at Gallier Hall in New Orleans, Friday, June 15, 2018. They are in New Orleans to help celebrate the city's 300th anniversary, which was colonized by Spain from 1763 to 1802. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) "Spanish kissed our city in ruling from 1763 to 1803," but the heritage did not stop there, Mayor LaToya Cantrell said. "We would not be where we are ... without that strong partnership," she said, adding that the city's strength "has always been rooted in our diversity." She gave Felipe and Queen Letizia a framed ceremonial key to the city. Louisiana was a Spanish colony from 1763 to 1802, but Felipe - briefly speaking in Spanish - noted that historical links date back to 16th- and 17th-century Spanish explorers including Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca and Hernando de Soto. New Orleans was founded in 1718. France gave the Louisiana Territory to Spain in 1763. "The foundations of society and the culture of this territory had barely been established," and Spain's "open and inclusive policy" saw New Orleans grow from 3,500 to nearly 50,000 people, the king said. "Therefore, when the United States acquired the vast territory of Louisiana, the country not only doubled its size, it also inherited an efficient government; a diverse, multicultural population; and an economic system that was advanced for its time," he said, returning to English. Felipe also noted that Bernardo de Galvez coordinated Spain's help with money and military material during the Revolutionary War and that the first Spanish-language newspaper in the United States, "El Misisipi," was published in New Orleans in 1808. The Cabildo , Spain's governmental seat in Louisiana, and neighboring St. Louis Cathedral , also built during Spanish rule, were also on the royal couple's itinerary Friday. Felipe said an exhibit currently at the Cabildo "highlights just how far back Spain's mark on the United States reaches, and how deep its roots are, as reflected in the close bonds of friendship between our two nations. And it is our hope that, through this visit, these bonds will become even stronger." King Felipe VI of Spain and Queen Letizia of Spain arrive at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in New Orleans, Thursday, June 14, 2018. The King and Queen are in New Orleans to help celebrate the city's 300th anniversary, which was colonized by Spain from 1763 to 1802. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) A brass band and dancers from a social aid & pleasure club perform as King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain arrive at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in New Orleans, Thursday, June 14, 2018. The King and Queen are in New Orleans to help celebrate the city's 300th anniversary, which was colonized by Spain from 1763 to 1802. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, left, greets King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain as they arrive at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in New Orleans, Thursday, June 14, 2018. The King and Queen are in New Orleans to help celebrate the city's 300th anniversary, which was colonized by Spain from 1763 to 1802. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) King Felipe VI of Spain and Queen Letizia of Spain arrive at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in New Orleans, Thursday, June 14, 2018. The King and Queen are in New Orleans to help celebrate the city's 300th anniversary, which was colonized by Spain from 1763 to 1802. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) The Airbus A310 carrying King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain flies Spanish and American flags as it arrives at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport at sunset in New Orleans, Thursday, June 14, 2018. The King and Queen are in New Orleans to help celebrate the city's 300th anniversary, which was colonized by Spain from 1763 to 1802. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Security for King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain stand by with a towering cumulonimbus cloud off in the distant background, as their plane taxis nearby at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in New Orleans, Thursday, June 14, 2018. The King and Queen are in New Orleans to help celebrate the city's 300th anniversary, which was colonized by Spain from 1763 to 1802. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell dances with a brass band and dancers from a social aid and pleasure club, after greeting King Felipe VI of Spain and Queen Letizia of Spain, after they arrived in their Airbus A380, background, at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in New Orleans, Thursday, June 14, 2018. The King and Queen are in New Orleans to help celebrate the city's 300th anniversary, which was colonized by Spain from 1763 to 1802. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) King Felipe VI, of Spain, speaks at a welcoming ceremony at Gallier Hall in New Orleans, Friday, June 15, 2018. The king and queen of Spain are in New Orleans to help celebrate the city's 300th anniversary, which was a Spanish colony from 1763 to 1802. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards speaks at a welcoming ceremony for King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, of Spain, at Gallier Hall in New Orleans, Friday, June 15, 2018. The king and queen of Spain are in New Orleans to help celebrate the city's 300th anniversary, which was a Spanish colony from 1763 to 1802. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) King Felipe VI of Spain speaks at a welcoming ceremony at Gallier Hall in New Orleans, Friday, June 15, 2018. They are in New Orleans to help celebrate the city's 300th anniversary, which was colonized by Spain from 1763 to 1802. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. WASHINGTON (AP) - A Justice Department watchdog report has turned into Washington's latest Rorschach test, with President Donald Trump and his critics each cherry picking what they want to see from its findings to either discredit or defend investigators conducting the probe into the White House. The 500-page report, which was more than a year in the making, offered a nuanced conclusion about the bureau's handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe, criticizing the FBI and its former director James Comey personally but not finding evidence that political bias tainted the investigation in the months and days leading up to Trump's election. But Trump wielded it as a blunt instrument on Friday, bludgeoning the integrity of the Justice Department by pointing to the politically-charged communication among FBI employees as proof that the FBI was biased "at the top level" and "plotting against my election." President Donald Trump speaks to reporters at the White House, Friday, June 15, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) "The end result was wrong. There was total bias," Trump declared Friday. "Comey was the ring leader of this whole, you know, den of thieves. It was a den of thieves." Trump allies seized upon text messages between agents, pointing to one from August 2016 that said "We'll stop it" with regard to a potential Trump victory and another from a bureau lawyer that said "Viva le resistance." And Trump took it one step further, barreling out of the White House Friday for an unannounced, early-morning television interview that turned into a nearly hour-long freewheeling give-and-take with reporters, during which he returned time and again to assert that report had exonerated him amid Mueller's ongoing probe into Russian election interference. "There was no collusion. There was no obstruction. The IG report yesterday went a long way to show that,' Trump said on the White House North Lawn. "And I think that the Mueller investigation has been totally discredited." But Trump's claim was baseless: the report made no conclusions about the president's involvement. But its criticism of Comey - levied by an inspector general appointed by President Barack Obama - is important to Trump as he tries to inoculate himself against accusations that he obstructed justice by firing the FBI director last May. The president's lawyers want to paint the dismissal as something he was both authorized to do under the Constitution and correct to do based on Comey's performance. The White House initially said Trump fired Comey over his handling of the Clinton investigation, though the president himself later muddied that explanation when he said he was thinking of "this Russia thing." The report did scold Comey for announcing his conclusion that Clinton should not face charges, saying it was insubordinate and extraordinary that he would not have coordinated the statement with his Justice Department bosses. It also chastised him for announcing, again without Justice Department backing, that the investigation would be reopened because of newly discovered emails on Anthony Weiner's laptop. Judgments on how the report would impact Trump's legal future predictably broke down along party lines. Rep. Mark Meadows, a North Carolina Republican, said he thinks the report may exonerate Trump even though it passes no judgment on his guilt or innocence. "If you look at the fruit of the poisoned tree, you can't have that kind of bias in somebody wanting to make sure the president gets defeated leading an investigation," Meadows said. "I don't think any of us would want our enemy investigating us." But Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Democrat from Connecticut, declared that "any effort to use this report as an excuse for shutting down the special counsel's investigation is both disingenuous and dangerous." "Nothing in this report detracts from the credibility of the special counsel's investigation," Blumenthal said, "and nothing here suggests the special counsel investigation resulted from FBI bias or improper conduct. Though the report doesn't validate all of Trump's claims, it does make clear that some employees involved in the Clinton and subsequent Russia investigation communicated to each other about wanting Trump to lose. Much of the public attention has been focused on Peter Strzok, a seasoned FBI counterintelligence investigator who worked the Clinton investigation and was later on Mueller's team until anti-Trump text messages with an FBI lawyer, Lisa Page, were discovered and brought to the special counsel's attention. Among the text exchanges that have been made public is one from August 2016 in which Page said, "(Trump's) not ever going to become president, right? Right?!" Strzok responded by saying, "No. No he's not. We'll stop it." Those text exchanges caused the inspector general to evaluate whether any of Strzok's decisions were affected by political considerations, and raised concerns that there was a "willingness to take official action to impact the presidential candidate's electoral prospects." The watchdog office said it could not be certain that the decision to prioritize the Russia investigation in October 2016 over scouring the Weiner laptop for possible evidence against Clinton was free from bias. But the report also noted that Strzok was not the sole decision-maker and that he and Page sometimes advocated for more aggressive investigative steps than others in the Clinton investigation. His lawyer also issued a statement saying there was no evidence that Strzok's political views affected his actions. But others, though critical of Comey, believed the report actually helps fortify the Department of Justice against Trump's attacks. "I think it essentially concludes what was obvious at the time, and that's that Comey was just largely ignoring rules, both in July and in October," said Matt Miller, a former Department of Justice official under Attorney General Eric Holder. "That's not really a surprising conclusion for anyone who knows how DOJ is supposed to work." Miller expressed particular exasperation with an email included in the report in which Comey told intelligence leaders that he did not think it wise to make an official statement on Russian meddling in American politics one month before the election for fear of creating an "October surprise" - which was sent just weeks before he threw the race into upheaval by reopening the case over Weiner's laptop. Still, he said he was not surprised by the inspector general's conclusion that Comey's actions weren't motivated by political bias. "I never thought that's what it was. I thought it was a misplaced confidence in his own righteousness, combined with really inappropriate pressure from one political party that wasn't matched by the other." ___ Lemire reported from New York. Associated Press writer Mary Claire Jalonick contributed reporting. ___ Follow Lemire on Twitter at http://twitter.com/@JonLemire and Tucker at http://twitter.com/@etuckerAP Part of the the Department of Justice Inspector General's report after its release in Washington, Thursday, June 14, 2018. The report documented in painstaking detail one of the most consequential investigations in modern FBI history and revealed how the bureau, which for decades has endeavored to stand apart from politics, came to be entangled in the 2016 presidential election.(AP Photo/Jon Elswick) SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - The Mormon church's massive genealogical database will begin accepting submissions of names of people from same-sex relationships sometime next year. The move doesn't foreshadow any change to long-standing church opposition to gay marriage, but it is being done to ensure the databank has as much information as possible for researchers, according to a statement from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "No judgments are made as to the legitimacy or character of the relationships found in these public records, nor can they be," church spokeswoman Irene Caso said. "They are simply collections of data to be assessed for their genealogical value by each researcher." FILE - In this Nov. 14, 2015, file photo, people walk past the Salt Lake Temple after mailing resignation letters during a mass resignation from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City. The Mormon church's massive genealogical database will begin accepting submissions of names of people from same-sex relationships sometime next year. The move doesn't foreshadow any change to long-standing church opposition to gay marriage, but it is being done to ensure the databank has as much information as possible for researchers, according to a statement from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File) Caso said church members who use the database to request temple sealings for their ancestors understand that can only be done for marriages between a man and a woman. The genealogical database, called FamilySearch, posted a statement in April on its website updating the progress of the expansion plan first announced in 2015. The statement said several systems must be redesigned to make possible the submissions. Officials expect that work to be done by 2019, the statement said. "The goal of FamilySearch.org is to capture, store, and provide records and an accurate genealogy that represents past, present, and future families of the world," the statement said. "To support this goal, same-sex relationships, including same-sex parents and same-sex couples, will be provided in FamilySearch Family Tree." The Salt Lake Tribune first reported this week that the change would go into effect by next year. The Utah-based religion of 16 million worldwide members has held firm to its opposition of gay marriage and homosexual activity while trying to foster an empathetic stance toward LGBTQ people. The church received harsh criticism from LGBTQ groups in 2015 when it banned baptisms for children living with gay parents and instituted a requirement that those children disavow homosexual relationships before being allowed to serve a mission. The changes were designed to avoid putting children in a tug-of-war between their parents and church teachings, leaders said. The move to allow same-sex couples in the database is an important step forward that shows the Mormon church is making some progress on LGBTQ issues, said Troy Williams, executive director of the LGBTQ support group Equality Utah. "We have families, we're having children," Williams said. "It's important that the LDS database reflect that." The focus on genealogy by Mormons is rooted in their belief that families should be the focal point of lives, and that family relationships continue into eternity. The website is used to do family tree searches and for church members to record baptisms of the dead. The Mormon church is the only major religion that baptizes the dead, and the ritual has contributed to struggles by the faith to combat the mischaracterization of its beliefs. The proxy baptisms do not automatically convert dead people to Mormonism. Under church teachings, the rituals provide the deceased a choice in the afterlife to accept or reject the offer of baptism. ___ This story has been corrected to show the last name of church spokeswoman is Caso CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) - A Michigan man accused of ordering drugs online and having them shipped to a friend in Dubuque - who then died of an overdose - has pleaded guilty. Federal prosecutors for Iowa say 28-year-old Jay Rickert pleaded guilty Thursday in Cedar Rapids' federal court to willfully causing the distribution of a controlled substance. As part of the plea, Rickert admitted he had ordered a hallucinogenic drug in February 2015 on the dark web from a supplier in Canada and had it shipped to a woman in Dubuque. Investigators say the woman used the drug, believing it was a hallucinogenic, but the supplier had shipped fentanyl, a powerful and often deadly synthetic opioid. Rickert faces up to 20 years in prison when he's sentenced at a later date. NEWBURYPORT, Mass. (AP) - Police say a Massachusetts man fled naked from a hospital, broke into a nearby home and attacked its resident with a hammer. Newburyport Police say 26-year-old Robert Girard, of Amesbury, fled Thursday night from Anna Jaques Hospital after removing his IVs and GPS monitoring bracelet. Officers found him after a resident living near the hospital reported a man broke into her home and attacked her partner with a hammer. The victim, a 50-year-old man, was treated at the hospital and released Friday. Police didn't disclose his name or the extent of his injuries. Girard pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and aggravated burglary at his arraignment Friday. He was held without bail and will appear to court again sometime next week. LOS ANGELES (AP) - California officials bucked a recent court ruling Friday and offered reassurance to concerned coffee drinkers that their fix won't give them cancer. The unprecedented action by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to propose a regulation to essentially clear coffee of the stigma that it could pose a toxic risk followed a review of more than 1,000 studies published this week by the World Health Organization that found inadequate evidence that coffee causes cancer. The state agency implements a law passed by voters in 1986 that requires warnings of chemicals known to cause cancer and birth defects. One of those chemicals is acrylamide, which is found in many things and is a byproduct of coffee roasting and brewing present in every cup of joe. FILE - In this Sept. 22, 2017, file photo, a barista pours steamed milk into a cup of coffee at a cafe in Los Angeles. State health officials proposed a regulation change Friday, June 15, 2018, that would declare coffee doesn't present a significant cancer risk, countering a recent California state court ruling that had shaken up some coffee drinkers. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File) If the regulation is adopted, it would be a huge win for the coffee industry which faces potentially massive civil penalties after recently losing an 8-year-old lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court that could require scary warnings on all coffee packaging sold in California. Judge Elihu Berle found that Starbucks and other coffee roasters and retailers had failed to show that benefits from drinking coffee outweighed any cancer risks. He had previously ruled the companies hadn't shown the threat from the chemical was insignificant. The state's action rejects that ruling. "The proposed regulation would state that drinking coffee does not pose a significant cancer risk, despite the presence of chemicals created during the roasting and brewing process that are listed under Proposition 65 as known carcinogens," the agency said in a statement. "The proposed regulation is based on extensive scientific evidence that drinking coffee has not been shown to increase the risk of cancer and may reduce the risk of some types of cancer." Attorney Raphael Metzger, who won the court case on behalf of The Council for Education and Research on Toxics, said he was shocked the agency would move to nullify the court decision and undermine its own report more than a decade ago that drinking even small amounts of coffee resulted in a significant cancer risk. "The takeaway is that the state is proposing a rule contrary to its own scientific conclusion. That's unprecedented and bad," Metzger said. "The whole thing stinks to high hell." The National Coffee Association had no comment on the proposed change. In the past, the organization has said coffee has health benefits and that the lawsuit made a mockery of the state law intended to protect people from toxics. Scientific evidence on coffee has gone back and forth many years, but concerns have eased recently about possible dangers, with some studies finding health benefits. Big Coffee didn't deny that acrylamide was found in the coffee, but they argued it was only found at low levels and was outweighed by other benefits such as antioxidants that reduce cancer risk. The state agency's action comes about a week after bipartisan bills were introduced in both houses of Congress to require science-based criteria for labels on food and other products. One of the sponsors, Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Oregon, alluded to the California coffee lawsuit as an example of misleading warnings. "When we have mandatory cancer warnings on a cup of coffee, something has gone seriously wrong with the process," Schrader said in a news release. "We now have so many warnings unrelated to the actual health risk posed to consumers, that most people just ignore them." The lawsuit against Starbucks and 90 companies was brought by the tiny nonprofit under a law that allows private citizens, advocacy groups and attorneys to sue on behalf of the state and collect a portion of civil penalties for failure to provide warnings. The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, better known as Proposition 65, requires warning labels for about 900 chemicals known to cause cancer or birth defects. The law has been credited with reducing cancer-causing chemicals, but it has been criticized for leading to quick settlement shakedowns and vague warnings that are often ignored. SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) - The last defendant pleaded guilty to conspiracy and agreed that he owes the federal government $149,000 in a case involving a huge explosion at a Louisiana National Guard-owned site. William Terry Wright's plea agreement was described in news release Friday from the U.S. attorney's office in Shreveport. Wright signed the agreement Thursday before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Foote. Wright, 64, was vice president of operations at Explo Systems, which had an Army contract to "demilitarize" artillery charges. State police began investigating after a 2012 explosion that shattered windows 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) away. The company went bankrupt in 2013, leaving thousands of tons of potentially explosive M6 propellant at Camp Minden. Wright's sentencing date was not available Friday in the court's electronic docket. Explo co-owner David Alan Smith of Winchester, Kentucky, and three company officials pleaded guilty earlier. Smith, support technology director Charles Ferris Callihan, program manager Kenneth Lampkin and inventory control officer Lionel Koons are scheduled for sentencing Aug. 30. Smith's sentencing date was changed Friday to match the others. The second co-owner, David Fincher of Burns, Tennessee, died June 2. As vice president, Wright oversaw day-to-day demilitarization operations at Explo and sought buyers for the recovered M6 and smokeless igniter. He was indicted on one count of conspiracy, 23 of making false statements and six of wire fraud. The conspiracy count to which he pleaded guilty said he and others caused improper and unsafe storage of M6 and hazardous waste, obstructed federal inspections, and faked forms from purported buyers. WASHINGTON (AP) - Nearly 2,000 children have been separated from their families at the U.S. border over a six-week period during a crackdown on illegal entries, according to Department of Homeland Security figures obtained Friday by The Associated Press. The figures show that 1,995 minors were separated from 1,940 adults from April 19 through May 31. The separations were not broken down by age, and included separations for illegal entry, immigration violations or possible criminal conduct by the adult. Under a "zero tolerance" policy announced by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Department of Homeland Security officials are now referring all cases of illegal entry for criminal prosecution. U.S. protocol prohibits detaining children with their parents because the children are not charged with a crime and the parents are. Jonathan Wilson, 33, of Scranton, Pa., holds a sign outside of a Lackawanna College were U.S. Attorney Jeff Sessions spoke on immigration policy and law enforcement actions, Friday, June 15, 2018, in Scranton, Pa. Attendees who took part in listening to the speech cross the street at right. (Butch Comegys/The Times-Tribune via AP) Sessions announced the effort April 6, and Homeland Security began stepping up referrals in early May, effectively putting the policy into action. Since then, stories of weeping children torn from the arms of their frightened parents have flooded the media and the policy has been widely criticized by church groups, politicians and children's advocates who say it is inhumane. A battle in Congress is brewing in part over the issue. Some immigrant advocates have said women were being separated from their infants - a charge Homeland Security and Justice officials flatly denied. They also said the children were being well cared for and disputed reports of disorder and mistreatment at the border. On Thursday, Sessions cited the Bible in defending the policy, arguing the recent criticisms were not "fair or logical and some are contrary to law." "I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13, to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained them for the purpose of order," he said. The International Rescue Committee, a humanitarian aid group, released a statement Friday saying, "A policy of willing cruelty to those people, and using young sons and daughters as pawns, shatters America's strong foundation of humanitarian sensibility and family values." The new figures are for people who tried to enter the U.S. between official border crossings. Asylum seekers who go directly to official crossings are not separated from their families, except in specific circumstances - such as if officials can't confirm the relationship between the minors and adults, if the safety of the children is in question, or if the adult is being prosecuted. There were an additional 38 minors separated at ports of entry in May through June 6. There were more than 55 in April and a high of 64 in March, according to the figures. Janet Daby has become Labours newest MP after winning the Lewisham East by-election. Only a third of eligible voters cast their ballot as Ms Daby held the seat with a majority of 5,629, well below the 21,213 Heidi Alexander achieved at the 2017 general election when turnout was 69%. The Liberal Democrats leapfrogged the Conservatives to take second place in a seat which voted heavily for Remain in the European Union referendum. Ms Daby said the result showed we will not tolerate an extreme Brexit in Lewisham East. Lewisham East by-election Ms Daby picked up 11,033 votes a 50.2% share, down nearly 18 percentage points from Ms Alexanders vote share in 2017. Lib Dem Lucy Salek had 5,404 votes, a 24.59% share, while the Conservative Ross Archer had 3,161 votes, a 14.38% share. Ms Daby said: We refuse to stand by and let a Tory government devastate our schools, our health service and our housing. The result put the Lib Dems up more than 20 percentage points, with a swing of nearly 19% from Labour to Lib Dem. Labours newest MP Janet Daby vowed to oppose hard Brexit after winning the Lewisham East by-election. Only a third of eligible voters cast their ballot as Ms Daby held the seat with a majority of 5,629, well below the 21,213 Heidi Alexander achieved at the 2017 general election when turnout was 69%. The Liberal Democrats leapfrogged the Conservatives to take second place in a seat which voted heavily for Remain in the European Union referendum. Lewisham by-election Ms Daby said the result showed we will not tolerate an extreme Brexit in Lewisham East. Explaining what she had found on the doorstep during the campaign, she told reporters: One of the ongoing issues is to do with Brexit and people not wanting an extreme Brexit and ideally people not even wanting to leave the EU. I will oppose an extreme or a hard Brexit. I will consider peoples jobs, the economy and peoples rights and that will dictate to me the precedent in how I will conduct myself both within Parliament and out of Parliament. Janet Daby has been declared winner of the Lewisham East by election. She received 11,033 votes. The turnout was 33.4% 1/2 pic.twitter.com/0SKu60HW6Y Lewisham Council (@LewishamCouncil) June 14, 2018 Jeremy Corbyn suffered a revolt in the Commons after ordering Labour MPs to abstain on the issue of Norway-style single market membership this week. Asked how much distance there was between her and Mr Corbyns views on Brexit, Ms Daby said: In terms of the single market, our Labour view on this is that we would have a new single market where we have the same access that we presently do. For me its about ensuring that we have as close a relationship to the EU as possible and thats what Ill be arguing for and thats what Ill be putting forward my views on. In terms of Jeremy Corbyn I voted for Jeremy Corbyn twice in the leadership election and obviously within politics not everybody will agree on everything but we need to find a way around it that holds the Tories to account. Lewisham East by-election Ms Daby picked up 11,033 votes a 50.2% share, down nearly 18 percentage points from Ms Alexanders vote share in 2017. Lib Dem Lucy Salek had 5,404 votes, a 24.59% share, while the Conservative Ross Archer had 3,161 votes, a 14.38% share. The result put the Lib Dems up more than 20 percentage points, with a swing of nearly 19% from Labour to Lib Dem. Ms Salek said the result showed the party was the real opposition here. She said: We have turned around a massive increase in our vote share. Were back and people are starting to notice. This is about recognising that the people have a final say on Brexit. But Ms Daby said: Im very aware the Lib Dems pitch themselves as being the party to oppose Brexit and my thoughts are thats probably quite misleading because they dont have much bite in Parliament. It was a way in which they could find a niche to try and make themselves as a reputable party. Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable said: This result sends a message to the Labour leadership that it cannot take pro-European voters for granted. This is the largest swing from Labour to the Liberal Democrats in over a decade and the failure of Labours leadership to oppose the Conservatives hard Brexit cannot be hidden or forgotten. The collapse in the Conservatives vote is also damning. Members of Britains first all-female Islamic State terror cell are facing jail for plotting a knife attack on Westminster under the guise of a Mad Hatters tea party. Rizlaine Boular, 22, and her mother Mina Dich, 44, from Vauxhall, south London, pleaded guilty to preparing acts of terrorism last April, while her friend Khawla Barghouthi, 21, admitted failing to alert authorities. Safaa Boular court case The plot was foiled by a combination of surveillance by counter-terrorism police and MI5 agents, who posed online as IS operatives. The women, who are in custody, will be sentenced by Judge Mark Dennis QC at the Old Bailey on Friday. Boulars sister Safaa Boular, 18 Britains youngest female IS terror plotter will be sentenced at a later date after she was found guilty of preparing terrorism in the UK and Syria. Safaa Boular court case Safaa Boular began planning a grenade and gun attack on the British Museum when she was thwarted from joining her IS husband, who died in a drone strike in Syria. When she was held in custody for trying to travel to the war zone, she passed the baton to her older sibling Rizlaine. In coded telephone calls, they discussed a traditional English tea party with an Alice in Wonderland theme, the trial heard. Rizlaine Boular said she knew a few recipes for some amazing cakes for a proper like English tea party kind of thing. Safaa Boular suggested an Alice in Wonderland theme telling her sister: You can be the Mad Hatter cause your hairs crazy. Mother-of-four Dich responded: That will be fun. Safaa Boular court case Rizlaine Boular then set about arming herself and looking at targets around the Palace of Westminster with Dich, unaware that they were being watched by counter-terrorism police. She shared her plans with Barghouthi and even practised a knife attack at her home in Willesden, north west London. Safaa Boular court case Rizlaine was shot when armed police moved in to arrest the gang but went on to make a full recovery. Two teenage moped riders will be sentenced later for stabbing a charity youth worker to death during a violent robbery spree. Nathan Gilmaney, 19, and Troy Thomas, 18, tried to rob as many people as possible, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake on October 16 last year. They killed 28-year-old Abdul Samad for his iPhone and little more than aggression and blood lust as they swept across west London on a scooter. Abdul Samad was fatally stabbed despite handing over his valuables (Scotland Yard/PA) After being stabbed, Mr Samad collapsed on his doorstep in front of his horrified parents while the robbers prowled the streets for their next victim. Prosecutor Oliver Glasgow QC said the killers were highwaymen of the 21st century who attacked their targets in a brazen and shocking manner. At the end of their four-hour spree of violence, they had committed nine knifepoint robberies, stabbed four victims and killed Mr Samad. Troy Thomas was also convicted of murder (Scotland Yard/PA) The culprits were arrested following a police chase, their pockets stuffed with stolen valuables. Thomas admitted robbing the victims but denied responsibility for the violence while Gilmaney pleaded guilty to the robberies and violence. The pair, from Maida Vale, west London, were found guilty of murder following an Old Bailey trial. Judge Richard Marks QC will sentence the teenagers on Friday. A union will find out if it has won the first stage of a High Court challenge over the employment status of riders working for food delivery firm Deliveroo. In the latest case concerning the so-called gig economy, the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) wants the court to overturn a ruling which confirmed the self-employed status of those working for the delivery firm. Deliveroo claimed a victory following the ruling by the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC), which considers union recognition and collective bargaining cases. A union is challenging a finding that Deliveroo riders are "self-employed" and not "workers" (PA/Nick Ansell) The CAC rejected an application by the IWGB to represent drivers in parts of north London. The committee concluded that because riders are able to pass on a job to a substitute, or to abandon a job, they were not obliged to provide a personal service and therefore could not be classified as workers. Mrs Justice Simler will announce on Friday whether the union will be given permission for a full judicial review of the decision. Speaking after the CAC ruling last November, Dan Warne, Deliveroos managing director for the UK and Ireland, said: This is a victory for all riders who have continuously told us that flexibility is what they value most about working with Deliveroo. We welcome the decision of the committee. As we have consistently argued, our riders value the flexibility that self-employment provides. Mr Warne said at the time that the firm wants a change in employment law so it could offer benefits such as sick pay to its riders, whilst maintaining that flexibility. The status of those working in the gig economy has been at the centre of a number of cases to have reached the courts in recent months. Taxi firm Uber lost an appeal in November against an employment tribunal ruling on the status of employees, after two drivers argued they were workers and entitled to the minimum wage, sick pay and paid leave. Uber announced it will appeal, saying almost all taxi and private hire drivers have been self-employed for decades, long before its app existed. The Supreme Court delivered a judgment on Wednesday in a landmark case brought by Pimlico Plumbers. The firm lost its appeal against a number of court rulings which determined plumber Gary Smith could claim worker status even though he was described as self-employed operator in his contract. IWGB general secretary Dr Jason Moyer-Lee said: Out of all the recent high-profile workers rights cases in the so-called gig economy, Deliveroo is the only company which has successfully deployed legal shenanigans to deny its workers their rights. But a business model based on overzealous lawyers and legal loopholes is not sustainable. The IWGB will continue to take action until it successfully secures basic employment rights for Deliveroo riders. Crowdfunding for the legal costs of the case has reached 23,000 so far. McDonald's is ditching plastic straws for paper ones in all of its restaurants, the fast food giant has revealed. The roll-out of the paper alternative will start in September and comes as pressure grows on firms to reduce single use plastic packaging and products. The move follows a successful trial and will see all of McDonald's 1,361 restaurants in the UK and Ireland ban the straws. The company is the latest to ditch the product, with businesses including Burger King, JD Wetherspoon, Costa Coffee, Pizza Express and Wagamama all making the move away from them. McDonald's is replacing plastic straws with paper ones from September (McDonald's/PA) McDonald's said it had found two suppliers to meet its needs for paper straws, the start-up Transcend Packaging based in Wales, and Huhtamaki, a global company which will produce the straws at its plant in Belfast. A trial using the paper replacements have been carried out at a handful of venues since April, and it found customers reacted positively to the change, with the majority supporting the effort to protect the environment. The Government has unveiled plans that could see plastic straws, drinks stirrers and cotton buds banned from sale in England as part of efforts to cut the amount of waste which ends up rivers and oceans. McDonald's has already taken steps in all its restaurants in the UK and Ireland to put plastic straws behind the counter to reduce waste. A trial using the paper replacements have been carried out at a handful of venues since April, and it found customers reacted positively to the change Paul Pomroy, chief executive of McDonald's UK and Ireland, said he was 'proud' to play a part in 'helping to achieve this societal change' The new straws will use paper coming from certified sustainable sources, the company said. Paul Pomroy, chief executive of McDonald's UK and Ireland, said: 'Reflecting the broader public debate, our customers told us they wanted to see a move on straws but to do so without compromising their overall experience when visiting our restaurants. 'Over the past few months we've been working closely with supplier partners to find a solution that works both for our customers, and that the supply is there given the size of our business. What measures has the UK taken to slash the use of plastics? Plastic bag charge: In October 2015 a 5p charge for all plastic bags was introduced. The fee has been credited with slashing Britain's use of plastic bags. Deposit return scheme: In March 2018 ministers announced plans to introduce a bottle deposit return scheme. Plastic, glass and metal containers will be recycled through the scheme. It is expected to come into force in 2020. Ban on plastic straws, cotton buds and stirrers: In April 2018, Theresa May announced plans to ban the sale of the disposable plastic gadgets as part of her war on Britain's throwaway culture Latte levy: MPs have called for a 25p charge to be slapped on single use coffee cups - known as a latte levy. Ministers have not said whether they will introduce it yet, but it is believed to be under consideration. Advertisement 'The Government's ambitious plans, combined with strong customer opinion, has helped to accelerate the move away from plastic and I'm proud that we've been able to play our part in helping to achieve this societal change.' Alternatives to plastic straws are being tested in Belgium and trials will begin in selected restaurants in the US, France and Norway. In parts of Latin America and Malaysia, the company is starting to offer straws on request only. Francesca DeBiase, executive vice president, global supply chain and sustainability, said: 'McDonald's is committed to using our scale for good and working to find sustainable solutions for plastic straws globally. 'In addition to the exciting news from the UK today, we are testing straw alternatives in other countries to provide the best experience for our customers. ' The move in the UK and Ireland has been supported by Environment Secretary Michael Gove, who said it was a 'significant contribution' to helping the environment. 'We all have a responsibility to our environment and this simple yet effective initiative is a fine example to other large businesses,' he said. The pledge comes after the Daily Mails long-running campaign to Turn The Tide On Plastic. And last month Brussels has laid out plans for a ban on cotton buds and plastic straws in a bid to prevent waste in our air, our soil, our oceans and our food. The European Commission proposed outlawing a range of single-use plastic products including cutlery, balloon sticks and drinks stirrers. By 2025, it said almost all bottles should be collected for recycling with more of the burden of clearing up waste on manufacturers. The use of plastic has sparked concerns over plastic pollution in the oceans where items such as straws end up harming wildlife like turtles and fish. Bank and building society branches are closing at an alarming rate of nearly 60 per month, according to Which?. The consumer group said analysis showed that between the start of 2015 and the end of 2018, 2,868 branches have closed or are scheduled to do so averaging just under 60 per month. Which? said branch closures have been accelerating. It said so far this year 670 branches have closed or been scheduled for closure putting 2018 on course to overtake the number of closures in 2017, when 879 branches were shut. Which? said that while mobile banking trucks may visit towns and villages, they are not as convenient as a dedicated bank branch. Meanwhile mobile banking apps are not suitable for everyones needs, it said, and do not always give people easy access to their accounts, as TSBs recent IT meltdown has shown. Which? collected bank branch closure data by tracking closure announcements. Its analysis found that of the branch closures it looked at, has closed the most, with 638 having shut, or being scheduled to close by the end of 2018. This was followed by HSBC (440), Lloyds (366) and RBS (350). NatWest Looking at where bank branch closures have or are taking place, Which? said Scotland has been particularly badly hit, with 368 branches having shut since 2015, or being scheduled to close by the end of 2018. Which? Money expert Gareth Shaw said: Bank branch closures are happening at an alarming rate with almost 60 shutting every month stripping customers and communities of access to the financial services they need. While the decision is clearly a commercial one for a bank to take, it is also crucial that banks do recognise the needs of their customers and the communities they serve, before simply shutting their doors and their customers out. Which? has created a bank branch closure tool to help people find out if their local bank branch has closed in 2018 at www.which.co.uk/static/tools/new-reviews/bank-closures/bank-closures.html. A spokesman for trade association UK Finance said: Bank branches play an important role in local communities which is why decisions to close them are only ever taken after all other options, like reducing opening hours and staff numbers, have been exhausted. Under the industrys Access to Banking Standard, information and support is provided to customers to minimise the impact of branch closures, helping them to access alternative ways to bank. Bank branch visits have fallen by a quarter since 2012, with the development of new technology meaning its now easier for people to do their banking at a time and place that is convenient to them. You can check your balance online, pay back a friend digitally or speak your bank for advice 24/7. But technology is not for everyone which is why all the major banks offer day-to-day banking services through 11,500 Post Office branches. That means there are now more places where you can bank than ever before. This is important to make sure that no-one gets left behind, which is why banks are continuing to invest in new ATMs and mobile bank branches to reach out to more rural communities. Here is a regional breakdown of the bank branch closures, or scheduled closures, in the Which? analysis: East, 221 East Midlands, 165 London, 288 North East, 81 North West, 353 Northern Ireland, 44 Scotland, 368 South East, 361 South West, 327 Wales, 200 West Midlands, 208 Yorkshire and the Humber, 252 The UN Security Council has called for the key Yemeni ports of Hodeida and Saleef to be kept open and appealed for a political solution to end Yemens three-year conflict. In a press statement after an emergency closed-door meeting, the council expressed deep concerns about the risks to the humanitarian situation following the launch of an offensive on Hodeida by the Saudi-led coalition. The council urged all sides to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law. Coalition backed forces Britains UN ambassador Karen Pierce, who called the meeting, told reporters before it started that UN special envoy Martin Griffiths has been trying to negotiate the withdrawal of the Shiite rebels, known as Houthis, who control Hodeida. Mr Griffiths is expected to brief the council on Monday, including on his proposals to restart negotiations to restore peace. No port. No food. No water. Without humanitarian access through the port city of Hodeidah, more children in Yemen will suffer and die. #ChildrenUnderAttack @TR_Foundation https://t.co/ual3H709DW UNICEF (@UNICEF) June 14, 2018 The Saudi-led coalition backing Yemens exiled government captured a town south of the port city of Hodeida on Thursday as fierce fighting and air strikes pounded the area. It was the second day of an offensive to capture the strategic harbour which is the main entry point for food in a country teetering on the brink of famine. A Saudi military spokesman said forces were drawing closer to the Red Sea port in a campaign aimed at driving out Iranian-aligned Houthis, who have held Hodeida since 2015, and breaking the civil wars long stalemate. International aid agencies and the UN have warned the assault could shut down the vital aid route for 70% of Yemens food, as well as the bulk of humanitarian aid and fuel supplies. Around two-thirds of Yemens population of 27 million relies on aid and 8.4 million are already at risk of starving. The United Arab Emirates ambassador to UN agencies in Geneva maintained the Saudi-Emirati coalition had no choice but to act. Should we leave the Houthis smuggling missiles? Obaid Salem al-Zaabi told a news conference. This comes from this sea port. We already gave the United Nations the chance to operate from this seaport, and (the Houthis) refused. The ambassadors comments contradict the conclusions of a UN panel of experts that said it was unlikely the Houthis were using the port for smuggling arms. In a report in January, the panel cited the fact that ships coming into the port face random inspections, require UN approval and that no weapons have been seized since March 2017. The UN and Western nations have accused Iran of supplying the Houthis with weapons, from assault rifles to the ballistic missiles they have fired deep into Saudi Arabia, including at the capital Riyadh. More than 150 ballistic missiles have been fired into the kingdom by the Houthis, according to Saudi officials. Tunisias Wahbi Khazri is hopeful of playing some part against England on Monday but does not expect to manage 90 minutes. The Sunderland winger, who impressed last season on loan at Ligue 1 outfit Rennes, has not played since suffering a thigh injury in April. But he has been taking a full part with the national side in recent days and expects to be available for action against the Three Lions and his former Black Cats team-mate Jordan Pickford. Im already training with my team-mates, Khazri told safc.com. Sunderland's Wahbi Khazri expects to be fit to face England I feel pretty good Im happy to go back to work and play. I may not be able to play the 90 minutes, but what really matters is that I can help the national team. The Eagles of Carthage are rated as outsiders to qualify from Group G, behind England and Belgium, but Khazri is ready for the challenge. We are aware that we have a really tough group, he said. We know that the favourites to advance to the second round are Belgium and England, but we have a good team which plays well together. Lets fight for it. Guests from the worlds of science and showbiz have arrived at Westminster Abbey for a memorial service in honour of Professor Stephen Hawking. TV personalities David Walliams and Piers Morgan, musician Nile Rodgers and Professor Brian Cox joined members of the public to celebrate the life of the renowned physicist. Benedict Cumberbatch speaking at the memorial service for Professor Stephen Hawking Prof Hawkings voice will be beamed into space, towards the nearest black hole, as his ashes are interred following the service of thanksgiving. The late scientists words have been set to an original piece of music, composed by Vangelis, offering a message of peace and hope, his daughter Lucy said. The ashes of Professor Stephen Hawking are laid to rest Prof Hawkings children have expressed their gratitude to Westminster Abbey for allowing their father to have a distinguished final resting place between the graves of Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin. The broadcast in space will take place following a service featuring readings from Benedict Cumberbatch, who played the physicist in a BBC drama, and astronaut Tim Peake. Astronaut Tim Peake speaks at Westminster Abbey An address will be given by Astronomer Royal Martin Rees, while Prof Hawkings collaborator and Nobel prize winner Kip Thorne will give a tribute. One thousand members of the public, from more than 100 countries, were offered the opportunity to attend the thanksgiving service after a ballot attracted 25,000 applications for tickets. They were welcomed to the abbey in central London by volunteers from the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Paralympic Games. Prof Hawking, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in his 20s, died aged 76 on March 14. A private funeral was held in Cambridge later that month. Pakistan Taliban chief Mullah Fazlullah, who ordered the assassination of Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, has been killed in a US drone strike in Afghanistan, a defence ministry spokesman said. Fazlullah and two other insurgents were killed on Thursday morning in north-eastern Kunar province, Mohammad Radmanish said. According to a statement attributed to US Forces-Afghanistan spokesman Lt Col Martin ODonnell, the US carried out a counter-terrorism strike on Thursday in the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan targeting a senior leader of a designated terrorist organisation. People watch a 2013 news report about the newly selected leader of the Pakistani Taliban leader Mullah Fazlullah (BK Bangash/AP) The statement did not say whether the strike had killed anyone and did not identify Fazlullah as the target. Mr Radmanish said the attack took place in Marawara district, near the border. Ms Yousafzai survived the assassination attempt in 2012. Fazlullah had ordered her killing for promoting girls education. Ms Yousafzai returned to her home town earlier this year, opening a school funded by a charity she established to promote girls education globally. Malala Yousafzai She has often said that Fazlullahs attempts to silence her backfired and instead he amplified her voice around the world. A ruthless leader, Fazlullah ordered the bombing and beheadings of dozens of opponents when his band of insurgents controlled Pakistans picturesque Swat Valley from 2007 until a massive military operation routed them in 2009. His insurgent group, the Tehrik-e-Taliban, also took responsibility for the brutal attack on an Army Public School in Pakistans north-western city of Peshawar in December 2014, when more than 140 children and their teachers were slaughtered. Survivors of the attack told of insurgents roaming through the school shooting their victims, some as young as six years old, in the head. Fazlullah rose to prominence through radio broadcasts in Swat demanding the imposition of Islamic law, earning him the nickname Mullah Radio. His radio talks also aired the grievances of many in the north west against the government, such as its slow-moving justice system. He also reached out to women, promising to address their complaints about not getting a fair share of their inheritance. His brutality often included public beheadings, often of police officers. His exact age is not known but he was believed to be in his late thirties. Indian authorities have been urged to investigate the killing of a prominent journalist in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Politicians, rebel groups and separatist leaders have condemned the murder of leading editor Shujaat Bukhari. Indian authorities must ensure a thorough and credible probe into the shooting death and bring the killers to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said. The media watchdog, however, questioned whether the government would conduct an adequate probe. Given the number of unsolved journalist murders and the political turmoil in Kashmir, we are concerned whether the Indian authorities will investigate this murder in a timely and effective manner, CPJ deputy executive director Robert Mahoney said in a statement. Relatives of Shujaat Bukhari Until justice has been served, the killing of Shujaat Bukhari will exacerbate the climate of fear in which journalists work in the state. The journalist was killed along with his two police guards by unidentified gunmen on Thursday evening as he left his office in Srinagar, the disputed regions main city. Mr Bukhari, in his early fifties, was a group editor for three daily newspapers and a weekly, including the English-language daily Rising Kashmir. He is survived by his wife, son, daughter and parents. Thousands participated in Mr Bukharis burial. Kashmiri men at the funeral of Shujaat Bukhari in Kreeri, 25 miles from Srinagar (Dar Yasin/AP) The killing was condemned by Indian home minister Rajnath Singh, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and pro-India politicians in Kashmir, who called it cowardice and a mindless act. Separatists and armed rebels who challenge Indias sovereignty over Kashmir also condemned the killing and demanded an independent probe. Police said the assailants came on a motorbike and fired a volley of bullets towards the victims, leaving Mr Bukhari and his guards in a pool of blood. No motive has been determined for the killing, but police accused rebels fighting against Indian rule. Top rebel leader Syed Salahuddin, who heads the United Jihad Council, an umbrella group of 13 Kashmiri rebel organisations, called for an international investigation. The killing of Shujaat Bukhari at a time when the UN Human Rights Commission released a report on the human rights abuses by Indian forces in Kashmir raises many questions, the newspaper Greater Kashmir quoted Salahuddin as saying in a statement. Salahuddin said they have a firm belief that Indian agencies and their agents were behind the murder of Bukhari. Mr Bukhari was an advocate for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute and was often part of peace conferences between India and Pakistan attended by former diplomats and generals from both countries. Kashmiri men carry coffin of Shujaat Bukhari Journalists in Kashmir have worked under tremendous stress and have been targeted in the past, some fatally, by both the Indian state and militant groups. The CPJ said at least six journalists have been murdered with complete impunity in direct retaliation for their work in the state since 1992. Many media groups condemned the killing. The Editors Guild of India said the dastardly attack on Mr Bukhari was a new low. The Foreign Correspondents Club of South Asia in New Delhi demanded an immediate probe and appealed to authorities to find the attackers and punish them. Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, but both claim it in its entirety. Rebels have been fighting Indian rule since 1989, demanding that the territory be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training the rebels, a charge Pakistan denies. Most Kashmiris support the rebel cause while also participating in civilian street protests against Indian control. Nearly 70,000 people have been killed in the uprising and the ensuing Indian military crackdown. The Trump administration has announced a 25% tariff on 50 billion US dollars worth of Chinese imports, escalating a trade dispute between the worlds two largest economies. President Donald Trump has vowed to clamp down on what he calls Chinas unfair trade practices. China has said that it will retaliate with 50 billion dollars in tariffs in response, rattling financial markets. China flag and skyscraper It comes in the aftermath of Mr Trumps nuclear summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his push for China to maintain economic pressure on the North. Mr Trump has already slapped tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from Canada, Mexico, Europe and Japan, drawing a rebuke from US allies. In a statement, the president said: The United States can no longer tolerate losing our technology and intellectual property through unfair economic practices. The Office of the US Trade Representative said the tariffs will start to be collected on July 6. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said that Chinas response would be immediate and that Beijing would take necessary measures to defend our legitimate rights and interests. Beijing earlier drew up a list of 50 billion dollars in US products that would face retaliatory tariffs, including beef and soybeans, a shot at Mr Trumps supporters in rural America. Mr Trumps decision on the Chinese tariffs comes in the aftermath of his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The president has co-ordinated closely with China on efforts to get Pyongyang to eliminate its nuclear arsenal. But he signalled that whatever the implications, I have to do what I have to do to address the trade imbalance. Administration officials have signalled support for imposing the tariffs in a dispute over allegations that Beijing steals or pressures foreign companies to hand over technology, according to officials briefed on the plans. Wall Street has viewed the escalating trade tensions with wariness, fearful they could strangle US economic growth and undermine the benefits of the tax cuts Mr Trump signed into law last year. If you end up with a tariff battle, you will end up with price inflation, and you could end up with consumer debt. Those are all historic ingredients for an economic slowdown, Gary Cohn, Mr Trumps former top economic adviser, said at an event sponsored by The Washington Post. The Chinese have threatened to counterpunch. For example, officials have said they would drop agreements reached last month to buy more US soybeans, natural gas and other products. The US and China have been holding negotiations over the trade dispute. The United States has criticised China for the aggressive tactics it uses to develop advanced technologies, including robots and electric cars, under its Made in China 2025 programme. The US tariffs are designed specifically to punish China for forcing American companies to hand over technology in exchange for access to the Chinese market. The administration is also working on proposed Chinese investment restrictions by June 30. In just the last year, the regulatory apparatus of the federal government has endured a range of healthy threats and corrections. Approximately 1,579 regulatory actions have been withdrawn or delayed, according to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, and that wave is set to continue. Agencies plan to finalize three deregulatory actions for every new regulatory action this fiscal year, a recent report noted. Were here today for one single reason, said President Trump said last December, holding a pair of scissors aside a symbolic mountain of papers: to cut the red tape of regulation. Its a welcome development for many businesses, who have struggled amid a growing string of onerous and arbitrary rules and measures. But its also a movement that could help restore a bit of hope for republican democracytaking power away from an unelected, unaccountable regulatory regime and shifting it back to Congress and its constitutions. As the Hoover Institutions Adam J. White explains in a recent PolicyEd video, the administrative state has, up until now, largely shielded itself from the eyes and ears of the people its supposed to serve: As we regulate more economic activity, these federal agencies take an ever larger role in day-to-day governance. The consequence is an unelected, largely unaccountable part of the government called the administrative state. The growth of the administrative state isnt an accident. Over time, our elected leaders in Congress have relinquished immense power to federal agencies. The judicial branch is given too much deference to federal agencies. And presidents, who oversee most agencies, have happily accepted the discretion theyve been granted. The result is that agencies routinely create regulations with little oversight, transparency or incentive to minimize the costs they impose. So how do we realign the interests of the administrative state with those of the public? The most obvious is the aforementioned actions of our leaders at the highest levels of government. Trump has claimed to have begun the most far-reaching regulatory reform in American history, and his administration is off to a soaring start. According to a letter from Neomi Rao, administrator of OIRA, this isnt just about freeing up businesses; the administration sees a strong connection between reducing regulation and expanding individual freedom for all: The Trump Administration recognizes that excessive and unnecessary federal regulations limit individual freedom and suppress the innovation and entrepreneurship that make America great. Starting with confidence in private markets and individual choices, this Administration is reassessing existing regulatory burdensOur regulatory philosophy and approach emphasize the connection between limited government intervention and individual liberty. Regulatory policy should serve the American people by staying within legal limits and administering the law with respect for due process and fair notice. But before and beyond Congress and the current Presidentwhose actions can quickly be reversed, in timewe shouldnt forget that plenty can also be done at the bottom-up levels of the agencies themselves. With such vocal support for deregulation at the top, these agencies shouldnt wait passively for specific instruction. As White explains: [Agencies] can unilaterally adopt reforms to promote transparency and accountability within their own houses. Perhaps the best example of this so far are the efforts at the Justice Department and Education Department to scale back their reliance on guidance documents, a broad category of agency pronouncements that regulate the public but that do not undergo even the minimal procedures for public accountability otherwise required of new regulations. If these two departments succeed in reforming their own practices, they could come to be seen by the public (and by judges and legislators) as the regulatory equivalent of best practices, raising the bar for what we expect of other agencies. While such changes might seem minor, their impact could long outlive the agencies more prominent substantive work[If] Trump agencies succeed in improving their own transparency and procedural rigor, and if those agencies trumpet those reforms loudly, their Democratic successors may find it difficult to credibly undo those reformsjust as the Clinton administration largely accepted the dramatic OIRA reforms established and entrenched by Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. Dismantling those rules and the power of the rulemakers may not have the shimmer and shine of other policies or programs, but it has significant sway over the freedoms and flourishing of everyday Americans going about their everyday lives. Whether from the bottom-up or the top-down, we have the opportunity and climate to rightly assign and confine the regulators to their proper place. Former FBI director James Comey will now officially go down as the worst leader, by far, in the history of the FBI, Donald Trump has said. I did a great service to the people in firing him, the US president tweeted. It comes after the Justice Departments internal watchdog released a 500-page report finding that Mr Comey was insubordinate when he denied agency protocols in his handling of the email investigation involving Democrat Hillary Clinton. US President Donald Trump The inspector general also said politically charged text messages by some FBI employees about Mr Trump sullied the FBIs reputation and cast a cloud over the probe. Mr Trumps supporters say the political bias leaked into the ongoing Russia probe, which includes an examination of whether the president tried to obstruct justice by firing Mr Comey. The IG Report is a total disaster for Comey, his minions and sadly, the FBI, Mr Trump tweeted. Comey will now officially go down as the worst leader, by far, in the history of the FBI. I did a great service to the people in firing him. The Justice Department inspector general does not conclude that political preferences influenced Mr Comey or the Justice Department. And while the president has criticised Mr Comeys deputy, Andrew McCabe, because of Democratic political contributions to his wife, the Justice Department report said he was not required to recuse himself and had correctly flagged the issue inside the bureau. We found no evidence that the conclusions by the prosecutors were affected by bias or other improper considerations; rather, we determined that they were based on the prosecutors assessment of the facts, the law and past department practice, the report says. The report gave Mr Trump fresh ammunition for continued attacks on Mr Comey and for his defence that Mr Comeys firing in May 2017 an act now central to special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into whether the president sought to obstruct justice was wholly justified. At the same time, it probably gave comfort to Clinton supporters who believe Mr Comeys actions may have torpedoed her chance of becoming president. The report branded Mr Comey as insubordinate for repeatedly breaking with Justice Department protocol in his handling of the email probe in the explosive final months of the 2016 presidential campaign. I respect the DOJ IG office, which is why I urged them to do this review. The conclusions are reasonable, even though I disagree with some. People of good faith can see an unprecedented situation differently. I pray no Director faces it again. Thanks to IGs people for hard work. James Comey (@Comey) June 14, 2018 It also sharply rebuked FBI officials who traded politically charged, anti-Trump text messages even as the investigation into the campaign was under way. The report documents in painstaking detail one of the most consequential investigations in modern FBI history and reveals how the bureau, which for decades has endeavoured to stand apart from politics, came to be entangled in the 2016 presidential election. It underscores efforts by FBI and Justice Department leaders to juggle developments in the Clinton investigation she had used private email for government business while secretary of state with a separate probe that was then unknown to the American public into potential co-ordination between the Trump campaign and Russia. Mr Comey, whom Mr Trump fired shortly after taking office, bore the brunt of the reports criticism. It says the FBI director erred when he announced in July 2016 that Mrs Clinton had been extremely careless with classified material but would not be charged with any crime, and again months later when he told Congress just days before the election that the investigation into Mrs Clintons emails had been reopened. Mr Comey concealed from the Justice Department his plans to make a public announcement until the morning he did so, even though such statements are normally handled by the Justice Department, if at all, the report says. We found that it was extraordinary and insubordinate for Comey to do so, and we found none of his reasons to be a persuasive basis for deviating from well-established Department policies in a way intentionally designed to avoid supervision by department leadership over his actions, the report says. Though it says those mistakes were not politically motivated, Trump supporters seized on the reports description of Mr Comey as insubordinate. And they quickly focused on the reports recounting of anti-Trump text messages from two FBI officials who worked on the Clinton probe and later the Russia case, including one in which an agent says Well stop it, with regard to a possible Trump victory. The report suggests that text from Peter Strzok, who was later dropped from Mr Muellers team, implies a willingness to take official action to impact the presidential candidates electoral prospects. It did not find evidence that those views seeped into the investigation. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the report reaffirmed the presidents suspicions about Comeys conduct and the political bias amongst some of the members of the FBI. FBI director Chris Wray told reporters the FBI accepted the reports findings and was making changes, including requiring further training for FBI employees and re-emphasising the importance of objectivity. In a New York Times opinion piece released after the report, Mr Comey said he disagreed with some conclusions but respected the watchdogs work. The report also notes that Mr Comey, despite chiding Mrs Clinton for mishandling government business, occasionally used personal email himself to discuss FBI matters. But my emails, she said, reacting in a three-word tweet. Scotland would face austerity until doomsday if the country became independent, former prime minister Gordon Brown has said. He issued the warning as he called for politicians north and south of the border to increase investment in the National Health Service, saying it needed an injection of new cash similar to that provided by Tony Blairs Labour government when it doubled NHS spending between 1997 and 2010 Speaking at a Labour rally for the NHS in Glasgow, Mr Brown, who served as chancellor under Mr Blair, recalled: In 1997 when we came into power the National Health Service was dying on its feet. Former prime minister Gordon Brown (Andrew Milligan/PA) So we had to take action and we did put in the biggest single tax rise in history, 9 billion extra for the National Health Service, health service spending rising by 5% a year as a result of it 30,000 more doctors, 80,000 more nurses, half the hospitals in this country rebuilt or repaired so that they were fit for the modern era. I believe that this is what we have got to do again, because 20 years after we came into power in 1997 the health service is in disrepair again. .@OfficeGSBrown addresses our #NHS70 rally,outlining why the health service is Labour values in action. pic.twitter.com/3XrXOBcjcn Scottish Labour (@ScottishLabour) June 15, 2018 Under the Conservative government in Westminster and the SNP at Holyrood, the NHS has seen its worst decade for spending growth since its creation in 1948, Mr Brown said. He warned: You look now at the Scottish National Partys proposals for independence, they will not be spending money on the health service this decade, they wouldnt be spending it in the next decade and they wouldnt be spending it the decade after. Austerity is here until doomsday if the Scottish National Party is all that is going to confront it. He referred to new analysis from the Institute of Fiscal Studies which concluded an independent Scotland could face another decade of public spending restraint. Mr Brown warned that the think tanks work showed spending on vital services like the health service would rise even slower in the coming decade if we had independence than under the present decade where money has been so short. He said: We must decide to persuade the British people, Scottish people and the whole of Britain that we need to spend more on our health service, we need to upgrade it for the next decade. The numbers of elderly people will rise by 75% in the next 25 years, there are needs that come with new technology, particularly to meet the requirements of cancer care with new equipment, and we must spend at least the additional money that we spent in 2002, an extra 1% on national insurance, on employers, employees and on top earners is at least a starting point. The health service needs to be rejuvenated by an injection of new cash that would lead to greater morale amongst staff that have been sadly disillusioned by the promises of both the SNP and the Conservatives that have not been met. The rumoured 4billion funding deal the Tories are planning will not be enough to protect our health service, @jonashworth tells our #NHS70 rally pic.twitter.com/c29NOvELvL Scottish Labour (@ScottishLabour) June 15, 2018 Currently the NHS is being starved of resources by both the Scottish Government and the UK Government, he claimed. Mr Brown added this could be seen with four million on waiting lists throughout the whole of the United Kingdom as well as a huge backlog of bills for repair and for new investment not only to buildings but equipment. And you can see it in the frustration of NHS staff who work all hours, often far beyond the call of duty and are not properly rewarded as a result, he said. As far as I can see it, Labour is now the only party standing for social justice in Scotland, it is the only party that can save the National Health Service. He spoke out after shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth said spending decisions made by a future Labour government would result in almost an additional 1 billion for the NHS in Scotland. While he said Theresa Mays government could be on the brink of announcing an extra 4 billion for the NHS in England, he insisted this would not be enough. Mr Ashworth said: That wont deal with the backlog of repairs, it wont deal with the 100,000 vacancies weve got in England. It wont mean more money for Scotland either. Labour is saying we would spend nearly 9 billion extra on the NHS and social care this year. And that would mean more money for Scotland as well, in fact across a parliament our extra investment in the NHS would mean nearly an extra 1 billion for the Scottish NHS. SNP MSP Kate Forbes hit back: This is the height of hypocrisy Labours health offer at the last Scottish election was even lower than the Tories, and had it been followed our NHS would be 360 million worse off this year. The SNP Government is delivering record high health spending in Scotland, which is now 7.5% higher per head than the Tories allocate for England matching the UK Governments health spending levels would see over 880 million in cuts. We have also taken NHS staffing in Scotland to historically high levels. Ms Forbes added: It speaks volumes that Gordon Brown, who ushered in austerity, should this week of all weeks decide to attack the SNP rather than the Tories, whose power grab threatens devolution and whose shambolic Brexit plans are far and away the biggest threat to Scotlands public services, jobs and economic wellbeing. An SNP spokeswoman also stressed the report of its Sustaainable Growth Commission had been absolutely explicit in its rejection of austerity. She stated: Instead it proposes real terms spending growth including an economic stimulus package where necessary a sharp contrast to the reality of Tory policies being imposed on Scotland. She added: The report has kick-started a serious and welcome debate over Scotlands future, and Westminster parties are clearly rattled by the boost it has given to the independence case. The Growth Commission contrasts the clear opportunities of independence with the despair and economic damage of Brexit and replaces fear with optimism and hope about Scotlands future. Professor Stephen Hawking has been laid to rest between the graves of Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin at Westminster Abbey, during a service to celebrate his life. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, musician Nile Rodgers, TV star David Walliams and Professor Brian Cox were among the guests who gathered to remember the renowned physicist. His ashes were interred in Scientists Corner, the area of the Abbey dedicated to those who have made a significant contribution to the subject. Professor Stephen Hawking memorial service Choral music echoed through the grand building as family members, led by the Dean of Westminster, processed to Prof Hawkings final resting place. His daughter, Lucy, and first wife Jane Hawking, were among those who laid flowers, while a medal created by the Stephen Hawking Foundation was also placed in the grave. A memorial stone will lie above inscribed, Here lies what was mortal of Stephen Hawking 1942 2018. The words are a translation of the Latin on the nearby grave of Sir Isaac Newton. Prof Hawkings voice was expected to be beamed into space, towards the nearest black hole, as his ashes were interred, set to an original piece of music composed by Vangelis. Astronaut Tim Peake speaking at the memorial service His children have expressed their gratitude to Westminster Abbey for allowing their father to have a distinguished final resting place between the graves of two eminent scientists. The dark memorial stone, designed by artist John Maine, is made from Caithness slate from the north of Scotland and was chosen to represent deep space. It is inscribed with his most famous black hole equation, hovering over a series of rings. The service featured readings from Benedict Cumberbatch, who played the physicist in a BBC drama, and astronaut Tim Peake. An address was given by Astronomer Royal Martin Rees, while Prof Hawkings collaborator and Nobel prize winner Kip Thorne also gave a tribute. Actor Benedict Cumberbatch, In his address, Lord Rees said: He shared Darwins agnosticism, but it is fitting that he too should be interred in this national shrine. His name will live in the annals of science. Nobody else since Einstein has done more to deepen our understanding of space and time. Millions have had their horizons widened by his books and lectures, and even more worldwide have been inspired by a unique example of achievement against all the odds. Guests from the worlds of showbusiness, science and politics attended, evidencing how the physicist bridged the gap between academia and popular culture. Actress Lily Cole, TV presenter Piers Morgan, actor Ben Miller, Carol Vorderman, Science Minister Sam Gyimah and Culture Minister Matt Hancock were among those present. One thousand members of the public, from more than 100 countries, were also offered the opportunity to attend the thanksgiving service, after a ballot attracted 25,000 applications for tickets. Prof Hawking died at his Cambridge home on March 14, aged 76. At the age of just 22, he was diagnosed with a rare form of motor neurone disease and given just a few years to live. His illness left him wheelchair-bound and dependent on a computerised voice system for communication. However, he defied all odds, going on to become a towering figure in the world of physics, a bestselling author particularly with his book A Brief History Of Time, a father of three and a TV celebrity. A private funeral service was held in Cambridge in March. Labour has become embroiled in a fresh anti-Semitism row after MPs questioned the appointment of a barrister to give the party legal advice. Luciana Berger said the partys National Executive Committee (NEC) should look again at the decision to appoint Gordon Nardell QC as an in-house counsel, after alleged online comments about recent allegations within the party. The Liverpool Wavertree MP, who is Jewish, said she and others had been ignored after raising the comments and links with organisations and individuals that seek to deny the anti-Semitism problem. She said she had no faith in the objectivity of the process following Mr Nardells appointment to the position last week. Labour has been battling allegations of anti-Semitism for months, which sparked a demonstration in Parliament Square in March this year by Jewish groups protesting about the partys handling of complaints. would now be taken seriously, and an in house legal counsel would be appointed to contend with the backlog of alleged antisemitism cases waiting to be processed. Over a month ago, myself and others raised concerns directly with the party about the person rumoured to be Luciana Berger (@lucianaberger) June 15, 2018 In a series of tweets on Friday, Mrs Berger said: After a demonstration in Parliament Square and various meetings, we were told that the anti-Semitism problem would now be taken seriously, and an in-house legal counsel would be appointed to contend with the backlog of alleged anti-Semitism cases waiting to be processed. Over a month ago, myself and others raised concerns directly with the party about the person rumoured to be the front-runner for this role. This individual had made worrying statements on social media and was identifiably connected to organisations and individuals that seek to deny the antisemitism problem. We were ignored. This week, @UKLabour announced that Gordon Nardell QC got the job. That he is now the internal arbiter of @UKLabour anti-Semitism cases means I have no faith in the objectivity of the process. The NEC should urgently review his appointment. This week, @UKLabour announced that Gordon Nardell QC got the job. That he is now the internal arbiter of @uklabour antisemitism cases means I have no faith in the objectivity of the process. The NEC should urgently review his appointment. Luciana Berger (@lucianaberger) June 15, 2018 The Labour Against Anti-Semitism (LAAS) campaign group has alleged Mr Nardell described anti-Semitism claims against former London mayor Ken Livingstone as anti-Labour nonsense. Mr Livingstone resigned from the Labour Party in May, saying allegations against him of anti-Semitism had become a distraction. He continued to reject the charge of anti-Semitism, or of bringing the party into disrepute, but acknowledged some of his comments had caused offence in the Jewish community, and apologised. LAAS also alleged Mr Nardell voiced support for Jackie Walker, who was suspended by Labour over allegedly anti-Semitic comments in 2016, and liked a Facebook post claiming the Jewish Labour Movement (JLM), which is affiliated to the party, was working to prevent Jewish members and others criticising Israeli policies. It is understood that Mr Nardell will not be involved in any individual cases but as a specialist human rights barrister will give wide-ranging in-house legal advice in a role recommended by Baroness Chakrabarti in her investigation into anti-Semitism. Ken Livingstone A party source said: Gordon Nardell is Jewish and has a long record of challenging and campaigning against anti-Semitism and all forms of discrimination, and of championing equality and human rights. John Mann, chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on anti-Semitism, said he wanted to question Mr Nardell over his alleged comments about Mr Livingstone. The MP told LBC: You cant be going in with the conclusions to issues without having looked at and analysed them. I need to know, and others will want to know, what is his role? Is his role on technicalities, or is he going to be trying to define things, which clearly would be inappropriate? The general secretary (Jennie Formby) and Jeremy Corbyn have made very clear statements and promises what I want to see is them delivered on. That is whats important. A Labour Party spokeswoman said: Any complaints about anti-Semitism are fully investigated and appropriate disciplinary action taken in line with our rules and procedures. Labours new general secretary has made it her first priority to speed up and strengthen our procedures and to develop a programme of political education to create deeper awareness and understanding about all forms of anti-Semitism. The Trump administration has announced a 25% tariff on up to 50 billion dollars worth of Chinese imports, instantly escalating a trade dispute between the worlds two largest economies. Chinas government responded quickly by announcing it will immediately impose penalties of equal strength on US products. The Commerce Ministry said it is also scrapping deals to buy more American farm goods and other exports as part of efforts to defuse a sprawling dispute over its trade surplus and technology policy. China flag and skyscraper A ministry statement gave no details, but a 50 billion dollar list of possible targets announced in April included soybeans, light aircraft, orange juice, whiskey and beef. Much of the impact would fall on Mr Trumps rural supporters. The Chinese side doesnt want to fight a trade war, but facing the shortsightedness of the US side, China has to fight back strongly, the statement said. We will immediately introduce tax measures of equal scale and equal strength, and all economic and trade achievements reached by the two sides will be invalidated. Mr Trump has vowed to fulfil his campaign pledge to crack down on what he contends are Chinas unfair trade practices and efforts to undermine US technology and intellectual property. During an impromptu appearance on the White House North Lawn, the president hailed his very big tariffs on China. You know we have the great brain power in Silicon Valley, and China and others steal those secrets. And were going to protect those secrets. Those are crown jewels for this country, Mr Trump said. There is no trade war. Theyve taken so much, he said in an interview with Fox & Friends. The tariffs will cover 1,102 Chinese product lines worth about 50 billion dollars a year. Those include 818 products, worth 34 billion dollars a year, remaining from a list of 1,333 the administration released in April. The government will start to collect the tariffs on July 6. The administration is also targeting another 284 Chinese products, which the administration says benefit from Chinas aggressive industrial policies, worth 16 billion dollars a year but will not impose those tariffs until it collects public comment. Mr Trump has already slapped tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from Canada, Mexico and European allies. His decision on the Chinese tariffs comes in the aftermath of his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The president has co-ordinated closely with China on efforts to get Pyongyang to eliminate its nuclear arsenal. But he signalled that whatever the implications, I have to do what I have to do to address the trade imbalance. Wall Street has viewed the escalating trade tensions with wariness, fearful that they could strangle the economic growth achieved during Mr Trumps watch and undermine the benefits of the tax cuts he signed into law last year. The administration is also working on proposed Chinese investment restrictions by June 30. Charles Horton is to resign as chief executive of Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) following months of controversy over delays and cancellations to services. In a letter to staff, he said the company had been going through some very challenging times in recent weeks and it was the right time to hand leadership of GTR to a new pair of hands. Some 13% of GTR trains were either cancelled or significantly delayed in the first two weeks after new timetables were introduced on May 20. Thameslink and Great Northern services were particularly hit, with some passengers left stranded on platforms for several hours. Mr Horton said: In my view, this was an industry-wide failure of the timetabling process. But with leadership comes responsibility and so I feel it is only right that I step down. Charles Horton resigns Before my departure in a few weeks time, I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure a smooth handover as we work to put our railway back on track and give our passengers a reliable service once again. Mr Horton will remain in post for a short period to oversee the development of a temporary timetable, a spokesman for GTRs parent company, Go-Ahead, said. Industry sources stressed that Mr Horton is not taking sole responsibility for the disruption, with Network Rail also blamed for delays in approving timetables. Passenger groups, trade unions and politicians welcomed the resignation announcement. Martin Abrams, of the Association of British Commuters, said the news was the absolute least that passengers who use Govia Thameslink Railway could expect. He added that Mr Horton may be being used as a fall guy for Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, who is ultimately responsible for the debacle. Emily Ketchin, founder of campaign group Harpenden Thameslink Commuters, said train timetables are a lottery, adding: Customers need to see leadership and a rapid improvement to correct the errors that Mr Horton is leaving behind. Transport Salaried Staffs Association general secretary Manuel Cortes said he would shed no tears for Mr Horton. He added that Mr Grayling should also resign because the system is beyond redemption. Grant Shapps, Conservative MP for Welwyn Hatfield, said it was about time that Mr Horton quit. Finally someone is taking responsibility, he added. A Department for Transport spokesman said: Clearly the disruption that passengers have experienced following the recent timetabling changes has been unacceptable and it is right that the industry takes responsibility for its performance. The DfT is being investigated by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) in relation to the chaos. The rail regulator is analysing the departments role in managing risks around major network changes, as well as the actions of train operators and Network Rail. A spokesman for Go-Ahead said the firm would not comment on Mr Hortons remuneration following his resignation. It emerged on Friday that Network Rails chief executive Mark Carne and chief finance officer Jeremy Westlake will not take their annual bonus for the last financial year due to the disruption. Mr Carne, who was awarded a CBE in last weeks Queens Birthday Honours, is leaving Network Rail later this year. The Prince of Wales hailed his visit to Kerry as remarkable after fulfilling a long-time ambition to see the scenic Irish county known as the Kingdom. Charles expressed his delight as he and Camilla were treated to some traditional Irish music and art at the National Folk Theatre in the town of Tralee. Next stop, The Prince and The Duchess arrive in Tralee to visit the @siamsatire, where TRH watched traditional Irish dancers in rehearsal. #RoyalVisitIreland pic.twitter.com/MV5Wk54KJK The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) June 15, 2018 Outside the Siamsa Tire theatre, the design of which is inspired by the ancient Ring Forts of Kerry, the heir to the throne was asked how he had enjoyed the county. Camilla rides in a jaunting car Remarkable, he replied. At last I got a chance to see Kerry. Earlier, schoolchildren lined the path leading to the landmark building, with Charles and Camilla stopping to say hello as they made their way inside. The name of the theatre, Siamsa Tire, means rural merriment or fun. The company is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its summer performance seasons in 2018. The royals were welcomed with a performance from the theatres choir and then watched dancers rehearse a performance of the hard-shoe style of Munnix, which is unique to the north Kerry area. They moved to the main auditorium to see a reprise of the first performance from 50 years ago, a dramatisation of rural life in Ireland called Fado Fado. Around 37,000 visitors pack the 350-seat theatre between May and September every year. Charles and Camilla meet folk theatre performers After the show the couple were presented with a piece of slate from Valentia Island off the Kerry coast,the same material used to roof the Palace of Westminster. They were also given bodhran drums. The theatres artistic director Jonathan Kelliher said everyone had been really looking forward to the royal visit. There has been a buzz around here for weeks now with anticipation and we are so delighted it went so well, he said. I think the prince and duchess were blown away by what they saw. Mr Kelliher, a talented dancer himself, joined in one of the routines put on for the royal couple. The prince was even saying he might be a bit too old to take up dancing himself, but hed like to try it, he joked. Among those introduced to the royal couple during their tour was 93-year-old Kathleen OShea, who served in the British Army for almost 30 years, including during the Second World War. During the war years the Queen served in the ATS, the Auxiliary Territorial Service, and I served in that as well, she said. The pensioner from Tralee, who wore her medals for the occasion, said she was delighted to meet Charles and Camilla. It was very pleasant, she said. The Duchess rides in a traditional Irish jaunting car across the estate to Muckross School House where students are learning Irish. #RoyalVisitIreland pic.twitter.com/MRUTbhuL41 The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) June 15, 2018 Mayor of Kerry John Sheahan said: Today is the kind of day we have been waiting for for a long, long time. Its an absolutely massive lift to the county. I think well see a lot of English people coming here now because of the exposure and the reception they have received. There has been no stone unturned to do the very best. When this is televised in England it will do only good things, itll be very helpful for Ireland. It is the first time I have met royalty so I am embracing that moment. Before departing for their next engagement, Charles stopped outside the theatre to be shown some local food produce and to tour a nearby biodiversity area. Anita Dobson has said Leslie Grantham was the archetypal charming rogue and spoke of their magic chemistry as she paid tribute to her EastEnders co-star, who has died aged 71. Grantham, who was best known for playing Dirty Den Watts on the soap since 1985, died on Friday following a long battle with cancer. His representative said in a statement that Granthams ex-wife and sons have asked for their privacy to be respected at this difficult time, and for there to be no approaches to them for information or comment. "He was the archetypal charming rogue" Anita Dobson pays tribute to former EastEnders co-star Leslie Grantham remarking on their "magic chemistry"https://t.co/6no9zthDLa pic.twitter.com/EGDZlO4inC BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) June 15, 2018 They will not be making any statements to the media. They also ask that no photographs be taken of them in their grief. There will be a private funeral which will be attended by close family and friends only. Dobson, who played Granthams on-screen wife Angie Watts in the soap, told BBC News: He was a good-looking guy, he was a charmer, he was funny, he was a good actor. And he was fun to be around, we were good mates. Leslie Grantham death But I think theres always that kind of look about him that you just didnt know what he was going to do next, and that was his ace in the hole, there was always that bit about him that was slightly unpredictable, which I liked and what gave him the edge on TV. She said working with Grantham was full of memorable times, adding: They changed my life and they changed his, and I think we were both really lucky that we were cast opposite each other, because the chemistry was magic. We didnt have to do anything, it just happened. We learnt our lines, we met on set and bang, we were off. Dobson added: I came from nothing, from the East End with no money, and Leslie, as you know, had a chequered life before EastEnders, but we sort of understood each other, we understood that life can be tough. And we were fortunate, we were catapulted to an exotic place, but we were playing real people, people that we knew and we loved it. Grantham shot to fame playing Den in EastEnders, originally from 1985 to 1989. A 1986 Christmas Day episode drew an audience of more than 30 million viewers, who watched as Den handed over divorce papers to Angie. His character was apparently killed off in 1989 but made a shock return to Albert Square in 2003, before making his final departure in 2005. Other EastEnders stars have shared their memories of working with Grantham, including Letitia Dean, who appeared on the BBC programme as Sharon Watts, the adoptive daughter of Den and Angie. Dean said, via the EastEnders Twitter account: I have very special memories of working with Leslie and will cherish them always. He and Anita looked after me in my early days and showed me the ropes, always with care and kindness. "He never failed to make me laugh and I will remember him with love, affection and gratitude forever. See you up there Leslie! Thank you for everything. Love and respect always, Tish. X" 2/2 EastEnders Press (@EastEndersPress) June 15, 2018 He never failed to make me laugh and I will remember him with love, affection and gratitude forever. See you up there Leslie! Thank you for everything. Love and respect always, Tish. X. Gillian Taylforth, who appeared alongside Grantham from 1985 in EastEnders, said she was deeply saddened to hear the very sad news. "Those iconic Christmas episodes were legendary and they will always be part of EastEnders history. My heart goes out to his loved ones." 2/2 EastEnders Press (@EastEndersPress) June 15, 2018 The Kathy Beale actress said: I have so many happy memories of working with Leslie, he was always great fun and we shared many laughs. Those iconic Christmas episodes were legendary and they will always be part of EastEnders history. My heart goes out to his loved ones. Dot Cotton actress June Brown, another original cast member, said: I was very fond of Leslie and am so sorry that he has gone. "He was a wonderful and special actor, witty and very talented. I shall remember him very fondly and with affection." 2/2 EastEnders Press (@EastEndersPress) June 15, 2018 I always enjoyed talking to him, he made me laugh and always had a twinkle in his eye when he said outrageous things. Brown said Grantham was a wonderful and special actor, witty and very talented, and that she will remember him very fondly and with affection. Shane Richie, known for playing Alfie Moon on the soap since 2002, tweeted that he has fond memories trying to make each other laugh in front of camera, referring to working with Grantham in 2004. Richie added that Grantham was a natural charmer & genuinely gracious, he had his demons but dont we all! BUT theres no denying he was & will always be @bbceastenders greatest landlord #RIPLesleyGrantham. 2004 Alfie went toe 2 toe with Den.Fond memories trying to make each other laugh in front of camera.A natural charmer & genuinely gracious ,he had his demons but don't we all ! BUT there's no denying he was & will always be @bbceastenders greatest landlord #RIPLesleyGrantham pic.twitter.com/3tnu09G5gZ Shane Richie (@realshanerichie) June 15, 2018 The BBC referenced Granthams death in the introductory link for Fridays episode of EastEnders. The announcer said: And now on BBC One, with Leslie Grantham and soaps greatest bad boy Dirty Den in mind, we head to the Square. At the end of the episode a black slate came on-screen with a tribute to Grantham written in white text. The tribute read: In memory of Leslie Grantham 1947-2018. Granthams death comes days after he was reported to be in a critical condition in the UK having returned from Bulgaria, where he had been living. According to The Sun, the screen star had been visited in hospital by close friends in the industry. He left the UK after splitting with his wife of 31 years, Jane. In 2010, he spent time in Bulgaria filming TV series The English Neighbour. Den (Leslie Grantham) forcing Alfie (Shane Richie) and Spencer Moon (Christopher Parker) out of the Queen Vic Prior to his EastEnders career, in 1967 he was convicted of murdering a German taxi driver while serving as a soldier, which he has always denied, and he went to prison until 1977. In 2004, he was forced to apologise after he took part in webcam sex sessions from his EastEnders dressing room, the results of which went public. A mother and daughter that formed Britains first all-female Islamic State terror cell have been jailed over an Alice In Wonderland-inspired plot. Rizlaine Boular, 22, planned to stab random members of the public around the Palace of Westminster causing widespread panic, injury and death in April last year, the Old Bailey heard. The mother-of-one adopted the murderous scheme from her sister Safaa Boular, 18, who was in custody over an attempt to become a jihadi bride in Syria the year before. In coded phone calls, they discussed holding an Alice In Wonderland themed tea party with Rizlaine cast as the Mad Hatter. Safaa Boular court case Counter-terrorism police swooped to arrest the plotters after a proactive surveillance operation with MI5, the court has heard. Rizlaine Boular pleaded guilty to preparing acts of terrorism and was jailed for life with a minimum term of 16 years. Her Morocco-born mother Mina Dich, 44, from Vauxhall, south London, was handed six years and nine months plus five years on extended licence after she admitted helping her. Safaa Boular court case Judge Mark Dennis QC said Dich failed in her parental role to stop Rizlaine Boular just a month after the earlier Westminster atrocity and played a significant role in radicalising both her daughters. He told the mother she bore a heavy responsibility. Safaa Boular court case He told Rizlaine she had planned a wicked act born from distorted views. He said: There are individuals walking the streets today whose lives could have been irreparably damaged or lost had it not been for the intervention of the police and security services. The defendants, who wore Islamic dress in the dock, made no reaction. The court heard how Rizlaine Boular discussed the attack with her sister and mother in coded conversations about an Alice In Wonderland tea party. She said she knew a few recipes for some amazing cakes for a proper like English tea party kind of thing. Her younger sibling suggested an Alice In Wonderland theme telling her sister: You can be the Mad Hatter cause your hairs crazy. Mother-of-four Dich responded: That will be fun. She went on to shop for knives and a rucksack and carry out reconnaissance around Westminster with Dich. She also practised for the knife attack in a bugged conversation at her friend Khawla Barghouthis home. The women laughed as she expressed the fear she might flop so badly and cut her arm by accident. When armed police went to arrest her, she shouted f*** you and was shot by an officer who thought she had something in her hand, the court heard. In mitigation, her lawyer Imran Khan QC said: In short, Rizlaine Boular embarked on this course of conduct because she wanted to die. She knew as soon as she produced a knife in the vicinity of the Palace of Westminster police officers would swoop and kill her and thats what she wanted at that time. He said she was radicalised online after being sacked from a marketing sales team for wearing Muslim clothes after three months. She also suffered in an abusive marriage to a local imam after being prevented from travelling to Syria in 2014, he said. On failed efforts to steer her away from IS, he said: If there was Prevent intervention it was certainly not sufficient. The intervention was not as robust as it could have been and should have been. Mr Khan told the court Rizlaine had put her past views behind her. A mother and daughter, have been sentenced for their roles in connection with planning terrorist attacks, which were thwarted last year by a proactive joint investigation by counter-terrorism police and the security services https://t.co/7xy0inyrJJ pic.twitter.com/iAF7MxLtWh Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 15, 2018 Being shot in the stomach three times as she was arrested provided a constant reminder of what happened and the fact she realised when she was shot she did not want to die, he said. Kieran Vaughan QC, for Dich, argued his client played a lesser role in the plot. Michael Mansfield QC told jurors that Barghouthi came to Britain at the age of 11 from Tunisia knowing no English but excelled at school and aspired for a caring profession. When she met disturbed Rizlaine Boular, she lent her a hand or a shoulder, not knowing how serious she was, he said. On her banter with Rizlaine on the day of the planned attack, married Open University student Barghouthi said: I did not believe the person I was with was actually going to go through with anything. When I read the transcript I was horrified how it sounds. What I can say at the time it was extravagant talk and very stupid fooling around. Safaa Boular, 18, Britains youngest female IS terror plotter, will be sentenced at a later date after she was found guilty of preparing terrorism in the UK and Syria. Barghouthi, 21, from Willesden, north west London, admitted failing to report the threat and will be sentenced next Friday. Scotland Yards Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon said: This investigation started with Safaa, and her attempts to travel out to Syria, marry a Daesh fighter and support their terrorist activity. Having been prevented from travelling to Syria, she then set about plotting an attack in the UK but her plans were being covered by the counter terrorism network and security services. After Safaa was arrested and charged, her mother and sister tried to pick up where she left off. All three women were filled with hate and toxic ideology and were determined to carry out a terrorist attack. Had they been successful, it could well have resulted in people being killed or seriously injured. President Donald Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort has been ordered into custody after a federal judge revoked his house arrest, citing newly filed obstruction of justice charges. The move by US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson made Manafort the first Trump campaign official to be jailed as part of special counsel Robert Muellers investigation. Already under intense pressure to co-operate with prosecutors in hopes of securing leniency, Manafort now loses the relative freedom he enjoyed while he prepared for two criminal trials in which he faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison. In issuing her ruling, Judge Jackson said she had struggled with the decision but she could not turn a blind eye to his conduct. You have abused the trust placed in you six months ago, she said. A federal grand jury indicted Manafort and a longtime associate, Konstantin Kilimnik, last week on charges of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice, adding to the multiple felony counts he already faced. The charges do not relate to his work on the Trump campaign or involve allegations of Russian election interference. Manafort, 69, and Kilimnik are accused of attempting to tamper with witnesses in the case by trying to get them to lie about the nature of their Ukrainian political work. Prosecutors say Manafort and Kilimnik tried to get the two witnesses to say that lobbying work carried out by clandestinely paid former politicians only occurred in Europe and not the US, a contention the two witnesses said they knew to be false. The distinction matters because unregistered foreign lobbying in the US is a crime, while lobbying solely in Europe would be outside the special counsels jurisdiction. Manaforts lawyers have accused prosecutors of conjuring a sinister plot out of innocuous contacts. Paul Manafort arrives at federal court in Washington They filed a memo written by one of the witnesses for Manafort that his lawyers say shows the work of the group, known as the Hapsburg group, was European focused. In response, prosecutors filed additional documents showing extensive lobbying contacts by the group in the US, which they said showed the falsity of his representation. One of the documents was a 2013 memo from Manafort to former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych. It described how Manafort had designed a programme that used the Hapsburg members to lobby US politicians and influence American public opinion, including meetings on Capitol Hill. Manafort also pleaded not guilty to the latest indictment on Friday. Kilimnik, who prosecutors say is living in Russia, did not appear in court. Mr Muellers team has said that Kilimnik has ties to Russian intelligence agencies, a claim he has previously denied. Manafort will remain in jail while he awaits trial in both Washington and Virginia over the next few months. He faces several felony charges including tax evasion, bank fraud, money-laundering conspiracy and acting as an unregistered foreign agent related to his Ukrainian political work, money he funnelled through offshore accounts and loans he took out on property in the US. Donald Trump tweeted: Wow, what a tough sentence for Paul Manafort, who has represented Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole and many other top political people and campaigns. Didnt know Manafort was the head of the Mob. What about Comey and Crooked Hillary and all of the others? Very unfair! ****FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**** Daphne, AL - The voters of Alabama House District 96, which comprises Daphne, Spanish Fort, and portions of North Mobile County, will have a third choice when they go to the ballot box on November 6th. The Alabama Secretary of State has confirmed that Matt Shelby has qualified and will appear on the November 2018 ballot as the Libertarian Party candidate for House 96. "The two-party system has failed this nation, state and community. And, though third parties are often at an electoral disadvantage compared with the old parties, I am confident my fellow citizens understand that it isn't about the letter next to your name. It is about the person you are, the ideas you have, and your dedication to improving your community. I am excited to give the citizens of the area that I know and love a chance to vote for a truly different direction. We have been doing the same thing for too long, and I know that I present true, positive change for Alabama, and that I can help bring about a brighter, more prosperous future for all of our children," Mr. Shelby said. Matt is a Baldwin County native and his family's roots in the area go back until the early 1900s. He received a B.A. in Philosophy from Auburn University and went on to the University Of Alabama School Of Law on a Dean's Merit Scholarship. After graduating with his Jurist Doctorate in 2008, he returned home to Baldwin County where he served until December, 2009 as an Assistant District Attorney before going into private practice. He currently practices law at the Citrin Law Firm in Daphne. Matt lives in Daphne with his wife, Jennifer, and their three children. He is a member of Christ the King Church. He was active in the 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns of Republican Ron Paul, as well the 2016 presidential campaign of Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson, and currently serves as the Secretary of the Libertarian Party of Baldwin County. He has promised to fight government corruption through his support for term limits. Matt wants to address an overloaded justice and prison system through criminal justice reform. "We spend too much money arresting, prosecuting and jailing people for drug crimes," he said. "Through my time as the Baldwin County Drug Prosecutor, it became obvious that we need to treat non-violent drug offenders as what they are: people with an illness. By focusing on rehabilitation over incarceration, we will lighten the load on the courts, law enforcement, and the pocket-book of the Alabama tax-payer." Matt Shelby will appear on the ballot for the November 6, 2018 general election for House District 96 against a Republican and Democratic opponent. For more information about his campaign, you can visit www.ElectMattShelby.com or his Facebook page, Elect Matt Shelby. ### Matt Shelby electmattshelby@gmail.com 251.442.7387 Michelle ONeill has urged a sustainable compromise in Northern Ireland through further dialogue. She called for more respect for culture and identity. Political talks to restore powersharing have been at an impasse for months over the issue. The Sinn Fein vice president said she recognised peoples right to be British, Irish or neither. She met the Prince of Wales earlier this week. Mrs ONeill added: We must reach a sustainable compromise through dialogue and agreement. Create a future where everyone feels they belong. Where our culture and identity is respected. She addressed the opening night of Sinn Feins ard fheis in Belfast on Friday. Instead of refighting the battles of the past we all unionists and nationalists need to have the humility to accept that we have conflicting narratives, conflicting histories and conflicting allegiances. Michelle O'Neill She said there was a clear requirement under the Good Friday Agreement on the part of the British and Irish Governments to ensure the equivalent standards of protection of rights which exist in all other parts of these islands and must exist in Northern Ireland too. Stormont has not sat for months in a row over the Irish language. Mrs ONeill told decision-makers in Dublin and London: You must convene the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference without delay, and determine how you as the joint stewards of the peace process will remove the obstacles to powersharing. She accused the DUP of putting their self-serving pact with the Tory party at Westminster before peoples interests in Northern Ireland in defeating Brexit. Theyre living in a fools paradise. They blindly prop up Theresa May, who is preoccupied with negotiating with her own cabinet rather than the EU. Britain is divided. But in Ireland we are united. We will not be collateral damage as a result of the reckless Tory/DUP Brexit agenda. The DUP has secured extra funding for Northern Ireland public services through its deal to support the Conservatives in key votes. It wants to avoid a border in the Irish Sea after Brexit so is keen to ensure Northern Ireland does not diverge from the rest of the UK following the withdrawal. Sinn Fein wants to see Northern Ireland remain in the EU Customs Union. A top private school teacher accused of raping a 15-year-old girl has described in court an affair he had with another student. Former Christs Hospital School history teacher James Husband discussed the consensual liaison with the 17-year-old who is not an alleged victim in the case and was not under age at the time while giving evidence in his trial at Hove Crown Court on Friday. The 68-year-old, of Wigginton in York, denies four counts of rape and five of indecently assaulting a different pupil when she was as young as 14 between 1990 and 1994 while he taught at the prestigious school in Horsham, West Sussex. The court heard Husband was married and his children attended the school in Horsham, West Sussex, during the time he embarked on the fling, as the consenting student described it in her diary. Christs Hospital School When senior staff found out, he was told he would be suspended or could resign. He chose the latter, jurors heard. Dressed in a grey suit, blue shirt and dark tie, Husband stood in the witness box and described the encounter as spur of the moment. He then conceded there were several instances with the girl from holding hands and kissing to sex but said he did not consider it a relationship. During his cross-examination, the court heard him describe the moment he kissed the student on the lips after a disco at night in the school grounds. He said: I can see her in my minds eye looking up at me. I can remember the kiss. The look on her face suggested that she wanted to me to. I wanted to kiss her. In a diary entry read to the court, the girl said: Told too many people at school then decided to go for it. The fling. So got off with him on Saturday night. The most amazing thing. Happy. This took place after he felt disgruntled with how the school was run, the court was told. Husband said he took issue with headmaster Richard Poulton, as well as deputies Elizabeth Cairncross and Bob Sillett, adding: I thought the school was a complicated organism and I didnt think that they had got the measure of it. When Eloise Marshall, prosecuting, said the senior staff had been wrong to entrust him with students and he deceived them, the former tutor and head of department replied: Given what I did, yes. He later added: In that I had sex with two 17-year-olds, yes. Asked why the jury should believe him, he said: I am telling the truth now. Addressing the charges involving the other girl which he denies, claiming they had consensual sex once when she was 16, he said: I dont know why (the alleged victim) has brought these allegations against me. The trial previously heard Husband is accused of telling the girl when she was 15: Its OK, Ive had a vasectomy, before raping her. His co-defendant, head of house Gary Dobbie, is later said to have joked with the girl that she had beard rash, indicating he knew what happened. Gary Dobbie is standing trial Husband was reported to the school chaplain but no action was taken and even her mother did not believe her story, the court heard. Dobbie, 68, of Albi in France and formerly of Hereford, faces a string of allegations against six boys and two girls as young as 12 between 1998 and 2001. He denies 12 counts of indecently assaulting four boys and two girls, attempting to indecently assault a boy and two counts of indecency with a child. He was teaching at independent Shrewsbury School, Shropshire, at the time of his arrest in 2016. Founded in the 16th century, Christs Hospital charges boarders up to 31,500 a year and counts Sir Barnes Wallis, inventor of the bouncing bomb, and poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge as alumni. Pupils still wear a Tudor-style uniform consisting of a long blue coat and high yellow socks. The trial continues on Monday when Husband will resume giving evidence. Dobbie is also due to give evidence in his defence next week. The French and Italian leaders have agreed to work together to push for changes to the European Unions migration rules after previously disagreeing on the issue. President Emmanuel Macron and Premier Giuseppe Conte said EU regulations requiring asylum-seekers to apply in the first country they enter and remain there while their cases are processed were not working. Mr Macron said the policy and others have left Italy, usually the first European country reached on the route across the Mediterranean from North Africa, without the support that is supposed to be a benefit of a united Europe. The proper response is European, but the existing European response has not adapted, said the French leader, seen as strongly pro-EU. Mr Conte, who heads the populist, anti-EU government that took over Italy on June 1, echoed my friend Emmanuel. The concept itself of the state of first entry must be rethought. He who puts his feet in Italy puts his feet in Europe, said Mr Conte, who was a law professor before he became premier. They both called for steps to beef up Europes borders to prevent illegal immigration after meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris. Emmanuel Macron and Giuseppe Conte Mr Macron cited an initiative of his government last year to establish protection missions that pre-screen asylum-seekers in Chad and Niger to prevent citizens risking the sea journey. Mr Conte said Italy is working on a proposal for a radical paradigm change in Europes approach to managing mass migration that includes creating hotspots in the most common countries of origin and departure to identify asylum candidates. These centres of European protection would anticipate and speed up identification and requests for asylum, he said. Migrants in Italy The meeting between Macron and Conte almost did not take place after the president offered a harsh assessment of Italys refusal to accept a private rescue ship carrying 629 migrants. Mr Macron accused the new Italian government of cynicism and irresponsible behaviour. The migrants who were rescued last Saturday remained at sea on Friday. Italy denied the Aquarius a place to dock, insisting it was Maltas responsibility. After Malta also refused and pointed the ship to Italy, Spains new Socialist prime minister offered the passengers safe harbour on Monday. The Aquarius is en route to Valencia, where it is expected to arrive on Sunday. Standing alongside Mr Macron, Mr Conte said it was time to turn the page on the diplomatic tensions over the ship and to tackle the larger migration quagmire. Calls for an inquiry into policing during violent clashes with pickets during the miners strike will be stepped up on Saturday at a rally to mark the 34th anniversary of the so-called Battle of Orgreave. Miners arrested at the site of a coking plant in South Yorkshire on June 18 1984 will be among those attending the rally near Rotherham in Sheffield. Campaigners have been calling for an inquiry into the police tactics on that day, claiming that striking miners were assaulted and falsely arrested Rally to mark 34th anniversary of the 'Battle of Orgreave' In October 2016, Home Secretary Amber Rudd announced there would be no inquiry or independent review, but the campaign has continued, buoyed by a decision by the Scottish Government to hold an independent review into the impact of policing during the miners strike in Scotland. Craig Mansell, a miner arrested at Orgreave, said: Ex-home secretary Amber Rudd had an opportunity to authorise an inquiry and chose not to. The new Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, should now have the decency to acknowledge Amber Rudds miscalculation and implement an inquiry that is well overdue. Chris Hockney, who chairs the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign (OTJC), said: Striking miners were brutalised by the police all over Britain. The announcement in the Scottish Parliament gives us real hope that an inquiry will be conducted into police brutality at Orgreave and the miners and our communities will get justice. The Labour Party is committed to implementing an inquiry and has clearly stated in their manifesto their intention to hold a public inquiry into policing practices at Orgreave. Joe Rollin, of the OTJC, said: It will be an emotional day for the miners who were arrested at Orgreave but we are determined to keep the campaign in the spotlight. We will not go away. Thousands of pickets and police officers clashed at Orgreave in some of the most violent confrontations in the year-long miners strike. A total of 95 people were charged with riot and violent disorders but their cases were dropped. By Gram Slattery and Jeffrey Dastin SAO PAULO, June 14 (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc is recruiting major Brazilian cosmetics firms Grupo Boticario and Natura Cosmeticos SA to sell via the logistics platform it is developing in Brazil, three people familiar with talks told Reuters, making an early play for the world's fourth-largest beauty market. Amazon is keen to get a piece of Brazil's roughly $30 billion in spending on make-up, hair treatments and other personal care products - behind just the United States, China and Japan. The e-commerce giant's aggressive cosmetics play, less than a year after it expanded beyond books and streaming video in Latin America's largest economy, flips the company's usual playbook. In other markets, Amazon focused on beauty products years after establishing itself in core segments such as electronics, toys and home goods. Amazon said in an emailed response that in the last five years it has "held hundreds of meetings with potential sellers and suppliers about its Brazil business and possible future plans," adding that the company would not "speculate about future plans." Natura and Boticario did not respond to requests for comment. Partnering with Amazon would accelerate the cautious approach that Brazil's major cosmetics firms have taken so far with e-commerce, as they try to protect profit margins and longstanding relationships in traditional sales channels. Natura has been reluctant to shake up a network of more than 1 million direct sales "consultants" in Brazil, sticking to a business model pioneered by Avon Products Inc. In 2014, Natura began offering its independent sellers tools for online sales, which now account for less than 4 percent of total sales in the country. A source with direct knowledge of Natura's thinking said the company had met as recently as last week with Amazon, but was still mulling its proposals. Privately-held Boticario has relied on franchisees to build a network of some 4,000 stores. The company may sell non-proprietary products via Amazon platforms in Brazil, such as make-up from Revlon Inc, said one of the sources, who requested anonymity to discuss ongoing negotiations. The person said talks between the companies began "quite recently" and Boticario was not looking to sell proprietary brands on Amazon platforms "for now." So far, Amazon has relied on third-party vendors to ship their own goods sold on its Brazilian website. However, several moves this year suggest the company is ramping up its own logistics presence in the country. In February, Reuters reported that Amazon was looking to lease a warehouse near Sao Paulo, in a sign that it could soon begin fulfilling orders in Brazil. In April, Reuters reported that Amazon was in talks with Brazilian airline Azul SA to ship goods domestically, laying the groundwork for speedy nationwide distribution. (Reporting by Gram Slattery and Jeffrey Dastin; Additional reporting by Gabriela Mello; Editing by Brad Haynes and Rosalba O'Brien) By David Ljunggren June 14 (Reuters) - Canada agreed with the United States on Thursday that slow-moving talks to update NAFTA should continue although they did not set a date for the next round, a senior official said in remarks casting further doubt on the chances of a deal this year. Negotiations to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement started last August and were initially scheduled to finish by the end of December. That deadline has been extended several times as Canada and Mexico struggle to accommodate far-reaching U.S. demands for change such as a sunset clause that would allow one nation to pull out after five years. Canada and Mexico reject the idea. U.S. officials had already made clear time was running out to secure a deal the current Congress could vote on. Democrats - who tend to be less enthusiastic about free trade than Republicans - are expected to make gains in midterm elections in November which could make passing a new NAFTA harder. "We decided ... to continue our negotiations on NAFTA," Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said in Washington after she met U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. "We will be working hard over the summer," she said in remarks shown on Canadian television. "We didn't set specific dates today. We talked about following up on setting up specific dates for meetings and that is what we are going to do." Although Lighthizer had initially pressed for a quick deal to avoid conflicting with a Mexican presidential election on July 1, Freeland said the three nations agreed they could continue the talks. A Mexican source familiar with the negotiating process said officials were working to set up a fresh ministerial meeting soon after the election in Mexico. Contentious issues were still unresolved and there was no situation visible in which Mexico would accept "for example, the sunset clause", the source said. Negotiating teams were still engaged in technical work and were on standby. "Nobody is depressed," the source said. Another challenge is the tariffs the United States imposed this month on Canadian and Mexican aluminum and steel. Freeland said she had told Lighthizer Canada was resolute in its commitment to slapping retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods on July 1. "We will not escalate and we will also not back down," she said. (Additional reporting by Ana Isabel Martinez in Mexico City Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Nick Zieminski) Srinagar, (Hindustan Times),14 June 2018 - Senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari was shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside his office in Srinagar on Thursday. Bukhari was in his vehicle outside his office at Press Enclave when he came under fire. Two of his personal security officers were also injured in the attack. Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti condemned the attack. Shocked & deeply saddened by sudden demise of Shujaat Bukhari. The scourge of terror has reared its ugly head on the eve of Eid. Strongly condemn this act of mindless violence & pray for his soul to rest in peace. Customs officers monitoring the Courier Services at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), found 32 dangerous reptiles, Customs Spokesman and Deputy Director, Sunil Jayaratne said. He said the reptile species was an intermediary breed of Geckoes and Chameleons found in Sri Lanka. These reptiles packed into four white bags were found in a shipment declared as computer CPUs, Mr. Jayaratne said. He said the shipment had arrived from Australia via Singapore and the Customs declaration form was addressed to a person in Kalutara, but it was found to be a fake. "We have sent our officers to locate the owner of the reptiles," Mr Jayaratne said and added that quarantine officers had recommended that the reptiles be deported as soon as possible. This is the first time that this kind of reptiles had been smuggled into the country. Customs officers monitoring courier services had done a great job. With no prior experience the officers had a problem identifying the species. Sending them back is not the solution, but there should be a proper method to identify such animals by relevant authorities attached to the Customs Department. The Customs Officers do not know everything and as such, they only detect unauthorized and non-related things coming into the country, Mr. Jayaratne said. The detection was made by Customs Superintendents Vipula Fernando and S. Ranasinghe. Investigations were carried out by the BIA Directorate of Revenue and Services and Bio-Diversity Control Unit of Customs, as a joint programme under the supervision of Customs Assistant Superintendents Jayalal Fernando, Superintendent and Buddhika Prabhath. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama) The conviction of a Buddhist monk who had threatened the well-known campaigner against enforced disappearances, Sandhya Eknaligoda, is a victory for human rights defenders in Sri Lanka, Amnesty International (AI) said today. A magistrates court in Homagama handed down a six months sentence and a heavy fine to Galagodatte Gnanasara Thero for threatening Sandhya Eknaligoda in court, when she appeared in 2016 to pursue justice for the enforced disappearance of her husband, the famed Sri Lankan cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligoda. This is an important verdict for all people who fight for human rights in Sri Lanka. A clear message has gone out to those who seek to intimidate, threaten and silence people seeking justice, said Omar Waraich, Amnesty Internationals Deputy Director for South Asia. Blood keeps us alive. Without blood survival is impossible and the only way we could get blood is through another human being. Although the practice of donating blood has existed for decades, the need for safe and quality blood still exists. The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) located at Narahenpita was launched as a special campaign under the purview of the Ministry of Health. The need for donor blood was felt during the assassination of late Prime Minister S.W.R.D Bandaranaike and at the time the blood bank was a single room located in the heart of Colombo. Fifty nine years later the NBTS continues its mission as the centrally coordinated blood transfusion centre. With over 90 hospital based blood banks affiliated to 70 cluster centres, the NBTS invites more donors to engage in this humanitarian cause. In view of World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) held yesterday (June 14) the NBTS organised events to appreciate donors and organisers. Speaking to Mirror Health Capsule, NBTS Deputy Director Dr. Deepa Saranajeewa highlighted the significance of WBDD, the screening process and the importance of donating blood. Significance of WBDD World Blood Donor Day is one of the major global events hosted by the World Health Organisation apart from other seven global days they celebrate. They have declared eight events including WBDD which we celebrate annually on June14th. This day also marks the birthday of Karl Landsteiner who founded the ABO blood grouping system, said Dr. Saranajeewa. This day has been honoured since 2004 and global celebrations take place in some country each year. Sri Lanka hosted the global event back in 2014. On this day the authorities appreciate and thank the people who donate blood to save the lives of others. It also aims to raise awareness among people as to how they could contribute in saving a life by donating this valuable gift. This years theme- Be there for someone else. Give blood. Share life -gives the idea that you are always there for someone else. At the same time you are encouraging people to help one another and give a positive message to the community to unite in the cause to save lives. Actually not all countries boasting of good health systems could engage in voluntary, non-remunerated blood donations. But we are very proud that Sri Lanka stands among the 60 countries that engage in such donations, Dr. Saranajeewa said. Blood that is donated should be safe and meet quality standards since there is a high risk of transmitting diseases. In terms of donations last year, the NBTS collected 424,000 units of whole blood. In some other countries there are donors who are paid, but here blood donation is100% voluntary. The NBTS of any country has to make available sufficient, safe and quality blood supply to be used as and when required. At our national blood centre we are always maintaining 2000-3000 stocks of blood samples in all blood groups, she added. Procedure to donate In Sri Lanka, the NBTS is the sole agent for the Ministry of Health in voluntary blood donation and they also maintain the national blood centre here in Narahenpita along with another regional blood centre in Kamburugamuwa, Matara. Speaking further Dr. Saranajeewa said that apart from that they have disseminated their services through cluster centres. This means that this centre is the teaching or the general hospital where there is a consultant transfusion physician. Under that consultant there are other base hospitals to that particular cluster centre. They conduct their own blood donation campaigns to accommodate the requirements of all hospitals in that cluster. NBTS Narahenpita is the cluster centre for Colombo and we provide blood to all teaching hospitals around in addition to the Army Hospital, KDU Hospital and the Neville Fernando Hospital along with all private hospitals. The requirement for a day lies between 300-330 whole blood units which are required for emergencies, therapeutic and surgical procedures, maternal care, paediatric patients and even the cancer hospital. In all those blood samples the main components are platelets which are the by-product. We do a processing out of the whole blood units where we prepare red blood cells, platelets, plasma and cryoprecipitate. This is done in the component laboratory. Apart from that, before transfusing this product to the patient we do a Transfusion Transmitted Infection (TTI) screening. We screen the donors before collecting blood, but sometimes they may not understand what we ask for or they may conceal information and in order to avoid the consequences we conduct the second screening as well. We screen the blood for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, malaria and syphilis, she said. In the past, only cross matches were done. But today, in Sri Lanka, we also have gone in to automation and State of Art Technologies. Traditionally blood banks were involved in collection, processing and storage. But now we have stepped into cellular therapies such as bone marrow and stem cell transplantation, cord blood banking and organ transplantation and sample archiving. At National Blood Center , there are specified laboratories in Transfusion Medicine to help clinicians to find the best option to trat their patients. For example, National Reference laboratory at NBC helps clinicians to identify the proper red cell to be transfused to the patients with antibodies against red cells after a previous transfusion or pregnancy. HLA Laboratory (Human Leukocute Antigen) does the tissue typing for organ and bone marrow transplantation . Transfusion Medicine also performs therapeutic apheresis procedures where we do separation of blood in to components, removal of one component and return of the remainder to treat patients with neurologic, kidney and blood diseases. Another procedure is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) treatments which are mainly conducted on dermatological and orthopaedic patients. Eligibility criteria Not everyone can donate blood. The following basic requirements have to be fulfilled before a donation is done ; Age : between 18 55 (a healthy, regular donor can donate until 60 years of age) Weight : not less than 50kg Haemoglobin : not less than 12 g/dL In addition to that, donors with non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, pressure cannot donate blood, Dr. Deepa added. Those with a history of having infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, syphilis, malaria and hepatitis too cannot donate blood. If a donor has travelled abroad, they have to wait for three months before donating blood. Another aspect we focus on is the aftercare of donors once they have donated blood. We have a donor care programme where they go through a biochemistry screening and are then able to donate blood every four months. Apheresis donors on the other hand donate platelets while others donate whole blood. They can donate platelets once in two weeks because platelets have a short life span of five days. Sometimes donors, in-house donors- walk-in and donate blood at our cluster centres and we also obtain blood from mobile donations organized by individual groups,she said. Before a person donates blood he or she should have a good meal and sleep for six hours, warns Dr. Saranajeewa. It is good if they are not intoxicated as well. After donating blood, one shouldnt drive. They should have adequate rest, she said. Speaking further Dr. Saranajeewa expressed her concerns about the reduction in donations during certain seasons. During the festive season there is less number of mobile donations taking place and during the rainy season these are usually cancelled. We however maintain a registry and in case of an emergency we call the donors and request for a donation,the doctor added. The main event in Sri Lanka recognized and appreciated 600 blood donors and 400 organisers who made the event a success. If a problem exists the public health inspectors (PHIs) are informed. In her concluding remarks Dr. Deepa said that people should be aware of these habits which are common among the older generation. We need people to support us as we have a mission to collect quality blood and save as a many life as possible. The younger generation should start donating blood and make a conscious effort to avoid unhealthy practices such as smoking and drinking,she said. dJACKSON COUNTY, Mississippi -- A 10-month old boy was found dead inside a vehicle in northwest Jackson County Thursday afternoon and an investigation into the cause of death is underway. According to Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell, the child was found around 4 p.m. after a man called 911 from the 9000 block of Jean Street in the Latimer Community. JCSO spokesperson Marcia Hill confirmed Friday the child was pronounced dead at the scene by Acadian Ambulance personnel, who found the child inside the vehicle upon arrival. An autopsy to determine cause of death is pending. Jackson County Coroner Vicki Broadus was also called to the scene. It is unclear who made the 911 or his relation to the child, Hill said. Hill said investigators will not release any additional information until they have finished questioning people and determined whether charges are in order. By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka Atul Keshap will conclude his three-year term in Colombo this August. He will be succeeded by Alaina B. Teplitz, the current US Ambassador to Nepal. Both Keshap and Teplitz were appointed envoys to Sri Lanka and Nepal respectively by former US President Barack Obama in March 2015. Both, however, are US Foreign Service career Officials and not political appointees of President Obama. Ambassador Keshap is currently winding up his duties in Sri Lanka gradually and bidding Gihila Ennang/Poaittu Vaaraen. He has been making a number of courtesy calls to prominent Sri Lankan leaders and dignitaries to bid au revoir. The newspaper speculated that Mahinda Rajapaksa would have been dazed as the US envoys pronouncements meant Gotabhaya Rajapaksa could not revoke US citizenship and contest the presidential election in the near future Very few of these farewell meetings - seen as a routine matter - were publicised in the Sri Lankan media. One such meeting however received wide publicity last week. This was when Atul Keshap paid a courtesy call on former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at his Wijerama Mawatha residence on Sunday, June 10th. The main reason for this was a newspaper report stating that the proposed Presidential candidacy of ex-Defence Secretary and Mahindas sibling Gotabhaya Rajapaksa figured prominently at the one to one talks. Interestingly enough the story about the Mahinda-Atul meeting was not broken by any newspaper published in Colombo. It was the Jaffna based Tamil Daily Kaalaikkathir (Morning Ray) of June 12th, 2018 which scooped the story. The Kaalaikkathir in an exclusive report by a Special Political Correspondent published as the lead story revealed details of the meeting between Rajapaksa and Keshap. The newspaper cited Miha miha nambikkaiyaana vattaarangal (Very, very trustworthy circles) as the source of the news story. The newspaper, which commenced publication two years ago, is edited by Senior Tamil Journalist Nadesapillai Vithyatharan, who earlier edited the Tamil newspapers Uthayan and Sudar Oli. Vithyatharan is also the brother in law of TNA Jaffna District Parliamentarian E. Saravanabavaan, who owns the Uthayan and Sudar Oli newspapers. There is little love lost between the brothers-in-law nowadays. The Kaalaikkathir has made a name for itself within a relatively short span of time. Although prone to a certain degree of sensationalism (Somewhat understandable in a competitive climate) the paper has published some very good news stories in the past. Some of these have been about the Ruhunu Rajapaksas. The tone and tenor of these news items could result in the discerning reader concluding that the newspaper has some good contacts within the Rajapaksa clan. Editor Vithyatharan is believed to be one of the few Tamil journalists, who interact closely with Mahinda Rajapaksa, Namal Rajapaksa and possibly Basil Rajapaksa. Mahinda Rajapaksa - Atul Keshap Meeting According to details disclosed by the Jaffna daily the meeting between Mahinda Rajapaksa and Atul Keshap was held on Sunday, June 10th at the ex-presidents residence. The talks were conducted in a cordial atmosphere and dealt with a number of relevant matters. Among these, the most significant issue was about the possible Presidential candidacy of ex-Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. Kaalaikkathir, quoting very reliable sources said that the US envoy had in clear, unambiguous and definite terms told Mahinda Rajapaksa directly that the Western Nations, including the USA, would not favourably regard Mr Gotabhaya Rajapaksa being nominated as a Presidential candidate. Ambassador Keshap had bluntly told Mahinda Rajapaksa that the US and West would not be in favour of a person like Gotabhaya Rajapaksa becoming Sri Lankas leader and wont welcome his contesting the presidency The newspaper went on to say that Atul Keshap had reportedly stated the international community was looking forward to a person with political maturity and experience, which could interact effectively within the sphere of democratic politics to be the leader of the country. The US envoy had emphasised that crushing terrorism with an iron hand during times of conflict and engaging in governance within a functioning political democracy were two different things. Ambassador Keshap had bluntly told Mahinda Rajapaksa that the US and West would not be in favour of a person like Gotabhaya Rajapaksa becoming Sri Lankas leader and wont welcome his contesting the presidency. The Kaalaikkathir also stated that Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was required to renounce his US citizenship to be a Presidential candidate because a dual citizen was constitutionally debarred from contesting the Sri Lankan Presidency. However, the newspaper said that current US laws would not permit Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to renounce US citizenship at this juncture. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa needed to clear himself of allegations against him before the US would allow him to renounce US citizenship formally. It is only after he is cleared fully that the US would let him renounce citizenship and be eligible to contest Parliamentary or Presidential elections reported the newspaper. Kaalaikkathir did not say what Mahinda Rajapaksas response to the US ambassador was. However, the newspaper speculated that Mahinda Rajapaksa would have been dazed as the US envoys pronouncements meant Gotabhaya Rajapaksa could not revoke US citizenship and contest the presidential election in the near future. Nineteenth Constitutional Amendment As is well-known that the 19th Constitutional amendment forbids a dual citizen from contesting Parliamentary or Presidential elections. It is widely believed that the provision was a pre-emptive move to prevent Gotabaya Rajapaksa from seeking electoral office. The Nineteenth Constitutional Amendment has reversed the Eighteenth Amendment and blocked Mahinda Rajapaksa from contesting for the Presidency again. If the envisaged new Constitution materialises and the Executive Presidency is abolished and the Prime Ministerial office is further empowered, then Mahinda Rajapaksa can or may seek Prime Ministerial office. If however, the diluted Executive Presidency continued to remain then an alternative to Mahinda has to be found. Many think the alternative is Gotabaya. In recent times the Gotabaya fan club has been working overtime promoting the retired Army Colonel as the prospective presidential candidate. As of now, Gotabaya Rajapaksa is a dual citizen, holding US citizenship. His only son is well-settled in the US. If Gota is to contest the Presidential or Parliamentary poll in the future, he would have to give up his US citizenship. In spite of critically denouncing the US at times, Gotabaya has not shown any inclination to renounce his US citizenship so far. A few years ago, when Gota addressed the Foreign Correspondents Association in Colombo the ex-Defence Secretary was non-committal about renouncing US citizenship and entering active politics. Mahinda too has not been too enthusiastic about Gota contesting polls to date. Of late, however, Gota has demonstrated a clear interest in contesting. Two organizations namely Eliya and Viyath Maga are actively endorsing his Presidential bid. In addition, there are groups of retired Defence Service personnel engaging in organizing efforts to promote his candidacy. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa needed to clear himself of allegations against him before the US would allow him to renounce US citizenship formally Gota outlined an economic vision for Sri Lanka recently. He has also been attending Ifthar ceremonies with the intention of establishing amicable relations with the Muslim voters. He has also indicated that he would renounce US citizenship to contest polls at the appropriate time. Since Ex-Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is both a citizen of Sri Lanka and the USA, he has said that he would renounce his US citizenship, if selected as a Presidential Candidate. Although an orchestrated campaign was launched in support of Gotabhaya Rajapaksas Presidential Candidacy, no definite decision about Gotas candidacy has been taken by the Opposition party groups, supportive of Mahinda Rajapaksa so far. Common Joint Opposition Candidate The ex-President himself is yet to give the green light explicitly for his sibling to contest. One of the reasons attributed this was perceived opposition within sections of the Rajapaksa family circle to Gota being the Presidential candidate. In recent times there have been media reports that the Rajapaksa clan had arrived at a united decision and that the common Joint Opposition candidate at the next Presidential poll would be Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. It is against this backdrop that outgoing US envoy Atul Keshap reportedly dropped a political bombshell, which may possibly destroy Gotabhaya Rajapaksas hopes of being the 7th President of Sri Lanka. Even before the Mahinda-Atul meeting, the Sri Lankan political grapevine has been buzzing with the news that the USA would not allow Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to contest the next Presidential poll in Sri Lanka. Since Gota needs to have his US citizenship revoked to be eligible to contest the Presidential poll, the rumour mills have been working overtime that the US would not permit that. It is being said that the US would block or delay matters if and when Gotabhaya Rajapaksa tried to renounce US citizenship. I myself have heard this viewpoint from multiple sources reflecting different shades of political opinion like the UNP, SLFP, TNA, SLMC, TPA, SLPP and the Joint Opposition. The Gota Kalliya or Group Supporting Gotabhaya Rajapaksas Presidential candidacy have succeeded in propagating the impression that the success of the Gota juggernaut at the next Presidential Poll was inevitable. This has made the people in rival political camps quite jittery. More importantly, the thinking sections among the people, who are aware of the dangers in a return or revival of an emasculated democracy that existed under the Rajapaksa regime, are extremely concerned about an electoral triumph of Gota. The only silver lining they perceive in a dark cloud is the anticipated US role in thwarting Gotas presidential ambition. Even the left-leaning progressives who have been traditionally critical of US imperialism see Uncle Sams intervention as the sole impediment to Gotas political journey. Sunanda Deshapriyas Gotabhaya Perahera A striking illustration of this growing mindset was provided by well-known journalist and media rights activist Sunanda Deshapriya. The former editor of Yukthiya now writes a weekly column in the Sinhala journal Ravaya. Sunanda wrote a column on June 3rd titled Gotabhaya Perahera. An English translation of relevant paragraphs at the tail -end of the article is reproduced here- The decision of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) to oppose 20th Amendment proposed by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) indicates that Gotabhayas Presidential aim has begun to be its political focus. As it seems for now, whether Mahinda Rajapaksa likes it or not, Gotabhaya will be the presidential candidate of the Pohottu party. The main factor, which can stop this probability, is in the hands of USA. If American State machinery takes steps to delay Gotabhayas request to rescind his American citizenship, Gotas Presidential dream will be shattered. In this sense, the power to raise or close the curtain of Gotabhaya perahera (procession/parade) is in the hands of American imperialism. What an irony, that the destiny of Gotabhaya, who is aspiring to be the warmongering, nationalist and populist dictator of Sri Lanka, now rests in the hands of Western politics, which is the main political enemy of populist Rajapaksa politics! Udaya Gammanpilas Press Conference Conscious perhaps of this growing expectation among sections of the people that he would not be able to renounce US citizenship and be eligible to contest the Presidential poll, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa felt the need to set the record straight on this issue. He had to convey to the nation at large that renouncing his US citizenship was not an issue and that doing so was a very simple procedure without any hassle. Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader and Colombo district MP Udaya Gammanpila was asked to clarify that US citizenship was not a barrier for Gota to contest the Presidential poll. Udaya Gammanpila conducted a press briefing at 2.30 p.m. on Monday, June 11th, 2018, during which he said that Mr Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had requested him to explain the true legal position and the procedure in respect of renunciation of the US citizenship. Interestingly the press briefing took place just one day after the Mahinda Rajapaksa -Atul Keshap meeting. A communique outlining the legal position on a US citizen renouncing his citizenship status was issued at Gammanpilas media briefing. It is reproduced in full here - After the 19th Amendment, dual citizens are barred from contesting Presidential Election. Hence, the Government being suffered from Gota-phobia spread rumours that US Government has rejected Gotas application for the renunciation of US citizenship. Some say the US Government would sit on the application until the conclusion of the Presidential Election and renunciation of the citizenship would be accepted soon after the election. He will then lose both citizenship and the candidacy. In the backdrop of these rumours, Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa requested me to explain the true legal position and the procedure in respect of renunciation of the US citizenship. Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 is the governing law in respect of renunciation of citizenship. According to Section 349(a)(5) of the Act, any citizen who wishes to relinquish the citizenship can do so without any restriction. However, two restrictions have been introduced by case law. Firstly, if the citizen lodges the application, being in the USA, it will definitely be rejected. Secondly, if the applicant does not have any other citizenship, his application may be rejected. In this backdrop, the first step towards renouncing US citizenship is obtaining citizenship in another country. The second step is collecting requirements mentioned in form DS4079 to DS4083. Thirdly, the applicant should make the renunciation appointment with the US embassy. As it seems for now, whether Mahinda Rajapaksa likes it or not, Gotabhaya will be the presidential candidate of the Pohottu party. Certificate of Loss of Nationality As the fourth step, you should attend the appointment with two persons to witness your signature. After briefing you about the consequences of renunciation of the citizenship, the documents will be executed. Thereafter, you will be issued with DS4083, Certificate of Loss of Nationality. It is like an insurance cover note or temporary driving licence. It will be later replaced with a certificate issued by the Department of State. It is so simple and so quick. Therefore, with great responsibility, I am telling you that, US Citizenship would not be a bar in any manner for Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa to contest the forthcoming Presidential Election. TO BE CONTINUED D.B.S.Jeyaraj can be reached at dbsjeyaraj@yahoo.com NEW DELHI (AP/Daily Mail) 14 June 2018 -India said Thursday it was dismayed by the 19-month prison sentence given to a former leader of the Maldives for failing to cooperate with a police investigation. A Maldives court sentenced Maumoon Abdul Gayoom to one year, seven months and six days in prison on Wednesday for failing to hand over his mobile phone to investigators. Two Supreme Court judges arrested with Gayoom were given the same sentences. Indias foreign ministry said in a statement that New Delhi learned of the sentences with deep dismay. The three men were sentenced to long prison terms without fair trial, it said. This casts doubt on the commitment of the government of the Maldives to uphold the rule of law and will also call into question the credibility of presidential elections later this year. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who ruled the Indian Ocean archipelago state for three decades, is the second ex-president jailed under President Yameen Abdul Gayoom. He was arrested in February on charges of attempting to overthrow Yameen, his half brother. President Ram Nath Kovind has rejected the Tamil Nadu governments request to release the seven prisoners convicted for the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on May 21, 1991, The Hindu reported today. Mr. Kovind conveyed to the government that the Centre does not concur with its view to release the prisoners. The President is bound by the advice of his Council of Ministers in such matters. In the last four years, the State government has written twice to the Home Ministry to pardon the convicts and release them on humanitarian grounds. The President has rejected the Tamil Nadu governments plea to free the prisoners on the advice of the Home Ministry. This has been conveyed to the State. The assassins of the former Prime Minister of India cannot walk free under any circumstances, a top official told the Hindu. Earlier, following the Supreme Courts directions, the Ministry of Home Affairs sought details on eight grounds from the State to facilitate further its request to release the convicts. It asked the State to furnish details such as the physical and mental status of the convicts, their economic and social background and the previous cases registered against them. The convicts are V. Sriharan alias Murugan, A.G. Perarivalan, T. Suthendraraja alias Santhan, Jayakumar, Robert Payas, Ravichandran and Nalini. The government has taken a decision to bear the medical expenses of Kiriwehera Chief Incumbent Ven. Kobawaka Damminda Thera, who is receiving treatment at a private hospital after being shot by gunmen on Tuesday (12), Minister of Buddha Sasana Gamini Jayawickrama Perera said yesterday. Minister Perera said the government would bear the cost of airlifting Venerable Damminda Thera to a private hospital in Colombo from the Hambantota Base Hospital for further medical treatment. It was reported that around Rs. 750, 000 had been spent to airlift the thera. Damminda Thera and another monk were injured when three gunmen opened fire at The Kiriwehera Temple premises on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, Police investigations revealed that the former Kapu Mahaththaya of the Mahasen Devalaya (Kiriwehera) Asela Lakshman Bandara was the main suspect in the shooting. Police said eight police teams were investigating the incident under the direction of the Tangalle Division SP Laksiri Geethal. (Kalathma Jayawardhane) A Sri Lankan travel agent had been arrested in Mumbai on Wednesday for allegedly trying to fly to Sri Lanka with three Bhutanese women, the Times of India reported today. The women had told cops that the accused had promised them high paying jobs in a mens spa in Iraq. Cops suspect he may have intended to force the women into the sex trade. Sahar police caught Mohiuddin Fayaz (41) from the international airport after immigration officials got suspicious and checked his papers to find that he was trafficking the women using fake Indian passports. The victims had paid Rs 6,000 each for the supposed jobs. Mumbai cops have provided for their food and accommodation and informed the Bhutan embassy in India so that the women can fly back to their homes. Fayaz confessed to having arranged passports and visas for the women after getting in touch with a female agent from Bhutan. The woman agent introduced him to the three women in Delhi. She told them that they would be paid well for working in a mens spa. They were also promised payment for the first six months of their training period, said a Sahar police station officer. Cops are investigating how many women have been similarly trafficked by the accused in the past. The accused got the women to Mumbai and was to fly to Sri Lanka en route to Iraq. Put America FirstTrump blindsided them with talk of dismantling free trade The Very blue-collar workers who tipped the scales in Donald Trumps victory Many now worrying Trump will win re-election in three years time Politics is a fickle beast. Barack Obama won more votes among blue-collar workers than did his opponent, Senator John McCain. But it was those very blue-collar workers who tipped the scales in Donald Trumps victory. They werent racists or they wouldnt have voted for Obama in the first place. But in voting for Trump they voted against their economic interest. Trump hasnt and wont help the health of the poorer, nor improve income inequality, nor in the long run give them jobs that now have migrated to China, India and Europe. What he did give these voters was a sense of pride in being American, as Obama did, but Hilary Clinton couldnt. Put America First, he shouted again and again. Trump blindsided them with talk of dismantling free trade. Even though events and the long run would show he has shot America in the foot, it sounded convincing. Obama would have won a third term if allowed to run. He had more appeal across the electorate than Trump. It was Mrs Clinton who lost it. Obama was the most successful liberal, Democratic, President since Franklin Roosevelt who ushered in the New Deal, a campaign to save the poorest from the Great Depression. Some would say since Lyndon Johnson with his great civil rights and poverty reforms, but he cant be called liberal after the carnage he inflicted on Southeast Asia. Bill Clinton was a centrist cum conservative and he re-organised welfare so that the poor were badly hit- a policy he now says he regrets. Jimmy Carter was more successful than his many critics allow, but still, his great achievements were in foreign, not domestic policy. Many observers are now worrying that Trump will win re-election in three years time. But remember 2006 when a book, One Party Country was published. It was about how George W. Bush and Karl Rove, were on the cusp of building a permanent Republican Majority that would rule politics till the end of time. So writes Dan Pfeiffer, Obamas communications director, in his fascinating new book; Yes, We (Still) Can. He writes that soon after the Bush book was published the Democrats took back the House and the Senate in a landslide. Two years after that Obama won a huge electoral victory, capturing states that no Democrat had won in decades. The Pfeiffer book is a testament to a great leader. But it is more than that. Pfeiffer, like his ex-boss, believes that there are reasons to believe hope is right around the corner- what Obama would call The Audacity Of Hope. Theres no need to believe the Republican rhetoric about Trump being a leader who can keep them in a permanent majority. Pfeiffer reminds us of a speech Obama made at the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther Kings March on Washington. Obama spoke from the very spot where King had made his I have a Dream speech. In a masterful sermon Obama slightly re-wrote King: The arc of the universe may bend towards justice, but it doesnt bend on its own. If the next Democratic candidate can learn from Obamas experience he or she will win the Presidency. Above all, it means inspiring young people to vote and persuading the blue-collar workers who defected to Trump to return to the Democratic fold. And, it means, as Pfeiffer explains so well, mastering the media at a time when Fox News dominates an extremely large audience, not as a traditional bipartisan TV channel but as a 100% propagandistic supporter of the Republican philosophy. And it means realizing that the media world is in the midst of a massive, rapid, disruptive transformation that is re-writing all the rules of politics and presidential communications. A major part of the media- apart from Fox, the New York Times and Washington Post- is floundering because of the effects of the 2008 financial crisis, which had the effect of drastically lowering the advertising that was necessary if the media was to be adequately funded. The internet and the smartphone have taken over. One more book, more cerebral, has also recently been published called, The Presidency of Barak Obama. Its a series of essays some supportive, some critical. But the overall conclusion is of a great success. Obama obtained support for the Affordable Care Act (which Trump hasnt been able to tear up), the Dodd-Frank financial regulation, an economic stimulus bill that pulled the nation out of a very deep recession, and a burst of domestic legislation, unlike the nation, had seen in years. The cumulative effect was to make great progress in diminishing inequality. Obama was a light. Trump is of the night. Much of what you need to know for the future is in these two books, in particular where the light switch is. Copyright: Jonathan Power. By Nick Wadhams, Jihye Lee (c) 2018, Bloomberg Jun 14, 2018 5:58 PM-U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo emphasized that Kim Jong Un wouldnt receive sanctions relief until after his complete disarmament, pushing back against North Korean suggestions that penalties would soon start being relaxed. Sharing a podium in Seoul, with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts, Pompeo was asked Thursday about North Korean claims that U.S. President Donald Trump had committed to a step-by-step process and expressed his intention to lift sanctions. Those assertions appear to contradict Trumps pledge to keep penalties in place until Kims nuclear weapons are no longer a factor. Chairman Kim Jong Un understands the urgency of the timing of completing this denuclearization, and understands we must do this quickly, Pompeo told reporters. And the sanctions relief cannot take place until such time as we have demonstrated that North Korea has been completely denuclearized. Pompeo was briefing North Asian leaders on Trumps first-of-its-kind summit with Kim on Tuesday, meeting, before heading to Beijing to talk with Chinas Xi Jinping. Both Moon and Xi have advocated a phased approach to negotiations and moved to quickly repair ties with North Korea, while Japan wants the U.S.-led maximum pressure campaign to continue. Trump has come under increasing criticism because the 1 1/2-page statement that he and Kim signed Tuesday in Singapore spelled out no specific North Korean commitments besides working toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula . The UN Human Rights Chief on Thursday called for a major investigation into abuses in Kashmir, as his office released its first-ever report on violations committed by both India and Pakistan in the disputed territory. Zeid Raad Al Hussein said he would urge the Human Rights Council, which opens a new session next week, to consider establishing a Commission of Inquiry (COI) to conduct a comprehensive independent international investigation into allegations of human rights violations in Kashmir. A COI is one of the UNs highest-level probes, generally reserved for major crises like the Syrian conflict. The UN report, which is particularly critical of India, highlights chronic impunity for violations committed by security forces. Indias foreign ministry rejected the report, blasting it as fallacious and tendentious. However Islamabad welcomed Zeids request for a probe, saying in a statement that it was consistent with Pakistans several calls to this effect since 2016. The findings, described as the first-of-its-kind for Kashmir, come after months of deadly clashes along the border that divides Kashmir into zones of Indian and Pakistani control. The findings accused Indian troops of being responsible for some 145 unlawful killings, far surpassing the 20 people estimated to have been killed by militant groups during that period. (Daily Mail), 14 June The US Justice Departments inspector general said Thursday former FBI director James Comeys actions prior to the 2016 presidential election violated norms of the department but were not motivated by political bias. The inspector generals report is the first non-partisan look into the events just prior to the election that sent Donald Trump to the White House, including Comeys announcement that federal investigators were reopening a probe into Hillary Clintons email. Some Democrats believe that move cost Clinton the election even though a few days later Comey announced there was nothing criminal in her use of a private email server while she served as secretary of state. The norms referred to in the report include the departments practices of declining to comment regarding ongoing criminal investigative activity and avoiding actions that could impact an imminent election. The report says Comeys actions prior to the election departed from those guidelines. In particular it says Comey was insubordinate when he failed to inform his boss, the attorney general, about his decision to publicly announce in July 2016 he was recommending no charges against Clinton. But the report said the inspector general found no evidence that the conclusions of Comey and other prosecutors were affected by bias. While we did not find that these decisions were the result of political bias on Comeys part, we nevertheless concluded that by departing so clearly and dramatically from FBI and Department norms, the decisions negatively impacted the perception of the FBI and the department as fair administrators of justice, the report said. While the report dealt a black eye to the agency for injecting itself into presidential politics, FBI Director Christopher Wray said nothing in it impugns the integrity of the FBI. Washington (dpa), Jun 15 2018 ST. MARTIN, Mississippi -- Former 3 Doors Down bassist Todd Harrell is in jail again -- this time facing drug, firearms and domestic violence charges. Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell said deputies responded to Harrell's residence in the St. Martin community north of Ocean Springs after an alarm went off. When they arrived, Harrell's wife told the deputies she and Harrell had gotten into an argument that became physical in nature. The deputies on the scene spotted guns and drugs and notified the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team, which obtained a search warrant for Harrell's home. Robert Todd Harrell, 46, is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of a controlled substance; and domestic violence/simple assault. The firearm charge is a felony; the other two misdemeanors. He is also wanted in Tennessee on a probation violation. He is currently in the Jackson County Adult Detention Center, being held without bond pending an initial court appearance. The task force is continuing the investigation, Ezell said. Harrell was an original member of 3 Doors Down, which formed in 1996 in the Escatawpa community north of Moss Point. In 2013, however, Harrell was charged with vehicular manslaughter after a crash in Tennessee which killed the driver of the other vehicle. Harrell was found to have alprazolam and oxycodone in his system at the time of the crash. While awaiting trial on that charge, Harrell was arrested again on a DUI charge for driving under the influence of drugs -- a charge which led to his firing from 3 Doors Down. Ultimately, Harrell was sentenced in 2015 to two years in a Tennessee state prison, followed by six years of probation. His sentence began Dec. 28, 2015 and, with credit for good behavior, he served roughly a year, according to multiple Tennessee media reports. As part of his post-release probation, Harrell was ordered speak to students at least six times a year on the dangers of drug use. Every year on January first, the moment I wake up I head to the window to see what my first bird of the New Year will be. My hope is us... U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos praised efforts in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands to help students tailor their educations to their individual needs. Both of these countries have continued to forge ahead with reforms and changes that are actually meeting students needs today, DeVos told reporters in a Friday conference call that capped off a ten-day trip to study school choice and career education in three European countries. Her tour also included stops in Switzerland. Both the United Kingdom and the Netherlands have more centralized education systems than ours. And both countries allow public funding to go to faith-based schools. Thats something states could replicate here, even though the federal government cant, DeVos said. School choice is open to every type of school in the U.K. and the Netherlands, DeVos said. The corollary here in the U.S. is that states are free to, and many have begun a process in this direction, to allow families to choose from a wide-range of schools including private faith-based schools. That I think can and should continue to be a progression for states that think its the right thing for them. I think the experience of both these countries has demonstrated that all of these schools can freely co-exist with one another, she added. In England, religious schools are also subject to the same regulations as their secular counterparts, said Paul Peterson, the director of the Program on Education Policy and Governance at Harvard University. Whats more, in the last 15 years, England has adopted a policy similar to open enrollment in the U.S. where students can attend a school outside of their neighborhood, Peterson said. DeVos also gave a shout-out to the countrys academies that began in the past decade and are similar to charter schoos. School choice was also a focus of DeVos second stop on the ten-day tour, the Netherlands. That country has four sectors of schools: Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, and secular. Students can choose to attend any school, they dont have to stick with their religious tradition, Peterson explained. Basically what you have in both the Netherlands and in Britain are regulated choice systems in which the students have full support and the schools are fully funded and thats different from what we have in the United States, Peterson said. We try to do choice on the cheap in the United States. But he added that it wouldnt be easy to adopt the Dutch or British systems in the U.S. England, for instance, doesnt have a written constitution like ours, with an amendment that calls for the separation of church and state. Instead, the U.K.'s constitution is considered informal, Peterson said. The choice [system here] here is being treated around the first amendment, Peterson said. How much of it we can apply in our constitutional system is another matter. It cant be one for one, the same system. Its going to have to be modified. In England, DeVos visited several schools, including the Grey Coat Hospital, a school for girls run by the Church of England, that describes its mission as to enable students to take charge of their learning, make decisions based on Christian values, live in the world as independent women and men and meet the challenges of the twenty-first century, according to its website . She also visited Pimlico Primary, a charity-sponsored school, started by John Nash, the former Under Secretary of State for Schools and a member of the conservative party. And she met with Lord Theodore Agnew, parliamentary undersecretary of state for the school system, as well as meet with Minister of State for School Standards Nick Gibb. While in the Netherlands, DeVos swung by a career and vocational education school and met with U.S. teachers who are in the Netherlands as part of the Fulbright program. She participated in a roundtable with students at IMC Weekend, a school that helps low-income students explore potential careers. And she met with her Dutch counterpart, Ingrid van Engleshoven, the minister of education, culture, and science. Broadening choice for students in the U.K., the Netherlands, and other countries hasnt hurt student achievement, said Peterson. But he added that the evidence that is has been helpful is just beginning to be accumulated. Peterson pointed to a 2009 study by his Harvard colleague Marty West and Luger Woessmann, a professor at the University of Munich, showing that greater choice can have a positive impact on students attending public school. DeVos European trip also included stops in Switzerland, where she explored career-and-technical education. Her big takeaway: The U.S. should copy aspects of the Swiss system , which allows students to prepare on the job for careers in health care, finance, and law, as opposed to just more technical careers, such as welders and carpenters. About two-thirds of students in Switzerland participate in an apprenticeship at some point in their education, according to DeVos. Photo: Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) Cant get enough of Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos? Check out some of our best coverage: Female teachers, principals, and superintendents in Pennsylvania earn significantly less money than their male counterparts, a new study shows. Gender pay gaps have also been found among educators in Illinois as well as nationally . For teachers and school leaders, the evidence tells a troubling story, said James Sadler, a doctoral student in the school of education at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, who co-wrote the study with fellow doctoral student James Carter III. Women are earning less than their male counterparts even though salary schedules are largely determined by education-level and experience, which we accounted for in the study. The study looked at the salaries of 124,000 district employeesteachers, principals, assistant principals, superintendents, assistant superintendents, and charter school CEOsof Pennsylvania public schools. The data come from the 2016-17 Professional Personal Individual Staff Report issued by the Pennsylvania education department, which lists information including salary, years on the job, and highest degree attained for everyone who works in the district. Wage Gap Findings The researchers found that female educators (including teachers on up to superintendents and CEOs) in Pennsylvania earn $4,395 less on average than male educators when only accounting for gender differences. After accounting for education level, experience, school district, and job title, female teachers earn $505 less than men, and women principals earn $2,206 less. Women superintendents earn $4,014 less than men in the same roles after accounting for education level and experience. The smallest gap, the $505 difference between what male and female teachers with similar education and experience make, is still remarkable, Carter stressed. It adds up over time, he said in an interview. Not only that, its around the same amount of money teachers shell out of their own pockets each year for school supplies. (The average teacher spends $479 of her own money each year on classroom supplies , according to federal data.) When researchers zeroed in on individual districts, they found a good deal of variation. Some districts like Pittsburgh have large gender wage gaps. Female Pittsburgh teachers earn $1,626 less than men, even after accounting for education, experience, and job title. Other districts, like Philadelphia for instance, have no evidence of significant gaps. These findings lead researchers to believe that district policy, official or otherwise, may be contributing to the salary differences between male and female educators, according to Sadler. (More on this later.) For Pittsburgh teachers, the gender pay gap largely disappears only at the highest step on the salary scheduleor among teachers with more than 10 years of experience. Still, officials at the Pennsylvania State Education Association are heartened by the Pittsburgh finding, saying that it confirms statewide analyses, which find no gender pay differences after about 17 years. At that point, most female teachers have reached the top of the scale and are paid the same amount as their male counterparts, Wythe Keever, the assistant communications director at the Pennsylvania State Education Association, told Education Week. The new study shows that the teacher salary schedule is actually working, according to Keever. While the study does attempt to document gender pay gaps in Pennsylvania public schools, that gender gap is still substantially lower than pay gaps found in many other occupations, he said. This shows the strength of the single-salary schedule in reducing gender pay differences. Negotiations a Culprit? The researchers cant say exactly why the gender wage gap exists based on their data set, but they do pose a hypothesis that merits further study. The salary differences could come down to salary negotiations. Superintendent salaries, for instance, are largely negotiated with school boards while teachers and principals with prior work experience may be able to negotiate which step on the salary schedule they start on, depending on district policies. Early in the study, Sadler and Carter thought pay for performance programs, such as the one used in Pittsburgh from July 2010 to August 2017, might be playing a part in the gender wage gap, but eventually determined the merit strategy didnt have any significant impact. Future researchers might look at staffing and salary schedule placement in high-needs subject areas like math and science, Keever suggested. One question he said researchers might ask: Do school districts hire more men for math and science teaching positions and place them higher on the salary schedule to solve their shortage problems? Sadler and Carter account for staffing by subject areas like math and science, but their study does not directly analyze whether men are hired more in math and science positions and, if so, if these men are paid more than the average female teacher. But gender gaps still remain even after accounting for placement on the salary schedule based on job assignment. Sadlers conclusion: We know job assignment plays some role in the salary gap based on our models, but it certainly doesnt explain all or even most of it. See also: Posted Thursday, June 14, 2018 9:00 pm Aldrich United Methodist Church will host its monthly dinner from 5 to 6:15 p.m. Saturday, June 16. Menu will include fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, baked beans, vegetables, salads, homemade rolls, pies and cakes. Cost is $8 for adults, $7 for teens, $6 for tweens and free for 6 and under. For more information, call Shirley at 770-2169. 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. Subscriber content preview Higher wages are now concentrated at exceptionally profitable tech darlings, while workers at many less profitable firms are being left behind. By JOSH BOAK AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON Halfway through a news conference Wednesday, the head of the world's most powerful central bank was asked a question weighing on the minds and the checking accounts of Americans everywhere: When will people finally start getting meaningful pay raises? . . . Subscriber content preview The roving Treasure Trucks create buzz, test new products and build loyalty by connecting with shoppers in person. By JOSEPH PISANI AP Retail Writer NEW YORK Donna Brunswick drove to a Costco last month to pick up 2 pounds of raw flank steak not at the wholesale club, but from a truck in the parking lot. Typically you wouldn't buy meat off a random truck, says Brunswick, a technical manager in Atlanta. . . . Subscriber content preview Deepening Seattle Harbor's East and West waterways to handle modern container ships is expected to cost $60 million and involve removing more than 750,000 cubic yards of muck. Details about the Seattle Harbor Navigation Improvement Project were sent in an email by Dan Johnson, supervisory program manager with the Army Corps of Engineers. . . . Subscriber content preview By FRANKLIN BRICENO Associated Press NUEVO EGIPTO, Peru Sitting on a mattress strewn across the floor with white sheets, Pamela Moronci closes her eyes while a traditional healer starts to chant in the indigenous Shipibo language. In a straw hut, engulfed by the nighttime cacophony of the Amazon rainforest, a shaman inhales a potent tobacco from a pipe and blows smoke on Moronci's head to cleanse her, before she takes her place in a sacred ayahuasca ceremony. He offers the Italian woman a plastic cup with three ounces of a bitter, muddy brew made of psychedelic vines. Moronci drinks it, coughs and smiles despite its unpleasant taste. . . . 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Posted Friday, June 15, 2018 4:30 pm The Missouri Ozarks is an amazing place with all its magnificent geologic formations. One of the most spectacular of those formations is not so well known except by the MOzarkians who live near by. It has never been made into a park or a tourist attraction. It has been called by a number of names: The James River Natural Arch, The Hootentown Natural Arch and The Inman Natural Arch. The first of those is probably most appropriate because it is a natural arch and it is on a bluff along the James River. The second one is perhaps the most popular in the area around the arch. The reason is that it is close to where the village of Hootentown (which should actually be Hootontown, since it was named after a man named half-cousins Benjamin W. Hooton and William Carver Hooton who started the village) once stood. There is still a Hootentown Bridge across the James River near the natural arch. A bridge was first installed there after the famous Y Bridge was built at Galena in 1926-27. The old iron truss bridge that wagons and buggies had used to cross the James there was dismantled. It had three spans, but one of them had been damaged in a flood. The remaining two were moved to Hootentown to once again span the James. After many decades of use, the old truss bridge was replaced by a new concrete bridge several years ago. While close to the remnants of the village of Hootentown, the arch sits about 20 miles south of Springfield, six miles west of Highlandville and eight miles east and slightly south of Hurley. The formations third name comes from the Inman Farm (again, this name was actually spelled with an o) that lay across the river from the arch. John Inmon settled there in the 1840s, died there in 1913 and was buried on his farm. The arch was not on the property of Inmon, but across the river on land that for many years belonged to Aaron Flood. The arch itself is something to behold. It splits away from the top of a high bluff and is 80 feet from the base which is maybe halfway up from the river level to the top of the bluff to the top of the arch. From the base of the arch to the underside of the top is 60 feet. The top of the arch forms a long arcing crevice that is connected to the rest of the bluff at each end. The crevice formed by that fracture is 12 feet wide at its widest. The top of the arch is much narrower than its base. Two people can walk abreast on top of the arch, but that's pretty much it. But from that narrow top, a visitor can see the wide expanse of river valley below and the hills in the distance. Who were the first people to see this magnificent rock structure? Probably the Paleo-Indians, also known as the Bluff Dwellers, who likely came across the arch in their explorations of the bluffs along the many rivers in the Ozarks. They resided in the Ozarks some 12-14,000 years ago. Many thousands of years later, the Osage or the Kickapoo Indians may have stumbled across it. And in the early 1800s, when the Delawares were sent to live on a reservation here and their village was strung up and down the James River, they most likely saw the arch. Exactly when in the 1800s it was discovered by the European settlers who pioneered this region is, of course, unknown. Henry Rowe Schoolcraft was an early explorer of this region in December of 1818, which was two years before the Delaware Indians were moved here from Indiana, and over a decade before John Polk Campbell arrived at the future site of Springfield. Schoolcraft came through this area and found only two families living on the White River in what would soon be southern Missouri, both had settled there earlier that year. However, there were Osage Indians, and they told him of the big cave near the Finley River. Schoolcraft ventured there to see the cavern, which is near the present-day town of Ozark and is known as Smallin Cave. He did not, apparently, hear about the Natural Arch on the James River just down from where the Finley empties into the James, because he does not mention it in his journal of the trip. Although there are no trespassing signs there now, in the 1890s, the arch appeared to have been a common spot for residents to visit. Mary Scott Hair, of Hurley, wrote a story in the Fall 1963 issue of the White River Valley Historical Quarterly about a group of sightseers from Hurley who visited the arch on Easter Sunday (and their outing probably included a picnic) during that decade. The photo taken at the occasion reveals a group of Hurley residents at the base of the arch dressed in their Easter finery. How they managed the steep route down from the top (or up from the bottom, although it seems very unlikely they came by boat) dressed as they were is perplexing. The climb up from the river below is a difficult one over the mass of rocky debris that has fallen from above to create the natural arch through the millennia. Anyone making that scramble up the steep, rough incline while canoeing the James must be young and hardy. However, the adventuresome still do that today, despite the property being posted. If you would like to see videos of the Natural Arch, you can find a couple posted on YouTube. One is listed as Exploring the Hootentown Natural Arch on the James River in Missouri. Another is entitled Natural arch on the James River. Next week: With more visitors to the arch came human tragedies. Posted Friday, June 15, 2018 1:45 pm The Polk County Library will host its first Authors Festival from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 23, in the Bolivar branch community room. The free event will feature book signings from authors across Missouri and the chance for attendees to meet and talk with authors and buy their autographed books. Over 15 authors will be at the event, including Maggie Award Nominee Heather Snow, true crime Writer Synova Cantrell, Historical Fiction Silver Medal winner J.L. Rothdiener, Polk County authors Scott Bradley, David Estes, Harry Storch, Minda Cox and more. The library is at 1690 W. Broadway St., Bolivar. Theres the big buzz about the countrys free tuition law, and many parents are now waiting to get slots in state universities and college (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs) for the free tuition. Unfortunately, theres no guarantee that all the children who want a free education will be accepted. Some parents continue to wait for results of entrance exams for SUCs and LUCs, without securing an alternative school in case their kids are not accepted in the governments free education program. If you, or someone you know, is one of these parents in that situation then please consider the timing and opportunities involved. There are private schools that provide quality education, modern and high-tech facilitiesat a very affordable tuition. One such school that I found is STI. I used to think STI was just a computer school. But no. I learned that its a full-fledged network of private schools, universities, and colleges across the country. STI is long-known as a leader in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) education. However, today it is equally known for quality programs in Business Management, Engineering, Healthcare, and even Hospitality and Tourism Management. Merit in the name STI has rightly earned its reputation as a quality and more importantly, relevant educational institution. STI makes sure that its curriculum and programs make your child ready for the real worldskilled and competent in the kind of jobs employers are offering. Companies today know and expect that STI graduates are qualified, dependable, and trustworthy employees and professionals. Better jobs, better careers I was also glad to learn that STI has an Enrolment to Employment (E2E) Program. This means that STI graduates have an easier time finding jobs and starting their careers, thanks to agreements between STI and partner companies and agencies. STI is where dreams can take flight all backed by solid know-how and real-life opportunities. Sharing is caring ! Facebook Pinterest Twitter LinkedIn Telegram WhatsApp Skype Reddit Tumblr Print Email Back in January, LOLGOP and I had Rachael Denhollander on our podcast to talk about her experience as the woman who opened the floodgates that led to notorious serial rapist Larry Nassar being put behind bars for the rest of his life. Without her bravery and willingness to come forward when literally hundreds of his victims had been afraid or shamed into remaining silent or, more egregiously, were silenced by the adults tasked with protecting them at Michigan State University, Nassar may still be raping children today. When MSU President Lou Anna Simon resigned over what the university had done to their own students, the MSU Board of Trustees inexplicably chose corporatist and former Republican Governor of Michigan John Engler to take her place as interim president. Those of us who were old enough to have lived through Engler as governor know that everything he did was done to enrich his cronies in the corporate world. His actions led to the demise of schools in Michigan as they were defunded to pay for corporate tax breaks and he laid the groundwork for turning the birthplace of the modern labor movement into a so-called Right to Work state, kneecapping labor unions and ensuring that workers have an ever-diminishing voice as they bargain collectively for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. So, it came as little surprise to many of us to learn that Engler is now accusing Rachael Denhollander of profiting from her ordeal at the hands of this countrys most notorious rapist, Larry Nassar: Michigan State interim President John Engler, in a private email to a top adviser, accused a prominent survivor of former MSU doctor Larry Nassar Rachael Denhollander of likely getting kickbacks from the trial attorneys involved in lawsuits against the school. [] The email chain started with Nassar victim Kaylee Lorincz accusing Engler during a board meeting of offering her $250,000 in a private meeting to settle her lawsuit against the university. That weekend, [Englers top aide Carol] Viventi emailed board members, saying she wanted to set the record straight. She claimed Lorinczs statements were totally inaccurate and the meeting was set up by Lorincz in order to set up the school. She then went on to say the trial lawyers were manipulating the survivors. That seemed to strike a chord with Engler. Thank you for your strong defense, Engler wrote in a 9:23 a.m. April 15 email. It is deeply appreciated. At least we know what really happened. The survivors now are being manipulated by trial lawyers who in the end will each get millions of dollars more than any of (sic) individual survivors with the exception of Denhollander who is likely to get (sic) kickback from [Denhollanders attorney John] Manley (sic) for her role in the trial lawyer manipulation. Denhollanders response was swift and brutal, reminding us all that John Engler views everything in the world around him through the lens of self-enrichment and money: Engler is so used to focusing on money and power, bullying and manipulating, he cant conceive that I would do what Ive done because its RIGHT, not because Im getting something from it. I truly pity him. What a sad way to live. Engler and Viventi truly think they are the ones who have tried to help survivors, without answering a single question weve asked or acknowledging the incredible failures at MSU. And while attacking us personally. This is the culture of abuse. Her husband Jacob was equally direct: Until the board of trustees at MSU confront and fire Engler for this sort of repulsive behavior, no reasonable person will believe that MSU is serious about providing a safe environment for its students and staff. There is no need to refute Englers comments they are self-evidently absurd and have not even a remote semblance of truth. [John Englers] ignorant and revolting comments reveal that the man is incapable of believing that someone could be motivated by something besides money or power. This sort of characterization is entirely at odds with Rachaels character and conduct over the past two years, but is entirely in keeping with Mr. Englers propensity to denigrate and bully those he regards as opponents. It is a perfect example of why victims remain silent even in the face of overwhelming evidence and hundreds of corroborating testimonies, they are subjected to scorn and character attacks. Engler has so far crossed a line this time that a bipartisan and growing coalition of lawmakers along with anyone else with a shred of compassion and integrity are calling for his removal: Interim Michigan State University President John Engler must step down immediately from his position leading the university, a growing number of lawmakers, including U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, said Thursday. The senator did not believe he was the right choice to lead MSU when he was appointed and doesnt believe he is the right choice now, Stabenow spokesman Matt Williams said. Stabenow is an MSU alumna. Also calling for Engler to step down were state Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, and state Sen. Margaret OBrien, R-Portage. [] Joining them was the Michigan Association for Justice, formerly the trial attorneys association. John Englers crass personal attack on Rachael Denhollander is detestable and a betrayal of all the survivors, and he should resign immediately, President Debra Freid said in a statement. We support Rachael and every survivor, each of whom was strong enough to come forward in the face of years of Nassars abuse while Michigan State University looked the other way. The Michigan Progressive Womens Caucus, headed up by state Reps. Stephanie Chang, Erika Geiss, Donna Lasinski, and Winnie Brinks, released their own strongly-worded statement: With his own words, interim President John Engler has made it clear that he is not capable of handling the sensitive and important work of rebuilding a campus and a community in the wake of a disturbing sexual assault scandal. He must resign. After everything these survivors suffered, the last thing they deserve is to be attacked by the very institution that failed them. If Engler will not resign of his own volition, it is time for the Michigan State University Board of Trustees to exercise its authority and remove him from a position he clearly is not capable of fulfilling. The bravery and inner strength it takes for a survivor to come forward to share what has happened to them cannot and should not be maligned. As a state, we should be focused on creating a culture where survivors feel believed and supported, not perpetuating one where their motives and experiences are questioned. Moving forward, the Michigan State University Board of Trustees must immediately put in place a leadership team that will be respectful and sensitive to the unique needs and experiences that survivors face when they speak out, as well as to the students on campus speaking out and calling for change. The Progressive Womens Caucus will continue pursuing our mission of lifting up the voices of women and girls throughout the state by advocating for policy changes to ensure college campuses have the resources and culture needed to protect survivors and prevent sexual assault altogether. This is an issue that affects far too many Michigan communities. All our universities, starting with MSU, need to step up and lead to combat sexual assault. John Engler should never have been appointed as the interim president of MSU to begin with. It is now time for him to be unceremoniously removed from this undeserved position and any MSU Trustee who supported him should resign or be replaced by voters with a credible leader when their term is over. 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The R-1 school board unanimously approved a new partnership, which helps better equip students who are interested in education, during its regular monthly meeting May 21. The agreement has three main components, an SBU news release said. The first component addresses the way teachers are usually hired. Because teaching positions usually only start around August, many students, especially those who graduate in December, are left having to wait until the next school year before they can start teaching full-time. To address this issue, Bolivar R-1 and SBU have agreed to offer a full-year teaching experience for qualified SBU education majors who are eligible to teach during the fall semester, the release said. The students will be placed in a classroom for the entire year but will also be available to substitute teach during the spring semester, the release said. They will have to substitute in courses or grade levels they are certified for, and they will also be given first right of refusal on at least eight full days of substituting per month, the release said. The new program will provide more experience and income to education majors during their post-graduation transition. Students who participate in this program will receive extra classroom experience before transitioning to a full-time classroom and also have some income until full-time teaching positions open up, said Dwight Haun, chair of SBUs department of education, in the release. The second component focuses on high school students at Bolivar R-1. According to the release, two new teacher education courses will be available for up to 12 Bolivar High School seniors to take through SBU for dual credit. The two courses, Foundations of Education and Educational Psychology, will allow high school students to get ahead on their required college courses if they choose a career in education. The students will be enrolled in the classes based on recommendations by teachers, school counselors or administrators, the release said. Students in the program will be able to get a head start and feel out the education field before committing to a specific major. The dual-credit education courses allow students who are interested in becoming teachers the opportunity to get an early start and get a better idea if teaching is a career they want to pursue, said Haun in the release. R-1 Superintendent Tony Berry said the district is looking forward to the partnership. We are excited about providing an opportunity for our students to engage in a higher education field at an earlier stage. Combined with the partnerships we are strengthening with SBU, we believe it is a win-win scenario, Berry told the BH-FP. The third component encourages BHS seniors who take any six hours worth of dual-credit classes to move on to SBU after graduation with a dual-credit scholarship. Students have to earn at least a B in the two classes through SBU and enroll once they graduate from high school, the release said. SBU Provost Lee Skinkle said in the release that the dual-credit courses offered by R-1 allow students to take lighter class loads and possibly even finish early. By offering the dual-credit scholarship, we are giving students an additional opportunity to save money on a quality education at SBU, said Skinkle in the release. We offer this scholarship to any students in all school districts through which we offer dual-credit courses, either seated or online. David Geurin, BHS principal, said the program is a unique opportunity for R-1s students. SBU is doing something really innovative with this. It's a great thing, Geurin said. The European Investment Banks Finance team invites its 25 major counterparties in the banking sector to an annual forum to reflect on common issues, such as financial instruments processing, regulation, infrastructure or organisational set-up. This years forum was a special edition: based on the experience of a big data project in 2017, we wanted to go a step further in applying innovative technologies to optimise treasury transactions. Thats why, in the context of the forum, we organised the EIB Blockchain Challenge. Check out the event agenda Could not establish database connection. DB: bostonimc and SQL: --> The administrator has been notified and will resolve the problem ASAP. PKK behind attack on AK Party members: Turkey Deputy PM 4 members of ruling party killed, 8 injured in armed attack in southeastern Turkey on Thursday Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag on Friday blamed the PKK terrorist organization for a deadly attack on ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party members campaigning in southeastern Turkey, less than 10 days before national elections. "IT IS A PKK ATTACK" "It is very clear that the PKK terrorist organization is behind them [attackers] and that they are pawns of the PKK terrorist group," Bozdag said at the AK Party headquarters in the central Yozgat province. Since it resumed its armed campaign against Turkey in July 2015, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of more than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians. Bozdag said that those responsible for the attack will soon face justice. "I strongly believe that those who have carried out this attack and those who participated in this attack will be brought to account," he said. "To destroy terrorism, to destroy terrorists, and to ensure our nation holds elections in a free environment, we will continue to make every effort, every endeavor," he added, referring to the June 24 presidential and parliamentary elections. AK Party workers -- including MP Ibrahim Halil Yildiz -- campaigning on Thursday were attacked by an armed group in Sanliurfas Suruc district, leaving four people dead and eight injured. Although Yildiz survived the attack with no injuries, his older brother Mehmet Ali Yildiz died after succumbing to his wounds in the hospital. The Sanliurfa Governorship said in a statement that Yildiz, accompanied by a group of people, was visiting tradesmen in the center of Suruc when a discussion turned into a fight. 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. HiI've installed a few central heating systems and done a lot of plumbing over here. Threading my steel piping myself with left & right threads etc etc.All thread dimensions (interior & exterior) in France are derived from measures in inches.You'll get 12/17 = 3/8", 15/21 = 1/2", 20/27 = 3/4" for the most frequently used bores.There are central heating systems in France (and surely elsewhere) which function without an electric circulation pump - called "thermosiphon" system. Radiators on the ground floor have huge bore piping (1 1/2 or 1 1/4) and further you go up, more you reduce the bores. This system needs piping always slanting upwards and many air purges to bleed bubbles. Expansion tank needed right up high!I'm sure I'm not telling you anything you don't already know, just in case your system is ancient and has no circulator pump.You want to reduce your 2" threaded outlet to something closer to 28mm piping?2" = deux pouces = 50/60You can get bronze "reducteurs"/"mamelons" (male-female) from 50/60 down to 40/49 = 1 1/2", 33/42 = 1 1/4" and 26/34 = 1"Here: https://www.bricozor.com/mamelon-laiton-male-femelle-reduit-1.html?utm_source=twenga [BeezUP]&utm_medium=cpc Red Bull Racing says that it has no intention of being rushed into a decision on its 2019 engine supplier. The team's current contract for power units with French manufacturer Renault expires at the end of the current season. There's speculation that it might follow its junior Toro Rosso team to the Honda camp next year. Renault had originally said it wanted an answer about an extension to that agreement in May. The deadline has slipped since then, with Red Bull saying this week a decision would be made by the Austrian Grand Prix on July 1. This didn't go down well at Enstone, however. "In Austria, our offer is not going to be there anymore," Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul told Marca this week. "They'll have to talk to Honda." But Red Bull is refusing to be bounced into a decision before it's ready. "We're taking a close look in Canada and France," said team principal Christian Horner. "Then we'll make our choice. The team's motorsports consultant Dr Helmut Marko also sounded irked by Renault's insistence on an early decision. "Whether it's France or Austria, it's only a few days," he pointed out. "I don't know what's so important about it all of a sudden. "We will announce our decision between the Grands Prix in France and the race in Austria." Red Bull were studying Toro Rosso's new Honda engine closely when it made its first race appearance last week in Montreal. According to Marko, the Japanese company's new power unit represented a significant step forward. "We're talking about three tenths a lap," he said. Whether that's enough to tip Red Bull's decision in favour of Honda remains to be seen. Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter THEREs more at stake with the banning of live sheep exports than what politicians and city dwellers think, according to the WA Grains Group (WAGG). WAGG, which represents more than 100 farmers with a range of operations, has been actively defending the live sheep trade, saying the ramifications of a ban on the trade would be devastating to WA producers whether they run sheep or not. The group wants WA politicians to have more input in the media debate about live exports and to back the agricultural industry rather than sitting on the fence. WAGG met with WA Liberal senator Dean Smith last week in Perth and discussed the flow-on effects of stopping the trade, including the possibility of lost grain markets for producers.Spokesman for the group, WAGG committee member and Yealering/Waroona mixed farmer Peter Stacey, said the meeting with Mr Smith was surprisingly productive. He said the group was able to highlight the ramifications of any change to the industry. Mr Stacey said he explained to Mr Smith the business model that was best for WA sheep producers, which included domestic meat sales, wool and live exports. If there is no live trade, then there is not going to be a sheep industry, Mr Stacey said. The live export trade also supports the domestic price, this is what WA growers need. Growers need to make money not only from progeny, but from the ewe as well. The group explained the flow on effect of bans to the live export trade from personal experience. When the live cattle trade was stopped, the live sheep trade stopped for a short time as well, a farmer that had purchased grain could not pay for it because his sheep did not sell, Mr Stacey said. He went broke and his farm was sold he was only one of a large number of farmers that were affected. Mr Stacey said he discussed how events pan out in the real world when it comes to export of live sheep or cattle from WA farmers. This autumn on our property we had 1200 lambs in the feedlot, he said. The local processor, in this case WAMMCO (Western Australian Meat Marketing Co-operative Limited), gets their pick of the lambs first and on this occasion they took 638 head. Next we deal with the live exporter, who will hopefully take the balance of the lambs. We try to sell the total of all of the lambs in the feedlot now, when its the optimum range in terms of age and condition. If the exporters dont take the balance to suit their customers, then whats left will probably go to the sale at Katanning, for other producers or butchers to buy. He said WAGG disagreed with the statement that processors could handle the extra sheep and cattle if there was no live export. This is not correct and the processors cant get enough workers in the abattoirs, Mr Stacey said. The processors want the live trade to end as this will drop the market price of sheep. However, growers know that would be the beginning of the end of the sheep and cattle industry, processors will have no competition. Farmers need competition to support prices for our product and live export provides a floor in the market.WAGG believes that the lack of recognition of Australias high animal welfare standards, as the fourth largest exporter of live sheep in the world, was another frustration for WA farmers. Mr Stacey said Eastern States politicians did not understand the WA system and the consequences to all agricultural industry businesses and exports. This is always a problem when there is an export-based State compared to a domestic-based State, Mr Stacey said. We also supply these countries with grain and hay, so why is the government upsetting our customers and putting uncertainty in the minds of potential customers with this live export ban talk? Farmers work on such fine margins with all livestock and grain industries. Eighty to 90 per cent of WA produce is exported and this earns big dollars for the whole of Australia. The east coast politicians and public should be supporting us, not banning us from doing what we do best. Mr Stacey said that Federal Liberal MP Sussan Ley had contradicted the belief that she presented in her maiden speech, where she wanted small businesses to be supported by policies which allow them to thrive and grow and employ our next generation of Australians. I believe in free markets and in competition, Ms Ley said. That includes combating abuses of market power. Mr Stacey said the rationale behind Ms Leys Private Members Bill to end live sheep exports appeared to be unclear. People are having substantial input into this live export trade that have no vested interest, he said. There is a cumulative effect of the live sheep debate that is undermining confidence and certainty it all starts to compound. Farmers are being demonised for issues out of their control and a lack of confidence and uncertainty creates a real competitive threat to our industry. Mr Stacey said that he believed the issue with the live export of sheep and cattle was a management issue that exporters needed to get under control. Mr Smith said he was a strong and public supporter of WAs live export trade. He said defending the live export trade for WA farmers was as important as standing up for GST reform. I do not believe there is a systemic issue with the WA live sheep export trade, but there is always room for improvements, Mr Smith said. For me, the evidence is clear the performance of the WA live export trade has been world class and I do not subscribe to the view there is a systemic problem with the industry. Of course, isolated incidents will occur but our industry is one that can be defended and deserves to be actively supported. WA farmers must demand that their political representatives not just have a view, but are prepared to publicly defend the industry. Mr Smith said the meeting with WAGG was positive and constructive. It was tremendously valuable because it reinforced the fact the opportunity for live exports underpinned the farming economy and gave farmers flexibility in managing the economics of their businesses, he said. Critically the meeting reinforced the point that exiting the market could in fact encourage a worsening of animal welfare conditions by other international exporters and destroy the financial viability of the sheep industry across WA. The wild dog that was shot by Joel Ward on his property west of Namban, near Watheroo. A WILD dog has been shot after terrorising sheep flocks during the start of the lambing season north of Moora. The incident has raised alarm bells, with fears it is not an isolated sighting. Australian Wool Innovation wild dog co-ordinator Meja Aldrich said research was being done in the parks system west of Coomerdale and Namban, near Watheroo, where cameras had captured footage of multiple wild dogs. Because of the sightings, she has organised a free wild dog and feral pig management workshop at Marchagee on Tuesday, June 19. One week after Farm Weekly reported that wild dogs were on the decline in the eastern Wheatbelt, Kristie and Joel Ward of Namban 30 kilometres north of Moora managed to shoot a wild dog that had mauled and killed lambs on their property. The attacks have sparked concern, given they occurred well within the Registered Biosecurity Group zone and could mean other dogs are encroaching further towards the coast or built up areas. Ms Ward said they had reported the incident to the local Agriculture Department office and taken a sample for genetic testing. At the start of lambing this year we had a couple of ewes that had had their back ends chewed out on the west side of our farm and we suspected maybe we had a wild dog around, Ms Ward said. We then got in contact with a lady (Ms Aldrich) that is running a wild dog program and she set up a heap of cameras on our farm to see if we could catch anything on them, which we didnt. Then last week, when checking sheep, we found a lamb that was alive with its back leg eaten off that we had to put down. We knew the lamb was too big for it to be a fox attack or a wedge tail eagle, as they generally only eat their brains. The next day upon checking the same mob of sheep we found another lamb in the same condition which had to be destroyed. Later that day, when Joel was checking the same mob of sheep, he came across the wild dog and killed it. Joel rang our surrounding neighbours to let them know about the dog and two different neighbours, one out to the west and one to the east of us, also had lambs and sheep that had been mauled this season. It is definitely a worry to know they are around as some people probably would think some of their dead stock could be from foxes or eagles, so its good to let people know they are now closer to our area than we think. Ms Ward said the farm had been in the family since 1904, with Joel the fifth generation to work the land. His grandfather, who is now deceased, told us many years ago that the last dingo that was trapped and killed here was in the early 1970s, she said. The dogs are definitely something that we dont want in the area due to the large amount of stock they can kill and the cost of losing stock. Especially on a year when crops are not good your stock are your saving grace. Also theres the horrible and cruel death the poor stock endure from these dog attacks. Ms Ward said they kept the dogs ear in the freezer and it will be tested to see how much dingo it has in it, also to see if the DNA is linked to other wild dogs that have been trapped or killed in the State. Sheep Alliance of WA executive officer Esther Jones says the group's final project before it winds up would be a prospectus for future research and development. ITS the end of the line for the Sheep Industry Business Innovation (SIBI) project and the Sheep Alliance of WA (SAWA) after four years of State government funding dries up at the end of June. SAWA executive officer Esther Jones said there was nothing else planned after the wind up that she knew of, but the alliance was working on a prospectus for government and industry on which to base future research and development. SIBI has supported the formation and operation of the Sheep Alliance of WA over the past three years as part of its commitment to build leadership across the industry, Ms Jones said. The Sheep Alliance will complete its activities with the development of a WA-specific Sheep R&D investment prospectus based on industry priorities that encompasses all research and development providers in WA. The draft prospectus will be presented to Sheep Alliance members for comment by the end of June and the final copy tabled with industry and potential investors by the end of July. The intent is that it will showcase the opportunities for the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and all RD&E service providers to collaborate on so it is very much a whole-of-industry approach. DPIRD managing director for research, development and innovation Mark Sweetingham said the four-year SIBI project was established to support the sheep industry by establishing dedicated sheep meat supply chains, increase the business and technical skills of producers and processors and maximise producers and processors business efficiency, productivity and profitability. The project has made a multi-faceted contribution to the sheep industry, Mr Sweetingham said. It has improved awareness of the complexity, value and sophistication of the sheep industry value chain among stakeholders. Work on feedlotting and backgrounding profitability, new business structures and contracts has contributed to the understanding and knowledge of many across the sector. Mr Sweetingham said the training courses, industry events and field days across all levels of industry had helped build stronger relationships within the industry. He said business and production skills training and exploring opportunities for branded meat products had increased participation of indigenous sheep producers. A priority for the project has been to grow and develop the professional capacity of the sheep industry, he said. This has included encouraging new entrants into the industry by various means such as supply chain courses, postgraduate scholarships and professional development courses for stakeholders. Continued local support of the nationally recognised Lifetime Ewe Management course, which has involved 300 producer participants, has led to greater gains in ewe management and lamb survival. SIBI has had a focus on developing the departments Katanning Research Facility as a national sheep research centre. In our view, this has been successful with the past two annual events each attracting more than 200 visitors. Dr Sweetingham said the department remained committed to the continuous development of the Katanning site as a leading research facility, investing in people and resources to establish a facility for the broader industry to use. This will continue to attract future research and increase collaboration between the State government and other research institutions, he said. Mr Sweetingham said the majority of the 15 staff involved in the SIBI project would continue in sheep research and development fields with the department. The Nationals WA agriculture spokesman Colin de Grussa said in government The Nationals had invested $10 million in SIBI as part of a landmark $350m Seizing the Opportunity in Agriculture funding initiative. It has allowed the department to assist industry by casting a microscope over all elements of the supply chain and figure out where improvements can be made both on-farm and in the marketing of WA sheep products, Mr de Grussa said. Failing to continue this program is yet another example of the McGowan governments disregard for WAs $8 billion agricultural industry. Theres not much the Labor government is doing favourably for regional WA at the moment and as I keep saying, the biggest threat to agriculture in WA is the minister representing the sector. Liberal MP for Geraldton and Agriculture spokesman Ian Blayney said he had strong views on this issue and would be willing to assist grower groups in lobbying for more funding. Its disappointing that when sheep prices and wool prices are strong, these projects are being unfunded, Mr Blayney said. Its at a time of good prices that farmers are inclined to invest and innovate and sharpen their management. Im also disappointed that Meat and Livestock Australia and Australian Wool Innovation dont seem too interested in boosting their funding to WA projects theyre no doubt taking in a lot of levies from here. Id be happy to join a group of growers to go east and lobby for more funds directly. Mr Blayney said he believed the WA ag industry deserved better representation from government. Ramazan Bayram (Eid al-Fitr) The end of Ramazan is celebrated with a holiday. It starts at sunset on the last day of Ramazan and celebrates the completion of the holy month of fasting. This year, Ramazan Bayram (Eid al-Fitr) began on Sunday 24 May and will end on Tuesday 26 May. The government have imposed a four-day curfew in all 81 provinces of Turkey to maintain control of the virus and millions of muslims are celebrating Ramazan Bayram at home. A very different celebration Ramazan Bayram is a time of renewal and Turkey is accustomed to enthusiastic celebrations and big family gatherings, a ritual that dates back all the way to the Ottoman era. Last year, with many hotels at 100% occupancy over the holiday period, the roads and beaches in and around the area were extremely busy, with the road to Oludeniz gridlocked for hours. This year, the hotels remain closed and the same roads are empty. Turkeys Muslims visit mosques to offer prayers during the first day of Eid al-Fitr. This photograph was taken at Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, June 4, 2019. (Emrah Gurel / AP Archive) This year, the mosques around turkey ring out the call to prayer, but remain empty as, for the first time ever, citizens experience the sadness of not being able to perform the Eid prayer in the mosque. During the holiday, people visit relatives and friends, and may also go to the graveyards to pay their respect to the deceased. This year, the graveyards remain empty. Fresh flowers, some starting to wilt in the heat, bear testament that families have visited their loved ones before the curfew. Its an important time for families to be together and the roads are normally full of people doing the rounds of visits to parents, cousins, aunts and in-laws. This year, the roads are empty, with the only traffic a tortoise watched by a bemused cat in Tasyaka. Seker Bayram Ramazan Bayram is also known as Seker (Sugar) Bayram as the emphasis on the first day is on sweet food. Baklava and serbet are ever-present; muhallebi (rice pudding) and seker pare (sweet biscuit) are commonly served. As well as the parade of desserts, there are endless savoury nibbles such as nuts, seeds and pulses. Baklava is ever present Serbet Baklava and dessert sellers are exempt from the curfew and are offering a takeaway or home delivery service to allow this tradition to continue. During Ramazan Bayram it is important to honor the elderly and the younger generation would normally visit the older ones. Kissing the right hand of the elderly and placing it on the forehead is a custom to show respect and greet them for the bayram. Children greets their elders by kissing their hand and then touching their foreheads with it which is a major gesture of respect. Another tradition is of children going around in their neighborhood, from door to door and wishing people a happy bayram. As a reward, they receive candies, chocolates, or even a small amount of money. Another tradition that cant happen this year! Ramazan Bayramnz Mubarek Olsun Whilst many people will be spending Eid away from loved ones for the first time ever, we should take comfort in the fact that these are extraordinary circumstances that will, perhaps, never be repeated. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category HE PRESIDENT JIOJI KONROTE AT THE OPENING OF THE PEACEKEEPING SYMPOSIUM The former President of the Republic of Fiji, Your Excellency Ratu Epeli Nailatikau The Prime Minister, Honourable Voreqe Bainimarama The Speaker of Parliament, Honourable Dr. Jiko Luveni The United Nations Resident Coordinator, Ms. Osnat Lubrani The Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Honourable Mereseini Vuniwaqa The host of todays symposium, Honourable Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, Minister for Defence and National security The Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto Your Excellencies the High Commissioners and Ambassadors Distinguished Guests, including especially the former Peacekeepers Ladies and gentlemenNi sa bula vinaka, namaste, assalamu alaykum, ni hao, noaia e mauri, and a very good morning to you all.It is such an honour for me to join you this morning to open this special symposium that is being organised as part of the commemoration of 40 years of Fijis contribution to peacekeeping under the United Nations banner. I also appreciate the fact that we will get to hear from a panel of eminent speakers who either have first-hand experience in peacekeeping, in the mechanisms of the United Nations, or as a spouse and dependent of a Peacekeeper.Forty years is a long time for a Nation to be committed to the cause of global peace. In the cycle of life, they say life begins at 40. I believe that the thinking behind this adage is that people gain significant wisdom around 40 years. And so we could say the same for our service to global peace.We owe our thanks to the many individuals and parties who made these peacekeeping operations possible, and who continued to cultivate this mission over the past four decades. We thank our then national leaders in the 1970s who initiated the idea for Fiji to be involved in peacekeeping operations they include our first Prime Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and his Government; and Fijis first local Commander of the Military Forces Colonel Paul Manueli. We thank the United Nations for affording us the opportunity to participate in peacekeeping. We thank the host countries where our troops stayed at and continue to be based in. We thank the families of the 56 servicemen who made the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of global peace. We thank all the servicemen and women and the respective commanding officers for flying our national flag with pride. We thank the former and current Peacekeepers and their families who are helping our nation grow at the socio-economic front and in their respective communities in the four-corners of our nation. And we thank all the successive governments since 1970 for continuing to support our involvement in peacekeeping.The current Government in particular has also seen to the significant increases in peacekeeping allowances that have now made employment in the RFMF an institution of choice, all done in recognition of the incredibly important work that our Peacekeepers are conducting around the world.Importantly, we thank God Almighty for his blessings on our Nation.Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, it is important that we put Fijis involvement in peacekeeping into proper perspective for the benefit of our younger generation, especially to create greater awareness of, and to help engender a heightened appreciation for, Fijis contributions to world peace.Fijis first peacekeeping deployment under the United Nations banner was to the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon in 1978 led by then Lietenant-Colonel Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, who later became the Commander of the Fiji Military and, among many other achievements, became our President and Head of State. Your Excellency, thank you for accepting the Organising Committees invitation to share your experiences with the Nation through this symposium.Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, the United Nations itself was formed in 1945 after the Second World War. Its aim was, among other considerations, to provide an avenue for sovereign nation states to amicably discuss issues of concern to them, through diplomatic means.This was essentially to avoid the outbreak of any more world wars. The world had endured two major wars up to that time, which resulted in the loss of an estimated 100-Plus million lives. Part of the UNs mandate was to help maintain peace in various parts of the world where conflicts were still being resolved through the use of arms. Of the 70 years that the UN has been involved in negotiating peaceful resolutions to conflicts, Fiji can stand proud that we have contributed, and remain committed, to upholding the tenets of diplomacy, stability, security and impartiality, for 40 years. From that first mission in Lebanon, Fiji has deployed soldiers to about 20 other missions around the world up to the present day.In the process of peacekeeping, however, we have lost about 56 servicemen including several civilians. These are Fijis sons who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the name of peace. We salute each one of them, and pray that their souls continue to rest in peace. We also pray for their respective next of kin and families. Many more soldiers suffered injury and hardship while deployed in the name of the nation and we should also remember their service and sacrifice. Their is a noble vision, to protect the innocent from violence. They prevent the escalation of violence that destroys families and communities and destabilises countries. Their exemplary service has directly contributed to the reputation of Fijian forces as effective soldiers and excellent Peacekeepers. We should be proud of their sacrifice and service.As a Nation, Fiji has also gained much from our contribution to peacekeeping. Internationally, our reputation as one of the best and effective peacekeeping troop contributing countries is well known throughout the world. And here at home in Fiji, the jobs and stability from these missions have allowed tens of thousands of Fijians to provide for themselves and their families. It is, to a large extent, on the backdrop of the international reputation our Peacekeepers have earned for Fiji that we are able to secure the support of many UN-member countries in our ongoing efforts to develop and modernise our Nation. In the recent decade especially, we have also witnessed the international communitys increasing support in our bid to play a leading role in world affairs.Fiji has chaired the UNs largest voting bloc the Group of 77 Plus China which comprises almost 140 countries. We have presided over the UNs 71st Session of the General Assembly the most universally representative body in the world with 193 member countries. We have co-chaired the UNs first ever Oceans Conference. And among other things, we currently preside over the UNs 23rd session of climate change negotiations or COP23, led by our Honourable Prime Minister. These achievements are helping us to address issues of concern not only to our people, but also to the broader international community.Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, it is vitally important for all of us to learn and understand how conflicts arise in society, and to collectively make every effort to seek amicable solutions without having to resort to arms. At the same time, as long as there is a need for peacekeeping services around the world, Fiji stands ready to assist wherever possible. Fijis military personnel must continue to train as professional soldiers to be effective and successful Peacekeepers, and to maintain our enviable reputation.Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, as we commemorate 40 years since our first group of soldiers departed our shores, I call on all Fijians to remember the fallen and their families, and to develop a heightened appreciation of our Nations efforts to contribute to world peace. We now have this unique opportunity to use the wisdom we have gained in the past 40 years of peacekeeping services to lay a foundation of peace and prosperity for our Nation and future generations.May God Almighty continue to bless us all, and our beloved Nation Fiji.Vinaka vakalevu, dhanyavaad, sukria, xie xie, faieksia and thank you all. HON PM BAINIMARAMA AT THE CLOSING OF THE FIJI-UN 40TH ANNIVERSARY SYMPOSIUM His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Fiji;Honourable Ministers;Your Excellencies;The Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces;Distinguished Guests;Ladies and gentlemen.Bula Vinaka and a very good afternoon to you all.Its an honour and a privilege to be here with all of you to close this symposium on Fijis commitment to UN Peacekeeping Operations, especially as we mark the 40th year anniversary of Fijian peacekeeping efforts around the world. Your theme Fijis Sacrifice for Global peace could not be more poignant or more appropriate, as Fiji has indeed given a great deal for the sake of global peace. As a result, countless of vulnerable people have been kept safe the world over, and that legacy has been the pride of generations of Fijians.For the past 40 years, Fijian Peacekeepers have defended the defenceless, protecting innocent civilians and children in areas around the world fraught with danger and conflict.Our Peacekeepers carry on a proud Fijian legacy that stretches as far back as the First World War. As for over a century, Fijians have answered the call of the vulnerable; bravely risking their lives for the sake of peace, wherever and whenever the need has arisen.Driven solely by the pursuit of peace, Fijian soldiers have braved some of the most dangerous and volatile regions on Earth; their service spans both decades and continents. They have served in the Middle East, from the Sinai Peninsula, to Kuwait, Iraq, and Syria. In Africa, from Darfur, to South Sudan, Liberia, and Namibia. From as far as Eastern Europe in Bosnia and Kosovo, to as near as our fellow Asia-Pacific nations like Cambodia, Timor-Leste, and the Solomon Islands, Fijian peacekeepers have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the finest military forces on the planet, working to build a more harmonious future for the worlds children to inherit. No matter how different the region they serve, throughout these 40 years of service, one thing has remained constant: our Fijian Peacekeepers have sacrificed, they have persevered, and they have brought immeasurable honour, glory, and pride to our great nation.No matter where they have served, or what odds they have faced, our UN Peacekeepers have been an unyielding shield that has protected the innocent from forces that would seek to destroy them. Through their sacrifice, theyve brought peace to people in peril. They have helped heal regions of the world that have been deeply scarred by violence, terror and division. And they have shown the great strength of the Fijian spirit to the world through their courage, their discipline and their commitment to the mission of global peace and security.The legacy of Fijian peacekeepers continues to this day through the nearly 900 brave Fijians currently serving as UN Peacekeepers around the world; all of whom are worthy successors to the proud legacy of excellence forged by the 30,000 Fijian peacekeepers who have served over the past 40 years.Their legacy has not been built without sacrifice, as we have paid a high priceespecially for a nation of our sizefor the sake of spreading peace around the world. This afternoon, I also ask that we remember the more than 60 Fijian Peacekeepers who laid down their lives to protect those who could not protect themselves. That sacrifice is shouldered by every member of their families who have mourned their passing and who cherish their memories. As we look back on this history, it is with great sadness and profound gratitude that we remember those Fijians who have died in the line of duty; as their ultimate sacrifice has given countless people the chance to live in peace and prosperity.As Fijians, we look out for each otherits in our nature. The care and concern that we hold for the safety of our community defines who we are, as a nation and as a people. Though our Peacekeepers, that community, and that duty of care, is extended to the world stage. Our commitment says to every global citizen that, for us Fijians, it doesnt matter who you are or where you come from, we believe you deserve to live in peace, and we are prepared to do what is necessary to keep you safe and bring you the immeasurable benefits of lasting security. And it says a great deal about the Fijian spirit that there are so many women, men and children around the world the vast majority of whom will never see Fiji but who, nonetheless, have been protected by the strength and the sacrifice of Fijian Peacekeepers.Thanks to the decades of dedication of our Peacekeepers, Fiji is looked to with respect and admiration by the international community. Through our Peacekeepers, nations far and wide can see that Fijians are willing and able to look far beyond our own borders. They see that Fijians are not short-sighted, and we are not selfish. They see that Fijians are concerned for not only the welfare of ourselves, but that we are fighting for the welfare of the world.Because, while we may be a small country, our commitment to securing a more peaceful, brighter planet for future generations is not small by any measure. The respect that Fiji enjoys on the global stage has given us a voice and the platform which we have used to take the lead on some of the great issues confronting humanity; combatting climate change, protecting our oceans and preserving our planet. And I acknowledge the United Nations support of our peacekeepers aboard, and of Fijian leadership on the global stage on some of the great challenges facing our secure future, and the future of every global citizen.Fijis willingness to commit to the global cause for peace is stronger than ever. Our women and men peacekeepers will continue to wear the blue beret with pride and represent our nation with distinction in conflict areas around the world. And the global community can know that they can count on Fiji, they can count on our commitment to peace and our readiness to protect the lives of others, in troubled places, far from our own shores.Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I thank the brave Fijians who have taken up the call to serve in UN Peacekeeping Operations. They represent the very best of Fiji. They, and all of their family members, will always have the support of their fellow Fijians, and they will always have our gratitude.Vinaka vakalevu. Thank you. 150618BOUGAINVILLE CAN BE A DONOR SAYS MASONO New Dawn FM News Bougainville can be a donor to other smaller Pacific countries if it becomes a independent state and operating some major projects in the years ahead. This was the message given to the people of NOVAH NO.2 yesterday at the gathering to retrieve the remains of a former BRA Soldier killed by PNG DF soldiers in 1995 and buried at Novah. MR. MASONO said that Bougainville was small but had the resources to become one of the richest states in the Pacific. The Vice President also commended on the 13th anniversary of the ABG as Bougainville has move a lot of things in the last 13 years. He said as a child born on June 15th 2005, this year she has become a teenager ready to become an adult and become one of the major players in this part of the region. MR. MASONO called on the people to be patriotic citizen of Bougainville and contribute meaningfully to the development of Bougainville. Ends Back Market, a French marketplace dedicated to refurbished electronic products and appliances (smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other products), closed a funding round totaling $48m. Backers included Groupe Arnault, Eurazeo, Aglae Ventures and Daphni. The company, which has now raised $55m in total funding, intends to use the capital to accelerate global expansion startuing with the USA. Launched in 2014 by Thibaud Hug de Larauze, Quentin Le Brouster, and Vianney Vaute, Back Market provides a marketplace of refurbished products which allows consumers to purchase electronics directly from certified refurbishers, distributors and big brands that refurbish, verify and offer a minimum 6-month warranty to all of their products. The company currently operates in 5 European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Belgium) and launched in the United States in the beginning of the year. Back employs a team of about 100 employees across its 3 offices located in Paris, Bordeaux, and New York. FinSMEs 15/06/2018 Blockchain Valley Ventures (BVV) is a newly launched accelerator and venture firm incubating, developing and investing in blockchain-enabled businesses. In conjunction with the start of operations, we interviewed Heinrich Zetlmayer, General Partner, to tell us a bit more about the initiative, its targets, how it works, and future plans. FinSMEs: Can you tell us a bit more about your professional background? Zetlmayer: I have spent many years working in the IT industry with IBM as VP of several service divisions, and in the consulting industry. Eight years ago, I started working in venture capital and for family offices in the turnaround and development of portfolio companies, with a particular focus on the tech and media sectors. FinSMEs: Lets speak about Blockchain Valley Ventures. First, where are you based? Zetlmayer: We are based in Zug and Zurich in Switzerland, in the heart of the Crypto Valley. FinSMEs: Whats your overall strategy? Zetlmayer: We want to build a new kind of venture capital and accelerator company for businesses in the blockchain space. We believe that the best kind of financing we can offer these businesses is a combination of classic early stage VC financing and incubation plus ICO financing in what we call a hybrid model. As a key region leading the way in blockchain innovation and commercialisation, Switzerland is the perfect home base for us. FinSMEs: Can you explain to use BVVs hybrid venture capital and Initial Coin Offering (ICO) model? Zetlmayer: We want to combine the benefits of the VC model with those of the ICO model. With early stage VC financing, startups benefit from the advice of experienced people in shaping and scaling of the company, as well as receiving initial funds. This system provides the perfect basis for running an ICO and trying to raise significant funds early on, to more aggressively drive business innovation. Time to market cycles are becoming extremely short in the modern economy, and if your company doesnt have enough funds early on, you may miss out. The market is very different now to what it was twenty years ago. FinSMEs: What do you bring to the table beyond money? Zetlmayer: We have a diverse team with extensive business experience in startups, growth, and corporate environments, combined with a very creative young team with various backgrounds. Our core team includes people who have previously worked with companies such as UBS and IBM. We also have a broad network of BVV ambassadors, all with outstanding experience, networks, and knowledge. Working from the Crypto Valley, home to one of the worlds most developed blockchain ecosystems, gives BVV a key advantage, allowing us to actively collaborate with other companies in the space, and to utilise this network to the benefit of the companies we engage with. FinSMEs: In particular, what trend are you particularly interested in? Zetlmayer: We are particularly interested in the use of blockchain technology on a practical, real life, and industrial scale. Its time to go beyond the initial experimentation with blockchain, we predict that large scale practical usage will come very soon. FinSMEs: Future plans? Zetlmayer: We plan to aggressively expand our operation in incubation, investment products, and ICO support beyond our home base, basing it all on our BVV model. FinSMEs 15/06/2018 Kustomer, a New York-based CRM platform for customer experience and support, raised $26m in Series B funding. The round was led by Redpoint Ventures, with participation from Cisco Investments, Canaan Partners, Boldstart Ventures, and Social Leverage. Additionally, Tomasz Tunguz, Partner at Redpoint Ventures, will join Kustomers Board of Directors. The company intends to use the funds to continue to expand operations and business reach. Founded in 2015, Kustomer is an intelligence platform for customer experience that enables companies to know everything about every customer to drive informed actions. Used by Slice, SmugMug, Outdoor Voices, and others, the platform provides businesses with a full view of every customers lifetime unifying all relevant data, customer history, apps, and systems. FinSMEs 15/06/2018 Valpas Enterprises Oy, a Helsinki, Finland and Dubai, UAE-based hardware startup, raised 500k in seed funding. The round was led by Maki.vc with participation from Icebreaker.vc and Reaktor Ventures. The company intends to use the funds to advance the internationalization and the mass production of its solution. Founded in 2013 and led by CEO Martim Gois, Valpas is a design and technology startup providing an IoT bioengineered system which keeps guests and a hotel safe from hitchhiking bed bugs by capturing them inside the bed leg and notifying the user of prevented incidents. The wellness system comprises of a platform that connects to smart IoT bed legs equipped with an in-built bed bug trap and detection sensors. Hotels just replace their existing bed legs with Valpas smart bed legs, and can instantly start monitoring rooms in real-time and receive notifications of eliminated bed bug incidents caught inside the legs. Once Valpas wellness technology is implemented, hotels can openly communicate they are not open for bed bugs. The negative stigma associated with bed bugs is transformed into a competitive advantage, since people can find hotels where they can finally travel serene. FinSMEs 15/06/2018 fos4X, a Munich, Germany-based wind energy focused fiber optic sensor technology company, closed an 8.2m (US$10m) Series B growth financing. New anchor investor Equinor, a Norway based energy company (formerly known as Statoil), strengthened the group of shareholders which included Bayern Kapital, Falk Strascheg Holding, High-Tech Grunderfonds, Unternehmertum Venture Capital Partners and business angels. Equinor, which has operations in more than 30 countries, will invest in the company to advance its strategy to actively complement its oil and gas portfolio with profitable renewable energy sources. The company intends to use the funds for internationalization, scaling and expansion of its digital business. Led by Alexander Tindl, fos4X leverages fiber optic sensor technology to provide fos4Blade, a modular measuring system that acquires different physical quantities of wind turbine rotor blades. Through sensor data fusion, classical model-based methods and methods of machine learning, the software applications of fos4X calculate input variables for the control and operation optimization of wind turbines. fos4X supports all of the top 10 wind turbine manufacturers. So far, the company has applied for more than 100 patents around technology, sensors and applications. However, the solutions are also used in other industries: for instance, fiber-optic sensors are used for temperature measurement in e-mobility. Thales, Volkswagen, Daimler, Sie-mens, GE, Envision, Goldwind, SMS Siemag and many other international leaders in their indus-tries are using fos4X products. FinSMEs 15/06/2018 Farmdrop, a UK-based online grocery delivery company, raised 10m in funding. The round, which brings total funding to over 20m, was led by LGT Impact Ventures and Belltown Ventures. The company intends to use the funds to expand adoption of its service in the South East of England and in the North with plans to open in Manchester within 2019. Founding in 2014, Farmdrop provides an online farmers market, sourcing and delivering to homes and offices food from local, indie farmers, makers and bakers. The service is available in several areas of London, Bristol and Bath. FinSMEs 15/06/2018 Australia returned to winning ways with their veteran captain Paul Carroll's 21 points leading them to a 3-1 (23-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-21) victory over South Korea as the FIVB Volleyball Nations League moved into its fourth round on Friday.While not much has gone right so far for either of the two teams in action at the Jangchung Gym, it was the Australians who managed to find form after an early first-set scare and the 32-year-old Carroll drew on his wealth of experience as he slammed down 20 spikes from 29 attempts.A telling statistic was the blocks - with a final count of 12-4 to the Aussies showing just how much their big men dominated. Both middle blocker Nehemiah Mote (14 points) and wing spiker Luke Smith (13 points) were the other major performers on the night for Australia.For the home side the honors were shared between wing spiker Jeong Kwang-In (13 points) and opposite spiker Moon Sung-Min (12 points) but overall they struggled to contend with the Australian's power at the net.The Koreans had given their fans plenty to cheer about by winning the first set - only the second time in the VNL so far that they have taken one off their opponents. But that was as good and things got as they failed to find a way past the Australians.South Korea remain the only nation not to have picked up a victory in the VNL and sit at 0-10 with Italy and then fellow strugglers China still to come in the fourth round.Meanwhile the win moves Australian on to 3-7 and they face China on Saturday before rounding the trip to Seoul out with Sunday's match against Italy. . . " ". 6.00 . "" "" . 19.09.2021 . .. , ... Here is the weekly road construction report for Hamilton County: I-75 North Exit 1 interchange reconfiguration project at mile marker 1: Work on this project continues. There is now only one exit ramp that allows drivers to turn both east and west on Ringgold Road at a signalized intersection. Traffic has been shifted onto the newly constructed portion of Camp Jordan Pkwy., and the intersection (I-75 NB off-ramp and SR-8/Camp Jordan Pkwy.) is now controlled by a traffic signal. Estimated project completion date is June. [C.W. Matthews Contracting/City Of East Ridge/LCLPRGM] US-27 (I-124) widening from I-24/US-27 interchange to north of the Olgiati Bridge over the Tennessee River, including widening the Olgiati Bridge: Work on this project continues. The contractor has closed the 12th Street tie-in ramp to US-27 South. This closure will be in place through 06/18. Traffic from 12th Street will be detoured to Carter Street and then to westbound MLK Blvd. where motorists may access the US-27 South on-ramp. Detours are posted. Motorists should exercise caution when traveling through the construction zone and pay close attention to the detour signage posted. The speed limit on US-27 in the construction zone remains 45 MPH. THP will assist with traffic control on the project as necessary RESTRICTIONS: I-124 (US-27) Northbound Exit 1C 4th Street Off Ramp. No oversize/over-dimensional loads. Width Limit is 11 feet. Estimated project completion date is January 2020. [Dement Construction Company, LLC/Micka/CNP230] SR-111 resurfacing from SR-29 to Jones Gap Road: During this report period the contractor will have lane closures in place during resurfacing operations. No closures will occur from 5-8 a.m. in the southbound direction and from 4-6 p.m. in the northbound direction. Flaggers will be on hand to assist as needed. Estimated project completion date is July. [Wright Brothers, LLC/Pruett/CNS020] SR-320 (East Brainerd Road) grading, drainage, installation of signals, construction of seven retaining walls and paving from east of Graysville Road to east of Bel-Air Road: During this report period, the contractor will have intermittent lane closures between 9 a.m.-2 p.m. This work may affect either direction of East Brainerd Road or side streets from Graysville Road to Bel-Air Road. Flaggers will assist with traffic control as needed. Estimated project completion date is June. [Jones Bros. Contractors, LLC/Pruett/CNN383] The tunnel cleaning of the McCallie Tunnel on US-11 (US-64, SR-2), the Stringers Ridge Tunnel on US-127 (SR-8), and the Bachman Tubes on US-41 (US-76, SR-8): The nighttime cleaning operation of McCallie Tunnels, Stringers Ridge Tunnel, and Bachman Tubes occurs between 8 p.m.-6 a.m. Tunnels will be closed during cleaning and detours will be marked accordingly, as each tunnel is cleaned. This work is scheduled to begin on Wednesday at the McCallie tunnels (SR-2) and proceed to the Stringer's Ridge tunnel (SR-8) and on Thursday, June 21, the Bachman Tubes (SR-8) will be cleaned. Estimated project completion date is June. [ETI Environmental, Inc./Micka/CNR223] : - , - . : - , - , - ? : . , . . ? () , . . , , - - , , . - . - , , . - . , . , . , . ? , . , .. , - . , , . . - -. , . .- , , . . , ? , . , . ? . , -, , , . , , . . , - , . , , 20 , . , , , , . : . ? : . . . , , . . - . , , , 300 , , , , - , , , , . , , . . , . , , . . , . . , - . , , , 2600 3- 4- . . - . , , : - ? : . -. . . . .- . , . .- . , . . , , , , . . Riverbend headliner Dustin Lynch has partnered with his Tullahoma neighbor and VideoBomb app developer Chad Marcum for a VIP giveaway. Announced in Chattanooga Wednesday, the contest gives fans a chance to win two VIP tickets including a Meet & Greet with Lynch, and seats at one of his upcoming concerts. To enter, fans will download the VideoBomb app from the iTunes store, select Dustin Lynchs video Good Girl from the Music Video tab, then create a VideoBomb by inserting themselves into the Good Girl video. Then they will publish the video in the app with the hashtag #GoodGirlVideoBomb to be entered into the contest. VideoBombs are also saved to the users camera roll and can be shared on their own social media with the same hashtag. Tullahoma and Chattanooga are practically neighbors so we wanted to do something special for all of Dustins fans in Chattanooga and the folks who drive in for the Riverbend Festival, said Mr. Marcum. Our communities have a lot in common including gigabit internet which is a big reason I became an app developer. We feel right at home in Chattanooga, and we are thrilled to launch this contest the day that Dustin is performing at Riverbend. VideoBomb is the brainchild of Mr. Marcum and music video directors John and Matt Edde and launched just a year ago. Mr. Marcum credits his upbringing in Tullahoma and the communitys thriving entrepreneurial scene for the inspiration to break into the field. VideoBomb is doing for video what the photobomb did for still photography, said co-creator Matt Edde. So many fans today engage with music online and through YouTube and were giving them a simple one-button option to incorporate themselves into their favorite music videos, then share it with their friends. For more information about VideoBomb, including full contest rules, visit their website at Videobomb.com. Image: Shutterstock After Firstpost's expose on Uttar Pradesh Co-operative Bank Limited (UPCBL) for financing tainted Simbhaoli Group and converting the non performing assets (NPAs) of Kesar Sugar Mills into a long-term loan, a rattled top bank management manipulated the balance sheet to show that bank was running in profit and even paid Rs.27 crore as income tax.Firstpost on 13 March had also reported irregularities in the recruitment at UPCBL and it is learnt that the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has recently ordered a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT). Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Uttar Pradesh, NK Singh has also stepped in and has asked the UPCBL to cancel the Rs.60 crore loan sanctioned to Simbhaoli Group that is being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) for duping the Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) to the tune of Rs 109 crore. As per the rules, the cooperative banks are supervised by the Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCS) of state concerned.The most shocking part of the alleged cover-up is doctoring the balance sheet, which eventually made the hole in bank's treasury and in the long run may pose serious threat for its survival. The Firstpost has accessed both the original and manipulated balance sheet of UPCBL that describes position of consolidation of NPAs till 31 March 2018. The draft balance sheet of its Bareilly branch indicated Kesar Sugar Mills had NPAs of Rs.74 crore. This was rejected by the bank's top management and the amount was surreptitiously moved to sub-standard loan category in a bid to show the profit in the final balance sheet prepared by the bank.Sources said a manager level officer of the Bareilly branch has been suspended by the top brass of UPCBL after she refused to sign the manipulated balance sheet."She had forwarded the genuine balance sheet to the UPCB headquarters. It was returned and she was asked to make changes to show profit and zero NPA. She refused to tinker with the facts and subsequently paid the price for being honest and upright," Sources added.Despite repeated attempts, UPCBL Managing Director RK Singh did not respond to calls and text message.It is learnt that after Firstpost's expose on 13 March 2018, the chief minister's office wrote to Registrar UP Cooperative Societies on 28 March 2018 to probe into the scandal. The preliminary investigation conducted by the RCS NK Singh revealed the massive irregularities. He dispatched the findings to the secretary, cooperative, UP government on 10 May 2018. The note accessed by the Firstpost shows that regulatory body of cooperative societies National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) had also objected to UCBL proposal of loans to Simbhaoli and restructuring of loans to Kesar Sugar Mills that was ignored by the UPCBL's chief RK Singh.NABARD officer in a confidential letter made it clear that the two proposals linked to Simbhaoli and Kesar were not discussed in the meeting attended by the representative of the regulator and entire decision was taken unilaterally by the Managing Director RK Singh. The Firstpost has reviewed the NABARD letter which makes it clear that UPCBL decision towards the two companies facing huge NPAs was approved by the bank's chief."Restructuring of Rs.65.81 crore loan to Kesar Mills and sanctioning of Rs.60 crore to Simbhaoli Power was not discussed in the board meeting. We disagree with the decision taken by the UPCBL," the letter signed NABARD's BN Hembram said.The Registrar NK Singh has also examined the letter of NABARD. He said despite the NABARD's objection, UPCBL Managing Director RK Singh issued the sanction letter to Simbhaoli owners, which is considered as a colossal violation of banking rules."Registrar Office through a letter number 54 dated 27 March sought explanation from RK Singh. He replied through letter number 1416 dated 3 April 2018 saying that a letter was issued to Simbhaoli but since the objections were raised by the NABARD, the proposal has been put on hold through a letter dated 23 March 2018. This makes it clear that despite NABARD's objection, not only the loan to Simbhaoli was sanctioned but letter was also issued which was illegal," NK Singh wrote in his report.The probe further revealed that both Simbhaoli and Kesar Sugar Mills were not eligible for the loan and the 'proposal was illogical.'"It is important to note that Ashok Singh, Member of UP Cooperative Seva Mandal, who had earlier served as Managing Director of UPCBL, in a testimony has disclosed that he wrote a letter to RK Singh last year against the irregularities in loans sanctioned to Kesar Sugar Mills and how rules were flouted in the case but no action was taken. Ashok Singh had also advised the UPCBL to recover Rs.20.40 crore with interests from the company. Despite his warnings, UPCBL board meeting on 31 January cleared the proposal of Rs.65.81 crore for Kesar Sugar Mills. Prima facie the UPCBL move has been found to be irregular," Registrar NK Singh wrote in his report on 10 May, 2018 sent to the state government.NK Singh, on 28 March 2018, had forwarded a separate letter to the chief secretary of the state flagging massive irregularity in appointment at UPCBL. He was perplexed by the fact that a majority of candidates finally selected on various positions, were from the same district Etawah. The letter reviewed by the Firstpost shows that out of 30 candidates selected for the post of assistant cashier, 17 were from Etawah. Similarly, out of 33 selected for the post of cashier clerk, 17 were from the same district. For other positions too Etawah figures prominently in the list."It appears, qualification was not the criteria for the selection of candidates at UPCBL. We have found serious irregularities in the appointment and a thorough investigation either by vigilance or a Special Investigation Team is necessary," NK Singh wrote.Meanwhile, UP State Employees Confederation's chief Ajay Singh has filed a complaint with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and chief minister's office alleging that RK Singh connived with Kesar Sugar Mills to extend undue benefit. The association has also requested the statutory auditor not to certify the manipulated balance sheet."They planted 25,000 bags of sugar on 9 April 2018 in the godown to show that the UPCBL has security against the money sanctioned to Kesar Mills. An officer of the bank handling Kesar Sugar Mills has reported that the company owes Rs.90 crore to farmers and the government may acquire the 25,000 bags of sugar worth Rs.6.5 Crore and proceed would go to the farmers. It is very clear that UPCBL doesn't have the exclusive rights over this sugar stock and the so called security against the loan is merely an eyewash," Singh wrote in his letter dated 8 June, 2018.Singh is making efforts that balance sheet should not be certified as it would cause huge loss to the UPCBL in the next financial year. He also wants that after correction in the manipulated document, the income tax should return Rs.27 crore to the bank."I have come to know that Managing Director RK Singh has admitted security against loans to Kesar Sugar Mills that has already been pledged to Allahabad Bank, UCO Bank and Punjab National Bank. They have first charge of the security pledged in 2011 while UPCBL is left with residual charge, which is legally not tenable. In order to show profit Rs.138 Crore that was part of additional funds of bank was used to hide NPA of Simbhaoli sugars. We are planning to move to Lokayukta in this matter," Singh further wrote in his complaint.Original Source: If you thought getting towed was the worst thing that can happen when you park in front of a fire hydrant, think again. Firefighters responding to a house fire in Hamilton Township, N.J., on Thursday night broke the front windows of an Acura sedan to run a hose through it and posted photos of their work on Facebook as a warning to would-be scofflaws. The car was parked behind another car, making it impossible for the emergency crews to just push it out of the way. This is what happens when you park in front of a hydrantReminder, it is against the law to park in front of a fire hydrant, the post said. According to Fox News Senior Judicial Analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano, who has served as a New Jersey Superior Court Judge, firefighters are immune from liability for damages in cases like this, as long as they are directly related to their firefighting duties. A department spokesman told NJ.com that the fire was brought under control in around 20 minutes. Seven Utah teens are lucky to be alive after the car they were riding in drove off of a mountain highway and ended up in a tree 180 feet below. Police said that the Honda Accord was going 70 mph in a 40 mph zone on Highway 39 near Monte Cristo when it left the road just after midnight on Thursday with four boys and three girls, ranging in age from 14 to 17, on board. A 16-year-old was behind the wheel and two of the other passengers were riding in the trunk of the five-passenger car. Only four were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident, The Standard Examiner reported. Police said that neither drugs nor alcohol were involved in the accident. "Sounds like they were just out for a ride and went to the top of Monte and then turned around. And on the way down sounds like they were going way too fast. Failed to navigate a turn. And basically launched off the edge and tumbled down to where a tree had stopped them," a Weber County Sheriff's Office spokesman told The Deseret News. At least of the teens was ejected from the vehicle and all seven of them were hospitalized, with one in extremely critical condition, according to police. They were rescued after one of them crawled back up to the road to get cell service and make a call for help. Helicopters and ambulances were used to evacuate them from the scene. ABC/Rick PowellChrissy Teigen has been a consistent opponent of President Trump, and for his 72nd birthday Thursday, she and husband John Legend sarcastically celebrated by donating nearly $300,000 to the American Civil Liberties Union. The organization has sued the Trump administration several times for what it calls unconstitutional policies against immigrants. "John and I are outraged to see and hear the horror stories of immigrant families seeking asylum and refuge in America being ripped apart due to the inhumane policies of the Trump administration," Teigen tweeted. "These actions are cruel, anti-family and go against everything we believe this country should represent." Using the Presidents age as a focal point, Teigen and Legend each donated $72,000, plus an additional $72,000 for each of their children; their two-year-old daughter Luna and their one-month-old son Miles "The President celebrates his 72nd birthday today, she tweeted. On this auspicious occasion, in order to Make Trump's Birthday Great Again, each member of our family has donated $72,000 to the ACLU." "The ACLU is committed to defending the rights and humanity of these vulnerable families," she added. "In addition to fighting for immigrants' rights, they're advocating for reproductive rights, voting rights, criminal justice reform, LGBT rights, 1st amendment rights and holding the Trump administration accountable whenever possible." Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved The Supreme Court of Tennessee suspended Keith Alan Black effective Thursday from the practice of law for a period of three years, ordered restitution be paid in the amount of $2,250, and costs of the disciplinary proceeding be paid to the Board. A Petition for Discipline, Supplemental Petition for Discipline and Second Supplemental Petition for Discipline involving three disciplinary complaints were filed against Mr. Black. At the conclusion of the final hearing, the Hearing Panel determined Mr. Black failed to reasonably communicate with and diligently represent his clients, failed to notify clients of his temporary suspension from the practice of law, failed to withdraw as attorney of record in pending cases and abandoned his practice. Mr. Black also failed to respond to the Board regarding the disciplinary complaints. Mr. Blacks unethical conduct violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, Competence; 1.3 Diligence; 1.5, Fees; 1.16, Declining and Terminating Representation; 3.2, Expediting Litigation; 3.4, Fairness to Opposing Party and Counsel; 8.1, Bar Admission and Disciplinary Matters; and 8.4, Misconduct. Mr. Black must comply with the requirements of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Sections 18 and 30, regarding the obligations and responsibilities of suspended attorneys and may not return to the active practice of law until an order of reinstatement has been entered by the Supreme Court. Black 2676-3 rel.doc Leah Remini has been plucked away from the CBS roster following the cancellation of "Kevin Can Wait" and will join Fox in a new family comedy. The actress comes from the series where she starred alongside her familiar TV husband Kevin James in a show that served as an ad hoc follow up to their long-time hit series King of Queens, however "Kevin Can Wait" aired for just two seasons before being canceled by CBS in May. Remini was brought on to replace actres Erinn Hayes after Season 1. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Remini, 47, will play Jean in the new Fox sitcom. Her character is described as being ultra conservative with her social beliefs, but is liberal in her lifestyle and the way she and her wife, Betty, raise Jeans two boys. The series further adds to the intriguing storyline by inserting Jeans ex-husband, and father to her children, Richie in the mix. He will reportedly have a home in Jean's garage. The untitled series will be written by Rob McElhenney and Rob Orswell along with Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton and Nick Frenkel who teamed up on Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia" for FX. Despite the cancelation of Kevin Can wait, Remini continues to push forward creating new content. In addition to her new Fox role, Remini remains busy working on Season 3 of her Emmy award-winning docuseries Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, which is slated to premiere in the fall. Remini was a member for 30 years and her co-host Mike Rinder was a member for approximately 25 years and served as the executive director of the Office of Special Affairs before they both cut ties from the church. Before Ron Howard was celebrated as an Oscar-winning filmmaker or even starring as Richie Cunningham in Happy Days, he played Opie, the son of small-town Sheriff Andy Taylor The Andy Griffith Show and he still has fond memories about his time on set. It was warm and funny, like the show, the 64-year-old recently told Closer Weekly. I learned hard work and fun were not diametrically opposed. In fact, they could work hand in hand. CUE THE NOSTALGIA! FAVORITE TV REUNIONS The beloved 60s comedy series told the story of Taylor (Griffith), a widower who lives with Opie (Howard) and his Aunt Bee Taylor (Frances Bavier) in Mayberry, N.C. With virtually zero crimes to solve, Taylor spends his time calming down bug-eyed Deputy Barney Fife (Don Knotts). It aired from 1960 until 1968. Howard told the magazine Griffith and Knotts made it easy to be creative in front of cameras because they shared a mutual respect for each others talent. Andy was the worlds greatest audience for Don, he recalled. Don had Andy literally in tears once a week. [I learned] about the spirit of collaboration, which Ive carried with me forever. Griffiths daughter, Dixie Griffith, also told the magazine Knotts wasnt the only actor on set her father greatly admired. DON KNOTTS' DAUGHTER SAID SHE HAD TO LEAVE HIS DEATHBED TO LAUGH He loved Ron very, very much, she said. They had a deep and abiding respect for each other, and they remained friends till the end. But despite the shows lasting success, life wasnt always blissful for Griffith. In 1996, his son Andy Griffith Jr. died at age 37 after battling alcoholism. It affected my dad on a very, very deep level, said Dixie. I went to my brothers funeral service, but my dad wasnt able to go. There would be too many magazines and cameras, and it just wasnt a good place for him to be. Despite the family heartache, Dixie still remembers the happier times she spent with her father. During the summers, wed go back to North Carolina and play volleyball and water ski, she shared. I would play with him in the pool, and hed put me up on his shoulders. Hed always stop what he was doing to play with me." And when "Matlock" came to an end in 1995 after nine seasons, Griffith returned to the place he always considered to be home. "[North Carolina], thats where he was free," said Dixie. "He would go into stores barefoot or without a shirt. He didnt embody the Hollywood lifestyle. But Griffith never forgot his co-stars. When Knotts was dying of pneumonia in 2006, Griffith rushed to Los Angeles to be by his bedside. Knotts daughter Karen previously told Closer Weekly the two men maintained their loving bond until the end. One thing I will tell you, and one thing that is different from what has been written in books, was that Andy was never jealous of my dad, she said. He was his biggest fan and mentor. Everything later he was in, he wanted to get my dad in, too He was in my dads corner. Griffith died in 2012 at age 86 from a heart attack. Dixie and Ron agreed the stars legacy will always shine on. His fans still love him, said Dixie. He brings light, joy and laughter to millions. Hes remembered, for sure. Danny Mastersons rape accusers criticized Netflix on Friday for airing The Ranch episodes that feature the actor, who was fired following the allegations. The latest season of The Ranch hit Netflix on Friday. It includes Mastersons character, Rooster Bennett, as he departs from the show. Chrissie Carnell Bixler, one of Mastersons accusers, told the Daily Beast it is disgraceful that Netflix is airing episodes that feature the longtime Scientologist. We get it, Netflix. You dont believe us. You rub salt in our wounds, Bixler wrote in a statement to the Daily Beast. "Is Danny Masterson still co-executive producer of The Ranch? You knew you had to fire him, but you do a bunch of reshoots so you can finish our rapists storyline up and give him a respectable send-off. And there he is on TV in the new season." She added that Masterson should have been "fired on the spot," the way Kevin Spacey was dismissed from the Netflix series "House of Cards" following sexual misconduct allegations. "Kevin Spacey? Fired on the spot. Production halted. Ed Westwick? Louis C.K.? Are there active investigations into these accused men? Do you just not believe us? Do you agree with Jenni Weinman [Mastersons publicist] and the Church of Scientology when they say you cannot rape your wife or girlfriend? Are you afraid of Scientologys Fair Game? MILEY CYRUS DEFENDS SELENA GOMEZ AFTER DOLCE & GABBANA DESIGNER CALLS HER UGLY Masterson is a lifelong member of Scientology. Three of the four women who accused Masterson are members of Scientology, according to multiple reports. The Church of Scientology reportedly tried to cover up the allegations against Masterson. "The Church of Scientology adamantly denies the implication that the Church would ignore the alleged criminal behavior of anyone," the organization said in a statement. "What is being stated is utterly untrue. This has nothing to do with religion. This story is being manipulated to push a bigoted agenda. The Church follows all laws and cooperates with law enforcement. Any statement or implication to the contrary is false." Bobette Riales, another accuser, told the Daily Beast she thinks Masterson should have been taken off the air like Spacey and Louis C.K. For Netflix to have taken such stern reaction and action regarding Kevin or Louis and then also firing Danny as well Why now are they continuing to support in a half-ass way as a co-producer, meaning he still gets a check, and also airing shows after he was already fired? she said. In December, Netflix announced Masterson was written out of The Ranch following the allegations. Masterson said he was very disappointed" in Netflixs decision. DEGRASSI ACTOR LEFT OUT OF DRAKE MUSIC VIDEO REUNION SPEAKS OUT From day one, I have denied the outrageous allegations against me. I have never been charged with a crime, let alone convicted of one, he said. In this country, you are presumed innocent until proven guilty. However, in the current climate, it seems as if you are presumed guilty the moment you are accused. I understand and look forward to clearing my name once and for all. Netflix did not immediately say if Masterson would continue his executive producer credit on the show. The Los Angeles Police Department has been investigating rape allegations against Masterson since January, and news of the probe went public in March 2017. Editor's Note: This story has been updated to include a statement from the Church of Scientology. Meghan Markle is reportedly thrilled that her televised wedding to Prince Harry, and all the drama that unfolded prior to the big day, is officially over. The American actress married the British royal in front of 600 guests as well as millions of people across the world on May 19. And one friend claims shes joyfully settling into her new role as Duchess of Sussex. Shes so happy. Shes really enjoying her new life, a source close to the former Suits star told Us Weekly Friday. Its been very busy the last couple of months and shes booked up for the rest of the summer, but shes happy to finally be back in a routine and have the wedding be over. There are no travel plans booked as of now, besides work trips. Preparation for the 36-year-olds marriage to the 33-year-old prince was far from smooth sailing. Just days before Markle walked down the aisle, she announced her father Thomas Markle wouldnt attend the royal wedding following a medical emergency that required heart surgery. Sadly, my father will not be attending our wedding, she said in a statement released by Kensington Palace. I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health. I would like to thank everyone who has offered generous messages of support. Please know how much Harry and I look forward to sharing our special day with you on Saturday. Kensington Palace then announced Markle would be walked down the aisle by Prince Charles, Harrys father. Thomas surgery followed days of press surrounding his health and speculation on whether or not hed attend the royal wedding. He also stirred headlines when it was revealed he staged paparazzi photos that showed him preparing for the big day. His daughter, Markles half-sister Samantha Grant, claimed she had set up the paparazzi shoot for positive publicity. Markles estranged half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr. also wrote a slamming open letter to his famous sibling, in which he told her then-fiance that its not too late to stop the wedding. He then penned a new note, which was published by In Touch Weekly, asking for an invitation. Grant also had harsh words for her sister. In April, Grant sounded off on Twitter, accusing the prince of excluding several family members from the wedding. In several interviews leading up to the wedding, Grant revealed she was writing a tell-all, titled The Diary of Princess Pushys Sister. But these days, Markle is more focused on making her mark as a new member of the royal family. Not long after she and Harry reportedly returned from their honeymoon in East Africa, she dived into her royal duties and stepped out for her first solo event with Queen Elizabeth II. The 92-year-monarch and her granddaughter-in-law traveled by train to Cheshire, England to open a new bridge on Thursday. Markle, who was all smiles at the engagement, reportedly gushed to attendees that Harry is the best husband ever. The source told the celebrity news magazine Markle is building her confidence after the wedding. Meghan was really nervous walking down the aisle, said the source. She had butterflies the entire morning and was very anxious about making it down to the altar. Meghan sent a handwritten thank you note to all her close friends who attended the wedding. And while Markle has ended her acting career to focus on the new chapter of her life, she could potentially be honored by Hollywood. A rep for USA Network confirmed to Fox News Wednesday her name was submitted for the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category for her role as Rachel Zane in the networks legal drama Suits. Meghan Markle was entered by the awards consultants for the USA Network, a Television Academy spokesperson told Fox News. They verified that she and/or her reps were aware that the entry was being made and had advised to go ahead and proceed with the submission. Markle has not previously won any major awards for her character, meaning this could be her last chance to receive the prestigious honor. A Red Lobster in Minnesota is being accused of mistreating a Muslim family after reportedly discriminating against them during Ramadan. The Minnesota Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) filed a complaint against the Rochester restaurant, demanding they take remedial action, including a written apology, for allegedly violating the customers civil rights. WAFFLE HOUSE CUSTOMERS HANDCUFFED OVER 50-CENT PRICE DISPUTE According to the complaint, the family reportedly asked for water multiple times while they were waiting to break their fast, but hadnt received any after 30 minutes. Ramadan is a Muslim holiday in which fasting is observed from sunrise to sunset. When they decided to complain to the manager about the way they were being treated, suggesting it was due to bias, the employee reportedly said, You people love to play the race card whenever you can. After the family threatened to call the corporate office to complain about their treatment, the manager allegedly told them to go ahead and that no one would believe them because it was going to be your word against mine. At this time, the complaint states that a server got involved in the conversation, claiming to know all about Ramadan. A Muslim hit my car the other day because she was too hungry to drive in Ramadan. I almost got injured because of Ramadan, the server allegedly said. MAN ASKED TO LEAVE RESTAURANT OVER 'LARGE' CROSS NECKLACE, HE CLAIMS CAIR-MN is seeking compensation for the discriminatory treatment, which would be donated to charity. The organization additionally wants Red Lobster to update its anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies and have all employees take sensitivity training with an instructor approved by CAIR-MN. It is unconscionable that a family seeking to observe their religious principles would be so harshly treated by those paid to serve the public and who are legally bound to offer that service without discrimination, CAIR-MN Civil Rights Attorney Ellen Longfellow said in a press release. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS A spokesperson for Red Lobster issued the following statement on the matter to KROC: We welcome everyone in our restaurants for a great seafood dining experience. All our guests should be treated equally and given the respect they deserve. Since this is an open legal matter, I cant share any additional information at this time. The rumored renaming of a classic British bread pudding in the U.K.s House of Parliament restaurant has sparked great debate and left many Twitter commentators up in arms. The Telegraph reported earlier this week that the Strangers Dining Room, the 19th-century restaurant used by Members of Parliament (MPs) for formal entertaining, has begun referencing the iconic dessert as Spotted Richard instead, in order to spare the clientele their blushes," the outlet wrote. MP Andrea Jenkyns told the Telegraph that she was forced to bite on my lip to stop myself from laughing when her server offered here a slice of Spotted Richard as she dined there that day. HOUSTON POLICE OFFICER BUYS WALMART GROCERIES FOR DIABETIC MAN AFTER HIS FOOD WAS STOLEN I had to ask twice, just to be sure. They have a traditional desserts section, which changes daily, so I asked what the dessert was and thats when they said it, she told The Telegraph. The outlet further claims that four waiters confirmed the name change when reporters approached them, but failed to share any more information beyond the tidbit that Richard was less likely to cause a stir with guests. WENDY'S TAKES TWITTER JAB AT TIGER WOODS AFTER US OPEN TRIPLE-BOGEY Meanwhile, a representative for the House of Commons denied the rebranding rumor, stating that while there are many traditional hot puddings served up in Parliaments official eateries, they are not always responsible for what staffers call the dishes in daily business. We are not always able to control how staff may refer to dishes, the spokesperson said. The rumored rebranding has also sparked backlash on social media, from some current and former government officials. Call a dick a dick, I say! MP Michael Fabricant exclaimed on Twitter on June 14, while former UKIP leader Nigel Farage similarly declared the renaming PC baloney. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Twitter users, too, were quick to voice their dissonance with the Spotted Richard news. Political correctness gone mad I tell ye, one detractor said. ...And these people run our country, another agreed. According to Metro, dick was an old English term for pudding. The now-controversially-named Spotted Dick, made from suet, dried fruit and custard, is said to have been first served up by French chef Alexis Benoit Soyer in 1849. Two New Jersey brothers who admitted bribing doctors in a $100 million health care scheme were sentenced to prison Wednesday. In many instances, their company wined and dined doctors at fancy restaurants, took some on private jet trips and even provided some with prostitutes, one brother testified. In many instances, their company wined and dined doctors at fancy restaurants, took some on private jet trips and even provided some with prostitutes, one brother testified. That brother, David Nicoll, 44, was considered the mastermind behind the seven-year scheme. He received a six-year sentence for his role in a fraud authorities say was one of the largest of its kind ever uncovered. David's younger brother, Scott, received a 43-month sentence. Both sentences were far below the 25-year combined maximum sentences the brothers faced after they pleaded guilty in 2013 to conspiracy to bribe doctors and money laundering through their New Jersey company, Biodiagnostic Laboratory Services. Their subsequent cooperation with the government helped prosecutors earn more than 50 guilty pleas or convictions. "There can be little doubt that your conduct was the most egregious conduct that occurred in this case," U.S. District Judge Stanley Chesler told David Nicoll. "You were the center of this operation and you were at the core of this spider web that you wove. You took a company that was making nothing and you made yourself a big fortune. And let's not kid ourselves, it was for one reason: greed. You wanted the money." "You took a company that was making nothing and you made yourself a big fortune. And let's not kid ourselves, it was for one reason: greed. You wanted the money." U.S. District Judge Stanley Chesler David Nicoll was a trained nurse and former pharmaceutical sales rep when he borrowed money from his father-in-law to buy a struggling lab in northern New Jersey in 2005. Within a year, the Nicoll brothers were bribing doctors to steer blood samples to BLS for testing. The brothers' incomes drastically increased. Their scheme, which occurred between 2006 and 2013, involved signing bogus agreements to rent office space in doctors' offices. When New Jersey law discontinued that practice, they switched to bribing doctors with bogus consultant agreements paid for by shell corporations formed specifically for that purpose. Nicoll testified last year that he dealt with "probably hundreds" of doctors during his years at BLS. When asked how many had been bribed, he replied: "The large majority." The U.S. attorney's office estimated at least $100 million of the revenue the company made between 2006 and 2013 derived from the bribery scheme. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Dozens of people, including children as young as 6, were exposed to a dangerous mixture of pool chemicals Thursday in Northern California, officials said. At least 35 people were exposed to the combination of pool chemicals muriatic acid and chlorine, creating a gas cloud at the neighborhood Shadow Brook Swim Club in Northern Californias Almaden Valley, the San Jose Fire Department told the East Bay Times. The hazmat situation caused people to report nausea, vomiting, trouble breathing and other symptoms, Bill Murphy, Santa Clara County's fire captain, told KTVU Fox 2. Firefighters came in 10 ambulances, decontaminated the victims and transported them to nine different local hospitals, fire officials said. We are taking this very seriously, San Jose Fire Capt. Mitch Matlow said at the scene, according to the East Bay Times. That combination of chemicals can release a gas cloud that can cause whats called secondary drowning. The lungs start swelling up with its own fluid, the fluid blocks the airwaves and you drown in your own fluids. Lindsay Tarasco, 17, told the newspaper she was teaching a group of 7- and 8-year-olds when she noticed a few mothers urging everyone out of the pool. I smelled something, so I took a deep breath in. Bad mistake, she said. I realized there was definitely something poisonous in the air. Tarasco got her swim students out of the pool, and as they ran away from the smell, she described the scene as a lot of chaos, according to the newspaper. The kids were definitely freaked out, Tarasco said. A couple of them were sick, everyone was coughing, couldnt breathe. Matlow said exposure to a high level mixture of muriatic acid and chlorine could potentially lead to serious health consequences. Long term, those patients could end up on ventilators and be attached to a breathing machine for quite some time until their lungs heal enough to breathe on their own, he said. There were an estimated 4,876 visits to emergency departments in 2012 that occurred after pool chemical-associated health events, the East Bay Times reported, citing a 2017 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report. Two little girls in Florida were in for the perfect Fathers Day surprise when their dad came home after being deployed for six months. Army Sgt. 1st Class Grant Bolin left for South Korea on assignment in January, but was recently given two weeks of leave, Fox 13 News reports. DAD BUYS BILLBOARD FOR SON AFTER SCHOOL DOESN'T RECOGNIZE HIM AS VALEDICTORIAN The father of two decided he wanted to see his young daughters, three-year-old Madison and five-year-old Audrey, as soon as possible, so their school helped arrange the surprise. The girls, who both attend Learning Experience in Lakewood Ranch, were on a special playdate set up by the staff, complete with costumed characters, when Bolin walked in. Sarah, Madison and Audreys mom, posted video of the reunion on Facebook, which had been viewed over 1,000 times as of Friday afternoon. The girls reaction to seeing daddy for the first time in 6 months! Be still my heart! she wrote. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS As soon as Madison and Audrey caught sight of their dad, they both shrieked with excitement and ran over for a big hug. "I cried. Everybody cried," Sarah told FOX 13 News. Though it has not yet been a month since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex tied the knot, Stella McCartney has announced she will be producing a limited supply of replicas of Meghan Markles evening reception gown, a look she though of as Markle's last chance to show her "human side" before taking on her very austere, very serious new role. The acclaimed British fashion designer plans to release 46 replicas of the halter-necked, backless, fit-and-flare gown the 36-year-old former actress wore to the May 19 evening reception at Frogmore House on her wedding day, Page Six reports. MEGHAN MARKLE COVERS SHOULDERS IN GIVENCHY DRESS FOR FIRST ROYAL OUTING WITH QUEEN ELIZABETH The surprising announcement comes with a catch, naturally: Shoppers must email McCartney's signature London flagship store expressing their interest in order to receive a personal invitation to shop the dresses from McCartney's "Made with Love" capsule collection. The look-alikes will retail for roughly $4,656, with 23 available in white and 23 available in black, according to Page Six. Fashionistas who arent lucky enough to score one of the 46 dresses need not fret, as McCartney announced plans to expand the Made with Love capsule into a spring 2019 bridal collection. On June 13, McCartney divulged to BBC that she was very proud that Prince Harrys bride approached her to design her second look for the big day in a look that ultimately proved to be very much her dress. The role that she's taken on is very austere, it's very serious and I think there's a great weight that she has acquired [...] and I think she takes it very seriously, McCartney said, per Reuters. I think it was the last moment that she could reflect, sort of the other side to her and, you know... the joy, and the human within her." MEGHAN MARKLE CRITICIZED FOR INAPPROPRIATE OFF THE SHOULDER DRESS AT QUEENS BIRTHDAY PARADE I was aware that we had to get the right positioning, the right pace, the right voice. There was a delicate line, she added. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS When BBC asked McCartney if she was disappointed not have had a large role in the May 19 festivities, she coyly brushed off the question. "I'm not answering that question," the 46-year-old designer exclaimed. "That's ridiculous! I'm not answering that question." An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has resulted in a former employee with the Monroe County Sheriffs Office being charged with official misconduct. At the request of 10th District Attorney General Steve Crump, on Aug. 30, 2016, investigators with that office and TBI agents began investigating allegations of official misconduct by Austin Byrum, Jr. At that time, Byrum was a captain at the Monroe County Sheriffs Office. During the course of the investigation, agents developed information that indicated Byrum was responsible for sexual contact with an inmate, and introducing contraband into a penal institution. He is no longer an employee of the Sheriffs Office. On June 6, the Monroe County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Austin Benton Byrum, 65, with one count of official misconduct, one count of sexual contact with an inmate or prisoner, and one count of introduction of contraband into a penal institution telecommunication device. On June 8, Byrum was booked into the Monroe County Jail and released after posting a $5,000 bond. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! A week ago it was reported that Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz would finally be releasing his report on how Obama-era leaders at the department and the FBI badly botched their 2016 investigation of Hillary Clintons serious mishandling of sensitive government emails when she was secretary of state. But it seems that once the release date became public, deep state actors and the Trump-hating media went to work. A strategic leaker fed an unverified rumor to the media Wednesday about President Trumps former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, to distract the public from focusing on the highly inflammatory and damning IGs report that was issued Thursday. This political tactic is used routinely, but Americans are smart enough to recognize that is was part of the lefts coordinated witch hunt to take down President Trump. Now that the IG report has been made public, the American people can see the truth for themselves. The truth is that certain high-level bad actors in the FBI wanted desperately to stop candidate Donald Trump from becoming president of the United States. One new text message disclosed in Horowitzs report is a smoking gun. On August 8, 2016, FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, who were romantically involved, exchanged a text that confirmed our worst nightmares. [Trumps] not ever going to become president, right? Right?! Page texted Strzok. No. No he wont. Well stop it, Strzok responded. Think about that. Let those words sink in for a moment. This text exchange shows beyond any doubt that unelected bureaucrats wanted to use their immensely powerful investigative authority to actively try to subvert the will of the people about who should become the next president of the United States. This is high-level government corruption and a direct threat to democracy. No wonder those on the Trump-hating left are doing everything they can to muddy the water. They dont want the American people to realize that Trump-haters in the deep state were making politically motivated investigative decisions to try to stop a presidential candidate who they opposed. Strzok and Pages cover story for the newly disclosed text doesnt pass muster and is absurd on its face. The new report says they told IG Horowitz that if they truly wanted to effect the presidential election, they wouldnt have kept the Russia investigation confidential and out of the public domain. The facts tell a different story. CNN reported on August 19, 2016 11 days after the texts in question that FBI and Justice Department prosecutors are conducting an investigation into possible US ties to alleged corruption of the former pro-Russian president of Ukraine, including the work of Paul Manafort's firm, according to multiple US law enforcement officials. One cant help but wonder about the source or sources of this investigative report. Manafort resigned as chairman of the Trump presidential campaign on the same day the CNNs report came out. So any negative news about Manafort was clearly designed to hurt Donald Trump, even though there was absolutely no connection between Trump and Manaforts work on behalf of Ukraine. Heres the bottom line: Peter Strzok was intimately involved in the Hillary Clinton email investigation. He then went to work for Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation of Russias interference in the 2016 president election. Strzok was also one of the agents present at then-National Security Adviser Michael Flynns interview with the FBI. How can the American people possibly come to a conclusion that these investigations arent corrupted by politics? Horowitz also disclosed that another FBI attorney who worked on both the Clinton and Russia investigations left the Mueller team earlier this year, after politically biased instant messages were discovered. One of the shocking messages from that attorney seemed to allude to the anti-Trump effort, stating: Viva le Resistance. Even highly motivated political operatives inside the FBI failed to produce any evidence pointing to collusion with Russia by the Trump campaign, validating President Trumps frequent statement of fact: There was no collusion. Indeed, the report found ample evidence of strong pro-Clinton and anti-Trump political bias inside the FBI. IG Horowitz was troubled enough by the behavior of some FBI employees assigned to the Hillary Clinton email investigation that his report concluded that they cast a cloud over the probe and sowed doubt the FBIs work on, and its handling of the investigation. The inspector general referred five FBI employees to the FBI to determine whether their actions violate the FBIs Offense Code of Conduct. The Horowitz report is extremely troubling and needs to be thoroughly dissected. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and FBI Director Christopher Wray need to take this report to heart and get their houses in order. They should start by firing Peter Strzok. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitzs 500-page report covers plenty, but it can be distilled to two words he uses to describe the Federal Bureau of Investigation during the 2016 election: insubordination and bias. Two terms that are chilling in connection with such a powerful agency. That wont be the message from Democrats and most of the press, who will focus on a few episodes they will claim cost Hillary Clinton an election. Watch for them to blame former FBI Director James Comey, whom the report faults for a serious error of judgment, for having concealed information from superiors, and for violation of or disregard for departmental and bureau policies. True, the report is damning about the man who lectures Americans on higher loyalty. It describes how an insubordinate Mr. Comey was, as early as April 2016, considering how to cut his Justice Department bosses from a public statement exonerating Hillary Clinton. He hid this scheme for fear they would instruct him not to do itand therefore was able to avoid supervision. He then violated long-standing Department practice and protocol by using his July 5 press conference for criticizing Clintons uncharged conduct. In October, he made public that the FBI had reopened the investigation, even though the Justice Department recommended he not do so. Mr. Comey went rogue, and President Trump had plenty of justification in firing him in May 2017. Yet it is the reports findings on the wider culture of the FBI and Justice Department that are most alarming. The report depicts agencies that operate outside the rules to which they hold everybody else, and that showed extraordinary bias while investigating two presidential candidates. Keep reading Kimberley Strassel's column in the Wall Street Journal. An unidentified FBI employee described Trump voters as "uneducated" and "lazy POS" the day after the 2016 presidential election, according to the Justice Department watchdog's bombshell report on the Hillary Clinton email investigation. The employee was responding to instant messages from "FBI Attorney 2," whom DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz indicated was one of five FBI employees who had been referred for investigation and possible disciplinary action over politically charged messages. Horowitz said Attorney 2 had been assigned to the Clinton investigation "early in 2016." Approximately one year later, the report said Attorney 2 was made the "primary FBI attorney" assigned to the Russia investigation. IG REFERS FIVE FBI EMPLOYEES FOR INVESTIGATION, AS MORE ANTI-TRUMP MESSAGES REVEALED On the morning of Nov. 9, 2016, Attorney 2 messaged the employee: "I am so stressed about what I could have done differently." The employee answered: "Don't stress. None of that mattered," an apparent reference to the FBI's investigation of Clinton. When the attorney said: "I dont know. We broke the momentum," the employee answered: "That is not so." "All the people who were initially voting for her would not, and were not, swayed by any decision the FBI put out," the employee wrote. "Trumps supporters are all poor to middle class, uneducated, lazy POS that think he will magically grant them jobs for doing nothing. They probably didn't watch the debates, aren't fully educated on his policies, and are stupidly wrapped up in his unmerited enthusiasm." "POS" is an acronym that typically means "piece[s] of s---." "Attorney 2" later messaged the employee: "I'm just devastated. I can't wait until I can leave today and just shut off the world for the next four days." He later added: "I just can't imagine the systematic disassembly of the progress we made over the last 8 years. [The Affordable Care Act] is gone. Who knows if the rhetoric about deporting people, walls, and crap is true. I honestly feel like there is going to be a lot more gun issues, too, the crazies won finally. This is the tea party on steroids. And the GOP is going to be lost, they have to deal with an incumbent in 4 years. We have to fight this again. Also [Vice President Mike] Pence is stupid." When asked about the messages, "Attorney 2" said the two were "just discussing our personal feelings ... between friends." He also told the watchdog that the "so stressed about what I could have done differently" message referred to the length of time investigators took to examine Clinton emails found on former Congressman Anthony Weiner's laptop. "[I]f we would have opened a few weeks earlier, as opposed to at that time, two weeks before the election, I think it, you know, it would have given more time for the FBIs actions and, and required and, and necessary investigation to, to occur to allow the, the public a chance to make their own [decisions]." The Nov. 9 exchange of messages was one of three that Horowitz flagged as raising "concerns of potential bias" on the part of "Attorney 2." Another exchange took place on Oct. 28, 2016, the day then-FBI Director James Comey notified Congress that he was reopening the Clinton email investigation after emails were found on Weiner's laptop. According to Horowitz, the attorney send messages to four separate FBI employees that referred to Comey's letter as "the destruction of the Republic." "I mean, I never really liked the Republic anyway," the attorney messaged two different FBI employees, while a message to a third read: "As I have initiated the destruction of the republic.... Would you be so kind as to have a coffee with me this afternoon?" A fourth message read: "I'm clinging to small pockets of happiness in the dark time of the Republics destruction." When questioned by the inspector general's office, Attorney 2 described the language in the Oct. 28 messages as "hyperbolic" and "off-the cuff commentary to friends." He also denied that his "personal political feelings or beliefs" played any role in his work on the Clinton or Russia investigation. President Obama was one of a select handful of individuals who had "direct contact" with Hillary Clinton on her private email account, Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz indicated in his bombshell report Thursday on the Clinton email probe. In a footnote, the DOJ watchdog notes that "FBI analysts and Prosecutor 2 told us that former President Barack Obama was one of the 13 individuals with whom Clinton had direct contact using her clintonemail.com account." The IG report adds that Obama used a pseudonym for his username and that, after intelligence analysts questioned whether Obama's communications contained classified information, it was determined the emails sent and received were not classified. SEVEN BIG TAKEAWAYS FROM THE BOMBSHELL DOJ IG REPORT Obama said in a 2015 interview to CBS News that he learned about it "the same time everybody else learned it, through news reports." Press Secretary Josh Earnest acknowledged shortly after those remarks attracted attention that Obama and Clinton did exchange emails. "The president, as I think many people expected, did over the course of his first several years in office, trade emails with the secretary of state," he said. Despite speculation at the time that the president would have noticed Clinton was not using a ".gov" account, Earnest said Obama nevertheless was unaware of Clinton's personal email server and how she was following federal records law. Elsewhere in the IG report, the IG asked investigators why they made no effort to obtain the personal devices that Clintons senior aides were using at the State Department, since those devices were "potential sources of Clinton's ... classified emails" or places where unauthorized classified emails were being stored. In response, officials on the probe claimed that "the culture of mishandling classified information at the State Department" was so pervasive that it "made the quantity of potential sources of evidence particularly vast" -- a rationale that the IG implied was unconvincing, because investigators could simply have obtained personal devices for a handful of key Clinton aides. Investigators also claimed the State Department would be the better agency to handle that kind of deep-dive into Clinton's emails. In the end, Horowitz concluded that the issue was a "judgment call" and that there was no evidence improper political considerations influenced investigators' decisions.nd for a question to comment. Rudy Giuliani, President Trumps personal lawyer, called Thursday for the suspension of Special Counsel Robert Muellers probe into alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia in light of the release of a watchdog report that criticized key figures in the Hillary Clinton email probe. Giuliani, who appeared on Fox News "Hannity," said the U.S. Department of Justice should dismiss all those in the phony Trump investigation and bring in FBI agents from the New York office to probe former FBI Director James Comey, special counsel Lisa Page and FBI Deputy Assistant Director Peter Strzok. "I believe that (Deputy Attorney General) Rod Rosenstein and Jeff Sessions have a chance to redeem themselves and that chance comes about tomorrow," he said. It doesnt go beyond tomorrow. Trump has been warned by both Republicans and Democrats about potential ramifications for firing Mueller or Rosenstein. Politico reported that Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in April that the firings would likely lead to calls for a Trump impeachment. The nearly 600-page report, which was compiled by DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz, was released Thursday and was critical of Comeys handling of the Clinton email investigation. The report did not second-guess Comey's conclusion that Clinton should not have been prosecuted. The watchdogs report outlined new information concerning apparent bias at the FBI and DOJ that he says undermines the public trust in each agency. FBI lovers Strzok and Page were involved in the Clinton email probe and an FBI inquiry into the election. They sent anti-Trump text messages, including one dated Aug. 8, 2016, where Page asked Strzok, [Trumps] not ever going to be president, right? Right?! and Strzok responded, ,No. No he wont. Well stop it. Strzok was later dropped from Muellers team. Page has since retired. "Tomorrow, Mueller should be suspended and honest people should be brought in, impartial people to investigate these people like Strzok," Giuliani said. "Strzok should be in jail by the end of next week." The watchdog identified five other unnamed individuals, including two agents and one FBI attorney who worked on the Russia probe until earlier this year, who made "statements of hostility toward then-candidate Trump and statements of support for candidate Clinton," and improperly mixed "political opinions" with case-related discussions. According to the report, one FBI attorney who was later assigned to Mueller's Russia probe until earlier this year messaged another colleague Viva le resistance after Trump's election. The attorney acknowleged the message could create the "perception" of bias. The IG report noted that it was unable to connect the officials' apparent political bias to specific investigative decisions. Nevertheless, the IG referred the five FBI officials for further investigation. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said the report "reaffirmed the president's suspicions about Comey's conduct and the political bias amongst some of the members of the FBI." Giuliani, who said he was speaking for himself and not the president, said Sessions should step up and save his department. Fox News' Gregg Re and the Associated Press contributed to this report. A Democratic congressman from New York state torched Nancy Pelosi this week, calling her "aloof, frenetic and misguided," as he joined a growing group of rebel Democrats who say they wont back the Californian for another term as the party's leader in the House. U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins, from the Buffalo area, told the Buffalo News that Pelosi has shown a lack of leadership and failed to produce an alternative to President Trump's agenda, such as pursuing a Medicare expansion or an investment in infrastructure. "I will not support her," Higgins said in the interview. "She's listening, but this is my conclusion: She's aloof, frenetic and misguided. "I'm giving voice to a frustration that I hear every single day," he added, referring to other House Democrats. "I don't want to call anybody out. But this is the conversation that is taking place." Pelosi responded to Higgins' criticism, saying his concerns were largely based on their disagreement regarding his bill that would expand Medicare to people aged 50 to 64. The New Yorker's comments about Pelosi came as multiple prospective candidates and sitting members of Congress expressed concerns about their 78-year-old leader, who was House speaker for four years before becoming minority leader in 2011. DEMOCRATIC HOUSE HOPEFUL PUTS OUT AD SAYING HE WONT VOTE FOR NANCY PELOSI AMID GOP ATTACKS Clarke Tucker, a Democrat running for a congressional seat held by Republicans in Arkansas, released a new ad this week in which he distanced himself from Pelosi, saying he wont back her if elected. The video follows relentless GOP attacks trying to link him with Pelosi. "[Republican Congressman French Hill] opened his campaign by attacking me, knowing full well that I've said from day one that I won't vote for Nancy Pelosi. We're better than that," Tucker says in the ad. U.S. House Rep. Conor Lamb from Pennsylvania, who won a special election in March in a historically GOP district that Trump had won by nearly 20 points, also said he wont vote for Pelosi and campaigned as a moderate Democrat. Higgins remains particularly concerned about the partys ability to come up with policies that could persuade the traditional Democratic voters, who supported Trump in 2016, to come back to the Democratic Party. "Our leadership is out of touch with what is going on, not only in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan but in Cheektowaga, West Seneca, Hamburg, Orchard Park and Lancaster," he told the newspaper, mentioning the states and municipalities Trump won in the presidential election. He adds that the party needs a clearer vision, a stronger leader and offer more than just opposition to the White House if the party wants to retake the control after the midterm elections. When she's on the floor, she's all over the place; she's frenetic. I think she lacks gravitas. U.S. House Rep. Brian Higgins on Nancy Pelosi "The only thing I have is a voice and a vote, and I have to use that to try to get my conference to recognize that resistance to Trump at best is only half of it," he said. "We have to offer something affirmative." Speaking of 2020, the Democrat remained skeptical. "We are not ready for 2020. We're lacking a clear, coherent and compelling narrative, he said. One reason why the party isnt yet ready to challenge Trump, according to Higgins, is the leader of the House. When she's on the floor, she's all over the place; she's frenetic, he said of Pelosi. I think she lacks gravitas. The country is still digesting Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitzs scathing report on the FBI and the DOJs handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation, but more bombshells could be looming from the same team of investigators. Horowitz, a former federal prosecutor, announced in March that he is probing allegations of government surveillance abuse, in light of memos released on Capitol Hill about FBI and DOJ efforts to obtain FISA warrants to surveil Trump campaign adviser Carter Page as part of its Russia investigation. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has also said U.S. Attorney John Huber is investigating claims of FBI and DOJ misconduct related to these actions, noting that Huber would be conducting his work from outside the Washington D.C. area and in cooperation with Horowitz. Not much else is known about Horowitzs review, though in March, the inspector generals office said it will consider including other issues that may arise during the course of the review if circumstances warrant. The Clinton review took about 18 months. On Thursday, Horowitz released his nearly 600-page report scrutinizing the actions of numerous figures who played a key role in the Justice Department and FBI's investigation of Clintons email practices while she was secretary of state. That report specifically criticized former FBI Director James Comey, FBI official Peter Strzok, Obama era-Attorney General Loretta Lynch and former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, as well as other officials. While the report cited instances of bias - or the appearance of bias - Horowitzs review found no evidence that the conclusions by the prosecutors were affected by bias or other improper considerations. But the report made clear it was only speaking to the Clinton investigation. Most of the officials criticized in Thursdays report also played significant roles in the early days of the Russia probe, which is looking at whether anyone on the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia during the 2016 election. TRUMP UNLOADS ON COMEY A DAY AFTER DAMNING IG REPORTS RELEASE Most of my fellow citizens would say, yeah, I want to know what Russia was doing to us in 2016 but I also want the person that is finding out and investigating it to be free of bias and free of taint, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., said Thursday on Fox News Special Report. One of the most stunning findings concerns texts between agent Peter Strzok and bureau colleague Lisa Page. According to the report, Page texted Strzok in August 2016 and said: [Trumps] not ever going to become president, right? Right?! No. No he wont. Well stop it, Strzok responded. Strzok was a lead investigator on the Clinton case and later worked the Russia investigation before being removed from that assignment. On Friday, President Trump took aim at Strzok, pointing out his role in the Russia probe. FBI Agent Peter Strzok, who headed the Clinton & Russia investigations, texted to his lover Lisa Page, in the IG Report, that well stop candidate Trump from becoming President, Trump tweeted. Doesnt get any lower than that! He also tweeted that he now has to "beat a phony Witch Hunt and all of the dishonest people covered in the IG Report." Fox News Brooke Singman contributed to this report. President Trump on Friday morning said he would not sign a moderate immigration bill currently working its way through Congress -- although by the afternoon, the White House seemed to try walking it back, prolonging a day of confusion amid Congress' long fight for an immigration policy overhaul. In an interview with Fox and Friends, Trump said that while he was looking at both immigration proposals in Congress one spearheaded by Republican Rep. Bob Goodlatte of Virginia and the more moderate bill proposed by House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis. he would not sign Ryans so-called compromise bill because it lacked an emphasis on border security. I certainly wont sign the more moderate one, Trump said outside the White House on the eight-year anniversary of the Obama administrations announcement of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. I need a bill that gives this country tremendous border security. A senior White House official speaking on condition of anonymity, however, told The Associated Press later in the day that Trump misspoke. The official said Trump believed that Fox News' Steve Doocy was referring to a separate push by Republican moderates to force a floor vote on a number of immigration bills not the compromise bill. The President fully supports both the Goodlatte bill and the House leadership bill. In this morning's interview, he was commenting on the discharge petition in the House, and not the new package. He would sign either the Goodlatte or the leadership bills, White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah told reporters Friday evening. Ryans 293-page bill, which was presented to lawmakers on Thursday, does include a number of measures aimed at winning over the GOPs more moderate factions and even Democrats such as providing a path to citizenship for young immigrants. But the bill also allocates $25 billion to border security including technology, roadways and money for Trumps controversial border wall authorizes National Guard troops at the U.S.-Mexico border, and calls for the deployment of a biometric entry-exit system for all entry ports that has long been under debate. PRESIDENT TRUMP UNLOADS ON COMEY, 'SCUM ON TOP' OF FBI A DAY AFTER DAMNING IG REPORT'S RELEASE Furthermore, it shifts away from the nation's longtime preference for family immigration to a new system that prioritizes entry based on merits and skills. Despite the compromises made in Ryans bill, Democratic lawmakers and a number of immigration advocates have voiced strong opposition to the measure and hammered the GOP over the family detention issue. Ryans measure proposes keeping children in detention with their parents, undoing 2-decade-old rules that limit the time minors can be held in custody a change sought by the White House. Trump tweeted on Friday that the Democrats were forcing families to be broken apart and added that any immigration bill needs full funding for the border wall. The Trump administration is also weighing whether or not to build a tent city in Texas to house between 1,000 and 5,000 unaccompanied minors. GOP MODERATES' BID TO FORCE DACA VOTE FALLS 2 SIGNATURES SHORT House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called the legislation "nothing more than a cruel codification of President Trump's anti-immigrant agenda that abandons our nation's heritage as a beacon of hope and opportunity." Kerri Talbot, the policy director at Immigration Hub, called it a "wish list" from top White House immigration adviser Stephen Miller that "would allow the Trump administration to jail children for long periods of time." GOP leaders have said they may take up the family detentions issue separately, if needed, as the crisis of children being separated from their parents continues. Administration officials have said they need more money for detention beds to house the influx of immigrants resulting from the administration's "zero tolerance" policy of stepped-up border enforcement. MEXICAN MAN DEPORTED THREE TIMES SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON With Trump saying he wont sign the compromise bill that leaves Goodlattes more conservative legislation under consideration. The bill titled the Securing Americas Future Act is much more in line with the presidents stance on immigration. It authorizes the construction of the border wall, calls for the hiring of thousands more Border Patrol agents and Customs and Border Protection officers and also permits the detention of children apprehended at the border with their parents. Goodlattes bill is not perfect, but it is better than Ryans, Mark Krikorian, the executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, a conservative think tank based in Washington D.C., told Fox News. Ryans bill not only provides amnesty for people with DACA, but adds even more people. DACA, the Obama-era policy that allows children brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents to apply for a renewable two-year referral from deportation and to become eligible for a work permit, has been one of the most hotly contested issues in the immigration debate since it was announced eight years ago. The Trump administration announced in September of last year plans to end the program and gave Congress six months to pass the so-called DREAM Act, which has been batted around in Congress since 2001 and would provide a path to citizenship for the 700,000 DACA recipients. Goodlattes immigration bill would only give DACA recipients a three-year renewable legal status and the use of existing paths to permanent resident status, while Ryans legislation provides a path to citizenship for as many as 1.8 million young people who have been living in the U.S. illegally since childhood. Eventually, young people, who are under 31 years old and have been in the country since at least June 2007, could begin to be awarded green cards based on a point system. It prioritizes education, English language proficiency, military service and continued employment. After that, they could apply for citizenship, as is the situation under current law for those with permanent legal status. Given the support of moderate Republicans and some Democrats, Ryans compromise bill has the chance to make it out of the House, but Goodlattes measure has been opposed by Democrats and many centrists in the GOP. Neither bill is expected to make it through the Senate even if they pass in the House. Fox News' Kelly Chernenkoff, Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was jailed Friday after a federal judge revoked his $10 million bail based on new witness tampering charges brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Washington, D.C., Federal District Judge Amy Berman Jackson sent the onetime power player to jail pending trial moments after he pleaded not guilty to the charges, brought against him and his associate, Konstantin Kilimnik of Moscow. Mueller accused the pair of obstructing justice in the investigation into Russian meddling and potential collusion with Trump campaign associates in 2016. Kilimnik was not in court on Friday. He is reportedly in Moscow. Judge Amy Berman Jackson said she "struggled with this decision." She said the legal standard at play was whether he was a "danger" to the public, meaning was there the possibility of Manafort committing future crimes if allowed to remain out of jail. The judge rejected the defense's arguments that there was no clear order from the court over who the defendant could and could not contact while preparing for trial. Jackson said she could not "draft a clear enough order" to cover all current and future contacts. "You have abused the trust placed in you six months ago," Jackson said to Manafort, adding that she could not "turn a blind eye" to the special counsel's new allegations of witness tampering while under order not to do so. Jackson blasted Manafort, stating that he has treated much of the legal proceedings over the past several months as just another "marketing exercise." Manafort's trial before Jackson is expected to take place in September. He is also facing charges brought by Mueller in another federal court, and will appear for that case in August. Manafort was not handcuffed while in the courtroom and did not speak, but turned briefly back to his wife after the order was issued from the bench. He was then led away by marshals, where he will be processed under federal custody. It is unclear, at this point, which jail Manafort will be taken to. 'Mr. Manafort is innocent and nothing about the latest allegation changes our defense. We will do our talking in court,' Manafort spokesman The filings last week, signed by Mueller, alleged that Manafort and Kilimnik knowingly and intentionally attempted to corruptly persuade another personwith intent to influence, delay, and prevent the testimony of any person in an official proceeding. Muellers third superseding indictment against Manafort came just days after the special counsel accused the former campaign chairman of witness tampering. Kilimnik, 48, has previously declined to comment on the allegations. He also has denied being connected to Russian intelligence agencies. A spokesperson for Mueller declined to comment on Friday's development. A Manafort spokesman defended his client, calling him innocent. Manafort, 69, has maintained his innocence. The spokesman, Jason Maloni, said last week that Manafort and his team of attorneys were reviewing the new charges. Mr. Manafort is innocent and nothing about the latest allegation changes our defense, Maloni said. We will do our talking in court. According to documents filed in federal court, Manafort reached out to would-be witnesses in February after his superseding indictment was unsealed. Manafort allegedly tried to make at least three phone calls and send at least two encrypted text messages to a potential witness in an effort to secure materially false testimony the special counsel claimed. The court documents said that the person was trying to avoid contact with Manafort and understood Manaforts outreach to be an effort to suborn perjury. The special counsel said Manafort's actions violate federal law, and therefore violate the terms of his pretrial release. Manaforts past charges remain. The five previously charged counts against Manfort remain unchanged: conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading FARA [Foreign Agent Registration Act] statements, and false statements, the special counsels spokesman said in a statement last week. Manafort's cases are being heard in both the U.S. District Court in D.C., and the Eastern District of Virginia, by Judge T.S. Ellis III, who has proven to be more sympathetic to Manafort than Jackson. Last month, Ellis blasted the special counsel's team, suggesting federal investigators are only after Manafort to find information on Trump. "You don't really care about Mr. Manafort, U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III told Muellers team. You really care about what information Mr. Manafort can give you to lead you to Mr. Trump and an impeachment, or whatever." He added: "C'mon man!" Fox News William Mears and Jake Gibson contributed to this report. Here is the latest jail booking report from Hamilton County: ALI, HUNTER ALEXANDER 5245 OLD HIXSON PK HIXSON, 37343 Age at Arrest: 19 years old Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) --- ALLEN-GREER, TERRI JANYA K HOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 37401 Age at Arrest: 21 years old Arresting Agency: Soddy Daisy CRIMINAL SIMULATION FORGERY --- ARCILES, ROBERTO 10117 SETTLERS GROVE COVINGTON, 30012 Age at Arrest: 19 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga RESISTING ARREST OR OBSTRUCTION OF LEGAL PROCESS POSSESSING A FIREARM WITH INTENT TO GO ARMED DISORDERLY CONDUCT --- BARRY, BENJAMIN ZACK HOMELESS COMMUNITY KITCHEN CHATTANOOGA, 37402 Age at Arrest: 40 years old Arresting Agency: VIOLATION OF PROBATION (RESISTING ARREST OR OBSTRU --- BERRY, ADRIAN CHANDLER 131 HEDGEWOOD DRIVE RED BANK, 37415 Age at Arrest: 50 years old Arresting Agency: Hamilton County VIOLATION OF SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY --- BILLUPS, JEREME LEBRON 2101 WILDER ST CHATTANOOGA, 37416 Age at Arrest: 31 years old Arresting Agency: Hamilton County FRAUDULENT USE OF CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD THEFT OF PROPERTY OVER 1000 --- CARNES, RAVYN DOROTHY 3114 14TH AVE UNIT 13 CHATTANOOGA, 37407 Age at Arrest: 30 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga FAILURE TO APPEAR --- COKER, TYLER ANTHONY 10401 OOLTEWAH GEORGETOWN RD OOLTEWAH, 37363 Age at Arrest: 33 years old Arresting Agency: East Ridge RESISTING STOP, FRIST, HALT, ARREST OR SEARCH TAMPERING WITH OR FABRICATING EVIDENCE POSSESSION OF SCHEDULE II --- CRAWFORD, JORDAN LANE 9227 HIDDEN MOUNTAIN DR CHATTANOOGA, 37421 Age at Arrest: 21 years old Arresting Agency: Collegedale Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) --- CROSS, TIFFANY LEEANN 4837 HIGHWAY 60 BIRCHWOOD, 37308 Age at Arrest: 20 years old Arresting Agency: Hamilton County SIMPLE POSSESSION OF HYDROCODONE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY SEAT BELT LAW VIOLATION --- CURTIS, CATHERINE 11 LILAC LN FT OGLETHORPE, 30742 Age at Arrest: 59 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga THEFT OF PROPERTY UNDER 1000 --- DALTON, BETHAL LEDON 420 OAK CIRCLE APT 4 IDER, 35981 Age at Arrest: 57 years old Arresting Agency: Hamilton County SPEEDING --- DARBY, BRANDON J 4016 SHADY OAK DR OOLTEWAH, 37363 Age at Arrest: 30 years old Arresting Agency: Hamilton County SPEEDING RECKLESS DRIVING --- DAVENPORT, ZACALA MECOLE 7717 CECELIA DR CHATTANOOGA, 374162728 Age at Arrest: 30 years old Arresting Agency: Hamilton County VIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED S VIOLATION OF PROBATION (THEFT OF PROPERTY) VIOLATION OF PROBATION (FAILURE TO APPEAR) --- DAVIS, KENNETH LAVELL 404 TUNNEL BLVD CHATTANOOGA, 37407 Age at Arrest: 33 years old Arresting Agency: Hamilton County AGGRAVATED BURGLARY --- EDWARDS, BOBBY RECO 3006 PEGGY LN CHATTANOOGA, 37404 Age at Arrest: 31 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga TINTED WINDOWS VIOLATION DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE --- EMERY, SETH MARTIN 1312 STATTEN PLACE DRIVE CHATTANOOGA, 37421 Age at Arrest: 27 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) --- FORMAN, SCOTT THOMAS 3408 CLIO AVE CHATTANOOGA, 374072003 Age at Arrest: 50 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga THEFT OF SERVICES PUBLIC INTOXICATION --- HALL, CARLTON R 3818 JARREN COURT CHATTANOOGA, 374153547 Age at Arrest: 48 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga ASSAULT --- HART, JOHN OLIVER 126 N MOORE RD CHATTANOOGA, 37401 Age at Arrest: 37 years old Arresting Agency: Hamilton County CRIMINAL TRESPASSING DISORDERLY CONDUCT RESISTING ARREST OR OBSTRUCTION OF LEGAL PROCESS --- HARVEY, RALPH EUGENE 3045 CAMPBELL BRIDGE ROAD NW CLEVELAND, 37312 Age at Arrest: 46 years old Arresting Agency: Collegedale Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) --- HENRY, NICHOLAS C 318 COUNTRY LN RINGGOLD, 30736 Age at Arrest: 21 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PUBLIC INTOXICATION --- HERSTON, LOGAN CHASE 4021 WONDER DR EAST RIDGE, 37412 Age at Arrest: 23 years old Arresting Agency: Red Bank THEFT OVER 500 AGGRAVATED BURGLARY (OCCUPIED HABITATION) --- HIGDON, MATTHEW WAYNE HOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 37415 Age at Arrest: 31 years old Arresting Agency: Hamilton County CRIMINAL IMPERSONATION POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA TAMPERING WITH OR FABRICATING EVIDENCE POSSESSION OF LEGEND DRUG --- JOHNSON, RODNEY 1420 EAST 5TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 37406 Age at Arrest: 54 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga VIOLATION COMMUNITY SUPERVISION FOR LIFE --- JOHNSON, SHUN ANTONIO 3207 5TH AVE CHATTANOOGA, 374071532 Age at Arrest: 37 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga POSSESSING A FIREARM WITH INTENT TO GO ARMED DRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALE DRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALE POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA --- JOINER, GARY LORENZO 5875 STONEWALL DR CHATTANOOGA, 37341 Age at Arrest: 25 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga RESISTING ARREST OR OBSTRUCTION OF LEGAL PROCESS DISORDERLY CONDUCT --- JOLES, THOMAS L 8208 BLUE SPRUCE DRIVE HIXSON, 37343 Age at Arrest: 22 years old Arresting Agency: Hamilton County DRIVING WITHOUT DRIVERS LICENSE / EXPIRED LICENSE POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA OPEN CONTAINER LAW LIGHT LAW VIOLATION --- JULIAN, DAVID DUSTIN 3807 CUSOWILLA TR CHATTANOOGA, 37415 Age at Arrest: 36 years old Arresting Agency: Hamilton County THEFT OF PROPERTY (AUTO THEFT) --- LEDFORD, RICHARD LAWRENCE 1333 VANCE ROAD CHATTANOOGA, 37421 Age at Arrest: 55 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) --- LI, YUNXIA 5502 HIXSON PIKE SUITE H CHATTANOOGA, 37343 Age at Arrest: 51 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PROMOTING PROSTITUTION --- MAPLES, HEATHER BROOKE 5712 TENNESSEE AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37409 Age at Arrest: 33 years old Arresting Agency: Hamilton County DRIVING ON REVOKED LICENSE REGISTRATION, EXPIRED REGISTRATION, UNLAWFUL REMOVAL OF DECAL OR PLATE SEAT BELT LAW VIOLATION FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY --- MCCONNELL, QUINCEY DEON 1611 S WATKINS CHATTANOOGA, 37404 Age at Arrest: 22 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga UNAUTHORIZED USE OF AUTOMOBILE (JOY RIDING) --- MCCURTY, SHERMONICA RENAE 5706 WILDER ROAD APR A HIXSON, 37343 Age at Arrest: 30 years old Arresting Agency: Hamilton County FAILURE TO APPEAR --- MCDANIEL, BRANDON DEONTE 2554 5TH AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37412 Age at Arrest: 19 years old Arresting Agency: Chatt. Housing AuthorityPOSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCECRIMINAL IMPERSONATION---MCGEE, DAVID COLSTON1209 ALBANY ST CHATTANOOGA, 37405Age at Arrest: 30 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaINTERFERENCE WITH EMERGENCY CALLSASSAULT---MCGILL, ALEXANDER S145 HENDRICKS BLVD APT 4 RED BANK, 37415Age at Arrest: 29 years oldArresting Agency: Red BankVIOLATION OF CONDITIONS OF RELEASE---MILNER, MICHAEL WILLIAM6175 WHITE TAIL DR OOLTEWAH, 37363Age at Arrest: 28 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyVIOLATION OF PROBATION (OBTAINING CONTROLLED SUBST---MURPHY, EDWARD CURTIS2801 FAXON STREET CHATTANOOGA, 37404Age at Arrest: 44 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaTHEFT OF PROPERTYVIOLATION OF REGISTRATION LAWDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCERECKLESS AGGRAVATED ASSAULTRECKLESS AGGRAVATED ASSAULTDRIVING ON REVOKEDRECKLESS DRIVINGFINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITYLEAVING SCENE OF ACCIDENTEVADING ARRESTPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA---MURPHY, KODI LYNN152 AMOS DRIVE RISING FAWN, 307384031Age at Arrest: 23 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaTHEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE) UND---OTTO, MICHAEL CHARLES6245 DRY CANYON LANE HIXSON, 37343Age at Arrest: 19 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyPOSSESSION OF MARIJUANASEAT BELT LAW VIOLATION---PAYNTER, JOHN RICHARD7827 CELESTE LANE HIXSON, 37343Age at Arrest: 21 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyDOMESTIC ASSAULT---PEAY, GEOFFERY DUVAL1808 S WILLOW ST CHATTANOOGA, 37404Age at Arrest: 37 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyTHEFT OF PROPERTY---PEDEN, KALEIGH ANNE5343 LAZARD ST EAST RIDGE, 37412Age at Arrest: 27 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgeCRIMINAL IMPERSONATION---PHILLIPS, HOLLIE341 A CAMP JORDAN ROAD EAST RIDGE, 37412Age at Arrest: 32 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgeBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)---PLAZA, LUIS GABRIEL118 N MOORE RD CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest: 24 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaDOMESTIC ASSAULT---PRICE, WILLIAM PAUL339 CAROL DRIVE RINGGOLD, 30747Age at Arrest: 31 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)---PRIEST, NICOLE MICHELLE126 MARGARETA LN EAST RIDGE, 37412Age at Arrest: 44 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyTHEFT OF PROPERTY---PUGH, CHRISTOPHER ALLEN2200 GEORGETOWN RD CHATTANOOGA, 37311Age at Arrest: 19 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)---QUINN, LAURA B636 WEST 13TH COURT CHATTANOOGA, 37402Age at Arrest: 29 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE BY CONSENT---RAWLS, SHERROD LEE6220 SHALLOWFORD RD APT 284 CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest: 30 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyHARASSMENT---ROBERSON, KEVIN RAY1815 CARSON AVE. CHATTANOOGA, 37404Age at Arrest: 48 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyFAILURE TO APPEARVIOLATION OF PROBATION (DISORDERLY CONDUCT)---RODDY, TAMELA7010 MOOREVIEW RD EAST RIDGE, 37412Age at Arrest: 20 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgeBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)---ROSENFIELD, ANTHONY RAY158 BRIAR MEADOW TRAIL SE CLEVELAND, 37323Age at Arrest: 33 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaRECKLESS ENDANGERMENTVANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF---SAENZ, FILEMON III11121 CANYON CIR SODDY DAISY, 37379Age at Arrest: 49 years oldArresting Agency: Soddy DaisyCRUELTY TO ANIMALS---SANDERS, KELLY LEE5606 WINNIESPAN RD CHATTANOOGA, 37416Age at Arrest: 20 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaTHEFT OF PROPERTYPOSSESSING A FIREARM WITH INTENT TO GO ARMED---SCHULTZ, TAYLOR RYAN115 COUNTY ROAD ATHENS, 37303Age at Arrest: 20 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyDRINKING UNDER AGE/SELL ALCOHOL TO MINOR---SCOTT, JAMARR RASHEED1400 TEAKWOOD CT CLEVELAND, 37312Age at Arrest: 29 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyTHEFT OF PROPERTYEVADING ARRESTRESISTING ARREST OR OBSTRUCTION OF LEGAL PROCESSCRIMINAL IMPERSONATION---SHERMAN, CHRISTOPHER B3218 JOSELIN LN APT B RED BANK, 37415Age at Arrest: 31 years oldArresting Agency: Red BankDISORDERLY CONDUCTAGGRAVATED ASSAULT---SIMS, CORTEZ LEBRON1505 E. 49 TH ST. CHATTANOOGA, 37407Age at Arrest: 21 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)---SUTHERLAND, TRACY EUGENE181 SHIPLEY ROAD SODDY DAISY, 37379Age at Arrest: 52 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)---TALLENT, BRANDY NICOLE3900 CALHOUN AVE CHATTANOOGA, 374072534Age at Arrest: 34 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaVIOLATION OF PROBATION (THEFT OF PROPERTY UNDER $5VIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SVIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED S---VASQUEZ, LUCAS1510 S HAWTHORNE CHATTANOOGA, 37404Age at Arrest: 50 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyDRIVING WITHOUT DRIVERS LICENSE / EXPIRED LICENSE---WEBB, HOLLY CHRISTINA412 GRAY ROAD RINGGOLD, 30736Age at Arrest: 35 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)---WITT, DOROTHY JEAN116 GALECKI DRIVE SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, 37377Age at Arrest: 39 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)---WU, HAIFANG5502 HIXSON PIKE SUITE H CHATTANOOGA, 37343Age at Arrest: 59 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaPROSTITUTIONPROMOTING PROSTITUTION---YOUNG, JOHN DANIEL932 PINEVILLE RD CHATTANOOGA, 37405Age at Arrest: 50 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyPOSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE FOR RESALEVIOLATION OF PROBATION (UNL. CARRYING OR POSSESSIN---ZHI, CUIRAN5502 HIXSON PIKE SUITEH CHATTANOOGA, 37343Age at Arrest: 60 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaPROMOTING PROSTITUTION Here are the mug shots: ALLEN-GREER, TERRI JANYA K Age at Arrest: 21 Date of Birth: 10/16/1996 Arresting Agency: Soddy Daisy Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): CRIMINAL SIMULATION FORGERY BARRY, BENJAMIN ZACK Age at Arrest: 40 Date of Birth: 09/12/1977 Arresting Agency: Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): VIOLATION OF PROBATION (RESISTING ARREST OR OBSTRU BERRY, ADRIAN CHANDLER Age at Arrest: 50 Date of Birth: 07/24/1967 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): VIOLATION OF SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY CARNES, RAVYN DOROTHY Age at Arrest: 30 Date of Birth: 09/13/1987 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): FAILURE TO APPEAR COKER, TYLER ANTHONY Age at Arrest: 33 Date of Birth: 03/07/1985 Arresting Agency: East Ridge Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): RESISTING STOP, FRIST, HALT, ARREST OR SEARCH TAMPERING WITH OR FABRICATING EVIDENCE POSSESSION OF SCHEDULE II CRAWFORD, JORDAN LANE Age at Arrest: 21 Date of Birth: 02/07/1997 Arresting Agency: Collegedale Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) CROSS, TIFFANY LEEANN Age at Arrest: 20 Date of Birth: 10/28/1997 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): SIMPLE POSSESSION OF HYDROCODONE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY SEAT BELT LAW VIOLATION CURTIS, CATHERINE Age at Arrest: 59 Date of Birth: 03/20/1959 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): THEFT OF PROPERTY UNDER 1000 DALTON, BETHAL LEDON Age at Arrest: 57 Date of Birth: 06/13/1961 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): SPEEDING DARBY, BRANDON J Age at Arrest: 30 Date of Birth: 12/05/1987 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): SPEEDING RECKLESS DRIVING DAVENPORT, ZACALA MECOLE Age at Arrest: 30 Date of Birth: 03/06/1988 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): VIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED S VIOLATION OF PROBATION (THEFT OF PROPERTY) VIOLATION OF PROBATION (FAILURE TO APPEAR) DAVIS, KENNETH LAVELL Age at Arrest: 33 Date of Birth: 08/04/1984 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): AGGRAVATED BURGLARY EDWARDS, BOBBY RECO Age at Arrest: 31 Date of Birth: 10/28/1986 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): TINTED WINDOWS VIOLATION DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE EMERY, SETH MARTIN Age at Arrest: 27 Date of Birth: 09/24/1990 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) FORMAN, SCOTT THOMAS Age at Arrest: 50 Date of Birth: 05/13/1968 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): THEFT OF SERVICES PUBLIC INTOXICATION HALL, CARLTON R Age at Arrest: 48 Date of Birth: 07/11/1969 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): ASSAULT HART, JOHN OLIVER Age at Arrest: 37 Date of Birth: 04/21/1981 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): CRIMINAL TRESPASSING DISORDERLY CONDUCT RESISTING ARREST OR OBSTRUCTION OF LEGAL PROCESS HARVEY, RALPH EUGENE Age at Arrest: 46 Date of Birth: 11/26/1971 Arresting Agency: Collegedale Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) HENRY, NICHOLAS C Age at Arrest: 21 Date of Birth: 03/12/1997 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): PUBLIC INTOXICATION HERSTON, LOGAN CHASE Age at Arrest: 23 Date of Birth: 01/20/1995 Arresting Agency: Red Bank Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): THEFT OVER 500 AGGRAVATED BURGLARY (OCCUPIED HABITATION) HIGDON, MATTHEW WAYNE Age at Arrest: 31 Date of Birth: 05/02/1987 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): CRIMINAL IMPERSONATION POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA TAMPERING WITH OR FABRICATING EVIDENCE POSSESSION OF LEGEND DRUG JOHNSON, SHUN ANTONIO Age at Arrest: 37 Date of Birth: 04/03/1981 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): POSSESSING A FIREARM WITH INTENT TO GO ARMED DRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALE DRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALE POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA JOINER, GARY LORENZO Age at Arrest: 25 Date of Birth: 02/28/1993 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): RESISTING ARREST OR OBSTRUCTION OF LEGAL PROCESS DISORDERLY CONDUCT JOLES, THOMAS L Age at Arrest: 22 Date of Birth: 05/09/1996 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): DRIVING WITHOUT DRIVERS LICENSE / EXPIRED LICENSE POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA OPEN CONTAINER LAW LIGHT LAW VIOLATION JULIAN, DAVID DUSTIN Age at Arrest: 36 Date of Birth: 04/13/1982 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): THEFT OF PROPERTY (AUTO THEFT) MAPLES, HEATHER BROOKE Age at Arrest: 33 Date of Birth: 05/15/1985 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): DRIVING ON REVOKED LICENSE REGISTRATION, EXPIRED REGISTRATION, UNLAWFUL REMOVAL OF DECAL OR PLATE SEAT BELT LAW VIOLATION FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY MCCONNELL, QUINCEY DEON Age at Arrest: 22 Date of Birth: 03/20/1996 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): UNAUTHORIZED USE OF AUTOMOBILE (JOY RIDING) MCCURTY, SHERMONICA RENAE Age at Arrest: 30 Date of Birth: 11/18/1987 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): FAILURE TO APPEAR MCDANIEL, BRANDON DEONTE Age at Arrest: 19 Date of Birth: 10/15/1998 Arresting Agency: Chatt. Housing Authority Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE CRIMINAL IMPERSONATION MCGEE, DAVID COLSTON Age at Arrest: 30 Date of Birth: 08/29/1987 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): INTERFERENCE WITH EMERGENCY CALLS ASSAULT MURPHY, EDWARD CURTIS Age at Arrest: 44 Date of Birth: 08/16/1973 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): THEFT OF PROPERTY VIOLATION OF REGISTRATION LAW DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE RECKLESS AGGRAVATED ASSAULT RECKLESS AGGRAVATED ASSAULT DRIVING ON REVOKED RECKLESS DRIVING FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LEAVING SCENE OF ACCIDENT EVADING ARREST POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA MURPHY, KODI LYNN Age at Arrest: 23 Date of Birth: 01/04/1995 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): THEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE) UND OTTO, MICHAEL CHARLES Age at Arrest: 19 Date of Birth: 06/17/1998 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA SEAT BELT LAW VIOLATION PEDEN, KALEIGH ANNE Age at Arrest: 27 Date of Birth: 07/05/1990 Arresting Agency: East Ridge Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): CRIMINAL IMPERSONATION PHILLIPS, HOLLIE Age at Arrest: 32 Date of Birth: 05/03/1986 Arresting Agency: East Ridge Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) PLAZA, LUIS GABRIEL Age at Arrest: 24 Date of Birth: 04/18/1994 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): DOMESTIC ASSAULT PRICE, WILLIAM PAUL Age at Arrest: 31 Date of Birth: 08/27/1986 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) PUGH, CHRISTOPHER ALLEN Age at Arrest: 19 Date of Birth: 06/17/1998 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) QUINN, LAURA B Age at Arrest: 29 Date of Birth: 07/18/1988 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE BY CONSENT ROBERSON, KEVIN RAY Age at Arrest: 48 Date of Birth: 07/02/1969 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): FAILURE TO APPEAR VIOLATION OF PROBATION (DISORDERLY CONDUCT) RODDY, TAMELA Age at Arrest: 20 Date of Birth: 11/08/1997 Arresting Agency: East Ridge Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) SANDERS, KELLY LEE Age at Arrest: 20 Date of Birth: 09/11/1997 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): THEFT OF PROPERTY POSSESSING A FIREARM WITH INTENT TO GO ARMED SCHULTZ, TAYLOR RYAN Age at Arrest: 20 Date of Birth: 03/15/1998 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): DRINKING UNDER AGE/SELL ALCOHOL TO MINOR SCOTT, JAMARR RASHEED Age at Arrest: 29 Date of Birth: 11/04/1988 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): THEFT OF PROPERTY EVADING ARREST RESISTING ARREST OR OBSTRUCTION OF LEGAL PROCESS CRIMINAL IMPERSONATION SHERMAN, CHRISTOPHER B Age at Arrest: 31 Date of Birth: 02/12/1987 Arresting Agency: Red Bank Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): DISORDERLY CONDUCT AGGRAVATED ASSAULT SIMS, CORTEZ LEBRON Age at Arrest: 21 Date of Birth: 05/02/1997 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) TALLENT, BRANDY NICOLE Age at Arrest: 34 Date of Birth: 05/14/1984 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): VIOLATION OF PROBATION (THEFT OF PROPERTY UNDER $5 VIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED S VIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED S VASQUEZ, LUCAS Age at Arrest: 50 Date of Birth: 11/22/1967 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Charge(s): DRIVING WITHOUT DRIVERS LICENSE / EXPIRED LICENSE WEBB, HOLLY CHRISTINA Age at Arrest: 35 Date of Birth: 05/24/1983 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 06/14/2018 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) A neighbor convicted of violently attacking U.S. Sen. Rand Paul outside the senator's Kentucky home last year is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court Friday. The attack left the Republican lawmaker with six broken ribs. His recovery was complicated by fluid and blood around the lungs and recurrent pneumonia. The attack left the Republican lawmaker with six broken ribs. His recovery was complicated by fluid and blood around the lungs and recurrent pneumonia. Rene Boucher, 59, pleaded guilty in March to a federal charge of assaulting a member of Congress. Boucher has asked for probation, but federal prosecutors indicated they will seek a 21-month prison sentence. The senator told police that the incident occurred when his neighbor came onto his property and tackled him from behind, forcing him to the ground and causing pain. The incident stems from Boucher being agitated about piles of brush on Pauls property. The neighbor allegedly took the matter into his own hands and paid dumpsters to haul the piles and set fire in the yard to destroy them. Boucher also claims Paul used his lawnmower on the same day as the attack and blew some leaves onto his property, sparking his outrage. The New York Times initially reported the attack occurred following a long-running landscaping disagreement. But the senator's office corrected Bouchers account and the Times report in a statement this week, saying that before Paul was violently attacked from behind, he had no conversations or discussions with the attacker. There was no longstanding dispute. This description is untrue. It is impossible to have a dispute when no words of disagreement were ever spoken -- neither immediately nor at any other time before the attack occurred, he continued. There was no longstanding dispute. This description is untrue. It is impossible to have a dispute when no words of disagreement were ever spoken." Statement from Sen. Rand Paul's office, correcting a New York Times story The attack was a pre-meditated assault that broke six of the Senator's ribs and was complicated by fluid and blood around the lung and recurrent pneumonia. Any description of this attack that implies a yard dispute justifies such violence misses the point. Fox News Brooke Singman and the Associated Press contributed to this report. The neighbor convicted of violently attacking Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul outside the senator's Kentucky home last year was sentenced Friday to 30 days in federal prison. Rene Boucher, 59, was also ordered Friday to one year of supervised release, a $10,000 fine and 100 hours of community service, according to WBKO. He was also ordered to have no contact with the Paul family. "No one deserves to be violently assaulted, Paul said in a statement Friday. A felony conviction with jail time is appropriate and hopefully will deter the attacker from further violence. I commend the FBI and Department of Justice for treating this violent, pre-meditated assault with the seriousness it deserves." Paul also said he thinks Boucher should face a longer sentence: "The original 21 month sentence requested would have been the appropriate punishment." The attack left the Republican lawmaker with six broken ribs. His recovery was complicated by fluid and blood around the lungs and recurrent pneumonia. Boucher pleaded guilty in March to a federal charge of assaulting a member of Congress. Boucher had asked for probation. The senator told police that the incident occurred when his neighbor came onto his property and tackled him from behind, forcing him to the ground and causing pain. Boucher claimed he tackled Paul over agitation about piles of brush on Pauls property. Boucher also claims Paul used his lawnmower on the same day as the attack and blew some leaves onto his property, sparking his outrage. But the senator's office pushed back against the notion the neighbors had an ongoing dispute. There was no longstanding dispute. This description is untrue, a spokesman for Paul said. It is impossible to have a dispute when no words of disagreement were ever spoken -- neither immediately nor at any other time before the attack occurred. Fox News Mike Emanuel, Lukas Mikelionis, and the Associated Press contributed to this report. President Trump broke his silence on the scathing inspector general's report with a vengeance Friday, first tweeting that the FBI boss he fired was the "worst" in the bureau's history, then crashing "Fox & Friends" for an impromptu interview where he ripped the "scum on top" of the Obama-era bureau and said the IG "blew it." The presidents comments came a day after the release of the report, which was the result of an 18-month-long investigation by DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz. Trump said the report, which found ex-FBI Director James Comey was insubordinate, showed Trump was justified in firing him. The IG Report is a total disaster for Comey, his minions and sadly, the FBI," Trump tweeted early Friday. "Comey will now officially go down as the worst leader, by far, in the history of the FBI. I did a great service to the people in firing him. Good Instincts. Christopher Wray will bring it proudly back! In the interview with Fox's Steve Doocy, Trump made it clear he considered Comey the leader of those "minions." "I think Comey was the ringleader of this whole den of thieves," Trump said. "If you took a poll at the FBI, [I would win]," Trump told Doocy. "I mean the real FBI, not the scum on top. Trump said Horowitz's finding of no evidence the FBI probe of Hillary Clinton's secret email server was influenced by rampant liberal bias showed the inspector general "blew it." Horowitz's report faulted Comey for going over the heads of his superiors, including former Attorney General Loretta Lynch, by holding a press conference to announce the FBIs decision not to press criminal charges against Clinton. At that July, 2016 news conference, Comey called the then-presidential candidate's actions extremely careless, rather than grossly negligent, as drafted in the initial exoneration statement. Critics have suggested that Trump's firing of Comey amounted to obstruction of justice, though Deputy Attorney General wrote a recommendation that Comey be fired. Trump reportedly told Russian officials in May, 2017 that Comey was a "real nutjob," and indicated the firing had to do with "facing great pressure because of Russia," in an apparent reference to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into alleged collusion between Moscow and the Trump campaign. Trump later denied that his decision to fire Comey was linked to the Russia probe. The IG report also focused on political bias within the bureauspecifically referring to FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, who first came under scrutiny in December over a series of politically-charged, anti-Trump text messages they exchanged. The inspector general released new text messages between the twosuggesting that they would stop Trump from becoming president. [Trumps not ever going to become president, right? Right!? Page texted Strzok in August 2016. No. No he wont. Well stop it, Strzok responded. Trump blasted Strzok early Friday in a separate tweet. FBI Agent Peter Strzok, who headed the Clinton & Russia investigations, texted his lover Lisa Page, in the IG Report, that well stop candidate Trump from becoming President. Doesnt get any lower than that! Trump tweeted. The report revealed that more bureau officials than previously thought were exchanging anti-Trump messages. The inspector general referred five FBI employees for further investigation. The inspector generals office uncovered numerous messages that appeared to mix political opinion with discussions about the MYE investigation. MYE, or Midyear Exam, was the code used in the FBI to refer to the investigation into Clintons private email server. Some of these text messages and instant messages mixed political commentary with discussions about the Midyear investigation, and raised concerns that political bias may have impacted investigative decisions, the report read. The report noted that it was specifically concerned about text messages exchanged between Strzok and Page that potentially indicated or created the appearance that investigative decisions were impacted by bias or improper considerations. Strzok and Page, who were romantically involved, both served for a short period of time on Special Counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation team. Strzok was reassigned following the revelations of his anti-Trump texts. Page resigned from the bureau last month. But while many of those texts were made public in late 2017, the IG report revealed a new one in which Strzok vowed to "stop" Trump from becoming president -- and made clear that as many as five total FBI employees exchanged politically charged messages. "The text messages and instant messages sent by these employees included statements of hostility toward then candidate Trump and statements of support for candidate Clinton," the report said. "I dont know how Peter Strzok is working there anymore," Trump told Doocy. The report revealed instant messages between unnamed agents, labeled Agent 1 and Agent 5, discussing their jobs in August 2016. I find anyone who enjoys [this job] an absolute f---ing idiot. If you dont think so, ask them one more question. Who are you voting for? I guarantee you it will be Donald Drumpf, Agent 1 sent. I forgot about drumpfthats so sad and pathetic if they want to vote for him, Agent 5 responded. Someone who cant answer a question. Someone who cant be professional for even a second. In September, Agent 1 and 5 conversed again, bashing Trump supporters as retarded. Im trying to think of a would I rather instead of spending time with those people, Agent 5 sent. Agent 1 asked, stick your tongue in a fan?? Agent 5 later wrote: I would rather have brunch with trump and a bunch of his supporters like the ones from ohio that are retarded. The report did not, however, find evidence connecting those political opinions held by FBI officials to decisions made in the Clinton investigation. In a statement to Fox News, Strzoks attorney Aitan Goelman defended Strzoks work at the FBI. After a year-long investigation that included a review of millions of communications and interviews of scores of witnesses, the IG concluded that there is no evidence that the political views of Special Agent Strzok and others in the FBI impacted the handling of the Clinton email investigation, Goelman said. As the Report notes, Special Agent Strzok in particular was consistently thorough and aggressive, sometimes to the point that put him at odds with senior officials at the Department of Justice. President Trump had a lot to get off his chest Friday even by his standards. In a unilateral media blitz that began early with the commander-in-chief breaking his silence on the long-awaited Department of Justices inspector generals report and was highlighted by his surprise appearance on the Fox & Friends morning show, Trump took aim at a series of old and new adversaries. He called ex-FBI Director James Comey the worst the bureau ever had. He said DOJ watchdog Michael Horowitz vindicated him, but ultimately blew it. He joked that Americans should stand up and take notice when he spoke. And he second-guessed a federal judge who ordered his old campaign manager jailed. Here Are the 10 Craziest Moments From Trumps Bonkers 51 Minute Media Blitz, read a headline on a Mediaite story, which included Trump touting his relationship with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and the president saying press secretary Sarah Sanders should have walked out of the White House Correspondents Dinner. Early Friday morning, the president broke his silence on the scathing inspector general's report with a vengeance. By the afternoon, he had tweeted more than 15 times. FBI Agent Peter Strzok, who headed the Clinton & Russia investigations, texted to his lover Lisa Page, in the IG Report, that well stop candidate Trump from becoming President, Trump tweeted. Doesnt get any lower than that! Twenty minutes later, the president tweeted: The IG Report is a total disaster for Comey, his minions and sadly, the FBI. Comey will now officially go down as the worst leader, by far, in the history of the FBI." A little before 8 a.m., the president noted that Fox News was broadcasting on the White House grounds. Wow, the highest rated (by far) morning show, @foxandfriends, is on the Front Lawn of the White House, he tweeted. Maybe Ill have to take an unannounced trip down to see them? Not long after, the president, surrounded by a gaggle of reporters, made his way over to the cameras, arriving at "Fox & Friends" for an impromptu interview where he ripped the "scum on top" of the Obama-era FBI and said the IG "blew it." "I think Comey was the ringleader of this whole den of thieves," Trump said. "If you took a poll at the FBI, [I would win]," Trump told host Steve Doocy. "I mean the real FBI, not the scum on top. Trump also touted his relationship with North Koreas Kim, saying the two leaders have a good chemistry, and adding that he wants the people of the United States to sit up and pay attention when he speaks, like North Koreans do for the dictator of the rogue regime. We get along very well, we have a good chemistry, Trump said. I dont know if thats supposed to be popular or politically correct to say, but we did have good chemistry. The president spoke with "Fox and Friends" for about 30 minutes. He then spoke with the growing crowd of journalists from other outlets for another 20. But Trump didnt stop after that. By the afternoon, he was tweeting about how Democrats are forcing the breakup of families at the Border with their horrible and cruel legislative agenda. He then lamented a judge revoking bail for his former campaign manager Paul Manafort, sarcastically quipping: Didnt know Manafort was the head of the Mob. In another tweet, the president referenced the 2016 election, saying he had to beat 17 very talented people including the Bush Dynasty, then I had to beat the Clinton Dynasty, and now I have to beat a phony Witch Hunt and all of the dishonest people covered in the IG Report... He then added: And never forget the Fake News Media. It never ends! Fox News Brooke Singman contributed to this report. President Trump hit back at criticisms over his interactions with world leaders at the G7 summit last weekend in Canada, claiming Friday on Twitter that the fake news media were once again, WRONG! I have a great relationship with Angela Merkel of Germany, but the Fake News Media only shows the bad photos (implying anger) of negotiating an agreement - where I am asking for things that no other American President would ask for, the president wrote alongside a series of photos that showed smiling interactions with the German chancellor and other leaders. Those images were in stark contrast to a viral photo of Trump at the summit which showed what appeared to be a frustrated Merkel leaning in toward the president and national security advisor John Bolton. Trump, smirking, had his arms crossed in the photo. Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau butted heads during the summit over tariffs. During the event the president agreed to participate in a group statement on trade - only to reverse course after Trudeau criticized Trump's tariff threats at a summit-ending news conference. At that event - which occurred after Trump had already left - the prime minister said that Canada wouldn't be "pushed around" by the U.S. The declaration led to a subsequent tweetstorm from the president in which he lamented that "Fair Trade is now to be called Fool Trade." He also hit Merkel for Germany's contributions to NATO. But on Friday, Trump dismissed concerns that his relationships with the other leaders had turned sour. The Fake News Media said that I did not get along with other Leaders at the #G7Summit in Canada, Trump wrote. They are once again, WRONG! Trump also tweeted a photo of great discussions he had at the summit with European Union Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and E.U. Council President Donald Tusk. President Trump touted his relationship with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un Friday, saying the two leaders have a good chemistry, and adding that he wants the people of the United States to sit up and pay attention when he speaks, like North Koreans do for the dictator of the rogue regime. During an impromptu interview on the White House lawn Friday morning with Fox & Friends, the president suggested he would lift sanctions on North Korea when the U.S. can be sure there will be no more nuclear. We get along very well, we have a good chemistry, Trump told Steve Doocy of Fox & Friends. I dont know if thats supposed to be popular or politically correct to say, but we did have good chemistry. The president said the June 12 meeting with Kim on Singapore's Sentosa Island was successful, and defended his decision to attend the summit. I agreed to meet. Of course I agreed. You've got to agree to meet. If you dont agree to meet, youre gonna have nuclear war, Trump said. He wants to make his country great, Trump added, noting that North Korea hasnt had a rocket test in seven months. Hes the head of a country. Hes a strong head, Trump said. He speaks and his people sit up and pay attention. I want my people to do the same. The presidents comments come amid scrutiny over video footage showing him saluting a North Korean military officer during the high-profile summit a gesture the White House defended as common courtesy. The presidents salute was caught on tape by North Korea state media, which used the footage in a documentary to memorialize the historic summit, where Trump and Kim signed a document agreeing to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. In the 42-minute-long video, which aired on North Korean state media and depicted Kim as the hero of the summit, the president is shown walking with Kim to shake hands with members of the North Korean delegation. The video shows Trump trying to shake the hand of Gen. No Kwang-chol, but then he moved to salute the military officer. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders defended the presidents action. Its a common courtesy when a military official from another government salutes that you return that, Sanders said during a briefing with reporters on Thursday. According to the U.S. Army, it is customary to salute officers of friendly foreign nations when recognized as such. But U.S.North Korean relations are not historically considered friendly. Critics of the president and the administration have said that the U.S. gave up too much by meeting with Kim. The president, however, touted the new relationship between himself and the North Korean dictator, and the summit, as a success, suggesting the two leaders "understand each other." I think we have a very good relationship," Trump told Bret Baier in an exclusive interview this week. "We understand each other." Critics have also blasted Trump for his positive comments about the dictator, whose gulags currently hold more than 120,000 political prisoners. When asked about the human rights abuses and executions conducted by Kims regime, the president called Kim a tough guy but said a lot of other people have done some really bad things, too. In the interview, Trump said that despite his call to bring back U.S. troops from South Korea, a military drawdown from the region is not being discussed as part of talks with North Korea. I would love to get the military out as soon as we can because it costs a lot of money and a lot of money for us, Trump said. I would like to get them home. I would like to, but it is not on the table right now. At the appropriate time, it will be. The U.S., which currently has 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea, has maintained a combat force on the peninsula since the end of the 1950-53 war and has used them in a variety of large-scale drills designed to sharpen skills and test troops' ability to operate effectively with their South Korean partners. Fox News' Alex Pappas and Bret Baier contributed to this report. The White House came out swinging Friday against MSNBC star Joe Scarborough after the former Republican congressman compared the methods used in current immigration policy to the Nazis. Speaking about White House press secretary Sarah Sanders Thursday press briefing in which she sparred with reporters over the separation of families attempting to try to enter the southern border Scarborough accused Sanders of excessive lying on his "Morning Joe" program. So why is she lying this much? Scarborough asked. I know children are being ripped from their mothers arms, even while theyre being breast-fed. I know children are being marched away to showers, marched away to showers. Being told they are just like the Nazis said that they were taking people to the showers and then they never came back, he said. You think they would use another trick like 'Hey, got a slurpee room over there.' 'Were going to take them to get a slurpee,' he continued. That would be better than 'Were marching them to the showers and well be right back' and they never come back. It is appalling that Joe Scarborough would compare sworn federal law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line every day to keep American people safe to Nazis," White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley said in a statement provided to Fox News. "This is the type of inflammatory and unacceptable rhetoric that puts a target on the backs of our great law enforcement. It is also horribly insulting to the memory of the 6 million Jews who perished in the Nazi Holocaust. Not only is Scarboroughs rhetoric shameful, but his facts are categorically false. When American citizens break the law, they are separated from their children and prosecuted. Its unclear why Scarborough believes that illegal aliens are entitled to more rights than those afforded to American citizens. While Scarborough is quick to launch into his straight-to-camera outrage over the temporary separation of illegal alien families, he has never shown similar outrage for the permanent separation of American families forever torn apart from their children, who were killed by criminal aliens as a result of Democrats open borders policies, Gidley continued. If Joe Scarborough actually cared about keeping illegal alien families together, he would use his platform to support the Trump Administrations efforts to close loopholes in federal immigration law, the statement said. Also during Fridays segment featuring Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, John Heilemann and Willie Geist, the former Republican parsed if, in his estimation, Sanders was lying or simply ignorant. For somebody quoting the Bible, as much as shes quoting the Bible, thats just why I hope that shes just completely ignorant, and isnt lying on purpose to the American people that many times, Mika, that would be terrible, he said. Theres a commandment against the lying, Scarborough said later in the conversation. Its also not biblically based that you rip children from their parents. I believe it was Jesus Christ of Nazareth who said let the little children come.' A request for comment from Scarborough was not immediately returned. The media are going cult-crazy. That is, a number of news outlets and commentators are having a grand time describing the Republican Party as a Trumpian "cult." Some are using comments by retiring GOP senator Bob Corker, who invoked the C-word, as a peg. But others had already been writing about the supposed Trump cult. Think for a moment about that word choice. It suggests something spooky and delusional. Anyone who would join a cultmeaning most Republican lawmakers and voters, in this contextmust be rather mindless. Susceptible to strange practices and beliefs. Outside the mainstream. The dictionary defines cult as "a particular system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and ceremonies." Or "great veneration of a person, ideal or thing." It's an insidious bit of branding that reveals a condescending media mindset toward the president and his followers. Since many pundits have never quite grasped Trump's appeal and don't like his confrontational style or many of his policies, his followers must be, well, kinda pathetic. Now I don't have any problem with much of the underlying analysis; in fact, I made some of the same points yesterday. The GOP is now Donald Trump's party. Republican lawmakers or candidates who cross him are putting their careers at risk, as Mark Sanford found out this week in losing his congressional primary in South Carolina. It's equally true that many GOP members of Congress, as well as voters, have either been persuaded to back Trump policies that contradict what they have supported in the past or are doing so out of political cowardice. Whether it's protectionist tariffs vs. free trade, a softer rather than tougher stance against Russia, building a wall vs. compromising on immigration, or embracing Kim Jong Un rather than shunning brutal dictators, most Republicans follow Trump's lead. But is that a cult? Corker, whose opposition to Trump contributed to his decision not to run again, told reporters: "It's almost, you know, becoming a cult-ish thing, isn't it?" And it was off to the races. There was this headline in Tuesdays Washington Post: "Republicans embrace the 'cult' of Trump, ignoring warning signs." MSNBC's Joe Scarborough said, "Why don't we just say it's devolved into a cult. Primary voters in the Republican Party have devolved into a Trumpist cult." On "Hardball," Chris Matthews even made an allusion to Jonestown, where cult followers committed mass suicide. But the term predates Corker's swipe. The New York Times last week ran an editorial headlined "The Cult of Trump": "This week's primary elections underscored the striking degree to which President Trump has transformed the Republican Party from a political organization into a cult of personality." Back in February, Axios reported on "The Cult of Trump," saying "he has the ability to create realities that Republicans in Washington will either silently tolerate, or willingly believe and embrace." And last year, a National Journal piece yesterday was titled "Trump's Cult Overwhelms the GOP": "The Republican Party is slowly morphing into a cult-of-personality vehicle around Trump." Now I found a few cult-ish references in the wayback machine for Barack Obama, who once dazzled crowds with his hope-and-change oratory. But the term often came from the right, such as in the Cato Institute book "False Idol: Barack Obama and the Continuing Cult of the Presidency." It's clear that cult is a derogatory term hurled by political opponents. The media shouldn't adopt it for Donald Trump or any other politicianthat is, unless they're trying to make the person sound creepy. If you are a public speaker, you prepare diligently, and hone your presentation skills. If you are blessed and anointed by the Lord, if you speak and groups of people are touched, moved, inspired, motivated, invariably someone (usually several) will say something like this, I wish I could do what you do. I wish I could speak the way you do. I wish the Lord would anoint me the way He anoints you. I wish I had a testimony like yours. We should be careful what we wish for. An exciting, awe inspiring testimony is wonderful and often makes the one who shares it seem important. Most of those who ask do not realize that in asking for the testimony they are also asking for the test that must come before the testimony. A testimony comes though passing a test. Most of us are not thrilled about a test coming our way. A test in this arena we call life has no rules set up to cushion our fall. Retakes may or may not happen and the consequences usually remain with us regardless. Simply taking this test may cost you your reputation, your health, your wealth, your friends, or your very life. Asking for Gods anointing on your life brings great responsibility. The anointed person will begin to see people and circumstances as God sees them. The anointed person will begin to grieve over the lost and hurting world. The anointed person will grieve over the circumstances in his/her church. The anointed person will spend sleepless nights contemplating the impact of his/her words and actions. The anointed person really understands that he/she does not have a right to look out for their own interests. Their decisions are made based on how they will impact the kingdom of God and other people. Jeremiah is a powerful example of this truth. Jeremiah wrote the book of Jeremiah and the book of Lamentations. Those two books make up sixteen percent of the pages in my Bible. The religious and political leaders of Jeremiahs day took his words very seriously, because his prophecies came true before their very eyes. The New Testament cites his prophecies concerning the slaughter of children by Herod, the purchase of the potters field with the money paid to Judas, and the establishment of the new covenant. During Jesus earthly ministry, some of the Jews believed that Jesus was in fact Jeremiah, who had returned. I would say that Jeremiah was anointed of God. The religious and political leaders of Jeremiahs day took his words very seriously, but that did not stop them from hating him. The anointing of God compelled Jeremiah to speak difficult truths to powerful people. The leaders of the nation mocked him, physically hurt him, locked him up, imprisoned him in dry wells, etc. Jeremiah was given many tests. He developed an impressive testimony, but it did not prevent the painful attacks of the people he was sent to speak to. We are not sure about the details of the end of his life. Tradition lists a couple of possibilities. The point is that he died in obscurity. Anointing does not guarantee fame, fortune, or comfort. Read Jeremiah and Lamentations. My point is not to discourage you from asking for the anointing of God. I believe that every believer in Christ is given a ministry. We are all called to make disciples. We are all called to be ministers of reconciliation. Those callings require anointing. There is a price to be paid. My point is that we should pray for that anointing, while heeding the advice of Christ Himself to first count the cost. That way we will not be shocked, surprised, grow discouraged and quit the race. Archaeologists in Israel have unearthed an extremely rare ancient clay amulet with a blessing in Arabic. The clay artifact, which dates back to the 9th or 10th century, was uncovered during the excavation of a parking lot at the City of David archaeological site. The tiny amulet, which is only 1 centimeter in size, features a two-line inscription in Arabic, which is either a blessing or a personal prayer. Kareem trusts in Allah, and Lord of the Worlds is Allah, it reads. DEAD SEA SCROLLS DISCOVERY: TECH REVEALS HIDDEN SCRIPT The size of the object, its shape, and the text on it indicate that it was apparently used as an amulet for blessing and protection, explained excavation directors Prof. Yuval Gadot of Tel Aviv University and Dr. Yiftah Shalev of the Israel Antiquities Authority, in a statement. Discovered sealed between plaster flooring during the excavation of a small room, the amulet offers a fascinating glimpse into life in Jerusalem during the early Islamic period. However, experts are unsure whether it was deliberately buried under the floor or simply lost by a man named Kareem. Because this amulet does not have a hole to thread it on a string, we can assume that it was set in a piece of jewelry or placed in some sort of container. KING DAVID'S CITY DISCOVERED? ANCIENT SITE LINKED TO BIBLICAL KINGDOM, ARCHAEOLOGISTS SAY While shards of pottery and a lamp discovered near the amulet date back around 1,000 years, archaeologists are still uncertain what the site was used for. The poor preservation of the architecture make the purpose of the structure difficult to determine, they said, in a statement. It is interesting to note that several installations indicate cooking activities that occurred here. Modest structures from the same period were found in prior excavations at the same site, including residential homes interspersed with stores and workshops. It is reasonable to assume that this structure was used as part of that same industrial zone. Israel continues to reveal its archaeological secrets. In a separate project experts uncovered an ancient burial complex in Northern Israel that dates back around 2,000 years. The rock-hewn burial cave was recently discovered during construction work in the city of Tiberias. Ancient robbers likely plundered the cave, according to archaeologists. HOW JESUS DIED: ANCIENT CRUCIFIXION VICTIM OFFERS NEW CLUES The cave, which dates back to the Roman period, was blocked up in order to protect it, and it will studied by experts from the Israel Antiquities Authority. There have been a number of fascinating finds in the region in recent years. Archaeologists in Israel, for example, have uncovered a site that may offer fresh insight into the ancient biblical kingdom of David and Solomon. In another project a trove of bronze coins, the last remnants of an ancient Jewish revolt against the Roman Empire, were recently discovered near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. In February, archaeologists announced the discovery of a clay seal mark that may bear the signature of the biblical Prophet Isaiah. MYSTERIOUS POOL AND FOUNTAIN DISCOVERED AT ANCIENT CHRISTIAN SITE IN ISRAEL Last November, new evidence dated Christs tomb in Jerusalems Church of the Holy Sepulchre to the Roman era, matching historical records. Other finds include the skeleton of a pregnant woman, dating back 3,200 years, in Israels Timna Valley, at a place once called King Solomons Mines. At the site of an ancient city on the West Bank, archaeologists are also hunting for evidence of the tabernacle that once housed the Ark of the Covenant. Some experts also believe they have found the lost Roman city of Julias, formerly the village of Bethsaida, which was the home of Jesus' apostles Peter, Andrew and Philip. Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers A Georgia grandmother claims she strangled a rabid bobcat to death after it jumped on her in an unprovoked attack. DeDe Phillips, of Hart County, was taking a picture of a new bumper sticker that she placed on her truck when she heard the neighbors dog frantically begin to bark. When she looked around, she saw a bobcat just steps away. The feline then took two steps and was on top of me. ... It came for my face, Phillips, 46, told the Athens Banner-Herald. It caught me slightly on my face, but I got him before he could do much damage there. I took it straight to the ground and started inching my hands up to its throat. I knew that was the only way I was getting out of this, she recalled. WOMAN WITH ARACHNOPHOBIA ORDERS KFC SO DELIVERY DRIVER WILL KILL SPIDER Phillips told the publication she then began squeezing the cats neck, forcing herself not to scream because her 5-year-old granddaughter was inside her home. She was fearful the cat would attack the young girl if she came outside. After the cat appeared to be lifeless, Phillips yelled for her daughter-in-law and told her to call 911. Shortly after, her son also arrived at the scene with a gun and a knife. My son stabbed it four or five times, but it never budged so I knew it was completely dead, she told Athens Banner-Herald. Deputies with the Hart County Sheriffs Office later arrived, as did an ambulance to take Phillips to a local hospital, though she decided to drive herself. There, she was treated for a broken finger, as well as claw and bite marks to a large part of her upper body, including her chest, arms and legs, according to the Athens Banner-Herald. 15-FOOT GREAT WHITE SHARK SHOCKS SCUBA DIVERS ABOVE FLORIDA KEYS SHIPWRECK: 'GET ON THE BOAT!' Officials told WJCL that the bobcat tested positive for rabies. Phillips has paid $10,000 for rabies vaccinations thus far. On a fundraising page to help Phillips pay for the medical expenses, her family described her as a lady who would give you the shirt off her back and will drop whatever she is doing to come help. She loves hard and is one heck of a woman! She is also having to go to a orthopedic doctor about her hands. She currently has very little use of them and is in a lot of pain, the post continued. But despite her injuries, Philips told The Hartwell Sun that shes thankful no one else was injured. Thank God I am not a little woman, she said.Thank God it wasnt my daughter-in-law or my granddaughter. If youre heading to the beach this summer like millions of other Americans, scientists are recommending to be on the lookout for jellyfish. More than 1,000 people were stung on a Florida beach just this week, and it is possible incidents may increase. Allen Collins, a research zoologist with the National Marine Fisheries Service, says there have been more blooms of jellyfish in different parts of the world, but scientists are unsure if this is a worldwide event. JELLYFISH STINGS CAUSES HUNDREDS OF FLORIDA BEACHGOERS TO BE TREATED When conditions are right for them to make jellies, they produce the jellyfish in vast quantities, Collins said. People have studied the jellyfish in certain areas quite well and there are instances where it does look like theres one particular region is having greater numbers of jellyfish. In the literature sometimes people describe it as a global phenomenon and on that were just not sure. Jellyfish blooms are known to occur every 20 years, but Collins says warmer oceans, agriculture runoff, commercial fishing and the creation of artificial reefs may have an impact on increased numbers of the animals in recent years. Collins also said places like the Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean Sea are prime places for jellyfish blooms. He also noted that there are thousands of different species of jellyfish and countless others that have yet to be discovered. The majestic creatures are some of the oldest life forms on the planet, having existed for hundreds of millions of years. With no eyes and limited ability to move through water, marine biologists say its important recognize the habitat of the animals and know what to do when you encounter them at the beach. With the warmer temperatures theres more people in the water so theres a bigger chance of people getting stung, said Shannon Howard, a marine biologist at the South Carolina Aquarium. SHARKS, CROCODILE SPOTTED FEASTING ON WHALE IN 'RARE' DRONE VIDEO Howard says that if you get stung, you should get immediately out of the water and use vinegar to neutralize the tentacles before trying to remove them. Vinegar is your best bet if you do get stung, Howard said. Most people dont have vinegar, so you want to get the tentacles off of your skin so you can rinse the tentacles off if you can, you can try to use tweezers to get the tentacles off. For the pain and swelling, heat is what you need. Scientists also say theres no evidence that urine helps alleviate the pain from a jellyfish sting. Luciano Chiaverano, a research scientist at the University of Southern Mississippi, says most jellyfish stings occur during the spring, summer and fall, when people are most active on beaches. He also says despite being demonized by humans, jellyfish do have their place in the ecosystem and play a pivotal role amongst creatures of the sea. MYSTERIOUS 20-FOOT SEA CREATURE COVERED IN SHAGGY HAIR WASHES UP ON PHILIPPINES BEACH Theyre not there just to sting people, Chiaverano said. Theres a lot of species in the ocean from fish, birds, to crabs, to snails that actually feed on jellyfish. Jellyfish are also known to provide some shelter for juvenile fish. Chiaverano hopes people take a second look at jellyfish and learn to respect instead of fearing them. The voice of the late scientist was beamed into space on Friday, sending a message of peace and hope, heading toward a black hole approximately 3,500 light-years from Earth. Hawking's voice was set to a piece of music by Greek electronic composer Vangelis and was broadcast by the European Space Agency, the AP reported. The broadcast was beamed toward the nearest black hole, 1A 0620-00, which lives in a binary system with a fairly ordinary orange dwarf star, his daughter Lucy Hawking said in a statement. STEPHEN HAWKING UNLOCKED A 'UNIVERSE OF POSSIBILITIES,' NASA SAYS It is a message of peace and hope, about unity and the need for us to live together in harmony on this planet, she said in comments obtained by the AP. Hawking, who died in March at the age of 76, was buried on June 15 in Westminster Abbey, the world famous 1,000-year-old location used for generations of royal coronations, weddings and funerals. Renowned for his works in theoretical physics, Hawking was interred between other prominent British scientists, including Sir Isaac Newton, who formulated the law of universal gravitation and laid the foundations of modern mathematics, and Charles Darwin, whose theory of evolution was one of the most far-reaching scientific breakthroughs of all time. Recent burials of prominent scientists inside Westminster Abbey include Ernest Rutherford, a pioneer of nuclear physics, in 1937, and Joseph John Thomson, who discovered electrons, in 1940. Hawking, who dedicated his life to the sciences, was remembered in a star-studded memorial service at the abbey, attended by the likes of Piers Morgan and actor Benedict Cumberbatch, who played Hawking in a 2004 BBC film. The British-born gave a reading at Hawking's service. STEPHEN HAWKING, FAMED PHYSICIST, DEAD AT 76 Other attendees at Hawking's service included David Walliams, Nile Rodgers and Carol Vorders. Approximately 25,000 people applied to attend the Service of Thanksgiving, according to the Hawking family, but only 1,000 people from 100 countries were given tickets, the BBC reported. Also attending the service were students who use electronic communication devices to allow them to speak, similar to Hawking, including 20 year-old Rose Brown, who said that Hawking inspired people, despite his setbacks. "I'm going to be an actress; everybody who puts their mind to something gets to be it," Brown said according to the BBC. "Stephen Hawking proved that more than anyone." After graduating from Oxford, Hawking studied at Cambridge, where he was diagnosed with ALS. Also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, ALS is a fatal, motor neuron disease that causes progressive muscle weakness and atrophy. Although Hawking may have been incapacitated physically, he managed to write a number of books, including the best seller "A Brief History of Time," teach physics and mathematics, deliver speeches and even float in zero gravity, all while working in the fields of cosmology and quantum gravity. Hawking's passing earlier this year touched nearly the entire world, including executives across Silicon Valley and other scientists, including Neil deGrasse Tyson and British astronomer and broadcaster Professor Brian Cox, who is also attending the service at Westminster Abbey. QUOTATIONS FROM STEPHEN HAWKING My goal is simple," the ever loquacious Hawking once said. "It is a complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is and why it exists at all." Hawking never achieved his goal of a complete understanding of the universe or why it exists, but his voice will now live on throughout space for all time, a memento few, if any, will ever achieve. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow Chris Ciaccia on Twitter @Chris_Ciaccia A dust-enshrouded, giant black hole ripping apart a star blasted out a superfast jet of particles that packed about 125 billion times the amount of energy the sun releases per year, a new study finds. This is the first time astronomers have directly imaged the formation and evolution of such a jet from a black hole. This finding may help astronomers discover many new instances of black holes destroying stars. Supermassive black holes that are millions to billions times the mass of the sun are thought to lurk in the hearts of most, if not all, large galaxies. If a star passes too close to such a monstrous black hole, its powerful gravitational pull will tear it apart in a so-called tidal disruption event. [Images: Black Holes of the Universe] As a black hole tears matter off a star, this material forms a rotating disk that glows brightly before it falls into the black hole. Previous research also suggested that jets of particles are launched outward from the poles of these so-called accretion disks at extraordinarily high speeds. Most times, supermassive black holes are not actively devouring anything, the new study's researchers told Space.com. The small number of tidal disruption events that astronomers have detected so far offer scientists the chance to learn more about the formation and evolution of these jets. The first evidence that researchers had of this newly reported jet came on Jan. 30, 2005, from astronomers using the William Herschel Telescope in the Canary Islands to analyze a pair of colliding galaxies called Arp 299, nearly 150 million light-years from Earth. They discovered a bright outburst of infrared light coming from the core of one of the colliding galaxies in Arp 299, study co-lead author Seppo Mattila, of the University of Turku in Finland, told Space.com. On July 17, 2005, using the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) a network of 10 radio telescopes spread across thousands of miles that can work together to essentially act like a giant radio telescope scientists detected a new source of radio emissions from the same location in Arp 299. "As time passed, the new object stayed bright at infrared and radio wavelengths, but not in visible light and X-rays," Mattila said in a statement. "The most likely explanation is that thick interstellar gas and dust near the galaxy's center absorbed the X-rays and visible light, then re-radiated it as infrared," Mattila said. The researchers initially thought this outburst was a star exploding in a supernova, but that explanation didn't match the data. Continued monitoring over nearly a decade showed the source of radio emissions, dubbed Arp 299-B AT1, expanding in one direction, just as would be expected for a jet, but not for a supernova. Radio data suggested the material in the jet raced outward at an average of about 25 percent the speed of light. In contrast, the average expansion speed of a supernova after 10 years is expected to be, at most, about 5 percent of the speed of light, study co-lead author Miguel Perez-Torres of the Astrophysical Institute of Andalusia in Granada, Spain, told Space.com. "We continued to patiently collect more and more data to discern the true nature of this source, and our patience paid off," Mattila said. "The combination of our infrared and radio observations, coupled with state-of-the art simulations of radio jets and calculations of infrared emission from the dusty regions surrounding a supermassive black hole, left us with one plausible explanation the infrared and the radio emission came from the disruption of a hapless star being devoured by the supermassive black hole when it passed too close to this cosmic monster." The researchers estimated that this jet resulted from a supermassive black hole that was 20 million times the mass of the sun. The black hole was situated at the core of one of the pair of colliding galaxies and it was in the act of shredding a star that was more than twice the sun's mass. "Never before have we been able to directly observe the formation and evolution of a jet from one of these events," Perez-Torres said in a statement. [No Escape: Dive Into a Black Hole (Infographic)] The new findings were a surprise, the scientists said. Arp 299-B AT1 was discovered as part of a project that sought to detect supernova explosions in colliding pairs of galaxies. This infrared burst was originally thought to be a supernova explosion it was only in 2011, six years after the outburst's discovery, that Arp 299-B AT1 began to show the elongation that went on to reveal that it was a jet and not a supernova. Over the course of about a decade, the jet released more than 1.5 x 10^52 ergs of energy in infrared and radio waves, the researchers said. This is about 125 billion times the amount of energy the sun releases per year. With the help of the VLBA, now the scientists are "witnessing how the radio source is now breaking up into several separate sources, telling us how the interaction of the jet with its surrounding medium is proceeding," Perez-Torres said. The event was not bright in visible or X-ray wavelengths, likely because of the effects of gas and dust, the scientists noted. This may help explain why tidal disruption events are not as bright as theoretically predicted, they added. "How many similar events are we missing in dusty centers of galaxies that would only be detectable by infrared and radio observations but be completely invisible in the optical light?" Mattila said. These new findings suggest that infrared and radio telescopes may discover many tidal disruption events that may have escaped detection until now because dust absorbed any visible light from them, Perez-Torres said. Such events may have been more common in the early universe, so investigating them may help scientists understand the newborn cosmos, the researchers added. The scientists detailed their findings online June 15 in the journal Science. Original article on Space.com. The sentencing of three people who committed over $1 million in return fraud at Amazon points to a cottage industry of bogus returns. Earlier this month, United States Attorney Josh Minkler announced that three individuals were sentenced up to 71 months for defrauding Amazon out of $1.2 million in consumer electronics items. Erin Finan, 38, and Leah Finan, 38, a husband and wife from Indiana, pleaded guilty to federal mail fraud and money laundering charges, the Department of Justice, U.S. Attorneys Office Southern District of Indiana, said earlier this month. 10 HOT TECH GIFTS FOR FATHER'S DAY The two were sentenced to 71 months and 68 months respectively. Danijel Glumac, 29, of Indianapolis, pleaded guilty to money laundering and to fencing the items the Finans stole and was sentenced to 24 months in prison. The three went on a return binge between 2014 and 2016, stealing and selling over 2,700 items, including GoPro digital cameras, Microsoft Xboxes, Microsoft Surface tablets, and MacBooks. The scheme works by exploiting Amazons customer service policy. Basically, they claim that the items they ordered were damaged or not working and then request and receive replacements from Amazon at no charge, the U.S. Attorneys office said in a statement. The Finans would place thousands of Amazon orders, create multiple false identities, and get the stolen goods from retail shipping stores all over Indiana, the U.S. Attorneys office said. Then sell them to their fence, Glumac. In two years, they made roughly $750,000. $4,500 IPHONE X? RUSSIAN LUXURY BRAND TOUTS CRAZY SOLAR-POWERED DEVICE Return fraud way of life Fraud had become a way of life. Their Amazon scheme was their job, the U.S. attorney said in a statement. This is reflected in the numbers reported by the National Retail Federation (NRF) in a targeted survey for 2017. Of total annual returns and exchanges, the average fraudulent return was expected to be 10.8 percent, up from 8.8 percent in 2015, according to the NRF. Return fraud continues to pose a serious threat to the retail industry, the NRF said in its 2017 Organized Retail Crime Survey. The most common (about two-thirds) is the return of stolen merchandise and employee return fraud, the NRF said. And Appriss Retail, which works with the NRF, said in a report (which references the NRF numbers) that the estimated amount of return fraud and abuse as a percent of total returns was $22.8 billion in 2017 for retailers. FBI DETAILS TOP INTERNET SCAMS It is critical to understand how returns and return fraud reduce net sales and contribute to total loss clear causes of retail performance issues, said Krishnan Sastry, president of Appriss Retail in a statement. But there is a fine line between fraud, abuse, and someone who, for ostensibly legitimate reasons, makes a lot of returns, as this discussion at tech site Techwalls indicates. For those who abuse the system, however, the DoJ is watching. To those who seek to exploit the convenience of online shopping through fraud, remember this case. You will be caught. You will be prosecuted. And you will go to federal prison for a long time, the U.S. Attorneys office said. Amazon would not comment on the U.S. attorneys report. The mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight 370, which has been missing for more than four years, has thrust aircraft-tracking technology into the spotlight. Space technology could provide the answer, according to satellite specialist Spire Global. The companys first two aircraft-tracking cubesats were recently launched into orbit on an Orbital ATK Antares rocket from NASAs Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The two mini-satellites are just the first of a host of aircraft-tracking cubesats that the company is planning to put into orbit. LEADER OF FAILED MH370 WRECKAGE HUNT HOPES TO SEARCH AGAIN The target is to have 75 aircraft-tracking satellites in orbit by the end of next year, Spire Global CEO Peter Platzer told Fox News. The need to track aircraft over water and in remote areas was starkly highlighted by Flight MH370. The aircraft disappeared on March 8, 2014, while en route from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Beijing with 239 people aboard. No transmissions were received from the aircraft after its first 38 minutes of flight, but it is believed to have crashed in the far southern Indian Ocean based on the drift patterns of crash debris that washed ashore on distant beaches. Experts believe the captain of the doomed flight selected a route that would effectively render the plane invisible on radar in order to commit suicide, but nothing has been confirmed. Following the MH370 disaster, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) mandated that most aircraft traveling over oceans report their latitude, longitude, altitude, and time every 15 minutes. The disappearance of MH370 sparked a gargantuan search effort covering a vast expanse of ocean. If updates on an aircrafts position are sent every 15 minutes, however, then the search area is narrowed dramatically in the event of an emergency. Spire Global says that satellite-based tracking is the only option for tracking across such remote areas. Theres great interest from customers that want this data, Platzer told Fox News. The customers that we have now are from the aircraft tracking industry, airlines, aircraft maintenance companies. Spire Globals satellites use radio frequency technology to track aircraft. The companys system provides updates every 15 minutes and can be combined with weather data, according to Platzer. MH370 SEARCH DISCOVERS SHIPWRECKS, OFFERS CLUES TO 19TH-CENTURY MARITIME MYSTERIES The ongoing eruption of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii is just one example of a situation where airlines could need an array of data at their disposal to ensure the safety of aircraft. Whenever we have information available, it just has a smoother, safer, more efficient operation, he said. The launch of the two aircraft-tracking cubesats took the number of Spire Global mini-satellites in orbit to 59. The firms cubesats, which are in orbit about 311 miles above Earth, have traditionally been used for weather data and tracking ships. Like its other mini satellites, Spire Global says that its two recently-launched cubesats contain multiple sensors, so they can also compile weather and maritime data. Other companies are also harnessing space technology to keep track of planes. Aircraft tracking specialist Aireon, for example, is working with satellite giant Iridium and a number of aviation authorities around the world on a real-time satellite-based tracking service. By using small-size cubesats Spire Global says that it can offer a low-cost alternative to traditional satellites. Were very optimistic about this market segment, Platzer told Fox News. Having multiple options for customers is good for our business. The Associated Press contributed to this article. Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers The Army is fast-tracking an emerging program to engineer a longer-range artillery cannon able to out range enemy ground forces by hitting targets at more than twice the distance of existing artillery. The service is now prototyping an Extended Range Cannon Artillery weapons with a larger caliber tube and new grooves to hang weights for gravity adjustments to the weapon which is a modified M777A2 mobile howitzer. Existing 155m artillery rounds, fired with precision from mobile and self-propelled howitzer platforms, have a maximum range of about 30km; the new ERCA weapon is designed to hit ranges greater than 70km, Army developers said. When you are talking about doubling the range you need a longer tube and a larger caliber. We will blend this munition with a howitzer and extend the range. We are upgrading the breach and metallurgy of the tube, changing the hydraulics to handle increased pressure and using a new ram jet projectile kind of like a rocket, a senior Army weapons developer told Warrior Maven in an interview. The modification adds 1,000 pounds to the overall weight of the weapon and an additional six feet of cannon tube. The ERCA systems also uses a redesigned cab, new breech design and new muzzle break, the official explained. The ERCA program develops not only the XM907 cannon but also products, such as the XM1113 rocket assisted projectile, the XM654 supercharge, an autoloader, and new fire control system, an Army statement said. As part of an effort to ensure the heavy M777 is sufficiently mobile, the Army recently completed a mobility demonstration of ERCA prototypes. The service demonstrated a modified M777A2 Howitzer with an integration kit for the mass mock-up of the modified XM907 ERCA cannon at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. "Their [user] concern is that when the self-propelled program is done they will be left with a towed cannon variant that they can't tow around, which is its number one mode of transportation," David Bound, M777ER Lead, Artillery Concepts and Design Branch, which is part of the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center, or ARDEC, said in an Army statement. The ERCA is currently being configured to fire from an M109a8 Self-Propelled Howitzer, using a 58-Cal. tube; the existing M109a7, called the Paladin Integrated Management, fires a 39-Cal. weapon. ERCA changes the Armys land war strategic calculus in a number of key respects, by advancing the Armys number one modernization priority long-range precision fires. This concept of operations is intended to enable mechanized attack forces and advancing infantry with an additional stand-0ff range or protective sphere with which to conduct operations. Longer range precision fire can hit enemy troop concentrations, supply lines and equipment essential to a coordinated attack, while allowing forces to stay farther back from incoming enemy fire. A 70-kilometer target range is, by any estimation, a substantial leap forward for artillery; when GPS guided precision 155mm artillery rounds, such as Excalibur, burst into land combat about ten years ago - its strike range was reported at roughly 30 kilometers. A self-propelled Howitzer able to hit 70-kilometers puts the weapon on par with some of the Armys advanced land-based rockets - such as its precision-enabled Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System which also reaches 70-kilometers. In a modern threat environment, wherein near-peer and smaller-level rivals increasingly possess precision-guided land weapons, longer-range C4ISR technology and drone weapons, increasing range is a ubiquitous emphasis across the Army and other services. Russias violations of the INF treaty, new S-500 air defenses, new Armata tanks and fast growing attack drone fleet - all point to a growing need for the US to outrange and outgun potential adversaries. In fact, senior Army developers specifically say that the ERCA program is, at least in part, designed to enable the Army to out-range rival Russian weapons. The Russian military is currently producing its latest howitzer cannon, the 2S33 Msta-SM2 variant; it is a new 2A79 152mm cannon able to hit ranges greater than 40km, significantly greater than the 25km range reachable by the original Russian 2S19 Msta - which first entered service in the late 1980s, according to data from globalsecurity.org. Earlier this year, statements from the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation said that 2S19 Msta-S modernized self-propelled howitzers were fielded near Volgograd, Russia. The 2S19 Msta-S howitzers are equipped with an automated fire control system with an increased rate of fire, digital electronic charts, ballistic computers and satellite navigation systems, the report says. Therefore, doing the simple math, a 70km US Army ERCA weapon would appear to substantially outrange the 40km Msta-S modern Russian howitzer. While senior Army weapons developers welcome the possibility of longer-range accurate artillery fire, they also recognize that its effectiveness hinges upon continued development of sensor, fire control and target technology. Just because I can shoot farther, that does not mean I solve the issue. I have to acquire the right target. We want to be able to hit moving targets and targets obscured by uneven terrain, the senior Army developer said. Multi-domain warfare is also integral to the strategic impetus for the new ERCA weapon; longer range land weapons can naturally better enable air attack options. Operating within this concept, former Army TRADOC Commander Gen. David Perkins and Air Force Air Combat Command Commanding General James Holmes launched a new series of tabletop exercises several months ago designed to to replicate and explore these kinds of future warfare scenarios. The project is oriented toward exploring the kind of conflicts expected to require technologically advanced Army-Air Force integration. In a previous Pentagon report, Holmes said the joint wargaming effort will turn into a doctrine and concept that we can agree on. Such a development would mark a substantial step beyond prior military thinking, which at times over the years has been slightly more stove-piped in its approach to military service doctrines. Interestingly, the new initiative may incorporate and also adjust some of the tenants informing the 1980s Air-Land Battle Doctrine; this concept, which came to fruition during the Cold War, was focused on integrated air-ground combat coordination to counter a large, mechanized force in major warfare. While AirLand battle was aimed primarily at the Soviet Union decades ago, new Army-Air Force strategy in todays threat environment will also most certainly address the possibility of major war with an advanced adversary like Russia or China. In fact, the Armys new Operations 3.0 doctrine already explores this phenomenon, as it seeks to pivot the force from more than a decade of counterinsurgency to preparedness for massive force-on-force warfare. Jumping more than 40 years into the future beyond AirLand Battle into to todays threat climate, the notion of cross-domain warfare has an entirely new and more expansive meaning. No longer would the Air Force merely need to support advancing armored vehicles with both air cover and forward strikes, as is articulated in Air-Land Battle, but an Air Force operating in todays war environment would need to integrate multiple new domains, such as cyber and space. After all, drones, laser attacks, cyber intrusions and electronic warfare (EW) tactics were hardly on the map in the 1980s. Forces today would need to harden air-ground communications against cyber and EW attacks, network long-range sensor and targeting technology and respond to technologically-advanced near-peer attack platforms, such as 5th-generation stealth fighters or weaponized space assets. In a concurrent related effort, the Army is also engineering a adaptation to existing 155mm rounds which will extend range an additional 10km out to 40km. Fired from an existing Howitzer artillery cannon, the new XM1113 round uses ram jet rocket technology to deliver more thrust to the round. "The XM1113 uses a large high-performance rocket motor that delivers nearly three times the amount of thrust when compared to the legacy M549A1 RAP," Ductri Nguyen, XM1113 Integrated Product Team Lead. "Its exterior profile shape has also been streamlined for lower drag to achieve the 40-plus kilometers when fired from the existing fielded 39-caliber 155mm weapon systems." Soldiers can also integrate the existing Precision Guidance Kit to the artillery shells as a way to add a GPS-guided precision fuse to the weapon. The new adapted round also uses safer Insensitive Munition Explosives. More Weapons and Technology - WARRIOR MAVEN (CLICK HERE)-- Government intelligence agencies have a plan to build computers that store information inside DNA and other organic molecules. Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), a group within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that develops technologies for U.S. intelligence services, announced plans to develop "tabletop"-sized machines that can store and retrieve data from large batches of polymers a term that refers to a wide variety of long, stringlike molecules. Polymers can store data in the sequence of individual atoms or groups of atoms. The project, which was reported by Nextgov, is an attempt to solve a basic problem of the modern era: the vast and growing costs of data storage. Datacenters around the world sucked up 416.2 terawatt hours of electricity in 2016. That's about 3 percent of the global supply, according to a report in the Independent, and it accounts for 2 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Experts told the Independent that the world can't sustain the exponential rate of global data center growth. A 2016 paper in the journal BioMed Research International found that DNA, in particular, could store computer information more densely, require less energy, and survive higher and lower temperatures than conventional hard drives. The authors of that paper reported on the successes of prototype DNA computers that used the genetic molecules for both long-term storage and random access memory (RAM). [Humanoid Robots to Flying Cars: The 10 Coolest DARPA Projects] But no one has yet figured out how to implement DNA data storage on large scales. IARPA officials said the new effort, called Molecular Information Storage, will be broken up into three chunks: a two-year program to figure out how to store data in DNA or other molecules at high speeds, a two-year program to figure out how to retrieve that data at high speeds, and a two-year effort to develop an operating system that can run on that DNA. Many of the technologies IARPA wants to develop are untested at these scales, so it's unclear how far away that proposed "tabletop device" really is. Originally published on Live Science. In an effort to combat to the invasive Asian carp species, a commercial harvest incentive program will be developed in the fall of 2018. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agencys request of $500,000 budget expansion from the Marine Fuel Tax Fund was approved at the May meeting of the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission. This will provide two years of funding for the program. The TWRA, and other state and federal fish and wildlife organizations, have deemed the species as a threat to waterways. In high abundance, these fish can out-compete native fish for essential resources. Asian carp were brought to the United States for use in the aquaculture industry, and these fish then escaped into the Mississippi River. Using navigation locks to traverse dams, the fish are steadily moving about the Mississippi Basin, including the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers in Tennessee. Along with competing with other fish species for food, it has been well-documented that Asian carp can be a safety threat to humans. They jump out of the water and have struck boaters or those on other recreational crafts or skiers. Harvest of carp by commercial fishing is the most practical means to reduce carp abundance, and to control their movement upstream as a population, according to officials. TWRA is hoping this new commercial harvest incentive program will encourage more carp to be harvested for a variety of expanding markets. This is a rush transcript from "Your World," June 15, 2018. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated. NEIL CAVUTO, HOST: You know what is weird about this tariff-for-tariff fight the president is leading? By and large, he has more support among Democrats than he does among Republicans. Republicans, generally with that laissez-faire view of keep the government out of the way, are not big fans of sort of upping the trade ante. Democrats, particularly those in areas where they feel industry has been harmed and American workers, jobs have been harmed, it's a big deal to them. So it's kind of an upside-down world. Let's get the read from Pennsylvania Republican Senator Pat Toomey, what he makes of all of this. It is weird. I don't know where you stand on this. But there are many of your colleagues, Senator, who are worried that this is going to backfire. Markets temporarily were as well. Are you? SEN. PAT TOOMEY, R-PENNSYLVANIA: Oh, yes. I'm very worried, Neil. I think we're heading down a bad path. And, well, you can ask them, but I have not yet discovered a Republican colleague in the Senate that thinks it's a good idea to be imposing these tariffs all over the place. I do think that we should distinguish between the challenges, the unique challenges the China poses and the sort of ordinary commerce that occurs between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico and the E.U., for instance. But the Section 232 tariffs, I think, are a very bad idea, bad for our economy, and could lead to a really problematic cycle. And now the nature of how we're pursuing this with China is worrisome to me as well. CAVUTO: There's many of your Republican colleagues, sir, who said that this should be written off by the Senate first, Congress should weigh in on this. The president not keen on that. Bob Corker and a lot of others are. Where do you stand on that? TOOMEY: So, Bob Corker and I were the ones that introduced the amendment to the national defense authorization bill that would have given Congress the final say on the imposition of the tariffs that are justified on national security grounds. They're called the 232 tariffs. CAVUTO: Right. TOOMEY: And, look, I think they have been misused by the administration. It is not... CAVUTO: So, the tariffs particularly on Canada which were used under those grounds on aluminum and related products, those, you feel, were pushed for the wrong reason? TOOMEY: Well, absolutely. But it's broader than just Canada, right? CAVUTO: I understand. TOOMEY: So, certainly, in my view, it is the case that the fact that we have a modest trade surplus in the steel that we trade with Canada, that is not a threat to American national security. That's ridiculous to make that allegation. So, it's a misuse of what is intended to be a tool in the event of a threat to national security. But, frankly... CAVUTO: Has the president talked to you about this, Senator? TOOMEY: Yes. Yes. CAVUTO: Because you and him are on the same page on a lot of stuff,but now. TOOMEY: Not on trade. I mean, the president and I are on the same page on many things. But when I disagree, I have let the president know. We spoke as recently as Sunday night. He called me from Singapore, because he disagrees with my position. There's no question. But, look, I think he is mistaken. I think these are the wrong tools. And they are applied to the wrong goals. So the president's focus is to somehow eliminate trade deficits. I don't believe that the trade deficit is nearly as problematic as the president thinks. And, in fact, in some cases, he's imposing it where there's no trade deficit, such as with Canada. So it's a bad idea, Neil. CAVUTO: So, when you say that to the president, he always like to say, I believe in free trade as well, but these countries don't practice it. He mentions Canada and the whopping tariffs it imposes on dairy and dairy- related products. TOOMEY: Yes. CAVUTO: Even though, to your point, we have run a surplus with Canada, when you include goods and services. TOOMEY: Right. CAVUTO: He says the same about these other countries. And he's brought to light the fact that one after the other doesn't play fair, well, of course, particularly the Chinese. So how do you respond to a country that does that? Let's say presumably the Chinese, year in and year out, administration in, administration -- we respond in the same way. We don't. TOOMEY: So there are different -- I think there's distinction that we have to make. So, for instance, it's true that Canada imposes tariffs on our dairy products that would be much better off for all involved if they did not. But it's also true that we actually have a surplus of trade in dairy products with Canada. And I'm in favor of negotiating away all kinds of protectionist measures, whether it's tariffs or subsidies. And we engage in a lot of that as well. But I don't think that the best way to do that is through a -- this tariff war. And, in fact, it's not clear to me that that's really the goal of the Trump administration. They want to see -- it seems they want to bring an end to NAFTA. NAFTA leaves us with pretty much a free trade zone throughout North America. There are just small exceptions. So it's not clear to me that their real goal is to have truly free trade. CAVUTO: All right. TOOMEY: If it were, I would be an ally. With China, it's a whole different story, the coercive technology transfer, theft of intellectual property. We need to respond very aggressively to those things. CAVUTO: Senator, good seeing you again. Thank you for stopping by. TOOMEY: Good to see you, Neil. CAVUTO: All right. END Content and Programming Copyright 2018 Fox News Network, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Copyright 2018 CQ-Roll Call, Inc. All materials herein are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of CQ-Roll Call. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. Thousands of passengers scheduled to fly out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport, in North Carolina, on an American Airlines-operated carrier became stranded on Thursday night after the airline suddenly canceled all remaining flights. PSA Airlines, a regional carrier for American Airlines, reportedly experienced a technical issue that led to the cancellation of 275 flights on Thursday and 400 on Friday, a representative for the airline confirmed to Fox News. Our team, in coordination with PSA, is working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, said American in a statement. PSA plans to resume their operations at 12 p.m. ET on June 15. MOM BARRED FROM BOARDING PLANE WITH 3-YEAR-OLD BECAUSE OF TORN PASSPORT PAGE In the meantime, the carrier claims it is working to accommodate impacted travelers on mainline flights or other regional carriers. We never want to disrupt our customers travel plans, and we are sorry for the trouble this caused. Customer relations will be reaching out to all of those who have been impacted by this issue. Customers are encouraged to check their flight status on the American Airlines app or at aa.com before heading to the airport, the airline added. PSAs cancellations reportedly impacted other area airports as well, though Charlotte Douglas International appeared to be most affected. Shortly after 12 p.m. on Friday, however, the airport tweeted out a photo of the departures board, which appeared to show flights resuming their schedules. BOY EMBARRASSES MOM WITH 'WELCOME HOME' SIGN AT AIRPORT As a result, thousands of passengers were left to wait overnight for the airline to resume operations, or to be re-accommodated on another flight, the Charlotte Observer reported. WSOC further reported that a school group from Ohio was among travelers forced to sleep on the ground after waiting around for six hours. Other fliers were outraged over the cancellations, with some taking to Twitter to vent their frustrations. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS American Airlines and Charlotte Douglas International Airport both tweeted that operations would be resuming at noon, though both urged fliers to check the status of their American Airlines flights before leaving for the airport. U.S. Border Patrol agents struck hard blows against trafficking in humans and drugs when they found 62 illegal immigrants crowded into a "stash house" and 35 bundles of methamphetamine hidden in a car door in Texas, officials said Wednesday. The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency coordinated the operation with the Webb County Sheriff's Office in the Lone Star State. CBP officials said agents received a tip that a large number of illegal immigrants were inside a house in Laredo waiting to be moved to the interior of the United States. Officials determined the migrants were from four countries -- Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. "This enforcement action demonstrates the United States Border Patrol's commitment to work with the Webb County Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement partners to disrupt illicit activity, deny criminal organizations the ability to operate, and protect human life," Laredo Sector Assistant Chief Patrol Agent Jose Martinez said in a prepared statement. The operation occurred three days after Border Patrol officers in the same sector seized 44.1 pounds of methamphetamine at a checkpoint on U.S. 59 near Freer, Texas. Officials said the drugs were hidden inside the rocker panels of a sedan after the car was referred for a search. Agents found at total of 35 bundles, valued at an estimated $1.4 million. Agents arrested a Mexican man and referred the case to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). "The vigilance of the men and women of the United States Border Patrol in disrupting the flow of narcotics attests to our commitment in keeping America and its communities safe," Martinez said in a statement. Smuggling of drugs and humans has become commonplace along the southwest border. Tuesday also brought a reminder of the dangers facing the men and women who combat those daily threats. CBP officials also reported Wednesday that a 21-year veteran of the Border Patrol suffered a gunshot wound while patrolling Chimney Canyon in Arizona at about 4:30 a.m. The agent, an experienced paramedic, treated his wound and radioed for help. According to immigration officials, an unknown number of people attacked the agent, with one firing several gunshots, hitting him several times. Agents rushing to the scene arranged for him to be flown to a local hospital. The agency did not name the officer. Authorities said the Border Patrol Tactical tactical unit searched the area but did not locate the suspects. Officials described the region as rural and mountainous, with limited surveillance technology. PoliZette senior writer Brendan Kirby can be reached at . Follow him on . (photo credit, homepage and article images: ICE) Six people have been taken to a hospital after a roller coaster in Florida derailed, leaving some riders dangling 34 feet (10 meters) above the ground. According to the Daytona Beach Fire Department's Twitter account, two riders fell to the ground from the ride at Daytona Beach Boardwalk Thursday night. It says a total of 10 riders were rescued. It says the extent of their injuries wasn't immediately known. The Daytona Beach Police tweeted that it was assisting the fire department. Colorado authorities said a person of interest was in custody following a shooting Thursday that left four people injured, two of whom are reportedly children. The violent encounter took place around 3:05 p.m. local time in a business parking lot, Westminster police said. According to WVEC, the incident happened outside a dentist's office. TEACHER WHO TACKLED INDIANA SCHOOL SHOOTER WILL RETURN TO CLASSROOM IN FALL Officers found four wounded individuals, all of whom were taken to nearby hospitals, police said. Among the victims are two children and two adults, Fox 31 Denver reported, citing police. Police tweeted that there was no word on the conditions of the injured. Police tweeted that a person of interest, as well a vehicle, was in custody. Authorities previously said a description of the individual was not immediately available and urged anyone with information about a black, four-door Toyota vehicle of interest with Colorado plates should call authorities. They also warned that the Toyotas occupant(s) should be considered armed. MURDER MYSTERY CONTINUES AFTER 2 YEARS IN PHILADELPHIA WOMANS BRUTAL SLAYING Video footage at the scene showed police focusing on an office complex that holds several dental offices. The area is located roughly 14 miles northwest of Denver. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A suspect linked to Wednesday nights shooting of a Denver police officer has died, Denver police said Thursday. The still-unidentified suspect was taken to a hospital after an exchange of gunfire with police near the Colorado state Capitol. The police officer, who also has not been identified, was shot in a leg and was treated and released from a hospital Wednesday night, Denvers Fox 31 reported. Two bystanders suffered minor injuries, but details were not available, the station reported. According to police, the officer involved was on routine bicycle patrol when flagged down about a robbery at a nearby 7-Eleven store just before 8 p.m. The officer saw the suspect and began to approach him when gunfire was exchanged. Its not clear who fired first, but witnesses described a chaotic scene. We were scared to hear all those shots, witness Ladel Mack told the Denver Post. One of the four people shot Thursday in the parking lot of a dental office complex near Denver has died, and two others were in critical condition, police said. The victim who died was an unidentified boy, police in Westminster said. Those critically injured were his mother and brother, they said. The fourth victim, a man unrelated to the other three victims, was expected to survive. He was running back and I called him, I said come here, come here, come here, and he said I want to go over there, my mom just got shot in the ear, witness Nancy Garcia told KDVR Fox Denver. It's unclear if she was referring to the boy who died. Meanwhile, a person of interest was in custody, police said. They said a vehicle seen leaving the area was located about three hours after the shooting, and investigators are interviewing the driver. It was not immediately clear what led to the shooting. Officers who arrived at the scene found the four victims outside at the Cedarwood Square Office Complex, about 14 miles northwest of Denver. Investigators were interviewing people who were inside or near the business complex at the time of the shooting. "A lot of witnesses to talk to and get information," Cheri Spottke, Westminster Police Department spokeswoman, said. "Obviously, they're upset." Police surrounded the complex that holds several dental offices, using yellow tape to block access to the area and placing evidence markers. A road next to the business park was closed to traffic, and police also closed several lanes of another major road nearby. All roads reopened by Thursday night. The Associated Press contributed to this report. At least five people were injured Thursday in a shooting at a funeral home in the San Francisco Bay Area, according to a local report. The gunfire took place at the Chapel of the Chimes in Hayward, according to ABC 7. The victims were rushed to a nearby hospital. Details about their condition was not immediately available, the station reported. Police were still searching for the suspect. No further details have been released. A Twitter user said his family was attending another service at a different chapel at the same location when the other chapel got shot up. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. Police in Minneapolis have been ordered to never suggest or demand that paramedics sedate a suspect during a police call, following a recent report that such treatment of suspects had spiked in recent years. The May 18 order from police Cmdr. Todd Sauvageau says that decisions on sedating suspects are to be made by Hennepin County paramedics, not city police officers, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported. The police policy order coincided with the completion of a report by the citys Office of Police Conduct Review (OCPR), which showed that paramedics injections of ketamine into suspects during police calls had increased from three in 2012 to 62 in 2017, the newspaper reported. Ketamine is considered a powerful tranquilizer and is classified as a date rape drug in the Minneapolis police manual, according to the Star-Tribune. In some cases, it can stop a persons heart or breathing, the report said. Police officers regularly ordered paramedics to administer ketamine, the OCPR report says. It then questions why suspects received the drug before being transported to a hospital, given the immediate effects on breathing and heart function that the drug induces. The OCPR report drew conflicting reactions from local officials, the Star-Tribune story said. Hennepin Healthcare EMS Medical Director Jeffrey Ho and Minnesota Poison Control System Medical Director Jon Cole dismissed the findings as a reckless use of anecdotes and partial snapshots of interactions with police, and incomplete information and statistics to draw uninformed and incorrect conclusions. Minneapolis police Chief Medaria Arradondo credited the report for helping to clarify the departments relationship with paramedics. Mayor Jacob Frey said it was necessary to clarify that relationship. Our policy should be clear, he said. Cops shouldnt direct medical professionals on health-related issues, and medical professionals shouldnt listen to them. Click here for more from the Star-Tribune of Minneapolis. A 12-year-old Michigan girl spending the summer in Chicago was fatally shot, just a few hours after attending a cousin's eighth-grade graduation, police and family members said. She'nyah O'Flynn was returning to a house in Chicago's West Garfield Park neighborhood on Thursday night when she and a man were shot, apparently unintended victims of gunfire from a nearby party. Her mother, She'vaughn O'Flynn, rushed to a hospital from Covert, Michigan, still in her pajamas. After she got to the hospital, she was asked if she wanted to see the body, the Chicago Tribune reported . "I'm ready as I can be," O'Flynn replied. "I got the Lord with me." Police said there were no immediate arrests. O'Flynn said her daughter was a good student who loved playing soccer. A 36-year-old man was injured in the shooting. The man's mother, Linda Riley-Bailey, says Chicago's violence is too much. "They're killing our future," she said. Two people are facing murder charges for supplying opiods that police said led to a death. Monica Dunn, 29, and Wilmer Sherrard, 32, are charged with second-degree murder in the death of Dustin Lowrance. On March 8, the body of the 29-year-old Lowrance was found inside a motel room at 2440 Williams St. The Hamilton County Medical Examiner's Office conducted the autopsy and determined the death to be the result of a toxic level of opioids. CPD's Narcotics Unit opened an investigation and through extensive interviews and other investigative means it was determined that Ms. Dunn and Sherrard were both the opioid suppliers and present at the scene of the overdose. Both are currently in custody on multiple unrelated charges and have other unrelated arrest warrants pending in Dade County and Walker County, Ga. A man was accused of opening fire on four people outside a suburban Denver dental office Thursday, killing a boy and wounding his mother and brother, in what police Friday called an act of road rage. Jeremy Webster, 23, was booked into the Adams County jail and faces charges of first-degree murder, first-degree assault and attempt to commit a felony. He is due in court Monday morning. 1 DEAD, 2 CRITICAL AMONG 4 VICTIMS OF COLORADO SHOOTING, POLICE SAY Police in the city of Westminster said Webster did not know or have any connection to the victims. They have not provided more detail about what led to the shooting in the parking lot of a business complex about 14 miles northwest of Denver. Another man was also shot but was expected to survive, police said. The victims were not named. Webster fled the scene following the incident until police intercepted his vehicle about three hours later, KDVR reported. SHOOTING NEAR COLORADO DENTISTS OFFICE WOUNDS 4, INCLUDING CHILDREN, REPORTS SAY Police did not immediately elaborate on how the incident became an act of road rage. The Associated Press contributed to this report. An FBI agent who accidentally fired his gun, striking another patron in the leg, while dancing at a Denver bar wants to meet with the injured man and is praying for his recovery, the agents attorney said this week. Agent Chase Bishop was in court Wednesday, out of custody after turning himself in earlier this week on a second-degree assault charge. Bishop posted bond to gain his release, according to jail records. Bishops attorney, David Goddard, called the shooting, which happened while Bishop was off-duty, an incredibly tragic event, adding that Bishop and his family were praying that the injured man makes a full and speedy recovery. The agent hopes that he and the injured man can sit down privately when appropriate, the lawyer said. While members of the local and national media have repeatedly expressed interest in speaking to Mr. Bishop, out of respect for the Denver Police Department and their investigation, we will refrain from further comment until the investigation into this incident is complete, Goddard said. Bishop was at the Mile High Spirits Distillery and Tasting Bar on June 2 when he broke out in a dance routine. A woman recorded the incident that showed Bishop dancing and doing a back flip. His gun then fell out of his waistband and on the floor. Police said the gun accidentally discharged. The wounded mans injury was described as serious but not life-threatening. He was treated and released from a hospital. Bishop will be allowed to travel because he lives and works in Washington, D.C. Prosecutors didnt object and a Denver County judge allowed it. The Associated Press contributed to this report. K-9s are an important tool in the fight against opioids but as a result of their effort, they are dying. Drug-sniffing dogs sent out to look for opioids are overdosing themselves, according to veterinarian and law enforcement officials who are trying to figure out ways to save them. While law enforcement officials are trained to help users who overdose, for a long time they didnt know how to detect the symptoms in the dogs they use to locate the drugs. This is a really big issue, said Cynthia Otto, director of the University of Pennsylvanias Working Dog Center, lots of these canine officers are exposed and their handlers dont even know what an overdose looks like [in these animals]. Ottos team is hoping to change that. She and her group of trainers and veterinarians have been leading research to examine the effect opioid exposure has on the canine members of law enforcement teams and developing best practices for handlers. The issue grew more urgent when three police dogs in South Florida overdosed on fentanyl, which is 50 times more powerful than heroin, during a federal drug raid while sniffing around a suspects home, according to NBC News. The case underscored the growing problem of how canines can overdose during a routine sweep and how officers are not always properly trained to detect the symptoms. It is unclear how many K-9s have overdosed from opioids because there is no agency collecting that data, officials said. "The problem is that there is no mandatory reporting, no centralized database and nowhere for handlers to report that their dog has been affected, said Dr. Maureen McMichael, a veterinarian physician and founder of Working Dog HQ, a non-profit designed to collect data on working dogs in order to advocate for new animal care laws. "We don't have hard numbers. No one does, not even the U.S. government." At the facility in Pennsylvania, dogs arrive at eight weeks old and go through an extensive training course for 12 to 18 months that prepares them for searches. "We teach them to sit and stare when they identify a find," said Bob Dougherty, a dog handler at the center. "We don't want the dogs sniffing through the drugs, for their safety." Each dog reacts differently when exposed, but Otto says there are some key indicators to look for. Dogs may go through an excitatory phase, they might actually start panting and they may pace around, she said. It sort of depends on the dogs personality, too. Otto said some of the older, more laid-back dogs may be down for the count after only minutes of exposure. While younger more energetic dogs may become increasingly more excited. Fentanyl is a drug commonly used by veterinarians. When injected intravenously it's considered safe for animal sedation or pain. Dogs are not as sensitive to opioids as humans are, said Otto, adding that it takes 20 times the dose to create anesthesia for a dog as it would a human. If a dog is showing sign of opioid intoxication, that means they were exposed to a really big dose. Surprisingly, dogs have the same opioid receptors as humans, which means the same medications can be used to reverse an overdose. In a hospital setting, Naloxone is injected intravenously, blocking the effects of the opioid and eventually reversing it. On the field, more and more officers are carrying the intranasal spray to protect both themselves and their four-legged partners. Acquiring the spray has been challenging for some forces. "The wording is subjective," McMichael said. "So some pharmacies will not allow officers or units to purchase the medication for animal officers." Only four states Illinois, New York, New Jersey and Maryland will allow working dogs to be transported to an animal hospital via an ambulance. Ohio and Colorado are just two states that allow EMS technicians to provide care to working dogs. New York currently has a pending bill to become the first state to allow both access to care and transportation for working dogs. Dogs are not as sensitive to opioids as humans are, said Otto, adding that it takes 20 times the dose to create anesthesia for a dog as it would a human. If a dog is showing sign of opioid intoxication, that means they were exposed to a really big dose. Surprisingly, dogs have the same opioid receptors as humans, which means the same medications can be used to reverse an overdose. In a hospital setting, Naloxone is injected intravenously, blocking the effects of the opioid and eventually reversing it. On the field, more and more officers are carrying the intranasal spray to protect both themselves and their four-legged partners. Acquiring the spray has been challenging for some forces. "The wording is subjective," McMichael said. "So some pharmacies will not allow officers or units to purchase the medication for animal officers." Only four states -- Illinois, New York, New Jersey and Maryland -- will allow working dogs to be transported to an animal hospital via an ambulance. Ohio and Colorado are just two states that allow EMS technicians to provide care to working dogs. New York currently has a pending bill to become the first state to allow both access to care and transportation for working dogs. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 162 suspected illegal immigrants nearly 90 percent of whom had past criminal convictions -- in sweeps across Los Angeles and surrounding areas, the agency said Thursday. The arrests targeted those deemed a public safety threat. Among those arrested were a Mexican national convicted of rape and an El Salvadorian convicted of voluntary manslaughter. The arrests occurred from Sunday through Tuesday and took place in Los Angeles, Orange County, Santa Barbara and Ventura County. David Marin, field director for ICE enforcement in the area, said the arrests were generally the most dangerous kind his agents face. One detainee was a 32-year-old Mexican national and member of the gang Krazy AMexican, the agency said. He was convicted of rape and sentenced to eight years in prison. Another Mexican national, arrested the same day in Santa Barbara, was convicted of assault with intent to commit rape. The other crimes ranged from grand theft to drug convictions. The majority of those arrested were Mexicans, but an Iranian and Nigerian were also nabbed. ICE agents arrested 53 individuals after filing detainers with local law enforcement. A detainer is a request by ICE sent to local law enforcement to notify the agency when an illegal immigrant is going to be released from jail. Immigration-rights advocates told the Los Angeles Daily News that some of those arrested had convictions from 20 years ago. Jennaya Dunlap, a deportation defense coordinator, told the paper that ICE agents make arrests daily in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. ICE doesnt rest out here, she said. One Kansas sheriff's deputy was killed and another is in critical condition following a shooting near a courthouse in Kansas City on Friday. The incident occurred while the two Wyandotte County Sheriffs deputies were both "overcome by an inmate being transferred from jail to the courthouse" on Friday morning, police said. Officials said the other officer is a female. The deputy that died was identified as Deputy Patrick Rohrer, 35. Rohrer had been on the force for seven years, the Wyandotte County Sheriff's office said. The suspect was also shot and is undergoing surgery. No other details were released about the suspect, including his condition. Both Rohrer and the unidentified officer were transported to the University of Kansas Medical Center, where Rohrer later died. Major Kelli Bailiff, of the Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office, said it was possible the deputies were shot with their own weapons. Police said no other suspects were being sought. Bailiff said the investigation was now being handled by the police department in Kansas City. Police Officer Zac Blair said authorities were reviewing surveillance video. The Kansas Capitol Police tweeted their prayers. Sending prayers to the officers, families and Wyandotte SO, the office said. The St. Louis Drug Enforcement Administrations office also tweeted their thoughts and prayers to the deputies and their families. Our thoughts and prayers are with these deputies and their families, and to all of our brothers and sisters with the Wyandotte County [KS] Sheriffs Office, the DEAs office tweeted. FOX4 reported that this was the fourth officer-related shooting in the past three years in Kansas City. "This incident remains under investigation by the Kansas City, Kansas Police Departments Criminal Investigations Division, who is encouraging anyone with information to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474- TIPS (8477)," the Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office said. Fox News' Matt Richardson and The Associated Press contributed to this report. An 8-year-old boy was injured at a popular California parade by a runaway dancing horse that managed to throw off its rider -- who was charged with riding while intoxicated. Video showed the horse bucking off the rider, identified as Armando Ruiz, and galloping right into a crowd at the Colusa County Fair parade June 8, Fox 40 Sacramento reported. It was pretty chaotic for a few minutes there, Colusa Police Sgt. Elden Tamez told the station. The boy was treated for a broken leg. Parade-goers grabbed the horse. Ruiz was arrested on a felony charge of driving under the influence, according to the station. In California the same laws apply when riding horse as driving cars, the Colusa Police Department said in a Facebook post Thursday. Tamez told Fox 40 the charge was rare. "Ive been here 20 years and this is my first time charging somebody for this," he said. The signature dancing horses are a staple at the Colusa County Fair and were putting on a show again when the incident unfolded, the station reported. A 19-year-old man was arrested Thursday in a Long Island suburb of New York City, accused of killing another man whose death police previously said was no doubt linked to the deadly MS-13 gang. The suspect, identified as Jose Lopez, was charged with murder in the killing of Josue Amaya Leonor, also 19, New York's WPIX-TV reported. The arrest came nearly two weeks after Nassau County police found Leonors remains buried five feet underground in a secluded wooded area of Roosevelt, Nassau County. Police described the remains as bone fragments, Newsday reported. There was no doubt Leonor, who was reported missing two years ago, was a victim of the MS-13 gang, Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder told the newspaper. But police on Thursday didnt confirmed whether Lopez was a member of MS-13. Leonor was reportedly schoolmates with Angel Soler, 16, and Kerin Pineda, 20, two others whom police believe were victims of the gang. Their bodies were found in October. On the same day Leonors remains were found, a third person was arraigned on murder charges in the death of Soler, who was hacked to death with a machete last year. MS-13 is believed to be behind 25 killings in Long Island communities during the past two years, according to reports. Theyre not people, these are animals and we have to be very, very tough, President Donald Trump said during a roundtable discussion on immigration while visiting the area last month. Trump and U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who has also visited the area, have made MS-13 a major focus of the administration's anti-crime efforts. A Marine apparently shot himself by accident Friday inside a guard post at the Marine Corps barracks in Washington, D.C., officials say. One official with the Marines told Fox News that early indications are this was a negligent discharge. Another said the Marine suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen, while Marine Corps spokeswoman Capt. Colleen McFadden described the wound as "self-inflicted." The Marine is now in stable condition with a non-life threatening injury, she added. The shooting happened at the Marine Corps Barracks and Commandant's House around 8 a.m. and is currently under investigation, the Marine Corps said in a statement. Fox News Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report. Two pilots who were killed this week when a small plane crashed in New Jersey were on a non-emergency medical flight to pick up a patient in Massachusetts for treatment in Philadelphia, officials said. Pilot Robert Winner, 69, of Marlton, and co-pilot Timothy Scannevin, 71, of Southampton, both died shortly after the twin-engine Hawker Beechcraft 58 Baron went down in Springfield Township, in Burlington County, NJ.com reported. Ellen Williams, executive director of Angel Flight, told the outlet that Winner was a volunteer with the program that provides free flights to patients needing care at distant medical facilities. "He was generous and selfless," Williams said. "He was a wonderful man." My dad chose to spend his time flying people to hospitals, Winners son, Jeff, told the Philadelphia Inquirer. He didnt have anywhere to go yesterday. He just wanted to help someone. My dad chose to spend his time flying people to hospitals. He didnt have anywhere to go yesterday. He just wanted to help someone. Jeff Winner, son of pilot killed in crash Scannevin was not affiliated with Angel Flight East, she said. The plane crashed about six minutes after taking off from South Jersey Regional Airport in Lumberton, FOX29 Philadelphia reported. The plane traveled through an open field and rows of trees before coming to a stop in a second open field. The National Transportation Safety Board said no distress call was made before the plane went down. The cause of the crash was under investigation. Winner, who owned the plane, had flown 16 missions for the organization since joining in 2013, the Inquirer reported. A judge has handed down an eight-year prison sentence to an illegal immigrant who has been deported three times and arrested on numerous occasions in three states, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports. Mexican national Victor Santos-Ochoa, 45, had pleaded guilty to entering the country illegally a fourth time. He was facing a prison term of 37 to 46 months under federal sentencing guidelines. Quite frankly, you are the type of individual U.S. immigration policy is intended to keep out of the United States, Virginia Federal Court Judge Henry Hudson told Santos-Ochoa at the sentencing hearing Thursday, the paper reported. Hudson told Santos-Ochoas attorney Nia Vidal that of the 200 immigration cases he has handled as a federal judge, I believe this is the worst." MAN PRAISED FOR DELIVERING PIZZA TO DOZENS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS Hudson had said he was considering departing from the sentencing guidelines given Santos-Ochoa's criminal record, according to court papers. The Times-Dispatch quoted prosecutors as saying that between 1992 and 2007, Santos-Ochoa was convicted of 18 misdemeanors in California, Georgia and Virginia and spent eight of those 25 years in state and federal prisons. Court records show he was deported in 2009 following a Virginia conviction the previous year for malicious wounding, a felony. In 2010, Santos-Ochoa was deported a second time after being caught entering the U.S. illegally in Arizona and sentenced to nearly five years in prison. He was deported a third time in 2016 after being convicted of marijuana possession in Virginia, the Times-Dispatch reported. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT MAKING PIZZA DELIVERY AT NEW YORK'S FORT HAMILTON ARRESTED BY ICE The paper said that Santos-Ochoa was arrested again in Virginia in September on an assault charge involving a family membera 5-year-old childand on another drug charge. He will be deported a fourth time at the end of the eight-year sentence. Needless to say, do not return to the United States without proper authorization, sir, Hudson told Santos-Ochoa, according to the paper. Planning a wedding can be stressful for most couples but Christina Anderson has a unique situation which presents its own challenges: her fiance is deployed overseas. Christina Anderson and Bill Pennewell, a staff sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, have been dating for two and half years, and in March 2017, Bill proposed. It was only a month later when his unit was given the opportunity to deploy. Although Bill wasnt required to go, he recognized that his position was needed and he was one of the few qualified for the job. It was a hard decision that Bill and Christina made together. He would go and serve his country. Christina said she was surprised but understood her fiances choice. I didnt expect it so soon but I learned a lot really quickly, she told Fox News' Harris Faulkner on Outnumbered Overtime. Bill is in his 11th year of service, having joined the Marines at 18, and currently is in his third deployment. He has been in Bahrain for the past six months and is set to return in about a month and a half just in time for their September wedding. Planning the wedding alone has been a challenge for Christina. The couple tried to plan what they could before Bills deployment but now they must rely on written letters and spotty Internet service to communicate. Aside from planning a wedding, being apart has proven difficult for other reasons. During his latest deployment, both Bill and Christina suffered the loss of a loved one. It was hard not to be able to rely on each other's presence... to console each other at that time. Christina has relied on both Bills family and her own for support. She also has been thankful for the support she has received from other military couples going through similar situations. I love the camaraderie Ive learned a lot about strength and resilience and its taught me a lot about how to be adaptable to life. Fox News' Harris Faulkner contributed to this report. A private music teacher in New York state is on trial this week, accused of giving foot rubs to a girl for more than seven years, in which he allegedly rubbed the girls feet against himself for sexual gratification. The defendant, identified as Michael Waite, 42, of Mattydale, near Syracuse, has denied the allegations, the Syracuse Post-Standard reported. The unidentified girl testified Thursday that no other type of sexual contact took place, the report said. Although Waite is a teacher, the girl was not one of his students, the newspaper added. According to the report, Prosecutor Jordan Aiello told the jury that the fact that the girl did not accuse Waite of a more serious offense suggests that she is telling the truth. But defense lawyer David Zukher argued that the girl was lying, and that police had conducted a shoddy and shameful investigation that produced no physical evidence. Zukher called it a he said, she said, case, the report said. But trial testimony indicates Waite admitted giving the foot rubs in text messages and in a wiretapped police interview, the newspaper reported. He told police her foot may have touched his private area by accident, the report said. Waite faces a decade in prison if convicted. Click here for more from the Syracuse Post-Standard. The parents of a 6-month-old infant are facing criminal homicide charges after the baby's body was found in a container filled with cat litter in a crawl space at their Pennsylvania home. Shaun Oxenreider, 25, and Samantha Trump, 27, were charged with concealing the death of a child, abuse of a corpse and conspiracy. Authorities said Harper Trumps body was found on March 20 in a trash bag in a plastic container filled with cat litter at the Springfield Township complex. An autopsy concluded Harper died around Jan. 1 from blunt force head trauma and had rib fractures. TORNADO FLIPS CARS AND TRIGGERS BUILDING COLLAPSES IN PENNSYLVANIA "When you see a young child's life taken away, unnaturally, in a situation where they were abused to the point where they were murdered, that's tough to swallow," John Adams, the Berks County District Attorney, told WFMZ. Police were called to the home after relatives were suspicious about the death of the baby, PennLive reported. Police searched the home, where they found the babys body behind a locked door that led to the crawl space. The defendants remain in prison in lieu of $250,000 bail each. Oxenreider's attorney earlier said his client wasn't the primary caregiver. 2 PENNSYLVANIA POLICE OFFICERSINJURED IN SHOOTING WHILE RESPONDING TO FALSE REPORT OF ABDUCTION Adams said the investigation was ongoing. "This is an ongoing investigation, he told the Reading Eagle. The cause of death is homicide, but we know there is a lot of information that we are still trying to gather and we will continue to gather." The Associated Press contributed to this report. A missing Missouri teenager who planned to attend Harvard University this fall vanished on Thursday and could be at risk for suicide, police said. Haran Kumar, 17, suffers from depression, a Chesterfield police spokesman told Fox 2 St. Louis. Kumar is 5 feet, 6 inches tall, weighs about 110 pounds and has short black hair. He was wearing a black or grey shorts and a tie-dyed shirt. He was last seen at around 1:20 p.m. getting into his car at his familys home in Calliope Place, about 20 miles west of St. Louis, the report said. Kumar's vehicle was described as a silver Toyota Avalon with Missouri license plates AD6T7X, police said. He is known to frequently visit parks, wooded and secluded areas, authorities said. Kumar, a recent graduate of Parkway West High School, was set to attend Harvard University this fall, the school's news site Parkway West Pathfinder reported in April. The main thing I am taking into consideration is the culture fit because ultimately, you go to college for the people," Kumar said. "Having my home for the next four years match my personality is important." He is planning to study computer science and history, while aspiring to become a computer science professor, The West Pathfinder reported. Two men have been arrested in connection with a stabbing that began with a hot-sauce squirting incident in a New Hampshire restaurant. The Portsmouth Herald reports that police say the fight began when Nicholas Abraham squirted Ethan Fishbaugh with hot sauce and chased him out of the eatery on May 29. Police say Fishbaugh stabbed Abraham in the abdomen and concealed the knife. Abraham required emergency surgery. Fishbaugh was treated for a head injury. Both men are 27 years old. Police say that the Fishbaugh was charged with four counts of second-degree assault, falsifying physical evidence and four misdemeanor counts of simple assault. Abraham's charged with several misdemeanors. It wasn't immediately known if they had lawyers. A message was left for Fishbaugh at a possible number; a number couldn't be found for Abraham. ___ Information from: Portsmouth Herald, http://www.seacoastonline.com A 4-year-old girl who was abducted from her Pennsylvania home in the middle of the night and sexually assaulted told investigators a monster took me," according to reports. Humberto Guzman-Garcia has been charged with snatching the little girl around 3:30 a.m. Sunday in Avondale, WPVI-TV reported. The little girl, when we later talked to her, told us a monster came and took her out of the house, Chester County District Attorney Thomas Hogan said, according to KYW-TV. Hogan said Guzman-Garcia and the little girl were strangers. This crime is every parents worst nightmare, Hogan said Thursday in announcing Guzman-Garcias arrest, according to Fox 43 Harrisburg. A monster comes out of the night, abducts your child, and sexually assaults her. This is proof that evil exists in the world. Police said Guzman-Garcia grabbed the girl when she heard him knocking on the front door, according to the station. Because she was so small, she could only unlock the bottom lock. She opened the door, the actor had a brief conversation with her through the crack in the door, at which point he reached in, opened the latch and took the child from the residence, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Stefano Gallina said, according to KYW. The girls mother and father went looking for her when they discovered her missing. As he searched the yard, the girls father saw Guzman-Garcia holding her down, according to Fox 43. He told police Guzman-Garcias pants were down and his daughters underwear were on the ground. Guzman-Garcia then fled. Troopers found him hiding in a disabled car. He was charged with kidnapping, aggravated indecent assault, attempted rape, and related charges. KYW reported that Guzman-Garcia was from Mexico and a legal U.S. resident. A New Jersey man charged with robbing a bank left an obvious paper trail for police, investigators say. Jeffrey Wolfman, a 32-year-old from Milltown, was arrested Wednesday after repeatedly dropping money stolen from a Bedminster bank, the Somerset County Prosecutors Office announced. Witnesses stated they observed defendant Wolfman on a nearby side street removing his outer garments of clothing while dropping U.S. currency on the ground, the office said in a statement. Authorities said a male entered the Peapack-Gladstone Bank and demanded a teller to hand over cash before fleeing on foot. When police later caught up to Wolfman, they said he was carrying clothes that matched a description provided by a bank employee. Wolfman, the officer said, then dropped a quantity of U.S. currency onto the ground which was recovered as suspected proceeds from the bank robbery. He was charged with second degree robbery and is being held in a local jail pending a detention hearing. A former school bus driver who was convicted in a wreck that killed six children in Tennessee in 2016 now faces charges of aggravated statutory rape. Johnthony Walker, 25, was arrested Thursday in Nashville, where he was free on bond while appealing his March conviction on charges of criminally negligent homicide and assault in the bus crash in Chattanooga. MARINE APPARENTLY SHOOTS HIMSELF BY ACCIDENT AT WASHINGTON A GUARD POST Local media outlets cited an arrest report that stated Walker admitted to having sex with a 14-year-old on five occasions. He was reportedly staying with the victims family for a few months. In March, Walker was found guilty after the bus he was driving on Nov. 21, 2016, carrying 37 kids from Woodmore Elementary School, crashed on a winding road. More than 20 students were injured, in addition to the six who died. Prosecutors said he was driving too fast and talking on his phone. He was sentenced to four years in prison. FEDERAL OFFICIALS: PRISON CELLPHONE JAMMING TEST A SUCCESS The decision divided victims' relatives at the hearing, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported. Some said it wasn't enough time while others were reportedly satisfied with the punishment. Fox News Elizabeth Zwirz and The Associated Press contributed to this report. An Afghan Defense Ministry official says a U.S. drone strike in northeastern Kunar province has killed Pakistan Taliban chief Mullah Fazlullah. Defense Ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanish tells The Associated Press in a telephone interview Friday that Fazlullah and two other insurgents were killed early Thursday morning. According to a statement attributed to U.S. Forces-Afghanistan spokesman, Lt. Col Martin O'Donnell, the U.S. carried out a "counterterrorism strike" Thursday near in the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan targeting "a senior leader of a designated terrorist organization." The statement did not say whether the strike had killed anyone and did not identify Fazlullah as the target. Radmanish said the attack took place in Marawara district, near the border. Angela Merkels government is on the brink as the German chancellor battles her coalition partners on immigration and asylum seekers. The coalition between Merkels Christian Democrats (CDU) and the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) has fractured over the latters new proposed policy that would turn away more asylum seekers at the countrys borders. The policy flies in the face of the most powerful woman in the world and de factor leader of the European Union. In 2015, her 'open door' policy to migrants saw approximately a million refugees flood into the country. Although migrant arrivals have dropped steeply in the past two years, Germany still registered around 11,000 new asylum-seekers each month. Her decision is believed to be a major contributing factor to the surge in support for the far-Right and anti-Islam Alternative for Germany (AfD), which became the third-largest party in Germany after the 2017 federal election when it won 94 seats in the Bundestag. MERKEL, MACRON FACE MIGRANT CRISIS AS EUROPE'S NATIONALIST-POPULIST MOVEMENT CHALKS UP WINS Horst Seehofer, the CSU interior minister, whose party is facing regional elections in October, wants Germany to turn back refugees who have already registered in other European countries. He also wants to block migrants whose asylum applications in Germany have already been rejected from returning. Merkel fears such a move could increase the burden on countries include Italy, Greece and Spain, believing it could potentially fracture the European Union even further. While she wants to see a bilateral agreement at a EU summit and the end of June, the CSU has set her an effective ultimatum of next Monday. Personally, I think that illegal migration is one of the challenges for the European Union and therefore I believe that we shouldnt act unilaterally, that we shouldnt act without coordination and that we shouldnt act in a way that burdens third parties, involved, Merkel said. Wolfgang Schaueble, the former finance minister and current parliamentary president who is respected on both sides, has been asked to mediate negotiations between the CDU and CSU. GERMANY: MERKEL PLEDGES THAT 2015 MIGRANT INFLUX WON'T RECUR We are in a serious, a very serious situation, said Alexander Dobrindt, the CSU parliamentary group leader. A poll published on Thursday by German broadcaster ARD found that 62 per cent of its citizens believe refugees without papers should not be allowed in. The CSU fears that anti-immigration sentiment in the country could bring an end to its decades-old stranglehold on Bavarias government. They face crucial regional elections in October. The coalitions center-left ally, the Social Democrat Party (SPD), has demanded that the dispute be settled. Andrea Nahles, the leader of the SDP, accused Markus Soeder, the governor of Bavaria, and Seehofer of taking all of Germany and Europe hostage. She added that Soeder was acting like a bonsai Trump. Olaf Scholz, the SPF finance minister, said: The task of governing our country is not an episode of Game of Thrones, but a very serious matter. Those involved should not forget that. Adding to tensions, a Twitter hoax made Germans think the government had already collapsed. An account claiming to be Hessicher Rundfunk state broadcaster claimed Seehofer had dissolved the alliance, but minutes later it was confirmed to be fake. Germany has seen more than one million asylum seekers arrive since 2015 since Merkel introduced her open door policy, but she has even acknowledged the need to strengthen the EUs external borders. GERMANY'S MERKEL SET FOR 4TH TERM AFTER SOCIAL DEMOCRATS OK COALITION Both Austria and Italy have seen anti-immigrant parties come to power since 2015. On Wednesday, during a meeting with Seehofer, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz voiced his approval of Seehofers ideas. In our view, we need an axis of the willing in the fight against illegal migration, Kurz said. Merkel has served as chancellor of Germany since 2005 and has come top of Forbes list of the 100 most powerful women in the world for 11 of the past 12 years. An award-winning Canadian clarinetist sued his former girlfriend after discovering she posed as him and rejected a competitive scholarship he had applied for in the U.S. Eric Abramovitz was studying at McGill University in Montreal when he decided to apply for an extremely competitive scholarship at Colburn Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, the Montreal Gazette reported. The musician auditioned hoping to study under Yehuda Gilad, a renowned professor of clarinet at the school. Gilad accepts only two students a year to study under him. The scholarship covered tuition, room and board and living expenses. The musician told the Washington Post he spent hours practicing for the tryout and felt confident after his live audition in February 2014. However, a few weeks later Abramovitz said he was saddened to learn he had not been accepted to study under Gilad. The musician instead finished up his education at McGill, received his bachelors and put his music career on hold. WORLD CUP FEVER HITS UN AS AMBASSADORS DON THEIR NATIONS SOCCER SHIRTS I just invested so much, Abramovitz said. I gave it all I had. The musician tried once again to enter the program and auditioned with Gilad in 2016. It was then that he learned that he had in fact been accepted into the program. What are you doing here? You rejected me, Gilad asked Abramovitz. The musician decided to look into the situation. His friend suggested his former girlfriend, Jennifer Lee, may have done something. I never wouldve even considered that the person I trusted the most would have done something like this to me, Abramovitz said. The musician said he and Lee had practically been living together at the time and she knew his passwords to his computer and email. In May 2016, Abramovitz and his friend did some digging and found an email Lee used to send the fake rejection letter to Abramovitz. The musician said he was able to log into the email by remembering a password his ex-girlfriend used. The initial acceptance letter sent to Abramovitz by Gilad was deleted by Lee, People reported. PAKISTAN TALIBAN LEADER KILLED IN US DRONE STRIKE, AFGHAN OFFICIALS SAY It was not only a stab in the back but in the heart, Abramovitz said. The reasons behind Lee's actions remain unclear. The musician sued Lee for $300,000 in general damages and on Wednesday, a judge in the Ontario Superior Court awarded the musician $260,000 in damages caused by Lees reprehensible betrayal of trust and despicable interference in [his] career. Lee, who has not commented, did not respond to the lawsuit and lost by default. Despite Lees treachery, Abramovitz became Gilads student after his 2016 audition and attended graduate school at the University of Southern California. He recently accepted a position as the assistant principal clarinetist in the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. He also said he was dating someone new and was in a healthier relationship. Im very thankful that despite what happened and what she did I still landed on my feet and realized what I set out to do, Abramovitz said. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 Muslim residents of a southern Philippine city devastated by last year's bloody militant siege are celebrating the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr in gunfire-riddled mosques while many whose homes were leveled by the fighting prayed in tent shelters. A few thousand people walked past burned homes Friday to the city landmark, the pockmarked Golden Mosque, to celebrate the holiday marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. In an evacuation center elsewhere in the lakeside city, homeless residents prayed in the open for an end to their misery. The holiday is a reminder of how life has crept back to normalcy for thousands who have returned home, but also of uncertainties for many others months after troops quelled the five-month insurrection by Islamic State group-aligned fighters. Police say they have arrested four people for allegedly gang-raping a woman and her 14-year-old daughter after tying the woman's husband to a tree at gunpoint in eastern India. Crimes against women have been rising in India despite toughening of laws. India has been shaken by a series of sexual assaults since 2012, when a student was gang-raped and murdered on a moving New Delhi bus. A police officer said Friday the family was riding a motorbike to their village on Wednesday night when armed suspects stopped them on a deserted stretch near Gaya, a town in Bihar state. The four were arrested on Thursday and Friday. Police were still looking for two suspects who fled after the crime. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 The Latest on disputes within German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government (all times local): 1 p.m. Some media in Germany have briefly fallen for a hoax tweet announcing that Interior Minister Horst Seehofer had broken up his Bavarian party's decades-old alliance with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives in a dispute over migration. A Twitter account that resembled a local broadcaster's said Hesse state governor Volker Bouffier, a senior member of Merkel's Christian Democratic Union, had said in an internal email that Seehofer was dissolving the alliance. Seehofer's Christian Social Union and Merkel's CDU campaign together in national elections and have a joint parliamentary group. Merkel spokesman Steffen Seibert, who was at a government news conference at the time of Friday's tweet, said there were signs that the tweet actually came from a writer at the satirical magazine Titanic. The Hesse branch of the CDU confirmed it was a hoax. ___ 9:50 a.m. A spat within the German government over migration has turned to name-calling, with one ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel accusing another of acting like a "bonsai Trump" by threatening to turn some refugees back at the border. The dispute has raised questions over Merkel's future, as nationalist forces already in power elsewhere in Europe turn up the heat on the long-serving German chancellor for her welcoming stance toward migrants. Among Merkel's sharpest critics is Bavaria's governor Markus Soeder, whose Christian Social Union is taking an increasingly hard line ahead of state elections this fall even though it forms part of the governing coalition at the national level. Soeder and his party colleague Horst Seehofer Germany's interior minister want to send police to the border to turn back migrants who have registered as refugees in other European countries. Merkel has warned that such a move could shift the burden onto countries such as Italy and Greece. ___ Follow Frank Jordans on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/wirereporter next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 After being blindsided by President Donald Trump's decision to shelve major U.S. military exercises in South Korea, Seoul appears to be going along with it. A senior South Korean presidential official said Friday that Washington and Seoul have begun discussions on temporarily suspending massive "Ulchi Freedom Guardian" exercises that usually take place in August and possibly other joint drills while nuclear diplomacy with North Korea continues. Seoul's Defense Ministry says Defense Minister Song Young-moo held "deep" discussions about the drills with U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis in a telephone conversation Thursday evening. Experts are split on whether Washington and Seoul are making the right move in suspending the exercises, which North Korea has long condemned as rehearsals for an invasion. The Pakistani Taliban leader known for beheading police officers and even ordering the assassination of Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai has been killed by a U.S. drone strike, Afghanistans Defense Ministry says. Mohammad Radmanish told the Associated Press on Friday that Mullah Fazlullah, the ruthless insurgent leader, died along with two other terrorists a day earlier in the Marawara district along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. A statement attributed to U.S. Forces-Afghanistan spokesman Lt. Col Martin O'Donnell said an American counterterrorism strike was carried out in the region targeting "a senior leader of a designated terrorist organization, but did not say whether it had killed anyone. Fazlullah previously ordered the bombing and beheadings of dozens of opponents when his band of insurgents controlled Pakistan's picturesque Swat Valley from 2007 until a massive military operation routed them in 2009. His insurgent group, the Tehrik-e-Taliban, took responsibility for the brutal attack on an Army Public School in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar in December 2014 when more than 140 children and their teachers were slaughtered. Survivors of the attack told of insurgents roaming through the school shooting their victims, some as young as 6 years old, in the head. In 2012, Fazlullah had ordered the killing of Yousafzai for promoting girls' education. Yousafzai returned to her hometown earlier this year, opening a school funded by a charity she established to promote girls education globally. She has often said that Fazlullah's attempts to silence her backfired and instead he amplified her voice around the world. Fazlullah rose to prominence through radio broadcasts in Swat demanding the imposition of Islamic law, earning him the nickname "Mullah Radio." His radio talks also aired the grievances of many in the northwest against the government, such as its slow-moving justice system. He also reached out to women, promising to address their complaints about not getting a fair share of their inheritance. His brutality included public beheadings, often of police officers, according to The Associated Press. His exact age is not known but he was believed to be in his late 30s. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Kremlin says President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have discussed the situation along Syria's border with Israel. The Kremlin said the leaders discussed "the situation in Syria in the context of joint efforts to ensure security around the Syrian-Israeli border" on a Friday call. It added they "voiced readiness to strengthen coordination on Syria, including on combating international terrorism." The conversation follows up on the two leaders' talks in Moscow and the Israeli defense minister's visit to Russia last month. The Syrian government's plans to recapture rebel-held areas near the border raised Israeli concerns its other backers besides Russia Iran and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah could reaffirm their presence there. Israel has warned it wouldn't allow Iran to maintain a military presence in Syria. Biblica, The International Bible Society, Announces Appointment of Geof Morin as New CEO New leader arrives from senior executive role at partner Bible Society, inspired by 'transforming hope of God's Word' COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., June 15, 2018 / Christian Newswire / -- Biblica ( www.biblica.com ), The International Bible Society, sponsor and copyright holder of the world's bestselling English Bible, the New International Version, has announced the appointment of ministry leader Geof Morin as its new CEO. Photo: Geof Morin has been named the new CEO of Biblica (www.biblica.com), The International Bible Society. Currently senior vice president, ministry mobilization with American Bible Society, where he has served for 11 years, Morin will start his new role with Biblica on August 31. "I am thrilled to join the Biblica team, serving with our national and global partners to bring a waiting world the transforming hope of God's Word," he said. Morin's appointment comes as Biblica approaches the 210th anniversary of its founding and the celebration of a rich legacy of Bible translation, access and engagement around the world. This global work includes a current portfolio of 83 translations, including the New International Version (NIV). Biblica strategically works with global partners to ensure they have the Word of God available in contemporary formats, which suit their ministry needs, through a variety of innovative formats. Rob Gluskin, board chairman for Biblica, said: "We are excited to welcome Geof and his leadership background, ranging from church and ministry start-ups to his extensive knowledge of the Bible agency arena through his work with our partner, American Bible Society. The entire board of directors looks forward to Geof leading us as we begin our next 210 years!" Morin has spent most of his working life finding new ways to share the message of the Bible. Joining American Bible Society as director of marketing and communication in 2007, he later became chief communications officer before being named senior vice president in 2014. During his American Bible Society tenure, he helped lead major branding and Bible advocacy initiatives, and deepened new translation and international ministry partnerships. He also played a key role in American Bible Society's 2015 move to Philadelphia from its longtime headquarters in New York City, including leadership for a forthcoming, immersive Bible experience on Philadelphia's Independence Mall. Morin began his career as an assistant account executive with global advertising firm Saatchi and Saatchi, before turning to the world of ministry. He served with youth and community outreach programs and a philanthropic research and consulting firm prior to joining American Bible Society. An ordained minister and avid runner, Morin is to relocate to Colorado Springs from his current home in the Philadelphia area. He and his wife, Rachel, have two daughters. Since the NIV was first released in 1978, it has become the most widely read contemporary English translation on earth, with more than 1 billion copies in print. The NIV has been widely commended for its accuracy and accessibility. Though it is Biblica's most well-known resource, the NIV is only part of the organization's work. Founded in 1809 as the New York Bible Society, Biblica currently stewards 83 translations of the Bible, focusing on the top 100 strategic languages of the world. During the past two centuries, the organization has also helped pioneer many forms of Bible distribution, from giving free Bibles to immigrants and soldiers to providing them in hospitals and prisons, and using the latest technology to make God's Word more widely available--from braille to audio and digital editions. About Biblica Slovenian lawmakers will convene next week for the first time since an election earlier this month which saw a right-wing party make strong gains. President Borut Pahor on Friday scheduled the inaugural session of Slovenia's newly-elected parliament for June 22, paving the way for the formation of a future government. None of the parties won an outright majority in the 90-member assembly in the June 3 vote, meaning that a coalition government has to be formed. The right-wing Slovenian Democratic Party of former Prime Minister Janez Jansa secured 25 seats after winning most votes at the election. But other, moderate groups have ruled out a coalition with Jansa and are more likely to form an alliance of their own. Jansa has allied with Hungary's anti-immigrant prime minister, Viktor Orban. Spain's new center-left government unveiled a series of measures Friday to "put people's rights first" in the country's migration policies. The Spanish cabinet took the first steps toward extending public health care to foreigners without residence permits, Education Minister Isabel Celaa announced, saying the government would have a decree ready in six weeks. Celaa also said the government planned to assess how to remove "without losing any security" the barbed wire capping the border fences of Ceuta and Melilla, the two Spanish enclaves in North Africa. Those fences are often stormed by scores of migrants trying to reach Spanish territory from Africa. Friday's moves along with Spain's welcoming of the Aquarius, a rescue boat carrying hundreds of migrants that was refused entry by Italy and Malta this week in the Mediterranean showed a sharp break between new Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his predecessor, Mariano Rajoy, whose conservative administration had a stricter approach on migration. Rajoy had blocked free health care for some migrants in 2012 as a cost-cutting measure. His government also refused to remove the barbed wire border fences criticized as cruel and inefficient by rights groups. "You can have security in your borders without having to harm people," Celaa said, adding that Sanchez's Socialist-led government "is going to put people's rights first." The Aquarius rescue boat is expected in the Spanish port of Valencia on Sunday. Tens of thousands of people from Africa, the Mideast or Asian countries flee violent conflicts or extreme poverty each year by attempting perilous journeys to Europe in smugglers' dinghies across the Mediterranean. On Friday, Spain's maritime rescuers pulled around 270 migrants and three bodies from more than 30 boats in the Gibraltar Strait, while helicopters and rescue vessels looked for at least three more migrant boats. The Western Mediterranean route into Spain has seen an uptick of arrivals, with nearly a third (11,792) of the 35,455 migrants rescued or making it to European shores in the first five months of 2018 according to U.N. figures. At least 792 migrants have died crossing the seas to get to Europe this year. "Europe needs to keep in mind that Ceuta and Melilla are common borders of the bloc and that migration needs to be dealt with in countries of origin and transit," Celaa said. She also said the European Union, whose 28 leaders will be discussing migration at the end of the month, needs a "wake-up call" on the topic. Spain's main civil guard union welcomed Friday's announcement that the barbed-wire might go away, but said more border agents, more vehicles and better surveillance technology was also needed. Celaa said the government didn't believe its new policies would encourage more migrant arrivals because they are on the move anyway to escape poverty and violence. A Swedish court has found a man guilty of spying for China by gathering information on Tibetans who had fled to Sweden, and sentenced him to 22 months in jail. The Sodertorn District Court near Stockholm found Dorjee Gyantsan, a 49-year old Tibetan who worked for a pro-Tibetan radio station, guilty of "gross illegal intelligence activity" from July 2015 to February 2017. Judge Daniel Eriksson said Friday the Swedish intelligence service's investigation had proven that Gyantsan "several times traveled to Poland to meet a Chinese intelligence officer" and that those meetings were "part of a comprehensive intelligence campaign aimed at people of Tibetan descent." Eriksson added the information "may have caused great damage to Tibetans both in Sweden and abroad." Gyantsan was arrested Feb. 26, 2017, in Sweden. Talks aimed at resolving a nearly two-month old political crisis in Nicaragua have resumed amid ongoing unrest. The negotiations are being mediated by the Roman Catholic Church. Representatives of business, student, civil society and farmers' groups are participating along with representatives of President Daniel Ortega's government. Matagalpa Bishop Rolando Alvarez said Friday that the agenda would focus on two points: human rights and democracy. Opponents of Ortega have called for his exit from office. His government has likened such demands to an attempted coup. The talks had been suspended since May 23 due to a lack of progress. Human rights organizations say more than 160 people have been killed amid protests and a crackdown by authorities and allied civilian groups since demonstrations began in April. Quaker Lobby Criticizes Attorney General's Biblical Justification for Breaking Up Families Contact: Adlai Amor, Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), 202-423-7989 WASHINGTON, June 15, 2018 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) today strongly criticized Attorney General Jeff Sessions for using the Bible to justify the separation of children from their families at the United States-Mexico border. "The Bible does not justify cruel, dangerous and inhumane border enforcement practices," said Diane Randall, Executive Secretary for FCNL. "It teaches us to love our neighbors, not to break up families. We are critical of the use of Biblical teachings to justify an immoral political decision of this Administration." While addressing a crowd in Fort Wayne, IN on Thursday, Sessions used scripture from the Bible to defend the Trump administration's harsh practice of separating children from their parents at the border. The same passages from Paul's letter to the Romans have been used historically to justify slavery and Nazism. The government's border policy prosecutes and detains adults for entering the U.S. improperly. Their children are put into the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement and processed as "unaccompanied." It can take weeks before a parent knows the whereabouts of their child. This unprecedented policy traumatizes parents and children and expands criminalization of asylum seekers. "As Quakers, we oppose cruel enforcement policies that forcibly separate children from their families," said Hannah Graf Evans, Legislative Representative for Immigration & Refugee Policy at FCNL. "Humane immigration policy must keep families together, protect access to asylum, and utilize alternatives to detention for all those navigating the immigration or asylum processes." FCNL joins members of the faith community in opposing family separation at the U.S. border and the detention and prosecution of parents travelling with children. FCNL also criticizes other documented acts of abuse by agents of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) against vulnerable families. To learn more, please visit www.fcnl.org. Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here. 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. More than 25% of Long Beach residents get new council districts with proposed maps California trying to gobble up more electoral votes and Senate seats with a three-way state split After years of trying, the man who wants to bust up California into three separate states has just won a victory, even though hes a long way off from realizing his dream. Tim Draper, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist who sponsored Tuesdays ballot measure, was smiling when, after the results were counted, a majority of Californians approved putting the issue to the entire state Nov. 6. The plan Draper put forth envisions two new states Northern California and Southern California with the rump state of California existing only as a small six-county entity that includes Los Angeles in the south and Monterey in the north. The current capital of Sacramento would be in Northern California; Southern Cal would include Fresno, Bakersfield, Riverside, and much of the states farm production and water rights. Three states will get us better infrastructure, better education and lower taxes, Draper said in an email to The Los Angeles Times a year ago when he submitted his proposal to state officials. States will be more accountable to us and can cooperate and compete for citizens. Whats also true if and its a very big if Drapers ambitious plan makes it over a myriad of hurdles still to go, there would be four additional seats in the U.S. Senate; four of the six or even five of six would most likely go to the Marxist Party, otherwise known as the Democrats. What could go wrong? The Times explained the process: The proposal aims to invoke Article IV, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution, the provision guiding how an existing state can be divided into new states. Nothing about Drapers historic demarcation of democracy would be easy. Were voters to approve his ballot measure, the effort would need the blessing of both houses of the California Legislature lawmakers who, in a sense, would be asked to abandon their posts. From there, the plan would need congressional approval. Here, too, politics would presumably play a major role. At issue, really, is whether Democrats who currently run California and their federally elected office holders in D.C. believe that giving up a sure two U.S. Senate seats for possibly as many as three more is worth it. And in that respect, theyll likely conclude that it is. (Related: If Calexit succeeds, global communists will take advantage of an anti-American sovereign state.) Stealing power If all you care about is power and you dont mind destroying an entire state to obtain it, why wouldnt you? Political scientist David Faris certainly doesnt mind. In the age of POTUS Trump, hes especially anxious to tear down in order to win power permanently. In an interview with the Left-wing publication Vox, Faris laid out his master Democrats take all, forever plan, which included busting up California, violating the Constitution to grant statehood to D.C., and making Puerto Rico a state as well (even though the last time Puerto Ricans voted on the issue they said, No thanks). He says without offering proof that our founders never envisioned a state with 38 million people having the same voice in Congress upper chamber as a very small state, a notion he calls absurd and not fair or democratic. Thats completely false. Our founders never envisioned that senators would be selected democratically at all, at least not in the sense that Faris means (by the people). Before states ratified the 17th Amendment in 1913, senators were selected in the manner our founders intended by state legislators. Senators were supposed to represent state interests in Congress while House members represented the people. When the 17th Amendment passed, states lost their representation in the national Congress. Faris and his Marxist pals are hypocritically arguing that California is too big to be ruled by Sacramento, yet they want California and additional rump states to produce more representatives and electoral votes so they can tip the balance and rule the entire country. Democrats will destroy anything to steal power. Read more about secession at CivilWar.news. J.D. Heyes is also editor-in-chief of The National Sentinel. Sources include: DailySignal.com DailyWire.com LATimes.com TheNationalSentinel.com Column: Bangers and Mash : The bathroom scare: Are British loos dirtier than German toilets? Bonn In this column, the author looks at life in Germany, as a Brit who is living in Bonn for years. In this edition, he is wondering why the Germans view the British toilet hygiene as sub-standard, why he has to pee sitting down here - and he ponders over why school trips return home to England hungry after staying with German families? Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken Von Bangers and Mash Are the British a tad unclean and cavalier about threats lowly life-forms like mold pose in toilet bowls and bedrooms as they lurk, ready to pounce? Are Brits a bit mucky and too careless or carefree when compared with their sparkling, skin-cleansed, bacterial-bashing German cousins? I ask because a friend of mine, at a meeting near Frankfurt for a German school trip to the English sea-side town of Hastings, described scenes of hysteria among parents fearing their children were going to be exposed to countless dangers stalking the British bathroom. Some parents took the view that little Ella, Claudia or Joachim were being dispatched to the equivalent of the African bush without basic washing and sanitation services. The teacher resorted to showing a picture of a British bathroom to calm panic-stricken parental nerves. Not so smart, with the British loo and bath seen as akin to a toxic waste tip, full of unknown biological weapons perhaps worse than those of mass destruction allegedly held by Iraqs Saddam Hussein in 2003. Okay, so let me put my hands up, washed or otherwise, and say I have no idea if bathroom hygiene is higher in Deutschland than the British Isles. But I do know there seems to be greater attention to cleanliness and avoiding mystery microbes here in the Vaterland. Even in mid-Winter, snug and dreamy-warm in bed, I have been exposed to the girlfriends first act on awaking: namely to open all the bedrooms windows to air the room and avoid the build-up of mold, an organism I have never thought of since my school-days of petri dishes and chemistry classes. I have no idea how the mold assuming mold actually contemplates such matters feels about winter windows being opened and a Siberian wind howling around the skirting board. But I am invariably left teeth chattering, duvet dragged over my head, kicking off the odd imaginary penguin and trying to avoid life threatening flu or worse. I have often been recommended by German friends to wash my face and hands at night, because of the potential dangers of a build-up of bacteria and other filthy things during the day and sometimes I actually do it out of politeness. And yes, some friends here have recommended (initially to my astonishment, and that of friends back in ol Blighty) that I should not pee standing up because I might miss and increase the risks of (yes, you guessed it) mold-formation in the bathroom. Even though, as I say so myself with all humility and humbleness, I have an accuracy rate of The Englishman sniper, played by the suave, steely-eyed Edward Fox in the 1973 film The Day of the Jackal. And even though, as most research shows, it is the fridge that houses the most bacteria and mold in an average home whether people stand, sit or swing from the chandeliers to pee! Before I move on from the toilet, another quaint habit in Germany which I have never encountered in the UK is the obsession by some to keep the lid firmly shut when not in use. Here again, I have had my occasional tussle with German friends demanding I slam the thing down after availing myself of the services, and dirty, feral looks like I am a caveman if I dont! Perhaps its mold again, free-floating in the air, ready to manically and sinisterly chuckle and giggle as it colonizes the basin I have no idea! For some British parents, dispatching their little ones to Germany, it is apparently not fear of mold that tops their concerns but fear of food, or to be more precise, lack of food. An English headmistress recently urged parents and their offspring to be more assertive when offered seconds at dinner or a slice of cake in a German home. Apparently British schoolchildren have been returning from two-week school trips in a semi-starved state. Why? Because of British over-politeness or cultural nuances. If Brits are offered food, moldy or not, there is a tendency to pretend we dont really want it. No thank you, I couldnt possibly.I am absolutely stuffed or but perhaps someone else would like itnone of which is true, its just a cultural norm, a game if you will. But a big mistake in Germany this millisecond of delay, this hint of oh, I couldnt possibly is construed by the host Mutter as nein. The food is whipped away in a second leaving the visiting pupil aghast, tummy still rumbling, and eventually returning home like an Oxfam poster. Poison find : Tunisian "very likely" planned terrorist attack Did the man in whose apartment the police found biological weapons plan a poison attack? With the amount of toxic substances he could have killed hundreds. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken Did the man in whose Cologne apartment the police found biological weapons plan a poison attack? With the amount of toxic substances he could have killed hundreds. The suspect very likely planned a terrorist attack, according to the President for the Protection of the Constitution. The investigation has not been completed yet, but it seems very likely that a terrorist attack has been thwarted, said Hans-Georg Maaen in an interview with the Rheinische Post. According to the newspaper the amount of highly toxic ricin found in the mans apartment would have sufficed to create between 250 to 1,000 doses, depending on the production method. The North Rhine-Westphalian Minister for the Interior, Herbert Reul, said on Thursday: The danger potential coming from this man, was relatively high. According to the Dusseldorf toxicologist Gerhard Fritz even the smallest amount of ricin is fatal. There are very few substances more dangerous than that. The 29-year-old is thought to have made biological weapons for weeks already and was very advanced in his production. The necessary ingredients to make ricin had been purchased online, the Federal Prosecutor reports. Reul added that there seem to be no accomplices. The suspect was noticed by the security agencies because of his conspicuous purchases online. For example, Sief Allah H. had ordered 1,000 castor beans and an electric coffee grinder. According to "Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger" and "Express" newspapers, the suspect is believed to have entered Germany in November 2016, and he was not known to police. State security and investigative authorities received a tip about the man, who then came under surveillance until he was detained by police on Tuesday night. A spokesman for the Federal Prosecutor's Office did not make any comment. Special forces had stormed the man's home in a high-rise apartment building in Cologne on Tuesday night. He lived there with his wife and children. There has been no danger to anyone living in the neighbourhood or the building, according to the city council. kacylee at 15-06-2018 11:18 AM (3 years ago) (f) An aggrieved Nigerian lady, Lauretta Onos has taken to Facebook to call out an Edo 'big boy' Pinto Pedro for 'duping' her. An aggrieved Nigerian lady, Lauretta Onos has taken to Facebook to call out an Edo 'big boy' Pinto Pedro for 'duping' her. According to Lauretta, the Edo 'big boy' made an order to buy a designer sunglasses from her, but he absconded with it after she made the delivery to him in Benin. Read what she wrote below. Why is this society so wicked? girls that prostitute themselves are highly condemed while the ones that decide to make a decent living are being deceived and scammed... This big for nothing bastard that calls himself suspicious wealth (pinto pedro)ordered for a sun glasses, i didnt have it so I went back to d market since i was still in lagos..after a great search n even loosing my phone in the process I finally got it and sent him the picture and asked him to pay at least half d price of the glasses but he refused and asked me to stop at benin on my way back to warri to give him the glasses which I agreed, so he invited me toa hotel with an open bar and was offering me food and drinks but i refused to have anything so he asked for d glasses, tried it on and refused to take it off after a while he said he was going to order for chicken na so this big uncle without sense run with my glasses n switched off his phone leaving me dere for 3hrs.. See u have carried curses upon curses upon ur generation cos u have messed with d wrong person u will pay with ur destiny for ordinary 10k glasses this big idiot blocked me evey where. According to Lauretta, the Edo 'big boy' made an order to buy a designer sunglasses from her, but he absconded with it after she made the delivery to him in Benin.Read what she wrote below. Post Reply I have been reporting for several years now and I am very interested in visual news reportage with strong inclusion of photos and video multimedia. Posted: at 15-06-2018 11:18 AM (3 years ago) | Addicted Hero bohlah at 15-06-2018 03:41 PM (3 years ago) (m) Justice Must Prevail Party (JMPP) on Thursday said if elected into power in 2019, it would construct perimeter fence around Nigeria and change the name of the country and the currency. Justice Must Prevail Party (JMPP) on Thursday said if elected into power in 2019, it would construct perimeter fence around Nigeria and change the name of the country and the currency. Acting National Chairman of the Party, Dr Olusegun Ijagbemi, stated this at a news conference in Abuja. He said that the need to change the name of the country and its currency was divinely revealed to the leadership of the party, adding that the changes were important if Nigeria must make progress. According to Ijagbemi, the 14th pillar of our party is to change the name of Nigeria to Pisonia and its currency from Naira to Pison. It is a miracle that the leadership of this party got a wind of how the entire African nation is being impoverished with their currency. There are people outside Nigeria printing our currency and they have agents among us, including our political leaders. They are printing money and they have agents in CBN and throughout Africa. We brought this information to Nigeria that they are destroying our economy, he said. The chairman added that about six months ago, the CBN revealed to the National Assembly that more than 20 per cent of Nigerias currency was fake. Ijagbemi said that promoting citizens welfare and security of lives and property would be one of the major concerns of the party, if elected. He said that the party would use technology to monitor the countrys borders and that security forces would be highly motivated. This party is going to fence Nigeria and create only regulated route for people to come in and go out of the country. You can no longer move boys or girls across the border with trailer and then say you have captured or recovered them. There will be no need for people sleeping with their hearts panting. You cannot just come into the country, invade it and steal our oil. Ijagbemi stated that JMPP government would strengthen the immigration laws, and that border control would be exercised maximally. He said that citizenship laws would also be reviewed to meet the exigencies of current happenings in the world. Ijagbemi decried the level of unemployment in the country, saying it was unacceptable, considering the fact that the nation was reputed as one of the richest in the world in human and natural resources. To address the challenge, he said that JMPP would equip Technical Colleges and Polytechnics to provide high-level manpower to form the backbone of technological and industrial development. The party will also encourage the formation of new industries in line with modern technological trends using the products of the revamped technical schools and polytechnics. Skills development centres will be established in all local government councils of the country, he stated Acting National Chairman of the Party, Dr Olusegun Ijagbemi, stated this at a news conference in Abuja.He said that the need to change the name of the country and its currency was divinely revealed to the leadership of the party, adding that the changes were important if Nigeria must make progress.According to Ijagbemi,he said.The chairman added that about six months ago, the CBN revealed to the National Assembly that more than 20 per cent of Nigerias currency was fake.Ijagbemi said that promoting citizens welfare and security of lives and property would be one of the major concerns of the party, if elected.He said that the party would use technology to monitor the countrys borders and that security forces would be highly motivated.Ijagbemi stated that JMPP government would strengthen the immigration laws, and that border control would be exercised maximally.He said that citizenship laws would also be reviewed to meet the exigencies of current happenings in the world.Ijagbemi decried the level of unemployment in the country, saying it was unacceptable,To address the challenge, he said that JMPP would equip Technical Colleges and Polytechnics to provide high-level manpower to form the backbone of technological and industrial development.he stated Post Reply I have been reporting on latest news from Nigeria for almost 10 years now. I report on every possible news area I come across, but always ensure my reports are compiled with dignity and fact to uphold my personal values and duty as a journalist Posted: at 15-06-2018 03:41 PM (3 years ago) | Addicted Hero English Norwegian Following new assessments of the project portfolio, Veidekke has decided to perform a write-down of NOK 550 million in the Norwegian civil engineering business. The write-down is primarily related to infrastructure projects where there is great uncertainty pertaining to the revenue base. The company is taking immediate action to improve profitability and risk management in large civil engineering projects and is making changes in corporate management to further focus the Norwegian civil engineering business. During 2017 Veidekke implemented a major reorganisation and realignment of the strategy for the Norwegian civil engineering business. The background for the changes was that the business had demonstrated unsatisfactory project profitability, particularly in infrastructure projects. In 2017 the civil engineering business accounted for 13% of Veidekke's overall turnover and reported a profit margin of -1.6%. The reorganisation entailed new management, a streamlined project organisation, and greater focus on turnkey and other projects where Veidekke is best equipped to succeed. A new assessment has been made of the project portfolio, which comprises approx. 50 civil engineering projects in Norway shared between infrastructure, industry and energy/other. A need to reduce portfolio risk was uncovered, and the company has decided to carry out a write-down in the total amount of NOK 550 million, which will be charged to the accounts for the second quarter 2018. The write-down is mainly attributed to two ongoing and one completed infrastructure project, in addition to a project in the energy sector. Additional write-downs have been carried out on certain other projects in the portfolio where the projects' final forecasts have been revised downwards. As a result, the financial risk in the portfolio is reduced. These projects all precede the reorganisation of the civil engineering business and the new strategy that was drawn up in 2017. "Our profitability challenges in the Norwegian civil engineering business have not been resolved. Although we are finding that the measures we implemented last year appear to be yielding the desired effects, it is very disappointing that we are required to write down our project portfolio in Norway. A key challenge has been construction contracts on infrastructure projects with major change requirements, where it has proven difficult to receive full compensation for the changes. We acknowledge that, as an organisation, our assessments of the uncertainty and complexity in these projects have been inadequate," comments Arne Giske, President and CEO. Veidekke is therefore implementing several measures to improve profitability in the civil engineering business. Changes to corporate management are being made to emphasise focus on the Norwegian civil engineering business, and the Norwegian construction operations will be divided into two parts: ivind Larsen will become new EVP for the civil engineering business, and Hans Olav Srlie will become EVP for the building construction business. Dag Andresen will withdraw from the corporate management group, to take on a special responsibility for improvement work related to the civil engineering business. Andresen will continue to report directly to the President and CEO Arne Giske. The group is expanding its risk management programme at project and portfolio level in all of Veidekke's units. The programme comprises new tools, processes and methods for early risk detection in projects and for making the appropriate assessments and decisions. In addition to the corporate management's ongoing follow-up of projects that entail great uncertainty, a newly-established internal board for the civil engineering business will closely follow up on bids and major ongoing projects. In the short term, Veidekke will ensure sufficient management capacity on ongoing infrastructure projects and focus on their safe and profitable execution. Going forward, the company will exhibit extreme care when prioritising projects where risk, geography, client and contract type are significant parameters. "For the civil engineering business, the measures we are implementing now will ensure better control of the project portfolio. We will also conduct a thorough assessment of the business's strategy, in addition to reviewing the cost structure throughout the group with the aim of reducing costs and creating shareholder value, concludes Arne Giske, President and CEO. Including the write-down of NOK 550 million, the Norwegian construction operations will report a pre-tax profit of approximately NOK -440 to -470 million for Q2 2018. Further details related to Veidekke's second quarter will be published along with the quarterly report on 16 August 2018. As of Q3 2018, Veidekke's segment reporting will split Construction Norway into Building Construction Norway and Civil Engineering Norway. A telephone conference for analysts and investors will be held today at 09:00 CET. President and CEO Arne Giske and other members of Veidekke's management team will provide a brief status account for the Norwegian civil engineering business and answer questions. Conference call details: Norway: +47 2350 0296 Sweden: +46 8 5065 3942 International: +44 330 336 9411 Meeting code: 1175677 For more information, please contact: Arne Giske, President and CEO, (+47) 905 89 526, arne.giske@veidekke.no Lars Erik Lund, EVP Communications and Public Affairs +47 413 31 369, lars.lund@veidekke.no Jrgen Michelet, Finance director, +47 91 74 38 56, jorgen.michelet@veidekke.no Subscribe to notices from Veidekke Veidekke is one of Scandinavia's largest construction and property development companies. The company undertakes all types of building construction and civil engineering contracts, develops residential projects, maintains roads, and produces asphalt and aggregates. The company is known for its involvement and local knowledge. Revenue is almost NOK 32 billion, and half of the 8,000 employees own shares in the company. Veidekke is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange and has always posted a profit since it was founded in 1936. This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5 -12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. The marine environment is critical to Grenadas economy and closely linked to the islands income generating tourism sector. Grenadas tri-island ocean state is not just a hub of maritime activity, but also home to unique marine biodiversity The Trump administrations decision in January to give states the power to impose work requirements on Medicaid enrollees faces a federal court hearing Friday.The lawsuit before the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., will determine whether tens of thousands of low-income adults in Kentucky will have to find jobs or volunteer in order to retain their health coverage.But the ruling could have far-reaching implications affecting millions of enrollees nationwide and determining how far the Trump administration can go in changing Medicaid without congressional action.Kentucky was the first of four states, so far, to win federal approval to advance a work requirement. Indiana, Arkansas and New Hampshire are the others. Each is now in the early stages of implementation.Arkansas, for instance, in June began having Medicaid enrollees inform the state about their work status. In September, the state could begin disenrolling members who fail to report or meet the work rules.Seven more states Arizona, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Ohio, Utah and Wisconsin have applications pending and several others are poised to join them.Kentuckys legal challenge encapsulates a debate about two competing views of the role of Medicaid, the nations largest health program that covers nearly 75 million low-income Americans.The Trump administration and many conservatives see it as a welfare program that should provide only temporary help and should prepare enrollees to gain employment and negotiate private health insurance.Democrats, advocates for the poor and most legal experts see Medicaid as a health program meant to help the nations poorest citizens access health coverage. They say the administrations approach of requiring enrollees to work to get health coverage is backward because enrollees need health coverage so they are healthy enough to work.There is zero evidence to suggest that depriving people of Medicaid will lead to greater levels of employer insurance, 40 health policy scholars wrote in an amicus brief supporting the lawsuit filed on behalf of several Kentucky Medicaid enrollees.The CMS work demonstration destroys, not improves, Kentuckys substantial health care achievements and defeats, rather than promotes, Medicaids purpose as a safety net insurer, according to the brief.The 2010 Affordable Care Act spurred 33 states to expand Medicaid to nondisabled adults without children. Before that, the program mainly served children, pregnant women and people with disabilities.That expansion, which provided billions in new federal funding to states, triggered an unprecedented drop in uninsured rates nationwide and tempted some Republican governors to pursue the additional health care dollars. But some of these GOP-controlled states also sought to add the new work requirement, in part to show conservative voters they werent simply providing a government handout to poor adults.States that didnt expand Medicaid and have some of the strictest eligibility limits in the country including Kansas and Mississippi also applied for work requirement waivers.Here are five things to know as this court case unfolds:Top Trump officials say the work requirement is meant to help enrollees find jobs. They say people who work or do volunteer service are healthier. Seema Verma, administrator of the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said Medicaid should be a hand up not a handout.According to CMS, while the work requirement is a change in policy, it still fits within the agencys long-standing missions of promoting health and improving health outcomes.Kentuckys program would require nondisabled adults each month to participate in 80 hours of work, job training, education or other qualified community engagement.Those who are exempt include children and former foster care kids; pregnant women; seniors; people who are the primary caretakers for a child or a disabled adult; those who are deemed medically frail or diagnosed with an acute medical condition that would prevent them from working; and full-time students.Adults in northern Kentucky would have to begin registering their work hours this summer, and the rest of the state would follow by the end of 2018.State officials acknowledge the new requirement could be complicated for many enrollees. We need to be careful and thoughtful how we roll out the community engagement, recognizing this is a huge change, said Kristi Putnam, deputy secretary for Kentuckys Cabinet for Health and Family Services.States have set up different rules on how many hours a month Medicaid enrollees must work or volunteer and who is exempt.In Arkansas, everyone enrolled in Medicaid has to document their work hours through an online portal created by the state with no option to submit information in person, over the phone or by mail. Critics of the work requirement fear that will be a barrier, considering the state has the second-lowest rate of home internet access in the nation.Critics say the requirement would lead many low-income people to lose their health coverage and, therefore, hinder their ability to get medical care. They note Kentuckys own projections show that 95,000 Medicaid enrollees would lose coverage within five years.The work-requirement approvals were based on the Health and Human Services secretarys authority to test new ways of providing Medicaid coverage. The critics also argue, though, that the Trump administration is overstepping its statutory boundaries because the requirement would reduce eligibility rather than expand it.Lastly, work requirement opponents note most people on Medicaid already work or go to school, have a disability or care for relatives.A June 12 Kaiser Family Foundation study concluded that only 6 percent of able-bodied adults on Medicaid who are targeted by states work requirements are not already working and unlikely to qualify for an exemption. In addition, 6 in 10 nondisabled adults on Medicaid work at least part time, although they often arent offered health benefits through those jobs or cant afford them. (Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent program of the foundation.)Surveys show that many Medicaid enrollees who dont work are in job training, go to school or are taking care of a child or an elderly relative, conditions that would make them exempt from the new mandate.Both sides expect a quick decision, likely by late June. But an appeal is likely no matter who wins.If the Trump administration wins, its uncertain if plaintiffs will be able to get a stay on the work requirement taking effect while an appeal is in process.The lawsuit filed by advocates on behalf of Medicaid enrollees seeks to overturn the entire Kentucky Medicaid waiver approved by the Trump administration in January.Kentuckys waiver also sets precedent because it would become the first state to charge Medicaid premiums of up to 4 percent of an individuals income. The current limit has been 2 percent. Moreover, Kentucky would become the first state to lock out Medicaid enrollees from coverage for up to six months for failure to timely renew their coverage or failure to alert the state if their income or family circumstances have changed. Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle bought a condo in downtown Atlanta a decade ago from a well-connected energy lobbyist who owned the unit next door.The $97,000 condo purchase, first reported by The New York Times, involved a 2008 sale of a unit at the Landmark high-rise, which is known for "hospitality rooms" stocked by lobbyists for lawmakers. It was sold by Terry Hobbs, a veteran lobbyist who represented the natural gas firm Scana Energy.The condo was appraised at the time for $127,800, roughly 24 percent higher than the sale value. In an interview, Hobbs pointed to other units in the building that were sold at comparable or lower prices during the volatile economic downturn of the late 2000s."I thought I got a very good deal on it," he said in an interview. "I was tickled to death to be able to turn it over."Cagle told the Times that it was a "legitimate transaction" between a willing buyer and a willing seller. And he said that Hobbs had not lobbied him on any issue near the time of the sale. He sold it last year, as he was preparing a run for governor, for $125,000.Cagle faces a July 24 runoff against Secretary of State Brian Kemp, and his campaign is grappling with the fallout of two revelations involving private discussions over contentious education legislation.He was secretly recorded by a former rival saying he supported "bad public policy" by pushing a private school tax credit expansion to try to undercut another opponent.And a GOP state senator said Cagle insisted on passing a measure to increase charter school funding to secure $2 million from an outside group. Cagle has denied any wrongdoing, and he characterized the conversations as a "political exchange."Cagle's campaign said he bought the apartment for his three sons, who were students at Georgia State University. He said he posted a notice in the building's lobby and soon received a call from Hobbs to broker a sale. They closed the deal without a real estate agent."There was no bickering, there was no dealing," said Hobbs, who said several real estate agents had earlier told him his asking price was too high. "I thought I got a better deal out of it than Casey. I thought he was going to be mad at me when he realized prices were going down."Hobbs said he lived next door to the Cagle sons for several years, but never saw Cagle in the building and rarely saw his children. He said he got no special favors from the lieutenant governor, who presides over the state Senate, for brokering the deal."It had no impact on my legislation," he said. "I've been down at the Capitol since the early 2000s and I've never had my credibility or integrity questioned."Hobbs is a veteran lobbyist well known by both statehouse politicians and members of the utility regulating Public Service Commission. He frequently took lawmakers to sporting events back when giving legislators tickets was legal.Over the past decade, Hobbs has reported spending more than $150,000 on lawmakers and state officials, making him one of the highest-spending lobbyists in the state. He also regularly shared in the cost of "hospitality suites" at the Landmark, where many lawmakers owned or rented condos.A 2013 Atlanta Journal-Constitution article showed about 40 percent of all lobbyist spending on members of the PSC over a four-year period came from Hobbs. He paid for lodging, hunting trips and more than 100 meals for three PSC members over that period, often picking up the tab for their wives as well. Missouri has refused to pay two attorneys hired to help Eric Greitens stave off possible impeachment, leaving the bill up to the former governor himself.The Missouri Office of Administration declined to pay Ross Garber and Edward Greim, who collectively billed the state for more than $150,000.In two identical letters dated Thursday, Sarah Steelman, who heads the Office of Administration, told Garber and Greim the state wouldn't be paying their firms for legal services they provided Greitens while he was facing possible impeachment by the Missouri House."It appears that the primary beneficiary of the legal services that your firm rendered was the former governor individually and that the services were not 'necessary for the efficient conduct' of the Governor's Office," Steelman said.Steelman added the office of the governor "at most received incidental benefits" from the attorneys' representation.Garber said he assumed the office made a "preliminary decision since it lacks any basis in or reasoning in fact or law" and that it would be reconsidered.As Greitens' attorneys, he said he and Greim were caught in the middle of a "political and politically motivated fight.""But I expect cooler heads will prevail," he said.Greitens did not immediately issue a statement.Garber, a D.C.-based attorney, has represented three other governors facing impeachment: Robert Bentley of Alabama, Mark Sanford of South Carolina and John Rowland of Connecticut. He said he has never had a client -- governor facing impeachment or otherwise -- refuse to pay."Other states honor their contracts, and it may become more difficult for Missouri to enter into contracts, particularly with lawyers, if it is not going to honor them," Garber said.Garber said his firm, Connecticut-based Shipman & Goodwin, was considering all legal options.Greim did not immediately return a request for comment.Greitens' hiring of Garber and Greim has come under scrutiny in recent weeks by Missouri's Democratic Auditor Nicole Galloway, Republican Attorney General Josh Hawley and Republican Rep. Jay Barnes. All discouraged the state from paying the attorneys.Barnes sent Steelman a letter earlier this week arguing she shouldn't authorize payments to the attorneys because Greitens hired them for his own benefit and said the cost of their legal fees "should be borne exclusively by Eric Greitens himself."Garber and Greim have said repeatedly they were representing the office of the governor, not Greitens individually.Galloway had urged Steelman and Missouri Treasurer Eric Schmitt not to authorize the payments. In a letter, Galloway's office argued the Missouri Supreme Court had ruled Schmitt's office had the authority to refuse contract payments, but Schmitt's office argued the ruling did not give the treasurer blanket authority to do so.Earlier this week, Greim said he and Garber were hired to protect the integrity of the office and called it "puzzling" that members of a House committee investigating Greitens relied on both attorneys as counsel during proceedings but later took issue with paying them.Hawley said Greitens hired Garber and Greim illegally because the Attorney General's Office needs to approve outside counsel for the Governor's Office.In her letter, Steelman said Greitens had the authority to hire Garber and Greim, but the governor himself -- not the office -- benefited from their legal services.In a statement, Galloway said she was glad to see her concerns addressed."Taxpayer dollars should not be wasted by paying for Eric Greitens' private attorneys," Galloway said. Description GIS - 15 June, 2018: Budget 2018-19 charts the right pathways and make the right choices to continue building up the strengths of our economy and society, said the Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, External Communications and National Development Unit, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, yesterday in the National Assembly while presenting the 2018-19 budget. In line with the objective of pursuing that transformative journey to attain the status of an Inclusive High-Income country based on innovation and sustainable value-creation, Government is charting seven main pathways and creating new poles of economic growth as the country pursues its Transformative Journey, he said. The transformative journey hinges on the following pillars: youth and their future by equipping them with the right set of skills and values to integrate the labour market; providing new opportunities for private investment and job creation through Artificial Intelligence, blockchain technologies and Fintech fostering import substitution and reviving export led production; physical infrastructure for a future of modernity, high income and smart living; securing a sustainable development for a healthy, productive and meaningful life; investing in health, sports, leisure, education and a decent dwelling for all families; and gender mainstreaming and consolidation of the welfare state system. This will be achieved by ensuring strong and stable macroeconomic fundamentals and sound public finances, the Prime Minister pointed out. Budget Outturn The Budget deficit for the current fiscal year would turn out to be 3.2 percent of GDP, with total revenue of Rs 106.8 billion and total expenditure of Rs 122.3 billion. The deficit in the recurrent budget would be lower at 1.7 percent of GDP compared to the previous Estimates of two percent. As for public sector debt, it is estimated to decline from 64.8 percent of GDP at end June 2017 to 63.4 percent by end June 2018. Summary of Budget Estimates for 2018-19. Total expenditure will amount to Rs 133.8 billion, of which Rs 115.9 billion for recurrent spending and Rs 17.9 billion for capital expenditure. The revised estimate for capital spending in 2017-18 is Rs 15.7 billion. Total revenue is estimated at Rs 117.4 billion, including tax receipts of Rs 99.7 billion, non-tax and other revenue of Rs 8.8 billion and grants of Rs 8.9 billion. 266. The overall budget deficit for 2018-19 will amount to Rs 16.3 billion, that is 3.2 percent of GDP. An amount of Rs 9.5 billion has also been provided by way of loans and equity injection for implementation of various projects. This will bring the total capital outlay in the Budget to Rs 27.4 billion. On the financing side, during 2018-19 the country will be borrowing some Rs 2.6 billion from foreign sources while repaying Rs 4.4 billion of foreign loans. It will be raising some Rs 27.4 billion, on a net basis, from domestic sources. Public Sector Debt With the policies and proposals announced in this Budget, it is expected that public sector debt will further decline to 63.1 percent of GDP by end June 2019. The share of foreign debt in total public-sector debt will be further brought down to 18 percent from 19.5 percent at present. Description GIS 15 June, 2018: Budget 2018-2019 lays emphasis on the opening up of the Mauritian economy and the country to the rest of the world in line with the vision of Government as regards the Transformative Journey of Mauritius to become a high income country. Budget 2018-2019 lays emphasis on the opening up of the Mauritian economy and the country to the rest of the world in line with the vision of Government as regards the Transformative Journey of Mauritius to become a high income country. Schemes To this end, the Economic Development Board (EDB) will manage two schemes to attract High Net Worth individuals who satisfy defined criteria. The first scheme will offer foreigners the opportunity to obtain Mauritian citizenship provided they make a non-refundable contribution of USD 1 million to a Mauritius Sovereign Fund. For their spouse and dependents, they will have to make an additional contribution of USD 100,000 per member of family. The second scheme will offer the opportunity to obtain a Mauritian passport provided they make a contribution of USD 500,000 to the Mauritius Sovereign Fund. For their spouse and dependents, they will have to make an additional contribution of USD 50,000 per passport. The Mauritius Sovereign Fund will be managed by the Mauritius National Investment Authority. Any withdrawal from the Fund will be used to meet disbursements for new capital projects and public debt repayments. The EDB will also operate a Foreign Manpower Scheme to attract foreign talents, particularly in emerging sectors such as AI, Biotechnology, smart agriculture and the Ocean Economy, amongst others. An application for an occupation permit will be processed within 5 days by the EDB and the employer will have to contribute the equivalent of one-month salary per foreign worker recruited. In a bid to attract foreign retirees, a new package of fiscal and non-fiscal facilities will be offered. Besides the right to acquire an apartment, they will be exempted from payment of customs duties on the import of personal effects up to a value of Rs 2 million. Everyone eligible should be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of long-distance travel or employment. Vaccination should be voluntary but those who don't get vaccinated should be frequently tested for COVID-19 as a condition of long-distance travel and employment. Both vaccination and testing should be voluntary and not required as a condition of long-distance travel or employment. I defer to the judgment of lawmakers as long as they base their decisions on a consensus of medical professionals. Vote View Results Description GIS 15 June, 2018: 15 June, 2018: The United Nations Division of Political Affairs (UNDPA) and the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) signed today in Port Louis a Cooperation agreement which provides for a framework for the UN to build the capacity of the IOC in areas such as preventive diplomacy, conflict mediation and peacebuilding. The agreement was signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, and current chair of the IOC, Mr Seetanah Lutchmeenaraidoo, and the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs in the UNDPA, Mr Taye-Brook Zerihoun. Several personalities including the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mrs U. C. Dwarka Canabady, and UN Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative to Mauritius, Ms. Christine N. Umutoni, were present at the ceremony. In a statement following the signing ceremony, Minister Lutchmeenaraidoo said that Mauritius was transforming from a small country lost in the ocean to an Ocean State controlling 2.3 million square km of sea and constituting a much bigger ambition overall. The present ambition for Mauritius is to make the country become a beacon in the region and contribute to peace and security as well as to the development processes. Speaking about the agreement signed with the UNDPA, the Minister outlined that the UN has chosen the IOC which brings together the five Island States of the region to set up a peace and security UNDPA regional cell. He rejoiced that the cell which will be based in Mauritius at the IOC Secretariat is a testimony of trust which the UN has in the IOC on one hand and also in Mauritius. The Minister also announced that he will chair a meeting of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) created by the United Nations Security Council to address the problem of piracy in the region scheduled on 12-13 July 2018 in Nairobi. Discussions will focus on the necessity to make the CGPCS a permanent entity and to request the UN to allow the Contact Group expand its responsibilities to address drugs, terrorism and other issues arising on the regional front. All these actions are geared towards setting up a solid foundation to make of Mauritius a global player with a much more decisive role in the region and beyond, he added. For his part the Assistant Secretary-General spoke about the global challenge posed by drug trafficking. Certainly it affects some regions considerably than others and certainly the Indian Ocean region is one of those regions and is a victim, he observed. Within the UN there is a global strategy from which regions and sub-regions have crafted their own strategies to reflect the specific conditions and specific kind of challenges they face. So the UN comes in support, providing political assistance in terms of resources, expertise and lessons learnt, he stated adding that it is a global fight and all countries in the UN system are fully committed to support regional strategies. The Agreement Other domains which will be covered under the agreement are: Combating drug trafficking and organised cross-border crime; Maritime safety in its various forms, including the fight against piracy; Fight against terrorism and the prevention of violent extremism; Reducing the underlying causes of conflict, including governance, poverty, inequality, discrimination, natural hazards, exclusion of youth from civic and social life, and natural resource management; Electoral assistance; and Gender equality and women's active participation in the peace process and the facilitation of the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) "Women, peace and security" and the subsequent resolutions. In October 2016 the UNDPA made a proposal for collaboration with the IOC in the area of peace and security. The prime objective was to have a UN presence within the IOC Secretariat. Since March 2017 when Mauritius assumed Chair of the IOC, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade has facilitated consultations between the IOC and the UNDPA for the organisation of a regional workshop on Security challenges facing the Indian Ocean. The objectives of this workshop were to analyse the challenges of peace and security in the Indian Ocean region; identify concrete measures on how to address these issues; consider a cooperation framework agreement between the IOC and UNDPA; and develop a work plan. (TNS) Representatives from the Siskiyou County website redesign committee spoke to the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors Tuesday about the revamping of the county's website that is in the works.Website redesign committee member Judy Crawford outlined a number of reasons for the change, noting that the current website is four years old and has accessibility issues that cannot be fixed without a redesign.The new website will feature an improved, responsive design that is easily accessible from a smartphone and simplified content for effective visitor access. It will also have minimal homepage content and minimal scroll.The county website redesign committee is comprised of Siskiyou County Administrator Terry Barber and 15 members from various county departments including District 5 Supervisor Ray Haupt. The committee is guiding the look and feel of the new site, Crawford said.The new website will be created by Municode, a company that creates custom designs for government websites. Municode's design portfolio includes government sites for McMinnville, Oregon; Kodiak, Alaska; Miami Springs, Florida; and Woodstock, Illinois.Crawford explained that the new site will be controlled through a content management system which will allow it to still be managed locally by various departmental editors.The county website's new tagline "Mountains of Opportunity" was submitted by Leah Loughlin, an employee with Siskiyou County Child Support Services. Siskiyou County Public Works employee JoAnne Lang submitted the runner-up motto.A new county logo comprised of an outline of the top of Mt. Shasta inside an outline of Siskiyou County with the words "County of Siskiyou" was designed by the committee as a whole.A call was put out for photo entries to serve as the website's homepage background. Kim Foster submitted the winning photo, with second and third place photos submitted by Brenda Bigler and Jasen Vela, respectively.Siskiyou County Public Health employee Ali Stillwell discussed the county's "brand identity," which is essentially how an entity presents itself to, and wants to be perceived by, its consumers the consumers in this case being the county's residents and visitors.Stillwell recently spent a day at a conference where the focus was how to rebrand a government agency. She is spearheading the rebranding effort, and noted that each county employee will be a brand/identity advocate. She presented an equation for the county's brand strength: County's reputation times the county's visibility. A good brand, Stillwell said, establishes trust between citizens and the county and encourages people to go to the county for help with various needs.The redesigned website is slated for completion around January or February of 2019, Crawford said. Most state government health and human service agencies continue to rely on unwieldy legacy software to run their eligibility systems. Because of their complexity, updates and replacement projects often end up over budget and behind schedule. But with the encouragement of the federal government, some states have begun deploying commercial cloud platforms and a modular approach to speed up development and reduce risk.In January Colorado announced it would move its Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS) to Salesforces customer relationship management platform. More than 5,000 county and medical assistance site employees across the state use CBMS to determine citizens eligibility for food, cash and medical assistance. Each month, the system is used to process approximately 30,000 new client applications and 40,000 client reauthorizations. In addition, CBMS communicates with approximately 50 external systems.Launched in 2004, CBMS has had some high-profile problems over the years. A 2011 report by two University of Denver professors titled Seven Years of Failure noted that since 2004, there have been a series of promises and attempts under two separate administrations to fix CBMS so that it meets performance requirements. Nothing has worked.State IT officials point out that although CBMS is still a monolithic system with millions of lines of code, it actually has been fairly stable over the last few years. We put a lot of work into stabilizing it, just because of the sheer importance of it, said David McCurdy, the states chief technology officer. But as we looked to the future, we had to ask ourselves if we want to maintain that code set or invest in something that is going to have a lot longer life and integration with other things in the cloud.McCurdy described the strategy this way: The guts of the system the rules engine, database and enterprise service bus are not being rewritten. They will operate the same way they do now, he said, but we are moving them from the state data center and legacy IT infrastructure to Amazon Web Services. Meanwhile, Salesforce will provide the new front-end user experience for the county-level workforce.OIT executives believe that if they can build a more modular system and a new user experience on the front end, they can be more responsive to agency partners and make changes faster with lower risk and potentially lower cost.The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is funding 90 percent of the work. The timeline of the project, which is expected to cost approximately $25 million, calls for most of the development and design work to be done in 2018. We plan to roll out the application initiation module this September, said Herb Wilson, director of health information services and CBMS in the Governors Office of Information Technology (OIT). The balance of the functionality will roll out in 2019.The system is being designed with a micro services approach, Wilson explained. If we need to change the application initiation function in the future, we can change the front-end layout and change the workflow and rules just related to application initiation, and not impact the rest of the functions.McCurdy noted that the life cycle for changes to CBMS has been about nine months. Our goal is to cut that down so we can iterate faster. With micro services, it is less risky and a smaller development effort, which should be faster and more positive in the longer term.The decision to use the Salesforce platform is an extension of previous work in other state agencies since 2011. I think the state has around 95 Salesforce apps, McCurdy said, which is one of the largest pools of Salesforce apps of any state government. There is a comfort level with Salesforce as one of our standards.Colorado is working with Deloitte Consulting on the system transformation, as well as maintenance and operations. Deloitte principal Sanjay Shah noted that while many other states are making significant strides toward moving to the cloud, Colorado will be one of the first to move an entire integrated eligibility case management system to the cloud and use Salesforce to give their citizens a better customer experience.Shah pointed out other potential benefits: When CBMS is fully implemented, the system will comply with strict FedRAMP [Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program] security standards; it will be faster and easier to enhance; it will have automated disaster recovery features; and the cost of the infrastructure will be more predictable for state budget officials.The new user interface should make caseworkers lives easier, Wilson said. A simple example is enhanced searching. In Salesforce, everything is indexed, which allows so many more data elements to be searchable, so the searching capabilities alone should help them be more efficient in doing their jobs, he explained. We are looking at how to make the layout and navigation more natural, so that it is like navigating other websites.Using an agile approach, OIT is bringing in representatives from the Department of Human Services, the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, Connect for Health Colorado (the state health insurance exchange) and county representatives to participate in application design sessions three times a week. We are striving to lay out the screens in a way that is more modern and more natural, but not change it so much that we have to completely retrain the workforce, Wilson said.Nicole McNeal, a director at consulting firm Public Knowledge, helped the state with strategic planning around its benefit management systems. She said Colorados approach is quite innovative, although a few other states also have made inroads. The state of New Jersey has a full eligibility system in Salesforce, she added, and was successful in getting a fully configurable cloud-based solution deployed pretty quickly.In another example, Delaware has just gone live with the nations first cloud-based system for child-welfare caseworkers. State CIO James Collins said he saw several advantages to the platform-as-a-service approach. Sometimes these systems take so long to build that by the time you are done, some of the technology has to be refreshed almost immediately, he explained. We wanted to have an evergreen technology that the users could have some control over. Part of our strategy is to leverage these platforms that are highly configurable, so that non-IT people can actually partially administer the system and make changes to it. That helps us keep cadence with the innovation demands that our agency partners have.Another advantage, Collins said, is that cloud-based platforms are natively mobile. Our governor wants services pushed out to where citizens need them, he said. For instance, Delaware is putting social workers in probation and parole offices to meet people where they have the need and wrap services around them. That necessitates a mobile workforce, he added, and our applications have to be responsive.So why havent more states taken this approach? Some of it may have to do with perceived risk and procurement limitations, McNeal said. This is such a complex environment, with lots of rules and regulations, and a limited marketplace of vendors. It is a high-risk area to play in, so I think a lot of states still play it safe.This change is not just about the benefits of software as a service, McCurdy stressed. It is also about attracting developers interested in learning newer programming languages and using bolt-on apps in the cloud. We are going to be taking advantage of artificial intelligence and advanced analytics, he said. By going to the cloud, we can focus less on all the hardware and operating systems updates and more on core development delivered back to our customers. (TNS) National Grid and the city of Schenectady, N.Y., launched a three-year, $6.7 million project to set the groundwork for Schenectady to become a "smart city" of the future where lights and sensors deployed on city streets will make city services more efficient and help improve public safety programs.The initiative, which will be paid for through the utility, will begin with National Grid converting more than 4,000 street lights across the city to energy-efficient LED lights that use much less energy than traditional light bulbs.However, the project will also include using those street lights to install a variety of wireless data network nodes and sensors that will dramatically increase the city's ability to collect and use data from city streets to its advantage.The hardware is expected to make Schenectady a so-called "smart city" that will not only adjust its street lighting based on real-time data but also traffic lights and other municipal services, including police and fire response."This deployment is going to effect every department and every service in the city of Schenectady," Mayor Gary McCarthy said during a press conference Thursday at City Hall.State regulators have been pushing utilities like National Grid to expand their portfolio of services for the public beyond just electricity and natural gas service using its available infrastructure. Since National Grid owns many of the streetlights in cities across the state, the company is planning to offer smart city technology enhancements that go beyond lighting.The Schenectady project is a pilot program for what the state is calling Reforming the Energy Vision. The utility expects that it will be able to earn revenue from these services in the future."This project will develop and test multiple innovative business models that could serve as scalable solutions for other cities and towns across our service area," Laurie Poltynski, National Grid's eastern New York regional executive said.Schenectady is already at the cutting edge of smart city research and development. McCarthy has even testified to Congress on the city's efforts, which have included the creation of a special smart city commission. General Electric Co., which was first headquartered in Schenectady back in the days of Thomas Edison, is participating in the National Grid project, along with computer chip giant Intel, AT&T and Cisco. McCarthy also created a city commission to oversee the smart city transformation.McCarthy said that the city has already made significant smart city technology upgrades. One project in partnership with the University at Albany uses sensors at intersections to measure the size of cars to figure out how to best manage the traffic signals and how long the line of traffic is at specific lights."It makes moving through Schenectady more efficient," McCarthy said.McCarthy said that a Wi-Fi data network has been deployed in the city that downloads dashboard camera video from police cars directly to the city's network as cars move through the city. In the past, police officers would have had to stop at the police station to physically bring in the disk drive to download the video."It was labor intensive," McCarthy said. "Now (police) cars are not taken out of service and are now available for patrols."Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara was also at Thursday's press conference since he had previously helped the city get a $1 million grant to install new smart city infrastructure in the city's Mont Pleasant neighborhood. He said that while wireless internet networks and sensors are not new technology, it is the way that the city uses it that makes all of the difference."The best part of this is that it will actually save the city money," Santabarbara said. Washington's Chief Information Security Officer Agnes Kirk retired June 1, leaving another vacancy in the two top IT positions for the state,has learned.Kirks departure, announced in April, follows the mid-May disclosure by Washingtons acting CIO Rob St. John that he plans to retire on June 30 . Washington state is currently conducting a search for St. Johns replacement but has yet to make an announcement of a new permanent CIO.But Kirks position has temporarily been filled by acting CISO Phil Davis, who previously served as her deputy CISO within the state's Office of Cybersecurity (OCS), Davis toldHowever, he too noted that he will be leaving the OCS on July 16 to join the states Department of Financial Institutions as its CIO.Although the state is currently without a permanent CIO or CISO and its acting officers are poised to depart in the coming weeks, Davis said there is no reason to worry.What we have is a very mature state agency and organization. Yes, the two top folks are retiring, but the management staff that reports to them are still by and large in place and the services are still being offered, he said.Sources close to the hiring process say the CIO selection is in its final stages, reporting that the field has narrowed to roughly 10 candidates from a large pool. The new CIO is expected to have experience working for a state agency, though not necessarily from Washington state.Regardless of the selection for CIO and CISO posts, the state will have its hands full getting two top technology leaders on board and executing.In offering advice to the next CISO, Davis, who served as a deputy CISO starting in 2016, has this to say: One of the ongoing challenges is securing access to resources and ensuring the integrity of the states security is not compromised. The public has trust with Washington state and that trust needs to be maintained. Privacy Overview This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. In 2016, Toyota was the first to offer hybrid electric vehicles in the European car-sharing market. YUKOJapanese for Lets gogives customers the opportunity to drive hybrid electric vehicles without the need for car ownership. Initiated in 2016 in Dublin (Ireland) and Forli (Italy), the service is now expanding to Venice (Italy), where a fleet of 49 self-charging and plug-in hybrid electric Toyotas will be made available to the public, ranging from the Toyota Yaris Hybrid to the Prius Plug-in Hybrid. Building on the know-how gathered from Dublin (Ireland) and Forli (Italy) projects, the citizens of Venice can benefit from the following: webguy4 said: Yeah, Canadians should fight to keep their one sided tariffs against the US. 270% on dairy products from the US , totally reasonable. (Sarcasm) Click to expand... Well, your as dumb as your boss, cause there's no fixed tariffs on dairy products entering Canada! It's a matter of protecting our producers from underpriced imports when there's a glut of milk and other dairy products on the market here....same with our other agriculture marketing boards!Now, which system makes the most sense to you:a. one that protects producers by keeping prices at levels they can still make a living from, orb. let the market work itsand get stuck paying out billions in farm subsidies every year to pay farmers directly, AND provide the same subsidies regardless of the size of the operation, so that you ended up where giant Ag business corporations dominate the market?If Wisconsin for one, is too stupid and too greedy to have ever got the concept of protecting small farmers, that's your problem! Greek yogurt, anyone? Photo: Courtesy of Netfilx Can Antoni Porowski actually cook? That is arguably the biggest question hanging over the new season of Queer Eye, which debuts today on Netflix. Yes, the shows (supposed) food-and-wine expert is writing a cookbook, and yes, Antonis starring role on the show was co-signed by none other than Ted Allen himself. But the reboots first season also saw Antoni preparing dishes like guacamole (with yogurt!), grilled cheese, and grapefruit salad. Antonis defense: Its his job to teach the shows subjects recipes they can cook. (Fair, but its still yogurt guacamole.) People were suspicious of Antonis true abilities; Queer Eyes PR machine worked overtime to convince people of Antonis culinary know-how; and going into season two, many members of the public remain justifiably dubious. So, this is Antonis chance to quiet the doubters once and for all. Does he? To find out, Grub watched every episode solely to analyze Antonis supposed cooking cred. Heres how it breaks down: (Needless to say, spoilers abound for the new season of Queer Eye.) Episode 1: Tammye The setup: Tammye is a teacher, mother, wife, and devoted member of her local church; she needs help building a local community center. Antoni makes: Nothing! Tammye just happens to be making a batch of fried green tomatoes when the Fab Five arrive, which leads Antoni to immediately conclude that she knows exactly what shes doing. And so: Antonis job in this episode is to learn, not to teach! Specifically, hes taught how to make macaroni salad and Mamas Banana Pudding, which Tammye will serve at the opening of her new community center. Antoni has no idea how theyll feed 200 people with so little macaroni salad. Tammye does the assuring here, mysteriously telling Antoni, Ooh, youll see, baby! Then she gets whisked away for her makeover and Antoni says he can now make Tammyes mayo-drenched macaroni salad all by himself. Dont be surprised if he snuck in a little Greek yogurt. Episode 2: William The setup: William is a scruffy 30-something living with his girlfriend whose life has plateaued. He needs help getting back his momentum. Antoni makes: Roasted cauliflower and green-goddess dressing. William is a vegetarian whos recently fallen into the habit of making cheesy wraps for all meals. Theres more to life than a wrap, Antoni astutely points out. So, he gets to work helping William put together a picnic that will include Cabot cheese from Vermont, and also cauliflower because Williams girlfriend loves cauliflower. Antonis solution is to teach Billy how to prep and roast a cauliflower and make an accompanying mean, wicked, tangy green-goddess sauce with parsley, cilantro, green onion, avocado, olive oil, and jalapeno. But in a twist, Antoni subs Greek yogurt for mayo. When William deems this green goddess sauce to be vegetable candy, Antoni is over the moon. and encourages William to put everything in Chinese takeout containers because its just something a little more original and creative than your classic Tupperware. Ultimately, Williams girlfriend is impressed. Episode 3: Leo The setup: Leo is almost 40. Hes a husband, father of two, and a bartender. Hes also a Mexican immigrant. Antoni makes: Pasta with amatriciana sauce. Leos favorite cuisine is Italian, and Antoni is sure Leo can learn to make fresh pasta. Antoni-cant-really-cook conspiracy theorists will note that fresh pasta is also what Antoni made for his big Times cooking profile, so maybe this is the only thing he can cook? Anyway, he takes Leo to a restaurant called Sotto Sotto, where they make pasta using a hand crank and create a beautiful, simple meal with fresh vegetables. At home, after teaching him to make an amatriciana sauce, Antoni gifts Leo a pasta-making machine of his very own. Sweet! Alas, it doesnt go as planned. When Leo tries to use the machine, the pasta is terrible, so he ends up using some dried spaghetti. Im horrified, Antoni cries. At least the sauce worked out. Episode 4: Jason The setup: Jason is an old hippie and longtime attendee of Burning Man who eats very simply, but also loves Indian food. Antoni makes: Peanuts masala. Antonis first order of business is taking Jason to a restaurant called Chai Pani, where they consume the entire menu. So, now Antonis gonna take Jason home and teach him to make tikka masala or saag paneer, right? Wrong. Antoni instead teaches Jason how to make his friend Reemas peanuts masala: Roasted peanuts with red onion, cilantro, cayenne, and lime juice. Now, Jason can impress his peanut butterloving Burning Man friends with something much more exotic: wet peanuts that you eat by hand! So, its like trail mix, but worse? Episode 5: Skyler The setup: Skyler is a 30-year-old man who eats pretty well and loves sushi. Antoni makes: Poke. Full disclosure: Ive tried making sushi at home and its super difficult. No matter how well you do, it wont be any better than what you get at the bodega. So, thank you, Antoni, for sparing Skylar that heartbreak and teaching him, instead, how to use frozen tuna to make two different kinds of poke: A spicy version with mayo, sree-rach-a (Antonis pronunciation), serrano peppers, black sesame seeds, and sesame oil; and sweet and tangy poke with ponzu, white sesame seeds, and truffle oil. And dont forget the sushi-rice crackers that Skylar can now make in his Brand! New! Air fryer! Skylers into it! Love it, very tasty, he says. And honestly, yes. Were here for it, too. This is better than roasted peanuts! Episode 6: Ari The setup: Ari is a recent college grad who found out he didnt actually graduate. Hes been in a downward spiral ever since. Antoni makes: Tahdig, a traditional Persian dish featuring crispy rice, potatoes, and saffron. Ari is Iranian and he loved tahdig growing up. Antonis take on the dish is pretty simple, but he does know the proper way to bloom saffron (you use water to extract its flavor; you use oil for other spices). Whats more, Antoni has now armed Ari with a soul-warming dish from his childhood that he can serve to his mother as he tells her the bad news. There should be an entire website dedicated to food you make for someone when you also have to tell them something horrible. (I wrecked your car, but enjoy this cake!) Episode 7: Sean The setup: Sean is a homeschooled kid whos about to start college and is afraid he wont fit in. Antoni makes: A French omelette. Sean has no idea how to cook real food and hes on the precipice of moving into his own place. If ever there were a time for Antoni to whip out his arsenal of grilled-cheese advice, this would be it. Instead, he teaches Sean to make a classic rolled omelette with chives. Antonis recipes rarely rise above the level of Culinary School 101, and this is no exception, but French omelettes are impressive for a reason easy to learn, impossible to master so this is probably a worthwhile skill for Sean to possess. Episode 8: Ted The setup: Ted is the 34-year-old mayor of a small town in Georgia whos been in politics since he was 17. Hes hosting a dinner for diplomats from the Philippines and Sierra Leone, but his longtime girlfriend says he has no idea how to cook. Antoni makes: A peach-and-tomato salad. Antoni and Ted head to a famed Atlanta restaurant Bacchanalia, but its just so Ted can learn how to set a table for a dinner party. For the actual dinner, Teds girlfriend will grill some salmon while Teds on appetizer duty: A summer salad of grilled peaches and heirloom tomatoes with basil and parmesan. Similar to season one, Antoni suggests using an indoor, infrared grill for the dinner. Dont people have, like, yards and real grills in Georgia? Antonis biggest crime, though, might be his use of Chinese-born donut peaches rather than Georgia peaches. When the big night arrives, the diplomats ostensibly like the salad, though they probably wont be writing home about it anytime soon. The final verdict: Unfortunately, this season will probably do nothing to resolve the debate surrounding Antonis cooking skills. He does push his students a little harder (i.e., fresh pasta and Iranian comfort food), but still nothing revolutionary. The long stretch. Photo: Melissa Hom Middle Eastern booza (and its Turkish counterpart dondurma) is the showboat of the ice cream world. It has the flexibility of Gumby, a dessert you can stretch, bend, and do acrobatic things with. Salep, ground-up orchid tuber, and mastic, a piney plant resin, give it elasticasticity, and also do wonders in the flavor department. Its chewy and dense, so it packs more concentrated flavor and, literally, lingers on your tongue. The stuff is also really hard to find here. You can get it at Cedars Pastry in Brooklyn or pick up a pint of Lezzetli, though that stuff is more of a hybrid with American ice cream. Starting Monday, you can add another spot for all your chewy ice cream needs: the Republic of Booza in Williamsburg. A lot of people speak about gelato as being superior to ice cream because its churned at a slower speed and has less air. It has that silkier, creamier kind of thing going on. Booza is like that times ten, says Michael Sadler, one of the shops owners. Sadler is a former Oxford scholar who describes himself as a recovering academic. He studied philosophy and Arabic, and first tried booza while traveling in the Middle East. While there before graduate school, he met another Oxford-bound student in Tamer Rabbani. Quick friends, theyre now business partners in the ice cream shop. Rabbani brought his childhood friend Mohammed Makki into the fold, as well, and the last, essential piece of their frozen puzzle: Jilbert El-Zmetr. Rabbani was on a business trip to Australia when he met El-Zmetr, who with his sister Tedy Altree-Williams started a packaged booza company in 2011. Down under, El-Zmetr was working with just traditional Middle Eastern flavors. Sadler and Rabbani, though, wanted to try new things with booza and serve all sorts of flavors something El-Zmetr was keen to do, as well. We all thought it had a ton of unlocked potential, Sadler says. Its a tremendous vehicle for flavor. Its actually got the most flavor intensity. Photo: Melissa Hom Theyre serving the traditional qashta or candied cream, but its just one of 35 flavors El-Zmetr has created. There are classic American ones like black raspberry, rocky road, and salted caramel. Theyve also airlifted ideas from everywhere, from the the Philippines for halo halo, to Spain for the horchata de chufa, to Peru for lucuma, a fruit compared to sweet potato. There are a couple handfuls of experimental flavors that are more savory or acidic, like saffron-peppercorn, and a few salep sorbets in like bloody Mary. Chocolate booza. Photo: Melissa Hom You cant pull the sorbet like you can with booza. You cant get the full wingspan, Sadler says. But when you scoop it up, youll see it has that slightly elastic pull to it. The design of the space is the minimalist chic you see at places like the Japanese dessert shop the Little One. Its all blonde wood and off-white walls, one of which is decorated with concentric circles and triangles. Not that they need much color, literal or figurative. Booza is enough of a show itself. Flavors include salted Oreo, red miso, and butter pecan. Photo: Melissa Hom Salted caramel booza. Photo: Melissa Hom Vanilla. Photo: Melissa Hom Qashta or candied cream. Photo: Melissa Hom Black raspberry ice cream. Photo: Melissa Hom Butter pecan. Photo: Melissa Hom Horchata de chufa. Photo: Melissa Hom Aka miso. Photo: Melissa Hom Lucuma. Photo: Melissa Hom Salted oreo. Photo: Melissa Hom Saffron peppercorn. Photo: Melissa Hom Mint chocolate chip. Photo: Melissa Hom Matcha coconut. Photo: Melissa Hom Bloody mary sorbet. Photo: Melissa Hom Its good to stretch. Photo: Melissa Hom Its ice cream time. Photo: Melissa Hom Republic of Booza, 76 N. 4th St., nr Berry St.; 718-302-500 Haiti - News : Zapping... Spoliation : destruction of small houses Accompanied by agents of the BRICIF and the UDMO, the Port-au-Prince government commissioner, Ocname Clame Dameus and the Secretary of State for Public Security, Ronsard St-Cyr, proceeded Wednesday night to the demolition of several houses built by spoilers on the ecological farm Wynne Farm. The prosecutor warned that warrants will be awarded against the spoliators. Did you know ? Did you know, Martissant Park is a group of three residences: 1. The Habitation Leclerc, which until the 1980s was a flourishing luxury hotel. 2. The residence of a deceased American dancer and anthropologist, Katherine Dunham, an activist of the Haitian cause, who has worked throughout her life on voodoo customs. 3. The former family home of Albert Mangones, architect and sculptor, including the "Negre marron inconnu" , now a national icon. Miss World Haiti An exchange meeting took place recently between the Minister of Haitians Living Abroad (MHAVE), Mr. Guy Andre Junior Francois and the organizers of Miss World Haiti Mrs. Anedie Azael Doura and Miss Christelle Dominique, on the participation of the MHAVE in the activities of this contest. OAVCT strikes is not over After just two weeks of OAVCT truce, the union workers' officials announce a new general strike in all the offices of the institution from Friday. The goal is to denounce the transfer of the administrator Constance Duvivier and continue to demand the satisfaction of their claims, according to the spokesman of the union Jean Roody Saint-Juste. 269 years of Port-au-Prince The city of Port-au-Prince celebrated Wednesday, June 13, 2018, its 269 years of foundation. This traditional big feast should allow us to have a new look on our dear friendly, boiling, attractive city with its iconic architectural works. For its 269 years, the Port-au-Prince Municipal Administration wishes a good holiday to the citizens of the city and renews its determination to work unceasingly for a great city that is found itself and reborn. Encourage the excellence "Encouraging excellence is one of the top priorities of the State, and 34 debit cards of 10,000 gourdes each are available to students with good marks in last year's official exams," PM announced on Thursday, during a stocktaking conference of the actions of the Government for the period from January to May 2018. HL/ HaitiLibre California Wine Institute welcomes new chairman By Andrew Catchpole Chris Indelicato of Delicato Family Vineyards has been voted in by members as Wine Institute chairman for 2018 to 2019 at the associations 84th annual meeting. President and CEO of his family estates, Indelicato said that he was honoured to serve as board chairman of an association that brings together some 1,000 California wineries and related businesses. As a third-generation vintner, Wine Institutes commitment to sustainable winegrowing aligns with our dedication to quality, innovation and environmental stewardship, said Indelicato of the role. Wine Institute supports key public policy initiatives, such as extending the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act beyond 2019, so wineries can continue to invest in the future, expanding export opportunities through the removal of trade barriers, and stopping excise tax increases in state legislatures around the country, he added in a statement. Further additions to the board include: Hank Wetzel of Alexander Valley Vineyard as first vice chairman; John Sutton of The Wine Group as second vice chairman; Suzanne Groth of Groth Vineyards as treasurer; and Rick Tigner of Jackson Family Wines as secretary. Bobby Koch remains as president and CEO of Wine Institute. Premium California wines have been enjoying something a renaissance in the UK, where a combination of unfavourable euro-sterling exchange rates and rising prices for European classics, along with a new generation of fresher, more restrained and elegant styles, have encouraged restaurant buyers and independent merchants to re-engage with the category, with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay at the fore. https://www.justice.gov/file/1071991/download IG REPORT NOTE: Article I, Section 3, Clause 7 Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States : but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law. It is unknown how much the Obamas Netflix agreement which will see them produce through their newly formed company Higher Ground Productions is worth. In March, Penguin Random House signed the couple to a joint book deal that pays them a reported $65 million for their respective memoirs. Barack and Michelle Obama Sign Netflix Production Deal By Daniel Holloway https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/barack-michelle-obama-netflix-deal-1202817723/ May 21, 2018 9:11AM PTBarack and Michelle Obama Sign Netflix Production DealBy Daniel Holloway The report also notes that the reasons given for why the FBI sat on news about Anthony Weiner's laptop for almost a month were totally unconvincing. One of them was that FBI resources had been redirected to the Trump-Russia probe. But as the IG notes, the FBI had enough resources to prepare speeches, talking points and other material defending their earlier decision to drop the case. The Attorney General initiated a special proceeding to dissolve the Trump Foundation under court supervision and obtain restitution of $2.8 million and additional penalties. The AGs lawsuit also seeks a ban from future service as a director of a New York not-for-profit of 10 years for Mr. Trump and one year for each of the Foundations other board members, Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Eric Trump. The Attorney General also sent referral letters today to the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Election Commission, identifying possible violations of federal law for further investigation and legal action by those federal agencies. Hawaii County Residents May Register for Assistance, Disaster Recovery Center to Open News Release from FEMA, June 14, 2018 Honolulu - Residents of Hawaii County who suffered damage or losses from the recent Kilauea volcanic eruption and earthquakes, can now register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The amendment to the presidential disaster declaration of May 11, 2018 now makes federal assistance available to eligible individuals, business owners and private non-profit organizations in Hawaii County. A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC), jointly operated by the state of Hawaii and FEMA will open on Friday, June 15 at 8 a.m. The DRC is located at Keaau High School Gymnasium, 16-725 Keaau-Pahoa Rd., Keaau, HI 96749 and will be open daily from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. People can register for assistance at the DRC, as well as having many of their questions answered. FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and state and county government agencies will be present at the center. Residents are asked to follow the schedule below for FEMA registrations for greater efficiency, and in order to avoid long lines and waits: Friday: Leilani Estates, Lanipuna Gardens, Alaili Road and Old Kalapana Highway; Saturday: Highway 132, Noni Farms Road, Halekamahina Road, Old Kapoho Road, Puna Kapoho Road, Railroad Avenue and Pohoiki Road; Sunday: Vacationland, Kapoho, Green Farm Lots and Kapoho Beach Lots; Monday: Community of Volcano. Please remember, applicants should have the following information on hand: Social Security number Address of the damaged primary residence Description of the damage Information about insurance coverage A current contact telephone number An address where they can receive mail Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds Disaster assistance for homeowners and renters may include grants to help pay for: Temporary housing Essential home repairs Uninsured and underinsured personal property losses Other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance. Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available for businesses of all sizes (including landlords), private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters. Disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries. FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits. Registering with FEMA is an important step in receiving federal aid, even if a survivor has registered with another disaster-relief organization, such as the American Red Cross. Survivors should register even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their claims have been settled. Survivors can also apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may call 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time seven days a week. PDF: FEMA Disaster Assistance Fact Sheet * * * * * BIVN: President Trump Approves Hawaii County Individual Assistance Request The President of the United States has approved Governor David Iges request for individual assistance for Hawaii County residents who have lost their homes and property in the Kilauea volcanic eruption. According to the State of Hawaii: The approval, coming the day after the governors request, means that qualifying residents may receive assistance from the federal governments full scope of individual assistance programs to address issues such as shelter needs, unemployment, trauma and legal matters. On Friday, June 15, a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Relief Center will be set up at Keaau High School in Keaau, where county state and federal agencies will initially gather information from residents who have suffered losses. Residents whose primary homes were destroyed or whose homes are inaccessible due to the lava flow, should register at the FEMA Disaster Relief Center for possible assistance. The agencies will review each case based on the information provided before making decisions on individual assistance. * * * * * GOVERNOR IGE SIGNS REQUEST FOR FEDERAL INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR HAWAII COUNTY IN WAKE OF VOLCANIC ERUPTION News Release from Office of the Governor, Jun 13, 2018 HONOLULU Gov. David Ige is requesting approval of all federal individual assistance programs for Hawaii County residents who have lost their homes and property in the Kilauea volcanic eruption that began in May. The county has estimated that the eruption has destroyed about 455 residential dwellings, 192 of which are primary residences. In addition, there are homes and farms that are isolated by the lava flows, while others are inaccessible or uninhabitable because of high ash and sulfur dioxide concentrations. To date, assistance for individuals has been provided by the county government, state agencies, and a large network of non-profit organizations. The state has no individual assistance programs. Gov. Ige is requesting assistance from ALL of the federal governments individual federal assistance programs to address disaster-related issues such as shelter, unemployment, trauma and legal matters. The programs include: Individuals and Households Program (IHP) which addresses residents various needs and will help survivors get back on their feet. Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) which will support short-term sheltering for residents. Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP) which will provide crisis counseling to residents affected by the eruption. Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) which provides assistance to those who have become unemployed because of the disaster. Disaster Case Management provides follow-up services required to help families develop individualized recovery plans and provide sustained, coordinated case management. Disaster Legal Services provides guidance and assistance for families, primarily with insurance clams recovery/reproduction of legal documents, and advice on landlord issues. This program allows for the establishment of a hotline and other necessary support. On May 11, 2018 the President approved Gov. Iges request for a disaster declaration, authorizing the Public Assistance Grant Program for Hawaii County, and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for the State of Hawaii. PDF: Gov Ige request for IA_Hawaii county HTH: Ige requests federal assistance programs for volcano evacuees HART violating FTA funding agreement? Board member John Henry Felix says there might be a breach of contract with the feds News Release from Grassroot Institute HONOLULU, June 15, 2018 >> A leading board member of the Honolulu Area Rapid Transportation (HART) is worried that the semi-autonomous city agency may be in violation of its funding agreement with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). John Henry Felix, a prominent Honolulu businessman and former 16-year City Council member who has been on the board for two years, told the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii that HARTs Full Funding Grant Agreement with the FTA requires HART to achieve revenue operations (i.e., start collecting fares from rail passengers) by Jan. 31, 2020 (see page 6). HARTs plan, however, currently is estimating that the project will meet this goal in December 2025 (page 14). Kelii Akina, Ph.D., president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, said he was grateful to Felix for pointing out the apparent conflict between the revenue operations schedules of the FTA and HART, as it is one more indication of the cost and transparency issues that have been dogging the wildly over-budget and behind-schedule rail project. Being five years behind schedule is more than just a delay; its potentially a violation of the contract with the federal government, he said. This further points to the need for a full forensic audit for fraud, waste and abuse. * * * * * HART board member calls for forensic audit of rail The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii shares John Henry Felix's concern about rail costs and transparency News Release from Grassroot Institute HONOLULU, June 14, 2018 >> A leading board member of the Honolulu Area Rapid Transportation (HART) is urging his colleagues to fund an audit and re-appraisal of the entire Honolulu rail project, saying it is essential to re-establishing public trust in the project. In a May 21 letter obtained by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, John Henry Felix a prominent Honolulu businessman and former 16-year City Council member who has been on the HART board for two years asked HART Chairman Damien Kim to, take a deep breath of sorts and allow time for our board to commission a forensic audit. (See full letter here.) In his letter to Kim, Felix noted that rail costs have more than tripled since 2006, when it was projected to total $3 billion. He wrote that rail expenditures require a closer look, and that he believes the expense of the rail is now affecting the governments ability to address other pressing issues, such as road repair, homelessness and police protection. Felix urged Kim to put a high priority on financial transparency and put the question of a forensic audit on HARTs fixed board agenda and seek public testimony on the issue. He also suggested that his board colleagues reconsider the original strategy for the rail project and examine halting it at Middle Street. Kelii Akina, Ph.D., president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, said he shares Felixs serious concerns about the rail projects cost and transparency issues. For more than a year, he said, the Grassroot Institute has been telling Hawaiis leaders that the rail is losing public support. This letter by Felix makes it clear that this loss of faith extends to even the HART board. Akina continued: There are now more questions about the rail than answers. And while the state and city have made attempts to audit the rail, those efforts do not go far enough, as witnessed by State Auditor Les Kondos revelation on May 30 that HART management has been listening in on his staffs meetings with HART employees. The only possible solution is an independent forensic audit for waste, fraud, and abuse, concluded Akina. The people of Hawaii deserve to get real, honest answers about the rail, its rising costs and the many questions that have dogged its construction. This is a project desperately in need of sunlight and true transparency. ### PDF: See full letter here (Opalesque) The Bahamas have long been a destination for high net worth individuals seeking to manage their wealth offshore. Now as the Commonwealth looks toward expanding its role in the investment industry, the concentration of private wealth already on the ground is going to support new ventures and capital formation. Delegates that the recent Opalesque Bahamas Roundtable discussed how the cluster effect is working on the ground. To read this article: (HedgeCo.Net) The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. will pay more than $15 million to settle charges that its employees misled customers into overpaying for Residential Mortgage Backed Securities (RMBS). Merrill Lynch agreed to repay more than $10.5 million to its customers and to pay penalties of approximately $5.2 million. In its order, the SEC found that Merrill Lynch traders and salespersons convinced the banks customers to overpay for RMBS by deceiving them about the price Merrill Lynch paid to acquire the securities. The order also found that Merrill Lynchs RMBS traders and salespersons illegally profited from excessive, undisclosed commissions called mark-ups which in some cases were more than twice the amount the customers should have paid. According to the SECs order, Merrill Lynch failed to have compliance and surveillance procedures in place that were reasonably designed to prevent and detect the misconduct that increased the firms profits on RMBS transactions to the detriment of its customers. In opaque RMBS markets, lying to customers about the acquisition price can deprive investors of important information, said Daniel Michael, Chief of the SEC Enforcement Divisions Complex Financial Instruments Unit. The Commission found that Merrill Lynch failed in its obligation to supervise traders who allegedly used their access to market information to take advantage of the banks own customers. The SECs order found that that the Merrill Lynch traders and salespersons violated antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws in purchasing and selling RMBS and that Merrill Lynch failed to reasonably supervise them. Without admitting or denying the findings, Merrill Lynch agreed to be censured, pay a penalty of approximately $5.2 million, and pay disgorgement and interest of more than $10.5 million to Merrill Lynch customers that were parties to the transactions that are the subject of the order. The government sold a total of 12.8 million shares in the oil refiner and biofuel company in an accelerated offering to domestic and international investors for a record-breaking 861 million euros, reducing its stake in the company from 49.7 to 44.7 per cent. Mika Lintila (Centre), the cabinet member responsible for ownership steering, explained earlier this week that the sale was necessary to ensure the diversity of the governments share portfolio. Neste, he pointed out, accounted for nearly a half of the portfolio as its share price has been on an upward trajectory for some time. At the same time, the weight of the energy sector in the portfolio has increased significantly, he added in a press release on Tuesday. The state will continue to be a significant shareholder of the company, which will, among other things, ensure the strategic interest relating to the ownership. The Finnish Parliament has set a minimum threshold of 33.4 per cent for the governments ownership stake in Neste. The government reduced its stake in the company below 50 per cent by donating 50 million euros worth of shares to Ilta Childrens Foundation in January. Nestes share value has increased by over 30 per cent since the donation, rising from roughly 50 euros in January to over 65 euros in mid-June. The value has increased by over 90 per cent over the past year and by as much as 510 per cent over the past five years. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Mikko Stig Lehtikuva Source: Uusi Suomi Well, riddle me this ... Manafort is in jail because he instructed witnesses in the case to lie to federal investigators. Why would he do this? The Republican President has told us time and time again that there was no collusion with Russia. Therefore, the people under investigation have nothing to hide. And if they have nothing to hide, then there was no reason for Manafort to instruct them to lie to investigators. Anybody? Yesterday'sreported that Marc Short, Trump's liaison to Congress is quitting , complaining that trying to push Trump's agenda through the GOP-controlled Congress has reached a point of "diminishing returns." Far right extremists are delighted because they view him as a champion for the GOP establishments. They're always bitching that he didn't obtain funding for the Great Wall of Trumpanzee or repeal ObamaCare. Maybe he'll go back to his old job working for the Koch brothers' political operation.Yesterday'sreported that Marc Short, Trump's liaison to Congress is quitting , complaining that trying to push Trump's agenda through the GOP-controlled Congress has reached a point of "diminishing returns." Far right extremists are delighted because they view him as a champion for the GOP establishments. They're always bitching that he didn't obtain funding for the Great Wall of Trumpanzee or repeal ObamaCare. Maybe he'll go back to his old job working for the Koch brothers' political operation. Sounds grand to me-- for the Democrats. The Capitol Hill Republicans hate his guts as much as Democrats do-- maybe more, if that's possible... but they whisper it and clam up when there are microphones around... pining for an Eisenhower in 2020 to save them. Nazis are in heaven. "Deal with it," said Corey Stewart, the anti-immigrant, pro-Confederate symbols, new Republican nominee for Senate in Virginia: "This is the new Republican Party." As for the people resisting, Stewart said, "Theyre dinosaurs. They need to wake up and understand that President Trump has fundamentally remade the Republican Party." In his concession speech, Mark Sanford said, "We are a nation of laws." In her victory speech, the self funding Trumpist who beat him, Katie Arrington had a different interpretation of the Republican Party: "We are the party of President Donald J. Trump." She's probably right-- and her assertion will be examinable in November. Amy Walter observed for theyesterday that Trump Is Everything Voters Hoped/Feared He Would Be . She's correct when she asserts that "If you are surprised at what President Donald Trump is doing or how he is behaving or what he is prioritizing, you shouldnt be. This is what he was doing, what he was saying, and how he was acting throughout the 2016 campaign. On some topics, he has been espousing the same rhetoric for years and years." Is anyone really surprised that Trump is not interested in following the priorities of GOP party leaders in Congress? Shouldnt we have expected that the I alone can fix it candidate would not feel constrained by the other co-equal branches of government? ...President Trump is not all that much different than candidate Trump. This is why his base of support has remained solid, and why those who never liked him in the first place are as turned off by him as ever. A Fox News poll, taken June 3-6, asked respondents to give one specific reason for why they either approved or disapproved of the President. Among the 45 percent of voters who said they approved of the job Trump was doing, the number one reason, volunteered by 24 percent of respondents, was helping the economy/creating jobs. But, a combined 53 percent focused more on his style than substance, like keeping promises, getting things done, doing what he said, putting America first, and shaking things up. ...Trump is everything today as president that voters had hoped or feared he would be when he was a candidate. This helps explains why Trumps job approval ratings in the most recent polls from Fox (45 percent) and NBC/Wall Street Journal (44 percent) are close to where he was on Election Day 2016 when he took 46 percent of the vote. The other similarity between this election and the one in 2016 is that where the spotlight is focused this fall will determine if the election breaks for Democrats or for Republicans. As I wrote back then, when the spotlight was trained on Clintons weaknesses (emails, deplorables, the Wikileaks trove), her numbers went down and Trumps went up. When Trump and his temperament were in the spotlight, he went down and she went up. In 2018, Democrats would like the spotlight to be trained on health care and tax reform. Specifically, they want to be talking about the rising cost of health care and a GOP crafted tax law that they argue is tilted toward the wealthy and big corporations over struggling middle class families. In fact, some of the lowest approval ratings for the president-- and some of the largest advantages Democrats have had on the congressional ballot-- came during the debates and votes on health care legislation and the tax bill. Republicans certainly would like to see the president be more disciplined. But, the constant swirl and clamor also make it hard for even bad stories to stick around before they are swept off the front pages by something else. The consistently good economic news helps as well. But, let's be honest, we have no idea where that spotlight will be shining by November. Will it be on a recently released Mueller report? Health care premium hikes? The success/failure of North Korean denuclearization? One thing we do know, however, is that Trump will never be out of the spotlight. And, as such, opposition to or support for him is what will ultimately determine the outcome of 2018. Major airport runways require urgent repairs The runways of the two largest airports in the country need VND4trn (USD176m) in repairs. illustrative image In 1966 the U.S. military desperately needed more troops in Vietnam. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara had a plan to get them. In 1966, with American involvement in the Vietnam War rapidly escalating, President Lyndon B. Johnson faced a big problem: How could the U.S. military round up enough men to send to war? Johnson could have moved to revoke student deferments, but in so doing he would have heaped lots of political misery on himself and put his administration at sharp odds with powerful lawmakers, who were writing a new Selective Service statute that would continue to guarantee 2-S deferments to undergraduate college students in good standing. He could also have chosen to draw on the million or so men and women in the National Guard and Reserves. But LBJ and his advisers knew that this course of action would be just as unpopular politically. Johnsons secretary of defense, Robert McNamara, had another idea: to dramatically widen the pool of draft-eligible Americans by lowering the standards for entry into the armed forces. There were plenty of young people out there who werent protected by student deferments but had flunked the militarys entrance exam, the Armed Forces Qualification Test. If the standards for passing the test could be lowered, McNamara argued, tens of thousands of previously unqualified young men and women would suddenly be available for military service. In August 1966 McNamara went before the annual convention of Veterans of Foreign Wars to unveil his plan, promising that it would salvage some 40,000 draft rejects and substandard volunteersmost of them from poverty-encrusted backgroundsin the ensuing 10 months. Currently, McNamara noted, the military rejects 600,000 young men a year for failure to meet minimum standards. In his VFW speech at the New York Hilton Hotel, McNamara framed the plan as a compassionate rescue mission. Disadvantaged youthsmany from urban slums and rural backwaterswould, he said, be lifted out of poverty and ignorance. They would be taught basic skills, including reading and arithmetic. Though the men may have failed these subjects in school, they wouldnt fail now because the military was, as he put it, the worlds greatest educator of skilled manpower. It knew how to motivate men and deploy an impressive array of pedagogical gadgetry. McNamara had made a name for himself as one of the Whiz Kids who helped to rebuild Ford Motor Company after World War II. He believed that the military could raise the intelligence of those it might otherwise reject through the use of videotapes and closed-circuit TV lessons. A low-aptitude student, he said, can use videotapes as an aid to his formal instruction and end by becoming as proficient as a high-aptitude student. McNamaras announcement apparently caught the Pentagon by surprise, as the plan was clearly a dramatically expanded version of a proposed three-year, $16.4 million experimentthe Special Training Enlistment Program (STEP)that Congress had killed the previous year. Nonetheless, Project 100,000named for its target first-fiscal-year recruitment levelwas officially launched on October 1, 1966. By the end of the war, it would bring 354,000 second-class fellowsas President Johnson had referred to its recruits in privateinto the armed forces. In announcing Project 100,000, McNamara didnt say anything about combat duty. He said the participants would gain valuable skills and self-confidence, which would help them get good-paying civilian jobs when they got out of the service. To hear him describe it, one would have thought the men were going off to school, not to war. From nearly the beginning of Project 100,000, McNamaras critics accused him of disguising its true objective: using the poor instead of the middle class for combat in Vietnam. The truth was more complex. McNamara had proposed Project 100,000 two years earlier, seeing it as a way to contribute to the Johnson administrations War on Poverty. In fact, the idea had been kicking around Washington before McNamara arrived on the scene. Its leading advocate was Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a sociologist who in 1976 would be elected to the U.S. Senate from New York. The best way to alleviate poverty in America, Moynihans argument went, would be to draft the hundreds of thousands of young men and women being rejected annually as unfit for military service. Take these young menmostly inner-city blacks and poor, rural whitesand put them into uniform. Instill discipline. Train them to bathe daily, salute, and take orders. Teach them a marketable skill. After a couple of years, lazy, unmotivated slackers would be transformed into hard-working, law-abiding citizens. Moreover, the new generation of military recruits could then teach their children to be solid middle-class citizens, thus breaking the generation-to-generation continuity of poverty. Johnson and McNamara embraced Moynihans concept in 1964, two years before Project 100,000 was launched. Secret White House recordings captured a conversation in which Johnson said that he wished the military could be persuaded to take the second-class fellow, adding: Wellteach him to get up at daylight and work till dark and shave and bathe.And when we turn him out, well have him prepared at least to drive a truck or bakery wagon or stand at a gate [as a guard]. McNamara told LBJ that uniformed officers in the Defense Department were opposed to drafting such men because they dont want to be in the business of dealing with morons. They call these moron camps now, inside the [Pentagon]. The army doesnt want to be thought of as a rehabilitation agency. Infantry trainees at Fort Polk, Louisiana, in 1966 wait for a mock ambush. More soldiers were shipped to Vietnam from Fort Polk than from any other American training base. (Lynn Pelham/The Life Picture Collection/Getty Images) In 1964 and 1965 Johnson and McNamara had tried repeatedly to lower the bar for military service, only to be stymied by higher-ups at the Pentagon and their allies in Congress. Democrat Richard Russell of Georgia, the powerful chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and LBJs mentor on Capitol Hill, accused McNamara of trying to set up a moron corps. The Department of the Army was more temperate in its criticism, saying only that it wanted to fight with the highest caliber of men available. By 1966, however, the top brass, desperate for manpower, had to capitulate: If Johnson and McNamara werent willing to draft more middle-class Americans, then second-class servicemen would have to suffice. With bitter disappointment and grave doubts, military leaders went along with the decision of their civilian bosses, and Project 100,000 became a reality. Military recruiters, backed by an aggressive public relations campaign (one army ad in Hot Rod Magazine proclaimed, Vietnam: Hot, Wet, and MuddyHeres the Place to Make a Man!), had great success persuading men from poor urban neighborhoods to join Project 100,000. Glossy brochures with exotic locations and glamorous jobs portrayed the militaryeven with a war going at full tiltas a good career choice. The pressure on recruiters to sign up more volunteers for the program was intense. Many resorted to using ringers to take tests to gain a passing score for enough recruits to meet quotas. Typically, military recruiters would get the names of lowscoring men who were now acceptable to the armed forces and visit them to steer them toward three-year hitches. The recruiters would tell them that if they waited for the draft, they would serve only two years but almost certainly end up in an infantry platoon in Vietnam. But if they signed up for three years, they would be assigned to a noncombat job. There was, however, an important catch: The military didnt have to honor any oral promise made by a recruiter. A recruiter might promise prospects a job like helicopter maintenance, but after basic trainingwhen it was time to go to a specialized schoolthe military could decide that their test scores werent high enough to qualify for helicopter maintenance. Or if they did qualify but flunked the training, they could be transferred to infantry. Thousands of three-year Project 100,000 volunteers ended up in infantry this way. Project 100,000 recruitsNew Standards men, they were calledwere assigned to all major branches of the armed forces: 71 percent to the army, 10 percent to the marine corps, 10 percent to the navy, and 9 percent to the air force. Most of the 354,000 men and women brought into military service through Project 100,000 went to Vietnam, and about half of those who went to Vietnam were assigned to combat units. All told, 5,478 of them died while in the military, most of them in combat. Their fatality rate was three times that of other GIs. Project 100,000 men had to complete basic training, and, in some cases, undergo additional training. Novelist Larry Heinemann, who had served with the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam, recalled in a 2005 memoir that in his basic training barracks at Fort Polk, Louisiana, he would look across the street and watch McNamaras Boys in a special training company. These were the guys who could not hack it during regular basic training, he wrote. It was painful to watch.Some of them could not even get the hang of so simple a thing as standing at attention, and otherwise seemed severely unsuited for military life. The young men of Project 100,000 couldnt read, Joseph Galloway, a war correspondent who was awarded a Bronze Star with Valor in Vietnam for carrying wounded men to safety in the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley, later recalled. They had to be taught to tie their boots. They often failed [basic training] and were recycled over and over until they finally reached some low standard and were declared trained and ready. They could not be taught any more demanding job than trigger-pulling, [so most of them] went straight into combat, where the learning curve is steep and deadly. One veteran who had good reason to be dismayed by the deaths of Project 100,000 men in Vietnam was Leslie John Shellhase, who had been wounded in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II and had served as a lieutenant colonel under McNamara on a planning team at the Pentagon in the 1960s. We resisted Project 100,000 because we knew that wars are not won by using marginal manpower as cannon fodder, but rather by risking, and sometimes losing, the flower of a nations youth. He and other Pentagon planners tried to persuade McNamara to drop Project 100,000. When that failed, they proposed altering the program so that military commanders would be barred from sending low-aptitude men into danger zones. We never envisioned that these men would be used in combat, he said. Instead, we intended for them to be used in service and support areas, where their mental limitations would not cause them to be killed. Unfortunately, Shellhase and his fellow officers failed in their effort to keep Project 100,000 men off the battlefield. Barry Romo saw a lot of combat in Vietnam as an infantry platoon leader in 19671968, receiving a Bronze Star for his courage on the battlefield. During his tour, he learned that his nephew Robert, just a month younger than him, had been drafted and was being trained at Fort Lewis, Washington, to be an infantryman, destined for Vietnam. Barry was alarmed because he knew that Robert had failed the armys mental test. But Project 100,000 had lowered the standards, making him eligible to serve. A host of peoplehis relatives, his comrades at Fort Lewis, his sergeants, his officerswrote to the commanding general at Fort Lewis, asking that Robert not be sent into combat because, as one relative put it, he would die. But the general turned down the request, and when Robert arrived in Vietnam he was sent to an infantry unit near the border of North Vietnamone of the most dangerous combat areas. During a patrol, he was shot in the neck while trying to help a wounded friend and died. In a speech delivered 42 years later, Barry Romo said that the family had never recovered from losing Robert. His death, he said, almost destroyed us with anger and sorrow. Military leadersfrom William Westmoreland, the commanding general in Vietnam, to lieutenants and sergeants at the platoon levelviewed McNamaras program as a disaster. Project 100,000 men were typically slow learners, so they had difficulty absorbing training. And because many of them were incompetent in combat, they endangered not only themselves but their comrades as well. Project 100,000 was implemented to produce more grunts for the killing fields of Vietnam, wrote Colonel David Hackworth, who fought in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars and became one of the most highly decorated warriors in American history. It took unfit recruits from the bottom of the barrel and rushed them to Vietnam. The result was human applesauce. McNamaras intentions to use video instruction to raise the intelligence levels of Project 100,000 may have been sincere, but few men actually received it. There was a bloody war raging, and army and marine units in Vietnam desperately needed replacements. Training centers were under great pressure to get troops to Vietnam as quickly as possible. There was no time for remedial reading and arithmetic. Westmoreland estimated that, in fact, only about 10 percent of McNamaras Boys could be molded into real soldiers. Although some Project 100,000 men did well in the servicepassing basic training and going on to productive military assignmentslarge numbers of them had trouble coping with the demands of military life. They were often hazed, ridiculed, and demeaned. Ironically, McNamara, in one of his speeches extolling Project 100,000, had said, I have directed that these men shall never be singled out or stigmatized in any manner. When it was time for Project 100,000 men to leave the military, many of them received a heavy blow. Slightly over half of them180,000were separated with discharges under conditions other than honorable, a stigma that made it hard to get good jobs because many employers would not hire veterans who failed to produce a certificate of honorable discharge. They were often barred from veterans benefits such as health care, housing assistance, and employment counseling. Some of them became chronically homeless and troubled. Although some bad-paper vets had been guilty of serious offenses, most had been accused of minor offenses related to the stresses of military life and combat: AWOL, missing duty, abusing alcohol or drugs, or talking back to a superior. David Addlestone, the director of the National Veterans Law Center from its founding in 1978 until his retirement in 2005, said that one of the leading reasons that the military gave for bad-paper discharges for Project 100,000 men was unsuitability. Little wonder: Many of the men were obviously unsuitable to be drafted in the first place. President Lyndon B. Johnson reacts to news of heightened problems in Vietnam while hosting Defense Secretary Robert McNamara (right) at the LBJ Ranch in Stonewall, Texas. (Corbis via Getty Images) In their 1978 book, Chance and Circumstance: The Draft, the War, and the Vietnam Generation, Lawrence M. Baskir and William A. Strauss, who were senior officials on President Gerald Fords Clemency Board, told of Gus Peters, who came from a broken home, dropped out of school after the eighth grade, and was unemployed for most of his teenage years. His IQ was only 62.His physical condition was no better. Drafted under Project 100,000, Peters was ridiculed by other soldiers, and he failed basic training. Unable to cope with military life, he went AWOL and was eventually given an undesirable discharge. Baskir and Strauss concluded that Peters was worse off when he left the service than when he had entered it. He still had no skills and no useful job experience, they wrote, and he now was officially branded a misfit. There was a cruel irony in the less-than-honorable discharges. Millions of men who beat the draft through deferments and exemptions suffered nothing. In fact, they held an advantage over men who served: They got first crack at jobs and compiled seniority and experience. Even the draft dodgers who fled to Canada and Sweden got an amnesty. But not McNamaras bad-paper vets. They had no one to lobby for them. In his starry-eyed belief that videotapes could dramatically transform slow learners, McNamara revealed the same blind faith that deluded him into thinking that he could defeat the enemy in Vietnam by using computers, statistical analyses, and advanced technology. As biographer Deborah Shapley put it, McNamara was a naive believer in technological miracles. At the beginning of his program, McNamara had predicted that after returning to civilian life, Project 100,000 men would have an earning capacity two to three times what it would have been if there had been no such program. But a follow-up study on Project 100,000 men showed that in the 19861987 labor market, they were either no better off or actually worse off than nonveterans of similar aptitude. Many veterans of Project 100,000 were psychologically devastated by the war. John Wilson, a psychologist at Cleveland State University who spent several years studying Vietnam veterans emotional problems, estimated that thousands of Project 100,000 men who had served in Southeast Asia were so severely messed up that they couldnt function in societyhold jobs, raise families, and cope with day-to-day living. Historians have also rendered harsh verdicts of Project 100,000. In his 1993 book, Working-Class War: American Combat Soldiers and Vietnam, Christian G. Appy of the University of Massachusetts wrote that while the program was instituted with high-minded rhetoric about offering the poor an opportunity to serve, its result was to send many poor, terribly confused, and woefully undereducated boys to risk death in Vietnam. Anni P. Baker, a history professor at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts, has branded Project 100,000 a disaster, benefiting neither the men nor the Armed Forces. In 1993 Jacob Heilbrunn, then a fellow at Georgetown University, wrote in the New Republic that McNamaras experiment in social engineering had the most awful results, including ridicule in training camps and death in Vietnam. And the late Samuel F. Yette, a professor at Howard University, said that instead of preparing impoverished young men with skills for a better life, Project 100,000 was little more than an express vehicle to Vietnam. Toward the end of his life, McNamara issued a series of candid mea culpas for misjudgments about Vietnam that were made during his tenure at the Pentagon (1961 to 1968), especially his delay in acting on growing doubts that the war could be won. Im very sorry that in the process of accomplishing things, Ive made errors, McNamara told filmmaker Errol Morris for The Fog of War, Morriss Oscar-winning 2003 documentary. While he never issued a formal apology for his role in the Vietnam quagmire, McNamara, who died in July 2009 at age 93, made clear he was haunted by the blunders made under his watch that cost the lives of thousands of U.S. troops. People dont want to admit they made mistakes, he explained in 2003 to a reporter for the New York Times. This is true of the Catholic Church, its true of companies, its true of nongovernmental organizations, and its certainly true of political bodies. Conspicuously absent from McNamaras apologias was Project 100,000, which officially ended on December 31, 1971. To the very end of his life, McNamara refused to acknowledge the many accounts of abuse, suffering, and death associated with Project 100,000. Selectively looking at the success stories of some Project 100,000 men who did well, he insisted that the program had been beneficial. He was resentful of the term McNamaras Moron Corps, which he had heard for years. Nonetheless, Project 100,000 and other Vietnam-era failures wrecked McNamaras reputation. At first admired for his intelligence and analytical prowess, he later became one of the most hated men in America by the officers and enlisted personnel he had led, Thomas Sticht wrote of McNamara in the 2012 anthology, Scraping the Barrel: The Military Use of Substandard Manpower, 18601960. One officer even confronted McNamara in public. As McNamara touted the virtues of Project 100,000 at a Washington conference, an army psychologist who was treating psychologically afflicted Vietnam veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical Center stood up and spoke out. Although he was a mere captain, Dr. Walter P. Knake told McNamara, What you are doing is wrong! Regardless of culpability, the results of the projectnot its intentionsdoomed McNamaras Boys, who were, on average, just 20 years old and disproportionately black. They never got the training that military service seemed to promise, Baskir and Strauss concluded. They were the last to be promoted and the first to be sent to Vietnam. They saw more than their share of combat and got more than their share of bad discharges. Many ended up with greater difficulties in civilian society than when they started. For them, it was an ironic and tragic conclusion to a program that promised special treatment and a brighter future, and denied both. MHQ Hamilton Gregory, who served in Army Intelligence in Vietnam in 19681969, is the author of McNamaras Folly: The Use of Low-IQ Troops in the Vietnam War. This article appears in the Spring 2017 issue (Vol. 29, No. 3) of MHQThe Quarterly Journal of Military History with the headline: McNamaras Boys British army Lance Corporal William Harold Coltman received his nations highest award for combat valor while serving on the Western Front in 1918. Like U.S. Army Corporal Desmond Doss in the next world war, Coltman was a pacifist who refused to bear arms and instead served as a combat medic. Yet neither backed down under fire. Doss received the Medal of Honor; Coltman the Victoria Cross. In 1915 Coltman, a deeply religious member of the evangelical Christian Plymouth Brethren, enlisted in the North Staffordshire Regiment and was assigned as a stretcher-bearer. Though a slight man of just 5 feet 4 inches, he routinely carried larger wounded men to safety. In February 1917 near Monchy-le-Preux, France, the medic received his first of two Military Medals (equivalent to the U.S. Silver Star), after an officer leading a wire-repair party was shot through the thigh and disabled in no-mans-land. Coltman unhesitatingly moved forward and dragged the officer to safety, all the while under fire within sight of the enemy lines. Coltman earned his second award of the Military Medal for actions near Lens over a period of several days in June 1917. When an incoming mortar round set fire to a ammunition dump, he risked death to help secure ordnance. The next day a mortar shell ignited the company HQ, and Coltman rushed in to treat the wounded. Days later, when a dozen men were buried alive in a tunnel collapse, he organized a rescue party to dig them out and rendered aid to the survivors. Weeks later Coltman was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (equivalent to the U.S. Distinguished Service Cross) for treating the wounded while under heavy fire over a five-day period. He even crawled into no-mans-land at night to search for those needing rescue. In late September the medic earned the bar to the Distinguished Conduct Medal at Bellinglise, as Allied forces broke the vaunted Hindenburg Line during some of the fiercest fighting of the war. Going for days without sleep, Coltman repeatedly braved heavy German machine-gun and artillery fire to retrieve wounded men from the forwardmost British positions. Many of those he rescued had important intelligence to report. On Oct. 34, 1918, scarcely a month before wars end, the British suffered a setback at Mannequin Hill, northeast of Sequehart. As they withdrew, they were forced to abandon their wounded on the battlefield. According to his Victoria Cross citation, Coltman went forward alone in the face of fierce enfilade fire, found the wounded, dressed them and on three successive occasions carried comrades on his back to safety, thus saving their lives. This very gallant NCO tended the wounded unceasingly for 48 hours. King George V awarded Coltman his Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace in May 1919. (By then the French government had also awarded the British medic the Croix de guerre.) After the ceremony Coltman returned home to Burton Upon Trentmodestly avoiding a reception there in his honorand went to work as a groundskeeper in the town parks. During World War II he was recalled to active duty, commissioned as a captain and commanded the local Army Cadet Force. Coltman retired from his job with the parks department in 1963 and died in Burton Upon Trent in 1974 at age 82. He had remained a lifelong member of the Plymouth Brethren, which never recognized his military decorations, as they had stemmed from human conflict and been granted by the hand of man and not by God. The selfless Christian pacifist medic likely didnt mind. A Labour Party motion calling for theState to apologise to men who were convicted of engaging in consensual same-sex sexual acts prior to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in June 1993 has received government backing. The historic motion will be debated in the Dail & Seanad next Tuesday evening, in advance of the 25th anniversary of decriminalisation on the 24th June 2018. The motion, which arises from Senator Ged Nashs 'Convictions for Certain Sexual Offences (Apology and Exoneration) Bill 2016' , has been agreed with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice & Equality, and it is hoped that it will receive the support of all members of both Houses. Senator Nash, who has being pushing for this overdue apology for. along time, told us: This historic motion represents an important reckoning with our past. The State inherited draconian laws we applied over many decades to persecute and prosecute gay men merely for being who they were. "It took until 1993 for Irish law makers to show the moral courage to banish these cruel, antiquated and inhumane laws from our statute books." He explained: Apart altogether from those who were convicted of offences that no longer exist, the chilling effect of having such harsh and discriminatory laws in place had a negative impact on progress towards equality for the LGBTI community. Incalculable harm and hurt was caused to countless thousands of citizens of this Republic who were deterred by those laws from being open and honest about their identity with themselves, their family and with society. "This prevented citizens from engaging fully in civic and political life and deprived society of their full contribution. They were badly wronged by this country, and they and their families are owed an apology. I look forward to this powerful statement being made in both Houses of the Oireachtas next Tuesday and I am hopeful that support will be garnered from across the political spectrum. The Labour Party is continuing to work with government to identify ways in which convictions received by men for engaging in sexual activities which are no longer offences can be set aside or disregarded in a legally secure manner. As a country, we have made very significant progress on LGBT rights in recent years. However, we still have some way to go before we achieve full equality for LGBTI citizens in Ireland." He concluded: This motion also represents an opportunity for the Oireachtas to unite to affirm that Ireland should be a country where all LGBTI citizens are free to fully express their identities without fear, prejudice or discrimination and that we put global LGBTI rights at the very centre of our foreign policy. The British star has spoken openly for the first time about how he was seriously affected with mental health issues just as his career was taking off. "I was depressed. I had always been susceptible to it. But at the same time as I started to ascend into what would conventionally be regarded as a success, I was going down," he confessed in a new interview with Empire film magazine. "The more material success presented itself to me, the less I could understand why it wasnt fulfilling me in any way. It wasnt that it wasnt fulling me, it was because I was depressed. Its not a mood. Its a condition. The 48-year-old actor told how he started to hit the bottle to deal with his depression. "I just drank more heavily If you look at Burke & Hare, Im bloated and fucking dead-eyedI look at it now and think, 'Fuck me, I was in a dark place then'. I was drunk a lot of the time and I was profoundly unhappy. He decided to seek help after he experienced a horrifying blackout. I got well in 2010. I stopped drinking. I got a little bit of help," he explained. Eventually I crashed out. At Comic-Con in 2010 Ive never told anyone this we were promoting Paul and I sort of went missing for about four days. I got back to the UK and just checked myself in somewhere," he revealed. Based known for their critically acclaimed 'The Breadwinner', Cartoon Saloon latest television animated series will be called Vikingskool, it has just been announced by their partners Disney at a highlight presentation at the AnnecyAnimation Festival in France. The series will follow a group of young would-be Viking warriors in an elite Vikingskool. Disney described the alumni as being like freshmen in TopGun but for Vikings. At the heart of the tale are three best friends: Erik, Arnie and Ilba, each with their own unique Viking strengths and weaknesses. Targeting 6-11 year olds, the group will embark on a series of humorous and exciting adventures in a mystical world. The series is being produced by Irelands Cartoon Saloon and Frances Samka Productions with post-production from Norwegian VFX company Storm Films. Its this pedigree that prompted Disney to state: There is a substantial Viking history in Ireland and Northern France. As a co-production we can say its the only Viking show made by actual Vikings. The series 26 half hours are scheduled for broadcast at the end of 2019. Cartoon Saloon is an Academy award and BAFTA nominated animation studio, Cartoon Saloon was founded by Paul Young, Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey in Kilkenny in 1999. From award-winning shorts to feature films and TV series, Cartoon Saloon has carved a special place in the international animation industry. www.cartoonsaloon.ie Hosanna in the fuckin' highest and cry bloody havoc. The Darkness live album is upon us (their preferred position) so get down on your knees (Oi, Oi!) and give thanks and praise. Words are but paltry things, and hardly equal to the task, but I shall do my best, handicapped as I am by the limits of language, to describe the wonders contained within this Pandora's box (wink, wink) of tricks. If you have basked in the light of The Darkness live - if you haven't, consider yourself accursed, and immediately flagellate yourself with one of those pious anti-wank whips - then you should have an inkling of what's coming - quite possibly you. Behold the opening riff of the mighty 'Black Shuck' ("That dog don't give a fuck!") as it lands like a fridge on a toe. Marvel at the intricacies of 'One Way Ticket', which would have even my old carnival pal No-Neck Joe headbanging like billy-o. If you happened to be holding a pet or a small child as 'Solid Gold' leaps from the speakers, you'd hurl it out the window, reasoning, quite rightly, that rock of such immense, supernatural power leaves one with little choice but to throw shapes, and babies. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. Samvel Babayan to be released (video) The RA Court of Cassation, chaired by the Chairman of the Criminal Chamber Serzhik Avetisyan, examines the complaint of ex-commander of the NKR Defense Army Samvel Babayan and others on the "Igla" case filed on May 24, 2018 for the justification of acquittal. In addition to the complaint, personal letters of reccomendation were also presented to the Court of Cassation on the alteration of Samvel Babayan's detention by a number of MPs from the NA Yelk bloc and the Tsarukyan faction. It should be reminded that the First Instance Court sentenced Artsakh hero Samvel Babayan to six years imprisonment, and the Court of Appeal left the verdict unchanged. Shortly before, the Court of Cassation satisfied the complaint partially to send a case of Sanasar Gabrielyan, Armen Poghosyan and Damwed Babayan to a new trial. The petitions on changing the arrest were also satisfied. After paying the pledge, Samvel Babayan and other defendants will be released. Johannesburg, South AfricaHumane Society International/Africa and the African Pangolin Working Group have received donations from four leading Chinese businesses and community organizations in South Africa to purchase telemetry tracking units, receivers and antennas for monitoring pangolins. This is the first time that Africa-based Chinese businesses and civic groups have contributed specifically to pangolin protection. Pangolins, poached to meet a demand for their scales and meat in Asia, are a protected species and are considered the most trafficked mammals in the world. South Africa has emerged as one of the few countries in the world with dedicated efforts for pangolin rescue and rehabilitation. HSI/Africa, the African Pangolin Working Group and the Johannesburg Veterinary Wildlife Hospital work together to rehabilitate and release pangolins rescued from poachers destined for the illegal trade. The sponsored tracking units will be deployed on the rescued pangolins before they are released back to the wild, enabling the conservationists to monitor their movement and behavior. Close monitoring will give these imperiled animals the highest chance of survival post release, and significantly contribute to the scientific knowledge pool of these elusive creatures. Give now to support our lifesaving work. The donations were presented during the Africa-China Wildlife Conservation Conference organized by the China-Africa Reporting Project of the University of Witwatersrand and partners Global Max Media Group, China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation, Nature Guardian Wildlife Conservation Centre and China House. The Conference focused on wildlife conservation and environmental preservation and aimed to build a platform for deeper dialogue and intervention between Chinese communities in Africa and wildlife conservation organizations. Humane Society International was one of the sponsors of the conference. As the largest destination for the illegal trade in pangolin specimens, China must step up to the plate to protect the worlds most trafficked mammal and send a clear message that this trade is unacceptable, said Audrey Delsink, executive director of HSI/Africa. These generous donations are a vital boost to our pangolin conservation project and reflect a keenness by the Chinese community in South Africa to be part of global efforts to protect pangolins. We hope that the wonderful support weve received from these Chinese groups will create a ripple effect and help generate more awareness both here and in China to reduce demand for pangolin scales and parts. Pangolins need all the support they can get. If we want to reverse the global poaching and trade in pangolins, then those countries that serve as primary destinations for these animals need to be actively involved in making a firm stand in the prevention and reduction of this trade, said Professor Ray Jansen, chairman of the African Pangolin Working Group. Today, for the first time, China has shown a commitment to pangolin conservation in South Africa, a significant step towards the conservation of Africas pangolins from a country that witnesses the large majority of pangolin trade. Mr H.E. Lin Songtian, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Peoples Republic of China to the Republic of South Africa, gave a keynote speech at the conference. Ambassador Lin said for the Chinese citizen, no matter whether he is in China or anywhere else, the Chinese government follows the policy of zero tolerance on any crimes against wildlife. We fully support South Africa and other African countries to strictly punish all these crimes according to law, and we strongly call upon judicial and law enforcement institutions of South Africa and other African countries to stop the practice of allowing criminals get off prison sentences by paying a rather small fine. We are prepared to strengthen cooperation with South African law enforcement, enhance information sharing, and jointly introduce toughest measures to punish and deter these criminal activities. Frances Craigie, chief enforcement director of the Department of Environmental Affairs, spoke on behalf of the South African government. HSI/Africa has rescued 12 pangolins during the last two years in collaboration with the African Pangolin Working Group and Johannesburg Veterinary Wildlife Hospital. A young male pangolin named Silver, who was rescued from the trade, was released back to the wild the day before the conference took place. Of the eight species of pangolin, four are listed as vulnerable, two as endangered and two as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. For more information and regular updates on pangolin rescue and rehabilitation in South Africa, visit hsi.org/world/africa/ and follow HSI/Africa on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Media contacts: South Africa: Leozette Roode, Media and Outreach Manager, Humane Society International/Africa, lroode@hsi.org, +2771 360 1104. United Kingdom: Wendy Higgins, Director of International Media, Humane Society International, whiggins@hsi.org About the magazine All Animals, our award-winning magazine, is packed with stories about how your donations are changing the world for animals. Inside each issue, we give you the latest on how you're helping us fight for all animals, as well as profiles of people on the front lines, tips for caring for your pets and protecting wildlife, heartwarming tales of rescue and rehab, actions you can take and more. Beautifully illustrated and thoroughly researched, All Animals will inspire you and keep you informed on the issues you care about. At first, the plan was for KC Theisen to stay behind with the pets. Thats when it looked like her husband would be gone just a yeartransferred to Germany through his job with the military. When they learned hed be there longer, they decided shed join him. That meant moving with the pets. And that, in turn, meant flying with the pets. It was super nerve-wracking, says Theisen, former director of pet care issues at the Humane Society of the United States. I had heard lots of stories of how traveling with pets can go wrongmistakes that are made, accidents that happen. So I was very apprehensive about the process and decided to really commit to doing everything I could to make sure it worked out for my pets. The potential pitfalls of flying with pets earned national headlines in March, when a flight attendant insisted that a passenger store her 10-month-old French bulldog in an overhead baggage compartment. The dog died. And a day later, due to a mix-up, another family dog was flown to Japan instead of Kansas City. These incidents remain rare, but they serve as reminders to take the process seriously. When you look at the overall scale of things, its like 2 million animals fly in a given year, and youve got under a couple dozen deaths, says Katie Lisnik, director of companion animal public policy for the Humane Society of the United States. So the scale is small, but those couple dozen deaths are really important. Those are family members who shouldnt have died. If you are planning to fly with your pets, here are some tips. (Please note: These apply mainly to family pets. The rules for service animals can be different.) Look for another option Do you have to fly with your pets? Both Lisnik and Theisen recommend considering alternatives, if possiblewhether its traveling by car or, for shorter trips, finding a good sitter or boarding kennel. The most common mistake is thinking the baggage holding area is just like being one level down from the passenger cabin, Theisen says. A baggage hold is dark, its allowed to get colder than the main cabin, and its allowed to have different pressurization than the main cabin. And it is noisy; theyre by the engines. So people should not take on flying with a pet lightly. Do your homework In preparation for flying to Germany with her 7-year-old cat Grisele and two large dogs, Guinness and Tully, Theisen went online to research airline policies. She also checked airline travel consumer reports (which include incidents involving the loss, injury or death of an animal) through the Department of Transportation. Among the questions youll want to research: Where will your animals be stored? Is there a temperature-controlled area? What are the policies for sending food and water with the carrier? What are the specific size requirements for the carrier? What kind of paperwork will you need? Are they able to fly in the cabin with you? Thats really recommended, Lisnik says. If they cant, due to size or some other issue, can you go with an airline that really puts an emphasis on pet care, that has really good data, that hasnt lost an animal in the past couple of years, that you really feel comfortable with and is answering your questions? The website pettravel.com provides a helpful checklist to prepare. And youll want to watch the weather: Many airlines wont accept pets in the cargo hold if the forecasted temperature will be above 84 degrees at any airport along the way. There can be restrictions due to cold temperatures as well. Visit your vet Most airlines require a health certificate for animals, typically is-sued within 10 days before travel. This is also a good time to ensure your pets are up for the trip, that their vaccinations are up to date and that they arent battling any illnesses that could be exacerbated by heat or stress. Some pets have specific breathing issues that make travel more risky. Thats why some airlines have placed restrictions on flying with brachycephalic (flatfaced) animals such as pugs, bulldogs and Persian cats. You know your animal best, Lisnik says. And if they really get stressed out when theyre in a crate, if they really hate being confined in small spaces for more than a little while, they may not be a good risk for flying. Practice, practice, practice In the months before her flight, Theisen began to train her cat to get comfortable with her carrier. She moved it to the main part of the house, then started giving her treats for going in or staying in for increasing amounts of time. The goal is to reduce stress on the big day. When her pets got to the airport, she says, theyd already experienced as much as possible of what they were going to go through that day. Confirm, confirm, confirm Pets need a reservation, as carry-on baggage or in the hold, so the plane isnt overloaded with animals, Theisen says. She advises calling the airline regularly to confirm your space. Fees arent paid until you check in, she says, so these reservations get lost more easily. Another tip: Flying during off-peak times reduces the risk that your pet will get bumped to a later flight should storage get full. Navigate the airport Theisen was able to ride with her cat in the cabin, but that brought a few challenges of its own namely, getting through security. She had to take Grisele out in the middle of the airport so that her carrier could go through the X-ray machine. She notes that travelers can request a private screening behind closed doors if theyre worried about how their animal may react to a bustling airport. She also had Grisele wear a harness, just in case. If your pets arent traveling with you in the cabin, you should still find a way to keep tabs on themparticularly in the event of delays or transfers. Check on their status with a gate agent or airline employee. Don't overlook the destination If youre flying internationally, or even to Hawaii, your pets may need to be quarantined upon arrival. They may also require import forms. Familiarize yourself with the requirements, where theyll be quarantined and for how long. Make sure your pets are wearing collars and identification, that their microchip information is up to date, and that you have current photos, just in case they go missing. After Theisen landed in Germany, her husband joked she wasnt excited about being in Europe, she just cared about getting to her dogs. It was the longest plane ride, she says. I kept listening for them, to see if they were barking or howling in the hold. And they didnt, thankfully. But I was so ready to see them again. The couple headed straight to the luggage desk. From there, they were escorted to a side door, where Guinness and Tully were already waiting. We just grabbed their leashes out of our carry-on bag, she says, and cut the zip ties off their crates, and got them out, and had a big ol lovefest right there in the airport. Michael Sharp is a former senior editor for All Animals magazine. UPDATE: After this story first published, Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed legislation that includes some of the most comprehensive anti-puppy mill protections in the country. The law increases standards of care for breeding dogs, such as requiring veterinary visits and clean food and water, and bans cruel practices like stacking cages on on top of one other and keeping dogs in cages with wire flooring. It benefits dogs outside Ohio, too, requiring in-state pet stores that sell puppies to use breeders who meet the same standards, even if the breeder is outside the state. Corey Roscoe, Ohio state director for the Humane Society of the United States, says the law wouldnt have been possible without the signature-gathering efforts of Ohios volunteers. It was their tenacious work, she says, that made change possible. When Kym Blacks granddaughter bought a 9-month-old Maltese-Yorkie mix named Gus, she thought she was getting an adorable bargain. Morkie puppies typically cost at least $1,000 at a pet store, but a Facebook friend sold Gus for half that amount. Within a week, Gus started having seizures. Blacks granddaughter took him to the local veterinarian, who was surprised: Hed seen this dog before. Gus original owner bought him at a Petland store in Rome, Georgia, and sold him when it became clear he was sick. His second owner brought him to the veterinarianand then she also sold him, this time to Blacks granddaughter. Gus was prescribed medicine as a stopgap measure until Blacks granddaughter could come up with the funds for a permanent fix. But when Black watched Gus while her granddaughter was out of town, she came home to find him suffering continuous seizures. After calling another veterinarian, Black and her husband did the only thing they could think of to save him: They drove like bats out of hell to Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, three hours away. Black thought Gus was going to die right there in the car. Instead, he was diagnosed with a liver shunt, a condition that prevents the liver from functioning as it should, and underwent emergency surgery. Although hes healthier now, Gus has permanent brain damage from the repeated seizures. He isnt house-trained, and he has difficulty with stairs. All in all, Black and her husband spent $3,000 on his care. That part doesnt matter to me because I know hes OK, says Black, who learned that the hereditary condition is passed from parents to puppies. But what does matter is how many other litters does [the parent] dog have, and how many people went through what we went through, and their dog died, and they dont even know why? Black says this with the calm determination of a woman who told her granddaughter that Gus now needed special care, so hed be staying at Grandmas for good; who demanded documentation about Gus from Petland, his former veterinarians and his former owners; who submitted her findings to the state attorney general, the local newspaper, the Better Business Bureau and the Humane Society of the United States. The only time her voice wavers is when she talks about how Gus seized and vomited all the way to Auburn University, his body limp as a dishrag. Sony, Orchard Share $750M Spotify Windfall With Indie Artists, Labels Regardless Of Recoupment Sony Music will begin sending checks sharing its $750 million windfall from the sale of Spotify stock with the independent artists it distributes through its Orchard subsidiary as soon as August. ____________________________________ Sony Music and The Orchard have confirmed that they will share the proceeds from the sale of shares in Spotify with their eligible distributed labels after acquisition costs, bankers and legal fees. Checks are expected to be sent as early as August. "Given the unprecedented value realized from this equity, payments will be made without regard to advance recoupment, without deduction of distribution fees and regardless of contract requirement" Orchard chief Brad Navin said in a letter to clients obtained by Hypebot. "We hope that this is perceived as a significant gesture of goodwill to our label partners." Artists signed directly to The Orchard are being paid based on the the royalty rate in their contracts. How the proceeds will be shared with others artists is up to each label. Sony's largess comes despite the fact that The Orchard did not have any equity in the Sony Spotify deal, which was executed before Sony Music owned 100% of the company. Why is Sony being so generous? In an era where corporate profits reign supreme, Sony's calculation is smart; if not entirely altruistic. Competitor Warner Music has said that it will share its Spotify stock sale profits only with labels and artists that have a clause in their contracts requiring it. Universal has stated that it will share Spotify stock profits, but been vague on the details. Convincing its publicly traded parent Vivendi to match Sony's generosity could prove impossible. But Sony apparently sees things differently. After all, it and other recorded music companies and distributors are under pressure from all sides. Spotify is now cutting direct deals with artists circumventing labels and distributors all together. At the same time, many independent labels are questioning the cost and value of full service distributors like The Orchard, particularly in a marketplace where income from physical sales accounts for a shrinking 30% or less of revenue. The Orchard is also likely feeling increased competition from other distributors, ranging from label services firms like AWAL to flat fee distributors like Ditto, DistroKid, CD Baby and Tunecore. So, why is Sony being so generous? By writing checks irregardless of contracts or recoupment, Sony is positioning itself and The Orchard as powerful shepherds that truly care for their flock. Share on: Jack Goldsmith argues that the United States internet freedom agenda has failed. He does so by offering an overview of the contradictions and conundrums that have frustrated the U.S. governments efforts across the Clinton, Bush, and Obama administrations, and he raises considered observations as to what the potential tradeoffs might look like if a future administration were to pursue this agenda again. Nani Jansen Reventlow is the Director of the Digital Freedom Fund, Associate Tenant at Doughty Street Chambers, and an Affiliate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. Jonathan McCully is the Legal Adviser to the Digital Freedom Fund and Editor of Columbia Universitys Global Freedom of Expression Case Law Database. As thoughtful as it is, Goldsmiths essay appears to be premised on the idea that promoting the underlying principles of commercial non-regulation and anti-censorship, as initially envisaged by the Clinton administration in the 1990s, is a legitimate means of achieving internet freedom worldwide. That premise deserves critical scrutiny. This response piece will highlight some of the inherent flaws in the U.S. approach to internet freedom, which may have contributed to its failure as a global policy. Internet Freedom: Beyond Free Speech and Free Markets By focusing on commercial non-regulation and anti-censorship, the U.S. governments internet freedom agenda is too narrow in scope to be fully accepted internationally. This approach may reflect the preferred position that the principle of free speech and the metaphor of a marketplace of ideas hold in the U.S. constitutional hierarchy,1 but it fails to sufficiently take into account the other human rights that should be promoted and protected to achieve internet freedom on a global scale. The two-principle approach identified by Goldsmith sits in stark contrast to the approach adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). In July 2016, the UNHRC adopted a resolution affirming the importance of applying a comprehensive human rights-based approach in providing and in expanding access to the Internet.2 In this document, the UNHRC noted the variety of human rights that are engaged on the internet from the rights to privacy and freedom of expression to the rights to education and freedom from discrimination and affirmed that the same rights that are protected offline must be protected online. Compared to the U.S. governments internet freedom agenda, the approach adopted by the UNHRC has two key strengths bolstering its global legitimacy. First, it builds upon the UNs commitment to developing and codifying international norms through multi-stakeholder, multi-jurisdictional mechanisms, instead of attempting to export domestic values to other jurisdictions. The July 2016 resolution, for example, was jointly submitted to the UNHRC by Brazil, Nigeria, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, and the United States, and it was signed by some seventy states.3 This does not necessarily mean that every country agreed with the entirety of the text China and Russia, notably, attempted without success to amend various aspects of the resolution4 but it reflects a consensus-based approach to protecting rights and freedoms online. It also clarifies that the international human rights guaranteed by relevant international treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), apply to the online context. These international treaties are more promising vehicles than U.S. unilateralism for enhancing protection for online freedom across the globe. The ICCPR has been ratified by 171 countries, which have thereby agreed to be bound by the human rights obligations enshrined in it.5 To hold states to these standards is to hold them accountable to the global norms they have explicitly agreed to honor, rather than to a vision of internet freedom defined by one particularly powerful state. Second, the UNHRC approach recognizes that internet freedom is not only (or even primarily) about the right to free speech and a free marketplace of ideas. Instead, it observes that there is a need to respond to technological developments in a way that protects all human rights. This is something that the U.S. internet freedom agenda has failed to appreciate. For example, in her January 2010 speech on internet freedom, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made reference to privacy, but only as a means of promoting free speech.6 In so doing, she failed to recognize the right to privacy as a fundamental right in and of itself. This failure leads to an inevitable conclusion, one that can also be inferred from Goldsmiths essay, that measures adopted to protect these other human rights in ways that might undermine the principles of commercial non-regulation and anti-censorship are the antithesis of internet freedom. However, this is not always the case. Consider Europes new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which places a number of legal obligations on online businesses as to how they may process the personal data of their users. Goldsmith frames the GDPR as contrary to the internet freedom agenda, because it limit[s] the flow of information across national borders and pressure[s] firms to store data about users in a given country on servers located within that country. What is missing from this framing is the fact that the GDPR is inspired by the European understanding of privacy, which encompasses an individuals right to informational self-determination as to how her data is used by third parties.7 It is difficult to argue that this conception of privacy as a form of informational autonomy does not amount to a type of online freedom. So why shouldnt the promotion and protection of the right to privacy, as envisaged by the GDPR, also form part of the internet freedom agenda, rather than be treated as a threat to it? Commercial Non-Regulation and Anti-Censorship: The Internal Contradiction The U.S. internet freedom agenda has also failed to grapple with the fact that commercial non-regulation and anti-censorship will not always go hand-in-hand. Although a vast number of countries violate the right to freedom of expression on the internet, government actors are not the only actors policing this environment. Privately owned online platforms exert a remarkable amount of control over what information can or cannot be communicated over their services. By seeking to take a hands-off approach when it comes to regulating these platforms, the internet freedom agenda thus jeopardizes the anti-censorship principle. With their expansive reach across the world,8 many U.S.-based online platforms have become the global norm creators for the internet, even though they are generally not subject to U.S. constitutional constraints and do not necessarily fully subscribe to First Amendment principles. For instance, Facebooks policies have come under fire for being too restrictive of speech.9 The companys real-name registration requirement, which is arguably incompatible with First Amendment principles protecting anonymous and pseudonymous speech,10 is legal in the United States but has been successfully challenged before the German courts.11 The fact that the U.S. internet freedom agenda seeks to push back against foreign governments that refuse to abide by American notions of free speech, even while refusing to intervene when a powerful U.S. commercial entity threatens free speech, seriously undermines the legitimacy and effectiveness of the policy. Authoritarian Regimes and Internet Freedom Goldsmith gives alarming examples of authoritarian governments imposing measures to censor expression on the internet. It is important to note that these measures are not necessarily a response to (and failure of) the U.S. governments internet freedom agenda. In some jurisdictions where governments have been increasingly violating the right to freedom of expression online, it may simply be a case of enforcement practices catching up with technology. In a number of jurisdictions, laws that predate the internet are relied on to penalize free speech online. The well-known Kenyan blogger Robert Alai, for instance, was charged in 2014 with having undermined the authority of a public officer after he tweeted about the alleged immaturity of the president. Those charges were brought pursuant to a law that had been created in 1958 to protect and sustain colonial rule in the country.12 In other jurisdictions, similarly antiquated laws on false news,13 sedition14 and criminal defamation15 are being used against online speakers. This is despite the fact that these laws have been broadly condemned as being incompatible with international human rights law.16 U.S. efforts to promote tools that can circumvent government censorship and allow individuals to communicate through encryption have been important initiatives, but they fail to address the more fundamental problem: the unwillingness of certain countries to respect international human rights law online, and the inability of the international community to hold most violators to account. For the reasons explained above, perhaps the United States should refocus its energies on strengthening the international enforcement of human rights norms, rather than continuing to insist on its own notions of commercial non-regulation and anti-censorship. Conclusion One of the key failings of the U.S. internet freedom agenda is its refusal to take a truly holistic and global approach to the protection of online freedom. By equating this agenda with the principles of commercial non-regulation and anti-censorship, the United States has neglected the role of other rights and non-state entities in guaranteeing online freedom. Instead of remaining wedded to this one-sided agenda, the next administration that is interested in truly advancing the free flow of information online should look at international efforts, underpinned by a human rights-based approach, and strive to support those efforts. Of course, this would require coming to terms with the fact that, from a global perspective, the U.S. approach to freedom of speech and expression is an outlier in important respects. Time will tell if the United States can bring its own internet freedom priorities better in line with emerging human rights norms. 1 See, e.g., Murdock v. Pennsylvania, 319 U.S. 105, 115 (1943). 2 Human Rights Council Res., The Promotion, Protection and Enjoyment of Human Rights on the Internet, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/RES/32/13 (July 18, 2016), https://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?si=A/HRC/RES/32/13 (emphasis added). 3 See Penelope Andrews, South Africas Vote Against Internet Freedom Tarnishes Its Global Image, Conversation (July 14, 2016), https://theconversation.com/south-africas-vote-against-internet-freedom-tarnishes-its-global-image-62112. 4 See Natasha Lomas, UN Agrees to Adopt Expanded Resolution on Online Speech Rights, TechCrunch (July 1, 2016), https://techcrunch.com/2016/07/01/un-agrees-to-adopt-expanded-resolution-on-online-speech-rights. 5 See Office of the U.N. High Commr for Human Rights, Status of Ratification Interactive Dashboard, http://indicators.ohchr.org. 6 Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Remarks on Internet Freedom (Jan. 21, 2010), https://foreignpolicy.com/2010/01/21/internet-freedom. 7 See, e.g., Satakunnan Markkinaporssi Oy & Satamedia Oy v. Finland, App. No. 931/13 (Eur. Ct. H.R. June 27, 2017), https://lovdata.no/static/EMDN/emd-2013-000931-2.pdf; Benedik v. Slovenia, App. No. 62357/14 (Eur. Ct. H.R. Apr. 24, 2018), http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-182455. 8 See Alexa, The Top 500 Sites on the Web, https://www.alexa.com/topsites. 9 See, e.g., Leigh Alexander, Facebooks Censorship of Aboriginal Bodies Raises Troubling Ideas of Decency, Guardian (Mar. 23, 2016), https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/mar/23/facebook-censorship-topless-aboriginal-women; Stephany Bai, The First Amendment and Social Media: The Rules Just Dont Apply, Teen Vogue (Dec. 29, 2017), https://www.teenvogue.com/story/first-amendment-social-media; Nikki Williams, Facebook Unfriends Free Speech, Ctr. for Digital Ethics & Poly (Feb. 8, 2016), https://www.digitalethics.org/essays/facebook-unfriends-free-speech. 10 See, e.g., McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Commn, 514 U.S. 334 (1995). 11 See April Glaser, Why Some Americans Are Cheering Germany for Taking on Facebooks Policy that You Need to Use Your Real Name, Slate (Feb. 17, 2018), https://slate.com/technology/2018/02/why-some-americans-are-cheering-germany-for-taking-on-facebooks-real-name-policy.html. 12 Robert Alai has since successfully challenged the law on constitutional grounds. See Alai v. Hon. Atty Gen., Petition No. 174 of 2016, High Ct. of Kenya (Mwita, J.) (Apr. 26, 2017), http://kenyalaw.org/caselaw/cases/view/135467. 13 See Bahrain: Exonerate, Free Nabeel Rajab, Human Rts. Watch, https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/06/03/bahrain-exonerate-free-nabeel-rajab. 14 See Prominent Malaysian Blogger Arrested Under Sedition Act for Social Media Post, Straits Times (July 15, 2015), https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/prominent-malaysian-blogger-arrested-under-sedition-act-for-social-media-post; Patpicha Tanakasempipat, Thai Journalist Accused of Sedition Says Charge Creates Chilling Effect, Reuters (Aug. 4, 2017), https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-rights-idUSKBN1AK11B. 15 See Andrew Downie, In Brazil, Outdated Defamation Laws and Costly Court Cases Used to Pressure Critics, Comm. to Protect Journalists Blog (Apr. 6, 2017), https://cpj.org/blog/2017/04/in-brazil-outdated-defamation-laws-and-costly-cour.php; Nigerian Blogger, Publisher Jailed on Defamation Charges, Comm. to Protect Journalists (Mar. 24, 2017), https://cpj.org/2017/03/nigerian-blogger-publisher-jailed-on-defamation-ch.php. 16 See, e.g., U.N. Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression et al., Joint Declaration on Freedom of Expression and Fake News, Disinformation and Propaganda (Mar. 3, 2017), https://www.osce.org/fom/302796?download=true; see also U.N. Human Rights Comm., General Comment No. 34, U.N. Doc. CCPR/C/GC/34 (Sept. 12, 2011), http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrc/docs/gc34.pdf. From its earliest days, American democracy has been rooted in vigorous civic engagement. More recently, there have been fears that increasing distrust in institutions will lead to large scale disengagement in civic life. However, some optimistic observers are hopeful that the millennial generation will create new momentum for civic involvement. But what will that involvement look like? And importantly, what are the implications for the perceived legitimacy of government action in society? According to a new book, New Power, authors Jeremy Heimans and Henry Timms observe that Participation needs to be much more than a website that allows you to point out occasional potholes in the street; it need to be a constant and compelling experience that keeps people working together on the things that matter. In their view, The goal of new power is not to hoard it but to channel it. The IBM Center, as part of its 20th anniversary activities this year, is looking 20 years ahead. It recently held the third in a series of Envision Government in 2040 sessions, with participants focusing on the role of citizens in government (the first session focused on the future of work in the public sector; the second assessed the potential role of artificial intelligence). This small group sought to define the parameters of civic engagement, and the different models emerging today that could significantly reimagine the roles of both citizens and government. The dialog explored four questions: What are the goals of civic engagement? What different models exist? What is a real-life example of a pioneer in engagement? What could hold back or expand engagement initiatives? Define the Goals Civic engagement broadly embraces public participation, citizen participation, and citizen engagement. The group noted that the starting point is for the sponsoring entity of any engagement effort, whether a bottom-up, self-organizing event like the #March4OurLives campaign or a top-down effort such as the Obama administrations We the People petition website, needs to have a defined purpose or goal. This will lead to the use of different engagement models with defined roles and methods of engagement. There will be different designs for different purposes, such as agenda setting, policy development, service delivery, or program evaluation. The bottom line: approaches to engagement need to be purpose-driven; there cant be a one-size-fits-all model. Different Models The newer models for engagement can be arrayed along a continuum. The New Power book describes this as a participation scale: Complyingthe traditional mandatory requirements for public hearings Consumingattending a conference or speech Sharingtaking other peoples content and disseminating it to broader audiences, such as via Facebook Affiliatingendorsing or joining a group of like-minded people Adaptingremixing or repurposing existing content with a new message Fundingendorsing with money, such as via Kickstarter Producingcreating content or delivering products or services within a peer community such as via YouTube, Etsy, or Airbnb Shapingactively shaping or protecting the norms of a new group of like-minded people, such as the curators or editors for Wikipedia The trick, note the authors of New Power, is Having a structure in place to move people up the participation scale. Interestingly, New York City is pioneering many of these structures. As the futurist William Gibson noted: The future is already here it's just not very evenly distributed. Much of the cutting-edge innovation in civic engagement can be found at the local level, scattered around the country. In fact, the session participants predict that in the long run, all significant engagement efforts will be localnot exclusively geographically, but affinity-based. Lessons From New York To foster this, governments are creating structures to catalyze citizens ability to move up the participation scale, such as the establishment of civic engagement offices, sponsoring open data initiatives, and hosting participatory budgeting initiatives. New York offers some examples of how other cities might engage with their citizens in the future: NYC Service. NYC Service is a city agency that promotes volunteerism and service as a voice, a catalyst, and a capacity builder. Its mission is to promote volunteerism, with the goal of increasing citizen participation in volunteer activities from 18 percent to the national average of 25 percent. A 2017 report on volunteerism identified barriers to increased volunteerism and ways to address these barriers. Public Engagement Unit. In 2015, the city created an office that serves as an entry point to city services. It proactively reaches out to vulnerable citizens through targeted door-to-door grassroots campaigns to connect them with benefit programs such as health insurance, anti-eviction legal counsel, workforce training, etc., in an effort to reduce homeless. According to the New York Daily News, the unit: is using a data-driven approach to target New Yorkers in need of servicesa proactive version of the city's 311 help line. Mayors Office of Data Analytics. This city office calls itself New York City's civic intelligence center. City leaders use it to aggregate and analyze data from across City agencies, to more effectively address crime, public safety, and quality of life issues. It uses analytics tools to prioritize risk more strategically, deliver services more efficiently, enforce laws more effectively and increase transparency. It also makes most of these data publicly available so citizens can also use it. Participatory Budgeting NYC. The New York City Council sponsors district-level budgeting initiatives that engage citizens directly in how to spend up to $1 million of the citys budget. Its grassroots democracy at its best. It helps make budget decisions clear and accessible, according to the citys website. Early results suggest that this approach works and it results in dialog and tradeoffs among community members. This approach is being used in about 1,500 communities around the world. Tackling Stumbling Blocks The session participants identified some stumbling blocks to greater citizen involvement with government. Addressing these will be important to improving engagement. These include: Proactively managing risks created by hackers and haters. Engagement leaders cant assume trust and good behavior, upfront. Ensuring marginalized communities are engaged and not forgotten in the enthusiastic rush to embrace new initiatives. Ensuring a secure, online identity for participants. Providing feedback to participants regarding the impact of their contributions. This is particularly important for developing the goodwill needed for continued engagement. Ensuring access to resources, developing staff and participant capacity, and creating a sense of legitimacy. Government at all levels needs to provide the overarching organizational structure and legal framework, and serve as a catalyst for engagement. It also needs to ensure lower barriers of entry and fair access. Doing this, according to the authors of New Power, will change the way everyday people see themselves in relation to institutions, authority, and one another. Source: https://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2018/05/future-civic-engagement/148496/ Superior Court Briefs: June 12 - June 13 Cases heard before Judge Mark Mason on Tuesday, June 12. Lemond Grady, 36, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of unarmed robbery and assault and battery on a person age 60 or older. He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $1,000 cash or $10,000 surety bail. Grady is accused of taking money from the Pizza House on Tyler Street in Pittsfield on March 28, 2018 and assaulting the 63-year-old employee working there. Luis Valle, 34, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of armed robbery while masked and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon. He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $25,000 bail. Valle is accused of robbing the clerk at the Gulf Station on Wahconah Street in Pittsfield on February 17, 2018. Danielle Hoisington, 37, of Pittsfield had a not guilty plea entered on her behalf on a single count of unarmed robbery. She was ordered to be held at the Hampden County House of Correction Chicopee Woman's Facility on $50 bail. She is currently being held without bail on other criminal matters. Hoisington is accused of taking money from the Pizza House on Tyler Street in Pittsfield on March 28, 2018. Cases heard before Judge Mark Mason on Wednesday, June 13. Melyza Rojas, 25, of Springfield had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on single counts of trafficking in cocaine, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and conspiracy to violate drug laws. She was ordered to be held at the Hampden County House of Correction Chicopee Woman's Facility on $6,5000 bail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant in Williamstown on March 14, 2018. James Yeaman, 64, of Lee admitted the facts of his case were sufficient to find him guilty on two counts of intimidation of a witness and a single count of accessory after the fact to wit: assault and battery on a disabled person. The charges were continued without a finding for one year, he was ordered to perform 20 hours of community service work and pay $500 in court fees. The incidents occurred while Yeaman was employed by Eagleton School between June 26, 2013 and December 31, 2015. Philip Baruch Jr., 24, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of illegal possession of a large capacity weapon, illegal ownership of a firearm, possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card, and improper storage of a large capacity firearm. He was released on $500 cash or $5,000 surety bail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant on March 15, 2018. "I received a list of two years privatization of garages and asked the Yerevan Fund to provide 100,000 and more payment lists. Naturally, I did not get that list. If I got that I should have compared it with the list I had," the minister said. Arayik Harutyunyan does not exclude the possiboility to provide these documents to the National Security Service (NSS). There was no other way of acting in Yerevan Fund. The actions of the National Security Service in Yerevan City Hall were appropriate. Minister of Science and Education Arayik Harutyunyan, together with Lena Nazaryan, appealed to the law enforcement officers before the Velvet Revolution and becoming a minister, as a member of Yerevan Council of Elders, demanding the Yerevan Fund the list of citizens' payments on suspicion of corruption risks in the Fund's activities. The first hearing will take place on June 28."Two days before the NSS actions, I had announced on my Facebook page that there was such a problem in the Yerevan Fund; I said that the fund was dissolving, and in case of its dissolvment there would be no responding side, so, the application could not be discussed." After the NSS actions, events in Ejmiatsin are in the centre of attention. The citizens are demanding Mayor Karen Grigoryan's resignation. Minister of Territorial Administration and Development Suren Papikyan touched upon the protests in Ejmiatsin and mentioned that public opinion should be respected. 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WOLCOTT REALTY WWW.ENTRYONLY.COM Library in the Wilderness program with a hike of The Boulders from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Explore 3 miles of beautiful woods and learn about the new initiative of BNRC and the library. The program allows library cardholders to check out backpacks equipped with field guides, BNRC trail guides, a basic first aid kit, a compass, a magnifying glass, bug spray, and two ponchos, just as they would a library book. The backpacks are available for a 1-week checkout and reservations are required. There will be backpacks on site and participants can experiment with all of the fun contents! There are 10 major characters in 'The Royal Family of Broadway' at Barrington Stage. Photo by Daniel Rader Theater Review: Love Versus Broadway at the Barrington Stage Three generations of Cavendish women face a conundrum: Should they marry and leave their stage careers behind? Or forsake love for a life on the Great White Way? In song, dance and frequently hilarious performances, love and Broadway are the heart of their conflicts in the world premiere comedic musical "The Royal Family of Broadway" at Barrington Stage Company. While not always perfect, the production is huge, dazzling and great fun. William Finn (music and lyrics) and Rachel Sheinkin (book) took on a daunting challenge when they decided to turn the Richard Greenberg adaptation of the 1930 play by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber into a musical. There are 10 major characters: Fanny Cavendish, the family matriarch; Tony Cavendish, her son; Herbert Dean, her brother; Kitty Dean, Herberts wife; Julie Cavendish, her daughter; Gwen Cavendish, Julies daughter; Perry Stewart, Gwens beau; Gilbert Marshall, Julies former flame; Oscar Wolfe, theatrical producer; and Della Moran, "domestic stage-manager" (think housekeeper). Still with me? In typical Kaufman style, they are all more than a little quirky. Nine of the characters have big musical numbers. Because of the nature of the plot and characters, the majority of the songs in Act I are expository: This is who I am. This is what I want. That's obviously necessary but it makes the act rather choppy. By Act II, we know who all these people are. We care for them. We root for their happiness as the plot smooths out. Even though Finn's songs in "The Royal Family of Broadway," which takes place in 1927, are brand new, most sound familiar. It's the rhythms as well as the melodies that remind us of show tunes from an earlier era perhaps purposely. The lyrics are very clever, however, making the songs a joy to listen to even if we've sort of heard them before. Sheinkin's book makes the madcap plot easy to follow, keeps the action moving, and adds many laughs along the way. No easy task. Hands down, Tony winner Harriet Harris is the star and wonder of the show. As Fanny Cavendish, the matriarch and grande-dame of the family, supposedly modeled on the Barrymore family, she is a commanding presence. Although 63 years of age, she is believable as the much older Fanny. Finn has written her a show stopper, "Stupid Things I Won't Do." Even with a short encore, we wanted more. Fanny may be the crowning role of Harris's stellar career. "The Royal Family of Broadway" runs at Barrington Stage Company, Pittsfield, Mass., through July 7. Tickets available online. Music and Lyrics by William Finn; Book by Rachel Sheinkin; Based on "The Royal Family" by George S. Kaufman & Edna Ferber and an original adaptation by Richard Greenberg. Directed by John Rando; Choreography by Joshua Bergasse; Musical Direction and Dance Arrangements by Vadim Feichtner; Scenic design by Alexander Dodge: Costume design by Alejo Vietti: Lighting design by Jeff Croiter; Sound design by Joshua Reid. Hinds Named 2018 Legislative Leader by Arts|Learning PITTSFIELD, Mass. State Sen. Adam G. Hinds (D- Pittsfield) received Arts|Learning's 2018 Legislative Leadership Award during the organization's 31st annual Champions of the Arts Advocacy awards ceremony at the Amazing Things Arts Center in Framingham on May 30. "In western Mass, we see firsthand the impact of investing in the arts and artists. With a strong creative economy, we also understand the importance of arts education. That is why the mission of Arts|Learning, the programs administered by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and strong advocacy overall for the arts are critical for the commonwealth," Hinds said. "For these reasons I am honored to be considered a legislative leader for arts advocacy in Massachusetts." Arts|Learning is the hub of arts education in Massachusetts and supports the inclusion of a complete arts education for every K-12 student in the commonwealth. The nonprofit believes that when the arts are at the center of the core curriculum, students develop the 21st-Century skills they need to lead fulfilled lives. iciHaiti - Social: Michele Pierre-Louis receives the civilian decoration of Officer of the Order of Leopold Monday of this week, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium, Patrick Van Gheel, presented to Michele Pierre-Louis, born Duvivier, the distinction of "Officer of the Order of Leopold". This title was awarded to the President of FOKAL (Knowledge and Freedom Foundation) by the King of the Belgians, His Majesty King Philippe, by Royal Decree of 8 May 2018. The decoration ceremony took place at a reception to the Consulate of Belgium in Port-au-Prince, in the presence of Mrs. Pascale Delcomminette, General Administrator of Wallonia-Brussels International (WBI). "Belgium has decided to award this distinction to Mrs. Pierre-Louis for her exemplary contribution to the development of Haiti, particularly in the field of culture, education, the strengthening of civil society, and women rights," said Ambassador Van Gheel at the presentation of the medal and the official certificate. "I am very moved and surprised to receive this honor from Belgium, in the presence of my family and my colleagues from FOKAL. It is with joy that I learned that the Belgian Embassy had proposed my name to the King of the Belgians for this high distinction," responded for her part Mrs. Pierre-Louis after the ceremony. "If I receive this decoration it's a lot thanks to you and our collective work," she said to her FOKAL staff, in a correspondence announcing the news Monday afternoon. Pierre-Louis is the President of FOKAL, an important partner of the Wallonia-Brussels International (WBI) cooperation in Haiti. She was also Prime Minister of Haiti between 2008 and 2009, and was recognized for her efforts during the reconstruction after the 2010 earthquake. Let's remember that the Order of Leopold is the highest distinction of Belgium. Established in 1832, it owes its name to King Leopold I, is awarded for outstanding merits and extends in all areas. The Order of Leopold has five classes namely Knight, Officer, Commander, Grand Officer and Grand cordon. S/ iciHaiti UCOM has officially launched the sale of IPHONE 13 Six servicemen were wounded by the attack of the Azerbaijani armed forces in Artsakh, two of them in critical condition S&P Improved the Outlook on Ameriabank to Positive Ararat Mirzoyan to visit to Minsk Foreign Minister of India visits the Memorial of Armenian Genocide 1217 new cases Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group At UCOM only: Tv sets at 10% discount + 1 month free UMIX package + 4k tv channel Ameriabanks Special Offer for New Clients of Hrazdan Branch "Fall forward": Gurgen Khachatryan, the Co-Founder of the Galaxy Group of Companies, addressed a message to young people in Armenia UCOM hosted interns of Russian CBOSS corporation for a month The 20-episode Bloody bet thriller to be broadcast on Ucom's Armenia Premium TV channel Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group UCOM offers affordable gadgets at bigger discount Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan will pay a working visit to New York Google Ad Governments preventing publication of Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper during state of emergency UCOM prolongs the unlimited internet offer for the level up 4700 and level up 5500 subscribers Ucom employees received recognition for their services to the homeland Karen Vardanyan has allocated 105 million AMD to rescue the Yerevan Botanical Garden. "The Power of One Dram" to overcome childhood cancer Generation A 13 your chance to be the change President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan met with Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Igor Khovayev "uDays" special offer at Ucom: discounts for all smartphones and accessories for 2 days only For more than 3 hours, 50 or more Azerbaijani servicemen have blocked the interstate road Call on the international community for an adequate response against azerbaijani aggresssion Transformation and trust are important for success in modern banking. Artak Hanesyan UCOMS LEVEL UP 1700 REGIONAL TARIFF PLAN USERS TO RECEIVE MORE THAN THOSE IN YEREVAN Joint statement Slum residents collect potable water from a municipal water tanker in the Durga Nagar area of Bhopal March 21. Slum residents depend on government supplies for drinking water and struggle to get adequate supply during summers. A new report by NITI Aayog says India is facing the worst water crisis in its history. (AFP/Getty Images) Bollywood actress Ileana D'Cruz says there is still some time in her pregnancy but this is something she has always wanted. (IANS photo) Virginia judge Rupen Shah was named by the Virginia State Bar to receive the Clarence M. Dunnaville Jr. Award. The Indian American attorney was running three restaurants before he decided to go to law school. (vsb.org) An undocumented Indian American couple in Chicago, Illinois, have been charged with luring at least five Telugu actresses to the U.S. on false promises of performing in a show and then forcing them into prostitution with Indian American men. The couple is in detention with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. (representational image) The body of Indian American student Pravin Varughese (pictured) was found Feb. 18, 2014, in the woods near Carbondale, Illinois. Four years later, Gaege Bethune, allegedly the last person Varughese saw before he was found dead, is now on trial for first-degree murder. (Facebook photo) Security is enhanced after militants abducted an Indian Army soldier from Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district in Pulwama June 14. Residents of the Valley await a decision on the possible extension of the unilateral Ramadan ceasefire beyond Eid. (IANS photo) The Afghan government has confirmed that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Mullah Fazlullah was killed in a US drone strike in Kunar province. (AhlulBayt News Agency) - The Afghan government has confirmed that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Mullah Fazlullah was killed in a US drone strike in Kunar province. The Afghan Ministry of Defense spokesperson, Mohammad Radmanish, told Western media that Mullah Fazlullah, who led the TTP from 2013, was killed in the US strike on Wednesday (June 13). He was traveling in a Toyota fielder vehicle along with four other commanders when they were targeted by a drone strike at 11:00pm on June 13 in Afghanistans Kunar province. Mullah Fazlullah was named TTP chief after the death of Hakimullah Mehsud in a drone strike in November 2013. The TTP leader had a reputation as a ruthless commander prepared to do anything to enforce his uncompromising interpretation of Islamic law. In 2006 he began delivering fiery sermons on his own FM station, earning the nickname Mullah Radio, railing against polio vaccination programmes and girls education. Three years later, the TTP under his command made an unsuccessful attempt to kill 11-year-old Malala Yousufzai. Mullah Fazlullah was designated a global terrorist by the United States and carried a bounty of $5 million. He had been on the run since his loyalists were defeated in a major military operation in Swat district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in 2009. /257 Kashmiri protestors clash with Indian security forces at a funeral procession for Kashmiri civilian Kaiser Bhat in Srinagar June 2. Indian police fired dozens of tear smoke shells to disperse the funeral procession for Bhat, who was hit by an Indian paramilitary vehicle during clashes June 1 and later died of his injuries in hospital, according to the Press Trust of India. (Tauseef Mustafa/AFP/Getty Images) We now offer lithium prices and coverage free for reference. Click here to read all about it. Join our growing community of participants who want to learn more about electrification and how this market is developing. June 14, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Its no wonder that most Americans are clueless about why their country is feared and hated the world over. It remains unthinkable to this day, for example, that any respectable mainstream U.S. media outlet would tell the truth about why the United States atom-bombed the civilian populations of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As Gar Alperovitz and other historians have shown, Washington knew that Japan was defeated and ready to surrender at the end of World War II. The ghastly atomic attacks were meant to send a signal to Soviet Russia about the post-WWII world: We run the world. What we say goes. However, as far as most Americans who even care to remember Hiroshima and Nagasaki know, the Japanese cities were nuked to save American lives certain to be lost in a U.S. invasion required to force Japans surrender. This false rationalization was reproduced in the The War, the widely viewed 2007 PBS miniseries on World War II from celebrated liberal documentarians Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. An early challenge to Uncle Sams purported right to manage postwar world affairs from the banks of the Potomac came in 1950. Korean forces, joined by Chinese troops, pushed back against the United States invasion of North Korea. Washington responded with a merciless bombing campaign that flattened all of North Koreas cities and towns. U.S. Air Force Gen. Curtis LeMay boasted that we burned down every town in North Korea and proudly guessed that Uncle Sams gruesome air campaign, replete with napalm and chemical weapons, murdered 20 percent of North Koreas population. This and more was recounted without a hint of shamewith pride, in factin the leading public U.S. military journals of the time. As Noam Chomsky, the worlds leading intellectual, explained five years ago, the U.S. was not content just to demolish the countrys urban zones: Since everything in North Korea had been destroyed, the air force was then sent to destroy North Koreas dams, huge dams that controlled the nations water supplya war crime for which people had been hanged in Nuremberg. And these official journals talk[ed] excitedly about how wonderful it was to see the water pouring down, digging out the valleys and the Asians scurrying around trying to survive. The journals exulted in what this meant to those Asianshorrors beyond our imagination. It meant the destruction of their rice crop, which in turn meant starvation. How magnificent! The United States monstrous massive crimes against North Korea during the early 1950s went down George Orwells memory hole even as they took place. To the American public they never occurredand therefore hold no relevance to current U.S.-North Korean tensions and negotiations as far as most good Americans know. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Things are different in North Korea, where every schoolchild learns about the epic, mass-murderous wrongdoings of the U.S. imperialist aggressor from the early 1950s. Just imagine ourselves in their position, Chomsky writes. Imagine what it meant for your country to be totally levelledeverything destroyed by a huge superpower, which furthermore was gloating about what it was doing. Imagine the imprint that would leave behind. That ugly history rarely makes its way into the mainstream U.S. understanding of why North Korea behaves in bizarre and paranoid ways toward the U.S. Outside the radical margins where people read left critics and chroniclers of U.S. foreign policy (a mild euphemism for American imperialism), Americans still cant grapple with the monumental and arch-imperialist crime that was the U.S. crucifixion of Southeast Asia (Chomskys term at the time) between 1962 and 1975. Contrary to the conventional U.S. wisdom, there was no Vietnam War. What really occurred was a U.S. War on Vietnam, Laos and Cambodiaa giant and prolonged, multi-pronged and imperial assault that murdered 5 million southeast Asians along with 58,000 U.S. soldiers. Just one U.S. torture program alonethe CIAs Operation Phoenixkilled more than two-thirds as many Vietnamese as the total U.S. body count. Unbeknownst to most Americans, the widely publicized My Lai atrocity was just one of countless mass racist killings of Vietnamese villagers carried out by U.S. troops during the crucifixion. Vietnam struggles with an epidemic of birth defects created by U.S. chemical warfare to this day. Americas savage saturation bombing of Cambodia (meant to cut off supply lines to Vietnamese independence fighters) created the devastation out of which arose the mass-exterminating Khmer Rouge regime, which Washington later backed against Vietnam. As far as most Americans who care to think about the Vietnam War know from mainstream U.S. media, however, the wars real tragedy is about what it did to Americans, not Southeast Asians. With no small help from Burns and Novicks instantly celebrated documentary on, well, The Vietnam War last year, we are still stuck in the ethical oblivion of then U.S. President Jimmy Carters morally idiotic 1977 statement that no U.S. reparations or apologies were due to Vietnam since the destruction was mutual in the Vietnam War. As if fearsome fleets of Vietnamese bombers had wreaked havoc on major U.S. cities and pulverized and poisoned U.S. fields and farms during the 1960s and 1970s. As if legions of Vietnamese killers had descended from attack helicopters to murder U.S. citizens in their homes while Vietnamese gunships destroyed U.S. schools and hospitals. Did the Vietnamese mine U.S. harbors? Did naked American children run down streets in flight from Vietnamese napalm attacks? The colossal crimes committed run contrary to Cold War claims that Washington was fighting the spread of Soviet-directed communism. The U.S. wanted to prevent Vietnam from becoming a good example of Third World social revolution and national independence. The truth is remembered in Vietnam, where national museums exhibit artifacts from Uncle Sams noble effort to bomb Vietnam back to the Stone Age and tell stories of Vietnamese soldiers heroic resistance to the imperialist aggressors. One American who made the moral decision to put himself in our supposed enemys position was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The people of Indochina, King mused in 1967, must find Americans to be strange liberators as we destroy their families, villages, land and send them wander[ing] into the hospitals, with at least twenty casualties from American firepower for one Vietcong-inflicted injury. So far we have killed a million of themmostly children. Further: They languish under our bombs and consider usnot their fellow Vietnamesethe real enemy. They move sadly and apathetically as we herd them off the land of their fathers and into concentration camps where minimal social needs are rarely met. They know they must move or be destroyed by our bombs. They watch as we poison their water, as we kill a million acres of their land. They must weep as the bulldozers roar through their areas preparing to destroy the precious trees. They wander into the towns and see thousands of children, homeless, without clothes, running in packs on the streets like animals. They see the children degraded by our solders as they beg for food. They see the children selling their sisters to our solders, soliciting for their mothers. Observing that the U.S. had become the worlds leading purveyor of violence, King asked Americans to develop the maturity to learn and grow and profit from the wisdom of the [Vietnamese] brothers who are called the opposition. All good Americans were naturally horrified by the 9/11/2001 jetliner attacksthe first serious foreign attack on the U.S. since the War of 1812. Where was their humanitarian revulsion as U.S.-led economic sanctions killed 500,000 innocent Iraqi children (what Bill Clintons secretary of state, Madeleine Albright, went on CBS to call a price worth paying) during the first half of the 1990s? Mainstream U.S. media had little to say about this terrible toll. How many good Americans who understandably wept as they watched the World Trade Center towers collapse had ever heard about the grisly slaughter the U.S. armed forces arch-criminally inflicted on surrendered Iraqi troops retreating from Kuwait in February 1991? Journalist Joyce Chediac testified that: U.S. planes trapped the long convoys by disabling vehicles in the front, and at the rear, and then pounded the resulting traffic jams for hours. On the sixty miles of coastal highway, Iraqi military units sit in gruesome repose, scorched skeletons of vehicles and men alike, black and awful under the sun for 60 miles every vehicle was strafed or bombed, every windshield is shattered, every tank is burned, every truck is riddled with shell fragments. No survivors are known or likely. U.S. forces continued to drop bombs on the convoys until all humans were killed. So many jets swarmed over the inland road that it created an aerial traffic jam, and combat air controllers feared midair collisions. [I]t was simply a one-sided massacre. Luftwaffe chief Hermann Goring would have been impressed. Imagine the imprint this senseless war crime must have left behind on Iraqis. Thanks to its poor fit with American exceptionalist doctrineaccording to which Uncle Sam always tries to do the morally right thing, even if it sometimes goes too far in overzealous pursuits of its consistently good intentionsthis gruesome imperial crime was only a minor story in U.S. mainstream media. The same was true three years earlier when the American battleship USS Vincennes shot down Iran Air Flight 655, killing 290 civilians on a clearly marked commercial jet in Iranian air space over the Persian Gulf. (Two years later, the Vincennes commander and his chief air-war artillery officer were given medals for exceptionally meritorious conduct during this heroic slaughter of harmless innocents.) Imagine the U.S. response if, say, a Chinese navy ship had shot down an American Airlines flight in U.S. airspace over San Francisco Bay. The U.S. shootdown of Flight 655 is well remembered in Iran. Not so in the United States of Imperial Amnesia, where official doctrine holds that, in Albrights words, The United States is good. We try to do our best everywhere. Tis too much proved, William Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet, that with devotions visage and pious action we do sugar oer the devil himself. The tenacious hold of pious U.S.-exceptionalist dogma leads to soul-numbing two-facedness. In May 2009, a U.S. airstrike killed more than 10 dozen civilians in Bola Boluk, a village in western Afghanistans Farah province. Ninety-three of the dead villagers torn apart by U.S. explosives were children. Just 22 were males 18 years or older. As The New York Times somewhat surprisingly reported: In a phone call played on a loudspeaker on Wednesday to the Afghan Parliament, the governor of Farah Province, Rohul Amin, said that as many as 130 civilians had been killed, according to a legislator, Mohammad Naim Farahi. The governor said that the villagers have brought two tractor trailers full of pieces of human bodies to his office to prove the casualties that had occurred. Everyone was crying watching that shocking scene. Mr. Farahi said he had talked to someone he knew personally who had counted 113 bodies being buried, including many women and children. The initial response of the Obama Pentagon to this horrific incidentone among many mass U.S. aerial civilian killings in Afghanistan and Pakistan beginning in the fall of 2001was to blame the deaths on Taliban grenades. Obamas secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, expressed regret, but the administration refused to issue an apology or to acknowledge U.S. responsibility. By telling contrast, Barack Obama had just offered a full apology and fired a White House official for scaring New Yorkers with an ill-advised Air Force One photo-shoot flyover of Manhattan that reminded people there of 9/11. The disparity was remarkable: Frightening New Yorkers led to a full presidential apology and the discharge of a White House staffer. Killing more than 100 Afghan civilians required no apology. No one had to be fired. And the Pentagon was permitted to advance preposterous claims about how the civilians perishedstories U.S. corporate media took seriously. Why, oh why, do they hate us? So runs the plaintive American cry, as if Washington hasnt directly and indirectly (through blood-soaked proxies like the Indonesia dictator Suharto and the death-squad regimes of Central America during the 1970s and 1980s) killed untold millions and overthrown dozens of governments the world over since 1945. As if the U.S. doesnt account for nearly 40 percent of the worlds military spending to maintain at least 800 military bases spread across more than 80 sovereign nations. Maybe it has to do with a U.S. media that wrings its hands for months over the deaths of four U.S. soldiers trapped on an imperial mission in Niger but cant muster so much as a tear for the thousands of innocents regularly killed (victims of what Chomsky has called the most extreme terrorist campaign of modern times) by U.S. drone attacks across the Middle East, Southwest Asia and North Africa. Imagine what it is like to live in constant dread of annihilation launched from invisible and unmanned aerial killing machines. The tens of thousands of Yemenis killed and maimed by U.S-backed and U.S.-equipped Saudi Arabian airs raids get no sympathy from most American media. Nor do the more than 1 million Iraqis who died prematurely thanks to Washingtons arch-criminal 2003 invasion of Iraq, which was sold on thoroughly and openly false pretexts and provided essential context for the rise of the Islamic State. Maybe its also about the good friends that we (our foreign policy imperial masters) keep around the world in the names of freedom and democracy. These partners in global virtue include: Thirty-six nations receiving U.S. military assistance despite being identified as dictatorships in 2016 by the right-wing U.S. organization Freedom House. The Saudi regime, the leading source and funder of extremist Sunni jihadism and the most reactionary government on earth, currently using U.S. military hardware and ordnance to bomb Yemen into an epic humanitarian crisis. The openly racist occupation and apartheid state of Israel, which has sickened the morally sentient world this spring by systemically sniper-killing dozens of young, unarmed Palestinians who have had the audacity to protest their sadistic U.S.-backed siege in the miserable open-air prison that is Gaza. Honduras, home to a violently repressive right-wing government installed through a U.S.-backed military coup in June 2009. The Philippines, headed by a thuggish brute who boasts of killing thousands of drug users and dealers with death squads. Rwanda, a semi-totalitarian state enlisted in the U.S.-backed multinational rape of the Congo, where 5 million people have been killed by imperially sponsored starvation, disease and civil war since 2008. Ukraine, where a right-wing government that includes and relies on paramilitary neo-Nazis was installed in a U.S.-assisted coup four years ago. You dont have to be a leftist to have the elementary moral decency to do the Chomsky exercise of imagining yourself in other nations shoeson the wrong side of the Pax Americana and its dutiful, consent-manufacturing mainstream media. Four years ago, the University of Chicagos realist U.S. foreign policy expert John Mearsheimer had the all-too-uncommon decency (at least among U.S. foreign affairs specialists) to reflect on the Ukraine crisis and the New Cold War as seen from Russian eyes. The taproot of the crisis, Mearsheimer wrote in the nations top establishment journal, Foreign Affairs, is [U.S.-led] NATO expansion and Washingtons commitment to move Ukraine out of Moscows orbit and integrated into the West, something Vladimir Putin quite naturally saw as a direct threat to Russias core interests. And who can blame him? Mearsheimer asked, adding that grasping the reasons for Putins hostility ought to have been easy since the United States does not tolerate distant great powers deploying military forces anywhere in the Western hemisphere, much less on its borders. We need not ask, Chomsky reflects, how the United States would have reacted had the countries of Latin America joined the Warsaw Pact, with plans for Mexico and Canada to join as well. The merest hints of the first tentative steps in that direction would have been terminated with extreme prejudice, to adopt CIA lingo. You never heard about Mearsheimers take, much less Chomskys, even (or especially) in liberal media outposts like MSNBC and CNN, where progressives learn to love the CIA and the FBI. The dominant U.S. media now is warning us about the great and resurgent danger of Iran developing a single nuclear weapon. U.S. talking heads and pundits also are leading the charge for the complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula [of North Korea]. It is unthinkable that anyone in the reigning American exceptionalist U.S. media-politics-and-culture complex would raise the question of the denuclearization of the United States. Its no small matter. The worlds only superpower, the only nation to ever attack civilians with nuclear weapons, is embarking on a super-expensive top-to-bottom overhaul of a U.S. nuclear arsenal that already houses 5,500 weapons with enough menacing power between them to blow the world up five times over. This $1.7 trillion rebuild includes the creation of provocative new first-strike weapons systems likely to escalate the risks of nuclear exchanges with Russia and/or China. Everyday Americans could have opportunities to more than just imagine what the innocents of Nagasaki experienced in August 1945. But dont blame Donald Trump. Our current reality was initiated under Obama, leader of a party that is positioning itself as the real and anti-Russian and CIA-backed party of empire in the 2018 and 2020 U.S. elections. This extraordinarily costly retooling heightens prospects for human self-extermination in a world in dire need of public investment to end poverty (half the worlds population lives on less than $2.50 a day), to replace fossil fuels with clean energy (we are marching to the fatal mark of 500 carbon parts per atmospheric million by 2050if not sooner), and to clean up the titanic environmental mess weve made of our planet. The perverted national priorities reflected in such appalling, Darth Vader-esque public investmenta giant windfall for the high-tech U.S. weapons-industrial complexare symptoms of the moral collapse that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. warned the United States about in the famous anti-war speech he gave one year to the day before his assassination (or execution). A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift, King said, is approaching spiritual death. That spiritual death is well underway. Material and physical death for the species is not far off on Americas eco- and nuclear-exterminating path, led in no small part by a dominant U.S. media that obsesses over everything Trump and Russia while the underlying bipartisan institutions of imperial U.S. oligarchy lead humanity over the cliff. Americans might want to learn how to take Chomskys challengeimagine ourselves in others situationbefore its too late to imagine anything at all. Paul Street holds a doctorate in U.S. history from Binghamton University. He is former vice president for research and planning of the Chicago Urban League. Street is also the author of Racial Oppression in the Global Metropolis (2007), The Empires New Clothes: Barack Obama in the Real World of Power (2010), and They Rule: The 1% v. Democracy (2014), He has taught American history at several Chicago-area colleges and universities and currently lives in Iowa City, Iowa. Despite Gina Haspel's promises, we are in real danger of further excursions into the dark side. By Lawrence Wilkerson June 14, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Later this month on June 26, the United Nations will observe a Day for Victims of Torture. Before 2002, America would have heralded this day, joining in the remembrance and using the resultant global solidarity to advance even further the goal of stopping torture wherever it might occur. No longer. America is now one of the worlds chief, unrepentant, unapologetic, still-polling-positive-ontorturers. Since President George W. Bushunder relentless pressure from Dick Cheney, his Machiavellian vice presidentwithdrew America from the Geneva Conventions in 2002, ostensibly so he could deal with al-Qaeda and Afghanistans Taliban, the United States has operated on the dark side. Recently reaffirming that position, President Donald Trump nominated and the Senate approved tortures disciple and supervisory practitioner Gina Haspel to lead the Central Intelligence Agency. How did we get here? After the tragic deaths on September 11, 2001, America went slightly berserk. Though both international and U.S. domestic law held that no condition, no matter how extreme, could justify the heinous crime of torture, America turned to it anyway. Initiallyand perhaps understandably if not legally or ethicallywe turned to torture under the misguided belief that it might save lives. After all, we had just suffered an attack worse than that on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. But as early as February 2002, we began to torture for another reason: to verify Iraqi complicity in the 9/11 attacks so we could go to war with Iraq (I went into greater detail on this for TAC in May). This rationale was more in line with practices in countries such as Egypt and Syria, where torture wasand still isaimed at extracting confessions, not the truth. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The al-Qaeda-Iraq complicity did not exist. But we tortured to produce evidence for war anyway via our lackeys in Egypt. Among those we tortured was Ibn al-Shaykh al-Libi, who said afterwards he would have confessed to anything to stop the pain. Acting swiftly on Libis evidence, Colin Powell made a historic statement at the United Nations that linked al-Qaeda to Iraq. We all know the rest of the story. Could there be a more poignant and disturbing example of torture not working? Or, perhaps better said, of tortures dangerous consequences even beyond its moral and ethical repugnancy and illegality? Lets mark this day with a tribute to all those in the world who are opposed to torture, from Johannesburg to Auckland, from Vladivostok to Portland. Large majorities in almost all other nations are anti-torture, knowing it to be a tyrants tool to suppress dissent and manufacture false confessions. Lets tip our hats to those who man the centers for victims of torture the world over and to those who offer succor to such victims wherever they are found and who oppose torture wherever it might be practiced. Ive joined 10 other commissionerslaw professors, health professionals, human rights experts, and faith leadersin a non-governmental torture truth-telling project called the North Carolina Commission of Inquiry on Torture. Why North Carolina? Its home to a key CIA operation, a private Smithfield-based contractor that operated aircraft that flew dozens of captives to be tortured at CIA black sites. Weve had the privilege of hearing excellent testimony from experts on both sides of the aisle, including seasoned military interrogators. They tell us torture has multiplied hatred for the U.S. abroad and degraded our democracy at home, without benefitting us in the fight against terrorism. Trained interrogators wouldnt use torture. They know reliable intelligence is gained from rapport-building and staying within professional guidelines. But the North Carolina project must serve as an example beyond that states borders. Other places and institutions need to gather the truth about our torture record, confront the damage it has done, and help set us on a different path. With Haspel in charge at the CIA and our president making no secret of his enthusiasm for waterboarding and a lot worse, we are in real danger of further excursions into the dark side of secret detention and torture. In December, reports surfaced that the Trump administration is considering setting up a global private spy network and a new rendition program. Lessons from the first rendition and torture program have apparently not been learned. President Obama made one of the most serious mistakes of his young administration when he listened to the experts who counseled him against prosecuting the torturers. He should have known better. Looking forward instead of backward might be a peculiarly American trait, but in the case of torture it was wrong, misguided, and dangerous. It sent a signal: torture and go unharmed. Haspels appointment to head the CIA only magnifies this mistake. The only way we can ward off this danger is to squarely confront our past and as a nation acknowledge the harm we have causedto those whom we tortured and to ourselves. Lawrence Wilkerson is Visiting Professor of Government and Public Policy at the College of William and Mary. He was chief of staff to secretary of state Colin Powell from 2002-05. June 14, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - The UN resolution condemning Israel shows overwhelming international recognition that whats going on in Gaza is wrong and that theres no future in continuing this oppression, investigative journalist Rick Sterling told RT. The UN has adopted a nonbinding resolution condemning Israel's excessive use of force during clashes in Gaza which have left more than 120 Palestinians dead since the end of March. The resolution was passed by the General Assembly in New York with 120 votes in favor and eight against. However, the text does not include a US amendment, blaming Hamas for inciting violence, as it did not get enough support. Israel and the United States strongly opposed the vote calling it biased and one-sided, while the Palestinian side said that a resolution was not enough. Investigative journalist Rick Sterling told RT that the UN condemnation of Israel's use of deadly force shows the isolation of the US and Israel on this issue. There was a 120 votes Yes, and eight votes No. But of those eight, five of them are tiny island nations, like the Solomon Islands... and other countries that few people have heard of before. Only three countries have actually opposed the resolution: that was Israel, the US and Australia, said Sterling. Sterling believes that it shows the overwhelming international recognition of what is going on in the Gaza Strip. The facts are very clear. Over the last two months about a 130 Palestinians killed, many thousands seriously injuredAnd as much as the US and Nikki Haley may deny it, it is being recognized increasingly around the world, he added. Sterling claimed that the situation is very biased saying that youve got approximately 2 million [Palestinian] people in what amounts to an open air prison. Just imagine the reverse scenario: imagine that 2 million Israelis were held captive in an open air prison and when they protested, 120 of them were shot and killed. Just imagine what kind of outcry there would be about that. The situation is biased. That is the reality. It is totally unjust and it needs to be called to account for the good of everyone, he explained. Israel and the US claims Hamas is responsible for much of the violence. The resolution is one-sided, makes not one mention of Hamas which routinely initiates violence, the US envoy Haley said during the debate preceding the vote, adding that: What makes Gaza different is that attacking Israel is their favorite political sport. Sterling argued that the blaming of Hamas is just a distraction and that it is a form of deception to mislead the people [and stop them] from seeing what it pretty clear. Youve got unarmed protesters who are in Gaza, hundreds of yards from the so-called fence and they are being shot by snipers with live ammunition. This is what is going on. It is really a testament to the courage of Palestinians that they have kept going on and also a testament of desperation of how grim the situation is. Theyve seen thousands of their fellow women and men, including medics, shot and injured or killed. And yet Palestinians continued going out week after week protesting against oppression. Asked about the prospects of the border standoff between Israel and Gaza being resolved, Sterling said that there is a clear recognition that there is no future in continuing this kind of oppression. In the long run, there is got to be a real change in the situation there and so, this resolution at the UN General Assembly is a small but positive step in the right direction, he concluded. Dr Gina Loudon, political analyst and author, noted that the resolution adopted in the General Assembly is non-binding, but what it can do is exert political pressure on them to act and I believe part of what was passed was something along the lines of a resolution asking for some sort of action. Loudon said she had just returned from Israel and studied the issue. I agree with the [US and Israeli] ambassadors that this is a vital mistake and if people knew the true story about Israel regarding Hamas, this vote would not have gone this way, she told RT. She also argued that a lot of times these deaths of these Palestinians, are actually because they are using civilians as human shields. And a lot of timesthe violence is actually initiated by Hamas, certainly not by Israel. It is a very frustrating situation I know from most Israelis that I talk to, Loudon added. Home Search ICH By Finian Cunningham June 14, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - President Donald Trump appeared to blindside everyone this week when he announced he was cancelling war games on the Korean Peninsula as a gesture of peaceful intent towards North Korea. Biggest Obstacle to Trump Dealing with North Korea is His Political Foes at Home If Trump stands by that commitment then it will be key to a successful resolution of the decades-old conflict, with the specific result of North Korea fulfilling its vow to scrap nuclear weapons. Significantly, following his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Trump referred to the annual joint military exercises between US and South Korean forces as provocative and inappropriate in the new context of peaceful exchange. Until recently, the Trump administration like previous US administrations had refused to consider a reciprocal move over suspending its war maneuvers on the Korean Peninsula in return for North Koreas nuclear disarmament. Trump appeared to abandon that policy in a personal and spontaneous token of goodwill to Chairman Kim when the two leaders held historic face-to-face talks on Singapores Sentosa Island this week. Even the Pentagon seemed to be caught by surprise, as were US allies Japan and South Korea. Trumps Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has followed up with visits to his South Korean and Japanese counterparts to assure them that US defense pacts are ironclad. Notably, however, Pompeo did not resile from Trumps announcement of cancelling the joint military drills due to take place later this year. In a follow-on trip to Beijing, Pompeo accepted Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yis stated position that security guarantees to North Korea were essential for delivering on a denuclearization process for the Korean Peninsula. What this comes down is that the Trump administration has, in effect, adopted the formula prescribed by both China and Russia of a freeze-freeze trade-off. Over the past year, Beijing and Moscow have been consistently calling for a step-by-step process of diplomatic engagement between the US and North Korea, whereby the latters commitment to decommission its nuclear weapons is met by the Americans scaling back their military forces. In particular, the issue of annual joint military exercises has long been a big bone of contention for North Korea. Indeed, not only North Korea, but neighboring China and Russia as well. Ever since the end of the Korean War (1950-53), the US has mobilized tens of thousands of troops, warships and warplanes every year in what it calls defense drills. The military exercises occur twice a year and are conducted with South Korean forces, as well as with Japanese. Given that the Korean War was never officially ended with a formal peace treaty, but rather only with a truce, the North Korean side has sound reason to be alarmed by these large-scale maneuvers. The exercises include the deployment of nuclear-capable warplanes in practice bombing sorties. Even more provocatively, the US-led forces carry out rehearsals for decapitation strikes on North Korea aimed at exterminating the countries leadership. Seen from North Koreas point of view, this background of relentless threat and intimidation is the main impetus for the nation embarking on a clandestine nuclear weapons program as a matter of self-defense and survival. If the Americans take away the perceived existential threat from their massive military presence on North Koreas borders, then there is an opportunity for North Korea to seriously consider disarmament of its nukes. To his credit, President Trump seems to have belatedly realized just how destabilizing those military exercises are, especially in the present context of confidence-building with North Korea in a process of denuclearization. The US war games were cancelled before during the 1990s when the Clinton administration tried to dissuade North Korea from developing nuclear weapons. During the subsequent GW Bush administration, the Americans backtracked on certain commitments of financial and technological aid to Pyongyang, according to former State Department official Lawrence Wilkerson. That was a major factor in why North Korea resumed its nuclear program, which culminated in building the bomb under present leader Kim Jong-un. It remains to be seen whether Trump will stick to his avowed cancelling of war games. A US military spokesperson in South Korea was quoted as saying they had not received any instructions to cease training exercises, and a joint drill planned for the autumn would go ahead unless they were instructed otherwise. Following Trumps surprise announcement in Singapore, it seemed that the Pentagon had not been consulted on the proposal to halt maneuvers. It now remains to be seen if Trump has enough practical authority over Washington military planners to implement his offer to North Korea. There is also the question of US allies in the region putting pressure on Washington. Immediately after the Singapore summit, Japans Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera expressed concern, saying that the joint US drills were vital to East Asian security. South Korea has taken a more pragmatic approach. Like the Pentagon and Japan, Seoul appeared to be blindsided by Trumps cancellation plan. But President Moon Jae-ins office has since hinted that South Korea is prepared to go along with suspending military exercises in order to further dialogue. Probably the biggest obstacle to Trumps engagement with North Korea is his political enemies at home. Reaction to his meeting with Kim from Democrats and large sections of the anti-Trump news media was negative. The president was castigated for giving too many concessions to Kim and for affording North Korea a propaganda victory. One can envisage a media campaign being whipped up over the coming months for Trump to resume military exercises on the Korean Peninsula as a way to demonstrate support for our allies in the face of North Korean aggression. This, ironically, underscores why Trump and Kim need to work closely together to implement a reciprocal peace deal. If North Korea delivers on its commitment to begin a measurable disarmament process and Trump reciprocates with security guarantees then the entire process can move forward with success. South Koreas President Moon Jae-in has a crucial role to play too. President Moon is dedicated to a comprehensive peace settlement between the two divided Koreas and the eventual denuclearization of the peninsula. The South Korea leader is well aware that the North needs and deserves security guarantees. It can be expected therefore that the South Korean leadership will back Trump in his prudent call for dropping the war games. Any objective observer can readily understand that the only way to reach a sustainable peace settlement is for all sides to stand down the antagonisms. It is only a conceited American notion that its forces are somehow defensive and benign. If there is to be a constructive engagement for peace then the US side must listen to what North Koreas grievances are. A major grievance is the intimidation from US forces operating on a massive scale along its borders. Trump appears to have acquired that insight. The president has eschewed a high-handed, imperious stance of demanding unilateral concessions from North Korea. That way is unworkable and fraught with explosive tensions. Trump at last has realized that with regard to North Korea, it takes two to tango. Finian Cunningham has written extensively on international affairs, with articles published in several languages. He is a Masters graduate in Agricultural Chemistry and worked as a scientific editor for the Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, England, before pursuing a career in newspaper journalism. He is also a musician and songwriter. For nearly 20 years, he worked as an editor and writer in major news media organisations, including The Mirror, Irish Times and Independent. has written extensively on international affairs, with articles published in several languages. He is a Masters graduate in Agricultural Chemistry and worked as a scientific editor for the Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, England, before pursuing a career in newspaper journalism. He is also a musician and songwriter. For nearly 20 years, he worked as an editor and writer in major news media organisations, including The Mirror, Irish Times and Independent. This article was originally published by " RT " - The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. ====== Join the Discussion It is not necessary for ICH readers to register before placing a comment. We ask that you treat others with respect. Take a moment to read the following - Comment Policy - What Or Who is Information Clearing House and Purpose and Intent of this website: It is unacceptable to slander, smear or engage in personal attacks on authors of articles posted on ICH. Those engaging in that behavior will be banned from the comment section. Search Information Clearing House === Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load. Found Comey wasnt politically biased but damaged bureau image Five FBI officials found to have expressed hostility to Trump June 14, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Former FBI Director James Comey was insubordinate in handling the probe into Hillary Clinton, damaging the bureau and the Justice Departments image of impartiality even though he wasnt motivated by politics, the departments watchdog found. Although the report issued Thursday by Inspector General Michael Horowitz doesnt deal directly with Special Counsel Robert Muellers probe into Russia meddling in the 2016 U.S. election and possible collusion with those around Donald Trump, the president and his Republican allies in Congress were primed to seize on it as evidence of poor judgment and anti-Trump bias within the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Justice Department. [Read the report here] Horowitz said that five FBI officials expressed hostility toward Trump before his election as president and disclosed in his report to Congress that their actions have been referred to the bureau for possible disciplinary action. The president was briefed on the IG report earlier today, and it reaffirmed the presidents suspicions about Comeys conduct and the political bias among some of the members of the FBI, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said of the 500-page report. One example cited in the new document is an exchange of texts between FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page on Aug. 8, 2016. Page questioned whether Trump would become president. Strzok replied: No. No hes not. Well stop it. Under those circumstances, Horowitz said we did not have confidence that Strzoks decision to prioritize the Russia investigation over following up on potential new evidence in the Clinton case was free from bias. Zeroing in on the evidence of anti-Trump sentiment, Representative Darrell Issa of California said it appears as though all or most of the 39 people who were tangentially involved had a bias toward believing they were going to work for Hillary Clinton -- and as a result didnt have the guts to take on wrongdoing. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said in a statement that any effort to use this report as an excuse for shutting down Special Counsel Muellers investigation is both disingenuous and dangerous. Nothing in this report detracts from the credibility and critical importance of the Special Counsels investigation. Clinton Decision Horowitz, whose office said it reviewed more than 1.2 million documents and interviewed more than 100 witnesses, didnt challenge Comeys fundamental decision against recommending prosecution of Clinton for mishandling classified information. But the inspector general called it extraordinary and insubordinate for Comey to conceal his intentions from his superiors, the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General, for the admitted purpose of preventing them from telling him not to make the statement, and to instruct his subordinates in the FBI to do the same. He said that we did not find that these decisions were the result of political bias on Comeys part, but by departing so clearly and dramatically from FBI and department norms, the decisions negatively impacted the perception of the FBI and the department as fair administrators of justice. The report also noted that Comey used personal email at times to conduct official business. Comeys Response Comey said the report found no evidence that bias or improper motivation affected the investigation, which I know was done competently, honestly and independently. In an op-ed article for the New York Times, he said the report also resoundingly demonstrates that there was no prosecutable case against Mrs. Clinton, as we had concluded. Horowitz examined actions taken by top officials before the 2016 election, including the handling of the investigation into Clintons use of a private email server when she was secretary of state. The inquiry expanded to touch on an array of politically sensitive decisions by officials including Comey and former Attorney General Loretta Lynch. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement that John Huber, a U.S. attorney based in Utah whos reviewing allegations of FBI bias and wrongdoing, will provide recommendations as to whether any matter not currently under investigation should be opened, whether any matters currently under investigation require further resources, or whether any matters merit the appointment of Special Counsel. The FBI said in a statement included in the inspector generals report that Comeys handling of the Clinton findings may have violated regulations on releasing information and that his letter disclosing reopening of the inquiry shortly before the election was a serious error in judgment. The bureau also said it accepts findings that certain text messages, instant messages and statements, along with a failure to consistently apply DoJ and FBI interview policies, were inappropriate and created an appearance that political bias might have improperly influenced investigative actions or decisions. Some of what Horowitz discovered has already been made public, and Trump and Republican lawmakers have pounced on those findings in an effort to discredit Comey and, by extension, the investigation now being run by Mueller. In tweets, Trump has called Comeys investigation into Clinton phony and dishonest and said that Comey, who he fired on May 9, 2017, left the FBIs reputation in tatters. Trumps Interest Trump has expressed great interest in the inspector generals report, as well as some skepticism it might not be as damning as he hoped. What is taking so long with the Inspector Generals Report on Crooked Hillary and Slippery James Comey, Trump tweeted on June 5. Numerous delays. Hope Report is not being changed and made weaker! There are so many horrible things to tell, the public has the right to know. Transparency! The inspector general reviewed Comeys announcement in July 2016 that no prosecutor would find grounds to pursue criminal charges against Clinton for improperly handling classified information on her private email server. He also looked at Comeys decision to inform Congress only days before the election that the Clinton investigation was being re-opened. Comeys public announcement of findings angered Republicans, while his reopening of the inquiry outraged Democrats. This finding could have been reached the day of Comeys press conference, Brian Fallon, who was spokesman for Clintons presidential campaign, said Thursday. It was obvious at the time that Comey was completely deviating from department protocols and it had a fateful impact on the 2016 campaign and the long-term reputation of the FBI. Anti-Trump Texts Republican critics seized on previous revelations from the inspector general Strzok and Page, two of the FBI officials who worked on Muellers Russia investigation, exchanged text messages sharply critical of Trump. Mueller removed Strzok from the inquiry after the texts were discovered, and Page has since left the FBI. But Horowitz said in the report to be issued Thursday that we did not find documentary or testimonial evidence that improper considerations, including political bias, directly affected the specific investigative actions we reviewed. Still, he wrote that the conduct by these employees cast a cloud over the entire FBI investigation. Comey-Lynch Criticism Horowitz found a troubling lack of any direct, substantive communication between Comey and Attorney General Lynch ahead of Comeys July 5 press conference on Clinton and his October 28 letter to Congress. We found it extraordinary that, in advance of two such consequential decisions, the FBI director decided that the best course of conduct was to not speak directly and substantively with the attorney general about how best to navigate those decisions. Lynch had announced that she would go along with whatever Comey recommended with regard to the Clinton case, although she didnt formally recuse herself. Lynch had come under heated criticism for agreeing to meet with former President Bill Clinton in June 2016 on her plane while it was sitting on a tarmac in Phoenix. The two sides have said they didnt discuss anything related to the investigation. The inspector general released a report in April finding that Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe lacked candor on four different occasions regarding interactions with the media, including providing information to a news reporter about the FBIs investigation into the foundation created by Hillary and Bill Clinton. The inspector general has referred the matter to the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia for further investigation. Attorney General Sessions relied on the report to fire McCabe only hours before he was set to retire and qualify for his full government pension. McCabe and his lawyer have adamantly contested the allegations. The inspector general also has opened a separate review into whether the Justice Department and FBI followed appropriate procedures in obtaining a secret warrant to conduct surveillance on former Trump campaign aide Carter Page in late 2016 and early 2017. With assistance by Jennifer Epstein, Jennifer Jacobs, Billy House, Justin Sink, and Steven T. Dennis June 14, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - In the wake of the high school shooting deaths in February in Parkland, Florida, students have reignited the debate about gun violence in the U.S. Among them are many who are squarely indicting the inhumane, militarized system that shapes our lives, one that starves public education while spending trillions on war. Said one Chicagoan during the national school walkout on March 14, Dont arm our teachers! Arm us with books and resources. Chicago students also called for the gun control mobilization to incorporate demands against police killings of Blacks in the U.S. These students, and others like them, are getting at something fundamental. Guns, like just about everything else under capitalism, are a class question. Who profits from them? Who uses them and for what purposes? Whom do they hurt, terrorize and kill? Youth involved in this movement are insisting on their right to be free of violence in school. And they should have the right to expect this. But the hard truth is that nobody on the planet is free from the threat of violence, and the wellspring of that threat is the U.S. government and its soldiers and police. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Yes, by all means, lets control gun violence and to have any real effect, lets be sure to include the Pentagon and cops! Issues confronting a new movement. The March 14 student walkouts were followed 10 days later with a March for Our Lives rally in Washington, D.C. accompanied by over 800 protests around the world. Next came a National School Walkout on April 20, the 19th anniversary of the 1999 mass shooting at Columbine High School. From the get-go, demonstrators have demanded far more than gun control. In Philadelphia, for example, students called for protection from ICE and banning cops in schools. In Seattle, a Black high school senior pointed out the kinds of violence in the U.S. that go far beyond the abhorrent mass shootings at schools, churches, nightclubs, and theaters. A constant refrain is frustration with politicians who have not done a thing to realistically protect young people in their schools. As some of these politicians now try to co-opt the student movement, drain it of its passion, and make it their own, their record on this issue is a red warning flag for the movement. Neither the Democratic nor the Republican Party is willing to truly confront the problems of violence, because the causes are too fundamental to how the profit system operates. A violent birth begets more of the same. At the same time the politicians fruitlessly debate whether or not to impose stronger gun controls on the civilian population, they militarize society to the nth degree. They flood the military and police with assault weapons and armaments galore. These are used against people from Standing Rock to Ferguson at home and from Afghanistan to Cameroon. Globally, Washington has 1,000 military bases in 80 countries to protect its geopolitical interests and the profits of U.S. corporations, including the weapons industry. It nurtures torture, terrorism and religious and ethnic antagonism in its endless wars and occupations, creating disasters of monstrous proportions in the Middle East and beyond. This is an extension of the violence the USA was founded on millions of Native Americans killed to steal their land and millions of Africans enslaved to work the land. The brutality necessary to speed capitalist development was then justified with racist ideology and cemented with racial segregation, meant to sabotage workers solidarity. As the profit system becomes more crisis-ridden and decrepit, crackdowns on civil liberties and the right to dissent are backed by the force of arms, as attacks on strikers and radicals have been throughout U.S. history. Meanwhile, containing gun violence has itself been used as the rationalization for repressive policies like stop and frisk, criminalizing whole communities of color and worsening the social conditions that breed violence. The world has become an even more dangerous place since the election of Donald Trump. The xenophobia and fascist ideology that he and his far-right fans trumpet have influenced a high proportion of mass shooters, including the killer in Parkland, whose magazines of ammunition were inscribed with swastikas. However, the media rarely reported this, or that 40 percent of the students at the high school he attacked are Jewish. The National Rifle Association is a major part of the right wing in the U.S. After starting life as a mostly apolitical gun club, in the 1970s it became part of the backlash against the civil rights and other social movements and began drilling its members in the politics of paranoia. It set the stage for gun rights to become a main plank in the nationalistic, misogynist, and racist platform of todays emerging mash-up of Patriot Prayer, Proud Boys, Confederacy diehards, outright Nazis, right-wing militias, and other ultra-rightists. These outfits love to parade around brandishing their weapons and recruiting the disaffected. Encouraged by the NRA, they represent the potential for organizing fascist shock troops that, if things get bad enough, capitalism may rely upon to save itself. What can be done? The Freedom Socialist Party (FSP) supports the impulse of the students to demand less violence in their lives, especially when their demands point to the need for fundamental change. At the same time, we see the need for workers, poor people and radicals to be able to defend ourselves from assaults by militarized cops and the armed far right. The right of people to be armed in self-defense and the right to overthrow tyranny are crucial. Militias were necessary against the English monarchy in the U.S. revolutionary war for independence. Soldiers, a great many of them Black, fought in the Civil War to abolish slavery. Armed Blacks have prevented Ku Klux Klan assaults and striking unionists with rifles have stood against gun-toting company goons. FSP also understands that nearly two-thirds of gun deaths are suicides, not homicides, and that 36 percent of all deaths in the U.S. are attributable to social diseases like poverty, as a Columbia University study reported. Moreover, we know that the arms industry will find ways to sabotage gun control measures, as they did with bump stocks that make semi-automatic firearms shoot faster. For these reasons, we believe that many gun-control initiatives being discussed are not the answers that people need. But the vast number of firearms produced and sold in this country to mercenaries, drug traffickers, serious criminals, right-wing goons, cops and the military is a problem that needs to be rationally addressed at the same time that underlying causes of violence are also addressed. Why not push for a ban on the production, sale and use of assault weapons, whose whole reason for existence is to kill large numbers of human beings in a few seconds? The ban should apply to everybody not only the public, but the military, cops, CIA, FBI, Homeland Security, ICE, and every government agency. Another logical demand would be to reverse the gun industrys absurd immunity from lawsuits and the gag order on gun violence research. And the fight must continue for schools that are not only safer, but better all around. More funding for education to reduce class sizes, pay teachers well, update textbooks, provide more support staff like guidance counselors: these are things that will not only help to safeguard students in the present, but will also help to provide them with brighter futures. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei blasted the US for its destructive role in the region, and said that Washington's diplomacy in the Middle East has completely failed throughout recent decades. (AhlulBayt News Agency) - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei blasted the US for its destructive role in the region, and said that Washington's diplomacy in the Middle East has completely failed throughout recent decades. "The United States has evidently failed in achieving its intended policies in the region; Muslim nations worldwide are now more united than ever before in pursuing their common goals despite enemies' plots," Ayatollah Khamenei said on Friday in Tehran, addressing and leading the Eid al-Fitr prayers which is a Muslim holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Iran's Supreme Leader said that the United States has wasted trillions of dollars in its pursuance of certain policies in the Middle East, but has achieved nothing instead and US President Donald Trump has openly admitted his country's failure. "The US president said that we spent $7 trillion in this region, and gained nothing in return. This means defeat. The US has suffered defeat in the region. The Great Satan has fallen short of achieving its goals, despite all its efforts, evil dispositions, and hot-air rhetoric. It has just wasted its resources, Ayatollah Khamenei said. Tweeting in February, Trump had said that his country had so stupidly spent the sum in the Middle East. Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei said that unity among Muslim nations had grown stronger, stressing that this was clearly evident in the powerful participation of Muslims in last Friday's rallies to mark the International Quds Day. Each year, Muslims worldwide rally on the last Friday of Ramadan in solidarity with Palestinians in response to an initiative started by the late founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini. This means that, despite the enemies propaganda, Muslim nations and the great nation of Iran have grown closer and more aligned with one another, Ayatollah Khamenei noted. The Supreme Leader, however, said that the enemies are constantly plotting against the Iranian nation, adding, "This is because they are afraid of the Iranian nation's might, steadfastness as well as their ambitions to forge stronger bonds with other nations." "The enemies will obviously continue their struggles but will fail," Ayatollah Khamenei added. He called on the Iranian nation to be vigilant in the face of enemy's plots specifically manifested in efforts to mount economic pressure on the country and disappoint the Iranian people. In relevant remarks earlier in June, Ayatollah Khamenei blasted Israel for occupying Palestine and continuing to kill the Palestinians, and called on the international community to break its silence on the realities on the ground in the Gaza Strip. "Today, democracy is a modern method, which is accepted by the entire world; we said that to determine the fate of the historical country of Palestine, they must refer to the people of Palestine and this proposal has been registered at the United Nations as the Islamic Republics opinion, Ayatollah Khamenei said in a meeting with a group of university professors and academics in Tehran. The Supreme Leader said that the fate of Palestine must be determined by Palestinians themselves, including Muslims, Jews and Christians, who originally lived in the historical land of Palestine. "A poll must be conducted among Palestinians, who have lived there since 100 years or 80 years ago, including Muslims, Jews and Christians, and whether they live inside or outside the occupied territories," Ayatollah Khamenei added. The Supreme Leader underlined that whatever the Palestinians said and voted for must be done, and asked, "Is this a bad idea? Arent the European countries ready to understand this? Ayatollah Khamenei then referred to a recent European tour by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in which he aimed to undermine Iran's standing and influence in the region, and said, Then that oppressor and wicked child-killer goes to other countries and plays the victim that Iran wants to do away with several millions of our population." The Supreme Leader went on to say that the European audience also listens to him, shakes his head and does not say that it is you [Israelis] who are currently committing these crimes in Gaza and al-Quds. "At the present time, we are one country in the world, which has the highest number of enemies among arrogant governments and worthless powers and also have the highest number of supporters among the masses in many countries," Ayatollah Khamenei added. The Supreme Leader then underlined that the prestige that the Islamic Republic has in many countries, including neighboring and other countries, is not matched by any other country and no other country is as much prestigious and has as many supporters as the Islamic Republic has. This is why the Islamic Republic also has wicked and determined enemies, Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized. /257 Jared Kushner Swore At Israels Ambassador For Acting Like He Owned The Place By Alyssa Fisher June 14, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - One of presidential advisor/son-in-law Jared Kushners responsibilities has been pursuing a Middle East peace plan. And while Kushner has long expressed sympathy for Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once slept in his bedroom relations havent always been smooth. Kushner used profanity to scold Israeli ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer for being too heavy-handed in his dealings with the White House. On February 13, 2017, the day that Michael Flynn was forced out as national-security adviser, Dermer reportedly went to the White House to try to arrange for Trump to sign secret documents, as other presidents had done, which the Israelis saw as an American commitment not to ask them to give up their undeclared nuclear arsenal. Dermer asked to meet privately with Flynn, prompting aides to explain that he could not dictate whom he wanted to meet with. Advisers felt like they were being taken advantage of. At one point, in front of witnesses, Kushner swore at Dermer in his West Wing office, saying he wasnt going to do his bidding just because of his Jewish background. Youre not going to tell us how to run these things, he told Dermer. Dont try to push us around. Dont try to jam us. Dermer told the New Yorker that he didnt remember Kushner using that language, saying, I have a very good relationship with Jared, but we dont always agree on everything. Alyssa Fisher is a news writer at the Forward. Email her at fisher@forward.com, or follow her on Twitter at @alyssalfisher This article was originally published by " The Forward " - The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. ====== Join the Discussion It is not necessary for ICH readers to register before placing a comment. We ask that you treat others with respect. Take a moment to read the following - Comment Policy - What Or Who is Information Clearing House and Purpose and Intent of this website: It is unacceptable to slander, smear or engage in personal attacks on authors of articles posted on ICH. Those engaging in that behavior will be banned from the comment section. Asked to comment on remarks made by Attorney General Jeff Sessions earlier in the day about how the Trump administration's policy of ripping children out of the arms of their immigrant parents is somehow justified by the Christian Bible, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Thursday afternoon said she could not respond specifically to the AG's claims but said "it is very biblical to enforce the law." Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter "That is actually repeated a number of times throughout the Bible," Huckabee Sanders said in response to the question by CNN's Jim Acosta as she appeared to glance at notes on her podium. Sanders on why Trump saluted the North Korean military official: Its a common courtesy when a military official from another government salutes, that you return that https://t.co/5Lph6kgtpX https://t.co/eweE67QfR2 CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) June 14, 2018 "Where does it say in the Bible that it's moral to take children away from their mothers?" asked Acosta. But Huckabee wasn't interested in answering that question, however, and accused Acosta of trying to put words into her mouth and talking over her. "I know it's hard for you to understand," she said to the reporter, "even short sentences, I guess." WATCH: During a tense exchange over immigration policy, White House Press Sec. Sanders tells CNN correspondent Jim Acosta that it is "hard for you to understand even short sentences, I guess." pic.twitter.com/qvGQe3WsIA NBC News (@NBCNews) June 14, 2018 Citing increasingly horrific stories of the children of immigrant and asylum-seeking parents being separated at the border, Acosta said "can you imagine the horror these children must be going through" and asked, "Why is the government doing this?" "Because it's the law," Huckabee Sanders responded. "And that's what the law states." And it was downhill from there as subsequent reporters pushed back against the false claims the press secretary was makingnamely that their family separation policy was "the law" and not a specific policy choice pushed by President Trump and promoted at the DOJ by Sessions on multiple occasions. Pressed by journalist Brian Karem if she, as a parent herself, had any empathy for what these migrant families were going through, Huckabee Sanders refused to answer: Olakunle Churchills younger brother, has taken to social media to call out actress Tonto Dikeh for trying to tarnish the image of his brother. Recall Tonto Dikeh had earlier called out her ex-husband, Olakunle Churchill for squatting in her house after their marriage because he did not have a place of his own. Churchills brother who is not pleased with the statement took to his Instagram page to blast Tonto Dikeh. He wrote: I vividly recollect the day I met you on my birthday with your friend while we were celebrating the Benzs my brother bought. Even at that period we met you, you were in a messy debt, embarrassingly owning your online shopper some money, so bad that you had no money to pay and you had to burn her bag and shoes. It was that same period you told my brother about the debt and followed him to Ghana and he left me in Nigeria even though I came all the way from London. Regardless of your bad reputation, someone was still proud of you. What exactly is your gain ? Are you trying to scare young girls off marriage because of your hidden agenda? You are saying my brother squatted with you ? How? How many houses has he got to be squatting? Im very ashamed of you!! Have you bought a land before in your village? What do you have ? youd be deceiving people speaking in rubbish tongue! Running after small boys and all the 70 years sugar daddies. Please note that the wives of the old men are complaining for Christ sakes. Lady, my brother has been ballin long before you dreamt of coming to Lagos from your village. We do not boast but we are from a very comfortable background! You serial blackmailer, hes not contesting for any election, so leave him the hell alone! I remember how you broke my moms house you and bit my arm I ignored it. Madam, just leave us the hell alone ! WE DO NOT WANT TO BE ATTACHED TO YOU! This man did not touch you neither did he push but you lied because you feel you are a celebrity ! Celebrity my ass with no income ! Is it not this same man you followed to his place in Ghana when you sharply got pregnant, perhaps he should have left you as a baby mama but he still honoured you by putting a ring in that your dirty finger! One thing I learnt is hoes will be hoes ! You cant be saved ! I know how many times he traveled back and fourth because of you! You complained about life bitterly and I am sure people remember when you wanted to commit suicide and how much my brother tried to keep you alive because you said you couldnt get pregnant as well! At least one man was proud of you even when you thought you brought him fame ! The real truth is anyone you roll with automatically gets a bad name ! My brother who stood by you and this is what he gets? The truth is that even if you get married to an okada man, everybody would know him and call him a Balu ! You are such a fake actor, surprisingly claiming he squatted at your place? HOW?? Someone that bought you an expensive ring ? Someone that bought you a 32million Naira worth of car, the Prado Jeep you sold recently to live up to the social media hype. Its high time you started saying the truth. Dont forget you lived in our uncles house in Texas, who is a surgeon for safe delivery reasons and the wife is a nurse. Even my mom travelled to Texas to help and ensure a safe delivery ! All for the love of family! My Uncle who lives in London also a surgeon travelled to meet you guys in the states ! You such an ingrate, all the receipts of the money my brother sent to you 55$ dollars receipt can be produced. The house you lived in which you claimed was bought by you, was actually rented and eventually expired, then he had to move you to Abuja and that was how you relocated to a new house and a new car. You are the one that has done wrong! Youve done what is unacceptable! Then you turned it to blackmail! You felt he would be loyal with that action of yours, you tried to blackmail him like you done to other people ! You tried to sponsor a lot of people to say things against my brother and some refused. Aint you ashamed of yourself? He has move on already Also note dear, hes not contesting for any political position, I learnt you were there when they asked him to contest for governorship, please, hes not contesting do not worry, worry about your life! Incase people dont know, nobody supports Tonto Dikeh, the father never did, Her siblings despise her as such did not support her, the traditional rulers in her Community was against her. Even when she does not support her Portharcourt people, her family still in keeps in touch with us because we have greater gift which is better than money and fame and that is BABY KING ! Stop using my brother to make money and be relevant go back to Nollywood acting, stop using real life for films ! Go back to your colleagues, the ones you offended go back and beg them stop using my brother for you unnecessary drama. The wives of the old men youre sleeping with are complaining. They warned you at the court after you took the child from the house while claiming domestic violent. The Court warmed you because you wanted to run away with the child to the states and process your papers ! Such an opportunist! The court gave him access to his child also told you to change the boys name from what you changed it to (from Dikeh back to Churchill)and your still playing cards Can you marry a trouble maker? If he was a trouble maker hed have broken your jaw You are bringing out 10 years ago relationship, telling them to blackmail him Telling them what to write against me? Why didnt your family side you? Why didnt your friends side you ? Is it a do or die affair? Just 6months marriage you already gathered all of these allegations. Why not let him go since you dont want him? Now you are up with STD allegations. Were you infected with STD when you gave birth or after ? Liar ! As a powerful person I am actually surprised he hasnt done anything. My brother invested millions and he invested in your foundation even when you werent there. How much do you have ? Are you with the government or working for them? . stop the fake life! Wheres your talent in acting Youre now using real life to act speaking in tongues and all. Stop using Churchills life You need deliverance and rehab that was what we initially wanted to do before you started trouble. My brother has never talked about his life Hes not fake, he does not show off ! Do you see any of his cars on the gram? I guess its called good upbringing . In conclusion, I have come to a realization that Ms TONTO WIGO DIKEH IS A FAILED EXPERIMENT TO HUMAN MUTATION! SHE SHOULD BE IN A HOME! Leave a Comment comments Olakunle Churchills younger brother, has taken to social media to call out actress Tonto Dikeh for trying to tarnish the image of his brother. Recall that Tonto dikeh claimed that her estranged husband, Churchill squatted in her house after they got married because he did not have a place of his own. Churchills brother who is not pleased with the statement took to his Instagram page to blast Tonto Dikeh. He wrote; I vividly recollect the day I met you on my birthday with your friend while we were celebrating the Benzs my brother bought. Even at that period we met you, you were in a messy debt, embarrassingly owning your online shopper some money, so bad that you had no money to pay and you had to burn her bag and shoes. It was that same period you told my brother about the debt and followed him to Ghana and he left me in Nigeria even though I came all the way from London. Regardless of your bad reputation, someone was still proud of you. What exactly is your gain ? Are you trying to scare young girls off marriage because of your hidden agenda? You are saying my brother squatted with you ? How? How many houses has he got to be squatting? Im very ashamed of you!! Have you bought a land before in your village? What do you have ? youd be deceiving people speaking in rubbish tongue! Running after small boys and all the 70 years sugar daddies. Please note that the wives of the old men are complaining for Christ sakes. Lady, my brother has been ballin long before you dreamt of coming to Lagos from your village. We do not boast but we are from a very comfortable background! You serial blackmailer, hes not contesting for any election, so leave him the hell alone! I remember how you broke my moms house you and bit my arm I ignored it. Madam, just leave us the hell alone ! WE DO NOT WANT TO BE ATTACHED TO YOU! This man did not touch you neither did he push but you lied because you feel you are a celebrity ! Celebrity my ass with no income ! Is it not this same man you followed to his place in Ghana when you sharply got pregnant, perhaps he should have left you as a baby mama but he still honoured you by putting a ring in that your dirty finger! One thing I learnt is hoes will be hoes ! You cant be saved ! I know how many times he traveled back and fourth because of you! You complained about life bitterly and I am sure people remember when you wanted to commit suicide and how much my brother tried to keep you alive because you said you couldnt get pregnant as well! At least one man was proud of you even when you thought you brought him fame ! The real truth is anyone you roll with automatically gets a bad name ! My brother who stood by you and this is what he gets? The truth is that even if you get married to an okada man, everybody would know him and call him a Balu ! You are such a fake actor, surprisingly claiming he squatted at your place? HOW?? Someone that bought you an expensive ring ? Someone that bought you a 32million Naira worth of car, the Prado Jeep you sold recently to live up to the social media hype. Its high time you started saying the truth. Dont forget you lived in our uncles house in Texas, who is a surgeon for safe delivery reasons and the wife is a nurse. Even my mom travelled to Texas to help and ensure a safe delivery ! All for the love of family! My Uncle who lives in London also a surgeon travelled to meet you guys in the states ! You such an ingrate, all the receipts of the money my brother sent to you 55$ dollars receipt can be produced. The house you lived in which you claimed was bought by you, was actually rented and eventually expired, then he had to move you to Abuja and that was how you relocated to a new house and a new car. You are the one that has done wrong! Youve done what is unacceptable! Then you turned it to blackmail! You felt he would be loyal with that action of yours, you tried to blackmail him like you done to other people ! You tried to sponsor a lot of people to say things against my brother and some refused. Aint you ashamed of yourself? He has move on already Also note dear, hes not contesting for any political position, I learnt you were there when they asked him to contest for governorship, please, hes not contesting do not worry, worry about your life! Incase people dont know, nobody supports Tonto Dikeh, the father never did, Her siblings despise her as such did not support her, the traditional rulers in her Community was against her. Even when she does not support her Portharcourt people, her family still in keeps in touch with us because we have greater gift which is better than money and fame and that is BABY KING ! Stop using my brother to make money and be relevant go back to Nollywood acting, stop using real life for films ! Go back to your colleagues, the ones you offended go back and beg them stop using my brother for you unnecessary drama. The wives of the old men youre sleeping with are complaining. They warned you at the court after you took the child from the house while claiming domestic violent. The Court warmed you because you wanted to run away with the child to the states and process your papers ! Such an opportunist! The court gave him access to his child also told you to change the boys name from what you changed it to (from Dikeh back to Churchill)and your still playing cards Can you marry a trouble maker? If he was a trouble maker hed have broken your jaw You are bringing out 10 years ago relationship, telling them to blackmail him Telling them what to write against me? Why didnt your family side you? Why didnt your friends side you ? Is it a do or die affair? Just 6months marriage you already gathered all of these allegations. Why not let him go since you dont want him? Now you are up with STD allegations. Were you infected with STD when you gave birth or after ? Liar ! As a powerful person I am actually surprised he hasnt done anything. My brother invested millions and he invested in your foundation even when you werent there. How much do you have ? Are you with the government or working for them? . stop the fake life! Wheres your talent in acting Youre now using real life to act speaking in tongues and all. Stop using Churchills life You need deliverance and rehab that was what we initially wanted to do before you started trouble. My brother has never talked about his life Hes not fake, he does not show off ! Do you see any of his cars on the gram? I guess its called good upbringing . In conclusion, I have come to a realisation that Ms TONTO WIGO DIKEH IS A FAILED EXPERIMENT TO HUMAN MUTATION! SHE SHOULD BE IN A HOME! Former Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, at an event held in honour of late MKO Abiolas family was quoted to have said he would arrest ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo if were Nigerias president. Oshiomhole urged President Muhammadu Buhari to probe and arrest the former president if he has committed any offence. The former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said: He should be arrested if he has committed any offence. He arrested many of us. So, if we are celebrating Chief Gani Fawehinmi, we have compelling reasons to do so. In all of these, we didnt pay any money to Gani or Falana. They defended us pro bono. Obviously reacting to the statement via his Twitter handle said he would put Oshiomole you in a small monkey cage with a big horny chimpanzee, if he was president. See his tweet below The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a murder suspect who killed his married lover in Abuja. The suspect identified as Paul Chukwujekwu Ezengo and his accomplice Emmanuel Adogah were on Thursday paraded along with 23 other suspects arrested for alleged involvement in murder, car snatching, armed robbery and other crimes, The Nation reports. Ezengo and Adogah were arrested for allegedly killing Ezengos married lover, 44-year old Charity Chidebere Aiyedogbon, to take her Acura Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV). The suspects said they committed the crime after giving her excess alcohol, killed her, mutilated her body and packed it into two sacks that were dumped in a river. To cover their track, the suspects said they changed the number plate of the vehicle of the deceased from Abuja to (Ebonyi State) SKA625AA. Charity mysteriously disappeared in 2016. The police, in efforts to unravel the mystery behind her disappearance, trailed and arrested the duo. Narrating his involvement with Charity and how he killed her, Ezengo said: We met on Facebook and she told me she was divorced. I was in a relationship with her for about a year and a half. We were having issues in our relationship because I was not benefiting from the relationship. She wasnt very rich when I met her but I knew she was comfortable and I needed my own share of her wealth. Later, evil thoughts came into me that I should kill her and take her car. I proceeded with the thought by involving my friend, Adogah. We went to hang out one night in 2016 and while we were there, she had too much alcohol and dozed off. I carried her from the house to where we killed her in Kagini. On why he mutilated her, Ezengo said: That night, after killing her, I was totally drunk. I wanted to carry her after killing her but she did not fit into the sack. That was why I decided to butcher her and dump her body in the river. It was greed and the devil that led me to do what I did. I was hoping to get her car after killing her. I feel really bad for what I did but I feel better because her spirit has been disturbing me. I believe that was why I was arrested. Narrating his role, Adogah said: My friend called me to assist him. My only role was just to carry the deceaseds body from Ezengos house to where she was eventually killed. Giving details of how the suspects were nabbed, the FCT Police Commissioner Sadiq Bello said: The dogged determination of the command to unravel the sudden disappearance of 44-year-old Charity Chidebere Aiyedogbon since May, 2016, has yielded a positive result. On June 1, police operatives attached to the commands Anti-Kidnapping Squad, arrested the principal suspect, Paul Chukwujekwu Ezengo, 27, in Benin, the Edo State capital. Following his arrest, the principal suspect, who has been at large since the ladys disappearance, confessed during interrogation that the mother of four was his girlfriend and that he conspired with Emmanuel Adogah, 28, and murdered her on May 9, 2016, at 2330 hours (11.30 p.m) at Kagini. According to Ezengo, he gave her excess alcohol to consume before he moved her from Yaounde Street in Wuse Zone 6 to Kagini area, where she was butchered and her mutilated body packed in two sacks that were dumped on the river bank at Ushafa in Bwari Area Council. He further confessed that he killed her because he wanted to take possession of her Acura ZDS SUV and other properties. The police said they recovered the deceaseds car and some of her properties from the suspect. The police chief, who described Adogah as an habitual criminal, said he also confessed to have participated in some heinous crimes. Other suspects paraded include Shamsu Tukur, Abdulrahman Haruna, Zakari Bawa, Friday Okpara, Ojo Adebisi, Kasimu Isa, Samuel Eze, Kasimu Yakubu, Samaila Muhammed, Musa Yusuf, Abdullahi Ali and Ifeanyi Ugwu. Others are: Godwin Obasi, Salisu Muhammed, Dimka Yohanna, Ebuka Ejeanyido, Chidebe Okocha, Chukwuma Amichie, Augustin Agbo and Chinedu Obi. On the preparation of the police for this weekends Eid-el-Fitr celebration, Bello warned criminals to avoid causing a breach of peace. The police chief said the command, in conjunction with other security agencies, had taken measures to deal with individuals or groups that disturb the celebration to guarantee peace and security among the residents. Also, to curb criminality in the FCT, Bello said the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris, had reinforced the operational capability of the command with 40 patrol vehicles for a security outfit, code-named Rapid Response Squad (RRS). He said the vehicles had been deployed in parts of the FCT, adding that their presence had contributed to the reduction of crime and criminality in the territory. Punch President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday urged Nigerians to stop glorifying thieves but should treat them with disdain for bringing hardships on others. Vanguard Director of Strategic Communications, President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation, Festus Keyamo, SAN, yesterday, said he did not dispute the figures of National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, on employment. The Sun Special Assistant to the Governor on Non-Governmental Organisations and Allied Matters, Rev. Simeon Nwulu, who made the disclosure when he hosted the leadership of the states Correspondents Chapel, yesterday, said only 15 of the 272 social homes in the state are legal. Thisday The United States of America (USA), has said the world is interested and would monitor the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti State to ensure that rules are not circumvented in the poll. Daily Times A fresh crisis is brewing in the camp of the Osun State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC), over who succeeds outgoing Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, in the September 22, 2018 governorship election in the State. The crisis is not a physical one but crisis of wisdom against the interest of one person who wants to be a domineering factor in a State with diverse ethnic groups Daily Trust A former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prince Kinsley Moghalu, has explained the reasons why he is aspiring to become president in 2019, saying that his vision is to wage a decisive war against drug abuse and poverty. Guardian Tribune The 2018 governorship election in Ekiti State presents an interesting opportunity for analysis. The election will be interesting in more sense than one. It is now becoming clearer why the immediate former governor of the state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, The Nation There was a mild drama following a scuffle between a police officer and a married woman with a baby on her back. According to reports, the feud between both parties started in Mokola area of Ibadan after the policeman was allegedly warned not to cause an accident because of the N50 fee. The policeman was said to have harassed the woman who was on a bike with her baby in a bid to collect money from the bike man. The woman cautioned him and received a big slap for that. An eyewitness, who was at the scene, wrote; This is Nigeria where policeman in uniform beat married woman even with her child on her back just because he was caution not to cause accident because of #50. Hmmm how are we sure he is responsible at home, his wife will be punching bag, why will people like this will be in service. He ought to be in asylum Government please look into this! This happen at mokola in front of Adamasigba. Nigeria police officer khinde Agbede mokola division.. Leave a Comment comments Miss. Nkiruka Jane Nnaji, a graduate of Nnamdi Azikwe University from Amorji Akpugo in Enugu State, who apparently, was awaiting her youth service before she was attacked with acid, has lamented following the attack. According to the lady, the acid attack occurred on April 11, 2017 in Port-harcourt around 8pm while she was on her way back from the cosmetic shop she was managing. She wrote: It happened on April 11, 2017 in Port-harcourt. After my graduation I went into cosmetic business; I got a very small shop where I was managing. I was coming back from my shop that fateful day, at about 8:00 pm; I was walking to the house when I started hearing a male voice calling Chi-chi. I thought it was somebody that wanted to toast me; I thought it was a way of attracting my attention. I didnt really give him any attention. When he kept calling that name I felt it could be a way of taking my phone or robbing me so I put my phone in my bag and in less than three seconds somebody tapped me on the shoulder. Immediately I turned, he poured the acid substance which was in a small container on me and I screamed. He ran away while I was screaming and shouting for help. People came out, poured me water and eventually they took me to the hospital that very night. I was in the hospital in Port-harcourt there for two weeks before I was referred to National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu. When I went to Orthopaedic, the next day they went on strike; I went into coma because then the wound had already been infected because the hospital where they took me wasnt a burns hospital. So they did not take proper care of the wound so it was bringing forth pus and was smelling. So I went into coma and was rushed to a private hospital, Hill-top; it was there I had two surgeries and stayed there for 35 days after paying over N1m. I was taken back to Orthopaedic, by then they had called off the strike; it was there that I had the remaining three surgeries. So altogether I have gone through 5 plastic surgeries in the cause of this acid attack. Eventually I lost the two ears; I still have a contracture on the neck, and then the left hand, and then the hair at the back. I dont know because I never quarreled with anyone. If I had quarreled with anyone may be by now I may have arrested the person. So I dont really know. I take this to be a mistaken identity because the name he was calling wasnt my name. My name is not Chi, or Chinyere or anything related to that. And the person didnt wait to see the face of the Chinyere he was calling. So maybe he took me to be Chinyere and poured me that substance. Even that very night they say they caught the person. But they thought he stole my phone because they heard me screaming. They saw him with an android phone and they confronted him accusing him of having snatched the phone from the girl that was screaming. He said no its his phone. They said ok, if its your phone, call the number. They dialed the number and it rang and they gave him back the phone and he left. So it was while I was in the hospital the person brought the number to me. I called the police and gave my statement but they asked me to pay N70,000 to track the number alongside other expenses. I didnt have much money and I needed even more for my treatment so couldnt raise the money. After my statement they left and I didnt hear from them again till today. Upon her condition, Jane has refused to question God. I know my God has a reason for whatever happens. He is still my God and has seen me through even when doctors gave me 30% chances of survival. I am grateful to Him for keeping me alive. am soliciting for funds. I am begging the public and the government in any way they can assist me so that I can be able to go for this surgery. This surgery is just my life. I know I will not be ok, but at least after the surgery I will be near normal. I will be able to have my ears back and the stiff neck will be released. At least I can have myself back and then know what to do with my life. All I am pleading is just a way of helping me. I am really pleading and soliciting for this fund so that I will be able to go for the surgery in India. Leave a Comment comments Like all free countries of the world, the people of Palestine--real Palestinians-- should be polled. They should determine the political system of Palestine, and that governing body will decide on the future of others who immigrated to Palestine. There's no other solution to this issue of Palestine: this is a path to the elimination of the Zionist regime. This will happen in the near future. (AhlulBayt News Agency) - Like all free countries of the world, the people of Palestine--real Palestinians-- should be polled. They should determine the political system of Palestine, and that governing body will decide on the future of others who immigrated to Palestine. There's no other solution to this issue of Palestine: this is a path to the elimination of the Zionist regime. This will happen in the near future. While meeting with government officials and Islamic countries ambassadors, this morning on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr, the Leader of the Revolution stated: "Today, the policy of the Front of Arrogance represents creation of conflicts and gaps between Muslim nations and inside the Muslim nations, among communities within these nations. This is a plot that the US conspirators and the Zionists have designed for our region; signs of which can be seen in our region. The solution is that Muslim nations discover the main point--i.e. animosity of the Front of Arrogance against the Islamic Ummah and society--and stand up to it. The other essential point constitutes the Zionist regime. This regime is essentially placed in our region, at the heart of the Muslim World, to create conflicts and complications inside the Muslim World." The Leader of the Islamic Revolution declared: "The Zionist regime is not going to last long. All historic experiences prove this by certainty; because this regime has fundamental problems. The US thinks by establishing diplomatic relations between some countries and the Zionist Regime, the problems caused by this regime are solved. No! The problems of the Zionist regime do not stem from its relation with other governments or can be resolved if a few countries shamelessly develop relations with it. The main problem is its illegitimacy. The Zionist Regime was formed based on a false foundation." Ayatollah Khamenei added, "They forced a historical nation to leave their homeland; they can never cross out the map of Palestine from the memory of world Geography. Nothing is solved by forcing some weak countries to enter in relations with the Zionist Regime." Elaborating on the illegitimacy of the Zionist regime, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution stated: "The foundation of the Zionist Regime is a false and weak foundation, and the key to solving this matter is not in their hands. The populations of some other countries that have longer relations with the Zionist Regime, have deeper hatred vis-a-vis the Zionist Regime. Their problem will not even solved by changing the location of the embassy. There is no doubt that this regime, which is based on a false foundation, is going to be destroyed by efforts of Islamic countries. Like all the free countries of the world, the people of Palestine--real Palestinians--must be surveyed. Their opinions must be asked for. They are the ones who must choose the governing system in Palestine. That government should decide on the fate of others who entered that country. The solution for Palestine is nothing but this [as mentioned]; this is how the fraudulent regime is going to perish; this will take place in the near future." The Leader pointed to the lack of unity among some Islamic countries against Zionists measures by saying: "Typically having a common enemy will bring about unity; however, this enemy [the Zionist Regime] has brought about conflicts, hypocrisy, and conspiracies among some leaders of Islamic countries. By the abolishment of this regime, Muslims will find their way back to unity." /257 E-commerce US states cannot levy sales tax on out-of-state remote sellers because of the 1992 decision in Quill, taken before the internet transformed commerce. South Dakota has argued that this creates an unlevel playing field and gives out-of-state remote sellers a price advantage. However, given the gravity of overturning Quill, which says state taxes may only be applied to businesses with an in-state physical presence, the Supreme Court may take the unusual step of recommending Congress deal with the issue. David Fruchtman, chair of Rimons state and local ( subnational ) taxation practice, told International Tax Review that if the court rules in favour of the state, it could have a damaging impact on small businesses. In addition, the ruling could apply to e-commerce companies across the US and foreign businesses selling into the country. Facts of the case The tax case of the millennium so dubbed by the National Conference of State Legislatures arose through South Dakota arguing that Quill is costing it tens of millions of dollars in potential revenues each year. The Supreme Court first decided in the 1960s that only businesses with a physical presence had to add sales tax to purchases. This was solidified by its decision in Quill vs North Dakota , when it ruled that mail orders placed through out-of-state companies could not be subjected to sales tax. Quill sold to consumers in North Dakota through the post using methods like catalogues and phone orders. As it had no staff or physical presence in the state, the Supreme Court ruled businesses did not have to pay local taxes. Of course, catalogue shopping is not the lucrative industry it once, having been eclipsed by internet sales. E-commerce represented 13% of total retail sales in 2017, and 49% of the growth, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. In a bid to capture revenue from out-of-state e-commerce sales, South Dakota passed a law in 2016 requiring online retailers to charge sales tax to online shoppers from within its borders. As soon as the law was passed, it sued four retailers among them, Wayfair for not complying. Wayfair successfully argued in a lower court that the tax violated Quill, meaning that the case rose quickly to the Supreme Court. This approach, known as fast-tracking, ensured that the case moved at lightning speed, said one adviser. However, this has left the case with no record that is to say, little in the way of assessment on what the impact of overruling Quill would be. Will South Dakota succeed? If youd asked me before the hearing on April 17 Id have said, unequivocally, that I thought Quill was going to be overturned, Steve Wlodychak, EYs state and local tax policy leader, told ITR. Why else would they [the Supreme Court] take the case? However, following oral arguments that were presented on April 17, a decision in favour of South Dakota which would have a seismic impact looks far less likely. As I read the transcript [of the April 17 hearing] it was amazing to me that the liberal justices, who one would have thought would be siding with the state, raised serious, serious concerns that the state had not properly answered, Wlodychak elaborated . Part of this relates to the legal concept of stare decisis, which essentially means that if a matter has already been ruled on there is no need to decide upon it again. During the April 17 hearing, Justice Breyer said: Part of the problem is the fact that theres no record in this case. And so, in trying to determine even as a matter of stare decisis where there is a special justification for overruling Quill, I think the problem that you've identified is that no record has been presented to the court that would support that substantial justification. Retroactivity and small businesses What looked like a fairly cut and dry case has not been handled well by the state of South Dakota. The speed of the case could count against the state if the court is wary of putting out a decision with retroactive, international implications. South Dakota made a mistake by setting its transaction threshold so low (200 sales delivered into the state in a year), Fruchtman told ITR. The court will treat that sales volume as the threshold it is being asked to approve nationally, but the compliance costs imposed on businesses from such a low threshold far-exceed the taxes that states might collect on such a small number of sales. Similarly, while South Dakotas law is designed to apply prospectively only, other states have indicated a desire to apply the decision retroactively, he added. How far back? Within vague limits, that is largely discretionary with each state. The US Solicitor General, arguing in support of South Dakota, said that the physical presence required under the Supreme Courts longstanding interpretation of the Commerce Clause only applies to catalogue sellers not online sellers. For small businesses [this] translates into a potentially business-crushing exposure for uncollected taxes, as I heard from several clients just last week, said Fruchtman. International implications The implications dont stop in the US. Businesses with no US permanent establishment (PE) that sell into the country benefit from the precedent set by Quill , and Wayfair has the potential to change that. There is no question that tax presence can exist for all types of subnational taxes even in circumstances in which there is no PE, said Fruchtman. However, the physical presence requirement has provided a safe harbour for sales taxes for treaty-protected businesses. A decision allowing South Dakotas sales tax could bring international businesses into the costly world of multi-state compliance. Worse still, these issues could be retroactive as well as prospective, warned Fruchtman. And, to be clear, these multistate sales tax requirements may exist even in the absence of a US federal income tax filing obligation. Some major companies, including Amazon and Walmart, already collect online sales tax on behalf of the 45 states which have one. But many other sellers including Amazon Marketplace use Quill as justification to not do so. Awaiting a Wayfair decision Were waiting with baited breath for this ruling, said Wlodychak. The court has announced its going to issue some opinions [on June 14]. That could include the Wayfair ruling. However theres no guarantee that June 14s tranche of opinions will include Wayfair, said Wlodychak. The court works in mysterious ways, he said, likening its process of selecting cases to the way the Catholic church selects a new Pope, with white smoke or black smoke coming from a chimney. The Wayfair decision was not released on June 14, but it is likely to come out before the end of the month. The material on this site is for financial institutions, professional investors and their professional advisers. It is for information only. Please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy before using the site. All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws. 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQ. Share this article People Move thumbnail His practice focuses on the planning and implementation of investment and asset holding structures for clients including trusts, high net worth individuals and multinational corporations. He also advises on family offices and family wealth advisory matters. Ivinson is the second partner to join the Geneva office this year following the hire in January of World Trade Organisation (WTO) litigator Rambod Behboodi. In December 2017 the firm also hired two senior trade lawyers in the forms of Hannes Welge from the European Commission and Hamid Mamdouh also from the WTO. The material on this site is for financial institutions, professional investors and their professional advisers. It is for information only. Please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy before using the site. All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws. 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQ. Share this article Pt. Roberts, WA; Delta, BC - June 15, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) www.Investorideas.com, a global news source covering leading sectors including marijuana and hemp stocks and its "potcast" site, www.potcasts.ca release today's edition of its series, Investorideas.com potcastsCM - cannabis news and stocks to watch plus insight from thought leaders and experts. Listen to the podcast: http://www.investorideas.com/http://www.investorideas.com/Audio/Podcasts/2018/061518-StocksToWatch.mp3 Investor Ideas #Potcasts; #Cannabis News and Stocks on the Move; TSX:WEED, CSE:CHOO, TSX:APH, CSE:CALI Today's podcast overview/transcript: Good afternoon and welcome to another Investorideas.com potcast - looking at cannabis news, stocks to watch as well as insights from thought leaders and experts. Today's podcast features news from Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX: WEED and NYSE: CGC) , Choom ( CSE: CHOO and OTCQB:CHOOF) , Aphria Inc ( TSX: APH and OTC: APHQF ) and FinCanna Capital Corp. ( CSE: CALI). Canopy Growth announced today that it has priced its previously announced offering of convertible senior notes due 2023 (the "notes"). The Company will issue C$500 million aggregate principal amount of the notes. Canopy Growth has granted the initial purchasers of the notes an option to purchase up to an additional C$100 million aggregate principal amount of notes. The offering was upsized from the previously announced C$400 million aggregate principal amount. Cowen and Company, LLC and BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. are acting as joint book-running managers and Eight Capital and Bryan, Garnier & Co. are acting as co-managers for this offering. Canopy Growth has been advised by Greenstar Canada Investment Limited Partnership, an affiliate of Constellation Brands, Inc., that it intends to participate in the offering. The remainder of the offering will be widely allocated to institutions, primarily in the United States, Europe, as well as Canada. Choom, an emerging fully-integrated cannabis company, is pleased to announce that today it is closing its acquisition (the "Transaction") of Specialty Medijuana Products Inc. ("SMP") pursuant to an amended and restated amalgamation agreement among Choom, Arbutus Brands Inc. and International Tungsten Inc. The Company announced the definitive agreement to effect the Transaction in a news release on March 19, 2018. Enable Choom to acquire SMP, which has submitted its AOR evidence package to Health Canada and expects to receive its cultivation license at any time; Create significant synergies in operational infrastructure and expertise across multiple disciplines to drive strong growth potential; Significantly improve and advance operational scale and production capacity; and Strengthen and accelerate Choom's strategic direction as a fully-integrated cannabis company, representing a premiere lifestyle brand in Canada. Aphria Inc. announced the appointment of Joel Toguri as Vice President of Sales effective on June 18, 2018. Mr. Toguri joins the Company from Southern Glazer's of Canada ("Southern Glazer's"), where he was Vice President of Sales and Operations since 2013. FinCanna Capital Corp. announced its intention to raise C$3,000,000 by way of a non-brokered private placement of 10,000,000 units at a price of C$0.30 per Unit. Each Unit will consist of one common share of FinCanna and one common share purchase warrant. Each full warrant will be exercisable to acquire one common share of FinCanna at an exercise price of C$0.45 for 24 months from the date of the closing of the Private Placement. FinCanna has agreed to pay a cash finder's fee of 8% of the aggregate proceeds raised from subscriptions arranged by certain finders and (ii) to issue warrants equal to 8% of the aggregate Units subscribed for pursuant to the subscriptions arranged by such finders. Each warrant shall be exercisable for one common share at a price of C$0.45 for a period of 24 months following the closing date of the Private Placement. The lead finder in the non-brokered private placement is Triview Capital Ltd. Investor ideas reminds all listeners to read our disclaimers and disclosures on the Investorideas.com website and this podcast is not an endorsement to buy products or services or securities. Investors are reminded all investment involves risk and possible loss of investment As described in the joint Hiku and WeedMD press release dated April 19, 2018, WeedMD will be seeking WeedMD Shareholder approval for the Arrangement under the Business Corporations Act. The WeedMD Meeting to consider the Arrangement Resolution will be held on Wednesday, July 11, 2018 at 10:00 a.m Sign up to get the news alerts including the daily podcast and transcript for Investor ideas potcasts Subscribe to the new cannabis podcast series: http://www.investorideas.com/rss/feeds/Podcasts-Cannabis.xml Or visit http://www.investorideas.com/Audio/Potcasts.asp Or www.potcasts.ca To hear more Investorideas.com podcasts visit: http://www.investorideas.com/Audio/. Investorideas.com podcasts are also available on iTunes, Google Play Music, Stitcher and Tunein. Potcasts is now a certified word mark Trademark on the blockchain through Cognate, Inc. CM Certification-Registration Number: 10468217708 About Investorideas.com - News that Inspires Big Ideas Investorideas.com is a meeting place for global investors, featuring news, stock directories, video, company profiles, interviews and more in leading sectors. Investorideas.com cannabis/marijuana and hemp content now includes http://cannabisstocknews.blogspot.com on Blogger.com: the Investorideas.com news and stock directory pages, a cannabis investor group on Linkedin.com , the 420 Cannabis Investor ideas www.420cannabisinvestorideas.com, and the new AI site Global Cannabis Investing at www.Globalcannabisinvesting.com Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. 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Additional info regarding BC Residents and global Investors: Effective September 15 2008 - all BC investors should review all OTC and Pink sheet listed companies for adherence in new disclosure filings and filing appropriate documents with Sedar. Read for more info: http://www.bcsc.bc.ca/release.aspx?id=6894 . Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: http://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp To sponsor this podcast or be a guest Contact Investorideas.com http://www.investorideas.com/About/Contact.asp 800-665-0411 The Ames Main Street Farmers Market is a local market that has been a staple of downtown Ames for the past eight years. The market Back in May, it was rumored that Apple was planning on launching its first smart speaker, the HomePod, in Canada, France, and Germany before the end of June. It didnt take long before Apple confirmed those plans. On Monday, June 18, the smart speaker will go live in those aforementioned countries. In preparation, it appears that Apple is switching on features so that they are ready to go when the HomePod goes on sale to the general public. MacRumors is reporting on Friday, following tips provided by HomePod owners in the regions, that the HomePod can now read out news briefs from specific news agencies in the regions. In Canada, Global TV is supported, along with CBC, CTV, and CNN. You can see a quick video demonstration of the feature below, courtesy of Pedro Marques: The feature is live in Germany as well, with another tip pointing to news agencies like Deutschlandfunk, which is a public radio broadcast company in the region. When the HomePod does go on sale next week, it will be priced at $449 in Canada, and 349 in Germany and France. It will be available via Apples online store, as well as in its physical retail stores in those areas on Monday, June 18. Our Take Having the features ready to go for when the HomePod actually goes on sale is a good way to go. After all, no one wants to wait for features after they already have the product in their home, and they know those features are available in other countries. [via MacRumors Chairman of Hamas Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh said a recent UN resolution against excessive use of force by Israeli troops against Palestinian civilians reflected the fact the the US and the Zionist regime of Israel are getting more and more isolated in the world. (AhlulBayt News Agency) - Chairman of Hamas Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh said a recent UN resolution against excessive use of force by Israeli troops against Palestinian civilians reflected the fact the the US and the Zionist regime of Israel are getting more and more isolated in the world. The resolution is an indication of the US and the Zionist regimes isolation, Ismail Haniyeh said, according to the Palestinian Information Center on Friday. The UN General Assembly condemned Israel on Wednesday for excessive use of force against Palestinian civilians and asked UN chief Antonio Guterres to recommend an international protection mechanism for occupied Palestinian territory. The General Assembly adopted the resolution with 120 votes in favor, eight against and 45 abstentions. It was put forward in the General Assembly by Algeria, Turkey and the Palestinians after the United States vetoed a similar resolution in the 15-member UN Security Council earlier this month. Commenting on Washingtons decision late last year to recognize occupied Jerusalem al-Quds as Israels capital, Haniyeh said decisions by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about Jerusalem could not change the identity of the holy land. He also called on Gazans to keep up their protests near the Gaza border, underlining the need for unity and solidarity among the Palestinians in the face of enemies plots. Tensions have been running high near the Gaza fence since March 30, which marked the start of a series of protests, dubbed The Great March of Return, demanding the right to return for those driven out of their homeland. At least 130 Palestinians have been killed and 13,900 others wounded by Israeli forces over the past few weeks, according to the latest figures released by the Gaza Health Ministry. The Gaza clashes reached their peak on May 14, the eve of the 70th anniversary of the Nakba Day (the Day of Catastrophe), which coincided this year with the US embassy relocation from Tel Aviv to occupied Jerusalem. /257 Today Clear to partly cloudy. Low around 55F. Winds light and variable. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low around 55F. Winds light and variable. Tomorrow Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 91F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. 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. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives Jean Asselborn, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg in Hanoi on June 14th (Photo: VNA) Minister Jean Asselborn said this is the fifth time he has visited Vietnam since 2004 and he will spend time touring the country in his upcoming visits. PM Phuc welcomed the signing of a framework agreement on cooperation between the two governments, saying it creates a cooperation framework suitable for the new situation, especially in cooperation for development and climate change response support. He spoke highly of Luxembourg as the fifth biggest European Union investor in Vietnam and expressed his hope that the two countries will work to facilitate their businesses to meet and partner in the fields of finance-banking, tourism, and green growth. The two countries should push up the completion of all remaining issues of the Investment Protection Agreement (IPA) and launch relevant procedures to sign the Free Trade Agreement on the sidelines of the upcoming 12th ASEM, the leader said. Vietnam has treasured and thanked Luxembourg for providing it with non-refundable aid worth 124 million Euros from 1995 to 2015, he said. He expected that the European country will continue aiding Vietnam in responding to climate change, and speed up cooperation with Vietnam in building and developing the financial and banking markets as it has a lot of experience and has carried out a number of efficient cooperative programmes with Vietnam in the field. Minister Jean Asselborn said Luxembourgs maintenance of ODA provision for Vietnam over the past 25 years showed its respect to developing the ties with Vietnam. He expressed his delight at the growing trade value between the two countries and pledged that his country will work together with Vietnam to raise the value. He spoke highly of PM Phucs speech relating to environmental protection at the recent G7 Outreach Summit and offered the sharing of his countrys experience in green bond model for application in Vietnam. He expected that the EU and Vietnam will soon sign their free trade agreement to facilitate the stronger cooperation between Vietnam and other EU members in the future./. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - An initiative that seeks to split California into three states is projected to qualify for the state's November ballot. California Secretary of State Alex Padilla said late Tuesday the initiative needed 365,880 valid petition signatures to qualify and random sampling projects a number of valid signatures greater than 110 percent of the requirement. The latest proposal for splitting up the Golden State is promoted by Silicon Valley venture capitalist Timothy Draper. It would create the states of Northern California, Southern California and a narrow central coast strip retaining the name California. Even if voters back the initiative an actual split would require several more steps including approval from Congress. Certification that the initiative has qualified for the ballot will come on June 28. SALEM, Ore. Governor Kate Brown plans to sign a new bill into law tomorrow at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls. House Bill 4035 provides opportunities for tuition aid to National Guard members. Im proud to sign a bill into law that deepens Oregons commitment to our National Guard service members, said Governor Brown. Whether theyre fighting on the frontlines, fighting wildfires, or helping prepare our state for the influx of eclipse viewers, our Oregon Guard members are always ready to answer the call to help Oregonians in times of need. Extending tuition assistance to Guard members is one important way to show our appreciation for their service by investing in their education and future. Once the bill becomes law, eligible soldiers and airmen with the Oregon National Guard can apply for state-funded grants towards an associate or baccalaureate degree at any public university or community college in the state. Those opportunities would begin with the 2018-2019 academic year. According to a statement from the Oregon Military Department, service members tend to cite money for education as the number one reason that they join the military. Soldiers who are eligible for the Montgomery G.I. Bill or Post 9/11 Bill will need to use those benefits first, before the new state assistance would apply. They also need to be in good standing with both their school and with the National Guard. Qualified students can use up to 90 credit hours at an Oregon community college and up to 180 credit hours at a public university. This new law specifically bridges the federal tuition assistance shortfall and enables our Guard men and women to complete their associate or bachelor degrees, said Maj. Gen. Michael Stencel, Adjutant General, Oregon. House Bill 4035 passed the Oregon legislature with widespread bipartisan support and encouragement from the Governor. The bill was drafted by House Minority Leader Rep. Mike McLane, a Republican. The bill passed the legislature back on March 3. TAKILMA, Ore. A motorcycle rider is in the hospital after apparently crashing into a buck deer in the 5000-block of Takilma Road, according to the Illinois Valley Fire District (IVFD). Responders from IVFD and AMR responded to the scene and found the biker injured, having "ended up on the pavement." AMR took the biker to Asante Three Rivers Medical Center while IVFD crews provided traffic control. A witness claimed that the buck was able to leave the scene after the crash. The accident is now under investigation by the Josephine County Sheriff's Office. WASHINGTON D.C. Attorney General Sessions has been invited to visit the U.S.-Mexico border by Senator Jeff Merkley and a congressional delegation, according to a statement from Merkley's office. on June 4, Merkley visited a facility in Texas where migrant children were allegedly being held. In a well-publicized Facebook Live video, Merkley is seen being refused entry by staff of the facility before police are called to the scene. In an interview with conservative talkshow host Hugh Hewitt, Sessions was asked if he would be willing to talk to Merkley about a joint visit to those facilities near the border. Sessions said that he and Merkley "get along well," and that "he'd be glad to talk to [Merkley] about it." According to the statement from Merkley's office, that interview prompted the Oregon Senator to call Sessions on Thursday morning. However, Sessions cited "scheduling conflicts," and said that he would not be present for Merkley's congressional delegation to the border, which is planned for Father's Day, June 17. Reportedly, Merkley also grilled Sessions over the policy of separating migrant parents from their children and detaining the children in secure facilities as a method of deterrence. This intentional strategy of inflicting harm on children to deter adults somewhere else in the world from seeking asylum in the U.S. is completely wrong and unacceptable," said Merkley. "There is no moral or religious code anywhere in the world that condones hurting children to influence adults. This needs to end. According to the Associated Press, Sessions cited the Bible in defense of the Justice Department policy in a speech on Thursday: "I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13, to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained them for the purpose of order," he said. "Orderly and lawful processes are good in themselves and protect the weak and lawful." In a local connection, protesters gathered in downtown Medford on Thursday afternoon to blast the Justice Department's policy, holding signs in front of the Collier Center on S Central Ave. The protest was led by the Oregon District 2 chapter of activist group Indivisible. PORTLAND, Ore. Two young patients of OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital will have their chance to design Nike shoes through the hospital's 2018 Doernbecher Freestyle program. 9-year-old Aiden Barber of Central Point and 10-year-old Donovon Dinneen of Riddle join four other young patients as this year's "patient designers." According to OHSU, the Freestyle program draws on each patient-designer's personal story, medical history, and future hopescombining them into an artistic style for Nike shoes and apparel. Those special designs are then auctioned off and sold to raise money for the Children's Hospital. The six special collections will also be available for purchase on Nike's website and at some retail locations this year. The Doernbecher Freestyle program started 15 years ago, and has raised nearly $20 million for the hospital. Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, head of Vietnams permanent mission to the UN (Source: VNA) Nga made the statement at the 28th Meeting of States Parties to UNCLOS which took place in New York from June 11th-14th. Vietnam will cooperate with other countries and international organistions to preserve and develop seas and islands sustainably for the future of human being, the ambassador said. Nga emphasised that Vietnam always advocates addressing disputes in the East Sea by peaceful measures and in line with international law, including UNCLOS. As a country located along the East Sea, Vietnam has paid special attention to protecting the marine environment and eco-system, and has been aware of adverse impacts of disputes on the sustainable preservation and use of seas and islands, she said. Vietnam welcomes efforts made by concerned parties to build the East Sea into the waters of peace, stability and sustainable development, Nga said, citing the kick-start of negotiations of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC). She stressed that Vietnam calls on all member states to fully observe regulations of the convention, respect diplomatic and legal processes, promote sustainable use of seas and oceans, ensure security, and aviation and navigation safety and freedom in waters, and avoid unilateral activities, including the militarisation of occupied structures, that run counter to objectives of UNCLOS, and adversely impact the marine environment and resources as well as legal and legitimate rights and interests of the member states, and the building of codes of conduct. The ambassador reiterated Vietnams persistent stance on backing the fight against the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and spoke of Vietnams efforts to combat IUU fishing and promptly complete domestic procedures to become a member of the UN Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA) and the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate IUU Fishing (PSMA). The meeting brought together representatives from more than 100 member states of UNCLOS, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, the International Seabed Authority, the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, and international and non-governmental organisations operating in the field of seas and oceans. The participants talked about challenges to maritime administration, and sea-related problems facing the state members such as marine pollution, overexploitation and sea level rise. They shared the view that UNCLOS should continue to be a comprehensive framework regulating all activities of littoral countries./. Fabricator Mike Caldarino uses a grinder on a steel stairs at George Third & Son Steel Fabricators and Erectors, in Burnaby, B.C., on March 29, 2018. Statistics Canada says manufacturing sales fell 1.3 per cent to $56.2 billion in April as sales in the petroleum and coal products and transportation equipment industries fell. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck This 1955 photo provided by Rosemary Kawamoto shows her, at 9, left, her mother Mildred Nii holding her sister Carol, 3, with her sister Ethel Jane, 5, right, posing in front of a still-smoking cinder cone after an eruption on their family farm at Pahoa on the island of Hawaii. Lava spared their house, but her family never moved back because her mother, a city girl from Honolulu, objected. The family moved to Hilo, the largest town on the Big Island, and sold the farm. (Courtesy Rosemary Kawamoto via AP) Winston Blackmore, the religious leader of the polygamous community of Bountiful located near Creston, B.C. shares a laugh with six of his daughters and some of his grandchildren Monday, April 21, 2008 near Creston, B.C. This week, a court in Newfoundland and Labrador recognized three unmarried adults as the legal parents of a child born within their "polyamorous" family. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward FILE - In this May 24, 2018, file photo, plastic straws from a McDonald's restaurant are shown in Doral, Fla. McDonaldAos said Friday, June 15, 2018 it will switch to paper straws at all its locations in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and test an alternative to plastic ones in some of its U.S. restaurants later this year. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File) Chinese folk artist Zhao Tiemin displays kite making skill during the "Beijing Cultural and Creative Week" at the Mexico City Museum in Mexico City, capital of Mexico, June 12, 2018. Mexico City is showcasing a range of Chinese traditional and contemporary arts as part of the "Beijing Cultural and Creative Week", which continues through Saturday at venues around the city. (Xinhua/Francisco Canedo) MEXICO CITY, June 13 (Xinhua) -- Mexico City is showcasing a range of Chinese traditional and contemporary arts as part of the "Beijing Cultural and Creative Week," which continues through Saturday at venues around the city. "China and Beijing have a millenary cultural heritage, but at the same time a modern one that has increasingly drawn the residents of Mexico City," said Cuauhtemoc Cardenas, general coordinator of international affairs of Mexico City, at the inauguration on Tuesday evening. Moreover, these types of events highlight "the importance and depth of the ties of cooperation that exist with Beijing," Cardenas said. Residents in the Mexican capital will get the chance to enjoy Chinese porcelain, calligraphy, embroidery, paper cuttings and the work of modern-day furniture and clothes designers, as well as attend folk music concerts and dances. Deputy Mayor of Beijing Wang Ning, who attended the inauguration, said that the art show aims to introduce Mexicans to contemporary China and how it is influenced by the nation's ancient cultural roots. At the Museum of Mexico City, the exhibition "Our Life, Our Design: Experimental Exhibition of Chinese Design, Culture and Lifestyle" features works by the renowned Jamy Yang, described by Forbes as one of China's most influential designers, and architect Lv Pinjing, a professor and dean of the School of Architecture of China's Central Academy of Fine Arts. Artifacts in the exhibition include red, black and gold tiles made in the old workshops of Jingdezhen in southeastern China during the Song dynasty (960-1279 AD), famed as the "porcelain capital" due to its manufacturing history. The Beijing Bamboo Orchestra, which played at the inauguration, will also offer concerts. There will be more cultural exchanges in the future, with Beijing and Mexico City signing an agreement this week to promote cooperation. "Beijing Week" is an extension of Mexico City's annual International Fair of Friendly Cultures, which this year features China as the guest of honor. 3 1 [ Editor: Xueying ] A volunteer helps paint the colourful crosswalk in front of the Samson Cree Nation administration building to celebrate Pride Month in this image provided by the Maskwacis Community. A rainbow crosswalk in an Indigenous community south of Edmonton might be the first one on a First Nation reserve in Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Maskwacis Community *MANDATORY CREDIT* Conservative Senate House Leader Senator Marjory LeBreton talks to reporters outside the Senate in Ottawa on June 6, 2013. A former leader of the Conservatives in the Senate is blasting her erstwhile colleagues for spearheading a move to gut a bill aimed at cracking down on impaired driving. Marjory LeBreton, whose daughter and grandson were tragically killed by a drunk driver 22 years ago, says she's "appalled" that her former colleagues have succeeded in stripping the centrepiece measure out of Bill C-46. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand Debbie Baptiste, mother of the late Colten Boushie, sits at the "Justice For Our Stolen Children" camp near the Saskatchewan Legislature Building in Regina on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Taylor Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay, sitting, and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, right, go lobster fishing in the North Atlantic off the coast of Cardigan, P.E.I. on Friday, June 15, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan The factory, to be built at a cost of US$50 million, is a joint project between the German Sudwolle Group and the Ho Chi Minh City-based Lien Phuong Textile and Garment Corporation. Covering a total area of more than 61,000 square metres, it is estimated to produce about 4,000 tonnes of wool per year for domestic consumption and exports. Upon its operation in April 2019, the factory will use imported materials to produce wool. Vietnam currently has 50 garment facilities using wool, with most of them using materials imported from Australia. The factory is expected to generate revenue of more than US$100 million per year and create jobs for 400 local labourers. It will also be open to the public for visitors to witness all wool-making steps. NDP Leader Tom Mulcair stands during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017. Mulcair was praised by friends and political opponents alike Thursday as he prepared to retire from the House of Commons by challenging Canada to be a champion of democracy in a world where democracy can't be taken for granted. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu rises in the House of Commons in Ottawa on Friday, May 6, 2016. The Mexican government is taking a Conservative MP to task for implying that many Mexican visitors to Canada are involved in the illegal drug trade. Sarnia, Ont., MP Marilyn Gladu made the suggestion Wednesday during debate on the Trudeau government's bill to legalize recreational marijuana. Her reference to Mexicans came as she was arguing that legalization will actually be a boon for the illicit black market in cannabis -- contrary to the government's contention that it will displace organized crime. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Dominic LeBlanc rises in the House of Commons during Question Period in Ottawa on Monday, June 11, 2018. LeBlanc says he has offered lobster harvesters from New Brunswick and Quebec a previously unscheduled fall fishing season, to make up for measures aimed at protecting endangered right whales.THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle FILE - In this file image made from video broadcast on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013, undated footage of Mullah Fazlullah is shown on a projector in Pakistan. An Afghan defense ministry official says Friday, June 15, 2018 a US drone strike in northeastern Kunar province killed Pakistan Taliban chief Mullah Fazlullah. Pakistan has been hunting Fazlullah for several years and has repeatedly said he was plotting attacks on Pakistan from safe havens in Afghanistan. (AP Photo via AP Video, File) FILE - In this Dec. 5, 2017 file photo, Summer Zervos leaves Manhattan Supreme Court at the conclusion of a hearing in New York. On Thursday, June 14, 2018, the New York Court of Appeals turned down President Donald Trump's latest bid to delay a defamation suit filed by the former contestant on "The Apprentice," who accused him of unwanted groping and kissing. Zervos says Trump made unwanted advances in 2007, then defamed her by saying she lied. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File) Lucy Hawking lays flowers as the ashes of her father, Professor Stephen Hawking, are laid to rest during his memorial service at Westminster Abbey in London, Friday June 15, 2018. Hawking will take his place among Britain's greatest scientists when his ashes are buried in Westminster Abbey, between the graves of Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton. (Ben Stansall/PA via AP) FILE - In this April 2, 2018 file photo, Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, center, and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, left, co-chairs of the Poor People's Campaign, speak at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tenn. They announced the campaign is preparing for 40 days of non-violent "direct action" in about 30 states that will climax with a rally in Washington this June. The organization is the rekindling of the campaign to help poor people that the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was working on when he was killed April 4, 1968, in Memphis. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) This photo provided by the Daytona Beach Fire department shows emergency crews working on a roller coaster car that derailed at the Daytona Beach Boardwalk on Thursday, June 14, 2018 in Daytona Beach, Fla. Two passengers fell 34 feet (10 meters) to the ground and authorities had to pull eight others to safety. The accident is under investigation according Daytona Beach Fire spokeswoman Sasha Staton. (Daytona Beach Fire department via AP) Thuong, who heads the Party Central Committees Commission for Communication and Education, made the remarks while visiting journalist Ha Dang, former Editor-in-chief of Nhan Dan newspaper, and journalist Phan Quang, former president of the Vietnam Journalists Association and former director of the Voice of Vietnam (VOV), on June 14 on the occasion of the Vietnam Revolutionary Journalism Day (June 21, 1925-2018). At the meetings, the Politburo member asked after and wished the veteran journalists good health, asking them to continue passing down their inspiration, experience, and wholeheartedness to the younger generations, thus encouraging positive factors and combating any negative signs. Thuong hailed the significance of journalism in each revolutionary stage, stressing that in the current period, the press needs to promote its role and modernise its communication methods, in order to provide formal information to readers in a timely fashion, orientate the public opinion, and fight false and negative information that adversely affects society. A Palestinian boy hold a balloon in front of the Dome of the Rock shrine in Jerusalem, Friday, June 15, 2018 during the traditional morning prayer of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean) Over the past nearly 60 years, the solidarity, mutual support and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries have been developed and strengthened, becoming a valuable asset of the two Parties and nations, Luu said. He commented on the thriving bilateral political ties with the regular exchange of all-level delegations, especially at high levels, via the State, Party and NA channels. The maintenance and improvement of cooperation and dialogue mechanisms, and the exchange of views at international organisations and forums have contributed to tightening the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, the legislator said. Vietnam always keeps a close eye on the situation in Cuba, and has been delighted at achievements of the Cuban Party, State and people, especially the upgrade of the economic model, he said, adding that Vietnam is ready to share its experiences with Cuba. For his part, Alberto told his host that he and his entourage met with Vietnamese experts to learn from their legislative experience as Cuba will continue to focus on amending its constitution in the time ahead. He pledged to make more contributions to deepening the solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the Parties, States, legislatures and people of the two countries. The attendance of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at these summits reflects Vietnams respect for the ACMECS and CLMV mechanisms, which help to strengthen the links between countries in the region for prosperity and sustainable development. ACMECS is a cooperation framework among Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam to utilise the member countries diverse strengths and to promote balanced development in the sub-region. Established in November 2003, the ACMECS aims to strengthen bilateral economic collaboration, tap comparative advantages of member regions and countries, and narrow development gaps. The ACMECS now covers eight cooperation fields of trade-investment, agriculture, industry-energy, transportation, tourism, human resources development, health care and environment. The biennial ACMECS Summit is held alternately in each country. Vietnam hosted the ACMECS 3 in Hanoi in 2008 and the ACMECS 7 in 2016, which adopted a joint statement on trade, investment, and tourism facilitation and prioritised economic connectivity, especially promoting internal trade and investment to cope with challenges, and established a working group on the environment. During the ASEAN-Japan Summit in December 2003 in Tokyo, leaders of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam agreed to hold the first CLMV Summit on the occasion of the 10th ASEAN Summit held in Vientiane in November 2004. The CLMV cooperation is based on the idea of narrowing the development gap between CMVL and other countries in the region, thus facilitating their integration into the regions development. It is also a channel to call for support from other ASEAN countries and development partners for CLMV countries as well as a forum for CLMV to coordinate their stances, thus protecting their interests during the process of economic connectivity in ASEAN and between ASEAN and its partners. CLMV cooperation covers trade, investment, agriculture, industry, energy, transport, tourism and human resources development. The countries agreed to establish six working groups and Vietnam coordinates three of them; trade-investment, information technology and human resources development. As an active and responsible member of the ACMECS and CLMV frameworks, Vietnam has proactively launched initiatives and contributed resources to strengthening connectivity and cooperation among countries. Vietnam has played a coordinating role in a number of areas of interdisciplinary cooperation and has implemented a number of practical activities that promote comprehensive cooperation among nations. Recognising the importance of sustainably using the national resources of the Mekong River Basin, the country has actively promoted collaborative environmental and water resources management activities, and a working group on the environment. Vietnam built the CLMV Scholarship Fund from which tens of scholarships are offered to Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar each year, which will continue until 2020. The 8th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy Summit (ACMECS 8) and the 9th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam Summit (CLMV 9) are taking place at a time when cooperation within the Greater Mekong Subregion is being strengthened for peace, stability and development in the region. The relationship between Vietnam and other countries in the Mekong basin has been expanded and promoted. The attendance of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at these summits affirmed Vietnams appreciation for regional cooperation mechanisms; contributing to enhancing the position and role of Vietnam in ACMECS and CLMV; promoting cooperation among countries in the region; as well as boosting the Vietnam-Thailand strategic partnership and the time-honoured and comprehensive solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for a man who had been fishing from the shore near Clatsop Spit. Petty Officer 1st Class Levi Read said the fisherman's wife contacted authorities Wednesday morning after her husband failed to return home. He had sent her a text message Tuesday night. RELATED STORY: COAST GUARD SEARCHING FOR MISSING OREGON FISHERMAN The Coast Guard responded with boats and a helicopter, but had no luck finding the 53-year-old Scappoose man. The Coast Guard said in a tweet late Wednesday that its thoughts are with the fisherman's family and friends. ROSEBURG, Ore. -- Roseburg city officials held a ceremony Thursday morning to officially receive a grant from the Oregon Community Foundation. The foundation awarded the city just over $100,000 to be used in the renovations of the former Douglas County Library building. The funds will be used specifically in the construction of the new kids and teens library area. Kelly Leonard, a member of the Southern Willamette Leadership Council with the Oregon Community Foundation, said several local family funds reached out and wanted to work with them to address the need at the library. People who live in the community who have funds through the Oregon Community Foundation -- they reached out to OCF and said these are areas -- these are specific areas that we think are important to fund. The Crane Creek Family Fund, Olsrud Family Fund, Robert K. and Judith A. McDermott Fund, and the Whipple Foundation Fund all contributed to the grant. City officials hope to begin renovations this month and move in to the building in October. LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A proposal in Congress to ease the U.S. ban on marijuana could encourage more banks to do business with cannabis companies. But it appears to fall short of a comprehensive fix for an industry often forced to conduct business in cash in a credit card world. Pot is legal in some form in about 30 states, but companies that grow or sell it often are locked out at banks because the drug is illegal under federal law. Transactions tied to marijuana proceeds could expose financial institutions to money-laundering charges. The congressional measure includes language to address the problem, but industry experts predict some banks will still stay away. California pot industry attorney Nicole Howell Neubert says it's an excellent step but probably "not a silver bullet for the banking problem." EUGENE, Ore. -- A crowd of Bethel residents on Thursday night confronted leaders of a charity organization who want to build a house for homeless teenage boys near an elementary school and a park. In a public meeting at Bethesda Lutheran Church, 4445 Royal Ave., neighbors said the proposed 13-bed house near Avalon and Legacy streets was not appropriate for the location which is close to Bethel Community Park and Meadow View School. "It's built on a playground next to a K thru 8 school, in the middle of the Meadow View area neighborhoods where people have worked very hard to create good lives for their families," one man said. "And now they're gonna go strip all that away from them by bringing in something that nobody in that area wants and will reduce their quality of life." But not everyone was against the idea. "I feel we're being hypocritical," Dina Fortier said. "We talk about the homeless people, and then we don't do anything about it. And it can't change if we don't do something about it. If we're constantly turning our back then how's it gonna get resolved?" The group behind the project, St. Vincent de Paul, opened a similar home for teenage girls in Eugene. Liem made the statement while joining US Ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink in a ceremony hosted by the US Consulate General in HCM City to celebrate the 242nd Independence Day (July 4) of the US in the city. He said through the ups and downs of history, Vietnam-US relations have come a long way to mark an important milestone with the establishment of the two countries Comprehensive Partnership during President Truong Tan Sangs official visit to the US in July 2013. The visit of President Donald Trump to Vietnam in November last year demonstrated the USs commitment to deepening ties with the Southeast Asian nation, he added. As Vietnams economic, cultural, scientific and technological hub, HCM City has been fostering cooperation with partners from the US, reaping encouraging results in trade, investment, education, healthcare and more, the citys official stressed. The trust and goodwill of both sides have removed many obstacles for Vietnam-US relations which have seen remarkable progress since the normalisation of ties, he said. He expressed his belief that the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Partnership and US ties with HCM City will grow further. Kritenbrink, for his part, said the celebration of Independence Day is an opportunity for people to get closer to honour friendship. This ceremony is also a chance to together look back at the two countries growing partnership and the long way they have come together, he added. The ambassador moved on to say that the US has great interest in the Indo-Pacific region and is enthusiastic about Vietnams success. The US wants to see a strong, prosperous and independent Vietnam, he said. Two sitting US Presidents have visited Vietnam over the past two years while bilateral relations in trade, investment and security have expanded alongside more opportunities for cultural and educational exchanges between Vietnamese and American people, the diplomat stated. All these showed a strong relationship that will continue to develop. During his visit, Speaker Simina held talks with Chairwoman Ngan and had meetings with President Tran Dai Quang and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. On the occasion, the high-ranking delegation of the Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia attended a question-and-answer session during the fifth meeting of the 14th National Assembly. They also paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum, visited the President Ho Chi Minh relic site, and had working sessions with several ministries, departments and localities. At the meetings, both sides highly valued the importance of the Vietnam-Micronesia relations and stated that the official visit is a vivid manifestation, affirming their commitments to boosting the two countries ties on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the diplomatic ties (1995-2018). The two sides agreed on key cooperation fields, including agriculture, aquaculture and tourism. In the near future, the two sides will sign cooperation agreements in the fields of their strengths, and coordinate and support each other in regional and multilateral forums and organisations, particularly at the United Nations. Regarding the parliamentary ties, both sides will increase the exchange of delegations at all levels and people-to-people exchanges, set up mechanisms for cooperation and negotiations, toward signing agreements on investment promotion and protection, double-tax avoidance and technical cooperation. In addition, the two sides will promote trading in agricultural products, consumer goods and agricultural machineries. ROCHESTER, Minn. A Muslim advocacy group is blasting a national restaurant chain for what it calls harsh treatment of an Islamic family. The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-M N) says a Muslim family went to a Red Lobster restaurant in Rochester and were treated poorly. CAIR-MN is alleging the family requested water to break their Ramadan fast but did not receive any for at least 30 minutes after several requests to different servers were made. CAIR-MN also claims when the family complained and raised the issue of possible bias in their treatment, they were reportedly told: You people love to play the race card whenever you can. CAIR-MN also accuses the manager of the restaurant, after the family said it would complain to corporate headquarters, of saying: Go ahead and call them. Its going to be your word against mine. They wont believe you. A server is also alleged to have said: I know all about Ramadan. A Muslim hit my car the other day because she was too hungry to drive in Ramadan. I almost got injured because of Ramadan. It is unconscionable that a family seeking to observe their religious principles would be so harshly treated by those paid to serve the public and who are legally bound to offer that service without discrimination, said CAIR-MN Civil Rights Attorney Ellen Longfellow. CAIR-MN says it has written a letter to Red Lobster corporate officials accusing the company of violating Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, and the Minnesota Human Rights Act. The organization says it is seeking a written apology, compensation which would be donated to charity, updated anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies, and sensitivity training for Red Lobster employees. In response to the claims of CAIR-MN, a Red Lobster spokesperson issued the following statement: We welcome everyone in our restaurants for a great seafood dining experience. All our guests should be treated equally and given the respect they deserve. Since this is an open legal matter, I cant share any additional information at this time. CLEAR LAKE, Iowa - An international network for businesswomen is relaunching its Clear Lake chapter. Polka Dot Powerhouse is a worldwide organization that connects women in a no-drama environment and helps them make professional and personal connections. New Chapter Managing Director Kate Rogers is also the owner of Serenity Spa in Clear Lake and Forest City. She says having a wide spectrum of businesswomen can be helpful for everyone. "All the different age groups of women that are in here too, and all the expertise that is in this room alone, it's years worth of experience. When you put like minded people and minds together, you can really get a lot accomplished in a matter of minutes," Rogers says. "Just the support alone to be surrounded by women that believe in you and encourage you, and come along side you and do life with you. So why wouldn't you want to be a part of that type of community that's right here locally too." The Clear Lake chapter meets on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 6-8 p.m. at Nature's Solution in Clear Lake. ROCKFORD, Iowa- Dozens of people are picking up the pieces after Mother Nature made a mess of the Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock school ground. And there was a lot of work to be done. School officials say around 30 trees were knocked down and the rain Thursday morning added to the job. I wasnt going to get up this morning because of the rain and I could hear the thunder so I kept checking my phone to see a text that said were going to do it a different day but it never came, said Sierra Kuhlers, a sophomore at RRMR. But its a job everyone wanted to be a part of, including Kuhlers and Jayden Jorgensen. Weve been helping out around town for the last five days, Kuhlers said. It was really bad. We see this type of damage on the Weather Channel, but it hits pretty close to home, said Jorgensen. I wanted to come out here and I assume everyone here from the community wanted to. But the big show of support isnt a surprise to school leaders. We have a special community and we know it, said Superintendent Keith Turner. When we put the call out for help we expected a lot of people, but we might have surpassed our expectations. While there is a lot of work left to be done, there is a silver lining to students and community members to come back to school during their summer vacation. Theres a lot of people here that you dont get to see over the summer because you arent in school every day anymore, said Kuhlers. You get to talk and catch up and ask how everyones summer has been and just help out our community together, said Jorgensen. Turner said they did have to move some of the summer programs to local churches while the school was closed. He said they were allowed back at the school this week. ALBERT LEA, Minn. The man charged in the case of a teen who went missing is pleading not guilty. Oscar Harold Mehus, 47 of Albert Lea, is accused of contributing to a need for protection in Freeborn County District Court. Authorities say that when Grace Cummins, 15 of New Richland, ran away from home on May 8, she was found at Albert Lea on May 10 after an anonymous tip. Both Grace and Mehus say that she told him she was 18 when he met her and took her back to his home. Albert Lea police say Mehus did not contact them about encountering the girl. A trial has been set to begin on September 25. CLIVE, Iowa (AP) Some Iowa residents are speaking out against plans to build a 100-bed psychiatric hospital in a Des Moines suburb. Mercy Medical Center officials announced last month that they're working with a national company on the $31 million project in Clive. The facility would help serve residents with limited options for mental health care, said Sandy Swanson, a Mercy executive helping lead the project. "These are folks that we live and work with every day. And our purpose, our goal, is to help them reorient into their community after they've had a crisis and to continue to be a productive member of society," she said. Safety was chief among concerns shared at a meeting Tuesday night with Mercy and Clive officials. Area resident Ed Snuffin said he agrees that more mental health services are needed, but disagrees with the decision to build the facility near a residential neighborhood. He said that while most patients likely won't be dangerous, it just takes one patient or lapse in security for something bad to happen. Mercy officials said the facility would be run safely, with security cameras and locked doors. Some residents asked why Mercy couldn't add a psychiatric wing to its West Des Moines hospital, which has empty space, instead of building a new facility in a residential area. Mercy officials said they have other plans for that space, but didn't elaborate. Mayor Scott Cirksena said Clive welcomes efforts to improve people's health and that mental health is no exception. If the project is approved by the state, Mercy Medical plans to partner with for-profit company, Universal Health Services. The new facility could open by June 2020. ROCHESTER, Minn. A man accused of waving a gun around is pleading guilty to terroristic threats. Demetrious Antonio Tankhamvan, 21 of Rochester, was arrested on February 24. Police say he kicked in the door of a relative, saying this is the last time youll see me alive, and was then reported waving a gun around in the 1500 block of 11th Avenue NW. Officers took Tankhamvang into custody after a brief standoff. He entered a guilty plea Thursday and his sentencing is scheduled for August 6. ROCHESTER, Minn. A trial has been scheduled for a man accused of attacking his parents. Michael Bruce Quandt, 46 of Rochester, is charged with 2nd degree assault, interrupting a 911 call, and misdemeanor domestic assault. Rochester police say Quandt attacked his parents in November 2017 with a paring knife and a flashlight, causing slash wounds and cuts. Quandt, who authorities say suffers from drug abuse and mental health issues, was initially ruled not competent to stand trial but he was found competent in May and entered a not guilty plea on Thursday. His trial is set to start on November 5. WAVERLY, Iowa A man wanted for first-degree burglary and third-degree criminal sexual conduct has been taken into custody in Waverly. Merwin Coleman was taken into custody Wednesday and is expected to be extradited back to Minnesota. Details of the arrest havent been released. Authorities say Coleman was involved in an incident Sunday, June 3, in Stewartville, where he allegedly raped a woman after a party the previous night. Coleman picked up a man from the residence at 6:05 a.m. to take him to work, according to court documents, before returning to the home and crawling into bed with a woman before allegedly raping the woman. The man who received a ride to work said Mack (Coleman) wanted to stay at the victims home and chill with her despite it being 6:05 a.m., according to court documents. The defendant claimed he went to the victims home the previous night to party and that she began secretly sending him Snapchat messages to invite him to have sex with her. He claimed that he traded the victim high-dosage Xanax pills in exchange for sex. VPD Director Colonel Hoang Kim Phung welcomed the Russian delegations trip and its experience shared with the department. Phung spoke highly of Russias position, role and contributions to the United Nations peacekeeping operations. As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the seventh biggest contributor of finance, Russia has great influence and voice in the UNSC as well as in establishing and implementing peacekeeping missions, he said. In addition, Russia is one of the biggest providers of goods and services for the United Nations peacekeeping operations, Phung stressed. Phung hoped that the Russian Ministry of Defence will continue assisting and sharing its information, experience and professional skills in peacekeeping operations with the VPD via joint training courses and seminars, especially in training Vietnamese officers who directly participate in UN peacekeeping missions. Kuralenko said the ongoing visit aimed to enhance the efficiency of coordination in peacekeeping operations between Russian and Vietnam. He promised to make greater efforts to further promote relations between the defence ministries of Russia and Vietnam, and create favourable conditions for developing peacekeeping operations of the two nations and in the world. Following the working session, the Russian delegation had an exchange with lecturers and learners of an international training course at the VPD. Gold is trading under major pressure today, with August futures currently down $25.90, and is fixed at $1282.30. This sharp decline coincides with a major selloff of many commodities. Sharp declines in oil, grains, and other commodities defined trading activity in the futures markets today. The sharply lower precious metals pricing is in contrast to recent activity in which both gold and silver were moving in tandem with an extremely strong US dollar. The major event which occurred today was that President Donald Trump announced tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese imports. Chinese imports that contain industrial significant technologies will be charged a 25% tariff. Although it has been widely regarded that the initiation of tariffs would raise the level of concern in terms of the geopolitical climate, which in turn would be bullish for the safe haven asset gold, this is not what traders witnessed as the outcome today. If todays $25 drop in gold prices was not in reaction to the announcement by President Trump, then what was the cause to todays selloff in gold? One plausible explanation to todays gold selloff is that it was a result of a combination of factors. We have just ended a week that began with four major events beginning with the G7 meeting last week which resulted in discord between the United States and other member nations. This was followed by the summit between the United States and North Korea, the conclusion of this months FOMC meeting, and an announcement by the European central bank that they will soon end their quantitative easing monetary policy. The announcement by the European central bank caused a surge in US dollar value specifically against the euro, the other of events of this week resulted in a tepid reaction in terms of gold pricing. The fact of the matter is that this week has been ripe with exceedingly important events that will affect the fabric of the global economy for years to come. However, it was the announcement by the European central bank that could have been the final straw that broke the camels back. Now for the first time since 2008 both the United States and the Euro zone are in the process of moving to a monetary policy of quantitative normalization. This major policy shift could in fact be the strongest factor, or the straw that caused the selloff in gold today. For those who would like more information, simply use this link. Wishing you as always, good trading, * Spot gold hits lowest since Dec. 26* Trump imposes tariffs on $50 bln of Chinese goods* Palladium headed for first weekly decline in four (New throughout, updates prices, market activity and comments; adds second byline and NEW YORK dateline) By Renita D. Young and Eric Onstad NEW YORK/LONDON, June 15 (Reuters) - Gold prices slumped to a 5-1/2-month low on Friday, as investors from China jittery about trade skirmishes with the United States unloaded bullion, and others joined the selling spree after prices breached below technical support of $1,290 per ounce. U.S. President Donald Trump announced hefty tariffs on $50 billion of Chinese imports, and Beijing threatened to respond in kind. The move, which looks set to ignite a trade war between the world's two largest economies, rattled gold investors. "The biggest buyers in gold recently were China, India and Russia. China began selling off and the hedgers started to sell after (the United States-China trade announcements)," said George Gero, managing director of RBC Wealth Management. "That sent the price going down, which set off sell stops." Spot gold lost 1.8 percent to trade at $1,278.80 per ounce by 2:02 p.m. EDT (1802 GMT),its weakest since late December. It was on track for its biggest daily drop since November 2016. U.S. gold futures for August delivery settled down $29.80, or 2.3 percent, at $1,278.50 per ounce. For the week, spot gold was down 1.6 percent. "After it was clear today that gold had failed to clear the $1,300 level, people rushed to the exit," a trader in Europe said. Earlier this week, some investors took long positions ahead of key central bank decisions. Gold briefly surged to a one-month peak on Thursday of $1,309.30, then retreated when the dollar strengthened. "Weak demand coupled with technical support levels being broken has led us to gold being down pretty hard despite the Trump tariffs on China," said Josh Graves, senior market strategist at RJO Futures. "When it hit $1,290, you saw sell stops get triggered," he added. The U.S. dollar index , was slightly firmer after hitting the highest since November. The International Monetary Fund said Trump's new tariffs could undermine global trade, prompting other countries to retaliate and damage the U.S. economy. Gold might still get a boost if there is a correction on equities markets, Butler siad, noting that strong first-quarter profit reports failed to lift global equities prices back to record highs. Meanwhile, silver fell 3.8 percent at $16.49 an ounce, headed for a 1.6 percent weekly decline. Platinum fell 1.4 percent at $887.60 an ounce, poised for a 1.5 percent weekly drop and palladium shed 1.7 percent at $990.60 and was on course for a 2.4 percent weekly decline. (Additional reporting by Karen Rodrigues and Swati Verma in Bengaluru Editing by David Gregorio and Edmund Blair) twitter.com/renitadyoung)) DAR ES SALAAM, June 15 (Reuters) - Tanzania aims to amend its tax bill to grant amnesty on interest and penalties for the next six months, hoping to improve compliance and ultimately boost revenues, Finance Minister Philip Mpango told parliament in his budget speech on Thursday. The change could have big implications for the East African nations largest gold miner, Acacia, which has been hit hard by sweeping changes to the tax regime for mining firms. The new laws have slowed fresh investment in what has long been seen as one of Africas brightest mining prospects as companies assess the consequences of government efforts to claim a bigger slice of the pie. The proposed 100 percent amnesty on interest and penalties will exist for six months, starting from 1st July 2018 up to 31st December 2018, Mpango said. This measure is expected to improve tax compliance by 10 percent and hence enable the Government to collect the outstanding principal amount. It was not immediately clear, however, exactly how much impact the amnesty would have on the governments dispute with London-listed Acacia, which is majority owned by Barrick Gold. The government says Acacia owes $190 billion in tax, penalties and interest for the period between 2000 and 2017. But miners say it would be impossible for listed and independently audited companies to hide billions of dollars in extra revenue. Reuters could not immediately reach Acacia for comment on Friday, which is a public holiday in Tanzania. Revenue collection for the 2017/2018 fiscal year that ends this month is at 21.9 trillion Tanzanian shillings ($9.65 billion), just below 70 percent of the target, Mpango said. In another move the minister said is intended to boost investment, the government will cut corporate income tax from 30 to 20 percent for new investors in the pharmaceutical and leather industries for five years, starting from the new fiscal year that begins in July. The measure is expected to promote investment in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical and leather products, create employment opportunities and increase government revenue, he said. Tanzania will raise spending by a slim 2.4 percent in the 2018/19 fiscal year, most of it earmarked for infrastructure, education and water projects. The minister forecast economic growth to increase to 7.2 percent in the year from 7.1 percent in 2017. Another priority for the next fiscal year, he added, was moving the main functions of the government from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma, the countrys official capital since 1974. ($1=2,270.0000 Tanzanian shillings) (Reporting by Fumbuka Ngwanakilala and Omar Mohammed Writing by Maggie Fick Editing by Clarence Fernandez) Deputy PM Minh expressed his sincere thanks to Luxembourg for its strong commitments to development cooperation programmes in Vietnam and welcomed the establishment of Luxembourgs Honorary Consulate offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which he said, has reflected the countrys desire for strengthening bilateral ties. He asked for the early organisation of the 10th meeting of the Vietnam - Luxembourg Partnership Committee in 2018 in the European country to review the implementation of Luxembourg-funded projects and programmes for the 2016-2020 period. The host wished that Luxembourg investors would diversify investment in the fields of construction, food processing, high-tech media in Vietnam, and the European nation would make it easier for Vietnamese goods to enter the country and the European Union. Asselborn, for his part, affirmed that the Luxembourg government wants to develop collaboration with Vietnam and considers Vietnam a priority partner in development cooperation in Asia. The two sides discussed measures to step up bilateral ties such as facilitating all-level visits and implementing the framework agreement on cooperation signed in November 2017. They identified cooperation fields in the new period to effectively use non-refundable aid provided by the Luxembourg CEF for climate change-related projects in Vietnam. On regional and global issues of shared concern, they pledged to work closely together at regional and global forums. The Luxembourg side affirmed support for Vietnam to reinforce ties with the EU and its willingness to push for the EUs early approval of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement. Luxembourg shared Vietnams stance on the East Sea issue that maritime freedom must be respected everywhere and disputes need to be settled by peaceful means in line with international law, stressing that ensuring maritime and aviation security and safety in the region is not only for the interest of regional countries but also the common interest of the global community. Asselborn expressed support for denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula to contribute to peace, stability and security in the region. Following the talks, Deputy PM Minh received two honorary consuls of Luxembourg in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg Jean Asselborn is on an official visit to Vietnam on June 14 and 15 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. 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. The two leaders expressed their delight at the development of the bilateral strategic partnership in different areas, especially in economy, trade and investment. They agreed to speed up the deployment of important cooperation mechanisms in 2018, especially the fourth joint cabinet meeting, the meeting of the Joint Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, and the third meeting of the Vietnam - Thailand Joint Trade Committee. Both leaders consented to build roads along the East-West economic corridor and launch road and waterway connectivity projects to serve trade, transport, tourism and people-to-people exchanges among regional countries. PM Phuc spoke highly of Thailands role, initiatives and contributions within the ACMECS framework, believing that the summit will be successful with practical results. He thanked PM Chan-o-cha for directing the registration and granting of permits to Vietnamese workers and asked the Thai government to extend working fields for Vietnamese guest workers within the framework of the bilateral labour cooperation agreement. Having hailed Vietnams position and role in the region and ACMECS cooperation in particular, PM Chan-o-cha expressed wish to continue enhancing the bilateral partnership on the basis of increasingly heightened trust, and jointly dealing with existing problems to facilitate trade and investment ties. He hoped that Vietnam will offer more possible support to Thai firms which are doing business in the country. On the occasion, the two PMs witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between Thailands Kasikorn Bank and the Enterprise Development Agency under the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment, and a contract between Vietnams Xuan Cau Ltd Company and Thailands B.Grimm to develop Dau Tieng 1 and Dau Tieng 2 solar power plants in the southern province of Tay Ninh. The same day, PM Phuc and his spouse attended a banquet hosted by their Thai counterparts. PM Phuc made the statement during a meeting with his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith on the sidelines of the eighth Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy Summit (ACMECS 8) in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 15. The two PMs expressed their delight at new development steps in the Vietnam-Laos traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation. With the determination to deepen bilateral ties, the two leaders agreed to work together to accelerate the full implementation of high-level agreements and the outcomes of the 40th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-governmental Committee. They held that drastic measures are needed to address obstacles, particularly in key projects in the fields of energy, mining, and transport connectivity. PM Phuc believed that the Lao Party, Government and people will successfully realise the goals set in the Resolution of the 10th Party Congress of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party and the eight five-year social-economic development plan for 2016 -2020. The Vietnamese leader thanked the governments of Laos and other ASEAN member nations for their commitments to backing Vietnams candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council in the 2020-2021 term. He also thanked Laos for its support to Vietnams initiatives at the UN Human Rights Council. PM Phuc recommended the two countries continue exchanging information and work closely together in the ASEAN and at multilateral forums for peace, security and sustainable development in each country and in the region and the world as well. PM Sisoulith said he will soon meet and have direct discussions with Vietnamese businesses operating in Laos. He pledged to direct Lao ministries, sectors and localities to work with their Vietnamese partners to remove difficulties and hurdles in cooperation, particularly in major projects. PM Phuc took the occasion to thank his counterpart for accepting the invitation to attend the World Economic Forum on ASEAN in Hanoi next September. Strategy and Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon, left, shakes hands with Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Chairman Park Yong-maan at a meeting on deregulation held in downtown Seoul, Friday. / Korea Times photo by Seo Jae-hoon By Yoon Ja-young The head of the country's leading business lobby group called for the government to show more sincere efforts for deregulation, stressing businesses cannot create jobs due to tough regulations. In the meeting with the Strategy and Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon, Friday, Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Chairman Park Yong-maan said businesses have not perceived any notable achievements in deregulation. "More than four years have passed since I was appointed as the KCCI chairman. We have suggested deregulation tasks 23 times and had 15 seminars and presentations on the issue," he said. "Some of them were resolved, but most remain unresolved." Little has changed for businesses during the four-year period, he pointed out. "From now on, I think it would be better to focus on solving the problems we have already suggested, instead of trying to find new tasks. I sincerely hope the regulations that block innovation get resolved by the current administration," he said. Requesting the government's future deregulation plans include more effective measures, Park handed over policy suggestions related with deregulation. They include a process needed for fundamental solutions as well as problems in deregulation policies that have been pursued by multiple administrations. The chairman compared the deregulation process to a tube. "Businesses hope there could be an instrument like a tube that emits notable changes when regulations are injected," he said, stressing the need for a deregulation process that starts with debate and public hearings and leads to law revisions. He also stressed deregulation will lead to job creation. Kim agreed on the urgency of deregulation. "The government is making efforts for innovative growth, and deregulation is at the core of innovative growth. The government has made efforts for deregulation, but it is true they have not been enough," the minister said. "Deregulation can encourage entrepreneurship and promote the market, on top of creating jobs. We will reflect the KCCI's suggestions as much as possible to come up with visible outcomes and market reforms," he said. The finance minister and the KCCI chairman have had three meetings so far, and each time Park had suggested deregulation. Kim said the government will adopt a "two-track" approach for deregulation. Those that only require government determination will be put on a fast track, while those involving conflicting interests will need public consensus. The finance ministry has requested business lobby groups such as the KCCI, the Korea Federation of SMEs and the Korea Venture Business Association to submit deregulation proposals needed for innovative growth. By Kim Yoo-chul Leading private lenders in Korea are beefing up measures at their headquarters in Seoul and at their New York branches to comply with U.S. money laundering rules in a pact reached with state and U.S. banking regulators. As part of an agreement with the New York State Department of Financial Service (DFS) and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Korean lenders having operations in New York must submit their updated plans to the two regulators. They need to explain how they will improve their oversight of anti-money laundering efforts and reporting of suspicious banking activity. The Financial Services Commission (FSC), which makes financial policies and directs the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), said Friday the DFS has notified the financial regulator of its plan to investigate Korean banks that are suspected of failing to meet compliance guidelines. Out of the seven banks on the list, NH NongHyup and Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) are responding quickly to requests by setting up units handling compliance-related issues. "Regarding the issue, NH NongHyup has recently created an independent unit exclusively to handle compliance-related issues because the bank has to facilitate necessary adjustments to reduce and manage risks relating to anti-money-laundering issues," a bank official said, adding it has increased the number of employees working in the unit to 23 from 16. IBK is taking the issue "very seriously," according to bank officials. "The bank's CEO Kim Do-jin is now in New York for a meeting with DFS officials as he is discussing updates on the bank's latest developments in system configurations. Earlier, IBK agreed with the two U.S. regulators to level its compliance with anti-money-laundering requirements, after the bank's New York branch was found to have deficiencies relating to risk management and compliance with related state and federal laws, rules and regulations. Written plans are required to include enhancements of internal controls for correspondent accounts. Additionally, the plans must indicate measures to ensure those with compliance responsibilities have sufficient expertise in the appropriate subjects, and allocate adequate resources to ensure compliance. KB Kookmin and Shinhan Bank said they were in discussions with US regulators to improve their compliance systems. "We are looking for qualified personnel to perform tasks relating to anti-money-laundering issues. Among candidates, a candidate who has rich experience in system developments and related applications will get extra credit during the hiring process," an official at KB Kookmin said. The DFS conducts regular inspections, but bank officials said the frequency of these has been increased to once a year instead of every 18 months. This has raised concerns the investigations will be tougher than usual. "An imposition of fines or penalties, if implemented, would be both credit and brand equity negative for the banks affected," an official at Shinhan Bank said, adding that meeting the requirements set by the U.S. regulators is "cost-heavy" as the bank has to invest between $10 million and $50 million to comply with the rules. U.S. Treasury Secretary Sigal Mandelker has discussed with FSC Vice Chairman Kim Yong-beom how to boost anti-money-laundering measures especially related to crypto-assets in addition to international cooperation measures. 'Created Diseases' shows side effects of chemotherapy By Jin Yu-young For some cancer patients, chemotherapy is no longer an option. Yet it is a hard decision for patients to take it. While undergoing chemotherapy, patients suffer enormously and healthy people can hardly imagine how severe the circumstances are that those patients experience. There is a role doctors can play to help the patients, according to a new book, "Created Diseases." It is a collection of four interviews pop culture critic Kim Tae-hoon conducted _ three doctors in the fields of obesity, cancer and psychiatry and a personal trainer. "One of the patients I treated today is in his 70s," said Dr. Seo Jae-geol, who spoke on cancer. "He is weary, becomes thinner and thinner as time goes by. He couldn't eat anything because he vomits whenever he tries food. "Facing such a patient, doctors like me are plunged into the hard question of what kind of cancer drugs we need to use this time because there are fewer options for patients such as him ... Chemotherapy will be more effective if doctors communicate with their patients and if necessary persuade them." Seo said chemotherapy has side effects because it kills not only cancer cells but healthy ones too. Book "Created Disease" Film sheds light on misinformation on comfort women By Jung Da-min Miki Dezaki. Courtesy of Felix Makarowski The documentary film "Shusenjo: The Main Battleground of the Comfort Women Issue" tells how scholars and activists from many countries, as well as Korea and Japan, see the issue. To give his audience impartial information about the wartime sexual slavery that put Korea and Japan poles apart, filmmaker Miki Dezaki included interviews with some controversial figures. These included Park Yu-ha of Sejong University in Seoul, who was criticized for her book "Comfort Women of the Empire" for allegedly "defaming" victims, and Yoshiko Sakurai, a Japanese journalist who was sued by Takashi Uemura the journalist who broke the story about comfort women for defamation. Dezaki, a Japanese-American, came to Japan in 2007 on a teacher exchange program. He said he started to wonder why the Japanese find it hard to say what they think on the comfort women issue. "I found that the (Japanese) government and these Japanese revisionists are trying so actively to change the minds of Americans and people in the world," Dezaki said. "Why are historical issues so important to them?" Dezaki felt that Korean and Japanese media have not done a good job showing the complexities of the comfort women issue. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during a joint press conference with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono (both not pictured) at the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, South Korea, 14 June 2018. / EPA The United States will not ease sanctions against North Korea until it denuclearizes, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday, as he reassured key Asian allies that President Donald Trump had not backed down on Pyongyang's weapons program. Pompeo, meeting in Seoul with top South Korean and Japanese diplomats, put a more sober spin on Trump's summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un after the president's comments fueled unease in Washington, Tokyo and Seoul. He said Trump's curious claim that the North's nuclear threat was over was issued with ''eyes wide open,'' and brushed off a North Korean state media report suggesting Trump would grant concessions even before the North fully rids itself of nuclear weapons. ''We're going to get denuclearization,'' Pompeo said in the South Korean capital. ''Only then will there be relief from the sanctions.'' Diverging from the president, Harry Harris, Trump's choice to become ambassador to South Korea, said the U.S. must continue to worry about the nuclear threat from North Korea. However, Harris, the former commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific, endorsed Trump's plan to pause major military exercises with the South, saying the U.S. is in a ''dramatically different place'' from where it was a year ago. Pompeo emphasized that the drills, which North Korea claims to be preparation for a northward invasion, could still be resumed if the mercurial Kim stops negotiating in good faith. The words of reassurance from Pompeo came as diplomacy continued at an intense pace after Tuesday's summit in Singapore, the first between a sitting American president and North Korea's leader in six decades of hostility. In the village of Panmunjom along the North-South border, the rival Koreas on Thursday held their first high-level military talks since 2007, focused on reducing tensions across their heavily fortified border. Pompeo flew from Seoul to China's capital, Beijing, later Thursday for a meeting with President Xi Jinping, whose country is believed to wield considerable influence with North Korea as its chief ally and economic lifeline. ''I also want to thank China and President Xi for his role in helping bring North Korea to the negotiating table,'' Pompeo told reporters. Pompeo thanked Beijing for its continuing efforts to help achieve the ''complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of North Korea.'' He said both sides had agreed that sanctions would not be eased until that's achieved. Kim Jong-un at his hotel room in Singapore. / Captured from the documentary By Park Si-soo North Korea's state broadcaster has released a 42-minute documentary on the June 12 summit between its leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore. The Korean Central Broadcasting Station released the documentary on Thursday, two days after the historic denuclearization meeting. The clip summarizes Kim's three-day visit to Singapore, with much footage of Kim and Trump that couldn't be seen in other media, including Kim's hotel room, surprise night out to the city-state's tourist attractions and the two leaders' closed-door working lunch. Kim Jong-un speaks to his entourage in his Singapore hotel room. / Captured from the documentary Ulchi Freedom Guardian likely to be suspended By Yi Whan-woo South Korea and the United States are assuming a more flexible stance in their joint pressure against North Korea's military threats following the June 12 summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore. Seoul and Washington are discussing possible suspension of their joint military exercises, after holding onto a decades-long view that such exercises are a key element for their alliance and a deterrent against Pyongyang. Analysts said Friday such a surprising change in the allies' security stance is to boost momentum for detente on the Korean Peninsula as witnessed at the Singapore summit. In their reciprocal concession in Singapore, Trump said he would halt the Seoul-Washington military exercises, which Pyongyang has denounced as a "rehearsal for invasion," while Kim promised to destroy a testing site for intercontinental ballistic missiles targeting the U.S. "The U.S concession is a small yet right step toward North Korea's security guarantee as promised by Trump," said Park Won-gon, an international relations professor at Handong Global University. "The two foes are expected to build their trust and help gain momentum for peace and denuclearization on the peninsula." A senior Cheong Wa Dae official said Friday South Korea and the U.S. will announce a decision in the near future on whether to suspend the annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) in August, adding the two sides have had discussions accordingly. President Moon Jae-in Thursday also underscored a flexible change in military pressure and expressed his willingness to suspend the joint drills. "Though nothing has been decided yet, we're going to announce a decision in the near future through close consultations between the South and the U.S.," the presidential official said. "We're going to continue to discuss the issue between the South and the U.S. and between the South and the North if necessary." The official also said the U.S. and the North are expected to resume negotiations at an early date after the U.S. reviews the results of the summit with the North. "Depending on the progress in those negotiations, we anticipate that talks about declaring an end to the war or replacing the armistice with a peace treaty will kick off at an appropriate time," he said. Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, said he finds Cheong Wa Dae's step optimistic. "the North is expected to come up with more concrete step toward denuclearization," he said. "This may also speed up efforts to sign a peace treaty to end the 1950-53 Korean War." Seoul's Ministry of National Defense separately announced Friday a phone call the day before between Defense Minister Song Young-moo and U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis on whether to suspend the joint drills. Harry Harris, a former commander of Pacific Command and the Trump administration's nominee for ambassador to South Korea, also supported suspension of the combined exercises, although he said North Korea's nuclear threat remains. "Today, following the summit, we are in a dramatically different place," he said during the nomination hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Thursday. "The whole landscape has shifted. I believe we should give exercises, major exercises, a pause to see if Kim Jong-un is in fact serious about his part of the negotiations." He added that, for the first time in his career, the world is in a place "where peace is a possibility," although he stressed the sanctions on North Korea should not be lifted. China has been concerned about U.S. military expansion in the Asia-Pacific and also called for suspension of the joint drills. And Huanqiu Shibao, a Chinese newspaper under the auspices of the People's Daily newspaper, said the suspension of the drills will lead to "a fresh peninsula." Shim Baek-kang, head of the Korea National Culture Research Center and author of "The Forgotten Ancient History: Recovering Gojoseon." / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk By Jung Da-min Some Koreans have been left to ponder their past and future after watching recent historic summits in Singapore between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as well as the April 27 inter-Korean meeting held at Panmunjeom. Shim Baek-kang, a Korean historian who focuses on the history of ancient Gojoseon, Korea's first kingdom, said these developments highlight the importance of having historical consciousness ahead of possible unification. Shim leads the Korea National Culture Research Center in Seoul. His two decades of researching on Gojoseon espouses a view that the kingdom had territory that reached into the regions of modern China's Hebei Province. He studied ancient Chinese literature at National Taiwan Normal University, and holds a doctorate in history from Yanbian University in China. "History is the thing that could combine the two Koreas," Shim said. "Korea would be one of the world's superpowers if the two Koreas are unified. Having awareness of our own history would be most important." The detente brought with the recent developments has stirred up hopes for inter-Korean exchanges. Politicians have been quick to present pledges on inter-Korean projects at the regional and national levels while businesses such as tourism or banking set up taskforces for such projects. Discussions on academic exchanges with the North have also begun, with the Ministry of Unification approving a request from students of Seoul National University, Tuesday, to contact students of Kim Il Sung University. History is another potential area for academic exchanges. According to Shim, ancient history in particular, could bring the two Koreas together beyond political ideologies and cultural differences. Shim said having a historical consciousness is an important qualification for leaders of unification. Educating students with accurate history is an urgent task while historians should conduct more studies through primary documents. "It is regrettable there are so few scholars who study primary documents which come from ancient times," Shim said. Most of the materials were written in traditional Chinese characters, making it harder for the younger generation, who mostly use Hangeul, to study them. "Studying and interpreting the primary documents to present them in an easier way is what historians should do." Graphic by Bae So-young * French security forces foiled a possible terrorist attack after arresting two individuals suspected of plotting assaults, local media reported on June 14. * Russia is ready to increase cultural and people-to-people exchanges with China, including cooperation in sports, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, while meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan in Moscow on June 14. * Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel highlighted the role of foreign investment as the "most practicable" way to promote economic development, local media reported on June 14. * The European Union appreciates China's continued and active participation in the Iran nuclear deal, and the two parties are working to cooperate and to preserve economic relations with Iran, an EU spokesperson told Xinhua via email on June 14. * Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on June 14 called on the Iraqi political parties to hold a meeting after the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr to agree on new mechanisms that would establish the next parliament and government. * Bulgarian President Rumen Radev on June 14 underlined the importance of firm guarantees from Macedonia that a treaty signed between the two countries would remain in full force if Macedonia changes its name to the Republic of North Macedonia under a name row solution with Greece. * Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on June 14 announced "a partial and profound renewal" of his cabinet, including naming prominent politician Delcy Rodriguez to be his vice president. * Energy ministers from G20 countries met in Bariloche, Argentina, on June 14 to discuss transitioning to renewable energy and other alternative green energy. * The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced on June 14 that it arrested 162 illegal immigrants during a three-day operation this week which spanned the Los Angeles area. The US military has indefinitely postponed major joint exercises with South Korea, an official told AFP on Thursday, acting on President Donald Trump's pledge to halt the "provocative" military drills following his summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un. The move, a significant break in how the US and South Korean militaries have worked together for decades, came even as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned that peace efforts still face risks, and insisted sanctions must be maintained until Pyongyang dismantles its nuclear arsenal. "Major military exercises have been suspended indefinitely on the Korean peninsula," a senior US official told AFP. Trump on Tuesday had said the US would halt "war games" with its South Korean security ally but he did not make clear when the freeze would kick in. US and South Korean forces have been training together for years, and routinely rehearse everything from beach landings to an invasion from the North, or even "decapitation" strikes targeting the North Korean regime. Pyongyang typically reacts furiously. Following drills last year, the North fired ballistic missiles over Japan, triggering global alarm. Verifiable denuclearization? Trump has sounded a triumphant tone since the Singapore summit, where he and Kim signed a joint statement in which Kim committed "to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." But critics have pointed to the vague wording of the non-binding document, which Trump described as a "deal," and to concerns among allies about the decision to stop the US-South Korean "war games." Speaking on a regional tour to brief South Korean, Japanese and Chinese officials about the historic summit, Pompeo said Washington remains committed to the "complete, verifiable and irreversible" denuclearization of North Korea. "We believe that Kim Jong Un understands the urgency... that we must do this quickly," he said of the effort to have North Korea abandon its atomic arsenal. In Beijing, Pompeo also said China "reaffirmed its commitment" to United Nations sanctions after the foreign ministry suggested earlier this week that the UN Security Council could consider easing the economic punishment against its Cold War-era ally. "We truly believe that we have a path forward after so many years that can bring peace," Pompeo told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi before talks with President Xi Jinping. But, he warned, "there are still risks that we won't achieve" that goal, and more work needs to be done. Any reduction in tensions on its doorstep is welcome for China, North Korea's closest ally, which accounts for around 90 percent of Pyongyang's trade. Speaking alongside Wang, Pompeo said the UN resolutions have mechanisms for sanctions relief "and we agreed that at the appropriate time that those would be considered," stressing that any relief would come only after "full denuclearization." For his part, Wang said China has a "firm commitment" to denuclearization but that North Korea's "legitimate" concerns must be addressed. North Korean state media reported Wednesday that Trump had not only offered to stop military exercises during the dialogue, but also to lift sanctions imposed on Pyongyang causing concern in Tokyo and Seoul. 'Conflicting views' Earlier, South Korean President Moon Jae-in acknowledged that "there may be very conflicting views" about the summit, but it had still helped mitigate fears of a nuclear war. South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha appeared meanwhile to sidestep the issue of military drills, saying the matter would be left to military authorities to discuss, and that the US-South Korea alliance remained "as robust as ever." While it is not directly involved, Japan also considers the exercises vital. Harry Harris, who until last month headed the US military's huge Pacific Command, has been a staunch advocate of the military exercises. But he told US lawmakers on Thursday that his position had changed. "The whole landscape has shifted and I believe that we should give exercises, major exercises, a pause," Harris told senators at his confirmation hearing to be the US envoy to South Korea. In the latest step to ease cross-border friction, the two Koreas held their highest-level military talks in over a decade Thursday in the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two countries. In a joint statement the two sides agreed to restore their military communication lines and to halt "hostile acts," Yonhap news agency reported. And Russian President Vladimir Putin conveyed to a senior North Korean official an invitation for Kim to visit Russia, as he praised the results of the summit. It was "without doubt just the first step towards a full-blown settlement," Putin said. North Korea talking points? Trump had raised eyebrows by describing his own country's drills on the Korean peninsula as "provocative," a term used by the North for the exercises. Pyongyang describes its nuclear weapons and long-range missiles as a shield against US aggression, and has in the past linked denuclearization to the removal of US forces from the peninsula. North Korea's propaganda machine embraced the summit, with state television airing footage Thursday, describing Kim as a universally revered "prominent world leader." Trump on Wednesday declared that the nuclear threat from North Korea no longer exists, and tweeted that people "can sleep well tonight!" Harris, however, disagreed. "I think we must continue to worry about North Korea's nuclear threat," he said. (AFP) The Supreme Court chief justice will announce Friday what measures he will take against those implicated in allegations that the top court under his predecessor used trials as bargaining chips in its dealings with the presidential office, officials said. An internal Supreme Court probe has revealed that the National Court Administration under the top court wrote a report in March 2015 on how to take advantage of high-profile cases in persuading senior presidential aides into supporting then-Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae's plan to establish a court of appeals. The revelations sparked calls for those involved to be referred to the prosecution for criminal investigation. Supreme Court Chief Justice Kim Meong-su plans to issue a statement with regard to criminal measures against those involved, court officials said. Kim could either refer Yang and others directly to the prosecution or could simply state on the need for a strict investigation. Yang has denied the accusations, arguing that there was no unfair interference in trials and that he never used them for bargaining. He also denied any disadvantage was meted out to judges who opposed his proposal to set up a court of appeals. (Yonhap) By Kim Hyun-bin Supreme Court Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su said Friday he will cooperate with prosecutors investigating allegations that the top court under his predecessor used trial verdicts as bargaining chips in dealings with the former administration. However, he added the Supreme Court will not launch another separate internal investigation or file a complaint with prosecutors. "As a branch that is responsible to give final rulings, we cannot launch an internal investigation or press charges," he said. "However, we will reveal all relevant materials." Kim has ordered to permanently preserve all relevant investigative materials obtained by an internal probe team. "The judicial branch is not immune to the rule of law. Some of our members may face investigations, and we can't evade or reject them," Kim said. "I have imposed punitive measures against 13 judges, relieving them of their trial duties." An internal Supreme Court probe has revealed the National Court Administration under the top court wrote a report in March 2015 on how to take advantage of high-profile cases in persuading senior presidential aides into supporting then-Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae's plan to establish a "Second Supreme Court." Yang, who served under ousted President Park Geun-hye, allegedly influenced Supreme Court decisions and created a blacklist of mostly liberal judges who were opposed to the plan. Yang is accused of deliberately using politically sensitive trials as bargaining chips to curry favor with the Park administration in exchange for the establishment of the new judicial body. Yang allegedly used cases involving unions and a former spy chief whose verdicts could affect the Park administration. The proposed court had been brought up to redistribute the workload of cases with the highest court. The Supreme Court would take care of high-profile or political cases while the other court would review "smaller cases." There was opposition to this system amid concerns Supreme Court judges could further extend their power. Yang has denied the accusations, denying all unjust interference in trials and saying he never leveraged trials for political gains. He also denied creating a blacklist of liberal judges. Gov't urges public for stop abusing authorities By Kim Jae-heun Kang Yeon-hee, a 51-year-old rescue worker, died in April three days after she was hit by a drunk man she was trying to take to the hospital in Iksan, North Jeolla Province. The 48-year-old man, surnamed Yoon, cursed and hit Kang on the head and slapped her face in the ambulance. Kang then began vomiting and experiencing dizziness. She was diagnosed with a cerebral hemorrhage and underwent surgery but died. According to doctors, her death was in part due to the stress she suffered from the verbal and physical abuse by Yoon. Kang was a veteran rescue worker who had been working in the field for 20 years. In the same month, a man in his 40s stabbed a police officer's thigh and his stomach with a knife in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province. The assailant assaulted the officer because he felt he was being ignored. He was arrested with a charge of attempted murder. According to the Ministry of Interior and Safety, 42,752 people have been arrested and charged with obstruction of justice for their treatment of emergency personnel since 2015. Over 1,460 police officers and 22 coast guards have been injured in the line of duty over the last three years; while 560 rescue workers were attacked. Enough is enough Interior and Safety Minister Kim Boo-kyum said this has to stop, urging the public to respect those in uniform who put their lives on the line. Every year, an average of 700 police officers, firefighters, coast guards and rescue workers are attacked both physically and verbally. "They are suffering from unjustified actions by the people they are trying to help," Kim said. "Police, firefighters and coast guards wear uniforms so people can easily notice them and ask them for help. Uniforms are signs to tell people these civil servants are trustworthy, and they are there to protect them." The minister added they are also the same people, and they are someone's neighbor, parents of children and friends. "Their basic human rights should be respected." Kim said it is more important to change societal perceptions toward them rather than strengthening disciplinary measures against the assailants. Strict measures The National Fire Agency plans to come up with training manuals on how to respond to violence and provide rescue workers with wearable cameras. The government will take action against those who get in the way of public officials carrying out their work. "When the authorities cannot promptly and strictly deal with situations involving illegal acts, good people suffer," a government official said. People who are charged with obstruction of justice can face imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to 10 million won. By Lee Min-hyung With South Korea and the United States apparently on track to suspend their joint military exercises, a string of bilateral military steps is expected to ensue in exchange for North Korea's sincere steps for denuclearization. Seoul and Washington are in talks to suspend their annual military drills after U.S. President Donald Trump's historic meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Tuesday. Trump is in a position to make the concession in return for the regime's complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization (CVID). But the two allied countries still have more military steps to be taken under the precondition that Pyongyang continues to take appropriate steps for peace and denuclearization. The possible scenarios include a reduction of the number of U.S. troops here. U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his strong willingness to withdraw the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) in a press conference after his summit with Kim. "I want to get our soldiers out, and I want to bring our soldiers back home," Trump said after his summit with Kim in Singapore. "But that is not part of the equation right now. I hope it will be eventually." This is not the first time for him to outwardly complain about the existence of U.S. troops in South Korea. He has urged South Korea to take more of the financial burden on maintaining the troops here since taking office early last year. With the North pledging to put an end to military provocation and carry out nuclear disarmament, the two Koreas reached a consensus in April to declare the end of their current technical state of war by the end of the year. Some critics say this will speed up the potential withdrawal of the USFK in South Korea, as it would remove justifiable reasons for the USFK to be stationed here following the end of the war. Such a move is seen by the North as the U.S.' sincere step to guaranteeing regime security, as Pyongyang has for decades called the U.S. military readiness in South Korea the biggest stumbling block to peace. For Trump, the move is also a step in the right direction, as he expressed discomfort for conducting joint military exercises with South Korea. "The war games are very expensive," he said. "We paid for a big majority of them, and we fly in bombers from Guam. This is a long time for these big massive planes to be flying to South Korea to practice and then drop bombs and then go back to Guam. I know a lot about airplanes, and it is very expensive." Another critical issue to be discussed between Seoul and Washington is the withdrawal of a U.S. anti-missile system. The deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system here is aimed at monitoring and shooting down Pyongyang's possible missile threats. But Kim Jong-un told Trump North Korea is destroying a major missile engine testing site, according to Trump. If the regime keeps its promise and scraps its missile facilities, the regime may urge Seoul and Washington to withdraw THAAD from South Korea. Presidential chief of staff Im Jong-seok, right, smiles while holding a meeting to discuss the implementation of the April 27 Panmunjeom Declaration at Cheong Wa Dae, Friday. / Yonhap By Lee Min-hyung Presidential aides and senior government officials held a meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Friday, to discuss follow-up measures for the inter-Korean April 27 Panmunjeom Declaration. The meeting, chaired by presidential chief of staff Im Jong-seok, came a day after President Moon Jae-in underlined the need for a "flexible shift" in military stance against North Korea to implement the bilateral peace agreement. He also said he would conduct thorough reviews for the possible suspension of joint military exercises between Seoul and Washington. Following the meeting, the Cheong Wa Dae official said the South and the United States are already in talks to negotiate the suspension of the military drills such as the Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) scheduled to begin this August. "Nothing specific has been decided about adjusting the planned exercises, but Seoul and Washington are still having negotiations and will release an announcement soon," a Cheong Wa Dae official told reporters. Under the declaration, the two Koreas agreed to put an end to a range of hostile military acts on the ground, in the air and at sea. In particular, the Seoul-Washington joint military exercises have for years been a major bone of inter-Korean contention, drawing sharp reactions from Pyongyang. On Thursday night, South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo discussed the issue with his U.S. counterpart James Mattis via telephone. The official also said South Korea and the U.S. have not discussed the possible reduction or withdrawal of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK). "We want to make sure Seoul and Washington have no changes in their bilateral stance for the USFK," the official said. "U.S. President Donald Trump also said he did not discuss the USFK agenda during the summit with North Korea." During the meeting, high-ranking Cheong Wa Dae officials discussed ways to realize the complete denuclearization of North Korea and bring lasting peace to the Korean Peninsula by realizing the inter-Korean declaration. Police patrol outside the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore on Sunday. AP-Yonhap By Kang Aa-young Five South Korean women were deported from Singapore for protesting against the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un, reports said. Police had their visitor visas cancelled, according to the Straits Times report on Thursday. The five were arrested on a charge of causing trouble under the Public Order Act on Monday in a "special event area" designated for the summit. By Steve Tharp As one familiar with much of the legend and fact surrounding the DMZ, my interest was piqued recently by an article in a competing newspaper with the headline "Google thought Panmunjeom [sic] was in North Korea." Based on information provided by the Korea Culture and Information Service (KOCIS), the article reported that one of the most commonly found errors reported by foreign-based media is that Panmunjom and the Joint Security Area (JSA) are not the same place. Knowing this is untrue, I found it troubling that a Korean government agency responsible for correcting facts could make that kind of mistake. I found it amusing that I may be responsible for some of the wording in these articles since foreign journalists occasionally call to ask me to explain certain aspects of the DMZ. I found it disturbing that the reporter didn't respond to my email (why was his address under his byline?). Therefore, I'd like to take this opportunity to clear up the facts for both journalists and KOCIS and, then having been educated on the matter, everyone can refer to these places however they wish. "Nolmun-ni" was the original name for Panmunjom but because the first syllable couldn't be written in Chinese characters, the name was changed as a convenience for the Chinese. Because "nol," is a pure Korean word meaning flat board, it cannot be written in Chinese characters. The Sino-Korean word "pan," with essentially the same meaning, was substituted for "nol." Additionally, the third syllable, "ni/ri (meaning village), was replaced with jom (store/outlet) changing the sound but not really the meaning of the village's name. The correct English spelling is Panmunjom as found in the Armistice Agreement, other related armistice materials and in North Korean romanization. The South Korean romanization "Panmunjeom" is inappropriate since Panmunjom is an Armistice creation and located in North Korea, not in the South. Panmunjom was the historical venue for most of the Korean War ceasefire talks and the initial post-armistice talks from October 1951 until October 1953, as recorded in the Armistice Agreement and the first 25 Military Armistice Commission (MAC) meeting minutes. The North Korean People's Peace Museum is housed in the building where the Armistice Agreement was co-signed and exchanged on July 27, 1953. It is 600 meters north of the military demarcation line and 1,000 meters from the JSA, clearly under North Korean control. The only way to visit Panmunjom and the Korean People's Peace Museum is to go through North Korea. The Joint Security Area or JSA is a different place and a different type of venue. The United Nations Command and the Communists agreed in September 1953 to create a Military Armistice Commission Headquarters Area (MACHA) which would be a column running through the DMZ in the vicinity of Panmunjom, broken into A and B sectors on each side of the military demarcation line. The A sectors abutted the military demarcation line and are where the Joint Security Area was established, as a neutral zone, for the purpose of housing the buildings and meeting venues of the three major Armistice-related commissions. The purpose of MACHA B was to provide a corridor on each side of the MACHA through which the delegations could travel to MACHA A for meetings. Volume II of the Armistice Agreement (maps) shows Panmunjom within the northern MACHA B area well within North Korea. Additional proof that these are different locations can be found in the historical armistice-related documents. Panmunjom is listed as the venue on the signature page of the Armistice Agreement and at the top of the Meeting Minutes for the first 25 MAC sessions. The JSA officially became the new venue for armistice agreement-related dialogue on Oct. 20, 1953, with the 26th MAC Meeting. From that time on, the location recorded at the top of the UNC Official MAC Meeting minutes was listed as the MACHA rather than Panmunjom. In September 1976, the JSA was divided by mutual agreement after North Korean guards attacked and murdered two American officers, Capt. Arthur Bonifas and First Lt. Mark Barrett, on Aug. 18, 1976. Although no longer a neutral site, the JSA continued on as an armistice meeting venue as well a site for South-North dialogue, a role that began in 1972. The bottom line is that Panmunjom and the JSA are different locations. The modern-day negotiation buildings in the JSA are located about 1 kilometer from the original village of Panmunjom, the historical negotiating venue. Although this technicality has been overlooked over the years, the point here is that a Republic of Korea government agency doesn't have the legal authority to change the names of locations under the control of the United Nations Command (southern half of the DMZ) and the North Korean People's Army (northern half of the DMZ) as long as the Armistice Agreement remains in effect. About a month ago I saw a KOCIS job announcement "looking for a native English speaker to edit and proofread a diverse range of English-language documents " Perhaps in addition to proofreading, KOCIS should be training their content readers on distinguishing between legend and fact. I don't believe this explanation is going to have any practical effect because the difference in location between Panmunjom and the JSA has been ignored for too long. Panmunjom is a well-known name whereas the JSA is relatively unknown which led to the practice of calling both places Panmunjom. I usually refer to the current meeting location as the "JSA near Panmunjom" in my efforts to be both correct and understood. Sometimes a hypocrite myself however, I occasionally substitute Panmunjom for JSA when the situation calls for simplicity. Perhaps instead of trying to fight the current, I should just accept the current situation by paraphrasing the newspaper editor in the 1962 John Wayne Western movie "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance": "This is Korea, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend." Steve Tharp (daraemm@gmail.com) is a retired U.S. Army infantry officer and Foreign Area Officer who served 40 years with the U.S. military, 26 of those years in Korea, including six years as a negotiator meeting with North Korean and Chinese military officers at the Joint Security Area near Panmunjom. By Major General S B Asthana The world is talking about the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as a historic moment with hopes that it will bring peace to the Korean Peninsula. Reading between the lines, beyond the niceties and magnificent optics displayed, some realities do emerge, which will indicate it is the beginning of a great gamble by both sides. This issue had crossed the limit of being a bilateral one and it impacts other stakeholders as well, hence this may not be the last call on peace of the Korean Peninsula. In real terms North Korea continues to be saddled with continued economic sanctions and the U.S. continues to be suspicious of implementation of complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization (CVID), hence it will lift sanctions only "when nukes are no longer an issue." Both leaders can pat themselves on their backs as the U.S. has made Kim sign the document on denuclearization in a manner that suits it, and Kim has been able to get the offensive military exercises/war games off his mind at least for some time, having bought time for the next step. A happy ending summit: Was there any other option? The U.S. and North Korea have called the summit a historic success, but it was also a compulsion in light of a lack of alternatives. It was the only practical option because a failed summit would not have suited either side. At face value, all the world leaders have expressed happiness over the summit and have hopes for a peaceful Korean Peninsula, but it needs to be analyzed whether their concerns have been met or otherwise. The U.S. will continue to be apprehensive till it is verified that North Korea is no longer capable to nuke its mainland. The U.S. may have stopped, or at least slowed down, the continuation of military exercises, but it is yet to be clarified if it is going to remove the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system from South Korea, which was a concern of China and Russia also. North Korea, having signed the document, will be forced to think that with economic sanctions still in place, was it a big gamble to give away its only strategic leverage? It looks too good to be true. It however remains to be seen if China will allow Kim to be stripped of all nukes. Kim can claim an accolade over making President Trump talk to him through nuclear blackmail. This will enhance his credibility in his country as well as in the global arena. China, highlighting its influence, did talk of its efforts in getting both leaders together, but in a subtle message has indirectly shown concern about the reasonable security and safety of North Korea. Kim had consulted President Xi Jinping twice before the summit, but it is not sure if the document signed conforms to the narrative of President Xi or even comes close. China will also be concerned about THAAD and continued sanctions, leaving an ambiguity to send their trade items and essentials to North Korea or otherwise. Japan will continue to be skeptical of North Korea, because even if North Korea does denuclearize, the missile threat will continue to loom over its territory, notwithstanding a remark by President Trump that Kim has agreed to destroy a missile site. South Korea will be happy as its efforts to get the two leaders across the table from each other have finally borne fruit, and there is a move forward. They would genuinely look for peace, as Seoul is within reach of conventional weapons of North Korea. Russian may have to wait for clarification on the THAAD deployment, a concern they were airing earlier. India will welcome a peaceful Korean Peninsula, but would be keen for some control on North Korea on alleged proliferation of missile technology to Pakistan. It remains to be seen what the future will bring for the Korean Peninsula, but it was interesting to see the diplomatic negotiations at their best in the run-up to the summit. It was a commendable diplomatic breakthrough after decades of hostility, but there is still no guarantee North Korea will follow it up. Equally interesting were the two unpredictable leaders conducting themselves with grace and maturity in a well-choreographed event. It will also be interesting to see how the U.S. will respond, after display of such niceties, to any leakages in sanctions by any third country. The final test will be the response of North Korea to the international inspectors of nukes. Shashi Asthana is a veteran Indian infantry general (major general) with 40 years of varied experience in national and international fields. He now serves as chief instructor of all courses for military officers in the United Service Institute of India. He can be reached at hashiasthana29@gmail.com. By Trudy Rubin President Donald Trump got played. After all the hoopla and pageantry and Trump braggadocio at the Singapore summit, with Kim Jong-un standing alongside the U.S. president in front of thousands of journalists, the North Korean leader came out the winner. Kim had already racked up points just by standing alongside the U.S. president as an equal, showered with Trump's praise and transformed from pariah to international rock star. In recent weeks he was welcomed to Beijing and Seoul, and invited to Moscow. China and Russia have already started to loosen sanctions. All this might have been an acceptable cost for achieving the U.S. goal: to get Kim to commit specifically to shedding his nuclear weapons within a reasonable time frame, in a verifiable fashion. But, on this, Trump failed big time: The joint statement that emerged from the summit included no such firm commitments, using vague language on denuclearization that is interpreted very differently by the two sides. "It does not meet the minimum requirements in terms of what we expected them to do," Ambassador Joseph Y. Yun, the former special U.S. representative to North Korea, told CNN. Instead, Trump made a huge concession up front stopping joint U.S. military exercises with South Korea, a key tool for keeping pressure on the North. And he didn't even inform the Seoul government beforehand, leaving it publicly grasping for information on U.S. intentions. "I gave up nothing," the president insisted in a news conference. He was clearly oblivious to the fact that he was playing into North Korea's longtime game plan: to emerge as an internationally recognized state, recognized by America and the world without surrendering all of its nukes. Let's look at what the president did give up. In the run-up to the summit, U.S. and Korean negotiators were wrestling over whether North Korea would make a substantial pledge of denuclearization up front, including details of its nuclear program and a timeline for dismantling it. But, going into the summit, the two sides could not even agree on a common definition of the term denuclearization. "Our definition of denuclearization is they give up all their fissile material, facilities, nuclear material taken out, irrevocably and verifiably," says Jung Pak, top Korea expert at the Brookings Institution and a former senior CIA Korea analyst. The joint statement, however, contained only a vague commitment to "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula" terminology favored by Pyongyang and Beijing. In North Korea's interpretation, say North Korea experts, this means an end to the U.S. troop presence in South Korea and nuclear umbrella over that country and Japan without any corresponding specifics on eliminating its own nuclear program. By using this language and ending joint exercises Trump acceded to Kim's game plan. He went even further, repeating his desire to pull U.S. troops out of Korea (although not immediately) and emphasizing his desire to save money by so doing. All this before North Korea makes any firm commitment to giving up its nuclear weapons and missile programs. True, Kim has frozen his nuclear tests and missile tests for now. And he has destroyed an already collapsing nuclear test site and promised Trump more on other sites. But none of this speaks to the onetime American demand that North Korean completely, irrevocably, and verifiably destroy its weapons. Negotiations will now commence, but if the past is prologue, they could drag on for a very long time and never reach a firm conclusion. Meanwhile, U.S. leverage on North Korea is declining, as China and Russia start to loosen sanctions. A push for a formal peace between North and South Korea will weaken any future pressure. And Trump's eagerness to halt joint military exercises and remove U.S. troops undermines U.S. leverage further. This gives North Korea little reason to swiftly negotiate an end to its weapons program. After all, the U.S. president has told the world that Kim is "very smart" and "honorable" and "wants to do the right thing." Trump even sloughed off questions at the news conference about North Korean forced labor camps where thousands are tortured and murdered, saying such things happen elsewhere. How embarrassing it would be for Trump to resume insulting the great Korean leader. Much easier to insult a democratic prime minister like Justin Trudeau. The irony here is that, contrary to Trump's exaggerated claims, Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush got much more specific commitments from Pyongyang. In 1992, 1994, and 2005, the North Koreans pledged to eliminate all their nuclear weapons. They reneged. When asked why he'd do better, Trump bragged: "This is a much different president." Clearly this president believes his smarts will get results from North Korea, where previous presidents met failure. The good news is that war on the Korean Peninsula looks far less likely than a few months ago. But judging from the Singapore summit, it is Kim Jong-un who has mastered the art of dealing with Trump. Trudy Rubin is a columnist and editorial-board member for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Her commentary was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Let's begin with the good news. Tuesday's Singapore summit between President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jung-un could have been a disaster, and it wasn't. What's more, there remains the hope slender, but real that the conversation and resulting joint statement by the two leaders could be a springboard to future diplomacy. If that happens, and if the diplomacy grows to include measurable commitments to change by North Korea, so long propped up by propaganda and prison camps, then Tuesday's summit could become the breakthrough moment Trump has declared it to be. But aspirations are flimsy material upon which to lean, but for now high hopes are all we have been left with. In his eagerness to make history, the president conceded much. What we have to show for it is exceedingly small, at least so far. Certainly, North Korea has made no firm commitments. Kim and Trump did agree Tuesday to keep their subordinates talking, and to work together to return the remains of POWs or MIA soldiers from the Korean War. Kim has pledged to continue working for the "total de-nuclearization of the Korean peninsula" a welcome goal, but one still shrouded in mystery. In return for these vague promises, Trump has gave on a lot. To begin with, in agreeing to meet personally with Kim at all, Trump elevated Kim's status enormously. For weeks, the world has seen Kim engage in a kind of high-profile shuttle diplomacy between top leaders of China, Russia and South Korea. His elevated status is a direct benefit of Trump's decision to meet with him on equal diplomatic footing. That imbalance continued on Tuesday. To the shock of the Pentagon and our allies in Seoul, Trump said he promised Kim that the United States would end joint military exercises with South Korea. He explained that they're too expensive anyway, and besides, they are quite provocative to North Korea. Trump said he'd like to bring home America's troops altogether, but that it's too soon to discuss that. He singled out Kim for high praise, defending him as "very talented" and noted that perhaps "only 1 in 100,000 people" on the planet could have succeeded as he has. Against all this talk, and all these concessions, there was no mention of human rights. No mention of the gulags, the propaganda, the persecution millions of his people live under. To praise Kim's survival skills is strange talk from an American president, given that he did so without noting Kim inherited his position as absolute monarch of a country ruled by fear, murder and constant surveillance. He has continued this, murdering rivals and family members in horrific ways, and keeping a population of millions in abject thralldom. As talks continue, we can only hope that Trump realizes that any meaningful peace will have to address the human rights outrages that prop up his new negotiating partner. The above editorial appeared in the Dallas Morning News. It was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Concerns mounting over suspension of Korea-US drills The June 12 summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has presented some tough challenges for Seoul. In particular, concerns are mounting over Trump's comment on suspending joint military drills with South Korea and what this means for the health of the Korea-U.S. alliance. Trump referred to the joint exercises as "war games" and described them as "provocative and expensive." He said he would stop the drills as long as denuclearization talks continue in good faith. Although suspension of the joint drills is drawing keen public attention, the government has not clearly explained whether Seoul and Washington sufficiently consulted on the issue before Trump's comment. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha held a joint press conference in Seoul Thursday with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono. Kang dismissed concerns about the Korea-U.S. alliance and did not elaborate on the talk of suspending joint military drills, saying it was an issue for defense authorities. During a National Security Council meeting Thursday, President Moon Jae-in said the allies would review the possibility of suspending joint drills. "While dialogue continues between the two Koreas and the U.S. and North Korea, we will carefully consider whether to suspend the Korea-U.S. joint drills," Moon said. The Ministry of National Defense said the two countries were discussing suspension of the Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) exercises scheduled for August. The June 12 summit paved the way for starting a peace process on the peninsula, with the U.S. pledging a security guarantee in exchange for North Korea's denuclearization. While the denuclearization talks are underway, it is necessary for all concerned parties to carry out their part of the deal and set the right conditions for the talks to move forward. This is the time to build mutual trust between the U.S. and North Korea to expedite the peace process on the Korean Peninsula. The responsibility lies with President Moon on how to effectively convince all Koreans of the need to reduce or suspend the joint military drills. Some Koreans believe any change to the drills could weaken national security and the Korea-U.S. alliance. Korea and the U.S. should consult each other closely on follow-up measures to the June 12 Singapore summit while ensuring the alliance is not undermined in any way. By Tong Kim The outcome of the historic U.S.- North Korea summit in Singapore was met by an outpouring of comments mostly negative for lack of specificity in the signed joint statement, doubting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's "firm and unswerving" commitment to "the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." There were complaints that the agreement did not include the critical parts of verification and irreversibility of a "complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization (CVID) that U.S. officials had said they were seeking. President Trump and his secretary of state Mike Pompeo clarified that the concepts of the two missing elements were included in the language of "complete denuclearization." It is not surprising that North Korea would not have agreed to include "CVID" in the written agreement, in view of their persistent position that they were not a defeated party of war accepting an unconditional surrender, even though they understood or agreed with the meaning of the acronym through numerous pre-summit preparation meetings. Trump said he did not discuss it in the summit. Once the denuclearization process begins, it will have to go through a rigorous verification and a permanent dismantlement of the North's nuclear programs. In the summit agreement, there is no timeline for the completion of North Korea's denuclearization. However, Pompeo told reporters in Seoul Thursday that he was hoping to complete the process during Trump's first term. The major thrust of the joint statement was Kim Jong-un's commitment to denuclearization in return for U.S. security guarantees for the North. The two leaders also agreed to work towards a new bilateral relationship, a durable peace regime, denuclearization, and recovery of the remains of those lost during the Korean war. Without details, the joint statement looks like an agenda for follow-up negotiations after the summit. In fact, Pompeo and a North Korean representative will undertake a follow up discussion as early as this week. Obviously, Pompeo will focus on a detailed denuclearization plan. North Korea will show more interest in the specific steps to security guarantees and the lifting of sanctions. Pyongyang was exuberant to hear Trump's mention of stopping "war games" that are "provocative" and "inappropriate" and expensive. Trump seemed to have echoed the North's propaganda that joint U.S.-South Korean exercises were a rehearsal for invasion of the North. Vice President Mike Pence said that did not mean to stop the regular training for readiness. Trump thinks these war games would be suspended as long as talks continue with the North in good faith. Not a bad idea, as the North will keep their freeze on nuclear and missile tests under the same conditions. As Trump claimed he did not make any concessions, while Kim Jong-un released three American hostages, destroyed the nuclear testing site, and promised he would also destroy a testing ground for missile engines. Yes, Trump did not lift any sanctions yet, saying they will be lifted when there will be no nuclear threat. However, the justification of sanctions has been weakened. After his return to Washington, he tweeted about the result of his summit, now "there is no nuclear threat to the United States. Perhaps the biggest accomplishment of the summit is the elimination of a possible nuclear war, which appeared real throughout 2017. Trump and Kim Jong-un seized a new opportunity to achieve a peaceful settlement of the decades' old hostility between the U.S. and the North and a resolution of the North's most dangerous nuclear weapons. There is a lot of work to be done, starting immediately. For denuclearization, a sequence of its process can begin with a transparent declaration of all of the North's nuclear-related programs to be followed by a complete stop of all weapons production activities, moving to dismantlement of nuclear infrastructure for enriched uranium and plutonium and actual nuclear bombs and missiles. A rigorous and strict verification system is essential throughout the denuclearization process. A peace regime should include a declaration to end the war and a peace treaty subject to Senate ratification. And it should involve South Korea and China as well. The first photo op of the two leaders shaking hands with U.S. and North Korean flags in the background demonstrated the symbolism of the virtual end of the war. When commanders of opposing forces meet during war, they fly white flags. No doubt, Kim got more than Trump out of their first summit. However, now the ball is in Kim's court. He must make big positive moves. Otherwise, it is possible that we may all go back to the old mode of confrontation and threats of war. Tong Kim (tong.kim8@yahoo.com) is a Washington correspondent and columnist for The Korea Times. He is also a fellow at the Institute of Corean-American Studies (ICAS). By Dr. Chris Baumann Have you ever wondered why East Asian culture is actually different from Western culture? Research led by Macquarie University in Australia and the Stockholm Business School (SBS) sheds light on how culture drives how we work. East Asian wisdom East Asian wisdom is largely derived from ancient thinking and the teaching of Confucius (551 B.C. to 479 B.C.), coupled with Taoism and Legalism and also with newer influences such as Buddhism. East Asian culture is mastering the combination of seemingly opposing forces, a notion found in the yin and yang philosophy; e.g. there is light and dark, there are female and male species, night and day, pleasure and pain, and so on. While scholars have known about these philosophies for a long time, only relatively recently have researchers in the business disciplines attempted to measure them. Coming from backgrounds in economics and management science, researchers in international business and cross-cultural management have felt a need to "put a number on" abstract and highly contextual concepts of culture. Of course, that is not without risk; meanwhile there has been a "push" in the literature to measure highly-defined aspects of culture, quantified to better understand how they relate to everyday practical human behavior such as negotiation style, work ethic and performance. Brand new research on culture This writer and Associate Professor Hume Winzar at Macquarie University together with Professor Tony Fang at the Stockholm Business School (SBS) were guest editors of a special issue in Cross Cultural & Strategic Management (CCSM), a journal edited by leading international business scholar, Professor Rosalie L. Tung at Simon Fraser University (SFU). The special issue contains seven research papers about East Asian wisdom. One paper, for example, by influential Professor Michael Minkov, is on the "revision of Hofstede's Model of National Culture: Old Evidence and New Data from 56 Countries," probing the validity of the Hofstede cultural dimensions that students nearly always learn about in (international) business classes. Professor Minkov is with the Sofia Local Center, Varna University of Management, Sofia, Bulgaria. In the Asian century with Asian dominance in culture, politics and economic power and innovation, it is important to understand the new role of East Asian management style, hence one paper explores "the case of Chinese expatriate managers in the Dutch context." Other work looks at "managing paradox, dilemmas, and change." Confucianism Macquarie University (MQ) contributed two papers to this special issue, one on the measurement of Confucianism and how that philosophy indeed "drives" workplace performance; with Ph.D. student Doris Viengkham. A new categorization shows Confucian origin for mainland China, Confucian preservation in Taiwan, and Confucian pragmatism in South Korea. The research demonstrates that Confucianism has "shades of grey." The paper is based on the notion that "instillation of hard work and strict discipline in the education system spills over into the workforce, which not only produces a unique form of "work ethic," but also drives competitiveness. Peak academic performance in the East Asian cluster is largely driven by strict discipline." Indeed, the paper concludes that there are "strong links between culture, education, and performance. Namely, that the pedagogical approach of Confucian East Asia, with its emphasis on education and strict discipline, is shown to have a spillover effect into how individuals perform in the workforce." The second MQ paper (with Professor Tony Fang at SBS) is on "East Asian wisdom and relativity" and suggests "inter-ocular testing" for data analyses comparing human groups. An extension of the relative values and moderated behavior (ReVaMB) model originated at MQ allows better and more realistical testing of cultural values "driving" human attitudes and behavior in future research. Confucius is no longer alive, but his spirit lives on in the East Asian region and the Asian diaspora. Dr. Chris Baumann (chris.baumann@mq.edu.au) is an associate professor at Macquarie University, Sydney, and visiting professor at Seoul National University (SNU) in Korea. His work focuses on competitiveness, Confucianism and customer loyalty. AmorePacific Chairman Suh Kyung-bae, seventh from left, cuts tape with Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, sixth from left, and architect David Chipperfield, eighth from left, during a ceremony to celebrate the completion of the cosmetics company's new headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Friday. / Courtesy of AmorePacific By Kim Yoo-chul Samsung Electronics' significant commitment to renewable energy is expected to lift the stock price of Samsung SDI, Samsung's battery affiliate, which will be supplying batteries for solar panels to be installed at Samsung's main manufacturing facilities. Samsung Electronics said it was planning to use 100 percent renewable energy at its factories, office buildings and operational facilities in Europe, China and the United States by 2020. Under the initiative, the world's top-tier tech heavyweight plans to install around 42,000 square meters of solar panels at its headquarters in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, and will add solar arrays and geothermal power-generation facilities at its chip-making campuses in Pyeongtaek and Hwaseong. "The Samsung plan is truly a positive factor for Samsung SDI as battery and battery packs are the crucial components to back up the Samsung initiative," Jang Jeong-hoon, an analyst at Samsung Securities, said Friday. "We believe Samsung Electronics will use energy storage systems (ESS) powered by lithium batteries to supply electricity." Jang said Samsung expects to have up to 10 gigawatt hours (GWh) of ESS capacity by 2020 from an estimated 3.1GWh of capacity this year. Samsung SDI shares are up 13.21 percent this month as the successful listing of Chinese battery supplier CATL improved investors' sentiment toward the rechargeable battery industry. "Governments are providing more subsidies to renewable projects in a way to protect environments and to have cleaner cities. Given the continued rise in eco-friendly business projects around the world, the Samsung Electronics announcements will push battery suppliers to expand their production capacities. We believe Samsung SDI will benefit the most given its market leadership," Kim Ji-san of Kium Securities said. "In the ESS market, Samsung SDI's standard rectangular (rigid) batteries are more competitive than batteries of a circular type in terms of production costs and lower defect rates or better production yields." So Hyun-chul at Shinhan Financial Investment said the brokerage has revised up its target on Samsung SDI to 290,000 won a share, citing the continued improvement of its battery business. "We expect Samsung SDI to report 1.48 trillion won in revenue from its ESS battery business throughout this year, up 235 percent from a year ago," So said. Song Chi-heun, chief of Samsung SDI's public relations team, said the company is complying with the government's policy initiative to push forward with plans to invest more in renewable energy-centered business projects. Several large businesses are looking to embrace renewable energy. Earlier this year, Apple said its global facilities were now being powered entirely by clean energy in what its CEO Tim Cook claimed was an "important milestone" for the company. Amazon also announced its biggest wind farm to date was operational. It said Amazon Wind Farm Texas is expected to add over 1 million megawatt hours of clean energy a year to the grid. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power CEO Chung Jae-hoon speaks during a press conference in southeastern Seoul, Friday, to announce the early shutdown of the Wolsong-1 nuclear reactor. / Yonhap State-run operator also halts plans to build four more reactors By Nam Hyun-woo The Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) said Friday its board has decided to shut down the Wolsong-1 nuclear reactor in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, before the end of its lifespan and scrap all plans for building four new reactors across the country. "According to the government's energy policy shift, we have reviewed operational plans of Wolsong reactors several times and concluded keeping the Wolsong-1 operating under strengthened safety regulations would not be economical," KHNP CEO Chung Jae-hoon said in a press conference in Seoul. "Also, the plans for building new reactors of Cheonji-1,2 and Daejin-1,2 would be terminated in order to eradicate uncertainties in the KHNP's management and restore smooth relations with local residents." The KHNP has already purchased lots equivalent to 19 percent of the space required for the Cheonji reactors in Yeongdeok County, North Gyeongsang Province, but decided to resell the lots. The Daejin reactors were scheduled to be established in Samcheok, Gangwon Province. Following the decision, Chung said the KHNP will file an administrative request with the national Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC). Then, the Wolsong-1, whose lifespan ends in November 2022, will be the second nuclear reactor to be shut down in Korea, following the Kori-1, which closed last June. The 679 megawatt reactor began its commercial operation in April 1983 and was initially scheduled to stop in 2012, but the NSSC extended its lifespan to 2022, causing disputes with opposing local residents over compensation. The reactor itself also caused problems after it resumed operation in 2015 and was stopped twice a year. It has not been operating since May for maintenance. Closing the Wolsong-1 before its lifespan was part of President Moon Jae-in's election platform. Moon has been underscoring his nuclear-free energy policy and strengthening safety regulations to phase out nuclear reactors in the country. The moves picked up momentum after public concerns over nuclear power in the wake of a series of earthquakes that rocked the southeastern regions of the country, which used to be regarded as safe from earthquakes. The government doesn't expect the absence of the Wolsong-1 to cause problems in supplying electricity for the country this year. Last December, the government announced the Eighth Basic Plan of Long-Term Electricity Supply and Demand, which is the country's basic roadmap for the electricity supply up to 2031, and excluded the Wolsong-1 as a power source saying it will not likely contribute. Despite the KHNP's decision, the state-run corporation's union is strongly opposing the Wolsong-1's early closing, arguing the decision has no legal grounds. "The Eighth Basic Plan of Long-Term Electricity Supply and Demand is a patchwork plan to reflect the President's campaign pledge and the decision to close the plant is invalid," the union said in a statement. "The NSSC has approved the Wolsong-1's operation until 2022, after pouring 560 billion won to replace facilities and enhance safety measures. The board's decision appears to be swayed by political circumstances." Hankook Tire's factory in Tennessee. / Courtesy of Hankook Tire By Nam Hyun-woo Domestic tiremaker Hankook Tire is moving to expand its facilities in the United States and invest in R&D to cope with new trends in the automotive industry. According to the tiremaker, Friday, it plans to expand output at its facility in Tennessee, which has been operational since April last year. The plant has an initial production capacity of 5.5 million tires a year, and the expansion, if it materializes, will help the company double this to 11 million tires, according to company officials. Earlier this week, Hankook Tire America confirmed its factory expansion plans to respond to growing demand from customers in the United States. Its U.S. subsidiary said the expansion will help the regional economy as the company plans to hire more Americans. The company declined to elaborate as the additional investment is subject to board approval. "The company's top priority for the time being is to improve production yields, which means less defect rates," a Hankook Tire official said. "We are measuring the timing of the second phase of expansion as we have to consider lots of variables such as tariffs before fixing new investment plans." With financial and administrative help from the Tennessee state government, the company has already secured land to back up its additional factory expansion plan. Early expansion is a strong possibility as the U.S. moves to impose heavier tariffs on car and auto parts imports, which will directly or indirectly affect tiremakers across the world, especially those with factories in China. Hankook Tire has eight plants in Korea, Hungary, Indonesia, China and the U.S. Given the company's sales in North America accounted for about 29 percent of its total sales last year, observers expect Hankook Tire will likely speed up its expansion in the U.S. to avoid being hit hard by the tariffs. Europe is the largest market for Hankook Tire, accounting for more than 30 percent of its total sales last year. The company is also scheduled to break ground for a massive proving ground in Taean, South Chungcheong Province, in the latter half of this year. The 200 billion won ($183 million) test center will be on 1.26 million square meters of land and house 11 test courses, including Korea's first course that can test tires at 250 kilometer per hour. The proving ground is in line with Hankook Tire's recent drive on R&D. According to its regulatory filing, the share of its budget for R&D to total sales rose from 1.75 percent in 2013 to 2.61 percent in 2017. Xi calls for efforts to boost innovation ability in economic and social development Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits an industrial park of Wanhua Chemical during an inspection tour in Yantai, east China's Shandong Province, June 13, 2018. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) JINAN, June 14 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has called for efforts to implement a new vision of development in order to achieve high-quality growth, boost the ability of innovation in economic and social development, and satisfy people's ever growing needs for a better life. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during an inspection tour in east China's Shandong Province from June 12 to 14. When visiting a national laboratory on marine science and technology in the city of Qingdao on Tuesday, Xi underscored the importance of understanding the ocean and accelerating the pace of innovation in marine science and technology to develop China into a major maritime power. At a residential community in Licang District, Qingdao, Xi visited the community's canteen and talked with residents. He asked local authorities to provide more space for people's leisure activities and exercise, and improve services to residents by allocating more resources to the community level. In Weihai City, Xi visited a battery relics and the museum of the Sino-Japanese war of 1894-1895. He talked with Party members taking a training course there and museum staff, saying that Chinese people must draw lessons from history and work hard to build China into a better and stronger nation. When inspecting an ecological restoration project, Xi stressed that good ecological environment is an important basis for sustainable and healthy economic and social development. He urged authorities to give higher priority to ecological conservation. On Wednesday, Xi visited the city of Penglai, once a starting point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road. He asked officials to learn from history and enhance protection of cultural relics. While visiting the industrial park of Wanhua Chemical in Yantai city, Xi stressed the importance of independent innovation to make breakthroughs in the development of key technology. Xi visited the Yantai base of CIMC Raffles and inspected submerged oil drilling platform and other marine engineering equipment manufactured by the firm. Xi talked with company officials and workers, and stressed that state-owned enterprises (SOEs), especially central SOEs, must strengthen their independent innovation capacity and develop more advanced equipment for the country. On Thursday morning, Xi made a trip to a high-end fault tolerant computer production base of the Inspur Group in the high-tech zone of Jinan, capital of Shandong Province. He inspected the assembly line and was briefed by company officials on their efforts in building an intelligent factory and improving products quality and efficiency. Xi stressed that it is very important to set specific target and path for a country's development, while reiterating the importance of innovation. After leaving the Inspur Group, Xi visited Sanjianxi Village, Zhangqiu District in Jinan, where he stressed the importance of talent to realize rural vitalization. For agricultural and rural work, the key point lies in increasing farmers' income, Xi said while visiting the home of one of the villagers. On Thursday afternoon, Xi heard the work report by the Party committee and government of Shandong Province. He urged the province to implement the spirit of the Party's 19th National Congress and the thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era and stick to the underlying principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability. With the supply-side reform as the main clue, reforms should be made to improve quality, boost efficiency and upgrade the driving force of economic development, Xi said. He also called for efforts to advance industrial upgrading, innovation-driven growth and infrastructure upgrading, build Shandong into a strong maritime province, enhance opening up and reform and make progress in realizing high-quality growth. As a major agricultural province, it is Shandong's responsibility to ensure grain security of the country, Xi said, calling for efforts to ensure grain production, optimize agricultural structure, increase farmer's income, win the battle against poverty, implement the rural vitalization strategy, and develop Shandong into a model of rural vitalization. Xi underlined the importance of improving people's well-being, which is the fundamental purpose of development. Solid efforts should be made to address social issues such as employment, education and social security to ensure social justice. 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. Chinese President Xi Jinping met with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Thursday. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 14, 2018. [Photo: Xinhua] Xi said China and the United States share broad common interests and shoulder important responsibilities in safeguarding world peace and stability and promoting global development and prosperity. Working together, China and the United States can make big things happen to the benefit of both countries and the whole world, Xi said. He called on the two sides to implement the consensus reached by him and U.S. President Donald Trump during their meeting in Beijing, strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, properly handle differences, and expand cooperation so as to ensure bilateral ties will go forward along the right track to benefit the two peoples and the world. The two countries should always view each other's strategic intentions in a correct way, and respect and take care of each other's core interests and major concerns, he said, noting that is the important lesson derived from the nearly 40 years of development of bilateral ties after they forged diplomatic ties. China is always committed to developing cooperative relations with the United States featuring mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and win-win results, Xi said. The president called for more high-level exchanges and institutional dialogue, expanded cooperation in various areas, and enhanced people-to-people and local exchanges to consolidate the foundation of bilateral ties. Xi expressed his hope that the United States will handle sensitive issues, including the Taiwan issue and economic and trade frictions, in a prudent way to avoid serious obstruction to bilateral ties. China and the United States should strengthen communication and coordination in major international and regional issues and those with global significance, Xi said, calling on the two countries to work together in building world peace and maintaining international order. Pompeo conveyed President Trump's greetings to President Xi, especially Trump's appreciation for Xi's important advice and help over the Korean Peninsula issue. Hailing the continuously developing U.S.-China relations under the joint guidance of both leaders, Pompeo said the United States attaches importance to bilateral ties and stands ready to enhance communication with China, properly handle outstanding issues, deepen cooperation in various fields, and meet global and regional challenges. The United States appreciates China's vital role in the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, he said, adding that the United States is willing to work with China to promote realization of denuclearization and lasting peace on the peninsula. Xi asked Pompeo to convey his greetings to President Trump. He stressed that the meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), was historic, fruitful and an important step in the process of a political settlement of the peninsula nuclear issue, saying China extends heart-felt congratulations to both sides. The issues concerning the Korean Peninsula are complex and must be resolved step by step, Xi said. China hopes the two sides respect each other, work for the shared goal and make continuous efforts to the political settlement of the issues. China firmly adheres to denuclearization of the peninsula and its peace and stability, and insists on solving problems through dialogue, Xi said, adding that China will continue to play an active and constructive role, and work with relevant parties, including the United States, to promote the political solution of the issue. The Legislative Council (LegCo) of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Thursday finished the third reading of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) co-location bill. A MTR train of CRH (China Railway High-speed) runs on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link at the Shenzhen North Railway Station in Shenzhen city, south China's Guangdong province, May 14, 2018. [Photo: IC] After the bill has been given three readings, it becomes a piece of enacted law. The bill would take effect after it is signed by the chief executive of HKSAR and promulgated in the Gazette of HKSAR government. The Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Co-location) Ordinance will be gazetted on June 22. When the bill comes into effect, the co-location arrangement will be implemented at the West Kowloon Station of HKSAR, which allows passengers go through the customs, immigration and quarantine procedures of both Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland successively in one place. Carrie Lam, chief executive of HKSAR, welcomed the passage of the XRL co-location bill by the Legislative Council, saying it signifies a big step towards the target of the commissioning of the Hong Kong Section of XRL in September this year. "The passage of the bill marks the basic completion of the three-step process of the co-location arrangement at the XRL West Kowloon Station. It provides a sound legal basis for the co-location arrangement, maximizing the transport, economic and social benefits of the XRL,"she said. Chan Fan, Secretary for Transport and Housing of the HKSAR government, said the co-location arrangement that will be implemented in the new station is the only way to suit passengers' convenience. In order to fully exploit the transport, social and economic benefits of the XRL and maximize convenience to passengers, the government of HKSAR in July, 2017 announced to implement the co-location arrangement at the cross-border railway station in West Kowloon Station. To implement the co-location arrangement, the Chinese mainland and the HKSAR need to first reach a cooperation arrangement, which will be endorsed by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. Following the congress endorsement, the HKSAR needs to implement it through the enactment of local legislation. According to the law of HKSAR, three readings are required for getting through the local legislation. Construction works of the Hong Kong Section of the XRL that started in 2010 are now roughly 99 percent completed. The 26-km Hong Kong section of the XRL links up Hong Kong with the mega high-speed rail network of the Chinese mainland. The trial run of the Hong Kong Section of XRL has been held on April 1. The project is expected to commission in the third quarter of this year. Disagreements could scupper deal: experts A plan by India to form a crude oil buyers' alliance with China could be a mutually beneficial deal for two of the world's largest crude importers, potentially leading to a greater say in global oil price setting, but it won't work unless the two countries can overcome major political and economic issues, experts said on Thursday. To move the plan forward, Indian Oil Corp Chairman Sanjiv Singh met with Wang Yilin, chairman of China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), in Beijing this month, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported on Wednesday, citing an unnamed source. The trip was a follow-up on an earlier proposal made by Indian Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at the International Energy Forum in April to form an "oil buyers' club" to negotiate better terms with sellers and facilitate the purchase of more US crude oil in order to counter the dominance of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the PTI report said. The report did not mention specific results from the meeting. CNPC did not respond to faxed questions from the Global Times about the meeting as of press time on Thursday. "There is huge room for energy cooperation between China and India," said Qian Feng, a researcher at the Chinese Association for South Asian Studies in Beijing, noting that the two countries have many shared interests in the global crude market as they are two of the largest importers. "The two countries' economies are among the world's fastest-growing and they both have a huge demand for oil imports," Qian told the Global Times on Thursday. "Such cooperation could certainly give them a greater say in global energy price-setting." China is the world's largest oil importer and India the third-largest after the US. China and India accounted for 17 percent of the world's oil consumption last year, the PTI reported. Political complications "In theory, India and China forming a buyers' alliance to counter the sellers' alliance could work, and would be in both countries' interests," said Lin Boqiang, director of the China Center for Energy Economics Research at Xiamen University. "However, the key is that we have to make it effective. And that's not an easy thing because the two countries disagree on many things, both politically and economically," Lin said. The China-India relationship has shown signs of improvement in recent months, especially after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to visit China in April, according to the Xinhua News Agency. But there are still differences between the two countries on many issues. For example, India still appears skeptical about the China-proposed Belt and Roadinitiative, which also covers cooperation in the energy sector. "Without a doubt, the forming of an alliance, even if it's just in the energy sector, is intertwined with the complex political relationship between China and India," Lin said, adding that "we should not hold high expectations for [the alliance] to happen." Lin pointed out that the idea of forming an oil buyers' alliance was first floated by India many years ago, but changes in the world crude market mean that it might be worth a shot. India's renewed proposal came amid a steady rise in oil prices, which some have blamed on production cuts by OPEC. Despite falling in recent months, crude oil import costs in March were still 85 percent and 22 percent higher than the levels in same month of 2016 and 2017, respectively, the IEA said on Wednesday. The rising costs came after cuts in production by OPEC. Oil output from OPEC's 14 members fell by 2.8 percent or 926,000 barrels per day in 2017, according to the group's official data released on June 7. S.Korean president says to carefully review joint drills with U.S. if DPRK, U.S. talks continue SEOUL, June 14 -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Thursday that he will carefully review the U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises if talks between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States continue. Moon made the remarks during a National Security Council (NSC) meeting of the presidential Blue House to assess the DPRK-U.S. summit and discuss response measures of the South Korean government. The meeting was attended by major security and foreign affairs officials, including foreign and defense ministers, spy agency chief, and national security advisor. After holding the historic summit with DPRK top leader Kim Jong Un, U.S. President Donald Trump said in Singapore Tuesday that he would halt the U.S.-South Korea war games as it is inappropriate to stage such "provocative" drills in the dialogue period. Moon said that if the DPRK sincerely puts denuclearization into action, and if earnest talks between Pyongyang and Washington continue to eliminate hostile relations, he would carefully review the joint annual military drills between Seoul and Washington. Under such conditions, South Korea needs to flexibly change its military pressure in accordance with the Panmunjom Declaration, in which Moon and Kim agreed to build mutual trust after holding the third-ever inter-Korean summit on April 27 at the truce village of Panmunjom. The joint annual U.S.-South Korea military exercises have been carried out twice in spring and fall each. This year's springtime war games were conducted in April as it was delayed for the South Korea-hosted Winter Olympics. The autumn military drills are scheduled for August this year. Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, who is also director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, meets with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Beijing, capital of China, June 14, 2018. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) BEIJING, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday in Beijing. Yang, also director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, said a healthy and stable development of China-U.S. relations is in the fundamental interests of both peoples. He expressed hope that the United States will work with China to expand practical cooperation in various fields, properly handle differences and promote the bilateral ties for bigger progress. Pompeo said the United States adheres to the one-China policy, and stands ready to enhance cooperation with China in order to make bilateral relations more fruitful. They also exchanged views on the Korean Peninsula issue. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Pompeo on Thursday. Wang said China and the United States have wide and important common interests. He called on the United States to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by their leaders and promote a healthy development of bilateral ties. Wang called on both sides to constantly inject impetus into their cooperation, and settle the trade issues properly with a win-win approach. He said the two countries should be aware that common interests as well as dialogue and cooperation remain the mainstream of the China-U.S. relationship, and both sides should respect each other's core interests and major concerns, adding that he hopes the United States will firmly adhere to the one-China principle and handle Taiwan-related issues properly. The meeting between the leaders of the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has important historic significance, as it brought the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue onto the right track of dialogue and peaceful settlement, Wang said. China will continue its constructive role in the political settlement of the Peninsula nuclear issue, he said. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meet the press after their talks in Beijing, capital of China, June 14, 2018. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) WASHINGTON, June 14 -- British and German researchers described in a study published on Thursday in the journal Current Biology the first and unexpected microbes that could translate DNA randomly in two different ways. Researchers examined an unusual group of yeasts and were surprised to find one species, Ascoidea asiatica, randomly translated a codon either as serine or leucine, two different kinds of protein. Every time the codon is translated, the cell tosses a chemical coin: heads for leucine, tails it's serine. DNA is often referred to as the blueprint for life, since all organisms receive genetic information from their parents which tell the cells how to make proteins. The genetic information comprises DNA molecules made up of a sequence of four chemical bases represented by the letters A, T, C and G. The genetic code dictates to the cell which sequence of amino acids to join together to form each protein given the underlying sequence in the DNA. "We were surprised to find that about 50 percent of the time that CTG is translated as serine, the remainder of the time it is leucine," said Laurence Hurst, professor of Evolutionary Genetics and director of the Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath. "The last rule of genetics codes, that translation is deterministic, has been broken. This makes this genome unique. You cannot work out the proteins if you know the DNA," said Hurst. The research team investigated molecules called tRNAs, which act as translators that recognize the codons and bring together the amino acids to make a protein chain. Martin Kollmar, from the Max-Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Gottingen, said: "We found that Ascoidea asiatica is unusual in having two sorts of tRNAs for CTG, one which bridges with leucine and one which bridges with serine." "So when CTG comes to be translated, it randomly picks one of the two tRNAs and hence randomly picks between serine and leucine," said Kollmar. Stefanie Muhlhausen from The Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath said: "Swapping a serine for leucine could cause serious problems in a protein as they have quite different properties." "Serine is often found on the surface of the protein whereas leucine is hydrophobic and often buried inside the protein," said Muhlhausen. "We looked at how this strange yeast copes with this randomness and found that A. asiatica has evolved to use the CTG codon very rarely and especially avoids key parts of proteins." The researchers estimated that the random encoding was 100 million years old, but other closely related species evolved to lose this potentially problematic trait. "It's unclear why A. asiatica should have retained this stochastic encoding for so long. Perhaps there are rare occasions when this sort of randomness can be beneficial," said Kollmar. Hawaii becomes first U.S. state to ban pesticides containing chlorpyrifos LOS ANGELES, June 14 -- Hawaii became the first U.S. state to completely ban the use of pesticides containing the potentially harmful chemical chlorpyrifos after Governor David Ige signed the bill Wednesday. According to the bill that will fully take effect from 2023, starting Jan. 1 of 2019, users of pesticides containing chlorpyrifos or other pesticides with restricted use will be required to report annually to the state Department of Agriculture. Meanwhile, users will be prohibited from using the chemical within a 100-foot buffer zone around schools during school hours. Before 2023 when the toxic pesticides will be completely banned, users will be prohibited from applying pesticides with chlorpyrifos without a temporary permit. "We must protect our communities from potentially harmful chemicals." Ige told reporters, "We will work with the Department of Agriculture, local farmers and the University of Hawaii as we seek safe, alternative pest management tools that will support and sustain our agriculture industry for generations to come." This move was hailed by Earth Justice, the largest nonprofit environmental law organization in the United States as "a major win for children and farmworker health in Hawaii." Earth Justice also said Thursday: "Hawaii just did what Scott Pruitt's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) refuses to do: protect public health by banning chlorpyrifos from our food and farms." Prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos is associated with lower birth weight, reduced IQ, loss of working memory, attention disorders, and delayed motor development, according to Earth Justice. The EPA prohibited most household uses of Chlorpyfiros in residential areas in 2000 after it was found to cause severe developmental delays in children, and In 2015, the agency recommended that chlorpyrifos be banned from all food crops. The Department of Agriculture has already restricted the use of chlorpyrifos since then in its proposed pesticides rule, and the use of the chemical has declined drastically. However in March, the Trump administration opted to halt plans to completely ban the pesticide, rejecting conclusions reached by EPA scientists. No one wants to die before the end of the story, says a character in Rebecca Makkais new novel, The Great Believers. Unfortunately, many of the people in Makkais book arent able to outrun death; theyre struck down too young, victims of a plague that was poorly understood at the time. The Great Believers is a story of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s. The novel follows Yale Tishman, a museum development director whos trying to acquire an art collection from an elderly woman named Nora who worked as an artists model in 1920s Paris. Yale, who is gay, is also dealing with the loss of several of his friends to AIDS, the disease that is ravaging the gay community in Chicago. His story is intercut with chapters featuring his best friend, Fiona, who 30 years later, is still scarred by the loss of her friends, and is trying to locate her long-estranged daughter in Paris. Makkai comes to Los Angeles to discuss The Great Believers at Vromans Bookstore in Pasadena with author J. Ryan Stradal on June 21 at 7 p.m. She talked to The Times about her novel via phone, and our conversation was edited. Advertisement How did the idea for a book about the AIDS crisis in the 1980s come to you? I never actually had the idea to write a book about the AIDS crisis; I started off writing a completely different book. Theres a subplot [in The Great Believers] with all this stuff about the Paris art world of the 1920s, and that was originally the book. I was originally going to write a story about a woman who had been an artists model in 1920s Paris, about the end of her life, which I figured couldnt be much past the 1980s. I wanted it to be about the ongoing conversations between her and this art collector or historian, who she was trying to convince that in this one painting, it was her in the picture. And my husband very sweetly and helpfully pointed out that that was kind of the plot of the movie Titanic. That kind of threw me off a little bit, but in a helpful way. Meanwhile, I started to get really interested in this art guy, and I started thinking that maybe the AIDS epidemic was a part of this book. The first thing that I actually sat down and wrote was a letter its not in the novel but a letter from the woman who became Nora to the guy who became Yale, talking about the devastation of Paris after World War I, where everyone she knew and loved had been together in this chosen family, this artistic mecca, and coming back there and everyone was gone or damaged or missing or dead. Eventually, the way it shifted for me, it really became about the AIDS epidemic. Partly my research took me there, partly I was just following the story where it wanted to go. Have you always had an interest in the art world, or specifically that Lost Generation group of artists? Yeah. Its not like Ive done years of research on it or anything, but its always been fascinating to me. We talk so much about the Lost Generation, which is the artists, particularly the American artists and writers, who went over after World War I. But there was this whole generation of visual artists who had gotten there before the war, the Ecole de Paris, people like [Chaim] Soutine and [Amedeo] Modigliani and [Tsuguharu] Foujita, who were coming there from all over the world. And then World War I breaks out, and also theres the influenza [pandemic of 1918], and then they, to some extent, come back, right as the Americans are getting there after the war. That was kind of new to me. I knew a lot about the Lost Generation but I didnt know as much about what was happening before and during World War I. But I love that stuff. I wasnt an art major in college or anything, I just love art history, I love those stories of these wild artists living bohemian lives. Its a little bit of wishful thinking, because Im an artist, but Ive got to be a responsible adult. The 21st century is a little different. Ive got kids. AIDS Crisis, United States, offset, 1990 by Gang; ACT UP/NY (Gang; ACT UP/NY / HCenter for Political Graphics ) A lot of novels that have to do with the AIDS crisis seem to take place in New York and San Francisco. How did you decide to set your book in Chicago? Ive lived here basically my whole life except for college and a couple of years after. I love writing about Chicago. I resisted it very early in my career, when I was writing short stories in my early twenties. I felt that to be taken seriously, I needed to write about New York, which I had been to, like, twice. And then I started slowly to embrace writing about Chicago in my short stories. What was really interesting for me is that as I set out to do my research, there was shockingly little about how AIDS affected Chicago, which was and is the third-biggest city in the U.S. It hit quite hard here and in a very concentrated area, because thats the way Boystown is set up. But if you look, for instance, in the indices of some of the big compendious books about the AIDS epidemic, and you look for Chicago, theres nothing or next to nothing. Once in a while, theyll talk about this 1990 ACT UP demonstration that I wrote about in the book. In all the fiction, nonfiction, documentaries, film, the theater, not only is it not about cities like Chicago, its neglecting cities like Milwaukee and Baltimore, places that had their own completely idiosyncratic stories and reactions. Its very much focused on where the epicenters were. But Chicago, for the Midwest, was the epicenter. It was alarming to me that there isnt more. I was thinking there would be at least one big nonfiction book about AIDS in Chicago, a doctoral dissertation turned into a book or something. And if there is, I have not found it and Ive been searching for five years, and asking people who would know. I have not written that book, and someone needs to, someone with better nonfiction chops than me. But in some ways for me, it was a blessing in disguise, because it forced me out from behind my desk and it made me do a lot of legwork for my research. I did a ton of primary source research, looking back at gay weeklies like the Windy City Times, and also in-person interviews with everyone I could find, from doctors and nurses to survivors and activists, lawyers and journalists and basically anyone who would talk to me. And I think it was ultimately much better for my book. Are there archives of the gay weeklies in Chicago in the 80s that you were able to find? Yes. The Harold Washington Library downtown has the Windy City Times from 1985 on, when it started, and completely by coincidence, its when my novel starts too. Theres also a library here called the Gerber/Hart Library that is specifically an LGBTQ library, and they have all kinds of great archives, resources, photos and an incredible book section where I was able to find things like this 1987 guide to living with HIV/AIDS that was put out by Johns Hopkins University. One of the things that was really interesting was that I kept finding it was hard to research what the medical knowledge was at certain points. It was wonderful to get this completely out-of-date book of medical stuff that nobody else wanted, for very good reasons. I got my medical information 30 years out of date, which is how I needed it to be. Talking to survivors of the epidemic in the 80s those must have been incredibly emotional conversations. It was difficult in several ways. First of all, there was quite a hunt to find certain kinds of people. I have an inordinate number of gay friends, but they tend to be around my age, and I have a few friends who are HIV-positive, but it didnt necessarily feel like I could approach them right off the bat. Really, the unicorn was the people who had been in Chicago in the early 80s, out, and in Boystown, and maybe HIV-positive since that time. It was very hard to find people who have lived that long with HIV, but I did end up finding a couple. A lot of that process was having someone introduce me to someone else, interviewing that person, explaining my project, then me asking them who should I talk to next, and then sending me to their friends, and so on. I eventually really lucked out in one way: I had a writer friend who introduced me to the two doctors who started the AIDS unit at Illinois Masonic Hospital. They were wonderful, and introduced me to all these other people whod been affiliated with AIDS care at that time. I was completely honored that people were willing to talk to me about, first of all, incredibly personal stuff, in some cases. People were talking to me about their sex lives, after having known me for five minutes, and inviting me, in many cases, into their homes, because they didnt want to talk about this stuff in Starbucks. And even more so, I was completely honored when they were talking about people they had lost. I have to say, I heard a lot of the first half of stories, and then people couldnt continue. Which is fine. I didnt need to hear the endings of the stories, and I wasnt out for peoples plots. I had my characters, I had my plots. It was the details, the little things that I couldnt have gotten from a book; it was the emotional osmosis of putting myself in those peoples shoes, hearing stories, seeing pictures, things that allowed me to write with more conviction and more authenticity, and I felt like I could put myself there emotionally. The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai (Viking ) I think we might be close to the same age; I would have been about 7 in 1985. Do you remember the first time you heard about the AIDS crisis? I dont remember a specific first time. Were the same age, so I think youll understand how completely huge it seemed, and was, although I think not all adults saw it the same way. Youre a kid, and you see this on TV, and you havent lived through other crises. And you dont have, hopefully, and I dont think I did, the callous prejudice of Thats happening over there, to those people that adults do, even if they like those people, but its over there. Because youre a kid, youre porous. I remember it being absolutely everywhere. I remember kids joking about it at school in really awful ways, but I also remember it being all over the news. If you stayed home sick from school and you watched Donahue or something, it was right there. In my early childhood, it wasnt particularly personal. My parents lost a colleague, but it wasnt anyone I knew. I grew up in the suburbs, but by the time I was a teenager, I was hanging out in the city, and would go to Boystown with my friends in the early to mid-90s, just because that was the cool place to go. And it was around. Youd notice. Youd see people sitting on the street with a cardboard sign that said Im dying of AIDS, I need money. And youd get to high school in the early 90s, and all of sex ed is all HIV, all the time. Then it starts to come into the popular culture with movies, famous people start dying, people that were on your radar. I remember Howard Ashman, the Disney lyricist, dying, and being really sad and upset, and the in memoriam montages at the Tonys and the Oscars. So its distant, but if you are a kid, your worldview is formed around that crisis. Your novel really strikes me as an act of remembrance. Do you think young people today might not realize how bad the AIDS crisis was in the 80s? I think they dont at all. I didnt realize that until I was writing this. Its not that Ive seen that first hand, but so many people have told me stories about talking to younger people who have been shocked to learn how many friends someone lost, for instance. I think the corollary to that, though, is that Americans do not understand that there are still a million people dying of AIDS every year. Because many of the deaths are in Africa, it feels like its out of sight, out of mind. Thats horrifying, and its horrifying that Trump is pulling out of a lot of the ways we were helping internationally right now. Theres always been ignorance around this disease. There was profound ignorance on so many levels in the 80s and the early 90s that we in some ways emerged from, but I think that ignorance has been passed on. I think that definitely infuses our lack of thinking about the global issue of AIDS. Youre doing this campaign, The Great Believers Donate, on social media. Can you explain what youre doing, and how youre hoping that you can get people to help, in your words, give back to the community that inspired this novel? One of the things I was really struck by in Chicago were the small grassroots organizations that sprang up with no funding in the 80s and early 90s, to help in very meaningful but local ways. One of those is an organization that I mention near the end of the book. Someone is leaving the hospital and talks about how this organization called Open Hand had already been at their apartment stocking the fridge. This is an organization that would do meal delivery and grocery delivery. Theyve changed their name, theyre now Vital Bridges, and theyve transformed into basically a food pantry and free grocery store; people with HIV or AIDS come in and can fill their shopping cart. The woman who runs has run it from the very beginning, this Chicago activist named Lori Cannon, is just legendary here. She was a wonderful resource for me in writing this book. She brought me into the grocery store on a day when it was closed, and we sat there for hours, and she told me stories. I wanted to give something back to the AIDS community in Chicago, to a smaller organization where my very limited funds could actually make some kind of difference. And so the deal is if people take a photo of the book, a book that theyve purchased, because in order for me to afford this, people have to buy the book, and post it to Instagram or Twitter or my Facebook page with the hashtag #TheGreatBelieversDonate, I am able then to donate a dollar each time. Also I have a couple of bookstores doing matching donations if the book was purchased at that store. Im hoping to get some more organizations doing matching donations in their own cities, maybe with small organizations in cities other than Chicago. I dont know how far its going to go, but I think its worth a shot, and Id really love to go broke doing it, so I hope people will participate. Schaub is a writer in Texas. New York At a side event during the United Nations10th session for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), Chinas Permanent Representative to the UN Ma Zhaoxu said during his address, It is a glorious mission to help persons with disabilities gain equal rights and achieve inclusive development. The event marks a treaty protecting the rights of the disabled, and on Thursday, senior UN officials highlighted the role they continue to play and the invaluable contributions they have made so far to help achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Today, there are over 1 billion people on the planet who have a disability, accounting for 15 percent of the total population. Meanwhile, twenty percent of the worlds poorest are disabled, with 80 percent of that figure residing in developing nations. "In the era of globalization, we must follow the principle of shared development through consultation and collaboration, strengthen international and regional cooperation, and work together to promote the development of the global cause of persons with disabilities. Ma called upon the UN and other international organizations to pay greater attention to reducing poverty and achieving their sustainable development goals while balancing civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a 15-year initiative that includes 17 distinct goals and 169 associated targets including education and employment for everyone. Today, China is home to some 85 million disabled, the highest population of physically challenged people in any nation. Ma feels it is Chinese societys responsibility to guarantee equal opportunities for the disabled. In living up to this standard, Chinas government-led system involves every level of society and uses mobilization efforts to tap available resources necessary to support its disabled population. Ma concluded his address by touching on last years historic address given by Chinese President Xi Jinping and said, Xi pointed out in his report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China that as China develops, it will continue to protect and improve people's livelihood, develop the cause of persons with disabilities, and strengthen rehabilitation services for disabilities. A little-known Office of Management and Budget official is President Trumps leading candidate to become permanent director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, according to four people with knowledge of the matter. If approved by the Senate, Kathy Kraninger would succeed her boss, White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, who has been leading the consumer bureau part time since November. The confirmation process could take months, and Mulvaney has said he expects to be at the bureau until the end of the year. Kraninger, an associate director at the Office of Management and Budget, previously worked for the Department of Homeland Security and the Senate Appropriations Committee. She would inherit an agency that has been roiled by a shift to Republican leadership under Mulvaney from its roots as a scourge of financial firms under Obama administration appointee Richard Cordray, a Democrat who is now running for governor of Ohio. The potential selection of Kraninger, which could be announced next week, is likely to raise concerns among Democrats, especially because of the lack of financial policy expertise in her background. Advertisement Although the White House refused to confirm her likely nomination, it has emphasized that the administration was seeking somebody with prior government management experience, including on budget issues. We have no personnel announcements at this time, Raj Shah, a White House spokesman, said Friday. The Office of Management and Budget didnt immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Mulvaney has been praised by GOP lawmakers for reining in an agency they saw as unaccountable. Liberals led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) have accused him of dismantling the bureau and putting consumers at risk. As acting director, Mulvaney has conducted a top-to-bottom review of the agencys enforcement, supervisory and rule-making functions. He has frozen data collection in the name of security, dropped enforcement cases and directed staff to slash next years budget. He also has begun referring to the agency by its formal name, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection a move consumer advocates worry is part of a broader strategy to undermine the agencys mandate by making it sound more bureaucratic and deemphasizing the word consumer. The White House has been working for months to determine who will lead one of the most politically divisive agencies in Washington. The agency has been the focus of partisan fights since it was created by the Dodd-Frank Act in the wake of last decades financial crisis. Kraninger is a 2007 graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, according to her LinkedIn profile. As part of her work at the Office of Management and Budget, she has worked with Treasury Department Counselor Craig Phillips on Trumps review of the U.S. Postal Service, the Washington Post reported last month. One of the biggest challenges she would face is managing the agencys more than 1,600 employees, many of whom have grown increasingly worried about keeping their jobs. Adding to uncertainty about the agencys future, Mulvaney has directed his top advisors to find ways to significantly cut next years budget. Steps being considered include relocating staff to places like Dallas, reorganizing staff and eliminating some departments. Many employees were loyal to Cordray and disapprove of Mulvaneys approach. In an interview last month, Mulvaney complained about media leaks and other ways some employees were trying to upend his work. Weve got a little group of malcontents, Mulvaney said. Face it, theres a group of people who are here who just dont like me. Dexheimer, Schmidt and Jacobs write for Bloomberg. Since graduating from college last month, Gabriel Villagomez has been polishing his resume, updating his LinkedIn profile and worrying. Sure, the job market looks promising for new graduates. And Villagomez, who plans to apply to medical school, just needs a job to hold him over for a year or so. But with student loan bills looming, he can sense how the need for a paycheck any paycheck could suck him into a job that doesnt take advantage of his education. He has seen cousins and friends abandon ambitions and fall into the rut of low-wage work when life gets in the way. Im worried about not following through on my plans, said Villagomez, 27, who spent five years in the Marine Corps before enrolling at University of Illinois at Chicago, where he majored in economics and minored in biology. Sometimes its easier to get stuck in these other fields. Advertisement Although the nations sunny jobs reports show low unemployment and growing payrolls, the jobs available arent necessarily good ones, and many new college graduates find themselves settling for less than they bargained for. Nearly 43% of recent college graduates are underemployed that is, working in jobs that dont require a college degree, according to March numbers from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. While making lattes or staffing a cash register is often considered a youthful rite of passage during that bumpy transition from campus to the workforce, new research suggests that settling for a subpar job out of the gate can harm career prospects for years to come. Two-thirds of people who were underemployed in their first job after college were still underemployed five years later, while only 13% of new grads who landed college-graduate-level jobs right away were underemployed after five years, according a study released last month by Burning Glass Technologies, a labor market analytics company, and the nonprofit Strada Institute for the Future of Work. Underemployment gets harder to escape as time goes on. Three-quarters of those who were underemployed five years after college continued to be so at the 10-year mark, according to the report. The skills and professional connections gained in the first job help lead to the next and then the next, and those who missed out early have a hard time catching up. Their earnings fall behind. Recent college graduates who are underemployed earn, on average, $10,000 less per year than their counterparts doing college-graduate-level work, the report found. Women are disproportionately affected 47% of women were underemployed in their first post-college job, versus 37% of men, the report found. The researchers didnt examine the reasons for the gender divide, but it could be linked to the growing specificity of job descriptions, as research has shown that women are less likely than men to apply for a job if they dont believe they meet all of the listed requirements, Burning Glass Chief Executive Matt Sigelman said. That first job is so critical because so many who do start out behind stay behind, and the financial implications are substantial as well, said Michelle Weise, chief innovation officer for the Strada Institute. The research was based on 4 million resumes of people who graduated after 2000. To account for rising employer standards, it defined college-graduate-level jobs as those for which more than half of current job postings require a college degree. In decades past, wandering aimlessly for a while after college was an accepted part of the transition to adulthood. Todays new grads face a very different labor landscape that favors the focused, the researchers said. For one, ballooning student debt approaching $1.5 trillion nationally, with Californias new graduates on average facing nearly $23,000 each as of 2016 makes it unwise to cut short earning potential. In addition, employers no longer expect new hires to stay with the company for the long haul, so many dont invest in entry-level training, yet they also have high expectations that people come in with a specific skill set, Sigelman said. Meanwhile, the population of college graduates has risen markedly more than one-third of people over 25 have at least a bachelors degree, compared to about one-fifth 20 years ago which has made it harder to stand out and has enabled employers to make college a prerequisite for jobs that traditionally didnt require it. And new graduates face competition from older peers still recovering from the misfortune of graduating during the Great Recession. As a result, Sigelman said, college students cant wait until the second semester of their senior year to visit the career services office and should start thinking strategically about career paths closer to freshman year. Its incumbent on students to have a plan, he said. Not all underemployment is created equal. In a study published last year, sociologist Kody Steffy, director of student research at Indiana University, conducted in-depth interviews with three dozen underemployed college graduates from a large Midwestern university. Steffy found a stark class divide between those who were in that position intentionally and those who were not. The voluntarily underemployed tended to come from families with money, and many considered the decision to be not a temporary exploratory detour but rather a permanent path. They spoke of rejecting capitalism or prioritizing other facets of life besides career ambition, or they had found meaningful work that simply didnt require a college degree, Steffy said. More worrisome were the new grads in his study who were involuntarily underemployed. They tended to come from working-class backgrounds and often were the first in their families to go to college, which can make it harder to secure that first post-college job because they lack family friends who can put in a good word with a desired employer. Those grads felt highly stressed about not finding work commensurate with their education, which their families had believed would be the ticket to upward mobility, and several cried during their interviews, Steffy said. The distinction is important, he said, to properly frame the problem and direct resources to the people who need it most. I think theres both a positive story here and a disturbing story, Steffy said. Its great that there is a set of college graduates thinking very seriously about what the good life is and not just following the path of least resistance, but that same sort of exploration isnt available for our first-generation college graduates. Gabriel Villagomez, right, works with real estate broker and consultant Miguel Chacon at a property in Chicago on June 12. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune ) Villagomez, who lives with two roommates in Chicagos Humboldt Park neighborhood, is the first in his family to go to college, and he feels anxious as he contemplates his next step. He was born in Chicago but raised in Mexico, where he spent long days juggling school and helping run the familys produce store. When he realized his family couldnt afford to send him to college, he saved enough money for a bus ticket and, at 16, returned to Chicago to live with relatives and aspire for more. As he studies for the MCAT, Villagomez is working in a paid internship with a real estate broker and consultant, to see if thats another path to pursue. But the internships $13-an-hour wage wont be enough to make ends meet when student loans start to come due in a few months, he said. He applied for a few jobs through his fraternitys alumni network, but is worried that employers wont want to hire someone who intends to leave and return to school. As financial pressures mount, he worries more immediate options could lead him to abandon his expensive medical school goal altogether. I think Id do either driving or private security, and thats where Id be stuck, said Villagomez, who qualifies for numerous military veterans employment programs, including some that would help him get a commercial drivers license. Jaime Velasquez, associate director for employer relations at University of Illinois at Chicagos career services office, said now is not the time to settle for a subpar job, as opportunities are plentiful and new grads should strike while the iron is hot. The schools March job fair drew 156 employers trying to fill more than 2,600 open positions, a return to pre-recession levels. Hiring outcomes have been good for new grads, said Velasquez, who advises students to do extensive research on the companies that interest them so their enthusiasm and preparation can set them apart in interviews. But, he said, I worry about the students who have never been to our office. National Louis University, located in Chicago, has initiatives to ensure students start exploring career options early. Starting this fall, all new undergraduates will have to complete an internship or a comparable faculty-led capstone project in order to graduate, said Smret Smith, executive director of the schools career services office. A key tool in helping students build their professional resumes has been microinternships, she said. Those are paid projects that companies hire students to do, typically remotely, enabling students to try out different kinds of work while employers test them out as potential hires without making a big upfront investment. Jeffrey Moss, chief executive of Parker Dewey, a company that connects students and recent graduates with microinternships, said the projects get students on the radar of employers who otherwise might not consider them. The projects also help students figure out what they like to do, reducing the risk that they will become job hoppers after graduation, Moss said. The projects, which typically last one to three weeks, involve professional-level work, such as drafting a white paper or doing a competitive analysis, he said. We have a ton of students on our platform who are graduated and underemployed, and this helps them get out of it, Moss said. A risk of underemployment is that it could discourage students from seeking a four-year degree. But most good-paying jobs do require college, so a better solution is for colleges to improve their career planning offerings, said David Attis, managing director of strategic research at EAB, an education consulting firm based in Washington, D.C. For example, he said, Queens University in Ontario has created a major map that that outlines the courses to take, the clubs to join and the internships and study-abroad opportunities to pursue, and students sit down in their first or second year to look at the occupations that could be relevant. Students who are drawn to majors that have poor employment outcomes should also be encouraged to develop skills that the job market values, according to the Burning Glass report. The firms research has shown that liberal arts students, more than half of whom are underemployed in their first jobs, can significantly boost their employment and earnings prospects by acquiring additional skills in such areas as data analysis, graphic design and social media. The world needs more liberal arts majors, not fewer, Burning Glass Sigelman said, but their success depends upon their ability to complement their traditional program with the last-mile skills that drive employability. To avoid, or escape, the underemployment trap, new grads struggling to find a good job should try to be underemployed in a field where there is a room to move up into college-level positions, Stradas Weise said. Recent graduates who take jobs as help-desk technicians or community health workers, which dont require college degrees, are more likely to get back on track than those who wait tables, the report said. Corey Hardiman, 27, lucked into such a situation. Hardiman said he was frustrated initially when his first full-time job after college was as a teaching assistant at his own Chicago elementary school, working with third-graders. The political science major, newly graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta, had recently dropped out of the race for alderman the equivalent of a city council member and had never imagined working in a classroom. I thought I had failed myself, he said. A Gates Millennium Scholar, Hardiman did not to have any student debt pressuring him to take a job he didnt want. But he wasnt sure what path to take, so he accepted the offer from his old elementary school principal. Hardiman discovered it was deeply fulfilling, and he soon got a job as a college and career counselor. Last year he became a re-engagement specialist for Chicago Public Schools, where he is tasked with finding and motivating 150 truants across 15 high schools, and he plans to continue working in education. The experience taught Hardiman the importance of cultivating relationships and of a good steppingstone. When people know you, job opportunities will come, he said. Elejalde-Ruiz writes for the Chicago Tribune. Covered Californias premiums are expected to rise significantly next year. But the head of the states insurance exchange said the Trump administrations legal bid to dismantle protections for people with preexisting medical conditions will likely not contribute to the increases. Health plans will only be pricing for the changes that they can absolutely see, Peter Lee, executive director of the agency, said Wednesday. And because the legal challenge will take time to work its way through the courts, California will have an opportunity to implement state protections should they be needed, Lee said. In fact, Californians would already be temporarily cushioned by existing state rules that protect people with preexisting conditions for 12 months if that portion of the Affordable Care Act is struck down. The preexisting conditions clause prohibits insurers from refusing coverage to people with prior illnesses, or charging them more because of it. Last week, the administration announced it would not defend the key pillars of the healthcare law in court. It argued that those provisions, including the laws protection for people with preexisting conditions, should be declared unconstitutional. Advertisement One federal healthcare move that will factor into Covered Californias 2019 premiums, Lee said, is the decision by Congress to eliminate the tax penalty on people who choose not to buy insurance starting next year. Many experts believe that without any consequences for not having insurance, more young and healthy people will decide to forgo it, leaving health plans with a higher concentration of elderly and ill and more expensive people. The repeal of the tax penalty could add 1.7 million Californians to the ranks of the uninsured by 2027, according to the UC Berkeley Labor Center. Covered California, which provides coverage for about 1.5 million people, last month unveiled preliminary projections showing that its health plan rates could spike about 11% on average next year, in tandem with an enrollment drop of about 12%. The elimination of the tax penalty accounts for more than half the projected premium spike, according to Covered Californias analysis. But actual premiums have not been set yet. Covered California is still negotiating with insurance companies and is expected to announce 2019 rate increases, and the lineup of participating insurers, next month. The premium increases in question apply only to health plans covering the approximately 2.3 million people about 5.8% of the states population who buy health insurance either through Covered California or through the private individual market outside the exchange. Most Californians, like most Americans, get their health coverage through an employer or a government program such as Medicare or Medicaid. Despite Lees prediction, some observers believe that Trumps legal assault on the preexisting conditions rule will intensify tumult in the industry, making it more difficult for insurers to make well-informed business decisions for next year. Insurers are going to have an extremely difficult time projecting rates for 2019 given this degree of uncertainty, said Gerald Kominski, director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. He said the impact on Californias marketplace would be complicated. Nationally, premiums in the individual market, including health plans sold both on and off government-run insurance exchanges, are expected to rise about 10% annually in most years through 2027, propelled by the elimination of the penalty, according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office. The average premium hikes in some states could be even higher: Washington states exchange recently projected an average rate hike of 19%, and New York estimates an average increase of 24%, with about half of that rise attributed to the repeal of the tax penalty. But officials in both states caution that these are preliminary proposals and final rates may be different. The good news is that most people who buy their insurance through state-run exchanges, or the federal one, will not feel the bite of the higher premiums. Thats because nearly 90% of exchange customers get federal tax credits to offset the cost of their premiums, and the amount of those credits rises as premiums do. However, higher-income enrollees, who dont qualify for financial assistance, will bear the brunt of the premium hikes, said James Scullary, a Covered California spokesman. Whatever the final rate increase, it will only be a statewide average, meaning rates will vary as they always do by geography, age, insurer and the level of coverage you purchase. Californias Central Coast communities, for example, have seen higher-than-average premium increases in recent years than other regions of the state. The extent to which the expected decline in Covered California enrollment will affect the stability of the exchange remains to be seen. As younger, healthier people drop coverage, leaving a costlier insurance pool, insurers could decide at some point that its no longer worthwhile to stay. Theres plenty of precedent for that: UnitedHealth Group terminated individual coverage in California last year both on and off the exchange blaming smaller overall market size and a higher-risk profile. Anthem pulled out of most of Californias individual market this year, citing changing federal rules and an increasing lack of predictability. Anthem blamed its decision in part on uncertainty over whether the Trump administration would maintain subsidies that help reduce medical costs for some low-income individuals. The administration ultimately stopped funding those subsidies, a decision that contributed to this years rate increases. Barbara Feder Ostrov is a senior correspondent for Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent publication of the Kaiser Family Foundation. barbarao@kff.org @barbfederostrov Six current and former Fitbit Inc. employees have been charged in a federal indictment with possessing stolen trade secrets from their former employer Jawbone, the now-defunct fitness wearable maker, according to the Justice Department. Katherine Mogal, 52, of San Francisco; Ana Rosario, 33, of Pacifica; Patrick Narron, 41, of Boulder Creek; Patricio Romano, 37, of Calabasas, Rong Zhang, 45, of El Cerrito; and Jin Qi Weiden, 39, of San Jose were charged with possessing one or more trade secrets, the Justice Department said Thursday in a news release. Each of them worked at Jawbone for a least one year between May 2011 and April 2015 and eventually left the company to work for rival Fitbit, according to the news release. In one case, Mogal, Rosario, Narron and Zhang received job offers from Fitbit between March and April 2015 and left Jawbone within three weeks. All had signed confidentiality agreements with Jawbone and allegedly were aware that trade secrets were being possessed without authorization, according to the release. Advertisement San Francisco-based Fitbit said late Thursday that in 2016 the International Trade Commission ruled that Fitbit did not misappropriate any trade secrets from Jawbone in a case involving these same individuals. Jawbones founder and former chief executive, Hosain Rahman who now has those roles at a new company, Jawbone Health said in a statement late Thursday that the Justice Departments indictment validates the claims made in a 2015 lawsuit against Fitbit. That lawsuit was settled last year. Mogal, Rosario and Narron did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and Romano, Zhang and Weiden could not be reached for comment. All six are expected to make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California in July. If convicted, each could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 penalty per count. samantha.masunaga@latimes.com Twitter: @smasunaga UPDATES: June 15, 3 p.m.: This article was updated to include statements from Fitbit and from former Jawbone Chief Executive Hosain Rahman. This article was originally published June 14 at 6 p.m. Some of President Trumps current and former advisors have urged him to pardon Michael Milken, the junk bond king of the 1980s who went to jail for securities fraud but has since become a high-profile philanthropist and crusader for cancer prevention, child education and other causes. Anthony Scaramucci, a financier who briefly was White House communications director last year, confirmed Friday that he is among the advocates along with Gary Winnick, a former associate of Milkens in the 1980s. At Trumps inauguration last year, Gary said to me, Of all the people, given his lifetime achievements and his commitment to health and global progress, Michael has earned a pardon, Scaramucci said in an interview. It was really an idea that Gary Winnick brought to me at the inaugural, Scaramucci said, adding that he added his support in meetings with Trump. Advertisement Winnick, who worked with Milken at the now-defunct investment bank Drexel Burnham Lambert Inc. and later founded Global Crossing, a telecommunications firm that went bankrupt, confirmed the conversation with Scaramucci but declined to elaborate. Milken did not respond to a request for comment, and the White House did not immediately respond to a similar request. Other proponents of a Milken pardon include Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law and senior advisor, Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin and Rudolph W. Giuliani, Trumps outside counsel, Bloomberg reported, adding that they did not respond to requests for comment. It was Giulianis investigation of Wall Street malfeasance in the 1980s, when he was a federal prosecutor, that led to Milkens guilty plea and imprisonment. But Giuliani long has supported a pardon for Milken. In 2000, when he was mayor of New York, Giuliani said he favored a pardon in good part because of Milkens contributions to cancer research. Giuliani, like Milken, is a prostate cancer survivor. Interest in pardoning Milken, 71, has swelled following Trumps decision to pardon several other individuals recently and the presidents indication that more pardons could be forthcoming. Among those who have received pardons are I. Lewis Scooter Libby, the former aide to Vice President Dick Cheney (perjury and obstruction of justice charges) and conservative commentator Dinesh DSouza (campaign-finance violations). A presidential pardon would not allow Milken to step back into the securities business. After he pleaded guilty to six felony counts in 1990, Milken also drew a lifetime ban from securities dealing by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and it would take a separate appeal to that agency to lift that ban. Milken previously applied for a presidential pardon during the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush administrations, but neither application was granted. Milken currently is not actively pursuing a pardon, according to sources close to him. Milken has lived in Encino since the late-1970s, and he ran his junk-bond operations in Century City and Beverly Hills. His think tank, the Milken Institute, is based in Santa Monica and each year holds its Global Conference that attracts Cabinet members such as Mnuchin, along with former presidents, other government officials, corporate executives and celebrity athletes. Milken long has been a polarizing figure. One side sees him as a junk-bond villain whose work not only landed him in jail but enabled other financiers to launch debt-heavy corporate takeovers that upended industries. Others see him as an innovative financial trailblazer who paid for his crimes and then aggressively took up honorable causes with his philanthropy and personal campaigning. Milken has zealously pursued research for cancer and other diseases along with education. The Milken Institute also researches regional economic trends, demographics and financial markets. Milken rose to prominence in the 1980s when he turned Drexel Burnham Lambert into a Wall Street powerhouse by trading and later underwriting bonds for risky companies. Those bonds dubbed junk because of their risk but also high yield because of their high interest rates became a favored source of capital for so-called corporate raiders who took over a myriad of companies, often with mostly borrowed money. Milken became renowned for starting work well before dawn, reigning over a frenzied trading operation from an X-shaped desk, and collecting enormous fees that reportedly earned him an astonishing $550 million in 1987 alone. But in 1989, as federal prosecutors were pursuing insider trading and other Wall Street abuses, Milken was indicated on 98 felony charges, including racketeering, insider trading and securities fraud. The following year, Milken pleaded guilty to six counts of more minor securities and tax violations and was given a 10-year prison sentence. Milken served 22 months and publicly became a leading symbol of Wall Street corruption and white-collar crime. Milken also paid $1.1 billion in fines, restitution and settlements. Yet hes wisely invested since then and his current net worth is $3.7 billion, according to Forbes. Although Drexel Burnham Lambert collapsed in bankruptcy in 1990, Milken still looms large in the Los Angeles financial industry because scores of investment bankers and bond traders who worked for him remain in the region at firms such as Leonard Green & Partners and Ares Management. james.peltz@latimes.com Twitter: @PeltzLATimes UPDATES: 6:10 p.m.: This article was updated with details about Gary Winnicks business dealings. 4:30 p.m.: This article was updated with staff reporting throughout, including an interview with former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci. This article was originally published at 10:20 a.m. President Trump announced Friday that the U.S. would go ahead with hefty tariffs on about $50 billion worth of Chinese goods, following through on a threat that could ignite a global trade war. These tariffs are essential to preventing further unfair transfers of American technology and intellectual property to China, which will protect American jobs, Trump said in a written statement. In addition, they will serve as an initial step toward bringing balance to the trade relationship between the United States and China. Trump again complained about the large U.S. trade deficit with China. The administration has portrayed the tariffs as a targeted strike at technology theft and a broader pressure tactic in trade negotiations with Beijing. The tariff announcement sent the Dow Jones industrial average tumbling about 280 points in early trading Friday. It recovered to close down 84.83 points, or 0.3%, at 25,090.48. Advertisement Beijing vowed to retaliate dollar-for-dollar and already has singled out big-ticket U.S. imported products, such as soybeans and aircraft, to maximize political pressure. China doesnt want a trade war, said a spokesman for Chinas Foreign Ministry in Beijing. But confronted by such short-sighted action, China will immediately take tariff measures of the same scale and intensity, he said. Trumps statement said the U.S. will pursue additional tariffs if China engages in retaliatory measures. Despite those threats of escalating actions, Trump dismissed warnings that his move Friday to impose the additional 25% duties on hundreds of Chinese imports would start a global trade war even as some top Republicans and business groups criticized the step. The trade war was started many years ago by them, and the United States lost, he said on Fox News Fox & Friends shortly after the tariffs were announced. Some analysts saw the latest announcement as more saber-rattling by the administration to pressure China to make concessions. But so far the imposition or threat of tariffs has mostly inflamed trading partners and allies alike, eliciting promises of retaliatory countermeasures and legal filings challenging the administrations actions at the World Trade Organization. Most analysts, businesses and lawmakers agree that China has not played fair in trade. But Trumps impulsive trade rhetoric and unilateral policy moves have isolated the U.S. and opened up America to criticisms of undermining the global trading order. China is not surprised by Trumps tactics, considering Trump could prey on his closest allies like Canada and the E.U., why not China, said Alex He, research fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation, a Canadian think tank, and former associate professor at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Chinas tired of Trumps game of deal-or-no-deal when it comes to trade and will respond to the tariffs calmly, he said. About two-thirds of the new U.S. duties on 1,102 types of imported goods will take effect July 6. The rest were newly proposed Friday and will kick in later after a review period. The list issued Friday targets categories of Chinese products that administration officials consider to be industrially significant technology, and is meant to punish China for alleged theft of intellectual property as well as policies that force U.S. firms to hand over technology secrets. The levies are aimed at Chinas development of strategic sectors including aerospace, robotics and communications. We have the great brain power in Silicon Valley, and China and others steal those secrets and were going to protect those secrets, Trump said on Fox & Friends. Those are crown jewels for this country. The U.S. trade representatives office said the list does not include consumer products such as cellphones and televisions, many of which are made or assembled in China. But lawmakers from both parties and some major business groups warned average Americans could suffer the collateral damage through higher prices. Tariffs are paid by U.S. importers, who then decide whether to pass on the cost to customers. Imposing tariffs places the cost of Chinas unfair trade practices squarely on the shoulders of American consumers, manufacturers, farmers, and ranchers, said Thomas J. Donohue, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. This is not the right approach. A new poll shows the American public might agree. Respondents to the Monmouth University poll released Friday were split evenly, with 36% saying tariffs are generally good and 36% saying they were generally bad. But 40% said the decision to impose tariffs on U.S. trading partners not just China but Canada, Mexico, Japan and Europe would hurt the U.S. economy, while 25% said they would help. Some top Republicans urged caution. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) said Trumps effort to combat the theft of U.S. intellectual property was laudable. But he warned of the harm tariffs would cause to U.S. and Chinese businesses. Ill-conceived trade actions that weaken the American economy, alienate allies, and invite retaliation against American businesses, farmers and ranchers undermine our nations ability to successfully confront Chinas unfair trade policies, Hatch said. He urged Beijing to act expeditiously to change its policies to avoid the damaging effects of tariffs and escalating retaliation. The latest from Washington Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said he was encouraged that the Trump administration had removed some of the products originally proposed to face tariffs when imported from China. But he said he was alarmed that some new product categories were added and he urged the administration to narrow the list. These tariffs make it more difficult to sell more Made in America products globally and expose many of our industries particularly agriculture and chemicals to devastating retaliation, Brady said. A bipartisan effort in Congress to limit Trumps tariff authority has stalled because of opposition from Republican leaders. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer used unusually tough language in a statement announcing the list of new taxes on imports from China: We must take strong defensive actions to protect Americas leadership in technology and innovation against the unprecedented threat posed by Chinas theft of our intellectual property, the forced transfer of American technology, and its cyber attacks on our computer networks. Chinas government is aggressively working to undermine Americas high-tech industries and our economic leadership through unfair trade practices and industrial policies like Made in China 2025, he said, referring to Chinese President Xi Jinpings signature economic plan to build up domestic companies in core industries. The original list of 1,333 Chinese goods slated for tariffs, including TVs, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, was pared to 818 after three public hearings. Those 818 goods amount to about $34 billion in imports from China. But as part of the review process, the administration added 284 new product lines, amounting to about $16 billion in imports from China, to the tariff list. Those will undergo a similar review, including public comment, before taking effect. The products slated for new U.S. tariffs are covered by the Made in China 2025 plan or produced by industries that have benefited from technology or intellectual property that U.S. companies were required to transfer to China in order to do business there, said Erin Ennis, senior vice president at the U.S.-China Business Council, which represents American companies doing business there. Additionally, the administration has said that by June 30 it would make public measures to restrict Chinas access to important U.S. technology, and that those also would take effect soon. As Trump has stepped up actions on trade this year, slapping tariffs on washers, solar panels and steel, the U.S. and China have held high-level talks in a so-far unsuccessful effort to ease tensions. Chinese officials have at various times offered to buy more U.S. goods to reduce Americas large trade deficit a perennial complaint by Trump. Last month, it appeared the Chinese offer might resolve, or at least put on hold, a looming trade war between the worlds two largest economies. But in the last couple of weeks, the influence of trade hard-liners in the White House has grown, and Trump has moved back toward confrontation with Beijing. The White House has said the tariff list would focus on products that would affect Chinas bid to move up the value ladder in manufacturing. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was in Beijing on Thursday after stops in Korea and Japan following Trumps summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said his talks with the Chinese included trade, and he described the discussions as good and constructive. At a joint news conference with Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Pompeo said that our deficit with China is still too high. He said he stressed how important it is for President Trump to rectify that situation so that trade becomes more balanced, more reciprocal and more fair, with the opportunity to have American workers be treated fairly. Pompeo did not mention the pending tariffs in his public remarks, but said that when countries disagree, we speak up. When we cooperate, we can make great progress. Wang said that the U.S. had a choice, to cooperate for mutual gain or to confront for mutual loss. China chooses the first, Wang said, adding that he hoped the U.S. side would make the same wise choice. If not, he warned, China has made preparations to respond. More stories from Don Lee don.lee@latimes.com Follow me at @dleelatimes UPDATES: 1:30 p.m.: This article was updated with the closing level of the Dow Jones industrial average and additional details. 11:20 a.m.: This article was updated with comments from a spokesman for Chinas Foreign Ministry and Erin Ennis of the U.S.-China Business Council 9:30 a.m.: This article was updated with additional information on the tariffs, reaction from Rep. Kevin Brady and outside analysts and other details. 8:50 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details and comments from Rep. Kevin Brady; Thomas Donohue, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; and Alex He, research fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation. This article originally was published at 7:10 a.m. A single-payer healthcare system once again is being talked about for California the leading candidate for governor supports the idea and once again the issue is being framed as a debate between starry-eyed dreamers and sober-minded realists. It doesnt have to be an either/or proposition. The reality is that California could, and should, serve as a test case for nationwide universal coverage. It wouldnt be easy because this is uncharted territory, requiring, among other things, congressional support for use of federal healthcare dollars. But that doesnt mean it cant be done, nor does it mean we shouldnt try just because no other state has had the courage or wherewithal to give it a go. Advertisement There are many reasons to take the plunge making health insurance available to all, reduced costs through more efficient delivery of healthcare, a pioneering spirit upon which the Golden State was founded. Or we could just focus on Sandra Stubbans lidocaine injection. Stanton resident Stubban, 84, recently visited a Fountain Valley pain-management clinic to receive an epidural for back pain. As part of the procedure, she was given a 10-milligram shot of the local anesthetic lidocaine to numb the injection site, the same stuff your dentist uses before giving you what-for. Stubban shared her bill with me. It shows that the clinic, Pain Medicine Associates, billed her insurer $20 for the lidocaine. The insurer, a Medicare Advantage plan called Scan Health Plan, said it would pay only 4 cents. Without hesitation, the clinic knocked $19.96 off the charge, leaving the insurance company to pay 3 cents and sticking Stubban with a bill for a single penny. I suppose there will be some who look at this and see a healthcare system that works. After all, no one can say Stubban was gouged with this 1-cent medical bill. I look at the episode and see inexplicable, utterly opaque healthcare pricing that leaves patients largely in the dark. I see a system under which reimbursement negotiations between medical providers and insurers typically start at insane levels just to push final amounts higher. I see a system that will financially devastate anyone without insurance because the list prices are so ludicrously high no small thing considering that more than 12% of the U.S. population is uninsured. Its ridiculous, Stubban said. Its like they can charge whatever they want. No one at Pain Medicine Associates got back to me. But Jill Selby, vice president of product development for Scan Health Plans, said its never surprising to see a wide gap between how much a medical provider charges and how much an insurer pays. Never pay anything right away, she advised. Always check with your health plan first. Americans pay more for healthcare than anyone else, roughly double what people in other developed countries pay. And we get less bang for our healthcare bucks, judging from our relatively low life expectancy (78.7 years) and relatively high rate of infant mortality (the worst among 20 comparably rich nations, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development). A big difference: Nearly every other developed country has a single-payer healthcare system, what in the U.S. might be considered Medicare-for-all. Under these systems, everyone is covered, and that huge risk pool allows the government to bargain effectively to keep costs at reasonable levels. Canada, the U.K. and almost all European countries have single-payer systems that are more cost-effective than the U.S. healthcare system, said Resul Cesur, a healthcare economist at the University of Connecticut. There is not a single solid example or anecdote that suggests otherwise. Single-payer systems arent perfect. There can be long waits for elective procedures, and some treatments or drugs may be unavailable. But ask any resident of a country with such a system and theyll tell you theyd gladly accepts these trade-offs rather than face the brutal uncertainty of the U.S. healthcare system. With President Trump and Republican lawmakers determined to undo what little progress has been made in healthcare reform, the chances of a national Medicare-for-all system range from what are you kidding? to fuggedaboutit. So its up to state leaders. The Democratic candidate for California governor, Gavin Newsom, has said hell get squarely behind legislation to establish a statewide single-payer system. We will have universal healthcare in the state of California, hes said. Newsoms Republican rival, John Cox, is squarely against the idea, mockingly asking why California doesnt also pursue single-payer food and single-payer housing. Critics cite an estimate last year from the state Senate Appropriations Committee saying a single-payer insurance system would cost California as much as $400 billion a year. But this is a bogus figure. It doesnt take into account the savings that would be realized under a single-payer approach, such as lower administrative costs and cheaper prescription meds. A separate study backed by the California Nurses Assn. estimated the cost of single payer at closer to $330 billion annually by taking these factors into account. Moreover, about 70% of Californias current healthcare spending is covered by public programs such as Medicare and Medi-Cal, which means state residents might be responsible for only about $106 billion in new revenue once the savings from single payer are included. This could come in any number of ways a sales tax, a payroll tax, some combination of funding sources. And before people start freaking out about higher taxes, remember: Under a single-payer system, youre no longer paying premiums, co-pays and deductibles. Many healthcare economists say total out-of-pocket costs for people would be lower under a single-payer system than they are under the current system. Critics who say single payer would be more expensive than the current system are either, one, referring to levels of taxes and not taking into consideration the fact that the current system also is funded by private premiums and cost sharing, or, two, lying, said James Robinson, a health economist at UC Berkeley. Perhaps the greatest concern about a switch to single payer would be a potential stifling of medical innovation without the promise of sky-high profits. Spending less on products of intense innovation would have important effects, noted Anupam Jena, an associate professor of healthcare policy at Harvard Medical School. We may be comfortable with those trade-offs, but we just need to be aware that they exist. Or not. Dont forget that insulin was discovered in 1921 by a pair of academic researchers, who then sold the patent to their university for $1 each. The university in turn made it available to drug companies royalty-free. Strange as it may seem, there was a time when medical innovation was guided primarily by the common good. We cant know how things would play out under a single-payer system until we play them out. Thats why Canada introduced its own nationwide single-payer system on a province-by-province basis, making adjustments as it went along. All I know is that when a clinic charges $20 for a simple procedure worth 4 cents, thats a nearly 50,000% markup. Is there anyone whos good with that? David Lazarus column runs Tuesdays and Fridays. He also can be seen daily on KTLA-TV Channel 5 and followed on Twitter @Davidlaz. Send your tips or feedback to david.lazarus@latimes.com. Apple Inc. has struck a multiyear deal with Oprah Winfrey to produce original content, the technology giant announced Friday as the battle for talent among tech titans and traditional studios keeps heating up. Winfrey, one of the most influential voices in media for several decades running, is also expected to have an on-screen role in the new Apple programming. The Cupertino, Calif., tech giant has been courting Hollywood to produce original programming for the company, which manufactures streaming devices called Apple TV. The company has not said when it plans to launch the upcoming streaming service that will carry its shows, or what it will cost. People who are familiar with the plans but not authorized to comment said it probably will debut next year. The iPhone makers content ambitions are part of a push to diversify its revenue beyond the devices it makes and apps produced by other developers. Advertisement The company hopes to compete in entertainment with the likes of Netflix Inc. and Amazon.com Inc., which have been aggressively signing deals with prominent entertainment producers to boost their original content offerings. Netflix has signed lucrative producing agreements with the likes of Ryan Murphy and Shonda Rhimes, who are best known for making hit shows on more traditional networks such as Fox and ABC, respectively. The Los Gatos, Calif., streaming giant recently signed a deal to have Barack and Michelle Obama make movies and shows for it. This month, Amazon Studios announced a first-look pact with Get Out writer-director Jordan Peele, one of the biggest deals yet for Amazons streaming-video arm. Hulu, which is owned by a collection of major media companies, has an original hit in The Handmaids Tale, produced by MGM. Meanwhile, Walt Disney Co. is preparing to launch its own Netflix competitor next year, with programming from its brands including Star Wars, Marvel and Pixar. With so much competition, Apple needs big-name players to help it catch up in the fast-growing streaming space. For them to take on Netflix, Amazon and Hulu, and soon Disney, Apple knows it needs to spend the money to acquire the best talent and content, said Eunice Shin, managing director of consulting firm Manatt Digital. Going after Oprah and winning this deal is huge for Apple. Apple landed two Sony television studio veterans, Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg, to lead its push into original programming last year. They report to Eddy Cue, Apples senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. Since then, Apple has announced numerous TV-style projects with prominent entertainment industry names. One of its much-anticipated endeavors is Steven Spielbergs upcoming revival of the 1980s anthology sci-fi series Amazing Stories. In May, Apple announced it was producing a series called Dickinson, which stars actress and pop star Hailee Steinfeld and is set during the era of American poet Emily Dickinson. The company has also ordered a psychological thriller series from Split director M. Night Shyamalan and a drama series from La La Land writer-director Damien Chazelle. Less is known about Apples potential interest in feature films, an area in which Netflix is spending heavily. The tech giant is said to be in talks with an Ireland-based cartoon studio to secure the rights to an upcoming animated movie, according to Bloomberg, which cited anonymous sources. Landing a deal with Winfrey is a coup because she provides instant star power that Apple needs to build an audience, analysts say. For Winfrey, the deal provides a chance to expand her audience among consumers who increasingly seek out on-demand programming online. This is a shot across the bow from Apple and shows its content strategy is about to accelerate with other streaming competitors now keeping one eye open on Cupertinos plans, Daniel Ives, an analyst for GBH Insights, said in an email. Apple is expected to spend about $1 billion on programming this year, and Ives estimates it will launch a subscription streaming service by 2019 and estimates that by then, the company will spend up to $3 billion on original content in 2019. By comparison, this year Netflix is spending $8 billion on original and licensed content. Its unclear what kind of programming Winfrey will produce for Apple. Apple declined to comment beyond its news release. A spokeswoman for Winfrey also declined to comment. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Winfrey will remain chief executive of the Oprah Winfrey Network, or OWN. Discovery Communications agreed to pay $70 million last year to take a majority stake in the network. As part of the Discovery deal, Winfrey agreed to remain with OWN through 2025. Despite early ratings struggles and staff turnover, OWN has become popular among African American women with such series as Queen Sugar and Greenleaf. Since her long-running talk show went off the air in 2011, Winfrey has appeared in movies such as Lee Daniels The Butler, HBOs The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and Disneys A Wrinkle in Time. She also produced and appeared in Ava DuVernays 2014 civil rights drama Selma, which was nominated for a best picture Oscar. ryan.faughnder@latimes.com | Twitter: @rfaughnder david.pierson@latimes.com | Twitter: @dhpierson UPDATES: 3:20 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details and context, and with Apple and a spokeswoman for Oprah Winfrey declining to comment. 12:35 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with additional context and analyst comment. 10:50 a.m.: This article was updated with analyst comment and additional background information. This article was originally published at 10 a.m. Theranos Inc. founder Elizabeth Holmes and former company President and Chief Operating Officer Ramesh Sunny Balwani have been charged by a federal grand jury of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, the Justice Department said Friday. According to the Justice Department, the two engaged in a multi-million scheme to defraud investors and were also involved in a separate plan to defraud doctors and patients. Minutes before the Justice Departments announcement, Bloomberg reported that Holmes stepped down as as Theranos chief executive but that the Silicon Valley company said she would remain chair of the board. Theranos did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Times. Holmes could not be reached for comment; John Cline, her attorney, declined to comment. Balwanis attorney, Jeffrey B. Coopersmith, said in a statement that Balwani was innocent, committed no crimes and obtained no financial benefit from Theranos, instead losing millions of dollars of his own money. Advertisement Both Holmes and Balwani appeared in court Friday before a U.S. Magistrate judge and entered not guilty pleas, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Northern District of California. Acting U.S. Attorney Alex Tse in the Northern District of California said in a statement that his office and other law enforcement in the Bay Area would vigorously investigate and prosecute those who do not play by the rules. Four years ago, Theranos was valued at $9 billion. Holmes was hailed as a potentially revolutionary force in the blood-testing industry, the accolades all hinging on Holmes claim that the company had developed proprietary technology that could accurately perform a multitude of tests with just a finger prick of blood. Founded in 2003, Theranos said its lab equipment could turn around test results in hours, rather than days, and that those results would have the highest accuracy, according to the federal indictment returned Thursday and unsealed Friday in U.S. District court in the Northern District of California. Holmes business pitch wowed a star-studded cast of investors, such as media mogul Rupert Murdoch and venture capital firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson, and board members, including former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and former Marine Corps General James N. Mattis, who is now President Trumps Secretary of Defense. In 2013, Theranos announced a partnership with Walgreens to put blood testing centers inside some of the pharmacy chains retail stores. But around that year, Holmes and Balwani made false and misleading statements and demonstrations of its technology to investors and the media, when the two knew its proprietary analyzer could perform only a limited number of tests and had accuracy problems, according to the indictment. The pair told investors that Theranos had a revenue-generating relationship with the Defense Department and that the companys technology had been used in the battlefield, when that was untrue and the company reaped only limited revenue from military contracts, the indictment said. Holmes and Balwani also told investors that Theranos would generate more than $100 million in revenue and break even in 2014, and projected that the company would generate about $1 billion in revenue the next year. In reality, both knew Theranos would generate modest revenues of a few hundred thousand dollars in both those years, the indictment said. The two also provided false and misleading information about the companys blood testing program to doctors and patients via marketing materials, which the Justice Department said encouraged many hundreds of patients to pay Theranos for services they believed to be cheaper than conventional blood testing. In 2015, the Wall Street Journal began to publish a series of stories showing how the companys technology was flawed, leading to Theranos downfall. Holmes and Balwani are each charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and nine counts of wire fraud. If convicted, each could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 penalty, with restitution, per count. News of the federal indictment comes just three months after Theranos and Holmes agreed to settle charges from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that the company had conducted a massive fraud in which its proprietary technology never worked as advertised. As part of that SEC settlement, Holmes agreed to give up majority voting control over Theranos and reduce her equity in the company, in addition to a $500,000 penalty. Balwani was also charged in the case, and the SEC said his case would be litigated in federal court in the Northern District of California. samantha.masunaga@latimes.com Twitter: @smasunaga UPDATES: 3:05 p.m.: This article was updated to include additional details of the federal indictment. This article was originally published at 2:15 p.m. In the 1980s, when the art world was struggling to distill the pain and loss of the AIDS epidemic, Ann Philbin, a young curator with an avant-garde eye and an activists edge, walked into a New York gallery and came upon a simple and searing work: A white, scoured sink by sculptor Robert Gober. It took my breath away, said Philbin, who watched many friends die of a disease that swept through the East Village and inspired gay artists like Gober to respond. I thought, Oh, my God, I have no idea what it means, but for me that sink had all the beauty and pathos of what we were living through in that moment, and what we were living through was horrifying. That reckoning spoke not only to Philbins aesthetic but to a provocative instinct that art should define its era, challenge its politics and resonate with a truth that can startle and illuminate. Her 19 years as director of the UCLA Hammer Museum have personified that credo, turning the institution into one of nations most enticing and risk-taking ventures, exhibiting not only contemporary and conceptual art, but holding hundreds of programs a year on topics including racism, civil disobedience, feminism, clean energy and talking sex with Dita Von Teese. When I came here, said Philbin, who left the Drawing Center in New York to move to the Hammer, L.A. was considered not at all an interesting city for art. But in these two decades, it has become the red hot center, arguably in the world. Artists are moving here from Berlin, South America, a lot from Europe. The environment here is not about making money, its about making art. Advertisement Trim and mercurial, Philbin, who once clashed with billionaire Eli Broad over funding and turned away potential board members who didnt share her progressive inclinations, runs on self-assurance and charm. She looks right at you, as if perhaps youre a painting or video installation to be politely scrutinized, and then, if all goes well, conspired with. She is at ease in the penthouses of donors and the cluttered studio apartments of unknown artists, looking for that revelatory find that will celebrate Los Angeles ascension. The Hammers current Made in L.A. 2018 biennial exhibition features 33 artists from ethnicities that reflect the citys diversity. It is a signature show that, like many at the institution, highlights new and under-recognized local artists. Throughout her career, Philbin, who started out as a painter, has focused on artists ahead of boards of directors, donors, collectors, the public and other complicated whims and egos that are at once a distraction and necessity for an institution to thrive. Hammer Museum director Ann Philbin, left, with Mark Bradford in 2015, during his solo show Mark Bradford: Scorched Earth. (Stefanie Keenan ) I started with artists and it took a long time for people to notice anything was happening here, said Philbin, whose operating budget has jumped from $5 million to $25 million since 1999. But it gave us credibility with the artists. Only in the last six years has the general public finally noticed. Were still building our audience. Sometimes I say more people in Berlin know who we are than in Westwood. Andrea Bowers, whose work is often politically charged, praised the Hammer last year for hanging her 50-foot mural depicting banks, including one of the museums donors (Wells Fargo), that were funding the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline, which runs through the Standing Rock Native American reservation. Annie has amazing courage to do projects that other institutions might not do, said Bowers. The reason LA has evolved into one of the major art cities in the world has a lot to do with her tenure. But Philbin fears that the citys allure for artists many of whom studied at local schools -- is now threatened by rising rents and creeping gentrification, factors that in other cities, notably New York and San Francisco, pushed artists away. The pressure is likely to intensify as Southern California becomes attractive to the tech industry, a shift that could recast the regions character and culture. Real estate prices are something thats now talked about all the time. You can feel it changing. Its a big concern for artists, said Philbin. She added that in San Francisco, the tech industry was estranged from the local art scene. They were in their own little bubble, she said of tech companies. You cant old hold it (development) back. You cant stop it. But you can do it differently. I hope they understand what it means to be a citizen. If so, we have the potential to alter this landscape in the most exciting way. Linda Stark, Self Portrait with Ray, 2017. Oil on canvas over panel. Stark is one of 32 artists in the Hammers current biennial exhibition Made in L.A. (Linda Stark / Hammer Museum ) Philbin is fierce about the duties of citizenship and the cachet of brand, turning a university museum into a world-class institution, one that has received two recent donations totaling $50 million to underpin a $180-million campaign for renovations, endowment, exhibitions and gallery expansion. Were going for big game, she said. Our exhibition partners are MOMA, the MET, the Tate, the Whitney. That sense of prowess and singularity the museums affiliation with the university is not readily apparent on its website has at times agitated some at UCLA, though Philbin says, its not an issue today. The Hammers autonomy grew out of legal disputes and financial maneuverings in the 1990s when UCLA took over what was then the Armand Hammer Museum, founded by the CEO of Occidental Petroleum to house his art collection. Brett Steele, dean of UCLAs School of the Arts and Architecture and a member of the Hammer board, said there is no tension between the Hammer and the university, adding that the museums degree of independence is something we talk about. Philbin followed the strength of her convictions in building this museum into what it has become, said board chairwoman Marcy Carsey, a television producer who donated $20 million last year to the Hammer. Sometimes she stood up to very powerful people and put her job on the line. Ann Philbin, right, with Marcy Carsey at the Hammer Museum in February 2018, before the announcement of a $20 million gift from Carsey, who is chair of the Hammers board of directors, a $30 million gift from the Resnick family and a $180 million fundraising campaign. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times ) One of those times came shortly after Philbin arrived at the Hammer and learned that then-board member Eli Broad wanted to divert millions of dollars from the sale of a museum-owned scientific drawing by Leonardo da Vinci to start what became the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Center at UCLA. Philbin helped block Broads attempt, a telling move against one of the citys most powerful arts patrons. That early encounter appears not to have damaged their relationship. When asked about the matter, Philbin said, Eli and I had a disagreement in the past, but were friends now. Broad, who can be temperamental when his plans are challenged, called Philbin a determined, smart leader who has shown remarkable vision, adding, Los Angeles is fortunate to have her. On a recent morning, Philbin, a photographer in tow, walked through the annual Kids Art Museum Project (K.A.M.P.) fundraiser in the Hammer courtyard. Children painted, weaved, drew and built Legos alongside artists including skateboarder Chad Muska and architect Kulapat Yantrasast. The event raised about $200,000 and provided a glimpse of the celebrity (Bill Hader and Jimmy Kimmel read childrens stories), wealth (Chanel and diamonds) and talent (painter Rosson Crow oversaw the collage table) that fuels the LA art scene. Philbin did tricks with a magician who held a deck of Tiffany & Co. playing cards. The metaphor, though happenstance, was evident: Philbin has navigated the delicate and at times ego-fueled intersection between wealth and art for years, most visibly at the annual museums Gala, with a guest list that ranges from Sarah Jessica Parker to architect Frank Gehry. The event raised $2.4 million last year. Ava DuVernay and guests at the Hammer Museum 15th Annual Gala in the Garden in 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Stefanie Keenan / Getty Images for Hammer Museum ) To the consternation of some artists and curators, she has invited celebrities to have a hand in exhibitions. Steve Martin, an intrepid collector, curated a show by Canadian artist Lawren Harris. Will Ferrell and Joel McHale starred in a short video to explain the works in the Stories of Almost Everyone, a recent exhibition about how we interpret art objects. Philbin thought Ferrell and McHale would add an everyman sense of humor to a show that featured folded socks and piled letters and was inscrutable to many. The video had more than 850,000 views on YouTube and Facebook. This was a little controversial because the curators said, Youre making fun of the art. And I said, No, Im not. Im trying to find a way where people can find comfort with their discomfort about this work, said Philbin, adding that one artist refused to be in the video. One of the works of art was a pillow that had only been slept on by acrobats. Im sorry, but if we cannot make fun of ourselves. If we cannot make fun of that then were just. The daughter of an artist and a lawyer who worked in President John F. Kennedys administration, Philbin gets along well with her board (their job is to support us, not lead us) and is freer to explore her tastes than directors at many other institutions. It would be hard to imagine the leadership turmoil at MOCA director Philippe Vergnes contract will not be renewed next year plaguing the Hammer. This has allowed her to concentrate on exhibitions like Radical Women: Latin American Art, 1960-1985, a recent acclaimed show that featured artists who fought racism, misogyny and political oppression. Patssi Valdez, Portrait of Patssi, 1975, photograph on poster paper in Radical; Women show. Hammer Museum Our public programs are unabashedly progressive in their viewpoints, said Philbin, who is married to Cynthia Wornham, a senior vice president at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. I have a couple of Republicans on my board, but theyre good Republicans [she laughed], and they probably mostly agree with the point of view were putting out there. Many other museums couldnt get away with that. There are people on their boards who are very partisan. Democrats and Republicans and people who are very wealthy who have very strong points of view about immigration and this and that. Philbin received a masters degree in museum studies/arts administration from New York University. She remembers the days of Reaganomics, AIDS memorials in Greenwich Village, and when Cindy Sherman worked was a receptionist at Artists Space. And though she is now building a vibrant art scene that reflects Los Angeles, like many in her world, she wants the recognition of New Yorks cultural media and established order. The art world may be shifting west, but the perception remains that much of its influence is in the east. She is in some ways is reminiscent of Deborah Borda, who left her post as head of the New York Philharmonic and took over the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2000. Borda put aside East Coast conventions and, along with conductor Gustavo Dudamel, built one of the most innovative orchestras in the world. So much so that the struggling New York Philharmonic lured her back last year to infuse it with her marketing skills and adventurousness. Im still a New Yorker at heart, said Philbin. But risk and experimentation are much more embraced in L.A. Ann Philbin in 1998 at the Drawing Center gallery space in Soho when when she was director of the Drawing Center. (Claire Holt / For the Times ) On a May afternoon, Philbin, dressed in ivory-colored pants and a jacket, walked amid pieces being installed for the Made in L.A. 2018 show, which encompasses topics ranging from climate change to social justice that reflect our unsettled times. They include works by Luchita Hurtado, a 97-year-old Venezuelan-born painter whose images turn the body into landscapes, and Charles Long, a slight man in a black T-shirt who stood next to a sculpture that could be viewed as either the base of a cut-down tree or a severed penis. This is the room where patriarchy ends, Long said with a laugh. I like it, Philbin said. The unexpected, a place where imagination finds spark and voice, a style all its own, thats what she saw in Gobers sink during the AIDS crisis. And it defined her many-years quest to meet Lee Bontecou, a sculptor popular in the 1960s who retreated from the public eye to make art in a barn deep in Pennsylvania. Philbin was determined to bring Bontecous new works to the Hammer. I had been writing Lee for 10 years. She never responded, said Philbin. Her break came when Elizabeth Smith, a curator at MOCA, made contact with Bontecou. So we made this pilgrimage to Pennsylvania. I literally fainted. When she opened the barn doors, I had to sit down and put my head between my legs. The work was phenomenal, and she was doing it in total isolation. It was like it was being seen for the first time. The show opened at Hammer in 2003 and went on to MOMA. She paused while recounting the story, lingering over the memory of that sublime instant when barn doors swung toward the light. See the most-read stories this hour Twitter: @JeffreyLAT jeffrey.fleishman@latimes.com ALSO Rage and wonder in 1968: The year war came through the TV and I felt pieces of childhood ending Paul Schrader wrestles with the sacred and profane in his new First Reformed How images sometimes manipulated and altered are shaping the seething world of our politics Rage and wonder in 1968: The year war came through the TV and I felt pieces of childhood ending China's service trade deficit may expand in next few years China's deficit of trade in services is expected to expand in the next few years due to the country's industrial and consumption upgrades, an official said Thursday. The service trade deficit may begin to shrink "only after it reaches a certain level," Gao Feng, spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce said at a press conference. China's service trade deficit has seen a rising trend in recent years. Last year, the deficit was 1.62 trillion yuan (about 253 billion U.S. dollars). In the first four months of this year, China's service trade deficit stood at 88.24 billion dollars. Although the figure for the first five months is yet to be released, it is expected to surpass goods trade surplus of 99.67 billion dollars for the January-May period. "Judging from international experience, it is a general law for large manufacturing nations to see service trade deficits in the process of transformation," Gao said. The deficit is the result of China's industrial transformation and upgrading of residential consumption, he said. As the economy enters the phase of high-quality development, China also has a growing appetite for quality service products, Gao added. China is seeing expansion in service trade deficit in many sectors, including intellectual property rights, showing both the country's large market potential and the large gap in the service sector's competitiveness between China and developed nations, he said. In the future, China will take measures to push for healthy growth of service trade to seek not only larger volume, but better structure and greater competitiveness, Gao said. Slyly seductive and vigorously distracting, Cabaret keeps you enthralled while the world goes to hell. Set in 1929 and 30, the show captures the jittery throb of Germanys fragile, fractious but richly creative Weimar era as its brief existence got crushed in the Great Depression and indignant nationalism congealed into Nazism. Dark to begin with, the 1966 musical grew still inkier with Sam Mendes mid-1990s revival. In that vein, a gripping if vocally rough-edged production by Celebration Theatre continues. Michael Matthews, one of the citys more imaginative directors, makes the darkness literal, enticing the audience into the seedy almost-elegance of a Berlin nightclub where anything could happen in the shadows. What might lurk there quickly goes from titillating to chilling. Advertisement But, hey, theres a party going on. What good is sitting alone in your room? Audience members enter into a violet haze of smoke that is punctuated by starbursts of white cabaret lights framing the stage and lining the room (scenic design by Stephen Gifford, lights by Matthew Brian Denman). Dark wallpaper and dimly glittering chandeliers enfold the rooms tiered seats, erasing any divide between viewer and stage. Metaphorically, the nightclub is Germany at the time or, at least, as it might seem to a young, foreign writer in search of adventure, in keeping with the storys roots in British writer Christopher Isherwoods semi-autobiographical Berlin tales. Presiding over the nightly party is an emcee who is seductive, slightly ominous and, in this version, almost magical. As portrayed by Alex Nee, he seems to embody the Weimar Republic in its death gasps, his breathtakingly inventive performances turning flippantly angry and his behavior growing zombie-like as things deteriorate. The writer, an American named Cliff, comes across in Christopher Maikishs portrayal as earnest and endearingly stuffy. He rents a room from Frau Schneider, who is Germany at its most humane, a bit set in her ways but open to new people and experiences. One light in the darkness is the later-life romance between June Carryls Frau Schneider and Matthew Henersons Herr Schultz, a gentlemanly Jewish grocer whose presence invariably turns her young and giddy again. As their future turns impossible, the audience grows sniffly. And then, of course, there is Sally, the nightclubs chanteuse of the moment, so indelibly portrayed in the 1972 movie by Liza Minnelli. Her come-what-may, sexually adventurous existence reaches a crossroads in her relationship with tender, genuine Cliff a dilemma that plays out with palpable ache in Talisa Friedmans performance. Diverting us from the ugliness festering beyond the nightclubs doors are floor shows that, as choreographed by Janet Roston, entice with thrusts, grinds and even a bit of pole dancing, not to mention a Kama Sutras worth of sexual positions. Michael Mullens costumes put the pansexual dancers in everything from brazen lingerie to innocent school uniforms, while keeping Cliff trussed in an uptight bow tie. So masterfully assembled was this musical by producer-director Hal Prince, librettist Joe Masteroff, composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb that its ready to offer up fresh nuances in each staging. One drawback to Matthews approach is that its so dark from the start that we dont feel the vertiginous descent that should take place in the second act. Then theres the performance of the endlessly clever score, with its blend of rustic German music hall and glossy Broadway sounds. The band is terrific, delivering such a jazzy, complex sound that it seems impossible its made by just four instrumentalists, led from the keyboard by Anthony Zediker. But many of the vocals are pitch-challenged bellows, notable more for enthusiasm than pleasantness. Sally might be characterized as having more moxie than talent, and the non-nightclub characters are just ordinary people, but still, our ears crave more. At shows end, Matthews comes up with his own way to link the history weve been watching to events today. Too much or just right? You decide. Christopher Maikish as Cliff and Talisa Friedman as Sally. (Matthew Brian Denman ) Cabaret Where: Celebration at the Lex Theatre, 6760 Lexington Ave., Hollywood When: 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays; ends Aug. 5 Tickets: $35-$75 Info: (323) 957-1884; www.celebrationtheatre.com Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes daryl.miller@latimes.com Twitter: @darylhmiller UPDATES: 12:50 p.m. June 20: The ticket information box on this review has been updated to reflect an extended closing date of Aug. 5. This review was published at 7 a.m. June 15. The handwriting is on the wall for the workers at one of the last standing small auto plants in Detroit. They know management is planning to shut down the operation, but they dont know when and, more existentially worrying, they dont who they will be when their occupation is stolen from them. Set in 2008, at the start of what will come to be known as the Great Recession, Skeleton Crew, the third in Dominique Morisseaus Detroit trilogy, is a powerful drama about workers, the value of their work and what happens to society when that work is taken away. The play, which opened Wednesday at the Geffen Playhouse in a tight ensemble production directed by Patricia McGregor, occasions the dusting off of a word largely forgotten in this tech-driven, union-dissolving, globalized economy: proletariat. Yes, we heard quite a bit about disaffected white working-class workers in the last presidential election. But the historical place of unionized skilled laborers who fought to achieve a middle-class existence for Americans not born into privilege has faded from view In Skeleton Crew, a play that recalls this history from the vantage of African American auto workers trying to hold on as the city around them sinks deeper into despair, the venerable spirit of the old Detroit worker is embodied in the character of Faye (played with grit and gusto by Caroline Stefanie Clay). The union rep at her plant, Faye, a cancer survivor whose life hasnt been the same since the death of her lesbian partner, is as tough as they come yet ferociously protective of the welfare of her fellow workers. Advertisement Kelly McCreary as the dedicated (and pregnant) Shanita, left, with Caroline Stefanie Clay as the fiercely protective Faye in Skeleton Crew. (Chris Whitaker ) She is the undisputed ruler of the run-down factory break room, where the play unfolds. Rachel Myers set conjures this lounge in all its dusty disrepair. This is where the workers exchange rumors over lunch, play cards and, if theyre Faye, sneak a cigarette despite all the signs forbidding smoking. Hovering a floor above and always in view is the assembly line, which is treated with less choreographic hoopla than it has been in other productions. (McGregor wisely opts to concentrate our focus.) The factory workers have reason to see management as the enemy, but the central dramatic conflict of Skeleton Crew is thankfully more complicated. Reggie (DB Woodside), the supervisor, has a longstanding relationship with Faye, who helped get him his white-collar position. He confides in her that the plant is indeed about to close, but he needs time to work out the best deal for everyone before the union is officially told. Faye trusts Reggies integrity, but she also feels a duty to Shanita (Kelly McCreary), a dedicated worker whos unmarried and pregnant, and Dez (Amari Cheatom), a highly skilled, ambitious colleague who has a target on his back for his casual relationship to the rules. DB Woodside as the supervisor Reggie, left, and Amari Cheatom as the employee with a target in his back in Skeleton Crew. (Chris Whitaker ) Skeleton Crew is content to follow the workplace rituals of these people in a manner that may put some in mind of August Wilsons Jitney. The repetitious first act could be condensed. Morisseau is so adept at introducing characters and setting up the story that there is no need to keep reintroducing personality traits and reestablishing plot lines. Sometimes the language thunders with Wilson-esqe crackle, as when Faye lets it be known that her presence at the factory is inescapable: The walls talk to me. Im in the vents. Im in the bulletin boards. Im in the chipped paint. Aint nobody can slip through the cracks past me up in here. I can see through lockers. Occasionally, however, the monologues are too baldly stated. Shanitas explanation for not wanting to take a job at a copy center because here at the plant my touch my special care it matter. Im building something that you can see come to life at the end sounds more like an interpretation of the characters feelings than how she would actually speak. Reggies outburst about the weight of responsibility hes carrying has a similar playwriting ring. If these moments stand out, its only because the dialogue is otherwise extremely well observed. Morisseau, who served as a co-producer on the Showtime series Shameless, knows intimately her characters sorrows, quirks and sustaining humor. She doesnt stint on the woes, but she doesnt make her play about any one personal burden or setback. In keeping with a drama in which the local union banner hangs prominently, Skeleton Crew is concerned above all with the aggregate experience. Individuals matter, but the collective matters more. Morisseau doesnt fall into any of the melodramatic traps she teasingly sets up. Neither Dezs gun nor his budding romance with Shanita nor Fayes secret living situation becomes the means to explode or resolve the plot. Ethical questions are raised in the context of a dehumanizing economy that makes conscience a luxury few workers can afford anymore. But rather than answers, the play provides a showcase for the values that have been jeopardized by corporations all too ready to dispose of the human beings whose industriousness made them rich. McCrearys Shanita takes enormous pride in punching in early to make her daily contribution. Cheatoms Dez may swagger, but he knows hes too good to be easily replaced. Woodsides Reggie is determined to do right by everyone, including himself. These qualities made American industry once the envy of the world, and no one embodies them more than Clays formidable Faye, who stands tall, knowing the legacy of her labor. The play is a showcase for the values that have been jeopardized by corporations all too ready to dispose of the humans whose industriousness made them rich. The productions final moment is interpreted in far too upbeat a fashion. Theres no doubting the fight and feistiness of these self-respecting characters and their capacity to endure, but the fate awaiting them is less certain. No need for a sitcom sop to the audience. Yes, some Geffen theatergoers found the social realism of Ironbound, a play by Martyna Majok (this years Pulitzer Prize drama winner), heavy-going. But many were gripped by the depiction of an immigrant experience too long ignored by our stages. Morisseau, one of the rising talents in American drama, does something similar by taking us inside a union shop where American playwrights havent often ventured since Clifford Odets Waiting for Lefty. In Skeleton Crew, the American worker, cranky, caring, overburdened and endangered, is given her 21st century dramatic due. Skeleton Crew Where: Gil Cates Theater at the Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., L.A. When: 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays; ends July 8 Tickets: $25-$90 Information: (310) 208-5454, www.geffenplayhouse.org Running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes charles.mcnulty@latimes.com Follow me @charlesmcnulty Kristen Bell doesnt just buy groceries and shove them into her refrigerator. Instead, she hits up Google and does what she describes as a deep dive into every brand shes purchased, every ingredient listed on each box. Food -- thats my jam, said The Good Place and Frozen actress. I want to know whats in everything. Im obsessive about food. I want to know who made it and where it came from. Bell was chatting before a party in West Hollywood to celebrate her other business -- This Bar Saves Lives -- a line of snack bars co-founded by Bell and fellow actors Ryan Devlin, Todd Grinnell and Ravi Patel. On this night, a couple of new flavors were being launched (dark chocolate and coconut, peanut butter and jelly) to add to the gluten-free, non-GMO and kosher products. Id always been struck by this feeling that charity is wonderful, but businesses could do better, said Bell, 37. There is a lack of giving back in the food space. Advertisement The solution, according to Bell and her co-founders? With every bar they sell, a nutrition packet will be given to a malnourished child via PlumpyNut a peanut butter, powdered milk and vitamin parcel that can take a skeletal baby at deaths door to a healthy, thriving child, she said. Nutritious convenience foods, prized berries from the farmers market and clever swaps -- cauliflower crust pizza instead of regular -- are all part of meal planning for Bell, who is married to actor Dax Shepherd, with whom she has two children. Here she shares her tips for clean eating, being ingredient-savvy, and why baby steps are better than nothing. Stock up on go-tos Im really into pasta made with chickpeas. Its got a ton of protein. Its a little more chewy than regular pasta, but not in the way that gluten-free pasta is. And my whole household is on ghee instead of butter. Theres a California garlic one which I like to open and just smell. And a Madagascar vanilla, which I put on my kids waffles instead of syrup. I get a farm box that sometimes has Harrys Berries. Theyre incredible. You can maybe find them at the farmers market. In the summer, well go through six containers a week. Listen to your body I was vegan and am now vegetarian. Im all about eating clean and ethically, but I also believe that its important to listen to your body. Some peoples bodies tell them to eat meat. Theres a better way to do it because factory farming is a nightmare. I give my children meat; the chicken they get has been raised in, basically, a spa. They get all but manicures. Seek out the healthier option For protein, Im obsessed with the Beyond Burger. When Im working out, Ill eat two a day. When I want to do fast food, Ill make a cauliflower crust pizza with a Beyond Burger in the middle, and Ive got a pizza burger. Inconsistency isnt all bad My workout habits arent as good as my eating habits. For me, 70% of feeling good is the food I eat. Working out for me is very random. L.A. has great hikes so sometimes Ill do that. Lately its been Pilates. I have problems with my posture and Pilates mat and reformer help a ton with that. I use a site called Pilates Anytime where you can follow any Pilates class. Ive taken some TRX classes at Yogaworks, which is resistance work using bands on the walls. It feels horrifying 48 hours later, but the good kind of horrifying. Start small This is what I tell people; you dont have to shoot for the moon. If all you can do is 100 sit-ups on the floor while the kids are watching TV, then do that. You dont have to commit to something for the rest of your life. Maybe try something like Whole30. You buy a book, follow the recipes and after 30 days hopefully you will notice enough of a change to make it last. But for now, just think about today. Hit the keyboard There is more information out there than you know. Food feels confusing, but its not. If you have the inkling to better your life and health, there are resources out there and a little understanding goes a long way. READ ON! Yes, you can eat your way to beautiful skin 10 high-tech gadgets to help you get to sleep How Scandals Katie Lowes hid her psoriasis 7 steps to making your health your No. 1 priority He lost 84 pounds in four months and kept it off A roosters crow filled the quiet Compton street as two immigration agents knocked on the door of the baby-blue-colored house. They were there to arrest a woman with convictions for theft. Instead, they encountered Sonia, a 52-year-old mother who makes a living selling pupusas from the front porch. As the fugitive operations team searched a separate back house, the street vendor told one of the agents that she was from El Salvador. She did not volunteer that, like their target, she was not in the country legally. In the Trump administrations crackdown on illegal immigration, people like Sonia are in increasing danger of becoming collateral damage. ICE agents are out in force in immigrant neighborhoods across the country looking for specific offenders here illegally whom the government wants to arrest and deport. But they are often coming across many more people here illegally who are not wanted by the agency but still face the danger of being picked up. Advertisement Arrests of noncriminals by agents in the L.A. field office rose from 4% in 2016 to 12% in 2017. This has increased anxiety around the L.A. area since President Trump took office. To Trumps supporters, there is nothing wrong with picking up those in the country illegally if agents come across them. But critics have cited such arrests as a clear sign of the administrations overexuberance to deport immigrants and make their lives miserable, whether they have criminal records or not. ICE officials blame sanctuary state laws for so-called collateral arrests, saying a lack of cooperation with California law enforcement has made it more difficult for them to find wanted people and forces them into neighborhoods. And so, on this Sunday morning whether she knew it or not Sonia the pupusa peddler found herself on a razors edge. In the back of the house, a woman told ICE agents that their target had been kicked out about half a year ago for not paying rent. As for Sonia, the agents never asked about her legal status. An agent thanked her and said they would not bother her again. Immigration and Customs Enforcement fugitive operations team members converge on a house in Compton. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times ) About 10 minutes after arriving, the ICE team left to continue with their part on the first day of an operation the agency hoped would lead to 500 arrests across Southern California. They were so nice that I didnt get scared, Sonia said later, though she wondered whether the presence of a reporter might have made the scene play out differently. By the end of the operation on Tuesday, the Los Angeles field office had made 162 arrests, including a Mexican national convicted of rape and a citizen of El Salvador convicted of voluntary manslaughter. Of the 157 men and five women arrested, most of them 129 are Mexican nationals, according to ICE. Almost 90% of the people arrested had criminal convictions, according to ICE. In the last operation earlier this year, agents made 212 arrests over a four-day period. These operations can show that what ICE does is protect the community, said David Marin, director of Enforcement and Removal Operations for ICE in Los Angeles. Marin said that there are so many potential targets in the region with criminal records that the agency can focus on them. Of Sonia, the street vendor, Marin said: Some people would say, OK our encounter with her why didnt you arrest her? Well our officers had no reason to ask her any questions to establish probable cause, he said. She wasnt the person we were looking for, and she was being very cooperative with us. That discretion, however, has not always favored immigrants with no records. In the first quarter of fiscal 2018, San Diegos ICE office arrested more people with no criminal records than anywhere else in the U.S. That field office, which also covers Imperial County, was the only one in the country where the majority of arrests about 72% were of noncriminals, according to the agency. (At the time, about 16% of the people arrested by ICE officers in L.A. did not have criminal records.) Marin cited the Atlanta and Chicago offices as jurisdictions that are arresting a lot of non-criminals compared with the L.A. office. I only have so many officers. Im going to focus on those criminals because I know those are an immediate threat, he said. Some say theyre criminal because they crossed the border illegally. But just an illegal alien. Yeah, I can arrest them, but I dont have the resources to. ICEs Los Angeles office covers a vast region that stretches from San Luis Obispo to San Clemente and from the coast to the Nevada border. At least one team is active each day, making arrests. Although 2017 arrests by agents in the L.A. field office were up 10% from the previous year, rising to 8,419, it was a far cry from the over 25,000 arrests in 2013 and more than 18,000 in 2014, according to ICE data. During the most recent three-day operation, 12 teams made arrests in L.A., Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Adriana Espejel is escorted away by Immigration and Customs Enforcement fugitive operations team members in Compton. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times ) Latinos make up an estimated 50% of the L.A. field office, Marin said. Of the seven agents gathered for a 5 a.m. briefing in the parking lot of a Compton shopping mall, five were Latino. Many agents spoke fluent Spanish, which came in handy as the team worked their way through a list of six targets. Half of them were legal permanent residents whose status was jeopardized because of criminal convictions. First on the list was the woman they thought lived at the Compton address. She had been picked up for vehicle theft and two different cases of petty thefts. The 26-year-old had applied for DACA, but was denied because she never provided evidence that she qualified for the program. An ICE agent said that the woman had been taken into custody, but that the law enforcement agency that had arrested her did not not honor an immigration hold on her. Wherever she went into custody, they didnt honor our hold due to the sanctuary policy, he said. So now shes out on the street. After leaving the first address empty-handed, the ICE agents moved on to the next target, Adriana Espejel, who came with her parents from Mexico City when she was 5. The 26-year-old, who has had a green card since 2010, was convicted in May of possession of a controlled substance for sale. They had already done surveillance on the home where she lived with her boyfriend in an industrial area of Compton. Shortly before 6:30 a.m., agents knocked on the carport in front of the house, which sat between factories. In the front yard was a playground set, with a red slide and swings, as well as a stroller. A dog barked relentlessly as the agents shouted Police, until they were able to make contact with Juan Sanchez, Espejels boyfriend. Reflected in the window of the holding area, Adriana Espejel tries to contact the Mexican consulate while being held at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Los Angeles processing center. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times ) Believing the agents to be police they wore vests that read police with a small badge that read ICE Sanchez let them in. Espejel was sleeping on the couch with Sanchezs 3-year-old son. The agents walked her outside and handcuffed her. Honestly, Im real lost, Espejel said, as one of the agents walked her to a black SUV with tinted windows. You have a green card, correct? the agent asked her. Any time youre in trouble or convicted of a crime, that lets us know. An arrest causes ones fingerprints to be logged electronically with the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, Marin said. When a lawful permanent resident is arrested for a removable crime, agents make a note to follow up on the person later. But the ultimate decision on whether a person is removed from the country is determined by an immigration judge Marin said its important for legal residents to try to become U.S citizens. If she would have become a U.S. citizen when she was eligible, we wouldnt be here, Marin said about Espejel. We wouldnt be knocking on your door if you were a United States citizen. But because shes a lawful permanent resident, because shes committed crimes that make her amenable to removal, she has to answer to it. Agents came up empty in Lynwood. They moved on to Huntington Park to search for Abel Martinez Guzman, another lawful permanent resident who had been convicted of cruelty to a child. Immigration and Customs Enforcement fugitive operations team members converge on a house in Compton. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times ) Rather than arrest him inside his home with his three children inside, the agents took him out front, where a geometric dome sat on the green grass of his front yard. He emptied his pockets of his wallet and a Dodgers lanyard that held his keys. The agents left his wife with a card that listed his alien registration number, a unique nine-digit number given to anyone who applies for immigration benefits or who is in deportation proceedings. They gave her a phone number to call for information. With her arms crossed, Guzmans wife watched as the agents placed her husband inside the black SUV. Guzman quietly thanked the agents for not arresting him in front of his children. The agents searched for another target, their fifth, also in Huntington Park. A person inside the house where they thought the target might live told the agents that the man they were looking for moved out two weeks ago. Throughout the day, agents complained about Senate Bill 54, a California sanctuary state law, as well as other policies they say have affected their operations. In 53 of the cases during the operation, ICE had filed detainers with local law enforcement officials, requesting that they be notified when a person in custody will be released, according to the agency. A man is escorted into the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Los Angeles processing center after being taken into custody by a ICE fugitive operations team earlier that morning. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times ) One of the agents said that he felt that the negative opinion of the agency has recently intensified. Even the cops dont like us anymore, because theyre listening to the news also. Oh you guys are just separating families, said the agent, who did not want his name included. Its not like we like being seen like that. We dont like it, but its positive that were out here, in my opinion. And we do this every day. We get tired of it, we get tired of the negative looks but what are we going to do? The agent blamed media coverage. The media portrays us badly for the most part. But I know what were doing, he said. When the media comes out with us and sometimes they interview the detainee theyll be like, he has five kids, hes married, only wage earner But what did he do? At the processing center, detainees were instructed to remove shoes and drawstrings from shorts as a safety precaution. Espejel got a medical check and her fingerprints were taken, before she sat down with an agent to answer questions. Espejel is one of triplet sisters. One of her siblings has residency and the other is a citizen, she told a Times reporter. Espejel kept repeating that she is not here illegally and that her permanent residency has no expiration. Through shaky breaths, Espejel shared her story about how her parents left Mexico to give their children a better life. Her father worked hard to get her and her siblings their residency, she said. I feel like Im letting him down, Espejel said. I feel like its his biggest disappointment. When she was arrested in January 2017, she was living on the street, Espejel said. Soon, she got addicted to meth, but denied trying to sell large amounts. Espejel was convicted in May and served eight days in jail before being released more than a month ago and put on probation, she said. I went in jail, served my time, I dont see why immigration picked up on it after when I was already released, said Espejel, her mascara smudging as tears streaked down her face. Why am I here now, if I paid my time? Espejels boyfriend later said that she had changed, finding a job and helping him raise his son. He said he regretted opening the door. If I had known it was ICE, I wouldnt have let them in. For more California news, follow @brittny_mejia UPDATES: 11:30 a.m.: This article was updated with additional information from ICE. This article was originally published at 7:30 a.m. It began with an investigation into bad workplace behavior: a high-level manager inside the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety accused of yelling at his workers. City investigators soon received reports of more unusual activities, such as staffers being punished by having to eat an entire pizza in one sitting. That probe, in turn, led personnel department officials to uncover unauthorized purchases, falsified invoices and $24,900 in payments to a consulting company that did not in fact exist, said Frank Bush, general manager at Building and Safety. Last month, the city quietly turned its findings over to L.A. County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey, whose office has opened a review. Bush said investigators also identified improper travel expenses and lax financial controls and are trying to determine whether a department staffer used city funds to buy iPhones and other equipment, then sold them to other department employees. Advertisement The allegations represent the second major scandal to hit the department in the last decade. Between 2011 and 2013, three building inspectors were convicted of accepting bribes in exchange for building sign-offs, and others were fired as a result of a larger probe. Bush portrayed this years inquiries as different from the prior bribery cases. While the earlier probes were first initiated by undercover FBI agents, the more recent allegations were internally reported and internally investigated and internally dealt with, he said. During the recent investigations, six employees in the departments technology services bureau were placed on paid administrative leave. Three of them have resigned, while a fourth retired May 11, according to a personnel department spokesman. Two others received 20-day suspensions and have returned to their jobs. An aide to Mayor Eric Garcetti called the allegations of misconduct completely unacceptable, saying such behavior will not be tolerated at City Hall. The Department of Building and Safety took swift action to address the situation as soon as it came to light, and were committed to making sure it doesnt happen again, said Garcetti spokesman Alex Comisar. Food hazing Many of the allegations revolve around Giovani Dacumos, who worked for the agency as a deputy superintendent of building, according to legal and personnel documents reviewed by The Times. Dacumos, 48, earned nearly $200,000 per year while running the departments technology section, which purchases and maintains the agencys computer software and related devices. He resigned in November. At one point last year, lawyers for the city obtained a temporary restraining order against Dacumos, saying one of his employees feared he might harm her. The city allowed the order to expire once Dacumos resigned, said a spokesman for City Atty. Mike Feuer. Investigators also concluded that Dacumos employees had been subjected to unusual forms of punishment, according to a personnel report prepared by the city and reviewed by The Times. At least two were forced to eat an entire pizza within a short period of time, while another was instructed to wear skirts instead of slacks, the report said. Bush declined to say whether Dacumos, a 23-year employee of the department, was the one who meted out those orders. But he confirmed the investigators received reports of food hazing inside Dacumos section including employees who were ordered to devour multiple ice cream bars within a specified period of time. If they didnt get something done, or something did not go the way a manager wanted it to, that was their form of punishment, he said. Dacumos, a Panorama City resident, could not be reached for comment. A man who identified himself as Dacumos father told The Times that Dacumos was out of town. He said he did not know when Dacumos would return. Bush said the information turned over to the district attorney dealt with allegations of financial wrongdoing, not hazing or workplace harassment. City officials said an investigation into the Department of Building and Safety uncovered invoices and payments to a consulting company that did not exist. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times ) Fake company, false invoices Another key figure in the probe is Riel Ortiz, a low-level systems aide at Building and Safety who helped the agency make technology purchases. Investigators concluded that between 2015 and 2017, Ortiz authorized $24,900 in payments from the city to a family friend, Josephine C. Santos, according to a Jan. 24 report prepared by the citys personnel department, which was reviewed by The Times. In her invoices, Ortiz said the money was needed to pay a Glendale-based company called JCS Consulting, the investigative report states. But Santos, who received the funds, did not have a consulting business and did not perform any work for the city, Bush said. Santos, 67, could not be reached for comment. However, she told personnel investigators that she cashed the checks as a favor to the Building and Safety employee and did not receive any compensation herself. Ortiz declined to discuss the citys investigation when approached by The Times. However, she admitted to investigators that she created the invoices and collected the cash from Santos. Ortiz, 46, told investigators that she handed the money over to Dacumos, who had told her the money was needed to cover various expenses in the office, the report states. She also told them she was following Dacumos directions even though she knew those activities were not right. Ms. Ortiz said that Mr. Dacumos knew she was a black and white person (either right or wrong) but Mr. Dacumos taught her grey and that grey was okay, the city report said. Ortiz was placed on administrative leave in December and resigned from her $57,200-per-year job on April 23, according to a Personnel Department spokesman. Investigators have also concluded that she and at least one other employee mishandled funds that were paid to one of the citys technology vendors. Bush said that over two years, the city provided about $4 million to Cerritos-based Golden Star Technology for services and products that had not yet been delivered. Investigators say staffers authorized those payments in advance because it made it easier for them to make purchases, since it avoided the citys competitive bidding requirements, he said. The city has recouped about $2.9 million and is on track to collect the rest by June 29, Bush said. An executive with Golden Star Technology did not respond to requests for comment. Since those payments were uncovered, Building and Safety officials have established new protocols to ensure that department employees no longer front load payments, authorizing spending to city contractors before the services have been provided. We have implemented procedures so that that cannot happen again, Bush said. While the city is on track to recoup those funds, the $24,900 to Santos has not been recovered. Two city employees reported that $5,300 of it went to reimburse a Building and Safety staffer for a business trip to London, he said. That trip should not have been authorized by the department, Bush added. Allegations of threats and violence The citys initial investigation into the technology section began in September, after personnel officials received reports of threatening behavior. The information obtained by investigators prompted Feuer to secure a temporary restraining order designed to keep Dacumos away from one of his workers. In a legal declaration filed in Superior Court, William Weeks, assistant general manager of the personnel department, said that Dacumos had engaged in an intimate relationship with one of his female subordinates. After she ended the relationship, Dacumos began making threatening, profanity-laced statements toward her, he said in the declaration. Weeks added that Dacumos sent texts to the employee constantly asking her to resume the relationship. At one point, Dacumos told the employee that he planned to make her life miserable, he said. At another, Dacumos raised a computer keyboard to his chest and smashed it onto the desk in front of her, Weeks said in the filing. Dacumos, in his own legal declaration, admitted to having a 21-month relationship with the employee. But he denied making threats of violence or engaging in harassment, saying he treated all of his subordinates with respect. He also described the keyboard incident as an accident. We were simply having a conversation, he said in the court filing, and I immediately stood up and the keyboard came up to my chest and it dropped back down onto the desk and broke. Three Building and Safety staffers who reported to Dacumos filed their own declarations supporting their boss, calling him stern but professional. All three said they never heard Dacumos make violent threats in the office. Two of those employees were later placed on paid administrative leave. The city later concluded that one of them had interfered with a city investigation and filed a false statement in Superior Court. The employee received a 20-day suspension, which was finalized last month by the citys Civil Service Commission. Personnel officials determined that another Building and Safety employee had failed to review multiple emails that triggered the improper release of $4 million to the citys contractors. That employee also received a 20-day suspension. Bush, the head of Building and Safety, said city officials are still trying to determine whether a department employee sold city-purchased computer equipment to his co-workers for personal gain. During the investigation, eight agency employees reported buying discount laptops or other devices from a co-worker. Ortiz, the low-level systems aide, told investigators that at one point, she paid the employee $650 for a Microsoft laptop one that normally would have cost $2,500. According to the citys report, Ortiz said the co-worker told her at the time that he had a friend at Microsoft. david.zahniser@latimes.com Twitter: @DavidZahniser Five people were injured Thursday night in a shooting at a Bay Area cemetery, authorities said. Police received multiple 911 calls about a shooting at Chapel of the Chimes cemetery in Hayward just after 7 p.m., the Union City Police Department said in a statement. The shooting happened near the main mortuary. Officers initially found three people with gunshot wounds. They were taken to local hospitals. As police searched the area, they found another person with a gunshot wound a distance away from the scene, according to the statement. Police said a local hospital later reported treating another person who had been shot at the cemetery and went to the hospital on their own. Advertisement Two people were in critical condition and three were in stable condition early Friday, police said. The names, ages and genders of those who were shot were not released. The motive was unclear, and the shooters remain at large, police said. Authorities told reporters at the scene that they came upon a chaotic situation, where it was unclear who the victims and the suspects were. The 146-year-old cemetery occupies 61 acres on the border of Hayward and Union City. At least one service was taking place inside the cemetery chapel when the shooting started outside, according to the cemeterys website. Kamille Varilla De Guzman, a Fremont resident who was attending a viewing in the chapel for her recently deceased mother, told KGO-TV that she heard gunshots and that when she arrived at the chapel, there was a pop-up tent in the parking lot where people were drinking and some had guns. It was like right outside my moms viewing, she told the station. We were on lockdown for an hour. Anyone with information about the shooting has been asked to contact Union City Police Det. J. Clubb at (510) 675-5227 or via email at joshuac@unioncity.org. To leave an anonymous tip, call (510) 675-5207 or email tips@unioncity.org. hailey.branson@latimes.com Twitter: @haileybranson A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent was arrested last month by San Diego police after he allegedly assaulted a man following a road-rage incident, according to a police report. ICE agent Billy Brickett was arrested on May 18 after he is believed to have assaulted Raymond Drayton following a driving dispute in Otay Mesa, according to the report. Brickett, who could not be reached for comment, also is accused of pointing his gun at Drayton following a scuffle in a shopping center parking lot, the report said. Drayton told police he drove around Bricketts purple van because it appeared to be going too slow. The drivers then exchanged words and pulled into a parking lot along Dennery Road, where the two men quarreled before Drayton walked away, the report said. Advertisement Drayton heard footsteps and turned around just before Brickett punched him in the face. The two men scuffled before Brickett pulled his weapon, the police report said. The agents daughter was in the van at the time, urging her father to stop, the report said. Brickett continued to argue while pointing the gun at me, Draytons statement to police said. We circled the white truck about three to four times, I was staying behind the truck trying not to get shot. Police were summoned to the scene and began interviewing witnesses. Based on the evidence and witness statements collected at the scene, it was determined that Brickett was the dominant aggressor, the police report said. Brickett was arrested on suspicion of battery and later released on bail. ICE issued a statement saying it is cooperating with the investigation. ICE holds its personnel to the highest professional standards and has zero tolerance for employees who violate the publics trust, it said. As per agency protocol, the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility investigates employee misconduct. According to the district attorneys office, Brickett posted bail and was released from custody. Charges are pending, and he is scheduled to be arraigned on July 3. As with any case where an individual posts bail and is out of custody prior to arraignment, the case remains under review for potential criminal charges at that time, the district attorneys office said in a statement. If charges are filed, they would become public at arraignment. McDonald writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com After a hard-fought, history-making campaign, San Franciscos Mayor-elect London Breed took a four-day vacation in Cabo San Lucas. Now ready to assume office, the citys first African American woman mayor talked to The Times this week about how shell tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the Bay Area city. Breed, who was raised by her grandmother in public housing, said homelessness and affordable housing will be among her top priorities. (This interview was edited and condensed for clarity.) Your campaign was sort of defined by the adversity you faced as a kid growing up in the city. How do you reconnect people who are natives of a city that in recent years has become a very different place? I think so many people are not in the city anymore that I grew up with. I think whats important is to make sure that people who are either natives of San Francisco, or live there now, especially those who are struggling, feel like they are part of our city feel like its their city too and also feel like there are opportunities that exist in this city for them. Especially the future generations and kids who are growing up now in poverty. I also want to make sure we make better decisions and incorporate everyone into the prosperity that exists in our city. A thing I notice in L.A., and I see this in San Francisco too. Theres this influx of young people and wealth, and its disconnected from the civic energy of the place. Do you see that as a problem? What can a mayor do to fix that? I do see that as a problem that theres a disconnect. I think part of it is really trying to hold people accountable differently than were doing now. I dont want San Francisco to be just a place where people just move for opportunities. I want to create the future of San Francisco with the young people here. One of the programs that I am proposing is paid internship opportunities for high school students. What that does is provide a way for young people especially those in our public school system to work and be a part of these companies at an early age. For the individuals in the tech world, this is how the door can be opened to mentorship opportunities, relationship building and to a real connection to people who are growing up now in San Francisco. Advertisement The campaign became quite nasty and defined by race in a somewhat surprising way. Now that its over, what did you think of the tone and tenor of the race as it occurred? I wasnt happy with the negativity the divisiveness, just some of the things that came out. But I cant control that. I can only control what I did throughout the campaign and I tried to stay focused on the issues. I was hoping and I believe this occurred that voters saw through all the noise and made what they thought was the right decision. When you were acting mayor and then later ousted by the Board of Supervisors, it seemed to be a galvanizing force for your constituents. Did you see that as something that may have helped you? People were so upset. I think that definitely played a role in more people getting active and engaged in the campaign. I think it inspired a lot of people, because when you think about it, a lot of people know what it feels like to be treated like that. When you see it happen in such a public way, it does something to you. I think people were really hurt and frustrated by the decision. Now here we are. The race is over, and its time for us to come together and think about moving San Francisco forward. You will be sworn in on July 11. What do you see as the three or four biggest challenges that you face? First of all, my goal is to get as much rest as I can and to take care of myself first. The thing that is of course going to be my top, top priority is addressing homelessness and cleaning up our streets and housing production. On the housing question, you were a big supporter of SB 827, legislation sponsored by Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) that would make it easier for developers to build residential housing near transit centers. Are you going to push a similar type of policy in the city? It doesnt have to be necessarily a blanket policy. It could be based on specific corridors that make sense like transit-rich corridors. I think there are ways to improve our policies for the purposes of increasing housing production. So there are things that can be done. We are going to be building on the McDonalds site at Haight and Visalia. Sites like that, that are not being used in the most effective ways are sites that we should be identifying for housing production where were not displacing anyone and where were not bulldozing peoples homes for redevelopment. Theres a better way to do it if you work with the private sector to accomplish the goal as well. The city is not going to be able to do it on its own. The cavalry is not coming with a boatload of money to build housing. We have got to get creative. What do you make of Mayor Eric Garcettis struggles to build housing in Los Angeles? Are there any lessons for you here? Have you spoken to him? He actually reached out to me. We havent had a chance to talk. Given all the fights taking place across the state over homelessness, what do you see as the quickest and most sustainable way of providing more housing? I have been talking to people who own a number of buildings throughout the city. I think theres existing vacant properties we can move forward with sooner rather than later. As far as housing production, I think what were going to have to do is completely revamp our existing system and look at ways to get the board to remove certain things that are in our polices and, if necessary, take our case to the voters. We have to analyze what the holdup is and explain the process and why its taking so long and then inform the voters this is what we need to do, and this will cut the time maybe in half. So my goal is to go that route. I have to push these projects through that are being stalled and also the 423 accessory dwelling units that are on hold in the Department of Building Inspection. I got to get that stuff through. There are number of things that I can continue to push for that would put more units on the market in the process of doing what we need to do to reform the entire system. You are the first African American woman mayor of San Francisco. I wonder if you could just put me in your shoes for a moment. Where were you when that wow moment hit you? I dont know if it has really sunk in yet. Everyday Im waking up like wow. I dont even know what to say or how to describe it. Its very hard to describe. I have definitely been thinking about my grandmother a lot just thinking about the challenges. I have been thinking about the struggles in my life. Just thinking about things that I wish didnt happen and thats been really at the top of my mind. But also theres excitement about how I will have the ability to prevent not stop everything but help prevent some of the things that happened to me in my life from happening to other people, with the decisions were able to make. Thats really something I have been thinking about. I cant wait to go to the neighborhood I grew up in where I know some of my young folks are maybe not working and not doing the right thing. Opening the door of opportunity is really what Im most excited about and what I keep thinking about and how being in this role will help achieve that goal. Don't look down if you're scared of heights. Photo taken on June 12, 2018 shows the world's longest horseshoe-shaped glass bridge at the Fuxi Grand Canyon in central China's Henan Province. [Photo: people.cn] From Saturday, visitors to the Fuxi Grand Canyon in central China's Henan Province will be able to see straight down to the canyon floor 360 meters below as they walk on the world's longest horseshoe-shaped glass bridge. This glass bridge extends 30 meters (about 98 feet) out over the rim of the canyon, nine meters longer than the Grand Canyon Skywalk in Arizona, according to Science and Technology Daily. Photo taken on June 12, 2018 shows the world's longest horseshoe-shaped glass bridge at the Fuxi Grand Canyon in central China's Henan Province. [Photo: people.cn] After eight months' construction, the glass platform has undergone extensive tests. Without a stay cable structure, the bridge is made up of 150 pieces of laminated toughened glass and 3,000 tonnes of steel. The Fuxi Grand Canyon, 60 kilometers from Zhengzhou, capital of Henan, is a scenic area featuring waterfalls, springs, mountains and caves. Urth Caffe has agreed to hold diversity training for its employees under the terms of a settlement with a group of Muslim women who sued the chain for discrimination, alleging they were ousted from its Laguna Beach location for being visibly Muslim. The settlement, reached this week, comes after two years of litigation. The seven women agreed to drop their lawsuit, and the coffee and tea chain agreed to drop a countersuit in which it accused the women of trespassing. Neither party admitted fault. It has been a long time coming, but were very pleased with the settlement, said Mohammad Tajsar, an American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California attorney representing the women. We think the settlement reestablishes the obligations of restaurants and places of public accommodation to treat customers equally under the law. According to the womens lawsuit, filed in Orange County Superior Court, they had gathered for dinner on a Friday night in April 2016 and sat at an outdoor patio table. Six of the seven women, all of whom live in or were born in Orange County, wore head scarves. Advertisement The group had been seated for about an hour and were having coffee and dessert when an employee told them they had to leave because they were violating the restaurants policy allowing a 45-minute stay during peak times, according to the ACLU of Southern California, which represented the plaintiffs along with the Pasadena law firm Hadsell Stormer & Renick. There were numerous empty tables at the restaurant, and a group of non-Muslim women who had been there longer told the women that they themselves had not been asked to leave, Tajsar said. A manager called police and told them the Muslim women refused requests to leave. Laguna Beach police who arrived at the scene did see empty tables, but there was no survey done of how many people were in the restaurant, department spokesman Jason Kravetz told The Times in 2016. Urth Caffe Laguna Beach celebrates end of Ramadan Saturday, 6/16 with tray passing of complimentary organic coffee, tea & desserts for each guest! pic.twitter.com/JvnFdaYCpv Urth Caffe (@UrthCaffe) June 14, 2018 Accompanied by the officers, the group very respectfully left, having paid their bill, Kravetz said. The women took to social media, posting video showing the police officers and empty tables throughout the restaurant. In July 2016, Urth countersued the women, alleging that they had been trespassing. The cafe hired the American Freedom Law Center, which describes itself on its website as the countrys first truly authentic Judeo-Christian, public-interest law firm. In a news release about the settlement posted on its website Friday, the law center included a black-and-white photo of some of the Muslim plaintiffs with the word FRAUD printed over it in red letters. The release said Urth Caffe, particularly its Laguna Beach location, is a popular gathering place for Muslim customers. This lawsuit was a fraud and a hoax from the get-go, David Yerushalmi, the law firms founder and senior counsel, said in a statement. After two years of litigation and after Plaintiffs leftist/progressive lawyers, including the ACLU, spent tens of thousands of dollars trying to force a huge financial payoff for themselves and their clients at Urth Caffes expense, they have received no money whatsoever and have effectively dropped their claims only to run for the hills. The law firm called the plaintiffs the seven litigious Muslim women. The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks extremist movements, describes Yerushalmi as an anti-Muslim activist who is a leading proponent of the idea that the United States is threatened by the imposition of Muslim religious law, known as Shariah. The settlement came a few days before the case was set to go to trial, Tajsar said. Tajsar compared the case to the April arrest of two black men at a Starbucks in Philadelphia, which sparked a national outcry and prompted the company to close more than 8,000 stores for a day to conduct anti-bias training for its employees. We think this is our version of Philadelphia Starbucks, but right here in Southern California, Tajsar said. As part of the settlement, Urth Caffe will amend its seating policy to more clearly inform customers on written placards placed on patio tables that when there are 10 or more customers queuing at the register, the 45-minute seating time limit will be enforced, court documents state. The policy will apply only to patio tables, and, after the time limit is reached, customers may be asked to leave, share their table or place additional orders. The company will also conduct diversity and sensitivity training at its human resources headquarters in Los Angeles for area supervisors, who will hold on-site training sessions for all employees. Urth also plans to offer free drinks and desserts to all customers at its Laguna Beach location on Saturday to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, according to the settlement. hailey.branson@latimes.com Twitter: @haileybranson The New York attorney general filed a lawsuit against President Trump on Thursday, charging that he misused his charitable foundation for personal and political gains over more than a decade. In the scathing complaint filed in New York State Supreme Court, the attorney general used adjectives such as illegal, persistent and willful to characterize the violations of the Donald J. Trump Foundation. The president used charitable assets to pay off the legal obligations of entities he controlled to promote Trump hotels, to purchase personal items and to support his presidential election campaign, the lawsuit charged. The attorney general, Barbara D. Underwood, is seeking $2.8 million in restitution from the Trump Foundation and to bar Trump for 10 years from serving as a director, trustee or officer of a nonprofit. The suit says that $1 million in remaining funds should be distributed to other charities. Advertisement Headquartered out of Trump Tower, the foundation was set up in 1987 as a nonprofit to raise money for charity. Trump himself has donated very little to the foundation since 2008, although he reimbursed some of the foundations donations after the attorney general began investigating. The 41-page lawsuit hinted at the possibility of criminal charges in the future. Mr. Trumps wrongful use of the Foundation to benefit his campaign was willful and knowing. Mr. Trump was aware of the prohibition on political activities and the requirement of restrictions on related party transactions. Among other things, he repeatedly signed, under penalties of perjury, IRS Forms 990 in which he attested that the Foundation did not engage in transactions with interested parties, and that the Foundation did not carry out political activity, the lawsuit stated. The foundation violated those pledges, the suit alleges. And although the money was indeed donated to charities, the donations were often made in order to settle lawsuits, advance Trumps businesses or to generate publicity for Trumps presidential campaign. Among the many examples cited in the lawsuit: Trump used $158,000 to settle a lawsuit against his Mar-a-Lago golf club in Florida by an angry golfer who claimed he was owed money for hitting a hole-in-one during a tournament. (Under the terms of the settlement, the money went to a foundation that had been set up by the golfer, Martin Greenberg.) The same device was used in 2007 to settle a dispute between Mar-a-Lago and the town of Palm Beach over building permits and flagpole heights. In the settlement, the Trump Foundation agreed to donate $100,000 to a charity of Palm Beachs choosing, which was an organization to help veterans. An additional $10,000 went to buy a 4-foot-tall painting of Trump from a childrens charity; it had been hung in the interior of a golf club in Miami, but has since been returned to the foundation. The foundation donated $25,000 in 2013 to an organization seeking the reelection of Floridas Republican attorney general, Pam Bondi. At the time, Bondi was considering joining a lawsuit against Trump for allegedly defrauding students at his now-defunct Trump University. After the donation was made, she decided not to participate in the suit. It was during the presidential campaign in 2016 that the Trump Foundation became an invaluable political tool, used to boost Trumps image at campaign rallies, where he was portrayed as a benevolent philanthropist. In this January 2016 file photo, Donald Trump, left, stages a check presentation to highlight a $100,000 contribution from the Donald J. Trump Foundation to the group Support Siouxland Soldiers during a campaign event in Sioux City, Iowa. (Patrick Semansky / Associated Press ) Over and over at rallies in Iowa in the run-up to the caucuses there, Trump carried onto the stage enlarged mock-ups of checks that his foundation had purportedly written to local charities. The checks even had Trumps campaign slogan (Make America Great Again) written along the bottom. Corey Lewandowski, Trumps campaign manager, directed which charities would receive the money. When I raise money for the veterans, and its a massive amount of money, find out how much money Hillary Clintons given to the veterans, Trump boasted after a 2016 Iowa fundraiser that had been organized by his campaign. The lawsuit against the Donald J. Trump Foundation also named three of his adult children, Donald, Ivanka and Eric, as defendants, although their alleged offenses were of omission, not commission. All three served as board members, although the lawsuit contends that the foundation hadnt held a board meeting since 1999. In the absence of a functioning board, Mr. Trump ran the Foundation according to his whim, rather than the law, the lawsuit states. Many of the allegations were first reported by the Washington Post. The lawsuit makes clear that Underwood, a former Yale law school professor and career civil servant, will carry through with the investigations begun by Eric Schneiderman, who resigned as attorney general last month amid allegations that he was physically abusive to women. Trump has complained that Schneiderman, who was on a leadership council of prominent New York Democrats during the Clinton campaign, was carrying out a political vendetta. The president responded to the lawsuit Thursday with a series of tweets. The sleazy New York Democrats, and their now disgraced (and run out of town) A.G. Eric Schneiderman, are doing everything they can to sue me on a foundation that took in $18,800,000 and gave out to charity more money than it took in, $19,200,000. I wont settle this case!... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 14, 2018 ....Schneiderman, who ran the Clinton campaign in New York, never had the guts to bring this ridiculous case, which lingered in their office for almost 2 years. Now he resigned his office in disgrace, and his disciples brought it when we would not settle. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 14, 2018 San Diego State University professor Seth Kaplowitz, who teaches law in the universitys business college, called the complaint quite serious and possibly a precursor to criminal charges once Trump leaves office. Its basically fraud, and fraud with a charitable organization, said Kaplowitz. Any time you are charged with fraud and illegal activities, it is serious, he said. This could mean jail time for a person convicted criminally of the offenses. He said a sitting president cant be indicted, but Trump could face criminal charges once he leaves offices. This basically accuses the president of using the foundation as a personal checkbook, Kaplowitz said. The New York lawsuit opens a powerful new front in the legal onslaught against the president as special counsel Robert S. Mueller III continues his investigation into the ties of Trump associates with Russia. Trump has hinted that he could use his presidential power to pardon associates of federal crimes, but charges brought in New York state would not be subject to pardon power. (Lorena Iniguez & Chris Keller ) Tmes staff writer Maura Dolan in San Francisco contributed to this article. UPDATES: 5:10 p.m.: This article has been updated throughout with staff reporting. 10:55 a.m.: This story has been updated to include a comment from a Trump company spokeswoman. 10:17 a.m.: This article was updated to include tweets from President Trump. This article was originally published at 9:30 a.m. A day after Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions cited the Bible to defend the Trump administrations immigration policies and the separation of children from their families, many faith-based leaders are forming coalitions, signing letters and issuing sharply worded statements against the policy. I would like to cite to you the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13, Sessions said Thursday in a speech to law enforcement officers in Fort Wayne, Ind. He went on to say that the Bible argues Christians must obey the laws of the government because God has ordained them for the purpose of order. The Trump administration has defended its zero-tolerance policy, which calls for the prosecution of everyone who illegally enters the U.S. and has led to separating parents from their children. Advertisement In the past, some immigration cases were handled administratively and families werent broken up. I hate to see the separation of parents and children, Trump told reporters Friday, refusing to acknowledge that the separations are caused by his administrations new policy. As he has in the past, he blamed Democrats, saying they forced that law upon our nation, triggering the separations. On Friday, immigration officials said that in the last two months, 1,995 children had been separated from their guardians. Republicans, as well as Democrats, have castigated the administration policy, calling it cruel, inhumane and unjust. Even before Sessions mention of Scripture which the White House defended but others called inappropriate the new policy prompted objections from the religious community. Heres what some religious institutions and prominent faith leaders have had to say about the policy and recent comments by the administration: Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, left, is president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. (Patrick Semansky / Associated Press ) U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, president of the conference and archbishop of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in Texas, called the administrations policy an effort to erode the capacity of asylum to save lives. Our government has the discretion in our laws to ensure that young children are not separated from their parents and exposed to irreparable harm and trauma, DiNardo said in a statement released earlier in the week ahead of the groups spring conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He added, while protecting our borders is important, we can and must do better as a government, and as a society, to find other ways to ensure that safety. Similar sentiments were shared in panel discussions at the conference this week. J. Brian Bransfield, a priest in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the groups general secretary, said Wednesday that asylum is an instrument to preserve the right to life. He added, separating babies from their mothers is not the answer and is immoral. African Methodist Episcopal Church The churchs Council of Bishops denounced the policy as sad and sinful on Friday and said it shows a deep misunderstanding of the transforming truth of scripture. The Bible does not justify discrimination masked as racism, sexism, economic inequality, oppression or the abuse of children, the AME bishops said in a statement. Jesus, who was an immigrant who had to leave the place of his birth and immigrate to Egypt because of an oppressive leader and system, admonishes all that the poor, children, the elderly, widows, and widowers should have a special place of justice and compassion in every nation. Participants bow in prayer at the Southern Baptist Convention in Dallas earlier this week. (Vernon Bryant / Associated Press ) Southern Baptist Convention During its annual convention in Dallas this week, the group, which has a fellowship of about 46,500 Baptist churches, passed a resolution calling for compassionate immigration policies for families. We desire to see immigration reform include an emphasis on securing our borders and providing a pathway to legal status with appropriate restitutionary measures, read the resolution. The resolution went on to say that maintaining the priority of family unity is critical to immigration reform. Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism The group was among the first faith-based groups to assail the Trump administration policy. In a statement released last month, the group said the policy of separating migrant children from their parents is unconscionable. Our Jewish tradition calls on us to welcome the stranger, to treat immigrants fairly, and to empathize with the widow, the stranger, and the orphan because we ourselves were strangers in the land of Egypt, the statement said. The inhumane treatment of migrant children and parents is a clear indication that the U.S. government has fallen far short of this standard. We all need to do better, lest this shameful chapter in our nations history come to define our future. Evangelical leader Franklin Graham, son of the late Billy Graham. (Hau Dinh / Associated Press ) Franklin Graham The influential evangelical leader was a staunch supporter of Trump during the 2016 election. At Trumps January 2017 inauguration Graham gave a biblical reading. Even so, he offered strong criticism of the administrations policy. Its disgraceful, and its terrible to see families ripped apart and I dont support that one bit, Graham, son of the late evangelist Billy Graham, told the Christian Broadcasting Network on Tuesday. The Revs. William J. Barber II and Liz Theoharis The two are co-chairs of the Poor Peoples Campaign, a civil disobedience movement that aims to push the issue of poverty to the top of the national political agenda. The group is holding rallies nationwide this summer. Barber, a Disciples of Christ pastor from North Carolina, and Theoharis, a Presbyterian minister from New York, said in a statement Friday that Sessions use of Scripture is twisting the word of God in defense of immoral practices a tactic used to justify keeping Black people in chattel slavery, committing genocide against Native Americans and segregating people under Jim Crow. They added, His comments are anathema to any person of faith. And any politician who supports his position is an accessory to these crimes against children and humanity. kurtis.lee@latimes.com Twitter: @kurtisalee President Trump got an unwelcome surprise on his 72nd birthday: a lawsuit from the New York attorney general. TOP STORIES Did Trumps Charity Begin and Stay at Home? Illegal. Persistent. Willful. Those are some of the ways the New York attorney general has described the alleged violations of the Donald J. Trump Foundation, in filing a lawsuit against President Trump, three of his children and the foundation. The president called the prosecutors sleazy New York Democrats and vowed, I wont settle this case! The 41-page suit alleges he misused his charitable foundation for personal and political gains over more than a decade. It puts forth many examples, including settling lawsuits, advancing Trumps businesses and generating campaign publicity and hinted at the possibility of criminal charges in the future. Advertisement Donald Trump and his three eldest children, Eric, left, Ivanka and Donald Jr., at a news conference at Trump Tower in New York on Jan. 11, 2017. (Jabin Botsford / Washington Post ) Finding Fault With Comey A review of the FBIs actions during the 2016 campaign concludes former FBI Director James B. Comey and others mishandled the investigation into Hillary Clintons emails and improperly shared information with the public. It also says Comey was not motivated by political bias. Yet, like interpreting an ink blot, Republicans and Democrats have seized on parts of the inspector generals report to see what they want. On Twitter, Comey called the conclusions reasonable, even though I disagree with some. As for Clinton: In response to the reports note that Comey and other officials improperly used private email for official business, she tweeted, But my emails. Breaking With Customs In an unknown but growing number of cases, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents have broken with long-standing protocol and refused to transfer suspects wanted by California law enforcement agencies for crimes including sexual assault and drug possession. Their reasoning: If local authorities wont cooperate with them because of the sanctuary state law, they wont either. Instead, theyve deported some suspects back to Mexico or charged them with immigration-related criminal offenses to keep them in federal custody. Remember the Axis of Evil? Sixteen years ago, President George W. Bush branded Iraq, Iran and North Korea as the axis of evil in his State of the Union address. Since then, a lot of history has happened. And after this weeks summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, some in Tehran feel they are left with being designated as the last of the axis of evil. With sanctions kicking in after Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear deal, many there wonder what the future will bring. More Politics -- House Republicans could move to strictly limit the Trump administrations policy of separating children from their parents under immigration legislation expected to be considered next week. But Democrats object to other parts of the package and say the administration could end its policy now. -- The United States and its Asian allies have been working to paper over any semblance of disagreement over Trumps concession to Kim that the U.S. will halt military exercises with South Korea. -- The Supreme Court gave voters slightly more freedom to wear political T-shirts or buttons when they go to cast a ballot, striking down a broad Minnesota law that imposed a political apparel ban. Press Your Luck From CBS Television City in Hollywood, its time to have a land-use debate. For generations, the property at Beverly Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue has served as the home of some of TVs most recognizable shows. But in a city looking to add housing, the sprawling complex has drawn the eye of developers. How to balance the past, the present and the future? A compromise deal would keep the main building intact while allowing development around it. Sign up to get Todays Headlines delivered to your inbox. FLASHBACK FRIDAY Hughes Aircraft built the H-4 Hercules aircraft, a.k.a. Spruce Goose, section by section in Culver City. To move it to Terminal Island in preparation for what would be its first and only flight in Los Angeles Harbor, crews had to move it piece by piece at a speed of about 2 miles per hour. The delicate 28-mile trip took place this week in 1946. June 11, 1946: The wings of the H-4 Hercules, a.k.a. Spruce Goose, aircraft sit in Hermosa Beach as the move is halted for a lunch break. (Los Angeles Times ) MUST-WATCH VIDEO -- When asked about separating families at the border, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders says, it is very biblical to enforce the law. -- Members of the L.A. Rams toured their Inglewood Stadium site and liked what they saw as construction continues. CALIFORNIA -- Police detectives served search warrants at the Los Angeles home of a former USC gynecologist and at a storage facility as they investigate allegations that he sexually mistreated patients. -- London Breed will be San Franciscos first female African American mayor. The problems she plans to tackle are among the most difficult a city can face. -- State lawmakers have sent over a $199.6-billion budget framework to Gov. Jerry Brown, with increases for K-12 education, healthcare and social services. -- Yosemites Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias will reopen today after a three-year restoration. YOUR WEEKEND -- For Fathers Day, columnist Chris Erskine says, all most dads want is a good old game of catch. -- Grilling burgers this summer? Up your game with these homemade bun recipes: brioche, pretzel and honey whole wheat. -- Make your own popsicles and beat the heat. -- Movie picks from The Times critics. HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS -- The stars and director of Incredibles 2 reveal what it was like to make a sequel audiences actually are looking forward to seeing. -- What to make of the revamped Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland, without the wench auction? -- For Roseanne Barr, theres been one constant: the fighting. A potential spin-off from her canceled show could lead to more. NATION-WORLD -- Are prescription medications making Americans depressed? A new study suggests a link. -- With independence from Spain a far-fetched dream, Basque Country activists have downsized their ambitions. -- More than 70 years after World War II stopped, the bomb squad in Berlin is still busy dismantling unexploded munitions from the past. BUSINESS -- That was fast: AT&T has completed its $85-billion acquisition of Time Warner just two days after a federal judge in Washington gave the deal the green light. -- Elon Musks Boring Co. got the OK to work on a high-speed transportation project connecting downtown Chicago to OHare International Airport. The plans represent a victory and a reality check. -- Livestreaming video is helping American boutiques connect with shoppers in China. SPORTS -- In ultra running, some battle for glory, while others just try to survive to the end of races that exceed 100 miles. -- Max Muncy is making the most of the second chance given to him by the Dodgers. OPINION -- How a lone Republican, Colorados first-term Sen. Cory Gardner, changed Trumps position on pot. -- Fathers Day raids on deadbeat dads just perpetuate the cycle of poverty. WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING -- Should Trump have returned the salute of a North Korean general? The debate rages on. (Politico) -- Albert Einsteins private travel diaries reveal prejudiced views about people he saw in Asia. (The Guardian) -- In the Victorian era, these photographers tried to document the Old London they thought they were losing. (Atlas Obscura) ONLY IN L.A. Nickelback bassist Mike Kroegers new haunt in the Hollywood Hills has an eerie past: The two-story home first belonged to Bela Lugosi, the late actor known for horror movies, including the 1931 film Dracula. Legend has it that Lugosi used to let his pet panther roam the half-acre grounds. If you like this newsletter, please share it with friends. Comments or ideas? Email us at headlines@latimes.com. Be careful what you wish for. Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt is an embarrassment in an administration that does not embarrass easily. His petty graft alone taking a $50-a-night room from a lobbyists wife; spending taxpayer dollars on luxury travel should have cost him his job already. He also hit up donors and supporters for jobs for his wife. And he reportedly sent aides to the White House to try to scare up an internship for his daughter. All told, there are more than a dozen open ethics investigations into his actions. In fact, hes even getting hounded back in Oklahoma, where the state bar association has opened an ethics investigation based on his assertion during his Senate confirmation hearing that he didnt use private email accounts for state business; it turns out he did just that. Worse than Pruitts lack of ethics, though, is the list of anti-regulatory actions hes taken to try to roll back necessary environmental protections, from rules to protect waterways to limits on the toxins emitted from smokestacks. We hope that he exits the office soon, whether President Trump fires him or he decides he wants to, um, pursue other options. Even some conservatives who have long supported his anti-environmental efforts have turned on him. Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), a mentor whom Pruitt might seek to succeed if the 83-year-old senator decides not to run for reelection, told Fox News the other day that something needs to happen to shut off the stream of ethical lapses and poor judgment. One of those alternatives would be for him to leave that job, Inhofe said. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion Advertisement Its what might follow, though, that should chill the marrow of people who believe, as we do, that the world must take giant steps to throttle back carbon emissions to mitigate the worst effects of global warming. Pruitts deputy and likely leading choice to succeed him is Andrew Wheeler who has been an aide to Imhofe and a lobbyist for the coal industry. Wheeler also was among those lobbying the Interior Department to reduce the size of the Bears Ears National Monument to open more land to uranium mining. Were Trump to tap him to run the EPA, he might not be any worse than Pruitt, but he certainly wouldnt be any better. And he might be more effective. It is similar to the dilemma facing those who hope Trump gets impeached or decides hes made America great enough and walks away from the presidency. The noise and static out of the White House would disappear, but the ascension of Vice President Mike Pence could ultimately be worse for the country. Trumps personality keeps Congress unsettled, and his abject lack of knowledge about how government works may, paradoxically, protect the country from even more draconian and destructive ideas. Pence, a former Indiana governor and five-term member of the House, is a doctrinaire conservative, particularly on religious issues. About the only thing worse for the country at this point than Trump would be a president with a bad-but-coherent agenda, deep connections in Congress and an insiders grasp of how to get things done. Thats Pence. Put another way, replacing a loose cannon with an experienced political artilleryman could lead to even worse outcomes. Thats not to say were not looking forward to an end to Trumps tenure. But those who are itching to see Trump, Pruitt and others ousted from office ought to think long and hard about what comes next. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook For the roughly 17 million kids who do not live with their dads, Fathers Day is one of the most anticipated days of the year. In many cases, its the rare occasion when dads turn up to celebrate with their kids. But one group of dads does so at great peril: fathers with child support debt. Thats because many sheriffs departments across the country take the opportunity to conduct what they call deadbeat raids or man up and pay roundups. These raids happen year-round, with a 2017 raid in New Jersey netting 1,600 fathers. But Fathers Day is a preferred round-up day, since many men who are otherwise out of the picture surface for their kids. Ronnie Jones, a father of three in Miami, knows all about Fathers Day raids. He was picked up at a family barbecue five years ago. It was like the cops came right to our street, looking for us with warrants, Jones remembered recently. The police found him, handcuffed him and took him to jail. His kids watched it all happen. That Fathers Day lock up, followed by two more, caused Jones to lose his housing. Now homeless, he lives in a shelter close to his kids so that he can help their mother take them to school every day. But they wont be seeing him this Fathers Day. Hes learned to lay low. Advertisement There are many men like Jones. Ive interviewed and observed hundreds of them in courts across the country, documenting the causes and consequences of a large increase in child support debt. Many sheriffs departments across the country take the opportunity to conduct what they call deadbeat raids or man up and pay roundups. Since 1986, this debt has increased by 1,000%, reaching $114.6 billion last year. Thats more than the federal governments expenditures on public assistance and food stamps combined. Of child support debtors, 52% do not owe money to a custodial parent. Rather, they owe the state as payback for public assistance, foster care or Medicaid. In California, 73% of debt is owed to the state. As this debt has grown, the criminal justice and child support systems have merged to criminalize it. Some 15% of all African American fathers have done jail time for nonpayment. In some states, child support debtors make up 20% of the jail population. City jails designate cellblocks for these debtors at enormous expense. A 90-day child support sentence in California costs the state $18,000, which is more than many fathers debt. Often these fathers are dehumanized in the process. Ive heard judges call them losers, liars and scumbags humiliating them to make them pay up. The overwhelming majority cant: 70% of child support debt is owed by fathers who make less than $10,000 a year. While some may be deadbeats, most are simply dead broke. Jail time derails their efforts to change, leading to job loss, parole violations, eviction and depression. It can also cause fathers to disconnect from helpful family networks. Why do fathers become indebted in the first place? Poverty and joblessness play key roles, but so does incarceration itself. Serving time in prison causes someones debt to soar. Half of the 2.3 million people in prison are parents, and half of those have open child support orders. Since few incarcerated fathers can work for real wages, these orders go unpaid. States can and do charge interest on the accrued debt. (California charges 10%.) The 1986 Bradley Amendment bars the retroactive reduction of such debt. For decades, many states forbade changes to child support orders for incarcerated parents. Although a 2016 executive order requires states to consider changes for prisoners, most leave modifications to the courts discretion. So a small minority of prisoners get their orders modified and the majoritys unpaid orders pile up and spiral into excessive debt. The fathers I researched owed an average of $36,500 in child support upon release. For newly released fathers who already have a criminal record limiting their employability this debt comes with enforcement measures, such as drivers license revocation, asset liens, bank account seizures and credit reporting. All of which create feedback loops of disadvantage that too often lead these dads back to jail. There are ways out of this. First, child support and criminal justice should be separated from one another and debt decriminalized. This could happen at the state level. States can also guarantee $0 support orders for the incarcerated, as California has done. They can forgo charging interest on support debt, as New Jersey has done. They can limit custodial sanctions. And they can create programs, such as public works projects or child care credits, to help fathers repay their debt in ways that help everyone. At the federal level, reforming the Bradley Amendment would allow more comprehensive debt reduction for inmates. Mandatory welfare payback policies should also be reformed, since theyve led to more debt, less taxpayer payback and thus higher state expenditures on enforcement and incarceration. Federal restrictions on the use of custodial sentences for debt should apply to child support debt, so that we no longer have debtors prisons for parents. No one questions the importance of child support. Mothers and children need it. But they wont get it if we continue to saddle men with debt and incarcerate them as punishment. Children also need their fathers love, care and attention. They wont get that, either, if their fathers are too fearful to come out and see them. Lynne Haney is a professor of sociology at New York University and a visiting scholar at the Russell Sage Foundation. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook To the editor: The lack of housing in the Bay Area described in Robin Abcarians column, and in many other urban areas, is a result of the cities failure to regulate business needs to match housing. The cities have little power to regulate employment directly. However, significant increases in employment usually require new commercial or office buildings or expansion of existing ones and that does come within the cities purview. Environmental impact studies are usually required for significant construction. Currently they cover just about everything that might affect the city except where the employees can live. For the welfare of the city and the employees, the building permits should be contingent on housing availability. There are no good solutions to increasing housing in built-up cities that are not expensive, traumatic in execution, and result in a forest of high rises like Singapore. Advertisement We must accept that the expression filled up applies to cities as well as your cars gas tank. Richard Rignet, Long Beach .. To the editor: Faced with an acute shortage of housing that has driven up costs and caused residents to flee to other states or less expensive places to live in California, San Francisco voters knee-jerk liberal response is to vote to provide free legal representation for every tenant facing eviction -- to be paid for, of course, by city taxpayers. Or maybe they will now tax the landlords to finance lawsuits against the landlords? That counterproductive strategy (combined with rent control and other measures that make residential housing an increasingly unprofitable investment) will only make things worse, by driving up costs for landlords and making it even less likely that additional rental housing will be built. The only beneficiaries will be current tenants, including deadbeats and squatters, who will be able to live rent-free for many additional months while they await jury trials on their evictions and often exact expensive settlements. Those now unable to find affordable housing will not be helped at all and will depart in increasing numbers. Peter Rich, Los Angeles .. It is natural that the nicest places to live will be the first to become unbearably overcrowded as population continues to grow, yet overpopulation was never mentioned as the root cause of all of the problems facing San Francisco. The proposed fixes to alleviate the symptoms, such as getting rid of environmental protection laws and changing zoning regulations to allow massive home building, may temporarily lower housing prices, but at what cost? Bulldozing the oak- and redwood-covered hills that surround the bay? Tearing down the flats that give San Francisco neighborhoods their charm and replacing them with high-rise apartment buildings? It is simply not possible for the population to continually grow without serious negative effects on the quality of life for most people. With continued overall population growth, something else will eventually make people stop wanting to live in the Bay Area. Maybe it will be unaffordable housing, or maybe it will be the destruction of that extraordinary natural beauty by over-development. John La Grange, Solana Beach Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook To the editor: The picture of wounded Palestinians raises tremendous sympathy. But one must remember two facts. First, if any other border in the world were under siege by thousands of people trying to storm the country, many armed with dangerous weapons openly expressing the desire to murder the people on the other side, the carnage would be tenfold. Second, Gaza has two borders, one with Israel and one with Egypt. For some reason, the fault for the lack of supplies is always put at the border gate on one side. Why didnt you write, because of the stifling boycott supported by Egypt? If Israel allows the unfettered return it will be the second Holocaust, called for openly by many Palestinians. If the Palestinians put down their weapons for six months, aid would flow in and peace would prevail. Advertisement But in six months, the Palestinians will attack again. David Goodwin, Pasadena .. To the editor: Israel faces international criticism over its shooting of civilian, non-violent protesters along the Gaza-Israel line because it refuses to recognize Palestinian human rights. Israel gets criticized if it shoots to kill Palestinians, or if it shoots to wound them. Israel can avoid criticism by recognizing Palestinian human rights and ending its 11-year blockade of Gaza that has driven many residents into utter despair. But Israel refuses to do that. It would rather keep the Palestinians under occupation, deprived of human, civil and economic rights, and endure the international criticism. After all, why worry about international criticism if the United States is always on your side? That, of course, makes the U.S. complicit in Israels crimes. Jeff Warner, Los Angeles .. To the editor: I have been a devoted reader of the L.A. Times for more than 50 years. However, I was appalled by the one-sided reporting and photographic images about recent Gaza protesters who face the loss of limbs. At the end of the article, the mother of the main subject of the article is quoted as saying, They go (near the fence) out of despair, because there is no money. I ask: Whose fault is this? The terrorist organization Hamas, which keeps its people in grinding poverty and diverts funds meant for public services to military activities against Israel. I am waiting for a follow-up article with photos about how all this Hamas-provoked violence affects Israelis who live on the other side of the Gaza Strip border. I am not holding my breath. Ann C. Hayman, Westwood .. To the editor: Any reader with half of a heart has to be moved when confronted with the description of the immense and needless suffering of the residents of Gaza under the rule of Hamas. But any reader with half a brain has to be moved to anger by the the fact that the media provide the coverage that fuels the Hamas death and destruction machine. Keith Abouaf, Los Angeles Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook On his return from Singapore, President Trump lamented on Twitter that his thought process must sadly go back to the Witch Hunt. His eagerness to jump back into the fray belied the sadly. Even before he left Washington for his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Trump was looking ahead to the scheduled release of a report by the Justice Departments inspector general, who was expected to sharply criticize the presidents nemesis, former FBI Director James B. Comey. The report, issued the day Trump turned 72, would be a good birthday present, the president said. Advertisement Sign up for the Essential Politics newsletter THE NEVER-ENDING 2016 CAMPAIGN One central fact about the report issued by Justice Department Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz: It has only a tangential relationship to Robert S. Mueller IIIs investigation into Russian efforts to shape the 2016 election and possible collusion by people close to Trump. The main focus of the 500-page report, as Evan Halper wrote, was on the FBIs handling of its investigation into Hillary Clintons use of email while she was secretary of State. Comey mishandled the case by flouting Justice Department rules and publicly talking about the FBIs conclusions, according to Horowitz a nonpartisan figure who commands wide respect from both parties in Congress. Comeys actions did not display political bias but were improper, Horowitzs report concluded. He also found that Comey correctly determined that the FBI had no grounds to recommend criminal charges against Clinton in the email probe. The report also went into great detail on a culture of leaking of investigative details from the FBI to reporters something that clearly played to Clintons detriment in 2016. In Clintons eyes and in the opinion of many outside analysts Comeys announcement in October 2016 that the FBI had reopened its email probe after finding some of her emails on a laptop belonging to former Rep. Anthony Weiner could well have been the deciding factor that cost her the election. The inspector generals criticisms of the FBI investigation would have rocked the campaign had the election not already been held more than 19 months ago. The historical nature of the inquiry -- and its strong implication that the FBI had been unfair to Clinton, not him didnt slow Trump, of course. To him, Comey represents the enemy, the Deep State that he and his supporters see as conspiring against him. Anything that reflects badly on Comey serves the president both politically (keeping his supporters revved up) and, it seems, psychologically. The report totally exonerates him, Trump falsely declared Friday. Trumps lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, went further, as is increasingly his habit. Even though the report does not mention Mueller at all, and involves only matters that took place months before Muellers appointment, Giuliani took to Sean Hannitys Fox television show Thursday night to say that Mueller should be suspended. Even more extraordinarily for a former U.S. attorney, Giuliani declared that an FBI agent cited in the report for sending text messages critical of candidate Trump should be in jail by the end of next week. The FBI agent, Peter Strzok, and a second former agent, Lisa Page, provide the key connection for Trump and his backers that allows them to link the Clinton email investigation to the Mueller probe. Strzok played an important role in the email investigation and the early stages of the FBIs Russia investigation in 2016. The personal messages he exchanged with Page the two were having an affair which show disdain for Trump, taint the entire investigation and everything it produced, Trumps backers claim. Mueller removed Strzok from the investigation last summer, after he learned of the messages and before they became public. Friday morning, the Russia investigation got a new jolt when a federal judge ordered Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort jailed on allegations of witness tampering. Trump, shortly before the court hearing, continued his effort to distance himself from Manafort, saying that he worked for me for a very short period of time. NORTH KOREA NO LONGER A NUCLEAR THREAT Its possible that future historians will look back and say that Trumps meeting with Kim in Singapore this week represented a milestone along a road toward a peaceful, secure future for northeast Asia. Its at least equally possible that it will be viewed, like Secretary of State Madeleine Albrights trip to Pyongyang in the closing months of the Bill Clinton presidency, as yet another trip leading nowhere in the unsuccessful U.S. effort to reverse North Koreas nuclear weapons program. Trumps not one to wait on the verdict of history. President Obama said that North Korea was our biggest and most dangerous problem. No longer - sleep well tonight! he declared on Twitter. Everybody can now feel much safer than the day I took office. There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea. As Barbara Demick and Tracy Wilkinson wrote in their assessment of the summit, the talks hadnt been expected to produce much and actually produced less than many analysts expected. The vaguely worded summit declaration largely negotiated before Trump and Kim arrived in Singapore deferred almost all the hard work to a future negotiating process. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo immediately set off for Seoul and Beijing to try to get that process moving, as Wilkinson and Eli Stokols reported. Were hopeful that we can achieve that in the next what is it? 2 years, something like that, Pompeo said. Theres a lot of work left to do, he acknowledged. In addition to Demick, Wilkinson and Stokols, our colleagues in Singapore for the summit Noah Bierman, Victoria Kim, Matt Stiles and Bob Drogin produced a large body of excellent stories. Heres a selection of some of the most insightful stories that remain of interest several days after the events have ended: Demick wrote about Kims remarkable and brutal success at consolidating his hold on North Korea while also improving the countrys dismal economy. Kim is the perfect dictator, said Andrei Lankov, a Seoul-based scholar who has lived and worked inside North Korea. Demick also explained why, seven decades after the fighting stopped, its still hard to formally end the Korean War. Bierman wrote a first-person account of being one of the handful of reporters actually on-scene at the summit site. Stokols wrote about how the summit highlighted the unique nature of diplotainment in the Trump era. Kim wrote this about her experience as a reporter who grew up in South Korea, viewing North Korean Kims triumphal turn on the world stage. David Cloud wrote about the nervous reaction at the Pentagon to Trumps talk of ending joint military exercises with South Korea. And lest anyone forget, Demick and Wilkinson wrote this about North Koreas record of starving, shooting and imprisoning its own people. Trump, as is now widely known, did not press that topic when he met with Kim and, indeed, went out of his way to downplay the North Korean governments brutality. Kim is a tough guy who took over a tough country, he told Fox News Bret Baier. If you can do that at 27 years old, thats one in 10,000 could do that, he said, admiringly. When Baier pressed him, noting that Kim had done some really bad things, Trump seemed to waive the concerns aside. Yeah, but so have a lot of other people done some really bad things. I could go through a lot of nations where a lot of bad things were done, he said. Friday, also on Fox, Trump expressed admiration for the way Kims underlings respond to him: He speaks and his people stood up at attention, Trump said. I want my people to do the same. ESCALATING THE TRADE WAR Remarks like that even if Trump means them partly in jest feed the presidents reputation for authoritarianism. So does the contrast between his warm praise for Kim (or other heads of state like Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping) and his often-harsh criticism of Americas traditional allies. The latest example came this week after Trump threw into chaos the G-7 economic summit in Quebec. As Jim Puzzanghera explained, Trump initially agreed to a joint communique to end the summit, as is traditionally done at such meetings. Then, after leaving early, he withdrew from the communique in an apparent fit of pique at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trudeau had the temerity to say, as he has several times, that Canada would not go along with some U.S. demands for changes in the NAFTA trade treaty with the U.S. and Mexico. The next day, two of Trumps top economic advisors taking their cues from the president used unusually harsh rhetoric to denounce the Canadian leader, calling his words a stab in the back. Theres a special place in hell for any foreign leader that engages in bad-faith diplomacy with President Donald J. Trump and then tries to stab him in the back on the way out the door, White House trade advisor Peter Navarro said, on Fox, of course. On Tuesday, Navarro apologized. Trumps conviction that other countries are cheating the U.S. on trade formed a central part of his campaign. Mainstream economic advisors diverted the president for most of his first year in office, but this year, he has steadily ratcheted up trade tensions. On Friday, the administration took its latest step, detailing $50 billion in Chinese imports that will be subjected to hefty tariffs. As Puzzanghera and Don Lee wrote, less than a month ago, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said the administration was putting the trade war on hold. Now, its back on. ITS TRUMPS PARTY Trumps savaging of the allies, levying of tariffs, downplaying of North Korean oppression and ending of military exercises with South Korea all broke with longstanding Republican positions. Each outburst brought a few, scattered criticisms from the usual voices Sen. John McCain and his fellow Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake, Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and a few others. The vast majority of Republicans remained silent. Republican voters stand firmly in Trumps corner much more so this spring than they did last fall and theyre ready to punish any sign of disloyalty. Rep. Mark Sanford of South Carolina discovered that Tuesday when he lost his primary, largely because of his willingness to criticize Trump. As Mark Barabak wrote, the lesson was clear to all GOP elected officials: If youre a Republican member of Congress who wants to speak out against Trump, you have a couple of choices, David Wasserman, who handicaps House races for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, told Barabak. Retire or lose your next primary. A second lesson also came Tuesday when House GOP leaders successfully squelched an effort by moderate Republicans to force a vote on immigration legislation. As Sarah Wire wrote, the moderates, led by Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) had pushed for a vote on protecting the so-called Dreamers young people who came to the U.S. illegally as children. Instead, the House leadership will bring to the floor two immigration bills a hard-line measure that even its backers say cant pass the House, and a more moderate effort that House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) has billed as a compromise. Friday, Trump seemed to kill off that effort, as well. I certainly wouldnt sign the more moderate one, he said. LOGISTICS That wraps up this week. My colleague Christina Bellantoni is off for a few days. The California politics editions of Essential Politics will return on June 25. Ill be back next Friday. Until then, keep track of all the developments in national politics and the Trump administration with our Essential Washington blog, at our Politics page and on Twitter @latimespolitics. Send your comments, suggestions and news tips to politics@latimes.com. If you like this newsletter, tell your friends to sign up. David.lauter@latimes.com @davidlauter BRUSSELS, June 14 -- The European Union appreciates China's continued and active participation in the Iran nuclear deal, and the two parties are working to cooperate and to preserve economic relations with Iran, an EU spokesperson told Xinhua via email on Thursday. The spokesperson was asked over the EU's attitude towards China's support of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal. China is a party to the JCPOA, which is a multilateral agreement endorsed by a Resolution of the United Nations Security Council, to which China is a permanent member, said the spokesperson. "China's continued and active participation in the JCPOA is therefore crucial and appreciated, not only by the EU, but by the international community at large. The EU commends China's significant efforts in leading the Arak modernization project," the spokesperson said. When asked about any cooperation between EU and China in safeguarding the deal, the spokesperson said: "As the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions is aimed at the normalization of trade and economic relations with Iran, legitimate business must continue." "In this respect, the EU and China are already working on avenues to cooperate and to preserve economic relations with Iran. European and Chinese businesses are acting in good faith, and based on commitments made by the international community, as endorsed by the UN Security Council," The spokesperson said. "EU and Chinese experts cooperate within JCPOA working groups, be it on economic measures or on civil nuclear cooperation, to adopt measures conducive to the preservation of the nuclear deal. To this end, EU and Chinese experts participated in experts meetings in Tehran on 7 June 2018," according to the spokesperson. Allies balk at Trump administration bid to block Chinese firm from cutting-edge telecom markets By David S. Cloud Britain and Germany are balking at the Trump administrations call for a ban on equipment from Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, threatening a global U.S. campaign to thwart Chinas involvement in future mobile networks. Both countries are expected to limit Huawei and other Chinese companies from providing core components including routers. But other types of Chinese equipment for next-generation, high-speed communications could still be installed on British and German networks, officials and analysts say. The U.S. push to ban Huawei has provoked a global dispute in recent weeks, with senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, publicly urging NATO allies in Europe to exclude the company and warning that the United States might limit its military presence in countries that did not do so. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Confucius Institutes: Do they improve U.S.-China ties or harbor spies? By Don Lee Hanging red lanterns welcome visitors to the University of Marylands Confucius Institute, the oldest of about 100 Chinese language and cultural centers that have popped up over the last 15 years on American campuses, subsidized by millions of dollars from Chinas central government. But last fall, when four U.S. Senate investigators walked into the Confucius offices in Maryland and spent hours questioning staff, they werent looking for an educational exchange. The committee has been seeking detailed information from the university about the program, including contracts, email exchanges and financial arrangements that school administrators have kept under wraps since it started in 2004. American colleges once viewed these jointly funded institutes as an economical way to expand their language offerings one that could also bring warmer ties with China and, importantly, an influx of Chinese international students paying full tuition. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch Live: White House holds surprise news briefing amid government shutdown Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement U.S. policy toward China shifts from engagement to confrontation By David S. Cloud For decades, China had no closer American friend than Dianne Feinstein. As San Francisco mayor in the 1970s, she forged a sister-city relationship with Shanghai, the first between American and Chinese communities. As U.S. senator, she dined with Chinese leaders at Mao Tse-tungs old Beijing residence. And in the 1990s, she championed a trade policy change that opened a floodgate of Western investment into China. Today the Democratic senator sees China as a growing threat, joining a broad array of Trump administration officials, national security strategists and business executives who once favored engagement with Beijing and now advocate a confrontational approach instead. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Mnuchins attempt to calm markets backfires as Trump takes another shot at the Federal Reserve By Jim Puzzanghera An attempt by Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin to calm plunging financial markets backfired Monday, further rattling investors with new fears about whether major U.S. banks have enough cash on top of worries about interest rates, political instability in Washington and a slowing global economy. Adding to the volatile mix was a fresh attack on the Federal Reserve by President Trump, who declared that the central bank was the U.S. economys only problem and that it didnt have a feel for the market. The Fed is like a powerful golfer who cant score because he has no touch -- he cant putt! Trump said on Twitter. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print He speaks to Democratic hearts. But is Beto ORourke a serious White House contender? By Mark Z. Barabak Hes a failed U.S. Senate candidate with an undistinguished congressional record who, for the moment, is a blazing-hot 2020 presidential prospect despite the fact that he may not run and faces long odds if he does. Beto ORourke suggests the will-he-or-wont-he speculation is something he himself cant quite fathom. I think thats a great question, he responded in a Dallas Morning News interview when asked whether his unsuccessful November Senate bid merited a promotion to the White House. I ask that question myself. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Russian disinformation teams targeted Robert S. Mueller III, says report prepared for Senate By Craig Timberg, Tony Romm, Elizabeth Dwoskin Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. (Associated Press) Months after President Trump took office, Russias disinformation teams trained their sites on a new target: special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. Having worked to help get Trump into the White House, they now worked to neutralize the biggest threat to his staying there. The Russian operatives unloaded on Mueller through fake accounts on Facebook, Twitter and beyond, falsely claiming that the former FBI director was corrupt and that the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election were crackpot conspiracies. One post on Instagram which emerged as an especially potent weapon in the Russian social media arsenal claimed that Mueller had worked in the past with radical Islamic groups. Such tactics exemplified how Russian teams ranged nimbly across social media platforms in a shrewd online influence operation aimed squarely at American voters. The effort started earlier than commonly understood and lasted longer while relying on the strengths of different sites to manipulate distinct slices of the electorate, according to a pair of comprehensive new reports prepared for the Senate Intelligence Committee and released Monday. Read more Timberg, Romm and Dwoskin report for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement President Trump announces Mick Mulvaney as acting White House chief of staff By Associated Press President Trump says budget director Mick Mulvaney will serve as acting chief of staff, replacing John F. Kelly in the new year. I am pleased to announce that Mick Mulvaney, Director of the Office of Management & Budget, will be named Acting White House Chief of Staff, replacing General John Kelly, who has served our Country with distinction. Mick has done an outstanding job while in the Administration.... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 14, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print It aint over when its over: In Michigan, Wisconsin and elsewhere, losers seek to undermine election results By Mark Z. Barabak Democrat Gavin Newsom has yet to become California governor, but already a candidate for state Republican Party chairman is promoting a recall effort. In Michigan and Wisconsin, GOP lawmakers have rushed through legislation to thwart their incoming Democratic governors and hamper others in the opposing party from doing the jobs voters chose them to do. In Congress, GOP leaders have echoed President Trump and sought to undermine the legitimacy of Democrats strong midterm performance, raising unsubstantiated allegations of fraud and political malfeasance. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print New CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger says she wont be a puppet of Mick Mulvaney By Jim Puzzanghera On her first full day leading the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Kathy Kraninger said she wont be a puppet of Mick Mulvaney, the controversial acting director whom she replaced in the powerful regulatory position. To underscore that point, the former White House aide said she would even reconsider a Mulvaney action that critics saw as a gratuitous jab at Democrats who championed the agencys creation: changing its name to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. Kraningers declaration during a meeting with reporters Tuesday addressed one of the main criticisms of her selection. She is considered a protege of Mulvaney, her boss at the White House Office of Management and Budget who has executed a dramatic, industry-friendly shift at the watchdog agency. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trumps pick for chief of staff, Nick Ayers, out of running By Associated Press Nick Ayers, right, with Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, at the funeral service for George H.W. Bush on Dec. 3. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Associated Press) President Trumps top pick to replace John F. Kelly as chief of staff, Nick Ayers, is no longer expected to fill that role. Thats according to a White House official who is not authorized to discuss the personnel issue by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. Ayers is Vice President Mike Pences chief of staff. The official says that Trump and Ayers could not agree on Ayers length of service. The father of young children, Ayers had agreed to serve in an interim capacity though the spring, but Trump wanted a two-year commitment. The official says that Ayers will instead assist the president from outside the administration. Trump announced Saturday that Kelly would be departing the White House around the end of the year. Thank you @realDonaldTrump, @VP, and my great colleagues for the honor to serve our Nation at The White House. I will be departing at the end of the year but will work with the #MAGA team to advance the cause. #Georgia Nick Ayers (@nick_ayers) December 9, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement U.S. hiring slows to 155,000 jobs, unemployment rate holds at 3.7% By Jim Puzzanghera Job growth slowed significantly in November but still was solid, indicating the economy remains in good shape but not expanding so quickly that it will lead to sharply higher interest rates. U.S. employers added 155,000 jobs last month, well below analyst expectations and a steep decline from Octobers strong 237,000 figure, the Labor Department reported Friday. Still, monthly job gains are averaging 206,000 this year, the best since 2015. Even the slower pace of 170,000 over the last three months is close to last years average of 182,000 and well above the amount needed to keep up with population growth. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump is expected to pick State Department spokeswoman for U.N. ambassador By Associated Press Heather Nauert at a briefing at the State Department on Aug. 9, 2017. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) President Trump is expected to nominate State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Two administration officials confirmed Trumps plans. A Republican congressional aide said the president was expected to announce his decision by tweet on Friday morning. The officials were not authorized to speak publicly before Trumps announcement. Trump has previously said Nauert was under serious consideration to replace Nikki Haley, who announced in October that she would step down at the end of this year. Trump has been known to change course on staffing decisions in the past. Nauert was a reporter for Fox News Channel before she became State Department spokeswoman under former Secretary Rex Tillerson. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Senate confirms new consumer financial protection chief: Kathy Kraninger, protege of industry-friendly Mick Mulvaney By Jim Puzzanghera The Senate, in a party-line vote Thursday, confirmed White House aide Kathy Kraninger to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and experts predicted a continuation of the industry-friendly shift it has taken since President Trump installed an acting director last year. Kraninger is a protege of acting director and White House budget chief Mick Mulvaney, an outspoken critic of the agency that was created in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis to prevent predatory lending and other abuses that led to it. Democrats and consumer advocates have denounced him for sharply departing from the aggressive watchdog role the bureau had pursued under its first director, Obama-appointee Richard Cordray, including scaling back enforcement and moving to reassess tough new rules on payday loans and narrow the definition of abusive practices by banks and other firms. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Shutdown postponed by two weeks under plan approved by Congress By Erik Wasson Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), shown at the Capitol on Tuesday, says President Trumps border wall is a waste of money. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) Congress passed a two-week stopgap spending bill that will delay the chance of a partial government shutdown until Dec. 22 as lawmakers and President Donald Trump negotiate over his demands to pay for a wall on the southern border. The House and Senate passed the measure Thursday without dissent, and Trump has indicated hell sign the bill before the current shutdown deadline of midnight Friday. Negotiations were delayed by memorial services this week for former President George H.W. Bush. The temporary measure gives Democrats and Republicans more time to find a resolution to their biggest hurdle: funding a wall on the U.S. Mexico border wall. Trump says he wants $5 billion for parts of a concrete wall on the southern border and is willing to shut down the government if he doesnt get it. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York has said Democrats will provide no more than $1.6 billion for border security, because the wall is a waste of money. The presidents demands for wall funding from Congress come after he said during the campaign that Mexico would pay for it. This week he said on Twitter that a $25 billion border wall would pay for itself in two months, without providing evidence. Most of the U.S. governments $1.2 trillion discretionary budget has been appropriated already by Congress for the fiscal year that began on Oct. 1. Departments at a risk of a partial shutdown late this month include the departments of State, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Treasury and Homeland Security. Talks to resolve the differences have been on hold since a meeting among Trump, Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California originally slated for Dec. 4 was postponed due to Bush memorial events. The three are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the matter. Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby of Alabama told reporters the rest of the seven-bill spending package being negotiated is basically done. Shelby in recent weeks had tried to broker a compromise in which Trumps $5 billion request would be split over two years, but Schumer has rejected that. Some Democrats have been willing to trade border wall funding for deportation protections for young undocumented immigrants. Pelosi ruled out such a deal in remarks to reporters Thursday. The stopgap government funding measure also would extend the National Flood Insurance Program, which provides subsidized coverage for homes in flood-prone areas, to Dec. 21. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Bipartisan Senate group wants to formally blame Saudi crown prince for journalists killing By Karoun Demirjian Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires. (Associated Press) A bipartisan group of senators filed a resolution Wednesday condemning Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as responsible for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, directly challenging President Trump to do the same. This resolution -- without equivocation -- definitively states that the crown prince of Saudi Arabia was complicit in the murder of Mr. [Jamal] Khashoggi and has been a wrecking ball to the region jeopardizing our national security interests on multiple fronts, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said in a statement accompanying the release of the resolution. It will be up to Saudi Arabia as to how to deal with this matter. But it is up to the United States to firmly stand for who we are and what we believe. The resolution put forward by Graham and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who are expected to lead the Judiciary Committee together next year, comes just one day after CIA Director Gina Haspel briefed leading senators about the details of the agencys assessment that Mohammed ordered and monitored the killing and dismemberment of Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Senators emerged from that closed-door briefing furious not only with Saudi Arabia, but Trump as well for dismissing the heft of the CIAs findings. You have to be willfully blind not to come to the conclusion that this was orchestrated and organized by people under the command of MBS and that he was intricately involved in the demise of Mr. Khashoggi, Graham said following the briefing, referring to Mohammed by his initials. He added that Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Defense Secretary James N. Mattis, who briefed senators last week, were at best being good soldiers and at worst were in the pocket of Saudi Arabia for presenting the evidence of Mohammeds involvement as inconclusive. The release of the resolution condemning Mohammed also comes as the Senate is preparing to move ahead with debate on a resolution to curtail U.S. support for the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. Though the Yemen resolution does not directly address Khashoggis murder, its popularity is a sign of how strained the United States patience with Saudi Arabia is on multiple fronts, including its role in worsening the civilian cost of the war in Yemen, cited by the United Nations as the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. Last week, the Senate voted 63 to 37 to advance the Yemen resolution past an opening procedural hurdle. But Graham and Feinsteins resolution on the crown prince has the potential of drawing broader support, especially from Republicans, who are deeply divided about how fiercely to punish Saudi Arabia over Khashoggis killing. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who has been an outspoken advocate for human rights and is seen as one of the more influential foreign policy voices in the GOP, did not vote for the Yemen resolution last week or sign on to a bipartisan measure last month to sanction Saudi officials and cease weapons transfers to the kingdom. But he is an original co-sponsor of the resolution condemning Mohammed over Khashoggis death. So is Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), who represents the other end of the GOP spectrum in terms of recent Saudi-related votes and endorsements. Young was an initial co-sponsor of the bill Graham wrote with Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) to sanction Saudi officials deemed responsible for Khashoggis killing and stop the sale of anything but exclusively defensive weapons to the kingdom until it ceased hostilities in Yemen. Young also voted to advance the Yemen resolution something Graham did as well, though Graham has signaled he will not be lending any similar support to the measure, fearing it may establish a precedent of invoking the War Powers Act too broadly. Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) are listed as original co-sponsors of the resolution condemning Mohammed, which also urges Saudi Arabia to negotiate with Houthi rebels to end the Yemen war, work out a political solution to its standoff with Qatar and release political prisoners. But how much sway the resolution has probably comes down to how forcefully the administration decides to heed it -- and thus far, Trump has not shown any interest in condemning the crown prince the way the senators hope he will. Demirjian reports for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Los Angeles County offices and U.S. Postal Service closed Wednesday in honor of George H.W. Bush By Brian Park The Honor Guard carries the casket of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush following his funeral on Dec. 5 in Washington, DC. (Doug Mills - Pool/Getty Images) The U.S. Postal Service will suspend regular mail delivery Wednesday, which President Trump has declared a national day of mourning in honor of former President George H.W. Bush. All retail postal outlets will be closed, and package delivery will be limited. In Los Angeles, all nonessential county departments, offices and libraries will be closed for the day, L.A. County officials said. The Los Angeles County Library said no overdue fines will be assessed for books, and due dates will be moved forward one week. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health offices also are closed Wednesday. The Sheriffs Department, Fire Department, clinics and hospitals will continue to operate, the county said. The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health clinics are being operated with reduced staffing, and the department asked patients to confirm or reschedule any appointments. All county courts and the disaster recovery centers for the Woolsey fire in Malibu and Agoura Hills will remain open. Larger federal government operations will be closed Wednesday. To honor the life and legacy of President Bush, the Postal Service will observe the National Day of Mourning. Learn how Postal operations will be affected. https://t.co/Mffch7bPCh pic.twitter.com/vG46BsIOpm U.S. Postal Service (@USPS) December 4, 2018 L.A. County offices and libraries will be closed tomorrow (Dec 5) in observance of the #NationalDayOfMourning for President George H. W. Bush. The Countys Disaster Recovery Centers in Malibu & Agoura Hills will remain open from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. pic.twitter.com/Sv1J7GoJ7T Los Angeles County (@CountyofLA) December 4, 2018 @LAPublicHealth offices will be closed tomorrow December 5 in observance of the national Day of Mourning for President George H. W. Bush. Essential Services including clinics and other services will remain open: https://t.co/tZGoGGHRlg pic.twitter.com/ypXsV6vlYY LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) December 4, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick to skip 2020 White House race, sources say By Associated Press Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick speaks during an interview in Boston on Dec. 15, 2014. (Elise Amendola / Associated Press) Former Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts will soon announce he wont launch a 2020 presidential campaign, according to three sources familiar with his plans. They did not say why the Democrat decided against a run. A formal announcement was delayed as the country observed a day of mourning for President George H.W. Bush, one source said. News of Patricks plans was first reported by Politico. Patrick, 62, served two terms as governor, from 2007 to 2015, was assistant attorney general for civil rights in the Clinton administration and since leaving the governors office has been a managing director for Bain Capital. Patrick traveled the country in support of Democratic candidates in the recent midterm election. Earlier this year, some of Patricks supporters and close advisors started the Reason to Believe political action committee, a grassroots organization dedicated to advancing a positive, progressive vision for our nation in 2018 and 2020. Reason to Believe PAC had been holding meetups across the country, including in early presidential primary states. While Patrick is opting against a 2020 run, dozens of Democrats are considering jumping in, including nearly a half-dozen members of the Senate, several House members, and other Massachusetts politicians. On Tuesday, Michael Avenatti, the attorney for adult film star Stormy Daniels and a vocal critic of President Trump, said in a statement that he would run. Patrick had previously expressed some concerns about breaking through if he sought the nomination, telling David Axelrod, a former advisor to President Obama, that he wasnt sure he could stand out in such a large field. Its hard to see how you even get noticed in such a big, broad field without being shrill, sensational or a celebrity, and Im none of those things and Im never going to be any of those things, Patrick said in a September interview with Axelrod. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Former Trump adviser Roger Stone invokes 5th Amendment right and wont testify before Senate Judiciary Committee By Associated Press Roger Stone in 2017. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images) Roger Stone, an associate of President Trump, says he wont provide testimony or documents to the Senate Judiciary Committee. An attorney for Stone said in a letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the committees top Democrat, that Stone was invoking his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination in refusing to produce documents or appear for an interview. Stone has been entangled in investigations by Congress and special counsel Robert S. Mueller III about whether Trump aides had advance knowledge of Democratic emails published by WikiLeaks during the 2016 election. Stone has not been charged and has said he had no knowledge of the timing or specifics of WikiLeaks plans. In the letter to Feinstein, Stone said the committees requests were far too overbroad, far too overreaching and far too wide-ranging. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch live: Vice President Pence and lawmakers honor George H.W. Bush at the U.S. Capitol before he lies in state Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Rebuilding crumbling infrastructure has bipartisan support. But who gets to pay for it? By Jim Puzzanghera The grades for major U.S. infrastructure would give any parent indigestion if they were on a childs report card. Roads: D; bridges: C+; dams: D; ports: C+: railways: B; airports: D; schools: D+; public transit: D-. The nations overall grade: D+, which translates to being in fair to poor condition and mostly below standards with significant deterioration and a strong risk of failure, according to an evaluation last year by the American Society of Civil Engineers. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump calls former lawyer Michael Cohen a weak person who is lying By Associated Press President Trump says his former lawyer Michael Cohen is lying to get a reduced sentence. The president is reacting to Cohens guilty plea Thursday to lying to Congress about work he did on a Trump real estate project in Russia. During a surprise court hearing, Cohen admitted to lying in testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee about a plan to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. Cohen in his guilty plea said he made the false statements to be consistent with Trumps political message. Cohens lawyer says he continues to cooperate with special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs investigation into Russian election interference and possible coordination with Trump associates. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print As California Republicans confront a congressional wipeout, GOP leader Kevin McCarthy faces a reckoning By Mark Z. Barabak When the House voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Kevin McCarthy trooped with other Republican lawmakers to a splashy Rose Garden celebration, smiling alongside President Trump as they celebrated the moment. As majority leader, McCarthy had helped round up the votes to narrowly pass the hard-fought legislation, convincing 13 other California Republicans to go along, even though several faced tough reelection fights. Fewer than half will be returning in January. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print As California Republicans confront a congressional wipeout, GOP leader Kevin McCarthy faces a reckoning By Sarah D. Wire When the House voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Kevin McCarthy trooped with other Republican lawmakers to a splashy Rose Garden celebration, smiling alongside President Trump as they celebrated the moment. As majority leader, McCarthy had helped round up the votes to narrowly pass the hard-fought legislation, convincing 13 other California Republicans to go along, even though several faced tough reelection fights. Fewer than half will be returning in January. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Michael Cohen, President Trumps ex-lawyer, pleads guilty to lying to Congress about Trump real estate project in Russia By Associated Press Michael Cohen, President Trumps former personal lawyer, pursued a Russian real estate project on candidate Trumps behalf well into the 2016 campaign, he said Thursday while pleading guilty to lying to Congress. Cohen had previously said that the project was abandoned in January 2016, but he now admits he continued to pursue a deal and says he updated Trump and members of his family about the negotiations, according to a new court document. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement James Comey says acting Atty. Gen. Whitaker may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer By John Wagner Acting Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitaker speaks at the Justice Department in Washington on Nov. 14. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / Associated Press) Former FBI Director James B. Comey apparently isnt too impressed with the mental prowess of President Trumps acting attorney general. Matthew Whitaker may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer, Comey said during a radio interview on Monday night in which he sized up the man Trump installed this month to replace ousted Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions. Comey was asked by WGBH News in Boston if he thinks Whitaker could derail the investigation of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Whitaker has spoken critically of the probe, and Trump as recently as Tuesday continues to call it a witch hunt. I think its a worry, but to my mind not a serious worry, Comey said. The institution is too strong, and [Whitaker], frankly, is not strong enough to have that kind of impact. He may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer, but he can see his future and knows that if he acted in an extralegal way, he would go down in history for the wrong reasons, and Im sure he doesnt want that, added Comey, who was fired by Trump last year and later wrote a book that portrays the president as an ego-driven congenital liar. Whitaker, a former U.S. attorney in Iowa, was Sessions chief of staff before being picked by Trump to lead the Justice Department. Trump has called Whitaker a very smart man. Earlier this year, Trump called Comey an untruthful slime ball. Wagner writes for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Interior Department watchdog clears Zinke in investigation of Utah national monument By Juliet Eilperin Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, third from the left, and Gov. Jerry Brown tour fire damage in Paradise, Calif., on Nov. 14. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) The Interior Departments Office of Inspector General has cleared Secretary Ryan Zinke in a probe of whether he redrew boundaries of a national monument in Utah to aid the financial interests of a Republican state lawmaker and stalwart supporter of President Trump. In a Nov. 21 letter to Zinkes deputy, David Bernhardt, Deputy Inspector General Mary Kendall wrote that her office found no evidence that the secretary or his aides changed the boundaries of Utahs Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in an effort to help former Utah state representative Mike Noel, who serves as executive director of the Kane County Water Conservancy District. Last December, Trump shrank the monument, first established by President Clinton in 1996, by 46% based on Zinkes recommendation. Noel owns 40 acres that had been surrounded by the monument, but now lies outside its boundaries. The new boundaries also would make it easier to construct the proposed Lake Powell Pipeline, which would deliver water to sites in Kane County that include Noels property. Earlier this year, the Interior Department had proposed selling off 120 acres of federal land from the former monument that lay adjacent to some of Noels land holdings, but later reversed the plan. We found no evidence that Noel influenced the DOIs proposed revisions to the [monuments] boundaries, that Zinke or other DOI staff involved in the project were aware of Noels financial interest in the revised boundaries, or that they gave Noel any preferential treatment in the resulting proposed boundaries, Kendall wrote. Neither the Interior Department nor the inspector generals office would release the actual investigative report. In the letter, Kendall writes that her office will provide the report to Congress no sooner than 31 days from Nov. 21, when it is provided it to Zinkes office. The Associated Press first reported the inspector generals conclusions Monday night, but did not provide details from the report itself. Noel emailed Zinke about the effort to alter Grand Staircase-Escalante, according to emails released by Interior under the Freedom of Informational Act. But those emails do not make references to Noels land holdings. Noel also pushed to rename a Utah highway in honor of Trump, but abandoned that effort in March after some of his fellow Republicans objected to the idea. Noel did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday. The inspector generals office still has at least two ongoing probes of the secretary, including one focused on his real estate dealings in Whitefish, Mont., and another regarding his decision to deny a permit to two Connecticut tribes who were hoping to jointly run a casino after MGM Resorts International lobbied against it. Interior Department spokeswoman Heather Swift welcomed the watchdogs conclusions. The report shows exactly what the secretarys office has known all along that the monument boundaries were adjusted in accordance with all rules, regulations and laws, she said in an email. This report is also the latest example of opponents and special interest groups ginning up fake and misleading stories, only to be proven false after expensive and time consuming inquiries by the IGs office. But Kendalls spokeswoman, Nancy DiPaolo, defended the inquiry, even though she said the report has not been publicly released and we will not be speaking specifically about the matter at this time. The OIG opens investigations based on credible allegations and reports our findings objectively and independently, DiPaolo added. Any time or resources spent investigating conduct or activity that may be a violation of law, regulation or policy is a service to the public, Congress and the Department. Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, said in a statement that he still intended to investigate the way Zinke and his colleague redrew the boundaries for Grand Staircase-Escalante and another Utah national monument, Bears Ears, next year. I have great respect for the inspector general, and I accept these findings, but Secretary Zinke should have known the people he listened to while destroying our national monuments had disqualifying conflicts of interest, he said. Should I chair the Natural Resources Committee in the next Congress, the process he and President Trump used to destroy Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante will be front and center in our oversight and investigations efforts. We need to know why they ignored overwhelming public expressions of support for both Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, why they ignored Native American tribes throughout their decision-making, and why they removed protections on parcels of land with known mineral deposits. Eilperin and Rein report for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump advisor Larry Kudlow says China must do more to end trade war By Jim Puzzanghera Larry Kudlow, President Trumps top economic advisor, said Tuesday that Chinas response to U.S. efforts to rework the two economic superpowers trade relationship has been extremely disappointing but the planned meeting this weekend between the nations leaders is an opportunity for a breakthrough. They have to do more. They must do more, Larry Kudlow, director of the White House National Economic Council, told reporters ahead of a Saturday dinner between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Group of 20 Summit in Argentina. I think the president is exactly right to show strong backbone when prior administrations did not, to break through these Chinese walls, Kudlow said. Theyre so resistant to change. We have to protect the country. We have to protect our technology, our inventiveness, our innovation. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch live: White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders holds a media briefing amid tensions at the border By Los Angeles Times Staff Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Democrat TJ Cox grabs lead over Republican David Valadao in nations last remaining undecided House race By Maya Sweedler Democrat TJ Cox slipped past Republican incumbent David Valadao on Monday to take the lead in the countrys sole remaining undecided congressional race, positioning Democrats to pick up their seventh House seat in California and 40th nationwide. Cox, who trailed by nearly 4,400 votes on election night, has steadily gained as ballot counting continues nearly three weeks after the Nov. 6 election, a pattern consistent with the states recent voting history. On Monday, he pulled ahead by 438 votes after Kern County updated its results. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former CIA director Michael Hayden hospitalized after suffering a stroke By Deanna Paul Then-CIA Director Michael Hayden testifies before a Senate committee in 2008. (Saul Loeb / Getty Images) Former CIA Director and retired Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden has been hospitalized after suffering a stroke, his family said Friday. He is receiving expert medical care for which the family is grateful, according to a statement issued by his namesake organization. The General and his family greatly appreciate the warm wishes and prayers of his friends, colleagues, and supporters. Hayden, 73, served as director of the CIA and National Security Agency during the George W. Bush and Obama administrations. He retired from the CIA in 2009. Hayden has been a vocal critic of Donald Trumps campaign and presidency. Earlier this year, after Trump decided to revoke the security clearance of former CIA director John Brennan, Hayden was one of several former intelligence leaders who signed a statement in opposition. Criticizing the president for crossing a line, he quickly became one of the individuals whose security clearance Trump threatened to review. Deanna Paul writes for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tells troops hes thankful for what hes done for the U.S. and rails against courts and migrants By Associated Press President Trump talks with troops via teleconference from his estate in Palm Beach, Fla., on Thanksgiving. (Susan Walsh / Associated Press) President Trump used his Thanksgiving Day call to troops deployed overseas to pat himself on the back and air grievances about the courts, trade and migrants heading to the U.S.-Mexico border. Trumps call, made from his opulent private Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla., struck an unusually political tone as he spoke with members of all five branches of the military to wish them happy holidays. Its a disgrace, Trump said of judges who have blocked his attempts to overhaul U.S. immigration law, as he linked his efforts to secure the border with military missions overseas. Trump later threatened to close the U.S. border with Mexico for an undisclosed period of time if his administration determines Mexico has lost control on its side. The call was a uniquely Trump blend of boasting, peppered questions and off-the-cuff observations as his comments veered from venting about slights to praising troops You really are our heroes, he said as club waiters worked to set Thanksgiving dinner tables on the outdoor terrace behind him. It was yet another show of how Trump has dramatically transformed the presidency, erasing the traditional divisions between domestic policy and military matters and efforts to keep the troops clear of politics. You probably see over the news whats happening on our southern border, Trump told one Air Force brigadier general stationed at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, adding: I dont have to even ask you. I know what you want to do, you want to make sure that you know who were letting in. Later, Trump asked a U.S. Coast Guard commander about trade, which he noted was a very big subject for him personally. Weve been taken advantage of for many, many years by bad trade deals, Trump told the commander, who sheepishly replied, Mr. President, from our perspective on the water we dont see any issues in terms of trade right now. And throughout, Trump congratulated himself, telling the officers that the country is doing exceptionally well on his watch. I hope that youll take solace in knowing that all of the American families you hold so close to your heart are all doing well, he said. The nations doing well economically, better than anybody in the world. He later told reporters, Nobodys done more for the military than me. Indeed, asked what he was thankful for this Thanksgiving, Trump cited his great family as well as himself. I made a tremendous difference in this country, he said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump contradicts CIA assessment that Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi killing By Josh Dawsey | Washington Post (Susan Walsh / Associated Press) President Trump on Thursday contradicted the CIAs assessment that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, insisting that the agency had feelings but did not firmly place blame for the death. Trump, in defiant remarks to reporters from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, defended his continued support for Mohammed in the face of a CIA assessment that the crown prince had ordered the killing. He denies it vehemently, Trump said. He said his own conclusion was that maybe he did, maybe he didnt. I hate the crime .... I hate the cover-up. I will tell you this: The crown prince hates it more than I do, Trump said. Asked who should be held accountable for the death of Khashoggi, who was killed at the Saudi Consulate in Turkey, Trump refused to place blame. Maybe the world should be held accountable because the world is a very, very vicious place, the president said. He also seemed to suggest that all U.S. allies were guilty of the same behavior, declaring that if the others were held to the standard that critics have held Saudi Arabia to in recent days, we wouldnt be able to have anyone for an ally. Trumps remarks came after he held a conference call with U.S. military officers overseas, during which he repeatedly praised his administration and sought to draw the officers into discussions of domestic policy. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former FBI Director James Comey gets subpoena from House Republicans By Bloomberg Former FBI Director James B. Comey said he has received a subpoena from House Republicans, according to a Twitter post on Thursday. Bloomberg News reported last week that Comey would be receiving a subpoena alongside former Atty. Gen. Loretta Lynch as part of continuing probes into their handling of investigations into Hillary Clinton and Russian election meddling, according to a top House Democrat. Happy Thanksgiving. Got a subpoena from House Republicans. Im still happy to sit in the light and answer all questions. But I will resist a closed door thing because Ive seen enough of their selective leaking and distortion. Lets have a hearing and invite everyone to see. James Comey (@Comey) November 22, 2018 Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Republican David Valadaos lead slips to 447 votes over Democrat TJ Cox in still-undecided Central Valley House race By Mark Z. Barabak Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford), right, finds himself in an increasingly harrowing cliffhanger against Democrat TJ Cox. (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) On election night, it looked like Rep. David Valadao had survived a close shave and was destined to return to Washington for his fourth term. But on Wednesday, when Fresno County announced its latest vote totals, the Hanford Republican found himself in an increasingly harrowing cliffhanger against Democrat TJ Cox, with his lead in the Central Valley district shrunken to 447 votes. Thousands remain to be counted. Valadao, a repeated Democratic target, finished election night with a lead of nearly 4,440 votes. Cox, an engineer and a business owner who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2006, has steadily gained ground in the 21st Congressional District ever since. The trend is consistent with historic patterns showing Republicans in California tend to vote early and Democrats later, meaning their mail ballots continue to stream in past election day. Under California law, ballots postmarked up to midnight on Nov. 6 will be counted. Democrats have already picked up six House seats in California. They ousted Reps. Dana Rohrabacher, Mimi Walters, Steve Knight and Jeff Denham and won the seats of retiring Reps. Ed Royce and Darrell Issa. All six represented districts that backed Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in 2016. Valadao was the seventh California Republican in a district Clinton won, though his previous successes he last won reelection by a 14-point margin suggested his ouster was a longer shot for Democrats. If Cox prevails, it would give Democrats a 40-seat gain nationwide, far more than the 23 seats needed to take control when Congress reconvenes in January. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump says no new punishments against Saudi Arabia in Jamal Khashoggi murder By Eli Stokols In this Oct. 25 photo, candles are lit in front of a photo of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. (Lefteris Pitarakis) President Trump made it clear on Tuesday that he does not intend to punish Saudi Arabia or Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, an American resident killed by Saudi officials in Turkey in October. In a remarkable statement replete with exclamation points, Trump cast doubt on the CIAs reported conclusions that it has a high degree of confidence that the crown prince ordered Khashoggis murder and sent his closest allies to Saudi Arabias consulate in Istanbul to carry it out. Read MoreThis article has been updated with staff. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Sixteen House Democrats vow to oppose Nancy Pelosi as next speaker By Mike DeBonis | Washington Post House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) Sixteen House Democrats said Monday that they will vote to deny Rep. Nancy Pelosi another stint as House speaker, a show of defiance that puts her opponents on the cusp of forcing a seismic leadership shake-up as their party prepares to take the majority. Their pledge to oppose Pelosi (D-San Francisco), both in an internal caucus election and a Jan. 3 floor vote, delivered in a letter sent to Democratic colleagues, comes as Pelosi has marshaled a legion of supporters on and off Capitol Hill to make her case. But her opponents said Monday they are convinced it is time to select a new leader. We are thankful to Leader Pelosi for her years of service to our Country and to our Caucus, they wrote. However, we also recognize that in this recent election, Democrats ran on and won on a message of change. Pelosi has expressed complete confidence that she will retake the speakers gavel in January eight years after she lost it following massive Republican gains in the 2010 midterms and 16 years after she was first elevated to the top Democratic leadership post in the House. Come on in, the waters fine, she said Friday about a potential leadership challenge. The signers might not be able to force Pelosi out themselves. The size of the Democratic majority remains in flux, but Democrats have already won 232 seats, according to the Associated Press, with five races still undecided. All those races have Republican incumbents, but the Democratic challenger is ahead in only one of them. If the leads hold in the uncalled races, Democrats would have won 233 seats, a 16-seat majority. That means Pelosi could lose as many as 15 Democratic votes when she stands for election as speaker on Jan. 3. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democratic senators sue over Whitakers appointment as acting attorney general By Associated Press Acting U.S. Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitaker (Nicholas Kamm / AFP/Getty Images) Three Senate Democrats filed a lawsuit Monday arguing that Acting Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitakers appointment is unconstitutional and asking a federal judge to remove him. The suit, filed by Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, argues that Whitakers appointment violates the Constitution because he has not been confirmed by the Senate. Whitaker was chief of staff to Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions and was elevated to the top job after Sessions was ousted by President Trump on Nov. 7. The Constitutions Appointments Clause requires that the Senate confirm all principal officials before they can serve in their office. The Justice Department released a legal opinion last week that said Whitakers appointment would not violate the clause because he is serving in an acting capacity. The opinion concluded that Whitaker, even without Senate confirmation, may serve in an acting capacity because he has been at the department for more than a year at a sufficiently senior pay level. President Trump is denying senators our constitutional obligation and opportunity to do our job: scrutinizing the nomination of our nations top law enforcement official, Blumenthal said in a statement. The reason is simple: Whitaker would never pass the advice and consent test. In selecting a so-called constitutional nobody and thwarting every senators constitutional duty, Trump leaves us no choice but to seek recourse through the courts. The lawsuit comes days after a Washington lawyer challenged Whitakers appointment in a pending Supreme Court case dealing with gun rights. The attorney, Thomas Goldstein, asked the high court to find that Whitakers appointment is unconstitutional and replace him with Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein. Rosenstein, the second-ranking Justice Department official, has been confirmed by the Senate and had been overseeing special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation. Whitaker is now overseeing the investigation. The Justice Department issued a statement Monday defending Whitakers appointment as lawful and said it comports with the Appointments Clause, the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and legal precedent. There are over 160 instances in American history in which non-Senate confirmed persons performed, on a temporary basis, the duties of a Senate-confirmed position, Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said. To suggest otherwise is to ignore centuries of practice and precedent. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Gov. Rick Scott says Sen. Bill Nelson concedes Florida Senate race By Associated Press Republican Senate candidate Rick Scott speaks with his wife, Ann, by his side at an election watch party in Naples, Fla., on Nov. 7. (Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press) Floridas Republican Gov. Rick Scott says incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson called him to concede defeat in their extremely tight race. Scott issued a statement Sunday saying Nelson graciously conceded their Senate race shortly after the states recount ended. The final results show Scott defeated Nelson by just over 10,000 votes out of 8 million cast. Nelson is scheduled to release a videotaped statement later Sunday. The defeat ends Nelsons lengthy political career. The three-term incumbent was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000. Before that he served six terms in the U.S. House and as state treasurer and insurance commissioner for six years. Scott spent more than $60 million of his own money on ads that portrayed Nelson as out-of-touch and ineffective. Nelson responded by questioning Scotts ethics and saying he would be under the sway of President Trump. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Orange County goes blue, as Democrats complete historic sweep of its seven congressional seats By Michael Finnegan Gil Cisneros defeated Republican Young Kim on Saturday in the last of Orange Countys undecided House races, giving Democrats a clean sweep of the states six most fiercely fought congressional contests and marking an epochal shift in a region long synonymous with political conservatism. With Cisneros victory, Democrats will constitute the entirety of Orange Countys seven-member congressional delegation, the first time since the 1930s that the birthplace of Richard Nixon, home of John Wayne and spiritual center of the Republican Party will have no GOP representative in the House. Sitting back in the 1960s, I would never have believed this would happen, said Stuart K. Spencer, a party strategist who spent more than half a century ushering Republicans, including President Reagan, into office. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Going, going ... with midterm wipeout, California Republican Party drifts closer to irrelevance By Michael Finnegan For a party in freefall the last two decades, California Republicans learned that its possible to plunge even further. The GOP not only lost every statewide office in the midterm election again, in blowout fashion but Democrats reestablished their supermajority in Sacramento, allowing them to legislate however they see fit After major defeats in Orange County and the Central Valley, two longtime strongholds, Republicans will have a significantly smaller footprint on Capitol Hill. (Democrats hold both Senate seats.) When the vote-counting is finished, the GOP may not even have enough lawmakers in Californias 53-member House delegation to field a nine-person softball team. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Congresswoman-elect Katie Porter says she will support Rep. Nancy Pelosi for speaker By Maya Sweedler Democratic Rep.-elect Katie Porter is congratulated by volunteers at her campaign headquarters in Irvine. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Congresswoman-elect Katie Porter said she plans to support Rep. Nancy Pelosis bid for speaker of the House and will make campaign finance reform her top priority when she enters the chamber in January. Im going to continue to have conversations, but so far I feel like Leader Pelosi is definitely making the things that were a priority to the families that elected me her priorities, including announcing her support for campaign finance reform and anti-corruption as HR1, Porter said in her first public appearance since being declared the winner in Californias 45th Congressional District on Thursday evening. It means a lot to me that she is a Californian. She understands our state, Porter added. When we talk about environmental protections, this is a person who understands as a Californian how fragile our environment is and whats at risk in things like drilling off our coasts. Porter, a law professor at UC Irvine, defeated two-term Republican Rep. Mimi Walters. The 45th District, covering inland Orange County, has never been represented by a Democrat. Porter became the third Democrat to claim a Republican-held seat in Orange County, following the victories of Harley Rouda in the 48th District and Mike Levin in the 49th. A fourth, Gil Cisneros, is running slightly ahead of his Republican opponent in the race for the open seat in the 39th District, which extends into Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. Porter attributed the massive political shift in the county, for decades a conservative stronghold, to increased levels of political engagement. Folks here care about education, they care about the environment, they believe climate change is real, they want healthcare that protects preexisting conditions, they want a tax system that doesnt punish California, they want our schools and places of worship to be safe from gun violence, she said. Those are the issues we campaigned on, and to the extent that Donald Trump and Mimi Walters were on the wrong side of those issues, the voters have made clear what direction they want us to go. Porter was flying back from the East Coast when her race was called, she said. She turned on her phone to find 167 text messages from friends and supporters. Among them was Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who was one of Porters teachers in law school and with whom she has remained close. The pair spoke via FaceTime this morning, she said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Bitter battle for Senate seat in Florida goes to hand recount By Associated Press Employees look through damaged ballots during a recount Thursday in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press) Floridas acrimonious battle for the U.S. Senate headed Thursday to a legally required hand recount after an initial review by ballot-counting machines showed Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson separated by less than 13,000 votes. But the highly watched contest for governor between Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum appeared to be over, with a machine recount showing DeSantis with a large enough advantage over Gillum to avoid a hand recount in that race. Gillum, who conceded the contest on election night only to retract his concession later, said in a statement that it is not over until every legally casted vote is counted. The recount so far has been fraught with problems. One large Democratic stronghold in South Florida was unable to finish its machine recount by the Thursday deadline due to machines breaking down. A federal judge rejected a request to extend the recount deadline. We gave a heroic effort, said Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher. If the county had three or four more hours, it would have made the deadline to recount ballots in the Senate race, she said. Meanwhile, election officials in another urban county in the Tampa Bay area decided against turning in the results of their machine recount, which came up with 846 fewer votes than originally counted. Media in South Florida reported that Broward County finished its machine recount but missed the deadline by a few minutes. Counties were ordered last weekend to do a machine recount of three statewide races because the margins were so tight. The next stage is a manual review of ballots that were not counted by machines to see whether there is a way to figure out voter intent. Scott called on Nelson to end the recount battle. Its time for Nelson to respect the will of the voters and graciously bring this process to an end rather than proceed with yet another count of the votes which will yield the same result and bring more embarrassment to the state that we both love and have served, the governor said in a statement. The recount has triggered multiple lawsuits, many of them filed by Nelson and Democrats. The legal battles drew the ire of U.S. District Judge Mark E. Walker, who slammed the state for repeatedly failing to anticipate election problems. He also said the state law on recounts appears to violate the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that decided the presidency in 2000. We have been the laughingstock of the world, election after election, and we chose not to fix this, Walker said during a morning hearing. Walker vented his anger at state lawmakers and Palm Beach County officials, saying they should have made sure they had enough equipment in place to handle this kind of a recount. But he said he could not extend the recount deadline because he did not know when Palm Beach County would finish its work. This court must be able to craft a remedy with knowledge that it will not prove futile, Walker wrote in his ruling turning down the request from Democrats. It cannot do so on this record. This court does not and will not fashion a remedy in the dark. The overarching problem was created by the Florida Legislature, which Walker said passed a recount law that appears to run afoul of the 2000 Bush vs. Gore decision by locking in procedures that do not allow for potential problems. A total of six election-related lawsuits are pending in federal court in Tallahassee as well at least one lawsuit filed in state court. Walker also ordered that voters be given until 5 p.m. Saturday to show a valid identification and fix their ballots if they have not been counted due to mismatched signatures. Republicans appealed the ruling, but an appeals court turned down the request. State officials testified that nearly 4,000 mailed-in ballots were set aside because local officials decided the signatures on the envelopes did not match the signatures on file. If those voters can prove their identity, their votes will be counted and included in final official returns due from each county by noon Sunday. Walker was asked by Democrats to require local officials to provide a list of people whose ballots were rejected. But the judge appointed by President Obama refused the request, calling it inappropriate. Under state law, a hand review is required with races that have a margin of 0.25 percentage points or less. A state website put the unofficial results showing Scott ahead of Nelson by 0.15 percentage points. The margin between DeSantis and Gillum was at 0.41 points. The margin between Scott and Nelson had not changed much in the last few days, conceded Marc Elias, an attorney working for Nelsons campaign. But he said that he expected the vote tally to shrink due to the hand recount and the ruling on signatures. The developments fueled frustrations among Democrats and Republicans alike. Democrats want state officials to do whatever it takes to make sure every eligible vote is counted. Republicans, including President Trump, have argued without evidence that voter fraud threatens to steal races from the GOP. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democrat Gil Cisneros pulls ahead of Republican Young Kim as more votes are tallied in Orange and San Bernardino counties By Michael Finnegan Congressional candidate Gil Cisneros (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Democrat Gil Cisneros pulled ahead of Republican Young Kim in one of Californias undecided congressional races Thursday, an ominous sign for a GOP already reeling from its loss of four House seats in the state. In updated vote counts released by the registrars for Orange and San Bernardino counties, Kim fell 941 votes behind Cisneros in the contest to succeed Republican Rep. Ed Royce in Californias 39th Congressional District. The 39th straddles Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Orange counties. In another unresolved House race, Democrat Katie Porter pulled further ahead of Republican incumbent Mimi Walters in the 45th District, which includes Mission Viejo, Tustin, Irvine, Rancho Santa Margarita and Laguna Hills. Porter, a consumer attorney and UC Irvine law professor, is now 6,203 votes ahead. The Nov. 6 midterm election has been devastating to Republicans in California. If Cisneros and Porter win, the party will have lost six of its 14 House seats in the state, essentially a wipeout in every contest that both parties spent heavily to win. The three Republicans already bounced from Congress are Reps. Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa, Steve Knight of Palmdale and Jeff Denham of Turlock in the San Joaquin Valley. Democrat Mike Levin won the seat of retiring GOP Rep. Darrell Issa of Vista in the fourth district flipped so far. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Florida Senate race likely headed to second recount By Associated Press A Palm Beach County Sheriffs deputy walks past boxes of ballots before a recount on Nov. 15 in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Wilfredo Lee) Unofficial Florida election results show that the governors race seems to be settled after a machine recount but the U.S. Senate race is likely headed to a hand recount. Republican Ron DeSantis is virtually assured of winning the nationally watched governors race over Democrat Andrew Gillum. Florida finished a machine recount Thursday that showed Gillum without enough votes to force a manual recount. Unofficial results posted on a state website show the margin between U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Gov. Rick Scott is still thin enough to trigger a second review. State law requires a hand recount of races with a margin of 0.25 percentage point or less. Counties have until Sunday to inspect the ballots that did not record a vote when put through the machines. Those ballots are re-examined to see whether the voter skipped the race or marked the ballot in a way that the machines cannot read but can be deciphered. The election will be certified Tuesday. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Pelosi says she has the votes to become the next House speaker By John Wagner Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi speaks during a news conference in Washington on Nov. 14. (Susan Walsh) House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi insisted Thursday that she has the votes to become the chambers speaker despite solid opposition from more than a dozen Democrats who want fresh leadership when the party takes control next year. I have overwhelming support in my caucus to be speaker of the House, the San Francisco lawmaker told reporters. I happen to think at this point, Im the best person for that. A vote within the Democratic caucus is scheduled for Nov. 28. The full House votes on Jan. 3 to elect a new speaker. During her remarks, Pelosi touted the size of the Democratic victory in the midterms, which she called almost a tsunami. With a few races still to be decided, Democrats are poised to pick up close to 40 seats in the chamber. Pelosi called that the biggest victory for the Democrats since 1974, when the Watergate babies came in. Pelosis comments come as she faces solid opposition from at least 17 Democrats, setting the stage for a battle over who will ascend to one of the most powerful positions in Washington. After a campaign in which some Democrats prevailed in competitive districts by promising to oppose her, a coalition of incumbents and newly elected members has denied her a smooth path to the speakership. The defections, if they stand, would leave Pelosi, who has led the Democrats for more than 15 years, several votes short of the 218 she would need when the full House votes for speaker Jan. 3. However, no Democrat has stepped forward to run against her for a job she held from 2007 through 2010. Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) told reporters Wednesday that shes being encouraged to stand for speaker if Pelosi doesnt have the votes. In an interview with the Washington Post on Thursday, she said she has been overwhelmed by the support from many of her colleagues for her possible entry into the race for House speaker. Over the last 12 hours, Ive been overwhelmed by the amount of support Ive received, Fudge said, adding that there are probably closer to 30" Democrats who have privately signaled that they are willing to oppose Pelosi. Things could change rapidly, Fudge said. Fudge, 66, a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, said she is building a diverse coalition as she mulls a speaker run, talking with allies in the caucus, moderate Democrats and newly elected members. To this point, Pelosi has enjoyed the strong backing of the Congressional Black Caucus. On Thursday, Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), one of its members, wrote a letter to colleagues praising her insight, fortitude and strategic thinking and urging support for her speakership bid. Former Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr., an African American who is contemplating a 2020 presidential bid, also voiced support for Pelosi, praising her in a tweet as an architect of the recent midterm success. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), a leader of the resistance to Pelosi, said during an interview on CNN on Thursday that Fudge is the kind of new leader that we need in this party. Shes in touch with middle America. She understands what the American people want. Shes a next-generation leader that people will look to and say, Thats the future of our party, thats the future of our country, and thats exactly the kind of leader that I want to see as our next speaker. Wagner reports for the Washington Post. The Posts Robert Costa, Erica Werner, Mike DeBonis, Paul Kane and Elise Viebeck contributed to this report. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement GOP Rep. Jeff Denham concedes to Democrat Josh Harder in Central Valley race By Maya Sweedler Rep. Jeff Denham (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) Republican Rep. Jeff Denham has conceded to Democrat Josh Harder in the race to represent Californias 10th Congressional District in the San Joaquin Valley. It has been an absolute honor to serve our community and represent the Central Valley in Congress over the past eight years, the 51-year-old congressman said. The enormity of the responsibility was never lost on me. My wife Sonia and I look forward to starting the next chapter of our lives. Harder said he had spoken with Denham and the two were committed to a productive transition. Denham, an Air Force veteran, previously represented the region in the state Senate for eight years and founded a company specializing in plastic packaging used in agriculture. While a member of Congress, he sat on the Transportation and Infrastructure, Veterans Affairs and Agriculture committees. First-time candidate Harder was born and raised in the district. After graduating from Stanford University, he served as vice president of a Silicon Valley venture capital firm. Since moving back, he has been teaching at Modesto Junior College. Denhams House seat is one of four in California that Republicans lost in the Nov. 6 election, with two contests in Orange County still undecided as of Thursday morning. Jeff Denham called me this morning and we had a very productive conversation. I'm honored that I've been chosen to serve our community in Congress, and we're both looking forward to a productive transition that best serves the people of District 10. Josh Harder (@JoshHarder) November 14, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democrat Katie Porter now nearly 3,800 votes ahead of GOP Rep. Mimi Walters By Maya Sweedler Rep. Mimi Walters thanks all of her supporters as she watches election results in Irvine on Nov. 7, 2018. (Alex Gallardo / Associated Press) Democrat Katie Porter opened a 3,797-vote lead Wednesday over Republican Rep. Mimi Walters in Orange Countys 45th Congressional District. In the neighboring 39th, Democrat Gil Cisneros has nearly tied the race against Republican Young Kim. Cisneros now trails Kim by a razor-thin margin of 122 votes. The 39th District straddles Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties; Wednesdays updated ballot counts came from the latter two. There are more than 202,000 ballots left to count in Orange County, which includes parts of seven congressional districts. The 45th is entirely in inland Orange County. In California, the ballots counted first tend to lean Republican and those tallied later skew Democratic. In the Central Valleys 21st Congressional District, Democratic challenger TJ Cox has pulled within 2 percentage points of Rep. David Valadao, who is serving his third term. The Associated Press had projected a win for Valadao on election night, but his 4,839-vote advantage has shrunk to 2,090. Back in CA-21, Valadao (R) wins a batch of ballots from his stronghold in Kings Co., but by a considerably smaller margin (14 points) than his previous ~30-point margin in the county. We're moving to Lean R from Likely R; today a bit scary for Valadao.https://t.co/WqJVUVkqGW Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) November 15, 2018 A spokesman for Valadao told the Fresno Bee that the changes were expected and that [s]tatistically, David Valadao has won this race. Democrats in California have already flipped four House seats, defeating three Republican incumbents and claiming an open seat previously held by the GOP. Reps. Steve Knight of Palmdale, Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa and Jeff Denham of Turlock have already lost their races, and retiring Rep. Darrell Issas San Diego County seat was claimed by Democrat Mike Levin. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump aide departs West Wing after rebuke from Melania Trump By Associated Press First Lady Melania Trump. (Alain Jocard / AFP-Getty Images) Deputy national security advisor Mira Ricardel is leaving the White House, one day after First Lady Melania Trumps office issued an extraordinary statement calling for her dismissal. No replacement was named. Aides said Ricardel clashed with the first ladys staff over her visit to Africa last month. Yet it is highly unusual for a first lady or her office to weigh in on personnel matters, especially the presidents national security staff. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Ricardel would have a new role in the administration. On Tuesday, Stephanie Grisham, the first ladys spokeswoman, released a statement saying, It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House. President Trumps White House has set records for administration turnover. Ricardel was the third person to hold the post under Trump. An ally of national security advisor John Bolton, Ricardel began her service in the Trump administration as associate director in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel, then moved to the Commerce Department last year. Bolton brought her into the West Wing shortly after taking the job in April. He is traveling in Asia this week alongside Vice President Mike Pence. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Race for House Minority Leader is Kevin McCarthys to lose By Associated Press (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy is running to take over next years shrunken caucus in closed-door elections that will set the tone for the new Congress. The race for minority leader is McCarthys to lose Wednesday. But the California Republican, who is an ally of President Trump, must fend off a challenge from conservative Jim Jordan of Ohio. Jordan is a leader of the House Freedom Caucus. The two encountered questions and finger-pointing during a private meeting with lawmakers Tuesday night as the GOP sorted through the midterm defeat that put Democrats in the majority next year. Elections Wednesday will also determine party leadership in the Senate. Voting for the biggest race, Nancy Pelosis bid to return as the Democrats nominee for speaker, is later this month. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Melania Trump calls for the firing of deputy national security advisor By Justin Sink First Lady Melania Trump arrives at the Chateau de Versailles outside Paris on Nov. 11. (Alain Jocard / AFP/Getty Images ) First Lady Melania Trumps office said she wants Mira Ricardel, the deputy national security advisor, ousted from the White House. It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House, Trumps spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said in a statement in response to a question about reports the first lady had sought Ricardels removal. Ricardel is the top deputy to national security advisor John Bolton. She drew the first ladys wrath after threatening to withhold National Security Council resources during Melania Trumps trip to Africa last month unless Ricardel was included in her entourage, one person familiar with the matter said. Grishams statement comes as several media outlets have reported that President Trump is considering a broader shakeup of his administration, including ousting Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. Sink and Jacobs report for Bloomberg. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print CNN sues Trump over the suspension of Jim Acostas White House press credentials By Jim Puzzanghera CNN said Tuesday that it is suing President Trump and other administration officials over the decision to suspend the White House press credentials of correspondent Jim Acosta after a conflict at a news conference last week. The suit, to be filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, escalates an ongoing battle between Trump and the cable news outlet that he frequently accuses of disseminating fake news for its aggressive coverage of him and his administration. The wrongful revocation of these credentials violates CNN and Acostas 1st Amendment rights of freedom of the press, and their 5th Amendment rights to due process, CNN said in a written statement. If left unchallenged, the actions of the White House would create a dangerous chilling effect for any journalist who covers our elected officials. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Maxine Waters to take aim at Wells Fargo and Deutsche Bank as new head of House Financial Services Committee By Jim Puzzanghera Rep. Maxine Waters plans to zero in on two big banks Wells Fargo & Co. and Deutsche Bank when she becomes head of the powerful House Financial Services Committee. The Los Angeles congresswoman, now the committees top Democrat, is widely expected to gain the gavel after her party won control of the House in last weeks elections. While Waters has outlined a wide-ranging agenda, she said her focus on bank oversight will target two large institutions she has been tangling with for a while including one, Deutsche Bank, that spills into her bitter feud with President Trump. With Trump in the White House, I know that our fight for Americas consumers and investors will continue to be challenging. But I am more than up to that fight, Waters wrote in a letter last week to her Democratic colleagues on the committee that was obtained by The Times. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Heres how a controversial voting system will decide a congressional race in Maine By Kurtis Lee For the first time in U.S. history, a controversial voting system known as ranked choice is being used to decide a federal election. Its happening in Maine, which adopted the system in 2016. Rather than marking a single candidate, each voter ranks them all, assigning a first-place vote, a second-place vote and so on down the ballot. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print ACLU files suit to stop Trumps new asylum limits By Associated Press A group of Central American migrants march to the office of the U.N.'s humans rights body in Mexico City on Nov. 8. (Rebecca Blackwell / Associated Press) The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a legal challenge to President Trumps order denying asylum to migrants if they cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. The lawsuit was filed Friday in federal court in San Francisco and argues the new rules are against the law. Attorney Lee Gelernt said the regulations will put families in danger. The suit seeks to declare the regulations invalid and wants a judge to stop the rules from going into effect while the litigation is pending. The new rules were spurred in part by caravans of Central American migrants slowly moving north on foot, but officials say they will apply to anyone caught crossing illegally. Officials say about 70,000 people who enter the country illegally claim asylum. The order invoked the same national security powers Trump used to push through his travel ban. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump on new acting AG: I dont know Matt Whitaker By Associated Press President Trump talks with reporters before departing for France on the South Lawn of the White House on Nov. 9. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) President Trump is moving to distance himself from Matthew Whitaker as he faces criticism over his choice for acting attorney general. Trump told reporters Friday that I dont know Matt Whitaker and said he didnt speak with Whitaker about special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation. Whitaker has made public comments critical of Muellers investigation, and critics have called on Whitaker to recuse himself from oversight of the inquiry. Under former Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions, the investigation was overseen by Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein. Of the scrutiny Whitaker is facing, Trump said: Its a shame that no matter who I put in they go after. He also called Whitaker a very highly respected man. Whitaker was Sessions chief of staff before Trump made him Sessions interim replacement. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg out of hospital after fall By Associated Press The Supreme Court says 85-year-old Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is home after being released from the hospital. She had been admitted for treatment and observation after fracturing three ribs in a fall. The court said Ginsburg was released Friday. Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg says she is doing well and working from home. The court had previously said the justice fell in her office at the court on Wednesday evening and went to George Washington University Hospital in Washington early Thursday after experiencing discomfort overnight. Ginsburg broke two ribs in a fall in 2012. She had two prior bouts with cancer and had a stent implanted to open a blocked artery in 2014. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gun-control activist Lucy McBath defeats GOP Rep. Karen Handel in Georgia By Associated Press Lucy McBath speaks during a rally for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams on Nov. 2 at Morehouse College in Atlanta. (Alyssa Pointer / Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) Democratic gun-control activist Lucy McBath has defeated Republican Rep. Karen Handel of Georgia in a suburban congressional district long considered safe for the GOP. Handel had to seek reelection after winning her seat last year in a close special election race against Democrat Jon Ossoff. McBath became an advocate for stricter gun laws after her son, Jordan Davis, was fatally shot at a Florida gas station in 2012 by a man angry over loud music the teenager and his friends were playing in a car. McBaths margin of victory was narrow enough for Handel to have requested a recount. The Associated Press declared McBath the winner Thursday after Handel conceded. Handel conceded in a statement Thursday morning, stating that after reviewing all of the election data, its clear she came up a bit short in Tuesdays vote. Handel congratulated McBath, offering good thoughts and much prayer for the journey that lies ahead for her. McBath, who is African American, declared victory Wednesday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg hospitalized after fracturing 3 ribs in fall By Associated Press Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press) The Supreme Court says 85-year-old Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg fractured three ribs in a fall in her office at the court and is in the hospital. The court says the justice went to George Washington University Hospital in Washington early Thursday after experiencing discomfort overnight. The court says the fall occurred Wednesday evening. Ginsburg was admitted to the hospital for treatment and observation after tests showed she fractured three ribs. Ginsburg broke two ribs in a fall in 2012. She has had two prior bouts with cancer and had a stent implanted to open a blocked artery in 2014. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print White House suspends press pass of CNNs Jim Acosta after heated exchange with Trump By Associated Press The White House on Wednesday suspended the press pass of CNN correspondent Jim Acosta after he and President Trump had a heated confrontation during a news conference. They began sparring after Acosta asked Trump about the caravan of migrants heading from Latin America to the southern U.S. border. When Acosta tried to follow up with another question, Trump said, Thats enough! and a female White House aide unsuccessfully tried to grab the microphone from Acosta. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a statement accusing Acosta of placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern, calling it absolutely unacceptable. The interaction between Acosta and the intern was brief, and Acosta appeared to brush her arm as she reached for the microphone and he tried to hold onto it. Pardon me, maam, he told her. Acosta tweeted that Sanders statement that he put his hands on the aide was a lie. CNN said in a statement that the White House revoked Acostas press pass in retaliation for his challenging questions Wednesday, and the network accused Sanders of lying about Acostas actions. This conduct is absolutely unacceptable. It is also completely disrespectful to the reporters colleagues not to allow them an opportunity to ask a question. President Trump has given the press more access than any President in history. Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 Contrary to CNNs assertions there is no greater demonstration of the Presidents support for a free press than the event he held today. Only they would attack the President for not supporting a free press in the midst of him taking 68 questions from 35 different reporters... Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 As a result of todays incident, the White House is suspending the hard pass of the reporter involved until further notice. Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 Sanders provided fraudulent accusations and cited an incident that never happened. This unprecedented decision is a threat to our democracy and the country deserves better, CNN said. Jim Acosta has our full support. Journalists assigned to cover the White House apply for passes that allow them daily access to press areas in the West Wing. White House staffers decide whether journalists are eligible, though the Secret Service determines whether their applications are approved. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump spars with reporters at post-election news briefing, ordering several to sit down By Associated Press President Trump assails CNNs Jim Acosta at a White House news conference. President Trump sparred with reporters at his post-election news conference, ordering several to sit down and telling another hes a rude, terrible person. He told another reporter hes not a fan of yours, either. The presidents mood turned sour Wednesday after reporters pressed him on why he referred to a migrant caravan making its way to the U.S. on foot through Mexico as an invasion. Trump ramped up his anti-immigrant rhetoric against the caravan in the final days of the midterm elections. Trump was also pressed on why his campaign aired an ad featuring a Mexican immigrant convicted of killing American police officers and linking the mans actions to the caravan. Several television networks pulled the ad after airing it or declined to air it at all. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Im living one hour at a time at this point By Christine Mai-Duc Republican congressional candidate Young Kim and gubernatorial candidate John Cox campaign in Rowland Heights. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Republican congressional candidate Young Kim greeted gubernatorial candidate John Coxs giant campaign bus, the words HELP IS ON THE WAY emblazoned across it, as it rolled into the parking lot outside her Rowland Heights field office. Standing beside Cox on Saturday, Kim predicted that a string of GOP victories Tuesday would start with voters repealing the gas tax hike. Can you imagine Gavin Newsom being our governor? Can you imagine Gil Cisneros being your representative? Kim asked the crowd, to loud boos and cries of Nooo! The former state assemblywoman who worked for retiring Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) is vying for his seat with Democrat Gil Cisneros. She led the crowd in chants of Enough is enough! and, though short-lived, Drain the swamp! Ive served you in Sacramento and Ive seen dysfunction personally, Kim continued. We cannot continue that route. She urged her supporters to stay and help make phone calls or walk neighborhoods. Lets get out there the 72 hours is really critical. Its all going to come down to a few votes, it could be your vote, she said pointing to her left, then pivoting right, it could be your vote. So dont sit back and do nothing. Every night I go to sleep thinking, OK, how many more votes can I get or how many more people can I call tomorrow? Kim said. It can be physically exhausting but Im mentally, emotionally very energized. She listed off her events so far that day and the next one she was heading to. Thats just what I can remember, she said. Im living one hour at a time at this point. Kims campaign invited press to two of her events on Saturday. After she was whisked away to her next event a high tea fundraiser in Walnut, a couple dozen volunteers remained. John Freeman, a statewide field manager for the state Republican Party, tried to pump them up. This is the Super Bowl. Were not in an NFL stadium, were not getting paid millions of dollars, but you know what? Freeman said. Were walking on the field right now. This is that high-stakes-level game. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Its going to be tough out there Democratic candidate Katie Porter speaks to volunteers in Mission Viejo. Jon Bauman, Bowzer from the band Sha Na Na, is in the background. (Victoria Kim / Los Angeles Times ) Judging from the cheers in the crowd, about half those assembled at Katie Porters campaign headquarters in Mission Viejo Sunday morning were old enough to remember 70s rock n roll star Bowzer from the band Sha Na Na. Jon Bauman, as Bowzer is known off stage, said it was her position on senior issues including retirement and social security that has him out supporting Porter over her opponent, incumbent Rep. Mimi Walters. I want you to make sure every phone is called and every door is knocked, he told the crowd of about 80 volunteers. There has never been a more important election. Both Bauman and his nephew, California Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman, were interrupted by yells from Trump supporters coming from an adjoining hillside. We love Trump, the voice cried out. We love him too, he makes great fodder, the younger Bauman retorted, before introducing Porter. Porter, a UC Irvine law professor and first-time candidate, acknowledged the uphill battle some of her canvassers might face in this more conservative end of the long-red Orange County district. I know its going to be tough out there, she said, motioning to the hillside. But she said the attacks meant the other side viewed her campaign as a significant threat. This election is going to be close, she said. If we dont fight all the way to the finish line, until 8 oclock on Tuesday, this could slip away. Bowzer then took to a keyboard piano to lead the crowd in a reworded rendition of the song Good Night Sweetheart: Good night, Mimi Walters, he crooned. A woman in a black tank top, jeans and flip flops holding a cup of coffee later joined the crowd with her two sons, 17 and 14, the younger one wearing a Trump 2016 T-shirt. She declined to give her name, saying she was concerned about being attacked, but said she lived up the hill and said she had been the one yelling. She said she was encouraging her sons to talk to people on both sides and make up their own minds. We need to have a government that runs the way government teachers are telling kids its supposed to be run, said the woman, a retired registered dental assistant who voted early for Mimi Walters. Referring to Democrats, she said: Theyve had control over all these years and Californias gone to crap. Among those canvassing was Stacie Campbell, 37, who was at the launch with her husband Jerome and three children, the youngest of whom was 2 months old. Campbell, a Mission Viejo resident who runs a business, had never canvassed or volunteered for campaigns before, and her husband is a French citizen and unable to vote. She said they had been talking to their children the older ones are 5 and 2 about the presidency and the government since Trumps election. Together, they worked on homemade Katie Porter lawn signs and put them up around town. This is the first time its felt like a big deal and there isnt a president up for election, she said. Because her city is a mix of conservatives and liberals her next-door neighbor is an NRA-supporting Republican she the race felt m President Trump upended Republican efforts to negotiate an immigration bill that could pass the House, saying Friday that he would not support a measure that Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) had painstakingly cobbled together over the last week. Hours after throwing the House Republican caucus into turmoil, the White House issued a statement saying, in effect, that the president had been confused. Ryans plan has been to have the House vote next week on two bills a hard-line measure that even its supporters say probably does not have the votes to pass the House, and a second, compromise measure that he had negotiated in hopes of gaining agreement among Republican factions. Asked about the two bills during a Fox & Friends interview Friday morning, Trump shot down Ryans plan. Advertisement Im looking at both of them. I certainly wouldnt sign the more moderate one, he said. I need a bill that gives this country tremendous border security. I have to have that. House Republican leaders expressed puzzlement at Trumps reaction White House officials had been closely involved in Ryans negotiations and said they were shelving their plans to gauge support for the bill among their members until they could get clarification from the White House. White House officials struggled to come up with an explanation, and for hours declined to comment on the record. Late in the afternoon, White House Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah issued a statement saying that Trump fully supports both bills. In this mornings interview, he was commenting on the discharge petition in the House, Shah said, referring to an effort pushed by moderate Republicans to force a vote on a bipartisan immigration bill. That effort failed on Wednesday. Among other provisions, Ryans bill would have taken direct aim at Californias so-called sanctuary laws. Under the bill, jurisdictions that decline to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement could be held liable for failing to detain people in the U.S. illegally for deportation proceedings. If local law enforcement officials did not comply with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement request to hold an immigrant who is in the country illegally, and that immigrant was released and later commited rape, murder or sexual assault of a minor, the victim or the victims family would be allowed to sue the jurisdiction, according to a draft of the bill released Thursday. The bill would also curb the administrations policy of separating families when they are apprehended trying to cross the border illegally. Instead, it would establish a policy of keeping parents and children together in family detention centers. Immigrant advocates have denounced those centers as harsh and sometimes dangerous. Trump, in his interview, continued his effort to falsely portray family separation as something mandated by law, rather than chosen by his administration as a policy designed to deter people from trying to enter the country illegally. I hate the children being taken away, he said. Thats the law, and thats what the Democrats gave us, he added. No law requires separation of family members. Trump frequently has railed about violent crimes committed by people in the country illegally during the 2016 campaign, most notably the case of Kathryn Steinle, a San Francisco woman killed two years ago by a Mexican man who had been deported several times. A federal judge in California ruled that Stienles parents could not sue San Francisco for failing to hold the man at an immigration officials request. In the Steinle case, however, the shooter ultimately was acquitted of homicide after a jury heard testimony that the gun may have fired accidentally. Trump denounced the result, tweeting about the disgraceful verdict in the Kate Steinle case! No wonder the people of our Country are so angry with Illegal Immigration. The proposal could raise serious constitutional issues. It would allow suits not only against local governments, but also against states, like California, that have sanctuary laws. The Constitutions 11th Amendment typically forbids suits against a state unless it consents to waive its sovereign immunity. In a statement, a Republican familiar with the bills design said it would allow suits against the states and bypass sovereign immunity under Congress power to enforce the 14th Amendments broad guarantee of due process of the law. Conservatives have typically denounced such expansive readings of the due process clauses reach. Margaret Peters, an associate professor of political science at UCLA, said that given his rhetoric on this issue, the proposed change feels like total political theater. California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra denounced the bill as a charade with a rehash of old unworkable ideas, showing a lack of guts and respect for our Constitution. The bill, also includes $25 billion for a border wall as well as cuts to legal immigration. In exchange, it would offer legal status for people who came to the country illegally as children. The latest from Washington The sanctuary state section of the bill wasnt trumpeted along with the other provisions. Trump often denounced sanctuary policies during the campaign, and a crackdown on money for sanctuary jurisdictions was one of his first actions as president. His efforts to cut funding have been blocked by the courts. The bill would also for the first time put into law a time frame for how long cities, counties and states should hold prisoners at ICEs request up to 96 hours past their scheduled release. Jurisdictions that comply with such detainer orders would be acting under federal authority and could not be sued for holding prisoners past the end of their sentences, the bill says. Immigration and Customs Enforcement frequently asks cities or counties to detain prisoners after they have served their sentences so they can be picked up for deportation, and many do so. But multiple federal courts have said these detainers do not qualify as official warrants and are not legal justification for holding someone who has served his or her sentence or is no longer under arrest so many cities and the entire state of California have refused to comply with them. The federal government is suing California over several sanctuary laws passed last year, including one that restricts law enforcement cooperation with immigration officials. Protection from liability isnt likely to make jurisdictions suddenly follow the detainer requests, Peters said. Politically, that concern doesnt seem to be a major reason why states may or may not be willing to comply, she said. It seems to be much more ideological about whether they should be complying with ICE or not. sarah.wire@latimes.com Follow @sarahdwire on Twitter Read more about the 55 members of Californias delegation UPDATES: 4:10 p.m.: This article was updated with the White House statement taking back Trumps earlier comment. 11:10 a.m.: This article was updated with the White House declining to comment on the record. 10:40 a.m.: This article was updated with Trumps comments and reaction by House Republicans. This article was originally published at 4 a.m. Paul Manafort, President Trumps former campaign chairman, was jailed on Friday after a federal judge decided that his messages to former colleagues represented an attempt to tamper with witnesses in the special counsel investigation. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said Manaforts behavior showed he was a harm to the administration of justice and the integrity of the court system. You have abused the trust placed in you, she told Manafort, adding that sending him to jail until his trial was an extraordinarily difficult decision. After the ruling, one of Manaforts lawyers jumped to his feet and asked to delay the imprisonment while they appealed, but Jackson refused. Advertisement As Manafort was taken into custody, he turned back and caught the eye of his wife in the packed courtroom, raising his hand and giving her a firm smile. The decision to revoke his bail was a severe blow to Manafort, who spent years at the highest levels of Republican politics before making millions serving as a consultant for some of the worlds least-savory dictators. He reentered the spotlight by helming Trumps campaign during the contentious Republican National Convention two years ago, only to be forced out amid controversy over his previous work on behalf of Ukraines pro-Russia government. Manafort has been under house arrest since October, when he was first indicted for financial crimes unrelated to the campaign, including tax evasion and bank fraud. Unless he beats the charges hes facing in two separate trials this year, the 69-year-old could remain behind bars for the rest of his life. Harry Litman, a former federal prosecutor and law professor at the University of California, said Manafort is now facing maximum pressure to cut a deal with special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, who has been investigating Russian interference with the presidential election. Because the charges against Manafort have been so well documented, Litman said, his risk of losing at trial is high, and if convicted, absent cooperation, he will never get out of prison. So that means this is the first day of the rest of his life, he said. The first crappy meal. The first regimented schedule. The first of a series of indignities. Shortly before Fridays hearing began, Trump continued trying to distance himself from his former campaign chief. Paul Manafort worked for me for a very short period of time, Trump told reporters at the White House. Manafort, in fact, was part of the campaign for several months and played a leading role in securing support for Trump from party delegates. After the judges ruling, however, the president came to Manaforts defense, calling the decision very unfair! Wow, what a tough sentence for Paul Manafort, who has represented Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole and many other top political people and campaigns, the president tweeted. Didnt know Manafort was the head of the Mob. Wow, what a tough sentence for Paul Manafort, who has represented Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole and many other top political people and campaigns. Didnt know Manafort was the head of the Mob. What about Comey and Crooked Hillary and all of the others? Very unfair! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 15, 2018 Trumps lawyer, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, was more explicit directly raising the possibility of a presidential pardon in an interview with the New York Daily News. When the whole thing is over, things might get cleaned up with some presidential pardons, said Giuliani, a former U.S. attorney in Manhattan. You put a guy in jail if hes trying to kill witnesses, not just talking to witnesses. Prosecutors first revealed the witness tampering allegations against Manafort earlier this month. In a court filing, they said Manafort and his business partner, Konstantin Kilimnik, reached out to two public relations professionals to provide them with false information about the Ukrainian lobbying. In encrypted messages, Manafort and Kilimnik told them that the advocacy only took place in Europe, prosecutors said. The location matters because Manafort has been charged with violating a federal law that requires agents of a foreign government to register if they do work within the United States. We should talk, Manafort wrote in one of the messages, according to a court filing from prosecutors. I have made clear that they worked in Europe, a reference to former European politicians who were part of the lobbying arrangement. The recipient of the messages provided their content to prosecutors because he was concerned that he was being asked by Manafort to provide false testimony, the court filing said. Follow the latest news of the Trump administration on Essential Washington The outreach began after Richard Gates, another former Manafort business partner and Trump campaign aide, pleaded guilty in February to charges of conspiracy and lying to federal agents. Gates is cooperating with the special counsels investigation. Manafort and Kilimnik, who prosecutors accuse of having ties to Russian intelligence, were indicted last week on charges of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Manafort pleaded not guilty to the new charges on Friday, and hes denied all previous charges as well. Manaforts lawyers told Jackson on Friday that even if the contacts were improper, which they denied, she could limit the problem with steps short of jail, such as a no-contact order barring Manafort from contacting potential witnesses. Jackson disagreed. This isnt middle school, I cant take his cellphone, she said, adding that she doubted she could draft an order comprehensive enough to ensure against any possible violations. It was not immediately clear how long Manafort might be in custody. The first of the two trials he faces is scheduled to begin in federal court in Virginia on July 25. Even if he is acquitted there, he could remain in jail until his second trial, in Jacksons courtroom, in September. Prosecutors have not accused Manafort of conspiring with Russians to influence the campaign, although thats something the special counsels office was explicitly authorized to investigate. However, he took part in a meeting with a Russian lawyer at Trump Tower in June 2016, which has been carefully scrutinized by Muellers investigators. Donald Trump Jr., the presidents eldest son, arranged the meeting after being told the lawyer had incriminating information about Hillary Clinton, who by then had secured the Democratic nomination for president. Jared Kushner, the presidents son-in-law and now a senior advisor in the White House, also participated. When the meeting was first revealed last year, Donald Trump Jr. falsely told reporters that the meeting was about Russian adoptions. That inaccurate statement was drafted with the presidents help. Donald Trump Jr. later admitted he had been promised damaging details on Clinton, but he said none was provided. Fawcett is a special correspondent. The New York Daily News contributed to this report. chris.megerian@latimes.com Twitter: @chrismegerian UPDATES: 1:00 p.m.: This article was updated with additional reaction, analysis and a comment by Rudy Giuliani. 11:30 a.m.: This article was updated with a tweet by Trump. 9:35 a.m.: This article was updated with additional information on the potential time Manafort could spend in jail. 9:15 a.m.: This article was updated with the judges remarks in the courtroom and a comment by President Trump. 8:50 a.m.: This article was updated with the decision to send Manafort to jail. This article was originally published at 3 a.m. Kevin de Leon stresses that he isnt naive about his chances of taking down Sen. Dianne Feinstein in Novembers general election. I recognize that the vast majority of Californians dont know me. This is the opportunity now to get to know the voters, De Leon said after last weeks primary, in which he won the second spot on the ballot for the U.S. Senate seat, but lagged far behind the incumbent, a fellow Democrat. Im going to roll up my sleeves and go corner-to-corner in California. Its a formidable hill to climb in five months. Feinstein got more than 44% of the vote in the primary, compared with just under 12% for De Leon. Her campaign has $7 million in the bank, 10 times more than De Leon has going into the general election. And while De Leon would like to frame Feinsteins lead as a result of name recognition, he failed to beat her even among the voters who presumably know him best, in his state Senate district in Northeast Los Angeles, parts of which he has represented in Sacramento for a decade. Advertisement We are not completely crazy, we know we have our work cut out for us, but we have an opportunity here, De Leons campaign manager Courtni Pugh said. Outside analysts say the 51-year-old state senator faces a difficult choice about how full-throated a campaign to wage against the popular, 84-year-old incumbent. California Democratic political strategist Garry South said De Leons best shot would be to strongly make the case that Feinstein, who has long portrayed herself as a political moderate, is out of touch with an increasingly liberal California. Hes got to go right at Democrats and make the case that shes out of sync with where most Democrats are on a wide range of issues, even though shes made some last-minute shifts, South said. In every campaign and any campaign a candidate has to use what theyve got. You have to take the advantages that you feel you have, you have to take the record they have. UC San Diego political science professor Thad Kousser, however, said a more realistic goal would be for De Leon to use the race to gain the name recognition needed to run for another statewide office in the future. He may push Dianne Feinstein to the left, and he can draw distinctions about some of their policy differences, and I think thats safe, Kousser said. What he doesnt want to do is talk about her as old and claim she is wildly out of touch with California. He has to sort of take a Hippocratic Oath and do no harm to his future political career, Kousser said, adding that the plan could be to lose gracefully and lose up. Either way, De Leon is going to have to run a lean, underdog operation. Not only is the $700,000 he had in the bank at the end of the primary one-tenth of Feinsteins campaign cash, but her personal wealth means she can contribute additional money if she has to. The latest from Washington Over and over, De Leon has said that when directly compared with Feinsteins record, his progressive message connects with voters. De Leon, who served four years as leader of the state Senate, was instrumental in passing the states landmark climate-change law, as well as legislation to enact a single-payer healthcare system in California. He has a long history working on immigration issues, gun control and legalizing marijuana use. They havent seen that contrast, but to see that contrast in a state of the magnitude and size of California you do need resources, obviously. Im not naive. I understand that, De Leon said. Now, he says, getting into the general election matchup opens up the huge possibility that more resources will be invested in the Senate race. Others question how likely donors are to fill his coffers at this point, when he trails Feinstein by such a large margin. Who wants to spend money on a Democrat-on-Democrat civil war? Kousser said. Theres no blood in the water. Thats what the sharks of campaign finance respond to. Billionaire Democratic donor and activist Tom Steyer, one of De Leons best known supporters, said he hasnt decided yet whether hell spend money through an independent expenditure committee for what he acknowledged will be a particularly difficult race. Obviously 44% is not that far from 50%, so hes got a daunting task, but thats five months away, Steyer said. De Leon says his theme will be that he represents the California of today and not yesterday. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to have generational change in leadership in Washington. How that translates into broad-enough support to close the gap, however, is unclear. Uncertified election results show that even with 31 primary opponents, Feinstein won every county in the state by a large margin, including a dominant majority in Los Angeles and San Francisco counties, where De Leon had his best showing. Feinstein is considered the more moderate candidate in the general election, and the one more likely to get the votes of those who have no party preference as well as Republicans to the extent that they vote in the race at all. In the primary, De Leon pushed Feinstein to the left, prompting her to announce changes to long-held positions on marijuana and the death penalty. And hes pushed her repeatedly on an early perception that Feinstein wasnt doing enough to resist the Trump administration. Her tone has hardened in the last year as she has more vocally opposed the presidents policies, while De Leon has embraced a role as leader of the anti-Trump resistance. But running to Feinsteins left is more a strategy for a primary than for a general election. Chapman University associate professor of political science Fred Smoller said theres a chance Feinstein could lose if the election features a liberal, anti-Trump wave, but thats not really in the candidates hands. If Trump goes even further south, then the more progressive people like De Leon might have a chance, just because she is there and is part of the establishment, Smoller said. He expects De Leon to try to capitalize on Latino and progressive votes, but doubts thats a broad enough coalition to win. I dont see it, he said. She won that top-two decisively. Pugh, De Leons campaign manager, said he doesnt plan to go after only the California Democratic Partys progressive wing. I dont think hes going to cede any ground, she said. Well make an appeal to everyone that is available to us. At least 900,000 Californians, or 30%, voted for a Democrat in the primary who was not Feinstein, and Pugh said reaching them will be part of De Leons strategy. Were going to have to figure out how to build that coalition and make it grow, Pugh said. Forcing the incumbent to engage directly could be another challenge for De Leon. Feinstein could stay in Washington, D.C., and let the campaign play out largely on the airwaves, a fairly common move in such a populous state. She was the first candidate to air ads during the primary and has more than enough cash to continue to run them. South said even if its in her best interest politically, hes not convinced Feinstein will be able to avoid wading into the fray with De Leon. I just dont think psychologically she has it in her to hide back in D.C. while you have this dynamic, aggressive 50-year-old Latino candidate running around saying shes out of touch, South said. Shes not going to be capable of just allowing him to maraud around in California criticizing her in every burg and hamlet without responding to it. Not having Feinstein in the state to contrast himself to could be a problem for De Leon, who seemed to try to draw Feinstein out in an opening dig on election day. Ill have to go corner to corner to talk with California voters, he said after voting. Its more laborious, but Ill take that any day over sitting in Washington and controlling the airwaves with millions of dollars. Feinsteins strategist, Bill Carrick, pointed out that the Senate is scheduled to be in session for much of the next five months, especially now that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has said he plans to cancel the August recess. Shes going to do her job, and thats just the reality, Carrick said. But were going to be moving around the state, so if I was the De Leon people I wouldnt be worried about that. More stories from Sarah D. Wire sarah.wire@latimes.com Follow @sarahdwire on Twitter Read more about the 55 members of Californias delegation Abortions send women to hospital emergency rooms at lower rates than such routine procedures as colonoscopies and surgeries to have wisdom teeth removed, new research has found. In fact, for every 100,000 abortions provided, about 108 women sought out emergency care for what they thought was a complication of the procedure. Thats less than one-tenth the rate of post-procedure emergency department visits by patients who have recently had their tonsils removed. Its also less than one-tenth the rate of severe pregnancy-related complications (1,400 per 100,000 for in both cases). The new study, published this week in the journal BMC Medicine, undergirds an argument made by providers of womens reproductive healthcare: that the termination of most pregnancies, whether by an aspiration procedure or by medication, is as safe as many medical services that have not drawn the scrutiny of state legislators. Advertisement The results prompted the authors to suggest that a spate of new regulations pressed by abortion foes and adopted by states is not needed to make them safer. This study adds to the abundant scientific data that abortion is safe, said Ushma D. Upadhyay, a UC San Francisco public health professor who led the studys team of authors. The new research may, in fact, overstate the rate at which abortions result in post-procedure complications, Upadhyay added: Roughly half of the 27,941 abortion-related emergency department visits documented during the studys five-year period resulted in observation care only, and three-quarters of patients were released directly from the ER. Nearly one-third of the ER visits resulted in another aspiration, or repeat abortion procedure, the researchers found. Five percent of patients required a blood transfusion, 1% required surgery, and 19% were admitted to the hospital. A total of 926,190 abortions were performed in the United States in 2014 a historically low rate that is attributed to the broader use of long-acting contraceptives such as intrauterine devices and implantable hormonal therapies. Meanwhile, the safety of abortion has been on the rise as women undergo the procedure earlier in pregnancy and with the increasing use of medication abortions, which can be carried out with pills. The new study captured data from a nationally representative group of hospital emergency departments between 2009 and 2013. During those years, several state legislatures escalated their adoption of regulations that were purportedly aimed at fixing safety problems at U.S. abortion clinics. The laws and policies, backed almost exclusively by opponents of abortion rights, ratcheted up the credentials required of abortion providers and imposed facility requirements on a par with surgical centers that perform far more complex medical services. The regulations have led to the shuttering of many clinics where abortion services were provided. Between 2011 and 2014, the total number of facilities providing abortion services in the United States declined 3%, from 1,720 to 1,671, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which tracks trends in reproductive health. The toll on clinics smaller facilities that have been most directly affected by the stricter regulations was greater, with 6% shutting down in the same period. In a 2016 decision striking down abortion clinic regulations adopted in Texas, Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer wrote that the states law provides few, if any, health benefits for women, poses a substantial obstacle to women seeking abortions, and constitutes an undue burden on their constitutional right to do so. In a report released in March, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine concluded that the regulations adopted by states in recent years often prohibit qualified providers from providing services, misinform women of the risks of the procedures they are considering, overrule womens and clinicians medical decision making, or require medically unnecessary services and delays in care. Tasked with assessing the quality and safety of abortion care in the U.S., the National Academies panel concluded that the vast majority of abortions can be provided safely in office-based settings. The committee found no evidence that medical professionals who perform abortions require hospital privileges to ensure a safe outcome a requirement in place in 11 states. And it found that medication abortions the use of two prescription drugs that will end a pregnancy in the first trimester require no special equipment or emergency arrangements for patient safety. As medication abortions have become more common, they have become a target of abortion opponents who have backed a range of restrictions on the credentials of medical professionals who prescribe the two drugs, where and how the medications may be administered, and which patients may receive them. UCLA professor of psychiatry and public health Jeanne Miranda, who served on the National Academies panel, denounced assertions that abortion care needs a safety overhaul as just untrue. Rigorous studies have failed to support many claims made by abortion foes, such as that women who terminate a pregnancy suffer long-term mental health problems and increased rates of breast cancer, she said. To the extent that new regulations have prompted women to delay seeking abortions, she added, they have made the procedure less safe. The researchers identified 390 emergency department visits that appeared to be prompted by self-induced abortions. These accounted for about 1.4% of the visits they tallied during the study period. They also documented 15 deaths between 2009 and 2013. The average age of women who sought abortion-related care at an emergency department was 26. Women over 30 who had terminated a pregnancy were more likely than those in their early 20s to experience a major incident. Women using Medicaid, who accounted for 45% of the ER visits documented, were more likely to have a major complication than self-paid patients or those with private insurance. The average cost of these visits was $4,719, with 8.6% costing $10,000 or more. Upadhyay, who specializes in studying womens reproductive health issues, said the new study should reassure the public that women who seek abortions were getting good care from abortion providers before most of these stringent regulations were adopted. Thats an important message for citizens inclined to support the imposition of stricter regulations because they believe its in the interests of womens health and safety, she said. Those who drafted these regulations should know better, she said. The people who are supporting these laws must know that abortion is safe, Upadhyay said. Theyve seen the research studies like this one which only adds to the abundant scientific data that abortion is safe. melissa.healy@latimes.com @LATMelissaHealy MORE IN SCIENCE U.S. teens are taking fewer risks with their health, though drinking and unsafe sex are still common NASA engineers hope the Opportunity rover will sleep through a continent-sized dust storm on Mars Antarcticas ice is shrinking at an unprecedented rate that could imperil coastal regions worldwide To pick up on one small point in the article, Local Rotary clubs donate little free libraries to Burbank, the statement which begins the article, In a time when most people read books via a tablet or e-reader ... is patently untrue. As reported in the Los Angeles Times in 2017, among major publishers, ebook sales have plateaued or been on the decline since 2015. Since 2016, sales of hardcover books have outpaced ebook sales. Pew Research found that 79% of Americans read a book in any format in 2017, and for 67% of respondents, at least one of the books they read was in print. Only 26% reported reading an ebook. Books, whatever format they come in, are meant to be read and enjoyed. The Rotary clubs understand this, and want to foster a lifelong love of reading and literacy, which is commendable. But for many people, particularly those with certain physical requirements, ebooks are a lifeline, and the best way for them to do most or all of their reading. The Burbank Leader has no need to propagate untrue statistics or fearmonger about the decline of print books. Print books began mass production in the 15th century, and as the above numbers reflect, are still doing just fine. Lauren Bauer Burbank -- The next time you go for a walk along any of our beaches, from Santa Barbara to Orange County, try to find a sea shell or sand dollar. For that matter look for a starfish in tide pools or pier pilings. I have walked many miles over the past couple of years and found almost none of them anymore, except for black mussel shells. I have boxes of pretty shells I picked up in the sand since I was a small boy going for walks along the shores of Santa Monica with my dad, but kids today have to go to a gift shop to obtain any. Are we witnessing a mass extinction in our local ocean? Alarming to me is that most people Ive spoken with about it dont even seem to have noticed this, even oceanographers Ive called up at local colleges to ask about it! Doug Weiskopf Burbank Lauren Aslanian was 15 when two lumps near her collarbone became painful. Doctors caught the malignancies early and now Aslanian, 19, of La Habra is cancer-free following several rounds of chemotherapy. But the battle to reclaim her health wasnt easy. To save the body from cancer with chemotherapy means poisoning it sores, baldness and other afflictions accompany the paradoxical process. The physical transformation can be especially unnerving for teenagers, said Kara Noskoff, child life specialist at Childrens Hospital of Orange County in Orange. In an effort to support teens undergoing cancer treatment and post-treatment survivors, the hospital has been holding a prom for the past 16 years. This years event, with the theme Around the World in One Night, is slated for June 23. This will be Aslanians fifth year at the prom. Cancer is a lot of ugly and pain, Aslanian said. The prom was the first time I felt pretty again in a long time. Its where you pretend to be normal teenagers. Teens dance at a prom put on by the Childrens Hospital of Orange County. ( Courtesy of CHOC ) Noskoff said the event is about cultivating a sense of community and creating a comfortable space for the teens, who can feel embarrassed by their outward appearance. Their bodies have changed theyve lost hair, gained or lost weight, are covered in surgical scars, Noskoff said. So, they can be here, feel safe and comfortable and be with others who know what theyre going through. For the event, hospital employees and volunteers deck out the cancer clinic according to a theme. Last year was inspired by Alice in Wonderland. For this years travel theme, the clinic will be festooned with maps, globes and suitcases. Each room will represent a different country and there will be casino tables, a DJ, dancing and food. About 150 patients are expected to be there with about 150 other guests, which include dates, siblings and friends. Patients doctors and various celebrities also show up. James Maslow from Big Time Rush, Mason Cook from Speechless, Talitha Bateman from Annabelle: Creation and Sarah Drew from Greys Anatomy are scheduled to attend. Kaley Cuoco, a star of TVs The Big Bang Theory, second from right, attended a prom dress event for Childrens Hospital of Orange County. (Courtesy of CHOC ) Kaley Cuoco from The Big Bang Theory was at a dress fitting event on June 9, when patients picked out dresses donated by stores and designers. Male patients will pick out donated bow ties and grooming kits on June 20. Noskoff said some hospitals organize proms for their patients, but unique to CHOC is their Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Oncology Child Life Program. The group helps with the prom along with providing a host of other supportive functions for teen patients, including organizing weekly events like bowling and movie nights. Aslanian is a part of the leadership team for the AYA program, helping mentor new patients as part of the group work she does while studying health science at Cal State Fullerton. I hope the event does for others what it did for me, making me more confident in a time where I lacked confidence, Aslanian said. I hope it brings them a sense of normalcy and I hope they mingle with some of us who have gone through this and realize that they are not alone in the fight. benjamin.brazil@latimes.com Twitter:@benbrazilpilot Robert Hoang and Truong Kim were nervous when they chose to deploy a risky business concept earlier this year that allows customers to pay what they want at their boba and milk tea business, Milk Box. The model is working, though profits have taken a slight hit, Hoang said. When Hoang and Kim started Milk Box in Mission Viejo in 2015, they charged customers fixed prices like any other business. The businesss atypical hook was in its product. Hoang said they were among the first local businesses to use organic products with their teas. We took milk tea to the next level with organic teas, milk and sugar, Hoang said. Customers response was immediate. Within about a year and a half, Milk Box expanded to two other stores in Westminster and Tustin. Amid growing success, an opportunity arose toward the end of 2017 to work with friends to help advance their business. The partnership involved the sale of Milk Box. Hoang, 40, of Irvine and Truong, 40, of Westminster agreed to the opportunity and found a buyer for their business, but the staff most likely would be laid off. As a way of thanking the staff before the sale, Hoang and Truong decided to announce that all proceeds from the final two days of the year would go to the employees. But the tremendous turnout by the community in those two days made them reconsider the deal. When we started Milk Box, our mission statement was to be people-centered, Hoang said. It didnt feel like we were living up to that. We were celebrating our velocity of growth and forgot about people. Hoang said they sold the Westminster location and used a portion of the money to pay off the would-be partners. Hoang and Truong then came up with a new idea: a pay-what-you-want concept. Customers can pay whatever amount they want for a drink, including nothing at all. Then, 50% of the proceeds are given to staff on top of their wages. Of that 50%, staff is encouraged to donate to a particular charity that is chosen every quarter of the year. Managers consult with staff to decide which charity to feature. Currently, staff is donating to Brackens Kitchen, a hunger relief charity in Huntington Beach. I have been blown away by the generosity of our staff, Hoang said. While customers now understand the model, it took a while for it to catch on. When we first started, we took all the prices off the menu and it confused the heck out of people, Hoang said. Milk Box beverages include matcha and jasmine milk teas and passion fruit iced tea, from left. The shop is in the District at Tustin Legacy. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer ) Now the business lists a suggested price of $4 as a guiding principle for customers. Originally, the average cost of a drink was about $5. Hoang said the new concept has been successful, though they dont reap the same profits as they did in the past. About 70% of customers pay the suggested price, 15% pay more and the rest pay less, Hoang said. While there have been people who pay nothing, there was a woman who paid $100 for a drink and others who pay substantially more than the suggestion. Hoang and Truong said they are careful to cultivate a community-first approach in their staff. When somebody orders a drink and walks out without having paid, Hoang said his staff knows to be kind to the individual. Hoang said hes seen the transformation of customers previously unwilling to pay anything to paying above the suggested price. We measure success in a different way than most businesses its no longer about growth for us, Hoang said. Success, for us, means making an impact in our community. A person-centered business approach is an ideal that was ingrained in Hoang since his childhood. His mother, Mui, a Vietnamese immigrant, raised three children after Hoangs father left the family when Hoang was 7. Mui worked as a seamstress to provide for her children. Hoang remembers how poorly she was treated by her employers. I thought, One day, when I get the opportunity to own a company, I want to treat people with respect, Hoang said. benjamin.brazil@latimes.com Twitter:@benbrazilpilot When it comes to environmental and ecological restoration efforts in Costa Mesas Fairview Park, the keys are patience, planning and preparation, a handful of experts said Wednesday night. The five-member panel convened during the latest meeting of the citys Fairview Park Steering Committee for a wide-ranging discussion about the challenges and opportunities for habitat restoration in the 208-acre park. One of the main takeaways Wednesday was that restoration is anything but quick. Panelists said it can take years to formulate strategies and potentially years more before those efforts take root. You tend to think Restoration, its catch and release, said Peter Bowler, a senior lecturer in ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Irvine. But actually its like an adopted pet you have to take care of it for years and years and do it over and over again. Fairview Park is home to a variety of ecosystems, including wetlands, grasslands and vernal pools that host endangered species such as fairy shrimp and birds such as the endangered least Bells vireo and the threatened California gnatcatcher. The Riverside fairy shrimp is a type of the endangered crustaceans found in Costa Mesas Fairview Park. (File Photo ) Barry Nerhus, a city contractor and the founder of Endemic Environmental Services Inc., described Fairview as a last remaining species in a sea of urbanization. This native island is actually relatively significant in that it probably is what helps conserve some of the biodiversity that we have here, Nerhus told about 50 people who attended the meeting at City Hall. Because habitat restoration is a long-term commitment, its vital to carefully craft cohesive and comprehensive strategies ahead of time, panelists said. Travis Brooks, a biologist and restoration ecologist with Land IQ a consulting, analytics and research company compared it to painting an aging wall. Much of the work, he said, comes before you even reach for the brush. Once you know what you want to do, its really matching those restoration opportunities with funding opportunities, he said. California gnatcatchers, like this one pictured on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, make their home at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa. (File Photo / Los Angeles Times ) Costa Mesa recently received some assistance on that end in the form of a grant from the state Department of Parks and Recreation. The award worth up to $150,000 will go toward vernal pool restoration, City Engineer Bart Mejia said Wednesday. Fairview Park Administrator Cynthia DAgosta said this weeks discussion was meant to get us inspired as we start to move forward into the [Fairview Park] master plan and talk about restoration. Weve got a new situation here where the citys going to be working with the steering committee to adapt the master plan to the current needs for restoration, and I think its going to be exciting, she said. luke.money@latimes.com Twitter @LukeMMoney Pretoria (People's Daily Online) On June 14, a Business Delegation Headed by Zhejiang CPC Party Secretary Che Jun visited South Africa. The Chinese embassy to South Africa held a grand reception to welcome them in the ambassadors residence. More than 300 guests from the governments, business and media from China and South Africa attended the welcome meeting. "Today, China ranks as the worlds second largest economy, and a major source of outbound foreign investment, Chinese ambassador Lin songtian remarked, at the same time, South Africa has the best economic foundation and development conditions in Africa. China has for 9 years remained South Africas largest trading partner, and one of the most important source of foreign investment and tourists. In 2017, China-South Africa bilateral trade reached 39.17 billion US dollars, which marks an increase of 26 folds compared with the 1.5 billion dollars in 1998 at the beginning of the diplomatic ties. By the end of 2017, China has in accumulative terms invested over 25 billion US dollars in South Africa, creating over 400,000 local jobs. According to Lin, China is willing to work constantly to deepen and expand the win-win cooperation with South Africa, and will make constant efforts to further expand the two-way trade and investment. "Zhejiang Province has been a pioneer in Chinas reform and opening up endeavor. And now, investing in South Africa is a response to the country's Belt and Road Initiative, Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Che Jun stressed in the meeting. Government officials from key ministries of South Africa in the meeting welcomed the arrival of the delegation and their investment in South Africa. "This year marks an important year for China-South Africa relations. Next month, H.E. Chinese President Xi Jinping will come to South Africa to attend the BRICS Johannesburg Summit. In September, H.E President Cyril Ramaphosa will go to China for the FOCAC Beijing Summit. As our two presidents exchange visits, they will draw up a new blueprint and open up a new chapter for China-South Africa and China-Africa development cooperation, Lin remarked. "We are confident that working together, we will make China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership more productive and more beneficial to our two countries and two peoples, Lin said. A Newport Beach resident has filed a complaint with the state alleging that mayor and entrepreneur Marshall Duffield has wielded undue influence over how the city runs Newport Harbor. In a 12-page letter to the California Fair Political Practices Commission dated Tuesday, Lauri Preedge said Duffield, owner of Duffy Electric Boat Co., has substantial economic interests in the harbor, with sales and service offices and thousands of customers. As a member of the City Council, she alleged, he has participated in or used his official position to influence harbor-related decisions in violation of state and local laws. She also accused Councilman Scott Peotter of aiding and abetting Duffield as his principal surrogate when Duffield recuses himself from harbor-related council votes and presentations, including an April California Coastal Commission meeting where Peotters pitch for a port designation to allow the city some local permit approvals was met with skepticism and chuckles. While conflicted on most issues involving the harbor, Duffield appears to be intimately involved in behind-the-scenes decision-making on all issues involving the harbor, wrote Preedge, a residential real estate agent. His leadership is routinely mentioned by all of his council colleagues. In addition to seeking FPPC intervention, Preedge requested investigations by the Newport Beach city attorney, Orange County district attorneys office and state attorney generals office. An FPPC spokesman said Thursday that the agency had not received the complaint. Duffield said he had heard about the complaint but had not read it. He declined further comment. Peotter said the idea that Duffield could be a grand manipulator, using him as a surrogate, was so unlike Duffield as to be laughable. Anybody who knows Duffy would know that Duffy would never ask anyone to do anything for him, Peotter said. Preedges complaint contained several elements, including: Port master plan: Preedge said Duffields participation in the initial council meeting outlining a port master plan was inappropriate. The city dropped the idea after the Coastal Commissions cool response, and Duffield recused himself from discussions and votes in subsequent meetings, including one to terminate the contract with lobbyists trying to help Newport achieve the port status. Australian boat trip: Preedge alleged that Duffield has directed city staff outside the chain of command and cited as an example Duffields efforts in 2016 and 17 to have city fire and lifeguard representatives travel to Australia to inspect a water-jet-driven boat model that he was interested in for surf rescues, harbor patrol and harbor fire suppression instead of propeller-driven vessels. The Australia trip cost about $6,000. Harbor decisions: Preedge cited 15 major harbor-related actions the council has taken since Duffields 2015 swearing-in, including reduced rental rates for moorings, residential docks, commercial marinas and fuel docks; taking over harbor administrative duties from the Orange County Sheriffs Department Harbor Patrol; realigning the Harbor Department and attempts to secure federal funding for a major dredge. While many of these initiatives may very well have positive public policy aspects to them, it is clear that Duffield is driving the agenda, he is putting his loyalists in place to manage the operations of the harbor and he is using the office of mayor to advocate policies, particularly in land use and the upcoming revision of the city general plan, that will benefit his businesses, Preedge wrote. Preedge reminded the FPPC of a 2015 letter it sent the city advising that Duffield could not participate in votes in which he could have a conflict of interest. Preedges FPPC complaint did not mention that she also lodged a complaint to the council in April accusing a majority of its members of meeting in secret to negotiate City Manager Dave Kiffs impending exit, in violation of the state open meetings law. hillary.davis@latimes.com Twitter: @Daily_PilotHD The city of Newport Beach is not selling the land under the Lido House hotel. City Attorney Aaron Harp said the City Council, meeting in closed session Tuesday, directed staff to take no action on the matter of potentially selling the site at 3300 Newport Blvd., which the city leases to Lido House developer and operator R.D. Olson Development. Olson owns the hotel building but has a lease with the city for the land, which was home to Newport Beach City Hall before the current Civic Center complex was built off Avocado Avenue. The agenda for Tuesdays council meeting described the discussion as a conference with real property negotiators, with City Manager Dave Kiff and other city staff members as agency negotiator and Olson as the negotiating party. The entry read, Under negotiation: Instruction to negotiator will concern price and terms of payment. The extent of Olsons interest in buying the land was unclear. Chief Executive Robert Olson did not return a message seeking comment. Councilman Scott Peotter wrote in an email to a constituent asking about a potential sale that we are not suggesting selling the Lido House hotel site at this time. Before the meeting, Kiff said he and other members of city staff talked with Olson months ago after Kiff heard a rumor that Olson was interested in buying the site. This conversation occurred in good faith on both sides, Kiff said. No commitments were made by Bob or by me. The matter was on the closed session agenda at city staffs request, Kiff said. hillary.davis@latimes.com Twitter: @Daily_PilotHD Brooke Weitzman believes the homeless crisis in Orange County is a solvable problem, the only obstacle a lack of resolve from local political leaders. There are places where its a more complicated issue, where they dont have the land or the money, Weitzman said. But in Orange County, theres plenty of money and land. The only thing we are missing is the political will. Weitzman, 35, of Tustin is co-founder of the Elder Law and Disability Rights (ELDR) Center, a Santa Ana-based nonprofit legal service for seniors and people with disabilities. The firm is always embroiled in a number of homelessness-related cases because seniors and the disabled usually make up a significant portion of that population. Most notably, the firm filed a federal lawsuit in January with the intent of preventing officials from clearing an encampment at the Santa Ana River. The ELDR Center is comprised of two full-time lawyers Weitzman and co-founder William Wise, 61, of Los Angeles. The duo moved into a small office in Santa Ana in April 2017 after incorporating in late 2016. Before, theyd been working out of a coffee shop. The lawyers employ the help of a few volunteers and law students from various universities including UC Irvine and Chapman. Theres also a part-time administrative assistant. Brooke Weitzman, an attorney with the Elder Law and Disability Rights Center, addresses reporters during a news conference earlier this year at the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center. (Luke Money / Daily Pilot ) Public advocacy work Weitzman said their days can start as early as 5 a.m. and end as late as 10 p.m. But the schedule is emblematic of the drive that fuels Weitzman and Wise whove sworn off the six-figure salaries at more traditional firms. Weitzman chose to seek a future in law after an experience after high school working in homeless shelters during a stint with AmeriCorps at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. She left her New Jersey home to attend UC Irvine School of Law, graduating in 2014. I decided after working in the shelters that the way to change things is through the law, not in the shelters, Weitzman said. UC Irvines law school tends to steer students toward public advocacy work. Carrie Hempel, associate dean for clinical education at UC Irvine Law and a former professor of Weitzmans, said Weitzman was legendary for her enthusiasm. She has tremendous energy and an ability to think outside of the box to come up with creative solutions to legal problems, Hempel said. She has a deep devotion to public service. The justice gap Wise is a veteran of public legal service work, having spent about 30 years at the Legal Aid Society of Orange County, a pro bono firm based in Santa Ana. Weitzman spent a few years working at another pro bono Orange County firm, Public Law Center, before the duo decided to go out on their own. Weitzman said she and Wise both realized they were turning away a certain portion of the population that couldnt qualify for pro bono work, but also couldnt afford a private lawyer. They felt the answer was the sliding-scale payment plan of the ELDR Center, which caters to the clients income. Homeless clients are not charged. We felt we could create this to fill that justice gap, Weitzman said. U.S. District Judge David Carter, with Brooke Weitzman, right, an attorney with the Santa Ana-based Elder Law and Disability Rights Center, surveys the homeless encampment along the Santa Ana River in Anaheim in February. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times ) Currently the firm has about 60 open matters and still has to turn people away. Cases deal with elder abuse, end-of-life planning, disability rights and assisting homeless people with citations. Weitzman said the firm is always on the lookout for federal cases with socially-conscious implications. The federal homelessness lawsuit involving the Santa Ana River camp is their primary engagement. In that case the ELDR Centers lawsuit asked for a restraining order so the county couldnt move homeless from the sprawling riverbed encampment unless there were adequate alternative places for them to go. U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter granted the order, and then the county and the ELDR Center agreed that the homeless would be temporarily housed in motels. At the latest hearing on Wednesday, Santa Ana, Huntington Beach and Anaheim agreed to 700 new shelter beds. Mark Randall, 47, left, and his wife, Tonya Randall, 61, wait in line with others in February for a 30-day motel voucher from the Orange County Health Care Agency at the homeless encampment along the Santa Ana River in Anaheim. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times ) But, Weitzman said if the county isnt living up to its side of the bargain at any time, the firm may come back with a restraining order or seek a suspension of the enforcement of anti-camping and anti-loitering laws. Hempel said the lawsuit has been instrumental in forcing local government to face the homeless crisis and make an effort to respond. Someone had to bring a lawsuit to get the problem addressed, Hempel said. A case like this takes a lot of dedication, time and energy. I think the [ELDR Center] demonstrated tremendous courage in bringing the suit. Jordan Hoiberg, of the Santa Ana-based Orange County Catholic Worker, said the group has worked with the ELDR Center on a number of occasions, serving as on the ground people. The OC Catholic Worker a homeless advocacy group is a plaintiff in the federal lawsuit. The homeless population is a maligned population, particularly in Orange County, Hoiberg said. Theres a lot of misconceptions that drive this. But, the firm is really filling an important gap. While dealing with the demanding legal aspects of the job, Weitzman and Wise have been learning how to run their own organization. Weitzman said they are still figuring out how to retain funding and where to go for it. Once they get a handle on the business component, Weitzman said theyll be able to hire staff and grow the nonprofit. While traversing the terrains of nonprofit legal work can be strenuous, the duo said they wouldnt have it any other way. Of course I would like to pay my bills and live comfortably and not have roommates, Weitzman said with a laugh. But I went to this law school that taught me how to be a good lawyer. I am in a place where work desperately needs to be done. We arent trying to be a voice for the people who cant speak, but to make space for their voice. This was always the mission. benjamin.brazil@latimes.com Twitter:@benbrazilpilot When Thao Nguyen was young, she never expected to become a nun. Even though she had grown up in a Catholic family, she didnt think her personality fit the stereotype of what a nun was supposed to be. So she never considered it. My sister and I there were only two of us in the house and she appeared to be a really solemn person, really serious. She had that holy look, said Nguyen, 21. I was the opposite. Im talkative, really loud, so I never thought I had vocation before. But all that changed when Nguyens sister joined Lovers of the Holy Cross, a Catholic order of Vietnamese nuns, and invited her to visit their convent in Santa Ana. Nguyen had noticed a shift in her sisters demeanor she started to laugh at silly things, she said and thought that going to see her new life would help her understand why. And what Nguyen discovered there was something she wanted, too. I found my answer to why my sister had changed, said Nguyen. Its because of the sisters who lived here they live with joy. So after she graduated from high school in 2014, Nguyen also joined the order, trading in jeans, jewelry and her cell phone for a life of prayer, service, and, as she put it, joy. At a time when Catholic church congregations are dwindling across the country, and young people are increasingly choosing not to identify with any religious tradition, Lovers of the Holy Cross which is based in Los Angeles and trains its new candidates in Santa Ana has found a way to draw young women into religious life. We are growing as a community, said Christen Nguyen, vocation director for the order, which has 85 women in Southern California whose average age in the early 30s. The reason for this, she said, is the same as what drew Thao Nguyen. Its so contrary to what people outside portray us as boring, old or just serious all the time, said Christen Nguyen. But were not that were very joyful. Thats one thing that all the girls who come to us describe our community as very joyful and genuine. Lovers of the Holy Cross traces its roots to the 17th century, when French missionary Bishop Pierre Lambert de la Motte formed a religious community of Vietnamese women who would live, worship and serve the people together. These communities soon began to appear and flourish across Vietnam. But after the fall of Saigon in 1975 and the Communist government takeover, sisters began fleeing the country, eventually resettling as refugees in the United States. Theresa Phan, a historian for Lovers of the Holy Cross who lives in Santa Ana, was 21 when Saigon fell to North Vietnamese forces. She escaped to Guam with a group of sisters. From there they resettled in Pennsylvania and started to rebuild their religious order in a new country. We had to start from scratch, she said. After moving around the East Coast for many years, Lovers of the Holy Cross finally found a home in Southern California. As large numbers of Vietnamese refugees many of them Catholic began resettling in the area, William Johnson, then the bishop of Orange, recruited sisters to come and serve this growing population in the diocese. In 1989, they established a motherhouse in Los Angeles, and by 2000, Lovers of the Holy Cross was affiliated with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the Diocese of San Bernardino and the Diocese of Orange where they work in local parishes, schools, hospitals and nonprofit organizations such as the Good Shepherd Center, which assists homeless women in Los Angeles. Lovers of the Holy Cross members live a life of contemplation and service, with particular concern for the suffering of women and children. (Photo by John Pham ) While Lovers of the Holy Cross began in California as a group of Vietnamese refugees, it evolved into an order that now attracts women born and raised in the United States. To do this, Christen Nguyen travels the country, reaching out to high school- and college-age women to teach them about the order. She also hosts come and see events in Santa Ana, so that women interested in learning more can get a taste of what life is like there. A typical day starts with waking up at 5:15 a.m., communal morning prayer at 5:35, Mass at one of the churches nearby, followed by meditation. The women then go to work or school and reconvene at 5:30 p.m. for evening prayer, followed by group dinner at 6:30, chores, and recreation from 8 to 8:30. After this is personal time until grand silence at 10, when all phone calls, talking and music end until Mass the next morning. Cell phones, TV and internet are limited, and prohibited at some stages of formation. Most religious communities host come and see, but Christen Nguyen said hers which are held up to four times each year is unique. Christen Nguyen offers the women one-on-one spiritual direction and encourages them to contemplate the big questions in life: What are you searching for, what are you called to do, how would you respond, and what do you offer? This deep dive into spirituality cuts through the noise and superficiality of the modern world, said Nguyen, and instead offers meaning and the joy that characterizes the group. We have different gifts and talents that must be used for a purpose, she said. Youre not going to be sad if you dont live up to your purpose, but youre not going to be as happy. There are people who dont ask themselves that basic question why am I here. They just go about, then at the end of their lives, theyre not happy, theyre not fulfilled. Thao Nguyen, also a student at Cal State Fullerton, agreed that this focus draws youth. These days, with social media, youth including myself back then a lot of times have to mask their identity, put up different personalities to get likes, said Thao Nguyen. Its so much of how our society values something else other than the authentic being. Even if we go to work, we have to not be ourselves to get a promotion or to be liked or accepted. So I think just being who we are is something that is attractive to youth. At first to give it up was weird and hard, she said of social media, cell phones and other modern technologies. But now I feel like Im free. Most of the U.S.-born women who join Lovers of the Holy Cross are Vietnamese American, but the order is slowly becoming more multicultural. This summer, Cinthya Velasco is slated to take her final vows and become the first Mexican American sister in Lovers of the Holy Cross. (Another candidate is Indonesian.) Velasco, a 26-year-old from Anaheim, said that when she first joined the community in 2013, the language barrier was a really big struggle. She questioned whether she should be there, but after some time and prayer she began to feel comfortable. She started to learn Vietnamese, and the Vietnamese sisters also learned Spanish. Picking up Spanish wasnt just to connect on a deeper level with her, Velasco said. It was also in recognition of the demographics of Orange County. California itself calls, at least this particular order, to reach out far beyond ones own ethnicity, she said. And our community is growing in knowledge and effort to do that. But what draws so many young women to Lovers of the Holy Cross needs no translation. In a world full of suffering, said Velasco, this order offers an alternative. When people see us sisters, they dont see that suffering. We radiate joy, she said. And I think thats what attracts a lot of women that joy. Caitlin Yoshiko Kandil is a contributor to Times Community News. Authorities said around $100,000 in cash, 158 marijuana plants and several firearms were recovered from a Glendale home on Wednesday during a probation-compliance check. Officers with the Glendale Police Department and the Los Angeles County Probation Armed Unit were in the 1300 block of Blossom Street around 9:25 p.m. to conduct the check on two brothers, 24-year-old Vahe Harutyunyan and 22-year-old Garik Aroutiounian. According to the department, the officers encountered Harutyunyan at the home, along with his father, Norik Harutyunyan, and two other family members. Garik Aroutiounian was not at home at the time of the probation check. Officers searched through the home and found one of the rooms had been converted into an illegal marijuana-grow operation. In addition to the plants, the department said about 3 pounds of marijuana were found in bags. Police said they found several firearms and around $100,000 in cash hidden in a couch during a search of a Glendale home on Wednesday. (Courtesy of the Glendale Police Department ) During the search, police recovered a .22-caliber, assault-style rifle, a .50-caliber handgun and a loaded, .32-caliber Beretta rifle. About $100,000 in cash was also found hidden in a couch. Both Harutyunyan and his father were taken into custody and booked on drug and weapons violations. Authorities said members of Glendales code-enforcement department conducted an inspection of the home and found numerous violations and unpermitted additions. The home was deemed unsafe and had its electricity disconnected. A yellow tag was placed on the structure, meaning access to it is severely limited to its occupants until required repairs are made. andy.nguyen@latimes.com Twitter: @Andy_Truc A course called Film and Media Arts Master Class: Writing the Short Film is a two-part workshop at Glendale Community College that will be presented over two Saturdays, June 23 and 30, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The master class is free to the colleges students and selected high school students. There is a $15 registration fee for non-college students. The sessions will be led by Carley Steiner, who has written for Lifetime, NBC Universal, Disney Channel, Nickelodeon and more; and by Geri Ulrey, Chair of Glendale Community Colleges media arts department and writer of fiction, nonfiction and screenplays. For more information, contact Geri Ulrey at gulrey@glendale.edu. Makerspace Academy to be held for high school students Glendale Community Colleges engineering department, part of the technology and aviation division, will host a Makerspace Academy for women and girls from Monday through July 12. The academy is open to high school students in ninth through 12th grades. Parents are also welcome. Students can earn one unit of college credit in engineering independent study. The program will offer project-based learning using a micro-controller, sensors and display. Participants will design and build a robotic weather station and air-pollution sensor. They will also learn programming, electromechanical and environmental engineering and design. For more information about the academy and other Makerspace and career education programs, contact counselor Tiffany Nakawatase at (818) 240-1000, Ext. 5906. Welding offered in the fall A variety of welding and metallurgy classes will be offered in the fall semester at Glendale Community College. The classes are held primarily in the afternoons and evenings or Saturdays to accommodate the schedules of working students, though morning classes are also available. The programs curriculum is designed to meet the needs of both certificate and transfer students. Occupational welding is a two-year program designed to prepare students for entry into the welding field as a combination welder. The emphasis is on students earning welding certification at the completion of the required courses. Some of the courses required for the certification include engineering print reading for industry, general welding, occupational welding, advanced welding procedures and principles of metallurgy and heat treating. More information, including a photo gallery and career information videos, can be found at glendale.edu/welding. Learn a language at Glendale Community College Glendale Community College offers courses in several languages. They include Armenian, Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Spanish. Many of the language courses are taught using the immersion technique. This technique is designed to help students better understand the language and the culture in which it is based. The colleges language courses are university transferable and may be taken to earn a foreign language associates degree. This fall semester, the beginning level of each of the foreign languages is offered. Chinese 101 is only offered in the fall. To see the schedule of classes go to glendale.edu/schedules. Fall registration is open Open registration for the fall semester at Glendale Community College continues through Aug. 24. The fall semester begins Aug. 27. Applications for the fall semester should be submitted as soon as possible online at glendale.edu. The colleges live chat is available at glendale.edu to answer questions about applying and registering by clicking GCC Live Chat on the home page, or students can call (818) 240-1000, Ext. 5910. The schedule of credit and noncredit courses can be found at glendale.edu/schedules as well as links to the academic calendar and a list of important dates. For more information about tuition-free noncredit programs offered at the Garfield campus, go to glendale.edu/ce. This is in answer to comments by NRA supporters. I just want to say something about honoring the 2nd Amendment. Our Founding Fathers gave us the 2nd Amendment. Should we not keep it the way it was envisioned? When they were giving us the right to bear arms, they were speaking only of the single-shot rifle. Apparently the NRA doesnt see it this way. Yes, why not kill a few more hundred people and innocent children? Let us give our children a chance to grow up. Robert Tarallo La Crescenta -- The city of Glendales Design Review Board is broken. The duty of the DRB is to review building plans concerning site plan and design issues prior to the issuance of building permits for projects without statutory exemption. On Nov. 29, 2011, the city of Glendale adopted the Comprehensive Design Guidelines, which in practice should be the guiding force behind decisions made by the DRB. What has happened as of late is that the DRB has been inconsistent in its decisions, which have forced those losing before the DRB to be left with either accepting the review boards decision or filing an expensive appeal to City Council. The DRB recently approved a two-story, 5,400-square-foot home to be built in on Cumberland Terrace, a neighborhood that has no existing two-story homes and where the average home size on the street is 2,442 square feet. Looking at the story poles currently at the property, it is clear the mass and scale of this proposed project is in violation of the guidelines and is incompatible with the existing, modestly sized Mid-century modern and traditional homes, yet the DRB approved it. The extensive proposed backyard hardscaping and pool area was not even addressed by the DRB. On the same night, a similar project was reviewed with a different lens. City Council should issue a directive to the DRB that it must hold each and every project to the same interpretation of the guidelines and that DRB members should be retrained to better adhere to the Comprehensive Design Guidelines. Lee Straus Glendale -- Anyone interested in meeting and asking questions of Glendales new police chief and our new city manager will have the opportunity on Thursday, June 21, at 7 p.m., at Brand Library Auditorium. Yasmin Beers, our first female city manager, and Chief Carl Povilaitis will be guest speakers at the Northwest Glendale Homeowners Assn. annual meeting, which is open to the entire community. The association strives to hold meetings so all Glendalians have the opportunity to meet city officials. One does not need to be a member to attend. Brand Library is at Brand Park, 1601 W. Mountain, at Grandview Avenue. Carol Brusha NWGHA Board Member Glendale -- Following the scandalous footsteps of California charter schools, Glendale Unified School District continues its shady real estate transaction with developer Carmel Partners. Misrepresented as a property exchange, it is essentially a sale of public property, whereby GUSD will give away 3 acres of improved land (at 206 N. Kenwood; 223-241 N. Jackson; 316 W. Palmer streets) and over $5 million in cash to the developer, in return for 1 acre of improved land at 425 E. Colorado Street. Well aware of the developers aggressive plans for the site, GUSD contractually bound itself to help the developer obtain permits/entitlements from the city. As such, GUSD uses its public authority to enrich the developer. The developers new plan of a 192-unit building that looks to me to be nearly five stories (even though they say it is four stories), is as onerous as the plan rejected before and should not sway city officials. It is inconsistent with zoning requirements. It will exacerbate the health and safety concerns in and near the Downtown Specific Plan, for which a moratorium was adopted. It will exacerbate the traffic and parking shortage in an already densely populated, heavily congested and parking-scarce area. The developer will provide only 15 affordable housing units. Even worse, those units will not be in the luxury development, but rather consist of the old nine-unit apartment building and the classroom building to be partially converted into six units. In the interest of public trust and welfare, the city of Glendale and GUSD must stop this development. A petition can be found at ipetitions.com/petition/stop-the-sale-of-school-public-property-to. Naira Soghbatyan Glendale SeaWorld is giving U.S. veterans a break this summer. For a limited time, veterans can visit the aquatic theme parks and bring three guests for free. The deal: Veterans receive free admission to SeaWorld parks in San Diego, Orlando, Fla., and San Antonio. Visitors to the San Diego park can take a spin on the 60 mph Electric Eel roller coaster, which opened in May. Veterans must register online to redeem the free tickets (up to four, total). Theres a similar offer for active duty military, who can bring along up to three immediate family members (spouse and children) for free. The offers are part of the theme parks Waves of Honor program. Advertisement When: The offer for veterans is good through July 4; the offer for active military members, through Dec. 31. Details: With online single-day tickets starting at $59.99, military families stand to save quite a bit with the free offer. Things to keep in mind: You must get tickets online at the Waves of Honor website; they wont be available at the theme parks. Also, military ID is required to redeem this offer. Info: SeaWorlds Waves of Honor travel@latimes.com @latimestravel It seemed like the launch of another secessionist drive in Spain: Tens of thousands of people linked hands across Basque Country this month forming a human chain that stretched 124 miles from the coastal town of San Sebastian to its capital, Vitoria to demand a referendum on the regions political future. The event was part of a campaign for what activists call the right to decide. That effort comes less than a year after Catalonia declared independence and the Spanish government dissolved that regions government to quash the rebellion. But the independence movement in Basque Country, a prosperous northern region of 2 million people, is unlikely to even get that far. Advertisement Unlike in Catalonia, a northeast region of 7 million, most residents in Basque Country oppose independence. A December poll from the University of Deusto in the Basque city of Bilbao found that just 14% of respondents wanted independence, and just 17% felt only Basque and not Spanish. The movement brings back painful memories for many residents, because separatism has a long and bloody history in Basque Country. The separatist terrorist group Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (Basque Homeland and Freedom), better known as the ETA, killed 800 politicians, police officers and civilians between 1960 and its cease-fire with the government in 2010. The issue is so sensitive that the politicians pushing for a referendum are intentionally vague about what it would actually ask voters or what the right to decide means. They tend to avoid the word independence. Unilateral independence from Spain is not viable, said Andoni Ortuzar, the president of the Basque Nationalist Party, the dominant political force in the region and a key backer of the referendum drive. We have to construct the country for everyone, including for those who feel Spanish, he said. We dont want a closed project, or a private club where, oh, you consider yourself Basque or no. His party was founded in 1895 in hopes of creating an independent state that would include part of southern France, Navarra in northern Spain, and the three provinces that make up Basque Country today. That never materialized. But Basque Country did gain more self-rule than any of Spains other so-called autonomous regions. Nationalist sentiment swelled during the long dictatorship of Gen. Francisco Franco, who banned regional languages, including Euskera in Basque Country. Basques were also forced to take Spanish names instead. Activists take part in a human chain to demand the right to decide on Basque independence, in La Concha Beach, in San Sebastian, Basque Country, northern Spain. (Gorka Estrada/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutte / Gorka Estrada/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutte ) But after Franco died in 1975, the Basques received a series of benefits from the transition government. The most important was a 1979 statute of autonomy, which laid out the governmental structure of the region and explicitly recognized the existence of a separate Basque identity. The statute also provided Basque Country a taxation system that gives it enormous economic independence. The region collects its own taxes and determines how much to send back to the central Spanish government, depending on how much Spain has spent in the region. Nearly all other regions send all of their taxes to Spain, which redistributes the money according to the economic needs of the country. Those changes help quell most of the support for separatism, though campaigns have periodically bubbled up. Proponents of an independent Basque Country formed a human chain in 2014 to draw attention to their cause but failed to gain any political momentum. In an interview, Ortuzar said most people are in fact satisfied with the current level of autonomy. Then he contradicted himself and said they want more. He said that while he personally favors independence, the only realistic goal for Basque Country in the short term is greater control of local institutions such as the courts. The political situation is far different in Catalonia, which has seen a surge in support for independence over the last decade. The independence movement there took off after a 2010 federal court decision striking down a statute that would have given the government in Catalonia greater autonomy. Last October, the region held an independence referendum, which the central government declared illegal. Voter turnout was low, but the referendum passed. Though the central government reasserted its control and ended the immediate crisis, the issue is far from resolved. In June, a new Catalan parliament convened under the leadership of a secessionist who promised to put Catalonia on the path to independence. A poll in February found that 41% of Catalans supported independence. The level of support is extremely unlikely in Basque Country for one main reason: its violent history. The Basque Nationalist Party long ago renounced the ETA, which announced last month that it was disbanding. But the tactics of the terrorist group have left many Basques unwilling to even consider independence. For several years starting in the late 1990s, Maite Pagazaurtundua was a socialist member of the local council in the town of Urnieta and an outspoken opponent of the militants. The ETA killed her brother, a police officer, in 2003. She faced frequent death threats and started taking taxis instead of driving her car for fear that it would be booby-trapped with a bomb. They wanted to kill me, she said. Now a member of the European Parliament, she said any talk of secession including the right to decide recalls that time and contaminates the regions politics with a toxic current. Bernhard is a special correspondent. Hundreds of Palestinians on Friday gathered at the Israel-Gaza Strip border for the 12th consecutive week of protests while also marking the Eid al-Fitr holiday. About 2,000 faithful gathered in the border area to pray on Eid al-Fitr, which comes at the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, before the numbers dwindled as people headed home to their families for traditional gatherings. Some remaining demonstrators set tires on fire, sending acrid black columns of smoke over southern Israeli communities. The protests stem from difficulties tied to a years-long blockade of Gaza and Palestinians push to reclaim ancestral homelands in what is now Israel. Advertisement Since March, demonstrators have gathered at the border amid a growing humanitarian crisis. The Gaza Strip has been held under an Israeli and Egyptian blockade since Hamas took control of the area from the Palestinian Authority more than a decade ago. Also Friday, a booby-trapped balloon bearing the message I [heart] YOU landed on an Israeli highway, blocking traffic for about an hour while authorities disarmed it. The Israeli army said it fired warning shots at a motorcycle and at a group of Palestinians preparing explosive balloons in central Gaza, near the Bureij refugee camp. Israel says 25,000 acres of farmland and national parks have been lost to blazes ignited by the small airborne devices launched from Gaza. The Israeli army said it views the use of incendiary balloons and kites with great severity and will operate to prevent their use, though it is not defining the balloons and kites as weapons, and has refrained from directly targeting the launchers. Palestinian reports said an Israeli drone had attacked a group preparing kites as tensions simmered. Late Friday the Israeli army said one of its aircraft had targeted an observation post belonging to the Hamas terror organization near a site from which arson balloons were launched towards Israel. About 130 Palestinians have lost their lives in clashes with Israeli troops since the weekly marches began on March 30. On Wednesday, the United Nations convened an emergency session to address the crisis in Gaza, condemning Israel for excessive use of force and rejected a U.S. amendment which would have condemned Hamas, the Islamist militia that rules the Gaza Strip, an enclave of about 2 million people. The resolution called for the protection of the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza. Attending morning prayers near the border, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said the U.N. vote proved the ongoing protests have revived the Palestinian issue. He said the protests would continue beyond the holiday and praised West Bank Palestinians, who for the first time this week held rallies in solidarity with Gaza. Several hundred people gathered in downtown Ramallah midweek to demand the Palestinian Authority, the internationally recognized government, halt sanctions it has imposed on Hamas, including electrical cuts and a lack of potable water, that have contributed to the hardship. Special correspondents Tarnopolsky reported from Jerusalem and Salah from Gaza City. The 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar year is an important day for the Chinese people. The day is called Duan Wu Festival, or Dragon Boat Festival, celebrated everywhere in China. The year the day falls on June 18. This festival dates back to about 2,000 years ago with a number of legends explaining its origin. The best-known story centers on a great patriotic poet named Qu Yuan. Qu Yuan and Dragon Boat Festival A statue of Qu Yuan In the Warring States Period (475-221BC), the State of Qin in the west was bent on annexing the other states, including the state of Chu, home of Qu Yuan. Holding the second highest office in the state, Qu Yuan urged that the Chu State should resist Qin and ally with the State of Qi to the east. This was opposed by Zhangyi, a minister of the State of Qin who was trying to disrupt any anti-Qin alliances. He seized upon an incident with a jealous court official in Chu to get rid of Qu Yuan. Qu Yuan had refused to let Jin Shang, the chief minister in the State of Chu, have a look at a draft of a decree he had been asked to draw up. In anger Jin spread the rumor that Qu Yuan was leaking state secrets. He said that Qu Yuan had boasted that without his aid no decree could be drafted. This made the King of Chu feel that Qu Yuan was belittling him. When the story reached the ears of Zhang Yi in Qin, he secretly sent a large amount of gold, silver and jewels to Chu to bribe Jin Shang and the king's favorite concubine to form an anti-Qu Yuan clique. The result was that the King of Chu finally banished Qu Yuan from the capital in 313 BC. The next year, as relations between Qin and Chu worsened, Qu Yuan was called back and named to a high office, but the clique continued its machinations against him. In 299 BC after several unsuccessful forays against Chu, Qin invited the King of Chu over, ostensibly for talks. Qu Yuan feared this was a trap and urged his king not to go. The latter would not listen and even accused Qu Yuan for interfering. On the way, the King of Chu was seized by Qin troops. He died in captivity three years later. Chu came under the rule of the king's eldest son, later known as King Qing Xiang. Under him the state administration deteriorated. Qu Yuan hoped to institute reforms and in poems satirized the corruption, selfishness and disregard for the people on the part of dubious characters who had achieved trusted positions. Neither this nor Qu Yuan's resolve to resist Qin set well with King Qing Xiang, who was in fact married to a daughter of the King of Qin, In 296 BC, Qu Yuan, then in his mid 50s, was banished for the second time. Grieving for the condition of his homeland, for years he wandered about south of the Yangtze River. During this period he poured out his feelings of grief and concern for his homeland in the allegorical Li Sao, a long autobiographical poem in which he tells of his political ideal and the corruption and mismanagement of the court. In 280 BC Qin launched an overall invasion of Chu, and captured the Chu capital in 278 BC. The news reached Qu Yuan while he was near the Miluo River in today's northeastern Hunan Province. In frustration at being unable to do anything to save his state, he clasped a big stone to his breast and leaped into the river to end his life. Qu Yuan's sufferings had gained the sympathy of the people of Chu. In memory of him, every year on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar, the day he drowned himself, dragon boat races, which are said to represent the search for his body, are held, and the Chinese people eat Zong Zi, little packets of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves, which was originally thrown into the river to keep the fishes from eating the body of Qu Yuan. In addition, it is said that when hearing the news of Qu Yuan's suicide, some doctors poured realgar wine into the Miluo River to anaesthetize the fishes, hence preventing them from eating Qu Yuan's body. Customs of the festival The customs vary a lot in different areas of the country, but most of the families would hang the picture of Zhong Kui (a ghost that can exorcise), calamus and moxa in their houses. People have Dragon Boat Races, eatZong Zi(dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves) and carry a spice bag around with them. Hanging Pictures of Zhong Kui Zhong Kui is the exorcist par excellence. His picture, a fierce-looking male brandishing a magic sword, used to be hung up in Chinese houses in order to scare away evil spirits and demons, especially in the time of Dragon Boat Festival. Hanging Calamus and Moxa On this day, most of the families would also hang calamus and moxa (oriental plants) on the front door. This is also to ward off evil. Dragon Boat Race The main event of the festivities is the Dragon Boat Race. These boats are long and thin with dragon heads on the bow of the ships. The boat races are said to represent the search for Qu's body, with racing boats in a forward rowing motion, to the rhythm of beating drums. Zong Zi Qu Yuan drowned on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in 277 BC. Since ancient times, Chinese people threw into the water dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves on the day. Therefore the fish would eat the rice rather than the hero poet. This later on turned into the custom of eatingZong Zi. Realgar Wine It is a very popular practice to drink this kind of Chinese liquor seasoned with realgar at the Dragon Boat Festival. This is for protection from evil and disease for the rest of the year. Spice Bag It's believed that if you carry the small spice bag around with you, it not only drives away evil spirits but also brings fortune and happiness to those who wear it. The small bags are hand-made by local craftsmen. They're made with red, yellow, green and blue silk, fine satin or cotton. Figures of animals, flowers and fruits are often embroidered onto the bags and inside are mixed Chinese herbal medicines. A U.S. drone strike killed the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, Mullah Fazlullah, the elusive militant who ordered the assassination attempt on then-schoolgirl and future Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, Afghan and Pakistani officials said Friday. Afghan defense ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanish said that Fazlullah was killed along with two other militants and a driver when their car was struck in the eastern Afghanistan province of Kunar, along the Pakistani border, shortly after midnight Thursday. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani confirmed the news in phone calls with Pakistani leaders. Fazlullah was buried within hours in Kunar, where he had been based for several years, said a Pakistani intelligence official, who requested anonymity because he wasnt authorized to speak to the media. Advertisement U.S. forces in Afghanistan said they conducted a strike targeting a senior leader of a designated terrorist organization in the border region Thursday but offered no additional details. The Pakistani Taliban did not immediately comment on the reports. Fazlullah was an inveterate militant who was also believed to be responsible for the 2014 attack on an army-run school in Peshawar, Pakistan, that left more than 130 children dead. He helped preside over a reign of terror in Pakistans Swat Valley for years, ordering his men to kill and mutilate anyone who he believed opposed his extremist interpretation of Islam. Mullah Fazlullahs death is huge news, tweeted Omar Waraich, deputy South Asia director for Amnesty International. He terrorized the Swat Valley, ordered the assassination attempt on Malala, killed barbers, DVD [shop] owners, dancing girls, Sufi mystics. He was best known for directing the shooting of Yousafzai, an outspoken activist for girls education, as she sat on a school bus in Swat in 2012, when she was 15. She and two classmates were shot but survived, although she had to be taken to Britain for treatment after a bullet lodged in her head. In 2014 she won the Nobel Prize, and earlier this year she made an emotional return to Pakistan for the first time since the shooting. Fazlullahs death, announced on the eve of the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr, offered a moment of good feeling between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Each country has accused the other of failing to crack down on Taliban militants who roam freely across the rugged, lawless border region. Ghani called Pakistans army chief and Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk to confirm Fazlullahs death, which Mulk said underscores the importance of dealing with terrorists that threaten the security of both countries, according to a Pakistani government statement. Mulk said Pakistan supported Ghanis declaration of a temporary cease-fire against Afghan Taliban insurgents during Eid, saying it would help pave the way for the Afghan peace process. Special correspondent Faizy reported from Kabul and Times staff writer Bengali from Mumbai, India. Special correspondents Aoun Sahi in Islamabad, Pakistan, and Zulfiqar Ali in Peshawar, Pakistan, contributed to this report. shashank.bengali@latimes.com Shashank Bengali is South Asia correspondent for The Times. Follow him on Twitter at @SBengali UPDATES: 12:10 p.m.: This article was updated with confirmation from Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and a statement by Pakistani Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk. This article was originally published at 8:35 a.m. Its been called the forgotten war and with good reason. The war in Syria gets clicks and shares, and the fight to defeat Islamic State is never far from the headlines. But Yemen, a top contender in the devastation and suffering index, often goes unmentioned. With more than enough global conflict and misery to go around, why should you care about Yemen, a country roughly the size of Texas and thousands of miles away? Heres why: A Yemeni boy waits to receive a meal at an orphanage in Sana'a, Yemen. Yahya Arhab /EPA-EFE/REX/Shutters Its the worlds worst humanitarian disaster Its true. In a donor conference in April, Antonio Guterres, the U.N.s secretary-general, described Yemen as the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. To understand why, its worth knowing that Yemen was long a place where millions were never certain when and from where they would get their next meal or drink of clean water. And that was before the three-year civil war now raging through the country. These days, Yemens woes sound like a modern-day biblical tale. Since early 2015, more than 10,000 people have been killed, many more wounded and some 2 million driven from their homes because of the fighting between a Saudi-led coalition (composed of the Emirates, mercenaries, and a hodgepodge of militiamen including jihadis) and Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. For most people, death comes from above, with warplanes from a Saudi-led alliance constantly sweeping the skies. Meanwhile, a full three-quarters of the population, some 22 million people, rely on aid, and 8.4 million of them are facing famine. Adding to the misery, the country has been plagued by the largest cholera epidemic in recorded history, with 1 million suspected cases, according to the World Health Organization. A tribesman loyal to the Houthi rebels, right, chants slogans during a gathering aimed at mobilizing more fighters in in 2017. Hani Mohammed / AP Yes, the U.S. is involved like it or not Behind every bomb dropped in the nearly 17,000 air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition on Yemen are support services provided by the U.S. At the behest of lucrative arms deals worth billions of dollars (Saudi Arabia alone spent $69.4 billion on arms in 2017, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, giving it the worlds third largest military budget), America supplies much of the hardware used by the Saudis and Emiratis, while also offering midair refueling and general intelligence sharing. "The U.S government is complicit in the suffering of civilians in Yemen, said Samah Hadid, Amnesty Internationals director for Middle East campaigns. Through irresponsible arms transfers to the Saudi-led coalition, U.S.-manufactured weapons have been used to kill civilians. In one strike alone, we were able to verify that U.S bombs were used to attack an entire residential building, leaving scores of children and families killed. Yet the Houthis, though they are backed by Iran, pose little direct threat to the U.S. and are not listed as a terrorist entity. And the U.S. appears to have stepped up its activities in the country. The New York Times reports that a contingent of Green Berets is now stationed on the Saudi side of the border with Yemen in a bid to secure it against the Houthis. The involvement continues despite heightened scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers. In February, the Senate blocked a resolution that would have ended U.S. participation in the war in Yemen, but legislative efforts to do so are ongoing, I have strong concerns that the Trump administration is getting the U.S. more involved in a war in Yemen without congressional authorization, tweeted Sen. Bernie Sanders in May. He added: We must prevent the U.S. from getting dragged into another never-ending war. This image grab taken from a video shows Yemeni pro-government forces firing a heavy machine gun at the south of Hodeida airport, in Yemen's Hodeida province AFP/Getty Images Its home to a resurgent Al Qaeda With all the focus on Islamic State, its easy to forget that Al Qaeda is still hanging around. Yemen is not only home to the groups most dangerous franchise, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, but also where it pulled arguably its greatest triumph: In 2015 the jihadis took over Mukalla, Yemens third-largest port. The port became the centerpiece of an Al Qaeda fiefdom, comparable to Islamic States so-called capitals of Raqqa and Mosul. It boasted $100 million in bank deposits, and the jihadis even sought to export crude oil, according to a Reuters report. The group administered the citys affairs for the year it was in control, before abandoning Mukalla to United Arab Emirates troops and government loyalists. Meanwhile, U.S. special forces using drones have for years hunted suspected Al Qaeda operatives throughout the country with mixed success (one raid in 2017 killed up to 25 civilians, including a number of children, according to the Bureau for Investigative Journalism), even as the CIA and Pentagon conduct dozens of drone strikes that many say have created more enemies than they destroyed. Ironically, the strikes may be against a de facto U.S. ally, since Al Qaeda fighters have joined the Saudi-led coalition to fight the Houthis. And many of the weapons given to Saudi Arabia have found their way to Al Qaeda militants, said Farea Muslimi, an associate fellow at the U.K.-based Chatham House think tank and co-founder of the Sanaa Center. A $350-billion arms deal between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. has further inflamed anti-U.S. sentiment in Yemen. As long as the U.S. is helping to fan the flames of war or as long as theyre doing more to support the war rather than support for diplomatic efforts to end it, said Adam Baron, visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. [Al Qaeda] is being inadvertently bolstered. And, yes, Islamic State also has a presence in Yemen. The sun sets in Aden, Yemen. Violence, famine and disease have ravished the country. Nariman El-Mofty / AP Unrest there could have a major impact on international shipping With almost 1,200 miles of coastline, Yemen sits at an intersection of some of the worlds busiest sea lanes. The southern Yemeni city of Aden, home to the countrys largest port, is an important way point between on the Indian Ocean (although decades of political instability have prevented it from taking full advantage of its location). The Bab al-Mandab Strait, an 11-mile wide waterway between Yemen and Djibouti that is the Red Seas southern gate, links the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean and handles 8% of the worlds seaborne trade in oil, according to the Journal of the Indian Ocean Region. With so much shipping tonnage around, its little wonder the area has long been an irresistible target for pirates. And although maritime shipping security has improved in the last few years, unrest in Yemen means that hundreds of miles of the countrys sparsely populated coastline could be used as staging grounds for attacks on ships. With its propellers churning the spring air, a drone hums through the hustle and bustle of a once earthquake-stricken Beichuan county in southwest Chinas Sichuan province, scanning newly-erected buildings with a tilted camera. Nobody stops to look at it, but the white genie is guarding the region, preventing the disaster that took thousands of lives ten years ago from hitting again. With its collected images, a 3D city model was built to undergo earthquake simulation, so as to pinpoint the regions most vulnerable areas in the new earthquake prevention system, jointly set up by several institutes including China Earthquake Administration, Tsinghua University and Chengdu JOUAV Dapeng Tech Co, whose CW-30 Dapeng UAV platform served as the white genie in the air this March. (Photo courtesy of Chengdu JOUAV Dapeng Tech Co) Like CW-30 Dapeng, industrial drones are taking off in China to stun the world with new functions beyond the age-old skills of plane surveying and pesticide sprinkling. Together with the commercial and military drones epitomized by DJI and CASC rainbow series, Chinese drone industry has witnessed skyrocketing growth. According to IDC estimation, the civilian market for drones in China is expected to reach 60 billion yuan ($9.3 billion) by 2019, while the global market is projected at $25.9 billion by 2020, news.qq.com reported. All the prosperity brings ecstasy as well as concerns for drone makers to contemplate on the long-existing question: who else needs drones and how to serve them? The newer, the merrier To Huang Guoqin, a marketing manager with the JOUAV Dapeng, the question has become more pressing after the company pioneered the nations first drone-based dropsonde meteorological observations this May in east Chinas Anhui province, which China Meteorological Administration hailed as a landmark achievement to launch a new era of technology. In addition to the March experiment, the company is also leading the nations pilot trial to use drones for highway network patrol, which was already tested in Shanghai, she revealed in an interview with Peoples Daily at the opening of 9th UAV Show China 2018 on June 13. (Photo courtesy of Chengdu JOUAV Dapeng Tech Co) The three-day event was jointly organized by the China Center for Aerospace Science Technology International Communications and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems of China. Unlike commercial and military drones whose markets have provided them with a clear demand, the industrial-level drones are left in void. Both we and our customers are groping our way to find each other, Huang said. Su Yuran, a project manager with Beijing-based Efly Technology, enjoys his long and sometimes clueless contemplation over the who-is-next question, looking to expand the companys leading position beyond oil pipeline patrol business. The more we think and the more people join the discussion of who is next, the more open companies and industries become. When more business want to try drones, we receive easier access to test our aircraft and technology, Su told Peoples Daily. What came amid the welcoming businesses was ineligible drone companies, seeking to make profits in the disturbance, as the bulky industry did not have an access mechanism until recently. The nations regulation on drone flight for commercial purpose only began to take effect on June 1. The same day, an online management system on drone operation permit was also launched to recognize drone makers with national certifications for the first time. Both measures are expected to help cleanse the industry for healthier development. (Visitors look at drones on exhibition at UAV Show 2018 in Beijing on June 13. Photo: Jiang Jie/People's Daily Online) From the world, to the world Chinese companies are creative and have strong executive power. Like Dapeng, it may look crude but it is very durable. Each load change for different missions is a new test on the drone and all the tests under different occasions have proven our reliability. This is where we hold our advantage in international market, Huang said. Chinese companies no doubt prevail in drone manufacturing and application, whose products are exceptionally popular in developing countries where drone application rate remains low, but fall short in research and development for new function and loads, Su observed. However, with the advancement of Chinese technology in other fields such as AI and 5G communication, Chinese drone makers are expected to catch up in new design to surprise the world. Su, specifically, looks to develop tonnage-level freight drones, which will be beneficial to delivery industry. He also mulls to use the new technologies in the drone loads. A drone can be more than a hovering camera. It will be exceptionally popular if it can also identify objects in its images and automatically track them down, Su said with anticipation. 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They are not opinions of LiveCharts.co.uk Chinese President Xi Jinping wrote a letter of congratulations on the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Daily on Friday. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, asked the newspaper to continuously improve its penetration, guidance, influence, and credibility. The following is the full text: Today marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Daily. On behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), I would like to express my sincere greetings to each staff member and retiree of the newspaper. As the flagship newspaper of the CPC, the People's Daily has been following the principle of "a newspaper run by politicians" in line with the CPC's spirit over the past 70 years. It works side by side with the Party and the people to help spread the CPC's theories, line, principles and policies and report people's great practices. The newspaper has played a significant role and made glorious achievements in every historical period, ranging from revolution, construction to reform. Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, setting on a new journey of building our nation into a strong modern socialist country. The People's Daily should thoroughly study and implement the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress, with the aim to fulfill its responsibility and mission as the Party's news outlet. It should also stick to the correct political direction, carry forward tradition, deepen reform and renovation, fortify personnel development, improve reporting and tell China stories well through the building of an "omnimedia" pattern. To play a bigger role in helping achieve the "Two Centenary Goals" and realize the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation, the newspaper should also continuously improve its capability of communication and guidance and promote its influence and credibility as well. >>Related reading: Happy Birthday, People's Daily! The People's Daily was born before the dawn of June 15, 1948 in Pingshan county's Li village, Hebei Province. The paper was carried away by oxcarts, after the completion of printing. Ever since that dark night in Pingshan until today, the People's Daily, the newspaper born in the choking smoke of liberation war, has been published. Stock Market News Purplebricks expands US presence to Las Vegas and Phoenix 15-06-2018 13:02 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. 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They are not opinions of LiveCharts.co.uk The People's Daily was born before the dawn of June 15, 1948 in Pingshan county's Li village, Hebei Province. The paper was carried away by oxcarts, after the completion of printing. Ever since that dark night in Pingshan until today, the People's Daily, the newspaper born in the choking smoke of liberation war, has been published. First issue of People's Daily. Today, the People's Daily celebrates its 70th birthday. The newspaper has been through difficult times, but has always remained true to its original aspiration and represented the voice of the party and the people. The People's Daily records, witnesses and contributes to the establishment and growth of the People's Republic of China (PRC). It also has created a glorious history for itself. Front door of the first site of the People's Daily, in Pingshan county's Li village in Hebei Province. We shall not forget the diligence of the People's Daily reporters who recorded countless great historical moments. From the first Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference to the founding ceremony of the PRC; from the creation of China's first Constitution to the days of land reform, People's Daily reporters faithfully recorded the valuable events with their pens and lenses. Mao Zedong reads the People's Daily in Hangzhou in 1961. When China's first atomic bomb successfully detonated on October 16, 1964, the People's Daily printed and distributed the first color newspaper extra since the founding of PRC. The scene of countless hands waving in the air striving for a copy was captured, and memorized eternally. Beijing residents read the People's Daily through a display window in 1949. From the debate on the criterion of truth, to the resumption of the gaokao (China's annual college entrance exam) and the reform and opening-up, the People's Daily presented every major historical event during the past 70 years. A postman delivers People's Daily to its subscribers in 1949. From the Chinese Embassy in the former Yugoslavia being destroyed by a bomb, to the bombings in Syria; from the struggle to recover from China's 1998 massive flood, SARS, and the devastating Wenchuan earthquake, to China's joining the WTO, the People's Daily witnessed and recorded every great change in the world. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese president visits the editorial office of People's Daily app on February 19, 2016. The People's Daily was born in a small village 70 years ago. Now, it has developed from a newspaper to a modern media group with 780 million users, using over 10 types of media, including its newspapers, magazines, websites, Weibo, Wechat, Chinese and English language apps and over 400 media platforms. In 1946 (L) and 1948 (R), Mao Zedong inscribed the nameplate of People's Daily, and picked the ones that he was satisfied with. When Mao Zedong wrote the caligraphy for the nameplate for People's Daily, he said, "By using 'people' in its nameplate, People's Daily is to serve the people." After seven decades, we have better understood the meaning of "for the people, by the people." Today, we would like to express our gratitude to all the readers supporting and caring about the People's Daily. It is with your love, loyalty, reposts, likes and criticism that we can progress steadily. The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks! Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics. The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc. The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics. The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates. Access to college recruiters and advisors its harder to line up higher education. Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family. Vote View Results Cross-border e-commerce in China has created new growth in the country's foreign trade and facilitated trade, finance and people-to-people connectivity. Shopping in the global market Thanks to cross-border e-commerce platforms, shrimp produced in Ecuador can now be delivered to a dinner table in Beijing within a number of hours. So too can Chilean cherries, Mexican avocados as well as a variety of other foreign foods. Consumers shop at an exhibition center of imported commodities transported to Zhengzhou via China-Europe freight trains. Photo from Xinhua News Agency Besides food, these platforms have also made Sri Lanka's Ceylon black tea, Nepalese bodhi bracelets, Egyptian cotton products, Czech crystal and Burmese jade accessible to consumers. According to statistics, products from 50 countries along the Belt and Road have been introduced to China via JD.com, one of Chinas biggest e-commerce platforms, and Chinese products are now being continuously sold to 54 countries along the route via JD. According to statistics from Alibaba, consumers from 225 countries and regions created a total of 812 million orders during the online shopping spree on Nov. 11 last year. New channels, new platforms Cross-border e-commerce not only provides Chinese small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with convenient platforms to go global, but also brings infinite possibilities to countries along the Belt and Road. Photo shows Chinese and foreign businessmen at the China International E-commerce Expo 2018. Chinas cross-border e-commerce is expected to serve 2 billion consumers worldwide by 2020, according to Xing Yue, vice president of Alibaba. Xing said Chinas cross-border e-commerce is an important support in global trading and Chinese enterprises have been helping countries along the Belt and Road build logistics and create inclusive finance. In the past, it took 60 days between placing an order and receiving products in Russia, but now, as big data is used on the customs declaration system, the checking process takes much less time. If you go to Russia, Spain or the Netherlands, ask a few people in the local area, one in two people knows AliExpress.com, said Shen Difan, former general manager of AliExpress, the global sales platform of Alibaba. AliExpress reached 100 million overseas customers as of April 2017. New trading mode attracts worldwide attention Many countries along the Belt and Road have shown great interest in learning from Chinas experience in developing e-commerce, Shen said. An employee sorts parcels from China at a postal logistics center in Santiago, capital of Chile. Photo from Xinhua News Agency On June 1, 2018, delegates of overseas Chinese media from over 20 countries arrived at the JD headquarters, hoping to learn from Chinas experience in e-commerce. Kee Lim, a coffee retailer in Papua New Guinea, was so excited to learn that she could sell her coffee to consumers across the globe without having to share the profits with distributors. Countries along the Belt and Road can set out on their own journey on the basis of Chinas e-commerce experience without having to start from scratch. That reflects Chinas spirit of cooperation and the target of mutually beneficial outcomes, says Wang Shutong, CEO of DHgate.com, a cross-border e-commerce site. The e-commerce site has participated in a program to help SMEs in Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia establish their own e-commerce platforms. TRIPOLI, June 15 -- Remnants of terrorist groups on Thursday carried out a new attack on the oil crescent region in Libya and clashed with the forces of the eastern-based army, posing a new military escalation in a vital location that contain major oil fields and ports. The army two years ago defeated and expelled the former chief of the oil installations guards, Ibrahim Jathran, and the terrorists he allied with from the region they occupied, after they stopped oil exports for years and caused huge losses. "The attack on the vital targets of the oil sector is catastrophic and ill-timed, in light of the political rapprochement between the Libyan parties towards ending the dispute and moving towards elections," said Ali Sweih, member of the Higher Council of State. He called on the eastern-based House of Representatives to resolve the issue quickly and unite efforts with the Higher Council of State to end the current crisis. "There are Libyan and international parties that instructed Jathran to carry out this attack ... It comes when the Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves began to increase due to the increase of oil production and the recovery from the losses during the past several years," Sweih told Xinhua. He also stressed the need to capture Jathran, wanted globally, and called for unity by all parties to facilitate handing him over. The clashes between killed 5 soldiers when the terrorists attempted to progress towards the region, before they were defeated and expelled by the army, the army said. The oil crescent region is located some 500 km east of the capital Tripoli. It contains the country's largest oil ports. "The military forces securing the oil fields and ports, during the past few weeks, had received information about military buildup of terrorists in Sirte desert near the oil crescent. The air force then carried out airstrikes targeting vehicles and individuals in the area," retired army Brigadier, Ahmed al-Hesnawi, told Xinhua. "A preemptive operation should have been launched before the terrorists reached oil sites. The option of attack is better than defense, even if the army leadership was certain that the terrorists do not have a great ability to advance towards those sites," al-Hesnawi said. The Libyan air force carried out three airstrikes on Tuesday, targeting terrorists south of the city of Sirte, after monitoring the presence of al-Qaida terrorists fleeing Benghazi and mercenaries from Africa, army spokesman said. In a televised statement, Jathran confirmed that the attack is "a battle to lift the injustice of the people of the oil crescent, and not a battle for a personal, tribal, regional, or partisan purpose." "The oil will never be a bargaining chip to the conflicting parties," Jathran said, pointing out that the oil supplies "will continue uninterrupted under supervision of the National Oil Corporation." Jathran faces charges of damaging state institutions and wasting of public funds after closing oilfields and ports in July 2013, causing losses of over 100 billion dollars. The terrorists allied with Jathran are remnants of the group called Benghazi Defense Brigades, an extremist group that fought and lost against the army in Benghazi last year. They launched several attacks in the oil crescent region and some eastern cities. The army accuses the group of recruiting mercenaries from Africa. The deadliest attack carried out by the group was on the southern air base of Brak in May last year, which killed 141 army soldiers. After they were defeated and expelled last year from Jufra town, some 240 km south of Sirte, the extremists fled towards valleys and desert areas. The Libyan House of Representatives condemned the terrorist attack on the oil crescent, considering it an attempt to strike the security and stability of the region and to disrupt the main source of income in the country. The UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez Serraj also condemned the terrorist attack, calling it an "irresponsible escalation pushes the country into civil war that the Libyans strive to avoid." The UN Mission in Libya warned that "this dangerous escalation puts Libya's economy in jeopardy and risks igniting a widespread confrontation." Hours after the attack, the state-owned National Oil Corporation declared state of force majeure at Es Sider and Ras Lanuf oil ports in the region, and also evacuated all its employees there for security reasons. The corporation also said the attack caused losses of 240,000 barrels of oil, almost a quarter of Libya's daily oil production. Veteran journalist and Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari and his PSO were shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside the newspaper's office in the heart of this Jammu and Kashmir summer capital, police officials said today. Bukhari, who was in his 50s, was leaving his office in Press Enclave in the city centre Lal Chowk for an iftar party when he was shot, officials said. While one of the personal security officers (PSO) guarding him was killed, another policeman and a civilian were injured, they added. The condition of the two injured in the shooting, which comes a day ahead of Eid, is critical, they said. It was not immediately clear how many gunmen attacked Bukhari, who earlier worked with The Hindu newspaper as its Kashmir correspondent. Bukhari was instrumental in organising several conferences for peace in the Kashmir Valley. He was also part of the Track II process with Pakistan. PTI A palace spokesman on Thursday described the actions of Chinese coast guards as fish thievery, and said the Philippines concedes nothing in terms of fishing rights in the Scarborough or Panatag shoal. For lack of a better word, lets call it pangongotong in Tagalog, which is fish thievery, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said of the habit of Chinese coast guards to board Filipino fishing boats there and take part of their catch. He also contested the term barter used by Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jinhua, who pointed out that the Filipino fishermen were given noodles, cigarets, and water in return. Theres a possibility given the language barrier that they consider it as a barter but from our point of view it is not, Roque said. Reacting to acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpios warning that the Philippines could be giving up its rights to fish in Panatag Shoal after China declared that Filipino fishermen were allowed to fish there out of goodwill, Roque said the country concedes nothing. He added that what is important is that fishermen are again able to enter the area and fish under the Duterte administration. We have communicated the fact that we view this to be wrong and the Chinese have said that they are looking into it. Lets await the results of the investigation, Roque said of the incidents involving the Chinese coast guards. Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, meanwhile, said the Philippines cannot send it Coast Guard to the Panatag Shoal under a tentative fishing agreement with China. Cayetano said that during the previous administration, the country lost control of the shoal and Filipino fishermen were not allowed to enter the area. We wont solve our territorial dispute by positioning our Coast Guard ships there. The tough guy approach just wont work, Cayetano told the reporters in an ambush interview. Only their ships are inside. If we send a ship to go inside, for us it wont be an aggressive act, but what will we do if they block us? Cayetano said. The row over Panatag Shoal began in April 2012, when China stopped the Philippines from arresting Chinese fishermen who were caught catching turtles and other protected marine life. The standoff ended when then-President Benigno Aquino III pulled out Philippine vessels from the area because of bad weather. Since the pullout, China has taken control of the shoal, Cayetano said. Today, because Duterte has reached out to China, Filipino fishermen are allowed into Panatag again, he added. In a Malacanang press conference on Monday, fisherman Rommel Sihuela confirmed that China has control over Panatag Shoal and said China allows them to fish there. He also added that there are no Philippine Coast Guard vessels patrolling in the area. Roque presented Sihuela and two other fishermen on Monday to describe the real state of Panatag Shoal. Over the past years, China has claimed some of the features of the disputed South China Sea particularly the Philippine-owned-reefs-turned-islands in the Kalayaan Group of Islands (Spratlys) where Beijing has installed weapon system in the region. The reclamation in the South China Sea started when a standoff developed between the Philippines and China in 2012. Chinas activities over the disputed sea became more visible when the Philippines filed a case before the Arbitral Tribunal, which eventually ruled in favor of Manila in 2016 and declared Beijings 9-dash line claims as excessive and illegal. China has refused to recognize the jurisdiction of the court and did not participate in any of its hearings. Earlier, Carpio had warned that the Philippines may lose its legal rights to fish in Panatag Shoal if it accepts Chinas assertion that it only allows Filipinos to fish there out of goodwill. Im worried if we accept their narrative that its their goodwill, we will be giving up our legal right. We have a right to be there, whether they like it or not. Whether its goodwill or not, it is immaterial because the tribunal said it is a common fishing ground, Carpio said, during a television interview over CNN Philippines. What the tribunal was saying is we are not ruling as to who owns the shoal because thats a territorial dispute and we dont have the jurisdiction over that. But we have jurisdiction over maritime disputes, which includes fishing rights, the acting chief magistrate added. Carpio also said Filipino fishermen are not being allowed by the Chinese to enter the lagoon to fish though Chinese fishermen are allowed by their Coast Guard personnel to do so. Nonetheless, Carpio said the promise of Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua to conduct an investigation on Chinese Coast Guard personnel allegedly harassing Filipino fishermen by taking their catch and meeting sanctions if found guilty is a welcome development. They have promised to discipline their personnel and that it will not happen again. Thats a good start, but we should be careful that their premise is they are doing it out of goodwill, he said. Carpio also cautioned the government not to be totally awed by Chinas promises of aid, loans, and investments, adding that the resources of the countrys exclusive economic zone, including the West Philippine Sea, is more than the value of these loans and investments.In the same interview, Carpio vowed to pursue his aggressive stance on the countrys territorial dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea that has been contrary to the position of the Duterte administrationeven if it would cost his possible appointment as chief justice. Fighting for the sovereignty of the country is more important than being appointed chief justice, he said. What is more important for the nation is that we preserve our sovereignty and sovereign rights because if we lose this, we lose that forever. Thats far more important than any position, Carpio said. Thats far more important than the presidency. I mean, president[s] can come and go, but our sovereignty should remain forever with us, he added. Carpio said the government should file another arbitration case against China over the reported harassment of Filipino fishermen and destruction of coral reefs in Panatag, in violation of the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016. He also said the administration should seek damages from China for the economic losses of Filipino fishermen. Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, meanwhile, said if the government will not file a diplomatic protest over the harassment of Filipino fishermen, the least it can do is demand an apology. Our fishermen were robbed. Lets take their side, he said in Filipino. Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon urged the Duterte administration to review its policy of appeasement of China, saying this did not translate into better economic and trade relations with China. He said while Vietnam has been more aggressive in its dealings with China, it was ahead in terms of direct Chinese investments. In 2017, for example, the Philippines got only $31 million in direct Chinese investments while Vietnam had $2.17 billion. This despite Vietnams aggressiveness and confrontational approach towards China over the issue of South China Sea, Drilon said. On top of that, he said, China is far below the direct investments from Japan amounting to $600 million and the United States, amounting to $160 million. Drilon also expressed dismay at the lower bilateral trade between the Philippines and China as compared with Vietnam and China. In 2017, bilateral trade between the Philippines and China was $21.94 billion, while those of Vietnam and China amounted to $71.85 billion. Therefore, this indicates that the appeasement of China does not necessarily result in better economic relations with China, Drilon said. That indicates the non-connection between the policy of appeasement and economic benefits, as shown in Vietnams policy of confrontation which yielded more positive results, he said. Drilon also pointed out that the landing of a Chinese military aircraft in Davao sparked controversy. You have a Chinese military plane in Davao landing and the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] and the secretary of DND [Department of National Defense] not even knowing about it? Isnt that alarming? That is why we should be more assertive, Drilon said. In terms of Chinese tourist arrivals, the Philippines recorded 968,447 in 2017. In contrast, the Chinese tourist arrivals in Vietnam in 2017 was 4 million. I am citing Vietnam because the policy of Vietnam in terms of its relation with China is a complete opposite of our foreign policy thrust. And yet, they have four times more Chinese tourists; they have received more investment from China than what went to the Philippines, he added. Senator Richard Gordon, a Duterte ally, said if China is not a reliable ally and treating Filipinos as enemies, the Philippines may be forced to form alliances with Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand or the United States. You are not a reliable ally or a friend. We are not enemies of China but you are treating us as if we are interlopers in our own country, Gordon said of the Chinese. Alliances are best seen by the actions of a people. You are not a reliable ally, he added. That is an unfriendly act to Asia, said Gordon. He said the Philippines should have the resolve to tell China that it will not be bullied. Senator Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, said he agreed with a Palace plan to hold diplomatic consultations with China instead of filing a new arbitration case for the destruction of coral reefs in Panatag Shoal. When dealing with bilateral relations with any country, Lacson said there couldnt be a better option than diplomacy. Filing a new arbitration case against China should only be resorted to as our second to the last and ultimate option, which is going to war, he further said. Senator Francis Escudero agreed. Do that first before another case. Even in ordinary lives, both parties first talk before the filing of charges, he said. Ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has asked the Supreme Court to quash the show-cause order it earlier issued against her for violating the sub judice rule and casting aspersions on some members of the high court at the height of the controversy arising from the quo warranto proceedings against her. Sereno also reiterated her plea for the inhibition of Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Francis Jardeleza, Noel Tijam and Samuel Martires whom she accused of showing bias and animosity toward her not only in the quo warranto case but also in the impeachment proceedings before the House of Representatives. Sereno said certain statements attributed to her were made in response to the many attacks against her in the media, including the baseless accusations hurled by Solicitor General Jose Calida. No less than the Solicitor General of the Republic himself repeatedly attacked Respondent and publicly discussed the merits of the petition and even made personal attacks on Respondent, not only through the media but also through his personal social media [Twitter] account, Sereno said. She said she could not be faulted for explaining her side to the public after her repeated demands that she be given her right to due process were unheeded. Sereno was prohibited from cross-examining the witnesses who appeared during the impeachment proceedings before the House Committee on Justice, thus denying her the opportunity to expose the falsity of the accusations against her.She also claimed that she was denied her right to be heard by the proper tribunal, which is the Senate sitting as an impeachment court. She was also denied the right to be heard by an objective and impartial tribunal when the six justices who manifested actual bias against her continued to participate in the quo warranto case, she said. Against this backdrop, Respondent cannot reasonably be expected to keep her silence despite the vigorous assaults on her integrity. It would certainly be unjust to punish Respondent for speaking publicly under the circumstances, Sereno said. Sereno said it would be the height of injustice if her calls for fairness would be the basis to remove her from the rolls, even as she insisted on the disqualification of the six justices pursuant to her right to be heard by an objective and impartial tribunal. She said the administrative proceedings against judges and lawyers were instituted precisely to ensure compliance with the canons of professional ethics enshrined in the Code of Professional Responsibility and the New Code of Judicial Conduct. A lawmaker on Friday demanded admission from the French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur that it acted recklessly in prematurely selling the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia to the Philippines. Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel made the remark following a study confirming that Dengvaxia might be harmful to children with no prior dengue infection. Instead of Sanofi announcing that it now knows how Dengvaxia may be better used with the proper label warning and prior testing to ascertain if a child had been previously infected with dengue, the company should just admit that it messed up in haphazardly peddling the vaccine without enough safety trials, Pimentel said. Sanofi in effect made 870,000 of our school children the subject of an unusually large clinical trial that unnecessarily put their lives and safety at risk. Pimentel said there were two ways Sanofi could assume responsibility for the mistake. They can return the entire P3.5 billion spent by the Philippine government for the three million doses of the vaccine, and they can put up an indemnity fund for the children who have been harmed, or who may be rendered sick after receiving the shots, Pimentel said. Pimentel heads the House committee on good government and accountability, which conducted a joint inquiry with the health panel into the Dengvaxia controversy. The New England Journal of Medicine on June 13 published a study that confirmed that children who never had a dengue infection, but who were given Dengvaxia shots anyway, had an increased risk of hospitalization and a severe case of the debilitating mosquito-borne disease. The study included data on 2,384 children who were vaccinated and 1,194 who were not.Among the previously uninfected children who received the vaccine, there was a significantly higher risk of hospitalization among those aged two to eight, and a trend toward increased hospitalization in those aged nine to 16, the study found. For previously exposed children aged nine and older, the vaccine reduced rates of severe disease and hospitalization by 80 percent versus the control group. In April, the Department of Health disclosed that 3,281 school children were hospitalized after receiving Dengvaxia shots and that 1,967 of them were found to have contracted dengue, as confirmed through clinical and serological tests. So far, the department said, 65 children had died after receiving Dengvaxia shots. Of the 65 mortalities, 13 were due to severe dengue infection while the 52 others died of other causes. Sanofi in January reimbursed the department P1.16 billion for the unused doses of Dengvaxia. The House last month passed a supplemental appropriations bill that earmarked the P1.16 billion for the health surveillance and care of the children who received Dengvaxia shots under a school-based public immunization program that has since been halted. The World Health Organization has belatedly recommended that children should first be tested to determine if they had been previously exposed to dengue infection before they could be safely considered as candidates for Dengvaxia shots. What is the connection between Caran dAche and fine watchmaking? The very fact that we are based in Geneva is one connection, but we also share a lot of common ground regarding some of the crafts we use. It was therefore quite logical to come even closer to the world of watchmaking with our 1010 Timekeeper writing instrument, in which our craftsmen pay tribute to the know-how of the Swiss watchmaker. How important is the Swiss Made label for writing instruments? It is seen in a very positive light. Our writing instruments are 100% Swiss Made by us in our own workshops. We master over 90 different crafts in house at our workshops. Under the same roof we manufacture what we call the colour products for artists and children, as well as writing instruments for everyday use and fine writing instruments such as the 1010 Timekeeper, all of which have relatively little in common with each other. This is something quite unique. We made a strategic decision a few years ago to remain in Switzerland and to ensure that we capitalise on this Swiss Made label, or even Made in Geneva because we also include the city in our logo. 1010 Timekeeper Caran d'Ache You offer a lifetime guarantee, which is also quite unique Yes, some people say that we are a bit crazy. But we are working in the field of luxury after all and for me luxury is something that can be repaired. It also shows our confidence in the products we sell. This applies to all the fine writing instruments that we sell. Caran dAche used to be at Baselworld alongside watch brands. Given all the controversy surrounding this years exhibition, do you ever see the company returning to exhibit at Baselworld? Things are changing a lot and it was important for us to look into our presence at exhibitions and decide whether it made sense for us or not. This year we have favoured a more exclusive approach with our own event in Geneva, which will be followed by other events around the world. It allows us to spend a more intimate moment with our customers. There is a lot of talk in the watch industry about e-commerce. What is the situation for Caran dAche? We have been involved in e-commerce for around five years. You simply cannot ignore it as a distribution channel and it is very important for us. It is also growing very rapidly. At the moment we are mainly present in Europe and we have recently opened up our first e-commerce site in the USA. Two new ministers responsible for the country's security were sworn in on Thursday by Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to be part of the new cabinet headed by PM Mostafa Madbouly. Mohamed Zaki, the former commander of the Republican Guard, was sworn in as defence minister to succeed Sedkyi Sobhy, and Mahmoud Tawfik, head of the country's National Security Agency, was sworn in as the new interior minister, replacing Magdy Abdel-Ghaffar. Zaki was appointed as the head of the Republican Guard in August 2012. He was promoted to lieutenant general in January 2017. Zaki is known for his pivotal role in the June 2013 uprising, which toppled former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi. The new defence minsiter was born in 1956. He served in the infantry and participated in the campaign to liberate Kuwait in 1991. Mahmoud Tawfik was born in August 1961 in Gizah governorate, and graduated from the Police Academy in 1981. Tawfik served in several departments within the ministry, mainly in national and state security departments. He later served as the deputy to the interior minister for national security, before being appointed in October 2017 as the chief of the National Security Agency. The new interior minister is known for his counter-terrorism initiatives and successful dismantling of many terrorist cells in recent years. Search Keywords: Short link: With a population of 800, Philipsburg, Montana, consists of a few colorful blocks lined with gem stores, hotels, historical museums, restaurants, and a brewery with a statewide reputation. This story began with a dart toss. I was blindfolded and spun around before taking aim at a map of Montana. Wherever the tiny arrow landed, I would go in search of the soul of that place. My first attempt missed the target entirely and landed in a flower pot. My second toss landed in a sparsely settled region of western Montana near Georgetown Lake, a predominately summertime community where the main attraction is a 2,800-acre reservoir known for some of the best fishing in the state. In high season, the population swells into the thousands and dwindles to a few hundred in the winter. In mid-March, winter was still going strong. BY SARAH GIANELLI http://www.mtoutlaw.com/finding-the-soul-of-montana-with-the-toss-of-a-dart/ Now one of the worlds largest urban innovation hubs, MaRS is today home to some 6,000 people from 150 organizations who have collectively raised over $3.5 billion in capital in areas that include health, cleantech, fintech, and work and learning. With its mix of old brick walls and soaring glass towers, the MaRS Discovery District is often singled out as a critical element in Torontos emergence as a leading innovation hub and Ilse Treurnicht played a key role in making it all happen. Chris Sorensen https://www.utoronto.ca/news/zero-35-billion-u-t-honorary-degree-recipient-ilse-treurnicht-built-mars-innovation-powerhouse The activity at the Conoco gas station in Montana City caused more than one double take Thursday. One man was wearing an exoskeleton and another held a 12-foot boom. A group of men crowded around them and then dispersed as the directer yelled "cut!" The independent film "Two Yellow Lines" is being shot around the Helena area during much of June and July. It tells the story of a father reconnecting with an estranged daughter on a motorcycle road trip, healing from a brutal past traumatic experience along the way. THOMAS PLANK [email protected] https://mtstandard.com/news/state-and-regional/two-yellow-lines-movie-being-filmed-in-helena-and-missoula/article_0d18e093-9fc6-545e-8004-8316931270f9.html Global tech company, Huawei believes that information and communication technologies or ICTs, has the potential to reduce global carbon emissions by 20% over the next decade. William Xu, Director of the Board and President of Huaweis Institute of Strategic Research, recently said energy sustainability was a daunting challenge that faced all countries over the next decade. Global energy consumption is growing at an annual rate of 1.7%. Currently 85% of energy comes from fossil fuels. Energy sustainability is a daunting challenge that faces all of us. By empowering a wide range of industries, ICT technology has the potential to reduce global carbon emissions by 20% over the next decade, said Xu. He added that as many countries commit to carbon neutrality and lower emissions, the push for renewable energy has increased, and this is where ICT adds new opportunities in electricity generation, storage, and consumption. For energy consumption, we must promote integrated smart energy to build energy management systems for households, buildings, and factories, and to create zero-carbon communities, campuses, and cities, said Xu. Huawei recently announced that it will focus on innovating new technologies to help industries reduce their energy consumption for a low-carbon world. In Africa too, many countries are increasingly embracing renewable energy to leapfrog to a sustainable energy future. With its grid connectivity algorithm powered by AI, Huawei has provided over 200 power grid models for more than 30 countries and regions. This has helped power plants stably connect to grids in all scenarios and has gradually made PV a high-quality, mainstream energy source. In solar power alone, Africa has made great progress over the recent years, with more than 6,200 large-scale, commercial and industrial (C&I) and mini-grid projects identified across the continent. In addition, nine more African nations, apart from South Africa and Egypt, are on their way to joining the Gigawatt Club, an unofficial tag for the group of countries with installed capacity to produce one GW of solar power. Huang Su, Director of Huawei Southern Africa Digital Power Business pointed out that nearly half the worlds population without access to electricity live in sub-Saharan Africa. So there is a strong and urgent need to accelerate the growth of renewable energy across the region to ensure sufficient, affordable, reliable energy for all Africans and for countries to reap the benefits of a green economy, he says. Huawei has harnessed over 30 years of expertise and experience in digital technologies to make solar power generation and consumption more efficient and reliable with optimal cost. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn The Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Pravind Jugnauth this evening presented the 2019-20 budget speech entitled Embracing a brighter future together as a nation. John Maynard Keynes said that men love security and money more, and creation and construction less, as they get older. This famous quote incidentally resonates in the measures and the pre-election context of this budget speech. With a growth of 3.8% and subdued inflation at 1.5%, the Mauritian economy is currently faced with an ageing population, a high national debt ratio of 65% and is in need of real sector reconstruction and growth. The outlook shows a budget deficit at 3.2% of GDP arrived at by a prudent coverage of social measures amidst the objective of making Mauritius an integrated platform for regional trade and investments. Furthermore, it also gives an indication of the countrys preference for infrastructure and human development as a coalition of socialists would craft it. Enabling pillars of growth and productive sectors The product proposition of our key sectors such as Tourism and Financial Services will be enhanced by: the promotion of Marina developments boosted by an 8 year tax holiday; incentives to promote MICE events in Mauritius; access to the Gujarat IFC by the Global Business Operators from Mauritius; the setup of a regulatory framework for crowd funding and the possibility of post-study work for international students in innovative sectors. On the supply side, the development of REITs, e-commerce headquartering activities, along structural actions have been announced to promote the ease of doing business with emphasis on the integration of e-licensing and e-clearance mechanisms as part of the Fintech agenda. Furthermore, the creation of a Mid-Market Enterprise company category as well as an exchange for SMEs on the Stock Exchange of Mauritius were announced. Incentives in favour of Agriculture include the extension of tax benefits for vehicle purchase, winter allowance for tea planters, duty free incentives towards the development of apiculture, and a guaranteed price of Rs25,000 per ton of Sugar for the first 60 tons. We welcome the measure to support the high-end pesticide-free rebranding of the tea industry which has potential given an increase in demand. Infrastructure projects With the metro soon to be a reality, several budget announcements indicate the strong agenda for the upgrade of infrastructure at all levels. These include the intended extension of airport facilities to increase capacity for both passengers and aircrafts; new roads, sea port deepening; and a number of regional infrastructure works in the form of Port Louis Waterfront enhancements, a water dam, bus terminal modernisations, and a number of community projects. Innovative inclusiveness and Human development Social inclusiveness continues to remain high on the agenda in the fields of education, health and social security. Families on the social register will all have access to free broadband. Enhancements to the current educational set-up are proposed in the form of special educational needs in state schools. The government is maintaining investment in social housing and has extended access to housing grants to a larger income group. The older section of the population will also see positively the creation of Silver Bonds as an alternative and high yield retirement savings plan. The much anticipated hike in the old age pension did not quite materialise the increase was only Rs500. However, the much needed reform of the national pension burden was postponed sine die. Eco-friendly measures This budget recognises the green economy and sets out several environment friendly measures namely the setting up of a national bio-mass framework as well as a 20MW waste to energy project and continued incentives to promote solar energy. The short term eco-friendly agenda includes a major national cleaning campaign with private sector stakeholders and duty rebates to reduce the cost ownership of electric vehicles. Conclusion In conclusion, this budget has certainly lived up to expectations in terms of a pre-election exercise. No stakeholders seem to have been left out. The exercise scores high on the social acceptability scale but also puts forward an out of the box debt reduction solution by way of the use of accumulated reserves of the Central Bank. This will no doubt become a subject of intense debate for some time Mauritius Budget Highlights 2019/20 by KPMG (18,1 MiB, 438 hits) Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Egypt's newly appointed prime minister Mostafa Madbouly is expected to deliver a policy statement before parliament the House of Representatives on 23 June. The statement will be subject to a vote of confidence in accordance with Article 146 of the constitution. Informed sources said the procedure is necessary as Article 146 of Egypt's 2014 constitution states that a newly appointed prime minister should deliver a policy statement before parliament, and that this statement should gain a vote of confidence within 30 days. Salah Fawzi, a constitutional law expert, told parliamentary reporters that "after new prime minister Madboui delivers his policy statement, a parliamentary committee will be formed to review and discuss this statement." "After the ad hoc committee prepares a comprehensive report on this statement, it will submit to it to parliament to discuss it in a plenary session," said fawzi, adding that "once discussed, there will be a vote of confidence." Article 146 of the constitution also states that "if the statement failed to gain a vote of confidence within the required 30 days, parliament would be considered dissolved and a new parliament would be elected within sixty days." Fawzi explained that "when President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi decided to name former housing minister as new prime minister last week, many thought that each one of the members of his new cabinet would be required to gain the approval of parliament after reviewing their CVs and qualifications. This is correct only when there is a minor cabinet reshuffle and in accordance with Article 147 which states that this minor reshuffle should be done only in coordination with parliament." Independent MP Saad Hammouda told Ahram Online that "we expect that the new government, which was sworn in before President El-Sisi today, will have a number of priorities such as completing the implementation of the mega-development projects such as the new Administrative Capital which was under the supervision of Madbouly when he was a housing minister and also completing the next stage of the IMF-inspired economic reform programme." Many expect that there will be a reshuffle of provincial governors. Article 25 of the current Local Administration law states that there should be a reshuffle of provincial governors following the president of the republic taking the constitutional oath before parliament. After swearing in as a president for a second four-year term on 2 June, President El-Sisi issued a decree, keeping the country's 27 governors in place until a new government is formed. MP Soliman El-Omeiri from Marsa Matruh governorate told Ahram Online that parliament is expected to discuss a new local administration law before it adjourns for summer recess next Month. "The law will regulate the performance and election of local councils, a move which could pave the way for holding municipal elections in Egypt for the first time in ten years," said Omeiri. Omeiri said the most significant development about today's changes was the change of Minister of Defence Sedki Sobhy, Minister of Interior Magdy Abdel-Ghaffar and Minister of Finance Amr El-Garhy. "While Sobhy and Abdel-Ghaffar played a key role in fighting terrorism over the last four years, Minister of Finance El-Garhy was instrumental in implementing the IMF's economic reform programme," said Omeiri. Omeiri notes that new finance minister Mohamed Maeet was key in implementing the IMF economic programme. "Maeet has the complete statistics, figures and steps of this programme and so we think that it will gain a new push in the coming stage," said Omeiri. Parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Aal announced on 12 June that the House will reconvene on 23 June. Abdel-Aal's announcement came after parliament approved three controversial laws regulating the press and media. Search Keywords: Short link: Le Comite Olympique Mauricien (COM) a recu de nouvelles directives du Comite Olympique International (COI) concernant les preparatifs pour les prochains Jeux Olympiques, qui se tiendront a Tokyo du 23 juillet au 8 aout. Il a en effet ete decide que les mesures sanitaires deja severes prises pour cet evenement seront renforcees. Ainsi, au lieu dun seul test Covid avant le depart pour le Japon, les membres des delegations olympiques devront effectuer deux tests, a 96 heures et 72 heures de lheure prevue pour leur vol. Il y aura egalement davantage de tests sur place. Ceux-ci seront effectues quotidiennement, et non tous les quatre jours tel que decide initialement. Les presidents et secretaires generaux des Comites Olympiques ne devaient pas avoir acces au Village des Jeux, mais le COI est revenu sur sa decision en leur accordant le libre acces, a condition bien sur de respecter tous les protocoles. Il y a tout de meme de bonnes nouvelles, mais dans lensemble les mesures sont encore plus strictes quavant. Toutefois, nous nous attendions a de telles decisions, declare Philippe Hao Thyn Ha Shun, president du COM. Parmi les autres mesures sanitaires renforcees, la salle de restauration du Village des Jeux sera ouverte tout en accueillant moitie moins de convives par table. Des separations de securite en plexiglass seront egalement installees, ainsi que dans les transports prevus pour les athletes et personnes accreditees. Le nombre de personnes admissibles dans ces bus sera egalement reduit de moitie. Nous devons nous attendre a de nouveaux renforcements des mesures sanitaires dici fin juin, date a laquelle une nouvelle version du Playbook du COI devrait etre publiee. Dici la, je demande a toutes les personnes concernees de suivre attentivement les directives et de se plier aux exigences du CIO, il en va de la reussite des Jeux, explique le president du COM. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi performed on Friday Eid Al-Fitr prayers with families of the country's police and army martyrs, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported. Prayer at Al-Moshir Tantawy Mosque in the fifth settlement suburb of Cairo was attended by sons of the army and police martyrs, newly-appointed Defense Minister Mohamed Zaki, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal as well as top army and police force officials. Following the prayers, during a gathering at the Al-Manara Convention Center, President El-Sisi wished the families a happy and peaceful Eid. "Martyrs and all injured personnel have been sacrificing their life for us to be able to live," said the Egyptian president in a short speech. El-Sisi continued, "Our presence together on such a day is a message to all of us and to the entire Egyptian people that we can never forget or abandon you." The martyrs' commemoration, which will last for three days, was organized by Egypt's army forces in coordination with the youth ministry and the ministry of social solidarity. Faithful Muslims around the world celebrate the first day of Eid al-Fitr today, beginning the three-day holiday that concludes the holy month of Ramadan. Search Keywords: Short link: The head of Egypt's Meteorological Authority (EMA) announced on Friday that Cairo is expected to witness an average high of 40 degrees Celcius and a low of 30 C during the first two days of the Eid Al-Fitr holiday. Egypt's Muslims are celebrating the three-day feast, which concludes a month of fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. The statement by EMA highlighted that the heatwave is expected to last until Saturday, the second day of Eid Al-Fitr. High temperatures are expected to ease on Sunday according to EMA. Friday's forecast is as follows: Cairo: 39-27 C Nile Delta: 39-26 C North Sinai: 35-20 C South Sinai: 36-27 C Upper Egypt: 40-24 C Search Keywords: Short link: Related Meet Egypt's 12 new ministers in PM Mostafa Madbouly's cabinet President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has appointed former Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, former Defence Minister Sedki Sobhy and former Interior Minister Magdy Abdel-Ghaffar as presidential aides, according to an announcement published on Friday in Egypt's official gazette. The decision, made effective by presidential decree, appoints former Prime Minister Ismail as the presidential aide for national and strategic projects. Former Defence Minister Sobhi has been appointed as the president's aide for defence affairs, and former Interior Minister Abdel-Ghaffar as the presidential advisor for security and counterterrorism affairs. A new cabinet headed by newly-appointed Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly was sworn in before the Egyptian president on Thursday. The new cabinet replaces that of former PM Ismail, which submitted its resignation to President El-Sisi last week, following his swearing-in for a second term as president on 2 June. The new cabinet includes 12 new ministers out of a total of 32. The foreign, justice, investment and tourism ministers all retained their positions, as did some economy-related ministers, such as those of supply and planning. Mohamed Ahmed Zaki was named minister of defence, succeeding Sobhy, who held the post for more than four years, while Mahmoud Tawfik replaced Abdel-Ghaffar as interior minister. Search Keywords: Short link: On the first day of the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, Egypts prison authority said it has released 3,477 prisoners in accordance with a presidential pardon, including 690 who were imprisoned for failing to pay debts, according to a statement by the interior ministry. The releases are in accordance with presidential decree number 260/2018, which was signed recently by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. Article 155 of the Egyptian constitution stipulates that the president has the power to issue a pardon or mitigate a final sentence after consulting with the cabinet. President El-Sisi has issued four previous pardons for youth who were mostly imprisoned for violating the 2013 Protest Law. The first decree in November 2016 pardoned 82 prisoners, the second in March 2017 pardoned 203 prisoners, the third was in May with 332 prisoners, the fourth was in June 2018 with 712 prisoners. Search Keywords: Short link: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed by phone their readiness to step up coordination on Syria, including on anti-terrorism efforts, the Kremlin said in a statement Friday. "The situation in Syria was discussed in the context of joint efforts to ensure security in the Syrian-Israeli border area. Both sides expressed readiness to boost coordination on Syria, including on countering international terrorism," the statement said. Earlier, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman after meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that Israel appreciates Moscow's understanding of its security interests, including those in Syria. The situation near the northern borders of Israel and southern borders of Syria has been in the spotlight of officials and media outlets since the Syrian army has been planning an offensive to recapture its southern territories from militants. In May, the Syrian forces reportedly airdropped leaflets demanding local militants in the southern Daraa province to surrender. Daraa province is part of the ceasefire zone, which had been agreed upon by Jordan, Russia, and the United States in 2017. Russia has constantly said that only the Syrian government forces should be deployed near the country's southern borders since the agreement to create a ceasefire zone in southwestern Syria required the withdrawal of all non-Syrian forces from the area. Search Keywords: Short link: China's Commerce Ministry commented on the latest import tariffs introduced by the US, saying that "the Chinese side had no choice." "China is unwilling to have a trade war, but the Chinese side has no choice but to strongly oppose this, due to the United States' myopic behavior that will harm both parties," the Chinese Commerce Ministry said on its website. The comment was made minutes after US President Donald Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on Chinese goods "that contain industrially significant technologies," introduced, as he stated, in response to the alleged theft of intellectual property. "In light of China's theft of intellectual property and technology and its other unfair trade practices, the United States will implement a 25 percent tariff on $50 billion of goods from China that contain industrially significant technologies," US President Donald Trump said in a statement on Friday. The US president warned that Washington would impose additional measures if the Chinese side retaliated. "If China engages in retaliatory measures, such as imposing new tariffs on United States goods, services, or agricultural products," his administration would impose new tariffs in response," he stated. Trump explained his decision by "unfair trade" between the countries. "My great friendship with President Xi of China and our country's relationship with China are both very important to me. Trade between our nations, however, has been very unfair, for a very long time. This situation is no longer sustainable. China has, for example, long been engaging in several unfair practices related to the acquisition of American intellectual property and technology." As the US specified, Washington would begin collecting 25 percent tariffs on $34 billion worth of Chinese goods starting July 6, and would take steps to launch tariffs on 284 new product lines. The trade body stated that it would launch tariffs in two steps an initial slimmed down list of 818 product lines worth $34 billion, followed by a second list of products that have largely benefited by China's industrial policies, including the "Made in China 2025" technology development program. The US president had first mentioned the introduction of tariffs in March and had been contemplating their introduction ever since: trade delegations from both countries were negotiating the issue and seemed to achieve certain progress in May, after Beijing agreed to cut tariffs on American cars and Washington promised support for ZTE, a company greatly affected by the US sanctions. Search Keywords: Short link: Related Trump suggests FBI may have infiltrated his campaign US President Donald Trump stepped up his offensive Friday against Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election meddling, declaring it "totally discredited" following the release of a watchdog report documenting failings by the FBI. Trump claimed the report "exonerates" him from allegations of collusion with Russia and obstruction of justice -- though it made no mention of either -- while his lawyer Rudy Giuliani said Mueller and his team themselves should be investigated. "The report yesterday may be more important than anything. It totally exonerates me," Trump told journalists in front of the White House. "There was no collusion, there was no obstruction, and if you read the report... what you'll really see is bias against me," he said, adding that the investigation is a "ridiculous witch hunt." Trump's claim came even as his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, facing charges of money laundering and tax evasion, was jailed by a Virginia judge after Mueller's team showed the court evidence of witness tampering. Bias in the FBI? The long-awaited report released Thursday by the Justice Department's inspector general faulted the FBI and its former director James Comey over the handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe in 2016. It said Comey was insubordinate and guilty of bad judgement, and also showed several agents involved in the investigation repeatedly expressing anti-Trump bias in private text messages. But the 568-page report found no bias in the investigation itself, or in the ultimate decision announced by Comey not to prosecute Clinton for mishandling classified materials. The report made little mention of Mueller or the Russia collusion probe, which were not in the scope of the inspector general's review. But with Mueller possibly accumulating evidence that Trump tried to obstruct the Russia investigation -- which would be an impeachable offense -- and Comey possibly a witness to that, the president took advantage to paint the Mueller team as deeply tainted. "That is probably the tip of the iceberg," he said of the IG report. "There was total bias, I mean total bias." He referred to Comey, whom he fired in May 2017, and other senior FBI officials as "the scum at the top" of the bureau and as "total thieves. The investigation led by Mueller, himself a former FBI director, "has massive conflicts," Trump said. "I think that the Mueller investigation has been totally discredited." 'Investigate Mueller' While Trump's claims of exoneration were not supported, the report gave him fresh ammunition in a political fight gaining steam ahead of the November congressional elections. Mueller, who has already issued indictments of 20 individuals, is still seeking to interview Trump in the case. It is apparent though that he is building a possible case against Trump for illegally trying to impede the investigation. That could spark a move in Congress to impeach the president for obstruction, which would be decided in the House of Representatives. The House is currently controlled by Republicans but Democrats have a chance to seize control in November, which would leave Trump vulnerable. With voters set to decide the likelihood of an impeachment case, Trump's goal is to convince them that Mueller, his investigators, and potential witnesses all have "tremendous animosity" against him. He cited the FBI agents' text messages, and especially Comey's role leading both the Clinton and initial Russia collusion investigations. "What he (Comey) did was criminal. What he did was a terrible thing to the people. What he did was so bad in terms of our constitution, in terms of the well-being of our country," Trump said. Speaking separately on Fox News Friday, Giuliani called the Mueller investigation corrupt. "Let's stop it and get rid of all the agents doing the Mueller investigation... We have wasted $20 million on a corrupt investigation engineered by Comey and his goons. Now let's turn to investigate the corrupt investigators and clean up the FBI." Search Keywords: Short link: EU countries on Thursday approved a raft of retaliatory tariffs, including on whiskey and motorcycles, against painful duties imposed by US President Donald Trump on European metals, sources said. The 28-member bloc agreed to activate the countermeasures after Trump on June 1 followed through on his threat to impose tariffs on European steel and aluminium exports. "Member states have today unanimously supported the commission's plan for the adoption of rebalancing measures on the US tariffs on steel and aluminium," a European Commission source told AFP on condition of anonymity. The source added that the tariffs would take effect "in coming days", with other officials saying they would be implemented by the beginning of July. From blue jeans to motorbikes and whiskey, the EU's hit-list of products targeted for tariffs with the US reads like a catalogue of emblematic American exports. Brussels first drew up the list in March when Trump initially floated the 25 percent tariffs on steel imports and 10 percent on aluminium, which also target Canada, Mexico and other close allies. "The EU will exercise its rights on US products valued at up to 2.8 billion euros ($3.3 billion) of trade, as notified to the WTO," the commission source added. Transatlantic ties are at their lowest level for many years due to rows over a host of issues including the tariffs, the Paris climate agreement, the Iran nuclear deal and the new US embassy in Jerusalem. Search Keywords: Short link: Credit: Danny ClinchMuse has shared a new preview of Drones World Tour, the British rockers' upcoming concert film. The clip, streaming now on YouTube, features the trio blasting through their song "Psycho." Drones World Tour was filmed over multiple dates in 2016 during Muse's worldwide tour behind their 2015 album, Drones. The movie will screen in cinemas worldwide for one night only on Thursday, July 12. For tickets and screening info for the film, visit MuseDrones.film. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. The 21st edition of the Shanghai International Film and TV Festival takes place between 16 and 25 June Two Egyptian films, Sheikh Jackson written and directed by Amr Salama (with co-director Omar Khaled) and Kiss Me Not written and directed by Ahmed Amer, will be screened during the 21st Shanghai International Film and TV Festival (16-25 June). Sheikh Jackson takes part within the Spectrum section of the festival and its screenings are scheduled on 16, 21 and 22 June. Sheikh Jackson is set on the day of Michael Jacksons death in 2009, and centres on a sheikh who was dubbed "Jackson" by his friends during his schooldays. The story goes on to explore the emotions stirred by the popstar's death, sparking a series of existential questions within the sheikh. The film stars Ahmad Al Fishawy, Maged El Kedwany, Ahmed Malek, along with guest stars Amina Khalil, Dorra, Basma and Mahmoud El Bezawy. Sheikh Jackson landed its world premiere at the 42nd Toronto International Film Festival within the Special Presentations programme. The film made its Arab world premiere by opening the first edition of El Gouna Film Festival, where it competed in the festival's Feature Narrative Competition, and its European premiere was at the 61st BFI London Film Festival. Kiss Me Not (Balash Tebosni) will be screened in Shanghai within The Belt and Road Film Week, with five screenings planned, on 16, 17, 18, 21 and 22 June. Set up in 2016, The Belt and Road series is a programme that came as a cooperation between a Tallinn Black Night Film Festival and Cairo International Film Festival. In 2017, 14 countries participated in the Week with film screenings, discussions and opportunities to exchange ideas. With Egypt being among the core countries, this year The Belt and The Road Week will expand in the number of countries which will present their cinema industry. Kiss Me Not follows a young and ambitious Egyptian director who faces challenges while shooting a kissing scene in his new film because the lead actress, Fajr, decides to pursue a more religious personal path. The film stars Yasmin Raeis, Mohamed Mahran, and Salwa Mohamed Ali with guest stars actress Sawsan Badr, late director Mohamed Khan, and director Khairy Beshara. The world premiere of the feature film Kiss Me Not took place in 2017, within the Arabian Nights programme at the 14th Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), one of the most prestigious film festivals in the Arab world. 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: Egypt will host the 12th International Congress of Egyptology (ICE) in November 2019 in collaboration with the International Association of Egyptologists (ICE). The congress, one of the world's most important scientific conferences in the field of Egyptology, is held periodically every four years to discuss the latest in Egyptological research. This is the congress third session to be hosted by Egypt, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa Waziri told Ahram Online, adding that the first two hosted by Egypt were the fifth session in 1988 and the eighth in 2000. Waziri explains that to guarantee the success of the coming round, which will take place from 3 to 8 November, the Ministry of Antiquities has set up two committees to organise the conference and review the scientific research submitted. The scientific committee is led by Ola El-Ogaizy, former head of the Faculty of Archaeology at Cairo University, and its members include directors of foreign institutes in Egypt, Egyptology professors from various international and Egyptian universities, and the representative of the president of the International Society of Egyptian Scientists. The organising committee's head Ahmed Ebeid says that the congress will cover a vast range of the latest discoveries in the field of pharaonic history, adding that it will undoubtedly be of interest to anyone that has an academic interest in Egyptology. Ebeid said that the topics covered will include the history of ancient Egypt, the history of Egyptology, modern methods used in archaeological excavations, the management of archaeological sites, conservation, archaeological and technological sciences, archaeological museums, art, architecture, language and literature, and religious beliefs and social life in ancient Egypt. Ebeid added that the session will also cover challenges and problems faced by the antiquities sector in Egypt and their possible solutions. A number of sightseeing tours will be organised for the attendees to visit museums and archaeological sites in Cairo and Giza. The logo of the 12th session was inspired from one of artefacts of King Tutankhamun. Search Keywords: Short link: Minister El-Enany's vision includes an international design competition for the logo of the new Grand Egyptian Museum Shortly after being sworn into office on Thursday, newly re-appointed Antiquities Minister Khaled El-Enany described his vision for his upcoming tenure, which will focus on the completion of a number of existing ambitious projects across Egypt. My dream is to complete all of the yet unfinished projects, chief among them the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), the Giza Plateau development project, the Avenue of the Sphinxes in Luxor, the Baron Empain palace in Heliopolis, the Jewish Synagogue and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC), El-Enany told Ahram Online. El-Enany was first appointed to head Egypts antiquities ministry in March 2016 as part of former Prime Minister Sherif Ismails Cabinet, six months after being appointed as the director general of the Egyptian Museum. He was also director of the NMEC at the time. The ministers previous tenure was distinguished by several important discoveries in both Upper and Lower Egypt as well as the opening of several museums such those at Tel-Basta and Kiom Ushim. El-Enany also oversaw the advancement of several development projects, including the inauguration of a temporary exhibition hall in the NMEC and the continued construction work on the GEM, which is now 80 percent complete. Restoration work at the Greaco-Roman Museum and the Hana Elvie Synagogue in Alexandria, as well as on the the Baron Empain place in Heliopolis are also already underway, as is the restoration and rehabilitation of several Islamic monuments in Rosetta with aims to develop the area into an open-air museum for Islamic art. The minister also responded to recent criticism of the newly unveiled logo of the GEM, asserting that it is only promotional and not the final design, and that he welcomed all comment and criticism from the syndicates, universities and artists over the matter. He promised to launch an international art competition among Egyptian and foreign artists to select a final logo for the museum, as well as one for the NMEC and all other museums in Egypt. El-Enany completed his doctorate in Egyptology in 2001 at Montpellier III University in France. He began his academic career at the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management at Helwan University, where he quickly rose through the ranks. While at Helwan, El-Enany was director of the Open Learning Centre, head of the Tourism Guidance Department, vice-dean for education and student affairs, in addition to acting as professor of Egyptology. He is an associate scientific expert and member of the board of administration at the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology in Cairo (IFAO) and a visiting professor at Montpellier III University. He has lectured in France and Switzerland, as well as Egypt. Search Keywords: Short link: CHELSEA, MI - Residents are getting settled in at their new affordable apartments in Chelsea. Avalon Housing and Faith In Action, a community-funded Chelsea social service agency, unveiled the renovations at the former Sharon Ann Apartments, 533 N. Main Street in Chelsea, at an open house on Thursday, June 14. Since purchasing the 17-unit apartment building for $700,000 in June 2017, Avalon Housing and other partners have invested $1.2 million into renovations, said Marcia Luke-van Dijk, Avalon's communications and fund development director. New windows, flooring, kitchen and bathroom cabinets and fixtures, appliances, energy efficiency, a repaved parking lot and wireless internet service are part of the upgrades. So is a new community space with computers, meeting room, bathroom and laundry area. "They provide a service to the community that is underappreciated," said Scott Marsh, 46, who works part-time at nearby Seitz's Tavern and has lived in the apartment building for three years. "People work in this community, and the fact that they can't afford to live in the community in which they work is a problem." Avalon and Faith In Action began discussing the need for affordable housing in Chelsea years ago, Luke-van Dijk said, and Avalon decided to purchase the building at 533 N. Main Street due to its proximity to downtown. Nine of the 11 residents who had been living in the Sharon Ann Apartments will continue to live in renovated Avalon apartments, Luke-van Dijk said. Previous residents whose incomes were too high to qualify for the affordable housing units received relocation benefits, she said. All units now are reserved for people who make 60 percent of the Area Median Income or less. Five units are designated as supportive housing for people who have been chronically homeless and have behavioral and health challenges. The Jackson Housing Commission provided rent vouchers for all 17 units, which means rent can be set at fair market rates while low-income residents pay 30 percent of their income toward rent. Lou Savoie, 59, recently moved into one of the apartments. He did maintenance work at the building when his father-in-law owned it, but he moved to Florida for a few years to care for his ailing mother. He likes the location, he said, because it's convenient to get to his medical appointments. "The community here is so helpful and friendly," Savoie said. ANN ARBOR, MI - For the 12th straight year, kids across Washtenaw County can learn first aid skills while being exposed to potential careers in medicine and public safety. Huron Valley Ambulance announced it is hosting its annual Camp 9-1-1 this summer for local kids ages 8-12 years old. Run by EMTs, the two-day camp teaches campers basic CPR skills and how to use an automated external defibrillator. Camp 9-1-1 also features field trips to local hospital emergency departments and fire departments, according to HVA. Guest speakers include officers from local police, the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office and the Michigan State Police. Camps will be held on July 12-13 in Ypsilanti at the Eastern Michigan University Student Center; July 19-20 in Chelsea at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital; and Aug. 15-16 in Milan at the Milan Community House. Camps are limited to 30 campers, so HVA encourages interested parents to register their kids early. The camp is free of charge to Washtenaw County residents. For more information or to register, go to www.camp911.org. When officials announced earlier this week that Ford Motor Company had acquired Michigan Central Station, Madeleine Baier, 66, thought of her late mother, and the memories they shared of the massive building when it was a functioning train depot. The Ypsilanti woman, a former Detroiter, said her mother, Barbara Ann Baier, often took the train from Detroit to New York to attend college. "I'm glad to see that the old train station is escaping the wrecker's ball," Baier said. "She also used this train station to go visit my dad... "I think she would be very happy about (the sale) and so would dad." Matthew Moroun, son of Ambassador Bridge owner Manuel "Matty" Moroun, announced the sale of the long-vacant building Monday for an undisclosed price. Moroun bought the building in 1992. The behemoth Corktown structure, vacant since 1988, would become a blighted eyesore and a longtime symbol of Detroit's struggles, but also a popular tourist attraction. The Morouns began making significant improvements to the building in 2015, as a requirement of a land transfer deal with the city that involved publically owned park land the trucking magnate wanted for a proposed new bridge to Canada. The massive building that had been the ultimate sign of abandonment in Detroit finally had windows in it again, and renovations were taking place on the inside. With the surrounding neighborhood being one of the city's most attractive for young professionals and creative types, the site suddenly became a hot piece of real estate. Rumors of a Ford acquisition began swirling earlier this year, and Moroun made it official this week. Ford plans a celebration at the building Tuesday. Meanwhile, Baier has been reminiscing about the active, ornate train depot lobby where she spent time with her mother in her youth. "On the ground floor in addition to the ticket booth... there's also a place where you could stay the night before if you're catching an early train, it was like a little hotel," Baier said. "It was quite a showplace." Baier also remembers breaching fences meant to discourage trespassers and vandals during the building's vacant years, exploring the deteriorated interior as so many curious visitors have done for decades. "I remember feeling a mixture of just, awe. Obviously this building was once a showplace, it was amazing," she said. "I could tell ... there was a little restaurant on the ground floor, probably a greasy spoon diner type." The station had eyecatching chandeliers, brass fixtures, hardwood banister, scroll work and marble, she added. "It was so much obvious wealth that went into building that building. I could see the beauty even though it had fallen into disrepair," she said. And it isn't the only historic Detroit site undergoing a renaissance that Baier remembers. She and her mother also shared memories at the former J.L. Hudson's department store, a once-iconic structure that was demolished more than 20 years ago and is in the process of being replaced by Michigan's tallest skyscraper. The two regularly went out to watch the Hudson's Thanksgiving Day parade along Woodward Avenue, and her mother even purchased her wedding gown from the store for $150. "I got my first and only copy of Tommy, the album by The Who (from Hudson's)," said Baier, who couldn't help but tear up the day she watched the demolition. "Oh goodness. It was horrible. This beautiful old building that was as much of a showplace as the train station," she said. "I remember this one reporter on (TV). She was so excited and smiling from ear to ear and wish I could've said 'What are you so happy about?' "I remember watching the demolition and crying the whole time. Mom, she was not happy about it either. (She) was pretty good at hiding her feelings." The new scyscraper, being developed by Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert's real estate group, is expected to be completed by 2022. Ford has not yet revealed its plans for the train depot building. ANN ARBOR, MI - The University of Michigan is firing back against its critics, including the U.S. Department of Justice, who say the university isn't protecting free speech. UM President Mark Schlissel on Friday discussed the issue in an interview with The Ann Arbor News and MLive. UM also filed a legal response Friday, June 15, to SpeechFirst's lawsuit against UM, describing the organization's depiction of the university's speech code and policies as "a false caricature." "No student at the University has been disciplined under the Statement for harassing or bullying based on the mere expression of a point of view," UM's response said. "And the Bias Response Team that is the focus of much of the Plaintiff's attack is not a disciplinary body at all. Its work is purely supportive and educational, and it works only with students 'who agree to participate.'" The lawsuit, filed by Washington D.C.-based group Speech First on May 8 in the U.S. District Court's Eastern District, claims the UM Bias Response Team's policies "capture staggering amounts of protected speech and expression." Speech First is representing three anonymous students who claim their right to free speech has been chilled from speaking openly about their views on subjects including gun rights, illegal immigration, abortion, the welfare system, gender identity, affirmative action and Title IX. UM's response comes following criticism from the U.S. Justice Department, which sided with SpeechFirst on June 11, claiming the university is failing to live up to its principles of protecting free speech. On Friday, UM provided a list of national speakers and campus forums, dozens of articles in student publications and several student organizations that have clearly expressed the conservative political views the lawsuit espouses are suppressed. Schlissel discussed the issue on Friday as well. Ann Arbor News: Were you at all surprised the Justice Department weighed in with support of Speech First with its statement of interest? Schlissel: I have a yes and no kind of answer. I was disappointed in their weighing in to the extent that they just parroted the mischaracterizations that were present in the SpeechFirst suit. They obviously didn't do any of their own research, otherwise they would have found all of these various voices and outlets for conservative thought on our campus, they would have had a better understanding for what the Bias Response Team does. I was disappointed that they didn't do their own due diligence. I was very pleased, though, to see the U.S. Department of Justice weighing in on the side of free speech and in support of the First Amendment. I'm actually quite thrilled to get that kind of reaffirmation of something we at the university think is enormously important. AAN: The same day the DOJ issued its statement, UM provided clarity to its definitions of bullying and harassment with an emphasis on the protection of free speech. Why was it important to provide that clarification? Schlissel: We have been working on this for many, many months and it has been stimulated by all the focus being paid around free speech on college campuses, not just in Michigan, it's been many places around the country where universities have come under criticism. Because of that, we wanted to take a careful look at our policies and make sure that we had them tuned as correctly and clearly as possible. We were cooking along on this, and when we were sued by SpeechFirst, it really pushed us to do this more quickly and get these modifications up to our website to provide the clarity that defined harassment and bullying. It used to be we had several definitions up there including dictionary definitions. We decided it would be simplest and best if we provided the State of Michigan's definition from its laws that have been challenged and upheld. AAN: SpeechFirst's lawsuit claims UM's Office of Student Conflict Resolution states the violation of the statement can result in suspension or expulsion. Is that accurate? Schlissel: Instances of behavior that are protected speech don't get punished - period. Students who are engaging in First Amendment protected speech aren't found responsible and in violation of the student code. What the student code does, is it doesn't assign specific penalties to certain acts, it describes a range of options that are available to the university to punish violations of the statement of student rights and responsibilities, all the way from mandatory counseling to making the student take a particular course, to a notation on a transcript, all the way up to significant sanctions. None of those things are subjected to students who are exercising their free speech rights. AAN: Conservative students have spoken out, on occasion, about how they don't feel the university represents them and their points of view, particularly in light of the 2016 election. Is that a fair assessment on their part, or is this something you feel needs to be addressed in a different way on campus? Schlissel: I think we're living in very politically fractious times. I know there are students on our campus with many different sets of political beliefs - some more predominant than others. They're all free to express those beliefs, but it's really representative of the arguments that are going on in the broader society. What I'm most disappointed in, on the Michigan campus and elsewhere, is that people that disagree with one another aren't quite as good as we used to be at talking through those disagreements. There is a lot of shouting and not listening that goes on and people think they know what someone else is going to say before they've been allowed to say it. Our university, as well as others in the broader society have to work harder to teach our students the skills that are necessary to engage with one another when they disagree. AAN: From the time of your arrival as president at UM, the issue of free speech has evolved greatly. Do you have any ideas as to why has this become such a polarizing, politicized issue on not only your college campus but across the country? Schlissel: That's sort of outside of my scholarly expertise. I have personal opinions just like you, but I think it's a reflection of national politics and the way people talk to one another in positions of power and as portrayed in the media, filter all the way down across our society and influence the way everyday people talk to one another on everyday issues. I think we're just in a challenging political moment and one of the responsibilities of universities is to help our students learn how to function at the highest level possible, and part of that has to be, I think, a healthy respect for free speech along with a willingness to listen to people and try to understand people who disagree with them. AAN: More broadly, Dean Andrew Martin spoke at commencement criticizing the way the academic world has sacrificed free speech on the altar of safety. Do you agree or disagree with his statement that safety has been used combat bringing speakers to campus or letting them speak without interruption? Schlissel: I think it's enormously important that all kinds of ideas are represented on campus, and I do not think that the balance between an inclusive campus climate and the respect for free speech are inconsistent things - I think we can achieve both. I do think the discourse around pain and suffering has extended to people the way they think and feel. I think we have to be very, very cautious to make sure that even beliefs that are disagreeable to people can still be expressed and considered by those who wish to listen. Nobody forces you to go to a talk if you don't want to hear what the person has to say, but similarly, we can't prevent an individual from expressing their beliefs because a potential person in the audience might be offended by those beliefs. ANN ARBOR, MI - A federal judge has ordered University of Michigan to release the transcript of a student who is suing the university. The case centers on whether or not the student violated the university's sexual misconduct policy. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Arthur J. Tarnow on Thursday, June 14, ordered the student's transcript be released immediately, pending the resolution of the case. The lawsuit, filed by a male student June 4, alleges a female student complained to UM's Office of Institutional Equity on March 12 - four months after she alleges the male student had sex with her in his residence hall room without consent. The male student, who is identified as "John Doe" in the lawsuit, claims the sex was consensual. The lawsuit alleges the university had put a hold on his official transcript and degree, despite no findings being made against him. MIDLAND, MI -- Foundations in Bay, Midland and Saginaw counties are set to receive $1 million in grant funds to support recreation projects that promote healthy lifestyles in their respective communities. The one-time gift is being made possible by the Dow Corning Foundation, which is dissolving following the Dow Chemical Co.-Dupont merger. As part of the multi-billion dollar deal, Dow assumed full control of its subsidiary Dow Corning Corp. On June 1, the Dow Corning Foundation began its dissolution process. According to its 2016 tax return, the foundation had nearly $30 million in assets. All future grants will be managed by The Dow Chemical Company Foundation, which will "continue the legacy of giving," officials said in a statement. Dow and Hemlock Semiconductor will also focus their efforts on community engagement with nonprofit boards, community projects and education initiatives. As part of the foundation's dissolution, the Midland Area Community Foundation, Bay Area Community Foundation and Saginaw Community Foundation are each being awarded $1 million. The grants, which will be the final funding awarded by the Dow Corning Foundation, are being given in recognition of vital needs in the community. Each of the three community foundations have decided to use portions of the grants for playgrounds and park improvements in their communities. Over the course of the next five years, each foundation will be allowed to use the remaining funds on projects that support a healthy community and recreation opportunities. Here are the initial projects that have been approved. Midland Area Community Foundation The first project the foundation is tackling will be a "multigenerational" playground in Jerome Township, which will utilize $100,000 of its $1 million grant. The playground is part of a larger project by Senior Services of Midland County and the township to replacing their flood damaged Sanford Activity and Dining Center. "We were thankful to receive support from both the Dow Corning Foundation and Midland Area Community Foundation last year for the new Senior Center," said Charlie Schwedler, Senior Services executive director. "To have the foundations come back and provide support for the playground project specifically is something we're very thankful for." A multi-generational playground includes features that can be used by residents of all ages, like pickleball courts, walking trails, outdoor exercise equipment, and a picnic area. The park was designed with senior citizens in mind, but is open to all ages. "The park is a really nice natural setting," said Schwedler. "We're proud to offer a recreation opportunity for all ages, income levels and and physical abilities. It's really going to be a unique park." Bay Area Community Foundation A rendering of the Riverview Discovery Island playground to be built in Bigelow Park on Middlegrounds Island. Two playground projects in Bay County will benefit from the $1 million grant. A $50,000 grant will be awarded to the Riverview Discovery Island playscape -- the new universal playground that replaces the old Imagination Station playground. The grant is the final piece of funding needed to start construction on the $1 million playground. Late last year, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund awarded the project $300,000. The playground is designed to be all-inclusive and ADA accessible. A groundbreaking is scheduled for 2019. A $50,000 grant has also been awarded to the Bay City State Park to build a new ADA-accessible playground. Like the Imagination Station playground in Bay City, the wooden structure at the state park had reached its lifespan, officials said, and was ready to be replaced. Groundbreaking for that project is also scheduled for 2019. "We look forward to the day -- which is coming soon -- when the sounds of children playing will ring out at both of these parks," said Diane Fong, president and CEO of the Bay Area Community Foundation. Fong added children playing is more than just having fun. The physical activity and play is important to their growth in several areas such as development of motor coordination and social skills. "Our region has benefitted greatly from the innovation of the Dow Corning Foundation over the years," Fong said. "We are honored to help extend their legacy into the community through the Healthy Living Fund, and look forward to what is to come." The Saginaw Community Foundation Competitors bike through Ojibway Island towards Old Town Saginaw during the Great Lakes Bay Regional Trail Row/Ride/Run triathlon on Saturday, June 3, 2017. The Saginaw Community Foundation will use $100,000 of its $1 million grant from Dow Corning Foundation to improve and launch recreation opportunities across three Saginaw County parks. Projects will be completed during the summer of 2018. Ojibway Island: This project calls for trail development, reconstruction of a pedestrian bridge and the clearing of the southern channel between the Saginaw River and Lake Linton. Picnic areas and scenic views will also see improvements. Wickes Park EZ-Launch System: New canoe and kayak launches at the boat launch site in Wickes Park. The fully ADA-accessible launch would add to a network of water trail launches in-use along the Cass River in Bridgeport and Frankenmuth. The launch at Wickes Park along the Saginaw River would serve as the endpoint of the water trail. Celebration Park Improvements: Celebration Park already features a host of activities and attractions, such as a splash pad, skate park, pavilion and playground. Funds would be used to enhance those attractions, in addition to building volleyball courts. Additional amenities within the park are still being finalized. ROCHESTER, MI - Vice President Mike Pence lauded the state of the nation's economy during a visit to a construction site in metro Detroit on Friday, June 16. After landing on Air Force 2 in Waterford about 11:30 a.m., Pence attended a private campaign event for Attorney General Bill Schuette, whom Pence is supporting in the race to become Michigan's next governor. Following the Schuette event in Birmingham, which was closed to media, Pence and his motorcade visited a thriving, 100-year-old, fourth-generation, family run construction company, Frank Rewold & Son, in Rochester. Surrounded by exposed steel beams and workers in hard hats with patriotic music playing in the background, Pence walked atop the unfinished concrete floor of a $15 million office building project in Rochester that will serve as the construction company's new headquarters. "You're doing a great job," said one laborer holding a Dewalt power drill after removing his work glove and shaking the vice president's hand. Beneath a crane hoisting an American flag, Pence addressed a crowd of several hundred, including invited public officials, business people and Trump administration supporters. His nearly 10-minute address touched on low unemployment rates and tax cuts he says will allow a Michigan family of four to pocket, on average, an additional $2,300 per year. "The economy is rolling, Michigan is back and America is coming back," Pence said to cheers. " ... The American people did elect a builder to be president of the United States of America. "Since very early in this administration President Trump has gone straight to work to revive the American economy. This president has actually rolled back more federal red tape in a year and a half than any other president in American history." Pence said the nation has recorded in recent days, "the lowest unemployment rate for African-Americans and Hispanic Americans than has ever been recorded in American history." "We're expanding opportunity for every American," Pence said. He took a political jab at Michigan's Democratic senators, Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow, who he said voted against Trump-supported tax cuts. "I say with great respect to Sen. Stabenow that the proof is in our paychecks; they are bigger," Pence said. "And I believe Michigan deserves better." Stabenow said she voted against the Republican tax bill because it didn't do enough to close tax loopholes or help Michigan's small businesses and farms. "I voted no because I could not support raising taxes on middle-class families, seniors, and farmers and leaving Michigan families without health insurance to pay for huge tax giveaways for the wealthiest one percent of Americans," she said. Rochester Hills Republican Mayor Bryan K. Barnett, who attended the Pence event, says the economy locally had improved noticeably under the Trump administration. "I was sitting with someone yesterday, a business owner, he got an email, he showed it to me; the email said, hey, your tax refund is coming and it's $175," Barnett said. "I thought it was odd that he thought that was interesting. "He goes, 'You know why that's interesting, because last year I paid over $50,000.'" Barnett said extra money in the pockets of small business owners - in this case the owner of a couple restaurants - is "making a real difference." Once of the most noticeably ardent supporters in the crowd was 16-year-old Evan Catsburg, a Stony Creek High School student who wore an "elect Trump" T-shirt with a "Make America Great Again" flag draped over his back like a cape. "I love the energy that they have," he said. "They have done more in 300 days than the last politicians have done in 30 years." "But now, under Trump, now two years in, we've still got six more to go." FLINT, MI -- A 5-year-old girl who police were searching for has been found on Friday, June 15. The Flint Police Department said Palace Evionna Edelen was found unharmed and did not require medical attention. Police said she is now back home safe with her legal guardian. The girl's mother was arrested without incident in Ypsilanti and is being held on an unrelated arrest warrant, police said. Additional charges are pending, the statement said. Flint police were assisted by the United States Marshals. An Endangered Missing Advisory for the girl was issued by Michigan State Police on June 11. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The Grand Rapids city commission approved its biggest budget ever Tuesday night despite concerns from the comptroller. Sara Vander Werff, the elected official who signs the city's checks, had voiced her concerns publicly about the commission spending too much at the June 5 commission meeting. "It's our responsibility to make sure that we not go back to where we were 10 years ago," Vander Werff said. "We still carry a lot of debt and a lot of unfunded liability and I don't see enough being done to address that going forward. "While the economy might seem like it's going well right now, we still have to be mindful of the future and not forget the past." Referencing the city's estimated "$300 million in unfunded liabilities," Sara Vander Werff said officials aren't doing enough to address the city's financial future by spending too much in the short term. By unfunded liabilities, she is referring to what the city owes in post-retirement benefits for its employees. On Tuesday, June 12, the city commission voted 7-0 to approve the city's $590 million budget plan for fiscal year 2019, which begins July 1. It's the largest budget in city history, topping the previous highest budget by about $63 million. 10 things to know about Grand Rapids' $587 million budget The city's spending nearly breaks even with its revenues, and city officials are putting $238,000 away into a savings account. The spending plan invests in outcomes around affordable housing, community-police relations, legacy costs and economic development. It prioritizes improvements to streets, fire stations, parks, pools and playgrounds, the Grand River restoration, tree maintenance and transit shelters. City property tax millage rates were also reduced for fiscal year 2019 from 9.0258 mills to 8.9710 mills. Before the unanimous vote Tuesay, Mayor Rosalynn Bliss referenced Vander Werff's concerns. She said city officials knew when they made changes to its OPEB (Other Post Employment Benefits) plan, including retiree health care, that the move had upfront costs but would help eliminate liabilities in the long term. Jeff Dood, the city's chief financial officer, said the city is closely monitoring the unfunded liabilities each year, and taking steps to reduce the totals. As examples, he pointed to the $60 million growth in OPEB trusts over the last 11 years, and the city's "very conservative" rate of return estimates on its pension program. In 2016, the city was at 74 percent funding for pension and OPEB combined. While Dood didn't calculate the combination this year, he estimated that the city's funded status is up slightly. Grand Rapids is at about 80-82 percent funded for pension, and about 37 percent funded for its three OPEB accounts. Dood said he too would like to see the accounts at 100 percent funding, but added that the city meets state criteria each year. In his final meeting before resigning from his seat as third ward commissioner, David Allen spoke highly of this year's budget preparation process. He said it involved a lot of feedback and was very interactive, resulting in a final product he's proud of. Allen also seemed to address Vander Werff's public comments regarding the city's unfunded liabilities. "We cant make knee-jerk decisions today about something that we don't really know," Allen said. "I think we're making reasonable and responsible changes each year incrementally to move toward that." This wasn't the first time Vander Werff has voiced her concerns about the city's spending. In 2016, she was critical of the spending in Bliss' first budget for too many new programs. As the comptroller, Vander Werff has said she felt under attack in her position; last year her pay was docked and the mayor's pay raised. Vander Werff has described the move as a power play. "I'm a little gun-shy about speaking out about this issue," she said to the commission. "I spoke out two years ago and, quite frankly, I felt retaliated against when salaries came up for review. But that's water under the bridge now." Vander Werff acknowledged that Grand Rapids' unfunded liabilities fall in the middle compared to other municipalities in Michigan. She'd like to see the city make returning to full funding a higher priority, and to do it sooner than later. Grand Rapids' pension was fully funded in 2010, before climbing to more than $150 million in 2013. It dropped below $50 million in 2015 before climbing back up over $150 million in 2016, according to data from the Michigan Department of Treasury. The city also essentially underwent a 30-year refinancing in 2016. "We came out of difficult times and it would be nice to see them address some of the things that still continue to be problems," she said. "Having worked in the financial industry, I have my concerns about the budget. "If you look at the five-year plan, in fiscal year 2020 we're already predicting a deficit. So we have a year to figure out how to address that but then it can grow from there. It's not going away any time soon. It doesn't fix itself." LANSING, MI -- Canadian energy company Enbridge claims a new tunnel underneath the Straits of Mackinac is a viable option to replace the aging Line 5 oil and gas pipelines after undergoing a feasibility study. Enbridge delivered the 100-page report to Governor Rick Snyder's office Friday, June 15, detailing the feasibility, cost and effectiveness of three options to replace Line 5. "Line 5 cannot remain in the Straits indefinitely. We need a concrete strategy and timeline to expedite its replacement," Snyder said in a statement. "This report will help us define a comprehensive solution for all utility crossings." Burying a large concrete tunnel to house a new 30-inch pipeline -- which Snyder has mentioned as a possibility in the past -- would have the lowest environmental impact and "negligible" risk of an oil leak, Enbridge concluded in its report. The tunnel would be the costliest option, requiring up to $500 million and up to six years to complete, according to the report. Findings from the Enbridge-funded study are similar to what Michigan Technological University students found in a research project. The students estimated constructing a tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac would cost $570 million and take seven years to complete. Enbridge also concluded a new 30-inch pipeline placed in a trench and covered with rock would be a possible alternative, at a cost of up to $300 million and up to five years to complete. The company is not picking which option is most feasible, said Enbridge spokesman Ryan Duffy. "Both feasible alternatives would help ensure the continued safety and protection of the Great Lakes for future generations, and we look forward to our continued collaboration with the state to further explore the viability of these options," Enbridge said in a statement Friday. A third option -- horizontal directional drilling -- was determined to be not feasible due to "technical limitations," according to the company. Though Enbridge would not commit to choosing the tunnel as the best replacement method Friday, environmentalists were quick to reject it. "The debate over a tunnel simply kicks the can down the road for at least a decade," said Mike Shriberg, who sits on Snyder's Pipeline Safety Advisory Board and is the executive director of the National Wildlife Federation's Great Lakes chapter. Lisa Wozniak, executive director of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, criticized the company's failure to consider a replacement method outside of going through the Straits of Mackinac. "Clearly, Enbridge Energy has a vested interest in continuing to pump oil through the Straits, which explains why the company failed to adequately consider alternatives that keep oil pipelines out of our waters," Wozniak said. Duffy said Enbridge was tasked with studying the three options -- tunnel, trench or horizontal drill -- in its agreement with the state in November 2017. Sean McBrearty, Michigan program organizer for Clean Water Action, suggested alternatives to Line 5 could be found through other existing lines or by building a new pipeline through Ontario. "In a time of water shortages and changing climate in this century, it doesn't make sense to even contemplate constructing Canadian oil pipelines in a tunnel under the world's largest supply of fresh surface water," said Liz Kirkwood, executive director of For Love of Water (FLOW). The Michigan Chemistry Council, an industry group that represents chemical manufacturers, formulators and distributors, welcomed the report. "Line 5 is an important component of Michigan's energy infrastructure, and we are encouraged by the careful study of alternatives that could further reduce or eliminate potential risks while ensuring a reliable energy supply," said the council's Executive Director John Dulmes. CASCADE TOWNSHIP, MI -- Gerald R. Ford International Airport has confirmed the presence of contaminants in the soil and groundwater where a chemical-laden firefighting foam was used. The airport released a report showing elevated levels of total per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances called PFAS on Friday, June 15. The airport also said it would begin testing some nearby residential wells for PFAS and that neighboring property owners would be contacted by the end of June. "To us, it is worth taking the extra steps on behalf of the community," said airport CEO James Gill. Test results show moderate levels of PFOS and PFOA, two PFAS compounds for which the state set new groundwater cleanup standards of 70 parts-per-trillion (ppt) in January. Results show higher levels of other PFAS compounds like PFPeA and PFHxA were found in monitoring wells the airport sunk at the former fire training area northeast of the parking deck. Total PFAS in a well near northern edge of the airport property by the railroad tracks hit 461-ppt. The highest combined PFOS and PFOA levels in a well was 54-ppt. The results come from samples taken in deep groundwater. In a news release, the airport called the contamination "within acceptable standards." The release did not include total PFAS levels, just those for PFOS and PFOA. The LimnoTech report notes that groundwater on the property flows in a northeasterly direction. Map showing locations of PFAS testing at Gerald R. Ford International Airport near Grand Rapids. The map shows test results for PFOS and PFOA, but not total PFAS, in the groundwater where the airport formerly trained firefighters with AFFF foam. Michigan Department of Environmental Quality spokesperson Scott Dean said the state has received and plans to review the report, which was prepared by the consulting firm LimnoTech. The DEQ recently sampled foam on the Thornapple River earlier this month at the Cascade Dam downstream of the airport. PFAS compounds in rivers and lakes are known to concentrate in a toxic surface water foam, a phenomenon documented elsewhere in Michigan. The DEQ says those test results are pending. Dean said the DEQ is "pleased to see" the airport taking "additional proactive steps" to look for PFAS outside the property by pledging to test neighboring wells. The Kent County Health Department also issued a statement praising the airport's decision to test nearby tap water. The airport is owned by the Kent County Board of Commissioners and managed by an independent authority. Homeowners near the airport began paying for private PFAS drinking water testing this spring after the state began asking the airport to investigate its historic use of AFFF foam, a chemical-based fire suppressant now known to cause contamination plumes in locations it was used in training or for emergencies. The airport says it stopped using the fire training area more than 20 years ago, but that the Federal Aviation Administration requires airports keep AFFF on hand for emergencies. The airport used AFFF at several locations on the property in the past, including the fire training area, equipment testing areas and two locations where the foam was deployed in an emergency. Worried residents have attended airport board meetings to request well testing, which the airport has resisted until now. One homeowner in the Thornapple neighborhood near the airport who declined to be identified found total PFAS in their raw well water of 95-ppt in April. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a non-enforceable health advisory level of 70-ppt for PFOS and PFOA in drinking water, but has not established guidance for other PFAS compounds. The airport is part of a growing list of PFAS sites under investigation statewide. Exposure to the chemicals has been linked in human studies to certain cancers, thyroid malfunction and other diseases. Elsewhere in Kent County, the DEQ and EPA are investigating widespread PFAS drinking and surface water contamination in the Rockford and Belmont areas caused by Wolverine World Wide tannery waste and shoe manufacturing. HOLLAND, MI -- A battery manufacturer in Holland is looking to hire 40 more workers this summer. The new positions at LG Chem are the latest part of a 100,000-square-foot expansion at the company announced in 2017. LG Chem will be hosting a hiring fair 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 21, at its facility at 1 LG Chem Way in Holland. The company is looking for technical operators, maintenance technicians, production engineers and journeyman electricians. Interested workers are asked to fill out an application www.RechargeYourFuture.com prior to attending the job fair. The jobs are for second and third shifts at the Holland facility. LG Chem is been in hiring mode this spring, adding 86 new employees since May, according to a press release from the company. Workers hired this summer will staff one of the new battery pack assembly lines at the Holland plant. The expansion of battery pack assembly lines was announced in 2017, with a total of 150 new positions promised. In Holland, LG Chem makes lithium ion polymer battery cells and packs for electric vehicles, including the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica hybrid and the 2017 Chevy Volt. With some 450 workers in Holland, LGCMI made more 6 million lithium ion battery cells and added 140 new jobs at its factory on Holland's east side in 2016. Update:Michigan State trustee calls for Engler to resign LANSING, MI - The Senate Minority Leader and sponsors of a childhood sexual assault prevention bills are among those calling for Michigan State University Interim President John Engler to resign following his email, now public, accusing a victim of ex-doctor Larry Nassar of taking "kickbacks" from attorneys. Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, walked into a local coffee shop Thursday morning and saw the news. For him, it was something of a last straw. "It's time for John Engler to resign, retire and get out of the way of MSU's future," said Jones, the first of nine lawmakers to call for Engler's resignation. The email in which Engler made the accusation was unearthed this week by the Chronicle of Higher Education through an open records request. In it, Engler wrote to MSU Vice President and Special Counsel to the President Carol Viventi on April 15, 2018: "... The survivors now are being manipulated by trial lawyers who in the end will each get millions of dollars more than any of individual survivors with the exception of Denhollander who is likely to get kickback from Manley for her role in the trial lawyer manipulation," Engler wrote. The reference was to Rachael Denhollander, Nassar's first public accuser, and John Manly, an attorney representing Nassar victims. Denhollander told the Chronicle of Higher Education it was not true. Since her report more than 300 girls and women would come forward about Nassar's abuse. Nassar is in federal prison on child pornography charges and has also been sentenced for 10 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. The university has agreed to a $500 million settlement with his victims. Sen. Curtis Hertel, D-East Lansing, represents the district that contains the university. Yes, he said, he thinks Engler should resign so the university can heal. He was taken aback by the language of Engler's email. "I don't know how anyone could feel comfortable talking about survivors like that. I think it goes well beyond any official role, I think it goes to just basic human decency," Hertel said. Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint, supports Engler resigning. "I am very disappointed in his comments about the sister survivors. Not only are they completely off-base, they're coming from someone who is supposed to be reforming a culture of victim blaming and secrecy. This is a clear indicator that his time at MSU needs to come to an end," he said in a statement. Sen. Margaret O'Brien, R-Portage, spearheaded a package of bills aimed at strengthening Michigan law around childhood sexual assault amid the Nassar scandal, including by extending the amount of time victims have to come forward in criminal and civil cases. She worked on those bills with Denhollander as an ally, and Engler's words stung. "I was so stunned and saddened when I read that article. I've known Rachel for 20 years. She wants to make this world a safer place for kids. That has been her mission," O'Brien said. Asked if she thought Engler should resign, she said he should. "It's hard to say, but yeah," O'Brien said. "It's something I've avoided saying, but I don't see where we're getting the positive image and the positive results we want," said O'Brien, an MSU graduate and Republican who was initially excited to see Engler take the helm. The Michigan Progressive Women's Caucus' executive committee, in a joint statement to be released Friday, also called for Engler's resignation. "With his own words, interim President John Engler has made it clear that he is not capable of handling the sensitive and important work of rebuilding a campus and a community in the wake of a disturbing sexual assault scandal. He must resign," said the caucus' executive committee, comprised of Reps. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit; Erika Geiss, D-Taylor; Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids; Donna Laskinski, D-Scio Twp; and Leslie Love, D-Detroit. "After everything these survivors suffered, the last thing they deserve is to be attacked by the very institution that failed them. If Engler will not resign of his own volition it is time for the Michigan State University Board of Trustees to exercise its authority and remove him from a position he clearly is not capable of fulfilling." Jones, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee that handled Nassar-related bills and also an MSU graduate, said Engler was a political pick who hadn't fared well. "I believe that (MSU Trustee) Joel Ferguson and the rest of the board selected John Engler because they thought as a former governor he could keep control of the Republican legislature. He soon found out that was not true," Jones said. Sen. David Knezek, D-Dearborn Heights, sponsored one of the bills extending the time childhood sexual assault victims have to come forward. He wants Engler to resign. "At this point, I think he should resign," Knezek said. "The problems continue to get worse. There is a failure to accept genuine responsibility, and the survivors have to continue seeing this played out in the media rather than brining about meaningful resolution, whether it's in the courts or in the changes to our laws here in the state of Michigan." Asked about the calls for resignation through a spokesperson Engler did not directly address them but said in a statement the university was continuing its efforts to strengthen sexual assault prevention on and off campus. While a growing chorus of lawmakers has called for Engler's resignation, a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, R-West Olive, said it was up to the Board of Trustees. "It is up to the Board to decide if the President's comments are a reflection of the culture they want to perpetuate at MSU," said Amber McCann. O'Brien said Engler's words in the email were exactly the kind of reaction that made sexual assault survivors hesitant to come forward. "We wonder why more people don't report sexual assault or sexual abuse. This is why," O'Brien said. Note: This story has been updated to reflect the members of the Progressive Womens' Caucus executive committee. LANSING, MI - Already under fire from the members of the Michigan State University Board of Trustees and state lawmakers, MSU Interim President John Engler is also facing criticism from Michigan's congressional delegation. Engler is being criticized after an email surfaced in which he accused ex-doctor Larry Nassar victim Rachael Denhollander of getting a "kickback" from an attorney representing victims. Democratic U.S. Sen. Gary Peters is among those who are critical of Engler's leadership. "Senator Peters has long called for outside, independent leadership at MSU to make major changes to the culture at the university - and he stands by his past statements that John Engler is not the right person to effectively make those changes," said spokesperson Zade Alsawah. "Senator Peters believes MSU must expedite its search for a permanent President so the university can work to rebuild the trust lost." Democratic U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow through a spokesperson said Engler isn't the right person to lead MSU. "The senator did not believe he was the right choice to lead MSU when he was appointed, and doesn't believe he is the right choice now," said Stabenow spokesperson Miranda Margowsky. At least 14 state lawmakers, including Republican and Democratic Senate leaders, are also calling on Engler to resign. Two members of the MSU Board of Trustees have also called for him to step aside. While working at the university, Nassar sexually assaulted more than 300 women, often under the guise of providing medical treatment. He is serving prison time for child pornography possession and was also sentenced for 10 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. The university, where staff members were told of Nassar's conduct for years, reached a $500 million settlement with more than 300 of his victims. As we head into the 2018 midterm elections, Michigan voters are going to make some important choices. From a new governor, attorney general and secretary of state to races for U.S. Senate, 14 congressional seats and the entire Michigan House and Senate, the ballot is jam-packed. We want to make sure our readers are informed and know as much about the candidates as possible. Understanding candidate platforms, and what they plan to do if elected, is a big part of that. That's why MLive Media Group has partnered with the League of Women Voters of Michigan to provide candidate information and other voting resources to our Michigan readers. Later this month, information on all state and federal races and many of Michigan's county and local races for the August primary election will be available on MLive via Vote411.org - the election-information website run by the League of Women Voters. "Vote 411 and voter guides provide objective and nonpartisan information about candidates and issues. Vote 411 also allows voters to confirm their registration and access other voting information," said Judy Karandjeff, president of the League of Women Voters of Michigan. "This resource will assist voters throughout Michigan to exercise their fundamental right to vote. The League of Women Voters of Michigan and MLive are proud to provide this resource." The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, according to its website. Throughout the election cycle, MLive will print stories and information on statewide and federal races across the state, as well as on local candidates in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Muskegon, Ann Arbor, Detroit, Jackson, Bay City, Saginaw and Flint. Printed guides will be available with our newspapers prior to the Nov. 6 general election. In our continuing quest to inform readers, we also recently launched our Michigan Beyond series - an exploration of issues including the state's economy, education and infrastructure - to frame the discussion as we pick new leaders for Michigan. "Our goal is to give voters thorough reporting on the most important challenges facing Michigan, and to make candidates address those issues head-on," said John Hiner, vice president of content for MLive Media Group. "Between our journalists framing the issues with fact-based reporting, and candidates responding in their own words, voters will have much more substance heading into this critical election." LANSING, MI - Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, R-West Olive, joined calls on Friday for Michigan State University Interim President John Engler to resign. "The Majority Leader is very disappointed and does agree that Engler should resign," said his spokesperson, Amber McCann, on Friday. The calls for Engler's resignation came after an email of his became public. In it, he accused Rachael Denhollander, the first victim of ex-Dr. Larry Nassar to come forward publicly, of taking a "kickback" from plaintiff attorney John Manly. The email was unearthed this week by the Chronicle of Higher Education through an open records request. In it, Engler wrote to MSU Vice President and Special Counsel to the President Carol Viventi on April 15, 2018: "... The survivors now are being manipulated by trial lawyers who in the end will each get millions of dollars more than any of individual survivors with the exception of Denhollander who is likely to get kickback from Manley for her role in the trial lawyer manipulation," Engler wrote. Meekhof has come to call for Engler's resignation recently. On Thursday, he had deferred to the board on making a decision. Now he joins at least 13 other lawmakers -- including his counterpart in the Senate, Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint - in calling for Engler's resignation. Though several individual House members have called for Engler's resignation, it's not clear where chamber leadership stands. House Speaker Tom Leonard, R-DeWitt, who led calls for Lou Anna K. Simon to resign, declined through a spokesperson to comment on whether Engler should. House Democratic Leader Sam Singh, D-East Lansing, did not immediately return a call for comment. The MSU Board of Trustees, which has the power to remove Engler, also began to weigh in Friday. Trustee Brian Mosallam called for his resignation, while Trustee Dianne Byrum said he "is no longer the right person" to lead the university. Engler released a statement but did not directly address the calls for his resignation. More lawmakers came forward with calls for his resignation Friday. Add me to the list. Engler should have never been picked and now needs to go. https://t.co/aH4BMFPpLH Darrin Camilleri (@darrincamilleri) June 15, 2018 What about those of us who opposed his appointment from Day One? Hes got to go. Senator Jeremy Moss (@JeremyAllenMoss) June 15, 2018 JACKSON, MI - Jackson Prosecutor Jerry Jarzynka has determined police officers were justified in killing a man who shot and wounded an officer Easter Sunday on Chittock Avenue. Christopher Lamarr Hall, 34, fired 15 times at officers, striking Officer Tom Tinklepaugh in the leg, after Hall beat and threatened to kill his girlfriend, Heather Jurasek, Jarzynka reported in a Friday statement. Tinklepaugh, Officer Rachel Kuhn and Sgt. Timothy Hibbard returned fire, repeatedly hitting Hall, who had six gunshot and two grazing wounds, according to Jarzynka. The three officers fired a total of 21 rounds. Based on a review of the facts and the law, it is clear Hall presented an immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to the three officers, Jarzynka wrote. "Tinklepaugh returned fire and shot in self-defense of his life," wrote Jarzynka, who considered a binder of reports compiled by the Michigan State Police First District Special Investigation Section, based in Lansing. This means the officers will not be charged with any wrongdoing. Kuhn and Hibbard, already cleared through a Jackson Police Department administrative review, returned to work May 8. Tinklepaugh, continuing to recuperate, remains out of uniform. "Fortunately, the officer was not killed," Jarzynka said. "It was a very dangerous situation." Summoned for a domestic disturbance, Tinklepaugh was the first to arrive at 1:28 p.m. April 1, about two minutes after the 911 dispatch. He parked and crossed Chittock Avenue. A man later determined to be Hall left a house at 943 Chittock Avenue and began shooting. A video shows Tinklepaugh falling to the ground as he stood near the sidewalk in the front lawn outside the address. He retreated behind a telephone pole and fired from his knees. Hibbard and Kuhn, arriving shortly after Tinklepaugh, also discharged their weapons, according to Jarzynka. A bullet penetrated the open, driver's side door of Kuhn's police vehicle. One officer yelled at Hall to put down the gun, the prosecutor said. The entire exchange ended in about 30 seconds. Jurasek also was hurt in the gunfire. She left the house with Hall and both collapsed in the yard once the shooting began. Hall used Jurasek for cover, Jarzynka reported. A bullet lodged in Jurasek's pelvis, where it remained, and she had other grazing injuries. Jaryznka said it is unclear from the investigation whether Hall or the officers shot her. In an earlier interview, she contended the police were responsible. Jarzynka said this would not make a difference in his findings, which are based on the actions of the shooter and the police officers. He noted Hall had threatened to kill Jurasek, his girlfriend of eight years, and struck her with his fists and his handgun, causing bruises on her face, neck and arms and significant swelling on the left side of her face. She could not open her left eye, black and blue and underlined with a laceration. The two lived in an upstairs apartment and Hall had been up all night, drinking Amsterdam vodka, acting paranoid, Jarzynka reported. He was telling Jurasek he was hearing voices and people were watching her through the TV screen, Jarzynka recounted from his review of police reports. Hall had been diagnosed as schizophrenic and bipolar but was not on medication. "He would not let her go to sleep that night and instead wanted to argue," the prosecutor wrote. Jurasek took an opportunity to go downstairs and an occupant there called 911. Hall re-entered the house, causing the others to flee. Jurasek too tried to escape out the front door. Hall grabbed her and they went outside just as Tinklepaugh came to the yard. "He shot first. No ifs, ands about that," said Delisa Torrey, who lives across the street and hurried her children away from their front, upper bedrooms. She witnessed the shooting. "They didn't have no choice but to start shooting back," Torrey said. A week earlier, Hall had told Jurasek he would have a shootout with the police, according to Jarzynka. "He said he was going to die and did not want to go back to jail." Hall, behind on child support, was to make a weekly $50 payment or spend a weekend in jail. He was out of compliance with this program and there had been warrants issued for his arrest, court records show. "He did what he wanted to do. Suicide by cop," Jurasek said during an April interview. Under certain circumstances, Michigan law allows people to use deadly force to defend themselves or others, the prosecutor wrote. Those who act within those parameters are not guilty of any crime. The purpose of Jarzynka's review was not to determine whether the officers could have or might have done something differently. "It is not whether, given the full benefit of hindsight, this tragic death could have been avoided. Rather, the sole question to be decided is whether the death of Christopher Lamar Hall was the result of a criminal act by the officers involved...," he wrote. This incident highlights the dangers of domestic incidents, not only for those involved, but for the emergency responders, Jarzynka said. Emotions are high. Sometimes there is alcohol or substance abuse. Jackson Police Officer James Bonneau, the last officer killed on duty in Jackson County, died in March 2010 at the hands of a man who had been threatening to blow off the door of his estranged wife's apartment. LEONI TWP., MI - Fifth Street will close in downtown Michigan Center starting Saturday, June 16. The road will be closed between Grand Street and Broad Street until Wednesday, June 20, according to the Jackson County Department of Transportation. It's closing to through traffic for crews to do road restoration work associated with the repair of a broken water main, per JCDOT. No detour route will be posted. Sixth Street, to the east, connects Grand and Broad streets. JACKSON, MI - She loved the Jackson community, dedicating more than two decades to Henry Ford Allegiance Health and to delighting children as "Mrs. Claus" in the Jackson Christmas Parade. Robin Kirkpatrick died Tuesday, June 12, of a heart attack while vacationing in Florida with friends and family. She was 55. Kirkpatrick worked in the marketing and public relations department of Henry Ford Allegiance Health for 24 years, serving as director of marketing and later as director of volunteer services until retiring in 2011. During the more than two decades she was at the hospital, Kirkpatrick developed a close friendship with Georgia Fojtasek, HFAH president and CEO. "Robin brought a lot of energy, and I'm going to miss her ever-present smile, great sense of humor and work ethic," Fojtasek said. "The biggest attribute Robin brought (to HFAH) was that she was impassioned about our story and our work. Coupled with that, she really valued the community, because this is where her family was." Kirkpatrick's husband of more than 30 years, Ron, also worked at HFAH, and is currently employed as a phone engineer. His wife's death occurred one day before the 33rd anniversary of her first date with him on June 13, 1985. "When we first met, I thought she was very nice and we went out a few times and I told her I didn't want to fall in love, but I couldn't help it - I fell in love," he said. Both Kirkpatrick and her husband grew up in Jackson. He went to East Jackson schools and she to Northwest. Kirkpatrick met Sharon Bell, with whom she shared a lifelong friendship, while in school. Sometimes when people die, their friends and family feel the need to talk them up and make them sound better than what they were, Bell said. There is no need to do this for Kirkpatrick, she said, as all the good things people say about her are true, and then some. Kirkpatrick joined HFAH in 1987. At the time of her death, she worked as a marketing instructor at Jackson College. Kirkpatrick jumped at the opportunity to help others in need, and volunteered herself often, both in service for friends and family and the community, her husband said. "Robin was just that kind of person, she'd give you anything she had - she was very, very selfless," he said. The Kirkpatricks served as Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus in the Jackson Christmas Parade for more than 20 years. 'We would always just have so much fun with it," Ron Kirkpatrick said. "Making people happy - that's what (Robin) was all about." Seven months before her death, Kirkpatrick witnessed the birth of her granddaughter Harper, to her daughter Carly Hovious. "Her favorite saying was 'Live, Laugh, Love,' and I've never met anyone who's lived like that, and loved like that, or laughed that hard," Hovious said. "She wrapped you in her arms and didn't let go." Besides her husband, son, daughter and granddaughter, Kirkpatrick is survived by her father, Tim Kelly; sister Amy Fletcher; and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial services have yet to be arranged. JACKSON, MI - They talked about issues and gave each other advice, she said. She said they went for walks, made dinner together and debated their conflicting allegiances to Michigan State University and the University of Michigan. The woman adored Andrew Frounfelker, a former Jackson city councilman. "He was my one true love," said the woman, who asked not to be identified. "I don't know if I will ever love again." Every day, she wonders how it came to this. Frounfelker, 41, is accused of a felony for allegedly assaulting the woman May 22 in the penthouse apartment they shared for more than a year on W. Michigan Avenue in downtown Jackson. She had five broken bones in her face, requiring surgery, and scratches on both sides of her neck, indicating strangulation, police reported. Efforts to secure comment this week from Frounfelker or his lawyer have not been successful. Frounfelker, who resigned Tuesday, has denied the allegations and maintains his innocence. The woman said Frounfelker threatened to kill her, and he might have but for the intervention of a concerned friend who came pounding on the door. "If it would have been a few minutes later, I would have been dead," the woman said she was told at the hospital. She was sitting Wednesday morning with her sister and 21-year-old daughter. Her left eye, though improved, remains red where it should be white. Swelling and bruising surround it. Her neck is sore, her vision still blurry. The tears came easily, quickly, as they often have in the weeks since the attack. "I know I should be mad," she said. "I am hurt. Sad." The woman clearly is conflicted, trying to reconcile her affections for the man with the damage she can see on her face and the physical pain that is only now subsiding. She imagined their future. She truly believed he loved her too. "Maybe I shouldn't believe that." The woman is yet to hear an apology, directly or indirectly. Even when she saw Frounfelker, before his arrest the morning she left the hospital and returned to their home, he inquired only about what she had informed the police, the woman's daughter said. "He was worried about himself," the woman said. 'Because I loved him' He had injured her before, she said, though there is no criminal record or past police report to show this. The woman told Jackson police Detective Brett Stiles she had been assaulted as many as 12 times in the last seven months, according to a report on the May 22 attack, and a friend indicated the number was even higher. Frounfelker previously threw her down the stairs, the woman said. He banged her head against the wall and then threw her down a second flight of stairs, she told the detective. She said she went to the hospital the next morning because she could not move. Her ribs were bruised. She told staff she had fallen. That time, she did not seek medical treatment. She called her daughter for help. She said she wanted to avoid inevitable questions. She never reported the alleged abuse. "Because I loved him," she said. "And I didn't want to lose what we had." He would remind her that without his position, they would not have the life they wanted, she said. A friend and advocate, Kristin Willcut, told the police Frounfelker had her convinced of his power in Jackson, that he was above the law. "I never fought back," the woman said, disputing some contention otherwise. City Manager Patrick Burtch told the detective the two had a "volatile" relationship. "Everyone knows this." He had never seen it, but heard about it. Burtch said Frounfelker was "pretty passive" and the woman was usually the aggressor, Stiles reported. 'It was just miscommunication' Last year, in October, a Jackson police report shows she was arrested for domestic violence and disorderly conduct, but Frounfelker had no visible injuries and she says a loud dispute never escalated to violence. Four times since 2014, police officers responded to reports of domestic situations at 148 W. Michigan Ave. Another time, in June 2017, an unknown caller reported hearing "lots of yelling and banging" and asked police to check on Frounfelker's welfare. In all but two of the instances, police were unable to get into the secure building or make contact with those involved, and did not write reports, records show. Most of the calls were anonymous. At least one involved Frounfelker's former girlfriend, who lives in the same building. She called the police in 2014, but soon wanted to cancel, a record shows. She later talked to an investigating sheriff's deputy and told him it was no more than a verbal argument. On Oct. 13, an unknown called reported a fight. A witness, a guest in their apartment, said Frounfelker's current girlfriend tried to hit Frounfelker with a lamp, a police report states. "Frounfelker stated that (his girlfriend) was very animated, but that he did not feel threatened," the report states. He and the guest left the apartment and blocked the door, trapping her in the apartment, the girlfriend said. She climbed out of the fire escape. She told an officer she thought they left to have sex, but in the interview this week, the woman disputes statements in the police report. They both had a stressful day, she said. They shared strong drinks. "It was just miscommunication between us. It was him and I," she said. Charged with a misdemeanor, she entered a plea, though there is no public record of her case under a statute that spares first-time offenders a criminal conviction. Without entering a judgement of guilt, a judge may defer further proceedings and place the accused on probation. The woman said she wanted a quick resolution. Frounfelker, on the council since 2005, was up for reelection, and she hoped to keep him out of the limelight. "Because I didn't want to put him through a trial," she said. "I wanted him home. I wanted us to be home together, to get past it and move on, move forward." 'He just needs that' She protected him, and she recognized it sounds like she still is. "He just needs that. He needs someone to love him and protect him," she said, at times hanging her head and wiping away tears. Does he today? "I see everything I've put (my daughter) through now, and it breaks my heart," she responded. "If this was her, good God." The woman doesn't know why she cannot be angry. "I don't know when we got to where we got." A mutual attraction She and Frounfelker met through friends and have known each other about five years. There was a mutual attraction and, simultaneously single, they got together about 15 months ago, she said. They connected and he made her happy, said the woman, a divorced mother of two who works in property management. He is a bachelor and a director at Consumers Energy. In him, she saw perfection, she said. She was flighty, silly, smiley, her sister said, noting the stark contrast in her sister's present mood and attitude. "I don't mean to cry," the woman said at the close of the interview. "I mean, that's all I do." She struggles to pinpoint when he hurt her in the months leading up to Frounfelker's arrest, or detail the circumstances. She would confront him about gossip or outside chatter and it upset him. After an incident, he would be cross for a day, she said. They might speak less. But then, he would tell her he loved her, that he was sorry, that their life was going to be great, she said. In court, she talked of hiding bruises behind sunglasses. To her friend and family, she made excuses. "When she told me something, I believed her," her sister said. "Looking back, I am really quite ashamed..." The woman's daughter said there had been so many assaults, she couldn't remember them, according to the police report. "I knew they had problems. I didn't know it was that bad until recently," her daughter said Wednesday. 'We had everything against us' The woman conceded they fought. "Like argue. Like anybody." She said Frounfelker was busy, both with his job at Consumers and with his City Council duties. His life was stressful. On top of this, he was trying to be sure to give his girlfriend attention, she said. "He sometimes didn't know how to handle that." She too had her struggles. She lost her mom last year after a six-month battle with cancer. Her close friend drowned May 1 in Florida. "We had everything against us, the election, my mom, (my friend), two jobs," she said. "Andy and I, we don't handle... stress very well together," she said. Alcohol was a contributing issue, she said, and they talked about counseling, getting out of the public eye and moving out of downtown, in the center of the bar scene, where they frequented Bella Notte Ristorante, the restaurant across the street from their home. They had been there on May 22. Mayor Derek Dobies and the city manager were too. "Dobies stated he didn't see any problems while at the restaurant and everyone seemed to be in good spirits," Stiles reported. "Dobies stated it appeared to be a friendly and happy occasion." 'I probably would have died' It was the woman's birthday on May 23. Frounfelker was angry, apparently about her flippant treatment of a proposal to declare the day in her honor. He had purchased her a tub of quirky birthday gifts, a box of popcorn, a shower rack, and a promise to allot her more space for her clothes. He retrieved it, threw it on the ground. "I don't know what triggered him that night. I don't," the woman said. She said he grabbed her by the hair and dragged her up stairs. He pulled out her extensions. She told a police officer her face, just starting to heal from past bruising, was bouncing off the stairs. He repeatedly punched her and then held her with two hands on her neck against a wall. She fell and he was on top of her, choking her. "So he was looking at my face, which is sad," the woman said. It was then that he said he was going to kill her, she said. She had sent a message to Willcut, who made her way to and then into the apartment building when the woman sent her friend a picture of her battered face. The woman said she convinced Frounfelker to let her go to the door. Someone might hear Willcut and call the police, she told him. "Did I think I was going to leave with her? No," said the woman, taken from the house by her friend and convinced to go to the hospital. "I had never seen Kristin like that before. She was on a mission." Would the woman have otherwise stayed at the apartment? "I probably would have, but I probably would have died," she said. In court, she stopped short of overtly mentioning a threat to kill. She did not want to testify. She was frightened and emotional. She saw Frounfelker and "melted." She wanted to hug him and tell him it would be OK, but she answered questions. "This has to end," she said of the reason. She was unwilling to lie on the stand, not like she had to her friends and relatives, her sister said. The lawyer's questions were direct, targeted to solicit specific information. Wednesday, she provided more context and commentary. She did not fully blame Frounfelker. "It wasn't just one-sided here. I made him mad," she said. This solicited immediate response from her sister. "You didn't deserve this no matter what you did. Don't ever say that. Don't ever think that," she said. "Maybe you deserved to get yelled at, but you did not deserve to get beat. "No victim ever does." JACKSON, MI - Nearly 6,000 people attended the 14th annual Art, Beer and Wine Festival, Presented by County National Bank -- setting an attendance record. Event organizers released the final numbers for the festival, which took place June 2 at Ella Sharp Museum, 3225 Fourth St. They said they were anticipating a crowd of about 4,500. The 2018 event grossed more than $200,000 that will be used for museum operations, including programming and staffing. More than 300 volunteers helped with the festival. Kyle Liechty, festival director, said the turnout quadrupled the attendance for the early years of the event. This year's festival featured more than 150 booths and more than 60 artists. Fifteen musicians performed throughout the day. Diane Gutenkauf, Ella Sharp Museum executive director, said visitors traveled from as far as Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida and Texas to attend the Jackson festival. The 15th Art, Beer and Wine Festival is slated for June 8, 2019. "We're already thinking about how we can make the festival even better next year," Liechty said. MICHIGAN CENTER, MI - A lot of the time, Broc Brown just feels out of place. It's a little hard to go unnoticed when you're 7 foot, 8 inches tall and your head nearly brushes the top of the ceiling of almost every room you walk into. But on Thursday, Brown felt like a king, sitting perhaps for the first time in a chair that actually fits his 500-pound frame. "It's pretty awesome," Brown said, a grin filling his face. "It feels kind of like I'm in a throne." Brown, 21, has Sotos Syndrome, also known as cerebral gigantism, which affects about one in every 15,000 people. Doctors have said he should have a normal life span, but no one is sure when he'll stop growing, his aunt Stacy Snyder said. Until he turned age 18 in 2015 and could no longer "officially" qualify, Brown was in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's tallest teenager. Lippert Components Inc. of Goshen, Ind. designed, made, donated and delivered Brown's new "Broc-sized" chair that now takes up a large portion of the living room in the home he shares with his grandmother. The company is a supplier of components - including seats - for recreation vehicles, buses, boats and more. Bill Snodgrass, a research and development technician, found Brown's story - and struggles - on the internet and wanted to help. "We saw a picture of him in a chair that just didn't fit and said we need to make him a chair he can get in and out of," Snodgrass said. "We had a great time making it and we're really thankful he let us do this for him." The chair was delivered as a surprise on June 14. "Lord have mercy," Brown said, seeing it for the first time. Sotos brings with it struggles beyond extreme growth, such as chronic back and knee pain, Snyder said. Brown's joints don't allow him to stand up straight or straighten his fingers, she said. One of the best features of Brown's new chair is that its seat is high enough he can sit down without "flopping" down into it. It also allows him to get up without having to brace himself on another piece of furniture. "It's a perfect fit," he said. The reinforced steel frame also makes it a lot sturdier than a traditional chair. "We don't have a couch or chair in this house that hasn't been broken," Snyder said. "This is fantastic. It's so nice when people see a need and are willing to help. We are so grateful." ADRIAN, MI - A Jeopardy! champion and former Adrian College professor who hacked college email accounts pleaded guilty to a felony this week. Lenawee County Circuit Judge Margaret Noe is to sentence Stephanie June Jass on July 20. She admitted on Wednesday, June 13, to unauthorized access to a computer, program or network, punishable by a maximum of five years in prison and a large fine. The county prosecutor's office dropped a second charge of using a computer to commit a crime, records show. Efforts on Friday to contact prosecutors and Jass' attorney, Raymond Correll, were not successful. Jass had taken advantage of a campus-wide password reset in the spring of 2017 to see messages sent to or received by President Jeffrey Docking and outgoing Vice President Agnes Caldwell, according to a Michigan State Police report. As a result, she had a document "that consisted of notes and comments and 'problems'" regarding faculty members, a fellow professor told a detective. The coworker learned this during a lunch meeting with Jass in May 2017 at an Adrian Cafe. In an interview with state police Detective Sgt. Rich Cruz of the Cyber Command Center, the fellow professor and whistleblower said Jass' stated acts "felt criminal immediately" and the professor emailed the human resources director the following day. Jass, once an assistant professor of American history, was "terminated with cause," a college spokesman said in January. She admitted to school authorities to accessing the emails of Docking, Caldwell, Assistant Vice President Bridgette Winslow, several unnamed fellow faculty members and students, including her stepson. She made these acknowledgements May 8, 2017 in a meeting, according to a timeline put together by the college and contained in the police report. The college issued a statement after Jass' plea, saying the school is pleased to be able to bring the matter to a close. "Adrian College wishes to sincerely thank the Michigan State Police, specifically its Cyber Command Center, and the Lenawee County Prosecutor's Office for their thorough investigation and for ultimately bringing charges and a conviction in this crime," it states. "Privacy rights are a fundamental principle of our American democracy and Adrian College stands with those who protect these rights." Jass previously was in the news for her success on the TV quiz show hosted by Alex Trebek. She once had the record for most wins by a woman. Jass competed in the champions and Battle of the Decades tournaments. BATTLE CREEK, MI -- Fifty sites throughout the city of Battle Creek and Calhoun County are being tested for elevated levels of manganese after a drinking water advisory was triggered Thursday. Battle Creek is distributing water to families with infants after manganese levels in fire hydrants connected to the water system were higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's acute health advisory level. (Provided by the city of Battle Creek) Tests at the city's water filtration station found no trace of the contaminant, but families are warned not to let infants under 12 months old drink city water. Do not boil water -- it won't remove manganese and could concentrate the amount present. City Manager Rebecca Fleury said "ultra caution," is being practiced. Manganese levels discovered pose no risk to adults or children, but are three times higher than the EPA's health advisory for infants. One case of bottled water per day will be distributed to each family with an infant one year or younger. The Department of Environmental Quality selected 50 water sample sites, spread across residential and commercial locations in the cities of Battle Creek and Springfield and Bedford, Emmett, Leroy, and Pennfield townships. Fleury said samples will be collected by 5 p.m. Friday and hand-delivered to an environmental testing laboratory in Holland. Results are expected to be available within 24 hours, she said, then the DEQ will decide next steps. "We want to make sure we are planning accordingly because we are going into a weekend and a hot weekend at that," Fleury said. "This is uncharted territory." It's not clear when the drinking water advisory could be lifted, the city manager said. It's also unclear how manganese entered the city's water system, or how long the high concentrations existed. Elevated manganese levels were first found at a fire hydrant in the city of Springfield, which buys its water from Battle Creek. Springfield caught the contaminant while testing its water to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act. Every five years, the EPA issues a new list of 30 unregulated contaminants to be monitored by public water systems. Municipalities are required to test for manganese by 2020. When manganese was found at a fire hydrant sampled May 7 between Avenue C and Upton Avenue, the DEQ and EPA required Battle Creek to test nearby hyrdants. Battle Creek sampled hydrants on Upton Avenue on May 30. Testing results for manganese collected in Battle Creek were 0.98 parts per million (ppm), and in Springfield were 0.68 ppm. The health advisory level for children under 12 months old is 0.3 ppm for short-term exposure -- one to 10 days. The health advisory level for adults, and children older than 12 months is 1 ppm for short-term exposure. Adults and children older than a year can metabolize excess manganese, according to the Calhoun County Public Heath Department. Fleury said they should have no issues drinking city water. On June 13, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, DEQ and EPA told the city of Battle Creek to issue a water advisory. A press conference was held June 14. Battle Creek treats its water for manganese at its Verona Pumping Station. Subsequent tests found no evidence of the contaminant, the city said. "We know (manganese is) not coming out at Verona," Fleury said. "We've had a filtration system for decades ... We were 100 percent sure it would come out zero at the treatment plant." According to the city's 2017 water quality report, water is first drawn from a ground water aquifer and sent to be filtered for radon, iron, and manganese. Next, a small amount of phosphate product is added to keep the water from corroding pipes and plumbing. The water is then sent to an underground reservoir, where low doses of fluoride and chlorine are added before the water is pumped out for consumption. The same water is used in homes, businesses and fire hydrants. Mains are flushed with a rapid flow of water every summer to clean the interior of water distribution pipes. Flushing is meant to remove sediments and metals like iron and manganese, Fleury said. Springfield and Battle Creek are in the middle of their hydrant flushing season, Fleury said. "Does this tell us we need to put in new protocols for flushing? This is uncharted territory for all of us," she said. Testing did not show elevated levels in Bedford, Emmett, and Pennfield townships, the city said. The city advises residents: Do not boil the water, as boiling water does not remove manganese, and may increase the amount. Infants under 12 months of age should only be given bottled water for anything they eat or drink, including for making juice, formula, purees, and cereals. Adults and children older than 12 months can use tap water for drinking. Adults and children of any age can continue to bathe and shower, brush their teeth, and wash clothes, food, and dishes in tap water. Families with infants under 1 year old can grab one case of water every 24 hours at the following locations: Battle Creek City Hall, 10 N. Division St. - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday Battle Creek Department of Public Works, 150 S. Kendall St. - 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday Springfield City Hall, 601 Avenue A - 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 14 Emmett Township Department of Public Safety, 621 Cliff St. - 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pennfield Township Fire Station 20230 Capital Ave. NE. The following are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and weekends. Battle Creek Police Department, 20 N. Division St. Fire Station 1, 195 E. Michigan Ave. Fire Station 2, 145 N. Washington Ave. Fire Station 3, 222 Cliff St. Fire Station 4, 8 S. 20th St. Fire Station 5, 1170 W. Michigan Ave. Fire Station 6, 2401 Capital Ave. SW For more information about manganese and health, residents can contact the Calhoun County Public Health Department hotline at 269-969-6852. This hotline will provide general information and contact information, and allow callers to reach health department staff Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents can also call the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services at 800-648-6942, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The city also has set up a hotline, 269-966-3311, which will provide the information and connect callers with Department of Public Works staff, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. COMSTOCK TOWNSHIP, MI -- The memory of Comstock Township Fire Chief Ed Switalski was not forgotten one year after his death when the community came together to honor the fallen beloved member of Comstock. First responders from neighboring departments gathered at the fire station Thursday, June 14 to celebrate the life of Switalski on the one-year anniversary of his death. "There's not a day that goes by that you don't remember his bubbly attitude," Comstock Fire Deputy Chief Dave Wuis said while fighting back tears. "He was pretty carefree. He loved everyone." Switalski, 55, was killed in action Wednesday, June 14, 2017 while responding to a vehicle crash on Interstate 94 in Kalamazoo County. He was on the shoulder of the road, standing near a fire truck in the road with its lights flashing, when a sedan struck and killed him. Firefighters, emergency medical responders, sheriff's deputies, police officers and community members shared stories of Switalski, while eating cake and admiring the newest memorial to their fallen friend. A glass case with Switalski's uniform, helmet, an American flag and his badges will live in the station forever as a reminder to both veteran and new staff of the former chief, Wuis said. "There are a lot of new and impressionable firefighters, and this is something they need to see," Wuis said. The driver who killed him, Brandon Clevenger, has been sentenced to 3 1/2 to 15 years in prison. Clevenger, 24, of Springfield, pleaded guilty Dec. 14 to one count of reckless driving causing death. Police said Clevenger was driving 90 miles per hour and was distracted by his cell phone in the moments that led up to the crash that killed Switalski in the eastbound lanes of I-94 near the 81-mile marker. Some firefighters who worked with Switalski are still struggling every day since the accident, Assistant Chief Mike Dyer said. "This kind of thing has completely crippled departments," he said. But the Comstock department is following Switalski's mantra of "Keep moving forward." "This has made us stronger," Dyer said. Dyer said since the crash that killed Switalski, he is more tentative while responding to crashes on the highway. "It scares me to the death to go out on I-94," he said. "I'm always double checking my back." As for his lasting legacy, the department hopes to educate drivers on the importance of slowing down and moving over when passing by emergency personnel. But unfortunately, responders throughout the country still get struck on a regular basis, Wuis said. Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller said the highways are dangerous for any pedestrian. "We try and remind people, that's our office," he said. "We ask people to respect the men and women of the emergency services and slow down. Slow down when you see a situation, when you see the lights. Pull off to the right like you're supposed to when you see the emergency lights and sirens." "This is a brotherhood," Fuller said about the shared comradery between the departments. The officers, emergency responders and firefighters all work together at scenes of accidents, he said. "He was a great community partner, and we will all miss him," Fuller said. "For a very long time, we will always remember that when we turned at any of these scenes, there was Ed." KALAMAZOO, MI -- Voters had their first solid look at four Democrats running for Congress in Michigan's 6th District during a Thursday forum. David Benac, Rich Eichholz, George Franklin and Matt Longjohn appeared in front of approximately 75 people at a Kalamazoo event hosted by the League of Women Voters. The candidates showed themselves to be varying shades of blue, generally standing close on broad progressive policies while attempting to differentiate themselves in the details. Benac, a Western Michigan University history professor, positioned himself as a grassroots organizer focused on enacting transformative progressive change in Washington. Eichholz, a biologist and sustainable energy CEO, spoke from the perspective of a scientist seeking evidence-based solutions. Franklin, a former lobbyist for Kellogg, emphasized longtime political and local partnerships and his involvement in community-building programs in Southwest Michigan. Longjohn, a former national health officer for the YMCA, highlighted his 20-year career building coalitions to improve health outcomes in hundreds of cities. The candidates solicited nearly two hours of questions, covering everything from social security, healthcare, gun control, immigration, climate change, banking regulations, and working with the GOP and an adversarial president. Of course, there was one thing they all could agree on: Longtime Republican incumbent Fred Upton should be replaced. The winner of the Aug. 7 primary election will face Upton in November. Here's a few highlights and policy positions discussed by each of the candidates, in alphabetical order. DAVID BENAC Benac said he is running to restore the Democratic party's commitment to represent the working class. He supported progressive initiatives like single-payer universal health care and committing to achieving 100 percent renewable energy. "We need to demonstrate that we as a people are going to rise up and demand something better instead of just accept what the (political) donors tell us what we can have," Benac said. Climate change is the "most significant threat to the future of humankind," Benac said. He said Congress needs to pass H.R.3671, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii. The bill transitions from fossil fuel energy sources to clean energy resources by requiring a phased approach from 2027-2035. It would end fossil fuel subsidies, and extend tax credits for solar and wind farms. By 2035, the bill would require 100 percent of vehicle sales from manufacturers to be zero-emission vehicles and all train rail lines and engines electrified by 2035. Benac criticized Michigan senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow from being among 16 Democrats to pass legislation to rewrite parts of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act, the financial regulation overhaul enacted in response to the 2008 financial crisis. He said Benac said teachers shouldn't have to carry weapons to prevent school shootings, and supported stronger background checks on gun sales. However, he also said the country needs to focus on things that drive people to despair, causing them to lash out violently. RICH EICHHOLZ Eichholz said he's focused on strengthening the economy, creating a jobs program similar to the Works Progress Administration and developing internet and modern telecommunications infrastructure. "100 years ago we heated our homes with coal, electricity was spotty and no one conceived of anything called the internet," he said. "Those incredible changes (since) are the collaboration between government and the free markets. I believe we can still do that this next century." Each of the candidates supported eliminating a cap on the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax. Eichholz proposed opening up the country's immigration process to add more workers paying into the system -- offseting a swell of retiring baby boomers. Every wave of immigration has added to the country's economy, he said. Eichholz and the other candidates also called on Congress to give DACA recipients a path to citizenship. Eichholz supports recalling the Dickey Amendment, which he said effectively prevents the Center for Disease Control from funding gun violence research. "It's galling to me that we're saying we don't want to know," Eichholz said. "I think science and facts should inform, maybe not determine, our policies and laws." GEORGE FRANKLIN Franklin took several hard policy stances, punctuated by concise declarative statements. Touting endorsements from former Michigan governors and congressional representatives, Franklin presented himself as someone already entrenched in Democratic policy-making. He said Upton should join an ACLU lawsuit challenging U.S. immigration authorities for separating parents from their children. He said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson should be fired. He supported a ban on assault weapons. "It is sheer madness that a 19-year-old kid can buy an assault weapon like he's buying a cheeseburger," Franklin. All of the candidates supported mandatory background checks and red flag laws that allow a judge to issue an order enabling law enforcement to confiscate guns from individuals deemed a risk to themselves or others. Franklin took a little heat for suggesting that the government partner with private entities to distribute nutrition assistance programs. He clarified after the forum that organizations like Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes have a built-in distribution network that should be taken advantage of. He pledged to bring integrity and ethics to Washington. MATT LONGJOHN Longjohn opened the forum by saying his campaign is about providing a sharp contrast with Upton, who has become "increasingly out of touch." Upton needs to be held accountable for efforts to defund Planned Parenthood, his positive rating with the National Rifle Association and corporate connections, Longjohn said. By extension, he said Upton's seat is the best way to resist President Donald Trump's "unhinged racist agenda," particularly on immigration. The Portage physician highlighted his experience running community health programs as the first national health officer of the YMCA. Longjohn said he's focused on improving the "health and quality of life for everyone in this district and around the country." Longjohn spoke about providing better and cheaper health care, but said improving social outcomes and the environment is also necessary. Prevention should be the focus of health care policy, he said. The candidates agreed that it's time for a costly war on drugs to end. Longjohn called for marijuana to be legalized and taken off Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. He said too many African-American men have been imprisoned for nonviolent drug crimes. More needs to be done to protect renters from predatory rental markets and modern segregatory housing practices, Longjohn said. KALAMAZOO, MI -- Kalamazoo Public Schools students could see an additional nine staff members in their schools who are there to help them cope with mental health and social issues. The nine staff members, whose positions were presented to the Board of Education Thursday, June 14, as part of the 2018-19 preliminary budget proposal, will assist district staff with student needs both in and outside classrooms. If the budget is passed by the board June 28, three additional social workers and six new mental health therapists will work for the school district. "These positions are critical given the fact the world has become a more complicated place. It's become a more challenging place," Superintendent Michael Rice said. "We've got more children nationally who are struggling ... You see this manifest in Newtown Connecticut, Parkland, Florida, in Colorado, and in many other places prior to that. There's just more children who are struggling with mental health challenges." The social workers are paid for by the school's state at-risk funding, while the therapists are funded through the Michigan Health Endowment Fund in partnership with local nonprofits Community in Schools of Kalamazoo and Family and Children Services. There are currently five social workers working for the district and four mental health therapists. Students are in school 1,098 hours out of every year, which is about an eighth of their year, Rice said. While the school has them only for a limited amount of time, they have a chance to impact lives. "We, more than any other institution, have children in numbers. We may be the only institution that gets to wrap our arms around a given child," he said. "Though we are not the perfect vehicle for addressing those challenges, we may be the best vehicle in society for addressing them." While some students are in church, temple or mosque -- or play a sport or participate in the arts -- many students are connected with only one organization, and that's their school, Rice said. "So in spite of the inadequate time, in spite of the inadequate financial resources, we may be the best vehicle to address some of our kids' needs in our community," he said. "So it's incumbent upon us to continue to improve how we do, what we do with our kids." Amanda Miller, president of the Kalamazoo Education Association union representing local teachers, called the addition of the new positions "excellent." The push for more funding for mental health services in schools is something the union has advocated for a long time, she said. Miller said teachers who are having to take time away from delivering curriculum to the entire class to be a social worker or mentor to specific students are less able to do their job. They are wearing a lot of different hats and can become burned out, she said. "I can't be all those things," said Miller, who worked as a teacher for 18 years before becoming the union president. Kids today are playing less and spending more time indoors with technology, she said. Their lack of problem-solving skills and short attention spans means they aren't coming to school with the skills they need to succeed. "They blow up. They get angry fast," Miller said about their frustration when things don't move fast enough. If a kid is misbehaving so badly, they must be removed from the classroom. They are told to cool off before coming back to class, she said. "They need to be pushed out to someone that can process," Miller said. "They can come back with skills that will help them do better. Right now, it's just push out, cool off, shove back in. That's just a revolving door. "As a little kid, that would make you feel that no one cares about you. It would be tough. You need someone to talk to if you're a little child not knowing why you're feeling like that, why you're exploding and feeling upset." When Kalamazoo's teachers were surveyed this year, safety and security in schools was a top concern, she said. "Adding mental health services is definitely a step in the right direction," Miller said. "That's really exciting." Board President Patti Sholler-Barber said the proposed budget puts money where the community cares most: supporting teachers and security of students. "This is a very precarious time for public schools and the incidents that take place," Sholler-Barber said during the board meeting. "To identify needs and to help teachers identify needs and to be aware, I think that's a huge and very responsible part of this budget. "I think it's is extremely focused on achievement and security of our students which is why we are all sitting behind this table." LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP, MI -- A minivan rolled over during a crash and landed on the legs of a back-seat passenger who was ejected, the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office reports. At 10:46 a.m. Thursday, June 14, deputies responded to the intersection of U.S. 131 and Wilbur Road for a crash. Investigation showed that a Ford Escape, driven by a 20-year-old man, ran a red light traveling west and struck a southbound minivan, driven by a 66-year-old man, in the intersection. The collision caused the minivan to go into the ditch on the west side of the road and roll over, police said. A back-seat passenger in the minivan, a 32-year-old woman, was ejected from the vehicle and it came to a rest on top of her legs. She was flown to Bronson Methodist hospital in Kalamazoo for treatment of her injuries. Two other occupants of the minivan were transported to Bronson Methodist hospital by ambulance. The driver of the Escape was arrested and lodged at the St. Joseph County Jail for multiple driving offenses, police said, and further charges could follow at a later date. The Fabius/Park Township Fire Department, Three Rivers Fire Department, Three Rivers Police Department, West Michigan Aircare, and Michigan State Police assisted the sheriff's office. PLAINWELL, MI -- The man who police said robbed a PNC Bank in Plainwell and left behind a bag he indicated was a bomb, was located and arrested early this morning while walking along U.S. 131, north of Kalamazoo. Police said the 51-year-old Florida man was spotted by Michigan State Police on the highway, south of M-222, around 1 a.m. Friday, June 15. He is expected to face federal charges, and is being held at the Allegan County Jail pending arraignment. Police were dispatched around 10:55 a.m. Thursday, June 14, to a report of a bank robbery at PNC Bank, 131 N. Main Street, in Plainwell. Witnesses told police that the man walked in and handed a teller a note indicating he had a bomb. The man escaped with an undisclosed amount of money. He left northbound from downtown, and left behind a backpack. Police locked down the downtown area and brought in a Michigan State Police Bomb Squad, which determined that the bag only contained clothing. Downtown Plainwell reopened Thursday afternoon. ROSS TOWNSHIP, MI -- Three Ross Township board members could face a recall election after proposed petition language was filed with the Kalamazoo County Clerk's Office this week. If enough signatures are collected and petition language is approved, voters will decide whether to recall Treasurer Cynthia Genung, Trustee Sidney Durham and Trustee Diana Langshaw in the upcoming November general election. Linda Walters submitted the petitions Thursday, June 14, on behalf of Ross Township for Sustainable Development, a recently created resident group. "Our rights and our options were taken away when the board decided to hijack the township and run with it," Walters said. The group is seeking to recall Genung, Durham and Langshaw because they voted to approve Ordinance 209, which authorizes medical marijuana facilities in certain zoning districts, and failed to obtain "meaningful public feedback" before approving medical marijuana ordinances. Walters said residents also targeted the other members of the board for recall, but each is serving a two-year partial term ending in November, and therefore safe from recall challenges. Kalamazoo County Clerk Tim Snow explained elected officials in Michigan cannot be recalled within the last six months of their terms. Genung and Langshaw both said Thursday that they were reluctant to speak publicly about the recall effort. MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette was unable to reach Durham. "All I know now is I've done the best job I feel I can do," Langshaw said. "These people are going to wake up and find out there is a lot of work to this job." Ordinance 209 allows growers, processors, secure transporters and safety compliance facilities in industrial districts. Growers -- and processors when on the same site as a grower facility -- are allowed as special uses in rural residential districts and agricultural preservation districts. "Our fight is not (against) pot, it's against industrial facilities in Ross Township," Walters said. "It was all done under the table and the public was not notified." Township board agendas and minutes show discussion on medical marijuana started in January 2017. Lynn Harmon, a 2018 trustee candidate and spokesperson for the Ross Township group, said residents should have paid closer attention to their government. But people trusted their elected officials to keep industrial uses out like marijuana processors out of agricultural zones, Harmon said. The agenda for the Nov. 14, 2017, meeting where the board adopted an ordinance allowing medical marijuana is not available online. Other decisions were listed on publicly available agendas. The recall petition states that allowing medical marijuana growers in the rural residential zone violates the state's medical marijuana facilities licensing act, passed in 2016. State law makes it clear that growers can only operate in an area zoned for industrial or agricultural uses. Agricultural production is a permitted use in rural residential zoning district. Harmon said medical marijuana should only be allowed in the township's industrial zones. Tuesday, the Ross Township Board of Trustees repealed Ordinance 205, which legalizes medical marijuana facilities and sets a process for obtaining permission to open them. The zoning ordinance was not repealed. It will go back to the planning commission for review. This is the residents' chance to change where medical marijuana facilities can open. Harmon said they want to be a part of the process. "Part of what we would like is to know what is (the board's) hidden agenda, because that is what it feels like," she said. "What is the vision for what you want to accomplish? Let's have a dialogue. This is not a dictatorship." Though Harmon and Walters said they don't have an issue with medical marijuana, some members of the group don't want the product in Ross Township whatsoever. Her concerns lie in security, energy consumption and the effect on property values, Harmon said. "It's not the crop, its the industrialization," Harmon said. "We wouldn't want a meat processing plant (in rural residential zones)." Walters said repealing Ordinance 205 had "no bearing" on the petition decision. "As far as we see it, the fight has just begun," she said. "We are all fighting for our homes and the community we love." The group needs to acquire 561 signatures; equal to 25 percent of the votes cast in the 2014 gubernatorial election. There were around 4,150 registered voters in the 2016 election. MUSKEGON, MI - It's "Powerboat Weekend" in Muskegon with a static display of boats downtown and then a parade of boats in the Muskegon Channel. The festivities get underway Friday, June 15, with a "Powerboat Street Party" featuring 15 boats on display near Hackley Park, the site of the Taste of Muskegon event. "See boats with incredible paint designs, engine horsepower up to 2,700, while tasting some of Muskegon's best food and beverage," said Roger Zuidema, board member of West Michigan Offshore, host of the weekend fund-raising event. Even more boats will be on display Saturday, June 16, when they travel through Muskegon Lake and out the Muskegon Channel on their way for a Poker Run. The boats - about 80 are expected to participate - will gather outside the Shoreline Inn on Muskegon Lake at noon Saturday before embarking on the "Parade of Power" through the Muskegon Channel. The boats will head north to White Lake for their first poker run stop and then south to Grand Haven for the second stop. Boats will be returning to Muskegon between 2-4 p.m. Saturday and will be making poker run stops at the USS Silversides submarine in the Muskegon Channel and the USS LST 393 Landing Ship, Hartshorn Marina and Great Lakes Marina on Muskegon Lake. "If you want to see some awesome boats up close, stop by any of these places," Zuidema said. Boats will be around the area Sunday, June 17, though no formal events are planned. They will be hanging out near the Muskegon Channel breakwall, off of Muskegon State Park, at Dockers, Lake House Waterfront Grille and Bear Lake Tavern. The Powerboat Weekend expects to raise $6,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Those who want to be in the middle of the action, can board the Port City Princess for its Charity Powerboat Parade Cruise. The Princess will lead the powerboat parade out the channel to Lake Michigan, leaving its port at the Mart Dock at 11:30 a.m. Saturday and returning at 1:30 p.m. The Port City Princess cruise is free, but a $20 suggested donation is appreciated. For reservations, email portcitycruises@hotmail.com. More information about the Powerboat Weekend is available by clicking here. OCEANA COUNTY, MI - The trial of a man accused of fatally shooting a teenager during a hunting outing was abruptly stopped Thursday after the judge declared a mistrial. Oceana County Circuit Judge Robert D. Springstead halted the trial of Roger Erick Hoeker after it was determined neither the prosecution nor defense knew of a sheriff's office report of the Feb. 18, 2017, incident. The teen, 13-year-old William "Billy" Gort Jr. of Wyoming, was fatally shot while on a small game hunting outing with Hoeker and another 13-year-old boy. Oceana County Prosecutor Joseph Bizon is prosecuting Hoeker for reckless discharge of a firearm. He had pursued an involuntary manslaughter charge, but a district court judge rejected the more serious charge in favor of the reckless discharge charge. Involuntary manslaughter is a felony carrying a potential 15-year prison sentence, while reckless discharge of a firearm is a high-court misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in prison. Hoeker, 63, of Jenison was a Michigan hunter safety instructor and mentor with the outreach program Christianity Outdoors. His defense claimed that the bullet that struck Gort in the head had possibly ricocheted off a tree. Bizon said he doesn't believe there was a ricochet. Hoeker was hunting that day with a small-caliber rifle while the boys had shotguns, the Michigan State Police reported earlier. Bizon had called a deputy with the Oceana County Sheriff's Office to the stand during Hoeker's trial Thursday, June 14. It was during the deputy's testimony that it became apparent there was a sheriff's office report and audio disc regarding the case that neither the prosecution nor defense were aware of, Bizon said. The defense requested a mistrial over the evidence "discovery" issue, and the judge agreed one was needed. Bizon said a second trial will be scheduled. "I think it was the best decision," Bizon said of the judge's ruling. "I don't think it will affect my case, but I think it was the right thing to do." The issue centered on the "defendant's right to a fair trial," he said. "I do not want to go through, get a conviction and two years later have an appeals court overturn it," he said. The deputy was the fourth of about 15 witnesses the prosecution planned to call, Bizon said. The prosecutor's office had been working with the Michigan State Police's lead investigator on the case, who also was unaware the deputy's report existed, Bizon said. "It was an unfortunate miscommunication among everybody involved," Bizon said. "We just didn't know about it." Frank J. "Ace" Schalk SAGINAW, MI -- When Frank J. "Ace" Schalk saw a Michigan State Police patrol vehicle, he allegedly thought his best course of action was to crash his minivan and run into a marshy wilderness. In short order, a police dog tracked him down amid the foliage on the sun-blazing afternoon. He's now added a new criminal charge to go along with his diverse array of prior convictions. The 43-year-old Bay City man on Friday, June 15, appeared before Saginaw County District Judge M. Randall Jurrens for arraignment on one count of assaulting, resisting, or obstructing police. The charge is a two-year felony. Schalk on Thursday morning was driving a minivan on River Road (M-13) near the Saginaw-Bay County border. A state trooper passed him going the opposite direction and noticed his vehicle had a cracked windshield. The trooper turned around in an attempt to stop the vehicle. However, Schalk crashed his minivan near the Crow Island State Game Area just inside Saginaw County and then fled on foot into the verdant landscape. Numerous troopers responded and set up a perimeter. A state police K9 Unit also responded to the scene and began tracking Schalk's scent. After about 35 minutes, the dog located Schalk and troopers arrested him without incident, according to Special 1st Lt. David Kaiser. Schalk's lengthy rap sheet includes at least 11 felony convictions dating back to 1995. That year, he was convicted in Bay County of five arson-related charges and single counts of breaking and entering and larceny from a motor vehicle, for which he received prison time. Schalk in 2008 was returned to prison on convictions of larceny from a person and receiving and concealing stolen property. In 2013, he returned to prison yet again on a conviction of breaking and entering a vehicle to steal between $1,000 and $20,000. Most recently, Schalk in November 2016 was sentenced to a year of probation on a conviction of delivering or manufacturing marijuana, a result of him growing two marijuana plants in his garage in the 300 block of West Ivy Street. The Michigan Department of Corrections discharged him, however, "without improvement" in early 2017. Judge Jurrens set Schalk's bond at $3,000 cash-surety or 10 percent. He is to appear for a preliminary examination at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 28. Patrick A. Erdmann SAGINAW, MI -- A man who prosecutors allege shot and stabbed his dad to death in their rural Saginaw County home is no longer charged with murder after he was found incompetent for a fifth time. Saginaw County District Judge A.T. Frank on Thursday, June 14, signed an order of dismissal in the case of 41-year-old Patrick A. Erdmann. Erdmann had been charged with one case of open murder, which contains both first- and second-degree murder. Frank's ruling comes on the heels of Saginaw County Probate Judge Patrick J. McGraw on May 30 signing a civil commitment order for Erdmann. That order stipulates Erdmann is to continue undergoing treatment at the Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Ypsilanti for 60 days. After the 60-day period is up, McGraw will preside over another hearing to further assess Erdmann's mental state. If Erdmann still isn't well enough to be released, the judge can order he be committed for another 180 days. Prosecutors believe Erdmann killed his 60-year-old father, David Erdmann, in December 2016 inside their home in Marion Township. The elder Erdmann had called 911 the night of Dec. 3, saying a family member was acting erratic. The next day, police found David Erdmann dead inside his home, his body perforated with numerous bullet holes and stab wounds. That same morning, Michigan State Police troopers arrested Patrick Erdmann after he was driving the wrong way on I-94 near Ann Arbor and nearly struck a patrol vehicle, investigators previously said. Erdmann told investigators he had killed his father, adding that he was "God" and his father was "Donald Trump," according to police reports. Erdmann's attorney, Frank J. Manley, first made a motion for his competency to be evaluated at the Forensic Center on Dec. 15. The court on March 7, 2017, first ruled Erdmann incompetent for trial, though the mental health professional who examined said it was likely his competency could be restored within a statutory 15-month period. As a result, the court ordered Erdmann to undergo treatment at the Forensic Center. The court ruled Erdmann incompetent three more times between March 7 and Thursday's hearing. Under Michigan law, a defendant found incompetent has 15 months to regain competency in cases where charges may result in life imprisonment, unless prosecutors decline to pursue the case. If a defendant is found competent before the deadline, the case against him or her continues. However, if a defendant can't be made competent within the 15-month period, he or she is sent back to the Forensic Center. In those cases, defendants undergo treatment until Forensic Center staff deem they are no longer a danger to themselves or others. At that point, the case can proceed to trial, regardless of how many years might have elapsed since the crime was committed. "The prosecution can then seek a petition from the court to reinstate charges," said Nathan J. Collison, chief appellate attorney in the Saginaw County Prosecutor's Office. "If we do that, the court has to order (Erdmann) to be reassessed and that assessment can either be done at the Forensic Center or any other qualified facility." As there is not statute of limitation for murder, there is no deadline for the charge to be reinstated. To go a step further, if prosecutors seek to reinstate their charge against Erdmann, his defense counsel can still argue at trial that Erdmann is not guilty by reason of insanity. In such instances, though, the burden of proof is shifted from the prosecution to the defense, as the defense is essentially admitting the crime itself occurred, but the defendant's mental state at the time precludes him or her from being held legally responsible. The task before the defense, then, is to prove the defendant was insane, rather than for the prosecution to prove the defendant was sane. Insanity, under Michigan law, means a person lacks the capacity to know right from wrong or act in accordance with the law. When a defendant is found not guilty by reason of insanity, he or she can again be referred to the Forensic Center for indefinite treatment. Once staff consider the patient psychologically fit, he or she can be released but cannot be retried, as jeopardy had been attached. WASHINGTON -- Paul Manafort, the former head of President Donald Trump's campaign has been jailed ahead of his trial for charges of tax evasion, bank fraud, money-laundering conspiracy and acting as an unregistered foreign agent. Manafort was ordered to jail Friday by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson after newly filed obstruction of justice charges in relation to the charges previously brought against him. "You have abused the trust placed in you six months ago," Jackson said. Manafort and associate Konstantin Kilimnik are accused of trying to coerce witnesses into lying about the nature of their Ukrainian political work, according to the Associated Press. Prosecutors say Manafort and Kilimnik tried to get the two witnesses to say that lobbying work carried out by clandestinely paid former politicians only occurred in Europe and not the U.S., a contention the two witnesses said they knew to be false. Prior to Friday, Manafort was living under house arrest while he awaited trial. Manafort becomes the first person to be jailed as part of special investigator Robert Mueller's investigation into the Trump campaign and possible ties to Russian hacking of the 2016 election. That investigation also allows for Mueller to bring charges on other illegal activities discovered during the process that may not be directly connected to Russian interference. Manafort was indicted for his Ukrainian political work, money he funneled through offshore accounts and loans he took out on property in the U.S. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders speaks during the daily press briefing at the White House, Tuesday, June 5, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) The Wayland Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors Committee recently put on an appreciation dinner for local law enforcement officers, including those who are retired and their families. The third annual event took place at the Centennial Barn in Wayland, and was catered by several West Michigan restaurants, delis and bakeries. Allegan County Sheriff Frank Baker attended the event. "The Sheriff's Office is fortunate to have this type of community support. Law enforcement has the greatest success when the community is a partner working together to make a difference," Baker said in a news release. Baker went on to say that he truly appreciates the hard work it took by the Wayland Chamber of Commerce, local businesses and the community to make the dinner happen. The chronicle of a life split between urban Manhattan and rural Montana. "When there's no owner, the only method left to us to acquire it, is eminent domain," said solicitor Jack Dooley. "The first step in that, is to obtain an approval to get a certified appraiser to tell us what the... Letter to editor: Congress can get this right By By: Dr. Francis R. Souder, 85, formerly of Telford, died Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007 in the skilled nursing unit of Peter Becker Community, Franconia Township. He and his wife Marion R. (Parker) Souder celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary in July. Born in Souderton, he was a son of the late Elvin B. and Mary (Rittenhouse) Souder. A 1938 graduate of Souderton High School, he received his undergraduate degree in 1941 from the University of Pennsylvania where he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa. Dr. Souder went on to receive his medical degree from Hahnemann Medical College in 1944 and completed his internship at Hahnemann Hospital from Oct. 1944 July, 1945. He served with the U.S. Navy Medical Corps for 30 months in San Diego and Long Beach, Calif. during WW II and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant prior to his discharge. He entered his second tour of duty during the Korean War where he served in Panama City, Fla. as the medical officer for the Panama City Naval Air Station and the Tyndal Air Force Base. Dr. Souder owned and operated his family practice on Main Street in Telford from 1947-1989. He served on the staff of Grand View Hospital, and as its president, and taught at the Grand View Hospital Nursing School. He was a member of the Pa. Medical Society, the Bucks County Medical Society, Diplomat American Academy of Family Practices, and served on the board of trustees at Grand View Hospital, Sellersville. He was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ in Telford, where he sang in the church choir. He was also a member of the MacCalla Lodge #596 in Souderton, the Raja Shrine, and Lehigh Consistory. In addition to his widow, he is survived by a son, Dr. Ronald L. Souder, and his wife Susan L. of Green Lane; a daughter, Susan J. Souder, and her husband Stephan Russo of New York, N.Y.; five grandchildren: Jennifer A. Souder of Philadelphia; Emily E. Souder of Philadelphia; Kathryn A. Souder of Washington, D.C.; Noah Russo of New York, N.Y., and Rebekah Russo of New York, N.Y., and two brothers: Attorney Elvin B. Souder of Souderton and Dr. Lawrence Souder of Souderton. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 12 p.m. in Trinity United Church of Christ, 101 S. Main St., Telford, with calling hours following the service. Interment will be private in Trinity UCC Cemetery Telford. Memorial contributions may be made to Grand View Hospital, 700 Lawn Ave., Sellersville, Pa. 18960. Arrangements are by Sadler-Suess Funeral Home, Telford. June 15, 2018 Jordan Shows Gratitude For Saudi Gift By Planting Fake News Politicians like to manipulate news outlets for their purposes. Below is a nice little example of how this works. Today the Saudi owned fish-wrap Al Arabiya tweeted this: Al Arabiya English @AlArabiya_Eng - 11:12 AM - 15 Jun 2018 #Jordan withdraws ambassador from #Iran: Source tells Al Arabiya English: There is no intention to name another Jordanian envoy in #Tehran at the time, the source said. http://ara.tv/n4ngn That tweet made me curious. I was pretty sure that Jordan had withdrawn its ambassador from Iran quite a while ago. Indeed - on April 18 2016 several outlets had reported such: Jordan follows Riyadh's lead and recalls Iran ambassador Abdullah Abu Rumman, Jordan's ambassador to Iran, has been recalled to Amman over Tehran's policies towards Arab countries, said Mohammed Momani, the government spokesperson. An Iranian contact confirms to me that there has been no Jordanian ambassador in Iran since April 2016. What happened? The Al Arabiya link goes to a page with the URL: https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2018/06/15/Jordan-withdraws-ambassador-from-Iran-Source-tells-Al-Arabiya.html The original headline of the piece, visible in the URL, was "Jordan withdraws ambassador from Iran: Source tells Al Arabiya". It has since been changed to: Jordan wont name an ambassador to Iran: Source tells Al Arabiya English A high-ranking Jordanian source told Al Arabiya English on Friday that Jordan transferred its ambassador Abdullah Abu Rumman from Iran to the Jordanian Foreign Ministry headquarters in Amman based on a decision by the Jordanian cabinet. There is no intention to name another Jordanian envoy in Tehran at the time, the source told Al Arabiya English. Commenting on the decisions circumstances, the source reiterated: Jordans fixed position from Iranian policies which include interfering in the affairs of the regions countries, and voiced Jordans concern over the security of the regions countries particularly of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Saudi Arabias security is (part) of our security, he said, adding: We are concerned over our Arab and Gulf depth. In response to a question from Al Arabiya English, Jordans Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi stressed that the security and stability of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is part of the security and stability of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. ... It seems to me that the "high-ranking Jordanian source", very likely the later quoted Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, scammed Al Arabiya. He used vague wording to insinuated that Jordan just now recalled its ambassador from Iran when that in fact had happened two years ago. It took a while for Al Arabiya to recognize that it had been had and to change its headline. A week ago I wrote about how U.S.-Saudi Pressure On Jordan Opens The Way For Iran. Jordan is in economic and political trouble. It needs financial sponsors. Saudi Arabia and the U.S., its traditional donors, are pressing for an Israel policy that the Jordan's King can not support. I speculated that this might give an opening for Iran. But the Jordan king decided differently. He went to Saudi Arabia, met the Saudi King and received a nice package to help him over his budget difficulties. On June 10 Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait coughed up fresh money for Jordan: Saudi Arabia and two Persian Gulf nations pledged $2.5 billion to help support Jordans economy after a proposed income-tax increase sparked some of the largest protests since the Arab Spring in 2011. The package of aid will include a deposit in the Central Bank of Jordan, guarantees to the World Bank on Jordan and annual support for the Jordanian governments budget for five years, according to a statement posted on the state-run Saudi Press Agency website. Qatar is currently in a cold war with Saudi Arabia but it wants to stay in the traditional Gulf competition of collecting favors: AMMAN, Jordan (AP) Jordan's royal court says Qatar's foreign minister has promised to invest $500 million in infrastructure projects in the kingdom and provide 10,000 jobs for Jordanians in his country. The combination of the false Al Arabiya tweet and the recent shower of money for Jordan led some to speculate that the presumed "recall" of the ambassador from Iran was part of a deal. Borzou Daragahi @borzou - 10:53 AM - 15 Jun 2018 Days after Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait hand Jordan $2.5 billion, Amman reportedly pulls its ambassador to Iran, says @AlArabiya, citing unnamed sources --- Aaron Magid @AaronMagid - 11:25 AM - 15 Jun 2018 Days after Jordan receives $2.5 billion from Saudi Arabia & Arab gulf countries, Amman withdraws its ambassador from Iran, reports @AlArabiya_ --- Guy Elster @guyelster - 11:15 AM - 15 Jun 2018 #Jordan reportedly withdraws its ambassador from #Iran, probably under pressure from Saudi Arabia (maybe Israel also) Daragahi, Magid and Elster are so called journalists who regularly write about the Middle East. Jordan's foreign minister played this well. After his country received money from the Saudis it needed to publicly show gratitude. The foreign minister calls Al Arabiya and plants the "Jordan withdraws ambassador from Iran" myth by making the old news of the ambassador recall from Iran look like fresh action. Al Arabiya and various so called journalists fall for it and spread the news that Jordan indeed appreciates the Saudi gift and follows Saudi policy directives. In reality Jordan did nothing. This was an excellent public relation maneuver. People with little knowledge of Middle Eastern politics or a short memory evidently fell for it. To others it is another lecture on why one can not trust the 'news'. Posted by b on June 15, 2018 at 16:00 UTC | Permalink Comments Welcome to Morningstar.co.uk! You have been redirected here from Hemscott.com as we are merging our websites to provide you with a one-stop shop for all your investment research needs.To search for a security, type the name or ticker in the search box at the top of the page and select from the dropdown results.Registered Hemscott users can log in to Morningstar using the same login details. Similarly, if you are a Hemscott Premium user, you now have a Morningstar Premium account which you can access using the same login details. China and Rwanda hold discussions on reinforcing defense ties between them A military delegation from China led by Major General Zhang Yingli was in Rwanda last week to hold discussions with Rwandan counterparts on improvement of exchange and cooperation between the two countries' respective ministries of defense. The bilateral discussions on defense issues took place at the Rwandan Defence Ministry's headquarters in Kigali. General James Kabarebe, Rwanda's minister of defense, and General Patrick Nyamvumba, chief of the defense staff, led the Rwandan delegation. Kabarebe applauded the good relations between Rwanda and China, and the two sides agreed to strengthen their excellent military cooperation. Currently, the two countries have military cooperation in training and logistics. A number of Rwandan officers in various military fields have trained in China. China has increased its participation in multinational peacekeeping and has sent troops and civilian personnel on United Nations peacekeeping missions in Africa. Zhang commended Rwanda's participation in promoting peace and security in Africa through peacekeeping engagements. "This is clearly a common interest for China and Rwanda alike", Zhang said. With more than 4,000 troops and over 400 peacekeeping police officers, Rwanda is the sixth-highest contributor of troops and police to the UN efforts, the third-highest contributor of female police officers and the second-highest African contributor of female police officers. For the UN mission in South Sudan, Rwanda has more than 3,000 troops and police officers. The Rwandan peacekeepers are appreciated for their professionalism and high level of commitment to their work. China's participation in global security has been on the increase since 2015, when President Xi Jinping announced China's commitment of 8,000 troops to the UN peacekeeping standby force, a contribution of $100 million to the African Union's standby force and an additional financial commitment of $1 billion to establish the UN Peace and Development Trust Fund. China and Rwanda are therefore key players in peacekeeping operations aimed at improving peace and security on the African continent. The setting up of China's first overseas military base in Africa, in Djibouti, will enable quick troop and logistical deployment whenever there is need to contribute troops to peacekeeping operations in Africa. In addition, the Africa military base enables China to easily take part in joint military exercises with friendly countries on the continent and to combat terrorism. The People's Liberation Army is the largest military force in the world. China is said to be developing a modern "blue water" Navy - a maritime force operating in open seas around the world - and this is a step up in China's contribution to global peace and the fight against terrorism. In terms of air defense systems, China has already tested the prototype of hypersonics and is expected to be the first country in the world to have an operational hypersonic missile by 2020. This analyst blog is part of our coverage of the 2018 Morningstar Investment Conference. It has been both a good and a bad time for large-growth funds. Of the nine Morningstar categories of diversified U.S. stock funds, large growth has been the best performer over the past three and five years through May 31, 2018, and the second-best (after small growth) over 10 years. What if Dayton had been named Cooperstown? Seventeen days after the Treaty of Greenville, Judge Cleves Symmes of New Jersey, sold the seventh and eight ranges of his vast land holdings, between the Great Miami and Mad Rivers on one side and the little Miami on the other to Governor Arthur St. Clair, General Jonathan Dayton, General James Wilkinson, and Colonel Israel Ludlow. Jonathan Dayton was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence but he never saw or visited his name-sake city. Gen. St. Clair employed Benjamin VanCleve and Daniel C. Cooper, a surveyor, to be their agent. Cooper blazed the trail from Fort Hamilton up the east bank of the Miami River to the mouth of the Mad River. The next expedition was conducted personally by Colonel Ludlow on November 4, 1795. During the winter of 1795, forty six men in Cincinnati agreed to settle in the new town but when the time came, only nineteen responded. William Hamer and George Newcom were in charge of the two overland parties, which would follow the trail laid out previously by Cooper. Newcoms party, walked the distance of 55 miles, taking two weeks to make the journey. The Samuel Thompson party made the journey in ten days, by pirogue. Benjamin VanCleve was one that helped propel the boat. It was a long narrow boat which had boards running along each side which walked those who would propel the boat. They would hold their poles against the bottom of the river near the head of the boat and bringing the ends of the poles to their shoulders and then walked slowly down the running board to the stern, returning at a quick pace to the bow for a new set. VanCleve, who surveyed with Daniel Cooper, was so impressed with the Dayton area, that it was his enthusiasm which enticed the settlers to make the journey. Newcoms Tavern was the first cabin erected, and soon the town was well under way, but trouble soon erupted in 1800, and the town nearly folded. Judge Cleves Symmes had not made good on his government land contract. The U. S. Government decided to increase their demand for payment from the original 68 cents per acre to 2 dollars per acre. Some of the Dayton settlers left town in disgust. In 1802, only five families remained in Dayton. It was Daniel C. Cooper who came to the aid of the settlers. Most of all it was Coopers utmost faith in Dayton which moved him to action. Therefore a petition from his own hand was dispatched to Congress telling them what a hard time the Dayton people were having, how faithfully they had worked and how cruel it would be to dispossess them after such a good start. Cooper then took over on his own responsibility the title risk and bought outright from each settler his holdings, until practically the whole of Dayton was his. Because of Coopers generosity, the town was forever free of invalid titles and all future arrivals had their titles secured. Cooper donated land areas for churches, schools and businesses and even two cemeteries. Daniel Cooper was the first surveyor, he also donated the land for the first graveyard located at Third and Main streets in 1805 and again donated land about 10 years later to establish the Fifth Street Graveyard located between Ludlow and Wilkinson streets. It was at his mill in 1799, that the first death was recorded, that of John Davis, and due to the death of Mr. Davis, the first fire department was established. Mr. Cooper also had the first distillery which was located on his farm in 1799, and he ran the first carriage in 1817. In no way did Daniel Cooper confer a greater benefit upon his town, wrote Robert W. Steele in his history, than by inducing a number of men of superior education, character and business capacity to come here from his native New Jersey and other places between 1804 and 1808. Charles Russell Greene, Joseph Pierce and Horatio Gates Phillips were among those men. From the Roz Young series of articles written about Cooper and published in the Dayton Daily News in 1994, she writes: On the morning of July 13, 1818, Phillips walked to Coopers house. The church bell was delivered to my place this morning, he said. Cooper looked at his pocket watch. Theres time to take it to the church before lunch, he told Phillips. Ill pick it up directly. He fetched a wheelbarrow from his barn and pushed it to the store on the southeast corner of Second and Main. He set the wheelbarrow down by the bell where it rested on the gravel street. It never occurred to him to ask Phillips to help him load the bell on the wagon. It was heavy, and he tugged and pulled and strained to hoist it into the barrow. The veins on his forehead head stood out as the blood rushed through them as he struggled. Finally with the bell in the wheelbarrow, he started for the church. He started down Second Street, but before he had gone very far, his hands lost their grasp on the barrow handles and he fell over in the street. Daniel Cooper was dead. A blood vessel in his brain had burst. When he died, Cooper was 45, the leading citizen of Dayton. He had a beautiful wife and a 6-year-old son. He had recently begun building a new home, which was planned to be the most imposing, elegant house in Dayton. His death stunned the community. Of all the land that Cooper gave to the city, only the plot he gave for a public walk forever still remains. The Montgomery County Public Library was built on the land, and for a few years the surrounding area was called Library Park. But finally the city fathers passed a resolution that it should be called Cooper Park. Near the rear entrance of the library the Montgomery County Historical Society erected a marker in 1974, which reads: Cooper Park Daniel C. Cooper (1773-1818) perhaps more than any other deserves to be called the founder of Dayton. A surveyor with Israel Ludlow, Cooper settled in Dayton in the summer of 1796 and became the titular owner of the town when the original proprietors defaulted. He platted the city, laying out broad streets four poles wide and built most of the early mills. Cooper served as Daytons first justice of the peace and as a member of the state legislature. He donated ground for a graveyard, lots for churches, schools and public buildings, as well as the land for this park. Daniel Cooper died on July 13, 1818. He was the 28th interment at Woodland Cemetery having been removed from the old 5th Street Cemetery to Woodland on May 4, 1844. He is located in Section 55 Lot 1. July 13, 2018 marks the 200th Anniversary of the death of Daniel Cooper. We hope you will come out to pay a visit to the Father of Dayton and thank him for putting the Gem City on the map. Celtic Fest Ohio return to Waynesville with $5 Friday. Enjoy a sneak peek of whats to come all weekend long on the Key-Ads Main Stages. Also, on Friday, we call SHENANIGANS! Register for Shamrock Shenanigans and compete in fun (maybe a wee bit silly) obstacles to see if youre crowned the Official Shenanigator of Celtic Fest Ohio. Friday also features a Guinness etching event ($25) at the Guinness Tent Limited to 75 people, registration starts at 6pm. A portion of each registration goes to the the local charity, Have a Heart to Save a Heart Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, established in June 2017 to assist the families and patients with the incredible medical, travel, and other cost associated with having a child with a Congenital Heart Defect (CHD). Friday also features a Guinness etching event ($25) at the Guinness Tent Limited to 75 people, registration starts at 6pm. Saturday and Sunday feature full days of Celtic music from traditional to Celtic Rock, Irish & Scottish dancing, sheepherding demonstrations, bagpipe parades, artisans, a variety of Celtic foods, three historical encampments, and Irish Wolfhounds, oh my! Five stages featuring a variety of traditional Celtic tunes, Celtic Rock, and dancing: The Elders, Off Kilter, Albannach, The Fighting Jamesons, Poor Mans Gambit, and Father Son & Friends head the music line-up on the Key-Ads Main Stage. The 42 nd Royal Highlanders Scottish military encampment Border Collie herding demonstrations with Alan Miller The Misplaced Vikings historic Viking encampment featuring a 40-foot educational ship McGovern Ceili Dancers, Cincinnati Highland Dancers, and Richens-Timm Dayton, featured on the Fleet Graphics Dance Stage The Cincinnati Caledonian Pipes & Drums, Miami Valley Pipes & Drums, and the 42 nd Royal Highlanders Band of Music will parade around the festival site. Irish Wolfhounds will be on site Saturday (5p 8p) and Sunday (2p 5p). Stop by to learn about the history of the breed and how these gentle giants have evolved. This event is absolutely kid friendly. The wee ones will compete in a kid-friendly version of the same nine obstacles with root beer/water stations along the way. The fastest overall time will be crowned the Lucky Leprechaun. Tastings: Saturday and Sunday in the Guinness Tent. Tastings are $18 at the tent. Photo ID is required. Guinness 1:30pm Saturday, 12:30 Sunday Magners 4pm Saturday, 3pm Sunday Tickets available for Saturday and Sunday online at www.celticfestohio.com. Daily Admission or Weekend Passes available. For more information on the 2018 Celtic Fest Ohio visit www.celticfestohio.com Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe, right, meets with General Meas Sophea. Supplied Source: khmertimeskh.com The Chinese Defence Minister is set to arrive in the Kingdom on Saturday for a state visit that will include a meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen and other senior government officials, as well as the signing of a defence cooperation agreement. Defence Ministry spokesman General Chhum Sucheat said yesterday that Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe will arrive in Cambodia for a two-day state visit on Saturday. Gen Sucheat said that Mr Wei will sign a new defence cooperation agreement between the two countries. He added that Mr Wei will attend the inauguration of the Cambodia-China Military Exhibition on Koh Pich in Phnom Penh. According to a Defence Ministry press release issued yesterday, Mr Wei and members of the Chinese delegation will meet Mr Hun Sen at the Peace Palace during the visit. Gen Sucheat said that Chinese cooperation has provided the country with hundreds of military transport trucks, vehicles for Cambodian commanders and also paid for several joint military exercises. The Chinese government has helped to train hundreds of Cambodian soldiers in Thlok Tasek Military Institute for years now, Gen Sucheat said. He said that in addition to training, the Chinese government has also provided medical help at the Preah Ket Mealea Hospital in Phnom Penh. The Defence Ministry said that the donations are reflective of good relations between the two nations. Defence Minister Tea Banh declined to disclose the number of vehicles to be donated this time around, but said that tanks and armoured personnel carriers will arrive in the country soon. China always helps in promoting the national defence sector, Gen Banh said. In March last year, China granted $240 million in aid money following an agreement signed by Mr Hun Sen during a state visit to Beijing. Mr Hun Sen met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Mr Xi said that the aid would help Cambodia build schools, provide clean water and fund telecommunications infrastructure in rural areas. China has also granted $65 million to expand the capacity of Preah Ket Mealea military hospital, Mr Xi added. During the visit, Mr Hun Sen and Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang signed a total of six deals. In one agreement, Cambodia and China pledged to develop economic and technical cooperation through an aid package worth $174 million this year. Additionally, the Chinese government has also donated election-related equipment and materials for the upcoming national election in July. Disclaimer: This article was originally produced and published by khmertimeskh.com. View the original article at khmertimeskh.com. Exercise to sharpen fleets law enforcement ability The China Coast Guard (CCG) is conducting a seven-day cruising drill in the South China Sea to sharpen its fleet's law-enforcement capability in "strange and complex" waters in the region. "South China Sea 2018" is being conducted by the coast guard in South China's Guangdong Province, which is responsible for enforcing the law in the South China Sea, people.com.cn reported on Wednesday. The training, including nautical chart work, coast-harbor joint exercises and cruising, are aimed at improving reaction time and operating skills for the ship commanders and sailors in the complex and strange sea areas, the report said. The exercises are also related to the summer fishing moratorium, comprehensive law-enforcement and anti-gang operations, and the cruise covered the 3,000-kilometer shoreline of China's territory. "The CCG is an essential force and a symbol of China's sovereignty in the region. Compared to the Chinese navy, the coast guard's mission is more complicated and heavier to some extent. The navy normally deals with military missions, while the coast guard is responsible for all non-military missions," said Liu Feng, a Hainan-based expert on the South China Sea. The coast guard's missions are complicated, including chasing smugglers and drug dealers, expelling foreign civilian ships which enter Chinese territory illegally, and providing assistance and services to civilian ships crossing the region, Liu said. "China's coast guard is the most powerful and important law-enforcer in the South China Sea, who provides great deterrence to criminals in the region." In 2017, The CCG participated in 272 maritime rescue operations, saving 62 ships and 425 people, the Xinhua News Agency reported. The coast guard said it had also conducted patrols to safeguard China's maritime rights, with total voyages reaching nearly 1 million nautical miles in 2017. The patrols covered the waters under China's jurisdiction as well as the western Pacific and the Indian Ocean, according to the coast guard, under the State Oceanic Administration. Formed in 2013, the coast guard has safeguarded China's maritime safety and stability, and helped maintain the country's territorial sovereignty. The CCG also cooperated with counterparts from other countries, including the Philippines and Indonesia, in 2016, the Xinhua News Agency reported. MERIDEN The extended day program credited with improving student test scores at Casimir Pulaski Elementary School has been canceled for next year due to funding cuts, upsetting some parents who said their kids benefitted significantly from increased time in the classroom. Extended day will continue at Roger Sherman and John Barry elementary schools, where funding is still in place for the program, but budget decisions will need to be made yearly, Superintendent Mark Benigni said in an email. He also called Pulaski staff who helped start the program pioneers. Student attendance, performance and school satisfaction were positive outcomes of the expanded day program, Benigni said. Numerous positions were already cut and we could not continue to reduce staff and the academic core requirements. I am proud of the progress Pulaski has made and I look forward to continued student success. The school board recently finalized its $100.7 million budget for the upcoming year. School officials initially sought $104.5 million from the city, but the board and City Council made compromises to reduce health care costs and account for increases in state funding, resuling in the boards first significant budget increase in eight years. That increase, however, was not enough to avoid the reduction of 24 staff members and the elimination of extended day at Pulaski. The Pulaski program cost the district about $300,000. Extended day launched in 2012, adding 100 minutes to the school day and featuring programs such as yoga, karate, dance, music, and swim. School officials hailed the program as a success, crediting it with improvements in math and reading tests scores and narrowing the achievement gap on the Connecticut Mastery Test. The school also saw better attendance rates and student perception of teachers. It was innovative., said Principal Dan Coffey. We did a lot of things that no one had tried before we had a great run with it. We offered a lot of things to kids that they wouldnt get in the outside world. The extended day schedule ran from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., but the school day next year will run from 8:50 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.. Parent Lisa Giblin, whose daughter is a third graders at Pulaksi, was disappointed to learn the program had been canceled, stating it had been a positive experience for the kids. She said the program made kids excited and ready to lern. I am very disappointed because this was a program that was very successful and the kids enjoyed it, Giblin said. It's sad to say this, but I feel that the kids are the ones who are going to suffer the most from this. The loss of the extra learning time is not something to take lightly. Parents will feel the impact too, Giblin said, because theyll have to change their morning schedules to acocmodate the later start time. It's a big inconvenience and loss for everyone involved, Giblin said. Coffey said the school will pilot a new academy program in place of extended day next year, which will give kids the opportunity to sign up for different programs. The new program will likely only accommodate 50 to 100 students, however, and enrollment at the school next year is expected to be close to 600, Coffey said. (Extended day) was a quantum leap no one had been doing it and then we started it and did it, Coffey said. This next course correction, if we do a good job with this academy, maybe thats the direction we go. ltauss@record-journal.com 203-317-2231 Twitter: @LeighTaussRJ MERIDEN The Middlesex Community College Foundation has awarded the Record-Journal Foundation Scholarship to Abraham Texidor Jr. Texidor, 24, a Meriden resident, received the $1,000 scholarship based on his application and an essay on defining success and self-improvement. It means a lot because I get to continue my education, (and) I dont receive financial aid anymore, Texidor said. So without it, it would have been a little difficult for me to receive my second degree. Texidor already earned a degree in Fine Arts from Middlesex Community College in May of 2017 and is currently pursuing another degree in Digital Media Production. I was a little shocked because I did know the majority of the students that attend the college do apply (for the scholarship), and (that) the student body consists of a majority of students from the Middletown, Meriden (and) Wallingford area, Texidor said. So I was in shock, but I was grateful. Texidor said he hopes to use his dual degrees to better market himself as a multi-faceted art producer. Among 88 applicants, the Foundations Scholarship Committee, Foundation Board member Donna Leonowich and Middlesex Community Colleges Associate Registrar Joanne Faust selected Texidor, according to a press release from Jule Crawford. More and more of our Middlesex students face financial obstacles in completing their education, Crawford said in a letter to the Record-Journal. Pell grants, an important source of financial aid for many of our students, rarely cover all the costs of attending college. (Scholarships) have never been more needed. SOUTHINGTON After Groggy Frogg owner Michael Montanas death last month, staff and family are doing their best to keep his legacy alive. Right now were just operating it to keep it open, said Michaels brother Mark Montana, who has been overseeing operations at the 129 Center St. bar for the last two weeks. The sole owner of the business, Michael Montana died May 31 at age 53. Family did not disclose the cause. His obituary said he died surrounded by loved ones at the New Britain campus of the Hospital of Central Connecticut. Mark Montana said his brother always wanted to own his own business and realized that dream 13 years ago, opening The Groggy Frogg. After Michaels death, Mark Montana isnt sure what will happen to the bar, but knows the service locals have grown to love will stay the same. Mark Montana said hes considering taking over ownership and that bringing in new management may be an option. Were all still reeling from (his death). I kind of got thrown into this thing that really wasn't my job, said Mark Montana, 55. He said he would help his brother with whatever he needed, but was never really part of the business. For now, he said, he and the staff are just looking for the continued support and love that (patrons) showed my brother. Cathy Kaczor, bartender at Groggy Frogg for five years, first met Michael Montana when they were teenagers. She said the Montanas are practically family to her. Its just difficult for us. Its going to be hard, Kaczor said. It was a great place to work and Michael was a great owner. Mark Montana said Michael was a very charitable person and would donate to every single charity that walked in his door. He left a great staff and great support system, Mark Montana said. bwright@record-journal.com 203-317-2316 Twitter: @baileyfaywright By Li Yun and Liu Jimei BEIJING, June 15 (ChinaMil) The International Army Games - 2018 (IAG-2018) will be held in seven countries including China, Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan from July 28 to August 11, 2018. The Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) will host four contests, namely the Suvorov Attack contest among Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) crews, Clear Sky contest among air defense missile units, Safe Route contest among engineering troops, and the Seaborne Assault contest among Marine Corps. Currently, eight military teams from China, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Iran, Zimbabwe and Venezuela have signed up for the Suvorov Attack contest and Armenia will send delegates to observe. This contest will be held in Korla, northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. China will send troops of the PLA Xinjiang Military Command to participate. The contest will be composed of individual race and relay race, and the results will be comprehensively counted by summing up the scores in such items as speed racing, obstacle crossing, wading and firing. Seven military teams from China, Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Egypt and Venezuela have currently signed up for the Clear Sky contest. The contest will also take place in Korla. The PLA Xinjiang Military Command will send troops to participate. And the contest will be comprised of "Mastery" race, "Interaction" race and "Combined" race and even include live-fire shooting of air defense missiles. Four military teams from China, Russia, Pakistan and Uzbekistan have now registered for the Safe Route contest. The contest will also take place in Korla. Troops from the army of the PLA Southern Theater Command will participate. The contest will be conducted in forms of single and relay races and the results will be evaluated comprehensively by summing up the scores in such items as mine clearance, assemblage of the mechanized bridge, removing of anti-tank hedgehogs and so forth. Four military teams from China, Russia, Venezuela and Iran have registered for the Seaborne Assault contest. The contest will take place in Quanzhou, southeast Chinas Fujian Province. The PLA Navys Marine Corps will participate. The contest will be carried out in three phases including the obstacle course, survival trail and relay race and will include such contents as obstacle driving, vehicle-mounted artillery shooting and coaxial machine gun shooting. By Liu Yiwei and Wu Xu BEIJING, June 15 (ChinaMil) -- On June 13, delegations from six countries conducted on-the-spot investigation of venue facilities and road traffic conditions in Korla City, northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and Quanzhou City, southeast China's Fujian Province, where the Chinese military will host some contests of the International Army Games (IAG) 2018. They also consulted on certain contest contents. The IAG-2018 will be held in seven countries, including China, Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, from July 28 to August 11, 2018. The Chinese delegation has completed on-the-spot investigation of the contests to be held in Russia, and held consultations on judgment rules, preparation and organization rules of the IAG. The International Army Games is an international military event launched by the Russian Ministry of Defense. The Chinese military has been invited for four consecutive years since 2014 to participate in the IAG, and has hosted some of the contests since 2017. This year's IAG will be undertaken by the militaries of seven countries including China, Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Iran. The International Army Games 2018 has a total of 28 contests and four of them will be held in China. The Chinese delegation will compete for 18 contests abroad. Among the four contests, the Chinese PLA Army will host the Suvorov Attack, Clear Sky and Safe Route contests in Korla City of Xinjiang, and the Chinese PLA Navy will host the Seaborne Assault contest in Quanzhou City of Fujian . Apart from China, the militaries from nine countries including Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Venezuela, Iran, Pakistan, Egypt and Zimbabwe will also participate in the contests held in China. It is learnt that the IAG has become a significant platform for Chinese military and foreign militaries to engage in mutual learning, close cooperation and deepen mutual trust and friendship. It has also become an important window for China and the Chinese military to showcase themselves to the entire world. According to international conventions, the Chinese military will provide competition equipment for foreign participants, and also offer efficient coordination and arrangements in terms of personnel customs clearance, equipment delivery, field training, information network and logistical support. National Geographic WILD is home to a big family of animal caretakers and rescuers. In these special episodes, check out how the Men of WILD are helping all kinds of creatures one case at a time. Fridays from 8:30pm AEDT. By Xu Lin BEIJING, June 15 (ChinaMil) -- The China Arms Control and Disarmament Association (CACDA) held a re-election meeting in Beijing on the morning of Thursday. Sha Zukang, former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, was elected as the new honorary president during the meeting. Zhang Yan, Chinas former ambassador to India, was elected as the president. And six people including Qian Lihua, former director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Chinas Ministry of National Defense, were elected as vice presidents. Assistant Foreign Minister Zhang Jun attended the meeting and delivered a speech. Zhang said the CACDA has in recent years actively engaged in providing advices on major strategic security as well as arms control and non-proliferation issues, and extensively carried out foreign exchanges. Established in August 2001 in Beijing and specialized in research and academic exchanges of arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation, the CACDA is the most authoritative think-tank and non-governmental organization in China's arms control field. The CACDA has been rated as a special counselor by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) since 2005. It is a non-governmental organization actively engaging in the international arms control arena. Just over half of all Americans say they approve of how President Donald Trump has handled North Korea, but only a quarter think that his summit this week with Kim Jong-un will lead to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released Wednesday. In a joint declaration following their meeting in Singapore on Tuesday, the North Korean leader pledged to move toward complete denuclearization of the peninsula and Trump vowed to guarantee the security of the United States' old foe. Forty percent of those polled said they did not believe the countries would stick to their commitments. Another 26 percent said they believed the United States and North Korea would meet their commitments, while 34 percent said they did not know whether they would follow through. Thirty-nine percent believe the summit has lowered the threat of nuclear war between the United States and nuclear-armed North Korea, slightly more than the 37 percent who said they did not believe it changed anything. Trump has pursued what he calls a "maximum pressure" campaign against Pyongyang to force it to give up its nuclear weapons. He toughened up international sanctions to further isolate North Korea and then agreed to meet directly with Kim after South Korea's president convinced him that the North was committed to giving up its nuclear weapons. The Reuters/Ipsos poll suggests the Republican president has broad support for one of his biggest foreign policy efforts, despite criticism from non-proliferation experts that Trump had exacted few concrete commitments from Kim on Tuesday on dismantling his nuclear arsenal. Republicans appear much more enthusiastic than Democrats about the potential benefits of the summit. The poll found that Republicans were twice as likely as Democrats to say that the meeting lowered the threat of nuclear war, and they were three times as likely to say that both sides would follow through on their commitments. Democrats typically give Trump low approval ratings -- only 12 percent approve of his overall job performance. But about 30 percent said they approved of his handling of North Korea. Trump, who returned to Washington early on Wednesday, hailed the meeting with Kim, the first between a sitting U.S. president and a North Korean leader, as a success that had removed the North Korean nuclear threat. Their seemingly friendly meeting was in sharp contrast to their tit-for-tat insults and bellicose rhetoric late last year while Pyongyang carried out its biggest nuclear and missile tests. In the poll, Trump received a 51 percent approval rating for his handling of North Korea and also led the list of leaders who should take the most credit for the summit and the joint pledge. Forty percent say the former real estate developer should take the most credit, followed by South Korean President Moon Jae-in with 11 percent. Kim was third with 7 percent. By PTI SRINAGAR: The skies opened up today as thousands of friends and admirers joined the funeral procession of veteran journalist Shujaat Bukhari, who was laid to rest in his ancestral village here a day after he was shot dead outside his office in Srinagar. Braving heavy rain, crowds of tearful mourners from across the Valley followed the cortege through the streets of this sleepy hamlet in Baramulla district. Amongst those who took part in the last rites of the journalist and visited his ancestral home to condole with the family were opposition leader Omar Abdullah and ministers from the PDP and the BJP. It was probably the biggest funeral procession the village had seen, observers said. There was a traffic jam in the area as the crowds of mourners swelled. Jammu & Kashmir: Family and friends mourn the death of Rising Kashmir editor #ShujaatBhukhari, in Baramulla. He was shot dead by terrorists in Srinagar last night. pic.twitter.com/fZz9XSGXNE ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2018 The editor of Rising Kashmir' and his two personal security officers (PSOs) were shot dead by terrorists outside the newspaper's office in the heart of Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital. Bukhari, 50, was gunned down soon after he got into his car from his office at Press Enclave in the city centre, Lal Chowk. Bukhari was instrumental in organising several conferences for peace in the Kashmir Valley. He was also part of the Track II process with Pakistan. By PTI SRINAGAR: English newspaper 'Rising Kashmir' published its daily edition today even after losing its editor-in-chief Shujaat Bukhari yesterday in an assassination which also left two of his two personal security officers (PSOs) dead. Bukhari and his two PSOs were shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside Rising Kashmir office in Press Enclave near the city centre Lal Chowk here in Srinagar shortly before the 'Iftaar' yesterday evening. Bukhari is survived by his wife and one son and a daughter. Rising Kashmir hit the stands this morning with its front page carrying the full-page photograph of its late editor-in-chief in black background. The page also carried the message that the paper would not be cowed down. "You left all too sudden but you will always be our leading light with your professional conviction and exemplary courage. We won't be cowed down by the cowards who snatched you from us. We will uphold your principle of telling the truth howsoever unpleasant it may be. Rest in peace!" the paper said. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said publishing the daily despite Bukhari's killing is the most fitting tribute to him as it was what the late journalist would have wanted to. The show must go on. As Shujaat would have wanted it to. This is todays @RisingKashmir issue. That Shujaats colleagues were able to bring out the paper in the face of insurmountable grief is a testament to their professionalism & the most fitting tribute to their late boss. pic.twitter.com/ADP70D4F1q Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 14, 2018 "The show must go on. As Shujaat would have wanted it to. This is today's @RisingKashmir issue. That Shujaat's colleagues were able to bring out the paper in the face of insurmountable grief is a testament to their professionalism & the most fitting tribute to their late boss," Omar wrote on Twitter while sharing a picture of the front page of the paper. My last DM exchange with #ShujaatBukhari. I cant believe the mulaqat we were going to fix will never take place now. Life is just too uncertain & often too unkind. pic.twitter.com/8yED2iZKzl Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 14, 2018 Bukhari's killing has evoked widespread condemnations in Jammu and Kashmir and from across the country. Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra has conveyed shock and grief on the gruesome killing of Bukhari. Recalling Bukhari's standing as a veteran journalist, the Governor described his murder as a big loss to the media fraternity. In a message, Vohra has prayed for peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss. The Governor also called Bukhari's brother and Cabinet Minister Basharat Ahmed Bukhari to convey his heartfelt sympathy. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has also strongly condemned the killing of the veteran journalist. In a condolence message, the chief minister described the killing of Bukhari as highly barbaric, deplorable and condemnable. "His killing has only established that violence cannot stand the scrutiny of logic and rationality. The whole state stands in unanimity in condemning this inhuman act of savagery," Mehbooba said in the statement. She said the role and contribution rendered by Bukhari in institutionalisation of the media here has become part of the journalistic history of the state. "One would always see him raising issues of common cause concerning people. He would often fight for the issues of people through his columns and various discussions but alas this voice of people stands silenced today brutally," Mehbooba said. The chief minister visited the hospital where Bukhari was taken after the attack and paid her respects to the departed soul. She also conveyed her heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family particularly his parents, wife and two kids. The separatists have also condemned his killing terming it barbaric and unpardonable. Bukhari will be laid to rest in his ancestral village in Kreeri in north Kashmir's Baramulla district today. His funeral prayers will be held at 11 am. Bukhari is the fourth journalist to be killed by militants in the nearly three-decade-long violence in Kashmir. In 1991, the editor of 'Alsafa', Mohammed Shaban Vakil, was killed by militants of Hizbul Muahideen. Former BBC correspondent Yussuf Jameel escaped with injuries when a bomb exploded in his office in 1995, but ANI cameramen Mushtaq Ali lost his life in the incident. Later, on January 31, 2003, Parvaz Mohammed Sultan, editor of NAFA, was shot dead by Hizbul Mujahideen at his Press Enclave office. Several U.S. lawmakers are dismissing President Donald Trump's assertion on Twitter that North Korea no longer poses a nuclear threat. They also rejected any swift lifting of U.S. sanctions amid claims by Pyongyang that Trump agreed to sanctions relief during his meeting with Kim Jong-un. Democrats are heaping scorn on Trump's tweet that "There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea." Replying on Twitter, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Adam Schiff, said "North Korea is a real and present threat. So is a dangerously naive president." Providing a more gentle response was the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Republican Bob Corker. "That is a great example of hyperbole [by Trump]," Corker said. "I do not think that is what has happened." Much has to occur before the world can breathe easier with regard to North Korea, says Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen. "The nuclear threat will not be over until they have dismantled their entire nuclear establishment and removed both their enrichment capacity and their weapons," Shaheen said. Milestone for Annual Bridge Run The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Foundation will host the tenth edition of the Citizens Pell Bridge Run on Oct. 17. The event is a four-mile charity run/walk, with 100... Forum Addresses Local Housing Crisis Whats happening to housing in Newport? Why is it so unaffordable? These were among the questions posed at the Newport Democratic City Committees first of two public forums on Sept.... Save The Bay Signs Gateway Center Agreement Save The Bay has reached an agreement that will allow the local nonprofit to move its Exploration Center and Aquarium to the Gateway Transportation & Visitors Center. Save The Bays... City Council to Improve Sound for Hybrid Future The experience of trying to hear, no less record or understand, testimony and commentary at Newport City Hall chambers has been akin to attempting to decipher speech under water. At... Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). Reporter Lyndsay Jones is a reporter covering education at The News-Gazette. Her email is ljones@news-gazette, and you can follow her on Twitter (@__lyndsayjones). One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021 China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged the United States to make a "wise decision" on trade as a deadline for the administration of President Donald Trump to release a list of tariffs targeting $50 billion in Chinese goods approaches. Speaking at news briefing Thursday, flanked by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the Chinese government's top diplomat said China and the United States were at a crucial phase, a point where opportunities and challenges were rising. One of the big challenges Wang mentioned was trade. On that subject, he urged the United States to not take any unilateral steps that would create obstacles for future negotiations. Wang said that for trade, there were two choices. "The first choice is cooperation and mutual benefit. The other choice is confrontation and mutual loss. China chooses the first," Wang said. "We hope the U.S. side can also make the same wise choice. Of course, we have also made preparations to respond to the second kind of choice." Tariffs Appear Set An administration official told Reuters on Thursday that Trump had made up his mind to impose "pretty significant" tariffs on Chinese goods. The White House had said late last month that it would be pressing ahead with measures aimed at "confronting China's unfair trade policies." Trump is due to unveil revisions to his initial tariff list Friday. The list will contain 800 product categories, down from 1,300 previously, Reuters reported, citing another administration official and an industry source familiar with the list. Trump no longer believes that Beijing's influence over North Korea is a compelling reason to ease up on trade talks, now that his administration has opened up a direct line of communication with the nuclear-armed country, the first administration official said. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin argued against imposing the tariffs at a White House meeting on Thursday, but he was not expected to prevail, the official told Reuters. Even if the tariffs list is announced, the president could delay their implementation for 30 days, and even longer if negotiations are going well. If they are implemented, China has promised a tough response. Mrs Lam pays a courtesy call on King Philippe of the Belgians at the Royal Palace. Chief Executive Carrie Lam meets European Commission Vice President and Union for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy High Representative Federica Mogherini in Brussels. Chief Executive Carrie Lam kicked off her duty visit to Europe in Brussels yesterday, promoting Hong Kong's ties with the European Union and Belgium's business community. She met European Commission Vice President and Union for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy High Representative Federica Mogherini. Mrs Lam said since its return to the motherland, Hong Kong has successfully implemented a high degree of autonomy with the principles of "one country, two systems" and "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong". She noted Hong Kong has close ties with the European Union, with the Structured Dialogue meeting held every year. Mrs Lam said she hopes collaboration will continue to strengthen and welcomed scientific and research institutions from the EU to develop in Hong Kong. Addressing a business luncheon, she said Hong Kong is determined to become a global hub for innovation and technology, and play an important role in the Belt & Road Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area. She welcomed European companies and startups to establish a presence in Hong Kong and ride on its unique advantages to explore business opportunities in Mainland China and Asia. At the luncheon, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade & European Affairs Minister Didier Reynders said Belgian companies continue to view Hong Kong as one of the freest economies in the world. European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom expressed her appreciation for Hong Kong's support in strengthening the multilateral trading system and said she looked forward to working together to advocate the benefits of open global trade. In the afternoon, Mrs Lam paid a courtesy call on King Philippe of the Belgians at the Royal Palace where she updated him on Hong Kong's latest developments. She later toured Musee Margritte and told the venue's director she looks forward to collaborating with the museum to bring its art collection to Hong Kong for exhibition. Mrs Lam also called on Charge d'affaires of Belgium's Chinese Embassy Zhang Chi to thank the embassy for its support and assistance. In the evening she officiated at a cocktail event organised by Cathay Pacific Airways and the Airport Authority. He said South Korea would be "flexible when it came to military pressure on North Korea." President Moon Jae-in said on Thursday he will consider halting joint military exercises with the U.S. indefinitely after U.S. President Donald Trump made the promise when he met North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Tuesday. He made the remarks in a meeting with national security adviser Chung Eui-yong, Cheong Wa Dae Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok and other officials at Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday and told them to "consult closely" with the U.S. military. AFP cited an American government source as saying that the U.S. "has indefinitely postponed major joint exercises with South Korea," and CNN reported that the Trump administration "is expected to announce the formal suspension of planning for major August multilateral military drills on the Korean Peninsula" soon. In inter-Korean military talks at the border truce village of Panmunjom on Thursday, a North Korean delegate also called for an end to the joint drills, but the South Korean side said the matter is "under discussion between the U.S. and South Korea." Meanwhile, Trump reiterated in an interview with Fox News on Wednesday that he eventually wants to pull out the U.S. Forces Korea. "I would like to get them home. I would like to, but it is not on the table right now," he said. "I would love to get the military out as soon as we can because it costs a lot of money and a lot of money for us." Sales data suggest that around 30,000 German vehicles sold in Korea are equipped with the software that can alter emissions under test conditions. A ministry official said, "We are checking if the affected vehicles were sold in Korea." The Environment Ministry has launched a fresh probe of German diesel cars sold in Korea after the German Transport Ministry ordered Mercedes-Benz to recall 774,000 cars across Europe with suspected emissions-rigging software. The German government pointed the finger at the Mercedes-Benz C200d, C220d and GLC 220d and Audi's A6 and A7 sedans with six and eight-cylinder engines. They met the Euro 6 diesel emissions standard but may only have done so because the software allowed the carmakers to cheat on tests. Some 20,000 Mercedes, 7,000 Audis, 2,000 Porsches and 500 Volkswagens sold in Korea are believed to be equipped with the software. The software increases the amount of AdBlue, a diesel exhaust fluid that reduces nitrogen oxide emissions, during testing. In real driving conditions, smaller amounts of AdBlue are injected into the engine, resulting in higher nitrogen oxide emissions. In 2015, Volkswagen was also mired in a massive emissions-cheating scandal amid claims that the notion of efficient "clean diesel" is a fiction. Last year, German authorities nabbed Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche and BMW for colluding to shrink their AdBlue tanks to create more trunk space. Frequent injections of AdBlue reduce fuel efficiency. An Environment Ministry official said, "If problems are found, we will fine carmakers and impose recalls." A Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) lecturer and a student who were accused of forging a Masters Degree in Business Administration were acquitted after it emerged that the document was neither communicated nor presented to anyone. The student, Tasiyana Tichaona, accused of using the fake MBA to enrol for a PhD programme in Botswana and lecturer Francis Ndlovu (56) stationed at ZOUs Harare-Chitungwiza regional campus, were acquitted after a full trial. In his ruling, Harare magistrate Mr Eric Kadye said the alleged fake document was dropped and picked by officers manning the ZOU registry offices, but surprisingly the officers were never called to testify in court. The accuseds employers in Botswana were not called to court to explain on whether the fake certificate was tendered to them. State failed to prove a prima facie case, Mr Kadye said. In his defence, Tichaona who was represented by lawyer, Mr Passmore Mukotosi, said the allegations were malicious. Herald The Game Was Almost Over. Then, Over the PA: 'Protect Yourselves' The White House has started selling a new coin commemorating U.S. President Donald Trump's summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un after the last, premature one was widely ridiculed. The fresh coin looks a little different and also shows the name of South Korean President Moon Jae-in. The front of the coin shows embossed images of Trump and Kim against a garish background of their flags, much like the previous version. Only the reverse is different, replacing a picture of the White House and Air Force One with a dove bearing an olive branch. The word "historic" appears in both Korean and English. A raised outer ring recognizes the meeting between Moon and Kim at the truce village of Panmunjom on April 27. About 5.7 cm in diameter, the coin costs US$49. The White House will produce two more commemorative coins with different designs. (Newser) Senators from both parties sought to mend a frayed relationship with Canada during a closed-door meeting Wednesday with Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland. The meeting involving members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee followed President Donald Trump calling Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "dishonest" and "weak" after the Group of 7 summit in Quebec over the weekend. Per the AP, Sen. Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of the committee, said senators expressed concerns about the president's use of a national security waiver to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum from Canada. Corker said he believes it's an abuse of presidential authority. Corker has sponsored legislation that would require Congress to sign off on such tariffs, called Section 232 tariffs, but he has struggled to get a vote. story continues below Many Republicans are reluctant to pick a fight with Trump over trade right now as he seeks better deals with China and a slew of US allies. Freeland said Canada values its relationship with the US. However, she called the administration's use of Section 232 tariffs "frankly absurd." She added that the action is illegal under World Trade Organization rules and the North American Free Trade Agreement, "and we have raised cases in both tribunals." She said the answer to the dispute was simple: "The US has to remove these unfair, illegal tariffs from Canada and from its allies." Trump enraged US allies Canada, Mexico, and the European Union two weeks ago by slapping tariffs on their steel and aluminum shipments to the US; most other countries have been paying the tariffs since March. (Read more Canada stories.) (Newser) In 2014, an extremely promising young clarinetist in Canada beat dozens of other applicants to become one of two people awarded a full scholarship to complete a degree at Colburn Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles under highly esteemed teacher Yehuda Gilad. But Eric Abramovitz never saw the acceptance email because then-girlfriend Jennifer Lee, a fellow music student, was spying on his account and saw it first, a court heard this week. According to Abramovitz's lawsuit, Lee, fearing she would lose him if he moved away from Montreal, posed as Abramovitz to send an email declining the offer, the Montreal Gazette reports. After deleting the original email, she then allegedly set up a fake email account in Gilad's name and sent a rejection notice to Abramovitz, who was sharing her apartment at the time. story continues below Abramovitzwho finished his degree in Montreal but split up with Lee later in 2014 for unrelated reasonsended up studying part-time under Gilad two years later and discovered the deception after the world-renowned teacher asked why he had rejected him. The student realized Lee was to blame when he correctly guessed the password to the account that had sent him the fake rejection notice. A judge in Ontario, calling Lee's conduct "despicable," awarded Abramovitz $266,000, CTV reports. The judge said the figure included damages for "the incompensable personal loss suffered by Mr. Abramovitz by having a closely held personal dream snatched from him by a person he trusted." Abramovitz's career survived the setback: He joined the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and was recently appointed to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. (Read more Canada stories.) (Newser) "This is no laughing matter." So said a 23-year-old Arizona man at a Thursday presser in which he detailed his January arrest by the Mesa Police Department, the Arizona Republic reports. Per CNN, Jose Conde says on Jan. 28 he was searched, then hurled to the ground, "heaved into a wall," stun-gunned, and "punched over and over by multiple cops. I was gouged in the eye and I was hit in the head with a massive police flashlight." And then, "they laughed at me while I lay in a pool of my own blood barely conscious." A police bodycam video has now emerged from the night Conde was arrested, after the car he was a passenger in was pulled over for not having its headlights on. Conde is seen stepping out of the car in the video, which is when the confrontation with the cops began. story continues below As Conde screams, an officer is seen punching him. In a later video taken at the hospital, an officer can be heard saying to a bloodied Conde, "Bless his little heart. Aww. Man up." Conde's videos come on the heels of two others involving Mesa officers apparently using force: one in the case of a 15-year-old boy, and one in the case of Robert Johnson, who was arrested in May. Charges against Johnson have since been dropped. In Conde's case, the police report says he resisted arrest and threw swings at an officer who found cocaine in his sock. Police Chief Ramon Batista says his department is reviewing the case and has called for independent investigations, but that "simply put, the tape released by media outlets does not tell the full story concerning this arrest." Conde, who was charged with narcotics possession, escape, resisting arrest, and aggravated assault on police, goes on trial in July. (Read more police brutality stories.) (Newser) Bill Cosby is now killing time as he awaits his September sentencing after being convicted of sexual assault in April, but is his wife killing time with him? Radar cites a source who claims that 74-year-old Camille Cosby has left their Pennsylvania home and moved into a home they own in Shelburne Falls, Mass., taking their chef, other staff, and three grown daughters with her. "They've been fighting and arguing since the verdict," the source says. "She wanted a divorce, but he begged her to stay." Radar notes it sent its own staff to the Mass. town and saw Camille Cosby swimming in her pool and hanging out with female friends. That's news, however, to the Cosbys, the comedian's rep tells People, calling the Radar report a "ridiculous story from an egregious publication." story continues below "The accusations they have made in their tabloid are absolutely false," says Andrew Wyatt. "Mrs. and Mr. Cosby are not getting divorced and she's with him in the Philadelphia home as we speak." He adds, via the New York Daily News: "Mrs. Cosby isn't going anywhere." There's also news on the legal front in Cosby world: Page Six reports the disgraced 80-year-old has fired his entire legal team as he prepares for his Sept. 25 sentencing, with Pennsylvania lawyer Joseph P. Green Jr. stepping in as his new counsel, per his spokesman. "Every single one of them," a source tells Radar. "He's angry. They let him down, and these aren't easy times." From newly pink-slipped celebrity attorney Tom Mesereau, per Page Six: "I wish Mr. Cosby, his family, and his new defense team all the best." (Read more Bill Cosby stories.) (Newser) A US drone strike in northeastern Kunar province killed Pakistan Taliban chief Mullah Fazlullah, the insurgent leader who ordered the assassination of Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, an Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman said Friday. In a telephone interview, Mohammad Radmanish said Fazlullah and two other insurgents were killed early Thursday morning, reports the AP. According to a statement attributed to US Forces-Afghanistan spokesman Lt. Col Martin O'Donnell, the US carried out a "counterterrorism strike" Thursday in the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan targeting "a senior leader of a designated terrorist organization." The statement did not say whether the strike had killed anyone and did not identify Fazlullah as the target. story continues below Yousafzai survived the assassination attempt in 2012. Fazlullah had ordered her killing for promoting girls' education. Yousafzai returned to her hometown earlier this year, opening a school funded by a charity she established to promote girls education globally. She has often said that Fazlullah's attempts to silence her backfired and instead he amplified her voice around the world. A ruthless leader, Fazlullah ordered the bombing and beheadings of dozens of opponents when his band of insurgents controlled Pakistan's picturesque Swat Valley from 2007 until a massive military operation routed them in 2009. His insurgent group, the Tehrik-e-Taliban, also took responsibility for the brutal attack on an Army Public School in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar in December 2014 when more than 140 children and their teachers were slaughtered. (Read more Malala Yousafzai stories.) (Newser) Its not every day that a grandmother kills a rabid bobcat with her bare hands. DeDe Phillips walked out to her front yard in Hart County, Ga., around dinnertime intending to take a picture of a new bumper sticker on her truck, reports the Athens Banner-Herald and the Hartwell Sun. But her plans changed when she spied a bobcat. She took a picture of the cat, and then it took two steps and was on top of me. ... It came for my face, she recalls. She was reluctant to call for help because her 5-year-old granddaughter was in the house. I thought, Not today, she says. There was no way I was going to die. She grabbed the animal by the throat and throttled it until it went limp. story continues below Phillips, 46, then yelled for help, and when her son arrived, she released her grip on the cat. Her son stabbed the cat several times, but it was likely already dead. Phillips suffered a broken finger as well as deep cuts and scratches to her hands, chest, and legs. Phillips knows something about bobcats because her father-in-law was once a bobcat trapper. They go for your jugular, she tells the Banner-Herald, because when they can get the vein youre dead in a couple of minutes. Phillips has begun a round of shots for rabies. And what did the bumper sticker say? Women who behave rarely make history. (These animal rescuers found out that the kittens they had rescued were actually bobcat cubs.) (Newser) China's government said Friday it will retaliate for President Trump's tariff hike on Chinese goods by immediately imposing penalties of the "same scale" on American goods. The Commerce Ministry said it's also scrapping deals made with Washington in talks aimed at defusing a sprawling trade dispute, the AP reports. "The Chinese side doesn't want to fight a trade war, but facing the shortsightedness of the US side, China has to fight back strongly," a ministry statement said. "We will immediately introduce the same scale and equal taxation measures, and all economic and trade achievements reached by the two sides will be invalidated." story continues below The statement offered no details of what US goods would be affected, but China announced possible targets in April including soybeans, light aircraft, orange juice, whiskey, and beef. "In today's era, launching a trade war is not in the global interest," the statement said, per Business Insider. "We call on all countries to take joint action, resolutely put an end to this outdated and regressive behavior, and firmly defend the common interests of mankind." (Read more China stories.) (Newser) Lawmakers from both parties have been criticizing the Justice Department's tough new policy that requires immigrant children to be separated from their parents at the border. On Friday, President Trump joined the critics, with a familiar caveat. "I hate it," he said. "I hate to see separation of parents and children." But he suggested the administration had no choice, asserting that "the Democrats forced that law upon our nation." A host of outlets, including BuzzFeed, CNN, and the Washington Post say Trump is incorrect about that. Under the administration's new zero-tolerance policy, every adult caught crossing the border illegally is being prosecuted, and the children are being separated while their parents await their legal cases to play out. Related coverage: Compromise in peril: House Republicans were poised to float two immigration plans, the more moderate of which would hit many of Trump's wishes (including $25 billion for border security) while ending the separation policy, reports the Hill. (See below for more on the latter.) However, Trump may have torpedoed its chances Friday when he told Fox that he wouldn't sign it, reports the AP, which now sees "eleventh-hour confusion" on the issue. story continues below Casa Padre: This week, the government gave media outlets a tour of a former Walmart in Brownsville, Texas, converted into a detention facility for about 1,500 male immigrant boys and teens. It's now called Casa Padre. "During the carefully scripted visit, the boys were shooting baskets, kicking soccer balls, playing video games, watching a movie, sitting in classrooms where they were taught about the US government, learning Tai Chi and chowing down on a meal of chicken and mixed vegetables," according to NPR. The facility has been described as everything from a prison to a summer camp, notes Quartz, rounding up examples. This week, the government gave media outlets a tour of a former Walmart in Brownsville, Texas, converted into a detention facility for about 1,500 male immigrant boys and teens. It's now called Casa Padre. "During the carefully scripted visit, the boys were shooting baskets, kicking soccer balls, playing video games, watching a movie, sitting in classrooms where they were taught about the US government, learning Tai Chi and chowing down on a meal of chicken and mixed vegetables," according to NPR. The facility has been described as everything from a prison to a summer camp, notes Quartz, rounding up examples. The numbers: Casa Padre is just one of several such facilities around the country, where about 10,000 youths were being held. Most were detained alone at the border. So how many kids have been separated from their parents under the new policy? The AP reports that 1,999 minors were separated from 1,940 adults from April 19 through May 31. No breakdowns by age were available in the DHS stats. Casa Padre is just one of several such facilities around the country, where about 10,000 youths were being held. Most were detained alone at the border. So how many kids have been separated from their parents under the new policy? The AP reports that 1,999 minors were separated from 1,940 adults from April 19 through May 31. No breakdowns by age were available in the DHS stats. That Bible verse: Jeff Sessions made headlines by quoting the Bible as justification for the policy. "I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13, to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained the government for his purposes. Orderly and lawful processes are good in themselves," he said. "Consistent and fair application of the law is in itself a good and moral thing, and that protects the weak and protects the lawful." Critics point out that the same verse has previously been used to justify slavery, notes Slate. Stephen Colbert also took Sessions to task for that. See it here. Jeff Sessions made headlines by quoting the Bible as justification for the policy. "I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13, to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained the government for his purposes. Orderly and lawful processes are good in themselves," he said. "Consistent and fair application of the law is in itself a good and moral thing, and that protects the weak and protects the lawful." Critics point out that the same verse has previously been used to justify slavery, notes Slate. Stephen Colbert also took Sessions to task for that. See it here. Very specific donation: Celeb couple Chrissy Tiegen and John Legend donated $72,000 to the ACLU on Thursday to protest the treatment of immigrant families, reports ABC News. Why that amount? Thursday was Trump's 72nd birthday. Celeb couple Chrissy Tiegen and John Legend donated $72,000 to the ACLU on Thursday to protest the treatment of immigrant families, reports ABC News. Why that amount? Thursday was Trump's 72nd birthday. House GOP bill: As noted above, the House GOP plan would end the separation policy, but critics say the resulting system would still allow the feds to hold entire families until the parents' legal cases are resolved, that is, "indefinitely," according to this explainer at Vox. Its going to result in kids sitting in detention for a far longer time and being sent back to countries where their lives are at risk, Emily Butera, senior policy adviser for the Womens Refugee Commission, tells USA Today. (Read more immigration stories.) (Newser) Harvard evaluates prospective students based on a number of criteria, including academic achievement, outside activities, and personality characteristics, such as likeability and kindness. But according to an affirmative action lawsuit filed by a group representing Asian-American students, the school consistently scored Asian-American applicants lower than other groups on personal qualities, which affected their admission chances, reports the New York Times. The suit cites an analysis of 160,000 student records, which found that although Asian-American students scored higher than other groups on academic and extra-curricular measures, their personal ratings lagged and lowered their overall rating. The group accuses Harvard of increasing admissions of white, black, and Hispanic applicants at the expense of Asian-American students, reports CNN. story continues below The suit has forced Harvard to disclose its admissions process, which has been a closely held secret. Harvard strongly defends its admissions practices, and accuses the group of using misleading data. Harvards own research office found that if admission were based purely on academic achievement, 43% of an admitted class would be Asian-American, notes the Boston Globe. Last spring, 23% of the students admitted were Asian-American. Harvard has countered with an updated review that contradicts the groups finding and concludes that in the last decade, admissions of Asian-Americans grew by 29%. Harvard is calling the suit, the latest salvo by ideological opponents of the consideration of race in university admissions." (Read more Harvard stories.) Samsung has launched a new fund to invest in start-ups in artificial intelligence technologies. Samsung NEXT, the Korean tech giant's investment arm in Silicon Valley, said Thursday that part of its US$150 million fund will be used for the new Q Fund. The Q stands for "quality," it added. Samsung NEXT will invest in early-stage companies within one year of their founding. It aims to improve its influence in the AI industry by investing in as many start-ups as possible and secure technologies for use in its products. It will also consider buying competitive firms. Samsung is making aggressive efforts to expand manpower and investment in AI technologies. It opened AI research centers in Canada, France. Russia and the U.K. last month and plans to secure more than 1,000 talented workers. "Samsung finds it hard to maintain its leading position with its current businesses," an industry insider said. (Newser) The ashes of Stephen Hawking were buried Friday in a corner of Westminster Abbey that honors some of Britain's greatest scientists, between the graves of Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton, reports the AP. More than 1,000 people attended a service in the ancient abbey for the physicist, who died in March at age 76 after decades of living with motor neuron disease. "His name will live in the annals of science," astronomer Royal Martin Rees told the memorial service. "Nobody else since Einstein has done more to deepen our understanding of space and time. After the service, Hawking's recorded voice, set to music by Greek composer Vangelis, was beamed into space from a European Space Agency satellite dish in Spain. Hawking's daughter, Lucy, said his words would be aimed at "the nearest black hole, 1A 0620-00," more than 3,000 light years from Earth. story continues below Lucy and Hawking's first wife, Jane, were among an eclectic crowd that included scientists, politicians, celebrities, and schoolchildren. The service included a reading by actor Benedict Cumberbatch, who played Hawking in a BBC drama. Astronaut Tim Peake read from "Queen Mab" by poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, which evokes the wonders of the universe. Hawking conducted groundbreaking research into black holes and the origins of the universe and gained global fame as a popularizer and communicator of science. His book A Brief History of Time sold 9 million copies, and he appeared on Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Big Bang Theory, and The Simpsons. "He absolutely refused to let his physical disability get in the way of doing great science or get in the way of having great fun," said friend Kip Thorne, a Nobel prize-winning American physicist. (Read more Stephen Hawking stories.) (Newser) Its a moon jellyfish free-for-all on central Florida beaches. An unusually large swarm of jellyfish have stung an estimated 1,200 beach-goers over four days in Volusa County. Jellyfish are not unusual in the area. Winds and currents push them ashore once or twice a year, Volusia County spokeswoman Captain Tamra Malphurs says. But the volume is unusual. Tonya Kronk of Daytona Beach was among the unlucky. She took her body board out past a sandbar, and it wasn't five minutes before I got stung," she tells CNN. "It just kinda stuck to my leg and I couldn't get it off fast enough." The injuries were "pretty bad," she says. story continues below Scientists arent certain if jellyfish blooms, which occur about every 20 years, are becoming more common. But zoologist Allen Collins tells Fox that warmer oceans, commercial fishing, agricultural runoff, and artificial reefs may be at least partly to blame. Malphurs believes the uptick in stings on Florida beaches is probably due to the rising numbers of people using the beach rather than a change in temperature or weather. If you get stung, a marine biologist at the South Carolina Aquarium recommends applying vinegar to the tentacles before trying to remove them. And it might help to keep in mind that jellyfish serve a useful purpose. Fish, birds, and crabs feed on them, and they provide shelter for juvenile fish. (Moon jellyfish shocked scientists with this feat.) Hong Kong legislative council passes railway link check's co-location bill From:Xinhua | 2018-06-15 00:17 Video PlayerClose HONG KONG, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The Legislative Council (LegCo) of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Thursday finished the third reading of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) co-location bill. After the bill has been given three readings, it becomes a piece of enacted law. The bill would take effect after it is signed by the chief executive of HKSAR and promulgated in the Gazette of HKSAR government. The Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Co-location) Ordinance will be gazetted on June 22. When the bill comes into effect, the co-location arrangement will be implemented at the West Kowloon Station of HKSAR, which allows passengers go through the customs, immigration and quarantine procedures of both Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland successively in one place. Carrie Lam, chief executive of HKSAR, welcomed the passage of the XRL co-location bill by the Legislative Council, saying it signifies a big step towards the target of the commissioning of the Hong Kong Section of XRL in September this year. "The passage of the bill marks the basic completion of the three-step process of the co-location arrangement at the XRL West Kowloon Station. It provides a sound legal basis for the co-location arrangement, maximizing the transport, economic and social benefits of the XRL,"she said. Chan Fan, Secretary for Transport and Housing of the HKSAR government, said the co-location arrangement that will be implemented in the new station is the only way to suit passengers' convenience. In order to fully exploit the transport, social and economic benefits of the XRL and maximize convenience to passengers, the government of HKSAR in July, 2017 announced to implement the co-location arrangement at the cross-border railway station in West Kowloon Station. To implement the co-location arrangement, the Chinese mainland and the HKSAR need to first reach a cooperation arrangement, which will be endorsed by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. Following the congress endorsement, the HKSAR needs to implement it through the enactment of local legislation. According to the law of HKSAR, three readings are required for getting through the local legislation. Construction works of the Hong Kong Section of the XRL that started in 2010 are now roughly 99 percent completed. The 26-km Hong Kong section of the XRL links up Hong Kong with the mega high-speed rail network of the Chinese mainland. The trial run of the Hong Kong Section of XRL has been held on April 1. The project is expected to commission in the third quarter of this year. New Delhi: India will from November not be able to use European banks for making payments for crude oil it buys from Iran as US sanctions against the Persian Gulf nation take effect, senior officials said on Friday. State Bank of India (SBI), the country's largest lender, has communicated to oil refiners that the euro payment route will be not available after November 3, Indian Oil Corp (IOC) Director (Finance) A K Sharma said. US President Donald Trump had last month pulled out of a landmark nuclear deal and said sanctions will be re-imposed on Iran within 180 days. However, it is not "doomsday" for Indian refiners and alternate crude oil sources in the Middle East, US and Russia can be tapped should Iranian supplies dry up due to payment problems, Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) Director (Finance) R Ramachandran said. "Once the current payment channel is blocked, supplier (Iran) has to decide if it wants to trade with us in rupee or sell oil on credit in anticipation of channels re-opening in future," Sharma said. India pays its third largest oil supplier in euros using European banking channels and imports can continue on alternate modes should it be blocked, he said. Currently, oil firms first transfer funds to SBI, which in turn uses Germany-based Europaeisch-Iranische Handelsbank AG (EIH) to pay in euros to Iran. During the first round of sanctions in 2012 when European Union joined the US in imposing financial restrictions, India initially used a Turkish bank to pay Iran for the oil it bought but beginning February 2013 paid nearly half of the oil import bill in rupees while keeping the remainder pending till opening of payment routes. It began clearing the dues in 2015 when the restrictions were eased. Besides, New Delhi sought to get around the restrictions by supplying goods including wheat, soybean meal and consumer products to Iran in exchange for oil. Also Read | Bank employees threaten to intensify protest in July, August Back in 2012, EU put restrictions on insurance of Iranian oil and ships carrying them. To get around the problem, Iran supplied oil in its own tankers. Ramachandran said while Iran offers an economic advantage because of lower freight for shipping oil, alternatives are available. "Our refineries are flexible and a large number of options are available (to replace Iranian oil). We have suppliers, the Middle East, US and Russia," he said. "It is not doomsday for us." Sharma said Iran has to take a call on how supplies are to be made. On the issue of India seeking a waiver from sanctions, he said it is for the government to decide and he has no comments to offer. Like last time, India can seek a waiver from US sanctions on condition that it will cut down Iranian imports. Iran is India's third-largest oil supplier behind Iraq and Saudi Arabia. It supplied 18.4 million tonnes of crude oil during April 2017 and January 2018 (first 10 months of 2017-18 fiscal). Iran was India's second biggest supplier of crude oil after Saudi Arabia till 2010-11 but western sanctions over its suspected nuclear programme relegated it to the 7th spot in the subsequent years. In 2013-14 and 2014-15, India bought 11 MT and 10.95 MT, respectively from the country. Sourcing from Iran increased to 12.7 MT in 2015-16, giving it the sixth spot. In the following year, the Iranian supplies jumped to 27.2 MT to catapult it to the third spot. Iranian oil is a lucrative buy for refiners as the Persian Gulf nation provides 60 days of credit for purchases, double the amount of time given by other producers. Following Trump's announcement, companies are not allowed to strike new deals in the Iranian oil and energy sector. By August, transactions in Iranian government debt or currency and purchases involving the country's automobile sector or Iranian gold and other metals must end. In November, deals involving Iran's oil and energy sector, shipping and ports, and insurance services will be prohibited. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Fan of Hollywood horror movies must have remembered one the scariest demonic character of all time from the 2016 release Conjuring 2. Yes! Valak is back again in an all new movie titled The Nun and the the teaser of the film will give you nightmares. The Nun tells the origin story of the horror character The Conjuring fans love to be scared of. The trailer begins with a message which says make sure you watch till the end which is scary in itself and builds up the suspense for the remaining video. A priest and a novitiate on the threshold of her final vows are sent by the Vatican to investigate the suicide of a young Nun in a cloistered abbey in Romania. Both of them faces the malevolent force of the demonic nun and the abbey in Romania becomes a horrific battleground between the living and the demand. Helmed by Corin Hardy, the movie features Demian Bichir, Taissa Farmiga, Jonas Bloquet, Charlotte Hope, Ingrid Bisu and Bonnie Aarons as The Nun. The role was incepted when producer James Wan thought to add the character during the reshoots of the film Conjuring 2. Meanwhile, The Nun is scheduled to hit the theatres on September 7. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Amid internal tussle over Karnataka Cabinet expansion, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Friday said that the Congress-JDS government in the state is working on the modalities of farm loan waiver and will announce it anytime soon. Taking the matter to micro-blogging site Twitter, Kumaraswamy said, he and his government is looking forward to developing a scientifically-proven procedure, which will benefit the maximum number of farmers through the loan waiver scheme across India. "Dear farmers, let there be no confusion on farm loan waiver. I am fully committed to the loan waiver. I want to ensure it is done scientifically benefitting maximum farmers. I am working on the modalities and will announce it shortly," the chief minister tweeted. Dear farmers Let there be no confusion on farm loan waiver. I am fully committed to the loan waiver. I want to ensure it is done scientifically benefitting maximum farmers. I am working on the the modalities and will announce it shortly.#farmers #farmloanwaiver CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) June 15, 2018 Read | AAP Dharna: Sit-in by CM Arvind Kejriwal and cabinet colleagues enters fifth day Kumaraswamy, who took oath as the Karnataka CM last month in Bengaluru, met representatives of several farmers' organisations in the state and discussed the major challenges faced by them. "This government is not in the sleeping mode. We are at the work of Karnataka citizens," Kumaraswamy said after meeting with farmers' leaders. Earlier, the chief minister has promised to farm community on waiver loans within 15 days of coming to power. Waiving farmers' loan was one of the main focus of the JDS's campaign ahead of the Karnataka Assembly Elections on May 12. Read | PM Narendra Modi interacts with Digital India Programme beneficiaries through NaMo App For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hosting a dinner for key functionaries of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Sangh affiliates at his official residence over dinner tonight, sources said. The functionaries are currently holding a two-day meeting at Surajkund in Haryana in an effort to take stock of their works and discuss the agenda with a focus on coordination among saffron organisations, ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha general elections. RSS general secretary Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi and joint general secretary Krishna Gopal are present at the meeting, while BJP president Amit Shah is expected to attend the event on Saturday. Also Read | Digital India eases lives of pensioners through internet service: Modi For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Days after interacting with the beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana (PMJAY), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday communicated with the Digital India programme beneficiaries at 9:30 am across the country. Citizens are invited to take part in the interaction through Live broadcast on Doordarshan or on their mobile through Narendra Modi (NaMo) App. Here are the Highlights: # 12:42 PM: Watch Shantaa Bai, a MGNREGA worker narrating her story as to how she has benefited from the Common Services Centres (CSCs) in her village (Maharashtra) #DigitalIndia is truly transforming the lives of BPL families. #DigitalIndiaKiBaatPMKeSaath pic.twitter.com/qs5PFZ0IwK a BJP (@BJP4India) June 15, 2018 # 12:35 PM: # 12:27 PM: Watch how youths of Nagaland have benefited through the BPO units in their state. Now they don't have to leave their home town in search of jobs. They deal with international clients over the phone and are able to utilise their skills to the fullest. #DigitalIndiaKiBaatPMKeSaath pic.twitter.com/uMpRLPfeKc a BJP (@BJP4India) June 15, 2018 # 12:23 PM: Garima from Jhansi proudly tells to the world that the mobile company she works in is fully aMade-in-Indiaa. This is the transformation #Digitalndia has brought in the lives of our enterprising youth. #DigitalIndiaKiBaatPMKeSaath pic.twitter.com/jf5DxjxtF8 a BJP (@BJP4India) June 15, 2018 # 11:39 AM:A Digital India initiative helped a woman from Dhanauri Kalan village of Uttar Pradesh to clear the UP Police examination through improved internet services. # 10:19 AM:A The movement towards more digital payments is linked to eliminating middlemen: PM Modi. # 10:14 AM:A RuPay Card is bringing revolutionary changes in the field of digital payments, says PM Modi. # 10:10 AM: Under this scheme, the Modi government is easingA the lives of pensioners through digital services. Easing the lives of pensioners through digital services. #DigitalIndiaKiBaatPMKeSaath pic.twitter.com/ovRzEBl89k a BJP (@BJP4India) June 15, 2018 # 10:08 AM: Digital India empowersA community member through CSCs. # 09:59 AM:A I had no employment but thanks to CSC, I got work opportunities. People in my village, especially the elderly and students are most happy with CSCs: A youngster from Gondia in Maharashtra tells PM Modi. # 09:54 AM:A I learnt how to use the BHIMApp, which made my life easy: Meenu from Haryana's Yamuna Nagar.A # 09:51 AM:A I am associated with a CSC. I have seen how this works and it has given me a new identity. I will always pray for your long life for the good work you have done: Misbah Hashmi from Yamuna Nagar to Narendra Modi. # 09:46 AM:A In the last 3 years, I have 15 computers. Due to @_DigitalIndia, my village has got internet access. Due to this children are availing of online coaching facilities. Mine is a digital village: Jitender Solanki from UP's Gautam Budh Nagar to PM Modi. # 09:45 AM:A The Digital India initiative is creating a group of village level entrepreneurs: Narendra Modi # 09:42 AM:A We ensured that the advantages of technology are not restricted to a select few but to are there for all sections of society. We strengthened the network of CSCs: PM Modi. We ensured that the advantages of technology are not restricted to a select few but to are there for all sections of society. We strengthened network of CSCs : PM Modi #DigitalIndiaKiBaatPMKeSaath a BJP (@BJP4India) June 15, 2018 # 09:41 AM:A Due to technology railway tickets can be booked online, bills can be paid online: PM Modi. # 09:40 AM:A We launched Digital India to ensure more people can benefit from the joys of technology, especially in rural areas, says the prime minister. # 09:38 AM: In the past 4 years, we have given special attention to every aspect of digital emergence: PM Modi. # 09:34 PM:A PM Shri Narendra Modi's live interaction with the beneficiaries of Digital India across the country. Watch PM Shri @narendramodi's live interaction with the beneficiaries of Digital India across the country. #Digitala https://t.co/FFkfIRCLtv a BJP (@BJP4India) June 15, 2018 The Digital India programme was launched by the Government of India with an aim to make the country digitally empowered in the field of technology. Under this scheme, the Government has ensured an improved online infrastructure to connect rural areas with high-speed internet networks. The initiative, launched on July 1, 2015, includes - development of secure and stable digital infrastructure, delivering government services digitally, and universal digital literacy. Earlier on June 5, the Prime Minister interacted with Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana beneficiaries from across the country, through video bridge. On May 28, the prime minister interacted with the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) through his NaMo App. This was the very first in the series of video bridge interactions by PM Modi with various beneficiaries of Government schemes. Besides these, a survey, recently launched by PM Modi on the occasion of NDA government's fourth anniversary, is now rating the performance of the BJP-led dispensation at the Centre and MPs and MLAs in their constituencies. The survey was introduced to count the voice of Indian citizens. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi/Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday arrested a suspect in connection with the killing of journalist Shujaat Bukhari, who was laid to rest in his ancestral village with thousands of mourners attending the burial braving heavy rain. The arrested suspect has been identified as Zubair Qadri, Inspector General (IG) Kashmir Swayam Prakash Pani said at a press conference in Srinagar. Terming the killing of Bukhari a "terror attack", Pani said Qadri was seen in the video taking the pistol of the PSO who was shot dead along with Bukhari. "The pistol has since been recovered and he is being questioned about his presence at the scene of the crime. So far, he has not been able to give any convincing answers," he said. Following the incident, the state police had formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under Deputy Inspector General (central Kashmir) V K Virdi to probe the killing of Bukhari. The identity of the other three attackers is yet to be ascertained, the IG said. Bukhari, Editor in Chief of Rising Kashmir, a leading daily in Jammu and Kashmir, was shot by unidentified gunmen as he was getting into his car while leaving his office at the Press Enclave, Lal Chowk, around 7:15 pm on Thursday. His two personal security officers were also killed. "Three motorcycle-borne militants came and fired at Bukhari and his guards," Jammu and Kashmir police chief SP Vaid told reporters earlier. The last rites ceremony of Bukhari, who paid his life for peace, was performed in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district. OPINION | India must renew diplomatic offensive to bring Pakistan to heel The shooting of the journalist, on his way to an Iftar party, and that of an army jawan going home for Eid came just before the Centres Ramzan ceasefire is due to end on Saturday, triggering debate on whether the Centre should resume operations against the militants. Lt Gen A K Bhatt (Corps Commander 15 Corps) said his assessment was that Bukhari was gunned down at the behest of Pakistans intelligence agency ISI. My assessment is that it has been done by ISI. Rest, the investigation will find out, he told the media. While preparations were under way in the morning for the funeral procession of the journalist, readers of the Rising Kashmir woke up to a paper with its front page carrying a full-page black and white photograph of its editor-in-chief against a black background. The Rising Kashmir, which hit the stands as usual, also carried the message that it would not be cowed by cowards who had snatched him from them. You left all too sudden but you will always be our leading light with your professional conviction and exemplary courage. We wont be cowed down by the cowards who snatched you from us. We will uphold your principle of telling the truth howsoever unpleasant it may be...Rest in peace! the paper said. The message found wide echo as crowds of tearful mourners from across the Valley followed the cortege through the streets of the sleepy hamlet of Kreeri in Baramulla district, a short distance from Srinagar. Some people were seen sobbing inconsolably as the casket was lowered to the ground. Among those who took part in the last rites of Bukhari and visited his ancestral home to condole with the family were opposition leader Omar Abdullah and ministers from the PDP and the BJP. The show must go on. As Shujaat would have wanted it to, Abdullah wrote on Twitter while sharing a picture of the front page of Rising Kashmir. OPINION | Shujaat killing a big blow to Modis Kashmir policy Bukhari, who is survived by his wife and two children, was instrumental in organising several conferences for peace in the Kashmir Valley. He was also part of the Track II process with Pakistan. Away from the media glare, PSOs Abdul Hamid and Hameed were given a quiet burial at their homes in Karna in north Kashmirs Kupwara district. Expressing extreme sadness, BSP chief Mayawati said the time had come for the Narendra Modi government to shun its stubborn attitude and immediately review its Kashmir policy in the interest of the country. N Ram, the chairperson of The Hindu group, where Bukhari worked between 1997 and 2012, said the late journalist was not a government man, he was not an establishment man, nor was he in sympathy with the extremist elements. He believed, I think, he was voice for a just solution however difficult that is going to be in Jammu and Kashmir, Ram told NDTV in an interview. The noted editor said the killing had come as a shock because it was believed that journalists will not be killed in Jammu and Kashmir. There have been such cases in the past but not many. You have to go back 15 years before you could recollect that a journalist was killed, he said. Bukhari is the fourth journalist to be killed by militants in the nearly three-decade violence in Kashmir. In 1991, the editor of Alsafa, Mohammed Shaban Vakil, was killed by militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen. Four years later, in 1995, former BBC correspondent Yussuf Jameel escaped with injuries when a bomb exploded in his office. ANI cameramen Mushtaq Ali lost his life in the incident. In 2003, Parvaz Mohammed Sultan, editor of NAFA, was shot dead by Hizbul Mujahideen at his Press Enclave office. (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. City announces 3-year shipping hub plan From:Shine | 2018-06-15 01:29 ShanghaiTransportation Commission has announced a three-year plan to improve the citys handling capacity at airports and cruise terminals as it aims to become a global shipping center by 2020. The fifth runway of Pudong International Airport and the B section of Terminal 1 at Hongqiao International Airport will start operating this year, the commission announced yesterday. The third phase of Pudong Airports expansion project will be completed before September 2019, it said. The two airports will be able to handle 120 million people every year. The number now is 112 million, ranking it No. 4 in the world. The first is Atlanta Airport in the United States. The airports are working on improving the on-time rate of flights. By 2019, Pudong hopes to see 75 percent of flights take off on time, and Hongqiao 80 percent, according to Wang Jiqing, vice president of Shanghai Airport Authority. Last year, the citys cruise terminals handled 2.97 million tourists. As Wusongkou Cruise Terminal and Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal keep expanding, the number is estimated to reach 3.5 million in three years. The city is cutting red tape in cargo trading to provide better business environment. We will work on policies to lower the logistic cost of cargos, said Xie Feng, head of the transport commission. An online platform which allows different government bodies to share data has also been built. While developing aviation and shipping, the city is aware of the importance of protecting the environment. Zhang Lin, deputy head of the commission, said the city will encourage cargos to be transported by sea instead of road. All container trucks will be encouraged to use natural gas as fuel, said Zhang. New Delhi: The last rites ceremony of Rising Kashmir editor-in-chief Shujaat Bukhari, who was shot dead by unknown miscreants last night in Srinagar, was performed in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla on Friday. Bukhari and his two PSOs were attacked by militants as they were getting into their cars outside the Rising Kashmir office at the Press Enclave around 7:15 pm on Thursday. Bukhari is survived by his wife and one son and a daughter. "Three motorcycle-borne militants came and fired at Bukhari and his guards. Bukhari and one guard were killed and another security guard critically injured," Jammu and Kashmir police chief SP Vaid told reporters. Jammu & Kashmir: Last rites ceremony of Rising Kashmir editor #ShujaatBhukhari, in Baramulla. He was shot dead by terrorists in Srinagar last night. pic.twitter.com/UldKVovVIs ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2018 Despite this irretrievable loss, Rising Kashmir - the English daily published its latest edition on Friday and hit the stands with its front page carrying the full-page photograph of late editor-in-chief in black background. The page also carried the message that the paper would not be cowed down. "You left all too sudden but you will always be our leading light with your professional conviction and exemplary courage. We won't be cowed down by the cowards who snatched you from us. We will uphold your principle of telling the truth howsoever unpleasant it may be...Rest in peace!" the message read. Read | AAP Dharna: Sit-in by CM Arvind Kejriwal and cabinet colleagues enters fifth day While the Rising Kashmir and team paid this fitting tribute to Bukhari, politicians, ministers and media organisations from across India strongly condemn the assassination of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari. Praising the Rising Kashmir's courageous step to publish the latest edition as a tribute to Bukhari, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said, "The show must go on. As Shujaat would have wanted it to. This is today's @RisingKashmir issue. That Shujaat's colleagues were able to bring out the paper in the face of insurmountable grief is a testament to their professionalism and the most fitting tribute to their late boss." Besides the tweet, Abdullah has also shared a picture of the front page of the daily. The show must go on. As Shujaat would have wanted it to. This is todays @RisingKashmir issue. That Shujaats colleagues were able to bring out the paper in the face of insurmountable grief is a testament to their professionalism & the most fitting tribute to their late boss. pic.twitter.com/ADP70D4F1q Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 14, 2018 Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra has conveyed shock and grief over the gruesome killing of Bukhari. Recalling Bukhari's standing as a veteran journalist, the Governor described his murder as a big loss to the media fraternity. In a message, Vohra prayed for peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss. He also called Bukhari's brother and Cabinet Minister Basharat Ahmed Bukhari to convey his heartfelt sympathy. In a condolence message, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti described the killing of Bukhari as highly barbaric, deplorable and condemnable. Read | Vijay Rupani slams Hardik Patel for spreading resignation rumours; terms it Congress' attempt to stay in media eye "Terrorism has hit a new low with Shujaats killing. That too, on the eve of Eid. We must unite against forces seeking to undermine our attempts to restore peace. Justice will be done," Mufti wrote in a tweet. Terrorism has hit a new low with Shujaats killing. That too, on the eve of Eid. We must unite against forces seeking to undermine our attempts to restore peace. Justice will be done. https://t.co/8oCNXan13L Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) June 14, 2018 Describing Bukhari's assassination as an "act of cowardice", Rajnath Singh said, "The killing of Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari is an act of cowardice. It is an attempt to silence the saner voices of Kashmir. He was a courageous and fearless journalist. Extremely shocked & pained at his death. My thoughts and prayers are with his bereaved family." The killing of @RisingKashmir editor, Shujaat Bukhari is an act of cowardice. It is an attempt to silence the saner voices of Kashmir. He was a courageous and fearless journalist. Extremely shocked & pained at his death. My thoughts and prayers are with his bereaved family. Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 14, 2018 "He was a brave heart who fought fearlessly for justice and peace in Jammu and Kashmir. My condolences to his family. He will be missed," Congress president Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet. Im anguished to hear about the killing of Shujaat Bukhari, editor of @RisingKashmir. He was a brave heart who fought fearlessly for justice and peace in Jammu & Kashmir. My condolences to his family. He will be missed. Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 14, 2018 Read | Watch LIVE | Digital India eases lives of pensioners through improved internet services: PM Modi Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala also tweeted, "Anguished beyond words. The security situation in J&K has hit its nadir. Demand the Centre take swift action to nab the killers. They can silence us but not our thoughts." Shocked to learn about the assassination of Sr Journalist & Editor of Rising Kashmir, Shri Shujaat Bukhari. Anguished beyond words. Security situation in J&K has hit its nadir. Demand the Centre to take swift action to nab the killers. They can silence us but not our thoughts. Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) June 14, 2018 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday expressed shock, saying, "Saddened and shocked at the brutal killing of the respected editor and senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari. With a few hours to go for Eid, this is terrible." Saddened and shocked at the brutal killing of respected editor and senior journalist @bukharishujaat With a few hours to go for Eid this is terrible. No words are enough for this big tragedy Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) June 14, 2018 Several journalist bodies, including the Press Club of India, condemned the killing of Bukhari during the holy month of Ramadan and demanded prompt action against the forces responsible for his assassination. Armchair patriots dont know what its like for so many journalists reporting on the ground in Kashmir. The kind of pressures they face, the stress they work under. Tonight I want to thank my colleagues like @nazir_masoodi @szaffariqbal for their work. RIP @bukharishujaat Nidhi Razdan (@Nidhi) June 14, 2018 Hope #ShujaatBukhari's murder serves as an eye-opener to Pakistan sympathizers in India. Hope they realize that they have been batting for terror state #Pakistan which will silence voices like @bukharishujaat who believed in peace, dialogue and negotiation over #Kashmir. Aarti Tikoo Singh (@AartiTikoo) June 15, 2018 Saddened by the news of @bukharishujaat 's death. In his passing away Kashmir loses an important, independent & fearless voice. Hope the govt ensures a speedy investigation& severely punishes the perpetrators of this unprovoked attack. Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) June 14, 2018 One of @bukharishujaat last tweets, further reason why the toxic name calling must stop. And why doing journalism with integrity in Kashmir for a Kashmiri is so bloody difficult. Easy to sit in a Delhi based think tank and vent.. https://t.co/q6RQ2zCc8x Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) June 14, 2018 My friend @bukharishujaat was a rare voice of moderation in Kashmir who pandered to no extremes. May those who did this to him rot in hell. And may this be a moment for Kashmir to take note of the absolute insanity it is slipping into #ShujaatBukhari barkha dutt (@BDUTT) June 14, 2018 I strongly condemn @bukharishujaat s assassination by coward terrorists.This cowardly act on the eve of Eid shows these terrorists deserve no mercy.They can never muzzle the voice of the free press in India YY Sudhir Chaudhary (@sudhirchaudhary) June 14, 2018 He was tweeting a few hours ago. Shocking news. @bukharishujaat shot dead by terrorists in Srinagar Press colony...!!! Why kill a journalist you cowards. RIP Shujaat Bukhari Manak Gupta (@manakgupta) June 14, 2018 Earlier, Bukhari survived three assassination attempts and had been under police protection since 2000. Bukhari is the fourth journalist to be killed by militants in the nearly three-decade-long violence in Kashmir. In 1991, the editor of 'Alsafa', Mohammed Shaban Vakil, was killed by militants of Hizbul Mujahideen. Read | Bullet-ridden body of abducted Army soldier found in Pulwama's Gusoo Former BBC correspondent Yussuf Jameel escaped with injuries when a bomb exploded in his office in 1995, but ANI cameramen Mushtaq Ali lost his life in the incident. Later, on January 31, 2003, Parvaz Mohammed Sultan, editor of NAFA, was shot dead by Hizbul Mujahideen at his Press Enclave office. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Patidar reservation agitation leader Hardik Patel on Friday sparked a controversy after he told reporters that in an Anandiben Patel type incident, Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani has been asked to resign during a cabinet meeting on Thursday. "In 10 days the resignation will be accepted. I believe someone from 'Kshatriya' or 'Patidar' community will be the next CM," the 24-year-old quota agitation spearhead went on to claim further. Meanwhile, rubbishing those spreading rumours, Rupani on Friday lashed out at Patel saying the Patidar leader is spreading lies for staying in "media's eye". "For staying in media's eye, he (Hardik) has now started spreading such lies. I am not sure whether he knows the system or not but no chief minister submits the resignation in the cabinet. The CM has to submit his or her resignation to the Raj Bhavan (governor)," Rupani was quoted as saying. Read | AAP Dharna: Sit-in by CM Arvind Kejriwal and cabinet colleagues enters fifth day "Such lies are being spread by Congress agents like (Hardik) to destabilize the government. I have not resigned and there is no question of it either. The public has given us the opportunity to serve for five more years and we will do it with full energy," the Gujarat CM stated further. Terming it the handiwork of the BJP's opponents, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said, "Our chief minister has not resigned. No such development took place yesterday. These all are false and baseless rumours being spread by the BJP's opponents to stir controversies. But, we (BJP leaders) will always remain together despite such rumours." Read | Watch LIVE | Digital India eases lives of pensioners through improved internet services: PM Modi For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The brutal killing of the Editor of the daily Rising Kashmir, Shujaat Bukhari, on the eve of the festival of Eid ostensibly by trigger-happy terrorists in Srinagar is a reminder that terror is no respecter of religion. Shujaat was Kashmirs best-known journalist and had welcomed the unilateral ceasefire that the Indian political establishment had ordered during Eid festivities in the troubled region. That, and his past deeds as a peace protagonist were enough for terrorists to make him their target. People at large were happy at the announcement of ceasefire but the terror outfits were in wait to make a big bang impression that they would not tolerate any attempt to bring peace to the valley. That the Pakistan-based terror groups are in cahoots with the establishment in that country, principally the army and its intelligence network, is no secret to anybody. In a milieu in which the countrys intelligence has failed repeatedly to anticipate major terror strikes, the terrorists acted with impunity driving off on a scooter into the festive milling crowd after their job was done and their prey lay in a hopeless heap. Futile to blame it on the ceasefire Even as Shujaat lay dying, his familys dream of having him back home for Eid shattered, an army jawan was mowed down in Pulwama after being abducted on his way home for Eid and another was killed in gunbattle. It is futile to blame it on the ceasefire ordered at the behest of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. The cycle of violence has been relentless. Shujaats brother is a minister in the Mufti government but that is no deterrence in todays Kashmir valley. That there is a sense of outrage among people at Shujaats killing should help heal at least partly the divide that has been growing among a section of people against the so-called army excesses. The healing touch must continue The army is indeed doing a thankless job, saving the lives of people from an enemy that knows no scruples and yet being blamed for occasional excesses while defending itself from brutal attacks. It would indeed be folly for the Modi government to come down hard on all and sundry for the terror attacks. The healing touch must continue even as the attack on terror hideouts is intensified. The fifth columnists, especially those in the Hurriyat who enjoy the perks of governmental appeasement, must be unmasked further and dealt with in a manner that befits traitors. No substitute for tough action There is indeed no substitute for tough action and for strengthening the intelligence as well as the punitive apparatus of the police, the paramilitary forces and the army dealing with the terror situation. That the murderous attack on Shujaat coincided with a report produced by the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights which blamed India for human rights violations in Kashmir and sought an independent international investigation is no coincidence. Pakistan has been working on many fronts not the least of which is the propaganda machine. Indias diplomatic offensive, on the other hand, works in spurts and has a tendency to turn complacent. That in todays world there is a country that is the fountainhead of terror and is an active participant on the sly in instigating and fuelling terror against a neighbouring country should be enough to declare it a pariah and for international sanctions against it, but Pakistan seems to get away with murder. World must recognise need to bring Pakistan to heel It is time we renew our diplomatic offensive and insist on the world to recognise the need to bring Pakistan to heel. We make a big thing of the surgical strikes we undertook to destroy some camps in Pak-occupied Kashmir where terrorists were being trained. Are we not strong enough to undertake more such strikes to create a strong deterrent against such training camps? The time for half-measures is over. We must now work to meet the Pakistani challenge head-on. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modis Kashmir policy has hit a blank wall. The hope that a PDP-BJP government would be able to deliver an elusive peace was soon belied. The situation in the valley is fast deteriorating. For the first time, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), had indicted India. Pakistan was also targeted for abuse in PoK. The UN has called for an independent investigation. India has denied the allegations and called it fallacious, tendentious and motivated. Any government would do that. But it is time now for the authorities to take a long hard look at its policy and do a course correction as the current militarist policy is not paying dividends. The Ramadan ceasefire announced by the government was a welcome first step. There was a sliver of hope, a small opening that could be used to stop the blood-letting. With the Amarnath yatra about to begin around June 28, the government was perhaps thinking of extending the ceasefire. A ceasefire, which could lead to a temporary lull, is certainly NOT what the terror outfits want. They want to provoke and they certainly succeeded yesterday. The brutal gunning down of Shujaat Bukhari, editor of Rising Kashmir, a well-respected senior journalist of Kashmir last evening was a blow. This, followed by the discovery of the body of young Aurangzeb, the Rashtriya Rifles soldier who had gone home on leave for Eid, has exposed once again the brutality of the conflict in Kashmir. Aurangzeb, who had taken part in a number of anti-terrorist operation was always a marked man. When news of his abduction by armed militants came in, locals familiar with the ways of the terror outfits knew his was fate sealed. All Kashmiris working for the government are targets. So are alleged informers. India-Pakistan talks will remain in the back burner After yesterdayas killings, there will be a huge question mark about continuing the ceasefire beyond Eid. This is much like what happens when terror strikes are organised to disrupt any attempt at peace making between India and Pakistan. Former prime minister Atal Beharias Lahore visit was followed by the Kargil intrusions. Narendra Modi made a sincere effort in 2015, stopping by in Lahore on his way back from Afghanistan on Christmas Day. That was followed by the Pathankot and Uri strikes s, which dealt a death blow to any peace initiatives by Modi and Sharif. Now with a live Loc, and daily reports of civilians killed on both sides of the border, the situation has slipped further. Pakistan is in election mode, and a caretaker government is in place. India goes to polls next summer. So, India-Pakistan talks will remain in the back burner. Successive chief ministers of Kashmir have always called for talks with Pakistan for peace in the valley. Mehbooba Mufti is no exception. She had earlier been urging Delhi to do so. Pakistan is an important player in the Kashmir equation. Yes, normalisation of ties with Pakistan is important, as sections within the Pakistan Army, mainly its spy agency the Inter Services Intelligence wants to keep Kashmir on the boil. But Kashmir is not just about Pakistan. Islamabad will certainly fish in troubled waters. But India needs to put its house in order for enemy powers not to take advantage of it. The only way forward is by talking to all sections of people who are stakeholders in for peace. Last year, the Centre named Dineshwar Sharma, a former IB chief as its points person to begin talks with all stake holders. In November 2017, he visited Srinagar. Hurriyat predictably refused to meet him. He did meet non-political groups. But that was the last we have heard of this effort. It is time for the government to work through the back channels and begin the process of discussion. A man like A S Dulat, a former RAW chief, who after retirement was working in the Vajpayee PMO, had done much through his extensive contacts in the valley, to get Kashmiri militants to return home from POK. Like Vajapayee, Dulatas huge experience can be used by Modi to cool temperatures and get things moving. It is imperative for the PM to get back to the drawing board and start work afresh. The former UPA government under Manmohan Singh had a three-member team to begin a dialogue. Late Dileep Padgaonkar, Radha Kumar and M M Ansari came out with an extensive report, which gathered dust. The UPA did nothing about it. The fresh bout of violence in Kashmir began with the killing of Burhan Wani, a young Hizbul Mujahideen commander, who was killed in an encounter by security forces in July 2016. Ever since, the valley has been in flames. Most governments want talks from a position of strength, that is after security forces have broken the back of militants. Delhi, perhaps, was also waiting for such an opportunity. India has lost much goodwill in the valley, and there is no time to waste. It is now time for cool heads to deliberate on how to stop the spiralling violence in the state and create an atmosphere for dialogue. It will be tough as Pakistan will try to provoke. The pilgrims getting ready for the Amarnath Yatra will be a target, as any attempt at peace in the valley will always be disrupted by terror designs. London/New Delhi: Kulsoom Nawaz, wife of ousted Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif, suffered a cardiac arrest in London and was put on ventilator as her condition worsened, her family said on Friday. Sharif, along with daughter Maryam Nawaz, left for London on Thursday following report of the critical condition of his wife, who is undergoing treatment for throat cancer in a London hospital. Kulsoom had undergone multiple surgeries last year to remove lymph nodes after she was diagnosed with throat cancer. In April, it was reported that her throat cancer had spread to the rest of her body. And, last night she was shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the London hospital after her condition deteriorated further, Maryam said. "Ami had a sudden cardiac arrest when we were on the flight and is in ICU and on the ventilator since," Maryam informed on Twitter. She and her brother Hussain Nawaz appealed the nation and well-wishers to pray for her mother's health. Kulsoom was readmitted to the hospital on June 13 and rushed to the ICU late Thursday after she suffered a cardiac arrest and has not regained consciousness since, according to reports. Also Read | Nawaz Sharif leaves for UK to see ailing wife Shehbaz Sharif, Nawaz Sharif's brother, also requested the nation to join him in prayers for speedy recovery. "As the Holy Month of Ramadan comes to an end, I ask my compatriots to join me in prayers for her speedy recovery. The power of prayer is paramount," he tweeted. Sharif could not travel to London in recent weeks as he has been facing trial since July, when the Supreme Court disqualified the thrice-elected premier from office over undisclosed assets. Sharif denies any wrongdoing and has blamed "hidden hands" for his dismissal. His case has been adjourned until June 19. On June 7, Sharif and Maryam had sought a five-day exemption from their appearance before the accountability court in the corruption cases against the family. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Liangjiang to pioneer AI school Updated: 2018-06-15 chinadaily.com.cn Liangjiang New Area in Southwest China's Chongqing has made significant progress in advancing artificial intelligence. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] Chongqing's Liangjiang New Area announced during the 2018 Asian Conference on Artificial Intelligence Technology that it will work with Chongqing University of Technology to set up a college of artificial intelligence. The new college will drive the development of AI in terms of scientific theories, software engineering and hardware support admitting more than 500 postgraduates and undergraduates. "Chongqing Liangjiang College of Artificial Intelligence will promote coordination between industries and universities, forging an ideal ecology for the deep combination of production, education and research," Zhang Guozhi, deputy director of Liangjiang New Area, said during the AI conference on June 9. Themed "Intelligence Creation, Create future", the 2018 conference, which ran from June 8 to 10, invited many well-known experts, such as Professor Cesare Alippi (Politecnico di Milano, Italy), Professor Colin Harrison (Arizona State University, the US) and Professor M. Osman Tokhi (London South Bank University, UK) to share their insights with the audience. Artificial intelligence (AI), genetic engineering and nano science are commonly acknowledged as the most revolutionary technologies in the 21st century. The wave of AI in particular, has already swept the world, and Chongqing is no exception. "Liangjiang New Area is beefing up efforts to build a group of R&D platforms for AI innovation, which will further integrate big data, artificial intelligence and the real economy," noted Zhang, "AI-related industries are going to be a new powerhouse of Chongqing's economy." Technical issues are continuing to disrupt eGovernment services in the Kingdom, which the authority when enquired, attributed to a system upgrading process. The defect continues for the past three days, Abdulaziz Ahmed, a Bahraini citizen, told the Tribune. Some of the services are inaccessible, while others cant be completed after logging in, he added. Another disgruntled citizen, Yahya, told us that he could have finished the task long ago, if I had done it manually. Calling on the authority to quickly resolve the issue, Hashim Murad told the Tribune: We are tired of going and checking the services. We are still waiting for a solution to the problem, he complained. The authority responds The authority, on its website, has issued an apology for the disruption saying: We are currently updating the electronic channels. Confirming the disruption, the statement said, The services will be available soon, we always strive to serve you better. However, considering the growing number of complaints, the Tribune decided to notify the authority regarding the issue. In an exclusive statement to the Tribune, the authority confirmed that the work is still underway to solve the problem and that a notification will be issued immediately after resolving the issue. Home Just In Five injured as Pokhara Mayor operates excavator Pokhara, June 15 As many as five persons, including an Onlinekhabar journalist, were injured when Pokhara Lekhnath Mayor Man Bahadur GC operated an excavator to inaugurate the construction of a trail in the city. Those injured in the Khani Khola incident are: Sandesh Shrestha, Ranjan Adhikari, and Gauri Poudel among others. Locals and journalists were leaning against a fence to take pictures of the event when Mayor GC, who was inside the vehicle along with its operator, pressed the lever accidentally. The excavators bucket was set loose and it damaged the fence. People leaning against the fence fell onto a ravine. The injured are receiving treatment at the Metro City hospital in Pokhara. Stern warnings were issued to cafes in Hamala for breaching laws and regulations related to serving shisha. The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, in a statement, said that eight cafes in Hamala are serving shisha to customers in vehicles and in an area beyond the boundaries of the authorised region. The Ministry, in the statement issued yesterday, called on all coffee-shop owners in the Kingdom of Bahrain to abide by the government laws and regulations governing these activities. The number of applications to conduct "minpaku" lodging business under a new Japanese law totaled 2,707 as of a week before the minpaku law goes into effect on Friday, according to Japan Tourism Agency officials. The total was far fewer than had been expected, given that tens of thousands of private housing units across the country are thought to be being used for the minpaku business, industry sources said. The smaller-than-expected number seems to be partly because local authorities were preparing to introduce their own rules under the minpaku law, including restrictions on where and when minpaku services are allowed. By prefecture, 883 applications were submitted in Tokyo, 559 in Hokkaido, and 161 in Osaka. Of the total, 1,134 applications had been accepted by Friday. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reportedly said he was open to dialogue with Japan during Tuesday's summit in Singapore with US President Donald Trump. A Japanese government source said on Thursday that Trump told Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that Kim was open to dialogue with Japan. The source said Trump suggested to Abe that negotiations on the abduction issue should be pursued along with those on North Korea's denuclearization and that Japan should have a key role. Trump spoke by phone with Abe on Tuesday night on his way home from the summit. Abe told reporters that Trump had clearly conveyed Japan's stance on the abduction issue to the North Korean leader. Abe did not give details. He emphasized that if a Japan-North Korea summit is held, it is crucial that the talks lead to a resolution of the abduction issue, along with the issues of North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga echoed Abe's comments when he spoke to reporters on Thursday. He said the Japanese government is addressing the matter in various ways, and is determined to resolve the abduction issue through direct talks with Pyongyang, with President Trump's strong support. Suga said nothing has been decided yet about a summit with North Korea. But he said he hopes to see a summit that would lead to resolving the issues of North Korea's nuclear arms and missiles, and above all, the abductions of Japanese nationals. A day before a new law on minpaku (private lodging services) takes effect, Airbnb Inc. on Thursday welcomed the change and reinforced its commitment to the Japanese market with fresh initiatives. Friday amarks the first official day of the home sharing economy and we are very excited to be a part of this important development,a Nathan Blecharczyk, co-founder of the San Francisco-based room-sharing giant that lists more than 5 million homes worldwide, said Thursday at a Tokyo news conference in the Shibuya district. Among the new initiatives is a service called Airbnb Plus, which lists only ahigh standarda homes in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. It also plans to expand counseling services for Airbnb hosts in more regions and help them register their homes, post good photos and handle operations. Some media reports say Airbnb had more than 60,000 homes listed in March but delisted nearly 80 percent of them after the Japan Tourism Agency, which oversees accommodation platforms like Airbnb, announced earlier this month that private websites offering such lodging would have to delist unlicensed properties. Hosts must register with local authorities before offering short-term rental services, and the platforms are asked not to list hosts that arenat registered. Airbnb issued a statement last week that said it negotiated with the regulator but ended up having to cancel reservations ascheduled for guest arrival between June 15 and June 19 at a listing in Japan that does not currently have a license.a aGoing forward, unless the government reverses its position, we will automatically cancel and fully refund any reservations at listings in Japan that have not been licensed within 10 days of guest arrival,a the statement said. Two men arrested earlier this week in connection with the death of a 29-year-old nurse are suspected of following her from a building housing a gym that she went to before they kidnapped her in a nearby parking lot, investigative sources said Thursday. Security camera footage shows two men forcing their way into the car of Mayuko Uchiyama and driving off in the late afternoon on May 26 in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture. Her car was found in Kuwana, Mie Prefecture, about 100 kilometers northwest of Hamamatsu, and her body was found buried in Fujieda in Shizuoka on Saturday. Mitsuru Suzuki, 42, and Motoki Ito, 28, both arrested on suspicion of illegally confining Uchiyama, have told investigators they became acquainted with each other through an internet message board, which included a post for "profitable" work, and met in person for the first time on the day of the attack. They have told police they were not acquainted with the victim. Fukuoka Prefectural Police have arrested an elderly man over the stabbing of his nephew in Kurume City on Thursday, reports the Asahi Shimbun At around 9:20 a.m., Takamasa Mihara, a 72-year-old resident of Nishinari Ward, Osaka City, allegedly used a knife to stab his nephew, 47, in the back in the parking lot of dental clinic where the victim serves as director. Police arriving at the scene arrested Mihara, who was in possession of the knife, on suspicion of attempted murder. aI did not intend to kill,a the suspect was quoted by police in denying the allegations. However, he did admit to carrying out the stabbing. The victim was transported to a hospital with injuries considered serious but not life-threatening, according to police. Both the victim and the suspect had previously consulted with police about a problem related to an inheritance. In carrying out the attack, Mihara approached his nephew from behind as he watered plants, police said. Japanas new law on minpaku (private lodging) businesses took effect Friday, but stringent rules may dampen the entry of homeowners into the market, despite hopes that it could help counter a shortage of accommodation amid a growing number of foreign tourists. The new law enables private homes to be offered as accommodation for tourists only if the owners submit the necessary paperwork to prefectural governments or designated municipalities. Registrations can also be made online. Previously, offering accommodation in private homes was allowed in Japan only under the Hotel Business Law, except for private lodging services in specially deregulated zones. The law requires property owners to obtain accommodation licenses. The new law is designed to cope with a sharp increase in foreign visitors and a consequent shortage of hotel rooms, a trend expected to continue in the run-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. aThrough setting steady rules, we aim to expand the healthy minpaku business while making sure of the safety and security of users,a Nobuhiko Hohokabe, an official at the Japan Tourism Agency, said at a news conference promoting traditional Japanese houses. Minpaku businesses are expected to better meet the needs of foreign visitors hoping to experience Japanese culture up close, said Hohokabe, who is in charge of minpaku services, adding this would lead to more repeated visits to Japan by overseas travelers. The number of foreign visitors to Japan surged 19.3 percent in 2017 from the previous year, hitting a record high of over 28 million, according to the JTA. The government has set a target of 40 million foreign visitors by 2020. The father of a 9-year-old Vietnamese girl allegedly killed by a male neighbor near Tokyo in 2017 demanded capital punishment at a court hearing on Friday. Le Anh Hao, the 35-year-old father of Le Thi Nhat Linh, said at the Chiba District Court, "Linh said she wanted to become a bridge between Japan and Vietnam. I cannot forgive the killer." According to the indictment, Yasumasa Shibuya, the 47-year-old former head of a parents' association at the girl's school, bundled Linh into his car on the morning of March 24, 2017, and sexually assaulted her before strangling her and abandoning her body near a drainage ditch in the city of Abiko, Chiba Prefecture. Shibuya has pleaded not guilty, saying the prosecutors' claims are fictitious and fabricated. He has denied any involvement in the case. Hoping that his daughter would connect the two countries, Hao said he picked Nhat and Linh for her name, meaning Japan and shine, respectively. A 78-year-old man died after he was shot by a hunter who thought he was shooting at a wild monkey on a mountain slope in Kamogawa, Chiba Prefecture, police said Friday. Police said Masaru Takahashi, 67, who has a license to use firearms for culling wild animals, has been charged with negligence resulting in death after he shot Hisashi Mori with a shotgun. Sankei Shimbun reported that the incident occurred at around 5 p.m. Thursday. Hunters have been culling wild monkeys in the mountain forest recently. According to police, Takahashi was pulling out weeds behind his house when he saw several monkeys come down from the forested hill. He got his shotgun, chased them back into the bushes and fired at one of them. He then went to see if he had hit the animal and found Mori who lived nearby, lying on the ground, bleeding from a head wound. Kathmandu, June 15 The newly-formed Nepal Communist Party will hold its first Standing Committee meeting at the Prime Ministers official residence in Baluwatar on Saturday. The co-chairs of the party, KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal, decided to hold the meeting on June 16 following a discussion this week. According to central committee member Bishnu Rijal, a four-point agenda has been prepared for the meeting. Both the chairs will address the partys first standing committee meeting. Similarly, General Secretary Bishnu Poudel said that details of organisational works will be presented in the meeting. The partys working procedure might also be approved. The draft has already been sent to standing committee members. The meeting will also discuss the Prime Ministers official visit to China. Prior to the 45-member standing committee meeting, a meeting of central secretariat will be held. Elon Musks Boring Co. has won a bid to build a multibillion-dollar high-speed express train to Chicagos OHare International Airport. Were really excited to work with the Mayor and the City to bring this new high-speed public transportation system to Chicago! https://t.co/cL1e0YfZSw The Boring Company (@boringcompany) June 14, 2018 It is unclear exactly what the Boring Co. high-speed airport link would involve, but last year Musk tweeted about his ideas for Chicago. Electric pods for sure, he wrote. Rails maybe, maybe not. The project is unusual in that no government funding is involved, forcing the winner to finance the entire construction cost itself. They will negotiate for one year over details of the project, which aims to connect downtown Chicago with OHare, about 15 miles and a $40 taxi ride away. A final go-ahead requires approval from the city council. In its request for proposals, the city set a goal of connecting downtown with the airport in 20 minutes or less, with service every 15 minutes for the majority of the day. Home Just In Two ward chairs arrested in Kavre, Saptari for electricity theft Kathmandu, June 15 Teams deployed from the Nepal Electricity Authority to monitor electricity theft in various parts of the country on Thursday arrested two peoples representatives, one each in Kavre and Saptari districts, for their alleged involvement in the crime. Narayan Lamsal and Ramananda Chaudhary, chairmen of Mandan Deupur Municipality-7 of Kavre district and Tirhut Rural Municipality-5 of Saptari district respectively, were arrested from their areas. Earlier, a meeting of Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, Energy Minister Barsha Man Pun, Home Secretary Prem Kumar Rai, NEA Managing Director Kul Man Ghising and Nepal Police Chief Sarbendra Khana on Wednesday had decided to launch a special programme against electricity theft. Following the decision, district administration offices and district units of the NEA had launched a joint drive to control power leakage. It has been learned that both the arrests were made during operations of such joint committees. According to the NEA data, around 20 per cent electricity is leaked currently. It has set the target of reducing the leakage amount to 15 per cent in next three years. The Venture Capital World Summits is holding events around the world. The next event is June 28, 2018 in New York ($399 will be discounted to $299.25 with nextbigcoins code). The New York Venture Capital activity is ranked 2nd in the U.S. and terms of data also in the World. As an example between 2013 and 2014, Venture Capital funding produced a 53% growth in the City. New York 2018, attendees will be able to learn, debate, invest, pitch and connect with leaders on the future challenges facing Venture Capital in dynamic Markets. Nextbigfuture and Nextbigcoins are a media partner. Readers can use the code nextbigcoins to get a 25% off discount on cart. To detail since the start of 2009, venture capital investors produced over $8 billion into New York startups. In 2013, New York recorded its largest investment exit at Yahoos acquisition of Tumblr which has been one of the New Yorks five largest investments exits since 2009 from Venture Capital. Investors will have the opportunity to meet dynamic pre-selected companies with high growth potential, senior public Sector Representatives and VIPs from across the world. Startups can join to meet dynamic pre-selected investors presenting high growth potential, senior public Sector Representatives and VIPs from across the world. Based on the growth in New Yorks tech startup scene are several companies that have raised large amounts of funding and continue to provide momentum onto the ecosystem with IPOs. The agenda for the event is structured into five distinct sections: * Expert discussion panels * International Pitching * Keynote speakers * Networking * Awards Other events Cardiff 26 October 2018 249 discounted to 186.75 with nextbigcoins code London 03 October 2018 349 discounted to 261.75 with nextbigcoins code Silicon Valley 29 Nov 2018 $399 will be discounted to $299.25 with nextbigcoins code Paris 24 April 2019 299 Euros discounted by 25% to 224 Euros President Muhammadu Buhari has called on Nigerians to put the virtues of Islam into practice beyond the fasting season. President Muhammadu Buhari has called on Nigerians to put the virtues of Islam into practice beyond the fasting season.This was contained in his Sallah message to mark the end of the Ramadan fasting period.While congratulating Muslims on completing this spiritually significant month of sacrifice, the President urged them to reflect on the importance of Ramadan in becoming good ambassadors of Islam at all times.The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said religion should be the moral compass for all believers in their public and personal lives.If people allow the teachings of their religions to influence their conducts, problems such as corruption, which diverts public funds to private pockets, would have been eliminated in the society. he addedHe regretted, however, that selfishness and greed have overcome peoples conscience so much that they dont have moral inhibitions in the pursuit of their greed.He said it is impossible to separate morality from religion, and removing this connection encourages corrupt leaders and other exploiters to commit atrocities against the society.I always wonder why any true believer, be they politicians, civil servants or businessmen, would seek to make profits from the misfortunes of others, the President added.He also urged ordinary Nigerians to stop glorifying thieves by treating them with disdain for bringing hardships to others.President Buhari enjoined religious leaders to always pray for peace and unity in the country and avoid making inflammatory utterances that endanger peace or promote conflicts.The President also appealed to fellow citizens to forgive one another and embrace peace.In this respect, President Buhari lauded the families of recipients of national honours for showing good examples to Nigerians and urged our country men and women to copy their good examples.He thanked Nigerians for their patience and assured that their sacrifices will not be in vain, adding that reforming a country that was pushed into near decay on account of corruption comes with teething pains.But these pains are temporary, the APC administration which I am privileged to lead, is beholden to the ordinary Nigerians and will leave no stone unturned to make their security, welfare and happiness our priority, the President further reassured. President Muhammadu Buhari says after the successful completion of this years Ramadan fast, he is healthier to attend to national issues... President Muhammadu Buhari says after the successful completion of this years Ramadan fast, he is healthier to attend to national issues. He said though he was advised not to fast due to ill-health, he rejected the advice because of the benefits attached to fasting. Buhari said having missed that of last year because of his health condition, he did not want the situation to repeat itself. Buhari spoke at the presidential villa in Abuja when he received a delegation of federal capital territory (FCT) led by Mohammed Bello, the minister of FCT. The delegation comprised of lawmakers, religious leaders, some cabinet members, service chiefs, presidential aides and some FCT residents. Im very grateful to the ministers and church leadership that came to say happy Eid-Filtri to those of us that have been fasting, he said. A lot of people asked me if on health grounds I could fast I refused not to because I know the value in fasting, I cannot miss it once I can do it. Last year I didnt because I was on health vacation but this year I have done it and I thank God because it has helped me to be healthier and also gave me the time that I need to attend to national issues. 2018. Last year, Buhari spent over 150 days in London, treating an undisclosed ailment. He has also visited his London doctors on three known occasions in2018. He told his guests to appeal to those in their constituencies to shun individualism and sectionalism. He reiterated his position that Nigeria belongs to all, hence the need to salvage it together. Please, in your constituencies, emphasise what I said about 30 years ago. We dont have another country except Nigeria we may as well remain here and salvage it together, there is nothing else we can do. been deployed here So, thank you very much and please, persuade your constituencies to work much harder away from individualism and sectionalism. Even those who left the country are now trying to come back because they are not wanted out there. I wish that all the resources they had then, hadbeen deployed here So, thank you very much and please, persuade your constituencies to work much harder away from individualism and sectionalism. The president said despite meeting little or no resources when he took office, his administration has worked hard to stabilise the economy. Im very pleased that we are working very hard collectively as Nigerians and that God in his infinite mercy who knows what is in the heart and not by mouth, will continue to guide us so that we accommodate each other at all times, he said. This country is blessed on human and material resources. Here I have to digress and wish my former minister of mines and steel, Fayemi, well. He has been a very hardworking minister, because the ministry he was leading was neglected with the overbearing economic relevance of oil. But from the days of mining of tin, columbite, coal and so on, you know this country is blessed. Throughout the country, we have solid minerals and I am hoping that Fayemi will succeed to lead again his state. I believe he is a very hardworking person, very patriotic but Nigerian politics is virtually unpredictable. We are going to work very hard to fill his space in the executive council so that we keep on exploiting more and more of our solid minerals and less politicizing of our petroleum resources. What we realized between 1999-2013 as I have always said we have never realized it. Its on record that we were producing 2.2 million barrels per day on the average, at the cost of $100 per barrel. It went up to $143 per barrel and then I think it stabilized between $80 and $90, Nigeria has never received so much money and we thank God that we have survived the crisis in no time. It is amazing that we are here because we tried four times, we earned up three times at the supreme court and it is no joke. I have suffered for this constituency just like I suffered in the military, I walked from the royal border to the sea virtually on foot, because every culvert and bridge were blown up, so we had to walk and carry our luggage. Ben Nwabueze, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has faulted the June 12 declaration made by President Muhammadu Buhari. Ben Nwabueze, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has faulted the June 12 declaration made by President Muhammadu Buhari. In a statement, he personally signed, Nwabueze described the declaration as unconstitutional, a masterstroke of mischief and insincerity and a deceitful contrivance. on MKO Abiola, while the investiture held on June 12. On June 6, Buhari announced the conferment of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), the highest honour in the land,on MKO Abiola, while the investiture held on June 12. The president also declared June 12 would replace May 29 as Democracy Day. The development had generated mixed reactions among Nigerians. Nwabueze said the presidents declaration raises several issues concerning, first, the intention behind it, whether it is motivated by the public interest or by a political desire to secure the votes of Nigerians in the 2019 election, especially the votes of people of the south-west or to sow the seed of division among the members of the national assembly. A motive of mischief seems evident on the face of the declaration, he said, adding: It is indeed a masterstroke of mischief and insincerity, a deceitful contrivance, suddenly and mischievously trumped up to rescue his dying image three years after his installation as president. The jurist said the annulled June 12 election deemed in law not to have taken place, and as such June 12 cannot be declared Democracy Day and a public holiday. He also argued that Abiola, the presumed winner of the election and Babagana Kingibe, his running mate, cannot be awarded the national honour of GCFR and GCON respectively. Reacting to the senate resolution that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should declare Abiola the winner of the 1993 presidential election, Nwabueze said the commission lacks the power to do so. He said the powers of INEC, as conferred on it by paragraph 15 of the third schedule to the 1999 constitution, is to organise, undertake and supervise presidential and other listed elections, and that section 70 of the Electoral Act stipulates that the winner in an election shall be declared elected by the appropriate returning officer. Nwabuezes full statement has been reproduced below: In a special press statement signed by himself personally, which is unprecedented, President Buhari made the following momentous announcement: For the past 18 years, Nigerians have been celebrating May 29th, as Democracy Day. That was the date when for the second time in our history, an elected civilian administration took over from a military government. The first time this happened was on October 1st, 1979. But in the view of Nigerians, as shared by this Administration, June 12th, 1993, was far more symbolic of Democracy in the Nigerian context than May 29th or even the October 1st. June 12th, 1993 was the day when Nigerians in millions expressed their democratic will in what was undisputedly the freest, fairest and most peaceful elections since our Independence. The fact that the outcome of that election was not upheld by the then Military Government does not distract from the democratic credentials of that process. Accordingly, after due consultations, the Federal Government has decided that henceforth, June 12th will be celebrated as Democracy Day. Therefore, Government has decided to award posthumously the highest honour of the land, GCFR, to late Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12th, 1993 cancelled elections. His running mate as Vice President, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, is also to be invested with a GCON. Furthermore, the tireless fighter for human rights and the actualization of the June election and indeed for Democracy in general, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, is to be awarded a GCON posthumously. The commemoration and investiture will take place on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, a date which in future years will replace May 29th as a National Public Holiday in celebration of Nigeria Democracy Day. LEGAL ISSUES ARISING FROM THE PRESIDENTS DECLARATION The Presidents Declaration raises several issues concerning, first, the intention behind it, whether it is motivated by the public interest or by a political desire to secure the votes of Nigerians in the 2019 election, especially the votes of people of the South-West or to sow the seed of division among the members of the National Assembly in order to scuttle the threat to impeach him or to throw the country into turmoil or to smear the polity with the taint of illegality. A motive of mischief seems evident on the face of the Declaration. It is indeed a masterstroke of mischief and insincerity, a deceitful contrivance, suddenly and mischievously trumped up to rescue his dying image three years after his installation as President. But the question of primary interest to us here concerns the legal aspects of the Presidents Declaration, which raise three issues of some intricacy , viz (a) whether what he calls the cancellation of the June 12 election by the then Military Government is binding legally on him and Nigerians generally, or putting it differently, whether as President he has the power or competence to overturn or disregard the cancellation without an Act of the National Assembly repealing it; (b) the legal effects of the cancellation; and (c) whether the Presidents 6th June Declaration does not require, as a condition for its effectiveness in law, that the results of the June 12 election should have been officially announced and Chief Abiola officially declared its winner. Binding force of the annulment of the June 12 election by a Decree of the Federal Military Government (FMG) It is as indisputable that a presidential election was, as a matter of fact, held on June 12, 1993 as that the said election was, as a matter both of fact and law, annulled by a Decree of the Federal Military Government (FMG) Decree No. 61 of 1993. The binding force, or rather the supremacy, of Decrees of the FMG has a history which it is appropriate to recall here. The issue of the binding force or supremacy of Decrees was settled with finality 48 years ago by the Federal Military Government (Supremacy and Enforcement of Powers) Decree 1970 re-enacted by Decree 13 of 1984 made by Gen Buhari as the then Head of the FMG. (He, Gen Buhari, enacted 37 Decrees during his one year rule in 1984 as Head of the FMG). Even the 1999 Constitution from which he derives his authority as President to make the June 6 Declaration is the product of a Decree, Decree 24 of 1999 to which that Constitution is scheduled. The 1999 Constitution itself, in its section 315(4)(d), recognises the annulment Decree 61 of 1993 as an existing law. So President Buhari has no moral right or justification to disregard or disdain Decree 61 of 1993 or to do things as please him, as if that law does not exist. Nigeria is or is supposed to be a law-governed state, a state of law where the Rule of Law reigns and governs not only the lives and affairs of people in society, but also the actions of government. It is an axiomatic principle, accepted nearly by all, that democracy cannot meaningfully exist or function without the Rule of Law any more than it can meaningfully exist or function without Justice. Nigeria itself cannot exist without the Rule of Law and Justice too. Of the two cardinal principles of governance, the Rule of Law is more fundamental and overriding, since the Justice talked about is justice according to law. The alternative to the Rule of Law is anarchy and the ruin of communal life. Respect for the Rule of Law must not therefore be sacrificed to the need for Justice. We must strive to pursue and maintain both subject to the more overriding demands of the Rule of Law. Nigeria, our dear country, should not be turned into a state where the President can, in his unfettered whim, set aside the law or do things contrary to the law; his June 6 2018 Declaration clearly affronts the law. The annulment of the June 12 1993 election is admittedly loathesome to millions of Nigerians because of its injustice, inhumanity and its culmination in the sad death of its presumed winner, Chief Abiola; its error has been acknowledged and duly apologised for by its author, Gen Babangida. The annulment should therefore be set aside, but that should be done in due form of law, i.e. in a manner required by law, meaning by an Act of the National Assembly, not by the Presidents unilateral Declaration unbacked by an enabling law. The process of getting an enabling law enacted may take more time than is agreeable, but it is better to follow the process dictated by law. Legal effects of the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election by a Decree of the FMG The legal effects of nullity are authoritatively stated by Lord Denning in the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in an appeal from the West African Court of Appeal in Macfoy v. United Africa Co. Ltd [1961] 3 WLR 1405 at pp. 1409 1410: If an act is void, then it is in law a nullity. It is not only bad, but incurably bad. There is no need for an order of the Court to set it aside. It is automatically null and void without more ado, though it is sometimes convenient to have the court declare it to be so. And every proceeding which is founded on it is also bad and incurably bad. You cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stay there. It will collapse. (emphasis supplied). Lord Dennings statement of the law on the point was echoed by Oputa JSC in Adejumo v. Ayantegba [1989] 3 NWLR (pt. 110) 417 at p. 451. Said he: If a transaction is void, it is in law a nullity, not only bad, but incurably bad and nothing can be founded on it, for having no life of its own, it cannot vivify anything. (emphasis supplied). The legal implication is thus that an act or transaction which is a nullity is in law regarded as having no existence or never to have come into existence at all. Both Lord Denning M.R. in Macfoy v. United Africa Co. Ltd [1961] 3 WLR 1409 1410 and Oputa JSC in Adejumo v. Ayantegbe [1989] 3 NWLR (Pt 110) 417 at page 451 describe it as amounting to nothing. Its non-existence or nothingness arises from operation of law and does not depend on a courts decision declaring it null and void, which only re-affirms and reinforces its inherent nullity. The dictionary definition is at one with the law on this. Collins English Dictionary defines nullify, and void as having no effect or existence. Nullity is defined in New Websters Dictionary of the English Language as nothingness. It follows that the annulled June 12 election, deemed in law not to have taken place and to have no existence and therefore to amount to nothing, cannot vivify or give life to anything; June 12 cannot be declared Democracy Day and a public holiday, and Chief Abiola the presumed winner of the June 12 election and his running mate, Amb. Kingibe, cannot be awarded the national honour of GCFR and GCON respectively based on their presumed victory in the June 12 election. Both the declaration and the award are illegal, null and void; the annulment Decree, No. 61 of 1993, an existing law under section 315(4)(d) of the 1999 Constitution, must first be repealed with effect from a date before June 12, 1993 before the declaration and the award can legally or lawfully be made. The point being made here, and on which we insist, is that, as a country committed to respect for the Rule of Law, the law should be duly followed and not disregarded, as if we are still in a military dictatorship. Whether the Presidents 6th June Declaration does not require, as a condition for its effectiveness, that the results of the June 12 election should have been officially announced and Chief Abiola officially declared its winner The repeal of the annulment Decree, No. 61 of 1993, does not dispose of all the legal issues arising from President Buharis 6th June 2018 momentous Declaration. It is not enough for the purposes of the law to presume Chief Abiola as the winner of the June 12, 1993 election, whatever that means. To presume something means, according to its dictionary definition, to suppose or believe without examination; to assume beforehand. The results o the June 12, 1993 election should have been officially announced and Chief Abiola should have officially declared its winner to form a legally valid basis for the declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day to be henceforth observed and celebrated as a public holiday in the country, and before Chief Abiola can be awarded and invested with the national honour of GCFR, the highest honour that is reserved for a President of Nigeria. He cannot be President-elect, which is necessary to qualify him to be so to be treated, unless the results of the election have been officially announced and he has been officially declared elected. The law is clear and emphatic on the matter. Section 70 of the Electoral Act in force today (June 11, 2018) provides: In an election to the office of the President or Governor whether or not contested and in any contested election to any other elective office, the result shall be ascertained by counting the votes cast for each candidate and [the candidate that satisfied] the provisions of sections 133, 134 and 179 of the Constitution..shall be declared elected by the appropriate Returning Officer; The word declared is italicized to emphasise that a candidate deemed duly elected under section 179 of the Constitution must formally be declared elected by the appropriate returning officer under section 70 of the Act. The National Assembly has proposed that the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) should now formally announce the results of the June 12 1993 election and declare Chief Abiola its winner. This proposal raises the question whether INEC, constituted under the 1999 Constitution (section 153), has the competence to announce the results of an election that took place 25 years ago, and declare a candidate under it the winner, so as to constitute him President-elect. The power of INEC, as conferred on it by paragraph 15 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution, is power, among other things, to organise, undertake and supervise presidential and other listed elections. By its terms, the power is power to organize, undertake and supervise elections in the present and in the future; it does not authorize or enable the Commission to do anything in relation to an election that took place in the past 25 years ago and organized and conducted by a differently constituted Electoral Commission. It may be that under the residual clause of paragraph 15 above authorizing INEC to carry out such other functions as may be conferred upon it by an Act of the National Assembly, the Assembly may make a law enabling INEC in the behalf. Even so, the problem will still remain as to how the provision of section 70 of the Electoral Act is to be complied with, having regard to the specificity of the words shall be declared elected by the appropriate Returning Officer; the reference is to the particular returning officer involved in or who took part in the conduct of the particular election. President Buharis 6th June 2018 Declaration disdains the law of the land in other respects The sacroscanctity and supremacy of the Rule of Law, as a principle in the government of society, need to be reinterated. Although not expressly enshrined by name in our Constitution, as is done in some of the modern constitutions in the world, like the Constitutions of Romania and Bulgaria and Czechoslovakias Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms, all three adopted in 1991 after the collapse of communism in the 1989 90 world-wide democratic revolution, the Rule of Law is embodied and incorporated in our Constitution as an inarticulate major premise, to borrow the pithy phrase of the great Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes of the U.S. Supreme Court. Thus, the supremacy of the Constitution, as provided in its section 1(1), enures, by extension, to the Rule of Law, as incorporated in it as an inarticulate major premise, overriding any action or declaration of government that is inconsistent with the principle: section 1(3). The question again arises whether the posthumous awards of the national honours of GCFR and GCON to Chief Abiola and Chief Fawehinmi respectively accord or are consistent with the law of the land National Honours Act. The Act does not, by its express provisions, authorize posthumous awards, nor do those provisions give any indication that they contemplate posthumous awards. The indication is indeed to the contrary; it (the indication) comes from the provision that a person, meaning a living, not a dead person, shall not be eligible for appointment to any rank of an Order unless he is a citizen of Nigeria, and that a person shall be appointed to a particular rank of an Order when he receives from the President in person at an investiture held for the purpose (a) the insignia appropriate for that rank; and (b) an instrument under the hand of the President and the public seal of the Federation declaring him to be appointed to that rank. The words when he receives from the President in person exclude posthumous awards, a view that derives support from the fact that no posthumous award had ever been made in the past to any one before the awards to Chief Abiola and Chief Fawehinmi. There is, however, a provision in the Act that seems to give a lot of leeway to the President. It says : The President may, by warrant, make provision for the award of titles of honour, decorations and dignities. It may be that posthumous awards are not authorized by the Act as a matter of policy decision. If so the Act needs to be amended to change the policy. Kingsley Moghalu, ex-deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), says his father never took a bribe in his 35 years of civil ser... Kingsley Moghalu, ex-deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), says his father never took a bribe in his 35 years of civil service. Moghalus father worked as a diplomat in Geneva, Switzerland, and also served in Washington DC. Speaking with journalists in Lagos, Moghalu, a presidential aspirant on the Young Progressives Party (YPP), said his father had a huge influence on him. He also recalled some fond memories of his childhood. My family background pretty much shaped me. My father was in the civil service for most part of his life; my father had a very important influence in my life for two reasons, one, ethics and morality, he said. I remember him as a very jovial man. When we were growing up; he would beat his chest and say 35 years as a civil servant I never took a bribe, so I was impressed by that and it helped in shaping me. It makes me think of my background. a strong sense of responsibility placed on my shoulders right from when I was young. My family is a family of five, I was the first child so I grew up being a leader. I had not only a value system buta strong sense of responsibility placed on my shoulders right from when I was young. In those days, my parents will delegate authority to me to discipline my siblings; they used to call me, Okoli the headmaster, I mean I had my cane, so those kinds of things place some responsibilities on you where you have to live up to expectation. These are the little but important things that shaped my personality and worldview. He said as a leader, you should have the interest of the people at heart and be ready to make sacrifices for them. He also talked about how he played a direct role in bringing perpetrators of the Rwandan genocide to justice. As I went around in my service in the United Nations (UN), I kept on observing why certain nations prosper than the others and why some do not? Why is this country in conflict and why we, UN officials, are here to fix it? How do you fix a broken nation? he asked. I learnt that practically; nation building 101. I learnt that over 17 years. Many people dont know it, I was political officer at the UN, so I was there during the Rwandan genocide. So all that happened during the genocide I know it like the back of my hand, he said. I played a very direct role in the effort to stop that genocide. Later on, because I continued to be present in the matter, I was chosen to serve in the United Nations war crimes in the international tribunal for I was the legal adviser and the spokesman of the tribunal. We were able to manage the situation. In the tribunal, we brought the perpetrators of the crime to justice; big men who thought they were untouchable, whose impunities were much. We tracked them around the world, negotiated agreements with various countries, arrested them, brought them back, tried and sent them to prison in various countries. Moghalu said he has what it takes to transform the country, highlighting his plans to bring about real change. Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, yesterday, claimed the state government had intelligence report that a faction of All Progressives Congress, APC, was arming political thugs to disrupt local government elections taking place tomorrow in the state.But in a swift reaction, APC denied that it was planning to disrupt the council polls, saying it had no stake in the election.This came as the state Police Command said it would deploy over 15000 personnel across the state for the election, warning youths to avoid being used to cause panic during the process.Governor Wike, in a state broadcast, alleged that the APC faction planned to disrupt the elections in Abua/Odual, Akuku Toru, Asari Toru, Degema, Emohua, Ikwerre, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Opobo and Tai local government areas.He said: The arrowheads of this satanic plot are recruiting and arming political thugs with guns to be deployed on the eve of the election to create an atmosphere of insecurity in these and other local government areas and scare voters to shun the polling stations. In the light of the these dangerous threats from these people, therefore, I wish to call on the security agencies, especially the Nigeria Police to live up to their primary responsibility of providing adequate security for the election and deal decisively with those who may attempt to disturb the peace, order and security of the State before, during and after the election.He said that the state government had received concrete assurances from the heads of all the security agencies that they had put adequate measures to secure the peace and ensure orderly conduct of the election.He noted that the Rivers State government would hold the security agencies accountable should insecurity be experienced in the state in the course of the elections. The mother of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, Falmata Abubakar has finally spoken on how her son became a terrorist. The mother of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, Falmata Abubakar has finally spoken on how her son became a terrorist. Fatima, speaking with the Hausa Service of the Voice of America, VOA, in the village of Shekau, Yobe State, said Mr Shekaus late father was the Imam of the village Mosque before his death. When asked on location of her son, Abubakar said she had no idea where her son was or his situation. I dont know whether he is dead or alive, only God knows, I have not seen him in the last 15 years. It was in the course of seeking Islamic knowledge that her son came into contact with the founder of Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf. She said the late Boko Haram leader was the one who indoctrinated her son. I did not set my eyes on him since he came into contact with Mohammed Yusuf. I know he is my son, and everyone knows a mothers love for her son, but our attitude to life is different. He has put so many people in serious difficulty, I pray that God guides him right. I will not curse my son, he has chosen a path different from the one we put him on, only God knows what he has become now. The Nigerian military has repeatedly claimed to have killed Mr Shekau. Those claims have turned out false. Gumsu, one of the daughters of late military president, Sani Abacha, has slammed Wole Soyinka over his statement about her father. Gumsu, one of the daughters of late military president, Sani Abacha, has slammed Wole Soyinka over his statement about her father. Recall that Soyinka while speaking on Tuesday during the Special National Honours Investiture at the Presidential Villa, Abuja called on President Muhammadu Buhari to stop confusing Nigerians and choose between late MKO Abiola and former military president, Sani Abacha. He was quoted as saying, I will like to appeal to you to stop confusing Nigerians. It is not possible to honor MKO Abiola in one breadth and praise his tormentor in another breadth. However, this did not go down well with Gumsu as she took to her Facebook page, slamming the Nobel Laureate over the comments he made about her father. She said Soyinkas hatred for her father will kill him. A crash involving a motorcycle and another vehicle has closed Route 47 in Cape May County. The crash took place at 2:48 p.m. in Dennis Township, according to Lt. Ted Shafer, a spokesman with the New Jersey State Police. The crash was "extremely serious," he said, noting that the motorcyclist was the only person injured. The road was closed between Washington Avenue and Tyler Road as of 3:45 p.m., causing delays of 10-15 minutes, according 511nj. Amanda Hoover can be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips JERSEY CITY -- A political retaliation lawsuit filed in 2014 by a Jersey City cop arrested on DWI charges is all but dead following an appellate court ruling on June 4 saying the remaining counts in the suit should must be dismissed. Michael Lang had accused ex-chief Bob Cowan, then deputy chief, and his brother, Captain Tommy Cowan, of arresting him after a night of drinking in 2013 because Lang supported then-Mayor Jerramiah Healy's failed re-election bid. Bob Cowan was on now-Mayor Steve Fulop's side. Lang, who has been on the force for 11 years, was involved in an altercation at a gas station on June 9, 2013 after drunkenly leaving Healy's Tavern, police said at the time. Lang allegedly refused a breathalyzer test and was charged with DWI. A municipal prosecutor tossed the charges against Lang in 2014 after saying the officers did not have probable cause to arrest him. None of the officers involved in the case showed up to testify in municipal court. Lang filed the lawsuit after his charges were dismissed. But in 2016, a judge dismissed all counts against Bob Cowan and a political retaliation charge against Tommy Cowan, saying there was not enough evidence to support Lang's claims that his arrest was the result of him supporting Healy over Fulop. Fulop won the 2013 mayoral election a month before Lang's arrest and later promoted Bob Cowan to chief of the department. Fulop demoted Bob Cowan a year later and the two are no longer allies. Tommy Cowan appealed the 2016 ruling that allowed the malicious prosecution and false arrest allegations against him to proceed. The appellate ruling says the lower court judge should have dismissed those charges too because a "reasonable police officer could have believed there was probable cause" for Lang's arrest. The lawsuit is being sent back to the trial court for dismissal of Lang's counts against Tommy Cowan. Lang's lawyer and a city spokeswoman did not immediately return a request for comment. Bob Cowan called the lawsuit another bogus lawsuit which was encouraged by elements of the police department that did not like working nights and weekends when crime occurs. It is interesting to see the appellate court did find probable cause as well as the fact that the "blue wall of silence" was alive and well in Jersey City when the police officers weaseled out of their duty to go to court, he said. Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. NORTH BERGEN -- Women, men and children of all ages filled North Hudson Park Friday morning, wearing wide smiles as they greeted one another and celebrated the end of the month-long Ramadan fast. "It brings us together," Jenin, 16, said. "We're not different." Hundreds attended Friday's Eid al-Fitr prayer and feast in the park to mark the end of Ramadan and the month of fasting that accompanies it. Each year, the Eid al-Fitr holiday celebrates the conclusion of the dawn-to-sunset fast. The celebration began at 9 a.m. and lasted until noon. Mohammad Alhayek, an Imam at the North Hudson Islamic Education Center, led the attendees in prayer. During the last prayer of the gathering, Alhayek encouraged everyone to enjoy the day with their families, spouses and neighbors. He also preached to "be with those suffering in the world Muslims and non-Muslims," inspiring them to grant relief in their lives and offer help. Ramadan officially began on May 16 in the United States. During the past month, which ended Thursday at sunset, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and engaging in sexual activities during daylight hours. "It makes you more humble because you realize how people live their lives like that -- every day" Hadel, 17, said. "When you take that first bite of food, you feel really blessed," Jenin added. There are about 10 mosques that are located within Hudson County, according to the NHIEC, the organizers of Friday's event. "This county, this area here, is very understanding, very accepting," Alhayek said. "And we thank the people of Hudson County for being accepting, for being welcoming, for being friendly." Despite the feeling the county gives the celebrants, many have opposite feelings towards President Donald Trump, whose travel ban bars most people from a number of Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, Syria, Iran, Somalia, Libya, and Chad, from coming here. A group of teenagers who attended the prayer shared that they have "no words" for him, but that they are grateful that, in Hudson County, "no matter what, no matter race that you are" everyone comes together. Meanwhile, Alhayek expressed his disappointment in Trump and his administration that they have yet to do something to "curve the surge of hate" toward Muslims. "Today we are celebrating, and we are happy," Alhayek said. "But this is something that we actually I have to say that we're concerned with the rhetoric that has accompanied Mr. Trump's campaign and after his election." However, Alhayek assured that Muslims are an essential part to the country and they will continue to contribute positively, not listen to any negative messages or feelings and continue to "struggle for peace and justice for all." JERSEY CITY -- A judge has postponed her ruling on whether a West New York man who fatally stabbed a man outside a Guttenberg restaurant last year was murder of self-defense. Reidel Carrasco, 23, is charged with murdering Antonio Bouza, 28, also of West New York, on July 28, 2017 outside Rumba Cubana restaurant. At trial, the defense argued that Carrasco acted in self-defense while being attacked by Bouza and another man, adding that the defendant had good reason to fear the men due to prior confrontations. The prosecution worked to show that Carrasco instigated the violence with a phone call and text messages before he armed himself with a steak knife from his table. Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor used to security video to show Carrasco waving as he left the establishment and suggested it was a challenge to exit with him. Outside, Carrasco stabbed Bouza in the heart. Testimony at trial revealed that bad blood between Carrasco and Bouza was in part based on the fact that they had dated the same woman recently. On the night of the homicide, Bouza was with his friend Luis Ricardo Gomez, who also had beef with Carrasco. Defense attorney Rauol Bustillo asked for a bench trial, meaning there is no jury. Instead, it is up to Hudson County Superior Court Judge Mirtha Ospina to decide whether Carrasco is guilty or not guilty. After closing arguments on Wednesday, Ospina tentatively set 2 p.m. Friday to render her decision but said if that changes, she would inform Bustillo and Rozzi. The judge notified the attorneys that she now intends to make her ruling on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in her courtroom in the Hudson County Administration Building in Jersey City. If convicted of murder, Carrasco can face 30 years to life in prison. But Ospina has the option of convicting him of lesser crimes, including aggravated manslaughter and manslaughter. Of course, the judge can also agree with the defense and find that Carrasco acted in self-defense and find him not guilty altogether. The Salvation Army's Flemington Corps will host its 9th annual Ride for the Red Shield Motorcycle Run on June 23, 2018. Registration begins at 9 AM at The Salvation Army's Flemington Corps located at 40 E. Main St., Flemington, NJ. Proceeds from the event will benefit The Salvation Army's programming throughout Hunterdon County. "We love seeing riders come from all over to attend this ride through beautiful Hunterdon County," said Lieutenant Adam Boynton, The Salvation Army Flemington Corps Co-Officer. "When a rider comes down from New Hampshire or Canada to attend our ride we know we are doing something right. It's a great ride for a great cause." The event will begin at the Flemington Corps and will end with a full-spread BBQ lunch at The Salvation Army New Jersey's Camp Tecumseh in Pittstown. Lunch will be served from 12:30 - 1:30 PM. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 the day of. Each passenger is an additional $10. Price of admission includes a t-shirt, buffet style lunch, and Scrabble Run. Tickets just for lunch are also available. Tickets can be purchased at https://app.mobilecause.com/f/1rqt/nor by sending a check to The Salvation Army Flemington Corps, 40 E. Main St., Flemington, NJ 08822. The event is being sponsored by Kanebridge Corporation, Northfield Bank, Hunterdon Siding and Windows, H.J. Opdyke Lumber, Rider Insurance, Haberle, Flemington Precast and Supply, Basil Bandwagon Natural Market, and Stem Brothers, Inc. To learn more about The Salvation Army's Flemington Corps and the programs they offer, visit http://newjersey.salvationarmy.org/NewJersey/flemington. The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar The Salvation Army spends is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org. With fresh new voices and returning favorites, "In Full Color" (IFC) returns for its fourth season at Nimbus Dance Works from Thursday, June 21 through June 24. The annual theatrical event by the Jersey City-/Union City-based company shares stories by women of color with spotlights on racial, feminist and social issues. "In Full Color" was originally founded as a partnership in 2015 with 68 Productions and Art House Productions to combat Hollywood whitewashing and a lack of non-stereotypical roles for people of color in theater. "In Full Color's" first production was held at Art House with the following two taking place at the JCTC. "It's so important to give these women a platform and to create spaces for new voices," said Summer Reyes, founder of "In Full Color." "Not only does it create opportunities for artists, it also creates opportunities for audiences to experience something new and learn something about people who are not like them. We want to bring communities closer and foster bonds that will tighten even after the curtain closes." This years show will include 11 writers and 4 actresses from New Jersey, New York, Maryland, California, Minnesota, and Texas. IFC 2018 also features the show's three first trans women, its first teen writer-actress and six IFC alumnae. Some of the pieces that will be presented include: Stephanie Dinsae's "Ode to the Medusa in Me," an exploration of how perceptions of the mythological figure Medusa reflect oppressive perspectives of modern-day black women; Alina Hortillosa's "Walls," a spoken word piece that examines biracial identity, xenophobia and racism through the lens of a 14-year-old Asian and white girl growing up in the Midwest; Dena Igusti's "phone calls and codewords," a poem about first-generation children and the generational and cultural distance they feel from their immigrant parents Performed by B. Bastian; and "____Woman" by Glennifer Braker, a poem that serves as a bold declaration of the author's womanhood and a defiant stand against patriarchial standards that dictate how a woman should act or appear. "What is really amazing about this show is its power to resonate with people regardless of gender or color," said Reyes. "These pieces are all stories -- human stories -- that anyone can relate to, but that are often not highlighted. For example, with 'phone calls and codewords,' you may not know what it's like to be a first-generation Indonesian-American woman, but almost everyone can relate to the author's longing to connect with her mother -- to share food and language, to make her proud, to thank her for everything she's done." For more info and tickets, visit ThinkingInFullColor.com. If you go WHAT: "In Full Color" WHEN: Shows from Thursday, June 21 to 23 start at 8 p.m.; the June 24 show stars at 3 p.m. WHERE: Nimbus Dance Works is 165 Newark Ave., Jersey City. DETAILS: Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. A suggestion by a Cardinal that Catholic bishops become more active in helping immigrant children arriving at the U.S. border has heightened the debate over the Trump's administration's policy of splitting up families. Earler this week, Cardinal Joseph Tobin of called for a delegation of Catholic bishops to go to the U.S.-Mexico border to inspect detention facilities holding children who have been separated from their parents. The head of the Archdiocese of Newark was among the church leaders speaking out against the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" immigration policy that takes children from their parents as soon as families are caught illegally crossing the border. A group of bishops should be sent to the border to tour the detention facilities holding kids as a "sign of our pastoral concern and protest against the hardening of the American heart," Tobin told fellow bishops during a panel at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops spring meeting Wednesday, according to a report by the Religion News Service. Tobin's comments were circulated on Twitter and other social media and religious sites as criticism of the Trump administration's immigration policy has escalated nationwide. Kaboom! Cardinal Tobin of Newark: Our country is undergoing a cardio-sclerosis...a hardening of the American heart, and calls for a delegation of bishops to go to the border to inspect immigrant detention centers #USCCB18 Rich Raho (@RichRaho) June 13, 2018 At #USCCB18, Cardinal Tobin just suggested that the USCCB send a group bishops to the border to inspect the detention facilities where children are kept "as a sign of protest against the hardening of the American heart." Jack Jenkins (@jackmjenkins) June 13, 2018 At the meeting, the nation's Catholic bishops also released a statement critical of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions' announcement that the U.S. will no longer allow immigrants to seek asylum in the U.S. because of domestic violence or gang violence threats. "At its core, asylum is an instrument to preserve the right to life," the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' statement said. "The Attorney General's recent decision elicits deep concern because it potentially strips asylum from many women who lack adequate protection." The statement, read by the bishops conference president Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, also said the government and society must do better than splitting up parents and children in the name of border security. "Separating babies from their mothers is not the answer and is immoral," said DiNardo, head of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. The Catholic bishops' comments came one day before Sessions invoked a Bible passage to justify the Trump administration's policy separating immigrant children from their parents if they illegally cross the border. "I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13, to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained the government for his purposes," Sessions said during a speech in Indiana Thursday. "Orderly and lawful processes are good in themselves. Consistent and fair application of the law is in itself a good and moral thing, and that protects the weak and protects the lawful." Other Catholic bishops called for hasher penalties for anyone who separates children from their parents, according to the Religion News Service report. Tucson Bishop Edward Weisenburger suggested the Catholic Church impose "canonical penalties," which can include everything from denying Communion to excommunication for Catholics involved in taking immigrant children from their families. Immigrant rights groups organized several protests this week in New Jersey calling for the Trump administration to drop its policy of dividing families in immigrant detention facilities. Protests and marches were held in Highland Park, Rutherford and Princeton. Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find her at KellyHeyboerReporter on Facebook. One of the managers of a vast drug-dealing operation that was selling cocaine and designer drugs online was sentenced Thursday to 19 years in state prison. Luke Atwell, 37, of Hamilton. Luke A. Atwell, 37, of Hamilton, pleaded guilty in April to leading a narcotics trafficking network, a first-degree offense. He was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Bernard E. DeLury Jr. in Atlantic County. "This sentence sends a loud and clear message to narcotics traffickers that if you choose to profit by spreading addiction in New Jersey and fueling street-level crime with your drugs, we will come after you and you will face hard time," Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said in a statement. Atwell was one of 11 others charged in "Operation Skin Deep," an investigation that started out as a surveillance operation targeting white supremacists in Atlantic City. While monitoring the activity of one group, the Atlantic City Skin Heads, detectives identified several individuals who appeared to be selling cocaine, authorities have said. An attorney representing Atwell, Edward C. Logan, told NJ Advance Media his client had no affiliation with any white supremacist groups. "He was strictly involved in selling drugs, the drug business for money," he said. "He had nothing to do with any kind of group or affiliation with any gang or anything like that." Authorities say Atwell -- along with his partner, Christopher Castelluzzo - ran an operation that utilized the internet to arrange mail-order sales of cocaine and designer drugs. Designer drugs are created in a way to mimic the effects of the original drug but trying to keep it legal. One of those drugs was methylone, commonly known as "M" and is similar to ecstasy. Christopher Castelluzzo, 33, of Lake Hopatcong. Castelluzzo, who formed the drug ring, was the main boss. The 33-year-old Lake Hopatcong resident also pleaded guilty to the first-degree charge of leading a narcotics trafficking network and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 21. His recommended sentence will be 21 years in prison, according to a statement from state Attorney General's Office. Atwell was Castelluzzo's managing partner who was responsible for online marketing, managing expenses and receipts, keeping inventory and dealing with customers. The investigation, authorities say, led detectives to seize a 1/4 of a million in cash, diamonds, gold bars, a 1/4 kilogram of cocaine, ammunition, gun silencers and materials for packaging cocaine. Authorities also seized $1.2 million in cash from the trunk of Shazad Khan, an alleged member of the drug-dealing ring who authorities say was passing off the money for cocaine to someone at a parking lot off the Union Turnpike in North Bergen. Castelluzzo and Atwell also received sentences of 20 years and 18 years, respectively, at the conclusion of a separate federal investigation. Long, Atwell's attorney, said his client received credit for all time served in New Jersey and will have to finish the federal sentence once he completes the state sentence. Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips President Donald Trump waited a long time for the Justice Department's Inspector General to release its report on how then-FBI Director James Comey handled his department's investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails while she was secretary of State. The president believed it would confirm that an investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election -- which he won and Clinton lost -- is a "witch hunt." He was briefed on the report yesterday, but it may not have been exactly what he was hoping for. The IG came down hard on Comey, as the former director suspected he would. He said Comey made a "serious error of judgment" when he told Congress he was re-opening the investigation only days after closing. It was one of a series of events that broke protocols and, the report says, cast a cloud over the FBI and the Justice Department. Although the report was critical of the public way Comey handled the probe, it found the investigation itself -- and the ultimate recommendation not to charge Clinton -- were sound. It also said there was "no evidence that the conclusions by department prosecutors were affected by bias or other improper considerations." And while critical of Comey's tactics and decision-making -- and tarnishing his legacy -- as well as the actions of others in the FBI and the Justice Department, it makes clear that nothing the director did was intended to sway the election. "We did not find that these decisions were the result of political bias on Comey's part," it read. What do you think? Do you believe Comey acted without bias? Vote in our informal and unscientific poll and tell us why in the comments. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Where's Michael Godwin when you need him? That's what I found myself wondering as I pondered the reaction to the president's summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un by my fellow pundits. More than a few found it necessary to compare his actions to those of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in 1938 when he got outsmarted by Adolf Hitler in Munich. That brought to mind the axiom of debate created by author Mike Godwin back in 1990 when the internet was just getting started. The common interpretation of "Godwin's Law" is that "when a Hitler comparison is made, the thread is finished and whoever made the comparison loses whatever debate is in progress." (A related phenomenon is Reductio ad Hitlerum.) By that standard, quite a few of my fellow commentators lost the debate over Donald Trump's summit with the North Korean dictator. One was Eric C. Anderson, who was identified as "a retired member of the intelligence community" at the bottom of an op-ed in the Houston Chronicle in which he said this: "Like Chamberlain, President Trump has backed away from first principles. The Prime Minister surrendered the Sudetenland without means of verifying Hitler's abandonment of further extraterritorial ambitions." There was plenty more where that came from. Meghan "the Senator's Daughter" McCain called North Korea "The closest thing to Hitler's Germany to exist in modern times." In fact, North Korea is communist. A more apt comparison is not to Hitler's Germany but to the Soviet Union of Josef Stalin. And if you're keeping score at home, you no doubt realize that Stalin was on the other side of World War II from Hitler. But that gets complicated. It's much easier to bring up the good, old-fashioned idea of appeasement, which got lots of play from commentators describing the Donald's dealings with the dictator. Among them was the Washington Post's Jennifer Rubin, who is the Post's idea of a right-winger even though her foreign-policy views are much closer to Hillary Clinton's than Trump's. "The spectacle of the murderous dictator Kim Jong Un on equal footing with the president of the United States -- each country's flag represented, a supposedly 'normal' diplomatic exchange between two nuclear powers -- was enough to turn democracy lovers' stomachs," Rubin wrote. My stomach remains unturned, perhaps because I've noticed that the idea of using the military to export American democracy has turned out to be the biggest foreign-policy folly in recent history. Trump noticed that as well in the 2016 Republican primary debates. He outraged the party establishment by attacking his fellow Republicans for their willingness to topple dictators in the hopes that the foreign equivalent of the League of Women Voters would spring up and replace them. When it comes to North Korea, democracy would indeed be wonderful. But we've got plenty of repressive regimes closer to home. Venezuela and Cuba come to mind. Both are repressive yet neither has nukes. Cuba did have them once, however, as well as missiles that could hit America. That brought us to the brink of World War III. So if Trump is truly successful in talking Kim into getting rid of his nukes and his missiles, then I for one am willing to hold the discussions on civic improvement off till a later date. Back when Kim was threatening to lob a ballistic missile or two our way, I was genuinely worried. It's been 73 years since the U.S. first developed a nuke. It's been 50 years since we developed ICBMs. That was back in the vacuum-tube era. It can't be that hard to build these things in the era of digital computers. So anything that makes that less likely is fine with me. As an America-first conservative, I think Trump's real appeasement problem is that he keeps trying to win the approval of what is known as "the Swamp" when it comes to foreign policy. He did so when he named as his National Security Adviser John Bolton, a foreign policy "expert" who still hasn't figured out that the second Iraq War was a complete debacle and who has expressed a desire to bomb a lot of places for no discernible reason. Trump may vacillate on foreign policy, but he still shows flashes of his primary-campaign stance. One moment came when he said that a reason for ending U.S. military exercises with South Korea is that doing so will save the United States "a fortune." He also said that eventually he would like to withdraw forces from the Korean Peninsula, thus saving another few fortunes. That also outraged the Beltway crowd. But then they've got plenty of money. As for us taxpayers, not so much. ADD: IT'S NOT 1938 AND THIS ISN'T MUNICH: Here's an excellent piece by English writer Geoffrey Wheatcroft in which he lampoons the many blowhard politicians and writers who turn every international crisis into another Chamberlain-Hitler encounter. He detailed how the example of Munich has been distorted to fuel all sort of foreign-policy follies: "I think that no episode, perhaps, in modern history has been more misleading than that of the Munich conference," George Kennan told the Senate in 1965. By that point, words "Munich," "appeasement," and "Chamberlain," had not been merely misunderstood, as Kennan said, but repeatedly misprized and misapplied, very often with disastrous consequences. Read the whole thing to see how often the cliche has turned against the person who utters it. As for Rubin, she's a former Hollywood lawyer with a liberal background who is devoid of any journalistic skill. Her Wikipedia entry contained this assessment from a former ombudsman at the Post: "Fire opinion blogger Jennifer Rubin. Not because she's conservative, but because she's just plain bad." True enough. But then that goes for most of the Trump-hating "conservatives" out there. Artist Steve Bodner has a 21-year-old Fred Trump, the president's father, swept up in an arrest with Klan members. By NJ Advance Media for NJ.com D onald J. Trump was born today in 1946. For his birthday, artist Steve Brodner drew with pointed quills "A Cartoon History of Trumps, 18692018: Three generations of plunder." The series of cartoons illustrate documented, anecdotal incidents of racism and discrimination in Trump's ancestry. Published and posted in the Villiage Voice, the series of cartoons ends with a painting depicting the 45th president as King Kong, referring to the beginning of his career as a Manhattan real estate developer after getting a $1 million loan (or was it $14 million?) from his father. Brodner tweeted every panel in a tweetstorm earlier today. I've compiled them here for you to peruse. Don't Edit Today is the birthday of our Dear Leader, Kim Don-Ugh. To celebrate, here is his glorious family history. FREDERICK TRUMP 1869- 1919 #Trump #TheRealDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/8zsnzVw9cK Steve Brodner (@stevebrodner) June 14, 2018 Don't Edit Frederick Trump is born in Bavaria. At the age of 14 he is apprenticed to a barber, then flees to to Bremen to avoid the draft. In 1885 at 16, comes to the US to work as a barber. #Trump #TheRealDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/INSxH1dsUm Steve Brodner (@stevebrodner) June 14, 2018 Don't Edit 1891 Buys a restaurant in the Seattle red-light district. Establishments of this kind featured rooms for ladies. 1893 Sells his restaurant, moves to gold mining town, Monte Christo and buys 40 acres in Pine Lake Plateau, staking a claim on claimed land for the mineral rights. pic.twitter.com/hHLokojk7j Steve Brodner (@stevebrodner) June 14, 2018 Don't Edit 1898 Sells his establishment in Monte Christo, goes to the Yukon. Finds gold not in prospecting but in providing services to miners. his new restaurant, "The White Horse", takes advantage of the abundance of flash-frozen horse carcasses; easily found animals, abused in transit. pic.twitter.com/DQKyrKpU4Y Steve Brodner (@stevebrodner) June 14, 2018 Don't Edit Don't Edit By 1901 Yukon had begun to crack down on prostitution, gambling, and liquor. Fredrick, now wealthy, flees to Kallstadt, in the nick of time. pic.twitter.com/cdROo0Db9H Steve Brodner (@stevebrodner) June 14, 2018 Don't Edit He returns to Karlsdad and marries Elisabeth Christ. The German government, now increasingly militarized, declares Frederick a draft dodger and expels him. He brings his new wife back to New York. pic.twitter.com/n7gICswGCp Steve Brodner (@stevebrodner) June 14, 2018 Don't Edit Fred Trump is born in 1905. In 1907, Frederick opens a barber shop at 60 Wall St. and starts accumulating property including his home in Woodhaven, Queens and various other interests in the NY area. He becomes one of the first in New York to die from the Spanish flu in 1918 pic.twitter.com/JOq3fvoElN Steve Brodner (@stevebrodner) June 14, 2018 Don't Edit FRED TRUMP 1905-1999 As a minor, Fred carries on the real estate business in partnership with his mother. By 1926, he had already built 20 homes in Queens. pic.twitter.com/1uhFhQgfeI Steve Brodner (@stevebrodner) June 14, 2018 Don't Edit In 1927 he is swept up in a mass arrest of KKK demonstrators in Queens. During World War II, Trump built barracks and garden apartments for U.S. Navy personnel near major shipyards along the East Coast. pic.twitter.com/5DbHTUWq2l Steve Brodner (@stevebrodner) June 14, 2018 Don't Edit Don't Edit After the war, expanded into mid-income housing. His early career was facilitated by utilizing the FHA housing loan system. Became a fixture of the Democratic Club. A Republican, he contributed to NY politicians for 50 years and was, in turn, favored in city contracts and favors pic.twitter.com/2v3kw1PBug Steve Brodner (@stevebrodner) June 14, 2018 Don't Edit Legendary folk singer/songwriter Woody Guthrie, who from 1950 was a tenant in one of Trump's apartment complexes in Brooklyn, criticized Trump as a landlord. He wrote lyrics that accused his landlord of stirring up racial hate "in the bloodpot of human hearts". pic.twitter.com/CnS2M4qhr4 Steve Brodner (@stevebrodner) June 14, 2018 Don't Edit In 1973 a Voice article by Wayne Barrett in 1979 cited court records from a racial discrimination case that revealed against with explicit instruction from Trump not to rent to people of color. pic.twitter.com/KeNuz9M7mM Steve Brodner (@stevebrodner) June 14, 2018 Don't Edit DONALD J. TRUMP, 1946- Freds son joined company in 1968 and company president in 1971. "It was good for me. You know, being the son of somebody, it could have been competition to me. This way, I got Manhattan all to myself." He eventually became the 45th president of the US. pic.twitter.com/tt60ApwyKk Steve Brodner (@stevebrodner) June 14, 2018 Don't Edit To see the Village Voice presentation of Bodner's visual story, go here. Steve Bodner is an award-winning illustrator, caricaturist and political commentator working for U.S. publications for nearly four decades. Learn more about him at his webisite: SteveBodner.com Don't Edit Don't Edit Enrique Lavin is op-ed editor for The Star-Ledger and opinion editor at NJ Advance Media. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. During his campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly promised to protect people with pre-existing conditions like cancer or diabetes. He wouldn't let insurers charge you more just because you're sick, he vowed, or deny coverage altogether. That was a lie. Now he's trying to strike down the protections he once called "one of the strongest assets" of Obamacare. Twenty Republican governors are suing in an effort to allow insurers to discriminate against people with preexisting conditions - anything from asthma to a baby with a heart defect. And instead of fighting this, Trump's Justice Department is siding with them. If they get their way, a newborn with a heart condition could be refused coverage in many states, or offered it only at an absurdly high cost. Even in New Jersey, which has certain state protections, if you lose your job and have to buy insurance, then suddenly learn you have advanced cancer, you could have to wait up to 12 months to get any treatment. You might die first, or go bankrupt paying for chemotherapy. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. and other Democrats just held a news conference to demand answers from the president. But none of our congressional Republicans will publicly call on Trump to defend protections for people with pre-existing conditions, 3.8 million of whom live in New Jersey. Remember that when you fill out your November ballot. Trump has made health care issue number one. Will you allow him to sabotage your coverage, or deny it to a sick kid? Your answer is your pick for Congress. Republican incumbent Chris Smith refused to comment. Jay Webber, vying to replace the retiring Rodney Frelinghuysen, said people with pre-existing conditions should be protected, but would not call out Trump. Seth Grossman, the Tea Partier running for Frank LoBiondo's seat, has argued that insurers should be allowed to discriminate against sick people, whose plight is the result of "bad decisions." All their Democratic challengers - Mikie Sherrill, Josh Welle and Jeff Van Drew - denounced this idea. At least, unlike Smith, Tom MacArthur and Leonard Lance, Republican incumbents fighting hotly contested races, felt they owed their constituents an answer. "We need to let that go forward and see if it goes anywhere," was MacArthur's initial reaction to Trump's legal attack. Right. Let that go forward. Good idea. Then, after getting slammed for this by Democratic opponent Andy Kim - and for trying to slash health coverage for millions last year -MacArthur sent us a lengthy statement about the importance of health insurance for working families. Really? MacArthur, you may recall, was a leading advocate of the Obamacare repeal. He wanted to replace it with a bogus plan that would throw millions off Medicaid right away, and expose many millions more to price hikes and cancellations. He would double the number of uninsured in his own district, and gut protections for those with pre-existing conditions. In all, 23 million Americans would have lost coverage, most of them in the working families MacArthur now says he wants to protect. The head of The American Medical Association, Dr. James Madara, told Congress last year that claims that MacArthur's plan would protect people with preexisting conditions were "illusory." Yet here MacArthur is, still asserting that protections for pre-existing conditions "are sacrosanct." That's special; almost Trump-like in its duplicity. We wouldn't put our trust in Lance, either. Yes, he voted against last year's Republican efforts to repeal the health law and kill the individual mandate. But as his Democratic challenger, Tom Malinowski, points out, Lance supported earlier efforts to slay the health law, including protections for pre-existing conditions. Now, like the rest, he's trying to distance himself from Trump's war on health care. Lance said Trump's Justice Department should back off this effort, and if courts do rule against protections for pre-existing conditions, Congress should act- but he refused to call out Trump. MacArthur did a similar dance, calling for "an accompanying legislative fix from Congress and President Trump," as if he forgot this crisis is Trump's work. His invoking the president is revealing. If only Republicans were as afraid of what might happen to a kid with cancer as they are of rankling him. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. New Jersey Republican U.S. House candidate Seth Grossman says diversity is "a bunch of crap" because the meaning of the word has changed. "Of course, I love diversity," Grossman said in an interview on WHYY Radio. "I like to go to Chinese restaurants, Italian restaurants, Mexican restaurants, Vietnamese. I grew up in Atlantic City, probably the most multiracial, multicultural, multisexual preference city in America, even back in the 1950s when I was growing up. "But now, diversity has taken on a new political meaning, meaning that if you have an organization, if you have a school, unless you have the proper balance of this racial group, this ethnic group, this sexual preference, it's bad and that diversity for the sake of diversity is a virtue. I think that's ridiculous." Grossman defended his earlier comments made at a Republican debate during the primary, when he won the nomination to take on state Sen. Jeff Van Drew of Cape May County in a Republican-held district that Democrats are favored to win. The winner would succeed retiring Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd Dist. "I don't want to use the words 'bunch of crap' but it is a bunch of crap and it is un-American," Grossman said in an interview on WHYY Radio. "In America, we should hire people, promote people, reward people based on their talent, their character, their work, their achievement, not just because they happen to be a member of certain group who can check off a certain diversity box or get double credit for checking off two or three diversity boxes to get promoted." He said blacks have told him "that diversity and affirmative action is another word for 'excuse.'" Van Drew campaign manager Ned Miller criticized the remarks. "As a strong supporter of diversity and inclusion, Senator Van Drew is quite disappointed with Seth Grossman's comments, and feels our diversity plays a large role in our success as a nation," Miller said. "Senator Van Drew wants to be a congressman that embraces our diversity because that is the foundation of country's success for generations as a land of opportunity." In the interview, he also claimed that Democrats opposed President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration because the newcomers from Latin America would support their party and not the Republicans. "The Democrats want more Democrat voters dependent on government, dependent on the Democratic Party," Grossman said. "They're undocumented Democrats. It's all about political power." Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Chris Smith stands alone among Republicans when it comes to this. The New Jersey AFL-CIO, is backing him for re-election even as it endorsed the Democratic challengers for the state's other four Republican-held House seats and the other Democrats running for the U.S. Senate and House. Smith, R-4th Dist., has bucked his party on several labor bills, often times being one of a handful of dissenters. He has voted with the AFL-CIO position 61 percent of the time, higher than any other House Republican, and received more than $100,000 from organized labor for his 2018 re-election, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington-based research group. Smith campaign spokeswoman Mary Noonan McDermott said the lawmaker was "grateful" for the union support. "Chris is widely recognized as a bipartisan problem solver who effectively works across the aisle to get things done," she said. "He has successfully written laws on a variety of issues critical to New Jersey's working families." The labor federation announced its endorsements during its annual gathering in Atlantic City this week. "After last year's banner victory for working families, the labor movement will once again mobilize to secure across-the-board victories for pro-worker candidates at all levels of our state's government," state AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech said. Smith's Democratic opponent, Josh Welle, a Navy veteran and business executive, said individual union members and locals such as Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union, were lining up on his side. "My campaign is dedicated to making workers and their families have a representative in Washington that will fight for them," Welle said. "I am working hard every day to earn their support. When I'm elected to Congress, I'll defend organized labor, including AFL-CIO." Smith was one of only six Republicans who opposed repealing a regulation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration making it easier to track workplace injuries, and one of only three who voted against GOP efforts to overturn federal regulations making it easier for workers to organize.. The AFL-CIO endorsed Democrats in the other GOP-held districts, state Sen. Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May, in the 2nd; former national security aide Andy Kim in the 3rd; former Assistant U.S. Secretary of State Tom Malinowski in the 7th; and former Navy pilot and federal prosecutor Mikie Sherrill in the 11th. The labor federation also endorsed all seven House Democrats running for re-election and U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J. Smith is considered a safe bet for re-election even as the two Washington-based publications that track congressional races, the Cook Political Report and Inside Elections, rate the other four GOP-held districts as competitive. While the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has added Smith to its target list, it has not placed Welle on its list of candidates most likely to flip Republican-held seats. Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. A group aligned with Gov. Phil Murphy began an ad campaign Friday despite warnings from leaders of the state Senate and Assembly that doing so could throw a wrench in already tense state budget negotiations. Democrats control all branches of the state's government. But with 15 days left to negotiate a budget to avoid a state government shutdown, they're still at an impasse. And this new ad campaign from the pro-Murphy group New Direction New Jersey could make matters worse, and it drew immediate criticism from the Assembly speaker Friday morning. "In Jersey, charting a new direction isn't easy. But, finally, things are getting done," Murphy says at the start of the 30-second spot. Murphy touts some of his early accomplishments, like signing tougher gun control rules into law and equal pay legislation. The pro-Murphy group didn't disclose how much it spent on the ad campaign or where the videos will air. But it expects to reach more than 3 million New Jerseyans, the group said. The ad doesn't take any direct shots at fellow Democrats and an adviser to the group, former Murphy campaign manager Brendan Gill, said the ad highlights a "positive message" that "focuses on the need to bring real change to our state." Still, legislative leaders have viewed any outside spending campaign as an effort to push them during negotiations -- which have been tense because some lawmakers oppose Murphy's call for more than $1.5 billion in tax hikes, including a millionaires tax and bump in the state's sales tax, to help pay for more funding for education, transportation, and more. "I'm proud of the work we have done together to advance a responsible budget for New Jersey. To the extent that this ad is meant to put outside pressure on the Legislature, I think that's unfortunate," Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin said in a statement Friday morning. State Senate President Stephen Sweeney didn't immediately respond for comment. But he's offered more critical words about the ad campaign in recent weeks after NJ Advance Media reported on the upcoming campaign at the end of last month. "It's offensive," Sweeney said earlier this month after New Direction New Jersey released a script of the ad in an attempt to ease the tension. "They would be better off negotiating with us, working with us, partnering with us," he said. "It's about process." Within hours of New Direction New Jersey announcing the ad campaign, Sweeney's office said it would hold a news conference Friday afternoon "to address budget priorities." While the pro-Murphy group has highlighted the positive message in the ad, Sweeney and Coughlin have insisted -- regardless of the ad's substance -- that the timing of the campaign's rollout is meant to send a message to them to get on board with Murphy's budget, which they've yet to agree with. Murphy introduced his $37.4 billion spending plan in March that relied on those new taxes. Now that it's in the Legislature's hands, lawmakers can either negotiate a budget deal with Murphy, a process that is already underway in Trenton, or introduce their own spending blueprint. But that would leave Murphy the option to veto the budget in part or in full. Earlier this month, NJ Advance Media reported on a possible legislative counterproposal includes more than $1.6 billion in tax hikes on corporations, revenue from a tax amnesty program, plus hundreds of millions of dollars in spending cuts and projected savings the lawmakers may want in place of Murphy's proposed budget. State government shuts down if the governor doesn't sign a budget by June 30. Other members of New Direction New Jersey who worked on Murphy's campaign include Democratic operatives Steve DeMicco and Brad Lawrence, and pollster Danny Franklin. NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook. A Friday meeting between Gov. Phil Murphy and the leaders of the state Senate and Assembly ended in "a total breakdown" in state budget negotiations, sources from the Murphy administration and the New Jersey Legislature told NJ Advance Media. A state government shutdown after the June 30 budget deadline "is a distinct possibility," according to one administration official who is not authorized to speak publicly about the talks and spoke on the condition of anonymity. State Senate President Stephen Sweeney confirmed the meeting did occur. Sweeney, along with state Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, also announced they will now push to pass their own version of a state budget next week that will not include Murphy's plans to raise the sales tax back to 7 percent and enact a millionaires tax. "The good news is: We asked for meetings and we got it. We had a couple of meetings. At least now we're talking," Sweeney said in a news conference at the Statehouse. "We're not going to wait until June 30 to pass a budget. That's when all the mischief takes place." Sweeney also called on Murphy, a fellow Democrat, to restore millions of dollars in funding to "Democratic priorities," including funding for underfunded school districts. If these items are not included in the budget, Sweeney said, there will be no budget by July -- and that could spark the second state government shutdown in as many years. "We never thought we'd be fighting a Democratic governor over Democratic priorities," Sweeney, D-Gloucester, said during a news conference at the Statehouse in Trenton. "But these programs represent New Jersey values. If you cut them out, you change who we are as a state. We did not come this far to go backwards." "When you make cuts, they're not just numbers on a piece of paper," Sweeney added. "They're people. They are impacts on people." Sweeney noted that part of the reason the state government shut down last July over a state budget dispute was to protect these items, which include funding for cancer research, prisoner reentry programs, tourism and court-appointed special advocates for children. "And we're gonna fight again this year, because we don't want to shut the government down." he added. "We want to pass a budget. But we're not going to let our priorities as a Legislature get left behind." Still, Sweeney said: "No one wants to shut the state government down." Coughlin, who wasn't at the news conference with Sweeney, confirmed in a statement he expects to have a budget passed by next week -- with or without the governor's support. "While we would hope that the governor continues negotiating with the Legislature to arrive at a mutually acceptable outcome, it is my expectation that the Assembly will pass a budget on the 21st that protects taxpayers and our priorities for New Jersey's working middle-class families," said Coughlin, D-Middlesex. Around the same time, the governor issued a statement that criticized the budget tactics of his Republican predecessor, former Gov. Chris Christie, suggesting the Democrats who lead the Legislature were following suit. "For the past eight years, Gov. Christie cut irresponsible budget deals that weakened New Jersey's economy and hurt our middle class, resulting in 11 credit downgrades," Murphy said. "I refuse to do that," he added. "New Jersey deserves a real budget that offers real solutions." "I have a simple approach: Fix what's broken and make sure that everyone is paying their fair share," Murphy continued. "New Jersey didn't elect me to paper over problems with the same failed policies of the past." Sweeney said lawmakers have put together a budget they will present to members Monday, consider in committee Tuesday and pass on Thursday. He stressed there's a possibility they could work out a deal with Murphy in that time. "We're going to continue to try to come to a compromise," Sweeney said. The Legislature will counter the governor's proposed budget with one that combines tax increases on corporations, a tax amnesty program, spending cuts and projected savings in employee health care costs. Sweeney wants a 3 percentage point increase in the tax rate paid by corporations with profits over $1 million that would expire after two years. At 12 percent, the tax rate would tie with Iowa for the highest in the U.S., though Iowa's kicks in at $250,000 and allows deductions for federal income taxes paid. Sweeney has said it is better to take a slice of the windfall business received from the federal corporate tax cut than to pile onto wealthy residents who won't be able to deduct as much of their state and local taxes because of that same federal tax reform. The Legislature's proposed budget will also project $150 million in income from a tax amnesty program that allows delinquent taxpayers to settle up with the state. Amid a battle over N.J.s state budget, @NJSenatePres is calling on @GovMurphy to restore funding for Democratic priorities, including money to underfunded school districts and more. Theres not enough talk on these programs and too much talk on taxes. pic.twitter.com/jX4T1fX4RI Brent Johnson (@johnsb01) June 15, 2018 Two administration officials said there were two meetings Friday. The first lasted an hour. The second, which started around noon, lasted only 13 minutes, one source said. "Cordial meeting," one official said. "But we are far apart." The administration sources said Sweeney presented a plan that would add a $200 million hole in the budget, but they didn't provide specifics on that plan. Murphy introduced his first state budget proposal -- a $37.4 billion spending plan -- in March. It relies on more than $1.5 billion in tax increases, including a millionaires tax and bump in the state's sales tax, to help pay for more funding for education, public worker pensions, transportation and more. If the Legislature goes ahead with passing its own budget, rather than a negotiated deal, Murphy has the option to veto it in part or in full. If a budget isn't signed by June 30, the state government could shut down again. That means state parks, beaches and many public agencies would remain shuttered until a budget is enacted. NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook. Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @samanthamarcus. Police are reviewing mall security video as part of its investigation into a fight and report of shots fired Thursday night at Bridgewater Commons mall. The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office said Friday morning that the gunfire report has not been confirmed and the investigation is ongoing. The company that manages the mall said it was fully cooperating with police as part of its protocol when there is a safety issue. "We have a strong relationship with the local police department and we take these things incredibly, incredibly, seriously," said Lindsay Kahn, spokeswoman for GGP of Chicago, which manages the mall. The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office said Friday it was reviewing video of the fracas that led up to the report of shots fired. "Detectives (are) in the process of reviewing surveillance footage from the mall," Det. Jeanne Trillhaase said in an email. Police were called about 6:30 p.m. on a report of a fight in progress at the food court. Mall security guards separated the people involved in the altercation, which by then had spread to an outside parking lot, authorities said. As police were on their way, they received a report of shots fired. Kahn said employees and shoppers were never in any danger and its unclear if the report of shots fire was unfounded. "The police cannot confirm if there were shots or not," Kahn said. "People continued to shop, work and dine after the incident." Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Spanish Whisper on the move to Australia A conversation at the recent broodmare sale on the Gold Coast has resulted in Australian Bloodstock agent Mark Pilkington acquiring a controlling interest in Group One placed two-year-old Kiwi filly Spanish Whisperfor client, Seymour Bloodstock. Pilkington was in the company of Waterford Bloodstocks Mike Rennie and fellow agent James Harron at the Magic Millions sale with the conversation turning to likely prospects in the New Zealand market. Group Two winning juvenile Spanish Whisper will join the Lindsay Park stable of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig. Photo: Trish Dunell Pilkington has enjoyed tremendous success with horses purchased locally such as Hes Our Rokkii, Sin To Win, Peaky Blinders and Risque. His interest was piqued after hearing about the Lope De Vega filly who took out the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders Stakes (1200m) before finishing third in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes at Ellerslie (1200m). Mike and James had plenty of good things to say about Spanish Whisper, so I subsequently made contact with her breeder and part-owner, Daniel Nakhle to discuss whether she might be available for sale, he said. As a result we have bought a controlling interest in her with Daniel, his father Elias and the other current owner Darren Brady retaining an interest in her as well. She will be heading over to the team at Lindsay Park and we are hopeful she can do big things for us in the spring. Pressed on what attracted him to the filly, Pilkington was quick to point out that it wasnt just her race-track performance that held appeal. She is from a very strong international pedigree which will stand her in good stead when she finally heads to the broodmare paddock, he said. We are hopeful she can measure up in the spring but even if she doesnt quite reach the heights we would like she will still be a very valuable breeding proposition. Based on what I have seen of her on raceday I think she has enormous potential and I would be very surprised if she didnt measure up over here. Pilkington has also purchased a promising three-year-old out of the Michael and Matthew Pitman stable with Reliable Man gelding Czechoslovakia (NZ) set to join the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable at Cranbourne later this week. Michael Stedman was talking to me about Czechoslovakia so I also had a look at him and liked what we saw, he said. Ive bought him for Seymour Bloodstock and a bunch of my mates, so he will go to Trent and Natalie to get ready for the spring. Im not sure what to make of him just yet in respect of what sort of distance he will suit and the like, but we do think hes another we are going to have a bit of fun with. Czechoslovakia opened his account with a maiden win over 1335m at Gore at his third start before going on to finish third in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) and close up in fourth in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) at his two subsequent runs before being turned out for a spell. NZ Racing Desk Luis Miranda Former Obama Administration and DNC officials Luis Miranda and Mark Paustenbach have launched Ambassador Public Affairs. Ambassador offers strategic messaging, crisis management, media relations, coalition communications and a media training program, with a focus on advising clients on their interactions with the changing media and digital landscape. Miranda was a communications advisor to President Obama, serving during Obamas first term in office. While at the White House, he worked with the communications and press teams, as well as supporting the National Security Council to advance the presidents agenda throughout the hemisphere. He is also a veteran of five presidential campaigns, most recently having served as communications director for the Democratic Party during the 2016 presidential primaries and national conventions. Paustenbach was most recently deputy communications director and national press secretary for the Democratic Party during the 2016 presidential primaries and the general election campaign. He previously served as spokesperson for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), the U.S. governments response to the financial crisis, where he oversaw press strategy related to large-scale investments in the banking, insurance and auto industries. Major corporations, start-ups, and political clients have a growing number of challenges, said Miranda. At the most critical junctures, todays leaders need the right representation, an ambassador to the digital age. 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. The popular and critically-praised podcast Food 4 Thot, which features a roundtable discussion between four queer hosts on "boys, butts, books and brown people," recently launched a new project: an 11-piece t-shirt collaboration with the Florida-based company GreenBoxShop. Printed with words like "Decolonize your bookshelf," "heterophobic" and "THOT," the slogans for the shirts reinforced the pillars of the show which include activism, intellectual insight and sex positivity. Immediately fans began to express support for the new merch with comments and quote tweets, subsequently retweeted on the official account, but just as quickly came criticism of a design that said "Gay slang was invented by black women." on the front. "Hi Food 4 Thot," a Twitter user named Ryan Sides tweeted. "Black women didn't create gay lingo. [Black women] are also not the sources of gay culture. [Black women], during the formative years of gay culture and black gay culture specifically, were harmful and violent toward their black gay sons. This shirt is trash. And inaccurate." The post has since racked up over 550 retweets, 1,000 likes and 30 comments as of this writing, excluding the quote tweets. These numbers far outpace engagement of any tweet in support of the designs and echoes the sentiment of many other voices on Twitter. Neither Food 4 Thot nor Greenbox responded to Sides' criticism online but when we reached out to Marco Robinson, a co-founder of Greenbox, he told us, "I just think it's important to acknowledge the creators of culture," adding, "It is important to recognize in the queer community how gay men can appropriate culture." Robinson managed the collaboration and says that all designs were done by Food 4 Thot while shirt production and order fulfillment was handled by Greenbox, whose shirts first broke out in pop culture when Frank Ocean was spotted wearing one of their designs. Hi @food4thotpod Black women didnt create gay lingo. BW are also not the sources of gay culture. BW, during the formative years of gay culture and black gay culture specifically, were harmful and violent toward their black gay sons. This shirt is trash. And inaccurate. pic.twitter.com/c6tBd0MBIW ryan. (@writelikeryan) June 6, 2018 At the time we first spoke, Robinson hadn't yet seen any criticism of the design (it appeared that Greenbox wasn't tagged in any of the initial negative comments). But after learning more about negative feedback directed towards the t-shirt on the Internet in general, and the crux of the argument that the shirt is viewed by some as erasing and invalidating the contributions of black queer femmes many of whom may have felt excluded or oppressed by black women to gay culture and gay slang in particular, Robinson provided further comment. "I think the problem here is the word 'women,'" Robinson said. "If instead of women it said 'femme,' we probably wouldn't be having this conversation. I think it also includes queer women in the black women part but I can see how it excludes queer feminine men. But I do think it's really helpful to have these conversations." PAPER reached out to each of the four hosts from the Food 4 Thot team Tommy Pico, Joe Osmundson, Dennis Norris II and Fran Tirado and only received a response via email from Tirado. About the debate happening around the t-shirt, Tirado said: "What we can say is that a t-shirt, ours or any on Greenbox's site, is not a complete conversation. We are glad it is able to generate a more nuanced dialogue. We hope you'll note that 100% of our cut goes to [Trans Law Center.]" Further requests for clarification as well as follow-up questions went unanswered. This narrative and the surrounding debates are not new ideas. In 2014, a college op-ed catalyzed a similar conversation. The piece, headlined "Dear White Gays: Stop Stealing Black Female Culture," written by a female student at the University of Mississippi for her school paper and re-published in TIME Magazine, prompted a conversation among writers working at Slate, New York Magazine and Huffington Post, as well as countless others on social media, about the ways that gay culture was indebted to black women but, perhaps even more crucially, black femme men. It's a sentiment that has even spawned other t-shirts and memes long before Food 4 Thot launched their merch. But in addition to hearing that idea in places like the media, for many queer black femmes (this writer identifies as such) questions may come from mothers or other children like, "So you want to be a woman?" Or "You're trying to be a girl?" But they are not trying to be women. They're trying to be themselves. "As black gay people, we are so othered at the essence of our being that it has demanded a new language to interact with the world." The descriptor 'black femme' itself is a big tent that can encompass lots of different experiences, backgrounds and biologies ranging from cisgender black women and black transwomen (perhaps the two most identifiable manifestations of the label), as well as queer men who have feminine affectations. And though they may share mannerisms and habits, the groups are treated by society in distinctly different ways, causing complicated relationships between themselves. As Sides attested to in his tweet, one of those complicated relationships is undoubtedly between black cisgender women and femme men. "Half of RuPaul's Drag Race, when these girls are lip syncing for their lives the eye rolls, the hair, the weave patting those are all things that I've seen the black women in my life do," Elegance Bratton, creator of VICELAND's My House show, a documentary series on the New York ballroom scene, said. "So many of the gestures that we think of as go-to gestures certainly came from black women. But as black gay people, we are so othered at the essence of our being that it has demanded a new language to interact with the world." Bratton continued, "So as much as I can acknowledge that so much of what I love about gay culture is inspired by black women, there's another side to this that so much of who I am is in resistance to their notion of heteronormativity. And that resistance is a language we came up with ourselves." And Bratton's point holds true. Black queer feminine men, trans women and cis women are a part of a symbiotic relationship all contributing to the black femme canon. They all jointly define, in their own ways, what it is to be black and femme and then draw from that collective pot for our own respective presentations. They are all a part of the canon. Octavia St. Laurent in "Paris is Burning" Take Beyonce, a cultural archetype of black femme. She is certainly a product of the black women in her life, but it's clear to many that her presentation as an artist is indelibly influenced by others under the tent. In a piece by The Paris Review examining Beyonce's "hairography," the author sees Octavia St. Laurent, a notable trans woman from the ballroom community and Pose choreographer and ballroom legend Leiomy Maldonado, as undeniable influences, especially Maldonado's signature "Leiomy lolly" hair flip, which the star borrowed for her "Video Phone" video. Bey has even admitted that Southern black drag queens have influenced her as have choreographers like Jonte Moaning whose imprint is felt throughout "The Beyonce Experience" era. You can watch the process happen in footage from rehearsals as Beyonce mimics and then personalizes the movements of a choreographer (who also happens to be from the ballroom scene); this is black femme exemplified, all contributing, pulling and personalizing equally. And all should be given credit as such. But as much as there are uplifting examples of this black femme pastiche, there are other examples of strands of black femininity not co-existing so neatly alongside one another. There are some aspects of gay culture, particularly those formed and created by black gay feminine men, many of which have recently become the epicenter of mainstream gay culture, that came in spite of black women who tried to exclude queer men from their definitions of black femininity. This of course is a part of an overall legacy of black people: to turn pain, refusal and a dearth of opportunities into something completely new. "A lot of times black femmes and queer folks had their entire foundations ripped from under them and so they had to create a new language or speak in a coded language," Roy Kinsey, a queer Chicago-based rapper who released his last album as an ode to black femmes including voices like Jenifer Lewis and James Baldwin. "We had to be inventive in the way that we existed and that did not come from black women." "When we think about hip-hop, that comes from sampling [other music] but hip hop is its own thing," Kinsey continued. "We talk about house, which came from disco but became its own thing. Being a black femme [as a gay man,] came from survival, it came from embellishment, it came from existing in this world and a lot of it came from pain." This of course is a part of an overall legacy of black people: to turn pain, refusal and a dearth of opportunities into something completely new. Sorrows became blues, frustrations turned into hip hop. Dapper Dan took scraps to made a legacy in fashion and slaves took the refuse from the tables of those who had enslaved them and made soul food. Black gay feminine men took the rejection of black women from the femme canon and created a coded language that allowed them to not only exist in the world but also, for those who understood the language, express their true selves. Dorian Corey in "Paris is Burning" "You watch Paris is Burning and they put these big words on the screen [and then explain them] because that's a very big part of it," Kinsey continued. Those words have now been integrated not only into gay culture but pop culture at large. "We need to be talking about that. We need to be talking about the fact that I had to recreate my identity and my existence on every level because I'm not a black woman and I'm not a black [masculine] man; I'm different and everything about my identify and myself is going to be different. Yes, I make it look beautiful and I make it good but it definitely came from that pain." London Breed made history on June 13 by becoming the first African American woman to be elected mayor of San Francisco. Her opponent, Mark Leno, was seeking to become the first openly gay man in the position. Breed, 43, who previously served on the Board of Supervisors for San Francisco as president, is set to take the reins of the city in July and will be concluding Mayor Ed Lee's term, who passed away in December. The San Francisco native vowed to lead the economically thriving city through the complications of homelessness, congestion, and pricey real estate. She pledged in her bid to clean up the streets and rid the sidewalks of homeless tent camps, all within her first year of office. After being announced mayor, Breed led her victory speech with optimism and confidence stating, "I am so hopeful about the future of our city, and I am looking forward to serving as your mayor. I am truly humbled and I am truly honored." She also addressed San Francisco's youth, especially those who are growing up in poverty like she herself did, saying, "No matter where you come from, no matter what you decide to do in life, you can do anything you want to do. Never let your circumstances determine your outcome in life." Related | San Francisco First Major U.S. City to Ban Fur When asked to reflect on her achievement as becoming the first black woman to be elected as the city's mayor, she stated, "It's really amazing, and it's really such an honor. I know it meant so much to so many people." According to CNN, Leno called Breed on Wednesday to congratulate her. "She is a remarkable young woman. She is going to do a very fine job and we wish her the best because her success is San Francisco's success," Leno said. The results of the 250,000 ballots were tallied by the San Francisco's Department of Elections over a period of eight days and by Wednesday Breed established a large enough lead over Leno to claim the job with 2,177 votes. Breed was raised by her grandmother and lived in the city's public housing while attending public school. After finishing high school she attended University of California, Davis, where she graduated with a degree in political science and a minor in African American studies. She then earned her master's degree in public administration from the University of San Francisco. Before starting her career in public office, she worked as an executive director of African American Art and Culture Complex for over a decade. Image via Getty According to a new report published this afternoon, a deal could be near for the rights to an animated movie as part of its upcoming slate of original video offerings. Sources claim that Apple is in talks with Cartoon Saloon, an Ireland-based, Oscar-nominated animation studio, said the people, who asked not to be identified speaking about private negotiations. Kilkenny-based Cartoon Saloon is a three time Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA and Emmy nominated animation studio formed by Paul Young, Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey in 1999. From award-winning shorts to feature films and TV series, Cartoon Saloon has carved a special place in the international Animation industry. The Bloomberg report added that "The animated movie has yet to be made and is more than a year from release, but Apple has been in talks to buy distribution rights for the U.S. and some other countries, said the people, who asked not to be identified speaking about private negotiations. It's unclear how Apple plans to make the movie available, but a theatrical release, necessary to qualify for Academy Awards, is possible, one of the people said. Other potential movies are also in the works, the person noted. The deal hasn't closed and could still fall apart, but the talks mark a new level of ambition for Apple's plan to take on Netflix Inc., Google and Amazon.com Inc. in the booming online video market." Side Note: In 2015 Cartoon Studio delivered Irish Animation Stamps in 2015 that featured Augmented Reality that reportedly worked on the iPhone and Android phones. At Apple's WWDC 2018, Apple interestingly introduced a new Open File Format for AR that was developed with Pixar. Could Apple be working with Cartoon Saloon to create the first film to use their new AR file format? Only time will tell. Cartoon Saloon's Animation Film Trailer: The Breadwinner About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or negative behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus. In late April Patently Apple posted a report titled "Intel may be able to grab the Lion's Share of Apple's iPhone modem Business in 2018 if Chip Yields can improve." The report noted that the modem-chip yield rates weren't what Intel expected. Just a little more than half of the chips being produced were actually keepers. Yet Intel engineers were confident they could work the bugs out and push up the yield rates before production ramps into high gear in June and July. Now that Intel's full production season has begun on cue, a new Nikkei Asian Review report is claiming that Intel has started production of modem chips that will go into Apple's upcoming iPhones later this year. "Most market watchers believe Intel could secure a majority of orders to provide its latest modem chip, the XMM 7560, for the new iPhones, which will debut later this year," as we reported on earlier this year. Keddy was quick to point out that the XMM 7560 modem chip was a 'milestone' for her company, as it supports code division multiple access, or CDMA, a type of communications technology. The development is aimed at completing the chipmaker's reach to global users, as its previous products could not access some major telecom operators' networks, including Verizon and Sprint." The chart below clarifies that Intel's XMM 7560 modem chip is a pure LTE modem and that Intel's pure 5G modem chip, the XMM 8060, will launch sometime in 2019. You could learn more about the 2018 XMM 7560 Advanced Pro Modem here that describes delivering speeds up to and beyond 1Gbps. Qualcomm has signed on 18 Global OEMs to support Qualcomm's X50 5G NR modems in 2018 as noted in the chart below. For Intel, gaining Apple's business is a huge boost for them. If they deliver a top quality 5G modem chip next year they know that some of those 18 OEMs could be persuaded to switch supplier. Apple's 2019 iPhones using Intel's 5G modem will be their largest living advertisement. Asha Keddy, Intel's vice president of technology, systems architecture and client group further further noted in the Nikkei report that Intel's efforts to boost its own advanced modem technology highlighted the company's ambition to be a leader in the coming 5G era. The next-gen modems will allow for faster data transfers and lower latency, to enable future connected and driverless cars, complicated artificial intelligence computing, long-distance medical operations, live-streaming, high-quality videos and other developments. Keddy added that "Intel's next-generation 5G modem offering, dubbed the XMM 8060, will be available next year and will likely be first found in fixed wireless products for telecom operators; connected personal computers made by HP, Dell, Lenovo Group, Asustek Computer and Acer; and in smartphones." Patently Apple covered Intel's Computex keynote in Taiwan on June 5th where they elaborated on what Intel's Keddy noted in the Nikkei's report. Below are screenshots from the keynote on the topic of 5G ready 2-in-1 devices coming in 2019. Intel noted during their keynote that "As we pave the way for 5G, expect us to deliver 10 more 4G-connected PCs from partners like Acer, Asus, Dell and HP on top of the 25 currently in market. These always-connected PCs are not only sleek and beautiful, but packed with performance." Here's to hoping that Apple's iPad Pro will be on time to compete with this new wave of 5G ready PC 2-in-1 devices. On a last note, the Nikkei report quoted Keddy stating that "5G is one of the biggest bets for Intel and we look it as a system and with a systematic approach. It's really the conversion of computing and communication technology. The phone is only a step [for diversification] ... And we look way beyond only phones." For more on this story be sure to check out the full report at The Nikkei Asian Review What will be interesting to follow is whether or not the Samsung Galaxy S10 launching in late February 2019 will be the first smartphone to include a 5G modem. Some think it could be sooner. Park Jin-hyo, who serves as the Chief Technology Officer of SK Telecom, said that Samsung has made a lot of progress in its 5G technologies and will make a 5G phone soon. He made these remarks while talking to journalists at the MWC 2018 trade show in Barcelona. Jin-hyo specifically stated that "It is not so far for Samsung either in coming up with a 5G device." Huawei has recently announced its first 5G chipsets too and said that it will release a 5G smartphone in the second half of 2018. Park also said: "Huawei excels in its technologiesWhile Samsung may not say much, it has also been making a lot of preparations." To learn more about Intel's push into 5G, read their latest report titled "The Dash to 5G Commercialization Begins" here. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or negative behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus. News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. IRAN: MPs Propose An Amnesty For Diaspora Iranians 06/15/18 Source: Radio Farda The Islamic Republic's parliament (Majles) has drafted a double emergency motion to declare general amnesty and judicial immunity for diaspora Iranians. Meanwhile, the motion has also called for restricting death penalty across the country. The motion, signed by more than seventy MPs, has been delivered to the parliament's board of directors, a member of Majles Judicial and Legal Commission, Mohammad Javad Fat'hee told E'timad Online pro-reform website on Wednesday, June 13. "Since the legislators are authorized to define a crime, they have also the authority to demand amnesty for people convicted of particular crimes," Fat'hee argued, adding, "Therefore, the new motion has proposed a general amnesty for all the people charged or convicted of political and security related crimes." However, according to Fat'hee, the new motion has excluded people charged and convicted of physical sabotage actions "deplored by all the nations across the world", including espionage, setting fire to banks and damaging public properties. "Crimes, such as espionage and setting fire to banks are so deplorable that people charged with such offenses are usually forced to commit suicide under mental and psychological pressures," Fat'hee maintained. However, avoiding any reference to Iranian dual nationals currently behind bars in the Islamic Republic, Fat'hee did not elaborate on the reasons and the timing for the new motion 39 years after the Islamic Revolution in the country. Many western countries have warned their Iranian dual citizens to stay away from their homeland, lest they be arrested. Currently, an unknown number of Iranians with dual citizenship are sentenced to long prison terms, charged with espionage for the so-called "enemies" of the state. If the new motion does not extend the amnesty to alleged cases of espionage, dual citizens would be reluctant to return to Iran. Following the United States withdrawal from the nuclear deal, Iran is under diplomatic and financial pressures, which could be the driving force behind the proposed amnesty. Such a move can both put Iran under a better light internationally and also might entice diaspora compatriots to make investments in the country. As a matter of fact, Fat'hee has insisted that the new motion "Will hopefully reduce the international pressure on Tehran concerning the fate of Iranians with dual citizenship who are currently kept mainly in Tehran's notorious prison, Evin. As a legislator, Fat'hee insists, "We should give the green light to the six-seven million Iranians living overseas. Iranian diaspora enjoys having significant assets and expertise that people inside Iran have been so far deprived of." But Iran is among the countries with highest number of executions, which have included political opponents. Internal and international civil rights activists say that human rights in Iran has been systematically violated during almost four decades of theocracy to the extent that the UN has assigned a special rapporteur to monitor the human rights situation in the country. Most of the political, ethnic rights activists detained in Iran are generally convicted of vaguely defined charges, including "action against national security" and "anti-system propaganda". In the new double emergency motion, according Fat'hee, political and ethnic rights activists will be pardoned. The double emergency motion, if passed by the parliament, requires the Guardian Council's (GC) ratification to become a law. GC is totally dominated by ultra-conservative elements with its most influential members directly appointed by the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to Fat'hee, the new double emergency motion is expected to be tabled next week in majlis (Islamic Consultative Meanwhile, the motion has also called for restricting death penalty across the country. The motion, signed by more than seventy MPs, has been delivered to the parliament's board of directors, a member of Majles Judicial and Legal Commission, Mohammad Javad Fat'hee told E'timad Online pro-reform website on Wednesday, June 13. "Since the legislators are authorized to define a crime, they have also the authority to demand amnesty for people convicted of particular crimes," Fat'hee argued, adding, "Therefore, the new motion has proposed a general amnesty for all the people charged or convicted of political and security related crimes." However, according to Fat'hee, the new motion has excluded people charged and convicted of physical sabotage actions "deplored by all the nations across the world", including espionage, setting fire to banks and damaging public properties. "Crimes, such as espionage and setting fire to banks are so deplorable that people charged with such offenses are usually forced to commit suicide under mental and psychological pressures," Fat'hee maintained. However, avoiding any reference to Iranian dual nationals currently behind bars in the Islamic Republic, Fat'hee did not elaborate on the reasons and the timing for the new motion 39 years after the Islamic Revolution in the country. Many western countries have warned their Iranian dual citizens to stay away from their homeland, lest they be arrested. Currently, an unknown number of Iranians with dual citizenship are sentenced to long prison terms, charged with espionage for the so-called "enemies" of the state. If the new motion does not extend the amnesty to alleged cases of espionage, dual citizens would be reluctant to return to Iran. Following the United States withdrawal from the nuclear deal, Iran is under diplomatic and financial pressures, which could be the driving force behind the proposed amnesty. Such a move can both put Iran under a better light internationally and also might entice diaspora compatriots to make investments in the country. As a matter of fact, Fat'hee has insisted that the new motion "Will hopefully reduce the international pressure on Tehran concerning the fate of Iranians with dual citizenship who are currently kept mainly in Tehran's notorious prison, Evin. As a legislator, Fat'hee insists, "We should give the green light to the six-seven million Iranians living overseas. Iranian diaspora enjoys having significant assets and expertise that people inside Iran have been so far deprived of." But Iran is among the countries with highest number of executions, which have included political opponents. Internal and international civil rights activists say that human rights in Iran has been systematically violated during almost four decades of theocracy to the extent that the UN has assigned a special rapporteur to monitor the human rights situation in the country. Most of the political, ethnic rights activists detained in Iran are generally convicted of vaguely defined charges, including "action against national security" and "anti-system propaganda". In the new double emergency motion, according Fat'hee, political and ethnic rights activists will be pardoned. The double emergency motion, if passed by the parliament, requires the Guardian Council's (GC) ratification to become a law. GC is totally dominated by ultra-conservative elements with its most influential members directly appointed by the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to Fat'hee, the new double emergency motion is expected to be tabled next week in majlis (Islamic Consultative Assembly). Tale of Two Volcanoes Published June 14, 2018 Onscreen: Two volcanoes just erupted with destructive power. Guatemalas Volcan de Fuego and Hawaiis Kilauea. The eruptions arent connected, and hazards are different At Fuego, hot volcanic ash and mud engulfed a nearby village. At least 75 people died, over 3,000 evacuated. And the death toll is expected to climb John Stix: EI Fuego is known for its pyroclastic flows. Onscreen: Pyroclastic flows are not lava. Stix: Theyre very similar to snow avalanches. They move very fast, just like a snow avalanche does. Onscreen: Except pyroclastic particles consist of volcanic ash and rock, tumbling down a volcano at hundreds of miles per hour Stix: Anybody, or anything in the path of a pyroclastic flow, once its started, you dont really have the time to get out of the way of it. So they will burn and asphyxiate anybody in their path. Its a small-scale Pompeii, in a sense. Onscreen: The rainy season just started in Guatemala, increasing the risk of mudflows called lahars. Stix: Loose ash will mix with the rain and create mudflows that will impact a lot of people. Onscreen: They can travel farther than pyroclastic flows. Stix: They can move faster than you can run. Onscreen: Meanwhile, new explosions at Kilauea rocked the summit, sending ash thousands of feet into the air. And a new massive river of lava is believed to have destroyed nearly 300 homes. Stix: A lava flow is a slow-moving liquid which is highly viscous, not moving very fast...these lava flows have been moving slowlypeople can get out of the way. Onscreen: So far, Kilaueas recent activity has caused no deaths. But there may be more hazards to come. USGS Jessica Ballx: There is now a flow that has channelized south of the new delta. Onscreen: Stirring up a laze: a dangerous mix of lava and haze. Residents continue to keep an eye on both volcanoes. The Northern Regional Police Command has arrested a suspected Nigerien couple for allegedly stealing GH15,400.00 from two persons in Tamale. The couple were intercepted and arrested by the Police at Techiman and after a search on them the said amount was found in their Toyota Corolla car with registration number GE 4547 18. The Northern Regional Police Crime Officer, Superintendent Kusi Appiah, who briefed the media mentioned the couple as Jamal Mamuud, 29, and Nazari Mahamuud, 28 who posed as missionaries in construction of mosques and manage to steal the amount from the said people in Tamale. Superintendent Appiah explained that the couple went to one Aminu Haroona, a shop attendant on the pretext of engaging in business transactions with the shop owner and in the process managed to steal some money. He said the police had acted on the matter following a complaint lodged by the owner of the store and the information gathered by the police were used to track the suspects leading to their subsequent arrest. Superintendent Appiah said the couple were being held on the offences of conspiracy to steal and stealing and would be sent to court. He urged the public to be vigilant when dealing with customers, stressing that individuals who have suffered the same fraudulent acts with the suspected couple should come out to lodge complaints. Mrs Iddrisu Alimatu, a Mobile Money operator also On March 2, suffered similar fate when the same couple came to her on the pretext of transacting business and made away with her GH3,000.00. She later identified the couple to the Police as the perpetrators. 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 The spokesperson to the Vice President, Dr. Gideon Boako, has debunked fears that NACOB and National Security have been excluded from the joint inspection team at the ports. Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has announced new directives at the ports and harbours to help improve the paperless ports processes and bring about efficiency. Speaking to the media on Thursday, 14th June, Security analyst Dr. Kwasi Aning said such directives could be worrying and portray Ghana as careless about security matters at the ports. However, in a sharp response Dr. Boako said although government intends through the directives to reduce the number of inspections team from 16 to three, NACOB and National Security are well represented. According to him, their roles have rather been strengthened. The two security agencies will join the inspection team upon intelligence and that once the risk engine determines that a container should be inspected, national security and NACOB will be part of the joint inspection, Dr. Boako clarified. He added: This is a more enhanced role than what existed earlier where NACOB and National Security did not have that mandate to halt the process to do thorough inspection upon intelligence. With the new directives NACOB and National Security have access to the risk engine and once the engine detects anything untoward it will raise the alarm and quickly NACOB and National Security will move in to inspect. He concluded by reaffirming governments commitment to ensure safe and efficiency as well as hustle-free port systems for importers and customers. 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 A research has shown that there was an increase in support for multiparty democracy in Africa between 2002 and 2015. According to a finding by Afrobarometer, majority of Africans say they feel close to a political party and believe that multiple political parties are needed to give voters a genuine chance. However, in spite of the increase in support for multiparty system, both ruling and opposition parties on the continent still struggle to gain popular trust of the citizens. The findings conducted in 36 African countries show that less than half of the respondents 46% say they trust ruling parties while 36% of them say they trust opposition parties a lot or somewhat, placing political parties at or near the bottom of a list of institutions and leaders in popular trust. These findings, based on 2014/2015 surveys in 36 African countries, were shared by Afrobarometer Executive Director, E. Gyimah-Boadi, at a consultative workshop of the Department of Political Affairs of the African Union Commissions Political Party Programme in Accra. It shows that almost two-thirds (63%) of Africans endorse multiparty competition as essential to give citizens choices in who governs them. North Africa is the only sub-region where fewer than half (49%) of citizens hold this view, the findings indicated. According to the research, across 16 countries tracked since 2002, support for multiparty democracy has increased by 11 percentage points. A majority (56%) of Africans say they feel close to a political party in their country. Across 16 countries tracked since 2002, this proportion increased by 7 percentage points between 2002 and 2015. Interestingly, the findings indicate that across 16 countries tracked since 2002, trust ratings improved by 18 percentage points for opposition parties but only marginally 4 points for ruling parties. Individually, Cote dIvoire leads the way with support for multiparty democracy with as many as 82% of the respondents favoring it. Ghana is in the 18th position with 69% of the respondents showing their support for multiparty democracy. The average support for the system stood at 63% and Swaziland had the lowest support for multiparty democracy 31%. The findings also show that religious leaders have the highest trust among the people (72%), followed by the army (64%) and traditional leaders had 61% trust of the people. Ruling parties, tax departments and opposition parties sit at the foot of the chart with 46%, 44% and 36% trust respectively. Political parties are an essential element of a well-functioning democracy, but earning popular trust and thus greater legitimacy and better prospects for a countrys democratic consolidation remains a challenge, Mr. Gyimah-Boadi observed. 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 MP for Builsa South constituency, Clement Abas Apaak has defended the Minoritys decision to boycott the registration of the Ghana Card and to petition the Supreme Court for an interpretation on the use of the voters ID card as proof of nationality and registration for the Ghana card. Speaking on TV3s New Day program Saturday, he said the action is undoubtedly important considering that all citizens have the right to access the new National Identification Cards which will provide primary access to services in the country. A change in mind on the part of the minority in parliament after their initial consent on the committee level he insists, is only rational and wise especially after they have realized the repercussions of the omission of the Voters ID as part of documents accepted for the registration process. His comments come on the back of suggestions by co-panelist on the show and Member of Parliament for Secondi Takoradi, Andrew Kofi Egyapa Mercer, that Minority members in parliament are indecisive and operate based on instructions and dictates of their party executives. Mr. Mercer, in his submission on the show suggested that the decision of Minority members in parliament to boycott the registration process stems from directives given to them by top hierarchy and not based on their own accord. Describing the move as a complete waste of time, he said its unfortunate. This country hasnt got time. We dont, yet our elected officers think they can play politics with everything. They are going to court not to seek an interpretation of the constitution. They are going to court to seek an interpretation of the constitution, they are going to court to seek an interpretation of the ruling of the Supreme Court on the Abu Ramadan case under which jurisdiction? They are only being mischievous, consistent with their nature, when they take a decision in parliament and their party executives whisper into their heads like they did during the U.S military agreement, they agreed at the committee, unanimous. When the committee report came out and their party executives heard, they rushed to parliament, held a caucus meeting with them and insisted that they change their position. So they went out and said no, weve changed our position. In a rebuttal however, Dr. Apaak maintained that it was unreasonable for anyone to suggest that a decision taken cannot be backtracked especially when new conditions that warrant a change are realised. If we read act and the law, the card is going to become a primary means of accessing services and we shouldnt take that for granted so why wouldnt we want as many Ghanaians to be on the card? The idea is to reduce the obstacles, to allow for more people to be part of it and I dont see why tantrums should be thrown about what we believe is commonsensical. We may have been blindsided by not thinking about this but if we have become aware that excluding the voters ID card is not going to allow for a more inclusive process, there is no reason why we shouldnt raise that issue and we shouldnt be shy about stating it. Only a fool does not change his or her mind if you become aware of new conditions that warrant a change in a course of action and that is exactly what we are doing, he noted. We have decided to boycott the Ghana Card and we are doing that. We have also put in the public domain what we are going to do. That doesnt mean we are restricted to those options. Of course leadership is still discussing the options. The important point must be made that we are only asking that because this is a national program of immense importance, we widen the window of opportunity and make it easier for more Ghanaians to be part of it that is why we feel that excluding the voters ID card and highlighting only the passport and the birth certificate, we dont want to discourage people from being on the Ghana Card. It has consequences, we shouldnt take it for granted, he added. Source: Ghanaweb.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 Dr. Harry Janssen, director of the Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, is shown in this handout photo. Clinicians and researchers attending an international conference say all Canadian children should be vaccinated against hepatitis B starting at birth to prevent the development of potentially deadly liver disease later in life, a policy recommended by the World Health Organization. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-UHN *MANDATORY CREDIT* A building is seen at Trinity Western University in Langley, B.C., on Wednesday, February 22, 2017. The Supreme Court of Canada is set to release its decision Friday on whether law societies have the right to deny accreditation to a proposed law school at a Christian university in British Columbia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck #Fumio Kishida Kishida sends offerings to controversial Yasukuni Shrine: report Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Sunday sent offerings to a controversial war shrine for the first time since taking office this month, a news report said. Kishida sent ... Pristine coastal habitat in Port Joli on Nova Scotia's South Shore is seen on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009. A new federal report calls for big changes in how natural areas are protected.The National Advisory Panel on how Canada should meet its 2020 conservation goals says the current approach is failing.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan Lisa Dudley, who died after being shot in her home in September, 2008 in Mission, B.C., is shown in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-B.C. Coroners Service MANDATORY CREDIT La Presse publisher Guy Crevier, left, responds to a question as president Pierre-Elliott Levasseur looks on during a news conference Tuesday, May 8, 2018 in Montreal. The Quebec government will invoke closure later today to ram through legislation aimed at allowing Montreal-based La Presse news group to adopt a not-for-profit structure.Government house leader Jean-Marc Fournier made the announcement this morning. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson Kelly Craft, United States Ambassador to Canada, speaks to the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations in Montreal, Tuesday, April 17, 2018. The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa called police yesterday after receiving an envelope containing a suspicious white powder that was addressed to Ambassador Craft. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes Perryville takes down Saxony in possible district preview It was a game that Saxony Lutheran boys soccer coach Chris Crawford said had a postseason feel to it.If that was how a possible district tournament matchup between Perryville and Saxony Lancers goal line stand downs Indians Two yards or six feet. Either way you look at it, that was all that was standing between St. Vincent and certain victory.However, St. Pius had other plans. The Lancers held off the Indians on the Oil steady Friday, attention turns to potential supply hike By Osamu Tsukimori and Jane Chung TOKYO Petroleumworld 06 15 2018 Oil prices were largely steady on Friday, while Saudi Arabia and Russia, architects of a producer deal to cut output, indicated ahead of a key OPEC meeting in Vienna next week that production could rise. Brent crude LCOc1 had edged up 3 cents to $75.97 a barrel by 0658 GMT, after settling down 80 cents the session before. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 was up 5 cents at $66.94 a barrel, having settled the last session up 25 cents. It touched a two-week high of $67.16 on Thursday. Brent and WTI hit 3-1/2-year highs in May, but have since drifted lower as U.S. crude production rises and as the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and other allies look poised to increase output in their meeting in the Austrian capital on June 22-23. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday after talks with Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih in Moscow that both nations in principle supported the gradual exit from the deal. We in general support this ... but specifics we will discuss with the ministers in a week, Novak said, adding that one option would involve gradually hiking output by 1.5 million bpd, possibly starting from July 1. Saudi Arabia's Falih did not offer specific guidance on what any deal in Vienna could look like. But he said: We will see where we go, but I think we'll come to an agreement that satisfies, most importantly, the market. Many analysts expect a rise in output from the meeting. The shape of the deal is far from certain yet given the Russians seem to want a more aggressive wind back than most of OPEC, Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at futures brokerage AxiTrader, said in a note. My guess is the increase will be something less than the 1 million bpd (barrels per day) that the U.S. is supposed to have asked the Saudis for. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday that Saudi Arabia wants to continue cooperation with Russia on global oil markets. Meanwhile, oil got some support after attacks shut major Libyan oil ports on Thursday, slashing production by 240,000 barrels per day. South Korea's Iranian crude oil imports fell in May to their lowest since January, 2016 as South Korean buyers sought to reduce purchases of Iranian oil amid new U.S. sanctions on Iran. _________________________ Twitter: @petroleumworld1 Petroleumworld.com Hit your target - Advertise with Us "It turns my stomach to hear Trotman quote scriptures and praise ExxonMobil as a saviour" - Former Guyana President Bharrat Jagdeo By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell GEORGETOWN Petroleumworld 06 15 2018 Former President Bharrat Jagdeo cannot stand to hear government ministers, particularly Raphael Trotman, sing praises to oil giant, ExxonMobil. It turns his stomach. At least this is what he told the Press yesterday. Jagdeo was at the time responding to a question posed by Kaieteur News. Jagdeo was notably absent from recent oil and gas fora. In fact, this Tuesday saw the official launch of Liza Phase One Development and ExxonMobil held a cocktail reception at Cara Lodge. Jagdeo did not attend. It was after he was asked whether he refused to attend the event to make a statement or if it were a case where he was not invited, Jagdeo revealed that it brings him great physical discomfort to have to listen to certain ministers speak in the manner they do. Jagdeo said, I cannot handle the platitude and the small talk sometimes. I do not want to disparage activities but I cannot listen to Trotman quote the scriptures. With all the illegalities he has presided over, he still quotes the scriptures extensively. It turns my stomach to have to go through that sort of thing. Jagdeo went on, I am glad I did not have to be there and listen to Trotman praise Exxon like our saviour. The politician said that it would be misguiding for Guyanese to look at any external company as a saviour. He was adamant, We have to be our own saviour. The people of this country, we are our own saviour, but we can also destroy our country. We have a common future. Jagdeo said that people and companies who venture to Guyana in search of our natural resources should be the least to be regarded as saviour. He said, We welcome them but they have a motive to make money. That is not bad but we have to determine where our country is going and I am not in favour of treating anybody who comes here as our saviour and let's go down on our knees and be beholden to them simply because they spent a little money in our economy. Our ancestors fought hard to come out of slavery and indentureship and we became independent I cringe, literally, when I see people, who are supposed to represent us, say these things. It makes the others laugh at us. There is no end to the sycophancy that goes on. ________________________ Twitter: @petroleumworld1 Petroleumworld.com Hit your target - Advertise with Us Story by Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell from Kaieter News kaieteurnewsonline.com 06 15 2018 Copyright 1999-2018 Petroleumworld or respective author or news agency. All rights reserved. We welcome the use of Petroleumworld (PW) stories by anyone provided it mentions Petroleumworld.com as the source. Other stories you have to get authorization by its authors. Internet web links to http://www.petroleumworld.com are appreciated. Petroleumworld welcomes your feedback and comments, share your thoughts on this article, your feedback is important to us! We invite all our readers to share with us their views and comments about this article. Write to editor@petroleumworld.com By using this link, you agree to allow PW to publish your comments on our letters page. Any question or suggestions, please write to: editor@petroleumworld.com Best Viewed with IE 5.01+ Windows NT 4.0, '95, '98,ME,XP, Vista, Windows 7,8,10 +/ 800x600 pixels Twitter: @petroleumworld1 November 13 - 15, 2018. Gubkin University, Moscow SPE Student Chapter No reliable method to collect energy royalties -Trinidad's Auditor General By Rosemarie Sant PORT SPAIN Petroleumworld 06 15 2018 The Auditor General's Department told a Parliament's Public Accounts Committee that despite the country's stringent economic circumstances, it is in no position to assess with any great deal of reliability, the full amount of revenue currently being collected. Deputy Auditor General Lorelly Pujadas, who is currently acting as the Auditor General, told the parliamentary committee that the problem speaks to the method of gathering revenue data, including the production data of oil companies. This means, she said, that there is currently no method to collect the amount of royalties energy companies should be paying to the Ministry of Energy. Responding to questions from Opposition Senator Tarhqa Obika, acting Auditor Executive Two, Brian Caesar told the committee on Wednesday that the ministry still depend on the honour system, whereby oil and gas operators and quarry operators to submit production data and they do calculations of royalty based on what is submitted by the production companies. As a result, he said, You cannot manage properly what is not measured, and since the ministry is not doing proper measurement, we the Auditor General's department is not in a position to determine the real revenue in terms of royalty that should be accrued to the ministry. Caesar said the Auditor General's department had asked the ministry to improve the system but to date there had been no tangible changes. Pujadas said the ministry is seeking to develop an instrument in which they will be able to better calibrate the data, so that they will have more informed data coming forward. But Obika declared that he was mortified with the response given the situation which the Minister of Finance finds himself in at budget and mid-year review. He suggested the need for a recommendation from the Auditor General's department to the ministry in keeping with international best practice, to give the ministry more teeth. According to Obika, industry practitioners dissuade persons from measuring wells below certain volumes and even the reserves data is inadequate, the ministry does not have access to that, he said, pointing out that there seemed to be asymmetric information that is not in favour of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. Pujadas admitted to the Committee that the Auditor General's Department had been deficient over the years, we have focused on the expenditure side, but she said revenue had become critical because of the country's stringent economic conditions, and there was now a need to look at methodologies to get a better sense of gaps in terms of revenue collection. Currently, she said, the way data is gathered there is no way to ascertain whether or not all the VAT is being collected, and whether those required to pay are doing so in a timely manner. She suggested the need for the strengthening of internal audit at all ministries as a department one would like to rely on internal audit to reduce our scope and not duplicate efforts, but in order for that to happen, she added, we need to ensure that the quality of work is of a standard and that the persons doing the work are qualified to do so. Pujadas also lobbied for implementation of the Integrated Financial Management System (INFIS) which, she said, had been spoken about ad nauseum. We need to go beyond talk and reach the stage where we implement, she said. Committee chair Dr Bhoe Tewarie explained that the system will allow senior officials including Permanent Secretaries and ministers to go online and know on a daily-basis how money is being spent for recurrent and daily expenditure. It was deemed as being essential for good governance. ________________________ Twitter: @petroleumworld1 Petroleumworld.com Hit your target - Advertise with Us OPEC and U.S. shale producers to deepen ties in Vienna By Ernest Scheyder HOUSTON Petroleumworld 06 15 2018 Only a few years ago, shale CEOs and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries were in open conflict. Now, they realize they're in the same boat and need to row in tandem to keep global crude supply and demand in balance, according to interviews with analysts, executives and investors. The recent rise in crude prices - up more than 40 percent in the past year - has lifted profits for producers across the globe, but also threatens to erode demand for fossil fuels at a time when electrification is becoming commonplace. We're getting to a point where a continued rise in the oil price is going to cause major problems for the global economy, said Amy Meyers Jaffe, director of the program on energy security and climate change at the Council on Foreign Relations. There are bigger issues at hand besides output that OPEC and shale producers care about. OPEC and U.S. representatives have met at least twice this year, with a third high-profile meeting set for Vienna next week. Finding the optimal balance of crude supply and demand will be the hot topic. Harold Hamm, the billionaire founder of U.S. shale pioneer Continental Resources Inc, is due to address OPEC ministers, along with fellow shale executives Hess Corp CEO John Hess and Pioneer Natural Resource Co Executive Chairman Scott Sheffield. Hamm and Hess did not respond to requests for comment ahead of the meeting. Sheffield declined to comment. I wouldn't take dialogue and discussion as any kind of collaboration. We're all talking about what does world demand look like for oil, said U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a North Dakota Democrat who successfully pushed to lift the U.S. oil export ban in 2015. Lifting that ban ushered in a sea change in global energy, sending nearly 2 million barrels of U.S. crude to India, China and other markets historically dominated by OPEC and forcing the group and its American rivals to be more conciliatory. Hamm, who called OPEC a toothless tiger in 2014, has begun encouraging fellow shale companies to focus more on profitability and less on profligate production. Last month, Hamm addressed a Saudi Aramco board meeting in Houston. It was a change in tone for Hamm, who in 2011 erected a granite monument on the windswept plains of North Dakota that boasted of the rising clout of U.S. oil production and the nation's ability to supply its own energy. The monument to one of the first horizontal shale wells drilled in the United States bragged that Continental had helped dispel the myth that America was running out of oil and would help the country beat global competitors. Khalid al-Falih, chairman of state oil giant Aramco and the Saudi energy minister, will be in Vienna along with fellow OPEC ministers to debate whether to extend recent production curbs. U.S. shale executives will not be part of those discussions, but will meet elsewhere in Vienna during the week with Falih and other OPEC ministers. STABLE, NOT HIGHER U.S. shale producers are prohibited by antitrust law from coordinating their output, making their desire with OPEC to curb volatility and price spikes a difficult one. U.S. oil and gas producers need stable oil prices to be successful, not necessarily higher oil prices, said Rob Thummel, portfolio manager of Tortoise Energy Independence Fund , which holds shares of Pioneer and other U.S. producers. Indeed, some U.S. executives are staying away from Vienna. Mark Papa, the CEO of Centennial Resource Development Inc , and Ryan Lance, CEO of ConocoPhillips, had been slated to attend but backed out. Lance had been due to speak on a panel with several Persian Gulf producers, but grew concerned that it would seem as if he were the designate U.S. representative at such a forum, according to a source familiar with the company's thinking. Conoco declined to comment. Papa did not respond to a request for comment. OPEC ministers are expected to question the U.S. shale executives about rising output from the Permian Basin of west Texas and New Mexico, the largest U.S. oilfield, which pumps more than 3 million barrels per day. There is a tsunami of oil coming from the Permian, said Pete Bowden, global head of energy investment banking at Jefferies. That is a game-changer, not just for the industry domestically, but for international oil and gas supply/demand dynamics. With U.S. crude exports at a record high, rising Permian production has become more of a concern for OPEC than at any time in history. We expect that they (U.S. shale producers) remain independent and do what's in the best interest of their country, Senator Heitkamp said. We're not going to join OPEC, and we're going to be fiercely competing with them. That competition, though, increasingly includes a realization that the fate of both sides is tied. Consumers will move to electric cars if the oil price spikes, CFR's Jaffe said. ________________________ Twitter: @petroleumworld1 Petroleumworld.com Hit your target - Advertise with Us Story by Ernest Scheyder; Editing by Dale Hudson from Reuters. reuters.com 06 14 2018 Copyright 1999-2018 Petroleumworld or respective author or news agency. All rights reserved. We welcome the use of Petroleumworld (PW) stories by anyone provided it mentions Petroleumworld.com as the source. Other stories you have to get authorization by its authors. Internet web links to http://www.petroleumworld.com are appreciated. Petroleumworld welcomes your feedback and comments, share your thoughts on this article, your feedback is important to us! We invite all our readers to share with us their views and comments about this article. Write to editor@petroleumworld.com By using this link, you agree to allow PW to publish your comments on our letters page. Any question or suggestions, please write to: editor@petroleumworld.com Best Viewed with IE 5.01+ Windows NT 4.0, '95, '98,ME,XP, Vista, Windows 7,8,10 +/ 800x600 pixels Cargill buy two Brazil cane processing plants from Abengoa Bioenergia By Reuters BRASILIA/SAO PAULO Petroleumworld 06 15 2018 Food processor and commodities trader Cargill Inc has agreed to buy two cane processing plants from Brazilian biofuels firm Abengoa Bioenergia SA for $80 million, a Brazilian newspaper reported on Thursday. Cargill's CarVal fund will acquire the plants in Sao Paulo state from Abengoa Bioenergia, which is in bankruptcy protection and is a unit of Spain's Abengoa SA, according to O Estado de S. Paulo. The deal will not be finalized until contracts are signed, the newspaper said. Abengoa And Cargill did not immediately respond to requests for comment. ________________________ Twitter: @petroleumworld1 Petroleumworld.com Hit your target - Advertise with Us Colombians face sharp differences on the two candidates to elect in Sunday's presidential election Sebastian Delgado/SOPA Conservative Duque leads ex-guerrilla Petro in Sunday's runoff. Candidates have sharp differences on economy, peace process By Ezra Fieser BOGOTA Petroleumworld 06 15 2018 A former leftist guerrilla and a market-friendly, U.S.-educated lawyer are vying for Colombia's presidency Sunday, offering starkly different visions for everything from implementing a peace deal to the future of one of Latin America's largest economies. Polls predict a decisive victory for Ivan Duque, 41, who wants to cut corporate taxes, over Gustavo Petro, 58, who wants to redistribute land and cut oil dependency. The vote is a departure from past Colombian elections that have pitted establishment candidates against one another, said Jorge Restrepo, an economics professor who heads the Conflict Analysis Resource Center in Bogota. This is an election unlike any Colombia has seen for a long time, Restrepo said. The winner will inherit real challenges: a sluggish $300 billion economy which recently suffered its first credit rating downgrade in 15 years, hundreds of thousands of hungry Venezuelans pouring across the border, and a huge increase in cocaine production. Despite this, Colombia has been an investor favorite in Latin America this year, a nod to uncertainty elsewhere in the region and to how far the country has come from the brutality of a decades-long Marxist-led civil war to new membership in the exclusive Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Amid fiscal woes in Argentina and political risks in Mexico and Brazil, which both hold presidential elections this year, Colombia's peso has strengthened the most in emerging markets in 2018 as prices rose for crude, the nation's biggest export, and traders bet on a Duque victory. Even if Petro won, a hostile Congress and other institutions mean he would have a hard time implementing his more radical ideas. Moody's Investors Service said this week that Colombia's market-friendly policies will continue whatever the outcome. Duque, whose governing experience has been limited to one term in the senate, studied at Georgetown University and spent half his adult life in the U.S. He was plucked from obscurity by former President Alvaro Uribe, still Colombia's most popular politician eight years after leaving office. Duque backs oil and mining exploration, and has pledged to abolish value-added tax for six days a year. How closely he would mirror Uribe's policies is unclear. Like Uribe, Duque has criticized the 2016 peace deal as too lenient to members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which agreed to lay down arms in exchange for concessions from the government, including reserved spots in Congress. There may be little he can do to reverse the deal, since key provisions have been upheld by the constitutional court. However, Duque could impede the agreement's full implementation, said Cynthia Arnson, director of the Latin America program at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington. What Duque could do easily is things like cut funding and appoint people who are not terribly interested in implementing the peace agreement, she said. There's a lot he can do to let it die on the vine without setting up a constitutional court challenge. Petro is a former member of the M-19 guerrilla movement. He demobilized nearly three decades ago, and switched to democratic politics, eventually becoming mayor of Bogota, where he's remembered, among other things, for boosting subsidies on water and bus fares for the poor. As president, Petro says he'd support solar power and agricultural products such as avocados, while reducing dependence on oil and coal. He supports the peace deal and wants to tax land owners with the goal of redistributing unused rural farm acreage. Petro's progressive agenda resonates in parts of the country that feel left behind and that have had few openly leftist politicians as long as FARC violence was so widespread. If, as expected, he loses, Petro is expected to begin preparing to run again in 2022. This is the first national election in a long time that has not taken place under the shadow of a guerrilla war, which has, fairly or not, always tinged Colombia's left, Arnson said. That creates more political space for a candidate like Petro. ________________________ Twitter: @petroleumworld1 Petroleumworld.com Hit your target - Advertise with Us "We're all buddies down here," said Andrew Harton, head brewer of the new Big Oyster Brewery in Lewes, Del., talking about the beer community that has grown fast along the Delaware beach towns in the last few years. "And we always laugh and say: 'We're not making beer anymore; we're just ordering pallets of fruit!' " One could definitely get that impression from the colorful sours I tasted during my recent visit to a pair of breweries. The usual amber, gold, and straw clarity of traditional beer styles on the menu were overshadowed by the deep purple, ruby red, and pinkish haze of the tart ales infused with fruit that I sipped at Big Oyster and the Dewey Beer Co., where the sour ale series is known as "the Secret Machine" and sometimes gets churned into a slushy. "The slushy is something we'd never have done a couple years ago because it doesn't follow beer rules," said Dewey Beer co-owner Brandon Smith. "Thankfully, people are following beer rules less and less these days." The strawberry-guava pucker of my sour beer slushy? Delicious if you like a frozen daiquiri. I wouldn't call it beer. It had none of the subtle textures and fizz, hoppy pop, or malty complexity of a true liquid brew. That was lost on the warm seaside breeze that happily whistled through the roll-up garage door walls of the Dewey Beer Co., which sits on a beach block corner as close to the sand as perhaps any in brewery America. The slushy wasn't for me. But I found many of the other beers at both breweries plenty appealing, not to mention well made. And it seems only fitting that a beer scene anchored by Dogfish Head such a pioneer in the "weird beer" genre that its early additives (raisins, chocolate, crystallized ginger, algae) no longer seem entirely weird should still be driven by an unconventional spirit. Rehoboth's Revelation Craft Brewing Co., for example, last year won a GABF award for a gluten-free sour ale. It also makes sense that a beer scene that bustles in summer's heat should gravitate toward styles that accentuate the quench factor more than bitter hops. Even the hazy IPAs at Dewey Beer Co. aspire to be less bitter and herbaceous than the trendy "New England" style. It's more a milder "Mid-Atlantic" twist, said Smith, whose recent one-off batch of "Send Lawyers Guns and Money" accentuated the creamy body of oats and juicy candy notes of Vic Secret hops. The kettle-soured Secret Machine variations I tasted peach-blueberry; boysenberry-vanilla were simple but refreshing, with a measured tartness that didn't pander to sweetness but that also stopped far shy of full-on pucker. At the massive red barn of Big Oyster's new location in Lewes, an element of wild yeast and barrel-aging adds extra levels of complexity. Harton, a veteran of Iron Hill (which just opened its own big new branch in Rehoboth), makes a stellar oyster stout from the calcium-rich shells produced by the raw bar. But look especially for the character-filled tart beers named after women. Isabelle is deep purple from 200 pounds of blueberry and raspberry puree with a touch of lactose that was so sippable, I understood why the guys next to me took a growler to go. A beer called Sarah, meanwhile, spoke to Harton's blending passion. A golden ale infused with mango was barrel-aged in used cabernet barrels, then blended with a witbier aged with grape must in barrels inoculated with brettanomyces wild yeast. The result is funky and tart, but it finishes with a long, dry, peppery savor. The fruit lends color and character, but the brewmaster and his yeast did their jobs, because Isabelle definitely tasted like beer. Craig LaBan Big Oyster Brewery, 1007 Kings Hwy, Lewes, 302-644-2621; bigoysterbrewery.com; Dewey Beer Co., 2100 Coastal Hwy, Dewey Beach, 302-227-1182; deweybeerco.com Robin Cooper, head of CASA (Commonwealth Association of School Administrators) speaks to attendees outside the Girard Academic Music Program (GAMP) school in South Philadelphia, June 15, 2018, during a rally on violence against teachers and adminstrators in Philadelphia public schools. Read more After nearly 150 assaults on Philadelphia school administrators and teachers this school year, the unions that represent them gathered Friday to say: Something's got to give. "Some parents now think that it's OK to assault the people charged with keeping their children safe," said Robin Cooper, president of the Commonwealth Association of School Administrators (CASA), the Philadelphia School District administrators' union. "It's more than a few cases just this year, it's horrendous. People are cursed out or threatened, bullied by parents." That was the message Cooper and Jerry Jordan, president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, hoped to convey at a news conference and rally Friday to address the issue of staff safety in schools. Flanked by Councilwoman Helen Gym and dozens of administrators, Cooper asked that school security be increased; that legislators revisit the Sandusky Act, which prevents school staff from touching students even when breaking up a fight; and that adults be criminally charged for assaults on staff. "We also need programs, services, and more counselors to identify behaviors that a child might be on the wrong path," Jordan said. Gym added that reforms need to extend to the entire community. "We've got to figure out a way to figure out healing that is going to bring back those families to a sense of community, but make sure that no principal, no teacher, no parent should have to be afraid to go to school," she said. Right now, the decision to call police after an assault is made on a case-by-case basis by a principal or other administrator, the dean, or the victim, Cooper said. If police intervene and charges are filed, she said the cases are not always prosecuted and the outcomes aren't always shared with the school. During the news conference, Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. offered little in the way of solutions. But he told the crowd: "The Constitution is clear on this issue. This is a protected class of individuals who have to be allowed to do their work without fear or retribution, intimidation or assault." Over the last couple of decades, violence against school staff has flared, including an incident in 2007 that gained national attention when former Germantown High School teacher Frank Burd fell and broke his neck after being punched by a student. The case prompted the district to establish a teacher-safety hotline and implement more stringent penalties for offenders. But when the Inquirer revisited the issue in its Pulitzer Prize-winning series on school violence four years later, the problem persisted, and the district, once again, vowed to make improvements. The issue was laid bare again on June 6 at Pollock Elementary in the Northeast, when the parents of a student allegedly pushed and punched the school's principal and vice principal in the schoolyard while attempting to pick their son up on Family Fun Day. Administrators told them they had to report to the school office to sign the child out before they could leave with him. The mother, Nicole Myers, 37, was charged with aggravated assault, criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass, and related offenses. The father, Louis Kennedy, 40, was charged with aggravated assault, criminal trespass, simple assault, and related offenses. But there were a number of other incidents, said Cooper. At one school, the principal was knocked unconscious by a parent while the school police lieutenant watched, she said. At another, a parent pulled a knife on the principal; at another, a parent threatened to shoot the principal. Cooper declined to specify at which schools these incidents occurred. And last year, the principal of Fitler Academics Plus School in Germantown was struck with a brick when he was trying to break up a fight at dismissal. The police were called in each incident, but Cooper said she wasn't aware of the outcomes of the cases. The number of assaults on teachers and administrators have exceeded 100 in each of the last three years, according to numbers provided by the district. For the 2017-18 school year, there were 123 assaults on teachers and 25 on administrators; in 2016-17, there were 119 assaults on teachers and 16 on administrators; and in 2015-16, there were 130 attacks on teachers and 20 on administrators. It's unclear if police were called in all cases, but schools routinely notify the district when a serious incident has occurred, a district spokesperson said. "To be so brazen as to fight, to just punch a staff member enough is enough," said Cooper. Teachers and principals work hard to cultivate welcoming schools, Cooper said, but it's tough to do so when they fear for their safety. "We know and accept that parents are our partners, and we want to have inviting schools, but there have to be guidelines about behavior when entering a school building," she said. Cooper, who was the longtime principal of Longstreth Elementary in Kingsessing, said that in her nearly two decades as a principal, it gradually became more common for administrators to worry about being attacked. "It's a small percentage of parents, but those can take up most of your time in a school building," said Cooper. "I would have to mediate parents fighting other parents. Now, it's a spillover if some parents don't agree with the decision of an administrator, they think it's OK to physically confront them." The answer, Cooper said, is strengthening security in schools, improving resources for students suffering from the impact of trauma, and enhancing district policies. Philadelphia Orchestra music director Yannick Nezet-Seguin conducts the Philadelphians on June 5 in Jerusalem, the final stop on their 2018 tour of Europe and Israel. Read more The Philadelphia Orchestra wanted relevance. It got relevance. In December, as the ensemble was readying plans to visit Israel this June on its 2018 tour, President Trump controversially recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital. In March, as the tour's departure approached, Palestinian organizers began a campaign of protests in Gaza that, over the next couple of months, left more than 100 Palestinians dead at the hand of Israeli forces. And so the orchestra was swept up into a larger discourse in which much more was at stake than good reviews. Security, access to the kinds of outreach events the orchestra wanted to undertake, and the tightrope-walk of managing the orchestra's reputation were all up for grabs. By April, pro-Palestinian protesters in support of the international BDS movement (boycott, divest, and sanction) began demonstrating in front of the Kimmel Center, urging the cancellation of this rare visit to Israel by an American orchestra. And in May, as conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin was readying his downbeat for Tosca at one of the orchestra's last concerts before the spring tour, the outside world seeped into Verizon Hall. Protesters played a prerecorded protest speech just before the music was slated to start and were removed from the hall. From there, the orchestra attracted a level of scrutiny rare in its long history of international touring. On the global stage at this moment, much of the world is in the mood to right perceived wrongs thank goodness, in many cases and social media obliges the impulse by airing seemingly every injustice of every government, institution, or individual, past or present. Heightened relevance doesn't come out of the blue for the Philadelphia Orchestra. Its two-week tour of Europe and Israel that ended with a June 5 concert in Jerusalem feels very much a part of the past season or two of bringing itself to the world and inviting the world in. Musicians have played in prisons, churches, schools, and homeless shelters. Philadelphia Voices by Tod Machover in April brought the sounds and stories of Philadelphia neighborhoods into Verizon Hall. Another new piece, written by Hannibal Lokumbe for mixed ensemble and voices and premiered this time last year, gave voice to victims of the 2015 slaughter at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C. Never before has the orchestra tended its social conscience as actively, and never has the concert hall seemed as permeable as it does today. And though the controversy over the orchestra's trip to Israel may have created some uncomfortable friction, it also moved some conversations forward. The pro-Palestinian side rode the orchestra's shirttails to a higher profile for its cause, drawing international headlines, especially for the Kimmel disruption and another at the orchestra's first concert of the tour, in Brussels. In rebuttal, the local pro-Israel side found an audience for a more nuanced perspective than perhaps you're likely to see on your Facebook feed. To hear the orchestra tell it, the tour was a crucible with some important gains immediately apparent, and others perhaps to come. Orchestra interim co-president Ryan Fleur said he believed every musician in the ensemble, as well as music director Nezet-Seguin, went through the same journey in response to the disruptions from shock to anger to resolve. In the end, though, he said, "the beauty of the journey is that the orchestra is a whole lot closer with each other and with Yannick because we all went through this together." There were, however, at least a couple of casualties. Civility, for one. The idea that the concert hall is vulnerable to disruption seems like another violation of norms in an age when violations of norms seem like the new norm. And for those listeners who come to the orchestra to become lost to the world, that quiet realm is gone. Other benefits of the orchestra's trip to Israel may not be apparent until later. The tour was a chance for the orchestra to right a wrong of its own to once again reassure Jewish supporters that its "spotty history" with Jews, as Fleur has put it, was no longer spotty. Israel means a great deal to many of the orchestra's donors and fans at home, and to have the orchestra making connections with listeners in Israel was no doubt an emotional experience for many of the 55 or so along on the patron tour as well as those tracking the tour from afar through reports and radio broadcasts of Tchaikovsky and Bernstein. Perhaps more than any other factor, emotion tends to fuel philanthropy. "We got to know a lot of people a lot better while we were on the tour, and from a relationship standpoint, time is going to tell where we end up on that point," said Fleur. It is not yet clear whether the trip will cost the orchestra donors or subscribers; the opening of next season is months away, and philanthropy is a long game. But so far, of the orchestra's more than 6,000 donor households, 88 expressed their support of the tour either through individual donations or by joining the patron tour, and nine donors have said they will not be giving money in the future as a result of the tour, an orchestra spokeswoman said. Of the 25 subscribers who expressed concern, only three have so far not renewed their subscriptions at this time, the spokeswoman said, and of those three, just one patron specifically cited the tour as the reason for not renewing. The orchestra has about 9,000 subscribing households. A lost opportunity The tour was an opportunity lost for Nezet-Seguin, who has said little in public about the trip and its rough spots. He declined to speak about the concert-hall disruptions and controversy to my colleague David Patrick Stearns or myself during the tour. Since the conclusion of the tour, an orchestra spokeswoman said, Nezet-Seguin has not responded to an additional request for an interview. Leadership means speaking for the organization in good times as well as bad, and not to have the music director speaking up now is a disappointment. The orchestra, for its part, says it never intended to mix art and politics. "As soon as we truly move into the realm of taking a political position, we're done, we've lost our ability to authentically and honestly communicate above the fray," says Fleur. But that claim is a bit naive. Going to Israel is in itself a political statement, and the timing made it more so. The orchestra handed red meat to its critics by allowing the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, its partner in the Israel leg of the tour, to publish an itinerary online listing a June 1 welcome Shabbat dinner for the related patron tour to which Miri Regev, the incendiary far-right Israeli politician, was invited. (She ended up not attending, several officials said). A conversation sparked Regardless, pro-Palestinian protesters say they were against the tour under any circumstances, that the Israel trip meant "the orchestra crossed an international picket line," says Susan Abulhawa, an organizer of the Philly Don't Orchestrate Apartheid campaign, which used its Kimmel demonstrations to bring attention to Israel's treatment of Palestinians. "We sparked a conversation in Philadelphia about cultural boycott [and] the role artists can play in either perpetuating or opposing the oppression of fellow human beings." But it's hard to think of an audience anywhere that doesn't deserve to hear a great orchestra. To paraphrase the conductor Gustavo Dudamel, music is a fundamental human right. Meting out moral justice is a slippery business. If, as pro-Palestinian protesters claim, the Philadelphia Orchestra's Israel appearance signals an approval or glossing over of Israel's policies, should the Berlin or Vienna philharmonics cross U.S. tours off their list in light of the Trump administration's policy of separating immigrant children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border? The salient question always was what kind of context the orchestra would put around the actual concerts, and this is where it stumbled. To be sure, the orchestra made significant gestures to a diverse population. Musicians played a chamber music concert in Netivot, a town with immigrant populations from Russia and Ethiopia about nine miles from Gaza. Four musicians plus Nezet-Seguin visited the Oasis of Peace, a community of Israeli Arabs and Jews outside Tel Aviv. But other events didn't pan out. A planned trip to the West Bank for a side-by-side concert with a Palestinian orchestra was canceled because of security concerns, according to Fleur. A visit to work with and perform for Palestinian students at the Beit Almusica school in the Israeli city of Shefa'amr did not happen. For one specific demographic, a slice of Jewish Philadelphia, the trip was a success, its leader said. "I think that the tour itself really underscored what the orchestra and the federation wanted to accomplish," Naomi Adler, CEO of the Jewish Federation. "Sometimes tours are just about touristy things that people want to see in between concerts, and this was a concerted joint effort to highlight the various complexities of the Israeli culture as well as to engage in true cultural diplomacy." The term gets thrown around a lot, but, as Adler defines it, cultural diplomacy means using "culture to talk about the tough issues of our time and opening up bonds and tightening bonds between diverse members of society." "Definitely," she said, "the spark was made." On Friday June 15th, Lady B is being honored with a never before seen documentary, filmed during her 30th year anniversary of working in radio. Read more June is Black Music Month and it's nearly impossible to talk about Philly's hip-hop history without mentioning DJ, recording artist, and radio personality Lady B. She is the subject of A Salute to Lady Ba short documentary that examines the 30-plus years of Lady B's influence on hip-hop and Philadelphia at largeat the African American Museum on Friday. Last December, WRNB 100.3 turned Lady B's 3 to 7 p.m. slot over to D.L. Hughley's syndicated radio show. "I was very disappointed with the company that I worked for," Lady B said. "There was no 'thank you' along with [my dismissal]. It was very cold and abrupt. There was no insubordination on my part, whatsoever. I was told by the station that they decided to go in a different direction." >> READ MORE: Lady B's exit from WRNB 100.3 means the loss of one of hip-hop's most important voices | Elizabeth Wellington But Lady B maintains that Philly is the biggest open secret when it comes to the formation of hip-hop. During a time when hip hop was still an obscure novelty, Wendy "Lady B" Clark played an integral role in filtering the then-new sounds of rhythmic vocal patterns over customized beats to Philadelphia radio. Filmed by Mike "Mike D" Dennis in 2011, A Salute to Lady B was meant as a tribute to celebrate Lady B's 30th anniversary on the air. But it never screened after weather conditions cancelled the original premiere seven years ago. The documentary is a glimpse into how Lady B's career helped shape the radio culture of Philly and hip-hop with intimate interviews and appearances from notables like Russell Simmonds, Will Smith, Jill Scott, "Fly Ty" Williams, E-Vette Money, World B. Free, and others. "Hip-hop has come so far," Lady B said. "Philly played a pivotal role in the history of hip-hop and I think that sometimes that's overlooked. I think it's important [for others to know] that New Yorkers weren't the only trendsetters in the genre. There were a lot of firsts to come out of Philly, including me, Will Smith [and DJ Jazzy Jeff], who was the first hip-hop artist to win a Grammy. Schoolly D was the first 'gangster rapper.' One of the most popular graffiti artists ever was, Cornbread and a lot of people think he's from New York, but he's a Philadelphian. If we don't keep telling the stories, our children won't know." >> READ MORE: How Schoolly D invented gangsta rap The emergence of the mainstream hip-hop music that now dominates radio did not come to prominence without hard work. "I went from begging for these songs to be played, that no one knew anything about, to having a weekly show. You could only get your hip-hop on the weekends when I started. Mr. Magic, up in New York, and I were the only jocks from the radio that would play hip-hop music," she said A Salute to Lady B also highlights the philanthropy that served as the underpinning of Lady B's career. For decades, she has been well known for using her radio platform to amplify the voices and struggles of marginalized communities. She said that she understands the power of the microphone and over the years, she's learned how to wield that power for the betterment of her community. "I went from the party girl who had everyone raising their hands in the air like they just don't care, to being very concerned about our children and our seniors. It is what I miss most about being on the radio; being able to get valuable information out to the masses that could change people's lives for the better." Along with A Salute to Lady B, Philadelphia filmmaker Mike D will also be screening a teaser of his documentary Bring the Beat Back, focused on the origins of hip-hop in Philadelphia. "I love Lady B," said Mike D. "You have friendships that go in and out but Lady B is a constant. She's always there for me and for Philadelphia." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editorial cartoonist Rob Rogers at his drawing desk. Rogers has had the last week's worth of cartoons killed by his editor, an unusual occurrence in the world of editorial cartooning. Read more Longtime Pittsburgh Post-Gazette cartoonist Rob Rogers announced on Thursday afternoon that he has been fired by the newspaper, after a number of his recent political cartoons had been killed. "Sad to report this update: Today, after 25 years as the editorial cartoonist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, I was fired," Rogers wrote on Twitter. Rogers, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment, said he went on vacation earlier this month after Keith Burris, the newspaper's editorial director, killed six of his cartoons in a row. Since Burris took over in March, Rogers has seen a total of`19 cartoons and ideas spiked, most involving criticism of President Trump. >>READ MORE: The 10 political cartoons the Post-Gazette didn't want its readers to see Burris and publisher John Robinson Block also did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Burris, who stoked controversy in January by writing a editorial defending Trump's criticism of immigrants from "shole countries," was made the editorial director by Block, who is a Trump supporter. Rogers told the Inquirer and Daily News last week that he had worked under Block for nearly 25 years without any problems until the past few months. Tracey DeAngelo, the Post-Gazette's chief marketing officer, told CNN's Jake Tapper in a statement earlier this month that the situation with Rogers' cartoons "has little to do with politics, ideology or Donald Trump. It has mostly to do with working together and the editing process." DeAngelo could not be immediately reached Thursday. Burris issued a brief statement last week to Pittsburgh CBS affiliate KDKA, in which he called the situation "a personnel matter which we are working hard to fix." He also said: "We have great respect for Rob and understand his importance to the community," While Rogers hasn't drawn any new cartoons for the Post-Gazette since June 5, he did pen a cartoon critical of Trump's summit with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un that was syndicated by Universal Press Syndicate. The very-public dispute between Rogers and his editors drew the attention of many readers, including Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, who was a frequent target of the cartoonist's work. "I get excited about the possibility of drawing another cartoon and afflicting the comfortable and speaking truth to power," Rogers said last week. "That's what I'm hoping they'll let me do. And if not, then I'll have to find another way to do it." Cotneita Hanchard was shot dead in Mantua on March 1, 2007 along with her coworker, Duane Bell. On Friday, June 15, 2018, her accused killer, Theo Berry, xxx. Read more Theo Berry was charged eight and a half years ago with pulling the trigger in the execution-style murder of his stepfather in a Mantua parking lot, then killing a 64-year-old great-grandmother who allegedly could have been a witness against him. Friday, a city jury finally delivered a verdict in his case, ruling that Berry was not guilty and clearing him of a potential life sentence for the first time since 2009. Berry, 32, held his head in his hands as the verdict was announced, and family members behind him sobbed and whispered "thank you." He was expected to be freed from custody as soon as Friday night. Relatives of one of the victims, Cotneita Hanchard, meanwhile, sat in court with tears in their eyes and said afterward that the pain was "unbearable." "It's like my mom died for nothing," said her son, Leroy Gregory, of West Philadelphia. Hanchard and her coworker, Duane Bell, 41 Berry's stepfather were killed in 2007 as Bell gave Hanchard a ride home from the Bellevue, the iconic Center City hotel, office, and retail complex where they worked as office cleaners. Authorities said that Bell was the target, and that Hanchard was killed simply because she was in the car. The slaying received national attention when Gregory returned from his Army post in Afghanistan to bury his mother amid one of the city's most violent stretches in a decade. "Where is the real war?" Gregory said at the time. "Is it here in Philadelphia or over there in Afghanistan?" Hanchard was an immigrant of Jamaica and had five children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. On Feb. 28, 2007, she had prepared Bell a birthday dinner at work, and in gratitude he drove her home after their night shift. Both Bell and Hanchard were shot to death inside his Lincoln Continental around 1 a.m. March 1 on the 3200 block of Mantua Avenue. For two years, questions swirled about the identity of the killer and the reason for the slayings. Berry was arrested in December 2009. He was tried in 2012 and faced a potential death sentence, but the trial ended with a hung jury. For the last six years, Berry has been in jail awaiting another trial, though this time prosecutors did not seek capital punishment. District Attorney Larry Krasner, who was sworn in in January, said on the campaign trail that he would not seek to have any criminals executed. The evidence used in Berry's prosecution was largely circumstantial no eyewitnesses, forensic evidence, or videos. Prosecutors did not present a definitive motive, and relied largely on cellphone records that placed him near the scene in the minutes before and after the shooting. They highlighted that he was the last person to call his stepfather, minutes before the crime something he lied about when speaking to detectives, according to records presented in court this week. During the two-week retrial before Common Pleas Court Judge J. Scott O'Keefe, prosecutors Jude Conroy and Matthew Krouse highlighted the cellphone records, bringing in an expert witness from the FBI to untangle a complicated web of phones tied to Berry, his friend, and another number to which some of Berry's calls had been forwarded. The pattern of activity in the hours surrounding the shooting, they argued, showed that Berry had lured his stepfather to a Mantua parking lot, then ambushed and shot him in the driver's seat, killing Hanchard afterward. They also presented testimony from a former girlfriend, Brandi Evans, who testified that Berry asked her to toss out some of his clothes after the crime was committed, and that he later confided that Bell needed to be out of the way. Berry's attorney, Brian McMonagle, told jurors during his closing argument Thursday that prosecutors hadn't "come within a million miles" of proving that Berry was the killer. McMonagle noted that two guns were used in the shooting, and sought to cast Evans as unreliable, noting she only came forward after being charged with a crime of her own illegally buying a gun. McMonagle repeatedly cast her as "a liar" and told jurors: "You've been sold something that isn't right." The gallery was packed Thursday as McMonagle and Conroy respected veterans of the criminal justice system delivered closing arguments. Each has spent decades trying contentious cases, but said this week that they may no longer litigate many homicides in order to focus on other work. Jurors delivered their verdict after deliberating for a little less than five hours Friday. At least nine people were wounded in overnight shootings in Philadelphia. The incidents, which happened across the city and took place over a span of less than four hours late Thursday and early Friday, included a quadruple shooting and two double shootings. No arrests have been reported in any of the shootings, and none of the victims has died. East Germantown shooting leaves 4 wounded In the quadruple shooting, which happened on the 400 block of East Penn Street in East Germantown at about 10:44 p.m., "a dark colored sedan pulled up and someone from inside the vehicle fired several gunshots" at the victims, according to Philadelphia police. The four victims, who between them suffered gunshot wounds to their waists, shoulders, thighs, and buttocks, were taken to Albert Einstein Medical Center, where they were listed in stable condition Friday morning. Police do not have any information on possible suspects. Double shootings under investigation in Fairhill and Logan Authorities are also investigating a pair of double shootings. The first occurred around 9:34 p.m. Thursday on the 3100 block of North Front Street in Fairhill, police said. Both victims were taken to Temple University Hospital. One victim, a 27-year-old man, suffered gunshot wounds to his calf and back and was in stable condition. A 19-year-old victim was shot in the back and listed in critical but stable condition. No motives or suspects have been determined, but the police said they are looking for three men in the shooting. In a separate incident, two men, ages 22 and 27, were shot at about 10:46 p.m. Thursday on the 4800 block of North Hutchinson Street in Logan. The victims suffered wounds to their legs and thighs. They were both in stable condition at Einstein. Police are searching for two men in that shooting. One of the suspects was believed to be about 5 feet, 8 inches tall with dreadlocks and was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and a mask. Man critically wounded in Frankford shooting The latest shooting was reported just before 1 a.m. Friday on the 4800 block of Griscom Street in Frankford. CBS Philadelphia reported that police arrived to a struggle between the presumed gunman and the victim. The suspect fled on foot when officers arrived, according to CBS. Police said the 24-year-old male victim was shot three times in the back and twice in the shoulder. He was taken to Temple University Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition. The shooting remains under investigation. Juelz Santana was arrested In March after a gun was found in a carry-on bag containing his identification at the Newark Liberty International Airport. Read more Rapper Juelz Santana who has been on house arrest since he was arrested in March on charges he brought a loaded gun to the Newark Liberty International Airport was granted permission by a New Jersey federal judge to join his group when the Dipset tour begins this month. But Santana, whose real name is LaRon James, will have to drive to the concerts, and his mother will have to accompany him, U.S. Magistrate Michael A. Hammer said Friday. The Newark, N.J., magistrate also ruled that James, 36, of Totowa, can only attend the first five concerts before his next court hearing. James also cannot travel with other members of Dipset and must provide the court and law enforcement with his itinerary before he departs, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Newark. Also, James may not carry any weapons or possess illegal drugs, under the magistrate's order. He is also required to continue to wear an electronic ankle bracelet. James was planning to board a plane to fly to San Francisco in March when a Transportation Security Administration agent spotted the gun in his bag during X-ray screening at the airport security gate, authorities said. James fled the scene, leaving the airport by taxi, authorities said. He surrendered three days later and was placed on house arrest. He was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and carrying a weapon on an aircraft. Authorities said he had a .38 caliber Derringer pistol in his suitcase. According to hotnewhiphopnews.com, James recently wrote a letter to the judge to ask if he could tour with his group, the Diplomats, popularly known as Dipset. He said that he needed to join the tour so that he can make money to fend off the foreclosure of his home, according to the website. The first concert in the Dipset tour will be June 21 in Hampton, N.H., with other concerts in Norfolk, Va., Baltimore, Charlotte, and Greensboro, N.C. After his arrest, the Electric Factory in Philadelphia canceled a concert by the Diplomats, "due to unforeseen circumstances." He was also missing from the lineup during the 11th annual Roots Picnic at Festival Pier in Philadelphia on June 2. Authorities said the "There it Go" hitmaker has been prohibited from possessing a firearm since 2013, when he was convicted of manufacturing and distributing a controlled substance. If convicted of the new charges, he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. Dipset recently released a new song "Stronger," from the soundtrack for the upcoming movie Uncle Drew. Kevin Larkin, of Downingtown, right, holds up a picture of his son, Timothy, during the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's 12th Annual Philadelphia Out of the Darkness Community Walk in Philadelphia, PA in 2016. Read more Six weeks before Judy Tripathi was to walk 16 miles for her son, she took a wrong step in a parking lot and broke her foot. It was 2014, and the Tripathis of Bryn Mawr Judy, her husband, Akhil, and children, Sangeeta and Ravi had resolved, after a year of grieving, to join the Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk in honor of their youngest, Sunil, a Brown University student who died by suicide in 2013. The walk takes place in different cities each year, raising awareness and funds for suicide prevention. Even though the event had come to Philadelphia that June, her doctor advised her to rest. But Tripathi walked the whole way, from dusk till dawn, a pink soft cast bracing her fractured right foot. "And it never healed," she said. "My bone never closed." If the event does not provide complete closure for people affected by suicide, it does offer some repair, said Tripathi, who has walked every year since. It's an opportunity to meet other survivors, share stories and grief, or simply walk in silence with people who understand. "It's just being among people, and feeling the enormity of the commitment," Tripathi said. On Saturday, the Overnight Walk returns to Philadelphia. The Tripathi family is expected to walk alongside an estimated 1,700 others, according to Robert Gebbia, CEO of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), which has organized the event since 2005. Another 300 people will volunteer, staffing food and water stations and medical tents, or cheer on walkers as they make their way from the steps of the Art Museum, weave through the city in darkness, and return with the sunrise on Sunday. The arrival on the Art Museum steps at dawn, Gebbia said, symbolizes bringing a stigmatized subject into public awareness. "When they lose a loved one or they've struggled, it's been kept a secret," he said of the walkers. "This is bringing that issue into the light." This will be Joy Lesnick's eighth Overnight Walk. The Fairmount resident marches to honor her little brother, J.J., who died by suicide in 2001, at the age of 14. "It's happy, it's sad, it's tiring, it's elating," she said of the long walk. "It's the process of grief encapsulated in one night." Participants can walk as individuals, or as part of a team. The overnight walks are AFSP's major fund-raiser, so participants must raise a minimum of $1,000 from pledges to take part. Last year, the walks there are two, meant to offer some geographic range raised $1.5 million for the organization. The money goes toward developing education programs, advocating for state and federal policies to prevent suicide, and providing support and guidance for survivors. AFSP is also the nation's largest nongovernmental funder of research into the causes of suicide and suicide prevention. Since 1987, it has allocated $44 million in grants for people and organizations researching mental health issues and possible treatments. Throughout the year, local AFSP chapters also host "community walks" shorter, daytime affairs with no requirements to raise funds. Last year, there were 411 such events across the country. The Greater Philadelphia chapter holds its annual community walk on the first Sunday in October. While many of the walkers will come from the Philadelphia region or along the East Coast, some are crossing vast distances to participate. People are registered from San Jose, Phoenix, and Miami, from Woodinville, Wash., and Simpsonville, S.C. Karen Zaukar flew in from Anchorage, Alaska, earlier this week. She'll walk in honor of her best friend, David, who died in 2010, at 19. She also wants to support other survivors as they struggle with the pain of loss. "I didn't know how to cope with it," she said, of her friend's death. "I didn't feel like I could talk about it. So I just fumbled around, and went into a deep place." Getting involved in suicide-prevention efforts, including the walk, Zaukar said, saved her. "That's when I realized I could turn that darkness into light for somebody else," she said. "I learned how to accept it, to become a voice for that friend who's no longer here." The evening will begin with a brief ceremony on the Art Museum steps. Many walkers will wear colored beads to represent their stories white beads for those who lost a child, orange for a sibling, silver for a member of the military, and green for those who themselves have struggled with depression or suicidal thoughts. Lesnick said her years of participation have allowed her circle of friends who support her by donating, walking alongside her, or cheering from the sidelines to have the conversations about suicide that often occur only after a tragedy. One friend brings her young daughter to hand out Popsicles to the walkers. That girl, now an eighth grader, recently told her teacher about a classmate who was making worrisome remarks. "She knew how to do that because we have this conversation every year when they come out to support the walk," Lesnick said. The recent high-profile deaths of Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade may also call attention to the warning signs of suicide and to the fact that depression is a treatable illness, Gebbia said. Bourdain's death hit Noelle Gesualdo, of Upper Darby, especially hard: It took place on the eight-year anniversary of losing her father, Len, to suicide. "It knocked the wind out of me," she said. "I thought of my father, someone who from the outside looks like they have everything, and on the inside, nobody knew what was going on." But Gesualdo also feels heartened by the amount of conversation these celebrities spurred. "I feel like the stigma is being broken down when things like this happen on a high-profile level, where everybody is forced to pay attention to it and it's in the news," she said. This year's walk will be her fourth. Every time she takes part, she said, she is reminded just how many people are affected by suicide, "and we have no idea until we have events like this that bring people together." Nationwide, suicide is the tenth-leading cause of death. A recent CDC study found that the rate of suicide increased 28 percent between 1999 and 2016. Before participants begin walking, they will decorate white paper bags with images or memories of their loved ones. By the time they finish walking, volunteers will have placed a candle within each one and lined them up and down the museum steps, gently illuminating the finish line. For Judy Tripathi, the last few miles of the journey are always the most arduous. Last year, she told her son, Ravi, that she wished the walk was just a bit shorter. She could do without the last two or three miles, she said. "Mom, that's part of it," he told her. "It's the struggle." If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. Nora Nissenbaum at her home in Wayne, Pa. Nissenbaum was a student at Tredyffrin-Easttown Middle School when a relationship with a male classmate soured and he began texting Nora, who is Jewish, anti-Semitic memes and slurs. Read more Nora Nissenbaum thought the boy in her sixth-grade class was cute, so they casually texted for about a month. But she didn't like it when the boy insulted her friends at a school dance and told him so. The relationship soured. The boy sent anti-Semitic memes and text messages. A caption for one meme reads, "Orange Jews: 100% Concentrated," under an orange-tinted photo of concentration camp prisoners standing behind barbed wire. As he faced discipline for those messages, he allegedly made a verbal threat to go after Nora and other classmates in a school shooting. The boy, whose lawyer did not return calls for comment, now faces harassment and terroristic threat charges in Juvenile Court. And 12-year-old Nora has left Tredyffrin/Easttown Middle School. All the while, parents say, school officials kept the trouble quiet and didn't alert families in the district to a threat that many consider a public safety issue that should have been dealt with swiftly and transparently. And in the absence of a statement from the district, parents found out about what happened through the rumor mill. With news of mass school shootings regularly catapulting into headlines, many parents in the Chester County district, consistently ranked as one of Pennsylvania's best, are upset. And the Nissenbaums are criticizing the district as being too secretive with the community about the bullying and threats, as downplaying an issue they and many other parents find serious. "Kids can't help but be somewhat aware of what's happening in the news week after week," Sandy Nissenbaum, Nora's mother, said. "So it was traumatic to have it kind of touch her own life." The Nissenbaums pulled Nora out of school in mid-May in favor of lessons taught at home by a tutor. The school year ends this week. This summer, Joel Frank, the lawyer the Nissenbaum family hired, will seek a permanent protection-from-abuse order for Nora, which would order the boy to have no contact with her. The order would be an upgrade from the temporary court order the Nissenbaums received in March. "Before all this, Nora was a confident, happy, silly, fun, loving 12-year-old with a lot of friends," said Sandy Nissenbaum, who reported the texts to the school district and the police in March. "So the impact on her has been really very upsetting and scary, seeing her from going that way to someone who has panic attacks and deep sadness." The Nissenbaums have now stepped into the role of activists whose goal is to prod the 6,900-student Tredyffrin/Easttown School District into creating stricter rules for disciplining a child when there are serious allegations, such as threatening to carry out a school shooting. By not publicly discussing the incident with the entire district immediately after it happened, Nissenbaum said, the school district missed the opportunity to stress to students how bullying can affect peers. The district also didn't lead a potential conversation on improving mental health treatment for bullies or bully victims, she said. In 2016-17, the most recent Student Assistance Program data available, bullying was the primary cause of 443 referrals by school officials in Pennsylvania, according to state education data. A broader category labeled "Behavioral Concern" was the primary cause for 23,439 referrals. The data do not specify what justifies a referral for "Behavioral Concern." "We've been thrown a lot of curve balls in parenting," said Nissenbaum, of Wayne, "but this is absolutely surreal." Nissenbaum said that when school officials learned of the incident, they changed class schedules for Nora and the boy so they would see each other less, and later held a few public meetings about school safety. But, she said, Tredyffrin/Easttown administrators shouldn't balk from publicly talking about acts of violence or hate from students while still respecting the privacy of the minors who are involved. In this case, "even if the school chose to not send out notice of the allegations to all parents, this could still serve as a 'teachable moment,'" said Sara Jacobson, an associate professor and the director of Trial Advocacy Programs at Temple University's Beasley School of Law. "The school could hold public education seminars for the students on bullying, tolerance, and why threats must be taken seriously and aren't a laughing matter," Jacobson said. The school district did not return repeated calls for comment. An employee in the superintendent's office who picked up the phone said the district's only statement would come from its website. Two statements posted on the site in May do not refer to any specific incident, but say the school often requires a risk assessment by a psychologist or psychiatrist to determine if a student is harmful to themselves or others. "Appropriate supports" are always offered to students involved, one statement says, and district officials will also implement "additional focus groups," and consult with experts from the state, local, or national levels for information about safety protocol. The choice to alert members of the school community to an incident involving a student is made on a "case-by-case basis," Michael Kristofco, who provides legal advice for the district, said in a statement. "In some cases, there is so little information that can be publicly shared, any statement made by the district would end up being vague and unhelpful to the point where it would only exacerbate parental concerns." Tosin Omolewu, who has children in the district, disagrees with how the district handled the incident. "So much is shrouded in secrecy that you wonder if they're doing it to protect themselves as opposed to protecting the kids," said Omolewu, who started an online petition on change.org directed at Tredyffrin/Easttown Superintendent Richard Gusick. She titled the petition: "Let's change Tredyffrin/Easttown response protocol to reported threats." Katrina Hayday, another parent in the district, said school administrators erred by allowing the boy to return to school. "A student who makes threats as clearly as this child has should under no circumstances be able to return to school," Hayday wrote in a text message for this article. "I don't care if he was give a 'clear' assessment. He made statements related to religion and that to me constitutes a hate crime." Jacobson, of Temple University's law school, said the response to the situation was reasonable. "The school disciplined the student, changed the offending student's class schedule and locker location. They even reported the incident to the police," Jacobson said. "I don't know whether they implemented their risk-assessment protocol, but presumably they did. Would wider immediate publicity have made Nora or her parents feel safer? Short of immediately, permanently, removing the other student from the school, I'm not sure what would have made them feel completely safe." Despite pulling her daughter out of school, Nissenbaum said, she is pleased with the quality of teachers and curriculum in the district. She hopes Nora can return to school in the fall. "I feel like they are good people bound by bad policy," Nissenbaum said of district administrators. "And the policy needs to be updated and addressed for the world we're living in now." In Drexel Hill, officials and residents are fiercely debating a proposal to turn the Drexeline Shopping Center, a Delaware County institution, into a town center. An overall of the complex on June 7, 2018. Read more When Peggy Wilson first heard talk of a Drexeline Town Center, she was hopeful. Then came the details. The center is set to include an expanded ShopRite, an apartment building, a new Wawa, a medical complex, and a large building of self-storage units. "Maybe don't call it a town center and get our hopes up," Wilson, 65, said with a laugh. Wilson is one of many Drexel Hill residents who have taken to packed zoning meetings and Facebook forums to voice their concerns about the Drexeline Town Center, a $100 million project that would replace the dated Drexeline Shopping Center on 17 acres near busy Route 1 and State Road. One of their gripes: The center won't look like the Shops at Ellis Preserve, which opened in 2016 in Newtown Square. Or the King of Prussia Town Center, which has become a bustling destination near the mall. Or Collegeville's Providence Town Center, which next year will celebrate its 10-year anniversary. Those are the real town centers, they say, and this Delaware County neighborhood deserves this type of restaurant- and shop-filled center. "It would be nice if it made you drive by and say, 'Wow that's something special,' " said Don Fields, 47, a Drexel Hill resident who has run for Upper Darby Township Council in the past and been outspoken about the proposal. "When you go by Ellis Preserve, you want to drive in. A lot of people feel like this development isn't aiming high enough." "There are different types of town centers," said Upper Darby Mayor Tom Micozzie, noting they did not want to close ShopRite or the Anthony's Ristorante and Banquet Center on the property. "We didn't have an alternative." Over the last decade, faux main streets have exploded across the region particularly in suburbs that don't have the authentic-seeming downtown strips of West Chester, Media, and Phoenixville. Nationally, however, this trend isn't new. "It's been around for, oh, 9,000 years,"said Christopher B. Leinberger, a developer who grew up in Drexel Hill and is now chairman of the Center for Real Estate and Urban Analysis at George Washington University. "This is the way we were building cities until around the 1950's." In the late 20th century, there was "pent-up demand" for driveable suburban development, Leinberger said, but then the pendulum swung back. More and more 21st-century suburbanites want walkable urban communities where they can live, work, and play without leaving their local social circle. "Philadelphia is behind the trend on this," Leinberger said. "This is what the market is demanding." "The old retail model of just an old suburban shopping center that doesn't work anymore," said developer P. David Bramble, of MCB Real Estate LLC, which bought the Drexeline site in 2016. "These need to be places where people can have experiences." As for opposition to the Drexeline proposal, Bramble and Micozzie said developers met with local officials early on to discuss what would best serve residents. Medical centers are especially important for the area's aging residents, Micozzie said, and the apartments would attract millennials, who would be a brief trolley ride into the city. Bramble called Drexeline "damaged," "tired," and "outdated." It was clear residents wanted something new. The developers' challenge, he said, then became "delivering something people intend to use." Seven miles away, another Delaware County town has done just that. Newtown Square boasts Ellis Preserve, a 218-acre center with apartments, corporate offices, a gym, a hotel, and a retail area. Near the intersection of Route 252 and West Chester Pike, people can walk from Mod Pizza to Chipotle Mexican Grill to the brunch spot First Watch to the more upscale Firepoint Grille, and stop at shops along the way. "The community of Newtown takes full advantage," said Steve Spaeder of Equus Capital Partners, which developed the Preserve. "We've delivered something here the community really enjoys." But Bramble said the frameworks of other centers would not necessarily have worked at the Drexeline site, which sits on Darby Creek and is not entirely flat. "What works in King of Prussia won't work in Upper Darby," Bramble said. "Site constraints are everything." Upper Darby Township Democratic councilwoman Barbarann Keffer said she believes more could have been done despite those constraints. "I don't know of any town centers that have storage units," Keffer said "That doesn't draw people here. There would never be a storage facility in Radnor or Newtown Square." "Do I like the six-story office building [with the storage units]? No," Micozzie said. "But there's nothing else that could've gone there" on a slope near Darby Creek. Wilson frequents the Drexeline shopping center to visit her eye doctor, pick up odds and ends at the Ace Hardware, and buy groceries at ShopRite. When she pushes her cart through the cramped aisles, she thinks about how the complex needs sprucing up. "It's pretty run-down looking at this point," Wilson said. "I don't think we're resistant to the idea of it being upgraded." One recent afternoon, the ShopRite parking lot was packed. But the adjacent strip of storefronts a part of the complex once home to shoe, uniform, and electronics shops was desolate. Even signage for the shopping center was fading. Pat Burns, the owner of the Drexeline ShopRite, said his store, which has existed under various names since 1980, is struggling to keep up with competition. If the proposal is approved, ShopRite would expand to become a 75,000-square-foot "interactive" store with a new pharmacy, a family restaurant, a full-time nutritionist on site, and space for cooking classes, he said. "It's great for us," Burns said. "It's great for the community." Roberta Snow, 63, who lives less than a mile from the center, agrees. "The idea that someone has proposed something that would deal with the whole parcel is a good idea," Snow said. "It's not getting any younger." The zoning board is expected to rule on the center's application later this month. Bramble said he hopes to begin construction within a year. Planned Parenthood is planning to spend $1.5 million to help reelect Gov. Wolf. Here, the Democratic governor is seen visiting a Planned Parenthood facility in Philadelphia last year. Read more Planned Parenthood is planning to spend $1.5 million to reelect Gov. Wolf in November, calling him a bulwark against GOP-led attempts in Harrisburg to restrict abortion rights. The health-care provider and abortion rights advocacy group says this is its biggest investment ever in a Pennsylvania midterm election. "Tom Wolf's reelection will decide whether or not our patients have access to health care," Sari Stevens, executive director of Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania's political arm, said in an interview Thursday. "He's the last line of defense." Wolf, a Democrat seeking a second four-year term, is running against Republican Scott Wagner, the owner of a waste-hauling business. Wagner resigned from the state Senate earlier this month after winning the May primary to focus on the governor's race. Stevens said Planned Parenthood would focus its efforts in Philadelphia's collar counties, seeking to tap enthusiasm among voters, especially women, opposed to President Trump. The group says its polling shows most voters in the Philadelphia suburbs have a favorable opinion of Planned Parenthood. That "told us we had an incredibly unique role to play," Stevens said. Reelecting Wolf is the organization's top priority, Stevens said, but it is also likely to commit resources to competitive legislative races. "It's no surprise that Tom Wolf is setting records for donations taken from special interests," said Andrew Romeo, spokesman for Wagner. "He is bought and paid for by those filling up his campaign coffers." Wagner would ensure "lower health-care costs for Pennsylvanians," Romeo said. Planned Parenthood's $1.5 million in independent spending will cover door knocking, phone banks, texting, and digital advertisements, Stevens said. She said the group's previous spending record for a midterm race in Pennsylvania came in 2014, when it invested $1 million to help Wolf defeat Republican Gov. Tom Corbett. The group says women's health care has been under siege from lawmakers in Harrisburg. The Republican-controlled legislature moved closer this week to passing legislation that would ban abortion based solely on a diagnosis of Down syndrome. The House passed the legislation in April, and it advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Wagner is a cosponsor of the legislation. Wolf has said he opposes it. "We believe in the right of everybody everybody to make their own choices over their own health care for their own bodies," Wolf said at an event with Planned Parenthood last year. In December, Wolf vetoed Senate Bill 3, which would have outlawed abortion at the 20-week mark of pregnancy, four weeks earlier than under current law. The bill provided some exceptions for emergencies like protecting the life of the mother, but not for cases involving rape or incest. Planned Parenthood also credits Wolf for expanding Medicaid and access to contraception, among other issues. Wagner who has mostly focused on pocketbook issues like pledging to eliminate school property taxes wasn't social conservatives' top pick in the GOP primary. But he voted in favor of the 20-week abortion ban and has said he would support legislation that would prohibit abortion if a doctor detects a fetal heartbeat typically about six weeks into a pregnancy. Wolf had $15 million in his campaign account as of June 4, according to campaign-finance records made public Thursday. Wagner had $1.6 million following an expensive primary. He has lent his campaign $6.1 million. Wolf is leading Wagner 48 percent to 29 percent among registered voters, according to a Franklin & Marshall poll released this week. However, 23 percent were undecided, and the Wagner campaign said the survey's sample overrepresented Democratic voters. In this Tuesday, June 12, 2018, file photo, North Korea leader Kim Jong Un, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump shake hands during their first meeting at the Capella resort on Sentosa Island in Singapore. Read more "We have developed a very special bond," President Trump said of Kim Jong Un at the end of the Singapore summit. The effusive compliments Trump showered on Kim were endless: "He's got a great personality. He's a funny guy, a tough guy, he's very smart, he's a great negotiator. He loves his people. "He trusts me and I trust him." And thus was born the latest Trump bromance with a foreign strongman he wooed at a summit. First there was Xi Jinping, now Kim, next, probably Vladimir Putin. In Singapore, summitry made sense if it was meant to halt the rhetorical war between Trump and Kim and to advance the dismantling of North Korea's nuclear program. But the nauseating flattery Trump lavished on this mass murderer did little to promote those interests. Instead, it displayed how Trump's eager embrace of dictators plays into their hands. >> READ MORE: At the Singapore summit, President Trump got played | Trudy Rubin "A personal relationship can lead to progress in formal negotiations, but it is a means to an end, not an end in itself," says the Heritage Foundation's Bruce Klingner, a former senior intelligence analyst on Korea. Yet Trump's fervent embrace of Kim became the leitmotif of the summit; the president seemed convinced it would persuade the despot to "denuclearize." How else to explain Trump's repeated efforts to slough off one of the worst human-rights records on the planet. Kim's father starved to death over a million people, while Kim executes opponents and maintains gulags containing 120,000 political prisoners. When asked by Fox News about Kim's human-rights record, Trump answered dismissively: "A lot of people [elsewhere] have done bad things." Asked if he had a message for the North Korean people, Trump told Voice of America: "I think you have somebody that has a great feeling for them. He wants to do right by them and we got along really well. We had a great chemistry." Note how the president segued from whitewashing Kim to bragging about his own personal chemistry. No wonder Trump makes the astonishing claim that he trusts Kim. Yet the paltry results of the Singapore summit prove such trust is foolish. "Yes, it was historic to have the two of them in a room," says Klingner. "But this by itself didn't achieve anything." The summit was supposed, at the barest minimum, to produce a joint statement that committed North Korea to get rid of its nukes and long-range missiles and to accept verification. Without this, there is no agreed basis for future negotiations. >> READ MORE: Trump is suffering from a bad case of autocrat envy | Trudy Rubin Instead, the statement used old, boilerplate language "commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula" a phrase that is interpreted entirely differently by Pyongyang and Washington. This means the two sides don't even have an agreed basis on which to begin talks. The North Koreans insist the United States must withdraw its troops and nuclear protection from South Korea and Japan before Pyongyang begins to divest its weapons. As for "complete" denuclearization, says Klingner: "They mean they will go down to zero as part of a global arms control regime when the U.S. goes down to zero." It gets worse. Kim finagled Trump into accepting a concept that Pyongyang and Beijing have long demanded but U.S. officials firmly rejected only a few months ago. Known as "freeze for freeze," it requires the U.S. to halt joint military exercises with South Korea in exchange for Pyongyang's freezing missile and nuclear tests. This reduces Seoul's defensive capacity without reducing North Korea's arsenal, and without requiring the North to stop its own massive military exercises. Trump announced in Singapore that he'd freeze the joint exercises, but Kim has made only an informal offer to freeze the tests. South Korea's leading newspaper, Chosun Ilbo, editorialized, "Kim got everything he wanted." "In Singapore we accepted our half of a bad deal with no codification of the North Korean freeze in exchange," says Klingner, who has watched North Korea renege on several previous deals. "You have to have it on paper, otherwise they will say they are not bound." >> READ MORE: Xi whiz! Trump is a beacon of hope to world's emerging dictators | Will Bunch We'll see where U.S.-North Korean talks go. But Trump's conviction that he can rely on personal chemistry and Kim's good intentions is foolish. Despite the presidential tweet that "There is no longer a Nuclear threat from North Korea," Kim still retains his arsenal. " 'Intentions' are an intangible," says Klingner. "North Korea is an unchanged threat." That reality isn't likely to dissuade Trump from believing that summitry with despots will reap huge rewards. He wined and dined Xi Jinping at Mar-a-Lago in hopes that Xi would solve the North Korea conundrum and reduce the trade deficit. No results yet. The trade gap with China remains unresolved, while Trump has made big trade concessions to Beijing in the vain hope that the Chinese would deliver North Korea. After tightening sanctions on Pyongyang, China has already announced they will loosen them following the Singapore summit. Kim and Xi can only rejoice that the great American deal-maker is willing to give them so much for free. >> READ MORE: Trump pummels G-7 democratic allies but loves Russia, China | Trudy Rubin Clearly, Putin has paid notice to Trump's delusions. The Kremlin has made clear its eagerness to accept Trump's offer of a summit. It's easy to imagine what concessions Trump could make to Putin without even noticing. The only leaders Trump appears unwilling to flatter are our longtime democratic allies notably Canada, France, Germany, and Britain whom he treated so shabbily at the G-7 summit in Quebec earlier this month. Who needs allies when Trump is so certain he can win over adversaries by bonding with strongmen? Any progress with North Korea will require a big dose of realism and a determination to "distrust but verify." Unlikely, so long as Trump keeps fooling himself and his base. Food safety specialists from the Ukraine gained a valuable insight into the work of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) during a visit to its headquarters in Warwickshire this week. A group of government officials arrived at Stoneleigh Park on Tuesday as part of a five-day fact-finding mission to learn about meat hygiene controls and food traceability in the UK. Organised by the International Finance Corporation, the visit also included meetings with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the National Farmers Union (NFU), the Animal Plant and Health Agency (APHA) and Red Tractor. During their visit to the AHDB offices, the delegation heard from senior veterinary manager Mandy Nevel about AHDBs ongoing work in the red meat sector, which included an update on the UK pig sectors antibiotic usage. The delegates were presented with the latest figures which show the pig industry reduced antibiotic usage in the UK by 28 per cent in 2017, bringing the total reduction in two years to more than 50 per cent. And they were introduced to the electronic medicine book (eMB) which was developed by AHDB Pork and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, allowing producers to record and monitor their on-farm usage. The visit from the delegation of food safety specialists gave us an opportunity to highlight the important work being done by AHDB to reduce the use of antibiotics in the pig industry as part of the UKs One Health approach to tackle the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, said Ms Nevel. Discussion was also had around other emerging diseases, including the spread of African Swine Fever. AHDB International market development director Dr Phil Hadley added: The opportunity to exchange with overseas Government bodies on food safety and animal health gives us the opportunity to showcase the UK position as a world leader in the field, highlighting our standards and growing the reputation of UK products. Get Our E-Newsletter - Pig World's best stories in your in-box twice a week See e-newsletter example Will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy The Matlacha Island Chamber of Commerce is pleased to host a community chat with Congressman Francis Rooney this coming Monday, June 18. Congressman Rooney is making this special trip to Matlacha and Pine Islands to discuss a host of issues, including water quality, offshore drilling, whats happening in Washington, D.C., and more. Rooney knows how precious the islands are to residents and he is devoted in making a positive impact for our future environments and island life. Islanders are welcome to bring questions and topics for discussion. All are welcomed for a civil conversation about the issues that matter for Matlacha and Pine Island. You can meet up with Congressman Rooney Monday at 11 a.m., in the Lovegrove Gallery (by the Post Office), at 4547 Pine Island Road, NW, Unit B, Matlacha. RSVP appreciated 239-822-4109 (text Yes) or email Bonnie Mullee at info@pineislandfl.com Condor Airlines will be flying from Malaysia to Frankfurt in 2018 There is a new airline coming to Malaysia. Condor Flugdienst GmbH or Condor , the second-largest commercial airlines based on fleet size and passengers flown in Germany will be launching its direct non-stop flight from Frankfurt to Kuala Lumpur by October 2018. It is a great option for those who plans to fly direct from Malaysia to Germany and also other part of Europe. The airline is founded in 1955 and they are based in Frankfurt Germany. They branded themselves as a German leisure airline and it operates to leisure destinations in the Mediterranean, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and the Caribbean. Condor is also Germanys second largest commercial airline based on fleet size and passengers flown. Surprisingly, Kuala Lumpur will be Condors first Asian gateway and the airline will fly 3 direct flights weekly from Kuala Lumpur to Frankfurt. Days Destination Flight Code Schedule Tues, Fri, Sunday KUL to Frankfurt DE2359 2305 0620 +1 Mon, Thur, Sat Frankfurt to KUL DE2358 1115 0635 + 1 Condor will be flying with Boeing 767 and offering choices of Business, Premium Economy & Economy class for Malaysian travellers. With this new route, Condor will bring more travellers, tourists and opportunities for both countries. This is good news for both countries in the aspect of business and leisure. Condor is coming to Malaysia and we hope to hear from them soon in terms of flight prices. On another note, AVIAREPS, the global leader and expert in developing and shaping international tourism and aviation demand and spend, with 66 offices in 48 countries around the world, has been appointed, by Condor, part of Thomas Cook Group and the renowned German leisure carrier offering over 80 destinations across Europe, America, Africa and Asia as the General Sales Agent (GSA) in Malaysia. The announcement, which came into effect on June 1st, 2018, sees AVIAREPS responsible for the airlines sales promotions and marketing activities in the Malaysia market. Says Kelvin Ong, Director Southeast Asia, AVIAREPS: We are honored to be representing Condor in Malaysia, offering the only direct non-stop service between Malaysia & Germany where Condor offers a comfortable option of 3 class cabin from Business to Premium Economy and Economy to suit all types of travelers travelling to its hub in Frankfurt with good-value-for-money deals. Our appointment is a perfect reflection of AVIAREPS specialized offering of localized expertise and networks, supported by international best practice, to expand the international market share and sales of our partners. Wilson Ng A Father and traveler who enjoys to eat, shop, travel and taking pictures with Samsung S21 Ultra. Im a full time blogger, youtuber and father for two. I travel around 17 International trips per year. Remember to follow us at www.instagram.com/placesandfoods and www.youtube.com/placesandfoods. For ads or features, contact me at [email protected] See author's posts In a surprising display of timeliness, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have both now released their funding bills for NASA in fiscal year 2019. The two bills are broadly consistent in their repudiation of cuts and reorganizations of major NASA programs, support for the Administration's lunar ambitions, and generous top lines for NASA's budget. However, there are significant differences, and those differences will be the point of negotiations that will now begin between the two committees. It is very likely that there will be no votes on a final bill until November or December, after the election. Below is a table comparing proposed funding levels of some programs and directorates between last year's final budget, the President's Budget Request, and the House and Senate bills. Why composition matters Why do we care which cations are present in a pyroxene crystal? Pyroxenes of different compositions crystallize under specific chemical and environmental conditions. The compositions of pyroxene crystals in a rock act as historical temperature records. Geologists use them to interpret the evolution of the magma, from liquid to cooled rock. Helpfully, pyroxene minerals are some of the most abundant minerals in the solar system. They are plentiful in meteorites and other igneous rocks. Their name is derived from the Greek pyro (fire) and xenos (stranger) because these minerals, which form early as a lava cools from liquid to solid, can often be the only visible crystals in an otherwise fine-grained rock. (e.g., Wells, 1977; Taylor, 1998; Lindsley, 1983; Abell et al., 2007; Klima et al., 2008). Here's an example of how a geologist might use a pyroxene mineral composition to read the history of a rock. Typical igneous rocks commonly contain two different pyroxenes: a high-calcium pyroxene and a low-calcium pyroxene. Generally, the amount of calcium in a high-calcium pyroxene decreases with increasing temperature, while the amount of calcium in low-calcium pyroxenes tends to increase with increasing temperature. Geologists are really sleuths trying to interpret the story the rock is telling them, and using this two-pyroxene thermometer is one tool they use to, for example, figure out the eruption temperature of a lava. How cool (hot) is that? These parameters (as one example) can tell a scientist a lot about rocks that form on other solar system bodies and meteorites, too, and can sometimes tell which parent body a meteorite came from! In my work, we've performed laboratory spectroscopy studies of pyroxenes of a wide variety of known compositions (marked by orange dots and blue squares on the quadrilateral). The paper we are writing will provide the spectroscopy community with a reference for translating spectra taken by orbiting or roving spacecraft into pyroxene compositions. That will help scientists who use spectroscopy to tell the geologic history of a space rock without ever touching it. I hope you now understand the pyroxene quadrilateral and what it tells one about mineral composition, which in turn, tells scientists about the geology on the Solar System body being studied. You earned an A+ for reaching the end of this blog and you also gained a new understanding about day-to-day planetary science conducted without photographic images of those far-away worlds. This article concerns Lane, M. D., R. L. Klima, T. D. Glotch, and M. D. Dyar (in preparation, 2018) Mid-infrared spectroscopy of synthetic Ca-Mg-Fe pyroxenes using thermal emission and diffuse reflectance techniques, to be submitted to Meteoritics and Planetary Science. Qeqiao used a lunar swing-by transfer orbit with an apogee of about 400,000 kilometers from Earth. This transfer orbit usually needs 2 or 3 trajectory correction maneuvers (TCMs) and takes about 4 or 5 days to arrive at the Moon. On May 22, Queqiao made its first TCM, and that turned out to be the only one necessary. On May 25, Queqiao performed another burn when it flew past the Moon at a distance of just 100 kilometers. This successfully put it on a Moon-L2 transfer orbit. Stage 2: from the vicinity of the Moon to the vicinity of the Earth-Moon L2 point Queqiao entered at the vicinity of the Earth-Moon L2 point four days later. It still needed to adjust its orbit many times to enter the L2 halo orbit required for its mission. Stage 3: from the vicinity of the EM-L2 point to the mission halo orbit On June 14, Queqiao finished its final adjustment burn and successfully entered the L2 halo mission orbit, which is about 65,000 kilometers from the Moon. This is the first-ever lunar relay satellite at this location. KAMPALA Church of Uganda Archbishop Stanley Ntagali on Thursday received the completed 16-floor Church House from the contractors, Cementers. Named Janani Luwum Church House by the 23rd Provincial Assembly held on August 25, 2016, the commercial office building located on Plot 34 on Kampala Road, directly opposite the Bank of Uganda, is in honour of the former Archbishop who embraced the concept during his three year tenure as Archbishop in the 1970s. In 1965 when the concept was conceived, the original location was meant to be on Shimoni Road, but the Bank of Uganda proposed to take over this site, exchanging it for Plot 34 Kampala Road in 1972. Receiving the building on Thursday, Archbishop Ntagali said: He who began this good work is the One who has brought it to completion, citing the Bible verse from Philippians 1:6. Fundraising for Church House went to the grassroots of the church, including every primary and secondary school student making contributions. Commenting on the completion of the project, Ms Patience Ahimbisibwe Asiimwe, a journalist, posted on her facebook page saying: The story to have this Church House completed goes back to the 70s when churches would be asked to contribute. At least that is how far my Mothers memory could recall as she told us our Christian history growing up. I remember schools I attended and churches where we prayed from would ask us that we report with something towards the construction of Church of Uganda, now re-baptised Janani Luwum House. Bravo to all who have stood with these Christians to have this a reality. It doesnt matter how long the waiting as long as we all keep focused! In 2010, the Trustees of the Church of Uganda entered into a loan agreement with Equity Bank to fund the almost $17 million construction cost. The Church of Uganda agreed to raise 30% of the construction cost, and Equity Bank financed the balance through a $10 million loan and a Shs5 billion loan. The loan had a two-year grace period during which time the Church of Uganda paid only the interest on the loan. Construction began in December 2010 with an estimated timeline for completion by December 2012. There were construction delays, as well as an 18-month conflict among service providers that stalled construction progress. The conflict was resolved in July 2014. After the Church of Uganda Provincial Secretariat conducted a prayer walk through the building, construction resumed, albeit with further delays for unforeseen reasons. Janani Luwum Church House will be officially launched on August 24, during the 24th Provincial Assembly meeting of the Church of Uganda. According toa statement issued by the Church of Uganda on their social media platforms, Equity Bank will move their head office operations to the first four floors and will be the anchor tenant in the building. Space is still available for lease and is being managed through Bageine & Company Limited, the Letting Agent. Archbishop Stanley thanked Equity Bank, President Yoweri Museveni, Cementers, all of his predecessor Archbishops who carried the Church House baton, all the various Board members of the Church House Company and their CEOs over the years, Watoto Church, all Bishops, Dioceses, and Christians who contributed, with special appreciation given to Canon Joram Kahenano, the CEO of the Church Commissioners Holding Company Limited, who oversaw the final phase of construction. Related KAMPALA President Yoweri Museveni Thursday ordered Police and the Judiciary to expel police bonds and bail requests for murder suspects saying the directive will curb criminality. The President while addressing Members of Parliament during the 2018/19 budget reading at Serena Conference Center, Kampala, indicated he had communicated the directive to the Inspector General of Police John Martins Okoth-Ochola and Chief Justice Bart Katurebe. There two things I will not accept anymore Police bond and bail for killers, he said. I dont want to hear of a police bond, if you are suspected of killing innocent people, theres no bond for you, no way! Then the issue of bail. Please, chief Justice, bail for suspected killers is not acceptable, Museveni said. Mr Museveni said he is confident that murderers whom he referred to as pigs including those who killed former Arua Municipality legislator Col Abiriga will be brought to book. He further said the state of insecurity was not as complicated as it is but we lost time. The President on Monday this week during the send off of Col Ibrahim Abiriga in Arua district also banned wearing of hoods for Boda Boda riders saying the loopholes in the industry are responsible for the unnecessary silly murders that marred the country in recent. He said the government will ban hooded jackets and others outfits so that it makes easier to see peoples faces when a search mounted. Why do we allow people putting on hoods, we are going to burn the covering of heads even when driving on a bike, Museveni said adding another directive regarding helmets for cyclists. The helmets we shall require new helmets with numbers and they must shine at night, the president asserted. Opposition Members of Parliament walked out of the budget reading after presidents statement that linked them to the murder of Col Ibarhim Abiriga. The leader of opposition Hon Winnie Kizza said they cannot go where they are perceived killers adding that presidents statements are diversionary. On Wednesday, the Uganda Episcopal Conference, the Assembly of the catholic bishops in the country asked decried the current increase in, organised crimes and rampant murders in the country, asked the government and all the security agencies to scale up their efforts to protect the life and property of Ugandans. Related Sergeant Kenneth Toler (Photo: Eustice PD) A man was shot and killed and a police officer was wounded during a gunfight in an AutoZone in Eustis, Florida on Wednesday afternoon, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Sergeant Kenneth Toler was responding to a report of a suicidal man identified as Dillan Ezell armed with a gun. Eustis police spokesman Jim Franquiz said that Ezell exited the store, crossed himself, ignored the officer's instructions to drop his weapon, and exchanged gunfire with the officer. Ezell was pronounced dead at a nearby a hospital, while Sergeant Toler was described as being in good condition after being struck by a ricocheting bullet in his leg. Eustis Police would like to thank everyone for their well wishes and prayers for Patrol Sergeant Kenneth Toler, said in a Facebook post. Sergeant Toler was struck in the leg today by gunfire after officers confronted a man with a gun inside the Auto Zone on Bay Street. We wish him a speedy recovery. Deputy Patrick Rohrer of the Wyandotte (KS) Sheriff's Office was killed in an apparent gun grab attack while transporting a suspect. A second deputy was critically wounded. (Photo: Wyandotte County SO) A Wyandotte County (KN) sheriffs deputy died Friday after a shooting that happened while a suspect was being moved from court back to the jail. Officials say Deputy Patrick Rohrer died of his injuries from the shooting. Rohrer was 35 years old and had served 7 years with the Wyandotte County Sheriffs Office. The other deputy is in critical condition, but officials have not released that deputys name yet. The suspect was also struck in the shooting. FOX4 reported earlier on Friday that two Wyandotte County Sheriffs deputies were shot at about 11:30 a.m. in downtown Kansas City, KS, not far from the courthouse and sheriffs office. This happened in a transport bay; sources say the inmate got a hold of a deputys firearm. Embed from Getty Images Apple maker of the iPhone will change certain security settings and operating system code to once again block law enforcement from gaining access to information on seized phones. Apple infamously got into a confrontation with the FBI when the company refused to help federal investigators gain access to data stored on the phone of one of the attackers who killed 14 people and injured 22 others in a December 2015 terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California. Building a version of iOS that bypasses security in this way would undeniably create a backdoor, Apple CEO Tim Cook at the time said in a written statement. And while the government may argue that its use would be limited to this case, there is no way to guarantee such control. The company contends that the new security measures are targeted to help customers defend against hackers, identity thieves and intrusions into their personal data, according to a report by threatpost.com, a website that provides information about IT and business security. In making the announcement about the new security measures, the company said in a prepared statement, Were constantly strengthening the security protections in every Apple product to help customers defend against hackers, identity thieves and intrusions into their personal data. We have the greatest respect for law enforcement, and we dont design our security improvements to frustrate their efforts to do their jobs. But critics pounced on the tech giant. Republican Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton said that the move gives precedence to criminals and terrorists over the safety of the American people. "If Apple is willing to store Chinese customers' data on a state-owned firms servers, then it should be more than willing to cooperate with valid warrants from U.S. law enforcement, Cotton said. Maybe not the kind that would end up as a Netflix documentary or a "Dateline" episode. But the case of the lost mans ring is a head-scratcher, nevertheless. It was Mark Driscoll who found it of all places, inside a mans black work glove that was for sale, packaged and hanging from a display at Ace Hardware in Sugar Grove, Ill. Driscoll opened the business that sits not far from the intersection of Galena Boulevard and Route 47 a few years ago. He was getting ready to head to his cabin in Wisconsin for Memorial Day when he decided to buy a pair of the $17 Ironclad gloves from his own store so he could complete a few home improvement projects at his out-of-state retreat. But when Driscoll stuck his hand into the left glove they were packaged together he felt something inside the ring finger. "What the heck " he muttered as he pulled out the ring. Discroll describes it as a nice piece of jewelry could likely be a wedding band but does not want to give away much more detail so it can get returned to the rightful owner. He was hoping that person would immediately realize the ring was missing and contact the store. But, when no one had come forward, he put up a "Lost Ring" post on the stores Facebook page, hoping it would get that social media boost needed to find the owner. "If you can describe the ring," the post stated, "it is yours." Recently, two people contacted him both women who had photos of their husbands lost rings. And while one fit "fairly closely," Driscoll told me, neither matched the ring that is now safely tucked away in the stores safe. "Its a mystery, but one that I hope has a happy ending," he said. "No one wants to leave a wedding ring inside a work glove." Or do they? Do they even realize the ring is gone? All the more reason Driscoll wants to get the word out to as many people as possible in as many ways as possible. President Trumps enemies are expressing outrage that he saluted a North Korean general. They compare it to President Obamas bow to the Saudi king, which Trump found objectionable, and find it far more offensive given the extraordinary odiousness of the North Korean regime. But Trumps salute was nothing like Obamas bow. Im sure youve seen the video of the salute, but lets recap what happened. Trump extended his hand to shake the generals. The general, though, used his hand to salute Trump. The president saluted back, as the general extended his hand to Trump. Then, the two finally shook hands, as Trump had intended. Thus, Trump was merely responding in kind to the gesture of respect paid him by the general. If the Saudi king had bowed first the Obama and Obama had bowed back, you would have some equivalence. In that event, I doubt that Trump or anyone else would have criticized the then-president. When a military officer returns the salute of a subordinate, there is no suggestion of subservience in the returned salute. Quite the contrary. When someone bows before a king, subservience can be inferred in many cultures. I assume that Trumps critics understand this. Their shrill attacks on the president for returning the salute are just another manifestation of their hatred of the man. President Trump has been tweeting up a storm ever since he returned from Singapore. This is what he has had to say about the Inspector Generals report on the FBIs and DOJs handling of the Clinton email investigation: FBI Agent Peter Strzok, who headed the Clinton & Russia investigations, texted to his lover Lisa Page, in the IG Report, that well stop candidate Trump from becoming President. Doesnt get any lower than that! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 15, 2018 The IG Report is a total disaster for Comey, his minions and sadly, the FBI. Comey will now officially go down as the worst leader, by far, in the history of the FBI. I did a great service to the people in firing him. Good Instincts. Christopher Wray will bring it proudly back! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 15, 2018 Why in the world didnt Barack Obama fire this guy (Comey)? asks Mark Levin! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 15, 2018 Donald Trump was 100% right to fire James Comey. Mark Levin Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 15, 2018 So, its basically a victory lap. The Inspector General was reviewing the Clinton email investigation, not the Russia investigation that has now been passed on to Bob Mueller. Yet the most interesting information in his report relates mostly to Russia. For example, Peter Strzok wasnt going to stop Trump from being elected by anything having to do with the Clinton investigation, which was already over by August 2016. Rather, he had to be referring to his key role in the Russia investigation. I assume that he contemplated stopping Trump by leaking damaging (whether true or false) information gleaned from that investigation to the press. PAUL ADDS: John has identified what I consider the most important aspect of the IGs report what it tells us about the motive behind the Russia investigation in its early days. I must remind readers, however, that Trump, upon assuming the presidency, decided to retain Comey rather than relieving him of duty, as many of us thought he should. Where were Trumps good instincts when he decided Comey would carry on as FBI director? I dont think weve written about the push for immigration legislation in the House. Not long ago, it looked like there would be no immigration legislation passed this year. But now, thats not as clear. The House is considering two bills (or one bill and a framework for another being pushed by Speaker Paul Ryan). Moreover, Majority Leader McConnell, who had previously stated that immigration was not on the agenda in the Senate, now says that if the House passes something the president would sign, Ill take a look at it. What about the president? He has not taken a position on whats being proposed and/or worked on in the House. However, Stephen Miller, his adviser on immigration matters, reportedly is lobbying in favor of the so-called compromise Speaker Ryan is behind. Thus, its time to take a serious look at the two proposals being kicked around in the House. The first proposal comes from Rep. Bob Goodlatte. Mark Krikorian describes it this way: It would codify Obamas lawless DACA amnesty, protecting the 700,000 illegal aliens who signed up for it from the likely Supreme Court ruling permitting the termination of the program. To limit the magnetic effect of such an amnesty to attract new illegal immigration, the bill includes enforcement measures, most notably full funding for a wall and mandatory E-Verify. And to limit the downstream legal immigration consequences, the Goodlatte bill would discontinue the visa lottery and the chain-migration categories and allow parents of adult U.S. citizens to move here only on non-immigrant visas (i.e., those that do not lead to citizenship) and require proof of paid-up health insurance. This is a sensible piece of compromise legislation. In exchange for amnesty for a large number of illegal immigrants, serious measures are taken to curb future illegal immigration. President Trump would almost certainly back Goodlattes bill. Unfortunately, it stands no chance of passing in the House. Every Democrat will oppose it. So will squishy, pro-amnesty Republicans. Combined, these factions form a majority. The second bill, or framework, is what Speaker Ryan favors. Its commonly referred to as compromise legislation, but as Krikorian points out, the Ryan legislation really a compromise of the Goodlatte compromise. He explains: The leadership bill cuts out whole portions of the Goodlatte compromise: It doesnt mandate E-Verify, it leaves more of the chain-migration categories in place, and does nothing to change the rules for immigration of parents. Whats more, it would expand the amnesty beyond those who currently have DACA, and could be even larger than the 1.8 million cited by the White House earlier this year. Not only does the leadership bill cut out important parts of the Goodlatte bill, it includes new provisions inserted at the behest of tech lobbyists: It reallocates more of the family green cards to the already bloated employment categories, it ends the per-country cap (meaning Indian tech workers and their relatives will come to dominate the legal immigration flow, with people from other countries effectively crowded out), and most alarmingly, it expands the amnesty to include children of long-term foreign tech workers here on temporary visas, a number Ive heard quoted as 75,000, though theres no way to know. (Emphasis added) The Ryan compromise contains some good features. It ends the visa lottery and two of the chain-migration categories. And it fully funds the wall. Like Krikorian, I want to reserve judgment until a final compromise bill is produced. However, it looks to me like immigration enforcement hawks arent getting enough in exchange for granting amnesty to roughly 2 million illegal immigrants. Democrats, though, apparently dont believe they are getting enough in exchange for the wall, the end of the visa lottery, and the limitations on chain migration. In the absence of Democratic support, members of the Freedom Caucus can prevent the Ryan compromise from passing the House. But maybe White House lobbying could peel away some members of that Caucus As for the Senate, Dick Durbin has said that no Dem will support the Ryan legislation. Thus, even if the House passes it, the Senate likely will not. Those who want to see amnesty hope to squeeze the Ryan bill through the House, make enough changes in the Senate to win some Democratic backing, and then hammer out a compromise in conference. The final product would represent a compromise on a compromise on a compromise of the original Goodlatte approach. This scenario looks like quite a long shot to me. I hope so. It deserves to be. With the development of new technologies such as AI and Big Data, various services and applications emerge. As pipes carrying these services and applications, WANs will witness exponential traffic growth. Traditional WANs, however, face many challenges in service bearing. For example, it takes weeks or even months from order placement to service provisioning. As a result, traditional WANs cannot meet diversified service requirements in the cloud era. This solution uses intent-driven policies instead of passive-response policies. It collects service and network information in real time and automatically delivers configurations and paths to optimize service traffic. In this solution, the WAN transforms from passive response to intelligent adjustment according to customer intents. Agile Controller-based network-wide intelligent control can support efficient operations and bandwidth evolution of enterprise cloud services. Agile Controller can quickly bring services online and optimize network-wide traffic in real time, improving bandwidth utilization from 30% to 80% and effectively lowering OPEX. Ma Ye, Vice President of Huawei Router & Carrier Ethernet Product Line, said: "All-cloud services are gaining increasing momentum among enterprises. To cope with the exponential traffic growth in the future, WANs must adopt an ultra-broadband and simplified architecture. Huawei's Intent-Driven IP WAN solution can help enterprises and service providers achieve business success through service innovation and fast cloud-based transformation." Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/706421/HUAWE_IP.jpg SOURCE Huawei BENGALURU, June 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Civic Tech Connect 2018 marked the official launch of the Civic Tech India 2018 Accelerator and brought together entrepreneurs and investors to build the civic technology ecosystem in India Global philanthropic investment firm Omidyar Network, in partnership with venture development firm Village Capital, hosted India's first-ever civic technology event - the Civic Tech Connect 2018- focused on bringing together investors and entrepreneurs to build India's civic tech ecosystem. The event, held in Bengaluru on June 14, saw more than 100 entrepreneurs, investors, philanthropic funders, industry experts, and civic tech opinion leaders from across the country come together on a single platform for the first time. (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/706316/Omidyar_Roopa_Kudva.jpg ) The event connected aspiring civic tech entrepreneurs with potential investors, mentors, and potential customers to drive conversations around the development of the civic tech industry in India and further boost its adoption. While the industry is still at a nascent stage in India, its development has accelerated across the globe in the past couple of years. With 337 million Indians slated to use a smartphone in 2018 and an increasing number of technology-led initiatives by the government such as Digital India, BharatNet, and the Smart Cities program, the Indian civic tech ecosystem is poised for growth. Omidyar Network, which has invested more than $132M across 75 civic tech organizations around the globe to date, with more than $9M+ investments in India, is keen to further nurture and develop this budding ecosystem in the country through the Civic Tech India 2018 Accelerator program, in collaboration with Village Capital. Speaking at the event, Roopa Kudva, Partner and managing director at Omidyar Network India Advisors, commented, "India needs more entrepreneurs driving the growth of the civic tech industry. With important technology enablers in place, the sector has the potential to develop rapidly. As the 'next half billion' Indians come online for the first time through their mobile phones over the next five years, there is a huge opportunity for investors and entrepreneurs to create innovative civic tech solutions to enable central, state, and local governments to be more responsive and efficient in the delivery of critical services, while empowering citizens to engage more effectively with governments." The event also saw discussions with experts such as Viraj Tyagi, CEO, eGovernments Foundation; political economist and former IAS officer, Santhosh Mathew, and Kartik Desai, executive director, Asha Impact; as they shared their insights and experiences in developing technological initiatives that will scale and create long term impact. Poor infrastructure, lack of waste management and traffic issues were identified as some of the key civic issues that can be tackled through civic tech, and the discussion highlighted the opportunities and challenges for entrepreneurs looking to build scalable and impactful solutions in this space in India. "Awareness around the application of civic tech remains low among potential end-users, even with increasing smartphone and internet usage," said Deepak Menon, regional director, Emerging Markets, Village Capital. "It is important to not only create business opportunities and provide mentorship for entrepreneurs to ideate and innovate within this space, but also proactively initiate conversations around civic technology among citizens as a viable solution to their everyday civic and social issues," he added. Civic Tech Connect 2018 was the official launch of Omidyar Network and Village Capital's Civic Tech India 2018 Accelerator program. The three-month accelerator program will train early-stage civic engagement ventures by bringing together entrepreneurs, influencers, the government, and potential funders from across the country, through a series of forums and workshops. The program is designed to help the ventures scale, grow their revenue, and become more investment ready, while building a community of diverse ventures and stakeholders working to solve India's most pressing civic engagement problems. About Omidyar Network Omidyar Network is a philanthropic investment firm, established in 2004 by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife Pam. We create opportunity for people to improve their lives by investing in market-based efforts that catalyze economic and social change. In India, Omidyar Network focuses on helping the hundreds of millions of Indians in low-income and lower-middle-income populations, which we define as ranging from the poorest among us to the existing middle class. Omidyar Network has committed more than $1 billion through equity investments in for-profit companies and grants to non-profit organizations that foster economic advancement and encourage individual participation across multiple areas, including Digital Identity, Education, Emerging Tech, Financial Inclusion, Governance & Citizen Engagement, and Property Rights. To learn more, visit http://www.omidyar.com and follow on Twitter @omidyarnetwork #PositiveReturns About Village Capital Village Capital builds bridges for entrepreneurs who are creating an inclusive and sustainable world. Our programs connect high potential, early-stage entrepreneurs with the people, institutions, and capital they need to succeed. Since 2009, Village Capital has supported more than 1,000 entrepreneurs through our programs, and partnered with affiliated investment funds, including VilCap Investments, that have invested seed capital in more than 90 program graduates. Media Contact: Nairita Ghosh [email protected] + 91-9821260959 FleishmanHillard for Omidyar Network SOURCE Omidyar Network and Village Capital PUNE, India, June 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Polypropylene Catalyst Market by Type (Ziegler-Natta, Metallocene), Manufacturing Process (Bulk Process, Gas Phase Process), Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America) - Global Forecast to 2022", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market size for the polypropylene catalyst is projected to grow from an estimated USD 1.09 billion in 2017 to USD 1.46 billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2017 to 2022. This growth can be attributed to the increasing demand for the PP catalyst owing to the growth in the production of PP and improvements in PP catalyst technology, which are expected to drive the market. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg ) Browse 83 market data Tables and 28 Figures spread through 96 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Polypropylene Catalyst Market" https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/polypropylene-catalyst-market-127854064.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report Ziegler-Natta catalyst type is projected to lead the Polypropylene Catalyst Market from 2017 to 2022 Ziegler-Natta is the most commonly used catalyst type for the manufacture of polypropylene, globally. The Ziegler-Natta catalyst provides excellent morphology control during polymerization. This catalyst has been commercially proven in polypropylene production lines including the major bulk and gas phase process. The Ziegler-Natta catalyst has propelled the growth of the PP industry by enabling the inexpensive and easily controlled production of polypropylene. Today, more than half of the total polypropylene produced worldwide uses the Ziegler-Natta catalyst type. Get PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=127854064 The gas phase manufacturing process of the Polypropylene Catalyst Market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR between 2017 and 2022 The gas phase manufacturing process is projected to grow at the highest CAGR between 2017 and 2022. This process is similar to the bulk process as far as monomers are concerned. However, it differs from the conventional bulk process, as in this case, polymerization is carried out in propylene gas rather than in liquefied propylene. This process produces high-quality (99% isotactic) PP with minimal residual (atactic) PP. This phase does not require the manual removal of catalyst residues or atactic propylene. It is typically a third-generation manufacturing process. Cost-effectiveness and high isotacticity of the polypropylene molecule are the key factors driving the market for the gas phase process. The Polypropylene Catalyst Market in the Asia Pacific is projected to grow at the highest CAGR between 2017 and 2022 The Polypropylene Catalyst Market in the Asia Pacific is projected to grow at the highest CAGR between 2017 and 2022. China is the largest market for the polypropylene catalyst in the Asia Pacific. The ensuing increase in foreign investments and rise in the number of new manufacturing establishments are expected to witness the emergence of the Asia Pacific as a prime driver of growth of the Polypropylene Catalyst Market. Key companies profiled in this research report on the Polypropylene Catalyst Market i nclude LyondellBasell Industries (The Netherlands), Clariant (Switzerland), Mitsui Chemicals (Japan), W.R. Grace & Co., (US), and China Petrochemical (China) Know more about Polypropylene Catalyst Market: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/polypropylene-catalyst-market-127854064.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 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit Our Blog: http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/chemical Connect with us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets PUNE, India, June 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest market research report "Silica Analyzer Market by Type (Equipment and Consumables), Industry (Power Generation (Utility, Captive/IPP), Semiconductor), and Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World) - Global Forecast to 2023", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is estimated to grow from USD 106.1 million in 2018 to USD 139.6 million by 2023, at a CAGR of 5.66% between 2018 and 2023. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg ) Browse 35 market data Tables and 32 Figures spread through 92 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Silica Analyzer Market - Global Forecast to 2023" https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/silica-analyzer-market-114558886.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report The key driving factor for the growth of the silica analyzer market is the significance of accurate silica measurement in steam/water cycle for optimizing power plant efficiency. Among many potential impurities in the steam cycle, silica plays a vital role because the solubility of silica in steam directly depends on the density and temperature of the steam. Any minor deviation of silica concentration on a power plant can have serious and expensive consequences in relation to performance, reliability, efficiency, and safety; hence, it is very much necessary to monitor this parameter closely. Consumables are expected to hold larger market share during 2018-2023 Consumables are the reagents used in the analysis of silica. A 2-liter bottle of reagents can last for 45 to 60 days, depending on the frequency of the usage. Consumables need to be replaced and/or refilled frequently. The cost of consumables can exceed USD 2,500 per silica analyzer per year. Hence, this segment is expected to hold the larger market share during 2018-2023. Power generation industry is expected to grow at highest CAGR owing to extensive use in silica analysis of water in boiler in steam generation Silica analyzers are commonly used to monitor the silica content in the water that is used in the boiler for steam generation in power plants. Monitoring silica in water helps in avoiding the scaling on turbines, thereby increasing the thermal efficiency of power plants. Ask for PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=114558886 APAC is expected to hold largest market size, in terms of value, owing to increasing industrialization and energy demand and easy availability of the coal making it preferred fuel for electricity generation Coal is readily available in countries such as China and India where the energy demand is ever-increasing. Coal is the preferred source of electricity generation in thermal power plants. China and India are the major countries in APAC that have significant coal-fired power plants. This drives the market for silica analyzers in APAC. Hach (US), ABB (Switzerland), Thermo Fisher Scientific (US), Mettler Toledo (Switzerland), HORIBA (Japan), NIKKISO (Japan), Swan Analytical Instruments (Switzerland), SPX Flow (US), DKK TOA (Japan), Waltron Group (US), Dr.Thiedig(Germany), Electro-Chemical Devices (US), Shanghai Boqu Instrument (China), KNTEC (South Korea), HKY Technology (China), and Omicron Sensing (US) are a few major companies in this market. Know more about the Silica Analyzer Market: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/silica-analyzer-market-114558886.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 7500 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 They said it was going to happen, and they are clearly men of their words. Boyzone will bow out after 25 years together with one final album and a UK and Irish arena tour that will kick off in Belfast next January. The album is called 'Thank You & Goodnight' and will be released on November 16th. It features songs written by Ed Sheeran and Gary Barlow, amongst others. Their 25th anniversary/farewell tour will kick off at Belfast's SSE Arena on January 23rd, 2019 before heading to Dublin's 3Arena on January 24th. Tickets are on sale next Friday, June 22nd from usual outlets at 9am. The boyband released a statement saying: When we started out as five young Dublin Northsiders, eager to face the world, we never imagined that wed still have an army of fans some twenty-five years later... If youd seen our famous first TV appearance on The Late Late Show, youd probably be surprised too! But what followed was the stuff of dreams. Weve played stadiums and arenas all over the world, released six albums, and had almost two-dozen hits. We really cant put into words just how much you, the fans, have supported us along the way. Without that support, we would have never achieved what we have, and for that were eternally grateful. Weve had some tough times too. The loss of Stephen left scars that we will carry as a band forever. We were immensely touched by all the tributes and messages of support that helped us through the dark days. Stephen was our brother and will always be at the very the heart of Boyzone. Twenty-five years is a long time. Were certainly not boys anymore, and we all feel that we should now call time on our lives together as Boyzone and go out on a real high. This November we will be releasing our final album, Thank You & Goodnight. Weve recorded twelve brand new tracks that we hope youll enjoy listening to as much as weve enjoyed making them. Were especially excited to share a very special tribute to Stephen in the shape of a new song, I Can Dream. We came across a demo that he originally recorded for his solo album in 2002 and weve had the opportunity to re-work the song and add our harmonies alongside his lead vocal. It was a bittersweet experience to hear all our voices together again. Its the closest the five of us will ever get to being in a room together again making music. And were also eager to invite you all to one final celebration of twenty-five years of Boyzone and our journey together. We would love for you to raise the roof one last time as we head out on our farewell UK and Ireland arena tour. We know this loves forever. Thats all that matters, no matter what If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Polled Brahman cattle in Texas have increased in popularity over the years. Moreno Ranches, a top producer of Brahman cattle for sale in both Texas and Florida, is proud to announce new availabilities for so-called "Polled Brahman Cattle." For the layperson, "polled" cattle refer to cattle that either do not grow horns or have their horns removed. This allows for better handling and reduces the risk of injuries to either cattle or humans, or both. With its new Texas Ranch, Moreno Ranches is bringing its superior genetics and superior methods to Texas, increasing its lead as the "goto" Ranch to locate, assess, and purchase Brahman cattle in the Lone Star State. Polled Brahman cattle in Texas have increased in popularity over the years, according to Kelvin Moreno, the head of Moreno Ranches. We are pleased with the success we have had using polled genetics in our herd and are excited to share this success with our customers. To learn more about polled Brahman cattle, visit http://www.morenoranches.com/polled-brahmans/. Interested persons who either live in Texas or are visiting and have an interested as a qualified buyer of Brahman cattle in Texas can visit http://www.morenoranches.com/contact-us-texas/ to reach out to the Ranch to learn more. Stock availability, of course, fluctuates and cannot be guaranteed. (Those for whom Florida is more convenient, of course, can contact the Florida Ranch or visit the website which has a full listing of available stock). THE ADVANTAGES OF POLLED BRAHMAN CATTLE Here is background to this release. First of all, Moreno Ranches is a relative newcomer to Texas, having added a Texas Ranch to its historic ranch in Venus, Florida. This expansion brought the superior Polled Brahman Cattle genetics of Moreno Ranches to the state of Texas, in addition to the many awards and honors won by Moreno Ranch Brahman cattle at various Brahman shows and events not only in Texas or Florida but across the United States. By opening a Ranch in Texas, Moreno Ranches made it easy for Texans to visit the Ranch, see the cattle, and potentially purchase world-class Brahman cattle right in the Lone Star State. Second, there are advantages to polled Brahman cattle that build upon the Brahman breed. While people often choose the Brahman breed, or Brahman hybrids, for many characteristics, among them heat resistance, superior beef ability, and docility, a new trend has been emerging in recent years: an emphasis on polled cattle. Polled, of course, refers to cattle that are naturally without horns. The absence of horns, combined with the well-known characteristics of docility, superior beef ability, insect-resistance these really make what could be truly the perfect cattle for Southern climates. In fact, ranchers from Texas, Florida, and other Southern States have been polled and the result is that they love the "polled" Brahman cattle available from Moreno Ranches. No pun intended, most of the Brahman cattle sales are through semi-annual sales at the ranch in April and September each year. Moreno Ranches also conducts private treaty sales of all types of Brahman cattle, including polled Brahman cattle, on a first come, first served basis. The stock sells and changes frequently, so interested parties should reach out - in advance of a Ranch visit - to discuss their Brahman cattle needs, whether or not for polled cattle. ABOUT MORENO RANCHES Moreno Ranches is a top producer of Brahman cattle in Texas. Customers come to the company for genetically superior Brahman bulls for sale and Brahman semen (seed stock) as well as Brahman embryos. The company produces both Brahman heifers and calves for sale, including for use as show cattle or to produce Brahman F1 hybrids. Visit the company's website to browse stock. The company is a trusted source of Brahman cattle in Texas, Florida, or Louisiana - Latin America, or anywhere in the world. Web. http://www.morenoranches.com/ Tel. 863 444 8745 The Tomb Still Speaks: A Biblical and Theological Truth Skeptics Cannot Refute: a revealing look into the many indisputable truths concerning Christ. The Tomb Still Speaks: A Biblical and Theological Truth Skeptics Cannot Refute is the creation of published author, Francis Kwame Asenso, PhD. Francis was born in Ghana and has been married to Mrs. Agnes Asenso since 1991. The couple has four children together. Francis is a church planter, senior pastor, evangelist, and Bible teacher. He holds a Master of Arts in Practical Theology, MAPT, and a PhD in Bible and theology. I strongly believe that one has to take pains to identify who Christ is before anything could be said against Him and His resurrection. Academic scholarships and human intelligence have nothing to do with knowing Christ. It takes the prudence and the power of the Holy Spirit to arrive at that goal. --Francis Kwame Asenso, PhD Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Francis Kwame Asensos new book dispels those who dismiss the resurrection of Christ as fiction. The resurrection of Christ from the tomb has been regarded by various critics as a hoax. Christs resurrection has, however, been established by the Biblical record as the foundational principle of Christian faith and doctrine. The Tomb Still Speaks: A Biblical and Theological Truth Skeptics Cannot Refute, was not created to expand on the tragic arguments and false theories against Christ, His resurrection, or the tomb. It was created to expose the lies that non-Christians have accepted as truth in order to reveal the many indisputable truths concerning Christ, which most do not know. It affirms that Jesus Christ is the one who was in the Old Testament, who is in the New Testament, and who will be the Messiah through His Second Coming. View a synopsis of The Tomb Still Speaks: A Biblical and Theological Truth Skeptics Cannot Refute on YouTube. Consumers can purchase The Tomb Still Speaks: A Biblical and Theological Truth Skeptics Cannot Refute at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about The Tomb Still Speaks: A Biblical and Theological Truth Skeptics Cannot Refute, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. Ive learned that I can do anything, but I cannot do everything. Launching during Alzheimers and Brain Awareness month, Mediaplanet today publishes this Junes Fighting Alzheimers campaign. This publication will advocate for caregiver health as well as increased research on treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure for Alzheimers disease. According to the Alzheimers Association, Alzheimers disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, with over 16 million Americans providing unpaid care for people with dementia. Featuring leading experts, influencers, caregivers and patients, this campaign will spotlight the amalgamation of perspectives in the fight for a cure. Through a series of inspiring and insightful editorials, this publication will reach caregivers to educate them on tips, resources and clinical trials available to them. Ive learned that I can do anything, but I cannot do everything, says AARPs Family Caregiver Expert, Amy Goyer. In a frank Q & A on the interior of the print edition, Goyer empowers caregivers to seek support and balance their quality of life with the wellbeing of their loved one. The campaign also highlights the work of celebrity advocates such as Seth Rogen, Lauren Miller-Rogen and Maria Shriver. The print component of Fighting Alzheimers is distributed within the centerfold of todays USA Today edition in Atlanta, New York, South Florida, Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Boston, with a circulation of approximately 250,000 copies and estimated readership of 750,000. The publication will be available at industry conferences, awareness walks and caregiver advocacy events across the country. The digital component is distributed nationally through a vast social media strategy and across a network of top news sites and partner outlets. To explore the digital campaign, click here. This campaign was made possible with the support of the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation, UsAgainstAlzheimer's, AARP, Caregiver Action Network, CDC Healthy Aging Program, Always Discreet, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, A Place for Mom, UnitedHealth Group, Dementia Spotlight Foundation, Home Instead, M3 Biotechnology, Alliance for Aging Research, Best Buy, Comfor Tek, Altoida, Voyager Therapeutics, Emory University, Miami Jewish Health, Project Lifesaver, Allergan, Axsome Therapeutics, EIP Pharma, California Table Grape Commission, IXICO, The Womens Alzheimers Movement, Hilarity for Charity, Johns Hopkins Memory and Alzheimers Treatment Center, Seth Rogen & Lauren Miller-Rogen, Maria Shriver, Sharon Hall and Teepa Snow. About Mediaplanet Mediaplanet specializes in the creation of content marketing campaigns covering a variety of industries. We tell meaningful stories that educate our audience and position our clients as solution providers. Our unique ability to pair the right leaders with the right readers, through the right platforms, has made Mediaplanet a global content marketing powerhouse. Our award-winning stories have won the hearts of countless readers while serving as a valuable platform for brands and their missions. Just call us storytellers with a purpose. Please visit http://www.mediaplanet.com for more on who we are and what we do. Press Contact: Maureen McCarthy maureen.mccarthy(at)mediaplanet(dot)com (646) 979-2836 Today, the Lavis Law Firm released a comprehensive map of car accident locations in New Orleans, Louisiana. The interactive map allows users to see how close their homes, schools, daycare centers, nursing homes, hospitals and roads travelled are to New Orleans car accidents. The map is live at https://www.lavislaw.com/new-orleans-car-accident-law-firm.html In response, LAVIS LAW FIRM Owner Charles Lavis Jr released the following statement: People deserve to know what car accident risks they face in the neighborhoods where they reside and their children attend school. Auto accidents lead to injuries to pedestrians, drivers and passengers and damage to property. Contributing factors to many of these accidents include preventable contributing factors such as Alcohol & Drug Impaired-Driving, Unbelted Passengers, Speeding, Distracted Driving/Texting and Aggressive Driving. About the Lavis Law Firm Lavis Law Firm is a New Orleans based law firm with offices in Baton Rouge and Harvey, Louisiana. For over 23 years, Lavis Law has helped people recover fair compensation for losses sustained as a result of car accidents, workplace injuries and from insurance companies by helping people overcome obstacles. Lavis Law Firm has an A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau. For more information visit https://www.lavislaw.com Robs direct experience with both operators and service companies will be invaluable as Hicor begins the work of identifying how its production enhancement solutions can add significant value to customers. - Kevin McGlensey, Chairman Hicor Technologies, Inc. (Hicor), a compression technology company commercializing and developing products for the oil and gas industry, has announced the appointment of Rob Perry as its Chief Executive Officer. We are thrilled to have someone with Robs deep industry knowledge join the Hicor team, said Hicors Chairman, Kevin McGlensey. Robs direct experience with both operators and service companies will be invaluable as Hicor begins the work of identifying how its production enhancement solutions can add significant value to customers. Perry joins Hicor from his most recent role as global Systems Engineering Director at TechnipFMC, and previously as global Director of Subsea Processing at FMC. Prior to his 8 years at TechnipFMC, Perry spent more than 22 years at BP, serving across a variety of technical and commercial roles. His last role at BP was as Vice President of Deepwater Facilities Technology, and he previously led R&D and technology development in the reservoir and wells subsurface disciplines. Perry also led offshore operations for BPs first deepwater floating production platform in the Gulf of Mexico. His commercial experience includes managing businesses, leading M&A integration activities, and managing the Azerbaijan country office. Perry has a BSc (with honors) in Chemical Engineering from Loughborough University and a Masters of Business Administration from London Business School. I am extremely excited to be joining Hicor, said Perry. The team here has developed very innovative technology that can bring tremendous value to operators and producers. The technology has already proven in the field that significant production gains are possible. I look forward to working with the team to fully commercialize the technology and bring this valuable product to market. Perrys hiring coincides with Hicor closing a new round of funding, led by EV Private Equity which has a proven track record of enabling technology companies to bring innovative products to market. The company intends to utilize the latest round of funding to launch several commercial pilots and to begin early sales. Hicor has identified an important opportunity to utilize its multiphase technology to enhance production in multiphase wells, either as a replacement for or enhancement to traditional artificial lift technologies. The enhanced production capability has already been shown in wells operating on plunger lift and demonstration projects with wells operating on both rod pump and gas lift are forthcoming. About Hicor Hicor is bringing customer and shareholder value through leadership in new compression technology development and deployment, utilizing its patented high efficiency, high compression ratio, wet gas compression technology. At Hicor, we are passionate about solving long-standing problems in the oil and gas industry, which compels us to deploy new production technologies. Our break-through innovation enables wet gas compression while also decreasing the cost and energy required to compress and produce natural gas and oil. Hicor was founded out of MIT in 2010 and operates a world-class research and development facility in Houston, Texas. It is well funded by its principal equity investor, EV Private Equity, as well as Statoil and multiple other producers. For more information, visit http://www.hicor.com. Kim Keprios, with the support of The Arc Minnesota Board of Directors, has announced her resignation as CEO of The Arc Minnesota, effective June 15. After 36 rewarding, humbling, joyful and challenging years with The Arc Greater Twin Cities and The Arc Minnesota, and with the support of the Board of Directors, I have decided it is time to step aside, said Kim Keprios, CEO, The Arc Minnesota. With the merger of seven independent chapters to become The Arc Minnesota, a dedicated and knowledgeable team of staff and a newly elected Board of Directors to advance the mission of The Arc, this is a good time for all, including me, to start a new chapter. I am proud of what we have accomplished together and am eager to see what the next generation of leaders will bring to the vital work of The Arc. Kim Keprios joined The Arc Hennepin County in 1982 and became Executive Director in 1986. She became Chief Executive Officer of The Arc Greater Twin Cities in 2006 as metro chapters merged and was named CEO of The Arc Minnesota following the merger of statewide chapters on January 1, 2018. Keprios was a recognized leader at the local, state and national level, both within The Arc and in her community engagement with partner agencies, public and private sectors. She initiated innovative programs and services that have been vital to people with disabilities and their families. The Arc Minnesota Board is grateful for Kim Keprios commitment to the mission of The Arc. She has advanced many initiatives to improve the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, and has been a vocal advocate for community inclusion. We are grateful for the many contributions that Kim has made throughout her career with The Arc, said Shawn Monaghan, Co-Chair, The Arc Minnesota. Her dedication to protecting basic human rights and ensuring community inclusion of all people with disabilities will have a lasting impact. The Arc Minnesota Board and staff will continue to lead merger activities and deliver critical programs to ensure the impact of the new statewide organization to support more people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Kims tireless efforts the last three years were instrumental in forming a statewide organization of The Arc, said Neil Helgeson, Board Co-Chair, The Arc Minnesota. As a result, more people with disabilities and their families across the state will have access to critical information and assistance. The Arc Minnesota Board of Directors will initiate an external search for a new CEO. The Arc Minnesota Board has asked Rich Stoebe to serve as Interim CEO. Stoebe is currently The Arcs Chief Marketing Officer. About The Arc Minnesota Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families trust The Arc Minnesota for information and assistance, personal advocacy, and public policy leadership to support a good life. Disabilities may include autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, fragile X, Williams syndrome, and other disabilities. For more information, please visit arcminnesota.org. Walter Mosby This book will make the reader think, and then do study and see that some things that have been said, taught and preached over the years may not be altogether true Do Christians know what they believe and why they believe it? Within the pages of The Rapture of The Church HAS BEEN CANCELED!: Kicking over Christianity's sacred cows ($9.99, paperback, 9781545606018; $4.99, e-book, 9781545606025), believers will be prompted to study the Word of God for themselves, instead of just believing anything that came across the pulpit without doing the due diligence as outlined in 2 Timothy 2:15. This book is written to cause Christians to examine what they believe and have heard preached and taught and see if it lines up with what the Word of God says, Walter Mosby states. This book will make the reader think, and then do study and see that some things that have been said, taught and preached over the years may not be altogether true. The book is timely in light of millennials leaving the church in droves. This current generation has no desire for the things of God because they know that a lot of what has been taught and preached is not all truth, and that is what is desired today, the author says. Raised in the Holiness church from the age of 3 to the present date, Walter Mosby current serves as an organist and assistant to the pastor for a church in San Antonio. He previously served as an assistant pastor in Detroit for 16 years. Xulon Press, a division of Salem Media Group, is the worlds largest Christian self-publisher, with more than 12,000 titles published to date. Retailers may order The Rapture of The Church HAS BEEN CANCELED! through Ingram Book Company and/or Spring Arbor Book Distributors. The book is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com. Our decision to seek a capital investment with Artemis is about more than just financing, said Loren Shook, President, CEO and Chairman of Silverado. Silverado today announced it has received a $45 million investment commitment from Artemis Real Estate Partners. This new financing will fuel Silverados 5-year plan to develop memory care communities throughout top US metro areas, and support its hospice, palliative care and at home offerings. Adding Artemis as a trusted partner will enrich Silverados strategic resources, and further its long-standing relationships with RLH Equity Partners and Welltower. Artemis has raised approximately $4 billion of investor capital across a core-plus healthcare real estate fund, three commingled value-add/opportunistic fund vehicles, and a series of emerging manager separate accounts. In connection with the investment, Kelly Sheehy, Principal & Managing Director of Artemis, will join Silverados Board of Directors. Our decision to seek a capital investment with Artemis is about more than just financing, said Loren Shook, President, CEO and Chairman of Silverado. It is about developing a long-term relationship with a partner that we can trust and that has the capabilities and innovation to fuel our growth and support our purpose of changing the world in the way that individuals with memory impairment are cared for, and to maximize the quality of life through the end of life. We are excited to partner with Silverado to develop state of the art memory care communities for the next generation of seniors said Kelly Sheehy, Principal & Managing Director of Artemis. The dementia population is projected to grow over 30% faster than general senior population growth in the near term, which creates a compelling investment opportunity to fill a market need for Class A real estate that will provide the highest quality of care and service for residents. We welcome Artemis to the Silverado family and look forward to partnering together to help Silverado reach its full potential, shares J. Christopher Lewis, Co-founder, Managing Director of RLH Equity Partners. Coker Capital Advisors served as exclusive financial advisor to Silverado in connection with this transaction. About Silverado Nationally recognized as the leader in memory care, Silverado provides a continuum of care, ranging from home care to palliative and hospice care, operating in eight states. Its reputation is supported by excellent clinical outcomes and innovative programming. The Silverado care model has influenced seniors housing providers nationwide since the company's founding in 1996, and the company continues to be at the forefront of innovation. Silverado has earned numerous industry awards and commendations, including Top Places to Work in Orange County (Orange County Register 2009-2017) and Texas Assisted Living Associations Legislative Organization of the Year Hero Award (2017). Silverado partners with leading academic institutions to advance clinical research in memory care, including the University of California San Diego, the University of California Los Angeles, the University of Southern California, Northwestern University, and Baylor College of Medicine. Additionally, each memory care community has care oversight by a physician medical director, many of whom are renowned leaders in the field of neurology and gerontology. With 54 locations across Arizona, California, Illinois, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin the company strives to deliver world-class care and unmatched service. To learn more, visit silverado.com or call (866) 522-8125. About Artemis Real Estate Partners Artemis Real Estate Partners is a real estate investment management firm that invests with best-in-class local operating partners, both established and emerging, in multifamily, office, industrial, retail, hospitality and seniors housing. Artemis has raised approximately $4 billion of investor equity in two primary business lines: approximately $2.7 billion in a commingled fund series (core plus, value add and opportunistic) and over $1.2 billion in separate accounts focused on emerging managers. To learn more, visit artemisrep.com. About RLH Riordan, Lewis & Haden is a leading private equity firm which partners with entrepreneurs to help them build distinctive high-growth businesses and realize their aspirations. RLH provides experienced strategic guidance to its portfolio companies while embracing the entrepreneurial spirit of those companies founders. The RLH investment team, which averages over 15 years of private equity experience, has developed proven processes to enhance organic growth and drive enterprise value. With a 35+ year history of successful investing, RLH is uniquely able to help fast growing, profitable enterprises with $25-150 million revenue in the business services, healthcare, and government services sectors achieve their goals. The firm currently manages over $1 billion of assets and is actively seeking new portfolio company investments. rlhequity.com. About Welltower Welltower Inc., an S&P 500 company headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, is driving the transformation of health care infrastructure. The company invests with leading seniors housing operators, post-acute providers and health systems to fund the real estate infrastructure needed to scale innovative care delivery models and improve people's wellness and overall health care experience. Welltower, a real estate investment trust ("REIT"), owns interests in properties concentrated in major, high-growth markets in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, consisting of seniors housing and post-acute communities and outpatient medical properties. More information is available at welltower.com. About Coker Capital Coker Capital Advisors is a healthcare-focused mergers and acquisitions advisory firm. With offices in Atlanta, Charlotte, and New York, we provide mergers and acquisitions advisory services to middle market healthcare companies. Our team combines investment banking, private equity, legal, and management consulting experience within the healthcare industry. Our senior professionals average more than a decade of healthcare transaction experience and have completed over 225 transactions across a wide range of healthcare subsectors with an aggregate transaction value in excess of $65 billion. cokercapital.com. This recognition demonstrates our alignment with Microsofts mission to deliver innovative, transformative, cloud-based solutions to our mutual customers, said Jack Ades, Co-CEO of AKA Enterprise Solutions. AKA Enterprise Solutions, a Gold Certified Microsoft Dynamics Partner and cloud consultancy, today announced it has been named a finalist for the 2018 Microsoft Dynamics Finance and Operations Partner of the Year Award. The company was selected out of a global field of more than 2,000 Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations partners throughout the world for demonstrating excellence in innovation and implementation of customer solutions based on Microsoft technology. This is the 9th time AKA has been recognized as one of the top three Dynamics partners worldwide. We are honored to be recognized again by Microsoft for our Dynamics Finance and Operations business and humbled to be included with global integrators Accenture, Infosys Ltd, and Hitachi Solutions, said Alan Kahn, Co-CEO of AKA Enterprise Solutions. Awards were presented in several categories, with winners chosen from a list of more than 2,600 entrants from 115 countries. AKA Enterprise Solutions was recognized for providing outstanding solutions and services in Dynamics Finance and Operations. This recognition demonstrates our alignment with Microsofts mission to deliver innovative, transformative, cloud-based solutions to our mutual customers, said Jack Ades, Co-CEO of AKA Enterprise Solutions. The Worldwide Dynamics Finance and Operations Partner of the Year Award recognizes partners that excel at providing innovative and unique customer solutions based on Microsoft Dynamics for Finance and Operations. AKA demonstrated consistent, high-quality; predictable service to Microsoft Dynamics customers, helping to ensure significant business benefits from their Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations investments, business leadership, and success, with strong growth in new customer additions and cloud revenue. Our ecosystem of partners is crucial to delivering transformative solutions, and this years winners have proven to be some of the finest among their peers, said Gavriella Schuster, Corporate Vice President, One Commercial Partner, Microsoft Corp. We are pleased to recognize AKA Enterprise Solutions for being selected as a finalist for the 2018 Microsoft Dynamics Finance and Operations Award. The Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards recognize Microsoft partners that have developed and delivered exceptional Microsoft-based solutions during the past year. About AKA Enterprise Solutions For more than 25 years, AKA Enterprise Solutions has been dedicated to making it easier organizations to do business and innovate their way to greatness by using technology to simplify processes and reduce risks. Specializing in Microsoft Dynamics 365, Cloud Services Business Process Consulting, and Custom Application Development, AKA combines industry and technical experience, proven methodologies, and world-class consulting to help firms achieve their goals. The company is headquartered in New York, NY, with offices located throughout the U.S. Robert J. Scott The key issues in modern enterprise agreements are driven by privacy, security and regulatory compliance. Managing Partner Robert J. Scott will present "Negotiating Enterprise Agreements with Microsoft" CLE* Webinar Wednesday, June 27th, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm CDT. Robert will discuss traditional and newly developed Microsoft licensing models, principal concerns about current licensing models, types of license agreements, and primary causes of exposure in enterprise-level Microsoft software audits. Robert will explain how he helps clients define their requirements up front, build term sheets for negotiation, and how he approaches negotiating the key issues in Enterprise deals with Microsoft's legal and business teams. In this webinar you will learn about: Microsoft Licensing Models Agreement Types Key Legal Issues Regulatory Compliance including GDPR Robert J. Scott, Managing Partner, Scott & Scott, LLP, represents mid-market and large enterprise companies in software license transactions and disputes with major software publishers such as Adobe, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle and SAP. He has defended over 275 software audit matters initiated by software piracy trade groups such as the BSA and SIIA. He is counsel to some of the world's largest corporations on information technology matters including intellectual property licensing, risk management, data privacy,and outsourcing. *TX, IL and CA CLE credit pending. If unable to attend, register anyway and you will receive a link to a copy of the recording. Please note CLE credit is not available with the recording. For more information and to register: http://bit.ly/2Jwgu2q FireflySci Addressing Cuvette Shortage FireflySci Inc. is a lean and mean cuvette manufacturer that has experienced explosive growth since they opened in 2015. FireflySci is the only US-based manufacturer who makes their own cuvettes, cuvette washers, and custom glass labware. These manufacturing capabilities have been a significant advantage to customers seeking lightning fast solutions to their cuvette needs. In May 2018, a statement was released that there was a cuvette shortage plaguing parts of Europe. This shortage is causing massive headaches for researchers and scientists trying to conduct their critical work. These researchers are losing time and money, and they must find a solution to their problem soon. Once FireflySci heard about this problem their production team kicked into action. The first goal was to increase FFS' current manufacturing to accommodate the increasing demand for cuvettes. This was accomplished by FFS investing in more equipment for the mass production of specialty cuvettes. On top of the equipment, FFS has had to double their workforce over the past four years as well as upgrading their office space. The next goal was to help ease the burden of international shipping for these customers. There are a variety of options for customers around the globe who need FireflySci cuvettes. Customers can go directly to FFS to purchase the cuvettes or they can go to one of the members of Firefly's exclusive global distribution network. When a customer goes directly to FFS, they can feel confident that they are getting directly from the manufacturer and they can skip the price-shopping runaround. Buying directly from FFS means that the products will ship from the USA. Normally, shipping fees can seem intimidating but the good news is that FireflySci has made deals with major shipping companies to ensure that they are giving international customers the most competitive prices possible for shipping. In the European cuvette market, FireflySci remains an untapped resource. With other cuvette manufacturers based in Europe, FFS is looking to gain a foothold in the European cuvette world. With the benefits of local European distributors and enhanced shipping rates, FFS is looking forward to helping Europe with their cuvette shortage and gaining some European exposure in the process. For European researchers looking to get the cuvettes they need now, it is strongly advisable to visit the FireflySci website and see what they have to offer. For more information visit http://www.fireflysci.com. Dr. Andy Pearson Star Refrigeration is one of the front runners in UK industrial refrigeration, and were pleased to be attending this platform to share our knowledge and experiences. Dr Andy Pearson, Group Managing Director of Star Refrigeration, is heading to Valencia for the 13th IIR Gustav Lorentzen Conference on Natural Refrigerants on Monday 18th June. Dr Pearson has been invited to the event as one of the UKs industry leaders on natural refrigerants including ammonia and carbon dioxide and will present the keynote lecture on Tuesday morning. The International Institute of Refrigeration conference takes place from 18-20 June 2018 at The Universitat Politecnica de Valencia. Dr Pearson will present a paper about small industrial refrigeration systems utilising CO2 on Monday 18th June at 11am, and will deliver the keynote lecture Refrigerating with Ammonia on Tuesday 19th June at 8.30 am. The renowned event attracts refrigeration industry professionals from all over the world to discuss research and network. GL2018 focuses on natural refrigerants and sustainable cooling solutions, which Star Refrigeration have years of expertise in, demonstrated in the companys groundbreaking research and packaged refrigeration systems which use CO2 or ammonia. In 2016 the conference was held in Edinburgh and Star was a major contributor to the event, delivering nine presentations and inviting delegates to see pioneering ammonia and CO2 installations in the local area. Dr Andy Pearson said, Star Refrigeration is one of the front runners in UK industrial refrigeration, and were pleased to be attending this platform to share our knowledge and experiences. Planning for the sustainable future of cooling is critical, and I believe natural refrigerants such as ammonia and CO2 hold the answer to many end users problems. His paper The Application Of Carbon Dioxide To Small Industrial Refrigeration Systems discusses the reasons why CO2 is a suitable replacement for HFCs and synthetic refrigerants, even in smaller applications. The parameters considered in the study include efficiency, reliability, simplicity, maintainability and the likely degradation of performance over time (a factor which is usually ignored when comparing and contrasting systems). Capital cost and opportunities for future development are also examined. Star Refrigeration has recently launched an industry first a pre-packed industrial CO2 cooling solutions designed for smaller scale industrial applications. The Envi range of chillers and freezers are designed for capacities under 300kW and offer a high performance, energy efficient, sustainable long-term solution without the high capital costs linked to ammonia systems. Ammonia, as a natural refrigerant will also be explored in Pearsons keynote lecture on Tuesday morning. He will discuss the historical background of ammonia refrigeration reflecting on the fact that after 150 years of use, ammonia, a natural refrigerant with zero ozone depleting potential (ODP) and zero global warming potential (GWP), is still the most environmentally friendly and efficient refrigerant known to man. He will also review the evolution of ammonia refrigeration technology, from traditional ammonia pump circulation systems with a charge bigger than 2500g/kW to Optimized DX (1250g/kW) to modern low charge ammonia packaged systems with charges as little as 100-700g/kW. The 13th IIR Gustav Lorentzen Conference on Natural Refrigerants takes place at the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia from 18-20 June 2018. For more information about the event and to register visit http://www.gl2018.upv.es/ Dont miss Stars Dr Pearson throughout the conference programme: Session: S1-02: Properties, Processes and Components: R744 THE APPLICATION OF CARBON DIOXIDE TO SMALL INDUSTRIAL REFRIGERATION Monday, 18/Jun/2018: 11:00am. Location: 2-Room B Keynote Lecture 3: Refrigerating with Ammonia. Tuesday, 19/Jun/2018: 8:30am - 9:10am Location: 1-Room A (main auditorium) To find out more about Star Refrigeration and the companys groundbreaking CO2 and ammonia pre-engineered cooling systems, visit: http://www.star-ref.co.uk/our-products/co2-solutions.aspx About Star Refrigeration Star Refrigeration is the UKs leading industrial refrigeration engineering company. Founded in 1970, Star have been pioneering natural refrigeration and heating technology ever since, and the Star Refrigeration group of companies encompasses serveral brands including Starfrost, Star Renewable Energy, Star Technical Solutions, Star Learning Solutions, SMES and Azane Inc. We are committed to the region and pleased to offer the companys entire portfolio of services from our Midland office. To meet the growing demands of its clients in the Permian Basin region, Fenstermaker has announced the expansion of its services in the area. With an office located in Midland, the company is positioned to grow its client base with Survey & Mapping services and also provide support services in the areas of Environmental Consulting and Engineering. Fenstermaker has been serving the oil & gas industry since 1950. Survey & Mapping was the first service offered by the company then, as client demands called for diversification, engineering, and environmental consulting services were added. The firms Vice President of Survey & Mapping, Marc Broussard, PLS says, We are committed to the region and pleased to offer the companys entire portfolio of services from our Midland office. Fenstermaker serves clients from eight office locations throughout Louisiana and Texas. Fenstermakers corporate office is located in Lafayette, Louisiana with offices also in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Lake Charles. To meet the needs of Texas clients, Fenstermaker has offices strategically located in Midland, Houston and San Antonio. Twenty members of the Wayne Homes Regional Steering Committee visited Zingermans Delicatessen in Ann Arbor, Michigan to observe the outstanding customer experience firsthand. Weve established what is means to give outstanding customer service and go the extra mile for our customers, but there is always room for improvement and our goal of this trip was to find the empowerment to make a difference in our customer experiences. Last week, employees from Wayne Homes, an Ohio-based custom home builder that specializes in on-your-lot homes, traveled to Ann Arbor, Michigan to gain firsthand knowledge and experience on outstanding customer service from Zingermans Community of Businesses, the company which Wayne Homes bases their customer service practices from. As members of the Regional Steering Committee, our main focus is finding ways to improve customer experiences internally and externally, Brittany Burkhart, product designer and regional steering committee member, said. Zingermans is a leader in providing outstanding customer service. We wanted our members of the committee to experience firsthand what outstanding customer service looks like so they could better model this service and share what they learned with their teams." Members of the Regional Steering Committee, which includes employees from the 11 offices across Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, started the trip on Wednesday, June 6 with dinner at Zingermans Roadhouse. Ari Weinzweig, the owner of Zingermans and author of several books, surprised the group by refilling water glasses and serving until he was noticed. That left a large impression on me, Stephanie Yates, online sales consultant and regional steering committee member, said. After someone pointed out that Ari was there, he spoke with us for quite some time and even answered some questions people had. It was so refreshing to see how down to earth he was and willing to share and any knowledge he could with us in a short amount of time. Thursday the committee gathered at the companys newest model center in Hartland, Michigan and toured the brand new Kinston model. Before going to the Zingermans Delicatessen to experience the place where the Zingermans businesses all started, the committee had their quarterly meeting at the model to discuss what they took away from the previous evening at the roadhouse and new ideas to implement in the offices. Weve established what is means to give outstanding customer service and go the extra mile for our customers, but there is always room for improvement and our goal of this trip was to find the empowerment to make a difference in our customer experiences, Burkhart said. We hope all of our members will be able to share with their teams what they experienced and be able to give them all ideas on how we can improve experiences for our customers, both externally and internally. Some members of the committee even realized that outstanding customer service and experience even go beyond big gestures. What I experienced will help me because I was able to understand that you dont have to do some grand gesture in order to provide excellent service, Yates said. Sometimes, it is the little things that matter the most. It encouraged me to be more mindful of my customers wants and needs and how I can help them get those things with a positive attitude while going the extra mile. For more information about Wayne Homes or to inquire about job opportunities, please visit WayneHomes.com. About Wayne Homes Wayne Homes is a custom home builder in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Michigan, and West Virginia (see all Model Home Centers). We offer nearly 50 customizable floorplans and a team dedicated to providing the best experience in the home building industry. For more information, Ask Julie by live chat or call us at (866) 253-6807. Monroe College celebrated its 85th anniversary and the Class of 2018 at Radio City Music Hall in midtown Manhattan. Benjamin Tucker, the First Deputy Commissioner of the New York Police Department, and Marcos Crespo, a member of the New York State Assembly, gave the keynote addresses at Monroe College's 85th Annual Commencement. Past News Releases RSS Monroe College Welcomes First Class... Monroe College Hosts Annual... Monroe College Students, Faculty,... Monroe College, a national leader in educating urban and international students, held its 85th Annual Commencement yesterday at Radio City Music Hall in midtown Manhattan. Benjamin Tucker, the First Deputy Commissioner of the New York Police Department, and Marcos Crespo, a member of the New York State Assembly, gave the keynote addresses. Two separate ceremonies were held to accommodate the families and friends of the 2,600 students earning Associate, Bachelors or Masters degrees and professional certificates. Marc M. Jerome, President of Monroe College, and Stephen J. Jerome, Chairman and President Emeritus, offered welcoming remarks. Graduates participating in the morning ceremony completed programs of study in the School of Allied Health Professions, School of Criminal Justice, School of Education, and School of Nursing. Dr. Alex Ephrem, a senior vice president who joined the College in 1980 and leads the King Graduate School, served as Grand Marshal of the processional. Keynote speaker Benjamin Tucker, First Deputy Commissioner of the New York Police Department (NYPD), warmly encouraged the graduates to push themselves with confidence as they persevere in their personal and professional endeavors. The afternoon ceremony conferred degrees on graduates from Monroes School of Business and Accounting, School of Hospitality Management and the Culinary Institute of New York, and School of Information Technology. Pamela Randall, Assistant Dean for Academic Technology led the processional as Grand Marshall, an honor reflecting her three decades of service to the College. New York State Assembly Member Marcos Crespo, who represents the 85th Assembly District, gave a rousing keynote address that challenged graduates to find strength in their diversity and use it to improve their communities and the world. Graduates in the Class of 2018 represented more than 50 countries. In addition to students from the U.S. and its territories, there were sizable contingents from Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bangladesh, China, Dominica, India, Jamaica, Japan, and St. Kitts and Nevis participating in yesterdays ceremonies. The College conferred 450 Masters degrees; 1,095 Bachelors degrees; and 1,036 Associate degrees this year, as well as awarded 50 professional certificates. ABOUT MONROE COLLEGE Founded in 1933, Monroe College is a recognized leader in urban and international education. The College is proud of its innovative programs to increase college access, affordability, and completion outcomes, especially among first-generation students. The strength of its warm, supportive culture is reflected in the personal connections fostered among students, faculty, and staff. Monroe educates close to 8,000 students each year, offering Certificate, Associate, Bachelors, and Masters degree programs from campuses in the Bronx, New Rochelle, and St. Lucia. Students may also take courses online. Programs are offered through seven academic schools, including the Schools of Allied Health Professions, Business & Accounting, Criminal Justice, Education, Hospitality Management and the Culinary Institute of New York (CINY), Information Technology, and Nursing, as well as through King Graduate School. Liberal arts and continuing education programs are also available. For more information and admissions criteria, please visit http://www.monroecollege.edu. A Place At Home announces newest Franchisee in Michigan After caring for my mother during her battle with cancer, and after caring for my father-in-law during his end-of-life stages, says Ms. Shevela, I came to understand the struggles inherent to finding good in-home care. Earlier this month, local entrepreneurs Melissa Shevela and Michael Shevela were awarded the first A Place at Home Franchise in Michigan. The Shevelas have obtained exclusive rights to offer the unique APAH model to seniors in the southeast Michigan, metro Detroit region. Their office will be headquartered in Warren and will also serve the greater Macomb County. Melissa Shevela will serve as the new franchises President. She spent 13 years as the owner-operator of a business in the automotive industry. She guided that business through an exponential growth period, increasing sales eightfold during her time there. She has been in the community for 47 years, and has held many volunteer leadership positions as well. She served as the Coordinator for a Salvation Army Soup Kitchen, for example, and remains active at St. Louis Church. She has a B.A. in Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations from Central Michigan University. Michael Shevela will serve as the new franchises Operations Manager. He has 30 years of experience leading professionals in the automotive industry. He spent 13 years working side-by-side with Melissa on their automotive business. He is known for being a consummate problem-solver who relentlessly follows industry standards. He is a lifelong resident of the southeastern Michigan community. After caring for my mother during her battle with cancer, and after caring for my father-in-law during his end-of-life stages, says Ms. Shevela, I came to understand the struggles inherent to finding good in-home care. I wished it could have been better for our loved ones. But now, we have an opportunity to make things better for other peoples loved ones. Seniors deserve respect, compassion, and high-quality care during their golden years. A Place at Home puts emphasis on high-quality care-giving and on ensuring seniors can thrive in a safe, happy environment. Mr. Shevela agrees, and notes, A Place at Home stood out as being well-prepared to handle different levels of senior-care needs. We were impressed both by the quality of care they offer and by the companys commitment to employee development. We align strongly with A Place at Homes core values. A Place at Home follows four core values. Its founders, franchisees and employees all pledge to be compassionate, accountable, respectful and ethical. They call it the CARE model. Mr. Shevela adds, We promise to uphold the CARE core values for both our clients and employees, no exceptions. Company co-founders Jerod Evanich and Dustin Distefano hope to see the APAH We are CARE model offered coast-to-coast. We truly believe the best way to ensure seniors throughout the nation receive the best care is through franchising," says Evanich. Partnering with passionate-minded business professionals who align with our values and who are committed to sharing the Senior-Focused Care model will help complete our Mission to be Passionate Professionals Providing the Compassionate Care Solutions You Need, Where and When You Need Us. Evanich and Distefano launched APAH in 2012. They began franchising in 2017 after experiencing exponential growth. Evanich and Distefano make it clear anyone hoping to start an APAH franchise should first examine themselves to ensure they can say they are already shining examples of the CARE philosophy. If we can see those qualities in a person we will gladly help them parlay their professional background and acumen into running a successful APAH business, adds Distefano. Fortunately for seniors in the Detroit metro area, the Shevelas have successfully risen to the challenge. CONTACT: Dustin Distefano, CFE Co-Founder, and Head of Franchise Development Office: 888-502-6310 x 102 Email: Dustin.Distefano@aplaceathome.com ABOUT A PLACE AT HOME A Place at Home (a NorEast Franchise Group) offers a range of customized in-home care services, care coordination and assistance in identifying and transitioning to senior living alternatives. The company is dedicated to preserving the quality of life for seniors by giving them the support they need to stay as independent as possible for as long as possible. Those who would like to explore franchising should contact the owners to start a conversation. Visit aplaceathomefranchise.com or a aplaceathome.com for more information. Reef Investment Group, (http://www.reefinvestmentgroup.com), a home buying company in San Diego, is customizing its solutions for busy property owners that are looking to sell a home. Each persons home selling experience is different, so their solution to sell their home should be different too, says company co-owner Ryan Call. This is why Reef Investment Group not only buys homes for cash, we also pay all the associated costs and work with homeowners on the closing date that works best for them. Need to sell and close fast? No problem. The cash sale is not dependent on any repairs, renovations, or updates whatsoever. Need to delay closing to line up the timeline with a new home your family is moving into? No problem. Our flexible solutions work on your schedule. Need to keep as much equity in your pocket as possible? No problem. Reef Investment Group does not charge fees, take a commission, or depend on the homeowner to fix things like a cracked foundation or leaking roof. Additional if you are trying to maximize your equity then we have solutions that may take a little longer but will but will net you more cash in the end. Ultimately we set you up with the best solution that fits your unique situation The Reef Investment Group process and customizable solutions help homeowners in San Diego County sell their home fast, receive cash for their home, and move on with their lives without getting stuck in an unpredictable housing market. To learn more, visit http://www.reefinvestmentgroup.com/how-we-buy-houses/ and reefinvestmentgroup.com/blog today. About Reef Investment Group Reef Investment Group is a cash home buyer that provides fair all-cash offers for homes. Offers are made within 24 hours of contact. Sellers to Reef Investment Group can choose their own closing date, even if the house has rental tenants or is in terrible condition all types of homes in any condition, and those with and without tenants, can receive a cash offer. Repairs, renovations and staging are not necessary. Reef wants homes as is, where is, in North San Diego County, CA. This is the company to call when you want a fair cash offer on a house, a quick sale, and no contingencies. Contact Details: Ryan Call Carlsbad, CA 92008 Ph: (760) 888-6406 ryan(at)reefinvestmentgroup.com Source: Reef Investment Group ### "I am a survivor of rape. This man has no moral bounds, just because he is a former leader of the free world does not give him the right to take advantage of women anymore. The double standard of women has got to stop. Please ask him to stop talking about an issue he will never comprehend." Unstoppable, Holly K. Dunn, the author of "Sole Survivor" stated in the wake of former President Clinton's most recent comments about the social norm of sexual assault..."I am a survivor of rape. This man has no moral bounds, just because he is a former leader of the free world does not give him the right to take advantage of women anymore. The double standard of women has got to stop. Please ask him to stop talking about an issue he will never comprehend." The Sole Survivor author, Holly K. Dunn is the survivor of a serial killer and has been speaking nationwide to universities, college campuses, women's clubs, government agencies, and members of Congress. Her message was most recently featured by the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Ms. Dunn's will be speaking this fall 2018 about the impact of surviving a serial killer, safety, and awareness, building teams to assist victims and living your passion. About Holly K. Dunn: Holly Dunn Pendleton is a survivor, a motivator, and a tribute to the human spirit! The victim of a violent physical and sexual assault and witness to her boyfriends murder, Holly has become a beacon of hope and inspiration to many. Miraculously living to tell her story, Holly motivates others to reclaim their lives after the assault and to help her community build a network of healing and outreach. Hollys passion to advocate for other victims of violence is extraordinary, and it is this passion that has allowed her and organizations that she is a part of to reach so many people. Hollys work includes being the spokesperson for Hollys House a local sexual abuse and domestic violence advocacy center which she co-founded in her hometown of Evansville, IN. That passion later evolved into her current full-time work as a motivational speaker and trainer, using her own experience and uplifting message to inspire and enlighten. Dunn's story has been featured by CBS 48 Hours, People Magazine, NJ Blue Magazine, New York Post, TIME, The National Press Club Annual Author's Event, The University of Kentucky Alumni Magazine and a Women of Influence feature for Sexual Assault Awareness month. The CBS 48 Hours episode also highlighted book excerpts from Sole Survivor including Holly's family members and Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority Sisters who were involved during those days. More information can be found at https://www.cbsnews.com/news/48-hours-live-to-tell-the-railroad-killer "Representing the Commercial Landlord" provides powerful ammunition for both landlord reps and tenant reps to have in their arsenal. Commercial real estate is one of the most understandable of investments. We live and work within real estate. It is tangible. One can see it. Yet, underneath this veneer of simplicity there are many legal and practical issues to consider. And these issues are impacted by the market and the leverage of the parties, both of which are moving targets. This Financial Poise REAL ESTATE LAW DUMBED DOWN 2018 webinar series is for the lawyer, broker, investor, syndicator, developer and others who seek a basic understanding of the essential elements of real estate law. This series spans purchase through sale and cover all of the high points in between. Purchasing real estate presents a number of threshold questions. Should a real estate investor use his or her own money, or seek investors? What type of investment legal structure makes the most sense and why? When one is in the process of acquiring a property, what are the most important items to inspect? What if the buyer finds a big problem? When one wishes to sell a real estate investment, how much is the right price? What is the value and how is it determined? At its base, commercial real estate is all about cash flow. What makes this possible is the commercial lease. Yet a lease creates a long-term relationship between a landlord and a tenant who have diametrically opposing goals. How does one navigate through the minefield of legal issues in a lease and end up with a contract that both sides can live with for years to come? The first episode of the series, Representing the Commercial Landlord, airs on June 21st at 2:00 PM CST (Register Here) and features Moderator Matthew Bordwin of Keen-Summit Capital Partners LLC. He is joined by Andrew Abrams of Boodell & Domanskis, Ari Davis of Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP, and Howard Kline of The Law Office of Howard F. Kline. The process of representing a commercial landlord in a lease transaction is multi-faceted. While generation of cash flow is ultimate goal, there are other very important goals. These include minimizing risk, preserving the asset, enhancing the property and about a multitude of other issues. This webinar provides powerful ammunition for both landlord reps and tenant reps to have in their arsenal. It focuses on the major concerns of real estate professionals in advising a landlord. When should the landlord insist on the language in the lease, and when should the landlord consider a concession or compromise? What is the role of the local real estate market in this analysis and why is it so important? After participating in this webinar, one will have a solid grasp of what commercial landlords need and why. The REAL ESTATE LAW DUMBED DOWN 2018 webinar series is produced by Financial Poise. The series is sponsored by Premier Travel Management. Future episodes in the REAL ESTATE LAW DUMBED DOWN 2018 series include "Representing the Commercial Tenant," airing on July 19th, "Basics of Real Estate Syndication," airing on August 16th, "Due Diligence in Real Estate Deals" airing on September 13th, and "Real Estate Valuation Basics 101" airing on October 11th. Each episode airs at 2:00 PM CST. All episodes premiere live through West LegalEdCenter and then are made available on-demand. As with every Financial Poise Webinar, each episode is delivered in Plain English understandable to investors, business owners, and executives without much background in these areas, yet is also valuable to attorneys, accountants, and other seasoned professionals. And, as with every Financial Poise Webinar, each episode brings you into engaging, sometimes humorous, conversations designed to entertain as it teaches. Each episode in the series is designed to be viewed independently of the other episodes, so that participants will enhance their knowledge of this area whether they attend one, some, or all episodes. About Financial Poise Financial Poise has one mission: to provide reliable plain English business, financial and legal education to investors, private business owners and executives, and their respective trusted advisors. Financial Poise content is created by seasoned, respected experts who are invited to join our Faculty only after being recommended by current Faculty Members. Our editorial staff then works to make sure that all content is easily digestible. Financial Poise is a meritocracy; nobody can buy her way onto the Financial Poise Faculty. Start learning today at https://www.financialpoise.com/ About Premier Travel Management Premier Travel Management is a privately owned corporate travel management firm located in the heart of Chicago for over 25 years. Premier Travel Managements primary goal is to provide unsurpassed professional, yet personal, service to the corporate traveler while offering cost containment programs to their clients for managing travel budgets. To learn more about the services offered by Premier Travel Management, please go here. MAP Reading Fluency wins CODiE Award for Best Student Assessment Solution "We designed MAP Reading Fluency to address teachers biggest needs and concerns with oral reading fluency assessment. This recognition validates the enthusiastic response weve been getting from teachers and reading experts." - Chris Minnich, CEO, NWEA NWEA, the leading not-for profit provider of assessment solutions, today announced that its newest assessment MAP Reading Fluency won the 2018 SIIA CODiE Award for Best Student Assessment Solution. CODiE award recipients are the companies producing the most innovative business and education technology products across the country, and around the world. MAP Reading Fluency is the first computer adaptive, automatically scored K-3 oral reading assessment; it eliminates the need for one-on-one, teacher-student administration. The groundbreaking 20-minute assessment of oral reading fluency, comprehension, and foundational reading skills is delivered online, enabling group administration and saving teachers hours of time. Teachers receive immediate objective results, actionable data, and instructional guidance to support individualized reading development for every student. Student reading is recorded and can be shared with parents and used to track reading skill development. In reviewing MAP Reading Fluency, judges noted the assessment is a tremendous time saver for elementary school teachers, and strengths cited include adaptation to the student, recordability for use in parent teacher conferences, and plenty of stats for setting benchmarks. This recognition validates the enthusiastic response weve been getting from teachers and reading experts for MAP Reading Fluency, said Chris Minnich, CEO, NWEA. The assessment is a real marriage of technology both adaptive and speech scoring with time tested pedagogical knowledge about reading ability it is based on multiple measures of fluency, comprehension, and foundational skills. We designed MAP Reading Fluency to address teachers biggest needs and concerns with oral reading fluency assessment, and we are proud to be recognized by the CODiE judges for making advancements in this area. MAP Reading Fluency was developed in partnership with LanguaMetrics, Inc., the leader in speech-enabled education applications. LanguaMetrics Speech Platform uses patented speech recognition and scoring technology EduSpeak, licensed from SRI International. EduSpeak is one of the first speech engines that is tailored to children ages 4-8 and that addresses beginner reader behaviors including word and line skips, substitutions, and long pauses. MAP Reading Fluency, along with MAP Growth and MAP Skills, comprise the MAP Suite from NWEA, a comprehensive assessment system with multiple ways to utilize assessment to improve instruction. I am impressed by the level of innovation and creativity demonstrated by the 2018 CODiE award winners. These products are opening doors for learners of all ages by developing and utilizing new technologies to respond to student and educator needs. said Ken Wasch, president of SIIA. The winner announcement was made by the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), the principal trade association for the software and digital content industries, during the SIIA Annual Conference & CODiE Awards in San Francisco. 40 awards were given for products and services deployed specifically for education and learning professionals. An SIIA CODiE Award win is a prestigious honor as each award winner was first reviewed by expert judges including educators and administrators, whose evaluations determined the finalists. SIIA members then vote on the finalist products, and the scores from both rounds are tabulated to select the winners. About the SIIA CODiE Awards The SIIA CODiE Awards is the only peer-reviewed program to showcase business and education technologys achieving excellence. Since 1986, thousands of products, services and solutions have been recognized for achieving excellence. For more information, visit siia.net/CODiE. About NWEA NWEA is a mission-driven, not-for-profit organization that supports students and educators worldwide by creating assessment solutions that precisely measure growth and proficiencyand provide insights to help tailor instruction. Educators in more than 9,500 schools, districts, and education agencies in 145 countries rely on our flagship interim assessment, MAP Growth; our progress monitoring and skills mastery tool, MAP Skills; and our reading fluency and comprehension assessment, MAP Reading Fluency. Visit NWEA.org to find out how NWEA can partner with you to help all kids learn. The United States Navy Memorial is hosting Concerts on the Avenue, a summer concert series by the United States Navy Band, until Labor Day. The United States Navy Band began its Concerts on the Avenue series in 1997. The Navy Band is carrying on this tradition by performing on Memorial Plaza Tuesdays at 7:30pm. Performances will feature various ensembles of the Navy Band, including the Commodores, Cruisers, Country Current, and Concert Band. On select weeks, the full Navy Band will perform along with the Navy Ceremonial Guard and Navy Drill Team. The concert series highlights naval history and heritage, including the current exhibits at the Navy Memorial, honors the U.S. Navy fleet, and pays tribute to the nations veterans. It is a family-friendly event featuring a variety of musical genres, including current radio hits, iconic American music, and patriotic standards. If weather conditions, including heat, preclude an outdoor concert from occurring, the concert will be moved inside. A rain-out concert featuring the Sea Chanters will be held inside the Burke Theater, located in the Navy Memorials Visitor Center. Schedule for the Concerts on the Avenue series: 12 June | Full Navy Band & Ceremonial Guard Performs 19 June | Full Navy Band & Ceremonial Guard Performs 26 June | Full Navy Band & Ceremonial Guard Performs 10 July | Country Current 17 July | Commodores 24 July | Commodores 31 July | Full Navy Band & Ceremonial Guard Performs 7 August | Full Navy Band & Ceremonial Guard Performs 14 August | Full Navy Band & Ceremonial Guard Performs 21 August | Concert Band 28 August | Concert Band The Navy Memorial is located at 701 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, just steps away from the Navy Memorial Metro station. To learn more about the Concerts on the Avenue series, contact Dino Medler at dmedler(at)navymemorial.org or 202-380-0715. For more information about the Navy Memorials events, visit navymemorial.org. The Navy Memorial, located at 701 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, consists of a large plaza with a granite map of the world, the iconic Lone Sailor statue, 3,500 square-foot museum area, a 240-person theater, the Ships Store which sells Navy memorabilia and the Navy Log, the nations largest publicly available data base of sea service veterans. Our mission is to Honor, Recognize and Celebrate the men and women of the Sea Services, past, present and future; and to inform the public about their service. We do that mission with the support of tens of thousands of members and Corporate Partners including USAA, Veritas, CACI, Lockheed Martin, U.S. Money Reserve, DXC Technology, Huntington Ingalls Industry, NewDay USA, Ernst & Young, General Dynamics, Navy Mutual Aid, Pratt & Whitney and Capital Bank. To learn more, please visit navymemorial.org UNCF (United Negro College Fund) President and CEO Dr. Michael L. Lomax, Fisk University President Dr. Kevin Rome, and other UNCF national staff members will lead two panel discussions on June 18 and 19, during the National Charter Schools Conference, being held in Austin, TX. The sessions seek to broaden the understanding of HBCUs (historically black colleges and universities) and emphasize the importance of community engagement to improve overall outcomes for African American students. DETAILS: Panel discussion: Connecting Dots and Aligning Visions: HBCU and Charter School Partnerships - Monday, June 18, 3:30-4:45 p.m. Hilton Austin, Salon F Dr. Michael Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF Dr. Kevin Rome, president, Fisk University Sekou Biddle, vice president, K-12 Advocacy, UNCF Khalia Murray, former UNCF-Walton K-12 Fellow and current pre-K teacher at DC Prep Kathryn Procope, head of school, Howard University Middle School of Math and Science Panel discussion: With Us, Not to Us: Community-Centered Reform - Tuesday, June 19, 2:00-3:15 p.m. Hilton Austin, Salon K Naomi N. Shelton, national director, K-12 Advocacy, UNCF Dr. Meredith B.L. Anderson, senior research associate, K-12 Advocacy, UNCF Kenya Adjekum Bradshaw, vice president, The New Teacher Project Tyler Lewis, director of messaging and project development, Leadership Conference Education Fund Maya Martin, founder and executive director, PAVE BACKGROUND: UNCF, through its K-12 advocacy and community engagement efforts, has released reports and created resources for parents, grasstop leaders, and community members to amplify the need to improve educational outcomes for African American students. These resources amplify the perceptions of K-12 education reform - - efforts and shift the narrative of what is possible for students. The two panel discussions will help give voice to many of the insights reached through the research about how parents, students and local community leaders all have a role to play in demanding improvements in K-12 education for students of color. Follow the discussion on social media using the #UNCFK12 and #NCSC18 hashtags. MORE INFO: Media availability can be accommodated. Please contact Monique LeNoir for more information at Monique.lenoir(at)UNCF.org or by calling 202.810.0231. ### About UNCF UNCF is the nation's largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students' education and development through scholarships and other programs, strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding nearly 20 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF awards more than $100 million in scholarships annually and administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at more than 1,110 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized motto, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste." The genuine embracement of the spirit of Giving makes me proud to have won this particular award at the 2018 MANNY event. Michelman was a winner at the 12th Anniversary, 2018 MANNY Awards Dinner, held June 13, 2018 at the Sharonville Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio and sponsored by Cincy Magazine. Kreg Keesee, Michelmans Chief Supply Chain and Information Officer, accepted the award in the Best Place to Work category. Michelmans award was based on its strong relationship with associates. According to Mr. Steve Shifman, President & CEO at Michelman, Michelman Values are at the core of associate relationships, and a testimony to the companys success. These values include Integrity, Respect, Success, Collaboration, Curiosity, and Giving, and are a direct reflection of the organization and the driving force behind our achievements around the globe. Michelman is a global developer and manufacturer of environmentally friendly advanced materials for industry, offering solutions for the coatings, printing & packaging and industrial manufacturing markets. Headquartered in Cincinnati, and with manufacturing facilities on three continents, the company will be holding its 7th Annual Commitment2Community Day, when hundreds of associates leave their offices, labs and email behind for a full day to volunteer their time at a wide variety of locations. Mr. Shifman commented, One of our most important core values is Giving. Our staff is comprised of hundreds of generous associates who give freely of themselves, their time, their energy, their knowledge, and their resources. They do so with no expectation of receiving anything in return other than the satisfaction that comes from participating in a successful business and living in a thriving community. In the Tristate area alone, Michelman associates participate in more than 40 non-profits and have volunteered approximately 3,780 hours throughout the year. The genuine embracement of the spirit of Giving makes me proud to have won this particular award at the 2018 MANNY event. About Michelman Michelman is a global developer and manufacturer of environmentally friendly advanced materials for industry, offering solutions for the coatings, printing & packaging and industrial manufacturing markets. The companys surface additives and polymeric binders are used by leading manufacturers around the world to enhance performance attributes and add value in applications including wood and floor care products, metal and industrial coatings, paints, varnishes, inks, fibers and composites. Michelman is also well-known as an innovator in the development of barrier and functional coatings, as well as digital printing press primers that are used in the production of consumer and industrial packaging and paper products, labels, and commercially printed materials. Michelman serves its customers with production facilities in North America, Europe and Asia, product development and technical service centers in several major global markets, and a worldwide team of highly trained business development personnel. Tigard Exterior The Portland off-road community has been tremendously supportive of 4 Wheel Parts and were responding to this enthusiasm in bringing this second, brand-new retail location to the area. 4 Wheel Parts, the global leader in off-road performance product sales and installation, is opening the doors to its newest location this Saturday, June 16 in Tigard, Oregon with a family-friendly grand opening celebration. The free event, located at 11737 S.W. Pacific Hwy., marks the official unveiling of the off-road aftermarket retailers 91st store in North America. Featuring special grand opening discounts, installation specials and multiple giveaways throughout the day, 4 Wheel Parts will be introducing its brand new, state-of-the-art showroom and service bays as it shows-off their unique off-road shopping concept to the community. The Portland off-road community has been tremendously supportive of 4 Wheel Parts and were responding to this enthusiasm in bringing this second, brand-new retail location to the area, says Store Manager, Tom Dettman. Were excited that as we open our doors to our new showroom and service center, we are able to deliver increased access and availability to our extensive inventory of parts and accessories in addition to installation and service of everything we sell executed by our expert technicians. Visitors will have their first chance to become acquainted with the entire Tigard staff of truck and Jeep specialists who will be available to offer expert advice for potential builds and upgrades while a multitude of the industry leading manufacturers such as Smittybilt, Pro Comp, Rubicon Express, G2 Axle & Gear, BFGoodrich Tires, ARB, Warn, PIAA Lighting, Icon Vehicle Dynamics, Warrior Products, KMC/Wheel Pros and Bushwacker will be on-hand to demonstrate their latest products. In addition to a host of custom vehicles on display from the 4xNation club, guests will be treated to freshly prepared Mexican food and a variety of activities including a bounce house, frozen t-shirt contest, Hi-Lift jack contest, and a car crush. Attendees will also have the opportunity to enter for a chance to win a number of giveaways throughout the day including gift cards, a Smittybilt winch, a Traxxas RC car, a professional vehicle photoshoot and the grand prize of a $1,000 4 Wheel Parts shopping spree to one lucky winner. In addition to one-time-only event specials, ASE-certified technicians will be onsite providing installation discounts on select products purchased. From mud to forest trails, rocks and snow, our area lends itself to exploring and enjoying the outdoors off-road, says Dettman. Were eager to open this new store, with an extensive range of products on display, for everyone from the hardcore off-road enthusiast, to the customer looking for towing, electronics, safety and storage solutions for his truck or Jeep. What: 4 Wheel Parts Grand Opening Celebration When: Saturday, June 16 - 9 a.m. 5 p.m. Location: Tigard, Oregon 11737 S.W. Pacific HWY. Tigard, Oregon 97223 Complimentary Admission About 4 Wheel Parts 4 Wheel Parts is the global leader in truck, Jeep, SUV and off-road performance products. With 91 locations across the U.S. and Canada and growing, 4 Wheel Parts Service Centers install all the products they sell. Maintaining the nations largest inventory of off-road tires, wheels, suspension products and accessories, 4 Wheel Parts serves customers across the country and around the globe. Life is Better Off-Road. Visit them at 4wheelparts.com or call toll-free 877-474-4821 Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Posted Tuesday, June 12, 2018 8:00 pm As high school seniors locally and across the country steel themselves for what lies ahead after graduation, it's worth looking back to the film to which all subsequent slice-of-life, cusp-of-adulthood films about the end of adolescence owe a DNA-level debt: 1973's American Graffiti, only the second film George Lucas ever made. It's easy to forget, ever since George Lucas became GEORGE LUCAS, but before he made Star Wars, the kid from Modesto, California, was a brilliant independent talent who'd studied the works of French New Wave directors. More importantly, Lucas found a way to use those stylistic tricks and narrative tropes to tell the most American of stories, that of suburban teens at the outset of the rock-and-roll era, contemplating their onrushing adulthood. It's hilarious to look back and connect the cavalcade of name-brand actors who populate this film's cast, who have since grown much older and more distinguished, with their baby-faced counterparts, back when guys like Ron Howard and Richard Dreyfus had buck teeth and full heads of hair, and future stars like Harrison Ford were mere bit players. It's the last night of summer vacation in 1962, before best buds Curt (Dreyfus) and Steve (Howard) head off to college together, with the hopes of leaving their sleepy hometown of Modesto behind for good. But before they go, Steve has to break up with his girlfriend Laurie (Cindy Williams, future costar of Laverne & Shirley), and Curt an obvious authorial stand-in for Lucas himself, who's already developed second thoughts about leaving home falls in love at first sight with a beautiful blonde he spots driving a white 1956 Ford Thunderbird (Suzanne Somers, future costar of Three's Company). Anyone who's ever seen any other all-in-one-night film about That Last Wild Party Before We Have to Grow Up especially if it was 1993's Dazed and Confused, or Can't Hardly Wait in 1998 will recognize the almost anthology-style shifting perspectives in American Graffiti. The seriocomic scenes cross-cut throughout the night, from Steve, to Curt, to drag-racing stud John Milner (Paul Le Mat, whose blue-eyed smolder still lives up to the standards of the onscreen heartthrobs who followed him) as he cruises down the strip, to Terry the Toad (Charles Martin Smith), an endearingly out-of-his-depth dork who's trying to impress his hot but bubble-headed date, Debbie (Candy Clark). As much as this film functions as an archaeological artifact of a very specific time and place in American history it was deemed culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant by the U.S. Library of Congress in 1995 and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry it's also a timeless statement about the looming anxieties and whirlwind passions animating every generation of kids. Even as adults, the reason we wax so nostalgic about adolescence is because, while the maturity we've hopefully gained in the years since helps us see how fleeting and trivial our concerns were back then, we can still remember when they felt like the fulcrum points of everything that mattered in our lives. That bittersweet respect for the starry-eyed passions of adolescence is reflected in the real-life radio DJ, Wolfman Jack, playing himself for the film, as he agrees to send out a dedication over the air to Curt's mystery blonde. All the teens in town are shown mythologizing Wolfman Jack as this globe-trotting outlaw, and the big man himself is more than happy to help build the legend, because he knows his outsized persona might inspire them to dream big dreams and do even bigger deeds. There's a great, big, beautiful world out there, Wolfman Jack tells Curt, encouraging him to make his flight to college in the morning. And here I sit, sucking on popsicles. As a former disc jockey myself, I know that feeling. The man disclosed on Reddit that he did the heartless thing about two years ago following a serious motor accident, the aftermath of which required that the affected foot be amputated. Reddit is an American social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website. The unnamed man said he invited 11 of his friends to a special meal on July 10th, 2016, just about three weeks after the accident. Apparently, to lay the foundation for the actual meal for which he had invited the friends, Yabaleftonline.ng reported that the man gave them apple strudel, quiche puff pastries, fruit tarts and chocolate cake with gin lemonade punches and mimosas. He subsequently served them the main meal he referred to as Foot Taco. Below is the full narration of the man whose identity remains undisclosed for the obvious: So my friends and I always had this joke, If you could try human flesh in an ethical and healthy way, would you. And we always said of course. Well the opportunity came up and I called them on it. Originally I wanted to have [my foot] taxidermied or freeze-dried. How cool would it be to have my freeze-dried or taxidermied foot standing around the house as a lamp or a doorstop or something?All of this came out of the idea that its my foot. Its not going to be cremated and chucked into a landfill. Its a part of me, and I want it back. Most hospitals have policies where they will release your body parts to you because of some religions where you have to be buried whole, so I just signed the paperwork. My mom, who was helping me get back on my feet, so to speak, drove me back to pick it up.She doesnt know I ate it, though. I went inside and the hospital gave me my foot in a red plastic biowaste bag. I brought it to the car and immediately put it in a cooler. It was pretty bizarre. I got back to my place and I froze it. I couldnt find a taxidermist who would take me seriously and freeze-drying was too expensive.It would have been $1,200 (900) to freeze dry the thing. If I had the money I would have done it. "Eventually, I decided to cast it in plaster to use as a doorstop, then capture a 3D rendering so I can make little keychains. When we got back to my house, I took the foot out, and it was so gross, man. It was covered in blood and had iodine all over it. After I cleaned it off, I was pleasantly surprised by how well-preserved it was. Before we cast it, I quickly took a knife from my kitchen and cut a chunk off the top of my shin. The skin was already kind of off from the surgery, leaving a big chunk of muscle exposed. I just took the muscle. I put it in a plastic bag and put it in my freezer. I invited 11 people. I said something like, Remember how we always talked about how, if we ever had the chance to ethically eat human meat, would you do it? Well, Im calling you on that. We doing this or what? Ten said yes. I guess were a weird group. The foot was the marinated overnight and sauteed it with onions, peppers, salt, pepper, and lime juice. It was later served on corn tortillas with a tomato sauce. People think it tastes like pork because in movies we hear it called long pig. But that term originated in places like Papua New Guinea, where they eat wild boar. This particular cut was super beefy. It had a very pronounced, beefy flavor to it. The muscle I cut was tough and chewy. It tasted good, but the experience wasnt the best. When he finally got sober, it was after experiencing the agonies of withdrawal in a Massachusetts jail cell. Rick, who's been sober for 42 years now, went on to start a family. As his son, Eric, grew up, he was open with him about his past struggles with addiction, believing that if Eric knew his story, he wouldn't fall into the same trap he did. "He had never seen me drink or do drugs," Rick, who now works as a criminal lawyer, told MensHealth.com by phone. "He had seen nothing but the promises, benefits, hopes, and aspirations of recovery." Rick "could never have imagined" that his son would follow in his footsteps and develop an opioid addiction, too. Eric's experimentation with drugs started in the seventh grade, when he tried weed for the first time. Almost immediately, he was hooked. "The way I smoked was different from my peers - I wanted to use it every day," Eric, now 27, told MensHealth.com. As the years passed, he started drinking and using other drugs; once he'd snorted cocaine, he figured he might as well snort painkillers like Vicodin and Percocet, too. By the time he was a junior at Union College, he'd developed a physical dependency on opioids. "The entire day revolved around one thing," he said: "Was I going to have enough milligrams of oxycodone to not get sick?" If he woke up in his frat house bedroom at 5 a.m. and had painkillers on-hand, he'd get up at 5 a.m. and start his day. If he didn't have any drugs - and no money to buy more - he'd stay in bed all day and go through withdrawal. "Imagine you had the flu, a stomach bug, leg cramps, and back problems because you pulled your back out doing squats, all combined into one, and times that by a thousand," he said. "It's the most uncomfortable feeling you could ever have, and the worst part is knowing the only thing that can fix it is more of what's making you so sick." Rick knew that his son was suffering, but Eric "avoided me like the plague," Rick said. It wasn't easy to watch his son's struggles mirror his own: "My addiction took from me members of my family, my friends, my opportunity to graduate school ... and it was doing that to Eric." "I didn't want you to die," Rick added. Eric was not alone. In 2015, 2 million Americans over the age of 12 had a substance use disorder involving prescription pain relievers, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine. It's also not uncommon for members of the same family to fall prey to drug addiction. Dads like Rick can set good examples for their kids, but the fact is, genetics make up 40 to 60 percent of a person's risk for developing an addiction, according to Dr. Ben Nordstrom, M.D., Ph.D., President and CEO of Phoenix House. As the U.S. faces an ever-worsening opioid crisis, "it's quite common to see multiple members of the same family struggling with opioid use disorders," Nordstrom said in an email. "People with strong family histories of addiction need to realize that their risk of developing a problem is higher than normal, and need to be cautious and make informed choices about experimenting with drugs," he added. For Eric, his rock-bottom moment came on his 21st birthday, when he came home high and his girlfriend decided she was fed up with his empty promises to get help. She took his pricey stash of pills - the ones he'd bought by stealing his mom's credit card, buying a laptop, and selling the laptop to a drug dealer - and flushed them down the toilet. For Rick, it was a "thank you, god" moment. "My hope was that this was going to be turning point for him," he said. The toilet incident led to a series of attempts to get sober, but Eric's addiction won out every single time. Finally, he checked into the Gosnold Treatment Center in Cape Cod, where a counselor recommended he try an injectable medication called Vivitrol. Vivitrol is a brand-name version of the drug naltrexone, which binds to the brain's opioid receptors without activating them. "When a person's receptors are blocked like this, they can't feel the effects of heroin or other opioids," Nordstrom explained. On the medication, Eric had fewer thoughts about getting high - and it freed him up to connect to the services and support systems he needed to stay sober. "It catapulted me into this world of recovery that I didn't anticipate being in," Eric said. That's not to say his recovery was smooth sailing, but thankfully, he had his dad to guide the way. "I heard him complain and kick and scream and say, 'This may not work, I'm not worth it,'" Rick remembered. "It was heart-wrenching for me as a father. But I knew that if he hung in there, every day was going to get better. I kept promising him, 'It will change.'" It did. Eric went on to finish college and get a combined graduate degree in law and business. Now he's a lawyer, like his dad. And the girlfriend who flushed his pills down the toilet? She's now Eric's wife. Not everyone with an opioid addiction has a success story like Rick and Eric's. In 2016, 116 people died every day in the U.S. from opioid-related drug overdoses. Our national life expectancy is going down, and opioid fatalities are partly to blame for that. What advice would the father and son give to other guys struggling with addiction? "Ask for help and get help," Eric said. "Help is usually in the form of treatment. If you get treatment, you can live a life beyond your wildest dreams." The company launched its Star Phone Services in Ghana on Thursday (June 14, 2018). Ghana is the first country in Africa to launch the Star Services. At the launch the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of One Smart Star International, David Sussan said he was delighted at the companys entry to Africa through Ghana. READ ALSO: Telcos complete installation of Kelni GVG servers The company is in partnership with communication giant MTN Ghana to help roll out the Smart Star Phone Services. The Acting Chief Marketing Officer of MTN, Mrs Amerley Ampofo said the Star Phone Service was relevant in this digital age and must be embraced by all. One of the problems we identified in the market is the issue of dealing with several phone numbers or digits when we need to reach businesses or organizations. Toll-free numbers are usually very long and not easy to memorize. As it is often the case, whilst on your phone with a caller and there is the need to request for a number, the next thing will be for you to look for a place to write or store the number. To solve this problem and make it much easier to reach organizations, Fast Food joints and many more, MTN in partnership with One Smart Star Ghana Limited is happy to introduce onto the market, the Star Phone Service. Delivering the keynote address, Deputy Communications Minister, Vincent Odotei Sowah said this innovation would help the digitization agenda of the government. READ ALSO: BoG to amend guidelines for commercial banks on loans The global economy today is being driven by technology and innovation which is evolving. It is therefore great news for Ghana that this application is being launched at this time when digitization of Ghanas economy is key on the Presidents agenda to position Ghana as a regional ICT hub. He said that the government will support tech companies like One Smart Star Ghana Limited in every it can for the digitization of Ghana a reality. The One Smart Star International with its proven and patented service is currently operating successfully in 80 countries worldwide. In a Facebook post, Mahama wrote "Hearty congratulations to our Muslim brothers and sisters for successfully completing the rigorous, purifying fast and prayer period of the holy month of Ramadan. For each and every one of us, Ramadan serves as a reminder of the need to reorient ourselves and imbibe the values of godliness, sacrifice, compassion and self-restraint. Beyond todays celebration, lets commit to be guided by these values in our relationships. I am confident that the ever merciful Allah has accepted our humble prayers, and our dear nation and all of its people will prosper. He said there are too many irregularities in the deal that needs the attention of the President. There are so many things being hidden about this deal that we need to know. I think President Nana Addo ought to be on top of this matter. I have not heard him speak and I am worried. This Kelni GVG deal is a candidate for opaqueness, it is a candidate for waste, it is a candidate for aggravated possible corruption, said Franklin Cudjoe.READ ALSO: Parliament summons minister of communications over $89m Kelni GVG deal His comments come barely a day after he raised concerns over governments delay in locating the contract documents for the revenue monitoring Common Platform.This is after Ghana Anti Corruption Coalition wrote to request the contract details on May 30, 2018. Ministry of Communications response to the Ghana Anti Corruption Coalition on June 11 said: We are currently in the process of locating the available records. Led by the Constituency Chairman of the NDC in Ashaiman, Shaddad Umar Jallo, who addressed a news conference last Thursday, he stressed that he and his supporters will oppose any move by the NIA to extend the registration of the Ghana card to Ashaiman.He stated that they will destroy equipment meant for the exercise if the NIA fails to include voters ID card as one of the documents needed to register for the Ghana card. According to him, NIAs basis for accepting only birth certificate and passport for the registration and issuance of instant cards to establish citizenship will marginalize constituents, therefore, their intended action.My problem about that card issue is that they said anybody who wants to do the National Identification should have either passport or birth cert. That one I dont understand because how many people have passport and how many people get a birth cert in Ghana here?"Means said the NPP government they want to tie people their hand in their back so that they cannot get access to the card that is why they are bringing those things. In Ashaiman here, I said I will not allow that to happen in Ashaiman here, if they joke and they bring the Ashaiman here, we are going to chase them in Ashaiman here and if they like they should bring the police and soldiers to Ashaiman. We are not going to allow those things to happen in Ashaiman here." The Sun UK confirmed that Wagster a personal trainer slept with 2,500 women over a period of 11 years. He reportedly did this at a frequency "of four or five women a week." His active sex life shares equal energy with several crimes. According to reports, the fitness expert has been convicted of 16 offences including assault, burglary and harassment. ALSO READ: Man offers 60k to lady celebrating birthday in return for sex Wagster was reportedly jailed for eight weeks by the Warrington Magistrates Court for attempting to avoid payment of the sum of 450 after eating at the Piccolino restuarant located in Cheshire alongside three of his friends. This happened on Thursday, June 14, 2018, around Adamasigba Stadium located in Ibadan, Oyo State. The policeman, Kehinde Agbede from the Mokola Police Division was angry for being cautioned by the mother against causing an accident in a bid to collect a N50 bribe. A report gathered on Instagram confirmed that the victim bore scars of painful slaps when the officer laid hands on her. The new incident is one in a list of police brutality aiding in creating a wider gap between the force and the Nigerian people who are keen about seeing an end to the violence. It appears the trademark of officers of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) who are unrelenting in the alleged abuse on civilians. Police chief Ibrahim Idris's interest in upholding the United Nation's position on human rights has seen many threats and this has inspired the youths to taking private actions but together. ALSO READ: SARS officers bite more than they can chew after slapping soldier Hood boys chase away SARS officers who messed with them Things are getting heated for operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) in Lagos who were chased away in an Ikotun neighbourhood. A footage shared on Instablog9ja today revealed the policemen as they drove away in a white escort vehicle. The loud chants of a mob seemed to have made them leave the location in silence. This marks hard times for officers who work in the police department which has seen criticism following many reports of abuse. Recently, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris ordered the men to desist from indiscriminate searches on individuals unless deemed necessary. He said he could not miss the fasting because of the spiritual benefits attached to it and also because he missed the Ramadan fasting last year when he was hospitalised in London. Speaking at the presidential villa in Abuja on Friday, June 15, the President said he feels "healthier to attend to national issues" now that the fasting is over. He had received a delegation of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) led by the Minister of FCT, Mohammed Bello, at the Villa. Among the delegation were lawmakers, religious leaders, some cabinet members, service chiefs, presidential aides and some FCT residents. Buhari said, "Im very grateful to the ministers and church leadership that came to say happy Eid-Filtri to those of us that have been fasting. "A lot of people asked me if on health grounds I could fast I refused not to because I know the value in fasting, I cannot miss it once I can do it. "Last year I didnt because I was on health vacation but this year I have done it and I thank God because it has helped me to be healthier and also gave me the time that I need to attend to national issues." The presidential aide made the remark on her official Twitter account on Friday, June 15, 2018, as the nation was caught up in the Eid-el-Fitr celebration. In the post, she put up a video of British Prime Minister, Theresa May, paying a visit to a mosque, a place of worship for Muslims, despite being a Christian. Onochie used May's visit to illustrate the need for CAN to embrace "love and godliness", not "hatred and anger". She posted, "Prime Minister Theresa May, a Christian, is in a mosque doing what humans go to do in a place of worship. She Knows that her God is the same one also called Allah. Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN of worms, Here's a great lesson in love and godliness, not hatred & anger!" She had previously used the Prime Minister as an example of religious tolerance when she released a Ramadan message to Britain's Muslim poplulation in May 2018. Onochie tweeted, "This does not make her less a Christian. In Britain, every child studies Religious knowledge where they learn about Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, etc. They know, understand and respect each others religion. They know what to expect from other people of other faith." The presidency has enjoyed a very uneasy relationship with the Christian association in recent months especially on the vicious killings of Nigerians in the Middle Belt region this year which the association has been accused of inaccurately framing as a religious war. Ogungbeje stated this in a statement issued on Wednesday, June 13, 2018. "For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state categorically that we have fought a good fight this far despite repeated and sustained threats to my life and my defence lawyers," the lead counsel said. "I dare say we have no regrets whatsoever, having conducted the criminal charges involving our client this far. "For the sake of history, we have been able to enrich the basic principles of our criminal jurisprudence, especially the principle premised on an accused person being presumed innocent until the contrary is proved no matter the public opinion and criticism." He said the defence team has also been able to "keep the prosecution on their toes in the art of forensic, proper and thorough investigation and prosecution of accused persons." Defending a 'criminal' Responding to criticisms that he is defending a notorious criminal, Ogungbeje said a barrister is "bound to accept a brief for any man who comes before the courts." "No matter how great a rascal the man may be, no matter how given to complaining, no matter how undeserving or unpopular his cause, the barrister must defend him to the end. "He must accept the brief and do all he honourably can on behalf of his client." In the cause of the trial, Ogungbeje had filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit at the Federal high court in Lagos on behalf of Evans, asking the court to compel the police to release him. ALSO READ: Videos of kidnap suspect confessing to armed robbery, kidnapping played in court He later filed another suit against the Inspector-General of police and three other parties, claiming N300 million as general and exemplary damages against the police for "illegal detention and unconstitutional media trial". The spokesman of the command, DSP Gambo Isah, disclosed that the suspect, identified as Nura Aliyu, was arrested in the state capital while driving a blue Honda Civic car loaded with 300 bottles of the drug. He further disclosed that the suspect has already confessed to illegally distributing the drug to consumers and his drug syndicate. DSP Isah said, "The Katsina State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that on 12/06/2018 at about 2100hrs, it succeeded in arresting a notorious suspect who specialised in drug trafficking. "Police patrol team attached to CP's Surveillance Squad, Katsina, while on routine patrol along Senator Abba Ali Road by Mohd Dikko Stadium, Katsina, intercepted a Honda Civic with tinted glasses, loaded with 300 bottles of cough syrup suspected to be codeine, driven by one Nura Aliyu 'm' of Tsohuwar Tasha, Katsina. "Suspect confessed to have been in the business of drug trafficking distributing to other members of his drug syndicate and consumers alike. Suspect will be arraigned in court immediately investigation is completed." While addressing journalists, Aliyu said he was forced to join the trade so as to be able to provide for his two wives and five children. War on codeine In May 2018, the state government strongly condemned the activities of drug traffickers"in view of their negative consequences of destroying the future of our youths, who are the leaders of tomorrow." "As we mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan, let's remember and pray for our brothers and sisters who were unfortunate Let's remember their families, friends and associates in our prayers and generosities", the governor said. In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba, the governor enjoined Muslims to uphold lessons of endurance, perseverance and piety that the holy month teaches and to "endure the pains inflicted in our hearts by the Offa robbery". 2019 elections With the 2019 general elections in the horizon, the Kwara governor also urged Nigerians to pray for a peaceful political transition. Ahmed called for unity and commitment from all stakeholders towards his government's efforts to ensure equitable distribution of infrastructure and social amenities across the state. Osinbajo made the commendation after inspecting facilities at the site of the power plant in Benin on Friday. The vice president, who is on a two-day official visit to the state, says the 450 megawatts Azura power plant will increase power generation in the country. He expressed satisfaction with the level of work done at the site, saying it would boost the capability of Nigerias engineering enterprise. She made this discosure during an interview with Voice of America in her village named Shekau in Yobe State. According to Falmata, Shekau left his hometown as a young boy to continue his Islamic education in Maiduguri where he eventually met Mohammed Yusuf, the founder of Boko Haram. The almajiri system was established as an organised system of education for learning Islamic principles, values, and theology with pupils migrating from their homes to other places or to a popular teacher in the quest for Islamic knowledge. Even though the system was initially funded by the state and pupils were famed for engaging in menial jobs to fund the system, they are now more associated with begging on the streets to make ends meet. According to the report by VOA, it is believed that Shekau himself begged on the streets of Maiduguri before he fell in with Yusuf's group who was a vocal advocate against western education. During a military crackdown on the group in 2009, Yusuf and hundreds of other Boko Haram followers were killed, paving the way for Shekau to take control of the group and wage a bloody war against the Nigerian establishment, killing around 30,000 and displacing millions from their homes in an insurgency that has lasted nine years. Falmata wants God to touch Shekau's heart Falmata said she has not seen her son since he joined Yusuf and disclosed that she prays to God to touch his heart to put an end to his atrocities. She said, "I don't now if he's alive or dead. I don't know. It's only God who knows. For 15 years I haven't seen him. "Since Shekau met with Mohammed Yusuf, I didn't see him again. Yes, he's my son and every mother loves her son, but we have different characters. "He brought a lot of problem to many people. Where can I meet him to tell him that these things he is doing is very bad? He brought many problems to many people, but I am praying for God to show him the good way." She also expressed disappointment at how her son has turned out, saying it's not the values she instilled in him. "He just took his own character and went away. This is not the character I gave him. I don't know what this type of behavior is. It's only God who knows," she said. The VOA report also revealed that Shekau's father was a local district Imam before he died a few years ago. Shekau's reign of terror Since he took over the reins of Boko Haram after Yusuf's death in 2009, Shekau has been the face of Boko Haram's reign of terror which has led to the death of thousands and displacement of millions. He has attacked schools, markets, mosques, civilian settlements, military bases and, at some point, took complete control of some local government areas in the country. He said looters should be treated with disdain for bringing hardships on Nigerians. The President stated this on Thursday, June 14, in his Sallah message to mark the end of the Ramadan fasting period. He said, "selfishness and greed have overcome peoples conscience so much that they dont have moral inhibitions in the pursuit of their greed". "I always wonder why any true believer, be they politicians, civil servants or businessmen, would seek to make profits from the misfortunes of others." He congratulated Muslims on completing "this spiritually significant month of sacrifice" and urged them to reflect on the importance of Ramadan in becoming good ambassadors of Islam at all times. The President also urged Muslims to put the virtues of Islam into practice beyond the fasting season. He said, "Religion should be the moral compass for all believers in their public and personal lives. "If people allow the teachings of their religions to influence their conducts, problems such as corruption, which diverts public funds to private pockets, would have been eliminated in the society." ALSO READ: Keyamo says Buhari deserves re-election for how he dealt with Maina Buhari stated this when he received representatives of residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who paid him Sallah homage at his official resident in the presidential villa, Abuja, on Friday. He said the call had become imperative so as to enable the nation explore its resources which hitherto had been abandoned in the past years. The President, who digressed to praise the immediate past Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, for his tremendous contributions during his tenure as minister, said it would be difficult for him to get his replacement in the cabinet. Im very pleased that we are working very hard collectively as Nigerians and that God in his infinite mercy who knows what is in the heart and not by mouth, will continue to guide us so that we accommodate each other at all times. This country is blessed on human and material resources. Here I have to digress and wish my former minister of mines and steel, Kayode Fayemi, well. He has been a very hardworking minister, because the ministry he was leading was neglected with the overbearing economic relevance of oil. But from the days of mining of tin, columbite, coal and so on, you know this country is blessed. Throughout the country, we have solid minerals and I am hoping that Fayemi will succeed to lead again his state. I believe he is a very hardworking person, very patriotic but Nigerian politics is virtually unpredictable. We are going to work very hard to fill his space in the executive council so that we keep on exploiting more and more of our solid minerals and less politicizing of our petroleum resources. I think we have invested so much in this country and we will continue to pray that we stay together and let us develop the necessary confidence, work together as a people, this country is great let us work together so that we can save a lot more and exploit more of the resources that were abandoned so many years ago, he said. The President called on Nigerians to always exhibit the virtues of honesty, patriotism and hard work to enable them take advantage of the abundant natural resources. He thanked the FCT Minister and the leaderships of the two religious communities (Islam and Christianity) for paying him happy Eid-Fitr. President Buhari enjoined them to preach to their followers the need to be patriotic and to work harder away from primordial sentiments for the good of the society. He said: Im very grateful to the minister and the Mosque and Church leadership that came to say happy Eid-Filtri to those of us that have been fasting. A lot of people asked me of on health grounds I can default I refused because I know the value in fasting, I cannot miss it once I can do it. Last year, I didnt because I was on health vacation but this year I have done it and I thank God because it has helped me to be much more healthier to give me the time that I need to attend to national issues. Please in your constituencies emphasized what I said about 30 years ago, we dont have another country except Nigeria we may as well remain here and salvage it together, there is nothing else we can do. Even those that had gone out are now trying to come back because they are not wanted out there. I wish all the resources they had they had deployed it here it would have been much better. So, thank you very much and please try to persuade your constituencies to work much harder away from individualism and sectionalism The Minister of the FCT, Alhaji Muhammed Bello, who led the delegation for the homage, said they were in the presidential villa to felicitate with the president after the successful completion of the Ramadan fasting period. Bello, who presented a giant Sallah Greeting Card to the President, renewed the loyalty and support of the FCT residents to Buhari administration. He prayed that Almighty God would continue to guide and protect the President in his efforts toward transforming the country to greater height. Senate President Bukola Saraki, who was represented at the event by Sen. Bala NaAllah, pledged that the National Assembly would continue to partner with the executive arm of government to improve the quality of life of all Nigerians. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Buhari had earlier joined hundreds of other Muslim faithful to perform the two-rakaat Eid Fitr prayer session at the Mambilla Barrack Mosque, Abuja. NAN observed that the prayer was led by the Mosques chief Imam, Capt. Sabiu Yusuf, who in his sermon, called on Muslim ummah to abide by the teachings of the Holy Quran in all their dealings with fellow citizens. Oshiomhole stated this while fielding questions from newsmen in Benin on Friday. The National Convention of APC will hold on June 23, with no fewer than 6,800 delegates expected to participate. Oshiomhole said, I am enjoying the support of APC governors and other party leaders across the nation ahead the June 23 National Convention of the party. The reason for this is because they understand my person and because, by the Special Grace of God, if I will emerge through a consensus leadership, my loyalty will be to the party and no more. He said if elected, he would deploy his persuasive powers and negotiation skills in resolving the crisis in the party. If I have prominent people from the North, prominent people from the South, East, West and the center, no one will say `if not for my support you would not have been there. If you are a product of one section, then you might remain detained by that section. But, when you have the privilege of a broad support from many leaders, then no one leader will say I put you there and you must listen to me. Let me also say that what is also qualitatively different about this support is that there is no question about what is influencing it. This is so, because in our political environment, we hear that those who have the deepest pockets tend to buy the support. But, this support is being offered from people who cannot be procured, which tells you that it is flowing from the knowledge of my person, because I have been fortunate to work with all the governors, including past governors. Those I did not meet in office, I met them when I was President of the NLC. We had engaged on one-on-one; they know what I stand for. So, they offered this support based on their understanding of my person, and not inducement and that makes a difference, he stated. Oshiomhole said that he was never a dictator as being alleged in some quarters. He said certain things he learnt in the labour union were negotiations and never dictatorial. According to him, even though I was the president of NLC, I cannot even control my deputy because he was voted the same manner I was elected. In the NLC, you must listen to everybody, unlike in government where as an executive, you can dictate decisions. So, what my background prepared me for is to be able to listen, and that is why I kept saying contestation and disputes are not dysfunctional, if you have the skills that I have to manage divergences. I have never exercised dictatorial powers. I have always exercised persuasive powers and negotiating skills, and those are my skills. And, when I negotiate with you and persuade and you accept, you will feel obliged to do what you have to do. A colonel and spokesperson of the Nigerian Army 6 Division, Port Harcourt, Aminu Iliyasu, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He said soldiers will be deployed at strategic points several kilometres away from polling centres. Iliyasu explained that the army is adopting that position because "we are not directly involved in the election and no soldier is going to be deployed for any election duty." Police, DSS will be in charge According to him, it is only the police and the Department of State Security (DSS) that have the constitutional responsibility to provide security in the election. "However, we are always on alert whenever there is election. We will only be on standby at the periphery in case our services are needed," he said. Iliyasu said soldiers were banned from going into polling centres and escort polling materials to the centres. ALSO READ: Wike accuses APC of planning to disrupt LG elections He made this call in a video ad which was published on his YouTube channel on Monday, June 11, 2018, three days after he officially declared his intention to run for the position of president at next year's polls. In the video, the former Cross River State governor said Nigerians can only decide th future country they want to live in if they ensure that their votes are counted. He said, "Hello, I'm Donald Duke and I'm urging each and everyone of you watching me right now to go out there, get registered, pick up your voter's card, and, on the day of elections, go there, cast your vote. "Ensure that your votes are counted before you leave the booth. This is important, it determines your future and how well you'll live in this country." When the 56-year-old made his candidacy public knowledge at the annual Law dinner of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in Enugu, on June 8, he said he was no longer going to sit back and allow the country to continue sinking under its current leadership. He also urged young Nigerians to stop being mere onlookers. "I am putting myself forward for the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I'm not going to sit back any longer and postulate. And I want each one of those young people there to be part of it. That's why I urge them to go and get their voter's card and be part of this society," he said. Donald Duke's party remains unknown Duke is yet to disclose on which political platform he'll run for president next year, but he served as Cross River State governor between 1999 and 2007 and tried to run for president in 2007 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). However, since the PDP has officially zoned its presidential ticket to the north, Duke is most likely to contest on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) which is the political party that has been adopted by the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) of which he is a founding member. Nigerians would recall that Dr. Mimiko abandoned the Labour Party (LP) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) a few days to LPs October 2015 National Convention, said national chairman of Labour Party, Mike Omotosho, who went on to add that Mimiko only wants to return to destroy a party that gave him everything. Mimiko was elected Ondo governor in 2009 on the platform of the Labour Party. In 2012, Mimiko was handed re-election on the platform of Labour. However, months before the 2015 general elections, Mimiko moved the entire Labour Party structure in Ondo into the PDP. He joined PDP afterwards and became the de facto campaign manager of former President Goodluck Jonathan. After the PDP failed to retain the center in 2015, Mimikos political stock began to plummet. Like every PDP chieftain post 2015, the grass has suddenly gone from lush green to brown and the center is no longer holding for Mimiko. The PDP has become so cash strapped these days, its Wadata Plaza headquarters in Wuse, Abuja, has been ceded to roaches, spiders and dust. Its members are fleeing to other tents and Mimiko has hopped on a bike to the party he once abandoned. Mimiko says hes rejoining Labour because the party shares his ideology. How convenient! According to MimikoLP, and its few ideological soul mates among the legion of parties in the country today, provide the requisite platform for this type of deep ideological introspection. Without doubt, this social democratic mantra, which LP and its soul mates represent, remains the best possible outlet for leading Nigeria into a new era of progressive governance. We have also come with the conviction, consequent upon several years of practical involvement in the nations political process, that the need for ideologically focused political engagement is now more pressing than ever before. Virtually all the existing political parties in Nigeria today belong to the right of the centre, ensconced as it were in a neo-liberal mental construct, the name or mantra they choose to enrobe themselves in, notwithstanding. Well, believe Mimikos grandiose and flowery prose at your peril. Like every Nigerian politician out there, Mimikos politics isnt rooted in ideology or values. Hes defecting to Labour for a reason. Hes rejoining the political party he once used and dumped for a reason. And that reason has nothing to do with ideology, altruism, nobility or the common good. The court said in its verdict that the 23-year-old swore allegiance to the Islamic State group (IS) in a video uploaded the night before the attack at a market place. The extremist group never claimed responsibility for the assault. Police shot the rejected asylum seeker in the thigh minutes after the attack at another square nearby, arresting him and confiscating his knife. The murders "were strongly premeditated and committed in a particularly brutal and cruel way", the court said, adding Bouanane "was about to cut off the victim's head". Authorities said he targeted women in the attack. Six of the total injured were women, while two men were wounded when they tried to fend off the attacker. Bouanane, who confessed to the killings, has 30 days to appeal the verdict. A life term in Finland averages 14 years, although the longest prison term has been 22 years. The previous evening, Nicaragua's Center for Human Rights (CENIDH) had raised to 162 the toll since anti-government protests broke out two months ago. At least four people were killed -- including a 15-year old altar boy -- on Thursday, when armed paramilitaries and pro-government gangs attacked activists guarding demonstrators in the cities of Leon, Nagarote, Masatepe and Tipitapa, according to the CENIDH. Ortega-backed repression appeared to spike throughout the country during Thursday's national 24-hour strike called by the National Alliance for Justice and Democracy, a coalition of students, entrepreneurs and other civil leaders. "Ortega continues with his criminal policy against the people of Nicaragua, because he doesn't want to leave power even though people are asking him to leave," Azhalea Solis, a representative of the coalition, told AFP. Delegates from that group will go to Friday's meeting, which Ortega's Foreign Minister Denis Moncada was also to attend. The church previously called off talks with Ortega after a march led by victims' mothers turned deadly at the hands of Ortega-backed forces last month. Nicaragua's descent into chaos was triggered on April 18 when relatively small protests against now-scrapped social security reforms were met with a government crackdown. Those demonstrations mushroomed into a popular uprising that has seen activists brandishing homemade mortars and slingshots clash violently with anti-riot police and pro-Ortega paramilitaries. Calls for the ouster of the leftist leader -- a major force in Nicaraguan politics for the better part of 40 years -- along with his wife and vice president Rosario Murillo are growing increasingly vehement. The announcement comes two days after a highly critical report by the Dutch Audit Chamber -- which looks at government spending -- saying the country "barely managed to get units ready to deploy to Mali". The report lashed the defence minister, saying Dutch blue helmets "lacked material, had insufficient training and and defective equipment," on the Mali mission. Dutch troops formed part of the MINUSMA stabilisation mission in the west African nation since April 2014, and at one time numbered as many as 400 backed by four Apache attack helicopters and three Chinook transports. The Dutch helicopters were withdrawn early last year. Currently some 250 troops are reportedly stationed alongside French and other forces to fight jihadist insurgents who overran the country's northern territory. But the Dutch mission has been plagued by a series of mishaps which saw four Dutch military personnel lose their lives. In 2015 an Apache attack helicopter crashed killing two pilots, while a year later, two soldiers died when a mortar shell unexpectedly went off during a live-fire exercise. Dutch safety inspectors heavily criticised the deaths of the two men, saying they were using old ammunition stocks bought back in 2006. Former Dutch defence minister Jeanine Hennis resigned in the wake of the report into the soldiers' deaths, saying although she was not minister at the time of the purchase, she was "politically responsible". More than 11,000 UN police and military are currently serving in Mali, attempting to bring security to lawless swathes of the vast Sahel nation. The results of the Singapore meeting, at which Kim and Trump signed a pledge "to work towards complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," have been greeted with skepticism by many observers. And Trump's unilateral decision to reduce tension by cancelling "provocative" joint exercises by US and South Korean forces appeared to catch both close ally Seoul and some Pentagon officials by surprise. But Trump recalled that when he came to office last year his predecessor Barack Obama had warned that North Korea's growing missile and nuclear threat was the United States "most dangerous problem." "I have solved that problem," Trump told reporters after a spontaneous visit to a television crew working on the White House lawn. "Now we're getting it memorialized and all, but that problem is largely solved. "We signed a very good document," he added. "But more importantly than the document, I have a good relationship with Kim Jong Un. "That's a very important thing. I can now call him. I gave him a very direct number. He can now call me if he has any difficulty. We have communication." Kim has not yet taken any concrete step to dismantle his nuclear programs, and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has warned sanctions must remain in place until "full denuclearization" is achieved. Long and slow But Trump seems keen to claim a quick diplomatic victory and the halt to major US military exercises on the peninsula is a significant concession to both Pyongyang and Washington's rival China. Many experts in Washington agree with the conclusion of a leaked Israeli government analysis that there were "substantive gaps" between US goals going into the summit and the vague language of the statement. "Despite Trump's declarations about quick changes expected in North Korea's policy, the way to substantive change -- if that ever comes -- is still long and slow," the report warned. Some of Trump's domestic critics have also condemned his decision to halt what the president calls "war games" with South Korea -- using a pejorative term for military drills that US officials have previously rejected. "Making unnecessary and unreciprocated concessions is not in our interests -- and it is a bad negotiating tactic," Republican Senator John McCain said. "Parroting Chinese and North Korean propaganda by saying joint exercises are 'provocative' undermines our security and alliances." US and South Korean forces have trained together for decades, and routinely rehearse everything from beach landings in the North to pre-emptive "decapitation" strikes targeting the North Korean regime. Pyongyang typically reacts furiously. Following drills last year, the North fired ballistic missiles over Japan, triggering global alarm and ratcheting up a diplomatic war of words between Trump and Kim. Those harsh exchanges are now apparently over, and since the summit Trump has lavished praise on Kim, once a global pariah credibly accused of torturing and starving tens of thousands of his own citizens. Sarcastic remark Trump praised Kim again on Friday, in what turned into a lengthy unplanned interview with his favorite television show Fox and Friends. "Hey, he is the head of a country and I mean he is the strong head. Don't let anyone think anything different. He speaks and his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same," he said. Trump later told reporters that his remark about Americans standing to attention was "sarcasm." But, asked why he had praised Kim at all, given his history of rights abuses and the death of US student Otto Warmbier after he fell into a coma in North Korean custody, Trump set up a stark choice. "Because I don't want to see a nuclear weapon destroy your family," he told one reporter. And as to the military drills, Trump said he had wanted to halt them long before he travelled to Singapore to meet Kim, and insisted that "war games" is his own preferred term. "I hated it from the day I came in. Why aren't we being reimbursed?" he demanded, returning to his long-standing claim that US allies like South Korea should repay the costs of their defense. "Very strong on immigration -- like I am, by the way," the president added. Conte is a political novice. Weeks ago he was a little-known academic, but on June 1 the anti-establishment 53-year-old was suddenly propelled to the helm of one of the eurozone's largest economies. Italy then triggered a row with European nations when it refused to allow the Aquarius, a rescue ship with 629 migrants aboard, to dock at its ports. Trump has stirred immigration concerns too. He has tightened travel restrictions into the United States, repeatedly pledges to build a wall on the southern US border, and is scrapping with lawmakers over how to restrict immigration while protecting those who came to the country illegally as children. With New Zealands ever-increasing tourism industry, the Government has taken action by proposing a border tax for incoming visitors. Aussies, permanent residents, those with valid New Zealand visas and those from select Pacific Island nations would be exempt. But nearly 1.5 million of New Zealands 3.7 million visitors last year were from Australia, with many of the remaining coming from the islands. Were really keen that this money is spent as wisely as possible. Tourism Industry Aotearoa CEO Chris Roberts told RadioLIVE that the NZ-Australia Closer Economic Relations (CER) agreement means that taxing Australians would require the taxing of Kiwis as well. We cant put a tax on Australians and not put a tax on New Zealanders. Mr Roberts also pointed out that Australians can get automatic residency status in New Zealand, so a tax on Australians would contradict the exemption for permanent residents. As for Pacific Islanders, he guessed that the exemption was made for political reasons. Bernie Monk, the representative from the Pike River Family Reference Group discusses the findings from the technical expert workshop over the past couple of days, and the options that could potentially allow for the recovery of the 29 bodies. The group also want to find out more about what actually happened to prevent any further tragedies, to give the families closure and possibly retrieve any remains found in the drift. Welcome to Railway Gazette. This site uses cookies. Read our policy. OK Detention of former Probusinessbank vice-president reduced by half flickr.com/Chris Potter 10:37 15/06/2018 MOSCOW, June 15 (RAPSI) The Moscow City Court has reduced detention of former vice-president of the Probusinessbank Vyacheslav Kazantsev charged with embezzlement from 6 to 3 months, the courts press service has told RAPSI. Detention terms of managers Sergey Kalachev and Oksana Kravchenko, were reduced as well. All of them will remain in detention until August 3. Moreover, the court similarly mitigated house arrest of one more defendant Kirill Artemov. In June 2017, a high-ranking manager of Russias Probusinessbank Marina Krylova was sentenced to 3.5 years in a penal colony for assisting with embezzlement of 2.4 billion rubles (nearly $43 million at current exchange rate). Krylova was the head of the banks department responsible for interaction with shareholders and subsidiary companies. In addition to giving Krylova a prison term, a court ruled to fine her. On April 26, ex-head of corporate finances department of Probusinessbank Nikolay Alekseyev was given 4 years in prison in relation to the case. His case was reviewed separately because he had pleaded guilty. Additionally, Alekseyev was fined 1 million rubles (nearly $18,000). The court also granted a lawsuit filed by Probusinessbank, the victim in the case, seeking to collect over 2.4 billion rubles from the defendant. According to investigators, from September 2014 to July 2015, Alekseyev, acting as the head of the banks corporate finance department, conspired with 15 accomplices to embezzle funds belonging to Probusinessbank. Accomplices are believed to be unidentified managers and employees of the bank. Allegedly, they used their office positions to enroll their subordinates, employees of the Life financial group, and heads of sham companies. In August 2015, the Russian Central Bank revoked the license of Probusinessbank, acting upon the results of an inspection revealing that the banks management carried out large scale operations having markings of assets stripping of the bank. Trial of Yukos ex-lawyer Ivlev to begin on June 29 RAPSI 12:11 15/06/2018 MOSCOW, June 15 (RAPSI) The Khamovnichesky District Court of Moscow will begin hearing a criminal case against Yukos oil companys former lawyer Pavel Ivlev on June 29, attorney Sergey Kupreichenko has told RAPSI. The court refused to return the case to prosecutors. The proceedings are held behind closed doors because the defendant resides in the United States. According to the attorney, Ivlev is the U.S. citizen and although the defendant agrees to testify, he is unlikely to visit Russia. According to investigators, ex-lawyer was a member of an organized crime group led by ex-Yukos head Mikhail Khodorkovsky, which could embezzle more than 195 million metric tons of oil belonging to Yuganskneftegaz, Samaraneftegaz and Tomskneft companies. Investigators believe that the amount of embezzled funds reaches about one trillion rubles ($15.9 billion). Russian ombudsman seeks permission for independent health examination of Sentsov RIA Novosti 14:59 15/06/2018 MOSCOW, June 15 (RAPSI) Russias Commissioner for Human Rights Tatiana Moskalkova has forwarded to the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) a request to permit conducting independent examination of health condition of film director Oleg Sentsov sentenced to 20 years in prison for organizing a terrorist group in Crimea, the ombudsmans press service has told RAPSI. On Friday, Moskalkova asked FSIN to let Ukrainian doctors carry out the examination along with Russian medics, the statement reads. Currently, the condition of convicted Sentsov, who had declared hunger strike, is satisfactory, according to the ombudsman. Earlier, Moskalkova and Ukraines ombudsman Lyudmila Denisova settled two lists of Ukrainian and Russian detainees they would visit. Each list includes 34 persons. Sentsov was included in the Ukrainian list. Moskalkova in turn is particularly going to visit journalist Kirill Vyshinsky, former military servicemen Maksim Odintsov and Alexander Baranov, and Yelena Odnovol, an activist of the Volunteers of Victory movement. All of them have been charged by Ukrainian authorities with treason. The North Caucasus District Military Court convicted and sentenced Sentsov to 20 years in prison in August 2015. Another defendant in the case Alexander Kolchenko received 10 years in prison. Investigators found that Sentsov started a terrorist group in Crimea, a branch of the Right Sector movement that is banned in Russia. He was allegedly promoting Crimeas secession from Russia. Alleged Ukrainian Right Sector member to go on Russian trial flickr.com/Juanedc 11:59 15/06/2018 MOSCOW, June 15 (RAPSI) A case against Ukrainian national Roman Ternovsky allegedly involved in the activities of Right Sector nationalist organization banned in Russia has been sent to court for hearing, according to the spokesperson of Russias Investigative Committee Svetlana Petrenko. Investigation into Ternovsky has been completed, and an indictment has been approved, Petrenkos statement reads. Investigators believe that Ternovsky took part in pickets, rallies and other mass events in Ukraine as a member of Right Sector from 2015 to 2016. Moreover, he propagated online the organizations activity on his Facebook page among users including Russian citizens. He was arrested in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don in October 2017. Right Sector is a Ukrainian association of radical nationalist organizations. In January and February 2014, its members clashed with police and seized administrative buildings in Kiev. Since April 2014, Right Sector has been involved in fighting the protest movement in eastern Ukraine. In November 2014, Russias Supreme Court declared Right Sector an extremist group and banned its activity in Russia. The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against Right Sector leader Dmitry Yarosh for alleged incitement of terrorism. In January 2015, Right Sector was added to the Russian register of prohibited organizations. 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 Mallya is separately fighting extradition to India on fraud and money laundering charges worth an estimated Rs 9,000 crore The UK high court has ordered embattled liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya to pay a minimum of 200,000 pounds towards the costs incurred by 13 Indian banks in their legal battle to recover alleged dues. Last month, Judge Andrew Henshaw had refused to overturn a worldwide order freezing Mallya's assets and upheld an Indian court's ruling that a consortium of 13 Indian banks led by State Bank of India (SBI) were entitled to recover funds amounting to nearly 1.145 billion pounds. As part of the judgment, the court has also ordered Mallya, 62, to pay costs towards registration of the worldwide freezing order and of the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) of Karnataka's judgment in Britain. "The court ordered that Mallya pay the banks' costs. The standard order is that the court will assess those costs unless the parties can otherwise agree a figure for what should be paid, said a legal expert familiar with the case. The court's assessment of costs is a separate process, which ends with another court hearing before a specialist costs judge in the UK. But in the meantime, Mallya must pay 200,000 pounds towards this legal costs liability. In a high court ruling dated May 8, Judge Henshaw had refused to overturn a worldwide order freezing Mallya's assets and upheld an Indian court's ruling that the consortium of 13 Indian banks - State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Corporation bank, Federal Bank Ltd, IDBI Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Jammu and Kashmir Bank, Punjab and Sind Bank, Punjab National Bank, State Bank of Mysore, UCO Bank, United Bank of India and JM Financial Asset Reconstruction Co Pvt - were entitled to recover funds amounting to nearly 1.145 billion pounds. The legal costs owed to the banks emerged in a subsequent court order by the same judge. "The First Defendant's (Mallya) application for permission to appeal is refused. Any further application for permission to appeal should be made to the Court of Appeal to be dealt with by a judge of that court, the judgment notes. Mallya, who is separately also fighting extradition to India on fraud and money laundering charges worth an estimated Rs 9,000 crore, has since filed an appeal notice at the Court of Appeal, which includes an application for permission to appeal. Permission will only be granted if the court considers that the appeal would have a real prospect of success or there is some other compelling reason for the appeal to be heard. Meanwhile, Mallya is due back at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London next month for one of the final hearings in his extradition case. A hearing for closing arguments to be presented by his defence team and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), on behalf of the Indian authorities, was scheduled for July 11 but is now likely to take place on July 31. The former Kingfisher Airlines boss remains on bail since his arrest on an extradition warrant in April last year. The CPS believes it has successfully established a prima facie case of fraud against the businessman and that there are no bars to his extradition to face the courts in India. Mallya's lawyers have claimed the criminal charges against their client are without substance and politically motivated. They have also challenged the case on human rights grounds, questioning the conditions at Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai, where the businessman is to be held post-extradition. Photograph: Simon Dawson/Reuters 'Police records suggest one Kashmiri boy joined terrorist ranks every third day last year and that trend has continued,' says Karan Thapar. IMAGE: Protesters hurl stones at security forces during a protest at Soura in Srinagar. Photograph: S Irfan/PTI Photo Perhaps because we are inured to bad news from Kashmir, many people don't realise how sharply the situation has deteriorated since 2014. Yet the facts have been reported by a variety of papers on a pretty regular basis. It's just that we've either ignored them or haven't properly understood them. So let's start with the facts. The ones I'm about to refer to have been collated from a wide selection of newspapers as well as from well-informed research Web sites like the South Asia Terrorism Portal. On occasion, I will even quote the state government and the police. Between 2015 and 2017 terrorist incidents have increased by over 160 per cent, rising from 208 in 2015 to 322 in 2016 and 342 in 2017. Although during this period the number of terrorists killed has more than doubled so too has the combined civilian and security personnel death count. The latter has risen from 56 in 2015 to 120 in 2017. Meanwhile, any claim that demonetisation has reduced the incidence of terror has proven false. Between November 1, 2016, and October 31, 2017, there were 341 terror incidents compared to 311 during the corresponding period a year earlier. The emerging picture is simple, but stark. We may be killing more terrorists but we are doing so at double the cost whilst the number of terrorist incidents keeps significantly increasing. This, no doubt, is why the sharp decline in stone pelting incidents has made little impact. Particularly worrying is the rising number of young Kashmiris joining the various terror groups. The state government claims that 280 have joined in the last three years, 66 in 2015, 88 in 2016 and 126 in 2017. Police records suggest one Kashmiri boy joined terrorist ranks every third day last year and that trend has continued. Twenty seven more joined terrorist groups in the first three months of this year. Some reports suggest that the Jaish-e-Mohammed is the biggest gainer. More than 70 Jaish terrorists are said to be active in Kashmir. Meanwhile, the overall number of active insurgents seems to have shot up from 80 in 2014, to over 250, which is a three-fold increase. The situation on the border shows the same marked deterioration. In 2017, ceasefire violations increased 317 per cent compared to 2016, to touch 860 altogether. So far this year there have been 400 more. Simultaneously, infiltration from across the border is also rising markedly. There were 223 reported cases in 2015, 454 in 2016 and 515 in 2017. This means between 2015 and 2017, the figure has jumped almost 130 per cent. I am not sure what set of adjectives best describe the statistics I have related, but speaking for myself I find them shocking. I was aware the situation in Kashmir was distressing and deteriorating, but I had not appreciated the cumulative nature of the problem or the scale of the deterioration. It has left me shaken. Clearly, the government's strategy for handling Kashmir is not working. The so-called tough response to insurgency and terror alongside the refusal to talk to the Hurriyat has only increased the number of terrorist incidents, the death count and the recruitment of local boys to terrorist groups. The last is particularly perturbing. It suggests the alienation of our own citizens is now fuelling the violence. Meanwhile, on the international border and Line of Control, ceasefire violations are increasing as is infiltration and the cost is being paid by innocent villagers whose homes and lives have been devastated. How long can this continue? How long can the government believe more of the same can yield a different result? And, finally, does the refusal to change course suggest that because the price is paid by Kashmiris the rest of us don't really care? I admire strong leadership and determined government, but this appears to be a case of obstinacy if not also indifference. It seems the Modi government isn't all that worried about what happens in Kashmir. And though Mehbooba Mufti has publicly and repeatedly voiced her fears, her pleas have gone unheeded if not unheard. The Kashmiris may be crying, but I fear their tears are falling in vain. The hounding of former AMU students by some alumni over their 'wining and dining' during Ramzan is deeply disturbing, says AMU Professor Mohammad Sajjad. 'Intolerance, irrationality, bigotry, religious/sectarian hatred, and all such pernicious tendencies must be fought and resisted, more particularly by university campuses, in order to build a better society.' Something very disturbing has happened which has some relationship with my alma mater, where I also live and teach. It all began when five friends, including a girl, all bearing 'Muslim' names, were seen at a restobar in New Delhi's Khan Market, consuming food and alcohol in the holy month of Ramzan. This was possibly on June 3, 2018. Four of them are said to be former students of Aligarh Muslim University. At least two of these five are alleged to have been mocking all religions on social media for the last one year or so. The fivesome's photograph was posted on Facebook by someone whose posts are generally identified as pro-Hindutva and Islamophobic. One does not know if it was a fake identity or real. Soon after, self-appointed custodians of Islam and AMU tehzeeb, including some former student leaders of the university, went to the police to lodge an FIR against the five friends under Section 295A of the IPC for hurting their religious sentiments. Through their Facebook comments they also claim that the friends' wining and dining has brought disrepute to AMU. Soon, physical threats too followed. Reports came out that after receiving the threats, and coming to know of the FIR lodged against them, the four male students went into hiding, while the fifth one, the girl, apologised. Some portals circulated a video of the girl's apology. I ask myself, have we, as academics, failed, and that too, quite miserably? I feel like confessing and saying yes, we have indeed failed. Or, we can possibly console ourselves that only a minuscule fringe of former students have indulged in moral policing on social media, expressing extreme intolerance, hurling the filthiest of abuses against some former students, while some of them even threatened to lynch and kill the alleged 'wrongdoers'. All this has disturbed me terribly. A friend of mine rightly reminded our students, 'If you did not learn empathy, argument and gallows humour at university, either your university was sleeping or else you were on extended holiday.' Just as there are some saffron fanatics distributing patriotism certificates, there are some Islamic fanatics distributing faith certificates. These self-appointed custodians (thekedars) of imaan (faith) and Islam have obtained (perhaps coercively, or under unethical social pressure?) a video of contrition from the girl and are circulating it on social media. Why didn't they, including some news portals, keep the girl's identity anonymous? I could not stand the video. Hounding them is deplorable. To my understanding, such reactions typify and testify to the symptoms of pernicious right wing reaction. That it is happening on a historic campus of higher learning is all the more worrisome and reprehensible. These fanatics forget the objectives of a university. Sir Syed Ahmad, AMU's founder, had delineated in 1877, while addressing the ceremony of laying foundation stone of M A O College, Aligarh (with aspiration of developing it into a university), that the objectives of the Aligarh Muslim University would be 'to preach the gospel of free enquiry, of large hearted tolerance and of pure morality.' Quite rightly, an alumnus angrily asked, 'Who is the AMU community to demand a retraction from the girl? Is AMU the conscience-keeper of thoughts and beliefs of its Muslim students?' 'I would like to be enlightened as to what code of conduct did the students break by trying to be funny, maybe provocative to some. But an FIR is there. The law will take its own course.' 'The ex-student leaders of the university must define whether it is the protector of imaan first and foremost or a centre of modern learning where human spirit and human mind is given full play including non-conformity and lapses with established canons of accepted behaviour.' 'The kind of abusive language employed against the students is vulgar and uncouth and shows not class but that the masses of these students are the crassest. Grow up please!' Another alumna expressed her outrage: 'The worst part is among the three the girl is being hounded the most.' My colleague Professor Asim Siddiqui said this hounding was 'sexual harassment of the highest order.' In my view, the girl and her parents too should lodge an FIR with the police against these trollers and self-styled custodians of Islam. Gender activists should extend their help to the girl. The point is: Intolerance, irrationality, bigotry, religious/sectarian hatred, and all such pernicious traits and tendencies must be fought and resisted, more particularly by university campuses, in order to build a better society. Thankfully, many students, former students and teachers have now begun to come out against the moral policing. Let us recall what Jawaharlal Nehru had said: 'A university stands for humanism, for tolerance, for reason, for progress, for the adventure of ideas and for the search of truth. It stands for the onward march of the human race towards even higher objectives.' 'If the universities discharge their duty adequately, then it is well with the nation and the people. But if the temple of learning itself becomes a home of narrow bigotry and petty objectives, how then will the nation prosper or a people grow in stature?' 'A vast responsibility, therefore, rests on our universities and educational institutions and those who guide their destinies.' 'They have to keep their lights burning and must not stray from the right path even when passion convulses the multitude and blinds many amongst those whose duty it is to set an example to others, we are not going to reach our goal through crookedness or flirting with evil in the hope that it may lead to good.' 'The right end can never be truly achieved through wrong means.' Professor Mohammad Sajjad is at the Centre of Advanced Study in History, Aligarh Muslim University and has published two books: ,Muslim Politics in Bihar: Changing Contours (Routledge, 2014/2018 reprint); Contesting Colonialism and Separatism: Muslims of Muzaffarpur since 1857 (Primus, 2014). 'Bukhari's case falls into that rare category where the precise determination of the killer as well as the motive can only be guessed vaguely, not determined with certainty,' says Mohammad Sayeed Malik, the distinguished doyen of the Kashmiri media. IMAGE: Shujaat Bukhari posted this picture of himself at the Global Editors Summit in Lisbon on his Twitter feed on May 31, 2018, a fortnight before he was murdered in Srinagar. Who killed Shujaat Bukhari and why? Not that Kashmir and Kashmiris are alien to killings. Over the past about three decades Kashmiris have developed sufficient sense and acquired sufficient 'experience' to make their own intelligent guess about both, the hand behind the trigger and the motive of its dastardly act. In nine out of ten cases, their instinctive guess is right though they rarely risk sharing it publicly. Bukhari's case falls into that rare category where the precise determination of the killer as well as the motive can only be guessed vaguely, not determined with certainty. To an extent, it bears similarity with the mysterious killing of Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq and Abdul Ghani Lone. Both are generally known to have been shot by militants and yet, strangely, both lie buried in the Shaheed Mazar which is exclusively reserved for those fighting for 'liberation' of Kashmir (militants). As I joined the thousands who turned out at Bukhari's funeral at Kreeri, his ancestral North Kashmir village, about 40 kilometres from Srinagar, in pouring rain, I found many asking this question; 'Who killed him and why?' Neither Bukhari nor his group of publications is known to have written anything against the 'liberation movement' or its proponents. If anything, they always appeared to be sympathetic to their cause. So why would militants think of harming him? But then armed militants in the past have struck twice in the same area, Press Enclave. One victim couldn't make it, the other was lucky to survive after being shot in the neck. And as the unofficial account goes, a group of three militants were lying in wait and struck as Bukhari emerged from his first floor office and got into his car with two armed police escorts. Bukhari had no chance to pull through. It seemed to be not only a carefully timed action, but also executed with deadly accuracy. Mirwaiz Moulvi Farooq and Abdul Ghani lone, assassinated respectively in 1990 and 2002, were also gunned down in a similar manner. Death was instantaneous. And here ends the similarity between these two cases. Unlike Lone and Mirwaiz, Bukhari was not in politics nor were his publications in any way antagonistic to the 'cause' -- militancy. He published an English daily, Rising Kashmir; an Urdu daily, Buland Kashmir; and a Kashmiri journal, Sangarmal. By and large, his English daily was doing well and coming up content-wise. Bukhari spent most of his time in looking after his stable. What, however, attracted unwanted attention towards his person, were his frequent interaction with various interest groups -- some of them based in Europe and America. Retrospectively, one could say that he could have avoided 'over-exposing' himself as he could not be unaware of its risk in a highly sensitive place like Kashmir. The easiest thing one could attract under the prevailing circumstances, in troubled Kashmir, is suspicion by over-exposing oneself. Perhaps it never struck him. Otherwise, he may have taken due precaution, knowing that being in public life in his home town was like walking on a razor's edge. All sorts of meaning was sought to be attached to his recent visits to Pakistan along with some local journalists and subsequent trips to the US, Turkey and Dubai, though these visits were duly reported and commented upon in his publications. Some of these inimical comments emanated from across the LoC. Significantly, nobody ever wrote about it. But the gossip market was full of all sorts of fantasies. And in typical Kashmir culture, gossip and rumour have a habit of turning into 'news'. To his ill luck, Bukhari remained unaware of this gathering foul atmosphere or he was simply careless. As a person, Bukhari was head and shoulders above most of his contemporaries: Friendly, warm and courteous. I had closely interacted with him right from the time of his baptism in Ved Bhasin's Kashmir Times. Our personal relationship remained unaffected after he quit the Kashmir Times and joined The Hindu. After leaving The Hindu, Bukhari floated his own group of publications and in a short time overtook many of his contemporaries. Bukhari's deep interest in the art and literature of Kashmir found expression in his publications. He made it a point to take time out and float cultural forums across North Kashmir. He was well respected in literary and cultural circles. Shujaat Bukhari went too early. He had the potential to make a deeper mark than his shortened life allowed him to achieve. He was quite rational in debate, but stood his ground while arguing with others. 'Modi and the BJP don't want Delhi to function.' 'The LG is like a puppet of the BJP.' IMAGE: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Ministers Gopal Rai and Satyendar Jain have been camping out at Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's office for more than three days, asking the LG to intervene and get the IAS officers to end their strike. Photograph: @SudhirBhardwaj/Twitter For more than 50 hours, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Health Minister Satyendar Jain and Transport Minister Gopal Rai, have stayed put in a room meant for visitors at Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's office. Their demand: Clamp down on a four-month-long agitation by senior bureaucrats against the AAP government and clear the scheme for doorstep delivery of rations. "Modi and Amit A Shah's dictatorship continues. They want to stop the growth of the AAP," the Aam Aadmi Party's Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh tells Rediff.com's Syed Firdaus Ashraf. You describe the current situation in Delhi an 'Emergency' due to the IAS officers' strike. You have also written a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind to intervene. Is the situation really that serious? For the past four months, IAS officers in Delhi have been on strike. Ministers call them for meetings, but they don't come. For instance, a meeting on dengue was called, as it breaks out in Delhi every year. We called for one this year, but no one turned up. We want rations to be delivered at home because there is corruption going on in ration shops. This is not the case of Delhi alone, but all over India. Now when we want to deliver rations to the homes of poor people, these bureaucrats have stopped the move in connivance with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal. We want to whitewash Delhi schools, but these bureaucrats are not doing that. We want CCTV cameras in Delhi, but they aren't doing that too. All the work has come to a stop in Delhi because of these bureaucrats. But your government is an elected one. This is our problem. Our hands and legs have been cut and we are thrown into the swimming pool. We cannot transfer bureaucrats. We cannot take any action against bureaucrats if they do not come for our meeting, so who will then implement our policies on the ground? That is the big question. All services come under the purview of the LG. We have requested him to intervene and tell these bureaucrats to end their strike. But as you know, all governors and LGs only work for Prime Minister Modi. They dismissed the Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh governments. In Manipur and Goa, they invited the BJP to stake a claim to form the government in spite of it having no majority, with the help of the governor. Governors and LGs are only listening to PM Modi's orders. IAS officers say they are working. They have a created a hashtag #Delhiatwork on Twitter. They give proof of the work done by them. We have shown more than 50 letters on Wednesday where we called these IAS officers to come and attend meetings, but they refuse to come. These 'hashtag people' are BJP people on Twitter. PM Modi and the BJP don't want Delhi (state) to function. The LG is like a puppet of the BJP. At the end of the day, it is the public that faces problems. Don't you think all of you must bring about some kind of solution to this stalemate? How will we find a solution? For whom are we sitting on this dharna for? It is for the public. We are not sitting for some land or money. We want this strike by IAS to be over and we will end our dharna. Just because these IAS officers are saying they are working, that does not mean they are. They are not coming to ministers' meetings. You read their (IAS officers) press release in which they said they are not on strike and in the same letter they said the Delhi government has not taken positive steps to end the strike. They are contradicting their own statement. IAS officers have published an article saying the strike will end if Arvind Kejriwal apologises to the IAS association. Why doesn't he do that? Even if Arvind Kejriwal says sorry every day, these IAS officers will not work. They are just giving excuses not to work. A few days back, a superintendent of police in UP was told by a BJP MLA that laaton ke bhoot baaton se nahin mantey (words won't work with those who understand only force). What did IAS officers all over India do about that? In another incident, the daughter of an IAS daughter was harassed by a BJP leader's son (Vikas Barala) and there wasn't a single IAS officer who spoke out against it. PM Modi now says he will appoint professionals (in the civil services) and not a single IAS officer speaks out against this issue. Why? They only speak up against Arvind Kejriwal. Why do IAS officers speak up only against your party? You give us full government (control) and then you will find that not a single IAS officer will speak up against us. They will work much better for the welfare of people and will be happier. But the high court rejected your demand for full government. Now the case is in the Supreme Court. Let us wait (for the judgment). IMAGE: BJP party workers raise slogans demanding water power supply in New Delhi. Photograph: Arun Sharma/PTI Photo Why does everyone speak out against Arvind Kejriwal? Because Arvind Kejriwal is a popular leader and they want to finish off his popularity. They want to defame him. One additional superintendent of police questions the Delhi CM on how his house was painted and how air-conditioners have been fitted in his house. The CBI raids his house and even the house of the deputy CM. The health minister's house is raided too. Rajendra Kumar, an IAS officer working with the Delhi CM, is called in for questioning by the CBI and then abused for five days. How is it that the AAP government has problems with the Centre? Sheila Dixit, a Congress chief minister, ran the state smoothly when the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led BJP government was in power at the Centre. Vajpayeeji's rule was different. Vajpayeeji was a different kind of man. Now, PM Modi and Amit A Shah's dictatorship continues. They want to stop the growth of the AAP. Our mohalla clinic model has been praised even by former United Nations secretary- general Kofi Annan. Even the USA appreciates it. This is not being taken well by the BJP. They are troubled by the good work of AAP. We have reduced the cost of electricity in Delhi by 50 per cent while people in BJP-ruled states pay double the rates for electricity. We have made water free in Delhi. In spite of doing all these things we are giving a profitable budget and we give accountability to the people of Delhi too. Arvind Kejriwal continues to be projected as an anarchist in the media. Who is sitting in the media? Only NDTV is an independent media organisation. Rest all you media houses are corporate houses and are against AAP. Despite whatever steps you take during this crisis, it seems AAP will soon become extinct. AAP will not be finished because the people are with us. Once we do something wrong we will be over, but if we work for the public interest then we will not be over. There's that old Rajesh Khanna song -- Yeh public hai sab jaanti hai. Another allegation against your party is that you have returned to dharna politics because AAP has not received space in the joint Opposition front taking shape. We were never a part of the joint Opposition. We were always alone in our fight. We took the tricolour in our hands with the agenda of finishing off corruption. 'Pakistan had almost disappeared from Kashmir.' 'Now in the last three, four years we have brought Pakistan back again by not handling Kashmir properly.' Photograph: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com IMAGE: Clashes erupted in Srinagar between locals and security forces following encounters in Shopian and Anantnag, April 1, 2018. "We need to move forward on Kashmir and we have to move forward with Pakistan," former Research and Analysis Wing chief A S Dulat tells Rediff.com's Syed Firdaus Ashraf and Saisuresh Sivaswamy in in the second part of an exclusive interview. "These are parallel channels. We need to deal with both," Dulat -- who served as then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's advisor on Kashmir -- points out. How did a R&AW man like you turn into a peacenik? Were you always like this or did you change later? Kashmir taught me a lot. You need patience. You need to talk to people and if you want to talk to people you must have some empathy. I have been out of the government since 2004 and Pakistan always interested me. That is how I came into contact with Pakistanis with Track II business. General Durrani thought he could trust me and that is how it happened. Even if you talk, dead bodies are coming and even if you do not, dead bodies are coming. There was a period in Kashmir -- the period from 1996 to 2008 -- there was no problem like you see now. Unfortunately, in 2008, the Amarnath incident happened and now the situation is very bad since 2016. The Pakistanis have a hand in it. General Durrani too agrees that after the Burhan Wani incident Pakistan cannot get into it, but after the surgical strikes they feel now that they cannot keep out of it. Peaceniks in both India and Pakistan say that once the Kashmir issue is resolved relations between the two countries will be normalised. On the other hand, hardliners in India warn that the day Kashmir is solved, Pakistan will enter India and sit in Himachal Pradesh. With these two contradictory views running in our country and such a trust deficit between the two nations, do you see a situation where some kind of peace is achievable? I think both are right in a way. If Kashmir was solved, does that end all our problems with Pakistan? Possibly not, but I look at this way, if Kashmir was solved, then a huge problem will be solved, at least from our point of view. It is one area where we are vulnerable from time to time and we go through this cycle of violence. Dr Manmohan Singh and President Pervez Musharraf had got close to solving it. Had there been an agreement then, as I see it we would have possibly had 15 years of peace. It is sad that it did not happen. But to hope all our problems will end possibly not because there is a huge trust deficit. So we need to move forward on Kashmir and we have to move forward with Pakistan. These are parallel channels. We need to deal with both. It takes me to Atal Bihari Vajpayee who said that the permanent confrontation with Pakistan must end and we must move forward in Kashmir, and I am a great believer in Vajpayee. India has stated that Kashmir is a domestic issue and there is no role for external mediation in what is its internal matter. How does one deal with this chicken-or-egg kind of situation? You are right, both come first. It is a domestic issue provided we deal with it domestically. The problem here is we do not deal with Kashmir the way we should deal with Kashmir. When you stop engaging with Kashmiris and stop talking to Kashmiris, then Pakistan looms much larger. Otherwise, I agree that Pakistan has a very peripheral role. In fact, Pakistan had almost disappeared from Kashmir. Now in the last three, four years we have brought Pakistan back again by not handling Kashmir properly. Kashmir needs full time attention and there should be engagement all the time. If we are engaging with Kashmiris and if they are happy, then Pakistan, as you say, has no role. But Pakistan cannot be wished away, we must remember that also. India has made it clear that talks will not happen with the Kashmiris unless they talk within the framework of the Indian Constitution. So what is there to talk to the Kashmiris as they do not accept the Constitution? Who does not accept the Indian Constitution? The Kashmiris. The same Hurriyat came to talk to (then deputy prime minister and home minister Lal Kishenchand) Advaniji in 2004. Do you think the deputy prime minister of India can talk outside the framework of the Indian Constitution? These are worms in our minds. Kashmiris know what they can get from India, but as the time goes on he feels they are not going to get anything. In fact, India will take something from them. That is the reality. How can this longstanding status quo be broken? By engaging and talking. I am glad you asked this question. People have developed a huge vested interest in the status quo. Everybody -- be it militants, politicians, security forces, government, the Opposition, everybody. Status quo theek hai, but the status quo does not suit us and it goes against us. Because the status quo brings Pakistan back again. Now I am reading horrifying things that those militant outfits that have been defunct for years are being revived. It may be an exaggeration, but it is a scary thought. So the status quo suits everybody and that is unfortunate. It pains us to see our soldiers die every day in Kashmir. It leads to a hardening of our stance, that what is there to talk to Pakistan. Anybody who gets killed -- whether it is a jawan or Kashmiri, and the ratio of Kashmiris dying is more than jawans who are dying -- it is very unfortunate that we have to lose people from the army who are in a no war area. But you have to think why are we using the army so much in Kashmir? Our generals said that neither we nor the militants are going to achieve their aim in Kashmir. (Former army chief) General (Ved Prakash) Malik said the army has been far too long in Kashmir and we must think of withdrawing from some parts. (National Conference leader) Omar Abdullah said it about AFSPA, let us take out the army from areas like Budgam and check if there is a problem, then we can always send them back. But it was not done. So the Kashmiri minds feel they are going to be beaten and there will be no respite. Pakistanis will beat them and so do we. I am not holding any brief for any militant, but unless you talk, this cycle of violence will continue. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday wrote a fresh letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention to end the IAS officers strike even as he hit out at his detractors, saying the sit-in was not for personal gains but for greater good of the people of Delhi. Kejriwal, in a video message on Friday on the fifth day of the sit-in, he and his ministers are holding at the Lieutenant Governors office, also attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party, alleging the bureaucrats strike was to throw roadblocks in the working of the Aam Aadmi Party government. I have told the LG and (deputy chief minister) Manish Sisodia wrote a letter to him (Anil Baijal) yesterday and even sent a message on WhatsApp. But, no response from his side. We got no response to the letter I wrote to the PM. So, today again I wrote to the prime minister, he said. The latest letter by Kejriwal was in response to an invite to attend a meeting of NITI Aayog on Sunday. I have asked the PM, if in his meetings officers dont show up, will he be able to run the government for a day? Then why have you allowed the strike of officers in Delhi. It is not good to bother people of Delhi, Kejriwal said. Kejriwal on Thursday had written to Modi, seeking his intervention to end the strike, claiming that Lt Governor Anil Baijal was doing nothing to end the impasse. A team of doctors on Thursday conducted a health check-up of Kejriwals deputy Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendar Jain at the L-G office, who are on indefinite hunger strike to press for their demands. Kejriwal said in his fresh letter to Modi, he has reiterated the demands. The AAP government has sought that the L-G direct the IAS officers to end their strike and act against those who have struck work. They also want the L-G to approve the proposal for doorstep delivery of ration. I have again asked him (PM) to do something. It is not alright to have this strike be allowed. So, on Sunday, will go to the PMs residence, lot of people of Delhi will go to his residence and appeal to him to have the strike cancelled, he said. Kejriwal hoped that the prime minister will ensure that the strike ends. If not, then after Sunday we will go to every household. Our workers will reach out to 10 lakh households in the city and collect signatures on a letter on this obstruction to Delhi government work and on the issue of full statehood to Delhi. These 10 lakh families will then agitate for full statehood and against this strike of IAS officers, he claimed. The AAP chief in his video appeal also asked if there was one person who would say that the strike by officers was legitimate. After meeting him on Monday evening, I had hoped that the L-G would say he had ordered end of the strike and ask us to go back home. I am surprised that it is the fifth day and he (Baijal) is not willing to have it ended, Kejriwal alleged. But, what is more astonishing is that some BJP leaders are sitting in protest to support the strike of officers, he said. BJP has been ruling for 15 years in MP, in Gujarat for 25-30 years, in Chhattisgarh for 10 years. Since AAP government had done so much work in education, health, power and water departments, people in those (BJP-ruled) states are now asking questions on development issue and they are finding it difficult to answer, Kejriwal said. Since they cant do it in their states, so obstructions are being thrown in the working of the Kejriwal government, so the strike, he alleged. Hitting out at his detractors, who have questioned the motive behind the sit-in, he said, I am not here for personal gains, and we are not having fun here. Some TV channels are labelling our protest as AC-sofa ka dharna. I want to ask, Am I here for myself or to get jobs for my children? Is it for my own work? Is it easy to sleep on sofas? We are here so that problems in opening of new schools, mohalla clinics and getting rations can be removed... People are asking about the pollution level. Every 15 days, we used to have review meetings. The environment secretary has not been attending meeting of the environment minister in the last four months. If he doesnt come, how should we work, he said. IMAGE: AAP MP Sanjay Singh and party MLAs along with CPI-M leader Brinda Karat participate in a candlelight vigil to protest against Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, at Rajghat in New Delhi, on Thursday. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/Reuters The tug of war between the Lieutenant Governor and the Aam Aadmi Party government showed no signs of easing as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues on Friday continued their sit-in at the L-G office for the fifth day, amid intensified protests by the party and the Bharatiya Janata Party which blamed each other for the impasse. Kejriwal, who along with his three cabinet colleagues have been staging a sit-in at the L-G office since Monday evening, wrote a second letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in as many days on the issue of alleged 'strike' by Indian Administrative Service officers and challenged him to work without the officers attending his meetings. 'How do we work like this? Can Modi ji try working like this even for a day? Can our critics kindly tell us how do we function like this(sic)?' Kejriwal tweeted after Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain alleged that environment secretary did not attend a meeting on pollution in the evening. In his fresh letter to Modi, Kejriwal urged him to end IAS officers' strike so that he can attend a meeting of NITI Aayog on Sunday. Kejriwal accompanied by his deputy Manish Sisodia and ministers Satyendar Jain and Gopal Rai started an indefinite sit-in at the office of Lt Governor Anil Baijal demanding that he direct IAS officers to end their 'strike' and approve doorstep ration delivery scheme. However, the IAS officers' association has maintained that no officer is on 'strike'. A team of 20 doctors reached the Lt Governor Secretariat this morning to conduct health check up of Jain and Sisodia, who have been on hunger strike on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, after which Kejriwal expressed apprehension that the two ministers may be forced out of there. 'Why r they planning to take them forcefully? It is just 4 days. Both of them r fit. They r fighting for the people of Delhi (sic),' Kejriwal tweeted. Also, Sisodia released a video warning that if they are forcibly removed from the L-G Secretariat, they will stop drinking water too. Sources said that the L-G, who has been working from his residence after the sit-in by AAP ministers, has constituted three teams of doctors to examine the health of ministers. "A regular team, consisting of a doctor, a nurse and and a helper, has been visiting to check on the health of the ministers. This afternoon a team of specialists visited them," an official said. A specialist team consists of a cardiologist, nephrologist, endocrinologist and the medical head of LNJP Hospital, he said. "At 2:30 pm, his (Jain's) vitals were checked and his sugar level was 57 units (mg/dL). His blood pressure reading was 98/64, while the pulse reading was 68," sources said. AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on Friday met the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and voiced hope that the L-G will find a 'meaningful' solution in the interest of the Delhi people. In a symbolic protest, the AAP leaders from 70 assembly constituencies sent ration packets to the prime minister residence. The AAP government has alleged that approval to the doorstep ration delivery scheme was pending with the L-G. The BJP legislators sitting on a dharna at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's office at the Delhi Secretariat on Friday launched a hunger strike 'to pressure the government in providing relief to the people hit by water shortage'. The Delhi unit BJP leaders - Vijender Gupta, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Jagdish Pradhan and Parvesh Verma - and rebel Aam Aadmi Party MLA Kapil Mishra also wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind, seeking his intervention to end the sit-in of Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues at Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's office. Hitting out at Kejriwal, Congress leader Sheila Dikshit said that he should first read the Constitution and then approach the prime minister and Parliament for full statehood to Delhi. Dikshit said the roles of the Delhi Lt Governor and the chief minister are defined in the Constitution and wondered why AAP leaders were protesting at Lt Governor Anil Baijal's office since Monday. "What is his (Kejriwal's) intention behind it?" she asked. Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ajay Maken said the AAP and the BJP are doing 'dharna politics' as they are 'not serious' about public issues such as water shortage.\ "The dharna by both the parties is a part of well-planned strategy. The script of this strategy had been written when the chief secretary was assaulted at the CM's residence... AAP is doing dharna to divert attention from its failure on public issues," Maken told reporters at the same press conference. Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court today agreed to hear on June 18 a plea seeking direction to the L-G to ensure that the alleged 'informal strike' by IAS officers of Delhi was called off and they perform their duties as public servants. The petition comes in the backdrop of another plea filed yesterday in the court seeking that the sit-in by Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues at the LG office against the "strike" by the IAS officers be declared unconstitutional and illegal. This plea against Kejriwal's sit-in was also listed for hearing for June 18. IMAGE: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita (front right) and mother (front left) wait in a car near the residence of Lt Governor, in New Delhi along with wives of Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendar Jain. Photograph: @KejriwalSunita/Twitter/PTI Photo Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals wife on Thursday night alleged that the families of the ministers, who are staging a sit-in at the Lieutenant Governor Secretariat since Monday evening, were not being allowed to meet them. Sunita Kejriwal said on Twitter that even prisoners are allowed to meet their family members. According to the chief ministers wife, she, her mother-in-law, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia wife and Health Minister Satyendar Jains wife had gone to meet them at the L-G office, but were not allowed. Respected LG sir, are we four ladies, mother and wife of CM, wife of Dy CM and wife of Satyendar Jain threat to your security that you are not allowing us to enter the road leading to your house? Kindly intervene. Please do not feel so threatened by everyone. Regards (sic), she tweeted. In another tweet, she said, @LtGovDelhi sir we waited for long, but denied any meeting with our family. Even the prisoners are allowed to meet their family members. Sources in the L-G office said the ministers family members can meet them outside the L-G office as no restriction has been imposed on such meetings. Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party ministers Manish Sisodia, Gopal Rai and Satyendar Jain have been staying put at the waiting room of the L-G office over their demands, including a direction to IAS officers to end their strike and action against those who have struck work. In a counter-protest, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Pravesh Sahib Singh Verma, three party MLAs and AAPs rebel legislator Kapil Mishra sat on dharna outside the chief ministers office at Delhi Secretariat. The general administration department of the Delhi government ordered removal of posters and banners put up by the BJP and Mishra following a complaint. Following a request of Opposition Leader Vijender Gupta, the department provided a TV in the waiting room of the chief ministers office. Besides Verma and Mishra, BJP MLAs -- Gupta, Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Jagdish Pradhan have sat on dharna, saying they will not leave the chief ministers office till their demands are met. IMAGE: Villagers look on as a part of an embankment is being washed away by the flooding water, at Nam Doboka village in Hojai district of Assam on Friday. Photograph: PTI Photo The flood situation in the Northeast deteriorated on Friday, with four more people in Manipur and one in Tripura losing their lives, taking the death toll in the region to 12. The situation worsened in Assam, Tripura and Manipur as train services remained suspended on some routes and roads were washed away. Nearly four lakh people have been affected across seven districts of Assam. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), 3.87 lakh people have been affected in Hojai, Karbi Anglong East, Karbi Anglong West, Golaghat, Karimganj, Hailakandi and Cachar districts in the first wave of floods to have hit the state this year. So far, three persons have lost their lives in landslides and flood-related incidents in different parts of the state. According to the report issued today, Hailakandi has been the worst-hit with nearly 2.06 lakh people affected, followed by Karimganj with almost 1.33 lakh people. Due to fresh landslips between the Bandarkhal and Damchara stations, rail movement continues to remain suspended on the Lumding-Badarpur section. Currently, Dhansiri river at Numaligarh in Golaghat, Jia Bharali at NT Road crossing in Sonitpur, Kopili at Kampur in Nagaon, Barak at AP Ghat in Cachar and Badarpurghat in Karimganj, Katakhal at Matizuri in Hailakandi and Kushiyara at Karimganj town are flowing above the danger mark. In Manipur, over 1.5 lakh people were marooned in two flood-hit districts as the situation in the Imphal Valley worsened with the death toll rising to six. The Relief and Disaster Management in a report said the intensity of flooding has been increasing at Thoubal and Imphal West districts with 1.5 lakh people being marooned. About 12,500 houses have been damaged and 5,200 people moved out of the area, according to latest reports. Concerned over the devastating flood situation in the state, Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla today said she would donate a day's salary to the Governor's Relief Fund for the flood-affected people. Heptulla told reporters that the entire Raj Bhavan staff would contribute a day's salary and appealed to others to chip in. Acknowledging that the flood situation was bad, she said once the water recedes, there is a possibility of outbreak of fever and other diseases and she will discuss the matter with the health minister to take preventive measure. Officials said the water level continued to rise in Nambol and Thoubal rivers in Bishnupur and Thoubal districts. The situation in Tripura also deteriorated with the rain-fed Khowai river inundating fresh areas rendering thousands homeless and damaging roads and crops, officials said. Three people have so far died in flood-related incidents in the state. Around 2,000 flood-affected people have taken shelter in freshly opened relief camps this morning as water level of the Khowai has been swelling following continuous rain since Wednesday night, Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Uttam Mandal said. Currently, 6,000 people are marooned in Khowai district, he said, adding it has caused extensive damage to road connectivity as well as crops. The Kalilashshar sub-division of Unakoti district, which was badly affected by the flood, is yet to recover from the disaster with over 21,000 people still putting up in relief camps. Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb today visited the Kalilashshar sub-division. In Mizoram, at least 1,066 families have so far been evacuated to safer places due to floods, state disaster management and rehabilitation department officials on Friday said. The worst-hit villages were south Mizoram Lunglei district's Tlabung town and its surrounding villages as their homes were inundated by the flooding Chhimtuipui river along the Mizoram-Bangladesh border. Heavy rainfall continued to lash the state again last night and this morning which triggered another massive landslide at Ramlaitui village in Lunglei district which blocked the Aizawl-Lunglei via Thenzawl highway. Public Works Department's Chief Engineer K Lalsawmvela said excavators were used to clear the debris while the National Highway No 54, which was swept away by landslide near central Mizoram's Serchhip town yesterday, was still not repaired. Lalsawmvela said that it would take days, if not months, to restore the National Highway as the whole hillock collapsed pulling down around 100 metres of the highway. Kerala rain: Body of child recovered, teenage boy washed away; toll 45 The toll in rain related incidents in Kerala since onset of the monsoon rose to 45 on Friday with the recovery of the body of a baby girl and a teenaged boy being washed away in flash floods in the district, officials said. The body of one and half year old Rifa Mariyam was recovered from under the rubble in a landslide at Kattipara, while Abhinav, 17, was swept away in flash floods near his village in Vadakara taluk, they said. Miriyam's mother has also been reported missing in the landslide. A total of six more persons from three families are yet to be traced from under the rubble, officials said, adding search operations were continuing to try and rescue them. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan directed authorities to disburse compensation to those who suffered losses and whose property was damaged. He gave the directions to District Collectors through videoconferencing at the Collectorate at Thiruvananthapuram. State ministers T P Ramakrishnan and A K Saseendran visited affected areas in Kozhikode district and later told reporters that the delayed arrival of the 50 member National Disaster Response Force team was due to flooded roads and had not hampered rescue and relief operations. Fire and Rescue Force and police, along with local people swung into action in search of the missing persons, they said. The NDRF also intensified search operations in the affected areas after their arrival, the ministers said. The affected people, housed in relief camps, have been provided with food, medicines and drinking water, they said. Meanwhile, leader of the opposition in Kerala assembly, Ramesh Chennithala, who visited the affected region on Friday, sought a special package for those hit by landslides in the district. Speaking to reporters later, he demanded action against unauthorised check dams and sought closure of illegal quarries in hilly regions of the district. He also urged the authorities to set up a NDRF unit in Kozhikode. On Thursday, the government had issued a red alert in northern districts-Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, Palakkad, Kasargod and Malappuram- in view of heavy rain forecast till June 18. Several roads, including National Highways,criss crossing Kozhikode-Wayanad areas, are still under a sheet of water, disrupting vehicular movement. Maulana Fazlullah, the dreaded chief of Pakistani Taliban, has been killed in a United States drone strike in Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province, an Afghan defence ministry official confirmed on Friday. Fazlullah, who has been designated as a global terrorist by the US and carried a bounty of $5 million (Rs 32 crore), had been on the run since his loyalists were routed in a major military operation in Pakistan's Swat district in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in 2009. The US military said on Thursday it carried out a strike targeting a senior terrorist leader in Afghanistan. It, however, did not identify the terrorist. 'US forces conducted a counter-terrorism strike, June 13, in Kunar province, close to the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which targeted a senior leader of a designated terrorist organisation,' Lieutenant Colonel Martin O'Donnell said in a statement. Afghan Ministry of Defence spokesman Mohammad Radmanish confirmed to CNN that Fazlullah, who is believed to be in his forties, was killed in the strike on Wednesday. The Express Tribune, citing sources, also said the drone strike that took place in the Nur Gul Kalay village of Dangam district killed Fazlullah and four other Tehreek-e-Taliban commanders. Fazlullah, also known by the alias Radio Mullah or Maulana Radio due to his long sermons on a private radio channel, and his commanders were having an Iftar at a compound when a remotely piloted US aircraft targeted them, reports said. The TTP, however, did not confirm the death of its chief in the drone strike. Fazlullah had directed numerous high-profile attacks against the US and Pakistani targets since he was appointed the group's leader in 2013, including the December 2014 attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar that killed 151 people, including more than 130 children. The US says Fazlullah ordered the 2012 attempted assassination of Malala Yousafzai, who became a global symbol of the fight for girls' rights to schooling. The US strike comes amid a ceasefire between the Afghan Taliban and Afghan security forces to mark the end of the Muslim's holy month of Ramazan. Gen John Nicholson, the commander of US Forces-Afghanistan and the NATO-led Resolute Support, said the United States would adhere to the ceasefire announced by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, which did not include US counterterrorism attacks on other terror groups. In 2014, there were reports that Fazlullah had been killed. However that information turned out to be false. In 2010, similar news about his death had broken out but later proved false. Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's condition is improving and he is being monitored by a team of doctors round-the-clock, sources at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences said on Friday. The Bharatiya Janata Party stalwart continues to be in the intensive care unit of the Cardio-thoracic Centre at the hospital. 'Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is stable. He continues to show improvement and is being monitored by the team of doctors,' AIIMS said in a statement. AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria had, on Wednesday, said the 93-year-old leader was showing significant improvement and the doctors were hopeful of his full recovery in the next few days. Vajpayee was admitted to the premier hospital on June 11 with a kidney tract infection, chest congestion and the urine output on the lower side. He was immediately evaluated by a team of doctors and put on injectable antibiotics. Vajpayee, a diabetic, has one functional kidney. He had suffered a stroke in 2009 that had weakened his cognitive abilities. Subsequently, he had developed dementia. Political leaders, including Union minister Anupriya Patel, met the ailing leader at the hospital on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat, former prime ministers Manmohan Singh and H D Deve Gowda, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Congress president Rahul Gandhi have visited Vajpayee at the AIIMS over the past four days. Vajpayee was thrice elected the prime minister between 1996 and 1999 and is the only non-Congress prime minister to complete the full term of five years, from 1999 to 2004. As his health deteriorated, he had slowly withdrawn himself from public life and was confined to his residence for years. Shanghai, China -- (ReleaseWire) -- 06/14/2018 --The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with more than 300 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organizations in adjacent industry sectors. At the Zhuhai Airshow, many world-famous aerospace companies traveled to Zhuhai to participate in the airshow. At the airshow site, the Global Military reporter conducted an exclusive interview with Arty, the new senior vice president of the US-based special alloy giant Kazan Technologies. In an interview,Card Hill Arty highlighted that the Chinese market is one of the important markets in the Kazan Mountains. In the ongoing cooperation, Kashan is also assisting the development of Chinese aviation companies.He said that Kazan Technology Co., Ltd. is a giant of special alloys in the United States. It was founded in 1889. In 2014, it was just the 125th anniversary of the company. Kashanshan Company mainly produces a variety of special alloys for the aviation industry, including landing gear and parts for aircraft engines. The vice president said that Zhuhai Air Show is a very important platform for Khao Shan. Kashanshan Company has close business dealings with Chinese aviation giants such as COMAC and AVIC. Through airshows, they can understand how the client companies operate and the latest developments in the industry. In an interview, Card Hill Arty particularly mentioned that Kashanshan has invested and built factories in China. A new factory was completed in China one week before the airshow. In recent years of continuous cooperation, China's aviation companies have experienced rapid development. He said that through cooperation and competition, the giants of the world's aviation industry, like Karshan, are actually promoting the development of Chinese companies. When evaluating China's aviation industry, he confided that there is still a considerable gap between China and the US aviation industry, but Chinese airlines are constantly developing and the future is still very optimistic. About GSMA Asia Congress Mobile World Congress Shanghai is the must-attend industry event in Asia. Arthur Kennedy said GSMA will continue to develop along the direction I took when I first took office seven years ago, and to expand its influence globally. The AMOs are the most prestigious awards platform for Asia. El Dorado Hills, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 06/15/2018 --Excel Home Healthcare Inc. offers top quality nursing care, home nursing services, senior home care, physical therapy, and home nurse in Clarksville CA, Cameron Park, White Rock CA, El Dorado Hills, Amador County, and nearby areas. This agency has been able to earn a reputation for offering the highest quality of care to each that they serve. They also make sure that the patients maintain their freedom as well as their self-esteem. The 4-star rating received from the CMS or Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is a testimony to the quality care that they offer. Excel Home Healthcare Inc. is certified and licensed by the Center of Medicare and Medicaid in addition to the California Public Health Licensing and Certification Board. The Joint Commission also accredits this agency. Excel Home Healthcare offers many specialized services to the elders and physically disabled people which include speech therapy in Cameron Park and Clarksville California, skilled nursing care, nutrition consultation, medical social worker and home health aide services. In addition to this, Excel Home Healthcare also offers many specialty services such as Palliative Care for patients suffering from end-stage diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer's, cancer, COPD, CHF, MS, etc. The interdisciplinary team at Excel Home Healthcare serves the patients in care facilities, hospitals, and their own homes. By helping patients in a range of settings, Excel Home Healthcare allows patients to transit from the hospital or other care facilities to their home. To set up an appointment for a home nurse in Amador County and Cameron Park or to get more information about the services that the company offers one can call on 916-936-0555. About Excel Home Healthcare Inc. Excel Home Healthcare Inc. is a leading health care agency that offers the best in-home care services for the elderly adults and patients with physical challenges. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. WRONG members (left to right): Marie Cragg, John Close, Marie Woodhead, Nick Cragg, Paul Baker and Dianne Parker A GREENBELT group has accused council planners of pandering to house-builders and supporting developments against national guidelines. The Wickersley, Rotherhams Own Natural Greenbelt (WRONG) campaigners are battling Rotherham Borough Council and Harron Homes over planned construction at Nethermoor Drive and Second Lane. The developer wants to build 250 houses there, which objectors claimed is many more than could be supported by current infrastructure. Hasty house-building will stretch schools, roads, sewerage and habitats, including those on greenbelt land, WRONG members said. They have enlisted lawyers and engineers to challenge the plans on the grounds that they ignore government guidelines like the Manual for Streets and the National Planning Policy Framework. Campaigners have insisted WRONG is not driven by NIMBYism, but concern for Wickersleys appearance and amenities. Objections have been made to a supposed archaeological survey which has stripped the site of its topsoil, now piled four metres high, and cleared the land. The group said this was planners effectively rubber-stamping the development months before planning consultations have ended as it has not been subject to the usual conditions for such a survey. They also highlighted the recent felling of a mature oak tree on council land, near the sites proposed access route, by unknown parties. Former civil engineer and WRONG founder Nick Cragg said he thought RMBC planners were too eager to satisfy builders and meet government targets for new homes. If the local authority doesnt meet housing targets, developers can appeal directly to government and the council loses control completely, he said. They dont want to lose control, so theyre ticking boxes and jumping through hoops. We think theyve chosen Wickersley because its low-hanging fruit, which will be snapped up by developers. He added: They want to build ten houses to the acre. The density around there is three to the acre, so its completely out of character. We presented an alternative plan, but it was rejected without any consideration. Planners have become facilitators for developers - thats a huge conflict of interest. They should be looking out for the interests of local residents. WRONG members said they had struggled to get answers in writing, with planning officers preferring to talk by phone. Paul Woodcock, RMBCs assistant planning director, said no decisions had been made, adding: All comments will be taken into account and anyone who has registered a right to speak will be invited to address the planning board before any decision is made. A council spokeswoman said: Any permission required for archaeological survey work is provided by the landowner, not the planning authority. Permission for the removal of the tree was not required by the local planning authority - however, as the tree was on council-owned land, we have reported the felling to the police. She added the head of planning and the case officer had met with WRONG and discussed issues on the telephone and in writing. Mugabe will no longer give evidence on missing Marange diamond revenue report 15 june 2018 News Zimbabwe former president Robert Mugabe will no longer appear before a parliamentary portfolio committee on mines to give oral evidence about Marange diamond revenue pillaged during his rule, according to media reports. He failed to turn up twice. The former President was unable to attend at the appointed hour and the committee was due to meet to consider summoning him as a measure of last resort but after consultations with the Honourable Speaker, he was recused from attending, the Herald newspaper quoted committee chairperson Temba Mliswa as saying. 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 month 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 The companys cash flow generation had been impaired by a combination of factors, which included a strike action in South Africa, a strong Rand, delay in bringing the new plant at Cullinan on stream and an embargo on diamond exports from Tanzania. Petra chief executive Johan Dippenaar said late last month that the rights issue was in the best interest of its shareholders, positioning the company to reap the benefits of the capital intensive phase by moving the focus to cost efficient production from the new undiluted mining blocks, with a reduced capital spend profile. Investors were expected to receive five shares for every eight they currently hold at 40 pence each. The companys lenders waived covenants for December 2017 and relaxed them for this years measurements. Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished Stornoway Diamond Corporation announced the appointment of Michele S. Darling to the Corporations Board of Directors. Ms. Darling has over thirty years of global business experience with particular expertise in Human Resources Management and Corporate Governance. She currently serves on the boards of directors of Nickel Creek Platinum Corp., the Denihan Hospitality Group (New York) and Trillium Health Partners, and is a former director of Osisko Mining Corp. and Hewitt Equipment Ltd. Ms. Darling joins the Stornoway board of directors as a nominee of Orion Mine Finance. In this capacity she replaces Mr. Doug Silver, who joined the board in 2014 and served through the construction and commissioning phases of the Renard Diamond Mine. Alex Shishlo, Editor of the Rough&Polished European Bureau in Brussels As he prepared to depart for a G7 summit in Canada on Friday, President Donald said Russia should be reinstated into the group of major industrialized countries. Trump told reporters Russia should be at the two-day meeting, arguing that it is important for Russia to be at negotiating table. "I would recommend and it's up to them, but Russia should be in the meeting, it should be a part of it," Trump said. "You know, whether you like it or not, and it may not be politically correct, but we have a world to run." The G7 was previously known as the G8 until Russia was expelled in 2014 over its invasion and annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region. "They should let Russia come back in, because we should have Russia at the negotiating table." Trump said in remarks on the White House's south lawn. At the G7 summit in La Malbaie, Quebec, Trump will meet with leaders from the U.K., Canada, Japan, Italy, Germany and France. The summit is expected to focus on trade relations amid the ongoing dispute over Trump imposing tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, Mexico, and the European Union. Trump continued his tough talk on trade as he prepared to head to the meeting, arguing that the U.S. is being treated very unfairly on trade. In posts on Twitter ahead of the summit, Trump lashed out at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron. "Please tell Prime Minister Trudeau and President Macron that they are charging the U.S. massive tariffs and create non-monetary barriers," Trump tweeted. He added, "The EU trade surplus with the U.S. is $151 Billion, and Canada keeps our farmers and others out. Look forward to seeing them tomorrow." Trump described Trudeau as "indignant" for bringing up the relationship between the U.S. and Canada without mentioning Canadian tariffs on U.S. dairy products. "Looking forward to straightening out unfair Trade Deals with the G-7 countries. If it doesn't happen, we come out even better!" Trump tweeted. Macron suggested in an earlier tweet that Trump risks becoming isolated and indicated the other six members of the G7 are willing to issue a joint statement that excludes the U.S. "The American President may not mind being isolated, but neither do we mind signing a 6 country agreement if need be," Macron tweeted. He added, "Because these 6 countries represent values, they represent an economic market which has the weight of history behind it and which is now a true international force." Trump is scheduled to leave the summit early in order to travel to Singapore for his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The move means Trump will skip sessions on climate change and the environment. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Political News Allegiant Airlines has canceled dozens of flights for Thursday and Friday, due to problems with the delivery of new planes. Las Vegas-based Allegiant issued a travel advisory saying it was canceling 26 flights Thursday and Friday, including 20 affecting destinations in Florida in Sanford, St. Petersburg and Fort Lauderdale. Allegiant is a low-cost air carrier which specializes in flying from smaller airports to vacation destinations. The problem is delay in getting ready to fly the recently purchased Airbus planes. "We are in the process of transitioning to an all-Airbus fleet," Allegiant spokeswoman Krysta Levy said. "Unfortunately, some of the delivery dates for aircraft scheduled to join our fleet have fallen short of the projections, leaving us with limited resources available and the very difficult choice to cancel certain flights." Allegiant said it wasn't manufacturing delays that held up delivery of the planes, but the "induction process" that includes inspections, new interiors and exterior paint and registration with the FAA. Levy said passengers were offered other flights or refunds. Allegiant is in the process of transitioning from an older fleet of McDonnell-Douglas MD-80 aircraft to all Airbus A320 planes, both new and old. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Sandoz, a Novartis (NVS) division, announced the presentation of two long-term, Phase III studies: one each for biosimilar Zessly or infliximab and biosimilar Erelzi or etanercept. Research from the 54-week REFLECTIONS B537-02 study of Zessly and the 48-week EQUIRA study of Erelzi showed that each biosimilar matched its reference biologic in terms of safety, efficacy and quality, reinforcing previously-presented findings. The research also indicated that switching from the reference medicine to the biosimilar did not affect safety, efficacy or immunogenicity. Both studies are being presented at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR) in Amsterdam. REFLECTIONS B537-02 is a Phase III, double-blind, parallel-group, confirmatory study of Sandoz biosimilar Zessly (infliximab) versus reference Remicade (infliximab) in combination with methotrexate in 650 biologic-naive, adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who had an inadequate response to methotrexate therapy alone. The study met its primary endpoint, a >=20% improvement in American College of Rheumatology (ACR) response (ACR 20) at Week 14. The research demonstrated that there were no clinically-meaningful differences from 30 to 54 weeks in terms of safety, efficacy and immunogenicity between patients with rheumatoid arthritis remaining on Sandoz infliximab and reference infliximab. The same results were found when patients on reference infliximab were blindly re-randomized to switch to Sandoz infliximab or remained on reference therapy. EQUIRA was a 48-week, randomized, double-blind Phase III study that compared the efficacy and safety of Sandoz biosimilar Erelzi (etanercept) versus reference Enbrel** (etanercept), in the 376 adult patient population with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, and evaluated the effects of switching from reference etanercept to Sandoz etanercept. The new research demonstrated that switching rheumatoid arthritis patients from reference etanercept to Sandoz etanercept does not affect the overall therapy outcome in terms of efficacy, safety and immunogenicity. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News AKASOL AG announced it has set price range for its envisaged IPO, aiming for total gross proceeds of approximately 100 million euros. The offering will comprise a total of up to approximately 2.2 million ordinary bearer shares with no par value, consisting of up to approximately 2.1 million new shares from a capital increase and 150 thousand existing shares offered by the current shareholders. The offer period will commence on June 18, 2018, and is expected to end on June 27, 2018. The price range was set at 48.50 euros to 64.50 euros per share. The company intends to use the envisaged net proceeds resulting from the sale of the new shares for the expansion of the production facility in Langen, Germany, as well as for the expansion to the USA. In addition, the company intends to use the proceeds for investments in additional test and validation facilities, research and development. AKASOL intends to list the shares on the regulated market segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange with simultaneous admission to the Prime Standard under the ticker symbol ASL. June 29, 2018 is expected to be the first day of trading. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News U.K. stocks fell notably Friday on renewed trade worries after China said it would retaliate with tariffs of its own if the U.S. goes ahead with its plans to impose punishing tariffs on tens of billions of dollars of Chinese goods. The benchmark FTSE 100 was down 50 points or 0.64 percent at 7,714 in late opening deals after closing 0.8 percent higher on Thursday. Miner and commodities trader Glencore dropped 1.5 percent after settling a legal dispute in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tesco shares rallied 2 percent. The retailer delivered positive like-for-like sales growth for a tenth consecutive period in the first quarter. Rolls Royce Holdings soared 10 percent. The jet-engine manufacturer said that it is well-placed to exceed free cash flow of 1 billion pounds by 2020. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY) announced that the China National Drug Administration has approved Opdivo or nivolumab injection for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer or NSCLC after prior platinum-based chemotherapy in adult patients without EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations. This is China's first and only PD-1 inhibitor and is the only Immuno-Oncology (I-O) agent to demonstrate a survival benefit compared with chemotherapy, based on data from the pivotal Phase 3 CheckMate -078 trial, in which 90% of the patients enrolled were Chinese. The approval is based on results from the Phase 3 CheckMate -078 trial of Opdivo versus chemotherapy among patients with previously treated NSCLC, findings from which were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting in April 2018. In November 2017, the trial was stopped early because the independent Data Monitoring Committee concluded that Opdivo demonstrated superior overall survival compared with chemotherapy. The application later received priority review by the Center for Drug Evaluation in China. In CheckMate -078, Opdivo reduced the risk of death by 32% versus chemotherapy, the primary endpoint (HR 0.68; 97.7% CI: 0.52 to 0.90; p=0.0006), in patients with previously treated NSCLC. Both efficacy and safety of Opdivo in this patient population were consistent with the results of the landmark global CheckMate -017 and -057 studies. In CheckMate -078, Grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse events occurred less frequently with Opdivo versus docetaxel (10% vs. 48%). Discontinuations due to Grade 3-4 TRAEs were also less frequent with Opdivo (3%) than with docetaxel (5%). For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Canadian stocks were poised for a rough open Friday amid the ongoing trade squabble between the U.S. and China. President Donald Trump announced tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese imports, and said the U.S. "will pursue additional tariffs" if China retaliates. Tensions are also running high between the U.S. and Canada over Trump's proposed tariffs on products from the north. In economic news, Canada's manufacturing sales fell 1.3% to $56.2 billion in April, following two consecutive monthly increases. Sales in the petroleum and coal products and transportation equipment industries accounted for much of the decrease in April. Excluding these two industries, manufacturing sales rose 0.4%. The corporate newsflow is light. Canada Goose (GOOS), the coat maker, turned in a surprisingly strong quarterly profit thanks to online sales. Crude oil futures eased below $67 a barrel amid expectations that Saudi Arabia and Russia will boost oil production next week. Gold dropped below $1300, reversing mid-week gains. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis A taxpayer in Russia has declared his incomes and profits from cryptocurrency transactions in income tax return irrespective of the fact that cryptocurrencies are not legalized in the country. Without revealing the identity, Russia's Federal Tax Service said a resident of the Altai Republic declared the income received from the sale and purchase of crypto currency. In Russia, the deadline for taxpayers to declare their tax obligations is April 30 every year. In the absence of special rules for transactions in cryptocurrrencies, those who receive income from trading in cryptocurrencies must declare their income in accordance with the generally established procedure. The tax base for crypto transactions is calculated in rubles. According to a clarification notice that Russia's Ministry of Finance sent to regional tax inspectorates, taxpayers can reduce their taxable crypto income by deducting the incurred and documented expenses for the purchase of crypto assets. The income tax rules are interpreted in favor of the taxpayer in case of confusion in filing the relevant forms. Meanwhile, the Russian crypto community is awaiting special crypto tax rules, which the Council of Ministers and the Central Bank of Russia is expected to finalize this month. Simultaneously, three Bills aimed at regulating Russia's crypto sector - "On Digital Financial Assets," "On Attracting Investments Using Investment Platforms" and "On Digital Rights" - are awaiting approval by the State Duma, the lower house of Russian parliament. As per an earlier communication by the Russian Finance Ministry, taxpayers are not expected to pay more than what normal taxpayers give to the state exchequer, as the current income tax rate of 13 percent will also be made applicable to cryptocurency-related incomes. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Bitcoin and its peers began the week in the red hurt by the news that a relatively small cryptocurrency exchange in South Korea was hacked. Crypto markets were also spooked by a report in the Wall Street Journal that the US government investigators are probing four bitcoin exchanges on allegations of manipulation in Bitcoin market pricing. The downward trend continued until Thursday and Bitcoin fell to a two-month low in between. Mid-week, a study surfaced that found the controversial altcoin Tether was used to manipulate the price of Bitcoin in 2017. Elsewhere, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said Bitcoin is controlled by China. However, the top cryptocurrency and altcoins rallied Thursday after William Hinman, SEC director for corporate finance, said that Bitcoin and Ether are not securities. Bitcoin climbed back above $6,500. At the start of the week, cryptocurrency market capitalization shrunk and fell below $300 billion for the first time since the middle of April. The market cap was $280.57 billion around 10.33 am ET Friday on CoinMarketCap. Here is a collection of the main stories from the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain this week, thus far. Cryptocurrencies Rally After SEC Official Says Bitcoin And Ether Not Securities Bitcoin and its peers strongly gained Thursday after a top regulator said Bitcoin and Ether, the two leading cryptocurrencies in that order, cannot be treated as securities, but some initial coin offerings could be. "When I look at Bitcoin today, I do not see a central third party whose efforts are a key determining factor in the enterprise," William Hinman, director of the division of corporation finance at the US Securities and Exchange Commission said in a speech at the Yahoo Finance All Markets Summit: Crypto in San Francisco on Thursday. S. Korea Exchange Hack, US Regulatory Probe Spook Crypto Market Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies were trading down Sunday after Coinrail, a relatively small South Korean exchange, reportedly said Friday that some of its digital currencies appears to have been stolen by hackers, and that it is cooperating with investigators to track down the coins. Elsewhere, investigators from the US government, who are probing allegations of manipulation in Bitcoin market pricing, have sought comprehensive trading data from Bitcoin exchanges including Bitstamp, Coinbase, itBit, and Kraken, the Wall Street Journal reported. Ethereum Classic Jumps On Coinbase Listing Plan; Binance Expands To Channel Islands Ethereum Classic, a fork of Ethereum, surged after the US-based crypto exchange Coinbase revealed plans to support it across its platform over the coming months. The altcoin, trading with the symbol ETC, surged nearly 25 percent on Monday on the news of listing on Coinbase. Meanwhile, crypto exchange Binance revealed plans to expand further after Malta, by agreeing to develop a compliance base and open a cryptocurrency exchange in Jersey, which is the biggest of the Channel Islands, between England and France. And Apple's newly released App Store guidelines banned cryptocurrency mining on both iOS devices including iPhones and iPads, and Mac. Global Watchdog Mulls Binding Rules For Crypto Exchanges A global watchdog fighting financial crime is planning to frame binding rules to govern cryptocurrency exchanges, Reuters reported, citing a Japanese government official familiar with the matter. The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is set to begin discussions on June 24, spurred by a call from G20 financial policymakers in March, the news agency said. Ripple CEO Says Bitcoin Controlled By China Brad Garlinghouse, the chief executive officer of cryptocurrency and payments start-up Ripple, claimed at conference that Bitcoin is really controlled by China, according to financial news outlet TheStreet.com. He also said that blockchain, the underlying technology behind bitcoin and Ripple, will not disrupt banks, though it will play an important role in the way the system works. It's a short-sighted view, he said. Thailand, Lithuania Unveil New Crypto Rules; UK Advises Banks On Crypto Asset Risks Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission finalized new rules to regulate cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, as well as fund raising through Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) in the Southeast Asian country, and defined cryptocurrencies as "digital assets and digital tokens" under their regulatory jurisdiction. Lithuania's finance ministry released comprehensive new guidelines for cryptocurrency and initial coin offerings or ICOs, calling it a step towards more certainty and transparency in the financial market. In the UK, financial regulator wrote to the heads of banking institutions in the country on how to handle and mitigate the financial crime risks posed by cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ether as well as related products. A recent survey by German retail bank Postbank showed that a total of 29 percent of German citizens see digital currencies as an interesting investment, despite the price declines and continuing volatility. Volkswagen & IOTA Show Software Over-The-Air Proof Of Concept At CEBIT 2018 Volkswagen, the German car manufacturing giant, and the IOTA Foundation demonstrated at CEBIT 2018 on Tuesday, a proof of concept of how the trusted transfer of software over-the-air to vehicles can be securely documented using the latter's Tangle distributed ledger technology. CEBIT 2018 was held in Hannover Fairground, Germany, from June 11-15. German Finance Watchdog Chief Calls Blockchain 'Revolutionary' Blockchain is revolutionary and its applications could turn the entire financial sector upside down, according to Felix Hufeld, chief of German Finance Regulator, BaFin. Global financial services industry spent $1.7 billion to develop blockchain technology solutions last year, as banks and other firms move beyond the proof-of-concept stage and started rolling out commercial distributed ledger technology products, according to a report by U.S.-based market intelligence firm Greenwich Associates. Elsewhere, payment processor Mastercard Inc. filed a patent to use a public blockchain system for payment card verification and also won a patent for a system of itinerary bidding based on a blockchain network. Irish Govt. Unveils Blockchain Initiative, Swiss Industry To Promote DLT In Capital Markets Irish Blockchain Expert Group or IBEG, led by governmental agency IDA Ireland, has launched Blockchain Ireland, to help promote and share information on blockchain in the country. The Swiss industry created a new independent body called the Capital Markets and Technology Association (CMTA) to promote the use of new technologies such as blockchain in the capital markets. Meanwhile, Switzerland's crypto-valley Zug is set to run a pilot for a municipal voting system, which will be powered by blockchain technology, using the city's current digital ID (eID) system later in June. Current Prices As of 10.31 am ET on Friday, Bitcoin was down 14.65 percent for the week at $6,511.58 and Ethereum was lower by 18.37 percent at $491.00 on Coinbase. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Forex News Kesha has announced her Weird & Wonderful Rainbow Ride, a four-day cruise set to embark in February 2019. Sailing from Tampa, Florida, to Nassau, Bahamas, the experience will include nonstop dance parties, a Lip Syncs for Your Life Boat, and performances by Big Freedia, Superfruit, Bob the Drag Queen and more, in addition to two "unique" Kesha shows. "ANIMALS!! Join me on my Weird & Wonderful Rainbow Ride! We will be taking over a cruise ship for four days, and sailing on the Norwegian Pearl from Tampa to the dark side of the moon with a stopover at the crystal-clear waters of Nassau, Bahamas February 17 - 21, 2019," Kesha tweeted of the news. Kesha is currently on a summer tour with Macklemore through August, promoting her album Rainbow, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Entertainment News (Agencia CMA Latam) - Brazil's Attorney General's Office (PGR) has asked the Federal Supreme Court (STF) a 60-day extension for the inquiry against the President Michel Temer and the ministers Eliseu Padilha and Moreira Franco, said the Brazilian official news agency. The extension should be decided by the rapporteur of the case, justice Edson Fachin. The case involves the supposed favoring to the Odebrecht construction company during the period in which Padilha and Moreira Franco were ministers, between 2013 and 2015, when Temer was vice president. According to testimony by the former Odebrecht executive Claudio Melo Filho, there was a dinner at the Palace of Jaburu in May 2014 to discuss a transfer of R$ 10 million as a form of campaign aid for the PMDB, currently MDB. After being included in the investigation by Fachin, Temer sent a letter to the PGR arguing that the president of the Republic should respond only "for acts that are strictly related to the exercise of the mandate." The Planalto Palace said it will not comment on the request of the PGR. 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. Mullah Fazlullah, the leader of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has been apparently killed in a US drone strike in Afghanistan's Kunar province, according to an American military official. The official told the Voice of America on Thursday that the strike on Wednesday targeted Fazlullah. Locals in the area also confirmed the death. "US forces conducted a counter-terrorism strike June 13 in Kunar province, close to the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which targeted a senior leader of a designated terrorist organisation," a spokesman for US Forces-Afghanistan, Army Lt. Col. Martin O'Donnell, also told the Voice of America, without specifying that Fazlullah was the target. Pentagon officials declined to comment on the development. US officials said Fazlullah directed numerous high-profile attacks against American and Pakistani targets since he was appointed the group's leader in 2013, including the December 2014 attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar that killed 151 people. Fazlullah is also accused of ordering the 2012 attempted assassination of Malala Yousafzai, who had been advocating for the right of girls to have access to an education. The US State Department offered a $5 million reward for Fazlullah in March, the same month Pakistani sources said his son was killed in an American drone strike on a TTP training facility. The strike comes amid a seven-day ceasefire between the Afghan Taliban and government security forces to allow Afghan citizens to observe the last days of Ramazan and Eid peacefully. Dear Ediotr, Re: Nanai family at Sogi Your tone is a bit brash and obnoxious, ...these guys are descended from Melanesian labourers, so they cannot argue customary land arguments... Mr. Tokumas mother is Samoan. Besides, what does it matter if part of his heritage is Melanesian? Yes they were forced labourers who worked for a pittance to create wealth for the colonialists, on plantations and serving their economy, which in turn became the inherited property and vested wealth of the Samoan government. And were they ever fully compensated by both the German governments and later the New Zealand governments? And what about our independent governments, have they recognized the near slave like conditions and circumstances that behooved their inherited, modern, capitalist, freehold, land-based (agricultural) economy? I dont think so, but thats beside the point. Samoa is diverse in its heritage. Some villages and districts still point to connections to Fiji, Tonga, Tahiti, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Niue, etc. underpinned by our FaaSamoa. And yet they are naturalised, inter-married, worldly and yet Samoan! So, yes, Mr. Tokuma should be treated as Samoan, no less. He has every right to contest the land generations of his family have grown up on and been buried in, even if its freehold land owned by the sovreign or government, ie. Mr. Tokuma would be considered a landholder who is seised of his estate. He has some legal right to hold, as well as a right to self-help or legal process. S. Auimatagi Dear Editor, The history of Samoas struggle for freedom was something that every true Samoan should learn by heart and should be very proud of. Samoas path to independence had hurt a lot of people and many unsung heroes even gave up their lives for the cause. The then NZ governments colonial and militaristic approach in governing the Samoa people at the time was comparable to the apartheid era of South Africa, though to a lesser extent. I can safely say that having read many years back MAU: Samoas Struggle for Freedom by Michael Field and recently TAUTAI: Samoa, World History and the Life of Taisi O.F. Nelson by Patricia OBrien. Those who fought for our independence should be remembered in whatever way possible and Samoas Old Court House holds an exceptionally significant place in that area. And since the government is planning to tear this building down (remember the old Fono House at Mulinuu), there is nothing anybody can do about it (recall the words from the PM in CCCS vs Govt). But I have a proposition to share with you dear readers and wish the government will consider it. If its a museum/hotel that would take the place of this historical icon, I propose a memorial site (say 10m x 10m) fronting the new construction indicating exactly where the honourable Tupua Tamasese was shot and later died. This site should be a masterpiece of art and should include a memorial stone dedicated for those who perish in the Black Saturday aftermath. If funding allows, stone (or whatever) figures of Tupua and other casualties can be erected there too. And for me personally, I love to see the machine gun that was fired indiscriminately to the Mau crowd by the NZ government soldier, right in the middle of all that. Wouldnt that be a perfect tribute for all who gave anything for you and me to be FREE? I believe so. Its also a wonderful story for our children and our tour guides in the tourism industry, a true story not a legend or myth. And by the way, that museum/hotel thing must be named IA FILEMU SAMOA in honour of Black Saturday and further we need to honour 28th December 1929 every year just as we honour and remember ANZAC day Lest we forget! Tuulima Laiti Lalomanu The Crops Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and Serendi Coco Samoa (S.C.S.) Ltd. jointly organized a hands-on workshop to demonstrate to Samoan farmers and to their respective staff the concept of dynamic agroforestry (D.A.F) in May. D.A.F. involves the designed planting of mixed tree and field crops, including coconuts, cocoa, fruit trees, timber trees, bananas, taro, ginger and turmeric. Of particular importance is the planting according to a trees strata in its natural environment: for example, cocoa trees like shade, coconut trees rather less. Many trees can handle different levels of shade. Thus, grouping trees and crops is best done on a grid. Compared to the planting of field crops and trees as monocrops, D.A.F. offers farmers much higher yields per hectare and improves product and income diversity. It also boosts biodiversity, reduces pest pressure, improves soil humus content and moisture retention. Finally, it counteracts global climate change by tying up, in vegetation and soil, much higher amounts of atmospheric CO2, a key component of climate change. A group of 30 certified organic farmers, M.A.F. and S.C.S. staff underwent two days of classroom training at MAFs facilities in Nuu where two experts in cocoa and forestry practitioners explained the principles and benefits of D.A.F. During the next two days, the entire group planted the first quarter hectare of mixed rows of trees and field crops and learned the rules of grid planting and covering cocoa seedlings with biomass. Dr. Joachim Milz, D.A.F. expert and founder of the research and consulting firm Ecotop Consult had organized the training in close cooperation with M.A.F. and Serendi Coco staff. In our many workshops conducted worldwide we have not seen the enthusiasm and participation by farmers and officials we experienced in Samoa, he said. Malouafuli Pueata Principal Crops Development Officer said: This workshop has given a great boost to our plans to replenish the major natural resources of Samoa, in close cooperation with farmers and the private sector. Farmers were eager to take the lessons learned back home. Implementation of the concept will be supported by M.A.F. staff and the agricultural field staff of Serendi Coco Samoa (S.C.S.), one of the largest producers of organic and fair trade coconut products in Samoa. S.C.S. is a joint venture between Pacific Oil, a Samoan producer of copra oil and Dr. Bronners, the best-selling brand of natural soaps in the U.S. Dr. Bronners purchases all its main raw materials from organic and fair trade projects worldwide, some of them under the companys own ownership and management. It is committed to supporting smallholder farmers in improving the fertility and productivity of their land and thus help regenerate their communities. One reason Samoan farmers were particularly open to the D.A.F. concept is that traditionally Samoan agriculture has relied on mixed cropping. D.A.F. just adds elements that improve farm planning, tree maintenance and the production of biomass for more rapid build-up of fertile top soil. M.A.F. agrees that a sustainable farming system by planting recommended forest tree species mixing with selected crops to improve land use management and best cultivation system for the farming land that would improve livelihood and resilience. Aliimalemanu Faleupolu a farmer from Neiafu stated that the training had given him great knowledge on the importance of understanding what the plants/trees requires. Fanene Samau Etuale Sefo, the Managing Director of S.C.S. stated that our U.S. partners already have high demand for organic/fair trade coconut oil currently more than 3,000 MT/year, a figure that is expected increase over the next few years. We also receive inquiries from 3rd party customers in the US and EU in a green and responsible coconut oil. Our main concern is that we do not have enough productive trees for the 100 million coconuts per year that our company needs in order to meet the demand for our organic oil. S.C.S. discussed the concept of dynamic agroforestry with M.A.F. who were very keen to implement it with local farmers. This led to a request to Dr. Milz and in September 2017, initial presentations were made to Savaii farmers and M.A.F. Both parties felt that mixed agroforestry is a very promising way for Samoa to replant, and the role of S.C.S is to facilitate this process. This was followed up by the recent visit by Dr. Milz in May, to implement the concept and conduct more hands on training. Following the training, Dr. Milz and S.C.S. field staff have set up several more demonstration plots and also trained farmers and staff in the pruning of cocoa. Says Dr. Milz: We know that Samoa used to have a great cocoa industry and it has all the potential to become an international player again. This will require maintenance of the current cocoa trees and replanting in an ecological and more productive manner. Dr Milz and his colleague are due back in September later this year, to continue training and to monitor progress of the farms that have adopted D.A.F. The Police have issued a public notice calling for help to find a suspect in a burglary investigation. The statement was issued on their Facebook page last night. The Samoa Police Service is searching for a 24 year old male named Pati Sonny Chong Nee from the villages of Vaitele-uta, Falelauniu, Aleisa, and Tanumapua, the statement reads. He is a suspect in police burglary investigations. The statement from the Police doesnt give any details. The public is advised to please contact a police station near you or call phone number 22222 immediately if you have any information that may lead to his whereabouts. It is a crime if you assist this person, harbor him or withhold valuable information from the police concerning this individual. On the tip of the Suva peninsula where their village once sat, the people of Suvavou welcomed the arrival of traditional wisdom holders from around the Pacific who converged for the Inaugural Pacific Philosophy Conference. In a historic and significant ceremony at the Pacific Theological College where their ancestors lived before they relocated to make way for Fijis capital in 1882, the villagers embraced the elders who came together to share their knowledge in an attempt to reshape the future for the indigenous people of the Pacific Islands. From the i vakasobu (disembarkment) to the veiqaraqaravi (traditional welcome ceremony) for the elders led by Samoas former Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi and former High Court judge of New Zealand, Justice Sir Taihakurei Durei, a leading expert on indigenous customary law and the Treaty of Waitangi, the founding agreement between the Queen of England and Maori chiefs signed in 1840, there was a deep connection and acknowledgement. The villagers, in their words of welcome, said it was an honour to host the traditional custodians of indigenous knowledge on their soil and hoped they would impart a lasting legacy on their people, the rest of Fiji and Pacific islanders. Reciprocating the welcome, Tui Atua said he was moved by the traditional welcome and felt its genuinity. We are an indigenous people. And we celebrate just about anything in dancing and singing. We have a shared culture, a shared genealogy, he said. You know as well as I do that the inter-marriages, the languages, many things, common ties we shared, the rich ceremonies, we recognise that this is a conversation. I feel very specially uplifted. You sense something real in these ceremonies This is what we are. To pass on to our children. Its a wonderful, spiritual ceremony that unites us all. In a sense that in many ways we celebrate in our ways, in our chants, in whatever. Today we celebrate our connection so it will live for our children. Our forebearers interacted with each other. I apologise that I cannot speak Fijian. Tui Atua told the gathering that his grandfather spoke Tongan and Fijian and it was proof of his relationship with the rest of the Pacific. He said one of the most beautiful farewells in Samoa was that of the Tui Viti when he went to Samoa before westernization came to the islands. On the way home, a storm struck and he had to take refuge in Manua. He had to stay there for over a year because they had to refit the whole fleet, built new boats to come to Fiji. At the end of this sojourn he did a farewell that is said to this day. It goes like this. You have given me so much love I cannot possibly return. But this I will say to you. My love for you I will not expose to the air lest it turns mouldy. Nor shall I put it to the ground so the maggots get to it. My love for you I place between my heart and my lungs. For as long as I have breath, it too will have life. Its a beautiful poetry, beautiful expression of a common heritage, of sharing love. This is what you have done to me, to us elders. It is special. It is a legitimacy that will live for our children Tui Atua said it is fitting that as the Pacific advanced on the Western concept of development, we should find out way back to wise ways of old that would help Pacific islanders cope with the associated problems brought on by westernisation. The conference an initiative of a partnership between the University of the South Pacific, Fiji National University, Pacific Theological College and the Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisation (P.I.A.N.G.O.) - aims to collate this wisdom sharing for our next generations to capture and adapt. Speaking at the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the partners yesterday (Tuesday), P.T.C. Associate Professor and head of Theology and Ethics, Reverend Dr. Upolu Vaai said the Pacific was faced with development changes that were causing the evolution of our ways. This partnership came into being because of the common interest of these four institutions in the search for a new development narrative for the Pacific, said Reverend Dr. Upolu. He said the conference is one that decolonises education from the ground up, one that considers the voices of the global views, the local communities, especially the future generation leadership, the young people, one that is able to reweave the ecological mat in response to the environmental threat that is unfolding before our eyes. P.I.A.N.G.O. Executive Director Emele Duituturaga said P.I.A.N.G.O. was pleased to be part of an event that was part of a process that aims to bring change to the mindset of people She said for the past six years, P.I.A.N.G.O. had been operating under the theme - Rethinking Development, Reshaping the Pacific We want and the conference was ideal in that it brought practitioners to the table. When we get to talk about reshaping, what we found ourselves asking is if we are having challenges with current development models, what is the alternative? This partnership is the part of our journey to envisage and articulate an alternative paradigm of life, Ms. Duituturaga said. Pacific philosophy is very important. Many of our members, community people, work on the ground, in villages. A lot of them are challenged with competing philosophies of life. This is an opportunity for practitioners and academics to come together in a talanoa fashion to not only talk about philosophy but how does that philosophy come alive for practitioners, how can philosophy of this Pacific talanoa add value to the work that our people are doing on the ground. Ms. Duituturaga said P.I.A.N.G.O. was also working closely with traditional owners of Suva who will be involved in the conference since they are part of P.I.A.N.G.O.s next generation leaders programme. Delegates were then treated to traditional dances depicting the different stories from around the region. The conference ended yesterday. His Highness Tui Atuas paper will be published in full on Sunday. * Ilaitia Turagabeci is the communications officer for P.I.A.N.G.O. PR - The Samoa Police Service would like to acknowledge the support of the village mayor and council of Salelologa for assisting police in their investigation in connection to the Salelologa market incident that was reported on social media a few weeks ago. The two male individuals identified on social media vandalising the Salelologa market have now been charged and remanded in custody at Tafaigata prison to await their court cases. A total of four have now been arrested and remanded in custody in connection to this incident. The Police investigation is continuing with the assistance of both Salelavalu and Salelologa village councils. S.P.S. reminds the general public especially the youth of Samoa to contact the police if assistance is required especially with regards to matters concerning public safety. We urge our young people to refrain from taking matters into their own hands. Prison time and/or a prison record will impact on future opportunities. Re-think, re-evaluate your own choices. Your future is in your hands! Dear Editor, You invited comments on the apparent intention of S.I.F.A. to demolish the old Courthouse and to replace it with a building to house a hotel among other things. (Editorial - Observer 11/06/2018). I was a member (not a Trustee) of the Apia Courthouse Trust for about two years, during which time the Trust tried very hard to try and raise funds to restore the old Courthouse. Sadly these attempts failed. So last year at a trust meeting, the chairperson notified the Trust members that the official lease of the Court House from the government to the Trust was to be transferred to S.I.F.A. The reason was that S.I.F.A. had money, and our understanding was that they would carry out the renovations necessary in accordance with the wish to retain the original structure of the building. Before the transfer took place, the Trust had solicited architectural advice from individuals in Germany and New Zealand. Some of them travelled to Samoa, inspected the building and wrote reports. These reports basically agreed that it was possible to restore the building but that it was expensive, and a figure of about twenty million tala (WS$20,000,000) was mentioned. Therefore, as a Trust we all felt very positive about S.I.F.A. taking over the lease. I was very sad to hear that it is now decided that the building will be pulled down, apparently because the whole structure was rotten and eaten by ants and termites beyond repair. If this is the case then so be it. But I wonder sometime if all the options have been exhausted? I wonder if other countries who have been associated with Samoa over the hundred years can help? If the Samoan government can successfully approach foreign governments to fund multi-million dollar building projects, why not do so with the Courthouse? Could it be part of the proposed water front beautification project? The Courthouse in the past housed the government headquarters of the German and New Zealand authorities, but also, for many years, of Samoas independent government. I disagree with the suggestions made by some commentators that the Courthouse is part of our colonial past and should therefore be demolished. This implies that our history began in 1962. With such reasoning we could ask why preserve archival material relating to the time the British, Germans and the Americans were in Samoa? Or why preserve archaeological remains and oral histories believed to have been the result of the Tongan presence in Samoa? Selection of what is important or not in our history, based on someones notion of Samoan national pride, should not be encouraged. Iconoclasm has a long history in which one group of people try to erase features of the past, driven by nationalism or by religious ideology. Let us not make the same mistakes. Meleisea Leasiolagi Malama Meleisea Centre for Samoan Studies, National University of Samoa One of two people Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi reportedly named as writers of the Ole Palemia (O.L.P.) blog, Namulauulu Albert Ainuu, is considering taking legal action against the Prime Minister. Based in the United States of America, Namulauulu confirmed this in a message responding to questions from the Weekend Observer. The recent announcement from Talamua Media published Tuesday 12 June 2018, titled O Le Palemia Ghost Writers Identities Revealed by Lagi Keresoma has exposed some desperate smear campaign with unfounded evidence from the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Malielegaoi, Namulauulus statement reads. The allegations are untrue and unfounded, in addition, the public announcement by the Prime Minister is in serious breach of his own Criminal Libel Act passed this year, for defaming others without substantial evidence." These allegations could find himself in Tafa'igata prison for defamation. Namulauulu was among two people Tuilaepa reportedly named during his weekly programme with Talamua Media. The second person resides in Australia. Attempts by the Weekend Observer to contact the second person for a comment have not been successful. When reports surfaced online about Prime Minister Tuilaepas revelation, the Weekend Observer contacted Attorney General, Lemalu Hermann Retzlaff, for a comment. I've just seen that PM Tuilaepa has named ******* and Albert Ainuu as part of the O.L.P. group, the email from the Weekend Observer to Lemalu reads. Was this uncovered by the Government's investigation? Does the government have proof that these people are indeed behind O.L.P?" And now that they have been found and identified publicly by P.M. Tuilaepa, what is the next course of action? Will your office move to take legal action against them? An automated response from Lemalu, who is outside of the country, referred queries to Acting Attorney General, Constance Tafua Rivers. In response, she wrote: Talofa Mataafa, I acknowledge receipt of your email. However, please note that your queries have been referred by the Attorney General in his absence from the Office to Nanai Laveitiga Tuiletufuga to address. A response from Nanai was not received at press time. The Weekend Observer understands that he is on his way to Israel. In the meantime, Talamua has immediately retracted its story, apologizing to Namulauulu and the second person. In his statement to the Weekend Observer, Namulauulu, who is the President of Samoa Solidarity International Group Global (S.S.I.G.) said Tuilaepas decision to accuse himself and another member of the public over the O.L.P is typical of his tactics to deflect the attention from the issues they have been raising including the threat of customary lands alienation. In light of the declaration from The Prime Ministers supposed identity of O.L.P., S.S.I.G. Global leaders believes it has served only to bring an attempted deflection campaign from the real issues quickly gaining momentum with Samoans worldwide." These issues relate to The Land Titles Registration Act 2008, L.T.R.A. 2008 and the Alienation of Customary Lands. These issues have been made public by the S.S.I.G. Organisation both within Samoa and aboard." Some S.S.I.G. leaders and its members have been accused by Samoan Prime Minister as the identities behind O.L.P." The fact that there is no evidence along with the abrupt removal of the related article as published by Talamua Media on social media, the same day it was published, highlights a Samoan Government desperate to curb the increasing number of Samoans disgruntled at the underlying issues and risk the L.T.R.A.2008 represents. On Thursday, Prime Minister Tuilaepa refused to repeat the naming of Namulauulu and the other member of the public during his weekly media programme on Radio 2AP which the Samoa Observer is part of. Pressed on whom O.L.P. is, Tuilaepa laughed and said that everyone knows who they are. He added that the Government is in the process of filing charges against these people. He did not say what charges were being filed and when they are likely to be heard in Court. Tuilaepa claimed that the F.B.I. was involved in the investigation. He did not say how and why. A devoted, young Samoan entrepreneur is on the rise. Therese Rivers shares with Business team her story as one of the new upcoming entrepreneurs in Samoa. The 21-year-old from Vaoala is the fifth child of Matile and Brent Rivers who run Apia Pharmacy at Savalalo. Ms. Rivers graduated from Faatuatua Christian College in 2013 then moved to New Zealand in 2015 where she attended Auckland Girls Grammar for a year and then moved back to Samoa. She completed her foundation courses at the University of the South Pacific, Alafua Campus. Another achievement she acquired was a Certificate in a Facilitating Course and completion in a course for Digital Filmmaking from the British Council New Zealand. It is through these accomplishments that paved way for her business. I am currently self-employed at my own established, freelance marketing agency named Login Ltd, but I also work for my family business in Apia Pharmacy." Its a process gaining website traffic on all social media platforms. Along with providing assistance for those who do not know how to engage with their audiences via social media on Facebook, instagram, twitter, pintrest, YouTube, etc." Launching Login Ltd landed me an opportunity to travel to Fiji to attend a Film Making Master Class in April and then later a chance to participate in the Youth Co:Lab here in Apia, she said. According to Ms. Rivers, her services are cheap and will not break the bank, in other words, she charges an amount how-ever the client feels worth, and can negotiate if the client feels uncomfortable with prices. The significant role this company plays in addressing the needs of its customers is generating fresh marketing techniques online. She was also asked on a particular problem that her business tackles and its online engagement with young and old audiences, which brings to light issues where necessary. The young, committed business owner is still growing and taking everything a step at a time, so in times of difficulties, she seeks assistance from her parents, sisters and when they are not around, she prays. A current difficulty I am facing is the need of consistent number of clients in order to be sustainable." This year, it was very humbling to have been selected as a participant in Samoas first Youth Co:Lab." I learnt from other very passionate entrepreneurs, networked, made friends and developed new and innovated ideas." It was tough and very nerve racking pitching an idea within five minutes to a panel of judges, but also heaps of fun. I gained contacts, advice, friends, experience throughout this workshop, she stated. She is currently aiming towards a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Marketing Degree), which will acquire more time to achieve, but she is certain she will execute it in due time. My future goal other than my studies is being able to buy my parents a trip or vacation somewhere breathtaking, said Ms. Rivers. When she is not busy with work, her favorite hobbies are netball and taking walks on the seawall. Lastly, she advises other young entrepreneurs who are hesitant to take the first steps to start that if she didn't take that leap of faith in launching Login Ltd online, she would not have been able to attend or be a part of such amazing opportunities. With that being said, put your trust in God; cast your troubles, worries and doubts unto him. He will steer you right through them, she added. WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump ignited eleventh-hour confusion Friday over Republican efforts to push immigration legislation through the House, saying he won't sign a "moderate" package. He later seemed to back off but stopped short of specifically endorsing the measure, and the damaging episode left uncertain whether GOP leaders would press ahead with votes next week. The campaign-season tumult erupted as GOP leaders put finishing touches on a pair of Republican bills: a hard-right proposal and a middle-ground plan negotiated by the party's conservative and moderate wings. Only the compromise bill would open a door to citizenship for young immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children, and ease the separation of children from their parents when families are detained crossing the border a practice that has drawn bipartisan condemnation in recent days. "I'm looking at both of them," Trump said when asked on Fox News' "Fox & Friends" about the two bills. "I certainly wouldn't sign the more moderate one." Top congressional Republicans and White House aides struggled to understand Trump's comment. Hours later, he tweeted that any bill "MUST HAVE" provisions financing his proposed wall with Mexico and curbing the existing legal immigration system. Those items are included in the middle-ground package. "Go for it! WIN!" Trump wrote. A senior White House official said the tweet was designed to signal his support. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to address the matter publicly by name. The official said Trump made his earlier comment because he thought his Fox interviewer had asked about an effort by GOP moderates abandoned for now that would have likely led to House passage of liberal-leaning bills party leaders oppose. The interviewer had specifically asked whether he would sign "either one" of the two bills Republicans lined up for votes next week. Despite their policy clashes, both Republican factions have been eager for the votes to be held as a way to show constituents where they stand. In addition, party leaders want to move on from an issue that divides the GOP, complicating their effort to retain House control in November's elections. The more conservative measure is seen as virtually certain to lose. Party leaders have nurtured hopes that the compromise version could pass, but Trump's backing would be crucial. His opposition would be an embarrassing and likely fatal setback. House Speaker Paul Ryan said earlier this week that Trump backs the compromise plan, and White House adviser Stephen Miller had expressed support for it during a private meeting with conservative lawmakers. Conservatives are leery of legislation protecting from deportation immigrants who arrived illegally, calling it amnesty. After Trump made his comments on Fox, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., the GOP's No. 2 vote counter, told reporters that leaders were seeking "clarity" from the White House. He suggested that plans for votes next week were being reconsidered. "House Republicans are not going to take on immigration without the support and endorsement of President Trump," McHenry said. Democrats are expected to solidly oppose both GOP bills, giving Republicans little leeway for losing support. "When the president says he's not going to sign it, just shows how low his standards are," said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. The compromise bill would mandate that children be kept with families seized entering the U.S. be kept together for as long as they are in the custody of the Homeland Security Department, whose agencies staff border facilities and enforce immigration laws. Critics say family separation is still possible because another agency could take parents being prosecuted into custody. Spotlighting the political sensitivity of the issue, congressional Republicans have distanced themselves from the Trump administration's policy of separating children from their parents at the southern border. The White House has cited the Bible in defending its "zero tolerance" approach to illegal border crossings. Both the conservative and compromise bills would provide money for Trump's long-sought border wall with Mexico. Each contains other strict border security provisions, and would end a visa lottery and tighten rules that let U.S. citizens sponsor relatives for legal status. Both bills, which are still undergoing changes, contain provisions aimed at helping young immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children, often called Dreamers. Hundreds of thousands of them have been protected by the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. Trump has terminated that program, though federal courts have temporarily kept it functioning. DACA has let the immigrants live and work in the U.S. in renewable two-year increments, but does not give them permanent legal status. The latest version of the conservative bill would extend DACA protections for renewable six-year periods. They could later apply for permanent residency and eventually citizenship. An expanded number of children who arrived legally with parents who have obtained work visas would also be covered. The proposal to expand Californias power grid to as many as 14 western states faces a key hearing on Tuesday, and two state lawmakers from San Diego will play critical roles in its success or failure. Neither Senate President Toni Atkins or Sen. Ben Hueso would say how they plan to vote on the bill, a key priority for Gov. Jerry Brown that is making its way through the legislature for the third time in as many years. But both lawmakers said they are tracking the legislation carefully to determine whether it would benefit ratepayers or hurt them by taking away the states oversight of thousands of miles of utility poles and wires. How we obtain, distribute and regulate energy is an issue of utmost importance, Atkins said in a statement. At the moment, I have concerns that (federal regulators) could undermine Californias policies and values related to energy and climate, and I will want to ensure that ratepayers are protected. Advertisement The legislation, now known as Assembly Bill 813, will be considered by the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications committee, the influential panel chaired by Hueso. It was also referred to the Senate Judiciary committee because the bill rewrites terms of the state-controlled nonprofit that now governs most of the state power grid. Supporters say the change will save consumers money and allow for a wider distribution of electricity generated by renewable sources like wind and solar. Critics say the plan would cede state oversight of the power grid to industry insiders and federal regulators who are overly friendly to utilities. Hueso said he was deeply concerned about any legislation that could undermine Californias ability to advance the clean-energy goals that have been decisive in improving the environment and creating middle-class jobs. Regionalizing our grid has been touted as a measure that would reduce rates to consumers and expand our exports of clean power to neighboring states that currently possess fewer clean power facilities, Hueso said in a statement. We are currently exploring whether there are any real benefits to regionalization and whether we can effectively safeguard our jobs and keep our state policies protected from the most recent efforts by the federal government to expand coal power and other fossil fuels. If passed and signed into law by Brown, the law would transfer the authority of the California Independent System Operator, or Cal-ISO, to a multi-state board that answers to the federal government rather than to the California governor. Under existing rules, the Cal-ISO board is appointed by the governor. The independent system operator has pushed for the so-called western grid for several years, issuing a report in 2016 that said the change would save consumers $1.5 billion a year. The grid-expansion idea dates back to the 1990s but was curtailed after the state energy crisis in the early 2000s. It resurfaced in each of the last two legislative sessions and was derailed by lawmakers concerned about governance issues. Environmental leaders, labor unions and consumer advocates all worry that the Trump administration -- or future presidents or appointees -- could undermine California climate-change policies and exacerbate the use of electricity generated by coal, natural gas and other greenhouse-gas emitting sources. The proposal is not ripe for consideration in light of significant risks that they contemplated regional expansion proposal could substantially harm California, says a June 4 letter from the Sierra Club and a coalition of advocacy groups to the bills author, Assemblyman Chris Holden, D-Pasadena. It would be a mistake for the legislature to endorse irrevocable change to Californias energy markets given the potential for the Trump administration to move to preempt Californias leadership. They also worry that a regional power grid would allow states that generate electricity from coal or other fossil fuels to export their energy to California -- and charge Golden State ratepayers for billions of dollars worth of new transmission lines. Jon Wellinghoff, a former chairman of the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission who now runs a private energy consultancy in Berkeley, said the plan is designed to work both ways. A regional power grid would reduce the cost of transmitting electricity from state to state, he said, and allow California to market excess solar and wind energy to nearby states while those other states could sell their unneeded power to California. California would benefit because we could shut down gas plants and other polluting fossil fuel plants if we had diversity fuels from other regions, Wellinghoff said by telephone. He said Californians would pay only their fair share of new transmission lines and rejected the idea that the state would lose any oversight authority because federal regulations already supersede state controls. Every single thing that is a tariff rule or a market rule, all has to go through FERC, Wellinghoff said. They do give some latitude to (Cal-ISO) to try to work things out on their own, but FERC has complete, final authority and they do approve or disapprove each and every rule. Cal-ISO is a nonprofit entity based in Folsom that manages the electricity flow on about 80 percent of the state power grid, areas not served by publicly owned utilities like the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District and the Imperial Irrigation District east of San Diego. Under the current set-up, state officials are in charge of dictating not only transmission tariffs but the source of the electricity that flows across the power lines. AB 813 calls for a multi-state grid that hands oversight of the transmission network to a regional board of appointees. The regional body would not answer to any one state. Instead, it would be governed by federal regulators. Even though some consumer advocates and interest groups historically criticize California regulators for exercising what they view as lax oversight of investor-owned utilities like San Diego Gas & Electric, they worry that federal officials would be even less diligent in policing violators and keeping prices down. During the California energy crisis in 2001 and 2002, for example, when a state energy-deregulation drive led to rolling blackouts and multibillion-dollar spikes in the cost of electricity, federal officials were slow to respond to illegal power trading and other practices that caused the emergency. The 1996 bill that prompted the crisis also included plans to regionalize the state power grid, but that part of the deregulation effort was abandoned in the wake of the blackouts and inflated energy costs. Watchdog Videos On Now Sexual misconduct accusers worry deputy is being protected 6:16 On Now City funded $2-million waterfront bathroom 1:26 On Now Public water district charges customer for legal work, response to records request On Now Video: Tiny homes won't be reused amid housing, homeless crisis On Now Attorney General seeks documentation for Miss Middle East On Now Rep. Hunter probe covers possible fraud On Now Video: SDG&E delaying solar credit for some low-income housing tenants On Now Video: Former San Diego Junior Theatre teacher sentenced for sex with teen girl 0:24 On Now Video: Shelter volunteers believe they were fired for finding a dog a home 0:49 On Now McKamey Manor is leaving San Diego 3:35 jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1708 @sdutMcDonald Shares of NXP Semiconductors and Qualcomm rose in after-hours trading late Thursday after unnamed sources told a Chinese news outlet that regulators had approved its long-delayed $43 billion merger. Qualcomm, which has been trying to buy The Netherlands-based NXP since October 2016, could not confirm the reports, according to a spokeswoman. The story first appeared in the South China Morning Post. Acquiring NXP, which makes chips for keyless entry, mobile payment and automotive micro-controllers/sensors, is a key cog in Qualcomms strategy to diversify beyond the saturated smartphone market. While antitrust regulators in eight countries already approved the acquisition, China regulators have balked amid rising trade tensions with the U.S. China must okay the deal because its a very larger consumer of semiconductors. Advertisement Shares of NXP surged 9 percent in post-market trading to $123.20 on speculation that the reports are accurate. Qualcomms shares gained 3 percent in after-hours trading to $61.25. Qualcomm has gone through turbulent times lately. This spring it escaped a hostile takeover attempt from chip rival Broadcom, thanks to the Trump Administration blocking the bid on national security grounds. Growth in its core business has stalled as more people hold onto their smartphones longer. Meanwhile, Samsung and Huawei have begun making their own cellular modem chips replacing Qualcomm in their devices. In addition, the company is under legal attack from Apple over the way it licenses cellular patents, which Apple contends illegally enables Qualcomm to charge too much. Buying NXP puts Qualcomm in position to be less reliant on smartphones while growing into new markets such as cars, health devices, smart infrastructure and automated factory floors. Qualcomm has agreed to pay $127.50 a share for NXP, which is based in The Netherlands. After myriad delays, the two companies set a July 25 as the final deadline to complete the merger. If it fails to close by then, Qualcomm will pay a $2 billion break-up fee to NXP. Seventy percent of NXP shareholders must agree to the transaction. Qualcomm has already reached agreements with Elliott Management and other activist shareholders to tender their shares. For now, only 5 percent of NXP shareholders have promised to sell their shares to Qualcomm. The current official tender deadline expires Friday. But Qualcomm is likely to extend the deadline for at least another week. Trade tensions have been a roadblock to Chinas approval of the deal including U.S. Commerce Department sanctions against Chinese electronics maker ZTE that threatened the companys existence. The Trump Administration reached a compromise earlier this month to save ZTE easing some of the sanctions it received for selling telecommunications gear to Iran, which was subject to U.S. trade embargo at the time. But President Trump approved around $50 billion worth of tariffs on Chinese goods after a meeting on Thursday, according to the Wall Street Journal, signaling that a possible trade war between the U.S. and China still looms. Qualcomm estimates that NXP would contribute $1.50 per share in adjusted earnings to the company by fiscal 2019. Merging the two large semiconductor firms wont be easy, say analysts. NXP has 31,000 employees which is roughly equal to Qualcomms current headcount. NXP also owns chip making factories, while Qualcomm hires Samsung and others to manufacture chips that it designs. The San Diego company has been in cost-cutting mode recently. In May, it laid off at least 1,500 workers in California and hundreds more in other locations. If the NXP deal fails, Qualcomm said it would use existing cash to buy back shares to achieve the $1.50 per share adjusted earnings gain. But a share buyback would not diversify its business into automotive, secure payments and other sectors. Business mike.freeman@sduniontribune.com; Twitter:@TechDiego 760-529-4973 A proposal by San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer to begin regulating Airbnb-style rentals citywide received mixed reviews Thursday from stakeholders who have been pressing the city for years for clear rules. A coalition of short-term rental hosts and property management companies was quick to support the plan to license vacation rentals, while a San Diego hotel company that operates two Mission Bay resorts sharply criticized Faulconers plan to exempt all of Mission Beach from a cap on the number of rentals per host. The online home-sharing platform HomeAway, which also operates VRBO, characterized the proposed regulations as a fair and effective policy, while Airbnb said it is reserving judgment until an ordinance with specific language is completed. We are pleased to see that policy discussions are continuing in the right direction and very much appreciate the mayors efforts in drafting this ordinance, Airbnb said Thursday. Advertisement At issue is Faulconers effort to break a years-long deadlock on how to legalize short-term rentals while reining in the proliferation of investor properties advertised on platforms like Airbnb and HomeAway. Under the mayors plan, vacation rental hosts would be allowed to rent out their entire primary residence while they are not present for up to six months a year plus one additional home with no limitation on the number of days annually. The proposed regulations also call for an annual licensing fee of $949 per rental and would impose three-night minimum stays in San Diegos coastal areas and downtown. While those opting to rent out homes in Mission Beach for short-term stays would still have to obtain licenses, there would be no limit on how many rentals an individual could operate. That does not sit well with Bill Evans, board member of Evans Hotels, which owns the Catamaran and Bahia resort hotels on Mission Bay. He fears that unfettered rentals in Mission Beach would lead to even more housing being converted into short-term rentals there. The Mission Bay loophole doesnt just harm the residents and neighborhood of Mission Beach its bad for the entire city, Evans said. Unlike many of the other beach communities, 100 percent of the hotels on Mission Bay are tenants of the city. They pay not only the TOT (hotel room taxes), but also considerable rent to the city. Allowing a super-concentration of short-term rentals in Mission Beach will drive down hotel occupancy and average daily rates and result in lower tax and rent payments to the city. Evans is breaking ranks with the San Diego County Hotel-Motel Association, which is supporting the compromise plan, as is the American Hotel & Lodging Association, which has been very critical of Airbnb rentals. The national group said the proposal would be a solid step forward in safeguarding affordable housing and neighborhoods across the city from the negative impacts of commercialized short-term rentals. Like Evans, Councilwoman Lorie Zapf, whose district includes Mission Beach, said she was not happy with the exclusion for the area. In its current form, it does not go far enough to give my support, however, I am looking for additional opportunities to support impacted communities, especially the beach communities who are more adversely affected by STVRs (short-term vacation rentals), Zapf said. She added that she has spoken to Faulconer about her desire to see no exceptions for Mission Beach and said that the mayor is willing to have more discussion on that. In a news conference Faulconer held Thursday to publicly unveil his proposal, the mayor said he cannot predict whether the regulations he is backing will secure majority support when the City Council considers them July 16, but believes there are reasons to be optimistic. I gave up long ago trying to predict votes but I think the care in which this proposal has been put together in terms of stakeholders, in terms of striking a balance, in terms of trying to get clear rules of the road that will protect our neighborhoods is what this focus has been all about, Faulconer said. Its been put together to achieve success so Im optimistic we can achieve that. Councilwoman Barbara Bry said she continues to support allowing only renting out ones primary residence or rooms within the home on a short-term basis but no more than that. Councilman Chris Cate, who has taken a much more permissive approach, said he likes many of the elements of Faulconers proposal but wasnt ready to take a position yet, nor was Councilman David Alvarez, who is likely to be a pivotal vote when the council considers the matter next month. Jonah Mechanic, president of Share San Diego, a group that has advocated for reasonable short-term rental regulations, said he and his organization believe the Faulconer proposal is a fair way of addressing issues on both sides of the ongoing debate. Its been a very gray area for a long time, and were all looking forward to direction on how to proceed, said Mechanic, founder of SeaBreeze Vacation Rentals, which manages more than 400 short-term rentals throughout Southern California. This protects the concerns of neighborhoods through enforcement, and enforcement needs funding, which this will have. As part of the proposal, revenues from the licensing fee would help pay for 16 staffers dedicated to enforcing the new rules, including the licensing of rentals and adherence to noise and nuisance regulations. John Anderson, a longtime short-term rental host, said Faulconers proposal would shut down the rental of his two granny flats, which would not be eligible for short-term stays of under 30 days. That entire revenue stream for us would go away, said Anderson, who estimates he grosses about $48,000 a year from his companion units. I think granny flats are quite similar to home sharing (of a room), so Im not happy to see it go away. I think its a pretty innocuous use. Business lori.weisberg@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-2251 Twitter: @loriweisberg Two former San Ysidro School District administrators who abruptly resigned last year overpaid themselves a combined sum of more than $300,000 and received reimbursements for questionable expenses paid for with personal credit cards, according to a state audit. The report indicates there was collusion between former Superintendent Julio Fonseca and former Deputy Superintendent Arturo Sanchez-Macias. Both men, who held their jobs for about two years before their sudden departures, had previously worked at the Bassett Unified School District in Los Angeles County. The audit, which was completed by an independent state agency, faults Fonseca and Sanchez-Macias for failing to safeguard the funds of the predominantly Latino school district in San Ysidro, which is home to some of the poorest students in the county. The 39-page report concluded there was sufficient evidence to demonstrate that fraud, misappropriation of funds or other illegal fiscal activities may have occurred in the specific areas reviewed. Advertisement Attempts to contact Fonseca and Sanchez-Macias for comments for this story were unsuccessful. Paul Gothold, county superintendent of schools, shared a brief overview of the findings by the state-created Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team with the San Ysidro school board on Thursday night. Gothold commissioned the audit in November amid concerns of misuse of funds based on an internal review of payments made to Fonseca and Sanchez-Macias. Gothold said he planned to report the findings on Friday to the state controller, the superintendent of public instruction and district attorney an action that is required under state law. On Thursday night, Gothold noted the audit identified other aspects within the district that require further examination and said he has requested a second audit to examine contracts made with outside parties. Fonseca, who earned at least $282,000 in annual salary and benefits, resigned from the San Ysidro School District in September. He received about $375,000 in severance pay, according previous reports by the online news organization inewsource. Following Fonsecas departure, Sanchez-Macias stepped into the top post but not for long. Sanchez-Macias resigned less than a month later amid public allegations by a trustee who accused the two men of misappropriating funds. The audit appears to support the claims Trustee Rudolfo Linares made against Fonseca and Sanchez-Macias. Linares had alleged the two men had improperly converted vacation days and life insurance policies into cash payments. According to the audit, there were notable amendments made to the employment contracts of both Fonseca and Sanchez-Macias in their short time with the district. The report determined that some of the revisions were not approved by the school board or discussed publicly during meetings. The report notes that the amendments to each contract were virtually identical and were proposed simultaneously, suggesting that the two administrators worked together to modify their contracts in ways that were mutually beneficial. The contract amendments were primarily associated with changes relative to compensation and fringe benefits, and language was reworded in ways that maximized personal benefit and provided for the most immediate access to cash contrary to language or practices used for all other employees. The audit, which included an examination of district records associated with the compensation and other payments made to Fonseca and Sanchez-Macias, found that the two men were paid more than they were entitled to under their contracts. According to the audit, Fonseca was overpaid about $162,600, including almost $56,000 in vacation payouts and $107,000 in term life insurance payouts and Sanchez-Macias received an excess of $161,300, including $47,380 in vacation payouts, $100,000 in term life insurance payouts and $14,100 in salary. The overpayments occurred at least in part because of language in the revised contracts that allowed the men to forgo term life insurance and opt for a district-funded deferred compensation account, according to the audit. In addition to the payouts, the two men routinely billed the district for expenses, some of which were not approved in advance, according to the audit. The reimbursements at times were done without the proper documentation. In bypassing the proper purchasing process, the ability to determine budget availability before making the expenditures was negated, the audit concluded. The reimbursements included expenses for travel costs, which more than once were prepaid on Sanchez-Macias personal American Express card. The audit noted that under such circumstances, the district would not recover the funds if the travel plans were canceled. On one occasion, Sanchez-Macias was reimbursed $3,300 for flight and hotel exprenses for Fonseca. Staff reported during interviews that the former superintendent did not attend the activity for which these funds were expended, according to the audit. The report calls on the school district to create a plan to address issues including weak oversight of business activities and improper enforcement of district policies. The findings should be of great concern to the San Ysidro School District and the San Diego County Office of Education and require immediate intervention to limit the risk of fraud, mismanagement and/or misappropriation of assets, or other illegal fiscal activities, in the future, the report reads. Gothold told the board that county assistant superintendent of business services was available to work with the district at no cost to do an assessment of your internal controls. I want to stress that the San Diego County Office of Education is here to support you throughout this process, Gothold told trustees, who were handed copies of the audit. I think it was something that was necessary, board President Rosaleah Pallasigue said. We needed to know the real scope of everything that occurred. Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com Phone: (619) 293-1876 Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez San Diego Comic-Con ticketholders may not get to see a Game of Thrones or Westworld panel next month, but they will be the first in the world to see the new cast of the BBCs long-running series Doctor Who. Actress Jodie Whittaker, who will make history this fall as the first-ever woman Doctor in the shows decades-long history, will lead the panel. Shell be joined by her co-stars Tosin Cole and Mandip Gill, who play the Doctors companions Ryan and Yasmin, along with showrunner Chris Chibnall and executive producer Matt Strevens. When Doctor Who returns for a 10-show season this fall, Whittaker will take on the role of the 13th Doctor, the nickname for one of the last two surviving Time Lords from planet Gallifrey. Doctor Who follows the adventures of The Doctor and his companions who travel through time and the universe solving global problems and saving species. They travel in a space ship known as the TARDIS, which is disguised as a 1960s-era English phone booth. Advertisement The British science-fiction TV series debuted on the BBC in 1963 and ran weekly until 1989. It was rebooted with a made-for-TV film in 1996, then returned as a regular series in 2005. When the original actor playing the Doctor grew too old for the part in 1965, producers recast the role with Patrick Troughton and created a plot device that whenever the Doctor dies, his spirit is regenerated with a new body and face. Scottish television actor Peter Capaldi was the last actor to play the role from 2014 to 2017. Chibnall produced of the award-winning BBC series Broadchurch starring former Doctor Who star David Tennant and Whittaker in a supporting role. When Chibnall came on board as the new Doctor Who showrunner, he hired Whittaker to replace Capaldi. This isnt the first time a woman has played a Time Lord. In 2015, Scottish actress Michelle Gomez joined the series as Missy, the latest regeneration of The Master, the only other survivor of Gallifrey, which was destroyed in an interstellar war. Her character was apparently killed last season. The date and time for the Doctor Who panel at Comic-Con has not been announced. In 2011, the series made its first appearance at Comic-Con in the San Diego Convention Centers Hall H. Since the show has only grown in popularity in the U.S. since then, a return to Hall H seems probable. For more, visit comic-con.org. pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com. Twitter: @pamkragen The University of California and the California State University have nearly three dozen campuses scattered across the state and every one of them has a student health center. All of those centers provide basic reproductive healthcare, including gynecological exams and contraception. Senate Bill 320 would extend that to include what is known as a medication abortion a simple and safe nonsurgical procedure that involves taking two pills. This is a sensible and smart addition to the healthcare services already provided to hundreds of thousands of women at UC and Cal State campuses, many of whom fall into the age range of women (20-24) with the highest rate of abortion. Student health services already offer students referrals for both medication abortions and surgical abortions to off-campus providers. The more urban the school area, the closer the off-campus clinic or doctor will most likely be. (A study done by authors mostly from the Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health at UC San Francisco found that the average one-way public transit time from the campuses to the nearest clinic where you could get an abortion is 37 to 38 minutes. However, at some schools its longer. And a medication abortion requires two round trips. ) Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion Advertisement But providing abortion services to students is only partially about access. It is also about the University of California with 11 campuses and the California State University system with 23 campuses recognizing that a nonsurgical form of abortion (which like all abortion is a legal and constitutionally protected right) should be considered part of basic student healthcare. An abortion of any kind needs to be taken care of in a timely manner. Generally, medication abortions are done only when a pregnancy is less than 10 weeks along. And getting an appointment at an off-campus clinic that provides them can take a week, according to the UC San Francisco study. A medication abortion requires taking two pills Mifepristone followed by Misoprostol. In California, a variety of healthcare professionals with proper training are allowed to supervise the drug regimen. Typically, a woman takes the first drug at the providers office, takes the second one at home 24 to 48 hours later, and, some days after that, returns to the provider for an exam. In a very small number of cases, it still may be necessary to perform a traditional surgical abortion. In those cases, the patient would be referred by the university health service to an outside provider. The medication can cause cramping and bleeding, so some patients may not choose it. But the popularity of the procedure has increased steadily over the last 10 years because it is convenient, private and noninvasive. SB 320 has cleared its house and is winding its way through the Assembly. The idea for it came from a group of students at Berkeley who tried unsuccessfully to get their campus to provide medication abortions. They started a group called Students United for Reproductive Justice and brought the issue to state Sen. Connie Leyva (D-Chino), who introduced the bill and has vigorously supported it. The bill, sponsored by the Berkeley group and several other advocacy groups, was approved by the Assemblys Health Committee this week and is scheduled to be heard in the Higher Education Committee on Tuesday. Offering medication abortion is entirely reasonable, given both the promises of the Constitution and the population served at these student health centers. Campuses will have to make some adjustments if the bill passes. Doctors, nurse-midwives or physician assistants will need to be trained. Every campus will need an ultrasound machine. Neither the University of California nor the Cal State system has taken a position on the bill. Officials have expressed concerns, not about the concept of providing abortions, but about the logistics, including a possible increase in liability. Cal State officials also worry about adequately staffing a 24-hour medical advice line to answer patients questions as they undergo the effects of the medication. There will be private funding available to address many of these issues. The bill explicitly states that all start-up costs for training, equipment and medication will be covered by two foundations and several private donors. Dozens of groups support this bill including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Nurses Assn.s California chapter, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Antiabortion groups oppose it. Offering medication abortion is entirely reasonable, given both the promises of the Constitution and the population served at these student health centers. The universities should look at it not as an additional burden but as a basic service that was lacking. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook A new California rule saying that state rebates for electric cars can go only to manufacturers certified as being fair and responsible in their treatment of workers has put Tesla, the states only major EV maker, in a tough position. On the one hand, Tesla says, we strive to be a fair and just company, that it complies with all California and federal labor regulations, and holds worker safety to be a core value of the company. On the other hand, Tesla contends that its unfairly targeted by the state law and implies that the rule could drive it out of the state and keep other companies away. Tesla first raised these issues last September, after the law was passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown as part of a budget measure dictating how income from the states cap-and-trade program would be spent. (The rebates are funded from that income.) This is not a gotcha exercise. Were simply saying, theres a high road that we hope the economy takes as we move to a cleaner economy. Angie Wei, California Labor Federation Advertisement But matters are coming to a head now. On May 23, the California Air Resources Board and state Labor and Workforce Development Agency issued a joint concept paper detailing how they intend to put the rule into action. The public and interested parties were given until June 4, a little more than a week, to comment. Tesla says in its 16-page brief against the concept paper that the proposed rule threatens to compromise the rebate program, confuse consumers and interfere with Browns stated goal of placing 5 million EVs on California roads by 2030. Teslas brief wasnt the only filing that was critical of the rule, but its probably safe to say that it was the most negative. Even bitterly so. Thats because the company is convinced that the rule is part of a plot by labor unions to win a ferocious organizing battle at Teslas auto factory in Fremont. The company is irked that the state would place its thumb on the union-organizing scale, given that its the only major automaker in California and one of its larger manufacturing enterprises, with 20,000 workers on the payroll. As it happens, allegations by the United Auto Workers that Tesla has violated labor laws in the fight were aired in a hearing during the last few days before a National Labor Relations Board administrative law judge in Oakland. (The hearing will continue in September.) In an opening statement, Tesla attorney Mark Ross derided the hearing as an infomercial to paint Mr. Musk and the company in a negative light. But the issues are real, counters Mark Sanchez, 39, a Tesla employee and union organizer who is one of the named complainants in the NLRB case. Among other allegations, he says he was threatened with losing his job for passing out informational leaflets at the plant, a legally protected organizing act. No unionization vote has yet been scheduled. Were still trying to educate everybody, he told me. Labor representatives say the issues addressed by the fair and responsible mandate are far broader than Teslas union battle. They involve whether rank-and-file workers will share in the gains from the technological revolution taking place in the auto industry and other industries. Electric vehicle sales in California swamp those in every other state, accounting for nearly 50% of all sales nationwide. (CleanTechnica) This is not a gotcha exercise, Angie Wei, chief of staff of the California Labor Federation, told me. Its not the labor movements goal to ding a car out of the subsidy program. Were simply saying, theres a high road that we hope the economy takes as we move to a cleaner economy. This standard feeds into that. As set forth in the concept paper, the rule is vague to a fault and the mandate imposed on automakers hardly onerous. Fair and responsible treatment isnt defined in the law and was made no clearer in the paper. For the first two fiscal years after the certification process goes into effect the goal is for it to be launched in the coming fiscal year manufacturers merely would have to self-certify that theyre in compliance with local, state and federal rules in their factories locations; provide five years of data on injury rates; and disclose policies on worker complaints and accusations, citations and decisions by government regulators or prosecutors. For the second phase, which would start after the Legislature scrutinizes any proposed rules, state labor officials would set actual criteria for annual certifications, related to the companies compliance with wage, safety and anti-discrimination laws and codes of conduct such as Californias Sweatfree Code. The code applies to the garment industry and prohibits slave labor, discrimination and unsafe or unhealthy working conditions. That doesnt sound like too much to ask, given the value of the EV auto rebates. Since the program began in 2010, the state has cranked out nearly $536 million in rebates on more than 241,000 vehicles. Tesla, whose buyers have collected more than $99 million including $8.4 million so far this year is the second-largest beneficiary of the program after Chevrolet, which accounts for $103 million. The rebates start at $1,500 per vehicle for plug-in hybrid cars, rise to $2,500 for battery-driven models such as Teslas, and top out at $5,000 for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. Since 2016, high-income buyers (singles earning more than $150,000 or joint filers earning more than $300,000) have been excluded and low-income buyers have been eligible for an extra $2,000. The subsidies are payable directly to the car buyers, but obviously are a factor in the marketability of a car companys products. Tesla cars also are eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credituseful only by people who owe at least that much federal income tax. Its obvious that California has the clout to make EV manufacturers nationwide dance to its own tune. California is the biggest market in the country for these vehicles, by an immense margin: From 2011 through 2016, California swamped all others in EV sales with nearly 258,000 sales, more than 10 times the runner-up, Georgia. (Though sales in Georgia cratered after the repeal of its $5,000 EV rebate last year.) The size of the California market also is what allows it to impose vehicle emissions standards, which can be tougher than the federal standards, on automakers. Teslas complaint about the state agencies plan focuses partially on the requirement that carmakers comply with state and local laws at their factory locations. Since Californias labor laws are stricter than those of many other states, Tesla argues that automatically puts it at a disadvantage. An automaker in some other state could meet its ostensibly looser rules on pay, overtime or rest periods and pass Californias scrutiny, while Tesla could fall just a teensy bit short on Californias rules and get a black mark. That treats companies who choose to operate in California the worst even though they are the companies who are subject to the strongest labor standards, Tesla said in its comment. It says identical standards, not local standards, should be imposed on all manufacturers. Tesla also asserts that Californias apparent intention to tie certification at least partially to a companys record before the NLRB is illegal. While that shows Tesla may be nervous about its NLRB case, it may be correct. By law, states cant use National Labor Relations Board decisions or sanctions as grounds for their own sanctions. The boundary line is known as federal preemption; it means that matters the federal government reserves for itself are taken out of the states hands. Teslas argument is that state agencies come very close to stepping over that line by demanding information from EV makers on citations, charges, final orders, decisions, or awards issued by the NLRB and asking for information about manufacturers compliance with laws guaranteeing workers rights to association and assembly. Those rights tend to fall within the NLRBs jurisdiction, which means that theyre off-limits to the states, according to a string of Supreme Court rulings dating back to 1959. Preemption applies even when a state is deciding how to spend its own funds, say through a consumer rebate program. Teslas reaction may well be on the money, says William B. Gould IV, an emeritus law professor at Stanford who spent four years as NLRB chairman during the Clinton administration. But that doesnt mean that all federal workplace rules are outside Californias reach. Plenty of workplace issues governed by federal law and overseen by federal agencies arent subject to preemption, Gould points out. These include wage and hour compliance, overtime, workplace safety and the classification of workers as employees or independent contractors. Federal law specifically allows for state-level enforcement of most such issues, Gould says. The NLRB protects the rights of workers to air grievances about those issues or to organize around them without the fear of employer retaliation, but thats the gist of its jurisdiction. The solution to the issues Tesla raises is implicit in its own brief: Dont make Californias rules contingent on those of other states, localities or even the federal government. Require that EV companies desiring to exploit Californias rebates meet our standards for wages and work conditions. Since Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, say they already comply with California standards, that should make them happy. Tesla is correct to say Californias standards should be consistent: consistently high. Keep up to date with Michael Hiltzik. Follow @hiltzikm on Twitter, see his Facebook page, or email michael.hiltzik@latimes.com. Return to Michael Hiltziks blog. San Francisco Mayor-elect London Breed was still basking in the glow of her election victory when she arrived at Rosa Parks Elementary school on Thursday. Having been raised by her grandmother just blocks away in the citys Western Addition neighborhood once the heart of San Franciscos black community Breed, 43, said the visit to her alma mater filled her with memories and purpose. In San Francisco, I think about this school, I think about the people I went to school with and I think about the fact that many of them dont live in this city anymore, she said to cheers. We have to build more housing. We have to build more housing. We have to build more housing, and I will be relentless in my pursuit to get the job done. Breed, the citys first female African-American mayor, succeeded in a bruising race that featured personal attacks and a drawn-out vote count a quirk of the citys ranked-choice voting system. On Wednesday, her main opponent, former state Sen. Mark Leno, conceded the race. Leno had initially been in the lead after the June 5 primary, but Breed eventually pulled ahead. When shes sworn in July 11, she will be the only female mayor of any of the 15 largest U.S. cities. Advertisement The problems she now plans to tackle are among the most difficult a city can face. Housing, finding solutions to the homelessness crisis and creating safe injection areas for drug users will dominate her portfolio as mayor of a city thats been flooded with technology wealth but has left many behind. The connection between Breeds life and the problems vexing San Francisco were often center stage as she campaigned for office. I know it means so, so much to so many people. I grew up in some of the most challenging of circumstances, Breed said Wednesday from the steps of City Hall after Leno called her to concede. Her personal story animated the race as she salted her campaign stops and ads with tales of being raised by her grandmother in a decrepit public housing project. Both of Breeds siblings were addicted to drugs, and her younger sister died of an overdose, while her brother is in prison for robbery and other crimes, according to media reports. Breed persevered, graduated from UC Davis and began working for then-Mayor Willie Browns administration. Eventually, she became the executive director of the African American Art & Culture Complex in 2002. That role was close to her heart, because the arts center was a stones throw from where she grew up and catered to a population that is becoming more and more marginalized as San Francisco becomes richer and whiter. African Americans now just make up roughly 6% of the citys population, and the number continues to shrink. The message that this sends to the next generation of young people growing up in this city is that no matter where you come from, no matter what you decide to do in life, you can do anything you want to do, Breed said Wednesday. Never let your circumstances determine your outcome in life. In her decade at the helm of the arts center, she raised millions for renovations. Then in 2012, she surprised the political establishment by beating out incumbent Christina Olague for a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Then-California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris, Breeds political mentor, swore her into office. By 2017, Breed had risen to become the Board of Supervisors president and appeared to be laying the groundwork for a mayoral run in 2019. Thats when Mayor Ed Lee a longtime city administrator who had been elevated to mayor when Gavin Newsom resigned in 2011 to run for lieutenant governor collapsed in a Safeway store and later died from a heart attack. Breed became interim mayor as a result of her position as president of the Board of Supervisors and soon after announced she would be seeking the post permanently. Things got interesting very quickly. In January, the Board of Supervisors her colleagues ousted her and named a wealthy white man, Supervisor Mark Farrell, as her replacement. Opponents said she represented the status quo, which enraged supporters who saw this as yet another slight to the citys African American community. They have pushed out African Americans, Sheryl Davis, a friend of Breed, told the San Francisco Chronicle. And everybody talks about how diverse and progressive we are. But if it happened anywhere else, wed be saying what a tragedy. Breed was interim mayor for 42 days and made it clear that she would still be a candidate for the job. Her friend of 15 years and informal advisor, Debbie Mesloh, was in the room that night when the vote came down and said it struck many as another backroom deal, she said. I think it galvanized and harnessed a lot of energy, she said. The race among a contest between Breed, Leno and Supervisor Jane Kim all Democrats. Leno and Kim portrayed themselves as progressive change agents and labeled Breed as a moderate who had the backing of the citys business and tech establishment. Leno would have been the citys first openly gay mayor, while Kim would also have been the citys first female mayor of color. The citys unusual electoral system where voters rank their top three choices led to some gamesmanship by the candidates. Kim and Leno each urged voters to rank the other second in order to lock Breed out of a victory. By Wednesday however, Breeds challengers acknowledged the outcome. Im proud to live in the largest city in America with a woman as mayor, Kim tweeted Wednesday. The housing crisis in San Francisco was one of the few areas where profound policy disagreements arose among the candidates. Breed picked up the backing of pro-development forces and publicly voiced support for state Sen. Scott Wieners controversial legislation SB 827, which wouldve loosened or eliminated restrictions on height, density, parking and design for residential properties near major rail and bus stops. Her opponents did not. The bill failed, but it squared with one of Breeds biggest priorities and what will be her biggest challenge as she enters office, Mesloh said. Housing, along with a host of other issues, will consume her time. But, Mesloh added, Breed is best positioned to tackle these problems because shes experienced many of them. Income inequality in San Francisco is something she will really need to address, she said. For the past five or six years, its felt like there are two different cities. How is she really going to bridge that divide will be a big question. benjamin.oreskes@latimes.com @boreskes Police detectives on Thursday served search warrants at the Los Angeles home of a former USC gynecologist and a storage facility as they investigate allegations that he sexually mistreated patients. Los Angeles Police Department Capt. Billy Hayes said sex-crimes detectives talked to George Tyndall and seized evidence during the search but did not provide further details. The LAPD has been in contact with 135 women about Tyndall, who served as the campus gynecologist for nearly 30 years. More than 400 women have called a university hotline since a Times investigation detailed how USC allowed Tyndall to continue practicing at a student health clinic on campus despite a record of complaints that spanned more than two decades. The scandal over how USC handled complaints against the physician has roiled the campus and led to the departure of schools president, C.L. Max Nikias. Advertisement Tyndall, who resigned last year, has denied wrongdoing and said he never mistreated patients. He could not immediately be reached for comment on Thursday. The search warrants were filed under seal, Hayes said, to protect the integrity of the investigation. Tyndall was handcuffed during the search at his apartment, he added, but was not taken into custody and has not been charged with a crime. USC has said that complaints about Tyndall dating to the early 2000s reached the head of the clinic, who died in 2016, but that he handled patient complaints independently. The university said it was unclear why Tyndall was allowed to remain in his position. It was only after a frustrated nurse reported Tyndall to the campus rape crisis center in 2016 that the gynecologist was removed. USC leaders have acknowledged that the system for reporting and disciplining Tyndall had broken down, but they denied having known about the complaints before last year, according to a letter from Provost Michael Quick. The university, in a secret deal last summer, allowed Tyndall to resign quietly with a financial payout. USC did not report him to the Medical Board of California, which investigates misconduct by physicians and has the power to terminate their licenses, until last March. The university has acknowledged that in hindsight Tyndall should have been reported much sooner. The police action comes as more women have stepped forward to allege mistreatment at the hands of Tyndall, including dozens who have filed civil lawsuits. USC student Anika Narayanan said this week that she vividly recalls her first appointment with Tyndall at the campus health center, alleging that he made several explicit comments during an examination she felt was inappropriate and invasive. When she came back for a second visit in 2016 after a nonconsensual sexual encounter, he allegedly chastised her, she said in a civil lawsuit and at a news conference Tuesday. He asked me if I had forgotten to use a condom again, said Narayanan, 21. At one point, she said, Tyndall asked if I did a lot of doggy style, she said. Narayanan is one of 24 women being represented by attorney Gloria Allred as part of an amended lawsuit filed Tuesday. Allred told reporters Tuesday that her clients are alleging Tyndall repeatedly touched them without gloves while making comments about their sex lives and their ethnic origins. Narayanan has deep roots to the USC campus. Both her parents worked at the university. Her father is Shri Narayanan, a holder of the Niki and C.L. Max Nikias Chair in Engineering, Allred said. Narayan said the administration betrayed the students. I am ashamed, disappointed and furious that I am not alone, she said. Graduate student Daniella Mohazab, another plaintiff being represented by Allred, alleged in her lawsuit that Tyndall made comments about her sexual skills, connecting them to her Filipino heritage. We have been hurt, she said at the news conference. He has hurt our livelihood, consumed our time and mental health has been the root of distrust and discomfort that we now face. Taylor & Ring, another L.A. law firm, said Thursday that it has filed suit on behalf of 18 women. The sheer volume of abuse that Tyndall has inflicted on these former USC students is appalling, attorney David Ring said in a statement. richard.winton@latimes.com Twitter: @LACrimes UPDATES: 4:45 p.m.: Updated with more details about lawsuits. This article was originally published at 3:25 p.m. Not long ago, Mickey Kasparian arguably was the most powerful person in San Diegos labor and Democratic circles. Thats no longer the case. The labor leader lost big in the June 5 election, and even before then a nasty battle among allied unions led to a split that diminished his influence. The once-powerful political kingpin is now increasingly isolated. Kasparian is at the center of this rift and its unclear whether or not fences will be mended as the November election approaches. A further question is, if they arent, will that cause the same kind of commotion among Democrats as it did in the primary? Advertisement Kasparian is president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 135 and leader of the breakaway union umbrella group San Diego Working Families Council. He and his organizations decided to back former Assemblywoman Lori Saldana for county supervisor instead of former Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, who was supported by the much larger San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, the Democratic Party and allied groups. Fletcher ended up in first place in the District 4 primary and will advance to the fall runoff with former District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, a Republican, who came in second. Saldana finished out of the running in third. Kasparian also was on the short end of another intense battle in National City over dueling term-limit initiatives. His forces helped the campaign for Measure B, which could have extended the mayoral run of Ron Morrison. Other unions backed the successful Measure C, which will not allow Morrison to run for re-election in November. Kasparian, who had suggested in the past that he would support Fletcher, instead seemingly has made it his mission to keep him out of office. Thats the same goal as the Republican-dominated Lincoln Club and the local Republican Party. That may seem an odd convergence, but the politics here are intensely personal. The feud isnt just between Kasparian and Fletcher, but also between Kasparian and Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, once a powerful labor leader herself who married Fletcher last year. She once had been an ally of Kasparian. Kasparian and others, including the most of labor and the Democratic and Republican parties, worked to defeat Nathan Fletchers two bids for San Diego mayor. Fletcher left the Republican Party in the middle of the first campaign to run as an independent. By the second he had become a Democrat, but still didnt get the institutional nod. Despite overseeing a big-spending campaign against Fletcher this time around, Kasparian couldnt block him from the supervisorial runoff. What Kasparian intends to do, if anything, regarding the supervisors race this fall is unknown, at least to me. He hasnt returned my calls. On its face, it would seem hard to fathom that he would again try to defeat Fletcher, given his pro-labor perspective. In the past battles, Kasparian has put his money on Democrats with stronger labor credentials than Fletcher. That can hardly be said of Dumanis. But Kasparian has friendly relations with the former district attorney and she gamely sought the endorsement of his Working Families Council earlier this year. District 4 is heavily Democratic, and with all the party and labor power behind Fletcher, he has to be considered the odds-on favorite, whether or not Kasparian opposes him. But Dumanis, who has had strong Republican and business backing, has shown crossover voter appeal in the past. All that is just part of the convoluted political dynamics here. Consider how they got to this point. Kasparian was head of the Labor Council, which became racked with internal tension. Last year, he and a handful of unions left to create the Working Families Council just as the AFL-CIO came in to take control of the Labor Council amid the turmoil. The parent organizations move followed lawsuits against Kasparian that accused him of, among other things, sexual misconduct. He denied any wrongdoing and all the suits were settled. Several politicians had distanced themselves from Kasparian and urged him to step down. Some of them said they wouldnt seek support from the Working Families Council, including Saldana. She eventually changed her mind. Fletcher and Gonzalez Fletcher did not. Saldana had raised little money in her supervisorial bid but was elevated to a contender in large part by an independent campaign waged on her behalf by the Working Families Council. The Saldana endorsement had immediate repercussions for the organization. The influential Service Employees International Union Local 221, which represents county employees, among others, had endorsed Fletcher months before. Shortly after the Saldana endorsement, SEIU left the Working Families Council. As with the Lincoln Club and the Republican Party, Kasparians best shot to knock out Fletcher was in the primary. They succeeded in doing that during his mayoral runs in 2012 and the 2013 special election. Polls at the time showed he would defeat rival candidates in head-to-head matchups. Now, polls are only snapshots in time, but that suggests, speculatively, he could be mayor today instead of Republican Kevin Faulconer had the Democrats and labor, including Kasparian, gotten behind him. In 2012, then-Rep. Bob Filner was the first Democrat elected mayor in two decades, seemingly giving Democrats a strong foothold at City Hall. He resigned amid a sexual misconduct scandal less than a year later, leading to the special election a low turnout affair that benefited Republicans and Faulconer. All five county Board of Supervisor seats currently are held by Republicans, with District 4 being vacated by Ron Roberts, who couldnt run again because of term limits. Youd think a labor leader working to deny Democrats the opportunity to break that GOP dominance wouldnt sit well with a lot of folks in San Diegos Democratic-labor coalition. A Las Vegas gang member who was on a five-day meth binge when he suddenly shot a car passenger, then dumped her body near Escondido last year, was sentenced Friday to 21 years in prison. Vista Superior Court Judge K. Michael Kirkman imposed the sentence that attorneys had agreed on when Paul Castro pleaded guilty in April to voluntary manslaughter and admitted an allegation that he used a gun. Castro didnt say anything during the hearing, but family of the victim, Antonia Herrera of San Marcos, did. The 23-year-olds grandmother, Molly Ruiz, and cousins told the judge they were upset that Castro would shoot their loved one and then not get medical attention for her, Deputy District Attorney Keith Watanabe said. Advertisement They said theyre working on forgiving him, the prosecutor said. Watanabe told the judge this was an absolute tragedy that could have been avoided and highlighted the dangers of drug abuse. He was on a five-day methamphetamine binge when this all happened, Watanabe said. Castro had gone through a preliminary hearing and was ordered to stand trial trial several months before he changed his plea to guilty. He had bipolar and schizophrenic behavior with a history of paranoia, believing drug cartels were out to get him, according to testimony and court documents. Witnesses said that on Jan. 11 last year, Herrera, her boyfriend and Castro were passengers in a car headed from Las Vegas to Herreras home. At one point, Castro asked if anyone in the car was planning to kill him. As they traveled south down Interstate 15 before sunrise, Herrera mentioned that they would drive through a wooded area to reach her home. She reportedly meant the comment to calm Castro, but instead he grabbed a semi-automatic pistol, turned around from the front seat and pumped three rounds into Herrera. One bullet pierced her heart. Castro forced the driver to pull off the freeway, along Champagne Boulevard, where Herreras body was dumped. It was found later that day. Castro, Herreras boyfriend and the driver returned to Las Vegas. The two witnesses did not report the shooting, but San Diego County sheriffs homicide investigators tracked them down weeks later. pauline.repard@sduniontribune Twitter: @pdrepard The Leaning Tower of Pisa and its 5.5 degree lean has vexed engineers for centuries. Partially constructed on unexpectedly soft soil, the ancient bell tower began to lean before it was even finished, a historical goof that went on to become one of the worlds historical oddities - and made the tower a UNESCO World Heritage site. How can something so obviously structurally unsound endure in an earthquake-prone region for hundreds of years? People who assemble an IKEA cabinet and have 18 pieces left over dont expect to pass a wobbly Hemnes down to their great-grandchildren. The tower in northwestern Italy has managed to survive two world wars, millions of tourist visits and at least four strong earthquakes that have hit the region since 1280, according to Phys.org. One of those quakes was greater than 6.0 on the Richter scale. Advertisement Mylonakis, an engineering professor who studies geotechnics and soil-structure interaction, and more than a dozen researchers came up with an answer that involves that famous soft soil and a jargon-laden term called dynamic soil-structure interaction. According to Phys.org, the engineers determined that the towers height and stiffness, combined with the softness of the foundation soil, causes the vibrational characteristics of the structure to be modified substantially, in such a way that the Tower does not resonate with earthquake ground motion. So during a quake, the tower doesnt shake as much as the earth beneath it, in further defiance of gravity. Ironically, the very same soil that caused the leaning instability and brought the tower to the verge of collapse can be credited for helping it survive these seismic events, Mylonakis told the website. The researchers have only released some of their findings. They expect to release the rest this month at the European Conference on Earthquake Engineering in Greece. The towers insulation from earthquakes does not mean it can metaphorically thumb its nose at nearby, earthquake-ravaged buildings. It has continued to settle throughout its history and by the early part of the 20th century, was in real danger of falling. In 1990, the Italian government closed the tower to visitors and began a decade-long restoration project, according to Smithsonian Magazine. Restorers put 900 tons of lead counterweights on the north side of the tower while they came up with a better plan to slow its descent. As The Washington Posts Jane Morley wrote in 1998: The plan involves erecting a stationary A-frame structure on the north side and extending cables from it to a sort of sling or harness around the midsection. This is to hold the structure in place while crews gradually begin to remove small amounts of soil from the high north side. Presumably, this will cause that side to subside or sink slightly, rotating the tower back toward the north by about one-half of 1 degree. Engineers also installed equipment that allows them to make adjustments to the water pressure beneath the tower, further controlling the tilt. All that construction fixed the tilt a bit - to 3.9 degrees from 5.5 degrees - while still helping the building maintain its namesake lean. But more importantly, it meant the tower wasnt in danger of toppling from the effects of gravity alone. It is extremely unlikely that the foundations of the tower will fail, John Burland, one of the leaders of the restoration project, told the magazine. If anything causes the tower to collapse it is much more likely that it would be due to a very large earthquake. Then again, maybe not. Michael Cohen has asked a California judge to sign off on a gag order preventing Stormy Daniels publicity-loving lawyer from talking about his legal woes. A lawyer for President Trumps troubled attorney requested a restraining order against Michael Avenatti late Thursday by detailing more than a hundred of his tweets and cable network appearances since March most of which mention Cohen. The order, if approved, would prevent Avenatti from discussing Cohen or his case against the porn star with the press and more than 538,000 of his Twitter followers. The lawyer fears Avenattis penchant for media blitzes could jeopardize Cohens right to a fair trial and fuel a media circus, according to a Central District of California filing. Advertisement Ms. Avenattis actions are mainly driven by his seemingly unquenchable thirst for publicity, wrote Brent Blakely, Cohens attorney. Avenatti panned the gag order as a complete joke. Mr. Cohen and Brent Blakely cant deal with the truth, the facts, and the law, so they have to resort to unethical, meritless motions. This must be their birthday present to Mr. Trump, the lawyer mused. Avenattis Wednesday night appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert alongside former White House Press Secretary Anthony Scaramucci was listed as the latest example of the publicity tour. In the court papers, Blakely quotes Manhattan Federal Court Judge Kimba Woods admonishment of his media appearances as evidence of the potential damage. Wood, who is overseeing Cohens federal case on the FBI raids at his law office and residences, told Avenatti last month to pick a lane stop his media appearances and continue with the case or distance himself from her courtroom. I want you to participate or not be in the matter at all. I dont want you to have some existence in limbo, where you are free to denigrate Mr. Cohen and I believe potentially deprive him of a fair trial by tainting a jury pool, Wood in court. The case at the heart of Cohens request involves Daniels attempt to nullify a nondisclosure agreement to prevent her from discussing her affair with President Trump in 2006. She signed the document days before the 2016 presidential election. A child was killed in a parking lot shooting that left two more critically wounded outside a dental office in a Denver suburb Thursday afternoon, officials said. The young boy was shot around 3 p.m. local time along with his brother, who is in critical condition. Their mother was also shot and suffered life-threatening injuries, according to police in Westminster. A man who is not related to the woman or the children was also shot and is expected to survive, police said. A vehicle spotted leaving the parking lot was later found and its driver taken into custody as a suspect in the deadly shooting. Advertisement Police escort a man away from the front door of a dental clinic as police investigate the scene of a shooting in a parking lot behind the clinic, Thursday, June 14, 2018, in Westminster, Colo. (David Zalubowski/AP ) Police did not identify the victims or the man they arrested, whom they believe was responsible for the shooting 14 miles northwest of Denver. Police spokeswoman Cheri Spottke did not say what led to the shooting. Officers roped off the dental complex, which holds several offices, with yellow tape to block access to the parking lot packed with evidence markers. San Diego homicide investigators are hoping a fresh reminder will bring tips that solve a 10-year-old shooting that claimed the life of a San Diego Mesa College student in the Emerald Hills area. Darnell Anthony Smith, 20, was gunned down shortly after midnight on June 15, 2008, on Pyramid Street, near Kelton Road, San Diego police homicide Lt. Matt Dobbs said Friday. Smith had just parked his car and was walking toward his aunts house with several relatives when an unknown gunman got out of a black SUV, walked up behind Smith and opened fire, Dobbs said. Smith was struck and died at the scene, Dobbs said in a statement. Advertisement The gunman got back into the SUV, thought to be a then-newer model black Ford Escape with tinted windows. A 2007 or 2008 SUV like this Ford Escape was used by the gunman who killed Darnell Smith in 2008. (San Diego police ) The shooting possibly involved gang members, but Smith was not a member of a gang himself, Dobbs told City News Service. Smith was in his second year of study at Mesa College for a business administration degree at the time and worked as a customer service representative at Cox Communications. He was the son of Donald Jones, then pastor at Higher Praise Fellowship in San Diego, and Sheila Smith. San Diego County Crime Stoppers is offering the standard $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case, while Cox Communications is offering an additional $2,500 in reward money. This case could depend a lot on witness statements, but people arent wanting to come forward, Dobbs said. Its possible Smiths slaying may have been connected to a series of shootings in the area within a few weeks of each other, Dobbs said, adding that investigators have not found evidence that link them. Less than two weeks after Smith was shot dead, a man was fired upon while he was sitting in a parked vehicle a few blocks away on Pyramid Street. He was unscathed by the bullets, but told police that the gunfire came from at least one of four men riding in a dark burgundy Ford Escape the same type of vehicle mentioned in Smiths killing. Dobbs said a similar shooting occurred in the neighborhood a few weeks later, though he emphasized that detectives cant connect the shootings with certainty until witnesses come forward. Investigators ask that anyone with information about Smiths death the San Diego police homicide unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477. Tipsters can also contact the agency anonymously online at sdcrimestoppers.org. Staff writer Pauline Repard contributed to this report pauline.repard@sduniontribune Twitter: @pdrepard A 24-year-old Vista man was arrested Thursday and charged with impersonating a peace officer, following an investigation that revealed he had been passing himself off as a deputy sheriff, detained at least two juveniles, and confiscated property. Abraham Joseph Nava was arrested and now faces not only the impersonation charges but two charges of false imprisonment, according to a news release from the San Diego Sheriffs Department. The investigation began earlier this week after a citizen contacted the department after an encounter with someone who claimed to be an undercover deputy sheriff. Deputies from the Vista substation began interviewing employees from businesses on Main Street, and learned that the suspect had been passing out fake business cards,and talking to juveniles in the area, the release said. In one incident, the man detained two juveniles, and confiscated their skateboards. Advertisement The investigation soon identified Nava as a suspect and he was arrested Thursday afternoon, carrying one of the fake business cards from the Sheriffs Department. After obtaining a search warrant investigators then searched his home, finding clothing specific to a Sheriffs Department uniform, badges, items deputies wear on their belts and an entire box of fake department business cards. The news release said Nava admitted he had represented himself as a deputy sheriff on several occasions. He was booked into jail Thursday night. Twitter: @gregmoran greg.moran@sduniontribune.com There was no dispute in court Thursday that Steven Quintero was drinking before he got behind the wheel of a car, then hit and killed a Lyft driver on state Route 94 in 2016. Quintero was tried in the case in April, with a jury convicting him of driving under the influence and felony hit and run. They deadlocked on the most serious charges of murder and vehicular manslaughter. In a re-trial that opened in San Diego Superior Court Thursday, attorneys asked the same question about the crash that killed Henry Reyes, 41. Was it murder? Advertisement Deputy District Attorney Cally Bright told jurors that because of a past DUI conviction, Quintero knew better than to drive drunk a second time about 1 a.m. on Oct. 1, 2016. He was warned of the dangers, Bright said. He chose to do it again and he killed Henry Reyes. Reyes, of Escondido, had pulled over on eastbound Route 94, east of 25th Street in the Golden Hill neighborhood of San Diego, because one of his three passengers was sick after drinking downtown. He and the sick woman got out of the car, and when Reyes walked back toward his red Kia Soul, he was struck and killed. Deputy Public Defender Suesan Gerard said Quintero has had severe learning disabilities all his life, and could not have formed a clear understanding of possible consequences to drinking and driving. Youll see that Steven Quintero is not a murderer, Gerard said in opening statements. Bright said that soon after the fatal crash, a police officer asked Quintero if he knew what could happen when a person drives drunk. An accident, someone could get killed, Quintero replied, according to Bright. His blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash was between .12 and .18 percent, well over the 0.08 percent limit in California, Bright said. She said that after his first DUI conviction in 2015, he had to complete several classes and programs about drunken driving. Even with learning disabilities, Bright said, Quintero knew the dangers. That is why the defendant is being charged with murder, she said. In the first trial, jurors deadlocked 6-6 on the second-degree murder charge and 10-2 in favor of guilt on the gross vehicular manslaughter charge. Quintero was convicted of driving under the influence causing death, hit and run causing death and misdemeanor driving on a suspended license. Quintero was also found to have caused great bodily injury to his passenger, Liliana Flores, as well as to Reyes and the three women in the Lyft car Sarah Smith, Kelly Hoffman and Jessica Techel. On Thursday, the first witness called to the stand, Jonathon Reyes, testified that he and his wife heard to loud crashing noise of Quinteros car hitting Reyes Kia. Reyes ran over, jumped the freeway fence and asked two men near a crashed gray car if they were all right. They said they were and one man started walking, with a pit bull, toward the fence, Reyes said. He then noticed a man lying along the freeway shoulder. He said he checked for a pulse as the mans body twitched. He was dying, Reyes said. He was twisting and shaking. Next Reyes asked two women outside the red Kia if they were OK. He looked inside the car and found a third woman in the back seat, unconscious. Moments later, police and medics began showing up. A police helicopter crew saw Quintero leaving the scene, jumping a fence and going into an apartment complex, where he was arrested. pauline.repard@sduniontribune Twitter: @pdrepard The Kyoto Prize, whose recipients annually travel to San Diego for public presentations, had a reputation as a scholarly old boys club. But the recipients of the 34th annual prize, announced today in Japan, include visual artist Joan Jonas, the fourth woman in the last seven years. While male laureates still outnumber their female peers, it took 25 years for the Inamori Foundation the nonprofit that oversees the awards to select the first four female recipients. Jonas, 81, a professor emerita at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was cited for creating a new artistic form by integrating performance art and video art. Joan is a giant and she deserves all recognition for a lifetime of superlative achievements, said Hashim Sarkis, dean of MITs School of Architecture and Planning. Yet the Kyoto Prize cannot overshadow the work that is to come the continuously bold, experimental work, the eternally youthful outlook, and her perpetually poetic insights into our worlds problems. Advertisement Her best work will always be her next work. The other 2018 laureates are Karl Deisseroth, 41, a neuroscientist and Stanford University professor; and Masaki Kashiwara, 71, a mathematician and project professor at Kyoto University. Kashiwara is a leader in algebraic analysis, while Desseroth has advanced the new discipline of optogenetics, which uses light to control neurons in living tissue. The prizes, which comes with a 20-karat gold medal and 100 million yen or about $915,000, will be awarded during ceremonies in Kyoto on Nov. 10. Next March, the laureates will travel to San Diego to give lectures and demonstrations. The prize is the brainchild of Kazuo Inamori, founder of Kyocera, a manufacturer of industrial ceramics with North American headquarters in San Diego. Underwritten by his Inamori Foundation, the Kyoto Prize recognizes achievements in three broad areas: advanced technology, basic sciences and arts and philosophy. Among the previous recipients are primatologist Jane Goodall (1990), film director Akira Kurosawa (1994) and linguist Noam Chomsky (1988). Every spring since 2001, the current laureates have appeared in San Diego for free speeches and performances. House Republicans could move to strictly limit the Trump administrations policy of separating children from their parents at the border under immigration legislation expected to be considered next week. Democrats, however, object to other parts of the legislative package and say the administration could end the policy of separating children from their parents at any time without additional legislation. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) said Thursday that he disagrees with the new policy of splitting up immigrant families. He agreed with administration officials, however, that fixing the problem requires legislation. The administrations new zero-tolerance policy, which requires prosecution of people arriving illegally at the border, has driven up the number of immigrant children in government shelters in the nearly two months since it began. That has led to a public outcry as stories of children being ripped from their parents arms fill headlines. Advertisement We dont want kids to be separated from their parents, Ryan said. We believe because of the court ruling, this will require legislative change, he added, referring to a 1997 court case that limited how long the government can hold children in detention centers. Democrats and other opponents of the administrations policy say that case is not the root of the problem, noting that separating families was the exception, not the rule, for most of the two decades since the case was resolved with an agreement called the Flores settlement. The settlement does not require the government to separate families who arrive together, and previous administrations have not interpreted it that way. Previously, border agents tried to keep families together by sending all members to the same family detention facility. Now, under the new policy announced by Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions in early May, in most cases parents are prosecuted, while children are sent to a separate refugee facility. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) questioned why Republicans havent put legislation forward already if they think it is needed. This is barbaric, this is not who America is, and this is the policy of the Trump administration, she said, referring to the family separations. The casual attitude that theyre having about this they could weigh in with the administration and stop it on a dime. Ryan brokered an agreement among House Republicans to vote next week on two immigration bills a hard-line conservative measure and an alternative that Ryan and other GOP leaders have been negotiating with the many GOP factions in the House. Even supporters of the more conservative bill say it is not likely to pass the House. Its unclear whether the leaderships alternative can pass, either. Democrats have been left out of the negotiations, and the bill, a draft of which was released Thursday, contains some provisions they consider unacceptable. Other parts of the measure would enact policies that conservative Republicans have balked at. We wont guarantee passage, Ryan said. I do hope this passes. I think its a very good bill. I think its a very good compromise and this can make law. The concrete has been poured, Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), the leader of the House Freedom Caucus, said Wednesday. You can still make handprints in it, you can still write your name in it. It is far from set. The latest from Washington The draft bill includes $25 billion for border security, including money to begin building President Trumps proposed border wall. It would include a legal fix for the so-called Dreamers, young people who came to this country illegally as children. Their status has been in limbo since Trump ordered an end to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, the Obama-era effort to shield Dreamers against deportation. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) said the bill would cover all of the estimated 1.8 million Dreamers, not just the smaller subset who received coverage under DACA. The current version of the bill would provide Dreamers with visas that would allow them, after six years, to apply for citizenship. But two conservative provisions are likely to prevent nearly all Democrats, and perhaps some moderate Republicans, from supporting the bill. One would withhold visas from Dreamers if Congress fails to appropriate money for the border wall. The other would offset the visas for Dreamers by cutting existing, legal immigration categories. It would end the current diversity lottery and eliminate family reunification visas for adult children. Bills that would have made similar cuts in legal immigration failed earlier this year in the Senate, suggesting that even if the proposed package gets through the House, it would have a difficult path toward ultimate passage. Everything weve heard has been very negative, I dont even know if they have the votes to pass the bill on their side, Pelosi said. But, theyre certainly not going to use mothers nursing their babies as a draw. One other provision takes direct aim at Californias sanctuary law that limits the ability of sheriffs and prison officials to cooperate with immigration officials. The bill would allow victims and their families to sue jurisdictions that dont comply with federal requests to hold an illegal immigrant for deportation if the person is released and later commits rape, murder or sexual assault. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has said the Senate would consider a House-passed bill that the president supports. But passage in the Senate would require some Democratic support to meet the 60-vote threshold to avoid a filibuster. The White House reiterated Thursday that if the House bill includes all of the presidents priorities, hell back it. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders repeated in Thursdays briefing the presidents false claim that federal law requires the administration to separate immigrant children from their parents and said Trump would like a solution. The separation of illegal alien families is the product of the same legal loopholes that Democrats refuse to close, and these laws are the same that have been on the books for over a decade. The president is simply enforcing them, Sanders said. sarah.wire@latimes.com Follow @sarahdwire on Twitter Read more about the 55 members of Californias delegation UPDATES: 3:55 p.m.: This article was updated to add information on an additional provision of the draft bill that aims at Californias immigrant sanctuary law. This article was first published at 2:50 p.m. President Trump on Friday rejected the conclusion of the new report by the Justice Departments inspector general, which found that mistakes FBI leaders made in investigating Hillary Clintons private emails during the 2016 campaign were not the result of any bias, including on the part of former Director James B. Comey. The end result was wrong. There was total bias, Trump said during a live interview on Fox & Friends from the White House North Lawn. It was a pretty good report, and then I say that the IG blew it at the very end with that statement. Despite that, Trump falsely claimed the report released on Thursday totally exonerates him. Yet it has nothing to do with the probe in which Trump is implicated, involving allegations that Russia interfered in the campaign to hurt Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, and that Trump associates might have been complicit. Those allegations, along with suggestions that Trump sought to obstruct justice in the probe, are the subject of the separate, ongoing investigation of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. The president made a variety of other assertions, a number of them false or misleading, in the Fox interview and then in remarks to other reporters on the White House driveway. Reporters repeatedly challenged his statements, twice asking the president why he was lying. Advertisement Trump falsely blamed Democrats for his administrations border policy of separating children from undocumented immigrants, including asylum-seekers; rejected an immigration bill that House Republican leaders had said he supported; distanced himself from once-close associates facing criminal charges; spoke enviously of Kim Jong Uns grip on his people in North Korea; and again said Russias President Vladimir Putin isnt to blame for Russias annexation of Crimea in 2014. Asked if he would fire Scott Pruitt, his scandal-tarred director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Trump praised Pruitt yet declined to rule out a sacking. Im not happy about certain things, Ill be honest, he said. His main subject, however, was the report on the FBIs Clinton probe, specifically its passages critical of Comey and agents Trump has considered his nemeses. The president claimed that he would win a poll of current FBI rank-and file officers, but he referred to the FBI leadership during the 2016 election as a den of thieves as it managed investigations into both campaigns. He specifically referred to the text messages between agents Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, in which they expressed angst about Trumps election and vowed, in one text, to stop it. Strzoks actions, the president said, were criminal. He added, I dont know how Peter Strzok is still working there. Mueller removed Strzok from the Russia investigation last year, when their communications first became public, and Page has left the FBI. Asked if Comey should be locked up, Trump demurred, saying he wouldnt want to get involved in that. Yet he went on to say, contrary to the inspector generals findings, that Comey committed criminal acts. What he did was horrible, the president said. Trump said that FBI Director Christopher Wray, whom he nominated to lead the bureau after firing Comey a year ago, is reforming the agency, but he suggested that the perceived bias among some agents would continue. As he has before, Trump portrayed the Mueller investigation as the work of 13 angry Democrats, though Mueller is a Republican, as is Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod J. Rosenstein, a Trump appointee who named Mueller and oversees his teams work. Trump, reminded by Foxs Steve Doocy that he oversees the Justice Department and has the power to make changes, said that he has tried to stay uninvolved. Senior Republicans have warned that Trumps firing of Mueller or Rosenstein could provoke a crisis, and the threat of impeachment. He added: I may get involved at some point, but Im staying uninvolved. The Fox interview was not on Trumps schedule he had no public events scheduled for a third day since he returned from his summit with North Koreas Kim Jong Un but the president tweeted teasingly on Friday morning that he might wander out to the lawn because a Fox crew was there. Other reporters swarmed as he made his way to the Fox camera, where he engaged in a wide-ranging interview of more than 30 minutes, until the show ended at 9 a.m. As he walked back to the White House, Trump answered questions for 20 more minutes from reporters who circled him. Asked if he would suspend the Mueller investigation as attorney Rudolph W. Giuliani suggested Justice should do, in a Fox interview Thursday night Trump said no, but repeated his claims of bias among the investigators. Trump also expressed empathy, as he has before, for Michael Flynn, his former national security advisor, and former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, saying their lives have been upended by the special counsels investigation. Trump spoke just as Manafort was about to be sent to jail on Friday, after a federal judge revoked his bail on separate charges based on new allegations of witness tampering. Seeking to distance himself from Manafort, the president claimed again that the man who headed his campaign for months in 2016, including during his nomination at the Republican National Convention, had nothing to do with my campaign. He said he hasnt spoken to Michael Cohen, his longtime personal lawyer and self-described fixer who is said to be considering cooperating with prosecutors in New York, in a long time, and said Cohen is no longer his lawyer. Asked whether he might pardon any former associates now facing criminal charges, Trump said that he didnt want to talk about it, though he did not rule it out. He again expressed optimism about negotiations with North Korea over its nuclear arsenal. The president complained that critics were objecting that he was willing to meet with Kim, an autocrat with one of the worlds worst records of human rights violations; most criticism, however, has been about the presidents failure to get many binding concessions from North Korea. Trump pointed out that Kim is no longer testing nuclear missiles. He also marveled that, as he sees it, Kim is publicly revered in North Korea -- reiterating a contention that has drawn much criticism given that the country is a police state where gulags hold scores of thousands, starvation is widespread and repression is systemic. He speaks and his people sit up at attention, Trump said on Fox. I want my people to do the same. Later, when asked about that comment, Trump told a reporter, Im kidding. You dont understand sarcasm. Yet when asked about Kims human rights abuses, Trump declined to condemn Kim. I cant speak to that, he said. He suggested, as he has previously, that Kim needed to be tough to consolidate his power after succeeding his father at a young age. In the Fox interview and the gaggle with reporters, Trump also defended his administrations policy of separating parents who cross the border illegally from their children, including infants, something previous administrations opted not to do. Thats the law and thats what the Democrats gave us, Trump said, falsely blaming the opposition party for his administrations policy announced this spring. Trump, who is still trying to force the Republican-controlled Congress to provide $25 billion for a border wall, said that Democrats wont negotiate because theyre afraid of security for our country. To the surprise of House Republicans, the president told Fox that he would not support an immigration proposal that Speaker Paul D. Ryan negotiated with moderate and conservative Republicans. The presidents remark scrambled Republican leaders plans for House votes Friday on that measure and a second, more hard-line bill, even as Trump called on Congress to send him legislation. The White House later tried to walk back Trumps statement. Trump said he is looking forward to scheduling a meeting with Russias Putin later this year. He suggested a White House invitation in March, after Putins reelection, but Trump said the latest impetus for a visit was his comment June 8 that Russia should be readmitted to the Group of Seven alliance of major developed countries. The G-7, led by the United States under President Obama, in 2014 booted Russia from what was then the G-8 after Russia invaded and annexed Crimea. Trump again blamed not Putin but Obama, for allowing the annexation to happen. President Obama lost Crimea, Trump said. Because Putin didnt respect President Obama. The latest from Washington Stokols is a special correspondent. estokols@gmail.com @EliStokols UPDATES: 2:20 p.m.: This article was updated to include additional Trump quotes. 9:05 a.m.: This article was updated with more quotes from Trump. 7:25 a.m.: This article was updated with additional comments from Trump and context. This article was originally published at 6:35 a.m. After pouring millions of dollars into scathing ads portraying Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom as a dilettante, wealthy charter school backers had a different message for the first-place finisher in last weeks gubernatorial primary: Congratulations. The warm wishes also extended to Republican John Cox, who came in second place belied the awkward position that charter advocates find themselves in after their expensive gamble to prop up former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in the race collapsed in failure. Having notched notable victories in recent years, including gaining control of Los Angeles school board, the burgeoning political movement is now on shaky ground with Democratic front-runner Newsom and his aides, and its status as an effective political player in the state is in question. The high-stakes wager against Newsom puzzled education and political leaders and the candidate himself, who was supportive of charter schools as San Francisco mayor. And charter backers have supported him: Nearly one-third of the pro-Villaraigosa committees donors have given to Newsoms previous campaigns. Advertisement I never doubted Villaraigosas relationships [with the charters]. I was not surprised or even necessarily disappointed with their support of him. What did surprise mewas the negativity, Newsom said of the last-minute barrage of television ads the group ran against him in the final days before the June 5 primary. I dont get it. I still dont get it. I dont understand the strategy. The negative advertising criticizing Newsoms work ethic was part of the charter school groups $23-million effort to support Villaraigosas bid the largest independent expenditure effort in a gubernatorial primary in California history. Despite millions in donations from billionaires including Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, Los Angeles philanthropist Eli Broad and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the group failed to make an impact in the race, and was criticized in political circles for a late start and muddled messaging. The move put charter-school backers on their heels in a broader proxy war against teachers unions to shape education policy in the Democratic Party. Once a conservative movement, those who see the status quo as failing low-income and minority children have increasingly sought out and supported Democrats friendly to their cause. Gavin Newsom looks at a quote from a leader in the charter-school movement criticizing him at the California Teachers Assn.s state council of education in April. Newsom advisor Sean Clegg hinted at possible repercussions for the final salvo against his candidate. At this point, they can talk to the hand as far as I am concerned. My grandfather told me friends come and go, but enemies accumulate, he said. When someone spends $4 million [in negative advertising] saying you dont do your job, its kind of hard to get over that. For his part, Newsom was more circumspect, saying he will continue to support nonprofit charters with increased accountability. I have 23 million reasons why perhaps my position could have changed. It hasnt, he said, adding that his view of the California Charter School Assn., whose political arm put together the pro-Villaraigosa group, has shifted. It hasnt enhanced the relationship. Its not stronger because they misrepresented my 20-year record. But some of the groups allies worry that the anti-Newsom effort could do lasting damage to their movement. Dont be surprised if Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom comes back and says, A pox on all your houses, said Gloria Romero, a former state senator who is now executive director of Scholarship Prep Charter Schools, which has campuses in Santa Ana and Oceanside. They went to war against a candidate who has a history of supporting charters who we could work with. Despite receiving political support from prominent charter advocates in the past, Romero said she is wary of campaigns being funded by the wealthy. This was an absurd amount of money that basically feeds into the narrative that we on the ground face about charter schools that this is the billionaire boys club, Romero said. The president of the California Teachers Assn., a powerful force in state politics that backed Newsom, crowed about his victory and the charter backers loss. Follow California politics by signing up for our email newsletter Its always shocking when the charter schools association and their billionaire backers put in so much money into an election, Eric Heins said. Its clear that that Antonios message didnt resonate with voters. I, for one, am happy he didnt make it into the run-off. It was a poor choice for them to choose him, but they did. The next governor is expected to play a major role in fights between advocates for charter schools and teachers unions. While many education decisions are made by school districts, the governor has significant influence through the ability to make appointments to the state Board of Education and to affect the legislative process. Gov. Jerry Brown, who was heavily backed by teachers unions during his 2010 campaign, has taken steps to appease both sides. One of his first moves after taking office was replacing a so-called ed-reformer on the state board with a CTA lobbyist. But he has also vetoed multiple bills that would have placed stricter rules on charters. During Gov. Browns tenure, there was a pause of sorts on questions about what to do about charters, about whether the state should assert a more robust role in terms of questions about regulations, said John Rogers, director of UCLAs Institute for Democracy, Education and Access. Seeking to influence those debates, charter school proponents morphed from a fledgling interest group to a political powerhouse in just a few election cycles with mixed results. A $1.4-million effort to boost Romero for the states top schools job in 2010 sputtered, with the former state senator finishing in third place. In 2014, several charter-aligned groups spent about $3 million on 14 legislative races, but most of their preferred candidates lost. A $10-million campaign to back Marshall Tuck that year for state schools superintendent also failed. Tuck is running for the job this year, again with charter backers support. But their record improved in 2016, thanks to spending around $18 million in 17 races. Just four charter-backed candidates lost. The following year, in the most expensive school board battle in U.S. history, charters spent $9.7 million to win two seats on the Los Angeles Board of Education. As the 2018 governors race unfolded, charter groups stayed on the sidelines even after CTA endorsed Newsom in fall of 2017. But by spring, they were fretting over Newsoms call for a pause on new charter schools until additional transparency and accountability measures over their operation were put in place. At a meeting between Newsom and charter representatives that several attendees described as heated, the lieutenant governor was pressed on his position. Gary Borden, executive director of the California Charter Schools Assn.s political arm, said the meeting was cordial, but ultimately the group decided to align itself with Villaraigosa. Villaraigosa just has such a clear track record on the issues for us and also very deep and meaningful relationships with a number of the folks in the charter community, Borden said. As mayor of Los Angeles, Villaraigosa who started his career as a union organizer became the most prominent Democrat in California to criticize teachers groups. He tried to seize control of Los Angeles schools, arguing they needed to be overhauled because they were failing students of color and those from low-income families. That effort was unsuccessful, but Villaraigosa eventually took over more than a dozen struggling campuses. After leaving office, he sided with students in a lawsuit that argued their state constitutional rights were violated by laws regulating teacher layoffs, firings and tenure. The students initially triumphed, but the decision was later overturned. When Jed Wallace, president of the California Charter Schools Assn., announced the groups endorsement of Villaraigosa in March, he trumpeted that history and laced into Newsom, accusing him of parroting teachers union talking points in his call for a pause on new charters. This is probably the most hostile, the most threatening position that anybody this close to the governorship has ever had, Wallace said. After last weeks defeat, some political observers are questioning the groups scorched-earth rhetoric against Newsom. Though several donors did not respond to a request for comment on the campaign, Howard Wolfson, a senior advisor to Bloomberg, said he was realistic about Villaraigosas uphill climb. The polling was pretty clear to us from the beginning, that Antonio had a very challenging path to victory to the extent it existed at all, Wolfson said. Mike didnt give money to the effort based on the expectation that Antonio was going to win. He gave it based on his history with Antonio and his friendship. Villaraigosa said the group showed their willingness to fight for whats in the best interest of children, even against long odds. I couldnt be prouder to have their support, he said. You know what they showed: When theyre in a fight, when theyre in an existential fight, theyre going to stand up for the kids, their parents and their teachers. And they did. The charter school backers have not yet decided whether to endorse in the November general election for governor; but if history is any guide, they will try to make peace with Newsom if he is elected an uncomfortable but not uncommon position for interest groups who bet big in elections and lose. In 2010, the California Chamber of Commerce aligned itself with Meg Whitman, a GOP candidate for governor, and released a television ad blasting her rival, Brown, a Democrat, for pushing higher spending and taxes. When Brown won, the business group spent lots of time making up by staying neutral on the governors 2012 tax increase initiative and backing infrastructure policies, said Browns political advisor, Dana Williamson. The raw feelings from the campaign didnt subside entirely. People remember, Williamson said. But that doesnt mean they cant figure out a way to work together. Newsom seems to agree with that approach. You can forgive without forgetting, he said. Times staff writer Maloy Moore contributed to this report. Coverage of California politics seema.mehta@latimes.com ; melanie.mason@latimes.com Follow @LATSeema and @melmason on Twitter . 1:0 . 31- .... A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent was arrested by San Diego police following an apparent road-rage incident in Otay Mesa last month. ICE agent Billy Brickett was arrested by San Diego police on May 18 after he allegedly assaulted a man named Raymond Drayton following a driving dispute. Brickett, who could not be reached for comment, also is accused of pointing his gun at Drayton following a scuffle in a shopping center parking lot, according to a police report. Drayton told police he drove around a purple van driven by Brickett because it appeared to be going too slowly. The drivers then exchanged words and pulled into a parking lot along Dennery Road, where the two men bickered before Drayton turned away, the report said. Drayton heard footsteps and turned around just before Brickett punched him in the face. The two men scuffled before Brickett pulled his weapon, the police report said. The agents daughter was in the van at the time, urging her father to stop, the report said. Advertisement Brickett continued to argue while pointing the gun at me, Draytons statement to police said. We circled the white truck about three to four times, I was staying behind the truck trying not to get shot. Police were summoned to the scene and began interviewing witnesses. Based on the evidence and witness statements collected at the scene, it was determined that Brickett was the dominant aggressor, the police report said. Brickett was arrested on suspicion of battery and later released on bail. ICE issued a statement saying it is cooperating with the investigation. ICE holds its personnel to the highest professional standards and has zero tolerance for employees who violate the publics trust, it said. As per agency protocol, the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility investigates employee misconduct. According to the District Attorneys Office, Brickett posted bail and was released from custody. Charges are pending, and he is scheduled to be arraigned on July 3. As with any case where an individual posts bail and is out of custody prior to arraignment, the case remains under review for potential criminal charges at that time, the District Attorneys Office said in a statement. If charges are filed, they would become public at arraignment. This is all standard procedure and happens on a daily basis. Watchdog Videos On Now Sexual misconduct accusers worry deputy is being protected 6:16 On Now City funded $2-million waterfront bathroom 1:26 On Now Public water district charges customer for legal work, response to records request On Now Video: Tiny homes won't be reused amid housing, homeless crisis On Now Attorney General seeks documentation for Miss Middle East On Now Rep. Hunter probe covers possible fraud On Now Video: SDG&E delaying solar credit for some low-income housing tenants On Now Video: Former San Diego Junior Theatre teacher sentenced for sex with teen girl 0:24 On Now Video: Shelter volunteers believe they were fired for finding a dog a home 0:49 On Now McKamey Manor is leaving San Diego 3:35 jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1708 @sdutMcDonald Golden State Killer suspect Joseph DeAngelo has been cleared of any link to the 1978 murders of a mom and her young son leaving the man wrongfully convicted of the brutal slayings disheartened but not surprised. Its disappointing, but I expected this. I was just hopeful something would happen sooner rather than later, Craig Coley, the innocent man who spent decades behind bars in the case, told the Daily News. Its hard, especially for the family. Its hard to have all this uncertainty, he said in a phone interview Thursday. It was this week that police in southern California confirmed DeAngelos DNA did not match evidence in the cold case murders of Rhonda Wicht, 24, and her 4-year-old son Donald, according to the Los Angeles Times. Advertisement Coley spent almost 40 years in prison for the Simi Valley murders before he was fully exonerated last year. Craig Coley was exonerated on Nov. 22, 2017. (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation via AP ) The Vietnam veteran dated Wicht shortly before her death and was tossed in the notorious Folsom State Prison to rot after two trials, despite the fact he staunchly maintained his innocence, had an alibi and was the son of a retired police officer. When new DNA testing proved he wasnt the killer, Ventura County prosecutors sought his release. California Gov. Jerry Brown eventually cleared him of all charges, and he was released last November. After DeAngelos arrest in April, Deputy Chief Joseph May of the Simi Valley Police told CBS affiliate KCAL that investigators submitted DNA from the 1978 killings to see if it synced up with DeAngelo. Wicht reportedly had been raped and strangled with a rope. Sex assault and the use of rope were hallmarks in cases linked to the Golden State Killer. Its within the realm of possibility that he could be a suspect in our case, May previously told the channel. Coley, now 71, said Thursday he believes Wicht knew her killer personally. I have no doubt that this case is going to be solved, its just matter of when, he said. The new investigators are doing things thoroughly and completely. They have more technology now. Rhonda Wicht, 24, and her son Donald, 4, were killed in 1978 and Wichts boyfriend at the time, Craig Coley, was wrongfully convicted of their murder. (Simi Valley Police Department ) He said the extra attention brought to the case by the failed Golden State Killer testing could ultimately prove helpful if it leads someone with information to step forward. It keeps things alive and keeps people aware that theres still a vicious murderer out there, he told The News. I pray to God Rhonda and Donald were his only victims. I pray that there werent more victims due of the way they mishandled my case. DeAngelo, meanwhile, remains in custody in Sacramento on charges he murdered 12 people in four counties. Authorities believe the 72-year-old former cop also raped some 50 victims throughout the Golden State during a reign of terror spanning at least 1974 to 1986. Former Contra Costa County criminologist Paul Holes was the first to track DeAngelo down by submitting crime scene DNA to an open-source ancestry website that lets users compare genetic profiles from competing services to find more relatives. When the website matched the killers profile to a possible relative, Holes and his colleagues built out that relatives family tree to find someone resembling the killers profile. They landed on DeAngelo and surreptitiously collected his DNA from a car door handle and a tissue fished out of his trash can for the further testing that led to his arrest, warrant records released by a judge said. A California high school student sparked outrage when he showed up to class dressed as a Ku Klux Klan member. The costume was reportedly approved by a Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy teacher causing other students to wonder why it had been sanctioned, KABC reported. It made me feel like unsafe and threatened, senior Eliza Dumag told KABC. The student chose to wear the costume as part of a history project about Hiram Wesley Evans a former imperial wizard of the white supremacist group. Advertisement He wore it like throughout the school, like in nutrition, lunch, things like that. I dont think thats appropriate, Lance Dantignac told KABC. Other students said they were uncomfortable with their classmates attire which included a conical hood and white mask with two holes for eyes covering his face. Students said all costumes were pre-approved by their teacher, according to the report. It kind of rattled me. It was hard to believe that she would allow a klansman to walk around, Trinity Young told KABC. Students said they were opposed to this particular historical figure roaming their hallways. Its not right, Dumag said. The Los Angeles school district responded to the incident with a statement saying offficials understand the extreme sensitivity around this issue and do not condone or support this type of re-enactment. A Kansas deputy was killed and another was critically wounded Friday by a gunman who was also shot. The deputies were attacked by an inmate while driving a transport vehicle near the Wyandotte County courthouse in Kansas City. The inmate, identified by Fox4 as Antoine Fielder, was being transported across the street from the jail to the services building for a court hearing. Fielder has a long criminal history that includes murder charges. Advertisement Wynadotte Co. Deputy Patrick Rohrer, 35, was identified as the deputy who died Friday. He was a seven-year veteran of the department, KCTV5 reported. The wounded deputy, who is a woman, according to Fox 4, was taken to the University of Kansas Hospital. They may have been overcome with their own weapons, according to Wyandotte County sheriffs spokeswoman Maj. Kelli Bailiff. The suspect is undergoing surgery, but his condition was not released. Very active scene here outside the Wyandotte County courthouse. Hearing two deputies shot, waiting for more details. @41actionnews pic.twitter.com/KloGPZgkat Nick Starling (@NickStarlingTV) June 15, 2018 The investigation is being handled by the police department in Kansas City, Kansas. Two Kansas City law enforcement officers, Dave Melton and Brad Lancaster, were killed in separate incidents in 2016, according to the station. Deputy Scott Wood was shot seven times while trying to stop a robbery in Kansas City in 2015, but he returned to duty. With News Wire Services Enrollment opened recently for the All of Us Research Program, an unprecedented effort led by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH and partner organizations around the country including our employers, UC San Diego Health and the San Diego Blood Bank are asking 1 million or more people to contribute a variety of their personal health and lifestyle information to a research database. By tracking these data over time, patterns may emerge that could allow researchers to better tailor diagnostics, treatments and prevention tools to individuals. This approach is called precision medicine. But the success of All of Us depends, in part, on maintaining high-level, long-term engagement with a diverse group of participants. Historically, human research studies have primarily involved white people. As a result, the knowledge gained from those studies arent always applicable to everyone else. Meanwhile, serious health disparities have emerged certain health conditions that affect some groups of people more than others, or therapies that work better for select groups. To fill these gaps in our scientific knowledge, and to ensure that precision medicine advances work for everyone, we want the 1 million or more participants to reflect the rich diversity of the United States. To achieve this, All of Us partner organizations have set goals to recruit volunteer participants from communities that have been underrepresented in research in the past this includes many races and ethnicities, age groups, geographic regions, gender identities, sexual orientations and health statuses. Advertisement We know this is no easy task. In some past research studies, many communities were not invited to participate. There have also been some outright abuses in past research, particularly in communities of color, and so some people may understandably have concerns about joining. But heres how the All of Us Research Program is different than previous research studies: The NIH sees participants as partners, and is working with them to design the program. There is an in-depth consent process to make sure participants are well-informed about the program before they join. The program materials, consent form and survey are available in both English and Spanish. Participants are not asked about residency or citizenship status. All participants will have access to as little or as much of their own information as theyd like. Participants can withdraw at any time. We believe one way to help All of Us reach out to underrepresented communities is through organizations located within those communities blood banks, for example, where donor demographics typically reflect the communities in which the banks are located. But will that approach work? To get a sense of who might be interested in participating in a hypothetical research study like All of Us, in 2015 we sent a survey to people who have donated blood in the past at a San Diego Blood Bank location. Of the approximately 8,000 people who responded, most were white consistent with the regions demographics and highly educated. But, of those respondents who indicated they would be interested in participating in a study such as All of Us, race generally wasnt a factor. These survey results published in the journal Health Affairs are promising. But its just a starting point. We dont yet know why the people who said they would not participate in a study like All of Us felt that way. It could be mistrust based on past research mistakes, economic barriers to participation that disproportionately affect underrepresented communities, differential concerns about privacy across communities or other factors. We, and many other researchers around the country, will be looking for creative ways to reduce these barriers, address the concerns of all participants and make it easier for everyone to be counted and represented. We believe these efforts are crucially important. Unless we ensure that underrepresented groups are no longer underrepresented, we will continue to see the fruits of new health research only provide benefit to the people that are represented in the research, with many others left out. To learn more about the All of Us Research Program and how to join, go to joinallofus.org or contact: San Diego Blood Bank, (833) 271-1388, allofusrp@sandiegobloodbank.org UC San Diego Health, (858) 265-1711, allofus@ucsd.edu San Ysidro Health, (619) 941-2408, allofus@syhc.org Bloss is associate professor of psychiatry, family medicine and public health at UC San Diego Health. Wellis is CEO of the San Diego Blood Bank. A new research program has goals to recruit volunteer The solar mandate is an extreme tool for energy and environmental regulation far beyond tax incentives, education programs, and renewable standards for utilities. The mandate eliminates consumer choice and assumes only one option on all new homes with very limited exception. This is not a question of solar being a viable energy source. Utilizing sunshine is one of several promising alternative sources for green energy. Residential rooftop solar has a role to provide but far from the most cost effective or efficient option. Still developing and somewhat unreliable, solar panels imposed on not just some but every new home is a redistribution of costs forced on everyone. Related: New solar requirements make California homes healthy, sustainable Many policy options are being developed for zero-carbon electricity and not all need or should be implemented. Electricity provided by solar residential rooftops may not be the best green option, and evidence shows it is among the most expensive for solar generation compared with others. According to business consulting firm Lazard, the net cost of energy generated by residential rooftop solar is twice the cost of solar panels on commercial and industrial roofs, as well as potentially costing as much as 10 times more than large solar farms. Even considering costs of high-voltage transmission and concerns over large installations in sensitive desert eco-systems, rooftop solar does not outweigh the huge cost advantages available from large-scale installations. Advertisement California already generates so much solar and wind power that production sometimes must be halted or electricity given to other states to avoid overloading the electric grid. During some midday hours utilities actually pay to consume electricity. Electricity system operators say they increasingly need to curtail large, less expensive solar producers because there is too much mid-day power. The new housing mandate will pile even more expensive power onto the excess. Net costs imposed on society therefore go up, while received value goes down. Retail rates are paid according to the states net metering policy, no matter location or time-specific value of the power. In the end the net amount of solar power across the state will not increase much, if at all, while more expensive rooftop solar is substituted for centralized solar energy. Mandating one technology above all other options also limits innovation potentially crowding out lower-costing, more efficient renewable energy alternative sources being developed. A single mandated option assumes the solution for everyone, everywhere, no matter circumstances. Not only is rooftop solar not necessarily the best technology for low-carbon energy, it also imposes the commitment of current capacities to the next 30 years. Consider what was thought the best technology (and still viable) from 30 years ago. Shortage of affordable housing is one of Californias most pressing issues, due to not enough homes being built over many years based on population demand. Compelling homes to become even less affordable is no way to end the housing crisis. Requiring nearly $10,000 in current technology be installed on every new home disproportionately increases the burden of affordability on homes and apartment complexes. The added cost of homes selling in the millions may not be significant for the wealthiest of buyers, but proportional costs on lower-priced housing has significant weight. In economic terms this regressive distribution is a heavier burden on lower household incomes. Even if energy-efficiency saves money over time, upfront costs make purchasing a new home more daunting, particularly for first-time buyers. Californians currently moving out of the state tend to earn less than $30,000 per year and usually cite unaffordable housing as the primary reason for leaving. Claims that rooftop solar energy will cost an average of only $9,500 per residential unit, of course, are likely to be much too low. Imposing significantly greater demand escalates pressure for prices to rise. Tax incentive breaks currently on home solar are already targeted to be reduced causing net costs of installation to be higher. One of the main reasons cost savings for residential solar appear to be much better is costs are compared against full retail electricity rates. The problem is retail rates contain large amounts of fixed and sunk infrastructure costs. Those costs will not go away as more homes acquire rooftop solar energy. Infrastructure costs will therefore be increasingly shifted onto non-solar homes. Public policy evaluation needs to consider full societal costs from the actions, net overall effects, and not just consider shifting costs as unencumbered money. There are many green energy policies. Mandating one option is not a solution for all cases and may result in many circumstances being worse as other cheaper, low-carbon alternatives with better potential outcomes are neglected. Not only is rooftop solar not necessarily the best technology to generate low-carbon energy, it also imposes a 30-year commitment. Cunningham is an economist with San Diego Institute for Economic Research. If you could save money and make your home healthier, would you? The California Energy Commission did just that when approving new, energy efficiency building standards, which among other measures, require solar systems in new homes starting Jan. 1, 2020. All standards adopted by the Energy Commission must be cost-effective, meaning they must save consumers more than they cost. These standards achieve that unequivocally. Related: Why solar mandate will add to Californias high cost of housing They actually improve the homebuyers financial position. From day one, the savings from lower electricity bills more than offset any additional payment associated with financing through a mortgage. Costs will be even lower by 2020, especially in large developments where solar equipment will be procured and installed in bulk. The standards also allow larger, community-scale solar instead of individual rooftop systems another potential cost-reducer. And exemptions to the solar requirement apply for shaded sites and infeasible roof configurations, and where local power is uncommonly inexpensive. Advertisement The new rules will promote healthy homes. For more than four decades, the Energy Commission has promoted cost-effective energy efficiency standards, renewable energy and cleaner air. The best, and cheapest, moment to incorporate efficiency and generation measures is when a home is being built. Twenty percent of new homes in California already include solar. Seven cities require solar electric or hot water heating in new construction, with an eighth, similar local ordinance pending approval. The construction market is ready for solar as a standard feature. Still, lets keep the requirement in perspective. These standards will not be the primary driver for solar, adding less than 20 percent to the states rooftop solar market. Most new small-scale solar will continue to be added to existing buildings. And these standards include more than solar. Homes built under these standards will have improved indoor air quality due to ventilation improvements. Plus, the standards will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an amount equivalent to removing 115,000 cars from our roads. The Energy Commission relied on extensive public interaction throughout the development of the standards in a multi-year, transparent and inclusive process. Not only does the law require the Energy Commission to develop a formal record to support its actions, the Energy Commission actively embraces this open approach, because it improves outcomes. Staff members participated in more than 1,800 organized meetings related to the standards. The Energy Commission held 35 public workshops. More than 3,000 comments were submitted in person and in writing. We listened. The diverse support from the California Building Industries Association to the states two largest energy utilities to the Sierra Club and other environmental groups is a testament to the quality and feasibility of the standards. Additionally, building standards are continuously reviewed and updated every three years. The 2022 building standards will provide another opportunity for vigorous, public discussion. Some have asserted that the standards will exacerbate a glut of midday solar generation. This belief reflects an incomplete understanding of the standards and the broader direction in which the electric sector is headed. First, the required solar systems are individually small (roughly half of the typical system installed on an existing home), will push little energy onto the grid and will have negligible impact on distribution systems. Second, and more important, the standards encourage grid-friendly technologies such as battery storage, thermal storage and demand response to be installed alongside solar. The standards also make it easier to build an all-electric home a clean, low-carbon trend that is expected to grow. Over time, these approaches will help California integrate into the electric system renewable sources of all types and in varying amounts. They will enable the best use of todays transmission and distribution systems at a time when increasing adoption of electric vehicles will be adding significant new demand to the system. Clean, distributed resources are an increasingly central feature of Californias energy systems. The new building energy standards were not developed in a vacuum, but rather in a fast-moving, real-world context. Seen in their entirety, they ensure that Californias new homes will not only be healthy, comfortable and sustainable, but also will form an important part of the solution to maintaining and enhancing grid reliability. McAllister is the California Energy Commissions lead commissioner for energy efficiency. Silicon Valley venture capitalist Tim Drapers successful signature-gathering for a measure that would carve California into three states has earned it a spot on the November ballot. This has prompted a wave of stories that either question or openly mock Drapers proposal because of the huge obstacles to it ever taking effect only starting with potent court challenges and the likelihood of intense congressional opposition from Republicans. But if state Sen. Joel Anderson, R-Alpine, is right, and voters treat the Cal 3 proposal as a barometer of the potential unhappiness of the state, it could pass comfortably. Between the housing crisis and concerns about schools, taxes and traffic, there are a lot of unhappy state voters who may be looking for a way to vent. Yet that still doesnt make Drapers proposal constructive. If the tycoon wanted to use direct democracy to help California, he could have pitched an initiative that capped pensions for newly hired public employees at double the maximum Social Security benefit available in the year of their retirement. Or a measure that prevented new teachers from getting lifetime job protections until after three years on the job instead of the present 16 months. Or one that overhauled a topsy-turvy state tax system that is grossly over-reliant on income taxes and which is out of sync with the modern economy. The enactment of any or all of these reforms would be dramatic good news, The passage of Cal 3 would be more akin to a futile gesture. Perhaps after Draper figures this out, the San Francisco native can plot another ballot campaign that actually helps his home state. Advertisement Twitter: @sdutIdeas Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion Our state has a chance to halt its long demise Re Cox finds favor in land of forgotten (June 10): If it were not for family considerations, I would have joined the exodus out of the Golden State long ago. The reasons need no repetition. If you believe in the status quo, vote for Gavin Newsom. If you think it is time for a change, vote for John Cox. This election is Californias last chance to turn it around and return to its days of glory. Recently, a friend confided he was moving to Idaho. I was envious. Advertisement Paul B. Evans Valley Center Our state can do better than Gavin Newsom Growing up in the Bay Area, I am appalled at the havoc the policies of Gavin Newsom and his ilk have wreaked in San Francisco. Needles and homeless cover the streets from the financial district to the Golden Gate. Its time to elect a governor from Southern California and let San Francisco keep Newsom. Craig A. Nelson Solana Beach Letters and commentary policy The U-T welcomes and encourages community dialogue on important public matters. Please visit this page for more details on our letters and commentaries policy. You can email letters@sduniontribune.com or leave a comment below. Follow @UTLetters on Twitter and UTOpinion on Facebook. Re Carlsbad sticks to anti-sanctuary resolution (June 13): The unnecessary vote by a majority of the Carlsbad City Council to join a suit against the state on the sanctuary cities law seriously disappointed me and many other citizens. It was disrespectful of most speakers at the meeting, and offered a poor image of our good city. I think we are better than that. Do we join Attorney General Jeff Sessions in separating children from parents, prosecuting asylum seekers before a hearing, and arguing that the Bible supports these inhumane actions? Cory Schumacher is the only council member with courage and compassion.This regressive vote was baldly political. It was not about reasonable immigration policies, nor about law enforcement. Advertisement Jack Nelson Carlsbad The Carlsbad City Council has the law on its side in supporting the federal governments suit against Californias sanctuary law. Our Constitution requires the federal government to exercise primary responsibility for the safety of our nation, particularly the president as Commander-in-Chief (Article II). This includes controlling entry to our country something that all nations do. Moreover, Article VI declares that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land and that all government officials whether executive, legislative, or judicial; whether federal, state, or by delegation, local shall be bound by oath or affirmation to support this Constitution. Therefore, all government officials who support Californias sanctuary law in defiance of federal immigration regulation from governor to legislator to judge to mayor to council member violate their oaths to uphold the Constitution and forfeit their authority to hold office. Well done, Carlsbad City Council. Howard Killion Oceanside Letters and commentary policy The U-T welcomes and encourages community dialogue on important public matters. Please visit this page for more details on our letters and commentaries policy. You can email letters@sduniontribune.com or leave a comment below. Follow @UTLetters on Twitter and UTOpinion on Facebook. We picked first-time entrant Mike Ramsbackers caption this week for the top spot. Congrats, Mike! He will receive Steve Breens signed original in the mail. Next weeks cartoon is below. Please remember to limit your submissions to three and keep em brief. Good luck! Winner Trust me, when the bullet train stops here, people will be in awe of these wonderful sunsets. Mike Ramsbacker, Menifee Finalists Hello, Bob? Just a heads-up, buddy if the new manager tells you he welcomes creative criticism ... Keith Warren, Spring Valley Advertisement Sorry, boss ... my leads all dried up. Susan Wiczynski, La Jolla Im sorry, governor ... theres no one left to tax. Craig Nelson, Solana Beach San Diego Affordable Housing Committee. Ruben Escobosa, San Diego Honey, you know that transfer to Arizona I was pestering the boss about? Gary Berman, Scripps Ranch Office for rent: spacious, private, views for miles, huge savings on heating bills. Linda Hughes, Lakeside I said I wanted dessert. Pep Lamadrid, Temecula You wont have any trouble finding my office ... youll be able to see it for miles. Alicia Gonzalez Vicars, San Diego I saved a fortune on interior decorating. Debra Schmidt, San Diego Yes, I believe in global warming ... this used to be La Jolla. David Narevsky, Poway Can you hear me now? Cecilia Scala, San Diego It wasnt a demotion, it was a lateral transfer. Peter Hall, Coronado When did you say that pardon would come through, Mr. President? Rhoda Rose, San Diego This is not what I had in mind when I asked for a larger office. Donna Regalado, San Diego Tumbleweed is legal here. David McFeaters, Carlsbad Mr. Breen, you forgot the vultures. Phil Lindsley, Bonita K-12 Well, the rent is cheap. Rachel McFeaters, sixth grade, Calavera Hills Middle School Next weeks cartoon (Steve Breen ) To enter, email entries to cartooncontest@sduniontribune.com by 10 a.m. Tuesday. Please remember to limit your submissions to three and keep em brief. View last weeks winners. Seven Oaks letter erroneous After reading Maria Woodruffs letter in your May 23 issue, I believe it needs clarification. Seven Oaks comprises six separate and individually managed homeowners associations Ms. Woodruff does not live in the association she discussed, nor did she clarify the one in which she does live. The HOA governing the community center and the separate houses discussed in her letter is managed by a capable board of directors. The administration of our Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs) is fair and competent. In fact, our board recently voted to form a new committee to review and modify our CC&Rs to assure their appropriateness. Our recent election complied with all state requirements for HOAs. The candidates were give equal treatment and there was no chicanery in the election. The claim that $4,000 was spent for legal services in 2016 is incorrect. The correct figure is approximately $44,000, significantly more than stated by Ms. Woodruff. The inaccuracies in her letter are partially due to the fact that she does not live in our HOA and was apparently given incorrect information by others. All HOAs are, at best, a compromise. I can assure you that we have our problems, but our current board has always attempted to remedy them in a fair and equitable manner. Walter J. de Lorrell, Jr. Rancho Bernardo Neighbors fight crime On Memorial Day we were driving home from a nice weekend getaway when we received a call around 3 p.m. from our burglar alarm company that a motion detector was activated. We told the alarm company to call the Sheriffs Department to investigate. Within a few minutes we received call from a neighbor telling us our sliding glass door had been broken into. That same neighbor called again to let us know another neighbor had heard our alarm system, seen the suspect running away, and also called the sheriff. We arrived home about an hour later to find deputies, neighbors and a family member all in front our home waiting for us. We learned that between the quick actions of these and other neighbors, along with the professional 911 dispatchers, helicopter pilots, and brave sheriffs deputies on the ground, the suspect was already under arrest. We also found that we very fortunate to not have anything stolen. We are very grateful for everyones support and efforts to help us and apprehend the suspect. It makes us love the community of Poway even more. Actions like these contribute to Poway having the lowest crime rate of any city in San Diego County. Next time you see a deputy, please thank them for their service to our community, we will. Mark and Jean Fisher Poway Time to replace Lyles Dick Lyles May 16 column (Can we disagree without hating?) is truly a poorly written waste of space in your paper. While he attempts to sum up this column with the bold statement Not since the Civil War has hate among Americans directed toward other Americans been so rampant, so intensely felt and so threatening to our democracy, the column otherwise largely reads as a word salad, a string of random statements completely devoid of fact, examples, or any form of rational explanation that supports this statement in any way. Lyles fails to either explain his thesis (what does he mean by hate?) or to provide even a single piece of any sort of tangible documentation or evidence that hate is has become more common (particularly as practiced by the left whom he vaguely seems to believe is the source of all ills). It is impossible to attempt to refute his argument, because none actually exists in this piece. In reality, it is this sort of incoherent, fact-less ranting making nebulous accusations about political rivals occurring in the public sphere which is so threatening to our democracy. While this piece is probably simply the result of incompetent writing, it comes off as simply an attempt to stir emotions and sow division with no further objective. Please, give columns authored by Mr. Lyles a rest, and solicit some competently written material from elsewhere. Perhaps work with some local teachers to reprint some of their students outstanding essays? It would be refreshing to hear from someone capable of articulating an original point of view. Scott McNinch Rancho Bernardo Email: editor@pomeradonews.com 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. Weekly Newsletter The best of The Saturday Evening Post in your inbox! Join Think about the last political discussion you took part in, and answer one question: Would the founding fathers be proud? If it was a rage-fueled spat over 52 Facebook comments, you probably know the answer. The political divide appears to run deeper than ever, but perhaps more troubling is the decreasing association between people on either end of the spectrum. Were becoming a nation of people who go to work and go shopping, says Michael Barsanti, the director of The Library Company of Philadelphia, Instances where different races and classes would come into contact with one another are disappearing. How do we create a new civic commons? Subscribe and get unlimited access to our online magazine archive. Subscribe Today To gain a renewed perspective on civic engagement, some are looking back to a model almost 300 years old started by Benjamin Franklin himself. The Leather Apron Club also called the Junto Club was a group of 12 tradesmen that met weekly in Philadelphia starting in 1727. Franklins group discussed philosophy, self-improvement, business, and community involvement. This January, Barsanti met with a group of 12 Philadelphians for the first meeting of their Ben Franklin Circle. The program originated from New Yorks 92nd Street Y, and it has spread to cities and towns across the country. In a Ben Franklin Circle, a potentially diverse, yet small, group convenes each month to discuss one of the 13 virtues for self-improvement Franklin outlined in his autobiography temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, and so on for 13 months. The Ben Franklin Circles arent really about Franklin, Barsanti says, Its about taking these virtues he mapped out in his autobiography and trying to see how they resonate with us today. Is it difficult, though, to relate to the morality of the colonial period in current times? Barsanti says it can be. Franklin is a problematic figure in todays world he owned slaves and made disparaging remarks about Native Americans but the program doesnt aim to venerate Franklin or his ideas. Barsanti believes the founding father, and his inconsistency with the 13 virtues, can be a foil that people feel comfortable pushing back against in a discussion. In the case of the virtue of silence, Barsanti says his circle took issue with the idea of holding ones tongue, particularly in the face of injustice. The recent #MeToo movement has highlighted the systemic abuse that can occur when silence is observed. If you feel youre not heard or recognized widely in society, what use is silence to you? Barsanti says. Despite Franklins flaws, the simple premise of his Junto bringing people together in a physical space is the most valuable aspect of the modern Ben Franklin Circle. When members are asked about the discussion topic that surfaces most often in their circle, the answer isnt Trump; its technology. Jacob Greenstein facilitates a circle in Sacramento, and his members make pledges at each meeting to practice the virtue in question in their own lives. He says the discussion of temperance prompted several people to commit to breaks from social media or cell phone use in general. I use my smartphone for work, but I find that creeps into recreational use as well, Greenstein says. Although Franklin prescribed temperance as Eat not to dullness, drink not to elevation, Greensteins group found that more mindful use of technology was a goal more applicable to their own lives. I think its part of the intention of the Franklin Circle to push against the forces in contemporary society that isolate people into demographic cohorts, says Barsanti. Segregation of races, classes, and ideologies might seem like an enormous issue for a discussion group to tackle, but Barsanti believes it can be a good start. After all, Franklins original Junto was responsible for the creation of the first lending library in the colonies. The members pooled their collections together and created the Library Company, a model for public institutions in the U.S. As the current director of the Library Company, Barsanti sought to revitalize that story and make the organization into the learning community that it had been: Our work with scholars and academics doesnt exactly reach out to the broader public. Building a diverse group can be a slow process, though. Barsanti says the demographics of their Ben Franklin Circle, admittedly, do not reflect the demographics of Philadelphia: Unless youre really making an attempt to diversify the group, you can tend to recreate the problem. The same is true of Seattles circle. Seattle member Thomas Moore says their Ben Franklin Circle started meeting in spring of 2016 with 11 or 12 typical Seattle progressives. On a Thursday evening each month, the group would meet to share and vent about the national outlook. We were really struggling with what was happening politically, Moore says, A lot of the discussions were about how to maintain a level of calm and perspective, and generosity to the people in America that we didnt agree with. Moore recalls a collective dumbfoundedness and despair in the group following the election: It helped to have a virtue to focus in on, and it helped take the edge off to put the situation into a new context with the language of Franklin. During each meeting, the group discussed ways its members could become involved in one anothers pursuits, from art events to public demonstrations. Moore says the circle functioned to foster connections between people, personally and professionally. Staying connected to our neighbors, coming back to the things we did have control over, he says, There was so much wrong, in our minds, with the national issues we didnt have control over. The prospect of mutual-improvement is at the heart of every Ben Franklin Circle: improving oneself to help improve the world. Greenstein, of Sacramento, became involved because he wanted to challenge his values and ideas and become more aware of his own beliefs and biases. For others, networking and grassroots community-building is a priority. While it may not be likely that group discussions of chastity and tranquility alone can reshape our national dynamic, Ben Franklin Circle attendees report the refreshing effects of meaningful face-to-face communication can combat technological isolation, and turning inward can cultivate a better understanding of others. If youre interested in joining a Ben Franklin Circle, there might be an existing group near you. If not, you can create one. While the central organization tracks the active groups around the country, you dont need any special training to facilitate your own. With a diverse handful of eager people and pleasant meeting spot, you can take part in bringing back the Junto. Vilnius, Lithuania -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/15/2018 -- Many people choose affordable health checkups abroad nowadays to help foresee and fight against heath issues before they even arise. Diagnosing them early increases the chances of being treated and cured. Health checkups abroad cost significantly less especially for people living in the UK and the Scandinavian countries. Having regular health check-ups is important for a lot of people, and thanks to low health checkup cost abroad, they can do this without spending a lot of money. Most health check-ups cover blood and urine tests, abdominal ultrasound, brain MRI, and cardio tests and all necessary doctor consultations to confirm that a person is healthy or diagnose a health condition if the patient has complaints. "My mom advised me to have a health checkup at 40. Just like she did, I got a health checkup package at Kardiolita Hospital in Lithuania which allowed for me to save, not to mention me and my mom got to travel abroad together." - says Natalie Scott from Bristol, UK. Natalie's package included a full blood and urine test, electro cardiogram, brain and abdomen MRI, cardio test, and abdominal ultrasound. She also had a smear test and gynecologist's consultation included in her package. "Our health checkups are preventative and include the most important tests as well as doctor consultations." - says Kardiolita Hospital CEO Andrius Kostogriz. Getting all the tests done at Kardiolita Hospital takes just one day. The doctor then reviews the test results and discusses them with the patient. Further treatment is also recommended if needed. Most international patients arrive on a Thursday evening, get the tests done on Friday, and fly back home on Saturday, or stay in Vilnius for the weekend. At Kardiolita Hospital, health checkups are being performed daily. Patients choosing Kardiolita Hospital for their health checkups save up to 83% while getting world-class medical services and spending just a day or two away from work, which is a huge deciding factor for patients from abroad. Visit http://www.kardiolita.com/our-services/service-centres/93/general-health-checkup-package/service-1636 for more information. To schedule an appointment or with any questions, send a message to: http://www.kardiolita.com/contact-us/130. Alternatively, please call +370 694 70170 to get all your questions answered. About Kardiolita Hospital Kardiolita Hospital is the leading private general hospital in Lithuania, accredited by the JCI and working by the highest industry standards. Established in 1998 Kardiolita Hospital provides full range of medical services from comprehensive diagnostics to various surgical treatments within many medical areas. Kardiolita Hospital employs 200+ highly qualified Lithuanian doctors with extensive international experience and treatment performance of more than 45+ medical areas. The hospital has long-term experience in treating international patients. Contact Information: Kardiolita Hospital Phone: +370 694 70170 Laisves Av. 64a, Vilnius, Lithuania http://www.kardiolita.com Pune, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/15/2018 -- Homeopathy is a field of alternative medicine, introduced by Samuel Hahnemann in 1976. Today, homeopathy is one of the most popular form of alternative medicine. The treatment by homeopathy has been found highly effective for chronic diseases and its benefits in skin and hair problems have been widely researched and validated. Growing need for alternate treatment methodologies for chronic diseases, easy to use & user friendly for all age group of patients especially for increasing pediatric & geriatric population and economical treatment as compare to other treatment protocols are the major drivers for the Homeopathy Market growth. According to World Health Organization, homeopathic medicine is the most popular traditional, complementary and alternative Medicine (TCAM) in countries with a GDP > $15,000, and the second most (after Herbal) in countries with GDP < $15,000. However, negative opening & publicity against homeopathy medicine and false advertising and misleading claims made by homeopaths will restrain them market growth during the forecast period. In 2010, the UK Government Science & Technology Committee analysed the research into homeopathy & concluded that homeopathic products perform no better than placebos. Moreover, in 2006, a newsnight investigation revealed that homeopaths told undercover reporters that homeopathic preparations could be used to prevent malaria, this advice was roundly condemned as dangerous & potentially life threatening. The global homeopathy market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 14.60% during the forecast period 2017-2023. Global Homeopathy Market - Dominant Players Some of the key players in this market are Boiron Group Weleda Heel Hyland Nelson & Co Ltd Homeocan inc GMP Laboratories Global Homeopathy Market - Competitive Analysis The global homeopathy market seems to be very lucrative, attractive & profitable market, both for existing as well as new entrants, at the same time intense rivalry among existing competitors have been observed. Our analysis revealed that the market players have adopted different strategy to increase their business and position in global homeopathy market. In recent years strategic movement by major players such as: focus more on over the counter business, e-pharmacy promotion, apart from that major players and parent company are involved in spreading business by making subsidiaries, which have been used as market penetration strategy and reduce competition. The major players in global homeopathy market such as Boiron Group, Weleda, Biologische Heilmittel Heel GmbH, Standard Homeopathic Company Hyland's Inc., A Nelson & Co Ltd, GMP Laboratories of America Inc. and others. Boiron Group, Weleda & Biologische Heilmittel Heel GmbH, are the top three players in Global Homeopathy Market, contributing all most 11% of total global market. In 2016, Boiron launched, Arnigel in 120 gram format in France and Spain, Sedatif PC in 90 tablet format in Italy and Portugal, Magnesium 300+ in Portugal and Slovakia, Homeoptic and Stodaline in Belgium, Oscillococcinum in 30 dose format in South Africa, Camilia in 30 single dose format in Tunisia. Get Sample Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4970 . In 2016, global sales of the natural and organic cosmetics business segment of Weleda grew by a total of 2.1% compared with 2015. The growth regions of Western Europe, South America, Asia and Pacific as well as Central and Eastern Europe including Russia were primarily responsible for the increase. In Aug-2017, following the successful launches of RESCUE PLUS Lozenge and RESCUE PLUS Effervescent, the RESCUE brands' most popular formats, Dropper and Spray, have joined the sub-brand - adding vitamins B5 and B12 to the unique five flower essence formula as well as strong on-pack consumer claims. Global Homeopathy Market - Key Findings The Global Homeopathy Market is expected to reach USD 31459.6 million by 2023 at a CAGR of 14.60% Tincture is the fastest growing segment, which is projected grow at a CAGR of 14.82% during the forecast period from 2017-2023 The Europe captured the largest share of the global market and is expected to reach USD 11347.7 million by 2023. The Middle East & Africa is the fastest growing region across the globe and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.09% during the forecast period. Global Homeopathy Market - Regional Analysis The Europe dominate the global homeopathy market owing to the presence of huge patient population suffering from cancer, changing lifestyle and increasing government support for research & development. Americas accounts for the second largest market for the homeopathy which is followed by Asia Pacific. Government support for the research and presence of huge patient pool has driven the market in Europe region. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market owing to the huge population base, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, rapidly developing economies and presence of huge opportunity for the growth of the market. The Middle East & Africa is expected to have limited market but sound growth. Middle East is dominating this market by holding major share of the Middle East & Africa market owing to a well-developed technology and healthcare sector. Global Homeopathy Market - Segmentation The global homeopathy market is segmented on the basis of types, application, source, and end user. On the basis the types, it is segmented into dilutions, tincture, biochemics, ointments, tablets, and others. On the basis of the application, it is segmented into analgesic and antipyretic, respiratory, neurology, immunology, gastroenterology, dermatology, and others. On the basis of the source, it is segmented into plants, animals, and minerals. On the basis of end user homeopathic clinic, hospitals, retailer, e- retailer, research laboratories, and others. To Know More Enquire @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/4970 . Major Table of Content Chapter 1. Report Prologue Chapter 2. Market Introduction 2.1 Definition 2.2 Scope of the Study 2.2.1 Research Objective 2.2.2 Assumptions 2.2.3 Limitations Chapter 3. Research Methodology 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Primary Research 3.3 Secondary Research 3.4 Market Size Estimation Chapter 4. Market Dynamics Continued. About Market Research Future At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members. Pune, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/15/2018 -- Post-Operative Pain Management Market Highlight Global Post-operative pain management market was expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.4% during forecasted period 2017-2023. Post-operative pain management is a branch of the that deals with the minimizing the pain occur due to tissue injury together with muscle spasm to the patients after surgery. It is the branch of pain management. Global post- operative pain management market is growing steadily due to increasing demand for the pain control drugs and devices. Increasing number of surgeries across the globe and increasing prevalence of different diseases across the globe is the major factor for the growth of the market. Increasing age rises the possibility of the different complication, this increasing aging population is also has a synergistic impact of the growth of the market. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention during last decade due to overdose of the analgesic drugs number of deaths has increased. Analgesic drugs are habit forming drugs and thus side effects of the treatment and habit forming nature of the drugs can hamper the growth of the market. Get Premium Sample Copy of Post-Operative Pain Management Market Report spread across 80 Premium Pages, 10+ Companies and Supported with Various Tables and Figures is Now Available @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1246 . According to cancer research UK, in 2012, globally over 14.1 million of new cancer cases were registered. The treatment for the all types of cancer are nearly similar, thus increasing prevalence of cancer has boosted the development of the new treatments. According to Migraine Research Foundation, (2014), migraine was the 3rd most prevalent illness in the world. Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. households includes someone with migraine. Moreover, 12% of the population including children have migraine problem. 18% of American women, 6% of men, and 10% of children experience migraines. Mostly migraine occurs at the age of 25-55. Top Vendors: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Israel), Eli Lilly Company (U.S), Pfizer (U.S), Johnson & Johnson (U.S), Purdue Pharma (U.S), Endo Pharmaceuticals Plc. (U.S), Forest Laboratories Inc. (U.S), GlaxoSmithKline Plc. (UK), F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (Switzerland), Baxter International Inc. (US), etc. Global Post-operative Pain Management Market - Competitive Overview Many of the top companies are launching new and novel drug treatment to increase their market. Because of side effect and habit forming property of the therapy major players are concentrating on development of better analgesic. Companies are using a trend of strategic alliance and acquisition to gain the market and minimize the competition in the market. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. is the Israeli multinational pharmaceutical company working in the development and manufacturing of the drugs. Celecoxib intravenous is the major products of the company. Company has signed a collaborative agreement with Regeneron for the development of fasinumab which is a pain management drug. In first quarter of 2017 company has accounted a revenue of $ 5.6 billion. In 2014, company has acquired Labrys Biologics. This acquisition will help to achieve its goal of becoming a global leader in pain drugs by 2020. Novartis, one of the leading pharmaceutical companies headquartered in Switzerland. In Nov 2016, company has plan a phase II trial for the NCT02961062 in the treatment of postoperative pain. They have almost completed the trials for the SAF312 in postoperative dental pain patients and company is expecting to launch the product soon. In May 2017, Novartis has sign a deal of $ 293 million with Durect for pain killer Posimir. Segmentation: Global post-operative pain management market is segmented on the basis of pain type into acute pain, moderate pain and severe pain. On the basis of product they are segmented into non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antiepileptic drugs, COX-2 inhibitors, opioids and other analgesics. On the basis of application they are segmented into cancer pain, arthritic pain, neuropathic pain, musculoskeletal pain, and migraine and other and on the basis of target area they are back, legs, hand and arms and other. Get Prime Discount @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/1246 . Global Post-operative Pain Management Market - Regional Analysis Geographically, America accounts the largest share for global post-operative pain management market owing to increasing number of surgeries and rising burden of chronic diseases has led to the growth of this market in America. Europe is the second largest post-operative pain management market owing to a well-developed healthcare infrastructure, government support for research & development, and huge patient population. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region for the market due to increasing prevalence of many diseases, increasing aging population and development in healthcare infrastructure in this region has provided fuel for the growth of the market. The Middle East dominates the Middle East & Africa market due to the presence of well developed countries like Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and South Arabia. Whereas, Africa region is expecting a healthy growth due to presence of huge opportunity for the development of the market. TOC of Post-operative Pain Management Market Research Report - Global forecast to 2023: 1 Introduction 1.1 Definition 1.2 Scope of Study 1.2.1 Research Objective 1.2.2 Assumptions & Limitations 1.2.2.1 Assumptions 1.2.2.2 Limitations 1.3 Market Structure: 2 Research Methodology 2.1 Research Process: 2.2 Primary Research 2.3 Secondary Research: 3 Market Dynamics 3.1 Drivers 3.2 Restraints 3.3 Opportunities 3.4 Macroeconomic Indicators 4 Market Factor Analysis 4.1 Porters Five Forces Model 4.2 Bargaining Power Of Suppliers 4.3 Bargaining Power Of Buyers 4.4 Threat Of New Entrants 4.5 Threat Of Substitutes 4.6 Intensity Of Rivalry 5. Global Post-Operative Pain Management Market, By Pain Type CONTINUED TOC. Ask any Queries to Experts about Niche Segments, Requires Regional Data and Top Players @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/1246 . About Market Research Future At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. Contact Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune 411028 Maharashtra, India +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com In a paper published this week in the journal Scientific Reports, paleontologists have described an extinct genus and species of frog, Electrorana limoae, preserved in mid-Cretaceous (99 million years old) amber from Myanmar. Four amber-preserved specimens of Electrorana were acquired in the area of Angbamo in Kachin Province of northern Myanmar in 2015. They provide the earliest direct evidence of frogs living in a wet tropical forest ecosystem and are oldest-known examples of frogs preserved in amber, with the only two previous reports from Cenozoic amber deposits of the Dominican Republic. Its almost unheard of to get a fossil frog from this time period that is small, has preservation of small bones and is mostly 3D. This is pretty special, said co-author Dr. David Blackburn, associate curator of herpetology at the Florida Museum of Natural History. But whats most exciting about this animal is its context. These frogs were part of a tropical ecosystem that, in some ways, might not have been that different to what we find today minus the dinosaurs. Electrorana limoae is a very small frog, about 0.8 inches (2.2 cm) in snout-vent length. Clearly visible in the amber are the frogs skull, its forelimbs, part of its backbone, a partial hind limb and the unidentified beetle. Electrorana raises more questions than it answers, Dr. Blackburn said. Many characteristics herpetologists use to discern details of a frogs life history and determine how its related to other frogs are either missing or were not yet fully developed in the juvenile frog. The existing bones provide clues about Electroranas possible living relatives, but the results are puzzling: species that have similar features include fire-bellied toads and midwife toads Eurasian species that live in temperate, not tropical, ecosystems. The discovery of Electrorana helps add to our understanding of frogs in the Cretaceous period, showing they have inhabited wet, tropical forests for at least 99 million years, the researchers said. _____ Lida Xing et al. 2018. The earliest direct evidence of frogs in wet tropical forests from Cretaceous Burmese amber. Scientific Reports 8, article number: 8770; doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-26848-w HCMs investment focus will be maritime real assets, specifically merchant vessels. Management comprises experts from various industries and backgrounds, who combine a wealth of experience in both the shipping and investment sectors. The leading German shipping companys capital investment arms specialists cover all aspects ranging from deal sourcing to acquisition, ship management and operations to vessel disposal, thus ensuring that all phases relating to the execution of the investment strategy are covered professionally. HCM will concentrate on a commercially balanced employment strategy, which will include both shorter and period charters, depending on the vessel segments. The first fund to be launched, Hanseatic Fund VCIC Plc, aims to initially raise $120m. Applying a strong focus on investor protection at all times, its investment goal is on handysize and supramax bulk carriers and feeder-sized container vessels aged between four and 15 years. However, other types of tonnage or different sizes will be considered as well. Hanseatic Fund VCIC Plc aims for a conservative use of leverage. Given the high operating leverage of shipping, the Funds managers aspire to low breakeven points for vessels. It is their intention to distribute dividends to investors on a regular basis. Hanseatic Fund VCIC Plc will be regulated as an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) in line with the relevant EU directives. The Fund will be managed by HCM, an authorised AIF manager also regulated by CySEC. EFG Bank (Luxembourg), the international fund and corporate services provider Alter Domus act as the Funds independent depositary and administrator respectively. The units of the Hanseatic Fund VCIC Plc also qualify as an eligible investment for the Scheme for Naturalization of Investors in Cyprus by exception, issued by the Republic of Cyprus. It therefore offers an investment opportunity in an asset class with great scope for diversification, which previously was not available under this scheme. MediaPunch/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images At a gala event Thursday night in New York City, Jermaine Dupri, 45, became the youngest member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and he says he's humbled by the honor. That feels amazing, he tells Billboard. It really echoes my career and how I started my career. I was the youngest producer to have a #1 record when Kris Kross first came out, and that was a record I held for I dont know how long." The So So Def CEO is also the second hip-hop artist to be inducted after JAY-Z, who became a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame last year. Kool & the Gang was also inducted into the Hall of Fame last night, and Dupri says he has an unusual connection to the Grammy Award-winning group from Jersey City, New Jersey. As he tells Billboard, when Dupri was 16, he wanted to attend the Jack the Rapper urban music industry convention in Atlanta, his hometown. Dupri wasn't registered for the event, but was able to attend after meeting a member of the Kool & the Gang family. I told him my story, that I was a producer, and we started talking and kicking it and he asked, You got a badge? He had a badge on, and I said, Can you take me in and let me hang out with you? He was like, Yeah, come on." Long story short, Dupri continues, It was Kools son, Hakeem Bell, who took me into Jack the Rapper. He and I became friends that day and weve been friends ever since. In addition to his Songwriters Hall of Fame honor, Dupri's also celebrating the 25th anniversary of his So So Def Recordings, and he will perform on the label anniversary tour that kicks off in October. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved Tourism industry bodies have responded to the government's proposed levy on international visitors positively - provided they benefit from the money raised. This morning, immigration minister Iain Lees-Galloway opened public consultation on the government's proposed tourist levy between $25 and $35 for some visitors, alongside plans to increase fees charged for immigration applications and the introduction of an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), a security check to speed up border processing for visitors who don't need visas to come to New Zealand, such as the United Kingdom and United States. The tourist levy would exclude visitors from Australia, which is New Zealand's biggest tourist market, and people from Pacific Islands Forum countries; children under 2 years old; and visitors travelling for business. Consultation is open until July 15, with final decisions are expected in September. The proposed tourist levy and immigration fee increases would come into effect in November while an ETA would be implemented from mid-2019. The tourism industry was leery about the proposed levy before it was announced, with particular concerns about the prospect of airlines having to collect the fee from passengers. However, in statements today they were tentatively supportive. Tourism Industry Aotearoa chief executive Chris Roberts said the industry wants to be part of the discussion on how the funds raised from the tourist levy, which the government has estimated at between $57 million and $80 million in the first year, are allocated. The government has suggested it be spent on tourism infrastructure and conservation, including visitor facilities on conservation land, conservation activity, and other tourism-related infrastructure. "Our international visitors will be more accepting of being charged to come to New Zealand if they can clearly see it is going to support infrastructure and services that enhance their visit," Roberts said. "Our key priority with this new charge is ensuring the revenue is directed to where it can do the most good, relieving pressure on infrastructure and ensuring we continue to deliver outstanding visitor experiences." The Tourism Export Council of New Zealand said most of its members support the levy "but only if it was invested back into the industry" and went toward improving tourism attractions and looking after New Zealand's conservation estate. "Investment in our conservation estate and the tourism experience overall will go some way to deliver the iconic New Zealand holiday that is worth spending a little extra on," said TECNZ chief executive Judy Chen. "One seamless process of collection at point of entry is also a far better option than numerous and varying targeted rates put in place across the country by local councils, as we have started to see emerge. We look forward to further conversations with the government about how to best allocate and implement the fund for best return on investment." National's tourism spokesman Todd McClay said the government "already has plenty of money available for new tourism infrastructure if it chooses to use it wisely" from the $5 billion future operating allowances increase it made in Budget 2018. "Thanks to Labours new tax, the cost for a family of four travelling here will jump by $166, taking into account the increases in both new international visitor levy and increased visa costs," McClay said. "New Zealands reputation as a fair destination are under threat from (Tourism Minister) Kelvin Davis vague and contradictory proposal to sock tourists with additional taxes. (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: FreshLeaf: Cannabis on course to be 'medicine of the masses' Arvida Group Limited (NZX: ARV) to Acquire Arena Living Retirement Living Portfolio My Food Bag Group Limited (NZX: MFB) Market Update and HY Results Announcement Date Harmoney Corp Limited (NZX: HMY) Delivers Record September Quarter Vital Healthcare Property Trust (NZX: VHP) Announces Successful Completion of $115m Placement 14th October 2021 Morning Report General Capital Limited (NZX: GEN) Completes Greenfern Listing LISTING AND QUOTATION NOTICE: NZX MAIN BOARD - GREENFERN INDUSTRIES LIMITED 13th October 2021 Morning Report Hotel Montreal: Patterson Family Buys Christchurch's Hotel Montreal The Labor Campaign for Single Payer Health Cares Director, Mark Dudzic, spoke during a free workshop about single-payer health care at Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church on June 7. Members of the Eastern Panhandle Single-Payer Action Network and Eastern Panhandle West Virginia Democratic Socialists of America attended the workshop, where they learned about the pros and cons of the current Medicare system and how to organize and mobilize fellow Americans to actively support Senator Bernie Sanders health care legislation, S.1804. Were not trying to change peoples minds, Dudzic said. Were trying to change the real world. He estimates the Democratic Socialists of America party has quadrupled in size since Sanders 2016 presidential race. Two people to recently change peoples perceptions of health care are Bernie Sanders Bernie made people believe that change was possible and Donald Trump when people began to see the consequences of the ACA repeal, their outrage became apparent, Dudzic said. I would argue theres been a real paradigm shift in the American people. Now, its hard for us to believe where we were 10 years ago. The ACA refers to the controversial Affordable Care Act, also called Obamacare, which mandates all Americans purchase health insurance, expands Medicaid and regulates the health insurance market. Dudzic said a lot of Americans sympathize with the Democratic Socialists goals, but are afraid changes to the current health care system might result in worse health care, because the single-payer health care system is unproven in the United States. In Colorado, they developed a cool calculator app that would calculate the difference between current and future health care costs, if single-payer health care was enacted, Dudzic said. They found that everyone would pay less overall with a single-payer healthcare system. The cost of health insurance is increasing more percentage-wise than Americans salaries are increasing, according to Dudzic. Health care costs a lot, even with squeezing out the waste and inefficiency in our current system, Dudzic said. Most people dont know how bad their health care insurance is until they have to use it. Dudzic said the current insurance documentation system is flawed, because documentation takes up time health care practitioners could be spending with their patients. Emunah Herzog, who works as a nurse with Hospice of the Panhandle, agrees with this sentiment. Im spending 75 percent more of my time documenting than in actual care with Medicare, which needs to be changed, said Herzog, who is from Charles Town. Shepherdstown resident Dr. Chess Yellott, who practices in Jefferson County, believes the current system needs to be changed. This horribly complicated system denies care to a lot of people, Yellott said. In most places in the world, its just not a question whether or not someone can get health care. The Happy Retreat Wine and Jazz Festival, hosted by Friends of Happy Retreat, drew hundreds of wine and jazz lovers from across the Eastern Panhandle on June 9. The second annual festival featured over 50 fine wines for tasting, free tours of Happy Retreat, four food vendors and four jazz bands, including The Max Kool Quintet, Built 4 Comfort Band, Ginada Pinata and The Jordan English Quartet. The music is terrific. For people of our age, its not too loud to talk with our friends, said Steve Schatken of Shepherdstown, who came to the event with his wife, Jill, and some of their friends. Jill said it was her and her husbands first time at the wine tasting. The Schatkens belong to a couple of wine clubs in Virginia and regularly attend wine tasting events at Big Cork Vineyards in Rohrersville, Maryland. The red wines at the first booth were delicious, and I love Alfredos restaurant, so we bought their food as well, said Jill Patricia Fiori enjoyed working as a volunteer at the festival. I love to taste the wine, and its just nice to see the house and property in use, said Fiori, whose husband, Bill Jackson, has been a board member of Happy Retreat for several years. John DeMary, of Shannondale, attended the event with his wife, Carolyn, and friend Sharon Fields, of Ranson. We were happy to see a local group doing an event like this, said DeMary. Were definitely planning on coming back next year. We started out trying an array of wines we didnt try every wine, Caroyln said as she waited for her glass to be filled with Sauvignon Blanc. We skipped over the red wines, and have found some really great white wines. Festival volunteer Sarah Brown, of Texas, said shes not much of a wine drinker. Brown, a direct descendant of John Augustine Washington, is spending a month in Jefferson County to research the enslaved families of her ancestral home, Claymont Court. I was here visiting, and was asked if I would volunteer here today, and I said Yes, indeed,' Brown said. She plans on publishing a book about her research, which she has been collecting for five years. Friends of Happy Retreat Secretary Marjorie Gaestel has been a member of the board for 10 years. Happy Retreat is such an important part of Charles Towns history, said Gaestel. She said the purpose of the festival was to raise money for the restoration of Happy Retreat, Charles Washingtons home. Its all about history, and the children of Charles Town should be aware of it, Gaestel said, before quoting the boards slogan: This is History at its best.' Edwards Management Consultants Inc. celebrated its 10th anniversary and return to Charles Town with a ribbon cutting, raffle and open house on June 7. The business, which is relocating from Ranson, was originally founded in Charles Town by Christine C. Edwards and is now located again in Charles Town at 110 South George St. Its great to bring more jobs to the community, said Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Heather McIntyre, who led the ribbon cutting ceremony. Christine (Edwards) actually hires people shes a staffing group so any time we can have people being hired into our area, thats great for the community. Edwards said her business partners with companies with job openings and matches them with qualified applicants. My hope for being back in Charles Town is to really grow and expand the business in the community, because I want to do more for the community, she said. EMC is open to applicants looking for jobs in human resources, internet technology and light physical labor, and is able to help unqualified job applicants develop necessary computer or communication skills and prepare for interviews. We can help them with resume writing; we help them prepare for an interview, like how to dress for an interview, Edwards said. When youre going in for an interview, you want to put your best foot forward and dress for success. She said even job applicants for physical labor positions should dress professionally for interviews. The majority of the businesses EMC works with are located in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia, but EMC can also help job seekers find positions across the country. We have contracts with people in Seattle, Prince William County, Florida really all across the United States, Edwards said. Were doing heavy marketing right now to attract more businesses. The only staffing agency in Jefferson County, EMC welcomes local college students majoring in business administration, marketing, HR or IT to contact EMC about internship opportunities. Edwards current staff of four employees includes former Shepherd University intern Aaliyah Newman, a business development specialist. Its important to have a career that you love to do. I like the feeling at the end of the day of being able to provide people with a good lifestyle, of knowing Im helping someone put food on their table, Newman said. Basically, what I do is market to other companies who have openings in their IT field. I reach out to them and ask them if we could help staff their IT departments. Newman, who will graduate with her bachelors degree in business administration this August, said she is excited to see the business grow in its new location. Moving to this location was something we needed to do, in order to market our business better, Newman said. I do think it will help us. To apply for a job or learn more about EMC, visit www.edwardsemc.com. Author Danielle Corsetto, of Shepherdstown, kicked off the book signing tour for the complete, hardback collection of her webcomic series, Girls with Slingshots, at Four Seasons Books on Saturday evening. The tour for Corsettos first professionally published book will extend across the East Coast and Canada this summer. Thats the cool thing about this bookstore you can hear about so many local authors and local history, said Four Seasons Books Katie Quinnelly, of Shepherdstown. Quinnelly said her favorite part about author signings is how they allow the bookstores customers to learn about books from their authors perspectives. Girls with Slingshots has a whole page about Shepherdstown in it, Quinnelly said. She said she appreciates Corsettos book because its setting is in Shepherdstown. It describes an apartment in Shepherdstown and The Wall its really cool. Corsetto said she intentionally wrote about a small town in the comic series. I find it really interesting that most books and movies take place in big cities, Corsetto said as she signed a copy of her book with a bright pink marker. Ive lived in the suburbs, and I love how much more communal it is here than in the city. I want to focus on small towns and small town life. Corsetto fell in love with Shepherdstown as a student at Shepherd University. After graduating in 2004 with her bachelors degree in photography, she decided to stay. Corsetto began writing and drawing Girls with Slingshots soon afterward, publishing the comic strips online. When her comic strips became more popular, she self-published softcover collections of the series and sold them to her fans from her home in Shepherdstown and on tour. The softcover books were a hit, allowing Corsetto to start working full-time as an author. What she writes about are very relatable topics what your career might be, finding what youre going to do, said Grace Uravic, of Hershey, Pennsylvania, who drove down specifically for the book signing. Even though her book is female-centric, its not just about female problems its about human problems. As a child, Uravic struggled with reading comprehension. She developed a love for comic books, because their pictures made reading less difficult. I can really appreciate the art aspect when it comes to comics, which is why I love Girls with Slingshots,' Uravic said. Im a big comic junkie. Four Seasons website editor William McDonald-Newman estimated 16 to 18 people attended the event throughout the evening. Its cleverly designed and relatable, said McDonald-Newman. Danielles brilliant, and it was wonderful talking with her, but it was also nice listening to the other readers. Corsetto is currently working on a commissioned web comic series, Boo, Its Sex, which will be available for viewing at www.webtoons.com. The Girls with Slingshots complete hardback collection will be available in stores June 27. For more information, check out her website, daniellecorsetto.com. The Spirit of Elmwood tour of The Presbyterian and Methodist Grave Yards drew dozens of local residents to Elmwood Cemetery on June 11. The fundraiser, which was held by the Elmwood Cemetery Associations Board of Directors and led by Board Historian Doug Perks, focused on the cemeterys charter 149 years ago and the lives of some of its residents. We want people to know about the cemetery, said Board Secretary Barbara Nickell as she collected donations for the superintendents house, the one part of Elmwood Cemetery in need of restoration. All of the donations go to the restoration of the superintendents house, which was built right after the cemetery charter was made 150 years ago next year, Nickell said. What were trying to do is stabilize it and get it restored. Vicki Smith, of Shepherdstown, said Perks made the tour special. I always want to hear Doug whenever he speaks, Smith said. Hes one of those people who knows a lot about local history. Betty Lowe, Shepherdstowns Historian Laureate, agreed, mentioning the tours discussion held significance for local attendees. These people are the roots of the history of Shepherdstown, Lowe said. A lot of their descendants are still around here. Shepherdstown has a deep history, Perks said. The purpose of these tours is to bring to light the men and women who lived here, He said the tour was the boards way of kicking off next years sesquicentennial commemoration of the cemeterys incorporation. Perks discussed 10 graves within the oldest part of the cemetery, the Presbyterian and Methodist graveyards. The five Presbyterian graves discussed were those of Sarah Morrow, Van and Sarah Mark Rutherford, Joseph McMurran, Dean Alva Dane Kenamond and Stephen F. Curran. The five Methodist graves discussed belonged to Benjamin and Mary Boydstone, Joseph Shindler Fleming, Grandison Templon Licklider, George Henry Ramsburg and Captain Richard W. Cotton. In 1869, Elmwood Cemetery was founded, Perks said. The cemeterys founders approached the Methodist and Presbyterian churches and asked if they would consider combining their graveyards, which they agreed to do. Perks said the graveyards date back to the late 1700s. Perks research for the tour began in March. While he focused on collecting the histories of the Presbyterian graveyard residents, board members Jim Cain and Tom White researched the Methodist graveyard residents. Hundreds of men, women and children are buried here, Perks said, following with a joke: People are just dying to be buried in Shepherdstown. Elmwood Cemetery has 2,000 grave lots available for purchase. To find out more or donate to Elmwood Cemetery, visit elmwoodcemeteryshepwv.org. SHEPHERDSTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY 100 E. German St. The Shepherdstown Library has an online calendar on our website, http://www.lib.shepherdstown.wv.us/>www.lib.shepherdstown.wv.us/. The Librarys popular weekly childrens programs will run through May 23; no registration is required. Lap Babies, for children birth through 18 months, is on Tuesdays from 10:15 to 11 a.m. Time for Twos, for children 19 months to 3 years, meets from 11:15 a.m. to noon, also on Tuesdays. The Three to Five Year Olds program is on Wednesdays from 11:15 a.m. to noon. Register for our Summer Reading Program starting June 11. For more information call 304-876-2783, email splchild@martin.lib.wv.us, or visit the library. MONDAY A Lego Club for ages 4 and older will meet in the Shepherdstown Librarys Childrens Department at 11 a.m. on these dates, as well as on all five Mondays in July. No registration is needed. For details, call the Shepherdstown Library at 304-876-2783 or email christy.hagerty@martin.lib.wv.us. TUESDAY All ages are invited to rock out for summer reading during Music with Tony M. at 11 a.m. in the War Memorial Building, 102 E. German St. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. Free; no registration is needed. Call the Shepherdstown Library at 304-876-2783, email christy.hagerty@martin.lib.wv.us or visit www.tonymusic.com for a preview. JUNE 22 Registration is required for Rocket Building at 11 a.m. in the Shepherdstown Librarys Childrens Department. This free, hands-on program is for ages 5 and older. For details, email christy.hagerty@martin.lib.wv.us or call thelibrary at 304-876-2783. JUNE 23 Ages 3 and older are encouraged to visit the Shepherdstown Librarys Childrens Department at 11 a.m. for a Libraries Rock storytime with songs and a craft. No registration is needed; email christy.hagerty@martin.lib.wv.us or call 304-876-2783 for details. JUNE?25 A Lego Club for ages 4 and older will meet in the Shepherdstown Librarys Childrens Department at 11 a.m. on these dates, as well as on all five Mondays in July. No registration is needed. For details, call the Shepherdstown Library at 304-876-2783 or email christy.hagerty@martin.lib.wv.us. JUNE 26 Critters and Conservation is a live animal show for ages 3 and older at 11 a.m. in the War Memorial Building, 102 E. German St. No registration is needed. Learn about a Coastal Carpet Python, a Congo African Grey Parrot, a Tiger Salamander, a Common Tenrec and a Vinegaroon! Email christy.hagerty@martin.lib.wv.us, visit www.crittersandconservation.com or call the Shepherdstown Library at 304-876-2783. JUNE 29 The FOSL Book Club will meet in the Shepherdstown Library at 5 p.m. to discuss Graham Greenes The Heart of the Matter. ONGOING Community Wellness Days Everyone deserves access to restorative and nourishing self care, regardless of income. Through the grassroots efforts of Sacred Roots and Herbalists Without Borders, this is now a reality. Your first visit is free, and follow-up visits are pay what you can. No proof of income necessary. Come if youre in need. First come, first serve. Hours are 2 to 7 p.m., May through September, on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. Text 301-452-2075 if youd like to attend. Visit us online at sacredrootswv.com. The Thursday Market at Town Run Tap House and Community Pub will run through Sept. 28 and will provide residents of Shepherdstown with fresh, naturally grown food and products from local farmers and artisans. More information can be found on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thethursdaymarket/ or via email at thethursdaymarketwv@gmail.com. Warmer weathers around the corner! Now is the perfect time to get your cat or dog spayed or neutered. Spay Today is our areas nonprofit, reduced-priced spay and neuter program. Choose from many vets throughout the area. At the time of surgery, initial shots and tests can also be obtained at lower rates. Contact Spay Today: spay-today.org or call 304-728-8330. The Shepherdstown Community Club First Weekend Handmade Market returns for its eighth season! The Handmade Market is a unique pop-up boutique-like arts and crafts market featuring local artists and makers. Join us in celebrating our local talent, meet the artists and shop for fine handcrafted art, jewelry, home decor, accessories, gifts and a whole lot more. War Memorial Building, 102 E. German St., Shepherdstown. For more info, see our Facebook page: facebook.com/SCCHandmadeMarket. Womens March Huddle for Shepherdstown will take place every 4th Tuesday of the month. Meet at Town Run. 202 E Washington St., Shepherdstown. 6:30 to 8 p.m. Intermediate Bridge players are invited to join an informal group meeting every Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Trinity Episcopal Chapel. All are welcome and walk-ins are encouraged. For more information, contact 304-876-6244. Knitting interest group meets in room 164 of the Byrd Center on Mondays, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. All are welcome. Free and open to the public. Glory Days Grill Dining for Dollars Fundraiser to Benefit Animal Welfare Society: The Animal Welfare Society of Jefferson County is proud to announce their participation in the Dining for Dollars fundraiser at Glory Days Grill in Ranson which began Jan.1 and continues through the end of the year. Keep your copy of your guest check (not credit card receipt), and either mail it to: AWS P.O. Box 147, Charles Town, WV, 25414 or place it in the collection box at Petco. The Animal Welfare Society of Jefferson County is participating in Applebees Dining to Donate program. Dine at Applebees in Charles Town the first Thursday of each month from 11 a.m. until closing and Applebees will donate 20 percent of your bill to the Anima Welfare Society. Bring in the flyer printed from the AWS website, www.awsjc.org, or mention Animal Welfare Society to your server. Enjoy an evening of delicious food and help the shelter dogs and cats that are waiting for new homes. The Trinity Thrift Shop is open on Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Stop by for some cool finds clothing for all, jewelry, books, movies, toys, kitchen and other house wares, prints, knick knacks, and holiday items! The Shop accept accepts donations of clothing, books, jewelry, and many other items. It also collects used eye glasses on behalf of the Lions Club. The Thrift Shop cannot accept furniture, other large items and electronics due to limited space. Contributions may be delivered to the screened-in back porch at any time. Tax receipts are available during business hours. Questions? Call 304-876-6990. Sarahs Tuesday Group Calling all knitters, quilters, rugmakers and more! We meet in the Trinity Episcopal Church Fellowship Hall, corner of German and Church streets, every Tuesday afternoon from 1 to 4 p.m. Work on your own projects while socializing with other crafters. Questions? call 304-876-6990. Christ Reformed United Church of Christ is inaugurating a new speaker series called First Tuesdays at CRUCC. There will be a speaker the first Tuesday of every month. Coffee, tea and refreshments will be provided. These are free events. SATURDAY On the Wings of Dreams will host a tarot reading from noon to 4 p.m. Attendees can learn about their brightest pathway with the help of the events tarot reader, who has over 35 years of experience. Call the shop at 304-876-0244 for an appointment. If openings are available, walk-ins will also be welcome. SUNDAY Local artist Fran Skiles, currently on display in a solo exhibit at The Bridge Gallery, will be at the gallery for a closing event from 2 to 4 p.m. The exhibit will be continued for an additional week past the advertised closing date, until June 25. Included in the collection of abstract landscapes are a series of cold wax and oil paintings on panel as well as acrylics on canvas. The public is welcome to attend. For additional information, call 304-876-2300. Management education is not merely about imparting technical and conceptual skills but is also about creating the wireframe for 'attitude' and the template for decision-making-skill. Let us explore the context in which management education is designed and then dig deep into the need for prioritizing innovation and leadership and finally look at the challenges in designing a program that meets the objective. 1) Management Education Context: a. Unlike west where students take up management education after 8 to 12 years of work experience, in India 40% plus students are fresh out of college and the balance have very limited work experience of 2 years to 4 years b. Management education is therefore a terminal (education) program that carries the onus of making graduates employable and also prepare them for the long haul of taking up leadership positions in their career. 2) Need for prioritising innovation and leadership: i) Expectation from key stakeholders: a. Recruiters: Business models are changing at a rapid rate and an innovative/ experimental approach is integral for differentiation and competitive edge. Corporate expect that management graduates will come with flair and dash for conceiving and executing new ideas. Corporate recruiters expect premier business schools to develop talent that can in quick time take leadership roles in mid- management level. b. Students: Students expect management schools to secure them placement in premier corporate institutions in challenging and rewarding roles. Towards that end the ranking of the B-Schools is directly dependent on its placement track record. ii) Competitive context a. Management education is high competition business and B- Schools in an effort to position themselves as a premier institution seek to pitch their offering at an aspirational level. Challenges in designing curriculum to foster innovation and leadership 3) A. Quality of undergraduate education a. Till under graduation, education in India emphasises rote learning of subjects. Teaching is delivered more thru lecture mode and there is very little participative or applied learning b. The teaching approach does not focus enough onbuilding communication skills, personality, values and attitude. B. Duration of Post Graduate Management education a. Management education has to bridge the large void in basic communication skills, address awareness and development of emotional and relationship skills and integrate multi-disciplinary learning in a multi-sectoral environment. b. The program packs several subjects that are delivered in a new class/case discussion based learning methodology c. The duration of post graduate management education at 21 months is very short to achieve the onerous objective of making managers and leaders. 4) Designing Management education to foster innovation and leadership a. The current mode of under-graduate education is not delivering on creating employable graduates and worse still is not even producing graduates who can be readily taught management education. b. We need to i. Create an integrated management education of 5 years to lay a strong learning foundation in the first 3 years and layering management education in the final 2 years. ii. Redesign undergraduate management education that fosters applied learning and focuses on building communication and personality skills iii. Introduce advanced general management education for practitioners that can be delivered over an extended period with minimum break from full time work. In this construct the curriculum can be designed to align the sector, discipline and role. c. We should also recognise that leadership and decision making come with applied learning. Management education should be about opening the minds and seeding values, attitudes and thinking skills. The graduates will still be work in process; ready for combat and ready for applied learning. The author, Prof. Surya Mahadevan, Faculty ( Marketing) & Head - Brand, TAPMI has 30 years of work experience in FMCG and Telecom sectors which has made him an industry expert on telecom. He played leadership roles managing large brands such as Tata, Reliance, Aircel, Loop, Maltova, Viva and Amul. He has worked across Sales, Marketing, Retail and Customer Service functional areas and in his last assignment before joining TAPMI, he was responsible for Mumbai Circle Telecom operations as Chief Operating Officer at Loop Mobile. Sweden jails Chinese man for spying on Tibetan refugees Stockholm, June 15 (AFP) Jun 15, 2018 A Swedish court on Friday found a Chinese man guilty of espionage for gathering intelligence on Tibetan refugees in Sweden for China, sentencing him to 22 months in prison. Dorjee Gyantsan, 49, was found guilty of infiltrating the Tibetan community to pass on information about their personal and political activities to Chinese intelligence officers in exchange for money. The Sodertorn district court, near Stockholm, said in its verdict that Dorjee had "carried out an extensive operation that put people of Tibetan origin in Sweden and their families in Tibet at significant risk". Dorjee left China for political reasons and fled to Nepal in 1997, before being granted a permanent residency permit in Sweden in 2002 as a resettlement refugee, court documents showed. Born of a Tibetan mother and Chinese father, he posed in the Scandinavian country as a supporter of Tibetan independence. The court found Dorjee repeatedly met a Chinese intelligence officer in Poland, as well as having telephone contact, to pass on information about the Tibetan community. The espionage took place from July 2015 to February 2017, when he was arrested. At the time of his arrest, Dorjee had just returned from a trip to Warsaw and was carrying $6,000 in cash, which prosecutors argued was payment for his information. "This is a very serious crime. The espionage has affected very vulnerable people," prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist told AFP in April. "People who have fled to Sweden from totalitarian regimes must be able to feel safe and feel that they can exercise their constitutionally-protected freedom to protest against a regime without fear of persecution or attacks on themselves or their families." Some 130 Tibetans live in the Scandinavian country, according to the organisation Tibetan Community in Sweden. Dorjee had pleaded innocent and maintained he did not know the Chinese person was an intelligence officer. He said he planned to appeal the verdict. The prosecution's evidence included witness testimonies about Dorjee's contacts with the Tibetan community, as well as his phone and travel records. Beijing says it "peacefully liberated" Tibet in 1951 and considers it an inseparable part of China. Boeing, others assessing impact of US-China tariffs New York, June 15 (AFP) Jun 15, 2018 US trade groups and some large companies such as Boeing said Friday they were beginning to evaluate how new tariffs in the US-China trade spat could affect their operations. "We are assessing the impact these tariffs and any reciprocal action could have on our supply chain and commercial business," said Boeing spokesman Charles Bickers. The comments came in response to news that President Donald Trump would impose 25 percent tariffs on tens of billions in Chinese imports, sparking immediate retaliation from Beijing. Boeing garnered about 12.8 percent of its 2017 revenues from China and is frequently seen as among the more vulnerable US multinationals to an all-out trade war. "We will continue to engage with leaders in both countries to urge a productive dialogue to resolve trade differences, highlighting the mutual economic benefits of a strong and prosperous aerospace industry," Bickers added. The American Apparel & Footwear Association, while praising the Trump administration for dropping an earlier plan to place levies on key equipment and machinery used by the industry, said China's retaliatory measures could harm American farmers and textile manufacturers and add costs to the industry's supply chain. "President Trump is fixated with tariffs, which he believes he can wield freely; but there are grave consequences to the use of tariffs," said AAFA president Rick Helfenbein. "Congress needs to step in now to end this dangerous obsession." "The tariffs imposed on products imported by American businesses -- and the resulting retaliatory tariffs against exports made by American manufacturers and farmers -- amount to a huge 'Trump Tax' on American workers, American consumers, and the American economy," Helfenbein said. Other trade groups opposing the US tariffs included the Business Roundtable and the US Chamber of Commerce. Among those expected to be hit by bruising tariffs are US automakers, which have targeted China as a growth market. Ford on Friday reported a dip in May sales in China but said it had recently implemented a price cut on imported Ford cars and Lincoln vehicles following a cut in tariffs. Ford has sold 338,386 cars thus far in China in 2018, about one-third the number in the US. "We continue to encourage both governments to work together through negotiation to resolve issues between these two important economies," a Ford spokesman said. Friday's announcements cap months of sometimes fraught shuttle diplomacy between Washington and Beijing, in which Chinese offers to purchase more US goods failed to assuage Trump's grievances over the soaring trade imbalance and the country's industrial development policies. Eurasia Group analysts said the latest maneuvers meant there was "a substantial risk of escalation and a more prolonged dispute" that could last well into the fall. Page Content On Wednesday June 12th, Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin and Steering Committee member Mr. Marcel Gumbs returned from Washington D.C. where they attended the first official meeting of the Steering Committee. After landing on Sint Maarten, the Prime Minister announced that the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) is now fully ready: After months of intensive preparations with the World Bank and stakeholders, I am excited to announce the presentation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The NRRP will be our roadmap toward building Sint Maarten back better. It offers a comprehensive strategy to guide our country to a more resilient and sustainable future. I look forward to presenting the NRRP to Parliament and to the people of Sint Maarten in the coming weeks. During the Steering Committee meeting, the Netherlandss representative, Mr. Frans Weekers, complimented the Government of Sint Maarten on the NRRP: I have a lot of appreciation for the efforts of the Government of Sint Maarten in preparing this crucial document. The NRRP forms a solid basis to make choices for the recovery process and to invest together in the future of the island, Mr. Weekers said. In addition to the NRRP, the Steering Committee discussed the final preparation of the first projects that will be financed by the Trust Fund. These projects will help to address some of the most urgent needs of the people of Sint Maarten by repairing homes and critical public buildings, removing debris and offering training programs for affected communities. The Government of Sint Maarten remains eager to work closely together with the Netherlands, the World Bank and the people of Sint Maarten to speed up the recovery process. When asked about the cooperation in the Steering Committee, Sint Maartens representative, Mr. Marcel Gumbs, emphasized that the first meeting was very successful: Im extremely pleased with the cooperation with the Netherlands and the World Bank in the Steering Committee so far. We fully agree on the urgent need to help the people of Sint Maarten in an accountable and effective manner, Mr. Gumbs stated. The next meeting of the Steering Committee is scheduled to take place on Sint Maarten in the second week of July. The National Recovery and Resilience Plan will likely be discussed in Parliament later this month. More information on the NRRP can be found on the Governments website and the Facebook page of the National Recovery Program Bureau. Photo caption: From left to right: Steering Committee Member Mr. Marcel Gumbs, Ms. Tahseen Sayed (World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean), Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin and Mr. Frans Weekers (The Netherland's Representative to the Steering Committee). Ms. Sayed and Prime Minister Romeo-Marlin hold a copy of the presented NRRP. By clicking Agree, you consent to Slates Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and the use of technologies such as cookies by Slate and our partners to deliver relevant advertising on our iOS app to personalize content and perform site analytics. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information about our use of data, your rights, and how to withdraw consent. Agree NASA astronauts install high-def cameras during spacewalk Tampa, June 14 (AFP) Jun 14, 2018 Two US spacewalkers on Thursday outfitted the International Space Station with a pair of new high-definition video cameras designed to help visiting commercial spaceships dock there in the coming years. The work is part of an ongoing upgrade to the $100 billion orbiting outpost, adapting it for the arrival of a new fleet of US vehicles built by private aerospace industries that will ferry astronauts back and forth. Boeing and SpaceX are completing the final touches on their respective crew capsules, and are expected to begin regularly transporting astronauts to the ISS in 2019. The first test flights could happen later this year. The new cameras are located near an international docking adapter on the station's Harmony module. "The two astronauts installed new high-definition cameras that will provide enhanced views during the final phase of approach and docking of the SpaceX Crew Dragon and Boeing Starliner commercial crew spacecraft that will soon begin launching from American soil," NASA said in a statement. Astronauts have not launched from the United States since 2011, when the 30-year US space shuttle program came to an end. In its absence, the world's astronauts have paid Russia upwards of $70 million per seat for a ride to the ISS aboard the Soyuz spaceships. During the six-hour, 49-minute outing, veteran NASA astronaut Drew Feustel rose to third place on the all-time cumulative spacewalking list. Feustel, making his ninth career spacewalk, now has logged 61 hours and 48 minutes of spacewalk time. The world leader is Russian cosmonaut Anatoly Solovyev with 82 hours, 22 minutes, followed by NASA's Michael Lopez-Alegria with 67 hours, 30 minutes. Hawking plea 'to save planet' beamed to black hole Paris, June 15 (AFP) Jun 15, 2018 The voice recording of the late astrophysicist Stephen Hawking beamed towards a black hole Friday came from a speech imploring humanity to save Earth, according to the European Space Agency (ESA). "It is a very emotional passage," ESA senior science advisor Mark McCaughrean told AFP. "He was not talking about going out to the stars to save humankind, he was talking about saving the planet." The recorded excerpt of Hawking's familiar synthesised voice -- set to music from Greek composer Vangelis -- was dispatched from a 35-metre radio dish outside Madrid as the famed stargazer was laid to rest in London's Westminster Abbey alongside science giants Issac Newton and Charles Darwin. "We pointed the dish at the nearest black hole to Earth," known as 1A 0620-00, McCaughrean said. "It will take about 3,500 light years for the signal to get there." "It's a symbolic gesture," he added, noting that the signal will be very weak by the time it arrives. Hawking, whose bestsellers on the Universe made him a household name, died in March at the age of 76 after a lifetime of groundbreaking discovery. "We are happy to play a small part in honouring his family. It has been a pleasure to work with them," McCaughrean said. Major US military exercises with S.Korea 'suspended indefinitely' Washington, June 14 (AFP) Jun 14, 2018 The US military has indefinitely postponed major joint exercises with South Korea, an official told AFP on Thursday, acting on President Donald Trump's pledge to halt the "provocative" military drills following his summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un. The move, a significant break in how the US and South Korean militaries have worked together for decades, came even as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned that peace efforts still face risks, and insisted sanctions must be maintained until Pyongyang dismantles its nuclear arsenal. "Major military exercises have been suspended indefinitely on the Korean peninsula," a senior US official told AFP. Trump on Tuesday had said the US would halt "war games" with its South Korean security ally -- but he did not make clear when the freeze would kick in. US and South Korean forces have been training together for years, and routinely rehearse everything from beach landings to an invasion from the North, or even "decapitation" strikes targeting the North Korean regime. Pyongyang typically reacts furiously. Following drills last year, the North fired ballistic missiles over Japan, triggering global alarm. - Verifiable denuclearization? - Trump has sounded a triumphant tone since the Singapore summit, where he and Kim signed a joint statement in which Kim committed "to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." But critics have pointed to the vague wording of the non-binding document, which Trump described as a "deal," and to concerns among allies about the decision to stop the US-South Korean "war games." Speaking on a regional tour to brief South Korean, Japanese and Chinese officials about the historic summit, Pompeo said Washington remains committed to the "complete, verifiable and irreversible" denuclearization of North Korea. "We believe that Kim Jong Un understands the urgency... that we must do this quickly," he said of the effort to have North Korea abandon its atomic arsenal. In Beijing, Pompeo also said China "reaffirmed its commitment" to United Nations sanctions after the foreign ministry suggested earlier this week that the UN Security Council could consider easing the economic punishment against its ally. "We truly believe that we have a path forward after so many years that can bring peace," Pompeo told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi before talks with President Xi Jinping. But, he warned, "there are still risks that we won't achieve" that goal, and more work needs to be done. Any reduction in tensions on its doorstep is welcome for China, which accounts for around 90 percent of Pyongyang's trade. Speaking alongside Wang, Pompeo said the UN resolutions have mechanisms for sanctions relief "and we agreed that at the appropriate time that those would be considered," stressing that any relief would come only after "full denuclearization." Wang said China has a "firm commitment" to denuclearization but that North Korea's "legitimate" concerns must be addressed. North Korean state media reported Wednesday that Trump had not only offered to stop military exercises during the dialog, but also to lift sanctions imposed on Pyongyang -- causing concern in Tokyo and Seoul. - 'Conflicting views' - Earlier, South Korean President Moon Jae-in acknowledged that "there may be very conflicting views" about the summit, but it had still helped mitigate fears of a nuclear war. South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha appeared meanwhile to sidestep the issue of military drills, saying the matter would be left to military authorities to discuss, and that the US-South Korea alliance remained "as robust as ever." While it is not directly involved, Japan also considers the exercises vital. Harry Harris, who until last month headed the US military's huge Pacific Command, has been a staunch advocate of the military exercises. But he told US lawmakers on Thursday that his position had changed. "The whole landscape has shifted and I believe that we should give exercises, major exercises, a pause," Harris told senators at his confirmation hearing to be the US envoy to South Korea. In the latest step to ease cross-border friction, the two Koreas held their highest-level military talks in over a decade Thursday in the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two countries. In a joint statement the two sides agreed to restore their military communication lines and to halt "hostile acts," Yonhap news agency reported. And Russian President Vladimir Putin conveyed to a senior North Korean official an invitation for Kim to visit Russia, as he praised the results of the summit. - North Korea talking points? - Trump had raised eyebrows by describing his own country's drills on the Korean peninsula as "provocative," a term used by the North for the exercises. Pyongyang describes its nuclear weapons and long-range missiles as a shield against US aggression, and has in the past linked denuclearization to the removal of US forces from the peninsula. Senior Republican Senator John McCain said suspending joint military exercises was a "mistake." "Making unnecessary and unreciprocated concessions is not in our interests -- and it is a bad negotiating tactic," McCain said in a statement. "Parroting Chinese and North Korean propaganda by saying joint exercises are 'provocative' undermines our security and alliances." Parts of Yemen missiles fired at Saudi Arabia were Iranian-made: UN report United Nations, United States, June 14 (AFP) Jun 14, 2018 Some components from five missiles fired at Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Huthi rebels were manufactured in Iran but UN officials are unable to determine when they were sent to Yemen, according to a confidential UN report seen by AFP on Thursday. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council in the 14-page report that debris from the missiles fired since July 2017 "share key design features with a known type of missile manufactured" by Iran. The report, sent to the council on Tuesday, added that "some component parts of the debris were manufactured in the Islamic Republic of Iran" but it remained unclear whether the transfer was in violation of UN restrictions. UN officials were "unable to determine when such missiles, parts thereof or related technology may have been transferred from" Iran, it said. The findings were less conclusive that those of a separate UN panel of experts that reported in January that Iran was in violation of the arms embargo on Yemen for failing to block the missile supplies. The report could deal a setback to the United States which has repeatedly called on the Security Council to take action against Iran over illegal arms transfers to Yemen and elsewhere in the region. Iran has strongly denied arming the Huthis despite accusations from the United States and Saudi Arabia that missiles fired at Riyadh and other Saudi cities were Iranian-made. Earlier this year, Russia questioned the findings of the panel and in February vetoed a resolution that would have pressured Iran over the supply of missiles to the Huthis. Moscow argues that Yemen is awash in weapons and that many of them were delivered at a time when neither Iran or Yemen were under an arms embargo. Guterres said that UN officials had examine explosives seized by Bahrain from a vessel in 2016 and were "confident" that some of the material was Iranian-made. But again they found no indication about when the items were shipped and were unable to make a determination of a violation. The findings were contained in a report on the implementation of a 2015 resolution that endorsed the Iran nuclear deal, now in danger of collapse after President Donald Trump's announcement of a US withdrawal from the agreement. The Security Council is scheduled to discuss the report on June 27. US military targets senior militant in Afghanistan Washington, June 15 (AFP) Jun 15, 2018 The US military said Thursday it carried out a strike targeting a senior militant leader in Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province, where Pakistani Taliban chief Maulana Fazlullah is believed to be hiding. "US forces conducted a counterterrorism strike, June 13, in Kunar province, close to the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which targeted a senior leader of a designated terrorist organization," Lieutenant Colonel Martin O'Donnell said in a statement. The statement did not name Fazlullah, but added that US forces were continuing to "adhere to a ceasefire" which Kabul has entered into with the Afghan Taliban, the country's main insurgents, seemingly ruling out any targets from that group. Afghanistan's defence ministry spokesman said that Fazlullah was among the dead. "I can confirm that the TTP leader Fazlullah was killed in a joint Afghan and US operation in Kunar on Thursday," Mohammad Radmanesh said, using the group's Urdu name, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). There was no official confirmation from Pakistan, but a Pakistani senior security source told AFP that Fazlullah is believed to have been killed. Without access to the area such incidents are difficult to verify, and top militant leaders have been reported dead before only to resurface. The US State Department in March announced a $5 million reward for help locating Fazlullah, who has been linked to bloody attacks in Pakistan and the 2010 attempted Times Square car bombing in New York. It said the group has "demonstrated a close alliance with Al-Qaeda" and had given explosives training to Faisal Shahzad, the would-be Times Square bomber. The group was behind the massacre of more than 150 people at a Peshawar school in December 2014, and nine dead in another attack in December 2017 in the same city. It was also responsible for the October 2012 shooting of Malala Yousafzai, who became a global symbol of the fight for girls' rights to schooling. According to Pakistani officials, Fazlullah, who is believed to be in his forties, took refuge in Afghanistan after the TTP was pushed out of Pakistan following multiple offensives by the military on its safe havens. Trump boasts North Korea stand-off 'largely solved' Washington, June 15 (AFP) Jun 15, 2018 President Donald Trump declared Washington's nuclear stand-off with North Korea "largely solved" on Friday, after he gave young autocrat Kim Jong Un his telephone number and cancelled US war games. Hailing the success of this week's summit in Singapore, Trump told reporters in Washington that he is now in direct contact with Kim and that their "good relationship" had ended the risk of conflict. The results of the Singapore meeting, at which Kim and Trump signed a pledge "to work towards complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," have been greeted with skepticism by many observers. And Trump's unilateral decision to reduce tension by cancelling "provocative" joint exercises by US and South Korean forces appeared to catch both close ally Seoul and some Pentagon officials by surprise. But Trump recalled that when he came to office last year his predecessor Barack Obama had warned that North Korea's growing missile and nuclear threat was the United States "most dangerous problem." "I have solved that problem," Trump told reporters after a spontaneous visit to a television crew working on the White House lawn. "Now we're getting it memorialized and all, but that problem is largely solved. "We signed a very good document," he added. "But more importantly than the document, I have a good relationship with Kim Jong Un. "That's a very important thing. I can now call him. I gave him a very direct number. He can now call me if he has any difficulty. We have communication." Kim has not yet taken any concrete step to dismantle his nuclear programs, and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has warned sanctions must remain in place until "full denuclearization" is achieved. - Long and slow - But Trump seems keen to claim a quick diplomatic victory and the halt to major US military exercises on the peninsula is a significant concession to both Pyongyang and Washington's rival China. Many experts in Washington agree with the conclusion of a leaked Israeli government analysis that there were "substantive gaps" between US goals going into the summit and the vague language of the statement. "Despite Trump's declarations about quick changes expected in North Korea's policy, the way to substantive change -- if that ever comes -- is still long and slow," the report warned. Some of Trump's domestic critics have also condemned his decision to halt what the president calls "war games" with South Korea -- using a pejorative term for military drills that US officials have previously rejected. "Making unnecessary and unreciprocated concessions is not in our interests -- and it is a bad negotiating tactic," Republican Senator John McCain said. "Parroting Chinese and North Korean propaganda by saying joint exercises are 'provocative' undermines our security and alliances." US and South Korean forces have trained together for decades, and routinely rehearse everything from beach landings in the North to pre-emptive "decapitation" strikes targeting the North Korean regime. Pyongyang typically reacts furiously. Following drills last year, the North fired ballistic missiles over Japan, triggering global alarm and ratcheting up a diplomatic war of words between Trump and Kim. Those harsh exchanges are now apparently over, and since the summit Trump has lavished praise on Kim, once a global pariah credibly accused of torturing and starving tens of thousands of his own citizens. - Sarcastic remark - Trump praised Kim again on Friday, in what turned into a lengthy unplanned interview with his favorite television show Fox and Friends. "Hey, he is the head of a country and I mean he is the strong head. Don't let anyone think anything different. He speaks and his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same," he said. Trump later told reporters that his remark about Americans standing to attention was "sarcasm." But, asked why he had praised Kim at all, given his history of rights abuses and the death of US student Otto Warmbier after he fell into a coma in North Korean custody, Trump set up a stark choice. "Because I don't want to see a nuclear weapon destroy your family," he told one reporter. And as to the military drills, Trump said he had wanted to halt them long before he travelled to Singapore to meet Kim, and insisted that "war games" is his own preferred term. "I hated it from the day I came in. Why aren't we being reimbursed?" he demanded, returning to his long-standing claim that US allies like South Korea should repay the costs of their defense. "I saved us a lot of money." dc-burs/ec Switzerland wants to sell arms to states in 'internal conflict' Geneva, June 15 (AFP) Jun 15, 2018 Switzerland, a country famous for its neutrality, announced on Friday it wants to allow the sale of arms in countries in the grip of an "internal armed conflict", under certain conditions. Causing outcry from opponents, the landlocked state said that "war materials" could be sold, but only if they were not used during an internal conflict. The Swiss government said in a statement: "The delivery of war material to a country involved in an internal armed conflict must continue in principle to be refused." However, it added, "it should now be possible to grant export authorisation if there is no reason to believe that the war materiel to be exported will be used in an internal armed conflict". The exemption "would not apply to countries plagued by civil war, like Yemen or Syria today," the government said. The economy ministry must now amend the ruling on war material, which will then have to be officially approved by the government. As it is a ruling, the decision of the government cannot be the subject of a referendum, ministry of economy spokesman Fabian Maienfisch told AFP. Explaining its decision, the government highlighted the concerns of the Swiss armaments industry, saying Swiss arms exports "have declined more or less constantly for several years". The Swiss government said that in order to keep its "credibility", the small country must have its own security and defence industry. Opponents to the government were outraged by the decision and cast doubt over its motives. The Socialist Party accused it of wanting to "allow the export of war materiel to countries in the midst of civil war" to meet "the wishes of the arms industry, which has nothing to do with respect for human rights". The Greens said the decision was unjustifiable in the name of humanitarian law, stressing that the government was going to "sabotaging" the tradition of Switzerland facilitating behind-the-scenes exchanges during conflicts. Optimization Are you frustrated with a slow pc or a hard disk not performing as it should? Try SLOW-PCfighter to speed up boot time on a slow PC, or try a free scan of FULL-DISKfighter to recover space on a full disk. The latest offering is DRIVERfighter to update your driver updater. Get complete PC optimization and extend the life of your PC with these must-have software tools. Bronzed Italians Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and other techniques have been used to analyse an ancient pottery. The data suggest that "Italians" were using olive oil at least 700 hundred years earlier than previously thought, in the early Bronze Age. Olive oil has underpinned much of Italian cuisine for centuries, thousands of years even. Now, a new chemical analysis of a peculiarly shaped and rather old piece of pottery suggests that what many refer to as "liquid gold" may well have been produced in the part of the world we know as Sicily for several hundred years longer than previous estimates by anthropologists. Peculiar jars Researchers at the University of South Florida led by historian Davide Tanasi undertook an analysis of the large jar pictured, to identify what its contents might have been. The jar was unearthed in the 1990s by Giuseppe Voza during the excavations at the site of Castelluccio, Sicily. Astonishingly, conservators at the Archaeological Museum of Siracusa restored and reassembled 400 ceramic fragments, resulting in the metre-long, ovoid container adorned with rope bands and three vertical handles on each side. Archaeologists at the Sicilian site also found two fragmented basins with an internal septum, indicating it was used to keep multiple substances together, but separate, along with a large terracotta cooking plate. The shape of this storage container and the nearby septum was like nothing else Voza found at the site in Castelluccio, explains Tanasi. "It had the signature of Sicilian tableware dated to the end of the 3rd and beginning of the 2nd millennium BCE." That dates the crockery to the Early Bronze Age. "We wanted to learn how it was used, so we conducted chemical analysis on organic residues found inside," he adds. NMR lubricates archaeology In the study published in the journal Analytical Methods, Tanasi and his colleagues tested all three of the artefacts using GC-MS and 1H-1H two dimensional (2D) total correlation spectroscopy (TOCSY) and found them to contain organic residues with traces of oleic and linoleic acids. These fatty acid molecules are the tell-tale signatures of olive oil. "The results obtained with the three samples from Castelluccio become the first chemical evidence of the oldest olive oil in Italian prehistory, pushing back the hands of the clock for the systematic olive oil production by at least 700 years," explains Tanasi. The only previously known identification of the chemical signatures of olive oil are from storage jars discovered in southern Italy in Cosenza and Lecce are believed to be from the 12th and 11th century BCE (Copper Age). The team is not only enthusiastic about the archaeology but also about the techniques they used in their studies. "Besides the important historical and archaeological implications that this discovery has for the interpretation of the function of Hut 8 and its role in the ancient prehistoric community of Castelluccio, which will be the subject of another specific work, this research has once again confirmed that 1D 1H NMR and 1H-1H 2D TOCSY is a viable approach to analyzing prehistoric artefacts." Related Links Anal Method 2018, online: "1H NMR, 1H-1H 2D TOCSY and GC-MS analyses for the identification of olive oil on Early Bronze Age pottery from Castelluccio (Noto, Italy)" Article by David Bradley Read more about David and our other columnists >>> The views represented in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. Follow us on Twitter! Author(s) David Bradley French Finance Minister 'Good News that Merkel Has Now Reacted' In an interview with DER SPIEGEL, French Finance Minister Bruno La Maire, 49, demands that eurozone reform be pushed forward quickly. Otherwise, he fears, Europe won't be able to stand up to U.S. President Donald Trump. Premium Times June 14, 2018 recent developments have begun to give the distinct evidence that Nigeria is losing its political integrity and credibility on the issue of Western Sahara. The Nigerian government should be prevailed upon to reverse the on-going betrayal of African independence. The Nigerian Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara (NMLWS) has received the report of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigerias recent visit to the Kingdom of Morocco. The NMLWS hereby draws the attention of people of Nigeria to certain issues surrounding the visit. President Muhammadu Buharis visit raised some important issues about the status of Nigeria in Africa. Does Nigeria still stand credible and admirable, principled and just, as it used to be, through the principled and just role that our country played in the anti-colonial struggles in Africa? Does Nigeria still value the respect our country won all over the world during the African anti-colonial struggles? Has Nigerias principled and decisive role in the decolonisation of Africa been jettisoned in the present? In the case of the struggle of the people of Western Sahara for independence, has the Nigerian government reversed, or is the Nigerian government about to reverse history and accept the Moroccan colonisation of Western Sahara? Is the Nigerian government going to resist the profits from Moroccos illegal colonial rule of Western Sahara? Mr. Presidents visit to Morocco raised certain questions, the answers to which have far-reaching implications for the moral and political integrity of the Nigerian state and its leaders, who are supposed to represent the Nigerian people rightly. The first pertained to the report that the president of Nigeria was in Morocco to conclude trade deals with Moroccos rulers, a major one of which is trade in phosphate. Facts Phosphates Following the December 2016 visit to Nigeria by the King of Morocco, several agreements were signed between Nigeria, represented by President Muhammadu Buhari, and King Mohammed VI of Morocco. One of them is the partnership between the Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers of Nigeria (FEPSON) and OCP Phosphate company owned by the Moroccan state. According to the report, among other things, the OCP would supply discounted phosphate to Nigeria, to help support the blending of NPK fertiliser in 2017. One of the constituents of Nigerias trade in phosphate is the importation of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) from Morocco. Phosphate constitutes 21 per cent of blended nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (the NPK fertiliser). As for the private sector, the Fertiliser Producers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN) also signed a fertiliser deal with the Moroccan OCP. The Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI): Altering the Status Quo Evidence In December 2, 2016, Morocco signed a Phosphate Agreement between FEPSON and OCP, on behalf of the Nigerian and Moroccan governments respectively. In February 12, 2017, a little more than a year ago, Nigeria began to receive (import) Moroccan phosphate berths at the Port of Lagos. A second ship was due to arrive at the beginning of April. The Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSON) and OCP specialise in stealing phosphate from Western Sahara. The Presidential Committee on the Fertiliser Initiative (PCFI) was also a key player, along with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, agro-dealers, state governments, etc, in this process. Now, we draw your attention to the judgment of the European Court of Justice: Fish The Court of Justice of the European Union, ruled, in its judgment Case C-104/161 (Luxemburg, February 27, 2018), and in case C-266/16, that the Fisheries Agreement concluded between the EU and Morocco is valid in so far as it is not applicable to Western Sahara and to its Adjacent Waters. Put simply, any agreement made by any party with Morocco on the sale of fish taken from the waters of Western Sahara is illegal, unless the consent of the people of Western Sahara is obtained prior to the agreement. The basis of this judgment was that the territory of Western Sahara does not form part of the territory of Morocco, and Morocco has no legitimate legal claim to any fish found in Saharawi waters. In violation of the judgment EU court of Justice, Nigerian governments have allowed the import of fish stolen from Western Sahara, with Titus being the most famous. The High Court of South Africa, Eastern Cape Local Division, Port Elizabeth, on February 23, 2018 ruled that: The Plaintiff (SADR) is the owner of the whole of the cargo of phosphate and ownership of the phosphate has never lawfully been vested in the fifth and sixth defendant i.e OCP SA and Phosphate De Boucraa SA, and they were, and are not entitled to sell the phosphate to Ballance Agri-Nutrients Limited (4th Defendant). The UNs Position On Western Saharas Mineral Resources According to Hans Corell, former legal counsel of the United Nations, the UN concluded, concerning the conditions under which the extraction of natural resources of Western Sahara should take place: If further exploration and exploitation activities were to proceed in disregard of the interest and wishes of the people of Western Sahara, they would be in violation of the International law principles applicable to mineral resource activities in Non-Self Governing Territories. Only the people of Western Sahara, as a Non-Self-Governing territory, have the right to permanent sovereignty over their natural resources. To be legal, economic activities for exploration and exploitation of natural resources in Western Sahara must benefit the people of Western Sahara and respect their wishes. The people of Western Sahara and their legitimate representatives (POLISARIO Front) and the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic Government should not only be consulted but must be directly involved in any arrangements or agreements regarding the exploitation and exploration of natural resources in their territory. This is the position of the United Nations. The Position of the African Union The African Union adopted the opinion of the Legal Counsel to the United Nations that: If further exploration and exploitation activities were to proceed in disregard of the interest and wishes of the people of Western Sahara, they would be in violation of the International Law principles applicable to mineral resources activities in Non-Self-Governing Territories. On this basis, the AU concluded and recommended that: 68. Morocco has no right to explore and exploit any natural resources, renewable or non-renewable located in the occupied territories of Western Sahara or to enter into agreements/contracts with third parties concerning these resources. 69. Thus, AU through the African Union Commission and other relevant organs must appeal to the UN Security Council to ensure that exploration and exploitation of natural resources in Western Sahara is undertaken under the following framework: a. Morocco should not enter into any agreements with any other State, group of States or foreign companies for exploration or exploitation of renewable or non-renewable natural resources over the Territory of Western Sahara. In this regard, Agreements entered into by Morocco should be limited exclusively to its territory internationally recognised under its sovereignty (which does not include Western Sahara); b. Any exploration or exploitation of natural resources in Western Sahara must be for the benefit of the people of Western Sahara and in accordance with their wishes; c. Accordingly, the people of Western Sahara and their legitimate representatives must not only be consulted but they must consent and effectively participate in reaching any agreement that involves the exploitation of natural resources in the Territory of Western Sahara. Implication: All companies and all governments that deal in the trade of the fish and phosphate and other minerals of Western Sahara are trading in stolen goods. This is the import of the Judgment of the High Court in South Africa (Eastern Cape Local Division, Port Elizabeth, Friday February 23, 2018). In this suit, the High Court ruled that the owner of the cargo of phosphate laden (and seized) on the motor vessel NM Cherry Blossom is the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR); the OCP/SA, and Phosphates De Boucraa SA 5th and 6th defendants respectively are not entitled to sell the phosphate to Balance Agri-Nurients Limited (the 4th Defendant). The Moroccan Fishing Zone, the EU Court ruled, does not include the waters adjacent to the territory of Western Sahara. So, Morocco is in reality selling phosphate and fish stolen from Western Sahara to Nigerian business magnates, including some close to the corridors of power. The president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has recently been on a visit to Morocco. The president should review his dealings with Morocco on behalf of Nigeria on the basis of the EU Court judgments and the African Union Legal Opinion referred to here. We wish to remind Nigerians that the Nigerian president as a military head of state in 1984 led the defunct Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to, in accordance with the UN Declaration on Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and People, adopted by the General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, recognise Western Sahara as an independent country. The recent developments have begun to give the distinct evidence that Nigeria is losing its political integrity and credibility on the issue of Western Sahara. The Nigerian government should be prevailed upon to reverse the on-going betrayal of African independence. Nigerian Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara (NMLWS); Email: saharawiliberation.nigeria@gmail.com. (SPS) 062/SPS https://opinion.premiumtimesng.com/2018/06/14/president-buharis-visit-to... English14/06/2018 KELECEVIC: CORRIDOR BREAKTHROUGH DECIDED SRPSKAS SURVIVAL BANJALUKA, June 14 /SRNA/ - The former chief of staff of the 1st Krajina Corps of the Army of Republika Srpska /VRS/, retired Lieutenant General Bosko Kelecevic believes that the breakthrough of the corridor through Posavina 1992, better known as the Corridor of Life, was a major factor in the survival of Republika Srpska. Had the corridor not been broken by any chance, I am sure that Republika Srpska would not exist today, Kelecevic told Srna on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the Corridor breakthrough. Kelecevic noted that Operation Corridor was the best indicator of who the aggressor was and who defended their territory and their centuries old homes. One can rightly ask what units of the Croatian Army, Croatian Defence Council /HVO/ and NATO were doing there while the Serb troops defended their own territory and centuries old homes from enemy attacks, Kelecevic emphasised. Kelecevic noted that young generations should constantly be taught about the importance of the Corridor of Life and Republika Srpska for the survival of Serbs in these parts. Milomir Savcic, leader of the Veterans Association of Republika Srpska /BORS/, believes that Republika Srpskas existence would be doubtful if it wasnt for the successful Operation Corridor, since a large part of the Serb territory was then blocked on the ground and in the air. The Corridor breakthrough carries enormous significance, for it united the Serb territories and created a precondition for an integral territory, population and government, the basis for forming a state, Savcic told Srna. Savcic points out that the Srpska leadership and VRS command at the time demonstrated operative and strategic capability to plan and carry out such an operation. The success of Operation Corridor had a strong impact on the morale and conscience of Serbs, helping them to confront a much bigger enemy, the Muslim-Croat coalition, said Savcic. Operation Corridor was vital for the further struggle of the Serbs and ultimate creation of Republika Srpska, said Savcic. Krsta Zarkovic, the commander of the Special Police Units of the Republic of Serbian Krajina, who took part in the Corridor breakthrough, told Srna that the operation was the most significant military operation for the western part of Republika Srpska and the then Republic of Serbian Krajina. The significance of Operation Corridor lies in the merging of Serb territories and Serb people who were at war at the time, said Zarkovic. Zarkovic notes that the armed forces of the Republic of Serbian Krajina together with the forces of Republika Srpska had a key and main task - to break the corridor - which was executed. He recalled that 743 members of the Special Police Units from the Republic of Serbian Krajina had taken part in the operation - 39 of them were killed and 78 were wounded. Nedeljko Mitrovic, head of the Association of Families of the Captured, Fallen Veterans and Missing Civilians of Republika Srpska, believes that the deaths of 12 babies at the Clinical Centre Banjaluka due to the lack of oxygen at the time was the main trigger for Operation Corridor. "This operation had military, strategic and political goals which were achieved through the integrity of Republika Srpska and young generations should learn more about it through historical, museum and archival collections, said Mitrovic. Mitrovic notes that Operation Corridor was of vital importance for the Serbs because a major part of Republika Srpska was then isolated and occupied by enemy forces. In an event organised by the Srpska Government committee in charge of nurturing the tradition of liberation wars, the 26th anniversary of the corridor breakthrough through Posavina in 1992 will be marked on Sunday, June 24 in Duga Njiva outside Modrica, the committee told Srna. The programme starts at 9.00 oclock with a holy liturgy at the Monastery of the Holy Prophet Elijah. A commemoration will take place at 11.00 oclock and wreaths will then be laid at the memorial honouring the fallen veterans, while officials will address the crowd at noon. This will be followed by artistic performances. The military operation of the Corridor breakthrough lasted between June 14 and June 28, 1992 in entire Posavina, ending a 42-days long ground and air blockade of the western part of Republika Srpska and Republic of Serbian Krajina. In Operation Corridor 1992, which has been designated as crucial, 273 fighters of the Army of Republika Srpska, 70 members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska and 70 veterans of the Army of the Republic of Serbian Krajina were killed. A total of 1,918 veterans were injured. The towns of Derventa, Modrica, Odzak and Brod were liberated in the battle, allowing for a ground connection with the other parts of Republika Srpska and with Serbia. The entire military operation of breaking the corridor ended on October 6, 1992 when the Serb army reached the River Sava in Brod. Operation Corridor 1992 was carried out by the joint units of the Army of Republika Srpska and Serb Army of Krajina against military and paramilitary forces of the Muslim-Croat coalition. The goal of the operation was to establish a ground connection between the western part of Republika Srpska and Republic of Serbian Krajina with the eastern part of Republika Srpska - Semberija, and Serbia, which was disconnected after the Croatian Defence Council occupied Modrica on May 31, 1992. /end/ds English14/06/2018 SRNA News Roundup /I/ - June 14, 2018 REPUBLIKA SRPSKA BANJALUKA - A section of the East Transit which cost BAM805,000 to build and a BAM541,000 roundabout at Rebrovac were commissioned in Banjaluka on Thursday. Prime Minister Zeljka Cvijanovic, who opened the section together with Putevi Republike Srpske CEO Nenad Nesic and Mayor Igor Radojicic, pointed out that the project was a result of good cooperation between the Government, the City of Banjaluka and the investor, the public enterprise Putevi. BANJALUKA - Mayor of Banjaluka Igor Radojicic and Prijedorputevi CEO Radenko Crnogorac on Thursday signed a contract on building a bridge on the Vrbas River at the site of the Zeleni Bridge, which will connect the eastern and western transit by the end of the year. Its value is estimated at BAM2.2 million. BANJALUKA - Prime Minister Zeljka Cvijanovic says Government representatives are talking with petroleum and petroleum product distributors in Srpska to persuade them to cut the fuel prices. BANJALUKA - Prime Minister Zeljka Cvijanovic says the blockade of traffic is an irresponsible act and that there is a place in every country where one can express their anger in protests and that no one disputes that. BANJALUKA - Prime Minister Zeljka Cvijanovic says the financial situation in Republika Srpska is absolutely stable and that the allegations made by the Srpska opposition and certain media in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina that Srpska does not fare well when it comes to the budget are not true. BANJALUKA - Prime Minister Zeljka Cvijanovic says the Government tried to help the pro-birth rate policy by introducing various measures and that one of them was a BAM405 monthly allowance for unemployed parents. BANJALUKA - The former chief of staff of the 1st Krajina Corps of the Army of Republika Srpska /VRS/, retired Lieutenant General Bosko Kelecevic believes that the breakthrough of the corridor through Posavina 1992, better known as the Corridor of Life, was a major factor in the survival of Republika Srpska. BANJALUKA - Head of the Association of Women Victims of War of Republika Srpska, Bozica Zivkovic Rajilic hopes that the National Assembly will adopt a bill on the protection of victims of war torture at its next session, covering more than 600 female members of the Association. SREBRENICA - Czech film director Vaclav Dvorak has started shooting material for a documentary about the Serb suffering in Srebrenica in the 1990s homeland war. Dvorak told Srna that eight years ago he started shooting dialogues and takes and collecting material for the documentary about Srebrenica Serbs and that those activities were disrupted due to the lack of financial resources. BANJALUKA - SNSD candidate for president of Republika Srpska Zeljka Cvijanovic says that after the October election she will be a new president of Srpska because the citizens know where they stand with her at the helm and that she works openly and does not make any false promises. BANJALUKA - SDS leader Vukota Govedarica voiced expectations that the Banjaluka City Board of his party will achieve good election results which will bring him victory as the candidate of the Alliance for Change for president of Republika Srpska and Serb member of the BiH Presidency. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA BANJALUKA - It is an unprecedented case in case law that the same person should be a forensic expert in a war crimes case in the same courtroom, and several days later stand accused of a war crime in the same courtroom, says Milorad Kojic, head of the Srpska Centre for Research of WAR, War Crimes and Search for the Missing, commenting on the fact that the Court of BiH allowed Nehro Ganic, against whom it confirmed an indictment for crimes against Serbs in Cemerno near Ilijas, to act as a forensic expert in another trial for a crime against Serbs in Brcko. SARAJEVO - Serbs were killed in most monstrous ways and buried in an ancillary stadium of Kosevo in Sarajevo in the 1990s war, the city where 842 Serb civilians went missing and 350 are still searched for, said Milan Mandic, head of the Association of Families of Fallen and Detained Veterans and Missing Civilians of the Sarajevo and Romanija Region. BELGRADE - The Serb member of the BiH Presidency Mladen Ivanic, together with his Croat and Bosniak counterparts, voted in favour of the BiH foreign policy strategy which includes the goal of joining NATO, reads a document of the US Embassy in Sarajevo, reports the Belgrade-based Vecernje Novosti. TUZLA - Religion analyst Mehmedalija Nuhic says the Austrian intelligence services has been monitoring dzemats /Jamia/ and paradzemats in BiH for quite some time now and that it knows much about the radicalisation of Muslims in BiH. SERBIA BELGRADE - Serbian Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlovic hopes an agreement will be signed at the 16+1 summit in Sofia in July about financing a section of the road from Preljine to Pozega, which is important for making a connection with Bosnia and Herzegovina. NOVI SAD - "Solunska 28," a new novel by Nenad Jankovic, better known as Dr Nele Karajlic, where former frontman of the Sarajevo rocknroll outfit Zabranjeno Pusenje writes about Belgrade, the city he moved to from Sarajevo in 1992, had its promotion at the Cultural Centre in Novi Sad on Wednesday. REGION SKOPJE - A large group of people protested outside the Macedonian parliament against changing the constitutional name of Macedonia, demanding that a deal on the name of the country not be signed. MOSCOW - Greece is hoping for the resolution of the conflict in Cyprus after a dispute with Macedonia on the naming of the country has been settled, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias said on Wednesday. BELGRADE - More than 140 valuable artworks have disappeared from the former Yugoslav embassies, consulates and residences and Serbia will demand answers about their disappearance through Interpol, said the Serbian representative in the Mixed Committee on Succession Veljko Odalovic. /end/ds A more recent publication of this set of statistics is available. Latest publication: Balance of payments and international investment position 2021, August Published: 15 June 2018 Current account in surplus in the first quarter, net international investment position weakened The current account was in surplus in the first quarter of 2018. In balance of payments terms, goods exports grew by 5 per cent and service exports by 2 per cent. The net exports of goods and services turned to a slight deficit as imports grew faster than exports. The surplus of investment income increased the current account surplus. The net international investment position weakened. The data appear from Statistics Finland's statistics on balance of payments and international investment position. Current account and goods and services account Current account In the first quarter of 2018, the current account was EUR 0.5 billion in surplus. The net exports of goods and services turned to a slight deficit as imports grew faster than exports and the primary income account was in surplus. Goods and services The trade account in balance of payments terms was EUR 0.3 billion in surplus in the first quarter of 2018. In the corresponding quarter of the previous year, the trade account surplus amounted to EUR 0.5 billion. The service account showed a deficit of EUR 0.4 billion in the first quarter of 2018. The service account weakened particularly due to the decrease in exports of telecommunications, computer and information services compared to the corresponding quarter last year. Goods exports in balance of payments terms amounted EUR 15.4 billion in the first quarter of 2018, which means that goods exports strengthened by 5 per cent from the corresponding period of 2017. Goods imports rose to EUR 15.1 billion, rising by 7 per cent year-on-year. In the first quarter of 2018, service exports grew by 2 per cent and service imports by 5 per cent compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Service exports rose to EUR 6.4 billion and service imports to EUR 6.8 billion and thus the service account again showed a deficit. Import and export figures in balance of payments terms by service item and area can be found in the statistics on international trade in goods and services starting from 2015. Decreases and increases made to the Finnish Customs figures, which result in goods trade in balance of payments terms, are also broken down in the statistics on international trade in goods and services. Primary income and secondary income The primary income account was EUR 1.2 billion in surplus in the first quarter of 2018. The primary income account includes compensation of employees, investment income and other primary income paid abroad from Finland and from abroad to Finland. The surplus of primary income was mainly due to investment income, which includes i.a. returns on capital like interests and dividends. EUR 1.0 billion were paid in investment income in net to Finland in the first quarter of 2018. The secondary income account was EUR 0.6 billion in deficit in the first quarter of 2018. Current account in deficit in April 2018 The current account was EUR 0.9 billion in deficit in April. The value of goods exports in balance of payments terms grew by 19 per cent from twelve months back. According to the Finnish Customs data , the value of exports was raised by a ship delivery of EUR 0.5 billion to Germany. Of the sub-items of the current account, the trade account in balance of payment terms was in surplus. The service account, the primary income account and the secondary income account were in deficit. Finlands current account and goods and services account, 12 month moving sum Financial account and net international investment position Net international investment position negative At the end of the first quarter of 2018, Finland had EUR 623.9 billion in foreign assets on gross and EUR 628.3 billion in foreign liabilities on gross. The net international investment position, that is, the difference between the stock of assets and liabilities, was thus negative at the end of the first quarter as there were EUR 4.4 billion more liabilities than assets. The net investment position contracted compared to the end of the previous quarter, when the net international investment position was EUR 12.7 billion. Both foreign assets and liabilities increased in the first quarter, but liabilities grew more than assets. Finnish foreign investments decreased with EUR 13.3 billion and liabilities reduced EUR 9.2 billion. Examined by sector, the net international investment position weakened in the first quarter of 2018 most due to the weakened net investment position of the other monetary financial institutions sector from EUR -125.7 billion to EUR -151.5 billion and that of the non-financial corporations sector from EUR -62.2 billion to EUR -71.8 billion. Employment pension schemes had the biggest foreign net assets, EUR 139.5 billion, while the other monetary financial institutions sector held the largest foreign net liabilities. Finlands net international investment position quarterly Capital flowed to Finland as portfolio investments In the first quarter of 2018, net capital inflow to Finland amounted to EUR 4.1 billion, which weakened the net international investment position. Examined by type of investment, net capital inflow was mostly in the form of portfolio investments, EUR 3.3 billion. Of the sub-items of the financial account, capital outflow was only in the form of other investments, that is, for example, as loans from outside the group, deposits and trade credits, EUR 0.2 billion on net. At the end of the first quarter of 2018, international direct investment assets on gross stood at EUR 155.8 billion and the corresponding liabilities at EUR 114.7 billion. The net investment position of direct investments was thus positive at the end of the first quarter as there were EUR 41.0 billion more assets than liabilities. The net investment position of direct investments weakened in the first quarter, when foreign direct investment liabilities grew more than assets. Finland's assets from foreign direct investments increased in the first quarter on net by EUR 3.6 billion, but valuation changes related to assets decreased gross assets in the first quarter by EUR 2.6 billion. Liabilities from direct investments increased by EUR 3.8 billion on net and valuation changes related to liabilities decreased gross liabilities by EUR 1.8 billion in the first quarter. The net international position of portfolio investments weakened in the first quarter of 2018 as assets from portfolio investments decreased and the stock of liabilities grew. Portfolio investment assets amounted to EUR 313.5 billion and portfolio investment liabilities to EUR 321.6 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2018. In the first quarter, assets decreased due to valuation changes, because portfolio investment assets in the form of financial transactions increased. Portfolio investment assets diminished in shares and money market instruments. In turn, assets from mutual fund shares and bonds increased in the first quarter, whereby the asset stock of mutual fund shares was EUR 124.4 billion and that of bonds EUR 127.8 billion. The liabilities stock of securities grew from the previous quarter, which was mainly due to valuation changes in shares and net investments. At the end of the first quarter, the liabilities stock of shares totalled EUR 103.1 billion. Bond liabilities also grew and were EUR 178.4 billion at the end of the first quarter. The liabilities stock of mutual fund shares decreased and was EUR 24.7 billion at the end of the first quarter. In the first quarter, financial transactions increased Finnish other investments abroad, e.g. loans from outside the corporate group, deposits and trade credits by EUR 4.2 billion on net. Capital was also increased in other investments to the tune of EUR 4.0 billion on net. At the end of the first quarter, other investment assets amounted to EUR 125.8 billion and liabilities to EUR 171.6 billion. At the end of first quarter of 2018, Finland had EUR 0.2 billion in net liabilities related to derivatives. Liabilities related to derivatives grew from the previous quarter, being EUR 20.4 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2018. Finland had EUR 20.2 billion in assets related to derivatives at the end of the first quarter of 2018. Financial account in April 2018 In April, net capital inflow to Finland amounted to EUR 1.1 billion. Of the sub-items of the financial account, net capital outflow was mostly in the form of other investments, EUR 1.1 billion. Net capital inflow was mostly in the form of portfolio investments, EUR 1.8 billion. Source: Balance of payments and international investment position, Statistics Finland Inquiries: Pauliina Turunen 029 551 2958, Tapio Kuusisto 029 551 3318, balanceofpayments@stat.fi. Director in charge: Ville Vertanen Publication in pdf-format (310.1 kB) Updated 15.06.2018 Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Balance of payments and international investment position [e-publication]. ISSN=2342-348X. April 2018. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 17.10.2021]. Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/mata/2018/04/mata_2018_04_2018-06-15_tie_001_en.html A more recent publication of this set of statistics is available. Latest publication: International trade in goods and services 2021, 2nd quarter Published: 15 June 2018 Exports of ICT services fell in the first quarter of 2018 Service exports continued growing in the first quarter of 2018, up by two per cent year-on-year. In particular, transport services, manufacturing services and other business services increased. Travel to Finland also grew. However, the growth of service exports has evened out, as service exports went down for ICT services and charges for the use of intellectual property n.i.e. Sweden was the most significant country of exports for Finland in both goods and services. The data appear from Statistics Finland's statistics on international trade in goods and services, which are part of balance of payments . Imports and exports of services The combined exports of goods and services grew by four per cent and imports by six per cent in the first quarter of 2018 compared with the corresponding quarter in 2017. In balance of payments terms, goods exports grew by five per cent and goods imports by seven per cent. Travel to Finland grew Both travel abroad from Finland and to Finland grew in the first quarter of 2018 from one year back. The value of travel expenditure abroad from Finland, which is included in the statistics as travel imports, grew by five per cent. Travel to Finland (included as travel exports), in turn, grew by eight per cent in the first quarter of 2018 year-on-year. However, more travel services are still imported than exported. Finland received income from travel services to the value of EUR 0.7 billion in the first quarter of 2018. Expenditure abroad from Finland amounted to slightly over EUR one billion. Travel exports include such as the goods and services consumed by a person having travelled to Finland either for a leisure or business trip for under one year. Rise in exports of transport services balanced out the losses in exports caused by the decrease in ICT service exports Measured in euros, service exports grew most due to exports of transport services, which rose by 16 per cent (EUR 127 million) compared to the corresponding quarter last year. Transport exports include such as income from freight and passenger transport and postal and courier services to Finland. Exports of manufacturing services rose by 23 per cent. An example of exports of this service item is that a Finnish enterprise assembles, processes or packs goods it does not own, but receives a payment for the (assembly) services it produces from a foreign owner. In turn, eight per cent more other business services were exported in the first three months of 2018 than in the first quarter of 2017. Growth from the first quarter of the previous year came particularly from the sub-item belonging to other business services: professional and management consulting services. This item usually includes services a parent company offers to its affiliates. The growth in service imports was, however, curbed by decreased exports of two service items. Exports of telecommunications, computer and information services (ICT services) were eight per cent down (EUR 145 million) on the corresponding quarter of the year before. Exports of charges for the use of intellectual property n.i.e. declined by seven per cent. The latter item includes such as income from property rights generated as a result of research and development services. The item also includes payments and fees related to franchise agreements and trademarks, as well as licences related to the distribution of computer software and licensing fees for trademarks. Exports of services by service item Imports of manufacturing services grew significantly Service imports grew by five per cent in the first quarter of 2018. Imports of transport services had most effect on the growth of service imports. Imports of transport services grew in euros as much as their exports. Ten per cent more of these services were imported to Finland in the first quarter of 2018 than in the corresponding quarter last year. Imports of manufacturing services grew by as much as 35 per cent. In imports of manufacturing services, a Finnish enterprise pays a foreign enterprise a processing premium, for example, for processing of raw materials, such as metal or oil. Sweden was Finlands most important country of exports for both goods and services Goods and services were exported most to Sweden in the first quarter of 2018. Goods exports to Sweden amounted to EUR 1.9 billion. Goods exports to Sweden grew by 12 per cent compared to the quarter of one year ago. The value of goods exports to Germany totalled EUR 1.4 billion. In turn, goods were imported from Germany at a higher value than exported there, that is, goods trade to Germany was in deficit. Goods and services in balance of payments terms exported to Germany amounted to EUR 333 million more at the beginning of this year than in the first quarter of 2017. Service exports to Germany grew by 31 per cent, while goods exports went up by just 16 per cent. Germany accounted for 10 per cent of Finland's service exports in the first quarter of 2018. Germany's share of service exports from Finland to Europe was 15 per cent. In goods, these shares were slightly smaller: 9 and 13 per cent. In these statistics, statistics on goods trade are based on change of ownership. The statistics compilation by Finnish Customs is based on border crossing. This definition has a significant effect when comparing statistics on German export figures compiled by Finnish Customs and Statistics Finland. International trade in services to the United States still in surplus After Sweden, services were particularly exported to the United States, where nine per cent fewer services were exported in the first quarter of 2018 than in the first quarter of 2017. Imports from the United States also declined. They fell by 15 per cent. Service trade to the United States is still in surplus: services exported there amounted to nearly EUR 0.3 billion more than imports from there. Services exported to Sweden totalled EUR 0.8 billion in the first quarter of 2018. Thus, the level of service exports to Sweden did not change from the first quarter of 2017. EUR 0.1 billion more services were imported from Sweden than exported there. Service imports from Sweden grew by 10 per cent in the first quarter of 2018. More services are also imported from the United Kingdom than exported there. However, the value of service exports to the United Kingdom measured in euros, EUR 328 million, is only around one-half of the services exported to the United States. Service exports to Russia grew by 13 per cent, while the level of service imports did not change from the year before. Ten per cent more services were exported to China and 13 per cent fewer were imported than at the beginning of 2017. Exports of goods and services in balance of payments terms by area Statistics on international trade The statistics on international trade in goods and services are part of balance of payments . The statistics comprise breakdowns of goods and services on a more detailed level. The guidelines and recommendations of the Balance of Payments Manual (BPM6) applied to balance of payments are consistent with the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010). National Accounts are published on quarterly and annual levels . Finnish Customs publishes data on goods trade across borders. Goods trade published by Finnish Customs is used as source data for the statistics on international trade in goods and services. Removals and additions caused by definitions are made to them to achieve goods trade in balance of payments terms. Finnish Customs statistical service, tilastot@tulli.fi, +358 29 552 335. Source: International trade in goods and services 2018, Statistics Finland Inquiries: Risto Sippola 029 551 3383, Terhi Tulonen 029 551 3604, globalisaatio.tilastot@stat.fi Director in charge: Ville Vertanen Publication in pdf-format (270.7 kB) Updated 15.6.2018 Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): International trade in goods and services [e-publication]. ISSN=2343-4244. 1st quarter 2018. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 17.10.2021]. Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/tpulk/2018/01/tpulk_2018_01_2018-06-15_tie_001_en.html Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money. Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists. I recently had the opportunity to meet Eric Hanson, the man behind the Second Growth Cigar Company. We met at the historic Georgetown Tobacco shop in Washington to chat about his project while we smoked the result of his work. Second Growth comes in only one size: an immense (7.9 x 54) smoke that takes a full two hours to enjoy. Produced by Henke Kehlner of Davidoff, the cigar is mild- to medium-bodied, extraordinarily creamy, and balanced, with subtle notes of cedar and spice. The single sample I smoked had plenty of subtleties and twists to keep an attentive smoker enthralled. After our talk, I followed up by email to get some more details about his unique project. Stogie Guys: With so many excellent cigars already out there, why introduce Second Growth now? Eric Hanson: Youre right, there are a lot of excellent cigars already out there. Second Growth is the elite prestige bracket of the marketplace. What is interesting about the above premium consumer is their desire for unique experiences. Second Growth is blended to be the perfect compliment to a fine glass of Bordeaux or American meritage wines. SG: Tell us a little about your wine and cigar pairing philosophy. EH: The philosophy is simple. It is all about complimenting not competing flavors. When paired with Bordeaux blends and American meritage wines, Second Growth provides a perfectly synchronized flavor experience. While the wine flavors emanate from the rear of the tongue majestically working forward through the palate, in perfect harmony, the smoke from Second Growth begins stimulating the front of the palate imparting its flavors while traveling to the back of the mouth. The rich fruit of the wine prepares the palate for the complex interplay of spice, leather, and chocolate notes delivered from this exceptional cigar. SG: You worked with Henke Kelner of Davidoff on this cigar. How did he come up with this blend for you? EH: We were at the factory on other business and decided to show Henke Sr. and Jr. the box and concept for Second Growth. Both were fascinated with the concept and immediately we started discussing the type and aging of the tobacco one would need to execute an elegant project like this. For the next few hours we smoked several cigars and reviewed many bundles of unique hybrid tobaccos. Then, like a bolt of lightning, Henke Jr. said he had the perfect cigar for this project. Earlier in the year Alladio (master blender) and Henke Sr. came up with the blend for Henke Jr.s 36th birthday. What type of cigar do you get for Jr. for his 36th birthday? A Cuban? No! The best filler, binder, and wrapper ever grown from the aging room at Tabadom that is never to be in regular production. We all smoked the cigar and had some Chateau Gruaud Larose and we all realized we had found the perfect cigar. Father and son agreed to let us use HMK 36 and Second Growth was born. There was only enough tobacco for 19,480 cigars or approximately 1,000 boxes. SG: The presentation of the Second Growth is unique. Tell us about the box and band you selected. EH: The box is unlike any other vessel for cigars in cigar industry history. Each Second Growth cigar box is hand furnished by Irish master craftsman James Rowe in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. We purchased 50 wine barrels from a famous Second Growth classified winery from Saint Julien Bordeaux, France, and had them flown to New Hampshire. The wine barrels had been used during the maturation of a famed vintage. The concentrated fruit aromas emanating from the barrel staves envelope each cigar, imparting a timeless elegance and accentuating the beauty of the wine-stained woodworking. The natural fruit essence from the fine wine mingles with the spice; leather and chocolate notes in the rare aged tobacco create a taste synthesis befitting the most discerning connoisseur. I think you will enjoy this smoke! Like the box the band is also very unique and has a great story. While the label on a cigar has always acted as both advertising and badge for the cigar maker, it originated to provide a simple, utilitarian function. The cigar band was invented during a time when it was customary for gentlemen to wear white gloves. All original bands were woven from silk or cotton fabric, the band acted as a barrier to prevent the smoker from staining their gloves. We liked the elegance of the story we embarked on a journey to restore this tradition. With Second Growth we liken it to returning to this golden age of cigars by wrapping each with a wide, woven, luxurious band reminiscent of those days gone by. We believe this extra step adds the perfect finishing touch for such a rare offering. SG: What were some of the challenges you faced bringing this cigar to market? EH: Helping the press and blog sites to understand whom this product was designed for. The traditional cigar industry insider seems to think that for something to be special it has to be full-bodied or incredibly strong. We disagree entirelywhile there is a time for strong cigars we also believe there is equal time for medium-bodied cigars that show time-honored craftsmanship and deep understanding of the interplay of different tobaccos and how to deliver a complete flavor experience with elegance and nuance; a cigar that can be enjoyed alone or with a fine glass of wine or during a great meal. That was our biggest challenge. SG: $30 is a lot for a cigar. Why should someone buy it? EH: This box of cigars is for the oenophile and connoisseur. Someone with an excellent palate and taste. Its an experience of a lifetime and the train is only stopping once. SG: When youre not pairing cigars with wine, what is your beverage of choice with a fine cigar? EH: Have you ever tried Vodka with cigars? H+S vodka is perfectand yes I am biased because I am the founder of that company and the creator of that product also. SG: After the 20,000 Second Growth cigars are gone, what can we expect next? EH: Good question. Projects are in the workslook out for a wildly complex cigar to be paired with Big Napa Cabs and Super Tuscans. God I love this job! Many thanks to Eric Hanson for taking the time to talk about Second Growth. For more information, visit their website. Patrick S photo credit: Stogie Guys Items About Areas That Could Break Out Into War June 13, 2018: Turkey, once one of two (along with Israel) most powerful and reliable NATO allies in the Middle East has become, since 2002 unstable, less reliable and turning itself into an Islamic dictatorship seeking to form a Moslem coalition to destroy Israel. This is largely the work of one politician Recep Erdogan and his AKP (Justice and Development Party). Before 2002 Erdogan was known as a proponent of clean government and using Islam (which was one thing nearly all Turks had in common) to justify his views. While earlier reformer Kemal Ataturk had dismantled the Ottoman Empire and the use of Islamic law in the government, Ataturk had not tried to ban Islam. What he did do was unique; he separated state and religion and created a functioning democracy in a major Islamic state. That had never been done before, in part because the word Islam means, literally, submission and Islamic scripture makes it clear that pure Islam means rule by Islamic law and Islamic clerics (or non-clerics selected by senior Islamic clerics and scholars). That was the theory but it was rarely achieved and never worked. Erdogan recognized and accepted this history and practiced what he preached when he was elected mayor of Istanbul in 1994. He proceeded to go after the corruption that was endemic (and ancient) in Turkey and the Middle East in general. Even the ancient Romans, who were rather more into the rule of law than their contemporaries, were appalled at the extent corruption influenced the cultures and governments of the region. That never changed and when the Turks showed up in the Middle East after 900AD they proved unbeatable in combat and began to settle down. By 1300 the many Turk factions had consolidated into the Ottoman Empire and proceeded to conquer most of the Moslem states in existence. The Turks were very practical and innovative and to deal with the problem of Islamic radicalism (already a problem in the Islamic world) the Ottoman Sultan (emperor) declared himself the Caliph (secular and religious leader of all Moslems) and killed or co-opted (bribed) those who organized any serious opposition to that claim. Most of the opponents were Arabs. Because Islam had been created and initially spread by Arabs many Arabs believe they are more Islamic than other Moslems. Being ruled by Turks was never popular. Even though the Ottoman Empire was dissolved in the early 1920s many Arabs have bitter memories of centuries of domination by the Ottoman Turks, whose empire once stretched into North Africa and the Balkans and included Iraq and Arabia. If you ignore the Islamic integration of church and state, Islam has a lot to recommend it. Turks largely practiced the Sufi form of Islam which concentrated on the spiritual and ethnic aspects of Islam and not those elements that encouraged violence and conquest. Ataturk took that attitude further than the Ottoman government had in a new constitution where church and state were very much separated. Ataturk and his followers made it work and by World War II secular Turkey remained neutral during the war and prospered while the rest of world around them was in chaos. After World War II Turkey joined NATO and sought to establish more cultural and economic links with the West and generally ignored its former subjects (most of them Arab). The Arabs were fine with this. But one thing Turks and Arabs still shared (besides Islam) was tolerance of corruption. This crippled economic growth but because the Turkish armed forces were (as they had always been) more efficient and well run than the rest of the Ottoman government, the West overlooked the corruption. A growing number of Turks did not and this led to several political parties and religious movements aimed at reducing the corruption in order to improve the economic and spiritual lives of Turks. One of the more successful of these movements was led by Fethullah Gulen, a former Islamic cleric turned social reformer who was two decades older than Erdogan but the two shared a desire for a less corrupt and more just Turkey. In the 1990s Erdogan and Gulen joined forces. By that time Gulen had an international movement because with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 the Gulen movement could spread to the many Turkic peoples in Central Asia as well as Western countries where there were hardly any Turks. Gulen saw his ideas as basically about honest government and secular education for all. Gulen was about creating a civil society (one that encouraged and respected honest government). Erdogan was a politician who meant to get elected to high office and help eliminate corruption and create the civil society that would get Turkey into the European Union. With the help of Gulen, the AKP coalition won the national elections in 2002 and Erdogan became a reform minded leader of Turkey who stressed the need for Turkish Moslems to use their religious faith to reduce corruption and prosper because of that. Initially, thats what happened. Suddenly the many (hundreds of thousands) Gulen followers in the police, military and civil service could reveal themselves and help implement the new civil society. Gradually Erdogan came to see these many Gulen followers as political rivals who were plotting against him. In addition, he felt many of the non-Gulen officers and officials, especially the corrupt ones, were actually planning a coup. Erdogan seems to have misread the situation early on and increasingly believed that senior officers, in general, were planning another coup. These military takeovers were not a threat for many decades after Ataturk installed a democratic government in the 1920s. But in 1960, 1971, 1980 and 1997 there were coups. The first one was partially triggered by a newly elected government that was going to lift Ataturk era restrictions on Islam (more mosques and Arab influences). All these coups were done in the name of Ataturk and restoring order to a government and economy increasingly crippled by the corruption. Meanwhile, one popular solution to the corruption was religion and the Gulen movement was prominent in that area. Thus the 1997 coup was in response to the growing popularity of Islamic reformist political parties. Erdogan was banned from politics for five years and Gulen moved to the United States. But the Islamic political reform movement survived and Erdogan formed the AKP and joined forces with Gulenites and other Islamic parties to form a coalition that won power in 2002. By 2008 Erdogan's suspicions led to the five year long Ergenekon conspiracy trials which many Turks saw as a government vendetta against the military. Most of the 275 conspirators put on trial were retired and current military officers. In addition, there were some journalists and politicians opposed to the AKP. All were accused of belonging to a secret group, dominated by the military that had long been the real ruler of Turkey. This secret state had been displaced by the Islamic AKP and now sought to launch a coup against the AKP government. In addition to those accused and indicted the government also arrested hundreds of journalists, businessmen and politicians (especially Kurds) for providing favorable publicity, money or political support for the conspirators. All but 21 of the 275 people put on trial were convicted. Not surprisingly in early 2016, all these convictions were annulled because an appeals court had carefully examined the evidence determined the obvious, that the government had not proved a conspiracy actually existed. The government said it would retry the accused but so far has only made an effort to try 14 of the conspirators on other charges. Meanwhile, Erdogan continued going after the Gulenites, who were also accused of plotting to overthrow the government. This came to a head in July 2016 when a rather insipid military coup failed quickly. One motive of the officers behind the coup was fear that Erdogan's growing paranoia, false accusations and support for Islamic radicalism was going to rip Turkey apart. The failed coup sort of did that because Erdogan used the coup as an excuse to grab more power and carry out a mass purge of the military, civil service and media. Over 100,000 people lost their jobs and many were jailed. In most cases, the victims were accused of being Gulen followers. After the failure of the Ergenekon case, Erdogan became even more hostile to the West and friendly with Russia and Iran. The Erdogan meltdown has also resulted in a return of corruption, especially in Erdogans own family and those of senior officials who have always been close of Erdogan. As a result, the corruption reduction efforts are being reversed, which domestic and foreign buyers of Turkish goods can attest is having a negative effect on Turkish productivity and product quality. This can be seen in the efforts to create more Turkish defense industries and expand the range of products developed and produced in Turkey. When Erdogan came to power Israel, which had long been an ally of Turkey, was looking forward to the new government reducing the corruption in defense procurement which made it difficult for allies to sell Turkey weapons that would use Turkish accessories. Turkish suppliers knew they could make false claims to get a contract and then bribe their way out of trouble. This drove Israeli, and other Western defense firms mad because the Turkish government would then blame the foreign supplier and it would become a diplomatic issue. Erdogan ultimately made this situation worse. Now Israel has gone from best friend to worst enemy. One example of how this works was the United States refusing a Turkish request to provide (or allow Turkey to recruit) pilot instructors to help rebuild the depleted ranks of Turkish F-16 pilots after 2016. Pakistan was the only major F-16 user that agreed to provide some pilot instructors but the Americans blocked that as well. This is a serious problem for the Turkish Air Force because the July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey had many victims and one of the lesser known ones was the effectiveness of Turkish fighter fleet. While few F-16 pilots took part in the coup, the government lost (through dismissal or resignation) 274 combat pilots. This reduced the ratio of pilots per F-16 from 1.25 to .8. Suddenly the combat capabilities of the Turkish air force were greatly reduced, especially if the F-16s were called on to engage in large scale and intensive operations. The loss of so many officers throughout the military has seriously reduced the effectiveness of Turkish forces. Moreover, the Erdogan government is seen as a security risk by NATO allies and that means the United States is reconsidering the sale of the new F-35 stealth fighter to Turkey. Israel was the first export customer to get a squadron of F-35s organized and the Israeli F-35s have already been spotted over Lebanon and Syria. The Americans dont want F-35s fighting each other if Turkey gets its F-35s and Erdogan continues being Erdogan. All this paranoia extended to another of Erdogan's early allies; the Kurds. Despite being a formidable military force, or perhaps because of it, the Kurdish minorities in Iraq, Iran Turkey and Syria are again under pressure to back off from efforts to create an independent Kurdish state. The last few decades have given Kurds hope that their time may have finally arrived. Since the early 1990s, the Iraqi Kurds have been autonomous (with British and American help) and they had always been more effective soldiers than the Iraqi Arabs. Somethings, however, do not change. The Kurds still suffer from tribal and clan divisions as well as corruption, but to a much lesser extent than the Arabs. Thus after 2014, a disproportionate number of Western trainers were sent to the Kurds in Iraq and Syria. The Kurds are considered reliable enough to work with Western commandos and protect ground control teams (that can call in air strikes). Kurds regularly assisted the American and British commandos in carrying out their most dangerous tasks; reconnaissance inside ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) territory. But the Kurds did not have the manpower for large scale operations. And thats why they were pushed out of Kirkuk province in late 2017 by more numerous Iraqi Arab soldiers and militiamen. Kurds in Turkey, Syria and Iran are also under attack and the Kurds have not got the numbers, or cash, to deal with all their hostile hosts. The Kurds have had more than their share of bad breaks. Like many mid-size ethnic groups the Kurds were never able to establish their own nation and for thousands of years have been subjects of one empire (Iranian, Roman, Turkish and so on) or another. A century ago they were part of the Turkish homeland because the Turks recognized the Kurds as worthy allies (but still part of the empire). Turks even like to call the Kurds mountain Turks, a name the Kurds do not like at all. After World War I the Kurds living near the Turkish city of Mosul found that they were no longer Turkish subjects but now part of the largely Arab nation of Iraq. This was done by the victorious allies (mainly Britain and France) to deny the Turks (now a country, not an empire and reduced to its present borders) oil, which had recently been discovered in the areas around Mosul and Kirkuk. Needless to say, the Arabs, long unwilling subjects of the Turkish Empire, did not welcome the Kurds (who were often the Turkish enforcers when the Arabs got out of line). The Turks recognized and used Kurdish military skills and Arabs feared the Kurds because of that. Meanwhile, the Kurds, in general, were angry that the allied promise of a Kurdish state (once the Turks were defeated) was not kept. That was mainly because the Turks, now pushed back to their homeland, made it clear that there would be a major fight if the allies tried to keep all the promises made at the expense of the Turks. The war weary allies backed off after a brief war and the Kurds were screwed again. That was the 1920s and the basic situation has not changed much. Yet the Syrian and Iraqi Kurds feel they have a chance of holding on to their autonomous enclaves which are adjacent to each other. ISIL is gone now and the Arabs see the Kurds, who were recently vital allies in defeating ISIL, as a threat. In Turkey, the majority of Kurds were willing to live peaceably as Turkish citizens as long as they could freely speak Kurdish and publish material written in Kurdish. At one point Erdogan was willing to do that but the growing paranoia destroyed that as well. Meanwhile, Erdogan has modified the constitution (legally, via a 2017 vote) to change government from a parliamentary democracy (like Britain) to one with a strong presidency (like the United States). To complete this process there will be national elections June 24 in Turkey to elect the first newly empowered president. Meanwhile, two things have happened. National polls indicate a minority of voters now approve of Erdogan and AKP. Second, the major opposition parties have formed a coalition to put forth candidates that pose a major threat to Erdogan and the AKP. The question is, will the election be honest? Will Erdogan feel compelled to stage his own coup (rigging the election) for the good of the country? If he does will that lead to another civil war? Erdogan wants to avoid another repeat of the 2013 unrest when Turkey underwent months of riots and demonstrations against the government. Known as the Taksim Square/Gezi Park movement protests they started out peaceful. But eventually, over 8,000 demonstrators were injured police efforts to shut down the public protests. At least five people died and over 2.5 million Turks participated in the protests. The government blamed this on agents from foreign countries as well as American social media like Facebook and Twitter. That popular anger has grown as Erdogan acts more like a reactionary than a reformer. Opponents call him Sultan Erdogan and note that he is apparently preparing his son to succeed him. No one is sure how all this will end or when. Meanwhile, Turkey is going backward rather than forward and most Turks do not want, as Erdogan says he does, Turkey to become the leader of an Islamic coalition to destroy Israel and, presumably, create another Turkish empire. Worse, many fear that Erdogan is not really sure where he wants to go. The month of battles near the Red Sea port of Hodeida brought Yemeni and coalition forces to with 15 kilometers of the port a few days ago. The final assault began yesterday and some coalition forces are now six kilometers from the port area and even closer to the Hodeida airport. An amphibious attack on the port facilities was apparently defeated but in the meantime, ground forces are using their ample air support to blast their way through any rebel defenses. The Rebels and their Iranian backers are pleading with the UN to impose a ceasefire but that wont happen because Iran and the rebels have frequently sabotaged UN sponsored peace talks and there is little enthusiasm for trusting the rebels or their Iranian sponsors. The coalition insists that this is the quickest way to end the way because Hodeida is the major source of weapons and military equipment smuggled into Yemen. With Hodeida no longer available to the rebels most of the Iranian material support will be gone and the shaky morale of the rebel coalition will cause more factions to switch sides and more Shia fighters to quit. Meanwhile, coalition airstrikes have been hitting all the Shia rebel forces they can locate. The assault on the city was well publicized and leaflets were dropped on residential areas in the way warning civilians to leave if they could. Everyone knows that the Shia rebels deliberately station their forces and supplies of ammo and equipment in residential areas to discourage air strikes. When civilians get killed the Shia and their Iranian backers can use the photos of dead civilians to accuse the coalition of atrocities. Often that works but this time the coalition has warned civilians to clear out because the Shia rebels will be hit no matter where they are. The main advance is up the coast with other forces coming from the inland side of the port. The inland advance has already cut the main roads to the rebel occupied capital Saana, 140 kilometers from the port. Hodeida is the largest and most developed Red Sea port in Yemen and the major conduit for food and other aid coming to rebel controlled northern Yemen. In effect, more than half the population of Yemen depend on foreign aid (especially food and medicine) coming in via Hodeida. Hidden among all these supplies are weapons and military equipment provided by Iran for the Shia rebels. Among those weapons are anti-ship missiles and components for ballistic missiles (which are assembled in northern Yemen and fired into Saudi Arabia.) The Saudis point out that the Iranian anti-ship missiles have been used more frequently at commercial shipping, which now has to stay farther out to sea to avoid being hit. Some 15 percent of global maritime cargo moves past Hodeida, most of it going to or from the Suez Canal. Before the war, some 70 percent of Yemeni imports arrived via Hodeida. The rebels have a choice between withdrawing forces from the port area and minimizing damage to cargo handling equipment and facilities, or fighting it out there and decreasing the flow of essential foreign aid to their own families as well as many non-Shia Yemenis in Shia controlled territory. In that case, the Shia will blame the coalition for the damage and that is often the Shia idea of a victory. Taking the port from the rebels is not the hard part, clearing the rebels away from the vicinity of the port and the main roads out of the port is a larger problem. Unless the rebels are kept least 30 kilometers from the port (to prevent mortar and rocket fire on the port area) and tight security established in the port area (to prevent bomb attacks) the foreign shipping companies will not continue visiting Hodeida. Ever since early 2017, the UN has urged the Shia rebels to peacefully give up control of the Red Sea port of Hodeida but the rebels have refused to seriously consider this. Even proposals that Hodeida be turned over to a neutral third party are turned down. This is not a matter of trust, its a matter of survival for the rebels. In part, this is because of the smuggling. The rebels have prevented UN personnel from inspecting aid shipments (for weapons and other contraband) and the government claims the rebels have been seizing aid shipments and preventing UN personnel from verifying that the aid is going to civilians. As long as the rebels hold onto Hodeida and Iran still has powerful allies in the UN (mainly Russia and China, who can veto some measures) the smuggling can continue as can the use of food to control civilian populations that are hostile to the rebels. That food tactic has backfired and turned many civilians against the rebels. The government and coalition forces are now concentrating on taking Hodeida and other Red Sea coast areas held by the Shia rebels. This works but it was slow going and increased casualties among government and coalition forces. Some weapons are smuggled in via government controlled ports, like Aden. This involves more risk, and more bribes, to get trucks carrying aid or commercial goods, along with illegal weapons, to rebel controlled territory. Taking Hodeida wont stop the smuggling, which is able to get ballistic missile components and other Iranian weapons into rebel controlled areas. Enough of this stuff is intercepted to make it clear that Iran is sending weapons meant to hit targets inside Saudi Arabia or take down Saudi warplanes operating over Yemen. These advanced weapons are getting through in large part because Yemen has always been smuggler friendly. With Iranian help (cash and diplomacy) the smuggled weapons kept the war going. This was also helped by the fact that Qatar and Oman had always been active in using Yemeni smuggling networks. June 13, 2018: The final assault to take Hodeida began and on the first day at least 250 rebels were killed by airstrikes and ground fighting. In addition, 140 rebels were captured. The rebels responded with an Iranian Badr-1 ballistic missile fired at the Saudi city of Jizan, which is near the Yemen border. Saudi anti-missile defenses destroyed the Iranian missile. So far at least 120 ballistic missiles (most of them Iranian) have been fired into Saudi Arabia by the Shia rebels. A UAE ship supporting the ground forces advancing on Hodeida was hit by a Shia missile and set afire. The Shia rebels said they had thwarted a coalition effort to land troops near the port, apparently an effort to seize the port area quickly and avoid damage to port facilities. June 12, 2018: In the southeast (Hadramawt province) soldiers raided an AQAP (Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) camp and seized 28 recently assembled bombs, two explosive vests and a large supply of bomb components as well as ammunition. Other evidence indicated that the bombs were to be used for attacks on the largest city in the province; the port of Mukalla June 11, 2018: The UN began evacuating its personnel from Hodeida. Some other foreign aid workers remained. Some of the 600,000 civilians in the city are leaving as well. The civilians were warned by the coalition to leave if they lived near major targets (port area, airport, known rebel facilities.) June 9, 2018: In the north Shia rebels fired a ballistic missile at the Saudi city of Jizan, which is near the Yemen border. Most of these missiles are intercepted by Saudi anti-missile missiles but this one landed close enough to a residential to kill three civilians. Further south on the outskirts of Hodeida the rebels were suffering heavy casualties (at least fifty dead today) trying to slow the army and coalition advance on the port. In the southwest (Taiz province) an army colonel and his bodyguards were attacked by gunmen in Taiz city. The colonel was killed and four bodyguards wounded. The city is still being cleared of Shia rebels even though the entire city is now under government control. June 7, 2018: The U.S. revealed that so far in 2018 there have been 28 attacks by American UAVs in Yemen. Many of the attacks are not announced in any detail. In the last three months, the frequency of attacks has declined (to one or two a month). As in 2017 (when there were 131 attacks) the ones in 2018 have been mainly against AQAP and ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) camps and key personnel in central Yemen (especially Baida province). This greatly reduces Islamic terrorist capabilities in Baida, which had long been an Islamic terrorist stronghold. East of Baida province are Shabwa and Hadramawt provinces. The later stretches from the sea to the Saudi border and is largely desert. Along with Baida these two provinces once hosted most of AQAP personnel and base areas. But since early 2017 AQAP has been under heavy attack by the Americans and the Arab coalition and responded by shifting more of their terror attacks to the government and Arab coalition forces. AQAP took credit for 273 attacks in 2017 and in the first six months of that year, some 75 percent of these attacks were against the Shia rebels. But in the second half of 2017 half, the attacks were against fellow Sunnis (government and coalition forces). In 2018 the remaining AQAP are mainly fighting for survival against government and coalition forces. June 5, 2018: In the north Shia rebels fired another Iranian Burkan-2 ballistic missile deep into Saudi territory (Medina province). A Saudi Patriot anti-missile missile intercepted it. The Burkan-2 was aimed at a Saudi oil refinery on the Red Sea coast at Yanbu, which is over 1,000 kilometers from rebel territory in northern Yemen. June 4, 2018: The UN again offered the Shia rebels a way to avoid a major government offensive to capture Hodeida. The UN officials pointed out that a determined attack would take the port and kill a lot of rebels and civilians. This fighting would interrupt aid shipments and probably damage the port facilities. The rebels could avoid all these losses by placing the port under UN control and withdrawing their forces. The rebels debated this among themselves for over a day and then refused the UN offer. Two days before the final assault began the coalition gave the rebels one last chance to give up the city and that was refused as well. May 28, 2018: Saudi Arabia revealed that in late May it had arrested nine Filipinos (along with two Saudis and a Yemeni) and accused them of threatening state security. This apparently refers to support for an Islamic terror group. Foreign workers in Saudi Arabia are sometimes found to have been radicalized by locals who are secretly working for banned Islamic terrorist organizations. Most Yemeni foreign workers are gone from Saudi Arabia, a process that began in the 1990s (over loyalty issues) and concluded in 2013 when the Saudis decided to force unemployed Saudis to take jobs foreign workers (especially Yemenis) performed. Many of the Yemenis who remain in Saudi Arabia are illegal and some are working for AQAP or ISIL May 26, 2018: In the north Shia rebels launched a UAV armed with explosives and sent it towards Abha airport across the Saudi border in Asir province. Saudi air defenses shot down the UAV and the components indicated it was made in Iran. May 25, 2018: Two Saudi border guards were killed by Shia rebels firing from the Yemeni side of the border, May 24, 2018: In the north Shia rebels fired a ballistic missile at the Saudi city of Jizan, which is near the Yemen border. The missile was intercepted. Sudan announced that its military forces will continue to participate in the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran backed Shia rebels in Yemen. Sudan has about 3,000 soldiers in Yemen as well as several jet fighters. May 23, 2018: Iran indicated that it was willing to negotiate a peace deal on Yemen. This turned out to be nothing new as Iranian terms included allowing Iranian support for the Shia tribes (who are now supplying most of the rebels) to continue. May 22, 2018: In the west, a UAE warship operating near the Red Sea port of Hodeida spotted small speedboats heading out towards the commercial shipping lanes. The boats apparently belonged Shia rebels and seeking large commercial ships to attack. The UAE warship fired on the speedboats, sinking two of them while the other two escaped towards Hodeida, May 21, 2018: In the north Shia rebels fired a ballistic missile at the Saudi city of Jizan, which is near the Yemen border. The ballistic missile was intercepted by Saudi anti-missile missiles. May 19, 2018: In the north, two more rebel ballistic missiles were fired into Saudi Arabia. One was shot down by Saudi Patriot anti-missile missiles after it crossed the border headed for the city of Khamis Mushait in Asir province. The second one landed harmlessly in the empty desert. Two years after the Chinese Air Force received its first production model Y-20 air transport seven are now in service. Earlier in 2018, the Y-20 was used, for the first time, for dropping paratroopers as well as cargo by parachute. The Y-20 is similar to the American four engine C-17 heavy jet transport. But the Y-20 was developed and put into production much more quickly and apparently going to be built in much larger number. The 220 ton Y-20 is based on years of experience with the similar Russian Il-76. China ordered Y-20 development to begin back in 2006, after canceling a $1.5 billion order for 38 Russian Il-76 transport planes and Il-78s (tanker versions of the Il-76). The stated reason was that Russia tried to up the price 27 percent. China had been looking elsewhere, including urging its domestic aircraft manufacturers to come up with something. That process eventually led to the new Y-20, which one Chinese aircraft manufacturer (Xian) was already working on, just in case. China has long wanted an air transport similar to the C-17. An improved Il-76 seemed like a good option but Russia had to give up on an Il-76 replacement because of economic and political problems. Moreover, China was able to hire the Antonov Aircraft Corporation in Ukraine for help in design and manufacturing. The Y-20 looks very similar to the An-70 that Antonov has been developing. Construction of the Y-20 uses the latest production methods (employing computer generated component design and 3-D printing). The current Y-20s use four Russian jet engines but these will eventually be replaced by Chinese WS-20s. The new Y-20 comes pretty close to what China was hoping to get from Russia. The Y-20 is more similar to the C-17 than the Il-76. That is on purpose because while the Y-20 will replace the current fleet of 195 ton Il-76s, China is also looking at the export market, which is more receptive to American than Russian style transports. The Il-76 a Russian heavy transport that entered service in 1975 and can carry up to 50 tons. The Y-20 can carry 66 tons and fly 4,500 kilometers without refueling (7,800 kilometers with 40 tons or over 10,000 kilometers with 110 paratroopers). Around 300 regular passengers can be carried as well as armored vehicles, including one 55 ton Type 99 tank (the heaviest one China has). The Y-20 made its first flight in 2013 when there were two prototypes being heavily used to work out any problems with the aircraft design. The aircraft is now in full production. So far eight Y-20s have been built and the air force recently received the first of many production models. The Chinese air force would like to obtain several hundred Y-20s and there is also the export market. The C-17 has 280 ordered or in service and production may soon end. The C-17, which entered service in 1995 and has an enviable useful life of 30,000 flight hours. The Y-20 has some similarities with the C-17 but is mainly based on Ukrainian Antonov designs. The 290 ton C-17 can carry up to 100 tons (including one M-1 tank) anywhere in the world because of in-air refueling. The C-17 costs about $250 million each. Over fifty have been sold to foreign users, including Britain, Canada, Australia, and India. The U.S. Air Force operates over 200. Chinese military planners want many more Y-20s as well as getting away from depending on Russia for heavy transports. Dealing with Russia can be difficult even in the best of times. The Y-20 will be competition for the Il-76, which is still in production with nearly a thousand ordered or built since 1974. If the C-17 production ceases, as planned, in the early 2020s there will be even more business for the Y-20. Most Afghans want peace but progress in achieving that has been blocked by the drug gangs, Pakistan and some troublesome traditions. Achieving peace requires all the help it can get and most Afghans understand that. For example, on June 4th the Afghan Ulema Council (the top religious authority in the country) met in Kabul. The 2,000 Islamic scholars and senior clerics rarely hold such large meetings but this one was considered urgent because of the continued damage being done by the drug gangs, their Taliban hired guns and the Pakistani support for all this. So the Council issued a fatwah (religious ruling) condemning suicide attacks and supporting peace talks. The council also called for a ceasefire. This was the first time the council had supported peace talks and since the Council represents all parts of the country its announcements are considered a good gauge of public opinion. Hours after that decision was announced ten ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) terrorists attacked the meeting place. This attack failed but fourteen were killed and twenty wounded. The Taliban responded by denying any involvement in the attack and accusing those at the meeting of following orders from the Americans. ISIL wanted to send a more emphatic response and employed a very alien (to Afghans) tactic. Suicide attacks were rare in Afghanistan until the 1990s, when al Qaeda moved its headquarters to Afghanistan and discovered that the locals displayed a cultural aversion to suicide attacks favored by al Qaeda and ISIL. Most Afghans saw this tactic as another Arab custom that would never become popular in Afghanistan. ISIL groups in Afghanistan have a large number of foreigners and many of the Afghan members are teenagers so ISIL carries out more suicide attacks and is disdained by Afghans because of all those foreigners and their strange ways. The ISIL force that attacked the Ulema meeting were wearing Afghan Army uniforms but they were not the type worn by army units in Kabul and the guards at the entrance to the compound noticed that and did not wave through the captured hummers carrying the ISIL attackers. Instead the ISIL men were ordered out of their hummers so IDs could be checked. The attackers had no IDs and got out and started shooting. The attack failed. The Afghan Ulema Council is which is widely respected throughout Afghanistan and that is why the Taliban would not attack the meeting but ISIL would. The Taliban are not inclined to consider peace talks because of money (from the drug gangs) and sanctuary (on southwest Pakistan, particularly Quetta, capital of Baluchistan province). The existence of sanctuaries in Pakistan are denied by the Pakistani military but it is an open secret in Pakistan that the Pakistan military and its intelligence agency (the ISI, which literally created the Taliban 25 years ago) handles these sanctuaries. In Pakistan, the military is very much above the law and can usually do whatever it wants. That is not a secret because about half the time since Pakistan was created in 1947 the military has openly run the government (after a coup) until popular opposition forced the generals to allow elections again. The Pakistani interference in Afghan affairs is more unpopular than the presence of foreign troops (who at least bring economic benefits, have no interest in staying around forever and oppose, as do most Afghans, the drug gangs). Moreover, terrorism related deaths are overwhelmingly Islamic terrorists (Taliban and ISIL). These men die protecting the drug production that has turned millions of Afghans into addicts and crippled efforts to build the economy and educate the children. Despite all the violence and subsequent damage to the economy, education and life, in general, most Afghans will not pass up an opportunity to take or offer a bribe or steal from the government, foreign aid groups or any group that presents an opportunity to obtain some loot. Stealing from foreigners (meaning anyone not from your family or tribe) is an ancient tradition in Afghanistan and often a matter of survival. Because of that, there is not much progress in reducing corruption and foreign aid donors, as well as potential investors, are less willing to provide cash for something useful only to find it has been stolen by some Afghanistan official because they had an opportunity to do so and just could not resist. Tradition and all that. Loot is not the only national obsession, so is homicidal violence. Casualties are up among the security forces this year with about 1,500 policemen and soldiers killed or wounded each month. Losses are even greater among the Taliban, drug gangs and various Islamic terror groups but these are less willing to share casualty data. Prisoner interrogation, captured documents and data from aerial photography and electronic monitoring. Nationwide casualties among civilian and security forces are up about eight percent so far this year compared to 2017. A lot of the increase has to do with more air support from NATO and Afghan air forces. The foreign air forces are providing over a hundred air strikes a week. The Afghan Air Force provides much less (about a quarter of what the foreigners provide) but the Afghan airstrikes increasingly use laser and GPS guided bombs. Afghan soldiers and police are big fans of the smart bombs and missiles because it means that if they have cornered the enemy one such smart bomb will cripple or destroy the opposition and enable the Afghan soldiers to advance without having to deal with much (if any) defensive fire from the enemy. Afghan soldiers and police are much bolder when they have air support and that leads to more combat operations and more casualties, especially among their opponents. For the Afghans, losses are more palatable if you know the enemy is far worse off. Moreover, the Afghan Air Force use of smart bombs means they can operate effectively at night. Finally, the air controller on the ground can talk to the pilot in Dari (the common language in Afghanistan) and this is a lot more effective and comfortable than doing it in English. Since the Afghan Air Force began using laser guided bombs in March they have been using about six a week with the number increasing as more bombs are available. Adaptation The U.S.-Afghan offensive in Helmand province is having an effect in that the Taliban now control fewer areas there. At the same time this is forcing the drug gangs, and the Taliban who provide them with security, to accelerate efforts to shift drug production operations to other parts of the country. For the drug gangs, this means a dip in profits because of relocation expenses. Additional losses are incurred because most of the opium and heroin production was in Helmand because it was on the Pakistani border and it was Pakistan that supplied illicit items (like chemicals to transform opium into heroin) and provided the main smuggling route to worldwide markets. Half of the opium and heroin leaves the country via Pakistan. Corruption is pretty rampant in Pakistan plus the Taliban and drug gangs have a decades old working relationship with the Pakistani military. Helmand is still the key to drug gang operations and the source of most Taliban income. The additional American ground forces sent to Afghanistan in 2017 concentrated on Taliban logistics and that meant attacks on the drug gang infrastructure. There are thirteen drug gangs in Afghanistan and most rely on Helmand for something. Most of these gangs have a major part of their heroin production in Helmand and all depend on the Helmand access to Pakistan where the military has sufficient authority to make sure chemicals and lab equipment (required to turn the bulky opium into the more compact and much more valuable heroin) get across the border and into Helmand. One side effect of the increased fighting in Helmand Province has been the frequent attacks on the improvised facilities where opium is turned into heroin. Most of these labs are in Helmand and usually in urban areas where it is easier to move the lab supplies in and the heroin out. But the Taliban leader for Helmand has convinced the drug gangs to move their drug labs to rural areas in order to avoid air strikes as well as lower civilian casualties from these attacks. An unmentioned reason for this order is that the labs are unpopular because they are a source of opium and heroin (often stolen) for local addicts. More addicts make the Taliban more unpopular and make it easier for the government to obtain information on lab locations from locals. There are sometimes explosions in the labs which causes civilian casualties and locals recruited to work in the labs often become addicts. While the growing number of American attacks on the labs does cause some civilian casualties there are few in number because the labs are heavily guarded and the Americans use guided bombs and missiles to attack the labs. The Taliban are responsible for security over large areas (farms where poppies are grown, roads and border areas where drugs are smuggled out and chemicals for turning opium into heroin are smuggled in) and that provides more targets for the increased air support. Casualties are up for the security forces but are up even more for the Taliban and by Afghan custom, thats a win. Afghanistan is a violent place in the best of times and the last four decades have not been good for Afghanistan in general. Afghan security forces lost about five percent of their strength in 2017 but if the successes against the Taliban continue desertions will decline and more recruits will join. The extent to which that will happen varies depending on the local situation, especially the quality of leadership in local police units. While the Afghan police are a national force recruiting is local and quality of leadership varies. The army has a similar situation but it is different because soldiers are not in regular contact with civilian and are more likely to be moved around the country (or region). June 13, 2018: In the east (Kunar province) an American UAV attack left several Pakistani Taliban dead, including their supreme leader Mullah Maulana Fazlullah. This was according to local sources and everyone is waiting for the Pakistani to say something. The three day Taliban ceasefire began today but was not observed by all Taliban factions. Fighting continued in at least six provinces leaver 30 soldiers and police dead and even higher casualties among the Taliban. June 11, 2018: In Kabul, an ISIL suicide bomber attacked outside a government compound leaving 13 dead and 25 wounded. June 10, 2018: In the east (Nangarhar province) near the Torkham border crossing police seized a Pakistani truck that was trying to smuggle nearly eight tons of explosives (Ammonium Nitrate fertilizer) into the country. The Pakistani driver was arrested and his truck, with vegetables covering the 156 bags of Ammonium Nitrate, was seized. Torkham is the main border crossing with Pakistan and where thousands of people and vehicles pass through each day. On the Pakistani side is the Khyber Pass which has always been the easiest way to get from northern Afghanistan to the lowlands (most of Pakistan and all of India) beyond. Normally large bribes would get illegal cargoes like this across the border but since ammonium nitrate is the main ingredient in most Islamic terrorist bombs, sometimes bribes are not enough because many police have lost family to Islamic terror attacks and that sometimes results in border guards refusing to take the money and let the ammonium nitrate through. For a long time ammonium nitrate, a banned fertilizer, has been used to make roadside bombs. It takes 3-4 kg (6.6-8.8 pounds) of ammonium nitrate (mixed with some fuel oil) for an average roadside bomb. Pakistani officials have resisted pleas to crack down on the movement of excessive (for Pakistans needs) quantities of ammonium nitrate into Pakistan and then, via lots of bribes, into Afghanistan. A lot of the bribes are paid on the Afghan side of the border. In May the governor of Nangarhar province replaced because of the widespread corruption. His replacement was under pressure to reduce the use of bribes for activities that get a lot of Afghan civiliasn killed. That crackdown has made it more expensive and risky to rely on bribes to get contraband for Islamic terrorists across the border and delivered. June 9, 2018: The Taliban responded to the government two week ceasefire by agreeing to a three day ceasefire for the first three days of the government ceasefire. This basically is a ceasefire for the first three days of the Eid celebrations that come at the end of Ramadan. For Moslem countries, Eid is similar to Christmas week in Christian ones or Chinese New Year among Chinese worldwide. The Taliban ceasefire only includes government forces, not foreign ones. The Taliban will also continue to fight back whenever attacked. This Taliban offer was in recognition of the widespread hatred of the Taliban for their violence and support of the drug gangs. The Taliban wants to be the good guys and the fact that their bitter enemy ISIL took credit for the recent attack on the Ulema Council meeting makes it clear that the Taliban did not agree with attacking the Ulema Council. According to the Afghan calendar, Eid begins over a two day period because it is marked by the first sighting of the moon at the end of Eid and that varies across large nations like Afghanistan. The most likely date for the ceasefire to start is the 15th. June 8, 2018: One major Taliban faction, led by Mullah Rasool, declared it would adhere to a longer ceasefire that would begin tomorrow (the 9th) and match the eight day government ceasefire. The faction offering this is one of the ones produced by the Taliban civil war that broke out in 2015. This was all about disagreements over who should take over as Taliban leader after founder Mullah Omar was revealed in 2015 to have died in 2013 (in a Pakistani hospital). The information was kept to a few key Omar associates who were then accused of lying as part of a plot to install an Omar successor who was second-rate. The civil war began in late November 2015 when Mullah Mansour, leader of the OT (Original Taliban) ordered attacks against the forces of rival Taliban leader Mullah Rasool. This marked a major defeat for the Taliban as they have now lost a major asset; unity. Similar fighting has also occurred in Zabul province. By 2017 the Taliban infighting had diminished but not disappeared. The Pakistani ISI (intelligence service) intervened by having Haqqani Network leaders with Taliban ties take sides and eventually take over the senior Taliban leadership. This reduced but did not eliminate the feuding. As a result, the Taliban sought to regain territory they had lost to government forces in 2017, especially near the Iran and northern borders. This was important because these border areas were used for smuggling heroin and opium into Iran. June 7, 2018: The government announced a week long unilateral ceasefire with the Taliban (but not other Islamic terror groups) that will begin at the end of the Moslem annual holy month of Ramadan. The ceasefire is part of an effort to get more Taliban factions to make peace with the government. The U.S. said it would intensify attacks on ISIL during that week. The ceasefire was inspired by a Fatwah issued by the Afghan Ulema Council three days ago. June 6, 2018: Pakistani officials admitted that some elements of the Haqqani Network remain in Pakistan. Since 2015 Pakistan has insisted that Haqqani was gone from Pakistan but as the evidence continues to pile up that Haqqani was still in Pakistan the Pakistani military had to concede that or lose all credibility. Not that they have much left, especially with Afghanistan, India and the United States. June 5, 2018: In the east (Kunar province) an American UAV attack left at least two ISIL gunmen dead. June 4, 2018: In Kabul, the Afghan Ulema Council meeting was attacked by ISIL but the attack failed. June 1, 2018: In the northeast (Badakhshan province) an Afghan Air Force C-208 aircraft carried out the first emergency airdrop. In this case, half a ton of ammunition was dropped by parachute to police and local militias fighting the Taliban. The Afghan air force has been training for this since 2016 and has already made pre-planned drops. In this case, Afghans handled all the details, including packaging the ammo and rigging the parachutes. May 30, 2018: In the north (Takhar province) security forces were pushed out as the Taliban briefly took control of one of the district capitals. Within hours the Taliban were gone after police reinforcements arrived. This sort of rapid response makes it more difficult for the Taliban to claim control of more of the 407 districts. The Afghan security forces have learned how to quickly respond to Taliban efforts to occupy distract capitals (often small towns in areas with few roads). In addition to more airstrikes, the Americans have also brought in more UAVs for reconnaissance and surveillance as well as more access to the high-resolution photo satellites. May 25, 2018: Across the border, there are some recent changes that will have an impact on Afghanistan, at least in the south where most of the Afghan Pushtun are. Pakistan finally abolished the colonial era administration of the FATA Pushtun tribal areas along the Afghan border. FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) are now merged into the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Until 2010 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was known as NWFP (North-West Frontier Province) and largely consisted of tribal peoples who preferred to be treated as another province of Pakistan and not a tribal area. Despite that when the 2010 name change took effect the Pushtun majority in NWFP violently protested and demanded that the renamed NWFP be called just Pakhtunkhwa which means Land of the Pushtuns. The NWFP minority tribes wanted their own small provinces but all they got was a name change. The government compromised with the awkward name Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Khyber refers to the Khyber Pass near the Afghan border. For thousands of years, this has been the most convenient route for travelers, and invaders, coming from Central Asia to India. FATA increases the population of Khyber (the short term for the province) about 14 percent and nearly all of those new people are Pushtuns. Before the merger, Khyber was 74 percent Pushtun and after the merger that goes up to 78 percent. This is likely to encourage support for establishing Pushtunstan (a new nation combining the Pushtun populations of Pakistan and Afghanistan). That will never happen because Afghanistan and Pakistan oppose it and the Pushtuns have never been united enough to pull it off and that has not changed. The merger of FATA into Khyber is the latest of many recent changes for FATA and the Pushtuns on both sides of the Afghan border. May 24, 2018: In the west (Farah province) Four GPS guided rockets were fired at a remote area where many (about 50) of the Taliban commanders in the province had gathered after several major defeats this month. Calling that many commanders together on short notice made it easier for American intel to detect what was going on and several HIMARS vehicles were within range and able to fire large rockets on short notice and do it so all four hit the target at the same time. HIMARS carries only one MLRS rocket six pack container (instead of two in the original tracked MLRS vehicle). The 12 ton truck can fit into a C-130 transport (unlike the heavier, tracked MLRS) and is much cheaper to operate. The first HIMARS entered service in 2005, about a year after GPS guided rockets did. The GMLRS (guided multiple launch rocket system) missile is a GPS guided 227mm rocket that entered service in 2005. It was designed to land within meters of its intended target, at any range. This is possible because it uses GPS (plus a backup inertial guidance system) to find its target. In 2008 the army tested GMLRS at max range (about 85 kilometers) and found that it worked fine. The warhead has the explosive equivalent of a 500 pound (224 kg) aerial bomb. HIMARS proved to be an effective substitute for air strikes and one HIMARS vehicle could provide support over a large area. This recent attack was part of a ten day operation (May 17-26) that took advantage of the disarray the Farah Province Taliban were already suffering from. This late May operation had been set up after Afghan and American forces, assisted by local defense militias defeated a major Taliban attack against Farah City (the provincial capital). The Taliban suffered many dead and wounded as they were forced to retreat. This attack was considered a desperate move, by local Taliban forces, to free many prisoners taken in other recent combat defeats. Taliban forces near Farah city were unable to organize another attack because of the constant UAV surveillance. After the failed May 15th attack the Taliban appeared to be organizing another attack and hit with airstrikes which disrupted those preparations. Around that time Taliban commanders in Farah were ordered to gather to sort out the situation and that led to the HIMARS attack on the assembled commanders. The ten days of fighting appears to have killed about 80 Taliban commanders, most of them low level but these men are essential for training and supervising new recruits, which the Taliban always has a lot of. The loss of these low level commanders also makes it more likely that fatal mistakes will be made carrying out attacks, especially when it comes to handling locally made bombs and making it easier for government forces to identify and locate Taliban camps. This leads to airstrikes or HIMARS attacks. While each HIMARS vehicle only carried six rockets that is often more than enough for most operations. Resupply is simple, just fly or truck in a container with rockets and take away the empty one. Alexander Ardakov Virtuoso pianist Alexander Ardakov makes a welcome return visit to Shipston on Stour on Thursday, 21st June. Following a highly successful recital in the town last year, he will be playing in a concert as part of the Shipston Proms, which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary. Alexander will be playing a varied programme including Beethoven, Schumann and Mendelssohn. A graduate of the Moscow Conservatoire and a prizewinner at the Viotti International competition in Italy, Alexander is currently Professor of Piano at Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London. He is a regular performer on on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM, and has an extensive discography - his playing has been described as full of "sensitivity, intensity and passion". Alexander's concert is being promoted by Shipston's Music Society, and will take place at St Edmunds Church, Shipston on Stour at 7.30pm. Tickets cost 12.00 (6 for students) and are available on the door and via Clarkes Electrical, High Street, Shipston or by calling 01608 662514. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ero Copper Corp. (the Company) (TSX:ERO) reported the voting results from its annual general meeting of shareholders held today in Vancouver, British Columbia. A total of 66,979,918 common shares were represented at the meeting, being 79.31% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company. Shareholders voted in favour of all items of business before the meeting, including the election of managements nominees as directors for the ensuing year. Election of Directors Director Nominees % of Votes For % of Votes Withheld Christopher Noel Dunn 98.78 1.22 David Strang 100 0 Lyle Braaten 96.75 3.25 Steven Busby 99.75 0.25 Robert Getz 100 0 Matthew Wubs 99.79 0.21 John Wright 99.80 0.20 We are delighted to have Robert Getz join the Companys Board of Directors. Mr. Getz brings a wealth of experience gained across both the private and public companies in a number of leadership roles. Mr. Getz formerly served as a Director of NewMarket Gold Inc. and as Chairman of the Board of Crocodile Gold Corp., prior to its acquisition by NewMarket Gold in 2015. Mr. Getz also formerly served on the Board of Directors of Centurion International, Inc., Global Alumina, Novatel Wireless, Inc. and SITEL Corporation amongst others, commented Noel Dunn, Executive Chairman of Ero. The resolution to set the number of directors at seven was approved by 99.99% of the votes cast for the resolution. The resolution to reappoint KPMG LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as the auditor of the Company for the ensuing year, and authorize the directors to fix the remuneration to be paid to the auditor was approved by 99.79% of the votes cast for the resolution. Each item of business voted upon at the meeting is described in detail in the Company's Management Information Circular dated May 7, 2018, which is available on the Company's website (www.erocopper.com) and on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). ABOUT ERO COPPER CORP Ero Copper Corp, headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., is focused on copper production growth from the Vale do Curaca Property, located in Bahia, Brazil. The Companys primary asset is a 99.6% interest in the Brazilian copper mining company, Mineracao Caraiba S.A. (MCSA), 100% owner of the Vale do Curaca Property with over 37 years of operating history in the region. The Company currently mines copper ore from the Pilar underground and the Surubim open pit mines. In addition to the Vale do Curaca Property, MCSA owns 100% of the Boa Esperana development project, an IOCG-type copper project located in Para, Brazil. Additional information on the Company and its operations, including Technical Reports on both the Vale do Curaca and Boa Esperana properties, can be found on the Companys website (www.erocopper.com) and on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Comparison of Jakavi (ruxolitinib) vs. best available therapy presented at EHA suggests reduced risk of death in patients with inadequately controlled polycythemia vera (PV)[1] Additional data at EHA suggests earlier treatment with Jakavi may lead to improved outcomes for patients with myelofibrosis (MF) [2] , [3] Data underscores Novartis commitment to people with MF and PV through a robust ongoing research program in these rare blood cancers Basel, June 15, 2018 - Novartis announced today results from a new comparison study showing that Jakavi(ruxolitinib)-treated patients with polycythemia vera (PV), who were resistant or intolerant to hydroxyurea (HU), had a significantly reduced risk of thrombosis (blood clots) and death compared to PV patients who received best available therapy[1]. The study findings are based on a comparison of patients in the Phase III RESPONSE Jakavi clinical trial and the real-world Spanish GEMFIN patient registry. PV is a rare and incurable blood cancer associated with an overproduction of blood cells that can cause serious cardiovascular complications, such as blood clots, stroke and heart attack[4]. The new findings were presented at the 23rd Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA) in Stockholm, Sweden. "When you can complement clinical trial data with real-world experiences, it can provide valuable insight into how treatments affect patients in their day-to-day lives," said lead study investigator, Alberto Alvarez-Larran, MD, Hematology Department, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain. "This latest research supports the use of Jakavi to help people with polycythemia vera gain better control of their disease when hydroxyurea is not an option." Additional Jakavi data presented at the EHA Annual Congress includes efficacy and safety analyses of the largest expanded access trial of myelofibrosis (MF) patients treated with Jakavi to date (JUMP). An efficacy analysis showed that patients with lower-risk MF achieved spleen size reductions when treated with Jakavi, with most patients (82.1%) achieving a >=50% reduction at any time[2],[3]. A separate analysis identified factors that may lead to a greater spleen response in patients with MF treated with Jakavi, including treating earlier in the course of the disease and at a higher dose (>=10 mg BID)[5]. "With limited treatment options, patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) often struggle to keep their disease under control," said Samit Hirawat, MD, Head, Novartis Oncology Global Drug Development. "The research conducted by Novartis teams and our physician partners in both PV and MF is helping to clarify how Jakavi can help relieve disease burden for patients." Additionally, 48-week data from the EXPAND study support Jakavi 10 mg BID as a starting dose in patients with MF with low platelet counts, providing important information in a patient population at an increased risk of bleeding and serious complications[5]. Nearly one-third of patients in the study treated with Jakavi achieved a >=50% reduction in spleen size at week 48 (31.8% of patients [7/22] with a platelet count of 75 to 99 x 109/L and 35.7% [5/14] of patients with a platelet count of 50 to 74 x 109/L)[5]. About the PV Real-World Comparison Study The new data presented at EHA compares overall survival and thrombosis (blood clots) rates using data from patients treated in the Jakavi arm of the RESPONSE trial and patients treated in a real-world setting with best available therapy (BAT) from the Grupo Espanol de Enfermedades Mieloproliferativas Cronicas Filadelfia Negativas (GEMFIN) registry[1]. In the previously reported Phase III RESPONSE trial, the high rate of crossover from BAT to Jakavi precluded the comparison of overall survival and thrombosis rates. RESPONSE was a global, open-label study that included patients with PV resistant to or intolerant of hydroxyurea, who were randomized 1:1 to receive either Jakavi (starting dose of 10 mg twice daily) or BAT, which was defined as investigator-selected monotherapy or observation only. The GEMFIN registry patients in the real-world BAT group had resistance or intolerance to hydroxyurea according to the modified European Leukemia Net criteria and received hydroxyurea (44%), busulfan (10%), radioactive phosphorus (2%), interferon (6%), anagrelide (12%), other therapy (11%) or no cytoreductive therapy (26%). Some patients were also treated with multiple therapies[1]. In the GEMFIN study, patients treated with Jakavi had a significantly prolonged overall survival (HR=0.28 [0.11-0.72]) and a lower risk of blood clots (HR=0.21 [0.06-0.76]) when compared to real-world patients treated with BAT[1]. About the JUMP Study JUMP is an expanded access Phase IIIb study designed to further evaluate the safety and efficacy of Jakavi in MF. It includes the largest cohort of patients with MF treated with Jakavi, 2,233, to date. The study provided access to Jakavi for patients who had no access to the treatment outside of a clinical trial and included 60 patients who were determined to have DIPSS low-risk disease[2],[3]. About the EXPAND Study EXPAND is an open-label, Phase Ib, dose-finding study in patients with MF with baseline platelet counts of 50 to 99 x 109/L. Results presented at EHA are from the 48-week follow- period[5]. The study evaluated 10 mg BID as a safe starting dose of Jakavi. The key secondary endpoints are safety and efficacy, including proportion of patients achieving >=50% of reduction in spleen size. Safety findings were also consistent with previous studies of Jakavi[5]. About Myelofibrosis and Polycythemia Vera Myelofibrosis (MF) and polycythemia vera (PV) are part of a group of related and rare blood cancers called myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) in which bone marrow cells responsible for the body's blood cells develop and function abnormally[4],[6]. In patients with MF, the bone marrow can no longer produce enough normal blood cells, causing the spleen to enlarge. MF affects approximately one in every 100,000 people[6]. PV is associated with an overproduction of blood cells that can cause serious cardiovascular complications if left inadequately controlled, such as blood clots, stroke and heart attack. PV affects up to three per 100,000 people globally each year[4]. About Jakavi Jakavi (ruxolitinib) is an oral inhibitor of the JAK 1 and JAK 2 tyrosine kinases. Jakavi is approved by the European Commission for the treatment of adult patients with polycythemia vera (PV) who are resistant to or intolerant of hydroxyurea and for the treatment of disease-related splenomegaly or symptoms in adult patients with primary myelofibrosis (MF) (also known as chronic idiopathic MF), post-polycythemia vera MF or post-essential thrombocythemia MF. Jakavi is approved in 101 countries for patients with MF, including EU countries, Switzerland, Canada, Japan and in more than 75 countries for patients with PV, including EU countries, Switzerland, Japan and Canada. The exact indication for Jakavi varies by country. Additional worldwide regulatory filings are underway in MF and PV. Novartis licensed ruxolitinib from Incyte Corporation for development and commercialization outside the United States. Jakavi is marketed in the United States by Incyte Corporation as Jakafi for the treatment of patients with PV who have had an inadequate response to or are intolerant of hydroxyurea and for the treatment of patients with intermediate or high-risk MF. The recommended starting dose of Jakavi in PV is 10 mg given orally twice daily. The recommended starting dose of Jakavi in MF is 15 mg given orally twice daily for patients with a platelet count between 100,000 cubic millimeters (mm[3]) and 200,000 mm[3], and 20 mg twice daily for patients with a platelet count of >200,000 mm[3]. Doses may be titrated based on safety and efficacy. There is limited information to recommend a starting dose for MF and PV patients with platelet counts between 50,000/mm[3] and <100,000/mm[3]. The maximum recommended starting dose in these patients is 5 mg twice daily, and patients should be titrated cautiously[7]. Jakavi is a registered trademark of Novartis AG in countries outside the United States. Jakafi is a registered trademark of Incyte Corporation. The safety and efficacy profile of Jakavi has not yet been established outside the approved indications. Jakavi Important Safety Information for Treatment of Myelofibrosis (MF) and Polycythemia Vera (PV) Jakavi can cause serious side effects, including a decrease in blood cell count and infections. Complete blood count monitoring is recommended. Dose reduction or interruption may be required in patients with any hepatic impairment or severe renal impairment or in patients developing hematologic adverse reactions such as thrombocytopenia, anemia and neutropenia. Dose reductions are also recommended when Jakavi is co-administered with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors or fluconazole. Use of Jakavi during pregnancy is not recommended, and women should avoid becoming pregnant during Jakavi therapy. Women taking Jakavi should not breast feed. Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) has been reported. Physicians should be alert for neuropsychiatric symptoms suggestive of PML. Hepatitis B viral load (HBV-DNA titer) increases have been reported in patients with chronic HBV infections. Patients with chronic HBV infection should be treated and monitored according to clinical guidelines. Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) has been reported in Jakavi treated patients. Periodic skin examination is recommended. Very common adverse reactions in MF (>10%) include urinary tract infections, anemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, hypercholesterolemia, dizziness, headache, alanine aminotransferase increased, aspartate aminotransferase increased, bruising and weight gain. Common adverse reactions in MF (1 to 10%) include herpes zoster and flatulence. Uncommon adverse reactions in MF include tuberculosis. Very common adverse reactions in PV (>10%) include anemia, thrombocytopenia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, dizziness, alanine aminotransferase increased and aspartate aminotransferase increased. Common adverse reactions in PV (1 to 10%) include urinary tract infections, herpes zoster, weight gain, constipation and hypertension. Please see full Prescribing Information available at www.jakavi.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 media.relations@novartis.com References [1] Alvarez-Larran, et al. Comparison of Ruxolitinib Real-World Best Available Therapy in Terms Of overall Survival and Thrombosis in Patients with Polycythemia Vera who are Resistant or Intolerant to Hydroxyurea. EHA 2018. Abstract PF628. [2] Guglielmelli, et al. Safety and Efficacy of Ruxolitinib (Rux) in Patients (Pts) with Dipss Low-Risk Myelofibrosis (MF) in the Phase 3b Expanded-Access Jump Study. EHA 2018. Abstract PF623. [3] Gupta, et al. Predictors of Response to Ruxolitinib (Rux) in Patients (Pts) with Myelofibrosis (MF) in the Phase 3b Expanded-Access Jump Study. EHA 2018. Abstract PF616. [4] Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Polycythemia Vera Facts. Available at: http://www.lls.org/content/nationalcontent/resourcecenter/ freeeducationmaterials/mpd/pdf/polycythemiavera.pdf. Accessed June 2018. [5] Vannucchi, et al. Results from 48-week follow-up of the EXPAND study: a phase 1b, open-label, dose-finding study of ruxolitinib in patients with myelofibrosis and low platelet counts (50-99 109/L) at baseline. EHA 2018. Abstract PF611. [6] Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. "Myelofibrosis Facts." Available at: https://www.lls.org/sites/default/files/file_assets/ FS14_Myelofibrosis_Fact%20Sheet_Final9.12.pdf. Accessed June 2018. [7] Jakavi (ruxolitinib) tablets: EU Summary of Product Characteristics. Novartis; Mar 2015. # # # Novartis Media Relations Central media line: +41 61 324 2200 E-mail: media.relations@novartis.com Eric Althoff Novartis Global Media Relations +41 61 324 7999 (direct) +41 79 593 4202 (mobile) eric.althoff@novartis.com Mary Curtin Creaser Novartis Oncology Communications +1 862 778-2550 (direct) +1 862 345-4102 (mobile) mary.curtin_creaser@novartis.com Novartis Investor Relations Central investor relations line: +41 61 324 7944 E-mail: investor.relations@novartis.com Findings from more than 1,300 patients across 13 countries showed ITP had especially high impact for many patients on emotional well-being (36%) and ability to work (28%) About two-thirds of patients reported fatigue as the most severe symptom at diagnosis and survey completion, underscoring the effect of ITP on day-to-day quality of life Interim results of the ITP World Impact Survey (I-WISh) one of the largest surveys ever conducted in ITP, were presented at EHA Basel, June 15, 2018 - Many patients with the rare blood disorder immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) find the disease has a negative impact on their everyday quality of life, according to interim results of a Novartis survey, called I-WISh, presented today at the 23rd Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA) in Stockholm, Sweden (Abstract #PF654). I-WISh, a collaboration among global ITP experts, patient groups and Novartis, aims to uncover the impact of the disease on daily life, and patients' perceptions toward treatment and management of their condition. Interim survey results from more than 1,300 ITP patients revealed that they have concerns about the impact of ITP on their quality of life. Results showed that more than one-third (36%) of patients said that having ITP had a high impact on their emotional well-being while 28% of patients had disease symptoms that caused them to miss work. About two-thirds of patients reported that fatigue was their most severe symptom at diagnosis (71%) and at survey completion (64%). "Severe fatigue, in particular, was reported by many patients as the most difficult to manage symptom of ITP," said Nichola Cooper, MD, clinical senior lecturer, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom, and Chair of the I-WISh Steering Committee. "This is an important message for healthcare providers treating patients with this rare disease; ITP is about more than bruising and risk of bleeding." The I-WISh Steering Committee developed the ITP Life Quality Index (ILQI), a ten-question tool designed to help quantify and monitor the quality of life impact of ITP on patients. The ILQI was validated in qualitative analyses prior to being unveiled in the I-WISh survey and will allow clinicians to better monitor symptoms beyond bleeding and to rely on more than platelet counts when treating ITP patients[1]. "Some patients only realize their fatigue has become such an issue in their daily lives after it is corrected by treatment," said Dr. Cooper. "The ILQI tool will help measure this correction more accurately and could also play a crucial role in monitoring disease impact on quality of life beyond just relying on the platelet count alone." Overall, the two main treatment goals reported by patients were achieving healthy blood counts (79%) and increasing their energy levels (55%). "These initial data from the I-WISh survey reveal how a rare blood disease like ITP can significantly affect a patient's ability to live and function in their day-to-day life," said Samit Hirawat, MD, Head, Novartis Oncology Global Drug Development. "We believe these results demonstrate that, even beyond medicine, ITP patients are seeking compassion, support and understanding from family, friends so they can strive to live the best lives they can. These are important insights, and we will look to build them into the programs and services we develop to better support this community." To raise awareness about ITP, Novartis has launched the #ITP3Wishes social media campaign to give voice to the hopes and dreams of patients and those who support them. The campaign encourages people to use their social media channels to share three ITP-related wishes with the #ITP3Wishes hashtag to inspire others and let their ITP voice be heard. About the ITP World Impact Survey (I-WISh) The international I-WISh survey is a cross-sectional survey of 1,400 patients with ITP and 480 healthcare providers who treat the condition from 14 countries (Canada, China, Colombia, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, India, Japan, Norway, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States). The interim results were from more than 1,300 patients in 13 countries who completed an online questionnaire beginning in January 2018 to measure ITP-related symptoms and the impact of the condition on daily life, and patients' perceptions toward treatment and management of their condition. Additional survey results will be presented later this year. About the ITP Life Quality Index (ILQI)[1] The ITP Life Quality Index (ILQI) was originally developed by clinical experts and based on patient interviews that were conducted to provide evidence to confirm content validity, specifically regarding the relevance of concepts. A literature search was performed prior to the interviews to ensure the ILQI captured relevant concepts. Fifteen semi-structured patient interviews were conducted with UK patients with ITP recruited via the UK ITP Support Association. Patients were asked open-ended questions to elicit spontaneous discussion of their experience, followed by questions that probed the concepts of interest. The interviews also involved cognitive debriefing of the ILQI using 'think-aloud' methods to assess understanding and relevance of items, instructions and response options. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis techniques. Patients were 67% female, had a mean age of 51.3 (SD=17.4, range 23-73) and a range of education levels. Qualitative analysis identified a variety of impacts associated with ITP, including fatigue (93%), emotional impacts (e.g., anxiety [80%]), impacts on daily living such as lack of ability to partake in sport [100%], impacts on work (e.g., absenteeism [40%]), financial impacts (e.g., working hours [40%]) and social impacts (e.g., relationship with family [60%]). About Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a rare and potentially serious blood disorder that is characterized by increased destruction and impaired production of platelets, which are blood cells that allow the blood to clot properly[2]. People who have ITP often have purple bruises or tiny red or purple dots on the skin[3]. They also display symptoms such as nosebleeds, bleeding from the gums during dental work, or other bleeding that is hard to stop2. The potential for drops in platelet counts may also cause emotional distress and may result in a hindered ability to do work or embarrassment due to visible symptoms[3]. Immune thrombocytopenia is classified by duration from diagnosis into: newly diagnosed (0-3 months), persistent (3-12 months duration) and chronic (>12 months duration). Chronic ITP is more likely to occur in adults, and women are affected more often than men[2]. The goal of treatment in ITP is to maintain a safe platelet count that reduces the risk of bleeding. Treatment is determined by platelet levels and the severity of the symptoms. In most cases, drugs that alter the immune system's attack on the platelets are prescribed to help manage bleeding in adults. 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 media.relations@novartis.com References [1] Grant L, et al. Qualitative research to support the content validity of the Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) Life Quality Index (ILQI). The British Society of Haematology. 2018. Abstract BSH18-482. [2] National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (2018). Immune Thrombocytopenia. Available at https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/immune-thrombocytopenia. Accessed March 14, 2018. [3] Mathias S, et al. "Impact of Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) on health-related quality of life: a conceptual model starting with the patient perspective." Health and quality of life outcomes 6.1(2008):1. # # # Novartis Media Relations Central media line: +41 61 324 2200 E-mail: media.relations@novartis.com Eric Althoff Novartis Global Media Relations +41 61 324 7999 (direct) +41 79 593 4202 (mobile) eric.althoff@novartis.com Michael Billings Benign Hematology Communications +1 862 778 8656 (direct) +1 201 400 1854 (mobile) michael.billings@novartis.com Novartis Investor Relations Central investor relations line: +41 61 324 7944 E-mail: investor.relations@novartis.com English Lithuanian Vilnius, Lithuania, 2018-06-15 09:28 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NOTIFICATION FOR IKKB OMX BALTIC BENCHMARK FUND ORDINARY SHAREHOLDERS MEETING AND DRAFTS DECISIONS By the decision of UAB Orion Asset Management, code: 111707985, office address: A.Tumeno street 4 (hereinafter Management Company), Vilnius, extraordinary shareholders meeting shall be convened of IKKB OMX Baltic Fund, code: 111713358, office address: A.Tumeno street 4, Vilnius (hereinafter the Company). The meeting of shareholders will take place at the Management Companys registered office on June 22, 2018. Meeting record date: June 15, 2018. The right to participate in the meeting and to vote may be exercised only by those who are registered as shareholders or other persons mandated by shareholders, or other persons who has the right to vote according to the agreement between the parties. Agenda of the meeting: Approval of the Company's financial statements for 2017. Drafts decisions To approve the Company's financial statements for 2017. Voting procedure Initiator of shareholders meeting does not allow to participate and vote in the meeting through electronic communication instruments. Draft decisions, agenda of the meeting, documents which will be submitted to the meeting and the information related with shareholders subjective rights, shall be published on the website at www.am.orion.lt. Select general menu, column on the top Funds, item OMX Baltic Benchmark Fund. Also, this specific information for shareholders is available at the Management Company office, on working days from 11.00 until 12.00 and from 14.00 until 16.00. By registering to participate at the meeting, shareholders or other persons mandated by shareholders must provide identification cards. Persons mandated by shareholders must present mandate (power of attorney). Mandate which was issued by natural person, must be approved by notary. Mandate which was issued in a foreign country must be translated into Lithuanian language and legalized according to the legislation. Mandated person can be authorized by more than one shareholder and can vote separate due to indication of the shareholder. Shareholder can mandate natural or legal person to participate and vote in the name of shareholder at the meeting via electronically means of communications. There is no obligation to approve such mandate by notary. Mandate which was issued using electronic communication instruments must be confirmed by shareholder electronic signature (using certified software) which one is confirmed as safe. Shareholder must inform initiator of the meeting about mandate which was issued using electronic communication instruments by email, this information must be sent to oam@orion.lt, no later than one day before shareholders meeting 04.00 pm. Mandate and notification must be of the written form. Mandate and notification must be signed by shareholders electronic signature (not only the email should be signed). Shareholder which provides notification must indicate internet address where software which may be used to inspect the validity of electronic signature can be downloaded. There is no specific form of mandate approved. Shareholder or other mandated person can vote by correspondence (filling and signing voting ballot). If shareholder requires, initiator of the meeting must send general voting ballot by registered mail or personally serve it, no later than 10 days before shareholders meeting. General voting ballot must be signed by shareholder or other mandated person. If ballot was signed by mandated person, additional document proving the right to vote must be attached. Filled and signed general voting ballot must be submitted to the initiator of the meeting. It must be sent by registered mail or presented directly. Completed ballot will have power only if it will be received until shareholders meeting. On the website www.am.orion.lt, column on the left Funds, item OMX Baltic Benchmark Fund, News shall be indicated following information: Notification about shareholders meeting; Drafts of the decisions due to agenda issues and other related documents which will be submitted to the meeting; General voting ballot. Procedure of submission of questions and sumplements of agenda Shareholders whose shares are carrying voting rights at least 1/20 of the all votes, has the right to propose to add items to the agenda of the meeting. In order to supplement the agenda, shareholders must draft the project of decision due to additional proposals. When there is no obligation to take a decision, shareholders must draft the project of clarification. Proposals of the agenda must be submitted in written or must be e-mailed. Proposals which are submitted on paper must be presented on working days to the initiator office or must be sent by registered mail. Proposals which are submitted by email must be sent to oam@orion.lt. Proposals must be presented no later than 14 days until shareholders meeting, i.e. until 8 June, 2018. If agenda of the meeting will be supplemented, all modification that was made by initiator, will be notified no later than 10 days before shareholders meeting in the same way as this notification regarding shareholders meeting. Shareholders whose shares are carrying voting rights at least 1/20 of the all votes, have the right to propose new projects of decisions, which are included in the agenda of the meeting. Proposals must be submitted on paper or must be e-mailed. Proposals which are submitted on paper must be presented until 09.00 am to the initiator office or can be sent by registered mail. Proposals which are submitted on paper can be presented to the chairman of the meeting after the announcement of agenda, but no later than before shareholders will start to consider issues which are indicated in the agenda. Proposals which are submitted by email must be sent to oam@orion.lt. Shareholders meeting will considerate all decisions projects proposals (due to questions indicated in the agenda) which would be sent no later than on 22 June, 2018, 09.00 am. Shareholders have the right to submit additional questions regarding the item included in the agenda of the meeting. Questions submitted on paper must be presented to the initiator office or must be sent to oam@orion.lt, no later than 3 working days before shareholders meeting. Annex. General voting ballot; Respectfully, UAB Orion Asset Management CEO Ramunas Baranauskas More than 100 patients, staff and family members attended the third Diaverum dialysis clinic party at the Santa Rosa hotel in El Morche last Sunday. The party was organised by staff who work at the clinic and was free for those attending. Among the participants were English couple, Amanda and Keith Boyce, who live in La Vinuela and three German couples who visit the area regularly on holiday. Keith and Amanda, who have lived in Spain for 13 years and used Diaverum's services for two years, said the party as well as the centre were brilliant and couldn't praise the staff and doctors, many of whom speak English, enough. If they didn't speak English I wouldn't get the help, admits Keith, whose only complaint about the event was that none of the four doctors who work at the centre were able to attend the celebration. The lunch is organised by staff at the clinic and is free to users and family members Keith has been receiving dialysis at Diaverum for two years and cannot praise it highly enough Keith receives dialysis at the centre, which is on the promenade in Torre del Mar, three times a week and says that the level and ease of care in Spain is much higher and much better than in the UK. Amanda believes that if the couple still lived in the UK Keith would probably no longer be with us and explains that Diaverum is a private initiative back home, whereas it is publicly run in Spain. The staff at the centre have made dialysis so easy for us. They explained everything that was happening and what was needed very clearly, says Amanda, adding, they took the fear away. The Torre del Mar centre receives around 80 patients each week from across the Axarquia and among those are eight Brits and a number of Germans who either live here permanently or visit the area for holidays. There are three other Diaverum centres in Malaga province: Torremolinos, Estepona and Malaga city. The first centre to open was the Torremolinos one in 1995, followed by Torre del Mar in 1998, Estepona in 2007 and Malaga in 2013. Maria Jose Arroyo is director of all four centres and was at the Torre del Mar lunch. She said that the lunch was important to have the opportunity to thank everyone including the families and especially the staff. Nanda and Nuria, who form part of the nursing team at the centre and both speak English, explain that the patients receive treatment three times a week for about four or four and a half hours each session. They say, From the very beginning we are warm, we try to make them feel relaxed and really we go out of our way to help the in any way we can. Speaking about the motivation for organising the annual lunch, Nanda said, It is particularly important for dialysis patients and their families to have a get-together with us now and then in order to remain physically and mentally refreshed. This effort was clearly appreciated by the German and British couples attending the lunch. The eyes are rather red and the pupils dilated, but the mouth arches slightly upwards, almost against his will. It is the face of a child who has been crying, and has just managed a bit of a smile. That emotion, between complicity and tenderness, is characteristic in the children portrayed by Javier Calleja, who wear tee-shirts with messages such as 'Day Off', 'That's The Way' and 'I Hope You Don't Mind'. The latter is also the name of his exhibition at the Yusto/Giner Gallery in Marbella, which before opening its doors had already placed a red dot beside every piece on display. I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND Artist. Javier Calleja (Malaga, 1971). Where. Yusto/Giner Galleru. C/ Madera, 9. Marbella. Dates. Until 28 July. Times. Monday- Friday 10am-2pm and 5-8pm. Sat. 11am-2pm. All the works were sold before the inauguration and there is a waiting list of over 50 collectors, and that is just at this gallery. The same occurs when Calleja exhibits at others such as the Rafael Perez Hernando (Madrid), Zink (Regensburg) and Nanzuka (Tokyo and Hong Kong). You can't just assume that there will be a waiting list. I'm cautious. I've always said you have to know where you are, and where you are not. One thing is my artistic work, and another is the work I put on the market , he says. Having a waiting list of collectors can go on forever or might just stop. So I don't think about it. I just carry on working, I know I can do a certain number of paintings a year and that is what there is. I think there comes a time when, if you care too much about the financial side, your standard drops and if you do less, you become lazy, says Calleja, whose works are on display until 28 July. Gallery owner Juan Pablo Yusto agrees. It is increasingly less important where you are, and more important what you're doing. Javier's work is mainly known through social media. In his case, collectors seek him out instead of the other way round, he says. Javier Calleja can boast of a golden decade since his Play Room exhibition at the CAC Malaga in 2008, but the real turning point in his career came last year at Art Basel Hong Kong, thanks to the Nanzuka Gallery. I work well under pressure and the chance to exhibit in Asia made me want to make a real effort to create something I had always wanted to do, which is these characters, he says. First-time Mijas visitor Richard Larsson received gifts and honours from the council in Mijas last week, for being the two millionth tourist to visit the coastal town's tourist offices. This coincides with the presentation of a new tourism strategy for the municipality that will last until 2022. During a small ceremony at the tourist information centre, Tourism councillor Josele Gonzalez highlighted the importance of Mijas as a tourist destination in Malaga province: Mijas leaves a great impression on tourists, due to our excellent resources and our welcoming manner. Larsson, clearly surprised at the reception, said that what he had seen so far in Mijas was beautiful. The new tourism strategy was developed by the University of Malaga. It includes the promotion of Mijas in international markets, such as Scandinavia, in part with new fairs and festivals. Gonzalez also stressed that they would reinforce the position of Mijas as a standout destination within the province of Malaga. NEW YORK, NY, June 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jon will be working out of the New York office alongside the Certification Program US Sales team, as well as the ASL team based in Dublin, Ireland, and the AAFA team based in Washington, D.C. Jon Khalevs Responsibilities as Key Account Manager As Key Account Manager, Jon will be responsible for managing brands participating in the asthma & allergy friendly Certification Program in the USA. Jon will be the main contact point for all the programs long-standing accounts to grow and optimize their participation through marketing initiatives, industry events, and dealer meetings. He will also manage client renewals and coordinate annual client meetings. We are delighted to welcome Jon to our team. He is a valuable addition to our growing business and will be playing a key role in ensuring the success of the Certification Program. I am looking forward to the Certification Program developing stronger relationships with our longstanding clients and I am confident that Jon will excel in this role. said Dr. John McKeon, ASL CEO. Valuable experience in Brand Management Strategy Jon joins the asthma & allergy friendly Certification Program with strong expertise in the Consumer Packaged Goods and licensing industries. Having worked with large licensing agents, brand management companies, manufacturers, and world recognised brands, Jon has his finger on the pulse of retail trends, consumer purchasing habits and the customer journey. Jon has a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Marketing Communication from Emerson College in Boston, MA where he focused on branding and global brand strategy. His experience and insights will be of great value to our clients, ensuring they receive the best service and the unique benefits of the Certification Program. Mr. Khalev said:I am excited to join a company that is driven by such a relevant and growing purpose. I believe the asthma & allergy friendly Certification Program can act as a lighthouse to consumers to live a more health-conscious lifestyle in both the home and office. Now more than ever consumers are aware of their environments, and asthma & allergy friendly Certification Program has the relationships and reach to make a difference in the shifting retail landscape. About the asthma & allergy friendlyCertification Program The asthma & allergy friendlyCertification Program is a unique, groundbreaking collaboration between the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of Americaand Allergy Standards Limited. The program tests and certifies products to prove their suitability for people with asthma and allergies. The program works with retailers and manufacturers to offer consumers products for a #healthierhome. CERTIFIED products include air cleaners, dehumidifiers, paints, bedding, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, stuffed toys, cleaning services and more. Visit aafa.org/certifiedfor more information. ### Attachments Rincon de la Victoria town hall declared last Monday a day of mourning following the death of Jose Marfil Peralta, the last person from Malaga province to have survived the horrors of the Mauthausen Nazi concentration camp in Austria. Marfil Peralta was born in Rincon de la Victoria in 1921 and fought for the Republicans during Spain's Civil War. Following Franco's victory he sought exile in France where he joined the army in one of Spain's six Companias de Trabajadores Espanoles (CTE). Dunkirk He fought against the Nazis during World War Two and took part in one of the most famous battles of the war; Dunkirk, which lasted from 26 May to 4 June 1940. Marfil was captured and taken to the Sagan prisoner of was camp in Poland after British rescue boats refused to take Spanish soldiers, believing them to be German allies. Marfil later said he had been treated relatively well at the camp thanks to his skills as a carpenter. However, he was transferred to Mauthausen in Austria in January 1941, where he learned that his father, from whom he had become separated at Dunkirk, had been the first Spanish prisoner to be killed at the camp. Just a few days after his arrival at Mauthausen and ill with scabies, Marfil was transferred to Gusen, a camp belonging to the larger Mauthausen and known as the 'slaughterhouse.' He survived and was eventually taken back to Mauthausen where he remained until he was freed by Americans at the end of the war in 1945. Book Marfil returned to France where he continued to live in exile and went on to write a book about his experiences of the concentration camps, called Yo Sobrevivi al Infierno Nazi (I Survived Nazi Hell'). In 2010 the concentration camp survivor returned to Rincon de la Victoria where a roundabout was named after him and the town hall started the process to make him an 'adopted son' of the town. However, the motion was only passed at the end of January this year and an event to officially give him the title never took place. During his visit in 2010, Marfil said that it was his final mission to tell young people of his experiences in that hell and that he had been lucky because he would always run to be the first when work of food was being distributed. Jose Marfil Peralta was cremated in Perpignan in France where he continued to live in exile until his death. The Muslim community in Malaga invited representatives of the Jewish and Christian religions to the city's mosque on Thursday last week to mark together the break of the fast ceremony, celebrated every day of the month of Ramadan at sunset. This is the second year that the event has been held to celebrate the coexistence of different religions in Malaga and its province. The city's mayor, Francisco de la Torre, also attended the celebration. The CC OO and UGT unions have organised a protest demonstration this morning, Friday 15 June, to support workers in the hospitality sector who are threatening to go on strike in July, August and September. The march will leave the Civic Centre after a meeting at 10am to approve the strike action, and end outside the Confederation of Malaga Businesses in Calle San Lorenzo, where supporters from other unions and associations will join them. The conflict has arisen over new working conditions and a disagreement between employers and workers over salary increases. The unions set 15 June as a deadline for agreement to be reached. Among those supporting the unions and the strike action are the so-called 'kellys', the room maids in hotels. They are planning action of their own over the summer, once they know the result of this morning's meeting. The Andalusian government's representative in Malaga, Jose Luis Ruiz Espejo, has called for responsible behaviour and wants the employers and unions to make real efforts to come to an agreement so a strike during peak tourist season can be avoided. The strike would not be beneficial to tourism in this area nor to the sector as a whole, he warned. Doha, the capital of Qatar, is now accessible directly from Malaga in under seven hours. The first Qatar Airways flight arrived in Malaga on Wednesday carrying 254 passengers from as far away as Malaysia, China and Australia. Flights to the Middle Eastern country will now leave from Malaga four times a week. The battle is heating up between the hotels, who claim that holiday lets are creating unfair competition, and owners of properties which are rented for tourism, who say their business helps to create wealth and employment in the province. Some action has already been taken by the authorities, such as two years ago when the Junta de Andalucia began to insist that all properties used as holiday accommodation are registered and regulated, but there are still calls for more to be done. Websites now to insist that holiday rental properties are legally registered Holiday accommodation websites are also now tightening up their rules and insisting that properties in Andalucia which are used for tourism must comply with the regional government's regulations and be registered, or they will not advertise them. For example Airbnb has told its clients that they have until 30 September to register. Another company, Spain-Holiday, which is based in Malaga, has given existing clients until 1 July to comply. Carlos Perez-Lanzac, president of the Association of Tourist Properties of Andalucia, says this is fantastic news. For the past year we have been working with these companies so they comply with the regulations. They have had to make some modifications to their IT systems and software so that all the properties on their websites show the registration number, which begins with the initials VTF (meaning properties used for tourism). Any properties without that number will be automatically rejected. Spain-Holiday says that since May 2016, when the new regulations came into force in Andalucia, no new property in this region has been accepted on its website without the relevant licence. By 1 July all Andalusian properties on the website will have to have their registration number, as is already the case with those in Catalonia, the Balearic islands and the Valencia region. Airbnb, Spain-Holiday, Booking.com and Rentalia account for 90 per cent of holiday rentals in this area. Tourists will know that their accommodation is legal and the quality is guaranteed, and it will make the holiday rental sector more transparent. The owners will also have to declare their earnings for tax: intermediary companies are obliged to provide the information. It would be a big mistake for people to think they can avoid the law, says Carlos. The number of properties used for this purpose continues to grow and there have been numerous complaints from neighbours about noise. The situation is also increasing the price of long-term rentals, as more and more owners are turning to holiday lets and there are fewer long-term properties available. In Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and the Canaries, the authorities have already decided to restrict holiday accommodation in city centres, but now Rincon de la Victoria council, despite having only 309 rental properties with 1,782 places in the municipality, has decided to take a step further and ban all holiday lets in apartments and semi-detached or terraced properties. It wants to change its regulations so that the only properties which can be used for tourism are detached houses or complete blocks of apartments, to avoid bothering other residents. The mayor, Francisco Salado, says this is a problem which has to be dealt with now to prevent further problems arising in the future. People can say they were cheated when they bought their homes because they thought they were buying in a residential area and it turns out that their neighbours are using their properties for tourism, he says. The proposal has not received unanimous support and some political groups on the council are dubious about whether it is possible. Antonio Sanchez, the spokesman for PSOE, believes the Junta de Andalucia would not allow local authorities to limit the amount of tourist accommodation. When asked, sources at the regional government preferred not to comment, saying that the proposal would be considered when and if it is officially made. At present, 36,000 properties in Andalucia are registered as holiday accommodation. Of these, 20,833 are in Malaga province, with capacity for 109,221 people. They are situated in 51 of the 103 municipalities. There are 3,842 holiday properties with 22,112 places in Marbella, 3,358 with 16,736 places in Malaga city, and 2,395 properties with 16,736 places in Mijas. These, the top three, are followed by Benalmadena with 2,193 and 10,678 places, Nerja (1,860 and 8,766 places), Estepona (1,675 and 8,918 places), Fuengirola (1,307 properties and 6,648 places) and Torremolinos (1,145 and 5,025). Together, these figures exceed the 101,239 places available in the 847 hotels in the province, which range from simple hostels to very luxurious establishments. The president of the Association of Tourist Properties in Andalucia, Carlos Perez-Lanzac, says he is hugely surprised by the proposal from Rincon town hall. There have been resolutions from the Andalusian Agency in Defence of Competition, which is part of the Junta, and the National Commission for Markets and Competition, which say that this type of regulation contravenes the rights of property owners, he says. And the measures put into effect in Mallorca are already resulting in less business for other sectors such as taxis and restaurants. Prohibition is always the most radical option; it should be a last resort. An Estepona supermarket manager has received recognition from his local town hall for handing in a bag containing 5,575.30 euros that a Dutch resident had left in a trolley. Raul Jose Castillo had found the bag when he opened the Mercadona store one morning at the end of May. The bag also contained the owner's passport and keys. When a colleague told him that a man had been asking about a bag the night before, Raul followed company procedure and kept it at the store for two days thinking the owner would return. When he didn't he took the bag to the National Police station in Estepona. The bag belonged to Peter Steenbahkens, a Dutch business owner who has lived in Estepona for 20 years. He explained this week that when he had gone back that night to the supermarket and the bag had not been found he had given it up for lost. When the police knocked on his door with a notification asking him to collect his property he didn't understand it fully and called his lawyer. I couldn't believe it! he said, describing the moment he realised that the visit was to return his money, which, he added, he was carrying as he was planning a trip. On Tuesday Raul received an award from the mayor of Estepona, Jose Maria Garcia Urbano, and the bag's owner said that he would be compensated for his honesty, something that shouldn't be newsworthy. However Raul said that he has heard the words You're silly for not keeping the money several times over the last few days. Animal lovers are up in arms in Benamocarra following the publication of a leaflet by the town hall which threatens fines of up to 750 euros for feeding the local cats. Antonio Fernandez Arcas, who says he has been feeding the felines every morning 365 days a year for over 20 years with bags of dry cat food, which he says he buys with his own money from local supermarkets, and Diana Golledge, a British painter who has lived in Benamocarra for 13 years, say that the town hall needs to provide an answer for the cats, which neither involves them starving to death or being taken away and killed. The pair, along with other foreign and Spanish residents who also regularly feed the animals, are hoping to get councillors on board with a programme of sterilisation to control numbers but also to allow them to continue to feed the cats. One of the British residents has sent letters to the town hall with research done in the USA about how controlled cat numbers is good for villages, explains Diana. Deputy Mayor, Maria Leonor Munez, told SUR in English that the leaflet wasn't designed to scare people but that the town hall has received complaints from neighbours about people feeding the cats with raw meat and other left over human food in public spaces in the town centre. Munoz went on to say that the leaflet was part of a wider campaign to encourage people to keep the village clean and to clean up after their dogs. Both Antonio and Diana as well as town hall officials and politicians recognise that the issue of feeding the local cats is controversial with people for and against and that a balance needs to be found. The cat feeders hope to be able to raise funds to start a sterilisation programme; the likes of which have been successful in other villages including Periana, where the town hall collaborated with animal rescue associations. Councillor Munoz also said that while feeding cats in the centre of the village should be prohibited, the town hall is considering identifying feeding points around the outskirts of Benamocarra where residents could give the cats dry cat food in a controlled way. The former Duke of Palma, Inaki Urdangarin, has been given until Monday to turn up at jail to start serving a sentence of five years and ten months following a ruling by the Supreme Court on Tuesday. Urdangarin, who is married to the King's younger sister, Cristina de Borbon, was found guilty in February last year by the Mallorca provincial court and sentenced to six years and three months in the Noos corruption case for fraud, embezzlement, tax crimes and influence peddling, among other offences. The appeal went to Spain's Supreme Court which announced this week that it upheld the decision made by the Palma magistrates, differing only in the case of a charge of document falsification and reducing the sentence by five months. Urdangarin's former partner, Diego Torres, has also seen his sentence reduced by the Supreme Court, in his case from eight and a half years to five years and eight months. This week's ruling upholds the original verdict that Torres and Urdangarin illicitly obtained public money from the Balearic regional government, among other administrations, using a non-profit organisation, Instituto Noos. Funds were handed over for the organisation of sports-related events and projects and channelled out of Noos using a web of cover firms. The sentence states that Urdangarin used his status as a member of the royal family to obtain lucrative contracts. Officials had been given orders by former Balearics president, Jaume Matas, to approve all of the proposals and invoices sent in by Noos without questioning prices or concerning themselves with bureaucratic hurdles or legalities. Matas, the third defendant sentenced to prison in the case, has seen his sentence of three years and eight months confirmed this week. Both Torres and Urdangarin attended the Palma provincial court, separately, on Wednesday morning to receive their official orders to go to jail. They were both given five days to turn up at the Spanish prison of their choice. Matas chose to skip that stage in the process and went straight to the Aranjuez prison in Madrid on Wednesday. Urdangarin, who lives with his wife in Geneva, was allowed to keep his passport to go back to see his family before Monday. With the Supreme Court ruling, the former duke's chances of avoiding jail have practically run out. The next step in the appeal process would be to turn to the Constitutional Court alleging the violation of fundamental rights and calling for the sentence to be suspended. The likelihood of this however, is remote, as is another last resort, a pardon from the Spanish government. Speculation is currently focused, therefore, on which of Spain's prisons Urdangarin will turn up at on Monday. Cristina de Borbon was acquitted of criminal charges by the provincial court last year but given a fine of 265,000 euros as a beneficiary of her husband's illicit business activity. The Supreme Court has reduced her fine to 136,950 euros. The Spanish port of Valencia is waiting for the arrival of 629 migrants who have made the headlines around the world this week. The new Spanish government run by Socialist Pedro Sanchez offered the country's ports as a destination for the Aquarius, a rescue boat full of migrants that was stuck in the Mediterranean after being refused entry by Italy and Malta. Medicins Sans Frontieres, the organisation that rescued the migrants along with SOS Mediterranee, pointed out that the port of Valencia, offered by the Spanish government was not their ideal destination as it involved a journey of 700 miles, that the migrants, among them 123 unaccompanied minors; but it was their only option. Since then the 629 occupants have been shared among three boats thanks to two Italian vessels that joined the mission. On Thursday the vessels changed direction due to the sea conditions and were sailing close to Sardinia as instructed by the Italian maritime rescue services. They now expect to reach Valencia on Sunday. The migrants were rescued over Saturday and Sunday from the sea off the shores of Libya. Since the Spanish government announced its willingness to let the migrant boats dock in Valencia, cities and regions around the country have been offering to take in the migrants once on Spanish shores. The city of Malaga announced that it could take in 30 people in municipal housing. The boats' occupants will be given refugee status on arrival. Pedro Sanchez's new Socialist government took a blow on Wednesday after Maxim Huerta resigned as minister for Culture and Sport amid a tax scandal. An article published by the online newspaper El Confidencial revealed that Huerta, who was sworn in with the rest of the new cabinet last Thursday, had been penalised with a fine of more than 200,000 euros in 2017, for taxes that he should have paid in the period between 2006 and 2008. He had set up a company through which he invoiced for his television and other work, paying less income tax than he would as an individual taxpayer. This was, he pointed out on Wednesday, common practice among artists and presenters, and the inspections carried out in 2016 were described as a witch hunt. Initially he argued that he had now paid all his debts with the taxman and that the fraud he was accused of was in the past. However later on Wednesday evening he appeared to announce his resignation to prevent a pack of hounds from destroying this project, with reference to Pedro Sanchez's new government. He was quickly replaced as minister of Culture by Jose Guirao, who has held a number of top positions in the world of culture, among them director of the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid. English Lithuanian The following resolutions have been adopted at the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of Panevezio statybos trestas AB held on 15 June 2018: 1. Removal from the office of the Board members of the Company. To remove from the office all the Board members of Panevezio statybos trestas AB. 2. Election of the Board members of the Company. To elect the following persons as the Board members of Panevezio statybos trestas AB for the term of office of 4 (four) years: Audrius Balcetis, Audrius Butkunas, Vilius Grazys, Justas Jasiunas, Remigijus Juodvirsis. 3. Approval of the new revision of the Articles of Association of the Company. Considering amendments of the Law of the Republic of Lithuania, which have and will come into effect after registration of the latest revision of the Articles of Association of the Company, to approve the new revision of the Articles of Association of the Company. To authorise the CEO of the Company (with the right of re-authorisation) to sign the new revision of the Articles of Association of the Company. For more information contact: Dalius Gesevicius Managing Director Panevezio statybos trestas AB Phone: (+370 45) 505 503 Attachment FORM 8.3 PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the Code) 1. KEY INFORMATION (a) Full name of discloser: OZ Management LP and Och-Ziff Management Europe Ltd (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named. (c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree Inmarsat plc (d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: (e) Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure 14 June 2018 (f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state N/A NO If YES, specify which: 2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security. (a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any) Class of relevant security: Convertible Bond (XS1486508887) Interests Short positions Number % Number % (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 5,600,000 0.862 (2) Cash-settled derivatives: 33,800,000 5.200 (3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell: TOTAL: 39,400,000 6.062 Class of relevant security: EUR 0.0005 ordinary (GB00B09LSH68) Interests Short positions Number % Number % (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: (2) Cash-settled derivatives: 4,516,626 0.979 (3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell: TOTAL: 4,516,626 0.979 All interests and all short positions should be disclosed. Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions). (b) Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors and other employee options) Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists: Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages: 3. DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in. The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated. (a) Purchases and sales Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit Convertible Bond Purchase 2,000,000 134.75 USD Convertible Bond Purchase 800,000 134.75 USD (b) Cash-settled derivative transactions Class of relevant security Product description e.g. CFD Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position Number of reference securities Price per unit EUR 0.0005 ordinary CFD Increasing a short position 16,626 7.23 USD (c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options) (i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit (ii) Exercise Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit (d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities) Class of relevant security Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion Details Price per unit (if applicable) 4. OTHER INFORMATION (a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer: Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state none (b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to: (i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or (ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced: If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state none (c) Attachments Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO Date of disclosure: 15 June 2018 Contact name: Janine Frederick Telephone number*: 02077584420 Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service. The Panels Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Codes disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129. *If the discloser is a natural person, a telephone number does not need to be included, provided contact information has been provided to the Panels Market Surveillance Unit. The Code can be viewed on the Panels website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk. 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 ... LONGUEUIL, Quebec, June 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Highland Copper Company Inc. (TSXV:HI) (OTCQB:HDRSF) (Highland or the Company) is pleased to announce the results of a feasibility study (the Feasibility Study) for its 100%-owned Copperwood project located in Gogebic County, in the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan, U.S.A. (the Copperwood Project). Highlights of the Copperwood Project Feasibility Study (All amounts in this news release are in US dollars, unless otherwise indicated. Due to rounding, numbers presented throughout this release may not add up precisely to the totals provided.) After-tax internal rate of return ( IRR ) of 18% ) of 18% Initial capital expenditures of $245 million, net of pre-production revenue of $30 million Life-of-mine ( LOM ) cash costs of $1.53/lb, including royalties and $1.29/lb in the first five years of production ) cash costs of $1.53/lb, including royalties and $1.29/lb in the first five years of production Proven and Probable Reserves of 25.4 M tonnes @ 1.43% Cu and 3.83 g/t Ag, containing 801.8 M lbs of copper and 3.1 M oz of silver Additional Mineral Resources of 49.9 M tonnes @ 1.15 % Cu and 3.42 g/t Ag in the Inferred category, containing 1.3 B lbs of copper and 5.5 M oz of silver using a 1% Cu cut-off Average annual LOM payable copper production of 61.7 M lbs and 100,570 oz of silver Initial copper production expected in early 2021 A major step forward for the Copperwood Project said Denis Miville-Deschenes, President and CEO of Highland Copper. The Feasibility Study demonstrates the significant potential of this project located in a great historic mining jurisdiction. Based on the results of the study, we can now focus on putting in place a comprehensive financing package. He added The development of a mine at Copperwood represents a tremendous opportunity to create hundreds of jobs in the region. The Feasibility Study was conducted by, and under the supervision of, G Mining Services Inc. (GMSI) in collaboration with SGS Canada Inc. (Lakefield), Lycopodium Minerals Canada Ltd, Golder Associates and Foth Infrastructure and Environment. The study provides a comprehensive overview of the Copperwood Project and defines an economically feasible, technically and environmentally sound project. Opportunities to Increase Copperwood Project Value Highland and its consultants have identified a number of opportunities to increase the value of the Copperwood Project. These include upgrading inferred mineral resources, increasing mine productivity utilizing innovative continuous mining technologies, conducting further geotechnical studies to optimize ore recovery and minimize mining dilution, reviewing tailings disposal alternatives, and conducting additional testing to maximize metallurgical recoveries. Copperwood Project The Copperwood Project property is located, by road, approximately 22.5 km to the north of Wakefield and 40 km from the town of Ironwood, both in Gogebic County, western Upper Peninsula, Michigan. The project area is at the south edge of the Keweenaw Copper province and underlain by clastic sediments of the Oronto Group, including the Copper Harbor, Nonesuch and Freda Formations. The Copperwood and its satellite deposits are hosted by the limbs of the northwest dipping Presque Isle Syncline within the Nonesuch Formation. The Nonesuch Formation contains two mineralized sequences, one located at the base, the Lower Copper Bearing Sequence (LCBS) and a stratigraphically higher one, the Upper Copper Bearing Sequence (UCBS), separated by poorly mineralized sediments with a variable thickness of 0.5 m to 6.0 m. Chalcocite is the only copper sulfide bearing mineral, occurring principally as disseminations within shale and siltstone. Individual disseminated grains of chalcocite are most commonly very fine grain, approximately 5 to 50 microns in diameter. The Copperwood deposit is relatively sub-horizontal with a thickness that varies from 1.6 m to 3.7 m. Mineral Resources GMSI prepared a Mineral Resource estimate for the Copperwood Project based on data provided up to and including April 12, 2018. The resource estimate was prepared in accordance with CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves (adopted May 10, 2014) and is reported in accordance with National Instrument 43101 (NI 43101) Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Classification, or assigning a level of confidence to Mineral Resources, has been undertaken with strict adherence to CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves. In the opinion of GMSI, the resource evaluation reported herein is a reasonable representation of the global Mineral Resources found at the Copperwood Project at the current level and spacing of sampling. The mineral estimate was prepared under the supervision of Rejean Sirois, P. Eng. of GMSI, an independent qualified person as defined in NI 43101. Geovia GEMS and Leapfrog Geo software were used to facilitate the resource estimation process. Total Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources of the Copperwood deposit are reported at 49.3 million tonnes grading an average of 1.54% Cu and 3.76 g/t Ag, containing 1.68 billion pounds of copper and 5.9 million ounces of silver using a cut-off grade of 1.0% Cu for the combined LCBS and UCBS. Inferred Mineral Resources are reported at 1.6 million tonnes grading an average of 1.18% Cu and 1.55 g/t Ag, containing 43 million pounds of copper and 0.1 million ounces of silver using a cut-off grade of 1.0% Cu. Total Inferred Mineral Resources located in the satellite deposits are reported at 49.9 million tonnes grading 1.15% Cu and 3.42 g/t Ag, containing 1.27 billion pounds of copper and 5.5 million ounces of silver using a cut-off grade of 1.0% Cu for the combined LCBS and UCBS. Mineral Resource Estimate 1.0% Cu Cut-off Grade April 30th, 2018 Deposits Resource Category Tonnage (M t) Copper Grade (%) Silver Grade (g/t) Copper Contained (M lbs) Silver Contained (M oz) LCBS Measured 27.3 1.68 4.58 1,009 4.0 Indicated 14.9 1.46 2.47 479 1.2 M + I 42.2 1.60 3.84 1,488 5.2 Inferred 1.6 1.18 1.55 43 0.1 UCBS Measured - - - - - Indicated 7.1 1.21 3.26 189 0.7 M + I 7.1 1.21 3.26 189 0.7 Inferred - - - - - Satellite LCBS Inferred 34.4 1.17 2.29 888 2.5 Satellite UCBS Inferred 15.5 1.12 5.92 384 3.0 Notes on Mineral Resources: 1) Mineral Resources are reported using a copper price of $3.00/lb and a silver price of $18/oz. 2) A payable rate of 96.5% for copper and 90% for silver was assumed. 3) The Copperwood Feasibility Study reported metallurgical testing with recovery of 86% for copper and 73.5% for silver. 4) Cut-off grade of 1.0% copper was used, based on an underground room and pillar mining scenario. 5) Operating costs are based on a processing plant located at the Copperwood site. 6) Assuming a $3.00/lb Cu price, a sliding scale 3.0% NSR royalty on the Copperwood Project is payable to leaseholders. Assuming closing of the acquisition of the White Pine Project, a 3% NSR royalty on the Copperwood Project payable to Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd. is reduced to a 1.5% NSR royalty. 7) Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources have a drill hole spacing of 175 m, 250 m and 350 m, respectively. 8) No mining dilution and mining loss were considered for the Mineral Resources. 9) Rock bulk densities are based on rock types. 10) Classification of Mineral Resources conforms to CIM definitions. 11) The qualified person for the estimate is Rejean Sirois, P.Eng., Vice President Geology and Resources for GMSI. The estimate has an effective date of 30th April 2018. 12) Mineral Resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, or other relevant issues. 13) LCBS: Lower Copper Bearing Sequence. 14) UCBS: Upper Copper Bearing Sequence. 15) The quantity and grade of reported Inferred Resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred Resources as Indicated or Measured Mineral Resources. Mineral Reserves The Mineral Reserves estimate was prepared by Carl Michaud, P. Eng. of GMSI, in accordance with the CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. Mineral Reserves are based on Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources dated April 30, 2018 and do not include Inferred Mineral Resources. Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources are inclusive of Proven and Probable Reserves. The Proven and Probable Reserves stated below were estimated based on these unconstrained Measured and Indicated Resources, noted above and the work carried out for the Feasibility Study. Mineral Reserve Estimate Reserve by Category Tonnes (M t) Cu Grade (%) Ag Grade (g/t) Cu contained (M lbs) Ag contained (M oz) Proven 17.5 1.50 4.43 579.6 2.5 Probable 7.9 1.28 2.50 222.2 0.6 Proven & Probable 25.4 1.43 3.83 801.8 3.1 Notes: 1) The Mineral Reserves were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Standards for Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by CIM Council May 10th, 2014. 2) Mineral Reserves are estimated at a cut-off grade of 1% Cu. The cut-off will vary depending on the economic context and the operating parameters. 3) Mineral Reserves are estimated using a long-term copper price of $3.00/lb and a silver price of $16.00/oz. 4) Assuming a $3.00/lb Cu price, a sliding scale 3.0% NSR royalty on the Copperwood Project is payable to leaseholders. Assuming closing of the acquisition of the White Pine Project, a 3% NSR royalty on the Copperwood Project payable to Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd. is reduced to a 1.5% NSR royalty. 5) Mineral Reserves are estimated using an ore loss of 3%, a dilution of 0.1 m for the floor and a 0.25 m for the back of the stope and the development. 6) The economic viability of the mineral reserve has been demonstrated. 7) A minimum mining height of 2.1 m was used. 8) The copper recovery was estimated at 86%. 9) The qualified person for the estimate is Carl Michaud, P. Eng., Underground Engineering Manager for GMSI. The estimate has an effective date of May 25, 2018 10) The number of metric tonnes was rounded to the nearest thousand. Any discrepancies in the totals are due to rounding effects; rounding followed the recommendations in NI 43101. Mine Operations and Services It is proposed to mine the deposit with a conventional highly mechanized, drill and blast room-and-pillar mining method. The method consists of the extraction of a series of entries and cross-cuts in the ore, leaving pillars in place to support the back. The entries, cross cuts and pillars have been sized using geotechnical analysis of the local host rocks, and experience from other mines sharing similar ground conditions. The mine will be accessed via covered box-cut to establish a portal at the mine entrance from the surface, located at the central-west part of the deposit. The mine consists of two mining sectors: West and East. The western part, being higher grade with a thicker mineralized zone, will be mined in priority. The mine is split into panels, which consist of at least 12 rooms that provide multiple headings where all activities of the mining cycle can be done in parallel to achieve high productivities, as opposed to activities in series as is the case in a single heading. The mining cycle consists of drilling, explosives loading and blasting, mucking, scaling and bolting. Mining operations are planned with two 10-hour shifts per day, 360 days per year to achieve a production target of 2.4 M tonnes per year, or 6,600 tonnes per day. To achieve this production, a total of 7 to 9 panels must be in production at any given time. The mining operation begins with drilling of the working face, which is accomplished with two-boom hydraulic-electric jumbo drills. Each round is drilled 4.25 m (14 ft) in length with an effective break of 4.00 m. The rooms are 6.1 m wide with a height that varies according to the ore column thickness. The height dimension dictates the productivity, which varies from panel to panel. Mucking will be done with 10 tonnes load-haul-dump (LHD) units that will load muck at the mine face and transport it to the conveyor loading point established for the production panel. The LHD performance will be a function of dip of the stope and distance. The conveyor loading points will be regularly moved as production advances in the panel to be less than 250 m from the headings. Scaling of the rooms is planned with a smaller low-profile LHD unit equipped with a scaling arm that rubs the roof to remove any loose rocks. Bolting will be done by a mechanized bolter to install roof support and wall bolts. In the stopes, 1.8 m rebar bolts are required on a 1.2 m by 1.2 m pattern with wire mesh. In addition, 1.8 m friction bolts are planned in the pillars (i.e. walls) on a 1.5 m by 1.5 m pattern with wire mesh. At room intersection rebar bolt length is increased to 2.4 m. Ventilation for the mine will be provided by a 400 m3/s fresh air raise and two exhaust raises at the eastern and western end of the mine. The dewatering system will consist of six pumping stations capable of evacuating 2,220 l/min of underground water inflow and mine water. Highland continues to study the use of tailings as back-fill in the open stopes. If this approach is selected, it would provide cost savings for tailing disposal and closure costs. Life-of-Mine (LOM) Metal Production The LOM production for the Copperwood Project is shown below. Payable copper production is estimated at 300,000 tonnes (660 million pounds) with an annual average of 28,000 tonnes (61.7 million pounds) over the 10.7-year mine life which includes a 3-month commissioning and ramp-up period. The average payable rate is 95.8% which includes a 0.2% concentrate loss. Payable silver production over the LOM is 1.10 million ounces with an annual average of 101 thousand ounces of silver. Production Physicals Total Concentrate k of dmt 1,264 Cu con. Grade % Cu 24.7 Cu metal production M lbs 690 Ag metal production k oz 2,296 Cu payable metal M lbs 660 Ag payable metal k oz 1,077 Processing and Metallurgy The process plant design for the project is based on a metallurgical flowsheet designed to produce copper concentrate with a nominal throughput of 6,600 tpd and a planned availability of 91.3%. The flowsheet consists of semi-autogenous grinding in closed circuit with a ball mill targeting a primary grind of 40 microns, rougher flotation with concentrate regrind, cleaner flotation using three stages of cleaning, concentrate thickening, filtration and tailings disposal. The primary observation of variability testwork showed that the copper recovery varies from 77% up to ~ 90% with a concentrate grade from 20% up to 29% Cu. The overall average copper recovery is 86% with a weighted average copper concentrate grade of 24.7%. Studies show that copper recovery might be further increased by concentrate grade and reagents optimization. Studies are underway to evaluate the optimal destination and transport option for the Copperwood concentrate. Environment and Permitting Environmental baseline studies were done for the Copperwood Project from late 2008 through the spring of 2011. These studies were used to identify existing and historical conditions in the Project area and select potential siting of infrastructures based on an environmental management and permit approvals perspective. An Environmental Impact Assessment was prepared to comply with the State of Michigan requirements of Part 632 of Act No. 451 of the Public Acts of 1994 as amended. This document outlines the baseline monitoring and studies conducted for the Copperwood Project including the natural, social, economic, cultural, and historical aspects of the environment that may be potentially impacted by the Project design. In order to construct and operate the Copperwood Project, a number of permits must be obtained and agreed upon between Highland and environmental regulatory agencies on both the state and federal levels. Highland maintains an open and proactive approach with both state and federal regulators. The major environmental permits required to develop the Copperwood Project include: Part 632 Non-Ferrous Metallic Mining Permit; Part 31 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit; Part 55 Air Permit to Install; Part 301 Inland Lakes and Streams Permit; Part 303 Wetland Permit; Part 315 Dam Safety Permit; Part 325 Great Lakes Submerged Lands Permit; and Section 10 US Army Corps of Engineers Water Intake Permit. Highland has filed amendment requests, renewals or new applications (as applicable) for these permits and expects to have all required permits by the fall of 2018. Power and Surface Infrastructure The Company is considering a 40 km 115 kV powerline supplied by a well-implemented energy provider in the state of Michigan. Detailed engineering will begin in the coming months for the best routing to minimize the impact on the environment. County Road 519 will be upgraded under the responsibility of the Michigan Department of Transportation. Capital and Operating Costs The initial capital costs, including all direct and indirect costs, are estimated at $275 million, including a contingency of $22.9 million. Pre-production revenue of $30.35 million reduces the capital expenditures to $244.6 million. Initial Capital Expenditure Summary Initial CAPEX ($M) General 1.150 Infrastructure 36.650 Power & Electrical 5.156 Water & TDF Mgmt. 22.875 Mobile Equipment 27.240 Mine Infrastructure 53.529 Process Plant 45.771 Construction Indirects 27.609 General Services & Owner's Costs 22.251 Pre-Production, Commissioning 9.838 Sub-Total Before Contingency 252.069 Contingency 9.1 % 22.899 Total Incl. Contingency 274.968 Less: Pre-Production Revenue (30.348 ) Total Incl. Contingency & Pre-Prod. Revenue 244.619 Operating costs include mining, processing, G&A services, concentrate transportation and concentrate treatment and refining charges. The concentrate transportation, treatment charges and refining are deducted from gross revenues to calculate the net smelter return (NSR). The NSR for the Project during operations is estimated at $1.821 million, excluding $30.35 million of NSR generated during pre-production and presented as a reduction of initial capital expenditures. The average NSR over the LOM is $2.80 per pound of payable copper. The average operating cost over the LOM is $39.84 per tonne of ore or $1.53 per pound of payable copper with mining representing 53.4% of the total operating costs, or $21.26 per tonne of ore. Sustaining Capital Expenditure Summary The total LOM sustaining capital is estimated at $156.5 million. Sustaining Capital LOM ($M) Tailings disposal facility expansion 28.45 Water treatment plant 6.13 Mine equipment purchases 43.69 Mine development expenditures 78.21 Total Sustaining Capital 156.47 Operating Costs Summary Operating Cash Flow LOM $/t ore $/lb Cu Payable ($M) Cu Revenue 2,047 81.92 3.15 Ag Credits 17 0.67 0.03 Revenue 2,064 82.59 3.17 Concentrate Transportation Costs 94 3.75 0.14 Treatment & Refining Charges 149 5.96 0.23 Net Smelter Return 1,821 72.88 2.80 Royalties 85 3.39 0.13 Mining Costs 531 21.26 0.82 Processing Costs 308 12.31 0.47 G&A Costs 72 2.88 0.11 Total OPEX (incl. royalties) 996 39.84 1.53 Operating Cash Flow 826 33.03 1.27 Note: Ore tonnage and payable copper unit costs excluding commissioning period. Sensitivity Analysis Variance After-Tax Results NPV 0% ($M) NPV 8% ($M) IRR (%) Payback (yrs) Metal Price Sensitivities 20% 655.1 318.8 31.9 % 2.1 10% 486.1 218.1 25.3 % 2.5 0% 316.0 116.8 18.0 % 3.2 -10% 145.6 15.4 9.5 % 5.2 -20% -31.8 -89.2 0.0 % 10.5 Initial Capital Cost Sensitivities 20% 266.1 70.2 13.2 % 3.9 10% 290.8 93.3 15.4 % 3.5 0% 316.0 116.8 18.0 % 3.2 -10% 341.4 140.4 21.1 % 2.8 -20% 366.8 164.0 24.7 % 2.5 Operating Cost Sensitivities 20% 150.7 22.8 10.3 % 4.2 10% 233.5 69.8 14.4 % 3.6 0% 316.0 116.8 18.0 % 3.2 -10% 398.6 163.9 21.3 % 2.9 -20% 481.2 210.9 24.3 % 2.6 Project Timeline The timeline for the Copperwood Project is shown below. Subject to completion of financing and receipt of all necessary permits, construction could begin in January 2019. A 27-month construction period would see commissioning in the first quarter of 2021, with commercial production beginning in the second quarter of 2021. Project Timeline Total Construction (months) 27 Mine development (months) 20 Commercial production (yrs) 10.7 Closure (months) 27 Construction start date Jan. 1, 2019 Commercial prod. start date Apr. 1, 2021 Summary Economics for Copperwood Project Summary Economics for Copperwood Project Total Pretax NPV @8% ($M) $ 162.1 Pre-tax IRR 21% Aftertax NPV@ 8% ($M) $ 116.8 After-tax IRR 18% Undiscounted AfterTax Cashflow (LOM) ($M) $ 316.0 Payback Period from start of processingyears 3.2 Initial Capital expenditures ($M) $ 275.0 LOM Sustaining Capital Expenditures ($M) $ 156.5 LOM C1 Cash Costs $/lb (net of biproduct) $ 1.75 Nominal Process capacity mt/d 6,600 Mine Lifeyears 10.7 Annual Payable Metal Production Copper million pounds 61.7 Silver thousand ounces 100 LOM Average Process Recovery Copper % 86.0 Silver % 73.4 Feasibility Study Assumptions Feasibility Study Assumptions Total Avg. Copper Price ($/lb) 3.15 Avg. Silver Price ($/oz) 16.00 Treatment Charge ($/t) 70 Refining Charge (/lb) 7.0 Avg. Copper Payable Rate (%) 95.8% Avg. Silver Payable Rate (%) 46.9% All-in Cash Cost LOM Costs Total Cost ($M) Unit Cost ($/tonne milled) Unit Cost ($/payable lb) Mining 531 21.26 0.82 Processing 308 12.31 0.47 G&A 72 2.88 0.11 Offsite costs (transport, TC/RCs) 243 9.72 0.37 By-product credits (17 ) (0.67 ) (0.03 ) C1 Cost 1,137 45.50 1.75 Depreciation and closure 429 17.18 0.66 Royalty costs 85 3.39 0.13 C3 Cost 1,651 66.06 2.54 First 5-Year Costs Total Cost ($M) Unit Cost ($/tonne milled) Unit Cost ($/payable lb) Mining 219 19.30 0.65 Processing 140 12.34 0.42 G&A 29 2.52 0.09 Offsite costs (transport, TC/RCs) 130 11.45 0.39 By-product credits (13 ) (1.18 ) (0.04 ) C1 Cost 504 44.43 1.50 Depreciation and closure 159 14.00 0.47 Royalty costs 45 3.95 0.13 C3 Cost 707 62.38 2.11 Qualified Persons Louis-Pierre Gignac, P. Eng., of GMSI, an independent qualified person, as defined under NI 43-101, has read and approved the technical portions of this news release. The following qualified persons will be responsible for the preparation of their relevant portions of the technical report to be prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and they have reviewed and approved this news release. Qualified Persons Company Area of expertise Louis-Pierre Gignac, M.A.Sc., P. Eng. G Mining Services Inc. Operating cost estimation and economic analysis Rejean Sirois, P. Eng. G Mining Services Inc. Geology and mineral resource estimation Carl Michaud, P. Eng. G Mining Services Inc. Mineral reserve estimation and mine engineering Paul Murphy, P. Eng. G Mining Services Inc. Infrastructure and capital cost estimation Manochehr Oliazadeh, Ph.D, P. Eng. Lycopodium Minerals Canada Ltd Mineral processing and recovery methods Ross D. Hammett, Ph.D, P. Eng. Golder Associates Mine geotechnical engineering Technical Report The Company is planning to file a technical report in accordance with NI 43-101 on SEDAR, within 45 days from the date of this news release. Readers are cautioned that the conclusions, projections and estimates set out in this news release are subject to important qualifications, assumptions and exclusions, all of which are detailed in the Feasibility Study and technical report. To fully understand the summary information set out in this news release, the technical report that will be filed on SEDAR should be read in its entirety. ABOUT HIGHLAND Highland Copper Company Inc. is a Canadian company focused on exploring and developing copper projects in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, U.S.A. The Company owns the Copperwood deposit through long-term mineral leases. The Company also owns surface rights securing access to the deposit and providing space for infrastructure as required. The Company has 472,933,689 common shares issued and outstanding. Its common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "HI" and trade on the OTCQB Venture Market under symbol "HDRSF". More information about the Company is available on the Companys website at www.highlandcopper.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This press release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and Highland Copper Company Inc. does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking information, except as required under applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information relate to future events or future performance and reflect Company managements expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, information with respect to the estimation of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the conversion of mineral resources to mineral reserves, the expected timing for commencement of construction of the Copperwood mine, Highlands ability to raise the necessary debt and equity contribution to the project, the realization of mineral reserve estimates, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, success of mining operations, life of mine, environmental risks, the timing of the receipt of permits, the timing and terms of a power purchase agreement, unanticipated reclamation expenses, title disputes or claims and limitations on insurance coverage. In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, outlook, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or information that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved or the negative of these terms or comparable terminology. In this document certain forward-looking information are identified by words including scheduled, plan, planned, estimated, projections, projected and expected. Forward-looking information are based on a number of assumptions which may prove incorrect, including, but not limited to, the development potential of the Copperwood Project and current and future metal prices and exchange rates. By their very nature forward-looking information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future prices of commodities; possible variations in mineral reserves CAUTIONARY NOTE TO UNITED STATES INVESTORS Highland advises U.S. investors that this press release contains the terms "inferred", "indicated" and "measured" resources. All resource estimates have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Canadian standards differ significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and resource information contained therein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term "resource" does not equate to the term "reserves". "Inferred resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an "inferred resource" will ever be upgraded to a higher category. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that all or part of an inferred resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable. U.S. Investors are also cautioned not to assume that all or any part of mineral deposits in the "measured" or "indicated" resource categories will ever be converted into reserves. 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. For further information, please contact: Denis Miville-Deschenes, President & CEO David Charles, Manager, Investor Relations Tel: 1.450.677.2455 Email: info@highlandcopper.com Website: www.highlandcopper.com All eyes on OPECs November meeting The next OPEC meeting due on 22nd June is shaping up to be one of the more significant gatherings. Discussions will centre around whether to maintain production cuts or increase production. Naturally, the tanker market is hoping for production increases, Poten & Partners said in a comment. Since the current production restrictions came into effect in January, 2017, oil prices have increased from $55 to $80 per barrel for Brent. US Commercial inventories have come down by 100 mill barrels from a peak of 534 mill in April, 2017 to around 436 mill barrels in the first week of June, 2018. While these two elements seem to indicate that the OPEC cuts have achieved their objective, it remains highly uncertain what OPEC (and non-OPEC participants, like Russia) will ultimately decide to do. The tanker market is holding its collective breath. A meaningful increase in long-haul flows from some of the key OPEC exporters would go a long way in turning the crude tanker market around, especially since it will impact the physical market, as well as provide a boost to the all-important market psychology. While the production cutbacks and resulting oil price increases seem to have turned OPEC members finances around, some countries are benefiting more than others. Revenues declined by an average of 45%, before the cuts. As the largest OPEC producer and exporter, Saudi Arabia suffered the most. The value of the Kingdoms petroleum exports dropped from $284 bill in 2014 to $153 bill in 2015, so it was no surprise that OPEC decided in 2016 that it needed to curtail production. This led to a significant recovery in price, which boosted the revenues for all OPEC members. However, the total value of exports remains significantly below the 2013/2014 numbers. The different OPEC members paths may diverge from here. Sticking to the production agreement may lead to higher oil prices and this will further improve OPECs finances. However, the world economy is not immune to higher oil prices and pressure from the US on OPEC is building to increase production. Unfortunately, while higher prices help all OPEC members (at least in the short term), a production increase will only benefit the countries with spare capacity (ie, mostly Saudi Arabia). Not surprisingly, Venezuela and Iran would rather keep the production cuts in place, as neither country has much, if any, spare capacity and both are facing US sanctions, which could lead to further reductions in output. Irans exports will be facing challenges when sanctions start to bite in November. What are the possible scenarios for the tanker market? The worst case would be a decision later this month to do nothing, ie continue the production cuts. This will lead to rising prices, as problems in Venezuela continue to mount and many Iranian buyers gradually start to reduce their purchases to avoid US sanctions. As we move closer to the November cut off, Iranian exports may decline further. A tightening oil market in combination with rising geopolitical tension could push oil prices to levels where it starts to impact global demand. Rising US oil production is a positive for global oil balances, but, due to a lack of pipeline capacity, US shale producers are facing increasing problems getting their product to (export) markets. The best-case scenario for the tanker market would be a decision by OPEC to boost output, mainly from producers in the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait). Combined with Iranian sanctions and more floating storage, this could reverse the decline in OPEC-related tonne/mile demand that resulted from the production cuts in 2017. Falling oil prices may provide an additional boost to tanker demand as it stimulates oil demand growth and stock building. We dont know what will happen, but we do know what tanker owners are hoping for, Poten concluded. Some analysts are already predicting a rise in production at next weeks meeting - Ed. ASRY installing BWTS on AMPTC fleet ASRY, the Bahrain-based shiprepair and fabrication facility, has signed an agreement with tanker owner, Arab Maritime Petroleum Transport Co (AMPTC), to install ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) on part of its fleet. One system has already been installed on a VLCC, with another two more to receive installations in the coming months. Negotiations continue to extend the agreement to include more installations throughout 2018 and 2019. ASRY Ship Repair general manager, Magdy Sharkawy, explained; Like many of our customers, we have a long and trusting partnership with AMPTC, and were happy to be chosen as their partner to optimise their fleet for the new BWTS regulations. More of our regular customers are now moving forward with their BWTS plans and we have been working closely with them from both an engineering and installation perspective to make these decisions as efficient as possible. Ahmed Demerdash, AMPTCs technical manager, added; ASRY was our first choice for these installations, as they have good experience with the engineering requirements, and a good network of partnerships that we can rely on. They have taken good care of our fleet for many years, and this is a continuation of that collaboration. The AMPTC vessels will receive the BWTS from Hyundai, with which ASRY has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to be a preferred yard for both BWTS and scrubber installations. This agreement sets out a framework for preferential co-operation that includes the retrofit of BWTS and scrubbers, takes Hyundai Global Service as one of the preferred suppliers to ASRY for Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) equipment, including 2-stroke and 4-stroke engine main equipment parts and spare parts, and also all commits to joint undertaking of the required training to optimise the installation process. Veniamis warns of environmental target stakeholder involvement At his customary press conference at the end of Posidonia, the Union of Greek Shipowners president, Theodoros Veniamis, said: Posidonia 2018 found our shipping industry steadfastly maintaining its leading position, both in quantitative and qualitative terms, in the international shipping ranking, having successfully met the challenges of the particularly difficult freight rate market of previous years and other challenges. At the same time, our Union, as the institutional representative body of the Greek shipowning community, with consistency and persistence, has continued and will continue to uphold the positions of Greek shipping in the international fora, having proven over time that it makes substantiated proposals based on its knowhow and its long maritime experience. I want to assure you that the strength of our voice is respected and acknowledged today more than any other period of time at all levels, having undoubtedly recognised the Greek shipping as a major player in the international maritime environment. During the many bilateral meetings that we had during the Posidonia period with the IMO secretary general, Kitack Lim, the EU Transport Commissioner, Ms Violeta Bulc, as well as with state delegations and private maritime stakeholders, we have emphasised to everyone that the shipping industry, although it is the most environmentally friendly mode of transport, is being called unjustifiably to implement legislation and environmental targets, whose achievement depends primarily on other stakeholders, such as the ship machines manufacturers and oil companies. In addition, we must not forget that the needs of world trade are constantly increasing to the benefit of the welfare of nations and thus shipping is called upon to respond to the increased demand for high-quality maritime transport services to meet these needs. We will therefore use all the open channels of communication and formal consultation we have developed to promote realistic and so feasible, in terms of implementation and effectiveness, proposals to address current environmental challenges. Finally, I will repeat that, in order to continue our successful course, we must remain competitive. The term competitiveness is the key to the survival of every shipping industry and must be a common goal of the industry and the state, as well as of the European Union, as our shipping is an integral and strategic part of it, he concluded. Microsoft and Amazon may have recently formed a friendship in their quest to integrate Alexa into Windows 10 devices. However, this doesn't mean they've stopped competing with each other. Microsoft is reportedly laying the groundwork for cashier-free retail stores, which would mean it's taking on Amazon Go. The company has been in discussion with Walmart about potentially using the tech, which aims to rival's Amazon's own hassle-free grocery platform. How Amazon Go Works Amazon launched the first Go store in its Seattle hometown last year. They look like any typical convenience store or retail chain, except customers come in, grab items, and then just leave. The store has special cameras and sensors built in to accurately track which items are being taken out. When they leave, all purchases are charged to the customer's credit card on file. While largely an experiment, Amazon appears to be serious with its cashier-less initiative. Go stores are coming to Chicago and San Francisco soon, although, it's not yet revealed when exactly will be the opening. Here's What Microsoft Is Doing To Overtake Amazon Go According to Reuters, Microsoft poached a computer vision specialist from Amazon Go. Not only is the company presently experimenting with integrating cameras into shopping carts to track purchases, it's also already developing cloud-powered automated checkouts with retail partners. From the looks of it, Microsoft's cashier-less retail project is still in its early stages. However, there's no question that the company has the platforms and services, not to mention, the people necessary to turn an experiment like this into a reality. Powered By Kinect? It's not clear what technology Microsoft is using to power its sensors, but it could be somewhat associated with the company's Project Kinect for Azure, The Verge speculates. Last month, the company unveiled its fourth-generation Kinect sensor designed to map depth and human objects in the spatial context. It is yet unknown how soon Microsoft would bring cashier-less retail stores to market, or whether its technology is on par, if not better, than Amazon's own solution. Again, both projects seem largely experimental at this point, but a number of pundits argue that it's the next big innovation in retail, one that Amazon's competitors simply can't ignore. Do you think cashier-less stores are here to stay, or is this kind of technology just another ill-fated gimmick? As always, if you have anything to share, feel free to sound them off the comments section below! 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Verizon is launching a new unlimited data plan to cater to more needs and preferences. It's a more expensive tier called "Above Unlimited," and it offers extra perks compared to the other available tiers. The carrier was already offering "Go Unlimited" and "Beyond Unlimited" plans, each with its own features and characteristics, but the new "Above Unlimited" comes as a more premium option for those who want more. Mix And Match Verizon Tiers Since not all members of a household have the same needs when it comes to wireless data, the same tier may not be suitable for all. To offer more possibilities, Verizon is allowing customers to mix and match various tiers on the same family plan. This feature is set to go into effect next Monday, on June 18, aiming to make it easier to manage tiers and options on the same account. "People have told us what they want from their unlimited plan, and the bottom line is that they don't like paying more for stuff they don't need," explains Ronan Dunne, who leads the wireless division at Verizon. While some family members may only need basic features from an unlimited plan, others might require more premium features such as 4G LTE mobile hotspots or HD video. The latest changes mark a logical adaptation to current needs, rather than the previous one-size-fits-all approach. Verizon Unlimited Plans: Introducing Above Unlimited With the addition of the latest option, Verizon now offers three unlimited plans. Go Unlimited and Above Unlimited remain unchanged, offering the same features at the same prices as before. Meanwhile, the new Above Unlimited plan offers 75 GB of premium 4G data, 20 GB of 4G LTE mobile hotspot, HD video streaming, five TravelPass sessions per month, and 500 GB of Verizon Cloud storage. However, the extra perks come at a steeper price and the new Above Unlimited tier costs $60 per line per month, for four lines. The fewer the lines on one account, the higher the price. For three lines it costs $70 per line per month, for two lines it goes up to $90 per line per month, while for just one line it will cost $95. While more flexibility to mix and match plans on the same account is a welcome change, it's tough not to notice that Verizon is adding a pricier tier when its rivals are upping the competition. Sprint just recently announced a cheap tier that costs just $15 per month, T-Mobile offers zero-rating Netflix streaming and various other perks with T-Mobile Tuesdays, and AT&T offers HBO for free. On the other hand, Verizon offers the fastest 4G LTE speeds in the United States, which might be more appealing to prospective customers looking for fast connections. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Scientists have discovered a new type of efficient photosynthesis that allows organisms living in bleak, low-light conditions to create energy and thrive. The discovery could potentially help future space colonizers survive in outer worlds by harnessing the power of low-light photosynthesis to create an atmosphere conducive to human life. Photosynthesis That Uses Near-Infrared Light An international team of researchers headed by biochemists at the Imperial College London learned that a wide range of cyanobacteria, a blue-green algae found in freshwater lakes, can produce the phytochemicals essential for survival through photosynthesis even when subjected to low-light conditions by using near-infrared light instead. The team detected the same ability in cyanobacteria located in cultures growing at Yellowstone, on rocks at the beach in Australia, or even in a small cupboard inside a lab in London. What Is Photosynthesis? Plants use the process of photosynthesis to harness light from the sun and turn it into oxygen and energy. Before this study, scientists believed photosynthesis relied on the existence of a green pigment called chlorophyll-a. Chlorophyll-a plays a central role in the process as it collects visible red light and uses it to produce oxygen and nutrients. Red light was once thought to be the lowest minimum requirement for photosynthesis to occur. Astrobiologists used what is called the red light limit to assess if a certain planet has the potential to harbor complex life. The new discovery, published in Science, upends all that. "This is textbook changing stuff," says lead author Bill Rutherford of the Department of Life Sciences at Imperial. Near-Infrared Photosynthesis When the researchers exposed cyanobacteria to near-infrared light, the systems using standard photosynthesis shut down, giving way to a new type of photosynthesis that uses a different type of chlorophyll called chlorophyll-f. Chlorophyll-f is a red pigment that can absorb near-infrared light. The researchers found that what was once relegated to the periphery as an accessory was actually efficient at harvesting near-infrared light and producing energy. What is more surprising is the process is actually widespread in low-light areas rich in infrared light. In fact, this new type of photosynthesis could very well be happening in one's own backyard. Useful For Space Exploration The researchers believe their discovery could redefine humanity's search for new worlds to inhabit and extraterrestrial life forms. Bacteria that can produce oxygen in harsh conditions could be used to create a livable atmosphere for humans colonizing new planets. This particular bacteria has been around for 2.5 billion years and has survived the extreme environments of the Mojave Desert, Antarctica, and even the International Space Station. "Photosynthesis could theoretically be harnessed with these types of organisms to create air for humans to breathe on Mars," says chemist Elmars Krausz of the Australian National University, who is also part of the study. The researchers believe their findings could also help astronomers look for signs of life in outer space by looking for the signature fluorescence of chlrophyll-f. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A woman from Oregon died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, several days after contracting the rare disease that is spread by rodent droppings. Health officials have previously issued a warning on hantavirus infections, which requires immediate medical attention to improve the chances of survival. What are the hantavirus signs and symptoms, and how can people protect themselves from it? Woman Dies From Hantavirus Infection Lindy Farr, a woman from Deschutes County, Oregon, recently passed away due to the rare and incurable disease named hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The Deschutes County Health Department confirmed that the sickness was Farr's cause of death. According to a report by The Bend Bulletin, Farr went to Culver, Oregon before Memorial Day, May 28, to prepare their other home for a family visit. She took with her a vacuum cleaner to clean a loft in the barn, but Farr did not wear protective gear. Sheila Hunt, Farr's neighbor and friend, said that on June 4, she came down with what they thought was just the flu. However, by June 7, Farr was finding it difficult to stay awake, prompting her husband to call 911. Farr was confined at the intensive care unit at the St. Charles Redmond hospital in Oregon, and was placed on a ventilator by June 9. She was transported by air to the Oregon Health & Sciences University in Portland the following day. On June 13, Farr passed away. She was 67 years old. "She was in good health," said Hunt. "You would have never in a million years thought she would have been gone in a week." What Is Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome? Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, one of the many diseases from rats and rodents, shows signs and symptoms similar to the flu after one week to eight weeks from inhaling dust contaminated by rat and rodent droppings. Fever will be accompanied by muscle pain, headache, vomiting, nausea, and fatigue, before escalating into breathing problems. It should be noted that a third of people who contract hantavirus pulmonary syndrome die from it. To prevent infection, people who are entering areas that possibly contain rodent droppings should be very careful, and wear protective gear if necessary. Instead of sweeping rodent droppings and opening up the risk of getting them in the air, the recommendation is to spray the droppings first with a 1:10 bleach and water solution. Hantavirus is rare, and Farr's case was identified as just the 23rd infection of the disease in Oregon since 1993 and the seventh in Deschutes County. Other reports of deaths caused by hantavirus infections this year involve a 9-year-old boy from Colorado and a 27-year-old woman from New Mexico. While the fatalities are tragic, hopefully they raise awareness regarding hantavirus pulmonary syndrome so that people may protect themselves from the disease. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Ridley Scott is tasked to design a patch that will represent hundreds of experiments launching to the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory for the rest of the year. The brain behind the Alien franchise, Blade Runner, and The Martian believes that the best representation of astronauts is a saintly image closely resembling how the saints were depicted by Italian artists during the Renaissance period. NASA Collaborates With Ridley Scott The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space works with different collaborators to develop a mission patch that serves as an emblem for all the projects within a calendar year. NASA has designated CASIS to supervise the studies on the U.S. National Laboratory onboard the ISS. On June 13, the center announced that it has worked with Scott because of his obvious love of space exploration that is evident in the movies he directed and produced. The ISS National Lab Patch Ridley shared that he initially drew an androgynous person when he started creating the patch. However, as he drew a helmet on the supposedly genderless individual, he noticed its semblance to how halos were painted in artworks during the Renaissance. "[I] have always thought on these early paintings of the saints by the Italian masters, you'll see the relevance of how some painters instead of having the halo above like a dish, had it like a circle," Scott says in a video where he explained the process of creating the patch. As he continued painting, he naturally drifted toward depicting a woman saint. Indeed, for Scott, astronauts are truly saints for having the bravery to explore the universe for the benefit of the humankind. "As I drew it, I sat and thought about the relevance of the astronaut to space, the heavens, because that's what it is, the infinity," Scott adds. In line with his vision, CASIS suggested adding the element of the night sky to complete the whole saintly image. Scott agreed and drew the woman as if she was looking toward the ISS. The final version of the patch features a female astronaut wearing her helmet with her face slightly tilted in one direction, reminiscent of paintings of haloed saints looking above the heavens. "The helmet would become, in a sense, a subliminal suggestion of a saint, because that's who you are," Scott says, pertaining to the ISS crew. NASA And Ridley Scott In its announcement, CASIS said Scott's previous collaboration with NASA was instrumental to have him onboard with the mission patch project. In 2015, Scott consulted with NASA to make the film The Martian as accurate as possible. The film follows the story of an astronaut, played by Matt Damon, who was stranded on Mars and had to survive while waiting for the rescue team. Jim Green, head of NASA's Planetary Science Division, did not just answer Scott's inquiries about Mars. He also invited him and his crew to see the prototypes of the apparatus and devices that could make it possible for humans to actually survive on Mars. Green is at the helm of missions that could put astronauts on Mars in the future. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. CHICAGO, June 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 4C, a data science and marketing technology company, announced today the appointment of Marni Walden to the companys Board of Directors. Ms. Walden has more than twenty years of experience in the media and wireless industry, most recently serving as Executive Vice President and President of Global Media and New Business at Verizon Communications Inc., where she reported directly to the Chairman of Verizon and was a top five officer of the corporation. Ms. Walden led the corporate strategy team which included acquisitions and investments through Verizon Ventures, including the acquisitions of AOL and Yahoo, ultimately forming Verizon's media and advertising business Oath. Ms. Walden is also a vocal advocate for closing the corporate gender gap. 4C is leading disruption in the marketing industry, paving the way for a new, audience-centric approach to connect with customers across screens, said Ms. Walden. Im honored to join 4Cs Board of Directors to fuel further growth and market leadership as the company changes the way marketers reach consumers through television, social, digital, and mobile. 4Cs position as a leading innovator in marketing and media is growing as we build on our roots in data science and deepen our audience-based marketing solutions, said Dr. Alok Choudhary, 4Cs founder, Chairman, and Chief Scientist. Marnis proven track record of creating thriving business units and innovating for long-term success will contribute greatly to 4Cs Board of Directors and business strategy. Prior to her most recent position, Ms. Walden served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Marketing Officer for Verizon Wireless. As CMO she was responsible for all marketing initiatives and the management and development of mobile products and services. This included brand management, media buying, agency management and website integration across Verizon Wireless. Ms. Walden is also the Chairwoman of Globetouch, a leader in global connectivity services for the connected car and the Internet of Things (IoT). This is a critical time for 4C, as we expand our offerings to serve the needs of modern marketers who must reach their audiences seamlessly across all forms of media, said Lance Neuhauser, CEO, 4C. Marni will bring a powerful blend of deep knowledge in mobile the central part of todays consumer journey as well as experience serving as CMO of a Fortune 100 company. Ms. Waldens board appointment comes after 4C unveiled the companys new platform, Scope, the first self-service technology that delivers cross-channel audience insights, campaign activation, and media performance. To learn more about 4C, visit www.4Cinsights.com. About 4C Insights 4C is global marketing technology company that delivers a unified platform for audience discovery, media execution, and performance analysis. Leading brands, global agencies, and media owners trust the Scope by 4C platform to identify their most valuable audiences and reach them across channels and devices. With nearly $2 billion in annualized advertising spend running through Scope, 4C enables self-service activation on Apple News, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, NBCUniversal, Pinterest, Snapchat, and Twitter as well as TV synced ads via display, search, social, and video. The company also provides paid, earned, and owned media analytics leveraging its Teletrax television monitoring network which detects over 400 million TV asset airings on an annual basis. Founded in 2011 and based in Chicago, 4C has staff in 16 worldwide locations across the United States, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, and the Philippines. Visit www.4Cinsights.com for more information. Media Contact Kari Brownsberger VP, Marketing Communications Kari.brownsberger@4Cinsights.com It is the responsibility of NASA to monitor asteroids in space to see if there are any possible threats, but one critic believes that NASA has done a sloppy job with this. Nathan Myhrvold Picks A Fight With NASA In 2016, tech billionaire Dr. Nathan Myhrvold publicly criticized NASA's analysis of asteroids. He specifically slammed data in the NEOWISE project, which is the asteroid aspect of the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission. The data in the NEOWISE project sets limits on the probable compositions of asteroids in the solar system. The data organizes the characteristics of the 158,000 asteroid tracked in space. Myhrvold, the former chief technologist with Microsoft, asserted that NASA made misleading conclusions about the size of many asteroids. In a response, NASA slammed Myhrvold back by saying that his data has never went through a scientific peer review. That all changed when journal Icarus peer-reviewed Myhrvold's data and announced in June 2018 that his study is going to be published. NASA continues to defend its findings and opposes Myhrvold's peer-reviewed study. The Problem With NEOWISE In addition to the peer-reviewed paper, Myhrvold published an article on Medium so that he could directly explain his argument with less scientific jargon. In the article, Myhrvold asserts that scientists with the NEOWISE project may have made scientific errors with the data and tried to cover up any issues. "As it happens, my recent papers and other publications have documented strong evidence ... that the issues I am calling misconduct in the NEOWISE papers were not inadvertent," Myhrvold wrote on Medium. "They appear to have been deliberate choices made repeatedly by the NEOWISE team over a long period of time." Although most of NASA has opposed Myhrvold's argument, one scientist is on his side. NASA's David Morrison says that Myhrvold is correct because reflected sunlight has resulted in incorrect asteroid measurements. What Needs To Be Done About Asteroids Myhrvold wants NASA to fix the NEOWISE data, and he wants the entire process to be transparent. He believes that this process could help NASA discover new data about asteroids. He cited the Tunguska event of 1908, a large explosion in Eastern Russia that may been caused by an asteroid, as a reason for NASA to fix the data. "If that had happened in a populated part of Earth ... the whole 20th century would have been scarred by this," Myhrvold told GeekWire. "We basically had our wakeup call on asteroids, and we didn't hear it." 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Recent journal entries by Albert Einstein were published where he disparaged people on his travels to the Middle East and Asia during the 1920s. Einstein described the Chinese as "filthy" and "obtuse." Now Chinese people are coming to his aid saying that there is nothing wrong about his comments. Einstein's Thoughts On The Chinese Einstein's journals depict his attitude and observations during his travels. His observations are racist even though the scientist came out against racism. Einstein went as far as calling racism "a disease of white people" but his writings suggest that he may have suffered from it as well. In the entries, he makes observations about Chinese people. He said that they don't sit while they eat instead they squat just like Europeans do when they use the bathroom in the woods. He calls them quiet and demure and describes the Chinese children as spiritless and obtuse. Einstein also said that it would be a shame if the Chinese supplant all other races. He calls the thought unspeakably dreary. He also referred to the Chinese as filthy and industrious then he referred to China as a peculiar herd-like nation. Chinese People Defend Einstein People in China instead of boycotting Einstein have chosen to defend his thoughts on the early years of the Chinese republic. One user on Weibo says that the scientist had visited the country at the wrong time. They say that this is the beginning of a new nation after centuries of imperial rule. They say that hunger, war, and poverty were affecting the Chinese people at the time. That user goes on to say that with all the problems the Chinese people were facing at the time, how was Einstein going to respect the country like that. Another user said that to call his comments insulting was ridiculous. They say that when Einstein calls the Chinese people dirty it's because they were dirty at the time. The user goes on to say that Einstein is providing a true picture of the conditions that the Chinese were facing at the time. Einstein's comments were also compared with Lu Xun. Lu Xun is a writer that is considered the father of modern Chinese literature and wrote satire poking fun at the state of China in the early 20th century. China's state-run newspaper Global Times wrote an editorial that commended the Chinese people for their response on social media. Another editorial in the South China Morning Post said that if people's thoughts from the past were looked at with today's standards that very few of those people would not be seen as racist. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Apple is about to increase its content library. The technology company will join forces with Oprah Winfrey to enhance Apple users' experience. A Brand-New Partnership Apple signed an undisclosed multiyear deal with the former host of The Oprah Winfrey Show. The current president of the Oprah Winfrey Network is expected to create content that would be used to be aired exclusively on Apple products. Insiders between both parties have noted that this new contract would bring Apple customers a chance to have access to exclusive content. Insiders believe that the content could include film, television shows, books, and apps. It was also noted that Harpo Productions, Winfrey's production company, is expected to own the content that will be a part of Apple's new content library. Media aficionados also believe that Apple signing the 18-time Daytime Emmy Winning television personality would help Apple expand its audience. Oprah Activities Insiders state that the contract that the Weight Watchers investor and board member signed with Apple is non-exclusive. Winfrey is expected to oversee OWN as its president. CNN reported that the Selma actress extended her contract with Discovery Communications-backed network that will keep it on until 2025. While Winfrey exclusively appears on OWN for on-camera productions, abettors believe that the talk show veteran and current 60 Minutes special correspondent might have opportunities to appear in Apple content. "Together, Winfrey and Apple will create original programs that embrace her incomparable ability to connect with audiences around the world," said Apple on the company's newsroom website. The Hollywood Reporter also noted that this announcement coincides that OWN favorite Super Soul Sunday became Apple's top podcast. Winfrey is not the only celebrity that Apple has recruited to create exclusive content for the technology company. Last year, Apple hired Octavia Spencer, Kevin Durant, and two of Winfrey's former collaborators, The Color Purple director Steven Spielberg and A Wrinkle in Time costar Reese Witherspoon, to create new projects. Apple News A class action lawsuit was filed against Apple regarding all three series of the Apple Watch. The suit states that all the Apple Watch screens are prone to crack, detach, and shatter even if its users did not do anything to them. It also noted that Apple knew about Apple Watch screens being crushable and did not recall the objects. The people who filed this lawsuit are seeking $5 million in damages. Apple announced that its latest operating system, iOS 12, would hit all Apple products soon. The proclamation happened at Apple's WWDC conference. Apple leaders mentioned that they would see new features such as Group Facetime on their iPhones and iPads. Other essential features include Screen Time, which will track users' screen time on apps, and a Do Not Disturb function, which will not allow anyone to bother the user during their bedtime. Tech Times reached out to Apple for a comment on this story. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. CALGARY, Alberta, June 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Saturday, June 16, the Fraser Institute will release the Report Card on Albertas High Schools, 2018, the go-to source for measuring school performance. It provides parents with information they cant easily get anywhere else by ranking more than 250 high schools in Alberta, based on eight academic indicators derived from provincewide test results. This years Report Card spotlights which high schools have improved or fallen behind. A news release with additional information will be issued via GlobeNewswire on Saturday, June 16 at 5:00 a.m. (Mountain). The complete results for all 262 high schools will also be available at www.compareschoolrankings.org. Peter Cowley is available for media interviews from Calgary on Saturday. MEDIA CONTACT: Peter Cowley Director of School Performance Studies, Fraser Institute Cell: (604) 789-0475 E-mail: peter.cowley@fraserinstitute.org Bryn Weese Media Relations Specialist, Fraser Institute Office: (604) 688-0221 ext. 589 Cell: (604) 250-8076 bryn.weese@fraserinstitute.org Follow the Fraser Institute on Twitter | Like us on Facebook The Fraser Institute is an independent Canadian public policy research and educational organization with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal and ties to a global network of think-tanks in 87 countries. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for Canadians, their families and future generations by studying, measuring and broadly communicating the effects of government policies, entrepreneurship and choice on their well-being. To protect the Institutes independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research. Visit www.fraserinstitute.org NEW YORK, June 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Digital Arts Media Network, Inc. (OTCMKTS:DATI), a specialized tech accelerator leveraging the Public Accelerator-Incubator (PAI) model, announces initial success for WorkDone Inc via crowdfunding platform, www.truCrowd.com (Owned and operated by truCrowd, Inc.). DATI brought innovative A.I. and machine learning startup, WorkDone Inc, to truCrowd, a FINRA member crowdfunding portal DATI recently secured an equity stake in, to leverage the power of the crowd, as a first stop in the DATI eco-system. In just days, WorkDone achieved its initial funding goals but remains open to oversubscription. Additionally, WorkDone signed an impressive 3-year contract with California-based Eckert & Ziegler Isotope Products (EZIP). A subsidiary of Eckert & Ziegler AG, EZIP is a leading manufacturer for nuclear imaging reference and calibration standards, and a leading producer of radioactive components for industrial, scientific and medical applications. WorkDones task is to reduce manual intervention in inbound purchase order processing; reducing overhead and cutting costs for Eckert & Ziegler Isotope Products. In addition to revenues for WorkDone, this engagement will act as proof of concept; demonstrating how automation agents can be leveraged to improve workflows at companies of all shapes and sizes. Its great to see the crowdfunding platform at work, said Digital Arts Media Network CEO, Ajene Watson, WorkDone reached its initial funding goals very quickly, proving just how effective a solution like crowdfunding can be to bring capital to startups and early-stage development companies. We anticipate that WorkDone will reach its maximum funding capacity from oversubscriptions relatively fast. Founded by a Harvard-educated serial entrepreneur, WorkDone Inc has set forth with an impressive business model that leverages A.I. and machine learning technologies to learn from and optimize tedious manual tasks traditionally done by people. [To learn more about the WorkDone equity crowdfunding offering, or to participate, click here: http://workdone.io/11] Watson concluded, Our goal is to sponsor other viable startup opportunities onto the truCrowd platform like WorkDone Inc, see them meet their capital goals, add them to our equity portfolio of startups, and continue assisting with their development. Whether the startup is looking to go public or legitimately leverage the crypto market with a security token, DATI can assist startups and early-stage development companies in those pursuits. ABOUT Digital Arts Media Network, Inc. Digital Arts Media Network, Inc. (OTCMKTS: DATI) is the first company to utilize the Public Accelerator-Incubator (PAI) model, with the intent to follow the global success of accelerators and incubators around the world, adding niche opportunities to both the microcap and startup communities. As a PAI, Digital Arts Media Network will develop and acquire innovations that solve problems through digital platforms and other electronic applications. Twitter: https://twitter.com/DigitalArtsDATI LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/digital-arts-media-network Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DigitalArtsMediaNetworkDATI/ Medium: https://medium.com/@DigArtsMedNet About WorkDone Inc. WorkDone, AI With A Conscience, enables organizations to seamlessly automate business processes between major SaaS platforms (Office 365, Salesforce, NetSuite, etc.) with no user training or programming required. Their patent-pending technology, Expertise Capture, uses machine learning to train WorkDone Agents to complete repetitive back office tasks so humans can do higher value work. WorkDone Agents interoperate to create systems of intelligence that preserve the corporate memory so that no institutional knowledge is lost when an employee retires or leaves the company. Website: https://workdone.ai/ ABOUT truCrowd, Inc. (owner and operator of truCrowd.com) Located in the heart of the financial district of downtown Chicago, truCrowd is a FINRA member equity crowdfunding portal operating under Regulation Crowdfunding (Title III of JOBS ACT); connecting startups and emerging businesses with non-accredited and accredited investors. Built on the belief that not all businesses and investors are alike, we pride ourselves on delivering a personalized and professional funding experience through industry-leading technology. Website: https://us.trucrowd.com/ Forward Looking Statements Statements in this press release that are not statements of historical or current fact constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unknown factors that could cause the Company's actual operating results to be materially different from any historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to statements that explicitly describe these risks and uncertainties, readers are urged to consider statements that contain terms such as "believes," "belief," "expects," "expect," "intends," "intend," "anticipate," "anticipates," "plans," "plan," to be uncertain and forward-looking. Contact: Public Relations Answering Center (866) 298-7691 Ext. 1 info@DigitalArtsMediaNetwork.com NEW ORLEANS, June 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Bauxite Corporation (First Bauxite or the Company) (TSX-V:FBX) (FRANKFURT:FBI) (BERLIN:FBI) is pleased to announce that it has received additional financing under a second bridge loan agreement (the Second Loan Agreement) with Resource Capital Fund VI L.P. (RCF VI) signed today. RCF VI has agreed to provide additional financing under a second bridge loan facility (the Second Bridge Loan Facility) to the Company in the principal amount of up to US$10 million (the Second Bridge Loan). The Company announced in meetings with Ministers of the Government of Guyana that construction has commenced of the mining and processing facilities for its Bonasika Bauxite Project (the Bonasika Project) located in Guyana using proceeds from the Second Bridge Loan Facility. Funding Update The Second Bridge Loan is to be advanced in four separate advances: (1) a first advance of up to US$2 million, which is available to be drawn on or after June 15, 2018; (2) a second advance of up to US$2 million, which is to be available on or after July 1, 2018; (3) a third advance of up to US$2.5 million, which is available to be drawn on or after August 1, 2018: and (4) an amount equal to the undrawn balance, which is to be available on or after September 1, 2018. The Second Bridge Loan will be repayable in full on the earlier of the demand of RCF VI after an Event of Default (as this term is defined in the Second Loan Agreement); and (2) the date (the Maturity Date) falling 12 months after the date of the first advance of the loan under the first bridge loan agreement signed in January 2018 (the First Loan Agreement) received January 26, 2018. The other terms of the Second Loan Agreement are consistent with the First Loan Agreement. The First Bridge Loan and Second Bridge Loan (collectively, the Bridge Loans) would become immediately due and payable in full upon the incurrence, creation or assumption by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any indebtedness or the establishment, sale or creation of any royalty, metal stream or similar arrangement in connection with financing the Companys Bonasika Project and the Companys bauxite mining and beneficiation plant in Guyana, in an aggregate amount of more than US$25 million. The Company may pay or prepay the Bridge Loans in whole or in part at any time prior to the Maturity Date without penalty or premium. Interest will accrue at a rate equal to 10.0% per annum, which will immediately be increased by 3.5% annually on the occurrence of an Event of Default, all accrued and outstanding interest on the Bridge Loans to be payable on the date of repayment of the Bridge Loans. In consideration for establishing the Second Bridge Loan Facility, the Company will pay RCF VI an upfront fee of US$300,000 on or before the first advance of the Second Bridge Loan. RCF VI is a related party (as such term is defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101) and TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9) of the Company: RCF VI, together with Resource Capital Fund V L.P. (collectively, RCF), which are under common management by RCF Management LLC, beneficially owns and controls 53,127,984 common shares of the Company (representing approximately 45.19% of the outstanding common shares of the Company) and C$8 million and US$19,422,861 aggregate principal amount of convertible notes (the Notes). RCF VI is also the holder of an option (the Option) to acquire all of Pacific Road Resources Funds 13,127,984 common shares of the Company and C$9,847,901 aggregate principal amount of Notes. The Option may be exercised at any time until June 30, 2018. Assuming exercise of the Option and conversion in full of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at a conversion price of C$0.10 per common share, RCF would acquire an additional 434,577,551 common shares of the Company. The Second Bridge Loan is therefore a related party transaction (as such term is defined in MI 61-101). In consideration of the financial circumstances of the Company, the Company is relying upon the financial hardship exemptions from the requirement to obtain a formal valuation and minority shareholder approval in Sections 5.5(g) and 5.7(e) of MI 61-101 respectively. Additional funding will be required to complete the Bonasika Project. Commencement of Construction The Company has formally notified the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission that proceeds of the Second Bridge Loan will be utilized to commence construction of its mine and processing operations for its Bonasika Project in Guyana as required under its Mining License. The Company is committed to improvements to local infrastructure and keeping Guyana working. Initial construction activity is expected to include improvements in local infrastructure including the construction of a haul road, wharfs and roll-on/roll-off ramps on the Demerara River, and upgrades to the mine camp, all of which will utilize local contractors where possible. The Company currently employs 88 employees and contractors, of which more than 85% are from local communities. When the Bonasika Project is fully operational, anticipated in the second half of 2019, the Project will create approximately 250 jobs, with more than 95% of them expected to be filled from local communities. Additional local employment is expected to be created by local suppliers to provide goods and services in support the ongoing operations of the Company. On behalf of the Board of Directors of First Bauxite Corporation Alan Roughead President & CEO About First Bauxite First Bauxite Corporation (TSX-V:FBX) is a Canadian natural resources company engaged in the exploration and development of bauxite deposits in Guyana, South America. The Company intends to produce and sell bauxite raw ore from its facility in Guyana and intends to produce sintered refractory products and ceramic proppants for the refractory and energy industries in the future. The Company has its head office in New Orleans, Louisiana and is managed by experienced professionals with worldwide experience in the global industrial minerals industry across a number of industrial minerals. For further information on First Bauxite Corporation, please visit our corporate website at www.firstbauxite.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. Certain statements contained herein constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements look into the future and provide an opinion as to the effect of certain events and trends on the business. Forward-looking statements may include words such as will, anticipates, believes, intends, expects and similar expressions. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the continued advancement of the Bonasika Project, modifications to the Mineral Agreement, Mining License and Environmental Permit for the Bonasika Project and the Companys development plans. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and entail various risks and uncertainties. Actual results may materially differ from expectations, if known and unknown risks or uncertainties affect the Companys business, or if the Companys estimates or assumptions prove inaccurate. Factors that could cause results or events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to, effect of capital market conditions and other factors on capital availability, availability of sufficient financing to fund planned or further required work in a timely manner and on acceptable terms, continuing support of the Government of Guyana for the Bonasika Project; execution of the Companys existing plans as budgeted, including development programs for the Bonasika Project, which may change due to changes in the views of the Company or if new information arises which makes it prudent to change such budget, plans or programs, including the results of future trials and testwork or any inability to reproduce test results on a commercial scale or in the field, and other risks affecting the Company or the mining industry more fully described in the Companys continuous disclosure documents, which are available under the Companys profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or any other reason. For further information please contact: First Bauxite Corporation Telephone: +592-223-4396 Email: info@firstbauxite.com Website: www.firstbauxite.com Taiwan indicts three over deadly quake building collapse Taipei, June 15 (AFP) Jun 15, 2018 A Taiwanese developer was indicted Friday over the partial collapse of a building that killed 14 people during an earthquake in February, prosecutors said. The building's architect and a civil engineer were also charged with causing death and injury by professional negligence, punishable by a maximum five-year jail term. The lower floors of the 12-storey Yun Tsui residential building -- which also housed a restaurant and hotel -- pancaked when a 6.4-magnitude quake struck the tourist hotspot of Hualien on February 6. A total of 17 people died across the eastern coastal town, 14 of them in the Yun Tsui building. Developer Liu Ying-lin was unlicensed and did not have the necessary engineering qualifications but oversaw the building's construction instead of contracting a professional firm, said Hualien District Prosecutors Office. "Yun Tsui building collapsed within eight seconds of the earthquake... due to serious flaws in design, supervision and construction," said Wang Yi-jen, a spokesman for the office. The flaws included inadequate pillars and reinforcing steel that significantly weakened the building's seismic capacity, he added. Despite its comparative wealth and a reputation for cutting-edge technology, Taiwan still often sees deadly building collapses during quakes. The Hualien quake came exactly two years to the day after a similar sized tremor struck the western city of Tainan, killing 117 people -- most in a single apartment block which tumbled. Five people were later found guilty over the disaster, including the developer and two architects, for building an inadequate structure. The island's worst tremor in recent decades was a 7.6-magnitude quake in September 1999 that killed around 2,400 people. That quake ushered in stricter building codes but many of Taiwan's older buildings remain perilously vulnerable to even moderate quakes. Chicago, June 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Viventium returns to the SHRM Conference this year with the same mission as the last to recognize and donate to a local charity that is doing remarkable work in the host citys community that most reflects Viventiums values. Viventium a transformative, living, and purely cloud-based HCM solution that provides actionable business insight is donating to Open Heart Magic, a charity that commits to bringing laughter, hope, and strength to sick children one to one at their hospital bedsides. Open Heart Magic embodies Viventiums own mission: Bring magic to work. Every day. There is so much amazing work being done in the world. Whether youre a Viventium employee or an employee at Open Heart Magic, it's important to make a difference. People always want to say that its business, nothing personal. But when you do make work personal and you put your heart and soul into what you do every day, that's magic, said Viventium Chief Marketing Officer Terra Vicario. Viventium will present a $5,000 check to the charity on Saturday, June 16, at 3 p.m. Central time at the McCormick Convention Center, where the SHRM conference will be held this coming week. This donation will allow Open Heart Magic to expand and help children at Loyola Childrens Hospital in Maywood, Ill., where its slated to roll out a new program this summer. In 2018, Open Heart Magic will reach over 13,000 sick children at their bedsides in 13 hospitals across three states. Gifts like this allow us to continue to grow by supporting the processes necessary to see more kids in hospitals, through extended programs at our current hospitals and new hospital programs, said Michael Walton, Open Heart Magic founder and executive director. Open Heart Magic said donors like Viventium are helping the charity to roll out a brand-new program in the Chicago area and to double its presence in Cleveland-area hospitals in 2019. Donations help to pay for the supplies and training to teach new volunteers to go into any part of the hospital and empower kids, helping their parents remember how their child laughed before they encountered the uncertainty of their medical situation, Walton said. About Viventium Viventium Software Inc. is a transformative, living, and purely cloud-based HCM solution for business management that provides a remarkable user experience and design anyone can use with ease, unbeatable analytics, and insight into your business. No one dares to provide HCM client service like Viventium we are truly in it with you. We notify our clients about potential problems and areas for improvement before they even know issues within their companies exist. Our unmatched software is built with you and for you, so you get a truly one-of-a-kind, remarkable experience that enables you to fulfill your companys true potential. Viventium Software Inc. Bringing HCM to life one remarkable experience at a time. About Open Heart Magic Open Heart Magic's Bedside Magic programs bring laughter, hope, and strength to sick children one to one at their hospital bedsides. Our volunteer Hospital Magicians are trained to work with all kids in a hospital regardless of their medical conditions or physical abilities, including pediatric intensive care and oncology departments, the burn unit, and isolation rooms so that every child can benefit from this entertaining and empowering therapy. FORM 8.3 PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the Code) 1. KEY INFORMATION (a) Full name of discloser: Kames Capital Plc (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named. (c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree Fidessa Group plc (d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: (e) Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure 14/06/2018 (f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state N/A YES If YES, specify which: 2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security. (a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any) Class of relevant security: Ordinary Share Interests Short positions Number % Number % (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 794,991 2.05 0 0.00 (2) Cash-settled derivatives: 0 0.00 0 0.00 (3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell: 0 0.00 0 0.00 TOTAL: 794,991 2.05 0 0.00 All interests and all short positions should be disclosed. Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions). (b) Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors and other employee options) Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists: Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages: 3. DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in. The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated. (a) Purchases and sales Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit Ordinary Share Sale 190,000 38.4738 GBP (b) Cash-settled derivative transactions Class of relevant security Product description e.g. CFD Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position Number of reference securities Price per unit (c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options) (i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit (ii) Exercise Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit (d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities) Class of relevant security Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion Details Price per unit (if applicable) 4. OTHER INFORMATION (a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer: Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state none None (b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to: (i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or (ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced: If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state none (c) Attachments Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? Date of disclosure: 15/06/2018 Contact name: Stephen Adams Telephone number: 0131 549 6714 For any issues relating to this disclosure please contact 0131 549 3288 or kamestradeoperationsmb@kamescapital.com Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service and must also be emailed to the Takeover Panel at monitoring@disclosure.org.uk. The Panels Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Codes disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129. The Code can be viewed on the Panels website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk. Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission Less than a year after the Metro Council refused to put the mayors roads tax proposal on a parish-wide ballot, Sharon Weston Broome is returning with a similar project list but plans to raise funds through a sales tax rather than a property tax. The 2017 proposal known as the Better Transportation and Roads plan was an excellent foundation to improve roads, Broome said in a Friday interview. +5 Baton Rouge Mayor Broome hopeful for future infrastructure tax, regional projects with New Orleans East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome said Tuesday she hasn't given up hope of passing an infrastructure tax at some point, wh "Traffic congestion, I don't have to tell you, is a really big problem for our drivers. ... It is an issue that has to be addressed, I think our citizens will agree with me," she said. The mayor wants to put the tax measure before voters in December, which means her staff will have to hustle to meet deadlines to get the item on the ballot. Some of the big-ticket items in the previous BTR plan included widening and otherwise improving Hooper Road, Wax Road and Lee Drive. Broomes administration is still discussing which projects will return for the second try, but the mayor anticipates submitting a list that substantially resembles the 2017 proposal. Its going to be the same plan, pretty much, with some modifications, said transportation and drainage director Fred Raiford. The biggest difference so far is the funding mechanism. The original BTR plan was to pay for the upgrades with a five-mill property tax. Now, Broome said she is considering a half-cent sales tax. She hopes that will spread the cost out so out-of-parish commuters who shop in Baton Rouge will help defray the cost, rather than putting it all on East Baton Rouge property owners. +7 Metro Council refuses to put Broome's proposed roads tax on ballot in Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome's first proposed tax package sputtered and crashed Wednesday when the Better Transportation and Roads pla A half-cent sales tax applied parishwide would be expected to generate an estimated $46 million a year. Thats the amount that city-parish finance administrators say a half-cent sewer tax is projected to generate this year, including collections in all municipalities and the unincorporated areas. A revenue source like a sales tax can be borrowed against through the issuance of bonds should the city-parish decide to do so to take on large infrastructure projects. In addition to widening roads, installing sidewalks and otherwise altering the physical infrastructure, Broomes previous proposal included money for technological upgrades like traffic signal synchronization. The administration is now seeking other sources of funding for those technological upgrades. Under a deal the city-parish has struck with the state Department of Transportation and Development, the city-parish will assume responsibility for caring for nearly 100 miles of local roads currently maintained by the state. And, in exchange, DOTD will extend a credit line worth over $70 million to perform road work in East Baton Rouge. +2 Nicholson Drive projects to get first shot at $71.5 million in road credits City-parish leaders have signed off on a $71.5 million road deal with the state, and commuters who travel between LSU and downtown Baton Rouge Broomes staff is asking the Metro Council to amend the road transfer agreement to allow the administration to spend some of the credit on hooking lights up to the computerized traffic signal program with upgraded fiber connections. Some major thoroughfares like Florida Boulevard and Airline Highway already have synchronized lights, Raiford said. The new proposal would add corridors like Plank Road, Scenic Highway and Greenwell Springs Road, among others. Raiford said the city-parish cant keep waiting to bring roads across the whole parish into the system. Metro Council will vote whether to accept the changes during their next meeting on June 27. Council members were guarded when asked about a new roads tax. Generally, they agreed that Baton Rouge must do something to improve traffic but wanted to see what exactly Broome has in mind. The mayor and her staff said theyre working harder this time around to get everyone on the same page and court council support. Several council members said they began talking to Broomes staff about a new tax in the past week. +7 Metro Council refuses to put Broome's proposed roads tax on ballot in Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome's first proposed tax package sputtered and crashed Wednesday when the Better Transportation and Roads pla Some council members said they had not yet met with Raiford, while other said they had spoken to him, but only in broad, preliminary terms. Pro Tem Scott Wilson already has a wish list for his district around Central. It includes widening Wax Road and the Magnolia Bridge as well as Old Hammond Highway east of Sherwood Forest Boulevard. Wilson is typically wary of new taxes and voted against Broomes previous effort, but indicated that things may be different this time around. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Its critical we do something. We cant keep kicking the can down the road, he said. Buddy Amoroso also voted against Broomes plan last year. Residents were still feeling the sting of the 2016 flood and had just voted against a similar road improvement plan advanced by outgoing mayor-president Kip Holden, he said. Trae Welch also noted the similarities to Holdens 2016 proposal, Green Light Plan II. How many times do the voters have to say no? Amoroso asked. +2 Baton Rouge Metro Council members mull roads tax proposal ahead of Wednesday vote The East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council's decision Wednesday on whether or not to put the mayor's proposed roads tax on the November ballot Several council members remarked that the BTR plan seemed to have been rushed and developed without public input. Chauna Banks said a traffic plan must also consider public transportation, but the lack of community involvement was the deciding factor that led her not to support the measure. The lack of conversation with voters last time is a model for failure, so we know thats not the way to move forward this time, Matt Watson said. Broome said she was open to holding public meetings but added that it may make more sense to solicit input via online comments and surveys. If the administration wants residents to inform their designs, they will have to move quickly. The city-parish must advertise any new tax proposition, and a majority of the Metro Council must approve the measure before it can go before voters. If Broome wants the tax on the December 8 ballot, she must submit the council-approved proposition to the Secretary of State by Oct. 15. The timeline is really interesting because in order to get on the December ballot something has to happen really fast, said LaMont Cole. He wants to see a comprehensive plan for the whole parish, but his mid-city district needs more bike lanes and repairs to roads damaged by debris trucks following the 2016 flood, for a start. Cole wondered how the administration will involve the community with the deadlines looming. +4 What caused Baton Rouge flash flooding? Pumping systems overwhelmed, official says New pumping systems are planned for two Baton Rouge locations, but Tuesday's flash flood would challenge any setup, Shawn Wilson, secretary fo Broome said she was unconcerned what else may be on the December ballot, such as a potential vote on St. George incorporation. Whether voters live in St. George or Scotlandville, everyone cares about traffic mitigation, she said. Amoroso was not thrilled at the prospect of a December election and said hed prefer to wait until next November for a major election date. What hed really like, though, is a regional gas tax that could help fund mega-projects like a new Mississippi River Bridge. However, council members have found some aspects of the new plan they like. Banks and Barbara Freiberg both said they preferred a sales tax to a millage. Cole, Welch and Erika Green, whose district was thoroughly inundated by the 2016 flood, continued to emphasize that East Baton Rouge also must consider improvements to its drainage infrastructure. Amoroso, however, is less concerned about drainage this time around now that the city-parish stands to receive federal funding for drainage improvements due to the flood. Broome said that money will allow East Baton Rouge to focus on traffic. Drainage is not being ignored, she said. Her primary concern is seizing the moment and marshalling voters to her particular plan for combatting traffic. Now is the time to move forward, Broome said. We cant let any grass grow under our feet. A Connecticut man was sentenced in Baton Rouge to 10 years in federal prison for his leadership role in a nationwide scheme involving hundreds of stolen identities and millions of dollars in counterfeit checks, U.S. Attorney Brandon Fremin announced Friday. Walter Glenn, 40, and others obtained the personal identifying information of more than 400 victims and traveled across the country in 2014 and 2015 in rental vehicles, attempting to cash 833 counterfeit checks worth $2 million at more than 450 Walmart stores in 23 states, including Louisiana. Connecticut man convicted in Baton Rouge in $1 million identity theft fraud scheme A Connecticut man accused in a nationwide scheme involving hundreds of stolen identities and millions of dollars in counterfeit checks was con Walmart lost nearly $1 million as a result of the scheme, Fremin said. Glenn was convicted in December by a federal court jury in Baton Rouge of access device fraud; aggravated identity theft; and conspiracy to make and pass counterfeit checks, produce fraudulent identification documents, and use unauthorized access devices. The case originated with a traffic stop in West Baton Rouge Parish. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson sentenced Glenn, of Hartford, Connecticut. A 39-year-old man described as an "enforcer" in a violent drug trafficking organization that brought hundreds of pounds of cocaine from Houston to the Baton Rouge area was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison Thursday. Colin Knox, of Baton Rouge, was found guilty in March for his role in the large-scale drug ring. Trial testimony indicated Knox used violence and threats of violence to protect the trafficking organization. Final two defendants from Baton Rouge and Gonzales convicted in massive drug trafficking scheme A man from Baton Rouge and another from Gonzales were convicted by a federal court jury for their roles in a violent and large-scale drug traf Knox, who has prior firearms convictions, and Demitoris "Big Tachi" Alexander, 52, of Gonzales, were the last of 38 defendants convicted following an extensive probe that led to their indictment in 2015. Alexander was sentenced to life in prison earlier this month in the federal case, and his son, Tachi "Little Tachi" Williams, 32, of Gonzales, was sentenced last year to nine years in prison in the case. Gonzales man sentenced to life for leading drug distribution network in Baton Rouge region A Gonzales man said to have trafficked hundreds of pounds of cocaine from Houston to the Baton Rouge metro area and elsewhere in 2013 was sent Alexander and Williams have pending murder charges in Ascension Parish stemming from a fatal 2014 shooting. TORONTO, June 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (TSX:PIC.A) (TSX:PIC.PR.A) Premium Income Corporation (the Fund) announces results of operations for the six months ended April 30, 2018. Decrease in net assets attributable to holders of Class A shares amounted to $10.1 million or $1.01 per Class A share. Net assets attributable to holders of Class A shares as at April 30, 2018 were $67.6 million or $6.77 per Class A share. Cash distributions of $0.43 per Preferred share and $0.41 per Class A share were paid during the period. Premium Income Corporation is a mutual fund corporation, which invests in a portfolio consisting principally of common shares of Bank of Montreal, The Bank of Nova Scotia, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, National Bank of Canada, Royal Bank of Canada, and the Toronto Dominion Bank. The Fund employs a proprietary investment strategy, Strathbridge Selective Overwriting, to enhance the income generated by the portfolio and to reduce volatility. In addition, the Fund may write cash covered put options in respect of securities in which it is permitted to invest. The investment portfolio of the Fund is managed by its investment manager, Strathbridge Asset Management Inc. The Funds Preferred and Class A shares are listed on Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols PIC.PR.A and PIC.A respectively. Selected Financial Information: ($ Millions) Statement of Comprehensive Income For the six months ended April 30, 2018 (Unaudited) Loss (including Net Gain on Investments) $ (4.4) Expenses (1.4) Operating Loss $ (5.8) Preferred Share Distributions (4.3) Decrease in Net Assets Attributable to Holders of Class A Shares $ (10.1) For further information, please contact Investor Relations at 416.681.3966, toll free at 1.800.725.7172 or visit www.strathbridge.com. John Germain, Senior Vice-President & CFO Strathbridge Asset Management Inc. 121 King Street West Suite 2600 Toronto, Ontario, M5H 3T9 416.681.3966; 1.800.725.7172 www.strathbridge.com info@strathbridge.com Louisiana's new higher education chief Kim Hunter Reed started her job three weeks early to help head off another round of crippling cuts for colleges and universities. Colleges face a $96 million reduction, on top of roughly $1 billion cuts in the past decade. Under the latest budget, the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, or TOPS, would be funded at 70 percent of current levels. Two divisive special sessions this year to resolve seemingly endless budget problems failed, and a third one starts on Monday at 4 p.m. "I am here early because we have an immediate crisis," said Reed, who is the state's ninth commissioner of higher education. Educator, former Blanco aide Kim Hunter Reed named Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed, a Colorado educator who has spent most of her career in Louisiana, was picked Wednesday to be the next Commissioner of Higher Reed got to Baton Rouge from her previous job in Denver on June 10, a Sunday. "I landed Sunday, I started meetings on Monday, I came into the office on Tuesday," she said. Reed already has talked to House and Senate leaders, board staff, the heads of college and university systems and student leaders. When the special session starts she will be there to press the case for funding colleges and universities. "We have to make sure we support talent development in Louisiana," she said in an interview. "In order to do that, we have to stabilize funding in higher education," Reed said. "We have to stop this disinvestment in higher education." Friends, co-workers and allies say what the state is getting is an energetic advocate with a wealth of higher education experience in Louisiana and elsewhere. "Kim is a tireless worker," said former Gov. Kathleen Blanco, who Reed worked for from 2004-07. "I often wondered when she sleeps," Blanco said. "I mean, she would be sending emails at 4 in the morning. She just has boundless energy." Joseph Savoie, president of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and former commissioner of higher education, made the same point. "Kim is exceptionally talented," Savoie said. "She is tireless. She works long hours. She is focused. She is a problem solver." Reed, 52, just left her post as executive director for the Colorado Department of Higher Education in Denver, where state aid for colleges is about to rise by $100 million. Despite flurry of related bills, public schools, colleges left largely unchanged by Legislature Few changes are in store for public schools after a session where tweaks around the edges took the place of any bold sweeps in education policies. Before that she was deputy undersecretary for the U.S. Department of Education in the Obama administration, where she worked and commuted for 11 months, then 17 months in Denver. But most of Reed's professional life, and a big reason she landed the job, took place in Louisiana. She worked for the Board of Regents twice, as chief of staff from 2008-12 and as deputy commissioner for public affairs from 2000-04. Other stops include the University of Louisiana System, executive vice president; Southeastern Louisiana University, including executive assistant to the president and higher education consultant for HCM Strategists in Washington, D.C. Louisiana's departing higher ed boss wins praise amid budget upheaval Joseph Rallo, who leaves state government on June 8, spent most of his 42-month tenure as commissioner of higher education watching aid for co "She is probably the best prepared commissioner we have ever had," said Savoie, who held the job from 1996-2008. Reed was named state higher education chief on April 18. The commissioner and the Board of Regents oversee boards that run four systems LSU, Southern, the University of Louisiana System and the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Reed, who is the first black person to serve as commissioner, grew up in Lake Charles in a family of educators. Her office wall includes a photo of her grandmother, born 100 years ago, holding her degree from Southern University at a time when LSU was off limits for African Americans. Reed's late mother was a Head Start director in Lake Charles, where the center is named after her. Her dad still works in education. "It is special to be part of something that you truly believe in, that is in your DNA," she said. Reed got her undergraduate and master's degrees from LSU and her Ph.D in public policy from Southern University. She is a wife and the mother of a rising high school senior. They live in Baton Rouge. Reed, then in her mid-20's, was working in Lake Charles for KPLC television station in 1991 when then gubernatorial candidate Edwin Edwards saw her work. "I was impressed and talked her into becoming press secretary," Edwards recalled. Said Reed, "I did not know what the press secretary was, or what the job entailed." But she took the job and served during Edwards fourth and final term, getting an education along the way traveling the state. "It was my first foray into politics," Reed said. "I learned a lot." Said Edwards, "She served in a number of functions. Always does a great job." The next time a Democrat became governor, Reed was back in the State Capitol. She managed policy, legislative affairs and communications for Blanco. Like the rest of the governor's staff, Reed saw firsthand what ensued when Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005. "I remember kindness, I remember sadness, I remember the death toll," she said of that time. "Enormous." State Rep. Sam Jones, D-Franklin, who also served on Blanco's staff, said Reed was part of the all-hands-on-deck daily push for relief that consumed the administration after one of Louisiana's biggest disasters. "Pleasant to deal with, smart, structured, organized," Jones said of Reed. The commissioner is starting a job where even a standstill budget, like last year, is considered a victory. In 2008 state aid for higher education totaled $1.5 billion. In the current year it is $832 million. Spending per student is the lowest in the region, and just a third of what Alabama spends, said Robert Levy, chairman of the Board of Regents and the official who asked Reed to start work early. "It is not an overstatement to say Louisiana's continued ability to educate its citizenry and train its workforce depends on what happens in the upcoming special session of the Legislature," Levy said in a message to lawmakers. "It is that critical," he said. Blanco said Reed, who will be paid $350,000 per year, is fully aware of the challenges. "Kim knows what is going on," she said. "She is not walking into that job with any kind of rosy expectations," Blanco said. "These are tough political times." U.S. President Donald Trump, right, reaches to shakes hands with North Korea leader Kim Jong Un at the Capella resort on Sentosa Island Tuesday, June 12, 2018 in Singapore. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) ORG XMIT: BKWS501 A flag marks one of the bounderies of the Bayou Bridge Pipeline project. Dean Wilson, executive director of Atchafalaya Basinkeeper drives the boat while taking to the swamp to show areas where oil and gas companies have ravaged the natural ecosystem Friday April 27, 2018, near Bayou Sorrel, La. In this Aug. 23, 2011 photo, former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards, 84, serves as honorary bartenders at Molly's On The Market Bar during a Press Club of New Orleans function in New Orleans. Edwards had recently finished an eight year prison sentence for bribery and extortion. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) ORG XMIT: LAGH104 A few months before Anthony Bourdain's death, the TV star spent Mardi Gras in Mamou and Lafayette, dressed in full attire to chase chickens in true Courir de Mardi Gras fashion. That episode from Bourdain's hit TV series "Parts Unknown" is set to air Sunday at 8 p.m. on CNN. Bourdain was found dead in his hotel room in France on June 8. He was 61. His death was ruled a suicide. [Click here to see a few preview clips of the show.] "In this celebration of Louisianas Cajun culture, complete with Zydeco music and a crawfish boil, Bourdain goes off the beaten path and takes part in the less familiar Mardi Gras traditions of the regions history stemming from the French Middle Ages," CNN description of the episode says. "Donning a conical hat, mask and colorful fringed costume, the host participates in the day long Courir de Mardi Gras in Mamou. Meals include a home cooked meal in Grand Coteau, lunch at Lauras 2 in Lafayette with creole cowboys, and boudin & cracklings at Billys in Opelousas." CNN is available on cable channel 34 in Baton Rouge and Lafayette and channel 29 in New Orleans. Four decades of Spanish rule left a lasting impact on New Orleans' culture, law and people, an influence still apparent today. Now, more than two centuries later, the former colony is getting its first look at the royal family that once owned the place. Our Views: Centuries after defining N.O. architecture, Spanish royalty to return for visit In a culture defined by Carnival, New Orleans residents are accustomed to seeing kings and queens. But a different kind of royalty is visiting King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain were to arrive in New Orleans on Thursday night to celebrate the citys 300th birthday, spotlight their countrys strong and often overlooked cultural and historical influences on the region, and work to strengthen Spain's economic ties with Louisiana. The royal couples trip is a rare visit to the city by a sitting monarch but will be a relatively low-key affair. A formal lunch, visits to museums and musical performances, and meetings with officials will round out the itinerary before they travel on to Texas on Saturday. Can't see video below? Click here. King Felipe, 50, has held his largely symbolic role of head of state for four years. He has a reputation as a serious and studious monarch who has a masters degree in foreign service from Georgetown University that has been put to use in his travels and outreach to other countries. He is also a helicopter pilot trained in the countrys military academies and was a member of Spains Olympic sailing team during the 1992 games in Barcelona. Queen Letizia, who was born Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, is a former TV anchor who appeared on multiple stations in Europe including CNN and reported on the United States 2000 election and the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001. The two began dating after they connected during an oil spill off the Spanish coast. She was covering the story, and he was on hand to offer help and support to those affected. Their marriage was somewhat unusual. The future queen was a commoner and the first Spanish-born woman to take on the title of queen in more than a century. She was also a divorcee, a fact that was noted at the time as a departure for the strictly Catholic royal family. They have two children, Leonor and Sofia. Hes a young king. Hes very much in tune with the people and very progressive, said Vivian Coutin, president of New Orleans Sociedad Espanola, adding that he is very interested in business and education. Surprisingly, given its self-conception as an international city with deep ties to Europe, this weeks visit marks a rare appearance in New Orleans by a sitting monarch. The only previously noted visit was a 1953 trip by King Paul and Queen Frederika of Greece, King Felipes grandparents. The agenda for the visit includes a welcoming ceremony and lunch at Gallier Hall with Mayor LaToya Cantrell and other local officials on Friday; a stop at the Louisiana State Museums exhibit on the Spanish empire in the Americas, with a focus on Spain's role in the American Revolution; and performances at the New Orleans Museum of Art. They also plan to meet briefly with local university presidents and historians. The visit is not all about history and culture, though. It is also intended to help bring about closer economic ties between Louisiana and Spain, where companies are interested in partnerships with the states oil and gas, chemical and shipping industries, according to a Spanish source involved in the preparations for the visit. Before he leaves, the king will also meet with Gov. John Bel Edwards. The royal couple will next visit San Antonio, another city in a former Spanish colony celebrating its tricentennial, before meeting with President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump at the White House. New Orleans often focuses on its French roots, but it owes much of its architecture and culture to the Spanish, who ruled the colony for nearly as long during the 18th century. 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 It was during this period of Spanish rule that New Orleans really becomes a city, whether it's banquettes what we would call sidewalks or the first attempts at lighting and sort of a general orderly civic administration, said Steven Maklansky, interim director of the Louisiana State Museum. France gave its Louisiana colony to Spain in a secret treaty in 1762 during the waning days of the Seven Years War, hoping to keep the territory out of the hands of the British, who had recently prevailed in the last major battle between the two powers in Canada. The agreement was only revealed a few years later and prompted a rebellion among the colonys French residents against the first Spanish governor who showed up, with Gov. Alejandro "Bloody" OReilly fully taking control of Louisiana only late in the decade. Despite the rocky start, the years of Spanish rule that followed would prove to be crucial for the development of the colony, which would revert to French control only briefly before it was sold to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, said Alfred E. Lemmon, director of the Williams Research Center at the Historic New Orleans Collection. Our (city's) name is French, but eventually what you have developing is that the Spanish impact was enormous, Lemmon said. The Spanish, with vast colonial holdings throughout the Americas, would prove to be able administrators in New Orleans, Lemmon said. The Spanish period included an investment in the citys infrastructure that led to the construction of many new buildings including the Cabildo and Presbytere as well as an expansion of the city beyond the boundaries of the Vieux Carre into Faubourg Marigny and what is now the Central Business District. The imprint of Spain on the citys historic character was furthered after two massive fires swept through the French Quarter, destroying hundreds of buildings and meaning that many of the structures that now stand there bear marks of Spanish styles and techniques, Lemmon said. Beyond its buildings, the Spanish also shaped the laws and culture of the colony, he said. And Maklansky noted that Spanish support would go on to be critical to the American colonists in the Revolutionary War. That contribution is one of the focuses of the "Recovered Memories" exhibit at the Cabildo, which includes artifacts from the colonial period on loan from Spain and which the royal couple will visit during their stay. Its not just about these old historical facts but about the continued relevance of this historical information and trying to get it all together because I think the more people understand these connections, the greater an appreciation theyll have of their own culture, Maklansky said. The Spanish royal family traces its history back to the late 15th century monarchs Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, who were responsible for the unification of Spain, the completion of the Reconquista the reconquest of the Iberian peninsula from Moorish rule and the early Spanish colonization of the Americas. The family ruled Spain until 1931, when a republic was established and the monarchy abolished. Gen. Francisco Franco, who led a coalition of fascists, monarchists and other right-wing groups to victory in the Spanish Civil War later that decade, would eventually re-establish Spain formally as a monarchy and name King Felipes father as his successor before he died in 1975. While King Juan Carlos I was widely expected to carry on Francos legacy, he ended up leading the countrys transition to democracy as a constitutional monarchy in the ensuing years. King Felipe took the throne in 2014 after his father abdicated amid scandals over royal spending and a fraud investigation targeting King Felipes sister. He promised a fresh start and a more forward-looking approach from the monarchy, continuing the deep interest in international culture and trade that he had developed before his coronation. Coutin, with the Sociedad Espanola, said she hopes more of those cross-cultural connections will develop from the visit. Thats the future of our world to make connections. People understand that we have to learn from our past and enjoy and celebrate the past and bring it to the future, she said. The FIRST STEP Act (short for "Formerly Incarcerated Reenter Society Transformed Safely Transitioning Every Person") has been touted as a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill that may allow hundreds of people in federal prisons an earlier release date. This includes those criminalized for HIV-related crimes at the federal level. Among its provisions, the Act would provide $50 million annually to the Bureau of Prisons for vocational and educational programming, as well as more mental health treatment; it also would allow incarcerated people to apply for "time credits," or time off their prison sentences, if they successfully complete these programs. These time credits are not get-out-of-jail-free cards; credited time is simply transferred to the number of days that a person must spend in a halfway house before finally going home. Still, living in a halfway house and beginning the transition back to the outside world is preferable to being locked in a prison. Not every federal prisoner would be eligible for these time credits: The Act contains a lengthy list of convictions, including "homicide," that exclude people from time off for good behavior. But it also contains a list of exceptions, meaning that people convicted of certain sections of the homicide statute would still be eligible for time off. Among those who could complete prison programming and apply for time credits are people with HIV who have been imprisoned for donating, selling, or attempting to donate or sell their blood, tissue, organs, semen, or other bodily fluids under 18 U.S. Code section 1122 ("protection against the human immunodeficiency virus"). (There is no federal law criminalizing HIV through sexual activity. Moreover, in 2013, the Obama administration lifted the ban on HIV-positive donors donating organs to other HIV-positive people, and such transplants are already ongoing). It's unclear whether the time credits section of the FIRST STEP Act changes existing policy and practice in the federal prison system for those prosecuted under section 1122. In an email response to TheBody, an unnamed spokesperson for the Bureau of Prisons, the agency that operates federal prisons, wrote, "We did not find any provisions in law or Bureau of Prisons policy prohibiting individuals sentenced under 18 U.S.C. 1122 from participating in programs in prison or receiving good conduct time credit." How many people criminalized for HIV might be affected by the bill? No one seems to be able to answer that question, in part because no one seems to know how many people are currently imprisoned under section 1122. As of the beginning of June 2018, 3.2% (or 5,547 people) of the 184,039 serving federal prison sentences had been convicted of homicide, aggravated assault, or kidnapping. But it's not clear how many of these thousands were convicted and sentenced for homicide, let alone how many were convicted under the section that specifically criminalizes attempting to donate or sell bodily fluids while HIV positive. Neither the federal Bureau of Prisons nor the U.S. Sentencing Commission tracks these numbers. In response to queries from TheBody, the Bureau of Justice Statistics analyzed data from 1994 to 2014 and found no cases in which section 1122 was listed as a charge. The data may not be complete; the analysis was limited to up to five charges per case, meaning that if a person was prosecuted for more than five separate charges, the additional charges did not appear in the Bureau's analyses. However, a spokesperson for the Bureau said that, from the analysis of those 20 years, it did not appear as if anyone had been admitted into the federal prison system specifically under section 1122. The offices of sponsoring representatives Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Doug Collins (R-GA) did not respond to requests for comment about the decision to ensure that people convicted of section 1122 were explicitly eligible for time credits. This is what we do know: As of 2015, 1,536 people with HIV were incarcerated in federal prisons, a jump from the 1,066 held in 1998. But that doesn't mean that any of these 1,536 people were convicted under section 1122 or would see their time in prison dramatically shortened should this bill become law. The FIRST STEP Act also expands the Bureau of Prisons' (little-used) compassionate release program, which allows elderly and terminally ill people to ask for the opportunity to spend their last months with family at home instead of dying alone in prison. It further prohibits the shackling of pregnant people during labor, delivery, and postpartum recovery -- a legal reform that has been the policy of the Bureau of Prison since 2008. Moreover, it requires that people sentenced to serve time in federal prisons not be placed more than 500 driving miles from home. Trump has promised to sign this bill should it pass both houses of Congress. The Act has already passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 360 to 59. Now, its companion bill must make it through the Senate, where legislators are critical of its failure to address mandatory minimums, limits on judicial discretion in sentencing, and other overly harsh sentencing policies and to instead focus only persons who are already in prison. These absences may make it harder to pass in the Senate. In addition, the Act only affects segments of the federal prison population: The nearly two million people in state prisons and local jails will remain unaffected. This includes those who have been arrested and/or convicted of state laws criminalizing HIV non-disclosure. In other words, whether or not the Act passes, those incarcerated under their state's (outdated and antiquated) HIV criminalization statutes or those advocating the modernization of such laws will continue to have a fight on their hands. THIS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ethos Gold Corp. (Ethos or the Company) (TSXV:ECC) (OTCQB:ETHOF) (Frankfurt:1ET) is pleased to announce that it has submitted a draft 43-101 technical report for its La Purisima project (the Project) to the TSX Venture Exchange (the Exchange). The report was prepared by P. Craig Gibson, Ph.D., CPG. The technical report will be posted on SEDAR following its acceptance by the Exchange. The Project is located in the north central part of Chihuahua State, approximately 250 km northwest of the City of Chihuahua, and 50 km northeast of Nuevo Casas Grandes. Access is by 15 km of paved road from Nuevo Casas Grandes and then 60 km of gravel road. The primary target is an epithermal low sulfidation vein system which has been mapped over a north-south strike length of over 1.5 km, open in both directions. Surface mapping, underground workings, and historic drilling indicate that gold mineralization is present over a broad structural width of up to 200 meters, with dissemination of gold mineralization outside of the primary veining, including in stockwork and other lithological units receptive to the gold mineralizing fluids. Based on this exploration concept, Ethos is pursuing at La Purisima as a potential open pit, heap leachable resource targeting both the primary veining and the disseminated mineralization. No resource has been defined to date at the Project, and any resource definition will depend on future exploration success which is uncertain. Ethos has now commenced sampling and mapping work on La Purisima with 189 rock samples taken to date and sent for assay to ALS Chemex in Hermosillo, with an additional 200 en route to the same lab. Initial work has uncovered several veins not previously identified, including one vein set that ranges from 10 to 50 meters in width. Work is ongoing and exploration results, including surface sampling assays, will be released as they are received. The objective of this work program is to define target areas for drilling. Concurrently, permit preparation for an initial drill program has commenced, with drilling anticipated to commence prior to year-end. A budget for this program is also being prepared with the cost anticipated to be modest, in part based on good access and flat topography. The Company is also pleased to announce that it has signed a property access agreement for La Purisima with the cattle ranch land owners, providing the Company with that access rights necessary for the anticipated exploration work, including drilling. The agreement also provides access through the construction and operation of a mine, should the exploration program successfully define an economic deposit. Mel Herdrick, a director of and consultant to the Company, is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101, has read and approves this release. For additional information please contact Craig Roberts at 604-682-4750. The Companys website, www.ethosgold.com, will be revised once the NI 43-101 technical report has been accepted by the Exchange to include information on the La Purisima project as well as other corporate updates. Ethos Gold Corp. Per: "Craig Roberts" Craig Roberts P.Eng., President & CEO Forward-Looking Statement Cautions: This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding Exchange acceptance and subsequent SEDAR filing of an NI 43-101 technical report on the Project, the future release of assay results from current exploration work, the development and execution of a drill program, including permit applications, and the costs of a future exploration and drilling program forecast to be nominal. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include, the Company's inability to secure the acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange for the Companys option agreement to acquire the La Purisima Project or the above-described technical report, other delays faced by the Company in addressing the Exchanges requirements for the technical report, accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, or the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances, necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes in the jurisdictions where the Company carries on its business that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects. 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. HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, June 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Erdene Resource Development Corp. (TSX:ERD) ("Erdene" or "Company") is pleased to announce its shareholders voted in favour of all items of business brought before them at the Company's Annual Meeting of Shareholders ("AGM") held on June 14, 2018 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Details of the AGM are provided below. Appointment of Board and Executive At the AGM, shareholders voted in favour of Erdene managements nominees to the board of directors, with details of the proxy voting results as follows: Nominee Votes For % For Votes Withheld % Withheld Peter C. Akerley 46,650,797 99.98% 10,250 0.02% Dr. Anna G. Biolik 46,656,647 99.99% 4,400 0.01% John P. Byrne 46,639,647 99.95% 21,400 0.05% J.C. (Chris) Cowan 46,637,797 99.95% 23,250 0.05% T. Layton Croft 42,942,797 92.03% 3,718,250 7.97% Cameron McRae 46,656,647 99.99% 4,400 0.01% David V. Mosher 46,640,647 99.96% 20,400 0.04% Following the AGM, Erdenes board of directors appointed its officers for the coming year, namely: President and Chief Executive Officer - Peter Akerley; Chairman of the Board - Chris Cowan; Vice President and Chief Financial Officer - Ken MacDonald; and Corporate Secretary - Suzan Frazer. Auditor Re-Appointed KPMG LLP was re-appointed Auditor of the Company to hold office until the next AGM or until its successor is duly appointed, and the directors were authorized to fix the Auditors remuneration. About Erdene Erdene Resource Development Corp. is a Canada-based resource company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of base and precious metals in underexplored and highly prospective Mongolia. The Company has interests in four exploration licenses and a mining license in southwest Mongolia, where exploration success has led to the discovery and definition of several prospects and deposits including: Bayan Khundii the Companys flagship and newly discovered, high-grade, near-surface gold project; Altan Nar an extensive, high-grade, near-surface, gold-polymetallic project located 16 kilometres northwest of Bayan Khundii; Altan Arrow an early-stage, high-grade gold-silver project 3.5 kilometres north of Bayan Khundii; Ulaan a recently acquired copper-gold porphyry prospect adjacent to Bayan Khundii; Khuvyn Khar an early-stage, copper-silver porphyry project; Nomin Tal a narrow, high-grade copper-gold discovery; and Zuun Mod a large molybdenum-copper porphyry deposit. In addition to the above projects, Erdene has an Alliance with Teck Resources Limited on regional copper-gold exploration in the prospective Trans Altai region of southwest Mongolia. The Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar licenses have a 2% net smelter returns royalty (NSR Royalty) in favour of Sandstorm Gold Ltd. with a buy-back option to reduce the NSR Royalty to 1%. For further information on the Company, please visit www.erdene.com. Erdene has 161,682,014 issued and outstanding common shares and a fully diluted position of 183,141,320 common shares. Forward-Looking Statements Certain information regarding Erdene contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance or other statements that are not statements of fact. Although Erdene believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Erdene cautions that actual performance will be affected by many factors, most of which are beyond its control, and that future events and results may vary substantially from what Erdene currently foresees. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration results, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. The forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The information contained herein is stated as of the current date and is subject to change after that date. The Company does not assume the obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. NO REGULATORY AUTHORITY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENTS OF THIS RELEASE SEATTLE, June 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CFN Media Group (CFN Media), the leading agency and financial media network dedicated to the North American cannabis industry, announces publication of an article discussing recent developments toward international business for The Green Organic Dutchman (TSX:TGOD) (OTCQX:TGODF), which became the worlds largest cannabis initial public offering (IPO) in recent weeks. In addition to its funded 130,000 kilograms of capacity and 1,095,000 sq. ft. of cultivation facilities under construction, the company has developed a leading brand in the cannabis industry with an eye for international markets. Canadas cannabis industry is projected to reach C$22.6 billion over the coming years, according to Deloitte, driven by the legalization of adult-use cannabis nationwide. But, the international market for cannabis could be much larger. For example, Canadas cannabis oil extracts nearly tripled last year due to strong demand from Germany, while the United States has become the worlds largest market at over $50 billion per year in projected revenue. New Global Division The Green Organic Dutchman recently announced the launch of a new global division focused exclusively on the beverage industry. With over 125 years of combined experience in the beverage industry, the company plans to work with large-scale beverage companies to provide a strategic pathway into the cannabis industry. These agreements may take the form of direct investment, joint ventures, or other opportunities depending on the circumstances. The initial focus will be on creating industry-leading branded products and to supply organic base ingredients for global beverage brands. As part of its $55 million R&D budget, the company is developing a 40,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art research and development center that will include space for product development and pilot manufacturing. The facility is one of many within the 72-acre Valleyfield property designed to create cannabinoid-infused drinks. TGOD President Csaba Reider, in the press release announcing the deal, stated, We will create unique, healthy and organic products for the recreational and medicinal markets. We have the best access to capital, organic production capabilities and R&D resources in the world. GMP Compliant Facilities The Green Organic Dutchman also recently secured a supplemental license from Health Canada for the production of cannabis oils. Using its supercritical CO2 extraction system, the company is capable of processing up to 6,600 kilograms of ultra-pure, environmentally-friendly, organic cannabis oils each year. The cannabis oils are designed to be as close to the original plant as possible, including terpene profiles, to realize potential entourage effects. The companys laboratory was built to GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) specifications and management is pursuing European Union GMP certification. Once it secures this certification, the company will be able to begin exporting its cannabis oil products throughout the European Union where the market is ripe for high-quality organic cannabis oil products. Organic Certification In May, the Green Organic Dutchman announced that its Ancaster, Ontario facility received organic certification from Ecocert Canada, an internationally-recognized world-leading organization in organic certification. Ecocert Canada provides inspection and certification for sustainable development and works to maintain rigorous respect of organic standards on products, services, and systems. Organic products have commanded premium prices in both traditional agriculture and the cannabis industry. With product recalls plaguing many licensed producers, organic products provide an added layer of protection from these issues, since they avoid the use of potentially dangerous pesticides. The organic certification could also make the products more attractive for importers in regions like Europe and Australia. This is another step in TGODs planned expansion to be the worlds largest branded organic cannabis company, said CEO Robert Anderson. Consumers world-wide are interested in quality products and TGOD will continue to strive to provide the highest quality organic product that complements the natural product preferences of todays consumer. Expanded Technology The Green Organic Dutchman has also been expanding its technology portfolio. The company signed a deal with Evolab and CBx Sciences to license its proprietary technologies and formulations in Canada and other jurisdictions outside of the United States. Evolab is a top cannabinoid vaporization brand that has gained significant market share in the U.S., while CBx Sciences is a leader in cannabinoid R&D and consumer product development. This licensing partnership for industry leading technologies and formulations will further allow TGOD to execute on its plans of offering novel and safer delivery methods of both non-psychoactive and psychoactive cannabinoids to patients and consumers around the globe, said Mr. Anderson. In late-May, the company also announced an exclusive agreement with Stillwater Brands to license RIPPLE SC (Soluble Cannabinoids) ingredient technology and other proprietary beverage and food technologies within Canada and certain international jurisdictions outside of the United States. The move could pave the way to develop cannabinoid-infused consumer packaged goods, including micro-dose and full-dose tea sticks. Jamaica and Beyond The Green Organic Dutchmans latest development is a partnership with and 49% investment in Epican Medicinals, an early mover in the Jamaican market. Epican is the first completely vertically integrated cannabis company there, with cultivation, extraction, manufacturing and distribution licenses. The company has an extraction facility that has been built to GMP standards, and the new deal includes a plan for construction of a second 125,000 sq. ft. facility. TGOD will assist Epican as it pursues Eco-Certs organic certification. This deal shows TGODs international plan in action, as the company brings all of its expertise and acquisitions to bear in entering a foreign market. This is the first example of how we can partner with and introduce companies like CBx Technologies and Stillwater Brands to foreign jurisdictions, said Mr. Reider. Through the development of GMP compliant, state-of-the-art extraction labs, TGOD will begin manufacturing these proven brands in international jurisdictions as regulations permit. Looking Ahead The Green Organic Dutchman (TSX:TGOD) (OTCQX:TGODF) has made tremendous progress in expanding its reach over the past several months. In addition to licensing new technologies, the company has achieved internationally-recognized organic certification and is well on its way to achieving the GMP certification thats necessary to export into the European Union. TGOD is also entering the Jamaican market with an established company, opening the possibilities of near term revenue in that countrys fairly new legal cannabis industry. Investors may want to take note of the stock given these recent catalysts. For more information, visit the companys website at www.tgod.ca. Please follow the link to read the full article: http://www.cannabisfn.com/green-organic-dutchman-well-positioned-international-expansion/ About CFN Media CFN Media (CannabisFN) is the leading agency and financial media network dedicated to the global cannabis industry, helps companies operating in the space attract investors, capital, and publicity. Since 2013, private and public cannabis companies in the US and Canada have relied on CFN Media to grow and succeed. Learn how to become a CFN Media client company, brand or entrepreneur: http://www.cannabisfn.com/featuredcompany Download the CFN Media iOS mobile app to access the world of cannabis from the palm of your hand: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cannabisfn/id988009247?ls=1&mt=8 Or visit our homepage and enter your mobile number under the Apple App Store logo to receive a download link text on your iPhone: http://www.cannabisfn.com Disclaimer CannabisFN.com is not an independent financial investment advisor or broker-dealer. You should always consult with your own independent legal, tax, and/or investment professionals before making any investment decisions. The information provided on http://www.cannabisfn.com (the Site) is either original financial news or paid advertisements drafted by our in-house team or provided by an affiliate. CannabisFN.com, a financial news media and marketing firm enters into media buys or service agreements with the companies that are the subject of the articles posted on the Site or other editorials for advertising such companies. We are not an independent news media provider. We make no warranty or representation about the information including its completeness, accuracy, truthfulness or reliability and we disclaim, expressly and implicitly, all warranties of any kind, including whether the Information is complete, accurate, truthful, or reliable. As such, your use of the information is at your own risk. Nor do we undertake any obligation to update the items posted. CannabisFN.com received compensation for producing and presenting high quality and sophisticated content on CannabisFN.com along with financial and corporate news. The above article is sponsored content. Emerging Growth LLC, which owns CannabisFN.com and CFN Media, has been hired to create awareness. Please follow the link below to view our full disclosure outlining our compensation: http://www.cannabisfn.com/legal-disclaimer/ CFN Media Frank Lane 206-369-7050 flane@cannabisfn.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BlockchainK2 Corp. (TSXV:BITK) (the Company) announces the grant of options to certain directors of the Company to acquire a total of 1,130,614 common shares of the Company at an exercise price of CAD$0.25 per share and options to the other director of the Company to acquire a total of 795,081 common shares of the Company at an exercise price of CAD$0.33 per share. The options expire ten years from the date of grant. As per the Companys May 25, 2018 press release, it has recently completed a Change of Business transaction (the COB Transaction) and now operates as a blockchain technology company, with its initial business being cryptocurrency mining. The intention to issue these stock options was set forth in the Filing Statement of the Company dated May 22, 2018, filed in connection with the COB Transaction, which can be found at www.sedar.com under the Companys profile. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF BLOCKCHAINK2 CORP. Douglas Wu CEO and Director For further information, please telephone: (604) 283-1722. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements English Dutch Regulated information 15 June 2018 at 19.00 CET Summary of the transparency notification Nyrstar NV (the "Company") announces today that on 7 June 2018 it has received a transparency notification from Capfi Delen Asset Management NV. Capfi Delen Asset Management NV has informed Nyrstar that as a result of the disposal of shares their participation in Nyrstar fell below the lowest threshold of 3% on 31 May 2018. Further details regarding shareholder notifications are available on Nyrstar's website: http://www.nyrstar.com/investors/en/shareholderinformation/Pages/shareholderstructure.aspx. Miscellaneous This press release can be consulted on the website of Nyrstar via http://www.nyrstar.com/investors/en/news/Pages/news.aspx. Contact person for questions on the transparency press release, the notification and the shareholder structure of the Company: Company Secretary, company.secretary@nyrstar.com. -ENDS- About Nyrstar Nyrstar is a global multi-metals business, with a market leading position in zinc and lead, and growing positions in other base and precious metals, which are essential resources that are fuelling the rapid urbanisation and industrialisation of our changing world. Nyrstar has mining, smelting and other operations located in Europe, the Americas and Australia and employs approximately 4,100 people. Nyrstar is incorporated in Belgium and has its corporate office in Switzerland. Nyrstar is listed on Euronext Brussels under the symbol NYR. For further information please visit the Nyrstar website: www.nyrstar.com. For further information: Anthony Simms Head of Investor Relations T: +41 44 745 8157 M: +41 79 722 2152 E: anthony.simms@nyrstar.com Franziska Morroni Head of Communications T: +41 44 745 8295 M: +41 79 719 2342 E: Franziska.morroni@nyrstar.com The full press release can be downloaded from the following link: Your friend has just created a new group on Instagram and your phone has received 160 notifications in the past five minutes. Its annoyingyoure busy at the moment, and notifications beeping every few seconds is not helping. Its not just on Instagramwe have that kind of friend on Twitter, Facebook and messenger apps. Fortunately now, there is a way to mute them for a while on all social media and messenger apps. According to Popular Science, they will not realize that their updates are being ignored, while our social feed becomes quieter. Instagram In one of its newer updates, Instagram has a feature where you can mute your contacts. Although this feature is currently only available in the IOS and Android apps, not the website. Muting a person means that you will not be able to see their posts, but they will not be aware. In a nutshell, it is a bit like blocking somebody but in a nicer way. You will have the option of muting them completely or muting either their posts or their Instagram stories. Instagram provides a quick and easy way to mute and to unmute that contact. Facebook There are two ways in Facebook to mute someone without unfriending them and letting them know. This applies for all versions of Facebook including Android, IOS and the web version. The first way is to temporarily mute them. Also known as the snooze option, it will hide the posts from your feed for a period of 30 days. The second way is to unfollow themyou will still remain friends with that person, of course. But their posts will not appear on your feed. Twitter Just like the other two social media, Twitter also comes with a mute option (on Android, IOS and the web). You will not be able to see the tweets of the person that you have muted on your timeline and it will also not affect your follower count. Like Instagram, its a nicer way of blocking them. Read also: What social media platforms and search engines know about you Instant Messaging Apps Most instant messaging apps come with mute options although how to mute still depends on the messenger app youre using. WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Google Hangouts and many others will let you mute specific conversations so you will not receive notifications for them. (ely/mut) Among the several Indonesian traditions of Ramadhan and the Idul Fitri holiday is having tins of cookies on the coffee table to break the fast and serve guests and relatives with. Before Ramadhan, supermarkets and convenience stores have creative displays of various cookie tins to entice customers. While the taste for what is inside the tins is diverse, there is one mainstay when it comes to the tin itself: the picture of two children and a mother at a dining table on the Khong Guan red biscuit tins. The Khong Guan cookie tin has always been known as an essential holiday item that brings families together for a communal snacking experience since it was made available in Indonesia in the 1970s. Painted by Bernardus Prasodjo when he was an art student at the Bandung Institute of Technology in the 1970s, the family portrait depicting a mother, her son and her daughter indulging at tea-time with an assortment of Khong Guan cookies has been appropriated as a comical meme by millennial users of popular social networking sites in recent years. The memes, which have become something of an Idul Fitri staple on their own, humorously explore possibilities as to why the father is absent in the family portrait. Part of the memes mass appeal is the Photoshop modifications to the original artwork. Among the most popular possibilities is that the father might have had an affair with the cartoon lady from Supermis retro-style tote bag: HEBOH : Bapak Khong Guan tertangkap kamera sedang asik selingkuh dengan janda sebelah. Pantas saja,.. Hffth pic.twitter.com/KXYRpcfWyS Rehan (@Rehan_SangSaka) June 5, 2017 Other possibilities are discussed too: YouTube channel Duo Harbatah released a video last year that functions as a comprehensive primer to the meme: Every year since the memes viral emergence in 2013, an entire generation of millennials have taken to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to come up with a new storyline of the unofficially titled Khong Guans Absent Father Saga. Last year, the painter, Bernardus Prasodjo, offered closure to the interminably curious netizens. The reason why the father is not in the picture is because hes the one taking [the picture], said the 69-year-old jokingly as quoted by suara.com last year. The father wouldve been able to join his family in the frame had selfie sticks existed in the 1970s, he added. But the netizens refused to call an end to the mystery. The latest speculation has arisen ahead of Idul Fitri this year, giving families more ponderings when looking at the family picture on the tin on their coffee table. Earlier this month, a Twitter user with the handle @lelakibudiman posted the latest rendition of the Khong Guan meme: a portrait of the absent father finally coming home when, unbeknownst to him, his family had been waiting for him in the house while holding kitchen knives. The image is captioned Bapak Khong Guan akhirnya pulang. (The Khong Guan father has finally returned home.): Bapak Khong Guan akhirnya pulang. pic.twitter.com/2rtmRkCY3K lelaki budiman(@lelakibudiman) June 2, 2018 The artwork, which seems to have been cribbed from a vintage magazine cover that shows the idealized suburban family of post-war America, is viewed by other netizens as a morbid conclusion to the absent father saga. One Twitter user posted that the family is out to murder the father: Pulang pulang mau dibunuh:( Naaa (@iiena208) June 3, 2018 Viewing the artwork from a much darker perspective, another user tweeted that the family wants to turn the father into opor ayam a popular Idul Fitri delicacy popular among Indonesians: pulang lebaran bapaknya mau dijadiin opor Ashrifa Fuadini (@AshrifaaFuadini) June 4, 2018 Amid the morbidity, one user tried to be more positive by tweeting, Dont be so negative, those kitchen knives will probably be used by the family to pry open the cover [of the Khong Guan cookie tin]: jangan negatif dulu, pisau itu untuk membuka tutup kalengnya ramai-ramai dengan bapaknya setelah lama tidak membuka tutup kaleng bareng yha (@adtyha_) June 4, 2018 Happy Idul Fitri. (rfa/evi) Designer Stella McCartney said she wanted to help Meghan Markle project her "human side" when making the American actress' second dress for her marriage to Britain's Prince Harry. The 46-year-old created the silk crepe halterneck dress the American bride wore for her evening reception in Windsor last month. The newly married Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, (R) and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, (L) leave Windsor Castle in Windsor on May 19, 2018 after their wedding to attend an evening reception at Frogmore House. (AFP/Steve Parsons ) For the actual ceremony, watched by millions around the world, Markle, now called the Duchess of Sussex, wore a sculpted long-sleeved dress with a boat neck by Clare Waight Keller, the British designer of couture house Givenchy. "I was aware that we had to get the right kind of positioning, the right pace, the right voice," McCartney told Britain's BBC in an interview. "There was a delicate line." The British designer, a celebrity favorite, is known for her understated creations. American television mogul Oprah Winfrey and human rights lawyer Amal Clooney both wore Stella McCartney designs for the royal wedding. Asked what she wanted to help the royal bride project, McCartney said: "I think just her sort of human side." Read also: Meghan Markles Givenchy dress reflects a more modern monarchy "The role that she's taken on it's very austere, it's very sort of serious and I think there's a great weight that she has ... acquired through that and she takes it very seriously," she said. "I think it was the last moment probably that she could reflect sort of the other side to her ... the joy and the human within her." Speculation over who would design Markle's dress began as soon as the couple announced their engagement last November. McCartney, who does not use fur or leather in her creations, said she was "proud" to have been given such a coveted role. "I got the call ... We didn't have a huge amount of time but we had enough time," she said. "It was very much her dress and I felt very proud that she came to me for that part of the wedding." Veteran folk musician Ari Malibu of the AriReda duo and Pahama Group died in Jakarta on Thursday at the age of 57. Reda Gaudiamo, Aris singing partner in AriReda, announced the news via Instagram. A post shared by Reda Gaudiamo (@reda.gaudiamo) on Jun 14, 2018 at 6:54am PDT Ari had been treated for esophageal cancer since November 2017. During the treatment, he continued to perform with Reda and completed three albums for ARiReda in March. A number of charity concerts had been held for Ari, including in Bandung and Bentara Budaya, Jakarta, in May. In late May, music journalists Adib Hidayat and Denny MR created a crowdsourcing campaign for Aris medical bills. The donations currently amount to Rp 3,808,635 (US$273). Read also: Crowdfunding campaign to raise money for Ari Malibu's cancer treatment Ari became a member of Pahama folk group, which rose to fame after winning the vocal group category in the 1976 Teenagers Television & Radio Star competition, an acclaimed and legendary singing contest. With Reda, Ari then founded AriReda in 1982, singing folk songs penned by Simon and Garfunkel and John Denver. In 1987, they were involved in an art appreciation project helmed by poet Sapardi Djoko Damono and Fuad Hassan, the culture and education minister at the time, aiming at helping high school students enjoy poetry through songs. At the time, they joined a number of literature students at the University of Indonesia who took part in translating poetry into songs. The pair infused beautiful, at times bittersweet, melodies into the poems of Sapardi, resulting in the album Hujan Bulan Juni (Rain in June, 1990) and Hujan Dalam Komposisi (Rain in Composition, 1996). In 1996, Ari with pop folk band LFM released the album Waktu (Time) with fellow members of Ridho Hafiedz (now the guitarist of rock band Slank) and FX Adam Joswara (currently the bassist of industrial rock band Koil as well as an electronic solo act under the name VladVamp). Warik, their sole hit, enjoyed decent mainstream popularity on radio and television in 1996. In 2007, with 10 songs based on Sapardis poems, AriReda released their first official album, Becoming Dew. Their second album, AriReda Menyanyikan Puisi (AriReda Sings Poems) came in 2015, with songs adapted from the works of renowned poets, such as Amir Hamzah, Gunawan Mohamad and Toto Sudarto Bachtiar. (wng) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Agnes Anya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 15, 2018 09:24 1220 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e92cda9 1 World UN,Israel,Palestine,US,Indonesia,Retno-Marsudi Free Indonesia is among the main backers of the newly adopted United Nation's resolution on the protection of Palestinian civilians, the Foreign Ministry has said. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said that she had been "in constant communication with the Indonesian permanent representative to the United Nations in New York", to ascertain the endorsement of the resolution. "Indonesias relentless and consistent support for every single initiative and undertaking for Palestine is a testament to Indonesias political commitment to Palestine as it [Palestine] continues to experience acts of violation and impunity by Israel as the occupying power," Retno said in a press statement on Thursday. "These acts of impunity include violations of the Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians in times of war as well as international human rights and humanitarian laws," she continued. Read also: 120 countries at UN condemn Israel over Gaza violence The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution calling for the protection of Palestinian civilians after the Assemblys rejection of a United States-sponsored amendment condemning Hamas. The resolution, entitled Protection of Palestinian Civilians, deplores the use of excessive, disproportionate and indiscriminate force by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and particularly the Gaza Strip. The Assembly demanded that Israel refrain from such actions and fully abide by its legal obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention relating to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Times of War, adopted in August 1949. The resolution, proposed by Algeria and Turkey, was passed with 120 votes of support, eight against and 45 abstentions. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin N. Adri (The Jakarta Post) Balikpapan Fri, June 15, 2018 08:22 1220 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e92c320 1 Business PLN,electricity,power-grid,Idul-Fitri-2018 Free State-owned utility company (PLN) has stationed 400 personnel to monitor power grids in East and North Kalimantan until June 29 to ensure adequate electricity supply during the Idul Fitri holiday. Theyve been stationed at 54 posts around Balikpapan, Samarinda, Tenggarong, Bontang, Tanjung Redeb and Tarakan, said Riza Novianto Gustam, PLN general manager for East and North Kalimantan. Even if PLN had already inspected the condition of its generators, Riza maintained that the 400 personnel were needed as a precautionary measure against extreme weather. During holidays in previous years, Riza said PLN anticipated an increase in domestic electricity consumption even though overall usage saw decreases due to the reduced industrial activity. For example, the peak output from the Mahakam power plant in East Kalimantan usually drops to 350MW from 370MW during holidays. We are ready. So have a happy Lebaran holiday and I ask for your forgiveness for any mistakes, Riza added, while saying an Idul Fitri greeting. (nor/gda) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 15, 2018 05:14 1220 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e92a9aa 1 National terrorism,JAD Free Five suspected terrorists linked to extremist group Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), who were arrested in Blitar, East Java, allegedly planned to rob several bank branches, National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Mohamad Iqbal said. They planned to launch [terror] acts against a number of banks in Blitar as an act of fai [taking infidels fortune], Iqbal said in Jakarta on Thursday. They also allegedly planned to attack a number of government offices. The police confiscated firearms and bullets, he said. The suspected terrorists have been identified as AR, MSZ, NH, HW and K. AR is linked to the JAD Blitar chapter while the police are investigating the remaining fours connection. The five were arrested in different places in Blitar on Wednesday night. (swd) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 15, 2018 15:04 1219 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e93b4c6 1 National Istiqlal-Mosque,212Rally,#212Rally,Aa-Gym,Idul-Fitri-2018,#IdulFitri Free Bandung-based preacher Abdullah Aa Gym Gymnastiar delivered a sermon during Idul Fitri morning prayers on Friday at the Istiqlal Mosque, the countrys biggest mosque, in Central Jakarta. Aa Gym is known as a proponent of the 212 rally, a religiously-driven mass protest staged in December 2016 demanding the prosecution of then-Jakarta governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama, which eventually led to the victory of current Governor Anies Baswedan in the 2017 gubernatorial election. The prayers in Istiqlal were attended by Anies and Zulkifli Hasan, the People's Consultative Assembly speaker and National Mandate Party (PAN) politician. Many of the PAN's elite were also known to have supported the 212 rally. Aa Gyms 15-minute long sermon highlighted the danger of corruption, which he described as against the teachings of Islam on leading a honest and humble life. A person who continues to steal is doomed to failure in life if [the person] does not atone, Aa Gym said as quoted by kompas.com. His name, however, was included on the Religious Affairs Ministrys list of 200 Islamic preachers that are deemed moderate, which was issued last month. Aa Gym once was also a popular cleric before his popularity plummeted following the announcement that he had taken a second wife in 2006, which sparked a national debate on polygamy. Vice President Jusuf Kalla was also among the participants at Istiqlal. (gis/ipa) GIBRALTAR, June 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The team behind the first cryptocurrency debit card today announced the launch of B21, the first personal wealth manager exclusively for crypto assets. B21 is a mobile-focused investment platform that allows anyone to create their own portfolio of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, EOS and many others to be determined by users votes. Until now, investing in cryptocurrencies has been prohibitively complex, preventing the general population from participating in the crypto ecosystem and discovering its potential. Responsible participation in the crypto markets currently requires users to manage their private keys and hardware wallets, while jumping through hoops to meet KYC and banking regulations, said Miles Paschini, Co-Founder of B21. Market research shows that consumers want to invest straight from their devices in alternative asset classes, while maintaining the trust that their investments are held safely. Much like traditional investing apps and services, B21 lets users set goals, contribute funds, and track progress through an easy-to-understand dashboard. Uniquely, the B21 wealth manager provides tailored AI-powered investment advice to users based on in-depth research into individual tokens. This helps users build a portfolio catered to their risk preferences and investment goals. B21 will offer additional personalized portfolio services for high-net-worth clients. At launch, the app will be available for iOS and Android and investors will be able to fund their accounts in their own local currency. B21s team previously came together to develop the industrys first crypto-linked debit cards, which were implemented by the industrys leading cryptocurrency wallet and exchange operators. They are now leveraging their experience to deliver a world class crypto investing platform for mass market users. The team holds eight patents in mobile payments and payment processing, and has worked with companies including PayPal, Telefonica, First American, Sprint, and Qualcomm. B21 is advised by Brock Pierce, Chairman of the Bitcoin Foundation; Michael Terpin, Founder of Transform Group, BitAngels, and CoinAgenda; Samson Lee, Founder & CEO of CoinStreet; Scott Walker, and angel investor and serial entrepreneur; Crystal Rose, CEO of Sensay; and Lars Rydstrom, an entrepreneur and investor. B21 has applied for a custodial license to comply with governmental regulations covering protection of customer assets, segregation of customer and company funds, maintaining robust and accurate transaction records, and cold storage of customer funds. By acting as a custodian, B21 eliminates the need for people to hold their own private keys. The companys full transparency data will be published on the EOS blockchain. B21s eponymous token will be used as the only form of settlement between the B21 platform and users within the B21 ecosystem. The token will be used by investors to settle fees, and to incentivize and reward referrals to the platform. The B21 token will be available in private pre-sale beginning in June 2018. To request app images or a demo of the B21 mobile app, please contact michele@transform.pr ABOUT B21 B21 is a fintech company and the developer of a personal wealth management platform exclusively for crypto assets. B21 is a mobile-focused investment platform that enables the mass market to create their own portfolio of cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, EOS and many others. The Company has applied for a DLT license from the Gibraltar FSC. For more information, please visit www.b21.io. Media Contact: Transform Group, michele@transform.pr Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 15, 2018 17:09 1219 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e93e55e 1 City anies-baswedan,Idul-Fitri-2018,sign-language Free Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, speaking in sign language, wished everyone a happy Idul Fitri in a video posted on his official Instagram account on Friday. "Assalamualaikum, I am Anies Baswedan. [On behalf of Jakarta administration] we wish you a happy Idul Fitri. We ask for forgiveness. I hope our good deeds during Ramadhan will be well-received by Allah. Amen," Anies said in sign language, as translated by an in-video caption. In the caption, Anies said Indonesians were the only people who asked for forgiveness after the conclusion of the fasting month of Ramadhan. "Idul Fitri is a message to embolden one's faith and piousness, which is then concluded with humility by asking for forgiveness. "Allow us to accept and convey the message to each other, with everyone," Anies signed. On Friday, Anies performed the Idul Fitri prayer at the Istiqlal Mosque in Central Jakarta. After the prayer, he met with his deputy, Sandiaga Uno, several members of the Jakarta Regional Representative Council and officials from the Jakarta administration at City Hall. He also met with citizens who had performed Idul Fitri prayer there. (rfa) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Agnes Anya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, June 15, 2018 10:40 1220 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e92e786 1 Business EU,ban,Airlines,airline-safety,aviation,aviation-security,Retno-Marsudi,Foreign-Ministry Free Indonesia has been given an Idul Fitri gift as the European Union ban on Indonesian airlines was lifted a day before the festivities. The EU's executive body, the European Commission, cleared all Indonesian carriers from the EU Air Safety List, which prohibits a number of airlines from operating within EU member states. "Following today's update, all airlines certified in Indonesia are cleared from the list; following further improvements to the aviation safety situation that was ascertained in the country," said the EU press release received by The Jakarta Post on Thursday. The ban was revoked after a positive assessment of Indonesia's flight safety by the International Civil Aviation Organization in October last year and the EU aviation audit agency in March this year, according to a press statement by the Foreign Ministry also on Thursday. "[It is] the most beautiful gift for Indonesia this Idul Fitri," said Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi on her official Instagram @retno_marsudi. "The long fight eventually delivered a satisfying result." The ministry's Director General for American and European Affairs Muhammad Anshor said the revocation was "the result of the hard work of the Foreign Ministry, the Transportation Ministry and other related stakeholders." "We raised the issue at every opportunity," Anshor told the Post on the same day. "In a joint committee meeting between the EU and Indonesia last November, we discussed the issue. Eventually, in a EU Air Safety Committee meeting on May 30, Indonesia along with the airlines' representatives convinced the EU [to lift the ban]." All Indonesian airlines were put on the EU Air Safety List in 2007 because of unaddressed safety concerns over the years. The major carriers, such as Garuda Indonesia, Airfast Indonesia, Ekspres Transportasi Antarbenua, Indonesia Air Asia, Citilink, Lion Air and Batik Air, were removed gradually from 2009 to 2016, but the remaining Indonesian airlines were still on the list until Thursday. "The lifting of the ban on all Indonesian airlines from the EU Air Safety List reflects transparent cooperation with measurable standards, as well as the commitment of Indonesia and the EU to improve bilateral relations." (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, June 18, 2018 13:56 1216 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e93ce3a 1 National #shia,shia,#ReligiousMinority,intolerance,#intolerance,minority-groups,#minority,#sampang-shia,sampang-shia,Shiites Free The Surabaya chapter of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) condemned the police for allegedly obstructing the burial of Kurriyah, 24, a member of the Shiite community in Sampang, East Java. We urge the National Police chief to investigate, Fathkul Khoir of Kontras said on Thursday. After battling a tumor and bone tuberculosis for years, Kurriyah passed away on Wednesday afternoon at a hospital in Surabaya, East Java. He was one of hundreds of Shiite Muslims who were driven from their homes in Sampang -- and relocated to Madura Island -- by a Sunni majority mob in 2013. On Wednesday, Kurriyahs body was brought first to Puspa Argo low-cost apartments in Sidoarjo on the outskirts of Surabaya, which have been turned into a Sampang Shiite relocation site in recent years. His family planned to bury him in Karanggayam village, Sampang. However, they later received information from the Sampang Police that the village head opposed the plan. The police later visited the apartment and ordered the family to take Kurriyahs body to a hospital in Sidoarjo instead. The family declined and insisted on transporting it to Sampang using an ambulance. But when the ambulance arrived at the premises, a group of people believed to be police officers took control of it. Another ambulance later managed to transport the body to the island, but was stopped on its way to the village allegedly by the police who asked the entourage to take the body back to Sidoarjo. (hol/ipa) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Suherdjoko and Aman Rochman (The Jakarta Post) Semarang/Malang Fri, June 15, 2018 16:07 1219 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e93c97a 1 National Semarang,Malang,Idul-Fitri,Eid-prayer,mosque,church,Priest,Din-Syamsuddin Free Semarang Archbishop Robertus Rubiyatmoko and four other Catholic priests visited the Central Java Grand Mosque on Friday to convey Idul Fitri greetings to the ulemas and to the Muslim faithful. We have come to wish our Muslim brothers and sisters a happy Idul Fitri, Robertus said. This is a tradition that is great for building togetherness, kinship and brotherhood between all Indonesians. Robertus met with former Muhammadiyah chairman Muhammad Sirajuddin "Din" Syamsuddin and several other ulemas at the mosque after they performed the Eid prayers and shared breakfast together. Din Syamsuddin, who delivered the Idul Fitri sermon, expressed his gratitude for the archbishops visit, saying it was a good tradition that helped foster interreligious harmony in Central Java. We may have different religions but we are still brethren as we are all Gods creations and Indonesian citizens, he said. The mosques manager, Noor Achmad, echoed Dins sentiments, saying the mosque emphasized Islam as rahmatan lil alamin (blessing for the universe). This mosque has established itself as a place for Muslims who protect and cooperate with all religions so as to create peace in Central Java, Indonesia, and the whole world, he said. Catholic priests, led by Semarang Archbishop Robertus Rubiyatmo (fifth left), visit the Central Java Grand Mosque in Semarang, Central Java, on Friday. The entourage was received by former Muhammadiyah chairman Muhammad Sirajuddin "Din" Syamsuddin (sixth left). (JP/Suherdjoko) Meanwhile, in Malang, Masjid Jamik Malang was so full of worshippers that the Eid sermon had to be held in the yard of the Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart (Gereja Hati Kudus Yesus) and in the city square. According to church staff, helping out with Eid prayers was an annual tradition. To cater to it, the churchs morning mass was postponed from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Members of the churchs Young Catholic organization also distributed bottled water and paper to those who did not bring prayer rugs. Moch Affandi, the mosques secretary, said it always coordinated with the church as well as the Protestant Church of Immanuel. The mosque has operated since 1903 and we never had any conflict with the churches, he added. One of the congregants praying in the church yard, Devi Amatanti, 34, said she was grateful that the church opened its doors to another faith. [When I arrived at the mosque] I did not find any space to pray. However, the church staff offered their yard to us. They even gave us free paper to use as replacements for prayer rugs. Im happy to see tolerance and religious harmony in Malang, she added. (kmt/gis) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anuj Chopra (Agence France-Presse) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Fri, June 15, 2018 12:48 1220 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e935cbb 2 World Saudi-Arabia,liberalism,culture,moderate-Islam Free A Saudi television drama that glorifies a period before the rise of religious fundamentalism has evoked nostalgia about the kingdom's "modern past" -- and fury from arch-conservatives sidelined in a much-publicised liberalisation drive. "Al-Assouf", set in the 1970s and aired on satellite broadcaster MBC during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, has emerged as a cultural flashpoint that has pitted hardliners against more moderate proponents of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's reforms. It portrays a different Saudi Arabia -- a traditional but tolerant society where the sexes mingle unfettered, some women blithely pursue lovers and appear unveiled in musical soirees, and the men appear disinterested in controlling what they wear. That image of Saudi society, dismissed as a distortion by hardliners, chimes with Prince Mohammed's repeated assertion that the kingdom was a cradle of moderate Islam until 1979, a turning point that marked the birth of radicalism. That year saw an Islamic revolution in arch-rival Iran and a militant siege of Mecca's Grand Mosque, which the crown prince has said gave conservatives free rein to enforce an austere vision of Islam. Al-Assouf, which portrays the pre-1979 era -- widely hailed as Saudi Arabia's "modern past" -- has left conservatives bristling. "To picture a community that accepts the mixing of genders, adultery and children born out of wedlock... is a disaster," prominent cleric Abdulbaset Qari said in a YouTube video. "They (the show) want to spread immorality, to normalise this culture." One Al-Assouf scene showing a young Saudi boy leaning over a neighbourhood boundary wall to talk to a girl was widely criticised on social media. "Young children flirting!" tweeted Abdulrahman al-Nassar, a Kuwaiti cleric popular in the kingdom. "The ugly distortion of childhood in Saudi Arabia." But moderates, including Al-Assouf's lead actor Nasser al-Kasabi, have fiercely defended the show. "Extremists are against it because they believe it is an attempt to destroy what they built over the next two decades (since 1979), which they refer to as the 'awakening'," columnist Abdulrahman al-Rashed wrote in the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat. "They are attacking Al-Assouf because it has cast light on an era that was deliberately made dark. The raison d'etre of the extremists is to extinguish this light." 'Second awakening' The backlash has laid bare what observers call an undercurrent of resentment over the waning influence of arch-conservatives, once a swaggering force with unbridled powers, as Prince Mohammed pursues reforms that mark the biggest cultural shake-up in Saudi Arabia's modern history. The reforms have ended decades-long bans on women driving and cinemas and allowed mixed-gender concerts, sidelining hardliners who were once the traditional backers of the royal family. Prominent Salafist clerics with millions of followers on social media have been jailed. Others who made regular appearances on television have disappeared from the public eye, and some long known for virulently opposing women's rights have mysteriously come out in support of the prince's pro-women reforms. Columnists in Saudi newspapers have openly called for abolishing the kingdom's once-feared religious police, whose powers have been clipped. The modernisation drive has been lauded by the prince's supporters as a "second awakening", an idea that Al-Assouf appears to promote. "Our communities are in need of an Al-Assouf that is capable of sending us back to our first life, or in the correct sense, our simple life before we changed for the worse," Ali al-Zuabi, a professor at Kuwait University, told AFP. 'Careful dance' The flagship MBC show, aired daily during Ramadan, was filmed two years ago in Abu Dhabi. The broadcaster said the delay in airing was caused by production reasons, adding that the top-rated show will have two more seasons. The delay had prompted speculation about trouble with censors in the kingdom, which remains wary of antagonising religious sensitivities despite the liberalisation drive. "Modernising Saudi Arabia may not be a march so much as a careful dance," Simon Henderson, a Gulf expert, recently wrote for the Washington Institute. In tandem with reforms, Prince Mohammed has pursued a sweeping crackdown on dissent, most recently arresting several women driving activists, some of whom have been labelled "traitors" by state-backed media. Analysts said the arrests seemed calculated to placate clerics incensed by the modernisation drive, allowing the prince to better position himself against a conservative backlash in advance of the end of the women driving ban on June 24. "How can you achieve moderate Islam when you harshly oppress those who spearhead a moderate discourse in the kingdom?" Abdullah Alaoudh, a Saudi scholar at Yale Law School, told AFP. "Moderate Islam without moderate Muslims?" New Zealand announced plans Friday to introduce a tourist tax and increase other fees for international visitors to fund infrastructure development in the face of a tourist boom. Tourism numbers in the country of 4.5 million have surged by nearly a third in the past three years to 3.8 million in the year to April. "This rapid growth has impacted on the costs and availability of publicly-provided infrastructure," tourism minister Kelvin Davis said. "Many regions are struggling to cope and urgently need improved infrastructure, from toilet facilities to carparks." A tax of NZ$25-35 (US$17-24) would be imposed on international visitors from mid-next year while price hikes for immigration fees and visas will take effect this November. Australians and most Pacific Island forum countries will be exempt from the new charges. Tourism is a key pillar of the New Zealand economy and the new tax is expected to raise up to NZ$80 million in its first year, which will be split between tourism infrastructure and conservation initiatives. The main opposition National Party claimed the new tax system would make New Zealand a "less attractive" destination. But Davis believed the impact on tourist numbers would be minimal. "When you're talking about the additional cost to, say, someone coming from the United States who are already paying about NZ$1,200, an extra NZ$25-NZ$30 isn't going to make that much of a difference," he said. Over at P.S. 110, theyre getting ready for a big weekend event: Lower Eats Side! There will be lots of food (family recipes from 25 countries) and music. Heres more from the Parent Association: The Lower East Sides historic Public School 110 (Florence Nightingale School) will hold an international food festival, LOWER EATS SIDE, featuring home-cooked food from more than 25 countries, prepared by the schools own parent chefs. The food festival will represent the different cultures and nationalities that make up the school today, and will be held at the schools 1905 building at the eastern end of Delancey Street, rain or shine and open to the public. The PS110 parent rock band, The Nightingales (winners of NYC School District 1 Battle of the Bands) will be performing. Tickets are $10. We have one of the most diverse schools in New York City, and wed like to celebrate this fact with a food festival that we think rivals Smorgasburg, said Naama Laufer, PTA President. We have students of Dominican, Serbian, Spanish, Danish, Belorussian, Trinidadian, Hungarian, Bolivian, Filipino, Japanese, German and many more backgrounds attending the school. The schools diversity inspired us to celebrate the food and culture of the Lower East Side with a festival for the neighborhood. Heading the food fair will be P.S. 110 PTA treasurer and owner of the popular mac & cheese restaurant SMAC, Sarita Ekya. We are going to serve up some delicious home cooking from around the world prepared by our own P.S. 110 family chefs, so if youre hungry, stop by and munch your way across the globe, while listening to some great music and letting the kids have some fun, said Ms. Ekya. The food festival will also feature a tag sale, raffles, family portraits and much more. The school first held this festival in 2015, to commemorate 110 years of P.S 110. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., June 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Armada Hoffler Properties, Inc. (the Company) (NYSE:AHH) announced that, under its at-the-market continuous equity offering program, the Company issued an aggregate of 3,542,178 shares of its common stock from April 1, 2018 through June 14, 2018 at a weighted average offering price of $14.07 per share, receiving gross proceeds of approximately $49.9 million. The Company anticipates that this activity will fulfill its equity needs for 2018. A registration statement relating to these securities has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. The offering of these securities will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus. Copies of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus may be obtained from the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov. About Armada Hoffler Properties, Inc. Armada Hoffler Properties, Inc. (NYSE:AHH) is a vertically-integrated, self-managed real estate investment trust ("REIT") with nearly four decades of experience developing, building, acquiring and managing high-quality, institutional-grade office, retail and multifamily properties located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. The Company also provides general construction and development services to third-party clients, in addition to developing and building properties to be placed in its stabilized portfolio. The Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Forward-Looking Statements Certain matters within this press release, including with respect to fulfilling our equity needs for 2018, are discussed using forward-looking language as specified in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and, as such, may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results or performance to differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For a description of factors that may cause the Companys actual results or performance to differ from its forward-looking statements, please review the information under the heading Risk Factors included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, and the other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Contact: Michael P. OHara Armada Hoffler Properties, Inc. Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Email: MOHara@ArmadaHoffler.com Phone: (757) 366-6684 are Perhaps most obviously, avoid being on your phone whilst walking this includes headphones and talking on the phone. This makes you an easy target for ride-by theft and severely lessens your peripheral awareness. The Met also suggests that if you are using a phone, it is better to stay away from the road-side of the pavement. Disguise possessions or place them in several places, so that if a bag gets stolen, you dont lose all of your things. Furthermore, it is better to use secure pockets or discreet bags that cant be seen easily. It has recently been discovered that moped enabled crime, such as ride-by theft (for example, possessions being snatched), in London has leapt from 827 in 2012 to an astounding 23,000 in 2017 - a scary increase of over 30 times. The BBC has named Camden, Westminster and Islington as the areas most affected. It has also come to light that hotspots have been identified as transport areas where many are distracted, using their phones to look up directions and such. Many of the perpetrators have also been known to carry weapons such as knives, hammers and acid. Horrifyingly, one victim sustained injuries as she was dragged across the pavement after an unsuccessful attempt to steal her bag.Amidst the widespread chaos and anxiety that this crime epidemic has caused, the Metassuring the public that they are doing what they can and are implementing new tactics to fight moped crime. These include remote controlled stingers to puncture the bikes' tyres and invisible UV liquid that can be forensically recognised as it stains the cyclists and their clothes indefinitely, meaning their identity becomes exposed beneath the helmets and dark clothes. One key issue which has hindered the police's efforts to fight these ride-by thefts was the risk that they would be punished for dangerous driving if they attempted to chase the criminals, of which many thieves took advantage. In 2016, PC James Ellerton was suspended for knocking a criminal off their bike in Liverpool, however, this has since been cleared. This has recently been reformed, with police being given more legal rights if they are hurt or involved in a crash, in a further attempt to tackle the criminals. There has been a shift so that the motorcyclists who choose to drive dangerously, including not wearing a helmet, are responsible for their own injuries, rather than the police. There are several ways in which you can protect yourself from Moped Crime: Ultimately, however, it is important to remember that however much we can practise avoidance tactics, lives should always take precedence over replaceable material possessions. It is extremely dangerous to fight criminals, and many have been seriously hurt when attempting to take back or keep their possessions. It is clear that the perpetrators are often not afraid to injure victims, using guns, knives or acid. When forced to face being a victim of a moped enabled crime, it is better to comply rather than putting your life in further danger. Meeting with highly sought after industry faces , scooping exclusive content before it hits the shelf and generally being considered fashion royalty is it any wonder Fashion Editors are joining the ranks of social influencers? A post shared by Alessandra Steinherr (@alexsteinherr) on Jun 12, 2018 at 5:41am PDT In a day and age where our social personas are crucial to how we are publicly perceived, the content we post really is so important. Instagram is our platform for showing the rest of the world our best bits; our amazing holidays, new season wardrobes, the over-priced brunch we paid for simply because it was Insta-worthy. Social media is no longer just a hobby, its much more than that. It's a marketting technique, it's the face we show the world and for the people making a career out of it, its a full-time job. With so many influencers becoming so due to the fact their lives are exciting and interesting enough to have such a high following, its no surprise that Fashion Editors are looking to join the elite category of 'Social Influencer'. A post shared by KITTY MCGEE (@kitmcgee) on May 19, 2018 at 8:55am PDT People want to see how their days are spent, what clothes theyre wearing, who theyre meeting. And, as with all influencers, brands are tapping in to this and making the most of a growth opportunity. But when it starts to show Editors leaving their position to fulfill that of a full-time influencer, it really does pose the question on where the lines blur... A post shared by Maria Duenas Jacobs (@mduenasjacobs) on May 26, 2018 at 5:33am PDT With just about any job in the fashion industry, personal social medias do tend to play a part in their career. Social exposure to companies can be huge, and how their staff are portrayed can correlate to how their brand is then in turn perceived. But then this raises a further, more troubling point, what is really more important in these career paths; qualifications or social media following? Using Edward Enningfuls takeover at Vogue as an example, Enningful hired a whole set of model and socialites as part of his team; like Kate and Naomi. A post shared by Edward Enninful, OBE (@edward_enninful) on Jun 10, 2018 at 8:19am PDT Though their experience is moreso in modelling, their huge social following is proof of how important that is in comparison to just qualifications and academic experience. However, for the industry, if anything this is evidence of how important influencers are in the market. We lust after peoples wardrobes, lifestyles, looks, and what we see on social media is our driving perceptions. So, with a career like a Fashion Editor, where your whole intention is creating something which people want to look at with interest, and enjoyment, and lust, should we really be suprised that the line between Fashion Editor and Social Influencer are crossing so heavily? Verdict - Maquia: When The Promised Flower Blooms, the newest masterpiece by director and writer, Mari Okada, is a heart-wrenchingly beautiful piece of animated filmmaking that deserves all the attention it can receive. Maquia follows the story of an immortal girl and a mortal boy who are bonded in a way that will last a lifetime. This is one of those stories that whilst simple in its basic core, has a ton of lore that keeps the story complicated and interesting and completely changes up the dynamic of certain character interactions. Our immortal girl, Maquia, is from a clan where no one ages past their mid-teens. She is without parents, feeling isolated and alone, when a human army invades, searching for the secrets of their clans immortality. Maquia is one of the few able to escape. Wandering along through the forest, she finds Eriel, our mortal boy, just a newborn who was the sole survive of a bandit raider that took his parents life. Maquia decides to raise the child as her own and this is where the story gets horribly emotional. The crux of the story questions motherhood and family, found and blood-related, and what it truly means to love someone unconditionally. Whilst the story is entitled with Maquias name, you come to realise this isnt her story but Eriels, a boy who has a beginning and an end in a way that Maquia will never have. Its filled with happiness and sadness, death of people and of what was once believed. Its a very skilful thing to be able to display a loss of childhood innocence in a movie that is not even two hours long. Visually, this movie is stunning. With a muted colour palette and a unique drawing style, Maquia is set apart from the popular Ghibli movies. It is clear that a lot of work went into the visual experience of this film. The soundtrack compliments the scenes well, managing to find a balance between a fantasy feel and something far more grounded, mimicking the two characters of Maquia and Eriel. My only criticism would be faux endings. There were multiple points where it felt like the story had reached a conclusion and, when matched with a scene designed to portray finality, it could make the whole experience disjointed. You felt like it should end and then it didnt, so it dragged on and on. Not to say that the true ending wasnt perfect for the type of story that was being told and that it wasnt a satisfying ending overall, just that it made the experience more drawn out than it needed to be. In no way does this take away from how enjoyable this film is. Maquia: When The Promised Flower Blooms is in cinemas now. HOUSTON, June 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Targa Resources Partners LP (Targa Resources Partners or the Partnership) (NYSE: NGLS PR A) announced its monthly distribution on the Partnerships 9.00% Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units ("Series A Preferred Units") for June 2018. Targa Resources Partners LP announced today that the board of directors of its general partner has declared a monthly cash distribution of 18.75 per Series A Preferred Unit, or $2.25 per Series A Preferred Unit on an annualized basis, for June 2018. This cash distribution will be paid July 16, 2018 on all outstanding Series A Preferred Units to holders of record as of the close of business on June 29, 2018. About Targa Resources Partners LP Targa Resources Partners LP is a Delaware limited partnership formed in October 2006 by its parent, Targa Resources Corp. (TRC or the Company), to own, operate, acquire and develop a diversified portfolio of complementary midstream energy assets. On February 17, 2016 TRC completed the acquisition of all outstanding common units of the Partnership. Targa Resources Corp. is a leading provider of midstream services and is one of the largest independent midstream energy companies in North America. TRC owns, operates, acquires, and develops a diversified portfolio of complementary midstream energy assets. The Company is primarily engaged in the business of: gathering, compressing, treating, processing, and selling natural gas; storing, fractionating, treating, transporting, and selling NGLs and NGL products, including services to LPG exporters; gathering, storing, and terminaling crude oil; storing, terminaling, and selling refined petroleum products. The principal executive offices of Targa Resources Partners LP are located at 811 Louisiana, Suite 2100, Houston, TX 77002 and their telephone number is 713-584-1000. For more information, please visit our website at www.targaresources.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this release that address activities, events or developments that the Partnership expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of uncertainties, factors and risks, many of which are outside the Partnerships control, which could cause results to differ materially from those expected by management of the Partnership. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, weather, political, economic and market conditions, including a decline in the price and market demand for natural gas, natural gas liquids and crude oil, the timing and success of business development efforts; and other uncertainties. These and other applicable uncertainties, factors and risks are described more fully in the Partnership's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The Partnership does not undertake an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This release is intended to be a qualified notice under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b). Brokers and nominees should treat one hundred percent (100.0%) of Targa Resources Partners LPs distributions to foreign investors as being attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business. Accordingly, Targa Resources Partners LPs distributions to foreign investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate. Contact the Company's investor relations department by email at InvestorRelations@targaresources.com or by phone at (713) 584-1133. Sanjay Lad Director - Investor Relations Jennifer Kneale Chief Financial Officer Of all the travel destinations on your list this year, New England might not feature very high, but it should. While many hope to visit the USA this year, tourists too often flock to obvious destinations like New York, Florida or California. As a result, they miss hidden gems like New England. Though not a destination that typically first comes to mind when one thinks about North America, New England is a beautiful state filled with breathtaking sites and fun activities. For too long it has played second fiddle to the more popular tourist destinations, but as people seek new adventures and smaller crowds, this might finally be New Englands year. Indeed, a visit to New England couldnt be better timed, as 2018 looks set to be the year it shines. Whether you want adrenaline pumping experiences, spectacular views or some culture with a twist, New England has it! Better yet, its even cheaper to fly from London to destinations in New England this year, with great deals and an increased number of flights. Still not convinced? Just take a peek at our list of must-see attractions and you soon will be. Connecticut Calling all adrenaline junkies! As of 15th March, you now have the chance to try HighFlyer, a four-line zipline which runs 350 feet in the air. Starting from the rooftop of Fox tower, youll land 3,700 feet away at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center. Not for the faint of heart, this action-packed activity is sure to be a holiday highlight! Tickets are on sale here, with prices starting from $69 for adults and $59 for youths (must be aged 15 or below). If ziplining doesnt take your fancy, why not try go-karting? Foxwoods Resort Casino recently announced that it will begin building a high-performance, European-style indoor go-kart track that it expects to open early next year. Foxwoods is teaming up with On Track Karting to build the track. The attraction will provide guests with a motorsport feel on one of the longest and fastest indoor kart-runs ever constructed. The multi-level track will feature gas-powered, 9-horsepower karts that give drivers the power and control necessary for the ultimate high-speed rush. Maine Stunning views Thanks to Timberstone Adventures Inc you now have the chance to hike to a private mountaintop castle with panoramic views, enjoying a site few before have seen. Plus, theres no need to worry about your luggage, as your gear is towed up a 300 cable bridge. TimberStone Adventures Inc. in East Stoneham, Maine, is set on 50+ acres bordering the White Mountain National Forest and currently offers two fully functional treehouse lodges and one primitive hideaway. Get to know the city like a local Experience Maritime Maine has recently launched a new maritime culture podcast. The downloadable story topics range from women who lobster, to windjammer cruising and the fishmonger of Portland. Not only an interesting listen, its a perfect accompaniment to touring Maine and learning more about the traditions that still exist today! Massachusetts Embrace local culture Take advantage of the destinations rich history by following the Path of Presidents, a tour which explores the striking connection between Presidents of the United States and the city of Boston. The tour reveals a detailed catalogue of history in Greater Boston, from presidents who were born there, went to school there or otherwise made an impact on this region. Alternatively, experience some culture with a twist through a visit to the Museum of Dog. Opened in February 2018, this new, one-of-a-kind museum is dedicated to all things dogs. Located blocks from the country's largest contemporary art museum, Mass MoCA, Museum of Dog (M.O.D) will feature a private collection of dog-inspired paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs, and accessories. The museum will feature over 180 pieces from more than 50 notable artists ranging from William Wegman photographs to Mary Engel "Watch Dog" sculptures and rare dog collars dating back to the 1800s. There's no better time to visit Perhaps most appealing about Massachusetts is the current deals available, making your holiday more affordable than ever! Norwegian will increase flights on some of its most popular routes from London Gatwick this summer. One such route is Boston, which increased from five weekly flights to a daily service with fares from 134.90 one way (as of 1 April 2018). In addition, New flights to Boston from London Stansted via Primera Air starting on 18 May 2018. Primera Air will fly four times a week to Boston Logan Airport. New Hampshire Enjoy views like never before. Bear Rock Adventures in Pittsburg have purchased a new fleet of 2018 Polaris Slingshot SL 5 speed manual transmission 3 wheeled on-road vehicles. Explore the largest interconnected ATV trail system with over 1,000 miles of trails taking visitors throughout Northern New Hampshires pristine mountains, fields, and secluded waterways with these new vehicles. The Omni Mount Washington Bretton Woods Resort has announced plans to build an eight-passenger, four-season gondola and a new mountainside restaurant offering unprecedented views of the highest mountain range in the northeast, which is planned to open in late 2018. Get a taste for the wild with this New Hampshire classic Clarks Trading Post in Lincoln will be celebrating their 90th anniversary in 2018. A family-owned attraction in the mountains that has been fascinating guests for generations to see their trained black bears, watch an aerial trapeze show, ride a steam train, go off-road Segway riding and tour their museums. The phrase might be that kids say the funniest things but one young student actually spoke a lot of sense when she excitedly described animal poo as a facts envelope. The savvy third-grade student aged eight or nine explained that poop contains lots of scientific information about the creature it came from before declaring she was going to be a poop scientist when she was older, according to her teacher. Ashley Semrick shared the story on Twitter, adding Youre welcome, world. One of my 3rd grade students just excitedly referred to animal poop as a facts envelope that contains lots of scientific information about the creature it came from. And then proclaimed she was going to grow up and be an animal poop scientist. YOURE WELCOME, WORLD. Ashley Semrick (@HelloSemrick) June 13, 2018 While it might be a little bit funny talking about poop, the internet was full of helpful replies to encourage the would-be poop scientist with her ambition, suggesting everything from books and websites to podcasts. One person wrote: Rock on, poop science girl!. Theres a great kids book your student might enjoy, I think called who pooped in the park? A family walking around a national park and looking at scat and tracks and discussing what it says about the animals who left them Alan Grossfield (@agrossfield) June 14, 2018 She should check out @ConservationK9 and @uw Wasser lab! Doing amazing conservation work on orcas, elephants, pangolins All with poop ScienceEduPartner (@SEPHutch) June 14, 2018 She may wish to look up 'coprolites' we can learn much about our ancient past from coprolites. MPG (@sciencegal_NZ) June 14, 2018 You might want to share this podcast with her! https://t.co/dnaafp2So6 (It's a two-part series on dinosaur poop from @TumbleCast) Lindsay Patterson (@_lindsayp) June 14, 2018 People already working as scatologists the proper name for a poop scientist and in connected fields were welcoming the newcomer to the profession. This is fantastic. I studied rhino diet through their poop for my Masters. What a cool kid. And @RhinosBotswana JUST tweeted about the power of poop yesterday Gayle Pedersen (@RhinoGayle) June 14, 2018 I'm building a whole career on poop! This kid is my kinda scientist! https://t.co/NQak0fgqNV Melissa Ingala (@bat_biomes) June 14, 2018 Im a Vet Tech and a Lab Tech; Ive played with a lot of poopand she is absolutely right!! can be fascinating as well as informative#LabRat #howsyourpoop Stacy M Harvey (@StacyMHarvey) June 14, 2018 Others were just so happy the young girl was already thinking about her future. It is nice to have a mission :-)Seriously, kudos to your student. Pino Tattari (@pinotattari) June 14, 2018 3rd graders get it. This little scientist is great https://t.co/T15q1lM4lu One Crazy Brown Sick Bitch (@i_saritav) June 14, 2018 my sister-in-law did her undergraduate biology thesis on facts conveyed by animal poop! YOU CAN DO THIS, kid. Andromeda Yelton (@ThatAndromeda) June 14, 2018 Turns out, the pupil is not the only future poop scientist Twitter knows about. One of my proudest moments working at @EdinburghZoo was when a child asked me why the panda droppings were different colours, and I explained how they study them to learn about the animals, he too proclaimed "When I grow up I want to be a Poo Scientist!" https://t.co/PJJvS3T0xm Laura Allen (@laurajallen) June 14, 2018 Understandably, the teacher was also praised for her work. Teaching. You're doing it right. Reynardo the Fox (@Reynardo_red) June 14, 2018 This is the best thing that I have read today. Great job sounds like you are an amazing teacher. cindy (@ls1cindy) June 14, 2018 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 CALGARY, Alberta, June 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Peyto Exploration & Development Corp. (TSX:PEY) ("Peyto") confirms that the monthly dividend with respect to June 2018 of $0.06 per common share is to be paid on July 13, 2018, for shareholders of record on June 30, 2018. The ex-dividend date is June 28, 2018. Dividends paid by Peyto to Canadian residents are eligible dividends for Canadian income tax purposes. Shareholders and interested investors are encouraged to visit the Peyto website at www.peyto.com to learn more about what makes Peyto one of North Americas most exciting energy companies. The website also includes the Presidents monthly report, which discusses various topics chosen by the President and includes estimates of monthly capital expenditures and production. For further information please contact: Darren Gee President and Chief Executive Officer Phone: (403) 237-8911 Fax: (403) 451-4100 Certain information set forth in this document, including management's assessment of Peyto's future plans and operations, contains forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond these parties' control, including the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, currency fluctuations, imprecision of reserve estimates, environmental risks, competition from other industry participants, the lack of availability of qualified personnel or management, stock market volatility and ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Peyto's actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that Peyto will derive therefrom. The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein. MONACO, June 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Navios Maritime Containers Inc. (Navios Containers or the Company) (NOTC:NMCI), a growth vehicle dedicated to the container sector, announced today that it has agreed to acquire five containerships for a total purchase price of $246.0 million. The Company expects to take delivery of all five vessels in the third quarter of 2018. Based on existing charters and the current rate environment, the five containerships are expected to generate approximately $35.3 million of aggregate EBITDA over the next twelve months(1). Navios Containers also acquired options for an additional four containerships for a purchase price of $36.0 million per vessel. All of the acquisitions are subject to certain conditions, and there can be no assurances that these acquisitions will occur in whole or in part. In addition, we may be unable to secure debt financing for these acquisitions on terms satisfactory to us, or at all. Vessels Being Acquired Vessels Size (TEU) Year Built Current Net Charter Rate ($/day) Charter Expiration Expected NTM EBITDA(1) Hyundai Hongkong 6,800 2006 $24,095 Dec 2019 $7.6 $30,119 Dec 2023 TBN 1 10,000 2011 $26,663 May 2019 $6.9 TBN 2 10,000 2011 $26,663 Jun 2019 $6.8 TBN 3 10,000 2011 $26,663 April 2019 $7.0 TBN 4 10,000 2011 $26,663 April 2019 $7.0 Total 5 Vessels 46,800 $35.3 Optional Vessels Vessels Size (TEU) Year Built Current Net Charter Rate ($/day) Charter Expiration Expected NTM EBITDA(1) Hyundai Singapore 6,800 2006 $24,095 Dec 2019 $7.6 $30,119 Dec 2023 Hyundai Busan 6,800 2006 $24,095 Dec 2019 $7.6 $30,119 Dec 2023 Hyundai Shanghai 6,800 2006 $24,095 Dec 2019 $7.6 $30,119 Dec 2023 Hyundai Tokyo 6,800 2006 $24,095 Dec 2019 $7.6 $30,119 Dec 2023 Total 4 Options 27,200 $30.4 Containerships from Navios Maritime Partners L.P. Navios Containers agreed to acquire one 6,800 TEU containership, the Hyundai Hongkong, for $36.0 million from Navios Maritime Partners L.P. (Navios Partners). The vessel is chartered out at a weighted average net daily charter rate of $28,523 until December 2023. Navios Containers is expected to finance the acquisition with additional borrowings of approximately $15.0 million under a new loan from a commercial bank (on terms consistent with existing credit facilities). Navios Containers will have options to acquire four additional 6,800 TEU containerships from Navios Partners for $36.0 million per containership. Each of the four vessels are sister ships to the Hyundai Hongkong and have identical time charter employment in place. Special Committee The acquisition of the Hyundai Hongkong and the options to acquire the additional four 6,800 TEU vessels were unanimously approved by the Special Committee of the independent members of the Board of Directors of Navios Containers. Containerships from a Third Party Navios Containers agreed to acquire four 10,000 TEU containerships for $210.0 million from a third party. The vessels are employed on time charters with a net daily rate of $26,663 that expire between April and June 2019. Navios Containers is expected to finance these acquisitions with approximately $125.0 million of new bank debt (on terms consistent with its existing credit facilities). (1) The Next Twelve Months (NTM) EBITDA calculations assume (a) revenue based on contracted weighted average time charter rates through the charter expiration dates (as indicated in the table above) and per open day; $30,500 for the 10,000 TEU containerships (Clarksons 6 to 12 month time charter rate for 9,000 TEU vessels as of May 2018) and (b) operating expenses in line with the management agreement and normal operations. Fleet Update Following this acquisition, Navios Containers will control 30 vessels, totaling 166,338 TEU with an average age of 9.8 years. About Navios Maritime Containers Inc. Navios Maritime Containers Inc. is a growth vehicle dedicated to the container sector of the maritime industry. For more information, please visit our website at www.navios-containers.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning future events, including future contracted revenues and rates, EBITDA, future financial performance of the fleet, future vessel acquisitions, timing of vessel deliveries, entering into further time charters, our ability to fund the intended vessel acquisitions and our ability to acquire and finance the option vessels. Words such as may, expects, intends, plans, believes, anticipates, hopes, estimates, and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the information available to, and the expectations and assumptions deemed reasonable by Navios Containers at the time these statements were made. Although Navios Containers believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates which are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of Navios Containers. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, risks relating to future vessel acquisitions, the quality and the market for the Companys fleet, the uncertainty relating to global trade, including prices of seaborne commodities and continuing issues related to seaborne volume and ton miles, our continued ability to enter into long-term time charters, our ability to maximize the use of our vessels, expected demand in the container shipping sector in general, fluctuations in charter rates for container carrier vessels, the aging of our vessels and resultant increases in operating costs, the loss of any customer or charter or vessel, the financial condition of our customers, changes in the availability and costs of funding due to conditions in the bank market, capital markets and other factors, increases in costs and expenses, including but not limited to: crew wages, insurance, provisions, port expenses, lube oil, bunkers, repairs, maintenance, and general and administrative expenses, the expected cost of, and our ability to comply with, governmental regulations and maritime self-regulatory organization standards, as well as standard regulations imposed by our charterers applicable to our business, general domestic and international political conditions, competitive factors in the market in which Navios Containers operates, and risks associated with global operations. Navios Containers expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Navios Containers expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based. Navios Containers makes no prediction or statement about the performance of its common shares. Public & Investor Relations Contact: Navios Maritime Containers Inc. +1.212.906.8648 Investors@navios-containers.com Posted Wednesday, June 13, 2018 8:52 am Today, June 14, Battle Ground police released a short video that shows two suspects in a city-wide vandalism case. The video comes after 30 cars and one building were vandalized between midnight and 5 a.m. on Friday, June 8. Photos provided by officials and victims show cars with smashed windows. Police Chief Bob Richardson said Monday it is his belief that much of the damage was done with glass bottles that were taken out of recycle bins near the cars that were damaged. About halfway through the video the two suspects appear and one of them throws two objects at the house where the security camera is mounted. The other suspect steals something off the porch of an adjacent house. Also seen, in the first 10 seconds of the video, is a vehicle of interest. Police are asking anyone who might have seen or heard anything related to the crimes, can recognize the suspects or vehicle in the video or have videos of their own, to contact them. The point of contact is Detective Sgt. Kim Armstrong, who can be reached at 360-342-5252 or kim.armstrong@cityofbg.org. Anonymous can be placed at cityofbg.org/tips. MONACO, June 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Navios Maritime Partners L.P. (Navios Partners) (NYSE:NMM), an international owner and operator of container and dry bulk vessels, announced today that it has agreed to sell the Hyundai Hongkong, a 2006-built, 6,800 TEU containership for a total net sale price of $36.0 million to Navios Maritime Containers Inc. (Navios Containers) (NOTC:NMCI). The vessel is expected to be delivered to Navios Containers in the third quarter of 2018. Navios Partners also granted options to Navios Containers to acquire four additional 2006-built, 6,800 TEU containerships (the Hyundai Singapore, the Hyundai Busan, the Hyundai Shanghai and the Hyundai Tokyo) for a purchase price of $36.0 million per vessel. Each of the four vessels are sister ships to the Hyundai Hongkong and have the same time charter employment in place. The acquisition is subject to certain conditions. The transaction was unanimously approved by the Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors of Navios Partners. Fleet Update Following the above mentioned sale of one containership, Navios Partners controls a fleet of 37 vessels, of which 13 are Capesize vessels, 17 are Panamaxes, three are Ultra-Handymaxes and four are Container vessels. About Navios Maritime Partners L.P. Navios Maritime Partners L.P. (NYSE:NMM) is a publicly traded master limited partnership which owns and operates container and drybulk vessels. For more information, please visit our website at www.navios-mlp.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) concerning future events including Navios Partners 2018 cash flow generation, future contracted revenues, future distributions, opportunities to reinvest cash accretively in a fleet renewal program or otherwise, potential capital gains, our ability to take advantage of dislocation in the market and Navios Partners growth strategy and measures to implement such strategy; including expected vessel acquisitions and entering into further time charters. Words such as may, expects, intends, plans, believes, anticipates, hopes, estimates, and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements include comments regarding expected revenue and time charters. These forward-looking statements are based on the information available to, and the expectations and assumptions deemed reasonable by Navios Partners at the time these statements were made. Although Navios Partners believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates which are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of Navios Partners. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, uncertainty relating to global trade, including prices of seaborne commodities and continuing issues related to seaborne volume and ton miles, our continued ability to enter into long-term time charters, our ability to maximize the use of our vessels, expected demand in the dry cargo shipping sector in general and the demand for our Panamax, Capesize, Ultra-Handymax and Container vessels in particular, fluctuations in charter rates for dry cargo carriers and container vessels, the aging of our fleet and resultant increases in operations costs, the loss of any customer or charter or vessel, the financial condition of our customers, changes in the availability and costs of funding due to conditions in the bank market, capital markets and other factors, increases in costs and expenses, including but not limited to: crew wages, insurance, provisions, port expenses, lube oil, bunkers, repairs, maintenance and general and administrative expenses, the expected cost of, and our ability to comply with, governmental regulations and maritime self-regulatory organization standards, as well as standard regulations imposed by our charterers applicable to our business, general domestic and international political conditions, competitive factors in the market in which Navios Partners operates; risks associated with operations outside the United States; and other factors listed from time to time in Navios Partners filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 20-Fs and Form 6-Ks. Navios Partners expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Navios Partners expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based. Navios Partners makes no prediction or statement about the performance of its common units. Public & Investor Relations Contact: Navios Maritime Partners L.P. +1.212.906.8645 Investors@navios-mlp.com Nicolas Bornozis Capital Link, Inc. +1.212.661.7566 naviospartners@capitallink.com Montreal, CA (H4T1V6) Today Partly cloudy in the morning. Increasing clouds with periods of showers later in the day. High 14C. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Cloudy with showers. Low 7C. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Bill Gouveia is a local columnist and longtime local official. He can be emailed at billsinsidelook@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @Billinsidelook. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tanzania Minerals Corp. (Tanzania or the "Company") (NEX BOARD:TZM.H) is pleased to announce that it will be seeking approval from the TSX Venture Exchange to complete a non-brokered private placement offering (the Offering) of up to $595,000 in gross proceeds based on the issuance of up to 7,000,000 units (the Units) at a price of $0.085 per Unit. Each Unit will consist of one common share (a Common Share) and one common share purchase warrant (a Warrant). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one (1) common share at an exercise price of $0.12 for a period of 12 months from the closing of the Offering (the Closing). The Common Shares and Warrants will be subject to a resale restriction for a period of four months plus one day from Closing. The company may pay finders a fee in cash and or warrants under this offering. The Offering will be made available by way of private placement exemptions in Canada and may be offered in other jurisdictions where they can be issued on a private placement basis, exempt from any prospectus, registration or other similar requirements. The Offering is subject to a number of conditions including receipt of all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The net proceeds of the private placement will be used for the repayment of debt as well as for general corporate purposes. THE COMMON SHARES AND WARRANTS WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS ABSENT REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM U.S. REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS. THIS PRESS RELEASE SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. For further information contact: Tanzania Minerals Corp. Robert Dzisiak Interim President and Chief Executive Officer Tel: (204) 955-4803 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. Just over half of all adults aged between 21 and 35 have asked their parents for financial support in the past two years, new research has revealed. Along with money for big items such as a wedding and a house deposit, parents are have also paid for groceries, holidays and new clothes. Meanwhile 26 per cent of adults in this age group have moved back home with their parents in order to save money. One in four adults aged between 21 - 35 have moved back in with their parents Of those who have moved back home in order to save money, 84 per cent said they are regularly putting money into a savings account of an average of 205 per month. Savings goals for this group include buying a home, prioritised by 34 per cent, clearing debts, put first by 19 per cent, and going travelling, which 13 per cent said they are saving for, according to the research from Experian. Just over half of the 2,000 people questioned said they had received financial support from their parents over the past two years. These respondents weren't living at home yet 18 per cent said their parents had paid for everyday essentials such as the weekly supermarket shop. As many as 13 per cent have been taken on a spending spree to buy new clothes, and 18 per cent had been given money to go on holiday. When it comes to big ticket items, 9 per cent had been given money towards a wedding or a honeymoon, 7 per cent had been given a deposit for a new house which they didn't have to pay back, 7 per cent had been given money to pay off a loan and 8 per cent had been given money to buy a new car. A smaller percentage of parents had given their child money for a house deposit which they had to pay back, or had given them money to pay their mortgage. James Jones, head of consumer affairs at Experian, comments: 'The Bank of Mum and Dad is a financial institution that is becoming increasingly important, especially when it comes to purchasing a property. 'However, our research shows that this dependence on parents by young adults goes beyond just big one-off expenses and stretches to everyday essentials. This has implications for both the youngsters' and the parents' financial futures, particularly if the parents' finances become squeezed. 55 per cent of millennials have received financial support from their parents in the past 2 years 'Whilst receiving help from parents is perhaps necessary for many, I urge young people to also be conscious of building a positive financial profile. For example, remaining on track for repayments such as credit cards, household bills and mobile phone contracts. 'Even when times are tight, saving little and often can make a huge difference in achieving long term financial goals.' The average sums of money being handed over by parents for house deposits vary considerably yet a recent report from Nationwide said parents hand over an average of 18,000. It also said parents were behind more than one in four house sales this year, with parents amounting to the equivalent of a 5.7billion mortgage lender in terms of cash doled out. However, there are major discrepancies in the amount handed out across the country with sums ranging from an average 10,800 in Scotland and 12,000 in the North East, to 21,700 in the South East and 30,600 in London. For a full list of alternatives if your parents arent in a position to hand over a wad of cash, see our article on the alternatives to the Bank of Mum and Dad. Managing Rolls-Royce has been turbulent for Warren East since he took the controls in 2015. The legacy of his long-term predecessor, Sir John Rose, was the companys restored reputation for great engineering, taking on the America aero-engine maker and becoming manufacturer of preference for Boeing. It was also a period when corruption ruled in aerospace and agents dished out fat commissions to win orders. Rolls accounting also needed cleaning up, the group had become too bureaucratic and it was thinly spread, having expanded into marine turbines. Rolls-Royce boss Warren East has struggled to streamline the company since he took the controls in 2015 East has spent the past three years trying to sort this out. He has brought in new financial skills, rid the company of marine and simplified a command and control structure involving 60 different panels. He is now going to the core of the bureaucracy by eliminating 4,600 middle-management jobs, moving decision-making closer to the customer and saving 400million of costs by 2020. The plan is partly based on the work of consultants Alvarez & Marsal who have been sitting at Easts side as he worked through the inherited challenges. In deciding that middle managers, ranging from finance specialists to HR experts, are no longer necessary, East is following a fashionable manual. Tesla recently did the same. BT is axing 13,000 middle management posts and a key reform pledged by Melrose for GKN is the return of decision-making from the centre to operating units. It all sounds wonderful, and will be a win-win for investors if underwhelming profit margins can be tickled-up. But there is an alternative school of thought which says that cutting away middle management removes connecting tissue which protects senior executives from making stupid mistakes. At Rolls-Royce the complacency of middle management may have trumped efficiency, giving rise to what East describes as an abysmal financial performance. Indeed, current faults on the compressors used on the Trent engines, requiring extra tests and a fix, suggests middle managers did not inoculate against inadequate technology. East has set the company the ambitious target of hitting 1billion of free cash flow by 2020, up from the 450million it is expected to make this year. Rolls needs the cash to support large-scale investment needs. Some 11billion has been ploughed into civilian aircraft engines since 2010. It paid off, in that Rolls has amassed orders for more than 2,700 engines. The chief executive has gone bold in his execution and investors are impressed. Now he must ramp up production, margins and earnings. Double Dutch Unilever is making a grave error in seeking to move its main share quotation from London to Rotterdam. Other UK-based global companies have switched headquarters for a variety of reasons, including British Airways-owner IAG and most relevantly Shell. But they kept the primary share listing in London. As comfortable as the Netherlands may be for publicly quoted firms, with its stakeholder democracy, it lacks the heft of the City. The latter provides a one-stop shop for fundraising, M&A and analysis, as when Shell bought BG. Unilevers curious claim is that its share register is dominated by Dutch institutions, so it is better to be based there. As a global player in the highly competitive, fast-moving consumer goods sector, it will have far more exposure to international investors in London than Rotterdam. A forceful defence from chief executive Paul Polman saw off an unwanted bid from Kraft Heinz last year. Executives will doubtless feel safer in Holland. The reality is that free market capitalism did its work. Unilever looked at itself, discarded its spread business, modernised IT platforms across the globe and set itself more challenging targets. As a premium listed stock in London outside the FTSE-Russell indexes it may escape scrutiny and hostilities, but the shares will be less attractive to investors as the latest price tumble shows. Paying a price As commerce shifts to online giants and telecoms platforms, the power in finance switches from banks to payments processors. Euronext launched Dutch payment firm Adyen into orbit this week, with the share price doubling on the first day of trading, valuing the processor for Netflix and Facebook (among others) at 10.8billion. Makes one think that Americas Vantiv snared the UKs fintech champion Worldpay too cheaply. Nothing new there then... When you go on holiday, do you still transfer money before you go or are you more likely to rely on using your credit or debit card? If youre travelling to Sweden, new data has shown youre more likely to rely on plastic as 81 per cent of holidaymakers chose a card over cash. For those going to Norway the number was similarly high, with 77 per cent choosing to use cash rather than a card while for Finland it was 71 per cent. 81 per cent of people traveling to Sweden are more likely to use plastic rather than cash (Pictured: Stockholm). These Nordic countries are well known for promoting card use and its common for Swedish shops to have no cash accepted signs. In the USA 71 per cent of holidaymakers chose to spend on card rather than cash, while in Luxembourg and Denmark the figure was 70 per cent. The data, which was shared exclusively to This is Money by the currency exchange website WeSwap, was taken by analysing the firms 400,000 customers. TOP 10 DESTINATIONS FOR SPENDING Card Cash Sweden 81% Cambodia 93% Norway 77% Lebanon 88% Finland 71% Ecuador 84% USA 71% Peru 81% Luxembourg 70% Croatia 77% Denmark 70% Japan 77% Czech Republic 69% Greece 74% Canada 69% Slovakia 73% Switzerland 67% Montenegro 72% Mexico 66% Thailand 72% Percentage of WeSwap customers choosing cash or card for their trip. Source: WeSwap, 08/06/18. It recorded whether those with the WeSwap card chose to use cash, either by withdrawing it when they arrived or by pre-ordering it beforehand, or used a card instead. Those travelling to Cambodia were most likely to pay for cash rather than a card, with 93 per cent opting for cash. In Lebanon 88 per cent of people opted for cash, followed by 84 per cent in Ecuador, 81 per cent in Peru and 77 per cent in Japan. For European destinations, 77 per cent of those going to Croatia, 74 per cent of those going to Greece and 73 per cent of those in Slovakia chose to pay with cash instead of a card. Jared Jesner, CEO and founder of WeSwap, said: 'The data is a clear indicator that there is no exact formula to one form of appropriate travel money for our international adventures. 'Taking a short amount of time to research the destination will definitely pay its gains, given the diverse nature of payment methods across the world. Globally, many societies are moving towards a cashless infrastructure, but as our international destinations become more diverse, payment systems arent necessarily as sophisticated in all locations where cash still rules. If you are transferring money, how you do makes a big difference to the final sum 'What does work whether its cash or card is preparation and flexibility. Whilst knowing the most popular spots for both cash and card is helpful, being able to pay using both formats on a pre-paid card such as WeSwap means youre covered wherever you travel.' The results from WeSwap highlight the importance of having a few different options for payment when going on holiday. And after the Visa outage earlier this month, its become even more important to have a range of payment options in your wallet, especially if youre going on holiday. This doesnt mean applying for a new account just to get a different card, but making sure if you do have cards from different providers, such as Mastercard or American Express, having these with you in case of an emergency. Its also worth taking cash with you in case you get stuck but making sure not to carry a huge amount around in case it gets stolen. If you are transferring money to take with you, how you transfer the money can make a big difference to the amount you end up with. This is because if youre changing it at an expensive foreign exchange bureau, at the airport for example, youre likely to spend far more than if you go to a specialist shop beforehand. Using a specialist credit card, which you then pay off in full, or taking a prepaid card, could be a cheaper option. For a full list see our guide to the best credit and debit cards to take away with you. UK Oil & Gas Investments added almost 50 per cent yesterday after UK authorities gave it the green light to kick off the next round of testing at the Horse Hill discovery in south-east England. Horse Hill, more colloquially known as the Gatwick Gusher, has been the subject of a lot of hype in recent years, with some involved in the project claiming there are tens of billions of barrels of oil underfoot. The programme approved by the UK Oil and Gas Authority is a follow up to the 2016 testing, which saw aggregate oil flows at a rate of 1,688 barrels per day over short periods (three 30-90 hour tests). Green light: UK Oil & Gas Investments added almost 50% yesterday after UK authorities gave it the green light to kick off the next round of testing at the Horse Hill discovery UKOG said this longer-term flow testing campaign would help the company to achieve its target of first stable oil production in 2019. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the explorer used the share price jump to tap the markets for some more cash, raising 5.5million at a sizeable discount to yesterdays closing price of 1.5p. Shares eased lower after that announcement, although they were still up 20 per cent for the week at 1.23p. Waste-to-energy specialist EQTEC was the weeks top riser though, climbing 61 per cent to just over a penny after it won a new contract worth significantly more than its market capitalisation. The company, whose technology converts waste into synthetic gas which is then used to generate electricity, signed a memorandum of understanding with Indonesian energy group CITRA to supply its gasifier technology for a 12-megawatt power plant in Vietnam. The contract is for one-year and is estimated to be worth somewhere between 17-19m, not bad for a company still worth less than 15m even after this weeks surge. Audioboom shares returned to trading on AIM this week, having been on the sidelines since February. Back then, the podcast platform told investors it was looking to raise 155m in order to complete a reverse takeover of US audio tech group Triton. Anyway, the company, which describes itself as the 'leading spoken word audio on-demand platform', couldnt drum up the support it needed to complete the deal and so had to back out, costing it 700,000 in break fees. That left Audioboom short of cash, meaning major shareholder Candy Ventures Nick Candys investment vehicle had to step in with another 500,000 convertible loan, while the firm also raised 4.5m at 3p a share last week. Big noise: Audioboom shares returned to trading on AIM this week, having been on the sidelines since February Shares returned to trading yesterday, closing the week at 2.4p a third lower than their pre-suspension price. A bullish scoping study at Savannah Resources Mino de Barroso lithium project in Portugal propelled the stock up to seven-year highs. The explorer confirmed yesterday that the cost of building the mine will be around $109m, which will be recouped in under two years with production of 175,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate a source ore for lithium. Consultant Hatch estimated that on a base case price of $685 per tonne and an eight per cent discount, Mina do Barroso, which currently has a mineral resource estimate of 14m tonnes at 1.1 per cent li2O, is worth $356m and will generate revenues of $1.56billion over 11 years of production. Savannah boss David Archer revealed last week that the company will look to raise around 100m to fund the construction, which is slated to begin next year, followed by first production in early 2020. Shares climbed almost 50 per cent to 13.3p. Bight outlook: A bullish scoping study at Savannah Resources Mino de Barroso lithium project in Portugal propelled the stock up to seven-year highs That was reflective of another decent week for the junior market during which the AIM All Share hit a fresh all-time high once again. The small cap index added 6.9 points, or 0.6 per cent, to close the week at 1,104.5. The blue-chips werent too far behind either, with the FTSE 100 rising 35.8 points, or 0.5 per cent, to 7,719.3. ValiRx was one of the stocks pushing the AIM All Share higher. The drug developer surged 48 per cent to 3.3p after saying it is continuing 'advanced discussions' with a number of possible partners to help it press ahead with the development of its VAL401 lung cancer candidate. Results earlier this year from a phase II trial showed the drug improved overall survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, while it also had a 'measurable improvement' on a patients quality of life. Sweet pill: ValiRx surged 48% after saying it is continuing discussions with possible partners to help it press ahead with the development of its VAL401 lung cancer candidate The next stage in the development process is to get a partner on board to help take VAL401 through late-stage studies and, hopefully, on to commercialisation. Smart home solutions provider LightwaveRF shocked the markets this week after it announced the surprise departure of its chief executive on Monday morning. Andrew Pearson left the company with immediate effect, having only been at the helm for little more than a year. He will be replaced by Jason Elliott, currently the chief sales officer at energy data analytics firm Onzo, by 'no later than mid-September', while chief financial officer Kevin Edwards will keep watch until then. Shares in the group, which counts Apple, Google and Amazon among its partners, fell 16 per cent to 10.5p. A profit warning from XLMedia sparked a sell-off in the digital marketing group this week. XL, which has been shifting its focus away from lower-margin media buying and focusing on more profitable operations, said underlying trading has been 'stable' so far this year. But regulatory changes in Australia and Europe mean revenues and pre-tax profits will both be lower than expected, prompting shares to dip by 20 per cent to 117p. At times Ocado has looked like it could be Britains next big tech sensation AND its biggest flop. Supporters have long championed its leading technology as the antidote to Amazons impending domination of the online grocery sector. Critics, and there were many, decried the pace at which Ocado sold its high-tech robot warehouses to supermarkets. But since a series of bumper deals to build its robotic warehouses around the world Ocado shares have soared 92 per cent in little over a month to 10.49. Since a series of bumper deals to build its robotic warehouses around the world Ocado shares have soared 92 per cent in little over a month to 10.49 The brokers with egg on their faces include Bruno Monteyne at Bernstein, who in February this year said: Reasons to be negative on the retail business are as strong as ever, before shares hit 2.45. In May analysts Redburn listed the stock as a sell at 5.67 and said: We remain unconvinced by the economics of the deals being signed. This followed a note last November which said the firm was a sell at 2.87. Until a couple of months ago, UBS predicted Ocados shares would max out at 280p and HSBC gave Ocado a target price of 260p. In May Credit Suisse said the target price was 5.40. And famously, retail analyst Philip Dorgan said: Ocado starts with an o, ends with an o and is worth zero. Launched as an online grocery delivery service in 2000, Ocado has morphed into a technology firm whose business model relies on building highly advanced automated warehouses for overseas supermarkets. It was a lack of deals and sluggish results that caused seeds of doubt to form in analysts minds. But then the deals started coming in thick and fast. In the past eight months, Ocado has signed deals with Sobeys, Canadas second largest food retailer; ICA, Swedens biggest supermarket chain; and Groupe Casino, a leading French retailer. Then came the big one in June, when Ocado signed up US grocery giant Kroger, which achieved 91bn of sales last year. Until a couple of months ago, UBS predicted Ocados shares would max out at 280p and HSBC gave Ocado a target price of 260p. In May Credit Suisse said the target price was 5.40 David McCarthy, head of retail research at HSBC, called the deal a game changer. So the only question now is how high can Ocado shares go? Such was the magnitude of the Kroger deal that RBC Capital Markets raised Ocados target price from 475p to 750p within days of it being signed. Morgan Stanley followed with a 325p boost to 870p while Bernstein hiked its price target by a whopping 1055p to 1300p. Monteyne at Bernstein wrote this week: I never thought I would ever write this note or do a double upgrade as he uprated Ocado to outperform from underperform. Analysts had miscalculated the demand for its service, which has almost certainly been boosted by Amazons attempts to dominate the grocery sector. Kroger had been tipped as a potential partner of Ocado for some time, but few predicted that a potential deal would be so valuable. Monteyne freely admits he had forecast Ocado building between one and four of its high-tech warehouses for Kroger. Instead, Kroger asked for 20 in the first three years. But Laith Khalaf of broker Hargreaves Lansdown believes it is difficult to predict the size and scope of potential deals. It was always going to be a tough one to call, but Ocado has made big progress in the past 12 months and it has caught some people out. So the big question on investors lips is: how far can Ocado go? The online supermarket is somewhat limited in that it only signs exclusive deals abroad with retailers. That means it wont target another retailer in the US, France, Canada or Sweden. But its current deals alone are likely to boost Ocados earnings to 220million by 2023, say analysts. And if it targets other rich nations where there is a demand for grocery deliveries, such as Germany, Japan and Australia, that number could rise dramatically. Monteyne, a long-time critic turned convert, now believes Ocados shares have another 3 head room following the Kroger deal. Consumers want grocery ecommerce, he added. Standard Chartered is hiring 750 staff in Warsaw POLISH OFF London-based lender Standard Chartered is hiring 750 staff in Poland's capital Warsaw to provide back-office services. Stanchart which earns most of its money in the Middle East, Africa and Asia said the roles will include finance and legal support workers. Warsaw is increasingly popular with global banks because of its cheap rents and low wages. PLANE TALK Retirement firm Legal & General is taking on responsibility for a 325million pension pot for Heathrow Airport. The deal means Heathrow will no longer have to worry about possible funding shortfalls for the scheme, which covers 1,300 retired staff. FARMERS' MARKET Online groceries business Farmdrop has raised 10million from investors. Backers included LGT Impact Ventures and Belltown Ventures. London-based Farmdrop lets customers order farm produce which is then delivered to their door. BINGE GAMING Games are being added to Netflix, including the popular Minecraft Story Mode. The video streaming business said it would go alongside 'interactive stories', which allow viewers to make storyline decisions at certain points. TAX BACK City councillors in Seattle, Amazon's home city, have backed down in a battle with the tech giant over a tax-per-head on employees. They accused the company of bullying tactics after it threatened to stop construction of new offices if the tax was implemented. The local authority had argued that the cash was needed to help the homeless. METAL STAKE Car maker Mitsubishi is increasing its stake in Anglo-American's Quellaveco copper mine in Peru, paying 477million to take its stake to around 60 per cent. Copper is a key material in batteries that power electric vehicles. ACCIDENT REPORT US Engineering consultancy Thornton Tomasetti has bought oil and gas industry accident investigator MMI Engineering, based in Warrington, Cheshire, for an undisclosed sum. CASH IN AIM-listed Mongolian oil explorer Petro Matad has raised 13.7million by selling more than 136m new shares. GOING DOWN Airline Etihad has posted a loss for the second year as higher fuel costs associated with partners Alitalia and now-defunct Air Berlin dragged the firm down. CARING SHARING Social care services provider Care Tech lifted its dividend 6.1 per cent as first-half pre-tax profit jumped 21 per cent to 8.5million. A tussle for control of Southend Airport turned into an all-out war last night after the former chief executive was fired from his seat on the board and accused of trying to cash-in 30million of shares. Stobart Group, owner of the airport, and its ex-boss Andrew Tinkler are suing each other in a spat that has dragged in some of the City's biggest names, including fund manager Neil Woodford. Ironically, the row threatens to tear apart the business just a day after it received a major boost when budget airline Ryanair announced it would be opening a new base there next year. Southend Airport owner Stobart and its ex-boss Andrew Tinkler are suing each other in a spat that has dragged in some of the City's biggest names The row began on May 25 when Tinkler, who stepped down as chief executive in 2017 but stayed on the board, refused to support the re-election of chairman Iain Ferguson, claiming he wanted the firm to have a different strategy. Board members Andrew Wood and John Coombs threatened to resign if Ferguson went, and claimed they had the backing of major shareholder Invesco. On May 29, Stobart, which was formed out of the famous haulage company, fired off a stock market announcement saying that it was no longer possible to engage with Tinkler. It made a series of accusations which focus on an alleged attempt to cash in 30million of shares, and of issues relating to the failed takeover of airline Flybe which Stobart bid for earlier this year. Stobart also accused Tinkler of destabilising the group. Tinkler hit back by announcing he had the backing of fund manager Woodford, a major shareholder, and wanted to appoint as chairman the retail billionaire Philip Day, who owns Edinburgh Woollen Mill. On June 8, Stobart filed a claim in the High Court suing Tinkler and former chief operating officer William Stobart over a disputed tax arrangement. Tinkler hit back, claiming he was suing five members of the board for defamation. Last night Tinkler was dismissed from the board and Stobart said it would file a new lawsuit against him. In an explosive dismissal letter seen by the Mail, Stobart Group's lawyers accused Tinkler, who earned 5.6million last year, of trying to force the company to buy back 10m of its shares for 30million in September 2017, demanding 30million based on a previous bonus scheme; and trying to acquire 30 per cent of Stobart's airline business for no cost as part of the takeover of Flybe. Warwick Brady, Stobart's chief executive, said: 'His actions, particularly in recent days, have threatened to destabilise the company and severely impacted my ability and that of my team to manage the business. 'This is against the interests of all our shareholders.' Tinkler denies the claims and said the allegations in the letter contained malicious falsehoods. He added: 'In the past few days, we've seen the Stobart chairman and chief executive involved in allegations of bullying and ignoring their own senior team. 'They are also attempting to deny shareholders the right to determine the leadership of the board. This is not how a listed company should behave.' TORONTO, June 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Members of UNITE HERE Local 75 ratified a new collective agreement with the Fairmont Royal York Hotel Friday that represents the strongest agreement in Torontos hospitality sector. The four-year contract makes Fairmont Royal York workers the highest paid hotel workers in the GTA by far and includes a 14.5% wage increase and a retroactive bonus, more than triples pension contributions, significantly reduces housekeepers workloads, and substantiality increases retirement and other paid benefits for all workers. With the 3% retro we won, Ill be taking home a bonus of more than $1,000 right away. This agreement is going to be huge for my family, said Kattia Delgado, a room attendant and member of the UNITE HERE Local 75 Negotiating Committee at the Fairmont Royal York. This agreement is the result of months of hard work and thousands of conversations about the future we want for ourselves and our families. With the support of our sisters and brothers across the labour movement, we pushed hard for what we deserve, and hotel management heard us loud and clear. We are stronger than ever and it has paid off for us today, said Arley Da Silva, a banquet server and member of the UNITE HERE Local 75 Negotiating Committee at the Fairmont Royal York. Over 1,000 Canadian labour leaders and members of the Canadian Labour Congress participated in a rally in support of the workers. The new four-year contract includes, among other improvements: 3% retroactive bonus from July 17, 2017 through April 29, 2018. 14.5% wage increase over the four-year agreement More than tripled pension contributions, with an increase of 54 cents per hour Maintained and increased excellent health benefits Reduced housekeeper room assignments to 14 rooms per day, the best standard in Canada After months of bargaining, we have reached a deal that significantly increases our pay, improves our benefits and pensions, and addresses workload issues. UNITE HEREs extensive experience in the hospitality sector was key in us settling a contract that is the best hotel workers contract in the city, and one of the best in the country, said Gary Ing, a 30-year bartender and member of the UNITE HERE Local 75 Negotiating Committee at the Fairmont Royal York. UNITE HERE is a labour union representing 270,000 hospitality workers across North America. An affiliate of the largest hotel workers union in the world, UNITE HERE Local 75 represents nearly 8,000 hospitality workers at 43 hotels in the Greater Toronto Area, including nearly 1,000 workers at the Fairmont Royal York. Media Contact Colleen Ryan 647-232-6867 A fat cat building boss has picked up shares worth 26million and given more than 3million of them to his wife. Jeff Fairburn, chief executive of Persimmon, collected 963,020 shares in the first slice of a controversial long-term bonus plan that has seriously damaged the housebuilder's reputation. The stock was worth 26.3million last night, although after tax their value fell to 13.9million. The 52-year-old Yorkshireman, who has been dubbed 'Mr 131million' over the potential size of his total payout under the bonus scheme, handed 117,865 of the shares, worth 3.2million, to his wife Jayne. 131m bonus: Jeff Fairburn, chief executive of Persimmon, was awarded 963,020 shares as part of a long-term bonus plan that has seriously damaged the housebuilder's reputation The couple, who have been married for a quarter of a century, have three children and live in Durham. Persimmon finance director Mike Killoran, 56, was also in the money after being awarded shares worth 36.8million or 19.5million after tax. The company, which sold 16,043 new homes last year at an average price of 213,321, has faced a barrage of criticism over the size of the payouts due through a bonus scheme agreed in 2012. At one point Fairburn was on course to receive 131million, making him one of the highest-paid executives in corporate history. The row led to the shock resignation of chairman Nicholas Wrigley late last year following a fierce backlash from investors, politicians and campaigners. Fairburn has since agreed to give up 30 per cent of his total payout and hand a 'substantial proportion' of his windfall to charity. But the company has continued to face condemnation, with critics claiming its success has in part been built on a taxpayer subsidy via the Government's Help To Buy mortgage scheme. Rachel Reeves MP, chairman of the business committee, last week branded the bonus payments 'egregious', adding: 'Executive pay at Persimmon is a tale of corporate greed and incompetent pay management, financed on the back of a taxpayer-funded housing scheme.' Before quitting as chairman, Wrigley suggested the bonuses were required to keep hold of senior executives. 'We need to make sure that all the key people are onside and fully committed,' he said. Months later Wrigley and fellow director Jonathan Davie, who as head of the remuneration committee signed off the pay deal, quit, admitting the size of the bonuses should have been capped. The company was rocked by a shareholder revolt at its annual meeting in April, when 48.5 per cent of investors voted against its pay policies. Tesco, Britain's biggest retailer, bagged its tenth consecutive quarter of growth as same store sales in the UK and Ireland rose 3.5 per cent in its first quarter. Growth slowed slightly in the UK, owing to disruption caused by the Beast from the East at the start of the period. Tesco, which last year acquired wholesaler Booker for 3.7billion, said in a trading update ahead of its AGM today that group like-for-likes rose 1.8 per cent in the 13 weeks to May 26. Tesco is enjoying strong momentum and like-for-like sales growth in its home market Paying no heed to the incumbent threat of a newly merged Sainsbury's and Asda, Tesco said it was 'delighted' with initial progress at Booker and that its growth plans were on track. If the proposed merger of Sainsbury's and Asda is given the green light by the competition watchdog, it will create a supermarket giant with revenues of 51billion and a market share of 32 per cent bigger than Tesco's 28 per cent. Since consolidation with Booker on March 5, Tesco said it has achieved like-for-like sales growth of 14.3 per cent. It was a busy fiscal quarter for Tesco, during which the supermarket decided to close its general merchandise Tesco Direct business, putting 500 jobs at risk. It also continued to invest in price so as to remain competitive in the hotly fought grocery price war. Tesco chief Dave Lewis said today he is delighted with the progress of wholesaler Booker Chief executive Dave Lewis said: 'Our growth plans are on track and we are pleased with the momentum in the business. We remain well-placed to serve our customers better and deliver on our medium-term financial ambitions. 'We are delighted with initial progress on Booker, and are focused on delivering the synergy benefits that our merger brings.' Shares in the supermarket are up 2.2 per cent in early trading and over 20 per cent since April. Commenting on today's update, Interactive Investor's head of markets, Richard Hunter, said: 'Tesco's recovery continues apace, with a quarter of growth which builds on the lofty standards set in the full-year numbers in April. 'The wisdom of the Booker acquisition, whose own growth was particularly strong in the quarter, is already becoming apparent, whilst the decision to focus more sharply on its more profitable lines with the removal of Tesco Direct is sound. 'There are some niggling doubts to remove, however. The performance in the Asian business was laboured, the Booker integration needs to be carefully managed and, inevitably, Brexit implications will need to be addressed when they become clear. 'Even so, there are strengthening signs that Tesco is returning to some of its former glories. This has been reflected in a share price which has risen 34 per cent over the last year.' Shake-up: Tesco is simplifying shelves, boosting its own-label offera nd slashing the number of suppliers it works with Tesco is stripping thousands of brands from its shelves in a shake-up aimed at beating the discounters. Kerrygold Spreadable butter and Higgidy pies and quiches are among the brands to have lost space in recent weeks. Tesco is simplifying shelves, boosting its own-label offer and slashing the number of suppliers it works with over the next two years, under a shake-up dubbed Project Reset that started in 2015. Chief executive Dave Lewis yesterday stressed it had not damaged relationships with suppliers, as he reported a 2.1 per cent rise in sales in its UK stores for the first quarter of the year, the tenth quarter of growth in a row. Tesco is planning to re-launch 10,000 of its own brand products, with 2,850 completed to date. The supermarket faces growing competition from the likes of Aldi and Lidl. Sainsburys takeover of Asda is also a threat, leaving the merged grocery company as the second biggest supermarket in the UK. Lewis said the Government should think about potentially changing the way business rates are calculated amid the pressure on the High Street. Moya Greene stepped down as Royal Mail chief executive at the start of June The outgoing boss of Royal Mail will collect up to 2.6million from the company after quitting her post. Moya Greene, 63, stepped down as chief executive at the start of June but continues to be paid. She is also in line for bonuses and shares as well as cash for flights to her native Canada. And she will collect a near 1million pay off from the postal service taking the total she can collect having relinquished the top job to as much as 2.6million. Greenes potential package is about 90 times the average salary of Royal Mails 142,000 workers of 28,724. Campaigners last night condemned the bonanza, which comes at a time of mounting outrage over executive pay. A spokesman for the Communication Workers Union said: Its an outrageous sum of money when you consider what the average postal worker takes home. Mother-of-one Greene has earned nearly 12million since taking charge of Royal Mail in 2010, including 1.8million last year. She is credited with leading it through the biggest ever public share-offer in the UK, and negotiating with unions and politicians. Greene announced in April that she would step down on June 1 as chief executive. She will remain on the board until the AGM in July, and then advise replacement Rico Back until September. Greene is getting her chief executive-level salary of 547,800 as well as pensions and benefits paid each month until mid-September. Water chief's 2m bonanza Severn Trent boss Liv Garfield was paid 2million last year fuelling anger about water bosses pay. The 42-year-old mother of two took home a bonus of 501,000 and long-term incentive payment of 706,000 on top of her salary of 687,200. The pay packet is likely to make her the water industrys highest paid boss for the second year in a row, although it has fallen slightly from the 2.4million she received in 2017 due to lower bonuses. This is despite Severn Trent having to pay a 29million penalty for leaks and interruptions in supplies recently. And its water bills are expected to increase by 3 per cent on average this year. Slamming the payout, Tim Roache, GMB general secretary, described Garfields 2million as eye-watering and said it was 10 times the wages of the Prime Minister. She is also entitled to a bonus for that period amounting to a potential 547,800 for the period since June 1. Her payment for loss of office of 914,000 includes one years salary and a bonus of 367,000. The deal was approved by the government in 2010 before Royal Mail was privatised. On top of that, Greene also has yet to collect 99,663 shares due to vest in June 2020. She could get a further 152,288 shares, depending on performance, due to vest in July 2019 and 2020. All those shares could bring in a further 1.2m based on current share price of around 502p. Greene was recruited from Canadas postal service Canada Post and tasked with privatising struggling Royal Mail despite previous efforts being derailed by political revolt. Royal Mail hit 10billion sales for the first time last year and made profits before special costs of 694million. But it has been dogged by rows over pay and pensions with unions, and fewer letters being sent. Shares hit highs of around 600p last month, but fell to 502.4p last night. A Royal Mail spokesman said: We appreciate that executive remuneration is a sensitive subject in the current economic environment. Moya Greene is an exceptional executive and we have made the right remuneration arrangements to reward the generation of shareholder value in the longer term and to honour our contractual obligations. NORTH VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, joined by representatives from industry and government, Seaspan Shipyards (Seaspan) celebrated the start of construction on the first Joint Support Ship (JSS) for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). The steel cutting ceremony held at Vancouver Shipyards is a significant milestone for Seaspan, the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) and Canadas shipbuilding industry. With the start of construction on JSS, Seaspan is leading the way in rebuilding Canadas shipbuilding industry. In addition, start of construction ensures that Seaspan will see the continued growth of Vancouver Shipyards workforce while mitigating any possible downturn in production. Todays start of construction ceremony is important not only for our company and customer, but also for Canadas shipbuilding industry and the thousands of hardworking women and men it employs, said Brian Carter, President & CEO of Seaspan Shipyards. Cutting steel on the first Joint Support Ship for the Royal Canadian Navy is yet another demonstration of how shipbuilding is back in Canada and our company is proud to be leading the way. With the start of construction on JSS, Seaspan will ensure that continuous production is realized on its work as Canadas non-combat shipbuilder. At its peak, work on JSS will contribute towards sustaining an estimated 1,000 jobs for tradespeople and approximately 300 office staff at Vancouver Shipyards. In addition, Seaspans work on JSS will leverage its broader Canadian supply chain and support the continued growth of Canadas shipbuilding and marine industries. Alion Canada is proud of our role in the design development and integration to support Seaspan's work building Canada's next generation of non-combat vessels under the National Shipbuilding Strategy, said Bruce Samuelsen, Chief Operating Officer Alion Science and Technology President Alion Canada. The opportunities associated with the Joint Support Ships will ensure that Canada's domestic ship design, engineering, and shipbuilding industries continue to grow and provide long-term, well-paid jobs. At over 173 metres in length and with a design displacement of nearly 20,000 tonnes, JSS will be among the largest ships built on Canadas West Coast once complete. JSS will support the RCNs work at home and abroad for both defence and humanitarian missions. These ships will deliver fuel and other vital supplies to vessels at sea, offer modern medical and dental facilities, and providing support for helicopter operations and equipment repair. To be built to the highest standard and with modern equipment, propulsion redundancy, a 30+ year life expectancy and the ability to stand in harms way if required, JSS represents a complete solution to the operational needs of Canadas Navy. As a Canadian company in business for more than 40 years and an employer on the West Coast, we are a proud participant in Canadas National Shipbuilding Strategy, said Jim Longo, Founder & President of Ideal Welders. With our work for Seaspan, our company is realizing growth: we have increased our workforce by thirty per cent, invested in training, purchased productivity increasing equipment, and doubled the size of our facilities so that we can respond to the needs of a modern shipbuilding industry. We are excited to be part of this next phase in the National Shipbuilding Strategy. Canadas shipbuilding industry has been rebuilt thanks to the NSS and it is delivering on the promise of ships built in Canada by Canadians. To date, Seaspan has $600M in committed contracts and engaged approximately 500 Canadian firms thanks to its NSS-related work alone. Construction on JSS will contribute to the continued growth of Canadas shipbuilding and marine industry. ABOUT SEASPAN SHIPYARDS With operations in North Vancouver and Victoria, Seaspan Shipyards is a leader in Canadas shipbuilding and ship repair industry. With modern facilities and a dedicated workforce, the company has proven itself to be a reliable partner on a range of complex projects for both government and the private sector. Seaspan Shipyards is proud to be Canadas chosen non-combat shipbuilder under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). In this capacity, the company is building state-of-the-art ships in Canada for the Canadian Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy. Through its NSS-related work, Seaspan Shipyards is creating jobs, generating economic benefits and rebuilding Canadas shipbuilding and marine industries. Seaspan Shipyards Nicholas Insley Manager, Public Affairs Office: 604-990-1824 Nicholas.Insley@Seaspan.com QUICK FACTS ABOUT JSS AND THE NSS NSS: For information on the NSS, National Shipbuilding Strategy. JSS Overview: The future Her Majestys Canadian Ships (HMCS) Protecteur and Preserver are multi-role vessels that will provide an important auxiliary function to the RCN. They increase the range and endurance of naval task groups by permitting the vessels to remain at sea for long periods of time without needing to return to port for replenishment. They represent crucial elements of Canadas blue-water naval capabilities and will allow the RCN to participate in operations with allies on military and humanitarian missions. These vessels are designed and built to carry provisions like food, water, fuel and ammunition for other vessels, provide support ashore, and are a home base for helicopter maintenance and operations. With its enhanced defensive capabilities and a crew of 239 personnel, the JSS can also support the RCN in high threat environments ensuring our continued safety and security at home and abroad. General: Builder: Seaspan Shipyards Owner: Royal Canadian Navy Future Names of Ships: Her Majestys Canadian Ships (HMCS) Protecteur and Preserver Dimensions: Length Overall: 173.7 m Breadth: 24.0 m Design Waterline/ Draft: 7.4 m Design Displacement: 19,648 t Power and Performance: Max Speed: 20 knots Cruising Speed: 15 knots Propulsion Power: 2 x 7200kW MBABANE For the second consecutive year, the Kingdom of Eswatini has ranked poorly in terms of hydropower capacity in the African continent. As was the case last year, the kingdom has not experienced any improvement according to a report issued by the International Hydropower Association. The report revealed that the kingdom was in the bottom 10 list of countries which ranked low. Out of 42 African countries, the kingdom stood at number 34 with the total installed capacity standing at 60MW as was the case in last years report. The institutions annual report, dubbed the 2018 Hydropower Status Report, claims that Ethiopia has the most hydropower capacity in Africa with about 3822MW. Also, for the second year in a row, the report has ranked South Africa in second position, Egypt in third, and the Democratic Republic of Congo in fourth. The report found that South Africa had a capacity of 3,595MW in 2017, up from 3,583MW in the previous years report. Angola placed fifth, followed by Zambia, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Sudan. While Mozambique and Nigeria held their positions for the third year in a row, Sudan fell from sixth to ninth. It was noted in the report that despite its vast natural resources, access to electricity across Africa was limited and uneven, with only around 30 per cent of the population having access to it. The report said while countries like Egypt had total electricity coverage, in countries like Chad and South Sudan less than nine per cent of the population had access. In order to exit the poverty trap, African governments are increasingly turning to renewable resources to spur development and improve livelihoods. Among these resources is hydropower, of which only about seven per cent of the continents economically feasible potential has been developed, reads part of the report. SIMUNYE The South African man, who was nabbed at the Lomahasha border Gate trying to smuggle minerals and drugs into the country, has been fined a total of E12 444 000 or five years imprisonment. However, Simunye Magistrate Musa Nxumalo was lenient as he ordered Julius Mostert (38), who is from Pretoria, to pay E5 000 cash for his freedom. The magistrate explained that: The balance of the fine and the custodial sentence is suspended for a period of three years on condition that he is not convicted on a similar offence within this period. Mostert was arrested together with his wife, Joani-Stasja Meiring (36), who also hails from Pretoria, but she was set free shortly before trial after prosecutors informed the court that they were dropping all charges against her. This was after Meiring had pleaded not guilty to all the charges she was facing. The couple was driving in a Silver grey VW sedan registered CH 32 GZ GP when police manning the border found the minerals and the drugs hidden inside the vehicle. According to court papers, police found in the vehicle 12 pieces of silver weighing 3.666kg valued at E26 009 and five pieces of gold weighing 3.74kg valued at E2 042 901. hashish Court papers further reflect that police found 0.047kg of dagga in the vehicle and another drug called black ball hashish weighing 4.44 grammes, with a street value of E360. Mostert pleaded guilty to all five charges and the court found him guilty in all counts. For count one, two and three, he was sentenced to one year imprisonment with on option of a E10 000 fine. SITEKI Its jobs galore at newly-opened JS Clothing (PTY) Ltd in Siteki. The textile factory, which has replaced Kang Fa Textile, which shut down early this year, has advertised vacancies for 800 people. By Wednesday at noon, the company had already employed 220 people, which means that there are still vacancies for 580 people. Surprisingly, there is no mad rush for the jobs availed by the company in spite of the high unemployment rate in Siteki and surrounding areas. As such, the company has put up posters around Siteki town, encouraging people to apply to fill the vacancies. The company Director, Iqbal Mohammed, revealed that their projections indicate that they would have employed close to 1 000 people by the end of the year. The Mauritian national, who is based in Durban South Africa, said the company required a large workforce in order for operations to run smoothly. Right now, we are renovating and installing new equipment. Work (producing clothing) has already started and we still need more people, he said. The apparent lack of interest showed by people of Siteki in applying for the available vacancies at the new company could be due to the instability and alleged poor working conditions at JS Clothings predecessor; Kang Fa textile. However, Mohammed maintained that the new company would provide improved working conditions and it would not lay off workers now and again, as it was the case with its predecessor. We are a big company, we are big in Durban. We are not going to close down, he said confidently. Mohammed said the company already had many orders from local clothing retailers. As such, he said they had purchased sophisticated sewing machines and other equipment to enhance their efficiency. Supervisor On top of that, he said they had roped in supervisors from South Africa, Malawi and Mauritius. When asked whether the company would tap into the USA market, courtesy of AGOA, Mohammed said for now they would concentrate on the local and the SADC market. MAFUTSENI A group of troubled and fed up residents of Mafutseni braved the bone-chilling morning weather and marched to the police station to voice their concerns. Information gathered from some of the community members, who were found gathered at the Mafutseni police station protesting against the suspected ritual killings in the area, was that initially, the march was organised to support the mob of community members, who attacked one of the suspected ritual killers over the weekend as they were told to report to the station. The community members marched for about eight kilometres, from their respective homes to the police station yesterday morning. However, when they arrived at the police station, they were told that the police were still investigating the suspected ritual killings and the mob justice attack on one of the suspected residents. Thereafter, they then used the opportunity to voice out their concerns to the police and Mafutseni Station Commander Superintendent Steven Dlamini was present to record their concerns. They said their main concern was that in the past, the community had a problem with stock theft but now it was cannibalism. We are now living with cannibals, submitted one of the residents. They asked the police to remove the cannibals from the community because they were not supposed to live with human beings. Sitawujubana ngemazembe (we will hack each other with axes) if we continue to see these cannibals roaming around the community, another community member said. The community members said they were aware that taking the law into their own hands was an offence, but mentioned that they were willing to do so for the safety of their families, especially their children. Again, they called for a custodial sentence once the suspects were arrested by saying courts should not give them an option of a fine because they would pay it with blood money. However, the station commander said some of the concerns they had raised were out of their hands. He made an example by saying in the face of the law, anyone has a right to be granted bail and sometimes an option of a fine. The commander politely condemned the community members for taking the law into their own hands by saying they could be arrested too. He urged them to try their best not to be misguided by their emotions and be patient with the police as they were working tirelessly on the matter. He said just like they did with the people who were stealing their livestock, especially cattle, as the police they would eventually put the suspected ritual killers behind bars. He clarified that it was a matter of time before they concluded their investigations and started effecting arrest(s). SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EY today announced that Patrick Maloney, founder and CEO of Inspire, a leading clean energy technology company, won the Entrepreneur of the Year 2018 Award in Greater Los Angeles for the Cleantech & Renewable Energy category. As the worlds most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs, Entrepreneur Of The Year recognizes business leaders who are excelling in areas such as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Patrick was selected by a panel of independent judges, and the award was presented at a special black-tie awards gala on Thursday, June 14, 2018 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. Our team is relentlessly focused on accelerating the transition to clean energy and powering smarter homes, said Maloney. We believe that we can all do well by doing good, and its humbling to see EY support impact-driven innovation. Id like to thank our Inspire Community; our investors, members, partners, and supporters who share our values, believe in our mission, and want to create a brighter energy future. Now in its 32nd year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities and more than 60 countries throughout the world. To learn more about the Greater Los Angeles program and 2018 winners, please go here. Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced at the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 10, 2018. The awards are the culminating event of the Strategic Growth Forum, the nations most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies. About Inspire Launched in 2014, Inspire's mission is to create a brighter energy future by simplifying consumer adoption of clean energy and smart home technologies. Disrupting the one-size-fits-all utility model, Inspire's groundbreaking Smart Energy subscription seamlessly combines personalized clean energy plans with best-in-class smart devices. Using Inspire's app, members control their smart homes from anywhere and select automated settings to use less energy while earning rewards. Inspire is dedicated to making it easy for everyone to have a smart, sustainable home. A Certified B-Corp, Inspire is nationally recognized for its commitment to making a positive impact on the planet. It was featured in Fast Company and Mashable, and chosen as one of Fortune's 50 Best Small Workplaces in 2017. Inspire products are available in select areas across the U.S. via helloinspire.com. The company is privately held, with offices in Santa Monica, CA and Philadelphia, PA. About Entrepreneur Of The Year Entrepreneur Of The Year, founded by EY, is the worlds most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs, chosen from an independent panel of judges including entrepreneurs and prominent leaders from business, finance, and the local community. The program makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global awards program of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities and more than 60 countries. ey.com/eoy About EY EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com. Media Contact Denise Schenasi, Sr. Communications Manager press@helloinspire.com | 310.318.4560 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Centenera Mining Corporation (Centenera or the Company) (TSX-V:CT) (OTCQB:CTMIF) announces that it has negotiated debt settlements with various arms length creditors (the Debt Settlements). Pursuant to the Debt Settlements and subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange (the TSXV), the Company has settled aggregate debt of $327,400 outstanding as at May 31, 2018, in consideration of the issuance to the creditors of 2,728,334 common shares of the Company a deemed issuance price of $0.12 per share. The Company also announces that, subject to acceptance by the TSXV, it has secured loans in the amount of $100,000 (the Loans) from each of Keith Henderson (the President, CEO and a director of the Company) and an entity controlled by Robert Kopple (a director of the Company). The Loans have a one year term and bear interest at the rate of 5% per annum compounded annually, payable on the maturity date. The Company has agreed to issue 833,333 bonus common share purchase warrants to each of the lenders, each of which warrants will entitle the holder to purchase one common share of the Company for a period of three years at an exercise price of $0.14 per share. The funds available to the Company under the Loans will be used by the Company for general corporate and working capital purposes. All securities issued pursuant to the Debt Settlements and Loans will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day in Canada from the date of issuance. As the Company proposed to enter into the Loans with current directors and an executive officer of the Company (the Related Parties), the Loans constitute a related party transaction pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61 101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101). The Company relied on Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 for an exemption from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements, respectively, of MI 61-101, as, at the time the Loans were made available to the Company, neither the fair market value of the subject matter of, nor the fair market value of the consideration for the Loans exceeded 25% of the Company's market capitalization. On Behalf of the Board of Directors of CENTENERA MINING CORPORATION "Keith Henderson" President & CEO For further details on the Company readers are referred to the Company's web site (www.centeneramining.com) and its Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. For further information, please contact: Keith Henderson Phone: 604-638-3456 E-mail: info@centeneramining.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Politically Speaking: Lauren Arthur explains how she flipped a state Senate seat On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, St. Louis Public Radio's Jo Mannies and Marshall Griffin go "on location'' to welcome Missouri state Sen.-elect Lauren Arthur. A Democrat, Arthur has touched off a minor political earthquake with her June 5 success in handily winning a state Senate seat in suburban Kansas City that had been held by Republicans for 12 years. Still savoring a decisive win and hope for progressives across the nation. Here's more analysis of a big win over a Republican candidate that nobody liked. Read more: This Local Weekend Calendar Also Works For A TKC Chicken Genius 6 Genius Things To Do In Kansas City This Weekend We're all special, right? But some of us are extra special. There I said it. And the weekend is going to back me up with events driven by special people - both living and dead - whose cultural contributions qualify as outright genius or at least border on brilliance. Be Cool Kansas City Kansas City swelters, ERs see rise in heat-related issues Breaking News Kansas City, MO - A late Spring heat wave continues for the KC Metro with shade temperatures pushing 100 degrees and heat indexes well above that. And there looks to be no break for the coming weekend. The unseasonable weather has led to a spike at Metro hospitals of people suffering from heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Broken Windows Theory Reemerges In KCK KCK cops' strategy cracks down on small offenses to prevent major crimes KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- KCK's police chief says crime has been cut in half in one neighborhood since officers launched a new crime-fighting strategy. "It's logical: Bad guys don't want to be where the police are at," KCK Police Chief Terry Zeigler said as he explained the idea behind his department's ICON initiative, which stands for Impacting Crime in Our Neighborhoods. Fear Golden Ghetto NextGen Bill Parents may be stuck with $132,000 bill after kid knocks over sculpture OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Two Johnson County parents may be stuck with a $132,000 bill after their child damaged a sculpture inside the Tomahawk Ridge Community Center. The child's mother, Sarah Goodman, told 41 Action News the incident happened during a wedding reception last month. Lcoal TV Travel Vlogging Karli Ritter takes us on a tour of Reykjavik's history REYKJAVIK, Iceland -- FOX4's Karli Ritter is a history buff, and Iceland's largest city is rich with history... really old history. She starts at the Arbaer Open Air Museum where architecture and actual homes from years' past are on display. Working-Class Heat Wave Is Worse Heat Advisories outside mean oppressive conditions inside area dry cleaners A heat advisory has been issued for Friday. Everyone outside was affected by temperatures in the 90's Thursday, and it's only going to get worse. We all have to be careful in the heat, but especially those who work in it. One of the hottest jobs around isn't even outdoors - it's inside a dry cleaning facility. KC Rep Change Up Eric Rosen out at the KC Rep Visit KC Big (and rather sudden) KC theater news: Eric Rosen, who has led the Kansas City Repertory Theatre as artistic director since 2008, is departing the organization. According to a press release, he's moving to New York to "pursue other projects." We start our news cycle with a fashionista, mom, pr0n star and trendsetter . . .Closer to home, these news links are far more important:is the song of the day and this is thefor right now . . . Samsung Electronics has announced its commitment to build on its strong progress of energy efficiency and operational emissions reductions to expand the use of renewable energy in its operations. The South Korean company is making a concerted effort in the US, Europe and China markets that are well-equipped with infrastructure for the development and transmission of renewable energy to increase its use of renewable energy. As part of this effort, Samsung plans to source renewable energy for 100 per cent of the energy used for all of its factories, office buildings, and operational facilities in the US, Europe and China by 2020. In the medium to long-term, the company will seek to further increase its use of renewable energy around the world. In line with this commitment, Samsung Electronics has joined the World Wildlife Funds (WWFs) Renewable Energy Buyers Principles and the Rocky Mountain Institutes Business Renewables Center. In Korea, Samsung Electronics fully supports the governments national strategic plan to increase the countrys renewable energy use by 20 per cent by 2030. Beginning this year, as an initial commitment, Samsung will additionally install approximately 42,000 sq m of solar panels in Samsung Digital City, its headquarters in Suwon. The company will continue to add approximately 21,000 sq m of solar arrays and geothermal power generation facilities beginning 2019 in its Pyeongtaek campus and 2020 in its Hwaseong campus. With these efforts in place, Samsung Electronics is positioned to increase its use of renewable energy globally to match the equivalent amount of energy created by an average 3.1GW solar power plant by 2020. This amount of electricity is comparable to the annual energy consumption of about 115,000 four-person Korean households. As part of its extended strategy, Samsung Electronics will also engage its partners across the supply chain. Beginning next year, Samsung plans to work with its top 100 partner companies to help them set their own renewable energy targets, in partnership with the Carbon Disclosure Project Supply Chain Program, which the company intends to join next year. Samsung Electronics is fulfilling its duty as a corporate citizen by expanding and supporting the use of renewable energy. As demonstrated by our expanded commitment, we are focused on protecting our planet and are doing our part as a global environmental steward. said Won Kyong Kim, executive vice president and head of Global Public Affairs, Samsung Electronics. We welcome Samsung Electronics declaration to expand the roll-out of renewable energy across its global sites, said Jochem Verberne, Global Partnerships director, WWF. This is an important step and we look forward to working with Samsung on further measures to reduce the companys climate impact across its value chains. - TradeArabia News Service Falling asleep in the arms of your lover under a clear African sky of twinkling stars is probably one of the most romantic things will ever do. (TRAVPR.COM) - June 15th, 2018 - Falling asleep in the arms of your lover under a clear African sky of twinkling stars is probably one of the most romantic things will ever do. For most of us, we reside in built-up, concrete jungles, where our security is always our primary concern, so the idea of the freedom of a wall-less bedroom, with no-one else around (other than your significant other), does sound extremely inviting! The concept is that an elaborate, four-poster bed, dressed in crisp, white luxurious linen, draped in an elegant mosquito net, is placed in a stunning location - normally just far enough from the main lodge to feel alone. Dinner is then served, either at the location, or before you leave for the location. Then you are left to re-connect with open space, the nocturnal sounds of nature and of course with your loved one. Nkwichi Lodge, located in northern Mozambique (on the banks of Lake Malawi), offers this incredible experience to their guests. There is a choice of three different locations:- on a rocky outcrop (surrounded by water); or a deserted beach (surrounded by baobab trees); or a-top the elevated viewpoint with an incredible sunsets and morning vistas over the lake the location is determined by the elements, and which is most suitable at the time. Lauren Slater, Reservations Manager from Nkwichi Lodge believes that the Nkwichi star bed is not only for romantic couples. She says, when asked what type of guests is the experience most suited to, I would say the Star Bed is for anybody who has a yearning to sleep under an open sky, far from any lights and noise and human interference. Honeymooners and couples will love it for its incredibly romantic setting; families will find they have so much more to talk about than they thought they did, while sitting next to a fire, seeing who can spot the first shooting star. A previous Nkwichi guest was quoted saying, ...don't miss the star bed and the opportunity to sleep al fresco after eating your dinner on the beach and star gazing next to a beach fire. Nothing is perfect, but this came pretty close." Another Mozambican Star-Bed experience to watch out for is at Anantara Medjumbe, located on a tiny island in the Quirimbas Archipelago. They have taken their star bed concept one step further, where you are left alone on a completely different, nearby island! It simply does not get better than this. Adam Beadon, Regional Director of Sales and Marketing Africa from Minor Hotels said the guests are mostly captured by the absolute exclusiveness of the experience, when asked what guests liked most about their experience. Mozambique is fast becoming one of the most popular honeymoon destinations, mainly due to the vast diversity of activities that are mainly included in the normal rates, says Kim Rossi, of The Mozambique Collection. For most travelers to Africa, Mozambique is not always the first choice, but the destination fast becoming a favorite of those that are seeking something a little bit different, a bit quieter and a little bit more remote. She continues to say, the honeymoons booked by The Mozambique Collection to Mozambique, so far, have been a resounding success, and couples have not been disappointed by the uniqueness of the destination, or the attention to detail given by the lodges. We know that Mozambique, as a romantic destination, will continue to grow within our business, and we look forward to tailor-making more honeymoons and romantic breakaways! Written by Kim Rossi for The Mozambique Collection ***End*** About The Mozambique Collection The Mozambique Collection offers tailor-made holidays to Mozambique and is a tourism destination specialist that markets and sells a collection of stunning properties showcasing the diversity of the destination, while contributing a portion of the proceeds of each booking made to The Niassa Carnivore Project. Contact: The Mozambique Collection / Kim Rossi Email : info@mozambique-collection.org Website : www.mozambique-collection.org Telephone: +27 21 813 6708 ### Contacts: Bevan Springer, Marketplace Excellence + 1 201 861-2056 Luana Wheatley, U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism + 1 340 774-8784 SPIRIT AIRLINES TO START NEW NONSTOP FLIGHTS FROM ORLANDO TO ST. THOMAS ST. THOMAS (June 15, 2018) - On the heels of the launch of new service between Fort Lauderdale and St. Croix, Spirit Airlines has announced even more flights to the U.S. Virgin Islands from the Sunshine State. The Department of Tourism announced that Spirit Airlines will inaugurate service between Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas (STT) with three flights a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, beginning November 8, 2018. The service augments existing daily flights between Fort Lauderdale and St. Thomas. "These new flights represent the fruit of the hard work of our administration to add new service and increase flights to our destination," said U.S. Virgin Islands Governor Kenneth E. Mapp. "New flights increase affordable opportunities for Virgin Islanders to travel to and from the mainland, while helping our bread and butter tourism industry recover," he stated. "Working alongside our colleagues at the Virgin Islands Port Authority, we continue to invest heavily in our airlift development strategy and value our partnership with Spirit as they continue to prioritize travel to and from our Territory," said Beverly Nicholson-Doty, Commissioner of Tourism for the U.S. Virgin Islands. As part of a wider announcement, Spirit will begin offering international service from Orlando International Airport to 11 new destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as three more domestic routes rolling out through the fall. The announcement marks one of the largest expansions in the airline's history and includes service to the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. "We have been proud to serve Orlando for 25 years, and after more than doubling service last year, we are so proud to be expanding there yet again," said Bob Fornaro, Spirit's Chief Executive Officer. "Orlando is now one of our largest markets, and we have no plans on stopping our growth. The region is not only a wonderful, family-friendly destination, but it is well-positioned to now serve as a gateway to the Caribbean and Latin America." With Spirit's expanding network, the airline continues to improve its on-time performance and guest satisfaction, while building upon its larger commitment to invest in the guest experience. The airline recently announced that state-of-the-art, high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity will be installed on its entire fleet by summer of 2019. About the U.S. Virgin Islands editorial@tribune.com Bhartesh Singh Thakur Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 15 Every year, the Panjab University (PU) authorities face a lot of resistance while enhancing the fee for various courses, either by Senators or students unions, and with this, the PU continues to face fund crunch. However, if we compare the universitys fee structure to those of its affiliated colleges in Chandigarh and Punjab, the latter tend to be much costlier. In some courses, the fee is more than 100 per cent higher. The running and maintenance charges are much higher in colleges. For instance, a BA course costs just Rs 9,435 per annum at the evening studies department of the PU, whereas at its affiliated colleges in Chandigarh, it is close to 43 per cent costlier and over 20 per cent costlier in affiliated colleges across Punjab. There is a larger difference in the fee structure of BCom course. At the evening studies department, it will cost just Rs 9,435, whereas at affiliated colleges in Chandigarh, it is over 112 per cent higher and in Punjab, the course is expensive by more than 117 per cent. Similar is the case of postgraduation courses. An MSc course at Chandigarh and Punjab affiliated colleges is around 73 per cent costlier than MSc (Honours School) in the PU and an MA course is expensive by more than 81 per cent. MCom at Chandigarh affiliated colleges is 114 per cent costlier while in Punjab it is more than 118 per cent. Senator Prof Navdeep Goyal, who has remained a part of fee hike committees in the PU, said: The fee continued to rise in colleges, but in the PU, there was no fee enhancement for a period of six years. Also, colleges continue to add certain funds. On opposition to fee hike in the PU, he said: Students put pressure on senators to oppose the fee hike. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 15 The Chandigarh chapter of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU) opposed the report on governance reforms in Panjab University (PU) on Friday The Panjab University Vice-Chancellor has formed a 23-member committee to look into the report. The PCCTU condemned the suggestion for stopping the payment for checking answer books and examination duty in the report. They described the report as anti-colleges and hurting the sentiments of teachers of 188 affiliated colleges. These were arbitrary and one-sided reforms, in which college voices were marginalised, said members of the Chandigarh chapter. They said if the university would impose these reforms, PCCTU would boycott the evaluation and examinations duties. Prof Bhupinder Singh, president, District Council, and Dr Himanshu, Secretary, stated that the voice and representation of college teachers should not be suppressed in the PU. Aasha Khosa Aasha Khosa Senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari's cold-blooded murder by terrorists in Srinagar's busiest quarter is a chilling reminder of how journalists are among the most vulnerable targets in a conflict situation. Bukhari's rise from a salaried journalist to the owner-editor of an English newspaper in a short span of time was the envy of many. He was ambitious and keen to play even bigger roles in life. Being articulate, Shujaat was the most sought-after Kashmiri journalist in the seminar circuits of New Delhi and even abroad and part of the back-channel efforts to make India and Pakistan settle Kashmir on the table. Though his newspaper Rising Kashmir was in no way promoting the Indian interests in Kashmir, terrorists couldn't stand his enterprising spirit and free thinking. Probably, he had been under their watch for long and the proverbial last straw on the camel's back happened recently when he wrote an article disapproving of separatists' spurning of New Delhi's offer of talks. He was probably done to death in the most ghastly manner to silence a voice of a free-thinker and also to send a chill down the spine of others who are trying to join the peace-and-talk bandwagon. Bukhari's violent death reminds me of the time when my late husband George Joseph and I reported from Kashmir under a threat to our lives. Our fault was that we had simply reported a happening and a fact. However, those holding the gun want everyone to see the situation only from their perspective and in the process, they obfuscate the truth and kill the human spirit. They tried to do the same with us. On a cold winter day, the phone in our two-room apartment in Srinagar rang and George picked it. The caller said he was from Hizbul Mujahideen and claimed the largest pro-Pakistan group had split but no local journalist was ready to publish the news. The main faction of the Hizbul had issued a handout that had been quickly canceled (verbally), apparently on instructions from Pakistan. Now, this anonymous caller from the marginalised and smaller faction had approached us in the hope that we will not take sides (between the two Hizb factions) and expose the truth. It was quite a story. The Indian Express, for which George was reporting, carried it as a banner; The Tribune I worked for it back then too carried it on the front page. The Hizbul split was one of the turning points in Kashmir's militancy and if one goes through the archives of local newspapers today, it has never happened! The Hizbul reacted violently. It banned the circulation of The Tribune and The Indian Express in Kashmir and asked us to leave Kashmir within 48 hours. We continued to stay put and report from the Valley. Not to offend the terrorists further, George started using the Jammu dateline for his stories even as he was reporting from Srinagar. No journalist in Kashmir supported us; media activists in Delhi didn't issue statements either. On a personal level, friends would praise us for being bold but none cared about how difficult it was for us. There were no trolls back then, but a majority of Srinagar-based journalists spread lies and propaganda about us to many visiting journalists from Delhi. One local Urdu newspaper wrote that we were ISI agents; a few days later, another one said we were IB agents. Another newspaper report claimed that George and I had received arms training in Zeevan! All this was meant to scare us and force us to leave Kashmir. George left after his office negotiated a deal with the Hizbul Mujahideen through a person who is today a member of the BJP's national executive committee. He was transferred out of the Valley and the Indian Express resumed its circulation. I lived alone and worked for another year from Kashmir. Believe me, life wasn't easy. To even buy veggies and groceries, I had to plan my camouflage of the day. To beat my loneliness and to vent my anger against what had happened to our lives, I started working hard on my stories. I was doing well and not giving a clue to anyone on my routine. And, then came reports in newspapers that I was being offered scoops by the government. Before this, terrorists had managed to scare away many veteran journalists, most of them Kashmiri Hindus and non-Kashmiris, through targeted killings of Lassa Koul, Director of Srinagar Doordarshan, and PL Handoo, an officer of the state information department. A non-Kashmiri Muslim journalist working for the Times of India was manhandled in public and he left the same night. This gave rise to a bizarre situation: the international news agencies and newspapers were hugely interested in Kashmir and their search for local journalists ended with makeup artists and teleprinter operators. Over the last two decades, reporting from Kashmir has undergone a sea change; almost all regular news is being reported by Kashmiri Muslims. Shujaat was a product of this transformation and, in a way, he should have been hailed as a visionary and enterprising editor. His reporting and newspaper seemed to be in no conflict with the narrative unleashed by the separatists and yet he was killed. Prima facie, it seems that he took the threat to his life not so seriously or else he would not be moving out of his office at a predictable hour. His friends have scooped an insidious write-up about him by an anonymous writer on the worldpress.com. It was posted four weeks back and clearly targeted him for 'betraying and making use of the movement.' Like all sane people, Shujaat Bukhari probably wanted his two children to grow and live in peace and, therefore, he tried to work for peace in Kashmir and paid with his life. Lt Gen D S Hooda (retd) Lt Gen D S Hooda (retd) THE Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, on June 14, published the Report on the Situation of Human Rights in Kashmir for the period of June 2016 to April 2018. While the report covers both sides of the Line of Control, its main focus is on the incidents of alleged excesses committed by the Indian security forces following the killing of Burhan Wani in July 2016. The report was swiftly and categorically rejected by India. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) called it fallacious, tendentious and motivated and a selective compilation of largely unverified information. It is overtly prejudiced and seeks to build a false narrative. The MEA also said the report violates Indias sovereignty and territorial integrity. The entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of IndiaThe incorrect description of Indian territory in the report is mischievous, misleading and unacceptable. There are no entities such as Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. There have been a number of accounts dealing with human rights in Jammu and Kashmir, but the first reaction on reading the report is a sense of disbelief that a respected international organisation like the United Nations would bring out what could more accurately be described as a propaganda manual. Perhaps after being denied unconditional access to Kashmir, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is showing his ire by a compilation that is completely prejudiced, and, in many ways, impinges on the sovereignty of the Indian state. The report claims to base its methodology using the reasonable grounds standard of proof based on a reliable body of information, but it selectively uses data to build a completely biased picture, questioning Indian lawmakers, judiciary and security forces. Its main source of information is the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society, whose data of persons killed in the 2016 protests appears to take precedence over the figures announced by the Chief Minister in the Legislative Assembly. In completely ignoring the role of Pakistan in exporting terror into Kashmir, and describing the Hizbul Mujahideen (which has been designated as a terrorist group by India, the European Union and the United States) as an armed group, the bias and motivations are clearly visible. There is a lengthy section on the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1990, which has given the security forces virtual immunity against prosecution for any human rights violation. The report also claims that Section 4 of AFSPA that allows any person operating under the law to use lethal force contravenes several international standards on the use of force and related principles of proportionality and necessity. It completely ignores the dos and donts which form an integral part of AFSPA and which state that minimum force will be used, and that a clear need will be established for opening fire. This is just one example of how the report has used facts selectively. The report also comes down heavily on the military courts and the Armed Forces Tribunal, accusing them of impeding access to justice. While there is a lively debate in India on AFSPA and military courts, these are sovereign functions of Indian lawmakers. By questioning these functions, the UN High Commissioner is clearly overstepping his authority. When the report commences the discussion on the events from 2016 to 2018, it clearly demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the situation that existed, particularly following the killing of Burhan Wani. The security forces are accused of using excessive force while no mention is made of the violent mobs that attacked police stations, army convoys and patrols. Figures are extensively quoted for civilian casualties, but there is no mention of the more than 3,300 security personnel who were injured in the very first month of the protests. The report has bold headings on Torture, Enforced disappearances and Sexual violence. While stating that there have long been persistent claims of torture by security forces in Kashmir, the report has listed three cases of torture in the 2016-18 period one of whom is Farooq Ahmad Dar, who was tied to a jeep. There is one incident of enforced disappearance and no reported case of sexual violence. These are again examples of an attempt to embellish and sensationalise the report. It is illuminating to compare the tone and tenor of this report with the Afghanistan Annual Report on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict: 2017, published in February 2018 by the same Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nation Assistance in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Between January 1 and December 31, UNAMA documented 10,453 civilian casualties in which there were 3,438 deaths. Of these deaths, 745 were attributed to pro-government forces, with aerial operations alone causing 295 deaths. Despite these casualty figures, the report says, UNAMA observed that the number of airstrikes conducted by international military forces and Afghan air forces has increased significantly compared to 2016, while the number of civilian casualties has increased by 7 per cent. While emphasizing that no civilian casualties are acceptable, the reduced harm ratio suggests improvements in targeting and civilian protection procedures. There is no strident criticism. The timing of the release of the report is also intriguing. It was released during the period of the Ramzan ceasefire, at a time when the government was making its most sincere effort to create a period of calm in Kashmir. Such a malicious piece of work can only serve to vitiate the environment in Jammu and Kashmir, and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights could not have been unaware of this. If this was done with a deliberate intent, the matter is extremely serious. Today, Kashmir is mourning the killing of Shujaat Bukhari, one of its most respected journalists. Terror attacks have intensified and the ceasefire is unlikely to be extended. In this highly volatile environment, this clearly motivated and prejudiced piece of work deserves to be thoroughly condemned. The writer is a former GOC, Northern Command vermaajay1968@gmail.com Parched Shimla, with serpentine queues of its residents crying for every drop of water earlier this summer; farmers unsustainably pumping deeper from the depleted groundwater table in Punjab; the huge plans to clean polluted rivers coming a cropper: these are just some images from the trailer of the doleful picture in store for us. Most parts of our country are in for a grave water crisis, 21 major cities as soon as 2020, warns the latest report by Niti Aayog. The stress will deepen as the demand a function of population growth and economic development is expected to double than the available supply in just around 10 years. Compounding the problem is the fact that 70 per cent of the precious resource is contaminated. Ranked 120 out of 122, we make the tail-end of the countries in water quality index. The escalating impacts of climate change and poor water management are only pushing us in deep water. Most cities lose between a third and a fifth of their water from pilferage or leakage through antiquated pipes, and we dont treat and reuse wastewater enough. The report is yet again a grim reminder to take strategic and stringent action at once, before our lands and water bodies become too unsustainably dry to reverse the trend. With 50 per cent of the population already facing high-to-extreme water scarcity and about two lakh people dying every year due to water-related problems, ringing the alarm bells alone is not sufficient. Water management by employing technology and policy intervention holds the key to water security. The United Nations World Water Development Report 2018 lays emphasis on nature-based solutions to address the challenges. To naturally replenish the rivers and aquifers, a judicious use of water is essential. For that, there is need to push for public awareness regarding the importance of rainwater harvesting, treatment and reuse of waste water, an efficient irrigation system, and regulation of tubewells, as also prevention of pilferage or leakage through antiquated pipes in our cities. Water woes easily turn into disputes and social strife over water in the long run has the potential of disrupting any treaty and leading to a war. We need to stem any such event from gathering steam by conserving water. editorial@tribune.com Our Correspondent Hamirpur, June 15 Former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Friday blamed faulty selection of candidates for the defeat in the Vidhan Sabha elections. However, he described former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal's defeat in the polls as a "divine justice". He alleged that Dhumal could not do much for the development of the state. The former Chief Minister said he was not interested in contesting the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for the next year, but he would continue to work for the party. He said winning the Hamirpur parliamentary seat was not a difficult task provided the Congress should field the best candidate. He said the Congress high command should follow a proper procedure while selecting party president at the block, district and state levels. The former CM said he was not against HPCC president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, but following the right procedure for the selection of person to head the organisation was important. On the delay in the establishment of a medical college in Hamirpur during the Congress regime, Virbhadra Singh said land identified for the project was not sufficient. He described Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur as an honest and hardworking man. It is too early to access his performance. He should be given sufficient time to prove his mettle, he added. Earlier, the former Chief Minister Singh addressed a public meeting at Sujanpur. editorial@tribune.com Our Correspondent Hamirpur, June 15 The absence of prominent Virbhadra loyalists coupled with very thin attendance at a Congress rally organised at Sujanpur here on Friday clearly reflected the annoyance of senior leadership and party workers over the undue importance being given to local MLA Rajinder Rana. Despite this being the first tour of former CM Virbhadra Singh after the partys defeat in the Assembly polls, his loyalists chose the occasion to express their dismay and annoyance as Rana was being given preferential treatment over them despite being party loyalists all their lives. Despite defeating BJP stalwart and former Chief Minister PK Dhumal, Rana on Friday failed to garner support on his home turf at a thanks-giving rally organised by him at Sujanpur. Rana joined the Congress only before the 2012 Assembly polls. He remained a die-hard loyalist of Dhumal and was in the BJP till he switched side with his son being denied the ticket. Those who were conspicuous by their absence included former All-India Mahila Congress president and ex-minister Anita Verma, former MLA Kuldeep Pathania, DCC president Naresh Thakur and a number of members of the district and Block Congress Committee. The thin attendance at the meeting was also an indication of the declining popularity of Rana, said a leader who was annoyed with Rana calling the shots in the Congress after having remained in the BJP all his life. For senior leaders, it appears that the Congress has only Rajinder Rana, which is nothing less than an insult to thousands of dedicated party workers who have contributed for the partys growth for decades, said a former MLA. Notably, Rana who defeated Dhumal was instrumental in changing the scenario of the BJP government and claimed a massive support of people in the constituency but his call this time was not responded by people unlike earlier. Ex-CM: Faulty selection of candidates led to defeat Former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Friday blamed faulty selection of candidates for the defeat in the Vidhan Sabha elections. However, he described former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumals defeat in the polls as a divine justice. He alleged that Dhumal could not do much for the development of the state. The former Chief Minister said he was not interested in contesting the Lok Sabha elections, but he would continue to work for the party. He said winning the Hamirpur parliamentary seat was not a difficult task provided the Congress should field the best candidate. editorial@tribune.com Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, June 15 Professor Christopher Berndt from Swinburne University of Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences, IRIS, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia, visited the University Institute of Engg and Technology (UIET), Panjab University Swami Sarvanand Giri Regional Centre at Hoshiarpur. The objective of the visit was to guide students in innovation and product design. Panjab University, Chandigarh, has introduced a new subject of innovation and product design in the field of Engineering for the students of first year. The students in their interdisciplinary groups were encouraged to design innovative projects during vacations. The facilities required for the same will be provided free of cost. Prof Christopher Berndt talked about the innovation and innovative ideas. He discussed in detail the idea behind the projects made by the students and appreciated the efforts of the Panjab University, in general, and UIET, PUSSGRC, in particular. Prof HS Bains, Dean, Faculty of Engg and Technology and Director Professor, PUSSGRC, Hoshiarpur, talked about his own experience in the Ideas Lab at University of Alto, Finland, where anyone having innovative ideas provided facilities to give it a practical shape and the efforts made to commercialise the idea. editorial@tribune.com Our Correspondent Anantnag, June 15 A youth was killed and a woman was injured on Friday when the Army opened fire on a group of people who were protesting against alleged vandalism at a militants house in the Lassipora area of Pulwama district. The deceased has been identified as 14-year-old Vikas Ahmad Rather. He was referred to Srinagar in a critical condition where he succumbed to injuries. He had lost a lot of blood and was in a state of shock when he was referred to Srinagar, Medical Superintendent of Pulwama District Hospital, Dr Abdul Rasheed Parra, said. The injured woman, identified as 28-year-old Ruqaiya Jan, has firearm injuries on her back and is being treated at the Pulwama District Hospital. Both of them are residents of Nowpora village in Lassipora. According to sources, the Army had gone to the village to raid the house of Hizb militant Abid Magray, alias, Shuja. The incident took place around 6.10 pm. The Army said the incident took place when soldiers were conducting an area domination patrol. The road at Nowpora was blocked due to three to four cars being parked on the wrong side. The Army personnel got off their vehicle to request the drivers to move the cars, the Army said. On seeing them, a huge crowd gathered at the site and started throwing stones, endangering their safety as well as government property. The troops cautioned the crowd verbally. However, the mob turned violent and tried to overpower the troops. The Army personnel resorted to aerial firing, extricated themselves and continued with their patrol, the Army said. Residents of Nowpora village monicakchauhan@gmail.com Srinagar, June 15 The Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested a suspect in connection with the killing of veteran journalist Shujaat Bukhari and two of his PSOs on Friday, Kashmir's top police officer said. The suspect has been identified as Zubair Qadri, Inspector General (IG) Kashmir Swayam Prakash Pani said at a hurriedly called press conference. He said Qadri was seen in the video stealing the pistol of the PSO who was shot dead along with Bukhari. "The pistol has since been recovered and he is being questioned about his presence at the scene of the crime. So far, he has not been able to give any convincing answers," he said. "As far as the case is concerned at this stage it is a terror incident. It is a terrorist-related crime. We are investigating the case." Pani said that the state police had instituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under Deputy Inspector General (central Kashmir) VK Virdi to investigate the killing. "The identity of the other three attackers was being ascertained," Pani said. Public help Police released three pictures of four suspects earlier on Friday, and asked for the public to help with identifying them General public is requested to identify the suspects in pictures involved in todays terror attack at press enclave.#ShujaatBukhari @JmuKmrPolice @spvaid @DIGCKRSGR @PoliceSgr pic.twitter.com/3cXM0CC8BD Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) June 14, 2018 Two pictures, grabs of CCTV footages, showed three suspects riding a motorcycle. The attackers in the first two pictures had their faces covered. Police asked the public to help identify the attackers. A third picturea photo Pani claimed was in the public domainshowed a bearded man leaning into a car over a limp body. It can be seen that he stood there, attempting to retrieve a weapon, Pani said. "At this stage we are investigating the role of the fourth suspect, who was was seen picking up the weapon from the spot and vanishing." Police said names of people providing information will be kept confidential. Bukhari, the 50-year-old editor of Rising Kashmir, and three of his personal security guards were killed on Thursday evening when he got into his car from his office at Press Enclave in the city centre, Lal Chowk. Agencies editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Srinagar, June 15 The killing of veteran journalist and Rising Kashmir editor-in-chief Syed Shujaat Bukhari was widely condoled on Friday. Several ministers, including Minister for Tourism Tassaduq Mufti, Minister for Animal, Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries Abdul Gani Kohli and Minister of State for Forest, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Mir Zahoor Ahmed issued statements condemning the killing. National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and vice-president Omar Abdullah expressed shock and profound grief over Bukharis assassination. Terming the killing as an assault on moderation, sanity and the very essence of democracy, they sought a speedy probe into the incident and said the government must ensure that the culprits were brought to justice as soon as possible. Leader of the CPI (M) and Kulgam MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami described the killing as a huge loss not only to the journalist fraternity, but also to the true voice of sanity and reason. In his condolence message, he said Bukhari was a thorough professional, a powerful voice and his death was a huge loss to the democratic ethos. Vice-president of the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages Zafar Iqbal Manhas also mourned the killing. I am shocked, devastated and dumbfounded. Not able to express my deep sorrow and pain on the brutal and barbaric killing of the veteran journalist and commentator, he said. The general council members of the Adbee Markaz Kamraz (AMK) held a condolence meeting, which was led by Farooq Rafi Abadi, to condemn the killing. Bukhari had served as a president of the literary body of the AMK. The Kashmir Press Club also strongly condemned the gruesome killing. The club is pained at the loss of its senior member and considers the killing an assault on the entire media fraternity in Kashmir, a statement issued by the club said. In a condolence message, chairman of the Kashmir PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mushtaq Chaya said, The Thursday attack was an attack on Kashmirs free press and the publics right to know. Secretary general of the J&K Hoteliers Club Tariq Ghani and chief spokesperson of Kashmir Traders Federation Ajaz Shahdhar also condemned the brutal killing. Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti president Sanjay Tickoo expressed shock over Bukharis killing and prayed for the departed soul. Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Peace Foundation Fayaz Ahmad Bhat termed the killing an act of cowardice and said it was an attempt to silence the saner voices of Kashmir. Condoling the demise, Private Schools Association of Jammu and Kashmir president GN Var said, Shujaat Bukhari was not just a senior journalist, he was a mentor and guide for youngsters who wished to pursue a career in journalism. He guided hundreds of youngsters and inspired thousands. Grief expressed editorial@tribune.com Ehsan Fazili Tribune News Service Kreeri (Baramulla), June 15 Thousands of mourners bid a tearful adieu to slain journalist Shujaat Bukhari who was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard at Kreeri in north Kashmir. A large number of people from all sections of society attended the funeral prayers. Shujaat Bukhari, 50, editor-in-chief of Srinagar-based daily Rising Kashmir, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen when he was boarding his car outside his office at the Press Enclave in Srinagar on Thursday evening. His two guards were also killed in the incident. His body was taken to his ancestral home in Kreeri township, about 35 km from Srinagar in the Pattan area of Baramulla district in north Kashmir on Thursday night. An estimated gathering of over 10,000 people, including Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, several ministers of the PDP-BJP coalition government and senior officers of the civil and police administration were among those who joined the family in the hours of mourning since early Friday. The mourners, including relatives, friends, media persons, writers and locals, braved heavy rain when the funeral prayers were offered in the local ground before the burial. They included Omar along with party colleagues, Saifuddin Soz (Congress), and separatist leader Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat. Carrying the coffin from his house to the graveyard, people were shocked over his killing at the hands of unidentified gunmen. Shujaat lived a huge life in a short span, helping the needy people anywhere. He was always in a hurry to get things done, said his elder brother, Basharat Bukhari, a Cabinet minister. A well-known and widely travelled journalist, Shujaat had an experience of nearly three decades in the trouble-torn Kashmir. He was associated with Jammu-based English daily The Kashmir Times and later had a long stint with The Hindu, before bringing out Rising Kashmir in 2007. Wont get cowed, says Rising Kashmir Srinagar: English newspaper Rising Kashmir hit the stands on Friday morning with its front page carrying a full-page photograph of its late editor-in-chief Shujaat Bukhari against a black background and a message that the paper would not be cowed down by the cowards. You left all too sudden but you will always be our leading light with your professional conviction and exemplary courage. We wont be cowed down by the cowards who snatched you from us. We will uphold your principle of telling the truth howsoever unpleasant it may be...Rest in peace! the paper said. PTI editorial@tribune.com Ludhiana: Department Of Transfusion Medicine at the Christian Medical College (CMC), Ludhiana, held a donor felicitation ceremony to celebrate World Blood Donor Day and commemorate birth of Dr Karl Landsteiner. Speaking on the occasion, Dr William Bhatti, director CMC, enlightened donors regarding this years theme Be there for someone else. Share Life, Give Blood. CMC principal Dr Jeyaraj Pandian said voluntary non remunerated blood donations form the backbone of safe blood supply for the patients in need. Blood Bank HoD Dr Aikaj Jindal encouraged youth to come forward and donate blood. Awareness session on blood donation To commemorate the birth anniversary of Karl Landsteiner, who is credited with noble prize for the discovery of the ABO and Rh blood group system, the Department of Transfusion Medicine on Thursday observed World Blood Donors Day. Voluntary blood donation camp was organized in which 120 persons donated blood. Awareness session was also held in the OPD block area for general public related to blood donation. Dean academics Dr Rajoo Singh Chhina highlighted diseases which are caused by unsafe blood transfusion, including Hepatitis A,B and C. Dr Chinna also answered queries of people related to blood transfusion. Dr Rajesh Kumar, associate professor and head transfusion medicine, motivated people to donate blood voluntarily. He said it is one of the most significant contributions that a person can make towards the society. LOS selects new executive The Ludhiana Ophthalmological Society (LOS) announced a new team to be headed by Dr Sukhjeevan Kakkar. Dr Kakkar is senior medical officer (SMO) in Jagraon. Dr Brijinder Singh Rana was inducted as general secretary. He is chief eye surgeon at the Rana Eye Hospital and has been spearheading in the field of continuous medical education for eye surgeons.Dr Neeraj Batra, professor at the CMC, will be looking after scientific meetings of society as chairman scientific committee. Dr Neeraj Arora, Dr Manoj Gupta, Dr Ravinder Malhi and Dr Rupali Chopra would be among other members. Main objective of this society is to look after day to day problems of eye surgeons and continuously updating their knowledge said Dr Rana. Outgoing president Dr G S Bajwa congratulated the new team. Dr GS Dhami one of the patrons of the society asked new team to work collectively towards achieving a common goal. Dr Rajender from the Sahaita foundation stressed for holding free eye camps for poor people. TNS editorial@tribune.com Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 15 With monsoon round the corner, the Health Department has pulled up its socks and issued diktat to private hospitals to keep them updated about patients being tested positive for vector borne diseases. District Epidemologist Dr Ramesh said, It has been observed that apart numerous private hospitals and laboratories do not update them regarding patients being tested positive for malaria and dengue. At present, two samples of patients belonging to Jammu and Kashmir and Gurdaspur have been sent to the civil hospital. We are waiting for the final report, said Dr Ramesh. He said people should observe every Friday as Dry Day and should dry their coolers, flower pots and should make sure that there is no stagnant water near their houses or in abandoned articles. Dr Ramesh said, Dengue test is done free of cost at the civil hospitals. The government has capped the rates for conducting Elisa Test (for conforming dengue) at Rs 600 and nobody should pay more than this. rchopra@tribunemail.com New Tehri, June 15 Two people from Delhi were killed when their car fell into a deep gorge in Tehri district early on Friday, police said. The accident occurred early on Friday morning on Chamba-Mussoorie road, Chamba police station in-charge Devendra Singh Chauhan said. The deceased were identified as Dhirendra Singh (35) and Vijay Kumar (38) who hailed from Mayapuri area in New Delhi. The bodies were recovered from the gorge with the help of the police and locals. They were sent to the district hospital for post-mortem after their families were informed about the accident. PTI monicakchauhan@gmail.com Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service Mumbai, June 15 Maharashtra Government said on Friday that two people were booked on suspicions of forcing three Dalit boys to strip and parade naked in Jalgaon district last Sunday. Social Justice Minister Dilip Kamble and Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan, who were on damage control duty in absence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, said two people were booked under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, among other laws. A complaint with the state police said that the three boys, aged 12-14, were swimming in a village well on Sunday, but upper caste residents of the Wakhadi village pulled them out, beat them and paraded them naked around the village. Videos of the incident uploaded on social media show the boys covering themsleves with branches while being beaten with sticks and belts. The childrens parents have filed police complaints against several villagers. The incident has been compared to the incident at Una in Gujarat, where Dalits were brutally assaulted by upper-caste people. "The sole crime of these Dalit children was they were taking a dip in 'upper caste' well. Humanity is struggling to save its dignity," Congress president Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet on the incident on Friday, blaming righ-wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party for atrocities against Dalits. Following Gandhi's messages on Twitter, Congress leaders from Maharashtra said they were visiting the families of the three boys. Union Minister for Social Welfare Ramdas Athawale, who heads his own faction of the Republican Party of India, said that he would also visit the village to meet the victims and their families. vermaajay1968@gmail.com Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 15 Security agencies have alerted the Centre about 35 terrorists wanting to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir from across the Line of Control on a specific mission to attack Army installations. Based in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the terrorists have been seeking to strike at two locations in the state. Sources said while one group wanted to target Army forward units in Poonch, situated to the south of Pir Panjal mountain range, another was on a mission to attack an installation towards the north of the mountain range. The southern part of Pir Panjal falls in Jammu region where terrorists hardly enjoy any local support. Definitive information with the security agencies is that 26 terrorists have been particularly waiting to infiltrate into the north of Pir Panjal. The possible target could be Army installations in Kupwara, said sources. The group that is looking to enter Poonch area could carry out blasts or plant IEDs in Bimbher Galli and Saujiyaan, both close to the LoC. Regime change in Armenia has put an end to the operations of the Luys Cultural, Scientific and Education Foundation founded in 2009 by former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and former Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan. Hetq has studied the financial accounts of Luys for the past five years and has uncovered that in addition to providing financial assistance to students accepted at top world colleges, the foundation has also allocated money to some forty organizations, some linked to the former Armenian regime. While Luys formulated such allocations as part of its charter mission, such payments were kept out of public view. On the executive board in addition to the above two Sargsyans, were Armen Gevorgyan, former Presidential Chief of Staff, former Minister of Defense Vigen Sargsyan and Peoples Artist Robert Amirkhanyan. Support to Unknown Organizations and Programs In the accounting statements of Luys, we found baffling and huge allocations made in a ledger line entitled Support to similar organizations and social programs. Luys failed to provide details about these allocations that amounted to AMD 3.4 billion over the past five years. (Thats equivalent to US$7.043 million at todays exchange rate). AMD 1.6 billion was allocated in 2017 alone. Hetq wrote to Luys Executive Director Vardan Markosyan, asking that he supply Hetq with a list of those organizations which, during 2009-2017, received money for such disbursements, the amount each received, and the nature of the allocation. Markosyans reply was just as vague as the disbursement line itself. He claimed that all the allocations were in line with the charter of the Luys Foundation and that the accounting documents, audited by KPMG, meet all the requirements of Armenian law. Markosyan wrote that over the past ten years Luys had financially assisted some 570 university students and that most of the AMD 1.6 billion spent last year went to buy medical equipment for a Yerevan rehabilitation center for injured and disabled soldiers and as cash outlays to soldiers and civilians who suffered during the 2016 Artsakh Four Day War. Some money was also spent to repair roofs in the Tavoush border village of Aygepar damaged due to Azerbaijani gunfire. Smaller amounts of the AMD 1.6 billion, according to Markosyan, was spent on a number of cultural programs including the purchase of musical instruments for the Childrens Art Palace in Gyumri. I am certain that those donating to the Fund are satisfied with the content of the programs weve carried out and their effectiveness. The best proof of this is their continued support, Margosyan wrote in this reply to Hetq. Margosyan fails to explain why there wont be any financial assistance to high school grads planning to attend university this year and if it has anything to do with the ouster of Serzh Sargsyan from power. Hetq sent another query to Luys, asking to know what else it would be doing this year besides processing scholarships to the seventy university student recipients in the system. Replying to this, Markosyan writes: The process of accepting documents from Luys scholarship recipients for the 2017-2018 academic year will continue until July 15, according to procedure. A council session of the Luys Cultural, Scientific and Educational Foundation will take place at the end of August, during which the scholarship budget will be discussed and approved. The scholarship budget and other projects subject to financing, and information related to their budget, will be published in Luys Foundations 2018 Activity Report. More than half of the budget of Luys was spent on items other than financially assisting students at top colleges and universities throughout the world. For example, the total Luys budget for 2016 was AMD 3.9 billion, of which 1.5 billion was spent on scholarships for 104 Armenian students. In 2017, the Luys budget amounted to AMD 4.7 billion, of which 1.7 billion was allocated as scholarships for 116 Armenian students. The remainder was allocated to a variety of non-profit organizations or was spent on staff wages. Luys Foundation: Playing the Role of a Government Agency Over the past five years, five Armenian SNOCs (state non-commercial organizations) and one non-profit have received millions in hand-outs from Luys. Its as if Luys acted as an intermediary between the government and organizations in the cultural and art sectors, doling out large amounts of the state budget. Of note is the fact that the Luys Foundations financial resources, in addition to individual donations, also came from the AMD 100 million allocated annually by the Armenian governments staff. The lions share of the money during the past five years went to the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra, followed by the Armenian National Academic Choir, The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, the National Centre of Chamber Music, and the Hover State Chamber Choir, a member of the former. Its worth noting that in addition to Ohannes Tchekidjians Armenian National Academic Choir receiving financing, the Tchekidjian Charitable Foundation also received 10 million drams in 2014 and 2017, to pay for the choirs expenses and to cover the costs of performing overseas. The non-profit Sahakyants Animation Studio received 20 million drams annually from Luys to shoot animation films. In 2013 and 2014 it received 40 million drams to shoot the film Anahit, and 60 million drams in 2015, 2016 and 2017 to shoot the Olimpionik full length animation films. The latter has yet to be shown publicly. Luys Foundation: Financial Assistance to Levon Aronian and Wife During the past two years, the Luys Foundation allocated AMD 95 million (some $200,000) to the Tchamport (Traveler) paper founded by Arianne Caoili, wife of chess grandmaster Levon Aronian. (The photo shows Serzh Sargsyan serving as godfather at their wedding) Aronian wedding The freebie paper began publication in February 2016, and was distributed, via boxes, installed at all major public transportation venues metro, bus stops, etc. The papers website claims it has a readership of 50,000. Luys allocated the weekly 35 million drams during its first year of publication. In the 2016 Luys annual report the expenditure is classified as assistance to the Tchamport non-profit foundation to help and give guidance to young reporters, to print news outlets taking their first steps, and to assist the independent press and spur the development of political society. In 2017, Luys nearly doubled its assistance to the newspaper, allocating AMD 60 million, even though the papers print run had decreased from 15,000 to 10,000. From 2014-2015 Luys allocated money to the Chess Federation of Armenia. In 2014 it allocated AMD 47 million so that the national team could participate in the International Olympiad in Norway and for Levon Aronian to participate in the Candidates Tournament in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Luys classified its AMD 10 million allocation to the Chess Federation as assistance to ongoing programs. Luys Allocations to Organizations Linked to Serzh Sargsyan In 2013and 2017, Luys assisted the Ayp Educational Foundation. In 2013 it allocated AMD 114 million to carry out the Ayp Educational Juncture program. In 2017, it allocated 24 million drams to create the Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST). Luys allocated AMD 40 million in 2016 to a non-profit organization called In the Name of Gyumri and Gyumri Residents. It was founded in 2015 and is run by former MP Martun Grigoryan, a member of the Prosperous Armenia party from 2009-2015. Studying the details of those receiving financial assistance from Luys, its apparent that Serzh Sargsyan, or his wife Rita, sits on the boards of most of them. For example, Luys allocated AMD 50 million to the Aragil Reproductive Medicine Support Foundation in 2015. Rita Sargsyan is the honorary president of the Aragils board of trustees. So where did Luys get all this money? In addition to small individual donations and government funding, Luys received large donations as well, including contributions from mining companies. The list of large donors includes the Electric Networks of Armenia CJSC, MP Samvel Aleksanyans Aleks Grig LLC, GeoProMining Gold LLC (which operates the Sotk gold mine), the now defunct GeoTeam CJSC, Vallex Group CJSC (which operates the Teghout mine), the Tashir Charitable Foundation, ArdShinBank, and a number of cell phone operators. vermaajay1968@gmail.com Chandigarh, June 15 A dust storm in Rajasthan, with wind speeds up to 40 kmph, is to be blamed for the continuous blanket of dust haze covering Punjab, Haryana and the National Capital Region. A Punjab Pollution Control Board official said strong anti-cyclonic winds were blowing dust from the desert state of Rajasthan, which is facing extremely dry weather conditions with high temperatures, into Punjab, Haryana and the NCR. The phenomenon has led to a spike in the levels of coarse particles in the air and adversely affected its quality, said the official, adding the prevailing high pollution levels were unusual during this time of the year. The meteorological department has said the situation was likely to improve in a day or two. All national and international flights from the Chandigarh International Airport remained suspended for the second day. Passengers bound for Dubai were transferred to Delhi via road. The air traffic was hit at Jammu airport, too, with the authorities suspending operations after 1.30 pm. The helicopter service to Vaishno Devi was also grounded. Officials have advised that children, elderly and those who are ill, especially the ones with respiratory issues, should avoid going out. Agencies uttara@tribuneindia.com Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 15 The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has called Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal religious militant organisations, a scathing description has drawn stinging criticism from the Hindu outfits. In its latest edition of the World Factbook, the CIA has categorised the two far-right Hindu organisations under "political pressure groups"a used to describe organisations that are either involved in politics or exert political pressure, but do not contest elections. A furious VHP has demanded an apology from the intelligence agency. VHPs joint general secretary Surendra Jain has called the categorisation highly objectionable and far removed and even anti-India, warning the CIA of protests unless it rectifies its entry. How can an organisation like CIA which is responsible for making of Osama Bin Ladin and endangering the world with jehadi extremism make such allegations against a nationalist organisation, Jain said, calling for the central government to intervene. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad is a member of the Sangh Parivar, a right-wing umbrella comprising Hindu organisations led by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. editorial@tribune.com New Delhi, June 15 The Centre today deployed additional police force and an ambulance near Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijals office-cum-residence Raj Nivas, a move the Aam Aadmi Party apprehended was aimed at forcibly ending the five-day-old sit-in strike by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and his ministers. Besides Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and ministers Satyendar Jain and Gopal Rai have been camping at the LGs house. Jain and Sisodia are on indefinite fast, which entered the fourth and third day today. The AAP has been seeking directions to the IAS officers in the Delhi administration to end their alleged undeclared strike and non-cooperation with the AAP government for the past three months. Rushing an ambulance along with a team of over 20 doctors added to panic in the AAP camp, which deputed its general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh to meet Home Minister Rajnath Singh in a bid to sort out the issue. Sanjay Singh claimed the Centre had agreed to take up the matter with the Lt Governor and find a solution to the row over governance. Rajnath is likely to meet PM Narendra Modi. Kejriwal, too, wrote to Modi yesterday seeking his intervention: The IAS officers in Delhi have been on strike for the last three months and this has badly affected several (administrative) works. In order to get this strike ended, my three ministers and I have been camping in the Lt Governors office for the last five days, but your Lt Governor is not taking any action. Kejriwal said since the IAS officers in the Delhi administration were directly under the Central governments control, he had written to the PM over the issue, but got no response. I hope the IAS officers strike will be ended before June 17 so that I can attend the NITI Aayog meet that day, he said. Meanwhile, a majority of Opposition parties have come forward to back the AAP government in its face-off with the Centre, the Telugu Desam Party and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha being the latest. The claims of AAP government of bureaucrats boycotting meetings called by the Delhi ministers found credence with two officers, Delhi Environment Secretary and member secretary of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, skipping a crucial meeting called by Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain this evening to discuss the problem of dust pollution in the city. BJP MP from West Delhi Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, three party MLAs and AAPs rebel lawmaker Kapil Mishra, who have began a hunger strike at the Secretariat, wrote to the President seeking his intervention. TNS/Agencies rchopra@tribunemail.com New Delhi, June 15 With the Centre deploying more police force near the Lt. Governors house, the AAP on Friday apprehended moves to break the four-day-old sit-in strike by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, even as his Deputy Manish Sisodia threatened to intensify their agitation. Rushing an ambulance along with a team of over 20 doctors added to panic in the AAP camp, which deputed its General Secretary Sanjay Singh to meet Home Minister Rajnath Singh in a bid to sort out the issue. After the meeting, Sanjay Singh claimed that the Centre had agreed to take up the current situation in Delhi with Lt. Governor Anil Baijal and find a solution to the row over governance. Rajnath Singh is likely to meet the Prime Minister to discuss the situation, even as Kejriwal wrote to Modi seeking his intervention. The IAS officers in Delhi have been on strike for the last three months and this had badly affected several (administrative) works. In order to get this strike ended, my three ministers and I have been camping in the Lt Governor office for the last five days, but your Lt Governor is not taking any action, Kejriwal wrote in the letter. He said since the IAS officers in the Delhi administration are directly under the Central governments control, he had written to the Prime Minister on Thursday also over the issue but got no response. The issues to be discussed in the NITI Aayog meet scheduled on June 17 will have to be executed by these IAS officers only... These IAS officers have been barred (by the Centre) to come to meetings called by Delhi Ministers. Tell me, will you be able to do any work if IAS officers stop coming to the meetings called by you? Kejriwal said. I hope the IAS officers strike will be ended before June 17 so that I can attend the NITI Aayog meet that day, he added. Kejriwal, along with Sisodia and Cabinet ministers Satyendar Jain and Gopal Rai, has been camping in the Raj Niwasthe official accommodation-cum-office of Lt Governor Anil Baijalsince Monday evening. They have been demanding a direction to the IAS officers working in the Delhi administration to end their undeclared strike, action against officers who have struck work and approval to his governments proposal for doorstep delivery of ration to the poor. Earlier, in a video released from the Lt Governors office, Kejriwal asked the party workers to launch a campaign similar to the one they did over electricity bills. After Sunday, if there is no response on our demands, go door-to-door and bring sign of at least 10 lakh families. We will forward it to the Prime Minister. He is not responding on my demands, so the people of Delhi will ask him, Kejriwal said. Our government has done so much in the past three years, which is difficult for them (the Bharatiya Janata Party) to explain. They are in power in Madhya Pradesh from the past 15 years, in Gujarat from past 30 years. As they are not able to do developmental work in their states, they want to stop us, Kejriwal added The AAP convenor also said that he was not sitting there demanding something for himself or his children. I am also not sitting here for AC or sofa. I have it in my house. If you feel I am sitting here for my comfort, go and try to sleep on sofa for four days. We are here for Delhi, for its people, he added. Ambulances and a team of over 20 doctors reached the LG office on Friday as Jain and Sisodias indefinite fast entered the fourth and third day respectively. Additional force has also been deployed in the area. According to informed sources, the LG office is planning to take them out of the office forcefully. Sisodia released a video saying they are not going to end the fast until their demands are met. We are sitting inside the LG Office from the past five days. Jainji is on a hunger strike from the past four days and I am from the past three days, Sisodia said in the video. We are totally fit, our body is totally fine. Sisodia said: We have been informed that a number of doctors were called here and there is a plan to pick us up forcefully. He warned the LG and the Prime Minister against doing any such thing, saying they will also stop taking water if taken away forcefully. Former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Cikshit held Kejriwal responsible for the stalemate and advised him to approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demand full statehood instead of protesting. She also accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of protesting to hide their failures on real issues. For this stalemate in Delhi, Kejriwal is responsible, she said. IANS vermaajay1968@gmail.com Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 15 Punjab has again written to the Centre that it will sign the Memorandum of Understanding to operationalise the ambitious National Health Protection Scheme under Ayushman Bharat Mission the moment it gets clarity on the flow of finances. Across India, NHPS seeks to cover 10 crore poor families listed under the socio-economic caste census. Each family will get a financial protection of Rs 5 lakh annually. We need to know the distribution of expenses between the Centre and the states. We are not averse to signing the MoU. But we have questions and are looking for clarity, Punjab Health Minister Brahm Mohindra told The Tribune. At the first meeting between the Centre and state health ministers on NHPS on Thursday, Punjab did not sign the MoU. Even at the North Zone meeting held in Shimla recently, Punjab had refrained from joining the scheme under which it will have 14.96 lakh beneficiaries. In his letter to Health Minister JP Nadda, Mohindra said, The Centre will release 60 per cent of the national ceiling rate as it determines under the scheme. This rate has not been shared with the states. This also means the Centre will not contribute 60 per cent of the actual premium rate achieved through open tendering process the state conducts. The states will have to pay 100 per cent contribution on account of excess amount of premium over and above the national ceiling rate. So the state share is also not fixed at 40 per cent, but is open ended. This needs clarity. The Centre will fix a national ceiling rate for the per person premium that can be charged by insurance companies tendering for NHPS in a particular state. This rate is still being negotiated under the scheme, which says the Centre and state will share the expense in a 60:40 ratio. Mohindras letter also wants assurance on the Centre sharing the administrative expense for setting up state health agencies which will implement the scheme, besides paying for the huge workforce of Ayushman mitras which every hospital empanelled under NHPS will have to employ. Punjab has concerns even on NHPS package rates for 1,350 medical procedures finalised by the Centre. The Centre says states cannot raise these package rates beyond 10 per cent a matter of concern for many states that want flexibility. That said, The Tribune has learnt that Punjab has already started identifying beneficiaries under NHPS and has conducted the first round of identification of beneficiaries. This shows Punjab is ready to sign the MoU provided its concerns are addressed. Bengal, Delhi and Odisha did not attend the Centres meeting on NHPS. Twenty states have so far signed the MoUs. Everyone must sign for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to launch NHPS nationally. monicakchauhan@gmail.com Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 15 Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Friday called for an immediate dismissal of the "most ineffective, double crossing" Jammu and Kashmir government of Mehbooba Mufti. Reacting to the killing of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari, Swamy said Mehbooba Mufti should be removed and Kashmir should be brought under the military rule. Whether Bukhari's killing is the last straw for the PDP- BJP alliance, it remains to be seen, there is a feeling in a section of the BJP that Mufti has not been able to handle the situations effectively, given her stance. In a sharp contrast to the BJP, Mehbooba and her party are allegedly perceived as supporting soft separatism revolving around reconciliation with Pakistan and separatist groups operating in Kashmir. This BJP has an alliance with the PDP since 2015 in the state. Sources in fact say there is this whole lot of resentment and concern in the BJP-RSS over the way the party-led Centre has softened, rather abandoned its stance on critical issues related to Kashmir in penultimate year of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. For example, the response to Article 370 of the Constitution, guaranteeing the state the present level of autonomy. The BJP has not done anything on this count during the past four years since it came to power in the Centre and now this has happened. The more recent softening (ceasefire) may have helped India gain by building favourable perceptions at international level but dedicated cadres are upset with the government, they say. Apparently, top Saffron leaders are believed to have also discussed the issue at Home Minister Rajnath Singhs residence as recently as around June 9. vermaajay1968@gmail.com Tribune News Service New Delhi/Srinagar, June 15 Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday and weighed the option of extending the Ramzan ceasefire (which ends on Saturday) in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the backdrop of the killing of journalist Shujaat Bukhari and the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, scheduled to begin from June 28. Indications are it is unlikely that the government would favour further suspending operations, an official said. Rajnath said he would speak on the subject on Sunday. Let everyone celebrate Eid on Saturday. EDIT: Murdering a journalist OPED: Kashmir press in peril In Srinagar, a day after the murder of Bukhari, editor-in-chief of Rising Kashmir, the J&K Police arrested Zubair Qayoom of Saderabal, Srinagar, who had allegedly snatched a pistol from one of the two security officers attached with Bukhari. With the cooperation of the public, we were able to trace the fourth suspect. The pistol has been found and so have the clothes he was wearing during the attack, which he had dumped, IGP (Kashmir Zone) Swayam Prakash Pani told the media here. We are probing his role in the killing. Both PSOs (personal security officers) were carrying pistols. One pistol was recovered but the other was missing, which has now been found, he said. A special investigation team (SIT), led by DIG (Central Kashmir Range) VK Birdi, will further probe the case. The police have already released the CCTV pictures of the three bike-borne militants who sprayed bullets on Bukhari as he stepped out of his office in Press Enclave and boarded a car on Thursday evening. Their faces covered, one is seen with a bag. We have leads on the identity of one of the attackers, said a police officer. The murder, it appears, was meticulously planned. While the police see militants hand, the Muzaffarabad-based amalgam of Kashmiri militant groups United Jihad Council (UJC) and Lashkar-e-Toiba condemned the killing. The UJC chief, Syed Salahuddin, has demanded an international probe. The killing of Shujaat Bukhari at a time when the UN human rights commission released a report on the rights abuses raises many questions, he said. editorial@tribune.com Balwant Garg Tribune News Service Faridkot, June 15 After teaching portrait painting to former American President George W Bush in Texas, Vilas Tonape (50), an artist of international repute, is here these days to give live demonstration of his art to the youth. Tonape, a teacher at the Art Department of Methodist University, North Carolina, US, said while studying art in India, artists find themselves wandering between styles and subjects. Though this restlessness is a treasure hunt, for this treasure they have to dig deep to learn the meaning of depth in art and thats the treasure, he said while talking to The Tribune at the residence of budding artist Nakshdeep in Kotkapura on Friday. I keep visiting different places in India to ignite the passion for art in youth, he said. He is on a two-day tour to Punjab. Recounting his journey from a tiny room at Sewri chawl in Mumbai to art studio of former US President George W Bush at his Dallas mansion in Texas to teach portrait painting, Tonape said hard work was the only way to the top. It is just my hard work that took me from a slum in Mumbai to the US, making me the teacher of the American President and chairing the Department of Art at Methodist University in Fayetteville, he said. About his assignment with George Bush and his wife Laura, who acted as a model during the portrait painting session, Tonape said he was invited by the President to his mansion in Dallas on March 14 to teach portrait painting. When I received a call and the President asked me to come to his art studio, I was completely thrilled, he said. Bush is a good and attentive student and asked a lot of questions, discussing colour theory and other important aspects of portrait painting, he added. After graduating (BFA) in drawing and painting from Sir JJ School of Arts in Mumbai, Tonape moved to the US in 1994 to pursue his MFA (postgraduation) in painting from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth on full scholarship. Though my father was always short of money, he never discouraged me from pursuing my dreams, he said. Working in both figurative and non-representational modes, Tonape focusses on nature. Paintings reflect my response to nature. They are conceived by an abstract, intangible sensing of nature that erupts into spontaneous imagery, he said. pardeepdhull@gmail.com Tribune News Service Ropar, June 15 A 73-year-old resident of Giani Zail Singh Nagar here died at Brampton in Canada after two youths robbed and injured him seriously. The deceased Amarjit Singh Bhatnagar, a former president of the Rotary Club, Rupnagar, had gone to meet his elder son there. Arvinder Singh, another son of the deceased, informed that his father had gone to Canada for six months on April 14 to meet elder son Jaspinder Singh. On Tuesday evening when the father-son duo was strolling in a park, two youths robbed them and pushed Amarjit down resulting in a head injury to him, said Arvinder. Amarjit was taken to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on June 14. The local police had arrested one of the suspects, he said. editorial@tribune.com GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 15 The ruling party as well as the Opposition have decried the Central governments move challenging the Amritsar Sessions Court-2017 decision to compensate Sikh youths detained illegally by the Army and the Punjab Police from the Golden Temple during Operation Bluestar. The counter-move has been initiated by none other than Congress MLA from Patti Harminder Singh Gill and SAD spokesperson Virsa Singh Valtoha. Both were among the 365 youths who were arrested illegally in 1984, kept in a temporary prison for eight days in Amritsar and later shifted to the Jodhpur jail for four to five years. On April 10, 2017, the Amritsar court had directed both Central and state governments to give Rs 4 lakh as compensation to 40 detainees, along with 6 per cent per annum interest from the date of filing the suit. The order for compensation covered both periods illegal detention and alleged delay in trial. The Centre has moved a petition in the High Court, seeking to express its point of view before releasing any compensation, whereas the state government is silent over the issue. Justice Ajay Tewari has set the hearing for July 2. Valtoha, 21 then, was arrested from Guru Ramdas inn, kept in a temporary jail Kendri Vidyalaya in Amritsar Cantonment till June 17, 1984, before being shifted to the Jodhpur jail. I had a word with SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who was determined to approach the alliance partners at the Centre. We were subjected to inhuman treatment in the Jodhpur jail for five years and underwent interrogation by various agencies, faced torture. The Centres move is like rubbing salt on the wounds of innocent detainees who went through hell, he said. Gill said Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had shown solidarity with the affected persons and assured all assistance. During the Congress regime in 2002, he had granted a compensation of Rs 1 lakh each. A meeting will be scheduled with the Chief Minister in a day or two to decide next course of action, he said. Gill snubbed the Centres version that the prisoners were served food prepared with desi ghee. It is a lie. Let alone desi ghee, we were not even given safe drinking water. Every detainee was given 5 litres of water every day, he said. At the age of just 20, Gill was associated with the Sikh Student Federation. His father was a katha vachak at the Golden Temple, from where he was arrested. Meanwhile, Damdami Taksals head Harnam Singh Khalsa said not only the Congress, but the non-Congress forces too had set another example of discrimination towards Sikhs by the Centre. Jodhpur Detainees Rehabilitation Committee activists Kulbir Singh Gandiwind, Jaswant Singh Khalra and Baba Raj Singh Warpal too sought former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badals intervention. The untold story Three friends Tarsem Singh Khela, Buta Singh and Jaswinder Singh had come to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple on the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev. Little did they know that the pilgrimage would turn into the worst nightmare of their life. Tarsem, who was an ITI diploma-holder in television and radio mechanics, was looking forward to a bright future, but with the arrest, all his hopes dashed. The SGPC came to his rescue and at present he is doing a clerical job at the Golden Temple. I was just 18 when I was arrested on the evening of June 5 from Guru Ramdas inn. When we were released in 1989, I had applied for a government job, but my application was rejected because of the jail sentence. When the Amritsar court announced compensation, it proved that we were innocent. But the Centres denial mode was discouraging, he said. Jaswinder Singh could not find a job, so he chose to do sewa at a gurdwara in Ludhiana. His family too is there. I was just 17 and had completed my matriculation. My financial condition is so poor that I cannot afford to send my wards to school, he said. Buta Singh, a sewadar in the Golden Temple, said, I was 24 when I was arrested. After being released in 1998, life wasnt easy. Finally, things fell in place when the SGPC offered me a job in 2007. The compensation announced by the Amritsar court meant a lot to me, but the Central government has again showed its indifferent attitude, he said. Please call your State Representative and State Senator and tell them to vote against legislation repealing the Parental Notice of Abortion ... editorial@tribune.com Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 15 The drive against illegal buildings initiated by Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday met with fierce opposition from residents and within the Congress itself in various areas. A day after Sidhu suspended eight MC officials for failing to prevent illegal constructions in the city, Congress MLA Sushil Rinku on Friday obstructed a demolition drive started by the MC to remove illegal buildings on the Kala Sanghian road. However, upping the ante against illegal builders, the MC also initiated the work of removing illegal constructions in various other areas of the city. Jalandhar (West) Congress MLA Sushil Rinku climbed atop a JCB machine which had come to remove encroachments from an illegal colony on the Kala Sanghian road. Preventing the MC teams from carrying out the drive, Rinku stayed atop the vehicle for one-and-a-half hour, until pacified that the structures wouldnt be razed on Friday. While police officials said the process had been stalled until Monday, Rinku said, There are people who have just 2 marla plots in the colony, which they have bought with their hard-earned money. Population is rising and people need homes to live. The government has not made any colonies for them. I will prevent the drive again if it resumes. Remaining atop the vehicle along with coloniser Major Singh, Rinku was supported by hundreds of residents who gathered in the area, raising slogans against Sidhu. It also led to a huge traffic jam. The police had to redirect traffic via another route to prevent the blockade on the highway. The MC teams were also prevented from removing two illegal buildings at Dashmesh Nagar, where residents gheraoed the MC men. Municipal teams undertook drives in various areas to remove the illegal buildings listed by Sidhu on Thursday. Meanwhile, Sidhus initiative against illegal constructions also witnessed opposition from property dealers. At Deol Nagar, property dealers held a unique protest wherein they took off their shirts and raised slogans against Sidhu insisting the demolitions should first begin in Amritsar. Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation is also working on the process to lodge FIRs against the erring officials suspended by Sidhu. Will continue action against corrupt practices: Navjot Sidhu Phagwara: On Congress MLA Sushil Rinkus opposition in Jalandhar, Cabinet Minister Navjot Sidhu said action against corrupt practices would continue at all costs, adding that he would pacify Rinku. He said transparency, honesty and accountability would be preferred at all costs and the campaign against illegal encroachments and colonies would continue. OC editorial@tribune.com Jupinderjit Singh Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 15 With the first list of police officials and bureaucrats close to drug smugglers going missing, former DGP Shashi Kant has asked various security agencies, through the Punjab and Haryana High Court, to revise the list and prepare a second one. Kant claimed that the list prepared by him in 2007 when he was posted as the ADGP (Intelligence) Punjab was never made public. He had in an affidavit before the Punjab and Haryana High Court on May 23 demanded that the state and national security agencies should prepare a new list as the previous one needed to be updated. It seems that nobody has seen the list. Even Kant does not have its copy. The court has asked the governments of Punjab, Haryana to respond to his affidavit. Referred to as The Shashi Kant List, the list was first acknowledged publicly by Kant before the Punjab and Haryana High Court in September 2013. In the affidavit, Kant had claimed that he had submitted the list to the government. But the latter denied receiving any such list. He had said, I am ready to give in a sealed cover and to the best of my memory the list of drug smugglers and their associates prepared by the intelligence wing way back in 2007. He added, This (new list) is required because smuggling is profitable and chances are that several new players must have been added, with a few being deleted. The High Court has asked the state government, besides Haryana and the UT, to file a response to his affidavit. Kant claimed: I had submitted the list directly to the former Chief Minister and had to bypass the DGP office and the Home Department. But the former CM had refuted the claim. Harcharan Singh Bains, who was Adviser to Badal, told The Tribune that Badal never backed the claim of Kant. Navkiran Singh, human rights lawyer, said there were only talks. Nobody seems to have seen the list. singhking99@yahoo.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 15 Despite reversals suffered by the Aam Aadmi Party in the 2017 Assembly elections over links with pro-Khalistan elements, Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Khaira on Friday said he supported the Sikh Referendum 2020 movement as Sikhs have a right to demand justice against atrocities suffered by them. While the Akali Dal has termed Khairas statement as proof of divisive politics played by his party, Khaira insisted that he owes allegiance to the Constitution of India and stood for united India. The Punjab Police have banned some organisations supporting the referendum. It had also booked some of the main leaders for waging a war against India. Talking to mediapersons here on Friday, Khaira said the Sikhs were justified in demanding justice for sufferings during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. He said these groups functioned from independent countries and within the law of those countries. Criticising Khaira for supporting the referendum, former Akali minister Bikram Singh Majithia said the first agenda of the referendum was to form an independent state for the Sikhs separate from India. The Akali Dal has been fighting for justice for Sikhs, but no one will be allowed to divide the country and take Punjab back to the dark days of terrorism, Majithia said. The Akali Dal has also asked AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal whether he supported Khaira. Majithia said if Kejriwal did not support Referendum 2020, he should take action against Khaira for supporting a move whose sole idea was to break the country. editorial@tribune.com Parvesh Sharma Tribune News Service Sangrur, June 15 The police have booked three travel agents for allegedly keeping a man in confinement at Bengaluru instead of sending him to Canada and torturing him for 28 days. The victim has been identified as Baldev Singh (34) from Phullewal village of Bathinda, who worked as a driver in Dubai for around 10 years. Baldev is matric pass. He returned from Dubai in 2017, following which three travel agents from Sherpur Hapreet Singh, his father Sukhminderjit Singh and his mother Bhupinderjit Kaur approached him through a friend saying they could arrange a Canada work permit for him and demanded Rs 20 lakh. I gave Rs 1 lakh to them. The agents told me to take a flight to Canada from Mumbai on November 1, 2017. I reached Mumbai and paid Rs 5 lakh to them, but they asked me to go to Bengaluru instead, saying four other youths would accompany me to Canada. However, the gang members took me to a house on the outskirts of Bengaluru and locked me in a room after tying my hands and legs, he alleged. The next day, they compelled him to call his parents at gunpoint asking them to pay Rs 14 lakh to the agents as he had reached Canada, claimed Baldev. I was kept in confinement till November 30 along with 10 other youths. They used to give us injections and drugs to keep us unconscious. We managed to escape from their custody on November 30 when the gang members were sleeping, he alleged. I reached home on December 2. When the agents didnt return the money, I lodged a complaint in May. The police registered a case against the trio under Sections 420, 506, 342 and 120-B of the IPC and 24 of the Immigration Act on Thursday, he said. We have registered a case and started raids to arrest all three, said ASI Darshan Singh. The gang members have also murdered some youths, Baldev alleged. The case is strikingly similar to Hoshiarpurs Surinderpal Singh, who had left home for Canada on December 3, 2017, but was found murdered in Bengaluru. His family too had paid Rs 21 lakh to travel agents. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 15 Is third front on the cards? The possibility cant be ruled out if one looks at the way leaders of various parties are supporting Lok Insaaf Party MLA Simarjit Singh Bains, who was on Thursday booked for allegedly trespassing the Verka milk plant in Ludhiana. Ex-Deputy Speaker Bir Devinder Singh, CPIs Joginder Dayal , CPMs Raghunath, BSPs Pal Singh Rattu and United Akali Dals Gurnam Singh Sidhu on Friday said Bains had gone there to expose the poor quality of milk. Leader of the Opposition and AAP MLA Sukhpal Khaira, who has for long been stressing the need for the formation of a third front to fight the Congress and the Akalis, said he had invited the leaders to raise voice against the victimisation of the Opposition by the Congress. Talking to The Tribune, Khaira alleged that the Congress and the Akalis were playing a friendly political match and that it was high time that all parties came together. The Aam Aadmi Party has been reaching out to other parties for pre-poll or post-poll combine. Khaira had recently announced in Delhi that the party was not against an alliance with the Congress at the national level. The Congress had denied any such move. Bir Devinder Singh and Joginder Dayal said they would not let the Congress victimise a whistle-blower who was only doing his duty. Addressing mediapersons, Bains alleged that the plant authorities had cheated the public to the tune of Rs 200 crore. He said the milk was of inferior quality and that he had got negative reports of the milk quality from labs across the state and one of the reports was from the Verka laboratory in Ludhiana. editorial@tribune.com Parvesh Sharma Tribune News Service Sangrur, June 15 Three years after around 33,000 trees were axed to widen NH-64 from Patiala to Barnala, private companies are yet to plant saplings of trees to compensate environmental losses. The repeated letters of Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) have failed to make companies start plantation. The widening of road was started in 2015 and around 33,000 trees were axed. But till date private companies, including Gawar Constructions, Gurgaon, Patel Infrastructure, Gujarat, and Patel Engineering Limited, Mumbai, are yet to plant saplings. They must plant 66,000 saplings according to the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) norms. Had they planted saplings, trees would have grown to around 12 ft by now, DFO, Sangrur, Monica Yadav said. Figures show that out of the total saplings, 33,000 need to be planted on the Patiala-Sangrur bypass, 16,000 on both Sangrur and Dhanaula bypasses, 10,000 on the Sangrur-Barnala road, while the remaining 7,000 at different places. On trying to contact Patel Engineering Ltd, Mumbai, a female employee disconnected the phone twice after hearing the query. Jyoti from Gawar Construction said the officer concerned was not present in the office while repeated calls on the landline of Patel Infrastructure went unanswered. Senior officers of the Forest Department informed that according to the IRC norms, companies must plant 660 saplings of trees per kilometre on both sides of the road after axing trees for widening or other purposes. Since Barnala is around 100 km from Patiala, private companies must have planted around 66,000 trees on both sides of the widened road. But during investigations by the Forest Department, it has come to light that till date the companies have done some plantation on the Sangrur and Dhanaula bypasses, while the remaining portion of the road is without plantation. Yadav had called a meeting of all companies on June 8, but only employees of Gawar Constructions attended the meeting. If we take a look at the road, it looks like a desert area of Rajasthan because there is no tree. When the road construction was started, the area had full-grown trees. We do not know who is responsible for it, but the Punjab Government must look into the matter, said Kartar Singh, a farmer from Phagguwala village. vermaajay1968@gmail.com AN appeal for unity does not come with particular force from the Pioneer whose general policy has at no time been calculated to make for unity. But if a thing is good, we do not mind the source from which it comes. Unfortunately it is difficult to read the article under the above heading without being forced to the conclusion that unity on the only terms which it offers is just as practicable as peace on German terms. At every step it asks the people of India to support every policy which the Government may adopt. It seems to be under the delusion that this is what the people of England have done. England has changed two Governments and one Premier during the war and even at the present moment when there is a national, instead of party, Government at the head of affairs, the voice of criticism is by no means silent. NORMAL - State Senator Sam McCann of downstate Benton told WEEK.com he's establishing Illinois' first Conservative Party with his bid to run for governor. McCann says he expects to gather the needed number of petition signatures to be on the November 2018 ballot alongside the Republican Party's candidate Governor Bruce Rauner and Democrat challenger J.B. Pritzker. McCann, who was elected to the Illinois legislature as a Republican, says Governor Rauner bought up the IL GOP in a "fire sale." He went on to say while he doesn't approve of President Trump's tweeting or some of his comments, he approves of the direction Trump is taking the nation. Will conservatives in Illinois choose to support McCann over Rauner? rchopra@tribunemail.com London/Islamabad, June 13 Pakistans ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharifs ailing wife Kulsoom Nawazs health has further deteriorated following a cardiac arrest in the UK where she was undergoing treatment following throat cancer surgery. Kulsoom, 68, was shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the London hospital on Thursday night after her condition deteriorated further, Maryam Nawaz, her daughter said. Ami had a sudden cardiac arrest when we were on the flight and is in ICU and on the ventilator since, Maryam tweeted. Maryam, who flew to London along with her father, requested well-wishers to pray for her mothers health. Kulsoom was readmitted to the hospital on Wednesday, where her health deteriorated and she was immediately taken to the emergency unit in the night and has not regained consciousness since, The Express Tribune reported. She was rushed to the ICU as she collapsed after suffering a cardiac arrest on Thursday and has ever since been kept under intensive care. Hussain Nawaz, son of Nawaz Sharif, also appealed to the nation to pray for his mothers wellness. Shehbaz Sharif, Nawazs brother, requested the nation to join him in prayers for her speedy recovery. As the Holy Month of Ramadan comes to an end, I ask my compatriots to join me in prayers for her speedy recovery. The power of prayer is paramount, he tweeted. Nawaz and his daughter Maryam left for London on Thursday to visit Kulsoom, who has been undergoing cancer treatment at the London hospital. Sharif could not travel to London in recent weeks as he has been facing trial since July, when the Supreme Court disqualified the thrice-elected premier from office over undisclosed assets. Sharif denies any wrongdoing and has blamed hidden hands for his dismissal. His case is adjourned until June 19. PTI sanjiv@tribunemail.com Washington/Islamabad, June 15 Maulana Fazlullah, the dreaded chief of Pakistani Taliban, has been killed in a US drone strike in Afghanistans restive Kunar province, an Afghan defence ministry official said today. Fazlullah was the man in charge of the Pakistan Talibans (TTP) operations in Pakistans Swat Valley when student activist Malala Yousafzai was shot in 2012. He was designated as a global terrorist by the US and carried a bounty of $5 million. He had been on the run since his loyalists were routed in a major military operation in Pakistans Swat district in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in 2009. US forces had conducted the strike close to the border of Pakistan, targeting the Emir of the group, according US Forces-Afghanistan spokesman Lt Col Martin ODonnell. Fazlullah had been a major figure in the TTP even before he became emir in late 2013, and led a Pakistan Taliban militia in the countrys Swat Valley prior to his elevation to leadership of the group. The US military said yesterday it carried out a strike targeting a senior militant leader in Afghanistan. It, however, did not identify the militant. In Kabul, Afghan Ministry of Defence spokesman Mohammad Radmanish confirmed to CNN that Fazlullah, who is believed to be in his forties, was killed in the strike on Wednesday. The Express Tribune, citing sources, also said the drone strike that took place in the Nur Gul Kalay village of Dangam district in eastern Kunar province killed Fazlullah and four other TTP commanders. Fazlullah, also known by the alias Radio Mullah or Maulana Radio due to his long sermons on a private radio channel, and his commanders were having an Iftar party at a compound when a remotely piloted US aircraft targeted them, reports said. The TTP, however, did not confirm the death of its chief in the drone strike. Fazlullah had directed numerous high-profile attacks against the US and Pakistani targets since he was appointed the groups leader in 2013, including the December 2014 attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar that killed 151 persons, including more than 130 children. The US strike comes amid a ceasefire between the Afghan Taliban and Afghan security forces to mark the end of the Muslims holy month of Ramazan. Gen John Nicholson, the commander of US Forces-Afghanistan and the NATO-led Resolute Support, said the United States would adhere to the ceasefire announced by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, which did not include US counterterrorism attacks on other terror groups. In 2014, there were reports that Fazlullah had been killed. However that information turned out to be false. PTI Mullah Radio was Paks most-wanted militant There was certainly a history of freedom in the world, even by that time. Ancient Rome had been forced to publish the Twelve Tables over a millennium and a half earlier; the Ancient Athenians and some other city-states had practiced versions of republics and democracies in ancient time as well. But if a nation had a king, well, that king generally considered his powers to be unlimited. While England was not yet the dominant power on the world scene that it was to become, England was already a typical major monarchy, and its monarchy behaved as monarchies always had. The king might not choose to be a tyrant might not choose to exert his will upon his people in every way, all the time but he reserved the theoretical right to do so. It was just what being a king meant. For years, English barons and other nobles had chafed at the bit, as their subjects were conscripted for the Norman kings many wars. It had been a hundred and fifty years since the Conquest, and this lot wasnt exactly ingratiating themselves with the English nobility. The nearby wars with France, the distant wars over the Holy Land, the economic disruption, the never-ending taxes it all added it up to an untenable situation. The king didnt have the power to force his will, and the nobles finally rebelled. The meetings commenced at Runnymede on June 10, and within five days, with the mediating support of the Archbishop of Canterbury, they had a Great Charter for the king to sign. Haters today enjoy diminishing the importance of this Magna Carta. They point out that it didnt secure the rights of all individuals, just the nobility. They point out that it didnt last forever, unadulterated, but it was just a combination of permanent and temporary wins, in a long, slow progression over the centuries. And they love pointing out that it could be overridden by kings with more powerful demeanors; when a bully arose in the royal bloodline, he tended to overreach his rights. But it is always dangerous to view history judgmentally from the perspective of todays zeitgeist. We must look at historical events in the context of their own times, and judge whether or not those events were helpful or unhelpful, in the long run, on the path to liberty. The Magna Carta limited King Johns ability to run roughshod over the rights of his nobles. Instead of English royalty being viewed as unlimited in power, the royals now had to admit that they possessed only the powers of a limited monarchy. As much as they may push and pull to redefine those limits, the importance of admitting that limits to their power existed at all was a historic victory. More rights and the rights of the people would follow, slowly, hard-won time and time again over the years. The Peasants Revolt of 1381, the Petition of Right in 1628, the Glorious Revolution of 1688, and so many more incidents, big and small, were steps on this journey. Some involved aspects of religious bigotry, some reinforced the subjection of some by supporting the rights of others. Not every step in the journey would be viewed today as a libertarian move. When nobles were empowered vis-a-vis the king, that may have done nothing substantial for the freeman living under them. Whether a freeman or serf gets his marching orders from a king or from a kings vassal may not make much of a difference to that individual. But viewed in the long run, we see a march toward the Enlightenment. As we review this timeline, we see a Norman Conquest in 1066 establishing a powerful, warrior monarchy in England, and a Magna Carta in 1215 finally beginning to draw it back. The Magna Carta paved the way for the rights that England cherished centuries later. Rights to a fair trial and bans on illegal imprisonment, limits to taxation, the rights of churches (if not outright religious freedom), all began under English law with this innovative document. And it had teeth, too: if a king overreached, the nobles could seize the kings castles and lands, and force him back into obedience. Whether such teeth turned out to be practical in the future or not, the kings accession to these demands at Runnymeade was itself a huge victory for the rights of the English people, just as we today have never successfully tossed out a president through our impeachment power, but the fear of it happening has constrained many a U.S. president who might otherwise have gone even further in abuse of his office. The Magna Carta wasnt the be-all and end-all of the quest for liberty. But for the people of England, it was the beginning. And the road of a thousand miles must begin with that first step. There is a reason so many of our own Founding Fathers were reluctant to rebel against their mother country in the 1770s. Even though they knew that George III was overstepping his bounds, being downright tyrannical in some ways (particularly in New England), they had great difficulty letting go of the traditions of English limited government, the traditions that had led to the Enlightenment, the traditions that began at Runnymeade, five and a half centuries earlier. It was only when the American people came to the collective conclusion that their War of Independence could be another step on that journey, a culmination of this quest for limiting government and enshrining individual liberty in its place, that the American people came around in support of what was then called the Glorious Cause. And when we ask the question of whether or not it really mattered whether the Magna Carta was truly the milestone that some celebrate and others stubbornly deny we can take a hint from a view of the English monarchy themselves, in their personal lives. If you ever wonder how the British Royal family feels about King John putting his seal on the document that forever acknowledged that their powers were limited, consider this: Since the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215, the British have changed royal houses numerous times. These royal families have been naming their sons their future kings for eight hundred years. There have been six Georges, eight Edwards, four Williams, eight Henrys But there has never been another King John. Copyright 2018 John F. Di Leo John F. Di Leo is a Chicagoland based trade compliance trainer, writer and actor. A former political activist and minor party official, he has been a recovering politician now for twenty years (but, like any addiction, one is never truly cured). Permission is hereby granted to forward freely, provided it is uncut and the IR URL and byline are included. Turkmenistan has been elected to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for 2019-2021. The election took place at the 96th meeting of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly. ECOSOC is the key UN body that serves as a platform for discussion of international economic and social issues and provision of recommendations in this area. This body accounts for over 70 percent of all UN resources. Congratulating the people of the country on this event, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov confirmed Turkmenistan's commitment to taking active part in addressing the challenges of our time. TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2021 Start your day with Sunrise, a roundup of B.C. news and opinions delivered straight to your inbox Start your day with Sunrise, delivered straight to your inbox Sign up now> A resident of a nearby council estate watches smoke billowing from Grenfell Tower in west London, in a file photo taken on Jun 14, 2017. (Photo: AFP/Daniel Leal-Olivas) Clutching flowers and placards bearing images of their lost loved ones, dozens of tearful survivors of Britain's deadliest domestic fire since World War II joined still-grieving relatives on an emotional walk through the area. The procession - accompanied by a portable speaker playing a melancholic track on repeat - ended in the shadow of the burnt-out block just before 12.54am, the time the London Fire Brigade received the first call about a fire in the tower. One by one, relatives announced the names of the deceased accompanied by a flurry from a bongo drum, before pinning their pictures at the "wall of truth" - a section of the fencing around the tower featuring messages and candles. After a short trumpet blast and as light rain began to fall, the crowd assembled at the sombre site then marked an eerie silence of 72 seconds - in memory of each of the people who perished, along with a stillborn baby. "I saw everything from the start of that night and I couldn't sleep for three weeks," recalled Farhiya Abdi, 42, a mother-of-two who was among the first to arrive at Grenfell from her nearby home as the fire spread. "When I closed my eyes I would hear the screaming for help, see the children's faces at the window again. I saw people jump to their death," she said earlier in the evening, at a remembrance event on a closed-off nearby street. Organisers unveiled banners and t-shirts emblazoned with slogans demanding justice, one of several such events taking place. Nearly everybody wore a green scarf - the adopted colour of the tragedy - while the tower was illuminated in green, as was Prime Minister Theresa May's Downing Street office. "TIME HASN'T DONE ANYTHING" May told parliament on Wednesday that the "unimaginable tragedy remains at the forefront of our minds". In an interview with Grenfell Speaks, a social media news channel, she admitted that the immediate official response to the fire "wasn't good enough... from the beginning". "I don't know why it took so long," she said. The local community is still traumatised by the tragedy. "I thought time would've healed us but time hasn't done anything," said Chris Imafidon, 50, who knew six different families bereaved by the blaze through a local education charity he works for. "This is reviving the memories of that night, because we're all out on the street again - I see the same faces," he added, surveying the other locals who had turned out in remembrance. Among the attendees were former tower residents Marcio and Andreia Gomes, whose son was stillborn hours after the fire, and local firefighters who responded that night. On a row of tables in the street, more than 100 community members shared a meal of Mediterranean food -- dubbed an iftar for Muslim residents breaking their fasts during Ramadan. The crowd cheered wildly when a London Underground train passing on tracks above stopped and sounded its horn, before the driver emerged from his cabin to unfurl a green flag. The commemorations will continue on Thursday with church services, special prayers at a local mosque, wreath-laying and the unveiling of a community mosaic. A silent walk will also be held - similar to the ones that take place on the 14th of every month - while banners in memory of the victims have been unfurled over the top four floors of the tower. NEGLECTED The fire started through a faulty fridge in the kitchen of a fourth-floor flat in the 24-storey tower. Relatives of those who died have recently provided heart-rending testimony about their loved ones' final moments at the beginning of a public inquiry into the fire, reminding Britons of the shocking scale of the tragedy. Stephanie Seddon, 24, a health outreach worker who has been on the ground since last June, said "lots of people are showing signs and symptoms of PTSD", referring to post-traumatic stress disorder. "We're here to support the community," she added. Despite the support, residents argue the wealthy borough's authorities have neglected the less affluent northern section home to Grenfell and surrounding public housing. They also blame the fire's spread on cladding installed during a recent refurbishment, while the fire service has come under the spotlight over its advice for residents to stay put. A survey released Wednesday by ITV found 98 percent of relatives and survivors worried the policy remains, while 87 per cent have no faith in the government. But at the remembrance events, the overriding sentiment was solidarity. "We're trying to see how we can heal together," said Imafidon. "It's difficult." The ribbon-cutting ceremony at Wayne's Coffee store On June 13, 2018, Wayne's Coffee opened its first store in Vietnam at Viettel Complex, 285 Cach Mang Thang Tam Street, Ward 12, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City. Pereric Hogberg, Ambassador of Sweden in Vietnam, along with numerous entrepreneurs, artists, and coffee-lovers attended the opening event and enjoyed the taste of Wayne's coffee. More than that, this was the first time this Fika culture was brought to Vietnam. Wayne's Coffee has over 140 stores over the world Applying Wayne's Coffee Swedish and international standards, Wayne's Coffee Vietnam uses certified organic coffee qualified by KRAV (Sweden and Europe) after rigorous testing. Most of the raw materials are grown naturally and this "clean coffee" ensures the highest quality for all customers health benefits. Cakes, drinks (coffee, tea) are made by baristas from Sweden over the counter. However, there is always Vietnamese coffee to meet the taste of Vietnamese coffee-goers at VND29,000 ($1.28). Currently, Wayne's Coffee has over 140 stores in Sweden, England, Germany, Holland, Jordan, and Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia and Oman. Around the world, many people choose Wayne's Coffee because they want to enjoy the Swedish tradition of Fika, which involves all the good things Wayne's Coffee offers: space, drinks, breakfast, lunch, music, and hanging out with friends and colleagues. In the stores of Waynes Coffee in Vietnam, you can buy coffee, breakfast, and lunchall very healthy. Wayne's Coffee aims to maximise environmental friendliness by using disposable items such as glasses, mugs, paper towels, and decanters. Minimalist and comfortable: Wayne's Coffee offers a space for customers to kick back and relax The h architecture design harmoniously combining European minimalist but comfortable seating with Vietnams tropical allure stimulate creativity, refreshing each person. If you want to hang out with your best mates, engage in team projects or "fly soloyou can always find a perfect corner for yourself at Wayne's Coffee. There are different private or open spaces to meet and satisfy diverse interests, especially for the startup community. The quality of food and drink is "European, but the price is Vietnamese." This took customers by surprise and remains a pleasant lure at Wayne's Coffee. All come from the desire to bring about positive changes in life that help people to balance their life, become friendlier, and make the planet greener. "This is also the mission that Wayne's Coffee has always been pursuing," said Nguyen Dinh Dung, CEO of Arya Consumer Vietnam. Wayne's Coffee in Vietnam is co-developed by Arya Consumer JSC and Vietnam-Oman Investment Fund (VOI). This is the first of Wayne's Coffee in Asiaand the choice of Vietnam was by no means a coincidence: the country has a long history of diplomatic relations and has received profound support from the Kingdom of Sweden for nearly half a century, since 1969. Wayne's Coffee draws in customers with quality and organic food and coffee As a strategic shareholder of the project, VOI Fund, with a primary focus on contributing to the society and creating added value for the country and its people, wishes to adopt this project with Arya Consumers JSC to continue its mission in Vietnam. VOI is a joint venture between the State General Reserve Fund of Oman (SGRF) and the State Capital Investment Corporation of Vietnam (SCIC). VOI pursues a philosophy of value investing and long-term investment. VOI's key investments are based on Vietnam's growth story in key areas such as electricity, toll roads, logistics, clean water, education, healthcare, agriculture, commodities, and consumption. VOI has disbursed more than $200 million in 10 years, becoming a major investment fund from the Middle East in Vietnam. The representative of VOI Fund said: "The goal of Wayne's Coffee is to bring Vietnamese people the experience of organic coffee and a new favourite corner to slow down in their busy everyday lives, a place where they find relaxation and can enjoy life in their own way ." An elevated section of HCM Citys Ben Thanh Suoi Tien metro line runs along the Sai Gon River. - VNA/VNS Photo An Hieu In a report sent to the Ministry of Transport on the citys railway development over 10 years, Tran Vinh Tuyen, vice chairman of the citys Peoples Committee, said that ministries required a lot of time to screen and approve the list of metro sponsors before sending it to the Prime Minister. He said that, by the time the construction starts, the design and total investment costs must be adjusted to fit the new situation. Vietnamese regulations on the use and management of official development assistance (ODA) funds and preferential loans are different from those of international funding sponsors for metro projects. As such, every adjustment needs to be discussed and approved by the sponsors, which further delays the project. The city metro lines, which are huge billion-dollar projects, have to go through different levels of approval, which also lengthens the process. The citys plan calls for eight metro lines with a total length of 220km at a cost of US$25 billion; six bus rapid transit (BRT) routes with a total length of 100km at a cost of $1 billion; and three tramway or monorail routes. Fifty-three per cent of the work on metro line No 1 (Ben Thanh Suoi Tien route) has been completed. It is expected to open for operation sometime in 2020. Metro line No 1 was approved by the city in April 2007 with an investment of VND17.4 trillion ($766.4 million). After investment costs were re-calculated by consulting agencies, costs rose to more than VND47.3 trillion. The cost adjustment has been submitted to the National Assembly for approval. HCM City authorities attributed the rising costs to price changes for construction materials, an increase in the minimum wage, and the depreciation of the Vietnamese ong and Japanese yen, among other reasons. As for metro line No 2, which connects Ben Thanh market in District 1 with Tham Luong in District 12, the city Peoples Committee in 2010 approved a design by a local consulting firm with a total investment of $1.37 billion. However, after the completion deadline was extended from 2020 to 2026, investment capital needed for metro line No 2 rose, from VND26 trillion to nearly VND48 trillion. US-South Korea military exercises have long been a source of irritation for North Korea, which considers them preparation for an invasion AFP/HANDOUT The move, a significant break in how the US and South Korean militaries have worked together for decades, came even as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned that peace efforts still face risks, and insisted sanctions must be maintained until Pyongyang dismantles its nuclear arsenal. "Major military exercises have been suspended indefinitely on the Korean peninsula," a senior US official told AFP. Trump on Tuesday had said the US would halt "war games" with its South Korean security ally - but he did not make clear when the freeze would kick in. US and South Korean forces have been training together for years, and routinely rehearse everything from beach landings to an invasion from the North, or even "decapitation" strikes targeting the North Korean regime. Pyongyang typically reacts furiously. Following drills last year, the North fired ballistic missiles over Japan, triggering global alarm. VERIFIABLE DENUCLEARISATION? Trump has sounded a triumphant tone since the Singapore summit, where he and Kim signed a joint statement in which Kim committed "to work toward complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula." But critics have pointed to the vague wording of the non-binding document, which Trump described as a "deal," and to concerns among allies about the decision to stop the US-South Korean "war games." Speaking on a regional tour to brief South Korean, Japanese and Chinese officials about the historic summit, Pompeo said Washington remains committed to the "complete, verifiable and irreversible" denuclearisation of North Korea. "We believe that Kim Jong Un understands the urgency ... that we must do this quickly," he said of the effort to have North Korea abandon its atomic arsenal. In Beijing, Pompeo also said China "reaffirmed its commitment" to United Nations sanctions after the foreign ministry suggested earlier this week that the UN Security Council could consider easing the economic punishment against its Cold War-era ally. "We truly believe that we have a path forward after so many years that can bring peace," Pompeo told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi before talks with President Xi Jinping. But, he warned, "there are still risks that we won't achieve" that goal, and more work needs to be done. Any reduction in tensions on its doorstep is welcome for China, North Korea's closest ally, which accounts for around 90 per cent of Pyongyang's trade. Speaking alongside Wang, Pompeo said the UN resolutions have mechanisms for sanctions relief "and we agreed that at the appropriate time that those would be considered," stressing that any relief would come only after "full denuclearisation." Wang said China has a "firm commitment" to denuclearisation but that North Korea's "legitimate" concerns must be addressed. North Korean state media reported on Wednesday that Trump had not only offered to stop military exercises during the dialogue, but also to lift sanctions imposed on Pyongyang - causing concern in Tokyo and Seoul. 'CONFLICTING VIEWS' Earlier, South Korean President Moon Jae-in acknowledged that "there may be very conflicting views" about the summit, but it had still helped mitigate fears of a nuclear war. South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha appeared meanwhile to sidestep the issue of military drills, saying the matter would be left to military authorities to discuss, and that the US-South Korea alliance remained "as robust as ever." While it is not directly involved, Japan also considers the exercises vital. Harry Harris, who until last month headed the US military's huge Pacific Command, has been a staunch advocate of the military exercises. But he told US lawmakers on Thursday that his position had changed. "The whole landscape has shifted and I believe that we should give exercises, major exercises, a pause," Harris told senators at his confirmation hearing to be the US envoy to South Korea. In the latest step to ease cross-border friction, the two Koreas held their highest-level military talks in over a decade on Thursday in the Demilitarised Zone that divides the two countries. In a joint statement the two sides agreed to restore their military communication lines and to halt "hostile acts," Yonhap news agency reported. And Russian President Vladimir Putin conveyed to a senior North Korean official an invitation for Kim to visit Russia, as he praised the results of the summit. NORTH KOREA TALKING POINTS? Trump had raised eyebrows by describing his own country's drills on the Korean peninsula as "provocative," a term used by the North for the exercises. Pyongyang describes its nuclear weapons and long-range missiles as a shield against US aggression, and has in the past linked denuclearisation to the removal of US forces from the peninsula. Senior Republican Senator John McCain said suspending joint military exercises was a "mistake." "Making unnecessary and unreciprocated concessions is not in our interests - and it is a bad negotiating tactic," McCain said in a statement. "Parroting Chinese and North Korean propaganda by saying joint exercises are 'provocative' undermines our security and alliances." The Netherlands seeks to establish a partnership with Viet Nams Mekong Delta city of Can Tho in agriculture.-Photo baocantho.com.vn The two sides share many similarities in soil and climatic conditions as well as major agricultural products, said Dutch Consul General in HCM City Simon van der Burg at a working session with representatives of the municipal Peoples Committee on Wednesday. He said local authorities and businesses had developed the farming sector and upgraded machines and technologies, which attracted many Dutch firms, including De Heus, Friesland Campina and Nova Exhibitions. He also pointed out bottlenecks in the local agricultural sector regarding logistics services and planning of high-tech agricultural areas. Besides, investors face challenges relating to capital, market and partners in organisation and management, Burg said. He suggested Can Tho to improve legal documents and review planning schemes of agricultural production areas. The city should also raise the quality and competitiveness of products and focus on personnel training and technological transfer to businesses, he added. According to Burg, the Dutch Consulate General would like to coordinate with the municipal authorities to connect local businesses and farming households with foreign partners, including those from the Netherlands. In addition to this, the Netherlands will send experts in post-harvest technologies to Can Tho, helping the locality reduce its post-harvest losses, while assisting the city in importing model machines and equipment for agricultural production processing, preservation and packaging. Burg urged Can Tho to form a business-friendly legal network, improve the local infrastructure system and quality of human resources as well as intensify promotion activities to lure enterprises that target sustainable development, social responsibility and eco-friendly operations. Instead of devising planning schemes for short terms of five or 10 years, Can Tho should set long-term and specific goals, Burg suggested. Speaking at the working session, Nguyen Thi Kieu, deputy director of the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said Can Tho regarded advanced technology as key to the local agricultural sector amidst international integration. She briefed the Dutch diplomat on high-tech application in the city in the past, which, she said, had brought positive results. Vice chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Truong Quang Hoai Nam expressed his belief in cooperation prospects between the two sides and pledged to offer the most preferential policies along with an open and favourable investment environment to Dutch businesses. Under CEO Masayoshi Son, SoftBank, has increasingly been seen as an investment firm, ploughing funds into a range of companies and projects outside its core telecoms business AFP/Kazuhiro NOGI Japan's SoftBank is planning to invest between $60-100 billion in a solar power project in India, a Japanese report said on Friday (Jun 15), as the firm looks to expand its interests into various sectors. The report by public broadcaster NHK comes after SoftBank announced in March it would partner Saudi Arabia on a multi-billion dollar solar project that the company's founder called the largest in the world. NHK said the massive investment in India would be funded jointly by SoftBank and Saudi Arabia, which have already partnered to create the Vision Fund investment vehicle. A spokesman for SoftBank declined to comment on the report. NHK said the deal would likely be announced by SoftBank and the Indian government after details were finalised, without giving a timeline. Under CEO Masayoshi Son, SoftBank, which started as a telecoms firm, has increasingly been seen as an investment firm, ploughing funds into a broad range of companies and projects outside its core business. In recent years it has completed deals with the likes of French robotics firm Aldebaran and e-commerce Chinese giant Alibaba. In March, Son said it would fund the "largest solar project ever", in Saudi Arabia. The project aims to generate 200 gigawatts of energy by 2030, with building beginning in 2018 and operations to start the following year. The entire project is expected to cost $200 billion, with the first phase costing $5 billion. SoftBank's $100-billion Vision Fund, created in 2016 with money from Saudi and other investors, will contribute $1 billion to the first phase. A shipping container is loaded with soybeans at a Ruff Bros. Grain elevator on June 13, 2018 in Blackstone, Illinois; US soybean futures have plunged today on fears of retaliatory measures if the US imposes wide ranging tariffs on Chinese goods AFP/SCOTT OLSON President Donald Trump on Friday (Jun 15) was due to unveil a final list of Chinese imports that would face punishing tariffs but it remained uncertain whether he would hold fire as part of a negotiating strategy. Imposing the tariffs would escalate the trade confrontation with Beijing, and potentially set off a round of tit-for-tat retaliation, which economists warn would damage the global economy. The deadline to release the list comes as Washington faces a dizzying array of parallel diplomatic horse trading, as Trump is increasingly dependent on Beijing to help advance efforts at North Korean denuclearisation, while also using aggressive trade tactics on all major US economic partners. The president's trade team, including senior officials from the Commerce and Treasury departments, were due to gather Thursday at the White House to finalize the list of Chinese goods on the hit list. A report in the Wall Street Journal quoting sources close to the matter said Thursday evening the list had been approved and would affect about $50 billion worth of goods, the same figure that was first announced in March. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged Washington to avoid a "lose-lose approach" on trade. Trump has frequently reversed course, threatening and then backing away, or vice versa, but he has appeared determined to take a hard line with Beijing. "What we're seeing here is a bargaining process in which the Trump team has found that by continuing to put pressure on China, the offers have become better and better," said Dennis Wilder, head of a Georgetown University program on US-China relations. "My guess is that the Trump administration will announce but not implement. They want to give the Chinese a little more time," the former senior CIA official for East-Asia told AFP. The confrontation with China began when Trump announced in Mar 25 per cent tariffs on about $50 billion in Chinese goods to punish the country against the theft and forced transfer of American technologies and know-how. China immediately threatened to retaliate on $50 billion in US goods, so Trump upped the ante, vowing to hit another $100 billion of goods. A preliminary list of about 1,300 Chinese export goods was released in April by US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, with about 70 per cent of the goods coming from categories covering nuclear reactors, electrical machinery and optical equipment. A MYSTIFIED BEIJING However, the list was due to be trimmed after a public comment period to reduce the negative impact on US companies and consumers, so the final total is not confirmed. CNBC reported Thursday Trump officials planned to winnow that list to between 800 and 900 goods. It was also unclear when the tariffs would take effect. The White House said last month the final list would be unveiled on Jun 15, with the duties to be imposed "shortly thereafter." Trade talks with Beijing have been subject to repeated about-faces and turmoil among US officials, which analysts say has left Chinese officials unsure of Trump's goals or which of the several senior emissaries from Trump's Cabinet actually has the power to seal a deal. "I think the Chinese have been mystified by what the administration wants," said Nicholas Lardy, an expert on the Chinese economy at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Trump has moved to save the Chinese telecommunications giant ZTE from US sanctions imposed in April that brought it the verge of collapse, sparking outrage from congressional Republicans, and last month the White House effectively declared a truce in the trade hostilities with China before deciding weeks later to press ahead with tariffs. Analysts say the tens of billions of dollars in tariffs that Washington is preparing to levy on China amount to a pittance when compared to the size of the world's two largest economies - limiting their power to bend Beijing to Trump's will. But others worry about the sign it sends, and the potential to damage the world economy. Trump faces competing objectives in pursuing a North Korean deal while seeking comprehensive economic concessions from China, which might loosen economic pressure on Pyongyang if Washington presses too far. "We're asking them to completely change who they are and we're shaking this little stick in front of them," said Derek Scissors, an expert on the Chinese economy at the American Enterprise Institute. "I'm a China-basher on trade," he told AFP, but added: "I don't see why we're imposing $50 billion worth of tariffs on China. It's not going to do any good." The Noi Bai - Lao Cai Highway. Photo for illustration. - VNA/VNS Photo Viet Hung The highway is planned to have six lanes with a total width of 32.25m and a designed speed of 120kmph. In the first phase of the project, four lanes will be constructed with an investment of nearly VND14 trillion (US$616 million) in three years. The estimated payback time is some 18 years. The highway starts at km 274+111,86 in Mai Son Commune, Yen Mo District, Ninh Binh Province, and ends at km 337+478,11 in Tan Phuc commune, Nong Cong District, Thanh Hoa Province, crossing 10 districts of the two provinces. According to the Vietnam News Agency, the government recently delivered to the National Assembly the pre-feasibility study reports of some parts of the North-South Expressway for the 2017-20 period, with a total investment of VND120 trillion ($5.3 billion). According to the plan, from 2017 to 2020, highways connecting Cao Bo District (Nam inh Province) with Ba Bot District (Ha Tinh Province), Cam Lo District (Quang Tri Province) with La Son District (Thua Thien-Hue Province), Nha Trang City (Khanh Hoa Province) with Dau Giay Town (ong Nai Province) and My Thuan 2 Bridge will be prioritised for construction. These projects will be implemented under the public-private partnership (PPP) model with build-operate-transfer (BOT) contracts. The capital allocated from the State budget will be VND55 trillion ($2.42 billion), including some VND14.2 trillion ($625 million) for land clearance, VND27.7 trillion ($1.2 billion) for PPP projects and VND13.2 trillion ($580 million) for public-invested construction items. Investors will contribute some VND64 trillion ($2.8 billion), including VND12.7 trillion ($560 million) of owners equity and VND51 trillion ($2.2 billion) of loans. The 3km long runway to Van Don International Airport under construction.-Photo baotintuc.com.vn The group said it would submit a plan outlining the airports opening schedule to the Prime Minister for approval in July. Construction on the airport started in 2015 with a total investment of VND7.5 trillion (US$330 million). It is the first airport in the country built with capital mobilised by local authorities. Under Decision No. 497/QD-BGTVT by the Ministry of Transport dated March 15, 2018, Van Don will be an international airport, serving both civilian and military flights. By 2020, it will house a level-4E airport and a level-II military airport, as well as a 3.6km-long runway, capable of serving Boeing 777, 787, 747-400, Airbus A350, and other similar aircraft. The airport will have an annual capacity of between two millions and 2.5 millions passengers by 2020, which will increase to five millions by 2030. Set to cover more than 326ha by 2020, it will have support facilities, a two-module terminal, and functional areas. A cargo terminal is expected to be built by 2030 with a capacity of at least 51,000 tonnes. It is hoped that Van Don Airport will boost tourism in Quang Ninh, home to Ha Long Bay, a World Heritage site. The airport is also expected to boost local development, as Van Don District has been designated as one of the first three special administrative-economic units in Viet Nam. In 2017, Quang Ninh saw 9.87 million tourist arrivals, including 4.28 million foreigners, up 18 per cent and 23 per cent year on year, respectively. The locality, which serves as host for National Tourism Year 2018, hopes to welcome 12 million visitors, including five million foreigners, and earn VND22 trillion this year. Rapper-producer Future Photo: Prince Williams/WireImage Over his six-year run at the top of the hip-hop food chain, rap superstar Future has become one of the most frequently streamed musicians on earth his discography clocked a staggering 4.2 billion on-demand streams in 2017 alone. And for the better part of a decade he has remained among pop musics most prolific artists, releasing a dozen mixtapes, six studio albums, 33 music videos, and 61 singles. But until recently, the Atlanta-born Future (given name: Nayvadius Wilburn) steered clear of Hollywood, confining his creativity to a kind of infectiously bleary, almost psychedelic form of hip-hop. That all changed last year. During the filming of a Gap ad with Cher, Future got to chatting with the commercials director, Director X, who pitched Future on a movie project: a remake of the blaxploitation classic Super Fly. Director X had a proposition: How would Future like to co-produce the movie (now titled Superfly) its setting transposed from gritty 70s New York to a hyperstylized, modern-day Atlanta and oversee the soundtrack album? We needed someone who could represent the city, Director X tells Vulture. The music also needed something that spoke to the city itself. Thats what made Future such a right choice. Toronto-born music-video visionary Director X (birth name Julien Lutz) is responsible for crafting no small number of rap and R&Bs most indelible clips: Drakes Hotline Bling, Ushers Yeah! and Nellys Hot in Herre among them. He wanted to transfer the action of the original 1972 Super Fly which follows a cocaine dealer named Youngblood Priest (Trevor Jackson in the new film, which arrived in theaters Wednesday) as he attempts to quit the drug business after making one last gigantic score to a gleaming, color-saturated Atlanta bursting at the seams with highly revved supercars, high-caliber weaponry, and scantily clad women. The director wanted to draw upon Futures deep familiarity with local customs to give the production authenticity. Future enthusiastically signed on to the project in November. And according to Joel Silver, the rainmaking producer behind The Matrix trilogy and Lethal Weapon franchise who began developing Superfly in 2001, the rapper provided a kind of secret sauce for the production, which took place in Atlanta in January of this year. Hes iconic the Jesus of Trap, they call him down in fucking Atlanta, Silver says. X mentioned the movie and hes like, I love Superfly! I love it, I love it, I want to get involved. X brought him in. He was very instrumental to the movie. Exhibit A: After submitting a woozy banger called Walk on Minks for the films soundtrack, Future gave a specific note for a scene in which Priest encounters a group of drug dealing rivals known as Snow Patrol at a local strip club specifically regarding the wardrobe for extras performing as erotic dancers in the sequence. We got that song prior to shooting that scene, says Silver. So he dressed all those girls in mink coats. Of course, a producers purview can involve so many things in modern moviemaking: raising money, securing literary rights, masterminding marketing, negotiating worldwide rights. On Superfly, Futures influence was twofold. The movie pulses with hip-hop energy; drug dealers and characters portraying rappers mix and mingle in several sequences, and actual hip-hop artists including Rick Ross and the producer Zaytoven also appear in cameo. And in that regard, Futures imprimatur gives the movie the rap equivalent of a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. And in much the same way Curtis Mayfields chart-topping soundtrack for the original film sonically frames and contextualizes what takes place onscreen within a soul-funk milieu that defined Super Flys 70s New York City setting, Future crafted an exquisitely trap-inflected film score to embody the new movies modern iteration of what it means to be Superfly. He raps on most of its songs (alongside such hip-hop luminaries as Young Thug, Lil Wayne, 21 Savage and Partynextdoor), recruiting stars like Miguel, Khalid, French Montana, and H.E.R. to perform on other tracks, and calibrating all the songs to fit the action, including car chases and love scenes. It gave him a chance to go all over the place, says X. We really cover a lot of ground with the music. Its not just trap, trap, trap, trap. Reached via email, I asked Future about how he managed to put his imprint on the production. His answer was characteristically succinct. Just specific things like that mink coat, Future said. Gave them insight into what impressed me when Im moving around the city. It was a lot of little things that added up to make the movie feel much bigger. Under the bridge. As celebrities and members of Nas and Kanye Wests inner circle gathered just across the river from a majestic skyline, in an open area surrounded by speakers, outside, at night, and about an hour late, it seemed to have become official: The Queensboro Bridge is the new Jackson Hole, Wyoming but way easier to get to. Those on hand to listen to the newest album from Nas, called Nasir, included Pusha-T, 2 Chainz, Chris Rock, Fab, AZ, Havoc, La La Anthony, Kim Kardashian West, and of course, the albums producer Kanye West. There was no evidence of Candace Owens making an appearance. There was also one other key difference from the Wyoming event: as the lyrics from Nasir rang out, announcing, Escobar season is here, the entire livestream went down. Luckily it was back up in time for viewers at home to listen to the replay (which you can re-stream above), so well all be prepared to discuss the many head-turning lyrics on the album, including Reagan had Alzheimers, and an entire song called Cops that samples Slick Ricks Childrens Story and features Kanye West asking, Who do we call to report crime if 911 doin the drive-by? Another major highlight, Happy Kanye showed up: New Nas album might be Kanyes best work so far this year. My favorite clip from the livestream. #Nasir pic.twitter.com/6fOeZazNig Cameron Lee (@CLTureCam) June 15, 2018 Photo: Instagram/Kim Kardashian West Washington state authorities are searching for a person who opened fire on four cars near the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. No injuries were reported in the incident, which happened Wednesday evening on State Route 509, Washington State Patrol said. Some parts of the highway were briefly shut down as authorities searched for the shooter using K-9 units. Authorities released images of the cars hit by gunfire and said investigations are ongoing. "Troopers and WSP aircraft are currently searching the area for the active shooter," Washington State Patrol tweeted late Wednesday. "Please remain vigilant and avoid the area ... If you see any suspicious activity, please call 911." Garry Hartman hoped tariffs would save the factory he runs in Berwick, Pennsylvania. Now he's not so sure. Hartman is the president of Cheetah Chassis, a 170-person company that for decades has made container chassis, the steel frames used to transport shipping containers across the country. At its peak in the 1990s, Cheetah had more than 500 workers and produced about 240 trailers a week. But over the past 10 years, Cheetah has steadily been pushed out of the US market by a Chinese state-backed company, which Hartman believes gets unfair support from Beijing. Now Cheetah only makes 60 chassis a week. "We're a break-even company, barely able to maintain our business and employment for our people," Hartman said. "All the while, Chinese market share has grown and grown." Hartman voted for Donald Trump in 2016. He did so hoping that as president, Trump would hit his Chinese competitor with tariffs to level the playing field. When the Trump administration announced earlier this spring that it would impose a 25% tariff on roughly 1,300 goods from China as punishment for intellectual property theft, Hartman was pleased - until he found out that container chassis hadn't made the government's initial list. The White House has said it will release the final list of Chinese goods that will subject to tariffs by Friday. Hartman is still fighting to have the United States enact a tariff on container chassis, which he says would rescue his business. But his struggle underscores a tough reality of Trump's trade policies: Tariffs can inevitably involve picking favorites, helping some US industries or companies while hurting and ignoring others that expected support. "I'm just hoping that President Trump doesn't forget about the small companies and the little guys that helped put him in office," Hartman said. "He'll have a hard time if he doesn't help us." Related: What is a tariff? Your trade questions, answered Hartman, 62, started working at Cheetah in August 1974, the same day Richard Nixon resigned. "I got a job, and President Nixon lost his," Hartman told CNN. He was 18 years old, and had just graduated from high school. At the time, the industrial complex that housed Cheetah was buzzing with activity. About 3,000 people worked on factory floors across the premises, which also a housed a rail car maker and a company that built modular homes, Hartman said. Berwick, with a population of roughly 12,000, was home to a vibrant main street and Wise, a potato chip maker. These days, the Berwick factory looks different. Windows are boarded up. Fewer people work on Cheetah's two assembly lines, and there's only one shift. The potato chip maker is still around, but main street has fewer stores, and the population is closer to 10,000 people. For Hartman, it's not hard to pinpoint the moment everything changed for Cheetah. In the mid-2000s, Shenzhen-based equipment giant China International Marine Containers entered the US container chassis market through its purchase of Direct Chassis in Houston, Texas. Since 2012, the company has become a domestic powerhouse by producing high volumes of chassis, some of which are sold for less than chassis made by competitors, according to Lawrence Gross, president of Gross Transportation Consulting and an industry expert. CIMC presently controls 80% to 90% of the North American container chassis market, Gross said. CIMC makes most of its container chassis parts in China, but has a number of US locations that it uses for assembly, inspection and distribution. The company's US chassis division has facilities in California and Virginia, along with a nationwide dealer network. The company is publicly listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Its two largest shareholders are China Cosco Shipping and China Merchants Group, according to corporate filings. Both are state-owned companies, per their websites. CIMC itself is a huge conglomerate with a presence on multiple continents. It makes a wide variety of goods ranging from shipping and storage containers to oil rigs. Hartman said Cheetah has lost 100% of its large orders since CIMC came on the scene. It still produces specialty container chassis, but production is at a fraction of capacity. "We no longer get orders for 1,000 chassis or 2,000 chassis," Hartman said. "We had some domestic companies in the United States where we built [5,000] to 8,000 chassis for them a year. All that chassis business has gone to China." Hartman said he isn't afraid of healthy competition. But CIMC, he argues, has the support of the Chinese government, which gives it a leg up - particularly because it can purchase subsidized steel. Frank Sonzala, the head of CIMC's US chassis division, told CNN that CIMC dominates because it offers a superior product and invests in state-of-the-art technology. If its prices are lower on certain items, that's because the company operates on a much larger scale, he said. "When you get volumes of business, you can be much more efficient," Sonzala said. He also pointed out that CIMC offers a 10-year warranty. Cheetah's warranty lasts five years. He denied that CIMC buys steel at lower prices due to the company's Chinese government ties. Relations between the two companies became particularly heated in January 2017, when a Cheetah customer in Texas received a PowerPoint from someone claiming to work for CIMC. The CIMC advertising presentation contained pictures of Cheetah products, including a 33-foot Bridgemaster with the Cheetah logo visible on the mudflaps. The implication was that these products were in fact made by CIMC. "Get a load of this," the Cheetah customer wrote in an email to the head of sales at The Strick Group, Cheetah's parent company. Related: Trump had a chance to cut Canada's dairy tariffs. He walked away According to Sonzala, the presentation was created by a marketing class at a Chinese university, and wasn't authorized by CIMC. "We were surprised as anything," Sonzala said. "We made sure that was taken care of from the Chinese side, and that was it." To Hartman, it just added insult to injury. CIMC was already nabbing a great deal of Cheetah's business. Now the company appeared to be trying to poach Cheetah's customers with materials that passed off Cheetah products as their own. When Hartman saw that container chassis from China wouldn't be subject to new tariffs, per the first list released by the Trump administration, he thought carefully about the company's options. There didn't seem to be many. A tariff on CIMC's products would undoubtedly breathe life into his company, which has also had to contend with rising steel costs. Steel prices have jumped nearly 40% this year, according to S&P Global Platts, and have climbed more than 14% since Trump announced steep tariffs on steel and aluminum at the beginning of March. After consulting with company leadership, Hartman decided that Cheetah would spend the money - an estimated $20,000 to $30,000 - to retain an attorney and lobby the Office of the US Trade Representative. The draft list, after all, had targeted Chinese exports ranging from artificial teeth to flamethrowers. Why shouldn't container chassis make the final list? In a letter to the Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Cheetah's lawyer claims that CIMC gained its US foothold by copying the product designs of US manufacturers, and then proceeded to push American competitors out of the market with "unfairly low prices." Cheetah points to the pictures of Cheetah chassis in CIMC-branded promotional materials as evidence of the company's disregard for intellectual property. The argument: If the US government's goal is to punish China for intellectual property theft, they need look no further than container chassis. "Cheetah Chassis has already been forced into a small portion of the market," the letter said. "If CIMC's unfair practices are left unchecked, it is likely that CIMC will quickly take over the entire US market for container chassis, effectively creating a virtual monopoly of the domestic chassis market controlled by Chinese [state-owned enterprises]." The letter added that "the very free flow of commerce within the United States is at risk." CIMC, in a response addressed to Lighthizer, aggressively pushed back. The company said that Cheetah's claims of intellectual property theft were "unsubstantiated," and that it had not been subject to any patent infringement claims or lawsuits. The company also said that US chassis producers "cannot alone meet US demand for chassis," and that CIMC has invested over $100 million in six facilities across the United States, including in "economically depressed" areas like Emporia, Virginia. (A note: It's difficult to independently vet claims of IP theft. Cheetah concedes that it has neither applied for patents nor filed any lawsuits against CIMC, which it said wouldn't be worth the money.) Related: China is trying to kick its foreign tech habit The week of May 13, Hartman traveled to Washington, where he put on a suit and tie and made his case to a USTR panel that was hearing various objections from businesses. He was joined by a representative for the Tile Council of North America, and a company that makes gun safes, which also wanted the USTR to put tariffs on competing products from China. It's not clear how likely it is that container chassis will be added to the final list that the White House intends to issue this week. Some American firms are rooting against the addendum. Trucking company J.B. Hunt and rail company Norfolk Southern wrote their own letters to the USTR as customers of CIMC. They claimed that tariffs on container chassis would disrupt their businesses and the transportation of goods across the United States, which would ultimately hurt US consumers. Hartman believes it's a long shot, but he's holding out hope. After all, Trump won the White House in no small part by promising to protect American manufacturers from unfair foreign competition, he said. And if the Trump administration doesn't pull through? Well, Hartman isn't sure what will come next. "It's going to be very difficult to continue to remain in business over the long haul," he said. Didi Chuxing, China's biggest ride-hailing company, is headed Down Under as it escalates its global challenge to Uber. Didi announced Friday that it will introduce its services in Melbourne, Australia's second-biggest city, at the end of this month. Didi is best known for driving Uber out of China after a costly battle. The company isn't widely known outside of China, but it has been aggressively pushing into international markets this year. It said in a statement Friday that it will "continue to cultivate markets in Latin America, Australia and Japan" this year. Related: Uber faces a new threat in Mexico Didi's push into Australia comes less than two months after it launched in Mexico, another core market for Uber. It entered the Brazilian market by buying local operator 99 in January. And in February, it announced plans for a ride-hailing venture in Japan with Japanese tech company SoftBank. Uber, meanwhile, has pulled out of some international markets. In March, it sold its operations in eight Southeast Asian countries to Singapore-based Grab. At the time, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said the retreat "puts us in a position to compete with real focus and weight in the core markets where we operate." Related: Uber quits 8 countries in Southeast Asia, selling out to rival Grab One of those core markets is Australia. Uber launched there in 2012, battling with regulators and taxi companies to grow operations. It won regulatory approval in 2015 and currently operates in about 20 cities across the country. Along with ride hailing, the company also offers taxis, food delivery, and bike sharing services in Australia. Uber is already facing other challengers in Australia. India's Ola Cabs launched in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne earlier this year, and recently expanded to Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Canberra. Estonia's Taxify entered the country late last year, offering services in Sydney and Melbourne. WINSTED, Minn. (AP) - A young woman endured an exhaust-ing ordeal when she got her head stuck in a truck's oversized tailpipe at a Minnesota music festival. Firefighters used a power saw to free the woman from her predicament at last weekend's Winstock Music Festival in Winsted, about 40 miles west of Minneapolis. Video of the rescue was posted on Facebook. KARE-TV reports that it's unknown how she ended up with her head in the tailpipe, but alcohol may have been a factor: The McLeod County Sheriff's Office says she was cited for underage drinking and escorted out. (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) China says it will retaliate for Trump tariffs by immediately imposing penalties of the same scale on American goods. Here is today's timeline of events from Washington: 9:25 a.m. ET President Donald Trump is hailing his "very big tariffs" on China. Trump says there is "great brain power" in this country. He adds: "'There is no trade war. They've taken so much." Trump also defended his trade clash at a recent meeting of the Group of Seven industrialized nations. He again complained that he had been blindsided by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's criticism of his tariff threats at a summit-ending news conference. 8 a.m. ET The Trump administration is announcing a 25 percent tariff on $50 billion worth of Chinese imports, escalating a trade dispute between the world's two largest economies. President Donald Trump has vowed to clamp down on what he calls China's unfair trade practices. China has said that it will retaliate with $50 billion in tariffs in response, rattling financial markets. It comes in the aftermath of Trump's nuclear summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (kim jawng oon) and his push for China to maintain economic pressure on the North. Trump has already slapped tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, Mexico, Europe and Japan, drawing a rebuke from U.S. allies. 4 a.m. ET China says it will retaliate against any move by the U.S. to impose punishing tariffs on tens of billions of dollars of Chinese goods. Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Friday that China's response would be immediate and that Beijing would "take necessary measures to defend our legitimate rights and interests." Geng gave no details but said both the foreign and commerce ministries had made formal responses to earlier U.S. statements. Beijing has also drawn up a list of $50 billion in U.S. products that would face retaliatory tariffs, including beef and soybeans a shot at Trump's supporters in rural America. Trump reportedly met Thursday with several Cabinet members and trade advisers and was expected to impose tariffs on at least $35 billion to $40 billion of Chinese imports. Facebook plans on hiring as many people as possible from Alabama to fill the 100 positions at the new $750 million data center. Teens in town for a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathmatics camp are excited at the possibility of being able to work there once its up and running in 2020. Jana Houser is one of 64 four teenage girls in Huntsville for the STEM camp partnering with the University of Alabama Huntsville. "I'm learning so much stuff. I'm getting so much new experience its crazy. My mind is just psch (mind blown gesture)," said Houser. Camp organizers said the camp is a stepping stone for the young women to get the knowledge they need to get the jobs at Facebook. Governor Kay Ivey touted Alabama's work force as a reason why Facebook will love calling north Alabama home. "I know you will no be disappointed in the employees that you hire here at facebook. Our people are well trained, they're eager to work, they're ready to work, and when Alabamians are given the opportunity to work they do so with vigor," said Govenor Ivey. On top of the infrastructure established in the area, Facebook said the workers in Alabama are a major reason they chose us. "Obviously the great talent pool that you heard the mayor and the governor speak about," said Facebook Spokesman Matt VanderZanden. The company will start posting all sorts of long term positions in the coming weeks and months. "It's a very sophisticated facility with a lot of electronic and mechanical gear, so we're looking for people to maintain and update that gear, so electrical engineers, technicians, mechanical HVAC specialists, and then we also have down to security and culinary, so all variety of jobs on the campus," said VanderZanden. Houser said many of the girls in town for the camp are excited by the possibility of working for Facebook in the future. "I would say over half of them would be very good for that job," said Houser. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle told WAAY 31 there is an 8:1 job multiplier attached to the 100 jobs at the data center. Meaning an additional 800 jobs could be brought to the area simply because of the data center being here. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning people about melons in 25 states -- including Alabama -- that may contain salmonella. Caito Foods LLC is recalling fruit salad mixes that contain pre-cut melons. The mixes were sold under several different brands in Alabama and Tennessee at Costco, Kroger, Sprout's, Walgreens, Walmart and Whole Foods stores. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 60 people in five midwestern states were reported sick during the month of May. In those cases, 31 people were hospitalized. For more information on the specific products being recalled, click here. Officials said the products were packaged in clear clamshell packaging. Anyone who has any of the affected products is asked to throw them away or take them back to the store they brought them from for a refund. People who think they have symptoms of a Salmonella infection are advised to contact their health care provider, the FDA said. HONOLULU (AP) - President Donald Trump has approved federal disaster aid for residents whose homes were destroyed or damaged because of the Kilauea volcano eruption in Hawaii. Gov. David Ige says Trump approved the request for individual assistance on Thursday. Ige says qualifying residents may receive help from the federal government for issues such as shelter, unemployment, trauma and legal matters. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed since May 3, when Kilauea erupted and opened fissures that oozed lava across a mostly rural section of the Big Island. Hawaii's congressional delegation urged Trump to act quickly on Ige's request. They note the eruption includes fountains of lava shooting several hundred feet high, ash and toxic gases in the air and lava covering roads, electricity lines and neighborhoods. (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) 6/14/2018 9:02:49 PM (GMT -5:00) Two people are facing charges that they stole from storage units in Athens. Brandon Wayne Cole, 35, and Lauren Ashley Moore Tapscott, 33, both of Decatur, are each charged with six counts of third-degree burglary. Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson said the two are accused of breaking into storage units at Westside Mini Storage on Kinds Drive and M&M Mini Storage on Lucasferry Road. Johnson said there have been several burglaries at storage units since May. Fishing equipment, tools, vacuums, dishes, a laptop computer and appliances were among the items stolen, he said. Cole's and Tapscott's bonds were set at $15,000 each. Jail records indicated they were both still in the Limestone County Jail Friday afternoon. The Madison County Sheriff's office arrested two men for capital murder in connection to the death of 13-year-old Mariah Lopez. 26-year-old Yoni Aguilar and 34-year-old Israel Gonzalez Palomino are both in the Madison County Jail without bond. According to jail records, Aguilar and Palomino are charged with the murder of someone 14 years of age or younger. It's unclear what their connection is to the investigation right now. Madison County authorities said they found Lopez's body in a woodline on Lemley Drive in the Owens Cross Roads area last week. Forensic experts were able to identify the body as Lopez. Investigators said Friday they believe that Lopez was murdered at the spot where her body was found. Authorities are still searching for her grandmother, Oralia Mendoza, 49. She was reported as missing and police said Thursday she may be in danger. Lopez attended school at Challenger Middle School in Huntsville. Sheriff's office investigators said Lopez and Mendoza both knew Aguilar and Palomino, but didn't release any other details. Additional information on the arrests is expected to be announced later. A van ran into a Huntsville gas station Friday morning after police said the driver tried to avoid a wreck. The wreck happened around 11:15 a.m. at the Atlantis gas station, which is located at the corner of Rideout and Old Monrovia roads. Police said the driver of the van swerved into oncoming traffic to avoid rear-ending another vehicle, and then swerved into the gas station to avoid a head-on collision. The van crashed into the building. Huntsville Utilities came out to cut power and water service to the gas station. 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. Paducah Man Charged with Rape of Child Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Jun. 14, 2018 | PADUCAH By West Kentucky Star Staff Jun. 14, 2018 | 04:05 PM | PADUCAH A Paducah man has been arrested after allegedly raping a six-year-old girl and videoing the abuse. According to Paducah Police, officers were called at 7:30 Wednesday morning to a home where a woman told them she had found a video of a man engaging in sexual activity with her six-year-old daughter. Officers said the woman and the accused man are acquainted. The child was taken by the woman and police officers to a local hospital for treatment. Police then went to the home of 23-year-old Tirrell L. Vasser. When they confronted him, he attempted to run, but was caught after a scuffle. Two officers were hurt in the incident, one of whom sought medical attention. Vasser was arrested on charges of first-degree rape, use of a minor in a sexual performance (physical injury), possessing/viewing matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor, resisting arrest, and first-degree fleeing or evading police (on foot). He was booked into the McCracken County Regional Jail. Geneva, June 14 (Web Desk): The United Nations in its first-ever human rights report on Jammu and Kashmir called for an urgent need to address past and ongoing human rights violations and abuses and deliver justice for all people in Kashmir, who, it said, for seven decades have suffered a conflict that has claimed or ruined numerous lives. The report released by the United Nations Human Rights Office in Geneva on Thursday mainly focuses on the human rights situation in the Indian occupied Kashmir from July 2016 to April 2018. The 49-page report by the UN on the human rights situation in Kashmir highlights a situation of chronic impunity for human rights violations committed by the security forces. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein said, The political dimensions of the dispute between India and Pakistan have long been centre-stage, but this is not a conflict frozen in time. It is a conflict that has robbed millions of their basic human rights, and continues to this day to inflict untold suffering. This is why any resolution of the political situation in Kashmir must entail a commitment to end the cycles of violence and ensure accountability for past and current violations and abuses by all parties, and provide redress for victims, he said. It is also why I will be urging the UN Human Rights Council to consider establishing a commission of inquiry to conduct a comprehensive independent international investigation into allegations of human rights violations in Kashmir, said Zeid. He called on the Indian forces to exercise maximum restraint, and strictly abide by international standards governing the use of force when dealing with future protests, including ones that could well occur this coming weekend. It is essential the Indian authorities take immediate and effective steps to avoid a repetition of the numerous examples of excessive use of force by security forces in Kashmir, Zeid said. The main focus of the report is the human rights situation in the Indian occupied Kashmir from July 2016 when large and unprecedented demonstrations erupted after Indian security forces killed Burhan Muzaffar Wani- to April 2018. Indian security forces used excessive force that led to unlawful killings and a very high number of injuries, the report said, citing civil society estimates that up to 145 civilians were killed by the security forces between mid-July 2016 and the end of March 2018, it said. It said one of the most dangerous weapons used against protesters in 2016 and which is still being employed by security forces was the pellet-firing shotgun. According to official figures, 17 people were killed by shotgun pellets between July 2016 and August 2017, and 6,221 people were injured by the metal pellets between 2016 and March 2017. Civil society organizations believe that many of them have been partially or completely blinded, the report said. Impunity for human rights violations and lack of access to justice are key human rights challenges in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the report says, noting that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Public Safety Act (PSA) have created structures that obstruct the normal course of law, impede accountability and jeopardize the right to remedy for victims of human rights violations. The AFSPA prohibits prosecution of security forces personnel unless the Indian Government grants prior permission to prosecute, it noted. This gives security forces virtual immunity against prosecution for any human rights violation. In the nearly 28 years that the law has been in force in Jammu and Kashmir there has not been a single prosecution of armed forces personnel granted by the central government, the report says. There is also almost total impunity for enforced or involuntary disappearances, with little movement towards credibly investigating complaints, including into sites of mass graves in the Kashmir Valley and Jammu region, it said. Citing Kunan-Poshpora mass rape it said chronic impunity for sexual violence also remains a key concern in Kashmir. An emblematic case is the Kunan-Poshpora mass rape 27 years ago when, according to survivors, soldiers gang-raped 23 women. Attempts to seek justice have been denied and blocked over the years at different levels, the report says. 4 dead, 8 injured in truck-microbus collision along Prithvi Highway A truck and a microbus collided at Ichhakamana Rural Municipality along the Prithvi Highway on Friday killing four people and leaving eight others injured. Breakthrough expected in Nepal-India air route talks The eagerly awaited Nepal-India air routes talks started in Kathmandu on Thursday, raising hopes that cross-border airspace issues that have been pending for the last five years will be sorted out. CHARLESTON, W.Va. Believe in yourself, take risks, and empower each other were the messages[Read More] China South Asia Expo has 200 Nepali stalls The fifth China South Asia Exposition kicked off on Thursday in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province of China. Darshana files RTI application seeking details of Rani Pokhari reconstruction Bibeksheel Sajha Party leader Ranju Darshana has filed right to information application at the Kathmandu Metropolitan City and the Department of Archaeology, seeking details about Rani Pokhari reconstruction project. Four APF personnel including DSP suspended for timber smuggling The Armed Police Force (APF) has suspended DSP Ram Prasad Bhandari and three constables on charge of smuggling timber in a vehicle of APF Arun Gulma based in Chainpur, Sankhuwasabha. Close Get email notifications on Louis Weisberg daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. Whenever Louis Weisberg posts new content, you'll get an email delivered to your inbox with a link. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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! Home minister seeks recommendations from NGO Federation Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa has sought recommendations in writing from officials of NGO Federation over the measures introduced by the government to monitor the activities of non-government organisations. Meat-heavy Menu at UN Climate Conference Could Contribute 4,000 Metric Tons of Greenhouse Gases NRDC: Bush Leaves Lasting Legacy of Achievement in Clean Air and Public Health Brennan Center Statement on the Death of President George H.W. Bush Whats Stronger Than a Blue Wave? Gerrymandered Districts Pennsylvania Commits to New Voting Machines, Election Audits If We Want to Fight Hate, We Need to Do A Better Job Tracking It Trump May Fire Mueller, But He Can't Fire Mueller's Grand Jury The Prison Reform Bill Is Being Held Prisoner by Mitch McConnell Sanderson Farms Commits to Improving Antibiotics Use in Chicken NCP holding two positions in House unconstitutional Nepali Congress has demanded either the Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the Lower House should resign and make way for a candidate who is not a member of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP). NEA warns factories to install capacitor banks The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) warned factories operating without a capacitor bank that their electricity supply could be cut off. The Justice Department's internal watchdog will issue a wide-ranging report Thursday afternoon on how top federal officials handled the investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while secretary of state. Over 17 months in the making, the report -- anticipated to be released at 2 p.m. ET, according to a source familiar with the plan -- is expected to walk through a sequence of key events leading up to the 2016 election. Its intent was to provide a non-partisan examination of how the Justice Department and FBI operated during one of the most closely scrutinized investigations in decades. But the practical effect of Inspector General Michael Horowitz's findings will likely now pour lighter fluid on an already heated debate about the actions and motivations of law enforcement that has continued to simmer throughout the Trump administration. Here's what to know: Why does this report matter? President Donald Trump has repeatedly asserted that the FBI botched the Clinton email investigation. He's suggested -- without any factual support -- that the investigation was "rigged" in her favor. Horowitz has said that he's looking into whether investigative decisions were based on "improper considerations," but it's unclear how deeply he will explore the underlying motives of the top decisionmakers at the Justice Department and FBI. Horowitz is also expected to provide a frank assessment of how former FBI Director James Comey ignored longstanding departmental norms at key moments in the Clinton probe. From a practical standpoint, Comey's "punishment" for any claims of insubordination came over a year ago, when Trump summarily fired him. However, Trump's original justification for axing Comey -- failing to follow Justice Department protocols -- quickly fell by the wayside when Trump said he did it with the "Russia thing" on this mind. More recently, the President has signaled a hope that the inspector general's report will vindicate his instincts on Comey. "When will people start saying, 'thank you, Mr. President, for firing James Comey?'" Trump tweeted last week, later telling reporters that when the inspector general's report is released on Thursday, it may be "a nice birthday present." Comey's actions and motivations The report will review the series of events leading up to Comey's decision in July 2016 to announce publicly, without Justice Department approval, that while he found Clinton's actions "extremely careless," he would not recommend charges against her. The Justice Department also advised Comey that his intent -- to reveal to Capitol Hill just days before the November 2016 election that FBI agents had recovered additional emails possibly relevant to the Clinton probe -- would run counter to department policy, and yet he did it anyway. Comey has defended himself at length in his book and during interviews, but look for how the inspector general treats his admission that a belief Clinton would win the election subconsciously influenced his actions. What about Loretta Lynch's meeting with President Bill Clinton? To be sure, Horowitz will confront a broader set of actions taken by former senior officials at the Justice Department as well. In the midst of the Clinton email probe, then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch privately met with former President Bill Clinton for roughly 30 minutes on a tarmac in Arizona. As time has passed, Lynch has said she regretted the encounter, but she never formally recused herself from the investigation -- instead saying she would accept the recommendations of career Justice Department staff and the FBI. Andrew McCabe, text messages, and leaks Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe will also face scrutiny for the apparent month-long delay between the time that agents discovered possible Clinton investigation-related emails on former Rep. Anthony Weiner's laptop and when the FBI finally obtained a search warrant. Trump regularly claims McCabe had a conflict of interest in overseeing the FBI's investigation into Clinton, given that his wife received campaign donations from a Clinton ally. But Jill McCabe received those donations from a PAC affiliated with then-Democratic Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe before McCabe oversaw the Clinton probe. An open question is whether McCabe should have recused himself from the investigation earlier. And two other senior-level FBI officials, Lisa Page and Peter Strzok, have come under fire for regularly trading barbs about Trump on their work phones, making Horowitz's judgment on their conduct another issue to watch. The pair, who were engaged in a romantic relationship for a period of time, have come under scrutiny by Trump and his allies on Capitol Hill given their brief stints on the special counsel's team. Page left the FBI in May but Strzok, once the No. 2 in the counterintelligence division, remains at the bureau, now stationed in human resources. And while leaks from the FBI to the news media are expected to be under review, so too are allegations of improper disclosures from the Justice Department to the Clinton campaign. When Horowitz announced the review in January 2017, he said it would address accusations that Peter Kadzik, the former head of legislative affairs at DOJ, gave "non-public information" to Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta, after reports on stolen emails from WikiLeaks revealed Kadzik sent a "heads up" about a congressional hearing where another Justice official was likely to be questioned about Clinton's email use. With his first meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un behind him, President Donald Trump is turning his attention to the possibility of another marquee summit: with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Moscow and Washington are "exploring" the possibility of a meeting between the two leaders, according to US officials and a Russian media report. "I don't think any decisions have been made, or details have been worked out, but I believe both sides are exploring an opportunity to try to do that," Richard Hooker, special assistant to the President and senior director for Europe and Russia in the US National Security Council, told Russia's state-owned news outlet TASS when asked if the two sides were preparing for a sit-down. A US official told CNN that Moscow is pushing for a meeting. While nothing is imminent, the official acknowledged there are ongoing discussions of setting up a Putin-Trump face-to-face. Another source with the National Security Council said a meeting "is being worked on" and a diplomatic source added that a meeting is likely to happen soon. While Trump and Putin have met before on the sidelines of global forums, the preliminary discussions of a one-on-one summit are shining a new light on the complicated relationship between the leaders. Earlier this month, Putin said he speaks regularly with Trump and they have met in person twice since Trump took office -- once at a formal bilateral meeting in Germany and once on the sidelines of a leaders' summit in Vietnam. The two have talked on the phone eight times since Trump assumed the presidency, according to readouts distributed by the White House -- a pace that is roughly equivalent to the number of phone calls President Barack Obama had with Putin in his final two years in office. They spoke nine times in 2015 and 2016. Last year, Trump met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Sergey Kisylak, who was Russia's ambassador to the US at the time. Russian state media posted photos of that Oval Office meeting. Bolton focused on Russia With the first major hurdle of the North Korea negotiations behind the Trump administration and Secretary of State Mike Pomepo focused on the next steps, national security adviser John Bolton has taken the reins when it comes to dealing with Moscow. He is set to meet with Russian officials later this month in what is described as a pre-NATO meeting, according to US officials. NATO heads of state and government are scheduled to meet early next month in Brussels, Belgium. In April, Bolton met with Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov for the first time since both men assumed their current roles. "Bolton reiterated that it is in the interest of both the United States and Russia to have better relations, but that this will require addressing our concerns regarding Russia's interference in the 2016 election, the reckless use of a chemical weapon in the United Kingdom, and the situations in Ukraine and Syria," the White House statement said at the time. The meeting came amid heightened tensions between the two nations over Syria, the poisoning in the UK of a former Russian spy and the ongoing special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US election. Several officials across the US government have been meeting with their Russian counterparts in recent months, discussing issues facing both countries, like operations inside Syria and the overall security situation in Europe. America's top military officer, Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has recently been actively engaged with his Russian counterpart, Gen. Valery Gerasimov. The two generals met in Helsinki, Finland, last week and spoke again on the phone Thursday. They also spoke on the phone several times in March. Russian and US defense officials have said the calls have largely focused on Syria and the de-confliction of Russian- and US-backed forces. Those March conversations have helped avert clashes between US- and Russian-backed forces in Syria, like the one that occurred in February and left scores of Russian contractors dead, according to Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis. Shortly after the US-led strikes in Syria on suspected chemical weapons facilities in April, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander US Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti met with Gerasimov in Azerbaijan. A statement from NATO at the time read, "This face-to-face meeting demonstrates a clear mutual interest to maintain the military lines of communication, to align with NATO's policy of dialogue and transparency." Cautious communication Though US officials have been communicating with Russian officials, a source close to the administration told CNN that despite Trump's rhetoric indicating a desire to work more closely with Russia, top officials have maintained skepticism about interacting with Moscow and a more realistic view of Putin's broader strategic goals -- pointing out that as a whole, the administration has implemented several tough policy measures, including new sanctions and expelling Russian diplomats, in recent months. Specifically, this source said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Bolton have demonstrated more hawkish views on Russia and that there is a general sense among officials that the administration continues to be tough on Moscow despite acknowledging that those policies seem to clash at times with the President's optimistic comments about areas of possible collaboration. "The President has long expressed a desire to work more closely with Russia," the source said, adding that administration officials think they are doing what they can on the policy side to hold Moscow accountable. In a Fox News interview on June 3, US Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman said any potential meeting "would be a ways off and the President at the right time will say what needs to be said." "The White House will obviously make an announcement but I think the President has stated before that he would like to get together with President Putin at some point and solve some of the issues between us, and that's a good thing," he said. UPDATE- Oneida County Executive, Anthony Picente said this is strictly a military investigation and the National Transportation Safety Board is not involved. Griffiss International Airport Commissioner, Chad Lawrence said Debris from the helicopter damaged some of the buildings near where the helicopter hit the tower. He confirmed this military will pay for damages. ROME The U.S. military is investigating a crash after a helicopter came into contact with a tower at Griffiss International Airport late Thursday night. Oneida County 911 first reported an aircraft crash at Griffiss International Airport just after 11 p.m. Thursday night. Multiple agencies were dispatched to the scene. Police had the area around 592 Hanger Road at Griffiss International Airport blocked off well into the night to ensure the security of the area. Oneida County Executive and Griffiss Airport Commissioner confirmed to NEWSChannel 2 that the helicopter was not flying, but taxiing when it crashed into the tower. Six military personnel were on board the helicopter at the time of the crash. There was one minor injury and that person was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The tower had minimal damage and the helicopter, which is based out of Fort Drum, suffered most of the damage. Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente said there were no fuel issues or hazardous materials. He added that officials do not believe the cause of the crash is anything of concern. The airport is back open and operating normally. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. We will continue to follow this story and provide you with updates as soon as they become available. A truck driver from Lee Center is facing charges for alleged Workers Compensation fraud, according to New York State Workers Compensation Fraud Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott. Roger Decker Jr., 48, is charged with the felonies of third-degree falsifying business records, first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, third-degree insurance fraud, first-degree perjury, and third-degree grand larceny. According to Leahy Scott, Decker was injured while working for an Oneida County trucking company in 2004 and shortly afterward he stopped working and started collecting Workers Compensation benefits. Decker is accused of submitting falsified forms to the state Workers Compensation Board and his physician in 2016 and 2017, and he allegedly testified at a WCB hearing that he hadnt worked for more than a decade, when he was actually working for at least two trucking companies, according to Leahy Scott. Decker is accused of receiving a total of $7,875.08 in Workers Compensation benefits in 2016 that he wasnt entitled to. Leah Scott says Decker, who recently took a job with New York State, also falsified documents submitted as part of his job application with the state. Decker was arraigned on the charges and released on his own recognizance pending further court action. ONEIDA COUNTY, N.Y.-- While annual Flag Day ceremonies honor Old Glory, the increasingly tense political climate is causing a divide in what the stars and stripes represent to local voters. On Thursday, two different rallies took place in Oneida County, each under the same flag. However, the messages espoused were polar opposites. In Rome, supporters of President Donald Trump gathered outside Fort Stanwix to celebrate both the American Flag and the commander in chief's birthday. "He's going for a strong nation, strong borders, and trying to make a firm stand and that's what I believe in," John F. Boss, a veteran and rally participant said. "I try to talk to people about making an educated vote, making a vote that's going to be good for America, not just for what my interests are, but what's good for America on the broad spectrum." "Today, America's values are being completely treaded upon by people that, they believe they're Americans but they're not," David Althouse, another Pro-Trump marcher said. "They are acting completely un-American. Every right that we have is being chiseled away little by little." In Utica, a protest lined the roundabout at Oneida Square. The 'Families Belong Together' demonstration was critical of the White House's "zero tolerance" policy regarding immigration. Their concern is that children of immigrants seeking asylum are being separated from their parents. "Our American values are family values, where children are with their families, where people can expect decent, humane treatment and safety from the government," Jen DeWeerth, a protestor said. "I don't really care if it's illegally or if it's seeking asylum, you don't treat people like rats," Kelli Samson, another protestor said. "He doesn't have a heart and if he doesn't have one now, he's not going to have one." The Utica man considered to be one of the top offenders of gun violence in the city has been sentenced to prison time. Following a three-day jury trial, 20-year-old Mizziah Murray was convicted of felony second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree obstructing governmental administration. He was sentenced Friday to nine years in state prison with five years of post-release supervision, according to the Oneida County District Attorneys Office. The DAs Office said previously that Murray was arrested by the Utica Police Department as part of a Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) detail on Aug. 21, 2017. The department had classified Murray as a Top 10 GIVE Offender. Anil Giri is a reporter covering diplomacy, international relations and national politics for The Kathmandu Post. Giri has been working as a journalist for a decade-and-a-half, contributing to numerous national and international media outlets. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) West Lafayette police released more photos Thursday of a bank robbery suspect. Around 1 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, a man walked into Horizon Bank showed a gun and robbed the bank. Related: Search continues for man who robbed Horizon Bank An undisclosed amount of cash was taken. No injuries were reported. The bank is located at 1980 Northwestern Ave near the Faith West Community Center. Anyone with any possible information regarding the robbery is asked to contact the West Lafayette Police Department at 765-775-5200 or the WeTip Hotline at (800)-78-CRIME for a possible cash reward LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI)-- A new law banning colored lights on vehicles will take effect next month. Starting July 1st. Vehicles with colored trim around the headlights or underneath the car will be a violation of the new law. Proformance Sound & Graphics owner Kevin Critser has his car decked out with these lights. "I install it, I use it, and a lot of my customers they use them as well too," said Critser. According to him, the new law banning colored lights around headlights and underneath vehicles will only bring in more customers. "When there is an increase on a certain type of lighting, the demand goes up." Indiana Police Sergeant Kim Riley said he pulls people over for intimidating officers. The intent of the law is to prevent drivers from confusing emergency vehicles with regular cars. "I have reports of people using those lights to flash back and forth to try to get people out of their way," Riley said. "People will get over thinking it's a police car and then here comes mom and her minivan through." Now that statement changed Critser's mind. "Imitating a police officer and having cool colors underneath your car would be two different things," said Crister. Critser thinks having some kind of light underneath cars would actually help drivers stay aware. "To have that extra assurance to have those lights underneath your car, when you're driving at night, it definitely keeps the other vehicles away from you." Instead of banning the lights completely, he thinks making some adjustments would work better for everyone. "As long as they're used properly and installed properly, there isn't an issue." State police said if underbody lights are visible from the front or back of the car they could result in a ticket. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (Purdue News/WLFI) The Purdue University Board of Trustees on Friday approved the naming and renaming of several programs, areas, and facilities, along with the creation of a new doctoral program in technology. According to a Purdue University press release the changes are as follows: For the West Lafayette campus, trustees approved renaming the: Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Visual and Performing Arts to the Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Design, Art, and Performance. Miriam Peelle Kimmell Laboratory to the Chester V. and Miriam Peelle Kimmell Laboratory in the Hobart and Russell Creighton Hall of Animal Sciences. In recognition of gifts to the university, the board approved three additional namings on the main campus: For a $1 million gift from Marshall and Susan Larsen, the Krannert Leaders Academy to the Marshall and Susan Larsen Leaders Academy. * For a $1.5 million gift from Ed and Beatriz Schweitzer, the Schweitzer Power and Energy Systems Research Area in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. * For a $2.5 million gift from Parker Hannifin Corp., the Parker Wing in the forthcoming new Agricultural and Biological Engineering building. For the Purdue Fort Wayne campus, trustees approved renaming the: Organizational Leadership and Supervision graduate program to Organizational Leadership. Department of Economics to the Department of Economics and Finance, and the Department of Accounting and Finance to the Department of Accounting. As part of the renaming of the two departments, the finance program at Purdue Fort Wayne will now be part of the new Department of Economics and Finance. It was previously part of the former Department of Accounting and Finance. Trustees also approved the naming of the Purdue Fort Wayne Sweetwater Music Center in recognition of Chuck and Lisa Surack and Sweetwater Sound Inc.s past and current support of Purdue Fort Wayne. The center is housed on the Sweetwater Sound Inc. corporate campus in Fort Wayne. In other board action, trustees endorsed the creation of a new Doctor of Technology degree program, which is subject to approval by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, and to phase out the system-wide online Collaborative Doctor of Nursing Practice (CDNP) program, which had allowed online DNP programs on the West Lafayette, Fort Wayne, and Northwest campuses to independently admit students while sharing course offerings and faculty responsibilities. Each campus will continue to offer shared courses while operating independent DNP programs. Nepali Muslims welcome Eid al-Fitr (In Photos) Thousands of Muslims gathered at the Kashmiri Takiya Jame Masjid, Ghantagar, to offer prayers on the last Friday of Ramadan. Eid is the festival to exchange happiness. Consortium chosen for Bruce retubing 15 June 2018 Share Bruce Power has awarded a CAD475 million (USD361 million) contract for the retubing of Bruce 6 - one of the key contracts for its Major Component Replacement (MCR) project - to the Shoreline Power Group, a consortium of Aecon, AECOM and SNC-Lavalin. The joint venture has also signed a Preferred Supplier Agreement under which it could be awarded similar contracts for five further Bruce units. Celebrating the announcement yesterday, from left to right: Lisa Thompson, member of the Provincial Parliament (MPP); Art Lembo, AECOM; Sandy Taylor, SNC-Lavalin; Mike Rencheck, Bruce Power; John Beck, Aecon; Mike Harris, former premier of Ontario; and Bill Walker, MPP. (Image: Bruce Power) The scope of work covered by the contract includes planning and carrying out the removal and replacement of calandria tubes, pressure tubes and feeders for Bruce unit 6. The joint venture will also be responsible for the management of the complex robotic tooling required for the work, along with full training of the workforce. The consortium has already begun to mobilise for the retube, which is scheduled to begin in 2020 for completion in the third quarter of 2022. MCRs are to be carried out at Bruce units 3-8 as part of Bruce Power's Life Extension Programme, which will enable the Bruce A and B nuclear power plants to operate until 2064. Units 1 and 2 at Bruce A have already been refurbished. Extension of Shoreline Power's contract to the other five Candu units, which are scheduled to be refurbished over the next 16 years, would depend on demonstrated success at unit 6. "As Canada's largest public-private partnership, Bruce Power will continue to meet all investment requirements related to this multi-year programme, and, through continued strong and efficient performance, will provide low-cost power to the province through 2064," Bruce Power President and CEO Mike Rencheck said yesterday. "We are making this key contract award today with the confidence that the members of the Shoreline Power Group have demonstrated the experience, commitment and dedication to safety, quality, productivity and innovation to enable us to keep our Life Extension Programme on time and on budget." Canadian construction and infrastructure company Aecon and US-based engineering company AECOM are already involved in the removal and replacement of Bruce 6's eight steam generators through a joint venture with Areva NP under a contract worth CAD150 million. The replacement steam generators are being manufactured by BWXT Canada Ltd, under a contract worth CAD100 million announced in 2016. Bruce Power in October 2016 signed a framework agreement with SNC-Lavalin in preparation fo the refurbishment programme. The Canada-based company has carried out Candu reactor refurbishments worldwide, and Sandy Taylor, the company's president, said the company would use its "deep knowledge base and decades of Candu experience to confidently fulfil the refurbishment needs". Mike Harris, who was premier of Ontario at the time of Bruce Power's formation as a public-private partnership in 2001, attended the announcement of the contract. "It wasn't that long ago that the Bruce site was a facility with only half of its units operating with an end of life in 2018," Harris said yesterday. "In fact, without the transformation Bruce Power has undertaken since 2001, we would be standing today at a facility with all of its units shut down. I'm pleased that, through the public-private partnership between the province and Bruce Power, we have a very different future today. All eight units are generating low-cost power for families and business, and this private-sector investment programme will allow the company to do this for many decades to come." Researched and written by World Nuclear News Early closure for Korea's oldest operating reactor 15 June 2018 Share Unit 1 of the Wolsong nuclear power plant will be retired prior to the expiration of its operating licence in 2022, Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP) announced today as it also cancelled plans for four new reactors. The move is in line with the South Korean government's policy to phase out the use of nuclear energy. Wolsong unit 1 (Image: KHNP) State-owned KHNP said its board had made the decision for the early closure of Wolsong 1 at a meeting today in Seoul. In a statement, the company said its decision was based on the "uncertain economic viability" of its continued operation and recent low operating performance. KHNP said it will "proceed with a follow-up process to acquire a licence under the Nuclear Safety Act to change [the unit's status] to permanent suspension of operation". South Korean President Moon Jae-in was one of seven candidates in the May 2017 presidential election who signed an agreement in March for a "common policy" for phasing out the country's use of nuclear energy. At a ceremony last June to mark the permanent shutdown of Kori unit 1, he said plans for new power reactors will be cancelled and the operating periods of existing units will not be extended beyond their design life. "According to the government's energy policy shift, we have reviewed the operational plans of the Wolsong reactors several times and concluded [that] keeping Wolsong unit 1 operating under strengthened safety regulations would not be economical," KHNP CEO Chung Jae-hoon was quoted as saying by the Korea Times. Wolsong 1 - which became the country's oldest operating power reactor following the closure of Kori 1 - is a Candu 6 pressurised heavy water reactor that began generating electricity in 1983. It was taken out of operation in April 2009 for an extended maintenance outage that included replacement of all its pressure tubes and calandria tubes. The reactor - in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province - came back into operation in July 2011 with its performance raised from 629 MWe to 657 MWe. However, Wolsong 1 was taken offline again when its operating licence expired around the end of 2012. The refurbished and uprated reactor eventually restarted in June 2015 after being issued with a new operating licence, which expires in November 2022. The reactor has been offline since last month for a scheduled maintenance outage. KHNP's board also today took the decision to cancel plans for four new reactors. Two units had been planned at Cheonji in Yeongdeok County, North Gyeongsang province. Two further units had been planned either at Cheonji or at Daejin in Samcheok, Gangwon province. The company said it will sell land it has already purchased for the Cheonji plant. Jae-hoon told the Korea Times plans for the units had been "terminated in order to eradicate uncertainties in the KHNP's management and restore smooth relations with local residents". "KHNP has decided to work closely with the government on matters related to the maintenance of legitimate and legal expenses incurred in accordance with the decision of the board of directors, and believes that there will be no problem of employment anxiety for employees due to the early closure of Wolsong 1," the company said. South Korea has 24 power reactors in operation with a combined generating capacity of 22,505 MWe. Together they provide about one-third of the country's electricity. Two new reactors are currently under construction. The government has pledged to scrap new nuclear programs and not to extend the operation of existing facilities to decrease the number of reactors to 14 by 2038. Researched and written by World Nuclear News Related topics Olis foreign policy Nepals foreign policy under Prime Minister KP Oli has been a matter of serious discussion in the public domain. Given Olis past public remarks and the joint election manifesto of the then CPN-UML and the Maoist Centre with regards to Nepals foreign policy, it is posited that Oli may fail to balance relations with the countrys immediate neighbours, India and China. 50mph speed limit to lower nitrogen dioxide on part of Wrexham bypass starts next week This article is old - Published: Friday, Jun 15th, 2018 A temporary speed limit will be introduced on a stretch of the A483 from next week in a bid to reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide. The 50mph speed limit between Mold Road B&Q roundabout and Gresford will come into force on Monday 18th June. It comes as a result of Welsh Government action to try and reduce nitrogen dioxide emissions on some of the busiest stretches of roads across Wales by 18 per cent. The temporary 50 mph speed limits will be introduced at short stretches of road, at the following 5 locations: A494 at Deeside A483 at Wrexham M4 between junctions 41 & 42 (P Talbot) M4 between junctions 25 & 26 (Newport) A470 between Upper Boat & Ppridd Hannah Blythyn (@wgmin_enviro) June 14, 2018 Earlier this year it was announced that the temporary 50mph speed limits would be introduced at five locations where levels are currently above legal limits of nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Such locations include the A483 in Wrexham, the A494 at Deeside, M4 between junctions 41 & 42 (Port Talbot), M4 between junctions 25 & 26 (Newport) and the A470 between Upper Boat & Pontypridd. Other measures announced by the Welsh Governments Minister for Environment, Hannah Blythen, earlier this year included a 20m fund to reduce emissions and improve the environment in Wales. The Air Quality Fund, which will run until 2021, will support local authorities to comply with nitrogen dioxide limits and improve air quality in their areas. When we first announced this scheme was being implemented back in April one of the main criticisms revolved around the inefficiencies of people braking down from 70 (or more!) to 50, and then using more emissions creating acceleration after the 50 zone ends. In the public documentation of the scheme there is no indication on if that is being measured, or if it has been taken into account. Early morning police helicopter over Wrexham due to youths trying vehicle doors This article is old - Published: Friday, Jun 15th, 2018 Police helicopter activity over parts of Wrexham in the early hours of this morning has been explained, with confirmation that a person was arrested. Shortly before 12:30am the police helicopter appeared in the skies over the Gwersyllt, Pandy and Pentre Broughton areas of Wrexham. Police helicopter lowish over Gwersyllt doing loops pic.twitter.com/BDnUqxVW0M Wrexham.com (@wrexham) June 14, 2018 After being airborne for around 40 minutes the helicopter returned to its base in Harwarden. and with that it is gone back to base! Sweetdreams everyone pic.twitter.com/HDU6JTr0Z6 Wrexham.com (@wrexham) June 15, 2018 This morning we queried the thankfully unusual air-action, and were told that the helicopter was flying in the area following reports that youths had been seen trying vehicle doors. A spokesperson for North Wales Police also told us that as a result a youth was later arrested. Residents told us in the early hours that lots of police were seen in the area below the helicopter search, including police dog units. Town centre community clean up to take place next week Executive Board member to help remove fly posters Council itself wont touch This article is old - Published: Friday, Jun 15th, 2018 A team of volunteers will take to the streets next week to take part in one of the towns community clean-up events. Organised by Gresford Councillor Andrew Atkinson, members of the Wrexham Business Group Community Interest Company and Gateway Church, the clean-up will take place at Bank Street on Sunday 24th June at 10am. The event is one of a series to have taken part in recent years, with an inaugural community clean-up taking place in spring 2015. The clean-ups bring together volunteers from the Town Centre Forum, the local community, some councillors, local businesses and Gateway Church. They are also supported by Wrexham County Borough Council and Keep Wales Tidy, as well as large multi-nationals like Co-op, Greggs and McDonalds. Previous events have seen volunteers tackle Lord Street, Regent Street, Hope Street and Henblas St. Its all about doing anything we can to take pride in our town, explained Cllr Atkinson. We will be tackling graffiti, fly-posters and mess left in empty shops as well as sprucing up the town and giving things a lick of paint. As always, Gateway Church deserve special recognition for what they do to assist us in the town with these clean-up days. Once again they have changed their church service time to the late afternoon so that they can bring the whole church along to help. Its amazing and its a really big help. Recently the issue of fly posting removal was raised at the Town Centre Forum (our report here) and it appeared the message to the Forum was the Council was unable to remove fly posters due to them being placed on private property despite clean up days such as these being referred to where such a barrier has never been a problem. Since the meeting it was pointed out that Kingdom Enforcement, famed for their ticketing of smaller waste cigarette ends, are allowed to taken action on private land. The Forum will be told the legalities of the fly posters at their next meeting. We have been told that the fly posting that was removed after the Forum meeting was not removed by Wrexham Council. Some of the fly posters in town have been removed although due to how some were affixed it seems the remnants will be there for a long while yet pic.twitter.com/JxgibKR5R0 Wrexham.com (@wrexham) June 7, 2018 We did ask Wrexham Council if any enforcement action was being taken against those fly postering, as the UK Government define it as a criminal offence and some councils have issued fines (and themselves cancelled posters!), and if not, why that was not possible. We have not yet been given any official verdict, however it seems the Council are supporting this clean up, and at least one Executive Board member will be present at the removal of fly posters. The issue of empty shops and the impact of their disused frontages is a long standing one. Back in 2015 three councillors, who are all now on the Executive Board were pictured outside the old Iceland store launching a campaign to sort out unsightly frontages of empty stores. This was followed by another town centre campaign that resulted in good looking vinyls on some empty shop frontages. The prediction at the recent Forum meeting that the posters will just breed more appears true, as after one sign appears to have been scraped off another is in its place this week along with other signs on street furniture. If youd like to help or would like more information you can contact Andrew Atkinson at andrew4wrexham@gmail.com Oppo to launch F 7 Youth in Nepal soon Oppo, the smartphone brand enjoyed by young people around the world, will be launching their latest smartphone the Oppo F7 Youth in Nepal soon. The European Union (EU) Commission plans to nearly treble its spending on migration in the next six-year financial period, from 13 to 35 billion euros ($US 15 to 40.5 billion). This money will not be spent on supporting and integrating refugees, but rather on sealing off Europes external borders, deporting refugees en masse, as well as on other measures aimed at deterring refugees from entering. The EU border protection authority Frontex is to be increased from its present staff of 1,000 to 10,000 officials and expanded into a high-tech, up-to-date, military-style border police. With its plans, the EU Commission is reacting to the failure of its previous efforts to distribute refugees through the 28 member European states based on a quota system. Right-wing, nationalist governmentssuch as the Hungarian, Polish and Czechhad refused to accept even a single refugee. The dispute over the refugees and the sealing off of internal European borders threatened to blow up the EU. Now the crisis is to be solved by the entire EU adopting the policies of the extreme right and hermetically sealing off external borders, while ruthlessly harassing, imprisoning and deporting refugees. Brussels has the full support of the German chancellor Angela Merkel, Frances president Emmanuel Macron and other European heads of state. In Berlin on Wednesday, Merkel met with Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who governs in Vienna in an alliance with the right-wing extremist Freedom Party (FPO). Kurz himself is the pioneer of a brutal anti-refugee policy. Austria, which is due to take over the presidency of the European Union for six months in July, will focus deliberately on the issue of security, Kurz said at the subsequent press conference. In addition to greater cooperation in security and defense policy, this also included a solution to the migration issue in order to ensure internal security in our European Union. Austria will focus on external border protection and pursue one goal, namely to stop the influx of illegal migration, refugee and migration flows to Europe. Kurz was supported by Merkel. Asked whether his views on immigration were more of a role model or deterrent, the German chancellor responded by saying she agreed we need to strengthen the external border guard. To this end she relied upon the activities of the Austrian [EU] presidency. As a role model, she cited the migrant deal struck with Turkey, which has pledged to ensure that no more refugees enter Europe. The adoption of the policies of the far right by the EU encourages them to demand more. After visiting the German chancellor, Kurz met with Germanys interior minister, Horst Seehofer, the following day. Seehofer is also chairman of the conservative Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) and has repeatedly criticised Merkels refugee policy from the right. Currently, Merkel and Seehofer are sharply divided, because he wants to stop refugees at the border who have registered in another EU country. Merkel rejects this measure because she fears it will split the EU. Kurz and Seehofer showered each other with compliments, declaring they looked forward to working closely with the Italian interior minister, Matteo Salvini, on issues of security, terrorism and immigration. Salvini, leader of the Lega, is a right-wing extremist and racist. Just three days earlier, he had fueled popular outrage across Europe by refusing to allow the rescue ship Aquarius, with 629 refugees on board, to dock in Italy. The Austrian interior minister, Herbert Kickl (FPO), is also a self-confessed ultra-rightist. He is infamous for his racist, anti-Muslim campaign slogans. In January this year, he announced that asylum seekers must be kept concentrated in one placea clear allusion to Nazi concentration camps. Kurz described the planned collaboration against refugees in terms reminiscent of the military alliances of the First and Second World Wars. He hoped for an axis of the willing, he said. He was pleased with the good cooperation between Rome, Vienna and Berlin, which we want to build upon to make a good contribution to better managing immigration. Seehofer was visibly pleased. Officially, the CSU and Merkels Christian Democratic Union (CDU) have distanced themselves from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which sits in the German parliament. In reality, Seehofer works very closely at a European level with parties affiliated to the AfD. It is only a matter of time before the latter is accepted into government in Germany. There used to be a lot of opposition to our positions in Europe, but now the group that supports us has grown a lot bigger, Kurz said. Support for the refugee policies of the far right is not limited to the CSU and the right wing of the CDU. Andrea Nahles, the leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), recently demanded that the Maghreb [North African] states be declared safe countries of origin. With the provocative sentence, We cannot accept everyone, she opened the floodgates to all those witch-hunting refugees. As coalition partner of the CDU and CSU in the national government, the SPD fully supports Merkels refugee policy. As far as the so-called opposition parties are concerned, they also back the right-wing refugee policies. The propaganda of the Free Democratic Party hardly differs from that of the AfD. Writing in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the Green Party mayor of Tubingen, Boris Palmer, recently demanded a harsher response against criminal aliens. As for the Left Party, the main concern at its congress last weekend was to call for unity with party leader Sahra Wagenknecht, who shares the stance of the AfD on refugee policy. The current developments take place against the background of a xenophobic campaign in the German media that has been raging for weeks. Even supposedly reputable journalists have ditched any adherence to the basic principles of truthful and conscientious reporting. The tragic murder of a 14-year-old girl is being exploited, along with alleged improper and criminal asylum decisions made by the Bremen branch of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bamf). It has now turned out that these allegations were wrong and deceitful. These attacks are not only directed against refugees. They are part of a systematic campaign to abolish democratic rights, build up the intelligence and police services and strengthen right-wing extremist forces. As was the case in the last century, the ruling class is once again preparing to try and crush the growing resistance to social inequality and militarism. Autoworkers at a Detroit area Fiat Chrysler factory expressed growing outrage over a corruption scandal in which the United Auto Workers (UAW) signed away their rights, wages and working conditions in exchange for bribes from Fiat Chrysler (FCA) executives. Workers at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant were reacting to local news reports that federal prosecutors had named the UAW as a co-conspirator in the illegal scheme, which involved FCA executives paying off the UAW to impose company friendly labor agreements. During the four-day UAW Constitutional Convention, outgoing UAW President Dennis Williams sought to blame the affair on a few former union officials who betrayed our trust. He repeated the absurd claim that the payoff of more than $1.5 million to top union negotiators from 2009 to 2015 did not affect the outcome of the labor agreements. Workers at the plant rejected Williams statements. All of this corruption was directly related to contract negotiations despite what they are saying, Donna, an FCA worker with more than 25 years seniority, told the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter. They took away our hours, our money, our profit sharing, unfair hiring practices, these three tiers instead of two, the way they wont roll people over in time [to full time positions], so I just want to put my protest out there. Everything they took from us needs to be returned, as well as the money they stole. I consider these contracts null and void because everything they did was done behind closed doors, without our say-so. We all voted against this. How did it still get through? Ninety percent of our workforce said no. The fact that it was ratified was illegal to me. Amid the growing corruption scandal, the hand-picked delegates at the constitutional convention on Wednesday voted to give the UAW International Executive Board members a 30 percent salary increase. The decision was made right after delegates voted to retain the 25 percent dues increase from the last convention and to reject any exemption for lower-paid, second tier workers and temporary part-time workers. The salary for the UAW president will now be topping $200,000 a year, Dennis, a newer worker, told the Autoworker Newsletter. Its not about the worker anymore, the guy on the line, its about how they can get ahead. They did say at the convention that union dues should be able to come down once the strike fund reaches $850 million. However, thats in the air because they keep on taking out of the fund, and they can keep it below. Its funny how that works, isnt it? Its sad, but Im not surprised. The unions were meant to defend us against the corporate executives not be in bed with them. Dennis said his mother is a long-time GM worker at the Lake Orion plant, near Pontiac, Michigan. Rank-and-file workers there are up in arms over a secret agreement signed by the International and Local 5690 leaders that will allow GM to replace senior, full-time workers with low-paid contractors. Responding to the Autoworker Newsletters call for workers to form rank-and-file factory committees to defend themselves against both the corporations and the unions, Dennis said, Its like we have to build unions against the unions now. We work all the time and dont have the leverage or the time to fight this ourselves. Thats what the union was for, but theyre not doing that job. Youre right, there needs to be something new if this is going to work, and its going to have to come from the workers themselves. The contract that was passed forces second-tier workers to work eight years to get top payment, another newer worker said. Its not fair. Its a game. Were supposed to get a bonus because of the tax breaks the company got. But they charge us 22 percent tax on it; and the union wants its percentage too, from our bonus. Thank you for telling us the truth. Some workers dont know what is going on, and we need somebody to explain more and more. If you ask the union, they dont make anything clear for you. Were not making a good living because they cut the wages for us younger workers, a worker who just got rolled over into a full-time position said. They brought in all these Millennials, and we cant make a good living on the half wages were being paid. The union officials should be taken to court and get jail time. But I know the government wont come in on our side, the big guys always win. Somethings got to be done by the workers, for the workers, and we have to do it ourselves, she added, responding to the newsletters call for rank-and-file factory committees. Melvin Melvin, a senior worker, said, It was obvious in the last contract that it was the first time in 15-20 years that the auto companies were making money, so you could go after what was lost in the three previous contracts. At that time, the UAW chose to go after the weakest corporation as the strike target for pattern bargaining. Everybody knows that was a crazy decision, and the only thing that makes sense is that somebody was paid off to do it. No one could say it, but we felt it. Now we know it. Nothing is going to change with this leadership at the convention or in the near future. I do believe this membership is getting an education, and that at some point we are going to stand up for fair wages. We dont have anything as simple as equal pay for equal work. The UN says thats a human right, and we dont have that in this plant. I get hired on a Tuesday. You get hired on a Thursday, and we get unequal pay. There has to be a rebellion for a fair distribution of the wealth that is generated in these plants. After taking note of the fact that the union officials just voted for a 30 percent salary increase for themselves, Melvin said facetiously, Of course, they are going to negotiate a 30 percent increase in our wages, that would only be fair. Referring to the revolt against the UAW-backed contract in 2015, he added, We knew we were being shafted, but we werent prepared. This time we need to be prepared. We have an entirely new workforce. We have to prepare to fight for our own best interests, which would mean an end to tiers, the return of cost of living, and good wages. Two younger workers, who have been at the plant for seven months, but preferred to remain anonymous out of fear of retribution from the company and the union, also spoke to the WSWS. They were just rolled over from temporary part-time (TPT) contracts to full-time but are on a "probation" period under which they can be easily fired. The company is thinking about the profit, not the workers, said one. They say if you don't like it you can leave, and there are people lined up around the street willing to take your job. The union, for me, is full of crap. We ask them a question, and they say they dont know the answer. They say they will get back to you. She said that the revelations about Chryslers payments to the UAW were just wrong, and it shows we dont mean anything to them. Her co-worker added, I cant even make ends meet. Im making $500 per week now. Last week, Warren Truck cut full-time workers hours to seven hours per day. When I first started I was bringing home $950, and my bills were getting paid. Now, I'm getting $500, and thats my food bills. After working for only nine months at the plant, she had an injured wrist and cuts and bruises on her arm. She added that she would not be allowed to take a day off to get medical treatment, because if she missed her rostered day at work, she could be laid off. Donna, the worker with 25 years, said she knew about the death of Jacoby Hennings, the young temporary part-time worker who police and union officials say took his own life outside the UAW offices in the Ford Woodhaven Stamping plant in Michigan last year. In addition to working at Ford, Hennings also had a second temp job at Warren Truck. Donna Theres still a mystery behind what caused it, she said. I can tell you directly, its stress. They treat these TPTs like garbage. Both of his parents worked here for years. Im sure he knew all the stories on how to behave and how to act, and how he should have been treated. He went to the UAW several times and he was denied help. They dont get representation, but the part-timers say, I pay you dues. A lot of these young people dont want to put up with all of that. The UAW is a partner of the company and a big business, with the trips, the money and the stuff they sponsor that we know nothing about. A lot of us are brainwashed with the union, and we think that we cant do this ourselves. But thats how the union got started, somebody did it themselves. Workers are going to have to rise up again, worldwide. It is already happening in other countries. Our grandkids and our future are going to suffer if we dont. A supposed compromise amendment to the European Union Withdrawal Bill proposed by the Conservative government of Prime Minister Theresa May to head off a potential rebellion by around 15 pro-Remain Tory MPs unravelled yesterday. May is beholden to her hard-Brexit wing, led by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson , and Jacob-Rees Mogg. But even a small rebellion by Remain Tories would endanger her minority government reliant on the votes of 10 Democratic Unionist Party MPs. Therefore, the first day of voting on Tuesday concerning 15 amendments to the Withdrawal Bill by the House of Lords centred on the most potentially damagingagreeing that parliament must have a meaningful vote on any Brexit deal concluded. A group of backbenchers intended to back an alternative amendment drafted by former Tory attorney general Dominic Grieve. This would also give MPs a greater say over Brexitincluding the House of Commons having to approve any government action in Brexit talks if there is no exit deal agreed. Brexit Minister David Davis and May both warned that the UKs negotiations with the EU risks being undermined if it passes. But with Justice Minister Phillip Lee resigning, averting the rebellion necessitated May promising the draft law would be changed to meet the concerns of rebel MPs. The motion was won by the government 324 to 298, though Remainers Anna Soubry and Kenneth Clark voted for the Lords amendment. However, the governments compromise, when a draft was presented late Thursday, was rejected as unacceptable by Grieve and his allies. Grieve told BBC News, At the end of the process something was inexplicably changed, which had not been agreed. The government has made the motion unamendable, contrary to the usual methods of the House of Commons. And therefore it cannot be accepted. The governments amendment states that if May announces, before January 21, 2019, that no deal has been reached with the EU, parliament must be given a right to vote. This, however, is only on a non-binding motion in neutral terms, indicating solely that parliament had considered the statement. A fresh conflict will now take place in the House of Commons, after the bill returns to the Lords next week where both amendments will be considered. The government also faces a showdown with the Scottish National Party that threatens the existing devolution arrangements and the unity of the UK. On Wednesday, an amendment from the Lords to keep the UK in the European Economic Area (EEA) after Brexit was defeated amid chaotic scenes. The six SNP MPs had walked out from Prime Ministers Questions after their Westminster leader Ian Blackford was thrown out for refusing to sit down when ordered by Speaker John Bercow. Blackford had protested the lack of debate on the EU Withdrawal Bills impact on Scotland, describing the bill as a power grab and that it was a democratic outrage that MPs had not been given enough time to debate the bills measures. The EU Withdrawal Bill transfers 24 devolved legislative areas, including agriculture, fisheries and public procurement, temporarily to Westminster and has angered the nationalistswho say it will impact on Holyrood for up to seven years. Labour has sought to advance itself to business circles as an alternative government, able to maintain access to the vital Single European Market and some form of customs union through a soft Brexit agreement. But Wednesdays vote saw a three-way split in the Labour Party as MPs rejected retaining the UKs EEA links after Brexit by 327 votes to 126. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had urged his MPs to abstain on the proposal. But 75 of his MPs voted for the motion and 15 against, with six quitting their frontbench rolesthe biggest revolt suffered by Corbyn to date. The EEA motion was endorsed by the Blairites within the Labour Party, led by Chuka Umunna and Stephen Kinnock, as providing full access to the Single European Market without EU membership. Called the Norway option, EEA covers non-EU countries Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, who secure market access by agreeing to a financial contribution and to accepting most EU laws. Corbyn opposed it, insisting that the UK would have to adhere to EU rules without having a say in them while pledging not to back any agreement that did not guarantee single market access in a bespoke agreement. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell made clear that the main problem was that the EEA includes a commitment to the free movement of European labour. Accepting that We campaigned for remain but many of our MPs, including myself, now represent seats which voted heavily leave, he called for a traditional British compromise. The 75 Blairites wanted no such compromise and neither did the 15 MPs who voted against. Prior to the vote, Laura Smith, MP for Crewe and Nantwich, quit her job as shadow defence minister to vote against EEA. (Ged Killen, Tonia Antoniazzi, Anna McMorrin, Ellie Reeves and Rosie Duffield all stepped down as parliamentary private secretaries to vote for EEA membership.) Making clear the main concerns of the 15 no voters, John Spellar MP said, It involves free movementthats the crucial issue Caroline Flint MP also said EEA membership would mean there would be no restriction on free movement. Her constituents want to have a sense that we can turn the tap on and off when we choose. Whatever the twists and turns to come, Britains ruling class is in a crisis of historic proportions. Paul Drechsler, outgoing president of the Confederation of British Industry, warned that several industries, including the auto industry and its 800,000 employees, risk becoming extinct without a customs union. Even Somerset Capital Management, the investment firm co-founded by Rees-Mogg, has established an investment fund in EU member state Ireland that warns of the dangers of a hard Brexit to attract its clients. Of greater import still is the Financial Times editorial, Brexit and the Trump factorwarning that Brexit risks endangering not only the global position of British imperialism but that of Europe as a whole. [T]he domestic drama should not divert us from the most significant event affecting Brexit this week: the clash between US president Donald Trump and the rest of the west at the G7 summit in Canada. The G7 clash raises more doubts over whether it would be remotely possible to sign a trade deal with a figure as mercurial and unpredictable as the US president, warns the FT, but it also poses a difficult question for the EU: Can the EU really affordat a time when it needs alliesa long period of conflict with post-Brexit Britain? The FTs intervention makes clear that all sides in the Brexit dispute are basing their calculations on how best to pursue British capitalisms predatory designs, in the context of an escalating global trade war and the attendant military dangers. Whichever option wins out, workers and young people will be made to pay in the form of escalating austerity measures to ensure Britain remains globally competitive. The only answer to this nightmare scenario is for the working class to reject all the reactionary proposals offered by the ruling class and its parties and unify its struggles with its European, American and international brothers and sisters for socialism. The Trump administration is supporting a lawsuit that challenges parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), arguing that federal courts should find the health laws protection for people with pre-existing conditions unconstitutional. On February 26, 20 Republican state attorneys general filed suit in federal court charging that Congresss changes to the law in last years tax bill rendered the entire law unconstitutional. In that bill, the tax penalty for people who fail to obtain insurance was repealed, effective in 2019. Under the individual mandate of Obamacare, as the ACA is commonly known, those people without insurance from their employer or a government program were required to obtain health care coverage or pay a tax penalty. The tax bill removed that penalty but did not repeal any of the ACAs other provisions. The effect, however, was to make the ACAs mandate to obtain coverage unenforceable. A US Supreme Court decision in 2012 found the ACA constitutional. While the high court said that the government does not have the authority to require people to purchase insurance coverage, it said the ACA should be upheld under Congresss constitutional power to levy taxes. The current 20-state lawsuit seeks to turn that argument around, saying that without the tax penalty to enforce the individual mandate, the Court should hold that the ACA is unlawful and enjoin its operation. The Trump administration filed a brief in federal district court in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 7 in support of the states lawsuit. It argued that without the tax to encourage healthy people to buy insurance, the provisions guaranteeing coverage to people with pre-existing conditions and charging them the same rates as others should be struck down and declared invalid beginning on January 1, 2019, when the tax penalty is effectively repealed. The White House did not go as far as the states in arguing that the entire ACA should be struck down. However, the Justice Departments decision to refuse to uphold the constitutionality of a current lawand join in a lawsuit against itis highly unusual. According to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, this action was taken with the approval of the President of the United States. Three career Justice Department attorneys withdrew from the lawsuit brought by the states in opposition to the administrations failure to defend the ACAs provision. One of these attorneys, Joel McElvain, has tendered his resignation from the department. The case before the federal court turns on the legal concept of severability: If one provision in a law is invalidated by a court, it must be determined if the rest of it can continue to stand. Texas, a party to the suit, argues that the individual mandate is so pivotal to Obamacare that if it is not upheld, then the rest of the law must be declared unconstitutional. Senator Lamar Alexander, Republican of Tennessee and chairman of the Senate Health Committee, said Tuesday it was never the intent of Congress to repeal the protections for people with pre-existing conditions when it repealed the mandate penalty late last year. He said that the Trump administrations argument against the ACA in the federal lawsuit is as far-fetched as any Ive ever heard. Having twice failed to push legislation through Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare, the Trump administration is working to chip away at the legislation through various means. In addition to the repeal of the individual mandate tax penalty and joining the lawsuit of states seeking to have the protections for people with pre-existing conditions ruled unconstitutional, it is expected soon to issue rules that will expand the market for lower-cost and short-term policies that will not be required to follow the ACAs rules on essential services and maintaining virtually continuous coverage. If the pre-existing conditions provisions are ruled unconstitutional, private insurers could revert to rejecting people with many conditionsincluding cancer, heart failure, diabetes, arthritis and many less serious health problemsor charging them much more for coverage. Although estimates of the numbers of Americans with these conditions vary, the Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that 27 percent of people under age 65 have what could be considered a pre-existing condition. It could also cost women more than men to get coverage for basic health care and maternity care. The Supreme Courts 5-4 decision in 2012 to uphold the individual mandate and the ACAs constitutionality did not constitute an advance for the health care rights of Americans. The health legislation was crafted under the Obama administration to serve the interests of the private insurers, pharmaceutical firms and giant health care chains. In particular, the individual mandate was designed to funnel billions of dollars from new customers into the coffers of the insurance companies. Americas Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), an industry trade group, criticized the federal governments filing in Dallas. AHIPs concern is not focused on the protection of coverage for people with preexisting conditions. Rather, the group said in a statement, Removing those provisions will result in renewed uncertainty in the individual market, create a patchwork of requirements in the states, cause rates to go even higher for older Americans and sicker patients, and make it challenging to introduce products and rates for 2019. Even if the pre-existing conditions provision is not jettisoned, the lack of a tax penalty to enforce it will some cause younger, healthier people to take the gamble to remain uninsured, leaving sicker and older policyholders at the mercy of the insurers, who will respond by raising premiums. Health insurance companies raised rates this year by double digits and insurers in several states have already requested large rate hikes for 2019. New York insurers are asking for premium hikes of 24 percent, on average, while carriers in Washington state are looking for a 19 percent average rate hike. In Maryland, CareFirst is seeking an average 18.5 percent rate hike for HMO plans and a 91 percent increase for its already more expensive PPO policies. 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. The Justice Department inspector general issued a 500-page report Thursday that charged former FBI Director James Comey with deliberately violating longstanding procedures during the Hillary Clinton email investigation, while claiming that Comey was not motivated by political bias when he damaged her campaign. These extraordinary and insubordinate actions included both Comeys harsh public criticism of Clinton at a press conference in July 2016 and his letter to Congress in late October 2016, just ten days before the election, announcing the investigation was being reopened. In each instance, Comey did not clear his actions with his nominal supervisors, Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates. The Trump White House and its congressional supporters have been hyping the report by Inspector-General Michael Horowitz for weeks in advance, suggesting that it would provide evidence of systematic anti-Trump bias in the FBI and thus discredit the investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 campaign and Trump campaign collusion with it, begun initially by the FBI and now run by Justice Department special counsel Robert Mueller. The content of the report appears to be rather the opposite, or at best a mixed bag, documenting both pro-Clinton sentiments among a handful of top FBI officials, and a series of decisions by Comey that had a devastating negative effect on the Clinton campaign. The White House cited the report as a vindication of Trumps repeated public denunciations of FBI bias against him, which he claimed was the basis of the Mueller investigation. Press secretary Sarah Sanders said during Thursdays press briefing, The President was briefed on the IGs report earlier today and it reaffirmed the President's suspicions about Comey's conduct and the political bias among some of the members of the FBI. Only two hours later, FBI Director Christopher Wray held an extraordinary press conference to defend the bureau against the attacks of the man who appointed him. He cited the finding of the inspector-general that there was no systematic political bias, either pro-Clinton or pro-Trump, driving the FBIs decision-making process during its investigations into Clintons use of a private email server and Trumps relationship with various individuals claiming to represent the Russian government or to have derogatory information about Clinton derived from Russian sources. Wrays remarks, and comments by other officials to the press, suggested that the IG report would be the basis for several personnel decisions in the next few days. The most widely expected action would be the firing of Peter Strzok, the FBI assistant director who worked on both the Clinton and Russia investigations. Strzok was removed from the Russia investigation after it came to light that he had exchanged anti-Trump text messages with his girlfriend at the time, Lisa Page, then counsel to Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe, who was in charge of both probes. Congressional Democrats sought to insulate the Mueller investigation from any negative repercussions from the inspector-generals report. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, in a speech on the Senate floor only hours before the release of the report, declared, There is no reason no reason to believe that it will provide any basis to call the special counsels work into question The IG report concerns an entirely separate investigation from the Russia probe that special counsel Mueller is conducting. Two leading House Democrats, Representatives Jerry Nadler and Elijah Cummings, issued a joint statement arguing, The stark conclusion we draw after reviewing this report is that the FBIs actions helped Donald Trump become President. They added, As we warned before the election, Director Comey had a double-standard: he spoke publicly about the Clinton investigation while keeping secret from the American people the investigation of Donald Trump and Russia. There is little doubt that the principal result of FBI Director Comeys actions during 2016 was to undermine the Clinton campaign. The IG report notes that Comey decided on his own to denounce Clintons conduct publicly at a press conference in July 2016, at which he called her conduct extremely careless while saying he would not recommend she be prosecuted. He did not clear his statement in advance with the leadership of the Justice Department, Lynch and Yates. We found that it was extraordinary and insubordinate for Comey to conceal his intentions from his superiors, the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General, for the admitted purpose of preventing them from telling him not to make the statement, and to instruct his subordinates in the FBI to do the same, Horowitzs report says. Again, in October 2016, Comey decided on his own to send a letter to Congress making public the reopening of the investigation after the discovery of more Clinton emails on a laptop belonging to former Representative Anthony Weiner, husband of Clintons closest aide, Huma Abedin. This was a gross violation of a longstanding Justice Department policy against making any public prosecutorial move, positive or negative, related to a political candidate, within 90 days of an election. But Comey did not inform either Lynch or Yates that he intended to breach this policy. Inspector-General Horowitz said his office reviewed more than 1.2 million documents and interviewed more than 100 witnesses. His report endorses the substance of Comeys decision in July 2016 against recommending prosecution of Clinton, while harshly criticizing both the scale of the announcementthe FBI normally says nothing about investigations that are closed without bringing chargesand the harsh tone of Comeys statement. Besides Comey, the reports main criticism falls on Strzok, suggesting that his pro-Clinton bias led him to direct resources to the Russia investigation in late September 2016, when top FBI officials first learned of the Anthony Weiner laptop. The report states: We did not have confidence that Strzoks decision to prioritize the Russia investigation over following up on the midyear-related investigative lead discovered on the Weiner laptop was free from bias. This contributed to a delay in taking action on the laptop, which, ironically, multiplied the political impact of the revelation, made by Comey only ten days before the election, that the email probe was to be reopened. One thing is clear, even from press accounts of the 500-page report: the FBI, far from being a politically neutral or apolitical agency, is very much a political police force. The same factional disputes within the ruling elite that rage through Congress, the corporate-controlled media, and the rest of official Washington, also consume the FBI. How could it be otherwise, given that the FBI has long been one of the principal instruments for the defense of corporate America against political opposition from below, persecuting left-wing, socialist, labor and civil rights organizations for more than a century since it was first founded. For nearly half that period, from 1924 to his death in 1972, the FBI was under the direction of the loathsome J. Edgar Hoover, who accumulated dossiers on virtually every figure in American political life, guaranteeing his own untouchability, regardless of changes of party or administration, since he had something on everyone. The exposures of mass US government spying on the antiwar and civil rights movement thoroughly discredited the FBI in the 1970s. The FBI wiretapped Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders, conspired with Ku Klux Klan terrorists, and may have played a role in Kings assassination. It systematically spied on anti-war and left-wing organizations, sending so many agents into the Communist Party and the Socialist Workers Party that it effectively controlled both groups. In the decades since Hoovers death, there has been a systematic effort to build up the FBI and repair the damage done by the exposures of illegal surveillance and other crimes. But these were not merely the crimes of Hoover personally, but intrinsic characteristics of an agency which is one of the most important instruments of repression for the American ruling elite. On June 7, the London Review of Books featured The Tower, a lengthy essay on the Grenfell Tower inferno by journalist and novelist Andrew OHagan. The essay marked one year since the devastating fire that claimed at least 72 lives. It also coincided with the opening days of the official inquiry during which fire survivors and relatives of those who died gave moving tributes to their loved ones. OHagans piece, however, is a mockery of journalistic and social integrity. The Tower, a 60,000-word essay, was penned by the same individual who produced a hatchet job account of Julian Assanges life in 2011 in his book The Secret Life. In that work OHagan portrayed the WikiLeaks co-founder as narcissistic, paranoid and lying. In an interview with the Times, he accommodated himself to accusations that Assange was a Russian stooge because of WikiLeaks role in leaking documents pertaining to Hillary Clintons 2016 US election campaign, as well as to the bogus rape charges against Assange. The same contempt for democratic rights and the lives of working people is abundantly present in The Tower. There are sensitive and moving portraits of those who lived in Grenfell Tower in the first part of OHagans essay, but this is overshadowed and outweighed by the subsequent six parts. OHagans piece is characterised by vicious and dishonest misrepresentations, inaccuracies, the demonization of local activists, residents and firefighters, and hymns of praise to the local council. Various survivors and local residents who were interviewed by OHagan, or have read his account, have denounced The Tower. They have condemned his apologetics for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) council and vilification of the local community, as well as asserting that OHagan misled them as to the purpose of his piece and altered or invented some of their comments. Nursery worker Melanie Coles wrote an open letter of complaint to LRB, which was posted on Twitter by Noha Maher (who lost her brother, Hesham Rahman, in the Grenfell fire) and which has been shared widely. Coles, who was interviewed by OHagan, had taught Fethia Hassan, a four-year-old girl who tragically died alongside her mother and sister in last years fire. In her letter, Coles accuses OHagans article of being damaging to the credibility of our community and making for highly distressing reading for people directly affected, and for some of them offensive, due to the inaccuracies it contains. She points to multiple inaccuracies in his account, including his naming of the school which Fethia Hassan attended as the Maxilla Childrens Centre, which was closed in 2015 after council funding cuts and amalgamated with the nearby Golborne Childrens Centre. According to Coles letter, OHagans article invented some of her comments and posted the recording of her interview online without her permission, when she had been told that the video recording would be used only for the purposes of creating a transcript. Coles further explained that despite being told the article was intended as a sensitive tribute to those who died in the blaze, she and others were misled into participating in a work with very different intentions, including being highly biased in favour of the local council. The video of Coles was later taken down and some of the errors she pointed to altered or removed. However, rather than issuing an apology, one of OHagans researchers, Lindsey Milligan, released a contemptuous response. Dismissing Coles concerns over the use of the video as all in your head and accusing her of not having understood the bigger picture, Milligan stated that it is ludicrous to suggest that his story isnt compassionate about the victims. Daniel Renwickwho produced, co-wrote and co-directed the Grenfell documentary Failed by the Statealso criticised The Tower for misrepresenting members of the local community and for its ardent defence of the council, describing the essay as a deeply insidious piece of writing. From the second of the seven chapters of his essay, OHagan falls over himself in extoling the virtues of RBKC and its leaders, decrying the unfairness of those who dare to criticise it. The author in particular idealizes council leader Nicholas Paget-Brown (whose gentle manners OHagan fawns over in the third chapter of his piece) and his deputy Feilding-Mellen. He paints a picture of a noble and blameless council doing its best to help the victims in the face of much adversity and receiving only ingratitude and unfounded accusations in return. OHagan dwells at length on the personal histories, feelings and families of these two esteemed Tory gentlemen (Feilding-Mellen is the son of Amanda Feilding, the countess of Wemyss and March, to whose aristocratic family history OHagan thought fit to dedicate nearly 700 words). Indeed, a considerable portion of the essay is little more than a sob story about how difficult it must have been for these two council leaders! He complains how Paget-Browns honourable attempt to rise above political mud-slinging after the blaze was about to bring his career to an end. The majority of chapters two to five, and large sections of the final two chapters, are devoted almost entirely to absolving RBKC of any guilt for the outbreak of the fire and lionising their subsequent relief effort. The council leaders did not cause that fire, declares OHagan in the fifth chapter of the essay. Like many councillors all over Britain they were in office when cladding was installed that we now know to be unsafe. They were not on a mission to cut costs. He praises the council for its record in protecting social housing, making much of the fact that its social housing stock has risen by 200 properties in the last 20 years! In the same period the population of the borough has risen by around 10,000, while the number of homeless people doubled in the five years leading up to 2015. OHagan is able to contrast this record with that of Labour-run boroughs such as Islington, where the number of council properties has fallen by roughly 4,500. Also noting that the cladding used on Grenfell Tower had been used on at least 306 tower blocks across Britain, he points to comparable levels of criminality and cutbacks in other Labour- (and Conservative-) run councils across London and throughout the UK. But this revelation about the filthy role played by both parties is hardly a defence of the RBKC. His praise is for a local authority that struck deals with property developers to allow them to avoid the requirement to build affordable accommodation supposedly meant for the working class. Research, conducted by EG, a property consultancy firm, showed that in 2016 alone the council agreed deals worth almost 50 million [$US66 million] to enable developers to avoid building affordable homes. OHagan also celebrates the role played by the local council in response to the fire, describing how it mobilised 340 staff on 14 June [2017] and found hotels for hundreds of residents that day. Everyone from the tower who wanted to go and everybody from the blocks below. Railing against the narrative that council members were not present to help after the fire and that the local authoritys response was inadequate, OHagan quotes a council worker as saying: That was the narrative. It was the story they wanted: the richest borough neglects people in social housing. It was very difficult. We had officers here working 18 hours a day. OHagan acts as though the RBKC is blameless and powerless, forced to satisfy the cost-cutting whims of a cruel and callous central government. He devotes several passages to criticisms of the central government response, accusing them of having hung [the council] out to dry. He does not dwell on the fact that Paget-Brown, Feilding-Mellen and other Conservatives who make up nearly three-quarters of the boroughs elected councillors belong to the same party as the government he criticises. OHagans presentation of the council contrasts starkly and sharply with the manner in which he depicts survivors, activists and local residents. He presents legitimate social outrage as anarchic brutishness, for example, in his description of protesters storming the Kensington Town Hall in the week after the fire. Describing a meeting he held with local activists while researching his essay, OHagan comments, No evidence was presented at the lunch [with the local activists], just repeated assertions, most of them defamatory, of extreme criminality on the part of individual councillors, and expressions of contempt, often on class grounds, for people they thought were evil. OHagans attack on anyone daring to bring class into the equation is significant. One of the most striking features of the response from survivors and local residents is the nearly universal understanding that this was a crime committed by the ruling class against the working class. This approach terrifies the privileged layer that OHagan speaks for. He reserves his fiercest criticism for the Grenfell Action Group (GAG), the tenants association that played an important role in raising concerns about the safety of Grenfell Tower before the inferno. Presenting GAG as unreasonably prejudiced against the RBKC, he writes, The Grenfell Action Group hate the Tory council. Over many years, the council had been the enemy and to them every move it makes stinks of corruption. The safety concerns that GAG had been raising for many years are dealt with only briefly in The Tower. They are brought in chiefly to point out that the flammable cladding installed on the tower in its refurbishmentwhich played an important role in facilitating the rapid and deadly spread of the flameshad not featured in GAGs criticisms of the safety of the tower block. OHagan declares that the group had never been very popular on the estate, giving significant space to an anonymous council worker who states, [W]e tried to answer every issue raised by the action group, but it was never enough; they bombarded us with round-robin emails and to my knowledge we tried to keep on top of them They hated everything the council and the TMO did, no matter what. He presents the many legitimate grievances brought forward by the community group as paranoid and obsessive grumblings with little relevance to the actual deadly fire. In truth, many of the warnings made by the residents association, including the dangers of the inadequate fire doors, exposed gas pipes and proximity of the newly built school to the tower (potentially obstructing access for emergency service vehicles), did bear significantly on the fire that eventually broke out and on the toxic smoke spreading so easily. They were key to the problems faced by the London Fire Brigade in its rescue effort. OHagan devotes only a single sentence to the fact that the RBKC council threatened legal action against GAG for their efforts in raising safety concerns. Evidently this does not fit with his narrative of a blameless, noble council. Expressing his contempt for the working class, OHagan seeks to delegitimize the safety concerns of local residents and grievances over housing standards by arguing that contemporary living conditions are far better than they were in Dickensian London! In the eyes of some, he states, the tower blocks are the continuation of the old habit of keeping minorities poorly housed. But, as always, it depends how you measure it. If the yardstick is the white peoples mansions on Elgin Crescent, then yes. If its Victorian pigsties, however, then improvement has definitely occurred, albeit too slowly and for too few. Firefighters are not spared OHagans venom. Joining in with the recent chorus of condemnation for the London Fire Brigade, he blames the huge and dramatic failure of the fire service for the 72 deaths: Everyone knows that cost-cutting is a problem but there was also a problem with the way the Grenfell response was managed, he writes. We dont like to say these things, but events on 14 June [2017] show that, regardless of our affection for them, the professional fire services response to the fire at Grenfell Tower was anything but strong. OHagan ends his essay by recounting the stories of two families who have been successfully re-housed and are beginning to get their lives back on track. While choosing to describe at length these happy endings, he neglects to mention that a year on from the fire, more than half of the households made homeless have yet been able to move into permanent accommodation: 72 households continue to live in emergency accommodation, such as hotels, and another 57 are still in temporary homes. The Tower, in short, disgustingly and disgracefully turns reality on its head, presenting victims as perpetrators and perpetrators as victims. Federal prosecutors announced Wednesday their intention to abandon the pursuit of felony charges for eight additional defendants involved in the Disrupt J20 demonstration against the inauguration of President Donald Trump on January 20, 2017. The prosecutions unusual move to surrender these cases marks another stage in the unraveling of the governments attempt to set a legal precedent for the criminalization of constitutionally protected political speech and protest. Of the 230 people originally arrested, so far zero have been convicted in court. The mainstream media has maintained a virtual news blackout on the mass arrests and ensuing trials, while not a single Democratic Party official has spoken up in support of any of the defendants. That, despite the blackout, the government has thus far been unable to secure even one conviction among the more than two hundred charged signifies both the baselessness of its case as well as the existence of deeply democratic sentiments within broad layers of American societychiefly amongst the working class. The latest development comes on the heels of the acquittal of ten defendants at the end of last month on the basis of fabricated evidence. This was followed by the Justice Departments failure to convict four additional defendants, resulting in a mistrial. This spate of acquittals stemmed from an argument by the defense that the prosecutions use of an edited video as evidence constituted a violation of what is known as the Brady rule, a provision which outlines the states obligations regarding evidence potentially favorable to the defendants exoneration. The 1963 Supreme Court case Brady v. Maryland established the legal precedent that the suppression by the prosecution of evidence favorable to an accused violates due process where the evidence is material either to guilt or to punishment, irrespective of the good faith or bad faith of the prosecution. The J20 defendants attorneys argued that the withheld evidence in question was from an edited video created by Project Veritas, a far-right political organization that has become known for sting operations utilizing selectively edited footage in targeted smear campaigns against its political opponents. The organization gained notoriety in 2009 for producing doctored video evidence that led to the collapse of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). In the current case, the prosecution presented a doctored video produced by Project Veritas-linked infiltrators of Disrupt J20 planning sessions to suggest that the group intended to incite violence at the protest. Wednesdays motion to dismiss cited Chief Judge Robert Morins prior decision on May 31 to dismiss with prejudice the charge of Conspiracy to Riot (Count Three), forcing the prosecution to drop charges. The latest maneuver, far from signifying a change of heart, represents a temporary strategic retreat by the prosecution in order to attempt to secure convictions in upcoming proceedings. By giving up the eight defendants, the prosecution hopes to curry favor with Judge Morin while buying time to overturn the prior ruling over the doctored video evidence. The motion continues: The government has been assessing its options with respect to this ruling, and expects to file shortly a motion to reconsider the Courts dismissal order and its finding that the government made a misrepresentation with respect to certain videos. The government believes that a full review of the record will likely impact the Courts prior finding. If the prosecution is able to secure any convictions throughout the course of the trials, they would set a legal precedent upon which the US government could suppress future political dissent. This is not the first time the prosecution has made such a maneuver in the aftermath of a defeat. The first trial in the government frame-up ended in December of last year with the jury acquitting all six defendants. Not long after, the prosecution moved to drop charges for an additional 129 defendants in the hope of narrowing its pool of defendants to secure convictions. In so doing, the court, the government, and the [remaining] defendants can proceed more expeditiously with their trials, lead prosecutor Jennifer Kerkhoff explained in the motion to dismiss charges. The continued attempts by the prosecution to smear protestors as violent conspirators hinges on the concept of collective punishment. This stands in direct violation of the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which prohibits abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. The governments case is also in violation of international law. The practice of collective punishment is characterized as a war crime under the 1949 Geneva Conventions. Throughout the trial, the prosecution has relied heavily not only on far-right organizations like Project Veritas, but on the more fascistic elements within the police itself. A Washington, D.C. police officer and key witness for the prosecution, William Chatman, recently appeared at proceedings within the D.C. Superior Court wearing a pro-police brutality T-shirt. The shirt, which featured images of a police baton and handcuffs, read, Police Brutality... or doing what their parents should have! Chatman had provided prior testimony which the prosecution used in an attempt to paint the protests as a riot. The police responded to the J20 demonstration with indiscriminate violence and the mass kettling of protesters, eventually arresting 230 people. Officers fired on the crowd with chemical agents, pepper spray, rubber bullets and crowd control grenades. D.C. police have attempted to justify the crackdown by citing several windows that were broken at five different corporate storefronts, a relatively common occurrence during mass demonstrations. Hours after the arrests took place, a limousine was set on fire, an unrelated act which the prosecution has attempted to pin on defendants. An American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit, currently underway against the D.C. police, alleges that officers knocked a 10-year-old boy to the ground and pepper-sprayed his mother. Overall, police deployed weapons on at least 191 occasions in the course of the day. Police fired 74 sting ball grenades, a type of non-lethal explosive that ejects rubber balls in a radius surrounding the point of impact. Protesters also claim police sexually assaulted detainees. The Rachel Divide (directed and produced by Laura Brownson and currently airing on Netflix) delves into the uproar surrounding Rachel Dolezal, a white woman choosing to identify as African American, while also examining the effects that the negative publicity has had on her and her family. In June 2015, Dolezal was outed by local news reporters as she drew attention to a series of alleged hate crimes of which she claimed to be the victim. At the time, Dolezal was the head of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) branch in Spokane, Washington. For the race-obsessed, sensationalist news media in the US, the story of a white woman who for years had successfully passed herself off as an African American was simply too tempting to pass up. The deluge of media coverage and commentary, including attacks on her personal character and the claim that Dolezal had appropriated black identity for her own gain, led to the 37-year-old woman resigning her position at the NAACP and being dropped from her seat on the Spokane police oversight board. She also lost her position teaching Africana Studies at Eastern Washington University. The Rachel Divide details Dolezals devastating brush with the national news media and provides substantial background information about her life, her family and the factors that led her to identify as African American. Dolezal discusses her traumatic childhood in Montana at the hands of her white parents, who are described as borderline extremist in their religious attitude toward family life. Speaking of her childhood with adopted African-American siblings, Dolezal explains, I felt like I could bridge the divide, so I was allowed to check out a lot more black history books, novels anything that was written by a black author With my siblings I felt I for the first time had a legitimate reason to pursue what spoke to my soul. At some point after attending Howard University, the historically black college in Washington, DC, in the late 1990s, for an unusual combination of psychological, political and professionally motivated reasons, Dolezal began identifying as black. Brownsons documentary reveals that prior to her media exposure, Dolezal had been a key witness in the case of her adopted sister, Esther, who had alleged that Dolezals older, biological brother, Joshua, had sexually molested her while she was in the care of the family. In an effort to discredit Rachel as a witness, Joshua hired a private detective to investigate her and leak information to the press. The outing of Dolezals race was part of an effort to undermine her testimony in her sisters case. The Rachel Divide underscores various contemporary American realities. One only derives renewed contempt for the bourgeois news media from the documentary. Its treatment of Dolezal, the mother of two sons and legal guardian of a sibling, has been typically vile. Dolezal has been unable to land steady employment since her story first came to national attention in 2015. She is the target of despicable verbal threats on her social media accounts, the latter being the only way I have a presence in the world right now. The adverse publicity and social exclusion create a rift between Dolezal and her children and siblings, who find it difficult to conduct their lives under the constant social pressure and media scrutiny. The self-righteousness and hypocrisy of the various media pundits and commentators who appear in Brownsons film are staggering. Spokane television reporter Jeff Humphrey, who first confronted Dolezal about her race live on television, asserts that we did what local TV news is supposed to do, we found out somebody was lying and dethroned somebody that had a lot of power. As if the lurid obsession over an individuals race moves society forward one inch, and as though Humphrey would genuinely take on people who had a lot of power. The state of Washington has more than its share of tech billionaires and corporate thieves of one description or another. How many of them has Humphrey confronted? Furthermore, the related notions that one cannot identify with a race or ethnicity apart from ones own and that the categories whiteness and blackness might as well exist on different planets are profoundly reactionary. As the WSWS commented in 2015, when the media hysteria over Dolezal was in full swing: [S]uch arguments mirror and lend credence to those of outright racists and white supremacists. Followed to its end, the outcome of such a political ideology is a return to conditions of racial apartheid. To her credit, Dolezal is unrepentant. In an appearance before a university discussion panel on race, Dolezal is told she has not endured the initiation process required to call herself black. She replies, I have an entire life story that has led up to this point. I apologize if there is anything Ive done with my life choices that have caused offense, but I cant cease to exist, I cant just go away. The various claims by identity politics proponents that Dolezal has appropriated a culture she didnt come from or has used blackness to further her own success amount to a devastating self-exposure. To these layers, to use your racial background as a springboard for self-advancement is entirely understandable and even commendable. Dolezals crime, from this point of view, was honing in on and threatening the lucrative marketing of the commodity blackness. The Rachel Divide is successful in its humane and objective depiction of Dolezal and her family. This is all the more significant considering director Laura Brownsons own views on the matter. I felt for two years that Rachel sort of stayed Rachel, and there was a moment where I felt that I really needed to confront her with, This is what Im seeing in the world, and this is what I think the world would like to see from you and to see you do, and to, perhaps, watch you change. And you know, the harder I sort of pushed Rachel, the harder she pushed back. She does not change, said the director in an interview with Buzzfeed News. In numerous scenes Dolezal explains that once the media hysteria dies down, she hopes to resume the activism she had previously been engaged in. Dolezals hope of reconciliation with the same forces currently slandering her is one of the more tragic elements of her story. The documentary is moving and deserves a viewership. 404 This page could not be found . Anthony Bourdain brought cuisines from around the world to viewers who might never otherwise have contemplated them. But his shows were always about so much more than that. After his death was announced on Friday, many commentators have noted Bourdain's ability to tell broader stories about a country's history and culture through the lens of its food. More often than not, people of the countries that were the subject of his films would remark on the insight he conveyed to the rest of the world. Bourdain made a particular impact in the Middle East -- he made memorable films in Iran, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian territories. People in the Middle East noted on Friday how he was able to tell stories that went beyond the superficial picture painted by the daily news cycle. Over the course of his TV career -- for CNN's "Parts Unknown" and earlier for the Travel Channel -- Bourdain returned to the Middle East many times. But it was the Lebanese capital of Beirut that appeared to make a particular mark, writing once that he considered naming his newborn daughter after the city. Beirut Bourdain fell in love with Beirut after returning from shooting an episode of one his previous shows, "No Reservations," in 2006. He and his crew had been in the city for 24 hours when they became trapped in the beginnings of the Lebanese-Israeli conflict. They were rescued and taken to Cyprus, before flying home. In "Parts Unknown," Bourdain revisited Beirut in 2015, and in his field notes, he looked back at his first trip and how it inspired him to do television differently. "One day I was making television about eating and drinking. The next I was watching the airport I'd landed in a few days earlier being blown up across the water from my hotel window. "I came away from the experience deeply embittered, confused -- and determined to make television differently than I had before. I didn't know how I was going to do it or whether my network at the time was going to allow me, but the days of happy horseshit -- the uplifting sum-up at the end of every show, the reflex inclusion of a food scene in every act -- that ended right there." He added: "Our Beirut experience did not give me delusions of being a journalist. I just saw that there were realities beyond what was on my plate, and those realities almost inevitably informed what was -- or was not -- for dinner. To ignore them had come to seem monstrous." "And yet I'd already fallen in love with Beirut. We all had -- everyone on my crew. As soon as we'd landed, headed into town, there was a reaction I can only describe as pheromonic: The place just smelled good. Like a place we were going to love." Ramsay Short, who worked as a fixer for Bourdain and appeared in the three of his Beirut shows, described Bourdain as cool-headed when news broke that Israel had bombed the Beirut airport runway. It wasn't the start of the war but it marked the first major escalation that turned it from a skirmish to a full-on confrontation. "He amazingly wasn't too freaked out. He could handle the situation. The rest of the program was about waiting for the US marines to get him out of there," Short told CNN. Short also talked about the affection Bourdain felt for the Lebanese, and how that was reciprocated. "He was embraced by the Lebanese and they embraced him back, and that was something that really got to him at that time. When he saw what happened during the Israeli bombardment, he was flabbergasted and found it extremely painful and it was enough to make him want to come back -- not just once but twice more." Part of what Short admired most about Bourdain was his ability to show places that everyone could relate to. "He came and saw this thriving country as an example of what it could be if it wasn't for all the chaos, war and uncertainty. He was just so fascinated." He said he thought people connected with Bourdain because he was honest and genuine, and always said what he meant. "No arguments about that. That is something that really appeals to people," Short said. "You feel like you have a relationship with this person, like he's your best friend. His wit and humor and his ability to suddenly, in an awkward situation, say one thing that can relax the room. Everyone loves someone who can make you laugh." Iran When Bourdain visited Iran in 2014, he said he came back with a confusing picture of the country, as what he experienced was so at odds with what he understood of the country from the vision portrayed by the US government. He wrote: "What we saw, what we came back with, is a deeply confusing story. Because the Iran you see from the inside, once you walk the streets of Tehran, once you meet Iranians, is a very different place than the Iran you know from the news. Nowhere else I've been has the disconnect been so extreme between what one sees and feels from the people and what one sees and hears from the government." He went on: "I have said that Iran is the most outgoingly warm, pro-American place we've ever shot, and that's true: In Tehran, in spite of the fact that you are standing in front of a giant, snarling mural that reads 'DEATH TO AMERICA!,' we found that you will usually be treated better by strangers meaning smiles, offers of assistance, curious attempts to engage in limited English, greetings and expressions of general good will than anywhere in Western Europe." He added: "This is not a black-and-white world as much as people would like to portray it as such. That's not an apology for anything. I'm just saying that the brief, narrow slice of Iran we give you in this episode of Parts Unknown is only one part of a much deeper, multihued, very old, and very complicated story. Like anything as ancient and as beautiful as the Persian Empire, it's worth, I think, looking further. But it's also a place that can warm your heart one day and break it the next." Iranians, including some living in other parts of the world, praised Bourdain on Twitter for capturing their country in a different light to the usual Western media reports and government rhetoric. Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza Bourdain's trip to Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza in 2013 was perhaps his most contentious. And he knew it would be. He opened that episode with a disclaimer: "By the end of this hour, I'll be seen by many as a terrorist sympathizer, a Zionist tool, a self-hating Jew, an apologist for American imperialism, an Orientalist, socialist, a fascist, CIA agent, and worse." In his description of the area, he said: "It's easily the most contentious piece of real estate in the world, and there's no hope -- none -- of ever talking about it without pissing somebody, if not everybody, off." Nonetheless, Bourdain set out to discover the questions of where felafel comes from and who makes the best hummus. While that was his culinary mission, the episode unraveled as a thoughtful exploration of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "We all bring stuff along when we travel -- your preconceptions, your personal belief system, the full weight of your life experience," he said. "It's going to come to bear on the way you experience a place. But whatever you may think, and whatever baggage you may bring to this place, you should see this." Much praise for Bourdain came over his attention to Palestinians in that episode, as well as his words of support for the Palestinain people. Diana Buttu, a Palestinian-Canadian human rights lawyer who has worked on the peace process, tweeted a quote by Bourdain Friday after news of his death: "The world has visited many terrible things on the Palestinian people, none more shameful than robbing them of their basic humanity." It was part of an acceptance speech Bourdain gave for a Muslim Public Affairs Council award in 2014. Buttu told CNN that she appreciated the way Bourdain saw the Palestinians as people, rather than mere numbers in a conflict. "It was very refreshing when Bourdain came here. It was very revealing that after the segment aired and when he talked about Palestinians that he made sure to mention the issue of dehumanization, that Palestinians had been deprived of their humanity," Buttu told CNN. "He saw Palestinians as human beings -- it's sad we have to say this in this day and age, that someone saw us as human beings, but he did and that for me was very powerful." "He not only loved food but all of the things that surround food -- love, humanity culture, tradition. It was powerful because he was bringing his love and passion for food and coupled it with the story about Palestinian deprivation." Two British political operatives were in regular contact with the Russian ambassador in London while they campaigned for, and met with, Donald Trump in the United States in 2016, a review of emails and social media posts shows. Arron Banks and Andy Wigmore were prominent figures in the 2016 campaign for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union. Banks' donation of more than 8 million pounds (nearly $11 million) to the pro-Brexit campaign is the subject of a probe by the country's Electoral Commission, amid concerns of Russian interference. After successfully campaigning for Brexit in June, the men's attention appeared to turn to the United States. In August 2016, Banks and Wigmore attended a Trump rally in Mississippi with Nigel Farage from the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP). Farage spoke at the event, and was introduced by then-candidate Trump as "the man behind Brexit." Social media posts show the men traveled to Las Vegas for the final presidential debate in October 2016 and Banks told CNN he also attended a Trump event in St. Louis. After the election, Banks and Wigmore were among a small group of Britons who visited the then-President-elect at Trump Tower in New York City. Throughout the same period, Banks and Wigmore were in regular contact with the Russian ambassador in London. Emails reviewed by CNN show dozens of correspondences between the Russian embassy officials and the two men, including lunch and embassy event invitations. There is no evidence the Trump campaign knew about the men's contacts with Russian officials. Beginning in late 2015 and continuing into 2016, Banks was offered the opportunity of involvement in a $3 billion consolidation of six Russian gold mines with a company part-owned by Russian President Vladimir Putin's former deputy chief of staff, Kirill Androsov. The deal was referred to as the "gold play" in multiple emails. Speaking to CNN, Banks acknowledged he had been approached about the transaction but after soliciting advice from experts on Russia and mining, he decided not to proceed. As part of the "gold play," another email appears to show an associate of Banks requesting a meeting in Moscow with Sberbank, a Russian bank that was sanctioned by the US and the European Union after Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. Banks told CNN on Tuesday he didn't meet with Sberbank nor did he seek a meeting with them. He also said the money he donated to the Brexit campaign was not from Russian sources. "I am a UK taxpayer and I funded the referendum campaign with my own funds," he said. The details of some of the emails were first reported by The Sunday Times and The Observer newspapers in London. Trump Tower meeting Four days after Trump was elected, Banks Wigmore and Farage had what they say was an unplanned meeting with the then-President-elect in Trump Tower. Afterward, the men posed proudly with Trump outside a set of gold-plated doors in Trump's building in Midtown Manhattan. A few days later, Banks and Wigmore met with the Russian ambassador to the UK, Alexander Yakovenko. Speaking to Farage on his radio show on LBC in London on Monday night, Banks said the ambassador once again reached out to Wigmore after he had seen pictures of the pair in Trump Tower. Farage suggested people would ask if the men were "reporting back" to the Russians. "Well, not really," Banks responded. "We had a really pleasant lunch with him that lasted six hours and of course he saw a picture of us in front of the golden doors of Trump's apartment and of course he got in touch with Andy because he had seen us splashed all over the newspaper." Wigmore said the only thing they provided the ambassador with was a phone number for the Trump transition team after the ambassador asked if they knew how to get in contact with Trump. Wigmore claimed the ambassador said he didn't know how to contact the incoming administration. A week earlier, Putin had congratulated Trump on his electoral success in a telegram. The Russian Embassy in London did not respond to CNN's requests for comment. The three men later traveled to Trump's inauguration in January 2017, where they also held an event for their book "The Bad Boys of Brexit." Emails emerge Christopher Wylie, the Cambridge Analytica whistleblower whose revelations about the company led to its closure and prompted a crisis for Facebook, said he had seen some of the emails sent by Wigmore and Banks before some of them first emerged publicly this past weekend in the British press. Wylie said he reported the emails to the British National Crime Agency and told the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Adam Schiff of California about the messages during a private briefing in Washington DC last month. "I was concerned that the information I saw was suspicious to say the least," Wylie told CNN in London on Monday. "I would hope that there was an inquiry to what happened and what relationships were cultivated here in Britain and whether that impacted the American election." British member of parliament Stephen Kinnock wrote to the Metropolitan Police in London after details of some of the emails emerged. "Given Mr Banks's extensive interaction with the Russian government and the fact that the origins of his -9 million pounds donation remain unknown, I urge the Metropolitan Police to make formal inquiries to clarify the nature of Mr Banks's ambiguous relations with the Russian government," Kinnock wrote. UK Committee On Tuesday, Wigmore and Banks appeared before a parliamentary committee in London. During a spirited session, Banks told the committee he had "two lunches and one cup of tea" with the Russian ambassador. They accused the committee members of being biased against people who campaigned for the UK to leave the European Union, and called the investigation a "witch hunt." The men dismissed some of their own previous claims about parts of their work on the Brexit campaign. Wigmore told the committee he was an agent provocateur, and often exaggerates and spins the truth. Wigmore says that was the case when he emailed a journalist in February 2016 saying that Banks was in Russia. Damian Collins, a member of Parliament and head of a committee investigating fake news, said the men had "themselves put on the record that they frequently lie, exaggerate, misspeak and misunderstand," adding it was difficult to know whether to believe what the men told the committee about their meetings with Russian officials. The committee meeting came to an abrupt end when both men refused to answer any more questions, saying they had an appointment for lunch. Afterward, on social media, the men shared lunchtime selfies of themselves with two Northern Irish politicians. Former Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus decried President Donald Trump's efforts to prevent transgender individuals from serving in the military. "This notion that all of this work's been done and these people felt safe as transgender, felt safe coming out, joining the military, and then suddenly the rug gets jerked out from under -- it's not the way to treat patriots, it's not the way to build a great military force either," Mabus said on "The Axe Files," a podcast from the University of Chicago Institute of Politics and CNN. Mabus, who served as head of the Navy under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017, lamented that the Pentagon "didn't move fast enough" in instituting a policy to allow transgender individuals to openly serve in the military. "We could have solved that under President Obama but it wasn't done and it was left for the next administration," Mabus explained. That policy was still under review in July 2017 when Trump announced in a series of tweets that he would reinstate the ban on transgender troops. Mabus suggested the move was done "out of prejudice and bias and to rile up (his) base." Trump signed a formal directive in August 2017 to ban transgender recruits and prevent the Department of Defense from using its resources to provide medical treatments regimens for those currently serving. The directive was blocked by two federal judges later that year. In March 2018, the White House announced it rescinded its earlier policy and instituted a new policy to ban most transgender individuals from serving following a Pentagon policy review. Mabus, who pushed for increased diversity during his tenure as Navy secretary, expressed concern about a potential backslide under the Trump administration. "The way I approached it was you set standards, job-specific standards. Once you've done that, then gender and race and sexual orientation ... doesn't matter the only qualification to get a job ought to be the ability to do the job," he said. "A more diverse force is a stronger force." Mabus said he "pushed very hard" for the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, which he described "one of the dumbest laws you can possibly have or have had." In discussing its repeal, Mabus recalled the moment he was approached Navy medic who had just finished his third tour of duty with the Marines. "He said, 'I've been in for 11 years and I'm gay,' and he said 'My biggest fear was that I was going to be found out and kicked out.' Now here's a person, three combat tours and yet his biggest fear was he was going to be kicked out," Mabus said. "How much weaker does that make us? How much worse a force does that make us?" "We were asking people to lie about who they were, what they were about. And it's just, from every standpoint, it's wrong and it's dumb militarily," he said. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - A historic part of downtown Terre Haute is getting a new purpose. Thursday afternoon, Indiana Landmarks announced that the First Financial Corporation, the parent company of First Financial Bank, has donated the former First Financial main office to Indiana Landmarks. The building at 643 Wabash Avenue has been around since 1903. The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. CANDLES is an acronym for Children of Auschwitz Nazi Deadly Lab Experiments Survivors. CANDLES, Inc. was founded in 1984 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization by Eva Mozes Kor with help from her twin sister, Miriam Mozes Zieger, to launch an effort to locate other surviving Mengele twins. As a result of their efforts, Eva and Miriam were able to locate 122 individual Mengele twins living in ten countries and four continents. The search for more twins continues to this day. The brand new CANDLES sign. @evamozeskor A post shared by CANDLES Holocaust Museum (@candlesmuseum) on May 29, 2018 at 7:26am PDT The building will remain an integral part of history in the community. The building will be restored, with the intention of making it the new home of the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center. On behalf of our board of directors and shareholders, First Financial is pleased to help preserve a building known to generations of people in this area, First Financials CEO and President Norman L. Lowery said. As our main office headquarters for 60 years, it represents a significant part of the banks history of service to the community. In addition to donating the building, First Financial is also donating $110,000 to help Indiana Landmarks to start the renovation process. In the next six months, Indiana Landmarks will stabilize the structure, including replacing the roof. Indiana Landmarks intends to pass ownership to CANDLES while retaining a protective covenant on the building in perpetuity. Indiana Landmarks told News 10 this project may push the $2 million mark to complete. CANDLES is growing and wanted more space for offices, exhibits, and public programs. CANDLES and Indiana Landmarks approached First Financial about the donation of the building in 2016. We look forward to working with Indiana Landmarks in transforming 643 Wabash Avenue into a vibrant place for the community to gather and learn. In addition to being closer to our partner, Indiana State University, CANDLES will increase the synergy among museums and other arts and culture organizations that already call downtown Terre Haute their home, said CANDLES Executive Director Dorothy Chambers. First Financial completed construction on its current headquarters at 6th and Wabash in June 1988. After that, the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce occupied 643 Wabash. The Chamber shared the structure with other tenantsWabash Valley Community Foundation, Terre Haute Economic Development Corp., Terre Haute Convention & Visitors Bureau and Indiana Landmarks Western Regional Office. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - The Terre Haute City Council is asking representatives of Sony DADC to appear for a hearing regarding the company's tax abatements. Sony announced layoffs several months ago. WHY DO GOVERNMENTS GRANT TAX ABATEMENTS? Governments generally agree to abate or reduce the taxes of businesses and other taxpayers to promote economic development, job growth, redevelopment of blighted or underdeveloped areas, and other actions that are beneficial to the government or its citizens. Source For a company to get a tax abatement they often pledge to create a certain number of jobs and offer certain salaries. Any changes over time are reflected in a CF1 form. LINK | 375 DADC EMPLOYEES TO LOSE THEIR JOBS, SOURCES SAY SOME ALREADY LET GO The Terre Haute City Council learned Thursday night Sony DADC failed to file the CF1 form making the company non-complaint. Now representatives of Sony DADC will be asked to a special hearing to explain why the paperwork was not done. Councilman Karrum Nasser explains this happened last year. At that time the company explained the demand for its products, like Blu-ray discs and CDs, was dwindling due to streaming services. LINK | EMAIL SENT TO SONY DADC EMPLOYEES When asked if the company should continue to have taxes abated, Nasser said they've been good neighbors. "Sony doesn't just make Blu-ray discs. They are in the process of doing new technology with medical devices that maybe we can attract that technology to our community and provide more jobs." Sony DADC has multiple tax abatements set to expire in three to six years. The hearing is set for July 12th at 5:30 pm. Also at the meeting, the council unanimously showed it's support for a future downtown convention center. The council passed a resolution to support the Vigo County Council is its efforts to create a Terre Haute Convention Center. City council members say the move would bring tourists and $40 billion to the area through visitor spending. LINK | FOOD AND BEVERAGE TAX PROGRESSES; NEW CONVENTION CENTER IN SIGHT The county council will hold public hearings on a one percent food and beverage tax increase. It would generate around $2 million a year and help fund the convention center project. The city council was split on another resolution but it passed. The council voted 5-4 to authorize a temporary loan from the Terre Haute Sanitary District Operating Fund to the Terre Haute Sanitary District Bond Fund. The forgotten children Story of those born to Newar traders in Lhasa reveal what the Nepali state thought about the Nepali identity TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - The Indiana Department of Transportation is giving you the opportunity to share your concerns. INDOT is holding a series of open house meetings. The first one took place on Thursday night at Terre Haute South Vigo High School. News 10 spoke with INDOT representative Debbie Calder. She told us INDOT has a record-breaking number of projects. "There's a lot of orange barrels and cones out there, so please watch out for not only our construction crews and those projects but we have our maintenance crews on a daily basis doing work as well," Calder added. She also talked about those "Next Level" signs you may have seen all over the Wabash Valley. She says they are a reminder that INDOT wants to protect the infrastructure the state already has. The Next Level Plan anticipates spending around $30 billion over the next 20 years. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Indiana State University hosted a blood drive on campus. On Friday, the Indiana Blood Center held the drive from 9:00 a.m. until noon. It was hosted by the summer undergraduate research program. If you missed this event, you can donate anytime at the Indiana Blood Center in Terre Haute. For more information, click here. LISBON, Portugal (AP) Authorities in Portugal say that a British and an Australian tourist plunged to their deaths in a coastal town while reportedly taking selfies from a wall overlooking the beach. The Correio da Manha newspaper reported Tuesday that the tourists bodies were found on a beach in Ericera, around 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Lisbon, along with mobile phones, wallets and other possessions. Rui Pereira da Terra, a captain with the local naval authority, told broadcaster TVI that authorities believe the couple fell when trying to recover a phone or while trying to take photographs on the 30-meter (32.8-yard) high wall. Australias foreign affairs department said Wednesday in an email that consular authorities were assisting the family of the Australian victim and coordinating with British authorities about the second person. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. WASHINGTON (AP) Attorney General Jeff Sessions cited the Bible on Thursday in his defense of his border policy that is resulting in hundreds of immigrant children being separated from their parents after they enter the U.S. illegally. Sessions, speaking in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on immigration, pushed back against criticism he had received over the policy. On Wednesday, a cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church said that separating mothers from their babies was immoral. Sessions said many of the recent criticisms were not fair or logical and some are contrary to law. I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13, to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained them for the purpose of order, he said. Orderly and lawful processes are good in themselves and protect the weak and lawful. Last month, the attorney general announced a zero tolerance policy that any adult who enters the country illegally is criminally prosecuted. U.S. protocol prohibits detaining children with their parents because the children are not charged with a crime and the parents are. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, more than 650 children were separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border during a two-week period in May. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is citing the Bible in defending the Trump administrations policy of separating immigrant parents from their children after they enter the U.S. illegally. (June 14) White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Thursday that she hadnt seen Sessions comments but affirmed that the Bible did back up the administrations actions. I can say that it is very biblical to enforce the law. That is actually repeated a number of times throughout the Bible, she said. Its a moral policy to follow and enforce the law. In an unusually tense series of exchanges in the White House briefing room, Sanders wrongly blamed Democrats for the policy separating children from parents and insisted the administration had made no changes in increasing the use. Until the policy was announced in April, such families were usually referred for civil deportation proceedings, not requiring separation. The separation of illegal alien families is the product of the same legal loopholes that Democrats refuse to close, and these laws are the same that have been on the books for over a decade, and the president is simply enforcing them, she said. We dont want this to be a problem, she said. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, the archbishop of Galveston-Houston, told the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on Wednesday that he was joining other religious leaders in opposing the governments border policy. Our government has the discretion in our laws to ensure that young children are not separated from their parents and exposed to irreparable harm and trauma, DiNardo said in a statement. ___ Associated Press writer Jill Colvin contributed to this report. CLARK COUNTY, Ill. (WTHI) - The Clark County, Illinois Board has turned concern over gun legislation into action. The board passed a resolution opposing state gun legislation. We first told you about this back in April. LINK | SEE THE FULL RESOLUTION HERE The State of Illinois is considering legislation that would limit some gun ownership. Clark County's resolution states the laws and proposals violate people's constitutional rights. The resolution also claims the state laws have a negative impact on gun businesses in the county. Board members took out the language that would have created a sanctuary county status. British engineering company Rolls-Royce plans to cut 4,600 jobs in an effort to slash costs across its business. The firm said in a statement Thursday that it would make the cuts over the next two years as it seeks to reduce annual costs by -400 million ($535 million) by 2020. Most of the job losses will be in the United Kingdom. They come as part of a broader restructuring at Rolls-Royce. In January, the company said it planned to focus on its core business of manufacturing engines and power systems for the aviation, defense and energy industries. The company said it will take a one-off financial hit of -500 million ($670 million) as a result of the restructuring. Related: Inside the dismantling of GE "It is never an easy decision to reduce our workforce, but we must create a commercial organization that is as world-leading as our technologies," CEO Warren East said in the statement. "To do this we are fundamentally changing how we work." The company's shares gained more than 2% in London following the news of the job cuts. Unite, the largest union in the United Kingdom, warned that the job cuts "could have a dire economic impact on local communities reliant on Rolls-Royce jobs." "There is a real danger that Rolls-Royce will cut too deep and too fast with these jobs cuts, which could ultimately damage the smooth running of the company and see vital skills and experience lost," Unite official Steve Turner said in a statement. Rolls-Royce said there would be "no compulsory redundancies of represented staff" and promised it "would continue to deliver on our commitments to customers." "We do not anticipate that the restructuring will lead to any reduction in the skills and capabilities that we require to support our current programs," it said. The company has roughly 50,000 employees. Related: Jaguar Land Rover cuts 1,000 jobs in the UK In the financial year ended March 2018, Rolls-Royce reported pretax profits of -4.9 billion ($6.6 billion) - a sharp rebound from a loss of -4.6 billion ($6.2 billion) the year before. In early 2017, the firm paid out -671 million ($900 million) to settle corruption probes by authorities in the United States, United Kingdom and Brazil. The company has also been grappling with problems with its Trent 1000 jet engines, which are used in Boeing 787 aircraft. It first reported issues with the line of engines in 2016. Rolls-Royce has its origins in the luxury automaker that shares its name, but the two are separate companies now. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is owned by German car manufacturer BMW. -- Charles Riley contributed to this report. It's one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, but Budapest can also make a claim to be one of the most relaxing, thanks to a secret buried beneath its beautiful architecture. Bubbling up through the city's limestone foundations are 118 natural thermal springs that deliver 70 million liters of therapeutic waters each day. No wonder they call it the "City of Spas." The Turkish baths of Budapest are exquisite, an everlasting memory of Ottoman rule during the 16th and 17th centuries, renowned the world over for their relaxing and medicinal purposes. Not only are there a whole host of thermal spas dotted around, but outdoor swimming pools play a huge part in making summer (and winter) even more enjoyable in the city. Here are 10 top spa and swimming destinations that are worth checking out when you travel to Budapest: Rudas Baths Nestled beneath Gell-rt Hill on the banks of the Danube river, Rudas Baths is one of the more favored thermal spas in Budapest. Dating back to 1550, it has the look and feel of what one would expect of a traditional Turkish bath house during Ottoman rule. A large octagonal plunge pool takes center stage, accompanied by five smaller thermal pools, a sauna, steam room and massage rooms. The spa also holds modern annex houses, a larger swimming pool and a rooftop hot tub, which is bustling in both the summer and winter months. Admission fee: $18.60 during the week and $23 at weekends. Steam bath open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Rudas Baths, Budapest, D-brentei t-r 9, 1013 Hungary; +36 1 356 1010 Sz-chenyi Baths Built in 1913, the Sz-chenyi Baths is a Budapest must-see and remains hugely popular with travelers. Situated in the heart of the City Park, the bath house is one of the largest in Europe and the only thermal spa on the Pest side of the city. Its three huge outdoor pools are open year round, providing a great place to sunbathe during the summer months. Winter is also an experience here -- jumping between one of the 10 indoor pools to the outside bathing area certainly wakes you up. Its saunas, steam chamber and massage rooms are plentiful inside, with a number of treatments available upon request. Admission fee: Around $21 on week days and $22 at weekends. Open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sz-chenyi Baths, Budapest, -llatkerti krt. 9-11, 1146 Hungary; +36 1 363 3210 Gell-rt Baths The Gell-rt Baths are based inside the grand Gell-rt Hotel, which opened in 1918 and is a prime example of the Art Nouveau style constructed in Hungary throughout that period. Perched at the foot of Gell-rt Hill, the building is famous throughout Hungary and has featured in many local and international films. The bathhouse complex was expanded to include an outdoor pool with a wave-generating machine in 1927. It also boasts a steam room, sauna, sun terrace, thermal baths and massage rooms complete the baths that provide an inviting pool area whatever the weather. Admission fee: $22 on weekdays and $23 at weekends. Gellert Baths, Budapest, Kelenhegyi -t 4, 1118 Hungary; +36 1 466 6166. Open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m Kir-ly Baths One of the oldest spas in the city, Kir-ly Baths is housed in one of the few buildings in Budapest that was erected during the time of the Ottoman rule. Built in 1565, its magnificent cupola-topped pool is its main draw. The bathhouse also includes a thermal pool, massage rooms, a sauna and steam room. A recent addition to the spa came in the guise of a Finnish sauna complete with a cold plunge pool, which has been a huge hit with locals. Admission fee: $10. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Kir-ly Baths, Budapest, F- u. 84, 1027 Hungary; +36 1 202 3688 Luk-cs Baths Situated on the Buda side of the city, the thermal springs at Luk-cs Baths have been in use since the 12th century. The historic building became a healing spa and treatment center at the end of the 19th century, and its inner courtyard is emblazoned with marble tablet engravings of gratitude from those who were treated here. Luk-cs Baths was most recently renovated in 2012 and is now made up of four warm thermal baths, a cold plunge pool and a number of massage and treatment rooms. Admission fee: About $14 on week days and $15 at weekends. Open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Luk-cs Baths, Budapest, Frankel Le- -t 25-29, 1023 Hungary; +36 1 326 1695 The Royal Spa at the Corinthia Hotel Budapest First opened in 1886, the Royal Spa at the Corinthia Hotel is one of the most luxurious spa destinations in Budapest. Its pi-ce de r-sistance is a galleried 15-meter swimming pool, which is housed in an ornate architectural masterpiece. Relaxation rooms, saunas, a steam bath and Jacuzzis are also available to visitors as well as an array of ESPA treatments if you care for a relaxing facial or body massage. Admission fee: $33. Open daily from 6.30 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Royal Spa at the Corinthia Hotel, Budapest, Erzs-bet krt. 43-49, 1073 Hungary; +36 1 479 4000 The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest Based in the exclusive Gresham Palace, Four Seasons Budapest is considered among the finest five-star hotels in the city. Its in-house spa is also a delight, positioned up high overlooking the city. Complete with a relaxation pool, sauna, separate steam rooms for men and women and a whirlpool, one can easily while away the hours relaxing the day away here. There are also several private rooms offering sensual massages along with Vichy shower treatment rooms. Admission fee: Around $37.50. Open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest, Sz-chenyi Istv-n t-r 5-6, 1051 Budapest; +36 1 268 6000 Veli Bej (or Cs-sz-r Baths) Originally commissioned by Ottoman statesman Szokullu Musztafa, Veli Bej (also known as Cs-sz-r Baths) was considered the most beautiful baths of its time when it was built in the 16th century. Beautifully renovated in 2017, its focal point is a large octagonal hot water pool, which is surrounded by four smaller pools. The ornate building also boasts a modern swimming pool, steam baths, sauna, Jacuzzi and a special bathtub for hydrotherapy. Admission fee: $10. Open daily from 6.00 a.m. to 9 p.m. Veli Bej, Budapest, -rp-d fejedelem -tja 7, 1023 Hungary; +36 1 438 8587 Danubius Health Spa Resort Margitsziget, Margaret Island Situated in the center of the city, Margaret Island is known as the "Spa island of Budapest." Visitors can experience the island's thermal waters in various locations, but the Danubius Health Spa Resort Margitsziget is one of the stand outs. Water sourced from three natural springs are used in the hotel's thermal bath as well as its indoor and outdoor swimming pools, hydrotherapy bath, sauna, steam and aroma baths. Admission fee: $20.60 on week days and $24 at weekends. Open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Danubius Health Spa Resort Margitsziget, Margaret Island, Budapest-Margitsziget, 1007 Budapest, Hungary; +36 1 889 4700 Palatinus Baths, Margaret Island Palatinus Baths was the first location in Hungary to allow visitors to bathe outside. It's now a top spot for both locals and tourists, who flock here during the summer time to sunbathe and take advantage of the 11 different pools. Not only does it hold thermal baths and mineral waters taken from the natural springs on the island, Palatinus also has giant water slides and a wave pool on site. A new wellness center, which boasts a Finnish sauna, geothermal sauna and steam chamber, was added in 2017. The cold and hot water plunge pools also help to make this one of the top places to visit in the city during the summer months. Admission fee: $11.50. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Palatinus Baths, H-1007 Budapest, Margaret Island; +36 1 340 4500 Police say a shooting in a Westminster parking lot Thursday afternoon left a boy dead and his mother and brother with life-threatening injuries. The woman and child are listed in critical condition. A man with the group but not related to the family was also shot but is expected to survive, police say. They declined to release the names and ages of the victims at this time. Authorities arrested a man who Westminster police believe is responsible for the shooting outside the Cedarwood Square Office Complex. His identity has also been withheld as police continue their investigation. The shooting occurred around 3:05 p.m. in the business complex's parking lot located near the corner of Sheridan Boulevard and West 80th Avenue. Officers who arrived at the scene found four victims with gunshot wounds. It was not immediately clear what led to the shooting. Police have not established a motive. Video from AIRTRACKER7 showed crime tape encompassing the office complex and evidence markers around a Ford pickup truck. Witness Nancy Garcia told Denver7 that she helped a boy who said his mother had been shot in the ear and that she helped the boy call his father. Cheri Spottke with the Westminster Police Department told Denver7 that the shooter fled soon after the incident in a black Toyota Corolla. Around 5:33 p.m., troopers say a wildlife officer spotted the vehicle associated with the shooting traveling northbound on I-25 but soon lost sight of the Corolla. About 10 minutes later, troopers caught up with the vehicle north of Meadows Parkway in Castle Rock and pulled the car over, where he was taken into custody without incident, according to the Colorado State Patrol. Investigators are interviewing the driver, whose name is expected to be released Friday. Police say there were no additional victims in any of the businesses. BRUCE, Miss. (WTVA) - A Facebook post lands a Calhoun County man in hot water. The message, "I think Bruce, Mississippi, needs a [expletive] bloodbath" led to an investigation of John Coleman. Coleman told Bruce police he posted the message on social media Tuesday night because someone was picking on him at work. Chief Tony Sockwell says Coleman works at Haworth in Bruce. According to Coleman's Facebook page, he works as a welding robotic operator at the furniture manufacturing facility. The chief says the company suspended Coleman pending an internal investigation and beefed up security at the facility. Coleman is not facing any charges but did surrender his gun to law enforcement. He also apologized on Facebook. The old partys new test NC continues to disappoint those who like to see it act up as a robust opposition GADSDEN COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - The two infants stabbed by their Gadsden County mother are recovering well. In April, 33-year-old Carolyn Brown was charged with stabbing her two infant sons. Both suffered life threatening injuries to their faces and bodies. The Gadsden County Sheriff's Office says they're recovering and in the care of another family. The deputies who arrived on scene that day say, they are glad the two infants are safe and doing better. "Being able to help children is a wonderful thing," said GCSO Deputy Samuel McCary. "I'm sorry they went through that they went through, I'm just glad we got to help them to survive." The Florida State Attorney's Office says Carolyn Brown is not behind bars, but being medically treated at an undisclosed facility. Two gold smugglers sent to jail The Rasuwa District Court has sentenced two gold smugglers up to three years in jail and a fine of Rs 81.4 million. (WTXL) - An unexpected friendship in Central Florida is taking two women to the halls of Congress. Despite a generational gap, their friendship, and a journey to the nation's capital, is fueled by their love of firearms and the second amendment. As Florida and other states grapple with the fallout of recent mass shootings, they say their message to Washington is one of unity, culture and safety. Chloe Deaton, a high school student, said "I've been shooting for 6 years, since I was 9." The fifteen-year-old grew up around firearms, spending time around the local sheriff's department and hunting with her parents So when her Florida high school joined schools across the country for a walkout to protest gun violence following the Parkland shooting, Deaton decided to organize a walkout of her own - a pro-gun, pro-Second Amendment walkout. Barbara Rumpel, a member of A Girl and A Gun Women's Shooting League: "I was just so proud of her and I connected with her through her mother." Rumpel found her love for guns later in life. "I like shot guns, I like sporting clays, I'm not really good at it but I keep trying," she said. Rumpel invited Chloe to washington to meet with legislators as part of the D.C. Project: Fifty women from fifty states meeting with lawmakers and rallying in support of preserving America's gun culture. They are preparing to head to the nation's Capitol next week. Both acknowledge there's a problem with violence in schools "It has a lot to do with mental illness, people not listening to students about their problems, and bullying," Deaton said. "It's not about the guns," Rumpel said. "It's about the failures in the whole system in letting it happen." Deaton says she's even felt nervous at her school and supports arming some teachers. The rising high school junior knows her opinions aren't the same as all of her peers. "I'm my own person," Deaton said. "I am who I am." By Yoo Seungki SEOUL, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Public support for South Korean President Moon Jae-in's drive for peace on the Korean Peninsula helped his ruling party win a sweeping victory, the biggest the Democratic Party ever recorded in local elections. Moon's ruling Democratic Party snapped 14 posts out of 17 major mayoralties and provincial governorships in the seventh round of quadrennially-held local elections, the National Election Commission said Thursday. The elections to pick 4,016 administrative, legislative and educational posts were conducted nationwide Wednesday. The landslide victory came in the wake of Moon's peace drive to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and bring peace and stability to the peninsula and the region, which stoked widespread support among conservative voters beyond liberal ones. Moon held the third-ever inter-Korean summit with top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un at the truce village of Panmunjom on April 27. About a month later, they met again to re-affirm the commitment to denuclearization of the peninsula and improved inter-Korean relations. A historic summit was held in Singapore Tuesday between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump. Pyongyang and Washington agreed on complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in exchange for security guarantees for the DPRK. The series of landmark events in recent months triggered hopes for lasting peace on the peninsula, and the restart of inter-Korean economic cooperation which has been banned under UN sanctions over Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile developments. The Democratic Party chanted a slogan that peace can bring economic benefits to South Korea, which is faced with a longstanding low growth since the 2008 global financial crisis. The record-low borrowing costs encouraged South Korean households to purchase new home with borrowed money, resulting in massive household debts and pressure on private consumption. If the inter-Korean economic cooperation is resumed with the complete denuclearization and the lifting of sanctions that will allow South Korean companies to invest in the DPRK infrastructure, it can be a breakthrough for a lackluster South Korean economy as well as the DPRK economy, observers said. Peace on the Korean Peninsula can also reduce defense costs for South Korea, about 10 percent of its total annual budget, that can be re-allocated to social welfare and healthcare as well as new growth engines. It persuaded voters to support Moon's governing party. The local elections came together with by-elections to fill 12 vacant parliamentary seats in the 300-member National Assembly. The Democratic Party secured 11 seats, while the main conservative opposition Liberty Korea Party added only one seat at the Gimcheon city in North Gyeongsang province, a traditional home turf of the conservative bloc. The Democratic Party increased its parliamentary seats to 130 in the unicameral assembly, followed by the Liberty Korea Party with 113 seats. The left-centrist Party for Democracy and Peace and the minor progressive Justice Party, which are favorable to Moon's peace drive, maintained 14 seats and six seats, respectively. The number of lawmakers, affiliated with the three pan-liberal political parties, and liberal independent legislators topped half of the 300-member parliament, boosting expectations for Moon's peace drive to be made law. It would institutionalize inter-Korean agreements regardless of political situations. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 01:23:07|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close WASHINGTON, June 14 (Xinhua) -- British and German researchers described in a study published on Thursday in the journal Current Biology the first and unexpected microbes that could translate DNA randomly in two different ways. Researchers examined an unusual group of yeasts and were surprised to find one species, Ascoidea asiatica, randomly translated a codon either as serine or leucine, two different kinds of protein. Every time the codon is translated, the cell tosses a chemical coin: heads for leucine, tails it's serine. DNA is often referred to as the blueprint for life, since all organisms receive genetic information from their parents which tell the cells how to make proteins. The genetic information comprises DNA molecules made up of a sequence of four chemical bases represented by the letters A, T, C and G. The genetic code dictates to the cell which sequence of amino acids to join together to form each protein given the underlying sequence in the DNA. "We were surprised to find that about 50 percent of the time that CTG is translated as serine, the remainder of the time it is leucine," said Laurence Hurst, professor of Evolutionary Genetics and director of the Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath. "The last rule of genetics codes, that translation is deterministic, has been broken. This makes this genome unique. You cannot work out the proteins if you know the DNA," said Hurst. The research team investigated molecules called tRNAs, which act as translators that recognize the codons and bring together the amino acids to make a protein chain. Martin Kollmar, from the Max-Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Gottingen, said: "We found that Ascoidea asiatica is unusual in having two sorts of tRNAs for CTG, one which bridges with leucine and one which bridges with serine." "So when CTG comes to be translated, it randomly picks one of the two tRNAs and hence randomly picks between serine and leucine," said Kollmar. Stefanie Muhlhausen from The Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath said: "Swapping a serine for leucine could cause serious problems in a protein as they have quite different properties." "Serine is often found on the surface of the protein whereas leucine is hydrophobic and often buried inside the protein," said Muhlhausen. "We looked at how this strange yeast copes with this randomness and found that A. asiatica has evolved to use the CTG codon very rarely and especially avoids key parts of proteins." The researchers estimated that the random encoding was 100 million years old, but other closely related species evolved to lose this potentially problematic trait. "It's unclear why A. asiatica should have retained this stochastic encoding for so long. Perhaps there are rare occasions when this sort of randomness can be beneficial," said Kollmar. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 01:48:11|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ADEN, Yemen, June 14 (Xinhua) -- At least three pro-government soldiers were killed and nearly seven other injured when a suicide car bomb struck a checkpoint in Yemen's southern province of Abyan on Thursday, a military official told Xinhua. The military official, who asked to remain anonymous, said that a suicide bomber drove and then detonated his explosives-laden car into a checkpoint of the newly-recruited security troops in Wadhea district of Abyan province. The suicide attack killed three soldiers and injured seven others of the Yemeni troops backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the source said. A government source in Abyan confirmed that new reinforcements arrived at the scene and are continuing combing and securing the area. No groups have claimed responsibility for the attack so far. However, the local sources based in Abyan did not rule out possibility for involvement of al-Qaida militants. The al-Qaida network mostly operating in eastern and southern provinces, has been responsible for many high-profile attacks against security forces in the country. The Yemen-based al-Qaida branch, seen by the United States as the global terror network's most dangerous branch, has exploited years of deadly conflict between Yemen's government and Houthi rebels to expand its presence, especially in southeastern provinces. VALLETTA, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat discussed migration over the phone with European Council President Donald Tusk on Thursday evening. A statement, issued by the Office of the Prime Minister, said that the conversation between the two "focused on the issue of migration and the next European Council". The summit is scheduled to take place between June 28 and 29, with European leaders expected to focus on migration, security and defense, as well as "economic and financial affairs". Muscat's phone call with Tusk is the fourth conversation about migration he has had with a European leader this week following that with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. Malta is currently engaged in a dispute with Italy over differences in migration policy that was sparked by the non-governmental rescue ship Aquarius. Italy had refused to allow the ship carrying 629 rescued migrants and refugees enter any of its ports in the southern regions, and urged Malta to receive them. The Aquarius ship had 629 people on board, including 123 non-accompanied minors and 11 small children. Italy declared that its ports were closed to vessel and ordered it to remain in international waters. Malta maintained that since the people on board were rescued in an area closer to the Italian island of Lampedusa than Malta, then Italy was obliged to disembark those rescued itself. Italy's decision to close its ports to new migrant arrivals had sparked the most direct clash yet among the country's new European Union-skeptic government, Malta and EU leadership in Brussels. In an ad-hoc debate on migration at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs urged European leaders to amend the Dublin regulations at the next European Council summit in order to ensure better sharing of responsibilities among member states. KIGALI, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda's cabinet has approved a ban on using mobile phones by pupils in primary and secondary schools to prevent disruptions in learning, Minister of Education Eugene Mutimura announced Thursday. Briefing journalists in Kigali, Mutimura said the decision was approved by a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. "Cellphones disrupt proper learning and have various negative impacts on pupils," he said. Breaching the directive would attract suspension for the first offender and indefinite suspension from school for repeated offence. The minister appealed to school administrators to check students' bags when they are reporting to school and effectively enforce the ban. Schools would be required to put in place public phones to enable pupils to communicate with their parents, he said. Minister of Gender and Family Promotion Esperance Nyirasafari on the press briefing called on parents to support the ban, saying it is in the interest of pupils. The ban would also protect pupils from cyber bullying, she said. LONDON, June 14 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Theresa May was Thursday night facing the threat of a new revolt by her own Conservatives in the latest twist to the Brexit saga. May went into what were among the toughest 48 hours of her premiership Tuesday when she faced the prospect of the House of Commons backing amendments to her crucial bill to pave the way for Britain to leave the European Union (EU). In the event, May's government came through two days of intensive debates, overturning every major amendment that had been put forward by the unelected House of Lords. In one crunch clash over the wording of what would be a meaningful vote on a final Brexit deal, May emerged victorious. But her win came after she made concessions to leading Conservative MPs. The Guardian newspaper Thursday said May was walking a tightrope in being able to keep on her side her rebellious politicians, while at the same time ensuring leading Brexiteers did not themselves become rebels. The fresh round of trouble emerged after Downing Street published on Thursday an amended version of the meaningful vote clause which will be presented next week to the House of Lords before returning for a final vote in the Commons several days later. It emerged that her rebels, led by former attorney general Dominic Grieve, have rejected the new wording issued by May's office. The Independent newspaper in London reported Thursday that some sources in Westminster were already speculating that it could cause a constitutional crisis, precipitating the collapse of May's administration. The new government amendment to the Brexit bill set out what must happen if May announces before Jan. 21, 2019 that no deal has been reached with the EU either on the withdrawal agreement or the future relationship. If that happens, one of May's ministers must make a statement in Parliament within 14 days and give MPs an opportunity to vote. Grieve had demanded an amendment, saying the government must seek the approval of parliament for its course of action, and that May and her ministers must be directed by MPs and the House of Lords. Grieve told media in London the new version was unacceptable because wording made it impossible for MPs to change the government's proposals. Keir Starmer, the main opposition Labour's chief Brexit spokesman said: "The government's amendment is simply not good enough. Theresa May has gone back on her word and offered an amendment that takes the meaning out of the meaningful vote. Parliament cannot, and should not, accept it." The Guardian said it pointed to a new showdown with Conservative rebels, while the Independent added that May's compromise plan had fallen apart, plunging her into a fresh Brexit crisis. Pro-Leave politicians have accused remain supporters of engaging in tactics to keep Britain in the EU, either by reversing the referendum decision or making it impossible for Britain to leave the bloc. Under British law, government bills have to "ping pong" between both Houses of Parliament before a final vote takes place. Meanwhile, Scottish National Party (SNP) politicians continued their attack Thursday on Westminster following the two-day Brexit bill debate which denied them the opportunity to discuss the impact of a Brexit deal on the devolved Scottish Parliament. It has led to some politicians claiming the SNP is using the skirmish with Westminster to advance its cause for an independent Scotland. The Scotland's Daily Record newspaper in Glasgow reported Thursday that the Scottish and British governments were at war, with the two governments hardly talking to each other. Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the SNP and Scotland's First Minister Thursday welcomed a statement by Murray Foote, former editor of the Daily Record, who announced he now supported an independent Scotland. As editor of the newspaper, Foote ran a famous front page promise of more powers for Scotland if it voted "No" to independence. Now he says Brexit has changed his mind. Sturgeon said on social media: "That Foote now supports independence is hugely significant. I'm delighted. Welcome aboard, Murray." Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan addresses his supporters during an election rally in Ankara, Turkey, June 9, 2018. (REUTERS) ANKARA, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Four people were killed and nine others injured in an armed clash during an election campaign of a delegation from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the southeastern Turkish province of Sanliurfa on Thursday. The attack occurred when the AKP delegation, led by lawmaker Ibrahim Halil Yildiz, was visiting local shopkeepers at Suruc district of Sanliurfa province, Dogan News Agency reported. Ahmet Yildiz, a brother of Ibrahim Yildiz, was among those killed and his four other brothers were injured, Turkish Family and Social Policies Minister Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya confirmed. Police detained nearly 10 suspects and has brought the situation under control. "This is a grave event. No matter what the cause is, nothing matters more than human life," Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said. Yildirim said that the suspects are "sympathizers of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)," citing preliminary information from the police. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused PKK of being behind the armed attack. "This incident is an obvious example depicting the PKK's strategy to grow with the Kurds' blood," he said. Presidential advisor Ibrahim Kalin condemned the "heinous attack", saying "the incident will be investigated and the perpetrators will be brought to justice." Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said the AKP delegation was targeted in "an attack planned before the visit." AKP spokesperson Mahir Unal condemned the attackers and called for restraint to all his party members and voters in Suruc. Writ petition challenges NCP registration A group of advocates on Thursday filed a writ petition at the Supreme Court demanding that the registration of Nepal Communist Party (NCP) be scrapped. by Eric J. Lyman ROME, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Fleeing war and an economic collapse, thousands of desperate refugees forced themselves onto overcrowded boats in unsafe conditions to set course for Italy. But when they landed, they were greeted by under-prepared communities that provided inadequate food, water, and other services. The description could have been lifted from any of the hundreds of international news articles and television reports from the last several days, after the new Italian government's high-profile anti-migrant policies took shape. NOT NEW TO ITALY The last time Italy saw large arrivals of migrants was in the early 1990s, when tens of thousands fled to Italy from Eastern Europe. In 1991, a boat starting in Albanian transported more than 20,000 refugees to the southern Italian city of Bari in a single day. "Migration is not a new problem for Italy," Giuseppe De Arcangelis, a professor of international economics at Rome's La Sapienza University, told Xinhua. He said in times of war, during the drastic changes in eastern Europe, and again in recent years, "Italy's geography and other factors make it a destination for refugees." After a century of net migration from Italy, the formula reversed itself in the 1970s when the tide of those arriving in Italy was larger than those leaving. But the issue has rarely been as political as is today. And many commentators say race is playing a major role. An estimated 12,000 migrants and refugees have landed on Italy's shores so far this year, mostly from Africa. But that is dramatically slower than the pace between 2014 and 2016, when more than 150,000 -- from both Africa and the Middle East -- arrived every year. The peak came two years ago, when more than 180,000 refugees landed on the country's shores. CONTROVERSIAL RESPONSE To stem the influx, Italy worked out a controversial agreement with the Libyan Coast Guard that reduced the rate of arrivals by two-thirds in the second half of last year, and the figures dropped further so far in 2018. But that did not prevented migration from being the central issue in the March 4 general election. A new government was installed June 1, led in part by Matteo Salvini, the new minister of the interior who had vowed to expel as many as half a million migrants from Italy. "The political response is understandable: no other European country aside from maybe Greece has had to endure what Italy has gone through in terms of migration over the last few years," Stefano Allievi, a University of Padova sociologist and the author of several books on migration and refugees, said in an interview. "What would England or France do if 10 or 15 thousand refugees arrived in a single day? They wouldn't know what to do," the sociologist asserted. RACISM INVOLVED Allievi blames the European Union for doing too little to help Italy pay for and process migrant arrivals for too long, though he also accepted that racism plays a part in the way the predominantly African and Middle Eastern refugees of the last few years have been treated. "I'm sure there is an element of racism involved," Allievi said. "But I also think the problem of race in Italy has grown much worse in recent years because migration has been so badly mishandled." During the campaign this year, Salvini said that many migrants were "incompatible" with Italian values, though he denied that was based on skin color. Attilio Fontana, a long-time member of the League who is now president of Italy's most populous region, Lombardy, said elections in 2018 would determine "if our ethnicity, if the white race, if our culture, should continue to exist or if it should be wiped out." La Sapienza's De Arcangelis said those views were reflected in changes over the last nearly three decades. "Look back to what happened in the early 1990s and the situation was completely different," De Arcangelis said. "There were worries about the high numbers, but northern European countries like Denmark and Sweden welcomed the migrants then. Now, it is much more controversial. Now, many countries just want to close their doors." VINNYTSIA, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The international plein air art festival "The Best Artist" came to an end in central Ukraine on Thursday, after 10 days full of creativity and art exchanges. During the festival, hosted by the Ukrainian Culture Ministry in the historic city of Vinnytsia, 18 artists from seven countries created about 90 artworks depicting local landscapes and architecture. Valeriy Shmatko, the contemporary colorist painter from Ukraine's eastern city of Kharkiv, won the festival's "Best Ukrainian Artist" award. Meanwhile, Zhanibek Suyunbekov, a young participant from Kyrgyzstan, clinched "The Best Artist" title. Suyunbekov, who participated in many art contests in his home country and abroad, said the victory is a "great honour" for him. "For me, this is a step forward and a great incentive to further develop my skills," Suyunbekov told Xinhua. Qi Shaoting, an artist representing China, was awarded a special prize of the festival -- a precious jewelry decoration, for the unique style of her works. While speaking with Xinhua, Qi said her goal of popularizing Chinese culture among foreigners has been achieved at the festival. "This is a cultural exchange. We learned a lot from each other. For example, I introduced the Chinese Guohua to the participants of the festival -- I held a master class for them so that they could try to paint in this style," Qi said. Qi's works not only impressed the festival's jury, but also touched the hearts of the special guests from Georgia. The Chinese artist was invited to participate in the international festival of artists, icon painters and photographers in the Caucasus country. Volodymyr Koziuk, a Ukrainian artist, who has organized "The Best Artist" festival, said he is pleased that the event has become a bridge to connect people from different cultures. "If people cooperate in the cultural field, they are becoming friends. Thanks to culture, the world can change. This is a great beginning for changing the structure of our world," Koziuk told Xinhua. SYDNEY, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Seven New South Wales State Fire & Rescue trucks were called to the Sydney International Airport on Friday morning, after a "white substance was found" by staff when they were unloading luggage on American Airlines flight 73. According to local media, the plane landed from Los Angeles of the United States at around 7:15 local time. Investigations are underway at the scene. The airport has not yet commented on the incident. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 10:19:27|Editor: mym Video Player Close A musician of Grant Park Symphony Orchestra performs on the stage at Millennium Park in Chicago, the United States, on June 13, 2018. The Grant Park Music Festival is an annual ten-week classical music concert series held in downtown Chicago.(Xinhua/Wang Ping) VIENTIANE, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Thai government has promised continuing support to Laos to help victims of human trafficking in the country, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Friday. The new Ambassador of Thailand to Laos Kiattikhun Chartprasert confirmed this week a forecast budget of about 25 million baht (some 773 thousand U.S. dollars) for construction of the Laos-Thailand Friendship Social Development Center when talking to Lao Minister of Labor and Social Welfare Khampheng Saysompheng. The project is expected to commence construction at the end of this year, according to the report. The center will help Lao victims of human trafficking while providing training and information to them, they can go to Thailand to work. The center will receive Lao workers who want to work in Thailand as part of the cooperation between the two labor ministries. The new center will serve as a hub for resource development and facilitate cooperation between Laos and Thailand for model service centers in the training and labor fields. Thai authorities are also supporting employers or businesses wishing to hire Lao workers, thus benefiting both employers and employees according to the laws of the two countries. The support is a result of the two governments and labor ministries implementing a memorandum of understanding signed in 2005 to cooperate on preventing human trafficking and a labor cooperation agreement signed in 2017. The Thai government also opened assistance centers in Thai capital Bangkok and other provinces to upgrade the status of Lao workers currently holding pink cards in Thailand, including illegal workers wanting to return home. TORONTO, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Two little girls were wounded and rushed to a Toronto hospital after a playground shooting in a housing complex in Scarborough, Canada on Thursday afternoon, local media reported. The two girls, aged five and nine years old respectively, were shot at around 5:00 p.m. (2100 GMT) Thursday. The five-year-old girl, who was in a critical condition, has been undergoing surgery, the CTV reported. Police are hunting for a suspect with a firearm, it added. by Matthew Rusling WASHINGTON, June 14 (Xinhua) -- This week's U.S. Republican primaries underscored the loyalty of U.S. President Donald Trump's supporters, despite over a year of controversy since he clinched the White House. Experts said this is a good sign for the Republican Party (GOP) in the upcoming midterm elections, although it won't ensure their victory, as Democrats are highly motivated by their animosity toward the president. "When the base of the Republican Party and the White House are walking in lock step, that's a great sign, heading into the 2018 midterms, where the GOP faces stiff headwinds in terms of trying to hold the House," Republican Strategist Ford O'Connell told Xinhua, speaking of the GOP-controlled House of Representatives. While Trump over the past year has faced opposition from a number of establishment lawmakers in his own party, the GOP base has stuck with the president, who was a big winner in Tuesday's primary races. Indeed, Trump has the second highest "own party" approval rating since WWII, at this stage of his term, second only to former President George W. Bush, according to a Gallup poll released earlier this month. Bush saw popularity from his own party surge through the roof after showing strong leadership in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington that killed nearly 3,000 people. That matters a great deal for Trump, "because in mid-term elections, 40 million fewer voters vote. And therefore, it becomes who can better turn out their base," O'Connell said. "As long as the Republican base sees Trump as a tireless fighter who delivers, the Republicans have a chance to hold the House and make gains in the Senate," O'Connell said. Experts say that Trump now rules the GOP, and Republican lawmakers who stand against him will feel his wrath. That was evident earlier this week when GOP voters booted out incumbent Congressman Mark Sanford in Tuesday's primary elections. Sanford has been highly outspoken against Trump, but lost in his efforts at re-election in his district in the state of South Carolina, after Trump blasted him on social media. As a result, political newcomer Katie Arrington, who lambasted Sanford for his lack of loyalty to Trump, clinched the election in a contest that grabbed national headlines. Other experts, however, said fierce loyalty among Trump's base may not keep the GOP in power, as Democrats are equally united in unseating the president, who has faced mounting criticism from the Democrats. "Having a strong base will not protect the GOP majorities because Democrats are equally united in wanting to defeat Trump," Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West told Xinhua. "Trump owns the Republican party and it is virtually impossible for Republicans to criticize him without incurring the wrath of his base," West said. "That means Party members will support him in anything he does, no matter how crazy, because opposition could be politically fatal," West said. WASHINGTON, June 14 (Xinhua)-- The United States and South Korea have agreed to work together to fulfill U.S. President Donald Trump's "guidance" on the joint military exercises, said Pentagon on Thursday. Trump, after a historic meeting with Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday, told reporters that he will halt the annual U.S. war games with South Korea as Washington was in talks with Pyongyang which has constantly denounced the drills. Pentagon said in a statement that U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis spoke over phone with his South Korean counterpart Song Young-moo on Thursday, discussing the results of the U.S.-DPRK summit. Mattis and Song also "discussed their mutual support to ongoing diplomatic efforts, to include how we are working together to fulfill the President's guidance on U.S.-ROK (South Korea) combined military exercises," the statement added. In an almost one-hour press conference on Tuesday, Trump said the joint military exercises, usually conducted each spring and summer in South Korea, will be stopped "unless and until we see the future negotiation (between the United States and the DPRK) is not going along like it should." Trump also called the drills "very expensive" and "provocative." Harry Harris, a retired Navy admiral whom Trump has picked as the next U.S. ambassador to South Korea, endorsed Trump's decision to halt the joint military exercises. "We should give major exercises a pause to see if Kim Jong Un is serious about his part of the negotiations," Harris told a Senate hearing to consider his nomination on Thursday. South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Thursday that he will carefully review the joint military exercises if talks between the DPRK and the United States continue. OTTAWA, June 14 (Xinhua) -- More than 700 Canadian school employees committed or were alleged to have committed sexual offences against nearly 1,300 children over the past 20 years, according to a report released by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (CCCP) Thursday. The report, the first-of-its kind study of child sexual abuse in the country, identified 750 cases of sexual offences (or alleged offences) against a minimum of 1,272 children between 1997 and 2017. The offences were carried out or allegedly carried out by 714 employees or former employees working in kindergarten to Grade 12 schools across Canada. Eighty-six percent of the offenders were certified teachers, while other school employees charged with crimes also included educational assistants, student teachers, lunch monitors, volunteers, secretaries, custodians and school bus drivers. Many of the offenders included in the study groomed their victims to build trust and spend time alone with them. Those offenders manipulated their victims to reduce the likelihood of the child reporting the abuse, the report says. The study also found that a lot of the grooming took place online or by electronic communication, such as text and email. According to the study, 87 percent of the offenders were male, and 75 percent of the victims were female. In addition, 55 percent of the victims were sexually abused on school property (including field trip locations and school buses, while 29 percent of the victims were abused in the offender's car or residence. More than two-thirds of all victims were high school students and 73 percent of offenders identified in the study were charged with at least one criminal offence. Of the cases that went to trial, 70 percent resulted in findings of guilt. The CCCP calls the study's findings "unquestionably alarming" and offers a number of recommendations for change. The recommendations include setting "appropriate boundaries" between adult school employees and students, such as making it clear that texting students or engaging with them on social media is inappropriate. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 11:12:38|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close Conservation workers repair bark paintings which will be shipped to China for exhibition at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, Australia, on May 3, 2018. An "Old Masters" art exhibition of the National Museum of Australia featuring over 100 bark paintings will tour to China next month. The historic journey to China marks the first time most of these artworks have left the country. (Xinhua/Xu Haijing) A staff member presents a bark painting, which will be shipped to China for exhibition, at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, Australia, on May 3, 2018. (Xinhua/Xu Haijing) CANBERRA, June 14 (Xinhua) -- A bark painting of an ancient saltwater crocodile is the showpiece of a 150-piece "Old Masters" art exhibition to tour China next month, local media reported on Thursday. The 1965 work, featuring a mystic creature known as a totemic crocodile, was created by Yirawala, one of these old masters and an Aboriginal tribal leader who promoted and protected his heritage in Australia's western Arnhem Land, in the Northern Territory. The 20-month tour will open in July at Beijing's National Museum of China before moving to Shanghai, Chengdu and Shenzhen. The Australian embassy in Beijing described the tour as an "important cultural diplomacy milestone," while Dr Mathew Trinca, director of the National Museum of Australia, said it was "deeply affirming" to see growing interest abroad in Indigenous art and stories. A conservation worker repairs a bark painting, which will be shipped to China for exhibition, at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, Australia, on May 3, 2018. (Xinhua/Xu Haijing) "I think these are some of the greatest treasures of our nation," he told national broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). "They are the works that speak of the long human history of this continent from a very special part of Australia." Dr Trinca said he was taken aback by the sense of anticipation in China at seeing these works. "We're very focused on the idea that we need to communicate Australian stories abroad... it's an important part of the mission of the National Museum of Australia to be taking stories like these overseas," he said. The historic journey to China marks the first time most of these artworks have left the country, and has presented the museum with several logistical challenges. Conservation workers repair bark paintings, which will be shipped to China for exhibition, at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, Australia, on May 3, 2018. (Xinhua/Xu Haijing) Bark is susceptible to bending and cracking in changing temperatures, so transporting the collection - including carvings and tools - from its home in Canberra to China comes with risks. To minimize the risks, the decades-old works have been carefully restored and packed in a specially made box to prevent movement in transit. To further stabilize each bark, the museum's conservation team has used funori, a glue made from a Japanese seaweed extract used to preserve kimonos. In preparing for the tour, the museum has consulted Arnhem Land art centers and relatives of the late artists to add more details to the stories the barks display. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 14:20:03|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close SYDNEY, June 15 (Xinhua) -- An Australian company that has made groundbreaking developments in the treatment of liver cancer has agreed to a 1.40-billion- U.S. dollar takeover bid on Friday, from China Grand Pharmaceutical (CGP) and Healthcare Holdings and CDH Genetech. With around 20 billion U.S. dollars in capital, CDP operates as an asset fund manager while its strategic partner CGP develops, sells and distributes raw medical materials and healthcare products. Together, their partnership will purchase all of the Sirtex's shares at a cost of 33.60 Australian dollars (25.10 U.S. dollars) per share. But also in the race to secure the Aussie firm, was the United State's Varian Medical Systems. Although Sirtex's board recently supported a bid from the U.S. company that offered 28 Australian dollars (20.92 U.S. dollars) per share, CDH-CGP later came to the table with a better offer. "The board has undertaken a comprehensive investigation of the merits and risks of the CDH-CGP proposal, including seeking specialist advice in relation to specific regulatory, legal, funding and other risks," Sirtex interim chairman Dr. John Eady said. "Based on the materially higher offer price and our evaluation of the associated risks, the board of Sirtex has formed the unanimous view that the CDH-CGP proposal is a superior proposal and is in the best interests of shareholders." Although the deal has been agreed to by the board, Sirtex's shareholders will still have to vote on the matter. The other hurdles the takeover faces is approval from Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board, along with consent from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission due to the extensive scale of Sirtex's business dealings in the U.S. Operating in 1,090 hospitals, Sirtex distributes radiation therapy treatments in 40 countries across the world. At 15:30 local time, Sirtex share price soared by 4.76 percent to 31.05 Australian dollars (23.20 U.S. dollars) per share. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 14:35:04|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close CANBERRA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Australia's organically grown beef has become increasingly popular in the United States and China, as pastoral land devoted to organic farming in the Northern Territory (NT) now matches the size of a small European country. According to Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) estimates on Friday, the NT now has 8 million hectares set aside for organic farming, roughly the size of Austria. A spokesperson for Australian Organic, a farmers' organization aimed at maintaining the nation's organic standards, said Australia has seen a boom in the organic beef sector over the last year. "The organic beef market in Australia, in its entirety, is worth 564 million Australian dollars (420 million USD) and 20 percent of all organic products are beef," Rhiannon Christie told the ABC on Friday morning. Around 90 percent of the organic beef produced in Australia gets exported to the U.S., but figures from Australian Organic showed demand in China is increasing and it is now up to second place. The first cattle yard in Australia to be certified under the National Certified Organic and the U.S. National Organic Program programs was in Alice Springs, south of Darwin. While fewer beef producers are found in the NT when compared to the rest of Australia, the area has always remained a leader in organic beef production. Mark Anderson, the General Manager of the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, said areas in central and northern Australia were ideal for organic farming because the conditions are almost always perfect. "If you've been fertilising the land and using herbicide to reduce weeds, from the minute you stop doing that, it will take you three years to become fully organically certified," Anderson told the ABC on Friday. "If you've never used those kinds of products on your land then it's only going to take you about 12 months to get certified." The Australian organic agriculture industry has been conservatively estimated to stand at 1.85 billion USD, an 88 percent increase from 2012, with exports to Asia, most notably China and Japan, enjoying strong growth. China, especially, has become a big global beef importer, reportedly taking last year beef consignments worth 1.98 billion USD from the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 14:50:06|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close CANBERRA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Australian industry will be put at risk unless the federal government's new energy policy guarantees round-the-clock power at internationally competitive prices, according to the country's biggest aluminium producer. Tomago chief executive Matt Howell said renewable forms of energy were unable to deliver reliable and affordable power to energy-intensive users. "We cannot, in our approach to this transition, lose sight of the fact that there are 24/7 baseload energy customers," Howell told The Australian newspaper on Friday. "And we have to make sure our grid can still provide energy to those customers at competitive prices, irrespective of the weather." His company, based in the Hunter region of New South Wales, produces 593,000 tonnes of aluminium a year, but a sharp fall in available energy last week caused three potlines at its plant to shut down. Maintenance work meant coal-fired generation was unavailable and this had coincided with low solar generation and higher-than-usual domestic demand. Howell said Australia's overall baseload capacity had been cut, with coal generation replaced by unreliable energy sources that could not be economically bolstered with gas or battery storage. Battery storage was not viable for big energy users, noting that South Australia's vaunted solar Tesla battery "would power us for about eight minutes." "So, our question is: in the absence of wind and solar and commercial reliable storage for energy-intensive industries, where does the energy come from for industries such as ours that need it every minute of the day? Where does it come from when the intermittent generators are simply not providing?" The so-called national energy guarantee (NEG) is Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's signature energy policy, but there are concerns even within his own conservative coalition government that the plan will spell the end for coal-fired power. Matt Canavan, the government's resources minister and a supporter of coal-fired power plants, said coal remained the cheapest, most affordable option for baseload power. "What we need is an approach that treats all energy sources equally, and then what the market will then deliver is the cheapest power to meet those reliability needs," Senator Canavan said on Thursday. In a related development, the Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg has told energy retailers they will see "more intervention" from the federal government if they don't sort out their prices and reliability. Frydenberg issued the blunt warning to the sector on Friday morning after the release of a new report from the Australian Energy Market Commission showed public trust in retailers had hit record lows. "My message to the retailers is unless they get prices down and they pick up their act, you will see more intervention because that is what the public will demand of their political leaders," the minister told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Frydenberg also lashed the publicly listed company, AGL Energy, for the "very poor" decisions it had made in recent times. AGL, which owns the Liddell coal-fired power station in NSW, was reported on Friday to be moving to import gas into Australia in 2020 - having signed a major export deal more than two years ago which has pushed domestic gas prices higher. "What AGL did was a very, very poor decision," Frydenberg told Sky News. "They have a lot of explaining to do to their customers because their customers are paying more for their gas than they should have been had AGL decided not to export that amount of gas." Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 15:05:10|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Michel Temer has denied charges that he instigated the payment of hush money to former Chamber of Deputies Speaker Eduardo Cunha, a statement said Thursday. The statement was made after the Federal Police delivered the final report of the investigations into a fraud scheme in credit released by state-owned bank Caixa from 2011 to 2013. The report concluded that Temer has obstructed justice by instigating a company's executive to bribe Cunha to buy his silence over illicit schemes. This year has seen Temer facing several accusations. Investigations first came up with the testimony of Joesley Batista, former CEO of one of Brazil's largest meatpackers, who recorded a conversation in an off-the-books meeting with Temer, in which the president alludes to bribing Cunha. Though the congress initially decided to postpone the prosecution related to the recording until Temer leaves office at the end of the year, later on, it voted to shelve a second investigation on Temer. Temer's office denied all these allegations, saying that "despite an absolute lack of evidence, investigators insist on taking dialogues out of context in order to try to incriminate the president." THE HAGUE, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The Netherlands Institute of International Relations in a paper Wednesday called on Western countries to actively participate in the multilateral fora set up by China when it comes to cooperation with Africa. The paper, titled "How the U.S. lost: China's growing foothold in Africa," said "China is playing an increasingly important role in the world's economic affairs and development, not the least in Africa" while well-established traditional donors like the United States now have "no coherent vision for Africa and that U.S. prestige is in decline on the African continent." A 2018 EY report that measures private investment in Africa was quoted, showing that China is ramping up the volume of financial investment in Africa. "In 2016, China emerged as the leading job creator on the continent and the third largest investor as the number of Chinese-funded projects increased by 106 percent. Overseas financial flows from China into Africa have largely taken the form of development assistance through grants and loans." "Underlying Chinese aid and investment in African states is the egalitarian nature of a 'win-win' cooperation under the auspices of 'South-South Cooperation' (SSC)," said the paper. "SSC can be defined as the pursuit of development objectives by enhancing countries' capacities through exchanges of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, and through regional and inter-regional collective actions." "China's policy encourages state entities and commercial ones alike to 'closely combine foreign aid, direct investment, service contracts, labor cooperation, foreign trade and export.' Beijing's adoption of this comprehensive strategy for Chinese investment and aid in Africa demonstrates the flexibility and adaptability that the country is capable of and proves that China is striving to find suitable solutions to global challenges," it added. In contrast, the paper found that the United States is failing to spearhead Africa's economic growth and development. "The U.S. has lacked an overarching strategic framework for foreign policy in Africa," it said, adding that the continent has never gained a prominent role in America's global strategy, and strategic interests in Africa have been regarded as secondary. "To date, Washington is still struggling to find a balance in its foreign policy and to incorporate African priorities in its vision," said the paper. The United States and the European Union should find new ways to reposition themselves strategically, the paper concluded. KABUL, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani expressed hope that the current ceasefire in Afghanistan could result in lasting peace in the militancy-plagued country. "I am hopeful that the ceasefire between the government and the Taliban will continue to end bloodshed and eventually led to returning lasting peace in Afghanistan," President Ghani said in his address to the nation after performing Eidul Fitr prayers in Presidential Palace on Friday. Afghanistan like many more Islamic countries celebrated Eidul Fitr, the second largest annual religious festival on Friday to mark the end of Ramadan, the Muslims holy fasting month. About one week ago,the Afghan government announced a seven-day ceasefire to encourage Taliban outfit to support the national reconciliation process. Reciprocating the step, the armed Taliban group announced a three-day truce starting from the first day of Eidul-Fitr and continues until the end of Sunday. "I welcome any move which stops bloodshed in Afghanistan and I am hopeful that the ceasefire will continue, and we will witness no bloodshed anymore in our country," president Ghani said in his short speech. SEOUL, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The operating profit ratio among South Korean manufacturers hit a new high in the first quarter thanks to robust sales by chip manufacturers, central bank data showed Friday. The ratio of operating profit to revenue for companies subject to external audit stood at 7.4 percent in the January-March period, up from 6.1 percent in the previous quarter, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK). The number of companies subject to external audit, which possess at least 12 billion won (11 million U.S. dollars) in assets, was 3,324. The operating profit ratio for manufacturers came in at 8.8 percent in the quarter, the highest since the bank began compiling the data in the first quarter of 2015. The record operating profit was attributable to solid sales by semiconductor makers. The ratio of operating profit to revenue for producers of machine, electric and electronic products, including chipmakers, hit a new high of 15.4 percent in the first quarter. The South Korean economy's dependence on chipmakers deepened. Excluding revenue by Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, the country's top two chipmakers, the ratio of operating profit to revenue in all industries declined to 5.3 percent from 7.4 percent. The ratio for non-manufacturers came in at 5.4 percent in the first quarter, down 0.1 percentage point from a year earlier. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 16:10:19|Editor: ZX Video Player Close BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Home prices in major Chinese cities largely remained stable in May as local governments toughened up restrictions to prevent speculation, official data showed Friday. On a yearly basis, new residential housing prices in four first-tier cities declined 0.6 percent from a year ago last month, the fourth straight decline, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said in a statement. Prices of existing homes dropped for three consecutive months at 0.2 percent. Meanwhile, home prices in 35 third-tier cities were cooler. There was a slowdown in price growth for four months in a row in new houses, and for 10 months in existing ones. "The majority of cities saw an ongoing year-on-year downturn or deceleration of growth in home prices," NBS senior statistician Liu Jianwei said. The statistics authority tracks the property markets of 70 major cities including Beijing and Shanghai. Liu noted new home prices declined year on year in eight of the 15 "hotspot" cities, where speculative home purchases are specifically monitored, with the biggest price drop of 2.8 percent last month, while seven other cities posted growth. Bucking the trend, 31 second-tier cities witnessed faster home price increases. During previous years, rocketing housing prices, especially in major cities, had fueled concerns about asset bubbles. To curb speculation, local governments passed or expanded their restrictions on house purchases and increased the minimum downpayment required for a mortgage. With a flurry of property market controls, authorities have demonstrated their will to keep a lid on housing prices. Over 40 cities unveiled a total of 50 property market regulations in May, a monthly record for frequency, according to the latest statistics from Centaline Property. An array of measures were rolled out, such as a lottery-like registration system for buying homes and support for rental housing. Local governments should stick to real estate market management goals and not loosen regulatory measures, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the country's top property regulator, said in a statement last month. The measures have so far been effective. Apart from tame price changes, property development investment has also cooled down, expanding 10.2 percent year on year in the first five months of this year, slightly slower than 10.3 percent in the January-April period. But analysts still warned of surging home sales in smaller cities where governments are rebuilding shanty towns to improve people's living standards. Migrant workers were also encouraged to settle down in smaller cities instead of metropolises, which contributed to increasing home purchases. Bank of Communications said in a report that land sales also have become vigorous in small cities as more developers that used to focus on core urban regions have started to shift their strategies. The government is working on a long-term mechanism for property regulation that will ensure sustainable and stable development of the real estate market, or simply put a basket of policies ranging from home-leasing and affordable housing to a new tax on home ownership. This year's government work report reiterated that "houses are for living in, not for speculation." "China will not waver in its efforts to implement property market regulation and will maintain continuity and stability of policies in 2018," said Wang Menghui, minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 16:35:23|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close By Mahmoud Darwesh, Nawas Derraji TRIPOLI, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Remnants of terrorist groups on Thursday carried out a new attack on the oil crescent region in Libya and clashed with the forces of the eastern-based army, posing a new military escalation in a vital location that contain major oil fields and ports. The army two years ago defeated and expelled the former chief of the oil installations guards, Ibrahim Jathran, and the terrorists he allied with from the region they occupied, after they stopped oil exports for years and caused huge losses. "The attack on the vital targets of the oil sector is catastrophic and ill-timed, in light of the political rapprochement between the Libyan parties towards ending the dispute and moving towards elections," said Ali Sweih, member of the Higher Council of State. He called on the eastern-based House of Representatives to resolve the issue quickly and unite efforts with the Higher Council of State to end the current crisis. "There are Libyan and international parties that instructed Jathran to carry out this attack ... It comes when the Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves began to increase due to the increase of oil production and the recovery from the losses during the past several years," Sweih told Xinhua. He also stressed the need to capture Jathran, wanted globally, and called for unity by all parties to facilitate handing him over. The clashes between killed 5 soldiers when the terrorists attempted to progress towards the region, before they were defeated and expelled by the army, the army said. The oil crescent region is located some 500 km east of the capital Tripoli. It contains the country's largest oil ports. "The military forces securing the oil fields and ports, during the past few weeks, had received information about military buildup of terrorists in Sirte desert near the oil crescent. The air force then carried out airstrikes targeting vehicles and individuals in the area," retired army Brigadier, Ahmed al-Hesnawi, told Xinhua. "A preemptive operation should have been launched before the terrorists reached oil sites. The option of attack is better than defense, even if the army leadership was certain that the terrorists do not have a great ability to advance towards those sites," al-Hesnawi said. The Libyan air force carried out three airstrikes on Tuesday, targeting terrorists south of the city of Sirte, after monitoring the presence of al-Qaida terrorists fleeing Benghazi and mercenaries from Africa, army spokesman said. In a televised statement, Jathran confirmed that the attack is "a battle to lift the injustice of the people of the oil crescent, and not a battle for a personal, tribal, regional, or partisan purpose." "The oil will never be a bargaining chip to the conflicting parties," Jathran said, pointing out that the oil supplies "will continue uninterrupted under supervision of the National Oil Corporation." Jathran faces charges of damaging state institutions and wasting of public funds after closing oilfields and ports in July 2013, causing losses of over 100 billion dollars. The terrorists allied with Jathran are remnants of the group called Benghazi Defense Brigades, an extremist group that fought and lost against the army in Benghazi last year. They launched several attacks in the oil crescent region and some eastern cities. The army accuses the group of recruiting mercenaries from Africa. The deadliest attack carried out by the group was on the southern air base of Brak in May last year, which killed 141 army soldiers. After they were defeated and expelled last year from Jufra town, some 240 km south of Sirte, the extremists fled towards valleys and desert areas. The Libyan House of Representatives condemned the terrorist attack on the oil crescent, considering it an attempt to strike the security and stability of the region and to disrupt the main source of income in the country. The UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez Serraj also condemned the terrorist attack, calling it an "irresponsible escalation pushes the country into civil war that the Libyans strive to avoid." The UN Mission in Libya warned that "this dangerous escalation puts Libya's economy in jeopardy and risks igniting a widespread confrontation." Hours after the attack, the state-owned National Oil Corporation declared state of force majeure at Es Sider and Ras Lanuf oil ports in the region, and also evacuated all its employees there for security reasons. The corporation also said the attack caused losses of 240,000 barrels of oil, almost a quarter of Libya's daily oil production. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 16:35:23|Editor: ZX Video Player Close BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- China will organize four competitions of the International Army Games this year, and take part in 18 in other countries, according to a press release issued Thursday. Three competitions will be held in Korla, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and one in Quanzhou, east China's Fujian Province. So far, militaries from Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Venezuela, Iran, Pakistan, Egypt, and Zimbabwe have confirmed their participation in the competitions in China, according to the press release. China will provide equipment for the four competitions, and make efficient and considerate arrangements to support the participants, the press release said. The International Army Games, initiated by the Russian Ministry of Defense, will start on July 28, with 28 competitions in total this year. It will be co-organized by China, Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Iran. China has been invited to take part in games for five years in a row, and started to organize part of the competitions in 2017. CAIRO, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued on Friday a presidential decree to appoint his two former ministers as assistants, official news agency MENA reported. Sedqi Sobhi, who had been serving as the defense minister since Sisi was first elected president in 2014, was appointed as an assistant to the president for defense affairs. Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Sherif Ismail whose cabinet resigned on June 5, took the new post of assistant to the president for national and strategic projects. On Thursday, the Egyptian new cabinet under Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli, who also serves as housing minister, was sworn in with newly appointed defense and interior ministers. The new 33-member cabinet includes eight women and 12 new members. The massive cabinet reshuffle covered ministers of finance, trade and industry, health, agriculture, environment, communications, sports, civil aviation, local development and public enterprise. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 17:00:29|Editor: ZX Video Player Close MOSCOW, June 15 (Xinhua) -- About 70 to 100 ships of the Russian Navy are permanently stationed in different regions of the world's oceans, Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Korolyov said Friday. "A fleet can be real if its ships and submarines do not stand at the berths, but perform their functions at sea," Korolyov told the newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda in an interview. Korolyov said the navy has been constantly overhauling its fleet. A new frigate "Admiral Makarov" will arrive in the port city Sevastopol and be part of the Black Sea Fleet in August or September. He also mentioned that the anti-mine defense ship "Ivan Antonov" was recently launched in Russia's second-largest city St. Petersburg, and a series of six small missile ships "Shkval" for the Baltic Fleet. In the near future, the navy will be replenished with ships of a fundamentally new class -- patrol ships of the 22160 type "Vasily Bykov," Korolyov said. The present Russian Navy was formed in January 1992. It currently comprises the Northern Fleet, the Pacific Fleet, the Black Sea Fleet, the Baltic Fleet, the Caspian Flotilla, Naval Aviation and the Coastal Troops. LUSAKA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government has canceled some of the contracted loans yet to be disbursed in order to reduce the debt service cost, Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe said late Thursday. She said in a statement that the Zambian government has sought to refinance on selected bilateral loans in order to extend the maturity profile and attain lower costs on debt. The measures, she said, were undertaken based on a debt sustainability analysis that confirms a need for the African country to bring down the debt risk to a moderate level. The minister said Zambia's government has stopped issuing guarantees to commercially viable projects, and letters of credit and guarantees to technically insolvent state-owned enterprises. Moreover, it has indefinitely postponed the contraction of all pipeline debt until the debt was brought back to a moderate risk of distress. Mwanakatwe said Zambia's fiscal deficit for 2018 was estimated to likely surpass the 6.1 percent projected in the budget, due to continued borrowing pressures relative to expected revenue. Zambia's growing debt has been a source of major concern, delaying a financing deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The government's revised figures show Zambia's external debt stood at 9 billion U.S. dollars at the end of March 2018, compared to 8.7 billion dollars at the end of December 2017. Meanwhile, Mwanakatwe said that policy and structural reforms in 2017 under the national economic stabilization and growth program have begun to bear fruit, leading to a rebound in economic growth, which now reaches 4.1 percent, up from a dip of 2.9 percent in 2015. The stability of the macroeconomic variables is key to re-establishing a growth of above 7 percent required to reduce poverty, the minister said. SEOUL, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A majority of South Korean people assessed positively the summit between top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump, a local survey showed Friday. According to the Gallup Korea poll, 66 percent of respondents said the DPRK-U.S. summit was well done. Only 11 percent negatively saw the summit. The result was based on a survey of 1,007 voters conducted Thursday. It had 3.1 percentage points in margin of error with a 95-percent confidence level. Kim and Trump held the summit in Singapore Tuesday, agreeing to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in exchange for security guarantees for the DPRK. Those who positively viewed the Kim-Trump summit said sitting down face-to-face itself was the best outcome of the summit. They also replied that the agreement on denuclearization and peace regime was seen positively. Support for South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his ruling Democratic Party also picked up after the successful DPRK-U.S. summit. Moon's approval rating was 79 percent this week, up 4 percentage points from two weeks earlier. Support for the Democratic Party gained 3 percentage points to 56 percent, the highest figure ever recorded by the party. The Democratic Party won a landslide victory in the local elections Tuesday to elect 4,016 administrative, legislative and educational posts as well as in the by-elections to fill 12 vacant parliamentary seats. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 17:35:38|Editor: ZX Video Player Close BAGHDAD, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A security personnel was killed and six others wounded on Friday in a militant attack on a security checkpoint in central Iraq on the first day of Eid al-Fitr festival, a police source said. Early in the morning, a group of gunmen with machine guns attacked a joint army and police checkpoint in Tarmiyah area, some 30 km north of the capital Baghdad, killing a soldier and injuring four others and two policemen, Ahmed Abdullah from the Baghdad police told Xinhua. The gunmen fled the scene before the arrival of reinforcements, Abdullah said, adding that an investigation was launched, while a search operation is being conducted in the area for the attackers. The attack came on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, just after Iraqi authorities announced plans to tighten security during the three-day festival. The plans included deploying security forces in heavily populated areas in markets and around mosques, as well as expanding checkpoints. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 17:50:40|Editor: ZX Video Player Close Wang Yang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), visits a workshop of a company during his visit to the Liaoshen Industrial Park in Uganda, June 14, 2018. Wang has a four-day visit in Uganda since Wednesday. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) KAMPALA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Wang Yang Thursday visited a Chinese-invested industrial park in central Uganda, encouraging more Chinese companies to develop business in Africa and improve localization level. Wang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), paid the visit to the Liaoshen Industrial Park in Kapeeka town, Nakaseke District, Central Region of Ugand during his four-day visit to the eastern African country since Wednesday. During his stay in the industrial park, Wang went into the workshops of the factories there, talked with employees from Uganda and China and met with representatives of the companies. Calling the construction of industrial parks "a new measure" in the China-Uganda cooperation, Wang said it has played an important role in the development of Uganda and is of landmark significance. He encouraged Chinese enterprises to further develop business in Africa and called on them to abide by local laws and regulations, respect local customs and practices, protect environment and labor rights, fulfill social responsibilities and continuously improve the localization level. Uganda's Security Minister Elly Tumwine and the Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation General Salim Saleh accompanied Wang to visit the industrial park. Both Tumwine and Salim told Wang that Uganda highly values the demonstration effects the industrial park has brought to Uganda's economic construction and plans to make it as an example project so as to realize the goals of building a modern logistic system, restructuring agriculture and promoting import substitute. Uganda welcomes more Chinese companies to invest here, they said. Recent years have seen robust China-Africa cooperation. During the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in Johannesburg in December 2015, 10 cooperation projects covering a wide range of fields from industrialization to public health were announced. The Liaoshen Industrial Park, invested by private Chinese companies, celebrated its ground-breaking ceremony in December 2015 which was attended by Uganda President Yoweri Museveni. Currently, the Liaoshen Industrial Park is one of the 22 national industrial parks in Uganda. Five factories are in operation there, covering fruit processing, maize storage and milling, ceramics and electric cables, hiring 2,500 local employees. Among them, the ceramics company changes the situation that Uganda used to totally rely on import in terms of ceramics while some 40 percent of its products have been exported to neighboring countries which help improve Uganda's foreign currency revenue. The food processing company makes Uganda's fresh fruits into dried fruits and exports China. The industrial park is expected to accommodate 80 companies and hire up to 16,000 employees by 2025. Chinese investors will spend about 600 million U.S. dollars in the park before it goes into full operation, according to figures from the Chinese embassy. China ranks first in terms of foreign direct investment in Uganda. More Chinese-invested industrial parks are expected in the country, on top of the four currently in place. DHAKA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank approved 700 million U.S. dollars on Friday to improve the primary education in Bangladesh. The Quality Learning for All Program (QLEAP) will benefit more than 18 million children studying in pre-primary level to grade 5. It will finance implementation of the government's Fourth Primary Education Development Program (PEDP4), the Washington-based lender said in a statement. The project will help improve quality and equitable access to primary education. It will help assess and improve learning outcomes for Bangla and mathematics for Grade 3 students. "At birth in 1971, Bangladesh had a very low education base. From there, the country has made remarkable progress in improving access to education. Today almost every child steps into a classroom and 8 out of 10 children complete primary education," said Qimiao Fan, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. The project will bring about one million out-of-school children to learning centers that would follow national curriculum, and thus help them integrate with the formal education system. It will also build about 95,000 classrooms, teachers' rooms, and multipurpose rooms to ensure international standard students-to-classroom ratio. "A major thrust of the project will be to improve school management system and provide professional growth for teachers," said Syed Rashed Al Zayed, World Bank Team Leader for the project. "The financing will help ensure strong governance, adequate and equitable financing, and good management of the primary education system in Bangladesh." Photo taken on June 12, 2018 shows a truck rolls out of the Kajjansi Toll Station on the Kampala-Entebbe expressway that links the Ugandan capital Kampala and the country's main gateway Entebbe International Airport. (Xinhua/Zhang Gaiping) by Lyu Tianran, Zhang Gaiping and Ronald Ssekandi KAMPALA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Bridging over a swamp fully covered with green weeds, the 1,450-meter-long Nambigirwa bridge in southern Uganda is one of the longest bridges in East Africa. The bridge is part of the Chinese company-built Kampala-Entebbe expressway that links the Ugandan capital Kampala and the country's main gateway Entebbe International Airport. The whole expressway project consists of a four-lane dual carriageway with the length of 49.56-kilometers, bridges, major interchanges, underpasses and toll plazas. Photo taken on June 12, 2018 shows the 1,450-meter-long Nambigirwa bridge in southern Uganda, which is one of the longest bridges in East Africa and also part of the Chinese company-built Kampala-Entebbe expressway that links the Ugandan capital Kampala and the country's main gateway Entebbe International Airport. (Xinhua/Zhang Gaiping) The construction of the project started in 2012. China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC), the constructor, handed over a 4.1-kilometer-long reconstruction section on Nov. 12, 2017 and a 37.21-kilometer-long toll section on May 18, 2018. Currently, the expressway is capable of being open to traffic and is in trial operation. Funded by the concessional loan from China, the expressway is expected to alleviate problems in terms of travel time and comfort, and to enable people to do business more efficiently, according to Edward Katumba-Wamala, Ugandan Minister of State for Works. Over the years, travelers passing through the Entebbe airport have increased hugely, and the number of the travelers is likely to increase with time, Wamala told Xinhua. On the other hand, the traffic volume in Uganda has been increasing over the years and roads that were made for the traffic of the 1970s can no longer accommodate the traffic of today, he said. One of the pains people are facing when travelling to and from the airport is that at times they would miss flights because of using a narrow road, Wamala said. Designed and built with Chinese standard specifications, the expressway brings in experience and technology for future road projects in Uganda, said Li Jincheng, project manager. Photo taken on November 11, 2017 shows workers go about their construction work on part of the Kampala-Entebbe expressway in the Wakiso district, south of Uganda's capital Kampala. (Xinhua/Zhang Gaiping) In order to deliver the project on time with high quality, the Chinese company deploys sufficient staff and equipment to the project, attaches great importance to the project management and works closely with Ugandan side, said Li. During the implementation of the project, the Chinese company is also committed to localization, cultivating Ugandan employees through trainings and skill transfer, he said. According to him, the project employed around 2,000 locals at its peak and the ratio of local employees to Chinese employees is about 10:1 throughout the constructing process. The expressway has been highly anticipated by locals. "Along the old road, there are several places that you may get caught in traffic jams. When you are on the new expressway, you will not get traffic jams," said Michael Mpungu, driver of a private company. A Chinese worker and his local counterpart go about their construction work of the Entebbe-Kampala Expressway, in Wakiso district, Uganda, Nov. 17, 2017. The Entebbe-Kampala Expressway, which is under construction by China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC), is a 350 million U.S. dollar project linking Uganda's capital Kampala to Entebbe International Airport. (Xinhua/ Zhang Gaiping) "It used to take about two hours from the airport to Kampala, because of a lot of traffic jams ... Now when you use the new one, it takes 30 to 40 minutes," said Herbert Tumusiime, a driver of the expressway project. "Many people are asking me about the road, they are eager to use it," he said. BERLIN, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Germany has offered Zambia 10 million U.S. dollars to help it tackle the influx of refugees, especially from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a senior Zambian official said Thursday. The funds will be channeled through the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), to mainly deal with water and sanitation challenges faced by refugees, said Anthony Mukwita, the Zambian ambassador to Germany. The funds were announced when the Zambian envoy held a meeting with officials from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development who paid a courtesy call on him, according to a statement released by the Zambian Embassy. The Zambian envoy said the funds will go a long way in alleviating the difficulties faced by the refugees, most of them women and children. He spoke highly of Germany for responding positively to President Edgar Lungu's call for the international community to help Zambia deal with the refugee issue. Heike Porksen, an official with the visiting German group, said the beneficiaries of the funds will not only be the refugees, but communities around refugee settlements. The funds, she said, will be released before the end of the year. By Damali Mukhaye. The real Estate that has been contracted by the church of Uganda to find tenants for the church house has projected to avail the church Shs 5.4 billion annually. This is after the Janan Luwumu church house on Kampala road building was officially handed over to the church yesterday. Speaking to KFM, the executive director of the property management and consultancy Shem Sabiti says that they have already started hurting for the tenants to occupy the building, which is yet to benefit the church. He says that in one year, they would have found 90% of tenants and the client will be earning about 5.4 billion shillings. The construction of the church house started in 2011 and is slated to be commissioned by president Museveni on the 24th of august 2018. SEOUL, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Now is the right time to halt the South Korea-U.S. war games as it can speed up efforts by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, a South Korean expert said Friday. "Now is the right timing for the halt of the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises," said Moon Chung-in, professor emeritus of Yonsei University in Seoul, during a press conference with foreign correspondents here. Chung, who serves as a special advisor to South Korean President Moon Jae-in for security and foreign affairs, said this "good gesture" was expected to accelerate the DPRK's denuclearization efforts as U.S. President Donald Trump pushed to speed up the denuclearization process. Following the historic summit with top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un, Trump said in Singapore Tuesday that he would stop the U.S. war games with South Korea as it is inappropriate to stage such "provocative" military drills under the situations he and Kim reached a comprehensive deal. Kim and Trump signed a joint statement, agreeing to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in exchange for security guarantees for the DPRK. The leaders also agreed to establish new relations between the two countries. The South Korean expert saw Trump's comments as a meaning of delaying the South Korea-U.S. joint military drills as long as dialogue continues between Pyongyang and Washington. He also viewed the halt as a reward to the DPRK's dismantlement of its Punggye-ri nuclear test site, where it carried out all of its six nuclear tests, the stop of the DPRK's provocations for the past seven months and the release of three Americans who had been held in the DPRK. The presidential special advisor, who said his comments do not represent the South Korean government's official stance, said President Trump seemed to have an anticipation toward the DPRK showing a bolder act of the denuclearization in return for the suspension of the annual South Korea-U.S. military exercises. Combined forces of South Korea and the United States have conducted their joint war games, which the DPRK has denounced as a rehearsal for northward invasion, twice a year in spring and fall, respectively. While the three major South Korea-U.S. war games went on in recent years, key U.S. strategic military assets were mobilized to the Korean Peninsula, causing strong backlash from the DPRK side. The strategic assets include nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, nuclear-capable submarine, stealth fighter jets and nuclear-capable bombers. Meanwhile, the presidential Blue House of South Korea said earlier in the day that whether to halt the South Korea-U.S. war games will be announced soon. A senior Blue House official told local reporters on condition of anonymity that although nothing has been decided yet, whether to halt the South Korea-U.S. war games would be announced soon or in the near future through close consultations between Seoul and Washington. The official said consultations were already launched between Seoul and Washington, noting that the South Korean side will consult with its U.S. counterpart on the issue according to President Moon Jae-in's stance. SKOPJE, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Macedonian citizens and civic association protested on Thursday afternoon outside Macedonia's parliament here against the name deal reached between Macedonia and Greece, Macedonia local media reported. The protesters demanded that the government should stop all the procedures related to the changing of Macedonia's constitutional name, saying that the name agreement was harmful to the country. According to the protesters, these are critical moments for the country and all the citizens should join the protest to stand against irresponsible politicians. This is the second protest in a row since the name agreement was announced by Macedonian Prime Minster Zoran Zaev on June 12. Meanwhile, Macedonian police said that 10 protesters were detained for violating public order. Macedonia is formally called the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) by the United Nations. Macedonia is also the name of a northern province in Greece. Athens is worried that the use of the same name by the neighboring state could lead to territorial claims. The solving of the name row that has existed between two countries is seen as the main obstacle Macedonia has to overcome in order to make progress towards the European Union (EU) and NATO integration. ANKARA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Turkish jets killed 26 militants of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) as part of anti-terror operations in northern Iraq, the military said on Friday. Turkish fighter jets on Tuesday had carried out airstrikes targeting the militants in Qandil region of northern Iraq, the Turkish General Staff said in a statement. Turkey has launched anti-terror operations in Qandil and Sinjar regions, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday. Following the Operation Olive Branch in Syria, Turkish forces continue their offensives against camps of PKK in northern Iraq, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Ankara. The mountains, located nearly 40 km southeast of the Turkish border in Iraq's Erbil province, are being used as the headquarters for the PKK and its Iranian affiliate, the Kurdistan Free Life Party. Turkey's Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar vowed Thursday to continue the fight against all kinds of threats and terror organizations "in the country and beyond the borders until the last terrorist is destroyed." BERLIN, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Wolfgang Schaeuble, German ex-finance minister and current parliamentary president, has been asked to resolve an escalating conflict between the ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) parties over refugee policy, the newspaper "Rheinische Post" reported on Friday. The CDU and CSU have reached a political impasse over the question of whether or not to turn back asylum seekers at the German border who were already registered in another Schengen area country. According to a widely-cited report by "Rheinische Post", the 75-year-old veteran politician is now seen as a potential interlocutor between the two conservative sister parties, given his long-standing allegiance to chancellor and CDU leader Angela Merkel on the one hand, and his rhetorical support for a stricter immigration regime on the other. As recently outlined in an "migration master plan" drafted by Interior Minister and CSU leader Horst Seehofer, the CSU wants to refuse asylum access to German territory if they have already formally entered the Schengen zone via another country. By contrast, Merkel has warned of a resulting domino effect as Germany's neighbors rush to shutter their internal Schengen borders and is calling for a joint European solution to the "refugee crisis" to be reached within the next two weeks. Following several failed attempts to reach a compromise within the CDU/CSU parliamentary faction, the CSU has given Merkel an ultimatum until Monday to surrender her opposition to the "migration master plan" before the party takes unilateral action on the issue. While the interior minister can technically enact some policies related to immigration and asylum without the chancellor's consent, such a move would mark an unprecedented show of disobedience within a German government. Merkel could in turn respond by stripping Seehofer of his cabinet position, raising the possibility of a violent unravelling of the grand coalition formed by the CDU, CSU and German Social Democrats (SPD). Speaking to the public broadcaster "ARD" on Thursday night, Markus Soeder (CSU), the governor of the CSU's Bavarian home state, defended the aggressive approach adopted by his party as being necessary in order to prevent a repeat of events at the height of the "refugee crisis" in 2015 when large numbers of asylum seekers arrived in Germany. Soeder said that the CSU would rather countenance a collapse of the federal government in Berlin than "lose credibility". The CSU is currently trying to fend off a challenge from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in looming regional elections in Bavaria. As a consequence, some observers have attributed the heated rhetoric on refugee policy to the CSU's need to attract votes and downplayed the risk that the stand-off between Seehofer and Merkel would result in any permanent damage to the "grand coalition". Daniel Guenther (CDU), the governor of Schleswig-Holstein, admitted that the ongoing conflict was "substantial" but expressed confidence that the political "family" formed by the CDU and CSU would ultimately remain united. The CDU parliamentary delegate Christian von Stettner proposed to solve the issue by simply allowing a free vote on the "migration master plan". Von Stettner argued that European solutions had been already been debated unsuccessfully for over two years and that a majority of CDU and CSU delegates consequently supported Seehofer's more restrictive position. However, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) emphasized that Germany would remain bound by international conventions regardless of the final outcome of CDU and CSU wrangling. "Germany is obligated to assess which country is responsible for individuals who request asylum at the border. At least for the duration of this process, the affected person must also be allowed to stay (in the country)", Director of the UNHCR's German office Dominik Bartsch explained in the newspaper "WELT". The SPD has so far largely witnessed the swelling conflict between the CDU and CSU from the political sidelines. Justice Minister Katarina Barley (SPD) cautioned in the newspaper "Augsburger Allgemeine" on Friday that her party would only support asylum policies enshrined in the government's coalition agreement and expressed concern over the increasingly "serious situation" in the CDU/CSU parliamentary faction. A further discussion of refugee policy is scheduled in the federal parliament on Friday. In the meanwhile, the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) has signalized that it would be open to a re-launch of the failed "Jamaica" coalition if the CDU and CSU are unable to overcome their differences. "We liberals are ready", Thomas Kemmerich, leader of the Thuringian branch of the FDP, told Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 20:01:05|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan (R) meets with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Beijing, capital of China, June 15, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan met with visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Beijing on Friday, calling for dovetailing development strategies of both countries and strengthening security cooperation. Hailing the rapid development of pragmatic cooperation across the board, Wang said that China and Turkey have been respecting and accommodating each other's concerns and supporting each other's development paths which are in the interests of the two peoples respectively in recent years, based on the consensuses reached by the two heads of state. The two sides should continue to align the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative with Turkey's Middle Corridor project, Wang said. He also called for strengthening economic, security and anti-terrorism cooperation and promoting people-to-people exchanges, so as to deepen strategic mutual trust. Cavusoglu extended Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's good wishes to Chinese President Xi Jinping. He pledged to abide by the one-China principle, support the Belt and Road Initiative, and strengthen all-round cooperation with China, including security and anti-terrorism cooperation. SUVA, June 15 ((Xinhua) -- Fiji's Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama praised on Friday Fijian peacekeepers for having sacrificed, persevered and having brought honor to the island nation. No matter how different the region, Fijian peacekeepers have sacrificed, persevered and have brought immeasurable honor, glory and pride to the island nation, Bainimarama said while closing the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon's 40th Anniversary symposium held here in Suva, capital of Fiji. The care and concern that Fijians hold for the safety of their community defines Fiji as a nation and through Fiji's peacekeepers, that duty of care is extended to the world stage, he said, adding that the legacy of peacekeepers has not been built without sacrifice, as Fiji has paid a high price, especially for a nation of it's size for the sake of spreading peace around the world. Currently, nearly 900 Fijians are serving as UN peacekeepers around the world, all of whom are worthy successors to the proud legacy of excellence forged by the 30,000 Fijian peacekeepers who have served over the past 40 years. For his part, Fijian President Jioji Konrote said on Friday that Fiji's reputation as one of the best and effective peacekeeping troop contributing countries is well known throughout the world. Through this international reputation Fiji has been able to secure the support of many UN-member countries to develop and modernize Fiji. Fiji's first 500 peacekeepers were deployed to Lebanon exactly 40 years ago this month. Over 60 Fijians have died in UN peacekeeping missions across the world over past four decades. The island nation has organized a UN mission 40th anniversary celebration around the country in recent days and the theme of the celebration is "Fiji's Sacrifice for Global Peace." WELLINGTON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Minister of Tourism Kelvin Davis on Friday announced a proposed levy on international visitors to ease the cost burden on communities and ratepayers for tourism-related infrastructure. The levy would be collected through visa applications and a proposed Electronic Travel Authority. Australians and people from most Pacific Island Forum countries would be exempt, Davis said in a statement. "New Zealand is an extraordinary destination for tourists and our rising tourist numbers bear out the popularity of our unique country. But with success comes a burden," Davis said. This rapid growth has impacted on the costs and availability of publicly-provided infrastructure, he said, adding that many regions are struggling to cope and urgently need improved infrastructure, from toilet facilities to carparks. According to the proposal, most international visitors entering New Zealand for 12 months or less would be charged a levy, proposed to be between 25 NZ dollars (17.38 U.S. dollars) to 35 NZ dollars. The levy would collect around 57-80 million NZ dollars in its first year, depending on the rate, which will be split between tourism infrastructure and conservation activity, it said, adding as the proposed levy will be required to go through a legislative process, it will likely be implemented in the second half of 2019. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 20:16:11|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close KABUL, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Leader of Pakistani Taliban Mullah Fazlullah was killed in a drone strike on militants' hideout in the eastern Kunar province, Afghan Defence Ministry spokesman General Mohammad Radmanish said Friday. "Acting upon intelligence report, a drone strike was conducted against the enemies close to Marawara district of Kunar province along the border at 2:30 a.m. local time Thursday, killing Mullah Fazlullah the leader of Tahrik-e-Taliban Pakistan," Radmanish told Xinhua via telephone. However, he did not say if there were any more casualties of the militants, saying Fazlullah was killed and his vehicle was utterly destroyed in the strike. As one of the most wanted men in Pakistan, Fazlullah, according to Pakistani officials, used to hide in Afghanistan over the past few years. However, Afghan officials often rejected his presence on the Afghan territory. The spokesman did not provide more details, saying "I confirm that Mullah Fazlullah was killed early Thursday." The Taliban outfit has yet to make comment on the report. WELLINGTON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway on Friday unveiled plans for consultation to strengthen border security by requiring most airline and cruise passengers to provide better information before leaving their home country. "Our tourism industry is in great health, leading to a huge increase in the number of people coming to New Zealand in recent years, so we need to manage our arrivals and our border security more effectively," Lees-Galloway said in a statement. The government proposes to establish an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) for most international visitors who are granted a visa on arrival in New Zealand. Under an ETA, applicants would provide similar information to the arrival card, including declarations of any criminal convictions. An ETA would last two years and cost about 9 NZ dollars (6.26 U.S. dollars). "Holding an ETA will help speed up the process at the border as a result of the extra information border staff will have," he said, adding it also provides the mechanism for helping collect the proposed International Visitor Levy, which is being consulted in conjunction with the ETA. "New Zealand citizens and residents will be exempt from an ETA, along with holders of valid New Zealand visas and Australian citizens," the minister said. The minister also announced the opening of public consultation on a review of immigration fees and levies to ensure they reflect the actual costs of providing services and managing risks associated with immigration. The last review was carried out in 2015. This review aims to correct the over and under recovery in different visa categories that have emerged over time, which will be used to help fund a number of initiatives announced in this year's budget, such as extra immigration staff at the border and increased funding for the Immigration Advisers Authority. New Zealand charges "remain competitive" compared to other countries, such as Australia, Britain and Canada, he added. If the proposed changes are adopted, any introduction of an ETA would happen in the second half of 2019 whereas fees and levy changes are expected to come into effect this November, according to the minister. HELSINKI, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The suspect of the deadly knife attack that took place in Turku, western Finland last year was sentenced to life in prison for his terrorist offenses, the district court of southwest Finland announced on Friday. It is the first time that a crime in Finland has been legally classified as terrorist attack, said Finnish national broadcaster Yle. The 23-year-old Moroccan young man Abderrahman Bouanane admitted stabbing to death two women and injuring eight other people at a market square in central Turku. The trial began in April this year. The court found the man guilty of two counts of murder with terrorist intent and eight counts of attempted murder with terrorist intent, and decided to give life sentence, stating that the attacks were carried out in "a premeditated and exceptionally cruel manner". In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered the offender to pay about 450,000 euros of compensation to victims and their families for their sufferings and damages. The average length of a "life sentence" in Finland is over 14 years. A prisoner may be eligible for release after 12 years, while the longest prison term has lasted for 22 years, said Yle. Bouanane arrived in Finland in December 2016 applying for asylum. His first application was rejected. He made an appeal and was waiting for the final decision when he launched the attack. Reports said he was influenced by religious radicalism during the waiting period. (1 euro = 1.16 U.S. dollars) By Benjamin Jumbe. Human rights defenders have expressed disappointment with President Musevenis remarks regarding bail and police bond. Speaking at the budget reading ceremony, the president said suspected criminals involved in capital offences like murder should not be given police bond or bail by courts of Judicature. Speaking to Kfm the executive director of Foundation for Human rights Initiative Dr Livingstone Ssewanyana said the remarks were unfortunate noting that bail is a constitutional right. He says all the arms of government should be allowed to operate without any due interference from another, urging the Judiciary to stay firm and focused. Related Stories. #UGBudget18 M7 bitter with Daily Monitor, wants police bond and bail removed Wang Yang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), visits a food processing company during his visit to the Liaoshen Industrial Park in Uganda, June 14, 2018. Wang has a four-day visit in Uganda since Wednesday. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) KAMPALA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Wang Yang Thursday visited a Chinese-invested industrial park in central Uganda, encouraging more Chinese companies to develop business in Africa and improve localization level. Wang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), paid the visit to the Liaoshen Industrial Park in Kapeeka town, Nakaseke District, Central Region of Ugand during his four-day visit to the eastern African country since Wednesday. During his stay in the industrial park, Wang went into the workshops of the factories there, talked with employees from Uganda and China and met with representatives of the companies. Calling the construction of industrial parks "a new measure" in the China-Uganda cooperation, Wang said it has played an important role in the development of Uganda and is of landmark significance. He encouraged Chinese enterprises to further develop business in Africa and called on them to abide by local laws and regulations, respect local customs and practices, protect environment and labor rights, fulfill social responsibilities and continuously improve the localization level. Uganda's Security Minister Elly Tumwine and the Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation General Salim Saleh accompanied Wang to visit the industrial park. Both Tumwine and Salim told Wang that Uganda highly values the demonstration effects the industrial park has brought to Uganda's economic construction and plans to make it as an example project so as to realize the goals of building a modern logistic system, restructuring agriculture and promoting import substitute. Uganda welcomes more Chinese companies to invest here, they said. Wang Yang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), visits a workshop of a company during his visit to the Liaoshen Industrial Park in Uganda, June 14, 2018. Wang has a four-day visit in Uganda since Wednesday. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) Recent years have seen robust China-Africa cooperation. During the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in Johannesburg in December 2015, 10 cooperation projects covering a wide range of fields from industrialization to public health were announced. The Liaoshen Industrial Park, invested by private Chinese companies, celebrated its ground-breaking ceremony in December 2015 which was attended by Uganda President Yoweri Museveni. Currently, the Liaoshen Industrial Park is one of the 22 national industrial parks in Uganda. Five factories are in operation there, covering fruit processing, maize storage and milling, ceramics and electric cables, hiring 2,500 local employees. Among them, the ceramics company changes the situation that Uganda used to totally rely on import in terms of ceramics while some 40 percent of its products have been exported to neighboring countries which help improve Uganda's foreign currency revenue. The food processing company makes Uganda's fresh fruits into dried fruits and exports China. The industrial park is expected to accommodate 80 companies and hire up to 16,000 employees by 2025. Chinese investors will spend about 600 million U.S. dollars in the park before it goes into full operation, according to figures from the Chinese embassy. China ranks first in terms of foreign direct investment in Uganda. More Chinese-invested industrial parks are expected in the country, on top of the four currently in place. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 21:11:25|Editor: ZX Video Player Close CHANGSHA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Fourteen people stood trial in central China's Hunan Province for illegally hunting and selling 52 Tundra swans from the Dongting Lake, the second-largest freshwater lake in the country. According to a court in Xiangyin County, Yueyang City, the poachers captured 52 Tundra swans in Hengling Lake Nature Reserve and sold them for profit from December of 2016 to January, 2017. Those who bought the animals were also indicted. Prosecutors requested that seven of the poachers should be ordered to pay fines to restore the ecological environment in the nature reserve. However, experts who gave evidence at the trial said the population reduction of such swans has had a direct impact on the ecological balance in Dongting Lake and the restoration costs are immeasurable. The poachers pleaded guilty in court. The court will announce sentences at a later date. Dongting Lake, known as "the kidney of the Yangtze River," is one of the most important wetlands in China and the world. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 21:11:26|Editor: ZX Video Player Close BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has called on the People's Daily to faithfully fulfill responsibilities and missions of the publicity work of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, asked the newspaper to continuously improve its penetration, guidance, influence, and credibility, in a congratulatory letter sent to the newspaper, which held a conference Friday to celebrate the 70th anniversary of its founding. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Xi extended sincere greetings to all journalists working for the newspaper and those retired. Xi said in the letter that under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee, the newspaper has remained committed to the Party spirit and principles, stayed in line with the Party and people, deeply publicized the Party's theories, lines, principles and policies, and reported the people's great practices with enthusiasm. The newspaper has played a very important role and created glorious history in the stages of revolution, construction and reform over the past 70 years, he stressed. Noting that socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era and China has embarked on a new journey to build a great modern socialist country, Xi asked the newspaper to thoroughly study and implement the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress held in 2017. The president urged the newspaper to stick to the right political direction, carry on the fine tradition, deepen reform and innovation, and strengthen the competence of journalists. He also urged the newspaper to improve media coverage, tell China's stories well and form an all-media pattern, so as to make greater contributions to the realization of the two centenary goals and national rejuvenation. Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, addressed Friday's meeting. Huang stressed the importance of sticking to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, calling on the newspaper to firmly grasp the right direction of public opinion and spread mainstream values. Founded on June 15, 1948 in Pingshan County, Hebei Province, People's Daily also provides news in the forms of magazine, website and app, covering a total of 786 million users. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 21:16:26|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close by Abdul Haleem KABUL, June 15 (Xinhua) -- "We have offered our Eidul Fitr prayers in a peaceful environment today and I am hopeful that the brief ceasefire between the government and the Taliban would turn into a permanent one and finally a lasting peace in the country," whispered a Kabul resident, Azimullah. Azimullah, in his 50s, said happily that over the past three decades "this is the first time that the warring sides in Afghanistan observed truce during Eid festival," allowing people to perform Eid prayers free of fears. The Afghan government announced a seven-day ceasefire on June 7, which came into effect from June 12 or Ramadan 27, to encourage Taliban outfit to support the national reconciliation process. Reciprocating the step, the armed Taliban group announced a three-day truce starting from the first day of Eidul-Fitr, the annual religious festival, on Friday and continuing until the end of Sunday, the last day of the festival. Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, in his address to the nation after performing Eidul Fitr prayers Friday morning, expressed the hope that the current ceasefire in Afghanistan could lead to lasting peace in the militancy-plagued country. "I am hopeful that the ceasefire between the government and the Taliban will continue to end bloodshed and eventually lead to lasting peace in Afghanistan," President Ghani said in his short speech broadcast by the national television. Contrary to past years, Afghans across the insurgency-riddled country celebrated the first day of Eidul Fitr peacefully and so far no security incidents have been reported in Kabul or other parts of the country. "To be frank, I am very happy and feel proud that today we offered our Eidul Fitr prayers free of fears and no suicide attacks have been reported," another Kabul resident, Mohammad Jawad, told Xinhua. Welcoming the ceasefire, Afghans from all walks of life have been repeatedly calling upon the Taliban and the government to extend it and begin result-oriented peace talks to end the lingering crisis in the war-battered country. Hundreds of thousands of people in the restive Helmand province, troubled Baghlan, Wardak, Ghazni and other parts of Afghanistan, by organizing meetings, conferences and rallies, have called upon the leaderships of Taliban and the government to extend it into a permanent one. Availing the truce, the foot soldiers of Taliban outfit and the government, according to locals, offered their Eid prayers in the same mosques in Kapisa and Logar provinces and visited their families and relatives free of fears on Friday. Religious scholars and prayers leaders, in their Eidul Fitr sermons on Friday, hailed both the Taliban and the government for observing ceasefire and called upon warring sides to extend it until lasting peace returns to Afghanistan. "No country has experienced 40 years of war in contemporary history of our world. The ceasefire has provided a golden opportunity for all Afghans, especially the warring sides to exploit the situation for finding negotiated settlement and returning viable peace in Afghanistan," a war-weary man, Mohammad Gul, 64, said in low voice. DHAKA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh's clothes markets are busy ahead of the peak sales season of Eid-ul-Fitr that marks the end of the Islamic holy fasting month of Ramadan. Thanks to their affordability and attractive designs, readymade garment stores are now attracting the most customers as people are busying buying new clothes for the holidays and the stores now showcase ample collections of Chinese style products. Fashion lovers, especially younger shoppers, are looking for such designer dresses and other Eid products. Also women prefer Chinese clothes for the quality of the fabrics and variety of designs. Bashundhara City, a posh shopping mall in Dhaka's commercial Karwan Bazar, has many stores that are solely selling both men's and women's clothing products exclusively from China. The scenario is no different at relatively cheaper shopping outlets at New Market, one of the busiest markets in the capital, and its adjacent Gausia and Chandi Chalk markets, where merchandise from China can be spotted in store fronts. Sales of festive dresses and other items for Eid have gained momentum in the markets this week, where all classes of people, particularly the middle income group, go for shopping. Thanks to the Internet, they said beautiful Chinese gowns are now easily available to young girls. They said such dresses are being sold like hot cakes. "I came to buy this dress. I like it," said Habiba Akhtar Nupur, a collage student, who was delighted to buy a Chinese gown. "Chinese dresses are comfortable to wear. They have lovely designs and everyone likes this type of dress." "This time my Eid will be very joyous because I can wear this delightful dress," the girl beamed, adding that the Chinese dresses are comfortable to wear in summer's blistering heat. Nupur and many other girls were seen to flock to Bashundhara stores selling Chinese dresses, especially gowns. With the holy Eid-ul-Fitr drawing near, shopkeepers and importers said they are extremely busy supplying such dresses at stores in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country. Selina Bari has her own shop called "Street 77" at Bashundhara market and she imports products directly from China. "My name is Selina Bari. For Eid, I mainly bring Chinese clothes that suit boys and girls aged between 12 and 18 years old," said Bari, who, for eight years, has been selling Chinese dresses in Dhaka. Explaining the reasons for the big boom in demand for Chinese dresses and other Eid related products, she said "One good thing about the Chinese dresses is that they come in many different sizes for customers and they are fashionable." "Our young customers are very trendy and they use the Internet and look for the latest designer fashion trends in China," she said, adding that the manufacturers are quick to produce and export the latest styles. Apart from luxury and regular dresses, stores in Dhaka have been selling jewelry items, the demand for which skyrockets during Eid. Interestingly, Bari said Chinese businesspeople bring jewelry items that match new designer dresses to sell in Bangladesh. "I myself personally go to China to choose which products to import," she said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 22:11:43|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close TRIPOLI, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The air force of Libya's eastern-based army on Friday carried out airstrikes targeting terrorists near the oil crescent region. The information department of the army said in a statement that warplanes carried out intensive raids on terrorist gatherings near the oil crescent, targeting supply convoys and reinforcements that terrorist groups tried to bring from the region. The strikes destroyed the convoys and killed and injured a number of terrorists, the statement said. Five Libyan army soldiers were killed when a terrorist group, called Benghazi Defense Brigades and allied with Ibrahim Jathran, a wanted ex-chief of oil installation guards, launched an attack earlier on Thursday and clashed with the army forces there. The state-owned National Oil Corporation declared a state of force majeure in two large oil ports in the region, and announced that the attack caused losses of 240,000 oil barrels. The oil crescent region is located some 500 km east of the capital Tripoli. It contains the country's largest oil ports. BERLIN, June 15 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel insists on seeking solutions for the migration dispute with her Bavarian sister party with other European countries, German federal spokesperson Steffen Seibert said Friday. Seibert said Merkel had made a proposal, and it is now working on its implementation, in a bid to find solutions in close cooperation with the other states affected by the European refugee crisis. The ruling Union Party in Germany recently got stuck in internal conflicts between Merkel-led Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party Christian Social Union (CSU) led by Interior Minister Horst Seehofer. Seehofer wants to reject asylum seekers at German borders who are already registered in other EU countries, while Merkel has explicitly ruled out Seehofer's proposal. The CSU has set an ultimatum the CDU boss on Monday and Seehofer announced that he could otherwise arbitrarily order a rejection of migrants at the border, drawing the Union on the brink of breakdown. Merkel argued for a compromise in which Germany, ahead of an EU summit at the end of this month, would try to conclude bilateral deals with other EU countries. CSU is also facing state elections in Bavaria in October where they're hoping to defend their absolute majority against the anti-migration far-right populist Alternative fuer Deutschland (AfD). Asked whether Merkel felt pressured by the ultimatum, Seibert said "as with all negotiations, one has better prospects of success if one has a certain freedom of negotiation." ROME, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The United States Naval vessel Trenton remained at sea Friday awaiting a permission to land in Italy with at least 40 migrants whose lives were saved when they were rescued from their sinking boat off the coast of Libya. The fate of Trenton is the latest chapter in Italy's new stance on migrant and refugee arrivals in the country. In the last week, the Aquarius, a ship operated by two non-governmental rescue groups was turned away with 629 on board. The Diciotti, an Italian Coast Guard ship with more than 900 refugees on board, was allowed to land in part because it was an Italian ship. The Trenton, which is based in Italy, said in a statement that it picked up the refugees Wednesday according to standard maritime protocol. According to a statement from the captain of the ship, the 35 men and five woman are from 11 different African countries. The group includes four unaccompanied minors. In an emailed statement, Italy said its policy of turning away vessels carrying migrants had not changed, though the statement did not mention the Trenton by name. The new Italian government was forged on a political platform promising a tough approach on irregular immigration, and a stop in the reception of migrants and refugees. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 22:41:49|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close Photo taken on June 14, 2018 shows piers of the Nam Khone super major bridge in Vientiane, Laos. China Railway No. 2 Engineering Group (CREC-2) has completed the main construction work of the longest bridge along the China-Laos railway which is also the longest-ever bridge in Laos. (Xinhua/Qin Xiaoming) VIENTIANE, June 15 (Xinhua) -- China Railway No. 2 Engineering Group (CREC-2) has completed the main construction work of the longest bridge along the China-Laos railway which is also the longest-ever bridge in Laos. Zeng Fanbing, the superintendent from the CREC-2 in charge of the construction of the sixth section of the China-Laos railway project, told Xinhua on Friday that his team finished the concrete casting of the last bridge pier of the Nam Khone super major bridge on Thursday, thus completing the main construction work of the longest bridge along the railway project. The Nam Khone super major bridge, located in the northern suburb of Lao capital Vientiane, has a total length of 7.5 km. A total of 230 bridge piers have now been erected. The highest pier reaches 10.5 meters. The China-Laos railway is one of interconnectivity projects under the framework of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative. Construction of the railway began in December 2016 and the railway is expected to open to traffic in December 2021. The China-Laos railway has a length of over 414 kilometers, linking Mohan-Boten border gate in northern Laos and capital Vientiane. Operating speed on the route is designed at 160 km per hour. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 22:46:52|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ADEN, Yemen, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Yemeni forces, backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), managed Friday to seize control of the main entrance of the sole airport in the country's western coast city of Hodeidah, a military official told Xinhua. With support and participation of UAE's armed forces, the joint Yemeni government forces seized full control of the main entrance of Hodeidah's International Airport, following fierce confrontations with the Iranian-backed Shiite Houthis, the source said. Heavy aerial bombardment, launched by warplanes of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition, targeted Houthi-controlled sites around the airport, leading to complete destruction of their fortifications, the source said. A military spokesman, known as Sadiq Dawid, tweeted that the joint forces are now positioned in the entrance to Hodeidah Airport to ensure the airport is under control. Sources confirmed to Xinhua that scores of Houthi fighters have retreated from their sites following heavy aerial shelling. Meanwhile, a ballistic missile, fired by the the Iranian-backed Houthis on government-controlled areas in Hodeidah, was intercepted by the Patriot missile system over the city's airspace. On Wednesday, Yemen's internationally-backed President Abdu-Rabbu Mansour Hadi ordered his armed forces to carry out a decisive military action and liberate Hodeidah from the Houthis. The official Saba News Agency reported that "Hadi ordered the national armed forces to launch a wide-scale military operation to liberate Hodeidah and rescue its population from a humanitarian disaster." The United Nations has warned that the operation on Hodeidah could kill 250,000 people, but the UAE and its local allies kept advancing and besieged the city from different directions. The Saudi-led coalition has been fighting the Iranian-allied Houthi rebels since March 2015. More than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the war that also displaced over 3 million and pushed the impoverished country into the brink of famine. The anti-Houthi Arab coalition has sent hundreds of troops to the Yemeni western coast in preparation for the advancement into Houthi-held Hodeidah, a long-time key military target declared by the coalition. Hodeidah is a vital lifeline for the delivery of humanitarian supplies to the Houthi-controlled northern provinces, including the country's capital Sanaa. BY JOSEPH KATO. jkato@ug.nationmedia.com KAMPALA. The Uganda Muslim Mufti, His eminence, Ramadhan Mubajje, has asked government to compensate all Muslims who were wrongfully arrested, detained and tortured over murder spates in the country. Mr Mubajje while delivering the Eid Mubarak sermon at Old Kampala National Mosque on Friday, said several Muslims have been found innocent by courts after they had undergone hell in detention facilities thus calling upon the government to compensate them. Government should compensate all Muslims who were arrested and tortured over criminality but they were released by courts. We also ask government to stop seeing Muslims as always the first suspects in every crime that is committed. Muslims are peaceful people, Mufti Mubajje said. At least 19 Muslims who were arrested by police over the gruesome murder of police spokesperson, Andrew Felix Kaweesi, in March last year were released by court early this year after police failed to avail satisfactory evidence to sustain their charges. Court awarded some of the suspects with over Shs200m for the torture that was unleashed against them while at the now closed high profile detention facility at Nalufenya, in Jinja District. Mufti Mubajje urged government to conduct a comprehensive investigation to establish why Muslims have always been the most targeted by assassins. Muslims are the most killed in this criminality and they are always the first ones arrested as suspects. It is time government investigated why we are the ones being killed and first ones arrested by security agencies, Mufti Mubajje said. MOSCOW, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Russia called for easing sanctions imposed on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) after Pyongyang agreed to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. "A modification of the regime of sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council on the DPRK can, and should be, one of the most important components of normalization in the region," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said. She told a news briefing that easing sanctions could become a serious factor contributing to political and diplomatic settlement in northeast Asia. Zakharova said Russia also wanted the unilateral sanctions imposed on top of the UN bans to be lifted as well. The UN Security Council imposed a series of economic sanctions against the DPRK after the latter conducted its first nuclear test in 2006. In addition, several countries, including the United States, have imposed more sanctions of their own. Kim Jong Un, the top leader of the DPRK, met U.S. President Donald Trump for historic talks in Singapore on Tuesday and the two signed a joint statement. In the statement, Trump committed to providing security guarantees to the DPRK, while Kim reaffirmed his commitment to completing denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 22:46:54|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- In response to the U.S. trade measures on China, a spokesperson of China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Friday that the two countries have conducted rounds of consultations on bilateral trade, trying to settle disputes for a win-win result. "It is deeply regrettable that in disregard of the consensus between the two sides, the U.S. has demonstrated flip-flops and ignited a trade war. This move not only hurts bilateral interests, but also undermines world trade order. The Chinese side firmly opposes that," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson said that China does not want a trade war. However, confronted by such short-sighted act that hurts both the U.S. itself and others, China has no choice but to fight back forcefully to firmly safeguard the interests of the nation and its people and uphold economic globalization and the multilateral trading system. "We will immediately take tariff measures of the same scale and intensity. All economic and trade outcomes of previous talks will now lose effect. "Waging a trade war does not conform to global interests nowadays. We call on all countries to take collective actions to firmly curb such outdated and regressive move and steadfastly safeguard the common interests of the mankind. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang made similar remarks Friday. Yemeni pro-government forces and armored vehicles arrive in al-Durayhimi district, about 9 km south of Hodeidah international airport on June 13, 2018. (AFP photo) ADEN, Yemen, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Yemeni forces, backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), managed Friday to seize control of the main entrance of the sole airport in the country's western coast city of Hodeidah, a military official told Xinhua. With support and participation of UAE's armed forces, the joint Yemeni government forces seized full control of the main entrance of Hodeidah's International Airport, following fierce confrontations with the Iranian-backed Shiite Houthis, the source said. Heavy aerial bombardment, launched by warplanes of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition, targeted Houthi-controlled sites around the airport, leading to complete destruction of their fortifications, the source said. A military spokesman, known as Sadiq Dawid, tweeted that the joint forces are now positioned in the entrance to Hodeidah Airport to ensure the airport is under control. Sources confirmed to Xinhua that scores of Houthi fighters have retreated from their sites following heavy aerial shelling. Meanwhile, a ballistic missile, fired by the the Iranian-backed Houthis on government-controlled areas in Hodeidah, was intercepted by the Patriot missile system over the city's airspace. On Wednesday, Yemen's internationally-backed President Abdu-Rabbu Mansour Hadi ordered his armed forces to carry out a decisive military action and liberate Hodeidah from the Houthis. The official Saba News Agency reported that "Hadi ordered the national armed forces to launch a wide-scale military operation to liberate Hodeidah and rescue its population from a humanitarian disaster." The United Nations has warned that the operation on Hodeidah could kill 250,000 people, but the UAE and its local allies kept advancing and besieged the city from different directions. The Saudi-led coalition has been fighting the Iranian-allied Houthi rebels since March 2015. More than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the war that also displaced over 3 million and pushed the impoverished country into the brink of famine. The anti-Houthi Arab coalition has sent hundreds of troops to the Yemeni western coast in preparation for the advancement into Houthi-held Hodeidah, a long-time key military target declared by the coalition. Hodeidah is a vital lifeline for the delivery of humanitarian supplies to the Houthi-controlled northern provinces, including the country's capital Sanaa. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 23:01:56|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha (R3), Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen (R2), Myanmar President U Win Myint (C), Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak (L3) and Liu Qiangdong (L2), founder and CEO of JD.com pose for a photo in Bangkok, Thailand, June 15, 2018. Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Friday called on the private sector to contribute to the development of Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) countries so as to maintain their role as "core of ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations)". (Xinhua) BANGKOK, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Friday called on the private sector to contribute to the development of Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) countries so as to maintain their role as "core of ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations)". ACMECS countries are Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand. Delivering a keynote speech to open the ACMECS CEO Forum in Bangkok, Prayut said that Thailand, the current chair of ACMECS, is calling on the private sector of the five-nation bloc to join in the strengthening of strategic partnership cooperation and the building up of ACMECS community on the basis of mutual interests. The Thai leader said ACMECS economy has grown tremendously and the overall CLMVT countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand) economy has an average growth rate of about 6 to 8 percent per year, the highest growth rate in ASEAN. However, he said the global economy has changed dramatically with scientific and technological progress taking place swiftly as the world is stepping into the age of digital economy, prompting ACMECS to quickly adjust itself accordingly. "I invite the private sector to take an active role in determining targets for human resources development and innovation. I also call upon the private sector to participate in identifying issues that they would like to seek facilitation from the government, as well as rules and regulations that they would like to be made more flexible and harmonized in order to cope with rapid technological changes taking place at this moment," the prime minister added. BANGKOK, June 15 (Xinhua) -- About 9 million methamphetamine pills and 300 kg of crystal meths were seized in a drug bust in northern Thailand's Chiang Mai, Thai police announced on Friday. Panatkit Soponphumpanya, a hill tribesman aged 43, was arrested on Monday along with assets worth 10 million baht (about 303,000 U.S. dollars), according to the police. The police said the key suspect was trying to transfer methamphetamine pills and crystal meths from the Thai-Myanmar border in Chiang Mai province to central Thailand Ayutthaya. Five suspects who were waiting to collect the drugs were also arrested in the haul. The police said Panatkit had been wanted for a drug crime in 2010. KIEV, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian government on Friday signed an agreement with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on deepening cooperation, Ukraine's Economic Development and Trade Ministry said in a statement. Ukraine's First Vice Prime Minister Stepan Kubiv, who signed the pact with OECD Deputy Secretary-General Mari Kiviniemi, said Ukraine will get expert assistance from the OECD on implementing key reforms, including the fight against corruption and improving the business environment. The agreement will be in effect until 2020. Ukraine and the OECD have been working in partnership since 1991 to improve governance and economic development. The OECD's current work in Ukraine covers a wide range of areas, including agriculture, education, taxation and investment. LJUBLJANA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic Party (SDS), the winner of the Slovenian parliamentary election in early June, has announced on Twitter that it would send a draft coalition agreement to "coalition partners" next week, confirming that all parliamentary parties would get the document. The SDS, which won 25 seats in Slovenia's 90-member legislature, has been tight-lipped about its post-election activities. However, statements by other parliamentary party representatives imply that informal talks had been taking place. According to the Slovenian Press Agency STA on Friday, it was informed by the SDS that the winner party tweeted on Thursday evening that the party expert council had held a meeting to evaluate the election results and announced that the coalition agreement would be ready for potential partners next week. While the SDS's advantage in the election is considerable, many parties have refused to cooperate with it and Marjan Sarec, the head of the runner-up Marjan Sarec List (LMS), has been talking to other parties in an apparent effort to put together a coalition of its own. The SDS leader and election winner Janez Jansa had previously said that he would not accept the mandate to put together the government if somebody else managed to put a coalition together before him. Meanwhile, Slovenian President Borut Pahor was officially notified on Friday of the final results of the election on June 3 and called the maiden session of the new parliament for June 22. Top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un (R) and U.S. President Donald Trump take a walk during their summit meeting in Singapore on June 12, 2018. (Xinhua/Ministry of Communication and Information of Singapore) WASHINGTON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Speaking with Fox News at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has started to return the remains of the U.S. soldiers missing in the Korean War (1950-53). "They (the DPRK) are already starting to produce the remains" of these soldiers, Trump said during an unexpected interview with the news program "Fox & Friends" on the north lawn of the White House. Trump met with top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore on Tuesday, a historic event followed by a joint statement. The two sides committed to making joint efforts to build a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, and recover the remains of the prisoners of war and those missing in action in the Korean War. The two sides also agreed to the immediate repatriation of those already identified. Since the Korean War ended with an armistice in 1953, the DPRK and the United States had been locked in confrontational rhetoric and behavior. KIEL, Germany, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese naval frigate Binzhou arrived in German military port of Kiel Friday for a friendly visit and to take part in the "Kiel Week" activities. Frigate Binzhou is the commanding ship of China's 29th naval escort fleet for anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters. This is the second time that a Chinese naval ship has taken part in the "Kiel Week", after frigate Xiangtan visited the German port city in 2016. The commanding officer of the Chinese naval escort fleet will pay visits to local German officials, including navy leaders in Kiel, the minister-president of Schleswig-Holstein, and mayor of Kiel. During the "Kiel Week", officials and soldiers of frigate Binzhou will participate in an international maritime skill competition. Other events include meetings of young military officers, open day and deck reception, and communication between the Chinese frigate crew and naval officers from other countries. The 29th naval escort fleet, consisting of missile frigates Binzhou, Xuzhou and supply ship Qiandaohu, arrived in Gulf of Aden and Somali waters in May and began its escort mission after the 28th naval escort fleet. Since December 2008, China has dispatched a total of 29 batches of escort fleets to perform anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters. CAPE TOWN, June 15 (Xinhua) -- President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed former Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Mosenekea as the leader of a mediation team to Lesotho where a reform process is unfolding, the Presidency said on Friday. Mosenekea will assist Ramaphosa as the president continues to facilitate the political national dialogue and reform process in the kingdom, presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko said. This decision was made in line with the resolution that was taken at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Double Troika Summit that was held on April 24, 2018 in Luanda, Angola, according to Diko. The summit recommended that Ramaphosa, who is the SADC Facilitator in Lesotho, should appoint high level personalities to support him. In this regard, Ramaphosa appointed Moseneke as the leader of the mediation team consisting of three deputy ministers, namely Mohamed Enver Surty of Basic Education, Makgabo Regina Mhaule of International Relations and Cooperation and Ellen Molekane of State Security, Diko said. In September 2014, Ramaphosa was appointed by the SADC Heads of State and Government as the SADC Facilitator in Lesotho, following the country's security and political challenges. As required by the SADC Double Troika Summit in Luanda, the Lesotho government will have to complete the constitutional and security sector reforms by May 2019. Ramaphosa said he is confident in Moseneke's experience and expertise in constitutionalism. "I take this opportunity to thank Justice Moseneke for availing himself to support us in this important mandate as we continue to assist our brothers and sisters in the Kingdom of Lesotho in their search for a lasting and sustainable solution to their political and security challenges," said Ramaphosa. Lesotho has been gripped by political instability as a result of power struggles since 2015 when Pakalitha Mosisili took power in a snap election following an abortive coup in 2014. The coalition government, led by Mosisili of the Democratic Congress (DC) party, later fragmented. The All Basotho Convention party won snap elections in June last year. Its leader Thomas Thabane took office as prime minister, leading a coalition government three years after he was targeted by the 2014 coup. Thabane's new coalition government has been trying to end the political uncertainty of party splits and fragile coalitions that have long dogged the mountain kingdom. Lesotho, completely landlocked by South Africa, is one of the world's poorest countries and its economy is heavily dependent on its neighbor, to where it exports water and hydroelectric power. By Ritah Kemigisa. President Yoweri Museveni has called for the removal of bail and police bond awarded by courts to persons involved in criminal capital offenses like murder. In his address during the budget reading this evening, Museveni says these practices have since delayed justice. His remark comes after the release of Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze who was yesterday released on police bond shortly after she was arrested. Meanwhile has attacked newspapers like daily monitor for writing about Ugandas indebtedness. He said the story wrote by monitor about Ugandas debt that is overweening was not true and has warned monitor to stop such talks with immediate effect. BERLIN, June 15 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday told NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg that that Germany is increasing its defense spending to 1.5 percent of GDP by 2024, which will miss NATO's target of 2 percent. Merkel on Friday held talks with Stoltenberg who was Berlin for the preparation of the NATO summit of scheduled on July 11-12 in Brussels. Germany increases the contributions for the equipment of the Bundeswehr, and also has made a strong promise of 1.5 percent of GDP of defense spending by 2024, said Merkel after the meeting, adding that "sometimes that seems too slow, but things are going in the right direction." NATO members have agreed in 2014 to move toward the 2 percent guideline within a decade. Merkel said Germany complies with that, and added that "We accept this target, but we are also giving realistic information." U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized Germany for falling short in defense spending and hoped Washington's European allies to take more responsibility in defense. Stolbenberg said he is glad Germany's spending is rising but encouraged the biggest European economy to do more. Stoltenberg said on the agenda of NATO summit are not only defense spending, but also relations with Russia and the fight against international terrorism. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 23:42:05|Editor: Yurou 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, delivers a speech during an inspection to the navy under the Northern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, June 11, 2018. (Xinhua/Li Gang) JINAN, June 15 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has stressed building an elite maritime force to resolutely accomplish various missions entrusted by the Party and the people. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), made the call during an inspection to the navy under the Northern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army on June 11. Xi emphasized the need to resolutely implement the Party's thinking on strengthening the military for the new era and continue to enhance the political loyalty of the armed forces, strengthen them through reform and technology, and run them in accordance with law. Xi also spoke of the need for the navy to meet the requirements of transformation. Xi visited a submarine force around 3:30 p.m. Monday as a summer breeze rustled through the trees on the coast of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. At port was a new-type submarine which had taken part in the recent naval parade in the South China Sea. On the hull, soldiers stood in formation waiting to be inspected. Xi went aboard and chatted with them, asking about their work and life. The president said he is always concerned about soldiers who spend years of their life on submarines deep under the sea. As he learned that the soldiers were dedicated to their career, worked hard, and had accomplished their tasks, Xi nodded his head in appreciation. The president then went down into the cabins to learn about the weapons and ammunition. He encouraged soldiers to remain firm in ideals and convictions, build a strong team, and train themselves to excel in skills. Xi signed his name on the logbook. Before leaving the dock, Xi walked toward another submarine nearby and waved to the soldiers. Xi inspected the training of the submarine force at a comprehensive simulation facility. "How is simulation-based training going? Can the facilities meet the demands? Are there any challenges?" the president asked. He was pleased to learn that the soldiers benefit a lot from the training and spoke of the need to continue to improve training infrastructure. Xi watched a group of trainees undergo a sonar recognition exercise. He joined to test them and gave a thumbs-up to a soldier who gave the correct answer. Xi met with senior navy officers at the navy headquarters of the Northern Theater Command and took a group photo with them. He listened to the command's naval work report and gave an important speech. Xi spoke of the need to grasp the changes of national security circumstances, speed up preparations for military struggle, including battle planning, capacity building and command system building. Xi said the intensity of training needs to be enhanced, its modules to be innovated, and its supervision to be strengthened. He stressed the need for targeted training, training for commanders, and training under combat conditions. He called for efforts to implement the requirements for the transformation of the navy, accelerate the work to improve elite combat forces, and focus on tackling areas of weakness and making breakthroughs. Forward-looking plans and top-level designs are also needed to promote the transformation and development of naval air forces, Xi said. Xi also stressed the absolute Party leadership over the armed forces and ceaseless work to improve Party conduct, enforce Party discipline and fight corruption. "Ideological work within the military should be strengthened and combat capability should be regarded as the criterion for military building," Xi said. He urged the navy to coordinate with civilian departments, innovate in institutions and mechanisms and development models to improve military-civilian integration. On Thursday morning in Jinan, capital of Shandong, Xi met with senior officers of troops stationed in the province. CMC Vice Chairman Xu Qiliang attended the events. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 23:47:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JOHANNESBURG, June 15 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's power utility Eskom on Friday continued with load shedding following the strike and sabotage by employees on Thursday. Eskom employees on Thursday were on strike which the company allege destroyed the company infrastructure. Eskom said some of the employees threatened others with guns and prevented some coal from being delivered at its power stations. Eskom spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe on Friday said they discovered more damage done by the employees. "Eskom commenced with Stage 1 load shedding at 11:29am today. We anticipate that this will continue until 9pm tonight. This is due to the impact of the current illegal protest action by some Eskom employees at various sites over wage increases. Eskom is working with all the relevant stakeholders to keep its plant operating optimally however there is a high risk of load shedding over the weekend," said Phasiwe. The National Union of Mine Workers denied sabotaging Eskom and destroying the company property calling the allegations "mischievous". Enditem by Eric J. Lyman ROME, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The long and sometimes turbulent history between Italy and France is facing a new challenge as the two countries point fingers over policies on migration. Italy and France are both among the six founding members of the European Union, charter members of the euro currency area. The countries share a border more than 500 km long, running from high in the Alps down to the Mediterranean. They share an affinity for top-level food and wine, fashion, and design. Both are rich in culture and history. Each country is the other's second largest trading partner. The two capitals -- Rome and Paris -- are each other's only sister city. And now Italy and France are at opposite sides of a battle over the treatment of refugees. When Italy turned the rescue ship away from its ports with 629 refugees aboard earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron was quick to criticize: "If the French coast had been the boat's closest shore it would have been allowed to dock." Giuseppe Conte, Italy's new prime minister, eluded to France's own checkered past handling migrants in his response. "This country cannot accept hypocritical lessons from countries that have long preferred to turn their heads away on the immigration issue," Conte said. Conte got unexpected support from Gerard Larcher, president of France's Senate, who said France's performance in the past put it in no position to take the high road on the issue. Conte had threatened to cancel a Friday summit with Macron in Paris but the meeting went ahead as planned, with migration on the agenda as the central issue. Discussions were complicated by a report released Friday by Oxfam, highlighting the plight of nearly 20,000 migrants languishing at the Italy-France border without adequate water, food, shelter, or counsel on their rights. Although border laws are generally not enforced between Western European countries, the report said nearly 40,000 poor migrants had been turned back trying to cross from Italy to France during the first eight months of last year, the latest figures available. "This is quickly becoming the main issue between these two countries," Christian Blasberg, a professor of contemporary history at Rome's LUISS University, said in an interview. "There have been problems in the past, but the context changed completely with the election of Macron and then the new government in Italy." Macron took office in May of last year, while the Conte government -- with support of the nationalist League and its anti-migrant leader Matteo Salvini -- was installed two weeks ago. The countries have occasionally clashed in other areas. They have fought alongside each other and as adversaries in different wars. Last year, there was a standoff that resulted in France nationalizing the STX shipyard near the city of Saint-Nazaire in order to prevent Italian port operator Fincantieri from taking it over. Earlier this year, French media giant Vivendi was pushed out of control of the board with Italian communications and Internet company Telecom Italia after trying to acquire a controlling stake. "There's a kind of ping-pong relationship between the two countries," Rocco Panetta, an attorney from Rome's Panetta & Associati law firm, told Xinhua. "They're like brothers who know and understand each other well, but also know just how to infuriate the other." LUISS's Blasberg said he did not believe the current situation would permanently damage relations between the two countries -- unless it becomes drawn out. "I think it's in Salvini's hands," Blasberg said. "If this is making a point to get more help from the European Union and the international community, it may work. But if the government continues on this line, it could cause significant harm." CAIRO, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi announced on Friday a presidential pardon for 2,110 prisoners, the interior ministry reported in a statement on its Facebook official page. The decree came at the beginning of the three-day Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday that comes at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. The Prison Sector of the Egyptian Ministry of Interior has also conditionally released 1,367 prisoners, the statement said. Usually, the president issues a decree for pardoning prisoners on public holidays and feasts, including two religious Muslims feasts, holy month of Ramadan and the 23 July Revolution anniversary. On May 16, Egyptian President Sisi pardoned 330 imprisoned young people on the eve of Ramadan. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-16 00:12:17|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close by Keren Setton JERUSALEM, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A Jewish mother always wanted her son to be a doctor or a lawyer. It was a sign of success and a promise for a bright future. But it is not the situation any more. With mandatory military service in Israel for males and females above 18 years old, many aim to serve in the army's technological units, seen as the best preparation for a successful, and perhaps rich, civilian adult life. Many believe that the symbiotic relationship between the military and civilian industries in Israel is the foundation of Israel's global hi-tech success. Many of Israel's leading innovative technology came from people who got their first hands-on experience in one of the country's military tech units, famous for its advanced technology, often developed in a crunch, and the availability of highly-skilled cyber-security experts. Some of the country's most famous start-up exports were created by alumni from the military units, the leading one being the 8200 intelligence unit, in charge of collecting signal intelligence for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Natan Barak is the CEO and co-founder of mPrest, a global provider of monitoring and control systems for defense, security and utility sectors. The firm is behind the cutting-edge technology that enabled the success of the Iron Dome air defense system. Operational since 2011, the system has intercepted hundreds of short-to-medium range rockets fired into Israel in recent conflicts. The system was the first in the world that was able to deal with such a challenge. It is a highly sophisticated system which needs to adapt within seconds to deadly threats. Rockets fired and expected to land in unpopulated areas will not be intercepted, highlighting the cutting-edge nature of the system. The intense life-and-death experiences are translated into business success. The strive for perfection which will save lives leads to precise technologies. "We take real time big data analysis and machine learning into civilian systems," Barak explained. "If we cannot supply a system that is 99.9 percent accurate and reliable, we might cause damage that we will lose sleep over." The army begin their selection of appropriate candidates while the children were still in high school. In this way, they can pick the best candidates from a large pool. "The army provides an amazing school, anyone who finishes this school is much better than the average person in the job market, not only because of the experience, but also because of the screening process," Barak told Xinhua. MPrest is behind many smart cities around the world and also provides electricity companies around the world with large scale electricity grid management systems, amongst other products offered by the firm. The Israeli government has also realized the great potential that lies within the military for ground-breaking civilian technology. Just recently, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a new plan for military defense technologies based on quantum computing. Any advancements Israel will make in the field will surely seep into the civilian world. "What needs to be done is to marry this huge government investment in technologies... to markets and a startup culture, a free market environment that encourages the graduates of the IDF and other... arms to form their own companies and to create the industries, the knowledge industries of the future," said Netanyahu at a recent Science and Technology conference held in Jerusalem. Argus is another example. All founders of this automotive cybersecurity firm are former officers of the 8200 intelligence unit. With almost all new cars today connected to the internet, Argus embeds software necessary to protect vehicles from cyber-attacks. It was a need that no one in the market has addressed before. "In many ways, we had to create and educate the market and it took a lot of effort," said Yoni Heilbronn, Chief Marketing Officer at Argus. "Today, it is seen as a prerequisite or part of the underlying infrastructure for cars. It took us a while to get there." Heilbronn told Xinhua the product has already been sold to leading car manufacturers in the world. The company has offices in Japan, Germany and the United States, in addition to its Israeli headquarters. "Our background gives us a lot of credibility," Heilbronn said. "The brand of 8200 is something well known worldwide for excellence and expertise for technology in general and more specifically in cybersecurity." The alumni from the technological units are by large a closely knit network which then help each other get recruited to lucrative positions in the private sector. The constant interaction between the civilian and military sectors in the small country is unique. The quick verification process of technologies and implementation of change contribute to an agile industry. This is perhaps one of the elements in the formula of Israel's success - the ability to adapt quickly after identifying the changing needs both in the military and in the civilian world amid another round of industrial revolution. In the past two decades, over 10,000 start-up companies have been founded by Israelis, several of which were sold to global giants such as Google, Intel and Facebook. At the core of the thriving innovative scene is a belief that failure is an integral part of the process not to be hidden or ashamed of. "You are sometimes given tasks that other people tried before and failed, you just don't know that," Heilbronn recalled his military service. "Sometimes these are things on the verge of science fiction and this demands to be very creative. As long as there is an underlying message that you learn from your failures, it means that the next time you try something, you are unlikely to make the same mistakes." "I should be humble in giving advice," Heilbronn told Xinhua. "But openness and the willingness to embrace change and the notion of constructive failure are potentially the most important lessons that should be shared globally in order to foster innovation." SKOPJE, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said on Friday he believes in the success of the name agreement between Macedonia and Greece. Zaev declared the identity issue as finally closed, opening the future for the country. According to Zaev, the Macedonian government should be proud of the resolution of the name dispute,since the decision writes a new page in the country's history. Macedonia is formally called the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) by the United Nations. Macedonia is also the name of a northern province in Greece. Athens is worried that the use of the same name by the neighboring state could lead to territorial claims. The solving of the name row that has existed between two countries is seen as the main obstacle Macedonia has to overcome in order to make progress towards European Union (EU) and NATO integration. Macedonia and Greece have come up with a final deal after a long process of negotiations to solve the name dispute, Macedonian Prime Minster Zoran Zaev confirmed Tuesday at a press conference. Under the agreement reached, Zaev said the name to be used both internationally and bilaterally would be the Republic of North Macedonia. Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov on Wednesday called the agreement reached Tuesday on the name dispute with Greece as "harmful" for Macedonia and declared that he would not sign it. Meanwhile, Macedonian government spokesman Mile Bosnjakovski last night said that there is still no date for the meeting between Zaev and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to sign the agreement. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-16 00:17:18|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) holds talks with Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Beijing, capital of China, June 15, 2018. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Friday in Beijing. Wang said the two sides should continue to take into consideration each other's core interests and major concerns, and consolidate the foundation of political mutual trust. China stands ready to synergize its development strategies with that of Turkey under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and supports Chinese companies to expand pragmatic cooperation with Turkey, said Wang, adding that China expects Turkey to provide Chinese companies a good business environment. China will work with Turkey to promote the establishment of cultural centers in each other to advance mutual understanding, he said. Cavusoglu said Turkey values relations with China from a strategic height and will firmly adhere to the one-China policy and continue to deepen anti-terrorism security and intelligence cooperation with China. WASHINGTON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that it was "possible" he could meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin this summer. Trump made the remark to reporters in the driveway of the White House during an unexpected conversation with the press for nearly 20 minutes. Asked if he would meet Putin this summer, he said, "It's possible." The remark was made within days of his saying that Russia should be invited back into the Group of Seven (G7). The G7 comprises leading industrial nations Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and Britain. Russia joined the bloc in 1998 but was expelled in 2014 after Russia's incorporation of Crimea. The French president's office later said Trump's call has been unanimously opposed by the European members of the G7. Trump also told reporters Friday that he would call the leaders of France and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on Sunday. Ties between Washington and Moscow deteriorated in the past year over alleged Russian involvement in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-16 00:32:23|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close WASHINGTON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- An American Airlines regional carrier said Friday that it would resume operations at noon after thousands of passengers were stranded overnight in an airport in the state of North Carolina due to canceled flights. PSA Airlines canceled 275 flights Thursday and around 400 flights Friday around the nation due to a "technical issue." North Carolina's Charlotte-Douglas International Airport was especially hard hit, with more than 100 flights canceled. Disgruntled travelers took to social media to post scenes from the airport, with many complaining that the airline was not reacting quickly enough. Local reports say that rental-car companies at the airport were running out of vehicles. Based in Dayton, Ohio, PSA Airlines operates 800 flights each day from across the east coast to nearly 100 locations. by Maria Spiliopoulou ATHENS, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A Greek far-right MP was under judicial investigation for high treason on Friday after urging for a military coup d'etat over the Macedonia name draft agreement, Greek national news agency AMNA reported. Konstantinos Barbaroussis called on the military to arrest the president, prime minister and defense minister "for treason", while speaking inside the Greek parliament during a debate on the censure motion filed by the main opposition party against the government over the name deal reached on Tuesday. "We will have your heads in Prespes," he said according to AMNA referring to the lake on the borderline between Greece and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), where the agreement will be signed this Sunday, as the Greek government announced on Friday. Following the incident, the assembly unanimously agreed to deprive all deputies of the Golden Dawn (Chryssi Avghi) party of the right to speak until the vote on the motion on Sunday under parliamentary regulations. With a letter to the Parliament Speaker Nikos Voutsis, Golden Dawn head Nikos Michaloliakos said that Barbaroussis' statements were not in line with the party's stance and the deputy was expelled from the party's parliamentary group. In a statement later, Barbaroussis spoke of a misunderstanding, assuring that he respects the constitutional order. However, the Supreme Court prosecutor ordered an investigation into his speech in parliament for high treason, according to AMNA. Defense Minister Panos Kammenos and Deputy Defense Minister Fotis Kouvelis formally filed a lawsuit against Barbaroussis at the Supreme Court. "We will not allow anyone to question the respect of democratic principles within the armed forces," Kammenos said according to an e-mailed press release. The historic deal the governments of Athens and Skopje clinched to end a three decades row over the use of the term Macedonia has caused strong reactions by hardliners in both countries. TIRANA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Road infrastructure improvement in rural areas in Albania brings growth and diversification of agricultural production, increases revenues and improves life quality, said a study on the impact of rural roads in Albania conducted by the Albanian Development Fund with the support of the World Bank. According to the study titled "Socioeconomic impact of secondary and local road project" in Albanian rural areas where there have been investments in road infrastructure, agricultural production increased and diversified by 30 percent, production costs decreased by about 15 percent and employment increased by about 13 percent. The analysis conducted is based on the study of households in Albania administered in a sample of about 2,000 households living in 144 villages in 12 districts and consultation with 10 focus groups in both stages of the 2012 and 2016 study phases. The study revealed that there was a significant improvement of access to education and health infrastructure, an increase in land value in areas affected by the program, and an increase in family income due to the shortening of the distance between farmers and points collection of agricultural products. According to the study, the hospital travel time was reduced by 27 percent in the beneficiary communities, whose residents have 12 percent more opportunities to visit health centers compared to non-beneficiary communities. Moreover, travel time and travel expenses in secondary schools decreased by 31 percent and 54 percent, respectively, as a result of improving street condition. Moreover, investments in infrastructure had a significant and positive impact as well on land and agricultural land values. The average value of housing increased by 48 percent, whereas the price of agricultural land is 1.2 times higher in beneficiary communities compared to non-beneficiary communities. Meanwhile, the farmers suggest that production and diversification of agricultural crops is also 34.2 percent higher in beneficiary communities compared to non-beneficiary communities. The analysis of statistical data and field interviews shows that the unemployment rate of the head of the family is 12.6 percent lower and self-employment increased by 12.9 percent in beneficiary communities. Furthermore, the study shows that investments had a positive impact on the local economy as well. Indicators for this are the increase in household consumption expenditures, where after the investment, the total family spending (food and non-food expenses) in the beneficiary communities is 25 percent higher. The study from the Albanian Development Fund spreads across Albania and covers a 5-year period (2012-2016) with the aim to measure the impact that the "Improvement of Secondary and Local Roads" program had in the medium term in the beneficiary areas. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-16 01:07:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHICAGO, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) agricultural commodities traded lower Friday morning, with corn and soybean futures falling as weather improves. July corn was 2.5 cents lower at 3.605 U.S. dollars per bushel as of 1530 GMT, July wheat was 6.25 cents lower at 5.16 dollars, July soybean was down 6.25 cents at 9.21 dollars. Forecasts for crop-boosting weather in key growing areas of the U.S. Midwest pushed corn and soybean futures to multi-month lows, as traders continue to sell off long positions in these two commodities. Wheat futures also were sharply lower, with investors also turned to technical selling amid abundant global supplies. Old-crop corn export sales topped expectations in the seven days that ended on June 7, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Corn sales for delivery in the 2017-2018 marketing year that ends on Aug. 31 totaled 936,400 tonnes last week, up 12 percent from the prior week and 2 percent from the previous four-week average. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-16 01:12:31|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close Dutch King Willem-Alexander (L) and Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite pose for photos at Rukla, Lithuania, on June 15, 2018. King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands discussed with Lithuanian leaders defense issues and energy cooperation during His Majesty's state visit to Lithuania from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Alfredas Pliadis) VILNIUS, June 15 (Xinhua) -- King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands discussed with Lithuanian leaders defense issues and energy cooperation during His Majesty's state visit to Lithuania on Friday. Energy cooperation between Lithuania and the Netherlands was highlighted by around 40 business representatives from the largest Dutch energy companies accompanying King Willem-Alexander during his visit to Lithuania. On Friday, King Willem-Alexander opened the Bilateral Forum on Sustainable Energy in Vilnius, Lithuanian capital. Around 150 representatives discussed possible cooperation in liquefied natural gas (LNG), renewable energy, according to Lithuanian President's Office. "A global energy giant Shell, which has already started the transportation of small LNG cargoes from the Port of Klaipeda to new LNG distribution station tanks, as well as other Dutch companies are interested in closer cooperation with Lithuania," The Lithuanian President's Office said on Friday. For Lithuania, the small Baltic country with population of less than 3 million, the Netherlands is the second largest investor in term of foreign direct investment. Out of 14.655 billion euros of total foreign direct investment into Lithuania at the end of 2017, nearly 2 billion is from the Dutch companies, according to the data from the Bank of Lithuania. King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands also visited Dutch troops deployed in Central Lithuania. Currently, around 200 Dutch troops serve at the NATO enhanced forward presence (EFP) German-led multinational battalion sent to Lithuania as part of allied efforts to step up defense in Lithuania and other Baltic Countries. Earlier on Friday, the king also met with Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis to discuss cooperation. The Dutch King visited Lithuania from Wednesday to Friday following state visits to Latvia and Estonia. LONDON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Animals used by Britain's police and security forces won government backing Friday for a new law to protect them from attack. Environment secretary Michael Gove announced the government would support the so-called Finn's Law following a campaign to win greater protection for animals. The campaign was launched after police dog Finn was stabbed while pursuing a suspect with his handler police constable David Wardell. Thousands of people backed the campaign for greater protection for Finn and other animals, while people from across the country sent get well cards and gifts to the police dog as he fought for his life after the attack. The dog survived, but has now been retired from police work. With government support, Finn's Law will introduce bigger fines and prison sentences for attacks on service animals. Constable Wardell, Finn's handler, welcomed the change in the law. He said: "When Finn was seriously injured it didn't seem right to me or the public that he was seen as an inanimate object or property, in law." "The campaign is my way of saying thank you to Finn for saving my life and to the many other (dogs) for the truly outstanding and brave work they do every day." Wardell, from Hertfordshire Police, said Finn had saved his life when a 16-year-old robbery suspect they were pursuing turned on them with a knife in 2016. Finn was stabbed in the chest and head, but did not let go until reinforcements arrived, and it was thought he was unlikely to survive. The new legislation will remove a section of the current law of self-defense, often used by those who harm an animal working with the police, prison service or military. The change in the law, coupled with the government's plans to increase maximum sentences for animal cruelty offences to five years in prison, will make sure people who harm service animals are punished, said the government. Gove said: "The government is continuing to raise the bar on animal welfare, whether for our beloved pets, brave service animals, or on farms." British Member of Parliament Sir Oliver Heald presented the bill in the British Parliament. by Jin Jing, Gu Zhenqiu, Zhang Jiawei LONDON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Stephen Hawking's family members, including his first wife Jane Hawking and son and daughter Tim and Lucy Hawking, took turns laying bouquets of flowers around the renowned physicist's grave amid the surreal voices of the Westminster Abbey choir at the renowned physicist's memorial service here on Friday. "We are so grateful to Westminster Abbey for offering us the privilege of a Service of Thanksgiving for the extraordinary life of our father and for giving him such a distinguished final resting place," Hawking's children had said earlier in a statement. Between the remains of Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin, the late professor's ashes were laid by the Dean of Westminster Abbey, Dr John Hall. "We shall give thanks for Stephen Hawking's remarkable gifts and for his life...for his personal courage, endurance, and perseverance," the Dean said during the service. Dating back to more than a thousand years ago, Westminster Abbey has been the place for British coronations, royal weddings, and burials of Kings and Queens, along with the most respected figures throughout British history. Actor Benedict Cumberbatch, who played Hawking in a 2004 BBC biopic, and British astronaut Tim Peake, were among those who gave readings at the service. One thousand members of the public from more than 100 countries, including some in wheelchairs, attended Friday's ceremony, after a ballot attracted over 25,000 applications for tickets. Lee R Balthazor, the former president of Royal Aeronautical Society was invited to the service as a result of his close connection with Stephen Hawking. Balthazor worked with the Stephen Hawking Foundation two years ago to have a card signed with Hawking's thumbprint and sent to Peake on the space station. "Professor Hawking really has inspired generations of people through the work that is done in physics and also in terms of inspiring young people and people with disability," Balthazor told Xinhua, "He has overcome through just sheer determination." Professor Hawking died in March, aged 76, after a long battle with motor neurone disease. A legendary figure in the modern history of physics, he broke new ground on the basic laws which govern the universe, including the revelation that black holes have a temperature and produce radiation, now known as Hawking radiation. Hawking's words, having been set to an original score by Greek composer Vangelis, will be beamed into space towards the nearest black hole after the service. Pau Figueras, a post-doctoral student who followed in Hawking's footsteps by studying black holes at the University of Cambridge eight years ago, said he believed Hawking's legacy "will live forever." Interacting with Hawking, who spoke through electronic communication devices, was "very difficult," said Figueras, noting that sometimes it took Hawking about five minutes to finish a sentence. But Hawking is a reminder of how strong a person can be in face of grave adversities, he told Xinhua. Hawking's influence on the public is far-reaching. Outside the abbey, emotions were also running high for those who were not able to get in. Heidi Collie, a high school student who had travelled from Birmingham to come to the service, had been waiting outside the abbey since early Friday morning. She started reading Hawking's books about five years ago and had written to him a few times. The 17-year-old aspires to study physics at university later this year. "Everything he has been through and yet all the work he's achieved through that. He is just an inspiration," said Collie. WASHINGTON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump launched fierce attacks Friday on former FBI Director James Comey, a day after the release of a watchdog report that concludes there were errors, not political bias in the agency's handling of its investigation of Hillary Clinton's use of private email server. In a flurry of tweets Friday morning, Trump said that the report, conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice's inspector general, is a "total disaster" for Comey and the FBI, claiming that he "did a great service to the people" in firing the agency's former chief. According to the highly-anticipated report, Comey was insubordinate but not driven by political bias when making some key decisions as to the probe of Clinton's email use while she was secretary of state, during the period of the 2016 presidential campaign, which have drawn criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike. The 500-page report also concluded that the Clinton email probe was not tainted by political bias, even though it was critical of two FBI staff members who exchanged highly charged political messages over Trump, finding that their texts created the appearance of bias and cast cloud over the FBI. During an interview with Fox News Channel at the White House Friday morning, Trump said "the end result was wrong" and there was "total bias." Later, he told other reporters that "Comey was the ring leader of this whole, you know, den of thieves. It was a den of thieves." Responding to the report Thursday, Comey tweeted that he respects the Inspector General's office and that their "conclusions are reasonable," even though he disagreed with some of them. He said that "people of good faith" can see the "unprecedented situation differently." Comey was fired by President Donald Trump in May 2017. He has repeatedly criticized Comey for his handling of the Clinton probe and also targeted top officials of the FBI and the DOJ for what he called political bias against him. Trump's defenders, including his lawyer and some Republicans, have seized on the report to justify Comey's ouster, while Democrats were concerned that the report would be used to undercut the ongoing Russia probe led by special counsel Robert Mueller, whose appointment followed Comey' s departure. Mueller is looking into the alleged Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and any potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow, among other matters that may arise from the investigation. Trump, who has repeatedly called the Russia probe "hoax" or "witch hunt," has ratcheted up pressure on it in the past months. Russia has denied interference in the election campaign. Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, said Friday that the report casts doubt on whether the president would ever agree to an interview with Mueller's team. Trump himself said he had "reservations" about a sit-down with the investigators. FBI Director Christopher Wray defended his agency on Thursday, saying that the report only addresses a specific set of facts and the actions of a handful of officials and that "nothing" in it "impugns" the integrity of the FBI workforce as a whole. File Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin take part in a family photo at the APEC summit in Danang, Vietnam, Nov. 10, 2017. (Xinhua/REUTERS) WASHINGTON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that it was "possible" he could meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin this summer. Trump made the remark to reporters in the driveway of the White House during an unexpected conversation with the press for nearly 20 minutes. Asked if he would meet Putin this summer, he said, "It's possible." The remark was made within days of his saying that Russia should be invited back into the Group of Seven (G7). The G7 comprises leading industrial nations Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and Britain. Russia joined the bloc in 1998 but was expelled in 2014 after Russia's incorporation of Crimea. The French president's office later said Trump's call has been unanimously opposed by the European members of the G7. Trump also told reporters Friday that he would call the leaders of France and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on Sunday. Ties between Washington and Moscow deteriorated in the past year over alleged Russian involvement in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign. by Justice Lee Adoboe, Alex Osei-Boateng SUHUM, Ghana, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of rural communities in six out of the ten regions of Ghana can now heave a sigh of relief in their desire to have clean water for household use, thanks to the intervention of the Chinese government. The government of China is providing 1,000 boreholes for communities to support efforts by the government of Ghana to bring clean water to the people. Eric Kwaku Mantey in Nana-Boami, a small farming community about 63 km north-west of the capital Accra, told Xinhua in a recent interview that before the China-aided boreholes were made, locals suffered with no access to safe and clean water. The community used to share a pond of creamy water overgrown with water weeds with cattle as their only source of water. "But now, thanks to the Chinese government, we have clean water," he said with excitement. The situation was no different in most of the beneficiary rural communities where women and children of school-going age had to hustle to bring water home for domestic use. Janet Naa Aryeetey at Asuboi in the Kraboa-Coaltar District, said the community, which used to depend on the Koa stream for water, had been given a new lease of life with the provision of the China-aided borehole. Although Ghana achieved more than 88 percent nationwide coverage of clean water under the previous Millennium Development Goals by the end of 2015, evidence on the ground was a far cry from the reported data, as most of these communities depended on running water which turned dark brown for most parts of the year due to heavy rains and dry-up in the dried season. "This project is China government's 1,000 borehole project to support the government of Ghana. The project is in six regions. The beneficiary communities are selected by government of Ghana, but normally every region gets about 160 boreholes," Huang Xianzhou, Project Manager of Zhongmei Engineering Group Limited, said in an interview. He added that the project was progressing steadily and due for completion on schedule by the end of this year. Huang expressed appreciation for the way the government of Ghana and locals cooperated with his company to implement the project. The delivery of this laudable project which commenced February 2016 was however not without some pain and sacrifice on the part of the Chinese workers as the project was spread across the country compelling the workers to criss-cross the length and breadth of the country several times for implementation. "It was very difficult for our people to get a place to sleep; they could not find a place to eat. So my Chinese technicians suffered a lot for this project. Sometimes they had to cook under trees. Sometimes they do not have a place to have lunch so they have to eat some biscuit or small fruits for lunch," the project manager pointed out. Huang said that these efforts, however, are in the interest of the Ghana-China friendly cooperation, and indeed they are beginning to yield dividends as school children in beneficiary communities can now go to school early unlike previously when they spent hours in the morning in search of water, thus wasting education time. Linda Alhassan, Headmistress of the Santramor Primary School in the Suhum Municipal Area, explained how water scarcity had become a thing of the past due to the intervention by the Chinese government. She said that the nightmare of school children going in search of water for hours and came to school late had come to a halt. "In fact, as this borehole has come, it has helped us a lot. It has cut down on the water-borne diseases such as diarrhea, cholera," she added. "The impact of the Chinese intervention on the community is immeasurable. The water helps us in everything we need water for. Most importantly, it has ended our plight of waking up at dawn to go in search of water for hours," said Joyce Boatemaah, a second year Junior High School student at Dago in the Akwapim-South district. She explained that pupils and students used to go to school very late due to water scarcity in the community which affected their academic work; and sometimes people got bitten by snakes while going in search of water in the dark. Jasper Quarshie, the Community Water and Sanitation Agency Municipal Technician Engineer for the Suhum District, whose district alone benefited from 10 of the China-aided boreholes, described the intervention as timely. "Things have improved a lot. In fact I have one of the communities where their water was as dark as cocoa beverage. So when this borehole is built there, they are enjoying it. You can see their children are now going to school early," added the official. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-16 01:52:39|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ISTANBUL, June 15 (Xinhua) -- As the Syrian government and Kurdish militia agreed to talk over a political settlement, Turkey has no chance of blocking the militia's participation in international peace efforts seeking an end to the Syrian conflict, analysts told Xinhua. Turkey will not be able to stop the presence of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) at the negotiating tables since it would be disguised as a political actor under a different name, said Cahit Armagan Dilek, head of the Ankara-based 21st Century Turkey Institute. Ankara strongly opposes any effort to include the YPG and its political wing, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which it sees as terror groups, in peace efforts as legitimate parties. The Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), the political wing of the YPG-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), announced last Sunday that it accepted Damascus' proposal to negotiate for a political settlement of the long-running war. The trick is that the negotiations will not be held with the YPG's political wing PYD, but rather with the SDC, said Dilek. It is probable that the SDC will also appear as a legitimate party in UN-and-Russia-led talks following negotiations with Damascus, Dilek pointed out. "In this way, Turkey's opposition to the PYD will be eliminated," Dilek said, noting that the Kurdish militia, having served its purposes during the war, is now emerging as a political entity. The U.S.-backed SDF, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias, has captured around 25 percent of the Syrian territory. The YPG has two self-declared autonomous cantons along the Turkish border, while the one in Afrin in the northwest was seized by Turkey in March following a two-month military campaign. The Kurds are not expected to settle for less than autonomy in negotiations. "The U.S., Russia and the international community will support the participation of the PYD in the political process," said Yasar Yakis, former Turkish foreign minister. "Turkey may find itself isolated if it opposes a process that will be supported by the two super powers and the international community," he added. Ankara regards the YPG as the Syrian offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party which has been fighting for an autonomous if not an independent Kurdistan region in Turkey's southeast. Damascus would reject Ankara's objection to PYD-affiliated Kurdish groups' participation in peace talks, as it would see that as an intervention in its domestic affairs, said Yakis. Turkey sees the emergence of a YPG-dominated Kurdish entity along its border as an existing threat. It is concerned that an autonomous Kurdish region in Syria would set a precedent for its own Kurkish population of nearly 20 million people. "Even if al-Assad may not agree to an outright autonomy for the Kurds, he may acquiesce to a certain degree of devolution of administrative competences," said Yakis, referring to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. A draft constitution Moscow submitted to the opposition at the beginning of last year refers to cultural autonomy for Kurds, underlining the need for ensuring "the cultural diversity of the Syrian society." There are two ongoing international initiatives seeking a political solution between Damascus and opposition groups recognized as legitimate. One is the U.N.-led Geneva talks, while the other is the Russia-led Astana process which supported the U.N.-backed effort. Turkey, a partner in the Astana process, has so far succeeded in excluding the Kurdish militia from peace talks by putting pressure on Russia and the United States. In his call for dialogue with the Kurdish militia, al-Assad also warned that the military option against the YPG was on the table as well. Many feel, however, the Syrian army, already weakened by years of fighting, could hardly afford to launch a new offensive against the YPG, which was supplied with a large number of weapons by Washington over the years. The United States, for its part, stated recently that it would not allow the Syrian forces to seize YPG-held areas. Up to 300 Syrian fighters, most of whom were alleged Russian mercenaries, were reportedly killed in a U.S. airstrike in February following an attack by the Syrian army-affiliated militias against a U.S. base in YPG-held eastern Syria. Moscow would not be eager to get involved in fresh fights in Syria, said Dilek, a former staff officer in the Turkish military. He feels that it is highly probable that Russia and the United States are behind Assad's move to have talks with the Kurds, as Russian and U.S. military chiefs met in Finland on June 8 and discussed, among others, the situation in Syria. Should Damascus and the Kurds fail to reach a deal on how far the Kurdish autonomy may go, Russia and the United States would intervene to find a middle ground, Yakis said. The United States seeks administrative and cultural autonomy for Syrian Kurds, Serdar Turgut, the Washington correspondent for the Haberturk daily, wrote on Tuesday. "Turkey has to cooperate with Damascus, the PYD and the main actors in order to salvage whatever is salvageable in this process in order to make its legitimate security concerns prevail," said Yakis. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, right, attends a joint news conference with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, center, and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, left, following their meeting at Foreign Ministry in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday. AP-Yonhap U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday his administration has not dropped the aim of denuclearizing North Korea in a "complete, verifiable and irreversible" manner, apparently in response to criticism about the Singapore summit deal. Speaking after talks with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts here, he stressed that there would be no sanctions relief for Pyongyang before that. The United States and the two other regional powers remain "committed to the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization (CVID) of North Korea," he said at a joint press conference. His remarks came as some media and experts find fault with President Donald Trump's Singapore summit accord with the North's leader Kim Jong-un, which has no clear mention of Washington's stated goal of CVID. The accord just stipulates that the communist nation will "work towards complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." The two sides agreed to establish "new relations" to end seven decades of hostility dating back to the 1950-53 Korean War. Trump said he had skipped the CVID jargon in the joint statement due to time constraints and Pompeo told reporters the word "complete" encompasses the notion of verification. Pompeo, a former CIA director, said Kim appears to understand the need for a quick process. "We believe that Chairman Kim Jong-un understands the urgency of the timing of completing this denuclearization and understands we must do this quickly," he said, "And the sanctions relief cannot take place until such time as we have demonstrated that North Korea has been completely denuclearized." The summit deal, he added, will be implemented on a "sequencing, conditions" basis "with eyes open." Analysts slam Trump for stopping joint military drills Trump-Kim summit: long on words, short on substance The malformed summit U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo looks on as he attends a bilateral meeting with South Korea's President Moon Jae-in at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, June 14. REUTERS-Yonhap He emphasized that trilateral cooperation among the three regional powers is "crucial to the effectiveness" of the process, which is "not an easy one." South Korea's top diplomat, Kang Kyung-hwa, described the Singapore event, an unprecedented bilateral summit between the Korean War war foes, as a "historic turning point," saying it marks the first time that the "highest authorities of the North Korea promised to a 'sitting' U.S. president to work towards complete denuclearization." Kang dismissed concerns about a possible crack in the Seoul-Washington alliance over Pyongyang. It's "as robust as ever" and the South expects "no daylight" in cooperation with the U.S. towards the denuclearization of the peninsula and peace. On Trump's talk of suspending major combined military drills between the allies, which he calls "expensive and provocative war games," the minister said it's an issue to be decided through consultations between their defense authorities. Keen attention is being paid to whether they will stage the Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) joint exercise in August as scheduled. Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono said the U.S. Forces Korea should continue to play a key role in regional deterrence and stability. Ahead of the trilateral meeting, meanwhile, Pompeo paid a courtesy call on President Moon Jae-in, who is credited with having played a key role in creating the current dialogue mood. "I think what's tremendously valuable is that (the Singapore summit) has made people of the world, including those in the U.S., Japan and Korea, escape the threat of war, nuclear weapons and long-range missiles," Moon was quoted as telling Pompeo. THE HAGUE, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Dutch government decided on Friday to end the Dutch military mission in Mali in 2019, and to lengthen its contribution to the NATO mission in Afghanistan until the end of 2021. The Netherlands has been involved in the United Nations (UN) mission "MINUSMA" in Mali since 2014. The mission came to an end on May 1, 2019 with the last of the current 240 Dutch soldiers returning home. The announcement comes as no surprise, as two days ago, a Netherlands court published a report about the Dutch involvement in the UN's MINUSMA mission. According to the report, the mission has too many negative repercussions for the rest of the Dutch military, in terms of the demand for material and manpower. "Years of cutbacks, combined with increasing international pressure and responsibilities, have taken their toll on the armed forces," the Dutch government stated in a press statement. "It goes without saying that the armed forces can only be deployed if doing so is a responsible course of action. The recently published report reaffirmed the importance of this. The conclusions were explicit factors in the decisions concerning the various missions." The Dutch government is now setting new priorities, putting more focus on NATO's Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, partly at the request of NATO and Afghanistan. In addition to the 100 military personnel currently deployed, another 60 military personnel will work closely with Germany over the next few years to train, advise, assist and accompany a unit of the Afghan Special Security Forces in Mazar-e Sharif. Six police advisers will be attached to the NATO mission in Kabul. Lastly, the Netherlands also intends to extend its contribution to NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence in Lithuania to the end of 2020. Just like in Afghanistan, the Netherlands opted to extend this contribution to provide more military continuity. by Marwa Yahya CAIRO, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A significant reshuffle took place in the new Egyptian government with the change of several key ministers, as the country pushes ahead with tough economic reforms and seeks to improve security situation. Egypt's new cabinet was sworn in on Thursday with 12 new ministers appointed, including the security and economic ministers, signaling the country's resolution to tackle a series of challenges, according to experts. ECONOMIC REFORM CONTINUES "Reshuffling the government indicates the country's willingness to resume its economic program by pumping new blood for improving the performance," Waleed Gaballah, professor of financial and economic jurisdiction at Cairo University, told Xinhua. The major reshuffle included three new faces in the economic group: the ministers of finance, trade and industry, and public enterprise. Mohamed Ma'it, former deputy finance minister in the outgoing cabinet, was promoted to minister, replacing Amr el-Garhy, who oversaw the recent economic reform and austerity measures that helped secure Egypt's 12-billion-U.S.-dollar International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan. "Ma'it has very good experience in drafting economic laws and he will further boost the economic reform plans and austerity measures taken by his predecessor," Gaballah said. He also believes that "naming a new trade and industry minister was important because the business sector has passed through tremendous problems, since the 2011 uprising that toppled ex-President Mubarak, when thousands of factories were closed." The economic department will face a number of major challenges, including finishing the national projects so the citizens could benefit from its revenues, fulfilling the economic reform procedures, and expanding the development projects to less-developed areas like the Upper Egypt. Egypt has been experiencing economic deflation, rise of unemployment rate and increasing foreign debt, while the government attempted to expand the investment and increase the gross volume of economy to boost employment. On June 5, the Egyptian parliament has approved a very ambitious budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year, the biggest in the country's history. Valued at a total of 1.412 trillion Egyptian pounds (nearly 80 billion U.S. dollars), the new budget aimed to decrease the state's budget deficit to 8.4 percent of the GDP, as well as achieving a primary surplus. Mokhtar al-Sherief, economic professor with Mansoura University, praised the new Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly, who also retained his post as housing minister, due to his successful role in creating a large number of jobs and increasing the liquidity of the country's foreign reserves that had been previously misused. He added that "keeping the housing, investment and planning ministers will send a message of ensurance to the foreign investors that their projects will be implemented without delays or drastic changes." SECURITY IMPROVEMENT FIRST STEP TO REVIVE ECONOMY Egypt's fight against militants in Sinai continued in 2018, as the army launched in February another massive operation amid increasing attacks on churches, mosques and civilians. The new government chose General Mohamed Zaki, who led the republican guard since August 2012, as the new defense minister in place of Sedqi Sobhi. Mahmoud Tawfik, head of the national security department since October 2017, was chosen to succeed Magdy Abdel-Ghaffar as the new interior minister. "Since President Sisi took his office in 2014, he adopted new approach not to keep the security officials long in their posts, as happened before when he changed the head of intelligence and the army chief in staff," said Khalid Okasha, military expert and member of the National Council for Combating Terrorism. Egypt is experiencing unprecedented security concerns due to domestic and regional challenges, atop of which is terrorism. Besides the ordinary crimes and terrorism threat in Sinai, "Egypt still suffers security problems on the borders with Libya in the west and Sudan in the south, where weapons trafficking and extremists' infiltration are difficult to contain," Okasha told Xinhua. He said both new security ministers will have to strive to dry the origins of terrorism as security is most important to promote stability and develop economy. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-16 02:32:46|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close NEW YORK, June 15 (Xinhua) -- China's after-school education service provider Puxin Limited debuted on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Friday, trading under the ticker symbol of "NEW." Puxin priced its initial public offering (IPO) of 7,200,000 American Depositary Shares (ADSs) at 17.00 U.S. dollars per ADS, for a total offering size of 122.4 million dollars, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs. Each ADS represents two ordinary shares of the company. The underwriters have been granted an option, exercisable within 30 days from the date of the final prospectus, to purchase up to 1,080,000 additional ADSs at the initial public offering price less the underwriting discount. Puxin said that 70 percent of the proceeds from the IPO will be used for financing potential strategic acquisitions and launch of new schools in China. In addition, 15 percent would be applied to technology systems and online platforms, 10 percent to marketing and 5 percent for working capital and other purposes. Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Haitong International Securities Company Limited, and China International Capital Corporation Hong Kong Securities Limited are acting as joint bookrunners for the offering. Puxin started trading at 17.00 dollars per share on Friday, the same as its IPO price, and jumped above 21 dollars apiece around midday. "By listing on the NYSE, we hope Puxin can acquire extra credibility besides the proceeds, as the exchange has a history of more than 220 years, so that the company can attract more talented people to help us develop the business," Peng Wang, chief financial officer of Puxin, told Xinhua after the opening bell. Founded four years ago, the Beijing-based company is now the third-largest education service in China by student enrollments, according to a report by Frost & Sullivan. Puxin had acquired 48 schools and built a nationwide network of 397 learning centers across 35 cities in China as of March 31, 2018, the company said in the prospectus. Puxin's net revenues increased 192 percent to 204.5 million dollars in 2017, and for the three months ended March 31, 2018, its net revenues reached 79 million dollars, an increase of 150 percent from a year ago. The company's net loss was 63.3 million dollars and 56.6 million dollars in 2017 and the first quarter of 2018, respectively. RIGA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Local authorities in the western Latvian districts of Ventspils and Kuldiga on Friday asked the Baltic country's central government to declare a state of emergency in the agricultural sector as farmers there have been suffering massive losses because of a prolonged dry spell, local media reported. Representatives of the Kuldiga regional council informed that some desperate farmers had already started putting down their livestock as grass was no longer growing in the pastures that have been scorched by the sun and the animals were starving. Other farmers are feeding their cattle with last year's hay which they should be saving for the winter. Farmers from the northwestern Latvian district of Ventspils have sent the local authority a letter appealing for government assistance in the situation where the drought, which continues since the beginning of May, is threatening to destroy almost all their harvest of spring crops. Aivars Mucenieks, chairman of the Ventspils regional council, said the local authority had decided to ask the central government to declare a 12-month state of emergency so the farmers could easier receive the necessary assistance. According to data from the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Center, the amount of precipitation that fell in Latvia in the second half of May was 88 percent smaller than necessary for normal growth of vegetation. Some areas in Ventspils district have not seen any rain since the beginning of May. Although for the time being the drought is causing the greatest problems for farmers in western Latvia, soon it can start affecting also the central and eastern parts of the country, Guntis Vilnitis, head of the council for agriculturist organizations' cooperation, said on public radio Friday. Latvian Agriculture Minister said he would call on the national crisis management council next week to consider the local authorities' appeal for assistance. "Next Tuesday I will talk to Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis and members of the crisis management council about their position on declaring the state of emergency," the minister said. Most likely the state of emergency will not be declared in all Latvia but only in the drought-stricken municipalities like it was the case last fall when similar emergency measures were taken after heavy raining and floods. by Mahmoud Fouly CAIRO, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The development of the Suez Canal Corridor is one of Egypt's national mega projects on which the country pins hope to attract further investment and boost its economy after years of slowdown. The recently signed 50-year agreement between Egypt and Russia to build a vast Russian industrial zone in the Suez Canal region, particularly in the east of Port Said province northeastern the country, is expected to bring about 7 billion U.S. dollars in investment. "The agreement aims at bolstering mutual cooperation at the industrial level, increasing investment opportunities and creating an adequate environment for further technical and scientific cooperation between the two sides," said Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Tarek Kabil after signing the industrial zone agreement with his Russian counterpart Denis Manturov in Moscow late May. The agreement is seen as a significant shift in Egyptian-Russian strategic relations, for Russia is already assigned with building Egypt's first nuclear power plant in Dabaa city of the coastal Mediterranean province of Matrouh. The Russian industrial zone will be built on an area of 5.25 square km within the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) and is expected to create hundreds of thousands of job opportunities in the most populous Arab state. "A Russian corporation will be in charge of the industrial zone development east of Port Said in three phases over about 10 years, with investments of around 6.8 billion dollars," Nader Kamel, an official at the investors relations department of the SCZone, told Xinhua. "The project needs more than 30,000 workers in each phase and the zone targets to provide industries with construction material, machinery, engineering equipment, pharmaceutical products and others," he added. The SCZone officer noted that the industrial project between Egypt and Russia will enhance their trade relations, boost their mutual trade, increase technology transfer between the two countries and reflect on their bilateral ties in general, "just like the case of Chinese TEDA industrial zone in Ain Sokhna district of Suez province." China's TEDA, one of the oldest and largest industrial developers in the SCZone, develops an area of 7.23 square km in the region, and its tenant Jushi, a Chinese leading fiberglass manufacturer, helped Egypt become the world's third largest fiberglass producer after the United States and China. Since Egypt has been looking east in politics and economy, as shown in its further cooperation and growing ties with Russia and China, the North African country expects the Russian industrial zone to be a massive plus for the Suez Canal Corridor development project. Kamel said that the Russian industrial zone will enjoy a distinguished location as eastern Port Said area is located directly on the Mediterranean seashore opposite to Europe, "which is a vital location at the northern entrance of the Suez Canal." "It faces the European markets and represents a focal point between the markets of North Africa, the Middle East and southern Europe, which gives the SCZone an additional competitive edge," he told Xinhua. Among the SCZone incentives provided to foreign investors are several regional trade agreements that facilitate the entry of Egyptian-made products to specific markets with some tariff exemptions. These deals include Egypt's agreements with the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) and its Association Agreement with the European Union. The SCZone also has six seaports including East Port Said port on the Mediterranean, which will facilitate the transportation of materials and commodities. "Our main objective of the SCZone is not just to establish projects but to maintain sustainable development through them," said the SCZone officer. Russia has more than 400 companies operating in Egypt, providing about 4,500 jobs in the country. The trade exchange between the two countries has reached about 6.7 billion dollars in 2017, mostly Russian exports to Egypt, according to Egyptian official MENA News Agency. "The anticipated Russian industrial zone would give a large push to the investment and development in the SCZone and promote the establishment of similar zones in Egypt, particularly after the success of China's TEDA economic zone," said Mokhtar al-Sherif, a retired economics professor at Mansoura University. "The presence of a Russian industrial zone at the Suez Canal region is likely to attract more Russian investors and greatly increase the volume of Russian investments in Egypt," he told Xinhua. Based on attracting further foreign investments, the Suez Canal Corridor development project targets not only the Egyptian market but also the African, Arab and European markets through Egypt's trade agreements with these regions. "Egypt is open to all on economic cooperation. It invites all states to benefit from its strategic geographical location and the incentives it provides for investors in a win-win situation," Sherif told Xinhua. WASHINGTON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump spoke over phone on Thursday with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani on the unity in the Gulf region, the White House said Friday. The two leaders discussed the importance of Gulf unity to mitigate regional security threats and to ensure the region's economic prosperity, according to a White House statement. They also talked about the ongoing cooperation between the two countries. As the embargo on Qatar by the Saudi Arabia-led quartet has passed its first anniversary, no side seems to be ready to make any significant concession and end the rift. On June 5, 2017, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt cut all economic and diplomatic ties with Qatar while accusing it of supporting terrorism. Qatar strongly denied the accusation, calling it "unjustified" and "baseless." U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had a phone call with Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on May 16, in which he emphasized Trump's "desire to see the Gulf dispute eased and eventually resolved." Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-16 03:02:51|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ANKARA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Five people were arrested on Friday by Turkish police in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir province for planning terror attacks during the upcoming elections. Turkish anti-terror forces stopped a car in the province's central Kayapinar district as part of an investigation into the activities of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the Anadolu Agency quoted a security source as saying. The police seized a rocket launcher, two long-barreled Kalashnikov rifles, and several rounds of ammunition during the search of the car, the report said. The suspects were allegedly plotting a terror attack against officials of the ruling Justice and Development Party near the June 24 elections, it added. The report did not reveal who the suspects were or if they belong to the PKK, which has been fighting for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey's southeast. In April, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced snap presidential and legislative elections on June 24, brought forward from late 2019, in a move expected to consolidate his powers by shifting the country's parliamentary system to a presidential one. WASHINGTON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Treasury announced on Friday that it has imposed sanctions on 14 entities for their connections with an already designated Israeli billionaire, accusing them of human rights abuse and corruption. The punished 14 companies were affiliated with Dan Gertler, an Israeli businessman whom the Treasury claimed had amassed his fortune through "opaque and corrupt mining and oil deals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)." "Treasury is sanctioning companies that have enabled Dan Gertler to access the international financial system and profit from corruption and misconduct," Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Sigal Mandelker said in a statement. The sanctions would freeze assets of blacklisted entities under U.S. jurisdiction and ban any U.S. individuals or companies from making business deals with them. Gertler himself was blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury last December. The Treasury also said on Friday that the entities were punished under the Global Magnitsky Act, under which 73 individuals and entities have had their assets blocked so far. KIGALI, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Scarcity of beef which has hit various towns in eastern Rwanda affected Muslims who celebrated Eid al-Fitr Friday, marking the end of Ramadan. This follows last week's ban on cattle movement in the area due to outbreak of livestock disease Rift Valley fever. Rwanda's ministry of agriculture and animal resources banned movement of livestock including cattle, goats and sheep in three districts of the east including Kirehe, Ngoma and Kayonza in a bid to contain the spread of the disease. The ban effectively affected slaughter houses. Isidori Gafarasi in charge of livestock in Rwanda Agriculture Board in the Eastern Province of Rwanda Friday acknowledged the scarcity of beef, but said the ban which sparked scarcity was put in place in the interest of livestock farming in the country. He reiterated that livestock farmers need to seek veterinarians whenever their animals show signs of the disease such as fever, high temperatures, reduced milk, general weakness, and bleeding. Butchery operators told Xinhua the ban has led to the scarcity of meat in the three districts, forcing many people to remove meat from their menu. Juma Nsengimana, a Muslim faithful who hails from Kayonza district told Xinhua that Kayonza, Kirehe, and Ngoma towns all suffered this scarcity as there was no slaughter of animals. Nsengimana said capable Muslims Friday resorted to chicken but the scarcity of meat drove chicken prices to abnormal prices. A hen which normally cost 4.6 U.S. dollars was on Friday sold at 9.3 dollars, he said. A butchery attendant in Kayonza town said they missed out a chance to cash in on the celebrations but they have to uphold the ban. The disease outbreak was first reported among livestock farmers in Ngoma, Kayonza and Kirehe districts toward end of May this year with local officials and farmers reporting that it had killed more than 100 cattle in a period of about three weeks. Rift Valley Fever is a viral disease of cattle and sheep which is spread to livestock through the bite of infected mosquitoes during years of heavy rainfall. JOHANNESBURG, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Rating agency Fitch on Friday affirmed South Africa's sovereign credit rating at 'BB+' or junk status, with a stable outlook. The decision was caused by low growth trend, sizeable government debt and contingent liabilities and the highest inequality in the world, which raises policy risks, it said. "The affirmation and stable outlook takes into consideration signs of recovering governance standards and the prospect of a mild cyclical recovery but also indications that financial challenges at key state-owned enterprises (SOEs) remain substantial and the fact that government debt has yet to stabilize," said Fitch in a statement released on Friday. The rating agency also noted that since becoming the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa is trying to improve the state -owned enterprises. They however contended that policy-making could still be hindered by significant tensions within the ruling African National Congress (ANC). Fitch stated that policy makers are preoccupied with parliamentary and presidential elections due next year. "Despite serious challenges over the last years, South Africa's institutions, including the judiciary, South African Reserve Bank and the national treasury, have shown significant resilience. The change in political leadership following the ANC electoral conference in December has led to a significant improvement in economic confidence," said Fitch. The Minister of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Bakhyt Sultanov, told about fulfillment of the republic budget for 2017 at the joint session of the Chambers of the Parliament. The Minister noted that the main tasks of the fulfilment of the republican budget for 2017 were the remaining the positive dynamics of economic growth and social well-being, the creation of conditions for post-crisis development. As a result, according to the Ministry of Finance, the economic growth of Kazakhstan resulted in 4%. The total income of the budget has reached 9.7 trillion tenge. The Minister also told about the expenses of the budget. Among them, 11 trillion and 156 billion tenge or 99.8% were fulfilled. All social obligations were dome. In the report year, 5 million 86 thousand people received pensions and allowances from the budget. 1.9 trillion tenge were spent on it. The support of mothers and children is one of the key directions of social policy. The funds for childbirth allowances were allocated in the amount of 35.2 billion tenge, that were paid to 392.7 thousand people. 539.6 children from families with low incomes at the age under 18 were provided with allowances," said Bakhyt Sultanov. He noted that during holding an analysis of the report, shortcomings made when fulfilling the budget were announced. Our next main tasks is joint work with government agencies to minimize these shortcomings. In the report year, we have already had a number of measures to improve budget procedures. For instance, the state procurements and office control over procedures were fully automatized. However, the area has current issues. To deal with them, a relevant draft law was prepared to consider them. The task of the document is to simplify the procurement procedures, to increase the quality and responsibility," said the Minister. Sultanov noted that in order to increase the effectiveness of the implementation of investment projects in construction, a pilot project has been introduced from the last year on treasury support of state procurements. The state pays special attention to eliminate the excessive increase of long-term obligation taken. From the last year, the Treasury has been registering the obligation on PPP projects. In order to simplify the debts when implementing investment projects, the advance allotment was simplified when constructing new facilities, as well as reconstructing. The working group that was established at the Ministry of National Economy will consider the issues of eliminating disagreements between the documents of the system of national planning, increasing the quality of their indications and norms to return the funds that were generated by quasi-state subjects into the income of the budget," said the head of the Ministry of Finance. Also, according to the Minister, the government debt as a share of GDP has made up 26%. According to the last report of the World Economic Forum, Kazakhstan ranks 11th out of 137 states in the government debt indication. CAPE TOWN, June 15 (Xinhua) -- South Africa has to confront the reality of state capture which has eroded the capabilities of several institutions, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday. With all its attendant political, legal and economic consequences, state capture has undermined public confidence in the ability of several democratic institutions to promote the public's interests, Ramaphosa said at the Inclusive Growth Forum taking place in Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal Province. State capture refers to the collaboration between senior government officials and the wealthy Indian Gupta family in looting from the state coffers. Through state capture, the Guptas allegedly exerted undue influence on former president Jacob Zuma in the appointment of cabinet ministers and the awarding of lucrative contracts with state-owned companies. A full inquiry into allegations of state capture is underway. "We have begun the task of restoring the integrity and credibility of several institutions to ensure that they are able to effectively fulfill their mandate without undue interference," Ramaphosa said. While stressing the vital importance of democratic institutions in ensuring stability and protecting against the abuse of power and the theft of public resources, the president said South Africa depends on these institutions to mediate the distribution of power and resources across society in a manner that is fair, progressive and based on law. "We depend on them to prevent the rapacious extraction of our national resources by a powerful elite, whether in government or in business, to enrich themselves at the expense of the masses," the president said. The achievement of an inclusive society requires institutions that are not only credible and capable, but that are also equipped to enable and facilitate transformation, he added. KAMPALA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Ni Wei, a Chinese acupuncturist, carefully inserts needles in a stroke patient at a Chinese donated hospital in the Ugandan capital Kampala while Susan Andama, the care taker, closely watches, with optimism. On another floor of the China-Uganda Friendship Hospital, Chinese surgeons together with their Ugandan counterparts are in a room operating on a young boy who has got some complications. The number of patients at the hospital is overwhelming, but the team of Chinese doctors and their Ugandan counterparts have to persevere. Patients flock to the hospital in hundreds to get treatment which is free of charge. This group of Chinese medical experts is already the 18th team since the first medical team was in the country in 1983. Apart from sending medical teams on a rotational basis, China also has assisted in providing medical equipment and drugs, and training local workers. As the teams carry out their work, they train their Ugandan colleagues in order to have a ripple effect across the east African country. The different teams have had various specialties ranging from Urology, Ear-Nose and Throat, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Orthopedics, and Anesthesia, among others. Emmanuel Batiibwe, Director of China-Uganda Friendship Hospital told Xinhua in a recent interview that China's aid in the health sector continues to be critical in saving lives. "Without doubt there has been a good significant contribution of the team to the health care system at the level of hospital management and hospital activities," Batiibwe said. "We had a number of surgeries performed. Myself I was partially trained by a Chinese obstetrics gynecologist. It was a good experience for us," he added. "Personally, am not experienced in laparoscopy but am learning from the team. They are transferring skills. We learn from them and they also learn from us," Edward Kyomugisha, a Senior Consultant Surgeon at the hospital told Xinhua. Batiibwe said many junior doctors and also nurses have also learnt from the medical team. As the teams carry on with their work, there are differences between the Chinese and Ugandan modes of treatment. Cong Linhai, head of the Chinese medical team told Xinhua that most of the differences in styles of treatment are discussed with their Ugandan colleagues and they come to a common solution. "The quality of their medicine is very good, the medicines which are received through the right channels from the government of China to the government of Uganda is very excellent," he said. PARIS, June 15 (Xinhua) -- "France and Italy have to manage this (migration) situation together," French President Emmanuel Macron said at a joint press conference with Giuseppe Conte, the head of the Italian government, after a lunch Friday at the Elysee. According to Macron, France and Italy must "be able to move forward together for a common protection of our borders" and work "together, hand in hand", on the issues of migration flows facing the European Union. Macron insisted on the need to "strengthen cooperation between European states" and also the strengthening of Frontex, the European coastguard and border guard agency of the European Union. Macron said he wanted to reorganize the management of the arrival of migrants and to review the system of "solidarity" between the countries of the European Union. "Our collective organization is not the right one," said the French president. This meeting between the two leaders is held after several days of tensions between France and Italy concerning the management of the migration crisis. Operated by the charity SOS Mediterrane, the Aquarius which carried 629 migrants and refugees on board, was denied entry in Italian ports last week after wandering for over 36 hours in the central Mediterranean. On Monday, Spain finally agreed to host the ship at the port of Valencia and offered to take in the migrants, most of them sub-Saharan Africans who were picked up off the Libyan coast over the weekend. Macron accused Italy's new populist government of "cynicism and irresponsibility" for closing its ports to the 629 migrants. At the joint press conference, Macron said France "will assume its responsibilities" if a new case similar to Aquarius is represented. The new Italian government was forged on a political platform promising a tough approach on irregular immigration, and a stop in the reception of migrants and refugees. Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani speaks to the press with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., on April 10, 2018. (Xinhua/AFP) WASHINGTON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump spoke over phone on Thursday with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani on the unity in the Gulf region, the White House said Friday. The two leaders discussed the importance of Gulf unity to mitigate regional security threats and to ensure the region's economic prosperity, according to a White House statement. They also talked about the ongoing cooperation between the two countries. As the embargo on Qatar by the Saudi Arabia-led quartet has passed its first anniversary, no side seems to be ready to make any significant concession and end the rift. On June 5, 2017, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt cut all economic and diplomatic ties with Qatar while accusing it of supporting terrorism. Qatar strongly denied the accusation, calling it "unjustified" and "baseless." U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had a phone call with Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on May 16, in which he emphasized Trump's "desire to see the Gulf dispute eased and eventually resolved." Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-16 03:58:05|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close by Murad Abdu ADEN, Yemen, June 15 (Xinhua) -- As the Yemeni government forces are making significant progress in their battles against Iran-backed Shiite Houthis over the control of the western port city of Hodeidah, analysts said retaking the city will terminate the rebels' financial and military assistance from other countries. The Yemeni forces, supported by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), reached the Hodeidah International Airport on the outskirts of the city early Friday, under the cover of heavy aerial bombardment from Saudi-led warplanes. The Yemeni government sees the battle to retake Hodeidah and its port as the key to liberating the country from the grip of Houthis, which will mark the beginning of the rebels' fall and secure navigation in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The Saudi-led coalition also accuses Houthis of using the port to threaten international navigation with direct attacks on ships and to smuggle ballistic missiles primarily from allied Iran. AlKhader Almaysary, a political writer and analyst based in Aden, said Hodeidah is of great geopolitical significance and seizing it will dampen Houthis' power and "break their bones." "Apparently Iranians left Houthis to face their bitter fate alone. Houthis will be suffocated in their northern regions with no financial support," Almaysary noted. Meanwhile, the recapture of Hodeidah will also pave the way for liberating other northern and central provinces controlled by Houthis, including the capital Sanaa, which has been under the rebels' control since late 2014. "Houthi fighters and field commanders in other northern provinces will face psychological effects after losing Hodeidah because it is considered their main financial source," said Abdul-Raqeeb al-Hidyani, a political analyst. The turning point will "create a huge military pressure on Houthis, who will lose control over territory day after day," he added. For Hassan Alsubihi, a military analyst, the fate of Hodeidah is closely linked to how long the internal military conflict will persist in Yemen. "Houthis have to decide to either accept participation in the negotiations and reach a political solution, or continue in fighting till the end. There is no other choice and they should accept the first choice as that's more logical," Alsubihi said. "More than 85 percent of Yemen's territory is out of Houthis control and they know well that their forces will lose the battle sooner or later," he added. In recent days, the government forces with direct support from the Saudi-led coalition intensified the battles against the Houthis in Hodeidah and managed to retake key areas in the port city. Yahya Abu Hatim, a Yemeni military observer, agreed that Houthis have no more chance in Hodeidah as "they only depend on planting thousands of landmines and using local citizens as human shields." "Houthis exploited this city and deprived the citizens from their basic rights. It's time to rescue the poor people from malnutrition and diseases caused by Houthis' rule," Hatim noted. Strategically situated on the Red Sea coast, Hodeidah, Yemen's fourth largest city with a population of 400,000, is the only major port city under Houthis' control. The Hodeidah port, which the Iranian-backed Houthis captured from Yemen's internationally-recognized government in October 2014, serves as a key source of strength for Houthi militias because it is regarded as a lifeline for many Yemenis. According to the United Nations, Yemen has the world's largest humanitarian crisis since 1945 with two thirds of the population, or 19 million, in need of humanitarian assistance. The UN warned that the battles to liberate Hodeidah, which has the highest poverty and malnutrition rates in war-torn Yemen, could kill 250,000. In a press statement on Thursday after an emergency closed-door meeting, the UN Security Council expressed "deep concerns about the risks to the humanitarian situation" following the launch of an offensive against Hodeidah by the Saudi-led coalition. It reiterated that the political solution is the only way to end the three-year conflict in the Arab country. Ali bin Hadi, a Yemeni politician and observer, said the "helpless" civilians in Hodeidah "cannot afford the skyrocketing transport cost to escape" and "might be harmed in random shelling." "The majority of people depend on one daily meal and cannot endure one month of fighting and shelling in their city," he added. The Yemeni government, however, reassured that it will restore normal life in all 26 districts of Hodeidah with the support of the Saudi-led Arab coalition after liberating the city. According to a report issued by Chatham House, a London-based independent policy institute, the Houthis get as many as 30 million U.S. dollars a month in port revenues, but Yemeni officials say all of them go to fund the civil war without trickling back to state institutions. Photo taken on Sept. 11, 2017 shows the United Nations Security Council voting on a resolution on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) at the UN headquarters in New York. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) MOSCOW, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Russia called for easing sanctions imposed on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) after Pyongyang agreed to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. "A modification of the regime of sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council on the DPRK can, and should be, one of the most important components of normalization in the region," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said. She told a news briefing that easing sanctions could become a serious factor contributing to political and diplomatic settlement in northeast Asia. Zakharova said Russia also wanted the unilateral sanctions imposed on top of the UN bans to be lifted as well. The UN Security Council imposed a series of economic sanctions against the DPRK after the latter conducted its first nuclear test in 2006. In addition, several countries, including the United States, have imposed more sanctions of their own. Kim Jong Un, the top leader of the DPRK, met U.S. President Donald Trump for historic talks in Singapore on Tuesday and the two signed a joint statement. In the statement, Trump committed to providing security guarantees to the DPRK, while Kim reaffirmed his commitment to completing denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. MOSCOW, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Russian security officers have detained a Syrian citizen suspected of participating in armed conflicts in Syria on the side of the militants, Tass News Agency reported Friday. The suspect was detained in an apartment building in eastern Moscow on Thursday during a joint operation by the General Administration for Combating Extremism, the Center for Countering Extremism and the Criminal Investigation Department, Tass quoted a police source as saying. According to the source, the detainee, a 47-year-old resident from the Syrian capital of Damascus, took part in hostilities in Syria on the side of the militants, spreading propaganda and assisting illegal armed groups on the Syrian territory. The detainee could face charges of "organization of an illegal armed group or participation in one" and "public incitement of terrorist acts, public justification of terrorism or terrorist propaganda" under the Russian Criminal Code, the source said. Harare, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa said Friday he will engage leaders of political parties soon to ask them to commit to a violence-free campaign ahead of the July 30 general election. Addressing thousands of ZANU-PF supporters in Masvingo Province, Mnangagwa said the long planned meeting had been delayed as he awaited confirmation of political parties that will participate in the upcoming election. The number of political parties will be confirmed when the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) publishes the final list of parties and candidates who successfully filed their nomination papers at the nomination courts which sat on Thursday. A total of 23 candidates, including Mnangagwa and his main challenger Nelson Chamisa of the opposition MDC Alliance filed their papers to contest the Presidency. "Now that the nomination is done I will meet with them, they must commit themselves to peaceful campaigns, non-violent campaigns, no violence, we want a mature political campaign," he said. "In Zanu PF we have humility, we have respect, but our respect and warmness should not be regarded as a weakness," he said. He consoled ZANU-PF members who lost in the party primary elections, saying they should embrace the winning candidates and work together to strengthen the party. Mnangagwa said the party was already preparing for the next five years, highlighting some key areas of focus including job creation, fighting corruption and creating a modern and affordable primary health care system. The July 30 election will pit the ruling party against several contenders but mainly the opposition MDC Alliance led by Chamisa. Mnangagwa has committed to deliver a free and fair vote which will be observed by Western observers for the first time since 2002. ADDIS ABABA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday signed a 3 billion U.S. dollars loan and investment agreement that would help ease Ethiopia's ongoing foreign currency shortage. The agreement signed between the two countries' leaders on Friday, which includes a one billion U.S. dollars foreign currency support, was made as UAE's Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, made a state visit to the East African country. According to the agreement signed in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, UAE will deposit 1 billion U.S. dollars in the National Bank of Ethiopia that mainly aimed to alleviate Ethiopia's ongoing foreign currency shortage, state affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC) reported. The 3 billion U.S. dollars loan and investment agreement signed between the two countries was made amid Ethiopia's recent announcement to partially privatize its major state-owned enterprises as a solution to the serious shortage of foreign currency. Yinager Desie, Commissioner of National Planning Commission, noting the ongoing foreign currency demand as "a pressing challenge," indicated that the decision to partially privatize the state-owned enterprises would generate large amount of foreign currency to tackle shortage. Investments in industrial park development, Ethiopia's manufacturing sector, healthcare as well as hospitality sector are said to be UAE 's major areas of interest through the remaining two billion U.S. dollars. The Crown Prince, who commenced his two-day state visit to Ethiopia on Friday, also held talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, on various bilateral and regional issues that were aimed at strengthening socioeconomic as well as political ties of the two countries, it was noted. Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates also on Friday inked a treaty to waive visa requirement for diplomats from both counties. A Syrian tank is seen in the Syrian barren region of Fleita in western Syria near Lebanon as preparations were underway to transfer al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front militants on Aug. 2, 2017. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani) MOSCOW, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Russian security officers have detained a Syrian citizen suspected of participating in armed conflicts in Syria on the side of the militants, Tass News Agency reported Friday. The suspect was detained in an apartment building in eastern Moscow on Thursday during a joint operation by the General Administration for Combating Extremism, the Center for Countering Extremism and the Criminal Investigation Department, Tass quoted a police source as saying. According to the source, the detainee, a 47-year-old resident from the Syrian capital of Damascus, took part in hostilities in Syria on the side of the militants, spreading propaganda and assisting illegal armed groups on the Syrian territory. The detainee could face charges of "organization of an illegal armed group or participation in one" and "public incitement of terrorist acts, public justification of terrorism or terrorist propaganda" under the Russian Criminal Code, the source said. ADDIS ABABA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday signed various agreements that aimed at further strengthening the overall relations between the two countries. The agreements signed on Friday as part of the state visit of UAE's Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to Ethiopia emphasized a closer partnership in economic, social as well as political spheres, according to the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Workneh Gebeyehu, and his UAE counterpart, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was one of the various agreements signed on Friday. The MoU, among other things, aimed at establishing a joint committee for consular affairs to address needs and constraints related to the movement of people. It also includes a treaty to waive visa requirement for diplomats from both counties. The two countries have also signed an MoU on Economic and Technical Cooperation, on Tourism and Cultural Cooperation, which MoFA said would facilitate various forms of economic and technical cooperation, as well as promote tourism, culture and knowledge development. Ethiopia and the UAE have also signed a 3 billion U.S. dollars loan and investment agreement that aimed to alleviate Ethiopia's ongoing foreign currency shortage. The financial agreement, which includes a one billion foreign currency support, would enable the the National Bank of Ethiopia to receive a 1 billion U.S. dollar deposit from UAE in a bid to alleviate Ethiopia's ongoing foreign currency shortage. Investments in industrial park development, Ethiopia's manufacturing sector, healthcare as well as hospitality sector are said to be UAE's major areas of interest through the remaining two billion U.S. dollars. "These agreements and MoUs would be milestones towards further revitalizing the growing ties between the two countries," the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in statement. The Crown Prince, who commenced his two-day state visit to Ethiopia on Friday, also held talks with talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, on various bilateral and regional issues that aimed at strengthening socioeconomic as well as political ties of the two countries. According to Ahmed Shide, Minister of Ethiopian Government Communication Affairs Office, the UAE's Crown Prince's state visit to Ethiopia as of Friday has "brought a major diplomatic success for Ethiopia." The financial agreement in particular was said to be a major success for the Ethiopian government, which is currently struggling with serious shortage of foreign currency. The Ethiopian government has recently revealed 13 billion U.S. dollars need to cover expenses for oil importation, private investment, upgrading of existing projects and repayment of external debts in the coming two years. The ongoing foreign currency shortage has forced the Ethiopian government to consider privatization of some of the most valued public-owned enterprises, including the Ethiopian Airlines group - Africa's fastest growing airline- as well as the state owned Ethio-Telecom, which has more than 65 million subscribers throughout the East African country. ADDIS ABABA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Officials from the African Union (AU) and African diplomats have hailed the Chinese-built Ethio-Djibouti railway as a project that helps Africa realize its aspirations of development and integration. The Chinese Mission to AU on Friday organized a train trip event, with officials of the pan-African bloc as well as African and other international diplomats on board of the Ethiopia-Djibouti standard gauge railway that links the two East African nations. The event, which also included a visit to a Chinese-built industrial park in Adama town about 80 km away from Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, was to enable the participants to witness projects carried out through Sino-Africa cooperation as well as the cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, according to Kuang Weilin, Head of Chinese Mission to AU. "The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in Beijing will be held very soon, and the theme of the summit will be the Belt and Road Initiative and Africa's Development. That is why we organize this trip so that we can have the opportunity to take a look at the railway, to see the early harvest of the Belt and Road Initiative," he said. The Chinese-built 756 km electrified rail project connecting landlocked Ethiopia to Djibouti, was contracted by two Chinese companies, namely the China Rail Engineering Corporation and the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation. Rossette Nyirinkindi Kataungye, AU Advisor on Regional Integration, said the railway project is a demonstration carried out with China's commitment to supporting Africa in realizing the continent's aspirations for development and integration. "It is a really wonderful project that shows that Africa is integrating, when you have country like Djibouti, which has the coastline and a port that we can use; this is a way of having shared resources, shared vision. It is an excellent project," noted the Advisor. Katungye said China has proved that it is a "very good" partner for Africa's development as well as cultural ties. "They (the Chinese) have demonstrated that they can stand by us to achieve our aspirations; and especially on infrastructure, this is a very good example of that very good cooperation," she said. "Many countries in Africa have embarked on similar programs; for instance in East Africa, the standard gauge railway, again with cooperating with Exim Bank (China)." she added. Levi Uche Madueke, Head of AU Strategic Partnership, said the Ethio-Djibouti railway project is the product of Sino-Africa cooperation, which aims at mutual benefits. "What we are witnessing today is a very good thing; it makes us happy, because we are beginning to realize our vision which is about African development and integration," said Madueke. "This railway project is a part of the cooperation program that we have, coming into reality; because linking Ethiopian people to Djibouti, is going to facilitate a lot of things, it is going to boost development process; it is going to boost issues related to trade; even people to people exchange... It is very good thing that we are experiencing today," he said. "This is actually very good example to other African countries; this is part of integration program; and we believe that it will be replicated in other regions," he added. ADDIS ABABA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday that the comprehensive Ethiopia-China partnership is a "win-win relation for both countries." The ministry, in its analysis on the Ethiopia-China relations that was issued on Friday, stressed that "Ethiopia and China have created one of the strongest and most durable partnerships in Africa, building cooperation that is multifaceted and beneficial for both nations." According to the report, diplomatic and economic ties among the two countries have strengthened over the years, with "strong political cooperation and understanding between the two nations that has been underlined by successive visits of high level officials." The report also downplayed recent media reports that suggested a scaling back of Chinese investment in Ethiopia in the face of rising foreign exchange shortages and government debt. "Ironically, this statement came in the same week as the Chinese pharmaceutical giant, Sansheng Pharmaceuticals Plc., inaugurated its plant in the Eastern Industrial Park. With a capital outlay of over 80 million U.S. dollars," the report read. "This was a demonstration of the ever-increasing Chinese investment in strategic sectors in Ethiopia," it added. Noting China as Ethiopia's biggest trade partner, the report indicated that trade relations between the two countries have shown significant progress over the last few years following the Chinese government's allocation of quota and tariff free rights to African countries. "China has helped provide financing for a series of major projects in Ethiopia, helping to bridge the infrastructure gap in the country. These include the light railway project in Addis Ababa, the Ethio-Djibouti railway, industrial park projects and the inaugural Addis Ababa-Adama highway," the report said. Referring to Ethiopia's Chinese-contracted and built infrastructure projects, the ministry stressed that "these projects have helped Ethiopia to be more competitive in terms of attracting investment into the region and into Africa as a whole, and they will help Ethiopia attain its vision of becoming a middle-income country and a light manufacturing hub in Africa by 2025." The report further stressed the importance of Chinese investment in bringing the much-needed hard currency to Ethiopia. Ethiopia, which registered 3.6 billion U.S. dollar foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2017, is now the second largest recipient of FDI in the African continent, according to a recent report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The East African region, as the fastest-growing region in Africa, has received 7.6 billion U.S. dollar in FDI in the reported period, of which almost half of the region's FDI went to Ethiopia. According to the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, large amount of this investment was sourced from China. "One such investment is the Eastern Industrial Park, the first privately owned industry park in Ethiopia. This hosts Chinese companies involved in sectors ranging from leather to car manufacturing," the report noted. Chinese telecom giants such as Tecno Mobile - which manufactures its products in Ethiopia as a base for its expansion in Africa - as well as Huawei and ZTE are also said to be the major FDI sources for Ethiopia. The Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, Tan Jian, has also recently told Xinhua that recent media reports downplaying China's engagement in Ethiopia were contradicted by the reality on the ground. Noting the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, Tan said that FDI from China to Ethiopia has doubled in 2017 as compared to the figure in 2015. He called recent media reports that indicated China's investment in Ethiopia is scaling back or Chinese investment has reached its limits "fake news." The ministry further noted that Ethiopia's flag carrier - the Ethiopian Airlines - with its regular flights to Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Shanghai - has contributed substantially to strengthen ties among the two countries and to relations between China and Africa in general. BERLIN, June 15 (Xinhua) -- German manufacturing industry continued a hiring spree in April, figures by the Federal Statistical Office showed on Friday. According to Wiesbaden-based government agency, 5.6 million people were employed by German manufacturing firms with a headcount of at least 50 staff at the end of April. It marked a 2.7 percent increase compared to April 2017 and the highest overall employment since the beginning of official measurements by the Federal Statistical Office in 2005. The fastest rate of increase in staff numbers was recorded in firms producing data processing-, electronic- and optical devices (plus 4.1 percent), followed by engineering products (plus 3.4 percent) and metal products (plus 3.3 percent). The number of hours worked in the German manufacturing industry rose 9.5 percent from a year earlier, to 712 million hours, while the earnings rose by 5.7 percent to a total of 25.9 billion euros (30 million U.S. dollars). The upbeat figures appeared to defy several recent studies which have warned that storm clouds are increasingly gathering over the German economy. An escalating conflict over trade between the European Union (EU) and the U.S. in particular is seen as posing a major risk to the prospects of the country's export-oriented manufacturers, while firms have complained about growing difficulties in meeting high consumer demand due to a lack of skilled labor. In spite of the strong monthly performance for the manufacturing employment, an official growth forecast published by the German central bank (Bundesbank) on Friday cautioned that there was likely to be a lag between the materialization of related risks and the response of domestic companies with regards to hiring practices. According to the Frankfurt-based institute, Germany was currently at the peak of a growth phase which was likely to yield to slightly slower rates of gross domestic product (GDP) expansion in coming years. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-16 05:43:24|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close LA PAZ, June 15 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 people were killed on Friday when a passenger bus crashed along a rural highway in southwest Bolivia, local police said. Another 30 people were injured in the accident aboard a bus traveling between Cochabamba and Potosi, police in the town of Potosi said. Police commander Col. Vladimir Lazo said the injured were taken to local hospitals, while rescue workers retrieved bodies at the scene. "We are carrying out an investigation to determine the causes of the accident, whether it was recklessness or mechanical failure," said Lazo. A preliminary police report said a speeding bus crashed into a boulder on the highway near Potosi. LISBON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Portuguese parliament on Friday approved the use of cannabis for medical purposes, in the vote of a draft bill from the parliamentary committee on Health, which was based on proposal from the Left Bloc and PAN parties. The bill was voted in favor by main opposition Social Democratic Party (PSD), the ruling Socialist Party (PS), the Left Bloc, Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), the Green Party (PEV) and People and Anaimals Party (PAN). The right-wing party CDS-PP were absent. The bill will increase the role of state pharmaceutical agency Infarmed and introduce the possibility of the Military Laboratory which will contribute to the production of the medical grade cannabis, but it rejected the initial proposal of the Left Bloc to legalize self-cultivation of cannabis. According to the bill, a doctor could prescribe medical cannabis or preparation based on the cannabis plant, which are considered substances ranging from oils to dehydrated flowers, but only if other conventional therapies have adverse or unwanted effects. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-16 05:53:25|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close THE HAGUE, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo was provisionally released in Belgium, the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced on Friday, one week after he was acquitted of war crimes and crimes against humanity in appeal. The release in Belgium, with which the Court in The Hague has an agreement on the interim release of detainees, comes after the ICC appeals chamber decided to acquit Bemba from the charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the Second Congo War. Since Bemba was also convicted in another case he was only provisionally released. Bemba, one of the four vice-presidents in the transitional government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from July 2003 to December 2006, was arrested by the Belgian authorities on May 24, 2008, pursuant to an ICC arrest warrant, and surrendered to the ICC on June 3, 2008. His trial started in November, 2010. In June 2016, Bemba was sentenced to a sentence of 18 years imprisonment by the trial chamber of the ICC. He was convicted for crimes committed in Congo's neighboring country Central African Republic between October 26, 2002 to March 15, 2003 by a contingent of the Movement for the Liberation of Congo. According to the judgment Bemba was a military commander with effective authority and control over the forces that committed the crimes. Last Friday the appeals chamber concluded that the trial chamber had erred in that judgment and acquitted Bemba. According to the appeals chamber Bemba was erroneously convicted for specific criminal acts that were outside the scope of the charges. Due to the fact that he was also convicted in a second case before the ICC, Bemba had to wait for his release. In that second case, last year Bemba was convicted to one year imprisonment for intentionally corruptly influencing witnesses and soliciting false testimonies of defense witnesses. This one-year sentence has already been reversed in appeal and sent back to the trial chamber for new determination, which is still pending. The trial chamber ordered the interim release for Bemba on Tuesday this week because it found that the legal requirements for continued detention were not met, since Bemba has served more than 80 percent of the maximum sentence already and considered it disproportionate to further detain Bemba only to ensure his appearance for the final determination of his sentence. Bemba's release came with specific conditions. He has according to the ICC to refrain from making public statements on this case, not to change address without prior notice, not to contact any witness in this case, to fully comply with all orders issued in the case, and to surrender immediately to the relevant authorities if required by the trial chamber. Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-16 05:53:25|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close MANAGUA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Nicaragua's government sat down with opposition groups on Friday to resume a national dialogue aimed at restoring peace after weeks of violent anti-government protests. The head of the government delegation, Foreign Affairs Minister Denis Moncada, condemned the violence and presented a government proposal calling on protesters to dismantle barricades blocking roadways in return for stepped up efforts at negotiation. "In recent weeks we have seen, suffered and noted everyone's dismay at seeing how people, young and adult, are brutally murdered, kidnapped, tortured, shot and cast in canals, subjected to a crime wave never before seen in Nicaragua," said Moncada. Government-run clinics and hospitals have been set on fire and sacked, disrupting vital healthcare, the envoy said. The government of President Daniel Ortega proposed to work with international organizations, such as the United Nations, European Union and Organization of American States, "to accompany the strengthening of national dialogue," according to Moncada. In return, the government asked protesters to "totally and immediately" lift the blockades and restore normality to daily life and economic activity, he said. The church is acting as mediator between the government and the opposition National Alliance for Justice and Democracy, which gathers business groups and activists, and has demanded foreign observers be invited to investigate the country's human rights situation, but the government declined on Friday. Protests began on April 18 in response to the government's reforms of the social security system, which have since been rescinded. OTTAWA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is investigating a death threat against U.S. ambassador to Canada along with a suspicious "white powder" substance mailed to her residence in Ottawa, CTV reported Friday. An email sent to all embassy staff said the incident happened around 10:30 a.m. Thursday after an off-site mailroom supervisor encountered white powder while screening a letter addressed to Ambassador Kelly Craft. Fire and RCMP personnel and a hazardous materials team were immediately dispatched, and a sprawling upscale residence in Ottawa was sealed off. The substance has been deemed not to be harmful. Along with the powder substance, a letter was also enclosed, which threatened to kill the ambassador if she did not resign from her post. The letter also made threatening comments against U.S. President Donald Trump. Diplomatic tensions have escalated between Canada and the United States after Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, and made personal attacks against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. MEXICO CITY, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The head negotiators for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) will meet again in July, Mexico's Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said on Friday. Guajardo, who heads Mexico's negotiating team, said that in the meantime technical groups from NAFTA partner countries, including Canada and the United States, will continue to work on updating the trade deal. "The ministerial meeting will surely take place in July," Guajardo told reporters on the sidelines of a gathering of Pacific Alliance envoys in Mexico City. Mexico is "constructively committed to this negotiation," he added. Guajardo and his counterparts -- Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer -- originally planned to reach an "agreement in principle" by early May, but differences remain on rules of origin in the automobile sector and other issues. In addition, steep U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports went into effect on June 1, further complicating the negotiations to update the 1994 agreement. The Pacific Alliance, a trade bloc founded in 2011 by members Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Chile to promote trade with Asia, has always been committed to integration and open markets, said Guajardo. "But faced with the new winds that are blowing globally, we think it is essential to reaffirm our conviction to combat protectionism and ... promote the free flow of goods and services in the region, and with our new associate members," he said, referring to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Singapore. The alliance, which represents 38 percent of Latin America's GDP and 50 percent of the region's trade with the world, is to hold its 13th summit in the Mexican resort of Puerto Vallarta on July 23 and 24. Mert & MarcusAhead of her Friday night show in Dublin, Ireland, Taylor Swift received a warm Irish welcome from none other than U2. The iconic Irish band sent her a bouquet of red roses along with a card signed, From your Irish fan club Bono, The Edge, Adam & Larry. Taylor posted a photo of the gift to her Instagram page and wrote, Walked into my dressing room to find roses from @U2 and I WAS NOT READY FOR IT. She added, I LOVE U2. I LOVE IRELAND. LETS DO THIS CROKE PARK!!! Taylor is currently in the midst of the U.K. and Ireland leg of the Reputation tour. She heads back to the U.S. on June 30. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. As reported in this local article, headlined "Michigan approves marijuana legalization vote for November," the Wolverine State is now positioned to be the latest political battleground for the debate over recreational marijuana reform. Here are the details: The battle to free the weed officially started Thursday when the State Board of Canvassers ruled that a group pushing a proposal to legalize marijuana for recreational use got enough signatures to qualify for the Nov. 6 ballot. The 4-0 decision by the board was met with cheers by advocates for the proposal. "The people of Michigan deserve this. They earned it," said Rick Thompson, a board member of the Michigan chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws or NORML. "We've faced many trials and tribulations. We've had so many stop and go signs from the federal government. That's why states have to take the reins on the issue and really be the crucibles of democracy that they've always been intended to be." It was the second time that the coalition had turned in enough signatures to get on the ballot. The last time, however, it didn't get the signatures in a state-mandated 180-day window and the petition was thrown out. But the coalition didn't have the same problem this time around. "We expected this," said John Truscott, spokesman for the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol. "Now we'll be out and about talking to people and educating them about the issues." Scott Greenlee, executive director of the Healthy and Productive Michigan political action committee, which opposes the ballot proposal, urged the Board of Canvassers to keep the issue off the ballot because marijuana is still considered an illegal drug by the federal government. "By putting this on the ballot, you're disregarding federal law," he said. "I recognize that other states have done it, but like my mom always told me, 'Just because your friends jump off a bridge, doesn't mean you have to do the same thing.'"... The Michigan marijuana ballot proposal would: Legalize the possession and sale of up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for personal, recreational use. Impose a 10% excise tax on marijuana sales at the retail level as well as a 6% sales tax. The estimated revenues from the taxes are at least $100 million. Split those revenues with 35% going to K-12 education, 35% to roads, 15% to the communities that allow marijuana businesses in their communities and 15% to counties where marijuana business are located. Allow communities to decide whether theyll permit marijuana businesses. Restrict purchases of marijuana for recreational purposes to 2.5 ounces but an individual could keep up to 10 ounces of marijuana at home. Allow the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), and not the politically appointed licensing board that will regulate the medical marijuana side of the market, to regulate and license marijuana businesses, ranging from growers, transporters, testers and dispensaries. Set up three classes of marijuana growers: up to 100, 500 and 2,000 plants. Michigan voters have already weighed in on marijuana once, approving cannabis for medical use in 2008 by a 63%-37% margin. As of March, 1, 277,752 people are medical marijuana cardholders and 43,131 people are caregivers who can grow up to 72 plants for up to five cardholders. The state is in the process of vetting applications of people who want to get into the medial marijuana business, which is expected to generate at least $700 million in sales. That financial prediction is estimated to grow to more than $1 billion a year if voters pass the ballot proposal and Michigan becomes the ninth state to legalize marijuana for adult recreational use.... But getting the ballot proposal passed is not a foregone conclusion, despite recent polls showing more than 60% support for legalizing marijuana. Healthy and Productive Michigan has $215,286 for the battle ahead, primarily from Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a Virginia-based organization that supports cannabis for medical, but not recreational uses. "We'll continue to press forward with education and explain to the public the problems that recreational marijuana will cause in our state," Greenlee said. "And once it's certified for the ballot, we'll have a number of people from Michigan who will come in and support us." The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol has raised more than $1 million, but spent the vast majority on paying the firm that collected petition signatures. According to campaign finance reports filed this week with the Secretary of State, the coalition has only $17,326 in available cash for the upcoming campaign. The construction of underground garages near City Park has begun, CEO Benedek Gyorgyevics of project company Varosliget told Inforadio on Thursday. The goal is to shape as much green area as possible in the neighbourhood, he added. A garage with 700-vehicle capacity will be built on Allatkerti korut, a 800-vehicle facility on Dozsa Gyorgy ut and a 275-vehicle parking facility on Hermina ut. Local residents will be able to park their cars at a discounted price, he said. MTI Photo: Mathe Zoltan Now on until 26 August. An exhibition of textiles, furniture and decorative objects will open in the Balna cultural centre as part of Hungarys Visegrad Group presidency. Design Without Borders will present more than 150 items from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. In addition this, visitors will have an opportunity to see furniture, textiles and objects created by Austrian, German, Romanian, Slovenian and Swiss designers. Alongside mass produced products there will also be pieces manufactured in small quantities and unique creations which interpret genres freely. The title Design Without Borders reflects both on the increasingly international nature of the circle of exhibitors and the trends and tendencies which are palpable in contemporary design. Design Without Borders places particular emphasis on dialogue and permeability between the various genres. In 2014, compositions by visual artists who create object simulations were included, followed in 2016 and 2017 by works by applied textile designers. The project entitled Texhibition, which was created by textile designer Szilvia Szigeti, has been running now for three years, and the most recent innovative works will be on display this year too. Design Without Borders also strives to foster dialogue among members of different generations, so artists at the beginning of their careers take part alongside designers who have been active for several years in the profession and influential, recognized artists of the older generation. Design Without Borders represents the tremendous diversity and variety of the genre. The many layers and creative forms of expression of the genre are given space, from the prototypes and low budget objects made in small series to mass produced items, i.e. works which even in their form of production are expressive of the economic opportunities in the various participating countries. Three designers will receive Designers Without Borders awards each worth 400,000 forints (EUR 1,246). The exhibition running until August 26 is part of the Budapest Summer Festival and the Night of Museums series. Venue: New Budapest Gallery 1093 Budapest, Fovam ter 1112., (Balna Budapest) Visit New Budapest Gallery online. As Fidesz MPs ask the government to introduce a constitutional ban on sleeping rough regularly and living on the streets in general, a left-wing Christian pundit finds the proposal inhumane, while a pro-government columnist welcomes it. Fidesz MPs have asked the government to include in Hungarys Fundamental Law a ban on regular use of public areas as a living space, after PM Orban announced a new round of constitutional amendments over the months to come. Fidesz politicians argue that there are enough shelters available, and thus no one should be allowed to sleep rough on the streets. In Heti Vilaggazdasag, Gyorgy Balavany accuses Fidesz of stigmatizing and punishing homeless people, rather than acknowledging the existence of housing problems and solving them. The left-wing Christian columnist recalls that a similar proposals were tabled between 2011 and 2013, but they were struck down by the courts. Balavany thinks that banning the homeless from public spaces would be inhumane, and in violation of human rights as well as Christian values. Balavany adds that according to the calculations of activists who help homeless people, there are more homeless on the streets than shelters could accommodate, and thus it is physically impossible to accommodate everyone. In conclusion, Balavany calls it a shame that the government would criminalize homelessness rather than helping people who are on the streets. Magyar Idoks Gyorgy Pilhal, on the other hand, finds it unacceptable that people live on the streets while there are enough beds in temporary shelters. The pro-government commentator contends that the presence of the homeless poses a security as well as a health risk, in addition to severely worsening the quality of public spaces. Pilhal dismisses as absurd the accusations of the Left and pro-homeless organizations who claim that sleeping, drinking, and using drugs in public is a human right. 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 Parliaments legislative committee has approved two constitutional amendment proposals on the preservation of Hungarys Christian culture and on banning homelessness. The proposed amendments were submitted by ruling Fidesz lawmakers. Under the first, the fundamental law would oblige all state organisations to protect Hungarys selfidentity and Christian culture. There is no Europe and Hungary without Christian culture, the proponents said, citing recent developments in Europe that they said could culturally transform the continent. The other constitutional amendment would create the legal conditions for banning people from living in public spaces given that everyone without a home is guaranteed shelter under state or local council schemes. Pal Volner, the justice ministrys state secretary, told the committee that the government supported the proposed amendments. Lawmakers of the leftist opposition Socialist, Democratic Coalition and Parbeszed parties insisted that enshrining the preservation of Christian culture in the constitution contravenes the basic principles of the freedom of conscience and religion, and the separation of church and state. They also raised concern about the implementation of the provision in practice. Socialist lawmaker Tamas Harangozo asked from whom Christian culture should be protected, from the Jews or the non-faithful? Sandor Burany of Parbeszed qualified the planned provision as a move towards Christian fundamentalism. Lorant Laszlo Keresztes of LMP spoke about what he saw an absence of Christian culture from government policies. In response, Istvan Bajkai of Fidesz said that Christian culture was not a matter of faith or religiousness but what Christianity had given to mankind. It is blindness not to see that Christian culture is in danger when women, children and families are being murdered in Europe and alternative legal systems have developed in several European cities, he said. Concerning the second amendment, opposition lawmakers said that the government should rather increase funds for homeless care and prolong the ban on forced evictions. Bajkai said that speaking about the right to live on the street reflected a misinterpretation of freedom, and emphasised that sufficient places of accommodation are available to the homeless. Kecskemet Court sentenced an Afghan people-smuggler to 25 years in prison on Thursday. The first defendant ran the team of criminals whose negligence led to the deaths of 71 refugees as they suffocated in a lorry on an Austrian motorway lay-by en route from Hungary to the West in 2015. The court also confiscated Ft 94 million worth of assets from the first defendant, who will be expelled from Hungary on completion of his sentence. The other defendants received varying jail terms, and were ordered to pay Ft 73 million in trial expenses. The Hungarian state will bear the remaining Ft 106 million sum. MTI Photo: Ujvari Sandor This is 'The' new Indian restaurant in town, with a mouth-watering menu featuring traditional and contemporary Indian treats, bringing flavours from centurys old classic recipes together with culinary inspiration focused on the fine food dining movement of today. Click here to see a photo gallery of Rajkot Palace At the centre of the well balanced menu is traditional cuisine from the notable culinary regions of India, of which Rajkot is one, which explains the name. The brainchild of Saer Zulkarnain, this venue is a high quality celebration of all the wonderful aspects of Indian cuisine, for a remarkably reasonable price. What I particularly enjoyed about this place, or indeed Palace, is that the staff are really attentative without being at your side through every dish. The food is truly fabulous, the atmosphere is up-market yet relaxed, decor is 'Asian-chic', and the vibe is chilled thanks to a great ambient music selection. I really loved the Lasuni Jhinga (tiger prawns marinated with yoghurt, ginger-garlic paste, mustard oil and chopped garlic, grilled in tandoor) for 3800 ft, and I may say it's worth going just for that but there is so much to enjoy, as you can see on these photos which show that, the following, and more: * KASHMIRI CHICKEN KORMA (Boneless chicken cooked in cashew nut gravy and cheese, with cream, butter and spices) 2500 ft. * PRAWN BYRIANI (Tiger prawns cooked with byriani rice, onion and tomato gravy, fresh coriander and mint) 3600 ft. * PISTACHIO KULFI (Delicious home made traditional Indian milk based pistachio ice cream) 1200 ft. The comfy bar area is well worth a mention given its top notch selection of wines, beers and spirits, which complements a meal here nicely. Located downtown near the river on Nyary Pal street, its ideal for a stroll afterwards around the historic part of Pest lit with old fashioned streetlights. In case you fancy a refined taste of India in Hungary, then as they say this place / Palace will be right up your street. Rajkot Palace 1056 Budapest, Nyary Pal utca 9. Phone: +36 30 362 0390 Words and photos by Russell Skidmore for XpatLoop.com The Body Exhibit, which started in Japan and has since toured the world is situated on Budapests trendy Kiraly street. Tourists, Budapestis, and Hungarian middle and high school science classes tour the Body Exhibit in any given weekday. The exhibit of course offers discounts for students and such making it an affordable local excursion. Even if cadavers arent your forte, the exhibit is arranged more from a medical standpoint, with the exhibited bodies of the generous Japanese (mostly males) who devoted their afterlives to science, arranged in statuesque fashions depicting specific systems. The main focus of the exhibit is actually the isolated parts which are displayed in glass cases resembling more of a medical laboratory. The exhibit was divided into eight sections emphasizing each system of the body in addition to one room showing the stages of fetus growth as well as preserved further developed fetuses that had some type of ailment. This room had an addendum before entry yet although controversial, the display of various stages of fetal development in glass jars was more awe striking than morbid. The final emphasis was on the beauty of the body, the importance of dissections for science and finding fulfillment in life. Visit the exhibit at Budapest, Kiraly utca 26, 1061 Body Exhibit online Words by Briana Gomez for XpatLoop.com Click here to Share Your Story The question in the title of this post is the headline of this recent Boston Globe article. (At the risk of getting redundant, I will again note ow this press piece is related in theme to my most recent article, "Leveraging Marijuana Reform to Enhance Expungement Practices.") Here are excerpts from the Globe piece: Last month, Massachusetts rolled out the countrys first statewide marijuana industry equity program, giving preferential treatment to people who are typically marginalized by the business world. One key to the effort: giving a head start in the rush for cannabis licenses to companies that are led by or employ minorities, to people with past marijuana convictions, or to residents of low-income neighborhoods with high arrest rates for drug crimes. All other companies that grow, process, or sell pot, meanwhile, are required to help those communities, and are limited in the size of their operations. The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission will also launch a training program for inexperienced pot entrepreneurs. The provisions spring from a simple premise: People of color were disproportionately prosecuted and jailed amid the nations war on drugs, even though whites had similar rates for using or selling marijuana. It would be unfair, proponents argued, to allow the windfall of a now-legal cannabis industry to flow only to the already privileged, while those who suffered the most under pot prohibition remain frozen out. Were going to use this moment to try to rebalance the scales or, at the very least, to stop creating new unbalanced scales, said state Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz, who helped to write the so-called equity provisions into state law. While it may seem radical to give previously incarcerated people the right to sell a product that was illegal until recently, the equity provisions so far havent been particularly controversial. Even Walpole Police Chief John Carmichael, a fierce critic of legal marijuana, is on board. Its going to open the door for people who just wouldnt otherwise have the ability and financial background to break in, Carmichael said. We have to give them a chance. As the commission developed its regulations this year, county prosecutors asked the agency to bar people convicted of trafficking certain still-illegal drugs such as heroin or fentanyl from even working at a cannabis company. This is not an area for permissiveness, the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association warned in a letter. The cannabis commission partially acquiesced, restricting such people to administrative positions that dont involving handling marijuana products. For owners of cannabis businesses, the bar is higher than for their employees. People convicted of serious crimes, including nonmarijuana drug felonies, firearm violations, and sex offenses, cannot own licensed pot companies. However, businesses can hire people with records for possessing opioids, for example, and receive preferential treatment if they employ enough people with criminal records. People convicted of large-scale marijuana trafficking may qualify under the rules, though some might have related convictions that would automatically disqualify them anyway. The commission also has discretion to reject any applicant. Marijuana equity programs elsewhere operate only on the local level, and have a limited track record. Oakland, Calif., for example, this year adopted a policy that reserves more than half of the citys licenses for equity applicants, and most of the rest for large companies that agree to host and mentor them. The system has indeed helped people of color break into the business but its also drawn sharp backlash from smaller companies that do not qualify. Massachusetts has taken a less restrictive approach. The primary initiative underway provides expedited review to applications from companies that meet certain criteria those owned by people from places with high rates of poverty and drug arrests, for example, or that employ mostly people with drug-related convictions. Its an important benefit, as many Massachusetts communities limit the number and locations of pot businesses, giving a big advantage to the first stores. Later this year, the commission will work with community groups to develop a crash course in business planning and fund-raising for entrepreneurs who were arrested or live in so-called communities of disproportionate impact. Those entrepreneurs will also be exempt from many state fees and will be allowed to open pot-delivery services and lounges ahead of other companies if the commission decides to issue those licenses.... Entrepreneurs who do not have drug convictions or arrests can still qualify if they show their business will benefit poorer communities with high arrest rates. For example, Dishon Laing dreams of opening an alternative health center in his native Dorchester that would offer yoga, vegan food, and cannabis. He, too, wants to hire people with criminal records, and also plans to run drug education programs for teenagers. Everything we do is connected to giving back, said Laing, a city public health worker. I know my partners and I will face stigma based on being people of color and the industry were in, but we want to show that were actually improving our communities. Another requirement is intended to recruit marijuana companies that dont qualify for the equity program to the cause: All applicants must show how their businesses will benefit communities hurt by the drug war. For example, Sira Naturals, a larger medical marijuana operator thats seeking recreational licenses, plans to host an incubator for equity applicants at its growing facility in Milford. Licensed marijuana businesses must also write and adhere to a diversity plan that promotes gender equity and the employment of veterans, LGBT people, and people with disabilities. The commission also offers incentives: Companies that provide money and mentoring to entrepreneurs from areas of disproportionate impact can get the cannabis equivalent of a Good Housekeeping seal of approval: a social justice leader label affixed to their product packaging. State officials also have moved to protect smaller equity businesses by banning larger companies from holding more than three licenses of any type and capping each companys cultivation area at 100,000 square feet. All these advantages, however, may not help applicants overcome the biggest hurdle: winning approval from local officials for the location and opening of their businesses. Somerville and other municipalities are considering local versions of the equity program, but none have been adopted yet. Advocates are worried established companies such as existing medical dispensaries, which are nearly all white-owned can outbid smaller players by offering communities generous financial packages. Cities and towns need to step up, or in a few years well see we had this opportunity to put diversity into action and we failed, said Ross Bradshaw, who hopes to open a pot business in a Worcester neighborhood designated as an area of disproportionate impact. There are going to be municipalities that only allow three licenses, and two are going to medical marijuana companies. Thats less opportunity for people of color. Cannabis commissioner Shaleen Title, who championed the equity initiatives, acknowledged they are hardly a cure-all. But Title is heartened by the early numbers: 68 applicants have cleared a first hurdle in the process for licensing, and more than 100 more under review. Those people would have their applications reviewed ahead of others. Well never be able to repair the damage caused by drug prohibition, but these programs at least begin to help provide a fair shot, Title said. Think about having a conviction that was based on unfair enforcement, and how that holds you back in so many different ways we want to make that right. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close As a homeowner, you probably already know that you should be working to maintain your home. But, chances are, you Read More This local article, headlined "Anchorage considers increasing marijuana sales tax as consumers clamor for cannabis," provides an effective report on the continued development of the marijuana regime in the biggest city of the only deep-red state that has legalized recreational marijuana use. Here are excerpts: The Municipality of Anchorage is looking to bump up its marijuana sales tax, citing a "tremendous" amount of resources it has spent working with the city's fledgling cannabis industry. Meanwhile, consumers have shelled out tens of millions of dollars on legal weed in Anchorage since stores opened in December 2016. Alaska's largest city has a 5 percent cannabis sales tax in place. An ordinance introduced at the Anchorage Assembly meeting on Tuesday evening would increase that to 7 percent. At its current rate, Anchorage's sales tax is expected to bring in $3.5 million this year. If the 2 percent tax increase passes, an additional $1.4 million in revenue is expected each calendar year, according to the municipality. A gram of legal marijuana averages around $18 in Anchorage, according to the municipality. Chris Schutte, director of Anchorage's Office of Economic and Community Development, said the city is requesting the tax increase for two reasons: City departments are spending more money working with the industry than anticipated, and the city has a limited time frame in which to raise taxes. Schutte said various departments were spending "tremendous resources" to work with marijuana business applicants, some of whom are "brand-new entrepreneurs in a brand-new industry." "We didn't realize that there would be a lot of (pre-application work) done with the industry nor did we fully think through all of the things that have to occur after that's done," Schutte said. More money from taxes would help recoup those costs, Schutte said. He said there are 22 pot shops paying taxes to the city. The second factor is that the deadline to tweak the tax is July 1, Schutte said. After that, the city would need to wait two years to seek an increase in taxes. Anchorage's first marijuana shop opened in late December 2016. In the next 14 months from January 2017 to March 2018 consumers spent $36.8 million at Anchorage pot shops, according to municipality data. The city collected $1.8 million in sales taxes for the same time frame. In March, the most recent month for which data is available, the municipality collected $216,715 in sales taxes from roughly $4.3 million worth of marijuana products. Since legal marijuana sales began in Alaska in Oct. 2016, consumers have spent upwards of $100 million at pot shops statewide, according to the Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office.... The state of Alaska has a flat-rate excise tax of $50 per ounce of bud or flower, and $15 per ounce of trim (parts of the plant like leaves or stems). Growers pay the state tax. Some local municipalities like Fairbanks, Juneau and Anchorage have put an additional sales tax on top, which is levied on the retail side. Anchorage is allowed to increase its tax rate every two years by up to 2 percent. The tax rate is capped at 12 percent. Coun Perez reiterates warning to barangay leaders involved in drugs 07 Aug 2017 Hits:37 Comments(0) Liga ng mga Barangay President, Councilor Jerry Perez yesterday reiterated his warning to all barangay officials from using or selling drugs. Perez said he is closely monitoring the activities of all the barangay officials and vowed sanctions against erring leaders. Aqui gane na mio barangay ya quita ya iyo na puesto cunel dos barangay leaders quien mas temprano ya sale positivo na... New York: A senior United States military official has confirmed that a drone strike conducted by American forces has targeted terrorist Mullah Fazalullah, the leader of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, in Afghanistan's Kunar province near the border with Pakistan. ''The drone strike was conducted in Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province, targeting Maulana Fazlullah's hideout,'' Lieutenant Colonel Martin O'Donnell told Voice of America (VOA). United States military official has confirmed to Voice of America (VOA) that an American drone strike targeted Mullah Fazal Ullah, the leader of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, in an Afghan province near the border with #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/INRGNHcxE9 ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2018 The US military also later confirmed that it carried out a strike targeting Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province, where Pakistani Taliban chief Maulana Fazlullah is believed to be hiding. "US forces conducted a counter-terrorism strike on June 13 in Kunar province, close to the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which targeted a senior leader of a designated terrorist organisation," Lieutenant Colonel Martin O'Donnell said in a statement. It added that US forces were continuing to "adhere to a ceasefire" which Kabul has entered into with the Afghan Taliban, the country's main insurgents, seemingly ruling out that group, amid US media reports the attack had targeted Fazlullah. The US State Department in March announced a USD 5 million reward for help locating the militant leader, who has been linked to bloody attacks in Pakistan and 2010 attempted Times Square car bombing in New York. It said the group, also known by its Urdu name Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) has "demonstrated a close alliance with al Qaeda" and said it had given explosives training to Faisal Shahzad, the would-be Times Square bomber. The group was behind the massacre of more than 150 people at a Peshawar school in December 2014, and nine dead in another attack in December 2017 in the same city. It was also responsible for the October 2012 shooting of Malala Yousafzai, who became a global symbol of the fight for girls' rights to schooling. According to Pakistani officials, Fazlullah, who is believed to be in his forties, took refuge in Afghanistan after the TTP was pushed out of Pakistan following multiple offensives by the military on its safe havens. New Delhi: Britain`s Rolls-Royce has denied media reports on laying off employees in the company as a part of business overhaul plan. Media reports yesterday said that the company would cut 4,600 jobs primarily in the UK as part of a plan to simplify its business and save 400 million pounds ($536 million) per year by the end of 2020. Refuting reports, Rolls Royce said, In light of the news emanating from Rolls-Royce plc today, and to avoid any potential confusion in the media, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars wishes to clarify that it is in excellent health and enjoying sustained global success across its model range. There are no plans for job reductions. A Reuters report yesterday said, The company said the job cuts and overhaul of its business would cost it 500 million pounds and they would be spread across 2018, 2019 and 2020, and would be reported as separate one-off costs, allowing it to stick to its targets for free cash flow. Company's CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos,, said, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is the worlds leading luxury manufacturer. We are enjoying a period of sustained success, underlined by our stated long-term, sustainable growth strategy. The company is in great shape and I applaud the skilled men and women in the Rolls-Royce family at Goodwood and around the world that design, develop, hand-build and support the best car in the world. Before you all decide to book your tickets and grab a seat to watch much awaited Salman Khan starrer 'Race 3', here's a little piece of advicekeep your logic at the backburner. The action thriller is a third part of the blockbuster 'Race' franchise and is directed by ace choreographer turned filmmaker Remo D'Souza. The film is high on glitz, glamour and some kickass actionwell, full marks on that department. This is Bhaijaan's Eid release and the fans are surely going to throng the theatres during the weekend. But when it comes to being a wholesome entertainer'Race 3' falls short with a little margin. Going by the kind of screenplay its previous parts had, 'Race 3' twists move faster than the speed of light. Salman as Sikander Singh is dashing, macho and super smart. Meet his familythe veteran Anil Kapoor aka Shamsher Singh, twin siblings Daisy Shah (Sanjana) and Saqib Saleem, Bobby Deol as Yash and Freddy Daruwala. In this multi-starrer outing, Salman anchors the ship. It is the third instalment of blockbuster 'Race' series which had Saif Ali Khan in the lead role previously. These are the central characters and the plot moves with a flashback story weaving the present scenario perfectly. This filthy rich dysfunctional family gets set on a mission and in between a lot of mystery unfolds. Guns blazing, cars overturning, kickass action and some adrenaline pumping stunts. Now, the 'Race 3' chase will keep you glued but it lacks the grittiness required in a thriller of this kind. Salman as an action hero needs no introduction. In 'Race 3', he has been given some crazy heavy-duty dialogues coupled with Bhai-certified vogue. And yes, who can forget Daisy's 'our business is our business, none of your business' dialogue. Daisy is the surprise package in this actioner as she nails it! Hope she gets to do a lot more stunts in next projects. Jacqueline Fernandez looks glamourous as Jessica and does exactly of what we have seen her do before. The background score looks heavily inspired by Hollywood in some scenes. Bobby Deol is back and looks perfect in his part. The famous scene where Salman and Bobby go shirtless will get a thunderous response from the audiences as the whole feel is total paisa vasool! 'Hiriye' song is foot-tapping and the best one by far from the album. The action face-off between Jacky and Daisy is one of the highlights as seldom have we seen actresses fight it out like heroes. This action thriller lacks depth. Saif lent a kind of intrigue to the character which was missing this time. The makers have dropped a huge hint of Race 4 possibility. So, brace yourself for the chase is still on! (Ratings: 2.5/5 Stars) New Delhi: Remo D'Souza's action-thriller movie, 'Race 3', which is the third installment of hit series 'Race' has released across the theatres today. The film stars Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Jacqueline Fernandez, Daisy Shah and Saqib Saleem in lead roles. Ritika Handoo of Zee News is watching the first-day first show to review the film for you. Take a look at her tweets here: And the most awaited moment of #Race3 arrives Bhai and Bobby shirtless!! Ritika Handoo (@ritikahandoo) June 15, 2018 There is a series of twists unravelling in #Race3 Ritika Handoo (@ritikahandoo) June 15, 2018 Be ready for kickass cat fight between Jacqueline Fernandez and Daisy Shah #Race3 Ritika Handoo (@ritikahandoo) June 15, 2018 The much awaited #Race3 title track is here! Watch out for Salman Khans revenge Ritika Handoo (@ritikahandoo) June 15, 2018 Get ready for some mind blowing action #Race3 Ritika Handoo (@ritikahandoo) June 15, 2018 A lot many one liners to take back home #Race3 Ritika Handoo (@ritikahandoo) June 15, 2018 More stress on glitz, glamour and action #Race3 Ritika Handoo (@ritikahandoo) June 15, 2018 Story intensifies in #Race3 and theres a big catch! Ritika Handoo (@ritikahandoo) June 15, 2018 #Race3 music is peppy Ritika Handoo (@ritikahandoo) June 15, 2018 Twist in the tale begins #Race3 Ritika Handoo (@ritikahandoo) June 15, 2018 Dialogues are heavy duty yet funny #Race3 Ritika Handoo (@ritikahandoo) June 15, 2018 Bhaijaan Salman Khan makes a splashing entry in #Race3 Ritika Handoo (@ritikahandoo) June 15, 2018 Adrenaline pumping action has begun! #Race3 Ritika Handoo (@ritikahandoo) June 15, 2018 Good to see Bobby Deol in #Race3 Ritika Handoo (@ritikahandoo) June 15, 2018 Super suave Anil Kapoor is here #Race3 Ritika Handoo (@ritikahandoo) June 15, 2018 What better than a Salman Khan blockbuster on Eid! #Race3 Ritika Handoo (@ritikahandoo) June 15, 2018 Fans have thronged the theatres in huge numbers. Great opening for sure #Race3 Ritika Handoo (@ritikahandoo) June 15, 2018 Its a perfect Eidi for Salman Khan fans #Race3 Ritika Handoo (@ritikahandoo) June 15, 2018 Expectations are sky high from #Race3 Ritika Handoo (@ritikahandoo) June 15, 2018 Its time for Salman Khan starrer #Race3 to match up to all the buzz Ritika Handoo (@ritikahandoo) June 15, 2018 Saif Ali Khan had played the lead role in previous 'Race' films but this time Salman has stepped into his shoes and it will be interesting to see how different his character portrayal will be. Salman and Jacqueline have done 'Kick' together and 'Race 3' is their second outing. Meanwhile, Salman has forayed into film distribution with 'Race 3'. Salman started producing films under the Salman Khan Films banner with 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan'. 'Race 3' has been jointly produced by Salman Khan Films headed by Salman's mother Salma Khan and has been distributed by his father Salim Khan, who will personally look into it. New Delhi: Engineering and construction firm Punj Lloyd expressed hope that the insolvency plea against the company by ICICI Bank would not be admitted by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). According to the company, 90 per cent of its lenders are supporting a resolution plan under the leadership of the State Bank of India (SBI) for restructuring the outstanding debts of the company. During NCLT proceedings , counsel appearing for SBI challenged the maintainability of ICICI Bank's plea filed under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) to initiate insolvency proceedings against the company, Punj Lloyd said in a regulatory filing. "In view of the above, the company is of the view that the application filed by ICICI Bank may not be admitted by the NCLT, since more than 90 per cent of the lenders of the company are in favour of restructuring the debts," said Punj Lloyd. In a meeting of the lenders of the company held on June 13, 2018, more than 90 per cent of the lenders have agreed for restructuring its outstanding debts of the company, it added. "It was also decided that SBI, on behalf of all lenders, shall oppose ICICI application at NCLT," the filing informed. ICICI Bank's plea was heard by the principal bench of NCLT headed by President Justice M M Kumar, which issued notices to Punj Lloyd and SBI. The two-member bench has directed to list the matter on July 24 for next hearing. However, during the proceedings, another consortium of lenders led by State Bank of India, opposed the insolvency application filed by ICICI Bank. According to them, Punj Lloyd's asset base covers only 5 per cent of the total debt?and a full recovery of their outstanding dues is possible only if the company is allowed to complete the 28 ongoing projects. Punj Lloyd has total debt of around Rs 6,000 crore, in which ICICI bank claims are around Rs 850 crore. As reported in this AP article, "Maine employers dont have to pay for medical marijuana under the state workers compensation system because federal law supersedes state law, the state supreme court ruled Thursday." Here is more on this state court ruling and some national context: The court concluded in a 5-2 decision that federal law takes precedence in a conflict between the federal Controlled Substances Act and the state medical marijuana law. Existing case law demonstrates that an individuals right to use medical marijuana under state law cannot be converted into a sword that would require another party to engage in conduct that violates current federal law, Justice Jeffrey Hjelm wrote for the majority. The legal case focused on whether a paper mill must pay for medical marijuana prescribed for a worker who was disabled after being hurt on the job in 1989. Madawaska resident Gaetan Bourgoin won an appeal to the Workers Compensation Board after arguing that marijuana is cheaper and safer than narcotics. But the Twin Rivers Paper Co. argued that it shouldnt be required to cover the cost of medical marijuana and that doing so put it in violation of federal law. The Supreme Judicial Court concluded that the Maine Legislatures exemption of medical marijuana patients from prosecution under state law does not have the power to change or restrict the application of federal law that positively conflicts with state law. Two dissenting justices wrote that the compelling story of how the injured worker was weaned from opioids by use of medical marijuana justified requiring the reimbursement. The result of the courts opinion today is to deprive (the worker) of reimbursement for medication that has finally given him relief from his chronic pain, and to perhaps force him to return to the use of opioids and other drugs..., Justice Joseph Jabar wrote.... At least five states Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey and New Mexico have found medical marijuana treatment is reimbursable under their workers compensation laws, according to the National Council for Compensation Insurance. Florida and North Dakota, meanwhile, passed laws last year excluding medical marijuana treatment from workers compensation reimbursement. New Delhi: The holy festival of Eid is knocking on our doors and people are busy preparing for the grand celebration that will be observed in India on Saturday, June 16. Eid-ul-Fitr, also called, Eid-Al-Fitr is celebrated by Muslims across the globe. The celebrations depend upon the sighting of the moon and if the moon is sighted, the country celebrates Eid on the next day. The moon has been sighted in Delhi, which means that India will celebrate Eid tomorrow, on June 16. As per an IANS report, Jama Masjid's Shahi Imam Bukhari said that the new moon was sighted around 7. 35 p.m. "I convey my heartiest greetings and good wishes to the people of our country on the joyous occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr," Bukhari said. Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and is celebrated by breaking the 30-day long fast with a grand celebration. The day is the only day when Muslims aren't permitted to fast. The festival was brought by Islamic prophet Muhammad and it is believed that the festival originated in Medina, after he migrated from Mecca. In today's time, Mecca and Medina are considered the two holiest places of Islam. The day of Eid falls on the first day of the month of Shawwal depending upon the sighting of the moon the previous night. The fasting ends and people look forward to Eid celebrations the day after. On the day of Eid al-Fitr, Muslims offer a particular salat (Islamic prayer) consisting of two rakats (units) which is usually offered in an open field or large hall. Here's wishing all our readers Eid Mubarak! New Delhi: More parties and leaders have come out in support of the ongoing sit-in protest by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at the Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal's office. According to reports, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, actors-turned-politicians Kamal Hassan and Shatrughan Sinha, the CPI-M, the CPI and West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee have backed the Delhi Chief Minister. The sit-in by Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Cabinet ministers Satyendra Jain and Gopal Rai at the Lt Governor's office entered its fifth day on Thursday. Akhilesh Yadav, in a tweet, said the capturing of Secretariat of the national capital by the political party in power points towards a "situation worse than the killing of the democracy". "This is an arrogance of the power. Those who are capturing the democracy with their power today will also capture the houses of the people. The people are angry as well as scared," he said. Disgruntled BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha, in a series of tweets, said the current situation is "not good or desirable for our Delhi government, Central government and the people of our country". "Can you expect a swimmer to swim when we tie his arms and hands? That is what has been done with our young, dynamic and one of the country's popular gentleman politician Kejriwal. Time for a full-fledged struggle for Delhi statehood... "Dear Sir! You will remember that this (full statehood for Delhi) has been a very strong demand of our party since ages and of some other parties too. Sir, when do we see this happening? I hope, wish and pray it is soon, sooner the better," he tweeted. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Bihar's Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav also attacked the BJP for taking "revenge". "The people of Delhi have been rejecting the BJP from past 20 years and so the BJP in the centre is interrupting the works of the Kejriwal government to take revenge from the people of the Delhi. This is a beginning of an unhealthy tradition," he said. Kamal Hassan, president of Makkal Needhi Maiam, equated the situation in Delhi and Pondicherry. "Interference in the functioning of an elected government is unacceptable in a democracy. In fact what is happening in Delhi and in TN/Pondicherry are not too different. It is frustrating for people who want a change for the better," he tweeted. Communist Party of India-Marxist General Secretary Sitaram Yechury also came in support of Kejriwal, accusing BJP of attacking federalism. "BJP central government is using the office of the LG to obstruct the elected state government in Delhi to discharge its constitutional duties. This is despicable. The Centre must abandon this course of the confrontation right away. "The BJP at the Centre has a terrible track record on federalism; of targeting states which are Opposition-ruled, their most recent bid was to attempt an illegal capture of the Karnataka state govt," he said in a tweet. (With IANS inputs) JALGAON: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday blamed the RSS and the ruling BJP at the Centre for rising atrocities against Dalits across the country. The Gandhi scion said this after three minor Dalit boys were thrashed, stripped and paraded naked for swimming in a village well belonging to a wealthy upper-caste farm owner in Wakadi village in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra. "The sole crime of these Dalit children was they were taking a dip in an 'upper caste' well. Humanity is struggling to save its dignity," Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet on Friday. The Congress leader continued by saying that ''if we don't raise our voices against this politics of hate and poison of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the BJP, history would not forgive us.'' Rahul also posted a video of the boys being mercilessly thrashed by some upper caste men for jumping in the well. "" RSS/BJP pic.twitter.com/STeBSkI1q1 Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 15, 2018 Rahul Gandhi's remarks on the issue, which has snowballed into a major political controversy, came even as a high-level team of Maharashtra Congress visited the village to assess the situation. Strongly condemning the thrashing of the Dalit boys, Union Minister for Social Welfare Ramdas Athawale said that he will visit the village to meet the victims and their families. The incident took place on June 10, but the matter came to fore only after a video about the same went viral on social media. The incident served as a major embarrassment for the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena combine even as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is on a tour of Dubai, Canada and the US to attract investment. To beat the scorching heat, the three young boys from the Dalit community, aged around 12-14, had jumped into a village well for a cool swim on last Sunday. As the news spread, many people from the upper caste gathered near the well and pulled out the boys. They were then thrashed, stripped and paraded naked around the village. In the viral video, the boys can be seen wearing only sandals and some patvelia leaves and protesting when at least one person was assaulting them on the legs and back with sticks and what appeared to be a leather belt. The families of the three boys later lodged a complaint with the local police. Several political leaders from the opposition Congress and ruling BJP, including ex-minister Eknath Khadse, and others from various political parties have condemned the incident and demanded that the culprits be booked under the SC/ST Act. At least two persons have now been arrested in connection with the incident, said Maharashtra Social Justice Minister Dilip Kamble. Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan too said two persons are booked under the provisions of Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Information Technology Act, besides other charges. (With Agency inputs) NEW DELHI: Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid has announced that Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Saturday as there was no sight of moon anywhere across the country on Thursday. Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari made the announcement after a meeting of the moon-sighting committee here, a senior official at the city's historic mosque said on Thursday. "The moon was not sighted today. So, that means the Eid will be celebrated on Saturday in Delhi and several other parts of the country," he was quoted as saying. In Kerala, Eid will be celebrated on Friday as the moon was sighted in Kozhikode, a top cleric said. The Eid ul-Fitr is celebrated after the sighting of the crescent moon which officially ends the month of Ramzan. 12 months of Islamic calendar carry either 29 or 30 days. Ramzan also has either 29 or 30 days and Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the 10th month of Islamic calendar. Ramzan is a holy month for the world's nearly 1.5 billion Muslims, many of whom practise the ritual of dawn-to-dusk fasting and prayers. The Ramzan fast, in which even water is prohibited, falls on especially long summer days this year for Muslims in the Northern Hemisphere. Fasting is intended to bring the faithful closer to God and remind them of those less fortunate. Tradition holds that it was during Ramadan that the Prophet Mohammed started receiving revelations of the Muslim holy book, the Koran. Ramzan is one of the five "pillars" of Islam. The festival is marked with feasts and the faithful offers prayers at mosques and idgahs to seek blessings of the divine. People, especially children dress up in their traditional fineries to mark the festival that spreads the message of brotherhood and communal amity. (With PTI inputs) BHOPAL: Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh on Friday clarified that he spoke on 'Sanghi-terrorism', but never alluded to 'Hindu terrorism'. You have wrong information that Digvijay Singh used the term 'Hindu terrorism'. I have always used the term 'Sanghi terrorism', said Singh at a public conference. No terror activity can be defined on the basis of religion. No religion can be a supporter of terrorism, added the senior Congress leader. Attacking the RSS, Singh said that several blasts were propelled by Sanghi ideologies. Bomb blasts were executed by people influenced by Sangh ideology, be it Malegaon blast, Mecca Masjid blast, blast in Samjhauta express or Dargah Sharif. This outfit which propagates violence and hatred, further propagates terrorism, he said. Speaking on Pranab Mukherjee`s much-talked about address at RSS headquarter in Nagpur, Singh has earlier said that it was very courageous of the former President to challenge the RSS in their own "den" and that what he said was amounted to hitting at the "core ethos of the RSS". Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who recently returned from the US after receiving treatment for pancreatic cancer, has sought blessings from people in the state and has said that he will continue to serve them with all efforts. He resumed his CM duties on Friday. In a video message, Parrikar thanked well-wishers for their message of support. "When I was unwell, thanks to your support, blessings and prayers I have returned to work, after the treatment. I ask God for your blessing to remain and I want to assure you that for the development and good of Goa I will continue to serve you," he said. Parrikar was in a New York-based hospital for three months but has since returned and is recovering. He had gone to the US in March. Before this, he had been admitted to Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital where he had complained of pain in his stomach. Here are the top headlines of the day: 1. Pakistan's ISI behind killing of Army jawan Aurangzeb in Shopian, claim intelligence sources Pakistan's notorious spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) may be behind the abduction and cold-blooded killing of Army jawan Aurangzeb, whose bullet-ridden body was found in J&K's Kalampora in Pulwama district hours after he was kidnapped at the gunpoint. Read full report 2. J&K mourns death of journalist Shujaat Bukhari, pictures of suspected killers released The cold-blooded killing of Rising Kashmir editor-in-chief Shujaat Bukhari has sent shock waves across the country and the plunged the entire Kashmir Valley into a state of grief. Read full report 3. BSNL launches Eid Mubarak STV 786 plan; offers unlimited calls, 2GB data per day BSNL has launched the Eid Mubarak STV 786 prepaid plan offering unlimited voice calling, roaming, 100 SMS messages per day and 2GB of 3G/ 4G data per day. Read full report 4. Three Dalit boys paraded naked for swimming in 'upper caste' village well in Jalgaon, sparks row In a shocking incident, three minor Dalit boys were stripped, beaten and paraded naked for a village in Maharashtra's Jalgaon for allegedly swimming in a village well. Read full report 5. Bhima-Koregaon violence: Accused organised lectures in JNU, tried to recruit students, police tells court Four accused, who were arrested in connection with the Bhima-Koregaon violence, allegedly organised a series of lectures in Delhi's prestigious JNU and tried to recruit young students to join their activities, the authorities claimed. Read full report NEW DELHI: In the wake of the sensational murder of Rising Kashmir editor-in-chief Shujaat Bukhari, intelligence sources on Friday claimed that Pakistani terrorist Naveed Jatt, who recently escaped from Srinagar hospital, may be one of the three biker-borne killers who shot the journalist to death. Jatt is already under NIA scanner in connection with several terror attacks in Kashmir. The development comes barely hours after the Jammu and Kashmir Police released the photographs of Bukhari's suspected killers and appealed to the general public for valuable information leading to their arrest. The CCTV footage obtained by the police shows the three bike-borne attackers who came wearing helmets with their faces covered. While the one riding the bike was wearing a black helmet, the second was hiding his face and the third was wearing a black mask. The image also shows the second pillion rider carrying a bag, which probably had the guns used in the attack. The killing of Bukhari has dragged the country into a state of grief. Reacting to the incident, several politicians cutting across the party lines and leading journalists have expressed their condolences and condemned his killing in the strongest terms. Shujaat Bukhari, one of the leading journalists from J&K and editor-in-chief of the prestigious daily 'The Rising Kashmir', was assassinated by some unidentified miscreants outside his office at the Press Colony on Thursday evening. His personal security officer (PSO) was also killed while another suffered a grievous injury in the attack. He was on his way to an Iftar party when three men came on a bike and started firing on Bukharis car. On February 6, Mohammad Naveed Jatt of Multan Pakistan pulled off a dramatic escape from Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital in Srinagar after his associates shot dead two policemen who were accompanying him for medical checkup. Jatt alias Abu Hanzullah alias Munnu alias Chotu, a resident of Sahiwala, Multan in Punjab Pakistan, was arrested in a joint operation by Jammu and Kashmir Police, 62 Rashtriya Riffles and 18th Battalion of CRPF in Kulgam district of south Kashmir on June 20, 2014. Jatt, who was then acting as district commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba in south Kashmir, had told his interrogators that he was trained in the same "Aksa" camp where Kasab had undergone arms training, reported DNA. A prized catch Jatt had given insight of Lashkar's working in Pakistan, to his interrogators. He had told his interrogators that Lashkar bosses had become increasingly cautious after the arrest of Kasab. Sources said he had told his interrogators that Lashkar top trainers were teaching the militants not to repeat the mistakes made by Kasab during the attack in Mumbai. Particularly the cadres were being trained how to conceal identities while speaking over phones and avoid landing into custody in which Kasab failed. A school dropout, Jatt was admitted in the Lashkar training camp as a shepherd by his father when he was 12 years old. For four years he was taking care of cattle and alternately training in arms before he was sent to Kashmir in 2012. From early 2013 he was operating in south Kashmir and has been involved in number of killings and attacks on security forces. (With inputs from PTI) NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on Friday said that the decision to ceasefire during the holy month of Ramzam was wrong because the terrorists only understand the language of bullets. "The security forces should be ordered to shoot the terrorists on spot," Swamy said. His statement comes in the wake of two sensational killings of rifleman Aurangzeb and journalist Shujaat Bukhari in Jammu and Kashmir. According to the BJP leader, the present state government should be dismissed immediately and a new governor must be appointed. "The Army should not be given orders from the Centre. They should only be directed by the Governor of the state," Swamy said. He further added that the Arms Forces (Special Powers) Act should be implemented across the state of Jammu and Kashmir. June 14 turned out to be a Black Day for Jammu and Kashmir following the deaths of the Army jawan and the journalist. They were killed a day ahead of Eid. The body of Army jawan Aurangzeb was found hours after his abduction on Thursday. His bullet-ridden body was found by a team of police and Army at Gussu village, about 10-km away from Kalampora, in Pulwama district. He was shot in his head and neck. Shujaat Bukhari, one of the leading journalists from J&K and editor-in-chief of the prestigious daily 'The Rising Kashmir', was assassinated by some unidentified miscreants outside his office at the Press Colony on Thursday evening. JAMMU: The father of slain rifleman Aurangzeb has given a 72-hour deadline to the Centre to find and kill those who abducted and killed his son in cold-blood on Thursday evening. Speaking to reporters, Auranzeb's father said, ''What is stopping the Government of India from taking a decisive action against those responsible for killing my son. If the government does not take any action within 72 hours, I will myself avenge Aurangzeb's killing.'' The retired army man also slammed those doing politics over the death of martyrs in Jammu and Kashmir and the separatist leaders who, he alleged, were Pakistan sympathisers. The heartbroken old man said that Aurangzeb's killing was not only a personal setback to his family but also to the Army, which he was serving, and the state of Jammu and Kashmir to which he belonged. He also questioned why the state of J&K could not be cleaned of terrorists since 2003. ''When the Narendra Modi government came to power, we thought that the situation would improve but not much has been done. I demand that the separatists and others doing politics should be kicked out of Kashmir. The Army and other security agencies should launch an all-out offensive against the terror groups active in the Kashmir Valley,'' he demanded. Our desire to celebrate Eid with him (Aurangzeb) will now remain unfulfilled, the old man said, with tears flowing from his eyes. The slain rifleman, who was part of the special Army team that was involved in the killing of local Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sameer Ahmad Bhat alias Sameer Tiger in May, was laid to rest with full state honours. Srinagar: Wreath laying ceremony of Indian Army Rifleman Aurangzeb, whose body was found in Pulwama's Gusoo yesterday. He was abducted by terrorists from Pulwama district, yesterday. pic.twitter.com/l6vHBqvzJQ ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2018 He hailed from Poonch. Sameer Tiger was the local Hizbul Mujahideen commander who was killed in the encounter at the Drubgam village of Pulwama district in May. Besides grief-stricken family members, hundreds of local villagers attended the last rites of rifleman Aurangzeb. Poonch: Family of Rifleman Aurangzeb mourns his death. He was abducted by terrorists and his body was found in Pulwama's Gusoo, yesterday. pic.twitter.com/F2xchFCB9A ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2018 He was on his way back home after completing his duty when he was surrounded by a group of heavily-armed terrorists and taken away at gunpoint. His bullet-ridden body was later found by a team of police and Army at Gussu village, about 10-km away from Kalampora, in Pulwama district. As soon as the report of his kidnapping came in, the Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a massive search for him and informed the 23 Rashtriya Rifles, with which the jawan was attached. Following his abduction, his mother had appealed to the terrorists to release his son, saying she wanted to celebrate Eid with him. Meanwhile, the intelligence sources on Friday claimed that Pakistan's notorious spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) may be behind the abduction and cold-blooded killing of Aurangzeb. Intelligence sources told Zee Media that Pakistan's all-powerful ISI is rattled with the anti-terror operations being carried out by the Indian army against terrorist groups waging a 'jihad' for the liberation of Kashmir. The sources also claimed that the plan to kidnap and kill Aurangzeb was executed at the behest of the ISI to teach a ''lesson to the Indian security forces''. With Aurangzeb's brutal killing, the Pakistan-backed terrorists have sent a strong message to the authorities that they will not be deterred by the ongoing anti-terror operations in the Kashmir Valley. The jawan was chosen by the ISI-backed terrorists to discourage the Kashmiri youths from joining the Indian Army or other para-military forces, the sources claimed. Aurangzebs family has had the history of serving Indian armed forces. While his father retired from the Indian Army, his uncle had died in the line of duty fighting terrorists in 2004. The jawans brother is also an Indian Army soldier. (With PTI inputs) This recent article from Religion News Service, headlined "In red-state Oklahoma, marijuana ballot question splits people of faith," provides a great look at the range of perspectives on marijuana reform in Oklahoma with only weeks before a big initiative vote. Here are snippets from an article worth reading in full: As Presbyterian minister Bobby Griffith sees it, legalizing medical marijuana in Oklahoma could help arthritis sufferers with chronic pain and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. The 41-year-old husband and father has a personal reason, too, for supporting State Question 788 a pro-marijuana initiative that the Bible Belt states voters will decide June 26. For myself, I would be interested in a prescription for it to see if it works better than my anxiety and depression medications, said Griffith, co-pastor of a Presbyterian church near downtown Oklahoma City and a member of the national group Clergy for a New Drug Policy. As Griffith characterizes it, the Oklahoma ballot measures potential to improve health outcomes and reduce dependence on addictive opioid painkillers makes it a moral issue. Religious opponents counter that backing the issue would be immoral. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., an ordained Southern Baptist pastor, blasts the ballot measure as a recreational marijuana vote disguised as medical marijuana. The moral issue to me is really a family issue, Lankford, who directed a Baptist youth camp before his 2010 election to Congress, told Religion News Service. The best thing for our state is not to get more parents and grandparents to smoke marijuana, added the senator, who filmed a commercial urging voters to reject State Question 788. To have our communities more drug-addicted and distracted, that doesnt help our families. It doesnt make us more prosperous. It doesnt make our schools more successful.... [F]aith arguments are prominent in a state where three out of four residents describe themselves in Gallup polling as moderately religious or very religious. The vote which will take place on the states primary day for governor and other state and federal offices resulted from a petition signed by nearly 68,000 voters and presented to state officials two years ago. If State Question 788 passes, Abner warns, Oklahoma could follow the nine states that have authorized recreational use of marijuana. The key thing is that its not medical, he said. This is something thats hiding behind that (terminology) to bring recreational marijuana to Oklahoma. And from a spiritual standpoint, none of us can sustain the sound minds and healthy bodies God desires us to have when we place ourselves under the controlling influence of something other than the Holy Spirit. Other religious opponents include top officials of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma representing the states roughly 577,000 Southern Baptists and the Catholic Conference of Oklahoma, the public policy arm of the states Roman Catholic dioceses, comprising roughly 288,000 parishioners. My hope is that Oklahoma will vote down marijuana legalization and continue to put legal barriers between addiction and the communities it devastates, Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, said in a statement published by The Baptist Messenger, an Oklahoma newspaper. But Jon Middendorf, senior pastor of Oklahoma City First Church of the Nazarene, said he favors whatever can bring relief to folks who are in chronic pain. Im just exhausted of conspiracy theories that always seem to emanate from the Christian right, said Middendorf, who stressed that he was speaking personally and not on behalf of his congregation. Theres always some sinister story behind it all, he added. It really might be that somebody whos in pain just needs something that hasnt been tried just yet, that offers some help for relief and quality of life, that they would not have had otherwise.... Typically, Oklahomans rank among the most conservative voters in the nation.... But on the medical marijuana issue, recent polling shows State Question 788 enjoying support from 57.5 percent of voters and seeming likely to pass, reported Bill Shapard, CEO of SoonerPoll.com. Weve polled this issue multiple times over the last five years, and we continue to see that certain groups, who one might think would be opposed to SQ788, continue to support it, Shapard said in a statement. Thirty years ago, these groups would have opposed it, but roughly half have changed their minds since then. Griffith, whose congregation is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in America, said some of his most conservative friends support State Question 788. A very conservative person I know I mean, she loves President Trump but she also wants medical marijuana, he said. She has rheumatoid arthritis and wants to have something that helps relieve the pain and has some healing qualities about it without the addiction. NEW DELHI: Four terrorists two from Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and two Hizbul Mujahideen are behind the abduction and cold-blooded murder of Army jawan Aurangzeb, intelligence sources told Zee Media on Friday. The four terrorists, who kidnapped Aurangzeb at gunpoint, travelled in a Maruti Alto car. One of terrorists, Jahoor Ahmed Tokar, earlier worked with Indian Territorial Army and hails from Pulwama district. He joined Hizbul in 2017. The JeM terrorists were both foreigners, informed the sources in intelligence bureau. Earlier, reports of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) behind the abduction and murder of Aurangzeb emerged. It was further said that the spy agency planned to kidnap and kill the jawan at the behest of the ISI to teach a ''lesson to the Indian security forces''. The bullet-ridden body of Aurangzeb was recovered from Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir yesterday, hours after he was abducted by militants on his way home for Eid celebrations. A video of Aurangzeb believed to be shot moments before his death circulated on scoial media. Aurangzeb, who was in blue jeans and t-shirt was being asked by suspected Hizbul Mujahideen militants about his duties, posting and encounters in which he participated in 1.15 minutes video probably shot in a forest area, they said. Jammu: The cold-blooded killing of Rising Kashmir editor-in-chief Shujaat Bukhari has sent shock waves across the country and the plunged the entire Kashmir Valley into a state of grief. Reacting to the incident, several politicians cutting across the party lines and leading journalists have expressed their condolences and condemned his killing in the strongest terms. Shujaat Bukhari, one of the leading journalists from J&K and editor-in-chief of the prestigious daily 'The Rising Kashmir', was assassinated by some unidentified terrorists outside his office at the Press Colony on Thursday evening. His personal security officer (PSO) was also killed while another suffered a grievous injury in the attack. He was on his way to an Iftar party when three men came on a bike and started firing on Bukharis car. Meanwhile, the J&K Police have also released the pictures of Bukhari's suspected killers and appealed to the general public for providing valuable information leading to their arrest. The CCTV footage obtained by the police shows the three bike-borne attackers who came wearing helmets with their faces covered. While the one riding the bike was wearing a black helmet, the second was hiding his face and the third was wearing a black mask. The image also shows the second pillion rider carrying a bag, which probably had the guns used in the attack. Srinagar Police seeks help of the general public to identify the suspects involved in yesterday's terror attack in Press Colony that killed editor of Rising Kashmir newspaper Shujaat Bukhari. Police releases photographs of the suspect from CCTV footage #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/ggJhzH7IiJ ANI (@ANI) June 14, 2018 So far, no terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the dastardly act. Hours before he fell to the bullets of unidentified gunmen, Shujaat Bukhari had vigorously defended his work on Twitter when some Delhi-based journalists accused him of doing "biased" reportage on Kashmir and had posted the UN report on alleged human rights violations in the Valley. One of his last tweets read: "First-ever @UNHumanRights report on #Kashmir calls for #international inquiry into multiple violations". Bukhari, who had a distinguishable tall frame and husky voice, said in another tweet, "In #Kashmir we have done Journalism with pride and will continue to highlight what happens on ground." Bukhari was instrumental in organising several conferences for peace in the Kashmir Valley. He was also part of the Track II process with Pakistan. Bukhari, who earlier worked with The Hindu newspaper as its Kashmir correspondent, was instrumental in organising several conferences for peace in the Kashmir Valley. He was also part of the Track II process with Pakistan. Reacting to his killing, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said that he was in "complete shock". After the confirmation of Bukhari's death, the former chief minister expressed his grief saying he was "shocked beyond words". inna lilahi wa inna illahi rajiuun. Shocked beyond words. May Shujaat find place in Jannat & May his loved ones find strength at this difficult time. Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 14, 2018 Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti too condemned the "act of mindless violence". She said, "Shocked and deeply saddened by sudden demise of Shujaat Bukhari. The scourge of terror has reared its ugly head on the eve of Eid. Strongly condemn this act of mindless violence and pray for his soul to rest in peace. Deepest condolences to his family.'' Shocked & deeply saddened by the sudden demise of Shujaat Bukhari. The scourge of terror has reared its ugly head on the eve of Eid. I strongly condemn this act of mindless violence & pray for his soul to rest in peace. My deepest condolences to his family. Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) June 14, 2018 She also rushed to meet the family of the veteran journalist. Recalling that Bukhari met her just a few days back, Mufti said his death was "upsetting". Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh termed the killing of Bukhari as "an act of cowardice". He tweeted, The killing of @RisingKashmir editor, Shujaat Bukhari is an act of cowardice. It is an attempt to silence the saner voices of Kashmir. He was a courageous and fearless journalist. Extremely shocked & pained at his death. My thoughts and prayers are with his bereaved family." The killing of @RisingKashmir editor, Shujaat Bukhari is an act of cowardice. It is an attempt to silence the saner voices of Kashmir. He was a courageous and fearless journalist. Extremely shocked & pained at his death. My thoughts and prayers are with his bereaved family. Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 14, 2018 Congress president Rahul Gandhi also expressed at the killing saying, "Im anguished to hear about the killing of Shujaat Bukhari, editor of @RisingKashmir. He was a brave heart who fought fearlessly for justice and peace in Jammu & Kashmir. My condolences to his family. He will be missed." Im anguished to hear about the killing of Shujaat Bukhari, editor of @RisingKashmir. He was a brave heart who fought fearlessly for justice and peace in Jammu & Kashmir. My condolences to his family. He will be missed. Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 14, 2018 Several journalist bodies too condemned the killing of the senior journalist in Srinagar. They also demanded that forces responsible for his killing should be brought to book at the earliest. Condemning what it called a "dastardly attack", the Editors Guild of India said that Bukhari was "a voice of moderation and a courageous, big-hearted editor who mentored a large cadre of young journalists from Kashmir". "The guild calls upon the government of Jammu and Kashmir to take urgent steps to bring to book the culprits and ensure safety and security for the media in the state," it said in a statement. (With PTI inputs) JAMMU: Pakistan's notorious spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) may be behind the abduction and cold-blooded killing of Army jawan Aurangzeb, whose bullet-ridden body was found in J&K's Kalampora in Pulwama district hours after he was kidnapped at the gunpoint. Intelligence sources have told Zee Media that Pakistan's all-powerful ISI is rattled with the anti-terror operations being carried out by the Indian army against terrorist groups waging a 'jihad' for the liberation of Kashmir. The sources also claimed that the plan to kidnap and kill Aurangzeb was executed at the behest of the ISI to teach a ''lesson to the Indian security forces''. With Aurangzeb's brutal killing, the Pakistan-backed terrorists have sent a strong message to the authorities that they will not be deterred by the ongoing anti-terror operations in the Kashmir Valley. The jawan was chosen by the ISI-backed terrorists to discourage the Kashmiri youths from joining the Indian Army or other para-military forces, the sources claimed. Hours after his abduction on Thursday, Aurangzeb's bullet-ridden body was found by a team of police and Army at Gussu village, about 10-km away from Kalampora, in Pulwama district. He was shot in his head and neck. Reacting to the killing of the jawan, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah tweeted, "Another piece of terrible news to add to an already horrible day. May Aurangzeb rest in peace. Allah Jannat naseeb karay(sic)." Another piece of terrible news to add to an already horrible day. May Aurangzeb rest in peace. Allah Jannat naseeb karay. https://t.co/n2hjzT0R7c Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 14, 2018 The Army jawan, who was involved in the encounter of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Sameer Tiger, was a resident of Poonch. He was on his way back home after completing his duty when he was surrounded by a group of heavily-armed terrorists and taken away at gunpoint. He was travelling onboard a bus and headed towards his home when he was abducted. As soon as the report of his kidnapping came in, the Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a search for him and informed 23 Rashtriya Rifles, with which the jawan was attached. The jawan was abducted and killed weeks after he, as part of an Army team, gunned down two dreaded Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists in Pulwama. Sameer Ahmad Bhat alias Sameer Tiger, who was the local Hizbul Mujahideen commander, was killed in the encounter at the Drubgam village of Pulwama district in May. Following his abduction, his mother had appealed to the terrorists to release his son, saying she wanted to celebrate Eid with him. Aurangzebs family has had the history of serving Indian armed forces. While his father retired from the Indian Army, his uncle had died in the line of duty fighting terrorists in 2004. The jawans brother is also an Indian Army soldier. He will be laid to rest with full state honours on Friday. (With Agency inputs) SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir's leading English newspaper 'Rising Kashmir' on Friday paid tribute to its editor-in-chief Shujaat Bukhari who was shot dead by some bike-borne terrorists outside his office at the Press Colony on Thursday evening. Rising Kashmir's latest edition hit the stands on Friday morning with its front page carrying the full-length photograph of its late editor-in-chief in black background. The page also carried the message that the paper ''would not be cowed down.'' ''You left all too sudden but you will always be our leading light with your professional conviction and exemplary courage. We won't be cowed down by the cowards who snatched you from us. We will uphold your principle of telling the truth howsoever unpleasant it may be...Rest in peace!'' the newspaper said. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said publishing the daily despite Bukhari's killing would be the most fitting tribute to him as it was what the late journalist would have wanted to. ''The show must go on. As Shujaat would have wanted it to. This is today's @RisingKashmir issue. That Shujaat's colleagues were able to bring out the paper in the face of insurmountable grief is a testament to their professionalism & the most fitting tribute to their late boss,'' Omar wrote on Twitter while sharing a picture of the front page of the paper. The show must go on. As Shujaat would have wanted it to. This is todays @RisingKashmir issue. That Shujaats colleagues were able to bring out the paper in the face of insurmountable grief is a testament to their professionalism & the most fitting tribute to their late boss. pic.twitter.com/ADP70D4F1q Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 14, 2018 Abdullah had visited the residence of late 'Rising Kashmir' editor and met his family members late on Thursday. Jammu & Kashmir: National Conference leader Omar Abdullah visits residence of Rising Kashmir editor #ShujaatBhukhari, in Baramulla, who was shot dead by terrorists in Srinagar last night. pic.twitter.com/32thNyOCq7 ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2018 Bukhari's cold-blooded killing on Thursday evoked widespread condemnations in Jammu and Kashmir and from across the country. Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra conveyed shock and grief on the gruesome killing of Bukhari. Recalling Bukhari's standing as a veteran journalist, the Governor described his murder as a big loss to the media fraternity. In his message, Vohra prayed for peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss. The Governor also called Bukhari's brother and Cabinet Minister Basharat Ahmed Bukhari to convey his heartfelt sympathy. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also strongly condemned the killing of the veteran journalist. In a condolence message, the Chief Minister described the killing of Bukhari as ''highly barbaric, deplorable and condemnable.'' ''His killing has only established that violence cannot stand the scrutiny of logic and rationality. The whole state stands in unanimity in condemning this inhuman act of savagery,'' Mehbooba said in the statement. She said the role and contribution rendered by Bukhari in the institutionalisation of the media here has become part of the journalistic history of the state. ''One would always see him raising issues of common cause concerning people. He would often fight for the issues of people through his columns and various discussions but alas this voice of people stands silenced today brutally,'' Mehbooba said. The Chief Minister visited the hospital where Bukhari was taken after the attack and paid her respects to the departed soul. She also conveyed her heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family particularly his parents, wife and two kids. The separatists have also condemned his killing terming it ''barbaric and unpardonable''. Bukhari will be laid to rest in his ancestral village in Kreeri in north Kashmir's Baramulla district today. His funeral prayers will be held at 11 am. Bukhari is the fourth journalist to be killed by terrorists in the nearly three-decade-long violence in Kashmir. In 1991, the editor of 'Alsafa', Mohammed Shaban Vakil, was killed by militants of Hizbul Mujahideen. Former BBC correspondent Yussuf Jameel escaped with injuries when a bomb exploded in his office in 1995, but ANI cameramen Mushtaq Ali lost his life in the incident. Later, on January 31, 2003, Parvaz Mohammed Sultan, editor of NAFA, was shot dead by Hizbul Mujahideen at his Press Enclave office. (With PTI inputs) Srinagar: Seeking the help of general public, the Srinagar Police on Friday released the photograph of the fourth suspect in the murder case of Rising Kashmir editor-in-chief Shujaat Bukhari. Srinagar Police seeks help of the general public to identify one more suspect involved in terror attack at press enclave, Srinagar, shared Srinagar police on its official Twitter and Facebook accounts. The photo shows a screengrab of a bearded man surveying the murdered journalist's car. The video was reportedly shot by a passerby. *Srinagar Police seeks help of the general public to identify one more suspect involved in terror attack at press enclave, Srinagar* : Srinagar: 15 June 2018:https://t.co/2Y1Oo1Ioge @spvaid @JmuKmrPolice @KashmirPolice @DIGCKRSGR pic.twitter.com/5CwDikaydq Srinagar Police. (@PoliceSgr) June 15, 2018 The senior journalist was shot dead in Press Colony near Lal Chowk in Srinagar by unidentified assailants on Thursday. The journalist was then rushed to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. According to reports, Bukharis two personal security officers also got critically injured in the attack. Earlier today, the state police had released two screen grabs showing the suspects in connection with the killing of senior journalist, seeking help of general public in identifying him. According to officials, Bukhari, who was in his 50s, was leaving his office for an iftar party when he was shot. While one of the personal security officers guarding him was killed, another policeman and a civilian were injured in the attack. Shafat Mir, an employee of Rising Kashmir, told Zee News that there were four assailants who carried out the attack in the crowded area of Srinagar. "We are not sure as to how the attackers came. They might have not used any vehicle as the place is very crowded. It is a busy street and remains always crowded, and since it was probably the last day of Ramzan, the place was bustling with Eid shoppers," said Shafat. SRINAGAR: The fourth suspect in the murder case of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari was taken into custody by Jammu and Kashmir police on Friday. The suspect has been identified as Zubair Qadri, informed Inspector General (IG) Kashmir Swayam Prakash Pani. Earlier today, the police released a video of Qadri in public domain. The visual showed a bearded man, in a white shirt, assessing the slain journalist's body from inside the vehicle. He was reportedly picking up a pistol from the murder site after which he escaped, reported news agency IANS. At this stage we are investigating the role of the fourth suspect, who was was seen picking up the weapon from the spot and vanishing, said Pani, adding that his role in recovery of the pistol is currently underway. An Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by DIG central Kashmir, has been formed, said Pani. He added that the first picture of the suspects, which showed three men on a bike, was not in public domain. However, another picture, showing a fourth suspect inside the veteran journalist's vehicle was in public domain. The first picture of the suspects were not in the public domain. The second picture was in public domain. It can be seen that he stood there, attempting to retrieve the weapon, said Pani. Pani also described the killing of the journalist as a "terror attack". As far as the case is concerned at this stage it is a terror incident. It is a terrorist related crime. We are investigating into the case, said the IG Kashmir. The identity of the other three attackers are currently being ascertained, the police official said. The veteran journalist was shot dead in Press Colony near Lal Chowk in Srinagar by unidentified assailants on Thursday. The journalist was then rushed to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. According to reports, Bukharis two personal security officers also got critically injured in the attack. Srinagar: An purported video of Army rifleman Aurangzeb, who was kidnapped and brutually murdered, being interrogated by terrorists moments before his death has surfaced. In the footage, Aurangzeb is seen sporting blue denims and full-sleeves T-shirt. He's being interrogated by the terrorists about his encounters, team and so on. The video is yet to be verified by central agencies. Here's a transcript of the video: Terrorist: What's your name? Aurangzeb: Aurangzeb. Terrorist: Father's name? Aurangzeb: Mohammed Hanif. Terrorist: Where do you live? Aurangzeb: Poonch. Terrorist: Where's duty? Aurangzeb: Pulwama... I am a soldier. I get on-post duty. Terrorist: Meaning, you're Shukla's guard. You go with him on 'civil'? Aurangzeb: Yes. Terrorist: Were you behind Mohammed, Wasim and Talha Bhai's encounter? Did you mutilate the body? Aurangzeb: No, I had injury in hand. Terrorist: What caused the injury? Aurangzeb: My hand broke. Terrorist: Who insulted (defaced) terrorists' body? Aurangzeb: Happened due to firing. Terrorist: Who insulted the three? Aurangzeb: Yes, there was firing. Terrorist: After the terrorists were martyred? Aurangzeb: Yes. Aurangzeb belonged to 4 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and was posted at the 44 Rashtriya Rifles camp at Shadimarg in Shopian. He was a part of Major Rohit Shukla's team that eliminated top Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Sameer Tiger. On June 14, Aurangzeb boarded a private vehicle to reach Shopian, from where he was supposed to go to his home in Rajouri district for Eid celebrations. The terrorists intercepted the vehicle as it approached Kalampora and abducted the jawan. Aurangzeb's bullet-ridden body was found by a team of police and Army at Gussu village, about 10 km away from Kalampora, in Pulwama district. He was shot in his head and neck, police said. Sources in intelligence bureau told Zee Media that four terrorists two from Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and two Hizbul Mujahideen were behind the abduction and cold-blooded murder of Aurangzeb. With agency inputs PUNE: Four accused, who were arrested in connection with the Bhima-Koregaon violence, allegedly organised a series of lectures in Delhi's prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and tried to recruit young students to join their activities, the authorities claimed. According to reports, the Pune Police on Thursday told a court the four accused - Sudhir Dhavale, Mahesh Raut, Shoma Sen and Rona Wilson - were allegedly involved in planning and executing a lecture series in JNU in Delhi "in the memory" of a Naxal, who was killed in a police encounter. They allegedly attempted to instigate students to join the banned CPI (Maoist) rebels. Seeking further custody of the accused, public prosecutor Ujjwala Pawar told Additional Sessions Judge KD Vadhane that instigating students to join the banned outfit is a ''deep rooted conspiracy'', which needs to be thoroughly investigated. Pawara also called it ''a big threat to national security". "A lecture series in memory of slain Naxalite Naveen Babu, who was killed in a police encounter, was organised in JNU. It was on the Naxalites' directions the lecture series was organised in the JNU campus and the event is to instigate, provoke and motivate students to join this banned organisation," Pawar told the court, according to PTI. The accused were tasked to execute the lecture series plan at the behest of the CPI (Maoist) outfit, Pawar alleged. "Documents (seized during the searches) establish that all these accused were involved in anti-national activities. It is very crucial to investigate their role in the execution of the programme and that is why further police custody is necessary," she said. She also told the court that funds were provided to the execute "anti-national activities". "It is revealed that to implement anti-national activities, funds were provided and police have recovered Rs 80,000, during the seizure operation, from Wilson's house in Delhi," Pawar said. She told the court that Wilson was not divulging details of the seized money. After hearing the submission made by the Pune Police, the court extended the police custody of the four accused - Sudhir Dhavale, Mahesh Raut, Shoma Sen and Rona Wilson - till June 21 after they were produced before it. At least six persons were earlier arrested for alleged links with the Naxals following a probe into violence in Pune district's Bhima-Koregaon town on January 1, a day after Elgar Parishad was held at historic Shaniwarwada in Pune. The four accused - Sudhir Dhavale, Mahesh Raut, Shoma Sen and Rona Wilson - were arrested on June 6 by the Pune Police. (With PTI inputs) JALGAON: In a shocking incident, three minor Dalit boys were stripped, beaten and paraded naked for a village in Maharashtra's Jalgaon for allegedly swimming in a village well. The shocking incident was caught on camera and later shared on the social media. The issue sparked off a furore in the state. The incident took place on June 10 (Sunday) but the came to the fore only after videos of the boys' being paraded naked in the Vakadi village went viral after which the authorities swung into action. The incident has come as a major embarrassment for the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena government in the state at a time when Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is on a tour of Dubai, Canada and US to attract investments. Later, speaking to reporters, State Social Justice Minister Dilip Kamble confirmed that two persons have been arrested in this connection and further investigations are underway. Union Social Welfare Minister Ramdas Athawale too condemned the incident and demanded "stringent action against the perpetrators of the atrocity on the boys". To beat the scorching heat, the three young boys from the Dalit community, aged around 12-14, had jumped into a village well for a cool swim on last Sunday. As the news spread, many people from the upper caste gathered near the well and pulled out the boys. They were then thrashed, stripped and paraded naked around the village. The boys can be seen wearing only sandals and some patvelia leaves and protested when at least one person was assaulting them on the legs and back with sticks and what appeared to be a leather belt. The families of the three boys later lodged a complaint with the local police. Several political leaders from the opposition Congress and ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, including ex-minister Eknath Khadse, and other leaders from various parties, have condemned the incident and demanded that the culprits be booked under the SC/ST Act. Los Angeles: Legendary rock band Metallica has been honoured with the prestigious Polar Music Prize. The group said they felt proud to get accepted by mainstream music as they received the award in Sweden, reported Billboard. The American heavy metal band, founded by drummer Lars Ulrich - was presented with the gong by His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Roger Glover and Ian Paice, of the British rock band Deep Purple. "Who would have thought, when Metallica started this musical journey 37 years ago, that one day we would be standing in front of both musical royalty and actual royalty, accepting one of the most prestigious prizes that can be bestowed upon musicians? "The type of music that we play was not supposed to be acknowledged or embraced by the mainstream, the media, or even large audiences.... And finally, while this award acknowledges Metallica's achievements of the past 37 years, as we stand here in this glorious moment, may the Danish kid in me shout out to the world 'Look Mom, we're just getting started!''' Ulrich said. The band is donating the prize money they have received to charity. The international prize was founded in 1989 by Stig 'Stikkan' Anderson - the manager of pop legends ABBA - and recognises ''significant achievements in music''. It is awarded to one contemporary and one classical musician each year. Previous winners of the prize include Paul McCartney, Ray Charles, Joni Mitchell, Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder. Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier "(It will) serve a need ... for kids in general and kids in trouble," said Commissioner Richard Clark. New Delhi: Bollywood stunner Adah Sharma has a svelte body which can give any actress a run for their money. The talented star flaunts her perfect bikini body in the recent magazine shoot pictures. She is a fitness freak and believes in working out regularly to stay fit. Check out her magazine cover pictures here: The actress works hard to achieve an hour-glass figure. Do you know what she does to get that perfect look? Well, on International Mallakhamba day, Adah shared a video of her doing the ancient Indian sport. Watch it here: Mallakhamba is a traditional Indian sport in which a gymnast performs aerial yoga postures and wrestling grips in concert with a vertical stationary or hanging wooden pole, cane or hanging rope. The word Mallakhamb also refers to the pole used in the sport. This helps in maintaining the flexibility of the body. Recently, she even took to Instagram and shared her fitness video. After Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore put out the fitness challenge task on social media, tagging others, several celebs have done their bit to make India a fit country. Adah took up the fit India challenge and added her own twist to it. She worked out not in any fancy gym but at a terrace and that too wearing a saree. Adah got the Filmfare Best Female Debut nomination for her debut role in '1920'. Soon, she moved to South film industry and did some great work in Telugu and Kannada films. In 2017, she was seen in 'Commando 2' opposite Vidyut Jammwal. The actress is a popular name in Telugu film industry as she featured in several hit films, be it her debut 'Heart Attack' or her last film 'Kshanam' which was remade in Hindi as 'Baaghi 2'. New Delhi: The festival of Eid is here and Muslims all around the globe are busy celebrating the holy festival. In India, the celebrations will take place on June 16. The moon was sighted in New Delhi on June 15 due to which the celebrations will take place the next day. Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and is celebrated by breaking the 30-day long fast with a grand celebration. The day is the only day when Muslims aren't permitted to fast. On the occasion, Bollywood celebs took to Twitter to extend their wishes: #EidMubarak to you and your families! To a life filled with good cheer, happiness and peace always :) Anushka Sharma (@AnushkaSharma) June 16, 2018 Wishing you and your family love, peace and prosperity in abundance. #EidMubarak Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) June 16, 2018 Eid Mubarak to all. Love, peace and happiness always.:) Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) June 16, 2018 Eid Mubarak Aap Sab Ko! Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) June 16, 2018 May the divine power fill our hearts with peace, happiness and love on this day and always! #EidMubarak Madhuri Madhura Sane (@MadhuriDixit) June 16, 2018 Love is always only in the eyes.heres all of ours to u on Eid. Eid Mubarak to everyone & may ur families be happy & healthy. pic.twitter.com/afAvn2OJo3 Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) June 16, 2018 Eid Mubarak Abhishek Bachchan (@juniorbachchan) June 16, 2018 #EidMubarak everyone ! May your homes and hearts be filled with happiness and love :) Arjun Kapoor (@arjunk26) June 16, 2018 Wishing everyone around the world #EidMubarak! Hope your day and the year to come is full of love, happiness and lots of biryani!! Parineeti Chopra (@ParineetiChopra) June 16, 2018 #EidMubarak to one and all!!! Heres to happiness, peace, prosperity and love, always. pic.twitter.com/QY6doXebK1 Boman Irani (@bomanirani) June 16, 2018 On this auspicious day I wish peace, love and prosperity for everyone.#EidMubarak Sanjay Dutt (@duttsanjay) June 16, 2018 T 2837 - EiD Mubarak .. peace and love and affection ..pic.twitter.com/infjar9DtZ Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) June 14, 2018 #EidMubarak to all! May this year bring you and your loved ones ample good health, prosperity, happiness and lots of delicious food! bhumi pednekar (@psbhumi) June 15, 2018 Wishing #EidMubarak to all you amazing people in the world! May you, your family and loved ones be blessed with love, success, peace & happiness #EidAlFitr pic.twitter.com/bvSJsHcSxy ARMAAN MALIK (@ArmaanMalik22) June 15, 2018 #EidMubarak Sabko Awwal Allah Noor Upaya .. Qudrat Ke Sab Bande pic.twitter.com/PXKv8UcPhf DILJIT DOSANJH (@diljitdosanjh) June 15, 2018 Wish you and all your loved ones Eid Mubarak. pic.twitter.com/8EJLYbiFN7 Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) June 15, 2018 The day of Eid falls on the first day of the month of Shawwal depending upon the sighting of the moon the previous night. The fasting ends and people look forward to Eid celebrations the day after. On the day of Eid al-Fitr, Muslims offer a particular salat (Islamic prayer) consisting of two rakats (units) which is usually offered in an open field or large hall. Here's wishing all our readers Eid Mubarak! Washington/Islamabad: Maulana Fazlullah, the dreaded chief of Pakistani Taliban, has been killed in a US drone strike in Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province, an Afghan defence ministry official confirmed today. Fazlullah, who has been designated as a global terrorist by the US and carried a bounty of USD 5 million, had been on the run since his loyalists were routed in a major military operation in Pakistan's Swat district in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in 2009. The US military said yesterday it carried out a strike targeting a senior militant leader in Afghanistan. It, however, did not identify the militant. "US forces conducted a counterterrorism strike, June 13, in Kunar province, close to the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which targeted a senior leader of a designated terrorist organization," Lieutenant Colonel Martin O'Donnell said in a statement. Afghan Ministry of Defense spokesman Mohammad Radmanish confirmed to CNN that Fazlullah, who is believed to be in his forties, was killed in the strike on Wednesday. The Express Tribune, citing sources, also said the drone strike that took place in the Nur Gul Kalay village of Dangam district killed Fazlullah and four other Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) commanders. Fazlullah, also known by the alias Radio Mullah or Maulana Radio due to his long sermons on a private radio channel, and his commanders were having an Iftar party at a compound when a remotely piloted US aircraft targeted them, reports said. The TTP, however, did not confirm the death of its chief in the drone strike. Fazlullah had directed numerous high-profile attacks against the US and Pakistani targets since he was appointed the group's leader in 2013, including the December 2014 attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar that killed 151 people, including more than 130 children. The US says Fazlullah ordered the 2012 attempted assassination of Malala Yousafzai, who became a global symbol of the fight for girls' rights to schooling. The US strike comes amid a ceasefire between the Afghan Taliban and Afghan security forces to mark the end of the Muslim's holy month of Ramazan. Gen John Nicholson, the commander of US Forces-Afghanistan and the NATO-led Resolute Support, said the United States would adhere to the ceasefire announced by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, which did not include US counterterrorism attacks on other terror groups. In 2014, there were reports that Fazlullah had been killed. However that information turned out to be false. In 2010, similar news about his death had broken out but later proved false. Washington/Beijing: US President Donald Trump has approved levying of new tariffs worth USD 50 billion on Chinese exports and China on Friday vowed to quickly retaliate, raising the possibility of a trade war between the world's two largest economies and trading partners. The US says its tariffs on Chinese goods are in response to what it categorises as theft of intellectual property. A formal announcement is expected to be made by the US Trade Representative later on Friday. Trump's approval to impose tariffs on Chinese exports followed a 90-minute meeting he had with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Thursday. Reacting to Trump's latest move, China vowed to immediately retaliate. "If the US side adopts unilateral protectionist measures and damages China's interests, we will immediately react and take necessary measures to firmly safeguard our legitimate rights and interests," said China's foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang during a regular news briefing in Beijing. China had previously said it would respond to American tariffs on USD 50 billion worth of Chinese exports with retaliatory tariffs on USD 50 billion of US products such as cars, aircraft and soybeans. Trump first announced that the US would impose trade penalties on about USD 50 billion of Chinese goods in March. After China warned it would retaliate, Trump threatened tariffs on a further USD 100 billion of Chinese products. In mid-May, both sides announced a cease-fire after two rounds of trade negotiations. The countries said in a joint statement that China would "significantly increase" purchases of US agricultural and energy products to reduce the trade imbalance, a top Trump administration demand. Ten days later, the White House abruptly said it would proceed with the tariffs. A further round of trade talks in Beijing earlier this month failed to yield any breakthroughs. President Trump's decision to impose fresh tariffs on China follows his recent imposition of steep tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from Canada, Mexico and the European Union on national security grounds. Those penalties have been met with consternation by world leaders and led to a fraught G7 meeting with Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom last weekend. The European Union and Canada have said they will enact retaliatory tariffs starting in July. Mexico has already retaliated with its own tariffs on US goods. International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde yesterday warned that the Trump administration's trade policies were likely to hurt the US economy and undermine the world's trade system. She said a trade war would lead to "losers on both sides" and could have a "serious" impact. With presidential elections less than a year away, the Poroshenko administrations tough stance against the Kremlin may not be enough for the Ukrainian voter. The Revolution of Dignity should have served as a rule of a law lesson for Ukraines political elite but it has not. Before writing off the social justice-inspired movement as a loss, it should be credited with energizing Ukraines civil society, galvanizing a generation of spirited reformists, and positioning young and talented leaders in government. This generation of leaders now irks a Western-leaning administration that does just enough to develop the legal institutions required of it by its international donors, while also maintaining its grasp over ministries, courts, and the prosecutors office. The legal missions that burgeoned from the protests in Maidan Nezalezhnosti central square are among the country's most important accomplishments, targeting high-level corruption on one end of the economic spectrum while empowering Ukrainians with access to justice on the other. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) fight graft, while the Coordination Centre for Legal Aid Provision (CCLAP) extends the criminal defense and civil legal services to all Ukrainians. However, these new institutions are not a panacea for corruption. Ukraine's long struggle against corruption will require political change, starting with fresh leadership. Thomas and Christopher Carothers, writing in The National Interest, rightly call for a renewed U.S. foreign policy commitment to fighting corruption, recognizing the political instability it breeds abroad. To continue to fight corruption and bring stability to a tense and battered Ukraine, the U.S. must continue to offer diplomatic and political support to Maidans stakeholders, even when that support runs counter to the interests of its ally, the Poroshenko administration. Hierarchical public-sector arrangements restrain Maidans new agencies from implementing their mandates, as they are susceptible to pressure from the executive and ministerial appointments that oversee their work. This poses a major dilemma for Maidans reformists. New leaders carry out their duties in the spirit of the Revolution of Dignity at the risk of upsetting higher-ups, termination, and even threats to their personal safety, or, they may acquiesce to business as usual, jeopardizing support from civil society and the Ukrainian people. On several occasions, Ukraine's new generation of leaders have managed to introduce some semblance of horizontal accountability into their young democracy; however, Western diplomatic support has often been an important ingredient in those episodes. That support for independent institutions must continue, even as the U.S. examines its own relationship with the rule of law. New Prosecutor, Same Story As the most consequential agency to emerge from the Revolution of Dignity, an independent NABU now holds the authority to investigate corrupt officials as it sees fit. But the decision to prosecute those cases is less shielded from political influence. Similar to U.S. Special Counsel, under Ukrainian law, SAPO prosecutors answer to their Attorney General, the General Prosecutors Office (GPO). The executive control over the GPO that enabled past Ukrainian presidents to "lock up" their political enemies is still unchecked. Instead of addressing the country's long tradition of politicized prosecution, which played no small part in sparking 2014's protests, the power of appointment has been mired in politics. Ironically, the current Prosecutor General, Yuriy Lutsenko, who was appointed after an impromptu amendment removed a requirement that he must hold a law degree, was himself a political prisoner under the Yanukovych administration. Lutsenko's predecessor, Viktor Shohkin, only lasted for one year. Former Vice President Joe Biden had pressured Poroshenko to remove Shohkin for obstructing efforts to charge corrupt prosecutors. In post-Maidan Ukraine, the issue is not merely about what corruption cases are charged, but which are ignored. That should be considered an improvement, as should the indictment of officials like Roman Nasirovthe former head of the State Fiscal Service, suspected of embezzling over $75 millionare political allies of the same officials who authorize their prosecutions. But the prospect of an independent prosecutorial arm seems distant until SAPOs opaque legislative mandate is addressed, GPO and NABU straighten their procedural and jurisdictional arrangements, and the charging documents and records of conviction in high-level corruption cases are made public. Furthermore, things got messier yet in Aprilthe words of former U.S. Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary Michael Carpenterwhen NABU presented evidence that the Head of SAPO, Nazar Kholodynsky, had obstructed justice by influencing prosecutors and judges and by warning suspects of upcoming searches. Delivering Equal Justice to All Ukrainians Episodes like those at the GPO are representative of the persistence of Soviet-era apparatchik-style appointments, which bring loyalists into office rather than well-qualified technocrats. Calls for new generations of Ukrainian leaders to enter government have echoed across offices large and small. Within the justice sector and judiciary, the void of political independence does not merely shield corrupt officials, it also undermines the Revolution of Dignity and demeans the everyday Ukrainians access to justice. During the height of the Revolution, public defenders from the CCLAP represented the Bankova Street Prisoners, a group of protesters beaten outside of then-President Yanukovychs mansion and detained for months. At that time, police officers discriminately informed suspects of their right to counsel; Article 59 of the Ukrainian Constitution, which has guaranteed that protection since 2000, was recognized by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine but is effectively toothless. CCLAPs less obvious, but no less challenging task, is strengthening the defense bar by introducing adversarial legalism into a profession with a legacy of cozy relations between state prosecutors and judges a job well-suited for its former director, Andriy Vyshnevsky. Throughout his tenure at the CCLAP, Vyshnevsky had flagged corruption within the criminal justice system and advocated for whistleblowing reforms. Yet, when detailing how defense attorneys were expected to act as bribe mediators between judges and clients before a committee handling state judicial reform in 2015, the Ukrainian Bar Association became so irritated by Vyshnevsky that they disbarred him. Last year, when Vyshnevsky was promoted to Deputy Minister of Justice after having overseen the CCLAPs development since its infancy, the Ministry announced that a loyalist pick would succeed him. The CCLAP contested the ministry appointment and called for a formal application procedure. The Ministry of Justice granted the request, but after an application process carried out by a majority of his very own colleagues, the ministry appointee defeated three candidates holding significantly more criminal justice and civil legal assistance experience. The CCLAP offices and the human rights community were outraged and protested in front of their offices during a visit from Minister of Justice, Pavlo Petrenkoan unthinkable act in the pre-Maidan eraalleging that the application process was void of transparency and objective hiring criteria. The ordeal did not sit well with the American and Canadian partners that had watched the CCLAP grow. Feeling the pressure, the Ministry reversed its selection, announced a new application cycle, and at the insistence of foreign missions, signed a memorandum of understanding with the CCLAP, stating in part that no employees would be terminated for voicing opposition to the appointment. Vyshnevsky was not so lucky. His support for his former office as a sitting deputy minister resulted in a request for his resignation, just weeks after being promoted. Ukraines Future Leaders With presidential elections less than a year away, the Poroshenko administrations tough stance against the Kremlin may not be enough for the Ukrainian voter. The administration has rightfully embraced public international law to protect its borders from Russias illegal annexation of Crimea and acts of aggression in Donbas. But the administration has neglected the health of the countrys domestic legal order and its progress against corruption. When Poroshenko angered civil society by rejecting its call for greater international involvement in Ukraines judicial reform, the President may have very well recognized that legal development assistance, which has traditionally posed a win-win to Ukrainian governments, now carries real consequences. In the end, the U.S. commitment to Ukraine's rule of the law must continue to guide it in its diplomatic support for Maidan's stakeholders and Ukraine's future leaders. Christopher D. Russell is an attorney and former Title-VIII Research Fellow at the Kennan Institute. He previously served as a Fulbright Public Policy Fellow in Ukraines Ministry of Justice, where he advised the Coordination Centre for Legal Aid Provision. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School and Robert La Follette School of Public Affairs. Scandalous amendment to the law on the Anti-Corruption Court, which would allow the defendants to use the services of the corrupt judges, is pure cheating Read the original text on Facebook Open source Scandalous amendment to the law on the Anti-Corruption Court, which would allow the defendants of dozens of cases of National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) to use the services of the corrupt judges, is pure cheating. How did it happen? I am not a member of the profile committee, but I have been to its final meeting. I remember that neither during the discussion nor during the announcement was this amendment voiced by the head of the committee. The transcripts are not available yet, but we have watched the direct streams - the revision was not voiced. This revision was not voiced during the discussion and voting in the session hall. Speaking from the rostrum, the head of the committee read out all the key edits to the document, except this one. This can be verified in the transcript of the session of the parliament. After listing all the edits, there was only one phrase: "and other technical and legal edits." BUT. This is NOT technical and legal editing, but a significant addition, changing the essence of the document, which the head of the committee had to read, but did not do it. The only document where I found mentioning this revision is the transcript of the previous meeting of the profile committee of 21.05, where the following sentence is given: "The requirement of the Venice Commission was also taken into account - the trial of criminal proceedings started in the courts of the first or appellate instance before the beginning of the work of the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court continued ... to be considered in these courts." But. First, there is no such requirement in any official document or release of the Venice Commission (Secretary of the Venice Commission Thomas Markert said that the Venice Commission did not insist on including this rule in the law). Secondly, this version of the changes was not displayed in the table for the second reading, and you can find it on the official website of the Verkhovna Rada. That is, the parliament did not consider and could not vote for the editors of this rule, but voted to ensure that the affairs of NABU were considered in the Anti-Corruption Chamber. We should ask Ruslan Knyazevych what was the purpose to deliberately mislead the parliament. Why is this dangerous? Strictly speaking, this small paragraph will allow appealing to in the courts of general jurisdiction prior to the launch of the Anti-Corruption Court, so the cases would be considered by the current corrupted courts. It can touch Mykola Martynenko, Roman Nasirov, Gennady Trukhanov, Olexandr Onishchenko, Boryslav Rosenblat, and so on. A total of about 130 (!) cases. How to fix it? There are two ways. The first: a separate bill with amendments to the signed law should be introduced. The second: we should wait for the second reading of the presidential bill 7441 on the judicial system and register the appropriate amendment in the second reading. This is not a catastrophe, but this undisguised indulgence should be abolished in any case. And the last. I do not take responsibility away from myself, as I voted for this version of the bill. But frankly, it was impossible to foresee such a level of fraud. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or 112.International and its owners. Read the original text at 112.ua Open source The money allocated by the European Union is macro-financial support, that is, it will go directly to the budget, into a common pool. These are not the earmarked funds, they are simply financing the budget. They finance the general expenses of the budget: pensions, military expenses, salaries and so on. Also, some purchases of goods and services by the state according to the monthly list of the state budget. We take this money for two reasons. First, we have a budget deficit, that is, our expenses exceed our revenues. Accordingly, somehow one has to cover this difference, and this difference is covered by bonds, loans and the like. Secondly, we have accumulated in 2008-2013 huge debts that we now give or refinance. That is, we give the debt. We take some other debts and pay back the old ones, that is, we refinance. If we cannot fully pay off our debt, then at least we cover the old debt with a new one. There are two ways to get out of this vicious circle. Firstly, one can repay debts, but this is really very expensive. Although, we can do it gradually. It would be rather difficult to do it for the country, which is in a state of war. Secondly, it is possible to achieve economic growth when the economy simply overgrows the debts. That is, debts are important not only in some absolute amount, but they matter in relation to how much we earn. If we earn twice as much, then the burden of this debt will be half as much for us. Thirdly, it is necessary to reduce the budget deficit to zero, perhaps then make it surplus to repay debts, and do so by reducing the gradual consolidation of budget spending, reducing them as much as possible. This would not be easy, and this should be done gradually. We do not want to cut people's pensions and salaries. We are somehow gradually reformed, perhaps we are removing the state from some sectors. These are certain structural heavy reforms that need to be done. If someone thinks that we do not need the macro-financial assistance, I want to look at those experts who would take 1 billion euros from nowhere and put it on the table. Now the European Parliament has voted for the EUs readiness to allocate this money. Now the European Commission should detail, under what conditions, how this program works specifically. They write a special memorandum, agree it with our side. If we do not agree, we will say no. The already agreed memorandum is signed by both parties, and funds will be already allocated for it. And usually, the precondition for such macro-financial assistance to Ukraine was the fact that the IMF program has been successfully implemented. Accordingly, I think that receiving a tranche from the EU will become a clear signal and a prerequisite for obtaining a tranche from the IMF. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or 112.International and its owners. Due to the suspension of the decision, the Ukrainian company temporarily cannot charge money from Gazprom The Appeal Court of Svea district in Sweden suspended the decision of the Stockholm arbitrary court in the Gazprom-Naftogaz dispute about gas transit contract. Interfax news agency reported this on Thursday. According to the medium, Gazprom said it turned to the Appeal Court, asking to appeal the arbitrary decision about the transit contract. 'The Appeal Court agreed that there are enough reasons to suspend the decision of the Stockholm arbitrary. Making such decision leaves NJSC Naftogaz Ukraine without mechanisms to seize Gazprom's assets abroad. Gazprom will use this circumstance during the appeal of the actions of tipstaffs in Switzerland and the Netherlands', the Russian company said as quoted by Interfax. According to the Swedish law, the order of the appeal court cannot be appealed. The Ukrainian side reported it would file counter-arguments in this case. Naftogaz insists that the decision was made without calling the company - consequently, without taking into account the Ukrainian side's explanations and arguments. The Appeal Court of Svea district did not notify Naftogaz about the claim filed by the Russian company. 'This decision is a temporary one. In the near time, the company will file its explanations and counter-arguments, expecting that the court will take them into account and cancel the decision about the suspension', the message says. In October 2017, Ukraines national joint stock company Naftogaz and six of its affiliated companies started the arbitration procedure against Russia. The Ukrainian side accuses Russia of illegally capturing Ukrainian gas assets in Crimea during the occupation of the peninsula in spring 2014. Interfax Ukraine agency reported this with reference to Naftogazs press service. Naftogaz assessed the total sum of losses as of USD 2.6 billion. The company demands that Russia makes up the losses that Ukraine suffered after the illegal capture of gas assets. That also breached the Ukraine-Russia intergovernmental agreement, under which the countries were obliged to mutually support and protect each others investments. We never comment rumors; the White House could not confirm this piece of information, - Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman The Ukrainian side will not be responding to Donald Trump's statement about Crimea being 'part of Russia', which he voiced out during the G7 summit. Maryana Betsa, the spokesperson of Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said this in her commentary for the Ukrainian media in Kyiv on Friday. 'We will not react. We never do when it comes to rumors. As far as I know, the White House did not respond, saying they did not have such kind of information', Betsa said. Earlier, U.S. leader Donald Trump called Crimea 'part of Russia', because 'everyone speaks Russian there'. BuzzFeed News reported that with reference to their own sources. According to the outlet, Trump said this at the dinner, which took place after the official part of the G7 summit. Alberto Nardelli, the European editor of the outlet confirmed that on Twitter. Trump also asked the G7 leaders why would they support Ukraine, since it was 'one of the most corrupt countries of the world', he said. Previously, Trump said he upheld Russia's return to G8, while the G7 leaders opposed the idea. Earlier U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May said that Russia would not be invited to return to the G7 countries until it stops interfering in the affairs of other countries. As it was reported, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko thanked the leaders of the G-7 countries for their support of Ukraine. According to him, the results of the summit confirmed that Ukraine is "among the key priorities of the free world." The penal colony's administration did not explain the reasons for such decision, - Denysova Open source The administration of Labytnangi penal colony did not let Lyudmyla Denysova, the Ukrainian ombudswoman, visit Oleg Sentsov, who now serves time in Russia under the charges of preparing terrorist acts. According to Denysova, she met with the colony's supervising officer; the meeting resulted in the denial to let her visit the inmate. 'They told me I cannot under any circumstances meet Oleg Sentsov. They said nothing about the particular reason why they denied', the ombudswoman said. As is known, Denysova headed to Russia in order to meet the Ukrainian political prisoners. The Russian side offered to arrange the visit after June 22. but Denysova categorically rejected this option, insisting to see Sentsov immediately. Previously, the Ukrainian ombudswoman visited other Ukrainian political prisoners, Roman Sushchenko and Mykola Karpyuk. As it is known, Ukrainian movie director Oleg Sentsov and Crimean activist Oleksandr Kolchenko were detained by the Russian FSB in the annexed Crimea. Both were taken to Russia. Sentsov was charged with preparing a terrorist act in Crimea and sentenced to 20 years in the high-security penal colony. Kolchenko was sentenced to ten-years-long imprisonment. Ukrainian political prisoner Oleg Sentsov has announced a hunger strike on May 14. This way, he demands that all Ukrainians detained in Russia and annexed Crimea be released. Sentsov said he was ready to die if the requirements were not fulfilled. Sentsov has been on hunger strike on 31 days in a row now. Another similar incident occurred in Boryspil airport; no casualties are reported in both cases An incident occurred at Zhuliany airport in Kyiv - due to the tough weather conditions, with heavy rain and a thunderstorm over the Ukrainian capital. Bravo air company's passenger plane performed an emergency landing. According to the airport's press service, the aircraft landed successfully but taxied outside the landing strip. 'On June 14 (8.40 p.m.), the Bravo air company aircraft, flight number 4406 Antalya-Kyiv UR-CPR landed and taxied outside the landing strip. 169 passengers were aboard the plane; no one suffered on the incident. All passengers were evacuated to the terminal, now they are in the arrivals hall', the message said. The rescue team arrived on the scene. The crew and airport employees expect the aviation experts; the airport is shut down until 1 a.m. Friday. Another similar incident occurred in Boryspil airport, where Boeing 767-300ER of Fly UIA air company performed an emergency landing. The aircraft departed from Boryspil at 8.03 p.m, with the take-off performed in tough weather conditions. As the engine's parameters almost exceeded the allowed exploitation limits, the crew decided to turn the engine off and return to the departure point, informing the dispatchers about it. No casualties were observed. The airport's administration reported that the passengers will be able to fly to the estimated destination - Tel Aviv - after the weather conditions stabilize and the aircraft is changed and prepared to depart. The estimated departure time is 11.30 p.m. Kyiv time. A passenger of flight 4406 Antalya-Kyiv UR-CPR, which got involved in an incident at Zhuliany airport in Kyiv on June 14 shared some details of the incident with 112 Ukraine TV channel. According to Yulia, before the plane landed, its wing caught fire and the wheels fell off. 'Before the landing, the guys who sat next to the wing saw some smoke. The aircraft was shaking badly, due to the high speed before the landing. Everybody tried to stick to their seats; I, for one, held tight to my neighbor's chair. We started to land, already knowing we had a wing or a turbine on fire. We taxied outside the landing strip and started to drive sidewards. The wing started to hit the ground, the wheels fell off. And then there was a strong and acrid smoke', Yulia said. The passenger said that the people received no assistance either from the crew nor from the airport administration. 'We immediately ran to stewards who told us it was OK. We managed to latch the door next to their cabin and started leaving the aircraft. There was no organized evacuation - we did all by ourselves. No oxygen masks, no life vests. When we latched the door, they told us to run wherever we could,' she said. An incident occurred at Zhuliany airport in Kyiv on Thursday evening - due to the tough weather conditions, with heavy rain and a thunderstorm over the Ukrainian capital. Bravo air company's passenger plane performed an emergency landing. According to the airport's press service, the aircraft landed successfully but taxied outside the landing strip. 'On June 14 (8.40 p.m.), the Bravo air company aircraft, flight number 4406 Antalya-Kyiv UR-CPR landed and taxied outside the landing strip. 169 passengers were aboard the plane; no one suffered on the incident. All passengers were evacuated to the terminal, now they are in the arrivals hall', the message said. The rescue team arrived on the scene. The crew and airport employees expect the aviation experts; the airport is shut down until 1 a.m. Friday. Another similar incident occurred in Boryspil airport, where Boeing 767-300ER of Fly UIA air company performed an emergency landing. The aircraft departed from Boryspil at 8.03 p.m, with the take-off performed in tough weather conditions. As the engine's parameters almost exceeded the allowed exploitation limits, the crew decided to turn the engine off and return to the departure point, informing the dispatchers about it. The law enforcement body does not make his name public, but conditionally call him citizen T. The Security Service of Ukraine has detained one more suspect in the organization of the murder of Russian journalist Arkadiy Babchenko and preparation of the number of the terrorist acts in Ukraine. Bohdan Tyvodar, the Deputy Head of Chief Prosecution Department of the SBU claimed this as 112 Ukraine reported. On June 13, 2018, the SBU detained citizen of Ukraine T., who managed the mentioned group of people in Rostov-on-Don and Ukraine, he noted, demonstrating the audio-evidence on Babchenkos case. Tyvodar added that the firearms and armaments were confiscated during the search of citizen T. apartments. At the moment, we have enough evidence to suspect citizen T. in the involvement in the terrorist acts preparations, he emphasized. The detained is served charge papers due to the illegal handling of the weapons and explosives and organization of the preparation of the terrorist act. On May 29 it was reported that Arkadiy Babchenko, a Russian journalist, was murdered in Kyiv. He was allegedly shot in his apartment. Ukraines police suggested that the murder of the journalist was connected with his professional activity. There were also reports on Russias connection. On May 31, the suspected in the organization of Babchenko's murder was detained for two months without a right for the bail. On Friday, June 15, around 150 residents of Sarny district in Rivne region blocked Kyiv-Kovel-Yagodyn highway. They were dissatisfied with the actions of the law enforcers who were countering illegal mining of raw amber. As a result, eight police officers were injured, as the press office of Rivne police reports. The police officers who were keeping public security tried to calm angry crowd, but they started twitching the law enforcers and throwing stones on them. One of the men knocked out a camera of the police officer and the conflict emerged. The police officers were injured in the clash. Eight police officers asked for help in the medical facilities as at 14:00. There have been no reports on other victims of the clash yet, the message says. The law enforcers opened criminal proceedings on the articles of Ukraines Criminal Code concerning initial bodily harms of the law-enforcement officer and blocking transport links. The law enforcers are conducting an investigation and determining the individuals involved in the commission of crimes. The traffic on the highway was restored. Kyiv authority is trying to make Naftogaz sign an agreement on the gas supply of Kyiv Teploenergo Open source Kyiv authority appealed to a court to make Naftogaz sign an agreement on the gas supply of Kyiv Teploenergo and prevent a blackout of thermal power plants, which produce power for the capital. Vitali Klitschko, Kyiv Mayor, said it on air of one of TV channels, as Kyiv City Administration press office reports. We have to appeal to the court to prevent the stopover of gas supply to the thermal power plants, which produce not only thermal but also electric energy. I hope that the lawsuit will be considered soon and we will solve the issue of the absence of hot water in the capital. To pay someones debts? Sorry, 1 billion 200 million is ten new kindergartens! Kievans do not have to pay for the consequences of the economic activity of the private companies, he noted. Earlier, around 3,000 dwellings in Kyiv are left without hot water because Naftogaz refused to make a deal with of Kyiv Teploenergo concerning natural gas supply. The representatives of Naftogaz company explain that they cannot do this due to a fact that the energy enterprise has debts. Kyiv Teploenergo informs that they do not have funds to pay off debts. The Chairman of Kyiv City Administration has stated multiple timed that the city cannot take upon the debts of a private company, which were accumulating within years. Yet, the Administration is opened for a constructive dialogue. The police confirmed that teacher who was with children took control of the bus A driver died at the wheel of a passenger bus with children. Andriy Kryshchenko, the Head of National Police Main Office, confirmed the incident at the briefing as 112 Ukraine reports. Kryshchenko noted that there are no details yet, but the police are determining the information on whether the driver underwent a medical examination and whether there was a request for childrens transportation. A detailed information will be made public after all the investigative operations are done. Informator news agency reports from the scene that the driver of the bus got sick. He lost consciousness and fell down of the wheel. A teacher who was with the children managed to take control of the bus. It was specified that there were 25 children on the bus the pupils of a language school. The bus picked them up at the bus station and had to transport to the classes. Nobody got injured. We can say that the teacher took control over the situation, parked the bus and did not let more serious consequences happen. It is a very brave deed and I would like to handshake this guy, Kryshchenko stressed commenting the incident. Denysova reported that head of colony refused to answer the question about Sentsovs state and asked her to leave the territory of prison Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Lyudmyla Denysova, who came to Labytnangi, Tymen Oblast, Russia to visit Ukrainian political prisoner Oleg Sentsov, claimed that the negotiations with Russian side on the visits to the Ukrainians detained in Russia have stalled as the press service of the ombudswoman reported. The administration of the penal colony where Sentsov is prisoned strongly rejected Lyudmyla Denysova in the visit of the detained and provision of the information on his health without explanation. Taking into account such actions of the Russian side, the negotiations on the monitoring visits to Russia have stalled as the ombudswoman noted, the message said. Earlier Denysova reported that head of colony refused to answer the question about Sentsovs state and asked her to leave the territory of prison. She also reported that she called Russian Commissioner for Human Rights due to the refusal. Russian ombudswoman Tatiana Moskalkova claimed that the presence of Denysova in Labytnangi violates earlier reached agreements. Lyudmyla Denysova to Labytnangi in the morning of June 15. On June 14, during the negotiations in Russia, she insisted on the meeting with prisoner Sentsov in the near time and refuse from the offer to postpone the meeting after June 22. As it is known, Ukrainian movie director Oleg Sentsov and Crimean activist Oleksandr Kolchenko were detained by the Russian FSB in the annexed Crimea. Both were taken to Russia. Sentsov was charged with preparing a terrorist act in Crimea and sentenced to 20 years in the high-security penal colony. Kolchenko was sentenced to ten-years-long imprisonment. Ukrainian political prisoner Oleg Sentsov has announced a hunger strike on May 14. This way, he demands that all Ukrainians detained in Russia and annexed Crimea be released. Sentsov said he was ready to die if the requirements were not fulfilled. Also, the parties discussed the implementation of the Association Agreement Open source President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko held the phone talk with Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Commission during which they discussed the preparation to the 20th Ukraine-EU summit that will take place on July 9 in Brussels as the press service of the Ukrainian leader reported. Poroshenko noted the progress in the implementation of the reforms, including the sphere of the anti-corruption policy in the context of the beginning of the Supreme Anti-corruption courts creation. The President of the European Commission confirmed the readiness of the EU to continue the full support of Ukraine in the introduction of the reforms and implementation of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU. The leaders also discussed the provision of the energy safety to Ukraine and the EU due to the threat of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines construction. The sides noted the urgent need of the early release of the Ukrainian political prisoners by Kremlin. As we reported the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the urgent release of Oleg Sentsov and other Ukrainian political prisoners. 455 MPs supported the resolution, while 106 were against. The president emphasized that the law encourages creativity, restraint and focus for victory in diplomats President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko signed a law on diplomatic service as 112 Ukraine broadcasted. What we were dreaming aboutIt would be nice to have a new law on diplomatic service. The law that provides the proper rights to the Ukrainian diplomat, the law that delegate the authorities to the Ukrainian diplomat, the law that provides the necessary protection to the Ukrainian diplomat and that solves a number of the social issues for the Ukrainian diplomat because the state should treat the Ukrainian diplomat as a soldier, he said. The President emphasized that the law encourages creativity, restraint and focus for victory in diplomats. Today is a holiday the law was submitted for my sign from the parliament, he said. Poroshenko reminded that the EU visa-free regime is the civilized choice of the Ukrainian nation and that the biometric Ukrainian passport enters TOP 30 of world passports. Let me congratulate one more time on todays big date. I am sure that this day will enter the history of the Ukrainian diplomacy and will be the important state of the development of the Ukrainian state. I thank everyone, thank the diplomatic service of Ukraine. Glory Ukraine! the president said. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the draft law #7322 On diplomatic service in April 2018. 276 MPs voted in the affirmative. The bill introduces the categories of diplomatic posts. A category is a Foreign Minister, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine with a residence in Kyiv, a Permanent Representative of Ukraine to an international organization, Ukraines Representative to an international organization, Chief of Ukraines Mission at an international organization. On May 4, Poroshenko vetoed the law on the diplomatic service adopted by the Verkhovna Rada. Art, music, dinner and drinks, with special guest Amado M. Pena, Jr. and live music by The Paddle Tramps, benefitting ARCA of New Mexico. La Fonda del Bosque Presents: Friday Night Art Collective Art, Music, Dinner & Drinks - with Special Guest Amado M. Pena, Jr. (Artist, Teacher) and Live Music by The Paddle Tramps, Benefiting ARCA of New Mexico Friday, June 15th from 5:00-8:00pm La Fonda del Bosque Restaurant & Bar National Hispanic Cultural Center 1701 4th Street SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102 505-800-7166 This is a free event to attend, dinner and drinks can be purchased separately. You must RSVP in Advance. Dinner Buffet can be purchased at the door for $20 for adults, and $12 for kids 12 and under, with a percentage of proceeds to benefit ARCA of New Mexico (includes tax, gratuity and non-alcoholic beverage station). Cocktails and Meet & Greet with the Artist- 5:00-6:00pm Dinner, Live Music and Raffle- 6:00-8:00pm Artist Collective Exhibit - Amado M. Pena, Jr. (Artist, Teacher) - Gallery display and meet and greet, All Night Free Kids Snow Cones - All Night $4 Adult Snow Cones - All Night Happy Hour Specials - $1 off all beer, wine and mixed drinks - All Night Drawing - Benefiting ARCA 7:45pm, must be present to win. Door Prizes FIRST COME, FRIST SERVED- designs by and from Amado M. Pena, Jr., along with other prizes, while supplies last. Join us in celebrating the debut of our newest art exhibit at La Fonda del Bosque, featuring Amado M. Pena, Jr., accompanied by live music featuring The Paddle Tramps, benefiting ARCA of New Mexico. Located at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, La Fonda del Bosque is excited to continue featuring our new, monthly event, the Friday Night Art Collective. Every month we feature an art exhibit and fundraiser, with live music, dinner, drinks, door prizes and a raffle. This is a family friendly, community event, aimed at promoting local artists, musicians, and non-profit organizations. The owner, Chef Stefani Mangrum, is also the owner of City Treats Parties which has been in business since 1995. Stefani Mangrum has been a local chef and business owner in New Mexico since 1989, owning restaurants such as City Grill and Wine Bar and the Albuquerque Museum Cafe, including the ongoing and successful City Treats Parties. Chef Stefani's new venture with the National Hispanic Cultural Center through La Fonda del Bosque is one the community and all of her long term clients are excited for. The June 15th event will feature a very special guest, Amado M. Pena, Jr. Amado Pena is recognized as an Artisan of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona. This is a particularly high honor and one that he cherishes. He is dedicated to furthering the public's knowledge and interest in the Tribe, its art, its history, and its culture. He has garnered acclaim world wide, with exhibitions featured in 24 states, and induction into dozens of prestigious collections in China, Mexico and the US, including the National Museum of American Art at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. His art celebrates the strength of a people who meet the harsh realities of life in an uncompromising land and his work is a tribute to the Native Americans who survive by living in harmony with an adversarial, untamed environment. His artwork is inspired by places such as Canyon de Chelly, Spider Rock, Monument Valley, Enchanted Mesa, Acoma, and Black Mesa. These sites are part of an enduring landscape that speaks of the ancient heritage of a region that is now known as Arizona and New Mexico. Amado's artwork is defined by its bold color and form and dynamic composition. Through his art, he communicates his vision of a land, its people and their art. We are honored to have Mr. Pena as a featured artist, guest and friend. This will be a retrospective art exhibit of his works. His pieces will be on display and available for purchase the night of the event, through July 27th. There will be live music from 6-8pm by The Paddle Tramps. The Paddle tramps are a local New Mexico band comprised of two members. Jerome Martinez is a 30 year veteran of the Albuquerque music scene. As a member of many bands beginning in the 80s, Martinez a guitarist, is the founding member of the popular groove band The Paddle Tramps. The 2nd member, Brian Seals, began singing from a very early age, by listening and singing along with his parent's records. Currently under the stage name "Grayhill" he's working on independent music while fronting vocals with the popular groove band THE PADDLE TRAMPS. He recently won best RnB song at the New Mexico Music Awards for his song "Red". All evening we will have Happy Hour discounts, $1 off all beer, wine and mixed drinks. All food will be buffet style at one set cost, ($20 per adult, $12 for kids under 12, including tax and gratuity, with a percentage going to benefit ARCA of NM). There will also be craft, adult snow cones for only $4, and FREE non-alcoholic snow cones for children. Come eat, drink, mix and mingle on the patio, under the cottonwoods, near the new fountain with live music and art. Special door prizes will be handed out to attendees, while supplies last. We will also host a raffle benefiting ARCA of Albuquerque. The buffet will feature a sopapilla bar, with calabacitas, black beans, barbacoa pork, carne asada, red chile chicken, queso fresca, garnish, and a salsa bar. Drink will include tea and agua fresca. Other drinks, including alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages such as sodas can be purchased at the bar. We look forward to seeing you! Please be sure to RSVP. Space is limited. Payments for dinner buffet can be purchased upon arrival with cash or credit card at a cost of $20 per person, and $12 for kids under 12 (includes tax and gratuity). Questions, comments, or to RSVP by phone, please call 505-800-7166. Projects in Alberta and Quebec are part of a C$3.4 billion capital program for 2018. Class I railway Canadian National this week announced its plans to invest C$320 million (U.S. $243 million) across Alberta as well as C$210 million throughout Quebec this year. CN also recently unveiled its plans to invest C$340 million across its network in British Columbia this year and C$130 million in Manitoba. These investments are part of CNs record C$3.4 billion capital program for 2018. In Alberta, CNs planned expansion projects include the construction of 12 miles of double track west of Edmonton across Parkland County; about seven miles of double track near Wainwright east of Edmonton; about seven miles of double track near Tofield east of Edmonton; and about 11 miles of double track near the Alberta-Saskatchewan border. In addition to the construction of double track, CNs planned expansion projects across the province include installing a new bypass track at Walker Yard in Edmonton, building new storage and bypass tracks at Scotford Yard and building new track capacity at the railways yard in Swan Landing. CNs maintenance program highlights across Alberta include replacing about 130 miles of rail, installing over 270,000 new railroad ties, rebuilds of about 40 road crossing surfaces, as well as maintenance work on bridges, culverts, signal systems and other track infrastructure. In Quebec, CNs plans include the installation of nearly 40 miles of new rail, the installation of over 155,000 rail ties, rebuilds of more than 35 road crossing surfaces, as well as maintenance work on culverts, signal systems and other track infrastructure. CN also said it plans to upgrade the automated gate system at its Montreal intermodal terminal, improving truck flow and making it easier for trucks to move in and out of the facility. After a harsh winter took a toll on CNs first-quarter net income, which fell 16 percent from a year prior to C$741 million, CN Interim President and CEO JJ Ruest said in April that the railway had turned the corner. Our metrics are showing sustained, sequential improvement, and that momentum will build as we continue to expand track capacity, add crews and bring on new locomotives, he said. CN is set to release is second-quarter 2018 financial results July 24. YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenias Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan held a meeting on June 14 with US Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills. Avinyans office said the US Ambassador congratulated the Deputy PM on being appointed to office and mentioned that they are ready to assist the economic and political reforms of the new government and that the improvements of the business and investment environment will help to attract greater numbers of American companies who already see the existing potential in Armenia. The Deputy PM and the US Ambassador discussed a number of issues relating to bilateral cooperation, including the continuity of investment and grant projects and the need to convey incentives in the infrastructure and tax systems. The sides discussed Armenias competitive for the Millennium Challenge projects new agreement. The US Ambassador said he will touch upon the issue soon. The US Ambassador also attached importance to the continuity of Lydian Armenias activities, as a major international investment project. The Deputy PM assured that the government will carry out unbiased studies in the mining sector in terms of international and state standards and that these inspections should be organized in all enterprises in a transparent and trustworthy format. He said enterprises in line with standards will be protected by the government. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. Czech President Milos Zeman burned giant red underpants from a 2015 incident in front of journalists at Prague Castle on June 14, Radio Praha reported. The burning of the underpants referred to the case of the Ztohoven art group, which hoisted a large pair of red trunks over Prague Castle in place of the presidential standard in late 2015 in protest at the policies of Mr. Zeman, Radio Praha said. The Czech head of state said during the press briefing that it was time to end the era of dirty laundry in politics, Radio Praha reported. In 2015, Czech art group Ztohoven replaced the flag flying above the presidential palace with a huge pair of underpants in protest against President Milos Zeman. Three men clambered onto the roof of the official building dressed as chimney sweeps. The Ztohoven group said the new flag was for "a man who is not ashamed of anything". But a presidential spokesman attacked the "desecration of state symbols". Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was unveiled Thursday honoring American actor Jeff Goldblum, who has appeared in some of the highest-grossing films in history, NBC Los Angeles reports. "What is the appropriate way to celebrate Jeff Goldblum day?" Goldblum asked the crowd. "Get liquored up and then all go to my house for a pool party," he joked. The ceremony took place in front of the Hologram USA Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. The star is the 2,638th since the completion of the Walk of Fame in 1961 with the first 1,558 stars, NBC Los Angeles said. The ceremony comes eight days before the release of "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom," in which Goldblum portrays mathematician Ian Malcolm for the third time in the franchise. WATCH: Actor Jeff Goldblum received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame pic.twitter.com/lrNDz2G0bw NBC News (@NBCNews) 15 2018 . Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, wants to replace English with French as the default language in EU institutions, the way it was before Britain joined the bloc in 1973, WSJ reports. With the U.K. negotiating to leave the EU next spring, he is eager to restore the linguistic ancien regime. English has probably never been so present in Brussels as when were talking about Brexit, Mr. Macron said in March on the Day of Francophoniea celebration of French language and culture observed in more than 70 countries. This domination is not inevitable, he declared. Macrons recently appointed ambassador to the EU, Philippe Leglise-Costa, walked out of a budget meeting in April because English was the only working language. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. Republican Member of Parliament Gevorg Kostanyan has stepped down as Armenias representative in the European Court of Human Rights. Kostanyan, a former prosecutor general, said in his opinion the new government must have the chance to freely presents its stances in the ECHR cases and not be restrained with previous stances. Kostanyan told ARMENPRESS that he filed for resignation three days ago. Gevorg Kostanyan served as the Armenian governments representative to the ECHR since the first day of the Armenian representations establishment. During these years I and my team did our best for duly presenting Armenias interests in the European court. I am sure that this new team will work with no lesser devotion and the human rights protection situation in Armenia will be improved yearly, he said in a statement. The full statement of Mr. Kostanyan is available in Armenian. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian held a meeting today with Irans Ambassador to Armenia Seyed Kazem Sadjadi, the presidents office said. The president mentioned that Armenia attaches great importance to the high level interstate relations based on centuries-old friendship between the two peoples, which give a good opportunity for developing mutually beneficial cooperation. The sides concurred that great untapped potential still exists in the Armenian-Iranian economic relations and consistent work must be continued to realize it. Boosting projects in the bilateral agenda was highlighted, as well as the Iran-EEU interim free trade zone agreement. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, 15 JUNE, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 15 June, USD exchange rate is down by 0.05 drams to 482.68 drams. EUR exchange rate is down by 10.78 drams to 560.05 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate is down by 0.07 drams to 7.69 drams. GBP exchange rate is down by 7.12 drams to 641.14 drams. The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals. Gold price is up by 100.34 drams to 20216.75 drams. Silver price is up by 3.38 drams to 265.75 drams. Platinum price is up by 138.22 drams to 14106.34 drams. YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received on June 15 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Armenia Tian Erlong. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the official website of the Prime Minister of Armenia, the PM highlighted the continuous development of Armenian-Chinese cooperation and emphasized that the Armenian Government has many expectations and plans in that direction. Pashinyan thanked the Chinese side for the financial and technical support to Armenia. Tian Erlong noted that China is also ready to make efforts to expand, deepen and raise to a new level the bilateral cooperation in all the directions, including political and economic. The Chinese Ambassador added that the integration processes in Eurasia give a good opportunity to foster economic partnership and noted that its necessary to continue the intensive works in that direction, including in the sidelines of One belt, one road initiative. The Ambassador added that during the current year 41% rise in trade turnover has already been recorded and assesses promising the development of relations in the spheres of industry, agriculture, infrastructure development, tourism, IT and other spheres. At the same time Tian Erlong underlined that the works of constructing a Chinese school in Yerevan are successfully going on, and nearly 200 ambulances will be provided to Armenia in autumn. During the meeting the sides discussed also other issues of bilateral interest. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. Those who claim that anti-Russian political forces have come to power in Armenia are wrong, ARMENPRESS reports newly-elected Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan told RT, adding that relations with the West wont come at the expense of Moscow-Yerevan ties. There are forces who want to paint street protests in the Armenian capital and Pashinyan coming to power in a different light, the man who was sworn-in as prime minister in May told RT's Ilya Petrenko in an exclusive interview. They want to make it look like anti-Russian political forces have come to power in Armenia, he said. The prime minister dismissed all such claims, saying the people who made the revolution happen, had no problem with Armenia's foreign policy and that it was a purely internal process. He stressed: Those who said the political changes in Armenia will lead to problems in Armenian-Russian relations were wrong. According to the minister, Russian-Armenian ties have no dark corners and Moscow and Yerevan discuss everything very openly. He noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin is very comfortable with this kind of communication. Armenia is open for relations with the EU and the US as well as other countries but not at the expense of Russian ties, Pashinyan stressed. We won't adhere to a policy that implies developing relations with one international partner at the expense of relations with other partners. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan Former Democratic Republic of Congo vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba has arrived in Belgium after being acquitted on appeal of war crimes, the International Criminal Court said Friday. The one-time rebel leader, who had already spent a decade behind bars, was "released provisionally under specific conditions," the Hague-based court said in a statement. In a surprise decision, judges last week overturned the 2016 verdict against Bemba and quashed his 18-year prison sentence, saying he could not be held criminally liable for crimes committed by his troops in the Central African Republic in 2002-2003. According to a source close to the case, Bemba left the ICC detention centre on Wednesday but remained under the supervision of the court pending approval from Belgian authorities for him to join his wife and children in Brussels. A lawyer for Bemba confirmed that he was in the country. Bemba's wife and children are believed to be living in a villa in the suburb of Rhode-Saint-Genese, some 15 kilometres south of Brussels, where he was originally arrested in May 2008 at the ICC's request. Judges had initially found Bemba guilty on five counts of warcrimes and crimes against humanity committed by his private army during a five-month rampage in the neighbouring CAR where they committed murder, rape and looting. The 18-year sentence was the longest ever to be handed down by the court and was the first trial to determine whether a military commander bore responsibility for the conduct of troops under his control. Bemba's interim release relates to a separate case in which he was handed a one-year jail sentence and fined 300,000 euros ($350,000) in 2017 for bribing witnesses during his main war crimes trial. He lost an appeal against that sentence and the ICC is yet to decide on a new jail term, which carries a maximum of five years. Judges last week overturned the 2016 verdict against former Democratic Republic of Congo vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba and quashed his 18-year prison sentence A flamboyant new casino designed by Zaha Hadid opened its doors in Macau on Friday, featuring futuristic curves and skeletal steel structures characteristic of the acclaimed late architect. Rows of exposed elevators glide up and down the imposing lobby inside the $1.1-billion "Morpheus" resort, a 42-storey addition to Macau's glitzy skyline named after the Greek god of dreams and developed by Melco International. Iraqi-British Hadid, who died in 2016, was the first woman to win the prestigious Pritzker Prize for architecture. Her major works in China included the Guangzhou Opera House and a mega mall in Beijing. For her first Macau project, finished posthumously, two tower blocks were merged using curvaceous bridges to create "voids" and allow as much light in as possible, Viviana Muscettola of Zaha Hadid Architects told AFP. Describing the design as a "jump into the unknown", Muscettola said the exterior ribbons of steel hold up the building and free up space inside by minimising the need for vertical columns. Melco's chairman Lawrence Ho told AFP he had "wanted to find the most iconic architect that can do something just insane" before the project started in 2013. Semi-autonomous Macau is the only place in China where gambling is legal, bringing in revenue that easily dwarves Las Vegas. The resort's opening comes as the enclave is undergoing something of a renaissance, with gaming revenues bouncing back after being hard hit by a corruption crackdown launched by China's President Xi Jinping in 2012. - Luxury-seeking crowds - While the big spenders have returned to the territory -- high-rollers were Macau's biggest drivers of revenue growth in 2017, according to Bloomberg News -- analysts say the mass market is also behind growth seen so far this month. Extravagant duplex villas with their own in-room gym and massage quarters are located on the top floors of Morpheus for VIPs, along with a gaming area exclusively for these residents. There is also a rooftop pool, while two restaurants by Alain Ducasse, one of the chefs awarded the most Michelin stars, are part of efforts to court luxury-seeking crowds. Revenues slid after Xi declared his war on graft with many mainland big spenders staying away from Macau, which had gained a reputation as a centre for laundering illicit money out of China. In response to the crackdown casino giants launched a slew of new mega-resorts, offering everything from theme parks to luxury spas as they looked to attract more mass-market gamblers to compensate for the fall in high-rollers. But Macau's monetary authorities this month issued a warning to financial institutions against the illegal use of UnionPay cards as China continues to crack down on capital outflows. Ho's father Stanley, 96, who made his riches by transforming Macau from a sleepy Portuguese outpost into the world's biggest casino hub, officially stepped down from his flagship casino empire SJM earlier this week. Melco's chairman Lawrence Ho told AFP he had 'wanted to find the most iconic architect that can do something just insane' before the project started in 2013 Semi-autonomous Macau is the only place in China where gambling is legal In a surprise announcement, Nicaragua's influential Catholic bishops late Friday said rival government and civil delegates had agreed to create a "verification" commission and invite independent international bodies to probe the violence that has left at least 170 people dead. In a twist after a morning session that closed in apparent impasse, the opposing representatives also reached consensus to prepare a plan for removing pervasive road blockades that anti-government activists have built to fend off security forces -- a key government demand. Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes revealed the Church had asked President Daniel Ortega to move up the next general election -- a move activists have vehemently called for -- to 2019 from the currently slated 2021. The president did not concretely answer, instead telling the bishops "we reiterate our full readiness to listen to all the proposals within an institutional and constitutional framework." The leftist leader has in the past expressed no intention of stepping aside. Bishops were to reconvene government and civil representatives Saturday morning to discuss "the process of democratization of the country." Nicaragua's descent into chaos was triggered on April 18 when relatively small protests against now-scrapped social security reforms were met with a government crackdown. Those demonstrations mushroomed into a popular uprising, with anti-government protesters facing off against police and pro-Ortega paramilitaries. Under the new agreement Managua would urge the presence of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights -- an autonomous branch of the Organization of American States -- to investigate "all deaths and acts of violence, the identification of those responsible and a comprehensive plan for the victims so that effective justice is achieved," Brenes said. The country would also allow in the United Nations Commission for Human Rights as well as a European Union delegation. Those three bodies would accompany a new "verification and security commission," according to the agreement, "always with the Catholic Church as witnesses and mediators." Brenes said that "national dialogue calls for the cessation of violence and threats wherever it comes from." Just prior to the bishops' announcement, the country's Center for Human Rights (CENIDH) raised the death toll from the months of unrest to 170. - 'Unprecedented savagery' - Foreign Minister Denis Moncada, heading the government delegation, had earlier affirmed that Nicaragua was suffering "an unprecedented savagery; a wave of crimes that dismays, that frightens." But he stopped short of laying any blame on forces loyal to Ortega, saying police and public workers have fallen victim to the violence. The government representatives also lamented the fact that Nicaraguans cannot go out after dark, accusing anti-government protesters of aggravating insecurity. It is, however, widely understood in Nicaragua that the virtual curfew stems from fear of roving armed gangs loyal to the president, who the population accuses of plunging the country into "dictatorship." "We are experiencing a wave of violence the government unleashed," Carlos Tunnermann, a civil alliance representative, said in the morning roundtable. Activists have erected blockades on more than two-thirds of the country's roads in a bid to fend off Ortega-backed forces. The makeshift roadblocks have wreaked economic havoc, halting the delivery of goods and thwarting regional trade. The Nicaraguan Foundation for Economic and Social Development (FUNIDES) estimates the country could lose up to 150,000 jobs by the end of the year if the crisis persists. The church had launched earlier talks with Ortega but called them off after a march led by victims' mothers last month turned deadly at the hands of Ortega-backed forces. The embattled president's Sandinista guerrilla forces ousted the Somoza dictatorship in 1979, and the leftist leader has remained a major political force ever since. He is currently serving his third consecutive executive term, due to expire in 2022. Nicaragua's government wants protesters to remove road barricades before holding a national dialogue or having international groups enter to support negotiations Truck drivers rest under a truck while waiting for protesters to clear a roadblock in Diriamba, 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Managua Czech billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babis on Friday clinched a minority coalition deal with the leftwing Social Democrats (CSSD), but will still have to rely on the informal backing of the communist party to win a confidence vote in parliament. Social Democrat (CSSD) leader Jan Hamacek confirmed the deal after 58.5 percent of the party's members endorsed the coalition with Babis's populist ANO (Yes) party in a lengthy operation that ended Friday. The CSSD will play "the role of a strong leftwing party" in the coalition, Hamacek told reporters in Prague. ANO won 78 seats in the 200-member parliament campaigning on an anti-corruption ticket in the October 2017 election, but Babis struggled to form a coalition. Potential partners shunned him over criminal charges he faced for alleged EU subsidy fraud, something he flatly denied. His first attempt at forming a cabinet ended in January when his minority government of ANO members and unaffiliated experts failed to garner enough support in parliament. On June 6, Czech president Milos Zeman tapped Babis as prime minister for a second time in six months, betting that he will be able to swing a parliamentary majority. "On Sunday I will present President Zeman with a draft of the composition of my government, which will then seek the confidence of parliament. This vote could take place on July 11," Babis told reporters on Friday. Teaming up with the 15-seat CSSD will give Babis the backing of just 93 seats in the 200-seat parliament. To secure a parliamentary majority, Babis -- a former communist -- intends to rely on backing from the 15-seat KSCM Communist Party. The KSCM has signalled it will back him in a confidence vote this time around in exchange for positions in large state-owned enterprises. This could give the Communists a role in government, albeit an informal one, for the first time since the collapse of the communist regime in the Velvet Revolution in former Czechoslovakia in 1989. The prospect of the Communists playing any role in government sent thousands of protesters onto the streets of the EU and NATO member of 10.6 million people last week. Police have charged Babis -- a food, chemicals and media tycoon and the second wealthiest Czech -- with alleged EU subsidy fraud to the tune of two million euros ($2.4 million). The Slovak-born entrepreneur has also been dogged by allegations he served as a Communist secret police agent before 1989. Babis has denied any wrongdoing. Czech PM Andrej Babis secured a coalition deal with the Social Democrats EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova said the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was a "wake up call" Thursday while also raising concerns over the island's compliance with EU money laundering laws. On a visit to Malta, Jourova said that Caruana Galizia's death in a car bomb in 2017 was an issue that "deeply shocked Europe". "The commission expects an independent and thorough investigation to uncover who is really responsible for Daphne's murder," she said. Juorova said she would meet Friday with officials overseeing the investigation into the murder. The commissioner also called for more vigilance over the country's so-called "golden passport" scheme. Under Maltese law citizenship can be purchased providing the buyer has resided on the island for at least one year -- a stipulation put in place by the European Commission. "Becoming a Maltese citizen also means becoming an EU citizen with all its rights including free movement," said Jourova, stressing that citizenship should only be granted to people that "have a real link to the country." "We must not enable suspicious people to come to Europe and get citizenship, to use it for money laundering, or to cause a security risk. The commission has a legitimate right to require some basic requirements," she said. Jourova also called into question whether the Mediterranean nation was fully implementing EU anti-laundering rules, citing the scandal-hit Pilatus bank. "We have to step up the fight against money laundering," she said. "I fear there are gaps in the Maltese system." She said the Pilatus bank, at the heart of a corruption scandal exposed by Caruana Galizia showed the "challenges Malta is facing in applying the existing anti-money laundering rules." Malta's financial services watchdog froze the assets of Pilatus Bank and removed the bank's chairman Ali Sadr Hashemi Nejad in March. Jourova said "the Pilatus Bank case revealed that there are some shortcomings and the question remains whether it is just this one case or whether it revealed a systemic problem of the control of suspicious transactions". "Any time we systemic problem with the implementation of EU law the Commission has the possibility to launch an infringement procedure," she said, adding that she had asked European Banking Authority to investigate further. People hold portraits as they stand beside lighted candles placed in memory of murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia on the sixth month anniversary of her death at a makeshift memorial outside the law courts in Valletta, Malta on April 16, 2018 France, Britain and the United States on Thursday put a hold on a request from the Central African Republic for UN Security Council approval of Chinese weapons deliveries for its national forces. CAR's defense minister asked a UN sanctions committee on June 5 to grant an exemption to an arms embargo and allow the shipments of Chinese-made armored vehicles, machine guns, tear gas grenades and other weaponry for its army and police. France said it had "concerns concerning some lethal equipment included in this exemption request," citing anti-aircraft weapons and ammunitions, according to a document obtained by AFP. The French mission to the United Nations requested "additional justifications concerning this lethal equipment in order to be able to take a decision." The United States noted that there was "no threat of an air attack in CAR" and questioned deliveries of eight grenade launchers, four anti-aircraft machine guns as well as anti-personnel grenades and rockets. Britain said it was concerned that the shipments would pass through Cameroon unescorted to the border with CAR. In her request to the United Nations, CAR Defense Minister Marie Noelle Koyara said the weaponry would help strengthen national forces who are "confronted with the strength and escalating violence of armed groups whose illegal activities pose a threat to civil order." The council imposed an arms embargo on the Central African Republic in 2013 when the country descended into bloodshed but its sanctions committee last year gave the green light for Russia to supply weapons to the national forces. China wants to donate military equipment which includes 12 armored vehicles and four assault vehicles, 50 pistols, six sniper rifles, ten submachine guns with silencers and some 30 machine guns of various calibers. The list of equipment from China's Poly Technologies also includes 300 rockets, 500 anti-tank grenades, some 725,000 rounds of ammunition of various types and 15,000 tear gas grenades. - Weapons request backed by UN - The request for the Chinese weaponry is backed by a European Union military training mission and by the UN peacekeeping operation MINUSCA, which has come under repeated attacks from armed groups. Five peacekeepers have been killed this year. In its note detailing objections, the US mission to the United Nations argued that special training was needed to operate the grenade launchers "which we are not certain has been provided." Most of the armored vehicles and other weaponry would be used by special forces trained by Rwanda and certified by the EU training mission. Units of CAR's gendarmerie and police were trained by the United Nations police. In her request, the defense minister argued that tear gas would help gendarmerie and police deal with crowd control as the "units do not currently possess any of this equipment designed to maintain order." The Central African Republic exploded into violence following the 2013 overthrow of longtime leader Francois Bozize, prompting France to intervene with its Operation Sangaris. MINUSCA took over an African Union-led mission in 2014, deploying some 12,000 troops and police, but the country remains overrun with militias, many of whom claim to protect Christian or Muslim communities. CAR's leaders have repeatedly asked the Security Council to ease the arms embargo to allow shipments of equipment that will beef up the national forces. The inhabitants of the mainly Muslim PK5 neighbourhood demonstrate in front of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central Africa Republic, in Bangui, on April 11, 2018; MINUSCA has backed CAR's request for Chinese weaponry New Rangers manager Steven Gerrard says he will not be preoccupied by Celtic as he concentrates on making Rangers a force to be reckoned with. "I think for me it is important not to be obsessed with Celtic. I have to sort Rangers out," the former Liverpool and England skipper told Britain's Press Association Sport as he oversaw the start of pre-season training. His priority is to get them fit for his debut Scottish Premiership campaign and he said that, and not closing last season's 12-point gap to their Old Firm rivals, was his focus. "There are things we need to improve on and my focus is on Rangers," said Gerrard, who will be up against former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, now in the Celtic hotseat, next season as he looks to alter the balance of power in Glasgow. Gerrard said the pair have already exchanged several messages but he said his duty was to focus on the league as a whole, not just the threat from Celtic Park. "There are some good teams in the league but for me I wouldn't be doing my job properly if I was focusing on the other teams." Rangers will start off at Aberdeen with Celtic their opposition in their fourth match of the campaign. Rangers manager Steven Gerrard says he won't obsess about Celtic In a spa town nestled near Romania's border with Bulgaria and Serbia, Oana Chirila puts on her hard hat and gets down to work with a dozen other young architects to try to save their country's heritage. Some of the precious architectural gems they are striving to restore bore witness to centuries of Romanian history and the crowned heads who ruled it through the ages. Yet their sheer longevity has left many needing more than just a little tender loving care, which Chirila and her team have resolved to supply as they beaver away in a vaulted, once sumptuous hall at the heart of the charming but down-at-heel imperial Herculane Baths resort. Chirila has embarked on an ambitious project to restore lustre to the crumbling, neglected baths complex, built between 1883 and 1886, which has suffered from a combination of official apathy and unhappy privatisation. "We must start off with urgent measures to rule out the threats and consolidate the building," says student architect Chirila, who hopes local authorities will help raise the 100,000 euros ($118,000) required for the first tranche of restoration. Described by the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I as "Europe's most beautiful spa resort", Herculane was already a favourite spot of the Romans, who were fans of the "miraculous" benefits of its thermal mineral waters, historian Dorin Balteanu told AFP. Equally charmed by the picturesque mountainous surroundings was Empress Elisabeth, nicknamed Sisi, who made several visits during the 1880s to try to cure her rheumatism in the curative waters and enjoy long walks. According to local legend, a tired Hercules, the Roman hero, once came to the valley, where he enjoyed a bathe and a rest, hence the resort's name. A big bronze statue of him stands in the centre. Neglected during the communist era, thousands of architectural gems all over Romania have fallen prey to real estate developers, who local activists accuse of having made huge profits by pulling them down and building glass and steel high-rises instead, often with the approval of local authorities. "It's a tactic of real estate developers -- let monuments go to rack and ruin in order to intervene afterwards," Maria Berza, an expert in cultural policy, said. - Erase the past? - At the Herculane Baths, several symbols disappeared under the communist regime, including statues of Romanian kings. And today, it's hard to imagine the former imperial grandeur of the Franz Joseph era from looking at the rusting pipes, cracked walls and fractured red marble that once covered the around 30 thermal pools. Yet, says Balteanu, tourists are still drawn here, despite the controversial sale in 2001 of a sizeable stake in the resort to a company owned by businessman and politician Iosif Armas on the understanding that it would invest to restore the buildings. Armas is now awaiting trial on an embezzlement charge linked to the deal. A former town mayor has also been charged with corruption in connection with the case. Chirila is hopeful her project will bear fruit. "Doing nothing is unthinkable. If we don't manage to save Herculane, a part of our identity will be lost for ever," she warned. - 'Viable solution' - At the eastern end of the country on the Black Sea, another architectural gem, the Constanta Casino, an emblematic Art Nouveau monument from the early 20th century, is crumbling away. Built at the start of the last century by Daniel Renard, an architect of Swiss origin, the site won the admiration of Russia's Tsar Nicholas II on a visit in 1914. Today, the rafters are home to nesting pigeons who flutter around the chandeliers, while the marble floor and elegant sweeping staircase are covered in the birds' excrement and feathers. "We have been trying to find a viable solution for more than 10 years to restore this building to its former glory," says Constanta mayor Decebal Fagadau. In 2007, an Israeli company agreed a concession deal to modernise the casino. But four years later, the contract was annulled by the Constanta town hall without a cent of investment having been forthcoming. As the town hall and the government quarrel about what to do next, an association of young Romanian architects, Arche, has resolved to intervene. - 'Sleeping Beauty' - They have had the casino placed on a list of seven most endangered sites collated by heritage group Europa Nostra. "The European experts will propose solutions for the casino's restoration to the town hall," architect Daniela Costea told AFP. In the interim, Arche is organising concerts and lectures to encourage residents to "reappropriate" and make use of the site. The 1990s, which witnessed real estate speculation on a massive scale, were a "disaster" for historic buildings, Berza said. But she said she was encouraged by the ongoing mobilisation of support to save the country's heritage. Whereas architectural heritage was for too long treated as a "cultural Cinderella", today it is more "a Sleeping Beauty, which is just waking up," Berza said. The site of the Herculane Baths was a favourite of the Romans for its thermal waters, while Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth were also fans Romania's imperial Herculane Baths resort is so named because, according to local legend, a tired Hercules, the Roman hero, once came to the valley, where he enjoyed a bathe and a rest Today, looking at the state of Romania's Herculane Baths resort, with its fractured red marble, it is hard to imagine its former imperial grandeur Student of architecture Oana Chirila says doing nothing to restore Romania's architectural heritage is "unthinkable" and worries if the Herculane Baths resort is not saved "a part of our identity will be lost for ever" Another of Romania's fading architectural gems is the Constanta Casino, an emblematic Art Nouveau monument from the early 20th century An association of young Romanian architects, Arche, has resolved to try to restore the Constanta Casino One evening as she watched some local kids play outside in her Managua neighborhood, Nicaraguan Mireya Alegria was shocked to see police, motorcycles and a white van carrying hooded men speed past. "They started firing," she says. It was the moment she decided enough was enough. Now Alegria is one of the thousands of Nicaraguans desperately seeking to process migration documents and flee to neighboring Central American countries, as two months of anti-government dissent has triggered increasingly violent state repression. "Thousands of people come daily to do paperwork," said Nubia Manzanares, a migration agent, adding that many come with their children. Lines in offices such as hers are endless, as families and young people attempt to leave in particular for Costa Rica, the primary destination of Nicaraguans since the country's 1980s civil war between President Daniel Ortega's Sandinistas and the US-backed contras. Jonathan Pena, 19, says his top reason for leaving is because he sees the government "persecuting and killing young people." He spent hours working to get a visa and travel by plane to Costa Rica, because at the land border activists have erected barricades in an attempt to intensify pressure on Ortega. According to analyst and ex-deputy of the opposition Eliseo Nunez, part of Ortega's strategy is to incite panic to trigger migration particularly from the middle class, an especially anti-government sector. The crisis sparked by relatively small protests against now-abandoned social security reforms morphed into an explosive movement demanding Ortega along with his wife and vice president Rosario Murillo leave office. But Ortega appears set on staying, and the past two months has seen more than 160 people die in bloody clashes between armed government-backed forces and activists brandishing slingshots and homemade mortars. The deluge of passport applications has swelled notably in the past two weeks, which have seen a sharp uptick in violence from armed hooded men roaming the streets by night aboard vans and motorbikes. - 'Forbidden to be young' - Nicaraguans say the gangs have marked youth -- who have spearheaded the mass movement against Ortega -- as their primary targets. "Now it's forbidden to be young," says Xiomara Vargas, a 54-year-old housewife who accompanied her nephew, a computer science student, to the migration office. Costa Rica's Foreign Minister Epsy Alejandra Campbell Barr said last week her government is prepared for a massive influx of Nicaraguans. That Central American country also said last week it would provide visas to relatives of diplomats accredited in Nicaragua who want to leave. Nearly 500,000 Nicaraguans already live permanently or temporarily in neighboring Costa Rica, many of them working in agriculture, construction and domestic service. Many Nicaraguans like Eime Monge -- seeking to move to Costa Rica with her husband and two children -- believe Ortega will stop at nothing to maintain power. The vast majority of the country's roads are barricaded by protestors, semi-paralyzing transport and commerce in the country, which on Thursday held a 24-hour national strike to protest government repression. According to the country's Foundation for Economic and Social Development, the crisis has endangered between 20,000 and 150,000 jobs. Some Nicaraguans have already lost their livelihoods in recent months, like Manuel Perez, who now has Panama in his sights. There's no point in staying, the 40-year-old says, because he doesn't foresee the country's "distress" improving anytime soon. It's an attitude analyst and former politician Nunez echoes: "Ortega will try to navigate between the rubble and reach the end," he says. "Regardless of the human and economic cost." Nicaraguans queue at a migration office in Managua attempting to escape the country's violent upheaval Afghans greeted the beginning of Eid with prayers on Friday as the Muslim holiday dawned in peace for the first time since the 2001 US-led invasion, after the Taliban agreed to an unprecedented ceasefire. Flocking to mosques for special morning worship marking the first day of the festival, youngsters in the war-battered country expressed cautious optimism, following the suspension of fighting between Afghan security forces and the militants. "On almost every Eid we have had attacks -- this is a rare Eid without violence," Samiullah, 17, who is almost the same age as the conflict, told AFP after prayers at the Shah-e Do Shamshira mosque in central Kabul. "We are hopeful peace will come to Afghanistan." Fourteen-year-old Sohrab Ahmad, who earns money polishing shoes outside the mosque, said he could not remember an Eid without fighting. "I believe there will be peace between the Taliban and the Afghan government," he said. But not everyone was so hopeful. "I don't think there will be peace in Afghanistan. We are seeing an increase in attacks on a daily basis," Imran, 13, told AFP. Defence ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanesh told AFP there had been no reports of Taliban attacks on Afghan forces since the start of the holiday. President Ashraf Ghani announced last week that police and troops would cease operations against the Taliban for eight days, starting Tuesday -- though he warned that operations against other groups, including the Islamic State group, would continue. The Taliban said Saturday their fighters would stop attacking Afghan security forces for the first three days of Eid, the first time the Taliban had declared a nationwide ceasefire in the nearly 17-year conflict. They said they would continue attacking US-led NATO troops. Eid al-Fitr is one of Islam's most significant holidays, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, and is typically celebrated by feasting and gift-giving by Muslims all over the world. Afghan Muslims were celebrating their first peaceful Eid since 2001 Afghan Muslim men offer prayers at the start of Eid al-Fitr in Herat Azerbaijani Muslims pray at the mosque of Tezeh Pir in Baku Muslim women wait for the Eid-Gah, the prayer on the morning of Eid Al-Fitr at the Rasooli Masjid in Pretoria, South Africa. Muslims offer Eid prayers on the roof of an unfinished mosque in Manila Libyan Muslim worshipers take a picture prior to performing Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Martyrs' Square in the capital Tripoli Thousands of mourners thronged Friday the funeral of a veteran journalist shot dead by unidentified gunmen on a motorbike outside his office in the main city of Indian Kashmir. Shujaat Bukhari, a leading journalist and editor of the English-language daily Rising Kashmir, was leaving his office in Srinagar on Thursday evening when three assailants roared up and fired several shots from close range. Bukhari, 50, was rushed to hospital but was later declared dead. Two of his personal security guards also died. On Friday, funeral prayers were held at the Jamia Masjid grand mosque in Srinagar before the burial in his native village in northern Kashmir. Bukhari, who was given police protection following three attacks on him in the past decade, had been a strong advocate of peace in Kashmir. The Himalayan territory has been divided since the end of British colonial rule in 1947 and both India and Pakistan claim it in full. New Delhi has about 500,000 soldiers in the part of Kashmir it controls, where armed groups are fighting for independence or a merger with Pakistan. Bukhari took part in informal peace talks on Kashmir with Pakistani representatives in Dubai last year. His final tweet, sent just a few hours before his murder, was a link to his website's reporting of the UN human rights chief calling for a major investigation into abuses committed by both India and Pakistan in Kashmir. The identity of the attackers and the motive for the killing was not yet known but Srinagar police released CCTV footage of the three suspects on the motorbike. Syed Salahuddin, chief of the United Jihad Council, an amalgam of militant groups, condemned Bukhari's killing and accused India of his murder. - Muzzling press - The government of Jammu and Kashmir has ordered a high-level investigation into the attack that came just ahead of the biggest Muslim festival of Eid. Rising Kashmir on Friday carried a full-blown portrait of Bukhari on its front page against a black background. "We won't be cowed down by the cowards who snatched you from us. We will uphold your principle of telling the truth howsoever unpleasant it may be," the paper wrote in an obituary. The murder has been condemned by both Indian and Pakistani leaders who hailed Bukhari as a fearless and courageous journalist. In Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, some 250 protesters gathered outside the Central Press Club and demanded an independent investigation into Bukhari's death. Uzair Ahmed Ghazali, chairman of Pasbaan-e-Huriat, a representative group of refugees from Indian-administered Kashmir, said Bukhari was killed because of his contributions to the UN report on Kashmir. There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack but journalists have regularly faced intimidation and attacks by anti-India militant groups and government forces for their coverage of the dispute. At least a dozen journalists have been killed in the nearly 30 years of the conflict in the restive region. The string of killings began at the peak of the armed insurgency in the early 1990s when the head of a state television station was shot dead allegedly by militants. Another newspaper editor was killed in 1991, followed by the 1995 bombing of a BBC correspondent's office that also left an AFP photojournalist dead. A video journalist with a local cable TV channel was shot dead by government forces in 2008 and a photojournalist lost both his eyes after police fired shotgun pellets at him while he was covering anti-India protests in 2016. Most of the murders remain unsolved. Shujaat Bukhari, a leading journalist in Indian-administered Kashmir, was shot dead outside his office The UN Human Rights Council will kick off a new session Monday under a cloud of growing US criticism and the threat of Washington withdrawing from the body altogether. Longstanding US criticism of the council for its alleged bias against Israel has escalated since UN-sceptic Donald Trump came to power. US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley gave a fiery speech before the Geneva-based council a year ago, demanding deep reforms to fix its "chronic anti-Israel bias". She also demanded the body throw out abusive regimes, like Venezuela and Burundi, which hold seats on the rotating 47-seat council. Despite the tough US rhetoric -- which essentially said reform or we are leaving -- little has changed. Tired of waiting for reform, Washington a few weeks ago circulated a proposed resolution unilaterally laying out the full makeover it was looking for. But the US received little support and has not yet formally tabled the resolution, sparking fevered speculation it was about to quit, and fears of the impact that would have. "If they withdraw, one can expect serious consequences for the council," Swiss ambassador to the UN in Geneva Valentin Zellweger told reporters this week. The US draft text called for dramatic changes to the rules governing how the General Assembly in New York elects countries to fill vacant council seats. It called for making it more difficult to win a seat but easier to kick out countries accused of serious rights violations. - Anti-Israel bias? - The main US complaint meanwhile is the council's treatment of Israel. Israel is the only country with a dedicated agenda item, known as Item 7, meaning its conduct in the occupied Palestinian territories is discussed at each of the body's three annual sessions. A reform process is underway but the council president, Slovenian ambassador Vojislav Suc, told reporters it is aimed at "the rationalisation of our work" -- not at political shifts like eliminating Item 7. The US is not alone in calling for deeper reform of the council, and just six months ago, it looked like it would be possible to reach a compromise the US could agree to. At a meeting of some 120 countries organised in Geneva last December there was much enthusiasm for a proposal to address each of the council's agenda items, including Item 7, only once a year. "The US was very happy" with this compromise, which would have dramatically reduced the amount of scrutiny of Israel, Marc Liman, head of the Universal Rights Group think-tank, told reporters. But the European Union failed to reach a common position, prompting countries in other regions to jump ship. "So it collapsed, and the Americans were not happy," Liman said, explaining that Washington then decided to push through the reforms it wants on its own. In Geneva, word has it that the Trump administration has already decided to slam the door on the council. - 'Pandora's box' - In a way, such a move would simply return the council to its original state. The US refused to join the body when it was created in 2006, at a time when George W. Bush was in the White House and his ambassador to the UN was John Bolton, Trump's current hawkish and UN-sceptic National Security Advisor. It was only after Barack Obama came to power that Washington joined the council in 2009. Ironically, US ally Israel could be the biggest loser if the Trump administration pulls out. Item 7 was adopted before the US came onboard, and since Washington has taken its seat on the council, the number of resolutions condemning Israel have dropped dramatically. Louis Charbonneau of Human Rights Watch told AFP the organisation was worried that in the US absence, countries like China or Russia could "come along with hostile amendments", including bids to exclude civil society from the council. "They could hijack the process, and the US would not be able to stop it," he said, cautioning that this could create "a sort of Pandora's box situation." The United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva has long faced criticism over its effectiveness Three people were shot dead in southern Turkey on Thursday during an election campaign visit to a mainly Kuridsh town near Syria by an MP from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party, reports said. Eight people were also wounded in the shooting at Suruc in the Sanliurfa region that broke out as MP Ibrahim Halil Yildiz visited small businesses in the town centre, the Anadolu and Dogan news agencies said. He escaped unharmed, the reports said, but the identity of all the victims was not immediately clear. There were conflicting reports about the circumstances of the killings, with pro-government media saying Yildiz and his supporters came under attack from opponents armed with knives and sticks. The state-run Anadolu described it as an attack against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and added that among those killed was the brother of the MP. It claimed that supporters of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) were among those involved in the attack. But unconfirmed reports on pro-Kurdish media blamed bodyguards of the MP for the attack, after he was met with hostility during the visit to the shopkeepers. Suruc, a mainly Kurdish town, was the scene of a bombing on July 20, 2015, blamed on so-called Islamic State (IS) jihadists that killed 34 people and wounded about 100. That bombing sparked huge tensions in Turkey at the time, with many Kurdish activists taking to the streets and accusing the government of not doing enough in the fight against IS. Turkey is entering what is expected to be a tense final week of campaigning ahead of the polls. Analysts are forecasting that the parliamentary and presidential elections will be tight, with Erdogan possibly to be pushed into a run-off and with his ruling party at risk of losing its overall majority. Map locating shooting during a visit by a ruling party MP to the city of Suruc, in southern Turkey, near the Syrian border Dinesh Chandimal's battling, unbeaten hundred defied a West Indies attack spearheaded by Shannon Gabriel as Sri Lanka were lifted by their captain to a first innings total of 253 on the opening day of the second Test at the Darren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia on Thursday. West Indies openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Devon Smith negotiated two overs before the close of play safely and will resume the home side's reply at two without loss on the second day. It looked for most of the day that Gabriel, the burly fast bowler who finished with the impressive figures of five for 59, would claim individual honours outright. But Chandimal, badly missed by Smith at slip off Miguel Cummins when only on 14, grew in confidence and resolve to finish on 119 not out, his 11th Test century and surely one of his most invaluable. He got good support from the lower-order, especially Kasun Rajitha, the fast-medium bowler who was one of two debutants in a Sri Lankan side showing four changes from the team comprehensively beaten by 226 runs in the first Test in Trinidad. Most controversial of the changes was the omission of veteran left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, although it was not clear if his omission was because of poor form or, as the selectors had hinted prior to the series, that he would be rested from one of the three matches. Chandimal's innings spanned five hours and occupied 186 deliveries with ten fours and one six. It represented a significant reversal from his performance on the final day of the first Test four days earlier, when an ugly leave at off-spinner Roston Chase triggered Sri Lanka's second innings collapse. Like the Sri Lankan captain, Gabriel also received good support in the latter stages of the innings on a pitch offering considerable assistance to the fast bowlers. Kemar Roach, the senior man in terms of experience in the West Indies bowling line-up, claimed four for 49, including three of the final four wickets to ensure that the tourists were still left dissatisfied with their final total, especially as Chandimal made the decision to bat first. - '10-year' misery for Udawatte - Gabriel's pace and hostility, reminiscent of his early bursts in both innings on the first Test, again caused great discomfort to Sri Lanka's top order and he was swiftly among the wickets in accounting for debutant opener Mahela Udawatte and returning middle-order batsman Dhananjaya De Silva. New ball partner Roach accounted for Kusal Perera in his second spell of the morning. Playing his first Test ten years after his one-day international debut, which was also against the West Indies in the Caribbean, Udawatte endured the misfortune of repeating the experience of a decade ago in being dismissed for a duck. Gabriel took the outside edge of his bat to the second delivery he faced for Holder to take a superb catch at third slip. De Silva, who arrived in the Caribbean only last week due to the death of his father two weeks ago and therefore missed the first Test, suffered an elbow injury when he was struck on the arm by the fearsome Gabriel with the ball ricocheting onto the stumps. Scans revealed bad bruising but no fracture. Mendis joined Kusal Perera and the pair counter-attacked briefly with Perera striking Holder for three consecutive fours. Such aggression could not last though and Holder again showed a safe pair of hands in the slip cordon to account for Perera for 32 off the first ball Roach bowled coming back into the attack. Wickets continued to fall around Chandimal through the afternoon but just as it looked as if they would fail to cross the 200-run mark, the tailenders showed courage in support of their captain, taking a few blows on the body to give the senior man a chance to reach a noted landmark and give themselves something to try to defend on day two. That's out: Mahela Udawatte of Sri Lanka is dismissed by Shannon Gabriel Tourists to New Zealand are to be charged a special tax, under new government plans announced Friday to deal with the growing influx of holidaymakers coming from overseas. Visitor numbers have surged by nearly a third in the past three years to 3.8 million in the 12 months to April -- almost as big as the country's population. "This rapid growth has impacted on the costs and availability of publicly-provided infrastructure," tourism minister Kelvin Davis said. "Many regions are struggling to cope and urgently need improved infrastructure, from toilet facilities to carparks." A tax of NZ$25-35 (US$17-24) will be imposed on international visitors from the middle of 2019, while price hikes for immigration fees and visas will take effect this November. Australians and most Pacific Island forum countries will be exempt from the new charges. Tourism is a key pillar of the New Zealand economy and the new tax is expected to raise up to NZ$80 million in its first year, which will be split between tourism infrastructure and conservation initiatives. The main opposition National Party claimed the new tax system would make New Zealand a "less attractive" destination. But Davis believed the impact on tourist numbers would be minimal. "When you're talking about the additional cost to, say, someone coming from the United States who are already paying about NZ$1,200, an extra NZ$25-NZ$30 isn't going to make that much of a difference," he said. According to data released by Tourism New Zealand in September last year, despite overall support for tourism, 35 percent of citizens think "international visitors put too much pressure" on the country. - Global backlash - The New Zealand tax plan comes as locals in many of the top tourist destinations around the world grow frustrated with tourists who boost the economy but also put pressure on infrastructure and raise the cost of living. Many residents complain that the cost of providing facilities -- like public transport and emergency healthcare -- and cleaning up after hordes of tourists is borne by taxpayers. Growth in tourism, fuelled by the rise of budget airlines and holiday rental services, has also led to housing shortages, property speculation and rising rents, pricing out locals in hubs like Barcelona, Venice and Berlin. The resulting anger has forced authorities around the world to tighten regulations on short-term rentals, such as Airbnb. In Paris and Japan, for example, governments have moved to cap the number of days per year a property can be given to short-term renters. One part of Tokyo only allows rentals on weekends. Other cities have enforced similar limits. Japan has seen record numbers of tourists recently and expects 40 million in 2020 when Tokyo hosts to Olympic Games. But a study has warned that the crush could lead to "fatal congestion" and paralyse the city's subway system. Local media reported Friday that Japan was also weighing measures to bar visitors who use Japanese medical facilities without paying their bills. Tourism is a key pillar of the New Zealand economy Locals in many parts of the world are angry at the rising costs and congestion that comes with hordes of tourists Juanita Perez Williams may hold a double-digit lead in the polls, but Dana Balter has the fundraising advantage in the 24th Congressional District Democratic primary. Balter, D-Syracuse, raised $109,222 in the pre-primary period from April 1 through June 6, according to Federal Election Commission records. Her campaign spent $83,186 and has $101,112 cash on hand with less than two weeks to go until the June 26 primary election. Perez Williams, D-Syracuse, raised $76,881 during her first two months in the race. She loaned her campaign $30,000 earlier this month, according to her pre-primary filing. Her campaign spent $50,502 and has $56,379 in the bank. The sources of each candidate's funds differed. Balter relied more on individual contributions. Nearly all of her total receipts $108,722 of $109,222 came from individual donors. She received a $500 contribution from Democracy for America, a progressive group that endorsed her in May. Perez Williams received $43,881.83 from individual donors, according to her filing. Outside groups, including political action committees, donated $33,000 to her campaign. Some of the notable donors to Perez Williams include House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's campaign and PAC. Pelosi for Congress and PAC to the Future, her leadership PAC, donated a combined $14,000 to the Syracuse Democrat's campaign. VoteVets, a progressive veterans group, donated $5,000 to Perez Williams' campaign. The organization is also supporting the U.S. Navy veteran with a six-figure television ad buy in the 24th district. 24th Congressional District - Democratic primary fundraising (pre-primary filings) Candidate Total Receipts Total Expenditures Closing Balance Dana Balter $109,222.16 $83,186.51 $101,112.38 Juanita Perez Williams $106,881.83 $50,502.74 $56,379.09 Both candidates have paid for television ads, but those expenditures have largely come after the pre-primary filing period. Balter's first television commercial wasn't released until June 5 the next-to-last day of the pre-primary period. She has since released another television commercial which is airing on broadcast stations in central New York. Perez Williams released two 15-second commercials late last week. The ads, which focused on gun safety and health care, aired on cable stations. The Democrats are vying for their party's nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. John Katko, a Republican, in the general election. While Katko, R-Camillus, doesn't have a primary opponent, he was still required to submit a pre-primary fundraising report. From April 1 through June 6, Katko raised $197,087. His campaign spent $130,571 and has more than $1.31 million in the bank. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The two candidates vying for the Democratic nomination in the 24th Congressional District will participate in a televised debate prior to the June 26 primary election. NewsChannel 9 will air a 30-minute debate between Dana Balter and Juanita Perez Williams at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 23, and 1 p.m. Sunday, June 24. The debate will be moderated by Dan Cummings. The debate will be posted on the station's website, localsyr.com. The televised debate will cap off a slew of other forums organized by central New York groups and media outlets. The Campbell Conversations, which airs on WRVO in the Syracuse area, will broadcast a debate between the two candidates this weekend. The debate will air at 6:30 a.m. Saturday and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. It will be archived on WRVO's website, wrvo.org. This week, Spectrum News hosted a "conversation" with Balter and Perez Williams at its Syracuse studios. The interviews aired Thursday night and will be replayed at 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. A public forum is planned for 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Ohmann Theater, 65 Williams St., Lyons. Balter and Perez Williams are scheduled to participate. The candidates will deliver short presentations before taking questions from the audience. The forum in Lyons is sponsored by Wayne Action for Racial Equality and Citizens Response Network. Balter and Perez Williams are competing for the Democratic nomination. A Spectrum News/Siena College poll found Perez Williams has a 13-point lead two weeks before the primary election. However, pre-primary campaign finance reports show Balter has a financial advantage in the race. She out-raised Perez Williams in the two-month period from April 1 through June 6. She also has a larger cash on hand total. The winner of the Democratic nomination will face U.S. Rep. John Katko in the general election. Katko, R-Camillus, is in his second term. The 24th Congressional District includes all of Cayuga, Onondaga and Wayne counties, plus the western portion of Oswego County. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Democratic congressional candidate Dana Balter will receive support from several elected officials at a press conference Saturday in Syracuse. Balter, D-Syracuse, announced Friday that Syracuse Common Council President Helen Hudson and Assemblywoman Pam Hunter are among those who will endorse her congressional bid. Syracuse councilors Joe Driscoll and Michael Greene will back Balter for Congress. Onondaga County legislators Peggy Chase, Linda Ervin and Thomas Buckel will attend the press event and endorse the Syracuse Democrat for Congress. Oswego County Legislator Tom Drumm is also scheduled to appear at the event supporting Balter. The press conference will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday at Sankofa Park in Syracuse. "I'm proud to have the support of these local leaders, who recognize the strength of our grassroots campaign," Balter said in a statement. "The city of Syracuse and all of central New York deserve a representative in Congress who will show up, listen and stand up for all the people of our district." Balter, whom along with Juanita Perez Williams is vying for the Democratic nomination in the 24th Congressional District, has the support of local party leaders. She was designated by the four county Democratic committees in the district to challenge U.S. Rep. John Katko, a two-term Republican. Polls show Perez Williams, D-Syracuse, leads the primary race by double digits. But Balter has the fundraising advantage. She raised more than $109,000 and has $101,000 cash on hand with less than two weeks to go until the primary. The primary election will be held Tuesday, June 26. Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 AUBURN The city of Auburn spends over $330,000 a year disposing of waste produced through its sewage water treatment process. On Thursday night, the Auburn City Council heard a presentation that discussed options on how the city could save money on its sludge disposal costs. Currently, the city disposes of over 6,000 tons of sludge at a rate of $54 per ton at the Ontario County landfill each year, Tim Carpenter, an engineer with MRB Group, told the council. The city also discards some sludge at the municipal landfill. The sludge the city produces, which Carpenter described as looking like "wet coffee grounds," is 21-percent solid and is classified as "unstabilized." Auburn has a special dispensation with Ontario County landfill to dump its sludge there, which is another reason for the high disposal cost. Carpenter said the dispensation could be revoked by the Department of Environmental Conservation at any point in the future. Producing a drier, more stabilized sludge could save the city thousands of dollars a year. For example, if the city continues to produce unstabilized sludge but reduces its water content by 9 percent, it could save about $90,000 a year in disposal costs. Auburn could save $270,000 a year by making a 75-percent dry sludge that is a class A, stabilized bio solid. Carpenter pointed to the city of Geneva as an example of a municipality that produces class A stabilized sludge and pays $24 a ton to dispose. He said other municipalities, such as the village of Endicott in Broome County, are slowly beginning to change their sludge disposal procedures. However, Carpenter said the projects to dry out and stabilize the sludge would cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars to implement. The reason the city is exploring this topic is now is because its sludge disposal contract is expiring next year and the law will require the city to go out to competitive bid for a new contract. The closure of Auburn's landfill within the next few years will also increase the city's disposal costs. "It's likely that the $337,000 will increase as the years go by so now would be an appropriate time to look into a better situation," Carpenter said. Carpenter and Director of Municipal Utilities Seth Jensen recommended the city waits to see how other municipalities change and evolve their sludge management before making any decisions for its own future. "We're trying to be proactive instead of reactive to something we know we will eventually have to do something about," Jensen said. Councilors agreed with Carpenter and Jensen's recommendation. "I think it's a good idea to start talking about it and we should pay attention to what other municipalities are doing," Councilor Jimmy Giannettino said. In other news Auburn drivers will be able to pull straight into parking spots on Genesee Street for a extra more days. Director of Planning and Economic Development Jenny Haines announced Thursday that work to the downtown area as part of the Genesee Street paving project will take an additional three to four days to complete, which will push back the transition to back-angle parking to sometime between June 22 and June 27. The city originally announced Tuesday that the change would take place June 22. Staff writer Natalie Brophy can be reached at (315)282-2239 or natalie.brophy@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter @brophy_natalie. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 3 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. AUBURN Cayuga County Mental Health and the Department of Social Services are proposing a slight realignment in staffing that would protect the county from losing money and even generate additional revenue. Director of Community Services Ray Bizzari told the county Legislature's Health and Human Services committee Thursday that the county's Children's Health Home Care Management work is not sustainable considering how the state Department of Health will eventually stop paying for currently supported slots. Eliminating that program, I think, is going to help us financially in the long run but also we're not able to do that work at capacity, Bizzari said. To remedy that, Bizzari proposed a multi-step plan. First, the current Children's Home Healthcare manager position would be phased out and contracted out at no cost the county as contractors would be managed through Medicaid. Then, Bizzari said he would like to transfer the children's manager into an Adult Health Home Care manager position that is expected to be vacated when the person currently in that job receives a master's degree in social work and becomes a county clinician later this year. The benefit of that being that a social worker would generate twice as much as their salary and benefits through the work they're able to bill for, Bizzari said, adding that he would bring detailed numbers when he brings the action as a resolution to the committee. It's a net zero cost and will actually be a revenue positive, county administrator J. Justin Woods said. Committee Chairwoman and Legislature Majority Leader Elane Daly said she supported Bizzari's plan and praised his effort to get the most out of the resources he has. I think that, basically is his role, to look at the operation and maximize staff wherever he can, Daly said. He wasn't asking to add a position which was good, he was just asking to realign them so I think he'll get full support. Staff writer Ryan Franklin can be reached at (315) 282-2230 or ryan.franklin@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @RyanNYFranklin Love 1 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 1 AUBURN Cayuga County's undersheriff has retired after 11 years in the position in order to join the ranks of the Cayuga Nation Police Department as a captain. James Stowell, who previously served for 26 years in the New York State Police as well as the U.S. Army, retired on June 6, Sheriff David Gould said at a meeting of the County Legislature's Judicial and Public Safety committee meeting Wednesday evening. He had a job he couldn't really refuse, Gould said. It's a great offer for him and I totally understand him leaving. By Thursday afternoon, Clint Halftown, the federally-recognized representative of the Cayuga Nation, announced in a statement that Stowell was joining the nation's police department. Halftown also said former state police Lt. June Worden would be joining the department. The two officers join a department that was created just last fall, when Halftown announced the nation was establishing an office of public safety, led by former state police captain Arthur Pierce as public safety commissioner. In May, the nation added 30-year state police veteran Col. Mark Lincoln to the department as its superintendent. Halftown had said Lincoln would help establish relationships with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Gould said, with just six months to go before his own retirement, he would not be filling the the position of undersheriff under that title. Instead, in the interim, senior staff would move up to assume those duties but would not receive the formal title. In addition to Stowell and Worden, Lincoln has recruited nine other officers that are currently undergoing the hiring process, according to a release from Halftown's office. With Stowell and Worden joining Lincoln, the department leadership will have 90 years of combined law experience, the release says. Colonel Lincoln and his team have the full support of the Nation Council and are working closely with other law enforcement agencies in a coordinated way to maintain peace and safety on Cayuga Nation lands and at Nation businesses, the release reads. At the time of Lincoln's hiring, members of a nation faction at odds with Halftown disputed his authority to create the department, arguing that a federal ruling recognizing Halftown as a federal representative only allows him to administer federal grants and other dealings between the nation and the U.S. government. Staff writer Ryan Franklin can be reached at (315) 282-2230 or ryan.franklin@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @RyanNYFranklin Love 4 Funny 3 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 2 Abortion already is dominating the Supreme Courts new term. A sampling of decisions and comments on the issue by the 9 current justices. Today, love and marriage are Pinterest-perfect. Nothing less than Instagram-worthy. It isnt true love unless you have a candid proposal in front of the Eiffel Tower and a sparkly, two-carat solitaire like Lauren Conrad. And as a bride-to-be, I am not immune to the picture-perfect pressure. I want a great love story. I want a beautiful wedding and a beautiful life. But I know a couple whose love looks very different. Their love story didnt unravel on Instagram though. They both grew up in Auburn, on opposite ends of town, but their paths never crossed. They both went to Auburn High School, but they still never met. Fate finally brought them together at St. Bonaventure University, where they fell in love. Neither came from much money, but both had great ambitions. So when they graduated college, he gave her a ring. It was a solitaire on a gold band. It was all he could afford, but it was all she needed. Everyone thought they were crazy. They left Auburn and moved away from their families. She sacrificed her dreams so he could pursue his. And they had three beautiful daughters. Thirty-eight years later, they are still together and she wears that same ring. If you ask her, she will tell you she probably couldve gotten something bigger maybe a new ring for an anniversary or a birthday. But she never wanted anything else, because wearing that ring is a reminder of where they both started. A reminder of humble beginnings and simple love; a reminder that love doesnt need to be big and sparkly to be everlasting; a reminder of how far they have come together. They are my parents. And they are the ultimate love story. Today is the day that I marry the love of my life. Before I do that, I want to thank my parents for showing me what true love looks like. Caitlin Rice West Chester, Pennsylvania Caitlin Rice is the youngest daughter of Timothy Rice and Elaine Krasniak Rice, both of Auburn. Caitlin will be married at St. Anns Church in Owasco followed by a reception at Anyelas Vineyard in Skaneateles. She will marry Cmdr. Matthew S. Polaha, Judge Advocate General's Corps, United States Navy Reserve Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 LOS ANGELESMichael Cohen, Donald Trumps longtime personal lawyer and so-called fixer, is trying to put an end to what he has described as Michael Avenattis publicity tour, filing a request for a restraining order on Thursday. Cohen wants to stop the loquacious lawyer for AVN Hall of Famer Stormy Daniels from doing any more information sharing in public about Daniels lawsuit against Cohen and Trump. The petition filed by Cohens lawyer Brent Blakely with Judge James Otero in a Los Angeles federal court claims that Avenattis seemingly relentless schedule of media appearances threatens to turn what should be a solemn Federal Court proceeding into a media circus due to the Orange County, California, attorneys stream of insults hurled at Cohen through the media. UPDATE 12:50 p.m. PDT: Federal Judge S. James Otero on Friday morning slapped down Michael Cohens attempt to silence Michael Avenatti with a gag order, according to the news agency Reuters. And the judge punctuated his decision by scolding Cohen for wasting the courts time. Otero however did not completely slam the door on Cohens request, giving Avenatti until June 25 to file his formal response to the gag order request. On Friday, however, Otero said that Cohen had failed to prove that he would suffer immediate, irreparable injury if Avenatti continues his near-daily practice of appearing on national television to talk about the case, and about Cohens other legal troubles. But Otero didnt stop there, adding that requests such as Cohens, throw the system out of whack. They impose an unnecessary burden on the court and an unnecessary adversarial burden on opposing counsel who are required to make a hurried response under pressure, usually for no good reason." The judges full, one-page order denying Cohens request for a gag order can be read online at this link. ORIGINAL STORY: Avenatti has repeatedly predicted in public that Cohen will be indicted and arrested, calling Cohen a moron, incompetent, and claiming that Cohen will ultimately sing like a canary to prosecutors, incriminating Trump and others. The lawyer has faced criticism over his media ubiquity before, but he defends his media blitz as part of a strategy for winning Daniels cases against Cohen and Trump. "Its working. Its working in spades, Avenatti told CNN in May. One of the ways that its working is, because were so out-front on this, people send us information. People want to help our cause. People contact us with information. The Cohen motion cites 121 TV appearances by Avenatti, but that estimate may be low. By May 16, one conservative media watchdog group had already counted 147 Avenatti appearances, citing one single day, May 3, when the cable news network MSNBC featured Avenatti seven separate times. In the request for a restraining order designed to shut Avenatti up, Cohen and Blakely say that Avenattis unquenchable thirst for publicity has caused him to violate Californias rules of conduct for lawyers, and is likely to result in Mr. Cohen being deprived of his right to a fair trial. Avenatti, in a Friday morning appearance on MSNBC, called Cohens motion to silence him an attack on the First Amendment, and in fact, courts have long ruled that the Constitutions guarantee of free speech covers matters of public concern more completely than any other category of speech. "It's not just an attack on me, it's an attack on every source, every individual who provides information, whether it be in this case or others, and indirectly it's an attack on the media," Avenatti said on Friday. The motion also cited New York federal court Judge Kimba Wood, who told Avenatti in a May 30 hearing that if he wanted to participate in the criminal case against Cohen there, he would be required to cease his publicity tour. On his Twitter account, Avenatti dismissed the motion to gag him as a joke." The motion for a gag order is a complete joke and baseless, he wrote on Thursday night. Mr. Cohen and Brent Blakely cant deal with the truth, the facts, and the law, so they have to resort to unethical, meritless motions. This must be their birthday present to Mr. Trump. Thursday, June 14, was Trumps 72nd birthday. Photo via ABC's 'The View' Screen Capture A drop in the foodservice market could be a sign of a new recession, analysts have warned. The total number of visits in the eat-out or out-of-home (OOH) foodservice market was down 1% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2018, according to The NPD Group. Lunchtimes visits fell 5.1% year-on-year the third quarter of decline while breakfast visits fell for a second consecutive time, by 1.6%. Dinner visits have been in long-term decline. The NPD Group reported that this pattern of falling foodservice visits was last seen at the start of the UKs 2007/2008 recession. At that time, consumers quickly changed their behaviour, bringing a sharp drop in foodservice visits. Despite the recession encouraging the industry to reshape its offer in terms of quality, choice and overall customer experience, the foodservice market has not fully recovered from the 2007/2008 recession, added NPD. Although it is too soon to say whether we are currently in recession or not, there are clear warning signs, said NPD foodservice head Cyril Lavenant, adding that a sustained downturn would be more difficult to overcome this time because of threats on top of existing operating and cost challenges. The casual dining sector, for example, is facing pressure from quick-service brands that are offering new food choices and newly refurbished modern outlets, he said. Consumers also have a bigger choice than ever of operators offering healthier and lighter eating. It is likely any new recession in foodservice will be harder to fight because the landscape is already intensely competitive. Eat-out visits began to slow after the Brexit vote in summer 2016, and the loss of visits has accelerated since last year, according to The NPD Group. Now is the right time to sound a warning, added Lavenant. The foodservice industry has so far demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of tougher operating conditions, cost pressures and the uncertainty caused by Brexit. But, since the end of last year, we have seen some evidence of decline and operators will need to monitor carefully whether this downward trend continues. If it does, they will have to act fast to protect their business. 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JAPAN Defense contractors are making millions off the Trump administration's racist campaign to separate immigrant kids from their parents, and detain the kids separately indefinitely in ad-hoc camps. We already know Trump and his allies in government are amoral. We need to hold accountable these private sector enablers, too. "A scandal-plagued company that used to work for the CIA is poised to profit off the influx of immigrant children being forcibly separated from their parents," report Nancy Woodruff and Spencer Ackerman at the Daily Beast, with a rundown of all the 'Help Wanted' ads popping up that reveal which intelligence and defense contractors are involved in carrying out Trump's atrocities: Those contractorsincluding one with a history of scandalshave advertised a flurry of jobs in recent weeks to support the infrastructure surrounding undocumented children whom the Trump administration has taken from their families. One of them, from Virginia-based MVM Inc., seeks a compliance coordinator to help in San Antonio with the "rapid deployment of an Emergency Influx Shelter for unaccompanied children." As billed, the coordinator would ensure the children's shelter met "policies and procedures" set by the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement. MVM posted the job on its website this week. MVM appears to believe its business is growing. A job posting on Indeed.com from 20 days ago advertises for youth care workers "in anticipation of a contract award." There are more. Kids who end up in immigration limbo become property of the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement. This is where the contractors come in: to help ORR with the logistics of caring for these children. The shelters that house children appear to be operating above capacity. MVM is one of them. They're not alone. Again, Daily Beast: The defense contracting giant General Dynamics is advertising a data-entry position within ORR's case-coordination program for undocumented children that will, among other things, monitor youths' cases as they move through the system. Other General Dynamics jobs for ORR involve policy analysis; tracking "new placements and progress of minors in ORR funded care"; supporting ORR's director in, among other tasks, "review[ing] files and redact[ing] information as directed." Separately, the New York Times reported that ORR's growing brood of immigrant children detainment facilities now numbers at least 100 sites in 17 states, "with a heavy concentration in south Texas, serving over 11,000 children separated from their families." MVM looked for: a compliance coordinator for "rapid deployment of an Emergency Influx Shelter for unaccompanied children" a bilingual "transport specialist" to accompany minors to "select government facilities"https://t.co/R1TSCtcvhF The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) June 14, 2018 LET THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME TO ME and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. Jesus. #FamiliesBelongTogether. Even Conservative Christians aren't buying the administration's 'Biblical' talking points. PHOTOS: Casa Padre, an immigrant shelter for unaccompanied minors, in Brownsville, Texas, U.S., is seen in this photo provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, June 14, 2018. They spend 22 hours a day locked inside this converted Wal-Mart. It is a prison for children. [Source] Here are some photos of the boys in the cafeteria. This is not a school cafeteria. Hundreds called to eat at a time on rotating shifts. When I told @chrislhayes it felt like a prison or jail, I was thinking about this. pic.twitter.com/feZI46SPAc Jacob Soboroff (@jacobsoboroff) June 14, 2018 I guess Sessions forgot about the Gospels part of the Bible. Matthew 25:35 says "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me". Nothing in the Bible says to separate kids from parents. It teaches the opposite. https://t.co/gP5QfRtWuK Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) June 14, 2018 It is not biblical to treat migrants and refugees like animals. It is not biblical to take children away from their parents. It is not biblical to ignore the needs of the stranger. It is not biblical to enforce unjust laws. Do not use the Bible to justify sin. https://t.co/oApfyC9wJV James Martin, SJ (@JamesMartinSJ) June 14, 2018 remember they also used the Bible to justify slavery. https://t.co/ksfVAUSiY0 T'Questlove (@questlove) June 14, 2018 Where in the Bible does it say it's ok to take kids away from their parents David? https://t.co/zSu0zJAtdR Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 14, 2018 The Bible is trending because it was just used to justify ripping babies from their mothers' arms and putting them in interment camps. Christians have a name for this: blasphemy. Rachel Held Evans (@rachelheldevans) June 14, 2018 ?? Christopher Wray, the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, spoke publicly about the findings of the just-concluded investigation intoamong other thingsJames Comey's 11th-hour actions around the Clinton email investigation, and their effect on the 2016 U.S. Presidential elections. "We accept the watchdog's findings," said Wray. They're launching an internal review of how the FBI handles "sensitive investigations." Mr. Trump won't like this, but FBI's rank and file will. Wray seemed to be speaking to them, and they'll take heart. Wray spoke soberly, with repeated reference to the rule of law. "This report did not find any evidence of political bias or improper considerations impacting the investigation under review" said Wray. "I've visited with every FBI division.. in every office, in every meeting, I see extraordinary people who are doing incredible work." Wray ran down laundry list of recent FBI accomplishments: FBI thwarted a terrorist attack on San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf, and another targeting a crowded shopping mall Miami in March, the agency charged hackers with stealing terabytes of data from agencies, hospitals After the Austin bombings, 600 agents deployed to investigate package bombs Wray also said that "this year alone, we saved 1305 kids from predators, some months old" And then: Wray refuses multiple questions about Trump's criticisms of the FBI. He says he's only focused on "the opinions that matter." Eli Stokols (@EliStokols) June 14, 2018 THE SHADE! Asked about Trump's disses of the FBI, Wray responds: "I am interested in the opinions of people who matter" BURNNNNN ???? ?????? (@xeni) June 14, 2018 FBI Director Chris Wray on the IG report: "It's focused on a specific set of events back in 2016 and a small number of FBI employees connected to those events. Nothing in this report impugns the integrity of the workforce as a whole or the FBI as an institution." Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) June 14, 2018 "That in my belief is the only way [The FBI can] maintain trust and credibility to the people we serve," said Wray. Wray addressed the rule of law directly. Trump won't like it. He referenced his own confirmation hearing: "I am a huge believer in the importance of process, doing the job by the book. I expect all our employees do the same." "The FBI's brand over the past 110 years is based less on successes than the way we've earned it. We've earned it by following the rules, following the law, following guidelines, staying true to core values and traditions." Wray repeatedly used the phrase "Doing the right thing the right way," and the importance of "treating people with respect." These are things Trump does not do. Wray: "It's important to note what Inspector General did not find. This report did not find any evidence of political bias or improper considerations impacting the investigation under review." Eli Stokols (@EliStokols) June 14, 2018 "Disappointed" is FBI Director Chris Wray's one word to describe his response to the DOJ IG report on the Clinton email investigation. Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) June 14, 2018 Director Wray responding to IG report now. Says will refer conduct highlighted in report to Office of Professional Responsibility pic.twitter.com/U8AIUaQXbj Julia E. Ainsley (@JuliaEAinsley) June 14, 2018 NEW: FBI Director Wray says some conduct detailed in the IG report has been referred to OPR for potential disciplinary action. Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) June 14, 2018 FBI Director Christopher Wray says the Justice Department IG report "did not find any evidence of political bias or improper considerations impacting the investigation under review," although it identifies "errors of judgement" https://t.co/J4caXSRfyu CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) June 14, 2018 Wray won't talk about any specific FBI employees who are now undergoing disciplinary action after IG report Manu Raju (@mkraju) June 14, 2018 FBI Director Chris Wray on clamping down on leaking in the FBI: "We issued a new media policy that's much stricter and much more clear than what had been in place beforeWe won't tolerate non-compliance." Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) June 14, 2018 This Oct. 5 email from Comey to Brennan and Clapper on publicly acknowledging Russian interference is infuriating. pic.twitter.com/DFK7iiuZoR Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) June 14, 2018 DOJ IG: Comey violated norms, but no evidence he had political bias https://t.co/lLPycjvOCa @SchneiderCNN reports @TheLeadCNN Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) June 14, 2018 BREAKING: 'Nothing in this report impugns the integrity' of the FBI as a whole, FBI Director Wray says of inspector general report. The Associated Press (@AP) June 14, 2018 Dir Wray says there are "some sobering lessons" in the Inspector General's report, and the FBI is going to learn from and act on those lessons,including avoiding even the appearance of bias in FBI operations. pic.twitter.com/0K92TwGrM8 Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2018 David Kaye (previously) is the UN's Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression; he just released a detailed report on the catastrophic free speech implications of Article 13, the EU's proposed copyright rule that would make sites filter everything their users post to check for copyright violations. Kaye's report points out the grave deficiencies with the plan: that it throws fair dealing (the right to reproduce copyrighted works for parody, commentary, criticism, etc) under the bus, because computers can't tell whether you're reproducing a work to comment on it or to just make it available; that it leaves users who get improperly censored out in the cold, with no judicial review of the machines' orders to block their speech; and that it tilts the internet to favour the (mostly US-based) giant internet companies, while imposing an undue burden on EU competitors who are just getting started. The committee in charge of EU copyright reform votes on this in just five days. Europeans, get in touch with your MEPs today! The designation of such mechanisms as the main avenue to address users' complaints effectively delegates content blocking decisions under copyright law to extrajudicial mechanisms, potentially in violation of minimum due process guarantees under international human rights law. The blocking of content particularly in the context of fair use and other fact-sensitive exceptions to copyright may raise complex legal questions that require adjudication by an independent and impartial judicial authority. Even in exceptional circumstances where expedited action is required, notice-and-notice regimes and expedited judicial process are available as less invasive means for protecting the aims of copyright law. In the event that content blocking decisions are deemed invalid and reversed, the complaint and redress mechanism established by private entities effectively assumes the role of providing access to remedies for violations of human rights law. I am concerned that such delegation would violate the State's obligation to provide access to an "effective remedy" for violations of rights specified under the Covenant. Given that most of the content sharing providers covered under Article 13 are profit-motivated and act primarily in the interests of their shareholders, they lack the qualities of independence and impartiality required to adjudicate and administer remedies for human rights violations. Since they also have no incentive to designate the blocking as being on the basis of the proposed Directive or other relevant law, they may opt for the legally safer route of claiming that the upload was a terms of service violation this outcome may deprive users of even the remedy envisioned under Article 13(7). Finally, I wish to emphasize that unblocking, the most common remedy available for invalid content restrictions, may often fail to address financial and other harms associated with the blocking of timesensitive content. Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression [David Kaye/UN] UN Free Speech Expert: EU's Copyright Directive Would Be An Attack On Free Speech, Violate Human Rights [Mike Masnick/Techdirt] Eric Abramovitz is a gifted musician, who can currently be found fulfilling the role of associate principal/E flat clarinetist at the Toronto Symphony: a position that thousands of musicians around the world would kill for. Back in 2014, he applied for another position that these same musicians would think kill-worthy, too: a placement with the Colburn Conservatory as a student. The conservatory is insanely hard to get into only two students are accepted a year. When Abramovitz received an email from the Conservatory that denied him a spot with them, along with the scholarship he had applied for, he was gutted like a fish: music was his life and being able to study under renowned clarinet instructor Yehuda Gilad was a dream that was so close to coming true. To have it snatched away? Ouch. But here's the thing: Abramovitz was accepted into the program, scholarship and all. His girlfriend at the time, fellow musician Jennifer Lee, didn't want him to leave her to further his education. So, she did what any young sociopath in love would do: she accessed his email account and deleted the acceptance message from the Colburn Conservatory. Next, she opened up a fake Gmail account in Yehuda Gilad's name and used it to write to Abramovitz, saying, more or less, "tough shit, keep playing music, but you won't being doing it at the Colburn School." Pretending to be Gilad, Lee offered her sweet baboo the chance to attend one of Gilead's other classes at the University of Southern California, knowing full well that he would not be able to afford the tuition required to do so. But that didn't stop Abramovitz from studying under Yehuda Gilad. A few months later, he auditioned for a program that would give him access to the teacher of his dreams. By that time, he'd broken up with Lee, and was ready to go where ever his career as a musician would take him. Abramovitz was accepted into the program. Upon finally meeting Gilad, he asked him why he had been rejected by the Colburn Conservatory. From The National Post: "It was at his second audition before Gilad, in which they had a brief and strange interaction, when Gilad said, 'Why did you reject me?' "It was a fair question. As Abramovitz put it, 'You don't reject him.' But having done nothing of the sort, Abramovitz asked in return, 'Why did you reject me?' "They could not sort it out then and there, but over time, the wonder lingered. Another student of Gilad's asked him about it. Eventually, Abramovitz forwarded the fake [rejection] email to Gilad, who replied: 'I've never seen that in my life.' "'That's when I knew that something underhanded was afoot,' Abramovitz said. One day in 2015, he and a friend set about trying to gain access to the fake email account, and because Abramovitz and Lee once shared a computer, he knew one of her passwords, which he tried. "'Miraculously, it logged right in,' he said. Her email was listed as the recovery email, her phone was the recovery phone. 'We felt like Sherlock Holmes.'" Holy shit. So, flash forward to the present: Abramovitz sued his ex-girlfirend, who didn't bother to turn up in court to defend herself (honestly though, would you?) over the loss of his scholarship and the emotional torment that she had put him through. The judge presiding over the case awarded Abramovitz $260,000 USD in damages, which translates into $350,000 Canadian. From NPR: A judge in Ontario concluded that he lost at least that much, between the scholarship money he missed out on and the delay to his musical career. The judge added an additional $25,000 Canadian as punishment for "morally reprehensible conduct" and another $25,000 in damages for "the incompensable personal loss suffered by Mr Abramovitz by having a closely held personal dream snatched from him by a person he trusted." So yeah: change your email passwords frequently and be careful of who you provide access to your account. Image via MaxPixel No, really. You gotta see this. The state of North Korea produced and released this 42 minute documentary about Kim Jong Un's visit to Singapore to meet up with Donald Trump. The documentary covers the North Korean dictator's entire trip, from beginning to end. Yes, the moment when Trump saluted a North Korean general is in their shiny new propaganda reel, you betcha. The documentary follows KJU hanging out in his presidential suite at the St Regis Singapore, strolling by the infinity pool on top of the Marina Bay Sands resort it's something else. Here's a Google machine translate of the YouTube descriptive text for the video: Chosun Central TV aired a documentary film detailing the whole process of the 6.12 South-North summit today. The documentary was broadcast under the title of "Dear Kim Jong Un, the dear leader, with the United States President, and the first seasonal reunion with President Kim Jong Il was held." In a documentary film, North Korea's Central Television has released a video of Kim Jong Un, chairman of the National Assembly, who visited Singapore from October 10 to 12 for the North American summit. In particular, during the North American summit meeting held on December 12, when the first meeting of Chairman Kim Jong Eun and President Donald Trump, the announcer said, "This past moment of hostility and distrust is over and the future of dialogue and cooperation begins. I watched him," he said in a quivering voice. Commentary from the Washington Post's Anna Fifield below. The North Korean documentary includes full coverage of Kim Jong Un meeting Donald Trump, including Trump's big smile as he walked down the breezeway to Trump, and the thumbs-up in their first meeting https://t.co/Wjl8sKKNTV pic.twitter.com/OoCcX3d7ea Anna Fifield (@annafifield) June 14, 2018 North Korean state media included the part where Kim Jong Un shook hands with John Bolton (previously known as "bloodsucking human scum" in North Korea.) Also caught Bolton writing notes before they even sat down pic.twitter.com/yTybEN2V1C Anna Fifield (@annafifield) June 14, 2018 Basically, North Koreans have seen the same footage of the summit as we have, including the part where the Secret Service guy stops the North Korean photographer taking pictures inside The Beast. (They didn't, however, hear Trump's remark about "thin and beautiful") pic.twitter.com/ogKJUfFbOY Anna Fifield (@annafifield) June 14, 2018 The North Korean documentary about the summit included photos of the declaration in English and in Korean so North Koreans can see the words "complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula" in black and white pic.twitter.com/or3EFoomh5 Anna Fifield (@annafifield) June 14, 2018 I am fascinated by this documentary because the North Korean propagandists showed so much of the impressive city of Singapore the skyline, number of planes at the airport and containers at the port, the luxurious settings, the electricity. All unimaginable in North Korea. pic.twitter.com/p8H1WFyEDY Anna Fifield (@annafifield) June 14, 2018 Even when they showed the crowds lined up to see Kim Jong Un pass by very helpful for North Korean propaganda they also showed luxury brands and neon signs. They showed how much nicer and richer Singapore is than North Korea. (ends) pic.twitter.com/MW4EyhmO7O Anna Fifield (@annafifield) June 14, 2018 [LINK, via Anna Fifield] Blog Archive October (20) September (53) August (55) July (64) June (60) May (68) April (66) March (56) February (61) January (51) December (61) November (67) October (87) September (79) August (84) July (82) June (84) May (73) April (74) March (74) February (50) January (66) December (56) November (53) October (70) September (73) August (60) July (86) June (73) May (91) April (64) March (53) February (49) January (79) December (50) November (55) October (46) September (48) August (57) July (46) June (55) May (48) April (49) March (54) February (50) January (52) December (45) November (55) October (56) September (57) August (65) July (47) June (67) May (54) April (64) March (72) February (49) January (58) December (52) November (72) October (60) September (82) August (59) July (64) June (61) May (67) April (65) March (78) February (66) January (72) December (90) November (58) October (71) September (58) August (67) July (68) June (67) May (69) April (58) March (58) February (39) January (49) December (45) November (36) October (48) September (64) August (59) July (58) June (62) May (70) April (72) March (67) February (52) January (68) December (45) November (68) October (68) September (59) August (67) July (53) June (68) May (66) April (63) March (71) February (49) January (60) December (43) November (39) October (74) September (62) August (69) July (86) June (60) May (84) April (71) March (96) February (70) January (82) December (62) November (62) October (66) September (81) August (71) July (61) June (55) May (67) April (46) March (53) February (43) January (54) December (46) November (38) October (46) September (57) August (71) July (73) June (75) May (48) April (44) March (59) February (46) January (36) December (45) November (45) October (41) September (46) August (36) July (40) June (48) May (38) April (35) March (30) February (26) January (30) December (22) November (26) October (34) September (26) August (16) July (17) June (19) May (19) April (12) March (14) February (13) January (26) December (21) November (16) October (14) September (15) August (15) July (17) June (16) May (15) April (11) March (13) February (12) January (11) December (16) November (30) October (28) September (23) August (7) July (6) June (7) May (2) April (1) March (2) February (2) January (2) December (2) November (2) October (1) September (1) August (2) July (3) June (4) May (1) April (1) February (2) News / National by AT Kadada The current junta leader has been rejected before,twice in Kwekwe, by an opponent in hiding. Kwekwe is a small mining town in the Midlands were the junta leader is known as the Midlands godfather. I think it is another nickname just like garwe or ngwena which exaggerate his personality. How can you be a godfather of an area yet they give you the boot? The man must love nicknames, another one .. "The Boss", if nicknames could win an election then he would win.Avoiding further humiliation the man of many nicknames chose a new rural constituency, specially made for him.He did not trust the people there, fear was instilled into the rural folk who voted and the winless Munangagwa now had a constituency albeit after a struggle.A constituency is one electoral part of an area, just a part of the country. My point is if you are rejected in an area you consider yourself a due leader how can you expect to win now for top leadership? This shows that Zanu pf has a disregard for elections, one surely can not bet on a winless horse unless there is a trick up the sleeve of those supporting his presidency. Had it not been for the military take over Munangagwa would not have occupied that office. He can come with funny ridiculous claims that years ago he was foretold he would be the country's leader. Those prophecies are they only for those in Zanu pf? We have heard how white garments men say so and so in Zanu pf was anointed. If you believe this then you can as well believe diesel can ooze out of stonesThere are many denominations in Zimbabwe but those that come with ridiculous claims are known for their ungodly antics hence hiding behind Zanu pf. Another sect was on Grace,were is she now?There are no tricks to beat Mnangagwa, he is just unelectable. That is what the white garments folks should tell him instead of feeding him with lies.There is a lot of reasons why the people have rejected him in KweKwe.He is no different from ldi Amin. News / National by Staff reporter GOVERNMENT has deferred the national rollout of dolutegravir, an anti-retroviral drug, to adolescent girls and women of child-bearing age, following reports from Botswana that the drug was associated with birth deformities in infants born to HIV-positive mothers taking the drug at the time of conception.Zimbabwe intended to scale up dolutegravir (DTG) as a first choice ARV to all people living with HIV in the country next year.The drug is currently being used to manage HIV in people living with HIV who fail to respond or complicate from the first and/or second ARV choices.In a statement yesterday, the Health and Child Care Ministry said adolescents and women of child bearing age currently taking dolutegravir (DTG) should immediately report to their nearest health facilities for further advice and counselling.According to the Ministry, a total of 200 people living with HIV were taking DTG as a third line drug, from which 108 of them were women.The Ministry said since the current complications were reported in adolescents and women of child bearing age only, Government will continue switching to DTG on a national level in 2019 as a first option (first line) as initially planned, to the rest of the population."Ministry would want to inform our partners and the public that the potential safety issues raised in the WHO statement affect only women living with HIV of child bearing age using DTG, and not the rest of the population. Therefore, Ministry still plans a transition to DTG later in 2019 for the rest of the population. "Ministry will defer the transition to DTG for women living with HIV of child-bearing age, who intend to fall pregnant, until these safety issues have been addressed," reads part the statement. "These women (of child-bearing age) will continue to take efavorenz-based regimens as a safe and effective first line regimen until further data is available," further reads the statement. News / National by Staff reporter PARLIAMENT has urged government to support its "Zimbabwe is open for business" mantra by introducing investor-friendly policies.The Mines and Energy Portfolio Committee said this in a report following the cancellation of licences for several diamond mining companies who used to operate in the Chiadzwa to pave way for the creation of Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZMDC)."The joint venture partners of ZMDC were bitter on what they went through as a result of the consolidation process," the report said."The views of the investors can be summed up in the words of Lovemore Kurotwi from Canadile who said 'in as far as investors are concerned, Zimbabwe is a lion's den, and investors will come at their own peril because there is no guarantee that when you invest you will get your money back. I am a victim of that and it has taken me almost 10 years to recover what we had invested genuinely'."Investors in Chiadzwa also accused the Mines ministry of flouting investment agreements and for not respecting the laws of the country during the hostile takeover of their concessions where police came armed with AK47 riffles to forcefully remove them."In the case of Anjin and Mbada, their investment agreements did not have a timeframe in which the special grants would expire. Their operations would continue as long as they paid the statutory fees and at the time of the takeover the statutory obligations had been paid. As for DTZ Ozgeo and Rera, their special grants had not expired, but the government took them over. It is the committee's position that such kind of treatment of investors will only scare away investment," the report said.Parliament pointed out section 71 of the Constitution requires the respect of property rights, adding that investors should be protected from any acts of corruption in order to secure a license or protect their investments."Kurotwi claimed he lost his diamond concession as a result of failing to pay a bribe Obert Mpofu (the former Mines and Mining Development minister). Furthermore, the committee was told that some investors were forced to pay legal fees to Farai Mutamangira for unknown services," the report said. Opinion / Columnist THE personal conduct, including manner of speech, wisdom and intellectual capacity, as well as leadership style of political leaders, in particular public figures, are always subject to scrutiny.It is thus is not surprising public figures are always subject to criticism. As a result, they should pay serious attention to criticism for introspection instead of being defensive and unresponsive.In national politics leaders in new leadership positions like the current President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputies, and opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa and his senior colleagues in the MDC-T should accept public criticism with higher levels of tolerance.Since Chamisa is the youngest and fairly popular, as well as charismatic presidential aspirant, he should watch out for the Rehoboamian syndrome. This refers to discarding wise counsel from senior and experienced people in preference to exclusive advice from one's own young comrades and novices.Solomonic legacyKing Solomon of ancient Israel was a man of exceptional wisdom coupled with a mixture of providential affluence and, regrettably, abuse of office. Solomon's great throne was made of ivory and it was overlaid "with the best of gold".Where resources permit, there is nothing wrong with being surrounded by splendour. Solomon was exceedingly rich and wise to the extent that none of the kings of the world compared with him. However, Solomon had his personal and leadership weaknesses. The volume of his kingdom's imports was ridiculous and his international transactions led to a very huge national debt. Solomon could not part with all the gold of Israel and so he gave Hiram the King of Tyre "20 cities in the land of Galilee" and topped up the land cession with "six score talents of gold".Among some of Solomon's imports were such creatures as apes, peacocks, horses and mules. The national indebtedness of Israel and Solomon's extravagance resulted in the over-taxation of his subjects and the imposition of forced labour. Israel's national burden led to widespread public discontentment. In addition to his extravagance, impropriety and lack of financial probity, Solomon was a womaniser to the extent he transgressed against the laws of the God of Israel. The biblical account clearly informs us that Solomon "loved many strange women" and that all in all "he had 700 wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart".Solomon's idolatry heralded the division of Israel into two separate kingdoms as prophesied by Ahijah the Shelonite.In view of the above, it can be safely argued that the end of Solomon's reign in Israel was an unprecedented anticlimax in the history of Israel as a nation. Solomon's son, Rehoboam, took over the kingship of Israel at the age of 41 years, almost the same age as Chamisa who is 40, but the young man inherited a battered legacy.Rehoboam reigned over a disgruntled people and, subsequently, a factional kingdom for 17 years, meaning that his reign in Jerusalem ended when he was aged 58 years. Although foretold, the division of Israel into two kingdoms was Rehoboam's problem.Tsvangirai's planTo juxtapose the above with the MDC-T scenario, it should be noted that founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai was the only president of the mainstream opposition party MDC, later MDC-T, from its inception in 1999 until his death in February 2018. The difference between Solomon and Tsvangirai is that whereas the former was predominantly wise and rich, in control of national affairs for 40 years, and both a religious and political apostate, Tsvangirai was not as rich though he had a fair semblance of political wisdom and charisma. Despite his charisma and political clout, Tsvangirai had his own weaknesses.Tsvangirai had a brief stint in national governance when he joined the ill-fated Government of National Unity (GNU) in 2009 until its demise in 2013. He was a Prime Minister in the short-lived GNU. Perhaps, prompted by the loss of his wife, Susan Nyaradzo, in a 2009 car crash, Tsvangirai reportedly became a womaniser before marrying Elizabeth Macheka.The former MDC-T leader rested on the laurels of his personal charm, courage and mass support. Thus, foreseeing his impending incapacitation or death, he used his political clout to manipulate a complex succession configuration to Chamisa and Engineer Elias Mudzuri to the positions of co-vice-presidents of the MDC-T. This appointment was made on July 15 2016 to ostensibly relieve the ailing Tsvangirai and help Thokozani Khupe in her duties. Khupe was Tsvangirai's substantive vice-president since the year 2006. Despite sharp criticisms over this, Tsvangirai, backed by some party constituents, stuck to his guns.Nelson ChamisaChamisa, who has huge public appeal, was one of Tsvangirai's youngest lieutenants. When Tsvangirai passed away on February 14 2018, the MDC-T's National Executive Council (NEC), the party's supreme decision-making organ between congresses, endorsed Chamisa as substantive party president in March 2018. The MDC-T congress is expected to be held in 2019 and this means that Chamisa is the party's current presidential candidate for the July 2018 general elections. Since the NEC further endorsed the MDC Alliance, a coalition formed before Tsvangirai's death, Chamisa also effectively becomes the alliance's presidential candidate for the July 30 general elections.However, Chamisa inherited a fractured party and the divisions within the MDC-T were further aggravated by disagreements over his appointment as the party's president ahead of Khupe. Disgruntled MDC-T members argue that the appointment of Chamisa was both unconstitutional and unprocedural. They resultantly formed a splinter movement led by Khupe, who had been Tsvangirai's deputy since 2006 after the MDC's first split in 2005. The late Gibson Sibanda, Tsvangirai's old-time right-hand man, and other party senior members dumped Tsvangirai in 2005. Further, following the MDC-T (Alliance) primary elections, it would appear that the party is facing another crisis of internal political cohesion.Rehoboamian syndromeAs earlier indicated, Rehoboam, Solomon's son, took over the kingship of Israel when he was 41. The age difference between Rehoboam and Chamisa is just about a year. However, when Rehoboam sat on his father's throne, there were on the one hand elderly and experienced people who worked together with Solomon. On the other hand, there were also young men and novices who grew up together with Rehoboam. The biblical account informs us that Solomon obtained wisdom directly from God and got it because that is what he initially preferred above everything else.Since Rehoboam inherited a kingdom rocked by mass discontent due to heavy taxation and forced labour, he needed good advice on how he should handle the situation and lead his subjects. The official inauguration of Rehoboam as Israel's king took place in Shechem where the people gathered to witness the royal inauguration ceremony.At that time self-exiled Jereboham, the son of Nebat, had returned from Egypt where he took refuge for fear of assassination by Solomon. Jereboam knew that according to prophecy, he would be king of 10 of the 12 tribes of Israel. It should be noted that Jereboam was more popular in Israel than Rehoboam because he was a "man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph. It was after Solomon had knowledge that Jereboam was promised kingship over 10 tribes that Solomon sought to kill him.However, after Rehoboam's inauguration as king people required a bold man to lead them in confronting Rehoboam with their grievances. So they teamed up with Jereboam. In these circumstances, the biblical account says Rehoboam accepted the advice of his young comrades and rejected the old men's counsel.That began a mass protest that led to the division of Israel into two kingdoms, the Northern Kingdom with 10 tribes under Jereboam and the Southern Kingdom with two tribes under Rehoboam; referred to as the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah respectively. This division infuriated Rehoboam so much that he mobilised a national army, a crack unit of 140 000 warriors, to fight against the Kingdom of Israel. It was only divine counsel that forestalled the impending civil war.Moral of the storyIn view of the above, it was not necessarily wrong for Rehoboam to seek advice from both the old men who worked with his father and the young men who grew up with him. What was wrong with Rehoboam was the lack of wisdom to judiciously weigh the value of advice from two different age groups.Rehoboam was so foolish to only accept advice that would make him unpopular with the people. Generally speaking, there is naturally a temptation to want to please fellow comrades at the expense of commonsense and the general will of the people.At this moment in time, it cannot be said Chamisa has done anything wrong yet, but leaders should avoid the danger of doing things without consultation. Rehoboam was prejudicially cynical towards the counsel of old men simply because he did not understand the basic principles of good leadership. He was a monarch in a theocracy where neither democracy nor autocracy took precedence over divine counsel. However, in essence Rehoboam simply lacked wisdom.Learning is a long and continuous process, and what matters is that every step in the long journey which should be subjected to critical evaluation. It has been said that small beginnings make great endings; in the same vein little bad things may lead to greater evil.In the MDC-T (Alliance) case, it is important to take a cue from what prevailed in the primary elections. It has been reported that a decision was made to allot 20% of the contested constituencies to the youth and 50% to women. That leaves 30% for senior male members of the party. Whether this is true or false and whether it is practical or impractical is neither here nor there. In arithmetic, assuming Chamisa's party successfully fields aspiring party candidates in all the 210 constituencies, 42 seats should go to the youth, 105 seats to the women and 63 seats to old men.The challenge in the formulation and implementation of affirmative action strategies in democratic politics is balancing the action without causing significant personal, national, and institutional damage. The key balancing factors are not only gender/sex and age, but also ethnography, race and disability, among other factors. This means that the balancing act requires a broad-based integrated approach, especially with respect to wide consultation.It is, however, safe to argue that Chamisa assumed responsibilities as party president at a very critical moment that would have required someone with special skills in crisis management. Credit should be given to Chamisa for having managed to handle the delicate post-Tsvangirai transition with political skill and shrewdness. Nevertheless, as he travels the rough terrain of politics Chamisa should have the flexibility to engage in order to build a formidable and internally coherent movement.The Jessie Majome and Joana Mamombe affair in the Harare West constituency primary elections is a noteworthy presage. Majome, a veteran lawyer, has been MDC-T MP for the constituency for 10 years and a cabinet minister in the 2009 to 2013 GNU.Her experience and loyalty to the party are undisputable.Mamombe, a microbiologist and a former student leader, is reported to have only become an active MDC-T cadre in 2015. However, purportedly disparaging remarks against senior party members that reportedly came from the MDC-T youth wing cannot go unchallenged. It is not prudent to relegate senior party members to the rural areas for subsistence farming when everyone would have been comfortable with Tsvangirai contesting as the party's presidential candidate.The "anointing" of Chamisa as Tsvangirai's successor should not be construed as the beginning of an entirely new revolution as admitted by Chamisa in his eulogy during Tsvangirai's funeral.Chamisa told MDC-T mourners that they were burying Tsvangirai in Buhera, but bringing back his ideas to continue with the democratic struggle. While there may be need for a paradigm shift in the party's modus operandi, that does not mean a betrayal of the party's founding principles. Above all, that does not mean retiring the party's veterans when they are still fit to soldier on. The MDC-T must be wise enough to ensure that it has a mixture of young and experience in leadership and structures to avoid Rehoboam's mistakes and fate.Chinhara is a local writer. A Guide To Manscaping Your Body Hair You're Manscaping All Wrong, But This Will Help The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. All illustrations by Sarah Bean Manscaping. The term itself can be a bit off-putting its vague, mysterious and downright intimidating if you dont know what it implies. But its actually a false alarm; manscaping is just the guy version of getting cleaned up. It means smelling good, keeping your parts in order, and making a good impression on others in addition to feeling good about yourself. (Yes, manscaping can have a positive effect on your confidence levels.) Just think about it: Are you going to feel more confident walking into a job interview if your whiskers are trimmed and your skin is healthy, as opposed to overgrown and dry? What about going on a blind date knowing that youre ready for an intimate evening? Its simple logic: Manscaping isnt something to be afraid of, but rather embraced. Especially if you expect your partner(s) to maintain a certain appearance or beauty standard, you owe it to them to return the favor. And trust us, youll feel more relaxed heading into any close encounter knowing that youre in your best form. RELATED: Prickly, Itchy Skin? These Razors Will Have Women Getting Closer Manscaping isnt about excessive grooming either women dont necessarily appreciate a guy whos obviously spent the last 2 hours holed up in front of the bathroom mirror. You dont need to buy a bunch of useless products, and you dont need to be someone youre not. Its just about polishing up your natural assets and showing pride in the person you want to present to others. Contents What Is Manscaping? First, lets start with an official definition. Google states that manscaping is the removal or trimming of hair on a man's body for cosmetic effect. Although simplified, hair control is the essential component on manscaping, although the definition could be expanded to include other grooming tasks. In any case, however, the real question you should be asking is: How to manscape? Well, to understand the male grooming practice is to examine its full range, which could involve outlining one specific region of the body, or its entirety. Pre-Manscaping Essentials A whole world of hurt awaits you if you try manscaping under dry skin conditions. Same shaving dos and donts you practice on the face must be followed on your entire physique. Now meet the go-to products you should adopt before moving ahead. Shower gels are cool. Still theres more bang for the buck in Baxters 3-in-1 bar soap. Not only will you scrub off grime from the skins upper layer, but the product features rich ingredients to nourish skin without stripping moisture. Leave your coat feeling cleansed and refreshed right out of the tub before taking a blade to your junk. Stock Up: Baxter Of California Soap, $17.00 at Amazon.com Mainly used for facial purposes, shave oils soften hair and protect skin from burning. eShave offers a great selection spread across three aromatic channels Cucumber, Orange Sandalwood, and Verbana Lime each well mixed to keep skin moisturized and protected from colder, dryer temps. Cover the body with a few drops and massage it in to give the razor smoother glide action. Stock Up: Pre-Shave Oil, $22.00 at eShave.com The market is very low on translucent shaving gels. Lucky for you the search stops here. Recipe For Men creates a foam-free formula that bears a clear-blue appearance for accurate shaving. Special ingredients like sebustop tames acne by reducing skin oiliness. Aloe Vera and lemon extracts cool and purify skin in the process. Stock Up: Shaving Gel, $26.00 at Amazon.com The Target Zones Some get a rush flexing hairless chests at the beach. Others love the reaction they get in the bedroom unveiling their crown jewels. But what exactly falls under the manscaping pyramid remains a mystery to most guys. Reality is your whole body is fair game; we all have our different sweet spots. So, to guide you in the right direction, weve provided a full breakdown of all the major sections to consider deforesting, alongside expert manscaping tips, illustrations, and yes, manscaping treatments. Note: Remember, you can do as much or as little manscaping as you feel comfortable with. While some will naturally prefer less hair, others will enjoy maintaining a bit of their wild side. All are valid options. Groin Step 1: Trim & Apply Shave Gel Depending on the situation down there, a pair of hair-cutting sheers might suffice, though make no mistake, electric clippers perform better. The different guard lengths and shave settings will remove the bulk of hair. Head below the waist at a 45-degree angle and transition your way down to the perineumthe area between the anus and scrotum. Lets be clear: Vision is key (no pun intended). Here, we must insist on using shaving gels. They work best for lifting whiskers off the body, require less application, and provide skin protection plus nourishment. Most importantly, its translucent presence lets you see where your grooming tools should work, while averting slip-ups in areas where the skin is most delicate. Step 2: Taut and Razor-Ready Tug the skin back with your non-shaving hand because you dont want it getting caught under the blade. Start at the balls and perform one stroke, followed by a quick rinse of the blade. Go at it again. Head towards the shaft and hold everything upright as to not go against the grain with the blade. Be gentle. Feel free to pass through the perineum if necessary, just be careful since this area is friction-sensitive. Step 3: Use A Post-Shaving Agent Shaving any body part, let alone your balls will lead to some inflammation. Aftershave splashes and lotions can be risky as most utilize alcohol or fragrances that sting like hell. Opt for an aftershave balm to cool down and hydrate skin. Any with aloe or camphor in the ingredients list helps reduce irritability. For more deets on how to shave yourself like a pro, take the plunge and read our full guide on shaving your balls. Arms & Pits Step 1: Trim. It. Down. Same as the pubic area, its all about cutting back the forest. Match your hair length to the proper comb attachment and buzz away. If volume is light, use the trimmer head as is. Step 2: Exfoliate The Skin This necessarily applies everywhere, but arms and pits benefit hugely from a nice scrubbing. Learn how to exfoliate the body and value a good exfoliant to purge clogged pores and rid yourself of dead skin. Youll produce a smoother landscape for grooming tools to work better. (Razor. Trimmer. Whatever.) Step 3: Lather Up Stick with a shaving gel for the same reasons weve previously preached. Itll be much easier to navigate through the contours of your arms and pits. Application is much easier, too; only a little is needed. Step 4: Shave It Off Take a cartridge razor, one with a pivoting head and with no less than three blades. Start at the inside of the wrist and transition up to the forearm. Stop at the elbow and move across the forearm with soft strokes. Do the same when tackling the upper part of your arms. When working the pits, shave anyway you please since underarm hair naturally grows in all directions. Step 5: Rinse and Cool Down Manscaping in the shower lets you rinse off debris instantly. Let the water from the showerhead take care of the dirty work. Once finished, pat down arms and pits gently. Then top it off with a skin-soothing lotion featuring Aloe Vera or other cooling ingredients. Legs Step 1: Shorten Hair Length Ads and commercials might lead you to believe it all begins with a razor and some shaving cream. Hell no. You will need to pre-shave your legs with a beard or body trimmer. Step 2: Scrub-A-Dub Jump in the tub and apply some form of scrubbing agent (body wash, shower gel, etc.) on your legs. You can spread it across a shower grooming tool, like a loofah or exfoliating gloves, and rub it over the skin in slight circles to get rid of dead skin. Step 3: Apply Gel Foam up those calves, knee caps, thighs, and ankles. A translucent gel will ensure you dont miss any lingering hairs. Step 4: Put In Blade Work The way you approached the arms is no different from what youll need to do here. Take on the thinnest patches first to determine the razors maximum hair volume. Keep strokes short and be sure to rinse the blades. Shave with the grain (in the direction hair grows) going against it in sensitive areas like the inner thigh could irritate the skin. Step 5: Heal Your Legs A mans skin produces more natural oils than a womans. Rely on a good moisturizer or post-shave conditioner to enjoy healthy, smooth legs. These solutions will destroy any existing bacteria as well. Moisturize every day to prevent friction burns. Chest & Abs Step 1: Comb Through The Frizz Hairy chests are obviously common; and some women might love it. But if you want to clear it up, heres what you need to do. The last thing you want are the trimmer blades getting caught on tangled patches. End result: Pain. Keep a premium hair comb on hand to run through the chest and shoulders (if necessary), which will help untangle any hair knots. Step 2: Trust The Trimmer Your chest is prone to accumulate a good amount of fur over time. The abdominal area, not so much. And thats a good thing. Grab a trimmer and go as short as possible within a 45-degree angle in the direction of the natural grain of your hair. Doing so will give your razor some breathing room. Step 3: Employ A Shaving Agent Get a good amount of gel out of the jar or tube, lather it up, and spread across the chest and shoulders. Step 4: Shave It Off Play it safe with short strokes and shave following the direction of hair growth. Expect to pass the razor through the same spots a few times, primarily around the sternum and (rock-solid) pecs. Flare-ups might occur. Still, its nothing you cant treat. Step 5: Cool It Down A quick rinse with lukewarm water and a pat down might be enough depending on how flared up your chest becomes. Then again, an aftershave balm is always welcome. Shoulders & Back Step 1: Flex And Trim Were looking at two of the most difficult spaces to trim. Using a trimmer with flexibility and a long reach is a no-brainer. If it supports adjustable comb lengths, even better. Start with a low guard, power that sucker up, and put your contortionist skills to the test snatching up back and shoulder hair. Step 2: Start Gelling Youre probably capable of managing shoulder duty on this one. But a second pair of hands are required for the back. Get a girlfriend or part-time lover to smear some shaving gel right down to your crack. Step 3: Choose A Hair Removal Solution Razors on your shoulder are no sweat. Same cant be said for the back. Waxes or a topical cream remain the better option. Either way youre going to need another person to get it on. If youre insistent on using a razor, have the operator shave with the grain. Step 4: Wipe It Down Treat these areas the same way you would your arms and pits. Rinse, pat down dry, and prepare an aftershave balm. Step 5: Clean Up & ExfoliateLater On Ingrown hairs are inevitable. Prevention is the next course of action. Look into getting a back scrubber or have someone gently rub on a good body scrub. This should avoid any bumps, buildups, or redness. Don't forget to rinse off when you're through. Everywhere Else Step 1: The Moisture Effect Lotion works for a quick fix. A shower is even better. Again, steam opens up pores and moistens hair follicles for leveled trims. If too time consuming, apply a warm compression pad to the are youre working on. Step 2: Use A Portable Multi-Trimmer Most body trimmers host extra accessories to trim facial spots. The problem is that these machines are heavy and provide little-to-no versatility to reach difficult areas. Invest in a nose trimmer, one with multiple heads to clear off the check list. Step 3: Clean Up Most of that trimmed hair sticks to your body. Use a wet washcloth to wipe off any lingering whiskers. Maybe take a shaving brush or borrow a girlfriends makeup brush if need be. Our personal suggestion is body wipes for the cleansing and hydrating elements. Stock up on some Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes and never forget to rinse the head of the trimmer. The Techniques Shave & Trim Epilator. Razor. Trimmer. Choose your weapon. Each one compliments another and works best on specific body parts. Trimmers mow down hair most efficiently, while epilators handle hair in sensitive areas better than most tools. Razors come into play once hair is cut short or to stubble length, giving the blades enough room for a sleek shave. Keep these grooming instruments on your radar. A 3D pivoting shaving head combined with a built-in trimmer hosting 5 length settings, the Bodygroom practically accommodates every major body part. Abs. Chest. Shoulders. You name it. Even operate it as an electric shaver to earn a velvety mug. The self-sharpening blades will cut through shrubbery without any lubrication. Stock Up: Philips Norelco Shaver, $64.95 at Amazon.com Finally, a gadget to shred that rug on your back. Mangroomers extended trimmer is a godsend for grizzlies struggling to manage their rear, propelled by two shock absorber flex heads and a Power Burst mode that shaves over super-thick hair with finesse. The ultra-sensitive blades are hypoallergenic to warrant long-term use, and the ergonomic rubberized grip of the handle supports maximum control for stabilized trims. You can also use it as a standard body trimmer. Stock Up: Mangroomer Shaver, $49.71 at Amazon.com Mowing the entire lawn requires a one-stop manscaping shop. Braun blesses you with a full-on grooming kit designed for precision control across the body. The bundle comes equipped with four combs covering 13 precision setting lengths, plus a few other attachments and a Gillette Fusion ProGlide razor for final touches. Stock Up: Braun Grooming Kit, $41.92 at Amazon.com Yes. Epilators are most popular among women shavers, but that doesnt make them gender-specific. In fact, theyre awesome for undertaking pubic stubble. Brauns handheld machine comes built specifically to catch 4x shorter hair than wax (up to 0.5mm), which is as small as a grain of sand. The pivoting head, along with its wet and dry capabilities make the Silk-epil 7 great for trimming pits in the shower. Stock Up: Braun Epilator, $85.10 at Amazon.com Flexibility is everything in a razor, especially when aiming below the belt. Gillette sells the best manscaping option. The Fusion Proglide supports patented FlexBall Technology to let the razor head contour every angle and shape of the body. The streamlined comfort guard and enhanced lubrication strip adds relief and security to the chore. Stock Up: Gillette Razor, $10.77 at Amazon.com Eyebrows, ears, and nosewere talking three of the most neglected spots on a mans body. The Andis portable trimmer has the grooming prowess to clean up your mug in all areas with recessed cutting blades for closer, safer trims. Pack the device in any dopp kit when traveling or store it in the cabinet with a protective cap to preserve blade sharpness. Stock Up: Andis Personal Trimmer, $8.58 at Amazon.com Waxing Nightmares of Steve Carrell having his chest transformed into a checkers board run rampant as we speak. The scary truth is that the more hair you have, the more painful the experience is going to be. Follow protocol and trim first. Once in the waxing phase, results can last as long as four to eight weeks, with hair growing back much softer (and thinner) than before. These cold wax strips come 20 per box and are sized perfectly for the back, chest, and shoulders. Each strip can also be cut to manage smaller spots. Perfect for last-minute touchups or when hitting the road, they make for great quick fixes and help eliminate the messiness that usually comes with wax application. Stock Up: Wax Strips, $10.41 at Amazon.com Cant go wrong with a honey-based wax kit. BodyHonee has a variety of different options with this one being the most effective amongst fellers thanks to its all-natural contents (lemon, salt, sugar from honey). Equipped with two wooden spatulas, a 10-ounce jar of all-natural wax, and eight non-woven wax strips, it pulls hair at the root-level to meet your Brozilian needs. Stock Up: Waxing Kit, $18.99 at Amazon.com The Amazon Best Seller is a complete waxing set that caters to both genders. Most customers claim its easy to use with the wax heating at perfect temperatures to dab across the body. Inside are professional-grade products including a wax warmer, Brazilian hard wax, wood sticks, pre-epilation oil and post-wax cooling gel. Stock Up: Waxing Starter Kit, $56.95 at Amazon.com Topicals Creams and lotions get no love these days. Shame seeing as this category of products has helped lay down the foundation for many manscaping routines. Interestingly, results are said to last just as long as a complete shave. Furthermore, using these liniments will naturally exfoliate your skin certainly a bonus. Nairs affordability and simplicity has made it a consumer favorite over the past two decades. This body cream works best on limbs and the back/chest areas. However, its ability to activate while in the shower is what differentiates it from the crowd, producing a swifter wipe-down removal. Smear it on, wait a good 10 minutes, then let the shower rinse it off. Stock Up: Nair Hair Remover, $12.82 at Amazon.com All genital jokes aside, Nad's 4-minute lotion is suitable for every body part, including your balls. Aloe Vera is one of its signature ingredients to protect and soothe skin after eradicating it of rough hair. If you can tolerate the less-than-lovely scent, then consider your testes as smooth as Dominic Torettos dome. Stock Up: Nad Hair Removal Cream, $9.71 at Amazon.com The Post-Manscape Routine Hair removal takes its toll on the skin. Apply these skincare solutions to keep your skin feeling great before and after manscaping. The companys new hero product is a multi-tasking lotion thats garnered positive reviews across a variety of mens lifestyle sites. It's formulated with active ingredients to simultaneously tackle razor bumps, irritation, and ingrown hairs. Gently rub it into problem areas and allow absorption. Its soothing elements, like allantoin and chamomile, help stimulate cell regeneration. Stock Up: The Shavior, $24.00 at Amazon.com Several ingrown hair treatments are available to rid the body of coarse and curly threads. One of our favorites is Anthonys specialty hair serum, which uses glycolic acid to purge skin of dead cells. This in turn releases ingrown hairs by freeing bacteria under the skin and calming inflammation. Stock Up: Ingrown Hair Treatment, $32.00 at Nordstrom.com Johnson & Johnson just met its competition. This is the talcum powder youll fancy to help keep your privates comfortable and dry at all times. Use it anywhere (except the face) to avoid odorous funk, in addition to reducing itchiness. A light, fresh scent is an added touch. Suitable for all skin types. Stock Up: Super Powder, $16.00 at Amazon.com Related Readings Best Razors For Men Best Electric Shavers AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. To find out more, please read our complete terms of use. A University of Arizona college student contracted a rare autoimmune disease that has left her paralyzed just three days into her Spain vacation. Kara Dunn, a physiology student who will be a junior this fall, was rushed to the hospital on June 5 and diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, Tucson News Now reported. The condition causes the bodys immune system to attack the nerves, and begins with weakness and tingling in the extremities, according to the Mayo Clinic. The syndromes cause is unknown. However, it often follows an infectious illness. While there is no cure, most people recover from it but may experience some lingering effects, the Mayo Clinic says. On a GoFundMe page started for Kara, her brother, Ryan Dunn, wrote, The onset of the disorder was very sudden. Kara felt ill and had tingling sensations in her hands and face, but decided to sleep it off, according to Ryan. She woke up the next morning unable to move. At the hospital, she was sedated and intubated for severe pneumonia, which further complicated her condition, Ryan wrote on the GoFundMe. Kara, he added, traveled to Spain to explore the country. He wrote, this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity meant the world to her. Now, Ryan said, All we want is for Kara to be able to come home and get the best treatment available so she can regain her strength. However, the only way this is possible is if she is air evacuated to Arizona. The cost of the emergency flight back to the United States, general medical expenses, physical therapy and transportation/housing for our family is over $100,000. This is why I am seeking your support, Ryan explained. On Monday, he wrote in an update that Kara is still breathing without needing a tube. Tonight will be a long battle, but if she can make it through without needing the tube put back in, it will be a very good sign, he said. She is a warrior. When her friends, including Jessica Kirkham, heard the news, they were in shock. But the students loved ones are focused on hoping for the best. We, absolutely, could not believe what is happening, Kirkham told Tucson News Now. We felt absolutely helpless. Were like, Shes on the other side of the world. We have no idea how were going to help her. We were so far. We were aching for the family. Were aching for ourselves and our friends. It was brutal. By Joseph Nasr BERLIN (Reuters) - Husam Idris dreams of returning to his bakery in the Syrian city of Aleppo. But three years after escaping the war, he worries that a new law allowing the Syrian government to seize homes for redevelopment will scupper his plans. "I grew up in the bakery. I can't imagine losing it," said Idris, a 37-year-old father of three who now lives in Germany. While Syria's Law 10, or Decree 10, has yet to be applied, rights groups and governments hosting Syrian refugees say they risk becoming permanent exiles if they lose their properties because it would remove a major incentive to return one day. Idris is at the Syrian embassy in Berlin trying to arrange power of attorney for his mother back home so she can stake a claim to his bakery and apartment in the Kallaseh neighborhood of Aleppo, recaptured from rebels two years ago. He is not alone. The new law has prompted a rush of visitors to the embassy. One worker at the mission, who declined to give his name, said that since the law came into effect in April, 10 to 15 Syrians had come each day to request power of attorney for relatives at home, up from a handful beforehand. According to the U.N.'s refugee agency, 6 million Syrians have been displaced within the country and there are nearly 5.5 million refugees outside Syria. Germany hosts some 650,000 Syrians, the most of any Western country, and it is particularly worried about the law. Berlin's fear is that President Bashar al-Assad could use Law 10 to bulldozer former opposition bastions seized by the government and replace them with new property developments populated by government supporters. "Decree 10 is designed to expropriate refugees," a senior German government official said. "It is pretty clear that Assad's goal is to replace the old population with a new one," said the official, who was briefed on talks between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin about the issue. The Syrian government has dismissed concerns about the law as a "disinformation campaign". It says it needs to rebuild areas destroyed in the war and regulate illegal settlements. "This law comes within the framework of the Reconstruction Program, and has an organizational character aimed at regulating slum areas in Syria, especially in light of the destruction of many of the areas that were controlled by terrorists," Syria's mission to the United Nations in Geneva said last month. SECURITY COUNCIL What started out as protests against Assad in 2011 turned into a civil war that has often pitted the country's Sunni majority against Assad's minority Alawites and Shi'ite allies. Russia intervened militarily in 2015 to help swing the conflict in favor of Assad. Within the region, Turkey is home to 3.5 million Syrian refugees and there are nearly 1 million living in Lebanon, which has also expressed concern Law 10 could discourage the mainly Sunni refugees there from returning. Law 10 originally gave proprietors 30 days to prove ownership or lose their rights. The Syrian government extended the period to one year earlier this month to allay fears refugees and the displaced could lose their homes. Besides Russia, Germany has raised concerns about the Syrian legislation with its European Union partners and has managed to get the issue onto the U.N. Security Council's agenda. "The fact that the U.N. Security Council has taken note of the decree is a good starting point," said a second German official. "But clearly effective pressure on Assad not to implement the decree has to come from Russia." While Law 10 says relatives in Syria can stake claims, Syrian lawyers say in practice power of attorney still needs to be given to an individual so the authorities know which relative is the chosen legal agent. Lawyers and rights groups also say anyone making a property claim needs to have security clearance. They say this could lead to Syrians who fled former opposition strongholds being disenfranchised. "The regime has a history of arbitrary expropriations to serve its economic and security interests and unfair land expropriations was one of the triggers of the rebellion," Syrian human rights lawyer Anwar al-Bunni said. "Who is going to dare claim property in an opposition area that the regime turned into rubble because it views its inhabitants as Sunni terrorists? Even if they dared, they will not get clearance if the regime wants the land," he said. LAW 66 Human rights groups, Syrian lawyers and refugees said a previous law pitched by the government as necessary for redevelopment had been applied in opposition areas to force out inhabitants perceived as dissenters. They said Law 66, approved by Assad in 2012 to redevelop slums in Damascus, was applied in neighborhoods southwest of the capital where anti-Assad protests erupted at the start of the rebellion in 2011, including in Basateen al-Razi. Local authorities used land there expropriated under Law 66 for a luxury residential project of 12,000 housing units which Assad inaugurated in 2016. Now, some Syrian refugees fear Law 10 will be used in a similar way nationwide. "The problem is not in the law itself. The problem is how and where it's going to be implemented," said Sinan Hatahet, a Syria expert at Al Sharq Forum think-tank. "If you lived in a bombed-out opposition area you're most likely not going to get security clearance so your right to ownership is automatically gone," he said. France said the law was a serious obstacle to a lasting political solution to the Syrian conflict as it allowed refugees' property to be plundered. "This is a new stage in the brutal strategy of crowding out entire sections of the Syrian population that the Damascus regime has been implementing for several years," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Agnes Von der Muhll said in response to Reuters' questions. 'FORGET THE PAST' At the Syrian embassy in Berlin, refugees queue in a room with three counters for consular services, a picture of Assad over the middle counter looking out on about 50 people waiting their turn. Of the handful of Syrians who agreed to talk to Reuters about Law 10 most asked to be identified by nicknames, saying they feared for their safety and that of loved ones in Syria. One man who goes by the nickname Abu Ahmed was at the embassy to give power of attorney to his brother, so he can stake a claim to Abu Ahmed's depot in Yarmouk, a district of Damascus established as a Palestinian refugee camp in 1957. Like many of the buildings in Yarmouk, Abu Ahmed's depot used for storing and selling light bulbs was built illegally. The only proof of ownership he has are certificates from a notary. "My wife thinks I'm crazy to obsess about the depot. The whole camp has been turned into rubble and we are lucky to be alive," said the 47-year-old trader. He has little hope the government will grant his brother security clearance should Yarmouk be redeveloped. "We are marked because we lived in Yarmouk. The moukhabarat (secret police) will never give us security clearance but I have to try," said Abu Ahmed, who now lives in Berlin. The Norwegian Refugee Council estimates that about half of Syrian's pre-war population of 22 million lived in urban areas with about a third of those in slums. "They don't need laws to steal our properties. They do as they please and no one can stop them," said Um Ahmed, standing by her husband. "I keep telling Abu Ahmed, 'forget the past,' but he can't. He still dreams of a return." Outside the embassy in Berlin, Idris wonders if asking his mother to act as agent for his Aleppo bakery was the right decision. "She is old, ill and probably won't live much longer," he said. "My brothers and sisters are in Turkey so my cousins are the only other option. But they've lost everything and have no income. They've been selling land they own outside Aleppo for peanuts to survive. They'll probably sell my property too." (Additional reporting by Angus McDowall in Beirut, John Irish in Paris, Stephanie Nebehay and Tom Miles in Geneva; editing by David Clarke) CBC Some residents are missing records of the COVID-19 vaccine doses from their MySaskHealthRecord accounts and it's causing concern. According to eHealth, there have been 3,207 requests about vaccine dose information missing from their records as of Friday. Of those requests, about 1,789 have been resolved, the agency said. Kenn Sunley is still working on getting his first of two vaccine doses added to his record. While it hasn't given him grief yet, he's worried that sooner or later he'll be turne A suspected Indian status scam that told a man he shared genetic ancestry with a dog should serve as a reminder of the perils of DNA testing for Indigenous ancestry, says an Edmonton researcher. Kim TallBear, the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Peoples, Technoscience and Environment, said she has long been wary of DNA testing for Indigenous heritage. DNA testing may be the future of genealogy, but it should not define a person's Indigenous identity, the University of Alberta scholar said Thursday in an interview on CBC Radio's Edmonton AM. People excited to learn about their roots won't find all the answers they're looking for inside a test tube, TallBear cautioned. "I don't want to help them make money doing what I think is stupid science," said the author of Native American DNA: Tribal Belonging and the False Promise of Genetic Science. "It's not that it's bad science but I don't think it should inform how we identify as Native people." The latest controversy around DNA testing follows a CBC News investigation out of Quebec. Suspicious of Toronto-based laboratory Viaguard Accu-Metrics, Louis Cote sent in his DNA for analysis along with a swab from his girlfriend's pet chihuahua. When the tests came back, the results indicated both man and dog shared the same 20-per-cent Indigenous ancestry. CBC News found there were not only concerns about the accuracy of the DNA tests but also about the possible fraudulent use of cards resembling certificates of Indian status to secure tax exemptions the holders aren't entitled to. "There are problems in the DNA testing industry related to Native American DNA testing but this is the first time I've seen them confuse native ancestry with dog lineages," TallBear said. "This is not a mistake that would be very easy to make if you actually had a credible lab, but there are some more subtle problems that happen with these tests." Story continues Culture is more than genetic markers TallBear said the case is egregious, but suggested all DNA companies are taking advantage of a growing curiosity in ancestry research while neglecting complex questions around culture, race and government status. DNA tests are not valid for determining Indigenous affiliation, First Nations or tribal identity, said TallBear. The tests don't satisfy the requirements for Canadian status or band membership. Genetic ancestry tracing back to unnamed ancestors among the founding populations of the Americas is not the kind of biological tie that matters for gaining status, she said. Even the most credible tests for Indigenous ancestry rarely provide detailed tribal affiliations and are prone to inaccuracies due to the lack of a diverse sample size of genetic profiles in their databases, said TallBear. Even if a person is told they belong to a specific tribe or ethnic group, having matching genetic markers from ages ago doesn't mean they have the lived experience to become part of that community. Belonging to particular community can mean sharing beliefs, cultural practices and even official membership, not just genetic material. TallBear said she would never rely on a lab to interpret her cultural roots. "Even in a credible DNA lab, there are problems with using these kinds of tests to determine Indigenous affiliation," she said. "Why should I give them 300 bucks so they get to use my DNA to sell a product that I ethically disagree with?" The family of a Newfoundland woman who made headlines because of a photo of her apparently bound and gagged at work has joined her in Scotland as an employment tribunal looks into the case. They say DeeAnn Fitzpatrick is so stressed by the alleged workplace harassment and subsequent attention, she considered taking her own life. "We said that we had to come and we had to get this stopped," Fitzpatrick's sister-in-law told CBC's St. John's Morning Show on Thursday. Sherry Fitzpatrick, who lives on Bell Island, flew to Scotland this week for the tribunal hearing. "Since I've been here, she said it's probably the best thing that's ever happened, knowing that a part of her family is here." DeeAnn Fitzpatrick's story is familiar to many by a photo that shows her taped to a chair and gagged, allegedly because she spoke out about being bullied. That 2010 incident was part of what Fitzpatrick told the BBC was a decade-long pattern of bullying and abuse she experienced when she worked as a fisheries officer at Marine Scotland's Scrabster office on Scotland's north coast. Fitzpatrick told the tribunal that she was so distressed by the harassment that she contacted Dignitas, a Swiss non-profit that provides assisted suicide to terminally ill people, and people with severe mental or physical illness. Not about the money After going public with the story by speaking with BBC Scotland in May, her family published a video as part of a #LetDeeAnnSpeak campaign. Sherry Fitzpatrick said her sister-in-law has heard from people in the community who want to offer her support. But not everyone has believed her story. "DeeAnn has said people come to her saying she's only looking for a payout, she's only looking for money," Fitzpatrick said. "Money has never been an object for this and she said she just wants it to stop. And if she can pave the way for other women coming up in the workplace to try to stop this type of abuse, then this is what her main goal is for this hearing and coming out public with her story." Story continues The photo of her bound to a chair is not being used as evidence in this tribunal, Fitzpatrick said, because a preliminary tribunal determined that it was too old, having been taken eight years ago. Cards sent to DeeAnn Fitzpatrick on Valentine's Day and her birthday that she characterized as threatening, calling her "an old troll," and refer to her as having male genitalia, Sherry Fitzpatrick said, will be used as evidence and were discussed this week. "One of the things that they did mention in the tribunal is that they actually alleged DeeAnn wrote the cards to herself," her sister-in-law said. "Really? Is this the only thing that you have to say? That you think she did this herself? It's just been ridiculous what the other side is claiming." Fitzpatrick said she's heard from Scottish government ministers who were concerned when they heard that DeeAnn had contacted Dignitas, and she will meet with them this week to discuss the matter before returning to Newfoundland on Saturday. Read more articles on CBC Newfoundland and Labrador For students at one of Indonesias oldest Islamic boarding schools, the holy month of Ramadan doesnt only mean fasting from dawn till dusk. It also means intensive study of the Koran. The Lirboyo Islamic School, or pesantren, established in 1910 in East Java province, encourages its 21,000 students from around the worlds biggest Muslim-majority country to use the holy month to study religious knowledge and Islamic teachings rigorously. Head of the boarding school, Ahmad Zulfa Sholeh, said his institution rejects radical teachings and focuses on interpreting the Koran to build good character. We dont agree with radical views because Muslims should not fight other religions. We should protect them, he said. Last month, a series of suicide attacks carried out by whole families, including young children, killed at least 30 people, shocking the largely moderate nation. They marked the worst militant attack since the Bali restaurant bombings in 2005 and happened just a two-hour drive from the school in the city of Surabaya. (Reuters) Photography by Beawiharta/Reuters See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Twitter and Tumblr. Israeli forces repeated use of lethal force in the Gaza Strip since March 30, 2018, against Palestinian demonstrators who posed no imminent threat to life may amount to war crimes, Human Rights Watch said today. Israeli forces have killed more than 100 protesters in Gaza and wounded thousands with live ammunition. Israels use of lethal force when there was no imminent threat to life has taken a heavy toll in life and limb, said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. The international community needs to rip up the old playbook, where Israel conducts investigations that mainly whitewash the conduct of its troops and the US blocks international accountability with its Security Council veto, and instead impose real costs for such blatant disregard for Palestinian lives. To celebrate the passing of my 70th summer, my bride of over 44 good years (only occasionally interspersed with a difference of opinion, sometimes of olympic proportions), bought us both a one hour tour on segways (seg as in beg). So off we went to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast where we volunteer as Park Volunteers, for our tour. Having undergone prior practice in a quiet area and as is usual on such adventures, we had to sign a waiver signing our life away in the unlikely event of some untoward disaster befalling us on tour. During that familiarisation run we had to zig-zag around a row of witches hats (bright orange cone-shaped markers), and stop at our guides outstretched hand half-way up and then half-way down a ramp, and to practice safely stepping onto and off the gadget. At last he was satisfied with us so off we segwayed. A jarring moment In the kangaroo paddock we came upon an English-speaking overseas visitor who had to move sideways on the boardwalk so our tour party could pass, when he suddenly realised his head was close to the web of a harmless (probably unknown to him) Huntsman spider. In fright he resorted to loud colourful blasphemous language. He misused Jesus name in a noisy repetitive way telling everyone he was arachnophobic, defined as the irrational fear of spiders. One problem with his megaphoned fear (apart from it being broadcast in mixed company) was his gross misuse of Gods name, but he was clearly unaware to this. On a different occasion, Graeme complained to me about another resident still having his boat stored in Graemes garage, saying: I wish to Christ hed come and get it. And commonly, oh my godI forgot to buy toothpaste. But God says early in His Ten Commandments that: You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name. (Exodus chapter 20 verse 7). And in the New Testament we read that the older Christian women were required to teach the younger women Gods ways: so that no-one will malign the word of God. (Titus chapter 2 verse 5). Gods word, where His standards are clearly proclaimed in His statutes, was partly written so that He could fairly judge the man of the world by His divine standard of righteousness. The law ismade not for the righteous but for law-breakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of [our] blessed god. (1Timothy chapter1 verses 9-11). An Aussie geographic mag One of our daughters bought me a subscription to a magazine which contained an article about birds of prey (raptors) entitled: The secret history of raptors. An interesting and informative article, but as is depressingly common with all things nature whether it be a nature/animal park, magazine or film, the evolutionary mindset was strongly evident throughout. No doubt people of that mindset say the same about the Christian and his/her creationist worldview even though ours (contra theirs) is evidence based, so there may be little chance of either persuading the other to reverse their thinking. But if the opportunity does arise it is better to have a mature discussion or debate rather than a destructive argument. And so we must always be: prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have[but always] do this with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter chapter 3 verse 15). The knowledge of the ignorant The author opined that whilst the Fossil evidence has been scant nevertheless there was an explosion of evolution in birds as they rapidly diversified into most of the modern groups we know today. Such scant fossil evidence did not deter him from confidently stating that immediately prior to that evolutionary explosion, it nevertheless had occurred after the non-bird dinosaurs disappeared 66 million years ago. I marvelled at the historical precision and pin-point accuracy of the evolutionists atheistic thinking. He was able to authoritatively state (without citing any evidence of course) that this explosion did not occur about 65-70 million years ago, but precisely 66 million. Such language is universal among evolutionists although its interesting that our calendar says this is only the year 2018. From what is never canvassed. The author was less precise when informing that fossils from Australia of early songbirds are up to 54 million years old, and such birds began to diversify 33 million years ago. when darkness reigns (Luke 22:53) He encouraged the reader to think about the wonderful variety of birds around us and how evolution has acted in somewhat surprising ways to generate the delightful variety of avian life. And yet in spite of that explosive diversification so long ago into the modern groups of birds we know today, they have always remained birds and have not diversified further into other distinct life formssuch as evolutionists or naturalists. God should know The alternative and far more plausible explanation however is that given by the Creator Himself. With the unimpeachable authority of having done it, God says that He created every winged bird according to its kind, an expression that appears repeatedly in Genesis chapter 1. But: the fool says in his heart there is no God. (Psalm 14 verse 1). None so blind as Gavin Lawrie is a retired Barrister and Solicitor from Tweed Heads NSW Australia and author of the book: 'THE EVIDENCE OF EVOLUTION: Uncovering The Faulty Science Of Dawkins' Attack On Creationism'. He is married to Jan with two adult children and they are grandparents. Gavin Lawrie's previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/gavin-lawrie.html Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram Two armed men broke into the home of newspaper reporter Josue Garay in the Nicaraguan capital of Managua early on June 10, 2018, beat him and stole his phone and identification documents, the journalist told CPJ by phone. Garay told CPJ he believes the attack was an attempt to intimidate him and discourage him from reporting on the countrys political crisis. Garay said he was woken shortly after 2 a.m when the men entered the bedroom of his apartment. The attackers, who were armed with a machete and a pipe, demanded he hand over his wallet, cell phone and documents, including his national ID card and passport, according to the journalist and his employer, the daily La Prensa. When Garay asked why they wanted his identification, the attackers pushed him into a wall and hit him repeatedly in the face, nearly breaking his jaw, he told CPJ. They put a lot of emphasis on the passport, which made me think it wasnt just a regular robbery, Garay said. He said the attackers did not steal anything else from his apartment. The journalist said that the men dragged him to the buildings parking lot, where they continued to beat him and one threatened him with the machete. Garay said the attackers warned him not to say anything about the incident or they would return to break him in half. Before they left, one told him I hope this will teach you a lesson. Garay told CPJ he reported the incident to local police and the local Public Ministry, the government entity responsible for prosecuting crimes. The Public Ministry in Managua did not answer repeated phone calls from CPJ seeking comment. Garay has worked as a journalist in Nicaragua for four years, most recently covering politics and national news for La Prensa. He said he has been threatened and harassed, including over his coverage of nationwide protests that started in mid-April 2018 over the governments decision to reform the social security system by increasing contributions and reducing payouts to pensioners. Amid rising violence, the government scrapped the plan. But protesters then demanded that President Daniel Ortega leave office. Garay reported on Twitter that on May 9, 2018, police officers verbally harassed him and two colleagues while they covered a protest in Managua. Garay told CPJ that on May 20, 2018, he had an encounter with five people whom he said he believes were members of the Sandinista Youth, an organization of Nicaraguas ruling party, in a supermarket near his home. They said they knew he was a reporter and warned he might wake up to problems soon, he told CPJ. CPJ was unable to find contact details for the Sandinista Youth. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram New York, June 15, 2018The Palestinian Authority should investigate claims that its security forces assaulted and harassed journalists covering a protest in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Security forces assaulted at least five journalists and confiscated equipment during the unrest on June 13, according to news reports and the local press freedom organization, the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA). At least one journalist was briefly detained. The journalists were covering a protest over economic sanctions the Palestinian Authority imposed on Gaza, which is controlled by its rival, Hamas, according to Reuters. President Mahmoud Abbas banned protests over the sanctions earlier that day, according to reports. This is not the first time that security forces have used violence and intimidation to prevent coverage of protests that the authorities may dislike, said CPJ Deputy Executive Director Robert Mahoney. The Palestinian Authority must deal firmly with all those who assault journalists to send a clear message that it is committed to press freedom. Seth Herald, an American freelance photojournalist who was covering the unrest for the independent Israeli news magazine +972, told CPJ that a police officer ordered him to stop taking photos of an injured protester and tried to grab his camera. The journalist said several plainclothes officers beat him with batons and their fists, kicked him, and one of them twisted his arm and grabbed his camera. Herald said he was dragged to a police van, where he was detained for about an hour, before being taken to a military barracks where he was held for two hours. Herald told CPJ that when he was taken to the barracks a man identified only to him as the major general asked if he was hurt and released him without charge, but said he would receive a call the following day from the U.S. consulate. The journalist said his camera was returned but the images were deleted In an article for +972, a journalist named Rami Younis wrote that a Palestinian Authority police officer kicked him and confiscated his phone, along with those of several other people who were also filming the protest. Younis did not immediately respond to an email from CPJ. Video footage that the Hamas-affiliated Quds News Network shared on its Twitter feed showed a security officer attempting to seize the phone of a reporter, who is not identified in the video, and telling the reporter to get out of here. When the reporter identifies himself as a journalist, the officer responds, Go be a journalist in your home, not here. Officers tried to blindfold Heba Erakat, a reporter for the independent news website Shasha News, bound her hands, and then beat and kicked her while she was on the ground, according to her employer and MADA. Security forces beat Naela Khalil, the bureau chief for the Qatar-affiliated website The New Arab in the West Bank, according to MADA and a post on her Facebook page. The journalist said she was also affected by tear gas. MADA reported that Jihan Awad, a reporter for Palestine Today, and Ahmed Youssef, a correspondent for the website Ultra Palestine, were assaulted and that officers confiscated Awads phone. MADA did not provide further details of the assaults. The Palestinian Authority Security Forces did not immediately respond to CPJs request for comment sent via its website. EDITORS NOTE: The text has been modified in the fourth and fifth paragraph to clarify Heralds account of being beaten and detained. The 106th Indian Science Congress will be held at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Jalandhar, Punjab from January 3 to 7, 2019. It will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The theme for the five-day science congress is Future India: Science & Technology. It will be organised by the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA), a premier scientific organisation of India. Key Facts The science congress will comprise of 18 plenary sessions, including those of medical, environmental, chemical and other science domains.There will also be four parallel mega events, including womens science conference, childrens science conference; science communicators meet and science exhibition. The exhibition will see participation from national and international science companies, especially from US, Australia, Germany and Switzerland. About 15,000 delegates, including 300 top scientists and Nobel Laureates from across world are going to attend the congress. Background ISCA was started in the year 1914 at its headquarters in Kolkata. It organises Indian Science Congress annually in first week of January. The first meeting of ISCC was held in January 1914 in Asiatic Society, Kolkata. ISCA works under Department of Science & Technology, Ministry of Science & Technology (Government of India). The 105th edition of ISC was held at Manipur Central University in Imphal, Manipur with theme Reaching the Unreached Through Science & Technology. Andhra Pradesh: After 2-month ban, boats venture into sea from Kakinada fishing harbour June 15,2018 | Source: The Hans India With the completion of 61-day ban period, the fishing activity has begun in district from 13 centres. According to sources, more than 4,000 motored boats with traditional craft ventured into the sea for fishing. Sources said 450 mechanised boats did not venture into sea from Kakinada fishing harbour and from Bhairavapalem in Katrenikona mandal in the district. The prime reason for not venturing into the sea is the subsidy of Rs 6.03 paisa on diesel per litre which the fishermen want to be doubled. AP Coastal Districts Fishermen Welfare Association president Dasari Satyanarayana said when the price of diesel was Rs 40, the subsidy was Rs 6.03 paisa and the same has been continuing even after the diesel price touched Rs 75 per litre. The government should consider raise in subsidy by 100 per cent in view of steep rise in the diesel price. When contacted on the issue, joint director of fisheries P Jaya Rao admitted that the mechanised boats did not move from two jetties at Kakinada and Bhairavapalem. He said the issue was brought to the notice of higher-ups in fisheries department. Rural MLA P Anantalakshmi said she will take up the issue to the notice of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for an amicable solution. Hyderabad: Several present and former MLAs of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and Congress are planning to contest the next general election. TRS ministers and former Congress ministers are also likely to be in the fray. The Congress leaders are showing more interest in the Lok Sabha elections because they are expecting the mood to turn against the BJP. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is of the opinion that if strong candidates are fielded for the Lok Sabha, it will have an effect on Assembly constituencies and will become easy for the TRS to win. According to sources in the TRS, Mr Rao has hinted that some Cabinet ministers should prepare to contest the Lok Sabha elections. While the ministers are willing to do so, they want Assembly tickets for their family members. According to sources, animal husbandry minister Talasani Srinivasa Yadav is likely to contest the Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency. But he wants the Sanathnagar Assembly ticket for his son. Deputy CM Kadiam Srihari will contest from the Warangal Lok Sabha constituency but wants his daughter to be given an Assembly ticket. Transport minister P. Mahendar Reddy is likely to contest from the Chevella Lok Sabha constituency and present TRS MP Konda Visweswar Reddy may be shifted to the Malkajgiri Lok Sabha constituency. Finance minister Etela Rajendar may contest from the Karimnagar Lok Sabha constituency but wants his wife to be given an Assembly ticket. Roads and building Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao may contest from Khammam. Agriculture minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy may contest from Nizamabad if one of his sons is given an Assembly ticket. Major irrigation minister T. Harish Rao is likely to contest from Zaheerabad. The TRS chief is planning to contest the Assembly seat from Gajwel and the Lok Sabha seat from Medak. A senior TRS leader, however, said that these are only speculations and the final decision will be taken by the Chief Minister at an appropriate time. With their sights fixed on power at the Centre, Congress leaders prefer to contest Lok Sabha seats, hoping for an anti BJP and anti-Modi mood in the public. Former minister Ponnala Laxmaiah wants to contest from Bhongir and former deputy CM Damodar Raja Narasimha wants to contest the Medak Lok Sabha seat. Nalgonda MLA Komatireddy Venkatareddy has openly stated his preference for the Nalgonda Lok Sabha seat. Sources in the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee say that the party is most likely to have an alliance with the CPI, in which case the Nalgonda Lok Sabha seat may be given to the CPI. Former minister and MLA, J Geetha Reddy, is also keen on a Lok Sabha seat, preferably from Zaheerabad. Former MLA K. Laxma Reddy wants to contest the Malkajgiri Lok Sabha seat. TPCC vice-president and former MP Mallu Ravi will contest from Nagarkurnool and former minister Sabitha Indrareddy may contest from Chevella. In March, the EU leadership announced its intention to hold talks after the Russian gas monopoly Gazprom had unilaterally broken all gas contracts with Naftogaz. Trilateral talks between the European Union, Ukraine and the Kremlin on the transit of gas through the territory of Ukraine are scheduled for early July. "Time is a precious commodity. I hope to start working with Russia & Ukraine on the trilateral gas agenda in early July. Complex negotiations ahead," European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic wrote on Twitter. Read alsoSwedish court suspends Stockholm Arbitration award in UA-RU gas transit dispute In March, the EU leadership announced its intention to hold talks after the Russian gas monopoly Gazprom had unilaterally broken all gas contracts with Naftogaz in response to Ukraine's victory in the Stockholm Arbitration Court over the two deals: the transit of Russian gas to the EU and gas purchase from the Russian Federation. Central bank in Ukraine confirms Rozhkova nominated for deputy governor's post The press service has noted that the NBU chief hopes for the Board's support for the nominees proposed so that the Board could as soon as possible work at full capacity. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Hladkovskiy stressed that Ukraine had proven itself as a reliable supplier of military production. First Deputy to the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleg Hladkovskiy says Ukraine is ready to consider the possibility of joint production of armored vehicles together with Thailand. "In the first quarter of 2018, the Ukrainian side completed a contract for the supply of 'Oplot' tanks for Thailand's needs. As part of the successful implementation of the bilateral agreements, a delegation from the Ministry of Defense of the Kingdom of Thailand, headed by Deputy Minister of Defense, Mr. Chai Changmongkol, is paying a visit to Ukraine from June 13 to 16," the NSDC press service said. During the visit, Thai high officials held talks at the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, visited the enterprises of SE Ukroboronprom, and met with First Deputy to the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleg Hladkovskiy, who noted that the Kingdom of Thailand is one of Ukraine's strategic partners in the Asia-Pacific region. Read alsoUkraine, Turkey to move to practical implementation of An-188 project He emphasized that our state is ready to continue to export armored vehicles to Thailand, as well as to expand the range of military products required by the army of the Kingdom. Hladkovskiy stressed that Ukraine had proven itself as a reliable supplier of military production. He also noted that domestic specialists could provide proper maintenance and support for armored vehicles, in particular, the supply of spares and components. Therefore, according to the First Deputy to the Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine, consideration should be given to the possibility of opening such a service center on the territory of Thailand. Read alsoMalaysia interested in Ukrainian defense products Ukroboronprom The parties also discussed the Thai government's strategy for developing its military industry and the issue of the possibility of transferring Ukrainian technologies to joint production of armored vehicles in Thailand. Besides, Hladkovskiy considers it expedient to launch the Joint Ukrainian-Thai Commission on cooperation in the field of the defense industry to discuss specific joint projects. Ukraine, U.S. to build combat modules in line with NATO standards The U.S. company will supply machine guns for combat modules, while the production will be organized at one of Ukroboronprom's enterprises. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Trachoma is a disease of the poor. And it is a misery to endure. It is a painful malady of the eyes, caused by frequent and repeated eye infections that scar the inside of the eyelids so the eyelashes rotate inwards and scratch the eye, damaging it. The disease is spread by contact with a person that has an active infection, which means that Trachoma frequently spreads among relatives. A persons immune system can defeat a single episode of infection, but in endemic communities, re-acquisition of the bacteria occurs frequently. And eventually, repeated infections will cause blindness. Around the world, some 190 million people in 41 countries are at risk of going blind from Trachoma. 2.2 million people have decreased vision due to the disease. Of these, 1.2 are already blind. The good news is that Trachoma is preventable through good hygiene and frequent washing with clean water, and treatable with antibiotics such as azithromycin or tetracycline. In late May, USAID Spokesperson Clayton McCleskey announced in a written statement that two countries, Ghana and Nepal, have succeeded in eliminating Trachoma as a public health problem. This is no mean feat. For a country to be considered trachoma free, more than 95 percent of children between 1 and 9 years old living in previously-endemic district must be free of signs of active trachoma.In each previously-endemic district, fewer than 2 tenths of one percent of people 15 years and older must be free of trachomatous trichiasis, the characteristic inward-turned lashes. And the countrys health system must be capable of identifying and managing new cases of trachomatous trichiasis. The U.S. Government, through USAID, has supported the Government of Ghana's efforts to eliminate trachoma since 2006. This includes technical and financial support for mapping the disease, the delivery of 1.1 million treatments of azithromycin donated by Pfizer, and impact evaluations in 37 endemic Districts. USAID's support to the Government of Nepal on Trachoma began in 2009, and included mapping the disease in 31 Districts, delivering more than 2.4 million treatments of azithromycin donated by Pfizer, and conducting impact surveys in 24 Districts. The United States congratulates Ghana and Nepal on this remarkable achievement, which will improve the lives of their people. Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova reported has arrived at the Russian prison in Siberia where Ukrainian film director Oleh Sentsov is located, but she was denied a meeting with him. "I met with the chief of the jail colony and the head of the administration of the execution of punishment in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District. He told me that I would not be allowed to meet with Oleh Sentsov, but he did not tell me the reasons," Denisova said in the video posted on her Facebook page. The video shows the Ukrainian ombudsman standing near the penitentiary gates. According to Denisova, when she asked about Sentsov's condition, the penitentiary department head refused to provide any information on that score. "That is why he asked us to leave the premises of the penal colony," she said. "I have phoned the human rights commissioner of the Russian Federation and am now awaiting her reply," she said. Denisova arrived in Salekhard earlier on Friday. Ukraine needs to wait for a certain favorable moment when Russia cannot disagree on the introduction of the UN peacekeeping mission in Donbas on the terms of Kyiv, deputy minister for temporarily occupied territories and internally displaced persons of Ukraine Yuriy Hrymchak has said. "We need Russia's consent. This is a nuclear state and no one wants to start World War III ... Today there is a position that is more or less supported throughout the world - this is a peacekeeping mission throughout the territory with subsequent transfer of control to Ukraine. But it is necessary to create conditions before Russia agrees to this, because there won't be another condition for the existence of Russia itself," Hrymchak said on Channel 5 on Thursday. At the same time, the deputy minister added: "It seems to me that this moment - the moment of the problem of the existence of Russia itself - is approaching." Speaking about the proposed options for the return of the occupied territories to Ukrainian control, Hrymchak mentioned the plan of Interior Minister Arsen Avakov: "I do not understand what 'tactics of small steps' are, and I do not understand why the occupying forces must withdraw and give control to Ukraine ... If the pressure of the international community leads to Russia leaving, it will leave the whole territory. But I see no reason why Russia will leave Horlivka today." He noted that over the past year, the findings of technology and the departure of some advisers from the occupied territories of Donbas, "but then something has changed and everything has returned." Batkivschyna Party leader Yulia Tymoshenko has suggested creating four platforms of intellectuals in Ukraine to work out a strategy for changes in different spheres. "After our first forum, I suggest that you create four platforms, where the strongest intellectuals of the country, representatives of professional circles, civil society and various political teams will gather," she said at the all-Ukrainian forum "New Course for Ukraine" in Kyiv on Friday. According to her, the first platform should work out the way to peace and restore Donbas after de-occupation, as well as support for veterans. She said the second platform should deal with the preparation of a new Constitution. "The third platform will be devoted to a new economic strategy. We will bring together well-known economists, financiers and entrepreneurs to devise a reliable economic system in Ukraine, in which it will be comfortable to live and work," Tymoshenko said. Tymoshenko said the fourth platform would be devoted to the creation of a harmonious ecosystem of human life. Batkivschyna Party leader Yulia Tymoshenko has proposed a parliamentary form of government of the "Chancellor type" for public discussion. "I want to propose a parliamentary form of government of the Chancellor type for public discussion," Tymoshenko said at the all-Ukrainian forum "New Course for Ukraine" in Kyiv on Friday. At the same time, she noted that the parliamentary form of government has proved its effectiveness in countries with a high standard of living. Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Liudmyla Denisova, who arrived in Labytnangi (Tyumen region, Russia) to visit Ukrainian political prisoner Oleh Sentsov, said negotiations with the Russian officials on visiting Sentsov have failed. "The administration of the prison colony where Sentsov is held categorically refused Liudmyla Denisova to visit the prisoner and provide information on his health without explaining the reasons. Taking into account such actions by the Russian side, negotiations on monitoring visits to the territory of the Russian Federation have been unsuccessful," the website of Ukraine's ombudswoman said on Friday. Twenty-nine people have been killed and 109 have suffered injuries as a result of Donbas hostilities in 2018, Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine Alexander Hug said. Hug said at a press briefing in Kyiv on Friday the mission confirmed the injury of nine civilians in Donbas over the past week. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine has observed 846,649 ceasefire breaches in Donbas since September 2015, OSCE SMM Principal Deputy Chief Monitor Alexander Hug said at a press briefing on Friday. The violence eastern Ukraine had been suffering from over the past four years continued last week, and the observers saw about 9,000 ceasefire violations, Hug said. A total of 846,649 ceasefire violations have been recorded since the monitoring mission's deployment in September 2015; as many as 846,000 bullets, mortar shells and artillery munitions have been fired during this period, and many of them have hit residential areas or nearby territories, Hug said. Many rounds were fired by weapons subject to withdrawal consistent with the Minsk Agreements. The conflicting sides have failed to fulfill the agreements on the disengagement of forces and hardware and the mine action, Hug said. On June 5, an OSCE drone detected three 122mm howitzers near Sofiyivka, in an area uncontrolled by Kyiv only six kilometers from the contact line, where no such weapons should be present, Hug said. An infantry combat vehicle hiding behind trees in a Kyiv-held territory where no forces or weapons should be stationed was detected on June 7, he said. Ukraine is ready to consider the possibility of joint production of armored vehicles with Thailand, First Deputy NSDC Secretary Oleh Hladkovsky has said. In the first quarter of 2018 the Ukrainian side completed the contract for the delivery of Oplot tanks for the needs of Thailand. As part of the successful implementation of bilateral agreements, a delegation of the Ministry of Defense of the Kingdom of Thailand, headed by Deputy Minister of Defense General Chaichan Changmongkol, is in Ukraine from June 13 to June 16, the press service of the National Security and Defense Council reported on Friday. The Thai delegation held talks at the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, visited enterprises of the State Concern Ukroboronprom, and also met with Hladkovsky. During the meeting, the first deputy secretary of the National Security and Defense Council noted that Thailand is one of Ukraine's strategic partners in the Asia-Pacific region and Ukraine is ready to continue to export armored vehicles to Thailand, as well as expand the range of military products needed by the army of the Kingdom. Hladkovsky stressed that Ukraine has proved itself to be as a reliable supplier of military products, and domestic specialists are able to establish proper maintenance and support of armored vehicles, in particular, the supply of spare parts and parts to it. Therefore, according to the first deputy secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, it is worth considering the possibility of opening such a service center in Thailand. The parties discussed the strategy of the Thai government regarding the development of its own military industry, and the question of the possibility of transferring Ukrainian technologies to create a joint production of armored vehicles in Thailand. In addition, Hladkovsky considers it expedient to start the work of the Joint Ukrainian-Thai Commission on cooperation in the field of defense industry to discuss specific joint projects. Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova, who was denied access to Ukrainian political prisoner Oleh Sentsov in the Russian colony, claims that she will continue to insist on admission to him or to hold a videoconference with him. Denisova, who arrived in Labytnangi (Tyumen region, Russia), reported on the phone on 112.Ukraine television on Friday that the colony chief said that Sentsov is a Russian citizen and the Ukrainian side has no right to meet with him. "I think that today no one will allow us to visit him, they will not allow my meeting with Sentsov," she said. At the same time, she said, the colony chief refused to give any information about Sentsov's health condition. "We will continue insisting to be admitted to Sentsov in the near future or given confirming information that everything is fine with him, that he has no crisis, that he is in a normal state. And when they say that we can make a videoconference - let's make a videoconference," Denisova said by phone. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expresses its protest over the non-admission of Liudmyla Denisova, the Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner, to the Ukrainian political prisoner Oleh Sentsov. "Russia once again goes toward insidious actions. It was a humanitarian mission. Oleh is hunger striking! We protest, we fight further," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mariana Betsa wrote on Twitter on Friday. As reported, Denisova arrived in the city of Salekhard and went to Labytnangi, where Sentsov is held in the colony. She reported that on arrival in the colony to the Ukrainian film director she was refused a meeting with him. The U.S. position on the status of Crimea has not changed, it is part of Ukraine, the U.S. embassy in Russia told Interfax on Friday. "As we have said many times before, Crimea is part of Ukraine and our Crimea-related sanctions will remain in place until Russia returns control of the peninsula to Ukraine," the embassy press officer said, when asked to comment on the reports that U.S. President Donald Trump had called Crimea Russian at the G7 summit and responding to a question as to whether the U.S. position on the status of Crimea can be considered to have changed in connection with these reports. Moskalkova to meet with Ukrainian colleague Denisova in Moscow on June 18, sends invitation to her Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova said she has agreed to meet with her Ukrainian counterpart, Liudmyla Denisova, in Moscow on June 18. "We agreed during our last phone calls to meet in my office in Moscow on Monday to map out forms of interaction and to elaborate the optimal schedule and logistics of visits to the citizens Denisova put on the visitation list she submitted to me and, accordingly, citizens I put on my list for possible visits in Ukraine," Moskalkova told Interfax. She said Denisova's statement that negotiations on monitoring visits in Russia had reached a dead end sound strange in the context of these agreements. Moskalkova said she was "completely surprised" by Denisova's refusal to visit Omsk, considering that the latter had mentioned Dmytro Shtyblikov as one of the people she wanted to visit. Moskalkova has sent an official invitation to Denisova to meet in Moscow on June 18 to discuss the schedule of visits to prisoners of the two countries. "Bearing in mind that you are in Moscow and our tentative agreements reached over the phone, I invite you to meet at the office of the Russian human rights commissioner on Monday, June 18 to discuss the roadmap of visits of the countries on a mutual, parity, and synchronous basis in accordance with the lists we have exchanged," the invitation, a copy of which was shared with Interfax, said. Moskalkova also wrote that she regrets the fact that Denisova has not found the time for a joint visit to Dmytro Shtyblikov, a convicted citizen of Ukraine and Russia, in Omsk on June 16. More than 40 detained workers of the Iran National Steel Industrial Group (INSIG) in Ahvaz, Khuzestan Province, southwest Iran, were released on June 14, the Free Workers Union of Iran (FWU) reported. But FWU added that some workers still remain in detention. Their fellow workers have assembled in front of the Justice Department in Ahvaz demanding the release of 10 other workers still behind bars. INSIG workers have been protesting delayed wages, calling on the government to return the complex to the public sector. Ten workers who are still in custody were detained after three Ahvaz MPs filed a legal complaint and accused them of breaking windows at their offices. The enraged workers have insisted they will continue their protest until all of the detainees are freed, FWU announced. FWU had earlier reported, Security forces carried out a barbaric raid against the workers on strike and arrested nearly 50 workers on June 11. About 15 steelworkers were also arrested the next day at a rally in front of the Khuzestan governor generals office. FWU also reported that four of the detainees were brutally battered after being taken to a detention center exclusively run for keeping suspects arrested for narcotic drug offenses. One of the workers was battered to the extent that suffered from hemorrhage, but the authorities did not make an effort to transfer him to a medical facility, FWU declared. Furthermore, according to FWU, one of the detainees, while in custody, was shot by a taser gun. Immediately after the incident, several labor and human rights activists criticized the attack, noting that shooting at a detainee with a taser gun amounts to torture, which is against international law and Irans own constitution. The authorities, including security forces, intelligence agents, and judiciary officials, have not denied the incidents reported by FWU and other sources close to the protesting workers. Nearly 4,000 INSIG workers have been on strike for more than three months demanding overdue wages and bonuses. Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has criticized Iranians for travelling abroad too frequently and told them to quit this bad habit, while the enemies are plotting to exert economic pressure on the Islamic Republic. However, Khamenei, who was delivering a sermon to mark the end of Rmadan and the Eid Al-Fitr holiday on Friday, June 15, encouraged Iranians to continue their pilgrimage to holy places as this would not add to the countrys financial burdens. In recent years, Iranians have been travelling to Iraq for pilgrimage in millions at least twice a year to take part in Shia religious ceremonies spending at least hundreds of dollars each in foreign currency. Official statistics put the number of religious pilgrimage to Iraq and Saudi Arabia at around two million per year while media reports have said up to four million Iranians travel to Iraq for Shia mourning rituals Ashura and Arbain that mark the martyrdom of the sects third Imam. Figures released by Mohammad Moheb Khodai the deputy to the head of Irans Tourism Organization indicate that 4,229,000 Iranians left Iran for pilgrimage to holy sites in Iraq and Saudi Arabia only during the past year, reported tourism news website Kojaro. Earlier in June, Central Bank Governor Valiollah Seyf had also called for limiting outbound tourism, naming it as one of the reasons that lead to devaluation of the Iranian currency rial by boosting demand for foreign currency. Subsequently, Irans leading economic daily, Donyaye Eqtesad compared outbound tourism in Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabi, stating that outbound travels from Saudi Arabi has risen from four million to 20 million, while outbound tourism from Turkey remained between seven to eight million over the past decade. During the same period, outbound tourism from Iran grew from four to five million in 2014 and then it dropped to around of four million. The statistics, which was widely cited by other Iranian media, shows that contrary to what Iranian officials have said Iranians have been travelling abroad less frequently since 2014. In his sermon, Khamenei called for more austerity measures including a ban on importing foreign goods. Khamenei also criticized Iranian media for repeating enemies statements, which are meant to frustrate Iranians, adding that enemies are adamant to take advantage of Iranians protests in order to create havoc. He made the remarks only one day after President Hassan Rouhani had also criticized Iranians for relying on foreign-based Persian media. Irans top Judiciary officials have also claimed recently that the US and Israel were taking advantage of widespread protests to difficult financial conditions in Iran and threatened to deal with protestors who might undermine the countrys security. Economic analysts have been warning during the past month that renewed US sanctions against Iran following the United States withdrawal from the big-power nuclear deal with Tehran might ignite further unrest in the coming months. Read more: Iran Government To Open Warehouses To Combat Rising Prices Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has blamed foreign media for the recent economic turbulence in his country and lamented the fact that Iranians trust foreign outlets more than domestic ones. Today, our main problem is not the economy, culture, or security, but a psychological war, Rouhani said June 13 while addressing a group of Iranian journalists and media officials, adding, the biggest grief of a nation is when foreign media are their [main] source of information. Iranians are avid consumers of radio and TV news, as well as on-line content offered by international Persian language broadcasters such as RFE/RLs Radio Farda, Voice of America, and the BBC. Irans constitution does not allow private individuals to launch radio and TV programs, and all existing channels are under the umbrella of a state-run organization controlled by conservatives and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Newspapers, magazines, and websites that can be owned by individuals are also heavily censored. Media rights organizations such as Reporters Without Borders call Iran one of the worlds most unsafe countries for journalists, since they are subject to systematic persecution by the state. Consequently, millions of Iranians turn to Persian language media outlets such as Radio Farda, VOA Persian, and BBC Persian for uncensored news about national and international affairs. Research sponsored by the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), which oversees Voice of America and Radio Free Europe, shows that VOA Persian and RFE/RLs Radio Farda each enjoy a weekly audience of close to ten million (about 16 percent of the population 15 years and older) in Iran in 2017. Based on an estimates by the BBC, the weekly audience for its Persian language service is around 13 million. These survey numbers combine audiences on all platforms; radio, TV, and on-line. I have not seen many places where a nation trusts outside media so much, President Rouhani said in his speech on Wednesday. He also denounced the critical content about his government on the websites of international news outlets, saying, Known domestic media should be the source of information for the public and not some unknown media who say whatever pleases them in the cyberspace and deceive the people by slandering. In addition to independent foreign media outlets, there are also many popular websites and social media accounts run by Iranians living abroad, particularly former journalists and political activists. Some of these sites and accounts publish news and reports that are critical of the Iranian regime, and have millions of viewers every month. Canadas House Of Commons Votes Against Relations With Iran By RFE/RL The United Nations has determined that debris from five ballistic missiles launched from Yemen into Saudi Arabia since July contained components manufactured in Iran and shared key design features with an Iranian missile, a new report says. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in the report to the UN Security Council, which was seen by media on June 14, that while the missile parts are Iranian, the United Nations has been unable to determine whether they were transferred from Iran after UN restrictions went into force in January 2016. Guterres said the UN is also "confident" that some arms seized by Bahrain and recovered by the United Arab Emirates from an unmanned vessel laden with explosives were manufactured in Iran. But he said, once again, investigators could not determine whether the arms were transferred from Iran after UN restrictions took effect. The secretary-general was reporting on implementation of a 2015 Security Council resolution that endorsed the Iran nuclear deal. The resolution includes restrictions on transfers to or from Iran of nuclear and ballistic missile material as well as other arms. The latest UN findings are less conclusive that those of a separate UN panel of experts that reported in January that Iran was in violation of the arms embargo on Yemen for failing to block supplies of its missiles to allied Huthi rebels in Yemen. The inconclusiveness of the report could deal a setback to the United States, which has repeatedly called on the UN Security Council to take action against Iran over illegal arms transfers to Yemen and elsewhere in the region. Iran has strongly denied arming the Huthis. In other key findings, Guterres said the UN is looking into reports from two unnamed countries that Iran received "dual-use items, materials, equipment, goods, and technology" in violation of UN restrictions. Guterres also said the UN hasn't had an opportunity to examine a drone that Israel intercepted and downed after it entered its airspace. Israel said it was Iranian. The secretary-general noted that Iranian media had reported that "various Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles" have been deployed in Syria. Guterres reported that on May 21, the Hamas leader in Gaza said on TV that Iran provided the Al-Qassam Brigades with "money, (military) equipment and expertise." Guterres said any such arms transfers might violate UN restrictions. He also reported receiving a letter dated May 15 from Ukraine's UN ambassador indicating that its security service "prevented an attempt by two Iranian nationals to procure and transfer" to Iran components of a Kh-31 air-to-surface missile and related technical documents. With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters Baku, Azerbaijan, June 15 Trend: Over the past 24 hours, Armenias armed forces have 94 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said June 15. 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, June 15 Trend: Azerbaijani border guards celebrate the 25th anniversary of the National Salvation Day on June 15 at a high level, the Press Service of the State Border Service (SBS) said in a statement. The SBS soldiers took part in a stunning march with the "Towards Victory" flag, thereby paying tribute to the great leader Heydar Aliyev, and demonstrating a sense of pride to serve under the command of the President, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. The event started with the performance of the national anthem in a military unit of the State Border Service, located in Yevlakh District. Then, the head of the SBS, Colonel-General Elchin Guliyev congratulated the personnel on the 25th anniversary of the Day of National Salvation of the Azerbaijani people. Guliyev stressed that thanks to the unwavering will and determination of the great leader, who returned to power at the insistence of the people, stability was restored, statehood was preserved, and eternity and irreversibility of the independence of Azerbaijan was ensured. Afterwards, the two-kilometer state flag of Azerbaijan was taken out of the military unit on the shoulders of more than 2,000 people, led by the executive staff, generals and officers of the SBS, and a victorious march was organized under the strains of patriotic songs and with a standing ovation of local residents. The state flag, which was carried with great pride in front of the participants of the procession by the cavalry border guards, and which was fluttered on the armored vehicles involved in the event, as well as a group of eight helicopters representing the eight-pointed star on the Azerbaijani flag, made the procession even more ceremonial and solemn. Participants of the march demonstrated the readiness of border guards to fight for restoration of the territorial integrity of the country and protection of the borders of the motherland. Baku, Azerbaijan, June 15 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: In the first five months (January-May) of 2018, with the support of the Turkish Employment Agency (ISKUR), 297 Turkish citizens arrived in Uzbekistan, which is 4.5 times more than in the same period of 2017, ISKUR told Trend June 14. ISKUR noted that the number of Turkish citizens who arrived in Uzbekistan through the Agency in May amounted to 48 people, which is 12 percent more than in the same month of 2017. In May, 1,693 Turkish citizens set out to foreign countries through ISKUR for business purposes. In the five months of this year, the number of Turkish citizens who visited foreign countries through ISKUR amounted to 9,780 people. In May 2018, the number of the unemployed in Turkey amounted to 2.561 million; 49 percent of them are women and 51 percent are men. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, June 15 By Leman Zeynalova - Trend: The existing World Bank (WB) portfolio in Turkmenistan focuses on activities that aim to share WBGs international knowledge, experiences, and best practices, a source in the WB told Trend. "This program is being delivered, mainly, through the Reimbursable Advisory Services (RAS). The government funds this program, however the WBG supplements the program with additional advisory and analytical services using its own funds," said the bank. The WBG and Turkmenistan are yet to identify the future program of cooperation, said the source, adding that the details of specific activities and projects will be identified at a later stage. Regarding the possibility of issuing loan by the World Bank to the further development of Turkmenistans Galkynysh gas field, the source said the bank has not been involved in the discussions around the mentioned project. The source went on to add that the World Bank currently has no lending projects in Turkmenistan. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has recently ordered to intensify work to attract foreign investment for the development of the Galkynysh gas field. The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, construction of which began in December 2015, originates from this source of raw materials. The head of state instructed to speed up the implementation of the project of construction of this transnational energy bridge. Galkynysh is the second largest gas field in the world and is already one of the raw sources of Turkmen gas supplies to China. According to independent audit, the reserves of Galkynysh field together with the Yashlar and Garkel fields total to 27.4 trillion cubic meters of gas. In July 2017, it was announced that in the near future it is planned to start the third stage of the development of Galkynysh field, which will increase the production capacity by another 33 billion cubic meters of commercial gas per year with the expectation of supplies to South Asia. To date, production facilities of the first stage, with a capacity of 30 billion cubic meters of commercial gas per year, have been commissioned here, and in 2014 the second stage with a similar capacity was launched. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, June 15 By Azad Hasanli - Trend: Baku will host the Azerbaijan-Pakistan business forum on July 4, the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) announced. The forum participants will discuss the prospects of expanding economic cooperation and business ties. The event will include presentations of business and investment opportunities of Azerbaijan and Pakistan, as well as bilateral meetings between entrepreneurs. According to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, trade turnover with Pakistan in January-April 2018 amounted to $5.2 million. Almost the entire amount of trade fell on the import of Pakistani products to Azerbaijan. During the year, the trade turnover grew by 44.44 percent. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @AzadHasanli Baku, Azerbaijan, June 15 By Ali Mustafayev Trend: Uzbekistan ranked fourth among the exporters of cherry in the world, due to the active expansion of cherry fields in 2013-2017, the EastFruit company said in a message. In 2017, Uzbekistan exported about 32,000 tons of sweet cherries, which is 5,000 tons more than same indicator of Spain, according to EastFruit analysts. In 2018, the export of Uzbek cherries may grow to 36,000-38,000 tons. Five years ago, Uzbekistans export of sweet cherry did not exceed 5,000 tons per year, however in 2016-2017 the volume of export increased sharply, which may be considered a huge achievement, given that the quality of Uzbek cherries as a final product, if evaluated from the market point of view, remains rather low. "Uzbekistan still sells 99.5 percent of its products to Russia and Kazakhstan, which is a problem in terms of the possibility of developing this line of business. After all, Uzbek products are practically not in demand in other countries. Therefore, all attempts to diversify exports remain relatively unsuccessful," according to EastFruit. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Ali_Mustafayev Baku, Azerbaijan, June 15 By Ali Mustafayev Trend: Uzbekistan Railways carried over 9 million passengers in January-May 2018, which is 300,000 more than in the same period of 2017, Uzbek media outlets reported. "Over the five months of 2018, Uzbekistan Railways transported nearly 28 million tons of cargo, exceeding previous year's figure by 309,000 tons," Uzbekistan Railways said in a message. Uzbekistan plans to build 90 kilometers of new railway lines by the end of 2018. "We fully electrified 325 kilometers of the Karshi-Termez railway line, and launched the first electric train on January 9," the message said. Uzbekistan Railways also plans to increase the cost of travel in domestic trains by the end of this year. In 2017, the company transported more than 21 million passengers, exceeding the indicator for 2016 by 630,000. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Ali_Mustafayev Baku, Azerbaijan, June 15 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: One the one hand, given the tightness in the market and the fact that the inventories have reached the 5 year average that they had set as goal post, then that should technical call for them to call-off the deal, the US JP Morgan bank said in its report obtained by Trend. However, on the other hand, looking at our balances it seems the tightness in the market disappears in 4Q2018 and all the way into 2019 when markets could potential go back into surplus if they were to pull out of the deal which should call for them to stay in it a bit longer, said the report. For the OPEC members that can bring back modest additional supply, to be prudent the JP Morgan analysts have assumed Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Iraq and Qatar, Algeria and Ecuador to return the 4.5 percent cuts to baseline production established in Dec 2016 as JP Morgan finds it difficult how the deal can realistically survive beyond December OPEC meeting once the real impact of Iran sanctions is clear. However OPEC and non-OPEC members are likely to bring back oil well ahead of that as usually collapse of a deal will never be officially confirmed. Even the easing of output cuts is a rare event and not happened that often in the past and getting OPEC members to increase output and not expecting the deal to technically end will be counter intuitive. The report says that Iran is a lynch pin in this deal and given the re-imposition of the US sanctions on Iran, it will be difficult to expect Iran to cooperate if OPEC was to make decisions on releasing extra barrels without taking them into consideration. In addition to that, we think the US will be the wild card in the run up to the OPEC meeting and immediately after that. President Trump, who has commented few times on OPEC artificially bumping up the prices, could decide to take action by releasing SPR barrels in order to offset the tightness in the market. This is likely to complicate the decision making process for OPEC, said JP Morgan. For the whole of OPEC though, the increases from oil producing countries including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Iraq, Qatar will offset most but not all of the declines from Iran and Venezuela in 2018 and 2019 especially if Venezuela was to continue declining at current pace all the way into 2019, according to the report. That would reduce the spare capacity of the 5 Middle East oil producers to 2.56 million barrels per day in 2019 from 3.5 million barrels per day in 2018. In December 2016, at a meeting of oil producers in Vienna, 11 non-OPEC member countries agreed to cut oil production by a total of 558,000 barrels a day. The agreement was concluded for the first half of 2017 and was extended until the end of the first quarter of 2018 at a meeting on May 25, 2017. At the last OPEC meeting in Vienna, the agreement was again extended until the end of 2018. Azerbaijan supported the decision. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, June 15 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Royal Dutch Shell is assessing the impact of US sanctions on its activities in Iran, a source in the company told Trend. "Following the US administrations decision, we are now assessing the impact of the executive order of the US president in relation to Iran on our activities," said the source. "We have been exploring the role Shell can play in developing Iran's energy potential within the boundaries of the law." In 2017, Iran signed a basic agreement with Shell over studying the country's Kish gas field as well as South Azadegan and Yadavaran oil fields. The new US sanctions will take six months to kick in, but a number of European companies have already halted their businesses in Iran despite verbal pledges by their governments to protect them against any fallout. US President Donald Trump announced on May 8 that Washington was walking away from the nuclear agreement, which was reached in 2015 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 and impose "the highest level" of economic bans on the Islamic Republic. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, June 15 By Huseyn Hasanov - Trend: President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov is scheduled to visit Dushanbe, Tajikistan, June 20 for participation in the "Water for Sustainable Development" international conference, the Turkmen government said in a statement June 15. The conference will be attended by heads of state and government from dozens of countries, as well as representatives of reputable international organizations. Preparation for the visit was discussed at the last government meeting, where Berdimuhamedov noted that water problems cannot be considered in isolation from the strategic plans of universal sustainable development, including socio-economic progress, environmental security, and such relevant aspects as climate change. The head of state noted that Turkmenistan, currently chairing the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), supports the solution of all relevant issues on the basis of universally recognized norms of international law, in cooperation with the UN and other authoritative structures. Turkmenistan borders Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Afghanistan and uses water resources coming in accordance with agreed quotas from four trans-boundary rivers: the Amu Darya, Tejen, Atrek and Murgab. Turkmenistan has a problem of the Aral Sea ecology, which is most noticeable in the northern region. In the Dashoguz region there were problems with the provision of drinking water and the fight against salinization of cultivation lands. Chinas National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the countrys top economic planner, said on Friday that it approved 16 fixed asset investment projects worth 18 billion yuan ($2.81 billion) in May, according to Sputnik. The projects were mainly in telecommunications, NDRC spokeswoman Meng Wei told reporters at a news conference. The NDRC said last month that it approved 15 fixed asset investment projects worth 51.7 billion yuan in April. Official data on Thursday showed Chinas fixed asset investment growth cooled to 6.1 percent in January-May from the same period a year earlier, the slowest pace since at least February 1996. Greece and Macedonia will sign an accord on June 17 to change the name of the former Yugoslav republic, sources close to the process said on Friday, Reuters reported. The accord, which has triggered fierce opposition in both countries, would be signed in the Prespes region, a lake district on the borders of Greece, Macedonia and Albania. A WestJet flight had to make an emergency landing at the Calgary airport Thursday morning, CBC reported. The Transportation Safety Board said the Boeing 737 Flight 113 took off for Vancouver at 6:30 a.m. But at 10,000 feet, the fire warning went off in the cargo compartment, according to the TSB. They deployed a fire extinguisher. The flight returned to the Calgary International Airport about 15 minutes after departure. "All guests and crew are safe and were unloaded after landing," WestJet public and media relations advisor Morgan Bell said in a statement to CBC News shortly before 10 a.m. Bell said the passengers were all expected to get onto a new flight within the hour. "We sincerely apologize for the delay and inconvenience to our guests but safety is always our first priority." Bell said the plane had been removed from service for further inspection. Two TSB investigators are on their way to Calgary. Baku, Azerbaijan, June 15 Trend: The third nuclear power plant in Turkey is likely to be built in Trakia, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Berat Albayrak said in an interview with CNN Turk TV channel. Albayrak said, that the choice of station location is due to high energy consumption and small production volume in this segment. The first nuclear power plant in Turkey is being built jointly with Russia in Mersin, the second in Silop. Baku, Azerbaijan, June 15 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: As part of a counter-terrorist operation, carried out in northern Iraq, 26 PKK militants were killed, the Turkish General Staff said in a statement released on June 15. The General Staff report notes that the military operation against the PKK in northern Iraq will be continued. According to the report, the operation to eliminate terrorists was carried out this morning. Earlier, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the Turkish armed forces started a new military operation in northern Iraq. The head of state noted that the Turkish air forces used 20 aircraft and destroyed 14 PKK terrorist bases in northern Iraq. "Turkey is resolute in the fight against the PKK," Erdogan said. The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which demands the creation of an independent Kurdish state, has lasted more than 25 years, claiming more than 40,000 lives. The PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by the UN and the EU. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, June 15 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: The largest ammunition depot belonging to the PKK terrorists has been found in the Turkish province of Hakkari, the Minister of Internal Affairs Suleyman Soylu said, Turkish media reported June 15. The Minister of Internal Affairs noted that 116 Kalashnikov assault rifles, three DShK large-caliber machine guns, three anti-tank rockets, seven sniper rifles, and more than 450 hand grenades were found in the depot. The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which demands the creation of an independent Kurdish state, has lasted more than 25 years, claiming more than 40,000 lives. The PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by the UN and the EU. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara is determined to pursue its cross-border military operations from its southern borders to northern Iraq, stating that the operation in the Kandil region is ongoing. We are bombing Kandil right now. We are telling those who call themselves a friend that if you are a friend, you deal with it. If you will not, we will, Erdogan said in a speech he delivered following Friday prayers in Istanbuls Sultangazi Mosque on June 15. We will have further good news for you in following days, he added. The Turkish presidents comments came after the Turkish military announced on June 15 that 26 outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants were killed or surrendered in operations since June 12. We have destroyed 14 important targets using 20 of our [warplanes]. They have hit [their targets] and they have returned. We are not done. This will continue, the president said during an election rally in the central province of Nigde. Kandil will not be a threat or a source of terror for our people anymore. We will drain the terror swamp in Kandil as we have done in Afrin, Jarablus, Azaz, al-Bab, he said, referring to the northern Syrian regions where the Turkish military had pursued military operations with Free Syrian Army (FSA) forces. Authorities said 2 adults and 2 children have been shot in a parking lot behind a Colorado dentist's office on Thursday. Authorities said as of 6:20 p.m. local time, a person of interest was in custody, CBS News reported. Cheri Spottke with the Westminster Police Department said earlier that the suspect "fled the scene." Westminster police said later they located the vehicle that left the scene of Thursday afternoon's shooting, and investigators are interviewing the driver. Spottke said the conditions of those shot are unknown, CBS Denver reports. She said a search for the suspect is underway, but did not provide a suspect description. Spottke says the shootings happened Thursday around 3 p.m. Video footage at the scene showed police focusing on an office complex that holds several dental offices. Several officers were seen collecting evidence from the parking lot and the entrance to the office building. The area is about 14 miles northwest of Denver. Tough sanctions will remain on North Korea until its complete denuclearisation, the US secretary of state said on Thursday, apparently contradicting the Norths view that the process agreed at this weeks summit would be phased and reciprocal, Reuters reported. US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un issued a joint statement after their meeting in Singapore this week that reaffirmed the Norths commitment to work toward complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, while Trump committed to provide security guarantees. Trump later told a news conference he would end joint US-South Korean military exercises. President Trump has been incredibly clear about the sequencing of denuclearisation and relief from the sanctions, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters after meeting South Koreas president and Japans foreign minister in Seoul. We are going to get complete denuclearisation; only then will there be relief from the sanctions, he said. North Korean state media reported on Wednesday that Kim and Trump had recognized the principle of step-by-step and simultaneous action to achieve peace and denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula. The summit statement provided no details on when North Korea would give up its nuclear weapons program or how the dismantling might be verified. Skeptics of how much the meeting achieved pointed to the North Korean leaderships long-held view that nuclear weapons are a bulwark against what it fears are US plans to overthrow it and unite the Korean peninsula. However, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the world, through the summit, had escaped the threat of war, echoing Trumps upbeat assessment of his meeting with Kim. Whats most important was that the people of the world, including those in the United States, Japan and Koreans, have all been able to escape the threat of war, nuclear weapons and missiles, Moon told Pompeo. Pompeo insisted North Korea was committed to giving up its nuclear arsenal but said it would be a process, not an easy one. Kim understood getting rid of his nuclear arsenal needed to be done quickly and there would only be relief from stringent U.N. sanctions on North Korea after its complete denuclearisation, Pompeo said. Moon later said South Korea would be flexible when it comes to military pressure on North Korea if it is sincere about denuclearisation. Also on Thursday, North and South Korea held their first military talks in more than a decade. The talks followed on from an inter-Korean summit in April at which Moon and Kim agreed to defuse tension and cease hostile acts. Speaking later in the day in Beijing, Pompeo said China, Japan and South Korea all acknowledged a corner had been turned on the Korean peninsula issue, but that all three had also acknowledged sanctions remain in place until denuclearisation is complete. China has reaffirmed its commitment to honoring the U.N. Security Council resolutions. Those have mechanisms for relief contained in them, and we agreed that at the appropriate time that those would be considered, Pompeo said, standing next to the Chinese governments top diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi. But we have made very clear that the sanctions and the economic relief that North Korea will receive will only happen after the full denuclearisation, the complete denuclearisation of North Korea. Wang said China had consistently supported the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula but that it was impossible to solve the issue overnight. At the same time, we believe North Koreas reasonable security concerns should be resolved. Chinese President Xi Jinping told Pompeo that he hoped the United States and North Korea could keep making unremitting efforts for a political resolution, and that China was willing to keep playing a constructive role in this process, a foreign ministry statement said. U.S. President Donald Trump spoke over phone on Thursday with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani on the unity in the Gulf region, the White House said Friday, Xinhua reported. The two leaders discussed the importance of Gulf unity to mitigate regional security threats and to ensure the region's economic prosperity, according to a White House statement. They also talked about the ongoing cooperation between the two countries. As the embargo on Qatar by the Saudi Arabia-led quartet has passed its first anniversary, no side seems to be ready to make any significant concession and end the rift. On June 5, 2017, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt cut all economic and diplomatic ties with Qatar while accusing it of supporting terrorism. Qatar strongly denied the accusation, calling it "unjustified" and "baseless." U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had a phone call with Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on May 16, in which he emphasized Trump's "desire to see the Gulf dispute eased and eventually resolved." KYODO NEWS - Jun 15, 2018 - 15:46 | Feature, All The Japanese government decided Friday to compile measures aimed at preventing child abuse following the recent death of a 5-year-old girl who had written "forgive me" in a notebook to beg her parents to stop mistreating her. "We should not allow such a pitiful incident to happen again. (The government) will take sweeping measures," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a meeting of relevant Cabinet ministers. Abe instructed Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Katsunobu Kato and other ministers to come up with urgent action to save children. After the gathering, Kato said his ministry will set up a panel of experts on child abuse to investigate the girl's case and release the results by the fall. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a press conference the government will strengthen efforts to assess the situations of preschool children across the nation and share information on suspected abuse cases between governmental bodies, including child welfare centers and police. (Prime Minister Abe, left, speaks in a meeting on child abuse prevention.) Insufficient information sharing among public entities is seen as one of the factors behind the high-profile abuse case involving Yua Funato, who died in Tokyo in March. Her family moved to the capital's Meguro Ward from Kagawa Prefecture, western Japan, in January. Information about suspected abuse of her while the family was in Kagawa was passed on to a Tokyo child welfare center. A Tokyo child welfare official visited the family's home in February, but was denied an opportunity to see Yua by her mother. 5-yr-old girl dies from neglect despite pleas for abuse to stop Many child abuse authorities failing to share information with police Yua's stepfather Yudai Funato, 33, and his wife Yuri, 25, are believed to have physically abused the girl from late January and failed to provide her with sufficient nourishment, resulting in her death on March 2 from sepsis caused by pneumonia. According to investigators, Yua was given only a cup of soup for breakfast and a little bit of rice for lunch and dinner, as her parents demanded she stay slim "like a model." She weighed only 12 kilograms when she died, compared with the average weight for her age of 20 kg. Yua's case drew public attention after the police found at her home memos in a notebook written by her, filled with pleas to her parents to stop abusing her. "Please forgive me forgive me," "I have played like a fool. Playing is like being a fool. I will stop it. I promise I will never ever do it again," some of the memos read. (A photo of Yua Funato is kept by her greatgrandmother.) KYODO NEWS - Jun 15, 2018 - 20:33 | World, All Chinese President Xi Jinping had considered visiting Singapore until just before the unprecedented U.S.-North Korea summit was held earlier this week in the city-state, diplomatic sources said Friday. But the plan was dropped after China realized that U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un were unlikely to agree at Tuesday's summit to promote talks toward signing a peace treaty to end the Korean War, according to the sources in Beijing and Singapore. China has welcomed the start of official talks between the United States and North Korea, but at the same time worries about being bypassed while the administrations of Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae In take the lead in denuclearization talks with its neighboring country. On Thursday, Xi told U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Beijing that China will "continue to play an active and constructive role, and work with relevant parties, including the United States," according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. In late May, China told Singapore that Xi might visit Singapore at the time of the Trump-Kim summit and requested cooperation on security and selecting the best place for him to stay, according to the sources. (Kim Jong Un in the backseat of a car in Singapore as he heads home after a summit with Trump) Around when the request was made, South Korean officials were not ruling out the possibility of Moon joining Trump and Kim in Singapore. The Chinese leadership finally decided not to go ahead with Xi's trip after hearing final arrangements for the summit from Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, who made a three-day visit to North Korea through June 9, according to the sources. China has sought to play a pivotal role in negotiations toward replacing the Korean War armistice with a peace treaty. In addition to whether a peace treaty would be mentioned in any form during the summit, China was also keen to know if the two leaders would discuss a reduction of U.S. forces in South Korea, the sources said. In a joint statement, signed by Trump and Kim at the summit, North Korea committed to "complete denuclearization" and the United States pledged to provide it with security guarantees, but the document lacks details on how to fulfill those promises. Relations between China and North Korea have improved since Kim visited Beijing in March for talks with Xi, which marked his first foreign trip since inheriting power from his father in late 2011. Just about a month before the Singapore summit, Xi and Kim held a surprise meeting again in the northeastern Chinese city of Dalian, fueling speculation that the two leaders made some deals beforehand. KYODO NEWS - Jun 15, 2018 - 10:50 | All, World President Donald Trump's pick for ambassador to South Korea on Thursday threw his weight behind halting major military exercises with Seoul after the historic summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. "The whole landscape has shifted. I believe we should give exercises, major exercises, a pause to see if Kim Jong Un is in fact serious about his part of the negotiations," Harry Harris said at his nomination hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Harris, a former head of the U.S. Pacific Command, said that "we are in a dramatically different place" after the summit between Trump and Kim in Singapore on Tuesday. Previously he had been a staunch advocate of continuing the exercises. Trump said after the summit that the United States will suspend the joint drills with South Korea as long as dialogue continues with North Korea. Earlier in the day, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Trump raised human rights abuses in North Korea during his summit with Kim. "As the president has already publicly stated...he did bring up human rights abuses of the North Korean regime," she said in a news briefing. Sanders provided no details about Trump's discussion on the issue with Kim during the first-ever summit between the United States and North Korea, which focused on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Trump said after the summit that he had raised the issue of North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals. But the joint statement issued by the leaders did not touch on human rights in North Korea, including the matter of abductions. Tokyo had asked Trump to take up with Kim the long-standing issue involving Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s. Pyongyang claims the issue has been settled. Japan officially lists 17 citizens as abduction victims and suspects North Korea was involved in many more disappearances. Five of the 17 were repatriated in 2002, with Pyongyang maintaining that eight have died and four others never entered the country. (Sakie Yokota awaits the return of her daughter Megumi, abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13) Tokyo and Pyongyang agreed in 2014 that Pyongyang would reinvestigate the fate of all of the abductees. But the North later disbanded the investigation panel and effectively abandoned the bilateral accord. The decades-old issue remains a stumbling block for Japan and North Korea to normalize diplomatic ties. KYODO NEWS - Jun 15, 2018 - 23:20 | World, Urgent, All North Korea's official Pyongyang Broadcasting Station said Friday that the issue of Pyongyang's past abductions of Japanese nationals has "already been settled," according to the Tokyo-based Radio Press news agency. It is the first time for North Korean media to reiterate the government's official line since the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held earlier this week in Singapore. (Sakie Yokota visits a photo exhibition of her abducted daughter Megumi in Tokyo in November 2017) It also comes as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has recently voiced willingness to hold talks with Kim to discuss the abduction issue. Tokyo maintains that Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s remain unaccounted for. Washington has said that Trump brought up the Japanese abduction issue at his summit with Kim on Tuesday at Abe's request. KYODO NEWS - Jun 15, 2018 - 19:09 | All, World The United States expects Japan to play a "significant" role in shouldering the costs of North Korea's denuclearization and future economic development, given its economic power and its interest in the stabilization of Pyongyang, the U.S. ambassador to Japan said Friday. "Japan is the most logical partner given its proximity to help with the economic development of North Korea," William Hagerty said in an interview with Kyodo News. "It's very logical that Japan's role would be significant in this area." After his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Tuesday in Singapore, U.S. President Donald Trump said Japan and South Korea -- key U.S. allies in Asia -- are prepared to help North Korea "very greatly" with the cost of denuclearization, while the United States would not have to help with the costs. At the historic summit, Trump also promised to provide "security guarantees" to North Korea as Pyongyang committed itself "to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." The security guarantees include suspending large-scale military exercises with South Korea, Hagerty explained, adding they will be halted to ease tensions and allow U.S.-North Korea negotiations to proceed more smoothly. But he rejected concerns that the suspension of the exercises means a reduced U.S. commitment to the Northeast Asia region. Washington's "security to this region remains unchanged," Hagerty said, adding that maximum pressure and sanctions will remain in place until Pyongyang makes verifiable progress in denuclearization. On the issue of past abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korea decades ago, Hagerty said Trump raised the issue "twice" during the one-day meeting with Kim, following Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's requests to do so. "The U.S. has been Japan's most reliable partner on this issue in the world and I don't expect to see any change in our posture there," Hagerty said. On trade issues, a source of tension in Japan-U.S. ties due to Washington's imposition of tariffs on aluminum and steel imports and its launch of a national security investigation into auto imports, Hagerty said that both sides need to address them through "bilateral" discussions. The first round of a new dialogue on trade and investment is planned to be held in July, and will be led by Toshimitsu Motegi, Japan's economic and fiscal policy minister, and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. Japan uneasy as Trump suggests halt to U.S.-South Korea military drills Tensions on Korean Peninsula ease after Trump-Kim summit: Japan gov't "We need to come to the table," Hagerty said. "We actually need to sit down and talk about trade specifically. That's been avoided to this point." "We deserve to have an economic relationship that's on par (with security alliance) and today we do not," he said. "To bring stability to this region, we ought to be entering into agreements that have even higher standards on issues like state-owned enterprises and intellectual property protection." Hagerty denied the possibility of the United States returning to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, saying that the U.S. Congress would not allow it. Trump pulled the world's largest economy out of the free trade deal soon after taking office in January 2017. "I hope the people in Japan can understand the political reality is that we do not have adequate support for the TPP," Hagerty said. "That is a dead-end conversation. We have to find a new path to work together on trade." Japan and the 10 remaining states have signed the revised version of the deal without the United States with the hope to implement it by the end of this year. Japan has said it is open to the United States rejoining the group after Trump said earlier this year Washington will consider doing so if it is able to negotiate a "substantially better" agreement. KYODO NEWS - Jun 15, 2018 - 09:18 | All, World An annual U.N. General Assembly gathering in late September may be a chance for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to hold bilateral talks if Kim is invited to deliver a speech there, Japanese government sources said Thursday. Tokyo is working to arrange the first Japan-North Korea summit in more than a decade to resolve outstanding bilateral issues including the North's past abduction of Japanese nationals, getting a boost from the historic talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Kim in Singapore on Tuesday. An annual economic forum to be held in the Russian Far East city of Vladivostok in mid-September may also serve as an occasion for Abe and Kim to get together, the sources said. But the government decided that it needs a plan B because it is not clear whether Kim will attend the forum, which is scheduled only days after North Korea's national foundation day on Sept. 9, according to the sources. The Japanese government believes there is a possibility that Kim will be invited to the U.N. General Assembly meeting by Secretary General Antonio Guterres. "The purpose will be to make Mr. Kim pledge to the world about (North Korea's) complete denuclearization in his speech and ensure that he will work toward that end," one of the sources said, referring to the commitment Kim made during his talks with Trump. The alternative plan will be to arrange a summit on the sidelines of the general debate of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, where world leaders gather to make speeches, the sources said. (Kim Jong Un, left, and Shinzo Abe) If the summit is realized, it will be the first meeting between Japanese and North Korean leaders since 2004. The last summit was held between Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Kim Jong Il, the current North Korean leader's father, in Pyongyang. The issue of the abductions of Japanese citizens by North Korean agents in the 1970s and 1980s has prevented Tokyo and Pyongyang from normalizing diplomatic ties. Not much progress has been seen since five of the abductees were repatriated in 2002. Japan also wants to make sure that North Korea gets rid of all its ballistic missiles -- not just intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, but also shorter-range missiles that threaten Japan. By Su Xincheng, KYODO NEWS - Jun 15, 2018 - 12:24 | Feature, All Japan's new law on the "minpaku" private lodging business took effect Friday but stringent rules may dampen the entry of homeowners despite hopes that it could help counter a shortage of accommodations amid a growing number of foreign tourists. The new law enables private homes to be offered as accommodation for tourists only if the owners submit the necessary paperwork to prefectural governments or designated major cities. Previously, offering accommodation in private homes was allowed in Japan only under the Hotel Business Law, except for private lodging services in specially deregulated zones. The Hotel Business Law requires property owners to obtain accommodation licenses. The new law is designed to cope with a sharp increase in foreign visitors and a consequent shortage of hotel rooms, a trend expected to continue toward the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. Registrations can also be made online. "Through setting steady rules, we aim to expand the healthy minpaku business while making sure of the safety and security of users," Nobuhiko Hohokabe, an official at the Japan Tourism Agency, said in a news conference promoting traditional Japanese houses. The minpaku business is expected to better meet the needs of foreign visitors hoping to experience Japanese culture up close, said Hohokabe, who is in charge of minpaku services, adding this would lead to more repeated visits to Japan by overseas travelers. The number of foreign visitors to Japan surged 19.3 percent in 2017 from the previous year, hitting a record high of over 28 million, according to the Japan Tourism Agency. The government has set a target of 40 million foreign visitors by 2020, when Tokyo hosts the Olympics and Paralympics. In line with the enforcement of the new law, companies are also trying to exploit new opportunities, expecting the minpaku market will expand. Expedia Inc.'s vacation rental service subsidiary HomeAway and Rakuten Lifull Stay Inc. will jointly renovate and certify old Japanese-style houses known as "kominka" for vacation rentals. Rakuten Lifull Stay is a joint venture of Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten Inc. and real estate information service company Lifull Co. Seven-Eleven Japan Co., the country's biggest convenience store chain, has tied up with Japanese travel agency JTB Corp. to allow foreign tourists to receive and return room keys at its convenience stores. However, restrictions set under the new law, such as offering accommodation in private homes for a maximum 180 days a year, could throw cold water on the entry of property owners and dilute the attraction of the private lodging business. In addition to the 180-day cap, owners must abide by other rules, including keeping a registry of guests, maintaining hygienic conditions and responding to complaints, if any, from neighbors. (Key box set up by Lawson in Ginza) [Supplied photo] Depending on the local situation, municipalities can also set their own restrictions, such as banning the minpaku business in certain areas or limiting rentals to a shorter term. If the minpaku business does not take off as expected, it could lead to higher hotel prices overall, experts say. "Nonprofessional renters, who were doing minpaku in the way of homestays, have to give up rentals," said Takuya Ichikawa, senior researcher of the Daiwa Institute of Research. "The minpaku market is expected to shrink in the short term." Ichikawa also said the new rules may prompt more professional business operators to enter the market, contrary to the original ideal of a "sharing economy" in which nonprofessionals can gain money avocationally by using their homes and the internet. Prefectural governments and major cities began accepting registrations from property owners on March 15 in advance of the enforcement of the new law. Keiichi Ishii, the tourism minister, recently said there were an estimated 3,000 nationwide registrations as of June 8. In the last tabulation as of May 11, there were just 724 registrations. Industry sources estimate more than 60,000 properties have been offered as accommodations. The number is expected to fall to 20 to 30 percent of the total even if lodging houses permitted under the Hotel Business Law are included, they said. Without obtaining licenses under the Hotel Business Law, operating in specially deregulated zones or registering under the new minpaku law, offering accommodation is considered illegal. As a result, U.S. online home-rental service Airbnb Inc., which has built up a large share of the minpaku market since debuting in Japan in 2013, has cracked down on thousands of previously listed lodgings in the country, which had not registered under the new law. It will spend a total of 1.1 billion yen ($9.9 million) to compensate affected travelers. "Given the adjustment period that we are in, we are doing everything in our power to take care of guests and hosts. And there are a number of guests who have been impacted by the cancellations," said Nathan Blecharczyk, co-founder and chief strategy officer of Airbnb, in an interview with Kyodo News. "Our hope is that we don't have to cancel more reservations." (Nathan Blecharczyk) Rayce Francis and Mariah Miller, both 20, a couple from California on a two-week trip to Japan, said they preferred staying in a private apartment partly because it is cheaper than a hotel room. They booked a lodging near Shinjuku through Airbnb. Airbnb's delisting of its lodgings may cause some foreign tourists, especially young people, to think twice about using minpaku in Japan, Miller said. "If I really come here again, it would be kind of a shame as there are fewer options," she said. Meanwhile, hotels and renters with accommodation licenses welcome the new regulations, expecting that the number of their customers may increase as stricter rules are imposed on those who want to rent out their homes to tourists. Liang Yingxi, who has lived in Japan for more than 20 years and established Chika Capital LLC, a company renting a total of 30 solitary houses across the country, including in such popular tourist destinations as Kyoto and Hokkaido, said his company is not subject to the 180-day limit and other restrictions. "The new law sounds like good news for us," Liang said, adding that the new law intends to protect the hotel industry, which has opposed private homes being used as accommodation for foreign tourists. Daiwa's Ichikawa said fostering a healthy sharing-economy is the government's goal over the medium and long term. The rules such as the 180-day cap may be eased somewhat if they do not meet demand for rising foreign travelers, he said. "For the further development of healthy minpaku, how to improve the effective use of vacant rooms will be a major future task," Ichikawa said. KYODO NEWS - Jun 15, 2018 - 22:44 | All, Feature Japanese Princess Kako, a granddaughter of Emperor Akihito, returned from Britain on Friday after finishing nine months of education at the University of Leeds as an exchange student. "I had an enjoyable and fruitful nine months in Britain. I will treasure my experiences there," the princess was quoted as saying by the Imperial Household Agency. The 23-year-old daughter of Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko studied performing arts at the School of Performance and Cultural Industries as well as psychology, her major at International Christian University in Tokyo, the agency said. The princess spent her spring vacation in March in Portugal and Spain with a female friend from the University of Leeds. She will start her senior year at ICU from September. This exchange program was her first overseas stay since the summer of 2013, when she undertook a month-long homestay in the United States as a freshman at Tokyo's Gakushuin University. She quit Gakushuin the following year and entered ICU in April 2015. Among other Japanese imperial family members, her elder sister Princess Mako had studied at the University of Edinburgh. Princess Aiko, the only child of Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako, will study at Eton College on the outskirts of London this summer. Call of the Wild: Tribal communities of Gavi and their Makka Doctor New research led by the American Museum of Natural History has uncovered five new species of snakes in Ecuador and Peru with peculiar dining etiquette: they suck the viscous bodies of snails out of their shells. The new species, most of which are considered endangered or vulnerable, are described in a study published today in the journal Zookeys, which also includes a new evolutionary tree for the diverse group of snail eaters in Central and South America. "Believe or not, there is an entire group of snakes for which snails are food from the gods," said lead author Alejandro Arteaga, a comparative biology Ph.D.-degree student in the Museum's Richard Gilder Graduate School. "But sadly, four of the five species we discovered are already facing the possibility of becoming extinct, as the forests remaining for them to survive are almost completely destroyed." With more than 70 currently recognized species, snail-eating snakes are among the most diverse groups of tree-dwelling snakes. These snakes possess uniquely modified jaws, which give them the ability to suck the slimy body of a snail from its shell. Arteaga collaborated with Alex Pyron from The George Washington University to conduct a series of expeditions to rainforests in Ecuador between 2013 and 2017, which led to the discovery of three of the five new species: Dipsas bobridgelyi, considered endangered under International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria, Sibon bevridgelyi, considered vulnerable; and Dipsas klebbai. During the same period of time, two new species were also found in dry forests by scientists based in Ecuador and Peru: Dipsas oswaldobaezi and Dipsas georgejetti, both considered vulnerable. The most threatened of the newly discovered species, D. bobridgelyi, is known only from four patches of forest lacking connectivity between them, and its habitat is severely fragmented and declining in extent and quality due to deforestation. Only two of the localities where D. bobridgelyi is found--the Buenaventura Reserve in Ecuador and the Tumbes National Reserve in Peru--are currently protected. To confirm these five snakes as new species, the researchers gathered measurements from more than 200 museum specimens and extracted DNA from nearly 100 individual snakes. They also used the data to build an evolutionary tree that includes 43 snail-eating snake species, 24 of which hadn't been included in previous analyses. In addition to describing the five new species and redefining limits of genera, species, and species groups among the snakes, the researchers made changes to the known geographic distribution of several Andean species. But they note that more work lays ahead. "Our results and the results of other recent researchers indicate that more taxonomic changes are needed," Arteaga said. "And we suspect that there are numerous additional species to be described across all genera of this group. Unfortunately, our time to find them is likely running short. These snakes are harmless to humans, but humans are not harmless to them." ### Other researchers involved in this work include David Salazar-Valenzuela, Nicolas Penafiel, and Juan Guayasamin from the Universidad Tecnolo?gica Indoame?rica; Konrad Mebert from the Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz; Gabriela Aguiar from Tropical Herping; Juan Carlos Sanchez from the Museo de Zoologi?a de la Universidad del Azuay; Timothy Colston from The George Washington University; Diego Cisneros-Heredia from the Universidad San Francisco de Quito; Mario Yanez-Munos from Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad; Pablo Venegas from Centro de Ornitologi?a y Biodiversidad; and Omar Torres-Carvajal from Pontificia Universidad Cato?lica del Ecuador. Fieldwork was made possible with the support of Tropical Herping; Universidad Tecnolo?gica Indoame?rica; Pontificia Universidad Cato?lica del Ecuador; and Secretari?a de Educacio?n Superior, Ciencia, Tecnologi?a e Innovacio?n (SENESCYT). Laboratory work was carried out at Universidad Tecnolo?gica Indoame?rica and Pontificia Universidad Cato?lica del Ecuador in Quito. Sequencing was made possible with support of The George Washington University, Universidad Tecnolo?gica Indoame?rica, the U.S. National Science Foundation (grant #s DBI-0905765 and DEB-1441719), Universidad Tecnolo?gica Indoame?rica, and Pontificia Universidad Cato?lica del Ecuador and SENESCYT under the 'Arca de Noe?' Initiative. Zookeys paper: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.766.24523 AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY (AMNH.ORG) The American Museum of Natural History, founded in 1869, is one of the world's preeminent scientific, educational, and cultural institutions. The Museum encompasses 45 permanent exhibition halls, including those in the Rose Center for Earth and Space and the Hayden Planetarium, as well as galleries for temporary exhibitions. It is home to the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial, New York State's official memorial to its 33rd governor and the nation's 26th president, and a tribute to Roosevelt's enduring legacy of conservation. The Museum's five active research divisions and three cross-disciplinary centers support approximately 200 scientists, whose work draws on a world-class permanent collection of more than 34 million specimens and artifacts, as well as specialized collections for frozen tissue and genomic and astrophysical data, and one of the largest natural history libraries in the world. Through its Richard Gilder Graduate School, it is the only American museum authorized to grant the Ph.D. degree. Beginning in 2015, the Richard Gilder Graduate School also began granting the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree, the only such freestanding museum program. Annual visitation has grown to approximately 5 million, and the Museum's exhibitions and Space Shows are seen by millions more in venues on six continents. The Museum's website, mobile apps, and MOOCs (massive open online courses) extend its scientific research and collections, exhibitions, and educational programs to additional audiences around the globe. Visit amnh.org for more information. Follow Become a fan of the Museum on Facebook at facebook.com/naturalhistory, follow us on Twitter at @AMNH, on Instagram at @AMNH, and on Tumblr at amnhnyc. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University researchers have created a technology that allows public cameras to send personalized messages to people without compromising their privacy. The team developed a real-time end-to-end system called PHADE to allow this process, known as private human addressing. While traditional data transmission protocols need to first learn the destination's IP or MAC address, this system uses motion patterns as the address code for communication. The smartphones then locally make their own decisions on whether to accept a message. The PHADE system works using a server to receive video streams from cameras to track people. The camera builds a packet by linking a message to the address code and broadcasts the packet. Upon receiving the packet, a mobile device of each of the targets uses sensors to extract its owner's behavior and follow the same transformation to derive a second address code. If the second address code matches with the address code in the message, the mobile device automatically delivers the message to its owner. A video explaining more about the camera technology is available at https://bit.ly/2JScSqO. "Our technology enables public cameras to send customized messages to targets without any prior registration," said He Wang, an assistant professor in the Purdue Department of Computer Science, who created the technology along with his PhD student, Siyuan Cao. "Our system serves as a bridge to connect surveillance cameras and people and protects targets' privacy." PHADE protects privacy in two key ways - it keeps the users' personal sensing data within their smartphones and it transforms the raw features of the data to blur partial details. The creators named the system PHADE because the blurring process "fades" people's motion details out. PHADE can be used in places such as at a museum, where visitors can receive messages with information about the artifacts or exhibits they are viewing. The technology also could be implemented in shopping malls to provide consumers with digital product information or coupons. In a similar way, PHADE could be valuable for new store prototypes such as Amazon Go, which uses phone technology instead of traditional checkout registers. "PHADE may also be used by government agencies to enhance public safety," Cao said. "For example, the government can deploy cameras in high-crime or high-accident areas and warn specific users about potential threats, such as suspicious followers." Wang said surveillance camera and security companies would also be able to integrate the technology into their products directly as a key feature. He also said this technology has advantages over Bluetooth-based beacons, which have difficulties in adjusting for ranges of transmission and do not allow for context-aware messaging. ### The work appears in the June issue of Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies (IMWUT), a premier journal for research relevant to the post-PC era, and will be presented during a conference in October in Singapore. The Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization helped file patent applications for the technology and is seeking partners to license it. About Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization The Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university's academic activities. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2016 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Innovation from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org. For more information on licensing a Purdue innovation, contact the Office of Technology Commercialization at innovation@prf.org. The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Purdue Research Foundation contact: Chris Adam, 765-588-3341, cladam@prf.org Sources: He Wang, hw@purdue.edu Siyuan Cao, cao208@purdue.edu The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $72 million in funding of three novel pathways aimed at raising temperature and efficiency in order to lower costs for three Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) tower technologies over the next five years. The three technology pathways, comprising solid (particles), liquid (new molten salts), and a gas (supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2)), will compete over the next two years to create the technology to go on to build, over an additional three years, a full-scale test facility coupled to a highly efficient sCO2 power cycle. ??By replacing today's 600C steam cycle in the power block with an sCO2 power cycle operating at 700C-750C, the DOE projects gains in efficiency to lower cost. The goal is to operate a full system in one of the new technologies by 2023 at 1-10 MWth. "We will be testing at a much larger scale than has been tested at these temperatures," said Avi Shultz, acting program manager for the Solar Energy Technologies Office CSP team. Shultz said that the size of relevant components that have been trialled in previous awards will be increased by an order of magnitude over previous research that the DOE has funded for innovation in tower CSP in all three pathways. Goodbye steam Solar tower CSP plants currently deliver their heat to a steam turbine power cycle. But over a century of incremental improvements, steam cycles have seen only incremental efficiency increases, around 1% at a time, and now max out at 600C for around 40% efficiency. So instead, after extracting the heat from a heat exchanger, in all three cases, each awardee will be required to innovate a way to transfer their solar heat to an sCO2 closed loop power cycle which operates at around 700C-750C with the potential to raise thermal power cycle efficiency by 10 percentage points, to over 50% net thermal-to-electric. The sCO2 power cycle is experimental technology that has been developed under a succession of DOE competitive awards. Shultz said its 10-point efficiency gain and small size could lead to a 20%-30% drop in the levelized cost of electricity for CSP. Each of the three competing pathways, solid, liquid or "gas" (sCO2 at this temperature and pressure is actually more of a liquid), must overcome their risks during the first two-year award. The technology that succeeds then gets to demonstrate their complete CSP system with an sCO2 power cycle - that also must be innovated within this time frame - over the next 3 years. There are technical challenges for each pathway: Solid: sand-like particles Sandia National Laboratories: $9.5 million Advantage: Already surpasses temperature goal Disadvantage: Particles must be pushed around mechanically Sandia has focused on particle technology for some time, and they will scale up and integrate the components they've been researching. Even experimentally, particle receivers can operate at higher temperatures, up to 1,000C. In a King Saud University collaboration with Sandia, a particle receiver solar tower is aiming to come online in Saudi Arabia in 2018. The ability to over-achieve the targeted temperature gives particle technology the advantage of wriggle room: "One of the attractions of particles is you can be a little less accurate in the irradiation of the particles because you are not worried as much about hitting some material stability temperature," said Shultz. "But the ultimate "customer" for the heat in the power plant is the power cycle that will turn the heat into electricity, and for this SCO2 cycle, the approximate optimum temperature, when you weigh off cost for efficiency, is at about 700 C," he explained. "When you start to go much higher you don't get a lot of return in efficiency." Another advantage of particles is simplicity. The Sandia team identified early on that the sand used in fracking has an application in receiving and storing solar heat for CSP. So it's a very well understood, very inexpensive material, already produced at a very high volume. It's relatively straightforward to store hot particles and dispatch the heat on demand. But Sandia must solve how to actually move the sand. The weight will be the challenge, because (if scaled up to 100 MW for commercial application) the aperture in a particle receiver could be as large as 10 meters square, so an enormous volume of sand gets transferred through a particle system. While gravity allows the particles to fall within the receiver, they also must then be cycled through the heat exchanger and storage tank and back to the receiver. "You cannot just pump particles," Shultz explained. "You need mechanical devices - which can break down, and they can be difficult to scale to the sizes necessary." Liquid: new molten salts research National Renewable Energy Laboratory: $7 million Advantage: Familiarity Disadvantage: Corrosion The first few CSP towers are already operating commercially with molten salts as the heat transfer and storage, using potassium and sodium nitrate salts, at 565C. "The big advantage is this looks very similar to current molten salts plants, so there is operational familiarity," Shultz said. "However the big disadvantage of advanced higher temperature molten salts is the potential for corrosion. So a lot of the research in the liquid system is understanding the cause of corrosion and mitigating them, and generating operational strategies to ensure that corrosion doesn't harm the plant." A new mixture will be tried, using chloride salts, among the few liquid media able to get to the 700C target in order to couple to the sCO2 cycle. Part of what the NREL team will look at is down-selecting to the specific mixture that will be the right one. But there are real-world problems with chloride salts, according to SolarReserve Chief Technology Officer Bill Gould "Chloride salts clearly provide challenges as a heat transfer fluid for high temperature CSP applications," Gould said, explaining that it's a lot easier to keep them corrosion-free in a small lab scale setting where you can seal off the corrosive effects of oxygen and water.??"But doing so in a commercial scale power plant is much more difficult. Seals leak, and CSP plants have daily startups and shut downs to match the sun's cycle. Plant outages and equipment maintenance typically open the system to such intrusions. It's just harder in the real world." Gas: sCO2 Brayton Energy: $7.6 million Advantage: Easy to move gases Disadvantage: Hard to capture and store "The attraction of supercritical CO2 is actually the simplicity of the system; it is relatively simple to transport and contain gases as opposed to salts which face corrosion or particles which must be moved mechanically," said Shultz. ?"But for the gas pathway the first big risk is the efficiency of the receiver. Gas is inherently not as dense of a media as solids and liquids, so it's going to be a little bit more difficult to get energy into that heat transfer media," The other problem with a gas is that you must have an indirect thermal storage system: Unlike molten salts or particles, which are good at retaining heat, gas must transfer its heat to another material to hold heat. But Shultz sees both challenge and opportunity there. "Yes, integration of the heat transfer loop with the thermal storage system is a risk. However, being able to have an indirect thermal storage system means you aren't restricted to the same media you used in the receiver. And that gives you a lot more flexibility in the choice of what that thermal storage media is." Solving problems shared by all three pathways: There will be additional funding for firms devising solutions at the component-level to problems common to all three pathways. One challenge is how to make piping that can withstand high pressure applications. "One of the projects that we're funding, is piping that can potentially be used in all three of these pathways," said Shultz. "EPRI have previously helped to qualified the manufacture of a new kind of alloy for these new high pressure applications. They will be working on proving out a new low cost manufacture of this new alloy and then qualifying the new manufacturing technology." Rewards outweigh risk of replacing steam with the sCO2 power cycle An additional technology must be innovated. All three pathways will have to integrate with the advanced sCO2 power cycle. The reasoning behind coupling the CSP to the sCO2 power block is that traditional steam cycle power plants have a 600C operating limit. ??All Rankine-cycle thermal plants, whether heated by geothermal, coal, nuclear or solar power, are limited by the steam cycle. At 565C, tower CSP plants operate near the upper limits of sub-critical steam cycles, but that puts a limit on future cost reductions in the power block. "The biggest lever for increasing efficiency is the turbo machinery that actually generates the electricity; this has been well known since the days of the first steam engines," he said. "The higher the temperature that you can put into that cycle the more efficient it is, the lower the levelized cost of energy produced. You have a similar capital cost for the plants, but you now produce more electricity for that same capital cost." "Molten salt plants top out at about 41% efficiency," explained Shultz. He projects an 8-9 point increase in efficiency going from a 565C steam cycle to the 700C sCO2 power cycle. "What we are really targeting for that extra 150C is a thermal to electric efficiency for that power cycle of about 50% - significantly higher than current thermal plants. That increase in efficiency could mean as much as a 20% decrease in the overall levelized cost of electricity." Miniaturizing the power cycle promises to further lower cost. "The size of the turbo machinery used in the sCO2 cycle is much smaller," he said. "So there is much lower capital cost," Shultz projected. "What we are modeling is that you could actually get closer to a 30% decrease in total levelized cost of electricity from current molten salt technologies." All awardees and their phase one funding: Brayton Energy (Hampton, New Hampshire): $7.6 million National Renewable Energy Laboratory (Golden, Colorado): $7 million Sandia National Laboratories (Albuquerque, New Mexico): $9.5 million In addition to this process, eight awardees have been selected to develop either component-level technology or utilize unique cross-cutting research capabilities that support the goal of a successful integrated testing site. Those awardees include: Electric Power Research Institute (Palo Alto, California): $1.5 million Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, Georgia): $2 million Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, Georgia): $1.4 million University of Tulsa (Tulsa, Oklahoma): $1.5 million Hayward Tyler (Colchester, Vermont): $2 million Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, Massachusetts): $1.8 million Mohawk Innovative Technology (Albany, New York): $1.3 million Purdue University (West Lafayette, Indiana): $2 million DOE has provided an additional $10 million in funding to national labs to support this work. These projects will help to expand the foundational knowledge necessary to building this test site. Partnered labs include: Idaho National Laboratory (Idaho Falls, Idaho): $1 million National Renewable Energy Laboratory (Golden, Colorado): $1 million Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Oak Ridge, Tennessee): $4.3 million Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Oak Ridge, Tennessee): $1 million Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Oak Ridge, Tennessee): $1 million Sandia National Laboratories (Albuquerque, New Mexico): $1 million Savannah River National Laboratory (Jackson, South Carolina): $700,000 ### University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers have linked sensitivity to an allergen in red meat - a sensitivity spread by tick bites - with a buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries of the heart. This buildup may increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke. The bite of the lone star tick can cause people to develop an allergic reaction to red meat. However, many people who do not exhibit symptoms of the allergy are still sensitive to the allergen found in meat. UVA's new study linked sensitivity to the allergen with the increased plaque buildup, as measured by a blood test. The researchers emphasize that their findings are preliminary but say further research is warranted. "This novel finding from a small group of subjects examined at the University of Virginia raises the intriguing possibility that asymptomatic allergy to red meat may be an under-recognized factor in heart disease," said study leader Coleen McNamara, MD, of UVA's Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center and UVA's Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. "These preliminary findings underscore the need for further clinical studies in larger populations from diverse geographic regions." Allergens and Clogged Arteries Looking at 118 patients, the researchers determined that those sensitive to the meat allergen had 30 percent more plaque accumulation inside their arteries than those without the sensitivity. Further, the plaques had a higher percentage with features characteristic of unstable plaques that are more likely to cause heart attacks. With the meat allergy, people become sensitized to alpha-gal, a type of sugar found in red meat. People with the symptomatic form of the allergy can develop hives, stomach upset, have trouble breathing or exhibit other symptoms three to eight hours after consuming meat from mammals. (Poultry and fish do not trigger a reaction.) Other people can be sensitive to alpha-gal and not develop symptoms. In fact, far more people are thought to be in this latter group. For example, up to 20 percent of people in central Virginia and other parts of the Southeast may be sensitized to alpha-gal but not show symptoms. The allergy to alpha-gal was first reported in 2009 by Thomas Platts-Mills, MD, the head of UVA's Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, and his colleague Scott Commins, MD, PhD. Since then, there have been increasing numbers of cases of the meat allergy reported across the U.S., especially as the tick's territory grows. Previously found predominantly in the Southeast, the tick has now spread west and north, all the way into Canada. UVA's new study suggests that doctors could develop a blood test to benefit people sensitive to the allergen. "This work raises the possibility that in the future a blood test could help predict individuals, even those without symptoms of red meat allergy, who might benefit from avoiding red meat. However, at the moment, red meat avoidance is only indicated for those with allergic symptoms," said researcher Jeff Wilson, MD, PhD, of UVA's allergy division. ### Findings Published The work represents a significant collaboration between allergy and cardiology experts at UVA. The researchers have published their findings in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, a journal of the American Heart Association. The research team consisted of Wilson, Anh Nguyen, Alexander Schuyler, Commins, Angela Taylor, Platts-Mills and McNamara. The work was supported by the National Institutes of Health, grants KO8-AI085190, K23-HL093118, RO1-AI 20565, PO1-HL55798, RO1-HL136098-01 and RO1-HL107490. To read a personal account of what it's like to have the meat allergy, visit UVA's Making of Medicine research blog at https://makingofmedicine.virginia.edu/2018/03/29/the-meat-allergy-whats-it-like/ Oil and gas companies are poised to plow roughly $300 billion into drilling more than 40,000 new wells in the Permian Basin over the next five years, according to a new report by IHS Markit. That investment has the potential to double the region's oil and gas production, putting it on pace to pump out 5.4 million barrels of oil per day (BPD) within five years. For perspective, that's more oil than Iraq currently produces. There's just one problem with all that production: It needs to get out of the basin, which is a problem right now since there aren't enough pipelines. Because of that, some of the best ways to play the Permian production boom are pipeline companies. Three perfectly positioned to profit from the Permian boom are Plains All American Pipeline (NYSE: PAA), Targa Resources (NYSE: TRGP), and Kinder Morgan (NYSE: KMI). Oil pumps working the the background near a drilling rig. Image source: Getty Images. An unmatched oil pipeline system Plains All American Pipeline has invested heavily in expanding its footprint in the Permian Basin over the past few years. Last year, the company spent about $1.3 billion to acquire assets in the region while also investing heavily in organic expansion projects. These investments have helped the company build an unrivaled system to move oil from the wellhead to several major oil hubs. Overall, the company operates more than 4,700 miles of pipeline in the region that can transport 3.2 million BPD. Plains All American plans to invest at least another $1.6 billion to expand its Permian infrastructure through the end of next year with two long-haul pipelines, gathering-system expansions, and other regional projects such as storage facilities. Those projects will position the company to grow cash flow at a double-digit pace in each of the next two years. Meanwhile, the company has other Permian-focused projects in development, including recently announced plans to pursue a joint venture with ExxonMobil to build a major oil pipeline out of the region. That Permian growth will position Plains to expand its 4.7%-yielding distribution to investors at a healthy clip for years to come. Story continues Bulking up in the basin Targa Resources has also spent a significant amount of money to expand its Permian Basin position in the recent past. Last year, the company paid $565 million to buy Outrigger for its natural gas gathering and processing assets as well as its crude oil gathering position in the region. This made Targa the largest gas gathering and processing company in the Permian. In addition, Targa Resources has secured several expansion projects in the Permian that will drive growth in the coming years. Overall, the company has lined up about $2.4 billion of Permian expansion projects, which include building a major natural gas liquids (NGL) pipeline, partnering on a large gas pipeline, and constructing additional gathering and processing assets. These investments position Targa to expand earnings from $1.14 billion last year to as much as $2 billion by 2021, which should give the company plenty of fuel to grow its 7.5%-yielding dividend. A close-up of a gas pipeline under construction. Image source: Getty Images. One pipeline secured, another in the works One of Targa's large projects is the Gulf Coast Express pipeline, a $1.75 billion natural gas pipeline developed by Kinder Morgan that should start service by the end of next year. That pipeline is the first notable Permian project for Kinder Morgan, which operates several natural gas pipeline systems in the region, including El Paso Natural Gas (EPNG) and the Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America (NGPL). Gulf Coast Express is likely the first of many Permian-focused expansions for Kinder Morgan in the coming years. In fact, after securing shippers for 100% of the capacity on Gulf Coast Express, the company has already had initial discussions with shippers on a second pipeline. While those talks are in the very early stages, Kinder Morgan believes that there's enough industry demand to build a second line sooner rather than later. Meanwhile, the company is looking at expansion projects on both EPNG and NGPL to move gas out of the Permian Basin to end markets in the Southwest and Midwest. As those projects materialize, they'll help grow the pipeline giant's cash flow and its 4.7%-yielding dividend. Problem-solving can pay big dividends Production out of the Permian Basin is growing at breakneck speed, which is starting to become a problem for producers, but an opportunity for pipeline companies. While several have expansion projects underway, three of the best positioned to capture future opportunities are Kinder Morgan, Targa Resources, and Plains All American Pipeline. Because of that, all three companies appear poised to grow their high-yielding dividends at high rates in the coming years, making them excellent options for income-seeking investors to consider. More From The Motley Fool Matthew DiLallo owns shares of Kinder Morgan. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Kinder Morgan. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Stock splits might not have any fundamental impact on a company, but many investors still look for companies that are splitting their shares as a sign of success. All a stock split technically does is create more shares at a lower price per share. Yet because stock splits often come after periods of strong stock performance, many shareholders see them as a reason to be confident that the company believes its fundamental business will remain strong. Stock splits haven't been nearly as frequent recently as they've been in the past, as many companies prefer just to let their share prices climb as high as possible without worrying about what impact a high price will have on an investor's ability to buy shares. Yet some companies are still traditionalists. The following three stocks are among the biggest that have done stock splits so far in 2018 and their prospects still largely look good. Stock Split Date Ratio Aflac (NYSE: AFL) March 16 2-for-1 Trex (NYSE: TREX) June 18 2-for-1 Herbalife Nutrition (NYSE: HLF) May 15 2-for-1 Data source: Yahoo! Finance. Split date is payable date for the split. Quacking about a split Supplemental-insurance giant Aflac is best known for the white duck it has as its spokesperson, but the insurance products it provides to workers in the U.S. and Japan help millions get the coverage they need in areas that few insurance companies cover. That's been a successful model, and the insurer has seen its share price rise substantially over the years. In February, Aflac announced that it would do a 2-for-1 split effective March 16, putting it in the form of a 100% stock dividend. CEO Daniel Amos celebrated the announcement, noting that "this is the ninth split of the company's common stock since listing on the NYSE in 1974 and the first in 17 years." Aflac pointed to improving liquidity as a key reason for the move. Looking ahead, Aflac has a lot to be pleased about. Tax reform already has had a positive impact on the company, and restructuring efforts have allowed Aflac to focus more strongly on its best prospects for fundamental growth. Even though many people still misunderstand what Aflac does and the market it serves, shareholders are quite familiar with the success that the company has generated over the years. Story continues White duck with yellow beak holding blue cellphone in a wing. Image source: Aflac. Stacking the deck Trex is a specialist in decking materials, with its alternatives to traditional wood decks offering homeowners a distinct advantage in terms of durability and maintenance needs. In a strong economy that has seen big gains for the housing market in many areas throughout the country, Trex has catered to the desires of those looking to improve their existing homes to their own specifications. In its most recent quarter, Trex managed to boost earnings by nearly a third and saw sales climb substantially, as well. All signs point toward continued growth for the decking specialist. In May, Trex said that it would do a 2-for-1 split effective June 18. In justifying the move, CEO James Cline pointed to the company's "positive outlook," including rising market share for its alternative products against wood-focused competitors and greater success in cross-selling efforts. By serving both residential and commercial customers, Trex hopes to take maximum advantage of its opportunities as long as favorable conditions in the industry last. Looking healthy Herbalife Nutrition has been a controversial stock for years, with high-profile battles among well-known investors with opposing views on the nutritional specialist. Some attack Herbalife's business model, accusing it of being akin to a pyramid scheme, while others laud the company's ability to draw and retain customers. Recently, it's been those favoring Herbalife who've been proven right as the company has moved forward aggressively after paying a $200 million fine in 2017 to settle allegations from the Federal Trade Commission. Back in February, Herbalife announced a series of measures intended to enhance shareholder value, including a 2-for-1 stock split subject to shareholder approval. Herbalife investors approved the move at the company's April annual shareholder meeting, and the split was made in May. Time will tell whether Herbalife's corporate shifts will be effective in promoting further growth, but for now, longtime shareholders are quite comfortable with their company. Watch for splits Stock splits aren't a huge deal, but they can often point you to companies that have already seen considerable success. Fortunately, the split doesn't have to be the end of the growth story, and Herbalife, Trex, and Aflac all have good prospects for further gains in the foreseeable future. More From The Motley Fool Dan Caplinger has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Trex. The Motley Fool recommends Aflac. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. ASGN vs. FICO: Which Stock Should Value Investors Buy Now? ASGN vs. FICO: Which Stock Is the Better Value Option? Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. AAL have lost 17.5% so far this year, underperforming its industry's decline of 11.8%. YTD Price Performance Reasons Behind the Lackluster Price Performance High fuel costs have been the primary reason behind the companys dismal performance.In fact, oil prices have increased roughly 10% on a year-to-date basis. In the second quarter, high fuel costs are expected to limit bottom-line growth at American Airlines as was the case in first-quarter 2018. Average fuel price per gallon rose 23.6% year over year to $2.10 per gallon in the first quarter. Fuel prices are anticipated to be even higher (between $2.18 and $2.23 per gallon) in the second quarter. Apart from high fuel costs, expenses pertaining to labor are expected to weigh on the bottom line in the second quarter. Consolidated cost per available seat miles (excluding special items and fuel) is anticipated to increase 3.5% in the second quarter of 2018. American Airlines high debt levels are added concerns. Apart from American Airlines, the rise in oil prices has also hurt other airline operators like Southwest Airlines Co. LUV, Delta Air Lines, Inc. DAL and United Continental Holdings, Inc. UAL. Other Unfavorable Readings The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter and full-year 2018 earnings moved south 8.5% and 7.9%, respectively, in the last 60 days. This reflects investors pessimism surrounding the stock. Furthermore, the companys Momentum Score of D highlights its short-term unattractiveness. Undoubtedly, the above negatives substantiate the companys Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. 5 Medical Stocks to Buy Now Zacks names 5 companies poised to ride a medical breakthrough that is targeting cures for leukemia, AIDS, muscular dystrophy, hemophilia, and other conditions. New products in this field are already generating substantial revenue and even more wondrous treatments are in the pipeline. Early investors could realize exceptional profits. Click here to see the 5 stocks >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) : Free Stock Analysis Report Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL) : Free Stock Analysis Report United Continental Holdings, Inc. (UAL) : Free Stock Analysis Report American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. (Refiling to fix typographical error in headline) By Luciano Costa SAO PAULO, June 15 (Reuters) - Brazilian utility Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais has received far more interest than expected in the sale of its telecommunications assets, attracting 16 groups interested in bidding, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters. Cemig, as the company is widely known, plans to auction the assets of its telecoms unit, Cemig Telecom, for a minimum of 367 million reais ($96.9 million) as part of a plan to reduce its large debt load. But the interest level in the unit, and its fiber optic network stretching 5,900 miles (9,500 km) across some of Brazil's wealthiest and most industrial states, could push up that figure. The 16 interested parties have signed confidentiality agreements in order to participate in this stage of the process, the person said. "The interest was surprising, a lot more favorable than imagined. They are big companies," the source said. Cemig did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Interested companies include telecoms like Claro SA, a unit of Mexico's America Movil SAB de CV, as well as infrastructure operators such as American Tower Corp and Phoenix Tower, according to the source. Reuters previously reported that Telefonica Brasil SA , TIM Participacoes SA, Vogel Solucoes em Telecomunicacoes e Informatica SA, Algar Telecom SA and Aloo Telecom were interested in the assets. Representatives for Claro, Telefonica Brasil, TIM, Vogel, Algar, and Blackstone Group LP, which owns Phoenix Tower, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday. American Tower Corp declined to comment. Representatives for Aloo could not immediately be contacted. Vogel had confirmed to Reuters in March it was interested in Cemig Telecom, while Telefonica Brasil's chief operating officer, Christian Gebara, told Reuters in April the company was looking closely at the unit. The public auction is projected for July 25 with results to be announced on July 27. The sale will be divided into two lots, the first to include Cemig's fiber network in Minas Gerais, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro states, with the second to be held for its network in Goias, Bahia, Pernambuco and Ceara states. ($1 = 3.79 reais) (Reporting by Luciano Costa; Additonal reporting by Gram Slattery Writing by Jake Spring; Editing by Tom Brown) cryptocurrency derivatives The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission has claimed it has jurisdiction over a cryptocurrency called My Big Coin and has asked a federal judge to grant it authority to proceed with the lawsuit which claims the cryptocurrency has been operating a $6 million fraud. CFTC claims My Big Coin Pay, based in Nevada, misappropriated $6 million from 28 clients by selecting a name that sounds like bitcoin and also claiming the cryptocurrency was backed by gold. CFTC sued My Bit Coin Pay Inc. and entrepreneur Randall Crater in January. The suit is seen by some as an indicator of the CFTCs authority over cryptocurrencies. The CFTC claimed that the defendants falsely indicated the cryptocurrency was actively traded on several currency exchanges. The CFTC also claimed Crater and an associate, Mark Gillespie, collected funds from investors and redirected the funds to personal bank accounts, using the funds for personal expenses. CFTC argued that defendants claims about My Big Coin were a fraud, which included false claims about its usage, trade status and value. Judge Questions Both Sides U.S. Judge Rya Zobel in Boston Zobel posed questions to both sides about the workings of cryptocurrencies. Zobel did not rule on Caters request to dismiss the case, but said she would try to arrive at a decision quickly. Zobel questioned a CFTC lawyer about the extent the regulator has jurisdiction to pursue a lawsuit against the operators of what it contends was a virtual currency fraud scheme. CFTC attorney Jonah McCarthy claimed the virtual currency falls under the agencys definition of a commodity and compared it to gold and other precious metals. Katherine Cooper, a lawyer for Crater, said My Big Coin is not a commodity because it does not have future contracts trading on it. Cooper told the judge the agency has gone way beyond the remit of their authority. Also read: $6 million Ponzi: CFTC charges gold-backed crypto My Big Coin with fraud Story continues An Unresolved Issue Jurisdiction over cryptocurrencies in the U.S. remains an unresolved issue. In a separate case, U.S. District Judge Jack Weinstein in Brooklyn in March the CFTC can regulate virtual currencies as a commodity. Weinsteins ruling applied to bitcoin, a cryptocurrency on which futures contracts are traded, Craters attorneys argued. Featured image from Shutterstock. The post CFTC Seeks Judges Approval to Sue Alleged $6 Million Fraud My Big Coin appeared first on CCN. Chevron Corporation CVX recently achieved a major milestone, as it started production at its second unit of the Wheatstone LNG project in Western Australia, solidifying its position as one of the biggest suppliers of natural gas to the Asian countries. Chevrons Mega LNG Projects While Chevron is the chief operator of the Wheatstone project, owning a 64.14% stake, the remaining interests are held by Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company, Woodside Petroleum Limited, Japan-based JERA Inc. and Kyushu Electric Power Company. The project is located 7.5 miles west of Onslow and is intended to process gas from the Wheatstone and Iago fields, both of which are operated by Chevron. The company holds an 80.2% interest in the offshore licenses containing the Wheatstone and Iago fields. The Wheatstone fields are estimated to contain more than 4.5 trillion cubic feet of gas deposits. The $34-billion Wheatstone project consists of two liquefaction trains with a shipment capacity of 8.9 million metric tons of LNG per year. The first cargo from liquefaction train 1 was shipped last October, few months behind target. With the second train coming online, Chevron currently operates five LNG trains in Australia, including three at the Gorgon Project. The Gorgon LNG project is the largest single-resource project in Australia, dealing with delivery of natural gas to international and domestic customers. The $54-billion Gorgon LNG project has a shipment capacity of 15.6 million metric tons per year. While Chevron is the chief operator of the Gorgon LNG project holding 47.3% stake, Exxon Mobil Corporation XOM and Royal Dutch Shell plc RDS.A own 25% interest each. The remaining stakes are held by Osaka Gas, Tokyo Gas and Chubu Electric Power. With these major projects starting production, Chevron expects an improvement in free cash flow. The projects are expected to drive long-term growth and boost shareholders value in the coming years. By 2020, this Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company aims to become a major LNG supplier. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Story continues Chevron Corporation Price Chevron Corporation Price | Chevron Corporation Quote Apart from Chevron, another Ranked #1 player within the same industry is Sasol Limited SSL. Australias LNG Sector Booming Global LNG demand is on the rise owing to consumption boost from Asian importers like China, South Korea and India as part of efforts to switch from coal and heating oil for environmental reasons. The secular shift to cheaper and cleaner burning fuel for power generation resulted in 17 million tons of growth in demand from Asia alone in 2017. Banking on booming demand, a plethora of new LNG projects are underway in Australia. In fact, the country is expected to overtake Qatar that is currently the worlds highest LNG seller. Australia holds the second spot since 2015 and its position is expected to scale to the top by 2020. Supplies from Chevron-led Gorgon and Wheatstone mega projects in Australia are already being absorbed by the strong demand. Notably, Wheatstone is the eighth LNG project to be completed in Australia. Annual LNG export in Australia is expected to reach 74 million tons by June 2019. This will mainly be driven by a number of mega projects including Chevrons Wheatstone and Gorgon, Shell's Prelude floating liquified natural gas (FLNG) facility, Inpex Corporations Ichthys LNG, among others. Notably, a couple of days back, Prelude FLNG inched closer to production when gas was fed by Shell to the unit from LNG carrier Gallina. Being a significant project in the portfolio of Shell, Prelude FLNG is a path-breaking facility for the emergence of floating LNG. Notably, it is also the first and most versatile in the line of projects planned by the company. The facility will enable the company to unlock new offshore energy sources and provide LNG around the world. Wall Streets Next Amazon Zacks EVP Kevin Matras believes this familiar stock has only just begun its climb to become one of the greatest investments of all time. Its a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in pure genius. Click for details >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Chevron Corporation (CVX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDS.A) : Free Stock Analysis Report Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Sasol Ltd. (SSL) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Abbott (ABT) Up 3.8% Since Last Earnings Report: Can It Continue? Abbott (ABT) reported earnings 30 days ago. What's next for the stock? We take a look at earnings estimates for some clues. The Dow traversed a tough week, suffering losses for three consecutive sessions. Initially, investors were wary of the outcomes of the Fed and ECB meetings. The outcome of the meeting between President Trump and North Koreas Kim Jong Un was also eagerly awaited. Ultimately, these talks had little impact on market proceedings. Comments from the ECB were also largely welcomed by investors. However, the Feds rate hike led to losses for the bourses. Last Weeks Performance The Dow gained 0.3% last Friday as investors concerns related to global trade war and G-7 summit faded away. The blue-chip index posted its third straight positive trading sessions and closed at its highest level since March. Notably, The Procter & Gamble Co. PG was the major advancer of the blue-chip index with a gain of 1.9%. The index gained 2.8% over last week, its biggest weekly gain since March. The Dow posted its third straight weekly advance despite global trade war and tariff related conflicts. However, the index ended lower on last Tuesday, as trade tensions dented investors confidence. Notably, the Dow closed at its best single-day percentage gain since Apr 10, last Wednesday. The Dow This Week The index gained merely 5.78 points on Monday since investors were apprehensive about the outcome of the meeting between President Donald Trump and his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong Un. Additionally, markets eagerly awaited the outcome of meetings of three major central banks. The index lost 1.58 points on Tuesday after gaining over two consecutive sessions. Notably, Verizon Communications Inc. VZ was the major decliner of the blue-chip index with a loss of nearly 1%. However, movements of indexes were modest in either direction as investors were closely awaiting the outcome of meetings of the Fed and ECB. Meanwhile, investors concerns regarding trade war and geopolitical conflicts waned, at least for the time being, as President Donald Trump and North Korea leader Kim Jong Un inked an agreement to denuclearize Korean peninsula and stop war games. Story continues The index declined 0.5% on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve announced its second rate hike for the year and indicated that the central bank may raise rates more aggressively going forward. This was the second rate hike in 2018 and was in line with market expectations. Eight of 15 Fed officials now expect four rate hikes this year compared with seven at the March meeting. The index lost 0.1% on Thursday after financials weighed on the index. Shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPM lost 1.8%, being as the largest drag on the blue-chip index. However, broader markets moved higher on strong retail sales and jobless claims numbers. Investors also welcomed the ECBs comments on its program of bond purchases. Components Moving the Index The Boeing Company BA recently won an $862.2 million modification contract for providing full-rate production of fifteen Lot 42 F/A-18E and three F/A-18F aircraft to the U.S Navy. The contract was awarded by the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland. Boeing has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The majority of the work will be carried out in El Segundo, CA, St. Louis, MI and the rest would be performed in various locations across the United States. Work related to the deal is expected to be completed by June 2020. (Read: Boeing Wins $862M Navy Deal for the F/A 18 Aircraft) Merck & Co., Inc. MRK has received FDAs accelerated approval for label expansion of its blockbuster anti-PD-1 therapy, Keytruda, to include advanced cervical cancer in second-line setting. The company will need to evaluate the drug in confirmatory studies in this indication for gaining continued approval. The eligible patients for the treatment in cervical cancer will be selected based on an FDA-approved test for PD-L1 expression in tumors with combined positive score (CPS) 1. The approval comes a bit earlier than the expected date of Jun 28. The FDA had granted priority review to this label expansion regulatory application in March. (Read: Merck's Keytruda Gets FDA Approval for Cervical Cancer) In a separate development, Zacks Rank #2 Merck announced FDAs accelerated approval for its PD-1 inhibitor, Keytruda as a third-line treatment for adult as well as pediatric patients with primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL), a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. (Read: Merck's Keytruda Gets FDA Nod for 2nd Lymphoma Indication) Caterpillar Inc. CAT reported a rise of 24% in global retail sales for the three months ended May 2018, a deceleration from the 28% rise witnessed in April and average sales growth of 30% noted in the past four months of this year. In a separate development, Caterpillar announced that its board of directors has approved an increase of 10% in quarterly dividend to 86 cents per share. The increased dividend will be paid on Aug 20 to shareholders of record as of Jul 20. The stock has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. The Walt Disney Companys DIS Avengers: Infinity War recently crossed $2 billion in gross collections globally in its 48th day of release (debut on Apr 27). Only three other movies Avatar, Titanic and Star Wars: The Force Awakens have reached this milestone. Avengers: Infinity War has collected $656.1 million by Jun 11, making it the fifth highest-grossing movie domestically. Per Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) Disney, it holds the record for biggest domestic debut ever with $257.7 million in its opening weekend. Internationally, the movie has collected $1.346 billion. Notably, Avengers: Infinity War is the third biggest western release ever in China, with $369.7 million in gross collections since releasing in the country. (Read: Disney's Avengers: Infinity War Collects $2 Billion Globally) Johnson & Johnson JNJ has accepted a $2.1 billion offer from a private equity firm, Platinum Equity, for the sale of its LifeScan diabetes device unit. The company had announced the receipt of a binding offer from Platinum Equity in March. Johnson & Johnson has a Zacks Rank #3. The LifeScan unit makes blood glucose monitoring products and generated revenues of $1.5 billion last year. The move was in line with J&Js strategic plans for its diabetes business. The company has been planning to streamline its non-core assets since last year. As part of the streamlining efforts, J&J had announced the closing of operations at its Animas Corporation diabetes care unit last October. (Read: J&J Accepts Platinum Equity's Offer for LifeScan Unit) Exxon Mobil Corporation XOM has accelerated the development of the Liza Phase 1 after commencing development drilling offshore Guyana. Development drilling for the first of 17 wells planned for Phase 1 was initiated in May. This facilitated the start of production scheduled for 2020. The Liza prospect, operated by Zacks Rank #3 ExxonMobil, is located about 120 miles (193 kilometers) offshore Guyana in the Stabroek block and spreads across 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometers). ExxonMobil and its co-venturers have encountered estimated recoverable resources of more than 3.2 billion oil equivalent barrels on the Stabroek block. (Read: Exxon Mobil Expedites Liza Phase 1 Development Process) Performance of the Top 10 Dow Companies The table given below shows the price movements of the 10 largest components of the Dow, which is a price-weighted index, over the last five days and during the last six months. Over the last five trading days, the Dow has declined 0.4%. Next Weeks Outlook Though the Dow has endured a difficult week, things seem to be looking up for investors. For one, geopolitical tensions have been dialed down following the Trump-Kim talks. Secondly, ECBs plan to taper its bond purchases has been welcomed by investors. Further, even though markets moved lower after the Feds rate hike, the move has been largely priced in. Meanwhile, economic indicators continue to remain encouraging. Several key pieces of data, especially on housing, are lined up for release next week. If most of these are encouraging in nature, stocks could soon return to their winning ways. Wall Streets Next Amazon Zacks EVP Kevin Matras believes this familiar stock has only just begun its climb to become one of the greatest investments of all time. Its a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in pure genius. Click for details >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) : Free Stock Analysis Report The Walt Disney Company (DIS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) : Free Stock Analysis Report Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) : Free Stock Analysis Report Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) : Free Stock Analysis Report The Boeing Company (BA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Procter & Gamble Company (The) (PG) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Northern Trust (NTRS) reported earnings 30 days ago. What's next for the stock? We take a look at earnings estimates for some clues. Investors in Huntington Bancshares Incorporated HBAN need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Jul 20, 2018 $10 Put had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today. What is Implied Volatility? Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell-off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy. What do the Analysts Think? Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for Huntington Bancshares shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, Huntington Bancshares is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) in the Banks - Midwest industry that ranks in the Top 24% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 60 days, one analyst has increased earnings estimates for the current quarter, while four have dropped their estimates. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from 30 cents per shareto 29 cents in that period. Given the way analysts feel about Huntington Bancshares right now, this huge implied volatility could mean theres a trade developing. Oftentimes, options traders look for options with high levels of implied volatility to sell premium. This is a strategy many seasoned traders use because it captures decay. At expiration, the hope for these traders is that the underlying stock does not move as much as originally expected. Looking to Trade Options? Each week, our very own Dave Bartosiak gives his top options trades. Check out his recent live analysis and options trade for NFLX earnings report completely free. See it here: Bartosiak: Trading Netflix's (NFLX) Earnings with Optionsor check out the embedded video below for more details: Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (HBAN) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research India bitcoin price The Reserve Bank of India has responded to a query seeking explanations for its reasons to ban banks from dealing with the cryptocurrency industry, admitting it conducted no research prior to its prohibitive action. In a Right to Information (RTI) request filed by a domestic lawyer Varun Sethi, the Reserve Bank of India was over a number of questions plainly asked for the reasons behind its April ban that explicitly forbade all regulated financial institutions from providing services to cryptocurrency businesses. RBI confirmed it gave little to no thought before reaching the decision in its response, nor did it conduct any research internally or independently before enforcing the ban. In what is increasingly appearing to be an arbitrary action, the central bank did not clarify its position and plainly refused to answer other probing questions put forth in the information request. For instance, central bank officials were asked if the authority established an internal committee to determine if there were risks in trading cryptocurrencies. No was the answer. Had the RBI conducted its own research, or even communicated with other counterparts think Japan to understand and explore a regulatory framework prior? Again, no. The RBI also refused to clarify how it had determined public risks in engaging cryptocurrencies, from as early as 2013. Similarly, it refused to disclose its take on acknowledging self-regulated cryptocurrency exchanges that follow KYC norms, if it had sought an external expert opinion before enacting the ban or if it will prohibit Indian citizens from buying cryptocurrencies from exchanges outside the country. The central bank ducked all these questions by pointing to a loophole in the RTI act, exempting them from giving an answer. The RBIs ban in April came after years of repeated public warnings by the financial regulator, cautioning citizens against trading or investing in cryptocurrencies like bitcoin. Story continues Last month, the central bank pushed back against a Supreme Court-approved petition that sought regulation to effectively legalize and recognize the cryptocurrency industry in the country. In fact, the RBI deflected responsibility in outlining a policy or framework for the nascent sector, stating the RBI cannot unilaterally decide for the government on the legality of bitcoins in India. A number fo cryptocurrency businesses have since filed petitions at state courts arguing the RBI decision was arbitrary, unfair and unconstitutional. Witnessing an increasing backlog of those petitions, Indias Supreme Court barred all high courts from filing further petitions against the Reserve Bank and claimed all pending petitions in May. Featured image from Shutterstock. The post Indias Central Bank Banned Cryptocurrency with Zero Research or Consultation appeared first on CCN. Friday, June 15, 2018 What to watch today (AP Photo/Andy Wong) The economics schedule will have a few pieces of data to close out the week, with the University of Michigans preliminary reading on consumer sentiment in June, as well as the Feds latest reading on industrial production both set for release. The University of Michigans report is expected to show a slight increase in the gauge of consumer sentiment from Mays final reading, while industrial production is expected to show a 0.2% increase in May, a slight moderation from Aprils 0.7% uptick. Additionally, the Trump administration on Friday announced a 25% tariff on $50 billion worth of Chinese imports, escalating a trade dispute between the U.S. and China. Read More Top news AT&T to close Time Warner deal: AT&T Inc. (T) may close its $85 billion deal to buy Time Warner Inc. (TWX) under an agreement reached on Thursday with the U.S. government, which might still appeal a case seen as a turning point for the media industry. AT&T said it could close the deal by Friday. The government has not ruled out an appeal and has 60 days to file. [Reuters] Story continues SEC announces cryptocurrency ether is not a security: Are bitcoin and ether securities? Finally, one of the biggest questions and debates in crypto has been answered by the SEC, officially. In an announcement at Yahoo Finances All Market Summit: Crypto in San Francisco on Thursday, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Director of Corporate Finance William Hinman said that the commission would not be classifying ether or bitcoin as securities. [Yahoo Finance] Facebooks public relations chief to step down: Facebook Inc. (FB) said on Thursday that Elliot Schrage, who as head of communications and public policy has led the social networks response to scandals about privacy and election meddling, would step down from the company after a decade. He is at least the third high-level executive set to leave Facebook this year, upending a period of relative stability in the companys management. [Reuters] ZTEs shares slide on trade war jitters: Shares of ZTE Corp. plummeted on Friday on renewed worries of a trade war and the Chinese telecommunications giant has now lost 30% of its market value since share trading resumed this week. U.S. President Donald Trump is due to unveil revisions to his initial tariff list targeting $50 billion of Chinese goods on Friday, reigniting concerns of a full-blown trade war. [Reuters] In case you missed it, watch the Yahoo Finance All Markets Summit: Crypto here. For more of the latest news, go to Yahoo Finance Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) wears patriotic socks as he waits to bat during the Congressional Baseball Game on June 14, 2018 in Washington, DC. This was the 57th annual game between the Republicans and Democrats. (Photo by Alex Edelman/Getty Images) Yahoo Finance Originals Winners and losers of the 2018 World Cup in Russia Grayscale announces new fund around a privacy-based crypto Confessions of a high-end repo man 6 ways to avoid debt during wedding planning Like what you just read? Get the Morning Brief sent directly to your inbox every Monday to Friday by 6:30 a.m. ET. And feel free to share it with a friend! The Morning Brief provides a quick rundown on what to watch in the markets, top news stories, and the best of Yahoo Finance Originals. By James Davey and Kate Holton LONDON (Reuters) - A new drive to cut food prices boosted Tesco's quarterly sales, turning up the heat on rivals three years after Britain's biggest retailer started work on a turnaround plan. Shares in Tesco (TSCO.L) rose as much as 3 percent on Friday after the group also said it was delighted with initial progress at wholesaler Booker, which it acquired in March, and was on track to deliver its medium-term financial targets. The group's robust update contrasted with the problems of Britain's wider retail sector, which has seen a raft of failures this year. Forced to rebuild after a 2014 accounting scandal capped a dramatic downturn in trading, Tesco said a move to lower prices on fresh food, such as minced beef and potatoes, towards the end of its first quarter reflected a growing confidence in its performance. "It's about us continuing to invest in the offer," Chief Executive Dave Lewis told reporters, noting that prices in core lines had already been lowered by 6-7 percent over the previous three years. The strong performance is timely as Tesco faces increased competition in a sector already reshaped by inroads made by German-owned discounters Aldi and Lidl. Accustomed to being the biggest beast in the industry, Sainsbury's proposed 7.3 billion pound ($9.7 billion) takeover of Walmart's Asda would push Tesco down into second place. Looking at the broader retail industry, Lewis said he was pressing the government to be more supportive, particularly as regards a relaxation of business rates - property taxes for businesses. Story continues The lower prices, plus a relaunch of own-brand products, helped Tesco to counter bad weather in March and deliver underlying sales growth in its home market of 2.1 percent in its first quarter to May 26. That was at the top end of analysts' forecasts and a 10th consecutive quarter of growth. "To have slowed down only slightly from (2.3 percent in the previous quarter) is a good achievement given lower levels of inflation in the market, tougher (comparatives) and generally unhelpful weather in the quarter," said analysts at Barclays who have an "overweight" stance on the stock. (Graphic: Tesco share performance - https://reut.rs/2Mqkr6y) SILENT ON SAINSBURY'S/ASDA The rise of Aldi and Lidl and the growing popularity of online sales has forced traditional groups Tesco, Sainsbury's (SBRY.L), Walmart's (WMT.N) Asda and Morrisons (MRW.L) to rethink their strategies. Lewis's boldest move was to buy Booker for 4 billion pounds ($5.3 billion) to expand into supplying restaurants, cafes and local shops. Tesco currently dominates Britain's supermarket sector by a clear margin, with a 27.7 percent market share, according to industry data. However, a Sainsbury's/Asda combination would top that. Lewis declined to comment on the takeover, merely stating that Tesco would submit its views to the competition regulator in due course. Booker's like-for-like sales rose 14.3 percent, including tobacco, partly reflecting new business wins. As a group, underlying sales growth was 1.8 percent, its strongest quarterly performance since 2011. "Our growth plans are on track and we are pleased with the momentum in the business," said Lewis. Tesco's trading update was published ahead of its annual shareholders' meeting, where Lewis, CEO since 2014, could face some flak over his near 5 million pounds 2017-18 pay package, labelled "excessive" by shareholder advisory group Pirc. "LETHAL COCKTAIL" Lewis also warned of the pressure on the industry. Already this year Toys R Us UK, Maplin, Conviviality and Poundworld have collapsed, while Marks & Spencer, New Look, Carpetright, Mothercare and House of Fraser are closing stores. Lewis had warned in a speech to business leaders three years ago that the government's approach on business rates, the minimum wage and apprenticeship levy was a potential "lethal cocktail" for the industry. "Unfortunately three years on we start to see the impact of that," he said on Friday. "Constantly looking for the amount of money that's coming out of bricks and mortar is not sustainable long term and we look for the government to think about that." (Editing by Guy Faulconbridge/Keith Weir) FILE PHOTO: The ticker and logo for General Electric Co. is displayed on a screen at the post where it's traded on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., June 30, 2016. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo By Alwyn Scott NEW YORK (Reuters) - Union leaders plan to meet with General Electric Co on Wednesday in a bid to avert closure of a Virginia factory that makes controls for GE's power plants, the company and the union said on Tuesday. General Electric said last week that it intends to cease manufacturing at the facility and eliminate about 265 jobs because of declining power plant orders. The work will be moved to outside vendors and companies in India and China, the union said. GE said the changes will take 12-to-24 months. The Boston-based industrial conglomerate is under pressure to generate growth and profit in its $35 billion power business after steep declines last year. Low cost wind and solar electricity are slowing construction of new fossil-fuel power plants and forcing closure of old ones. GE's stock has fallen 44 percent since John Flannery became chief executive in August. The company said in December it would eliminate 12,000 jobs in its power unit. "Based on the ongoing challenges in the power industry and a significant decline in orders at this facility, we announced our intent to close our manufacturing facility in Salem, Virginia, and move the remaining work to other GE locations or to supplier partners," GE said in a statement emailed to Reuters on Tuesday. A GE email sent to the union last week said volume at the plant had fallen 35 percent in the past two years and that the facility was operating at about 40 percent of capacity. The email also cited price competition in the shrunken power-plant market. "Product cost continues to be a major influencer when customers are selecting their next controls solution," it said. GE competes with Siemens AG, Mitsubishi and others. Prior efforts to downsize and cut costs at the factory, including layoffs and not filling vacant positions, "have not been enough," the email said. About 200 workers will remain at the facility, including engineers for GE's power plant control systems. Story continues GE spokesman Greg Gibbons said a small training center at the site will be run by ABB Ltd after it acquires GE's Industrial Solutions business. GE plans to sell the building and lease it back, he said. Wednesday's meeting will allow the union to begin talks on how to save the plant, Vicky Hurley, president of IUE-CWA Local 82161 told Reuters. The union has 60 days to propose an alternative to closure of the factory, which opened in 1955 and employed thousands. (Reporting by Alwyn Scott; Editing by Bill Berkrot) A Wells Fargo logo is seen at the SIBOS banking and financial conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada October 19, 2017. Picture taken October 19, 2017. REUTERS/Chris Helgren (Reuters) - Wells Fargo & Co said on Friday it received final approval from a district court in California to settle a $142 million class-action lawsuit, which compensates customers affected by a sales scandal related to phony bank accounts. The settlement, in which Wells had received a preliminary approval in July last year, sets aside funds for compensating customers after the bank opened consumer or small business accounts, credit cards or lines of credit without their knowledge between 2002 and April 2017. The United States' fourth-biggest bank is dealing with the fallout of two years of investigations, agreeing in April to pay $1 billion to settle with regulators who say it forced auto insurance on hundreds of thousands and routinely hit homebuyers with excessive fees. Last month, the bank also agreed to pay $480 million to resolve a securities fraud lawsuit filed with the District Court for the Northern District of California which alleged the bank made certain misstatements and omissions in disclosures related to its sales practices. Chief Executive Officer Tim Sloan said Friday's announcement was "a significant step forward in making things right for our customers and restoring trust all of Wells Fargo's stakeholders." Customers have until July 7 to claim money. Announcing the settlement with regulators in August, the bank also said that the mortgage and auto programs together ensnared more than 600,000 customers and would require nearly $300 million in refunds. Analysts worry the scandal has hurt Wells Fargo both by distracting executives with investigations and lawsuits, and through its impact on the bank's public image. In February, the U.S. Federal Reserve imposed a consent order on Wells that restricted it to grow assets beyond the $1.95 trillion it had at the end of last year "until it sufficiently improves its governance and controls." Sloan, since then, has reassured shareholders numerous times that the bank was stable and "open for business". Story continues Employees have also sought to downplay the scandal's impact on profitability or market share, and have said that few customers have left the bank. Wells Fargo's shares were up 0.3 percent at $54.92 on Friday. (Reporting By Aparajita Saxena in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva) A gang who smuggled illegal tobacco hidden inside fridges, microwaves and vacuum cleaners to evade 12m in tax, have been jailed for a total of 21 years and five months. David Hilton, 49, of Bolton, was the last member of the 11-strong gang to be sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday June 14, with a three-year jail term. It follows the sentencing of ringleader, Timothy Newman, 51, from Luxembourg, who was jailed for four years at Manchester Crown Court on 24 May. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) surveillance revealed the fraud was organised from Newmans tobacco outlet in Marmer, Luxembourg. Investigators observed the smuggling ring at work in a large warehouse where hollow white goods, with no working parts, were being used to smuggle tobacco into the UK. After being emptied in the UK, the carcases were returned to the warehouse in Luxembourg to be re-filled with more illicit tobacco destined for the UK. As well as Hilton and Newman, there were nine accomplices from across the North West and Devon who co-ordinated the distribution, packaging and sales operation for the tonnes of tobacco being smuggled into the UK. Six other gang members were sentenced to between 26 and 9 months in prison with two others receiving suspended sentences. In addition, Raymond Hughes, 58, of Aughton, one of the key figures on the English side of the channel was previously jailed for six years on 9 December 2016 for his part in this 12m tobacco smuggling scam and a further six years for a second 10m cigarette smuggling fraud involving another criminal ring. The amount of tax evaded in this case is estimated at 12,038,264. HMRC has started confiscation proceedings to recover the stolen tax from the gang members under Proceeds of Crime legislation. Tony Capon, assistant director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: This was a sophisticated criminal network set up to smuggle, transport, store and sell illegal tobacco on a massive scale, purely to evade tax and line their own pockets. This gang took smuggling and tax evasion to the limits and made a serious assault on the UK public purse, stealing millions of pounds from the taxpayer, robbing public services of vital funding and undermining legitimate, local businesses. We want to create a level playing field for businesses and to protect the taxpayer. To help us do this I urge anyone with information about the trade in smuggled or counterfeit tobacco to contact us online or call our Fraud Hotline on 0800 788887. If youre ever offered cheap or dodgy-looking cigarettes or tobacco, contact us dont let the crooks get away with this type of fraud. 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 Trumps comments regarding those plans were indicative of the same optimism that characterizes his discussion of the summit with Kim in Singapore. Few material commitments have emerged from that meeting so far, but the American president is confident that the North Korean government will soon begin the process of following through on Kims promise of denuclearization. Yet this outcome still faces obstacles, and the Iranian leadership evidently intends to be one of them. As NY Daily News reported on Tuesday, Tehran quickly warned the North Korean dictator against trusting the Trump administration, saying that it might cancel the agreement before returning home. Such statements are presumably aimed partly at preventing the loss of a close partner in anti-Western activities and partly at undermining the legitimacy of Trumps effort to replace the JCPOA with something stronger. Iranian activists associated with the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) have previously uncovered evidence of a North Korean presence at nuclear-related tests within the Islamic Republic, and the two countries have long been suspected of sharing know-how in this area, as well as missile technology. Potential cooperation between North Korea and the US could have the effect of interrupting this exchange, as well as possibly exposing additional secrets about the past military dimensions of the Iranian nuclear program a topic that was abandoned by international negotiators around the time of the JCPOAs implementation. To whatever extent the success of talks between Trump and Kim allow the world to re-focus its attention on Irans nuclear program or to obtain new information about it, the likely effect will be greater levels of international support for the White Houses efforts to undermine the JCPOA and improve upon it. There is, of course, some variation among predictions regarding the significance of such a development, but Trump himself has claimed that his withdrawal from the JCPOA has already made Iran a different country, meaning that additional international pressure would presumably extend that same transformation. Specifically, Trump said of the Iranians, I dont think theyre so confident right now with respect to their efforts to establish a permanent foothold in Syria as part of a larger imperial project extending to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. This conclusion was perhaps strengthened by a report published on Tuesday by Newsweek, indicating that Iran-backed militants in Syria have apparently begun dressing up as Syrian military. This goes to show that Tehran is growing more preoccupied with shielding its regional activities from international scrutiny at a time when the regime is already facing pressure to scale back or abandon those activities. Crucially, that pressure is coming both from foreign powers and from right inside the Islamic Republic, a fact that was highlighted by Haaretz on Monday in a report that indicates Israeli intelligence supports Trumps conclusion that his pressure on the Iranian regime is generating results that are even better than expected. One reason for this may have to do with the persistent domestic activism that has been observed all across the Islamic Republic since the outbreak of a nationwide mass uprising at the end of last year. Maryam Rajavi, the president of the PMOI and its parent coalition the National Council of Resistance of Iran predicted that that event would give rise to a year full of uprisings, and the various ongoing political demonstrations, labor strikes, and clashes with security forces suggest that she was correct. Insofar as this has already added to the pressure the regime is facing in the wake of the American pullout of the JCPOA, it will no doubt continue adding to the pressure as the full effects of that pullout go on developing. As the Haaretz report notes, previously suspended economic sanctions are not scheduled to be fully renewed until November. And in the intervening months, the US Treasury will presumably add even more sanctions related to Irans human rights violations and support of terrorism, as it has done repeatedly since Trump took office. In spite of all this, or perhaps because of it, the Iranian regime is still striving to maintain a defiant tone, in keeping with its warning to Kim that Trump should not be trusted to uphold a deal of his own making. That defiance was on clear display when Forbes reported that the Iranian parliament had voted on Sunday to suspend discussions that might have led to the Islamic Republic taking steps toward compliance with the UNs International Convention for the Suppression of Financing of Terrorism. The regime had already been slow to pursue such compliance in the wake of the JCPOA, even though it was a necessary prerequisite to being removed from the Financial Action Task Force list of countries that represent a particular risk of money laundering, and thus a risk to would-be foreign investors. The parliaments vote guarantees that Iran will remain on that list, creating a further barrier to investment, in addition to the effects of US sanction threats. This also strengthens the possibility that international sanctions related to FATF non-compliance will similarly be re-imposed. In other words, Tehran is effectively opening itself up to increased pressure not just from the US but also from the European defenders of the JCPOA, even at a time when the Islamic Republic is at risk of losing longstanding allies. While North Korea and the US are pursuing talks, another Iran ally, Russia, is reportedly turning away from the defense of Irans interests in Syria, instead advocating for the removal of all foreign forces from areas near the border with Israel. Elsewhere, Iran has made political gains but its future remains uncertain. In Lebanon, for instance, Prime Minister Saad Hariri recently spoke out against interference by Tehran and Qassem Suleimani, the head of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, in the domestic affairs of Middle Eastern nations. According to the Associated Press, Hariris comments were made in reply to comments by Suleimani in which he praised the gains made by Hezbollah and other Iran-backed groups in Lebanese parliamentary actions. In 2016, the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council labeled Hezbollah a terrorist group as part of their pushback against what they perceive as destabilizing Iranian influence. Despite the growing challenges, Tehran persists in downplaying actual and potential losses of allies and trading partners around the world. In regions of established influence, the Iranians express confidence in the triumph of their own proxies over competing domestic forces and forces associated with Irans regional adversaries. And in the broader context, Tehran evidently expects its shrinking list of allies to take up the slack for those would-be partners that are fleeing the Iranian market. On Tuesday, UPI reported upon one of several public statements by Iranian officials claiming that Iran and China had made arrangements to avoid Western sanctions by trading in their national currencies while expanding cooperation in multiple areas. However, there was no confirmation of these claims from the Chinese side, and in any event it is highly unlikely that non-Western business alone will be able to provide the tens of billions of dollars in foreign capital that Iran was determined to need just for upgrades to its oil industry. This is to say that Irans plan-B for its economic future may not be sufficient to interrupt the Trump administrations plans for exerting what Trump called brutal pressure on the regime. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last month that as sanctions on Iran take full effect, the countrys government will find itself battling to keep its economy alive, unless it agrees to a series of concessions regarding nuclear activity, missile development, and regional interference. Iran officially stopped issuing residency cards to Afghans in 2007, which means that roughly two million people are living in fear being deported as just under a quarter were last year discriminated against, and exploited. The fate of these refugees depends on their ability to navigate Iranian laws and bureaucracy, often with the help of bribes. Many are forced to find sympathetic people in Iran, who will put a house or business in their name, but even this can easily be exploited by the wrong people. One Afghan businessman in Mashad, who requested anonymity because he fears what will happen to him if the Regime finds out he has spoken to the press, said: No matter how much money we have, our lives are valued less here. Without citizenship rights, doors to opportunity are closed. Thats why so many Afghans are heading to Turkey. However, it is the children who suffer the most. Afghani refugee children often face a brutal life in Iran, with many forced to work on the black market, subjected to physical and sexual abuse, exposed to drugs, or even sent off to fight Irans wars across the Middle East. While the Regime has allowed undocumented children to attend school since 2015, many are also working alongside their parents in harsh fields like construction, agriculture, garbage collection, and carpet-weaving. While the Regime has no official statistics, Afghan child workers are visible throughout Tehran. Saeed Hasanzadeh, an Istanbul-based Iranian youth activist who used to work with a non-governmental organization that supports Afghan refugee children, said: Parents need money to feed their kids, and thats why theyll send their kids to work instead of school. In some families, all four or five children have to work to make ends meet. He went on to say that many Afghan children are working in the black market where exploitation is rife. Even in the most tragic of circumstances, Afghans do not feel safe seeking out justice. Dawood Alizada, the father of six-year-old Afghan refugee Neda, who was murdered in March, has spoken out about his fears of retaliation from the family of his daughters killer after he is sentenced. He said: We want justice, but that could cost us our safety here. Our lives arent worth the same as an Iranians. Racism against Afghans is an integral part of the Iranian Regimes rule. It will only stop once the Regime is removed from power and anti-discrimination laws put in place. Thats why the international community should support the Iranian peoples wish for regime change, something that will be a major topic at the Free Iran Gathering in Paris on June 30. The gathering, which is organised by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and attended by over 100,000 people annually, will show that there is intense support for the overthrow of the mullahs both domestically and around the world. Many Iranian regime officials have resorted to maligning the event in their parliament and through their propaganda networks, but all this does is show how scared they are by the power of the people. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghasemi claimed that President Hassan Rouhani had been in talks with the French government to cancel the event. He claimed that this was to do with terrorism and said that the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), the main group in the NCRI, should not be allowed to organise events in France. However, he neglected to mention that the Regime is the world s largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world and that the MEK was wrongfully placed on terror watch lists by the West to appease the Regime. Its clear that Rouhanis talks have not worked not surprising, considering the Regime try this every year and it never works because Ghasemi began to threaten France, as if that would convince them to cancel the Free Iran Gathering. But he wasnt the only mullah to threaten France. National Security Commission Spokesman Naghavi Hosseini said that this event harm Iran-Europe relationships at a time when the countries are still involved in negotiations over the Iran nuclear deal. While Kazem Jalali, chairman of the Parliamentary Research Center, and the head of Iran-Europe Parliamentary Relationships Group have written letters to their counterparts in Europe and France warning about increased terrorism and extremism in Europe if the Free Iran gathering goes ahead. While more Regime officials threatened France and Europe, one admitted perhaps accidentally that the West can see that the MEK is a viable alternative to the Regime. The judiciarys International Deputy Mohammadjavad Larijani said: The West believes that the MEK is the only group that could both be active in Iran and perform as an active political organization abroad as well. It is clear that the Regime sees that Iranian Resistance and the Iranian people as a threat to its continued existence. They should. This gathering will only embolden the protesters and encourage the world to support them. This will be the end for the Regime. The Ombudsman has asked the Sandiganbayan to suspend Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr. while the trial of the graft case filed against him by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez is going on. In a motion filed at the anti-graft courts Sixth Division, the Ombudsman cited Section 13 of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, that mandates the suspension of a public official facing trial. Section 13 of the law provides: Any incumbent public officer against whom any criminal prosecution under a valid information or for any any offense involving fraud upon government or public funds or property pending in court shall be suspended from office. The prosecution team told the court that there is no dispute that Floirendo is sufficiently charged with violation of Section 3(h) of RA 3019 and was already arraigned last May 25. If Floirendo is suspended, the prosecutors said, he will be prevented from committing the same offense and from influencing potential witnesses in his case over the alleged anomalous lease of land at the Davao Penal Colony [DPC].Verily, such suspension pendente lite is aimed not merely to prevent the accused from intimidating witnesses or otherwise hamper the prosecution of the case, but also to prevent him from committing further acts of malfeasance in office, the prosecution added. Alvarez accused Floirendo of irregularities in connection with the Consolidated Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) between Tagum Agricultural Development Authority (TADECO), where Floirendos family is a major stockholder, and its subsidiary Anflo Management and Investment Corporation, for the lease of land in DPC to be used as a banana plantation. The Consolidated JVA was executed in 1979 which extended the period of lease for 25 years and renewed in May 2003, when Florendo is already a congressman. No casualties have been reported in the incident. An MD83 passenger jet operated by Bravo Airways flying from Antalya, Turkey (flight 4406) has run off the runway as it was landing in the Kyiv Sikorski Airport at about 20:40 on Thursday, June 14. None of the 169 passengers and six crew on board were hurt in the incident. All passengers have been evacuated to their safety, according to the airport's press service. The airport was shut down for several hours and opened back up at 05:00 on Friday, June 15. One of the passengers who flew on the said flight in a Facebook post praised the performance of the crew: "It's only thanks to the efforts of the crew that we're alive." In a statement published shortly after the incident, Bravo Airways said that the plane had been landing in difficult weather conditions, with multi-directional wind gusts and rain in the area of the airport. The company noted that the crew was highly experienced. Senator Cynthia Villar led the inauguration of the newly constructed Sinombre Drive that seeks to further ease the flow of traffic in the main thoroughfares of Las Pinas City. The Sinombre Drive road project was initiated by Senator Villar as part of her commitment to address the terrible traffic problem in the city. It was funded and implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways. I am fully aware of the horrendous traffic that affects the residents of Las Pinas City and all motorists and commuters who ply the Alabang-Zapote road. I understand the anger and frustration. That is why I am finding ways to help ease the traffic congestion. I hope this new road will make travelling within the city easier and faster, Villar said. The 500-meter Sinombre Drive traverses along the Sinombre Creek. It will bring motorists to an access road from the Alabang-Zapote road to the Zapote River drive, passing through Pamplona Park subdivision in Barangay Pamplona, and connect to the Las Pinas River Drive, a five-phase, 15-kilometer road project also initiated by Villar.I look forward to faster traffic and business movements to and from Las Pinas and surrounding areas now that we have these new road projects. I initiated these projects to make the lives of our people better and travelling less burdensome, Villar said. Villar will lead the ribbon-cutting ceremonies during the inauguration of the new road. She will be joined by city government officials, barangay leaders and members of the homeowners associations of the subdivisions that will benefit from the new route. After the ribbon cutting, Villar will join the projects frontrunners for a final look-through of the new roadway. Southern Police District director Tomas Apolinario Jr. on Friday ordered the relief of two ranking officials of Pateros and Taguig City police stations for their alleged poor performance. Relieved from their posts as assistant chief of police for operations were Supt. Ritchie Salem (Pateros) and Supt. Maurito Caraguian (Taguig). Apolinario ordered them replaced following the recommendation by members of the District Oversight Committee who measured their performances based on four parameters: Crime Solution Efficiency; Enhanced Managing Police Operations, Police Community Relations and the War Against Illegal Drugs. The District Oversight Committee gauges the overall performance of each Police Stations and determines how they are fairing with each other. As a result, for the period January to June 10, 2018, the Taguig City Police Station and Pateros Police Station failed to deliver based on the four parameters set by the committee, said Apolinario. Aside from the unsatisfactory performance, Caraguian was also cited due to command responsibility for failure to supervise one of his men engaged in moonlighting and caught by members of the Interagency Council for Traffic (I-ACT) driving a colorum vehicle. The SPD chief said the current assistant chiefs of police for administrations of the two stations will replace Salem and Caraguian. Apolinario said the relief was also part of the reorganization to strengthen the SPDs all-out war against illegal drugs in the southern part of Metro Manila in support to the governments campaign initiated by President Rodrigo Duterte to eradicate illegal drugs in the country.We will put the best performing PNP officers on post so that we will meet our target and attain our mission to make SPD area of responsibility drug-free. The relief of the two ACOPOs is a manifestation of our seriousness in resolving criminality and eradicating illegal drugs in SPD, said Apolinario. Apolinario said he was hoping his directive to relieve the police officials will serve as a challenge to the other police station chiefs and deputies to double their efforts in the campaign against illegal drugs and meet the target on the given time frame. He also warned his men of future changes on police station leadership and be relieved from their posts if they fail to perform well. Four months ago, Apolinario also ordered the relief of police officers assigned to the SPD-Special Operations Unit in connection with the alleged robbery extortion in Pasay City. The SPD chief made the directive following a complaint filed by the family of Roselyn Genorga, 55, an illegal numbers game bet collector, who accused the police officers of demanding P200,000 in exchange for her freedom. Investigation showed the policemen arrested Genorga while collecting bets in the area of Merville, Pasay City. Initiative to Split California Qualifies For Ballot An initiative to split California into three states qualified for the November ballot today. What initiative author Tim Draper has dubbed CAL 3 surpassed the 402,468 projected valid signatures needed to qualify by random sampling on Tuesday, Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced today. Splitting California into three states would require congressional approval. ADVERTISEMENT One proposed state would be called California or a name to be chosen by its residents after a split. It would consist of Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey and San Benito counties. A second state, Southern California or a name to be chosen by its residents, would consist of Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Fresno, Tulare, Inyo, Madera and Mono counties. The remaining 40 counties would be part of the state of Northern California or a name chosen by its residents. Draper, a venture capitalist, said he conceived the initiative out of a belief that the citizens of the whole state would be better served by three smaller state governments while preserving the historical boundaries of the various counties, cities and towns. Said Peggy Grande of Citizens for Cal 3, the campaign on behalf of the initiative: The California state government isnt too big to fail, because it is already failing its citizens in so many crucial ways. The reality is that for an overmatched, overstretched and overwrought state government structure, it is too big to succeed. Californians deserve a better future. Steven Maviglio, a longtime Democratic Party political consultant who is a spokesman for OneCalifornia, the campaign against the initiative, said, ADVERTISEMENT California government can do a better job addressing the real issues facing the state, but this measure is a massive distraction that will cause political chaos and greater inequality. CAL 3 has no connection to efforts to have California secede from the United States. Where Are We in the LACCD? The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Board of Trustees is an enigmatic local political animal. As quiet as it is kept, this board plays a vital role in the economic safety and development of our community. LACCD is the largest community college district in the nation. It oversees nine colleges across the county, educates over 200,000 students, employs over ten thousand women and men and controls a $6 billion taxpayer-approved budget. It is a quiet, but effective little economic engine that supports student transfers into four-year institutions, vocational training programs that lead directly to employment opportunities and thousands of jobs through its bond construction program. As of last Friday, the LACCD Board has absolutely no African-American representation on the Board of Trustees. Think about that previous sentence for a second, because its import is stunning. In LACCDs history, African American higher education policymakers from Dr. Marguerite Archie-Hudson to attorney Angela Reddock have made their presence felt as elected Trustees on behalf of the African American communitys incoming high school graduates, university bound transfer students, adult students and those enrolled in certificate programs for career workplace positions. During my tenure as a Trustee, I carried forward that same commitment to maintaining LACCDs gateway to higher education for our communitys college student achievers and career aspirants. I served on the Board until April 3rd, when I was elected to the State Assembly to represent the 54th State Assembly District. I was the only African American serving and only the second African American woman to serve as its Board president in its 77 year history. Last week, the Board appointed a Latino male, David Vela, (who is a friend of mine), rendering a Board composition that has 4 Latino males, one woman and completely ignoring African American and additional female representation. Twenty seven candidates applied for the appointment. Many were viable and qualified, including 4 African American women, one of who currently serves on the State Board of Governors for the California Community Colleges. With a district that is seeing an erasure of African Americans in leadership (there are no African American men or women in Executive leadership at the District), there is an acute sense that the Chancellor, the Board, and the District do not value African Americans, that is until February rolls around. ADVERTISEMENT I stand with the intelligent, capable and community-connected Black female candidates Valerie Shaw (whom I endorsed), Melina Abdullah, Dallas Fowler and Christine Burke Adams to demand an explanation, a response and a plan for the how the district is going to recommit itself to the African American community. What should not be lost by the LACCDs Board of Trustees is the fact that an African American serving as a Trustee exerts a positive influence on district policies supporting the districts African American administrators and faculty and can strongly encourage the recruitment and hiring of additional African American administrators, faculty members and staff members. An African American LACCD Trustee plays a key role in providing ongoing policy support for the districts African American Outreach Initiative, a collaborative effort to improve community college access for Black students and broaden the transfer and two-year graduation success rates of Black students attending the districts nine campuses. I wondered if I was too much for the District too outspoken, too truthful about the overt and covert racism imbedded in its systems and structures. But, I pressed on, because so many students, faculty and administrators said it had been too long since they had heard their truth from the dais. But, like Obama, there seems to be an adverse reaction to Black skin in places where it is not welcomed or accustomed. I am saddened, angered, but even worse, not surprised. Courage seems to be fleeting in this town when it comes to standing up for Black people. We must stand up for ourselves. Start attending the District Board meetings (the first Wednesday of each month at one of the colleges or at the District office) and demand accountability. Use our wallets, enrollment applications and pulpits to remind everyone else that we are a constituency with power. And lastly, African American voters must pay attention when we have our next opportunity to go to the polls to elect the next LACCD Trustee. These positions of leadership are critical to our community. LACCD contracts available to minority-owned and women-owned businesses are awarded by the Trustees. When an African American elected official sits on the Board of Trustees, the African American community has a seat at the table and a voice in policy deliberations on community college district business affairs and higher education matters. Voters in our community can do what the current Trustees declined to do: Vote for a talented and capable African American woman or man to serve on the LACCD Board of Trustees. If we stay silenced, we will yield our power and place. And then it will not be on them, it will be on us. Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager-Dove was recently elected to the California State Assembly. She was the previous Board President for the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD). The world lost two well-known Americans to suicide last week. Television personality Anthony Bourdain and designer Kate Spade died within two days of each other. Their deaths come at a time when more Americans are dying from suicide than ever before. That information comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States. In a new report, CDC officials note that suicide rates have risen in 49 of the 50 states. A worldwide problem But suicide is not just an American problem. Each year, about 800,000 people worldwide die as a result of suicide. That number does not include the countless others who attempt to take their lives. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that every 40 seconds, someone in the world ends his or her life. WHO officials say suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds worldwide. Nearly 80 percent of suicides in 2015 took place in low-income and middle-income countries. Prevention in America WHO studies show that the United States has one of the highest rates of suicide in the world. Suicide prevention experts say a major step to preventing suicide is to get help early and to reduce the stigma around mental health and suicide. For American adolescents, the CDC says suicide is the third leading cause of death, behind accidents and homicides. Experts say suicides can be prevented if governments set policies to prevent alcohol and drug abuse, make guns safer and restrict their use among people at risk of suicide. Experts also say U.S. officials can help reduce the stigma of suicide and provide support for those suffering from depression and conditions linked to depression. John Draper is the executive director of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a nonprofit organization. Its telephone hotline provides free prevention support 24 hours a day. He said that the organizations crisis centers around the country are in serious need of money. Mental health Paul Gionfriddo leads Mental Health America, another nonprofit group. He became a supporter of early suicide prevention treatment when his son developed a mental condition. Gionfriddo said suicide is a stage-four event for a lot of people who suffer from mental disorders or chronic diseases unrelated to mental health. Dorothy Paugh was nine years old when her father took his life. Fifty years later, she was shocked by yet another suicide: that of her son. Because of her experiences, Paugh became a supporter of suicide prevention. She said, "If we think someone may be troubled, ask them outright if they are having thoughts of suicide. It's not a comfortable conversation, but it's a lot more comfortable than a funeral. That's my hope and my purpose in speaking about suicide so people know it is preventable." Experts say mental health exams would help people get into treatment before their depression becomes severe. Other advice includes reducing the social stigma tied to mental health issues and making treatment more widely available. The WHO says that early identification and treatment of mental disorders may be the goal in developed countries, like the United States. It points out that prevention policies may be different in low- and middle-income countries. Im Jonathan Evans. Alice Bryant adapted this story from several VOA stories and reports from the CDC and WHO. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story low-income - adj. of or relating to those with a relatively small income. middle-income - adj. of or relating to those with an average income within the overall population. stigma - n. a set of negative and often unfair beliefs that a society or group of people have about something adolescent - n. a young person who is developing into an adult; a young person who is going through adolescence homicide - n. the act of killing another person; murder hotline - n. a telephone service for the public to use to get help in emergencies chronic - adj. continuing or occurring again and again for a long time comfortable - adj. not causing any physically unpleasant feelings; producing physical comfort conversation - n. an informal talk involving two people or a small group of people; the act of talking in an informal way The United States top diplomat says that sanctions will remain in place until North Korea ends its nuclear weapons program. American Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke at a news conference in Seoul with the South Korean and Japanese foreign ministers. He said the administration of President Donald Trump would not repeat mistakes by earlier administrations. Pompeo dismissed a report from North Koreas official KCNA about this weeks meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. It suggested Trump had offered to end sanctions before North Korea ended its nuclear program. But, Pompeo said that was not the case. Were going to get denuclearization, he said. Only then will there be relief from the sanctions. Pompeo said that the U.S. wants verifiable action by North Korea to denuclearize by January 2021. He noted that the joint statement signed by Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un confirmed an earlier declaration signed in April. In the Panmunjom Declaration, South Korean President Moon Jai-in and Kim agreed to support past agreements which included verification requirements, Pompeo said. Many people has said that the Joint Declaration signed on June 12 lacked clear terms for how the North would end its nuclear weapons program. Pompeo met in Seoul Thursday with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono. Later, Pompeo traveled to Beijing were he spoke to Chinas foreign minister Wang Yi. He thanked China and President Xi Jinping for helping bring North Korea to the negotiating table. Wang described the Trump-Kim meeting in Singapore as having great historic significance that could lead to lasting peace. He also said the U.S. should continue to, in Wangs words, work through China. Suspension of military exercises After meeting with Kim, many were surprised when Trump spoke about joint military exercises, what he called war games, with South Korea. He said the large exercises would be suspended while negotiations with the North were taking place. Trump called the training, provocative. The president made the comments after his meeting with Kim. South Korean President Moon Jae-in has said he would carefully consider suspending the military exercises. Moon met with Pompeo to discuss the summit in Singapore before the secretary of state met with his diplomatic counterparts. During the meeting with Pompeo in Seoul, Foreign Minister Kang said the alliance with the U.S. remained strong. She said details of military planning were not discussed. Foreign Minister Kono said Japan welcomed diplomatic progress with North Korea. However, he said Japan wanted the issue of North Korean missiles and other weapons that could strike Japan to be discussed. He also said Japan wanted U.S. troops to remain in South Korea. Japanese news media have reported that officials are seeking a meeting between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Kim Jong Un. The reports say Kim expressed a willingness to hold talks with Abe. Japanese officials plan to discuss a possible summit at a security conference in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia this week. A summit could take place in August in the North Korean capital Pyongyang or during an area economic meeting in Vladivostok, Russia in September. Abe and Japanese officials also have repeatedly called for talks on the return of Japanese citizens seized by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s. Im Mario Ritter. Brian Padden, Ken Bredemeier and Michael Bowman reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story sanctions n. measures taken to force a country to obey international law usually by limiting trade relief n. the removal of something painful or difficult verifiable adj. able to be shown as true or to have been done provocative adj. resulting in discussion, thought or argument counterpart n. someone who has the same job or purpose We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 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. From left - right : Tiamzon, Baylosis, Echavis , Silva, and Ladlad THE safety and immunity guarantees extended to five jailed communist leaders no longer stands with the government poised to ask a Manila regional trial court to revoke their release order following President Rodrigo Dutertes decision to postpone the resumption of formal peace talks in Oslo. The five communist leadersCommunist Party of the Philippines chairman Benito Tiamzon, Adelberto Silva, Rafael Baylosis, Randall Echanis and Vicente Ladladwere earlier allowed to travel abroad to participate in the negotiations as consultants of the National Democratic Front. Since the peace talks were deferred upon orders of the President, the basis for the court order [for their release] no longer exists and the prosecution will consequently move for the revocation of said orders, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra told Manila Standard. The NDF consultants should thus present themselves to the courts for proper disposition as a sign of good faith, Guevarra added. A well-placed source earlier revealed that Tiamzon and Baylosis, in particular, appeared to have already gone underground. In a separate interview, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said Tiamzon and his colleagues must turn themselves immediately as a gesture of good faith and for them to continue to enjoy safety and immunity guarantees in the future when the peace negotiations resume. Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde, for his part, said it will be problematic if the communist leaders refuse to present themselves before the Manila court. If they do that, not only the PNP but the Armed Forces of the Philippines as well are ready to hunt them down again, Albayalde said. President Duterte announced his decision to scrap the resumption of formal negotiations with the CPP-NDF during Wednesday evenings Joint Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine National Police Command Conference in Malacanang. Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza said the postponement will allow the government to engage a bigger peace table to include the public and other sectors in government. But CPP founding chairman and NDF chief political consultant Jose Ma. Sison rejected Durezas official explanation as bullshit.The resetting of the planned peace talks is exactly for the purpose of protecting the gains achieved in the backchannel talks prior to formal resumption of peace negotiations. History teaches of many peace deals that suffered setbacks due to the lack of public support and this is precisely why we have decided to engage the public and have consultations with various sectors to protect those gains, Dureza said in a statement released on Friday.Getting public support and goodwill even while still in the course of peace negotiations is truly indispensable. Suddenly springing finished peace agreements upon a public who have been kept in the dark during the negotiations can certainly undermine those efforts, Dureza added. A well-placed source who was privy to the command conference said Duterte reached the decision to reset the peace talks following Sisons several pronouncements on the timetable of the negotiations. The President reviewed the recent statements of Joma because it was Joma who was announcing that there will be a week-long stand down order between the NDF and the government that will begin on June 21 and that the formal peace talks will resume on June 28. Is he the spokesman of the government? the source said. Sison, however, insisted that the June 21 and June 28 dates that he announced in the media were contained in written agreements signed by government chief negotiator Silvestre Bello III and NDF chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili on June 9 and 10. A member of the leftist Makabayan bloc in the House raised suspicions that saboteurs were interfering in the peace talks between the government and the NDF. I think that the issues raised by Secretary Dureza can be addressed at the same time that the peace talks are ongoing. They should not be used as stumbling blocks or preconditions for the resumption of the negotiations, Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate said. The longer it takes for the talks to restart, the peace spoilers and saboteurs would also have a longer time to sabotage the process, Zarate said. Zarate, a Mindanaoan, said the Filipino people have long been hungry for peace. The Filipino people have long supported the peace talks for a just and lasting peace. Indeed, addressing the root causes of the armed conflict like landlessness, oppression, and exploitation, among others, will certainly get the continued support of the majority of Filipinos, Zarate said. Resume the talks now. It is only those who benefit and profit from the current inequitable and unjust system will not support the peace talks and will do all they can to sabotage it, he added. 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. 2 hours ago Ship owner, operator of interest in California oil spill HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (AP) The U.S. Coast Guard has designated the Mediterranean Shipping Company and others as parties of interest in an investigation into a vessel that was determined to be the source of an offshore pipeline leak in Southern California. Read Article Al Duraihimiy, YemenYemens rebel chief urged his forces to fight on against pro-government troops pressing a Saudi-backed offensive to retake the key aid hub of Hodeida, as the UN called for the Red sea port to be kept open. Heavy fighting left 39 people dead on Thursday, a day after the Saudi-led coalition launched an assault to recapture the city controlled by the Iran-allied Huthi rebels. Military sources said coalition gunships pounded rebel positions as fighting raged several kilometers from Hodeida airport, south of the city. Rebel leader Abdel Malek Al-Houthi urged troops to confront the forces of tyranny, warning they would recapture areas taken by pro-government forces by bringing huge numbers [of fighter] to the battle, according to the rebels Al-Masirah TV. The western coast will turn into a big swamp for the invaders, he added. The clashes came as the UN Security Council met for urgent talks on the military operation and called for the port, held by the rebels along with the capital Sanaa since 2014, to be kept open. The Huthis suffered 30 fatalities on Thursday in the clashes, medical sources told AFP. Nine pro-government troops were killed in the same area, the medics said. Military sources said the deaths were caused by mines and snipers. An AFP correspondent south of Hodeida airport saw ambulances evacuating dead and wounded government loyalist fighters as reinforcements headed towards the front line. The United Arab Emirates, a driving force in the coalition, said four of its troops were killed on the first day of the offensive. The Huthis television channel earlier said they had struck a coalition ship off the coast of Hodeida with two missiles. There was no independent confirmation of the report. The United Nations has warned against an offensive on Hodeida because the port serves as the entry point for 70 percent of Yemens imports, with the country already teetering on the brink of famine after three years of war. On Thursday, authorities said the Red Sea lifeline remained open to shipping. We still have seven ships in the port. The work in the port is normal. And we have five other ships standing by waiting outside to enter, port director Dawood Fadel told AFP. Yemens Foreign Minister Khaled Alyemany said that government forces were holding off on advancing on the port for now, and are not planning to destroy the infrastructure. We are in an area close to the airport, but not to the sea port. The sea port is totally out of operations, today, he told reporters on Thursday.Two Saudi and UAE aid ships were in the waters off Hodeida, coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki told Saudi state media. Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, which intervened against the Huthis in 2015 with the goal of restoring Yemens government to power, have pledged to ensure a continuous flow of aid to the Arab worlds poorest nation. Abdullah al-Rabeeah, the head of Saudi Arabias King Salman Aid and Relief Center, pledged an air, sea and land bridge would be opened to transport aid and medical supplies, food, shelter and fuel other basic necessities. Capturing Hodeida would be the biggest victory for the Saudi-led coalition since the start of its costly intervention. International aid groups cautioned the threat of a major humanitarian catastrophe was growing as fighting drew closer to Hodeida, with the UN estimating some 600,000 people live in and around the city. As air strikes intensify and front lines move closer to Hodeida city, so does the very real threat of harm to civilians in Hodeida, said the Norwegian Refugee Councils acting country director Christopher Mzembe. The group warned of a high risk of a fresh cholera outbreak around Hodeida should water supplies be disrupted. During a closed-door meeting, members of the Security Council expressed their deep concern about the risks to the humanitarian situation and called for Hodeida port to remain open, Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, who holds the council presidency, said. But the council brushed aside a call by Sweden, a non-permanent member, for a freeze to the military operation to allow time for talks on a rebel withdrawal from the Red Sea port. Yemens internationally recognized government earlier said negotiations had failed to force the rebels from Hodeida, and a grace period for UN-led peace efforts was over. Nevertheless, the UN envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, has continued to hold talks on keeping Hodeida open and has urged all sides to exercise restraint. But UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash insisted in a statement that it is clear that for the UN-led political process to succeed, the situation on the ground must change. Yemens Saudi-backed President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, who has spent much of the war in exile in Riyadh, on Thursday visited the southern port city of Aden, where the government set up its base after being ousted from Sanaa. State-run Saba news agency said the aim of Hadis first public visit to the country in more than a year was to supervise the military operations in Hodeida province. More than 22 million people in Yemen are in need of aid, including 8.4 million who are at risk of starvation, according to the United Nations, which considers Yemen to be the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. Chinas government renewed its threat yesterday to scrap deals with Washington aimed at defusing a sprawling trade dispute as the White House prepared to release a list of Chinese goods targeted for tariff hikes. President Donald Trump has threatened to raise tariffs on up to USD150 billion of Chinese goods in response to complaints about Beijings trade surplus and technology policy. As part of that, the White House is due to issue a list on Friday of $50 billion of Chinese goods targeted for a 25 percent tariff. Beijing has promised to buy more American soybeans, natural gas and other exports but warned after June 3 talks between U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Chinas top economic official, Vice Premier Liu He, that all deals were off if Trumps threatened tariffs went ahead. We made clear that if the U.S. rolls out trade sanction including the imposition of tariffs, all outcomes reached by the two sides in terms of trade and economy will not come into effect, said a foreign ministry spokesman, Geng Shuang. I just want to repeat this point today. Beijing also has announced plans to cut import duties on autos and some consumer goods and to ease limits on foreign ownership in auto manufacturing, insurance and some other industries, though those dont directly address U.S. complaints. Economists also warn that Beijing will resist changing technology development policies Washington dislikes but that Chinese leaders see as successful. The first round of tariff hikes planned by Washington is in response to complaints Beijing steals or pressures foreign companies to hand over technology in violation of its World Trade Organization market-opening commitments. China also has threatened to retaliate with its own tariff hikes on $50 billion of U.S. exports including pork and soybeans, though authorities avoided renewing that threat following the latest round of talks. Yesterday, a Commerce Ministry spokesman said some Chinese exporters are rushing to fill orders due to concern about possible trade risks. The spokesman didnt mention Washington and Trumps threat of tariff hikes. A few companies have increased the number of short orders to avoid risks, Gao Feng said at a regular briefing. However, this is not the mainstream and will not affect our countrys situation of steady and healthy development of foreign trade. AP A 15-year-old male mainland resident was arrested for people smuggling, according to a statement released by Macau Customs Service. Another mainlander was also arrested for the same crime. The 15-year-old suspect is reportedly the mastermind of a people smuggling ring. Customs also detained another two mainland residents for people smuggling. The two suspects claimed to have entered Macau to catch oysters. The 15-year-old was sent on to the public prosecutor, while the other three illegal immigrants were transferred to the Public Security Police Force. 12 severe infractions in the continuing education scheme The Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ) announced 12 severe infractions related to the third phase of the Continuing Education Development Plan, which goes on until the end of May. During the third phase, the DSEJ carried out approximately 1,700 inspections of Continuing Education organizations, and the department issued 150 warning letters. According to Wong Chi Iong, Chief Executive of the DSEJs Division of Continuing Education, 12 cases of fraud and documents forgery were referred on to the public prosecutor. The relationship between Taiwan and the SARs has not been affected by the relationship between Taiwan and mainland China, declared Du Jiafen, Secretary of Taiwan- Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Cooperation Council. On the second day of the visiting Macau media groups trip to Penghu County, Du met with the group having spoken about several topics related to the SARs relationship with Taiwan, in particular the relationship with Macau. According to data provided by Du, in 2017 more than 1.06 million Taiwan residents visited Macau, while 150,000 Macau residents travelled to Taiwan. The number of Macau and Hong Kong students studying in Taiwan has been increasing [overall], said Du. Currently, 13,400 Hong Kong and Macau students are studying in Taiwan, approximately 5,200 of whom are from Macau. However, a decrease in the number of Macau students has been seen since 2016 when 5,529 students studied in Taiwan. The number went down to 5,116 in 2017. The decline may be related to families having fewer children, while mainland China has simultaneously been attracting Macau students. Mainland Chinas recruitment of Macau students appeals to them. [The decrease in the number of Macau students in Taiwan] is related to mainland Chinas measures and policies, said Du, who is also head of the Department of Hong Kong and Macau Affairs for the Mainland Affairs Council of the Executive Yuan of Taiwan. Nevertheless, SAR students are still the largest group of foreign students in Taiwan. Independently, the number of Macau students ranked third among foreign students in Taiwan, with mainland China in first place and Hong Kong in second. In Taiwan, there are policies benefit students who come from the SARs and wish to stay after finishing their studies. According to Du, 80 percent of SAR students who applied for a work and stay permits in Taiwan through these policies were successfully approved. Generally speaking, SARs students normally choose to study in Taiwan due to the influence of their parents. I am still positive about the future number of Hong Kong and Macau students studying in Taiwan, declared Du. In recent years, many SAR residents have travelled to Taiwan through the free travel schemes instead of packaged tours. Free-travel-scheme tourists from the SARs represent the majority of all free-travel-scheme tourists. On average, SAR free-travel-scheme tourists visit Taiwan four times per year. Young people come to Taiwan during winter and summer vacations, said Du. The Taiwan government representative also made a few comments on Taiwans overall environment. Taiwans officials do not seem like officials. [] We dont have bureaucracy. [] It is related to Taiwans democracy. Young people like it and like Taiwans rather open and friendly environment, said Du. Policies concerning Hong Kong and Macau residents are rather [relaxed] compared to policies for foreigners, said Du. Because mainland China has antipathy towards Taiwan, Taiwan has tight control over mainland China [residents]. While addressing other policies related to the SAR residents, in particular Macau residents who are in possession of both a SAR passport and foreign passport, Du noted that Taiwan offers more relaxed policies for SAR passport holders than for foreign passport holders. Regarding Hong Kong and Macau residents, before 1997 and 1999, the polices were rather relaxed. Since [Hong Kong] and [Macau] became SARs of mainland China, [Taiwan] hopes to continue beneficial policies [for the SARs], said Du. Macau students studying in Taiwan enjoy beneficial policies, including health insurance and the right to work while studying, which foreign students do not enjoy, she added. [Taiwan immigration] recommends [Macau residents] to make a choice between [either using a SAR passport or a foreign passport] to enter Taiwan, explained Du, adding that the current legal regime is not able to apply beneficial policies to SAR residents if they enter Taiwan with a foreign passport. Beginning last year, Taiwan eased visa application procedures for residents of both SARs. Taiwan has always been regarded by the Chinese community as a place where outstanding Chinese movies are produced. On the topic of movie-making with Hong Kong and Macau, Du said that Taiwan is supportive of such cooperation. As to the exact actions [for cooperation], they need to be discussed with the cultural department, said Du, adding that Taiwan hopes to export more of its own movies. Previously, several Taiwanese citizens holding passports with Republic of Taiwan stickers were denied entry to Macau. When questioned by the Times, Du said that Taiwans foreign affairs authority, has been intensifying publicity to advise Taiwanese not to modify their passports. Speaking with the Macau media, Du acknowledged that the relationship between mainland China and Taiwan has not been so good for the past two years. The relationship became more tense after Tsai Ing-wen started her presidency. As explained by Du, The constitutional law of the Republic of China is a law inclined to unification. Regardless of whether it is the Democratic Progressive Party or the Kuomingtang, [] they all need to maintain stability across the Taiwan Straits. As stated by Du, Ma Ying-jeou, the previous leader of Taiwan, and the Taiwan government had several meetings with mainland China regarding the 1992 Consensus. During the meeting, leaders of both regions agreed to jointly respect the One China with Respective Interpretations policy. However, after Tsai stepped into position two years ago, mainland China kept talking about the 1992 Consensus, but the One China with Respective Interpretations has disappeared, said Du, who also remarked that, Taiwan does not have the conditions to pursue independence. Julie Zhu, Taiwan* *The journalist is in Taiwan at the invitation of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Macau Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Lu Kang is in Macau to speak about his experiences with local government press officers. Yesterday in a seminar on the dissemination of government information held by the Office of the MSAR Government Spokesperson, Lu discussed international affairs with participants and explained the countrys foreign policy direction. Approximately 200 people attended the seminar, including the heads of and press officers from a number of Government departments. During the question-and-answer session, Lu shared views on the functions of the spokesperson system, requirements of a government spokesperson, as well as skills in handling media enquiries. Lu Kang joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China in 1993. He is now the Director-General of the Department of Information for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China. This was the seventh seminar on the dissemination of government information held by the Office of the MSAR Government Spokesperson. Since the first seminar in 2009, the Office has invited experienced spokesperson officers from several Central Government ministries and departments, as well as scholars and journalism experts, to share fresh insights on dissemination of government information with Macau officials. The Administration Committee of Hengqin New Area has reportedly approved an amendment to the regulation for Macau vehicles entering Hengqin, allowing more drivers from the SAR to take their vehicles into the neighboring region. According to media reports, the Committee confirmed that requirements for local residents have been relaxed, allowing them to drive to Hengqin if they buy properties on the island. Local residents who are employed and pay social security there can also apply for permission to drive in the region. Earlier this year, the Hengqin Free Trade Zone allowed a maximum of 800 Macau single-plated cars to enter the zone. This number is seven times more than it was previously. Macaus single-plated cars will also be exempted from annual checks within the next six years. The Guangdong Security Department previously announced 18 measures to assist the Greater Bay Area plan across six fields, including cooperation of security forces, border entry of people and vehicles, and skilled peoples residence in the three regions. The Hengqin authorities are already printing and distributing the amendments. The utility responsible for meltdowns at a nuclear power plant in northeast Japan seven years ago said yesterday for the first time publicly that it will start making concrete plans to decommission another plant in Fukushima that narrowly escaped the crisis. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings said it will decide on the timeline and other details before formally announcing the dismantling four reactors at the Fukushima Dai-ni, or No. 2, plant, which has never restarted since the 2011 disaster. The Fukushima Dai-ichi, or No. 1, plant was heavily damaged in a March, 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami. Three reactors had meltdowns and a fourth had damage to its building. Decommissioning of those reactors has started and the two others are set to be scrapped. An additional decommissioning in Fukushima would mean all 10 of TEPCOs reactors in Fukushima would be dismantled eventually. Fukushima officials and residents have demanded TEPCO decommission its remaining reactors, saying uncertainty has hampered reconstruction. TEPCO president Tomoaki Kobayakawa, who met Fukushima Gov. Masao Uchibori at the governors office, announced the plan following the governors renewed request to scrap Fukushima No. 2. We thought prolonging the ambiguity would hamper local reconstruction, Kobayakawa said. Uchibori welcomed the decision, saying TEPCOs plan for Fukushima No. 2 decommissioning would help alleviate negative image and safety concerns. TEPCO had kept mum on its decision on Fukushima No. 2, which has been offline since the tsunami and its restart was thought to be a difficult proposition because of local protests. In addition, its four reactors are more than 30 years old and would have required TEPCO to make huge investments to improve safety to get approvals for restarts. TEPCO would be left with only Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in Niigata, northern Japan, to produce nuclear power. Local restart approvals for two of its seven reactors are pending. When Fukushima No. 2 decommissioning becomes official, the number of workable reactors in Japan would fall to 35, down from 54 before the disaster. Nuclear energy now accounts for less than 2 percent of Japans energy mix since most reactors were idled after the 2011 disaster. Only five reactors have since restarted. While the government of pro-business Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is pushing to start up as many reactors as possible, restarts are coming slowly as anti-nuclear sentiment remains strong and regulators have stepped up screening process. Still, the government says nuclear energy should account for 20-22 percent of Japans energy mix by fiscal 2030 in a draft energy plan that experts say as unrealistic. Japanese utilities have been opting to scrap aging reactors nearing their 40-year lifespan rather than take advantage of an exemption that would allow them to extend their operation for up to 20 more years. Meeting new safety standards put in place after the Fukushima disaster costs more, making nuclear power more expensive than it used to be. Mari Yamaguchi, Tokyo AP We had read with a heavy heart the interview of Secretary Delfin Lorenzana in which he declared President Duterte was handling the Philippine maritime row in the South China Sea very well while, insisting in comparison, Aquino mismanaged the Philippine sea dispute with China and that everything was chaotic.One government had defended what is ours by resorting to political and diplomatic means while utilizing both bilateral and multilateral approaches to seek a peaceful resolution. That government did everything possible, which as a last resort included bringing our dispute to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) Arbitral Tribunal at The Hague, resulting in an overwhelming victory for the Filipino people. Another government, after being awarded this invaluable victory at The Hague, immediately announced the shelving of this most important outcome, thus avoiding for itself the task of managing what had been handed down. Based on the above, we are left with no basis for comparison.Sec. Lorenzana moreover attributed chaos on everything related to the Aquino administrations handling of the South China Sea dispute. We fully agree that defending what is ours against a powerful nation as China could be chaotic. Chaos is often looked upon as being negative and destructive, but it can also be looked upon as positive and constructive. It was chaotic when in the past we fought for our independence; it was also chaotic when we defended our democracy.Please allow me to provide a few examples of what may be chaotic: 1. Meeting with leadership of China When I first met with now President Xi Jinping, he immediately brought up what contributions China was making to our economy and how much more we could benefit by fully cooperating in areas where there existed differing points of view. When I suggested that we move together in advancing our traditional bilateral agenda while abstracting contentious issues to be dealt with separately, he then strongly asserted that China had indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea as represented by their nine-dash line. According to him, there were no disputes in the South China Sea. I respectfully stated that the nine-dash line was an excessive claim which we believed was in violation of International law. The dialogue shifted to other topics but inevitably it came back to a staunch re-statement of Chinas position many times over and over, eliciting essentially the same response from us. In dealing with this powerful nation, we were being asked to acquiesce, but we did not. If this is being deemed as chaos, so be it. 2. Meetings with Chinas foreign minister and its foreign ministry Our many meetings with both Chinas Foreign Minister and the Chinese Foreign Ministry were at all times more of the same. We were being influenced to be fully acquiescent to Chinas position but we were firm in asserting that what is ours is ours. The DFA had countless meetings with China, a great number of which included formal protests against Chinas unlawful acts. I am told that we can substantiate nearly 50 such formal written protests against China. China continued manifesting its increasing anger against the Philippines which led us to more strongly defend our position. If this is being deemed as chaos, so be it. 3. Meeting with the US At some point in time, I was asked in Washington, DC by our treaty ally what the situation was with China. I explained to both the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense that I felt like a scrawny kid in a school yard controlled by a bully. The bully never fails to bring me to the back of the school yard to beat me up while warning me that I needed the bullys permission each time I enter the yard and that I should not ever mention my being beaten. After being the object of physical abuse so many times, I thought this bully must have a vulnerability. And since the bully asked me constantly not to mention being beaten up by him, I then discovered his vulnerability. He did not want to be internationalized. From then on, we decided to tell the whole world about the bully and his power agenda and the importance of restoring a rules-based order. If this is being deemed as chaos, so be it. 4. Scarborough agreement During the impasse at Scarborough Shoal with China, we were approached by the U.S., an honest broker, for both China and the Philippines to agree to a simultaneous withdrawal of ships from the shoal. We therefore agreed. At the appointed time, we withdrew, whereas China did notin violation of our agreement. Adding to our challenges therefore was having to deal with a powerful China whose declarations were often inconsistent with the facts on the ground. Other nations, we began to discover, had the same difficulty in dealing with our northern neighbor. If this is being deemed as chaos, so be it. 5. At Asean Amid Chinas unlawful activities to promote their expansion agenda including their artificial island building activities, we led the campaign for upholding the Asean-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and adherence to the rule of law. Our efforts were opposed by China and its proxies in Asean. We did our best to appeal to the objectivity of the members, which achieved significant success when we made a passionate appeal for support by quoting Martin Niemoller, First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak outBecause I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak outBecause I was not a Jew. Then they came for meand there was no one left to speak for me. If this is being deemed as chaos, so be it. 6. At Leaders Summit At every opportunity, no matter what the odds, we spoke to defend what is ours. Prior to a leaders meet, I received word from Sec. Hillary Clinton that China was attempting to silence the Philippines and for me to secure my back. The organizers of the meeting had made sure that I would not be given an appropriate opportunity to speak. Realizing this, I asked Sec. Clinton if she would speak about the South China Sea and I would merge myself at the end of her talk. I was able to successfully intervene and began speaking about the South China Sea when the microphone suddenly went dead.After persisting to go on by standing and raising the volume of my message to promote the position of the people of the Philippines, they decided to restore the power. If this is being deemed as chaos, so be it. 7. More on Asean On another Asean Leaders meet, we were able to speak fully and we were able to convince a number of Asean members to do so as well. When it was time, however, to release a final statement of matters discussed, the Asean chair decided at the behest of China to omit not only the discussion but the entire topic involving the South China Sea. The Philippines insisted that the matter be included to reflect the facts. The chair threatened that there would be no final statement if the Philippines did not support its proposal to exclude the South China Sea discussion. We decided not to move from our position, not only in protection of the Philippines interests, but also that of other Asean members who were strongly in favor of doing what is right. At the end of the day, it was the first time in Aseans history that no final statement was issued. If this is being deemed as chaos, so be it. 8. Global campaign including UN initiatives Before I resigned, former President Aquino and I had a total of nearly 200 bilaterals in which we had promoted the Philippines position on the South China Sea. Having been given the opportunities, I was encouraged by former President Aquino to speak each year before the UN General Assembly for the purpose of promoting our rightful position in the South China Sea. We had garnered the support of many countries, which we presumed would have continued their support when we had won our case. If this is being deemed as chaos, so be it. 9. Filing of Philippine case at the Unclos arbitral tribunal After pursuing all that is possible in arriving at a peaceful resolution on the South China Sea dispute, we filed as a last resort a submission to the UNCLOS Arbitral Tribunal at The Hague, the results of which are now history. Contrary to Chinas opinion, the UN had declared that the filing of an arbitration case is not an unfriendly act. If this is being deemed as chaos, so be it. 10. Joint patrols with the US In late 2015, we had travelled to Washington, DC a couple of times to seek further assistance in terms of responding to Chinas unlawful activities in the South China Sea. To my recollection, we had successfully convinced the State Department to undertake joint patrols which were subsequently objected to as instructed by President Dutertes government. If this is being deemed as chaos, so be it.Sec. Lorenzana had said that, before the Duterte administration, the Philippines had no trade with China. This statement, as the records would show, was gravely inaccurate. What I recall is that, prior to my stepping down, China was either our second or third largest trading partner based on our records. If you believe our northern neighbors claim, our number one trading partner would have been China. I am told that the differences can be explained by the extent of smuggling activities. While it is true that certain banana exports were held up by China to punish the Philippines for filing our legal case, former President Aquino had mandated the cabinet to replace what was being lost by tapping non-traditional markets. As a result, under the able leadership of Sec. Greg Domingo, the reduction on banana exports were minimized.Sec. Lorenzana also mentioned that Chinese tourists were not coming in. We understood, again to punish the Philippines, that China had been unofficially limiting its group tourism to the Philippines. Under the proactive leadership of Sec. Mon Jimenez, the negative effects of Chinas limiting group tourism were likewise minimized.According to Sec. Lorenzana, Filipinos also could not fish at Scarborough Shoal. The driving out of our fishermen from Scarborough Shoal was indeed the immediate cause of our filing of our case with the UNCLOS Arbitral Tribunal at The Hague, which led to a restoration of the rights of our fishermen there.We believe that Sec. Lorenzana is a very good man with the highest credibility in the cabinet. As I said earlier, we feel deeply sad because it appears that he is being used as a propagandist precisely since he has the reputation of being straight as an arrow. Sec. Lorenzana and I are very close friends, having worked together for many years in Washington, DC. I have the warmest esteem for him and trust that he will consider what I have written as factual and helpful. I also wish to add that he is considered by all people to be a patriot and to be objective at all times, and we hope that this sentiment will continue to be merited by him. Most recently, we are gratified to hear Sec. Lorenzana at his BBC interview reasserting Philippine sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea and the need to defend those rights with an abiding faith in the rule of lawtruly the great equalizer among nations and the antithesis of chaos. We wish him all the best always. Mr. Del Rosario is the chairman of ADR Institute and is a former secretary of Foreign Affairs and Philippine Ambassador to the United States. A public consultation report issued by the government indicates that nearly 90 percent of the 2,461 opinions support the exclusion of domestic workers from the minimum wage. During the 45-day public consultation that began in November 2017, over 90 percent of opinions supported the minimum wage legislation. However, migrant groups are not satisfied with the report, calling the bill (which recommends the exclusion of domestic workers and people with disabilities) discriminatory. Nedie Taberdo, chairperson of the Greens Philippines Migrant Workers Union (GPMWU) slammed the report, saying that the treatment to domestic workers in Macau is akin to modern slavery. This is not just unfair. It is blatant discrimination and slavery. With no labor protection, no minimum wage, no time limit of work, not to mention those who are not given decent food, it could be likened to slavery, Taberdo told the Times. They keep on proposing [bills] that worsen our situation. Taberdo noted that if the hiring of domestic helpers in China becomes legal soon, many will opt to move out of Macau to go for higher paid offers and better labor protection. Meanwhile, some in the report claimed that wages in Macau are already far higher than those in the domestic helpers places of origin, hence calling for their exclusion from the minimum wage protection bill. Others suggested that these vulnerable groups should not receive minimum wage as they reside in their employers residence. Yosa Wariyanti, president of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union, lamented that city has turned a blind eye to household workers, disregarding their contribution to the lives of local residents. We also suffer from paying high rents in Macau, then with transportation and medical fees, [so] increasing the salary of migrant workers will improve our welfare and we can work better with less worries about our needs, said Wariyanti. The two migrant groups hope that the government will also consider proposing bills to benefit domestic workers. However, in the report the Labor Affairs Bureau said that it would recommend exempting domestic helpers from minimum wage protection in future legislation, due to the uniqueness of the nature of their jobs. It also noted that their salaries will be examined and assessed against the going market rate when a work permit application is made. Samsung Electronics Co., the worlds biggest smartphone maker, joined yesterday a growing list of companies that are promising to increase their use of solar and other renewable energy to help curb global warming. Samsung, part of South Koreas biggest corporate group, is the first Asian electronics manufacturer to join a movement spearheaded by Apple Inc. and other Silicon Valley companies. The South Korean tech giant said it would use more renewable energy at factories and other operations in the United States, Europe and China but still would rely on local power grids that use fossil fuels and, to compensate for that, would buy credits from outside renewable energy suppliers. The company said it had not determined which providers it might use. Other companies that have joined the renewable energy pledge, dubbed RE 100, include automakers General Motors Co. and BMW AG and a handful of other manufacturers. Most are in less energy-intensive technology and service industries. The maker of Galaxy smartphones faces bigger challenges due to its vast factory network in more than 30 countries, while many of the Silicon Valley names on the list rely on outside contractors for manufacturing. Samsungs commitment represents a big step forward in reducing the impact that our technology is having on the planet, the environmental group Greenpeace said in a statement. Activists began pressing Samsung a year ago to set a renewable energy target. The company faced growing pressure from clients for its manufacturing services, some of whom had called on their suppliers to make a similar commitment. Apple, a major customer for Samsungs chips and display panels, said in April it would push its supply chain to switch to renewable energy. Samsung gave no renewable energy target for facilities in its home country of South Korea, where about three quarters of the energy comes from coal and nuclear power. It also declined to give a target for Vietnam, which has become its largest manufacturing base for smartphones. Samsung, also a major producer of computer chips, said its plans include installing 42,000 square meters of solar panels this year at its headquarters in Suwon, South Korea, and two other cities where it operates major semiconductor plants. The effect of that would be largely symbolic because the portion of renewable energy in Samsungs South Korean business still would be minimal. South Korea gets 6 percent of its energy from renewable sources. The government aims to increase that to 20 percent by 2030.Youkyung Lee, Seoul, AP The major contingent of the British military task force sent to help restore order in the West African state of Sierra Leone has left the country. The departure of the prestigious Royal Marines was overseen by British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who said his government was proud of what they had done to restore stability. Britain, the former colonial power in Sierra Leone, is handing responsibility for security to the United Nations. About 300 UK troops and support staff will stay on in the war-torn African country for the next six to eight weeks to help establish a UK military advisory training team. Most people in Freetown would prefer to see the British military continuing their confidence-building street patrols, but British ministers always insisted their mission to help the UN forces there was a short-term one. Brigadier David Richards, commander of the British forces in Sierra Leone, told BBC Radios Today program: The UN have a much stronger resolve now and are clearer about their mandate and have shown that they have the resolve to fight. When we arrived here about six weeks ago, they did appear on the verge of collapse. Today they have been transformed. At the core of the continuing British effort will be the retraining of the demoralized Sierra Leone army. Many of its soldiers some of whom are children are poorly trained and equipped. Sierra Leone continues to face horrendous problems. A war is being fought in the countryside about which there is little reliable information. The UN says that one million people have been affected. The rebels hold the main diamond-producing area, which deprives the government of revenue and, it is alleged, attracts support for the rebels from neighboring Liberia. Courtesy BBC News In context Sierra Leones civil war saw nearly half the countrys 4.5 million population displaced. At least 50,000 people died in the fighting and there were an estimated 100,000 victims of mutilation. The economy was left in ruins and the countrys infrastructure collapsed. British troops entered Sierra Leone because a peace deal between government and rebels had broken down and rebel forces were scoring successes against the Sierra Leone army and the UN peacekeeping force. In 2002 more than 17,000 foreign troops disarmed tens of thousands of rebels and militia fighters. The country now faces the challenge of reconstruction. The United States and its Asian allies worked yesterday to paper over any semblance of disagreement over President Donald Trumps concession to Kim Jong Un that the U.S. will halt military exercises with South Korea, with Trumps top diplomat insisting the president hadnt backed down from his firm line on North Koreas nukes. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, meeting with top South Korean and Japanese diplomats, put a more sober spin on several moves by Trump after his summit with Kim in Singapore fueled unease in Washington, Tokyo and Seoul. He said Trumps curious claim that the Norths nuclear threat was over was issued with eyes wide open, and brushed off a North Korean state media report suggesting Trump would grant concessions even before the North fully rids itself of nuclear weapons. Were going to get denuclearization, Pompeo said in the South Korean capital. Only then will there be relief from the sanctions. Pompeo flew from Seoul to Chinas capital, Beijing, later yesterday for a meeting with President Xi Jinping, whose country is believed to wield considerable influence with North Korea as its chief ally and economic lifeline. Pompeo also met with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who described the Singapore summit as of great historic significance that could lead to enduring peace. Pompeo said there was still a risk that denuclearization might not be achieved and added there is still more work to be done by China and the United States to get to that outcome. At a daily briefing, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang reiterated Chinas support for a political settlement, while also pointing to an eventual lifting of United Nations Security Council economic sanctions. We believe that the sanctions themselves are not the end, Geng said. China has been praised by Trump for ramping up economic pressure on the North that the U.S. believes helped coax Kim to the negotiating table. On the joint U.S.-South Korea drills that Trump after meeting Kim said would be terminated, Pompeo emphasized a key caveat: If the mercurial North Korean leader stops negotiating in good faith, the war games will be back on. The words of reassurance from Pompeo came as diplomacy continued at an intense pace after Tuesdays summit in Singapore, the first between a sitting American president and North Koreas leader in six decades of hostility. In the village of Panmunjom along the North-South border, the rival Koreas yesterday held their first high-level military talks since 2007, focused on reducing tensions across their heavily fortified border. Yet even as U.S. and South Korean officials sought to parlay the momentum from the dramatic summit into more progress on the nuclear issue, there were persistent questions about whether Trump had given away too much in return for too little. Trumps announcement minutes after the summits conclusion that he would halt the provocative joint military drills were a shock to South Korea and caught much of the U.S. military off guard, too. Pyongyang has long sought an end to the exercises it considers rehearsals for an invasion, but U.S. treaty allies Japan and South Korea view them as critical elements of their own national security. So Pompeo had some explaining to do as he traveled to Seoul to brief the allies on what transpired in Singapore. In public, at least, South Koreas leader cast the summits outcome as positive during a short meeting with Pompeo at the Blue House, South Koreas presidential palace. President Moon Jae-in, an avowed supporter of engagement with North Korea, called it a truly historic feat that had moved us from the era of hostility towards the era of dialogue, of peace and prosperity. Still, there were signs as Pompeo met later with the top Japanese and South Korean diplomats that concerns about the freeze had not been fully resolved. South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, speaking in Korean, told reporters afterward that the military drills issue was not discussed in depth. This is a matter that military officials from South Korea and the United States will have to discuss further and coordinate, Kang said. The U.S. has stationed combat troops in South Korea since the end of the Korean War and has used them in a variety of drills. The next scheduled major exercise, involving tens of thousands of troops, normally would be held in August. The summit in Singapore did mark a reduction in tensions a sea change from last fall, when North Korea was conducting nuclear and missile tests, and Trump and Kim were trading threats and insults that stoked fears of war. Kim is now promising to work toward a denuclearized Korean Peninsula and state media heralded the meeting as victorious, with photos of Kim standing side-by-side with Trump on the world stage splashed across newspapers in Pyongyang. On Thursday, North Koreans finally got a glimpse of video of Trump and Kim together, as official Korean Central Television broadcast the first footage of Kims trip to Singapore. Trump seemed equally ecstatic. As he landed Wednesday in Washington following the summit, he declared on Twitter that America and the world can sleep well tonight. There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea, Trump wrote, even though North Korea has yet to give up any of its fissile material, estimated by independent experts to be enough for between about a dozen and 60 nuclear bombs. Pompeo rejected the suggestion that Trumps assertion was premature. He said Trump was proceeding with eyes wide open to the prospect that diplomacy may falter, and that Trump was merely reflecting the historic nature of his confab with Kim. The Korean War ended in 1953 without a peace treaty, leaving the United States and North Koreas in a technical state of war. With the Trump-Kim summit concluded, the baton was being passed to lower-level U.S. and North Korean officials, who Pompeo said would likely resume meeting as early as the next week to hash out details of a disarmament deal, sure to be a complex and contentious process. He said the U.S. was hopeful North Korea would take major disarmament steps before the end of Trumps first term in office, which concludes in January 2021. In the brief, four-point joint statement signed at the summit, North Korea committed to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula a promise it has made and reneged on several times in the past 25 years. The statement made no mention of verification, despite Trumps longstanding insistence on complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization. But Pompeo bristled at reporters who pressed him about that apparent omission, calling questions on the topic insulting and ridiculous. The omission is irrelevant, Pompeo said, adding that he was confident the North Koreans fully understood that verification would be a necessity. He pointed out that the statement makes reference to a previous agreement that did mention verification, and argued that as a result, the Trump-Kim statement automatically incorporates verification without having to state it outright. Josh Lederman, Christopher Bodeen, AP The following companies are subsidiares of Boston Scientific: 34 Biomedical Merger Corp., 9357-1867 Quebec Inc., Acurate Industria e Comercio Ltda., Advanced Bionics, Advanced Stent Technologies, American Medical Systems, American Medical Systems Europe B.V., Apama Medical, Apama Medical Inc., Asthmatx, Atritech, Augmenix, Augmenix Inc., Augmenix K.K., BSC International Medical Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., BSC Medical Device Technology (Shanghai) Co. 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Smith M.D. Inc., Roxwood Medical Inc., SNS Merger Corp, Sadra Medical, Sadra Medical Inc., Securus Medical Group, Securus Medical Group Inc., Special K Merger Corp., StarMedTec, Stream Enterprises LLC, Symetis, Symetis SA, Target Therapeutics, Target Therapeutics Inc., The LumenR Tissue Retractor System, Veniti, Veniti Inc., VertiFlex, Vertiflex Inc., Vessix Vascular, Xlumena, Zuma Investment Pty Ltd, iogyn, nVision Medical, and nVision Medical Corporation. The Interpublic Group of Companies pays an annual dividend of $1.08 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 2.83%. The Interpublic Group of Companies has been increasing its dividend for 9 consecutive years, indicating the company has a new, but growing committment to grow its dividend. The dividend payout ratio of The Interpublic Group of Companies is 62.43%. This payout ratio is at a healthy, sustainable level, below 75%. 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The Toronto-Dominion Bank was founded in 1855 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More I yield my space to activist, chef and writer Giney Villar. This piece that she wrote after attending a lecture of former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay (which had her all riled up) in my opinion, deserves to be read by more people. Two years ago, the arbitral tribunal under the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea [Unclos] decided in our favor on the case we filed against China over incursions in our territorial waters. This is a fact, and not an opinion. The ruling gives the Philippines a concrete foundation by which to assert our right to our territorial and exclusive economic zones worth trillions of dollars with its rich natural gas and marine resources. While we won the case, it is still imperative to protect our territories because the ruling has no implementing mechanism. China knows this and has taken full advantage of this gap to continue, and even make more aggressive its incursion into our territories. Thus, it is up to us to uphold that victory by finding ways to enforce it. It is, after all, not merely a matter of a few islands and rocks, but a matter of sovereignty. Our victory should have inspired our government to vigorously protect our territories. This victory has provided us with strong moral and legal grounds to act against any violation by any claimant country. Instead, our government has chosen to downplay the rulings importancetouting war as the only consequence of standing our ground against China. War, even for a rich and powerful country is not always a first option because it entails significant economic and related costs. War also does not seem to be necessary at this point, as our government action (and inaction) does not really give China a reason to rattle its spears. From publicly saying that we should deal with China in meek and humble ways, to calling the West Philippine Sea disputed waters despite a clear ruling in our favor, to secret personal meetings rather than official actions. There is also the rapid militarization in the last two years of three out of sevens reefs seized from the Philippines since 2002, the destruction of our coral reefs and harassment of our fisher folk. This administration has tried to prove its case by saying that China will provide us with grants and loans, lauding China for allowing our fisherfolk to fish in relevant waters, and announcing a suitable legal framework for offshore oil and gas exploration that does not appear to take into context the sovereignty issues over Philippine territories. It is unthinkable that an independent country, that has won its case will turn back from its victory and go as far as defending China in subverting its own sovereignty. The Philippines already stands on a bedrock of fact from which it can take diplomatic action. And China, despite its alleged refusal to take part in the arbitration process, remains a member of Unclos. As a member, China is bound by its rulesone of which is that all members must submit themselves and abide by all arbitration decisions. Thus, there is no logical reason for our governments subservient stance vis-a-vis China. The burden to heed the ruling is squarely on Chinas shoulders. The threat of war appears to be a strategy by this administration to sow fear in our hearts. It wants us to believe that resistance is futilethat it is either we die, or we accept the inevitability of Chinese occupation. Is war inevitable if we decide as a country to fight for our sovereignty? Not if we choose to hold a vision of independence and sovereignty, and challenge this situation strategically. The government should continue to invoke our legal claim to our territories using the arbitral ruling by firing off diplomatic protests and cases for violations committed by China. Recently, Acting Chief Justice Carpio noted that Chinese occupation of Woody Island, puts at risk 80 percent of our exclusive economic zone. Diplomatic protests will provide documentation of our resistance to Chinese expansionist moves, and demonstrate to the international community that we are faithfully upholding the ruling in our favor. Government inaction on the contrary, can be used as proof that we waive our rights under the ruling.The Philippines must find ways to avoid fighting a battle from a disadvantaged position. Revisiting our formal and informal agreements and alliances with partners and neighbors can be employed to pressure China to abide by the tribunal decision, or at the very least slow them down. It cannot be overemphasized that whatever happens in West Philippine Sea will affect the fulcrum of the worlds economic and military powers in the future. As a country, we have gone through so much. We continue to question our identity, highlight our differences and divide ourselves along those lines. Here we are at the precipice overlooking a landscape that will change our lives in ways unimaginable if we allow it. This government can use this threat to our sovereignty, and turn it into an opportunity to rally our citizens under one flag. It is unfortunate that we have missed out on building our military and economic might through the years, but we cannot and should not be held back by this. We still have a powerful arsenal composed of a legal and recognized claim to our territories and lessons we must now quickly parlay into a clear vision, policies and action. We used to be the envy of our Asian neighbors, sadly most of them have surpassed us in economic and military might (even Vietnam which until the mid-70s had been at war), I will not begrudge our citizens for this. We had a very different context. Our archipelagic landscape had proven to be both a blessing and challenge. Here, in a very unusual way, we are presented with an opportunity to show our courage and leadership in Asia. An opportunity to also show ourselves that we know what to do with the freedom we enjoy. To overcome, we can take inspiration from former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay who said, think long term and match the vision of the opponent. China has lain in wait for decades to execute their vision. We know that now, and it is a lesson we can take well to heart. We have a duty to demand that our government defend our country. And it is our responsibility to be relentless. We owe it to ourselves, our heroes who fought for our freedom, and our future generations. We should avert war at all cost, but to keep the peace we have to fight. @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook Karl Deisseroth, MD, PhD, a Stanford University professor of bioengineering and of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, will receive the 2018 Kyoto Prize for advanced technology. Deisseroth will be honored for pioneering optogenetics and the optogenetics-enabled development of causal systems neuroscience, the award citation notes, referring to the science of establishing causal relationships between nerve-circuit activity and behavior, rather than merely observing correlations between them. Optogenetics allows scientists to manipulate the activity of nerve cells in an animals brain. Genes encoding light-sensitive proteins, called opsins, are inserted into specific nerve cells. Then a pulse of laser light, delivered through a hair-thin optical fiber implanted in the brain, can turn these cells signaling activity on or off. By observing how the animal behaves when the signaling is either active or inactive, scientists can deduce the cells function. The tool has enabled researchers to better understand brain disorders such as schizophrenia, depression and Parkinsons disease. A brilliant and innovative investigator, Karl has created a revolutionary technology that has broadened our understanding of brain disorders and may one day yield treatments to the millions with these disorders, said Lloyd Minor, MD, dean of the Stanford School of Medicine. His receipt of the Kyoto Prize is inordinately well-deserved and the product of his unmatched scientific vision. The Kyoto Prize has been awarded annually since 1985 by the Inamori Foundation, a Japanese charitable organization, in three separate categories: advanced technology, basic sciences, and arts and philosophy. The prizes, which consist of a diploma, a 20-karat gold medal and a gift of 100 million yen (about $913,000), will be awarded at a ceremony in Kyoto, Japan, on Nov 10. A delegation from the foundation visited Deisseroth at Stanford to inform him that he would be receiving the award. I can tell you I didnt do much math or engage in abstract thought for the rest of that day, Deisseroth said. Deisseroth, who also holds the D.H. Chen Professorship, is the youngest recipient of the prize ever. Of his research, he said, This technology has been a long time in the making and has undergone a lot of development and improvement from the outstanding students, postdoctoral fellows and staff members in the lab. Meanwhile, we and others around the world are continuing to achieve new discoveries and insights with optogenetics. Deisseroths lab developed the basic components of optogenetics between 2004 and 2009. Between 2008 and 2018, his lab elucidated the inner-workings of opsins, allowing them to develop variations of these molecules and enabling more-richly detailed, precise and versatile exploration of neural circuits. Today, thousands of laboratories around the world routinely employ Deisseroths methodology and opsins to identify the brain circuitry responsible for specific behaviors, both healthy and maladaptive. Their findings have given rise to thousands of publications in peer-reviewed journals. Deisseroths previous prizes include the Harvey Prize and Fresenius Research Prize in 2017; and the Dickson Prize in Medicine, the Lurie Prize in Biomedical Sciences and the Breakthrough Prize in Life Science in 2015. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, the Stanford Neurosciences Institute and Stanford Bio-X. The late Leonard Herzenberg, PhD, a long-time professor of genetics at Stanford, received the Kyoto Prize in 2006. Several other recipients, including molecular biologist Sydney Brenner, PhD, magnetic-resonance-imaging pioneer Paul Lauterbur, PhD, and stem-cell researcher Shinya Yamanaka, MD, PhD, have gone on to win the Nobel Prize. (HealthDay)U.S. officials need to take action to control spiking insulin prices, the American Medical Association (AMA) says. The Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department should monitor insulin pricing and market competition and take any necessary enforcement measures, AMA members agreed at the group's annual meeting. The nation's largest physicians group said the rising cost of insulin is causing big financial problems for patients, Medicare and Medicaid. The mean price of insulin rose nearly 200 percent between 2002 and 2013, from $4.34 to $12.92 per milliliter. Currently, at least five states and a federal prosecutor are seeking information from insulin manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers, and class action lawsuits have been filed on behalf of patients. "It is shocking and unconscionable that our patients struggle to secure a basic medicine like insulin," AMA board member William McDade, M.D, said in a news release from the group. "The federal government needs to step in and help make sure patients aren't being exploited with exorbitant costs. The AMA also plans to educate physicians and policymakers on ways to tackle this problem, and transparency from manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers is a good place to start." Explore further A young life lost to high insulin prices More information: More Information Copyright 2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved. (HealthDay)The issue of gun violence must be addressed by the physician leadership scientifically, in an evidence-based manner, according to remarks issued by the president of the American Medical Association (AMA) at the organization's annual meeting. David O. Barbe, M.D., issued a call to action for physician leadership to aid in the reduction of gun violence. Two years after declaring gun violence a public health crisis, and as more than 30,000 Americans continue to die annually from gun violence, he outlined why physicians have a responsibility to lead in this issue. In his speech, Barbe described the gun violence seen in the United States, which claims the lives of nearly 100 people per day. For decades the AMA has demonstrated leadership on this issue, recommending common-sense gun safety precautions, waiting periods and background checks for those wishing to purchase a gun, and increased mental health service funding. Furthermore, the AMA has called on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct epidemiological research on gun violence. The issue of gun violence should be addressed by continuing to search for and advocate science-based solutions. "The AMA must not back down from addressing gun violence. On the contrary, we must address it head on scientifically, in an evidence-based, principled fashion, and with the health and safety of our communities, our fellow Americans, and our children as our chief concern," Barbe said in a statement. Explore further Americans overwhelmingly see gun violence as a public health issue More information: More Information Copyright 2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved. With vector-borne diseases posing an increasing public health threat to communities in South Florida and elsewhere, a new study led by public health researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine has revealed that ornamental bromeliad plants contribute to breeding of the Aedes aegypti mosquitoa key culprit for the Zika outbreak that hit Miami-Dade County and other areas of Florida and the Americas in 2016. In addition to Zika, bites from the Aedes aegypti mosquito can cause dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya. Zika has been linked to microcephaly and other birth defects in unborn babies when pregnant women contract the disease. The family of diseases linked to the Aedes aegypti can cause other severe symptoms, and yellow fever can be fatal. The study, published in the journal Parasites & Vectors, showed that water retained in the bromeliads' leaf axils becomes breeding sites for mosquitoes. The study titled "Ornamental bromeliads of Miami-Dade County, Florida Are Important Breeding Sites for Aedes aegypti," also showed that the Aedes aegypti was the most dominant species of mosquito in the study's test sites. "In South Florida, there were older reports that bromeliads contributed to mosquito breeding, but supporting evidence was minimal," said the study's lead author John Beier, Sc.D., a world-renowned Miller School entomologist, professor of public health sciences and director of the Division of Environmental and Public Health. A variety of bromeliads are common throughout South Florida and are a popular choice for landscaping projects since they do not require much care. Beier urged against destroying the plants but said the new knowledge on the plant's role in mosquito breeding will help tailor mosquito control efforts. "People should be aware that bromeliads are producing mosquitos so that they can treat the plants," he said. In collaboration with Miami-Dade County Mosquito Control, the researchers surveyed ornamental bromeliads for the presence of immature mosquitoes at 51 locations across 11 neighborhoods in Miami-Dade, including three neighborhoods (South Beach, Little River and Wynwood) where the Zika virus was reportedly transmitted. The plants were surveyed during the summer of 2017. Researchers drained the reservoirs of the plants and screened the water for larvae. The plants yielded a total of 765 immature mosquitoes from five species: Aedes aegypti, Wyeomyia mitchellii, Wyeomyia vanduzeei, Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex biscaynensis. "Aedes aegypti was the most abundantly collected species, as well as the most present, contrasting with previous studies, which do not consider bromeliads as important potential breeding sites for Aedes aegypti, including for South Florida," said study co-author Andre Barretto Bruno Wilke, Ph.D. a post doctoral research associate with the Miller School's Department of Public Health Sciences. Beier added that the dominant presence of the Aedes aegypti mosquito was unexpected since the mosquito did not have as great a presence in bromeliads in prior years. As more diseases caused by the Aedes aegypti mosquito emerge, Beier said that more research and operational control should be focused on the highly-adaptive mosquito. "The larger problem is with the Aedes aegypti, not the disease," he said. The Miami-Dade County Mosquito Control and Habitat Management has greatly intensified vector-mosquito suppression efforts since the Zika outbreak in 2016. UM has been a major partner in research, including mosquito mapping, surveillance and trapping. The collaboration is supported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Similar to the sudden Zika outbreak in 2016, researchers said vector-borne diseases are spreading to new areas due to urbanization, human movement and global warming. "Changes in the environment made by humans have a substantial impact on the ecology of mosquitoes, mainly due to a decrease in the number of species and an increase in the abundance of Aedes aegypti," said Barretto Buno Wilke. "As a result, Aedes agypti becomes more present and can be found in greater numbers." Explore further Bacteria-infected mosquitoes might be good thing for Miami The results of a study to be presented at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2018) suggest that rates of anxiety and depression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis correlate with measures of disease activity over the first year following diagnosis. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects a person's joints, causing pain and disability. It can also affect internal organs. RA is more common in older people, but there is also a high prevalence in young adults and adolescents. It affects women more frequently than men. High rates of depression and anxiety have been shown in patients with RA. "These results confirm both depression and anxiety as significant comorbidities at the time of rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis," said Professor Thomas Dorner, Chairperson of the Abstract Selection Committee, EULAR. "It is interesting to see the changes in anxiety and depression scores appear in tandem with disease activity over time, which requires further investigation." The study included data from 848 patients and results showed significant reductions in anxiety from 19.0% to 13.4% (p=0.004) and depression from 12.2% to 8.2% (p=0.01) one year after RA diagnosis, this was in line with observed decrease in disease activity. Both depression and anxiety scores demonstrated significant correlation with disease activity scores (DAS28) at baseline, six months and at 12 months (p<0.0001). In addition, change in DAS28 (final-baseline) also significantly correlated with change in both depression and anxiety scores at six months and 12 months. "Our results demonstrate a number of interesting associations with socioeconomic and other variables," said Dr. George Fragoulis, honorary research fellow at the University of Glasgow (study author). "Most interestingly c-reactive protein, which is a blood test marker for inflammation, was highly associated with depression but not anxiety at all time points. This provides further support to compelling data linking inflammation and depression." Investigators conducted statistical analysis to highlight potential associations between depression and anxiety scores and multiple variables at each time point. When looking at anxiety scores, statistically significant associations were found with female gender, younger age, and patient global assessment score (PGA) at baseline. At six months and 12 months, significant association was demonstrated between anxiety scores and low body mass index (BMI), PGA and baseline anxiety scores. When looking at depression scores, significant associations were found with PGA at baseline. At six months and 12 months, depression score was significantly associated with PGA, c-reactive protein (CRP) levels as well as baseline depression and anxiety scores. The study used data from patients in the Scottish Early Rheumatoid Arthritis (SERA) cohort of newly diagnosed patients with RA. Patients had been followed-up every six months following diagnosis and tested for pre-specified clinical, laboratory and psychosocial features. This included anxiety and depression which was measured using the hospital anxiety and depression score. Explore further Rheumatoid arthritis in pregnancy associated with low birth weight and premature birth More information: Fragoulis GE, Cavanagh J, Derakhshan MH, et al. Depression and anxiety in an early rheumatoid arthritis inception cohort. Associations with epidemiological, socioeconomic and disease features. EULAR 2018; Amsterdam: Abstract OP0350. Fragoulis GE, Cavanagh J, Derakhshan MH, et al. Depression and anxiety in an early rheumatoid arthritis inception cohort. Associations with epidemiological, socioeconomic and disease features. EULAR 2018; Amsterdam: Abstract OP0350. DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2018-eular.7083 Credit: fotolia.com / fizkes Individuals who have a pervasive sense that their reputations are not justified by their achievements may suffer from impostor syndrome. In such a case, a new study shows, negative feedback can lead to a real deterioration in performance. Successful individuals who suffer from what is known as impostor syndrome believe that their success is undeserved and that others overestimate their competence. The term 'impostor syndrome' was coined in the late 1970s by two psychologists, Pauline Clance und Suzanne A. Imes, and applied in particular to some highly successful businesswomen. Subsequent studies have attempted to determine the prevalence of this type of self-doubt and its impact on performance at work. These investigations have shown that both men and women can display the characteristic symptoms of the syndrome, and that its victims indeed tend to be found among those who have enjoyed outstanding levels of successalthough it has been mostly studied with students in the academic context, as pointed out Professor Brooke Gazdag of the Institute for Leadership and Organization at LMU. A new study, carried out by Brooke Gazdag and a team led by Rebecca L. Badawy of the Department of Management at Youngstown State University in Ohio, examines the role of gender in the impostor syndrome. As published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, the authors report that males and females with impostor syndrome cope with accountability and react to negative feedback in different ways. If males who see themselves as impostors receive negative feedback and are held accountable for the performance by their superiors, they tend to react more negatively. Women subjected to similar conditions show no such deterioration in performanceon the contrary, they tend to redouble their efforts. The researchers began their study with an online questionnaire to identify individuals who felt like impostorsand was specifically targeted to university undergraduates. Among the possible responses to the queries in the survey were: "I rarely do a project or task as well as I'd like to do it," or "Sometimes I'm afraid others will discover how much knowledge or ability I really lack." In a second questionnaire, the participants were then asked to answer sample examination questions used to determine which undergraduates should be admitted to graduate school (i.e. GRE questions). These questions were administered in two separate batches. After completing the first set of tasks, participants either received negative feedbackirrespective of their actual performanceor were (falsely) informed that their results would be made available to their current professor. In this study design, overall male impostors performed worse in the second test than in the first. "The male participants were more distressed by criticism and tended to give up quicker," says Gazdag. The female participants, on the other hand, put forth more effort and performed marginally better than their male counterparts after they had received negative feedback or had been told that their results would be shown to their professors. "Our study was exploratory in nature, but gender role theory can provides some insights into the findings," says Gazdag. "This theory would suggest that male work performance is strongly focused on competence and performance, whereas women have a stronger tendency to view work from a relational standpoint. The fact that women try harder when they are aware that their performance will be assessed by someone they know therefore conforms to the female stereotype." Explore further New study on the impostor phenomenon in the workplace shows how it affects career prospects and productivity More information: Rebecca L. Badawy et al. Are all impostors created equal? Exploring gender differences in the impostor phenomenon-performance link, Personality and Individual Differences (2018). Journal information: Personality and Individual Differences Rebecca L. Badawy et al. Are all impostors created equal? Exploring gender differences in the impostor phenomenon-performance link,(2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2018.04.044 The years of life lost due to Opioid overdose deaths in Ohio from 2010 through 2016. Credit: Ohio University More than 500,000 years of life expectancy were lost in Ohio during a seven-year period, according to a study conducted by The Ohio Alliance for Innovation in Population Health (OAIPH)a collaborative initiative formed by Ohio University's College of Health Sciences and Professions and the University of Toledo's College of Health and Human Services. As opioid overdose continues to increase as a cause of preventable mortality in the state, the OAIPH set out to examine how opioid overdose deaths contribute to increased mortality and to shine a light on the effect of the epidemic on the lifespan of Ohioans at the state and county level. "This data gives us a picture of the profound impact of opioid related deaths," said Rick Hodges, director of OIAPH. "These are people in the prime of life during their most productive years. The data also tells a story about families and communities." The years of life lost (YLL) was calculated from data abstracted from the Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Ohio Death Certificate File for the years 2010-2016. YLL due to premature death were calculated at the state and county level and patterns of opioid overdose mortality were mapped geographically and monitored over time. A number of key findings stand out in the study: 13,059 Ohioans died from opioid overdose during the 7-year period of study (20102016). Opioid overdose accounted for 519,471 YLL from 20102016. This figure represents over half a million years of life lost to Ohioans due to a preventable cause. Opioid overdose deaths continue to rise. 140,045 YLL were attributable to opioid overdose in 2016 alone. That year, opioid overdose had the effect of lowering the life expectancy of an average Ohioan by 1.1 years. Fentanyl related deaths have increased dramatically in recent years from 77 deaths in 2010 to 2,357 in 2016. Fentanyl was involved in 67 percent of fatal opioid poisonings in 2016 and fentanyl overdose accounted for 96,118 YLL that year alone. "One of the most heartbreaking aspects of the opioid epidemic is the incredible loss of life as so many young people die of overdoses," said Randy Leite, dean of the OHIO College of Health and Sciences and Professions. "The years of life lost data paint a picture of the greatest consequence of the epidemicthe loss of so many individuals who could have been productive parents, spouses, workers, and citizens." "These numbers are staggering. Ohio University has made a commitment to provide resources to help reverse the rising tide of the opioid epidemic," added President M. Duane Nellis. "This study is one example of the work that we are accomplishing to meet this important priority." Nellis recently created the Opioid Task Force, comprised of both community members and University faculty, staff and administrators from the Athens and Regional Campuses, to collectively elevate the impact of the region's opioid-related initiatives. Of the Task Force, Nellis said, "We can make significant progress in combatting this epidemic in a concerted, coordinated manner and leverage our collective expertise to save lives and enact real change toward the betterment of our region." Brief Methodology Years of Life Lost (YLL) was determined for fatal opioid overdose decedents in Ohio from 2010 through 2016. This was accomplished via a standardized protocol employed by the World Health Organization Global Burden of Disease Study.2,3 The age at death for each decedent was subtracted from the standard life expectancy accounting for gender. Life expectancy was determined from the Social Security Administration Period Life Table.4 Data used for this analysis were provided by the Ohio Department of Health. The analysis demonstrates that opioid overdose is an increasing cause of preventable death in Ohio with a measurable impact on life expectancy and reveals temporal and geographic patterns in opioid overdose mortality across the state. Opioid overdose accounted for over half a million years of potential life lost to Ohioans during the seven-year period of study. Total YLL increased annually during this timeframe with fentanyl-involved poisonings accounting for a growing proportion of this premature mortality. Opioid overdose led to a decrement of 1.1 years in average life expectancy in Ohio in the year 2016. Opioid overdose mortality is not evenly distributed within the state. Significant regional variation exists with regard to premature death due to opioid poisoning. Our findings may be used to guide resource allocation with regard to preventative health measures and inform future research. More information: For more information visit For more information visit www.ohiopopulationhealthalliance.com/ The President and the Parliament Speaker Congratulate Rescuers, Fire-Fighters on Their Day By Tea Mariamidze The President Giorgi Margvelashvili has congratulated rescuers and fire-fighters on their professional day, celebrated on June 12.Your daily dedication, hard work, high professionalism and willingness to help people are appreciated, the presidents address reads.Margvelashvili remembered the work and dedication of rescuers on June 13, 2015, when the river Vere flooded Tbilisi and claimed lives of 21 people and left hundreds homeless. That day, rescuer Zurab Muzashvili saved the lives of 7 but died during the operation.I bow before the hero Zurab Muzashvili, a rescuer who died during the flood of 13 June in Tbilisi, saving many people at the cost of his life. The work of all rescuers and fire-fighters is priceless, the president added.The Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze also congratulated rescuers and fire-fighters on the day.Kobakhidze says that firefighters and rescuers are modern heroes.I want to congratulate our brave and fearless rescuers and fire-fighters on their professional day. These people put lives and health of others above their own, and never step back if people are in danger, he stated.Kobakhidze also remembered the deceased rescuer Zurab Muzashvili, saying he is the example of bravery and dedication.On behalf of the Parliament of Georgia, we thank you for your professionalism, for your decent work, self-sacrifice and heroism, "the statement of the parliament speaker reads. If you look at whats happening with trade in China, it hasnt been fair for many, many years. When President Trump rails against China, he says things like, Our country is being taken advantage of, or, We lost years ago by presidents and others allowing this to happen. Hes probably referring to the past four decades, when China has grown faster than any major economy in history and gone from a poor, developing country to an economic powerhouse that is challenging Americas spot at the top of the international food chain. Its emergence as a global power was so sharp and so extreme, faster than the world can handle, in some ways faster than China can handle. The U.S. and other Western nations kick-started much of Chinas rise by opening up trade. What they havent figured out is how to get this fundamentally different economic system to play by free market rules. A pivotal moment came in 2001 after 15 years of negotiations. China joined the World Trade Organization, which sets the rules for free and fair trade between member countries. All of the countries that were in the club at the time put enormous demands on China for what they needed to do. The Chinese committed to sharply lower tariffs and reduced some of the governments role in how business gets done. But they argued then, as they still do now, that China is a developing country and so should be held to less stringent free trade standards. The hope was that these first steps would lead to even more sweeping changes. Why did we assume that? The experience of communism was through the lens of the Soviet Union and its satellite states, which was ultimately not a success. And so the presumption was, Chinas going to want to become like us, more market oriented. After China joined the W.T.O. in 2001, you saw this enormous surge of Chinese exports to everywhere in the world, and to the United States in particular. They were kind of an elephant hiding behind mice with respect to other countries in global trade negotiations at the time. The U.S. and other countries complained that China was not opening its markets enough, and keeping the value of its currency artificially low to make Chinese exports more attractive. China has been making great strides using tools that are really not acceptable under the global trade system. China has continued to operate as a centrally planned economy. The government owns, influences or subsidizes major industries, giving them an artificial competitive edge. There are heavy restrictions on foreign investment, and foreign companies are pressured to share their technologies. China has become more market oriented, but dating back to probably 2007, 2008, I think it was recognized that China wasnt on the path to become more like us. And so then countries began to think about, well, what do we do instead? Some view the rise of Asia-Pacific with suspicion and fear. America doesnt. Enter the Trans-Pacific Partnership, initiated by Bush, signed by Obama. When implemented, It wont just boost trade and support jobs in our 12 countries. It will help set stronger rules for trade across the Asia-Pacific. Put less politely, It was also supposed to be a bulwark to Chinas growing economic power. The idea was that China would want to join this great trading pact, and so they would have this incentive to reform their economy. This is the one that President Trump ripped up on his third day in office. The first one is withdrawal of the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. I had seen the erosion of popular and congressional support for trade for many years. But Id never seen anything like Donald Trump. Our founding fathers understood trade much better than our current politicians, believe me. Trade is generally accepted by economists as win-win for countries on the whole. But Trump says that China is winning and the U.S. is losing. He and people in his administration argue that past approaches to dealing with China havent worked. Its not actually that profitable to negotiate with them. We need to focus on this much bigger trade measure, and then we can really hit them with a very aggressive, forceful action. He seems intent on generating a moment of crisis. We put a $50 billion tariff on, then we put a $100 billion tariff on. And you know at a certain point, they run out of bullets. But dynamics have changed. Today, China sees its economy as strong enough to withstand almost anything the U.S. can throw at it. The News in Brief Four Political Parties demand resignation of Justice Minister Four non-parliamentary political parties have released a joint statement, demanding an investigation and the resignation of the Minister of Justice of Georgia Thea Tsulukiani in relation to the high profile murder case of two teenage boys in Tbilisi last year. Free Georgia, Freedom, the Union of Traditionalists and the Christian-Democrats say that if the government of Georgia fails to satisfy their demands they will receive larger-scale protest rallies in the centre of Tbilisi. The parties say that the case investigation must be carried out by an independent body and not by a special commission in parliament chaired by the European Georgia opposition member Sergi Kapanadze. Tsulukiani has been serving as the Minister of Justice since October 2012. In 2013, when her party Free Democrats quit the Georgian Dream coalition, she decided to leave the party and remain as a minister. Two 16-year-old boys- David Saralidze and Levan Dadunashvili were killed in a school brawl last year. The father of one of the killed teenage boys, Zaza Saralidze, has accused the Prosecutors Office of Georgia of destruction of case materials and urged people to stand by him to find the truth, as the court failed to say who killed his son. Saralidze believes that the killer of his son still walks free and is demanding the resignation of top state figures, Tsulukiani among them. Memorandum of Understanding signed between Germany and Georgia The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia and German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ) signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday. The main goal of the memorandum is to improve environmental protection, sustainable management of natural resources, biodiversity and ecosystem protection mechanisms. Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Solomon Pavliashvili thanked the Director of GIZ South Caucasus, Roland Steurer for cooperation, noting that the German government is the permanent supporter of Georgia. Steurer stated that Germany and Georgia have 10 years of successful cooperation experience for forestry sector reforms. GIZ works in Georgia and the two neighboring countries Armenia and Azerbaijan in the following priority areas: Sustainable economic development, democracy, civil society and public administration, environmental policy, conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. (By Mariam Chanishvili) Qualcomm Inc. is cutting about 280 jobs in its data-center chip unit, scaling back efforts to break into the server market to pare expenses and keep promises made to shareholders. The company will eliminate 241 positions at its design center in Raleigh, North Carolina, and 43 in California, according to notices filed with those states. The total number of cuts, including those not covered by such notices, will represent a third to half of the server-chip units employees, according to a person familiar with the process. The reduction comes on top of the previously announced elimination of about 1,500 workers across the company. Qualcomm evaluated future opportunities for the data-center business, ultimately deciding that gaining ground in the broader market for server chips primarily competing with Intel Corp. would take too long. The division will now concentrate on providing chips to a couple of the largest operators of cloud-computing centers and Chinese customers such as Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., Tencent Holdings Ltd. and Baidu Inc. through a joint venture in that country. Qualcomm also held discussions with several possible investors and buyers for the unit, but decided to persevere with a revised strategy, President Cristiano Amon said. Qualcomm remains committed to data-center opportunities and is not divesting the assets, Amon said on Thursday. We are reducing our investments in the data-center business but remain committed to our China JV and to refocusing our R&D efforts for upcoming compute opportunities. Qualcomms narrowed ambitions represent a setback for broader industry efforts to secure a toehold for ARM Holdings Plc technology in the server market. Chipmakers have been trying for years to provide owners of large data centers companies such as Alphabet Inc.s Google and Amazon.com Inc.s Amazon Web Services with processors to run them. ARMs chip technology dominates in smartphones, but hasnt made much headway on Intels home turf of computing. Prospective customers such as Microsoft Corp. had publicly touted their interest in using Qualcomms Centriq server chips in their data centers, as alternatives to Intels Xeon. San Diego-based Qualcomm, the biggest maker of mobile-phone chips, was the largest company to publicly take aim at Intels 99 percent share of the $14 billion market for server processors. Intels stranglehold means that the majority of industry software is written for those chips. In addition to fielding chips that can compete, ARM-based technology providers need to make sure theres enough code out there to do the computing work. Qualcomm said in January that it would slash $1 billion in expenses to bolster profit, a pledge made during its fight against a hostile takeover bid from rival Broadcom Inc. Qualcomms management team now must live up to that vow and work to solve other problems that have hampered revenue and profit growth. Annual sales have fallen every year since 2015 and are projected to decline 5 percent in fiscal 2018. The company sees a future for its server efforts as higher-powered computing is added to cellular base stations. Those crucial parts of cellular networks will get chips that allow them to offer processing power to phones over wireless links. That capability will enable virtual reality and augmented reality in smartphones and offer an experience thats comparable to those now only provided by personal computers, Amon said. Servers, which crunch data in corporate networks and act as the backbone of the internet, are a much smaller market than phones and personal computers when measured by shipments. But the price that chipmakers are able to charge for each of the high-performance parts needed to run them makes the market attractive. Qualcomm, which is awaiting approval from Chinese regulators for its acquisition of NXP Semiconductors NV, formed a joint venture in China under which it agreed to provide server designs that would be developed for the market there. Blood Centers of the Pacific is sending two lucky blood donors and their guests to Hawaii. Every blood donor who donates in June and July will automatically be entered to win a trip to Hawaii. One donor will be chosen from those who donate in June and one from those who donate in July. June and July are often challenging months for blood banks due to the lack of school blood drives and families going on vacations of their own, said a news release. The Napa center is located at 3230 Beard Road. The researchers also found that women and minorities in the U.K. faced similar-glass ceiling effects to those in the U.S. That suggests the gay glass ceiling discovered in the U.K. study may be similar for gay men in America. Gay men typically don't get as far as straight men with similar skills and qualifications, the analysis shows. Seventy percent of gay men in top management positions have a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to just 57 percent of straight men. After accounting for other possible reasons for the disparity including education, race, ethnicity, location, family status and occupation, the researchers concluded (based on established statistical methodology) that the most likely explanation is good old fashioned discrimination. "It's possible society holds gay men to a higher standard," Carpenter said. "Gay men really have to get a ton of education to overcome the disadvantage in the workplace that comes with being gay." By way of explanation, the authors suggested that the stereotypes of successful manager and gay man may not have much overlap. "Gay men may be penalized for not being perceived to have the stereotypically male heterosexual traits thought to be required among managers," they write. 19372018 Paul Raymond Anderson was born in Minnesota on December 5th, 1937 to Albert and Mildred Anderson. Paul passed away suddenly in the early morning of June 7th from natural causes. He was 80 years old. Paul meet his first wife, Wilma Lee, while attending Life Bible College in Los Angeles, Ca. They married on July 13, 1957 and had three children: Jonathan Paul, Peter Jeffrey and Andrea Michelle. They settled in Napa, Ca in 1968, where Paul was the Pastor of the Four Square Gospel Church on Wise Drive. To be able to support the family after Wilma became ill, Paul began his career as a bus driver for Golden Gate Transit. Wilma passed away in 1987 after a long battle with multiple sclerosis. In Wilmas honor, Paul and his children did several bicycle ride fundraisers to support MS. Sunday, June 17, 10 a.m. USCNV is pleased to welcome, Rev. Kathryn Brenson as our guest speaker this Sunday. In celebration of Fathers Day, her message is entitled Does Father Really Know Best?" Our Sunday Service music is selected and performed by our guest musician, Ric Morgan. No Sunday Forum: Unity celebrates Fathers Day, congregant birthdays and encourages Napa Food Bank Donations at our monthly Potluck Sunday this week, immediately following Sunday Service. Forum will return next week at its regular time. 3275 Hagen Road, UnityinNapaValley.org , 255-6881. Sunday June 17, Father's Day at 10 a.m. we will have guest speaker Lloyd Whitford. His Sermon is titled "I Can Only Imagine." The main church building is under repairs and we are meeting at 1920 Finnell Road in Yountville while we are under construction. We will continue to have all of our Sunday school classes, services, and bible studies. Sunday School is at 9 a.m. for all ages. We have an Adult Bible class, Youth Group (fifth - eight grades and high school students),and Children's classes "Jesus and Me", (Birth-Kindergarten) and first through fifth grades are offered. 944-2179. A 57-year-old American Canyon man convicted of mayhem for assaulting a family member was sentenced to 56 years in prison before Judge Elia Ortiz in Napa County Superior Court on Thursday. Eddie Arthur Perales was found guilty of mayhem, battery with serious bodily injury, and assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury by a jury in April. The jury also found that Perales inflicted great bodily injury on the victim. Perales, who had an extensive criminal record, was arrested on Sept. 25, 2016 after punching a female family member in the head and causing her to fall to the floor during an argument the two were having. When the woman stood back up, Perales hit her again. The womans right ear was cut and required suturing, according to court documents. She experienced hearing loss, a concussion and pain to her head, neck and shoulder. American Canyon Police responded to the scene, where the woman was treated before being transported to a nearby hospital. On Thursday, Perales was sentenced to 32 years to life in prison for his convictions plus an additional 24 years, according to the Napa County District Attorneys Office. NAPA Research suggests the magnitude 6.0 earthquake that rocked California wine country in 2014 may have been caused by an expansion of Earth's crust because of seasonally receding groundwater under the Napa and Sonoma valleys. The vineyard-filled valleys flank the West Napa Fault, which produced the quake that killed one person, injured several hundred and caused more than $500 million in losses. The study recently published in the American Geophysical Union's Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth suggests land between the valleys is stretched each summer as groundwater levels fall beneath the valleys and the ground in the valleys sinks and contracts. The amount of the horizontal stretching measured is tiny about 3 millimeters but enough to stress faults, according to the researchers. "We think it's more of a localized effect, something related to the groundwater system. We don't know if it is groundwater pumping specifically, or something related to how the natural aquifer system works, or a combination," said lead author Meredith Kraner, formerly of the Department of Geosciences at Stony Brook University in New York and now with the University of Nevada, Reno. It began to dawn on Democrats only in late April that their surfeit of eager hopefuls could produce two GOP runoff candidates in districts that seemed ripe for turning from red to blue. This happened once before, in 2012, when Republicans placed two candidates into the runoff in a San Bernardino County district with a large Democratic voter registration edge. But most likely not this time, because the party put significant money into all these districts to assure that voters knew there could be such distortion. In the end, the more moderate Democratic candidate won out in all districts where the outcome has been determined, precisely the intent of Top Two when it passed as a ballot initiative. If a party was actually wronged this year, it was probably the GOP, which for the second consecutive November will apparently have no candidate for the U.S. Senate, longtime Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein to be opposed by fellow Democrat Kevin de Leon, who barely beat out a field of almost completely unknown and unfunded Republicans. The fault here lies not with the system, but with the GOP for failing to recruit and support a significant candidate. Now Republican voters may decide the race between the moderate Feinstein and the far more leftist de Leon. All of which means Top Two worked just as designed, no matter what the whiners said before Election Day. Thomas D. Elias writes the syndicated California Focus column. He is author of the book, The Burzynski Breakthrough: The Most Promising Cancer Treatment and the Governments Campaign to Squelch It. The League of Women Voters of Napa County will host California Assembly member Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, who will talk about her accomplishments in the last two years and issues she currently is working on. The program is at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 23, at the McCarthy Library Community Room, Napa Valley College, 2227 Napa-Vallejo Highway, Napa. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. and light refreshments will be served. The program will be followed at 11 a.m. by the annual meeting of the League of Women Voters of Napa County. Years passed and many of the remaining old vineyards succumbed to intermittent blights of phylloxera (root louse) or were replaced with Flame Tokay table grapes that came to dominate the area in the mid 20th century. But some old vineyards survived. Our Cinsault comes from the Bechthold Vineyard, which was planted in 1886 and is believed to be the oldest surviving Cinsault vineyard in the world, said Ryan Sherman, winemaker and partner of Fields Family Wines. We also make a Zin from the Stampede Vineyard that was first planted in the 1920s. These vineyards have been cared for by local growers for generations, and they know their sites and how to grow the highest quality. Ryan is crafting wines that range from an ethereal whole-cluster Syrah (a rare and risky technique used on this varietal) to a briny, Sardinian-styled Vermentino. Beyond red Making wines from old-vine vineyards from anywhere is often a sure way to make interesting wines. In Lodi, these old vineyards are most often red varietals such as Zinfandel and Cinsault that have been used by cult-wine producers like Turley to produce complex, rich wines for years. But not everything good comes from old-red vines, and many of the new Lodi winemakers are exploring the range of white wines that grow in the regions diverse soils. The economy was challenging and the focus had shifted, so I was asked to come back in and help get things back on track, he said. After steadying the ship, still under the ownership of the Underwoods, in 2015 Daniels once again handed the reins over, this time to Rocco Lombardo, who is now president. Rocco has continued the tradition of quality leadership at Wilson Daniels, said Chris Underwood, CEO of Youngs Holdings. Our goal remains to deliver tremendous value to our industry partners and customers, building on what Jack and Win created. Napa Valley and beyond By the early 1970s, both Daniels and Wilson had become enamored with wine and had found their way to the Napa Valley. When they met, Daniels was working for Donn Chappellet as a national sales manager and Wilson was working for Cuvaison but they both became aware of a distinct opportunity. We were seeing a real need for smaller brands to have someone out in the market who knew how to represent their unique wines but also who understood the value of protecting and enhancing what they inherently had integrity and no compromise when it came to quality. Cross-border airspace issues between Nepal and India that have been pending for the last five years are expected to be sorted out in the much awaited Nepal-India air routes talks that began in Kathmandu on Thursday. The issue of new air routes was also discussed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Nepal on May 11. The proposed bidirectional routes will facilitate the operation of international flights from Bhairahawa, Pokhara and Nijgadh airports. Member of Air Navigation Services and board member of the Airport Authority of India (AAI) Anil Kumar Dutta is leading the six-member Indian technical delegation. Deputy Director General of Air Navigation Services Directorate of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), Narendra Bahadur Thapa, is leading the Nepali delegation. According to a report by The Kathmandu Post Nepal has been pushing the agenda of expanding cross-border air routes for the last nine years, as there is only a single entry point in Simara for most of the airlines flying to the country. In contrast, there are seven exit points for aircraft flying out of Nepal: Bhairahawa and Mahendranagar in the west, and Simara, Biratnagar, Tumlingtar, Kakarbhitta and Janakpur in the east. Besides Simara, two other entry points over Mechi and Tumlingtar (Nonim which is in the east of Everest) have been specifically designated for flights coming from Bhutan and Lhasa respectively. The Simara entry point is used by a majority of aircraft flying to Nepal and is, therefore, congested most of the time. The two upcoming international airports in Bhairahawa and Pokhara will not be financially and technically feasible if India does not allow aircraft to enter Nepal from one of the proposed cross-border air routes in Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj or Mahendranagar. Large number of police forces brought to Armenias Goris on eve of local elections US to release only Afghan in Guantanamo prison Armenia local elections underway Armenia ombudsman: Azerbaijanis opened fire at Yeraskh village (VIDEO) WHO recommends third COVID-19 vaccine UN Secretary General calls on all parties in CAR to support ceasefire Arabian coalition announces elimination of more than 160 Houthis as result of strikes in Yemen Two resistance commanders killed in Afghanistan NATO Special Representative to visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Situation with COVID-19 discussed at Pashinyan's Bali earthquake kills 3 people UN court hearings on Armenia against Azerbaijan is over Expert: War and defeat should be a shock shock that will stimulate the formation of a new elite US authorities offer compensation to relatives of those killed in impact of drone in Kabul Erdogan and Merkel quarrel over forms of government Russia, US and Israel agree to hold meeting of heads of Security Councils 65-year-old man killed in Armenias Tavush province Actor Sean Penn divorces his young wife a year after the wedding Meghan Markle plans to return to cinema I went to premiere: Daniel Craig's Swan Song - "No Time to Die" (NO SPOILERS) Armenia reports 1,863 COVID-19 new cases ISIS claims responsibility for Afghan mosque bombing Quake hits Kuril Islands Japanese PM allows possibility of preemptive strikes on enemy bases Armenia launches case of attack on military posts by Azerbaijani army and attempt to murder 6 Karabakh soldiers Ruben Vardanyan: I'm involved in politics, but I'm not seeking power, I'm ready to lose it all in Russia and Armenia Karabakh Defense Army: News spread on social networks about shelling near Harav village inaccurate Sergio Ramos congratulates Joaquin Caparros by posting nearly 20-year-old photo Ilham Aliyev blames Iranians and Armenians for alleged collapse of mosques in Nagorno-Karabakh Karabakh Ombudsman: Azerbaijani Armed Forces fired a few gunshots in sector of military posts near Harav village Armenia Deputy PM Suren Papikyan discusses North-South Energy Corridor with Russian counterpart Armenia PM proposes to strengthen trilateral mechanisms to investigate incidents and adhere to ceasefire Russian academician: Erdogan understands that direct confrontation with Russia may be fatal How is brain trauma dangerous for women? Opposition 'Armenia' alliance issues statement Bill Clinton recovering from infection in hospital US to lift curbs for vaccinated foreign travelers starting November 8 Karabakh President spokesperson: Situation on Artsakh-Azerbaijan line of contact stable, not counting provocation Iran MFA responds to Aliyev's allegations Opposition 'Armenia' faction receives leaders of Karabakh's parliamentary factions FC Pyunik and FC Alashkert tie match Bayern Munich extend contract with 21-year-old player (PHOTO) Armenia Parliament Deputy Speaker receives leaders of Karabakh legislature's factions Taliban announce creation of Supreme Court in Afghanistan Armenia ex-defense minister Davit Tonoyan to not be released Armenia Justice Ministry: Officials aren't mandated to get COVID-19 vaccine because they can't be relieved of posts Voytolovsky: Any escalation of conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh will require direct involvement of peacekeepers Digest: Latest on Azerbaijani fire near Artsakh border, more on injured soldier's health condition Armenia Ombudsman: Azerbaijanis deliberately set 8,000 ha of grass of Yeraskh villager on fire with gunshots Yerevan Investigation Department of Armenia Investigative Committee has new head Russian academician: Yerevan has never recognized Artsakh and has not addressed Russia for assistance Lavrov: Armenia's leadership is interested in plan to open Russian schools Karabakh FM pays working visit to Russian Federation, holds meetings Voytolovsky describes consequences of deterioration of Russian-Turkish relations for Yerevan and Baku Pashinyan: Armenia ready to hand over minefield maps to Azerbaijan in exchange for captives Artsakh State Minister: Only one of 6 soldiers wounded yesterday is in severe condition (PHOTOS) Ambassador: Russia is, in practice, the only country that stood by Armenia's side last year Lukashenko calls on Armenia, Azerbaijan not to turn CIS into platform for clarifying separate matters Armenia premier: Many not only do not believe in but also do not want peace, stability in region Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan fires at Yeraskh, resident's barn and haystacks burning Karabakh MFA: Azerbaijan policy is terrorism Armenia PM: Yerevan-Baku peace talks must resume under OSCE Minsk Group auspices What is obstructing the fight against COVID-19 in Armenia? Artsakh ombudsman: Recorded incident another proof that Azerbaijan theses on peaceful coexistence are false Russian Orthodox Church to establish diocese in Armenia Armenia PM: South Caucasus is on threshold of major transformations Armenia's Pashinyan: Russia and its president played a crucial role in stopping 44-day war in Karabakh Armenian and Belarusian FMs touch upon bilateral cooperation agenda in detail Putin: Russia peacekeepers are guarantors of ceasefire in Karabakh Armenia MFA highlights undertaking necessary steps through mediation of Russian peacekeepers Pashinyan: Armenia ready to start border delimitation, demarcation with Azerbaijan Karabakh prosecutor's office: Provocative actions from Azerbaijan outpost only 400m away had started Wednesday Monica Bellucci to star in comedy about mafia Azerbaijan uses drone yesterday, Artsakhs President spokesperson says Night passes calmly in Harav, Norshen villages of Karabakh after Azerbaijan shooting Adele is back with her new song - first in 6 years PAUL Armenia will be located at a historical building in Yerevan: details of the long-awaited project have been released Armenia ombudsman: There were Azerbaijan attacks also at Harav village, some other Artsakh civilian settlements Ancelotti has eye on Federico Chiesa 1,765 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh MOD: Azerbaijan armed forces opened fire on Defense Army sanitary vehicle Part of downtown Paris is named after Armenia Sergio Ramos to not join PSG full squad for another 10 days Roger Waters, 78, gets married for the fifth time PM: Armenia highly values development, deepening of friendly relations with Austria Monumentwatch.org: Azerbaijani roads, endangered Armenian cultural heritage Mbappe to not accept 50m offer, will leave PSG Newspaper: Imprisoned Armenia community leaders will remain in prison even if re-elected Newspaper: Russia peacekeepers concerned about rate of emigration from Artsakh Lewandowski to play in England? How many calories does a person need per day? 2022 World Cup qualifiers: Argentina, Brazil win Karabakh state minister: Wounded soldiers surgeries went successfully FM: There will be no large-scale war as long as Russian peacekeepers are in Artsakh Serie A: Roma, Mkhitaryan preparing for clash against Juve Karabakh defense army: Armenian side has no positional, territorial losses Artsakh State Minister: Situation has stabilized along entire line of contact (PHOTOS) Karabakh Defense Army: Situation along entire length of line of contact relatively stable at this moment Karabakh Ombudsman: Artsakh Defense Army has no casualties Head of Karabakh's Harav village: There were shootings at military posts, shootings have mainly stopped Large number of police forces brought to Armenias Goris on eve of local elections US to release only Afghan in Guantanamo prison Armenia local elections underway Armenia ombudsman: Azerbaijanis opened fire at Yeraskh village (VIDEO) WHO recommends third COVID-19 vaccine UN Secretary General calls on all parties in CAR to support ceasefire Arabian coalition announces elimination of more than 160 Houthis as result of strikes in Yemen Two resistance commanders killed in Afghanistan NATO Special Representative to visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Situation with COVID-19 discussed at Pashinyan's Bali earthquake kills 3 people UN court hearings on Armenia against Azerbaijan is over Expert: War and defeat should be a shock shock that will stimulate the formation of a new elite US authorities offer compensation to relatives of those killed in impact of drone in Kabul Erdogan and Merkel quarrel over forms of government Russia, US and Israel agree to hold meeting of heads of Security Councils 65-year-old man killed in Armenias Tavush province Armenia reports 1,863 COVID-19 new cases ISIS claims responsibility for Afghan mosque bombing Quake hits Kuril Islands Japanese PM allows possibility of preemptive strikes on enemy bases Armenia launches case of attack on military posts by Azerbaijani army and attempt to murder 6 Karabakh soldiers Ruben Vardanyan: I'm involved in politics, but I'm not seeking power, I'm ready to lose it all in Russia and Armenia Karabakh Defense Army: News spread on social networks about shelling near Harav village inaccurate Ilham Aliyev blames Iranians and Armenians for alleged collapse of mosques in Nagorno-Karabakh Karabakh Ombudsman: Azerbaijani Armed Forces fired a few gunshots in sector of military posts near Harav village Armenia Deputy PM Suren Papikyan discusses North-South Energy Corridor with Russian counterpart Armenia PM proposes to strengthen trilateral mechanisms to investigate incidents and adhere to ceasefire Russian academician: Erdogan understands that direct confrontation with Russia may be fatal Opposition 'Armenia' alliance issues statement Bill Clinton recovering from infection in hospital US to lift curbs for vaccinated foreign travelers starting November 8 Karabakh President spokesperson: Situation on Artsakh-Azerbaijan line of contact stable, not counting provocation Iran MFA responds to Aliyev's allegations Opposition 'Armenia' faction receives leaders of Karabakh's parliamentary factions Armenia Parliament Deputy Speaker receives leaders of Karabakh legislature's factions Taliban announce creation of Supreme Court in Afghanistan Armenia ex-defense minister Davit Tonoyan to not be released Armenia Justice Ministry: Officials aren't mandated to get COVID-19 vaccine because they can't be relieved of posts Voytolovsky: Any escalation of conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh will require direct involvement of peacekeepers Digest: Latest on Azerbaijani fire near Artsakh border, more on injured soldier's health condition Armenia Ombudsman: Azerbaijanis deliberately set 8,000 ha of grass of Yeraskh villager on fire with gunshots Yerevan Investigation Department of Armenia Investigative Committee has new head Russian academician: Yerevan has never recognized Artsakh and has not addressed Russia for assistance Lavrov: Armenia's leadership is interested in plan to open Russian schools Karabakh FM pays working visit to Russian Federation, holds meetings Voytolovsky describes consequences of deterioration of Russian-Turkish relations for Yerevan and Baku Pashinyan: Armenia ready to hand over minefield maps to Azerbaijan in exchange for captives Artsakh State Minister: Only one of 6 soldiers wounded yesterday is in severe condition (PHOTOS) Ambassador: Russia is, in practice, the only country that stood by Armenia's side last year Lukashenko calls on Armenia, Azerbaijan not to turn CIS into platform for clarifying separate matters Armenia premier: Many not only do not believe in but also do not want peace, stability in region Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan fires at Yeraskh, resident's barn and haystacks burning Karabakh MFA: Azerbaijan policy is terrorism Armenia PM: Yerevan-Baku peace talks must resume under OSCE Minsk Group auspices Artsakh ombudsman: Recorded incident another proof that Azerbaijan theses on peaceful coexistence are false Russian Orthodox Church to establish diocese in Armenia Armenia PM: South Caucasus is on threshold of major transformations Armenia's Pashinyan: Russia and its president played a crucial role in stopping 44-day war in Karabakh Armenian and Belarusian FMs touch upon bilateral cooperation agenda in detail Putin: Russia peacekeepers are guarantors of ceasefire in Karabakh Armenia MFA highlights undertaking necessary steps through mediation of Russian peacekeepers Pashinyan: Armenia ready to start border delimitation, demarcation with Azerbaijan Karabakh prosecutor's office: Provocative actions from Azerbaijan outpost only 400m away had started Wednesday Azerbaijan uses drone yesterday, Artsakhs President spokesperson says Night passes calmly in Harav, Norshen villages of Karabakh after Azerbaijan shooting PAUL Armenia will be located at a historical building in Yerevan: details of the long-awaited project have been released Armenia ombudsman: There were Azerbaijan attacks also at Harav village, some other Artsakh civilian settlements 1,765 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh MOD: Azerbaijan armed forces opened fire on Defense Army sanitary vehicle Part of downtown Paris is named after Armenia PM: Armenia highly values development, deepening of friendly relations with Austria Monumentwatch.org: Azerbaijani roads, endangered Armenian cultural heritage Newspaper: Imprisoned Armenia community leaders will remain in prison even if re-elected Newspaper: Russia peacekeepers concerned about rate of emigration from Artsakh Karabakh state minister: Wounded soldiers surgeries went successfully FM: There will be no large-scale war as long as Russian peacekeepers are in Artsakh Karabakh defense army: Armenian side has no positional, territorial losses Artsakh State Minister: Situation has stabilized along entire line of contact (PHOTOS) Karabakh Defense Army: Situation along entire length of line of contact relatively stable at this moment Karabakh Ombudsman: Artsakh Defense Army has no casualties Head of Karabakh's Harav village: There were shootings at military posts, shootings have mainly stopped Karabakh Defense Army: Azerbaijani Armed Forces open fire at military base, 6 injured Azerbaijani Armed Forces use weapons of large caliber in direction of Karabakh's Nor Shen village Attorney: Armenian MP Artur Sargsyan to be released on bail for AMD 20,000,000 Armenian Unified Info Center: Karabakh Defense Army will provide official information soon Armenia Ombudsman: Azerbaijani army's attack leaves 6 Armenian soldiers injured, 2 of them in critical condition Eduard Sharmazanov: Republican Party of Armenia will hold its congress on Dec. 18 Armenia ex-defense minister Seyran Ohanyan: Azerbaijan can't be compared with Iran in terms of capabilities Karabakh Defense Army: Azerbaijan MOD's news that Azerbaijani soldier died from Armenian soldier's gunshot is false Armenia ex-defense minister assesses possibility of start of Iran-Azerbaijan war Armenia ex-defense minister: Military exercises held in Iran were great support for Yerevan Armenia court rules to release Goris deputy mayor on bail for AMD 30,000,000 Karabakh emergency situations service: Remains of another 2 Armenian servicemen found in Hadrut region Armenia receives batch of 50,000 doses of Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine Armenia defense minister holds consultation over preparation for the winter Azerbaijani FM 'on need for Armenia to transfer precise mine maps to Azerbaijan' Russia welcomes disposition of Azerbaijan and Armenia to normalize relations By: David Pizzimenti, DO, FACOI, Internal Medicine Program Director at Magnolia Regional Health Center and Jim Scott, CEO of Applied Policy For millions of Americans, access to good medical care can mean travelling long distances, incurring significant financial expense and disrupting their personal and professional lives. Faced with these obstacles, many delay seeing a doctor until their condition has worsened, leading to chronic or critical illness that could have benefited from earlier detection and regular treatment. A look at the number of doctors in the United States, and size of the population that they serve, leads to the conclusion that there should be enough doctors to take care of every American who needs medical care. A map showing where physicians choose to practice tells a very different story: the states in the northeast, as well as along the West Coast, have more than adequate numbers of health care professionals. But large swaths of the south, mid-west and west are underserved. In fact, the Health Resource and Services Administration (HRSA) has designated more than 6,000 areas across the country as Health Professional Shortage Areas. Its important to note that these are not all rural areas: the official definitions of rural, Health Professional Shortage Area, and Medically Underserved Area do not include many areas of the country where there is a significant need for specific physician specialties. A few facts help explain one of the causes of this poor distribution of practicing physicians in the United States. First, almost two thirds of physicians practice where they complete their residency or fellowship training. Unfortunately the current funding of Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs by CMS mirrors the maldistribution of physicians nationally. Like physician practice locations, most GME funding is aimed at urban academic institutions. New York State received 20 percent of all CMS's graduate medical education funding while 29 states, including Mississippi, got less than 1 percent, according to a report published by researchers at the George Washington (GW) University School of Public Health and Health Services (SPHHS). There is, in fact, a very practical remedy that could help make medical care more accessible to people in underserved areas: establish residency and fellowships program in those areas, so that young physicians could train there, and where many would stay to establish their practices while bringing more seasoned physicians into those communities to teach them. But an outdated policy, implemented by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), is standing in the way of that solution. Nowhere in the country is this doctor shortage felt more acutely than in Mississippi. The United Health Foundation's annual state health rankings report ranks Mississippi as the unhealthiest state in the country. Mississippi's high rate of poverty, obesity, and cigarette smoking contributes to its dismal ranking, according to the 2017 America's Health Rankings report. Of the five categories examined in the report, Mississippi ranked overall 50th for one: clinical care. This directly relates to Mississippi's doctor shortage and preventable hospitalizations. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, a global research center affiliated with the University of Washington released data showing that Mississippi residents have the shortest life expectancy of any state in the country at 75 years. This was far below the national life expectancy of 79.3 years and on par with countries like Nicaragua, Romania, and Malaysia. The paucity of Graduate Medical Education (GME) training programs in Mississippi is a leading reason for this unfortunate health care statistic. The federal government is the largest financier of GME programs in the United States, contributing $15 billion annually to the training of young physicians. Of that federal funding, CMS contributes the lions share, approximately $10 billion. The economics of our medical system dictate that CMS support is essential if a teaching hospital in a region with limited resources hopes to establish a residency program. However, CMS has created an almost insurmountable requirement for these hospitals to meet before they can have a piece of the federal funding pie. Hospitals have a five-year time limit to get a residency program up-and-running including building facilities, attracting a teaching staff, applying for accreditation and attracting residency candidates to the program. At the end of this five-year cap-building window, whatever number of residency slots the school has filled is set as the number that the Medicare program will fund for that program moving forward. This five-year time limit essentially means that hospitals with shortages in needed physician specialties barely make it to the starting line before CMS declares that the race is over. Now, a coalition of hospitals and healthcare thought leaders, including the American Medical Association (AMA), are requesting that CMS extend the cap for hospitals in underserved areas to ten years. Under their proposed plan, called CapFlex, hospitals in carefully defined Areas of Need would be given this flexibility. These Areas of Need would include areas that are under-resourced; experiencing primary care, specialty physician shortages or both; struggling to expand or keep GME programs operational; lacking existing medical training infrastructure; or in the midst of building up such infrastructure. The coalition points out that adopting this more flexible approach would clearly benefit hospitals in communities experiencing shortages in specific physician specialties, and would also give CMS the opportunity to undertake valuable long-range strategic planning. This planning would incorporate tailoring policy objectives and outcomes to specific institutions and increasing both transparency and accountability. The end result would be a policy solution that would be scalable to the nations physician workforce needs, rather than an inflexible approach that assumes hospitals are equally able to establish residency programs. Under this new approach, CMS could build elasticity into its support of GME programs, and ensure that resources reach those who need them most. Supporters of the CapFlex approach point out that this is not a quick fix to a deeply ingrained problem impacting our medical system. But they are confident that with adoption of more flexible GME policies, children living today in these underserved areas can expect to have a healthier future, and their children will never know what it is to go without excellent and accessible medical care. YEREVAN. - Gevorg Kostanyan, member of the National Assembly faction of the now former ruling Republican Party of Armenia, has submitted his resignation from the position of Armenias representative at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR); the MP informed about this to Aysor.am. After the events that took place in April and May 2018, the government changed in Armenia, Kostanyan noted, in particular. As a result, the [new] governments position naturally has changed, or may change, in the case of the majority of the cases currently being examined, or to be examined, at the European Court. Under these conditions, I consider the continuation of my office as representative of the Republic of Armenia at the European Court to be inexpedient. I find that the new [Armenian] authorities should have the opportunity to freely present their positions on the cases being examined at the European Court, and not to be constrained by the formerly presented [Armenian] positions. Deputy Minister of Justice Artak Asatryan will carry out the duties of Armenias representative at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Minister of Justice Artak Zeynalyan informed about the above-said at Fridays Cabinet meeting of the government. He added, however, that this was a temporary appointment. As per the minister, they currently are drafting a bill which stipulates that Armenias representative at ECHR shall be designated by the Prime Minister, and by the recommendation of the Minister of Justice. Until now, former Prosecutor General, member of the National Assembly faction of the now former ruling Republican Party of Armenia Gevorg Kostanyan, was representing Armenia at the European Court; but he has submitted his resignation from this position. After the events that took place in April and May 2018, the government changed in Armenia, Kostanyan noted, in particular, in a respective statement. As a result, the [new] governments position naturally has changed, or may change, in the case of the majority of the cases currently being examined, or to be examined, at the European Court. Under these conditions, I consider the continuation of my office as representative of the Republic of Armenia at the European Court to be inexpedient. I find that the new [Armenian] authorities should have the opportunity to freely present their positions on the cases being examined at the European Court, and not to be constrained by the formerly presented [Armenian] positions. via @learyreports Sen. Bill Nelson said today he will vote against a judicial nominee he offered up to the White House along with Sen. Marco Rubio, a remarkable turn that raises questions about Nelson's own vetting process as he tried to put the focus on the state's Judicial Nominating Commission "Because of the information brought up by the Senate Judiciary Committee, I will vote against the confirmation of Allen Winsor," the Florida Democrat said in a statement that provided no specifics. His office would not elaborate on the record. Nelson and his staff interviewed Winsor, who has opposed same-sex marriage, before his name was submitted to the White House, along with a list of other candidates. A spokesman, Ryan Brown, would not answer questions about that vetting. Nelson's statement punts to the JNC. "For years, Florida's two senators have relied on a bipartisan Judicial Nominating Commission to select our state's judicial nominees. This system, which was designed to take politics out of the process, only works if Florida's two senators agree to respect the commission's choices and jointly send the names they choose to the White House for consideration. This is exactly what we did in the case of Allen Winsor." Winsor, picked to succeed U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle for a spot in the Northern District of Florida, was approved along partisan lines by the Judiciary Committee on Thursday and was sent to the full Senate for consideration. Democrats objected over his opposition to same-sex marriage. Winsor was among the named Nelson and Rubio offered to the White House in December. "We received the following unranked list of finalists on November 15, 2017: Martin Fitzpatrick, Jan Shackelford, Kent Wetherell, and Allen Winsor. We have separately interviewed the finalists. Subject to further review of their records and background, we are submitting them to you for the president's consideration," a letter read. That means the White House picked Winsor. As Gary Fineout of the Associated Press reported, Winsor is currently a Florida appeals court judge, but before he was appointed to that job by Gov. Rick Scott in 2016, he worked as solicitor general for Attorney General Pam Bondi. Winsor was in that role when he defended Florida's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriages that was eventually struck down. He was one of the lawyers who argued in a legal brief for the state that recognizing same-sex marriages from other states would "impose significant public harm" and that the state has a legitimate interest in defining marriage as between a man and woman. Scott, who is challenging Nelson for Senate, issued a statement through the campaign. "Bill Nelson is so partisan that a small group of out-of-state democrats can force him to vote against a Floridian that he interviewed, recommended and supported," spokeswoman Lauren Schenone said. "Despite claiming to be independent, Bill Nelson's own actions show that when democrats like party boss Chuck Schumer say 'jump,' Nelson's only question is 'how high?'" Rubio in 2013 held up a judicial nominee after submitting a JNC approved name to the Obama White House amid objections from Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, now chairman of the Judiciary Committee. @alextdaugherty House Republicans who spent months carefully crafting an immigration reform plan found themselves not rounding up votes on Friday but refreshing their phones to see if a presidential tweet would blow up the entire effort. President Donald Trump had just thrown a wrench in months of immigration talks, saying in an early morning interview with Fox News he "certainly won't sign" the all-GOP compromise immigration bill. As a result, House Republicans who had planned votes on two immigration bills next week went home unsure what would come next. The House does not plan to return to Washington until late Tuesday. Don't fret, Republicans said, the president will surely clarify his remarks. "I think if we get that clarification then I think we're still good to go," said Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Washington, one of the Republicans who had earlier considered forcing a series of immigration votes on the House floor against the wishes of GOP leaders. Three hours later, the tweet came. "The Democrats are forcing the breakup of families at the Border with their horrible and cruel legislative agenda," Trump tweeted. "Any Immigration Bill MUST HAVE full funding for the Wall, end Catch & Release, Visa Lottery and Chain, and go to Merit Based Immigration. Go for it! WIN!" Trump's tweet didn't acknowledge the most important part of any deal for Republicans like Miami Reps. Carlos Curbelo and Mario Diaz-Balart: a path to citizenship for 1.8 million young immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally as young children. Democrats hate the all-Republican immigration deal hatched this week. Staunch conservative Republicans are balking at the deal, too. The deal now hinges on Trump's support, or lack of it. "This bill will be difficult to pass with Republican votes only unless President Trump says that he is considering supporting it, that might be good enough, even if he doesn't say I will sign it," said Miami Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. "If you're a Republican and you're facing a challenging political environment and the president who is very popular in your district, not mine, says that he's against this bill why in the world would you vote in favor of it?" Read more here. YEREVAN.- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received on Friday French Ambassador to Armenia Jonathan Lacote, the official website of the Prime Minister of Armenia reported. The Ambassador noted that the recent political developments in Armenia allow to observe Armenian-French in a new way. Armenian developments were in the focus of attention in France and now many have the desire to come here. The partnership between Armenia and the International Organisation of La Francophonie will continue to successfully develop sine the values of the revolution led by you are in harmony with the values of the organization, the Ambassador said. Pashinyan highly appreciated the level of Armenian-French relations. We are looking forward to the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Armenia with great expectations and are preparing with great sense of responsibility to the Francophonie summit to take place in Yerevan in autumn, PM Pashinyan said. Jonathan Lacote emphasized that the French President is ready to foster the development of bilateral relations, attaching particular importance to the development and deepening of economic cooperation. The Ambassador emphasized that today more than ever France stands with Armenia in terms of supporting the reforms initiated by the new Government. YEREVAN.- The construction of a Chinese school in Yerevan is underway, and over 200 new ambulances will be provided to Armenia this autumn, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Armenia Tian Erlong said during the meeting with Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan on Friday. The PM highlighted the continuous development of Armenian-Chinese cooperation and emphasized that the Armenian Government has many expectations and plans in that direction. Pashinyan thanked the Chinese side for the financial and technical support to Armenia. Tian Erlong noted that China is also ready to make efforts to expand, deepen and raise to a new level the bilateral cooperation in all the directions, including political and economic. The Chinese Ambassador added that the integration processes in Eurasia give a good opportunity to foster economic partnership and noted that its necessary to continue the intensive works in that direction, including in the sidelines of One belt, one road initiative. The Ambassador added that during the current year 41% rise in trade turnover has already been recorded and assesses promising the development of relations in the spheres of industry, agriculture, infrastructure development, tourism, IT and other spheres. Wrongly jailed for almost seven years, professor works to reform Filipino prisons by Hannah Erickson CARBONDALE, Ill. Every day, hundreds of Filipino prisoners sit in over-crowded and under-funded jails awaiting trial. Many have been there for months, and even years, and are yet to be convicted of any crime. But as a former inmate himself, Southern Illinois University assistant professor Raymund Narag is out to reform these challenging situations. As a young student working on a public administration degree from the University of the Philippines-Diliman, Raymund Narag was just beginning to hone in on his future career path when suddenly everything changed for him. Narag charged with murder Only days before graduation, a brawl broke out between two rival fraternities, leaving one young man dead. Along with 10 other men, Narag, a member of one of the fraternities, was charged with murder, two counts of frustrated murder and three counts of attempted murder. He was then detained in the small confines of the Quezon City Jail in Quezon City, Philippines for six years, nine months and four days. While Narag awaited a trial that was continually delayed, he was housed with approximately 180 other inmates in a space that was built for 20. But rather than conforming to the popular mindsets of his cellmates, Narag worked his way up into the prison management, even while still an inmate. The jail officers would informally designate inmate leaders, which is called the mayores system in the Philippines, Narag said. The mayores will be supported by other leaders in the cell. These inmates then serve as the inmate counsel and help in the management of the cell. Found innocent, Narag pursues doctorate After nearly seven years in the overcrowded jail, Narag was acquitted of the crimes he was originally arrested for and set free to restart his life. Motivated by his experiences in the Philippine jail, Narag traveled to the United States and pursued his doctorate degree in criminal justice administration and criminology at Michigan St. University. In 2012, Raymund Narag joined Southern Illinois University Carbondale as an assistant professor of criminology and criminal justice. Going back to reform the Philippine penal system Following his time of recovery and study, Narag embarked on a life-long mission to reform the Philippine penal system. He focused his research on the current jail conditions of the inmates, along with the issue of prolonged pretrial incarceration. Given my personal experience as an inmate myself, I know how to navigate the system. But I have also learned how to understand the perspective of the jail officers and the prison guards, Narag said. But even more than that, my education has given me a theoretical perspective and an expertise in research. This expertise has developed into practical research that is transforming the penal system at both a local and national level. Understanding jail conditions Due to a lack of resources, Narag found that the inmates and prison workers in the Philippines are forced to create their own informal coping mechanisms. The prisoners are paired together to share visitors, resources, living space and food. These unofficial management skills work to overcome the lack of governmental resources. For some reason, the Philippine jail manual is patterned after the United States jail manual, Narag explained. But because there are many resources in the United States, there is no need for these shared coping mechanisms. If that were to happen in America, it would be illegal. Narag quickly discovered the jail systems are based in a western mindset, but a Filipino reality. This dualist structure makes every decision discretionary based on individual jail officers and produces a system prone to corruption, mismanagement and confusion. Inmates incarcerated for extended periods of time before tried After extensive research, Narag discovered that 50 percent of the inmates in the Philippines had stayed in jail longer than nine months while undergoing trial. In addition, 25 percent of the inmates stayed in jail longer than two years, and in the most extreme cases, several inmates had stayed in jail for 10-15 years. While various factors impacted this prolonged incarceration, for Narag, it pointed to a serious flaw in the Philippine administration of justice. Practical methods to ensure fair treatment of prisoners Now, based on my current knowledge of effective corrections, I have worked to take the best practices in the United States, and Philippinize them based on the culture and way of life to make the most effective changes, Narag said. To do this, Narag has created a training for the Bureau of Jail, Bureau of Corrections and the Philippines Police Department. This training includes a broad database management system that shares arrest and incarceration information between the five pillars of the criminal justice system in the Philippines. The single document system Narag created works to increase the communication between the departments, which had previously been very limited, to ensure that inmates are treated fairly. Narag also created a program in coalition with the Philippines Supreme Court to monitor the incarceration time of inmates. Under Narags method, all inmates were recorded from when they entered the jail, until when they were tried. The basic formula monitored how long inmates were incarcerated without a trial, and then allowed the courts to make effective decisions based on this data. Works with SIU Carbondale students to further research To implement these reforms into the Philippines penal system, Narag often travels back and forth between the United States and the Philippines to conduct free training sessions and continue his research. Over the last several years Narag, along with several SIU students, receives the data from the court systems and monitors and reports back with the relevant information. Narags goal for the data management system is to shorten the time prisoners are incarcerated without a trial, decrease prison crowding and eventually improve jail management. While funding has been limited so far, Narag continues to research and implement improvement methods for the Philippines penal system. He has published multiple books and articles and recently applied for a research grant to take future criminology and criminal justice students to assist in the officer and prison trainings in the Philippines. Four agriculture students accepted into GROWMARK internship by Hannah Erickson CARBONDALE, Ill. Summer internships are often a key way for young people to launch into specific careers after graduation. And for the students in Southern Illinois University Carbondales College of Agricultural Sciences, these opportunities just keep coming. For its 59th year of internship programs, GROWMARK selected four SIU students to join FS companies for a summer of opportunity and experience. In total, 41 college students from across the nation were accepted into the internship program. These students will be working with companies in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, Ohio and Ontario, Canada. Students receive a variety of experiences GROWMARK is an agricultural cooperative that provides agronomy, energy, facility planning and logistics products and services to a variety of companies across the United States and Canada. Interns participating in the summer program will have the opportunity to work in accounting, marketing, communications and product and service-related activities. This internship program continues to be a key component in identifying and retaining top talent for the GROWMARK system, said Kayla Portwood, GROWMARK university relations manager. Students engage with industry professionals on important projects and have the opportunity to clarify career goals, while we get exposed to some of the most talented university students. SIU students focus on Illinois All four of the students from SIU Carbondale will be working in companies located in Illinois. Program extends all summer Students first met at the GROWMARK corporate office on May 21, and then will reconvene for an agribusiness tour and professional development opportunities. Each intern will end the program by presenting a business-related project in August. SIU and Rend Lake College agree on joint criminal justice program by Hannah Erickson CARBONDALE, Ill. Local students who are interested in a criminal justice degree now have more options, thanks to a new articulation agreement between Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Rend Lake College. The agreement was finalized at the Rend Lake College Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday. Now, Rend Lake College students who finish an Associate of Arts degree in Criminal Justice will be able to transfer smoothly as juniors into SIUs Criminology and Criminal Justice Bachelor of Arts degree. Provides students with better opportunities The dean of Applied Science and Technology at Rend Lake College, Gabriele Farner, said the agreement provides local students more opportunities. The addition of Southern Illinois University to our list of opportunities for criminal justice graduates is fantastic in so many ways. Not only is it a local partnership that brings new ideas and technologies to RLC students, but it also gives the students another local option to continue their education, said Farner. Were excited to be working with them to help all of our students. To achieve the combined degree, students must maintain a 2.0 grade point average while attending Rend Lake College and complete required courses. A bachelors degree will be awarded at SIU once the student completes approximately 42 more credit hours. Students who meet all requirements may utilize this program immediately. Similar agreements SIU and Rend Lake College hold similar articulation agreements in programs such as history, psychology, hospitality and tourism administration, early childhood education, technical resource management, health care management, radiologic sciences, accounting, business administration and industrial maintenance and applied engineering. Students interested in these programs have the option to transfer their work without wasting previously earned credit hours. SIU offers a dual admission program, preparing transfer students for academic transitions, and a dual enrollment program, locking in the current tuition rate while students finish at a community college. These services allow students to plan for their transfers before the matriculation date. Fogarty Marks 50 Years of Global Health Partnerships Photo: Andrew Propp A half century of global health research and training accomplishments were celebrated May 1, as more than 500 NIH leaders, researchers, advocates and trainees gathered from around the world to mark establishment of the Fogarty International Center in 1968. Part scientific symposium, part family reunion, the day was devoted to a review of progress in the development of research capacity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), its role in advancing science to reduce death and disability and an exploration of new frontiers of global health research ripe for future exploration. Never before in the history of global health has global collective action been more important, said Dr. Richard Horton, editor of The Lancet, in his keynote address. With nationalism and anti-science rhetoric on the rise, evidence-based decision-making is on the decline, he continued. It feels like we are living through a counter-enlightenment, that some believe that the world is unsafe, unstable and insecure, that the idea of progress is actually a myth, that the promise that we have given society for what science can deliver is actually a lie. Horton urged the audience to stay committed to advancing science to improve health and carefully consider the evolving threats posed by climate change and environmental hazards. Fogarty should continue to provide global leadership and promote its values of partnership, of collaboration and most importantly of all, equality among and between nations. FIC remains faithful to the vision of its namesake, according to Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), who recalled that Rep. John E. Fogarty (D-RI) was known for his effectiveness, decency and kindness. Not only a champion for NIH, Fogarty also believed the U.S. had an obligation to improve health around the world. He argued for a Health for Peace Center, which would embody Americans commitment to use science for the good of mankind. That vision permeates this center, said Reed. Towards Ending HIV/AIDS Photo: Andrew Propp He pledged continued support for FIC and acknowledged the effective advocacy conducted on its behalf by Fogartys daughter, Mary Fogarty McAndrew, and her husband Tom McAndrew, who attended the celebration with their children and grandchildren. In the first panel discussion, devoted to HIV/AIDS and infectious disease, NIAID director Dr. Anthony Fauci said the NIH investment in research that led to antiretroviral therapy (ART) literally transformed the lives of those living with HIV. ART and other advances in prevention and treatment give him optimism. We have no excuses, he said. We have the tools to end HIV/AIDS. Photo: Ann Puderbaugh Fogarty grantee Dr. Quarraisha Abdool Karim said young women in Africa pose a critical challenge to ending the epidemic there, with 5,000 new infections occurring each day. Papers published with contributions by Fogarty trainees give glimpses of the physical and behavioral reasons young women hold the key to reducing transmission, she said. Panelists emphasized the need for implementation science to study interventions in key populations and proposed taking a community approach, addressing the underlying poverty of those at risk and examining stigma and other social factors that prevent diagnosis and treatment. IC Directors Laud FIC Impact The growing burden of chronic, noncommunicable diseases was also explored, with case studies presented on cancer and sickle cell disease. NCI deputy director Dr. Douglas Lowy discussed progress in making cervical cancer screening accessible in low-resource settings using mHealth solutions. Two former Fogarty fellows who are now co-principal investigators on an NCI grant told how NIH support has changed the landscape of cancer care and research in Malawi. NHLBI director Dr. Gary Gibbons noted that NIH programs empower country-driven contextual solutions to bend the curve and help eliminate health inequities. He detailed his institutes global efforts to reduce household air pollution exposure, study low-cost hypertension interventions and translate advances in sickle cell disease to LMICs. Brain disorders also cause an enormous disease burden in the developing world. Photo: Andrew Propp NINDS director Dr. Walter Koroshetz and his grantee Dr. Gretchen Birbeck jointly presented on stigma and epilepsy. Birbeck says her studies in Zambia have found working with peer groups and schools can be effective. Another team, made up of NIA director Dr. Richard Hodes and grantee Dr. Kenneth Kosik, described an extended family of Colombians with a genetic mutation that brings early-onset Alzheimers disease. Kosik said he used Fogarty funds to build local scientific capacity to study the population and has established a brain bank there that is waiting to be explored. NIMH has also had fruitful partnerships with Fogarty, said NIMH deputy director Dr. Shelli Avenevoli, and has future plans to develop LMIC data infrastructure and analytic capacity, advance implementation science and conduct research in the humanitarian context. NIMH grantee Dr. Vishwajit Nimgaonkar presented his genomic studies of schizophrenia in India and Egypt, which he says have built capacity and formed partnerships between the countries. Return on Investmenta Testimonial The final session focused on the multigenerational impact of Fogartys research training programs. Peruvian grantee Dr. Patty Garcia recalled how she received FIC support to earn advanced degrees in the U.S. Since returning home, she has helped build a cadre of well-trained scientistsincluding co-presenter Dr. Magaly Blasthat has drawn significant research funding from NIH and other sources. Photo: Andrew Propp Fogarty programs in Peru helped advance understanding of infectious diseases, develop expertise in informatics, incorporate electronic medical records into the national health system and expand research into the Amazon region and other underserved areas. All the while, Garcia advanced in her career, serving as university dean, director of Perus NIH and recently as health minister. Every step you take in life shapes who you are, she said. And the steps Ive walked with the help of Fogarty were instrumental in helping me to achieve a great deal, including being appointed health minister. FIC, Great Global Village In South Africa, ongoing FIC support since 1992 has helped train more than 600 scientists. For me, the most important thing is that almost every study on HIV going on in South Africa today involves a Fogarty trainee in some way or another, said Dr. Slim Abdool Karim. He introduced his protege, Dr. Vivek Naranbhai, who said his experience as a Fogarty fellow was life-changing. Naranbhai said he entered the program feeling he was an inconsequential physician, but during orientation at NIH quickly realized he had something to offer. It introduced me to a community of like-minded peopleto suddenly have access to this great global village is extraordinary. Photo: Andrew Propp Fogarty programs that develop these local research leaders are the key to the future, said NIH director Dr. Francis Collins. We want to increasingly empower investigators in-country to be able to be in charge of their own efforts, to figure out what the most important research questions are in their environment and then to help them build support for that within their own countries, he said. Even with its modest budget, Fogarty can be an incredible catalyst. The other ICs at NIH have been Fogartys greatest partners in building these international collaborations, with almost 90 percent of Fogarty grants receiving co-funding, noted FIC director Dr. Roger Glass. By forming and supporting these scientific partnerships, the center has tried to expand the envelope of research, he said. The principal value of Fogarty is investing in people and their careers. Watch the whole webcast at http://bit.ly/Fogarty50th. Anthony Bourdain has been cremated in France. The celebrity chef took his own life aged 61 in a French hotel room last week, and his ashes are expected to be flown back to the US on Friday (15.06.18), a source has told PEOPLE. He was in the country shooting a forthcoming episode of his show 'Parts Unknown' when he died, and prosecutor Christian de Rocquigney de Fayel has said there was no evidence of foul play involved. Following his passing, Anthony's girlfriend Asia Argento hailed him for having a "brilliant, fearless spirit". She wrote on Twitter: "Anthony gave all of himself in everything that he did. His brilliant, fearless spirit touched and inspired so many, and his generosity knew no bounds. He was my love, my rock, my protector. I am beyond devastated. My thoughts are with his family. I would ask that you respect their privacy and mine. (sic)" Several stars took to social media to pay tribute to the late chef following his death, including former US President Barack Obama. Referring to the time he shared a $6 meal with Anthony in Hanoi, Vietnam, during an appearance on his show 'Parts Unknown', he wrote: "Low plastic stool, cheap but delicious noodles, cold Hanoi beer. "This is how I'll remember Tony. He taught us about food -- but more importantly, about its ability to bring us together. To make us a little less afraid of the unknown. We'll miss him. (sic)" Chrissy Teigen - who recently took part in an episode of Chase Sapphire's 'Talking Travel' series - tweeted: "Anthony. One of my idols. Unapologetic, passionate and one of the best storytellers on the planet. Thank you for making food so exciting. And always standing up for everything right. Horrible. Why why why. Be at peace now :( (sic)" Fellow celeb chef Gordon Ramsay wrote on Twitter: "Stunned and saddened by the loss of Anthony Bourdain. He brought the world into our homes and inspired so many people to explore cultures and cities through their food. (sic)" 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 [] STREAM LIBERATION OUT NOW BITCHES Reply Thread Link She looks SNATCHING on Jimmy Fallon Reply Parent Thread Link On it! Reply Parent Thread Link She needs her own EFFING post becuase she just SLAYED! THIS ALBUM took me to another dimension! Like, I'm still having after shocks of how shook it got me. I can't even,.. I need to call Bosley tomorrow morning to make an appointment for hair restoration cus I'm completely snatched... Reply Parent Thread Link Michael Jacksons "leave me alone" video is probably one of the top 10 music videos of all time. I miss the days artists put money into their videos. But, its a new day and time. Not even Bjork has the budget to do that anymore :( Sorry, this got me all nostalgic for when videos mattered. These chirren today got it made with this on-damand shit. Why, I remember when you had to sit in front of the damn tv and wait for the video you wanted to see come on! Remember those top 20 countdown shows?? Reply Thread Link I remember learning about BTS tea through that Pop Up Video show on vh1. Reply Parent Thread Link Pop Up video was excellent! Yes, before wiki and shit, this was a great asset for little factoids. Reply Parent Thread Link "Remember those top 20 countdown shows" holy shit, the nostalgia whiplash i just got. I'd completely forgotten they existed. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Yes! I also remember when MTV had this thing where there were like 3 possible music videos they would play and you could go online and vote for the one you wanted to see. My brother and I used to do it and i remember voting as much as possible for music videos for wheres your head at by basement jax and Clint Eastwood by gorrilaz. Fun times. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Gah- I loved the Top 20 countdown and waiting to see my favorites! I miss the old old MTV & Vh1 Reply Parent Thread Link The Top 20 countdowns would make me SEEETHE. Theyd always do a 25 second clip of the video I was waiting for. Im GLAD those times are behind us. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I miss the days artists put money into their videos. Smh, Fergie just did that and y'all made fun of her for that. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link In the internet, viral age...idg why they DONT put money into their videos. Like, I know you can get a huge hit on streaming alone but it just seems like the prime time to make videos more elaborate because there are so many mediums for consumption now. Reply Parent Thread Link That elevator scandal still gets me, Bey not reacting to anything was weird af! Reply Thread Link What I'd give just to hear what they're saying in there! Reply Parent Thread Link Another day, another drama Reply Thread Link I still remember where I was when the Scream video premiered. Fucking iconic. Reply Thread Link *#1 - Piece Of Me, Britney Spears Reply Thread Link + Ha tiddy controversy Reply Parent Thread Link Idt she ever had implants anyway. Looking at old photos of her from that era I think it was mostly just padding. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link this is edited right? there's so much movement Reply Parent Thread Expand Link god i love her so much Reply Parent Thread Link how funny that pete is in ariana's song.. >_> i'm such a loser for liking that jessica simpson song omg. nicky gave her the dumbest looks on that show tho that human nature video is something else.. Edited at 2018-06-15 05:04 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link The song about her scandal has become her scandal. Thanks Pete! >_ Reply Parent Thread Link idk if it's a good scandal or a bad scandal? the press coverage seems more..... bad? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link https://instagram.com/p/Bj8AkxAHKJN Also Jojo Gomez just posted this a couple days ago Reply Thread Link damn jojo gomez is seriously an amazing dancer, i love her but why are we still dancing to MJ? this is how i feel when choreographers i love still do pieces to chris brown Reply Parent Thread Link I remember that scream music video scaring me as a kid Reply Thread Link Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ Reply Thread Link Gosh I love this post yas Reply Thread Link So glad I've never been caught in a public restroom. Then again the fear of getting caught is part of the fun ;) Reply Thread Link As a teen I lived for that Stripped Intro from Xtina's tour lol Reply Thread Link Continuing clashes between the Libyan National Army and rival militant groups have cut Libyas oil production by 240,000 bpd, prompting the shutdown of Libyas two biggest oil ports, Es Sider and Ras Lanuf. Reuters quotes sources from the military as saying the LNA had pulled out of both ports, which is bad news for the security of exports. The National Oil Corporation has evacuated its personnel from the ports and has said that the production loss could reach 400,000 bpd if the ports remained shut down. In May, Ras Lanuf exported 110,000 bpd on average, with shipments leaving from Es Sider at 300,000 bpd. Oil fields have not yet been affected, but the closure of the two ports is enough to wreak havoc on Libyas oil industry. While military sources have said the clashes were between the LNA and the Benghazi Defense Brigadesan Islamist group that the LNA drove out of BenghaziNOC blames for the attack a commander of the Petroleum Facilities Guard, Ibrahim Jathran. Jathran, Reuters reports, appeared on social media yesterday to announce the start of a military campaign against the LNA. Related: Libyas Es Sider Terminal Shuts Down After Militant Clashes We announce the preparation of our ground forces and supporting forces in the oil region, and our objective is to overturn the injustice for our people over the past two years, he was quoted as saying. The past two years have been catastrophic for people in the oil crescent because of the presence of the system of injustice which is the other face of terrorism and extremism. Jathrans PFG held all four ports in the Oil Crescent under a blockade for two years before the LNA wrested control from it in late 2016 and handed it over to the NOC. According to the company, the blockade had cost Libya billions of dollars in lost oil export revenues. Jathran is wanted by the Tripoli authorities for the blockade. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: As everyone watches OPEC and Russia ahead of their meeting in Vienna next week, its easy to miss the fact that this is not the only meeting that will set the course of the global oil market in the coming months. OPEC officials will also meet with chief executives from the U.S. shale industry in Vienna, with Continentals Harold Hamm, Hess Corps John Hess, and Pioneers Scott Sheffield among those to address OPEC, Reuters reports. Although none of the executives were willing to comment on the meeting ahead of it, the topic of discussion will be cooperation, after the last price crisis revealed that the only way to achieve a balance between crude oil demand and supply is to work together rather than against each other. The fact that has brought shale producers and OPEC closer together is that production is no longer priority number-one. Were getting to a point where a continued rise in the oil price is going to cause major problems for the global economy, Reuters quoted the Council on Foreign Relations energy security and climate change program director Amy Meyers Jaffe as saying. There are bigger issues at hand besides output that OPEC and shale producers care about. Related: Saudi Arabia: Deal To Gradually Ease Cuts Is Inevitable One of these bigger issues is the increase price elasticity of oil. A couple of decades ago, fossil fuels had no real alternatives. Now there are solar power plants and electric cars. As we saw from the last oil price rally, consumers are no longer willing to pay more to get increasing amounts of oil. They often seek alternatives and can find them relatively easily. According to analysts, the top priority for shale producers now is not ever-higher oil pricesits stable prices. Although they cannot legally coordinate production to achieve these stable prices, the can discuss the situation and the future prospects of the global industry with OPEC. What will come out of these discussions remains to be seen. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Oil markets are on edge as OPECs June 22 meeting in Vienna quickly approaches. (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) Oil prices bounced around over the past few days as the markets await OPECs decision in a weeks time. While the meeting is shaping up to be a contentious one, the hype also demonstrates OPECs clout years after the groups obituary was written. With unplanned outages escalating, geopolitical risks rising, and U.S. shale production facing infrastructure bottlenecks, Saudi Arabia is once again back in the driver's seat exerting significant influence over the oil market in 2018, Helima Croft, the global head of commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets, said Thursday. All eyes are on what course of action it will call for at the June 22 OPEC meeting in Vienna. IEA: Venezuela and Iran could leave supply deficit. The IEA said in its latest Oil Market Report that robust U.S. shale growth will underpin 2.0 million barrels per day (mb/d) of non-OPEC supply growth this year, plus 1.7 mb/d of non-OPEC output gains in 2019. That should more than meet demand growthin theory, at least. The agency warned that significant losses in Venezuela and Iran could leave a supply gap. Even if the Iran-Venezuela supply gap is plugged, the market will be finely balanced next year, and vulnerable to prices rising higher in the event of further disruption, the IEA said. It is possible that the very small number of countries with spare capacity beyond what can be activated quickly will have to go the extra mile. Libyan export terminals knocked offline. Libyas two largest oil export terminals suffered disruptions this week due to clashes between rival groups. The outages at the Es Sider and Ras Lanuf terminals disrupted some 240,000 bpd of supply, Libyas National Oil Corp. said on Thursday. The two facilities account for 40 percent of Libyas oil exports. If the losses are sustained for any lengthy period of time, it will put more pressure on the OPEC+ group to increase output at its meeting on June 22. Related: 240,000 Bpd Offline Following Clashes In Libya OPEC+ production increases to cut into spare capacity. Any increase in the volume of output from OPEC and Russia will necessarily cut into spare capacity levels, which analysts say could drop to the lowest level in decades. You would essentially be taking 3.2 million barrels per day (bpd) of spare capacity down to approximately 2 million bpd, Jefferies analyst Jason Gammel told Reuters, assuming around 1 mb/d increase in output. Periods of low spare capacity have historically been associated with times of high and volatile prices. Floating storage rising in European waters. More crude oil is being stored on ships at sea in European waters than at any time in the past 18 months, according to Reuters. A quarter of global floating storage is now located in European waters, compared to just 10 percent in March and April. The sudden increase in oil stashed at sea is the result of Asian buyers scooping up cargoes from the U.S., rather than from Nigeria, Angola and the Middle East. The premium for Brent relative to WTI has made U.S. oil cheap compared to oil linked to Brent. It is possible that U.S. crude is displacing some lighter end North Sea (and non-North Sea) grades that have traditionally managed to find a home in Northern European refineries, Kpler economic analyst Reid IAnson told Reuters. Saudi Aramco eyes investments in petrochemicals and refining. Saudi Aramco plans to increase investment in petrochemicals and refining as a way of securing markets for its crude oil sales. The strategy is also a way of diversifying investments as a hedge against future oil demand. Austin Chalk to see uptick in interest. The Austin Chalk, a rock formation that stretches along the Gulf Coast, is starting to see a revival in interest from oil and gas companies, according to Bloomberg, more than two decades after being largely left for dead. It is a play that I think is going to have a lot of legs," Bernadette Johnson, a vice-president for researcher DrillingInfo Inc., told Bloomberg. A series of deals so far this year indicate a sudden uptick in activity for acreage in the Austin Chalk. Alaska taps oil fund. The state of Alaska will tap into its oil wealth fund to help plug budget gaps for the first time since the 1970s. The state has socked away $65 billion in oil funds, which helps finance annual dividend checks to every state resident each year. However, declining production has depleted oil revenues and has put a strain on the budget. Related: Can Saudi Arabia Prevent The Next Oil Shock? BP: Permian productivity growth coming to an end. BPs chief economist Spencer Dale said that the productivity gains in the Permian are likely coming to an end. Such a surge in drilling has forced companies to move out away from top tier acreage. Output per lateral foot fell last year even as overall production grew, the consequence of a spectacular increase in drilling activity. "It does perhaps suggest that the very rapid increases in tight oil productivity that characterized much of the initial phase of the shale revolution may be beginning to fade," Dale said. The Permian is now at the center of global supply growth forecasts, so any slowdown would have global ramifications. With everyone selling, no one is buying. U.S. shale companies have announced a wave of divestment plans under pressure from investors, and companies that signaled an intent to focus on capital restraint and asset disposals have been rewarded by Wall Street. However, even as shale drillers look to sell off less desirable acreage, they are having trouble finding willing buyers because many other companies are pursuing the same strategy, according to Reuters. If these companies cannot execute the divestiture(s) that gave investors confidence on their future leverage profile, you would likely see less risk-tolerant investors trim or sell their positions, said Tim Dumois, portfolio manager at BP Capital Fund Advisors. In other words, shale drillers will see their stocks take a hit if they cant find buyers for their unwanted assets. By Tom Kool for Safehaven.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Afghanistan were staring at a heavy defeat in their debut Test after they were skittled out for just 109 in a single session on Friday to lie 365 adrift of India, who enforced the follow-on. Ravichandran Ashwin claimed four wickets to easily break the resistance of the newcomers on day two and leave them on the verge of a chastening rout on their introduction to the five-day game. Responding to India's 474, Afghanistan's batting collapsed against the bowling of the world's top Test side. They survived just 27.5 overs in the second session in Bangalore. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja got Mujeeb Ur Rahman stumped for 15 to complete the rout just as tea was taken. Ashwin returned figures of 4-27 with his off-spin, while Jadeja and paceman Ishant Sharma took two wickets each. Opener Mohammad Shahzad was run out after hitting three boundaries before Sharma came on to destroy the Afghan top-order. Sharma rattled the stumps of opener Javed Ahmadi for one, and wicketkeeper-batsman Afsar Zazai for six, in a devastating first spell. Fellow fast bowler Umesh Yadav trapped Rahmat Shah lbw for 14 and gave away just 18 runs from his first six overs. Ashwin bowled Afghan skipper Asghar Stanikzai for 11 with a beautiful off-spinner. Mohammad Nabi hit the team's top score of 24 to help them past 100. Earlier Hardik Pandya hit 71 to give India a formidable first innings total after the hosts resumed on 347-6. Afghan paceman Yamin Ahmadzai stood out with three wickets while fellow quick Wafadar and teenage spinner Rashid Khan took two each. Afghanistan were awarded full Test status last year along with Ireland, who lost to Pakistan in their debut Test last month. Yesterday (Thursday 14 June), 270 Laguna Resorts & Hotels (LRH) Plc. executives together with Laguna Phuket associates had participated in an Anti-Bribery and Corruption Training at Angsana Ballroom, Angsana Laguna Phuket. The training was separated to 2 sessions; morning session in English language for expatriate associates and Thai-language session in the afternoon. The anti-bribery and corruption training was held with an objective to educate Laguna Phuket associates on an overview of anti-bribery and corruption, LRHs zero-tolerance anti-corruption policies and corruption-related red flags. The training is also in compliance with the Thai governments anti-corruption policies and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)s measures against bribery and corruption. There was a post-training test to evaluate participants knowledge. The test results will be recorded for future reference. In November 2017, LRH signed the declaration to join Thailands Private Sector Collective Action Coalition Against Corruption (CAC). The training is part of LRHs self-evaluation tool and supporting evidence as required by CAC. Jorg Standfuss at the injector with which protein crystals for the experiments at the Californian X-ray laser LCLS were tested. In the near future, this technology will also be available at PSI's X-ray laser SwissFEL, for scientists from all over the world. Credit: Paul Scherrer Institute/Mahir Dzambegovic Using X-ray laser technology, a team led by researchers of the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI has recorded one of the fastest processes in biology. In doing so, they produced a molecular movie that reveals how the light sensor retinal is activated in a protein molecule. Such reactions occur in numerous organisms that use the information or energy content of light they enable certain bacteria to produce energy through photosynthesis, initiate the process of vision in humans and animals, and regulate adaptations to the circadian rhythm. The movie shows for the first time how a protein efficiently controls the reaction of the embedded light sensor. The images, now published in the journal Science, were captured at the free-electron X-ray laser LCLS at Stanford University in California. Further investigations are planned at SwissFEL, the new free-electron X-ray laser at PSI. Besides the scientists from Switzerland, researchers from Japan, the USA, Germany, Israel, and Sweden took part in this study. The molecule retinal is a form of vitamin A and is of central importance to humans, animals, certain algae, and many bacteria. In the retina of the human eye, retinal triggers the process of vision when it changes its shape under the influence of light. In a similar form, certain bacteria also use this reaction to pump protons or ions through the cell membrane. Light energy can be stored in this way, as in the reservoir of an alpine hydropower plant, so that it is available on demand as biological fuel. To ensure efficient utilisation of light, the retinal molecule is embedded in proteins that play a critical role in regulating the process. The protein-regulated reaction of retinal is one of the fastest biological processes and occurs within 500 femtoseconds (a femtosecond is one-millionth of one-billionth of a second). That is roughly a trillion times faster than the blink of an eye, says Jorg Standfuss, who heads the group for time-resolved crystallography in the Division of Biology and Chemistry at PSI. What happens in the process on the atomic level has now been captured for the first time by PSI researchers, in 20 snapshots that they have assembled into a molecular movie. No one has previously measured a retinal protein at such high speed and with such precision. It's a world record, says Jorg Standfuss, who led the study. The researchers studied the protein bacteriorhodopsin, which is found in simple microbes. When the retinal molecule embedded in the bacteriorhodopsin traps a light particle, it changes its original elongated shape into a curving form, like when a cat arches its back, explains the PSI researcher. Such changes can also be observed when retinal is examined in a solution without protein. There, though, different reactions, which are also less productive, take place. Proteins are like factories in which chemical reactions run especially efficiently, Jorg Standfuss explains. We wanted to look at how this interplay between the protein and the molecule functions. In serial crystallography, crystals are injected into an X-ray beam. When the beam and the crystal meet, rays of light are diffracted. The diffracted light rays are recorded by a detector. From the light patterns that many identical crystals produce at the detector, the structure of the crystals can be determined. For time-resolved experiments, an additional optical laser is used to activate the biomolecules in the crystal at a definite point in time. Credit: Paul Scherrer Institute/Mahir Dzambegovic A surprising observation The researchers discovered that water molecules in the vicinity of the retinal play a critical role. They were able to observe how the water molecules moved aside and made room for the retinal molecule to do its cat-arching-its-back move in the technical jargon, a trans-cis isomerisation. This detail, which no one had seen before, surprised Jorg Standfuss, as he explains with the help of the cat analogy: You expect that a cat might arch its back to scare another one away. But here the second cat runs away even before the first has arched its back. Computer simulations confirm the measurements, which could be explained by ultrafast quantum processes. Besides the retinal reaction, the researchers were also able to detect protein quakes that had been predicted by theory. The arching of the cat's back does not require the entire energy of the light that falls on the protein. Excess energy is released, evidently, not in the form of heat but rather in vibrations of the protein. The film shows the transition between the main states of retinal within the first picoseconds after activation in the binding pocket of the bacteriorhodopsin. Credit: Paul Scherrer Institute/Przemyslaw Nogly and Tobias Weinert New measurements planned at SwissFEL For their images, the PSI researchers traveled to California, to the free-electron X-ray laser LCLS at Stanford University. In the future, they will be able to realise such films right at PSI with the newly commissioned facility SwissFEL. For such studies, the sample is illuminated with extremely short and intense flashes of laser-quality X-ray light. The X-ray beams are diverted in different directions by the sample and generate diffraction patterns from which the original structure can be calculated. As samples, the researchers use tiny crystals in which the bacteriorhodopsin is densely packed in an ordered state. The light sensor in the bacteriorhodopsin is excited by a short pulse from an optical laser. Afterwards, the X-ray flash hits the crystal and lights up the scene. The time between the optical signal and the X-ray flash determines how far the reaction will have progressed. Individual snapshots taken at different points in time can be spliced together into a movie. After studying bacteriorhodopsin, the PSI researchers want to use SwissFEL to investigate the retinal in rhodopsin in our eyes. Similar retinal proteins can also be artificially incorporated into nerve cells, so it becomes possible to selectively activate nerve cells with light and study their function. With these retinal proteins, one can activate any region in the brain with the help of light, says Jorg Standfuss, explaining the goal of the new field called optogenetics. Measurements with SwissFEL are expected to contribute to the improvement of optogenetics applications. Explore further Catching proteins in the act More information: Przemyslaw Nogly et al. Retinal isomerization in bacteriorhodopsin captured by a femtosecond x-ray laser, Science (2018). Journal information: Science Przemyslaw Nogly et al. Retinal isomerization in bacteriorhodopsin captured by a femtosecond x-ray laser,(2018). DOI: 10.1126/science.aat0094 Vous etes confrontes a une infestation par la puce, la punaise de lit ? Voici plusieurs actions qui sont a mettre en uvre pour faire [] A new investigation of how children reason about religious rules reveals a remarkable level of acceptance of different religions' rules and practices. The study, appearing in the June 13 online edition of Child Development, found that both Hindu and Muslim children in India thought that Hindu children should follow Hindu norms and Muslim children should follow Muslim norms. "Even in a region with a long history of high religious tension, we see impressive levels of religious tolerance among children," said study co-author Audun Dahl, assistant professor of psychology at UC Santa Cruz. "Children think that people in different religions should follow their own normsand that's a starting point, a reason for optimism." Very little research has been done on how children reason about religious norms, despite the fact that differences between religious norms underpin conflicts around the globe, including Catholic/Protestant clashes in Europe and differences among Sunni and Shia Muslims, noted Dahl. Religious norms dictate practices from clothing and land ownership to reproduction, he said, with adult adherents frequently wanting others to adhere to their norms. "Children expressed preferences for their own religion, but we found no evidence of children rejecting the norms of the other religion," said Dahl, adding that such tolerance is the first step toward greater harmony. Exploring religious tolerance Dahl and coauthors Mahesh Srinivasan at UC Berkeley and Elizabeth Kaplan at Syracuse University wanted to see if children would extend their thinking about their own religious norms to other groups. In other words, would Hindu children think that all children should follow Hindu norms? And would Muslim children believe that all children should follow Muslim norms? "As it turned out, both Hindu and Muslim children thought that the norms of a religion applied only to followers of that religion. For instance, almost no participants thought Muslim kids should follow Hindu norms, but at least half thought Muslim kids should follow Muslim norms," said Dahl. Rather than applying their own religious norms to all others, children endorsed the right of each religion to have its own religious norms. The study took place in Gujarat, India, a region with a history of Hindu-Muslim violence. Investigators worked with 100 children ages 9 to 15, focusing on different Hindu norms, such as the prohibition against eating beef, and Muslim norms, such as the prohibition against worshipping an idol. They also asked the children about hitting people to explore the youngsters' reasoning around moral norms. "The tendency to restrict the norms of one's own religion only to followers of that religion, and to expect members of another religious group to follow their own customs, may contribute to peaceful coexistence," said Dahl. Religious norms as distinct from other social norms The researchers also asked children about moral norms about how to treat others. Fully 95 percent of childrenregardless of religionasserted that it's not okay to hit people. Perhaps more surprisingly, most children thought it was wrong to hit someone even if hitting was permitted by religious authorities or a god. Dahl said this speaks to the difference between religious norms and moral norms. Yet, children also viewed religious norms as different from social conventions or personal preferences. "Religious beliefs are about truth and falsehood. They are about which god, or gods, exist, and which gods are right," he said. "They don't lend themselves to pluralism as easily as personal preferences or social conventions do." Most religious people believe their god is the true god, so the researchers thought there was a good chance that Hindu children, for example, would think that Muslim childrenas well as Hindu childrenshould follow Hindu norms. "In the Hindu religion, the cow is a holy animal, so you could expect Hindu children to say it is wrong for anyone to kill and eat cows," said Dahl. "But that's not what we found. Most Hindu children thought Muslims could eat beef, and should follow Muslim rather than Hindu norms." Dahl and Srinivasan plan to further explore how children integrate religious norms as distinct from social norms regarding what's right and wrong, including hitting others. "Religions often aren't explicit about the scope of their norms and whether they apply to non-followers, so there's a question about how children apply the fundamental concepts to actual, complicated scenarios of real life," Dahl said. "It's fascinating." These findings offer hope that exposure to conflicts over religious differences, like those experienced by children in many regions of the world, need not lead children to develop negative attitudes toward the religious practices of other groups. "Rather, perhaps these levels of understanding will play a role in reducing conflict over time," said Dahl. Explore further Why do children tattle? More information: Mahesh Srinivasan et al, Reasoning About the Scope of Religious Norms: Evidence From Hindu and Muslim Children in India, Child Development (2018). Journal information: Child Development Mahesh Srinivasan et al, Reasoning About the Scope of Religious Norms: Evidence From Hindu and Muslim Children in India,(2018). DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13102 Credit: NASA/USGS/Lauren Dauphin/Adam Voiland When NASA engineers were looking for a place to build a network of large radio antennas in the 1950s, they knew they needed somewhere quiet. They were going to build a series of antennas with huge parabolic dishes and receivers that could detect extremely faint radio signals. They settled on a remote stretch of the Mojave Desert near the ghost town of Goldstone and the U.S. Army's Fort Irwinan area with no interference from power lines or commercial radio and television transmitters. The first antenna built at the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex was the aptly named Pioneer Station. The 85-foot (26-meter) antenna began receiving data from the Pioneer 3 mission in 1958. The station was mothballed in 1981 after serving several high-profile NASA missions, including Apollo, Mariner, Viking and Voyager. It was declared a National Historic Monument in 1985. The largest and most sensitive antenna at the Goldstone Complex is at Mars Station. It spans 70 meters (230 feet), stands 24 stories tall, and weighs 7.2 million kilograms (16 million pounds). One of the satellites this antenna is used to communicate with is Voyager 1, a far-roving spacecraft launched in 1977. Voyager 1 is now more than 13 billion miles (21 billion kilometers) from Earth, making it the most distant human-made object in the universe. Echo Station is the current administrative center for the complex. Built in 1959, the station was named for early experiments performed with the Echo 1 communications balloon. The metallic balloon, known as the world's first communications satellite, ascended to 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles), and relayed radio and radar communications between an antenna at Echo Station and a receiving station in New Jersey. In a departure from the traditional method of naming a station for the first mission supported, Gemini Station is named for the twin stars in the Gemini constellation. The antennas were originally built by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for the Army and were transferred to NASA in 1994. The first mission Gemini supported was the Solar Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), a cooperative mission between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA). The Goldstone complex is just one of three facilities in NASA's Deep Space Network. Similar stations exist in Madrid, Spain and near Canberra, Australia. The strategic placement of the three sites allows for constant communication with spacecraft as Earth rotates. Explore further Image: First pass of Echo 1 satellite over the Goldstone Tracking Station Visualisation of the martian environment showing the Mars Express orbit, as well as the magnetic field observations (red arrows) sampled by the MAVEN spacecraft along its orbit. The view also includes the simulated map of the magnetic field magnitude in the Mars-centred XZ plane perpendicular to the planet's orbit, where the X axis points towards the Sun, and the simulated magnetic field vectors along the Mars Express and MAVEN spacecraft orbits (blue vectors). Different regions and boundaries, such as the bow shock or the magnetic crustal field regions, can be identified in the image. Credit: CNES/IRAP/GFI informatique; LatHyS; 3DView A new database of plasma simulations, combined with observational data and powerful visualisation tools, is providing planetary scientists with an unprecedented way to explore some of the Solar System's most interesting plasma environments. This digital space exploration story starts with the Integrated Medium for Planetary Exploration (IMPEx), a collaborative project to create a common data hub for space missions. While planetary missions are crucial to understand how the solar wind interacts with the magnetospheres of planets and moons in our Solar System, numerical models are, in turn, essential to fully comprehend the measurements and improve our knowledge of planetary plasma environments. The IMPEx project brought together experts from Austria, France, Finland and Russia to find a common language to combine data from various simulation models and to compare these numerical results with observational data collected by space missions across the Solar System. It was in this context that a group led by Ronan Modolo at the Laboratoire Atmospheres, Milieux, Observations Spatiales (LATMOS), in France, started developing a collection of plasma simulations at various planetary bodies. The Latmos Hybrid Simulation (LatHyS) database and its uses are presented in a new study published earlier this year in a special issue of Planetary and Space Science. Modelling celestial environments The LatHyS database includes a number of simulation results of plasma the mixture of charged particles that permeates interplanetary space at selected planets or planetary bodies in our Solar System. The simulations are based on advanced numerical models that take into account a number of complex physical and chemical processes in the upper atmospheres of celestial objects, their interaction with the solar wind and response to solar radiation. Animated simulation of Mars' plasma environment. Click here for details and large versions of the video. Credit: CNES/IRAP/GFI informatique; LatHyS; 3DView "So far, celestial objects modelled by LatHyS simulations include Mars, Mercury and Jupiter's moon, Ganymede," explains Modolo. "We are planning to extend this database to other objects like Saturn's moon Titan and, in the longer term, to other moons of Jupiter, like Europa or Callisto," he adds. The database gives the planetary science community access to simulated plasma data, including electric and magnetic fields, density, temperature and plasma bulk speed. LatHyS, together with a suite of data analysis and visualisation tools, allows researchers to easily combine data from various spacecraft with simulation results, to create 3-D images showing how the solar wind interacts with planetary plasma, and much more. "With a few clicks, the user can get a realistic three-dimensional scene of the plasma environment at the planet and of the spacecraft trajectory, with in-situ measurements enriched by simulation results," says Dmitri Titov, ESA Mars Express project scientist and a user of the database, who was not involved in the study. "Users can also use this tool to create animations and, on the scientific side, to visualise the measurements in the context where they had been performed and assist in planning future observations." To show how useful LatHyS and its associated 3-D visualisation tools can be in helping understand planetary plasma environments, Modolo and his team presented a science case in their new study focusing on Mars. They used observational data from ESA's Mars Express, a mission that has been exploring the Red Planet since 2003, probing its plasma environment in unprecedented detail. They also relied on data from a second Mars orbiter equipped with a plasma instrument: NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission (MAVEN), which arrived at Mars in 2014 and has been studying the planet's plasma environment and its interaction with the solar wind in close collaboration with Mars Express ever since. For the new study, the researchers combined and compared data from MAVEN and Mars Express with the LatHyS simulation results. By combining the simulations with observational data and the orbits of the two spacecraft using 3DView a 3-D visualisation tool that was also developed in the framework of IMPEx they could analyse in a new way how the solar wind interacts with the Mars upper atmosphere. While the science case focused on the Red Planet and on the Mars Express and MAVEN missions, the database can be used to explore other bodies in the Solar System, comparing simulation results with observation data from other space missions. Animated simulation of Mercury's plasma environment. Click here for details and large versions of the video. Credit: CNES/IRAP/GFI informatique; LatHyS; 3DView "All planetary missions with plasma instruments past, present and future can be potentially used, but for the time being we focus on those dedicated to Mars, Mercury, and Ganymede," says Modolo. This includes ESA's Rosetta, which flew by Mars in 2007 on its way to Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, and, in the future, BepiColombo and JUICE, the JUpiter ICy moons Explorer. The Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter and the Mercury Planetary Orbiter on the ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission will explore different regions of Mercury's plasma environment, while ESA's JUICE has Ganymede, the largest moon of Jupiter, as one of its main targets. Modolo looks to future missions since LatHyS, combined with visualisation tools, can help plan for them. Seeing the solar system in 3-D A strength of LatHyS is how well it works with 3DView, a powerful application for displaying science data in 3-D. In the current version of the viewer, users can visualise spacecraft trajectories, the positions of planets and other Solar System bodies, among other features. More importantly, because of the integration with IMPEx and LatHyS, 3DView can display scientific data from multiple space missions, as well as from simulations. A new paper led by Vincent Genot of the Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planetologie (IRAP) in Toulouse, France, published in the same issue of Planetary and Space Science, introduces the latest version of the tool and describes in detail how it can be used to display space physics data. 3DView, designed by the French Plasma Physics Data Center (CDPP), was initially developed in 2005 to visualise the trajectory of ESA's Rosetta spacecraft on its way to the comet. The viewer now comprises some 150 space missions, including Rosetta, Venus Express, and CassiniHuygens, as well as all planets and moons in the Solar System and a number of asteroids and comets. "3DView offers the possibility to visualise spacecraft ephemerides of past, present and future missions and, when available, observations at all celestial objects in the Solar System explored by space missions equipped with plasma instruments," says Genot. Illustration of the ionised environment of Jupiter's moon, Ganymede, one of the main targets of ESA's future JUICE mission. The scene also includes a flow map on the left of the frame, and is completed by magnetic field lines that pass through the JUICE trajectory. Credit: CNES/IRAP/GFI informatique; LatHyS; 3DView One of the main applications of the tool, also in combination with LatHyS, is in helping scientists and engineers during the preparation stages for space missions, allowing them to visualise spacecraft trajectories and the environment at celestial bodies. In 2014, a version of 3DView helped scientists in the selection process of a landing site at Rosetta's comet for the Philae probe. A science case presented in this study features ESA's future mission, JUICE, which is planned for launch in 2022. The researchers combined observations of Ganymede done by NASA's Galileo mission a couple of decades ago with LatHyS simulations of the plasma environment at this Jupiter moon. JUICE scientists have used 3DView in a similar way, to analyse simulations at Ganymede and gather information, such as times for closest approaches or magnetopause crossings, about future fly-bys of the moon by JUICE. "The 3DView tool is useful to visualise the trajectory of JUICE in the Jupiter system and also to visualise the 'invisible' magnetospheric boundaries," says ESA's JUICE Project Scientist Olivier Witasse. While its main target audience is the scientific community, 3DView is also attracting attention as an educational tool. The code is open source and the software is often used in higher-education courses to help students have a better grasp of space physics. From providing new ways to explore our Solar System to planning future missions and inspiring the next generation of space researchers, LatHyS and 3DView show how much scientists and engineers can gain from combining observations and simulations. Explore further European team creates universal 'language' for space science More information: R. Modolo et al. The LatHyS database for planetary plasma environment investigations: Overview and a case study of data/model comparisons, Planetary and Space Science (2017). R. Modolo et al. The LatHyS database for planetary plasma environment investigations: Overview and a case study of data/model comparisons,(2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.pss.2017.02.015 V. Genot et al. Science data visualization in planetary and heliospheric contexts with 3DView, Planetary and Space Science (2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.pss.2017.07.007 Journal information: Planetary and Space Science The spotted lanternfly poses a significant threat to Pennsylvania agricultural industries including the tree-fruit, hardwood and nursery sectors that collectively are worth nearly $18 billion to the state's economy. Credit: Erica Smyers The spotted lanternfly is starting to sour the grape and wine industries in southeastern Pennsylvania, and research underway in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences aims to spoil the invasive pest's party. "Spotted lanternflies have a taste for the sap from grapevines, and when they arrive on the scene, they are not polite guests that sip a little bit and go home," said Julie Urban, senior research associate in entomology, when speaking about the bug, which first appeared in Berks County in 2014 and has since spread to 13 counties in the state. "On the contrary, they are out-of-control party crashers that won't stop until they have nearly drained plants dry." There is a lot at stake for Pennsylvania's grape and wine industries, which pour an estimated $4.8 billion annually into the state's economy through employment, wine sales, tourism, tax revenue and related avenues, according to the National Association of American Wineries. There are more than 250 in-state wineries and vineyards. To understand the pest's potential to cause pandemonium in vineyards, Urban and Erica Smyers, a doctoral candidate in entomology, along with Michela Centinari, assistant professor of viticulture, and Michael Saunders, a retired Penn State professor and grape entomologist, have established a satellite research site at Manatawny Creek Vineyard in Berks County. A spotted lanternfly mass on a grapevine in Boyertown, Pennsylvania, last year. Honeydew droppings can be seen in the upper left corner. Mass feeding by the pest can cause shoots and canes to wither and die, and honeydew can lead to sooty mold growth that contaminates grape clusters. Credit: Pennsylvania State University There, over two growing seasons, they will document how feeding damage caused by the insect affects grapevine health and the quality and quantity of the fruit. The team believes information gleaned from this study will be helpful for growers when making decisions about pest-management strategies. "We need to establish economic thresholds for growers so they can determine whether crop damage from spotted lanternfly is easier to absorb than investing in costly insecticide sprays," said Smyers, who is leading the project. "There is a lot we don't know about the pest's basic biology and ecology. Once we better understand these aspects, we will be able to develop better traps and tools to manage these insects in and around the vineyard." Smyers noted that the Douglassville-based vineyard is the ideal site for the study because it is located in the heart of the current spotted lanternfly quarantine area. The vineyard's owners are familiar with the pest and are eager to help. "We had our first serious issue with spotted lanternfly last year," said Darvin Levengood, of Manatawny Creek. "We are expecting it to become worse this year and fearing a worse problem in future years. We are happy to partner with Penn State so we can learn more about how to control it." Penn State researchers are studying how feeding damage caused by the spotted lanternfly affects grapevine health and the quality and quantity of the fruit. Here, volunteers from Penn State's Fruit Research and Extension Center help prepare holes for planting grapevines at Manatawny Creek Vineyard in Berks County, the location of the research. Credit: Erica Smyers In late May, the team enlisted a dozen volunteers to help plant 80 Chardonnay vinesdonated by Penn State's Lake Erie Regional Grape Research and Extension Center in Erie Countyon an outlying section of the property. Large, mesh cages surround the plants, allowing researchers to monitor the behavior of the varying amounts of spotted lanternflies placed inside and to document their impact on grapevine growth, health, winter hardiness, and fruit production and quality. Urban explained that spotted lanternflies do not attack the actual fruit; instead, they eat sap from foliage and woody parts of plants. They have piercing-sucking mouthparts that can penetrate tree trunks, branches or vines, thereby inflicting wounds that weep with sap. Because they consume so much plant sap, the pests excrete copious amounts of sugary droppings called honeydew. That, in turn, makes a bad situation even worse because sap and honeydew can attract other insects and set the stage for the growth of fungi, such as sooty mold, which covers leaf surfaces and grape clusters. Another leg of the researchaided by Molly Kelly, an enology extension educator, and Jared Ali, chemical ecologist and assistant professor of entomologywill examine whether sooty mold and spotted lanternflies could taint juice and affect wine quality if, by chance, they wind up in the wine-making process. Large, mesh cages surround the grapevines in the study, allowing researchers to monitor the behavior of the varying amounts of spotted lanternflies placed inside. These cages not only keep the spotted lanternflies in, but also keep other grapevine-feeding insects/pests out. Credit: Erica Smyers Also lending support to the overall investigation, which is expected to conclude in fall 2019, are the Lake Erie Regional Grape Research and Extension Center and Penn State's Fruit Research and Extension Center in Biglerville. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has provided funding for the study, which is one of several concurrent spotted lanternfly research projects taking place at Penn State. The College of Agricultural Sciences and Penn State Extension also are part of a task force consisting of government, industry and agriculture representatives who are working together to identify specific strategies to combat the spotted lanternfly. The invasive pest poses a significant threat to Pennsylvania agricultural industriesincluding the tree-fruit, hardwood and nursery sectorsthat collectively are worth nearly $18 billion to the state's economy. The insect, a native of Southeast Asia, also can cause damage to high-value ornamentals in home landscapes. "This is an 'all-hands-on-deck' effort, and Penn State is proud to be at the helm of research and outreach efforts," Urban said. "Our goal is to prevent further damage from this destructive species. It's imperative that citizens join us and learn how they can help." More information: For more information, see For more information, see extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly Graham, aboard the RV Atlantis, prepares to deploy a CTD Rosette that is used to determine at which depths to collect ocean water samples. Credit: Babak Hassanzadeh While many students spend their spring break on a cruise ship, Elaina Graham chose a different kind of get-away. There was no swimming pool. No steel drum band. No all-you-can-eat buffet. Instead, her month-long voyage across the Atlantic was riddled with bacteria. Sailing from South Africa to Puerto Rico, she joined a group of scientists aboard the RV Atlantisone of the most sophisticated research vessels in commission. When the USC Dornsife graduate student returned to Los Angeles, she brought back important souvenirs: bacterial DNA sequence data from ocean water samples. Today, she collaborates with John Heidelberg, associate professor of biological sciences and environmental studies at USC Dornsife, and postdoctoral scholar Ben Tully to grow organisms that have never been found in natureorganisms that have been discovered through metagenomics. Using a technique that directly samples microbial DNA from ocean waters, the scientists are reconstructing genomic sequences of environmental bacteria. These recomposed genomes allow them to ask questions about what microorganisms are doing in the ocean and the critical role they play in maintaining healthy biochemical cycles in marine ecosystems. Innovating around the problem "In the oceans where we work, better than 99 percent of the individual bacteria won't grow in a lab," said Heidelberg. "So we can't do the first step that most people think of as the starting point for microbiology, which is growing the cells." This is where metagenomics comes in. Scientists take DNA sequence information extracted from entire microbial communities in their natural environment and compile the data in bulk. "The interest in our lab has been looking at whether we can you use these really big DNA datasets to reconstruct the organisms that are providing their genomic information," Tully said. Using data from the Tara Oceans expedition, the largest marine microbial dataset in existence, the USC team has a huge albeit unwieldy set of microbial genetic information to work with. Imagine trying to remake a single Wikipedia article by putting all of the words from every Wikipedia article into a hat, shaking it up, and picking out words at random. When developing a metagenome, the "words" are genes and the "sentences" they form are genetic sequences. Scientists try to string thousands of these disparate sentences together to recreate a very specific "Wikipedia article"or the genome of a living bacterium. Sometimes the organisms revealed through the process have not yet been identified in nature by the scientific community, including thousands of species discovered by the USC Dornsife team. Estimates put the number of known marine organism genomes at about 3,500 prior to their research. Now there are more than 6,000. "This is why the field of metagenomics has grown. It gives us insights as to what biology could be going on," Heidelberg said. "And it's not able to be done any other way." Primed for discovery Creating a metagenome would be impractical were it not for software that can analyze and arrange the data. Dissatisfied with existing programs, Tully and Graham collaborated on developing an open-source computational tool called "BinSanity." Scientists feed a dataset into the system, which identifies patterns consistent with known genomic sequences and organizes these into separate "bins." A slight difference from known sequences could indicate a new organism. The USC Dornsife team is especially interested in one particular finding of theirs. In the ocean, there are many organisms that perform photosynthesis. And there are other organisms called phototrophs that also have the capacity to use light, but only in a more direct way for energy. Until recently, these were two distinct groups. As they were running data through BinSanity, Tully and Graham noticed genomes indicating another group of bacteriaone that can both use light as energy and take compounds from the ocean to fix carbon. While common among terrestrial plants and phytoplankton, this dual activity was previously undetected in the oceans. "We've been able to present to the scientific community this new group of organisms that seem to be connecting these two spheres of previously unconnected biology," said Tully. Graham's research cruise afforded a unique opportunity to further cement this connection. Using new samples she collected from the same areas covered in the Tara Oceans expedition, the team is exploring metagenomic sequences to find more evidence of these microbes, which they believe take in certain sulfur compounds. With this in mind, Graham is using sulfur-based chemical amendments to try to promote their growth in a laboratory setting. "When we are doing our incubations and we add these certain sulfur compounds, it causes a change in biomass," she said. Using molecular tools, they can determine if this increase in biomass is due to the microbes multiplying. "It's a good sign that something is growing," Graham said, "because most of the conditions I'm using are very specific and not a lot of other bacteria are known to grow like that." If the scientists can nurture the microbes to grow in the lab, the research could reveal a new world of marine microbiology. The only known population of the Madame Berthes mouse lemur (Microcebus berthae) is around the Kirindy forest in western Madagascar. Due to the ongoing destruction of the remaining forests, the world's smallest primate is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN. Credit: Uwe Zimmermann Primates are fascinating. They are intelligent, live in complex societies and are a vital part of the ecosystem. Lemurs, lorises, galagos, tarsiers, monkeys and apes are our closest biological relatives and just like them, humans are also primates. However, while the human population spread to all corners of the earth, many of our closest relatives are under serious threat. An international team of leading primate researchers, including Christian Roos of the German Primate Center (DPZ) Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, has analyzed and evaluated the situation of many endangered non-human primate species in Brazil, Madagascar, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in a review article published today. In their study, the researchers investigated the influence of human activities on wild primate populations. The destruction of natural forests and their conversion into agricultural land, threatens many species who thereby lose their habitat. However, hunting and the bushmeat trade also lead to a massive and rapid decline of many populations. A simulation of agricultural land expansion by the end of the century showed a decline of up to 78 percent in the distribution areas of many primate species. In their study, the scientists ask for immediate measures to protect the endangered primate species and supply recommendations for the long-term conservation of primates and to avert primate extinction (Peer Journal 2018). Primates live in tropical and subtropical areas and are mainly found in regions of Africa, South America, Madagascar and Asia. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) currently lists 439 species. 65 percent (286) of these are located in the four countries Brazil, Indonesia, Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Around 60 percent of them are threatened by extinction. Particularly dire is the situation in Indonesia and Madagascar, where 90 percent of primate population declined and more than three-quarters of species are endangered. In a comprehensive literature review, the authors of the study analyzed the major threat factors for primates in four countries. In Brazil, Madagascar and Indonesia the increasing destruction of their habitats is a stressor for the animals. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the bushmeat trade is the biggest threat. In addition, primates are sold illegally as pets or used in traditional medicine. Poverty, the lack of education, food insecurity, political instability and corruption further encourage the depletion of natural resources in the countries concerned and make it more difficult to protect the animals. "The destruction of the natural environment through deforestation, the expansion of agricultural land and infrastructure development to transport goods has become a major problem," says Christian Roos, a scientist in the Primate Genetics Laboratory at the DPZ and co-author of the study. "The main contributors of this development are the industrial nations. There is a high demand for raw materials such as soy, palm oil, rubber, hardwood or fossil fuel. The four primate-rich countries cover 50 percent of these export goods to China, India, the US and Europe." The scientists combined data from the United Nations and World Bank databases to simulate the estimated spread of agricultural land in the four countries until the turn of the century. Assuming a worst-case scenario, the researchers were able to predict a decline in the geographical range of the primate populations. Accordingly, by the year 2100 78 percent of the primate habitats in Brazil, 72 percent in Indonesia, 62 percent in Madagascar and 32 percent in the Congo could have disappeared. At the same time, the authors investigated the size and distribution of protected areas. Their estimates show that Brazil and Madagascar have around 38 percent, Indonesia 17 percent, and The Democratic Republic of Congo 14 percent of primate habitats in protected areas. The majority of the distribution areas are without protection status and primates are therefore under threat. The authors call for the extension of protected areas, the reforestation of forests and the planting of corridors as important measures to preserve primate populations. In addition, the local population must be made aware of the precarious situation. Governments, scientists, conservation organizations and economists need to work together to promote sustainable, organic farming while preserving traditional lifestyles. In addition, the governments of the countries concerned should work harder to combat illegal hunting, forest destruction and primate trade. "Primates are like canaries in a coal mine," says Christian Roos. "They are invaluable for tropical biodiversity as they are vital for the regeneration of forests and stable ecosystems. Their extinction will serve as an alarm bell for humans and an indication that these habitats will become unusable in the long run." More information: Alejandro Estrada et al. Primates in peril: the significance of Brazil, Madagascar, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo for global primate conservation, PeerJ (2018). Journal information: PeerJ Alejandro Estrada et al. Primates in peril: the significance of Brazil, Madagascar, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo for global primate conservation,(2018). DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4869 Princeton University's Martin Wuhr has improved upon his method to accurately count the proteins present in a cell under different circumstances. 'The TMTc+ method is in a kind of sweet spot compared to the other methods [of isobaric tagging],' Wuhr says. 'It provides superb measurement accuracy and precision, it's at least as sensitive as any other method, and it's compatible with around ten times more mass spectrometers than TMT-MS3.' Credit: Martin Wuhr, Princeton University Department of Molecular Biology Every cell in the body contains thousands of different protein molecules and they can change this composition whenever they are induced to perform a particular task or convert into a different cell type. Understanding how cells function depends on proteomics, the ability to measure all of the changes in a cell's protein components. In a recent paper published in the journal Analytical Chemistry, Martin Wuhr and colleagues in Princeton University's Department of Molecular Biology described an improved method to accurately count the proteins present in a cell under different circumstances. The basic tool for counting proteins is a machine called a mass spectrometer. Cell samples can be run through this type of instrument one at a time, but this is laborious and it can be difficult to detect any changes between different samples. An alternative approach is to label all of the proteins in a particular sample with a unique "isobaric" tag. Multiple samplesup to 11can then be mixed together and run through the mass spectrometer at the same time, with the isobaric tag functioning as an identifying barcode that tells the researcher which sample the protein originally came from. This speeds things up and makes it easier to quantify any changes in the protein composition of different samples. "However, with the simplest version of isobaric tagging, known as TMT-MS2, there are major difficulties in distinguishing real signals from background noise," Wuhr explains. "That makes the readouts unreliable and only semi-quantitative." A more complex version of isobaric tagging, called TMT-MS3, can improve this signal-to-noise problem, but it is slower and less sensitive. Moreover, it relies on a much more expensive type of mass spectrometer beyond the reach of most researchers. While he was a postdoc at Harvard University, Wuhr developed a different approach to isobaric tagging that solved the signal-to-noise problem while remaining compatible with cheaper, widely available mass spectrometers. But the techniqueknown as TMTcwas not without its own problems, particularly a lack of precision that made it hard to obtain consistent results. In their recent Analytical Chemistry paper, Wuhr and two of his graduate students, Matthew Sonnett and Eyan Yeung, described an improved version of TMTc that they named TMTc+. By changing how the cell samples are prepared and altering the computer algorithm that extracts data from the mass spectrometer, Wuhr and colleagues were able to address many of the limitations associated with the various methods of isobaric tagging. "The TMTc+ method is in a kind of sweet spot compared to the other methods," Wuhr says. "It provides superb measurement accuracy and precision, it's at least as sensitive as any other method, and it's compatible with around ten times more mass spectrometers than TMT-MS3." Naturally, Wuhr says, there is still room for improvement. TMTc+ only allows a maximum of 5 samples to be run at the same time, and the detection of proteins in these samples is relatively inefficient. Both of these problems can be solved by developing new types of isobaric tags. "We have to explore the chemical space of these tags and find ones that work really well," Wuhr says. "To this end, we have started a collaboration with the Carell group, organic chemistry experts at the LMU Munich, and already published a proof of principle paper. Eventually, these efforts should lead to an approach that will allow researchers to count every protein in a cell as it changes its form and function." Explore further Chemists develop new method to identify proteins Scientists have identified the fungal killers of Hawaii's ohia trees. The ohia tree is of ecological, biological and cultural significance to the state. Credit: Agricultural Research Service A team of Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and university scientists has identified two new species of fungi as the puzzling killer of hundreds of thousands of Hawaii's beloved 'ohi'a trees. "Rapid 'Ohi'a Death" (ROD), a devastating wilt disease, has been ravaging the Hawaiian tree since 2010. So far, the problem has been limited to the Big Island of Hawaii and, more recently, Kauai. The 'ohi'a tree, Metrosideros polymorpha, is a keystone species of native Hawaiian forests that plays a critical ecological role. In addition to maintaining watershed health and groundwater quality, the 'ohi'a provides habitat for rare and endangered birds and insects. Its presence also is deeply rooted in Hawaiian culture, notes Lisa Keith, a plant pathologist with ARS's Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center in Hilo, Hawaii. Along with Federal, state and other cooperators, Keith coordinates pathology research in Hilo to contain and manage the disease. The name "Rapid 'Ohi'a Death" refers to the fact that, once symptoms become visible, the trees generally only have a few weeks to live and appear to die rapidly. However, affected trees can harbor the fungi for months before disease symptoms appear. Scientific evidence originally pointed to an aberrant strain of the fungus Ceratocystis fimbriata, which also attacks sweet potato, including in Hawaii. Then Keith and colleagues from the University of Pretoria, University of Hawaii and Iowa State University determined that two new species of Ceratocystis are actually to blame, which they have named C. lukuohia and C. huliohia. The two are genetically distinct from each other. Both belong to geographic subgroups based in Latin America and Asia, suggesting they arrived in Hawaii with imports of vegetatively propagated plant material and then evolved specifically to infect 'ohi'a. The team identified the two fungi using specimens (or "isolates") from dead or dying 'ohi'a trees on the Big Island. Names for the newly identified pathogens were chosen in consultation with the Hawaiian culture organization Kekuhi Keali'ikanaka'oleohaililani of the Edith Kanaka'ole Foundation. C. lukuohia means "destroyer of 'ohi'a." C. huliohia translates to "changes the natural state of 'ohi'a." Of the two fungi, C. lukuohia is the more aggressive. It wages a systemic attack on the tree's vascular system, obstructing water and nutrients and causing the canopy to rapidly die and turn brown. By contrast, C. huliohia inflicts cankers just below the tree's bark, killing off localized sections of vascular tissue so that the tree dies more slowly. The team refined its suspect list by identifying tell-tale pieces of the fungi's DNA (called microsatellite markers), examining their physical structure, and conducting host-specificity tests as well as a deep-dive of their genetic family tree and origins. The finding reported in March in the online issue of Persoonia opens the door to developing fast new methods of detecting the fungi in 'ohi'a and other potential host plants, as well as distinguishing them from other Ceratocystis species. This, in turn, will expedite efforts to monitor the disease and prevent its spread to other Hawaiian Islands as well as other regions of the world where Meterosideros forests exist. Explore further Fungus killing tree critical to Hawaii's native forests Reconstruction of the peculiar, short-faced niata cow. Credit: Jorge Gonzalez, La Plata, Argentina An international team of scientists have used the latest genetic and anatomical techniques to study the remains of a cow with a short face like a bulldog that fascinated Charles Darwin when he first saw it in Argentina 180 years ago. The study, by an Australian and Swiss team including UNSW scientist Dr. Laura Wilson, shows the now-extinct cow was a unique breed and unlike some bulldogs did not suffer breathing or eating problems because of its peculiar anatomy. The research, published in the journal Scientific Reports, could help scientists better understand how to protect threatened species. "Very few people know that hundreds of years ago a cow with a face similar to the shape of a bulldog's existed, called the niata cow," says Dr. Wilson. "In our study, we set out to find out more about some of the animal's anatomical and genetic characteristics. Our principal finding is that the niata was a taurine breed, unique among cattle," says Professor Sanchez-Villagra, a scientist at the University of Zurich, and co-author of the study. Charles Darwin saw this strange animal when he visited the Argentinian Pampas and areas around Buenos Aires in the 1840s. He wrote about it and posed questions about its true nature: its anatomy, relationship to other cows, and its functioning, in view of the peculiar shape of its head. The Swiss anatomist Rutimeyer also wrote about the niata in his extensive studies of cattle. The niata cow is now extinct, but a limited number of skeletons still exist in a few collections around the world. With new tools unavailable to the 19th century researchers, the Australian-Swiss team had the unique chance to study the niata's anatomy. "Until this paper, no attempt to use new and useful methods to understand the anatomy and the evolution of this peculiar cow has ever been made. We used genetics, non-invasive imaging and engineering-inspired biomechanical analyses tools unavailable at Darwin's time," says Professor Sanchez-Villagra. The researchers confirmed Charles Darwin's suggestion that this extinct kind of cattle is a true breed, with unique cranial features. Photo of a modern Simmentaler cow (top) in comparison to the niata cow (bottom). Credit: Kristof Veitschegger, University of Zurich "A true breed is a kind which is preserved over time in its features and can be distinguished from other breeds even if crosses with other breeds do occur," says Dr. Wilson. "We now also know that the niata was a taurine breed, unique among cattle because of its short snout and underbite an anatomy that resulted in differences in the way some of the mechanics of feeding operated." Specifically, the anatomical analyses showed that although the face of the niata cow was shortened and there was an underbite, the nose regions of the niata were not really impacted by these changes, and the niata, in contrast to extreme cases with some bulldogs, did not suffer problems with breathing. The researchers also used state-of-the-art computational modelling techniques to see whether the short face affected how well the niata could chew food compared to other cattle, showing that during feeding the niata experienced smaller amounts of stress on its skull bones. Domestication has resulted in changes to the appearance of many mammals, and a large amount of variation is evident among different breeds, with crosses common, for example, between Australia's native wild dog, the dingo, and domestic dogs. "Domestication basically mirrors what we see happening in natural selection, an observation that has fascinated and challenged scientists since Darwin," says Dr. Wilson. "The niata cow represents an example of extinction of rare breeds. Understanding aspects of its biology allows scientists to better understand how threatened species may be supported. "While we don't really do not know why the niata went extinct detailed studies of its populations over time do not exist we can make good guesses. We now know that in spite of the singularity of the niata, this cow was able to eat and live like any other cow. "Its extinction was then not the result of being unfit instead, its extinction in Argentina occurred in parallel with the intensification of cattle raising and with the search for the optimal breed. This meant that fewer breeds were exploited and many became extinct." "This has happened with many species of domesticated animals, which has resulted in a decrease of genetic and morphological diversity in the animals closest to our lives," Professor Sanchez-Villagra concludes. Explore further The startling diversity of Busa cattle More information: Kristof Veitschegger et al. Resurrecting Darwin's Niata - anatomical, biomechanical, genetic, and morphometric studies of morphological novelty in cattle, Scientific Reports (2018). Journal information: Scientific Reports Kristof Veitschegger et al. Resurrecting Darwin's Niata - anatomical, biomechanical, genetic, and morphometric studies of morphological novelty in cattle,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27384-3 For a tiny crustacean, Caribbean rock mantis shrimp (Neogonodactylus bredini) pack a ferocious punch. Bludgeoning the shells of snails and other crustaceans to gain access to the tasty snail within, mantis shrimp flick their cudgel-like claws at accelerations approaching those of a bullet exiting a gun. Yet, Rachel Crane from Stanford University, USA, explains that the ballistic shrimp is the odd one out in the world of snail and crustacean demolishers: 'Animals like crabs and fish slowly crush shells'. However, despite the wealth of high-speed information about the mantis shrimp's pulverising attacks, little was known about their overall strategies. Would the smashing crustaceans strike shells haphazardly or would they precisely pinpoint their assaults? And could they change their plan of attack if thwarted? Intrigued, Crane and her PI, Sheila Patek from Duke University, USA, began investigating the feisty creatures' striking strategy and discovered that they specifically strike the most fragile regions of the shell. They published the discovery in Journal of Experimental Biology. 'Collecting these mantis shrimp is usually easy', recalls Crane, describing how the animals live in shallow clear water and are conspicuous when they poke their eyes and antennules out of their burrows. Fortunately, the inquisitive scientists' fingers were at little risk from the spirited crustaceanswhich weren't averse to taking a swipeas the animals were so small, although Crane recalls that they could draw blood if they unfurled their dactyl spears. Back at Duke, Crane and Samantha Kisare tempted the stomatopods with snails ranging from squat-shelled Nerita versicolor to long helical-shelled Cerithium atratum to catch the mantis shrimp in the act. 'We have endless hours of video footage of mantis shrimp doing pretty much everything besides eating', chuckles Crane, but the team's patience was eventually rewarded as they caught the animals carefully rotating the shells into position with their maxillipeds, before placing their antennules on the shell and delivering the first of as many as 460 blows. And when Crane and Kisare teamed up with Suzanne Cox to analyse the strike pattern, it was clear that mantis shrimp primarily focused their attack on the opening of the shorter squat shells, chipping away to gain access to the snail within. However, Crane admits that she was blown away when she and Kisare watched a crustacean dine on longer skinny Cerithium snails. Explaining that the mantis shrimp in Patek's lab usually consume squat-shelled snails, she was astonished when the animals switched the point of their attack to the apex of the long Cerithinum shells after failing to penetrate the open end. Wondering whether the crustaceans were deliberately targeting the most fragile regions of the shell, Crane and Cox assaulted the shells with a mantis shrimp robotaffectionately known as Ninjabot, which Cox had built previously with David Schmidt, Yahya Modarres-Sadeghi and Patekto test which portions of each shell were most vulnerable. However, the team quickly realised that the crustacean's shell-positioning ritual was far more sophisticated than they had thought. 'Setting up tiny shells to be struck [by Ninjabot] at exactly the desired angle against a complex substrate was exceptionally frustrating and time consuming', Crane recalls. Eventually, she and Cox confirmed that the central portion of the shell, which the mantis shrimp avoid striking, is the most robust while the opening and apex regions are more fragile. They also realised that the resourceful animals only resorted to hammering on the pointy end of the longest and slimmest shells when they were no longer able to chip away at the opening, because the thick ridges that run across the whorls prevented the damage from penetrating further. So, mantis shrimp target specific regions of a shell and they can adapt their strategies to suit, but there are still many more tantalising mantis shrimp mysteries to resolve. Explore further Extreme mobility of mantis shrimp eyes More information: R. L. Crane et al, Smashing mantis shrimp strategically impact shells, The Journal of Experimental Biology (2018). Journal information: Journal of Experimental Biology R. L. Crane et al, Smashing mantis shrimp strategically impact shells,(2018). DOI: 10.1242/jeb.176099 Instituto Geofisico researchers maintain a monitoring station at Cotopaxi volcano in central Ecuador. A new study shows Cotopaxi produces unique sounds scientists could use to monitor the volcano and its hazards. Credit: Silvia Vallejo Vargas/Insituto Geofisico, Escuela Politecnica Nacional (Quito, Ecuador) A volcano in Ecuador with a deep cylindrical crater might be the largest musical instrument on Earth, producing unique sounds scientists could use to monitor its activity. New infrasound recordings of Cotopaxi volcano in central Ecuador show that after a sequence of eruptions in 2015, the volcano's crater changed shape. The deep narrow crater forced air to reverberate against the crater walls when the volcano rumbled. This created sound waves like those made by a pipe organ, where pressurized air is forced through metal pipes. "It's the largest organ pipe you've ever come across," said Jeff Johnson, a volcanologist at Boise State University in Idaho and lead author of a new study detailing the findings in Geophysical Research Letters, a journal of the American Geophysical Union. Listen to Cotopaxi's unique organ pipe sounds here. The new findings show the geometry of a volcano's crater has a major impact on the sounds a volcano can produce. Understanding each volcano's unique "voiceprint" can help scientists better monitor these natural hazards and alert scientists to changes going on inside the volcano that could signal an impending eruption, according to the study authors. "Understanding how each volcano speaks is vital to understanding what's going on," Johnson said. "Once you realize how a volcano sounds, if there are changes to that sound, that leads us to think there are changes going on in the crater, and that causes us to pay attention." The ongoing eruption of Kilauea in Hawaii could be a proving ground for studying how changes to a crater's shape influence the sounds it makes, according to Johnson. The lava lake at Kilauea's summit drained as the magma supplying it flowed downward, which should change the tones of the infrasounds emitted by the crater. Listening to Kilauea's infrasound could help scientists monitor the magma depth from afar and forecast its potential eruptive hazards, according to David Fee, a volcanologist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks who was not connected to the new study. When magma levels at Kilauea's summit drop, the magma can heat groundwater and cause explosive eruptions, which is believed to have happened at Kilauea over the past several weeks. This can change the infrasound emitted by the volcano. "It's really important for scientists to know how deep crater is, if the magma level is at the same depth and if it's interacting with the water table, which can create a significant hazard," Fee said. Views of the top of Cotopaxis long, cylindrical crater. After a sequence of eruptions in 2015, the crater floor dropped out of sight. Credit: Silvia Vallejo Vargas/Insituto Geofisico, Escuela Politecnica Nacional (Quito, Ecuador). Detecting a new kind of sound Cotopaxi was dormant for most of the 20th century, but it erupted several times in August of 2015. The eruptions spewed ash and gas into the air, endangering the more than 300,000 people who live near the volcano. A massive eruption could melt Cotopaxi's immense snowcap, which would trigger massive floods and mudflows that could reach nearby cities and towns. The 2015 eruptions were relatively minor but triggered an explosion that caused the crater floor to drop out of sight. That was when Ecuadorian researchers monitoring the volcano noticed weird sounds coming from the crater. The frequency of the sound waves was too low for humans to hear, but they were recorded by the scientists' instruments. The researchers dubbed the sounds tornillos, the Spanish word for screws, because the sound waves looked like screw threads. They oscillated back and forth for about 90 seconds, getting smaller each time, before fading into the background. Johnson likens it to the "old Western bar door" that once opened, swings back and forth several times before coming to rest. But because of the crater's sizeit's more than 100 meters (300 feet) wide and about 300 meters (1,000 feet) deepit takes five seconds for the sound waves to go through one full oscillation. Scientists dubbed Cotopaxis sounds tornillos because the sound waves looked like screw threads. Credit: Jeff Johnson. "It's like opening a bar door that goes back and forth for a minute and a half," Johnson said. "It's a beautiful signal and amazing that the natural world is able to produce this type of oscillation." Pipe organ players create sounds with similar characteristics by using a keyboard to force air through pipes of differing lengths. This is the first time volcanologists have recorded sounds of such low frequency and with this dramatic reverberation coming from a volcano, according to Johnson. The crater produced tornillo sounds about once a day for the first half of 2016, before they stopped. Johnson and his colleagues are unsure exactly what caused the sounds, but they know it had something to do with the volcano's activity and not just wind blowing across the top of the crater. Each tornillo was associated with gas coming out of the vent, Johnson said. The researchers suspect one of two things could have excited the volcano into producing the tornillos. Part of the crater floor could have been collapsing, as can happen when magma moves under a volcano, or an explosion was taking place at the bottom of the crater. Explosions are common in open-vent craters like Cotopaxi, where gas accumulates until it reaches a pressure high enough to explode. Explore further Dozens of quakes rattle Hawaii volcano, eruption possible More information: J. B. Johnson et al, Infrasound Tornillos Produced by Volcan Cotopaxi's Deep Crater, Geophysical Research Letters (2018). Journal information: Geophysical Research Letters J. B. Johnson et al, Infrasound Tornillos Produced by Volcan Cotopaxi's Deep Crater,(2018). DOI: 10.1029/2018GL077766 Wall Street analysts have given Botswana Diamonds 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 Botswana Diamonds wasn't one of them. 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Ltd., IQVIA RDS Eastern Holdings GmbH, IQVIA RDS Finland OY, IQVIA RDS France SAS (formerly, IQVIA RDS Funding LLC, IQVIA RDS GesmbH, IQVIA RDS GesmbH Greek Branch, IQVIA RDS Guatemala S.A., IQVIA RDS Holdings, IQVIA RDS Hong Kong Limited, IQVIA RDS ISRAEL LTD., IQVIA RDS Inc., IQVIA RDS Ireland (Finance) Ltd., IQVIA RDS Ireland Ltd., IQVIA RDS Italy Srl, IQVIA RDS Latin America LLC, IQVIA RDS Latvia SIA, IQVIA RDS Magyarorszag Gyogyszerfejlesztesi es Tanacsado Kft., IQVIA RDS Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., IQVIA RDS Moscow, IQVIA RDS Novosibirsk, IQVIA RDS Panama Inc., IQVIA RDS Peru S.r.l., IQVIA RDS Philippines Inc., IQVIA RDS Poland Sp. Zoo, IQVIA RDS Pty. Limited, IQVIA RDS Slovakia s.r.o., IQVIA RDS Spain, IQVIA RDS Spain S.L., IQVIA RDS St. Petersburg, IQVIA RDS Support Sarl, IQVIA RDS Switzerland sarl, IQVIA RDS Taiwan Ltd., IQVIA RDS Transfer LLC, IQVIA RDS UAB, IQVIA RDS UK Holdings Ltd., IQVIA RDS and Integrated Services Belgium NV, IQVIA RDS d.o.o. Beograd, IQVIA SOLUTIONS ASIA PTE. 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Branch Bulgaria, IQVIA Technology Solutions Ukraine LLC, IQVIA Technology Solutions s.r.o., IQVIA Technology and Services AG, IQVIA Tibbi Istatistik Ticaret ve Musavirlik Ltd. Sirketi, IQVIA Trading Management Inc., IQVIA World Publications Ltd., IQVIA Zagreb d.o.o., Iasist Holdco Limited, Iasist Potugal, Iasist SAU Agencia en Chile, Iasist Sociedad Anonima Unipersonal, Impact RX, Infocus Health Limited, Infopharm Ltd., Innovex Holdings I LLC, Innovex Merger Corp., Innovex Saglik Hizmetleri Arastirma ve Danismanlik Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Innovex Saglik Urunleri Pazarlame ve Hizmet Danismanlik Anonim Sirketi, Institute of Medical Communications NCO, Interstatistik AG, Kun Tai Medical Development Hong Kong Limited, Kun Tuo Medical Research & Development (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Laboratorie Novex Pharma Sarl, Laboratorio Commuq Pharma SL, Linguamatics, M&H Informatics (BD) LTD., M-TAG Australia Pty. Ltd., MED-VANTAGE, MG Recherche, Mecurial Insights Holding Pty. Ltd., Mecurial Insights Pty. Ltd., Mercados Y Analisis, Meridian Research Vietnam Ltd., Nordisk Medicin Information AB, Novella Clinical LLC, Novella Clinical Ltd., Novex Pharma Gmbh, Novex Pharma Laboratorio S.L., Novex Pharma Limited, Nuevo Health Pty Ltd, Onkodatamed GmbH, Operaciones Centralizadas Latinoamericana Limitada, Optimum Contact Limited, Outcome Sciences LLC, PILGRIM SOFTWARE HOLDING B.V., POLARIS MANAGEMENT PARTNERS LLC, POLARIS SOLUTIONS LLC, PR Editions S.A.S., PT IMS Health Indonesia, PT Quintiles Indonesia, Penderwood Limited, PharmARC Consulting Services GmbH, PharmARC Inc., Pharma Deals Limited, Pharma Strategy Group Ltd., Pharmadata s.r.o., Pharmaforce, Pilgrim Quality Solutions EMEA BV, Pilgrim Software Asia PVT, Polaris Solutions BV, Polaris Solutions Ltd., Primeum IQVIA SAS, Privacy Analytics Inc., Professional Pharmaceutical Marketing Services (Pty.) Ltd., Pygargus AB, Q Squared Solutions (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Q Squared Solutions (India) Private Limited, Q Squared Solutions (Quest) LLC, Q Squared Solutions (Quest) Limited, Q Squared Solutions (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Q Squared Solutions B.V., Q Squared Solutions BioSciences LLC, Q Squared Solutions China (Quest) Limited, Q Squared Solutions China Limited, Q Squared Solutions Expression Analysis LLC, Q Squared Solutions Holdings B.V., Q Squared Solutions Holdings LLC, Q Squared Solutions Holdings Limited, Q Squared Solutions K.K., Q Squared Solutions LLC, Q Squared Solutions Limited, Q Squared Solutions Proprietary Limited, Q Squared Solutions Pte. Ltd., Q Squared Solutions S.A., Q2 Metrics, Q2 Solutions, QIMS Pharma Services SA DE CV, QUINTILES MEXICO, QUINTILESIMS EUROPEAN HOLDINGS II C.V., Qcare Site Services, Quintiles B.V., Quintiles Benin Ltd., Quintiles Clindata (Pty.) Limited, Quintiles Clindepharm (Pty.) Limited, Quintiles Clinical and Commercial Nigeria Limited, Quintiles Commercial ApS, Quintiles Commercial Germany GmbH, Quintiles Commercial Rus LLC, Quintiles Commercial South Africa (Pty) Limited, Quintiles Commercial US. Inc., Quintiles Costa Rica S.A., Quintiles Czech Republic, Quintiles Denmark, Quintiles East Africa Limited, Quintiles Egypt LLC, Quintiles Enterprise Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Quintiles Finance Sarl, Quintiles Finance Uruguay, Quintiles GmbH, Quintiles Holdings S.a.r.l., Quintiles IMS European Holdings C.V., Quintiles Lanka Private Limited, Quintiles Latin America Inc., Quintiles Luxembourg European Holding, Quintiles Luxembourg European Holding S.a.r.l., Quintiles Luxembourg France Holdings SARL, Quintiles Medical Development (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Quintiles Netherlands, Quintiles New Zealand, Quintiles Norway, Quintiles Phase One Clinical Trials India Private Limited, Quintiles Russia LLC, Quintiles S.a.r.l., Quintiles Site Services, Quintiles South Africa (PTY.) Limited, Quintiles UK (Japan Holdings) Limited, Quintiles Ukraine, Quintiles Vietnam, Quintiles West Africa Limited, RX India LLC, Radar Acquisition Blocker, Redsite Limited, Reportive SA, STI Technologies Limited, Schwarzeck Verlag GmbH, Secureconsent, Shanghai IMS Market Research Co. Ltd., Source Informatics Limited, Spartan Leasing Corporation, Statfinn Oy, Strategique Sante, THE AMUNDSEN GROUP, Targeted Molecular Diagnostics, Tarius A/S, Temas Srl - Societa Unipersonale, TforG Connect BVBA, Themis Limited, UAB IQVIA Commercial, VALUEMEDICS RESEARCH, VCG&A Inc., and iGuard. KAZ Minerals PLC, together with its subsidiaries, engages in mining and processing copper and other metals primarily in Kazakhstan, Russia, and Kyrgyzstan. It operates through Bozshakol, Aktogay, East Region and Bozymchak, and Mining Projects segments. The company operates the Aktogay and Bozshakol open pit copper mines in the east region and Pavlodar region of Kazakhstan; three underground mines in the east region of Kazakhstan; and the Bozymchak copper-gold mine in Kyrgyzstan. It also develops greenfield metal deposits; operates Koksay deposit in Kazakhstan, and the Baimskaya licence area in the Chukotka region of Russia; and produces and sells various by-products, such as gold, silver, molybdenum, and zinc. In addition, the company supplies and distributes heat, water, and electricity; and offers construction, project management, financing, management, sales and logistics, and repairs and maintenance services. The company was formerly known as Kazakhmys PLC and changed its name to KAZ Minerals PLC in October 2014. KAZ Minerals PLC was founded in 1930 and is based in London, the United Kingdom. Read More " " Aerial view of submerged cars and bicycles in a flooded street July 21, 2021, in Zhengzhou, Henan Province of China. The heavy rain across Henan Province began on July 16, with Zhengzhou being one of the hardest-hit areas. Visual China Group via Getty Images They don't call them "flash" floods for nothing. On July 20, 2021, panicked subway riders in the Chinese city of Zhengzhou pleaded for help as flood waters filled up their subway cars, trapping them inside. Many commuters were swamped up to their necks as they sent texts and cellphone videos out. At least 12 commuters died and five were injured, according to the BBC. In another rescue operation in Henan province, about 500 people were rescued from subway tunnels filled with floodwaters. The flash floods occurred after days of torrential rains in China caused several dams and reservoirs to breach, requiring more than 200,000 emergency rescues. Advertisement Flash Floods and Speed Flash flooding problems like this are hardly limited to China. At the same time flash floods were occurring in China, major flooding was also happening in Western Europe, Colorado and Arizona. Every year, flooding in general is responsible for more deaths around the world than any other type of natural disaster. But flash floods are particularly dangerous because of their signature trait: speed. The U.S. National Weather Service defines a flash flood as "a rapid and extreme flow of high water into a normally dry area, or a rapid water level rise in a stream or creek above the predetermined flood level." (That's the point at which the water spills out over the banks and covers dry terrain.) While certain types of flood can take days to unfold, the NWS notes that most flash floods break out in the span of six hours or less. Dam failures and ice jams can both generate flash floods. However, these are usually the result of heavy rainfall that's sustained over a long period and doesn't get absorbed into the soil. Floods are common during China's rainy season, but they have been getting worse, and scientists blame that on climate change and urbanization, according to ABC News. Advertisement The Soil's Job Soaking up water is one of the main services provided by soil. Rainwater that doesn't get absorbed into the ground and instead flows over it is called "runoff." Let's say your hometown gets a sudden downpour. If the soil is already oversaturated with water when the rain starts falling, it won't be able to soak up much more of the liquid. As a result, there could be an awful lot of runoff and that greatly increases the odds of a flash flood breaking out. Yet if the soil is too dry, that can also be a problem. Dry dirt tends to be compact, which limits its ability to absorb water, as well. Another point worth mentioning is the fact that not all substrates are created equal: Loose, sand-based dirt has a much easier time soaking up rainwater than clay-heavy soils do. And then there's the added problem of urbanization. Manmade surfaces like concrete and asphalt are (for the most part) quite bad at absorbing even small amounts of rainwater. With this information in mind, let's review the Zhengzhou incident, which killed at least 25 people and displaced hundreds of thousands of others. The city received more than its annual average rainfall in just four days and nearly 24 inches (624 millimeters) in just one hour on July 20, according to the World Meteorological Organization. An abundance of roads and waterlogged soil led to significant runoff, which turned streets into rivers that poured into the region's tunnels and subways. Advertisement Monitoring and Prevention Alright, so what can be done about flash floods like these? Some communities utilize artificial ponds that capture runoff before it hits populated areas. Officials in Southern China (home of Zhengzhou) have spent decades rethinking flooding management, particularly how to manage the Yangtze River, China's longest. The focus since 1998 has been on nature-based solutions, including planting billions of trees and restoration of floodplains along the Yangtze. But perhaps more drastic action is needed: one that includes planning for a new normal of rain and floods because climate change will make flash floods like these more common in the future. Now That's Deceiving Driving in floodwater is a terrible idea. The Centers for Disease Control says that more than 50 percent of all flood-related deaths involve drivers attempting to pass through moving water. Cars can get swept away by as little as 12 inches (30 centimeters) of flowing floodwater and it only takes half as much to knock a pedestrian off his or her feet. Advertisement Originally Published: Jun 14, 2018 SHANGHAI, June 15 (Reuters) - Valuations of "new economy" initial public offerings in Hong Kong are ringing alarm bells in China, with the securities regulator urging institutions to be "responsible" and professional in the book-building process, the Securities Daily reported on Friday. The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) summoned more than 200 fund houses, brokerages and insurers to a meeting in Beijing on Thursday, an article posted on the paper's website said. Attendees were asked to conduct "independent, in-depth, and objective" research before submitting price quotations for shares sold in IPOs, it said. Institutional investors who participate in IPO book-building must submit their research reports to CSRC for review, the Securities Daily said. The newspaper said a CSRC official, who was not identified, cited the poor performance of a slew of "new economy" stocks following their Hong Kong IPOs, including Ping An Healthcare and Technology Co, Zhongan Online P&C Insurance Co , China Literature Ltd, Yixin Group and Razer Inc. According to the article, the official said "This contrasts with the red-hot demand during the IPO subscription period, and has triggered investor concern over valuation bubbles of new economy companies. This is an alarm bell for us." The official added that investors should learn a hard lesson form the Hong Kong experience as they set price for companies' IPOs in China, where the market is dominated by retail investors and is more fragile. The warning comes as China is luring so-called "new economy" companies to list in the domestic market. High-tech firms planning to float in China include Alibaba, Baidu and JD.com. Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi (IPO-XMGP.HK) has already filed applications to list in Shanghai and Hong Kong. However, pricing IPO shares for new economy companies poses a challenge for Chinese underwriters and investors, as Chinese regulators have so far only allowed profitable companies and mature businesses to list, while capping valuation of IPOs at around 23 times earnings. The Securities Daily said Chinese regulators have urged institutional investors to play a key role in setting IPO prices that stand the test of time and guide the market toward rational investment. (Reporting by Samuel Shen and John Ruwitch; Editing by Richard Borsuk) Investors are always looking for growth in small-cap stocks like Riverine China Holdings Limited (SEHK:1417), with a market cap of HK$1.09B. However, an important fact which most ignore is: how financially healthy is the business? So, understanding the companys financial health becomes crucial, since poor capital management may bring about bankruptcies, which occur at a higher rate for small-caps. I believe these basic checks tell most of the story you need to know. Though, given that I have not delve into the company-specifics, Id encourage you to dig deeper yourself into 1417 here. Does 1417 generate enough cash through operations? 1417s debt levels have fallen from CN50.00M to CN5.00M over the last 12 months . With this reduction in debt, 1417 currently has CN165.21M remaining in cash and short-term investments , ready to deploy into the business. On top of this, 1417 has generated CN30.25M in operating cash flow over the same time period, leading to an operating cash to total debt ratio of 604.90%, indicating that 1417s debt is appropriately covered by operating cash. This ratio can also be interpreted as a measure of efficiency as an alternative to return on assets. In 1417s case, it is able to generate 6.05x cash from its debt capital. Can 1417 meet its short-term obligations with the cash in hand? At the current liabilities level of CN153.62M liabilities, it seems that the business has been able to meet these commitments with a current assets level of CN306.68M, leading to a 2x current account ratio. Generally, for Construction companies, this is a reasonable ratio since there is a bit of a cash buffer without leaving too much capital in a low-return environment. SEHK:1417 Historical Debt Jun 14th 18 Does 1417 face the risk of succumbing to its debt-load? With a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.32%, 1417s debt level is relatively low. 1417 is not taking on too much debt commitment, which may be constraining for future growth. We can check to see whether 1417 is able to meet its debt obligations by looking at the net interest coverage ratio. A company generating earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) at least three times its net interest payments is considered financially sound. In 1417s, case, the ratio of 32.41x suggests that interest is comfortably covered, which means that debtors may be willing to loan the company more money, giving 1417 ample headroom to grow its debt facilities. Story continues Next Steps: 1417s high cash coverage and low debt levels indicate its ability to utilise its borrowings efficiently in order to generate ample cash flow. In addition to this, the company exhibits an ability to meet its near term obligations should an adverse event occur. I admit this is a fairly basic analysis for 1417s financial health. Other important fundamentals need to be considered alongside. I suggest you continue to research Riverine China Holdings to get a better picture of the stock by looking at: Valuation: What is 1417 worth today? Is the stock undervalued, even when its growth outlook is factored into its intrinsic value? The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether 1417 is currently mispriced by the market. Historical Performance: What has 1417s returns been like over the past? Go into more detail in the past track record analysis and take a look at the free visual representations of our analysis for more clarity. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here. To help readers see pass the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price sensitive company announcements. The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned. China will have a role in North Koreas denuclearisation, but not just yet, analysts say While North Korea and the United States have agreed in principle to the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, how the two sides now make progress on the commitments they made in Singapore is far from clear, analysts said. The priority for Washington has always been the complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantlement (CVID) of North Koreas nuclear weapons programme. Pyongyang, meanwhile, is more concerned with the preservation of Kim Jong-uns regime and the creation of economic development opportunities. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pushes back against North Korean sanctions-relief claims Su Hao, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, said now that the wheels were in motion on the denuclearisation issue, the devil would be in the detail. There are likely to be two forks in any future negotiations, he said. And the establishment of a peace regime on the Korean peninsula will be built upon the precondition of denuclearisation. Despite the historical significance of the meeting between Kim and US President Donald Trump, the joint statement it yielded contained few specifics. Trump said after the meeting that North Korea was no longer a nuclear threat, though exactly how he could justify that claim remains moot. Since the early 1990s, the reclusive Communist regime has made repeated pledges to get rid of its nuclear arsenal usually in exchange for economic concessions but has reneged on every one of them. Kim Jong-un rewrites the book on art of the deal with shrewd handling of Trump in Singapore With only a flimsy deal so far agreed, Wang Sheng, a professor of Korean affairs at Jilin University in northeastern China, said that it was now vital for the US and North Korea to keep talking. There needs to be continuous diplomatic gestures [between the two sides] on different levels, he said. In the initial stages of implementing the joint statement, the talks would involve only the US and North Korea, he said, but other players, including China, would play their part later, he said. Story continues US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will lead the negotiations on behalf of Washington. After meeting his South Korean and Japanese counterparts in Seoul on Wednesday, he said the US still hoped to see a major disarmament by North Korea by the end of 2020, and that he was confident Pyongyang understood there would be in-depth verification. Li Bin, an professor of international relations at Tsinghua University in Beijing, said, however, that Washington and Pyongyang had yet to agree a precise definition of denuclearisation or set a time frame for it. Progress would be made step by step, he said. Why Trump-Kim handshake is no symbol of peace, but fuel for North Koreas brutal regime Yun Sun, co-director of the East Asia Programme and Director of the China Programme at the Stimson Centre, said that the security guarantees North Korea wanted could mean anything from the negotiation of a peace treaty to a US commitment to no invasions and no regime change. Sung Chull Kim, a professor at the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies at Seoul National University, said Pyongyang would seek rewards for any concessions it made. It is likely that North Korea will ask for compensation at each stage of denuclearisation, he said. That could be the lifting of sanctions or security guarantees. China wasnt at the table but Trump-Kim talks reinforced its role, analysts say Pyongyang, with the support of Beijing, has said it wants a phased and synchronised approach to denuclearisation. For example, the establishment of a US representative office in Pyongyang might be the next step in the removal of its warheads, Sung said. It would be at this stage that other countries would start to play their roles, especially with regards to economic support, he said. Trump wants South Korea and Japan to be very generous to finance the future denuclearisation process, as the North Korean economy has been crippled by years of isolation and strict sanctions. South Korea, which obviously is right next door, and Japan, which essentially is next door, theyre going to be helping them, Trump told a press conference after the summit. Kim Jong-un grabs headlines at home, but what did Donald Trump get from historic summit? China was also identified as a major player in the process when in April the leaders of North and South Korea agreed in the Panmunjom Declaration to pursue a peace agreement that would bring a formal end to the Korean war, which was halted by an armistice in 1953. Christopher Hill, the US representative between 2005 and 2007 to the six-party talks which failed to find a way to remove the North Korean nuclear threat said that the current diplomatic efforts to resolve the North Korea problem could be the last. If this fails again, I think we are getting to a point where diplomacy will not be given any more chances, he said. We have to look at much more aggressive American approach. This article China will have a role in North Koreas denuclearisation, but not just yet, analysts say 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: EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova said the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was a "wake up call" Thursday while also raising concerns over the island's compliance with EU money laundering laws. On a visit to Malta, Jourova said that Caruana Galizia's death in a car bomb in 2017 was an issue that "deeply shocked Europe". "The commission expects an independent and thorough investigation to uncover who is really responsible for Daphne's murder," she said. Juorova said she would meet Friday with officials overseeing the investigation into the murder. The commissioner also called for more vigilance over the country's so-called "golden passport" scheme. Under Maltese law citizenship can be purchased providing the buyer has resided on the island for at least one year -- a stipulation put in place by the European Commission. "Becoming a Maltese citizen also means becoming an EU citizen with all its rights including free movement," said Jourova, stressing that citizenship should only be granted to people that "have a real link to the country." "We must not enable suspicious people to come to Europe and get citizenship, to use it for money laundering, or to cause a security risk. The commission has a legitimate right to require some basic requirements," she said. Jourova also called into question whether the Mediterranean nation was fully implementing EU anti-laundering rules, citing the scandal-hit Pilatus bank. "We have to step up the fight against money laundering," she said. "I fear there are gaps in the Maltese system." She said the Pilatus bank, at the heart of a corruption scandal exposed by Caruana Galizia showed the "challenges Malta is facing in applying the existing anti-money laundering rules." Malta's financial services watchdog froze the assets of Pilatus Bank and removed the bank's chairman Ali Sadr Hashemi Nejad in March. Jourova said "the Pilatus Bank case revealed that there are some shortcomings and the question remains whether it is just this one case or whether it revealed a systemic problem of the control of suspicious transactions". "Any time we systemic problem with the implementation of EU law the Commission has the possibility to launch an infringement procedure," she said, adding that she had asked European Banking Authority to investigate further. Frozen yoghurt chain llaollaos storefront at Changi Airport ahead of its opening on 16 June 2018. (Photo: llaollao/Facebook) Frozen yoghurt brand llaollao will make its highly-anticipated return to Singapore with a new store opening at Changi Airport on Saturday (16 June). The dessert chains first outlet here since the brands island-wide closure in December last year is located in the departure hall of Terminal 2 at the airport. Llaollao announced its stores opening on Friday (15 June), along with promotions which include a free six-month supply of its Sanum parfait for the first five customers (one redemption per week for six months) when it opens at 10am. The rest of the first 100 customers will also get to win other prizes in a lucky dip. The chain will open a second store in Tampines 1 mall at the end of June, with more outlets in the pipeline after that. The Changi Airport store will be operated by llaollaos new franchisee, local company Manna. Fans of llaollao mourned its departure after the previous franchisee closed all 29 outlets in Singapore and reopened them under the Yole brand. Llaollao said last year that it was disappointed with the decision by its former master franchisee D+1 Holding to retire the brand in Singapore, but vowed to make a swift return to the market. It will be interesting to see how the competition plays out between llaollao and Yole now that the former has made its comeback. D+1 Holding had said that it decided to replace llaollaos stores as its menu was exhausted after three years and that Yole would bring a much wider menu with a larger variety of products. Yole, which was touted as a European brand initially, has several outlets in Taiwan and sources its products from Spain and Italy. Follow Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore on Facebook. More lifestyle stories: 8 top tattoo artists here this weekend for Singapore Ink Show A dozen ways to celebrate Fathers Day in Singapore Queen of J-pop Namie Amuro ends career-wrapping tour in tears, urges fans to take care In a spa town nestled near Romania's border with Bulgaria and Serbia, Oana Chirila puts on her hard hat and gets down to work with a dozen other young architects to try to save their country's heritage. Some of the precious architectural gems they are striving to restore bore witness to centuries of Romanian history and the crowned heads who ruled it through the ages. Yet their sheer longevity has left many needing more than just a little tender loving care, which Chirila and her team have resolved to supply as they beaver away in a vaulted, once sumptuous hall at the heart of the charming but down-at-heel imperial Herculane Baths resort. Chirila has embarked on an ambitious project to restore lustre to the crumbling, neglected baths complex, built between 1883 and 1886, which has suffered from a combination of official apathy and unhappy privatisation. "We must start off with urgent measures to rule out the threats and consolidate the building," says student architect Chirila, who hopes local authorities will help raise the 100,000 euros ($118,000) required for the first tranche of restoration. Described by the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I as "Europe's most beautiful spa resort", Herculane was already a favourite spot of the Romans, who were fans of the "miraculous" benefits of its thermal mineral waters, historian Dorin Balteanu told AFP. Equally charmed by the picturesque mountainous surroundings was Empress Elisabeth, nicknamed Sisi, who made several visits during the 1880s to try to cure her rheumatism in the curative waters and enjoy long walks. According to local legend, a tired Hercules, the Roman hero, once came to the valley, where he enjoyed a bathe and a rest, hence the resort's name. A big bronze statue of him stands in the centre. Neglected during the communist era, thousands of architectural gems all over Romania have fallen prey to real estate developers, who local activists accuse of having made huge profits by pulling them down and building glass and steel high-rises instead, often with the approval of local authorities. "It's a tactic of real estate developers -- let monuments go to rack and ruin in order to intervene afterwards," Maria Berza, an expert in cultural policy, said. - Erase the past? - At the Herculane Baths, several symbols disappeared under the communist regime, including statues of Romanian kings. And today, it's hard to imagine the former imperial grandeur of the Franz Joseph era from looking at the rusting pipes, cracked walls and fractured red marble that once covered the around 30 thermal pools. Yet, says Balteanu, tourists are still drawn here, despite the controversial sale in 2001 of a sizeable stake in the resort to a company owned by businessman and politician Iosif Armas on the understanding that it would invest to restore the buildings. Armas is now awaiting trial on an embezzlement charge linked to the deal. A former town mayor has also been charged with corruption in connection with the case. Chirila is hopeful her project will bear fruit. "Doing nothing is unthinkable. If we don't manage to save Herculane, a part of our identity will be lost for ever," she warned. - 'Viable solution' - At the eastern end of the country on the Black Sea, another architectural gem, the Constanta Casino, an emblematic Art Nouveau monument from the early 20th century, is crumbling away. Built at the start of the last century by Daniel Renard, an architect of Swiss origin, the site won the admiration of Russia's Tsar Nicholas II on a visit in 1914. Today, the rafters are home to nesting pigeons who flutter around the chandeliers, while the marble floor and elegant sweeping staircase are covered in the birds' excrement and feathers. "We have been trying to find a viable solution for more than 10 years to restore this building to its former glory," says Constanta mayor Decebal Fagadau. In 2007, an Israeli company agreed a concession deal to modernise the casino. But four years later, the contract was annulled by the Constanta town hall without a cent of investment having been forthcoming. As the town hall and the government quarrel about what to do next, an association of young Romanian architects, Arche, has resolved to intervene. - 'Sleeping Beauty' - They have had the casino placed on a list of seven most endangered sites collated by heritage group Europa Nostra. "The European experts will propose solutions for the casino's restoration to the town hall," architect Daniela Costea told AFP. In the interim, Arche is organising concerts and lectures to encourage residents to "reappropriate" and make use of the site. The 1990s, which witnessed real estate speculation on a massive scale, were a "disaster" for historic buildings, Berza said. But she said she was encouraged by the ongoing mobilisation of support to save the country's heritage. Whereas architectural heritage was for too long treated as a "cultural Cinderella", today it is more "a Sleeping Beauty, which is just waking up," Berza said. File photo: Getty Images Police have arrested a 30-year-old man for alleged murder after a man was found dead after a fight in Geylang. The Singapore Police Force said in a statement that it was alerted to a fight on 218 Geylang Road at about 7.50am on Friday morning (15 June). A 29-year-old man was found lying motionless on the scene when police arrived and paramedics pronounced him dead. Police have classified the case as murder and will charge the suspect in court on Saturday (16 June). Police investigations are ongoing. More news stories: Singaporeans lined streets to revere Kim Jong Un: North Korean TV Najib may face charges of money laundering, misappropriating property COMMENT: Trump-Kim summit and the Singapore complex to impress the world By Alonso Soto TIPITAPA, Nicaragua (Reuters) - Thousands of shopkeepers and businessmen in Nicaragua on Thursday heeded calls for a national strike by foes of President Daniel Ortega, shutting down much of the country after nearly two months of deadly protests urging his ouster. Streets were deserted in cities and towns as banks and supermarkets, gas stations and corner stores were closed. Few people ventured out during the 24-hour stoppage. Police officers with assault rifles lined the largely empty main streets of the capital Managua. The strike, organised by university students, farmers and business owners, was the latest tactic by a loose national alliance formed to dislodge the president. "Look at this, it's a desert," said Juan Jose Murillo, 38, pointing to a vacant parking lot and the empty stalls of the usually bustling Huembes market, a central shopping destination. Murillo, a street vendor, said he has struggled to make a living since demonstrations started. "I don't support any political party. I just want the conflict to end." Ortega's attempt to push through welfare cuts in April kicked off the bloodiest confrontations since a civil war ended in 1990. The government of the former Marxist guerrilla and leader of the Sandinista rebel movement quickly dropped the planned welfare cuts. But the crackdown on protesters has sparked his biggest crisis since his second stint as president began in 2007. Nearly 150 have been killed and hundreds injured in eight weeks of clashes between pro-Ortega forces and protesters armed with rocks, slings and homemade mortars. In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected as "biased" the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights' condemnation a day earlier of ongoing state-sanctioned repression. The commission released a scathing preliminary report in late May criticizing "grave violations of human rights" during a government crackdown. Story continues Ortega's administration has said protesters are vandals trying to destabilize his government and undermine democracy in one of the Western Hemisphere's poorest countries. A new round of talks between the government and civil society representatives were scheduled for Friday. A previous round mediated by local Catholic bishops was suspended in late May after witnesses and rights groups accused government security forces of opening fire on thousands of demonstrators. A few blocks from blood-spattered street barricades in Tipitapa, 13 miles (22 km) northeast of Managua, the silence was rent by cries of sorrow as relatives and friends gathered around the body of Agustin Mendoza, 22, his coffin streaked in the blue and white of the national flag. Masked gunman in civilian clothes shot Mendoza on Thursday morning as he was filming nearby clashes, according to a mourner who said Mendoza was a cousin. Video footage from a relative shows someone sprinting through a dispersing crowd of protesters and a bearded Mendoza falling to the ground, his jeans soaked in blood from a stomach wound. Down the street, dozens of young men covering their faces with shirts and holding homemade mortar launchers vowed defiance. "They will have to kill us all," said a masked youth who identified himself only as Joel, with the carcass of a burnt down bus behind him. "We will not back down." (Reporting by Alonso Soto; Writing by Delphine Schrank; Editing by Richard Chang) Donald Trump's former campaign chief was sent to jail Friday pending trial on a series of federal charges, as the US president ramped up efforts to discredit the wider probe into possible collusion between his campaign team and Moscow. Paul Manafort, who is facing money laundering and tax evasion charges among others, was the first former Trump campaign aide to be jailed in the sprawling probe led by special counsel Robert Mueller since May 2017. The revocation of Manafort's bail was a fresh sign of the looming collision course between Mueller and Trump, with the White House increasingly worried that the president could face obstruction of justice charges and an impeachment effort in Congress. Manafort, 69, had been under house arrest while awaiting trial in both the US capital and Virginia. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him, which also include obstruction of justice. Trump condemned the treatment of Manafort, a veteran Washington political consultant, as he sought to paint Mueller's team as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation -- which Mueller once ran -- as deeply biased and illegitimate. "Wow, what a tough sentence for Paul Manafort, who has represented Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole and many other top political people and campaigns," Trump wrote on Twitter. "Didn't know Manafort was the head of the Mob," he said. "Very unfair!" Earlier, Trump lashed out at the entire investigation, labelling it a "ridiculous witch hunt" after a Justice Department watchdog report revealed that several FBI investigators had sent anti-Trump text messages during the 2016 campaign. "There was no collusion, there was no obstruction, and if you read the report... what you'll really see is bias against me," Trump said. - Witness tampering - Manafort, who is facing trial later this year on money laundering charges involving his work for Ukraine that predated the 2016 presidential election, saw his bail revoked by Judge Amy Berman Jackson over claims he was trying to influence witnesses in his case. He is one of 20 people and three companies already indicted by Mueller, who is investigating whether members of the campaign colluded with Russia during and after the election. Mueller's team has been seeking to interview Trump as well, and questions they have submitted to the White House indicate that they are also investigating whether Trump has illegally interfered with the probe. On Friday, Trump sought to make use of the Justice Department inspector general's report on the 2016 investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server during her time as secretary of state to erode confidence in Mueller's operation. While the IG report made almost no mention of Mueller or any alleged wrongdoing by Trump, the president claimed it "exonerates" him, while his lawyer Rudy Giuliani said Mueller and his team themselves should be investigated. "The report yesterday may be more important than anything. It totally exonerates me," Trump told journalists in front of the White House. - Undermining Mueller - The report faulted the FBI and its former director James Comey, whom Trump fired in May 2017, over the handling of the Clinton email probe. It said Comey, who cleared Clinton of allegations of mishandling classified materials, was insubordinate and guilty of bad judgment. It also showed several agents involved in both that investigation and the subsequent Russia meddling probe repeatedly expressing anti-Trump bias in private text messages. "That is probably the tip of the iceberg," Trump said. "There was total bias, I mean total bias." He referred to Comey and other senior FBI officials as "the scum at the top" of the bureau and as "total thieves." The investigation led by Mueller "has massive conflicts," Trump said. "I think that the Mueller investigation has been totally discredited," Trump said. Trump's lawyers see that convincing the public ahead of November's congressional elections that the Mueller probe is illegitimate could be crucial to his political fate. If Mueller finds evidence of obstruction of justice, the president could face impeachment in the House of Representatives. Currently the House is in Republican hands, and would be unlikely to support an impeachment motion. But if Democrats capture control of the chamber in November, that vote could shift. 00:15 United States President Donald Trump on Friday said he will lift current sanctions on North Korea only after making sure Pyongyang no longer has nuclear weapons. Trump said that they are very close to it when he was asked at what point would the sanctions come off of North Korea, in an interview. "When we can be sure there will be no more nuclear," he responded. "Very close. We're very close to getting it started. He (Kim) wants to do it, he wants to do something great with his country, he wants to make his country great," Trump said when asked how close they are. Early this week, Trump had a historic meeting with Kim Jong Un in Singapore, wherein the North Korean leader agreed to denuclearise and give up nuclear weapons. Trump said he could also invite Kim to the White House. "I think it's something that could happen. Yes. Hey, he's the head of a country. And I mean he is the strong head. Don't let anyone think anything different. He speaks and his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same," Trump said. Trump had said that he has shared his number with Kim. "I can now call him. I can now say, 'Well, we have a problem'. I told him, I gave him a very direct number. He can now call me if he has any difficulty. I can call him. We have communication. It's a very good thing,' Trump said. "People are shocked that this is the kind of -- you know, they thought Trump was going to get in. He was going to start throwing bombs all over the place. It's actually the opposite," he said. The US he said, is going to have a very strong verification process for North Korean denuclearisation. "Now, if you read the agreement, which most of you didn't, point after point after point he gave, including getting back the remains of our great heroes, which made some people cry in the streets, they're so happy. Nobody thought we were going to get that. Point after point," he said. "All they said about me is, 'You met. He met. It's terrible'. Of course, I met. Meeting is a good thing, not a bad thing. By the way, it was good for the United States. It was good for them," he said. Trump also said the Chinese are very happy with the North Korea summit. -- PTI When my son was born, I was one month into a masters program in creative writing. When I shared our good news with my new classmates, they congratulated me, of course, but what I heard almost as often was that they were jealous of the material that such a life-changing event, occurring at almost exactly the start of my creative-writing education, would undoubtedly yield. Ive always wanted to have a kid that I could write about! one colleague said. Though for material did not, believe it or not, appear on the list of reasons my partner and I had for becoming parents, I did fantasize about one day putting the baby down for bed and escaping to the officeI dont know how my fantasy comported with our tiny two-bedroom apartment in graduate-student housingwith a contented smile on my face, ready to write earnestly and openly about the truths to which fatherhood had opened my eyes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, two months after my son was born, failed attempts at poems filled the trash folder of my old MacBook. I loved him more than I ever thought I could love a person who shat into my hand while screaming at me. And still, likely because of that emotional proximity, everything I wrote about him came out sounding like a Hallmark card. I wanted so badly to write something that I could picture Emile reading in 18 years and being proud of, something expressing the wonder I felt at fathering this person so beautifully and directly that it would knock him on his ass and make him say, Fuck. My dad wrote this. Wanting and doing are, of course, two different things. This is never clearer than in a time of creative frustration. Even writing this essay, I find myself concerned that every positive word I write about my son will end up sounding cheesy. I didnt want Emile to think his dad was a cheesy poet. But what else could he think about lines like this? Advertisement There are so many things Im excited to do with you teach you to read and write with a critical but empathetic eye, explain all the different meanings of the word season, be next to you the first time you hear Miles Davis, teach you to play the piano and encourage you when youre more interested in the trumpet Advertisement In our poetry workshop, we often refer to the triad proposed by Stephen Dobyns in the preface to his Best Words, Best Order: I believe that a poem is an emotional-intellectual-physical construct. A strong poem usually requires that each side of this triangle be represented in equal measure, with intellectual content, emotional power, and physical detail. The poems I was writing in the immediate aftermath of my sons birth were drunk on emotion, without any mind being paid to the physical or the intellectual. Advertisement Advertisement Any parent will tell you that taking care of a newborn child is an utterly primal experience. Everything you dofrom the spittle-soiled rag that stays planted in your pocket to the caution with which you pass the baby to make sure his tiny neck stays cradledall stems from the panic you feel about keeping this tiny, beautiful, helpless creature alive. And you do it all on raw instinct while slowly descending into madness due to lack of sleep. It struck me that my writing, so eager to represent the unbounded joy of fatherhood, downplayed the more difficult aspects of those first few months of life. Kinnell seemed to be saying through his poems that simple, direct declarations of love and fear can actually provide poems with the emotional punch they need Then my professor Dorianne Laux recommended a poet named Galway Kinnell. She promised that Kinnell would be the key that unlocked my writing about fatherhood. Leafing through his books the same day in the university library, I was instantly transported to the fatherhood-poetry fantasyland Id imagined while my son was still in utero. Every image, every sentiment, every line break was perfectly placed in a way that neither betrayed nor cheapened the experience of being a father. Advertisement Advertisement It seemed as though my sense that what my writing needed was the emotional distance Id yet to acquire was wrong. Kinnells poems couldnt have been less emotionally distant. In books like The Book of Nightmares and Mortal Acts, Mortal Words, he addresses fatherhood and its attendant emotions very directly. One poem, titled Little Sleeps-Head Sprouting Hair in the Moonlight, explicitly begins with Kinnell lifting his daughter Maud from her crib: You scream, waking from a nightmare. When I sleepwalk into your room, and pick you up, and hold you up in the moonlight, you cling to me hard, as if clinging could save us. The rules that he breaks! Naming his daughter, a thing I assumed you should never do in a poem! Giving the word hard its own short line after such a long line! Writing so directly about such a tender moment as lifting a child from her crib as you rescue her from a nightmare! And yet, Kinnell doesnt sound cheesy at all. He focuses on the physical detail of the moonlight hugging his daughter. He brings us gently to the intellectual heaviness suggested by the last line in the stanzathe fact that they are both, despite their difference in age, headed for death, and no loving embrace will slow death down. And he makes it clear that the father needs the daughters clinging as much as the infant daughter needs the fathers presence. They need us utterly, as we do them. He hits this last note hard in the final lines of the poem: the wages/ of dying is love. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another poem, called Angling, a Day, details a fishing trip Kinnell takes with his son Fergus. Kinnell paints the scene with very specific detail, naming specific bodies of water like Shirleys Pond and Miller Run as well as buildings they pass on the water, like Eastern Magnesia Talc Companys Mill No. 4. (I found myself Googling the names to find the specific part of Vermont where the Kinnells used to live.) This vivid detail lures the reader into the scene, bringing vivid life to the moment when, instead of the father delivering advice to his son, young Fergus conveys an unexpectedly epiphanic reaction to not catching anything: Im disappointed, he says, but not discouraged./ Im not saying Im a fisherman, but fishermen know/ there are days when you dont catch anything. Again, its the father who needs the child as much as the child needs the father. And in this poem, Kinnell brings this home with an intellectual truth, rather than the emotional truth relied on in the closing lines of Little Sleeps-Head; here is a poet who knew how to play his entire drum kit instead of just banging the snare drum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I had assumed that to write good poetry about fatherhood Id need to first acquire some sort of emotional distance, allowing me to write more opaquely, in a way that wouldnt make my reader cringe at direct declarations of fatherly love. Earnestness is a great quality in normal conversation, but I often shy away from it in my own writing, worried it will overwhelm the poem. But Kinnell seemed to be saying through his poems that simple, direct declarations of love and fear can actually provide poems with the emotional punch they need; instead of getting further away from the heart of these emotions, I needed to get closer to them and examine them with a finely tuned eye and ear. Advertisement Advertisement Take Kinnells decision to use his childrens actual names. I had, up to this point, assumed that to be a faux pas in writing poetry about your children. Poetry often strives to universalize experiences and emotions, crystalizing them in a way that allows a wider audience to relate to them; naming my family members would seem to accomplish the opposite, limiting the world of the poem. (People care about children, but they could never care about Emile as much as I do.) But Kinnells poems work because he specifically addresses his children. This direct intensity could stand in for any relationship between a parent and their child, but fictionalizing it would strip it of its immediacy. Advertisement Perhaps those names recurring in Kinnells workthe way I could visualize their little family going on fishing trips and spending quiet evenings reading togetherwere what led me to mythologize Galway, Fergus, and Maud. To me, their story, as told in Galways poems, was a template for exactly the type of life I wanted to lead. I imagined a sort of creative paradise, one in which Id take my son fishing and hed floor me with his words of wisdom. Picking my daughter up from her crib, Id ascertain the balance of life and death. Maybe Id even attain Galways perfectly square jaw, and bangs that edge sharply over my brooding gaze. Then Id retire for the night to the mahogany-laden study of our house in Inishturk to write collections of poetry that were met with acclaim from my friends and peers. But to me, in the fantasy, none of the many awards Id win or best-sellers Id write mattered: All that mattered was that my kids would read these poems in their adulthood and say, as Fergus and Maud could, Fuck. My dad wrote these. And they would inherit a document of how much I loved and cherished my time with them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the months after reading Kinnells work, I had begun to approach my writing about fatherhood with more confidence, though that confidence came in large part from my very overt attempts to mimic Kinnells style and structures, filtered through my own voice. Around when Emile was 9 months old, I was at a summer workshop on the West Coast. I told my friend Dennis about my obsession with Kinnells work, how his writing totally demonstrated for me the kind of poetry I was trying to write and, in that sense, unshackled me from a creative deadlock. Really? Dennis asked. Thats so crazy. Fergus lives here; I met him a few weeks ago. In being swept away by the myth Id built around Fergus and Maud, I had forgotten, of course, that they were real peoplein fact, 40-plus years later (The Book of Nightmares was published in 1971), they were real adults. (Galway died in 2014.) This was an oddly terrifying moment for me, one in which the stories Id constructed were about to be confronted by reality. He said he doesnt really read his fathers work, Dennis added. Advertisement Needless to say, this bugged me. How could somebody whose father had directly addressed all these carefully crafted, tremendously moving poems to them simply ignore them? So I decided to ask him. Was I ashamed of my choice to Google-stalk the children of one of my favorite poets? Of course. Was I going to do it anyway to satisfy my curiosity once and for all? Of course. Fergus responded quickly and politely to my message. Fergus said he doesnt really read his fathers work. In our email exchange, he confirmed that he hardly ever reads his fathers poetry. He confirmed too that many of the moments depicted in his fathers poems are rooted in real memories: Im so glad I was there in those moments with Galway (yes, even falling out of a tree, the fear and pain has been forgotten). (Fergus fall from a tree is depicted in the opening poem of Mortal Acts, Mortal Words, aptly titled Fergus Falling.) He thoughtfully explored why he doesnt read his fathers work, admitting that although his father was beloved in the home, Fergus often felt some resentment for his absence when he was away traveling, giving readings on tour, [doing] temporary teaching jobs here and there. Advertisement Advertisement Fergus also mentioned a university dinner his dad brought him to a little closer to home. There was food and wine and fun, clever conversation, and Galway was very witty, he wrote. I was shocked by how funny he was at that dinner. The next day I said something to the effect of, Why arent you that funny at home? He replied, Sometimes you have to sing for your supper. As I read Fergus reflections on his father, I admit I felt a little ashamed at my initial disappointment that Fergus doesnt often read his fathers work. Not only had I neglected to consider the family dynamics in this real father-son relationship, I also allowed myself only a very narrow idea of what it means to pass our legacies down to our children. It was Galways writing lifethe one I had fantasized about and mythologized so thoroughlythat had been the source of friction in that relationship, while the moments when Galway was simply a father were what Fergus missed. Fergus has been a metalworker for 26 years, doing everything from fabrication to machining to forging, making railings, furniture, latches, hinges, planters, light fixtures, and more. This might sound like a cliche, he wrote when I asked how his fathers work might have influenced his path, but I believe Galway believed that everyone is an artist, everyone is a poet I dont remember him ever being disappointed in any interest of mine; turtles, snakes, dump trucks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But there was another, more immediate story that Fergus recalled. Galway taught me how to solder copper tubing for the water system in our house in Vermont. We re-piped the entire bathroom and kitchen in a day or two. The copper tubing was installed outside of the wall, and this re-do was to allow all the water to drain when we left the house to freeze. This was my first metal working job. The most noble things we do as parents are not always the most ostentatious; they may not have anything to do with our own passions. So in honor of Galway Kinnell and the poems I love, I am focused on being presentnot living in some writerly fantasyas often as possible with my son, because it is impossible to know or control which of my actions will have a significant impact on his life; fishers, after all, know there are days when you dont catch anything. Better Life Lab is a partnership of Slate and New America. The other night I read my third child, 2-year-old Grace, a book about mommies and baby animals. Thats a daddy, she said, pointing to the cover image of a large owl cuddling with a smaller one. This never wouldve happened with my first two children. My husband didnt become an equal parent until Grace was born. With our first two kids, Id assumed my husband didnt have the same intrinsic ability to care for our children. And I feared that my kids would suffer if I stepped back to let him step up. Advertisement However, while I was on maternity leave with Grace, I panicked. I was already overwhelmed with two children and couldnt imagine also tending to my third without more support. To quell my anxiety, I called the working mothers I admired to ask them if it were really possible to have both a successful career and healthy relationships with my kids. And could my husband really parent as well as I could? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ruth Feldman, a neuroscientist at the Center for Developmental, Social, and Relationship Neuroscience at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, Israel and an adjunct faculty member at the Yale School of Medicine, has spent the past 20 years studying the impact of parenting on the brains of both men and women. She says the adult human brain is capable of the greatest plasticity during the period around the birth of ones child, and thats true for moms and dads: While only mothers experience pregnancy, birth, and lactation, evolution created other pathways for the adaptation to the parental role in human fathers, and these alternative pathways come with practice, attunement, and day-by-day caregiving. Advertisement Feldmans research indicates that fathers (even nonbiological) may be able to alter their brains as much as mothers, developing the same intuitive capacity to respond to their babies needs and wants. In other words, Feldmans research indicates that fathers (even nonbiological) may be able to alter their brains as much as mothers, developing the same intuitive capacity to respond to their babies needs and wants. But this only happens if a dad shows up for the job. Its not just fathers who think about or play with their kids, said Feldman. In order for this brain plasticity to occur, a father needs to give their babies baths, feed them, and get up with them when they cry at night. He needs to assume a caregiving role and take it upon himself with diligence, commitment, and perseverance. A dads ability to sensitize his neurobiological system is dependent on him being responsible for many of the daily tasks necessary to care for his child during the first year of their life. Advertisement Advertisement Fathers forging strong bonds during the early stages of their childrens lives has long-term implications. For all of us. Men who take parental leave have been shown to be more actively involved throughout their childrens lives. And children do better with engaged dads. According to research by Scott Coltrane, now a senior vice president and provost in the sociology department at the University of Oregon, preschoolers with involved fathers show higher levels of cognitive competence, self-control, and empathy. Researchers at Penn State have found that as adolescents, the children of actively caretaking fathers have more self-esteem, especially the girls. Advertisement Mothers perform better at work when their husbands take parental leave. A 2010 Swedish study found mothers future earnings increased about 7 percent for every month of parental leave her partner took. And all women, not just mothers, advance in their careers when men show up for early fatherhood. According to a 91-country study involving nearly 22,000 companies, in places where men take parental leave, women are significantly more likely to serve in leadership positions. The study also found that relative to companies with little gender diversity in leadership positions, more women in leadership positions yields an increased profitability of 15 percent. Advertisement Advertisement But still, even when its available to them, most fathers dont take any significant parental leave because they are worried it will jeopardize their careers. Fathers who are seen to have caregiving responsibilities are stigmatized. A 2013 Rutgers university study found that men who take leave to care for a child or a parent are less likely to be recommended for promotions, raises, or high-profile assignments. Another study, conducted in 2013 by Long Island University, found that caregiving fathers face significantly more harassment, such as being teased, put down, or excluded. Much of this stigma comes from assumptions about what parental leave means for work performance: If youre a man who takes leave, you mustnt be serious about your job. But research shows the opposite. Advertisement According to Nowak, Darwin was wrong: Collaboration, not competition, is the key to survival. If a soon-to-be dad working in Feldmans research lab planned to take parental leave, she would encourage it. The period of greatest plasticity in the adult brain is during the postpartum period, starting from pregnancy for women and up to the first year of the childs life in mothers and in engaged fathers, she said. The relationship an engaged dad develops with his baby will enhance his ability to think out of the box and to contribute to our work. Many of todays workplaces require a brain that can take the skill that it has and adapt it to new contexts, new conditions, new windows of opportunity: The best employees dont necessarily have knowledge or specific information, but plasticity and malleability in acquiring new knowledge, adapting knowledge to new contexts, and integrating new perspectives. In other words, dads who deeply engage with their children are altering their brains in ways that can make them better at work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2015, Feldman published a survey of all of the research conducted on the activation of the parental brain. When all neural networks are fully activated, parents are likely to develop the capacity to anchor feelings in the present moment, empathize with others pain and emotions, and collaborate well with others. And collaboration, said game theorist Martin Nowak, is the most successful form of engagement. According to Nowak, Darwin was wrong: Collaboration, not competition, is the key to survival. In the long run, cooperators, those who work well with others, are the ones most likely to win almost anywherethe animal kingdom, in computer simulations, and even in corporate environments. Adam Rhuberg, the director of analytics at Upwork, a global freelancing platform, took 12 weeks of parental leave to stay home alone with his third child after his wife went back to work. Rhuberg said, Before becoming a dad, I wouldve been more inclined to get things done on my own. But now, I realize that thats a silly and exhausting way to go through life. If youre not using the other resources available to you, youre not making the best use of your time. In many ways, parenting is the ultimate leadership and development training program. Making time and space for dads to be lead parents is good for all of us, not just our families, but our workplaces too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After doing all this research, things changed around my house. When my littlest one cried at night, I shook my snoring husband awake and told him to soothe her back to sleep. We discovered that when he went to her at night, she settled down faster and stayed asleep longer. And I stepped away from other tasks too. I let my husband brush our kids hair in the morning, cut their fingernails each week, and determine when they were dirty enough to need baths. And I found that embracing lopsided ponytails and dirtier-than-I-wouldve-liked faces let us settle into a rhythm that was not only manageable but more playful. I was no longer the only one holding the weight of responsibility. And this freed me up to enjoy my kids, appreciate (rather than resent) my husband, and invest more in my career. Our kids are happier now too. Among other things, they love that we eat more grilled cheese sandwiches since their dad takes more turns cooking dinner. Advertisement Advertisement And my husband, who now sometimes wakes before me when Grace cries at night, was recently offered a promotion at work because, according to one of the leaders in his organization, he can listen and thoughtfully respond to perspectives drastically different from his own. I can assure you, he did not have this same capacity before he became an engaged father. Now when I occasionally go on business trips, rather than fighting with a knot of anxiety in my gut, I can breathe deeply. I know my short absence is allowing all of us to growme in my career, my kids in their development, and my husband in his own evolution as a leader and parent. The Trump administrations decision to separate hundreds of children from their asylum-seeking parents at the border has brought mounting horror across the United States. Among the objectors are an increasingly vocal coalition of conservative religious leaders, including some who have generally been friendly to Trump. On Tuesday, the Southern Baptist Convention overwhelmingly passed a resolution calling for immigration reform that maintains the priority of family unity. The next day, American Catholic bishops denounced Attorney General Jeff Sessions approach to asylum, framing it as a right to life issue. I think its disgraceful, its terrible to see families ripped apart, evangelical Franklin Graham, a vocal Trump supporter, told the Christian Broadcasting Network this week. I dont support that one bit. Advertisement In a speech to a small audience in Indiana on Thursday, Sessions pushed back against his Christian critics with an extraordinary defense: The Bible, he argued, supports the Trump administrations approach to immigration enforcement. Persons who violate the law of our nation are subject to prosecution, he said. I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13, to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained the government for his purposes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thursday afternoon, the White House echoed Sessions argument. CNN reporter Jim Acosta asked White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders what part of the Bible says its moral to separate children and their mothers. It is very biblical to enforce the law, she replied. That is actually repeated a number of times throughout the Bible. Advertisement Romans 13 is a controversial chapter, frequently included in lists of tough passages for Christians to grapple with. The specific verses to which Sessions referred begin this way: Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. The passage has proved irresistible to Christians with an interest in promoting deference to the state. Last year, Trump-supporting pastor the Rev. Robert Jeffress used the passage to justify why he believes the president has the authority to take out Kim Jong Un. The Rev. Ralph Drollinger, who leads a Bible study for Cabinet members including Sessions, published a Bible study in 2016 that used the passage to bolster an argument that national borders and boundaries are part of Gods design. Romans 13:4which refers to rulers as agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoeris popular among police officers. Advertisement Advertisement But Romans 13 has an even longer history as a cudgel against civil disobedience. It was hotly debated in revolutionary America, when some pastors withdrew from revolt because they believed Romans 13 mandated it. (Contemporary conservative Bible teacher John MacArthur has written that the Revolution defied Pauls instruction, and therefore the United States was actually born out of a violation of the New Testament principles.) In the 19th century, defenders of slavery argued that Romans 13 mandated obedience to the Fugitive Slave Act. In the 1930s and 1940s, some European church leaders used the passage to encourage submission to Hitler. White Christians in apartheid South Africa frequently used it to defend the status quo. Advertisement Despite its frequent misuse, the passage is an important source of Christian political theology, according to Matthew Arbo, director of the Center for Faith and Public Life at Oklahoma Baptist University. Arbo points out that the passage places God as the appointer of authorities, but not the appointer of specific laws. One is not obligated to respect any and everything an authority orders simply because an authority orders it, he said. If the authority commands what is evil, then naturally no one should uphold it, Christian included. As Augustine put it in the fourth century, echoing Paul: An unjust law is no law at all. Advertisement Advertisement Romans 13 goes on to command the early church to Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Arbo pointed out the importance of the clause about giving what is owed, which allows for the possibility that some authorities are not owed honor and respect. If Sessions interpretation of Romans 13 were followed, it would render martyrdom meaningless, he said. If the Christian were always in every instance to honor the authoritys command then as a result there would never be an instance of dying for allegiance to Jesus Christ. Romans 13 has proved irresistible to Christians with an interest in promoting deference to the state. Sessions also referred in his speech Thursday to the Old Testament figure of Nehemiah, who rebuilt the walls of the city of Jerusalem after they were destroyed by an enemy. The Lord told Nehemiah that when he got to come back home to Jerusalem, to build a wall. Thats the first thing he told him to do. It wasnt to keep people in, it was to keep bad people out, Sessions mused. I dont think there is a scriptural basis that justifies any idea that we must have open borders in the world today. (Sessions, a lifelong Methodist, has apparently not been swayed by his own denominations slogan: Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors.) Immigration hawks love the story of Nehemiah: Jeffress preached a sermon to Trump on the morning of the inauguration in which the pastor compared Trump to the biblical figure, and concluded that God is not against building walls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But again, Sessions omitted crucial context that would have tempered his biblical justification for, say, removing a nursing baby from its mothers breast. First, the primary purpose of walls in the ancient world was to protect a country from physical attack, Arbo said. But the larger problem with Sessions argument is that it violates a much deeper and more frequent biblical injunction to care for strangers and the poor. When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall do him no wrong, the book of Leviticus commands. In the New Testament, Jesus himself says that Gods eternal judgment will rest in part on whether one has welcomed the stranger. Its even right there in Romans 13, just a few verses after the ones Sessions favors: Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. The United States is currently in the process of separating families who have come across its southern border without the appropriate documentation, which has meant hundreds if not thousands of young children are now being detained all alone in a strange land where they likely dont speak the language. The act of separating families is a scare tactic by the U.S. government, meant not just to terrorize infants and toddlers, but to terrorize their parents, with the aim of deterring future undocumented immigrants, as well as, presumably, asylum seekers. We know its a scare tactic, first, because White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and others have said so, but also because it is more expensive and more onerous to be responsible for thousands of terrified small children separated from their parents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be clear, the policy is a moral abomination. It is one we would decry if it were done to American citizens anywhere else in the world. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, however, sees it quite differently. He sees moral outrage not in snatching young children from parents, who have come to U.S. out of desperation, but in the fact that they have broken the law. Not just his law, or U.S. law, but Gods law. Heres what Sessions had to say about the situation during a speech Thursday to law enforcement officers in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I thought I would take a little digression here to discuss some concerns raised by our church friends about separation of families I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13, to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained the government for his purposes. Orderly and lawful processes are good in themselves. Consistent and fair application of the law is in itself a good and moral thing, and that protects the weak and protects the lawful. Advertisement Romans 13 has a shaky track record of moral relativism in American history, the Washington Post reports. Prior to Sessions's comments, the two major times Romans 13 was invoked in U.S. history was (1) to argue against the American Revolution and (2) to defend slavery in the 1840s, historian @JohnFea1 told me. Story via @JulieZauzmer and @D3Keith https://t.co/HF3SOZFaxu Hannah Natanson (@hannah_natanson) June 15, 2018 Our government has the discretion in our laws to ensure that young children are not separated from their parents and exposed to irreparable harm and trauma. Families are the foundational element of our society and they must be able to stay together, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a statement. While protecting our borders is important, we can and must do better as a government, and as a society, to find other ways to ensure that safety. Separating babies from their mothers is not the answer and is immoral. Was the FBI biased against Donald Trump in 2016? Trump and his supporters think so, and now they have fresh evidence: a 500-page report on the Hillary Clinton email investigation, prepared by the Justice Departments inspector general. The report includes text messages in which two thenFBI officials, Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, spoke of stopping Trump. On the other hand, the report concluded: We found no evidence that the conclusions by Department prosecutors were affected by bias or other improper considerations. Advertisement My reading of the report is more complicated. FBI bias did affect the election, and the bias was, in a sense, pro-Clinton. But the bias didnt help Clinton. It destroyed her. On Sept. 26, 2016, as part of a sex crimes investigation, an FBI agent in New York found hundreds of thousands of emails on a laptop belonging to former Rep. Anthony Weiner, who was married at the time to Huma Abedin, a top Clinton aide. Two days later, the head of the New York FBI office told dozens of FBI executives, including Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, that the laptop had 140,000 emails possibly relevant to the Clinton investigation. The next day, on Sept. 29, the New York office told several members of the FBIs Clinton investigation team that the emails included BlackBerry messages. That was a red flag, because although the FBI had closed the Clinton investigation in July 2016, it had never found old messages from her BlackBerry account, which theoretically, was the most likely place to contain evidence of criminal intent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The laptop was on a list of topics discussed by McCabe and other FBI officials on Oct. 3 and 4. And then nothing happened. After October 4, we found no evidence that anyone associated with the [Clinton] investigation, including the entire leadership team at FBI Headquarters, took any action on the Weiner laptop issue until the week of October 24, says the report. Headquarters followed up only after being prompted on Oct. 21 by the New York office. Not until Oct. 27 did FBI officials brief FBI Director James Comey about the laptop. By then, the bureaus technical experts thought there was too little time before the election to go through the emails and determine whether any were incriminating. So Comey sent a letter to Congress disclosing what he could: that the FBI has learned of the existence of emails that appear to be pertinent to the investigation. Clinton sank in the polls. More than a week later, just two days before the election, the FBI announced that it had searched the emails enough to know that they wouldnt change its decision not to recommend her prosecution. But the damage was done. She lost. Advertisement That three-week delay arguably cost Clinton the election. In interviews with the IGs investigators, Comey says that if he had known about the laptops contents at the beginning of October, he might have kept his mouth shut and waited for FBI analysts to determine whether any of the emails were incriminating. But the report finds no evidence that the three-week delay was a conspiracy to hurt Clinton. It was a product of neglect. (Full disclosure: My wife works for the general counsel to the IG. She played no role in the investigation.) Advertisement In the report, four insiders try to explain the delay: McCabe, Strzok, Page, and FBI Assistant Director Bill Priestap. Theyre full of excuses, blame, and indifference. The laptop search was not viewed as a mission-critical activity, Priestap tells the IG investigators. There was no particular urgency, adds Page. It wasnt a ticking terrorist bomb, says Strzok. His view, he recalls in the report, was that it goes in the queue. Advertisement Advertisement These officials were content to wait until after the election. My team was prepared to pursue this matter in the normal course, recognizing that it might not be completed until after the presidential election, says Priestap. Strzok figured the laptop might yield information that the bureau would have to review, you know, January, February 2017, whenever it gets done. Priestap had closed the case, known internally as Midyear, and wasnt interested in revisiting it. My focus wasnt on Midyear anymore, he tells the IG investigators. Yes, weve got to review it. Yes, it may contain evidence we didnt know. But I felt confident that we had gotten to the bottom of the case, he concludes. It was water under the bridge. In a written statement, Priestap adds: I sincerely doubted that the emails identified on [the Weiner] laptop were likely to alter our informed view of the matter, and therefore did not prioritize the follow-on work over higher priority matters. Advertisement Advertisement The higher-priority matter was Russia. By October 2016, says Page, she and others who had worked on the Clinton case were super-focused on the nascent Russia investigation. That was a time-sensitive question, Strzok explains: Is the government of Russia trying to get somebody elected here in the United States? Next to that, the Weiner laptop was just another thing to worry about. Strzok, Page, and Priestap werent wrong. The emails on Weiners laptop proved to be irrelevant, and the Russia investigation turned out to be gravely incriminating. But by discounting the laptop instead of pressing for follow-up, they put Comey in a bind that resulted in his Oct. 28 letterwhich Strzok, perversely, was enlisted to help draft. Months earlier, he had assured Page that Trump couldnt actually win. [Trumps] not ever going to become president, right? Page asked Strzok in a text message on Aug. 8, 2016. No he wont, Strzok replied. Well stop it. But the candidate they ended up stopping was Clinton. Advertisement Advertisement In their interviews with IG investigators, Strzok and Priestap insist they didnt corrupt the investigation. I do not believe that the Bureau made a conscious decision to specifically assign a lower priority to the review of [the Weiner] laptop, says Priestap. Strzok, for his part, mocks the idea of a conspiracy. Any personal bias on the FBI team, he argues, didnt result in actions which would be indicative of bias. In a sense, thats true. The FBI officials who feared Trumps election, and who refused to take seriously the possibility that new evidence might implicate Clinton, didnt hand the election to her. They may have taken it away from her. On Thursday, Department of Justice inspector general Michael Horowitz released a report about the FBIs handling of the investigation into whether Hillary Clinton had committed any crimes by using a personal server for State Department business. Of all the words in the 568-page report, three have attracted particular attention: Well stop it. Thats what FBI deputy assistant director Peter Strzok texted about Donald Trumps potential presidency to Lisa Page, an FBI lawyer with whom he was having an affair, during the 2016 campaign: Advertisement In a text message on August 8, 2016, Page stated, [Trumps] not ever going to become president, right? Right?! Strzok responded, No. No hes not. Well stop it. Strzok and Page exchanged a number of other disparaging messages about Trump between 2015 and 2017, referring to him as a loathsome human, an idiot, an enormous d*uche, and a disaster. Strzok supervised both the Clinton email investigation and the Russia investigation for the FBI and was assigned to work for special counsel Robert Mueller. Mueller removed Strzok from his job on July 28, 2017, one day after Mueller was informed by the inspector general about the texts. (Strzok and Page, per the report, said their texts amounted to blowing off steam and that their beliefs did not influence their work.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump partisans, as you can imagine, are making hay of this. Friday morning, Trump said on Fox News that Strzok should have been fired a long time ago and that the Mueller investigation has been totally discredited. Trump lawyer and walking id extension Rudy Giuliani argued that Strzok should go to jail, I guess on felony charges of being rude. Democrats, meanwhile, have emphasized Horowitzs conclusion that he did not find that any FBI officials political beliefs influenced the outcome of the Clinton email case and does not believe that FBI Director James Comey was motivated at any point by political bias. (Horowitzs report does not draw any conclusions about the Russia case, which he is reportedly still investigating.) Advertisement Hypothetically, though, how upset would Democrats be if the shoe were on the other foot? The fact that Strzok and Page were involved in parallel investigations into both presidential candidates makes the situation easy to picture. Heres what a mirror image of the current situation would have looked like: Strzok and Page, while investigating Hillary Clintons email-security practices, exchanged text messages that discussed her lack of fitness for office and the need to stop Clinton from becoming president. Advertisement Strzok and Page praised another, less controversial Democrat running for the nomination, like Martin OMalley (in reality, they discussed their positive views of Republican John Kasich) and disparaged a number of prominent Republicans, including lets say Ted Cruz and Jeff Sessions. (In reality, they disparaged Democrats such as Eric Holder and Bernie Sanders). Advertisement The FBI kept the investigation into Clintons email as hidden as possible and even downplayed its seriousness to the press before the election. Clinton won the election. It then became apparent that her case was in fact serious and involved evidence that Strzok was not in a position to influence, resulting in a special counsel investigation led by lets say Preet Bharara that yielded felony guilty pleas by Clintons national security adviser (lets say it would have been Samantha Power, just to pick someone whos as prominent as Michael Flynn) and to Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook going to jail for witness tampering after he was indicted for a number of seemingly well-documented email-related crimes that predated his work for Clinton. (In this scenario Bharara is the analogue to Mueller, a respected law enforcement official from the same party as the president.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oh, and lets say that Chelsea Clinton, Mook, and top Clinton aide Huma Abedin had met at Clintons house in June 2016 with a group of hackers whod promised to provide advice on hiding evidence in criminal cases involving email servers. (Donald Trump Jr., Paul Manafort, and Jared Kushner met at Trump Tower in June 2016 with a group of Russians who had promised dirt on Hillary, a meeting that as it happens took place a month before Strzok was put in charge of investigating Trumps links to Russia.) In a situation like this, would a President Hillary Clinton, and Democrats in Congress, be insisting that the special counsel investigation into her campaignwhich, lets remember, is led in alternate-world by respected Democratic law enforcement figure Preet Bhararawas a discredited sham because an agent who appeared to otherwise hold middle-of-the-road political views had suggested, after a number of suspicious and potentially criminal Clinton-related events had already taken place, that she needed to be stopped? You know what? I dont think so! Donald Trump is eager to blame someone else for his administrations brutal policy of separating immigrant children from their parents at the border. The president has repeatedly blamed Democrats for the practice, declaring that their law requires a family separation policy and even tweeting that Democrats themselves are forcing the breakup of families at the Border. Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has affirmed Trumps position, insisting that family separation is the law, and thats what the law states. House Speaker Paul Ryan agreed, claiming that the administration was merely following a court ruling. Advertisement These allegations, of course, are absolutely false. There is simply no law or court order that requires the U.S. government to snatch children, including babies and toddlers, from their parents. Indeed, Trumps own Department of Justiceheaded by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who vigorously defends family separationhas acknowledged in court that Trump and Sessions created the policy. These documents plainly reveal what Trump wishes to deny: He is the reason for the forced breakup of these families, and he can halt it anytime he pleases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sessions DOJ acknowledged this fact while defending the government against a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU argued that the Trump administrations new policy violated immigrant families constitutional rights. In response, the DOJ argued that the federal court had no authority to review the policys legality, because federal law prohibits courts from reviewing the governments determination on where to detain aliens in ICE custody. This decision, the law explains, falls within the discretion of the Attorney General and the Executive. And their discretionary conclusions, the DOJ asserted, are not judicially reviewable. Advertisement As attorney Max Kennerly has noted, this argument directly contradicts Trumps denial of responsibility. At the heart of the administrations family separation policy is its zero tolerance rule, which compels the criminal prosecution and imprisonment of adult immigrants who enter the country without authorization. Previously, relatively few immigrants were prosecuted for unauthorized entry (which is only a misdemeanor); most families intercepted at the border were placed in immigrant detention centers, then released on bond. Under the new rule, when families arrive at the border, parents are locked in federal prison. Their children obviously cannot accompany them, so they are packed into shelters like converted Walmartsand, soon, tent cities. Advertisement Trump officials, along with Paul Ryan, have alleged that the 1997 Flores settlement agreement compels family separation. That, too, is patently false. The Flores settlement requires the government to release immigrant children from detention without unnecessary delay; to keep them in the least restrictive setting possible if it continues to detain them; and to take good care of those children who remain in custody. Absolutely nothing in Flores advises, let alone requires, the forcible division of parents and children at the border. Advertisement Rather, as the DOJ has noted in federal court, immigration agents are separating families solely at the direction of Sessions, who is implementing Trumps policy preferences. If Trump directed Sessions to scrap the zero tolerance rule, family separation could stop, and children could be reunited with their parents. The president, however, refuses to do so. Instead, he is holding some 2,000 immigrant children hostage in an effort to goad Congress into passing a bill that strictly limits legal immigration and funds a physical border wall. Until Trump abandons zero tolerance, these children, and many more to come, will stay trapped in tents and warehouses, with no parents to comfort them and no end to their trauma in sight. President Trump strode out of the White House this morning for an impromptu appearance on Fox and Friends to jibber-jabber about the news of the day. In addition to a comment about how hed like for my people to treat him with the same fealty that North Koreans treat Kim Jong Un, he touched on the two immigration billsone strictly conservative option, and a compromise measure negotiated between moderates and conservatives that House Republicans will consider next week. Advertisement Host Steve Doocy asked Trump whether he would sign either the conservative Goodlatte bill or the other, described by Doocy as something more moderate. Im looking at both of them, Trump said. I certainly wouldnt sign the more moderate one. Oh? This would be the same bill on which House Speaker Paul Ryan said he had been working hand-in-glove with the White House. He told Republican members during a conference on Wednesday that President Trump was excited about it. Even White House adviser Stephen Miller, an immigration hawk whos worked to kill more than a few compromise immigration bills over the years, had been on the Hill this week selling it to one of the main conservative caucuses. There is, after all, plenty of grime within this bill to suit Trumps tastes. It uses both DACA recipients as well as children separated from their parents at the border as a legislative hostages to secure the border wall, higher standards for asylum-seekers, indefinite family detention, elimination of the diversity visa lottery, and cuts to family-based migration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But a first clue that Trump was not as sold as Ryan made it seem was when White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders refused to endorse it during Thursdays briefing. And House Freedom Caucus chairman Rep. Mark Meadows warned that he wouldnt believe the president supported it until he heard it from Trumps mouth. (Meadows, a strong supporter of the Goodlatte bill, is known to chat frequently with the president, and the presidents comments this morning could reflect a very recent conversation.) Now the president has opened his mouth, as hes wont to do, and has said directly he wont sign it. If true, that kills the bill. But if past debates are any indication, the president will offer a series of contrasting opinions before all is said and done. Maybe he didnt like how Doocy described the bill as moderate, and felt compelled to say in the moment that he wouldnt support it. Even if Trump changes his mind, though, some members may not believe him. Theyll be hesitant to put their necks on the line for something they have no reason to believe the president will support an hour after the vote. Any day now, the Supreme Court will issue its ruling in Trump v. Hawaii, weighing in on the legality of President Donald Trumps third travel ban. That ban, which was instituted via executive order in September, prevents nearly all individuals from five majority-Muslim countries and North Korea, and a small number of Venezuelans, from entering the United States unless they receive special waivers. In federal court, government lawyers have pointed to that process of offering case-by-case waivers to deserving visa applicants as evidence that the administrations most recent ban doesnt suffer from the same constitutional infirmities that caused the first ban to get blocked by numerous judges. Advertisement Public reports about seemingly deserving applicants whose waiver requests have been rejected have raised questions about whether the waiver process is as robust as the government has claimed. A Yemeni woman who suffered from rheumatic heart disease was told in December that shed be allowed into the country to join her U.S. citizen husband only to be denied a waiver once the third travel ban went into effect. A widowed 80-year-old Iranian man whose son had just died of brain cancer was denied a waiver to come live with his U.S. citizen daughter; he never learned that hed been rejected, as he died three weeks before the denial was issued. A 10-year-old girl with cerebral palsythe daughter of an American citizenwas initially denied a waiver, and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg asked the government about her individual case during oral arguments in Trump v. Hawaii. The girl has reportedly now been allowed into the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [T]here really is no waiver [process] and the Supreme Court was correct to point out that the waiver [process] is merely window dressing. sworn affidavit of Christopher Richardson In those oral arguments, Justices Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor asked the government whether the waiver process was mere window dressing. Solicitor General Noel Francisco responded that the State Departments consular officers have been tasked with ensuring the legitimacy of that process. The waiver process actually is applied automatically by consular officers, Francisco said. If youre not subject to [one of the bans other] exception[s], then the consular officer, him or herself, turns to the waiver provision and applies the criteria of the waiver provision. In justifying the ban, Francisco described a straightforward waiver process, one reminiscent of the procedures carried out under presidents including Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. But new, previously undisclosed statements from two consular officers tasked with implementing the travel bans provisions contradict this depiction. Both say consular officers had no discretion to offer waivers themselves. One described the waiver process as a fraud. In the days before the Supreme Court is set to release its ruling in Trump v. Hawaii, these claims raise significant questions regarding the governments assertions about the travel ban. Advertisement Two weeks ago, Christopher Richardson submitted a sworn affidavit in the case of Ahmed Alharbi et al. v. Stephen Miller et al. That case, which is being heard in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, was brought by Yemeni plaintiffs seeking to obtain visas they were approved to receive but were never granted after the latest ban went into effect. (The judge in that case recently issued an injunction demanding the government issue the visas.) Richardson, who most recently worked as the American Citizens Service Chief in Madrid, was a State Department official from 2011 until March of this year, when he resigned. (Disclosure: Richardson and I are acquaintances.) Advertisement In his sworn declaration, acquired by Slate, Richardson said thatcounter to Franciscos claim before the Supreme Courtconsular officers were not allowed to use any discretion to grant visa waivers. Advertisement Advertisement As a Consular officer previously employed by the State Department my impression and interpretation of how we as officers were to apply the waiver process was as follows: (a) They gave us a list of things and we would go down the list one by one until we were able to determine at all possible cost that the person was not eligible to even apply for the waiver. My understanding was no one is to be eligible to apply. (b) If for some reason an applicant made it through the list and we had no choice but to determine we could find an applicant eligible to apply, regardless of the [Presidential Proclamation] instructions that we had discretion to grant the waiver, we were not allowed to exercise that discretion. We were mandated to send to Washington that we found this applicant eligible to apply and Washington would then make the decision to grant or deny the waiver. Advertisement Richardsons assertion that consular officers had no discretion to grant waivers directly contradicts both the claim made by Francisco at the Supreme Court and the text of Presidential Proclamation 9645, i.e. the September executive order delineating the third travel ban. That executive order states that a consular officer, or the Commissioner, United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), or the Commissioners designee, as appropriate, may, in their discretion, grant waivers on a case-by-case basis. Advertisement The claims in Richardsons affidavit also contradict a letter the State Department sent to Sen. Chris Van Hollen in February. The letter, echoing the language of the presidential proclamation, stated, The entry restrictions of the Proclamation may be waived if a consular officer determines that the applicant meets each of the following three criteria: (1) denying entry would cause the foreign national undue hardship; (2) entry would not pose a threat to the national security or public safety of the United States; and (3) entry would be in the national interest. The letter to Van Hollenthe most detailed publicly available guidance on how the waiver process is supposed to workstated that waiver reviews were to be undertaken by the consular officers themselves (emphasis mine): Advertisement Advertisement First, to satisfy the undue hardship criterion, the applicant must demonstrate to the consular officers satisfaction that an unusual situation exists that compels immediate travel by the applicant and that delaying visa issuance and the associated travel plans would defeat the purpose of travel. Second, the applicants travel may be considered in the national interest if the applicant demonstrates to the consular officers satisfaction that a U.S. person or entity would suffer hardship if the applicant could not travel until after visa restrictions imposed with respect to nationals of that country are lifted. Advertisement Per the letter, the third and final criteria, national security, was to be assessed by the consular officer in consultation with the Visa Office, with a final determination to come with the concurrence of a consular manager. Slate requested comment from the State Department regarding Richardsons declaration as well as what consultation with the Visa Office and the concurrence of a consular manager mean in practice. A State Department official replied, The Department does not comment on litigation. Advertisement In the letter to Van Hollen, the State Department reported that from Dec. 8, 2017, through Jan. 8, 2018, it received 8,406 visa applications from nationals subject to Presidential Proclamation 9645 and approved a total of two waiver requests, meaning that 0.02 percent of applicants received waivers. Since Van Hollen publicized those numbers, the number of waivers issued has ticked up. In March, Reuters reported that the waiver total had reached about 100. At oral arguments in April, Francisco told the Supreme Court that the number of waivers issued was over 400. And as of Friday, the State Department says, at least 809 applicants were cleared for waivers after a consular officer determined the applicants satisfied all criteria and completed all required processing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neal Katyal, in arguing for the plaintiffs at the Supreme Court, noted that the government had not offered an update on the number of visa applications it has received since January. If applications have come in at a similar rate as they did in the proclamations first month, the waiver rate would now be at about 1.5 percent. The Washington Post also reported last month that immigrants rights advocates believe the number of people who actually have received visas through waivers is much lower than the total number of accepted waiver applicants. In other words, theres no guarantee that applicants whove been granted waivers have been issued visas. In his affidavit, Richardson said consular officers received guidance on how to implement the administrations executive orders on immigration from sample Qs and As distributed by the State Department. Richardson said that guidance cables, sample Qs and As and instructions regarding executing all three orders were sent via email to consular posts, and the cable and the corresponding Qs and As were at the top center of the [Consular Affairs offices] internal homepage for 3 to 4 months. He added, Having seen all these documents to the best of my recollection NONE of the documents were classified. Advertisement Advertisement Despite Richardsons contention that the documents arent classified, they havent been released for public inspection. In January, Muslim Advocates and the Center for Constitutional Rights issued a FOIA request for any internal government documents pertaining to the waiver process. On Wednesday, the group told me they have yet to receive a response beyond the standard notification of receipt. Julie Goldberg, the attorney representing the plaintiffs in the Alharbi case, said she has also attempted to obtain these documents several times during legal proceedings. Even the ones that are unclassified, theyre just not turning them over, she told me. The best Ive got is the government has turned it over for in-camera review and the court is yet to release it. Advertisement Advertisement Richardson said in his sworn statement that these documents would reveal crucial information about how the waiver process does and doesnt work: I can certainly understand why the government would not want [to] release all of them because when read together with our training, it is understood that there really is no waiver [process] and the Supreme Court was correct to point out that the waiver [process] is merely window dressing. Another person who has worked as a consular officer during the time frame of Trumps travel ban affirmed Richardsons assessment of the waiver process. In communications viewed by Slate between this individual and a longtime immigrants rights advocate, the consular officer said the waiver process is fraud. (Slate has granted the immigrants rights advocate anonymity to protect the consular officers identity.) Advertisement Advertisement This second consular officer also said that the Q&A document, if revealed to the public, would demonstrate that the waiver process has no rational basis. The officer also affirmed Richardsons contention regarding the State Department guidance to consular officers, saying that none of the material is classified and that theres no reason for the government to withhold the material. The Q&As have to come out, the officer added. Only then will people realize how this is one step away from [the] Soviet politburo. If further evidence were to emerge indicating that the waiver process works differently in practice than the administration has claimed, that information could have a serious effect on the legality of the travel ban. In arguments before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the government asserted that the travel ban writ large was not reviewable under a long-standing legal doctrine known as consular nonreviewability. This legal theory, which was affirmed as recently as 2015, gives consular officers broad discretion to reject or approve individual visa applicants without those decisions being subject to judicial review. The 9th Circuit rejected the argument that consular nonreviewability could apply to broad presidential proclamations. Its possible, though, that the courts could find that decisions to grant or deny individual waivers under the current travel banwith those decisions purportedly made on a discretionary basis by consular officersare indeed protected from scrutiny because of the doctrine of consular nonreviewability. If that happens, the administration could claim consular officers are making individualized, discretionary, nonreviewable decisions, while at the same time dictating what precisely each of those discretionary decisions should be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his affidavit, Richardson said the administration had done just that. In essence what the administration was doing was hiding behind the doctrine of consular non-reviewability for the benefit of issuing a Muslim ban and [at] the same time usurping all of our authority given by both Congress and the [presidential proclamation] by disallowing the consular officer to make a decision. The second consular officer made a similar assessment. [The] government will insist that material is non-reviewable under consular non-reviewability but its an intentional Catch 22, just like the waiver process [was] designed, the consular officer said. The officer added, They usurped our authority yet make it seem like we still have [authority] to decide. The veracity of the governments claims about the waiver process matters for the purposes of the Supreme Courts travel-ban case, Trump v. Hawaii. At oral arguments, the government claimed that the existence of the waiver process demonstrated that Trumps third travel ban was in line with what past presidents had done. Given that, the government argued, the travel ban did not violate either the Establishment Clause or the immigration statute that bars nationality-based discrimination. (Slate sent several questions to the Department of Justice asking about waiver-process protocols and possible inconsistencies between Franciscos statements to the court and the testimony offered in Richardsons affidavit. Because this case is pending, we decline to comment beyond what we argued before the Supreme Court, DOJ spokesperson Kerri Kupec said.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The veracity of the governments claims about the waiver process matters for the purposes of the Supreme Courts travel-ban case. These new claims from Richardson and the second consular officer are particularly significant because the key justice in the case seemed particularly taken by the governments argument that Trumps executive order is in keeping with past presidential actions. During oral arguments, Justice Anthony Kennedy, who as per usual appears to hold the decisive vote, appeared swayed by the notion that this was just like any other executive order on immigration. In fact, if you compare this proclamation to the Reagan and the Carter proclamations, which I think were one or two sentences, this is longer than any proclamation thatthat Ive seen in this particular area, the swing justice said, adding seconds later that it was both longer and more detailed than other such proclamations. This is the most detailed proclamation ever issued in American history, Francisco responded. When Sotomayor noted that this proclamationwhich again covers five majority-Muslim countries, North Korea, and a small number of Venezuelanswas much broader than previous ones, Francisco responded by citing the bans supposedly typical waiver process. President Carters actually applied to all immigrants but then had an exception much like the waiver provision here for national interests and humanitarian concerns, Francisco argued. So I think President Carters was actually very similar to the proclamation here. The full truth of how the waiver process works remains unknown to all but a small group of government officials. It may ultimately be up to the courts to decide how much the public will be allowed to know about the reality on the ground, and whenif everwere allowed to know it. The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] In the wake of the horrors currently being done to children in Americas name, heres one thing we can do: Recognize were in a linguistic emergency. We have a president whose single-minded praise for macho might is wearing down even those who refuse to overlook his incompetence. Trump, the only presidential candidate to refer to his penis size during a national debate, wants nothing more than to be seen as powerful and manly, and to align himself with those who project the characteristics he desires. And hes gotten helpfrom us. If youve ever called Trump tough on immigration, note that he just called a dictator tough for murdering his citizens. (And very smart for staying in power.) That should be a wake-up call to journalists responsible for telling the story of this moment: Stop using the words he routinely chooses to describe himself. And think hard about whether youre accidentally reinforcing the model of power hes trying to sell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That change is task one: Sidestep every attempt he and his allies make to equate treating people badly with being strong, because their efforts to link those concepts are working. Neutral outlets are defaulting to his language for what he doeshes cracking down on unions! Hes taking a hard line on the G-7! Driving hard bargains! These all position him as powerful, which he loves. The trouble is, its wrong. In practice, Trumps positions slip and slide all over the place. He never got that hard bargain he allegedly drove (though he sure got credit for driving it). His deals fall through, his policy shifts depending on whomever he spoke to last. It would be the height of irony if the weakest president on record managed to rebrand himself as the strongman he so badly wants to be. Advertisement So: Infectious though his formulations can be, its time to break the habit. Dont use his language outside quotation marks. Take particular care to avoid words that confuse cruelty with strength. Avoid warlike metaphors. No taking aim, no battles, no doubling down. No punching metaphors. No deals. Deny him the framing he wants. There are, after all, other words. Arbitrary. Confused. Crabby. Ignorant. Advertisement This is an extraordinarily weak president. Narrate him that way. Its the truth. Language reshapes relations; even the famous Stanford prison experimentwhich ostensibly demonstrated that people with perceived power devolve to treating each other brutallywas recently exposed as having some of its more horrifying results engineered. The brutal guards were told to be brutal and how to be brutal. George Lakoff has argued that the metaphors underpinning language do at least as much messaging work as the words themselves do. Hes right. And Trump is good at using hoary old frames about mighty men, of calling losses wins. It doesnt matter if he liesthe only goal is to convey strength. And it works. Advertisement Advertisement His presidency has not, so far, been described faithfully and consistently for what it is. Take this December Bloomberg story, which describes a speech in which Trump makes it clear he has no idea how the immigration system hes promised to change works. This is what he said: They give us their worst people, they put them in a bin, but in his hand when hes picking him are really the worst of the worst. That is not, in any way, how Americas immigration functions. Advertisement In any other climate, the newsworthy element of the story would be obvious: a president claiming he can fix immigration doesnt understand, at the most basic level, how the current system works. Thats a scandal. But rather than center that fact, the headline is Trump Calls Immigrants With Lottery Visas Worst of the Worst. That Trump got everything wrong doesnt show up until the seventh paragraph. Not only does this marginalize what really mattersi.e., that the man in charge is so incompetent he cant even describe the thing he plans to fixit also concentrates the power of the story on Trump. It suggests that the important takeaway from this speech is what he calls a group of people that he just demonstrated he knows nothing about. Advertisement A presidents lack of basic competence is worth accurately reporting on. And it must be reported on when there is nothing else of value worth reporting. So why doesnt this happen more? Two reasons: For one, I sense in much of the reporting on Trump a secret fear that maybe were missing something. He won, after all. And he keeps insisting that hes strong despite all the evidence, so maybe theres something were not seeing. This, as many have pointed out, is gaslighting. Its why he always says he has a plan he wont describe. Advertisement Advertisement The second reason is that many news organizations still confuse neutrality with accuracy. Better to just report what he says and let the people decide, the thinking goes. Advertisement But thats wrong. And thats due to the power of language: Simply repeating his fantastical claims makes them seem less fantastical. What a president says usually matters a great deal. But because what Trump says usually bears no relation to the truth (or to what his own policies end up being) it therefore fails to inform the public, and is not worth repeating. He wants to propagate the story of a power he doesnt have. We shouldnt help him. Instead, repeat the valuable news that emanates from this White House: Usually, that will involve showing all the ways this president is wrong, weak, and reactive. And if youre stumped on finding the words to do that with, look to misogyny. Im serious. Just imagine how the past week would have been framed had Trump been a womanweakness would be the constant subtext. A shaken Trump tries to shift blame for broken families on nonexistent Democrat bill. At Singapore summit, Trump makes nervous joke over weight. Trump catty with Trudeau. On May 9, the Department of Transportation announced the first 10 project sites it chose to participate in its new three-year Drone Integration Pilot Program aimed at expanding the testing of new drone technology in a select number of local, state, and tribal jurisdictions. Selected from 149 lead applicants and over 2,800 private sector interested parties, theyre an eclectic bunch: the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; projects in the city of San Diego; the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Investment Authority in Herndon, Virginia; the Lee County Mosquito Control District in Florida; the MemphisShelby County Airport Authority in Tennessee; the North Carolina, Kansas, and North Dakota departments of transportation; the city of Reno, Nevada; and the University of AlaskaFairbanks all saw their specific public-private partnership proposals get the greenlight. The projects include plans to test various kinds of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS for short, as they are formally known), including drone-based mapping, inspections, traffic and weather monitoring, commercial and medical delivery, and law enforcement surveillance systems. Selected applicants will be given special attention from the Federal Aviation Administration. This will allow them to, among other things, more quickly secure waivers for flights that go beyond what current drone regulations permit, like night flights or flights beyond visual line of sight. In exchange, participants agreed to share information with the federal agencies that might help craft regulations for more drone-friendly skies in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administrations initial selections werent just notable for the places, but also for the big-name companies signed on as partners in the chosen proposals, which include Google parent company Alphabets Project Wing, State Farm, AT&T, Intel, Airbus, Uber, Apple, drone-maker PrecisionHawk, CNN, FedEx, Intel, and General Electric. Surprisingly, Amazon, famous for its big bets on delivery drones, is missing, for reasons that some speculate are motivated by Trumps well-known animosity toward Jeff Bezos. So is Chinese tech company DJI, which dominates the consumer drone market but landed in hot water over accusations that its products send sensitive information back to Chinaa claim the company has strenuously denied, although that hasnt stopped calls for the U.S. military to stop using DJI products, Whatever the case, the pair, I suspect, will be fineand may even be permitted to join the program in another potential round of DOT selections. There were also notable geographic exclusions. The DOT didnt select any applicants from Northern California, the Pacific Northwest, or the entire Northeast portion of the country, despite a number of high-profile applications. Lawmakers from New York were particularly angry about their exclusion (Sen. Chuck Schumer, for one, called the Northeasts total shutout head-scratching) and are demanding a clear explanation from the administration. Advertisement Advertisement Why the DOT chose these particular companies and locations is unclear. But something that is clear from the selections: Big corporations just got a major leg up in the push to open up our skies to this robotic aviation revolution. And law enforcement may not be far behind. Drones are big business, and the companies selected for this groundbreaking pilot program are, with the notable absences of DJI and Amazon, among the biggest players out there. While many smaller drone businesses that offer photography, mapping, and other aerial data services submitted their names to the programs interested parties consideration list, few were chosen. Because companies that participate in the program will be able to get quicker approval for boundary-pushingand potentially lucrativedrone projects and experiments, it may represent an unfair advantage for the tech giants selected. Advertisement Advertisement Theres also reason to worry that the program could give big corporations undue influence over local and federal rules. Drone startups and small businesses, already facing profit drops as drones become more commonplace and easier to use, have been complaining for some time about the FAAs tendency to defer to larger companies when it comes to making rules around these unmanned aircraft systems. And now theyre worried about how regulations under consideration now may further unfairly favor the deepest pockets or the most well-connected. This includes moves like potentially requiring an expensive instrument-rated pilots license to fly a drone beyond the visual line of sight (something not permitted under current FAA rules), and carving out exceptions for hand-picked large companies that allow them test out new services before everyone else. Advertisement Advertisement Im not sure that the biggest companies in the drone industry will always have the best interests of citizens and smaller players at heart. This problem is compounded when you consider the ways the federal government is also working with big, private companies to create the underlying infrastructure to make sure the millions of drones expected to be zipping through our skies will fly safely (as in, without crashing into each other or any other unintended things, such as passenger aircraft, buildings, and peoples heads). Most significantly, Amazon, Google, General Electric, and Boeing are currently collaborating with NASA to develop a privately funded and operated air traffic control network just for drones. Its a system we desperately needand that private industry can certainly move more quickly on than the lumbering, unstably funded FAA. But its also not difficult to imagine what might get the right of way. In this, 2018, the Year of Shattered Technological Trust, forgive me if Im not sure that the biggest companies in the drone industry will always have the best interests of citizens and smaller players at heart as they influence the regulations of the future. Advertisement Advertisement The new Drone Integration Pilot Program hints at another worrisome trend: the potential popularization of small drone use among law enforcement. This go-round, the Department of Transportation largely passed over proposals explicitly focused on law enforcement, though many projects did appeal to broader public safety applications like emergency response. One exception? The proposal from the San Diego region, which, per the FAAs website, focuses in part on border protection. Though theres little available detail on what this might look like in practice, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the city will partner with AT&T, Qualcomm, and General Electric to manage cross-border air traffic and commercial deliveries after dark. Drone cloud-services company Cape will also partner with the Chula Vista Police Department to dispatch drones to fires, crime scenes, and major accidents to gauge if additional help is needed. Advertisement Advertisement Things could have goneand still could goin an even creepier direction. Consider Louisville, Kentuckys proposal to create a fleet of aerial surveillance drones programmed to dispatch themselves to spots of reported gunfire and collect and send back video of suspected crime scenes (and everyone else unlucky enough to be around) to police. Though Louisvilles proposal didnt make it into the drone pilot program for this initial pass, the gunshot response drone plan did receive an air of legitimacy when it won funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies 2018 U.S. Mayors Challenge. Earlier this year, according to Wired, the International Association of Chiefs of Polices annual tech conference included a seminar on this developing public approbation for drones. And just this week, as Slates April Glaser detailed, drone-maker DJI and law enforcement tech company Axon announced theyre going to team up to sell camera-equipped drones to law enforcement agencies around the globe. Though we have yet to see how this interest fully pans out in the current and potential future pilot program selections, its a space worth attention. Advertisement Advertisement The DOTs drone integration programs potential to expand big corporations and law enforcements lead in this space becomes even more significant in the context of the battle over local vs. federal airspace control, since it seems the latter will be the bigger player in (literally) determining what flies. Though many cities, counties, and states have introduced their own drone regulations, these local rules may not hold up in court. The FAA claims it has the superseding regulatory authority to regulate navigable American airspaceall the way down to a blade of grass. This may sound excessive, but theres good logic to it: Without overarching federal control, airlines and other civilian aircraft would have to adhere to a mind-bendingly huge patchwork of regulations in every state and municipality they fly over. Many drone professionals believe this patchwork would drain resources and stifle progress in their sector, forcing them to navigate a dizzying array of oft-changing rules. I mostly agree with them. Total local control over drone regulations really could make it very difficult to use drones for many beneficial purposes, from monitoring crops to assessing damage after hurricanes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet drone operators have to co-exist with the general public, and thats where some future turbulence may lie. While most people are less suspicious of drones than they used to be, theyre still not thrilled about them, especially when theyre used by strangers. I suspect many people distrust drones precisely because they feel they have no say over how they are used or what is done with the imagery they collect. It makes sense that citizens want to be able to weigh in on what happens with drones in their localities. In a time of ever-growing public distrust of data collection by both private companies and by government, they probably wont be thrilled about the expansion of corporate or law enforcement influence, eitherespecially if theres little transparency about how drone data will be used. And its already showing. According to the National Conference of State Legislators, over 38 states were considering drone legislation in 2017. The majority of these proposals, and most laws and resolutions that have already been passed, focus on privacy. The issue has also made it to the federal level. Two bipartisan bills in the Senate and the Housethe Drone Federalism Act and the Drone Innovation Act, both introduced in 2017would give local governments regulatory authority on drone operations in airspace under 200 feet. While its unlikely that Congress will pass these anytime soon, they indicate that plenty of people arent happy with local governments lack of control over drones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If they wants drone use to to expand and thrive, the industry and the feds would probably do best to make concessions to the average persons feelings of powerlessness over how drones and the data they collect are usedlest they be subject to overcorrections that could stifle progress for all parties. They could do this by striking compromises that would give state and municipal governments more control over how drones are used in ways that wont smother the industry. This could conceding ample carve-outs for municipalities to manage particular kinds of operations like emergency use, but also making sure such carve-outs come with a clear system for posting local rules that wont require hours of digging to know how to comply. Advertisement It might also include addresssing public uneasiness over drone technology by passing reasonable federal drone privacy laws. Though certain advocates argue that existing Peeping Tom regulations already cover privacy-violating uses of drone data, we dont have any federal laws that directly address drone privacy. A well-written and not overly onerous law specific to drones would, in theory, be less nightmarish to navigate for drone users than a patchwork of local regulations that attempt to cover the same issue. Advertisement We dont have any federal laws that directly address drone privacy. The FAA, for its part, maintains that regulating data privacy isnt part of its mission. But, considering the ways some lawmakers are getting impatient about the lack of overarching rules, it may not have a say. Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey and Vermont Rep. Peter Welch introduced drone-specific privacy legislation just last year, which would require the FAA to, among other measures, collect and publicly post data collection statements from all drone license applicants, with information about who will operate the drone, where it will be flown, what kind of data it will collect, how long it will retain that data, and whether it will share that information with third parties. Law enforcement agencies and affiliated contractors would also have additional requirements to state how theyd put robust limits on their surveillance use. .Speaking in a Senate Subcommittee meeting in May, Markey liked the FAAs current approach on drone data privacy to the hands-off approach applied to companies like Facebook and Cambridge Analytica that left consumers powerless. Drone industry leaders, for their part, pushed back against the legislation, arguing that it was both overly broad and too specific. I agree with these criticisms. But I also think the drone industry should consider working with lawmakers to write federal drone privacy legislation it can live with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be sure, we dont have much specific information on how the DOTs Drone Integration Pilot Program, or the subsequent regulations that may come out of it, will handle issues of data security or privacy. The programs materials instructed applicants to take into account DOTs privacy policies pertaining to drones (which, among other things, require that drone operators avoid collecting personally identifiable information like imagery, phone, and wireless emissions to the extent practicable, and mandate that personal information be deleted if its accidentally collected) as well as the National Telecommunications and Information Administrations Voluntary Best Practices. But it remains to be seen how the agency will interpret, monitor, and enforce such rules, or how theyll take public complaints into account. It doesnt seem like theres much more clarity in individual contracts for the pilot program either. I found and reviewed North Dakotas memorandum of agreement with the FAA for its program: It requires that the parties must operate in accordance with applicable privacy laws, and have privacy policies governing all activities conducted within the agreement. It also requires the participants to create a mechanism to receive and consider public comment on the privacy policies, and to conduct annual review of operations to verify compliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This vague language could pose problems for the drone pilot program selectees. Activists in a number of communities are pushing back hard against law enforcement drones in particular. The ACLU and local activist groups in Los Angeles, Boston, and Chicago have all recently spoken out against drone use by police and law enforcement. On the privacy front, theyre worried that the technology will be used for warrantless surveillance of protests and average people, and otherwise reinforce unfair police practices. Privacy advocates are also concerned that data collected by other public agencies for nonlaw enforcement purposes might be shared with the law enforcement agencies. Those involved in the pilot program should make sure theyre thinking hard about how theyll shape and explain their policies around privacy and data security with citizens in mind, lest public backlash shape it for them. Advertisement Advertisement The Drone Integration Pilot Program is still in early days, but its an intriguing idea on paper. If it functions like its official mission proposes, it will provide the FAA and the DOT with invaluable data that can be used to make better, more equitable drone regulations. Its also possible that the program will, inadvertently or intentionally, expand the power of large corporations in this space, and normalize the use of drones by law enforcement. With all the moving parts, its too early to tell how it will play out. But we should all keep watching the skies. A court in Ontario awarded a rising star clarinet player 350,000 Canadian dollars (around $265,000) on Wednesday after he sued his ex-girlfriend for breaking into his email and nearly torpedoing his career, the Montreal Gazette reports. Eric Abramovitz was a student at McGill University in 2014 and had applied for a scholarship to complete the last two years of his bachelors degree at the Colburn Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles. He already had a host of prestigious accolades for his clarinet chops, including winning six first-place prizes from the Canadian Music Competition and playing as a featured soloist with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestre symphonique de Quebec. If awarded the scholarship, Abramovitz would have had the chance to study under Yehuda Gilad, one of the best clarinet teachers in the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After auditioning before Gilad himself, Abramovitz was accepted to the program and offered the scholarship. Accepting the offer would have likely landed Abramovitz a lucrative spot in a symphony after graduation. Yet, he never saw the email from Gilad informing him of the opportunity. Thats because his girlfriend at the time, Jennifer Lee, allegedly saw it first. Abramovitz and Lee were both music students at McGill, and he let her use his laptop and his passwords. Afraid that he would have to move away, she used Abramovitzs email address to reject the offer and delete the message before he had a chance to sign in. Lee also apparently created a fake email address under Gilads namegiladyehuda09@gmail.comand sent Abramovitz an email incorrectly informing him that he had been rejected. The email did say that Abramovitz had won a $5,000-per-year scholarship to study at the University of Southern California, though Lee knew that would not be enough for Abramovitz to afford the tuition. Advertisement Abramovitz ended up completing his studies at McGill and later studied part time under Gilad while attending a two-year certificate program at USC. During that time, Gilad asked Abramovitz why he refused the offer, creating confusion that ultimately led to them uncovering the plot. Abramovitz later forwarded him Lees fake email, and Gilad said hed never seen it. According to his interview with the National Post, Abramovitz decided to investigate and was able to break into Lees fake email for Gilad using one of her old passwords. Her actual email and phone number were listed in the accounts settings for password recovery. Abramovitz then discovered that she had also pulled a similar trick for his successful application to Julliard. Advertisement Advertisement By that time, Abramovitz and Lee had already split up for other reasons. He sued her for 300,000 Canadian dollars in damages for loss of educational opportunity, reputation, and two years of potential income. Ontario Superior Court judge David Corbett ruled in his favor, awarded him an additional 50,000 Canadian dollars, and wrote in the decision, I am very frustrated that a highly talented musician like Eric was the victim of such an unthinkable, immoral act that delayed his progress and advancement as an up-and-coming young musician and delayed his embarking on a most promising career. Lee never showed up to the trial or attempted to defend herself, and Abramovitz says he is unaware of her whereabouts, so he may be unable to collect the damages. This lawsuit serves as a good reminder to be careful with sharing passwords, even with romantic partners. This isnt the only example of password sharing going awry. A Miami man named Jesus Echezarreta recently discovered that his ex-boyfriend was able to spy on him using his Ring device, which is a smart doorbell that has a camera built into it. He and his partner had reportedly shared the password, and even when Echezarreta tried to change it after their breakup, a security flaw allowed his ex to log in without it. Top 3 news from Last Week in Slovakia President Andrej Kiska delivered a harsh state of the republic address in parliament. Font size: A - | A + video //www.sme.sk/vp/36796/ This programme is part of The Slovak Spectator subscription and our readers are receiving it every Thursday morning as part of their subscription. More information: Print+audio: shop.spectator.sme.sk/newspaper Online+audio: www.sme.sk/predplatne-spectator/ 15. Jun 2018 at 7:40 | Compiled by Spectator staff What are the reasons behind low wages in Slovakia? The average wage costs per Slovak employee accounts for only 44 percent of the EU average. The autimotive industry is one of main pillars of the Slovak economy. (Source: Courtesy of VW SK) After almost 30 years since the fall of the communist regime and transfer to a market economy, Slovaks are still far from enjoying western salaries. But while trade unionists as well as Robert Ficos ruling party Smer pursue administrative measures to increase employee wages, economists point to the low labour productivity of companies as an obstacle to greater growth. It is necessary to pay more attention to labour productivity growth for the long-term growth of wages in Slovakia, Milan Vyskrabka, analyst of the Financial Policy Institute (IFP) think tank running under the Finance Ministry, writes in its analysis the High and Low of Companies in Slovakia published in early June. This is because the productivity of most companies significantly lags behind the best performers. The Labour Ministry points out that the findings of the analysis cannot be applied over the entire business sector in Slovakia since the surveyed sample of companies includes only companies that operate in Slovakia as well as abroad. Nevertheless, international comparison confirms that Slovakias wage costs lag behind the European average more than productivity, Veronika Husarova, spokesperson of the Labour Ministry, told The Slovak Spectator. 15. Jun 2018 at 8:29 | Jana Liptakova The Build-Outs of Summer is always a global affair, and we are happy to bring your our first international entry for 2018. This one has been almost 200 years in the making. Atkinsons Coffee Roasters began its life many, many moons ago as a Lancaster, England-based importer of tea and spices and exporter of roasted coffee. Now, some 180+ years later, Atkinsons has refined it aim to only include specialty coffee and teas and theyve got a brand new build-out to boot. Setting up shop inside the Mackie Mayor in Manchestera dining hall-type establishment featuring a handful of restaurants, wine bars, breweries, and of course a coffee shopthis is the fourth cafe for Atkinsons, their first outside Lancaster. And with their white Sanremo Opera with matching Nuova Simonelli Mythos One grinders, this new location is a thing of beauty. So grab a steamed bun from neighboring Baohouse and check out the brand new Atkinsons Coffee Roasters inside the Mackie Mayor in Manchster, England. As told to Sprudge by Caspar Steel. For those who arent familiar, will you tell us about your company? Atkinsons started out in 1837 in Lancaster importing tea and spices and roasting coffee, most of which was shipped straight into the Georgian port at the time. Fast forward about 170 years and speciality coffee is just about to kick off (again!) in the UK. Since 2010 we have opened The Music Room cafe, The Hall cafe, and our new eco-roastery which houses our new Loring Kestral, which sits between The Hall and our original shop, which has been on that site since 1901. Our newest project is our first venture into a different city with the Mackie Mayor in Manchester. Can you tell us a bit about the new space? The Mackie Mayor was built in 1858 as part of Manchesters Smithfield Markets and has now been developed by the folks behind Altrincham Market, into a food hall with 500 covers and 10 different independent businesses. Our roastery cafe occupies one corner of the building, lined with floor to ceiling windows and super high ceilings. Our concept was to bring some of our 180-year legacy to the Mancs and also showcase all things new and exciting in speciality coffee. As there are 500 seats inside the food hall, this meant we could dedicate most of our space to one obscenely long bar, kind of like an alter to the coffee gods. The room is an L-shape, and round the corner from the bar is our Shop and Roastery where we usually have about 10 coffees, all roasted onsite, 20 teas, and a wide range of brew methods from the likes of Torch, Hasami, Hario, Wilfa, Munieq, Moon Rabbit, and some local pottery wares too. The cladding of the bar is a homage to the Georgian counter in our shop, our menu board was made by local makers and mates Super Marche, and we have 10 Victorian canisters from our original Shop storing fresh roasts. Whats your approach to coffee? Over the last 12 years weve managed to visit a lot the producers we work with at origin and now most of our 20-ish coffees are Relationship Coffees, and theres always tonnes of interesting stories behind them. Telling these stories is really important, so we include as much of this as we can on the bags, printed postcards, the website, and blog, but mostly in conversation with our baristas at the bar and our weekly public cuppings that are free. In the last cafe we opened, The Hall, we put a big focus on brew methods, using syphons and Chemexes to engage customers with black coffee, but this time around we wanted to simplify the brewing and put more focus on the coffees themselves. So here offer four to five single origins all brewed on Marco SP9s with Kalitas, we also offer two different espressos that change regularly, nitro cold brew coffee and tea, kombucha made with our tea, and coffee- and tea-based cocktails. Any machines, coffees, special equipment lined up? A few years ago we found a tiny little roaster, almost exactly the same as our original Shop roaster but smaller, a 1919 Uno 7lb. This little 99-year-old guy now roasts up all of the coffee on-site for our new location! Uno doesnt exist anymore so to get this little beauty up and running we teamed up the Lancaster Universitys 3D printing guys and the genius who installed our Loring Roaster last year, Malcolm Qualeri. On our white marble bar we have a white three-group Sanremo Opera with scales, three white Nuova Simonelli Mythos One grinders, a white Mahlkonig EK43, and 4 custom white Marco SP9s and an under-counter Marco Mix. Whats your hopeful target opening date/month? We opened the doors to serve coffee in November as a long soft launch, and this May we finally finished the Roastery and Shop to complete the full picture! Are you working with craftspeople, architects, and/or creatives that youd like to mention? My brother Maitland and I designed the cafe and we worked with Ducketts for the build out. Theyve now built three cafes with us and a beautiful Roastery. We also worked with local sign writer Gregg Johnson for the artwork on our walls, Super Marche for the menu wall, and Malcolm Qualeri for the roaster rebuild. Thank you! The Build-Outs Of Summer is an annual series on Sprudge. Live the thrill of the build all summer long in our Build-Outs feature hub. Theres a new podcast being released today and it has the coffee professional (or budding coffee professional) in mind. Created by April Coffee Roasters founder Patrik Rolf and Joseph Fisher, Coffee with April features some of the biggest names in European specialty coffee who sit down with Patrik Rolf to discuss integrity, business, and coffee. For season onewhich have all been released at once a la NetflixCoffee with April is focusing on entrepreneurship and what it takes to start a coffee business. It is about the process of starting and operating some of the most interesting coffee companies in coffee, Patrik Rolf tells Sprudge via email. All the questions are unique and individual for each person and episode. It is structured as a conversation more so than an interview. We wanted it to be two professionals sharing and talking with each other. To glean this incite, Patrik Rolf sits down with a roster of heavy hitters in the European (read: based in Europe but globally renowned) coffee world, including: Tim Wendelboe, James Hoffmann (Square Mile), Nadine Rasch (Primavera), Colin Harmon (3fe), Kaan Bergsen (Petra Roasting), Klaus Thomsen (Coffee Collective), and Joanna Alm (Drop Coffee). With a focus on entrepreneurship, Patrik Rolf and guests will give an honest insight and perspective on how it is to start, run and operate a roastery/coffee business, all through a lens of real-life experiences. We get to listen to how James Hoffman and the Square Mile team came up with the Red Brick Espresso, how Tim Wendelboe created what is probably the best roastery in the world, how Colin Harmon joined forces with Steve Leighton to start one of the strongest roasteries in Ireland, Patrik Rolf says of the first season. All seven episodes of season one of Coffee with April are out now and are available for listen and/or download via April Coffees official website, Soundcloud, or iTunes. So if you are thinking about hanging a shingle of your own or if you just want to hear some of the most high-profile names in the coffee biz talk about the trials and tribulations of coming up, Coffee with April may be a good way for you to spend an hour. Zac Cadwalader is the news editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge. *top image via April Coffee Roasters Disclosure: April Coffee Roasters is an advertising partner with the Sprudge Media Network Flagstar Bancorp today announced that it will soon purchase 52 Wells Fargo & Co branches. That will be in about four states not forgetting the 14 branches in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Plans underway Get alerts: A person well conversant with the matter has disclosed that these branches will be part of the ones Wells Fargo will be doing away with, as part of its plan to exit the retail banking business in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. The Michigan branches include locations in Ishpeming, Houghton, Munising, Menominee, Escanaba and Marquette. The sale to Flagstar is going to include about four branches in northern Wisconsin. At the close of the sale, there will be about 48 Wells Fargo branches left in Wisconsin. President and chief executive officer of Flagstar Bancorp, Alessandro P. DiNello, asserted that the acquisition of the Wells Fargo branches would most probably be completed towards the end of October and the regulatory approval cant be wished away. Recent developments The move to acquire the Wells Fargo branches will see Flagstar double its customer base and as a result develop opportunities for the provision of loans and other banking products to almost 200,000 additional customers. Several market observers have praised Flagstar for its efforts to build the retail banking network outside of Michigan. As the year was opening, this bank channeled its resources and efforts as well towards expanding its footprint in California through the acquisition of about eight Desert Community Bank branches in San Bernardino County. Flagstar has been looking forward to that moment where it will succeed at transforming its balance sheet and is optimistic that the deal will see through its dream. Just like it is the case with a couple of banks around, Flagstar is making efforts it deems helpful in making it less dependent on borrowing from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis. An official working with the bank has stated that the transaction could be bringing about the sort of liquidity that they need to repay short-term Federal Home Loan Bank advances. DiNello is quite pleased that they have been able to increase their presence in the Midwest market, which is an area they understand quite well and which they find rather attractive at the same time. It is the first time that Flagstar will be establishing a branch in Upper Peninsula according to DiNello. MOUTFORT -- A Luxembourg woman who disappeared nearly a decade ago has been found safe after she managed to exit the traffic circle where she was stuck the entire time. Caroline Weber was reported missing by her husband in November of 2008 after failing to return to their home after a day of work. It was a Friday, and Id left my office in the city early in hopes of avoiding the usual nightmare of traffic, the 47-year-old insurance agent explained. However, she was met with an unpleasant surprise when she found the traffic circle already blocked with cars despite it being the early afternoon. Unable to turn around and take another route in Moutfort, she says, Weber decided to call a friend to pass the time - in the process draining her mobile phone battery. When hours passed and night came, she decided to stop banging on her dashboard and cursing at the sky. In a situation like that, theres not much else you can do but wait, she said. Its not like I was the only one trapped. For months she listened to her radio in hopes of catching some promising traffic news, but by the onset of spring it had stopped working. It didnt matter anyway, she says. There wasnt a single car around me moving. In the following years, she did on occasion manage to inch toward an exit, only to be cut off by other impatient commuters, some of whom Weber believes had been there since the late 90s. She finally made it home on Monday, tired and in desperate need of a toilet, but in good spirits. She found her house in nearly the same state as when she disappeared, she says, as no one in her family bothered to tidy or do laundry the entire time she was gone. During Webers ordeal, her children grew up, started on career paths, and her eldest son -- who had just begun university in 2004 - is now 28 years old and, coincidentally, has been missing since March of this year. Authorities believe he is also stuck in the Sandweiler traffic circle. When asked what she thought about missing out on a decade of world events, Weber said that she has a pretty good hunch as to what has transpired. Europe must have grown larger and ever more cohesive, and how long has Turkey been a member of the EU? she said. But Im really curious to know how Lost ended, and Im sure property values in Luxembourg have really gone up. Whats the average price of a house in the city these days, 500,000 euros? The Luxembourg Wurst is humour and satire website about life in the Grand Duchy. Read more at wurst.lu On Wednesday, Haley somehow ignored the fact that 120 countries had voted in favor of the resolution blaming Israel (with a mere eight opposing and 45 abstaining), and she took to Twitter, spinning the developments to claim some kind of victory. "And the Palestinian people should not be the exception". The General Assembly text condemned the firing of rockets from Gaza into Israeli civilian areas, but did not mention Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza. This, despite non-stop messaging being hammered by Israel and the United States that the Palestinians protesting were all there at the beckoning of Hamas "terrorists;" that they were willing to martyr themselves for publicity, and that the Israeli soldiers had no choice but to fire at them with live rounds. Top Photo | Palestinian protesters evacuate a wounded youth near the Israeli border fence, east of Khan Younis, in the Gaza Strip, Monday, May 14, 2018. General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding but carry political weight. Australia, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Solomon Islands and Togo joined Israel and the U.S. in voting against the resolution, which comes weeks after Washington vetoed a similar resolution in the 15-member UN Security Council. The largest number of deaths occurred on May 14, the day the United States moved its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. "We can not remain silent in the face of the most violent crimes and human rights violations being systematically perpetuated against our people". Turkey said it expects the U.N. Secretary-General to act expeditiously to fulfill the requirements of the resolution and to formulate practicable recommendations within this framework as soon as possible "in order to ensure the accountability of the perpetrators of the massacre against the Palestinian civilians who participated in the peaceful protests and to establish deterrence with a view to preventing the recurrence of such incidents in the future". Washington has maintained Israel's right to defend itself. "The global community needs to rip up the old playbook, where Israel conducts investigations that mainly whitewash the conduct of its troops and the USA blocks worldwide accountability with its Security Council veto, and instead impose real costs for such blatant disregard for Palestinian lives". "By supporting this resolution you are colluding with a terrorist organization, by supporting this resolution you are empowering Hamas", Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon told the General Assembly before the vote. Haley's amendment also passed by a simple majority of 62-58, with 42 abstentions, but because of a procedural ruling that a two-third majority was needed, that amendment was not adopted. U.S. President Trump has made up his mind to impose "pretty significant" tariffs on Chinese goods, an administration official said on Thursday, as Beijing warned that it was ready to respond if Washington chose to ratchet up trade tensions. The president is due to meet on Thursday with the White House's senior trade advisers and treasury representatives to finalise plans. Trump's tariffs - as well as tough new investment restrictions and export controls that his administration plans to unveil by June 30 - are a response to an investigation in which the administration accused China of bolstering its own technological and economic development by forcefully transferring valuable technology owned by US companies. Speaking to reporters in Beijing, with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at his side, Wang said there were two choices when it came to the trade issue. "China could be a little bit upset about trade because we are very strongly clamping down on trade", Trump said in an interview with Fox News' Bret Baier that aired June 13. The trade seem, by all accounts, to be winding up in a hitting situation in front of potential new levies on China Friday and in the midst of proceeding with stresses that President Donald Trump will be cutting up the North American Free Trade Agreement signed with Canada and Mexico. In the trade fight, Bannon said, Trump has converted three major tools that "the American elites considered off the table" - namely, the use of tariffs, the technology investigation of China and penalties on Chinese telecom giant ZTE. Even still, China is widely seen as one of the big winners of Trump's meeting with Kim as it hopes to maintain stability in its neighboring country and boost trade. "Adding a 25% tariff on exports to China for USA wheat is the last thing we need.", said National Association of Wheat Growers President Jimmie Musick, a wheat farmer from Sentinel, Okla. Navarro's comments suggest the Trump administration will move forward with tariffs but that it could impose penalties on a smaller group of products than those included on the original list of about 1,300. Trump returned to Washington early on Wednesday morning. The Trump administration's protectionist moves have prompted so far fruitless efforts from some congressional Republicans to limit the president's power to impose tariffs. The White House has said it is proceeding with plans to impose duties on US$50 billion (S$66.7 billion) of Chinese goods, after weeks of high-level discussions between the USA and China yielded little progress over a trade deal. Chinese officials have said they would drop agreements reached last month to buy more U.S. soybeans, natural gas and other products. "I think it's very likely we will see tariffs. For our country, I have to do it", Trump said at a press conference in Singapore, possibly referring to tariffs. Businesses are lobbying to shape the final U.S. list, with many firms pushing for exclusions for products they use in their supply chains. Among the migrants are women and small children who are not expected to disembark before Saturday evening. Italy's new government is demanding other countries take rescued migrants. Italy's new Economy Minister Giovanni Tria meanwhile announced he was cancelling a meeting with his French counterpart Bruno le Maire in Paris. The French president's office has confirmed his meeting with Mr Conte will still take place. Euronews reporter Anelise Borges is on board and has the latest on the situation. Matteo Salvini accused France of turning back 10,000 migrants on its border with Italy. "We need to maintain dialogue", a source close to Macron said as the president visited the western town of Rochefort. The Spanish authorities then said they were ready to let the Aquarius dock in its eastern port of Valencia. France's leader had said Rome acted with "cynicism and irresponsibility" by rejecting the ship. Following the standoff between Italy and Malta on the migrant rescue on Monday, MaltaToday took to the streets of Valletta to find out what the public thinks on the matter. In televised remarks from Valencia, where Calvo was co-ordinating preparations for the arrival, the deputy prime minister said authorities will examine case by case if the migrants qualify for asylum according to the country's regulations. If they want, we will help them. Francis made his comments in a message to participants at a conference on worldwide migration being held in the Vatican. Under EU rules, migrants must apply for asylum in the European nation where they first arrive. In practice, this has placed a heavy burden on Italy and Greece, where hundreds of thousands of people have entered in recent years. More than 700,000 migrants have landed on Italian shores since 2013, and Mr Salvini has repeatedly said that Italy can not continue to cope with the burden alone. But the talks were delayed as both countries traded barbs over the fate of more than 600 migrants rescued off the Libyan coast on the weekend. The ship rescued 229 migrants last week and took on 400 others saved by Italy's coast guard, navy and others. Ropes have been strung around the ship to make it easier to walk on deck, video from the Aquarius showed. Police spokesman Andreas Angelides said the man suspected of people trafficking will appear in court for a remand hearing Thursday. A boat loaded with 55 people who were thought to be Syrian refugees landed Wednesday on the northwest coast of Cyprus, a Mediterranean island split into ethnically Greek and Turkish sides. Each migrant paid $2,000-3,000 for a place on the vessel. In a phone call with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Wednesday evening, "the president stressed that none of his comments were meant to offend Italy and the Italian people", Macron's office said in a statement. The Elysee said in a statement Thursday that Macron and Conte spoke by phone on Wednesday amid an escalating clash between the two countries over migration. Macron's comments sparked a fierce response from Rome, which called them "unacceptable" and summoned France's ambassador Wednesday. The humanitarian aid ship the Aquarius has received much needed supplies on its way to Spain. Pompeo dismissed a report from North Korea's official KCNA about this week's meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. President Vladimir Putin on Thursday conveyed to a senior North Korean official an invitation for Kim Jong Un to visit Russian Federation as he praised the results of his summit with Donald Trump. -South Korean combined military exercises, White said. For Kim, talk of disarmament is the tribute that vice pays to virtue - no different than President Obama's commitment to seek a world without nuclear weapons, an aspiration expressed even as Obama committed to modernizing USA nuclear forces as long as nuclear weapons did exist. At a press conference, Onodera said defence cooperation between Japan, the US and South Korea "is an important pillar to ensure regional peace and stability". "Both pledged to continue working closely together towards regional peace and stability", she said. "In accordance with the guidelines, Korea-US discussions have already begun", he said. Some on social media said they were surprised North Korea showed General No saluting the US President at all. Bob Menendez, the New Jersey senator who is the committee's senior Democrat, criticised Trump for not notifying South Korea and Japan, the two USA allies in the region, before he announced the drills' cancellation. Interested in South Korea? It will be treated as a military victory by the North Koreans. The report was interpreted as meaning the U.S. would grant rewards - such as sanctions relief - to North Korea as North Korea take steps to denuclearize, a process which the USA had adamantly opposed. Another Trump concession pointed out in the reported document was his commitment to halt joint military drills with South Korea, in exchange for China stopping joint exercises with North Korea - an arrangement said to have been opposed by the USA before the summit. Now, when questioned about the human rights abuses in North Korea, the President has defended "tough guy" Kim. "Kim Jong Un is pocketing immediate concessions and not making any concrete commitments". Japanese officials plan to discuss a possible summit at a security conference in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia this week. What should we take away from this historic moment? "It has been 25 years since the North Korean nuclear issue popped up and there has been many, many diplomatic efforts and consultations and the Six Party talks, and it didn't go anywhere". Brian Padden, Ken Bredemeier and Michael Bowman reported this story for VOA News. Caty Weaver was the editor. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. Among veteran North Korea watchers, there remains deep skepticism that Kim will ever consent to giving up his entire nuclear arsenal, the singular asset that compelled a US president to travel halfway around the world to meet the leader of one of the most world's most repressive and economically backward states. US President Donald Trump and his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-un are meeting in Singapore on Tuesday - the first-ever face-to-face encounter between a sitting US President and a North Korean leader. Agreeing to verification would entail global inspections of North Korean military sites to certify that nuclear weapons and the means to produce them have been scrapped. Over the past thirty years, the United States and North Korea have held numerous talks and agreed to denuclearization several times. A major clash involving the use of 1,000 nuclear warheads by the USA would result in 50 times more deaths of Americans than occurred in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, said the researchers. Trump also said that the agreement with the DPRK on the nuclear issue, should be more rigid than the agreement on the Iranian atom. "I think they would get together with South Korea". Adding that it is important to keep a healthy skepticism towards North Korea's intentions, the expert said perhaps there were too high expectations on President Trump's deal-making skills. -North Korea summit makes no reference to verification nor to a time frame to achieve denuclearization. IAEA inspectors have not returned to North Korea since they were expelled from there in 2009. The Security Council could consider loosening or lifting sanctions on North Korea "in accordance with the compliance of the (North Korean) side and the development of the situation", Geng said at a daily briefing in Beijing. Over the past 30 years, the USA and North Korea have agreed to denuclearization several times. It's not clear if North Korea has been able to fit nuclear warheads on the missiles. Last year, Ilsik Hong, who lives in Wichita but is from South Korea, told KWCH he had confidence the President could bring peace to Asia. They argue that the Department of Defense should extend its nuclear disaster modeling past the initial blast to include potential deaths caused by nuclear autumn. And we should get busy pulling all USA troops out of Seoul. Political change and eventual reunification of North and South Korea can't be imposed from the outside, he said. Others pointed out that with North and South Korea still technically at war (a formal peace treaty was never signed), it was inappropriate for Mr Trump to salute the general of an adversary. They said it couldn't be done, they scoffed. "I would like to express my gratitude to President Trump". The exercises in question go well beyond routine training, which apparently is unaffected by Trump's decision. The Korean War was fought between 1950 and 1953. Pompeo had told reporters on Wednesday that the North Korean nuclear disarmament could take two years to complete. The next joint military drill with South Korea, scheduled for this fall, would be Ulchi Freedom Guardian. Last summer, the operation included 17,500 USA troops, including 3,000 who traveled to South Korea from other locations to participate. The announcement comes after President Trump declared after his historic summit with Kim that he would stop the "war games." All of these North Korean "Supreme Leaders" have a personality cult surrounding them. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said Trump was merely being polite. The Korean military officials may discuss holding military talks on a regular basis and establishing a hotline between their top military officials. In the past, some estimates for smaller exercises have been about $2 million, while some larger ones have cost $15 million or more - all relatively minor expenses for a department with a budget now exceeding $700 billion. "You know he ordered a hamburger and they gave him a cucumber", Colbert joked. Regarding the joint exercises, Kang only said at the press conference, "This is an issue that involves the [South] Korea-U.S. alliance". But the whole business of "denuclearization" is a misnomer because they want us to withdraw our nuclear forces from the region, B-52s, B-1 bombers from Guam, and Trident nuclear submarines, all of that has to presumably be reoriented away from the Korean Peninsula. The Hwasong-14 was the first North Korean missile that experts said could hit the U.S. mainland with a nuclear payload. While Trump supporters will tout it as a major achievement, his detractors will find that much of it is a repetition of earlier communiques signed by the two countries under former presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama that didn't produce any results. But the US and North Korean accounts tell a different story from that offered at the summit - of two sides that appear as far apart as ever. "But we must not impose upon ourselves the burden of providing so-called "good faith" concessions as the price for continued dialogue", McCain added. Whatever agreement exists lives only in the imaginations of President Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. China, North Korea's principal supporter for a long time, was also interested in defusing tensions on the peninsula for two reasons. Eighteen people have been held on criminal charges of sparking unrest in a gathering against Vietnams proposed economic zone law last week in the southern province of Dong Nai, local police said on Thursday. Hundreds of residents in the provinces capital city of Bien Hoa took to several major streets like Nguyen Ai Quoc and Dong Khoi, and the lifeline National Route 1 section that runs through the area, on Sunday, speaking out against a draft law on three special administrative and economic zones. An early version of the bill states that foreign investors are allowed to lease land for up to 99 years for projects in the zones with approval from the Vietnamese prime minister, an incentive critics feared would pose a serious threat to national security if given to wrong hands. The Vietnamese government has pledged to scrap entirely the 99-year land lease term in the revised version of the bill, whereas the lawmaking National Assembly also agrees to delay consideration of the draft law until October for more research. While most people marched peacefully in Bien Hoa on Sunday, several participants incited part of the gathering to cry and hold banners, resulting in hours-long traffic congestion, police said on Thursday. Police officers eventually arrested 52 people who exhibited extremist acts and caused civil disorder during the march. Eighteen of those captured have been accused of criminal offenses, the police said. The others were penalized and released, but are still being placed under investigation, according to officers. Also on Sunday, police took into custody 102 people for disturbing public order during similar marches in the south-central province of Binh Thuan. Most of these people, who riotously broke into a state building and destroyed public properties during what an official described as riot-like situations, were released after a screening process. Among the participants were women and children who had been incited by ill-intentioned subjects," according to a statement released on Tuesday by the administration of Binh Thuan. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Over six dozen pangolins, an endangered species, were seized from a truck traveling through northern Vietnam on Wednesday. On that evening, a forest patrol and fire squad in the north-central province of Thanh Hoa pulled over a truck on National Route 1A and discovered 74 endangered pangolins, weighing a combined 339 kilograms, in the trailer. The driver, 29-year-old Nguyen Van Manh, was taken into custody and the animals were confiscated after being unable to show officers documents proving the animals origin. The case was handed over to local police for further investigation. A wildlife conservationist (L) lifts a pangolin in Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam, June 14, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre All the pangolins were then transferred to nearby Cuc Phuong National Park Vietnams largest nature reserve for care, according to Le Chi Trieu, leader of the forest patrol and fire squad. This is the second seizure of a large number of live pangolins in Vietnam this year. In late January, 114 pangolins were impounded after authorities caught traffickers moving the animals by boat in Ca Mau, Vietnams southernmost province. Authorities also found 301 kilograms of pangolin scales stashed in Styrofoam boxes aboard the vessel. Pangolins in Vietnam are considered highly vulnerable to extinction, according to Save Vietnams Wildlife, a not-for-profit acting for wildlifes sake, though trafficking the species remains lucrative due to perceived medicinal properties. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Officers have also launched legal proceedings against the detainee, 57-year-old Truong Huu Loc, the police said on Friday. Loc was identified as one of the people who live-streamed Sundays marches on social media, calling for his followers to take to the streets, according to prosecutors. Police say Loc was also found to have incited people to conduct disruptive activities during the marches, filmed and posted videos of the violent incidents online to call for a coup. Loc was charged and served prison terms multiple times in the past for different crimes, according to police records. There have been complicated developments regarding public security and social order in Ho Chi Minh City, which many subjects had taken advantage of to instigate protests and disruptive behaviors, over the past few days, according to the police. On Sunday, thousands took to the streets in Ho Chi Minh City and other parts of the country for marches to raise their opinion on a controversial draft law that was intended to allow foreign investors to lease land for up to 99 years in Vietnams planned special economic zones. Vehicles are stuck in traffic congestion in Ho Chi Minh City as people take to the streets on June 10, 2018 to object land policies in Vietnams planned special economic zones. Photo: Tuoi Tre The zones Phu Quoc, Van Don, and Bac Van Phong are to be located in Kien Giang, Quang Ninh, and Khanh Hoa Provinces in the southern, northern and south-central parts of Vietnam, respectively. The long lease period was one of many unique incentives the Vietnamese government wanted to offer to attract foreign investment into the areas, despite concerns that it would pose a serious threat to national security. Ho Chi Minh City police and lower-level law enforcement units said they had handled a total of 310 people who broke the law while joining the marches. As of Friday, seven of these people remained in detention, 175 were given administrative penalties, one was hospitalized for compulsory medical treatment, and 38 others were bailed out by their families. Police say initial investigation shows some of the violators have links to terrorist groups based in foreign countries, which provided them with money and other tools for disrupting the political and public security in Vietnam. Mounting public pressure prompted the lawmaking National Assembly to delay consideration of the draft law on special economic zones, while the government has pledged to scrap the 99-year lease period from an updated version of the bill and re-submit it for approval in October. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A Vietnamese man has been handed a 12-month flight ban for throwing his mobile phone at a female check-in attendant at an international airport in the central city of Da Nang. Pham Huy Cuong, 32, hailing from the northern province of Thai Nguyen, will be unable to fly from June 21, 2018 to June 20, 2018, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam confirmed on Thursday. He will also be put under compulsory visual inspection for another six months after the ban period ends. Cuong was charged with disturbing public order and assaulting after he threw his phone at a female check-in staff member at Da Nang International Airport. His punishment also included a previously levied fine of VND7.5 million (US$322) by the Central Airports Authority. The entrance to Da Nang International Airport. Photo: Tuoi Tre The incident happened at around 10:00 pm on June 3, when Cuong arrived at the check-in counter for a Vietjet Air flight to Hanoi later that night. T., the check-in attendant, informed Cuong that his flight had been canceled due to bad weather conditions and he would have to wait until the following day. She added that the airline was unable to contact Cuong in advance because the phone number he had given while purchasing his ticket was incorrect.. The man then became infuriated and threw his cellphone at the female attendant, leaving a cut above her left eye. Cuong was then escorted to the airport security office where he admitted that he had consumed alcohol prior to the incident. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Hang made the remark at a regular press briefing in Hanoi in response to a reporters question about the recently adopted Law on Cyber Security. Passed on Tuesday with an overwhelming majority of votes from Vietnamese lawmakers, the 43-article law regulates activities to protect national security and ensure social order and safety in cyberspace while stipulating the responsibility of agencies, organizations, and individuals. Hang said the law was voted for and adopted after many rounds of discussion which took into account feedback from members of the countrys lawmaking National Assembly and the public in a comprehensive and transparent manner. [The law] is in conformity with the Constitution and will not hamper the implementation of the international treaties to which Vietnam is party, she stressed. The spokesperson noted how cyber security is an important issue that greatly affects national security and highlighted that it has become a special concern of many countries and organizations, both international and regional, in recent years. Cyber attacks are increasing exponentially, both in form and scale, transcending national borders and leaving serious impacts on the economic and political stability of a country, she said. Meanwhile, efforts to improve security in the online environment are still faced with numerous challenges, particularly due to the lack of legal institutions and capability to ensure cyber security, Hang explained. Therefore, the enforcement of the Law on Cyber Security is critically necessary in the current context, she stressed. The National Assembly passed the cyber security law with 86.86 percent in favor on Tuesday. The piece of legislation requires all foreign providers of Internet-related services to open representative offices and data centers in Vietnam, where information of Vietnam-based users must be stored, in order to continue offering their services to local users. An article in the law grants the countrys Ministry of Public Security the power to demand access to any organization or companys data system for investigation in cases where there is a perceived threat to national security and public safety. Internet service providers, including popular platforms like Facebook, Google and YouTube that are used by millions in Vietnam, will be required to remove anti-state, offensive or inciting contents from their sites within 24 hours of receiving a request from the ministry, according to the law. Over half of Vietnams population of 92 million have access to the Internet, according to a 2017 report by the Ministry of Information and Communications. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! On 60 Minutes, Chinas plans for military bases in the South Pacific, Indigenous culture made in Bali and a bizarre kidnap case in Italy. The China Syndrome Its no secret that Australias relationship with China is as complicated as it is fragile. On the one hand, China is the key to our economic prosperity, so if we want to be rich we need to embrace the Chinese. On the other hand, theres no question we have a fear of Chinas expanding influence, and we dont want them getting too close. Which is why what is happening in the South Pacific is causing growing concern. Somewhat arrogantly, Australia has always considered it our patch of paradise to protect and nurture. But now the Chinese are moving in and splashing their cash in places like Fiji and Vanuatu. So whats next? Tom Steinfort investigates claims the Chinese may ultimately be planning to build military bases right on our doorstep. Reporter: Tom Steinfort Producers: Gareth Harvey Fake News For millions of tourists visiting Australia the boomerang and the didgeridoo are iconic and highly sought after symbols of our indigenous culture. But unbelievably, most didgeridoos and boomerangs are now made in Indonesia, in Bali specifically, not here in Australia. Its not because theres a thriving expatriate Aboriginal community living up there, its all about money. Indonesian workers can churn out cheap copies of our artefacts by the shipload. And thats very attractive for the businesses involved, which are happy to exploit or disrespect 40,000 years of culture in the pursuit of cashing in on gullible tourists. Reporter: Liam Bartlett Producer: Grace Tobin Taken It is one of the most bizarre crimes 60 Minutes has ever encountered: the abduction last July of 20-year-old glamour model Chloe Ayling. She says she was snatched off a street in Milan and kept hostage in a remote Italian farmhouse while her kidnappers arranged to auction her off as a sex slave to the highest bidder. Chloes escape from this terrifying ordeal was so extraordinary that many accused her of making the whole story up an elaborate publicity stunt for fame and fortune. Earlier this week a judge in an Italian court had his say, and as Liam Bartlett reports, the intrigue continues. Reporter: Liam Bartlett Producer: Stefanie Sgroi 9:30pm Sunday on Nine. US fantasy series The Outpost will premiere next month on Syfy. The series starring Jessica Green (Ash vs Evil Dead) is being fast-tracked a day after its US premiere. It also features NZ actress Robyn Malcolm. The Outpost follows Talon (Jessica Green), the lone survivor of a race called Blackbloods. Years after her entire village is destroyed by a gang of brutal mercenaries, she travels to a lawless fortress on the edge of the civilised world, as she tracks the killers of her family. On her journey to the outpost, Talon discovers she possesses a mysterious supernatural power that she must learn to control in order to save herself and defend the world against a fanatical religious dictator. 7:30pm Thursday July 12 on Syfy. U.S. President Donald Trump China's President Xi Jinping arrive for the state dinner with the first ladies at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China. Trump has long vowed to fulfill his campaign pledge to clamp down on what he considers unfair Chinese trading practices. Trump has praised Beijing's support of the global community's toughest round of sanctions on North Korea to date, but he also noted at his post-summit news conference in Singapore that China clearly had already begun to loosen its grip a bit. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss the matter ahead of a formal announcement. -Canada trade, while telling the French president that the European Union was "worse than China" on trade. But at the last round of talks in Beijing, China warned that it will withdraw any commitments if Mr Trump carries out his threat to impose duties. The interview was conducted aboard Air Force One after Mr Trump met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore. The president has coordinated closely with China on efforts to get Pyongyang to eliminate its nuclear arsenal. "I stressed how important it is for President Trump to rectify that situation so that trade becomes more balanced, more reciprocal and more fair, with the opportunity to have American workers be treated fairly. We can't continue to let that happen". The IMF said the White House, which has also threatened to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta), was responding to rising concerns about the side-effects of free trade. The tariffs could be applied in stages, according to two of the people briefed on the administration's plans. A spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry reiterated at a briefing in Beijing yesterday that previous progress in trade talks will be lost if the USA introduces new tariffs. The person, like the other sources familiar with the administration's thinking, declined to be identified because they were not authorized to speak to the media. The administration's trade hawks, including US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and White House trade and manufacturing adviser Peter Navarro, have been pushing for a tougher approach to the negotiations to address US allegations that China has misappropriated American intellectual property through joint venture requirements, state-backed acquisitions of US technology firms and outright theft. "It's really not just tariffs, it's tariffs on a scale never before considered". Pompeo met with Chinese President Xi Jinping later in the evening, and wished Xi a happy birthday for Friday. Chinese officials have said they would drop agreements reached last month to buy more USA soybeans, natural gas and other products. "That is why I am calling on President Trump to fight for American jobs with a comprehensive strategy that puts American economic interests front and centre", she said. In April, the United States revealed an initial list targeting about 1300 products worth $US50 billion in Chinese imports. Scott Kennedy, a specialist on the Chinese economy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the Chinese threat was real and helped along by recent strains exhibited among the USA and allies. "The clouds on the horizon that we have signaled about six months ago are getting darker by the day- and, I was going to say, by the weekend", said Christine Lagarde, the IMF Managing Director. "They see the U.S.is isolated and the president as easily distracted". In April, it said it would levy 25% tariffs on imports of 106 United States products including soybeans, automobiles, chemicals and aircraft, in response to proposed American duties. The big question Canada and the European Union must answer for themselves, now, is whether Trump is an unfortunate temporary anomaly, or merely the first in a coming succession of "America First" presidents. "But it's different when you're dealing with other governments". Trump has pledged to enforce fair and reciprocal trading relations with China, with the US bilateral trade in goods deficit having reached $375 billion a year ago, and amid long-running complaints of what foreign companies see as forced technology transfers and market restrictions. The administration is also working on proposed Chinese investment restrictions by June 30. https://youtu.be/YjD0MFihblk In the concluding Four Corners investigation by Sarah Ferguson, Russias endgame and the motivation behind its extraordinary interference in the US Presidential elections and the tactics it employed. What I think Vladimir Putin was doing was deliberately leaving a trail of breadcrumbs from Trump Tower to the Kremlin. Former CIA Moscow Station Chief In part three of this special investigative series we meet the woman at the centre of the most dramatic allegations in the Russia investigation. I was a little bit amazed, and frankly impressed, that she was able to get to Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort. Financier and prominent Putin critic Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya instigated the infamous meeting in Trump Tower in June 2016. Senior members of Trumps team, including the Presidents son, were expecting to receive damaging information about Hillary Clinton. Amidst claims that Veselnitskaya was an operative of Russian President Vladimir Putin, reporter Sarah Ferguson travelled to Moscow to question the woman who made it all the way into the Trump inner sanctum. Ive come a long way to ask this questionare you a spy or an agent for the Russian government? Sarah Ferguson, Reporter, Four Corners Leading spymasters tell Four Corners that Putins aim in interfering in the US Presidential election was part of a grand plan to show the world just how much influence Russia could exert in Americas or anyones democratic process. What I think Vladimir Putin realised is he could inject this virus into our political system and set us fighting against each other instead of remembering that the enemy is. . . the guy in the Kremlin. Former CIA Moscow Station Chief Theyve always been gathering intelligence and getting themselves positioned on networks. What has changed, is a growing evidence that they want to use those accesses to do destructive things, rather than just sit and watch and gather. Former UK spy boss Sarah Ferguson also speaks to Donald Trumps long-time political adviser Roger Stone, who along with several other members of the Trump campaign team, is under investigation by the Special Prosecutor for possible collusion with Russia. I dont know if Im a person of interest or an interesting person. I certainly have committed no crimes. Roger Stone, long time Trump adviser 8:30pm Monday on ABC. The newly named Duchess of Sussex and her husband Prince Harry visited more than one country for their honeymoon. One of the nations in East Africa has been confirmed while the second country has not been revealed. Heavy security was provided for the couple, and utmost secrecy was maintained after a Taliban threat of killing the couple, Punch reported. It must be remembered that Prince Harry was a trained Apache pilot with the Royal Air Force and served his tenure in Afghanistan where he came under Taliban crosshairs. Hectic Schedule According to E!News, it was more of a restorative week after the couple had been through a hectic schedule with meetings and other Royal duties since they tied the knot. The couple will have a frenetic second half of 2018. The couple married on May 19 and had to attend some ceremonies, including Prince Charles' 70 birthday. Royal fans slighted, call her attention-seeking Though the 36-year-old brunette looked stunning in every outing, at times her choice of dresses had the skeptics sneering, with one calling her dress she wore at her first-ever Trooping the Color event as "classless." Duchess Meghan Markle And Prince Harry Join Royal Family In Lavish Trooping The Color The latest royal couple interrupted their honeymoon for this 270-year-old event. https://t.co/7SnRBYiDEQ https://t.co/zd8y2ntJ56 Business World (@Businesss_World) June 10, 2018 The Duchess of Sussex wore an off-the-shoulder dress by Carolina Herrera at the event, and royal fans were annoyed - calling her an attention seeking "looney tunes, Cosmopolitan noted. However, Meghan remained unfazed and is fast learning the Royal etiquette of not reacting to such insults. She also had her first outing with her Grandmother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth. Some time to recoup their energy Ever since their return from the royal honeymoon, the fourth estate went into a roll, and everyone is asking about the destination of their honeymoon. The inner circles of the Royal Family were tight-lipped; the only hint forthcoming was that the couple had been to two very different countries. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Reportedly Had Their Honeymoon in East Africa https://t.co/b1VsyxeXbi pic.twitter.com/b7RWjK2gwm BRIDES (@brides) June 14, 2018 E! News first broke the news that the royal couple visited two countries in East Africa and their sojourn included safaris and various "outdoor adventures" and also basked in the sun. Fans, however, can't help but wonder if a royal baby could be in the near future. Prince Harry famously told ABC News that he's "longed" for kids "since I was very, very young." Africa has played a prominent role in Harry and Meghan's love relationship. Botswana was the place they fell in love, and the two went back there for Meghan's 36th birthday last year. The newlywed royals are reportedly back in the U.K. following their romantic vacation. UK Foreign Office has issued a Travel warning against anything but essential travel to Mozambique. This comes after a rise in attacks against civilians, including children. Jamestown Foundation cited Cameroon Concorde News as reporting that some of the attacks included beheading. The USA also issued warnings last week after attacks in the Palma district of Cabo Delgado province, in the north of the country. CNN reported that the US Embassy in Mozambique had warned American citizens in the Palma area to "consider departing the area immediately." Mozambique travel warning was updated on 14 June According to a report by the Express UK, the updated travel warning was issued by the UK Foreign Office on 14th June. It particularly stressed that the most dangerous regions include "Palma district, Mocimboa de Praia and Macomia in Cabo Delgado province due to an increase in attacks by groups with links to Islamic extremism." However, the travel warning site does explain that the islands off the coast of Mozambique were not included in the warning. #Mozambique The FCO now advise against all but essential travel to the districts of Palma, Mocimboa da Praia and Macomia in Cabo Delgado province. More info: https://t.co/2EMHViNBk3 pic.twitter.com/w07fHne0Je FCO travel advice (@FCOtravel) June 12, 2018 Reuters noted that 10 of 17 people killed in Palma had been beheaded. The rise in violence has been growing since May this year. They also noted that local police seem to be reluctant to attribute the killings to a militant group in the predominantly Muslim region of the country. Mozambique is a large country and overall about 18 percent of the population is Muslim. However, in the north, they account for over 50 percent. #Mozambique in the last 30 days. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed and hundreds of families have fled their homes in Cabo Delgado as attacks by Al Sunnah continue. Villages targeted are isolated with little protection from police @IntellFusion #Mocambique pic.twitter.com/PyUlRusRBe Intelligence Fusion - Africa (@IF_africa) June 13, 2018 Militant group Ahlu Sunnah Wa-Jama The group thought to be responsible call themselves Ansar al-Sunna, a shortened form of Ahlu Sunnah Wa-Jama. They are locally known as Al-Shabaab, but CNN notes that they don't seem to be linked to the group of that name in Somalia. Jamestown Org says it's thought that the group wishes to impose sharia in Mozambique. On the UK Foreign Office website, the warnings state that "Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Mozambique." They also say on their Terrorism page that, "Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners." Mozambique is a popular destination for travellers to Southern Africa and it offers some of best diving resorts on the eastern coast. Long beaches with pristine sand mean that many tourists from the local regions like South Africa visit the area for their holidays. Many of the resorts are located in the south of the country, but the Foreign Office does point out that care should be taken there as well as well. Visitors are advised that carjacking has increased in major cities and that people should avoid driving around at night. By Jan Lopatka and Robert Muller PRAGUE (Reuters) - Members of the Czech centre-left Social Democrat party have voted to join a coalition with the dominant centrist ANO group which would end more than eight months of stalemate after an inconclusive election. Social Democrat chief Jan Hamacek said on Friday in an announcement streamed on Facebook that 58.5 percent of over 11,000 of votes cast in a party referendum were in favour of the plan, defeating dissenters who objected to joining a government led by ANO chief Andrej Babis who is facing a fraud investigation. Hamacek was due to comment on the decision at a news conference later on Friday. Babis, who is being investigated by police looking into the alleged abuse of a 2 million euro EU subsidy a decade ago, has struggled to find anyone to team up with him in power since his party won nearly 30 percent of the vote in October. He has denied any wrongdoing and dismissed the inquiry as a plot against him. An ANO-CSSD government would have 93 votes in the NATO member's 200-seat lower house and would have to rely on support from the anti-NATO, pro-Russian Communist party to survive the confidence vote that always takes place in the month after a cabinet is appointed. The Communists have indicated they would vote for the cabinet, although Babis has refused to bow to some of their policy demands such as scaling back participation in NATO foreign military missions. Babis has pledged to keep the country on a firmly pro-Western course despite the pending deal with the Communists, who have had no part of national government since their totalitarian rule ended in 1989. On Friday, the Communist leadership approved a list of conditions for the party's support for the cabinet, including protection of natural resources and growth in minimum wage and pensions. The party said it would make a final decision on whether to back the government by the end of June. Babis has already promised to raise wages in the public sector and boost infrastructure investments while cutting taxes. The country ran public finance surpluses in the past two years, allowing looser fiscal policy. Story continues The Communists will have an ally in pro-Russian President Milos Zeman in pushing the government's direction in areas such as energy where the next cabinet is due to decide on enlarging two existing nuclear power plants. The deal, worth billions of dollars, would be Czech Republic's biggest investment and Russia is a leading contender for participation in the project. Zeman, who formally appoints cabinet members, has shown he would also try to influence personnel issues. He has objected to the nomination of a pro-European Social Democrat member as foreign minister. Babis has served as prime minister in a caretaker capacity since his first, one-party cabinet lost a confidence vote in January. He has said he would bring proposed list of ministers to Zeman on Sunday, while the new cabinet could be formed by the end of June and would seek a confidence vote after July 9. (Reporting by Jan Lopatka and Robert Muller; Editing by Richard Balmforth and Toby Chopra) FILE PHOTO: The logo of commodities trader Glencore is pictured in front of the company's headquarters in Baar, Switzerland, July 18, 2017. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo LONDON (Reuters) - Glencore has settled a mining dispute in Democratic Republic of Congo with two companies associated with Israeli billionaire Dan Gertler by agreeing to pay royalties in a currency other than U.S. dollars, the company said on Friday. U.S. sanctions on Gertler, Glencore's former Israeli partner in copper and cobalt operations in Congo had triggered litigation and a legal tangle that investors worried might affect supplies of cobalt from the world's biggest producer of the metal. Glencore earlier this week reached a settlement in another dispute involving its Kamoto copper and cobalt mine in Congo, although it remains at odds with the Congolese government over a mining code signed off at the start of the year. Gertler's Ventora Development Sasu had been seeking $695 million (524.33 million pounds) in unpaid and future royalties from Glencore's subsidiary Mutanda Mining and $2.28 billion from Glencore subsidiary Kamoto Copper Co (KCC). Ventora accused KCC of breaching an agreement by declining to make royalty payments because Gertler was under U.S. sanctions, Glencore said in April. The U.S. government added Gertler and affiliated companies to its sanctions list in December last year, accusing him of using his friendship with Congo President Joseph Kabila to secure sweetheart mining deals. Gertler has denied all allegations of impropriety. Glencore said it believed payment of the royalties in a currency other than U.S. dollars to Africa Horizons Investments Limited and Ventora without the involvement of U.S. entities would address applicable sanctions obligations. It added it had discussed the matter "with the appropriate U.S. and Swiss government agencies". The two companies have on this basis withdrawn all pending and threatened litigation, it said. For this year, Gertler will receive approximately 25 million euros ($28.90 million). Glencore shares were trading 0.2 percent higher at 0724 GMT. Story continues Earlier this week, Glencore's unit Katanga Mining Ltd said it agreed a recapitalisation plan for copper and cobalt venture Kamoto, involving writing off $5.6 billion in debt. Glencore and other international miners still have to resolve a row with the Congolese government over a new mining code that has raised the amount of royalties and tax to be paid on minerals. Glencore accounts for more than a quarter of the world's cobalt output, most of it from Congo, which itself is the source of around 60 percent of global supplies. Any disruption could push up cobalt prices from already historic highs of near $100,000 a tonne. (Reporting by Barbara Lewis in London and Patrick Graham in Bengaluru; Editing by Adrian Croft) * Glencore (Frankfurt: 8GC.F - news) resolved Kamoto dispute this week * Mining code still in dispute * Glencore says has discussed settlement with U.S., Swiss agencies (Adds reaction, detail) By Barbara Lewis LONDON, June 15 (Reuters) - Glencore has settled a mining row in Democratic Republic of Congo with Israeli billionaire Dan Gertler by agreeing to pay royalties in a currency other than U.S. dollars, lowering the risk of disruption to copper and cobalt supplies. U.S. sanctions on Gertler, Glencore's former Israeli partner in Congo, had triggered litigation and a legal tangle that investors said might affect supplies of cobalt, needed for electric vehicle batteries, from the world's biggest producer of the metal. Glencore earlier this week reached a settlement in another dispute involving its Kamoto copper and cobalt mine in Congo, although it remains at odds with the Congolese government over a mining code that increases taxes and royalties on minerals. Gertler's Ventora Development Sasu had been seeking $695 million in unpaid and future royalties from Glencore's subsidiary Mutanda Mining and $2.28 billion from Glencore (Amsterdam: GX8.AS - news) subsidiary Kamoto Copper Co (KCC). Ventora accused KCC of breaching an agreement by declining to make royalty payments because Gertler was under U.S. sanctions, Glencore said in April. The U.S. government added Gertler and affiliated companies to its sanctions list in December last year, accusing him of using his friendship with Congo President Joseph Kabila to secure sweetheart mining deals. Gertler has denied all allegations of impropriety. Glencore said it believed payment of the royalties in a currency other than U.S. dollars to Africa Horizons Investments Limited and Ventora without the involvement of U.S. entities would address applicable sanctions obligations. It added it had discussed the matter "with the appropriate U.S. and Swiss government agencies". The two companies have on this basis withdrawn all pending and threatened litigation, it said. Story continues For this year, Gertler will receive approximately 25 million euros ($28.90 million), Glencore said. Glencore shares were trading 0.6 percent higher at 0752 GMT. Analyst Paul Gait of Bernstein said the settlement was proof that the risk of asset seizure in Democratic Republic of Congo had been overstated. "We are seeing that this is really a commercial discussion and that, while there are clearly a lot of moving parts, progress towards a sensible solution is possible," he said. Earlier this week, Glencore's unit Katanga Mining Ltd said it agreed a recapitalisation plan for copper and cobalt venture Kamoto, involving writing off $5.6 billion in debt and a one-off payment of $150 million to Congolese state mining company Gecamines. Glencore accounts for more than a quarter of the world's cobalt output, most of it from Congo, which itself is the source of around 60 percent of global supplies. Any disruption could push up cobalt prices which reached record highs of nearly $100,000 a tonne. The metal is now trading at around $81,000 a tonne. ($1 = 0.8650 euros) (Additional reporting by Patrick Graham in Bengaluru; Editing by Adrian Croft) FILE PHOTO: Oil rig pumpjacks, also known as thirsty birds, extract crude from the Wilmington Field oil deposits area where Tidelands Oil Production Company operates near Long Beach, California July 30, 2013. REUTERS/David McNew/File Photo By Jessica Resnick-Ault NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices fell more than $2 a barrel Friday after two of the world's biggest producers indicated they might increase output at next week's OPEC meeting, while U.S. exports were threatened by potential Chinese tariffs on crude oil and refined products. Oil investors have been nervous ahead of the coming OPEC summit in Vienna. Saudi Arabia and Russia have already boosted production modestly, and have indicated they were prepared to increase output at that meeting. Brent crude oil fell $2.50, or 3.29 percent to settle at $73.44 a barrel. U.S. crude settled $1.83 lower at $65.06 a barrel. In post-settlement trading, U.S. crude retreated further, falling 2.25, or 3.4 percent, to $64.64 a barrel. Brent crude was on track to end the week down more than 4 percent, while U.S. crude was heading to fall 1.7 percent. After settlement, China announced $50 billion in retaliatory tariffs, in response to a series of levies by U.S. President Donald Trump earlier. Some investors were surprised when crude oil and other energy products were included for tariffs at a later date, the official Xinhua news agency reported, citing the Tariff Commission of the State Council. Over the past six months, the United States has exported an average 363,000 bpd of crude oil to China, which along with Canada is the biggest buyer of U.S. crude. "They were a big outlet, and we're going to notice it," said John Kilduff, a partner at Again Capital in New York. "It'll take time for other buyers to absorb that crude." U.S. crude's discount to Brent widened in post-settlement trade after China announced the planned tariffs. Both contracts have drifted lower since hitting 3-1/2-year highs in May. Prices have been pressured by rising U.S. crude production, while the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and others look poised to increase output in their meeting in the Austrian capital on June 22-23. Story continues "We're going into an OPEC meeting where everyone is talking about raising production - the only question is by how much," said Bob Yawger, director, energy at Mizuho in New York. On Thursday, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said after talks with Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih in Moscow that both nations "in principle" supported a gradual increase in production after restricting output for 18 months. Novak said one option would involve gradually raising output by 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd), possibly starting July 1. Falih said "I think we'll come to an agreement that satisfies, most importantly, the market." Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at futures brokerage AxiTrader, said Russia seemed to want a bigger rise in production than some other producers. "My guess is the increase will be something less than the 1 million bpd (barrels per day) that the U.S. is supposed to have asked the Saudis for," McKenna said. Adding to investor jitters about supply, U.S. production continues to ramp up. U.S. energy companies added one oil rig this week, the fourth week of increases, according to weekly data from GE's Baker Hughes division. (Additional reporting by Osamu Tsukimori in Tokyo and Jane Chung in Seoul and Christopher Johnson in London; Editing by David Gregorio and Marguerita Choy) Archaeologists in Egypt have uncovered several pieces of ancient rock art from more than 3,000 years ago, according to a statement released by the countrys Ministry of Antiquities. A joint American-Egyptian research team led by John Coleman Darnell from Yale University discovered the works at an ancient site in Egypts Eastern Desertpart of the Sahara that lies east of the Nile Riverwhich was used as a quarry and a place for manufacturing flint in ancient times. Several rock slabs were found with paintings and inscriptions on them, which date back to the late Predynastic period (roughly 3,500 to 3,000 B.C) of prehistoric Egypt. According to Darnell, the inscriptions found on the rock slabs represent the earliest form of writing in Egypt, which was a precursor to the hieroglyphic script. Trending: Florida Fraternity Members Posted Explicit Photos of Women on Secret Facebook Page Without Consent, Lawsuit Says He says the artworks and inscriptions provide important clues to the religion and symbolism of the time, as well as evidence for the interaction of artistic styles between the Eastern Desert and the Nile Valley. One particularly impressive image, which likely dates to around 3,300 B.C., depicts a number of animals including bulls, donkeys, Barbary sheep, antelope and giraffes. The archaeological site, which was uncovered during investigations in the area of Bir Umm Tineidba, was described by Ayman Ashmawy, Head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Ministry of Antiquities, as a lost oasis. Preserved ancient remains, such as the newly discovered rock art, are relatively rare finds in the Eastern Desert. Don't miss: Donald Trumps Kim Jong Un Meeting Achieved Nothing and North Korea Isnt Destroying Weapons Sites, Classified Report Reveals Among other findings at Bir Umm Tineidba, the archaeologists unearthed several burial mounds from the late Predynastic period. The burial mounds, or tumuli, are thought to belong to desert peoples with links to both the Nile Valley and the Red Sea. Story continues Investigations of one of the tumuli showed it was the burial place of a 25-35-year-old woman who was probably one of the local desert elites. She was buried with shells from the Red Sea as well as beads made from carneliana brownish-red semi-precious gemstone. Darnell said the materials found at Bir Umm Tineidba indicate that the desert population was coming under increasing influence from the Nile Valley during the late Protodynastic period. Most popular: James Comey Respects Report that Found He Was Insubordinate in Hillary Clinton Investigation This time in Ancient Egypts history was characterized by an ongoing process of state formation which eventually resulted in the unification of the Upper and Lower Kingdoms and the creation of the First Dynasty of pharaohs. Many of the hallmarks of Ancient Egyptian civilization that we recognize today took shape in this period. 35294580_1811340565578252_8630042688827162624_n Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities The rock art shows the adoption of Nile Valley imagery by a group whose earlier art has more in common with that of other Eastern Desert sites, Darnell said in the statement. The importance of the Bir Umm Tineidba rock art and burial tumuli for understanding the integration of marginal groups into the early pharaonic culture and state is considerable. To the south of the sites where the rock inscriptions and tumuli were found, the archaeologists also discovered a Late Roman era settlement containing dozens of stone structures. Ceramic evidence and other materials indicate that the settlement dates to between 400 and 600 A.D. The researchers think it was likely associated with an ancient nomadic tribal people who the Romans referred to as the Blemmyes. Egypt became a Roman province in 30 B.C. after the future emperor Augustus deposed Queen Cleopatra VII and annexed the Ptolemaic Kingdom to the Roman Empire. The territory, which, encompassed most of modern day Egypt, had a highly developed economy and was by far the wealthiest province outside of Italia. The territory was lost to Muslim Arabs when they completed their conquest of Egypt in 646 A.D. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek With his first meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un behind him, President Donald Trump is turning his attention to the possibility of another marquee summit: with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Last week, before leaving for Canada Trump told reporters it would be good to readmit Russian Federation to G7. Sources tell BuzzFeed News that Trump "told G7 leaders that Crimea is Russian because everyone who lives there speaks Russian". The leaders of the G7 major advanced economies - the United States, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Canada - gathered in Quebec for a two-day annual summit on June 8-9. During the dinner, Trump also seemed to question why the G7 leaders were siding with Ukraine. Crimea, a peninsula that juts out from Ukraine into the Black Sea, has been disputed territory for centuries. Moscow and Washington are "exploring" the possibility of a meeting between the two leaders, according to USA officials and a Russian media report. The president told leaders that "Ukraine is one of the most corrupt countries in the world", the source said. He also called for Russian Federation to be brought back in, returning it to the G8. "And in the G7, which used to be the G8 - they threw Russia out - they should let Russia come back in because we should have Russia at the negotiating table". Muslims around the world will celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan with a three-day holiday called Eid al-Fitr. Like Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr is dependent on the sighting of the new moon, so its starting day varies each year from country to country. This year, Eid al-Fitr will likely begin on the evening on June 14 in the United States. After a month of fasting from sunrise to sunset, Muslims celebrate Eid with massive family feasts. GettyImages-971097662 Mohammed HUWAIS / AFP Trending: Florida Fraternity Members Posted Explicit Photos of Women on Secret Facebook Page Without Consent, Lawsuit Says There are a variety of traditional foods made for Eid, with each country celebrating in its unique way. In Iraq, rosewater-scented, date-filled pastries called klaicha are popular, according to Smithsonian Magazine. A similar pastry, filled with dates or ground walnuts, is popular in Lebanon, Syria and other countries. Sweets are an important part of Eid feasts. In Egypt, families enjoy eating kahk, a sweet cookie filled with a honey-based filling. Meanwhile, Malaysians indulge in bite-sized desserts called kuih, which are a wide variety of brightly colored snacks. Families in Somalia will prepare a wheat and millet based dessert called cambaabur following Eid morning prayers, according to Al Jazeera. Don't miss: Donald Trumps Kim Jong Un Meeting Achieved Nothing and North Korea Isnt Destroying Weapons Sites, Classified Report Reveals Savory dishes are typically the main attraction for the big meal. Smithsonian Magazine noted that fish is usually the main dish in Egypt, while lamb is the go-to in Iraq, Indonesia and other nations. In Russia, where there is an estimated 25 million Muslims, feasts include manti, a dumpling filled with spiced lamb or ground beef, Al Jazeera reported. Other delicious Eid foods include bolani, a flatbread filled with leafy greens, pumpkin, potatoes or lentils, in Afghanistan and the lapis legit, an intricate thousand layered spice cake in Indonesia. In Yemen, lunch at the home of the head of the family usually includes bint al sahn, Metro reported. The sweet cake involves folding thin layers of dough, which are topped by honey and nigella seeds. Story continues GettyImages-972258644 Said Khatib/AFP/Getty Images Most popular: James Comey Respects Report that Found He Was Insubordinate in Hillary Clinton Investigation Many Muslims will celebrate Eid by buying new clothing and giving gifts to children. Every able Muslim is also expected to pay a special kind of alms called Zakat al-Fitr. Islamic Relief USA states that this mandatory act of charity can be in the form of staple foods to the community, or money to purchase the needed staples. Eid al-Fitr, not to be confused with Eid al-Adha in two months, also marks the beginning of the month of Shawal, the tenth month in the Islamic calender. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek By Rozanna Latiff KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian authorities investigating scandal-hit state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) are considering charging former prime minister Najib Razak with money laundering and misappropriation of property, a source familiar with the matter said. Najib, who founded 1MDB in 2009, is the subject of a money laundering and corruption probe, after reports that millions of dollars made their way into his personal bank accounts from the fund and its former subsidiary, SRC International. The former premier has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to 1MDB. Najib, 64, suffered a shock loss in the May 9 general election, the first change of government since Malaysia gained independence from Britain in 1957. Mahathir Mohamad, who was elected prime minister, has vowed to bring back funds allegedly siphoned from 1MDB and punish those responsible. Malaysia's new Attorney General Tommy Thomas said on Tuesday his office was studying possible criminal and civil action, after receiving investigation papers on 1MDB from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). A source close to the investigations told Reuters Najib may be charged with dishonest misappropriation of property under the Malaysian Penal Code. The source declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak on the matter. The offence carries a maximum jail sentence of five years, a fine and whipping. The law, however, forbids men over the age of 50 years from being whipped. Any fine would be decided by the court depending on the offence and amount misappropriated. According to the source, Najib may also face money laundering charges, which would carry a maximum sentence of 15 years' jail and a fine of no less than five times the value of the laundered proceeds. It is now up to the attorney-general to decide whether or not to accept the recommendations, file different charges or call for further investigations. The previous attorney general cleared Najib of wrongdoing in relation to 1MDB. Story continues MACC and the attorney-general's office did not respond to requests for comment. Najib's spokesman did not respond to requests for comment. Najib said this week that if he was charged on "political grounds" he was confident the courts would find him innocent. 1MDB is the subject of money-laundering probes globally, including the United States, Switzerland and Singapore. The U.S. Department of Justice has alleged more than $4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB, about $700 million of which ended up in Najib's personal bank accounts. Police on Monday raided another house linked to Najib in the administrative capital of Putrajaya, the latest premise to be searched in connection with their investigation into 1MDB. Authorities seized hundreds of luxury handbags and dozens of other bags filled with jewellery and cash in earlier searches of premises linked to Najib. MACC this week called on four individuals to assist in its probe of 1MDB, including an aide to Jho Low - a central figure in the 1MDB scandal closely linked to Najib and his family. (Editing by Praveen Menon and Lincoln Feast.) A Qantas Airways superjumbo passenger jet plummeted towards the Pacific Ocean from more than 30,000 feet after flying through the wake of another plane. For 10 long seconds, the A380 plane plunged towards the sea as passengers sat helpless in their seats, Bloomberg reported. Two hours after taking off from Los Angeles en route to Melbourne on Sunday, flight QF94 hit the wake of another Qantas A380 was heading to Sydney. According to Airservices Australiathe country's aviation safety bodyexplains aircraft wake is made up of two vortexes spinning in opposite directions. In certain conditions, such vortexes can remain for up to three minutes. Trending: Florida Fraternity Members Posted Explicit Photos of Women on Secret Facebook Page Without Consent, Lawsuit Says RTS1CRFT REUTERS/Jason Reed Passing through a wake can cause extreme turbulence or even an unrecoverable induced roll. The vortexes can cause structural damage and, if encountered close to the ground, may produce catastrophic results. No injuries were reported on flight QF94. The two planes were separated by a distance of 20 nautical miles and an altitude of 1,000 feet. Don't miss: Donald Trumps Kim Jong Un Meeting Achieved Nothing and North Korea Isnt Destroying Weapons Sites, Classified Report Reveals The West Australian newspaper quoted passenger and radio host Eddie McGuire, who said on his Today Show the descent felt like when you just go over the top of the roller coaster. McGuire experienced that uneasy feeling as it pitched forward and to the side. The radio host said the pilot quickly came on the radio to reassure the passengers and explain what had happened. The Australian spoke to passenger Janelle Wilson, who described the experience as an absolute sense of losing your stomach. She recalled, The lady sitting next to me and I screamed and held hands and just waited but thought with absolute certainty that we were going to crash. It was terrifying. Story continues A Qantas statement said its aircraft are designed to handle [sudden turbulence] safely, acknowledging such incidents can be a jolt for passengers. The airline said it is hard to eliminate the likelihood of wake turbulence encounters, which is why its staff always recommend passengers keep their seatbelts fastened, just as pilots do in the flight deck. Most popular: James Comey Respects Report that Found He Was Insubordinate in Hillary Clinton Investigation Pilots have described flying into wake turbulence as like hitting a wall, according to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guide. On one flight from New Jersey to Florida, an encounter with wake turbulence saw passengers jettisoned to the ceiling and slammed to the floor. Between 1983 and 1993, the FAA recorded 51 air travel accidents in the U.S. from wake turbulence encounters. The incidents killed 27 people and damaged or destroyed 40 aircraft. It notes the real number of incidents is probably much higher than its own count. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek PARIS (Reuters) - France is studying the possibility of carrying out a minesweeping operation to provide access to the Yemeni port of Hodeidah once an Arab-led coalition has completed its military operations, France's Defence Ministry said on Friday. Arab coalition forces had fought their way to the outskirts of the airport in Yemen's main port city on Friday, in the biggest battle of a three-year war pitting it against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement. An official of the United Arab Emirates, part of the coalition, told Reuters on Thursday that France had agreed to provide minesweeping support for the operation and that UAE intelligence indicated that the Houthi rebels, who control the city, had mined the port. The official also said the United States had rejected a request for such help. In a statement to Reuters, the French Defence Ministry suggested a final decision had not yet been made. "An action to de-mine access to the port of Hodeidah after the end of military operations is currently under study. Its purpose would be to facilitate the safe transport of humanitarian aid to the population of the city," it said. "France has always emphasised that the port city of Hodeidah is one of Yemen's key gateways to bring commercial and humanitarian goods to the civilian population," it added. The ministry stressed that France at this stage had no military operations in the Hodeidah region and was not part of the Saudi-led coalition. France, along with the United States and Britain, backs the Arab coalition in the Yemen conflict and provides weapons to both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Paris plans to host a gathering of countries and international organisations, co-presided with Riyadh, on June 27 to address the "urgent humanitarian situation" in Yemen. "The news on the ground convinces us of the need for the international community to pay particular attention to the issue of humanitarian access," the Defence Ministry said. (Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Michel Rose and Gareth Jones) ATHENS, Greece (AP) The prime ministers of Greece and Macedonia faced political storms at home Thursday, two days after reaching a historic deal to settle a decades-old dispute over Macedonia's name. Greece's Alexis Tsipras faces a vote of no-confidence in his government, while Macedonia's Zoran Zaev is contending with the refusal of the country's president to sign off on the deal if it's approved by parliament. Zaev and Tsipras have agreed that the former Yugoslav republic should be renamed North Macedonia, ending a disagreement that had prevented it from joining international institutions such as NATO and had poisoned bilateral relations since the early 1990s. But the dispute has roused strong nationalist sentiment in both countries. Critics on both sides of the border were furious, accusing their respective prime ministers of conceding too much. Greece has long demanded that its northern neighbor change its name, saying the term "Macedonia" implies territorial claims on its own northern province of the same name, birthplace of the ancient warrior king Alexander the Great, and usurps ancient Greek heritage and history. Opponents in Greece object to any use of the term "Macedonia" in their northern neighbor's name. Critics in Macedonia, meanwhile, see any modification of the country's name as a threat to their national identity. In Athens, Tsipras faced a direct challenge to his left-led coalition government's survival after main opposition New Democracy submitted a motion later Thursday for a no-confidence vote. "I have an obligation before the Greek people to try to avert the mortgaging of our country's future with an agreement that is detrimental to our national interests," New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis said. Tsipras has a four-seat majority in the 300-member parliament, but the name deal has led to a rift within the government itself. The stance of Defense Minister Panos Kammenos, who heads the coalition's junior partner, the right-wing Independent Greeks party, will be crucial. Story continues Kammenos said before the deal was announced that he would oppose the agreement in a parliamentary vote, which would leave Tsipras dependent on support from political opponents to ratify it in parliament. It is unclear, however, whether his objections to the Macedonia name deal would lead him to bring down the government by voting against Tsipras. Tsipras has said he does not expect that to happen. The debate on the motion began on Thursday evening, and a vote is expected by Saturday afternoon at the latest. Meanwhile in Macedonia, Zaev was faced with a refusal by the country's president, Gjorge Ivanov, to sign off on the deal if it's ratified by parliament. Such a refusal would delay the implementation of the deal, which is expected to be signed this weekend. If the president refuses to sign, the deal would return to parliament for another vote. Ivanov would have to sign off on the agreement if it is passed a second time. "We are Macedonians and we are here just to maintain and preserve what our ancestors left us," Ivanov said during a visit to neighboring Bulgaria on Thursday. "I swore to preserve the Constitution of Macedonia and that is my obligation." But the visit was overshadowed by the deal with Greece. Bulgaria's prime minister and foreign minister refused to hold meetings with Ivanov because of his opposition to the name deal. And Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said after talks with Ivanov that, in the light of the deal with Greece, Bulgaria should seek to revise aspects of the friendship pact it signed with Macedonia last year. Up to 1,500 people held a peaceful protest against the deal outside parliament in the Macedonian capital of Skopje late Wednesday, chanting "Traitors!" and blowing whistles. Greek opponents of the deal planned a protest in Athens on Friday, when Tsipras had been due to brief parliament on the name deal. ___ Jasmina Mironski in Skopje, Macedonia, and Nicholas Paphitis in Athens contributed. See Also: Communities in London are mourning on the one-year anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire in North Kensington in Britain on Thursday. The fire, which took place on June 14, 2017, engulfed the 24-story building in flames and killed 72 people. Today we remember those who lost their lives at Grenfell Tower and pay tribute to their family, friends and loved ones for the strength and dignity they have shown, Prime Minister Theresa May tweeted Thursday. Trending: Captain Marvel Recruits Pinar ToprakFirst Woman to Compose Major Superhero Film Today, people wore green, participated in a 72-second moment of silence and attended a mass at St Helen's Church, which is close to the building, the BBC reported. During the mass, Bishop of Kensington Graham Tomlin said it was a day to commemorate those who died a year ago in the fire, The Guardian reported. [This is] a day for justice, as we pledge ourselves again to the slow, patient search for truth and justice for those who lost their lives, and a day for peace, Tomlin said to the congregation. The Grenfell Tower was an apartment building constructed in 1974. The fire had broken out on June 14, 2016, at around 1 a.m. BST in a residents kitchen on the fourth floor in or around a freezer, Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science at Dundee University wrote in a provisional report, the BBC previously reported. Don't miss: North Korea Isn't Dismantling Missile Facilities, Satellite Imagery Reveals A report to the Grenfell Public Inquiry obtained by the BBC cited fire safety engineer Barbara Lane, who said the fire spread up the columns of the building and laterally along the cladding above and below the window lines (and) the panels between windows." In the inquiry, Luke Bisby, a professor of fire and structures at the School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, said there is evidence that the polyethylene material in the cladding, which covers the building, was the reason the fire spread, according to the BBC. Story continues During a public inquiry held in May, victims of family members told their stories of the disaster. Authorities have conducted a criminal investigation that could charge the companies responsible for the maintenance of the building, NBC reported. RTX6929R Stefan Rousseau/Pool via Reuters This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek By Krisztina Than KECSKEMET, Hungary (Reuters) - Four people smugglers were jailed for 25 years on Thursday for the deaths of 71 men, women and children whose decomposing bodies were found crammed inside a truck dumped on an Austrian motorway three years ago. Trial judge Janos Jadi said the four, an Afghan and three Bulgarians, were guilty of "extreme cruelty" for refusing to stop the refrigeration truck and open the doors to allow in air. "The people inside realised that they may suffocate to death, so they banged the doors, screamed and shouted trying to signal to the driver," Jadi told a packed court in the Hungarian town of Kecskemet, where the truck was hired. The August 2015 deaths of 59 men, eight women and four children from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan shocked Europe as it struggled to cope with a massive influx of migrants. The incident was the worst of its kind on the route across the Balkans taken by hundreds of thousands fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Sentencing the four for homicide and people smuggling, Jadi said Afghan Lahoo Samsooryamal - described by prosecutors as the ringleader - had ordered the driver not to open the doors of the Volvo freezer truck as it headed from the Serbian-Hungarian border towards Germany. He was in contact with Bulgarians Metodi Georgiev, Vencislav Todorov and Ivaylo Stoyanov, by phone during the journey. One of the Bulgarians drove the truck, the others followed it in cars. The temperature rose quickly soon after their departure and the air began to run out, Jadi said, but the driver could have stopped on the motorway to let air in, "anytime and anywhere". All the victims had suffocated within a couple of hours after departure, Jadi said. "None of the accused did anything, they stayed passive," he said. "This shows extreme cruelty." Gabor Schmidt, the prosecutor in charge of the case, appealed against the jail terms, asking instead that the four be given life sentences. "The prosecution believes this is the only punishment that is appropriate," he told the court. Story continues Lawyers for the four men told the court they would also appeal, seeking their acquittal on the homicide charges and lighter sentences for their convictions for people smuggling. 100 PEOPLE A DAY In a statement posted on the court's website on June 12 the court said the four men regretted what had happened and said they had not wanted the victims to die. However, Samsooryamal, dressed in a short-sleeved shirt, smiled at reporters as he was led away from the courtroom. Schmidt said last July that as Europe's migrant crisis peaked in 2015, the defendants had stepped up their operation to maximise profits. They were taking up to 100 people a day from Hungary to Austria or Germany, mostly along the M1 motorway connecting Budapest with Vienna. Before the August deaths the group had carried many migrants in similar conditions, causing significant physical and mental suffering, he said. Other members of the gang have been convicted by the same court for smuggling people across the Hungarian border and several have been handed shorter prison sentences. (This version of the story corrects paragraph seven to clarify who drove the truck.) (Reporting by Krisztina Than, editing by Larry King, Jon Boyle and David Stamp) preschool Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images Preschools in New York City are no joke some parents hire preschool consultants and apply years in advance in the hopes that they can get their kid into a preschool that could cost as much as a college. Many parents think that getting their kids into one of the Baby Ivies will help them get into one of the top private schools for kindergarten through senior year then off to a top university. Heres a glance into the insanely competitive world of the most prestigious NYC preschools. It is not easy to get into the schools known as the Baby Ivies. No, Im not talking about a set of elite secondary prep schools. I am talking about a process that sometimes starts in utero the process of getting into a prestigious preschool. In New York City, some parents will gladly spend thousands of dollars to have a preschool consultant help streamline the process of getting their children into a preschool that costs $20,000 a year or more, like Horace Manns full-time nursery school for three-year-olds that costs over $48,o00 a year. Im not one to rest on my laurels (especially because I began my education as a three-year-old), but I went to the 92nd Street Y Nursery School, which New York Magazine once deemed the Harvard of nursery schools. I remember my time at the Y fondly I learned about archaeology when we dug for fossils in the sandbox, architecture when we played with blocks, and micro and macro economics when we played Candyland. Times have changed since my parents applied to the 92nd Street Y Nursery School some 28 years ago. The price has skyrocketed to $36,000 a year for a full day, but it is still very much in demand, as are other competitive preschools, including The Episcopal School, Westside Montessori School, Rodeph Sholom, and The Washington Market School. Business Insider spoke with experts to find out what it takes to get into one of the uber-competitive New York City preschools and why parents will pay top dollar. Story continues The application process Parents pay $500 for an introduction meeting and $250 for every additional hour to work with Emily Shapiro, a New York City-based preschool consultant. Shapiro was a New York City preschool director for 15 years before starting her consulting practice, so she understands the application process, the specifics of each school, and the process of helping students and their parents throughout the process of applying. The hardest part of the process is getting your hands on an application, Shapiro said. Some schools have a lottery system to get an application, which means that parents must submit an entry the day after Labor Day and hope for the best. The application varies tremendously from school to school. Some have an essay, some just meet with the kids and parents, and some will have extensive essays about why you are interested in this school, and essays about your child, family, and values, Shapiro said. People find it hard because most of the prestigious schools start with 2-year-olds, and you have a 1-year-old in your house and have to describe your childs interests, Shapiro said. A lot of people benefit from support with writing the essays I will not write essays for them, but I will brainstorm when they are having trouble coming up with ideas and I will read the essays and help edit them and I have people who want detailed hand-holding all the way through if they are too anxious or they dont have time, Shapiro said. How much hand-holding? One person emailed her a photo to approve of the outfit her daughter would wear for her preschool playgroup interview. Of course, it is helpful to have connections at the school which many of the parents do but there are no guarantees, and people can get in without connections or donations, Shapiro said. The educational experience One of the driving forces behind parents desire to get their kids into an elite preschools is exmissions or how the preschool can help their kids get into desirable schools after graduating. Of course, the quality of the education and experience at the preschool is another factor. The relationship between preschool and elementary school matters to a certain degree. They arent dictating whom to take but the preschools write elaborate reports that get sent to the schools as part of the kindergarten process, Shapiro said. According to Shapiro, One advantage of any of the known schools is that they know how to write the applications. If a school is looking at two kids who are similar, and the school loves them both, the strong recommendation from a preschool who has recommended good students in the past might tip the balance, she said. Many parents think that getting their kids into a prestigious nursery school will help them get into one of the top private schools for kindergarten through senior year then off to a top college. It feels like that is necessary to give our kids the option of success. There is a seed of reality in that, but its not totally that way, Shapiro said. Even the most prestigious elementary schools let people in from a wide range of nursery schools. There is a limit to how many Dalton grads Harvard, Yale, and Princeton are going to take. Kids can get a great experience at any preschool, but what sets these prestigious preschools apart is the amount of programming and extracurriculars, Christina Simon, co-author of Beyond the Brochure: An Insiders Guide to Private Elementary Schools in Los Angeles, said. Some preschools teach extracurriculars like yoga, chess, and cooking, because they have the resources to offer them. The caliber of teachers also differs from school to school. For parents who are applying, Shapiro has some advice for reducing the preschool panic. I have yet to work with someone who did everything they asked and didnt end up in a school they were happy with. Id love to take credit for that, but I have a suspicion that thats just the way it is, Shapiro said. If you applied to eight to 10 schools and acted appropriately, I think you are going to get something. NOW WATCH: This huge boat is powered entirely by solar energy See Also: Get a price in less than 24 hours Fill out the form below. One of our domain experts will have a price to you within 24 business hours. A deadly brain-eating amoeba was found in a water supply in Pointe-aux-Chenes, Louisiana. The positive results, indicating the presence of an amoeba called Naegleria fowleri, were announced Sunday by Consolidated Waterworks in Terrebonne Parish. The sample that tested positive was taken from the very end of the distribution in Pointe-aux-Chenes, said a notice from Consolidated Waterworks. The company said it consulted with engineers from the Louisiana Department of Health and subsequently changed its disinfection procedure. The procedure used to involve chloramine and now has free chlorine. The same amoeba was found in 2015 in water in St. Bernard Parish, another area along Louisianas coastline of islands and peninsulas. During that incident, the Louisiana Department of Health said drinking water was ok to consume but that residents should be careful of getting any water up their noses. Trending: Florida Fraternity Members Posted Explicit Photos of Women on Secret Facebook Page Without Consent, Lawsuit Says A fact sheet, issued around the same time as the 2015 outbreak said, You cannot get infected from drinking water contaminated with Naegleria. The few people who do get sick with the amoeba usually contract it from swimming in warm freshwater areas where the single-celled organism lives. Some people have also gotten it from using tap water to cleanse their sinuses. Once it enters through the nose, the amoeba travels to the brain where it can destroy brain tissue, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of the 143 people who have been infected with the amoeba in the United States from 1962 to 2016, 139 have died. The amoeba causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis and destroys brain tissue which, in turn, causes the brain to swell and the person to die. Don't miss: Donald Trumps Kim Jong Un Meeting Achieved Nothing and North Korea Isnt Destroying Weapons Sites, Classified Report Reveals Story continues When compared to other risks associated with water activities, the chances of contracting the amoeba are incredibly low. For reference, roughly 34,000 people die of drowning each year, whereas only zero to eight people will contact the amoeba each year, according to CDC data. Symptoms can start anywhere from five days to a little over a week after the amoeba is contracted. The earliest symptoms, however, would be hard to associate with the infection because theyre similar to many other infections or illnesses. Headache, fever and possible vomiting are all symptoms. As the symptoms persist, they can expand to also include a stiff neck, loss of balance, seizures and hallucinations. Most people who get the amoeba will die after a week or less, according to the CDC. Naegleria fowleri CDC This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanese President Michel Aoun said on Thursday refugees in Lebanon could begin a phased return to areas of Syria that have become safe, and that should happen before a political solution is reached for the conflict. "Lebanon considers that a return has become possible in stages to areas that have become safe and stable in Syria, which are five times the size of Lebanon. Most displaced people in Lebanon are from these areas which have become secure," Aoun said on his Twitter page, in remarks to the ambassadors from the countries in the International Support Group for Lebanon. As Syrian forces and their allies retake more territory, Lebanon's president and other politicians have increasingly called for refugees to go back to areas where fighting is over before a deal is reached to end the war. The international view is that it would not be safe for them to return yet. "Political commitments change with developments on the ground, making us unable to wait for a political solution to the Syrian crisis before the displaced start to return," he said. The U.N. has registered about a million refugees in Lebanon - nearly a quarter of Lebanon's population. The Lebanese government, which puts the figure at 1.5 million, says their presence has strained public services and suppressed economic growth. Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil in the past week has escalated a row with the United Nation's refugee agency UNHCR, accusing it of working to stop refugees from returning to Syria . UNHCR has denied the accusations, saying it supports the return of refugees when it is safe for them to go back to Syria and that it helps those who choose to return with their documentation. (Reporting by Lisa Barrington, editing by Larry King) FILE PHOTO: The logo of Chevron Corp is seen in its booth at Gastech, the world's biggest expo for the gas industry, in Chiba, Japan April 4, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai Thomson Reuters By Brendan Pierson NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lawyers for major oil companies on Wednesday urged a federal judge to throw out a lawsuit filed by New York City seeking to hold them financially liable for damages caused by global warming. Theodore Boutrous, a lawyer for Chevron Corp, said at a hearing before U.S. District Judge John Keenan in Manhattan that the lawsuit, filed in January, was an attempt to hold the oil companies liable for carbon emissions all over the world since the industrial revolution. "They're basically asking the court to recognize a tort that would hold (the oil companies) responsible for the way civilization and humankind have developed over the ages," Boutrous said. The city sued Chevron, BP Plc, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil Corp and Royal Dutch Shell Plc in January, announcing at the same time that it intended to divest fossil fuel investments from its $189 billion public pension funds over the next five years. The city said the companies knew for years that carbon emissions caused global warming, yet they promoted fossil fuels while pushing public relations efforts to discredit science on the risks of climate change. The city said it must spend billions of dollars to safeguard against flooding and other hazards of global warming, and is seeking money damages. Boutrous argued at the hearing that the city was wrong to bring claims under state law because federal law governs carbon emissions. He also argued that a court would be unable to decide the complicated political considerations that go into addressing global warming. "Global warming is a very important issue. It's a thorny problem," Boutros said. "Lawsuits are not the way to deal with this." Matthew Pawa, a lawyer for the city, said the oil companies had contributed to a "public nuisance" under state law, defined as "an unreasonable interference with rights common to the public." He denied that the lawsuit sought to hold the companies liable for emissions going back centuries, saying the city only claimed they became liable once they knew of fossil fuels' risks. Story continues "The liability would go back as far as the intentionality goes," he said. Keenan asked both sides' lawyers whether the city could hold the oil companies liable, given that it used fossil fuels itself. Boutrous agreed that could be an issue, while Pawa said it was not grounds for dismissing the case. The judge did not make a decision at the hearing. (Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by David Gregorio) See Also: Police arrest Tunisian national in German city of Cologne, reports suggest possible sympathy for ISIS A man who was plotting to use deadly ricin to poison members of the public in terror attack has been detained by German police. Authorities say they managed to thwart the atrocity, allegedly planned by a Tunisian man who created the toxin using castor bean seeds. Sief Allah H, whose last name was not given in line with the countrys privacy laws, was taken into custody on Tuesday following a raid on his apartment in Cologne. The 29-year-old suspect was formally arrested on Wednesday after a judge reviewed the evidence. German authorities are now investigating how the suspect planned to use the toxin, but believe he was working on a biological weapon. Markus Schmitt, prosecutors spokesperson, said: We dont know how, or how widely, the ricin was to have been distributed. Sief Allah H is accused of procuring material online in mid-May, prosecutors said. The ricin was created using castor bean seeds He succeeded in creating the toxin this month and investigators found it during the apartment search. Prosecutors declined to say how much ricin the suspect had produced. The seeds of the castor bean plant are naturally poisonous and can be used to create ricin, which kills the bodys cells by preventing them from creating protein. If eaten, injected or inhaled, just a few milligrams are enough to kill an adult. Early symptoms include chest pain, breathing difficulties and coughing. The suspect is not known to have been a member of a terrorist organisation but did have contacts with Islamic extremists, Mr Schmitt said. He had contacts with people in the jihadist spectrum, Mr Schmitt said, but would not elaborate on whether those contacts were online, in person or both. Sief Allah H. was detained after police stormed his flat in Cologne, where they found unknown toxic substances that turned out to be ricin He also would not comment on a report in the top-selling Bild newspaper that US intelligence tipped off German investigators after they detected the suspects online activity buying the seeds to make ricin. Bild also reported that the suspect bought bomb-making materials and chemicals used in the production of ricin. Story continues It said the suspect lived in the Chorweiler neighbourhood of Cologne with his wife, a convert to Islam, and four children. He supposedly used instructions to make a ricin bomb that had been posted online by the extremist Islamic State group. Sief Allah Hs wife was initially taken into custody but was later released, prosecutors said. People with religious beliefs live around four years longer on average than those who dont, according to research. Scientists at Ohio State University arrived at the figure after studying over 1,000 obituaries from across the U.S. The team also factored in whether the person was married and their sex, which both can affect how long a person will live. Laura Wallace, lead author of the study and a doctoral student in psychology at Ohio State University, said in a statement: religious affiliation had nearly as strong an effect on longevity as gender does, which is a matter of years of life. Trending: Florida Fraternity Members Posted Explicit Photos of Women on Secret Facebook Page Without Consent, Lawsuit Says To investigate whether religious beliefs cold affect the age a person dies, the team first assessed over 500 obituaries in the Des Moines Register, a newspaper in Iowa, from between January and February 2012. They documented the age, sex, marital status, social and volunteer activities listed in the piece, as well as the religious affiliation of the deceased. religion-stock Getty Images The data revealed that those whose obituaries included a religious affiliation lived 9.45 years longer than those who did not - which dropped to 6.48 when gender and marital status were factored in. A second study involved over 1,000 obituaries from 42 major U.S. cities, published on newspaper websites in the year following August 2010. That analysis showed people whose obituaries included their religious affiliation lived an average of 5.64 years longer than those who didnt. The average dropped to 3.82 years when gender and marital statues were taken into account. Don't miss: Donald Trumps Kim Jong Un Meeting Achieved Nothing and North Korea Isnt Destroying Weapons Sites, Classified Report Reveals Building on previous studies which suggest that volunteering and social events can extend lifespanboth activities which are integral to many religious groupsthe researchers combined their new data to unpick whether these explained the spike in longevity. Story continues While they did play a part, the researchers behind the study published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science believe they weren't the only factors. Read more: Live Longer: Walking Faster Can Help, According to a New Study Lifestyle guidelines, such as abstaining from drinking alcohol or taking drugs, could explain the boost, as well as practices which ease stress, such as praying or meditating. Most popular: James Comey Respects Report that Found He Was Insubordinate in Hillary Clinton Investigation Theres still a lot of the benefit of religious affiliation that this cant explain, said Wallace. Furthermore, the relationship between religion and a persons lifespan might also depend on the average religiosity of the city in which they live. "The positive health effects of religion spill over to the non-religious in some specific situations," Wallace said. "The spillover effect only occurs in highly religious cities that arent too concerned about everyone conforming to the same norms. In those areas, non-religious people tend to live as long as do religious people." The researchers acknowledged their study was limited by the fact it could not control race and lifestyle choices, which are important factors for longevity. This is the latest research to point to religion having life-boosting effects. In 2016, a study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine suggested that regularly attending religious services can increase lifespan. The team at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health analyzed data on around 75,000 middle-aged female nurses in the U.S., who were asked every four years between 1992 and 2012 about their, including whether they attended a religious service regularly. Those visiting church at least once a week were found to have 33% lower risk of death than those who never went. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Hundreds of union members picketed outside the headquarters of Eskom on Thursday because of a wage dispute which has hurt the cash-strapped South African power utility's ability to deliver electricity to Africa's most industrialized economy. Labor unions, angered by Eskom's failure to raise salaries as it embarks on a cost-cutting drive, have threatened a "total shutdown" of Eskom's operations if the utility does not cede to their demands to raise salaries by 15 percent. The pickets come a day after protests at around 10 Eskom power plants forced the state-owned firm to switch off some generating units because trucks carrying coal and busses ferrying staff were blocked by picketing workers from entering the plants. [nL8N1TF4KA] Eskom's spokesman Khulu Phasiwe said some units at power stations were still switched off on Thursday but that the firm had activated contingency plans to ensure that a sufficient amount of power was being generated. Police were on hand at power stations and the firm's Megawatt Park headquarters to protect staff and Eskom equipment, he added. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), who say they represent more than 20,000 out of a total of 47,000 Eskom employees, say thousands of their members will march to Megawatt Park later on Thursday to keep up the pressure in the wage negotiations. Stabilizing the finances of Eskom, which produces more than 90 percent of South Africa's power, is a priority for President Cyril Ramaphosa as he looks to rekindle growth after nine years of stagnation under his predecessor, Jacob Zuma. Ramaphosa oversaw the appointment of a new board and chief executive at Eskom in a bid to clean up governance and set the firm on a firmer financial footing. [nL5N1SV250] Later on Thursday, South Africa's energy regulator Nersa will announce its decision on whether Eskom should be allowed to recover more than 60 billion rand ($4.55 billion) of costs via higher electricity tariffs. Story continues ($1 = 13.1788 rand) (Reporting by Alexander Winning; Editing by James Macharia) See Also: Four multimillion-dollar beach properties owned by high-profile executives on Ponte Vedra Beach near Jacksonville, Florida, are being asked to pay $234,500 after a months-long investigation by the state. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) investigated whether part of a public beach was damaged to build higher sand dunes for the private homes of four beachfront property owners: United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz, Web.com CEO David Brown, UBS Financial Managing Director Chris Aitken and Margaret Conolly. They have each been asked to pay $58,625 in civil penalties and costs, and have until June 22 to agree and pay the settlement. If they don't, the department could take legal action. munoz REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Trending: Will Tropical Storm Carlotta Hit Mexico? Path, Forecast Map Shows Storm Hitting Soon WJXT News in Jacksonville first reported in March about a video that allegedly showed bulldozers excavating sand from the public beach and hauling it toward the four homes to rebuild sand dunes on the private properties. Without a proper permit, Florida calls this illegal act sand scraping. Related: United Airlines investigating allegedly "drunk or stoned" flight attendant who "terrified" passengers Don't miss: Captain Marvel Recruits Pinar ToprakFirst Woman to Compose Major Superhero Film FDEP spokesperson Dee Ann Miller told Newsweek in an email that the reason they are being asked to pay was "for the fact that the sand used during these multi-day violations was taken from surrounding beaches, harming these economically and environmentally important natural resources. The fine also includes the amount the sand would have cost these homeowners had they brought it in correctly." Story continues Miller also told Newsweek that in addition to the settlement money, the homeowners could be responsible for the restoration of the sand dunes to their original state. A resident who lives along the beach, Bill Hudson, told WJXT in March that he and other beach residents pulled permits from the state to legally rebuild their sand dunes after Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Hudson said it cost him $28,000 for his property alone. Most popular: North Korea Isn't Dismantling Missile Facilities, Satellite Imagery Reveals Newsweek contacted all four homeowners, but they could not be reached for comment. FDEP has issued other fines in the past, including a landscaper in southwest Florida who was fined $12,000 for "damage to vegetation and sand dunes." While others were faced with possible criminal charges, FDEP typically handles it as a civil matter. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek AIM-listed online estate agent Purplebricks said on Friday that its expanding its presence in the US to include Las Vegas, Nevada and Phoenix, Arizona. From next Tuesday, Las Vegas and Phoenix residents will be able to list their homes with Purplebricks for a flat fee of $3,600 and, upon closing, pay the buyer's agent commission, which is standard in US real estate transactions. Homeownrs selling a $261,000 home would save $4,230 using Purplebricks, compared to paying the standard real estate brokerage commission of 5% to 6%. Purplebricks pointed out that both Las Vegas and Phoenix are fast-growing cities with buoyant real estate markets, with around 61,000 and 143,000 annual property transactions respectively to February 2018 and average property prices of $290,000. To oversee its operations in Vegas and Phoenix, the company has named local real estate agent Marcus Fleming, who has a decade of experience, as regional director. He will report to the groups US chief executive Eric Eckardt. Purplebricks announced last September that it was entering the US market. It started off in Los Angeles, with subsequent roll-outs into San Diego, Sacramento, Fresno and the New York designated market area. Chief executive Michael Bruce said: "The Purplebricks model has continued to achieve great results on both coasts by providing excellent service and saving home sellers in California, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York thousands of dollars. "We see tremendous opportunity in Las Vegas and Phoenix, as both markets have ideal demographics comprised of consumers eager to buy and sell homes while saving money." At 1300 BST, the shares were up 2.8% to 366.40p. Natural resource investment and development company Red Rock Resources updated the market on progress on its proposed joint venture with Cobalt Blue on Friday, which was initially announced in September last year. The AIM-traded firm said it and Cobalt Blue were continuing to work together on due diligence, were making good progress with local documentation and background research, and expected to have a further announcement in due course. Red Rock also announced a revision to its agreement with Kansai Mining Corporation, initially entered into in June 2015, was executed on 11 June. The effect of the revision was that Kansai exchanged its 25% carried interest in the mineral assets of Mid Migori Mining under the 2015 agreement for a $50,000 payment, leaving Red Rock with a 100% interest. In the event of a renewal or reissue of licenses covering the assets, the company would within three months make further payments, subject to such renewal or reissue not being on unduly onerous terms. Such further payments would consist of $2.5m payable in cash, a $1m promissory note payable 15 months after issue, and 0.5m of warrants into Red Rock shares at a price 20% above their average closing price on the three trading days prior to issue. Red Rock noted that itself and Mid Migori Mining instigated proceedings in May 2015 for a judicial review in relation to a ministerial decision, which purported to deprive them of the assets. It said on Friday that those proceedings were not concluded. Our local counterparties in Congo have had to spend much time resolving a dispute involving major companies operating in the country, which has understandably affected their ability to follow up with us expeditiously, said Red Rock chairman Andrew Bell. With Cobalt Blue we have continued to work patiently on behalf of the joint venture, and remain confident of progress. The solution arrived at in relation to Mid Migori Mining gives us the flexibility of action that will maximise the chance of our being able to obtain license renewal and then to progress the project. London stocks were set to edge up at the open on Friday as investors digest the latest developments between the US and China. The FTSE 100 was called to open 10 points higher at 7,775 amid reports that US President Trump has approved $50bn worth of tariffs on the import of goods from China. The approval followed a 90-minute meeting on Thursday of Senior White House officials, national security officials and senior representatives of the Treasury, Commerce Department, and US Trade Representatives Office. A formal announcement is expected to be made later in the day by the US Trade Representatives, with a notification in the Federal Register in the coming week. London Capital Group analyst Jasper Lawler said: The markets are relatively sanguine moving towards the announcement, suggesting that traders still do not believe that this will turn into a serious trade war or, alternatively, have had the story come around so many times over the past few weeks that they have simply moved on. In corporate news, Tesco saw UK and Irish sales slow in the first quarter of its new financial year but with wholesale acquisition Booker bedding down, group-wide growth accelerated. For the 13 weeks ended 26 May, UK like-for-like sales grew 2.1% and Ireland 3%, while Booker added 14.3%. Central European operations were said to have delivered a strong underlying performance but LFLs sales were slightly negative due to new Sunday trading laws in Poland and Slovakia. FTSE 250 building materials group CRH said that it has received regulatory approval for its $3.5bn acquisition of Kansas-based cement manufacturer Ash Grove. The deal, which was announced in September 2017, has been approved by the US Federal Trade Commission and there are no further regulatory approvals outstanding. The transaction is expected to close in June 2018. Specialist information company Ascential has announced the acquisition of global digital subscription business WARC for up to 24m. The price comprises an initial cash consideration of 19.5m and deferred consideration of 4.5m payable in 2019. Ascential said the business strengthens its digital product offering in the marketing discipline to span both creative excellence and marketing effectiveness. It plans to combine WARC with Cannes Lions' The Work, to form a digital subscription product of scale. Specialist healthcare group BTG received some bad news overnight from an advisory committee to the US drug regulator, which voted against the approval of its treatment for severe emphysema. The US Food & Drug Administration's anaesthesiology and respiratory therapy devices panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee did not give their backing to the approval of the Elevair endobronchial coil system for the treatment of people with severe emphysema, known as PneumRX Coils in Europe. The coils are designed to be permanently implanted in the most emphysema-damaged parts of the lung to allow more efficient contraction that helps assist the breathing cycle. While the panel voted in 7-5 in favour of the statement that there is reasonable assurance that Elevair is safe for use in patients who meet the criteria specified in the proposed indication, while considering the additional procedures needed to maintain effectiveness, the rest of the votes went against the company. The panel voted 7-5 against the statement that there is reasonable assurance that Elevair is effective for use in patients who meet the criteria specified in the proposed indication and 8-3 against the statement that the benefits outweigh the risks for use in patients who meet the criteria specified in the proposed indication. This non-binding recommendation will be considered by the FDA in its ongoing review of PneumRx's pre-market approval application for Elevair, which is expected to conclude in late summer 2018. BTG said it will continue to work with the FDA during its review process and will seek to address the specific concerns raised by the panel, and generally in the US, plans to continue to work with the FDA and "key opinion leaders" on the optimal next steps to support the introduction of this therapy there. "There are few treatment options for patients with severe emphysema. BTG continues to believe that Elevair has a role to play in the management of these patients and is committed to generating additional clinical data to support the existing body of evidence," the FTSE 250 company said. In the EU, the company has initiated the Elevate study that is designed to support patient selection and market development. Broker Peel Hunt expected PneumRX to generate EU sales of $1.8m in 2019, $2.2m in 2020 and $3m in 2021 out of total group revenues of $820m, $765m and $787m respectively. Glencore , along with Katanga Mining , said on Friday that it has determined that its only viable option to avoid the material risk of seizure of its assets under Democratic Republic of the Congo court orders would be for its subsidiaries Mutanda and KCC to pay relevant royalties as and when they become due to Ventora in non-US dollars, without involving US persons, in order to discharge their obligations under the terms of the pre-existing contracts. The FTSE 100 firm said Mutanda, KCC, Ventora and AHIL had on that basis agreed to withdraw all pending and threatened litigation between them pursuant to a settlement agreement signed by the parties. On 27 April, Glencore reported freezing orders filed against Mutanda Mining and Kamoto Copper Company (KCC) by Ventora Development, a company affiliated with Dan Gertler. Glencore said it had carefully considered its legal and commercial options in connection with its dispute with Ventora and Africa Horizons Investments Limited (AHIL), also a company affiliated with Gertler, and its obligations to its various stakeholders, including its shareholders, customers and the communities in which it operates in the DRC. Glencore believes that payment in non-US dollars of royalties and access premiums to Ventora without the involvement of US persons would appropriately address all applicable sanctions obligations, its board said in its statement. The company described itself as a substantial investor and partner in the country, adding that it was committed to sustainable mining, creating employment and supporting local businesses, providing substantial revenues to local and national government and making voluntary contributions to improve living standards in the communities in which it operates. On 27 April 2018, Ventora served freezing orders in the DRC against Mutanda and KCC for approximately $695m and $2.28bn, respectively, Glencore explained. It said Ventora had alleged that Mutanda breached an agreement with it pursuant to which Mutanda was required to make royalty payments to Ventora. Ventora asserted that if its claim was upheld, it would be entitled to damages of approximately $695m, which it alleged was the value of the future royalties due to it under the agreement. Ventora alleged that KCC had breached an agreement between KCC, La Generale des Carrieres et des Mines (Gecamines) and AHIL pursuant to which it alleged KCC was required to make royalty payments to Ventora, the company further explained. Ventora asserted that if its claim was upheld it would be entitled to damages of approximately $2.29bn, which it alleged was the value of the future royalties due to it under the agreement. On 28 April, Ventora obtained from the Kolwezi High Court injunctions to pay against KCC and Mutanda in the amount of $2.86bn - an increase of $572m for alleged legal fees - and $869 million - an increase of $174m for alleged legal fees - respectively, which, if they had become final would have potentially enabled Ventora to permanently seize assets at the Mutanda and KCC mines up the to the amounts of these injunctions. These assets seizures would have severely disrupted the mines and would have enabled Ventora to seize all productive assets at the mines, including mining titles. In December last year, the United States government designated Dan Gertler and affiliated companies as specially designated nationals (SDNs), thereby imposing blocking sanctions on them and companies, such as Ventora and AHIL, owned 50% or more by them. KCC and Mutanda are party to agreements with Ventora and AHIL which were concluded prior to the designation of Gertler as a SDN when the Gertler-affiliated entities acquired these rights from Gecamines. The agreement between Mutanda and Ventora provides for royalties to be calculated at a rate of 2.43% of gross sales from the Mutanda mine. Glencore said the royalties were payable quarterly, and it estimated that the amount payable by Mutanda would be approximately 10.5m per quarter beginning in July. The access premium payments are payable based on the number of tonnes of commercially exploitable reserves at a rate of 24 per ton. The access premium payment is subject to a cap of 10,464,379 per year, but no payment is due until 2019 in which event the access premium payment will be capped at 2,685,508. Glencore said Mutanda would make a true-up royalty payment to Ventora on the date of the settlement agreement in the amount of approximately 4.6m. It said the agreement between KCC and AHIL provided for the royalties to be calculated at a rate of 2.5% of net sales from the KCC mine, subject to certain deductions, also payable quarterly. Glencore estimated that the royalties for 2018 would be around 10m per quarter, and then for 2019 approximately 16.5m per quarter. KCC made a pre-payment to AHIL in 2015 and there is a balance of approximately 44m outstanding under the prepayment against which current royalties are being off-set, it explained. It is therefore expected that the next royalty payment from KCC will be in 2019. AHIL had assigned its right to receive royalties to Ventora, such that Ventora would be the recipient of royalties at both Mutanda and KCC with immediate effect. The amounts set out had been converted to euros based on prevailing exchange rates, but the final amounts payable in euros would be determined based on the exchanges rates prevailing at the time of payment, Glencore confirmed. Theresa Mays government is back on rocky ground after abandoning a compromise over parliaments role in Brexit negotiations and enraging pro-EU tory rebels. Talks fell down two days after the Prime Minister was forced to seek a compromise on the issue as her government faced defeat over a Lords amendment that would have given parliament the final say on Brexit negotiations. On Thursday evening, discussions appeared to have failed as ministers declined to accept demands from the rebels they sought to placate, publishing an amendment that would give MPs less power over Brexit negotiations in a move that Tory anti-Brexiter Dominic Grieve branded unacceptable. The government-drafted amendment was rejected by the rebels who had earlier believed that an agreement had been reached by the two factions only to be presented with a last-minute redraft. It is incomprehensible and unacceptable. We had very sensible negotiations and thought we had reached an agreement and then they phoned and said that they had to make the motion unamendable. For the life of me I cant understand why they have done it. It is utterly bizarre, said Grieve. Pro-brexit MPs have denied demanding the redraft, insisting that Theresa Mays government is entirely responsible for the move. The amendment said that if May confirms before 21 January that no deal has been agreed with the EU a minister will make a statement in parliament within 14 days and give MPs the opportunity to vote. This vote, however, would be on a motion in neutral terms, stating only that the House has considered the statement. The amendment will be debated in the House of Lords on Monday before returning to the Commons on Wednesday, where Grieve said will have no option but to oppose the new amendment and it appears he will be joined by a good portion of the Labour Party. Sir Keir Starmer, Labours shadow Brexit secretary, said: The governments amendment is simply not good enough. Theresa May has gone back on her word and offered an amendment that takes the meaning out of the meaningful vote. Parliament cannot and should not accept it. Fresh confrontations regarding trade and customs are also on the horizon, as the Commons are set to debate two bills on the subject before the summer recess period begins in July. Theresa May faces a confrontation with pro-EU Conservative rebels after abandoning a compromise over how parliament should be consulted at the end of Brexit negotiations. After two days of talks ministers said they would not accept demands from more than a dozen rebels that parliament should be able to influence the direction of Brexit in a case of no deal. Instead, the government published an amendment to its main legislation that critics said would give MPs less control. - The Times The lack of progress on Brexit is inhibiting business investment, the Institute of Chartered Accountants has said, as it downgraded its forecasts for economic growth. The institute said that no progress had been made by the government in the future of the UKs trade and investment relationship with Europe, while rising oil prices would put pressure on households and companies. - The Times President Donald Trump has approved a plan to impose punishing tariffs on tens of billions of dollars of Chinese goods as early as Friday, a move that could set his trade policies on a collision course with his push to rid the Korean Peninsula of nuclear weapons. Mr Trump has promised to fulfill a campaign pledge to clamp down on what he considers unfair Chinese trading practices. - Telegraph/PA The public think that Theresa May is handling Brexit more badly than at any point since she became prime minister, according to a new YouGov poll. Only 21% believe that the government is doing well in the negotiations, with 66 per cent thinking ministers are doing badly. The net score of minus 45% is down from minus 39 points two weeks ago. - The Times AT&T's takeover of Time Warner could close as early as this week, after the US government decided against seeking to delay the blockbuster deal. According to the joint filing, submitted to the court, the Department of Justice chose not to take up its option to seek a stay for the deal, which a federal judge ruled on Tuesday was legal. - Telegraph A group of MPs have said they will publish a report into what Lloyds Banking Group knew about a fraud at its HBOS Reading unit, following years of campaigns for full disclosure by its victims. The fraud was one of Britains worst-ever banking scandals and the report claims that HBOS in 2008 concealed the fraud in an attempt to prevent the failure of a rights issue and its subsequent takeover by Lloyds during the financial crisis. - Guardian Italys populist government escalated global economic tensions yesterday by threatening to sabotage the EUs landmark trade deal with Canada. Gian Marco Centinaio, the Italian agriculture minister, said the countrys parliament would refuse to ratify the proposed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (Ceta). - The Times The new 2 maximum stake on highly addictive betting machines will not be implemented until April 2020 after the Treasury struck a backroom deal with bookmakers. Campaigners expressed outrage at the delay, which they said would allow the industry to earn a further 4 billion. - The Times One of Britains largest law firms, DWF, is set to list on the London stock exchange later this year with a valuation of up to 1 billion. The flotation would be the largest in the legal world and the first for a big law firm since Slater & Gordon listed on the Australian stock exchange in 2007. - The Times The national living wage has fulfilled its purpose of cutting income poverty even though more than a third of the lowest paid live in well-off households with a high-earning partner, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Criticism of the living wage after its launch in April 2016 centred on the fact that it was not a substitute for in-work tax credits, which were cut at the same time, as many of those on low wages are second earners in the household. - The Times The number of journeys on Britains railways has fallen as a result of strikes, price rises and overcrowding, the rail regulator said. The Office of Rail and Road said that passenger journeys on the network fell to 1.7 billion in 2017-2018, down 1.4 per cent on a year earlier and the largest decline in 25 years. - The Times Theresa May is poised to increase the NHSs budget by up to 6bn a year in a bid to capitalise on its impending 70th birthday and rescue the beleaguered services faltering fortunes. The prime minister will scrap the eight-year-long policy of limiting the NHSto funding rises of only 1% and, in a dramatic shift, hand it increases of between 3% and 4% for the next few years. - Guardian Older people should receive free help with basic chores such as washing, dressing and eating in an overhaul that would see social care matching access to the NHS, ministers are to be urged. Personal social care should be free at the point of need, just like medical help on the NHS, according to a report by Lord Darzi, the ex-Labour health minister and Lord Prior, a Conservative health minister until 2016. - Guardian The billionaire Sir Len Blavatnik has ploughed more than half a billion pounds into a bid to create a global Netflix of sport, an analysis of account has revealed. In 2017 alone the Ukraine-born investor, who made a fortune in post-Soviet heavy industry alongside oligarchs including Viktor Vekselberg and Mikhail Fridman, loaned Perform Group 410m to fund the expansion of its streaming service Dazn. - Telegraph One of Britains most iconic seaside piers is set to be flogged off for a song to a controversial entrepreneur - just six years after it was saved for the nation with a 12m lottery grant. Hastings Pier is expected to be sold for a fraction of that cost to tycoon Sheikh Abid Gulzar, dubbed Goldfinger for his love of gold. - Telegraph Specialist staffing business SThree posted an 11% jump in first-half gross profit on Friday thanks to strong growth in Continental Europe and a good performance in the US. In the six months to 31 May, gross profit rose to 148.4m from 134.4m in the same period a year ago, with profit in the contract business up 14% to 106.7m and profit in the permanent business up 4% to 41.7m. Continental Europe saw gross profits increase 18% to 83.9m, while profit in the USA was 9% higher at 29.5m, helping to offset a 2% drop in the UK and Ireland to 26.5m. In Asia Pacific and the Middle East, meanwhile, profit rose 8% to 8.5m. Chief executive Gary Elden said: "We are pleased to have delivered an encouraging first half performance, with our Continental Europe and USA businesses, in particular, showing strong growth through the second quarter. "Our contract business continues to grow robustly across all sectors, with Continental Europe and the USA both delivering double digit growth in gross profit. Permanent achieved an improved performance during the first half, driven primarily by Continental Europe but also by our small and fast-growing business in Japan. "We are continuing to invest in headcount in our high performing teams, consistent with our vision to be the number one STEM talent provider in the best STEM markets. We remain on track with the delivery of our five-year growth strategy which we outlined at the Capital Markets Day in November 2017." The group said its expectations for the full-year remain unchanged. Liberum said that with the outlook for the Continental Europe and US businesses remaining strong, and signs that the UK may have reached a point of inflection, the company is well positioned to deliver attractive growth in FY18. "Given the weighting of profitability within the business, we refrain from upgrading our estimates at this stage but firmly believe that the balance of risks lie to the upside. We also see SThree as well positioned to capitalise on structural trends within the recruitment space given its contract bias and geographic exposures," it said, as it reiterated its buy stance and 425p target price. At 0950 BST, the shares were up 3% to 340p. Armando Colunga, a tow truck driver in San Antonio, is a good Samaritan. He came to know about 54 illegal immigrants who had been apprehended in a tractor-trailer. The local TV news showed the group and they appeared to be hungry. Armando lost no time in going to the spot where he came to know that they had been given only water. He then bought pizzas for them from a nearby Little Caesars location. According to Daily Mail UK, he had fears that officials might object to him giving them the food but that did not happen. The people had been traveling in a refrigerated 18-wheeler and their condition evoked pity. The pizzas brought them some happiness. Armando Colunga explained that his acts were not to grab attention. It was the good Samaritans act of kindness The group of illegal immigrants that ended up in San Antonio consisted of men, women, and children, and they were human beings in need of help. They were not criminals and had entered the country in search of a better life. They wanted to work and Armando felt that he should do his part for these unfortunate persons. The distribution of pizzas was his way of showing that he cared. The driver of the vehicle in which they were traveling has been arrested. Homeland Security has confirmed that the agency is investigating and the San Antonio Fire Department has said that the people appeared to be in good health because the truck was air-conditioned and had the provision of water. They did not suffer from dehydration. The world needs more good Samaritans CNN adds that Armando Colunga, the good Samaritan of San Antonio, was disturbed by what he saw on a news channel. A group of men, believed to be illegal immigrants, were sitting on the ground, while they waited for the authorities to take further action. Discuss this news on Eunomia He decided to extend a helping hand and bought some pizzas from a nearby outlet for the hungry lot. He knew that the number of pizzas was insufficient, but consoled himself with the fact that they would have at least something to eat. Incidentally, Colunga is of Mexican descent. He has his sympathies for illegal immigrants who try to gain entry into the United States. He is not worried about where they come from but wants to extend humanitarian assistance wherever possible. Those who enter the US without authority usually do so out of compulsion. They probably want to escape from an environment of violence and feel America might offer better living conditions. Hence, they keep coming and will resort to any means to get across the border. Already, there is the US-Mexico border wall to check such trends, but there are gaps. Illegal immigrants take advantage of these and there are plans to strengthen the wall to ensure total control. The Gorillaz are on a roll, as they just released another new song ("Fire Flies") from their upcoming The Now Now album. This is the fourth song released on YouTube by the Gorillaz ahead of the June 29 release of "The Now Now," as reported by Rolling Stone. Additionally, a fifth song ("Hollywood"), was released by band founder Damon Albarn during a performance in Chile but is not available on their official YouTube channel. Fire Flies, along with the other three songs, can be found on the Gorillaz YouTube channel. Gorillaz history The Gorillaz are not your typical band, as they are a virtual band made up of fictional animated characters. Like real people, these characters have aged as time has gone on, given interviews, and even performed live during concerts. Created by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, the band has gone on to receive critical acclaim and a huge fan following. The Gorillaz don't fall into any one genre, as the band covers a variety of different sounds, including (but not limited to) alternative, hip-hop, and pop. Band members include 2-D (the blue-haired and black-eyed lead vocalist), Murdoc (the green-skinned bassist), Noodle (the lead guitarist/keyboardist and the only female member of the band), and Russel (the formerly ghost possessed drummer). 'The Now Now' The Now Now will be the sixth Gorillaz album, and it features 11 tracks. Previously released tracks from the album include Humility, Sorcererz, Lake Zurich, and now, Fire Flies. According to Spin, Albarn was quoted as saying: I thought I should make a record where Im just singing for once." This means the album will likely not include as many collaborations as previous Gorillaz albums featured. Discuss this news on Eunomia So far, weve also only received one animated music video for The Now Now, but chances are we should get at least one more partially animated video. This album also features a new band member named Ace, who is filling in for Murdoc (who is in prison in the bands current storyline). Ace isnt just a new character made up for the band, though, as hes actually a character from The Powerpuff Girls. This was confirmed by Jamie Hewlett on his Instagram. With more than 25 million views on the Humility music video, The Now Now looks to be off to a great start. Its hard to say whether the rest of the album will be as good as what has already been released, but Albarn could be saving the best for last. The Now Now will be available on June 29 and will be released by Parlophone and Warner Bros Records, according to Pitchfork.com. For more on the Gorillaz, Blasting News has presented this article on how they headlined Outside Lands 2017. For something to do with the The Powerpuff Girls, Blasting News has presented this article on their latest addition. The Singapore summit appeared to be a success. It was timed to perfection and went off like clockwork right from the handshake to the photo ops at different levels. It also showcased the fact that when leaders like Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un meet the world stops to take a deep breath. There was a feeling of goodness all around and Trump even took Kim to visit his specially armored vehicle known as the Beast. According to the BBC, the US President gave an impression that the issue of the nuclear programs of North Korea is likely to be resolved soon. However, the general perception of experts is that the hermit kingdom benefited more from the summit. Treat Singapore summit as the starting point The uneasy tension in the Korean peninsula with regular exchanges of words and verbal duels between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un had kept the world on edge. There were fears of a nuclear confrontation and South Korean president Moon Jae-in took the initiative to begin a peace process. The end result was the summit in Singapore. The leader of North Korea has enhanced his standing in the world. Since the beginning of this year, Kim Jong-un has met the Chinese president twice, apart from the South Korean president, the leadership of Singapore and, finally, met the President of the United States. The unilateral decision by Trump to halt the joint US-South Korea military exercises must have come as a huge relief to Kim Jong-un. It seems Trump has commented that such exercises are costly affairs. Moreover, to Kims relief, embarrassing issues like the violation of human rights did not come up for discussions. Discuss this news on Eunomia Positives of the Singapore summit CNN has labeled the Singapore summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un as a dreamlike encounter. One of the positives of this meeting is a feeling of goodwill that it has generated. Until now, attempts to bring the United States and North Korea to the table have failed and the summit opens up a whole world of possibilities. Donald Trump can take credit for proving that he is a leader who can make things happen. That is expected to help him in the forthcoming midterm elections because White House could project him as a leader who wants peace. A beginning has been made to end hostilities in the Korean peninsula. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will now have to formulate the methodology of ensuring that North Korea completes the denuclearization process at the earliest possible point in time. Both sides must agree to a time-frame for destroying all the nuclear arsenal held by Pyongyang so that peace can return. The following companies are subsidiares of BorgWarner: B80 Italia S.r.l., BERU AG, BW El Salto S.A. De C.V., BWA Receivables Corporation, BWA Turbo Systems Holding LLC, Borg Warner Europe Holdings (PDS) B. V., BorgWarner (China) Investment Co. Ltd., BorgWarner (Reman) Holdings L.L.C., BorgWarner (Thailand) Limited, BorgWarner Aftermarket Europe GmbH, BorgWarner Alternators Inc., BorgWarner Arden LLC, BorgWarner Arnstadt RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Asia Inc., BorgWarner Automotive Asia Limited, BorgWarner Automotive Components (Beijing) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Jiangsu) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Wuhan) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Brasil Ltda., BorgWarner Chungju Co. LLC, BorgWarner Comercial e Distribuidora de Pecas para Veiculos Automotores Ltda., BorgWarner Comercializadora PDS S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner Componentes PDS S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner Cooling Systems (India) Private Limited, BorgWarner Cooling Systems GmbH, BorgWarner Diversified Transmission Products Services Inc., BorgWarner Drivetrain Engineering GmbH, BorgWarner Drivetrain Management Services de Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner Drivetrain de Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner Electric Motors L.L.C., BorgWarner Emissions Systems (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Emissions Systems (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Emissions Systems Holding LLC, BorgWarner Emissions Systems India Private Limited, BorgWarner Emissions Systems LLC, BorgWarner Emissions Systems Portugal Unipessoal LDA, BorgWarner Emissions Systems Spain S.L.U., BorgWarner Emissions Systems of Michigan Inc., BorgWarner Emissions Talegaon Private Limited, BorgWarner Engineering Ketsch RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Engineering Kibo RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Esslingen GmbH, BorgWarner Europe GmbH, BorgWarner Europe Holding S.a. r. l., BorgWarner Gateshead Limited, BorgWarner Germany Holding GmbH, BorgWarner Germany Holding Services GmbH, BorgWarner Germany REH GmbH, BorgWarner Germany REM GmbH, BorgWarner Germany Verwaltungs GmbH, BorgWarner Global Holding S.a. r. l., BorgWarner Heidelberg I RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Heidelberg II RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Heidelberg REH GmbH, BorgWarner Heidelberg REM GmbH, BorgWarner Holding Inc., BorgWarner Holdings Limited, BorgWarner Hungary Kft., BorgWarner IT Services Europe GmbH, BorgWarner India Holdings Inc., BorgWarner Investment Holding Inc., BorgWarner Ithaca LLC, BorgWarner Ketsch Plant RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Ketsch REH GmbH, BorgWarner Ketsch REM GmbH, BorgWarner Kft., BorgWarner Kibo RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Korea Holdings (PDS) B.V., BorgWarner Korea Holdings LLC, BorgWarner Korea LLC, BorgWarner Limited, BorgWarner Ludwigsburg GmbH, BorgWarner Ludwigsburg RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Markdorf Plant RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Markdorf REH GmbH, BorgWarner Markdorf REM GmbH, BorgWarner Massachusetts Inc., BorgWarner Mauritius Holdings Ltd., BorgWarner Mexico Holding BV, BorgWarner Mexico Holdings II LLC, BorgWarner Mexico Holdings LLC, BorgWarner Morse Systems India Private Limited, BorgWarner Morse Systems Italy S.r.l., BorgWarner Morse Systems Japan K.K., BorgWarner Morse Systems Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner Muggendorf RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner NW Inc., BorgWarner Netherlands Holdings (PDS) B.V., BorgWarner Oroszlany Kft., BorgWarner PDS (Anderson) L.L.C., BorgWarner PDS (Changnyeong) LLC, BorgWarner PDS (Indiana) Inc., BorgWarner PDS (Livonia) Inc., BorgWarner PDS (Ochang) LLC, BorgWarner PDS (Thailand) Limited, BorgWarner PDS (USA) Inc., BorgWarner PDS Brasil Produtos Automotivos Ltda., BorgWarner PDS Irapuato S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner PDS Mexico Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner PDS Technologies L.L.C., BorgWarner Poland Sp. z o.o., BorgWarner Pyongtaek LLC, BorgWarner Romeo Power LLC, BorgWarner Rzeszow Sp. z o.o., BorgWarner Shenglong (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner South Asia LLC, BorgWarner Southborough Inc., BorgWarner Spain Holding S.L.U, BorgWarner Sweden AB, BorgWarner Systems Lugo S.r.l., BorgWarner Thermal Systems Inc., BorgWarner Thermal Systems of Michigan Inc., BorgWarner TorqTransfer Systems Beijing Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Tralee Ltd., BorgWarner Transmission Products LLC, BorgWarner Transmission Systems Arnstadt GmbH, BorgWarner Transmission Systems GmbH, BorgWarner Transmission Systems Korea LLC, BorgWarner Transmission Systems Tulle S.A.S., BorgWarner Trustees Limited, BorgWarner Turbo & Emissions Systems France S.A.S., BorgWarner Turbo Systems Engineering GmbH, BorgWarner Turbo Systems GmbH, BorgWarner Turbo Systems LLC, BorgWarner Turbo Systems Worldwide Headquarters GmbH, BorgWarner Turbo Systems of Michigan Inc., BorgWarner Turbo and Emissions Systems de Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner UK Financing Ltd., BorgWarner UK Holding and Services Ltd., BorgWarner US Holding LLC, BorgWarner USA Industries L.L.C., BorgWarner United Transmission Systems Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Waterloo Inc., BorgWarner Wrexham Limited, Cascadia Motion LLC, Creon Insurance Agency Limited, Delphi Technologies, Dytech ENSA, Gustav Wahler GmbH u. Co. KG, Haldex, Kuhlman LLC, Kysor Europe Limited, M. & M. Knopf Auto Parts L.L.C., NSK-Warner (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., NSK-Warner K.K., NSK-Warner Mexico S.A. de C.V, NSK-Warner U.S.A. Inc., New PDS Corp., Old Remco Holdings L.L.C., Old Remco International Holdings L.L.C., Remy International, SeohanWarner Turbo Systems LLC, Sevcon, Sevcon New Energy Technology (Hubei) Company Limited, and Transmission Systems AutoForm LLC. The following companies are subsidiares of Zimmer Biomet: Abbott Spine, Beijing Montagne Medical Device Co. Ltd., Beijing Montagne Medical Device Co. Ltd., BioMet, Biomet 3i Australia Pty. Ltd., Biomet 3i Belgium N.V., Biomet 3i Benelux Holdings N.V., Biomet 3i Dental Iberica SL, Biomet 3i LLC, Biomet 3i Mexico S.A. de C.V., Biomet 3i Netherlands B.V., Biomet 3i Nordic AB, Biomet 3i Portugal Lda, Biomet 3i Switzerland GmbH, Biomet 3i Turkey, Biomet 3i UK Ltd., Biomet 3i do Brasil Comercio de Aparelhos Medicos Ltda., Biomet Acquisitions (Unlimited), Biomet Argentina SA, Biomet Australia Pty. Ltd., Biomet Biologics LLC, Biomet Brazil Medical Device Ltda., Biomet C.V., Biomet CV Holdings LLC, Biomet Cementing Technologies AB, Biomet Chile SA, Biomet China Co. Ltd., Biomet Deutschland GmbH, Biomet Deutschland Holding GmbH, Biomet Fair Lawn LLC, Biomet Finance US LLC, Biomet France Sarl, Biomet Global Supply Chain Center B.V., Biomet Healthcare Management GmbH, Biomet Holdings B.V., Biomet Hong Kong CBT Ltd., Biomet Hong Kong Holding Ltd., Biomet Hong Kong No. 1 Ltd., Biomet Inc., Biomet Insurance Ltd., Biomet International Inc., Biomet International Orthopedics LLC, Biomet Leasing Inc., Biomet Manufacturing LLC, Biomet Mexico S.A. de C.V., Biomet Microfixation B.V., Biomet Orthopedics LLC, Biomet Orthopedics Puerto Rico Inc., Biomet Spain Orthopaedics S.L., Biomet Sports Medicine LLC, Biomet Trauma LLC, Biomet U.S. Reconstruction LLC, Biomet UK Healthcare Ltd., Biomet UK Ltd., CD Diagnostics, CD Diagnostics Inc., CD Laboratories Inc., Cayenne Medical, Cayenne Medical Inc., CelgenTek Innovations Corporation, Centerpulse Ltd, Changzhou Biomet Medical Devices Co. Ltd., Citra Labs LLC, Clinical Graphics, Compression Therapy Concepts Inc., Compression Therapy Products, D.S. Comp Ltd., Dornoch Medical Systems, Dornoch Medical Systems Inc., EBI Holdings LLC, EBI LLC, EBI Medical Systems LLC, EBI Patient Care Inc., ETEX Corporation, ETEX Holdings Inc., Electro-Biology LLC, Endius, Espanormed S.L., Etex, ExtraOrtho, Hakuho Company Ltd., IC Guided Surgery SRL, Implant Concierge LLC, Implant Innovations Holdings LLC, Implex, InnoVision Inc., Interpore Cross International LLC, JERDS Luxembourg Holding Sarl, Kirschner Medical Corporation, Knee Creations, LDR Brasil Comercio Importacao e Exportacao Ltda., LDR Holding, LDR Medical Hong Kong (branch), LDR Medical S.A.S., LVB Acquisition Inc., Lanx Puerto Rico LLC , Lanx Srl, Medical Compression Systems Inc., Medtech SA, Medtech SAS, Medtech Surgical GmbH, Medtech Surgical Inc., NORMED Medizin-Technik GmbH, ORTHOsoft ULC, Ortho Transmission, Orthopaedic Advantage LLC, Ospol Participacoes Ltda., Representaciones Zimmer Inc. S. de R.L. de C.V., Respondwell, SM Re Ltd., Scandimed Holding AB, Shanghai Biomet Business Consulting Co. Ltd., Synvasive Technology, Synvasive Technology Inc., ZB COOP C.V., ZB COOP LLC, ZB Cayman (Asia) Holding Ltd., ZB Cayman Island CBT 2 Ltd., ZB Dental India Private Limited, ZB EMEA 1 LP, ZB EMEA Finance UK 1 Ltd., ZB EMEA Finance UK 2 Ltd., ZB EMEA Finance UK 3 Ltd., ZB EMEA US UK LLC, ZB Hong Kong CBT 2 Ltd., ZB Hong Kong Holding Ltd., ZB Hong Kong Ltd., ZB Manufacturing LLC, ZB UK Group Holdings Limited, ZH2LX Barbados Branch (branch), Zfx, Zfx GmbH, Zfx Innovation GmbH, Zhejiang Biomet Medical Products Co. Ltd., Zimmer (Shanghai) Medical International Trading Co. Ltd., Zimmer Asia (HK) Ltd., Zimmer Australia Holding Pty. Ltd., Zimmer Biomet (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Zimmer Biomet Asel Alarabiya Limited Company, Zimmer Biomet Asia Holding B.V., Zimmer Biomet Asia Holdings Pte. Ltd., Zimmer Biomet Austria GmbH, Zimmer Biomet BVBA, Zimmer Biomet CBT, Zimmer Biomet CBT 2, Zimmer Biomet CMF and Thoracic LLC, Zimmer Biomet Canada Inc., Zimmer Biomet Centroamerica SA, Zimmer Biomet Comp Ltd., Zimmer Biomet Denmark ApS, Zimmer Biomet Dental Canada Inc., Zimmer Biomet Dental K.K., Zimmer Biomet Deutschland GmbH, Zimmer Biomet Distribution LLC, Zimmer Biomet Finance Srl, Zimmer Biomet Finance US Holding Inc., Zimmer Biomet Finland Oy, Zimmer Biomet France Holdings SAS, Zimmer Biomet France SAS, Zimmer Biomet GK, Zimmer Biomet Global Holdings Switzerland GmbH, Zimmer Biomet Hellas SA, Zimmer Biomet Ireland Limited, Zimmer Biomet Italia Srl, Zimmer Biomet Korea Ltd., Zimmer Biomet Nederland B.V., Zimmer Biomet New Zealand Company, Zimmer Biomet Norway AS, Zimmer Biomet OUS Holdings AG, Zimmer Biomet Polska Sp. z.o.o, Zimmer Biomet Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Zimmer Biomet Pty. Ltd., Zimmer Biomet Romania S.R.L., Zimmer Biomet South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Zimmer Biomet Spain S.L., Zimmer Biomet Spine Inc., Zimmer Biomet Sweden AB, Zimmer Biomet Taiwan Co. Ltd., Zimmer Biomet UK Ltd., Zimmer Biomet US 2 Holding Inc., Zimmer CBT I Holding Inc., Zimmer CBT II Holding Inc., Zimmer CEP USA Holding Co., Zimmer CEP USA Inc., Zimmer CIS Ltd., Zimmer CV Inc., Zimmer Caribe LLC, Zimmer Cayman Islands Holding Co. Ltd., Zimmer Co-op Holdings LLC, Zimmer Colombia SAS, Zimmer Czech sro, Zimmer Dental (Shanghai) Medical Device Co. Ltd., Zimmer Dental Chile Spa, Zimmer Dental GmbH, Zimmer Dental Inc., Zimmer Dental Italy Srl, Zimmer Dental Ltd., Zimmer Dental SAS, Zimmer Finance Ireland, Zimmer France Manufacturing Sarl, Zimmer Germany Holdings GmbH, Zimmer GmbH, Zimmer GmbH Euro IP Branch (branch), Zimmer GmbH Winterthur Branch (branch), Zimmer Gulf FZ LLC, Zimmer Inc., Zimmer India Private Ltd., Zimmer International Logistics GmbH, Zimmer Investments LLC, Zimmer Knee Creations Inc., Zimmer Luxembourg II Sarl, Zimmer Luxembourg Sarl, Zimmer Manufacturing B.V., Zimmer Manufacturing B.V. (branch), Zimmer Medical Malaysia SDN BHD, Zimmer Netherlands Cooperatief U.A., Zimmer Orthobiologics Inc., Zimmer Orthopedics Manufacturing Limited, Zimmer Production Inc., Zimmer Pte. Ltd., Zimmer Slovakia sro, Zimmer Southeast Florida LLC, Zimmer Spine Next Inc., Zimmer Spine SAS, Zimmer Surgical, Zimmer Surgical Inc., Zimmer Surgical SA, Zimmer Switzerland Holdings LLC, Zimmer Switzerland Manufacturing GmbH, Zimmer Tibbi Cihazlar Sanayi ve Ticaret AS, Zimmer Trabecular Metal Technology Inc., Zimmer Trustee Ltd., Zimmer UK Limited, Zimmer US Inc., and Zimmer do Brasil Comercio Ltda.. The following companies are subsidiares of Eastman Chemical: BP - Aviation Turbine Oil Business, CP Films Vertriebs GmbH, Commonwealth Laminating & Coating (Hong Kong) Limited, Commonwealth Laminating & Coating Inc, Crown Operations International LLC, Dynaloy, Eastman Administracion S.A. de C.V., Eastman Chemical (Barbados) SRL, Eastman Chemical (China) Co. Ltd., Eastman Chemical (China) Co. Ltd. - Guangzhou Branch, Eastman Chemical (China) Co. Ltd. - JingAn Branch, Eastman Chemical (Gibraltar) Limited, Eastman Chemical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Eastman Chemical (PPU) Pte. Ltd., Eastman Chemical AMI GmbH, Eastman Chemical AMI LLC, Eastman Chemical AP Holdings B.V., Eastman Chemical Adhesives (Hong Kong) Limited, Eastman Chemical Advanced Materials B.V., Eastman Chemical Argentina S.R.L., Eastman Chemical Asia Pacific Pte Ltd-Indonesia Rep Office, Eastman Chemical Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Eastman Chemical Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. - Vietnam Representative Office, Eastman Chemical Australia Pty LTD - New Zealand Branch, Eastman Chemical Australia Pty. Ltd., Eastman Chemical B.V., Eastman Chemical B.V. - Czech Republic Representative Office, Eastman Chemical B.V. - Denmark Branch, Eastman Chemical B.V. - Filiale Italiana, Eastman Chemical B.V. - France Branch, Eastman Chemical B.V. - Hungarian Commercial Representative Office, Eastman Chemical B.V. - Poland Representative Office, Eastman Chemical B.V. - South Africa Representative Office, Eastman Chemical B.V. Taiwan Branch, Eastman Chemical B.V. The Hague Zug Branch, Eastman Chemical Canada Inc., Eastman Chemical Company Investments Inc., Eastman Chemical EMEA B.V., Eastman Chemical Europe Middle East and Africa LLC, Eastman Chemical Europe S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Fibers IP GmbH, Eastman Chemical Fibers IP LLC, Eastman Chemical Finance B.V., Eastman Chemical Finance CN S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Finance EUR S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Finance GBP S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Finance SGD S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Finance USD S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Financial Corporation, Eastman Chemical GDL S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Germany Holdings GmbH & Co. KG, Eastman Chemical Germany Management GmbH & Co. KG, Eastman Chemical Germany Verwaltungs-GmbH, Eastman Chemical Global Holdings LLC, Eastman Chemical Global Holdings S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical GmbH, Eastman Chemical HK Limited, Eastman Chemical Holdings do Brasil Ltda., Eastman Chemical Hong Kong B.V., Eastman Chemical Iberica S.L., Eastman Chemical India Private Limited, Eastman Chemical Intermediates (Hong Kong) Limited, Eastman Chemical International GmbH, Eastman Chemical International Holdings B.V., Eastman Chemical International LP LLC, Eastman Chemical Japan Ltd., Eastman Chemical Korea B.V., Eastman Chemical Korea Ltd., Eastman Chemical Latin America Inc., Eastman Chemical Ltd., Eastman Chemical Ltd. - Australia Branch, Eastman Chemical Ltd. - Singapore Branch, Eastman Chemical Ltd. - Taiwan Branch, Eastman Chemical Luxembourg Finance S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Luxembourg Holdings 1 LLC, Eastman Chemical Luxembourg Holdings 1 S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Luxembourg Holdings 2 S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Luxembourg Holdings LLC, Eastman Chemical Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Malaysia B.V., Eastman Chemical Middelburg B.V., Eastman Chemical Netherlands Limited, Eastman Chemical Products Singapore Pte. Ltd., Eastman Chemical Regional UK, Eastman Chemical Resins Inc., Eastman Chemical S.C.S., Eastman Chemical Singapore Pte. Ltd., Eastman Chemical Switzerland GmbH, Eastman Chemical Technology BVBA, Eastman Chemical Texas City Inc., Eastman Chemical US Finance LLC, Eastman Chemical Uruapan S.A. de C.V., Eastman Chemical Workington Limited, Eastman Chemical do Brasil Ltda., Eastman Cogen Management L.L.C., Eastman Cogeneration L.P., Eastman Company UK Limited, Eastman Fibers Korea Limited, Eastman Fibers Singapore Pte. Ltd., Eastman Foundation, Eastman Global Holdings Inc., Eastman International Holdings LLC, Eastman International Management Company, Eastman Italia S.r.l., Eastman Kimya Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Eastman LAR Distribucion S. de R.L. de C.V., Eastman Mazzucchelli Hong Kong Limited, Eastman Mazzucchelli Plastics (Shenzhen) Company Limited, Eastman Servicios Corporativos S.A. de C.V., Eastman Spain L.L.C., Eastman Specialties Corporation, Eastman Specialties Holdings Corporation, Eastman Specialties OU, Eastman Specialties S.a.r.l., Eastman Specialties Wuhan Youji Chemical Co. Ltd, Eastman de Argentina SRL, Ecuataminco S.A., Flexsys America L.P., Flexsys America LLC, Flexsys Chemicals (M) Sdn Bhd, Flexsys K.K., Flexsys Rubber Chemicals Limited, Flexsys Verkauf GmbH, Flexsys Verkauf GmbH - France Branch, Flexsys Verwaltungs- und Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Genovique Specialties Corporation, HDK Industries Inc., Holston Defense Corporation, Huper Optik (GP) L.L.C., Huper Optik International Pte. Ltd., Huper Optik U.S.A. L.P., Industriepark Nienburg GmbH, Kingsport Hotel L.L.C., Knowlton Technologies LLC, Monchem International LLC, Mustang Pipeline Company, Nanjing Yangzi Eastman Chemical Ltd, Novomatrix Inc., Novomatrix International Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Qilu Eastman Specialty Chemicals Ltd, S E Investment LLC, Sakra Hyco Pte. Ltd., Sakra Island Carbon Dioxide Pte Ltd, Scandiflex do Brasil Ltda., Solchem LLC, Solchem Netherlands C.V., Solutia (Thailand) Ltd., Solutia Brasil Ltda., Solutia Canada Inc., Solutia Chemicals France S.a.r.l., Solutia Chemicals India Private Limited, Solutia Chemicals India Private Limited - Branch, Solutia Deutschland GmbH, Solutia Europe BVBA - Portugal Representative Office, Solutia Europe BVBA - Russia Representative Office, Solutia Europe SPRL/BVBA, Solutia Greater China LLC, Solutia Hong Kong Limited, Solutia Inc., Solutia International Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Solutia Italia S.r.l., Solutia Japan Limited, Solutia Performance Products (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Solutia Performance Products Solutions Ltd., Solutia Singapore Pte. Ltd., Solutia Solar GmbH, Solutia Therminol Co. Ltd. Suzhou, Solutia Tlaxcala S.A. de C.V., Solutia UK Holdings Limited, Solutia UK Investments Limited, Solutia UK Limited, Solutia Venezuela S.R.L., Southwall Europe GmbH, Southwall Insulating Glass LLC, Southwall Technologies Inc., St. Gabriel CC Company LLC, Sterling Chemicals Inc, SunTek Australia Pty. Ltd., SunTek Films Canada Inc., SunTek UK Limited, TX Energy LLC, Taminco Argentina S.A., Taminco BVBA, Taminco BVBA - France Rep Office, Taminco BVBA - Hungarian Commercial Representative Office, Taminco BVBA - Oficina de Representacion en Espana, Taminco BVBA - The Philippines, Taminco Chile S.p.A, Taminco Choline Chloride (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Taminco Corporation, Taminco Finland Oy, Taminco Germany GmbH, Taminco Global Chemical LLC, Taminco Group BVBA, Taminco Group Holdings S.a.r.l., Taminco Holding Netherlands B.V., Taminco Intermediate LLC, Taminco Italia S.r.l., Taminco Limitada, Taminco Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Taminco US LLC, Taminco Uruguay S.A., Taminco de Guatemala S.A., Taminco de Honduras S.A. de C.V., Taminco do Brasil Comercio e Industria de Aminas Ltda., Taminco do Brasil Produtos Quimicos Ltda., Te An Ling Tian (Nanjing) Fine Chemical Co. Ltd., TetraVitae Bioscience, V-Kool International Pte. Ltd., and Yixing Taminco Feed Additives Co. Ltd.. The following companies are subsidiares of Cardinal Health: A+ Secure Packaging LLC, Access Closure, Access Closure Inc., Aero-Med Ltd., Alaris Medical Systems, Allegiance Corporation, Allegiance Healthcare, AssuraMed, AssuraMed Inc., Automatic Liquid Packaging, Bergen Brunswig Corp, Bindley Western Industries, Boron LePore & Associates, Borschow Hospital & Medical Supplies, Cardinal Health 100 Inc., Cardinal Health 104 LP, Cardinal Health 105 Inc., Cardinal Health 107 LLC, Cardinal Health 108 LLC, Cardinal Health 110 LLC, Cardinal Health 112 LLC, Cardinal Health 113 LLC, Cardinal Health 114 Inc., Cardinal Health 115 LLC, Cardinal Health 116 LLC, Cardinal Health 118 LLC, Cardinal Health 119 LLC, Cardinal Health 121 LLC, Cardinal Health 122 LLC, Cardinal Health 123 LLC, Cardinal Health 124 LLC, Cardinal Health 126 LLC, Cardinal Health 127 Inc., Cardinal Health 2 LLC, Cardinal Health 200 LLC, Cardinal Health 201 Inc., Cardinal Health 222 (Thailand) Ltd., Cardinal Health 247 Inc., Cardinal Health 249 LLC, Cardinal Health 3 LLC, Cardinal Health 414 LLC, Cardinal Health 5 LLC, Cardinal Health 6 Inc., Cardinal Health 7 LLC, Cardinal Health Australia 503 Pty. Ltd., Cardinal Health Austria 504 GmbH, Cardinal Health Belgium 505 BVBA, Cardinal Health Canada Holdings Cooperative U.A., Cardinal Health Canada Inc., Cardinal Health Chile Limitada, Cardinal Health Colombia S.A.S., Cardinal Health D.R. 203 II Ltd., Cardinal Health Denmark ApS, Cardinal Health Finland Oy, Cardinal Health Foundation, Cardinal Health France 506 SAS, Cardinal Health Funding LLC, Cardinal Health Germany 507 GmbH, Cardinal Health Germany Manufacturing GmbH, Cardinal Health IPS LLC, Cardinal Health International Philippines Inc., Cardinal Health Ireland 419 Designated Activity Company, Cardinal Health Ireland 508 Limited, Cardinal Health Ireland Unlimited Company, Cardinal Health Italy 509 Srl, Cardinal Health Japan G.K., Cardinal Health Korea Limited, Cardinal Health Malaysia 211 Sdn. Bhd., Cardinal Health Malta 212 Limited, Cardinal Health Managed Care Services LLC, Cardinal Health Medical Equipment Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Cardinal Health Medical Products India Private Limited, Cardinal Health Mexico 244 S. de R.L. de C.V., Cardinal Health Mexico 514 S. de R.L. de C.V., Cardinal Health Middle East FZ-LLC, Cardinal Health Netherlands 502 B.V., Cardinal Health Norway AS, Cardinal Health P.R. 120 Inc., Cardinal Health P.R. 218 Inc., Cardinal Health P.R. 220 LLC, Cardinal Health Pharmaceutical Contracting LLC, Cardinal Health Pharmacy Services LLC, Cardinal Health Poland Spolka z ograniczonaa odpowiedzialnossciaa, Cardinal Health Portugal 513 Unipessoal Lda., Cardinal Health Singapore 225 Pte. Ltd., Cardinal Health Spain 511 S.L., Cardinal Health Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Cardinal Health Sweden 512 A.B., Cardinal Health Switzerland 515 GmbH, Cardinal Health Systems Inc., Cardinal Health Technologies LLC, Cardinal Health Technologies Switzerland GmbH, Cardinal Health U.K. 432 Limited, Cardinal Health do Brasil Ltd., CareFusion, Cirpro de Delicias S.A. de C.V., Convertors de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Cordis, Cordis (Shanghai) Medical Devices Co. Ltd., Cordis Cashel Company Unlimited, Cordis Corporation, Cornerstone Partners G.P.O. L.P., Covidien Manufacturing Solutions S.A., Curaspan Health Group Inc., Denver Biomedical, Dik Drug, EPIC Insurance Company, Emerge Medical, Enturia, Especialidades Medicas Kenmex S.A. de C.V., Futuremed Health Care Products, Gala Biotech, Geodax Technology, Griffin Capital LLC, HLS Freight Services, Healthcare Solutions Holding, Innovative Therapies Inc., Instant Diagnostic Systems Inc., KPR Australia Pty. Ltd., KPR Italia S.r.l., KPR Switzerland Sales Gmbh, KPR U.S. LLC, Kendall Patient Recovery BVBA, Kendall-Gammatron Limited, Kinray, Leader Drugstores Inc., Limited Liability Company "Cardinal Health Russia", Ludlow Technical Products Canada Ltd., MCD, Magellan Laboratories, Marin Apothecaries, MedMined, Medicine Shoppe International Inc., Mediquip Sdn. Bhd., Medtronic - Patient Monitoring & Recovery, Mirixa Corporation, NaviHealth, Nippon Covidien Ltd., One Cloverleaf LLC, Outcomes Incorporated, Owen Healthcare, PCI Pharma Services, ParMed Pharmaceuticals, Pinnacle Intellectual Property Services Inc., Pinnacle Intellectual Property Services-International Inc., Post-Acute Care Center for Research LLC, Pyxis Corporation, Quiroproductos de Cuauhtemoc S. de R.L. de C.V., R Cubed Inc., R.P. Scherer Corporation, RGH Enterprises Inc., RainTree GPO LLC, RainTree Oncology Services, Renal Purchasing Group LLC, Rxealtime Inc., Sonexus Health LLC, Syncor International, TelePharm, TelePharm LLC, The Harvard Drug Group, The Harvard Drug Group L.L.C., Tradex International Inc., Viasys Healthcare, WaveMark Inc., Zuellig Pharma China, mscripts, mscripts LLC, and mscripts Systems India Private Limited. Cass R. Sunstein in the New York Review of Books: Liberal democracy has enjoyed much better days. Vladimir Putin has entrenched authoritarian rule and is firmly in charge of a resurgent Russia. In global influence, China may have surpassed the United States, and Chinese president Xi Jinping is now empowered to remain in office indefinitely. In light of recent turns toward authoritarianism in Turkey, Poland, Hungary, and the Philippines, there is widespread talk of a democratic recession. In the United States, President Donald Trump may not be sufficiently committed to constitutional principles of democratic government. In such a time, we might be tempted to try to learn something from earlier turns toward authoritarianism, particularly the triumphant rise of the Nazis in Germany in the 1930s. The problem is that Nazism was so horrifying and so barbaric that for many people in nations where authoritarianism is now achieving a foothold, it is hard to see parallels between Hitlers regime and their own governments. Many accounts of the Nazi period depict a barely imaginable series of events, a nation gone mad. That makes it easy to take comfort in the thought that it cant happen again. But some depictions of Hitlers rise are more intimate and personal. They focus less on well-known leaders, significant events, state propaganda, murders, and war, and more on the details of individual lives. They help explain how people can not only participate in dreadful things but also stand by quietly and live fairly ordinary days in the midst of them. They offer lessons for people who now live with genuine horrors, and also for those to whom horrors may never come but who live in nations where democratic practices and norms are under severe pressure. More here. Siemens has finished all wind tunnel simulation tasks and the resulting data has provided the final Power Curves for the PowerStack Wind Turbine. The final results are approximately 2.4% higher than the original power curve. Thunderbird Power, the company behind the development of the PowerStack turbine, state that the power stack is able to produce power from winds as low as 5mph and that there is no reason to restrict output to avoid failure in high winds. This gives the PowerStack a large range of operations. The company also states that the turbine requires less maintenance than conventional turbines, and that it consists of 1000 parts, which is around 8000 parts less than other turbines. The tasks that Siemens has performed are considered comparable to physical wind tunnel testing. The graph represents the final Power Curve (green) plotted against the original projections (orange) of Richard Sutz and Dr. Peter Jenkins. Thunderbird CEO Rick Hinds stated: "We are elated that the data not only confirms but exceeds the already unequaled performance projections of the PowerStack. This marks the successful end of a crucially important stage and moves the Company a significant step closer to a commercial product." Getty Images En espanol | Two new studies out this week indicate that having high blood pressure at midlife has a long-term impact on brain health. The first report, from the European Heart Journal, published June 12, says that even "mild" high blood pressure systolic blood pressure of 130 mmHg at age 50 is associated with a significantly increased risk of dementia. Thats eyebrow-raising news, because many medical experts, such as the UKs National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the European Society of Cardiology, recommend blood pressure medication only when systolic blood pressure is over 140. The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology recently lowered the stage 1 hypertension threshold to 130. But even 130 may not be good enough. Our results show high blood pressure (over 130) at age 50 increases risk of dementia later in life, says Archana Singh-Manoux of the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research in Paris,a senior author of the new study. Theres some evidence that 120 or below should be the target for people in midlife, says Alzheimers Association Global Science Initiatives Director James A. Hendrix. Of the 8,639 people in the study, whose blood pressure was measured in 1985 when they were ages 35 to 55 and again in 1991, 1997 and 2003, 385 had dementia by 2017. The average age of dementia onset was 75. People with systolic blood pressure of 130 or more at 50 had a 45 percent greater risk of developing dementia than those with a lower systolic blood pressure at 50. Even those with no heart or blood-vessel disease long known to be associated with high blood pressure showed major increased dementia risk. The second study, published June 13 in Cardiovascular Research, also says that high blood pressure puts people at higher risk of dementia, and shows for the first time that an MRI can detect very early signatures of neurological damage from hypertension before any dementia symptoms occur. "Being diagnosed with high blood pressure in, say, your 50s may predict a dementia risk in your 70s and 80s," says neuropsychiatrist Constantine Lyketsos of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "The mechanism is not clear, but it's probably because moderately ... elevated blood pressure in midlife slowly erodes the blood vessels in the brain and affects the blood supply to the deeper tissues of the brain over the years." Says Singh-Manoux, "High blood pressure damages small blood vessels, affecting parts of the brain responsible for thinking and memory." But in the European Heart Journal study, those with high blood pressure first measured at 60 and 70 did not show increased dementia risk. "At older ages there is no robust association between high blood pressure and dementia," notes Singh-Manoux. This squares with a 2017 study in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimers Association, which found that systolic blood pressure between 140 and 159 actually lowered dementia risk for those past midlife. People who developed high blood pressure between ages 80 and 89 were 42 percent less apt to get dementia in their 90s compared with the normal-blood-pressure group. Those who got hypertension in their 90s had 63 percent less dementia risk than non-hypertensives the same age. "Hypertension in the very old is not detrimental for mental health," said the 2017 study's lead researcher, Maria Corrada, a professor of epidemiology and neurology at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. "It's a matter of creating enough pressure to get blood to oxygenate the brain adequately," Says Hendrix, "You can get away with a little higher blood pressure when you're older. If you have low blood pressure when you're older, you may be categorized as frail, which can lead to fainting spells and falls. Older people with higher blood pressure seem to do better overall." The takeaway here is, people in midlife really need to look at their blood pressure," adds Hendrix, "and its not just a risk for heart disease; its also a risk for dementia as we age. Its particularly important in your 40s and 50s, because we really start to set ourselves up for dementia risk later in life. The brain starts to change 10 to 20 years before symptoms begin, so its important to recognize that and start making lifestyle changes long before symptoms occur. To improve your odds of a healthy second half of life, consider following AARPs five lifestyle tweaks to help ward off dementia. Millions of older Americans will lose access to affordable health insurance if a federal court rules that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) is unconstitutional, AARP and AARP Foundation Litigation say in a court document filed Thursday. Texas and 19 other states filed a lawsuit this year in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas asking it to stop implementation of the ACA. The states contend that when Congress last year eliminated the tax penalty levied on consumers who dont have health insurance, it effectively rendered the entire law moot. But AARP says in its amicus brief that Congress only changed the penalty and did not repeal the individual requirement that all consumers have health insurance. Because the rest of the law remains constitutional, notes AARP, the entire ACA stands. If Texas prevails, the health care of people between the ages of 50 and 64 who buy insurance in the private marketplace would be jeopardized, AARP says. The ACA provides affordable health care for these pre-Medicare adults because it forbids insurance companies to refuse to cover people with preexisting conditions, and it limits how much they can charge older Americans what AARP calls an age tax. Under the ACA, insurers are allowed to charge 50- to 64-year-olds up to three times what they charge younger policyholders. AARP strongly opposes any attempts to take away the ACAs protection for people with preexisting health conditions or to bring back an unfair age tax on older adults, says Nancy LeaMond, AARP executive vice president and chief advocacy and engagement officer. Allowing insurance companies to once again charge people with high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, diabetes or other conditions up to 10 times more than what others pay for the same coverage or deny them coverage altogether would be devastating to the estimated 25 million older adults with a preexisting condition. AARP joins 17 states that have filed legal briefs with the court strongly opposing the Texas argument. Also filing briefs supporting the ACA were the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association and Americas Health Insurance Plans, a health insurer trade group. In its 2017 tax bill, Congress did not intend to rip these important gains away from vulnerable adults, AARP says in the brief. Ruling in favor of Texas would have a catastrophic, nationwide effect on the health and financial stability of all Americans, but especially adults who will be precluded from receiving the health care services that they desperately need. Before the ACA passed in 2010, the number of uninsured Americans ages 50 to 64 was growing at an alarming rate from 5.2 million in 2000 to 9.2 million in 2012. The ACA has become a lifeline for pre-Medicare adults, the brief says, helping them obtain much-needed health care services while avoiding financial ruin. Top area high school top performers from the week of Oct. 15 Here are some noteworthy performances from the week of Oct. 15. Las Vegas, N.M. A New Mexico Highlands geology graduate student will conduct a hydrogeology research study of the lower Santa Fe River that aims to measure the quantity and quality of the water as it flows into the Rio Grande. Ryan Mann, a 41-year-old Albuquerque native and Santa Fe resident, received a grant from the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute to fund his study. The purpose of this study is to better define the hydrologic budget, the inflows and outflows of water, as well as the water chemistry, Mann said. In the La Cienega area of the lower Santa Fe River, theres been a shift in land use from agriculture toward more housing developments that rely entirely upon domestic wells. Ill be looking at how this new land use is affecting the amount of river water and its quality. Mann said the study will help stakeholders in the La Cienega community, such as farmers, ranchers and homeowners, better balance the demands on water in the lower Santa Fe River. Mann will be collecting water samples at multiple monitoring sites during the summer and winter seasons to test the general chemistry of the water. The chemistry will give an indication of overall water quality. Well also be measuring streamflow, which tells us how much water is flowing through the river. These measurements will be done on a weekly basis for a year, Mann said. He said the hydrogeology project will become his thesis. Highlands geology professor Jennifer Lindline is his research adviser and thesis committee chair. I approached Dr. Lindline inquiring how I could conduct a hydrogeology study that would benefit society and she suggested this topic. The Santa Fe Water Division has needed a study like this for a number of years. Im honored that I get to complete a project that will have an impact, Mann said. Lindline said that water resources issues facing New Mexico and the Southwest United States are profound. The Highlands Environmental Geology Program works to raise students awareness of surface and ground water resources, and the depths of water supply issues, Lindline said. Ryans study is a good example of data collection and collaboration with community stakeholders, city offices and state agencies to improve the collective hydrogeologic understanding of this important La Cienega area. Mann said that Lindline has been great to work with at both the graduate and undergraduate level. Dr. Lindline is extremely good at keeping students focused on the task at hand and giving the right amount of direction, while allowing us to also be independent in academic endeavors. Shes very thorough and encouraging, Mann said. Mann said he wants to stay in New Mexico to pursue his professional career. I want to work with the State of New Mexico in the area of water resources management. My current research will give me a solid foundation for my aspirations. Im grateful the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute is making it possible. This story was provided to the Journal by New Mexico Highlands University. What is the best way to prevent gun violence in the United States? It appears there is no clear consensus. Young survivors of school shootings, grieving parents, teachers, business executives, counselors, religious leaders, law enforcement and yes politicians have key roles to play in the process. As the school year has ended and summer begun, we remain faced with explaining the incomprehensible slaughter of innocent human beings in church, at school and in public space by disturbed, isolated men with lethal weaponry. Prayers, thoughts and statements matter, but what can be done to prevent the killing from happening again? Disbelief and shock are normal. Grief has its place. It has great power to educate. Outrage can lead to positive action steps. Consensus to prevent gun violence emerges out of the depths of personal loss, suffering and resolve. Columbine, Tucson, Aurora, Sandy Hook, Charleston, Orlando, Sutherland Springs, Las Vegas, Parkland and Santa Fe, Texas, are places where lives were taken and faith shaken. These names represent in the American mind places of sacrifice, heroism, trauma, struggle and dying. The most fitting way to honor those who died is by building a less violent community. Community building is neither easy nor immediate. Currently, Americans seem more divided than united. There are competing, often opposing, political interests. The search for a community at peace with itself is, however, a beginning. What steps are necessary? First, community mental health services and crisis response teams are the front line for screening persons who present a danger to themselves or others. Comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and follow-up among professionals, courts, individual clients and family are best practices and in the interest of public safety. Jurisdictions, states, counties and tribes need to re-evaluate their crisis response systems and correct any gaps or deficiencies. Second, there is in the U.S. a primitive mindset toward owning and carrying firearms. The National Rifle Association depends on this mindset. National legislation to restrict sale and ownership of firearms has failed. The meaning of the 2nd Amendment is generally misunderstood and misinterpreted. The primitive mindset regarding gun ownership is addictive. Many gun owners react to public debate regarding restricting access by digging in for some last stand. Against what or whom? The first step in dealing with addictive behavior is to recognize there is a problem. Third, youth deserve learning environments free from fear of assault and gun violence. Arming teachers may seem logical; however, it is unfair and unwise. A majority of teachers and principals are against arming teachers. Employing armed law enforcement or security guards on school campuses is not unreasonable given the frequency of recent school shootings in the U.S. Do more weapons and more people carrying weapons equal more or less security in homes, schools, churches, theaters, parks and public space? After Parkland, thousands of youth in schools and communities across the U.S. organized, walked out of class, and took to the streets to demonstrate and protest gun violence. The thousands of people who rallied and marched refused to accept the new reality of fear, anxiety and threat of gun violence. Where is the path to less gun violence? What does it look like? Who will take it? Building a less violent community requires vision, courage, creativity, resilience and solidarity. History can help. The movement for civil rights in the U.S. offers examples. The National Museum of African American History and Cultures exhibition Making A Way Out of No Way identifies key themes for creating social change. Opposition to gun violence amounts to a continuous struggle to create a more just and safer society. It also requires deep faith in the future. Hughes lives in Santa Fe. Santa Fe Public Schools will revisit placing school resource officers armed police officers at some of its schools, an idea that died during the school districts budget process due to a lack of funding and a shortage of officers in town. During a study session on school security and safety on Tuesday, school board president Steven Carrillo said he wanted to hold another session dedicated to school resource officers, or SROs, who by definition are sworn law enforcement officers working on school campuses. I would like to see if the board supports having school resource officers, take a vote on it and perhaps enact it in the spring semester in 2019. We need to make a decision sooner rather than later, he said during a phone interview Wednesday. While there had been discussion about SROs while the school district was formulating its budget for the 2018-19 school year, and during community and student forums held this year on the topic of school safety amid the most recent series of deadly school shootings around the country the school board never actually took a vote on the issue. Public reaction to the idea was mixed. Carrillo said that what was being considered was using three SROs stationing one at each of the districts two main high schools and the other to serve as a rover at a cost of between $200,000 and $300,000. The hope was to split the cost between the school district and the city. Superintendent Veronica Garcia and newly elected mayor Alan Webber have held conversations about the matter, but budget restrictions and a shortage of police officers dashed those hopes. But Carrillo says if theres a will, theres a way. First, there needs to be the will of the board to do it, he said. If theres a will, then we will find a way. But some school board members have expressed reservations about placing SROs on campus. Board vice president Maureen Cashmon said she recognizes the value of having officers at schools, but added: Im leery on it mainly for the reason that if were bringing (SROs) in just to have a presence of armed officers, my concern is why cant we have them at all of our campuses? How can we say to the community that well have armed security on some campuses and not others? How can we protect some lives and not others? Cashmon attended a New Mexico School Board Association conference in Albuquerque last weekend that focused on legal issues, but one seminar was devoted to contracting with SROs. There are pros and cons to having SROs, she said, but one of the things we were told was that school boards should be going to their mayor and county commissioners, and saying, These students are your citizens, too. How can you afford not to protect them? Cashmon said another idea that came out of the seminar was for school districts to offer to place police substations on school campuses. In a brief interview Wednesday, Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber said its unlikely the city will be able to commit officers to the schools before the end of the next school year. The city recently approved its budget for the next fiscal year and didnt allocate money to such a program. Well continue to talk about it, but right now we simply dont have the resources, he said. Both the school district and the city have financial constraints about putting officers in the schools. Frankly, our challenge is weve got to recruit more police officers to do the work that our residents expect them to do on the streets of the city. The citys police department, which years ago did provide SROs at some schools, has been operating with a number of vacant positions. It is currently 10 to 15 officers short. Beyond us The mayor said that the police department continues to work closely with the school district and has stepped up patrols at the schools. Asked about whether its the citys responsibility to protect its young citizens on school campuses, Webber said, Its all of our responsibility. These are our kids. Everybody cares about this. I dont know a single person school district, county or city who doesnt take it seriously. But that particular piece (SROs), both for the city and the school district, seems to be beyond us. Juan Rios, a spokesman for the Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office, said the county has the same challenge. The reality is if we are requested to provide SROs, we dont have the full-time employees to dedicate for that, he said. Rios said the county has about 100 commissioned officers responsible for covering about 2,000 square miles, and 13 of the officers are assigned duty at the county courthouse. Rios also noted that only four of SFPSs 29 schools are located in the county. Im sure they are looking at every possible option, but in the end it comes down to what funding is available. The bottom-line issue is we dont have the human resources to dedicate to SROs, he said. Superintendent Garcia said the school district does have a good working relationship with law enforcement. Even while not having a presence on campus, she said the police department does a good job of communicating with school principals and monitoring social media. Ties with the police department were recently strengthened when former Deputy Chief Mario Salbidrez was hired to lead the school districts safety and security department. There have been at least three cases of perceived threats flushed out at Santa Fe High School this past school year, including one in which a note or letter detailed potential student and teacher targets, leading to three students being arrested in November. That same month, another student was arrested for allegedly telling a security guard that he wanted to follow the principal and shoot him. A threatening social media message that apparently originated in another state in February ended up spurring a robocall notice to parents of Santa Fe High students and some parents picked up their kids afterward. Other cities experiences Famously, an SRO at the Parkland, Fla., high school where 17 people were killed by a shooter earlier this year failed to engage the gunman. But a school resource officer stationed at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas, where 10 people were killed recently, exchanged gunfire with the 17-year-old assailant and was wounded. Two days before, an SRO at Dixon High School in Illinois shot and wounded a young man who had opened fire there, perhaps preventing another massacre. In March, an SRO at Great Hills High School in Maryland exchanged gunfire with a 17-year-old male student who shot and killed a former girlfriend, and wounded another boy. The gunman ended up fatally shooting himself in the head, but the SRO is credited with saving other lives. Few school districts in New Mexico have SROs. Socorros El Defensor Chieftain newspaper recently reported that one SRO is stationed at the citys high school. The only other school district with SROs that people interviewed for this story knew about was Las Cruces Public Schools, which has 10 SROs and a police sergeant working the school beat. Thats in addition to 30 soon to be 59 unarmed security guards, according to Todd Gregory, director of public safety for the Las Cruces school district. Theyre not there just to enforce criminal statutes, he said. Theyre there to have a positive impact at the campus. The SROs are stationed at each of the citys four high schools and six middle schools. The school district also has an agreement with the town of Mesilla, which provides one SRO. Gregory said Las Cruces schools have had SROs on campus since the mid-1990s. They also run the D.A.R.E. program, help develop safety plans and emergency drills, conduct training and help with counseling. And they are there for parents, too, he said. They are there not to be enforcers, but to be a positive influence and help people. Sometimes people lose sight of that. Their presence on campus also helps build relationships with students. A lot of things happen outside of school, so it gives (students) someone that they can come talk to any time, Gregory said. In Las Cruces, the school district and police department share the costs of staffing schools with SROs. Both Gregory and Las Cruces Police Chief Patrick Gallagher, who was police chief in Santa Fe until last December, both said Las Cruces schools pay $315,000 a year for the SROs. Neither knew the exact amount the city kicks in, but both said it was a nearly 50-50 split, meaning that between the school district and city somewhere around $600,000 is invested in SROs. Gallagher said he has a similar staffing problem in Las Cruces as he did in Santa Fe, but not quite as bad. He said LCPD is currently about nine officers short of the 200 its supposed to have. Were working on ways to fix the staffing. Eventually, well find a way, he said. Double benefit Gallagher said having officers on campuses is definitely an asset. I like it from a couple of perspectives, he said. Theres the prevention perspective, and they develop relationships with the students. A lot of times, well hear about things pretty quick. Asked if he would recommend that Santa Fe pursue efforts to place police officers on campuses, Gallagher didnt hesitate. I would recommend they do it, he said. I wish we could have done it while I was there. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal Its been more than 50 years since NASA has created a nuclear fission reactor fit for space. In 1965, the SNAP-10a program, a pump system designed to create electricity for a year, was launched into orbit for tests. It lasted only 43 days. New concepts for nuclear reactors that would have the ability to generate power for long-term space missions stalled in the 1970s, according to David Poston, a scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Designs hit roadblocks due to high costs or complicated mechanics. In the most advanced testing any model has reached in four decades, scientists from LANL and NASA recently put their Kilopower reactor a small system they say opens doors for astronaut outposts on the moon or Mars, as well as quicker, more efficient scientific missions into deep space through its paces. Now that weve shown we can build reactors, test them and potentially fly them, a lot more exploration is coming back on the table, said Poston, the projects chief reactor designer. He described Kilopower as a huge breakthrough for space exploration. In May, LANL announced the success of a test run known as Kilopower Reactor Using Stirling Technology, or KRUSTY, that was conducted at the Nevada National Security Site from November to March. The Kilopower reactor itself has been in the works for about five years, Poston said. LANL scientists have been working with NASA employees at its Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. Kilopower generates electricity by using heat produced in the reactors uranium core. That heat is conducted to several pipes, or sealed tubes, full of liquid sodium. That liquid turns into vapor, which is transferred to the cold end of the heat pipes, condensed and transferred to Stirling engines that act as power conversion systems. The heat pressurizes gas to drive a piston coupled to a motor that generates electricity. The team is confident Kilopower reactors could last 15 years in space. Unlike designs such as SNAP from decades ago, which used pumps to transfer the liquid and exchange heat taking up extra energy Kilopower is physics-controlled, meaning the pipes transfer the heat on their own. The less moving parts you have, the longer it should last, said Marc Gibson, the lead Kilopower engineer at the Glenn center. He said this and the reactors simplified system is what attracted NASA. Kilopower can produce one kilowatt of electricity just about enough for a toaster with the prototype that LANL and NASA tested, and would generate up to 10 kilowatts when made to scale. Four of those large reactors would match NASAs estimated 40 kilowatts needed to sustain a four-person outpost on Mars or the moon. Smaller-scale reactors could be used for missions to Jupiter or Pluto, where solar power wouldnt be as effective. According to Gibson, an energy system independent from the sun could also enable missions to permanently shadowed craters on the lunar surface. Poston said there are areas at the moons equator where one night is equal to 14 Earth days. The KRUSTY tests were intended to show whether the prototype could produce electricity, but also to test Kilopowers dynamic performance, or how it would perform when faced with various challenges, according to Poston. He said the team threw all sorts of tests at the reactor, including reducing or doubling its power output and simulated failures with one of its engines or heat pipes. In all the tests, he said, Kilopower was able to self-adjust and stay at a stable temperature to prevent the core from overheating or melting. The dynamic performance of the reactor was better than we dreamed of, said Poston. The testing showed the heat pipe reactors offered predictable and robust performance. The one-kilowatt reactor in the KRUSTY tests was about one meter tall and half a meter in diameter, according to Gibson, who estimated a 10-kilowatt model would be three meters tall and one meter in diameter. Artist renderings of Kilopower include umbrella-like heat radiators atop the reactors. The idea for Kilopower came from 2012 tests at LANL called Demonstration Using Flattop Fissions, or DUFF, a simpler system that used then-new heat pipe technology. Kilopower was also designed with parts and technology that the scientists had easy access to, said Poston. He said this is why it was able to be produced and tested, unlike many predecessors. He used a Ferrari versus Model-T analogy to describe the difference between NASAs other proposed models compared with the less complicated Kilopower. Gibson acknowledged NASA has seen several failures in reactor development since its SNAP reactor was sent into orbit in 1965, and much of it came down to thinking too big. People who were within NASA (were) trying to build really sporty, big expensive power systems on the reactor side and ultimately failed to keep a budget in the time needed to develop that and physically get it into space, he said. Thats probably the biggest point of why several decades of reactor development never got anywhere. The KRUSTY experiment cost $18 million over the past three-and-a-half years, while other nuclear power projects have reached hundreds of millions. As for the safety of the small uranium core about the size of a paper towel roll Patrick McClure, LANLs Kilopower project lead, said that before the reactor is turned on, which occurs in space, there is only a small amount of naturally occurring radioactivity coming from it. Until you turn it on, you can go up and touch it. You can stand right up next to it, you can be there, you can handle it. It doesnt really hurt anyone. Final designs of the reactor will include radiation shields to protect astronauts and electronics, Poston said. The next steps for Kilopower are to adapt the model for space flight. Gibson said it could be sent out with a space mission within the next few years, depending on NASAs plans. Gibson said outside factors, such as funding and NASA officials agreeing on what missions to undertake, make it difficult to predict how far away NASA is from groundbreaking missions like long-term travel to the moon or Mars with the help of reactors like Kilopower. But he added that technology-wise, I think were within this decade of being able to see that. Poston said he is also excited about what a successful reactor like this one could do for the larger future of humanity. Im a big fan of expanding the presence of humanity in space, Poston said. Not only for the knowledge and the inspiration, but also as an insurance policy for the long-term survival of the human race. If you think really big-picture, this is a step toward that, because were going to need nuclear power if were going to do any sort of serious exploration or expansion into space. SANTA FE A woman who played a role in a 2011 triple homicide in northern Santa Fe County in which a couple and their adult son were bludgeoned to death with a mattock was sentenced Thursday to about 14 years in prison. In a plea deal, Ashley Roybal, 31, became a state witness in the case against main defendant Nicholas Ortiz, 16 years old at the time of the killings, who allegedly wielded the pick-ax-like digging tool as a murder weapon in a burglary plan that went out of control. Roybal and her cousin Jose Roybal acknowledged they helped plan a break-in at the El Rancho house of Lloyd Ortiz, 55, Dixie Ortiz, 53, and their 21-year-old son Steven, to look for money and marijuana. Jose Roybal, who testified in a deal under which he avoided prosecution, said it was Ashley who actually picked out the mattock as a weapon and told Nicholas Ortiz who was not related to the murdered family but knew them and Jose, Why dont you just kill them? But Ashley Roybal testified that she never suggested murder or provided the weapon, saying Nicholas Ortiz took the mattock from the Roybals grandfathers home. She admitted that she picked up Nicholas at the murder scene following the killings, and said he later threatened her against telling anyone. Jose Robyal told police he planned to go into the home where the three people were killed with Nicholas but backed out. He testified that with it Ashley told the two males to cover their shoes and hands during the burglary there is no physical evidence against Nicholas and that she was their ride to and from the Ortiz familys home. At Nicholas Ortizs second trial in December 2016 his first that year had ended in a hung jury he was found guilty of murder. But in September, District Judge Francis Mathew ordered that Ortiz, now 23, receive a new trial due to problems with jury instructions. The District Attorneys Office is appealing that order. At Ashleys sentencing hearing Thursday, Mathew gave her an official sentence of 20 years, 1 month and one week, with six years of that suspended. About three and a half years will be taken off the sentence for time already served in Santa Fe County jail. The remaining 10 and a half years could be cut in half if she earns all of the good time credit shes eligible for in prison, according to defense attorney Michael Jones. She was also sentenced to five years supervised probation following her release and ordered to pay a yet-to-be-determined amount of restitution. She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary and tampering with evidence in connection to the triple homicide, as well as to several burglary-related charges from 2014 and probation violations. Jones said Roybal has been trying to use her time in jail effectively and provided Mathew with certificates of completion from classes shes taken in jail he later clarified these were drug treatment courses and told the judge shes read about 800 books. Shes trying to better herself, he said, adding that the Penitentiary of New Mexico has more resources for her to do so. No family members of the victims were present to speak at the sentencing. Roybal chose not to make a statement. U.S. Senate candidate Mick Rich, the Republican facing off against Democrat Martin Heinrich and Libertarian Aubrey Dunn in November, says the federal government should get out of classrooms to free up teacher creativity and communities should increase student access to apprenticeships. Speaking from the Gilbert L. Sena Charter High School near Eubank and Lomas in Albuquerque, Rich released his plan to strengthen New Mexico schools. In addition to giving more teachers power to plan their curriculum, Richs plan also includes supporting charter schools and trade education. He said Thursday that hed work to make higher education more affordable by supporting federal plans to consolidate school loans and would like to see school loans forgiven after 15 years. Bureaucrats, politicians, and special interests have been putting themselves first and our students second for far too long, said Rich, whose daughter attended Sena. My plan focuses on empowering parents, teachers, and schools to better prepare students for success. Most state education policy decisions are made by the governor, who appoints the secretary of the Public Education Department, and the Legislature. Those decisions include teacher pay levels, high-school graduation requirements and how educators are evaluated. Local superintendents and school boards set policies on a district level. The federal government has a more limited impact on day-to-day school operations, though it has approved laws like the Every Student Succeeds Act that set testing guidelines and minimum academic requirements. Rich founded Mick Rich contractors in 1988 and is a member of the state Labor and Industrial Commission. His firms projects have included building and renovating schools and churches around New Mexico, including the San Felipe de Neri Parish in Albuquerques Old Town. Rich, who ran unopposed in the Republican primary, faces incumbent Sen. Heinrich and Dunn, the states land commissioner, in the Nov. 6 general election. Journal staff reporter Dan Boyd contributed to this report. The city of Albuquerque released the names and resumes of the 28 applicants for the position of police chief Thursday, more than two weeks after a public records request and one day after announcing the name of the new chief. City officials said keeping the names secret until after the chief was named was not intentional. The request simply went through the (Inspection of Public Records Act) process with the city clerks office, said Felicia Salazar, a spokeswoman for the mayors office. The city started accepting applications for the position on May 1, and on May 30 the Journal made an Inspection of Public Records Act request for the resumes and applications for the people vying to be the next police chief. The citys response was the request was excessively broad and burdensome and that it would need until June 14 to release the information. It was unclear why the request was burdensome, considering that a search committee had all of the resumes, interviewed four of the candidates in person and then announced Wednesday that interim Chief Michael Geier had been selected for the position a point made by the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government. The state open records law says that public records shall be made public immediately if available, and within 15 days at most. In this case, the records should have been released much sooner, said attorney Greg Williams, a member of FOGs executive committee. The purpose of our public records law is to get records into the hands of the public as soon as possible, he said. It would have been simple for the city to provide them within a day of being requested because they were already compiled for purposes of evaluating the applications. The citizens would have been better served if they had the list of applicants before the decision was made so they could weigh in on the applications. Hundreds of old requests Salazar said a backlog of requests caused the delay. The new administration would like to start responding to IPRAs faster, but with hundreds of old requests pending its going to take some time to set up that process, she said. In a news release announcing that Geier had been chosen, the city identified three other candidates who were interviewed in Albuquerque. They were: Keith Humphrey, the chief of police in Norman, Okla.; Jeronimo Rodriguez, chief of investigations in the San Francisco District Attorneys Office and a former high-ranking officer for Baltimore police; and Perry Tarrant, assistant chief of police in Seattle. City officials said those candidates will be considered for other leadership positions within APD. A review of the other 24 people who applied for the job showed that none of them now works for APD. Other local candidates included Richard Gomez, a former APD captain who retired in 2007; Phillip Hart, the chief of Gallup police; Dennis Maez, who quit APD as a sergeant before a career with the U.S. Secret Service; and Joseph Silva, a commander for University of New Mexico police. Many chiefs and high-ranking officials at small police departments and sheriffs offices around the country were interested in the position, as was a high-ranking officer for Chicago police. The lone international candidate was the law enforcement coordinator for the police department in the biggest city on the island of Cyprus. The full list can be found at ABQJournal.com. Prior reticence This is not the first time the city has failed to release all applicants names before the announcement of a high-profile appointment. Esteban Aguilar Jr., who was named city attorney in March, did not appear on the list of 19 applicants the city provided to the Journal prior to his appointment. The city released those names in response to the Journals IPRA request filed on Jan. 29. Aguilar submitted his application Feb. 16, well after the published closing date for applications. The names of the 19 applicants were included in a story published in the Journal on March 2. Although the Journal had been in contact with the city for that story, it did not mention Aguilars name. Aguilars hiring was announced the next day. Aguilars name was not on the list supplied to the Journal by the citys Human Resources Department because we hadnt received a resume from Mr. Aguilar as of the date the (IPRA) request was received, the city told the Journal in an emailed statement. SAN JOSE DEL CABO, Mexico Tropical Storm Bud lashed the southern end of Mexicos Baja California Peninsula, home to the popular beach resorts of Los Cabos, with heavy winds Thursday as locals and tourists braced for an expected landfall later in the day. The tops of palm trees whipped about in the gale and waves pounded the sand. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said tropical storm-force winds had reached the peninsula even as Buds center was still about 30 miles (45 kilometers) east-northeast of Cabo San Lucas. Memories are still fresh of the extensive damage done in 2014 by a direct hit from Category 3 Hurricane Odile, and hotel operators were taking no chances. Workers at the Marquis Los Cabos hotel in San Jose del Cabo spent the last three days battening down the hatches anchoring palm trees and using tarps to cover large windows that had all shattered during Odile. On Wednesday evening they removed beach chairs and umbrellas, and workers said the hotel had a safe room for guests if necessary. Overall, however, there was a sense of relief that Bud had been sapped of most of its punch from when it was a Category 4 hurricane two days earlier with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (210 kph). By Thursday wind speeds had dropped to 40 mph (65 kph), strong enough to potentially do some damage, but likely nothing resembling the devastation wrought by Odile four years ago. The international airport appeared to be operating normally in the afternoon. Rodrigo Esponda, managing director of the Los Cabos Tourism Board, said all measures to protect the community and tourists were in place. For a tropical storm that means things like securing outdoor furniture to keep it from being hurtled around by the winds, but not evacuations or putting guests in shelters. That is done when you have a hurricane that is Category 2 or 3 or more, Esponda said. Esponda said that in the wake of the 2014 hurricane, authorities reviewed storm protocols and made some changes such as outfitting certain officials with satellite phones to communicate no matter what. Authorities periodically review storm preparedness at hotels and ensure employees have the right training in how to react. There were many, many, many, many lessons learned after Hurricane Odile. There could be some eventuality depending on mother nature, but the lessons are definitely there, he said. Bud, the second named storm of the 2018 Pacific hurricane season, was moving toward the north at 8 mph (13 kph) and further weakening was expected, but it was forecast to still be at tropical-storm strength when it reaches land later in the day. After it crosses over the peninsula, the storm is then projected to move over the Gulf of California as a tropical depression and make a second landfall on the Mexican mainland by Friday night. A tropical storm warning was in effect for the Baja coast from Santa Fe to the state capital, La Paz, and tropical storm watches were issued for a stretch of the peninsula north of La Paz and from Altata to Huatabampito on the mainland. The Baja California Sur state government said the ports of Los Cabos were closed to all watercraft beginning midday Wednesday. The hurricane center said the storm could cause dangerous surf and bring 2 to 4 inches of rain to southern Baja California Sur and Sonora states on the mainland, threatening floods and landslides. Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo receive millions of international and domestic tourists each year. Also Thursday a tropical depression formed in the afternoon off southern Mexico, about 105 miles (170 kilometers) south-southwest of Acapulco. The hurricane center forecast it to strengthen into a tropical storm Friday and approach land by the weekend. The new storm was expected to dump 4 to 6 inches of rain along the coast of Guerrero state, including Acapulco. ___ Associated Press writer Peter Orsi contributed from Mexico City. SANTA FE Environmentalists have won what they say is a precedent-setting court decision that overturns oil and gas leases on more than 19,000 acres in the Santa Fe National Forest that the Bureau of Land Management approved in 2015. Senior U.S. District Judge Christina Armijo of Albuquerque Thursday ordered the BLM to conduct further analysis on environmental impact of the potential drilling. Most significantly, the judge found that federal environmental law requires the BLM to consider the downstream and cumulative impacts on climate change of the use of the fuel produced from oil and gas leases on public lands. Armijo wrote that federal law acknowledges that the impact of one action alone may be individually insignificant, but also that the impact of the action may be significant only in combination with other actions. It is this broader, significant cumulative impact which must be considered by an agency, but which was not considered in this case, Armijos ruling states. The BLM had argued that only greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas exploration should be considered, not what happens when the fuel produced is actually used by consumers or industry down the line. The agency stated in its decision in favor of the leases that their incremental contribution to greenhouse gas emissions cannot be translated into effects on climate change. Kyle Tisdel of the Western Environmental Law Center said the judge had recognized the indirect and cumulative effects of local oil and gas production. He called the ruling precedent-setting for other fossil fuel proposals on public land. The law requires the government to look before they leap into fracking on our public lands, which includes an honest look at how the continued exploitation of oil and gas will impact our climate and future generations he said in a prepared statement. The judge also held that the BLM had failed to take an adequate look at how the national forest leases allowing hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, would impact water quantities and the environment in general. The 2015 leases were for 13 parcels covering nearly 31 square miles along the San Pedro Mountains north of Cuba, N.M. A BLM staffer in Albuquerque referred a Journal reporter to an agency spokesperson in Washington D.C. who did not return a phone message. The national forest drilling leases were controversial from the start. More than 100 protests were filed by numerous individuals and a couple of community groups. BLM officials argued that specialists with both the agencys Farmington office and the U.S. Forest Service reviewed nearly three dozen parcels, considering everything from effects on water and air quality to cultural resources and economics. Many of the parcels were shelved because they didnt comply with current land use plans or because of new information gained during public scoping meetings. The team determined that the environmental analysis completed for the lease sale was in conformance with the BLMs resource management plan and the Forest Services oil and gas environmental impact statement and therefore the BLM will be issuing the leases, said BLM spokeswoman Donna Hummel in 2015. The Associated Press contributed to this story. As American business continues to move into an ever-evolving 21st-Century economic landscape, the role of local and grass-roots movements has emerged as a principal factor in local economies. As American citizens and stewards of our countrys future, we are all obliged to educate ourselves on current civil, economic and legislative issues, and to help carry forward our ideals to ensure a better tomorrow for our children. This has always been the American way, and it has helped make us the greatest country on Earth. At the New Mexico Business Coalition, we focus specifically on advocating for pro-business legislation and educating elected officials, whether local or national. As a grass-roots, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, we pride ourselves on viewing issues clearly and without bias. To this end, the recent surge of natural gas in transportation, heating and electricity has won our attention, and we consider advocating on natural gass behalf a top priority. The link between natural gas and the future of New Mexicos economy could not be clearer. Holding nearly 5 percent of the U.S. natural gas reserves, New Mexico is the sixth-largest natural gas-producing state and exports nearly 80 percent of its gas to other states. The economic benefits associated with such numbers cannot be overemphasized natural gas is responsible for thousands of jobs and millions of dollars annually in New Mexico revenue. Aside from being a cornerstone of the New Mexican economy, natural gas has experienced a major production uptick over the last decade and represents a shifting attitude in the way Americans view U.S. energy. The movement toward cleaner, sustainable energy sources has been led largely by the natural gas movement. When used as an energy source, natural gas releases up to 20 to 30 percent less CO2 than oil, and as much as 50 percent less CO2 than coal. Natural gas usage has been shown to be directly linked to reduced U.S. carbon emissions: as production has increased 50 percent since 2005, our country has seen its total greenhouse gas emissions dip 11 percent. Being a leading clean energy resource, natural gas provides the perfect complement to still-developing clean energy technologies such as wind and solar power, as it can provide reliable power when wind and solar are not available. Natural gas is one of our most abundant natural resources; deposits in America are greater and more accessible than in any other country. And as the No. 1 producer of natural gas worldwide, the U.S. has enough natural gas to meet its energy demands for the next 100 years. With such an abundant and readily available resource, Americas shift toward natural gas is easy to understand. The economic benefit of this shift has been profound: In 2015, expanded access to natural gas deposits helped add 1.9 million new jobs to the American economy and resulted in an average $1,337 in utility bill savings annualy for American families. Considering the abundance of New Mexicos natural gas deposits, and its ability to export surplus product, our state is well prepared to benefit from the continuing nationwide natural gas movement. The everyday, practical benefits of natural gas are vital to our state. Two-thirds of New Mexico households already use natural gas to heat their homes. And American families save an average of $900 annually when using natural gas compared with other energy sources. Take a moment to consider those numbers the savings speak for themselves. As New Mexicans, we have a proud history of embracing that which is good for our great state. Our state motto crescit eundo, or it grows as it goes suggests the tendency to adapt and evolve with time and innovation. So as we look to the future, and to the future of New Mexicos economy, it is imperative that we remain current and informed. Natural gas is a gift that our state does not take for granted, and we have been very wise indeed to keep it that way. The New Mexico Business Coalition is a statewide nonprofit association that works to improve the business environment for companies and the quality of life for all New Mexicans. As the state affiliate for the National Association of Manufacturers, NMBCs nonpartisan educational efforts focus on providing New Mexicans facts about issues that impact life in New Mexico. Some good news about education in New Mexico: Students and teachers are performing in outstanding ways every day in classrooms across New Mexico. Some bad news: Teachers are having to do this in spite of the additional and often punitive burdens placed on them by bureaucrats and politicians in Santa Fe and the system they have created. More bad news: Seven years of misguided, ham-handed, politically-driven reform of public education have failed to produce any positive, meaningful effects for students or for teachers. Because this current crop of politicians and bureaucrats will soon be gone, its time to examine the system they will leave behind. How bad is our current system? Teachers are now subject to an increasingly heavy workload, ridiculous expectations and mountains of needless paperwork. Teachers are now held responsible for things out of their control, such as how students spend the 133 hours they are not in school every week during the school year, and the 182 days they are not in school during the entire year. Our current evaluation scheme is driving many teachers out of the profession they love through early retirement, moving to another state with better pay and working conditions, or changing professions. Albuquerque Public Schools, as of today has 380 teacher vacancies. One hopes our new governor, whomever that may be, will uphold campaign promises to initiate a major do-over. Teachers will welcome having seats at the table to ensure reform is done with teachers rather than to teachers. The greatest of all the travesties the Public Education Department has committed against New Mexicans is that the inaccurate, statistically indefensible teacher, principal and school evaluation regimes PED has imposed on our public education system are now being accepted as fact. They are not fact. How accurate can a teacher evaluation system be when its architect has disavowed it in a technical paper co-authored with two other analysts? That analysis includes such statements as this summary conclusion: We find that accuracy varies across models and cut-scores, and that models with similar accuracy may yield different teacher classifications. Can there be any doubt about what those three analysts have determined? I hope the Journal will start adding these facts as a disclaimer every time it prints a quote from PED which involves evaluations of teachers, principals and schools. One bright spot: PED failed in its last-ditch attempt to enact their deeply flawed teacher and school evaluation system into law, even though it had packaged it with token raises for teachers, like a spoiled fish wrapped in old newspapers with a few dollar bills stuck around the outside. PED is now trashing those who exposed the attempt to deceive hard-working teachers. Educators can be grateful legislators saw through PEDs bait-and-switch and defeated this dangerous legislation. If Gov. Susana Martinez, former Education Secretary Hanna Skandera and Acting Education Secretary Christopher Ruszkowski really cared about getting teachers more money, why did they tie it to their flawed evaluation scheme? That doesnt pass the smell test. One final example of PEDs failure comes from a recent Speak Up entry: I teach in a school PED wants to take over. This year had an 80 percent turnover in students. If I start school with 20 students at the end of year only two of the original 20 remain. No fault of school or teachers, just the population we serve. How can I possibly teach successfully with those odds? In seven years, PED has not come up with an evaluation formula that accounts for this situation. What other schools and teachers are being unfairly penalized by a demented evaluation scheme? What teacher is willing to risk her/his exemplary rating and remuneration to work in this school? Clearly, something is terribly wrong Readers and especially PED employees, including Ruszkowski, please find ways to volunteer at your local school. You will see great work being done no matter what the deeply flawed teacher evaluations and school grades supposedly indicate. WASHINGTON One of the costs of the Trump Era is that all opinions become suspect because, even more than usual, everything is seen through the prism of whether you are for or against the president. Consequently, criticism of Trump is regularly assumed by his supporters to be rooted in bad faith. The retort to any judgments against his statements or his policies typically begins with You wouldnt say this and ends with if Obama or Bush or Clinton were doing it. In the interest of candor, lets acknowledge that many of us are automatically suspicious of everything Trump says because he not only is a documented liar but came close to copping to the fact during a news conference in Singapore. In explaining what hed do if he proved to be mistaken about his big bet this week on the integrity of Kim Jong Un, Trump said: I may stand before you in six months and say, Hey, I was wrong.' Then he caught himself and added: I dont know that Ill ever admit that, but Ill find some kind of an excuse. This was our salesman-in-chief reveling in his skill at covering up and deceiving. But charges of hypocrisy against those who question Trump extend to the substantive matters as well. Its thus important to take on two deeply flawed but predictable arguments that have been offered in defense of Trumps lovefest with North Koreas brutal dictator and the presidents approach to negotiation. The first is that because the United States has sometimes allied and frequently negotiated with dictators, chastising Trump for ignoring North Koreas loathsome human-rights record represents a double standard. Its true that human rights have often taken second place behind calculations about national security based on realpolitik. The U.S., rightly, joined with Stalin to defeat Hitler because, between the two murderous regimes, Hitlers posed the imminent danger. During the Cold War, the U.S. at times supported the installation of right-wing dictatorships to foil the communists or to protect American businesses. But our wrongful indifference to human rights in the past should not be used as an excuse to justify apologias for dictatorships in our time. Moreover, previous American presidents including Obama, both Bushes, and Clinton have managed to negotiate with unsavory adversaries without pretending they were embodiments of George Washington or Nelson Mandela. Trump did not simply overlook the astonishing brutality of North Koreas regime. He heaped praise on Kim as someone very open, very honorable, very smart, very worthy, and very talented who wants to do the right thing. Most appallingly, Trump, fresh off nasty rebukes of the leader of friendly and democratic Canada, told ABCs George Stephanopoulos of Kim: His country does love him. His people, you see the fervor. Yes, fear of a gulag can produce a lot of fervor. Sorry, Trump defenders, but this is obscene. The second canard is that those who once expressed alarm over Trumps loose talk about nuclear war have no right to critique his diplomacy. Never mind that he made real concessions to North Korea beginning with the legitimacy that the Singapore extravaganza conferred on Kim and Trumps decision to call off joint military exercises with South Korea without winning anything concrete in return. Trump himself tweeted out this line of thinking, asserting that pundits & talking heads who were begging for conciliation and peace were now saying you shouldnt meet, do not meet. But as usual, Trump was distorting what his critics were saying. True, we wondered why he gave Kim the meeting without extracting anything of substance in advance. Yet his harshest detractors were among those pleased that Trump was talking rather than brandishing fire and fury. This just goes to show how low he has set the bar. And Mr. President, that flimsy piece of paper you signed guaranteed absolutely nothing and contained far weaker promises than those wrung out of North Korea by earlier administrations promises, by the way, that the very honorable regime broke. On MSNBCs Morning Joe on Wednesday, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., summarized the case against Trump nicely: Were not against diplomacy. Were just against bad diplomacy, and this was really bad diplomacy. And deluded diplomacy as well. Consider that upon returning home, Trump tweeted that There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea. When the most optimistic scenario is that the president doesnt really believe what hes tweeting, we have ample reason to doubt his competence and his motivation. And, fortunately, were not required to demonstrate our fervor. E.J. Dionnes email address is ejdionne@washpost.com. Twitter: @EJDionne. (c) 2018, Washington Post Writers Group. The historic image of President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shaking hands this week in Singapore is cause for cautious optimism. It was the first meeting between a sitting U.S. president and a leader of North Korea. And for all the criticism that Trump was helping to legitimize Kim on the world stage as an equal of the U.S. president, the summit was a critical step toward peace, and toward easing tensions between the U.S. and North Korea. Just five months ago, the two leaders were hurling threats and insults at one another. Kim warned that he had a nuclear button on his desk and nukes capable of striking the U.S. Trump, who had referred to Kim as Little Rocket Man, countered his nuclear button was much bigger and more powerful, and my button works! The exchange stoked fears the world over of a possible war on the Korean Peninsula. It raised the very real prospect that nuclear weapons could be used in the conflict, killing millions. Even if nuclear weapons werent used, experts warned, North Korea has the ability to kill 300,000 South Koreans in the opening days of the conflict, to say nothing of the thousands of U.S. service members who would likely die. With the human costs of war staggeringly high, the best option obviously is diplomacy. Trump deserves credit for pursuing it and for securing a promise from North Korea to work toward a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. Regardless of ones political affiliations, everyone should hope this works out, given whats at stake. That said, President Trump should dial down his rhetoric as it relates both to Kim and the summits success. For Trump to praise Kim and gush about how his country loves him is disgraceful, given the starvation, torture, slavery and other atrocities that North Koreans have had to endure. And for Trump to declare there is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea, as he did Wednesday, is grossly premature. To be sure, the summit was promising. But the nuclear threat did not evaporate because the two leaders signed a vague agreement that contains no guarantee on how or when North Korea will give up its nukes. This wouldnt be the first time a North Korean leader has reneged on his word. Trump and his administration have secured a promise from Kim. Now they need to roll up their sleeves and get Kim to deliver, as well. And in the process, the U.S. shouldnt abandon its long-standing allies in a misguided attempt to appease a dictator. editorial This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit against an Albuquerque staffing firm, claiming at least four female employees working at the Albuquerque Police Department were harassed and that the firm did not appropriately handle the employees complaints. The lawsuit is the latest development in a three-year legal battle involving harassment allegations at the departments Inspection of Public Records Act Unit. The allegations were made by four women Roberta Archuleta, Tiffani Dix, Barbara Houston and Christella Sanchez hired through Real Time Staffing Services Inc., doing business as Select Staffing. Select Staffing said in a statement provided through an attorney that it was never apprised of (the alleged harassment) on a contemporaneous basis (and) Select intends to vigorously defend itself in this lawsuit. In an email, an APD spokesman said the citys new administration has directed that all existing city employees undergo sexual harassment training, a process he said is underway. Loretta Medina, the EEOCs supervising trial attorney in the case, told the Journal that the conduct alleged in the suit is egregious and surprising for a police department. She described the lawsuit as a message for staffing agencies that they are responsible for protecting their employees, and for ensuring that any harassment experienced by those employees stops immediately. Medina said any potential action taken against the APD as a result of the EEOCs investigation and subsequent lawsuit would be handled by the Department of Justice, which has not yet responded to a request for comment. The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in New Mexico after the parties failed to reach a voluntary settlement, according to an EEOC news release. The lawsuit claims at least four women were subjected to sexual harassment by supervisory or managerial officials and/or co-workers at APD in late 2014 and early 2015, and that Select Staffing failed to take timely preventative or remedial actions in response to repeated complaints by the women. Among the conduct experienced by women assigned to the APD unit, according to the suit: Touching, slapping, hitting or kicking of their buttocks and other body parts Grabbing or otherwise touching of the womens breasts n Name-calling such as whore, ct and sluts Throwing objects at the women to demean them The commission seeks back wages, and compensatory and punitive damages for the four women named in the suit, and similarly situated female employees of Select Staffing, as well as a permanent injunction against the company from engaging in any further gender-discriminatory practices and a court order requiring the company to institute various workplace harassment policies. Attorney David Foster, who has represented the four women in legal actions against the APD dating back to 2015, described former APD records custodian Reynaldo Chavez as a central player in complaints that gave rise to the EEOCs investigation. Among the allegations in those documents are that Chavez and other APD supervisors harassed the women and warned them against reporting their concerns to the city. Chavez was fired by the department in 2015 after a misconduct investigation. Chavez filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the department alleging his termination was due to the fact that he had raised concerns about the departments alleged violations of state public record law. An attorney representing Chavez did not respond to a request for comment. Chavez denied the misconduct allegations against him in his whistleblower lawsuit. Foster said the women had been in settlement negotiations with the city, on behalf of APD, earlier this year through the commissions conciliation process. Those ended around May 21, according to Foster, when the city made one low-ball offer to resolve the case, then cut off any further negotiations. For (Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller) who has been so vocal about stopping sexual harassment, it speaks volumes that he would cut off any further negotiations, said Foster. A spokeswoman for the mayors office said in an email that Keller takes harassment allegations seriously and has worked diligently to strengthen the citys sexual harassment policy. Wine does more than nurture the soul; it nurtures children in the community in the form of charity, thanks to Vintage Albuquerque. Vintage Albuquerques events, which benefit childrens art and music programs, begin Wednesday, June 20 with the Gala Grand Opening, a dinner with honorary vintner Regina Martinelli of Martinelli Winery and Vineyards. Martinelli will hold a wine seminar at noon on Thursday, June 21. Both events will be at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm. This is almost like a wine tasting that she hosts just for her wine, said Linda Wedeen, executive director of Vintage Albuquerque. She talks about all her different wines and what her family has done. They emigrated from Italy and opened this winery. Its a lovely story. Also planned are wine pairings with different wineries. The wine pairing dinners begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 21, at various locations throughout Albuquerque. The big event, The Grand Tasting, will be held June 22 at the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum. Thats our big wine tasting and food tasting, Wedeen said. So its a big tent we put out there. (Attendees) basically go around to the different restaurants and the distributors have all their different wines there and the wineries. Its a big tasting and that is really a lot of fun. A lot of people show up to that and its been a big hit for us. Local restaurants, some local breweries and a number of wineries are showcased as part of Vintage Albuquerque. We have a bunch of different wines, Wedeen said. If you go on our website, which is vintagealbuquerque.org, theres a list of all the wineries and all the restaurants that are participating, which is really nice. As far as the restaurants go, we try to keep it to local restaurants. The wineries are from all over. The Big Event Auction Dinner follows at the Albuquerque Country Club on June 23. The event features a tabled dinner with a large live auction with more than 40 items, such as art and trips, and a big silent auction with about 100 items. What began 27 years ago as a benefit for the now-defunct New Mexico Symphony is now a nonprofit. This years Vintage Albuquerque beneficiaries are Opera Southwest, the New Mexico Jazz Workshop, Working Classroom and the National Hispanic Cultural Center. The New Mexico Symphony has since gone away, Wedeen said. It started out for their music programs and their arts programs, but because it became such a hit to our community and its turned into the biggest wine event of the whole Southwest, we decided to keep it going after the symphony went away. We decided to create our own 501(c)(3) and keep it going because the need is still there for all art and music education for kids. Vintage Albuquerque EVENT INFO: Opening night gala at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, and Martinelli Wine Seminar at noon Thursday, June 21, at Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm, 4803 Rio Grande NW, Los Ranchos. Wine dinners begin at 7 p.m. Thursday at various Albuquerque locations. The Grand Tasting at 6 p.m. June 22, at Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum, 9201 Balloon Museum NE. The Big Event Auction Dinner will be at 6 p.m. June 23, at the Albuquerque Country Club, 601 Laguna SW. Champagne Brunch at 11 a.m. June 24, at Farm & Table, 8917 Fourth NW. Event prices vary. For tickets and information, visit vintagealbuquerque.org Mescalero President Arthur Butch Blazer Wednesday declared a state of emergency on the Mescalero Apache Reservation, because of possible flooding in the aftermath of the Soldier Fire. By executive order, Blazer activated the Emergency Operations Plan that enables tribal departments to work in conjunction with federal, state and local authorities. The Mescalero Conservation Law Enforcement issued a door to door evacuation to residences surrounding Soldier Canyon, because of rainfall Wednesday. All residents were allowed to return to their homes a few hours later. Weather reports forecast more than 3 inches of rain for Soldier Canyon and surrounding areas. Seeking higher ground in the expected rainfall area is encouraged, according to information form the tribal office. Roads may be congested with working vehicles including local law enforcement, state and tribal personnel. Individuals were asked to be cautious and to be courteous to the personnel to ensure public safety. All tribal members were advised to stay clear of any water in low lying areas and to stay aware of the changing weather patterns as it pertains to Soldier Canyon and the Mescalero area including U.S. 70. Class V fire restrictions still are in effect on the reservation. No burning, no use of charcoal grills and campfires are are allowed. Gas burning or electrical cooking devices are permitted within campgrounds and residential areas. smoking outdoors is prohibited. In a letter to tribal members earlier this week, Thora Padilla, Emergency Management Officer, wrote that they need to be aware of the approaching weather system that may have a significant impact on the Soldier Canyon Fire area. Hurricane Bud is currently traveling northward along the west coast of Mexico, she wrote. The track of this storm may take it over the fire area, dumping a considerable amount of rain over the fire-ravaged ground. This heavy rain can cause significant flash floods and mudslides, specifically after the ground and vegetation has been damaged and removed by a wildfire. Tribal, state and local personnel formed a Flood Response Group that is assessing flood hazard areas created by the Soldier Canyon Fire. They are Soldier Canyon, U.S. 70 and the Mescalero community, she wrote. Heavy equipment will be operating on roads in the affected area. Everyone not involved with the Flood Response Group must yield to all working vehicles, she said. Tribal departments will begin placing sandbags and jersey barriers adjacent to homes in low-lying areas that may be impacted by flooding. They also will be removing old equipment and materials in the Soldier Canyon drainage to reduce the impacts from potential flooding. Residents living in the area of Soldier Canyon on the west side of U.S. 70 were advised to begin preparing for the possibility of flooding and stay informed as the weather pattern develops. Please keep watch over small children, elderly and the handicapped as the Flood Response group is working to protect our community, Padilla said. Tips for flood preparation can be found at https://www.ready.gov/floods. In the statement released Thursday, tribal officials said the Flood Response Group continues its effort to protect the community. They were working to provide safety to residents during heavy rain/flood events and to reduce the flood impacts to homes in Soldier Canyon and low-lying areas along Tularosa Creek. The Group recognizes the significance of cultural materials located in Soldier Canyon, and team members have been working closely with Tribal medicine men in this effort. 2018 the Ruidoso News (Ruidoso, N.M.) Visit the Ruidoso News (Ruidoso, N.M.) at www.ruidosonews.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. _____ KABUL, Afghanistan A U.S. drone strike in northeastern Kunar province killed Pakistan Taliban chief Mullah Fazlullah, the insurgent leader who ordered the assassination of Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, an Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman said Friday. In a telephone interview, Mohammad Radmanish said Fazlullah and two other insurgents were killed early Thursday morning, just hours before Afghanistans Taliban began a three-day cease fire to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. The three-day holiday follows the end of Islams holy month of Ramadan when devout adherents fast from sunrise to sunset. However, Sakhi Mashwani, a Parliamentarian from Kunar province told the Associated Press that Fazlullah, along with five other insurgents, died when the strike slammed into the vehicle in which they were driving. Mashwani said dozens of people, including Fazlullahs brother, Moheen Dada, gathered Friday in the Ghaziabad district of Kunar province, to offer prayers for the dead Taliban leader. A U.S. official said the U.S. believes that it is likely the strike killed Fazlullah, but efforts are ongoing to confirm his death. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss preliminary information. According to a statement attributed to U.S. Forces-Afghanistan spokesman Lt. Col Martin ODonnell, the U.S. carried out a counterterrorism strike Thursday in the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan targeting a senior leader of a designated terrorist organization. The statement did not say whether the strike had killed anyone and did not identify Fazlullah as the target. However, the statement did note that the drone attack did not violate a cease-fire announcement made June 7 by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. The Talibans promise of a temporary truce came on Monday. Radmanish said the drone attack took place in Marawara district, near the border. Pakistans military refused to comment on the report of Fazlullahs death saying any information would have to come from Washington. Yet Fazlullahs death would be welcome news in Pakistan, where the government has repeatedly complained that Fazlullah and his Tehrik-e-Taliban had found safe havens across the border in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Kabul and Washington both complain that Pakistan has for years allowed Afghanistans Taliban free movement as well as medical treatment for battlefield wounds. Still, the recent cease-fire announcement by Afghanistans Taliban is being at least partially credited to Pakistan, which some observers say has been pressing the leadership to accept President Ghanis recent peace overtures. In his Eid greeting this week, Afghan Taliban chief Haibatullah Akhunzada repeated the Taliban demand for direct talks with the United States before opening negotiations with the Afghan government. Until now, Washington has refused. It was Yousafzais open call for girls education and criticism of the Taliban that infuriated Fazlullah. She was just 14 when she survived the assassination attempt in 2012. Her return to her hometown earlier this year seemed a particular triumph as it was also to open a school funded by a charity she established to promote girls education globally. She has often said that Fazlullahs attempts to silence her backfired and instead he amplified her voice around the world. A ruthless leader, Fazlullah ordered the bombing and beheadings of dozens of opponents when his band of insurgents controlled Pakistans picturesque Swat Valley from 2007 until a massive military operation routed them in 2009. In Yousafzais hometown of Mingora in the Swat Valley, residents welcomed reports of Fazlullahs death with one resident saying many feared he would return one day to re-impose his violent rule. We witnessed the brutality of the Taliban in Swat when Fazlullah and his men were present here and we are happy to know that he has gone to hell, said Idrees Khan, a member of a local elders peace committee. People in Swat will feel safer after the killing of Fazlullah. His insurgent group, the Tehrik-e-Taliban, also took responsibility for the brutal attack on an Army Public School in Pakistans northwestern city of Peshawar in December 2014 when more than 140 children and their teachers were slaughtered. Survivors of the attack told of insurgents roaming through the school shooting their victims, some as young as six years old, in the head. Mohammad Akhtar, whose 12-year-old son Fahad Khan died in the 2014 massacre, said he had been waiting for confirmation of terrorist Fazlullahs death. Thank God, he is dead, he said after returning from a visit to his sons grave. Fazlullah rose to prominence through radio broadcasts in Swat demanding the imposition of Islamic law, earning him the nickname Mullah Radio. His radio talks also aired the grievances of many in the northwest against the government, such as its slow-moving justice system. He also reached out to women, promising to address their complaints about not getting a fair share of their inheritance. His brutality often included public beheadings, often of police officers. His exact age is not known but he was believed to be in his late 30s. ____ Associated Press writers Riaz Khan in Peshawar, Pakistan; Sherin Zada in Swat, Kathy Gannon and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, Pakistan, and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington, contributed to this report. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Thousands of anti-poverty activists have launched a campaign in recent weeks modeled after the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.s Poor Peoples Campaign of 1968. Like the push 50 years ago, advocates are hoping to draw attention to those struggling with deep poverty from Appalachia to the Mississippi Delta, from the American Southwest to Californias farm country. The latest effort is led by the Rev. William Barber of Goldsboro, North Carolina, and the Rev. Liz Theoharis of New York City, who are encouraging activists in 40 states to take part in acts of civil disobedience, teach-ins and demonstrations to force communities to address poverty. They say poverty continues to be ignored and only a moral revival can bring it to the nations consciousness. The new campaign also has brought new attention to the tumultuous summer of 1968 when the two leading backers of the campaign King and Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated two months apart. Heres a look at the two campaigns: THE ORIGINAL CAMPAIGN Before his assassination, King sought to organize a campaign to direct the countrys attention toward poverty. He felt attacking poverty was the next phase of the civil rights movement and the 1968 campaign would push for a guaranteed income, the end to housing discrimination and reducing the nations growing trend toward militarism. At the time, around 13 percent of U.S. citizens lived in poverty. King reached out to Mexican-American, Native American and Appalachia white leaders to build a multiethnic, multiracial coalition that would come from their hometowns on mule carts and old trucks to Washington, D.C., to dramatize the plight of the poor. Following Kings assassination in Memphis, members of the coalition began to fight with each other. Thousands of poor people set up a shantytown they called Resurrection City on the Washington National Mall but became demoralized by racial tensions, a lack of leadership and eventually, the assassination of Kennedy. THE REBOOT Organizers of the 2018 campaign said they wanted to use the 50th anniversary of the 1968 effort to restart conversations around the struggles that poor people continue to face, especially since the U.S. poverty rate is roughly back to around 13 percent. This time, Barber and Theoharis said the campaign wont be centered solely in Washington and would include events around the country. For 40 days, demonstrators planned to hold acts of civil disobedience like blocking traffic and refusing to leave public buildings every Monday nationwide. Hundreds of activists, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson, have been arrested so far. Theoharis said the purpose is to build a season of organizing to create a long-term movement aimed at restoring the Voting Rights Act, ending gerrymandering and helping bolster the minimum wage. She said organizers also hope to influence the midterm elections this November and the 2020 presidential election. Because the nation is more diverse than in 1968, Barber said the new campaign also calls for protection of immigrants, LGBT residents and refugees from the Middle East. THE CHALLENGES Barber said media coverage of poverty has been ignored and overshadowed by what he calls Trump porn excessive coverage of President Donald Trumps tweets, the investigation into Russias interference in the 2016 U.S. election and the legal fight with adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Small newspapers that used to cover poor rural areas like Linden, Tennessee, and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota also have faced cutbacks. Not since Kennedys 1968 presidential campaign have national politicians regularly visited rural, poor areas and focused on poverty in their platforms. In addition, Barber said many Christians have ignored the plight of the poor since megachurches regularly focus on the prosperity gospel. Others have been focused solely on abortion and fighting gay rights, he said. Barber said the multifaith campaign seeks to reaffirm messages that religious figures like Jesus were primarily concerned about helping the poor and that the country has a moral obligation to tackle poverty. He also promised that organizers plan to pressure for media coverage of U.S.-Mexico border areas like El Paso, Texas, and Native American communities like San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona. ___ Associated Press writer Russell Contreras is a member of the APs race and ethnicity team. Follow Contreras on Twitter at http://twitter.com/russcontreras Central New Mexico Community College and Oasis Albuquerque will co-host a New Mexico Leadership Summit in August. The summit, which will be Aug. 17 on CNMs Main Campus, will feature talks by local, regional and national educators and business leaders, according to a news release from CNM. Among the speakers will be UNM President Garnett Stokes; CNM President Katharine Winograd; Linda Alvarado, co-owner of the Colorado Rockies; Drew Dudley, founder of Day One Leadership; Michelle DuVal, owner and founder of The Mindful Center; Marcus Goodie Goodloe; Randy Mascorella, executive director of Special Olympics New Mexico.. More information about the speakers, event and tickets is available here. BIG FM, one of Indias largest radio networks in its process of increasing volume in building strategic partnerships has appointed Tarun Katyal as Business Head Metros. After his successful stint of 2 years at the organization (2014-2016), Tarun Katyal rejoins the BIG network to lead business associations for key markets and scale up the inventory. He will report to Mr. Asheesh Chatterjee, Chief Financial Officer, Reliance Broadcast Network Limited. Speaking about the appointment, Mr. Asheesh Chatterjee, Chief Financial Officer, Reliance Broadcast Network Limited said, We are positive that Tarun will steer the vertical to build lucrative business partnerships in key regions and add to the networks Shared Purpose strategy. Speaking about his role, Mr. Tarun Katyal said, BIG FMs working culture has always been a positive ground to explore and cultivate ones strengths to the maximum. I feel great to be a part of the network again. I look forward to working towards developing and strengthening productive business partnerships across regions along with the team. Tarun brings with him over 17 years of experience in developing sales strategies across industry sectors. He has been functional in amplifying the business and growth strategy of various organizations. He has rich exposure in project management, sales and delivery of large scale solutions at Pan India level including ad sales for radio and television. To encourage the future generation to rise to the top of todays demanding news and media professions, Mathrubhumi is foraying into a new venture, Mathrubhumi Media School in Kochi, Kerala. The media school, with the objective of promoting excellence in the field of media, will infuse broad knowledge, integrity and social commitment. It offers several comprehensive courses for an aspiring journalist, with a distinguished faculty dedicated to training the next generation of focused journalists in the state -of- the - art facilities the Group has within its media network. Mathrubhumi Media School ensures immersive professional experiences throughout its curriculum. The year-long programme at Mathrubhumi Media School includes hands-on media exposure, projects and assignments which are specially focused on experiential learning through field experience, collaboration with leading media houses for training, and 2 months internship with a stipend for meritorious students. Speaking on this occasion Mr M V Shreyams Kumar, Joint Managing Director, Mathrubhumi Group said: This is a historic milestone for a 94-year-old media company; we wish to help build great leaders, build skills and expertise which will be a testament of our organisations philosophy and belief. Mr George Sebastian, Dean , Mathrubhumi Media School said We have within the group all constituents of mass media viz; newspapers, magazines, television, FM radio, On-line media and a fully developed experiential marketing division. With an experience of over 94 years of excellence in creating content and reporting, Mathrubhumi is uniquely equipped to set up a media school. As a media conglomerate, Mathrubhumi has very strong and established relationships with the various constituents of the media world, like prominent national and regional advertisers, research agencies, the Ministry and government departments, and industry bodies like ASCI, MRUC, INS, IBF and AROI, and with other media companies. This will enable us to provide a platform to students to interact with various industry experts. We are confident of imparting a wholesome learning experience to students which involve not just the theory of journalism, but they also get to practice what they learn The Mathrubhumi Media School is scheduled to open in the month of July 2018. For more info, visit www.mathurbhumimediaschool.in Customer Logins Obtain the data you need to make the most informed decisions by accessing our extensive portfolio of information, analytics, and expertise. Sign in to the product or service center of your choice. Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News N Augusta Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. As Republican candidate for S.C. governor John Warren heads into a runoff with incumbent Gov. Henry McMaster, the Greenville businessman believes he can win Aiken County with the help of his former competition. On Thursday morning, Republicans Catherine Templeton and Lt. Gov. Kevin Bryant endorsed Warren's campaign. Together, the three visited Aiken, one of several campaign stops made that same day. Warren secured just under 18 percent of the Aiken County vote during the primary. Templeton received 38 percent of the county's support, placing her one percent behind McMaster. Bryant received about 4 percent of the votes in Aiken County. Candidate John Warren wants Republican reform at Statehouse Once he's elected South Carolina's governor, Republican candidate John Warren promises he'll muscle, one way or another, faux Republicans and Both Templeton and Bryant were eliminated from the gubernatorial runnings on Tuesday night. Together, though, the three represent a "solidified conservative movement," according to Warren. He said they share a very similar message. Their three respective campaigns had all at one point or another called for Statehouse crackdowns and ethics reform, among other things. Having Templeton and Bryant on his team, Warren said, multiplies his potential supporters. Warren said he looks forward to earning that very support over the next two weeks. Templeton, who prior to June 12 ran ads blasting Warren, urged her Aiken County fans to vote Warren. "I fully support him, and if you voted for me in Aiken or North Augusta, now we need to make sure and finish this," Templeton said, "and vote for John Warren because we cannot have Henry McMaster." Templeton said she backs Warren after giving him a thorough review. "I've been talking about making sure we have an outsider, a conservative, for the last two years," Templeton said. "And after sitting down with John Warren and asking him all the hard questions, turning over every rock and looking under the hood, I know for sure that John Warren is the man that we want to lead the state of South Carolina into the future." Primary runoffs are scheduled for June 26. ALEPPO, Syria Samer al-Hourani had worked as a bus driver since he was a teenager until he lost both legs following a bombardment that targeted Daraa, a city in southwestern Syria, in the summer of 2014. I was injured when a bomb targeted the place where I used to live in the city of Da'el in the countryside of Daraa. Both my legs were cut off following the bombing, and I could no longer work as a bus driver, Hourani, a 35-year-old father of three small children, told Al-Monitor. I had no means to provide for my family. Then friends told me about the Farah Organization, and I immediately joined it to learn a craft that would help me earn a living. The Farah Organization for the Rehabilitation of People with Special Needs and War Casualties, is an independent humanitarian organization that focuses on development, education and relief. It offers vocational education and psychological support to victims of the Syrian civil war and others with special needs, so they can gain new skills that would enable them to get jobs despite their disabilities. I chose to repair cellphones, as they are widespread in Syria, and I gradually got to know the tricks of the trade, said Hourani, who is part of a five-month training program that will end in July. By the end of the current program, I think I will be able to get a job in this field or even open my own cellphone repair shop. Things are now a bit easier for me compared to the last few months. No one wants to hire a disabled person, but this work only requires two hands, a sound mind, focus and practice. Following the truce concluded in July 2017 between the armed military opposition factions and the Syrian regime, under the auspices of Russia, the United States and Jordan, Daraa province has been relatively quiet. Civil society groups such as Farah can now focus on the rehabilitation of war victims suffering from various disabilities as a result of the fighting. A report issued in December 2017 by the World Health Organization and Handicap International states that an estimated 3 million people in Syria are injured or disabled. According to the report, about 30,000 people are injured in Syria every month and more than six years into the conflict an estimated 1.5 million people have been injured. An additional 1.5 million people are living with permanent disabilities, including 86,000 Syrians who have had limbs amputated. In early March, Farah inaugurated a center in the city of Nimr in Daraa province under the slogan A person is only defeated by despair. Currently 700 people are taking part in a five-month training program. In early August, another 700 residents of the adjacent Quneitra province will be given the opportunity to take part in a similar training program at a location in Quneitra. Youssef Abu Yaacoub, the human resources manager at Farah, told Al-Monitor, that the trainees include both people with injuries and disabilities caused by war, as well as those with congenital deformities. The first training cycle started four months ago, and there is only one month left. This session includes fashion design, tailoring of mens clothes, hairdressing, handicrafts, maintenance of electrical appliances, computer technology and basic repair skills. We also have a department to provide psychological support to people suffering from psychological trauma and disabilities resulting from war injuries and congenital deformities, Yaacoub concluded. Another layer in the battle for Syria has been evident for years yet has only now come to the worlds attention. To Iran and Israel, this battle lies at the core of all that has been taking place in Syria since March 2011, when the uprising to topple President Bashar al-Assad began. To the Iranians, Assad has mainly meant a reliable ally in any future confrontation with Israel, whether between the Islamic Republics closest partner Lebanons Hezbollah or a wider confrontation that could involve Iran itself. This is why Tehran anticipated a grave danger when Assads position was threatened and thus promptly stepped in to make sure that he stays in power. This may also explain why Iran has never tolerated any consideration of an alternative to Assad, as the Iranian leadership is convinced that he is the only one in Syria who has the courage to give the Islamic Republic a frontier position against Israel. But Iran is not Assads only ally. Russia is also a staunch partner of the Syrian regime. Preserving Assads position has been a matter of consensus between Tehran and Moscow over the past years. Moreover, to this day, it is the only thing that Russia signed up for in its cooperation with Iran. As such, Tehrans maneuvering to position itself against Israel in Syria is not anything that Russia is ready to provide cover for or sacrifice its relations with Israel for. At this point in time, Russia is keen not to shake up its status in Syria after having ended up as a strong player there, whether in a war or indeed any sort of confrontation between Iran and Israel that could change the status quo. Meanwhile, in Tehran, theres still vagueness about what Moscow is really seeking in Syria, displayed in the variety of voices on what to think of Russias policies. While the official Iranian stance tends to present the situation as if nothing new is happening, field sources in Syria reflect something different: that the framework of the Syrian war is changing. Tehran University professor Emad Abshenas explained to Al-Monitor that Iran sees its relationship with Russia as an alliance and that, in his view, the same applies to Russias view of Iran. The confrontation with the US in the Middle East keeps the coordination between Russia and Iran at its highest levels, Abshenas said, adding that Russia and Irans interests in Syria and the region have not yet changed in a manner to end their cooperation. To Russia, Israel is a friend, while Iran is an ally and Russia coordinates its relations with both sides on this basis. In this vein, Abshenas suggested that Moscow fears that any confrontation between Iran and Israel could attract other players to Syria. He said, They are trying to diffuse tensions between a friend and an ally, but Israeli media has been trying to portray the situation as Iranian-Russian tension. This is not true, especially after US President Donald Trumps withdrawal from the nuclear deal. Iran is closer to Russia and China than before. On June 4, tension on the ground reached an unprecedented level when a Russian force deployed near Hezbollah positions in Qusayr on the Syrian-Lebanese border. According to a source from the Iranian-led alliance in Syria who spoke to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, the move reflected an attempt by the Russians to test the waters of Iran and Hezbollah in a very sensitive area. They had plans to build a base near the area, and during a meeting a couple of days after the incident, our officials told the Russian commanders clearly that we wont tolerate such moves in the future. They denied that they were there for a base and stressed that any future moves are going to be coordinated, the source stated. Russia changed from a strategic ally to another regional player," said Iranian journalist Siavash Fallahpour in an interview with Al-Monitor. He added, Iran and Russia coordinate on high levels when its about the pro-Western armed militants who oppose the regime in Syria, but when it comes to Israel, the situation is different. Russia is committed to Israels national security, though in Iran, those who believe in this relation [with Russia] still bet on it; they say that after all theres a big difference between the Russian approach toward the Islamic Republics role [in the region] and the Western approach. Russia preserves its interests, and this understandable, while the West doesnt reflect [anything] but enmity. What precisely, then, are Russias interests when it comes to Irans presence on the southern borders of Syria, on the frontier with Israel, and how is this clash of interests between Moscow and Tehran going to be managed? These questions may need to be answered by both sides, especially after reports indicating that the Russian position on Irans presence in southern Syria does not greatly differ from that of Israel. As for Iran, it seems that the tide is high enough to be challenged. In this vein, Secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani indicated in an interview June 2 that Iran strongly supports Russian efforts to drive terrorists out of the Syria-Jordan border and bring the area under the Syrian armys control, stressing that Iran isnt in the area. We have said before that Iranian military advisers are not present in southern Syria and have not participated in recent operations [there], he said. The tide could be high in the south, but this is not the case for the rest of Syria at least this is what Hezbollah Chief Hasan Nasrallah promised June 8 when he said that the entire world cannot force Hezbollah out of Syria. Israel was betting on President Assad's ouster and it saw its interest in the militants, but today the Zionists have changed their objective in Syria and are saying that the battle's objective in Syria has become to expel Iran and Hezbollah, Nasrallah added. Addressing Israel, he said, You Zionists have to admit that you have been defeated in Syria and that you have failed to topple the pillar of the resistance. On this, Abshenas suggested that Iran wont withdraw from Syria unless it is guaranteed that its allies will be in full control. He stressed that the Syrian-Iranian alliance is at its peak, saying, Even if it will affect relations with Russia, the axis that brings together Syria, Iran and Hezbollah will continue, because this is part of Irans national security, and Iran cant tolerate any harm to this bond because whenever its loosened itll be easier to hit each side alone. "If the occupying enemy sleeps even one night comfortably we wont accept that," Adasa Janwelat, a young female sniper from Afrin said May 20 as she prepared to go into battle alongside other fighters of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) against units of the Turkish army, which has occupied a large swath of territory in the Sidakan area in northern Iraq. "After kicking out the Turkish army from south Kurdistan [Iraq], I will go to Afrin and fight against the occupying forces there." Two weeks later, on June 3, a website close to the PKK released a video, which showed the group's snipers observing Turkish soldiers on peaks in the Sidakan area through their binoculars and shooting five of them dead. The Sidakan area is an inaccessible triangle with spectacular high peaks, rocky and precipitous gorges and rivers flowing between Iraq, Iran and Turkey. It has served as the perfect corridor for PKK fighters to cross into Turkey and attack the security forces. Since July 2015, when a 2-year cease-fire collapsed between the government and the PKK, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has undertaken a crusade against the group in Iraq and Turkey and its affiliated groups in Syria. Erdogan feels emboldened especially after wresting control of Afrin from the US-backed People's Protection Units (YPG) in March, which was followed by PKK fighters' withdrawal from Sinjar and more recently the YPG's withdrawal from Manbij. But the tenacity of the PKK and its ferocity in fighting its enemies be they the Turkish army or other Kurdish groups show that if Erdogan indeed attacks Qandil, which is very unlikely, he should expect a bloody and long war with serious consequences for the stability of the region and Iraqi Kurdistan. While Turkish firepower appears to have been fairly effective in the flatlands and hills of northern Syria, the highlands of northern Iraq are a different story and could become a death trap for any ground invasion by the Turkish army. In fact, PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan chose the Sidakan mountain range in northern Iraq in 1982-83 because the vast rugged region was a perfect training ground, a hiding place for a guerrilla force and an easy-to-defend location. The PKK was based in Syria and the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon in the early 1980s. But the regional conflict between Palestinian groups backed by Syria and Iran against Israel complicated the picture, so the PKK leadership looked for an alternative location. After successful negotiations with Massoud Barzani, the head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), whose peshmerga fighters were roaming around Sidakan fighting the Iraqi army, Ocalan was given permission to relocate his fighters to the area. Some flew to Tehran and crossed the border into Sidakan, others trekked across the mountains from Syria to reach the safety of their new base in freezing temperatures. The KDP was in alliance with Tehran at the time and the ayatollahs saw no issue in allowing yet another insurgent group to be located near their borders so long as the barrels of their guns were not directed at Tehran. Two years later, the PKK staged its first attack inside Turkey and since then it has been the main thorn in the side of the Turkish state. The PKK appealed to the lower classes of the Kurdish society in southeast Turkey and the state played right into the PKK's hands by intensifying the collective persecution of the Kurdish community through imposing emergency rule and placing arbitrary bans on Kurdish culture (especially the Kurdish language) because they "undermined the national culture." Turkey has even launched several cross-border operations against the PKK in northern Iran and backed the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the KDP to fight the group in the 1990s. Now, 36 years after the first of PKK militants arrived in the Lolan Camp in Sidakan, hundreds of Turkish commandos and soldiers have entered the region in their shiny armored vehicles aiming to deny the guerrillas access to Turkey by building permanent outposts and finally rooting out the group from Qandil in a final push. A bloody war is already underway. But on top of the harsh terrain, there are other challenges ahead for Erdogan and his army. While the US government supports Ankara against the PKK by providing intelligence, it is not clear if Washington is prepared to accept the possibility of large-scale instability in northern Iraq as a result of the all-out attack on Qandil. Iran, too, has a dubious position on the PKK in northern Iraq. Until early 1996, Qandil was the main base of an Iranian opposition group, the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI). However, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shelled the area nonstop and because KDPI fighters had families and children, they were forced out of Qandil into Sulaimaniyah province. Then, groups of PKK guerrillas arrived in Qandil and turned it into their mountain hideout. The dynamics of power have changed in the Kurdistan region as well. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) officially is in charge of the north of Iraq, but in reality the two ruling parties the PUK and the KDP have their own separate security policies. The Sidakan area is under the control of the KDP, which has cordial relations with Ankara and tense relations with the PKK. However, the Qandil Mountains are in Sulaimaniyah province, where the PKK's influence has increased considerably in recent years due to the PKK's defense of Kirkuk alongside peshmerga forces when the Islamic State (IS) attacked in the summer of 2014 as well as its battle against IS in Sinjar in support of the Yazidi community. Relations between the Sulaimaniyah administration of the PUK and Ankara have deteriorated since August, when the PKK seized two senior Turkish intelligence officials in the province. Recently the Turkish foreign minister went as far as accusing a group within the PUK of assisting the PKK. The Turkish presence in Sidakan does not seem to have stopped PKK attacks inside the country and has led to several protests across Iraqi Kurdistan. Farmers in the Sidakan area are also complaining about not being allowed to cultivate their land or look after their orchards. Several locals have been killed in Turkish drone strikes in recent months, causing outrage and creating resentment toward Ankara. The central government in Baghdad says it is opposed to the Turkish incursion into Iraqi territory while emphasizing that Iraqi territory should not be used as a staging ground for attacks on Iraq's neighbors. While Turkey maintains that Iran has given the green light for the attack on the PKK, a spokesperson for the Iranian armed forces, Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi, said June 14 that this was inaccurate: "While Iran supports any counterterrorism measures, deploying forces into the territory of a third country on the pretext of fighting terrorism, without permission from the existing legal government of that country, is considered illegal." Israel Police started evacuating the unrecognized Bedouin village Umm al-Hiran on the night of Jan. 18, 2017. The villagers protested against the pending demolitions of their homes. During the evacuation, police officer Erez Levy was killed when Yacoub Abu al-Qiyan hit him with his car. Another police officer shot at the car and injured Abu al-Qiyan. While police were quick to label Abu al-Qiyan as a terrorist and supporter of the Islamic State (IS), his family denied these allegations. In a law-abiding country, the people who were ultimately responsible for the shooting and killing of Bedouin educator Abu al-Qiyan and who then depicted him as a terrorist would at least face disciplinary action and even criminal charges. The minister of internal security and the superintendent of police would then resign from their positions, effective immediately. An autopsy of Abu al-Qiyan found that he was shot in his right knee and died of his injuries about half an hour later, without having received any medical attention. Haaretz revealed June 11 that a police doctor who was present at the incident did not provide him with any medical treatment in order to save his life, even though she knew that Abu al-Qiyan was dying. In a state subject to the rule of law, she would have her license to practice medicine revoked for such a flagrant violation of her medical oath. The Oath of the Hebrew Physician, formulated by professor Lipman Halpern in 1952 and based on the Hippocratic Oath, was adopted by the Israeli Medical Association. It states unequivocally: You will aid the sick irrespective of whether they are converts or gentiles or citizens, whether they are ignominious or respected. Abu al-Qiyan was an Israeli citizen and a respected one at that. He was a teacher who was much admired by his students. As it turns out, the rules of behavior, morality and ethics are different when the patient isnt Jewish, even if he is a citizen of Israel. The law is not the same for everyone. The doctor, whose name has not been released, claimed in her defense that she did not know that Abu al-Qiyan was dying. But that makes no sense. The scene of the incident was small, and according to testimonies collected by the Department for the Investigation of Police, not only did the doctor stand just a few meters away from where police officer Levy was killed by Abu al-Qiyans car, but it was also obvious that the police fired at the vehicle. Even if she thought in those critical moments that the police had just shot a terrorist, it was her responsibility to provide him with medical attention. Physicians for Human Rights and the human rights group Adalah (Justice) submitted a complaint against the doctor to the Israeli Medical Association and demanded that the Ministry of Health investigate the matter. This was a serious medical failure, which ran counter to the very basis of professional ethics, the complainants wrote. As of the writing of this article, no one has contacted Abu al-Qiyans widow, Amal Abu Saad, to apologize not for presenting her husband to the Israeli public as a wicked terrorist, as the Superintendent of Police called him, and not for allowing him to bleed to death, even though he could have been saved. A representative of the Shin Bet who was at the scene provided detailed testimony to the Department for the Investigation of Police, in which he completely rejected the possibility that the incident was a terrorist attack. Instead, he called it a failing on the part of the police at the site. Despite his testimony, State Attorney Shai Nitzan decided to close the case against the police officers who fired at Abu al-Qiyan without deciding first whether this was a terrorist attack (or whether Abu al-Qiyan just lost control of his car) and without clearing the reputation of Abu al-Qiyan after it was tarnished by the police. We waited for the truth to come out, Saad told Al-Monitor. From the very beginning, we have been saying how confident we are that he was not the kind of person who could commit a terrorist attack. Were glad that the truth has finally come out, because the people of Israel must know the truth. She also said that she only learned now about the doctors despicable behavior. We knew that there was someone who could have offered medical care on site, and now we have learned that it was a doctor who did nothing, she said. At that moment, the doctor forgot that she was a doctor and treated the incident without the slightest professional ethics or morals. She should be held accountable for that. Saad is cautious and even forbearing in her comments about the Israel Police, Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh and the minister of internal security. All she is asking is that they absolve her husband of any guilt. I cant say that they should resign, she said. However, as the people at the top of the pyramid, it is incumbent upon them to tell the truth. We are a democratic state, and everything comes out in the end. She also said that she and her family believe that an official commission of inquiry should be established to investigate the incident in which her husband was killed. But the state refuses, she said. Why? They have the answer to that. Apparently, its because they treat us differently. Chairman of the Arab Joint List Party Ayman Odeh also called for the establishment of a commission of inquiry to investigate Abu al-Qiyans death. In his statement, he wrote, The name of Yacoub Abu al-Qiyan must be cleared, after [Minister of Public Security Gilad] Erdan and Alsheikh, who are responsible for the tragedy of that reprehensible day, used the incident to play a filthy political game. The tragedy in Umm al-Hiran will be remembered by history as a milestone in the attitude of the police and the state toward Arab society. As of now, Erdan and Alsheikh refuse to admit they made a mistake. Alsheikh has not apologized for calling Abu al-Qiyan a wicked terrorist or for claiming that he was acting on behalf of IS simply because a search of his home uncovered a copy of Yisrael HaYom Israels most widely distributed newspaper with a report on attacks by IS. Meanwhile, Erdan continues to question the Shin Bets assertion that this was not a terrorist attack. A statement released by his office last month after the case against the officers who shot Abu al-Qiyan was closed stated, Minister Erdan expressed his regrets that the Shin Bet investigation was halted after just a few hours, before it could collect evidence to support the polices determination that this was an intentional attempt to run someone over. In February 2017, one month after the event, when cracks started to appear in the police account, Erdan declared that if it turns out that this was not a terrorist attack, It will be necessary to apologize to the Abu al-Qiyan family. Abu al-Qiyans widow is still waiting for an apology. I will only appoint someone full of energy and hungry for the tasks ahead as a minister in my government, said Labor chairman Avi Gabbay in his June 14 interview with Army Radio. But not everyone took his declaration seriously. Even several Labor Party members reacted with a mixture of ridicule and chagrin. What ministers is he talking about? Things are so bad that we are busy with our survival. Most of us will not be back for another term if we continue to decline in the polls, one of the partys dismayed lawmakers told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. The interview capped one of the toughest weeks Gabbay has endured since his surprise victory in the July 2017 party leadership primaries. More than he is bothered by a constant slide in the polls and a bitter war of words with former party leader Amir Peretz, Gabbay is facing persistent reports that the former military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. (res.) Benny Gantz is coming to replace him in a last-ditch attempt to save the party. Despite sweeping denials by all sides of a reported agreement between Gantz and Labor, the whispering and speculation are weakening Gabbay and turning him into a lame duck who may be unable to survive as party chair until the November 2019 general elections. When Gabbay was asked on the radio whether he could affirm that he would be the partys candidate for prime minister in 2019, he answered, With certainty. Gabbay is trying to convey a sense of business as usual and displaying confidence in his ability to trounce Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the next elections. However, Knesset members of the Zionist Camp faction and especially of its main component, Labor, are walking around in a funk. Gabbay's self-assurance notwithstanding, his partys Knesset members sense uncertainty regarding their future and are praying for Gantz, who is taking his time deciding. He is naturally concerned about the internal chaos within Labor. The infighting between Gabbay and Peretz is hardly enticing, and he has at least two other options: joining the centrist Yesh Atid as second in command to its chair Yair Lapid, or founding a new political party under his own leadership. Labor representatives are in constant touch with Gantz. Clearly, Gabbay would accept him with open arms as his number two. But on top of that, other Knesset members who have met with him, often behind Gabbays back, are promising Gantz that the minute he says yes, they would make sure to move Gabbay aside and give Gantz the top job. Gabbay hears it all but is still signaling confidence in his leadership, confidence that appears inappropriate given what is going on under his very nose. Its hard to say whether Gabbay is fully aware of his Knesset members despair as they see ever more voters turn away from the party. The fact that Lapid, Labors main rival on the opposition benches, is also crashing in the latest polls is not a source of comfort because his voters are not going back to Labor, from where many came. They are sitting on the fence or moving over to the new party established by Knesset member Orly Levy-Abekasis. According to one Labor Knesset member who spoke on condition of anonymity, Gabbay may not realize that he will have no choice but to step aside if Gantz decides he wants to lead the party. When we come to him with polls showing Gantz giving us 20 Knesset seats and more and such polls do exist how will he convince us that he can beat Bibi? Gabbay, a newcomer to the veteran party, lacks a strong base of support among the Labor membership and within its top echelons. Granted, former leader Shelly Yachimovich is considered a very close associate and ally, but she is unlikely to be able to defend him unless his poll numbers go up. Gabbay is undoubtedly a workhorse, very industrious and ambitious, but he has failed to stop the downward spiral in recent months of the partys fortunes. As the elections near the prevailing assessment within political circles has the elections being moved up to early 2019 pressure on Gabbay is sure to increase. Another Knesset member privately described the tough times in the Zionist Camp, which is the largest opposition party with 24 Knesset seats: We are nervous and troubled. Most of us will not be coming back to the Knesset and that increases the tensions among us. There are lots of fights. We have turned into a group of lone wolves. Rather than chasing our prey together, we are devouring each other. It is clear that Avi Gabbay will not manage to get off the ground on his own and we need an outsider to save us. Gantz is the right person, a former chief of staff with a positive image. The lawmaker said Gabbay failed to instill a sense of joint purpose within his party. There is no clear ideology because he keeps coming out with statements without consulting us and we no longer hold stormy deliberations in the faction. One June 15, Labors Knesset members awoke to yet another disturbing headline about their leader. Maariv reported that a year before entering politics (he founded Kulanu with Moshe Kahlon in 2014), Gabbay had been in advanced negotiations with one of the countrys major gas companies. Later on, he became a sworn enemy of the gas companies and waged a campaign against them. During the Labor primaries, he made the controversy over profits from Israels offshore gas reserves a flagship issue but failed to disclose that he had at one point considered joining one of the companies, according to the report. Gabbay issued a lengthy response in which he claimed that he had reported his involvement in such negotiations in the past and that someone was now trying to recycle an old story. Gabbay may be right, but the report and even his response did little to lift the low spirits and sense of defeat in Labor and the feeling that Gabbay is turning into an electoral burden. Will Gabbay voluntarily cede his leadership position if Gantz signs up? Labor lawmakers confess they have no idea. The feeling is that we dont know him well enough to say what he will do at the moment of truth, said a veteran party legislator on the condition of anonymity. We hope he will do whats best for the party. Iranian state TV censorship of a popular series has once again created a controversy in the Iranian circles, starting a debate on rape, child molestation and sexuality on screen. The controversy follows the decision of the state TVs censorship of an episode of Dont Leave Me, a top-rated TV series that ran throughout Ramadan, the high season for TV in the whole region. In Iran, state TV channels broadcast 30-episode series throughout the holy month of Ramadan, usually airing the series late in the evening after the call to prayer and iftar (the evening meal that ends fasting). "Dont Leave Me" was the heavyweight series shown on state TV Channel 3, overtaking its competitors with its high ratings. The plot revolves around a family and its secrets when one of the siblings admits to the others that he forged their father's documents so that the family property could become his. Iranians loved the saga, with its many twists and turns, but censorship authorities took a dislike to one of the stories where an Iranian woman of 30 is attacked and raped. Rape scenes or even the suggestion of sexual relationships are rare on Iran's state TV, which is managed by conservative Abdulali Ali-Asgari who was appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While controversial documentaries and movies about prostitution and rape have been made in Iran, state TV has rarely focused on such issues in its popular series. Even in movies and documentaries, tackling sexuality is risky. "Poverty and Prostitution" a 2004 documentary directed by Masoud Dehnamaki that concentrates on social gaps and traffickers transferring Iranian girls from poor classes to Dubai for prostitution was never allowed to be screened in cinemas. It was, however, later sold on the black market and uploaded on the internet. State TV dealt with the rape scene in "Dont Leave Me" by simply deleting the scene when the 16th episode was first shown May 31. Although all episodes are aired the next day, the 16th episode was not aired again, unlike the other 29. In reaction, Mohammad Mehdi Asgarpour, the director of the series, reacted harshly, saying state TV has "raped" his series. "The episode was about rape and, indeed, a rape has happened, he wrote. [State TV] raped the series, he told local media June 1. In the same statement, the director also threatened to resign, saying, "If this situation continues, you won't see my name in the closing credits, and I will let this stain remain for the managers [of state TV]." A similar line was repeated by Donia Madani, the actress who plays the role of Farnaz, who gets raped. Madani said on her Instagram account that the rape scene was meant to give a voice to the pain of Iranian women who have been raped, adding, "[We shouldnt] choke out the [voice of women like] Farnaz with our own hands." Mahdi Roshan Ravan, a high-ranking state TV official, said censorship was applied because of the "high level of violence in the rape scene. "Following the review of [the 16th episode], it was determined that the level of violence in the sequence is high, and a large number of viewers watch the series while they are breaking their fast; hence, this amount of violence had to be lessened as the audience could be offended," a state TV official said in a statement June 2. The statement added that given the recent events in a school west of Tehran and tension in society over this issue, it seemed better to censor the scene. The reference is to a much-publicized case of harassment and abuse at a high school, where a head teacher was accused May 28 of sexually abusing several male students. According to prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, the man who has been accused of the crime has admitted showing pornographic clips to students but has rejected other accusations such as rape and molestation. The case remains in Iranian headlines, and Khamenei has ordered the judiciary to pursue it closely. As the Ramadan season progressed, criticism from conservatives toward Dont Leave Me intensified and spilled over to the general tone of the series, which conservative critics found too secular for their liking. Hard-line media attacked state TV over the series, blaming Jamile Dar Al-Shafai, the writer of the screenplay, and her secular outlook. "The pseudo-intellectual author who uses [cheap and vulgar] words in [her tweets in] cyberspace gets money from state TV for her cooperation over a Ramadan series," the hard-line Javan newspaper wrote June 8. The daily also said that although Dont Leave Me" was intended as a Ramadan series, it totally ignored the role of religion in daily life. And the Kayhan newspaper the mouthpiece of hard-liners slammed Shafai for advocating for the Green Movement. This refers to the 2009 elections, after which two Reformist presidential candidates stated that ballots were rigged, triggering protests across Iran. Mir Hossein Mousavi's supporters who took to the streets to express their objection to the election results are known as the Green Movement. Shafai was arrested during these protests, wrote Kayhan. In the midst of an effort by Russia to contain regional tensions, specifically between Iran and Israel by attempting to find a deal in southern Syria, all eyes are focused on the latter where forces close to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad have been regrouping in the last week. In a June 13 interview with Iran's Al-Alam TV, Assad said that his government's next move regarding the region whether it be retaking control by force or reaching reconciliation with local groups had yet to be decided. Yet the strategic location of southern Syria, located on the border with Israel, as well as US, Jordanian and Russian concerns for an escalation, could result in a mixed approach involving a targeted offensive dovetailed mostly by successive deals with local councils, despite rebels opposition to the project. Syrias south is home to 1.3 million Sunni, Christian and Druze minorities. The area shares borders with Lebanon, Jordan and Israel and is dominated by the mainstream Free Syrian Army factions regrouped under the Southern Front. The latter is comprised of 20,000 fighters spread across the southern provinces of Quneitra, Daraa and Suwayda, according to Syria expert Sinan Hatahet from the Turkey-based Omran for Strategic Studies. The presence of jihadi groups is limited to a small number of Islamic State fighters affiliated with the former Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade and Harakat al-Muthanna al-Islamiyyah, which together formed the Khalid bin Walid Army, located mostly in the Yarmouk Basin, Hatahet told Al-Monitor. Only 200 or so members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham remain in the region, Bashar Zohbi, a commander of the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade, told Al-Monitor. Contrary to other Syrian areas, Salafist jihadi groups have had little influence in southern Syria. Since July 2017, southern Syria has witnessed relative calm after a cease-fire was brokered by Russia and the United States. From a military opposition standpoint, the southern region factions fall historically under the control of the Jordanian Military Operations Command (MOC) established in 2013 by the United States and which was in charge of financial and military support to the rebels. However, in the last two years, rebel sources who previously spoke to Al-Monitor complained repeatedly of the dwindling and haphazard nature of the support of the MOC, which resulted in a decline in weapons supplies. The changing nature of rebel support was linked, as early as October 2016, by experts at the Washington Institute to a deconfliction center established in Amman that aimed at ensuring Russian air operations would not hit Jordanian ground forces in the border region, something that was only further exacerbated by the US-Russian 2017 deal. At the level of pro-regime forces, a number of Syrian army battalions and loyalist militias have trickled into southern Syria. According to pro-regime website Al-Masdar news, these forces are led by the Tiger Forces and the 4th Division. The Tiger Forces are tasked with retaking the southern districts of Daraa city, while the 4th Division will be split between the Quneitra and Daraa governorates, Al-Masdar reported. These include as well the 39th Brigade, 40th Brigade, 42nd Brigade (Ghiath Forces), 5th Armored Division, 15th Brigade, 7th Division, 9th Division, Shock Forces, 15th Special Forces Division, 90th Brigade, Republican Guard, 105th Brigade, 106th Brigade and the Palestine Liberation Army that represents the Palestinian wing of the Syrian army. According to Al-Masdar, other pro-regime paramilitary groups previously deployed in Damascus, Suwayda, Homs and Hama provinces have also joined the front namely, groups with the National Defense Forces such as Liwaa Suqour al-Quneitra, Fouj al-Joulan, East Qalamoun Division, Damascus Division, Homs Division, Daraa Division, Syrian Social Nationalist Party, Liwaa al-Quds (Palestinian-Syrian faction from Aleppo) and Raqqa tribal fighters. In addition, the Syrian army has also bolstered its air defense systems alongside the Golan Heights with the Pantsir-S1 air defense missile system. On June 12, it issued a warning to all rebel forces in Daraa and Quneitra to accept the regimes reconciliation offer or they would launch an offensive. So far the option of a reconciliation and a limited offensive is more plausible than a full-fledged confrontation. We have also seen that the opposition heavy weaponry has been withdrawn from main front lines, said Hatahet, who underlined that seven local councils have shown willingness to enter a reconciliation process with the regime. However, activist Abu Omar Joulani told Al-Monitor that only two councils were open to negotiations, namely in Mahaja and Kafr Shams. The military opposition is completely against regime-style negotiations, which will lead to our capitulation. We will continue to fight even without the consent of regional backers, Zohbi said. Limited negotiations could nonetheless take place over specific issues such as the Nasib border crossing and the strategic hill of Tell Hara in the northern countryside of Daraa, Joulani noted. Another concern for rebels is the Iranian presence in southern Syria, which has also been at the heart of Israeli and Russian negotiations. Haaretz underlined the visit of Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman May 31 to Russia where he discussed the possibility that Israel would accept a return by the regime to the region and the withdrawal of pro-Iranian militias some 70 kilometers (43 miles) to the east of the Damascus-Suwayda road. Joulani explained that Hezbollah has several dozens of its commanders in the region, saying, In addition, a commander in the pro-Iranian Abu Fadl Abbas movement known as Abu Ajeeb came to Quneitra to assess the situation. A source close to Hezbollah commanders deployed in Syria told Al-Monitor that Iran and Hezbollah were still present in Syria and were not considering any withdrawal. The source added that any reported troop movements were purely tactical in nature and curtailed to nonessential positions. Hezbollah may heed to Moscows demands in appearance only and could always infiltrate Syrian troops redeploying in southern Syria by having members dressed as Syrian soldiers embedded within regular troops, he said June 5 information later confirmed by The Wall Street Journal. Infiltrating the Syrian army is not complicated for Hezbollah or Iran given that there is a strong current within the army that is absolutely loyal to Tehran, Hatahet said. Prioritizing de-escalation in southern Syria appears to be the regional consensus. However, the rebels opposition to any deals could lengthen a possible reconciliation process. In addition, the continued covert presence of pro-Iran militants in the area could represent another aggravating unknown. Despite growing tension over the June 24 elections, Turkeys agenda in recent days has been taken over by its military operation against Kurdish militants in northern Iraqs Sidekan region. At the moment, about 1,500 Turkish troops of a commando brigade and a light infantry brigade responsible for border security at Semdinli, along with gendarmerie and army special operations battalions, are trying to open a corridor to advance from Sidekan toward Qandil, the "headquarters" of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). In the past two weeks, about 1,500 more commandos have arrived as reinforcements, signaling Ankaras determination to pursue this operation for another one to two months at least despite the threat of extreme weather. Nevertheless, it's too early yet to say the push is a large-scale ground operation. Major attacks on PKK targets in the Qandil region are still being carried out by F-16s using smart munitions, along with assault helicopters and armed drones. Turkey said June 15 it had killed 26 PKK members in a June 12 airstrike. Such attacks show why it would be inappropriate to define the current phase not as an air-supported ground operation, but a ground-supported air operation. As well, the 10 fatalities the Turkish army has sustained since the beginning of this operation have been from roadside bombs and long-range anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM), suggesting that the PKK for the time is refraining from hot contact with Turkish troops and hasnt yet decided to engage in major clashes. Politicians in Ankara describe Turkey's end goal using inflammatory language such as "draining the swamp in northern Iraq" and cutting off the snakes head to define wiping out the PKKs physical presence in the Qandil region. Turkeys pro-government media, motivated by the excitement of the approaching elections, are laden with feverish news reports and assessments about conquering Qandil and about plans for hoisting the Turkish flag over Qandil in 90 days. But even as reliable security sources in Ankara emphasize their determination to pursue the operation, they still refrain from discussing the larger picture. One of them speaking to Al-Monitor without giving his name said, For the time, the basic goal is to create psychological effects and trauma on the PKK. Also, by shifting the struggle against the PKK from northern Syria to northern Iraq, the intention is to erode the legitimacy the PKK has gained with its narrative of combating the Islamic State (IS). Turkey is also telling the United States and other Western countries of its determination, while ensuring that Baghdad and Erbil understand that Turkeys security starts in northern Iraq. Another intention is to prove to Tehran, which still hesitates, that supporting this operation is doable. What picture emerges from a realistic military assessment? As a former soldier who had gone south of Qandil in 2000 on reconnaissance missions, I must first speak of the terrain and weather conditions, which will challenge the Turkish army more than the PKKs military prowess at Qandil. Qandil, which is in the Turkey-Iran-Iraq border triangle that offers all these countries excellent opportunities for undetected approach, is a rough, mountainous region with an average altitude of 2,200 meters (7,200 feet) and hundreds of deep gullies, some 150 by 50 kilometers (93 x 31 miles). Mountains become rougher in the north, which is why there are about 600 villages there, mostly in the easiest approach, from the south. Among these rural settlements, not a single one has a population of more than 3,000. Moreover, in the area where PKK militants and villagers live intermixed, the PKK has reinforced thousands of caves with concrete. The PKK doesnt have a massive force for Qandil security because it has moved most of its armed detachments to northern Syria, Turkey and northern Iraq. Turkeys decision to shift its focus from east of the Euphrates to Qandil makes it vital to have reliable, solid intelligence on Kurdish military strength. Also, Qandil's not a region where the United States, Russia or European countries have major interests, which is why Ankara believes other countries won't seriously oppose its Qandil operations. Based on the number of soldiers currently participating in the operation, the harsh terrain conditions, the PKKs fortifications and the reality that airstrikes are unlikely to make a serious impact on the ground, the ongoing operation is still not decisive in nature. Its merely seeking to achieve operational objectives of denying area and limiting the PKKs mobility into Turkey and northeast Syria. The psychological impact, however, is strategic. Unless Ankara can get the full support of Baghdad and the Kurdish Regional Government in Erbil in providing sustainable logistic flow to Turkish outposts south and southwest of Qandil, this operation can't last past September. Because of extreme weather conditions and low visibility from October to March in Qandil's mountainous north, it would be nearly impossible to provide logistical support to the 10 military outposts recently established on roads from the north. In tactical terms, depending on outposts and passable roads for logistic flow and rotation of troops constitutes lethal vulnerability, as the PKK will surely rely on roadside bombs and ATGM ambushes to limit the Turkish military's mobility. Turkey needs Tehrans full military support for opening another advancement corridor from the east and northeast to reach Qandil. It also needs Baghdad and Erbil to provide active military support in the south. Without that help, Turkey is looking at a large-scale (maybe more than 30,000 soldiers) joint operation (Turkey-Iran-Iraq) designed as siege warfare and lasting at least a year. Otherwise, Ankara won't be able to get effective results. It now seems that Tehran has been concentrating more on the activity of the Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan (PJAK), the PKK affiliate in Iran, and has limited its cooperation with Ankara against cross-border smuggling, and on border security and intelligence sharing about PJAK. Unlike Ankara, Tehran seems to have no strategic culture or ability to fight the PKK outside Iran's borders, particularly in Iraq. One should also remember that Tehran has announced several times that it has no intention of supporting Ankaras operation against the PKK in northern Iraq, at least for now. Tehrans support for this operation seems highly unlikely, despite optimistic pronouncements by some Turkish officials. Washingtons stance has a direct impact on the operation evolution because the United States currently controls northern Iraqs airspace. Ankara is drastically increasing its aerial activities in northern Iraq, which requires US consent and direct operational coordination, and more strategic and diplomatic synchronization. The United States will criticize the operation if it thinks it will curtail the PKKs logistic routes or impede delivery of personnel and logistic support to northern Syria and, at the end of the day, if it will severely weaken the People's Protection Units (YPG) in Syria. The Kurdish YPG is the only armed group partnering with the United States in northeast Syria, and it operates under the umbrella of the Syrian Democratic Forces. What will be the near-future prospects of Turkey's Qandil endeavor? In the past four weeks, six Turkish soldiers were killed in this operation, mainly by the PKK's A4 and Milan ATGM fire. This makes a hot issue out of Western countries programs to train and equip Kurdish fighters to expand their capacity in the fight against IS. One should note that the PKK has either been buying these new ATGMs on the black market in northern Iraq or transferring ATGMs delivered by the United States to northern Syria to fight IS. The ATGM issue is likely to become a new "diplomatic combat" issue between Turkey and those countries delivering ATGMs to northern Iraq and Syria an issue that rises with the number of Turkish casualties from ATGM attacks. Huntsville's Mazda Toyota joint manufacturing plant is moving forward with a bold new plan for how two auto companies will work together in a $1.6 billion factory. IndustryWeek is out with an interesting story on the "baby boom" currently going on in American manufacturing. The U.S. is currently averaging 12.5 million square feet of new manufacturing product added each year, which is close to the pre-recession average of 12.6 million square feet. One of those planned additions will be Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA, scheduled to open in 2021. The plant is expected to hire 4,000 workers and produce a crossover for Mazda and the Corolla for Toyota. According to IndustryWeek, planning for the plant involves incorporating two different corporate production cultures under one roof. Mark Brazeal, vice president of administration for Mazda Toyota, said the overall philosophy of the joint venture is to share the best manufacturing practices of both individual companies to create "a new and improved Mazda-Toyota practice," IW reports. "We plan to execute this practice for all functions including production, manufacturing process engineering, plant engineering, safety, environmental and human resource development," he said. So the combined company has created preparation teams, made up of Mazda and Toyota personnel, for each function. As they integrate into each other, the teams will propose new philosophies and processes using past successes from the companies as a guide. "This will not only shape Mazda Toyota's way of manufacturing but truly shape the culture from the ground up." Sociopolitical comedian and world observer W. Kamau Bell is in the midst of airing the third season of his Emmy Award-winning CNN program "United Shades of America." The show, which explores the various subcultures which make our "Great American Melting Pot" so great, will be making a stop through South Alabama on Sunday, June 17, in order to "debunk some of the myths about the South", as one CNN staffer puts it. But, why South Alabama? And how? Why now? I can tell you all about it, because I played a (small) role in the production. As the episode reveals in its opening minutes, host W. Kamau Bell's concept of "home" may be a bit more complicated than most. He was born in Palo Alto, California, from where he and his mother moved around quite a bit in his formative years. Nomadically, they spent some time in Boston and Chicago. Meanwhile, Bell's father maintained a home and familial unit in Mobile. In his adolescent years, Bell would join his father, grandmother and other relatives in Alabama, living near downtown and briefly attending McGill-Toolen Catholic School. It's a footnote in his biography that wasn't particularly well known before the release of his book "The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell: Tales of a 6' 4", African American, Heterosexual, Cisgender, Left-Leaning, Asthmatic, Black and Proud Blerd, Mama's Boy, Dad, and Stand-Up Comedian" in May 2017. The autobiography of loose thoughts ended up on my desk, just prior to its release, with a note attached that read, "We thought you might be interested in Kamau's Mobile connection." "Mobile connection?" I thought. Bell was gracious enough to grant me an interview between his press run for his book, post-production duties for his television program, and year-round schedule of public appearances in theaters and college auditoriums across America where eager thinkers sit to laugh at his socially-themed witticisms. While talking about the book, I surmised from the angelic voices in the background, that he'd also taken a quick break from his job of being a father to take my call. He echoed a lot of the flattering sentiments he reflected in his book in regards to Mobile and the South, sharing that his pseudo-citizenship in the South has given him what he calls "Southern empathy." The superpower of sorts, allows him to pick up on the condescension many people in other parts of the U.S. hold for the southern states and fight it head on. But, in reading his book, I noticed a deeper relationship that was the glue to Bell's relationship with the region: the one he has with his father. Throughout each chapter representing a snapshot in the comedian's life, his father, Walter Bell, who once served as the Alabama state insurance commissioner under former Gov. Bob Riley, is portrayed as a gradient of respectability politics. In some ways, the elder Bell is written as a foil to a wayward, awkward black kid hoping to shed the expectations of his patriarch's middle class Black American dream in favor of a less stable pursuit, telling jokes in smokey nightclubs. On the phone, Kamau spoke candidly about his relationship with Walter. At this point, however, the smokey nightclub path has proven lucrative. Walter Bell is the kind of proud most rebellious creatives could hope their parents might one day become. "No one's more proud of who I am now than my dad," Kamau told me. "Maybe my mom. But, probably my dad is most proud, because he started out saying, 'What in the hell are you doing?!" Kamau promised during our talk that he'd try to get his father, a typically pretty private former public servant, to talk to me more about how Mobile secretly helped raise one of America's foremost humorists and cultural commentators of this moment in time. He also left an inkling to the possibility of a spotlight for the city on his show. "It's very possible at some point you'll see me and the camera crew walking around the street." Well, sure enough, in early October 2017 - I did. While the CNN show's producers were prepping passersby in Downtown Mobile's Bienville Square, I hung around long enough for them to ask me, "Do you want to talk to Kamau about Mobile?" I told them, "Sure, I actually interviewed him and his father about his book. He might recognize my name." "Perfect!" a young lady in the production said, before handing me a clip board with consent forms. They told me to walk up to him, say my name is "J.B.", and nothing else. "Hey, 'J.B.', right?" he said, reaching down from his lofty vantage point, standing well over six feet tall. "Yeah. Well, actually I'm the guy that..." I couldn't get the sentence out before the woman running the television crew yelled, "No! Wait for the cameras to roll before you tell him." Kamau stood, confused for a minute, chuckling in awkward laughter, before eventually deciding to turn away and let the bizarre moment just pass. After he regrouped, the cameras began rolling and I was able to finally tell him, "I'm Jared 'Jay B.' Boyd." "Wait a minute. I know you," he said, laughing. "This is why we're here right now." We riffed on his father, what makes Mobile special from other places which share the identity of the South, and the lengths the entire region has gone to brand itself in opposition to the stereotypes often linked to the condescension he fights each time he activates his "Southern empathy." Though our conversation made it into the production, it is in no way central to the topics explored in the episode, which is titled "Sweet Home Alabama." Instead, Kamau, with his father in tow, does a tremendous job of exhibiting a nuanced vision of Mobile, the Alabama Gulf Coast, and the state, as a whole. Topics explored include race, sexuality, gender, deep-seeded histories and optimistic hope for Alabama's future. It is an hour-long documentary with moments that will make you laugh and touching, tearful on-screen revelations. You'll be able to experience both emotions, and many more, when the show airs on CNN, Sunday, June 17, at 9 p.m. CT. Donald Crawford, a jazz musician who owned a charter bus company that served black Birmingham residents during segregation, is being memorialized today for his long career as a musician, businessman and educator. Crawford died on Sunday, June 10. He was 70. Crawford was the band director at Jackson-Olin High School in Ensley from 1976 until his retirement in 2011. "He was a caring person, very loving," said his widow, Mattie Crawford. "They built a new auditorium at Jackson-Olin and wanted to name it after him. He said, 'I did not make it by myself. The only way I will accept this is if it also has the name of my mentor, Amos Gordon. I stood on his shoulders.' He would not accept it unless it had Mr. Gordon's name on it too." He was an accomplished saxophonist who played with the Birmingham Heritage Band and was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. "He loved music," Mrs. Crawford said. "That was his passion." Crawford was born on May 24, 1948 and graduated from Western Olin, later renamed Jackson-Olin High School, in 1966. He was a drum major in high school and attended Alabama State University on a music scholarship. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees there in music education. He served two years in the U.S. Army, playing in the Army Band at Fort Benning, Ga. His father, Worcy Crawford, who died in 2011 at age 90, started Crawford and Sons Bus Transportation Co. in 1951. In 1963 the company provided charter buses that carried people from Alabama to take part in the March on Washington, led by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights activists. Crawford published a biography of his father called, "The Wheels of the Civil Rights Movement," which recounted the history of the only black-owned bus company in Birmingham during the civil rights era. "He wrote the book through the eyes of his dad," Mrs. Crawford said. "He recorded his dad and had him talk about back then." Crawford went to work at Jackson-Olin as assistant band director under his former teacher, Amos Gordon, then took over for him in 1977. He also taught music at Miles College. "He loved that school," said Crawford's widow, Mattie Crawford. "He loved them and they loved him. That was his school, that was his love." On weekends when he wasn't teaching, Crawford often drove buses for his father's company. He married Mattie in 1976 and they were married more than 41 years. "He always said if I had to do all over again we'd do it with each other, and I felt the same way," Mrs. Crawford said. "He had a great spirit, a great personality, made me feel warm, feel good. He was a good person." Crawford attended Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Brighton from 1976 through the rest of his life and frequently played saxophone there and at other churches. "He never stopped playing at church," Mrs. Crawford said. "He was very, very talented." Crawford had two sons, Donald and Christopher, and a daughter, Tamera. The sons decided to keep the charter bus business going. C&S Charter and Tours currently operates four charter buses. "It's the family business," said Mrs. Crawford. A memorial service for Crawford was held June 15 at Jackson-Olin High School. The funeral was held June 16 at Faith Chapel Worship Center in Wylam. Two Etowah County women are behind bars, accused of using drugs while pregnant. The sheriff's office on Friday announced the arrests of Tara Leann Collier, 24, and Erin Mianna Mims, 25, in unrelated incidents. Both are charged with one count each of felony chemical endangerment of a child. Collier, of Rainbow City, admitted to using Suboxone and also tested positive for Suboxone and benzodiazepine, said Etowah County sheriff's Investigator Brandi Fuller. Mims, of Boaz, admitted to using heroin and marijuana while pregnant. Bonds for the women are set at $10,000 each. As a condition of bond, they must successfully complete a drug treatment program and will be supervised by the Etowah Court Referral Office upon release. The Alabama Supreme Court won't review the cases of several men on the state's death row. According to its weekly order list issued Friday, the state's highest court has denied writs of certiorari--or requests to review the cases-- to Oscar Doster, James Ben Brownfield, and Nicholas Bernard Acklin. Doster was convicted of the 2002 murder of Paul LeMaster in Covington County, which happened while he and three other men were on the run after escaping the county jail. He was arrested, but broke out again and killed a man in Texas in 2005, court records show. He pleaded guilty in the Texas case, and was sentenced to life in prison. Brownfield was convicted of killing his sister, brother-in-law and 3-year-old great-nephew on Christmas Eve 2001. His sister, Brenda McCutchin, and her grandson, Joshua Hodges, were beat with a claw hammer in their sleep, and Brownfield's brother-in-law Latham McCutchin was stabbed to death. Police found scrawled messages on the walls of the home, including "Killing is my business" and "It's about to pick up." Acklin is on death row for his role in the 1996 Huntsville "cell phone murders." He and two other men, Joey Wilson and Corey Johnson, were convicted in the fatal shootings of four people on Sept. 25, 1996 and the wounding of two others at a home on University Drive. The shootings followed a previous incident where someone in the home had reported to the Madison County Sheriff's Department that Wilson had stolen his cell phone. Acklin and Wilson were both convicted and received death sentences while Johnson, who police say did not fire a shot, was released from prison in 2011. The state supreme court didn't write opinions on any of the three cases. An east Alabama high school teacher faces multiple criminal and traffic charges after leading lawmen on a chase through two counties. Ryan Christopher Mitchell, a science teacher at Woodland High School in Randolph County, was arrested Tuesday night after deputies from two sheriff's offices had to put out spike strips to finally bring the pursuit to an end. It all began about 7:30 p.m. when Cleburne County sheriff's Deputy Joseph Freeman was on patrol and saw a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on U.S. 431 near Hollis Crossroads. Freeman said he tried to pull over the motorist - now identified as Mitchell - but Mitchell instead floored it. "He didn't slow down,'' Freeman said. The pursuit traveled into Randolph County and then back into Cleburne County where Randolph County deputies, who had joined in the chase, set up spike strips. Even then, Mitchell continued on. "He kept going until all of his tires shredded,'' Freeman said. When it was finally over, Mitchell was arrested on five criminal charges and nine traffic charges. Criminally, the 32-year-old teacher is charged with carrying a pistol without a license, two counts of reckless endangerment, attempting to elude, and duty upon striking a county road sign. Traffic charges for Mitchell are DUI, driving on the wrong side of the road, two citations for speeding, reckless driving, four citations for failure to stop at a stop sign and failure to display insurance. Efforts to locate Mitchell for comment were unsuccessful. Randolph County Schools Superintendent John Jacobs said Friday he couldn't yet comment on the status of Mitchell's employment. Mitchell was booked into the Cleburne County Jail with bonds totaling $30,000 and has since been released. He is set to appear in court in August. Former Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper is heading to the Pentagon as the deputy chief of the U.S. Army Reserve. General Mark Milley, the U.S. Army's chief of staff, announced Roper's appointment Friday morning. He will begin his duties on July 1. Roper, who for three decades has continued to rise in the Reserve ranks, most recently has served as the commanding general for the 76th U.S. Army Reserve Operational Response Command in Salt Lake City, which is the Army Reserve's all hazard response command. The Army Reserve is a community-based force with more than 200,000 soldiers and civilians with a "footprint" that includes 50 states, five territories, and more than 30 countries. It is a critical force provider of trained and ready units and soldiers essential for the Army to fight and win wars and respond to homeland emergencies on behalf of the American people. Roper has more than 30 years of military service. He was deployed during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and again during Operation Enduring Freedom, where he served as the military spokesman for all U.S. Army forces in Afghanistan. He also is the recipient of numerous military awards and decorations, including the Bronze Star and the General MacArthur Leadership Award, which is given annually to the top U.S. Army officers in the nation. Named Birmingham's police chief in 2007, Roper announced in November 2017 he would be stepping down following the election Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, who asked all department heads to reapply for their positions. The deadline was Nov. 13, and the 54-year-old Roper said he and his family chose not to do so after a considerable amount of prayer. He left the job officially in April. Roper on Friday told AL.com he has the initial Pentagon assignment for one year. He and his wife, Edith, will maintain their Birmingham area home but have a condominium near the Pentagon where he can walk to work every day. "It will surely be a different lifestyle for us, but my family is excited and my wife is ready to decorate and make it our northern home,'' Roper said. Roper said the U.S. Army Reserve has transitioned from a strategic reserve to an operational reserve and that's placed a greater demand on soldiers, their families and employers. "After serving as a field commander totally focused on the readiness of my command, in this position, my role is two-fold. As the Deputy Chief, Army Reserve, my focus is strategy and policy development, planning, programming, and resourcing at the national, departmental, and service levels,'' he said. "I also have a secondary responsibility for the coordination, integration, and synchronization of our staff within the Headquarters Department of the Army Staff. The key is accomplishing the chief's vision by integrating Army Reserve force capabilities in support of the nation and ensuring we set the conditions for long term success." "As a product of the Birmingham School System, I fondly remember my four years in JROTC at Phillips High School where I received a certain satisfaction and fulfillment in wearing my uniform and learning the lessons of leadership,'' he said. "I still remember my three instructors and their impact on my life. I then received my Army commission in 1983 at UAB but I had no idea the journey would take me all over the world, including several deployments." Roper said it has been an honor serving the community for 33 years as a police officer, but also serving his country for 35 years as a soldier. "The Birmingham Police Department benefited from my Army Reserve training and experiences. For example, I led the Army Reserve command that specializes in responding to homeland disasters so when the tornados struck our area, I fully understood the coordination required to synchronize the additional support that flowed into our area,'' he said. "I also understood what questions to ask and could mentor my team on the process, so the lessons are enduring." Since leaving the Birmingham Police Department, Roper said he's been teaching leadership, ethics and decision making to law enforcement professionals all over the country. "These are challenging times in policing, so we have to lead our way through the chaos, mistrust and dialogue on policing and race relations in America and there is no better example than Birmingham,'' he said. "I have truly been blessed to serve with amazing men and women in the blue uniform here in Birmingham and the green uniform all over the nation so this new Army assignment is another chapter in my life's destiny,'' he said. "I've always believed that God has a plan for our lives so when one door closed another door opened." A former school security guard pleaded guilty this week and was sentenced to probation for sexting with a Huntsville student. Lewis Lee was sentenced to probation for pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of having sexual contact with a Huntsville student. Lewis Lee, a 30-year-old from Huntsville, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of school employee having sexual contact with a student. Lee received a 180-day jail sentence that was suspended for two years of probation, said Madison County Assistant District Attorney Emily Carroll. In exchange for Lee's guilty plea, prosecutors dismissed a second misdemeanor charge. Lee was arrested on the misdemeanor charges in December 2016. He was fired after being accused of sending nude photos to a Huntsville City Schools student, officials said. Lee was a contracted security guard at the city's New Century Technology school. As part of the guilty plea, Lee will be required to register as a sex offender. This is an opinion column. I shouldn't have rewatched "The Lord of the Rings" last week. Because the world's starting to look a look like Mordor. The forests will fall. A new order will rise. We will drive the machine of war with the sword and the spear and the iron fist of the orc. That was the evil wizard Saruman, and yeah, I know. Dramatic. Take comfort knowing one thing we don't need fear is orcs. Not literally, anyway. But man, there's darkness all around, as always. The difference is that people are cool with it, comfortable even. Supportive. Of the darkness. Of the absence of light. Of secrecy. Perhaps we're bombarded so often with dubious information that people simply don't want any more of it. They just want to pick sides. And believe. A nonprofit legal watchdog group last week issued a report about the use of secretive "dark money" in state governments. Disgraced former Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley was - of course - the poster child, because the dark money group linked to him, ACEgov, paid the lady who brought him down. More drama. But Bentley's fall did not serve as warning. The world was not taken aback - as most Alabamians were - by revelations that unknown entities in dark towers paid part of the salary of the governor's top adviser and sweetheart. The world was simply learning the dark arts so it, too, could put them to use, says the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. The group's report, called "Shadow Governors," found Bentley was just one of 19 governors linked to 30 secretive dark money groups across the country. "ACEGov allowed Governor Bentley to benefit from unlimited spending by sources unknown to the public -- but possibly known to him," CREW Executive Director Noah Bookbinder said. "This is a growing, cutting edge way for secret money to influence politics and policy-making, and we need to start paying more attention to it." Bentley should have been a warning. But he's a model. Because donors don't want you to know who or what they are supporting, and politicians often don't want you to know who supports them and how. The notion that citizens are the bosses and board members and deserve a real voice in government is falling away at the all levels. Which means a select few get undue, unscrutinized say. "First, secret money changed the way elections were fought and paid for; now the spending has moved beyond elections," Bookbinder said. "This unchecked spending means that special interests and deep-pocketed donors can secretly exert more influence than ever before." It's a disease, a cancer, a dark mark on the land. And it's not just in campaign cash or dark money. It's in places like Paint Rock in North Alabama, where the mayor backed off on guidelines to bar media or outsiders from council meetings only after learning it is illegal. It's in the president's own words as he vilifies media and turns disciples against any critical assessment. Thomas Jefferson hated newspapers, but famously said "Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter." The current president hates CNN and NBC, but tweets "Our Country's biggest enemy is the Fake News so easily promulgated by fools!" It's in all those who trust and believe, rather than trust and verify. The darkness is terrifying to those who believe any country is better when the people have a clear view of government, and that America is the beacon that should forever shine the light. Terrifying. Good thing I watched Lord of the Rings last weekend. A day may come when the courage of men fails ... but it is not this day. This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand. That was Aragorn. Drama, yeah. But truth. Documents the State Bar Association provided to AL.com on Wednesday offer few specifics on State Auditor Jim Zeigler's surrender of his law license earlier this year. Zeigler says he surrendered his license when he determined he would never practice law again. The records from the State Bar Association and the Alabama Supreme Court say Zeigler voluntarily surrendered his license through the State Bar's Disciplinary Commission and provide a timeline for the license surrender. The documents do not state Zeigler's reasons for wanting to surrender the license. Zeigler wrote a letter to the State Bar surrendering his license on Feb. 19 and returning his State Bar membership card. The State Bar's Disciplinary Commission accepted the surrender of the license on April 18. On May 9, the Alabama Supreme Court issued an order finalizing the decision. Zeigler has repeatedly told AL.com there was no complaint or disciplinary matter associated with his decision to resign from the bar. "No," Zeigler said two weeks ago. "Any change of licensing, a surrender or what-not, has to go through that process. You can't just walk in and hand them your license. It has to go through the Bar Association disciplinary committee and then the Supreme Court has the final say. That's just the process." Zeigler defeated two opponents in the June 5 primary and is scheduled to face Democratic nominee Miranda Joseph in November. Zeigler was elected auditor in 2014 and is seeking a second term. The State Bar provided some records about Zeigler's license surrender to AL.com in response to a public records request. Those records had no information about a complaint. In a letter responding to the public records request, Alabama State Bar Executive Director Phillip McCallum said some records could not be disclosed because they contain information that is confidential under the State Bar's Rules of Disciplinary Procedure or because of other restrictions. One specific document not disclosed was a letter from the general counsel of the State Bar to the clerk of the Alabama Supreme Court dated April 19. The letter contained confidential information, McCallum wrote. Zeigler's law practice was called Zeigler Elder Care. Zeigler told AL.com he decided in 2013 to retire from his law practice and run for state auditor. Zeigler said he spent 2014 campaigning and winding down his law practice. After he took office as auditor in January 2015, Zeigler said he was told by the State Bar Association he could not practice law because he was a state constitutional officer. He said he became an associate member or "special member." Zeigler said the State Bar Association informed him that he could not represent clients, give legal advice or refer cases to other lawyers and earn fees. Zeigler said he fully complied with that directive. "I considered resigning from the bar association in early 2015 after finding out I could not use my law license in any way," Zeigler said Thursday. "I held onto it because there was a possibility I would run for state attorney general in the 2018 elections. In February 2018, I decided to run for re-election as state auditor and not attorney general. At that point, I decided to pull the trigger and resign from the bar association. I did so. The state Supreme Court enters a ruling on any membership in the bar association. The Supreme Court concluded that my resignation was "voluntary." That settles any question. I was not asked to resign nor forced to resign." by on Scribd A former North Alabama pediatrician who is a registered sex offender is now working at a doctor's office in Selma. Dr. James Daniel Cartwright pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of attempted sexual abuse in December. The victim was a 16-year-old boy. Court officials have said the charges against him were not related to his medical practice. Cartwright was a pediatrician at Cornerstone Pediatrics in Madison, Ala. This week, The Selma Times-Journal's Facebook page showed an advertisement indicating that Cartwright now works at Taylor Internal Medicine of Selma. The post said the doctor's office "welcomes Dr. Danny Cartwright," and included a photo of Cartwright and a phone number to call for an appointment. When AL.com called the number on Friday, a woman who answered said Cartwright was working and that she would take a message to give to him. He has not yet returned the call. Dr. Bruce Taylor of Taylor Internal Medicine has not responded to a request for comment. In December 2017, Cartwright accepted a sentence of 12 months' probation as part of a plea deal with Limestone County prosecutors, according to court documents. He had been initially indicted in 2015 on three felony counts of sexual abuse and the misdemeanor charge, but the felonies were dismissed as part of the plea agreement. Cartwright is registered as a sex offender in Prattville, Ala., according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's Sex Offender Registry. Selma Police Chief Spencer Collier said Friday afternoon that his office had opened an investigation into the matter. Cartwright must register as a sex offender in the town where he lives, but is not required to register in the town where he works. There are rules regarding how close a sex offender's workplace can be to places like child care centers and schools. Cartwright's medical license has not been suspended or revoked, according to the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners. This means Cartwright can legally practice medicine in the state of Alabama. A phone call and emails to the Board's general counsel were not immediately returned. There is no mention of Cartwright's status as a sex offender on the Board's public online physician database. There is also no public record available from the Board of Medical Examiners that indicates Cartwright has ever been subject to official disciplinary action. State law prohibits the Board from releasing information about investigations it has undertaken, patient complaints or malpractice case information. Wilson Hunter, the board's general counsel, has said in the past that misdemeanor convictions sometimes lead to disciplinary action by the board, though not in every case. The Board did not immediately return a request for comment. Ashley Remkus contributed to this report. ALTON, N.H. -- A New Hampshire high school senior class president about to head out for military training couldn't make his graduation, so he got his own personal ceremony instead. People attending the Prospect Mountain High School senior awards program Wednesday night were asked to stay after the event ended. Out marched school officials, faculty and National Guard member Jacob Blair, all wearing graduation robes. "Pomp and Circumstance" played as Blair entered to a standing crowd. He gave a speech and received his diploma. Blair left Thursday morning for Fort Rucker to undergo advanced individual training. The full senior class will graduate Friday. Blair received a three-year Army ROTC scholarship and will attend the University of New Hampshire to study mechanical engineering in the fall. The last poop train headed for a landfill in Adamsville cleared the tracks in April, but many who live near the landfill are worried the shipments might resume once the public outcry dies down. More than 100 people attended a town hall meeting Thursday night at the House of Prayer Outreach Faith Church in Adamsville to discuss the situation, as some who live near the Big Sky Landfill are concerned that they may not have seen -- or smelled -- the last shipments of partially processed human waste heading for the landfill. Tammi Taylor, an Adamsville resident who organized the meeting said the goal was to inform residents on the dealings with the landfill and keep pressure on local and state officials to enact policies or ordinances to prevent the trains loaded with sewage sludge from rolling back through the area. "Our community had no clue what was going on with the landfill that sits in our community," Taylor said. "Our municipal officials told us nothing about the deal, the business deal, we knew nothing about it." Thursday's meeting included presentations by Black Warrior Riverkeeper Nelson Brooke on the landfill's history and its compliance issues with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, which oversees landfills in the state. West Jefferson resident Davis Brasfield spoke on how his community was impacted by the sludge trains and why he was disappointed in the response from ADEM and other state agencies, followed by questions from the audience. Residents gather for a town hall meeting to discuss issues with the Big Sky Landfill at the House of Prayer Outreach Faith Church in Adamsville, Ala. on June 14, 2018. Brasfield said the smell this summer is much better than last year, when West Jefferson residents complained of odors from the rail yard where the cars were being loaded onto trucks, and of spills where sludge escaped the covered but unsealed shipping containers and spilled onto roadways while being hauled to the landfill. "Our problem is, we're not getting listened to, not adequately anyway," Brasfield said. Brasfield said he submitted detailed letter to ADEM about concerns over the stability of the land where the landfill is located -- the site of old underground and surface coal mining operations -- but had not received a response. Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill also attended, opening the meeting with comments on the importance of voting and seeking to help residents get in touch with the proper channels to voice their concerns. "It's important to make sure people know who to reach out to, to make sure they're contacting a person who is a decision-maker in that area," Merrill said after the meeting. "A lot of times some of the frustrations that people feel have to do with not knowing who to talk to, and when they start making their own calls in Montgomery, they get additionally frustrated because they get bounced around." Most landfill issues in Alabama are handled by ADEM, but Brasfield and other residents there expressed frustration with the Department's response to their concerns about the landfill. The landfill's general operating permit is up for renewal this year, and ADEM held a public hearing in January about the issue that had to be moved to a larger venue because of the high turnout. People who spoke at the meeting or submitted written comments, including Brasfield and Brooke, said they have received no response yet from the department as to the status of their complaints. "Right now we're all just waiting and wondering what ADEM is going to do," Brooke said. The sludge deal The operation to import sewage sludge began in early 2017, after Big Sky got approval from ADEM to import up to 396,000 tons of sludge per year to the landfill from wastewater treatment plants in New York and New Jersey. Sewage sludge, or biosolids, is the solid material left behind after modern wastewater treatment practices and can include both solid human waste remnants and a number of chemicals flushed down the drains of residences and industrial operations. The landfill said it would use the material as "alternative cover," to encourage plant growth on the covered slopes of the landfill, but troubles arose soon after the landfill began importing trainloads full of shipping containers of the biosolids. The containers were loaded from trains to trucks to be hauled to the landfill and generated complaints and legal actions from governments throughout Jefferson and Walker Counties, as the train cars sometimes ended up sitting on tracks for weeks at a time waiting to be hauled to the landfill. Complaints over odors and flies from the train cars were raised by the town of West Jefferson, the city of Birmingham, Jefferson County zoning authorities, and the city of Parrish. The shipments were halted voluntarily by the wastewater treatment plants in New York that were sending them down South after the public outcry, but currently there's nothing to prevent the landfill from accepting more of the sludge from New York or anywhere else in the continental United States. That's the scenario that Taylor and other locals are trying to avoid. Taylor said she was encouraged by the turnout at Thursday's meeting, but disappointed that neither Adamsville Mayor Pam Palmer nor any members of the city council chose to attend, though she said they had been invited and were aware of the meeting. Many who spoke at the meeting referenced Palmer's perceived ties to the landfill, where her nephew John Click is the operations manager. "We have to turn the finger and point it at ourselves and ask what are we doing to fix the problem, how are we getting involved?" Taylor said. "We have to hold our elected officials accountable and really work with them. "We don't always have to be combative, but we can hold them accountable while trying to figure out the problems and the solutions." Multiple Law enforcement agencies descended on Prichard Thursday afternoon to double down on crime fighting efforts in the city. Leaders and representatives from various agencies talked about a new initiative that would pool state, county, city, and other local resources to bring crime down. Speakers used typical buzzwords synonymous with similar crime-fighting initiatives but gave almost no details on what the scheme would mean to citizens, what resources would be used, or any other basic details. "I can tell you they are here to assist with the city in making it stronger, making you feel safer, and allowing you to have that kind of life that you desire and deserve," said Prichard Mayor Jimmie Gardner. "I want citizens to recognize the efforts that will be taking place in this city, and they will be sharing much of that today." While Gardner noted that crime was coming down in the city and that the resources offered by each agency had already been in place, he said that it was commitment to bringing crime down further. FBI data from 2016 identifies Prichard as one of the most dangerous cities in Alabama, where being a victim of crime is about 1 in 14. Also at the press conference was Prichard Police Chief Walter Knight who only said that his department would be helping with the issues. Upon questioning from media, multiple representatives from various agencies said that it could not answer questions about what these efforts would mean for the average person living in Prichard, citing that they could not reveal operational strategy. "The model we are using in our strategic plan in the same being used across the United States," said Richard Moore, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. "This is in two parts - one is the operational part; the other part is preparing the community. They will see more of us as citizens. We are interested in something sustainable. Not just a raid. We want a better Prichard going forward year after year. We are all committed to do that." Later in the Q&A part of the announcement, Moore said that the community would likely see more cops on the streets in Prichard. Mobile District Attorney Ashley Rich said that she was pleased to stand arm-in-arm with the other agencies in order to bring down crime in the area. "Want to make this community better than it is now," said Rich. "So victims of crime get the justice they deserve. Prichard is a great community. It's a community that we all want to help." A man found guilty of murder in the shooting of 30-year-old Rodrekas Zeigler at a Montgomery barber shop was sentenced to nearly 30 years in prison, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office announced Thursday. Fifteenth Circuit Court Judge Roman Shaul sentenced Ozzy Osbourne, 27, to serve 29 years and 11 months in prison for fatally shooting Zeigler on Sept. 11, 2015, according to the DA's office. Evidence showed Osborne shot Zeigler once in the neck at the barber shop off Lower Wetumpka road. According to witness testimony, Osborne attacked Zeigler as he was entering the barber shop. "Due to the hard work of our Violent Crime Team, the Montgomery Police Department, the witnesses and the jury, we were able to remove another violent offender from our community," said District Attorney Daryl Bailey. "Our community is tired of these senseless murders and it is my hope this conviction and the sentencing will reinforce the message that there are extreme consequences to violent actions." I thought I was writing a different column. The column I meant to write was about the 31 civil penalties the Alabama Ethics Commission set aside last week. Those penalties were against candidates and political action committees that didn't file their campaign disclosures as required by the law. And while the Alabama Secretary of State's office did exactly what it was supposed to do under the law -- fining offenders for missing their deadlines, enforcing transparency in the political process -- the Ethics Commission decided the law is too new to enforce, even though it's three years old, and let all those folks -- including two Alabama lawmakers who broke the very law they voted for in 2015 -- off the hook. I was going to write about separate rules for different sorts of people. I was going to write about how, if the Ethics Commission doesn't respect the law, how can we expect it to enforce the law? But then I found out about something else, when I called Secretary of State John Merrill's office to ask about the Commission's meeting last week. Before the Commission convened that meeting, four of its members met together behind closed doors, where at least one of them conferred with staff from the Secretary of State's office about the 31 cases before them later that day. The problem here is, if that isn't a violation of the Alabama Open Meetings Act, it steps right up to the line and spits on the other side. Under Alabama's open meetings law, public bodies are not allowed to deliberate behind closed doors unless their executive session falls within a number of exceptions to the law. And if a body does meet behind closed doors, it is supposed to convene the official meeting first, and then adjourn into the closed-door session, first citing the statutory exception to the law, such as discussing the good name and character of an individual. But meeting before a meeting -- is that legal? Dennis Bailey, a lawyer for the Alabama Press Association, says it depends on what happens behind those closed doors. If the commissioners deliberate -- and that's the crucial word -- then under the law, it's considered a meeting, he says. The law defines deliberation as "An exchange of information or ideas among a quorum of member of a governmental body intended to arrive at or influence a decision as to how the member should vote that at the time of the exchange the member expect to come before the body immediately following the discussion or at a later time." So, did they deliberate? According to Brent Beal, a lawyer for the Secretary of State John Merrill, and John Bennett, Merrill's deputy chief of staff, here's what happened. The Commission's lawyer, Cynthia Raulston, asked Beal to step into a room with her behind the Commission's chambers. Bennett went back with Beal and Raulston into the room, where the four commissioners, and Commission Director Tom Albritton had already gathered. Commissioner Charles Price told Beal he intended to waive the fines the Secretary of State's office had imposed on the 31 candidates and PACs for the current election cycle. Beal and Bennett both said that none of the commissioners seemed surprised at this. Beal asked Price how he was defining the term "election cycle," meaning either the primary runoffs only or the runoffs and the general election, both men recalled. "He said, 'Well, I don't know, I guess just the primary and the runoff,'" Beal recalled. Beal and Bennett remember what happened next slightly differently. According to Bennett, two of the commissioners interjected in the discussion. According to Beal, he heard the other commissioners talking but didn't make out what they were saying. Beal said he objected to Price's decision. "I said, judge I have to disagree with that," Beal recalls. "Then he said, 'Well, you have to do what you have to do.'" After that exchange the commissioners began gathering their things to get ready for the official meeting, both recalled. So is that deliberation? "It does raise a red flag," he said. "When is the deliberation taking place? Or is there no deliberation at all, which is a different problem." When I asked Albritton whether the Commission had an illegal meeting, insisted that the commission had not crossed the line of the law. "If there was deliberation, I didn't hear any," he said. "I didn't see any." Albritton described these pre-commission gatherings typically as friendly chit-chat over coffee with most commissioners talking about how long their trips to the meetings took. My experience with Albritton is that he tries to run things correctly and is as forthcoming as the law and the politics of his position allow. You can take Albritton at his word if you want. But the point of Alabama's open meetings laws is that you shouldn't have to. Kyle Whitmire is the state political columnist for the Alabama Media Group. Want access to the best analysis and in-depth reporting about Alabama each week? Sign up for the weekly Reckon Report newsletter and follow Reckon on Facebook and Twitter. By Catrena Carter , a 30-year veteran of both the civil rights and women's movements, and the executive director of https://www.womenunitednow.org. Ms. Carter has led successful efforts such as the Selma to Montgomery foundation, which brought former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama to Selma, Alabama; Women of Will, a nonprofit that has trained hundreds of women to get involved in the political process Here in Alabama, our lawmakers are working overtime to bring high-tech jobs and big businesses to our state. We certainly could use the jobs and the influx of tax dollars that come with them. But with the growth of tech companies has come a painful reality that women in the field face sexual harassment and discrimination challenges other industries have long since put behind them. The reckoning spurred by complaints against (former) producer Harvey Weinstein in 2017 jumpstarted an international debate about sexual misconduct in the workplace. Once viewed by some as a cost of doing business, women took to social media turning #MeToo into a movement to end sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace. For years, women in tech have come forward to share their experiences about working in an industry rife with sexism, harassment, and lack of opportunities. Two years after a 2014 investigation by the US Department of Labor over pay discrimination, a wave of discrimination and sexual harassment scandals hit the tech industry. As our state--and, more specifically, our big cities, including Birmingham, Huntsville and Mobile--looks to attract and grow tech firms, we must demand accountability regarding discrimination and sexual harassment. When lawmakers are cutting deals, they must ask those companies what they are doing to foster a safer and healthier environment for women. The most recent complaints against Google are from female teachers who say the company discriminates against women who teach employees' children at the company's childcare center. Facebook faced such strong criticisms over sexual harassment claims that it was forced to share publicly its internal, revamped policies for employees reporting abuse. Even Uber, whose former CEO's reputation nearly bankrupted the company, announced it would no longer require arbitration or signed nondisclosure agreements for sexual misconduct claims. According to a court filing published recently by CNN, Microsoft's human resources department received 238 complaints from women employees over a six year period, including 108 sexual harassment complaints and 119 regarding gender discrimination. There were also eight complaints of retaliation and three regarding pregnancy discrimination. The court documents are part of a gender discrimination lawsuit against Microsoft filed in 2015 by a computer security researcher who worked at the company from 2007-2014. Two other Microsoft employees have joined the suit and are seeking class-action status for the case. The plaintiffs accuse Microsoft of steadily denying pay rises or promotions to women and having an "exclusionary 'boys' club' atmosphere" that is "rife with sexual harassment" including sexual assault and rape by male coworkers. The complaint documents the story of a female intern who was alleged raped by a male intern. Even though the female employee reported the rape to police, her Microsoft supervisor, and Microsoft's human resources department, she was forced to work alongside her accused rapist. These cases are very real. Being told by very real women. We don't need that culture in Alabama--no matter how many jobs and tax dollars it brings. The Clinton probe wasnt tainted, so clearly the Russia probe has to go. Photo: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images Republicans have been eager to get their hands on the inspector generals report on the Justice Departments handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe for weeks. President Trump tweeted earlier this month that it was taking too long to come out, claiming he was antsy because the public has the right to know. Transparency! But on the eve of the reports release, both his son and his lawyer were on Fox News, setting up the administrations narrative. Donald Trump Jr. said the FBIs credibility is shot, and Rudy Giuliani said the IG report could blow up Robert Muellers investigation by tarnishing FBI officials and key witnesses. Like many GOP efforts to discredit the special counsel, it didnt go exactly as Republicans hoped. Inspector General Michael Horowitzs main finding was that theres no evidence that political bias affected the FBIs handling of the Clinton probe, or that she should have been prosecuted. We found no evidence that the conclusions by department prosecutors were affected by bias or other improper considerations, he wrote. Rather, we concluded that they were based on the prosecutors assessment of facts, the law and past department practice. Horowitz did, however, criticize former FBI director James Comey for deviating from department policy in publicly discussing the probe which may have unintentionally hurt Clinton. He also rebuked FBI officials Lisa Page and Peter Strzok for disparaging Trump in private messages, which they sent on FBI devices. But Horowitz said investigators did not find documentary or testimonial evidence directly connecting the political views these employees expressed in their text messages and instant messages to the investigative decisions we reviewed. Despite the conclusion that the FBIs investigation was not influenced by political bias, and the fact that Horowitz wasnt even looking at the Mueller probe, Trump and his allies proceeded with their plan to declare that the IG report proves the special counsels investigation should be shut down Their attack had two prongs: undermining Comeys credibility, and suggesting that the Trump-Russia probe was biased from the start. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the report reaffirmed the presidents suspicions about Comeys conduct and about the political bias of some members of the FBI. And why should Comeys conduct reflect poorly on the man who replaced him? Sam Nunberg, a former Trump campaign adviser, told the New York Times: Any report which critiques former senior F.B.I. employees of both Robert Mueller and James Comey and are being used by Mueller as prime witnesses against President Trump is inherently a winner for the president The I.G. report continues the delegitimization of the entire Mueller investigation, which is ultimately the fruit of the poisonous and disgruntled James Comey. On Fox News, Giuliani and Sean Hannity tackled the broader theme of anti-Trump bias at the FBI, cherrypicking details from the IG report to make their case, while simultaneously suggesting that Horowitz cant be trusted because he didnt conclude that Clinton should have been prosecuted. Mueller should suspend his investigation, and he should go see Rod Rosenstein, who created him, and the deputy attorney general and Attorney General Sessions, who should now step up big time to save his department, Giuliani said. Rosenstein and Jeff Sessions have a chance to redeem themselves and that chance comes about tomorrow, Giuliani continued. It doesnt go beyond tomorrow. Tomorrow, Mueller should be suspended and honest people should be brought in, impartial people to investigate these people like Peter Strzok. Strzok should be in jail by the end of next week. (Giuliani explained that this investigation should be conducted by honest FBI agents from the New York office who I can trust implicitly. The IG report contained details that support the rumor that the New York office was a major source of anti-Clinton leaks.) Giuliani also cited what Republicans consider the most significant line in the IG report. In response to Page asking, [Trumps] not ever going to become president, right? Right?! Strzok texted, No. No he wont. Well stop it. The pair told Horowitz that well stop it meant Trump wouldnt be elected, not that they would personally stop him and they cited as evidence the fact that they didnt reveal that Trump was under investigation or do anything else to prevent him from becoming president. The report still rebuked them, saying the line implies a willingness to take official action to impact the presidential candidates electoral prospects even if they didnt do it. In addition to the Clinton email probe, Strzok played a major role in the investigation into the Trump campaign and Russia. He was initially assigned to Muellers investigation, which started in May 2017, but he was removed in July 2017, immediately after the anti-Trump texts came to light. Nevertheless, multiple Republican lawmakers argued on Wednesday that Strzoks involvement in the early days of the Trump-Russia investigation, and the few weeks he spent on Muellers team, call the whole operation into question. Majority Whip Steve Scalise said the latest evidence of bias gives credence to people who wonder if this is becoming a witch hunt. Representative Mark Meadows declared the Mueller investigation must be reassessed in light of todays information. Others hewed more closely to Giulianis argument. Representative Matt Gaetz claimed the IG report provided smoking-gun evidence that the Mueller probe is built on a rotten foundation. Representative Andy Biggs said the investigation should be dismantled immediately. Representative John Ratcliffe said that now we cant trust any negative findings that may emerge about the president. The inspector general provides a factual basis to question the legitimacy of any findings against Donald Trump, if there are findings against Donald Trump, he said. Trump-Russia collusion we now find out that for the first nine months, the investigation was headed by the guy who hated Donald Trump, said he would stop him from becoming president. To reach that conclusion, you have to ignore the major findings in the IG report and the FBIs bias against a candidate who was actually prevented from becoming president. Wow. Biased much? The real deep state threat imo. https://t.co/vsnmwtZtWm Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) June 15, 2018 Community hails UKs northernmost mosque, which was completed with crowd-funding project led by charitable Yorkshireman. The rugged and windswept island of Lewis in Scotlands remote Outer Hebrides is a long way from the holy city of Mecca. But for Aihtsham Rashid, these two disparate locations will forever be linked. Rashids father passed away after completing the Hajj pilgrimage in 2015 a moment he says led him to consider the important things in life, including charity work. In the years since, Rashid split his time between the construction business he founded in the city of Leeds, in the northern English county of Yorkshire, and helping those in need. When the call came from a friend telling him about a small community of Muslims in Stornoway, the biggest town on Lewis, who were looking to build the islands first ever mosque, he dropped everything to make it happen. Up until that point, I didnt even know there was a Muslim community there, Rashid told Al Jazeera. MSP for the Western Isles, Alasdair Allan, left, at the Stornoway mosque alongside local Muslim Mohammed Ahmed, centre, and Aihtsham Rashid, right [Courtesy: Office of Alasdair Allen] Situated around 55 miles (roughly 89km) off mainland Scotlands northwest coast, the vast majority of Lewis 20,000 population are Christian, and some residents hold on to once prominent Christian traditions such as the Sabbath, which reserves Sundays as a day of rest. Yet a small Islamic community has called the island home since as far back as the 1950s. The arrival of a few Syrian refugee families taken in by the Scottish government since 2015 has increased the Muslim population. According to Abdul Ghaffar, who is originally from Pakistan and owns a department store on the nearby island of Harris, there are currently between 55 and 60 Muslims on the island chain that make up the Outer Hebrides. But with nowhere to gather and worship, most Muslims had become used to praying and holding religious ceremonies in each others homes or in private, Ghaffar said. That situation promised to change last year when planning permission was granted to build a small mosque on the island for the first time. The majority of the islands residents were supportive of the decision. I just went to Stornoway to help them out, leave them to it afterwards and let God deal with everything. At the end of the day, we did something good the world likes it, it's cool. Aihtsham Rashid Reverend James MacIver of the Free Church of Scotland told Al Jazeera that, although he is a Christian minister, he had no objections to the decision to build the mosque which is a matter of civil and religious liberty. The Muslim community has been part of the Outer Hebrides for around 70 to 80 years, he added, and always integrated really well. With widespread backing for the development, only one problem remained. The small cottage eyed as the site of the new mosque was dilapidated, and the budget was low. Rashid, who opened a crowdfunding page in April, raised almost 100,000 pounds (roughly $132,500) double the target, with donations arriving from around the world. Most of Lewis 20,000 residents are Christian; there are around 60 Muslims [Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images] With a group of friends, he flew to Stornoway, racing against the clock to finish before the start of Ramadan. Getting the required materials and Rashids network of tradesmen to Lewis were just some of the challenges. Its an island, isnt it? If you need something youve got to wait until it comes, Rashid said. But every time there was a delay or when a new challenge arose it was like God would send extra help, he added. The mosque, which Ghaffar says must be one of the smallest around, was officially opened on May 11, just days before the start of Ramadan. Despite its compact size, it features a prayer room, a washroom and entrances for men and women. According to local Member of Scottish Parliament (MSP) Alasdair Allan, the project has helped push back against stereotypes of Lewis as a place that is strictly Christian and resistant to change. The island has, he said, a long [record] of people with different traditions getting on with each other. Among the Muslim community, there are families from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey and Syria, Ghaffar says. The mosque enables them to gather and share in each others cultures and traditions. Since opening, a number of visitors have even travelled to see the mosque from other parts of the UK. Yusuf Adam, a 37-year-old accountant from Manchester, England, voyaged the 500 miles to the Stornoway mosque with his wife and young daughter after hearing about it on social media and in the news. He says he encountered other groups visiting the mosque from Dewsbury in Yorkshire, Glasgow and Manchester. Local residents were welcoming and really friendly, he said. Worshippers listen to Iman Mufti Abdur-Rahman Mangera as they attend the opening [Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images] The attention the project received was surprising to Rashid, but he was pleased that it spread a message about the value of charity. A lot of people are changing their ways. They want to do charitable work and they want to do stuff like this, he said. Just over a month after Stornoway mosque was opened, Rashid is already focused on his next project. This time, he hopes to raise enough money to travel to Gambia and help repair a mosque and provide aid for orphans and impoverished people in rural villages. He hopes the new campaign will receive as much attention as the Stornoway project. I just went to [Stornoway] to help them out, leave them to it afterwards and let God deal with everything, he said. At the end of the day, we did something good the world likes it, its cool. The Muslim community in Lewis and the surrounding islands, Ghaffer said, is over the moon with their new facility. What was the promise of America in the bygone days of MLK and Robert Kennedy, and what is its promise today? In a recent exhibition in New York City, Rebel Spirits, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr on 4 April 1968 and of Robert F Kennedy on 6 June 1968, New Yorkers were treated to a rare collection of photographs and a nostalgic recollection of what could have been in light of what actually happened. But what precisely was the promise of those days half a century ago and what is it the world is delivered today by the very idea, the very promise of America? The photography exhibition Rebel Spirits: Robert F Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr is an extension of a book by David Margolick, The Promise and the Dream, which, as the title suggests, is a sentimental longing and a wistful affection for a past that may or may not have been there, but now we have reason to hope it was there. As in Marcel Proust masterpiece, Remembrance of Things Past (1913-1927), such almost involuntary acts of collective memorials speak of larger and more troubling dreams both past and present, at once evident and illusory. As the curators of the exhibition summarise their project, it showcases photographs and artifacts honoring these visionary leaders who irrevocably changed the United States. Sixty images taken by some of the most renowned photojournalists of the era alongside original correspondence, publications, and ephemera -illustrate the overlapping trajectory of their lives, exploring their deepening tie as well as how their interests expanded beyond civil rights and organised crime to encompass shared concerns for the poor and opposition to the war in Vietnam. As you go through these compelling black and white pictures of those bygone days, those unforgettable faces, and those enduring daydreams, you wonder: In what particular ways were these two now iconic figures of the 1960s related to each other, how did they reflect a common spirit of their age? Was there a spirit to that age what exactly was it? Just because two people live at the same time, and are engaged in two different worlds, and talk to each other 10 times during the course of their lives, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, the late Robert Kennedys daughter is reported to have warned David Margolick, does not make a book. She was right nor does it evince a common dream. The promise and the dream Representative John Lewis, living legend and a contemporary of King and Kennedy now a Democratic congressman from Georgia is quoted to have said about the two figures: When these two young men were murdered, something died in all of us. We were robbed of part of our future. This is the future daydreaming about a Past it must imagine, a tradition it must invent, to sustain a dream and a promise. Every nation and every generation within any nation is of course entitled to their nostalgia, of things that could have been, might have been, or should have been as if they must have been. But what does such public staging of nostalgia mean? Viewing the new photographic exhibition at the New-York Historical Society, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr and Robert F Kennedy, observed Carol Tannenhauser upon visiting the museum, is like stepping into an issue of Life magazine in the 1960s, the golden age of photojournalism. Fair enough: but Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy? Are they, outside the history of photojournalism and the antiquarianism of Life magazine, not the proverbial apples and oranges? What did they have to do with each other, or more importantly, taken together what do they reveal about their age about America? Oddly, Tannenhauser further adds, in the entire show, there is only one picture of King and Kennedy together Thats not an accident, said David Margolick, author of The Promise and the Dream, upon which the exhibition is partly based. These were two people who were very careful with one another, who were very wary of each other, who fenced with each other throughout the eight years that they were both on the national stage. The Kennedy and King of this exhibition are the figment of a frightened imagination looking at Trump and wondering: What went wrong? Staging nostalgia Such photographic memories on stage here at the New York Historical Society are acts of collective therapy. On behalf of a nation in search of the better angles of themselves, the curators are staging a past to which their hopes return to walk back through history more assured that this nation means well. Half a century and a Donald Trump later, there is much room and even more compelling reasons to understand not only such perhaps futile acts of nostalgia but also the desperate search for a solid ground to dream again. I have always said the worst thing about the US is that there is always hope for it. I am no longer sure there is any hope for this country and that now appears to me the best thing about the US the categorical failure of a universal experiment. As a promise, the US has historically failed and the sooner we realise that the more realistic our assessment of our global condition will be. The failure of the US is a global disappointment. It is a dysfunctional empire, the source of much death, destruction, and mayhem around the world. But although its initial white settler colonialists have a racist claim on it, this country is not theirs. It belongs to everybody and anybody who ever whenever landed on its shores, both its promises and its categorical failures. That makes the story of America the story of our world at large, or what happens to that world when it turns to the American figment of its imagination. Much has happened in science and industry, in art and literature, but the crowning achievement of all of them are now Donald Trump, his tweets, and his fingers on an atomic bomb that can blow humanity to Kingdom Come. All things considered, we can now see the wisdom of the moment when TS Eliot in those immortal lines in The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock thought of our entire humanity: I should have been a pair of ragged claws Scuttling across the floors of silent seas. Getting the history right The alternative is at the very least to get our history right: Robert Kennedy and John Kennedy stood on one side of this dream and on the other were Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X. There was, and there remains, an insurmountable chasm between the two sides of this disequilibrium. Then occurred a certain Barack Obama who the world thought was the fusion of the two sides of the black and white spectrum and yet he turned out to be the dawn of a Donald Trump who has come as the return of all that racist history had momentarily repressed. Barack Obama was the last nostalgic miscarriage of a historical promise. He turned out to be far more like Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton than Bobby Kennedy or MLK. What emerged from the deliverance from Obamas false dawn was the shining sun of Malcolm X who today brightens the deepest hopes of this nation more convincingly than ever. Nostalgia for those bygone years is only compelling if you dont see what is in front of you today. Today the Black Lives Matter movement is infinitely more rooted in history, more embracing in its historical imagination, and worldlier in its understanding of the geopolitics of the world than the Civil Rights movement ever was. No doubt Black Lives Matter stands on the shoulders of MLK and remembers Robert Kennedy somewhat fondly, but it dreams in decidedly and enduringly Malcolm Xs terms. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. The Palestinian Authority is struggling with its loss of legitimacy as it clamps down on anti-Gaza-sanctions protests. On Wednesday night in Ramallah, people mobilised once again around a new campaign calling for the Palestinian Authority (PA) to lift the sanctions it imposed on Gaza. The sanctions include slashing the salaries of government employees by over 30 percent and the forced early retirement of nearly a third of PA employees in Gaza. Drastic moves at any time, these sanctions are made even more brutal in the context of the ongoing Israeli siege on Gaza, which has aggravated unemployment and poverty. The protesters view the sanctions as a tool in the siege of Gaza and a mechanism of collective punishment. They also reject political polarisation and the power struggle between Fatah and Hamas. Wednesdays demonstration came on the back of a similar demonstration that took place in Ramallah on Sunday and was attended by nearly two thousand people. There was very little violence in Sundays demonstration, but what happened on Wednesday night was another story. {articleGUID} On Tuesday, one day before the planned demonstration, the PA announced a ban on all forms of protests until the end of Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim holiday that marks the end of the month of Ramadan. This allowed the PA to brand the planned demonstration illegal and organise its forces to shut it down. Prior to the protest, the streets of Ramallah were filled with police. Officers were placed in strategic locations in an obvious effort to intimidate activists. Soon after the protesters started to gather, armed with nothing but posters that read Gaza unites us, security forces started to fire tear gas and throw stun grenades. Heavily armed police officers in riot gear also wielded batons and used tasers against unarmed protesters. By the end of the night, over 40 protesters had been arrested. Detained protesters suffered beatings in police vehicles and police stations. Most detainees were released promptly, but they sustained injuries. The worst violence came not from the police, but the paid thugs loyal to the Fatah party, known colloquially as baltajiyeh, who showed up to beat and intimidate protesters. Identifiable by the white caps they wore, these men were incredibly violent towards protesters and sexually harassed and assaulted several women in the crowd. The intimidation of activists in Palestine, particularly those critical of the PA, is not new. Many similar protests have been suppressed in the past, what happened on Wednesday night shouldnt surprise anyone. The leadership that attacked peaceful protesters this week has been stifling political opposition for years. It also failed to hold democratic elections for over a decade. Yet despite all its authoritarianism and aggression towards its own people, the PA still has the support of the international community and its security forces are celebrated for their efficiency. In 2006, the PA security forces were reformed and retrained in an initiative led by the United States Security Coordinator (USSC) and the European Union Coordinating Office for Palestinian Police Support (EUPOL COPPS). They have since been praised by various Israeli politicians for their cooperation and assistance in preventing so-called terrorist activities. After last Sundays protest, the PA claimed the ongoing campaign in Ramallah against Gaza sanctions was organised directly by Hamas. However, this clearly is not the case. The campaign against Gaza sanctions is a non-partisan grassroots movement. Palestinians from all backgrounds and political affiliations gathered in Ramallah on Wednesday to protest. The main goal of the campaign is to lift the sanctions that are exacerbating the suffering caused by the Israeli siege. But it is also attempting to challenge the fragmentation of the Palestinian people, stressing that they are one from Gaza to Haifa to Ramallah and that their adversary is not each other but the Israeli settler colony and all its mechanisms of control. {articleGUID} What is clearer than ever today is that the PA has lost its legitimacy. As a product of Oslo, it remains a mechanism that aims to keep the Palestinian people occupied and subdued within the 1967 territories. It fails to represent Palestinian refugees in other countries or the Palestinians living in the 1948 territories. But the international community continues its partnership with the PA and even worse, continues to fund its brutality towards its own people. The beginning of the Great March of Return protests in Gaza several months ago has shown the revival of Palestinian grassroots organising. Indeed from Haifa to Ramallah, Gaza is uniting the Palestinian people. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. The outcome of the first round of Colombias presidential elections was not surprising. It followed the general trend across Latin America of increasing polarisation on the political scene. In the June 17 runoff, right-wing candidate, Ivan Duque, who came out first with 39.1 percent of the vote, will face the left-wing Gustavo Petro, who finished second with 25.1 percent. Duque and Petro represent the two contradicting currents of political sentiment in Colombia. On the one hand, there are people who want the return of law and order through heavier policing to secure private property and guarantee economic stability. Those are the Duque voters. On the other hand, there are also many Colombians who want the growing social, economic and environmental inequalities in the country tackled and at the same time fear the return of a heavy-handed and abusive government. These are Petros voters. The centrist candidates who did not make it have called on their supporters to reject the runoff and cast a blank ballot. This decision is likely to hurt Petro much more than Duque and usher in another right-wing presidency that could endanger Colombias fragile peace. Nevertheless, Petro recently secured endorsements from several centrist politicians and started to gain the support of some centrist voters. This could tip the scale in his favour and generate a surprising result on Sunday. The peace deal with FARC The 2016 peace accords between the FARC rebel group and the Colombian government, which ended decades of conflict, are at the heart of the division in Colombia. The conservative forces in the country now represented by Duque and his mentor former President Alvaro Uribe argue that the peace deal will allow those responsible for serious war crimes escape meaningful punishment. They also say the deal puts the protection of private property at risk. They have been relatively successful in their efforts to undermine the peace accords so far. In October 2016, conservative forces managed to mobilise the Colombian electorate to reject the peace accord in a referendum. But a couple of months later, the government managed to push through a revised agreement. The progressive forces represented by Gustavo Petro, on the other hand, want the peace accord to stay as is, and for former FARC fighters to have a say in the future direction of the country. Petro, a former M-19 Marxist rebel, is promoting a leftist agenda and appealing to the most progressive sectors of Colombian society. Accusations of castro-chavismo This is the first time that a leftist candidate even gets to the second round of a presidential election, but Petro is in no position to celebrate this success he is facing significant challenges. During his time as mayor of Bogota, his administration was perceived as problematic and disorganised, and this has not been forgotten by the voters. Moreover, Petro is currently struggling to prove to the Colombian public that he can introduce an alternative model of governance to the traditional neoliberal one and at the same time maintain economic stability. More importantly, he carries the burden of constantly being compared with the leaders of neighbouring Venezuela, Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro. {articleGUID} Castro-chavismo, a neologism that describes a supposed leftist ideology that could allow communism to be installed in Colombia, is commonly being used in conservative circles to describe Petros agenda. His detractors claim that if he wins the elections, Colombias economy will sink, just like Venezuelas. This fear of the left is not exclusive to Colombia. For example, in Mexico, the leftist presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who is running on a promise to facilitate change, is also facing accusations of following this made-up ideology of Castro-chavismo. Across Latin America, following the decline of the so-called pink tide of late 1990s and early 2000s with Hugo Chavez, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, Rafael Correa, Evo Morales and the Kirchners as main exponents of socialist ideology in the region there is currently a turn towards the extreme right and Trump-style candidates in the region. Right-wing politicians such as Fabricio Alvarado, the Christian evangelical who almost won the presidency of Costa Rica, and Jair Bolsonaro, a pro-gun and anti-establishment candidate supporting the return of military rule in Brazil, are good examples of this shift in regional politics. These far-right candidates, just like Duque in Colombia, represent the most conservative positions they are proposing to sacrifice individual liberties in favour of a return to law and order. Addressing the root causes of violence What is at stake in this election is Colombias future. The new president will be responsible for not only implementing the peace deal but also making sure its conditions are observed to avoid a resurgence of violence. The decades-long Colombian conflict had its roots in deep socioeconomic inequalities and the lack of social interventions by the state mainly in the rural areas. As long as these root causes are not addressed, the risk of a conflict relapse will remain high. {articleGUID} There are very real concerns over Duques ability to overcome these challenges. To succeed, he will need to form an independent government and resist the fierce rejection of the peace process by his electoral base. Even with historically low levels of approval (14 percent), President Juan Manuel Santos managed to make significant advances in violence reduction and economic indicators in Colombia. The country also recently joined the OECD and NATO. This created a relative sense of optimism, but people living in the most isolated regions of Colombia are still doubtful about the political elites ability to improve their living conditions. Inequality is still rampant across the country. Colombias next president must be able to secure the currently uncertain future of the peace process while simultaneously creating the necessary economic conditions for a sustained and redistributive growth. The ability to unify a divided country will be fundamental to healing the wounds inflicted on Colombian society by decades of armed conflict, violence and confrontation. Political discussions in Colombia have long been focused on the fight against the rebels, but in the new post-peace-deal era, the focus must be on the fight against rampant corruption, organised crime and extreme inequality. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. MV Aquarius makes its way to the Spanish port of Valencia after being denied docking rights in Italy and Malta. Having spent several days at sea after being rejected at ports in Italy and Malta, 629 weak and exhausted refugees and migrants among them six pregnant women and more than 100 unaccompanied minors are expected to arrive in the Spanish city of Valencia on Sunday morning, according to NGOs. Matteo Salvini, Italys new far-right, anti-immigration interior minister, sparked a European diplomatic fallout when he refused to allow the MV Aquarius rescue boat to dock, tweeting on Sunday: From today, Italy will also start to say no to human trafficking, no to the business of illegal immigration, along with the hashtag #chiudiamoiporti (close the doors). After Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, a socialist who took office on June 2, offered to take the refugees in, they began the four-day journey to Valencia on Tuesday evening. The Mediterranean Sea must not become a mass grave because it has always been a bridge between cultures, nations, people from different races and languages, a bridge towards progress, commerce, contact, experiences and relationships, Monica Oltra, Valencias regional vice president, said on Friday. The refugees will arrive in three boats, as two Italian naval and coastguard vessels took on board 400 people from the overburdened rescue boat. Maltese and Italian navy ships had resupplied the Aquarius with bottles of water, food packages and clothing for the 1,300km voyage. Before their four-day journey, the refugees and migrants who had set off from Libya had remained stranded between Sicily and Malta for more than 36 hours. Italys decision to close its ports to these people is a disgrace and puts their lives at risk unnecessarily, said David Beversluis, a doctor on board the Aquarius. These people are vulnerable and they need medical attention. The Mediterranean Sea must not become a mass grave. Monica Oltra, Valencia's regional vice president Aquarius is run by SOS Mediterranee and Doctors Without Borders (MSF), who announced the expected landing day. Italys denial of a safe harbour has led to an international outcry. European politicians and NGOs rebuked Italy for what they claimed was a violation of its humanitarian responsibilities and international maritime law, which requires the nearest port to admit ships in distress. French President Emmanuel Macron launched a war of words, calling Italy irresponsible, while his partys spokesman Gabriel Attal told Public Senat TV: The Italian position makes me vomit. Italys foreign ministry then summoned the French ambassador to Rome to explain Macrons comments. Salvini struck back at France, calling on Macron to honour a 2015 deal to accept almost 10,000 migrants under an EU distribution scheme. I ask President Macron to pass from words to action, he said in a speech to parliament on Wednesday. There were suggestions that a scheduled meeting between Italys Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and Macron would not go ahead in Paris on Friday, but that meeting is now taking place. While upsetting France, Salvini found allies in Germanys Interior Minister Horst Seehofer and far-right Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who suggested Italy, Germany and Austria form an axis of the willing to tackle illegal migration. Very positive move Authorities are preparing a sailing facility near Valencia port to accommodate those on board for up to several days. Doctors on board warned of overcrowding and said several people needed immediate medical treatment for serious illnesses, including hypothermia and chemical burns. The Red Cross and local health officials will provide urgent medical care to those in need, and the UNHCR will facilitate those making asylum claims in Spain. The Aquarius is one of only three NGO boats still conducting rescue operations off the coast of Libya. This has been a very positive move from the new Spanish government to authorise the disembarkation of this group We are very grateful, said UNHCR spokesperson Rosa Otero. She said the people on board, who come from more than 20 countries including Eritrea, Ghana, Nigeria, and Sudan, were incredibly relieved to hear they would not be sent back to Libya, where migrants are often attacked and abused. Despite the Italian governments hard line towards NGO rescue boats, the Italian coastguard brought 932 migrants and refugees on shore in Catania, Sicily on Wednesday after it rescued them off the coast of Libya. So far in 2018, 44,570 refugees and migrants have crossed the Mediterranean and arrived in Europe, while 792 have died while making the perilous journey, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). What we need is for Europe not to close its borders and to have more solidarity and coordination, not responsibility shifting, said UNHCRs Otero. Comey criticised for violating policies during Clinton email probe, but report finds he wasnt politically motivated. Former FBI director James Comey was insubordinate in his handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe, but he did not exhibit any political bias, the Department of Justices internal watchdog said on Thursday. In October 2016, less than two weeks before the election, Comey sent members of Congress a letter disclosing that a probe into Clintons emails was being reopened after new emails were discovered, a disclosure Clinton contends contributed to her surprise defeat by Trump. Two days before the November 8 election, Comey said the FBI found no additional evidence in the new emails. {articleGUID} In the 500-page report, Comey is criticised for violating Justice Department policies by making these announcements, but it also says there is no evidence he did this out of political motivation. FBI Director Christopher Wray told reporters at a briefing that he accepted the inspector generals report, but stressed it did not find that political bias had impacted its investigations. The report does identify errors of judgment, violations of, or even disregard for policy and decisions that at the very least, with the benefit of hindsight, were not the best choices, Wray said. Both Democrats and Republicans have used parts of the report to support their claims about the Clinton investigation. Democrats said it confirmed political bias did not influence the Clinton investigation, while Republicans focused mainly on the newly released text messages between two FBI employees. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said Trump was briefed on the report, which she said: reaffirmed the presidents suspicions about Comeys conduct and the political bias among some of the members of the FBI. Key findings Perhaps the most damaging part of the report is the finding that several FBI employees who played critical roles in the investigation sent political messages, raising questions about their objectivity. The report reveals a previously undisclosed text message between former FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page in which Strzok said well stop Trump from becoming president. The text was in response to one from Page in which she wrote, [Trumps] not ever going to become president, right? Right?! These texts imply a willingness to take official action to impact a presidential candidates electoral prospects, the report said. The report also criticised the FBI for a one-month delay between the time new Clinton emails were found on September 26, 2016, and when the FBI finally got a search warrant to review them to search for new evidence in late October as the election loomed. Strzok was among a number of FBI employees who failed to act promptly, the report said. The FBIs inaction had potentially far-reaching consequences, the report found, noting there were no persuasive arguments to explain the delay. Aitan Goelman, Strzoks lawyer, said the report found no evidence that his political views had an impact on the Clinton probe. Both Page and Strzok have since left the FBI. {articleGUID} The investigation into Clintons email server began in 2015 and focused on whether Clinton sent or received classified information using the private server located in the basement of her New York home, which was not authorised to handle such messages. Then-FBI director Comey concluded in July 2016 that while there was evidence of potential violations regarding the handling of classified information, no reasonable prosecutor would bring a case against Clinton. The same conclusion was made after thousands of new emails were discovered several months later, shortly before the election. Trump fired Comey shortly after taking office. A court in Denmark has ordered the government to compensate 18 civilians who were tortured during the Iraq war in an operation carried out by Iraqi security forces along with a Danish battalion. In total, 23 plaintiffs had sued Denmark after they were arrested and subjected to torture and inhumane treatment in 2004 during operation Green Desert near Iraqs main port city of Basra. The appeals court in Denmarks capital, Copenhagen, ruled on Friday that although the Danish soldiers did not join in the torture, they failed to prevent the abuse. The soldiers of the Danish battalion who were sent to Iraq in 2004 and partook in the operation were not found guilty of violence against the Iraqis, the court said. However, they were aware that the prisoners faced a real risk of being physically abused by the Iraqi security forces, judges said. There was no evidence that the Danish battalion could have predicted the systemic torture and violence that took place, the court added. Eighteen plaintiffs were awarded 30,000 danish kroner (roughly $4,600). Defence Minister Claus Hjort Frederiksen said he was satisfied by the ruling exonerating the soldiers from torture, but added he would appeal the verdict because it placed Denmark in a difficult situation. This means that we can no longer contribute to improving security and therefore guaranteeing human rights in countries engaged in armed conflict, he said in a statement. Denmark has faced controversy over its role in Iraq on numerous occasions. In 2015, Denmarks Military Prosecution Service announced they would investigate Danish troops handling of Iraqi war prisoners after Politiken newspaper reported that their actions may have violated the Geneva Convention, Danish media reported at the time. A document obtained by Politiken through a freedom of information request revealed that the Danish military handed over at least 12 Iraqi prisoners of war to local authorities despite receiving orders not to do so in 2004, fearing that they would be sentenced to death by the new Iraqi government. Also in 2015, according to local media, newspaper Jyllands-Posten published a document that it said proved that former Danish Defence Minister Soren Gade tried to hide the Danish militarys agreement with security company Blackwater whose contractors killed 17 Iraqi civilians and wounded 20 in Baghdads Nisour Square in 2007. The same year the Military Prosecution Service reportedly placed a group of five Danish soldiers under investigation after they were accused of taking trophy photos of dead Iraqis. Denmark was a member of the coalition of occupying countries including the US and UK which invaded Iraq in 2003. According to The Local Denmark, the small Scandinavian country still has around 180 troops at the al-Asad airbase near Baghdad where they have been training Iraqi and Kurdish forces. Last month Denmark announced that it would withdraw around 60 special forces by late autumn since most areas in Iraq once controlled by the Islamic state of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) have been liberated. Eid in Gaza: Palestinians celebrate under siege Some 53 percent of the population live in poverty, that is more than a million people. More than 304 prisoners, including 289 convicted on terrorism charges, to regain their freedom The government of Ethiopia has said it will release more than 304 prisoners, including 289 convicted on terrorism charges, according to state media. The move is part of a raft of reforms pledged by authorities after violent unrest broke out three years ago, sparked by an urban development plan for the capital, Addis Ababa, that critics said would trigger land seizures in the surrounding Oromia region. The demonstrations quickly spread to other parts of the country, with protesters demanding wider political freedom and equality, as well as an end to human rights abuses. Those pardoned on Friday include three Kenyans, who were released following an agreement between the two countries to strengthen bilateral relations, according to a statement sent to state-affiliated Fana by Ethiopias attorney general. More than 1,000 prisoners have been released or slated for release since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in April. Abiy took office after his predecessor, Hailemariam Desalegn, abruptly resigned amid widespread anti-government protests that claimed the lives of several hundred people, mainly in the restive Oromia and Amhara regions. Among those freed in recent months are several senior opposition leaders accused of charges such as terrorism or incitement to topple the government. One of them is Andargachew Tsige who was found guilty of terrorism and sentenced to death in absentia in 2009 over his role in the opposition group Ginbot 7. The father of three was arrested during a stopover at a Yemen airport in June 2014 and taken to Ethiopia. Last month, Ethiopia lifted its state of emergency and Abiy has been making numerous changes in a country considered highly repressive by rights groups The East African state has also made moves towards repairing relations with rival and neighbour, Eritrea. FBI Clinton probe report finds investigation flawed Former FBI Director James Comey has been accused of mishandling the investigation. Daniel Cardenas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images(BROOKLYN, N.Y.) -- Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman asked a federal judge in Brooklyn to suppress statements prosecutors claim the drug kingpin made during his January 2017 extradition to the United States. In a court filing Thursday, his defense attorneys said that it is not clear whether Guzman had been informed of his rights. "Federal agents questioned Mr. Guzman as he was shackled on a DEA plane on its way to New York and the agents did not advise him of his rights," defense attorney Eduardo Balarezo said. "As a result, Mr. Guzman felt that he had no other choice but to answer the questions put to him." Guzman was flown from Mexico to the United States on Jan. 19, 2017, to face what Balarezo called "a laundry list of offenses," including operating a continuing criminal enterprise, participating in a wide-ranging drug trafficking conspiracy and distributing cocaine. Balarezo did not mention the substance of the statements made by Guzman during the flight, but he said he was made aware of them earlier this month when the government disclosed their existence in a sealed filing. "The government has not disclosed any information that indicates that the agents advised Mr. Guzman of his rights or that he waived them," Balarezo said. Judge Brian Cogan, who is overseeing the case against Guzman, did not immediately rule on the defense request. Guzman faces up to life in prison if convicted but has pleaded not guilty. His trial is set for September. Cogan has said he plans to summon as many as 1,000 potential jurors who would arrive as soon as next month to receive questionnaires. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Hes back. Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images Its become routine now. Wake up, drink some coffee, and read about the latest ethical scandal involving EPA administrator Scott Pruitt. Friday morning brought two new ones from the guy who used government staffers to find his wife a job and paid a cut rate for a Capitol Hill apartment rented to him by a lobbyist. First, from the Times, is the revelation the Pruitt pressured staff to help in personal matters and obtain special favors for his family. EPA staffers told the Times they were enlisted to set up meetings with wealthy donors, arrange personal travel, and help Pruitt get access to batting practice before a Washington Nationals game, among other personal favors. As one said, the problem with Pruitt, who is paid nearly $180,000 a year to run the EPA, is that he wants to live like Trump. He is not a billionaire, the anonymous aide said. But he sincerely thinks he is. Thats one bad story for Pruitt this morning. Heres another: In January, he reportedly used his position to get 50-yard-line tickets to the Rose Bowl. Pruitt bought tickets five days prior to the sold-out game, which saw the Oklahoma Sooners take on the Georgia Bulldogs, and paid the face-value price of $175, the Times reports. Tickets for equivalent seats were on sale on the secondary market for as much as seven times the price paid by Mr. Pruitt, data from two ticket companies show, the paper adds. And who did Pruitt buy them from? An energy company PR executive from Oklahoma. President Trump was asked about Pruitt Friday morning and despite the never-ending trickle of scandals, he endorsed the EPA administrator, albeit tepidly. Im not happy about certain things, but hes done a fantastic job running the EPA, Trump said. Seems the president is interested not in the daily headlines about Pruitts unethical behavior, but in those marking his never-ending mission to dismantle environmental protections. This post has been updated to reflect a correction in the New York Times reporting that Pruitt requested a letter of recommendation for his daughter from Virginia lawmaker William Howell while he was EPA chief. He was the attorney general of Oklahoma at the time. South Korean and Japanese officials react to Trumps decision, as analysts warn of weakened US alliance in the region. The presence of US troops in South Korea is not subject to negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington, as they are a matter for the alliance between United States and South Korea, a senior official in the presidential office in Seoul said. The unnamed official issued the statement on Friday, even as Seoul acknowledged that there have been discussions with the US about the possibility of suspending decades of joint military exercises, which Pyongyang considers as a provocative action against North Korea. President Moon Jae-in has already stated his position with regard to Korea-US joint exercises, and the National Security Council said its going to consult closely with the US based on that, the senior official was quoted by Yonhap news agency as saying. In accordance with the guidelines, Korea-US discussions have already begun, he said. US President Donald Trump had said on Tuesday that he would stop expensive, provocative military exercises with South Korea, following his historic summit in Singapore with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Trump also stated during his news conference in Singapore that he wants to draw down American troops in the Korean Peninsula at some point in the future, although not as a part of the negotiations with Kim. Trumps statements initially caught US allies South Korea and Japan by surprise, according to news reports. There have also been reports that Trump failed to inform the US defence department about his decision, before making the announcement public. On Thursday, South Koreas Moon expressed his willingness to suspend the joint military drills, saying that it is necessary to flexibly change military pressure on North Korea if it implements denuclearisation measures. Pillar of peace and stability In Tokyo on Friday, Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera reiterated that there was no change in Japans stance on joint military training with US and South Korean forces. At a press conference, Onodera said defence cooperation between Japan, the US and South Korea is an important pillar to ensure regional peace and stability. Meanwhile, former US officials and defence analysts said Trumps decision on joint military exercises could weaken allied defenses in the Asia-Pacific, and potentially damage diplomatic relations in the region. Those exercises are critically important because they are deterrence, said Chuck Hagel, a former defence secretary in administration of former US President Barack Obama. Hagel, a former Republican senator, welcomed Trumps willingness to talk to Kim but worried that the president has underestimated the complications he has introduced for the Pentagon by suspending the military drills. You dont just shut them on and off like a water faucet, he said. The US has stationed combat troops in South Korea since the Korean War ended in 1953 with an armistice and no peace treaty. Trumps dubious assertion Currently, there are an estimated 28,000 US forces in South Korea. Annual large-scale exercises in the Korean Peninsula are done to ensure that evolving tactics, procedures and plans can be carried out smoothly, and that US and South Korean forces are in sync. They also are a means of showing allied solidarity, which is part of the psychology of deterring enemy attack. The next major exercise with South Korea is known as Ulchi Freedom Guardian; last years version was held for 11 days in August and involved about 17,500 US troops. Michael Green, who was Asia director on the National Security Council staff during the George W Bush administration, said the likely damage from suspending drills is multiplied by Trumps failure to inform South Korean and Japanese officials in advance and his focus on cost-savings. This was then compounded, in Greens view, by Trumps dubious assertion on Twitter that North Korea no longer poses a nuclear threat. The number one problem with this, geopolitically, is that it suggests to our allies that we are just incompetent, that we dont recognise the threat, Green told the Associated Press news agency. Christine Wormuth, the Pentagons top policy official from 2014 to 2016, also criticised Trumps statement likening it to North Korean and Chinese talking points. Charity accuses French border police of withholding food and water and forcibly returning minors to Italy. Children as young as 12 and other vulnerable refugees and migrants have been physically and verbally abused by French border guards, international human rights organisation Oxfam said on Friday. Citing witness statements, Oxfam accused French police of repeatedly withholding food, water and blankets from underage refugees who crossed the border into France from the Italian town of Ventimiglia, where some 16,500 refugees currently live. French police officers are not upholding international standards, Oxfams Chiara Romagno said in a statement. They taunt children and mistreat them. Some children have had the soles of their shoes cut off before being sent back to Italy, she added. The report said children complained about being physically and verbally abused, and detained overnight in cells without food, water or blankets and with no access to an official guardian, all contrary to French and EU law. In one case, a very young Eritrean girl was forced to walk back across the border along a road with no pavement carrying her 40-day-old baby, the report said. According to European law, unaccompanied children requesting asylum cannot be sent back to where they came from. Most of the refugees were fleeing persecution and war in countries such as Sudan, Eritrea, Syria and Afghanistan. The French authorities do not recognise any of them as asylum seekers and push them back to Italy immediately after crossing, even though they are required by law to assess the situation of each child, the report, which is based on dozens of testimonies, says. {articleGUID} Moreover, there are no interpreters or lawyers present at the border. According to French law, children who are not considered asylum seekers in France should have a legal guardian assigned to them and be given at least 24 hours before being sent back. Based on the testimonies, Oxfam said French police do not follow these laws. Police push them The report also accused the police of sometimes filling in documents for the refugee children. In the field vos droits (your rights) they often write I want to leave as soon as possible, as if being immediately pushed back is the childs choice which in almost all cases, it isnt, the report found. Policemen yell at them, laugh at them, push them and tell them you will never cross here. Some children have their mobile phones seized and the SIM card removed, it also said. They cannot even call their parents. {articleGUID} The report said Roja Camp, the official camp set up outside Ventimiglia, was vastly overstretched and that the heavy police presence at the entrance and compulsory fingerprinting deter many from staying there. Most refugees and migrants preferred to live rough, sleeping under a motorway outside town with no sanitation facilities or clean water. In Ventimiglia, there are no arrangements to take care of the returned children. Once off the train, they are left to fend for themselves, the report said. Oxfam said France should immediately stop and punish the illegal practices of the French police at the French-Italian border, ensure the right to seek asylum for all foreign children in French territory and take care of them according to the provisions of national, European and other international laws. An EU scheme to distribute migrants and refugees equitably among the blocs members has failed miserably, with central European members flatly refusing the quotas and others, including France, falling far short of their allocated target. Italy has received more than 700,000 migrants and refugees since 2013. Many West Africans try to continue on to France, where they speak the language and often have relatives, only to find the border shut to them. Thousands of those who manage to cross the Alps into France have been detained and sent back to Italy. Far-right parties, groups and newspapers have responded to North Macedonia name deal with outrage. Athens, Greece Anger is mounting in Greece over an historic agreement between Athens and Skopje, with far-right calls for military rule and firing squads to execute politicians. Nikos Voutsis, a member of the ruling Syriza party and president of the Greek parliament, on Friday called for an emergency meeting to temporarily ban the neo-fascist Golden Dawn party from parliament. The party was subsequently barred from discussions on a no-confidence measure moving forward. I call on the countrys military leadership to respect its oath: to arrest Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras [Defence Minister] Panos Kammenos and President Prokopis Pavlopoulos in order to prevent this treason, Golden Dawn parliamentarian Constantinos Barbarousis said. Other members of the party who attended the session cheered and clapped as Barbarousis made the remarks. The comments were made during a debate over the no-confidence motion filed by the centre-right New Democracy party on Thursday in the wake of the government announcing a name deal between Greece and its northern neighbour. Voutsis ordered that Golden Dawn be temporarily banned from parliament owing to its lawmakers open call for a coup. Later on Friday, Golden Dawn leader Nikos Michaloliakos expelled Barbarousis from the partys parliamentary group. Giorgos Kiritsis, a Syriza parliamentarian, said the Barbarousis comments create a dangerous situation. The extremists of Golden Dawn are threatening democracy and threatening their political adversaries, saying that they want their heads, Kiritsis told Al Jazeera, explaining that Barbarousiss remarks are part of a broader wave of far-right incitement to violence. Announced earlier this week, the agreement is expected to be signed in the coming days. On June 12, Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev announced that the agreement was reached and would see the countrys name changed to the Republic of North Macedonia. In Greece, where a northern region is called Macedonia, there has been strong opposition to allowing the countrys northern neighbour to use any version of the name. Far-right parties, groups and newspapers have responded to the deal with anger, some of them calling for violence and others calling for the government to be removed. Protesters demonstrate against the agreement reached by Greece and Macedonia to resolve a name dispute [Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters] The two countries have been at loggerheads over the name for decades, and it has been a barrier to joining NATO and the European Union for the Republic of Macedonia since it became independent in 1991. Although the country was admitted into the United Nations as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), upwards of 140 countries refer to it as the Republic of Macedonia. In Skopje, there has also been a heavy backlash against the agreement, with the president declaring his refusal to sign off on the deal. {articleGUID} There is a question of the justice system and what they do when they hear calls for a coup, Kiritsis added. This is open call for military intervention. Justice Minister Stavros Kontonis subsequently ordered an investigation into the legislators comments, and Defence Minister Panos Kammenos called for criminal charges to be filed. A supreme court prosecutor also ordered a probe into whether the comments constituted treason. Fatal blow Barbarousiss comments fall in a broader wave of calls for the government, which is currently ruled by a coalition between the left-wing Syriza party and right-wing junior coalition partner ANEL, to be punished. At the time of publication, Golden Dawns press office had not replied to Al Jazeeras request for comment. In a statement published on its website, the far-right party accused Voutsis of a Stalinist measure by striving to remove Golden Dawn from parliament. That statement also said the government has no right to make anti-Hellenic decisions like the name deal. On Wednesday, Ilias Zagoreos, the head of Athenss First-Instance Prosecutors office, ordered the investigation into potential incitement to commit a crime and other infractions by a right-wing tabloid. The move came after the tabloid, Makeleio, published an edition with a front-page image depicting the prime minister, president and foreign minister being executed by a firing squad for supposedly selling out Greeces exclusive right to the name Macedonia. At eight metres, like Beloyiannis, Makeleios cover story was titled, referring to Nikos Beloyannis, a Greek communist rebel leader who was executed in 1952. Greek PM Alexis Tsipras addresses the parliament ahead of a debate over the name deal [Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters] The puppets of the collaborators handed over our Macedonia to the Albanian-Slavs with the false name North Macedonia, the subheading read. Pavlopoulos Tsipras Kotzias: firing squad with a shot in the head for the fatal blow. On Thursday, the tabloids publisher, Stefanos Chios, was arrested outside his offices in the Kallithea area of Athens in relation to the investigation, the Greek daily Ekathimerini reported. The name deal has also prompted a backlash from some centrist and left-wing parties, including the Greek Communist Party (KKE). Citing US, EU and NATO support for the agreement, the KKE said in a statement that it cannot provide a solution for the benefit of the Greek people, the people of the neighbouring country and all the peoples of the region. On Saturday, a rally against the deal is slated to take place in the northern coastal city of Thessaloniki. Petros Constantinou, national director of the Athens-based anti-fascist group Keerfa, warned that far-right groups have capitalised on anger over the name deal to gain currency among everyday Greeks. {articleGUID} The nationalist campaign for the name of Macedonia is a chance for the far-right and the neo-Nazis in Golden Dawn to attempt to gain legitimacy in the streets, he told Al Jazeera. They are organising, by wearing the mask of patriotism, to appeal to a national audience. This is the twelfth person to die while being held in the two offshore detention centres Australia sends refugees to. A 26-year-old Iranian refugee has died in a prison camp on the island of Nauru after an apparent suicide. According to human rights organisation Refugee Action Coalition, the mans body was found on Saturday morning inside his family tent in the RCP3 detention centre. He is the twelfth person to die in Australian offshore detention and the fifth asylum seeker to die on Nauru. #BREAKING Were devastated beyond words to be receiving reports a young man has died on #Nauru having completed suicide. We ask that his identity be kept confidential until such time as his families wishes can be ascertained. Please respect their privacy at this tragic time. ASRC (@ASRC1) June 15, 2018 Apart from the mans wife, his severely ill mother and a 12-year-old brother are also being held on Nauru. {articleGUID} Based on a medical report by Australias International Health and Medical Services, the man suffered from severe depression after being held in detention in Iran when he was 10 years old. The death once again highlights the dire conditions refugees endure when dealing with Australias strict immigration policies. Under those policies, asylum seekers attempting to reach the country by boat are intercepted and sent to one of two offshore detention centres. The camp in Nauru is home to women, children and families, while the other one, on the Papua New Guinean island of Manus, houses single men. In total, about 1,600 people are currently being held in the two camps. There are 100s of people in urgent need of medical care to address complex conditions including major depression and suicidal ideation, who are being denied care under the Minister, Natascha Bucher, detention advocacy manager for the NGO Asylum Seeker Resource Center, said in a statement. The death comes two weeks after a Rohingya refugee committed suicide on Manus. {articleGUID} Behrooz Boochani, an Iranian refugee and journalist held captive on Manus, said on Twitter the Australian authorities were responsible for the death, despite Australia referring the case to the Nauru authorities. More blood on the hands of Peter Dutton. These deaths can not be ignored. Australia wake up! Stand against these murderers. 12 people killed by this system so far and there will be more soon if its not stopped immediately!#Manus Behrouz Boochani (@BehrouzBoochani) June 15, 2018 Department of Home Affairs has referred the case to Nauruan authorities as always. Its Australia that is responsible for his death not Nauru! You are the one who exiled people there and denied them medical treatment and support. Dutton must give an answer to people!#Nauru Behrouz Boochani (@BehrouzBoochani) June 15, 2018 In 2016, an Iranian man was fined $155 for attempted suicide, a criminal offence in Nauru. The man, the sole guardian of his eight-year-old daughter in the detention centre, pleaded guilty to the offence of attempted suicide, according to a Nauru government statement. The Nauru government said prosecutors wanted to deter other would-be offenders who resort to self-harm to avoid lawful actions against them or to get what they want. The leaders of Italy and France have urged the European Union to set up asylum processing centres in Africa to prevent refugees and migrants from undertaking the journey across the Mediterranean. French President Emmanuel Macron and Italys new populist Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte met in Paris on Friday in a bid to bury the hatchet after a bitter diplomatic squabble erupted this week over Romes refusal to accept the Aquarius, a refugee and migrant rescue ship, at its ports. We should create European centres in the countries of departure, Conte told a press conference, referring to African nations that have seen an exodus towards Europe in recent years. His comments were echoed by Macron, who told reporters he supported the idea of branches of our asylum agencies to tackle this question on the other side of the Mediterranean. The two leaders also called for changes to the European Unions asylum rules, which put the migrant burden on their port of entry to Europe mainly Italy and Greece. Conte singled out the Dublin regulations, under which the EU country where an asylum seeker first arrives must deal with their application, as needing change. The very concept of a state of first entry needs to be rethought, he argued. Whoever sets foot in Italy sets foot in Europe. We are drafting our own proposal, said Conte, adding that it will be presented during the Austrian presidency of the European Council beginning next month. Macron urged greater solidarity with Rome over the migrant crisis, calling for profound reforms of the Dublin regulation. There have been few signs that European leaders are ready to coordinate their policies despite a looming end-of-June deadline to change the EUs current asylum rules. In Germany, Europes biggest economy, Chancellor Angela Merkel is embroiled in a showdown with the right wing of her governing coalition, which is demanding that she immediately ditch her liberal migration policy and tighten border controls. On Wednesday, Germanys Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said Austria and Italy should ally themselves with Germany to work at the interior minister level on security and immigration. Merkel is very much against starting to send people back but its clear her interior minister wants to do that, Al Jazeeras Nadim Baba, reporting from Paris, said. She [could] be forced into a situation where she would have to sack him; [if so] her government would collapse and probably she would no longer be chancellor, so she is desperately trying to come to some sort of agreement which involves other countries, he added. In Paris, both Macron and Conte slapped down an axis of the willing proposed this week by hardliners such as Contes own interior minister, Matteo Salvini, and Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who says he also has the support Seehofer. I would want an axis of the willing comprising all European countries, Conte said. Macron said that any decisions on joint migration policy involving France, Germany and Italy would be taken by their respective presidents and prime ministers. Terms such as axis have never brought us anything good in the past, Macron remarked, before suggesting that Salvinis links with fellow migration hardliners might be put to better use persuading them to help Italy deal with its arrivals. So, if Austria, Hungary and some others, thanks to these special contacts, can provide more of the solidarity that Italy needs, its very good news for Italy and for everyone, Macron said. Speaking alongside Macron in Paris, Conte said the two had fully clarified their views and were in perfect agreement. The spat between France and Italy erupted this week after Macron accused Rome of cynicism and irresponsibility for refusing to let the Aquarius dock. Italys new government hit back, accusing Paris of giving hypocritical lessons and threatening to pull out of the meeting with Macron. Rome also summoned the French ambassador over the dispute the second time it has done so over the migrant crisis in two months. Macron, who has taken a tough line on migration from African countries that are not at war, said that none of his comments were intended to offend Italy or the Italian people. In a further gesture of reconciliation, the French foreign ministry said it was ready to welcome migrants on board Aquarius who meet the criteria for asylum after they arrive in Spain. The former PM could be charged with money laundering and misappropriation of property, Reuters reports. Malaysian authorities investigating scandal-hit state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) are considering charging Najib Razak, the former prime minister, with money laundering and misappropriation of property, according to an exclusive Reuters report on Friday. A source close to the investigations told Reuters news agency that Najib may be charged with dishonest misappropriation of property under the Malaysian Penal Code. The source declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak on the matter. Najib, who established 1MDB in 2009, is the subject of a money laundering and corruption probe after reports surfaced that millions of dollars allegedly made their way into his personal bank accounts from the fund and its former subsidiary, SRC International. The former premier has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to 1MDB. Najib, 64, suffered a shock loss in the May 9 general election, the first change of government since Malaysia gained independence from Britain in 1957. Mahathir Mohamad, who was elected prime minister, has vowed to bring back funds allegedly siphoned from 1MDB and punish those responsible. Malaysias new Attorney General Tommy Thomas said on Tuesday his office was studying possible criminal and civil action after receiving investigation papers on 1MDB from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). The offence that Najib could face carries a maximum jail sentence of five years, a fine and whipping. The law, however, forbids men over the age of 50 from being whipped. Any fine would be decided by the court depending on the offence and amount misappropriated. According to Reuters source, Najib may also face money laundering charges, which would carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail and a fine of no less than five times the value of the laundered proceeds. It is now up to the attorney general to decide whether or to accept the recommendations, file different charges or call for further investigations. The previous attorney general cleared Najib of wrongdoing in relation to 1MDB. The MACC, the attorney generals office, nor Najibs spokesman did not respond to Reuters requests for comment. Major scandal to be revealed Najib said this week that if he was charged on political grounds he was confident the courts would find him innocent. The 1MDB fund is the subject of money-laundering probes globally, including in the United States, Switzerland and Singapore. The US Department of Justice alleges that more than $4.5bn was misappropriated from 1MDB, about $700m of which ended up in Najibs personal bank accounts. On Monday, police raided another house linked to Najib in the administrative capital of Putrajaya, the latest premises to be searched in connection with their investigation into 1MDB. Authorities seized hundreds of luxury handbags and dozens of other bags filled with jewellery and cash in earlier searches of premises linked to Najib. MACC this week called on four individuals to assist in its probe of 1MDB, including an aide to Jho Low a central figure in the 1MDB scandal closely linked to Najib and his family. Meanwhile, Malaysian Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng told Singapores Channel News Asia that Najib is fully responsible for the problems at 1MDB, adding that one more major scandal could be revealed soon. I would personally think that he is fully responsible, Lim said. Only the finance minister can authorise these transactions. During his time as prime minister, Najib also held the position of finance minister. Mahathirs new administration said that abuses during the time of Najib pushed the countrys debt to over $251.7bn. Migrant Ship row: Italians and French leaders to meet A rescue ship drifting afloat the Mediterranean, with more than 600 onboard, was denied the right to dock in Italy and Malta the two closest countries. Nicaragua: 24-hour strike did not halt the protests At least seven people have died in renewed fighting between protesters and security forces in Nicaragua. Afghan defence ministry says Mullah Fazlullah, leader of Pakistans Taliban, died in attack in northeastern Kunar. The leader of Pakistans Taliban armed group has been killed by a drone strike in neighbouring Afghanistans remote Kunar province, Afghan officials have said. Mullah Fazlullah, believed to have been operating from hideouts in the forests of eastern Afghanistan, has been at the top of Pakistans most wanted list and has been falsely reported killed on numerous occasions. I confirm that Mullah Fazlullah, leader of the Pakistani Taliban, has been killed in an joint air operation [with the US] in the border area of Marawera district of Kunar province, Mohammad Radmanish, spokesman for Afghan defence ministry, told Reuters news agency on Friday. He said the air attack was carried out at about 9am local time on Thursday. In a separate statement to The Associated Press news agency, Radmanish said that two other armed fighters were killed alongside Fazlullah. Later on Friday, the Pakistani army said that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani called Pakistani army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa to share the news of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leaders death. Killing of TTP commander is a positive development, the Pakistani army said in a statement. Pakistan military leadership has always maintained that a cooperative and coordinated approach is the best response to the menace of terrorism. President of Afghanistan Mr Ashraf Ghani called COAS and shared news about killing of Mullah Fazal Ullah (MFU) in a drone strike in Kunar Province of Afghanistan. MFU was hiding there since 2009 and masterminded scores of terrorist attacks against Pakistan including APS. pic.twitter.com/6TltYn46nL DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) June 15, 2018 TTP acknowledged that its leader had been killed, according to Turkeys Anadolu Agency. The group accused the Afghan intelligence service NDS, which has long been suspected by Pakistan of harbouring Fazlullah, of providing information for the drone attack. According to a statement attributed to US Forces-Afghanistan spokesman, Lt Col Martin ODonnell, the US carried out a counterterrorism strike near the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan targeting a senior leader of a designated terrorist organisation. ODonnell said the US and NATO continue to adhere to Afghanistans ceasefire declaration with the Afghan Taliban. But he said the ceasefire does not include US counterterrorism efforts against other armed groups in the region. In March, Fazlullahs son, Abdullah, was among 20 TTP armed fighters killed in a US drone attack also in Kunar. Afghanistans Kunar Province is located at the northern border with Pakistan [Al Jazeera] Fazlullah became the leader of TTP in November 2013 following the death of Hakimullah Mehsud, who was killed in a US drone attack in North Waziristan. Fazlullah had been described as a ruthless fighter who was vehemently anti-state and against peace talks. He was the first commander of the TTP not to come from the Mehsud tribe in Pakistans tribal areas, hailing instead from the northwestern valley of Swat, where he waged a bloody war against the Pakistani state from 2007 to 2009. Fazlullah fled to Afghanistans Kunar province in 2009 after a major military operation by Pakistans military forces and was able to regroup there. As leader of the Pakistani Taliban, he planned a number of attacks, including one at a school in Peshawar in 2014 that killed about 150 people many of whom were children. His apparent killing by a US air strike could open the door for stronger cooperation between Pakistan, Afghanistan and the US. The US wants to get Pakistan on board; taking out Pakistans Osama bin Laden really offers quite a strong incentive for Pakistan now to cooperate, said Michael Semple, of Queens University Belfast. What his death will mean for the Pakistani Taliban is unclear, but Al Jazeeras Kamal Hyder, reporting from the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, said the news comes at a time as both Kabul and Islamabad are trying to improve relations. Pakistan had already complained to Afghanistan that Fazlullah was operating from Afghan soil; he was able to move from Kunar and Nuristan [province] Pakistan had demanded from Aghanistan and the US earlier also to target Fazlullah, Hyder said. But indeed once confirmed, this is a huge loss to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and of course will be considered a major step for Pakistan improving relations with the United States to an extent and also removing the mistrust with the Afghans. Pakistan has often accused US and Afghan forces of not doing enough to target TTP forces living on the Afghan side of the volatile Pakistan-Afghanistan border, where they fled following a series of military operations by Pakistan. While violence has dropped in recent years, the TTP and its affiliates continue to carry out sporadic large-scale attacks targeting Pakistani security forces and civilians. At least 748 civilians and security forces were killed in violence perpetrated by the TTP and other armed groups in 2017, down from a peak of at least 3,739 in 2012, according to the South Asia Terrorism Portal, a New Delhi based research organisation. Pakistans military says that it has killed at least 4,000 fighters working for the TTP and its allies since 2013. In January, US President Donald Trump cut more than $1.1bn in military assistance to Pakistan over allegations that it was providing safe haven to members of the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani Network. Pakistan denies the charges, alleging that it is being scapegoated for the failure of US-led coalition forces to secure Afghanistan after more than 16 years of war. A federal judge sends Paul Manafort to jail pending trial after he was accused of attempting to tamper with witnesses. A judge in the United States has revoked the house arrest of President Donald Trumps former campaign chairman, ordering that he be held in jail while awaiting trial. Paul Manafort was ordered into custody on Friday following new obstruction of justice charges filed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller last week. Manafort is facing multiple charges of money laundering, bank fraud and illegal lobbying. He was among the first to be indicted by Mueller, who is heading up the main investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential elections. After turning himself in to the FBI in October, Manafort was placed under house arrest on a $10m bond. Last week, Mueller issued a motion saying that Manafort had contacted witnesses by phone and encrypted text messaging for the purpose of securing materially false testimony. It added that such activities amounted to a violation of his bail terms. I cannot turn a blind eye, US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said on Friday. Youve abused the trust placed in you. Trump: Very unfair Al Jazeeras Patty Culhane, reporting from Washington, DC, described the news as a a very big deal, adding that it is going to put incredible pressure on Manafort to try and come to some sort of arrangement with the special counsel. Culhane noted, however, despite the fact that 22 people have so far been charged in Muellers investigation, with five pleading guilty and his former campaign manager now going behind bars, support among Trumps base has not moved. They say they are losing confidence in the special counsel, Culhane said. For his part, Trump took to Twitter to criticise the judges decision as very unfair. Wow, what a tough sentence for Paul Manafort, who has represented Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole and many other top political people and campaigns. Didnt know Manafort was the head of the Mob. What about Comey and Crooked Hillary and all of the others? Very unfair! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 15, 2018 Manafort was accused of witnesses tampering along with longtime associate Konstantin Kilimnik. Prosecutors said they tried to convince two witnesses to say they had not lobbied in the US for former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich. Thinnest of evidence Manaforts lawyers said the charges were based on the thinnest of evidence. Mr Manafort asked no one to provide a false affidavit or false testimony at trial, or perjure themselves, and he has not given nor offered to give any potential witness anything in exchange for false testimony, a court filing issued last Friday said. Manafort is facing trials in Virginia and Washington, DC, with the former scheduled to start in July. In February, he pleaded not guilty to charges of money laundering, illegal lobbying and lying, setting up the first trial to result from Muellers investigation, due to begin on September 17. In March, he also pleaded not guilty to charges of bank and tax fraud, setting up the July trial. St. Paul would probably like Jeff Sessions to keep his name out of his mouth. Photo: Getty Images When he spoke to a law enforcement group in Indiana today, the attorney general of the United States was clearly angry about religious objections to his administrations immigration policies. He may have had in mind incidents like this very important one this week (as noted by the National Catholic Reporter): The U.S. bishops began their annual spring assembly by condemning recent immigration policies from the Trump administration that have separated families at the U.S.-Mexico border and threatened to deny asylum for people fleeing violence. The morning session here began with a statement, but by its end escalated to numerous bishops endorsing the idea of sending a delegation to the border to inspect the detention facilities where children are being kept and even floating the possibility of canonical penalties for those involved in carrying out the policies. Being a Protestant and all, Sessions has no fear of the kind of canonical penalties Catholic bishops might levy. But perhaps he is aware of an official resolution passed by his own United Methodist Church in 2008 (and reaffirmed in 2016), which reads in part: The fear and anguish so many migrants in the United States live under are due to federal raids, indefinite detention, and deportations which tear apart families and create an atmosphere of panic. Millions of immigrants are denied legal entry to the US due to quotas and race and class barriers, even as employers seek their labor. US policies, as well as economic and political conditions in their home countries, often force migrants to leave their homes. With the legal avenues closed, immigrants who come in order to support their families must live in the shadows and in intense exploitation and fear. In the face of these unjust laws and the systematic deportation of migrants instituted by the Department of Homeland Security, Gods people must stand in solidarity with the migrants in our midst. So Sessions decided hed smite all these ninny-faced liberal clerics with his own interpretation of the intersection of Christianity and immigration: In his remarks, Sessions hit back at the concerns raised by our church friends about separating families, calling the criticism not fair or logical and quoting scripture in his defense of the administrations tough policies. Persons who violate the law of our nation are subject to prosecution. I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13 to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained them for the purpose of order, Sessions said. Orderly and lawful processes are good in themselves and protect the weak and lawful. Those who are unacquainted with the Bible should be aware that the brief seven-verse portion of St. Pauls Epistle to the Romans has been throughout the ages cited to oppose resistance to just about every unjust law or regime you can imagine. As the Atlantics Yoni Appelbaum quickly pointed out, it was especially popular among those opposing resistance to the Fugitive Slave Act in the run-up to the Civil War. It was reportedly Adolf Hitlers favorite biblical passage. And it was used by defenders of South African Apartheid and of our own Jim Crow. Sessionss suggestion that Romans 13 represents some sort of absolute, inflexible rule for the universe has been refuted by religious authorities again and again, most quoting St. Augustine in saying that an unjust law is no law at all, and many drawing attention to the overall context of Pauls epistle, which was in many respects the great charter of Christian liberty and the great rebuke to legalism in every form. Paul was pretty clearly rejecting a significant sentiment among Christians of his day: that civil authorities deserved no obedience in any circumstance. Beyond that, even if taken literally, in Romans 13 Paul is the shepherd telling the sheep that just as they must love their enemies, they must also recognize that the wolf is part of a divinely established order. In todays context, Jeff Sessions is the wolf, and no matter what you think of his policies, he is not entitled to quote the shepherd on his own behalf. Maybe those desperate women and men at the border should suck it up and accept their terrible lot in life and defer to Jeff Sessionss idolatry toward those portions of secular immigration law that he and his president actually support. But for the sake of all thats holy, dont quote the Bible to make the Trump administrations policies towards immigrant families sound godly. And keep St. Paul out of it. Afghans express joy as they celebrate end of Ramadan, but fears over ISIL violence simmer. For 15 years, Ehsan Shafaq could not return to his neighbourhood in Afghanistans southern Ghazni province. Unending violence in Afghanistan since late 2001, when the Taliban was toppled in a US-led invasion, had not spared his home in the district of Khwaja Omari. With his parents and sister, Shafaq fled to Iran in 2003 in search of a secure and better life. His family still lives in Iran, but in 2011, Shafaq returned to Afghanistan to study law at Kabul University. Although back in his home country, he was still unable to visit his relatives in Ghazni as fighting between the Taliban and government forces escalated. When I returned back to Kabul for my education, I saw that the situation was even worse than the day we left, the 20-year-old told Al Jazeera. But I still did not want to return back to Iran. I was determined to finish my degree in law in my own country. On Friday, the first day of the Eid holiday marking the end of Ramadan, Shafaq was finally able to travel to Khwaja Omari from Kabul to meet his remaining family members and reminisce about his childhood. The day was an Eid of calm and peace, he said, speaking by phone as the days festivities came to an end. Unexpected ceasefire In an unexpected move, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on June 5 announced an unconditional ceasefire with the Taliban until June 20, coinciding with the end of the holy fasting month. On June 9, the Taliban announced that their fighters would stop attacking Afghan security forces for the first three days of Eid. The overlapping ceasefire fostered a rare assurance of peace in the war-torn country. This is a dream I think, this peace has been the dream of every Afghan in this country, luckily I am alive to witness it, said Shafaq. I am sure I will be safe because I know the Taliban will not attack me. We are civilians and want nothing but peaceful and happy life in our country. Heavy fighting between the Taliban and security forces had gripped the provinces of Ghazni, Farah and Faryab in recent weeks. In May, Farah, one of the largest cities of southwestern Afghanistan in terms of population, was on the verge of falling to the Taliban. Had it fallen, it would have become the second city after Kunduz to succumb to the armed groups rule since the war began. Stay safe Another resident of Kabul, 27-year-old Siyaam Nayab, decided to travel by road to the northeastern Panjshir province after the Talibans ceasefire announcement. Although he is confident that the Taliban will not carry out any attacks, he believes Afghanistan is facing threats from other armed groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS), which has killed hundreds in recent years. The ceasefire between the Afghan government and the Taliban does not mean we wont be targeted by other armed groups. We are still living under threat, Nayab told Al Jazeera. Several Afghans took to social media to post images of crowded squares, with families out in the streets to celebrate Eid. Commentators also shared their optimism over the ceasefire. Mosharraf Zaidi, former adviser to Pakistans foreign ministry, tweeted: Good to see real unity and happiness across Afghanistan. Long may peace last in that beautiful, amazing country. According to a recent report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), 229 districts were under Afghan government control which is about 56.3 percent of total Afghan districts, as of January 31, 2018. There were 59 districts, or approximately 14.5 percent, under rebel control. The remaining 119 districts, about 29.2 percent, are contested controlled by neither the Afghan government nor the rebellion. I want to take this ceasefire as a positive step that is taken towards building peace in Afghanistan, however, we should still stay safe, said Nayab. US officials say 1,995 minors separated from parents or legal guardians over six weeks under sharply criticised policy. Almost 2,000 children have been separated from their parents or legal guardians at the US-Mexico border since a highly criticised zero tolerance immigration policy came into place, according to US officials. A Department of Homeland Security spokesman told reporters on Friday that 1,995 minors were separated from 1,940 adults who crossed the US border without documents between April 19 and May 31. The adults were held in preparation of prosecution for undocumented entry into the United States, immigration violations, or possible criminal conduct. All cases of undocumented entry are being referred for criminal prosecution under the zero tolerance policy announced by Attorney General Jeff Sessions in May. The separations are a consequence of this prosecution, as minors cannot be held with their parents or legal guardians. The policy has come under fire from politicians, immigration advocates and human rights groups. Earlier this month, thousands of people rallied in cities across the US calling on US President Donald Trump to reverse the policy. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights last week said the practice amounts to arbitrary and unlawful interference in family life, and is a serious violation of the rights of the child. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called the policy shameful and said theres no policy justification for it. Reacting to the separations of nearly 2,000 children from their families, California Senator also urged the Trump administration to end the immoral policy. BREAKING: The Associated Press is now reporting that almost 2,000 children have been separated from their families in just 6 weeks. The Trump Administration must end this immoral policy immediately. Kamala Harris (@SenKamalaHarris) June 15, 2018 On Thursday, Sessions cited Christian scripture to justify detaining children separately from their fathers and said that, Consistent, fair application of law is in itself a good and moral thing, and it protects the weak. A day later, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders drew further anger and ridicule from many online after seemingly invoking the Bible to justify the Trump administrations policy. Shortly after taking office, Trump signed an executive order, expanding the powers of the Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency to focus on detaining most undocumented immigrants, including those with no criminal record. The number of interior removals or deportations of those already in the US grew by 37 percent during Trumps first year in office when compared with the same period in 2016, according to government data. Sessions has also recently come under fire for issuing a ruling that may make it nearly impossible for domestic abuse and gang violence survivors to seek asylum in the US. David Parnham from the eastern English town of Lincoln faces several charges including soliciting to murder. A man has been arrested in the UK in connection with a series of letters sent out to mosques and community groups, which threatened Muslims with torture and murder on April 3 of this year. British media outlets named the suspect as 35-year-old David Parnham from the eastern English city of Lincoln. Police officials said Parnham is accused of 14 offences, including soliciting murder. Punish a Muslim Day passed without major incident but drew the attention of British Counterterrorism officials, who launched an investigation into the letters. The letters promised points for accomplishing a series of tasks that involved harming Muslims, starting with 10 points for verbally abusing Muslims and ending with 2,500 points for the ambitious objective of setting off a nuclear bomb in the Muslim holy city of Mecca. One challenge included torturing a Muslim using electricity, skinning or the use of a rack. The leaflet said: They have hurt you, they have made your loved ones suffer. They have caused you pain and heartache. What are you going to about it? Officials said properties related to the suspect were being searched but that there was no immediate threat to the public. There are more than 2.5 million Muslims in Britain, where Islam is the second-largest religion. Beijing says they will impose measures of the same scale and strength after Washington announces tariffs. The White House has announced a 25 percent tariff on $50bn worth of Chinese goods over unfair trade practices. The goods targeted by the levies contain industrially significant technologies, a White House statement said on Friday. In light of Chinas theft of intellectual property and technology and its other unfair trade practices, the United States will implement a 25 percent tariff on $50bn of goods from China that contain industrially significant technologies, the statement read. Beijing responded within minutes to Washingtons announcement, saying they would impose tariff measures of the same scale and strength. China is unwilling to have a trade war, but the Chinese side has no choice but to strongly oppose this, due to the United States myopic behaviour that will harm both parties, the commerce ministry website said. Earlier on Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Geng Shuang told journalists that Beijing would fight back. {articleGUID} If the US side adopts unilateral measures of protectionism and damages Chinas interests, then we will respond right away, and take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard our own legitimate rights and interests, Geng said. Trump has long vowed to fulfil his campaign pledge to clamp down on what he considers unfair Chinese trading practices. The first set of tariffs covering about $34bn in imports will come into effect on July 6, a statement issued by the US Trade Representative (USTR) said on Friday. The statement said an investigation had found that Chinas acts, policies and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation are unreasonable and discriminatory, and burden US commerce. The second tranche of products will undergo further review. It includes a list of products which USTR argues have benefited from Chinese industrial policies, including the Made in China 2025 policy. Launched in 2015, the policy sets out to turn the worlds second-biggest economy into an advanced manufacturing superpower while setting self-sufficiency quotas. Domestic woes Political and economic affairs analyst Einar Tangen told Al Jazeera he believes the timing of the tariffs may have to do with Trumps domestic woes, including a lawsuit against the US president and his children over his charitable foundation. Its Donald Trump controlling the news cycle, Tangen said. It does play into his base, that he is attacking China. This is what hes promised to do and it is working for him in terms of raising his popularity. Reporting from Washington, DC, Al Jazeeras Alan Fisher said some have suggested Trump may feel emboldened by his meeting earlier this week with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Before, China was needed to try and keep North Korea in check particularly when it came to its nuclear ambitions. [Trump] now believes he has built up this great relationship with the North Korean leader, Fisher said. Because [Trump] believes he perhaps no longer needs the power of China when it comes to dealing with North Korea, he feels emboldened to take this step on trade tariffs. But some economists have argued that the US might be the worse-off party in the event of a trade war. The [Chinese] communist party has its hand on so many of the levers of economic development and economic expansion in China that they might be able to weather this storm slightly better than the US, Fisher said. The UN Security Council has called on all sides involved in fighting over the Yemeni city of Hudaida to keep its port open to allow the delivery of aid and other essentials. Saudi and Emirati forces began an offensive to capture the Houthi held city three days ago, raising fears for its 600,000 strong civilian population and over the safety of its port, which is responsible for 70 percent of imports into Yemen. During a closed-door meeting, members of the Security Council expressed their deep concern about the risks to the humanitarian situation, Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, who holds the council presidency, said. The council brushed aside a call by Sweden, a non-permanent member, for a freeze to the military operation to allow time for talks on a rebel withdrawal from the Red Sea port city. Yemens internationally recognised government earlier said negotiations had failed to force the rebels from Hudaida, and a grace period for UN-led peace efforts was over. Famine and hunger Adana Dieng, UN special adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, said the attack on Hudaida could heighten the risk of famine. The Yemeni port (of Hudaida) is a lifeline for the delivery of aid and the Coalitions air attacks can kill many more people over time through famine and hunger when damaging such civilian infrastructure, Dieng said in a statement. More than 22 million people in Yemen are in need of aid, including 8.4 million who are at risk of starvation, according to the UN, which considers Yemen to be the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. The offensive on Hudaida, Yemens third largest city, is the biggest battle in the three-year war between the coalition and Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels. Heavy fighting has left at least 39 people dead as of Thursday, including 30 Hourthi rebels, and nine pro-government troops. Rebels have instructed civilians to move away from the outskirts of the city and towards the city centre. Yemeni government officials say they do not plan on striking infrastructure within the city. Sarah Sanders slammed for saying US-Mexico border policy was justified because its biblical to enforce the law. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders has seemingly invoked the Bible to justify the Trump administrations policy of separating children from migrants caught crossing the US-Mexico border, drawing anger and ridicule from many online. At a press briefing on Thursday evening, Sanders responded to a question put forward by CNN journalist Jim Acosta on US Attorney General Jeff Sessions use of Christian scripture to justify detaining children separately from their parents. Acosta asked Sanders to point out where in the Bible the policy found its moral justification. Where in the Bible does it say it is moral to take children away from their mothers? he asked. Sanders responded: I am not aware of the attorney generals comments or what he would be referencing I can say it is very biblical to enforce the law, that is repeated a number of times throughout the bible. When pressed to point out a specific verse justifying the policy by Acosta, Sanders lashed out at the journalist. I know its hard for you to understand even short sentences I guess, she said, before going on to blame loopholes created by the Democrats for the policy. Anger online The comments from Sanders and the similar sentiment expressed by Sessions have earned the ire of many on social media. Some cited biblical passages that emphasised the need to do justice by the poor and oppressed, while others pointed out the contradiction in justifying a policy, only to blame a rival political party for its existence. Sessions and Sanders both invoked the Bible to defend ripping babies out of their mothers arms and placing them in cages. Im really not getting whats happening to my country. Bryan Behar (@bryanbehar) June 15, 2018 So, Sarah Huckabee Sanders is blaming Democrats for the Trump regimes ripping children away from their families and throwing them in prison camps whilst her and Jeff Sessions are citing the Bible to explain why its all okay. They are about as Christian as Kim Jong Un is, wrote twitter user Ricky Davila. After listening to Sanders saying the Bible gives the right to take children from their parents Ive decided The [Republicans] give Christianity a bad name, said another user with the name Quancy Clayborne. Sessions and Sanders are using the Bible to justify children being ripped from their families for the same reason folks hide behind the flag, the anthem and veterans to justify racism because they know how simple-minded their base is and that they will believe anything. Robert People (@PeoplesCourt79) June 15, 2018 The issue of child separation on the US-Mexico border has drawn widespread protests since it came to light last month. US President Donald Trump campaigned on a platform of closing off the flow of migrants from Latin America through Mexico and has repeatedly characterised those making the crossing as potential rapists and criminals. His administration has taken a tough stance on what it deems to be unlawful crossings of the US-Mexico border and has vowed to prosecute the refugees and migrants who do so. In May, Attorney General Jeff Sessions reiterated the threat to prosecute those who made the crossing. If youre smuggling a child, then were going to prosecute you, and that child will be separated from you, probably, as required by law. {articleGUID} The zero tolerance approach has drawn criticism from those on both sides of the political spectrum, including from the UN human rights office, which said the practice amounts to arbitrary and unlawful interference in family life, and is a serious violation of the rights of a child. Shortly after taking office, Trump signed an executive order, expanding the powers of the Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency to focus on detaining most undocumented immigrants, including those with no criminal record. The number of interior removals or deportations of those already in the US grew by 37 percent during Trumps first year in office when compared with the same period in 2016, according to government data. Sessions has also recently come under fire for issuing a ruling that may make it nearly impossible for domestic abuse and gang violence survivors to seek asylum in the US. As a former political consultant, when the primary season is in full swing I always feel like an old veteran player who used to be a starter. But my heyday was when dinosaurs ruled the Earth. However, even a fossilized gunslinger like me can see the writing on the wall going into November. For the Dems, the spate of primary victories for moderates is a good omen. Resistance types are not their path to taking back the House. But as someone who generally played for the GOP, I have a better insight into their chances in the fall. My intuition says three factors could work for them in the film portrayal of Patton at El Guettar, Hold them by the nose and kick them in the a** manner. Hold them by the nose with the good economy. That message beats other ideological drivel as people of all political persuasions can see it day to day in their own lives. Hence why celeb dimwits such as Bill Maher literally want the economy to crash to hurt Trump. Of course, his wish is pronounced from behind the walls of a California mansion. But their posterior-whipping? Two things. One, immigration. Two, an end run that has rarely if ever been used but may have a chance of grabbing an extra 5% that could prove decisive in at least several races. Those House races could prove the margin of losing or keeping the House for the GOP. Now I know that to some Republicans being called a racist by a Democrat on the immigration issue is an indictment that makes them cower in a dark corner. Well, as someone whose parents were born in Colombia and who grew up in South Florida, I tell you compadres your fears are much exaggerated. For starters, racist has been the Dem go-to cry for thirty years. Its old and worn. Its Joe McCarthys commie under every bed stuff. Also, Latins arent monolithic on immigration or any other issue. They come from different countries with different histories and different cultures that are the basis for different voting patterns as Americans. A common language of heritage does not completely define them. Or, as I used to say to clients who didnt understand this, Bob Marley spoke English. Queen Elizabeth has always spoken English. They did not hang out together. So, much as the president has done, they need to double down on immigration, stressing border security while leaving open the chance of a firm but fair deal, after the border is secured, for those already in this country illegally. As Bart Mancuso explained the actions of Marko Ramius when he turned the Red October into the path of the torpedo in The Hunt for Red October, Combat tactics, Mr. Ryan. By doing the opposite of the conventional move, he hit the torpedo with his sub before it could arm itself and rendered it a dud. Latins will give points for courage of conviction, not to mention many of those of Latin ancestry who do not like being lumped in with illegals, and moderate Latins who may generally vote Dem will give the GOP a second look. Amongst GOP voters it will also show courage and redouble turnout enthusiasm for November. Now about that end run? African-American males and conservative social issues. The president has made some very limited headway with black voters, probably because of rising employment rates. This has been more of a feature with males rather than females in this demographic group. True, the president is not a hardline social conservative in the classic sense. But he certainly is enough of one, and many of his congressional allies are that hardcore, to have credibility when speaking on certain issues. The Republicans can use this by reaching out to black males, and the African-American community in general, who are more socially conservative than the ultra-liberal white Democrats whom they traditionally vote with. Faith also plays a large role in African-American society and that tends to steer them right of center on social issues, especially abortion and traditional marriage. So, to hit Dems where they least expect it and make them deploy resources they already had planned for other ventures, plan and execute a tactically focused media and voter outreach effort targeting black males and concentrating on abortion, immigration, and religious discrimination against Christians. Use it only in key districts where a swing of 5% of the black vote could be decisive. But, using the Beau Geste dead legionnaire in the parapet ploy, give it a big opening and make noises about it in every district applicable. The late Jack Kemp, New York GOP congressman and 1988 presidential candidate, had some success with this approach. Even Jesse Jackson, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, started out as a social conservative before he publicly switched sides and privately sent his kids to St. Albans. He made a lot of headway with this, intrinsically understanding from his own religious background that African-Americans are more conservative on these issues than other Dems. Even more so in the 1970s before he flew a different flag. If the Republicans can pull this off, or even just be seen to be possibly pulling it off, it can rewrite the narrative of some key congressional races and affect political logistics nationally. Then perhaps the GOP can say to the good reverend, as did Patton to Rommel in the aforementioned film, Jackson, you magnificent bas****, I read your book! NeverTrump Chickens Coming Home to Roost Noted farmer and poultry expert, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, once said in a sermon, that Barack Obama may or may not have been present for, that Americas chickens are coming home to roost. Such is the way of nature, with an order to things, cause and effect, which some describe as karma. Reverend Wright may have been referring to misguided American policies with unintended consequences. If he was speaking about US interventions in the Middle East leading to power vacuums and the rise of regimes far worse than what they were replacing, he would be correct. On the other hand, if he was claiming that the US government created AIDS to exterminate people of color, then his credibility has flown away with his chickens. Another group of chickens are coming home to roost in the second year of the Trump presidency, namely the NeverTrump variety of fowl. Somewhere on the scale between turkey and chicken, most resembling peacocks however, these birds are finding that there is no nest for them to come home to. They are left to roost in the green rooms and television studios of CNN and MSNBC, rather than in the halls of government where they are most comfortable. The NeverTrumpers, who were adamantly against Donald Trumps nomination, election, and virtually every subsequent decision, are now suddenly befuddled as to why they remain on the outside in the cold, looking in on a warm, cozy, and productive White House. In a recent issue of Foreign Policy, Matthew Kroenig, a 40-year-old Georgetown professor and expert on nuclear proliferation, with work at both the CIA and Pentagon on his resume, wonders why Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hasnt called him to serve in the State Department. He seems a logical choice to advise the Trump administration as they paddle through unchartered waters with Trumps new pal, Little Rocket Man. So, whats the problem? Why is this ideal candidate getting the cold shoulder from Team Trump? It seems his chickens have come home to roost. Around the time that Donald Trump secured the GOP nomination for president, Fifty of the nations most senior Republican national security officials, many of them former top aides or cabinet members for President George W. Bush signed a letter that was quite critical of candidate Trump. Another open letter, four months earlier in March 2016, was signed by 122 NeverTrump national security types, including Professor Kroenig. This letter was even more harsh, as it was early in the primary season when the signers must have believed Trump would flame out long before he could possibly win the nomination. It was quite safe at the time to sign such letters as no one thought Trump would win the election. These bureaucrats, many of whom served under both Presidents Bush, some serving as far back as Nixon, echoed the two Bushes, who themselves did not support the nominee of their party and may have even voted for the Hillary Clinton, were outraged over the uncouth and unsophisticated rube that their party nominated. As they said in the second letter, Mr. Trump, lacks the character, values and experience to be president and would put at risk our countrys national security and well-being. They proudly beat their NeverTrump chests and proclaimed, None of us will vote for Donald Trump. Because, from a foreign policy perspective, Donald Trump is not qualified to be President and Commander-in-Chief. They went further, Mr. Trump lacks the character, values, and experience to be President. And added, He appears to lack basic knowledge about and belief in the U.S. Constitution, U.S. laws, and U.S. institutions. Continuing, they wrote that Mr. Trump, Has little understanding of Americas vital national interests, its complex diplomatic challenges, its indispensable alliances, and the democratic values on which U.S. foreign policy must be based. That, Mr. Trump has shown no interest in educating himself. Getting personal they wrote, Mr. Trump lacks the temperament to be President. Or that, He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. Concluding they brayed, We are convinced that in the Oval Office, he would be the most reckless President in American history. I could go on, but the two-page diatribe speaks for itself, a critique one would hear from Morning Joe or Jimmy Kimmel, not the supposed smart set of the Republican Party foreign policy establishment. The same Republicans who would be doing backflips with joy if a President Jeb! or Kasich were in the Oval Office and doing what Trump is doing. Trump is running the table with his conservative agenda, fulfilling the political dreams of NeverTrumpers, yet they cant stand him and wish he would go away. Its ironic that these geniuses gave us the Iraq war and subsequent Middle Eastern chaos including ISIS. Or that they advised past presidents on how to manage North Korea becoming a rogue nuclear power while the uneducated and impetuous goofus is the one who may have finally disarmed the Kim dictatorship. The smart set, going all the way back to Nixon, was just this week upstaged by the guy they had no confidence in and thought would be dangerous to the world. And now they have the gall to complain that Trump now has no confidence in them or their intellect and judgement? Imagine yourself being that vocally critical over your potential future boss then wondering why that boss then tells you to pound sand when you come looking for a job. What did they expect? Its not blacklisting. Instead these so-called experts demonstrated their own foolishness in signing on to that letter, as the Georgetown professor is belatedly learning. Trump would be nuts to hire as advisors those who demonstrated how out of step and wrong they were in their assertions in the letter. Not just the professor but other prominent signers as well, including Michael Hayden, former CIA and NSA director for George W. Bush. The boss of those same intelligence agencies that missed 9/11 but were certain that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. But back then it was safe to pile on candidate Trump. He wasnt going to win the election. CNN, Obama, and John Oliver told us so, as did all of the polls. Were they really trying to prevent a Trump presidency, which all of those in the know said wouldnt happen? Or were they auditioning for a position in the all-but-certain Hillary Clinton administration? Regardless, these NeverTrumpers outed themselves as shallow political hacks, and now their chickens have come home to roost. Enjoy the sidewalk, look in through tall the fence, because thats as close most of you will ever get to Willie Wonka Trumps magical chocolate factory. Brian C Joondeph, MD, MPS, a Denver based physician and writer. Follow him on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Photo credit: Rikki's Refuge via Flickr Reparations: Who Should Pay? In their never-ending effort to Balkanize America and buy black votes by stealing from all taxpayers, including black ones, the Democrats are reviving their call for reparations for slavery. After all, with blacks waking up to the fact that Democrats are doing nothing for them, a new bribe appears to be necessary. Given that there are no living Americans who were slaves or who owned slaves, it's clear that the idea of reparations has nothing to do with justice or concern for blacks; it's just another political effort to bribe voters with other people's money just like Paul Ryan trying to ensure the unending flow of Koch brothers money into Republican coffers by bringing in lots of cheap foreign labor. But let's for a moment pretend that the whole idea of reparations for blacks, but not all the other groups who've been discriminated against, like, say, the Irish, makes sense. The first question is, who should be paid? Obviously not blacks like Obama, who have not a drop of slave blood. The government would have to spend a fortune to find out what percentage of slave blood black Americans had to see how much each was owned. But it's worse than that. If someone is 50% white and 50% black slave ancestry, how much does white privilege offset the debt owed due to slavery? Leftists will argue that since blacks have suffered persecution after slavery ended, all blacks should be reimbursed. That's an interesting point, so long as we ignore all the other "types" of Americans ranging from the Irish to the Japanese who have been persecuted, which we'll come back to in a bit. The second question we'd need to ask is, who should pay? After all, if you're on the sidewalk of an intersection where a drunk runs a red light and slams into another car, the drunk's victims can't sue you because you were in the area, the car manufacturer because they made money when the drunk bought their car, or the city because without the drunk's tax dollars the city wouldn't have put in the light that the drunk ran. The victims can sue only the person who caused their suffering: the drunk. There is one group without which there couldn't have been a slave trade or a plantation society in the South; that group also profited from selling blacks. That's the Africans who sold their fellow blacks into slavery. Whites didn't go to Africa armed with big nets and hunt slaves as they hunted big game; whites bought the slaves from black Africans. Unfortunately, black Africans violate the first rule of ambulance-chasing attorneys: don't sue anyone who can't pay for your next Ferrari. Hence, we can't bribe black voters...er, fairly compensate black Americans for the suffering of their great, great grandparents by taking money from black Africans. This brings up an interesting thought: isn't the fact that America is working hard to end racial discrimination a form of reparations? Think about it: if those great, great grandparents hadn't been sold into slavery, many black Americans would be black Africans. But even poor blacks in the U.S. are living better lives than the average black African, so the fact that the U.S. didn't ship blacks back to Africa can be considered a form of reparations especially today, when pretty much everyone wants to get into America. But that's crazy talk according to leftists, since they "know" that things that don't buy black votes don't count. The next two obvious groups are the folks who ran the slave trade and the slave-owners, but they are all long dead. As of yet, leftists haven't proposed robbing their graves for gold fillings, though now that the idea has been mentioned, it won't be long before some leftist, probably on The View, advocates it. This brings us back to the fact that blacks weren't suddenly treated fairly the day that the South surrendered. Perhaps we should look at the group that fought the Civil War to keep slavery legal, the group that founded the KKK, the group that passed all the racist Jim Crow laws in the South, the group that fought to keep schools segregated, the group that passed a welfare plan that destroyed black families, the group that has supported genocide against black people according to Jesse Jackson the group that ignores thousands of blacks being shot each year in cities that it runs, the group that wants to deny inner-city blacks a decent education...that's right, the Democrats! From its founding by a slave-owner to its fighting any effort to move blacks out of poverty or to help blacks be all they can be, the Democratic Party has led the charge to ensure that blacks are discriminated against and marginalized in America. Democrats have discriminated against other groups, such as the Japanese-Americans put in prison camps during WWII and modern Asian-Americans who are discriminated against in college admissions, but their main effort has been to keep blacks down. The obvious answer to the question of who should pay for the injustices imposed on blacks in America is the people who called for, passed into law, and enforced the policies that discriminated against and oppressed black Americans. They're the drunk driver who caused blacks to suffer, hence they should be made to pay for black suffering. An added advantage of making Democrats pay is that since their policies have persecuted blacks right up to the present time, we won't have to figure out what percentage of slave blood blacks have when we divvy up the money. Every Democratic politician should have to put 10% of his after-tax income each year into a reparations fund that will be distributed to all blacks. Every registered Democrat voter except for blacks, of course will have to pay $100 every time he votes including in primaries which will also be placed into the reparations fund. Clearly, this is the only way that the injustice perceived by leftists can be addressed. Making all Americans, the vast majority of whom never had anything to do with slavery, pay is absurd. Can you imagine making the descendants of a man who died in the Union Army to end slavery pay reparations? Wasn't his giving his life to free blacks reparations enough? The good news is that now if leftists do manage to vote in reparations, which could happen if we let them win the House in the fall, we'll know where they need to go to get the money to pay for it. You can read more of Tom's rants at his blog, Conversations about the obvious, and feel free to follow him on Twitter. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images Special counsel Robert Muellers probe into Russian election interference has been moving with lightning speed, and has already produced indictments of 20 people. It is, apparently, not fast enough for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who tells the Washington Examiner, What I think about the Mueller investigation is, they ought to wrap it up. Its gone on seemingly forever and I dont know how much more they think they can find out. The probe has not gone on forever. Indeed, by the standards of special counsel investigation, it is extremely short. When Mueller was appointed just over one year ago, the Washington Post produced a chart comparing the timelines of other investigations: Photo: Washington Post Some of those investigations were far more limited, dealing with allegations against a single person, rather than an international conspiracy involving dozens of people, a web of bribes stretching into some of the worlds most opaque financial systems, and all hampered by a president relentlessly obstructing justice at every turn by dangling pardons to prevent witnesses from cooperating. And yet, since Muellers investigation reached its first anniversary, wrap it up has become the slogan of choice for Republicans seeking to support Trumps war against the special counsel without incurring the reputational embarrassment of endorsing his most deranged conspiracy theories about the deep state plot. Mike Pence was chanting wrap it up in March. McConnells purported rationale is especially comic he doesnt know how much more they can find out. Nobody knows. But probably a lot! Which is exactly why he wants to stop the investigation. McConnell so far has held back from joining Trumps effort to make the Justice Department into a palace guard at his personal disposal. At times he has flashed the yellow light to Trumps most aggressively lunatic threats. That he is now mouthing the same anti-Mueller slogans as Mike Pence indicates the Republican partys continued devolution into a full-scale Trump cult and its disintegrating willingness to defend the rule of law. Pelosi, in particular, is the gift that keeps on giving to the GOP. Cementing herself as one of our nation's most morally and economically ignorant citizens, just prior to the GOP passing and President Trump signing sweeping tax reform legislation in December of last year, Mrs. Pelosi went on a historically foolish rant . It seems the Republican National Committee (RNC)'s cash advantage over the Democratic National Committee (DNC) is even more pronounced than the numbers $43.8 million to $3.4 million indicate. As long as Democrats like Nancy Pelosi vainly ignore, downplay, or even badmouth good to excellent to record-breaking (in more ways than one) economic numbers and in the process beclown themselves the RNC will have to spend next to nothing when it comes to creating ads for the midterm elections. Awash in hyperbole and hypocrisy remember, she leads the party that stands for, among other immoral outrageousness, the "right" to kill the most helpless and innocent among us, the "right" for boys to take trophies from girls, and the legal redefinition of the oldest institution in the history of humanity she accused Republicans of embracing "moral obscenity and unrepentant greed." Blind to her extreme "plutocracy hypocrisy," the 78-year-old grandmother, who's been in Congress for over 31 years and has a reported net worth of over $100 million, claimed that a vote for the GOP tax bill was "a vote to install a permanent plutocracy in our nation." Forgetting that she represents those who hate our Founders and our military and those who think children are a "punishment," Mrs. Pelosi also claimed that the GOP tax bill "does violence to the vision of our Founders" and "disrespects the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform. And it betrays the future and betrays the aspirations of our children." After the GOP tax bill went into effect and businesses and corporations started shelling out large bonuses and raises, Mrs. Pelosi then had the difficult duty of pretending these were not really good things. Her "crumbs" comments have already come back to haunt her, and they should continue to do so. Nancy Pelosi is far from alone in her efforts to keep the American electorate from believing what they are seeing when it comes to the U.S. economy. Chuck Schumer echoed her "crumbs" comment; Debbie Wasserman Schultz joined in the "Liberals against a Magnificent Economy" (otherwise known as LAME I hear they'll be opening for Madonna soon) chorus; and, naturally, the establishment media aided and abetted these absurd attempts at deceit. Along with trying to put increased wages in a bad light, Pelosi and her ilk also had the unenviable task of convincing Americans that more jobs is a bad thing. While trying to distract from record employment numbers, Pelosi attempted to disown the health care debacle that continues to plague millions of Americans. In other words, along with convincing American voters that increased wage and jobs numbers are somehow "fake news," Democrats are also hoping to dupe us into forgetting that it is they who wrecked our health care system. The awesome May jobs report gave the left-wing media another opportunity to remind us how smart they are and how stupid President Trump is. They did about as well as they usually do. CNN's Don Lemon said, "There's no question today's job report is good news, including the news that we're as close as we've ever been to full employment in the black community. But what's full employment without full respect?" As Andrew Klavan aptly put it, "Don apparently thinks Americans don't respect all black people. Who's going to break the news that it's just him we don't respect?" Instead of the great news on jobs, NBC wanted to focus on and pretend it wasn't the only one focused on Trump's "premarket tweet." CNN's chief national correspondent, John King, dared everyone to find a president of the United States prior to Trump "talking about, tweeting about, communicating about the unemployment report before it came out." Someone took his dare and proved him laughably wrong. Things have gotten so good economically or bad, depending on your election hopes and so deep is the left's hatred for Trump and his administration that liberals have stooped to "a pox on you and your economy!" On a recent episode of his Real Time show, Bill Maher declared: Can I ask about the economy? Because this economy is going pretty well. I feel like the bottom has to fall out at some point. And by the way, I'm hoping for it. Because I think one way you get rid of Trump is a crashing economy. So, please, bring on the recession. Sorry if that hurts people, but it's either root for a recession or you lose your democracy. Actually, it's a republic if we can keep it. And as is sometimes attributed to Ben Franklin himself, when the people find they can vote themselves money as often happens when there is a ballot cast for a Democrat that will herald the end of the republic. In other words, Maher and his minions face a political Catch-22: to elect more Democrats, liberals need a "crashing economy," but the quickest way to a "crashing economy" is to elect more Democrats. Good luck with that, Bill. Maher's selfish drivel was upstaged only by that of Robert De Nero I mean "Niro." Sorry, I sometimes confuse vulgar, debauched Romans. With his epic "F Trump" rant, De Niro and his enthusiastically approving audience at the Tony Awards again reminded us as if we needed reminding of where hedonistic Hollywood stands on the political and moral spectrum. Whether De Niro or Samantha Bee, Joy Behar, Susan Sarandon, Chelsea Handler, Lena Dunham, J.K. Rowling, Jennifer Lawrence, Jimmy Kimmel, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Danny Glover, Michael Moore, Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert the more they open their foul, godless mouths, the more they also remind us why Trump was elected and why liberals and liberalism have been so widely rejected. Trevor Grant Thomas: At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason. www.trevorgrantthomas.com Trevor is the author of the The Miracle and Magnificence of America. tthomas@trevorgrantthomas.com My friend Jose Azel goes after what he calls "The Dependency Theory": Down in Latin America, the failure of socialism is there for everyone to see, from Cuba to Venezuela and everywhere else. As a graduate student of International Relations in the 1970s, many of my professors were enamored with the Dependency Theory argument that resources flow, in an exploitative manner, from a "periphery" of poor underdeveloped states to a "core" of wealthy states. It's a bit like the "rich are not paying their fair share" that we hear in the U.S., or the "victimhood" promoted by Democrats up here. In other words, blame everybody else but yourself for your self-inflicted failures. In Latin America, it has literally destroyed potentially rich countries, as Jose explains: A byproduct of Latin America's wound collecting is that the region has developed a sense of victimized self that manifests itself in a disdain for the private sector of the economy and particularly for much needed American investments. Yet, today's global economy is disrupting old development paradigms so that much can be done with little. Consider this: "Uber, the world's largest taxi company, owns no vehicles. Facebook, the world's most popular media owner, creates no context. Alibaba, the most valuable retailer, has no inventory. And Airbnb, the world's largest accommodation provider, owns no real estate" (Tom Goodwin on TechCrunch.com). To become economically successful, Latin America needs to stop collecting real or imagined wounds, and rethink what makes up economic power. The good news is that many people in Latin America are moving on, although the Deep State in Latin America is deeper and defending its benefits. In Argentina, President Mauricio Macri, a center-right leader, is under attack from the public-sector unions for his calls for change. In Mexico, President Enrique Pena-Nieto tried to reform PEMEX and the teacher unions, and thousands marched opposing change. So Jose is right, but the "beneficiaries" are not going to give up their power easily. I am not suggesting a "Pinochet" solution, but it's fair to say he did fumigate the leftist rats in Chile and gave us the best economy in the region. PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter. Merkel's Christian Democratic Party (CDU) is at odds with its major coalition partner, the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU), over refugee issues. The CSU in Bavaria is on the front lines of the refugee crisis, and its decades-long hold on power in the state is being challenged by the anti-migrant Alliance for Germany (AfD) party. The CSU is worried that upcoming local elections will be a disaster for the party unless the national government strengthens its stand against unfettered migration to Germany. Just three months after German chancellor Angela Merkel's shaky coalition government took office, her hold on power is being threatened by a fight over refugees. So far, Merkel isn't budging. This could lead to a collapse of the coalition and the end of Merkel's chancellorship. Reuters: "I believe (Merkel) will try to the very end to find unity in the matter," said CDU home affairs spokesman Mathias Middelberg. Asked if the alliance with the CSU could shatter, he told Deutschlandfunk radio: "That can't be fully ruled out." Bavaria was on the frontline of a migration crisis in 2015, when an 'open door' policy adopted by Merkel led to around a million refugees flooding into Germany. Many conservatives held that policy responsible for a surge in support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), the main opposition party since national elections in September. CSU Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, whose party faces a regional election in October, now wants Germany to refuse entry to migrants who have already registered in countries further south, a plan that Merkel opposes. Bavarian CSU premier Markus Soeder widely considered to want to wrest the CSU party chairmanship from Seehofer stood by that proposal on Friday. "We have to listen to the people," he told mass-circulation daily Bild. A poll for broadcaster ARD published on Thursday found that 62 percent of Germans believed refugees without papers should not be allowed in. Veteran CSU politician Hans-Peter Friedrich was optimistic the dispute would be settled, telling broadcaster RTL there was agreement on 62 of the 63 points in Seehofer's plan, adding: "There's still a problem on one point but we'll manage it." An indication of how jittery German political nerves have frayed, a Twitter hoax announcing the end of Merkel's government went viral before the rumor could be put to rest. A Twitter hoax has sparked chaos in Germany after claiming Angela Merkel's coalition had fallen apart. Bavaria's Christian Social Union (CSU) was forced to deny it planned to dissolve its decades-old alliance with the Chancellor's Christian Democrats. The post on a hoax Twitter account came as Merkel holds tense negotiations with her coalition partners over immigration in a stand-off that could ultimately cost her job. Hardline CSU interior minister Horst Seehofer wants Germany to unilaterally impose tougher migration controls, while Merkel fears that will further divide the EU and wants to coordinate controls through Brussels. All of this is playing out against a backdrop of a collapsing consensus in the E.U. regarding refugees. Italy's new government recently refused to give permission to a boat full of refugees to dock, setting off bitter recriminations with France and the rest of the E.U.: Italy summoned France's envoy on Wednesday and demanded an apology from President Emmanuel Macron, who had said Rome's move to block a migrant rescue ship from its ports was an act of "cynicism and irresponsibility". Macron, in a phone call late on Wednesday with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, said he did not mean to offend "Italy and the Italian people", according to a statement. The two leaders confirmed a lunch meeting on Friday to discuss "new initiatives" on immigration, a day after Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini announced an "axis" with Germany and Austria to fight illegal migration. "France does not want escalation; it's counter productive. We need to maintain dialogue," a source close to Macron said as the president visited the western town of Rochefort. However, the source added that Macron was not "taking back anything". Populist, nationalist, and anti-migrant political parties have been on the rise for the last five years as governments in the E.U. refuse to listen to ordinary citizens and their fears of being inundated by foreigners. In Germany, that failure to heed warnings from voters may end up consigning Angela Merkel to an ignominious end. LOS ANGELES Drawing on an American history of cruelty, from the conquest of the Indians to the slave trade to the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II, activists in this city gathered on Thursday to voice outrage at what they see as the latest affront to American values by the Trump administration: splitting up migrant families at border crossings, and confining children in detention facilities. Yes, dozens. Worth a national story on that one. Meanwhile, here's a positively baroque lefty spin on the same protests from the New York Times in Los Angeles : The medical facilities are inadequate, Jennye Lopez, a 24-year-old asylum seeker from Honduras, said in Spanish. She recently was released from Otay Mesa after spending six months in custody. Demonstrators are speaking out against the separation of migrant children from their parents . Protesters are also calling for improved conditions inside the detention center. The open-borders lobby has a new cause celebre: Their howl that illegal immigrants, traveling in family groups, must never be separated by apprehending lawmen. Unlike the law, families are sacred! Separating families (or what people without documents claim to be families) is now the worst thing possible. Families belong together! And suddenly these leftists who've never liked family values in the past, are all in for family values. So they've got a whole series of nationwide protests going on , and here in San Diego, the local media, loading up on the sob stories, are reporting it exhaustively. Here is one report from NBC : I think we are fighting for the heart and soul of America, Yolanda Varela Gonzalez, a teacher and activist, told a crowd of several hundred protesters in MacArthur Park, before they marched to an immigrant detention center in downtown Los Angeles. Such rubbish. What these protests show is the hypocrisy of the left and its willingness to use even families in its bid to drive a wedge through American law to ensure the end to any meaning to America's borders. What are these sparse-of-number activists calling for? Apparently, hotel accompaniments, same as for American families traveling on vacation, for people who get caught breaking immigration law. If not that, then comfortable family detention accomodations for such lawbreakers, the kind that cost taxpayer money. Or most likely, a return to catch-and-release policies for illegal immigrants if they travel with children, the better to ensure that they disappear into the country, skipping their court dates, which 90% of them do. As if those breaking America's law have some kind of right to dictate the conditions of their internment. Let's see a common bank robber make the same kinds of demands of the state. All of these options serve as incentives to emigrate illegally to the U.S. and to encourage more illegal immigration. That's what the real game is about on the left, which is filling America's voter rolls with Democrats, the same kind of people in need of government services who blissfully voted for Hugo Chavez or his surrogates in their home countries, all because of his Democrat-style promises of free stuff. Take a look at Venezuela for a whiff of how well that worked out. If the left cares as much as it says about family values, and it doesn't, maybe they can apply that "families belong together" slogan to the case of Elian Gonzalez, the Cuban refugee boy who was rescued on the high seas after his mother drowned fleeing here, and then taken to his loving family in Florida who cared for him, only to be snatched back by federal goon squads and handed back to his absentee father, who promptly clapped the child into Castroite propaganda indoctrination boarding schools to produce a robotic communist. So much for family values from the left on that one. What's more, the family claim is a dubious one, given that lawmen are supposed to believe that illegal immigrants traveling without documents really are family because they say so. Numerous cases are out there that these supposed family units traveling illegally together have been child-trafficking units, kept together based on the unverified claims of the lawbreakers. So what the protestors are calling for is nothing more than a call to make these human smugglers' lives easier. Yes, families belong together. What's obvious to most Americans on the street, at least in San Diego, is that family separation is entirely preventable if you don't break immigration law. How hard is that to understand? Like your kids? Don't break the law with them, then. Any bank robber can grasp that much. For every illegal immigrant who brings children here with them, (after trusting human smugglers and the dirty, dangerous cartel border culture -- a danger so serious it raises questions their parenting skills) and now howling about being separated from them, it's completely avoidable dilemma. Unfortunately, it's a harsh, but necessary process, given the huge incentives to emigrate here illegally, along with the cartel financial interest in keeping the family-package smuggling rackets going. Yet for every separation in detention of lawbreakers, a thousand hear about it, and those who think twice about coming here illegally with kids, explore legal routes instead. The left's protests are disingenuous to say the least, and hypocritical in the main. Lost in the news about North Korea, the Justice Department's inspector general's report, and a host of other big stories is a quietly big one: the death of the left's bid to pin the "Katrina" tail onto President Trump. Today's news from volcano-battered Hawaii is that President Trump has sent in the cavalry for its beleaguered citizens on the Big Island, offering individual aid for the thousands of Hawaiians who have lost their homes or even lost access to them in the slow, terrifying burning lava flows from Mount Kilauea, which have destroyed more than 800 homes. Since my sister is one of these people well within the vicinity of the lava's path, living in Leilani Estates just two streets away from the infamous Fissure 8, the origin of the lava rivers that have buried so many houses downwind, I can tell you firsthand that the news was greeted with shouts of joy. President Trump's sign-off was done less than 24 hours after Hawaiian officials got the paperwork done, in what was absolutely record time in getting help on the way. It's wonderful. It's been six weeks since the first volcanic activity hit, triggering the mass evacuations, with only intermittent periods of being able to revisit the homes and retrieve possessions. Not everyone was able to do that, either; some people lost everything without being able to evacuate. My sister's house is still standing, but it's so close to the still active fissures that she can't get back now, and when she eventually does unfortunately, no one knows when it will be covered with volcanic glass and debris. So there is a tremendous cleanup ahead from saving houses to restoring roads and the neighborhood will never be the same anyway. The news of aid for these beleaguered residents, unable to re-enter their homes, worn down by the uncertainty and strained of finances, is a cause for joy and being greeted with gratitude. President Trump came through, just as we knew he would. That calls to mind the appalling "narrative" the left has been pushing for some time now, starting with the mess in Puerto Rico in the wake of 2017's Hurricane Maria, which pummeled the island and left the family of another relative of mine, in rural Puerto Rico, cut off and forced to live Third World-style, without clean water, access to communications, or even batteries (this was what they said the biggest problem was). The mayor of San Juan, Carmen Yulin Cruz, who tried to make so much political hay for Democrats by claiming that President Trump was neglecting Puerto Rico, is now under investigation for corruption. That same corruption delayed the aid in the first place. She tried to blame President Trump for the delays in aid, doing the same thing Democrats did to President Bush when the 2005 Katrina disaster in New Orleans happened, which was to claim that he was heartless and didn't care about people in peril. Hillary Clinton made lots of hay from this, smarmily lecturing President Trump on Twitter with the news that Puerto Ricans are citizens, as if he didn't know. As recently as June 4, the New York Times put out a fact-challenged editorial titled "The Shame in Puerto Rico," laying the blame for mismanaged disaster relief on President Trump instead of local officials. It was so disgusting. Now the reality is obvious: the problem was corruption all along, and it turns out that the noisy grandstanding mayor of San Juan was part of the corruption. The media went right along, playing to that narrative, blissfully incurious about how corrupt she might be and how that very corruption delayed aid. Oh, what fun they had. Now the news is out that she is under probe for this kind of illegal behavior that did have consequences for ordinary people, and you can bet they will try to bury it on the back pages. Just as the Hawaii aid news is buried news. All the same, word is getting out. The local press in Hawaii is keeping people informed, and the Puerto Ricans know the score about corruption that is its own disaster for their beautiful island home. As for the left, the hard reality now is that the Katrina narrative is another exploding cigar in their own faces, not President Trump's. They blew it. Another FAIL for the left. A month after President Trump called for sending National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, the head of the national Border Patrol union called the deployment "a colossal waste of resources." Remember when President Trump's supporters were outraged when Trump signed a budget that prevented him from building a border wall? Trump was so stung by the criticism that he decided to show he was tough on border security by sending the National Guard to the border. The only problem is, restrictions on the Guard have made their participation almost useless . "We have seen no benefit," said Brandon Judd, president of the union that represents 15,000 agents, the National Border Patrol Council. More from Politico: Back in April, Trump hailed the deployment as a "big step," claiming, "We really haven't done that before, or certainly not very much before." But that isn't accurate, either: Both George W. Bush and Barack Obama sent the guard to the border under similar circumstances; Bush in far larger numbers than Trump some 6,000 compared with up to 4,000 now, and Obama to the tune of 1,200. A few National Guard helicopters and crew have also been enlisted to join the Border Patrol fleet for aerial surveillance, but more troops are clearing vegetation, serving as office clerks and making basic repairs to Border Patrol facilities. They're as far away from the border as possible. In reality, the hundreds of troops deployed in southern Arizona are keeping up the rear, so to speak; in one assignment, soldiers are actually feeding and shoveling out manure from the stalls of the Border Patrol's horses. Shoveling manure is symbolic of the nature of this assignment. It was announced to give President Trump cover while he signed that terrible budget which tied his hands on border security. I suspect that the specific limitations on the Guard are probably not President Trump's doing; rather, they probably fall under the responsibility of either his secretary of homeland security, Kirstjen "Lady DACA" Nielsen or his secretary of defense, James Mattis, who loved the Iran deal and hated waterboarding Islamic terrorists. President Trump has done some good things to try to secure the border namely, prosecuting illegals and tightening up asylum rules. But this border deployment is a sham, and the way it has been executed is a total disgrace. Ed Straker is the senior writer at Newsmachete.com. The Qualcomm-NXP drama continued Friday morning as conflicting reports about the status of Chinas antitrust probe into the matter started circulating the Western media. While Bloomberg claimed the deal has finally been approved after twenty months of uncertainty, citing half a dozen sources, Reuters dismissed that assertion several hours back, with its own trio of insiders maintaining theyve heard nothing of the sort taking place. The deadline for the $44 billion tie-up has been extended yet again earlier today, having been moved by another week as its now set to expire on Friday, June 22. Beijing is speculated to be using its antitrust review of the proposed consolidation as leverage in its trade negotiations with the United States that are still going nowhere and may take a backseat to a full-blown trade war between the worlds two largest economies after President Trump announced a 25-percent tariff on $50 billion of Chinese technologies earlier today. While ZTEs regulatory issues in the U.S. were also previously tied to the approval of Qualcomms bid in an unofficial capacity, the uncertainty surrounding the telecom equipment maker still hasnt been dispelled as Congress may now be moving to oppose the President with a bipartisan push to reinstate a seven-year ban on purchasing American technologies imposed on the firm by the Commerce Department in April. Qualcomm itself recently said its hoping the fact that ZTE is returning to business will spell good news for the NXP bid but maintained it remains committed to its own application. Absorbing the Dutch NFC pioneer would provide Qualcomm with a much larger foothold in the automotive chip market and allow it to diversify further beyond smartphones where its revenues are being threatened by lawsuits from Apple and a number of other major clients who feel its patent licensing rates are unfair. If the ninth and final regulator with jurisdiction over the matter declines to approve the merger, Qualcomm will owe NXP a $2 billion breakup fee. Googles Assistant will sing Happy Birthday to users without needing to be told to do it. According to Reddit user estish14, the feature was discovered when Assistant was asked to tell them about their day. Since it was their birthday, the A.I. helper proceeded to say Today is your birthday! Happy birthday! immediately following the local weather report. Then it sang the standard Happy Birthday song, replacing the users name with the most amazing person in the whole world. In hindsight, the feature seems as though it would be or should be fairly standard for any digital assistant thats running on A.I. algorithms and is able to recognize individual users by voice. Beyond that, what etish14s story really seems to highlight is the human touches Google has been adding to its Assistant over time. The user in question even says that Assistant managed to commence with the ceremonial singing before their own mother had gotten around to it by a full 40 minutes. Coupled with the fact that it did so without any more prompting than a user asking about their day shows an insightful touch on Googles part as well. It is, after all, easy enough to ask Google Assistant to sing Happy Birthday via a simple request. However, its undoubtedly much more impactful when A.I.-driven systems do something thats ordinarily related to human culture as a surprise rather than needing to be asked to do it. Thats without consideration for the much wider variety of all-too-human responses various companies have enabled their A.I. to use. However, its easy to see why people have become so attached over the past year or so although perhaps a bit less understandable are the more than 450,000 marriage proposals made to the software in India back in April. It goes without saying that there are and will probably always be concerns relating to privacy and safety with A.I. platforms. Having said that, the growth of those platforms, as experienced over the past year, will almost certainly continue as long as Google and others keep improving functionality and helping users to have a feel-good start to their day. Google is exploring European data center location options and as part of that it has reportedly purchased 173 acres of land in the Netherlands, coming after land purchases in Denmark as well as Sweden, stating that it wants to have options before picking a location to begin construction. Google already has data centers in Europe, including one in Eemshaven Netherlands, and has made multiple land purchases so that it can be prepared for an expansion of the existing data centers if it ends up needing to open more. Though Google has not come to a decision as to where it will build the next data center it will reportedly come to a decision in the near future after it finds where the data center could be the most needed. Google also has a data center in Belgium and although it already has a data center in the Netherlands that doesnt mean it wont decide that a new location in the country would be the best spot. How much Google paid for the land was not mentioned, but if it decides to open the data center there it would be putting a significant amount of money into the Netherlands economy, having already spent 600 million Euros to build the existing data center within the country and after committing to expand on that data center with another 500 million Euro investment. Europe isnt the only region where Google is looking to expand on its data centers. Earlier this year it was reported that Google would be building a new data center in Osaka, Japan for its Google Cloud Platform, following the opening if a different data center in Tokyo. Google also announced earlier this year that it would be expanding its data enters in the U.S., with plans to build new data centers or expand on ones that were already built in a number of different states including California, Oregon, Washington, and Texas among others. Web giant Google has a specialized App Maker that can craft native apps and web apps to run on desktop and Android with ease, and that tool, previously only available to a small set of select partners, is now available to all enterprise and G Suite customers. The robust app creation suite is made to use minimal coding, allowing companies to create custom apps that can automate or simplify everyday tasks. The big draw is that, with little to no training, the tool allows the very same people who do the menial work in the companys systems, such as populating order forms or organizing files, to have a hand in creating the apps that will make their lives easier. This means that they can inject their expertise into the process and ensure smooth integration. The drag-and-drop app maker is not limited to allowing users to make things from scratch to make their jobs easier; it can also import databases and use Cloud SQL Users can also use all sorts of declarative language to make their changes and code, in the places its necessary, as clear as possible to everybody who uses the app. Full integration support for over 40 Google services, including Google Cloud Platform, Gmail and Google Drive are all on board, as well as a selection of third-party cloud services. Apps and projects in the App Maker can also be managed by G Suite administrators. App Maker is available right now for all Google enterprise customers in any capacity, including Google Cloud Platform customers. Customers of all versions of G Suite, including G Suite for Education, can also use App Maker. This effort makes life even easier for G Suite and enterprise customers, a path that Google has been dutifully following for some years now. Recently, the firm has added macros to Sheets for G Suite customers, made the G Suite administrator console more powerful and easier to use, and broadened hardware support for Hangouts Meet, just to name a few of the qualify of life improvements that Google has been visiting upon the enterprise sector. Presumably, Google will continue to find new ways to leverage its vast and powerful suite of services to provide more convenience to customers. Would-be Supreme Leader Donald Trump Photo: Anthony Wallace/AFP/Getty Images President Trumps meeting has rekindled his decades-long admiration for dictators. The Washington Post reports that Trump privately expressed admiration for the friendly treatment Kim Jong-un gets from North Korean state television. At one point, after watching North Korean television, which is entirely state-run, the president talked about how positive the female North Korean news anchor was toward Kim, the Post notes. In his public remarks, Trump insisted North Koreans love their dictator, as shown by the displays of fervor which they must perform on pain of arrest. He likewise praised Kims rule for being tough, one of Trumps favorite compliments. Anybody that takes over a situation like he did at 26 years of age and is able to run it and run it tough, Trump said. I dont say he was nice or say anything about it. He ran it, few people at that age you could take one out of 10,000 could not do it. Speaking this morning with Fox & Friends, his own version of North Korean television, Trump explained why he would like to bring Kim Jong-un to the White House: Hes the head of the country, and I mean hes the strong head. He speaks and his people sit up in attention. I want my people to do the same. While saying this, Trump gestured to the building behind him, implying that Trump meant his staff, not the entire country. Even by this more generous reading, Trump is waxing enthusiastic once again for the governing style of the worlds most ruthless dictators. Kims staff treats him with displays of extravagant deference because any member of his ruling circle he suspects of disloyalty will be brutally executed. Trumps ultimate insult is weak. By calling him strong, Kim received his ultimate compliment. Web giant Google is rolling out a new version of its Ad Settings tool that helps users to manage their targeted ad preferences and get a better picture of what Google knows about them, and its accessible through both the Google app and a web interface in any browser. The new section allows users to turn off personalized ads entirely, which means that Google will simply show them the most popular and highest-paying ads. It should be noted that turning targeted ads off will not necessarily delete Googles entire suite of information about you; that has to be handled separately. On top of being able to shut off targeted ads entirely, the new settings menu also allows users to only use targeted ads on Google sites and products, and not with partners across the web, decreasing the likelihood that your data will end up in the wrong hands. The menu also shows you your interests according to Googles data, giving a better picture of what Google knows you like and why youre targeted with certain ad campaigns. Each of these individual interests, such as role-playing games, vehicle repair and maintenance, and hip-hop music can all be individually turned off, allowing you to remove items that youre not actually into or even hand-create your own profile and tell Google yourself what kind of ads and stories youd be interested in seeing more of. This move aids in making Google fully compliant with the recently-enacted GDPR, and also gives usres a bit more transparency as to what Google thinks about them and why they see the ads and content that they see. This new feature goes hand in hand with previous similar efforts to give users more control over ads, including things like Why this ad? and Mute this ad. Taken altogether, users now have full, granular control over what kinds of ads Google shows them. It is important to clarify that these changes only apply to Google and its partners within its ad network. Outside of Googles slice of the web and its partners using its ad engine, sites and services can still conduct any sort of data collection and ad targeting they want, within legal limits, no matter what changes you make in this new ad menu or any others. Instagram killed the idea of notifying people about other individuals screenshotting their stories, BuzzFeed reports, citing an official statement from the Facebook-owned firm. The company has been experimenting with the functionality earlier this year, having started doing so this February, prompting significant backlash on social media. The feature never made it past the testing phase and only affected a small number of people relative to Instagrams user base thats some 800 million strong as of last fall, though its presently unclear when exactly Instagram resolved to drop it. The firm never went into elaborate explanations over why it experimented with such a polarizing functionality in the first place, having only hinted that it considered letting users know when someone screenshots their posts shared via the Story format because such activities go against the ephemeral nature of the service. Inspired by Snapchat, Instagram Stories have been designed as a way for users to temporarily share multimedia content with their friends. Even people who ended up being part of Instagrams notification test quickly found ways to circumvent the functionality and continue taking screengrabs without letting their online friends know theyre doing so; the most common method users relied on was activating the Airplane mode on their smartphones before taking a screenshot, then force-closing the app before reconnecting their handset to the Internet. Authors of photos and videos that ended up being preserved by other people were previously able to see who resolved to screenshot their content by opening a list of any posts viewers and looking for a star symbol next to the names of screengrabbing users. Much like Instagram hasnt explained the introduction of the experimental feature earlier this year, it avoided going into any explanations behind why it opted to remove it, though the development was likely related to user engagement, a performance metric no social media company wants to compromise no matter what. Samsung is getting in on the hype surrounding the launch of Universal Pictures Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom by launching three entirely new themes for its Galaxy-branded devices. That means owners of those devices can now easily show off their love of the films or just for dinosaurs with custom elements for their home screen, lock screen, icons, dial pad, and more. As with nearly every theme available for those devices, the new Jurassic World themes can be found in the dedicated Galaxy Apps store. Whats more, these latest themes are each complete free to download and use. The themes themselves are titled Teaser, Stampede, and Trex. One common element among those is the use of the logo and title for the new Jurassic World movie on devices with an always-on display (AOD). Beyond that, they each also use the same icons, which have a stony, fossilized aesthetic. Those keep the same basic shape and familiar design as the stock icons and the same look is applied to the lock screens clock. For Teaser, that iconic Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom logo is used throughout the entire theme, including the lock screen and home screen. Teaser also swaps out the ordinarily bright Samsung U.I. for more subtle dark grays and black colored elements. Those are accented by bright orange highlights. On the other hand, Stampede switches things up with a lock screen and home screen wallpaper that portrays the films two main protagonists running to escape from stampeding dinosaurs. Blues and greens are used as accent colors throughout the U.I. to keep everything consistent from the wallpaper image. Last but not least, Trex is exactly what its name implies. The wallpaper image is replaced with the movies Tyrannosaurus Rex roaring as it stands over another carnivorous dinosaur, which has been pinned down underfoot. The colors used in that theme are more earthy, consisting of tans, browns, and greens. Unlike many third-party launcher apps, which often require deep-dives into various settings menus, installing themes on Samsungs Galaxy devices is a relatively simple process. Searching the Galaxy Apps app for any of the abovementioned themes should return those near the top of the results. From there, users need to install the theme via the install button before applying it. The install button should swap out for an apply button once the theme is installed. T-Mobile and Sprint are preparing an official merger filing with the United States Federal Communications Commission, Reuters reports, citing an unidentified document. The third- and fourth-largest mobile service provider in the country will officially request a consolidation approval from the agency on Monday, with their filing being said to be relatively straightforward in nature, requesting traditional discretion on the FCCs part in regards to the manner in which the regulator will handle their sensitive corporate information. A U.S. Senate panel will be holding its first hearing on the proposed tie-up on June 27, with most industry watchers and analysts agreeing the two telecom giants have a rough road toward approval ahead of them. While T-Mobile and Sprint claim their combined operations would lead to more jobs and competition in the wireless segment, the deal they want to see done would reduce the number of national wireless carriers from four to three, with some advocacy groups and industry veterans also describing it as devastating to the market as a whole; NWIDA President Adam Wolf and Boost Mobile founder Peter Adderton previously argued the merger would completely monopolize the prepaid segment, resulting in increased prices and reduced service quality, thus hitting Americas poorest customers the hardest. The consolidation proposal launched earlier this spring has been presented in the form of an all-stock deal valued at $26.5 billion which would leave T-Mobile parent Deutsche Telekom with a controlling stake in the merged entity. The two network operators also argued that combining their forces is the only way for them to remain relevant in the emerging 5G segment and push the nations largest two carriers AT&T and Verizon to deliver even better next-generation services, thus ensuring long-term competitiveness in the industry. While not everyone is convinced by those arguments, some analysts believe a tie-up wouldnt necessarily raise prices, especially not those attached to a gigabyte of wireless data. Twitter has urged a password change for all of its users due to a bug that was found in the system that saved plain text passwords to an internal log file in an unprotected state. Users should not be alarmed according to Twitter as it mentions that there has been no breach, and that after an analysis it has concluded that there has been no misuse of the passwords by anyone or any attempts to use them. Despite this, though, changing the password is still a measure that the company is highly recommending, just in case, as its still possible that information could have been viewed. Twitter says that it doesnt believe that any information that was saved to the internal log file has been taken off of the system where it was being stored, and that theres also no reason to believe that any information was misused, however it has still removed those unprotected plain text passwords from the system as a first step and precautionary measure. Some users may feel safe just knowing that Twitter removed the logged information and after hearing that nothing was believed to be compromised, even with Twitter recommending that users update their password information. The fact that this wasnt a breach though is significantly worse according to the Co-founder and former CEO of Evernote Phil Libin, who states that theres no reason for companies to ever store plain text passwords at all let alone in an internal log file. Libin also points out that this took effort to make the mistake, suggesting that method of handling password information in this way could have been used intentionally. Malicious intent or not, bug or not, it would still be advantageous for users to take what control they have over their own account privacy and ensure that their information is secure. Changing your Twitter account password can be done relatively easily from the app on your mobile device in settings, or from the settings menu on the web. Trade war is the health of the state. Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images A few weeks ago, it looked like Donald Trumps trade war might end up being an industrial policy told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing much. Sure, the president had announced across-the-board tariffs on steel and aluminum imports in early March but shortly after that declaration, his administration began handing out exemptions to American allies. Similarly, although Trump had unveiled tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese imports this spring, by late May, his Treasury Secretary had announced the postponement of those duties while the president touted Chinas offer to increase its importation of American farm products as a major trade victory. Granted, Trump has been railing against Americas trade deficit for three decades, making it one of the only consistent aspects of his political thought. But hes never been invested enough in the substance of trade policy to, say, Google whether America runs a trade deficit with Canada before discussing that subject with its prime minister let alone to read books about it. Economic nationalism might have been one of Trumps hobby-horses since the late 1980s; but the supremacy of style over substance has been the North Star of his entire adult life. Making demagogic declarations of trade war and then letting the Goldman Sachs wing of the White House quietly defang his threats seemed perfectly consistent with the presidents broader modus operandi. But then, on June 1, Trump really did impose those metal tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and the European Union and proceeded to revel in our allies rage at the G7. And now, the president is moving full speed ahead with his tariffs on China. On Friday, the White House announced that it will slap a 25 percent duty on $34 billion worth of Chinese imports on July 6, and another on $16 billion of additional Chinese goods later this year. The administration also plans to unveil new restrictions on Chinese investments in the U.S. and on the types of advanced technology that American firms can export to Beijing by the end of this month. The official purpose of Trumps tariffs against China is to protect the intellectual property rights of major U.S. businesses. A probe conducted by U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer earlier this year uncovered evidence that Beijing uses restrictions on foreign ownership of companies within China to coerce American corporations into transferring their technology to its own domestic enterprises. Lighthizers report also alleged that China steals trade secrets through cyberattacks, and directs its firms to invest in U.S. companies, so as to gain access to information about strategic technologies and then transfer it to the Chinese government. Lightizers basic charge that the Chinese government does not respect other nations intellectual property laws is uncontroversial. A U.S. International Trade Commission investigation conducted during the Obama years found that IP theft cost American firms nearly $26 billion in 2009, while a study from the U.S. software industry put that figure as high as $60 billion in 2011. But whether ordinary Americans actually have an interest in policing such theft is less clear. When China violates an American companys software patents, said companys profit margins (and thus, shareholders) may take a hit but American consumers likely benefit from the lower prices on software. And the same holds for other patent-protected products like pharmaceuticals (which Trump has repeatedly argued are far too expensive in the United States). Regardless, the tariffs themselves will have some immediate downsides for ordinary Americans. The duties are somewhat limited, impacting only a fraction of the approximately $505 billion worth of goods that Americans buy from China on an annual basis. And the fraction that is subject to tariffs consists primarily of advanced industrial inputs and technology, like robotics, automobiles, and heavy machinery. Nevertheless, these are likely to produce some increase in consumer prices. More significantly, Beijing has vowed to retaliate with tariffs on $50 billion worth of American exports, with an eye toward (politically sensitive) agricultural and manufacturing products. But Trump is (reportedly) not worried by such threats. Even though Xi Jinping is better-positioned to win an extended trade conflict both because his government can more easily insulate its citizens from the harms of such a conflict through direct intervention in the economy, and because he is more politically insulated from popular backlash to rising prices (what with being the authoritarian leader of a police state, and all) the president appears to believe that the economic expansion he inherited is robust enough to weather some trade warinduced turbulence. In fact, Trump hopes to open a new front in that war by the time voters head to the polls this November: According to Politico, Trump has asked the Commerce Department to declare foreign automobiles a threat to national security before the midterm elections, thereby enabling him to unilaterally impose a 25 percent tariff on foreign cars. Trump is, ostensibly, convinced that raising taxes on American car buyers would be a big political winner for his party this fall. And in some districts, that theory could be right. The policys immediate impacts will be difficult for many voters to ascertain, while its symbolism will likely resonate with some Rust Belt residents. Further, Democrats have been very reluctant to push back on Trumps protectionism. .@realDonaldTrumps actions on China are on the money. China is our real trade enemy, & their theft of intellectual property & their refusal to let our companies compete fairly threatens millions of future US jobs. https://t.co/28UM7p9v2c Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) June 15, 2018 And yet, theres little evidence that tariffs particularly, on European and Canadian goods are a winning issue nationally. In recent days, a Morning Consult poll found a plurality of the American public opposes the steel and aluminum tariffs, while a NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey showed 51 percent of voters saying they would be reluctant to support congressional candidates who back tariffs. As a substantive matter, the duties that Trump has already enacted arent working out too well for the American public. As Catherine Rampell notes in the Washington Post, the presidents tariffs on imported washing machines have already produced a 17 percent increase in the price of laundry equipment in the United States, the highest such spike ever recorded. When you aggregate all those price increases across the 10 million washers sold annually in the United States, consumers will collectively pay hundreds of thousands of dollars per year for each job supposedly created or saved, Rampell writes. But the true genius of Trumps trade policy lies in its ad hoc, mindlessly uncoordinated nature: Even as the president jacked up washer prices to protect Whirlpools market share, he also radically increased the cost of the firms primary input with his steel tariffs. As a result, the price of steel is now more than 50 percent higher in the U.S. than overseas which means that, even with the duties on washer imports in place, its possible that overseas laundry equipment manufacturers might still be able to compete with domestic ones on price. All of which is to say: After passing an enormous tax cut for the rich, the president is effectively raising taxes on middle-class consumers, as part of an utterly incoherent and under-researched industrial policy that appears motivated solely by gut instinct and a egoistic desire to demonstrate his nationalistic toughness to a small segment of the electorate. This seems like something Democrats should mention to voters, especially those in suburban districts with an affinity for foreign cars. On Thursday judge Pablo Llarena once again rejected an appeal by Carme Forcadell, Oriol Junqueras and Raul Romeva for their release from prison, since he considers them likely to reoffend and to still present a flight risk. In his ruling, Llarena also takes the opportunity to make it clear that he does not have the authority to rule on prison transfers. All three Catalan political prisoners included a request to be moved to a prison nearer home, but Llarena insists that such a decision is the responsibility of Spains Prison Service. Such was the judges response to Pedro Sanchezs new government, who on multiple occasions have declared that the decision to transfer political prisoners to Catalonia resides with the investigating judge. Indeed, it is the same line which was taken by the Ministry of the Interior during Mariano Rajoys stint in office. When the political prisoners initially asked to be transferred last April, sources close to the Prison Service told ARA that the investigating judge always has the final say, since they have to decide if the inmates need to be located near the court in order to give evidence at short notice, until such time as the judge has issued their initial ruling. Now, however, Llarena has announced that he does not have the authority "to specify the exact prison" in which the political prisoners are to be detained. He did so with reference to criminal law and the General Prisons Act, as well as case law of both the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court. His ruling lists a series of laws and rulings, to conclude that the prison authorities have the sole authority to determine the location of inmates, in order to prevent overcrowding in certain prisons. Firstly, according to Llarena, the Prisons Act establishes that it is the Prison Service who decides on the management, organisation and inspection of prisons, except when they are the responsibility of a regional government, as in the case of Catalonia. Secondly, Llarena states that the prison authorities have "the exclusive authority to decide, in an ordinary or extraordinary manner, the classification and destination of prisoners in the various penitentiary establishments, notwithstanding the powers of the supervisory judges in the matter of classification by means of appeal". The judge supports this point by citing earlier rulings by the Constitutional Court and highlighting the fact that, where transfers are concerned, "I dont compete with the prison oversight judge with regard to responsibility for appeals". An end to preventive measures for Simo, Corominas, Guino and Barrufet In his ruling, Pablo Llarena also announced that he is to lift all the cautionary measures against the members of the Parliamentary Bureau who are facing prosecution for disobedience: Anna Simo, Lluis Corominas, Lluis Guino and Ramona Barrufet. Llarena accepted Simo's request and they will no longer need to appear in court every week, their passports will be returned and they are to be allowed to travel outside Spain. They will also have their 150,000 bail bond returned to them. From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As... By Dezan Shira & Associates The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) represents a highly integrated economic region when compared to other parts of the world. Yet, in terms of taxation, there is a wide variation among its 10 member states namely, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Apart from the reduction of import tariffs, ASEAN tax coordination is limited to the elimination of certain withholding taxes and the completion of the network of double tax treaties among all ASEAN countries. Companies that are looking to enter emerging markets in ASEAN must take note of the various taxes they may be subject to, and their variation across the region. Applicable taxes for foreign businesses include Corporate Income Tax (CIT), Personal Income Tax (PIT), Withholding Tax, as well as indirect taxes such as Value Added Tax (VAT), and Goods and Services Tax (GST). The impact of the different taxes, tax rates and tax bases on the effective tax burdens, however, may differ according to the type of investment, the source of finance and the profitability of an investment. RELATED: Tax Services from Dezan Shira & Associates Personal Income Tax PIT is levied on income or profitable income of all individuals in a given jurisdiction. In the ASEAN region, all countries except Brunei and Cambodia employ a progressive PIT system wherein the tax rate levied increases in proportion to the increase in taxable income. As a result, individuals with high taxable income are taxed proportionately more than those with lower income. PIT rates vary across the ASEAN region, with some member countries capping their maximum PIT at as much as 35 percent and others at as little as 20 percent. VAT & GST Indirect taxes are levied at every level of production of a good and service and are generally included in the price of the product. Such taxes add to the cost of a purchasable product and are less obvious to consumers than other forms of taxes such as the CIT or the PIT; both of which require a business or an individual to pay the accruing tax directly to a government. In ASEAN, most popular forms of indirect taxation are GST and VAT. Though countries such as Brunei do not impose indirect taxes at all. We have compared indirect taxes across ASEAN in the next chapter. Withholding Tax Withholding tax is a tax levied at source on individuals or companies making a payment to any non-resident entity. Usually, the percentage of the tax rates vary considerably depending on the tax subject, and the agreements signed between the governments of the parties involved in the transaction. In ASEAN, withholding tax is widely used in the form of dividends, interests and royalties payments. Dividends: For the majority of foreign-owned enterprises, dividends form the primary means of repatriating profits from their ASEAN based operations. Dividends are in essence the compensation of shareholders (corporate or individual) derived from the business performance of the enterprise in which they have a financial interest. Royalties: In some cases, companies may lease patents, designs, or other physical assets to their operations in ASEAN. Royalty payments include all outgoing profits tied to the payment for the retention of these assets. Interest: Interest is generally used in the event that project financing is achieved through a decree of financial leveraging. Interest payments are all outgoing funds used to service existing financial obligations. Corporate Income Tax CIT is a direct tax levied by a jurisdiction on a companys income or the chargeable gains accruing to companies. In ASEAN, every country imposes a varying rate of CIT, with some jurisdictions fixing it at as high as 30 percent and others at a comparatively low rate of 17 percent. The rate is determined by a myriad of factors including the priorities of government (whether more emphasis is placed on state revenue or investment), the nature of its economy (how reliant it is on foreign investment), the countrys size, and its level of development. The definition of what a corporation is and whether it is subject to CIT varies from country to country. While the specifics of each countrys policies with regard to taxation should be monitored closely, tax residency can roughly be divided into the following three categories of treatment: How Tom Brady Proposed To Gisele Bundchen Trending News: Gisele Bundchen Made Tom Brady Get Up When He Proposed To Her Long Story Short Tom Brady might be the GOAT, but he's also a liar (in a good way). Long Story As the story goes, Tom Brady proposed to Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen on a private plane surrounded by white roses, champagne, and her parents. The story is a great one and super romantic. It's also not true. In a new interview with Vogue, Bundchen answered 73 question. In her responses, she revealed the truth about how Brady proposed. When he proposed to me, he made up this whole story [about] how my apartment was flooding, and I ran over to fix the situation, Bundchen told Vogue in the video. When I got there, the whole apartment had candles and rose petals everywhere, and then he went down on his knees to propose, and Im like, Get up!' Why did she tell him to get up? No, it wasn't because he was breaking the NFL's no-kneeling policy, it was Because he just had surgery and had three staph infections, Bundchen said. And I was like What are you doing? Hes like, I gotta go on my knees, and Im like, No, no, no! Get up, please!' How jarring. Watch the video below (this answer starts at the 6:07 mark). Own The Conversation Ask The Big Question Thinking about getting down on that knee? Here's how to propose. Drop This Fact Tom Brady likes to eat on a "flexitarian" diet, meaning he only occasionally eats meat. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. 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 Under the concessional long-term financing arrangements, NAIF will provide funding to the state of Western Australia, which will on-lend the funds as the lender of record. The financing includes intercreditor arrangements negotiated with the other lender, Allens said. The firm tapped its experience in innovative and complex project finance and government concessional loans to help establish a framework for NAIF financings, it said. The financing of the Onslow Marine Supply Base is a significant development for northern Australia and for government financing structures more broadly, said lead partner Scott McCoy. This will be the first of many important projects financed by NAIF. We look forward to continuing our work with NAIF as it deploys the rest of its capital across northern Australia. McCoy was supported by senior finance counsel Phillip Cornwell, senior associate Isabel Cropley, associate Katherine Ward, and graduate Thomas Geraghty. Early last month, CDH put in its rival bid of $33.60 per share, valuing Sirtex at $1.9bn, just days before Sirtex shareholders were to vote on the Varian offer. The move prompted the Sirtex board to adjourn its 7 May shareholder meeting to vote on the offer. This gave the board time to assess whether conditions attached to the higher offer were capable of being met. They also had to assess the certainty of CDHs funding arrangements. The period also gave CDH time to conduct due diligence on Sirtex. MinterEllison said that after just six weeks, the Sirtex board decided it was comfortable walking away from the Varian offer to pursue the higher, but still conditional, offer from CDH. The investment manager, with US$20bn in assets under management, had also brought on during that period China Grand Pharma as a joint bidder. CDH and China Grand Pharma have agreed to acquire Sirtex under a scheme of arrangement with the company and its shareholders. The board has unanimously recommended the offer and the shareholders are due to vote on the offer in August. The scheme is expected to be implemented in September. Achieving an outcome where the Sirtex Board was prepared to terminate its recommended offer from Varian which was on the cusp of being approved and implemented required intensive work with our clients and their other advisors, said Alberto Colla, MinterEllisons lead partner on the deal. Hi All, 1 .Been advised to lodge a spouse visa first and then a visitor visa is it right? 2. If i lodge via fast track visa application how long will the visa duration be? 3. Does fast track visa need medicals ? 4. Does alll 600 tourist visa's have "No more Stay Clauses" ? 5. Can a visitor visa be extended ? Would be really helpful if I can get clarity over this ? The video is picking up traction online, though it was initially posted at the beginning of the month. It shows a police officer pulling over a male driver for speeding and ultimately accepting as bribe a donut.As it turns out, as scandalized as you might be, you have no reason to feel this way: the video is a spoof from the Fulshear Police Department in Texas, created as a means to celebrate the International Donut Day, which is on June 1.Still, had you not known of this detail, you could have believed its true. Many viewers have, taking it at face value and believing that a cop could be so easily bribed and so reckless as to accept bribery when he knows hes being filmed.This just goes to show youre not to believe everything you read or see online. The Internet is full of deceiving videos like this , but at least this one has the redeeming quality of being funny. Even the cop, who may or may not be an actor, is convincing until the very last seconds, when he is striving not to break character and laugh when hes offered the donut.As for the driver, while we cant see his face, we can hear the amusement in his voice. His final words, Happy Donut Day! should have been a clue for all those who believed the video to be actual proof of bribery.As you can see in the tweet below, even the guys who run the Fulshear Police Department Twitter account have a healthy sense of humor. His name is Darren Dunn, 35, and he was serving an indeterminate sentence for public protection, Manchester Evening News reports. He was at the Category B Forest Bank jail in Salford, Greater Manchester, and he set up a 6-person drug smuggling operation, with himself as a gangleader.The operation was successful for a couple of years, with 3 of Dunns crew making regular flights to Barcelona, Spain, to bring cannabis and the so-called zombie drug Spice. Police have said that they made at least 2 successful transports from the Catalan city, with the 3rd being intercepted by the border police.After the crew brought the drugs back to the UK, they would be flown over the prison walls by means of drones and retrieved by inmates by hand, through holes in the walls. Dunn would coordinate all operations on his iPhones, with police finding 2 such devices hidden in his cell.On one occasion, police caught one crew member outside Dunns prison and while he fled, they found damning evidence in his backpack, which he had left behind: a drone and 2 knotted socks, in which various items had been stowed away. These included 15 mobile phones with chargers, SIMs, Spice, cannabis and steroids; the drugs alone would have been worth 27,700 once inside the prison walls.The drone was analyzed and revealed that it had conducted over 20 flights over the prison area.On another occasion, police noticed two crew members setting up a drone outside the prison walls, but they werent able to apprehend them.With the entire operation dismantled, Dunn has been sentenced to 10 more years behind bars.Police reports suggest that use of the drug Spice in prisons is at an all-time high, fueling violence among inmates. Despite all efforts , they are not efficient in stopping it from getting inside. The Thai woman wanted to make the most of the Bangkok packed traffic and freshen up a bit while sharing a cab ride with a friend. It didnt turn out well for her, because she didnt imagine the car she was in could become involved in an accident.Apparently, the taxi crashed into the back of a slow moving truck, Coconut Bangkok reports. The impact was forceful enough to make the woman, whose identity hasnt been made public, jam the eyeliner pencil into her left eye, where it got stuck.A volunteer rescuer on the scene tells the publication that, when they got there, half the pencil was jammed inside the womans eye socket. Not surprisingly, she was in a lot of pain, though he expected to see much more blood from such an unusual wound.Her eye was not bleeding but there was some blood, not a lot, running down her nose since the two organs are so closely connected, Thanabodee Sabbodi, the volunteer rescuer, says. She was still conscious when we arrived and could hold a conversation.Because the rescuers did not have the expertise to handle such a wound, the woman was rushed to a nearby hospital. Doctors there operated on the injured eye and were able to extract the pencil without further significant damage.And heres where the story comes to a happy conclusion: despite the serious wound, the womans vision hasnt been permanently impaired. The pencil went through the sclera, the white portion of the eye, so it didnt do too much damage. The morning after the injury, she was able to open the eye and could see dimly out of it. When it comes to this weeks news roundup, AVweb found reports on Superior Air Parts 2018 Oshkosh AirVenture forum series schedule and a new opportunity for U.S. pilots from Emirates airline. Oshkosh events continue to take shape and Superior Air Parts has announced that it will be hosting 18 forums over six days at its OSH tent (#257) this year. Forums will run for 45 minutes each and cover an array of topics including Engine Leaning Made Simple, Compression Testing Aircraft Engines and Maximizing Cylinder Life, Engine Longevity and Reliability, Propeller Care and Maintenance, and Owner Inspections. The forums are free for attendees. For pilots looking for an airline career, Dubai-based Emirates airline is holding a Pilot Roadshow to recruit U.S. pilots for their operations. The company will be holding open recruitment sessions in Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Houston and Seattle. The events in Boston, Fort Lauderdale and Houston will take place from June 18- 22. The event in Seattle will be held on July 18. No registration is required. U.S. intelligence identified a "suspect" that worked for Russian intelligence to pass Democratic National Committee (DNC) emails and documents to WikiLeaks, James Clapper, the former Director of National Intelligence, told Yahoo News Michael Isikoff and Daniel Klaidman on their podcast Skullduggery. Yes, but: Clapper said he doesnt know whether the suspicions were validated. He also doesnt know whether they were conveyed to Special Counsel Bob Mueller. Intelligence officials were "pretty confident at the time" about the suspect, "but not sufficient enough to publicize it," Clapper said. Clapper served in his role until January 20, 2017. Why it matters: This chips away at President Trump's repeated denial of assessments that Russia was behind the 2016 information breach. It also strikes another blow against WikiLeaks claims that it did not obtain the hacked emails from Russia. Scientists have captured the sounds made by the elusive and unusual East Greenland narwhal whose long horn inspired various tales, including that of an evil stepmother who wove her long hair into a tusk. Little is known about these narwhals, who live "in a very pristine environment where little is known about the adaptations of the animals that thrive in these remote regions," study author Mads Peter Heide-Jrgensen tells Axios. He says he's been working on safely capturing the whales since 1993 and on improving recording methods since 2012 After capturing six narwhals in Scoresby Sound, which is the world's largest and probably least-known fjord system, the team tagged them with special acoustic and GPS satellite instruments. They recorded 533 hours of audio, matching the sounds with their location and likely activity. They noted three types of sounds: clicks, buzzes and calls. Calls, likely how they communicate, tend to happen closer to the surface at less than 100 meters (but often less than 7 meters). Clicks and buzzes, used as echolocation to find food, often occur between 350650 meters below the surface. The research team was surprised "[t]hat these whales are more specialized than we thought initially. They depend on very specific water depths in relatively small areas for feeding on a few prey species," says Mads Peter, who works for the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources. The concern amongst many scientists is that two main climate change effects on the Arctic warming sea temperatures and increased human and industrial activities from disappearing sea ice could affect the small population of narwhals. These creatures rely on sound for communication, navigation and feeding. Mads Peter says: "Narwhals may abandon areas with increased warming and loss of their preferred prey species, but they may also avoid areas with underwater noise from seismic explorations, oil drilling, shipping, sand dredging, mining and fishery." This research "is inspiring," says UC-Santa Cruz' Terrie Williams, who was not part of the study. She says it's important to gather more information on the potential impact of human noise: "There are concerns that anthropogenic noises will cause changes in critical vocal behaviors of the animals imagine not being able to locate members of your pod, or locate fish to eat. For deep-diving cetaceans such as narwhals these sounds are vital to their survival." Dive deeper: Listen to rare narwhal recordings captured by the team and read the study published in PLOS ONE on Wednesday. President Trump's meeting with Kim Jong-un in Singapore was heavy on drama but ultimately light on specifics. Kim agreed to complete denuclearization, and the U.S. to provide benefits, but all without articulated steps or timetables. What's next: For all the to-ing and fro-ing ahead of the summit, it may well turn out that the Trump-Kim meeting was the easy part. Now Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his North Korean counterpart must negotiate an actual plan that leads to complete denuclearization. The work ahead will be hard and perhaps impossible. Pompeo's first task will be to demonstrate that there indeed is a shared understanding of what the two sides mean by "complete denuclearization," and to elicit a weapons declaration and lock in a timetable for their destruction. The administration should test the possibility that Kim is sincere about disarming without giving away tangible benefits ahead of true demonstrations of commitment. On that count, Trump's pledge to suspend joint military exercises with South Korea was a step in the wrong direction. Throughout the process, the administration should recall that in Kim it is dealing with a true tyrant: a leader whose government virtually enslaves its population and keeps them in ignorance and poverty. Its terrible human rights record has no parallel in the world today. Presidents have met with and legitimated other brutal dictators when the benefits (Stalin fighting Hitler, for example, or Mao balancing the Soviets) were likely to outweigh the obvious costs. The key is to get something important in return. The bottom line: Until Pyongyang starts destroying its nuclear weapons, the United States will not have gotten that something. And so the difficult phase now begins. Richard Fontaine is the president of the Center for a New American Security. Since President Trump took office, the U.S. has carried out more airstrikes in more places, expanded its use of drones and been increasingly willing to risk civilian casualties. The bottom line: Under Barack Obama, the U.S. pounded ISIS from the air and made heavy use of drones. Trump seems to have taken those tactics into hyperdrive in pursuit of shock, awe and a quick victory. With a flood of other news to sift through, America has hardly noticed the shift. By the numbers: The U.S.-led coalition carried out nearly 12,000 airstrikes (manned and unmanned) in Iraq and Syria last year. The uptick, which has since subsided, corresponded with a spike in civilian casualties. Rachel Stohl of the Stimson Center writes for Axios Expert Voices that Trump has made U.S. drone policy "less restrained, transparent and accountable." "The administration has reversed course on measures designed to bring drone use out of the shadows, eliminated the requirement that a target pose an 'imminent threat,' and loosened the requirement of 'near certainty' that the target is present all while refusing to confirm or deny that changes to such policies and procedures have been made." reversed course on measures designed to bring drone use out of the shadows, eliminated the requirement that a target pose an 'imminent threat,' and loosened the requirement of 'near certainty' that the target is present all while refusing to confirm or deny that changes to such policies and procedures have been made." "It has also increased the frequency and geographic scope of lethal drone strikes, especially in areas where stricter rules around the use of force were previously in place." Those areas include Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. A recent Amnesty International report, which has drawn vehement objections from the Pentagon, accuses the U.S. of possible war crimes over "indiscriminate" attacks in the battle last year to retake the Syrian city of Raqqa from ISIS. From the report: "On the ground in Raqqa we witnessed a level of destruction comparable to anything we've seen in decades of covering the impact of wars." "On the ground in Raqqa we witnessed a level of destruction comparable to anything we've seen in decades of covering the impact of wars." Col. Thomas Veale: "As far as how do we know how many civilians were killed I'm just being honest, no one will ever know. Anyone who claims they will know is lying." The assault on ISIS has had major successes. Both Raqqa and Mosul fell to U.S.-backed forces last year. Polls show most Americans support the use of drones in warfare, and theyd certainly rather the U.S. fight from the air than on the ground. But while the tactics have generated little domestic debate in the U.S. in recent months, they've shifted how many in the region view the U.S. Go deeper: The full airstrikes visual from Axios' Harry Stevens. Defense Secretary James Mattis, speaking at Naval War College in Newport, R.I. Friday, said that by illegally annexing Crimea in 2014, Vladimir Putin had, "for the first time since WWII ... redrawn international borders by force a direct contradiction of what President Trump said just hours earlier. Be smart: Last week, and again Friday morning, Trump blamed former President Obama because he said he "let Crimea get away." But in reality, as Mattis stated in his remarks, Putin invaded Crimea illegally, marking the first violation of a European countrys borders since WWII. Putin also rigged the results of a sham referendum to make it look like the decision was a popular move. Samvel Babayan, a retired army general critical of Armenias former leadership, was set free on Friday more than six months after being controversially sentenced to six years in prison for illegal arms acquisition and money laundering. The Court of Cassation, the highest body of criminal justice in the country, overturned the guilty verdict that was upheld by a lower appeals court in February and said the case must be investigated anew. In the meantime, it said, Babayan must be released from custody. The high court also freed two other men who were tried with Babayan and sentenced to three and two years imprisonment last November. The court cited letters from more than a dozen Armenian parliamentarians guaranteeing that Babayan will cooperate with law-enforcement and judicial authorities if set free. Each of those lawmakers also posted bail worth 500,000 drams (just over $1,000). Babayan, 52, was the commander of Nagorno-Karabakhs Armenian-backed army during and after the 1991-1994 war with Azerbaijan. He was widely regarded as the unrecognized republics most powerful man at that time. Babayan was arrested in 2000 and subsequently sentenced to 14 years in prison for allegedly masterminding a botched attempt on the life of the then Karabakh president, Arkady Ghukasian. He was set free in 2004. Babayan criticized the authorities in Yerevan and Stepanakert after returning to Armenia in May 2016 from Russia where he lived for five years. The once powerful general was again arrested in March 2017 after Armenias National Security Service (NSS) claimed to have confiscated a surface-to-air rocket system smuggled to the country. The arrest came about two weeks before Armenias last parliamentary elections. Babayan unofficially coordinated the election campaign of the ORO alliance led by former Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian and two other opposition politicians. ORO condemned the criminal case as politically motivated. Babayan repeatedly denied prosecutors claims that he promised to pay his longtime associate Sanasar Gabrielian $50,000 for the delivery of the shoulder-fired Igla rocket. Gabrielian, who received the three-year prison sentence, claimed that he wanted to donate the launcher along with its shoulder-fired rockets to the Karabakh army. Babayan was greeted by several dozen supporters when he emerged from a prison in downtown Yerevan in the afternoon. Speaking to reporters, he said that he was jailed because former President Serzh Sarkisian sought to prevent ORO from winning any seats in the parliament. Law-enforcement authorities have until now denied political motives behind the case. They never explained why Babayan would seek to get hold of the rocket designed to shoot down planes and helicopters. Babayans release from prison was clearly made possible by the recent change of Armenias government. The countrys new Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has pledged to help free all political prisoners. The retired general claimed that Sarkisians representatives approached him during the massive anti-government demonstrations launched by Pashinian in April. He said they asked him to call for an end to the protests and promised that he would be freed in return. He said he rejected the offer. Babayan also said that he has no plans to return to Karabakh. He warned against attempts to destabilize the situation there. The authorities in Stepanakert have faced street protests and even some calls for their resignation in recent weeks. By Trend In the coming years, compulsory medical insurance will be implemented throughout Azerbaijan, Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Ahmadov told reporters on June 14. He noted that the use of compulsory health insurance as a test project in Yevlakh, Mingachevir and Agdash was successful. Ahmadov said new bills as well as changes to the laws related to compulsory health insurance will be presented to the parliament in autumn. "After the adoption of these documents, the use of compulsory health insurance will be possible throughout the territory of Azerbaijan," Ahmadov said. As for insurance contributions, the Deputy Prime Minister said employed citizens of Azerbaijan will be charged a certain percentage of wages, and unemployed citizens and entrepreneurs will pay contributions in the prescribed amount. "However, representatives of a number of categories, for example, pensioners, children and disabled people will be exempt from contributions for compulsory health insurance. The state will take over these obligations," said Ahmadov. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Beaumont Police believe a man who died last week after arriving at the hospital with a gunshot wound was accidentally shot by a friend. Yasin Jones, 24, arrived at Christus St. Elizabeth on June 7 at 9:21 a.m. and died shortly after. No calls were made to 911, and he was driven to the hospital in a friend's vehicle, Officer Haley Morrow said. An administrative employee of the Federal Correctional Complex in Beaumont pleaded guilty of fraud Thursday, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Tanya L. Richard, 43, was accused of fraud against families of federal inmates, according to court documents. She faces up to 20 years in federal prison. Below are seven hospitals or health systems that recently announced or completed construction projects worth more than $300 million in the last month, reported by Becker's Hospital Review. 1. Atrium Health to spend $1B on capital projects: 6 things to know Charlotte, N.C.-based Atrium Health plans to spend more than $1 billion to upgrade and expand several facilities in its network, representing the largest capital investment in the health system's history. 2. IU Health starts construction of $400M hospital, academic complex Bloomington-based Indiana University Health began construction of its $400 million, 735,000-square-foot Regional Academic Health Center in June. 3. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta advances plan for $1.5B campus: 5 things to know Children's Healthcare of Atlanta filed a letter of intent in June with the state of Georgia to obtain a certificate of need the first step toward breaking ground on its proposed $1.5 billion construction project. 4. Essentia Health plans $800M expansion Duluth, Minn.-based Essentia Health will invest $800 million to build a consolidated medical campus in Duluth, which will include a replacement hospital and outpatient surgery center. 5. Beth Israel releases details of 10-story, $534M inpatient facility Boston-based Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center will invest $534.4 million on the 10-story inpatient building at its Longwood Medical Center campus. 6. HCA's TriStar system rolls out $500M expansion plan Brentwood, Tenn.-based TriStar Health, operated by Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare, will invest $500 million over the next three years to expand or upgrade six facilities in Middle Tennessee. 7. Texas Health Resources plans historical $300M expansion Arlington-based Texas Health Resources plans to invest $300 million in an expansion project at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth the largest construction project in the health system's history. The following hospital and health system credit rating and outlook changes and affirmations took place in the last week, beginning with the most recent. 1. Moody's affirms 'Ba1' rating on Eastern Maine Healthcare, maintains negative outlook Moody's Investors Service affirmed its "Ba1" rating on Brewer-based Eastern Maine Healthcare System, affecting $392 million of debt. 2. Moody's revises Mercy Health Services' outlook to positive Moody's Investors Service affirmed its "Baa2" rating on Baltimore-based Mercy Health Service's bonds, affecting about $222 million of debt. At the same time, Moody's revised its outlook to positive from stable. 3. Moody's upgrades Presence Health 7 notches to 'Aa2' Moody's Investors Service upgraded Chicago-based Presence Health's bond and issuer rating seven notches to "Aa2" from "Baa3," affecting $1 billion of rated debt. 4. Moody's upgrades Princeton HealthCare System to 'Aa3' Moody's Investors Service upgraded Plainsboro, N.J.-based Princeton HealthCare System to "Aa3" from "Baa2," affecting about $188 million of outstanding debt. 5. S&P revises South Shore Hospital's outlook to negative S&P Global Ratings affirmed its "A-" rating on South Weymouth, Mass.-based South Shore Hospital's revenue bonds and revised the outlook to negative from stable 6. Fitch affirms 'A+' rating on WakeMed Health System Fitch Ratings affirmed its "A+" rating on Raleigh, N.C.-based WakeMed Health System's bonds, affecting about $393.3 million of debt. 7. S&P assigns 'A+' rating to MaineHealth's bonds S&P Global Ratings assigned its "A+" rating to Portland-based MaineHealth's $110 million series 2018A and $75 million series 2018B revenue bonds. 8. Moody's affirms 'A1' rating on Carilion Clinic Moody's Investors Service affirmed its "A1" rating on the Roanoke, Va.-based Carilion Clinic Obligated Group, affecting $398 million of debt. A number of healthcare organizations seek out input from vendors for revenue cycle management and financial improvement. At these vendors, there are women who have the expertise to help providers with everything from front-end processes to coding and billing. Here, we highlight female leaders dedicated to the revenue cycle space. Note: This is not an exhaustive list. Leaders are presented in alphabetical order. For questions or comments, contact Kelly Gooch at kgooch@beckershealthcare.com. Wendy Alexander. Vice President of Data, Analytics and Client Services at VisitPay. Ms. Alexander, a leader in consumer finance, is a former executive and credit officer at Capital One Financial. In that role, she worked with VisitPay CEO and Co-Founder Kent Ivanoff on establishing Capital One's credit recovery services business. Now, at VisitPay, she helps nonprofit healthcare providers transition from paper statements to tailored digital experiences. Bethany Bailey. Vice President of Operations at Resource Corporation of America. Ms. Bailey began working for RCA nearly 19 years ago. Before her current role, she was assistant vice president at the company, which specializes in third-party eligibility. Her career has provided her with expertise in government, state and local assistance programs nationwide. Cole Brown. Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Conifer Health Solutions. Ms. Brown has served as Conifer Health's CHRO since 2015. At Conifer Health, she uses her experience in talent management, acquisition and development, along with her knowledge of managing large, geographically dispersed employee populations. Earlier in her career, she was senior vice president of human resources for U.S. store operations at Walmart. Kathleen Brown. Senior Vice President of Customer Success and Innovation at ClearBalance. Ms. Brown, a healthcare veteran, has more than 20 years of experience working with hospitals and systems. At ClearBalance, she works with the company's provider partners on creating a patient pay management strategy for today's healthcare environment. Previously, Ms. Brown worked in client engagement positions at McKesson Corp. Andrea Halpern-Bryan. Vice President of Client Relations at Ciproms Medical Billing. Ms. Halpern-Bryan oversees relationships with clients, such as large clients in anesthesia and emergency medicine, at Ciproms Medical Billing. In addition to client relationships, she manages the company's revenue and profit. She is a member of the board of the Emergency Department Practice Management Association. Megan Callahan. Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for Change Healthcare. Ms. Callahan brings to Change Healthcare more than 20 years of experience in the industry, spanning payer, provider and technology companies. Before her current role, she was senior vice president of corporate strategy and business development for McKesson Technology Solutions. Her focus at MTS was portfolio management and merger and acquisition strategy, among other areas. Ms. Callahan's other previous roles include positions at Vitria Technology and the Health Net New Ventures Group. Sondra Cari. Managing Director at Huron Consulting Group. Ms. Cari brings more than 11 years of revenue cycle consulting experience to Huron Consulting Group. In her managing director role there, she is primarily responsible for advancing Huron Healthcare's revenue cycle solution. She has played a key role in developing and designing technology and functional capabilities for Huron's revenue cycle service line. Lori Carlin. Director of Professional Coding Services for Pinnacle Integrated Coding Solutions. Ms. Carlin has experience in myriad areas of healthcare, including revenue management, coding and auditing, quality assurance, and training. Her experience has primarily focused on management and operations, as well as coding and reimbursement. In her current role at Pinnacle Integrated Coding Solutions, she is responsible for coding and audits, oversight and training for providers and employees, and reimbursement consulting. She also previously played a key role in coordinating a strategic ICD-10 implementation plan used by healthcare professionals. Shannon Dauchot. CEO of Revenue Cycle Point Solutions at Parallon. A certified public accountant, Ms. Dauchot has worked in healthcare finance leadership for two decades. Before her current role, she was senior vice president of client relations for revenue cycle services, as well as regional CEO, at the company. She also worked for Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare earlier in her career. Her positions with HCA included COO of the revenue cycle shared services division and CFO of the Tampa Shared Services Center. Sandra DeHaan. Director of Business Development with Parathon by JDA eHealth Systems. Ms. DeHaan brings more than 10 years of hospital revenue cycle, physician practice EHR and practice management experience to Parathon. This experience includes her current role as well as her previous sales and client management positions at Recondo Technology, Allscripts and McKesson. Ms. DeHaan also blogs monthly on various healthcare industry topics. Julie Diaz. Senior Vice President of Client Services and Sales for MedData. Ms. Diaz has more than 20 years of experience in physician practice management for large physician groups and other healthcare organizations, including Cleveland Clinic. In 2008, she was appointed to lead client services efforts through MedData's acquisition of Summit. She played a key role in maintaining Summit client satisfaction and retention throughout the MedData/Summit integration and client transition plan. She was promoted from director of client services to vice president of client development and implementation in 2009, before taking on her current role as senior vice president of client services and sales. Lauren Dix. Executive Director of the athenahealth Client Solutions Group. Ms. Dix has worked for more than a decade at athenahealth, a provider of medical record, revenue cycle, patient engagement, care coordination and population health services. Initially, she managed revenue cycle implementations for athenahealth's early clients. She has also worked in various other roles at the company, including implementation, account management, sales, and solution consulting and design. Tracy Dudek. Vice President of Operations for State Collection Service. Ms. Dudek has more than 20 years of receivables industry experience. In her role at SCS, she oversees production areas including early out, bad debt, business analytics and dialer management. She played a key role in the implementation of advanced post-call and real-time speech analytics for SCS call centers, as well as the acquisition and integration of the company's Chicago office. Nancy Dumas. Vice President of Practice Management at Brault. Ms. Dumas leads the practice management and client service team at Brault. Earlier in her career, she helmed Enfina Healthcare Solutions, a management services organization focused on emergency physicians and freestanding emergency rooms. Ms. Dumas also previously was administrator of an emergency physician practice. She won the Emergency Department Practice Management Association Founders Award in 2014. Kathleen Eagan. COO of Superior Revenue Solutions. Ms. Eagan has more than 20 years of revenue cycle experience. She currently serves as vice president of operations at Superior Revenue Solutions, an RCM solutions company. Throughout her career, she focused on projects in various healthcare areas, including accounts receivable reduction, interim patient accounting management, managed care contracting, compliance program development and assessment, and detailed revenue cycle analysis, among others. She has worked with hospitals of various sizes, physician practices and government healthcare facilities. Caral Edelberg. CEO and Chairman of Edelberg and Associates. At Edelberg and Associates, Ms. Edelberg has played a key role in growth and expansion, specifically with respect to the business intelligence platform, as well as coding and compliance tool kits. Ms. Edelberg has been active in many professional organizations throughout her career, and she is a frequent author and speaker. Her speaking and writing topics include outpatient facility coding and billing, hospitalist medicine, medical record documentation policies, and healthcare compliance. Dee Emon, BSN, RN. Senior Vice President of Operations and Transformation at R1 RCM. Ms. Emon brings 13 years of health IT experience to her role at R1. In her current role, she focuses on strategic direction and management of national call centers and the robotic process automation program. Before joining R1, Ms. Emon held various roles, including vice president and CIO of Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Wake Forest Baptist Health; corporate chief nurse executive and quality officer at Boca Raton, Fla.-based Cancer Treatment Centers of America; CNO/interim CEO of Nashville, Tenn.-based Vanguard Health Systems; and a performance improvement executive with Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare. Tracey Erbert. Executive Vice President of Operations and Client Services of Full Circle Business Solutions. At Full Circle Business Solutions, Ms. Erbert manages ambulatory surgery center professionals with a focus on helping clients achieve maximum reimbursement. She served as president and CEO of in2itive Business Solutions, a medical billing and collections company, for 10 years prior to her current role. There, she provided full revenue cycle management for more than 65 surgery centers. Lisa Farmer. Vice President of Anesthesia Practice Management at TeamHealth. Ms. Farmer has more than 15 years of corporate and academic RCM leadership experience. She currently serves as vice president of anesthesia practice management at TeamHealth. Earlier in her career, she was vice president of billing and collections at Jackson Healthcare in Alpharetta, Ga. She also previously served as administrator in the department of anesthesiology at Atlanta-based Emory University. Heidi Farrell. Vice President of People Operations at Strata Decision Technology. Ms. Farrell brings more than 15 years of experience in human resources and talent management to Strata. In her current role, she focuses on attracting, engaging and retaining employees. A certified senior professional in human resources, she also worked as a leader at Fruition Partners, a global technology-enabled cloud services firm, as well as at Morningstar. Emily Fisher. Acting President of MedData. Ms. Fisher serves as acting president of MedData, one of the nation's largest hospital revenue cycle solutions providers for the uninsured and underinsured. She has been involved in developing the company's government and charity programs from an initial focus on Medicaid eligibility into a full- service solution that evaluates patient eligibility for all available federal, state, county and charity resources. Additionally, Ms. Fisher helped create and develop MedData's complex claims programs. She began her tenure at MedData more than 16 years ago as a patient advocate and worked her way up to COO. She became acting president in June 2018. Susan Gatehouse. CEO of Axea Solutions. Ms. Gatehouse helms Axea Solutions, a provider of financial services, including ICD-10 coding reviews, education, data systems management and support. An approved ICD-10 trainer with more than 20 years of medical coding experience, she produces operational assessments for healthcare organizations, delivers educational seminars across the U.S., and provides coder training programs. Throughout her career, she has managed coding and billing practices for more than 40 specialty physicians. She is also a nationally known speaker, with previous presentations to industry organizations such as the American Health Information Management Association and the Healthcare Financial Management Association. Katelyn Gleason. CEO and Founder of Eligible. In 2011, Ms. Gleason founded Eligible, a medical billing company focused on helping providers determine patients' insurance coverage eligibility. Before that, she worked as a sales representative for EHR company drchrono. Ms. Gleason has been featured in Forbes' 30 Under 30 in Healthcare, and was recently chosen as a Heritage Healthcare Awards winner. Kristin Greenstreet. Managing Director at Navigant. Ms. Greenstreet's healthcare experience includes managing more than 100 hospital and health system revenue cycle improvement initiatives. A Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, she helms Navigants Revenue Cycle Solution Development and Innovation team, which helps providers improve cash flow, net revenue performance and customer experience. Cameran Haire. Vice President of Customer Success at Simplee. Ms. Haire has served in her role at Simplee since May 2016. Before joining Simplee, she led customer success for Workday's largest region. In her role at Workday, she oversaw more than 250 customers with revenue of $350 million. Earlier in her career, she was senior vice president of customer success at spigit and vice president of services at VBrick Systems, both software-as-a-service startups. Colleen Hall. Principal in the Healthcare Performance Practice at Crowe Horwath. Ms. Hall has been a principal at Crowe since 2016. With experience in consulting and in a provider setting, she leads Crowe's clinical revenue management service line. During her career, she has helped identify more than $1 billion in combined additional net revenue for hundreds of academic medical centers, community hospitals, healthcare systems, specialty hospitals, physician practices and clinics. She also conducted more than 300 coding assessments on various hospital outpatient and physician charges, as well as due diligence coding compliance assessments for purchasing companies. Alicia Hanson. Senior Vice President of Business Development at Recondo Technology. Ms. Hanson is a revenue cycle management professional with about 20 years of experience. Throughout her career, she has worked in the RCM divisions at Cerner and MedAssets. In her current role, she focuses on providing hospitals nationwide with artificial intelligence-driven revenue cycle management technology. Kate Harper. Senior Vice President of Payer Shared Services at R1 RCM. At R1, Ms. Harper recently led revenue capture solutions within the company's partnership with St. Louis-based Ascension. She also recently played a role in building R1 Insight, the company's tool for revenue capture solutions, as well as contract modeling and management. Before taking on her current role, she was R1's vice president of revenue integrity. Aimee Harvey. Executive Vice President of Human Resources and Organizational Development at Zotec Partners. Ms. Harvey has worked for Zotec for more than 10 years. At the company, her work has focused on management training and development, employee relations, and compensation and benefits design. She is a certified senior professional in human resources. Nicole Hess. Vice President of Marketing at Connance. Ms. Hess has more than 10 years of healthcare technology experience. Before joining Connance, a revenue cycle and value-based risk analytics provider, she served as vice president of marketing for DocASAP, a patient engagement solution company. In that role, she developed DocASAP's first marketing function, leading to exponential client-base growth for the company. Earlier in her career, Ms. Hess also was director of marketing for MedAssets. Jody Hinton. Senior Regional Vice President at abeo. Ms. Hinton serves as senior regional vice president at abeo. The billing and practice management company is primarily focused on anesthesia practices. In her role there, she is responsible for ensuring anesthesia billers' revenue cycles are up to par and efficient. Adrianna Iorillo. Director of Revenue Cycle Management Services at Encoda. Encoda, a company focused on healthcare reimbursement automation, hired Ms. Iorillo in April 2018 to direct revenue cycle management services. She brought with her more than 25 years of healthcare information technologies experience, specifically expertise in process assessment, design and development, as well as physician reimbursement and numerous other areas. She now presides over Encoda's RCM associates and management team and is responsible for refining Encoda's services delivery. Laura Jacquin, RN. Partner at Prism Healthcare Partners. Ms. Jacquin brings more than 25 years of healthcare management expertise to her role at national consulting firm Prism Healthcare Partners. She was promoted to her current position in 2016 after joining Prism as managing director two years prior. During her time at Prism, she played a key role in building the firm's clinical documentation improvement practice and methodology, among other accomplishments. Before her work at Prism, she worked at Wellspring Partners, a management consulting firm acquired by Huron Consulting Group in 2007. Emmy Johnson. Vice President of Revenue Cycle Solutions at iMedX. At iMedX, Ms. Johnson uses her nearly two decades of experience in the health information management/revenue cycle space to meet clients' needs. Specializing in backend services with a niche in coding, she helps create/design revenue cycle strategy for healthcare organizations and participates in acquisition discussions, among other duties. Outside of her responsibilities at iMedX, she speaks publicly on topics including coding, revenue cycle, remote team management, new graduates/students and leadership. Ms. Johnson has served as a director on the Wisconsin Health Information Management Association board for the last two years, was named the association's 2016 motivator of the year and will be the association's 2018-19 president-elect. Lori Jones. Chief Revenue Officer at Connance. Throughout her career, Ms. Jones has achieved success increasing revenues for health IT companies. Before joining Connance, she served as executive vice president and general manager at Brightree where she played a key role in the sale to Resmed. Ms. Jones also previously was chief commercialization officer at Airstrip, and she began her career at McKesson, where she helped transform the sales and account management processes and was promoted to senior vice president. Heather Kawamoto. Vice President of Product Marketing and Management at Recondo Technology. Ms. Kawamoto has worked at Recondo for more than a decade. During her time with the company, she has been heavily involved in product development, as well as Recondo's automated patient access technologies. Those technologies are designed to help hospitals automate price transparency processes, prior automation queries and other revenue cycle functions. Liz Kirk. Senior Vice President of Client Services and Continuous Improvement Solutions of Strata Decision Technology. Ms. Kirk has worked with healthcare providers as a hospital administrator and consultant throughout her career. At Strata, she leads the company's client services team, and works in product and strategy for the company, among other responsibilities. In 2014, she received the Chicago Innovation Award for her involvement in creating the Continuous Improvement application at Strata. Previously, she worked at Chicago-based Northwestern Memorial Hospital where she cut costs and boosted revenue, as well as at Accretive Health and at GE Healthcare Performance Solutions. Suzanne Lestina. Vice President of Revenue Cycle Innovation at Avadyne Health. Ms. Lestina, an industry expert and professionally trained speaker, provides healthcare providers, hospital associations and other industry organizations with revenue cycle management leadership and recommendations to improve the patient financial experience process. She also offers guidance on revenue cycle performance to business partners through her job at Avadyne. She previously served as technical director of revenue cycle for the Healthcare Financial Management Association and was heavily involved in developing the MAP program. Kelly Loya. Managing Director of Pinnacle Enterprise Risk Consulting Services. Ms. Loya is a healthcare veteran with 25 years of administrative, operational and clinical experience. Throughout her career, her focus areas have included coding/billing, pharmacy, first responder and nursing studies. In 2016, she joined Pinnacle Enterprise Risk Consulting Services, an affiliate company of Pinnacle Healthcare Consulting. There, her consulting projects involve areas such as pharmacy billing and operations, durable medical equipment, ambulance services and physician (professional fee) and hospital outpatient charging concepts. Chris Martin. Vice President of the Optum360 Revenue Cycle Technology Professional Services business. At Optum360, Ms. Martin's team has been accountable for delivering and supporting a new-to-market computer assisted coding technology, along with developing a standardized performance management program for Optum360's revenue cycle technologies. Before joining Optum in 2010, she worked in revenue management solutions at healthcare software company PICIS, which Optum acquired. She also previously was CFO and COO of Lynx Medical Systems. Angela Mattioda. Vice President of Revenue Cycle Management Services at Surgical Notes. Ms. Mattioda joined Surgical Notes in 2016. In her current role, she is responsible for SNBilling, the company's RCM service. She has nearly 15 years of ambulatory surgery center RCM experience. LaToya McGhee. Executive Director of Revenue Cycle at Boncura Health Solutions. Ms. McGhee, a healthcare veteran, has 16 years of revenue cycle experience. She began her career as an end user and joined Boncura in 2016. Her specific areas of focus include billing, coding and healthcare compliance. At Boncura, she oversees revenue management techniques and functions. She has helped the company increase the overall collection rate and reduce days in accounts receivable, among other accomplishments. Ms. McGhee's other revenue-focused, director-level positions have been with Illinois-based companies such as Access Community Health Network and Franciscan St. James, as well as roles at Loyola University Medical Center and Northwestern Physicians Group. She taught medical billing, healthcare information management and coding at Sanford-Brown College in Tinley Park, Ill. Samantha Meyer. Director of Revenue Cycle Management at Pulse. Ms. Meyer brings more than 17 years of medical field experience to Pulse. At Pulse, which offers medical billing and consultation services, she specializes in revenue cycle management and best practices for medical field specialties. She is a certified professional coder. Ginger Miller, RN, BSN, CPC Senior Vice President Operations at Intermedix, an R1 company. Ms. Miller has more than 20 years of healthcare experience. In her current role, she focuses on coding, auditing and billing services for clients of Intermedix, now part of R1 RCM. She also manages the company's shared services center of excellence in Kaunas, Lithuania. Previously, Ms. Miller was senior vice president of clinical operations at Verisk Health. Suzzi Morrison. Vice President of Technology at Nordis Technologies. Ms. Morrison has worked for Nordis Technologies since 2015. During her tenure, she's played a key role in developing Expresso, a customer communications management platform that enables healthcare RCM companies to automate and streamline the patient billing process. She also heads up product and feature development at Nordis. Marcy Naylor. Vice President of Physician Revenue Cycle Management at R1 RCM. Ms. Naylor has spent most of her 14-year healthcare career with R1,where she has helped lead the physician revenue cycle management team and leads deployment and standards activities across R1's physician revenue cycle client base. She also developed and compiled R1 solutions into a best practices playbook for the company's customers. Jodi Nayoski. Director of Pinnacle Enterprise Risk Consulting Services. Ms. Nayoski has more than 18 years of healthcare experience. In 2016, she joined Pinnacle Enterprise Risk Consulting Services, where she is a certified coding instructor and experienced compliance auditor. Throughout her career, Ms. Nayoski also focused on physician education, compliance auditing and developing training curriculum. She previously managed the ICD-10 education, coding, billing and documentation for physicians and professional coding for analytics vendor Altegra Health, which was acquired by Emdeon in 2015. Jessica Nelson. Director of Revenue Cycle Services at Surgical Information Systems. At SIS, Ms. Nelson oversees revenue activities and focuses on helping clients meet their various financial objectives. Before her current role, she worked in healthcare areas such as accounts receivable and reimbursements and payment posting. Overall, she has 11 years of healthcare revenue cycle management experience. Megan North. President of Value-Based Care for Conifer Health Solutions. Ms. North brings more than 25 years of risk-based hospital and physician-practice operational expertise to Conifer Health, where she has worked in her role since 2012. Overall, her job focuses on leading the national operations of Conifer Health's value-based care business unit offering clinical integration, population health management and financial risk management services for healthcare organizations. She was CEO of Cap Management Systems for more than 13 years. Kelly Nueske. Executive Consultant at Pinnacle Healthcare Consulting. Ms. Nueske is an expert in internal audit, compliance program development, implementation and assessments, billing compliance, investigation/defense support and risk mitigation services. Prior to taking on her current role, she worked at an integrated health system as a registered nurse specializing in cardiology and neurology. She also served as a quality management specialist, utilization management specialist, internal audit director and in other positions within the health system. She's worked as director and managing director of a national consulting firm. where she was responsible for operational, financial, integrated and billing compliance audits for various healthcare entities, including hospitals. Nicole Nye. Vice President of Product Management at Connance. Ms. Nye brings more than 25 years of healthcare market expertise to Connance, a revenue cycle and value-based risk analytics provider. Before joining Connance, she worked at McKesson Health Solutions as associate vice president of marketing strategy. In that role, she headed up product marketing and go-to-market strategies for the network and financial management solution suites. Her accomplishments include launching one of the nation's first consumer-driven health plans and more than 60-plus technology solutions for the health plan market. Jho Outlaw. Senior Vice President of Revenue Cycle Services at Surgical Information Systems. At SIS, Ms. Outlaw helps outpatient facilities improve their revenue cycle and financial performance. Her areas of focus include patient access services, centralized scheduling, charge master management, managed care contracting, billing, collections and patient financial services. Her experience with various types of healthcare organizations includes community nonprofits, for-profits and faith-based systems. Paula Pasquinelli. Vice President of Implementation and Adoption Services at M*Modal. Ms. Pasquinelli has been in her role since March 2014, bringing with her a background in EMR optimization and technology-enabled services management. In this role, she presides over a global project team of adoption specialists focused on clinical documentation improvement. Additionally, she is responsible for operational management and drives business initiatives for M*Modal's direct partner business. Erin Petrie. Director of Revenue Cycle Management at Regent RCM. At Regent RCM, Ms. Petrie leads a team of revenue cycle specialists while serving clients and delivering solutions. She played a key role there in identifying and developing various revenue cycle management protocols and best practices. Ms. Petrie's other revenue cycle work includes serving as surgical services business manager at Oak Lawn, Ill.-based Advocate Christ Medical Center. She is a certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt practitioner and a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Lisa Rock. President of National Medical Billing Services. Since 2003, Ms. Rock has helmed National Medical Billing Services. In this role, she manages more than 500 billers specializing in revenue cycle management for ASCs and their affiliated surgeons. She received various honors in 2016, including being named most influential business woman in St. Louis by the St. Louis Business Journal, as well as one of Small Business Monthly's top women business owners. Kristen Saponaro. Chief Marketing Officer for nThrive. Ms. Saponaro is a healthcare and healthcare technology expert with more than 20 years of leadership experience. At nThrive, she oversees enterprise marketing, branding and communications strategies. Previously, she was marketing leader at Precyse, which became part of nThrive. During her career, she also launched her own marketing and communications consultancy. Carmen Sessoms. Assistant Vice President of Product Management with RelayAssurance Plus at Change Healthcare. Ms. Sessoms brings more than 20 years of leadership and healthcare experience in product management, business development, strategic planning and consulting to Change Healthcare. Before taking on her current role, she was regional vice president of operations for an outsourcing firm. She also gained experience working in product management roles with Relay Health Financial and McKesson. In those roles, she specifically directed projects focused on design and development of revenue cycle solutions. Deepti Sharma. Director of Product Management at HSBlox. Ms. Sharma is a healthcare veteran with more than two decades of experience as a product manager, revenue cycle consultant, practice manager and certified professional coder. Throughout her career, she designed RCM products and business intelligence solutions and served multispecialty practices as a subject matter expert. She currently leads product management at HSBlox, but she previously held roles, including product leadership, at Payspan and SPH Analytics. She also served as a leader for various large provider practices. Kellye Sherbet. President of Revenue Cycle Management services for Aprima. A certified medical coder, Ms. Sherbet is focused on providing Aprima customers with revenue cycle management services. Before joining Aprima, she was vice president of billing services and a partner of Health Care Strategies, which Aprima acquired in 2011. Her other roles have included billing director of Texas Back Institute and director of reimbursement of Care Select Group. Richa Singh. Executive Vice President at Collect Rx. Ms. Singh brings 10 years of revenue cycle experience to her role at Collect Rx. In her current position, she has focused on enhancing out-of-network reimbursements to ASCs, physicians, hospitals, labs and behavioral health centers. She specifically played a key role in the growth of the firm, which now has a client base of more than 800 U.S. providers. Prior to joining Collect Rx in 2010, she worked in IT at Cisco Systems and then with Vocus. Brenda Smith. Senior Vice President of Process Innovation for Parallon. At Parallon, Ms. Smith focuses on improving the company's business lines with respect to process and technology. She was vice president of revenue cycle implementations at Parallon before taking on her current role. During her tenure at Parallon, she led clients into the company's full service revenue cycle model. Her other previous positions include assistant vice president of shared services group project management at Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare and independent consultant. Cathy Smith. Managing Director of Revenue Cycle Transformation at Nordic. Ms. Smith has been with Nordic since the company acquired the revenue cycle transformation practice of The Claro Group in 2018. Prior to the acquisition, she had served as managing director of The Claro Group's revenue cycle transformation practice from January 2011. Throughout her career, Ms. Smith has held leadership positions at Huron, Wellspring Partners and Arthur Andersen. Her areas of expertise include healthcare operational and financial management, patient financial services and IT. Debra Stall. Chief Strategy Officer at Xtend Healthcare. Ms. Stall brings more than 30 years of RCM experience to Xtend Healthcare. This experience includes system implementation, redesign of revenue processes and organization development for major U.S. healthcare providers. Through her experience, Ms. Stall has gained numerous executive skills such as developing strategic business plans, process redesign and project management, to name a few. Her core focus at Xtend is strategic partnerships and business growth. Amy Sullivan. Vice President of Revenue Cycle Solutions at PatientKeeper. Ms. Sullivan has more that 25 years of healthcare technology business experience. For the last 15 years, she has served at PatientKeeper, where her focus includes helping providers, such as health systems and academic medical centers, recover lost Medicare charges. Before joining PatientKeeper, she worked at McKesson, Cerner, and Worcester, Mass.-based UMass Memorial Medical Center. Lauralea Tanner. Chief Revenue Officer at iVita Financial. Ms. Tanner has worked in revenue cycle for more than 20 years. In her current role, which she began in 2017, she is responsible for sales, marketing and client relationship management at iVita Financial. Her other roles included vice president of the Western Region at Abeo, as well as vice president of enterprise client management at Conifer Health Solutions. She also held senior-level positions with revenue cycle solutions providers such as Emdeon, Health Management Systems, and CSI Financial Services, which launched ClearBalance in 2010. Kristen Taylor. Managing Director of Pinnacle Enterprise Risk Consulting Services. Ms. Taylor's healthcare career has focused on coding, revenue cycle processes and compliance for physician and hospital reimbursement models. In 2016, she joined Pinnacle Enterprise Risk Consulting Services, where she performs operational assessments, coding reviews and provider/coder education, among other responsibilities. Previously, Ms. Taylor managed the ancillary and surgical coding and billing staff for pathology and laboratory medicine departments, as well as anesthesia, certified registered nurse anesthetist and other areas. Kathy Tuite. Chief Marketing Officer at Rectangle Health. Ms. Tuite, a professional with more than 25 years of marketing, financial services and technology experience, serves as chief marketing officer of healthcare payment solutions provider Rectangle Health. In her role, she oversees the company's various marketing channels, including digital, e-commerce, acquisition and product positioning. Other positions she's held include chief marketing officer for TSYS Merchant Solutions, as well as chief marketing officer for TransFirst, which was acquired by TSYS. Julie Van Pelt. Vice President of Client Services at Avadyne Health. At Avadyne Health, Ms. Van Pelt focuses on developing and supporting client relationships with business partners. An accredited presenter and trainer, she speaks across the U.S. to healthcare organizations about issues such as change management and healthcare leadership. She previously served as Avadyne Health's vice president of operations. Kelly Vroom. Vice President of Business Development for Atos. Prior to her current role, Ms. Vroom was senior vice president of revenue cycle services for health IT solutions provider Atos. In that role, she oversaw Atos' RCM division, which includes the revenue cycle front and back ends. Her 25 years of revenue cycle operations and business development experience also included serving as vice president of patient administrative services for Las Vegas-based Nevada Cancer Institute, as well as eight years as the executive director of revenue cycle at Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit. Norma Zeringue. Senior Vice President of Strategy for Conifer Health Solutions. Ms. Zeringue has worked since 2008 in her current role, in which she uses her more than 30 years of experience in hospital operations, RCM and patient financial services. She specifically focuses on Conifer Health's business transformation strategy, and assists with growth strategy. Her other healthcare roles have included senior vice president of human resources and strategy and chief people officer of Conifer Health, as well as vice president of process innovation and financial integrity for Tenet Patient Financial Services. More articles on healthcare finance: Kansas hospital loses Medicare billing privileges, may be forced to close 5 hospital bankruptcies so far in 2018 7 hospitals with strong finances San Antonio-based Acuity Hospital of South Texas, a long-term acute care facility, will not close as planned, according to a San Antonio Express-News report. The facility will remain open after AMG Integrated Healthcare Management a specialty hospital organization that owns 10 long-term acute care hospitals in seven states and two Physical Rehabilitation Hospitals in Louisiana revealed June 14 plans to acquire "major assets" from Acuity Hospital of South Texas. "We wanted to make sure that the hospital has a future in the community," said August Rantz IV, president of AMG Integrated Healthcare Management.. "We are excited to build upon the wonderful work that Acuity has done for the community. This is a perfect fit for our footprint, and we are committed to the San Antonio community." The hospital was expected to close July 14, with parent company, Charlotte, N.C.-based Acuity Healthcare, attributing the closure to declining revenue and industry changes. AMG Integrated Healthcare Management officials said the hospital will be renamed AMG Specialty Hospital and will be a 30-bed long-term acute care facility. It will treat patients with medically complex needs who have medical conditions or need treatments for respiratory failure, cardiac-related disorders with telemetry monitoring, post-operative complications, infectious disease, renal disease and multisystem failure, they said. Ventilator weaning and complex wound care is offered as well. "We worked tirelessly with AMG to ensure that the hospital had a future," said Ed Cooper, president and CEO of Acuity Healthcare. "Having been a part of the San Antonio community since 2008, we are proud to have played a critical role in providing quality care to 3,365 patients during this time. As part of our ongoing commitment to our employees, physicians and the community, our team was committed to supporting AMG during its transition." The hospital has 137 workers, and it is not clear exactly how many positions will remain with AMG, according to the report. Ben Miller, senior vice president of hospital operations with AMG, told the San Antonio Express-News via email the company "will keep as many positions as possible as we make sure the hospital has a bright future in the community." More articles on healthcare finance: University Hospitals launches bundled payment program with Walmart Texas hospital considers bankruptcy as debt mounts Geisinger's operating income jumps 38% in first 9 months of fiscal year Sarasota (Fla.) Memorial Health Care System selected Sharon Roush to serve as the inaugural president of Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Laurel Road in Venice, Fla. Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Laurel Road is still in the planning stages, and construction is expected to take three years. The hospital will have 90 acute care beds, 20 beds for observation patients as well as an emergency care center with 25 treatment rooms. Ms. Roush will assume her new role in July. She previously served as CEO of South Bay Hospital in Sun City, Fla., for nearly a decade. She also served as CEO of Capital Regional Medical Center in Tallahassee, Fla., and Columbia Hospital in West Palm Beach, Fla. All the facilities are a part of Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare. As president, Ms. Roush will oversee pre-construction plans for the hospital, including meeting with city officials. She will also be responsible for hiring medical staff and clinical team members. Three of five bureau directors at the Nashville (Tenn.) Metro Public Health Department have resigned in the last month, according to The Tennessean. Peter Fontaine, who stepped down as director of finance and administration after nearly two years, quit over "conduct issues," Sanmi Areola, MD, Nashvilles deputy public health director, told The Tennessean. Mr. Fontaine "had to go," Dr. Areola said. Muriel Hodgson-Vargas, director of the bureau of community health, and Shoana Anderson, director the bureau of communicable disease and emergency response, also resigned. Ms. Hodgson-Vargas and Ms. Anderson told The Tennessean they resigned because of organizational problems within the Nashville Metro Public Health Department. Ms. Hodgson-Vargas said in her exit interview that the agency has a "toxic organizational culture" that supported "bad behavior" from employees. There was a lot of talk about change but unfortunately the status quo fights back, Ms. Hodgson-Vargas told The Tennessean. "And when you don't feel like you can do your job, well, Im not in the business of sitting down and getting paid to do nothing." Brian Todd, a spokesman for the Nashville Metro Public Health Department, said the resigning officials were "entitled to their opinions." "While the simultaneous resignations were a surprise, they were handled with the professionalism and dedication that are the hallmark of the 500+ employees of the Metro Public Health Department," Mr. Todd wrote in an email to The Tennessean. By 2028, federal payment cuts to hospitals since 2010 will total $218.2 billion, according to a report from Dobson Davanzo & Associates commissioned by the Federation of American Hospitals and the American Hospital Association. "Continued cuts of this magnitude represent a troubling trend for hospitals and health systems as many struggle with declining reimbursements for services provided in and out of the hospital, said Rick Pollack, president and CEO of the AHA. "Additional reductions will create challenging and potentially unsustainable financial circumstances that could adversely impact patients access to care and the ability of hospitals to provide services." The study investigated how new healthcare legislation and regulatory changes have changed hospital funding over time. The study found the three biggest contributors to the payment reductions were $79.3 billion from changes with MS-DRG documentation and coding; $73.1 billion due to federal budget sequestration; and $25.9 billion from lower Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments. An emailed memo from Walter O'Donnell, MD, a longtime physician at Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital, brings to light the tension between some physicians at the hospital and its parent company, Boston-based Partners Healthcare, according to the Boston Globe. Here are nine things to know: 1. Dr. O'Donnell is the clinical director of pulmonary and critical care at Massachusetts General. He was elected to the Physicians Organization Executive Committee, tasked with consulting hospital leaders about clinical staff concerns. 2. Dr. O'Donnell recently resigned from the panel in frustration over Partners failure to consult with physicians and the committee on key decisions. 3. He detailed his frustrations and concerns in a letter announcing his resignation from the committee. The memo was emailed June 1 to more than 2,800 Massachusetts General physicians, who are part of the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization. 4. "Over the past two years, in actions and announcements, Partners has progressively overlooked or bypassed [the committee]," Dr. O'Donnell's memo read, according to The Globe. "I had to regretfully conclude that my continued presence meant tacit approval of decisions about which the [committee] was little informed and involved, and of the sidelining of the [committee] itself. Hence I respectfully resigned." 5. The memo discusses several examples of key decisions that were made by Partners without consulting Massachusetts General physicians or the committee. Dr. O'Donnell said physicians had little input when Partners shifted Medicaid patients to an ACO; physicians were not consulted before Partners joined Apple's pilot study to give patients access to medical records on their smartphones; and the committee has failed to learn the rationale for Partners' plan to acquire Providence, R.I.-based Care New England. 6. One Massachusetts General physician, who received the memo but didn't want to be named because he was worried about repercussions, told The Globe, "Something's really askew when this venerable physician resigns in protest." 7. Timothy Ferris, MD, chief executive of the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization, said other physicians share Dr. O'Donnell's concern about the "lack of agency" over their futures, according to The Globe. 8. Tensions between Partners and its two main hospitals, Massachusetts General and Boston-based Brigham and Women's, have been brewing for years, but the complaints were usually voiced and resolved in private, which makes Dr. O'Donnell's memo stand out. 9. Dr. Ferris said that the memo caused Partner's CEO David Tochiana, MD, to want to make changes. This summer Dr. Tochiana plans to "re-examine the management structure of Partners [and] among the issues to be considered is the best way to position the voice of physicians within the Partner's organizational structure." Fifty-two percent of executives are on the hunt for acquisitions in the next year, according to Ernst & Young's 2018 Global Capital Confidence Barometer. Private equity companies are increasingly a part of that deal-making. "The private equity deal activity increase we saw in 2017 looks to be accelerating. Interestingly, while we can anticipate intense competition, we may also see more collaboration as private equity investors club together with corporates to do deals," Steve Krouskos, EY's global vice chair of transaction advisory services, said. Healthcare has not escaped this trend. Here are nine private equity firms that have made a bid for or acquired a healthcare company's business this year: 1. Aquiline Capital Partners. New York City-based Aquiline Capital Partners acquired revenue cycle management company Aspirion Health Resources May 31. 2. BlueMountain Capital Management. New York City-based private equity firm BlueMountain Capital Management will reportedly decide soon whether it will assume control of several of Louisville-based KentuckyOne Health's assets. 3. Clayton Dubilier & Rice. Cardinal Health sold a 55 percent stake in naviHealth a six-year-old, Nashville, Tenn.-based startup that helps manage post-acute care in value-based care arrangements to the New York City-based private equity firm Clayton Dubilier & Rice. 4. KKR & Co. New York City-based private equity firm KKR & Co. has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Envision Healthcare, a Nashville, Tenn.-based physician services provider, in an all-cash transaction for approximately $9.9 billion, including the assumption of debt. 5. Platinum Equity. Johnson & Johnson will sell its LifeScan diabetes unit to the private equity firm Platinum Equity for $2.1 billion, according to CNBC. 6. Summit Partners. On April 21, Fresenius Medical Care, a division of Bad Homburg, Germany-based Fresenius SE, sold its majority share in Tacoma, Wash.-based Sound Inpatient Physicians Holdings to Boston-based Summit Partners. UnitedHealth Group's Optum also has stake in the $2.2 billion deal. 7. Veritas Capital. Veritas Capital entered into a definitive agreement April 2 with General Electric Healthcare to purchase its value-based care division for $1.05 billion in cash. 8. & 9. Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe and TPG. In a deal with Humana, Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe and TPG will acquire Louisville, Ky.-based acute care provider Kindred Healthcare's facility-focused arm, comprising long-term acute care hospitals and contract rehabilitation services businesses. Humana and the two private equity firms signed a definitive sale agreement Dec. 19 for $4.1 billion in cash, including assumption of debt. The trio also will purchase hospice operator Curo Health Services, based in Mooresville, N.C., for $1.4 billion. More articles on transactions and valuations: Private equity and the for-profit hospital industry: 6 thoughts Christ Hospital CEO Mike Keating to depart for private equity firm 52% of executives plan to acquire in next 12 months Boston-based Steward Health Care commented publicly for the first time against the proposed merger between Boston-based Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Burlington, Mass.-based Lahey Health and several other hospitals, claiming the deal would give the merged system too much market leverage, according to The Boston Globe. John Polanowicz, COO of Steward Health Care, told the publication the proposed merger would threaten the viability of Steward's nine hospitals in Massachusetts, as well as other community hospitals statewide. "We think mergers like this without an appropriate level of scrutiny put not only ours but many community hospitals at risk," he said. Mr. Polanowicz and three other executives of various healthcare organizations and hospital systems in Massachusetts signed a letter to the state's healthcare watchdog organization, the Health Policy Commission, June 12 that raised concerns about the proposed transaction. The letter reportedly argued the proposed merger would widen disparities between wealthier and poorer communities, and noted the 13 hospitals composing the new system Beth Israel Lahey Health already treat a smaller share of low-income patients than hospitals belonging to Steward or Burlington, Mass.-based Wellforce health system. A Health Policy Commission spokesperson confirmed to The Boston Globe the commission had received the letter. The watchdog group is expected to release its analysis of the deal, which already received one key approval from the state in February, by mid-July. David Passafaro, senior vice president for external affairs at Boston-based New England Baptist Hospital one of the 13 hospitals involved in the deal told the publication each of the 13 hospitals has submitted details about their plan to the necessary state and federal agencies. "The regulatory review process has been robust and thorough in fact, even more robust and thorough than the process Wellforce and Steward went through to grow their systems," he said in a statement. Union officials say 20 employees of Whittier Street Health Center in Roxbury, Mass., were fired this week in retaliation for their support of organizing efforts, according to a State House News Service report. Here are five things to know: 1. The union, 1199 Service Employees International Union United Healthcare Workers East, claims Whittier officials have engaged in "an extremely aggressive anti-union campaign" since workers revealed May 24 they launched efforts to join 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. Union officials said this included hiring "anti-union" attorneys. 2. Health center workers were fired on June 14, days before a union election scheduled for June 20, according to 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, which represents more than 56,000 healthcare workers across Massachusetts and more than 400,000 workers across the East Coast. A vote in favor of unionization would have covered about 70 professional healthcare staff at Whittier, including social workers, physicians, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, nutritionists, dentists, podiatrists, optometrists and mental health therapists. 3. In protest of the terminations, the union held a rally June 15. 4. Tim Foley, executive vice president of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, called the terminations "disturbing." "These dedicated healthcare providers are committed to providing the very best care to patients and their local communities. They were fired by management for supporting unionizing efforts that will enhance patient care and make the health center stronger and more financially viable," he said in a statement to Becker's Hospital Review. 5. Health center officials did not return an email and multiple phone messages from Becker's Hospital Review seeking comments and confirmation of the union's allegations. According to the union, health center officials contend employees were fired due to a loss of grant funding. Editor's note: Becker's Hospital Review will post any update or response as it is available. More articles on human capital and risk: Washington state nurses picket over staffing University of Vermont Medical Center nurses to vote on strike Bartlett Regional Hospital workers get pay hike in 3-year labor deal More articles on human capital and risk: Washington state nurses picket over staffing University of Vermont Medical Center nurses to vote on strike Bartlett Regional Hospital workers get pay hike in 3-year labor deal Overland Park, Kan.-based Blue Valley Hospital asked nurses to falsify patient records to boost the facility's inpatient numbers, according to The Kansas City Star, which cited findings from a CMS survey of the hospital. Here are nine things to know: 1. CMS terminated Blue Valley Hospital's Medicare contract in April after two surveys revealed the hospital was not in compliance with Medicare rules. 2. Under rules enacted last September, a healthcare facility must average at least two inpatients per day and an at least two-night average length of stay to be considered an inpatient hospital for Medicare reimbursement. Facilities that fall short of these requirements may instead be considered same-day surgery centers, which have different reimbursement rates. 3. CMS said Blue Valley Hospital doesn't meet the new federal requirements for Medicare participation. A survey by state health officials in November found Blue Valley Hospital did not have any inpatients at that time, and a subsequent report showed the hospital performed about 309 outpatient surgeries, compared with 146 inpatient surgeries over a yearlong period. 4. Blue Valley Hospital officials acknowledged that the hospital fell short of the two-night average stay requirement, but they argued the new federal requirements are arbitrary. They claimed the action taken by CMS was not related to any issues with patient safety or quality of care. 5. The hospital sued HHS and CMS over the decision to terminate its Medicare billing privileges, and U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson recently dismissed the case. The judge's dismissal ruling provided additional details about why CMS took action against the hospital. 6. "BVH was tagged with numerous deficiencies in both surveys, including compromise of patient care," Ms. Robinson wrote. "As such, the government interest in protecting patients through an expeditious provider-termination procedure is quite strong." 7. In the survey conducted in April, inspectors found several deficiencies. For example, the hospital used unsafe practices for medication administration, leading to the potential for drug overdose, adverse drug reactions and medication errors, according to Ms. Robinson's dismissal order. 8. The judge also noted that BVH leaders knew the facility was not in compliance with Medicare rules and took measures to boost inpatient volumes and average length of stay to get in compliance. During the follow-up survey of the facility in April, two nurses told inspectors hospital officials asked them to falsify patient records to include complications that would justify keeping patients in the hospital longer, according to Ms. Robinson's dismissal order. 9. BVH's Medicare billing privileges are set to be terminated June 15. However, the hospital appealed the district court's decision and has requested to retain its billing privileges until the appeal is heard, according to The Kansas City Star. More articles on clinical leadership and infection control: Study: States with nonmedical vaccine exemptions linked to lower immunization rates NEJM corrects 5 papers with flawed statistics Legionella detected in California VA hospital's water supply Surgeons at Polaris Spine & Neurosurgery Center performed the first outpatient robot-assisted spine surgery in Atlanta with Globus Medical's ExcelsiusGPS. Polaris Spine is the first ASC in the southeast and the second ASC in the U.S. to use the robotic navigation system. The ExcelsiusGPS navigation system is compatible with preoperative CT, intraoperative CT and fluoroscopic imaging modalities and is designed to minimize radiation exposure, streamline workflow and improve implant placement accuracy. Polaris Spine was founded in 1979 as Peachtree Neurosurgery. The practice employs neurosurgeons Max Steuer, MD, Christopher Tomaras, MD, Thomas J. Morrison III, MD, Raymond Walkup, MD, and physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist Shane Mangrum, MD. More articles on imaging: Cervical spine MRI after CT may have limited effectiveness, study shows: 3 insights NJ hospital now offers Mako system for knee replacement surgery Mazor installs Renaissance system in Georgia-based ASC In 2002, Mizuho acquired Orthopedic Systems, Inc., or OSI, a company known for innovative surgical tables that contribute to enhanced outcomes during orthopedic procedures. In partnership with pioneering physicians, the company has more than 40 years of experience developing tables that allow surgeons increased access to the surgical site during procedures. Now, the company has its sights set on being an operating room solutions provider, integrating all aspects of the OR. Here, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Mizuho OSI Greg Neukirch discusses where the company is going and what to expect in the future. Question: How do you expect the company to change over the next three to five years? Greg Neukirch: The vision of Mizuho OSI is to become the leading OR solutions provider, transforming our company from a table-identified organization into an integrated OR partner, with customers around the world. At the same time, we are still in the business of creating procedure-specific surgical tables that allow physicians the ability to deliver the best patient outcomes. We segment our spine, orthopedic trauma, pressure management, and general table portfolios to make sure we continue innovating in those four areas. We believe Mizuho OSI has led these segments in innovation for the past 40-plus years and we want to maintain that. For example, the Jackson Table has evolved into what is now the Trios Surgical Table, giving surgeons more command of the procedure. Our newest innovation, Levo, allows surgeons to change the patient's head position during surgery without compromising stability. In orthopedics, we believe the ProFx is the gold standard for pelvic reconstruction and trauma surgery, and with the Hana table, we are transforming hip replacements to allow for the anterior approach. Q: Where are innovations focused going forward? GN: We will be investing more in pressure management solutions and have partnered with Tempur-Pedic as a first step. We are also developing real-time pressure analysis tools to use during surgery, which could help to anticipate a problem post-surgery. We recently showed the technology at the AORN annual meeting and when we bring it to market, this technology will help providers get ahead of pressure-related ulcers. Q: What market pressures are driving these changes? GN: If we look at the advent of robotics in surgery, there are a host of companies that are making fundamental and complex robotic systems. We're looking at how we can help enable that technology with smarter tables. The last two tables we released had brains in them. We are setting our foundation to have tables that can interact with what we see as the future of state-of-the-art ORs. In 2015, we acquired Trilux Medical , which is the backbone of our OR integration system. We envision an interconnected OR that will allow a physician to manipulate the patient's body during surgery, record necessary information, and transmit that information during the procedure. Robotic technology will then come in and interact with the other technology in the OR. We want to have a highly integrated space not only for our products, but for all physicians who perform cases there. Q: How do your expanded offerings fit into value-based care? GN: Value-based care is an investment piece of Mizuho OSI we haven't done before. We haven't acquired much quantitative data nor published the outcomes in the past. However, we know healthcare is moving in this direction, and are innovating with physician partners to enhance their surgical time and achieve better outcomes. We are also entering into publication work in partnership with a major university, which is a new era for Mizuho OSI. One recent study out of Canada showed the reduced cost for medication when patients undergo anterior versus posterior hip surgical approaches. The outcomes were the same, but the anterior approach was associated with a reduction in the amount of pain medication patients used. We already knew that shorter surgery times meant less pain medication for patients, but the article helped us prove it. Inside a room of The Flint hotel in Belfast city centre Inside a room of The Flint hotel in Belfast city centre Two of Northern Ireland's youngest hotel owners are to take on some of biggest names in the business with a new multi-million pound venture in Belfast city centre. Brothers Ben (26) and Peter Ringland (28) will next week officially open The Flint, a 55-bed hotel on Howard Street. The pair, who are behind the Ringland Group, are also embarking on a major investment of their Crescent Townhouse hotel in Botanic Avenue, which is to be rebranded as The 1852. It's a busy time for the hospitality industry in the city centre with around half-a-dozen new hotels in the process of opening. The Flint will be close to the new Maldron Hotel and the Grand Central Hotel, parts of which are due to open next Wednesday. The 5m easyHotel and Hampton by Hilton - part of the Andras House Group - will soon join them, as Belfast expands from 8,000 to 10,000 rooms this year. "There's a lot of supply coming on stream, but we're confident our product is a bit different. We're not too concerned," said Peter. "I'm only 28 myself, so everything is aimed at people around my age. "It's 25 to 40-year-old corporate guests we're targeting." While that demographic is expected to be its bread and butter, the hotel is purposely designed with a non-corporate feel. Highlighting the independent nature of the venture, Mr Ringland said the beds, wardrobes and tables had been built by Portadown-based Terry design, while RUI Design of Dungannon made the sofas. "Nearly all the stuff in the rooms is handmade in Northern Ireland," he said. The hotelier said the brothers "fell into" the trade after starting out 10 years ago by renting out apartments through Airbnb. "The demand for those was really strong," he explained. "That business grew and eventually it was very financially viable enough for the bank to lend for a more conventional hotel model." The pair went on to buy the old Crescent Townhouse in 2015 and later expanded their presence in the Botanic Avenue area with the 80-seater Town Square bar and restaurant. The success of those ventures has inspired the company to refurbish and rebrand, with the hotel due to be unveiled later this year under 'The 1852' name. In all, the three will bring the number of people in the employ of the Ringland Group to 65. And the brothers aren't finished yet. Phase two of The Flint involves a 220-seater roof-top bar. "It'll be on the eighth floor, overlooking the mountains and great views of the city," Mr Ringland added. It's the latest chapter in the ongoing regeneration of Howard Street, and Mr Ringland said they have been warmly welcomed into the area. The Flint will enjoy special relationships with some nearby businesses, including the restaurant Flame. "The building has been derelict for so long, they're very happy to see something being done with it," he added. The future of a key unit in Belfast city centre's CastleCourt Shopping Centre is in doubt after retailer N Brown announced it is likely to close 20 stores. N Brown operates the Simply Be and Jacamo store in a corner, street-facing ground-floor unit in CastleCourt. N Brown is the latest retailer to announce closures on the high street, following hot on the heels of House of Fraser, which is closing 31 of its 59 department stores. A spokeswoman for N Brown said last night: "All 20 of N Brown's stores are under consultation to be closed. This includes the Simply Be/Jacamo store in Belfast." The group, which also owns JD Williams, entered into a consultation with staff yesterday, saying that weak footfall on the high street meant it had to close stores. The consultation concerns 12 dual-brand Simply Be and Jacamo outlets, as well as eight High and Mighty stores. The company expects to incur a one-off cash cost of between 18m and 22m if it closes all 20 stores. The outlets affected will be shut ahead of their lease expiry date and bring in around 2% of N Brown's revenues, generating 15m in the 2018 financial year. Angela Spindler, N Brown's chief executive, said yesterday: "In line with our online strategy, and given continued weak high street footfall, we have today commenced a consultation process with colleagues over the future of our small store estate. "This action has not been taken lightly and we will do all we can to support the colleagues affected during this process," she added. For the 13 weeks to June 2, N Brown's revenue from its retail brands fell 2.8%. While House of Fraser last week announced it was shutting more than half its stores, its Belfast unit - the anchor tenant of Victoria Square Shopping Centre - is remaining open. It's been a year brimming with box-office successes so far, but the best is yet to come in the world of film. As the days get warmer, the evenings lighter and the kids look forward to school holidays, the summer blockbusters start arriving, so get the popcorn ready - here are the silver-screen epics you won't want to miss. ANT-MAN AND THE WASP When's it out? June 29. What can we expect? Avengers: Infinity War took the world by storm earlier this year, but the small yet mighty Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) was notably missing from the action. As usual with films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the exact plot details are secret. What we do know is that this latest adventure will see Rudd's character, Scott Lang, struggling to balance life as a father with his superhero duties as Ant-Man, especially when he and The Wasp (Michelle Pfeiffer) are faced with a dangerous mission. Bring it on. HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3: SUMMER VACATION When's it out? July 27. What can we expect? An-all star cast lend their voices to this family comedy - we're talking Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez and Steve Buscemi. This time, the animation revolves around the monsters embarking on a cruise ship for a nice summer holiday. What could possibly go wrong? Well, when Mavis (Gomez) realises Drac (Sandler) has fallen for the ship's mysterious captain, all hell breaks loose - turns out all of monsterkind are at risk. Yikes. OCEAN'S 8 When's it out? June 22. What can we expect? There's been serious excitement surrounding this all-female reboot of the Ocean's franchise - and rightly so. The fun heist flick follows Sandra Bullock's Debbie Ocean (that's the sister of George Clooney's character from the original films) upon her release from jail. She's soon up to no good again, thanks to the help of a team of criminal masterminds who happen to be played by some of Hollywood's biggest names - Cate Blanchett, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson and Helena Bonham Carter. Oh, and Rihanna is in it too. THE DARKEST MINDS When's it out? September 14. What can we expect? Okay, you might argue summer will be long gone by September, but this is the next big thing when it comes to adaptations of young adult novels. Amandla Stenberg, who you'll know as Rue in The Hunger Games, leads the cast as Ruby, who, thanks to supernatural abilities, has managed to survive in a dystopian world where disease has killed 98% of America's children. After the government fear her superpowers are dangerous, Ruby, and other teens like her, are imprisoned - and we have an edge-of-our-seats thriller on our hands. THE EQUALIZER 2 When's it out? August 17. What can we expect? Denzel Washington is back as crime-fighting Robert McCall in a sequel to the 2014 box-office hit which saw him take down a notorious Russian gang. This time, the fight gets personal, following the death of an old friend. And, yet again, retired CIA operative McCall won't give up until his mission to bring the bad guys down is completed. This is what you call non-stop action. THE INCREDIBLES 2 When's it out? July 13. What can we expect? It's the Disney Pixar film we have all been waiting for, right? Fourteen years since the The Incredibles, the action begins right where we left it - Bob Parr (Craig T. Nelson) has taken a step back from his role as Mr Incredible to look after the kids, including super-powerful baby Jack-Jack. But don't worry, his sassy wife Helen, aka Elastigirl, voiced by Holly Hunter, is still saving the world. This may look like a kids' film, but it will be totally acceptable for adults to enjoy every minute too. THE MEG When's it out? August 10. What can we expect? A shark. A very, very big shark. Jason Statham plays a rescue diver tasked with saving the crew of a deep-sea submersible which has been attacked by a 75-foot-long prehistoric creature, a Megalodon, which was thought to be extinct but definitely isn't. Warning: if Jaws left you with nightmares, The Meg sounds like it's going to be even scarier. Orange Is The New Black's Ruby Rose also stars. THE PREDATOR When's it out? September 14. What can we expect? Another terrifying instalment in this much-loved series, which launched in 1987 with Arnold Schwarzenegger as the leader of a US special forces team attacked by an alien. The trailer shows former marine Quinn McKenna (Boyd Holbrook) encountering a terrifying mythical monster after investigating a spaceship crash, with Olivia Munn as a doctor who helps the hunted McKenna in his battle for survival. MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN When's it out? July 20. What can we expect? Abba fans, get tuning those vocal chord. A decade since the comedy musical Mamma Mia, it's time for a sequel. Songs this time around include Angel Eyes, I Wonder and When I Kissed The Teacher. The scenery is just as spectacular (they filmed in Croatia this time) and Cher even makes an appearance. Meanwhile, much of the original cast are back, including Amanda Seyfried as a now-pregnant Sophie learning about her mother's past, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan and, of course, Meryl Streep. What's not to love? MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT When's it out? July 26. What can we expect? A whole load of crazy stunts. You'll remember Tom Cruise broke his ankle jumping across buildings (left) while filming scenes for this movie - the sixth in the series - in London last year, and we've also seen clips of him dangling in the air from a helicopter over New Zealand. Other than the fact the past comes back to haunt Cruise's character, Agent Ethan Hunt, as he and his IMF team try to prevent nuclear terrorism, we don't know much about the storyline. But one thing's for sure - 22 years since the first Mission: Impossible film, Cruise still gets pulses racing. Undertones frontman Feargal Sharkey has taken to Twitter to celebrate 40 years since the recording of the band's iconic debut single 'Teenage Kicks'. Writing on the social media site the Londonderry band's frontman wrote: "Did I mention by the way 40 years ago today I walked into a recording studio, put a pair of headphones on, and sang this." The song was written in the summer of 1977 by band member John O'Neill and was recorded on June 16 1978. It was released that September by Belfast independent record label Good Vibrations. The band were then picked up by Sire Records and the song was re-released that October reaching 31 on the UK singles chart. Influential BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel was reported to have burst into tears upon hearing the song and named it as his favourite of all-time. He once played the song twice in a row on his show telling audiences "It doesn't get much better than this". Peel enjoyed the show so much he had the opening lyrics "Teenage dreams so hard to beat?" written on his tombstone following his death in 2004. The song has entered popular culture in the United Kingdom and was named the second best indie song of all time in a 2016 poll. Expand Close Feargal Sharkey / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Feargal Sharkey It has gone on to be covered by a number of bands including One Direction and Snow Patrol. Mindy Kaling's infant daughter, Katherine, is already learning how the A-list works. When the actress - who stars in the forthcoming Ocean's 8 movie - visited her former co-star and friend Oprah Winfrey's "cathedral of beauty and art" (aka the chat show queen's home) recently, baby Katherine instinctively knew when it was time to cut short a brewing tantrum. Despite being decidedly antsy on the way over to the house, for the next few hours she was "sweetness and light, totally adorable", and Kaling's meeting with Oprah was punctuated by happy gurgling, rather than piercing cries. In fairness, however, even if Katherine had decided to go nuclear, you might have expected the chat show queen would put up with it. After all, it was she who first revealed Kaling's pregnancy to the world, blabbing the news to People magazine in the US late last summer, prompting a frenzy of speculation Stateside about who the father might be - Kaling did not reveal his identity and was not romantically linked to anyone at the time. "It was an interesting time," Kaling says now. "There is obviously a lot of scrutiny on women in the public eye who get pregnant, and you know a lot of the time I think that's not necessarily nefarious. People are just excited for them that they have some good news. "With my daughter, I try to have a high level of privacy, so I don't talk about some things that are to do with her. She's my life and I always worry about her. I just want to do the best for her." She gets help minding Katherine from her father, she says, and she takes her daughter to set and hangs out with her in her trailer. "We just make it work - she's entertained by anything," Kaling tells me. Since Katherine was born last December, Kaling's famous work ethic (she's written, "I have never, ever, ever met a highly confident and successful person who is not what a movie would call a workaholic") has required some tweaking, and she says being prepared has been the key. "I shot this movie before I had my daughter, so it didn't really affect how much I worked here, but generally, now that I've had my daughter, I would say it just requires a much greater level of organisation on my part." Ocean's 8 is an all-female iteration of the famous heist franchise, and boasts a veritable who's who of Hollywood - Cate Blanchett, Sandra Bullock and Rihanna (who Kaling still isn't sure knows her name) also star in the film. It represents the latest notch in a career which has been on an upward trajectory ever since Kaling lit up screens in the American version of The Office, which she helped write and starred in for eight years. Kaling became even better known for her eponymous follow up, The Mindy Project, in which she starred as a gynaecologist whose wit, warmth and personal struggles won Kaling a new legion of fans. To the American media, Kaling represented something of a friendly insurgent, an Indian-American who made the jokes rather than being the butt of them - for decades the only representation of Indian-Americans on TV had been Apu from The Simpsons. One of the themes of Kaling's work - especially her memoir, Why Not Me? - has been the development of confidence. She writes of hesitating to speak up in the writers' room and of feeling like she didn't fit in the comedy world. Part of this was to do with race, body issues and gender, and she says the key to overcoming all of these was simply hard work. "What I talk about in the book is that entitlement is fine, as long as you have the work ethic and the body of work to back it up. I think a lot of people, especially women, get stuck in a cycle of feeling that they are not deserving. I think working hard cured me of that." If Kaling was an outsider in some ways, in others she represented the heart of middle-class America. She grew up in the suburban comfort of Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she attended private school and fantasised about being the long-lost sister of Nora Ephron. Her mother was an obstetrician/gynaecologist, her father an architect. They named Mindy after the female character in the Robin Williams comedy Mork & Mindy. Kaling went on to study playwriting at the prestigious Dartmouth college, and as a sophomore interned on the Conan O'Brien show in New York. Given that she was a beneficiary of one kind of privilege - economic - and the victim of another - racial - I wonder, which does she think is the greater predictor of entitlement? "That's a super-smart question, but I'm not really sure I know the answer to it. I was certainly very lucky in some ways. I was lucky to come from a good family. I think the fact that I was able to go to a college which allowed for us to do internships worked in my favour. But at the same time I struggled with a lot of the same issues other young women struggle with, and in terms of how I looked. I did feel like something of an outsider. I had a feeling that I didn't belong in the comedy world. When you look around at a lot of the great work being produced and you don't see yourself reflected back in any of it, it's very easy to feel like you are in the wrong field." This was a weakness that she would eventually turn into a strength as she forged her path on the ultra-competitive stand-up circuit in New York. "I would say comedy is about finding your wound and dealing with that through humour," Kaling says of that early success. "And even when you're writing for other characters, you are also trying to find their wound - it's really part of what makes a person tick, so that is also where the funniness comes from." In the weeks after we speak, Kaling waded into the controversy surrounding the cancellation of Roseanne, which was pulled from the air after Roseanne Barr tweeted a racist slur. Kaling tweeted out an offer to write a new spin-off show for co-stars Laurie Metcalf and John Goodman. For now, though, she is juggling multiple projects - she is also about to appear in a forthcoming movie with Emma Thompson - and the joys of new motherhood. "Downtime is with my daughter now. She's handily jostling out the phone for the biggest place in my heart." Ocean's 8 is released province-wide next Friday. There was a time when Rupert Everett was a frequent presence on the big screen. There was an comforting familiarity to the roles he played - most often the gay pal and confidante of a leading lady, most notably in My Best Friend's Wedding, opposite Julia Roberts, and The Next Best Thing, opposite Madonna. But we have seen less of the openly gay actor in recent years, which makes his return, as the star, director, writer and producer of The Happy Prince, all the more welcome. The film tells the story of Oscar Wilde's life in disgraced exile after he was released from jail following his conviction for "gross indecency" - a result of his indiscreet affair with Lord Alfred Douglas, known as Bosie. Flashbacks show Wilde as the toast of London, delighting crowds with verbal dexterity and showmanship, then his humiliation at the mercy of a jeering crowd as he waits, as a prisoner, on the station platform for the train that will take him to serve his sentence. The brutality of acclaim and then rejection might well be a notion that is quite familiar to Everett. "My position of working in this aggressively heterosexual milieu of showbusiness has definitely made me feel kind of parallel to Wilde," he says. "Of course, I haven't been put in prison and subjected to hard labour and I haven't died from it, but I have been constantly on the back foot, really, in my career as a gay actor. "I obviously went into this business applying for world domination, and that is an impossible thing to achieve, certainly in the Eighties and Nineties. "Maybe things are changing a bit now... things are loosening up and I hope they go further. "I think in that sense Oscar Wilde is my Christ figure and I saw this film as a kind of Passion in a way." Everett, now 59 and undeniably as handsome as he ever was, is leaning forward earnestly in his seat. "I think Hollywood is a business that is made and for..." he briefly tails off. "It is just very hetero. It is very clubby and it is very male, or historically it is, so you need to fit into that to really benefit. "This is what the women have been going on about - how compromising it feels to them to just have to fit into it. I think that is the centrum, the bottom of the Me Too argument really. "It is a subtle thing, taking part in a boys' club - a straight boys' club - and if you are a woman in it, you have to bend yourself towards that world. "If you are a gay in it, you are a second-class citizen and subjected, at a certain point, to a brick wall, in terms of getting on. "It's like being an Indian soldier in one of the British regiments in the Indian army. You can't really get beyond captain." Everett says he was incredibly lucky to get his first break in Julian Mitchell's play Another Country, which was later made into a film, also starring Everett and Colin Firth. "It was a successful film, it was widely praised and I got really into that film at the top level. People asked me who else should be in it. I was asked about who should direct it, but I have kind of got in through a back door. Moving on from there was, in a way, a problem, and then is when I hit the brick wall in a way." He thinks gay actors still exist for a "certain function", namely the roles that made him famous in the first place. "My function was as a gay best friend, a confidant, a kind of hairdresser, constantly there with the curling tongs, which is fair enough, but as a performer there is not very far you can go with that before you bore everyone s*******. The point is, for gay performers, there is no, or very little, back and forth. "In other words, the straights can play all the gay characters they want, but the gays don't get much of a chance to play any straight characters because, as far as this status quo is concerned, we are still gay and no matter how macho you are, they will just still think of you probably as a gay." He is certain he lost out on roles because of this - "tonnes of them", he says. "I don't like the idea of myself as a victim, to be honest. There's tonnes of roles that I haven't got for lots of different reasons, some of them probably for not being a good enough actor or doing a lousy audition, all that counts. "But there were three or four big films, when I was successful, that the director and the other actors wanted me to be in and that I was absolutely blocked from by a studio, just for the fact of being gay. That does absolutely happen, but at the same time, it has been the making of me as well. "The struggle that has forced me to have has been great in a way. I think it has forced me always to try and be creative, to try and make something up. I think my career as a writer would not have happened if I had been heterosexual, active, working non-stop. I certainly wouldn't have made this film if I had lots of work all the time." But making The Happy Prince was far from plain sailing - it took 10 long years to come together. "There was just no interest in me and my film," Everett says. "Showbusiness is one of those things that you put something out there and you get an immediate litmus test result. You know exactly where you stand in showbusiness all the time, and that is one of the toughest things about it. "When I threw this out there, it just landed with a resounding and empty thump. Nobody was - particularly at the beginning - excited about getting into what they call the Rupert Everett business. What was amazing is that it ever happened, really." But happen it did, and he recruited pals including Firth, Emily Watson, Tom Wilkinson and Anna Chancellor to join the cast. He found directing to be particularly satisfying, and he wishes he had found a director when he was younger who would have given him roles that would have offered him a chance to show off his depth. "All I needed was some director, in the same way that Scorsese loves De Niro, that would have loved me and put me in anything. Any actor can do anything, what you need is a director who loves you. I found that out working with myself, which I loved because I edited my performance to be 60% better than it was. "Most directors went off me after three days." The Happy Prince is released province-wide next Friday. Review: page 31 Almost three in four border residents surveyed in a new report think a hard border is more likely than it was a year ago, a new research report suggests. The study found that the approach of Brexit is already having an effect on border communities, affecting mortgages, house prices and employment opportunities. Almost half of respondents said they would not countenance technological solutions for border controls. Those are just some of the findings of the survey carried out by Queen's University. Uncertainty around the final shape of Brexit and what it might mean was also affecting business development. However, the fall in sterling had a stimulating effect on the Northern Ireland side of the border because it made goods here more affordable for southern buyers. Lead author Dr Katy Hayward said: "The Brexit negotiators' commitment to avoiding a hard border is not just about minimising the risk of renewed paramilitary violence. "The voices heard in this study point to a different aspect of the same concern: the need to protect peace. "This involves defining and securing what has come to be accepted as both 'normal' and 'ordinary'. "The fact that it feels so 'normal' is both its strength and its susceptibility - we begin to take it for granted. "The further away people are from the time and the place of the worst violence in this region, the easier it is for them to forget the devastation, the costs and the consequences of such violence," Dr Hayward warned. The report was commissioned but the Irish Central Border Area Network and funded by the Republic of Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Northern Ireland's health watchdog did not fail despite allowing a care home where residents were subjected to appalling abuse to stay open, it has been claimed. The head of the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) has mounted an extraordinary defence of the organisation after it was slammed for its failure to act to protect the residents of Dunmurry Manor. Eddie Lynch, the Commissioner for Older People in Northern Ireland, published the damning findings of his 16-month investigation into the facility earlier this week. It revealed a litany of shocking failings at the home, including resident-on-resident sex abuse, people going three weeks without medication, and one resident whose bone was exposed as a result of a pressure sore. Reacting to the report, former health minister Edwin Poots said: "There was an investigation done four years ago into another care home, Cherry Tree, which should have ensured that similar failings didn't happen again and unfortunately they have. "I think we have to ask the RQIA questions how these failings have happened again and what assurances can they give to the public that they will not recur? "The board at the RQIA must sit down and be very, very clear as to how they are going to respond to this, and if they can't come forward with a clear response and I believe that if they can't, then they have to ask themselves what they are doing here. "If they can't reassure people then they are not meeting their objective and they will completely lose all public confidence." Despite this, Olive MacLeod, the RQIA's chief executive, has hit out at the report and suggested that Mr Lynch was irresponsible in referring to sex attacks by residents on other residents. Families of female residents have this week told how their loved ones hid in their bedrooms because they were scared of unwanted attention from male residents. The commissioner's report gave several examples of this and said relatives of residents felt their concerns were not taken seriously by Dunmurry Manor. Mr Lynch blamed the sex assaults on the fact that many people were not receiving their required medication, meaning that their behaviour was difficult to manage. In an astonishing statement issued yesterday, Ms McLeod said: "RQIA does not agree with some of the commissioner's conclusions. "Most seriously, we found no evidence of institutional abuse and do not believe that the commissioner's findings support this statement. "RQIA did find instances where the quality of care was not to the expected standard and worked with the management of the home to support improvement and follow-up inspections found that care did get better for a period. "We do not agree that this meets the definition of institutional abuse. "In respect of the findings of resident-on-resident sexual assault, RQIA is very concerned at how the commissioner has chosen to present this finding. "Disinhibited sexualised behaviour is not uncommon in people with dementia. "For that reason, it is not regarded as criminal activity and is dealt with sensitively by trust safeguarding teams who work closely with care providers to mitigate risks to all residents and to develop care plans that recognise such behaviours as a potential expression of distress. "RQIA does not believe there is any justification for the commissioner's presentation of this finding and is concerned about the impact on residents and their families." Julieann McNally, whose grandmother Annie McCourt was a resident at the home in 2016, said: "I don't understand why the RQIA can't hold up its hands and accept its part in what went wrong. "Until they can apologise and recognise that they did fail, they continue to add to our distress. "Also, how can we be assured that the RQIA is doing its job properly and residents in other care homes are safe, if they cannot accept any blame?" Mr Lynch last night said he was "extremely shocked by the tone" of Ms McLeod's statement. "The investigation does not seek agreement or otherwise from the relevant authorities involved," he said. "The evidence stands on its own, it was analysed by my team and my panel of experts. "My Safeguarding and Human Rights expert was in no doubt that the evidence provided supported the finding of concerns of institutional abuse at Dunmurry Manor. "Health and social care trust documentation submitted in evidence showed trust officials' concerns about this very issue." DUP leader Arlene Foster will mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan today during a visit organised by the Belfast Islamic Centre. The former First Minister will be joined at the Boucher Road event by DUP MP Emma Little-Pengelly. "In my recent speech in London I said unionism stands for pluralism and multiculturalism," Mrs Foster said. "We should be inclusive and welcome all. I meant that then and I mean it now. "I want to genuinely reach out to our minority communities and show them the hand of friendship, recognising they have made Northern Ireland their home," she said. "I'm looking forward to visiting our Muslim friends as they celebrate Eid al-Fitr with our South Belfast MP Emma Little-Pengelly. "I love Northern Ireland and I want everyone who calls this place their home to feel at home here." Eid al-Fitr is the celebration that marks the end of Ramadan, the month during which Muslims fast during daylight hours and refrain from sexual activity, among other things. It is four years since former DUP leader Peter Robinson, stoked controversy over his views on Muslims. While defending firebrand preacher Pastor James McConnell, the then-First Minister said that while he wouldn't trust Muslims to give him spiritual advice, he "would have no difficulty in trusting Muslims to go down to the shop for me, to give me the right change." Mr Robinson later issued a public apology for his remarks. He also visited the Belfast Islamic Centre to apologise there also. Charlotte Caldwell and her son Billy outside the Home Office in London (Yui Mok/PA) Northern Irish boy Billy Caldwell has been rushed to hospital following an increase in seizures. The situation is now described by doctors in Canada and Northern Ireland familiar with Billy's case as being 'life-threatening'. Read More Billy's anti-epileptic medication was confiscated at Heathrow Airport on Monday morning, and his family say he has suffered a sudden increase in frequency and intensity of seizures. The Castlederg boy is currently receiving treatment at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. Billy's mum Charlotte said he is now too ill to travel back to Canada for treatment meaning the only effective medication is locked in secure storage in the Home Office in London. Ms Caldwell has become increasingly concerned and took Billy to St Mary's Hospital at 9pm on Thursday night for assessment and treatment where doctors were "horrified" that Billy was being deprived of his medication. Billy has had back-to-back seizures on Friday. On his medication, which included the vital but banned THC component, he was seizure-free for more than 300 days. Canadian doctors aware of both Billy's condition and the Home Office's situation have been trying without success to speak with Home Office recommended paediatric consultant Dr David McCormick who has so far refused to see Billy. "This is beyond cruelty. We've now reached the point where Billy is too ill to travel to get his medication, but his medication is stored minutes away from where we're now living in London," said Charlotte Caldwell. "Despite the best and honest efforts of the NHS, frontline doctors are fighting Billy's condition with both hands tied behind their back because the only medication that will be effective is the cannabis oil with CBD and THC. Those meds need to be released immediately. "If Billy dies, which is looking increasingly possible, then the Home Office, and Nick Hurd, will be held completely accountable." Earlier on Friday it was revealed Billy and Charlotte had decamped to London to continue their fight for access to the drug. It comes after a week in which the case of the Co Tyrone 12-year-old and his difficulties accessing a drug his mother described as "life-saving" has made national headlines. Billy, 12, last year became the first person in the UK to receive a prescription for medicinal cannabis, but it was stopped earlier this year after the family's doctor was ordered to stop the prescription by the Home Office. Expand Close Billy Caldwell with his mother Charlotte / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Billy Caldwell with his mother Charlotte Billy suffered his first seizure in almost a year after his treatment was withdrawn. MPs from across the UK have spoken out about the plight of Billy Caldwell, and all of Northern Ireland's main political parties have given their support to the youngster. Sinn Fein MP Orfhlaith Begley for Billy's home constituency of West Tyrone called for an urgent intervention by the British Home Office. Along with Billys mother, I met with Nick Hurd the British Minister for Policing and the Fire Service to ask the British Government to find a way to allow Billy the medication which will ease his suffering," she said. The situation has now become all the more urgent following Billys admission to hospital and it simply isnt good enough for the cruel denial of his medication to continue. The Home Office say he can have access to the medicinal cannabis that has been so effective provided a clinician can advise that this is appropriate in his case. Given the seriousness of the current situation, they must make now make this an urgent priority and intervene to ensure that is done and Billy is allowed to resume his medication. The family later said Billy has been admitted to hospital as doctors said it is too dangerous to treat him with "rescue meds" at home. He can now be treated only with hospital-administered medication. A police car outside the Royal Oak bar in Green Street, Carrickfergus, after the incident in March last year CCTV footage which shows a Co Antrim doorman being hit up to four times with a 16.3kg fire extinguisher has been shown at a non-jury trial in Belfast. Three men have been charged with causing the Carrickfergus doorman grievous bodily harm with intent, following a violent altercation at the Royal Oak Bar in the town last March. The doorman was rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast after the March 11 attack, which erupted after he refused entry to a group of people. Belfast Crown Court heard the doorman sustained fractures to his skull, cheekbone and eye. He also sustained a traumatic brain injury which required neurosurgery at Musgrave Park Hospital. The trial was told he now suffers from double vision, has a reduced sense of smell and taste, and hearing issues. He has also attended physiotherapy to help him walk. Footage taken from two security cameras at the bar show the doorman refusing to let three men and a woman in. A fight then breaks out between the group and the door staff, with cameras showing brothers Ian (37) and Brian (51) Sinclair involved in an altercation with the doorman, while Glen McCullough (53) fights outside with a second bouncer. As he played the footage to the court, Crown barrister Sam Magee told Judge Gordon Kerr QC that Ian and Brian Sinclair could both be seen repeatedly punching the doorman. Ian Sinclair is seen lifting a fire extinguisher from the wall, and after the doorman is brought to the ground by his brother, according to Mr Magee, the defendant "slams it at least three times ... to the upper part of his body, in all likelihood the head." The footage shows the Sinclair brothers leaving the bar. Seconds later McCullough - who did not see the first attack on the doorman - appears in the foyer. Mr Magee said the footage then shows McCullough picking up the fire extinguisher, "raising it to head height and dropping it in the same direction his co-accused had". Mr Magee said McCullough's face was aggressive, and that he intended to cause "maximum damage" as he would have seen the doorman lying prone and covered in blood. He said McCullough carried out this act in a "purposeful and deliberate way". Fellow members of staff and customers came to the doorman's aid, and when he was taken to hospital he was conscious but dazed, unable to speak and vomited blood. All three have admitted involvement in the attack. While the Sinclairs have both admitted causing GBH with intent, Brian Sinclair has disputed that he knew the fire extinguisher was going to be used. When he was arrested several hours after the incident, McCullough initially gave a 'no comment' interview. Mr Magee said that when he was presented with the CCTV footage, the accused said that after he lifted the fire extinguisher, he dropped it in panic as he saw the "terrible condition" the doorman was in. McCullough also claimed he dropped it beside the prone doorman, and it "might have hit his leg." While Ian Sinclair has admitted the charge and is due to be sentenced at a later date, Brian Sinclair has also pleaded guilty to the offence, but disputes that he knew his brother was going to use the fire extinguisher in the incident. McCullough pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting the doorman and causing him actual bodily harm, but the Crown does not accept this and he is currently standing trial on the more serious charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. The addresses of the three co-accused cannot be published due to a reporting restriction. At hearing. The former managing director of Runwood Homes UK last night said his resignation had nothing to do with the firm's failings at Dunmurry Manor. Logan Logeswaran (55) said he felt "let down and betrayed" after the company issued a statement linking his resignation to the troubled Dunmurry operation. After the publication of the damning report by the Commissioner for Older People, Runwood chief executive officer Gordon Sanders said: "The board of directors acknowledge and take full responsibility for these failures and the lack of oversight that could have ensured they did not happen. "The managing director, Logan Logeswaran, has in fact resigned his position from Runwood Homes Group UK as of yesterday." But last night Mr Logeswaran contacted the Belfast Telegraph to dispute the Runwood Homes statement, saying he had tendered his resignation and would be leaving on June 25. "I have been in the sector for 35 years and I have been with Runwood for 16 years, with very excellent relationships with all the stakeholders in Northern Ireland - RQIA, NHS Trust, everybody. "My decision to leave was not made in relation to this report, because I was not directly in charge of the failings at Dunmurry. "I am devastated. I don't want to retire after 35 years service with this kind of bad news." He said he felt betrayed over how the Dunmurry Manor report had been linked to his resignation. "I spoke to CEO Gordon Sanders. He totally denied that he made that comment," he added. "I am at a total loss. "I feel like I am sinking in the middle of the sea. "After 16 years service, you don't feel that you deserve this." Mr Logeswaran's position has received support from Runwood's finance director Martin Cooper. Speaking to Care Home Professional online magazine yesterday, Mr Cooper said: "I can assure you Logan has left for his own personal reasons and he has left on completely good terms with us. We wish him the best going forward." The magazine also quoted a statement which Mr Logeswaran had issued earlier this week about his resignation. "Runwood stands in a good place to continue with its success and I have every faith in the company that it will continue in this way," Mr Logeswaran had said. "I take this opportunity to thank every one of you for the support you have given me in my role as managing director of Runwood Homes. "I wish to see Runwood continue to achieve further success and your continued support and recognition is paramount for the company in providing compassionate and outstanding care for the residents. I am proud and privileged to have worked with all of you, and wish you all the best for the future." Mr Logeswaran now plans to take a break for a month or two and then start work with young people who have mental health issues. "That is my passion," he said. "Before I end my career, I want to go into a charity where I can help look after the mental health needs of children." When asked to comment on Mr Logeswaran's criticism Runwood Homes said: "Mr Logeswaran resigned on the eve of the publication of this report. "We will be making no further comment." Residents of Radius Housing at Russell Court on the Lisburn Road in Belfast have been told that they will be moved from the tower block within 28 days due to concerns about fire safety. However, many say they are uncertain about where they will be relocated Vulnerable people given just 25 days to vacate a high-rise building in Belfast after a damning fire safety report have said they are fearful about their future. Part of the Russell Court tower block on the Lisburn Road does not meet the required standard and shocked residents were told on Tuesday that they have to leave. Hussein Hassan (34) has been consoling a Somalian friend - who suffers from severe anxiety, depression and high blood pressure - since he received the devastating news. He said the Radius Housing Association tenant, who has a limited grasp of English, has been in "complete shock". "My friend has lived there for seven years and we are all worried about the impact this is having on him," Mr Hassan said. "He was crying and confused when he phoned me - he thought he was being chucked out and couldn't understand why." The Belfast-based security guard said his friend's mental health has been "made worse" as a result of being told he has just four weeks to vacate his home. "This came as a big shock, because everything was okay on Monday," he said. "Radius Housing staff have been in contact and met with my friend, but we still don't have clear answers to serious questions - where is he going to go?" Mr Hassan said it is crucial for the Tower B tenant's mental well-being that he is relocated close to his friends, especially those from within the Somalian community. "He must be around people who understand him," he said. "He's a big part of our community and has many friends who regularly visit him and help him." The distressed tenant, who moved to Northern Ireland almost 10 years ago, spent his first two years here living in a hostel - he now fears he will be forced to return there. "He has moved on, but now he is worried that he will be back to zero because of this," his friend said. Radius Housing has promised that temporary accommodation will be made available for residents waiting to be permanently rehoused. It also said fire marshals will be on-site 24/7 and that compensation will be made available after the initial findings of a survey carried out in April raised serious concerns regarding Block B's capacity to meet modern fire safety requirements. However, tenants in Block A - which had major refurbishment work in 2011 - have not been affected. The brother-in-law of a woman who battles alcohol addiction expressed serious concerns about her being separated from her daughter and sister, who both live in Block A. "We are extremely worried, this could cause a major setback to her recovery," he said. "She lives in Block B in order to be close to her sister and daughter in Block A - now she is being forced out. "Who is going to keep an eye on her and be there for her if she ends up living miles away?" A spokesperson for Radius Housing said that it is working with Housing Executive and Housing Rights staff to engage with all residents on rehousing plans. "There are a number of people considering provisional offers at this time," they said. "Where appropriate we are also working with health and social care professionals to ensure the needs of any vulnerable tenants are fully met during the re-accommodation period and when they are rehoused." But a Housing Executive spokesperson said no offers have yet been made, as not all residents have been properly assessed. "We have a statutory duty to find suitable accommodation for those affected by the emergency situation in Russell Court and we are currently carrying out this duty," they added. Addressing previous criticism that residents could have been given more notice about the decision to vacate the building, a spokesperson said safety has always been a primary concern. They said that senior management have "worked around the clock" to increase the level of fire protection and prepare for the process of vacating the building based on the initial findings of the survey. Charles is presented with a musical score written for him during his visit The Duchess of Cornwall during a visit to the English Market in Cork Charles and Camilla share a joke with fishmonger Pat OConnell in the English Market in Cork yesterday It was the first time a member of the Royal family had boarded an Irish naval vessel. But more importantly, perhaps, it was also the first time any of them had ever entered an Irish bothan. The humble mud cabins, in which at least 40% of the population had endured misery and wretched hardship - and in which far too many had perished - had certainly not received any royal visitor in famine times. And so Prince Charles's visit to the little one-roomed house built out of wattle and sods, with its dramatically flourishing cover of vegetation, felt unexpectedly moving. It was far more like he was paying his respects at a mass famine grave than a mere visit to a temporary structure erected in the grounds of University College Cork. The expression on his face as he bowed to exit its low door appeared to be a combination of shock, bewilderment but also, perhaps, of sorrow. "And this is the Rolls Royce of bothans," pointed out Mike Murphy, the cartographer of the Irish famine at UCC. "You can't recreate the misery," he said. It had been his idea to construct the bothan because "people weren't getting" how truly appalling the conditions were, he explained. There was great poignancy in Mr Murphy's remarks that the hut will not be permitted to stand during the winter because it will be "far too dangerous". There were many moments during the visit of Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, to Cork which felt special but this was a footnote to the tragic history of An Gorta Mor (The Great Famine). As their car pulled up outside the English Market, beginning their itinerary in Cork, they were out the door and straight over to the children of St Patrick's girls' National School, who, en masse, had been excitedly fixing their yellow hair ribbons in the reflection of a shoe shop window before taking their place at the barricades. Camilla wore a cornflower blue coat with the Claddagh brooch she'd been presented with in Galway and beige suede shoes, while Charles was decked out in a blue pinstriped suit with a white carnation in his buttonhole. Jaunty brass band beats from the children of the Cork Barrack Street Band set the dial to 'holiday mood'. The couple were met by Tanaiste Simon Coveney, Agriculture Minister Michael Creed and Lord Mayor of Cork Tony Fitzgerald. "It's a big moment for Cork," said the Tanaiste beforehand, saying they were going to see the "best of Cork". The couple took in a highly enjoyable jaunt around the stalls of the English market, with Charles particularly taken with the local mozzarella . At City Hall, Charles delivered his only speech of the day - embellished with a few careful words in Irish. There was a veiled reference to Brexit, saying he had "nothing but the greatest confidence that the friendship, collaboration and mutual understanding that Ireland and the United Kingdom have enjoyed over recent years will endure, as we work together to find solutions to shared challenges and as our relationship evolves in the months and years ahead". During the visit, Charles met with the Sinn Fein leadership. Party president Mary Lou McDonald and her deputy Michelle O'Neill had a private meeting with the prince in Cork, which lasted over 30 minutes. Speaking following the meeting, Ms McDonald TD said she was glad to avail of the opportunity to extend the hand of friendship of those in Ireland who identify as British. "Today's meeting was an opportunity to extend the hand of friendship, not just to Prince Charles or to the British Royal family - whose efforts to promote reconciliation I want to acknowledge - but to those on our island who identify as British, and who are British," she said. The full text of Michelle O'Neill's speech at Sinn Fein's Ard Fheis in Belfast's Waterfront Hall on Friday June 15 2018 can be read below: A comradaithe; Dia daoibh agus failte go dti Bheal Feirste. Thank you for the warm welcome. Im very honoured to be welcomed onto the stage by a formidable Belfast woman, the first female Sinn Fein mayor of this great city. Deirdre will be a champion of the city in her year ahead and we wish her well. I think its poignant that in the year that marks 100 years since partial suffrage that a woman is at the helm of this city. Belfast has that long tradition of female activism from and Winnie Carney to Mairead Farrell and today to Deirdre Hargey. Weve a packed weekend ahead of us as we discuss and debate how we will advance our ideas and vision for a New Ireland. Sinn Fein is working the length and breadth of the country, in London, Europe and the North America to bring about and influence much needed change across Irish society. Rooted in the communities from which we come, it is through our organising, campaigning and leadership within the institutions, and most importantly on the ground, that we are delivering real change. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our activists, our public representatives and your families - for your passion, hard work and dedication to this party, to those who we represent and serve and the New Ireland you are helping build. SINN FEIN MOVEMENT We are a party on the move. Were bringing people and generations together from all backgrounds in common cause. We are fortunate to have a wealth of experience from representatives and activists over many years who have helped build the party to where we are today. A huge welcome to all of you. I want to in particular welcome the families of our patriot dead to this years Ard Fheis. There is a place for everyone in the Sinn Fein movement. We are a modern, progressive, Republican Party who stands with the people in defending and advancing Irish national interests. And Sinn Fein stands ready. We stand ready to; Be in Government North and South; To assert and deliver rights for all; To continue the fight against Brexit; To oppose austerity at every turn. To deliver high quality public services. To take on the vested interests, putting an end to cronyism and making Government accountable to the people and the law, To deliver real prosperity, encourage entrepreneurship decent jobs, and fair pay for a fair days work! WOMEN Sinn Fein stands with women. The recent repeal result was for all women. For the forgotten women of the mother and baby homes. For the women that were being failed in crisis. For the mothers forced to give their babies up against their will. It was a vote for compassion. It was a vote to say loud and clear - Women will never be left behind again. Womens position has improved in Irish society; glass ceilings have been shattered but there is still plenty to do. We need to now; Close the gender pay gap; Bring new laws to provide access to healthcare North and South; Live free from violence; Provide affordable childcare; End economic inequality; Bring more women into public life and politics. And surely you agree it is time for a woman Taoiseach to lead the next Government. And surely you know that woman is Mary Lou McDonald TD. YOUTH I am so proud of the huge numbers of young people who are active in this party. A whole new generation of young Shinners! A whole new generation of emerging young leaders new voices, with big ideas - who symbolise a bright and hopeful future. You are the future leaders and you will achieve, make your mark, and make a difference in shaping a prosperous Ireland of the future. Thig leat agus beidh leat. Mol an oige agus tiocfaidh si. BREXIT You join this movement at a truly defining period in Irish political history, not least in the context of Brexit. Brexit represents the greatest economic threat to the island of Ireland in a generation. I fully respect the right of the British people to leave the EU and I wish them well However, I am absolutely opposed to the British Government dragging us out of the EU against our will. Sinn Fein wants the whole of Ireland to remain within the EU just like the people voted. We have influenced and made our case to the EU27 in the Dail and the European Parliament. We will continue to make our voices heard and to build a progressive coalition around our National interest. Myself and the leaders of the SDLP, Alliance and Greens presented two joint statement in recent weeks where we made clear that; Human Rights and equality provisions must be protected. We cannot withstand exclusion from the single market or customs union; That we must protect the Good Friday Agreement in all of its parts, That the backstop agreed by both the British Government and the EU27 is the bottom line in order to safeguard our political and economic stability now and for the future. The four party leaders speak for the majority of people in the north. The DUP do not speak for the people of the North. They are putting their self-serving pact with the Tory party at Westminster before peoples interests here. Theyre living in a fools paradise. They blindly prop up Theresa May who is preoccupied with negotiating with her own cabinet rather than the EU. Britain is divided! But in Ireland We are united! We will not be collateral damage as a result of the reckless Tory/DUP Brexit agenda. There will be no border in Ireland. Sin e! PEACE & RECONCILIATION In April we marked the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. This gave us all space to reflect on how far we have come, and reminded us nothing can be taken for granted. And despite our ongoing political challenges, the island of Ireland has been transformed as a result of the peace process. The Good Friday Agreement is the centrepiece of a more prosperous, peaceful and democratic society The agreement defines the new relationships that now exist within and between Ireland and Britain. And yesterday evening both Mary Lou and I met with Prince Charles in the rebel county, Cork where we talked about the necessary work of reconciliation. Much Pain and hurt has been caused over the years to many people. We must attempt to heal that pain, to recognise each others loss and to find ways to trust each other. We must build bridges that we can cross. We must rid our society of sectarianism. We must choose to live together. We must continue to build on the reconciliation work of Martin McGuinness over many years and we will do so because it is the right thing to do. So instead of refighting the battles of the past we all unionists and nationalists - need to have the humility to accept that we have conflicting narratives, conflicting histories and conflicting allegiances. We must reach a sustainable compromise through dialogue and agreement. Create a future where everyone feels they belong. Where our culture and identity is respected. Where we recognise each others right to express being Irish, British both, or neither. TALKS PROCESS The abandonment of those principles by both the British Government and the DUP has led to a situation in which for the last 18 months the people of the North have had no Government. That is not acceptable. It is not tolerable. It is not good enough. No Assembly & No Executive is the price of the Tory/DUP pact. We set out to restore the executive on the basis of equality rights and respect. In February we reached an agreement that created the conditions for the executive to be reestablished However The DUP walked away. The issues which require resolution are not going away. And all roads will lead back to the negotiating table. In the meantime there can be no justifiable excuse for refusing to afford citizens here their civil, social and cultural rights. Whether that be Irish language rights; Access to Coroners inquests; Equal marriage rights or Womens right to healthcare; 50 years after the civil rights campaign, rights will not be denied. There is a clear requirement under the Good Friday Agreement on the part of both Governments, to ensure the equivalent standards of protection of rights which exist in all other parts of these islands and must exist here too. And so the message from this Ard Fheis to both Governments is loud and clear; You must convene the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference without delay, and determine how you as the joint stewards of the peace process will remove the obstacles to power-sharing. Marylou and I will be in London on Wednesday and this is the message that we will be delivering directly to Theresa May. IRISH UNITY The Good Friday Agreement provides a peaceful democratic pathway to Irish Unity. The issue of Irish Unity has taken on a new dynamic because of Brexit. Demographics are changing and so too is the political landscape. This cannot be ignored. Peter Robinsons recent remarks at Queens University acknowledge this. The Good Friday Agreement gives people the opportunity and choice to decide our future together. How we live together. How we work together. How we share this island together. The political momentum on change is moving in that direction. Sinn Fein wants a New Ireland, a fairer Ireland, and a united Ireland. But we do not own the debate. I have absolutely no doubt that there are many, many within the unionist community who look at Brexit with the same fear and trepidation as nationalists and republicans. A Unity Referendum is coming and we need to be prepared for it. There is no contradiction in declaring and delivering on our firm commitment to power sharing with unionism and a functioning Assembly while also initiating a mature and inclusive debate about new political arrangements which better serve all of us who share this island. Similarly, there is no contradiction in unionism working the existing constitutional arrangements while taking its rightful place in the conversation about what a New Ireland would look like. CONCLUSION This is a defining period in our history. The opportunities for real change are within our grasp. It is a time to hear all voices within this debate. We must continue our journey of dialogue, of listening, of sharing ideas because in the New Ireland there can only be a victory for us all. The aftermath of the Omagh bomb explosion in August 1998 A legal challenge to the Government's refusal to hold a public inquiry into the Omagh bomb atrocity will be heard next month, a High Court judge confirmed today. A legal challenge to the Government's refusal to hold a public inquiry into the Omagh bomb atrocity will be heard next month, a High Court judge confirmed today. Victims' relatives were fearing a further postponement to await definitive rulings about how the Human Rights Act impacts on a wider catalogue of so-called legacy litigation. But with lawyers unable to reach agreement, Mrs Justice Keegan decided to press ahead with the July dates - a month short of the 20th anniversary of the Real IRA attack. She said: "This case has been set up and listed for some time, people want to get it heard." Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was among 29 people murdered in the August 1998 bombing, is taking legal action over former Northern Ireland Secretary of State Theresa Villiers' refusal to order a public inquiry. The case centres on claims that a range of intelligence from British security agents, MI5 and RUC officers could have been drawn together to prevent the outrage. Mr Gallagher launched his legal action after Ms Villiers rejected calls for a public investigation in September 2013. She decided instead that a probe by Police Ombudsman Michael Maguire was the best way to address any outstanding issues surrounding the atrocity. In October 2014 Dr Maguire published a report where he found RUC Special Branch withheld some intelligence information from detectives hunting the bombers. No one has ever been convicted of carrying out the attack. Judicial review proceedings have been caught up in arguments over holding partially closed hearings amid fears the disclosure of sensitive material could damage national security. However, a week has now been set aside for the case. It is expected that emails between FBI spy David Rupert, who infiltrated the Real IRA, and his handlers, will feature in the challenge. Mr Gallagher, who attended today's review hearing, expressed delight at the decision to maintain the hearing dates. He said: "This has been a stop-start process for almost four years, and at least now we can see our day in court. Former Stormont Speaker Lord ALderdice has quit the Presbyterian Church over its controversial decision not to allow those in same-sex relationships to be full members. He said last night that he and his wife were going to live in England in the near future "and it would have been easy to go away and say nothing". "I have never courted controversy but there are times when you do what you have to do," he said. "I was baptised into the Presbyterian Church, I became a communicant and I was an elder for 30 years. "The Christian faith is central to my life, but I have been hurt and am deeply hurting by what has happened." He said he had been concerned by the "trajectory" the Presbyterian Church had been on for quite some time. However, he was particularly upset about the decisions made by the General Assembly last week, which included denying baptism to the children of gay couples. The Irish Prebyterian Church will also no longer send its Moderator to the Scottish General Assembly, nor invite its leader to the annual Belfast General Assembly because of the Scottish Church's more liberal attitude to same-sex marriage. "I felt that it was terrible the way that the Presbyterian Church in Ireland was severing links with the Church of Scotland and the United Reformed Church," he said. "It implied that 'we have the pure truth' rather than saying 'we do not agree with other points of view'. "I think that this was totally the wrong message. It all makes me feel despondent and down." Lord Alderdice is the son of a Presbyterian minister, the late Rev David Alderdice. "My father was not a separatist. He was good at holding together people with different points of view. He too would be deeply hurt at the decision to sever links with the Scottish Church and the URC," said the former Alliance Party leader. He has sent a letter to the minister and session of Knock Presbyterian Church confirming his decision to resign as an elder and as a member of the Presbyterian Church. At the weekend Lord Alderdice issued a scathing criticism on Facebook. "The Presbyterian Church is no longer rhe spiritual heir of the Protestant Martyrs of the 16th century, and is instead becoming more like a present day representation of those who lit the fire that burnt them," he said. He claimed that theologically it would soon be difficult "to make any differentiation between the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and Ian Paisley's Free Presbyterian Church". Last night Rev Trevor Gribben, clerk of the General Assembly, said that any resignation from the Presbyterian Church was "regretted". He paid tribute to Lord Alderdice's distinguished career and said: "He has a right to his own opinions, even when they differ from the clearly-agreed position of the Presbyterian Church through our General Assembly. "I also wish him well as he moves to England and trust that he will quickly find a new Church family close to his new home." There has also been strong criticism of the Church's harder stance from retired Presbyterian minister Rev Roy Simpson. "I feel incredibly saddened for the many forward-thinking ministers and the thousands of decent, sensible people who have to live with the Church being destroyed by arrogant fundamentalists," he said. "The Presbyteroian Church has lost direction in its teaching. I'm reading a lot of absolute rubbish. Even God would not pass their theological tests." The Very Rev Dr Stafford Carson, a former Moderator who is currently the principal of Union College, said earlier this week that there would be no backing down on current policy. He said: "Since the days of the early Church, the confession of Jesus Christ as Lord has often placed Christians at odds with their surrounding culture." Ulster Unionist chairman Lord Empey has said he is hopeful that the Government will take a more positive approach in support of victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA attacks. Speaking after a meeting with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson to discuss compensation for victims of weapons supplied by Colonel Gaddafis regime, the peer said he detected a change in Londons attitude. The meeting with the Foreign Secretary on Wednesday was the most business-like and positive so far, Lord Empey said. I think the Foreign Office finally get that the Parliamentary Libyan Support Group isnt going away. It has received strong support on the floor of the House of Commons and is intensifying its drive to right this great wrong. Lord Empey predicted that Mr Johnson would take a step forward before the parliamentary recess and review his departments approach as well as that across Whitehall. He continued: This is a long overdue recognition by government that they cannot go on dodging this issue, that the group will not relent and that it is widely supported in both Houses of Parliament. The days of being fobbed off are over and I am hopeful that a breakthrough can occur this year that can set the scene for the future, and perhaps, at long last, bring a glimmer of hope to the long suffering victims of the Gaddafi years of torment. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: The Government wants to see a just solution for all victims of Qadhafi-sponsored IRA terrorism. The Libyan Government has a responsibility to deal with the legacy of the Qadhafi regime and the UK Government continues to impress upon them the impact of Qadhafis support for the IRA. The situation on the ground in Libya makes progress on this issue extremely difficult, which is why the UK is supporting efforts to deliver a more inclusive political settlement in Libya, in order to help create a more stable and effective government with which we can work. Lord Empey was speaking as his Private Members Bill, which aims to secure compensation from Gaddafis estimated 12bn frozen UK assets, is set for its second reading in the Commons. Libyas interim government the Faiez Serraj Presidency Council/Government of National Accord (PC/GNA) earlier this week rejected the proposals to allow the frozen assets to be used to compensate IRA victims. It said that the initial decision to freeze Libyas assets was an international decision taken under Chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter and obliges all states, including the UK, to observe it. The assets were frozen as part of sanctions agreed by the Security Council in 2011. The PC said it would resort to all legal and diplomatic means to oppose this decision and stressed that any move to unfreeze assets would be in contravention of international law. It branded it a dangerous step and a transgression of Libyas sovereignty, according to the Libya Herald. The PC also considered it a precedent that other states may use to access assets of other states in the future. The Gaddafi regime provided the IRA with weaponry and financial assistance during the Troubles. A car dealer charged in connection with potentially the biggest ever herbal cannabis seizure in Northern Ireland was an "innocent dupe" paid 700 to unwittingly transport it across the border, the High Court heard today. Niall Mallon is accused of importing more than 1.3m worth of the drugs found inside a fuel container on a trailer at his home on Ballynaris Lane, Dromore, Co Down on March 30. But the 38-year-old's barrister claimed he believed he was picking up plant machinery from a shipping agency in Dublin. Joe Brolly argued: "His case is he knew nothing about the drugs, he never touched the drugs, he was an innocent duped in this. "He doesn't fit the bill of a man with a house on the Costa Brava or an integral part of some drugs operation." Mallon, and his 32-year-old co-accused Kevin McPolin, of Edenderry Park in Banbridge, are also charged with possessing the herbal cannabis with intent to supply. They allegedly travelled together in a van which towed the trailer with a concealed 66 kilos of the Class B drugs. Prosecution counsel Conor Maguire said: "The approximate value is believed to be in excess of 1.3m, and possibly the largest seizure of herbal cannabis in Northern Ireland." Police believe an organised crime gang was involved in transporting the haul. During Mallon's bail application his legal team argued that he made two trips down to Dublin to pick up the consignment without knowing its true contents. "He was told that it was plant machinery," Mr Brolly said. The barrister described his client as someone who "wheels and deals", buys and sells cars, and agreed to the collection for a fee of 700. Mallon was given a laptop containing the consignment details by an unidentified man, the court heard. According to his lawyers those computer details have been passed to police. Mr Brolly insisted the original plan had been to transport the trailer to an industrial estate in Lurgan, but when that site was closed it was instead taken to Mallon's home. "It's not that he's meeting a man under Westlink bridge at three in the morning and there's a whole shadowy transaction," he added. "Hes been open about all of this." Adjourning the application for bail, Mr Justice Maguire said he wanted time to consider all submissions. A Lurgan man who denies the cutthroat murder of his fiancee wanted police to shoot him, his trial has heard. David Lyness (52) is accused of "slicing" open the throat of his 51-year-old girlfriend Anita Downey in front of his son during a drunken argument in the early hours of January 20 last year. His Craigavon Crown Court trial, sitting in Belfast, has already heard that Ms Downey was found lying in the living room of Lyness' Toberhewny Hall home, her throat cut back to her spine, severing her jugular. Lying beside her with his arm draped over her, as if in bed together, was Lyness. A police sergeant who took charge of those tasked to Lyness' home following a distraught 999 call by his son, told how Lyness, in a slurred voice from behind the living room door, claimed he was on the phone to his girlfriend. The sergeant - who said he had drawn his handgun and ordered other officers to arm themselves with either pepper spray or batons - was then told by Lyness that his girlfriend "Anita" was dead and that "she had done what he could not do". Lyness, the sergeant claimed, then became angry and began swearing, and that "he wanted me, the police, to come in and shoot him". The sergeant said, as he waited for colleagues from the armed response unit (ARU), he kept a tight grip on the door handle in case Lyness "made an attempt to commit suicide by being shot". An officer with him told the court that he too "heard some voice... 'Come in and shoot me'". Other officers claimed "the male on the other side of the door was shouting loudly, 'She's dead' ... and he wanted to die and wanted police to shoot him ... he said he wanted us to shoot him". The sergeant in charge of the ARU, and others in his unit, also reported that their suspect said "he was going to come out and he wanted police to shoot him". Earlier yesterday the jury of seven men and five women, heard a recording of the frantic 999 call made by Lyness' distraught son, as he fled the scene in fear of his dad. In the recording, the clearly distressed and sobbing teen could just be made out telling an operator that "my dad has just sliced his girlfriend's throat". At times the operator, who handed the call over to a colleague, was heard asking the teen to "take a wee deep breath", as they had difficulty in making him out. During those short bursts of composure, during which arrangements were made for police to meet up with him, he kept repeating: "My dad just slit his girlfriend's throat." "Your dad slit his girlfriend's throat?" one operator asked the teen. "Yes, yes, with a knife," he replied. One of the police who came to the teen's rescue told how he "panicked" on believing that officers were going to return him to his father's house. The teen, she said, was "very visibly shaken". "He was very concerned about being brought back to the house," she said. "He said: 'Please don't take me back, he has a knife'." The officer said that later the teenager said that his father was already drunk when his girlfriend arrived in a taxi, and his dad put some music on. However, having drunk three bottles of wine between them, they began arguing and "Anita flew at David" and began slapping him. They argued over an engagement ring, which Lyness wanted returned, and which Ms Downey put in her handbag. They then fought over the bag, before Lyness went and armed himself with a knife. And then after cutting open her throat, he told him: "It had to be done son, and that's it... that's it, I'm going to have to kill myself." Asked what the teenager may have meant by that, the officer replied that he "thought his dad was trying to justify what he'd done". At hearing. Nuala McAllister has hit back at men in grey suits on Belfast City Council after one her colleagues labelled her one of the worst lord mayors ever. The Alliance councillor, whose term as Lord Mayor ended earlier this month, was slammed by unionists for being too political during her time in office. UUP Alderman Jim Rodgers, himself a former Lord Mayor, told the Newsletter that Ms McAllister should have put her office ahead of her politics. The Lord Mayor is a civic leader and they are there to represent the whole community of Belfast. Sadly Nuala McAllister was one of the most political Lord Mayors that Ive ever come across, which is disappointing. Expand Close UUP Alderman Jim Rodgers / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp UUP Alderman Jim Rodgers Ms McAllister was criticised when she did not read from the Bible at the beginning of council meetings. She also campaigned for reforms to legislation on abortion and same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland during her time in office. Last week Ms McAllister made a public apology for distributing a 2016 campaign leaflet under the headline "What have they got to hid?", which opposition councillors said accused them of corruption and an ombudsman investigation followed. It would appear that men in grey suits in council dont like me having my own opinions but I wont stop standing up for what I believe in. I make no apologies for wanting Belfast to be a more inclusive society, leadership is required to correct treatment of marginalised in NI. NualaMcAllister (@NualaMcAllister) June 15, 2018 Cllr Rodgers said Ms McAllister had "courted controversy". DUP councillor Lee Reynolds also weighed into the debate. He said: Everyone elected to the position of Lord Mayor has their own political beliefs and causes they believe passionately in. However, the expectation and practice was to set those aside as much as possible to fulfil their civic duty to every citizen of the city. In the past Alliance roundly condemned a unionist Lord Mayor for acting politically when he refused to wear the chain of office to meet the Lord Mayor of Dublin in Belfast City Hall. "He justified his actions on his political beliefs and they did not accept that as justification. This makes their new stance hypocritical. Expand Close Love Equality campaigners and Belfast Lord Mayor Nuala McAllister demonstrate outside Belfast City Hall Freddie Parkinson / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Love Equality campaigners and Belfast Lord Mayor Nuala McAllister demonstrate outside Belfast City Hall Ms McAllister, taking to social media to respond to Cllr Rodgers comments, said: It would appear that men in grey suits in council dont like me having my own opinions but I wont stop standing up for what I believe in. I make no apologies for wanting Belfast to be a more inclusive society, leadership is required to correct treatment of marginalised in NI." Naomi Long MLA, Alliance Party leader, defended Ms McAllister and referred to an incident involving Cllr Rodgers during his time as mayor, when a Belfast City Council worker was injured when he attempted to leapfrog her. Posting on social media she said: "Jim Rodgers says Nuala McAllister was 'the worst Lord Mayor ever'. He said I was too. The only thing of note he did as LM was injure a BCC staff member, costing rate payers a fortune, when attempting to leapfrog her in a publicity student. She was dressed as a tomato at the time." Jim Rodgers says @NualaMcAllister was "the worst Lord Mayor ever". He said I was too. The only thing of note he did as LM was injure a BCC staff member, costing ratepayers a fortune, when attempting to leapfrog her in a publicity stunt. She was dressed as a tomato at the time https://t.co/jjLY9UkH2Q Naomi Long MLA (@naomi_long) June 15, 2018 Expand Close Belfast Lord Mayor, Jim Rodgers, attempting to jump over a Belfast City Council employee Lorraine Mallon. 2007 Paul Faith / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Belfast Lord Mayor, Jim Rodgers, attempting to jump over a Belfast City Council employee Lorraine Mallon. 2007 A Department of Education official has said online abuse is "unacceptable" after a Tyrone teacher secured an apology from a parent. A libel case was taken by Tyrone teacher Roisin Corr after a message was left by the parent of a pupil on the Facebook page of St Joseph's Grammar School in Donaghmore, where she works as the head of music. The Dungannon Herald reports an apology from the defendant in the case was read out in court by her barrister, and that no damages were sought in the case. A spokesperson for the Department for Education said it was "unacceptable for anyone to be the subject of offensive comments on social media". "Anyone who posts comments which are offensive, bullying or intimidating should be reported to the associated social media platform eg Facebook or Twitter," the spokesperson said. "In addition, individuals who make offensive comments can be blocked, removed and banned from any social media account." The Department does not have responsibility for monitoring schools' social media platforms, and individual schools are responsible for their own policies. Schools receive advice from the Department in the form of circulars, which lay out guiding principles for keeping pupils and wider school community safe online. Some of the recommendations include developing safeguarding procedures; regularly auditing staff training needs; issuing online safety advice; and operating a risk register to highlight where data security might be breached. St Joseph's Grammar School was contacted by the Belfast Telegraph but declined to comment at this time. The proportion of male teachers in Northern Ireland has declined for the fifth year in a row, it has been revealed. The Department of Education's newly-published Teacher Workforce statistics for 2017/18 show that men make up 29.8% of the 19,867 teachers here - despite 89 more employees on the payroll. The number of men entering the profession has been falling since 2014, but proportionately the numbers have been in decline since the previous year. In 2013, men made up nearly 31% of the teaching workforce, but today there are 4,566 men teaching, compared to 15,301 women. The data also shows that the long-term trend of a total absence of men teaching nursery school pupils continues - all 211 pre-primary teachers are female. In primary schools the proportion of male teachers is only 18.5%. The principal of Corran Integrated Primary School and Nursery, Denise Macfarlane, said the under representation of males in the profession is a reflection of society's values. "There are no barriers stopping men from teaching young children in primary or nursery school," she said. "This is obviously a result of society viewing nurturing roles as being better suited to women." Mrs Macfarlane, who began teaching at the Larne school in 1995 before being appointed principal in 2005, said her school has always being fortunate when it comes to striking a healthy male to female balance - men currently account for half of the teaching staff there. "It's just a happy coincidence," she said. The head teacher said children across Northern Ireland are missing out on a range of positive role models as a result of fewer males in schools. "Especially because a lot of children today grow up without that healthy balance in the home," she said. "It's so important, especially for young boys - it helps them understand that education is important," she added More male teachers are present in secondary schools (40%) with grammar schools closer to achieving the perfect balance (49%). Less than a quarter (24.1%) of special school teachers are male. West Winds Primary School teacher Christopher Turkington (31), who has been educating young people for six years, believes male stereotypes are a significant part of the problem. "I think people view primary school teaching as a woman's job, that perception is particularly true from nursery school to P5," he said. "In my experience, you will be met with raised eyebrows if you express an interest in teaching lower classes." The P7 teacher from Newtownards, who has never taught below P5, said that in addition to the existing "stigma" men tend to get typecast in schools. "As a man you're expected to do sport, be strict and teach at upper Key Stage level - but I wouldn't be put off." Mr Turkington, who was attracted to the profession as a result of his own experience of primary school, said it's a very different experience being on the other side of the fence. "I'm currently the only male in my school, apart from the headmaster." The Liverpool Hope University graduate also believes that the competition for places and the amount of work involved can deter men. The newly published Teacher Vacancies, Sickness Absence and Substitution stats show that there were fewer vacancies in 2017 and that the average number of sick days has fallen slightly to 9.3. The amount of retired teachers working as subs also fell to 6,305 days which represents a sharp drop of 14.4% since 2008/9. Retirees only accounted for 1.3% of the total days worked. Substitution expenditure has fallen by 4.6m to 69m. Pupils at a Belfast primary school have enlisted celebrity help to offer support to a classmate fighting cancer. Youngsters from Our Lady of Lourdes Park Lodge decided to raise funds for the hospital unit that's treating their friend Matthew McKeegan (11), who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in February. They have now managed to produce 152-page cookery book - Celebrities Really Can Cook - with recipes contributed by stars of sport and screen, including actress Courteney Cox, her Snow Patrol fiance Johnny McDaid and Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill. They even got TV bakery goddess Mary Berry to contribute. Money raised will go the children's cancer unit at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. Teacher Josephine Harkin and her pupils have been keeping Matthew up to date with the book's progress by sending him letters. Mrs Harkin said: "On hearing that Matthew had been diagnosed with cancer, we immediately knew that we wanted to do something to show our support. "For a class of foodie critics and celebrity spotters an exciting idea was born - a celebrity-endorsed cookery book. "Creating the book has helped us explain to the children what Matthew is going through and has shown them ways in which we can help in our own, small way. "We have received fantastic support from local business i3 Digital and BT and, of course, the celebrities who provided us with their favourite recipes. "We are truly grateful to them all." Matthew's mother Caitriona (44) and father Charlie (45), of Bristol Avenue in Belfast, are overwhelmed by the support. Caitriona said: "When we heard the school was going to do something, we were delighted. "I think the kids are amazing, the children came up with the idea and they were full of enthusiasm and optimism. "Mrs Harkin has been great with the kids involved." Matthew has been in the children's cancer unit since February and has had three rounds of chemotherapy. "He's doing really well, hopefully he's nearly finished now," his mum said. "The Children's Cancer Unit Charity have been very good during all of this. "They paid for the play service, all the equipment and the new facilities in the hospital. "I'd like to thank the whole school community for their support, and the charity as well. "The work that the charity do is invaluable for the children, I don't think it would be the same without them." Jacqueline Wilkinson from the Children's Cancer Unit Charity said: "We absolutely love how creative and entrepreneurial the pupils here at Park Lodge Primary School have been in designing and selling their new cook book. "All funds raised through the book will go directly towards supporting the work of the children's cancer unit at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. "This will allow the team there to continue to provide the best possible treatment and care for children affected by cancer across Northern Ireland." Michael ONeills Slow Cooker Chicken Curry Serves 2 Ingredients 1 large onion, roughly chopped 3 tbsp mild curry paste 400g tin chopped tomatoes 2 tsp veg bouillon powder 1 tbsp finely chopped ginger 1 yellow pepper, deseeded and chopped 2 skinless chicken legs, fat removed 30g pack fresh coriander, leaves chopped cooked brown rice, to serve Method Put the onion, curry paste, tomatoes, vegetable bouillon powder, ginger and pepper into the slow cooker with a third of a can of water and stir well. Add the chicken and push it under the other ingredients until completely submerged. Cover with a lid and chill in fridge overnight. The next day, cook on low for 6 hours until chicken and vegetables are really tender. Stir in the coriander leaves just before serving over rice. Courteney Coxs Baked Chicken Ingredients Whole, organic chicken Organic olive oil spray Kosher salt Herbes de Provence Fresh rosemary Method Preheat the oven to 170C . After patting the chicken with kitchen roll to dry the skin, place it on a baking sheet or shallow pan. Spray the underside with olive oil. Sprinkle generously with salt, then Herbes de Provence. Turn the chicken over (breast side up) and do the same. Tie the chicken legs together. Stuff some rosemary sprigs inside the chicken and place a sprig on top. Bake for two hours uncovered. Remove from oven and let it stand for 5 minutes. Slice and dip it in the chicken drippings! Sinn Fein chiefs have amended a motion that will be put to its membership at an ard fheis this weekend in a bid to keep its coalition options open after a general election in the Republic. A Dublin-based branch of the party has tabled a motion for debate that would limit Mary Lou McDonald's engagement with Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. It said that while Sinn Fein could talk to any party, its "only objective will be to form a broad left-wing government comprising parties and independents of a similar political ideology". As Sinn Fein adopts motions from its ard fheis as policy, this would have effectively banned the leadership from entering government with either Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar or Fianna Fail's Micheal Martin. However, party bosses contacted the cumman in Templeogue seeking agreement to make the motion more ambiguous. It will now say that Sinn Fein "should attempt" to form a left-wing coalition, rather than having this as the party's "only objective". The party's Pearse Doherty confirmed the change, saying it wants to meet with all independents and parties after an election "to see whether we could deliver a programme for government that deal with the big crises". The leadership of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have both categorically ruled out working with Sinn Fein. Mr Doherty said its aim was to be the biggest political party. "Obviously the bigger the mandate we have, the more influence we would have in those negotiations," he said. Party members will also debate whether Sinn Fein should contest a presidential election later this year. A motion calls on the ard chomhairle to "positively consider" putting a candidate forward regardless of whether Michael D Higgins seeks re-election or not. Michelle ONeill has urged a sustainable compromise in Northern Ireland through further dialogue. The Sinn Fein Vice President was speaking at the party's Ard Fheis in Belfast's Waterfront Hall on Friday evening. Read More She called for more respect for culture and identity. Political talks to restore power-sharing have been at an impasse for months over the issue. The Sinn Fein vice president said she recognised peoples right to be British, Irish or neither. She met the Prince of Wales earlier this week. Mrs ONeill added: We must reach a sustainable compromise through dialogue and agreement. Create a future where everyone feels they belong. Where our culture and identity is respected. Instead of refighting the battles of the past we all unionists and nationalists need to have the humility to accept that we have conflicting narratives, conflicting histories and conflicting allegiances. Expand Close Mrs ONeill said the DUP was living in a fools paradise (Stefan Rousseau/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mrs ONeill said the DUP was living in a fools paradise (Stefan Rousseau/PA) She said there was a clear requirement under the Good Friday Agreement on the part of the British and Irish Governments to ensure the equivalent standards of protection of rights which exist in all other parts of these islands and must exist in Northern Ireland too. Stormont has not sat for months in a row over the Irish language. Mrs ONeill told decision-makers in Dublin and London: You must convene the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference without delay, and determine how you as the joint stewards of the peace process will remove the obstacles to powersharing. She accused the DUP of putting their self-serving pact with the Tory party at Westminster before peoples interests in Northern Ireland in defeating Brexit. Theyre living in a fools paradise. They blindly prop up Theresa May, who is preoccupied with negotiating with her own cabinet rather than the EU. Britain is divided. But in Ireland we are united. We will not be collateral damage as a result of the reckless Tory/DUP Brexit agenda. The DUP has secured extra funding for Northern Ireland public services through its deal to support the Conservatives in key votes. It wants to avoid a border in the Irish Sea after Brexit so is keen to ensure Northern Ireland does not diverge from the rest of the UK following the withdrawal. Sinn Fein wants to see Northern Ireland remain in the EU Customs Union. Michelle ONeill has urged a sustainable compromise in Northern Ireland through further dialogue. She called for more respect for culture and identity. Political talks to restore powersharing have been at an impasse for months over the issue. The Sinn Fein vice president said she recognised peoples right to be British, Irish or neither. She met the Prince of Wales earlier this week. Mrs ONeill added: We must reach a sustainable compromise through dialogue and agreement. Create a future where everyone feels they belong. Where our culture and identity is respected. She addressed the opening night of Sinn Feins ard fheis in Belfast on Friday. Instead of refighting the battles of the past we all unionists and nationalists need to have the humility to accept that we have conflicting narratives, conflicting histories and conflicting allegiances. Expand Close Mrs ONeill said the DUP was living in a fools paradise (Stefan Rousseau/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mrs ONeill said the DUP was living in a fools paradise (Stefan Rousseau/PA) She said there was a clear requirement under the Good Friday Agreement on the part of the British and Irish Governments to ensure the equivalent standards of protection of rights which exist in all other parts of these islands and must exist in Northern Ireland too. Stormont has not sat for months in a row over the Irish language. Mrs ONeill told decision-makers in Dublin and London: You must convene the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference without delay, and determine how you as the joint stewards of the peace process will remove the obstacles to powersharing. She accused the DUP of putting their self-serving pact with the Tory party at Westminster before peoples interests in Northern Ireland in defeating Brexit. Theyre living in a fools paradise. They blindly prop up Theresa May, who is preoccupied with negotiating with her own cabinet rather than the EU. Britain is divided. But in Ireland we are united. We will not be collateral damage as a result of the reckless Tory/DUP Brexit agenda. The DUP has secured extra funding for Northern Ireland public services through its deal to support the Conservatives in key votes. It wants to avoid a border in the Irish Sea after Brexit so is keen to ensure Northern Ireland does not diverge from the rest of the UK following the withdrawal. Sinn Fein wants to see Northern Ireland remain in the EU Customs Union. Court artist sketch of Mina Dich, Rizlaine Boular and Khawla Barghouthi, who will be sentenced at the Old Bailey (Elizabeth Cook/PA) Members of Britains first all-female Islamic State terror cell are facing jail for plotting a knife attack on Westminster under the guise of a Mad Hatters tea party. Rizlaine Boular, 22, and her mother Mina Dich, 44, from Vauxhall, south London, pleaded guilty to preparing acts of terrorism last April, while her friend Khawla Barghouthi, 21, admitted failing to alert authorities. Expand Close Mother-of-four Mina Dich supported her daughters terror ambitions (Metropolitan Police/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mother-of-four Mina Dich supported her daughters terror ambitions (Metropolitan Police/PA) The plot was foiled by a combination of surveillance by counter-terrorism police and MI5 agents, who posed online as IS operatives. The women, who are in custody, will be sentenced by Judge Mark Dennis QC at the Old Bailey on Friday. Boulars sister Safaa Boular, 18 Britains youngest female IS terror plotter will be sentenced at a later date after she was found guilty of preparing terrorism in the UK and Syria. Expand Close Rizlaine Boular admitted planning a knife attack on Westminster (Metropolitan Police/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Rizlaine Boular admitted planning a knife attack on Westminster (Metropolitan Police/PA) Safaa Boular began planning a grenade and gun attack on the British Museum when she was thwarted from joining her IS husband, who died in a drone strike in Syria. When she was held in custody for trying to travel to the war zone, she passed the baton to her older sibling Rizlaine. In coded telephone calls, they discussed a traditional English tea party with an Alice in Wonderland theme, the trial heard. Rizlaine Boular said she knew a few recipes for some amazing cakes for a proper like English tea party kind of thing. Safaa Boular suggested an Alice in Wonderland theme telling her sister: You can be the Mad Hatter cause your hairs crazy. Mother-of-four Dich responded: That will be fun. Expand Close Safaa Boular is the youngest female IS terror plotter to be convicted (Metropolitan Police/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Safaa Boular is the youngest female IS terror plotter to be convicted (Metropolitan Police/PA) Rizlaine Boular then set about arming herself and looking at targets around the Palace of Westminster with Dich, unaware that they were being watched by counter-terrorism police. She shared her plans with Barghouthi and even practised a knife attack at her home in Willesden, north west London. Expand Close Khawla Barghouthi admitted failing to disclose information about a terror plot (Metropolitan Police/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Khawla Barghouthi admitted failing to disclose information about a terror plot (Metropolitan Police/PA) Rizlaine was shot when armed police moved in to arrest the gang but went on to make a full recovery. Guests from the worlds of science and showbiz have arrived at Westminster Abbey for a memorial service in honour of Professor Stephen Hawking. TV personalities David Walliams and Piers Morgan, musician Nile Rodgers and Professor Brian Cox joined members of the public to celebrate the life of the renowned physicist. Expand Close Benedict Cumberbatch speaking at the memorial service for Professor Stephen Hawking (Ben Stansall/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Benedict Cumberbatch speaking at the memorial service for Professor Stephen Hawking (Ben Stansall/PA) Prof Hawkings voice will be beamed into space, towards the nearest black hole, as his ashes are interred following the service of thanksgiving. The late scientists words have been set to an original piece of music, composed by Vangelis, offering a message of peace and hope, his daughter Lucy said. Expand Close The ashes of Professor Stephen Hawking are laid to rest (Ben Stansall/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The ashes of Professor Stephen Hawking are laid to rest (Ben Stansall/PA) Prof Hawkings children have expressed their gratitude to Westminster Abbey for allowing their father to have a distinguished final resting place between the graves of Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin. The broadcast in space will take place following a service featuring readings from Benedict Cumberbatch, who played the physicist in a BBC drama, and astronaut Tim Peake. Expand Close Astronaut Tim Peake speaks at Westminster Abbey (Ben Stansall/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Astronaut Tim Peake speaks at Westminster Abbey (Ben Stansall/PA) An address will be given by Astronomer Royal Martin Rees, while Prof Hawkings collaborator and Nobel prize winner Kip Thorne will give a tribute. One thousand members of the public, from more than 100 countries, were offered the opportunity to attend the thanksgiving service after a ballot attracted 25,000 applications for tickets. They were welcomed to the abbey in central London by volunteers from the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Paralympic Games. Prof Hawking, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in his 20s, died aged 76 on March 14. A private funeral was held in Cambridge later that month. Indian authorities have been urged to investigate the killing of a prominent journalist in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Politicians, rebel groups and separatist leaders have condemned the murder of leading editor Shujaat Bukhari. Indian authorities must ensure a thorough and credible probe into the shooting death and bring the killers to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said. The media watchdog, however, questioned whether the government would conduct an adequate probe. Given the number of unsolved journalist murders and the political turmoil in Kashmir, we are concerned whether the Indian authorities will investigate this murder in a timely and effective manner, CPJ deputy executive director Robert Mahoney said in a statement. Expand Close Relatives of Shujaat Bukhari (Dar Yasin/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Relatives of Shujaat Bukhari (Dar Yasin/AP) Until justice has been served, the killing of Shujaat Bukhari will exacerbate the climate of fear in which journalists work in the state. The journalist was killed along with his two police guards by unidentified gunmen on Thursday evening as he left his office in Srinagar, the disputed regions main city. Mr Bukhari, in his early fifties, was a group editor for three daily newspapers and a weekly, including the English-language daily Rising Kashmir. He is survived by his wife, son, daughter and parents. Thousands participated in Mr Bukharis burial. Expand Close Kashmiri men at the funeral of Shujaat Bukhari in Kreeri, 25 miles from Srinagar (Dar Yasin/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Kashmiri men at the funeral of Shujaat Bukhari in Kreeri, 25 miles from Srinagar (Dar Yasin/AP) The killing was condemned by Indian home minister Rajnath Singh, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and pro-India politicians in Kashmir, who called it cowardice and a mindless act. Separatists and armed rebels who challenge Indias sovereignty over Kashmir also condemned the killing and demanded an independent probe. Police said the assailants came on a motorbike and fired a volley of bullets towards the victims, leaving Mr Bukhari and his guards in a pool of blood. No motive has been determined for the killing, but police accused rebels fighting against Indian rule. Top rebel leader Syed Salahuddin, who heads the United Jihad Council, an umbrella group of 13 Kashmiri rebel organisations, called for an international investigation. The killing of Shujaat Bukhari at a time when the UN Human Rights Commission released a report on the human rights abuses by Indian forces in Kashmir raises many questions, the newspaper Greater Kashmir quoted Salahuddin as saying in a statement. Salahuddin said they have a firm belief that Indian agencies and their agents were behind the murder of Bukhari. Mr Bukhari was an advocate for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute and was often part of peace conferences between India and Pakistan attended by former diplomats and generals from both countries. Expand Close Kashmiri men carry the coffin of Shujaat Bukhari (Dar Yasin/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Kashmiri men carry the coffin of Shujaat Bukhari (Dar Yasin/AP) Journalists in Kashmir have worked under tremendous stress and have been targeted in the past, some fatally, by both the Indian state and militant groups. The CPJ said at least six journalists have been murdered with complete impunity in direct retaliation for their work in the state since 1992. Many media groups condemned the killing. The Editors Guild of India said the dastardly attack on Mr Bukhari was a new low. The Foreign Correspondents Club of South Asia in New Delhi demanded an immediate probe and appealed to authorities to find the attackers and punish them. Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, but both claim it in its entirety. Rebels have been fighting Indian rule since 1989, demanding that the territory be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training the rebels, a charge Pakistan denies. Most Kashmiris support the rebel cause while also participating in civilian street protests against Indian control. Nearly 70,000 people have been killed in the uprising and the ensuing Indian military crackdown. When I spoke to Catherine McCartney about the appointment of Deirdre Hargey as Sinn Fein's first female Lord Mayor, she was angry. Searingly angry, as only a victim who has been thwarted, ostracised and perpetually denied justice can be. Catherine's brother Robert was murdered by members of the IRA outside Magennis's bar in Belfast in 2005. The brutal killing remains unsolved. Our new Lord Mayor was in Magennis's on that night in 2005 but, like everyone else who was present, she has always maintained that she saw nothing - absolutely zilch - of the fight that broke out in the small bar, which spilled outside and ended in bloody murder. As far as Catherine and her family are concerned, Councillor Hargey's stance is a grotesque insult, recently compounded by her extension of "sincere condolences" to the McCartneys when she was appointed as mayor. If Hargey cares so much about getting justice for the family - to whom she has never reached out once, over the last 13 years - why doesn't she go straight to the PSNI and give them a full account of where she sat and who she saw? As Catherine McCartney said: "The 'I saw nothing' line is not good enough for someone who is now First Citizen of Belfast." I was also struck by McCartney's take on the people she calls "the enablers": politicians in other parties who seem to shy away from actively tackling Sinn Fein. She said: "The Alliance party and the SDLP - who were actually very supportive of us at the time of the murder - why did they not ask questions before they endorsed Deirdre Hargey as mayor? Why did they not say to her - 'can you assure us that you have done everything that you possibly could?'" McCartney told me that when she saw politicians smiling and getting their photographs taken with the new Lord Mayor at City Hall, she thought: "Have these people got no conscience?" Responding to McCartney's words on Twitter, the Alliance party leader Naomi Long said that the McCartneys deserve justice for Robert and that Hargey must cooperate fully with the police. She also pointed out that Sinn Fein, not Alliance or the SDLP, chose Hargey as Lord Mayor. "We'll respect the office of Lord Mayor as we always do, regardless of the individual who wears the chain, but we didn't put her there and to suggest we had any role in that is unfair and untrue," tweeted Long. Well, McCartney didn't suggest that. She queried whether the other parties had pressed hard for answers about the level of Hargey's cooperation with the investigation. When your brother has been executed and left dying in the street, that's not such an unreasonable request, is it? Instead we have the ever-progressive Naomi Long getting on her high horse to deliver a short, self-righteous lecture on fairness and truth to a woman who has been treated entirely without fairness and truth. The new Deputy Lord Mayor, Emmet McDonough-Brown, also took to Twitter to complain: "Sad really that no unionist spoke to welcome Deirdre or I into our new civic roles. I directly addressed the need to work for reconciliation even when it makes us uncomfortable and regardless of what others say or do, that's what I will do this year." Honestly, I don't know how Catherine McCartney contains her temper when she reads such pompous, self-regarding drivel. The virtue-signalling is frantic. But this is not about working for reconciliation, it's about political rug-sweeping and the abdication of moral duty. Look, I understand that we all have to take a pragmatic approach to Sinn Fein, whatever horrors its members have defended in the past. There was Prince Charles shaking hands with Gerry Kelly in Belfast this week, just to remind us. But the murder of Robert McCartney remains unresolved. It is not over, it doesn't belong to the past. It happened as recently as 2005, in the middle of the so-called peace process. And the moral and political onus on Hargey to act is still greater since, in the absence of Stormont, Belfast City Council is our foremost elected body. There is a photograph from this year's International Women's Day of the then Lord Mayor, Nuala McAllister of the Alliance Party, with her arms round the shoulders of Deirdre Hargey and Aileen Graham of the DUP. They are holding a sign that says 'Leave No Woman Behind'. I'll tell you six women who have been left behind. Their names are Paula, Donna, Claire, Gemma, Catherine and Bridgeen. The sisters and fiancee of Robert McCartney. When will it be their time for fairness, justice and truth? Ellvena Graham, the president of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, speaks for many today when she calls on politicians to inject more willingness and energy into efforts to restore devolution It is clear that the business community has had enough of the political paralysis gripping us. Ellvena Graham, the president of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, speaks for many today when she calls on politicians to inject more willingness and energy into efforts to restore devolution. She is correct in saying that Northern Ireland has been in a no man's land between devolution and direct rule for the past year-and-a-half. That is a ruinous situation at a time when business needs all the support it can get, given the challenges facing firms. Crucial policy decisions are in limbo because there are no ministers in office to sign them off; the province has no consensus on Brexit; foreign inward investment fell by more than half last year, and a leading figure in the agri-food industry, John McCann of Willowbrook Foods, fears the sector is in grave peril. Yet, to the great credit of business, many firms are still prospering in the face of all the negative factors. As Ms Graham points out, exports will become more important after Brexit and many firms are already showing the way, paradoxically including Mr McCann's, which has achieved growth of around 18% every year for the past decade. The problems piling up on the absentee ministers' desks are well-known and cover practically every spectrum of life here, affecting ordinary people as well as the business community. But it is the business community that will grow the economy, one which is too heavily dependent on the public sector, and Ms Graham deserves credit for speaking out so bluntly. However, it seems there is an air of almost total resignation about the political stalemate. In recent days we have seen rallies at Belfast City Hall regarding abortion and same-sex marriage legislation. These are important issues, but there are other, more compelling ones at this time, yet there is no mass protest calling on politicians to compromise and get back to work. People in other parts of the UK and globally must shake their heads in wonder that the province can continue to be rudderless for so long. Civil servants have been standing in for the politicians, but that is unsustainable and there are grave doubts if they can legally take major policy decisions. More people need to join with Ms Graham and business leaders who have had the courage to speak out and insist the politicians do their job. Oscar Morel, who was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Wednesday in the August 2016 murders of two Bangladeshi immigrants in New York City, is pictured during his appearance in a Queens borough courtroom, March 23, 2018. A New York City court has sentenced a local man to life in prison without chance of parole for the August 2016 double-homicide of two Bangladeshi immigrants, including the imam of a mosque in Queens. The New York borough court handed the sentence against Oscar Morel, 37, on Wednesday for the daylight execution of Imam Maulama Akonjee and his assistant Thara Uddin as the two were walking home from the Al-furqan Jame Masjid Mosque following their afternoon prayers in the Ozone Park neighborhood, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. The defendant in this case showed not an ounce of sympathy or respect for human life when he gunned down the beloved spiritual leader and his associate moments after the two men left a nearby mosque, Brown said in a statement released by his office. A jury weighed all the evidence and found the defendant guilty. Today the Court imposed the maximum penalty permitted by law life in prison without the possibility of parole. The cowardly actions by Morel, a resident of Brooklyn, N.Y., did not just take the life of two admired men, but the killings ripped at the heart of the Muslim community our community, the Queens D.A. added. In March, following a three-week trial at the Queens Supreme Court, Morel was convicted of the double-slayings. He was found guilty of one count first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder and one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, Brown said. According to testimony given at the trial, Morel approached the two men from behind, pointed a .38-caliber revolver at their heads and fired several shots before fleeing the scene. Akonjee, 55, suffered four shots to the head and body and Uddin, 64, was shot once in the head. Both victims were taken to a nearby hospital where they were pronounced dead, the statement said. But the motive -- what drove Morel to commit the twin killings -- remained unclear as he was sentenced on Wednesday. Theres no ostensible, obvious motive here, nor did I prove a motive at the trial, Prosecutor Peter V. Lomp said before the sentencing, according a New York Times report. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a U.S. Muslim civil rights advocacy group, welcomed the sentencing by Queens Supreme Court Justice Gregory Lasak. CAIR said the Saturday afternoon slaying on Aug. 13, 2016 had corresponded with a nationwide surge in anti-Muslim hate crimes in the United States. Rather than explaining what drove these hateful murders, Mr. Morel has done nothing more than divert attention through his fantasies and fairy tales about conspiracies against him, Albert Fox Cahn, the legal director of CAIRs New York office, said in a press release. The facts of this case are painfully clear: two of our Muslim neighbors were gunned down in broad daylight, in the middle of New York City, while doing nothing more than walking home from prayers, he said. Today, the court showed that our Muslim neighbors are protected by the full force of the law, that they cannot be attacked without the perpetrators being brought to justice. bi-103119-annexation-laws: Depending on annexation rules, you may or may not be living where you think you live. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, a preview of his interview with Donald Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Professor Nic Cheeseman is Research Director of the University of Birminghams International Development Department and plays a prominent role within the Universitys new Institute for Global Innovation, co-leading a major research programme on how we can best fight gender inequality. Get updates from Quest directly to your inbox. Subscribe to Quest for our research stories. Subscribe to Quest What role can the academic community play in getting to grips with the changing face of democracy across the globe? One of the great things about this job is that you get to be great places at great times. I was on the ground in Zimbabwe the day that Robert Mugabe resigned. We drove around Harare, around the government offices, among thousands of Zimbabweans who had taken to the street to celebrate. On the one hand you are soaking it in, spending time among people who have struggled for regime change. Yet at the back of your mind, you find yourself thinking What are the prospects for genuine transformation? There may have been a change of leadership but we still have the same party in power, we still have structural challenges in the economic and political structures, and we still have a divided opposition. That is the academic mindset kicking in. Perhaps I am more careful than most, we know that transition can be a complicated thing indeed. In the days that follow, I started to think not only about what is particular to the Zimbabwean context but also how we can learn more by drawing comparisons to what weve learned from other examples in places like Sri Lanka, Nigeria, and Myanmar. There are plenty of people who are interested in how power transitions in a country. Politicians, NGOs, and most importantly, ordinary citizens. I have always seen our role to be provide those people with a deeper kind of insight and context. Is there a risk in having the wider international community becoming too involved in promoting democracy in a country? Well, mistakes have been made in the past and at it is important that international support comes in the form of genuine partnership rather than simply Western leadership we need to be more humble and to recognise that we dont have all the answers. The role of the international community in places like Zimbabwe is also very complicated because authoritarian leaders can bolster their own support base if they can use perceived Western support for the opposition to depict themselves as being under siege. It is also important to retain a sense of neutrality because if donors are seen to be bias it undercuts their own legitimacy, and hence their credibility. What we have seen more recently is an appreciation that the more fruitful method is to become facilitators, by supporting domestic groups to do what they would have done anyway, but with better resources. The conversation therefore goes from democracy promotion towards democracy strengthening. That realignment towards supporting people to achieve their own goals, rather than pushing a certain set of values, is very timely, when you look at the current landscape not only in Africa but also in Europe and North America. Does that signify quite a significant shift from the mid-1990s? Absolutely. I think there are two things going on there. Firstly, the mid-1990s was a time of optimism for democracy promotion. We witnessed the end of the Cold War and a lack of international players arguing against the merits of democracy. The Soviet Union had just collapsed and China was yet to emerge as a global behemoth that it is now, so there was less physical and ideological opposition to the interventionalist style of democracy promotion we saw from the likes of the United Kingdom and United States. Nowadays, the idea itself that democracy is the best model for economic development and human rights is under threat from alternative models, and from much more radical voices too. Secondly, it simply was not as successful as we thought we would be. Failed attempts to transition power to democracies made us doubt ourselves, and made it clear how difficult it would be to make it work. This reduced confidence, combined with domestic pressures to put international democracy lower on the list of priorities, has seen a clear shift towards a more cautious approach. That is quite a seismic shift, it must have had an impact on the research community? Yes and no. Although the headline is a big shift, underneath that is a continuation of people trying to strengthen democracy particularly where they think that is what local actors want so there is still a lot of academic engagement there. The key role we play in this shifting environment is to provide the broader context to help decision makers. One of the most interesting debates of the last few years has been do places like Africa need democracy to grow, or actually would they be better under authoritarian rule? This is probably one of the most important questions of our time, and one that we dont yet have an answer to, and we need better research to guide us. We often see people cherry-pick their case studies to support their argument. They can look at the worst performing democracy and compare it with an authoritarian state like Rwanda, that has secured higher economic growth, lifting people out of poverty. This is where researchers can provide more reliable analysis. We can look at a number of states, see what is typical and atypical, and point out the outliers that we perhaps shouldnt be using to measure the merits of democracy. When you do that, on average, democracies outperform authoritarian states when it comes to development. You can only do that with quality data from a number of places, and it is oftentimes the academics who help to collate that data and frame those important discussions. In that regard, our role has not changed. Surely it is difficult to talk about average democracies when they differ so much? Without question. We have democracies that are more or less inclusive in terms of minorities and gender, we have parliamentary systems and presidential systems, and we have well-established democracies and those that are newly emerging. So yes, the idea of an average democracy is a myth and therein lies a challenge: how do we talk about democracy without going in to so much detail that we lose people? We also know that while almost all African countries are now holding elections of some sort, the quality of these varies massively. So talking about African democracy is misleading, because in some cases these are free and fair polls, and in some cases they are illusions of democracy because they are rigged from start to finish. Its a really murky area, and again, all the more reason to look at the wider context and try to recognise the variation that exists. How is it possible to rig an election? One might think that the most stable kind of regime you can imagine would be a consolidated democracy that holds elections that are free and fair, or an authoritarian state that holds no elections and clings to power with an iron fist. Yet, surprisingly, what we find in our new book, How to Rig an Election, is that the most stable states are authoritarian regimes that hold elections. Why? Rather worryingly, it must be because it is actually easier and more beneficial to rig and election than it is to not hold them at all. What I think we had failed to fully realised before is that leaders are not just rigging elections and limping back into power, they are actually using elections to strengthen their own positions. One reason for this is that elections legitimise you both domestically and internationally. For donors, for example, it is easier to fund a government that holds elections. The other part of this story is that when governments refuse to hold elections it often inspires a broad coalition of parties coming together to oust the current power. The effectiveness of that groups stems from its unity. But by holding elections you can turn this group of powerful reformers into a disparate group who are fighting among themselves for leadership of the opposition. If you add those two things together and you can start to see how holding elections can actually make things easier rather than harder for authoritarian leaders. If we know this to be happening, why does the international community continue to support those regimes? That is the key to it. You have the authoritarian regime pulling the wool over peoples eyes and an international community who are rhetorically committed to strengthening democracy but are also highly selective about who they criticise. In some countries, leaders have set up zombie observers for elections. These are groups, given official sounding acronyms, who are recruited to say that the elections are fair. This then leads to a situation in which you have genuine observers condemning the polls and zombie observers applauding them. The news headline then becomes observers split on election quality and the leaders have generated plausible deniability. There are also things that are both horrible, and horribly difficult to combat. Take Zimbabwe for example. If you want the elections to appear to be open and fair you cannot send state institutions like the police or army out to attack people. But what you can do is have people go out to rural areas who suffered greatly in 2007/2008 and do what people refer to as shaking the matchbox send a warning. You do not have to burn someones house down to intimidate them if you burnt their house down a decade ago and you are standing in front of them with a matchbox. That is a very powerful thing for people who remember what has happened in the past. When this happens, international observers often say that it was a largely peaceful election with not that much direct evidence of human rights abuse, because it has been done through threats rather than actual violence. And yet we know it happens because that is exactly what happened in 2013. Unfortunately, this is compounded when it comes to countries with great natural resources or of strategic importance. International actors may pull their punches as they need to remain friends with the regime. We see this very clearly when you compare the treatment of governments with oil and those without. Well typically push the latter towards democracy, and tolerate human rights abuses and rigged elections in the former. Put it all together and you can see how leaders can rig elections and get away with it. Does that put the idea of democracy in crisis? It certainly poses a threat to the credibility of elections and the legitimacy of results, it gives people more chance to question if the right side won. How much do you rely on local sources for your research? Without hundreds of face-to-face interviews across dozens of countries, I would simply not be able to really grasp the issues and complexities. I try to spend as much time on the ground as possible. If you were not actually in Zimbabwe and you dont talk to the victims of political violence, then it is near impossible to truly understand what shaking the matchbox means. And this is a very humbling experience. A lot of the material that I use only exists because of very brave people who are writing honest accounts and collating vital data in what are, more often than not, incredibly challenging circumstances. Are there common themes as to how people describe democracy in the countries you visit? There are certain commonalities; the right to have a say in things that have an effect on your life, fair and open elections, and freedom of speech. There are variations too. People in Southern Africa tend to be more likely to refer to democracy in economic terms, whereas in other parts of Africa it is more common to talk about things like civil liberties, elections and rights. Uganda presents an interesting case study. Under President Museveni, the government developed a no-party democracy model where people where elected on individual merit rather than as part of a larger party. This was a flawed and problematic system for a number of reasons, but it is important that we understand how that shapes how people think about democracy in Uganda today. For all of its problems, people still believe in the individual merit model, thus strengthening the role of individuals and reducing the role of parties. Compare that to South Africa, where ANC supporters believe so much in the movement that the party is significantly more important that than the individuals within it. These histories of how democracies evolve can also shape ideas about what democracy is, and hence whether people think it is working well or not. In other words, the ideas are important, not just descriptive they shape how politics plays out. As researchers, we gain so much from talking to people about these ideas and ideologies we cannot provide reliable analysis without them. 2017 was seen as a significant year for democracy, are we likely to see that in 2018 too? Very much so, although every year feels like a big year for democracy at the minute! There is a tendency for us to have a couple of results that we are surprised by each year, be it an unexpected democratic breakthroughs or a shift to authoritarianism. This year we have a number of elections in what you would probably consider to be challenging environments for democracy to flourish places like Zimbabwe. That is where the academic community can truly help by moving us from a focus on individual cases to broader patterns, and helping interested parties to understand the history and ideas at play. Does that tendency for elections to surprise us create challenges for researchers? Yes! I know people who have been halfway through a book on why Nigeria does not have transfers of power only to see it hold an election and change leadership. What I often tell my students is that many of the places we work with are in a period of transition, they are not fixed, and as such you have to be flexible. A good motto for those working on new democracies is expect change. Is there a danger that people are exposed to oversimplified views of what is happening in an election? Absolutely. Nowadays you are asked to provide soundbites or provide a few hundred words for a blog, which forces you to condense these complexities into clear, easy to digest messages. This often does not give you the space you need to include caveats, depth and context. Given the pressure that the media puts on us to provide glib answers and big predictions, we should be careful when it comes to forecasting the future, and always make sure that we bring in some complexities in a historically rooted analysis. I think that if knowledge is worth acquiring then it is worth sharing and so I try to encourage my students, colleagues and others to persevere in trying to join the debate and enrich it by providing that nuance. Banner image - photo by Gabrielle Lynch. All other photos courtesy of Professor Nic Cheeseman. Professor Nic Cheeseman Professor of Democracy and International Development Nic Cheeseman is Professor of Democracy and International Development at the University of Birmingham. He is the author of Democracy in Africa: Successes, failures and the struggle for political reform (CUP, 2015) and co-author of the new book How to Rig an Election (YUP, 2018). Professor Cheeseman also regularly provides analysis to governments around the world, and is an advisor to, and writer for, Kofi Annan's African Progress Panel. Nic's profile We publish Rob Sewell's introduction to Lenin's 1902 pamphlet, What is to be Done? Rob (editor of Socialist Appeal, the IMT's British paper) explains the importance of this text, in which Lenin rebuked reformist and opportunist trends in the Russian Social Democracy, and argued for building a committed party of professional revolutionaries to lead the working class to power. It bears huge relevance for Marxists striving for revolution today. Lenins book What is to be Done? is a Marxist classic on the building of the revolutionary party. It is also the text most criticised by reformists and academics alike for supposedly planting the seeds of totalitarian dictatorship. An example of the vitriol poured on Lenin is the following by the historian Anthony Read in his book The World on Fire (London, 2008, pp.5-6): Bolshevism was founded on a lie, setting a precedent that was to be followed for the next ninety years. Lenin had no time for democracy, no confidence in the masses and no scruples about the use of violence. He wanted a small, tightly organised and strictly disciplined party of hard-line professional revolutionaries, who would do exactly as they were told. This open hatred should not surprise us. But nothing could be further from the truth. While Marx is thrown a few compliments about his analysis of capitalist crisis by bourgeois commentators, Lenin has no such redemption. He is relentlessly attacked and slandered by an unholy alliance. The reason for this is that Lenin built a party that was able to carry out the socialist revolution and gave an example to the workers of the world of how, concretely, capitalism could be overthrown. Ever since, the bourgeois have attempted to bury the real essence of Lenins work and promote the idea that Stalinism and Leninism are essentially the same thing. This idea enjoys the joint approval of liberals, democrats, reformists, idealists, pragmatists, and anarchists alike. Regardless of these unfounded slanders, What is to be Done? has an important place in Marxist literature, and is a major landmark in the history of Russian Marxism that needs to be studied seriously by those who want to change society. The reason why this work has not been given sufficient attention may be due to the fact that the book contains an exaggeration, where the author bent the stick too far in stating that the working class left to itself can only arrive at a trade union consciousness. This is clearly not the case. History has shown many times, starting with the Chartists, that the working class in struggle can indeed arrive at a socialist consciousness. In fact, as the book shows, Lenin had borrowed this idea from Karl Kautsky, the then leader of the German Social-Democracy and the Second International. Lenin's one theoretical mistake in 'What is to be Done?' is arguing the working class can only reach trade-union consciousness on their own. History has shown many times, starting with the Chartists, that the working class in struggle can arrive at a socialist consciousness / Image: public domain The fact is that after this single reference, Lenin never again repeated this mistaken formulation and even within the pages of the work admits that this is a blunt formula and sharply simplified which he used to attack the opportunistic deviation of the Russian Economists, a right-wing trend within the movement at that time, that in effect denied the role of the revolutionary party. Despite this one exaggeration, Lenins What is to be Done? contains a wealth of knowledge on the importance of the revolutionary party, which today deserves much greater study. In fact, Krupskaya, Lenins wife and co-worker, urged its study by everyone who wants to be a Leninist in deeds and not words. (Reminiscences of Lenin, p.66) The book was published in early 1902 to great acclaim within the Marxist circles of Russia. What is to be Done? was a great success, explained Krupskaya. It supplied the answers to a number of vital and pressing questions. Everyone keenly felt the need for an underground organisation working according to a plan. The pamphlet was an ardent appeal for organisation. It outlined a broad plan of organisation in which everyone would find a place for himself, become a cog in the revolutionary machine, a cog, which, no matter how small, was vital to the working of the machine. (Ibid, pp.76) Lenins work was an important contribution in this early period of the Russian revolutionary movement. It should be read in conjunction with his other articles of the same period, in particular Where to Begin?, which is complementary to What is to be Done? In fact, Where to Begin? opens with the statement: In recent years the question of what is to be done has confronted Russian Social-Democracy with particular instance. It is not a question of what path we must choose (as was the case in the late eighties and early nineties), but of what practical steps we must take upon the known path and how they shall be taken. It is a system and a plan of practical work. (LCW, vol.5, p.17) Lenins later work was simply a development of these basic ideas. Ideological clarity A fight had already been waged for some time for ideological clarity with disputes between Marxism and Populism, the latter of which espoused not class struggle but individual terrorism; and then with the advocates of Legal Marxism, which had abandoned the revolutionary essence of Marxism. The dispute taken up in Lenins book, was with the opportunism of the Economists, which had become prominent. It was through these ideological battles that Russian Marxism took shape. It should be clear from Lenins writings that the development of the revolutionary party is a complex process that goes through different stages and takes shape over a number of years and even decades. Its birth pangs can be painful and it is subject to continuous crystallisation, regroupings and even splits before emerging as a mass force. What is to be Done? was part of this crystallisation. It can be said that Lenins work has particular importance for today, given, on the centenary of the Russian Revolution, the attacks on Lenin and Leninism as well as the political backsliding of present-day various sectarian groups. Having burnt their fingers on their ultra-leftism, these groups then abandoned all hope and dashed in an opportunist direction. This is a particular characteristic of the Socialist Workers Party, a supposedly Leninist organisation, which over the years established popular front organisations, such as the Anti-Nazi League, Respect, the Stop the War Coalition and Stand Up to Racism, where there was no mention of a socialist programme for fear of alienating their liberal supporters. The SWPs anti-imperialist opportunism pushed them into bed with all kinds of elements, including their scandalous support of black reaction in the form of the Muslim Brotherhood. Likewise, the Socialist Party of England and Wales wanted to become more popular by changing its name from Militant Labour to the more politically bland Socialist Party. Supposedly Leninist organisations like the British SWP, over the years established popular front organisations, such as Stand Up to Racism, where there was no mention of a socialist programme for fear of alienating their liberal supporters / Image: Flickr, Tim These organisations, as soon as they get close to the working class, begin to adapt their propaganda to the reformist milieu within the labour movement, while at the same time elevating crude activism to a panacea. All they offer is the thin political gruel of their mass newspapers, which become increasingly reformist in character. In times of austerity, the SP, while calling for no cuts, offers sound advice to local authorities on how to tweak and balance their budgets, as if there can be a solution on a capitalist basis. In this way, they have become a mirror image of yesterdays Economists by deliberately lowering the level of the working-class movement and the class struggle to narrow trade unionism and to a realistic struggle for petty, gradual reforms, to use Lenins words. For the Russian Economists, the workers were supposedly only interested in economic or bread and butter issues. Such an approach can be summed up as workerism, an attempt to lower the political level as a short-cut to the masses. This, however, was not a proletarian tendency, despite its demagogy, but the snobbishness of intellectuals who imagined that the way to win workers is to pander to their so-called prejudices. However, such attempts to curry favour with the masses are never successful. Lenin wrote this book in late 1901 and early 1902 to answer the burning questions of our movement about organisation and at the same time criticising the partys right wing. At this time, the Russian Marxists were grouped around their newspaper Iskra, which had waged a struggle to build the party based on sound theoretical principles. Without doubt, Lenins book constitutes an important contribution to theory and explains the vital role of the revolutionary party as the organiser and director of the proletarian revolution. In fact, Lenins life work was unique in understanding the essential role of the party. His genius allowed him to see far more clearly than anyone else in the movement concerning the importance of the party. For Lenin, the centralised party was essential in order to lead the masses to victory in the revolution. Lenin understood that such a party could not be improvised, since it is too late to form the organisation in times of explosion and outbursts. Instead it needed to be consciously built before such events occurred, starting with the assembling of a cadre of professional revolutionaries. Professional revolutionaries Given the tasks facing the revolutionary party, it could not be an amateurish loose outfit, but needed to be based upon the principles of a centralised party, known as democratic centralism. This provided it with the most effective democratic form of organisation. On this basis, following a democratic discussion within its ranks, culminating in a congress, the majority would decide its policy and priorities. These would then become the official policy for the whole party. Lenins conception was not new but modelled on the example of the party of German Social-Democracy, which he admired. He himself stressed his lack of originality at the Second Congress of the RSDLP, saying he had no intentions of elevating my own formulations, as given in What is to be Done?, to programmatic level, constituting of special principles. (LCW, vol.13, p.107) Today it is fashionable among reformists and ex-Marxists to deny the essence of Lenins position by attempting to present it as only valid for the conditions of Tsarist Russia at the time. But it is not correct to say that Lenins struggle to build the Bolshevik Party was due to Russian exceptionalism. Of course, the conditions in Tsarist Russia were extremely difficult and required underground methods of work. Party congresses, for instance, could not take place inside Russia for fear of arrest and repression. That was the fate of the founding congress of the RSDLP in 1898, where the leading participants were arrested shortly afterwards. Plekhanovs Emancipation of Labour Group could only operate in exile. Likewise, Iskra had to be published abroad and smuggled back into Russia. However, Lenins theory of organisation was not determined simply by Russian conditions. It was based upon the need to build a party that could lead the working class to power. The importance of such a party is based upon historical experience. Never in history has the ruling class ever given up its power and privileges without a struggle, and that means with no holds barred. History shows that the revolutionary class requires a party and leadership which are prepared to overcome this challenge. Despite the heroic role of the masses, experience shows that without such a party the revolution will not succeed. Never in history has the ruling class ever given up its power and privileges without a struggle. The revolutionary class requires a party and leadership which are prepared to overcome this challenge / Image: public domain The importance of the Bolshevik Party was demonstrated by the success of the October Revolution. Conversely, the defeats suffered by the working class over the last 100 years can be put down to the failure to build such a party. In fact, the key obstacle that stands between the working class and the victory of socialism is the unresolved problem of leadership. That is what is meant by the question of the party. Until the working class resolves this question, the conscious expression of the revolutionary process, the issue of workers power will remain elusive. Due to the many defeats of the past and the protracted development of events in recent decades, many have abandoned all hope of building such a party. They have become sceptical and burned out. Instead of building first a cadre organisation and then the party, they talk about building the movement and building the left as the way forward. They fail to understand that you cannot artificially build the movement. The movement of the working class is primarily built by great events. Incapable of understanding this, they inevitably end up in the swamp of reformism, especially its left milieu. Such types, in fact, litter todays Labour movement. While Lenins book contains many general lessons, it was specifically written in answer to concrete problems relating to the early circle period of the Russian movement. In 1907, in a preface to his writings, Lenin emphasises this point. The basic mistake made by those who criticise What is to be Done? is to treat the pamphlet apart from its connection with the concrete historical situation of a definite and now long past, period in the development of our Party. This mistake was strikingly demonstrated, for example, by Parvus (not to mention numerous Mensheviks), who, many years after the pamphlet appeared, wrote about its incorrect or exaggerated ideas on the subject of an organisation of professional revolutionaries... To maintain today that Iskra exaggerated (in 1901 and 1902!) the idea of an organisation of professional revolutionaries, is like reproaching the Japanese, after the Russo-Japanese War, for having exaggerated the strength of Russias armed forces, for having prior to the war exaggerated the need to prepare for fighting these forces. To win victory the Japanese had to marshal all their forces against the probable maximum of Russian forces. Unfortunately, many of those who judge our Party are outsiders, who do not know the subject, who do not realise that today the idea of an organisation of professional revolutionaries has already scored a complete victory. That victory would have been impossible if this idea had not been pushed to the forefront at the time, if we had not exaggerated so as to drive it home to people who were trying to prevent it from being realised. Lenin went on: Iskra fought for an organisation of professional revolutionaries. It fought with especial vigour in 1901 and 1902, vanquished Economism, the then dominant trend, and finally created this organisation in 1903. It preserved it in face of the subsequent split in the Iskrist ranks and all the convulsions of the period of storm and stress; it preserved it throughout the Russian revolution; it preserved it intact from 1901-02 to 1907. (LCW vol. 13, pp., 101-103) In fact, its preservation demonstrated its success in the victory of October 1917. When Lenin published What is to be Done? in early 1902, all the supporters of Iskra welcomed its conclusions. They regarded it as an important contribution to the development of the party. However, the bitter split at the Second Congress in the summer of 1903 opened up a tirade against the book. Now they [differences] had come out at the Congress, and everyone who had had a grudge against Iskra, against Plekhanov and Lenin, went out of his way to fan it up into a disagreement on a fundamental issue, explained Krupskaya. Lenin was attacked for his article Where to Begin? and his pamphlet What is to be Done? and accused of being ambitious, and so on. (Reminiscences of Lenin, International Publishers, New York, pp.95) It was here that the story began that Lenins so-called elitist ideas on organisation, of professional revolutionaries, and the like would lead to a dictatorship within the party. Subsequently, bourgeois academics and reformists have claimed that these organisational methods would ultimately lead to Stalinism. But this is completely false. Stalinism arose from the isolation of the revolution in a backward country, not some organisational norms. Homogeneity Lenins What is to be Done? famously opens up with a quote from Lassalle to Marx from 24th June, 1852. This is no accident and serves to set the serious tone for the rest of the book. ...Party struggles lend a party strength and vitality; the greatest proof of a partys weakness is its diffuseness and the blurring of clear demarcations; a party becomes stronger by purging itself... Philistines bristle at the suggestion of a purge strengthening the party, especially in the light of the experience of Stalinism. The word purge has a completely different connotation today than in 1852 or 1902. The idea is that a genuinely homogeneous party is much stronger than a heterogeneous one cannot be denied. Over a period of time, the party can attract all kinds of accidental elements with alien ideas that can play a very negative role. The party is not a play-ground for such types. It was far better to politically split with those who were moving in the opposite direction. As Marx explained, the revolutionary party is a living organism, which evolves at each stage of its development. The transformation from a small circle to a larger grouping leads to different methods, as does the transformation to a mass party. There is a tendency for some who played a role in one period to be left behind in a new period in the organisations development. This can give rise to frictions and even splits at a certain stage. Splits can be viewed as unfortunate, but they are sometimes inevitable and even necessary. Just as a human being sheds or purges dead cells to allow new cells to grow in their place, a similar process takes place within the party. Lenin explains that the early years of the Russian movement were inevitably dominated by small circles of Marxists. These circles played a progressive role. But they eventually became a barrier to the further development of the party. And the transition to a democratically organised workers party, proclaimed by the Bolsheviks in Novaya Zhizn in November 1905, i.e., as soon as the conditions appeared for legal activity this transition was virtually an irrevocable break with the old circle ways that had outlived their day, explained Lenin. (LCW, vol.13, p.105) The early years of the Russian movement were inevitably dominated by small circles of Marxists. These circles played a progressive role. But they eventually became a barrier to the further development of the party / Image: public domain As the whole history of Bolshevism shows, political differences and arguments over strategy and tactics can become very heated. Lenins Bolshevik Party was known as the school of hard knocks. They had many polemics. Lenin noted this feature in 1907: The pamphlets What is to be Done? and One Step Forward, Two Steps Back published in this collection present to the reader a heated, at times bitter and destructive, controversy within the circles abroad. Undoubtedly, this struggle has many unattractive features. Nevertheless, out of such clashes, there emerged a new political clarity, which provided the Party with greater cohesion and confidence. Throughout his lifetime, Lenin was firm in his defence of revolutionary principles and defence of Marxism. When What is to be Done? was published the struggle against the Russian Economists was reaching its conclusion. In the preface to the book, Lenin states that they would make no progress in Russia until we have completely put an end to this [Economist] period. The book was used to settle the scores with this opportunist tendency. Lenin also explained that the struggle against Marxism was developed by the bourgeois intelligentsia in the universities and transferred to the reformists and opportunists in the Labour movement, where it became their stock-in-trade. That remains the case today. To this day, the worst ideological garbage is produced in the universities. The cadres of the revolutionary party therefore needed to be theoretically equipped to answer the arguments of its political enemies, above all in the so-called places of learning. Lenin uses the whole of the first section of What is to be Done? to explain that the Economist trend was part of the opportunist trend in the international movement, on a par with the revisionists led by Eduard Bernstein in Germany and Millerand in France. Lenin saw his struggle against Economism in Russia as part of this international struggle. Freedom of Criticism He went on to attack the notion of so-called freedom of criticism put forward by the Economists as a fashionable slogan of those who were determined to drive Social-Democracy into trade unionist channels. He saw this freedom of criticism as a clear attempt to be free to smuggle in alien ideas into the revolutionary party. And if we judge people, not by the glittering uniforms they don or by the high-sounding appellations they give themselves, but by their actions and by what they actually advocate, it will be clear that freedom of criticism means freedom for an opportunist trend in Social-Democracy, freedom to convert Social-Democracy into a bourgeois party of reform, freedom to introduce bourgeois ideas and bourgeois elements into socialism... The cry heard today, Long live freedom of criticism, is too strongly reminiscent of the fable of the empty barrel, explained Lenin. Above all, Lenin attacked those who wanted a free-for-all to water down or abandon revolutionary politics. In response, they accused him of an inability to compromise and of being sectarian. But Lenin warned his fellow comrades against being dragged into the marsh by those who wanted to take them in an opportunist direction. He posed the question very sharply but very clearly: We are surrounded on all sides by enemies, and we have to advance under their fire. We have combined, by a freely adopted decision, for the purpose of fighting the enemy, and not of retreating into the neighbouring marsh, the inhabitants of which, from the very outset, have reproached us with having separated ourselves into an exclusive group and have chosen the path of struggle instead of the path of conciliation. And now some among us begin to cry out: Let us go into the marsh! And when we begin to shame them, they retort: What backward people you are! Are you not ashamed to deny us the liberty to invite you to take a better road! Oh, yes, gentlemen! You are free not only to invite us, but to go yourselves wherever you will, even into the marsh. In fact, we think that the marsh is your proper place, and we are prepared to render you every assistance to get there. Only let go of our hands, dont clutch at us and dont besmirch the grand word freedom, for we too are free to go where we please, free to fight not only against the marsh, but also against those who are turning towards the marsh! In What is to be Done? Lenin defined the outlook of the Economists as a tendency which displayed complete distain for theory. Theory they said was of no interest to workers. Our concern is the working-class movement, stated the Economists, the workers organisations here, in our localities. They went on: all the rest is merely the invention of doctrinaires, the overrating of ideology... Their constant talk of the working class movement was a cover for their real contempt towards workers. As with the sectarian organisations today, they believed that the workers are not intelligent enough to understand theory. Therefore, the revolutionary movement had to concentrate on bread and butter issues. The sects trail after the workers, telling them how bad things are. But workers are not stupid and know quite well that their wages and conditions are bad. This approach was the hallmark of the Economists. While basic demands and slogans have their importance, in this epoch of deep crisis, workers are searching increasingly for broader explanations and not agitation. Contempt for theory Lenin takes the example of the Rabocheye Dyelo, the newspaper of the Economists, which with an air of triumph quoted Marxs words Every step of real movement is more important than a dozen programmes. Twisting what Marx said, the Economists believed that the workers had no need for revolutionary ideas and theory, only general activity. To repeat these words in a period of theoretical disorder is like wishing mourners at a funeral many happy returns of the day, explains Lenin. Moreover, these words of Marx are taken from his letter on the Gotha Programme, in which he sharply condemns eclecticism in the formulation of principles. If you must unite, Marx wrote to the party leaders, then enter into agreements to satisfy the practical aims of the movement, but do not allow any bargaining over principles, do not make theoretical concessions. This was Marxs idea, and yet there are people among us who seek in his name to belittle the significance of theory! The essential idea that runs throughout Lenins work is the need to train Marxist cadres professional revolutionaries with a thorough grasp of Marxist theory. Without revolutionary theory there can be no revolutionary movement, states Lenin emphatically, who then goes on to state: This idea cannot be insisted upon too strongly at a time when the fashionable preaching of opportunism goes hand in hand with an infatuation for the narrowest forms of practical activity. This was Lenin taking a pop shot at mindless activism, so beloved today by those on the left. Of course, Lenin was not opposed to activity in general, but this had to be connected to raising the political and theoretical level. To emphasise this point, Lenin quotes the words of Fredrick Engels from 1874 when he stressed the importance of theory in building the movement. Engels recognises not simply two forms of the revolutionary struggle (political and economic), as is the fashion among us, but three forms, placing the theoretical struggle on a par with the first two. For those involved in fighting for Marxism in Britain, Engels makes a telling point. He explains that the dismal approach to theory in the British working-class movement was the main reason why it crawls along so slowly. Engels stressed, In particular, it will be the duty of the leaders to gain an ever-clearer insight into all theoretical questions, to free themselves more and more from the influence of traditional phrases inherited from the old-world outlook, and constantly to keep in mind that socialism, since it has become a science, demands that it be pursued as a science, i.e., that it be studied. The "Economists", influenced by the ideas of Eduard Bernstein, sought short-cuts to the masses by focusing on 'pragmatic', 'bread-and-butter' objectives / Image public domain From the point of view of the International Marxist Tendency, we have faithfully followed Engels advice to the letter with the seriousness it deserves. We need to constantly train our co-thinkers to think as Marxists in order to resist the opportunist pressures that exist within the movement, which are none other than the pressures of capitalism. Laughably, our recognition of the vital importance of Marxist theory is a matter of derision for our opponents. But we are in good company. The people who cannot pronounce the word theoretician without a sneer, observed Lenin, were precisely those who wallow in their own ignorance. We are very familiar with such worthless types, the cynics and sceptics, who have contempt for theory. This is only a mirror for their contempt for the working class. Theory, after all, is only the past generalised experience of the working class. Theory is not an academic discourse but a guide to action. While Lenin never repeated his slip that socialist consciousness has to be brought to the working class from outside, this error has been repeated ever since by every sectarian under the sun to justify their haughty role as clever missionaries coming from outside to lead the workers movement. As we explained, Lenin bent the stick too far in correctly exposing the limits of spontaneity (slavish cringing before spontaneity), which was the hallmark of the Economists. On the contrary, the expression I used and it has since been frequently quoted was that the Economists had gone to one extreme. What is to be Done?, I said, straightens out what has been twisted by the Economists, explained Lenin. The meaning of these words is clear enough: What is to be Done? is a controversial correction of Economist distortions and it would be wrong to regard the pamphlet in any other light. (LCW, vol.13, p.107-108) The Economists always trailed after the prejudices of the workers and tried to tell them what they already knew. They demagogically used catchphrases like the workers for the workers and we must concentrate, not on the cream of the workers, but on the average, mass worker. This was simply an adaptation to the backwardness of the working class. But the working class has a strong side and a weak side shown in different periods. It has the potential to become a revolutionary class, and we base ourselves upon this necessity, but Marxists do not treat the working class as a sacred cow. As Trotsky later explained: The masses, of course, are not at all impeccable. Idealization of the masses is foreign to us. We have seen them under different conditions, at different stages and in addition in the biggest political shocks. We have observed their strong and weak sides. Their strong side-resoluteness, self-sacrifice, heroism has always found its clearest expression in times of revolutionary upsurge. During this period the Bolsheviks headed the masses. Afterward a different historical chapter loomed when the weak side of the oppressed came to the forefront: heterogeneity, insufficiency of culture, narrowness of world outlook. (Their Morals and Ours) The opportunist approach of the Economists is an attempt to shout louder than your own voice and seek shortcuts to success where none exist. Not surprisingly, they were adherents of the labour movement pure and simple, and worshippers of the closest organic contacts with the workers. They held the greatest contempt towards theoreticians, despite the fact that Marx and Engels were the greatest of theoreticians. In effect, they accepted the arguments of the bourgeois pure trade unionists, to use Lenins words. They dismissed revolutionary theory and the conscious element in the struggle, and so reduced the revolutionary movement (i.e. Social-Democracy) to the level of trade unionism. Importance of politics Lenin countered this tail-endism by saying that the fundamental economic interests of the proletariat can be satisfied only by a political revolution that will replace the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie by the dictatorship of the proletariat... A mass revolutionary party based on the working class was needed, but one built upon the rock of Marxist principles and theory. While Lenin understood the importance of agitation in exposing bad working conditions and such like, he nevertheless regarded such activity as a purely trade union level of struggle. In contrast, Lenin stressed the need to lead the struggle of the working class, not only for better terms for the sale of labour-power, but for the abolition of the social system that compels the property-less to sell themselves to the rich... Hence, it follows that not only must Social-Democrats not confine themselves exclusively to the economic struggle, but that they must not allow the organisation of economic exposures to become the predominant part of their activities. We must take up actively the political education of the working classes and the development of their political consciousness. Lenin stressed the need to lead the struggle of the working class, not only for better terms for the sale of labour-power", but for the abolition of capitalism altogether / Image: public domain In other words, beginning with the immediate problems of the workers, it is necessary to generalise these experiences and link them to the wider struggle of the working class to change society. This means being able to link together agitation, propaganda and theory. However, Lenin nevertheless warned against the use of crude agitation, because simply pointing to the bad conditions suffered by the workers was treating them as little children. Such activity is not enough for us; we are not children to be fed on the thin gruel of economic politics alone, he explained. It is not enough to explain to the workers that they are politically oppressed. It is necessary to take up all instances of injustice in different spheres of life in order to help develop the political consciousness of workers. It is by linking the daily struggles to a revolutionary programme and theory linking the particular to the general that Marxists can raise the level of consciousness. You cannot do this by simply telling workers what they already know. Underlying this whole argument is the conflict between Marxism and opportunism. While the opportunists separated the struggle for reforms and revolution, Lenin emphasises the inseparable link between them. Revolutionary Social Democracy has always included the struggle for reforms as part of its activities... he writes. But that is not the end of the matter. In a word, it subordinates the struggle for reforms, as the part to the whole, to the revolutionary struggle for freedom and for socialism. Revolutionaries wanted to raise wages, but that was not the end of the matter. They wanted the workers to govern society. Following Plekhanov, Lenin went on to outline the difference between agitation and propaganda: if we give many ideas to a small number of people we have propaganda; if we give one idea to a large quantity of people we have agitation. However, it is the role of the revolutionary propagandist to provide an all-rounded explanation to the workers of the capitalist crisis and the way out: the propagandist, dealing with, say, the question of unemployment, must explain the capitalistic nature of crises, the cause of their inevitability in modern society, the necessity for the transformation of society into a socialist society, etc. Lenin pointed to the weaknesses of the Russian party. Taking the example of its study circles, Lenin criticised their low political level: Let us take the type of Social-Democratic study circle that has become most widespread in the past few years and examine its work. It has contacts with the workers and rests content with this, issuing leaflets in which abuses in the factories, the governments partiality towards the capitalists, and the tyranny of the police are strongly condemned. At workers meetings the discussions never, or rarely ever, go beyond the limits of these subjects. Extremely rare are the lectures and discussions held on the history of the revolutionary movement, on questions of the governments home and foreign policy, on questions of the economic evolution of Russia and of Europe, on the position of various classes in modern society, etc... In fact, the ideal leader, as the majority of the members of such circles picture him, is something far more in the nature of a trade union secretary than a socialist political leader. For a secretary of any, say English, trade union always helps the workers to carry on the economic struggle, he helps them to expose factory abuses, explains the injustice of the laws and of measures that hamper the freedom to strike and to picket (i.e., to warn all and sundry that a strike is proceeding at a certain factory), explains the partiality of arbitration court judges who belong to the bourgeois class, etc., etc. In other words, every trade union secretary conducts and helps to conduct the economic struggle against the employers and the government. It cannot be too strongly maintained that this is still not Social-Democracy, that the Social-Democrats ideal should not be the trade union secretary, but the tribune of the people... who is able to take advantage of every event, however small, in order to set forth before all his socialist convictions and his democratic demands, in order to clarify for all and everyone the world-historic significance of the struggle for the emancipation of the proletariat. Revolutionaries first and foremost Of course, Lenin is not arguing against revolutionaries working in trade unions or taking up individual issues. He is certainly in favour of such work. But he shows the limits and dangers of this approach if treated in a one-side way. For Lenin, in working in such an environment, Social-Democrats must be revolutionaries first and foremost and trade unionists second. They had to become worker-cadres. The party has a duty to inoculate its members against the dangers of opportunism by raising their theoretical level, ensuring they attend party meetings, and ensuring that their work is carried out under the direction of the party. Lenin saw this as a condition of membership of the party. This control is even more important where party members take positions in the workers movement, where there is the danger that they can be sucked in to become simply a trade union secretary, which Lenin warned against. He hammered home that any watering down of Social-Democratic politics to the level of trade unionist politics means preparing the ground for converting the working-class movement into an instrument of bourgeois democracy. This reflects the enormous pressures within the workers movement to conform. Instead of the revolutionaries changing their environment, the environment changes them. Lenin consistently argued for the building of a revolutionary vanguard party, based upon professional revolutionaries, who are prepared to dedicate all their time and effort to such revolutionary work / Image: public domain Throughout the book, which is a polemic against spontaneity and the adaption to trade union (bourgeois) politics, Lenin consistently argues for the building of a revolutionary vanguard party, based upon professional revolutionaries, who are prepared to dedicate all their time and effort to such revolutionary work. The organisation of the revolutionaries must consist first and foremost of people who make revolutionary activity their profession (for which reason I speak of the organisation of revolutionaries, meaning Social-Democrats). In view of this common characteristic of the members of such an organisation, all distinctions as between workers and intellectuals, not to speak of distinctions of trade and profession, in both categories, must be effaced. Here speaks the real Lenin. Within the revolutionary party, there can be no difference between workers and students: all are comrades and communists. All prejudices were left outside and were not welcome. It was not a class question, but a political one. As far as the party is concerned, students who come from a middle-class background are educated, along with worker comrades, in the ideas of Marxism. In doing so, they politically abandon their former class prejudices and come over to the standpoint of the proletariat. This was the case with practically the entire leadership of the Bolshevik Party which was made up of former students. Incidentally, Lenins conception of a vanguard party, which is regarded as heinous elitism by all of his critics, from reformists to anarchists, is nothing more than a party that offers leadership to the working class. The role of the party is not to trail behind the workers, but, based on its collective experience, to offer a real way forward. This is not a bad thing, but a good thing. In fact, it is the whole raison detre of a revolutionary workers party. Interestingly, Lenin explains that prior to the formation of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party the Marxists had worked to establish student circles, where the entire student youth of the period was absorbed in Marxism. According to Grigori Zinoviev, a former student, There was a time (chiefly in the second half of the 1890s) when the term student was synonymous with the term revolutionary, for in that period pupils in higher educational establishments were revolutionarily or radically minded and supported the workers revolutionary movement. (History of the Bolshevik Party, New Park Publications, 1973, p.63) These student revolutionaries, who were persecuted by the tsarist authorities, were to become a bridge to the virgin working class in Russia. The principal leaders of the local movement had already gained a reputation for themselves in their student days, explained Lenin. By winning such students to Marxism and educating them, the revolutionary movement created the youthful forces which could reach the young workers. The whole experience of Bolshevism shows that serious students who are educated in Marxism can become excellent cadres for the revolutionary movement. Lenin, who always took a great interest in the youth, took the trouble to answer any anti-student prejudices of some of his critics. A committee of students is of no use; it is not stable, agreed Lenin. But the conclusion to be drawn from this is that we must have a committee of professional revolutionaries, and it is immaterial whether a student or a worker is capable of becoming a professional revolutionary. Again, Lenin brushes aside whether revolutionaries are students or workers. He wanted to train up both student and worker cadres. I mean professional revolutionaries, irrespective of whether they have developed from among students or working men. He adds: our task is not to champion the degrading of the revolutionary to the level of an amateur, but to raise the amateurs to the level of revolutionaries. However, he added it takes years to train oneself to be a professional revolutionary. Attention, therefore, must be devoted principally to raising the workers to the level of revolutionaries; it is not at all our task to descend to the level of the working masses as the Economists wish to do, or to the level of the average worker as SVOBODA desires to do (and by this ascends to the second grade of Economist pedagogics). I am far from denying the necessity for popular literature for the workers, and especially popular (of course, not vulgar) literature for the especially backward workers. But what annoys me is this constant confusion of pedagogics with questions of politics and organisation. You, gentlemen, who are so much concerned about the average worker, as a matter of fact, rather insult the workers by your desire to talk down to them when discussing working-class politics and working-class organisation. Talk about serious things in a serious manner; leave pedagogics to the pedagogues, and not to politicians and organisers! A workers paper Lenin, after seeing off his critics, concludes What is to be Done? with an examination of the importance of the workers press. We could, in the not too distant future, establish a weekly newspaper, he says ...This newspaper would become part of an enormous pair of smiths bellows that would fan every spark of the class struggle and of popular indignation into a general conflagration. Around what is in itself still a very innocuous and very small, but regular and common, effort, in the full sense of the word, a regular army of tried fighters would systematically gather and receive their training. On the ladders and scaffolding of this general organisational structure there would soon develop and come to thefore Social-Democratic Zhelyabovs[1] from among our revolutionaries and Russian Bebels[2] from among our workers, who would take their place at the head of the mobilised army and rouse the whole people to settle accounts with the shame and the curse of Russia. That is what we should dream of! In October 1917, all this hard work turned this dream into a reality. Lenin had trained a whole generation of cadre-Bolsheviks that were to become the framework for the building of a mass Bolshevik Party. Under the leadership of Lenin and Trotsky, the party was to draw around itself the best of the working class and peasantry to conquer state power. Todays Marxists must also learn these lessons to prepare ourselves for the new Octobers that impend. A study of Lenins What is to be Done? is an essential part and parcel of this preparation. 1.Andrey Ivanovich Zhelyabov (29 August [O.S. 17 August] 1851 15 April [O.S. 3 April] 1881) was a Russian revolutionary and member of the Executive Committee of Narodnaya Volya. 2.August Bebel (22 February 1840 13 August 1913) was a German Marxist politician, writer, and orator. A collaborator of Marx and Engels, he is best remembered as one of the founders of the Social Democratic Workers Party of Germany (SDAP) in 1869, which in 1875 merged with the General German Workers Association into the Socialist Workers Party of Germany (SAPD). During the repression under the terms of the Anti-Socialist Laws, Bebel became the leading figure of the social democratic movement in Germany and from 1892 until his death served as chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Germany. Turning the ship before it hits the iceberg Where Persecution Comes From In Turkmenistan, Christian persecution stems from both the government and Islamic culture. The authoritarian government cracks down on Christianity through local police, secret services and local authorities. No religious activities are allowed, aside from those the state controls. Because Christians must operate outside state-sanctioned structures, they are often labeled as extremists, and are suspected of trying to topple the government. In addition to this government-perpetrated persecution, the Muslim community places intense pressure on those who convert from Islam to Christianity. Families, friends and local communities of converts all work together to convince them to return to their former faith, sometimes even using violence to this end. How Christians are Suffering All Christian activities in Turkmenistan are heavily monitored. Raids on house churches lacking proper registration are common, and members are subjected to detainment, torture, threats and fines. Religious materials are regularly seized as contraband. For converts, most persecution comes from within the home or local community. Some are locked up by their own families, beaten or disowned as a result of their conversion to Christianity. Local mullahs preach against these converts as well, ensuring that the entire community is united against them. Because of the intense pressure they face, many converts try to hide their faith entirely, becoming so-called secret believers. Examples In April 2016, Turkmenistan introduced a new law on religion that places tighter control on church life. A Turkmen teacher was recently met by police at her job who told her she needed to renounce her Christian faith. When she refused, she was fired. Guwahati: Journalists Forum Assam (JFA) expresses shock at the murder of Syed Shujaat Bukhari, a Srinagar based journalist and demands necessary actions to nab the culprits at the earliest. The Assam based scribes forum also lamented that Shujaat becomes the fourth Indian journalist killed in the last six months. It may be noted that the chief editor and proprietor of Rising Kashmir Shujaat was shot on Thursday night in Srinagar by a group of militants and he died on the way to the hospital. Starting his career in Kashmir Times, Shujaat later shifted to The Hindu as its Kashmir correspondent. Lately he established the English daily Rising Kashmir. His two security guards also sustained severe injuries in the incident. A brave and outspoken journalist Shujaat faced attacks in 2000 and 2006, but survived. His demise was condoled by J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, Union home minister Rajnath Singh, former State CM Omar Abdullah, Editors Guild of India, Press Club of India with many other individuals and organizations. A Virden man caught three times with large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine was handed a three-year sentence on Thursday, minus time already served. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/6/2018 (1219 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us A Virden man caught three times with large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine was handed a three-year sentence on Thursday, minus time already served. "These incidents are extremely serious," Judge John Combs told Brandon provincial court while delivering his sentence. "Both cocaine and methamphetamine are both substances which are highly addictive, and cause massive destruction in our community." Cory Alexander Emile Burke, 32, pleaded guilty to multiple charges in February, including possession for the purposes of trafficking, possession of a firearm and possession of cocaine and methamphetamine. The court heard in May that Burke was originally charged and released after he was arrested on Aug. 9, 2017, when officers searched a Virden home and found just under six ounces of cocaine, two ounces of methamphetamine, cannabis resin, a .303 British rifle and approximately $3,400. Burke was arrested again on Aug. 23 while out on bail after RCMP officers stopped Burke while he was driving his pickup truck and executed a search warrant. Another six ounces of cocaine and two ounces of meth were found in the truck, as well as shatter, drug trafficking paraphernalia and $690. Burke was given the benefit of the doubt and released a second time, but was caught with cocaine, meth and marijuana less than a month later. Burke told the court at the time that even though he hit rock bottom because of drugs, he knows hes on the path to recovery. "My addictions will be a struggle for me for the rest of my life ... but I want to be clean and sober," Burke said in May. "I will be a law-abiding citizen and a contributing member of society." Combs said there were a number of mitigating factors in Burkes case, including the fact he has no prior record, is putting in significant work to deal with his addiction and showed remorse via his guilty plea. However, the fact Burke was "peddling" dangerous substances into the community was particularly aggravating, Combs added. "Unfortunately, people who become addicted to these substances also become involved in trafficking to support their habit," Combs said. "The justice obviously has to respond appropriately to those who choose to make these drugs available in the community." After a credit of 14 months is applied to his sentence for time already served, Burke has approximately two years in custody going forward, which allows him to continue the recovery program hes enrolled in through the provincial jail. "This is the best sentence not only for Mr. Burke, but for the community," Combs said. "Having Mr. Burke receive the counselling not only addresses the principles of denunciation and deterrence, but also rehabilitation." edebooy@brandonsun.com Twitter: @erindebooy Report: Yemen army inflicts Saudi troops heavy losses, controls sites over 24 hours [14/June/2018] SANAA, June 14 (Saba) The Yemen Army and popular have carried military operations, including missile, artillery, and sniping attacks, which inflicted the Saudi troops heavy losses during the past 24 hours, according to reports combined by Saba News Agency on Thursday. In Yemens Western coast, Yemeni naval forces destroy a coalition barge off the coast of Hodeidah. Also in western coast, Saudi-paid mercenaries and invaders were inflicted heavy losses due to an offensive on Odain triangle of Hais front, as well as 11 of mercenaries' military vehicles, including all crews and equipment, were destroyed during the qualitative operation on the Triangle. The army and committees repelled an intensive infiltration toward Faza under the cover of war and reconnaissance planes, and military vehicle was destroyed and dozens of mercenaries were killed and wounded during repelling their infiltration. Engineering unit of the army and committees destroyed two military vehicles with explosive devices in eastern Taif and another in Hais. In Jizan border province, a ballistic missile, Bader-1, was fired toward Faisal military city. In border province of Najran, an offensive operation was carried out on mercenaries' sites in Adhyaq mount of Boqea front, killing and wounding dozens. Also in Najran, the army and committees launched an attack on mercenaries' sites in Ramlia hill of Ajasher desert, killing. Injuring dozens and seizing military equipment. Furthermore, a mercenaries' infiltration was repelled toward Adhyaq area in front of Khadhra border crossing, killing, wounding and captured dozens. In additional, artillery force of the army and committees shelled the mercenaries during their infiltration, backed with air cover, in Ramlia hills and numbers of hills in front of Khadhra crossing. In Ajasher hill of Najran, two mercenaries' infiltration attempts were foiled in Masader hill, killing and wounding dozens of them, while five of the mercenaries were killed, four captured and a military vehicle was damaged in Adhyaq desert of Boqea. Also in Najran, a military vehicle was destroyed by a guided missile in Awadhi mount of Boqea, killing all its crew. In Asir border Saudi province, the army and committees controlled several hills in the west of Majaza, killing and wounding dozens of the mercenaries. In Hajjah province, the army and committees retook Nar mount in Haradh district and inflicted the mercenaries heavy losses, seizing military equipment. In Taiz province, the army and committees carried out an unique offensive on mercenaries' sites in Aynain front of Habshi mount, killing and wounding dozens Also in Aynain front, The army and committees controlled numbers of sites, inflicting the me heavy losses. Furthemire, dozens of the mercenaries were killed and wounded during repelling their infiltration attempt toward Aynain area. The army and committees also cleared several hills in Owaid mount during military operation. In Maqbana district of Taiz, many of Saudi-paid mercenaries were killed and wounded during repelling their infiltration attempt in Hamir front. Written by Sameera Hassn Saba In Yemens Western coast, Yemeni naval forces destroy a coalition barge off the coast of Hodeidah.Also in western coast, Saudi-paid mercenaries and invaders were inflicted heavy losses due to an offensive on Odain triangle of Hais front, as well as 11 of mercenaries' military vehicles, including all crews and equipment, were destroyed during the qualitative operation on the Triangle.The army and committees repelled an intensive infiltration toward Faza under the cover of war and reconnaissance planes, and military vehicle was destroyed and dozens of mercenaries were killed and wounded during repelling their infiltration.Engineering unit of the army and committees destroyed two military vehicles with explosive devices in eastern Taif and another in Hais.In Jizan border province, a ballistic missile, Bader-1, was fired toward Faisal military city.In border province of Najran, an offensive operation was carried out on mercenaries' sites in Adhyaq mount of Boqea front, killing and wounding dozens.Also in Najran, the army and committees launched an attack on mercenaries' sites in Ramlia hill of Ajasher desert, killing. Injuring dozens and seizing military equipment.Furthermore, a mercenaries' infiltration was repelled toward Adhyaq area in front of Khadhra border crossing, killing, wounding and captured dozens.In additional, artillery force of the army and committees shelled the mercenaries during their infiltration, backed with air cover, in Ramlia hills and numbers of hills in front of Khadhra crossing.In Ajasher hill of Najran, two mercenaries' infiltration attempts were foiled in Masader hill, killing and wounding dozens of them, while five of the mercenaries were killed, four captured and a military vehicle was damaged in Adhyaq desert of Boqea.Also in Najran, a military vehicle was destroyed by a guided missile in Awadhi mount of Boqea, killing all its crew.In Asir border Saudi province, the army and committees controlled several hills in the west of Majaza, killing and wounding dozens of the mercenaries.In Hajjah province, the army and committees retook Nar mount in Haradh district and inflicted the mercenaries heavy losses, seizing military equipment.In Taiz province, the army and committees carried out an unique offensive on mercenaries' sites in Aynain front of Habshi mount, killing and wounding dozensAlso in Aynain front, The army and committees controlled numbers of sites, inflicting the me heavy losses.Furthemire, dozens of the mercenaries were killed and wounded during repelling their infiltration attempt toward Aynain area.The army and committees also cleared several hills in Owaid mount during military operation.In Maqbana district of Taiz, many of Saudi-paid mercenaries were killed and wounded during repelling their infiltration attempt in Hamir front.Written by Sameera HassnSaba CFB SHILO When Sgt. Stephen Damery arrived in Afghanistan, it was hot, dry, and the air was thick and dusty. As it was still very early in the morning when he arrived, it was also very dark. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/6/2018 (1219 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. CFB SHILO When Sgt. Stephen Damery arrived in Afghanistan, it was hot, dry, and the air was thick and dusty. As it was still very early in the morning when he arrived, it was also very dark. This moment, among many, are burned into Damerys memories of his deployment in Afghanistan. MELISSA VERGE/ BRANDON SUN Sgt. Stephen Damery stands outside base headquarters in Shilo. He spent almost two years in Afghanistan. Afghanistan was Damerys home for nearly a year, as he was deployed as a medic with the Canadian Armed Forces. Now the 47-year-old (47-years young, he said) is stationed in Shilo, but back in August 2006 to March 2007, Afghanistan was his home, and then again in 2009 until 2010. In total, he spent nearly two years overseas. Leading up to the deployment, Sgt. Damery received months of training. "[We went over] over everything, field lectures, and also a lot medical training," he said. "I would say that we were as prepared as we were ever going to be." When the time came, he was excited to go and put all of his training hed received to use. As soldiers they all had one collective goal: to help the Afghan people while simultaneously dealing with the Taliban. But, as a medic his responsibility was to help those suffering from various ailments and injures. "Everything from [the] common cold to upset stomachs, [and] we did have one incident where there was an IED blast," Damery said. He also dealt with some heat related injuries, the weather there was very hot. He assessed his patients, and reported to the troop or section commander on scene. In some cases, arrangements were made to have the injured evacuated. "You stayed with them until either the ambulance arrives or until the helicopter arrives to evacuate them," he said. Despite the stressful situations he was in, Damery said hes still not sure if hes good under pressure. When somebody was hurt, he just wanted to make sure he could assist them, and to do that he had to stay very focused. These tough situations that he had to deal with really showed him the difference he was making and could make it peoples lives. "Were entrusted with their health and well being, and even after a few years later Ive had some people come back to me [ and say] we were really glad that we had you as a medic," Damery said. This gave him as he called it, "job fulfillment." Now, Sgt. Damery has been in the forces for 19-years. Hes no longer in a danger zone, and thats something that hes thankful for. He has a special bond with the other soldiers he spent time with over in Afghanistan. "I am in touch with them via social media, some of them have moved away, some of them are out of the military, some of them are still in, but yes, you will always be connected with these people," Damery said. The time hes spent overseas has also given him a greater appreciation for the small things in life, like getting coffee. Hes lived in Shilo now since 2013. "I can drive to Tim Hortons in town and I dont need to be worried about being ambushed or anything like that," he said. "I dont need to worry about IEDs." Although he said hes adjusted pretty well to life back in Canada its been almost 10 years now he doesnt forget. Some of the people who died on duty were his friends. "Everyday to me is like Remembrance Day," he said. mverge@brandonsun.com Twitter: @Melverge5 By Anne Lucey A new arrivals hall is planned for Kerry Airport to meet increased numbers and to allow an expanded departures area with bar and restaurant, its agm heard. But airlines fears over Brexit is putting a dampener on further connections with the UK, the meeting in Tralee was told. At almost 336,000, passenger numbers through the airport in 2017 were up by 3% on 2016. As well as high numbers on the London Stansted, London Luton and Frankfurt-Hahn routes, the important regional routes also saw increased demand. Larger 70-seat aircraft have been introduced by Aer Lingus Regional operator Stobart Air and some 51,000 people flew with that airline through Kerry during the year. Kerry Airports financial controller Basil Sheerin said as well as the extra capacity, a third flight to and from Dublin on a commercial basis and outside the Public Service Contract was possible. Denis Cregan who was unanimously re-elected to the chair, outlined how operating profit was up in Kerry, from 267,137 in 2016 to 755,748 in 2017. Turnover increased 5.6% to 6.34m. However, the airport was still getting a considerable amount of funding in grants and a major source of its profitability was from Government funding, he said. The revenue grant from the Department of Transport and Tourism last year had increased from 626,855 to 1.07m in 2017. There was also capital funding. EU rules have mandated that regional airports be self-sufficient by 2019 but this will not be met in Ireland, particularly in relation to spend on security and capital works, Mr Cregan said. While Kerry could be said to be profitable, as with the other regionals of Knock and Donegal, the airport depended on Government grants to maintain its operation. There will again be no dividends for shareholders, management said. It would not be appropriate to do so, given the level of grant aid it received to maintain the operation, Mr Cregan said. Airlines had turned down requests from Kerry Airport for more services to the UK because of fears over Brexit, the meeting also heard. Brexit is going to be a big problem in relation to airlines. No-one wants to risk anything in relation to the UK right now, until the lay of the land with Brexit is seen, Mr Sheerin said in response to a request that the Kerry to Manchester route be renewed, or some connection to the UK midland region is created. A proposed purchase agreement whereby The Irish Times will acquire all of the publishing and media interests of the Landmark Media group has received ministerial approval. The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, Denis Naughten, this morning approved the proposed transaction. A number of legal and compliance steps will now be taken in the coming weeks to finalise the deal but the Department concluded that "the media merger proceeding as proposed will not be contrary to the public interest in protecting plurality of the media in the State." In a statement to staff the group chief executive of Landmark Media, Tom Murphy, said the approval marks the successful completion of all regulatory processes in the transaction which now moves to the legal completion process. Mr Murphy said this is expected to take a further short period and that staff would be updated as 'the situation clarifies further'. In a note to staff in Tara St the Irish Times said: The Irish Times looks forward to meeting and working with all staff and their representatives to discuss the acquisition. "We will be making arrangements to do that as soon as possible. This will include briefings to staff in Dublin, Cork, the regional titles and radio stations. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) approved the deal on competition grounds in April suggesting the acquisition will not lead to a substantial lessening of competition. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has also approved the change of ownership of radio stations impacted by the transaction, namely majority stakes in WLR in Waterford and Beat 102-103 and a 17.6% holding in Cork based station Red FM. The acquisition of the group by the Irish Times will also mark the end of the Crosbie familys ownership of the Irish Examiner which dates back to 1872. - Digital Desk by Padraig Hoare Permanent TSB chiefs have denied closing ranks and refusing to admit operational mismanagement over its part in the 1bn industry-wide tracker mortgage scandal. An angry Pearse Doherty clashed with Permanent TSB chief executive Jeremy Masding at the Oireachtas Finance Committee, where the Sinn Fein finance spokesman accused the bank of stonewalling TDs and senators and trying to close down discussion about who was to blame when it came to the scandal. Mr Masding strenuously denied the charge, saying he had never deliberately obfuscated and had always tried to be forthcoming with the committee. Some 37,100 have so far been identified in the scandal, which happened when mortgage holders were wrongly put onto more expensive loans by a range of lenders. Mr Masding said 1,979 accounts holders had been offered redress and compensation, of which 96% had accepted. Some 78 have not yet accepted, of which 41 had not yet been contacted despite various efforts. Mr Doherty accused Mr Masding of repeatedly refusing to answer the committee as to whether there was serious operational mismanagement, despite telling Finance officials in private that there indeed was. Mr Masding said he could not comment while the Central Bank was still carrying out its tracker review. The banks senior officials denied Mr Dohertys accusation that it completely abdicated a duty of care by moving to sell split mortgages to vulture funds despite evidence they were actually performing loans. By Geoff Percival Providence Resources is considering a return to drilling for oil and gas in international waters, albeit as part of a long-term growth strategy. Speaking after the Irish explorers agm in Dublin, chief executive Tony OReilly Jr said management would be interested in the long-term in looking at opportunities elsewhere in Europe. Providence turned its entire focus to offshore Ireland in 2012 following the sale of its offshore assets in Nigeria, the Gulf of Mexico and onshore Britain. Providences near-term focus is, however, very definitely on Ireland, and the company is eyeing another large-scale drilling project by 2020. Mr OReilly confirmed that its long-awaited farm-out deal for its flagship Barryroe field off the Cork coast is expected to complete, following the granting of full regulatory approval, before the end of September. The company announced a Chinese consortium, headed by Beijing-based investment company APEC Energy, as its development partner at Barryroe in March. Mr OReilly said, yesterday, that APEC is interested in partnering Providence on other unnamed prospects. Providence already counts Italian oil major Eni, French giant Total and Scottish explorer Cairn Energy as development partners on a number of its prospects off the west coast of Ireland. Seismic evaluation work on another of Providences highly-rated assets, the Newgrange prospect off the south-west coast, is due to take place over the next three months. Farm-in interest, from a number of potential development partners, has been and continues to be strong Providences management team said. Getting a deal over the line this year would allow for drilling during 2019 an already busy year with a six-month, multi-well campaign already pencilled in, then, for Barryroe. However, Mr OReilly seemed to suggest there was no immediate rush to finalise a deal on Newgrange before the end of 2018. Management excitement, however, is rising over the companys Dunquin South prospect, adjacent to the failed Dunquin North drill in 2013. Providences technical director John OSullivan said it is maturing into a potential world-class prospect, with an estimated 1.5bn recoverable barrels of oil. Mr OReilly said Dunquin-South, which Eni now operates with Providence as a near 27% owner, could potentially see drilling by 2020. Meanwhile, Providence is currently supplying information to the Irish Offshore Operators Association ahead of the start of hearings, next month, when a People Before Profits bill aimed at banning future drilling in Irish waters reaches Oireachtas committee stage. Mr OReilly yesterday said the matter is likely to prove a long process but said the issue should be more about evolution, not revolution. The debate has to take place, but people have to deal with the facts. We have to keep the economy going and Ireland needs oil and gas for the foreseeable future. There are also the questions of jobs, tax benefits to the State and security of energy supply [to consider], he said, but added the bill is a concern to the industry. Mr OSullivan pointed out that New Zealand which imposed a ban on future drilling in its waters is now facing the prospect of gas shortages in less than a decade. June 15 is important for a lot of reasons. The city of Bilbao was founded on June 15, 1300. The first human blood transfusion took place in 1667. Arkansas became the 25th US state. Many well-known people were born on June 15: Noddy Holder, Courtney Cox, Ice Cube...North West. But, for some, June 15 will always be one thing and one thing only - Nadine Coyle's birthday, making her a Gemini. Nadine Coyle day is being celebrated today after she gave us one of the greatest moments in Irish television history. In case you need a reminder: Nadine accidentally giving her real date of birth on reality show Popstars after having lied to producers about being 18 has become an iconic moment. The now infamous moment has a place in Irish pop culture and people are revisiting it today. happy Nadine Coyle day x pic.twitter.com/hT3ccA0x2A Liam (@LiamLambrini) June 15, 2018 For some people, every day is Nadine Coyle day #NeverForget Happy 33rd birthday, Nadine! Or is it, 35...? #MammyWheresMyPassport Digital Desk By Ann O'Loughlin Hospital consultants could now be set for pay increases as their claims of breach of contract against the HSE and the State have been settled at the High Court. It is understood the deal could cost the State around 200m and will add 60m to the annual consultant pay bill in future. The hearing of several lead cases in the legal dispute was due to commence last week but was adjourned on several occasions to Friday morning to facilitate talks aimed at resolving the dispute. This morning, following lengthy discussions between the parties, Ms Justice Una Ni Raifeartaigh was informed the actions had settled. The Judge was due to hear several lead cases in claims brought by hundreds of consultant doctors who allege there was a breach of their contract in relation to agreed pay promises in the 2008 consultants' contract. As part of the 2008 agreement consultant doctors accepted new working conditions from July 2008 onwards, including increasing their working week from 37 to 39 hours. The consultant's claims of a breach of contract had been opposed by the State and the HSE. The cases had they commenced were expected to run for several weeks. The Irish Medical Organisation, and the Irish Hospital Consultants Association have welcomed the court settlement. It is estimated that up to 700 breach-of-contract claims in total had been brought against the various defendants. In court, John Rogers SC, who represented several of the 10 doctors taking the lead cases, said they centred on the State failure to pay remuneration due to the doctors as had been agreed as part of the 2008 contract. Counsel said: "The essence of the cases" was the State's inability to pay the consultants following the financial crash. He said that following lengthy talks between the various parties an agreement had been reached to resolve the dispute. The cases could be struck out on terms including that the doctors are to get declarations they are entitled to prospective and retrospective remuneration, their legal costs against the defendants. The settlement, counsel said, will apply not only to the lead cases, but other consultants whose cases are pending before the courts, and other non-litigating consultants who fall within the terms of the settlement. Counsel said the 2008 agreement was "a visionary instrument" which resulted in consultants having a greater involvement in the running of the health services. The settlement, counsel said, was "a new dawn" which will result in the vision and objectives of the 2008 agreement being "fully realised." Counsel thanked the Judge for granting the parties time to bring about a resolution of matters that applied to a great number of people. He also acknowledged the role of parties including the IMO, ICHA, which he said had worked together on the cases, as well as the Department of Health the HSE and the Ministers for Finance and Health in bringing about the settlement. The cases, which were due to start last week, had been adjourned on several occasions to see if the claims could be resolved. The cases, had they opened before the Judge, were expected to run for several weeks. Ms Justice Ni Raifeartaigh welcomed the settlement of what was lengthy, complex and "clearly very urgent" litigation. The judge then agreed to make the terms of settlement an order of the court. By Ann O'Loughlin The president of the High Court will rule later whether a man with severe life long epilepsy who has been in a nursing home since early this year has the necessary mental capacity to decide to return home. The man, aged in his sixties, objects to the HSEs application to have him made a ward of court, which would mean it decides what is in his best interests. His objections are supported by SAGE, the advocacy group for older people. A consultant geriatrician involved in treating him over years disputes he has the necessary capacity, says he is of unsound mind with impaired self-awareness and judgment, supports wardship and told Mr Justice Peter Kelly yesterday (Fri) she believes a return home could result in his death. Two other consultant geriatricians who assessed the man three times this year at the request of SAGE said they believe he has the necessary capacity. He told one of them he understood a seizure could kill him but would rather be happy at home, where he could visit his mother's grave, than safe in the nursing home. The judge heard the man wants to attend court to give evidence but his treating geriatrician feared the stress of that could trigger a seizure. Alan Brady BL, for the man, said they would explore whether video link evidence was an option. The judge has adjourned the case to July to facilitate that and to hear evidence from two doctors asked by the court to assess capacity. On Friday, the mans treating geriatrician said a supported environment has maximised his function and she strongly disagreed with the views of the other geriatricians, based on one off assessments, on his capacity. The mans condition deteriorated since his mother died in 2012, his father having predeceased her, and he has no other family supports here. He has had 25 hospital admissions in the last five years as a result of no warning seizures, suffered third degree burns after one seizure and is at risk if not in a supervised environment, she said. After a visit home, he returned to the nursing home in a state of "abject malnutrition", she said. He refuses to engage with community supports and while able to talk the talk, lacks understanding of the complexity of his condition and the importance of compliance with measures necessary for his safety. He refused, for example, to have a panic button he could press in the event of a seizure or to engage with Epilepsy Ireland. The other two geriatricians said they believe he has capacity to decide where he will live and understands how to manage his finances. They believed he understands the nature of his condition and the need to take medication even if he does not always do so and understands there are risks involved in going home. One said a scan carried out on the man suggested an Alzheimers Disease process but both said that was not a factor affecting his current capacity. Both accepted they had not sought any collateral history about him from his treating geriatrician and accepted her account of his previous admissions. Both said their briefs when they saw him in January, April and May was to assess his current capacity and they believed he was able to balance the pros and cons of various options. One doctor believed the man's decision to return home was unwise but said many people make unwise decisions. Both said they have discharged other patients who had had multiple admissions home even if they believed the patients decision was unwise and said the primary issue was capacity to decide. One said there are risky discharges daily and while a small number of people discharged by him had died, more did well and others had mixed results. He also said the HSE can sometimes be frustrating in terms of providing community supports but private agencies were an option and it was sometimes necessary to look to Good Samaritanswho will call in and befriend a lonely person. The man needs less supports than some people and the fact he may be safer in the nursing home was true of many situations where people with chronic illness are at home, he added. By Sonya McLean A jury has heard that revenue was at a loss of 5,541 when a company owned by Independent TD Michael Lowry received a payment in 2002 but only accounted for it in 2006. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that a final figure of 29,000, including penalties and fines, was deemed due by Revenue and that this was paid by Mr Lowry's company, Garuda Ltd, in 2013. It is the State's case that Garuda Ltd, received Stg 248,624 (372,000) in commission from Norpe OY, a refrigeration company based in Finland, in August 2002. It is alleged that Mr Lowry arranged for this payment to be made to a third party, residing in the Isle of Man, and therefore it didn't appear in the company accounts for that year, nor did he declare it as income. It is further alleged that the accounts were then falsified in 2007 to reflect that the payment was received in 2006. The jury has already seen a letter signed by Mr Lowry and addressed to Neale O'Hanlon, a partner in the accounting firm employed by Garuda. The letter stated that while the payment from Norpe OY was paid directly to Mr Lowry, it was properly due to the company and therefore should be reflected in the 2006 accounts. It instructed Mr O'Hanlon to set the payment against the director's loan. Mr Lowry (64) of Glenreigh, Holycross, Co. Tipperary, has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four charges of filing incorrect tax returns on dates between August 2002 and August 2007 in relation to a sum of Stg 248,624 received by his company, Garuda Ltd and one charge in relation to failing to keep a proper set of accounts on dates between 28 August, 2002 and August 3, 2007. He further pleaded not guilty on behalf of Garuda Ltd to three similar charges in relation to the company's tax affairs and one charge of failing to keep a proper set of accounts on the same dates. Henry Oliver, inspector of taxes in the investigation unit of Revenue told Remy Farrell SC, prosecuting at today's hearing that he determined that Mr Lowry should have paid income tax in 2002 on the 372,000 received from Norpe. He concluded that the TD owed just over 516,000 which included fines and penalties. Mr Oliver said Garuda should also have to pay PAYE and PRSI on the 372,000 and concluded that it too then owed 510,000, again including fines and penalties. He agreed with Michael O'Higgins SC, defending Mr Lowry, that because Garuda incorrectly returned corporation tax on the commission in 2006 rather than 2002, the company actually made an overpayment of 575. He accepted that due to a relationship between the 2002 and 2001 accounts, the 2001 return also had to be re-considered, in calculating the loss to the State. The witness agreed that ultimately Revenue was 5,541 worse off because of the failure to disclose the commission paid by Norpe and that a final figure of 29,000, including penalties and fines was deemed due by Revenue. Mr Oliver agreed with Mr O'Higgins that he had discussed his assessment of his client and Garuda with his colleagues. Did the feedback you get support your position? counsel asked. Yes, generally, Mr Oliver replied. Has anyone ever come to you afterwards and suggested you were wrong? Mr O'Higgins asked. No, Mr Oliver replied and confirmed that he was absolutely clear on that He said he was surprised to hear that although Mr Lowry had offered to meet with the inspectors to discuss his position, and nominated three potential dates for a meeting, he was never taken up on that offer. Mr Oliver told Patrick Treacy SC, defending Garuda, that it was his role: to form an opinion on the extent of tax evasion and if I've reasonable grounds to believe it should be passed onto the criminal side of Revenue, I would pass it over. He agreed with counsel that following this hand-over, a decision is made as to whether a criminal prosecution should ensue. Mr Oliver then accepted a suggestion from Mr Treacy You are the person who raises the red flag and then you become a key witness in the case. He agreed that he never had experience of giving evidence in either the circuit criminal or district courts. Mr Oliver accepted a suggestion that there was a difference between tax avoidance, finding a legitimate way of avoiding tax and tax evasion. Tax evasion is when you knowingly or willfully giving false information to Revenue which deprives the State of tax due, Mr Treacy suggested and the witness agreed. He accepted that the appeals commission had found that neither Mr Lowry or Garuda had an income tax or PAYE/PRSI liability on the 372,000 and had set their joint Revenue bill of 1.1 million to a big fat zero. Mr Oliver agreed that he had previously stated that the appeals commission made this finding on the basis that there was a lack of evidence to support Revenue's determination that the 372,000 was an emolument, ie a wage or salary. Who was the key witness for Revenue at the appeals commission? asked Mr Treacy. There was no indvidiual, Mr Oliver replied. Not a single person from the Revenue Commissioners stood up to say it was an emolument? Mr Treacy asked. The witness agreed that this was the situation but added that case law was opened to defend it as an emolument. He accepted that both Mr Lowry and his tax advisor never accepted the 372,000 was an emolument and both gave evidence before the appeals commission in respect of this. The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury of eight men and three women. The Criminal Assets Bureau have seized 7,500 cash following a search operation in Bray on this morning. Assisted by local Gardai, the Divisional Garda Asset profilers, the Emergency Response Unit and the Wicklow Divisional Search Team, the CAB searched six properties including two residential premises, two business premises and two professional premises. Aer Lingus and Ryanair are warning that services may be cancelled or disrupted across the weekend. This is due to a French air traffic controller strike on Saturday and Sunday. Gerard Cunningham The editor of the Irish Independent Fionnan Sheahan said he never told a former Sunday Independent editor that garda whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe was "a paedophile". Mr Sheahan told the Charleton tribunal that he had no evidence to offer the tribunal as he had only heard "unfounded allegations and rumours". In 2007 the DPP directed no prosecution after a garda investigation into abuse allegations made by Miss D, saying no evidence of a crime was disclosed. The tribunal is looking at allegations by Supt David Taylor that he was directed when he was garda press officer to smear whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe. Former commissioners Martin Callinan and Noirin O'Sullivan deny there was any smear campaign. "If every person who heard tittle-tattle came forward and said I heard tittle-tattle but I have no evidence, you would be snowed under with paperwork," Mr Sheahan said. Mr Sheahan said that at the time former Sunday Independent editor Anne Harris said he made the remark in September 2014, he had put a journalist on the penalty points story and ensured the story stayed on the paper's news agenda. He said that emails sent at the time showed that he was advocating positive coverage of Sgt McCabe and he said he had not made the comments or withheld information from the tribunal. Mr Sheahan said that Ms Harris was "confused" and could not say when the alleged conversation had happened, and what she was saying was "utterly at odds with my behaviour, my actions at that time. Mr Sheahan said it was quite clear that Ms Harris was "headline hunting". "A couple of days after her statement is circulated here it ends up on the front page of the Sunday Times. It's a remarkable coincidence," Mr Sheahan said. Mr Sheahan, the Irish Independent editor since 2015, was group political editor in 2013 and 2014 when the penalty points scandal became public, and had been predominantly based in Leinster House. Leinster House is a gossip factory. You walk across the plinth, you get more gossip than a bingo hall on Thursday night. That is the nature of the place, Mr Sheahan said. Mr Sheahan said there were "all sorts of suggestions that were undermining the credibility of the whistleblowers, but there were no details given. Clare Grady, a former editor of the Irish Independent, said that it was her job to be skeptical, and she was initially suspicious as to why journalist Paul Williams was being given a story on Miss D. Ms Grady said she thought at first the story was coming from Garda sources, but it came from the D family, who asked to contact Mr Williams. "It was quite convenient, I thought at the time. A story that if it was written in a particular way would fit in to what Martin Callinan had said at PAC," Ms Grady said. Former RTE Chief News Editor Ray Burke told the tribunal he identified as a significant news story the O'Higgins commission of investigation report into Sgt McCabe's complaints about policing in the Cavan Monaghan division. The tribunal is also looking at whether former commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan influenced or attempted to influence RTE broadcasts on 9 May 2016 in which Mr Reynolds discussed the leaked O'Higgins Commission report. Mr Burke told Diarmaid McGuinness SC, counsel for the tribunal, that he asked crime correspondent Paul Reynolds and all of the political staff to try and get a copy of the O'Higgins Commission report. He said he was mindful that crime correspondents were often perceived to be favourable to the garda establishment, being a cheerleader or "going native". Mr Burke said that Clare Daly TD had spoken about people like Paul Williams favouring the garda establishment and disfavouring whistleblowers. He said Mr Reynolds came to him while preparing his news report on the O'Higgins report, and told him it said that Sgt McCabe had told an untruth. Mr Reynolds asked if he could say that is a lie. "I thought about it and said a deliberate untruth is a lie. You can say that," Mr Burke said. Mr Burke said lie was a plain word, and both words meant the same thing. He said it was a slander to say that Ms O'Sullivan would manipulate journalists,and a slander to say the journalists in RTE would be manipulated. Garda Human Resources director John Barrett, a civilian executive, told the tribunal he had no recollection of any conversation with Sgt McCabe about the RTE broadcasts. Mr Barrett said he took detailed minutes following meetings with Sgt McCabe, which made no reference to Paul Reynolds or RTE. Mr Barrett told the tribunal he never said to Sgt McCabe that RTE broadcasts on 9 May 2016 were influenced by garda commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan. "I have no recollection whatsoever of dealing with this issue," Mr Barrett said. Sgt McCabe said in a statement to the tribunal that Mr Barrett told him "It would have come from block one, at the front; Noirin O'Sullivan's office." "I didn't make such a remark is the clarity of it," Mr Barrett said. The tribunal resumes next Thursday. Tom Tuite A staff member at a Dublin bar has been charged with theft of almost 29,000 from his employer. Rishi Raj Huree, 36, a Mauritian national, with an address at The Green, Beaumont Wood, Beaumont, Dublin 9 was arrested at Dublin airport before being brought to court. He is accused of stealing 28,870 in cash, property of Michael Wright, company director of the The Wright Group, at the Number 22 bar, on South Anne Street, Dublin 2 on June 11, 2018. The charge is contrary to the Theft and Fraud Act. He appeared before Judge Anne Ryan at Dublin District Court on Friday. Evidence of arrest, charge and caution was given by Garda Jack McGovern. There was an objection to bail on the grounds he was a flight risk. The court heard Mr Huree was arrested at Dublin Airport. Defence solicitor Michael French pleaded for bail telling the judge that his client had flown back from Paris to meet the allegation. He was a Mauritian national living in Ireland 14 years. Judge Ryan set bail at 1,000 of which 500 must be lodged. She remanded him in custody with consent to bail to appear at Cloverhill District Court next Friday. McDonald's are getting rid of plastic straws from their Irish restaurants - and replacing them with paper ones. The fast-food chain will start the phased rollout of paper straws in all of its 92 outlets from September. By Tom Tuite A teenage boy is awaiting sentence after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl while playing hide and seek. The boy, aged 17, who cannot be identified, appeared at the Dublin Childrens Court to plead guilty to two counts of sexual assault and one charge for attempted sexual assault. He had earlier indicated he was contesting the case and was due to face trial, however, he changed his plea today. He spoke briefly to indicate he did not want to face trial before a jury in the circuit court. Sentencing was adjourned after Judge John OConnor heard the facts of the case. The girl, now aged 8, suffered from sleepless nights and suicidal ideation following the assaults and her mother told the court there was no getting away from this nightmare. Prosecution counsel Antonia Boyle told the court the offences happened in 2016. Garda Catherine McEvoy agreed with Ms Boyle that a couple of months later a complaint was made. The girls mother reported to gardai that while on holiday her daughter had seen her father coming out of the bathroom naked and asked her mother, Why is Daddys willy down when Xs (the teenage defendant) does be pointing up?. The girl regularly played with another member of the boys family. The garda agreed the child had described how the boys trousers had accidentally fallen down and it had started off with touching her back side while her pants were down and this escalated after five occasions. The girl had been interviewed by gardai with specialist training. The questions and answers were read into the court record. The girl, who was not required to give evidence during the hearing, remembered that while she had been at his house he had slapped her back side, outside her clothing. But she told gardai that another time the boy, then aged 15, pulled her pants down as he was in his bed. She said the teen touched her back side and described how he kind of massaged it. She said on another occasion he tried to do it again but she did not let him. She said the boy had tried to touch her private parts with her pants and underwear pulled down while she was standing up, the court was told. The child described another time when the boy had been in his bed and accidentally pulled his pants off getting up, it scared me. She told the investigation she could see his private parts and it did not look nice. The girl then hid from him in the room, because I was frightened. The child was unable to give an exact number of occasions this happened and said possibly one or up to nine times, and she was not able to say which month. But she knew she had been visiting the boy home and it mostly happened while playing hide and seek. When the teenager was later arrested he was questioned denied inappropriately touching her. The garda agreed with defence counsel Damian McKeone that the boy had no prior criminal convictions and has not come to Garda attention since. She confirmed the case was that he sexually assaulted the girl by touching her backside with her pants on, on the first occasion; the second incident of attempted sexual assault related to when the boy tried to touch her vagina with her pants down and the third charge was for the sexual assault when the boy had his pants down and she saw his penis. It appeared to have happened in the boys bedroom and in another room at his home. The garda agreed with the defence barrister that when the girl stated she had seen the boys pants down it was an accident. The girls mother, visibly upset, gave an emotional victim impact statement. She told the court her daughter suffered nightmares for months afterwards, wont stay in her own bed on her own and needs mammy with her all the time. The woman said her child, now aged 8, had suicidal thoughts for four months after the incidents. The woman also had to go to her GP due to stress and worry about her daughter. The girl had lost her friendship and would not go out to play. The family are now attending appointments to help them cope with what happened. Her life has been on hold for the last two years, all we want is to move on from this, get on with her lives and back to normal. Its very hard to explain the hurt and heartache this has had on us as a family, the girls mother said. She fears her daughter will suffer a relapse, she said. Its hard to forget your nightmare and the impact it has on your family there is no getting away from these, she told the court. The judge said the womans statement was very moving and thanked her. Pleading for leniency, Mr McKeone described how the teenager had good achievements and awards in school and through his involvement in sport. He had also wanted to go to college and had a particular career in mind. He said a conviction and possibly being placed on a sex offenders register would make it very difficult. Therapy treatment was required for the boy, counsel said, however, the court heard that none has been arranged yet. Judge John OConnor warned that the teen could face a sentence of up to two years and he was lucky his case had not been sent to the circuit court which can impose lengthier terms. The judge asked for a preliminary probation report to be furnished to the court as he adjourned the case until a date later this month. The boy, who was accompanied to court by his mother, was remanded on continuing bail. Update 10.05am: The Housing Minister has accused Sinn Fein of being 'reckless' with their latest attack on him. Eoghan Murphy says the opposition party is hurling personal insults and using PR stunts to attempt to bring down the Government. Sinn Fein is calling for Minister Murphy to resign after he over-estimated new home builds. The CSO revealed 53,000 properties were completed over the last 8 years - 30,000 less than the Housing Minister expected. Sinn Fein is now threatening to put forward a no-confidence motion in Minister Murphy - but he says it has nothing to do with housing. "They're focused on personalities. I'm focused on policy and on progress and progress is being made," said the Dublin Bay South TD. "And Sinn Fein don't want to admit that. They don't want to accept the facts that we have, like from the CSO. "They want to turn a blind face to that and they want to make these kind of populist charges - it's very reckless. "It's typically opposition politics. If you can't attack them on the policy, you attack the person. Earlier: Sinn Fein threaten motion of no confidence in Housing Minister over housing figures Sinn Fein has issued an ultimatum to Fine Gael over the housing figures. The party warned it will be forced to bring a motion of no confidence in Minister Eoghan Murphy if he will not resign. Spokesman Eoin O'Broin (below) says Sinn Fein is not worried about triggering an election. "That wouldn't prevent us from tabling a motion of no confidence, but we would be very clear in doing so in saying that this minister is not capable, is not confident, is not making things better and should go. "If Leo Varadkar wants to bring down the Government and fight an election on that basis, that's his call." The Government is being criticised for including ghost-estates and halting sites in its figures for home builds. Department of Housing estimates were shown Read More: - Digital Desk A US drone strike in north-eastern Kunar province has killed Pakistan Taliban chief Mullah Fazlullah, an Afghan defence ministry official said. Fazlullah and two other insurgents were killed early on Thursday morning, defence ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanish said. The Churches of Christ is reaching for the heavens in suburban Fairfield and upsetting its earthly neighbours in the process. The churchs property division has submitted plans for a 13-storey tower on a site opposite the mammoth former Amcor paper mill in Melbournes inner north. Three years ago, the church tried to sell a two-level office building it owns on the corner of Grange Road at 582 Heidelberg Road for around $18 million. The Churches of Christ's plans. Having failed to sell, it is now seeking planning permission to build a multi-storey, mixed-use tower on the block that will overshadow nearby residences. Tasmania has Dark Mofo and history the Dark Ages. Not to be outdone, Australia's industrial property sector has Dark Sheds. Several huge dark warehouses have sprung up in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne with the promise of slashing the logistics costs for fast-moving consumer goods. Rather than being narcotics depositories, dark warehouses are known as such because they dont need lighting (except for emergencies) and only require minimum heating and cooling. Thats because most, if not all, of the functions are performed by robots, rather than cheery dust-jacketed storemen. The bottling line at Coca Cola's Northmead facility. Credit:Michele Mossop To date, dark (fully automated) warehousing has been uncommon in Australia. But that is rapidly changing as retailers and other consumer goods companies seek an extra economic advantage, in an era when customers require instant gratification, wider choice and of course the lowest possible price. Pizza wars, sham contracts, business collapses and underpayment of wages have plagued workers and franchisees across the $4 billion pizza sector since the introduction of cheap pizzas four years ago. But the recent loss of an appeal to the High Court shows how tough it can be for franchisees to take on franchisors. Yum! sold the Pizza Hut franchised business in Australia to private equity operator Allegro in 2016. Credit:Neil Newitt And so it was for Pizza Hut franchisees who had been fortunate enough to take their legal action against head office right up to the High Court after liquidator Bob Jacobs at Auxilium Partners decided their case was so egregious it needed to be tested in the courts. He managed to get high-profile barrister Allan Myers QC to represent franchisees. The franchisees alleged former Pizza Hut franchisor, US-based fast food giant Yum!, had engaged in unconscionable conduct, resulting in losses and business collapses, as a direct consequence of a missive in 2014 to halve pizza prices in response to rival Dominos Pizza dropping the price of its pizzas. A single 10 cent coin will buy you almost three of its shares, you've probably never heard of its managing director - which incidentally is a chap called Cliff Lawrenson - and it is struggling for survival in a mining world where size definitely matters. Gina Rinehart and Andrew Forrest are locked in a tussle for Atlas. Credit:Tony Ashby And yet Atlas Iron, a junior Western Australian iron ore miner with operations in the Pilbara, has suddenly found itself under a sharp spotlight. The company is now at the centre of an intriguing corporate battle involving two of Australia's best-known mining names - the billionaires Andrew Forrest and Gina Rinehart. A third force is also in the contest, the WA-based company Mineral Resources, headed by Chris Ellison. Mr Ellison may not be a billionaire, but according to the Australian Financial Review rich list his fortune is worth about $783 million. Watching on, and being dragged into the battle is the Western Australian state government, which is hugely dependent on the economic contribution of the mining industry thanks to the thousands of jobs it creates and the royalties and taxes it pays. Wells Fargo fired 5,300 employees, but Muller says the spate of fraud was a predictable response to the performance quotas that the companys managers set for their employees. Those perverse outcomes are not restricted to the banking sector, but extend to healthcare, education, the military and even sport. Teachers and students have been known to cheat on high- stakes standardised tests including NAPLAN. Hospitals have compromised patient care by keeping patients in ambulances or at home for longer to stop them driving up mortality rates and waiting times. Academics have complained about pressure to "publish or die" as universities compete for valuable research funding. Australian gold medallist swimmer Ian Thorpe recently called for an end to medal counts because they put too much pressure on athletes. Students protest NAPLAN at NSW Parliament Credit:Christopher Pearce Constant downsizing and restructuring of government agencies and private companies has made it more difficult to achieve high targets. You are increasing the risk of failure, whether it is the police or the banks because they are putting these high targets in without the experience of having noticed what performance is in that environment for long enough to set [standards] people can achieve, says Australian Human Resources Institute chairman Peter Wilson. University of Technology Sydney human resources management expert Sarah Kaine says the behaviour of frontline workers was more likely to have been motivated by a desire for job security. The scam was widespread among bank employees. Credit:Graphic: Jamie Brown Setting goals can help motivate staff, but when high targets are tied to incentive schemes within an unsupportive corporate culture, they can prompt anxiety and fraudulent conduct. A bank teller setting up a fraudulent savings account is unlikely to have been motived entirely by money because the financial rewards for the specific act were likely small. It was about feeling insecure if they didnt meet targets imposed on them, she says. University of Sydney Professor of Accounting Wai Fong Chua recalls that senior and middle-level managers at the Finnish multinational Nokia were so fearful of not meeting performance targets that they withheld vital information about the viability of smartphone technology which resulted in the company having to exit the market temporarily. You shouldnt hang people for things they cant control Wai Fong Chua To avoid having perverse outcomes, she says individual performance measures should not include activities that cannot be controlled. For example, assessing the performance of medical staff on the number of emergency patients who walk into the emergency department. You shouldnt hang people for things they cant control, Professor Chua says. It is also important to recognise that assessing individuals may not be appropriate when outcomes are produced by groups. Professor Chua recommends combining behavioural as well as financial KPIs in balanced scorecards. I think it is about having a combination of KPIs and not just focusing on how profitable you are, she said. Loading Being an ethical person should be the first KPI when talking about police and banks, according to Karen Sanders, Professor of Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management at School of Management at the University of NSW. You should have targets, but it should be a negotiation about what is important to achieve, she says. In jobs where you need to work together, you should never have individual KPIs. People want harmony around them and dont want to be fighting with colleagues to open a bank account. Similarly, retail shop staff can benefit from sharing rewards. Individual fashion retail staff often get credit for a customer sale even though customers may seek advice from several staff members before handing over their cash. Nicole Sutton, a lecturer in accounting at the UTS business school says that KPIs are an often necessary and efficient way of managing large organisations. With the qualification, that if you measure the wrong thing, you can get the wrong sort of behaviour. During the Vietnam War there was a focus on body counts. Credit:Fairfax Just because you can measure something doesnt mean you can manage it and there are going to be pretty systematic unpredictable problems if performance measures are poorly designed or used inappropriately, she says. Theres an adage - 'what gets measured gets done'. But if you are measuring the wrong thing, it can lead to perverse outcomes. A blunt example she shares with her undergraduate students at the UTS business school is Americas use of the body count as a measure of success during the Vietnam War. It created incentives for military personnel to misreport the number of casualties ...[and] for combat strategies that were indiscriminate in the harm they inflicted on civilians, she says. Sydney trains were judged to run "on time" if they were 5 minutes late Credit:Ryan Stuart Strict measures can also lead to shifting goal posts. Sutton recalls a state government commitment to running trains on time which led to the definition of on time being changed to allow for a five- minute delay. When safety is introduced as a performance measure in mining and construction, it can encourage people to avoid reporting accidents and injuries. Sutton says some universities who measure the performance of academics based on the number of peer-reviewed articles they publish now include a more fuzzy measure of the "impact" of their research. And its good that its fuzzy because you cant really game that, she says. The appropriateness of KPIs travels all the way to the C-suite and boards are wrestling with how to ensure their leadership have the correct incentives. At the executive level, companies are now being urged to stop looking at the past performance of potential recruits and to look outside their own industries for new leaders. The obsession with financial targets is giving way to a search for future executives who are humble enough to accept advice and brave enough to disrupt their own industries. Peter O'Brien managing director of Russell Reynolds says "softer" personality traits are becoming more important in assessing people on their performance. Credit:James Brickwood Headhunter Peter OBrien, as managing director of Russell Reynolds Associates, helps some of Australia's biggest companies in the financial services, retail, technology and healthcare find new chief executives and set new priorities for their performance. The global leadership advisery and executive search firm takes a counter-intuitive approach to hiring leaders in avoiding candidates with years of experience in the same sector. It could mean people with a background in manufacturing or IT end up heading a retail corporation. O'Brien assesses the ability of leaders to deal with a changing economy according to personality traits that include heroism balanced with vulnerability, to prevent fortitude turning into self-delusion. Leaders need to take risks, but be able to see if a business is headed for a cliff. "The softer issues are becoming much more important in assessing people on their performance,' he says. "The traditional leader is no longer the solution for the future." The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority's recent explosive review of CBA recommended the use of non-financial KPIs at about the same time the banking royal commission exposed indefensible behaviour partly linked to the way staff were assessed and rewarded. Australian Intitute of Company Directors chief executive Angus Armour says "there is nothing in a KPI that can justify misbehaviour or the responsibility of any individual to do the right thing". Australian Institute of Company Directors chief executive Angus Amour Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Boards will be giving greater weight to non-financial risk indicators in KPIs, including metrics on risk, culture and behaviours, diversity and customer outcomes," Armour says. "These are lead indicators on culture and investors and analysts will need to decide whether they now support the value in having these measures. Given non-financial KPIs are often lead indicators, its also in the long-term interest of a company for boards to take a balanced scorecard approach when setting KPIs." But fuzzy measures are not always welcome as Commonwealth Bank's shareholders demonstrated two years ago when they slapped down a move to link chief executive Ian Narevs bonus to "soft" non-financial social and ethical goals. NAB Chairman and former head of Treasury, Ken Henry. Credit:Dan Himbrechts NAB Chairman Ken Henry last month admitted there was a lack of transparency around executive remuneration, and performance incentive schemes. He said the NAB Board was focused on the structure of remuneration and "how this drives behaviours, at every level of the organisation". "[I]t is clear that behaviours need to be considered alongside financial performance," he said. The bank's reform of executive pay would, among other things, "incentivise the right behaviours, especially with respect to the treatment of customers". Bruno Cecchini of Ernst and Young in Melbourne. Credit:Paul Jeffers Westpac's executives have one third of their pay fixed and the remaining two thirds determined by measures including behaviour, values, customer satisfaction, risk and compliance, as well as company performance. At a shop floor level the banks have moved to also take away sales targets from their tellers in response to an industry commissioned review by Stephen Sedgwick. Late last year, the Commonwealth Bank announced it would abolish financial metrics and measure the performance of tellers based on their customer service. The bank now assures customers they can be confident our tellers are not being paid to sell them products. Bruno Cecchini from Ernst and Young says organisations, including his, are increasingly concerned about non-financial measures of performance including the conduct of staff to ensure values and standards are not compromised. "You can't just set and forget KPIs," Cecchini says. "They need constant review. We are seeing a number of organisations including our own moving into much more flexible approaches." There is nothing in a KPI that can justify misbehaviour or the responsibility of any individual to do the right thing AICD's Angus Armour Ernst and Young has moved away from annual staff reviews and rigid financial measures. Its managers sit down with staff every three months to reassess goals for their development and outcomes expected from each new project. The goals are a mix of financial and non-financial measures and feedback comes from a range of people. "It's not just about the financials. It is balanced with a range of other measures so that you can get a holistic view of someone's performance," says Cecchini. Non-financial measures including team effort, customer service, people management skills, collegiality and staff turnover are increasingly in focus. Richard Holden, a Professor of Economics at the University of NSW Business School has conducted research to be published in an economics journal later this year which found that less transparent performance measures can result in a more balanced approach to the job at hand. If people know exactly what they are going to be paid on and they know more than the person setting the tasks about which are easier for them to do, then they are going to shift their effort towards the easier task. That may not be what the principal wants them to do, he says. If you make it opaque, if they dont know exactly which KPI they are going to get paid on, they hedge and self insure by balancing their efforts. Professor Holden found this effective in school education, hospital performance and the finance sector. You may not want school teachers just teaching to the test you want them teaching overall skills or higher learning skills and a love of learning, he says. You dont want them only teaching mathematics at the exclusion of English and if you provide very clear transparent incentives and the person getting the incentives knows more about the economic environment, then it is going to lead to gaming. Opaqueness helps deter gaming. Hospital waiting lists and mortality rates are among high-stakes performance measures that have been gamed. Credit:Glen McCurtayne GPM While there is nothing wrong with measuring the average time it takes a hospital to treat most of its patients, when cash rewards are tied to meeting waiting-time targets, the outcomes can become perverse. Reports of patients being kept in the back of ambulances to delay the start of the waiting time clock from ticking can put patient care and lives at risk. The same can be said of measuring mortality rates. When a hospitals patient death rates become a measure of its performance more patients are likely to die in ambulances or at home. Professor Holden said the Blair governments approach to long hospital waiting times backfired when it made hospital payments contingent on getting people treated within a four-hour window. This he said led to patients waiting in an ambulance in the car park so the clock on the four hours didnt start ticking till they entered the doors. The focus then shifted to ensuring people were checked in and the time it took for them to be treated which led to patients being rushed out of hospital prematurely. Finally, a more balanced set of measures were used but hospitals were not told what they were until the end of the year. That led the hospitals to be more balanced and that was better for patients and that was the outcome the government was trying to get, Professor Holden says. In his experiment with US school children, students and parents were paid for doing maths homework. This resulted in higher maths scores, but reading scores went down by the same amount. They just shifted their effort away from the unincentivised task to the incentivised task," he says. Then in Washington DC we paid based on a more balanced set of measures six different measures across all things and that led them to put in a lot more balanced effort and led to much better outcomes across the board." For a man about to be buried alive, Mike Parr made little fuss. To the cheers and camera flashes of a large crowd, the 72-year-old swiftly climbed down the ladder into the steel container where he will be interred for three days, without food, beneath one of Tasmania's busiest roads. Mike Parr will spend 72 hours buried underground in this chamber. Parr is famous for pushing art, and human endurance, to its limits. The Australian artist's intense performances have included sewing up his face, nailing his arm to the wall and being splattered with his own blood. Shortly after he entered the specially-built chamber (it measures in at 4.5m x 1.7m x 2.2m) on Thursday night, the bitumen was resealed above him and the busy thoroughfare outside Hobart's Town Hall re-opened to traffic. A concerted - some would say powerfully raw - campaign to convince Woolworths to host a giant nude photoshoot in Melbourne has paid off. The supermarket chain has relented to public pressure, announcing that it will now allow New York photographer Spencer Tunick to take over its rooftop Prahran carpark for his next naked photographic installation, part of Chapel Street Precinct's Provocare arts festival. The retailer knocked back the request in late April, saying it would inconvenience customers and disrupt accessibility to the carpark on a Saturday morning. After pleas from both Tunick and the public, the Fresh Food People will now allow the photographer to substitute cars with some very different models for one chilly hour on Monday, July 9. Reading and hearing survivor accounts of the fall of Singapore in 1942, artist Angela Tiatia was struck by one common thread they had all noted the eerie silence that descended over the city as danger escalated. Against this soundless, crushing fear, there was feverish activity. Angela Tiatia has won the Ravenswood Australian Women's Art Prize. Credit:Christopher Pearce Precious family photographs were burnt because local Singaporeans feared being targeted as anti-Japanese, said New Zealand-born Tiatia, who is of Australian and Samoan descent. There were stories of soldiers gorging on food, thinking it was their last meal. On the day of the fall, Australian soldiers who had lost all hope took baths in water saved in case of scarcity. The short story, Trevor said, should be "an explosion of truth". Its strength lies in what it leaves out, more than what it puts in. His 13 novels range further in time than his stories, but they too are spare, even frugal, with detail. Fools of Fortune (1983) ,which looks at the tragedy of civil war from the viewpoint of the Anglo-Irish gentry, is hauntingly told in two alternating voices. In The Story of Lucy Gault (2002) the fate of a child who is forgotten and left behind in a wartime emergency stretches quietly and painfully across a lifetime. Political, religious and class divisions shape these and other novels. For comedy and resilience of spirit, it's best to look to the short fiction. In the title story of The Hill Bachelors (2000) nothing much happens. The characters are trapped. "It is a nothing life," one of them says. How does Trevor save it from dreariness? That's the mystery, and it must stem from his comic sense, the life force of the dialogue, and the observation of small things. Trevor's backdrop may be a stony hillside in rural Ireland, a village street with bicycles and stray dogs, or an over-upholstered London cafe. It's the people who count, and they are mostly misfits and oddities, incorrigibly themselves. What then of Last Stories? The people whose predicaments caught Trevor's imagination are English as well as Irish, a schoolgirl, a suicide, a stalker, an amnesiac picture-restorer, and a musical genius who steals from his teacher. In that story, it's not the thieving that interests Trevor but the predicament of the teacher. What to do when your life becomes entangled with deceivers, the deluded, the obsessed? The opening sentence is: "She didn't stay long as far as marriages go; a year and 10 months." "She" is Trudy, who returns pregnant a year later, then leaves again to join the religious cult, returning yet again to take the unwilling Peter back to Phillip Island. Tom, desolate in the now-empty house, gets on with his farm duties "fuss[ing] over his sheep like a paddock nurse", and in Hometown meets up with Hannah for whom he repairs the run-down bookshop. He vividly evokes three wildly contrasted settings for this exploration: rural Victoria, with farm and small country town in the late 1960s; the fictitious (I trust) "Jesus Camp" on Phillip Island; and Hungary, Germany and other sites of war-torn Europe in the 1940s. Terrible acts are recorded in each as Hillman's narrative moves his three protagonists around in their search for stable, anguish-free lives. They are: Tom Hope, a modestly efficient farmer on the outskirts of provincial Hometown; Hannah Babel, who has survived the Nazi's Jewish persecution and years later fetches up in Hometown, where she wants to open the eponymous bookshop; and Peter (the son of Hope's ex-wife) who wants to flee the Jesus Camp and live with Tom. It is not often that a novel is both a great read and a sobering chronicle about the painful possibilities of human behaviour, whether of what love and decency can achieve or the hideous cruelties that can stand in their way. Robert Hillman's The Bookshop of the Broken Hearted is such a one. The Bookshop of the Broken Hearted by Robert Hillman. They will in time fall in love and marry. They are, though, two people with painful pasts, his the recent loss of Peter, hers the hideous death of her child in Auschwitz, and both have had marriages broken by desertion or death. Hillman structures his story so as to make these parallel losses movingly felt. Hannah and Tom may love each other, but there is no escaping the impacts of their respective pasts, and these, and the cultural differences, even in small matters such as tastes in food, don't mesh easily. The idea of Peter, who is brutally thrashed at the Jesus Camp, returning to the farm is for Hannah a "thicket of thorns between her and Tom". While Hillman invests the interlocking relationships with real poignancy, he also pays attention to the wider world of the late-'60s, both in odd references to, say, Vietnam or the death of Harold Holt, and in the stirrings sometimes animosities of life in an unremarkable small town. But it's not all grim. Hillman offers touches of humour in Tom's cynical response to Hannah's idea of opening a bookshop: "He couldn't prove it, but it was likely that not a half-dozen people in Hometown had ever opened the cover of a book", or when the butcher, "weighing Tom's chops", describes the only other Jew in town as "More Jewish than Moses". And after an outraged dog owner shoots two neighbours who killed his dog, there is a reflection on the differences between murders in the bush and the night-time city: "There's greater candour to the country murder, enacted in the broad light of day." The Jesus Camp fanatics are allowed a certain logical consistency in their excruciating practices, and the now-remote world of wartime Europe never loses its power to chill. In contrast with these two, the everyday world of Tom's farm and the hope it holds out offers a touching reflection on how love might deal with the world's darker challenges. And books can help too. The first thing we see in Samuel Maoz's Foxtrot is a nameplate with Hebrew letters spelling out "The Feldmanns". Pull back to the door. We hear a knock; the door is opened by a woman on the brink of middle age wearing a dressing gown; her eyes flutter and there is a thud as she hits the floor below frame. In Israel, actor Lior Ashkenazi says, everyone knows exactly what has happened; in a country with compulsory national service, that morning knock is like a national code. This woman's child must be dead. "In Israel, everybody knows somebody in this position," he says. "It surrounds you: the grief." Maoz's film is not about bereavement, however; that is just its starting point. His broader subject is Israeli society, shot through a sickness Maoz feels in himself and that he traces to the legacy of the Holocaust. An army medic sedates Dafna Feldmann (Sarah Adler) where she falls, which means her husband Michael (Ashkenazi) is left to deal with the death of their son Jonathan on his own. What is he supposed to do? He can't speak. He doesn't cry. He just kicks the dog. It turns out that he kicks the dog often, relying on the fact that like him, the dog won't talk. Michael fought his own war in Lebanon. Of course he did: there is always a war on. Everyone carries the same burden. "Usually there is this stereotype of men who suffer from post-traumatic stress: someone who has nightmares, he is probably lonely, he is poor," Maoz says. "This is not right I mean, there are cases like that but in Israel, it is the ordinary men of my generation." Michael is an architect; the Feldmanns' apartment is a svelte grey series of patterns and porthole windows. He has done well. Like Maoz, he is the child of a Holocaust survivor. There have been many attempts to tell Lee Alexander McQueen's story, but few have provided such an incisive portrayal as a new documentary entitled simply McQueen. It's an emotional telling of his remarkable journey from working-class boy in London's East End to one of the world's most celebrated and controversial designers, until his suicide in 2010. His story is recounted by the friends, family and collaborators in whom he inspired such fierce loyalty. The film features McQueen's sister, Janet, who sheds tears as she remembers the triumphs and torment of her little brother. Sebastian Pons, his former assistant, gave directors Ian Bonhote and Peter Ettedgui permission to use home videos of McQueen. He's seen talking about everything from his show concepts to how, in the early days, he had to avoid showing his face on camera so he wouldn't be spotted by social security inspectors; and how, after receiving a standing ovation at his London Fashion Week show, he still couldn't afford dinner at McDonald's. Michelle Olley and moths in Alexander McQueen's spring/summer 2001 show finale. Credit:? Retna UK Michelle Olley, who has a cameo role in the film, remembers starring in the designer's spring/summer 2001 show finale. The Duchess of Sussex's reception dress is being recreated by Stella McCartney for a handful of lucky customers. Credit:AP Women who want to recreate the Duchess of Sussex's wedding reception look will have a chance to purchase replicas of the Stella McCartney halterneck gown. But they will have to be quick, and have a spare $6000. The designer will make just 46 replicas of the dress 23 in white, and 23 in black that will be sold to women by application, according to The Telegraph. The number chosen corresponds with the address of McCartney's new London flagship store at 23 Bond Street. Others shared her sentiment. "He didn't look down on foreign places he visited and their 'quaintness/backwardness/insert-usual-derogatory adjective'," journalist Rania Abouzeid tweeted. "He dived in, hungry to experience. His wasn't the Orientalist gaze. He saw humanity (& food) everywhere, and connected with it." Ahmed Ali Akbar, the host of BuzzFeed's podcast See Something Say Something, praised Bourdain for "subverting cliche". "Especially for a white journalist who works with people of colour, it's rare - and it's powerful," he said. Anthony Bourdain in the Plaza Italia in the Peruvian capital, Lima, filming his series No Reservations. Jenny Yang, a comedian and writer, put it succinctly. "Bourdain never treated our food like he 'discovered' it," she said. "He kicked it with grandma because he knew that HE was the one that needed to catch up to our brilliance." Gustavo Arellano, a columnist for the Los Angeles Times, first encountered Bourdain through his 2000 memoir Kitchen Confidential, and was struck by the originality of Bourdain's voice and his frank discussions of the interplay between food, power, politics and history. "He was the first one talking about the Latinos working in kitchens," Arellano said. "He was a prophet, in the sense of speaking the truth." While filming an episode of Parts Unknown, Arellano witnessed firsthand Bourdain's broad appeal. "We wrapped around midnight, and there was a crowd of people wanting to talk with him," he said, adding that Bourdain made sure to speak with everyone. Anthony Bourdain on Pier 57 in New York, where he once hoped to open Bourdain Market. Credit:New York Times After Bourdain's death, Arellano said: "I had these macho guys saying to me, 'I'm in tears - he felt like an uncle or a cousin to me'." (On Tuesday, Netflix said it would keep streaming Parts Unknown, which had been scheduled to come off the service on June 16, for "months to come".) After a particularly dangerous experience filming an episode of No Reservations in Lebanon in 2006 - during which he and his crew had to be evacuated by US Marines - Bourdain's philosophy evolved, moving away from familiar travel-show tropes to deal plainly with the political realities of the places he visited. "The uplifting sum-up at the end of every show, the reflex inclusion of a food scene in every act - that ended right there," he wrote. "I just saw that there were realities beyond what was on my plate, and those realities almost inevitably informed what was - or was not - for dinner. To ignore them had come to seem monstrous." Laila El-Haddad, a cookbook author and activist, appeared on a Parts Unknown episode centred on Jerusalem in 2013. In Gaza, El-Haddad strove to give Bourdain a view of Palestinian life that was "counter to the image most people have", she said. "And he got it. He understood." Bourdain was praised in many circles for showing aspects of Palestinian life that may have been unfamiliar to viewers. In 2014, the Muslim Public Affairs Council awarded him its Voices of Courage and Conscience Media Award for the episode, and he used the opportunity to speak out against what he saw as grave injustice. "It is a measure, I guess, of how twisted and shallow our depiction of the people is that these images come as a shock to so many," he said in his acceptance speech. "The world has visited many terrible things on the Palestinian people - none more shameful than robbing them of their basic humanity." Bourdain's visit to Gaza and his blunt criticism of the treatment of Palestinians was "a watershed moment", El-Haddad said. Arellano also commended Bourdain for using his fame and platform to advocate humanitarian causes and speak out against bias, particularly against immigrants. "He used his power to shine a light on marginalised communities," Arellano said. "He chose to take unpopular positions that were truthful." A young woman stands on the deck of a ship as it sails through the Sydney Heads into open water. She grabs too late for her hat which briefly dances in the wind before disappearing into the dark eddies beneath. Her eyes hold a point in the distance with a fixed stare. She's saying goodbye. The motorbike she left parked outside the boarding house where she lived will gather rust for years. Further away, on a farm in northern NSW, her father closes the door to his daughter's bedroom for the last time. I visited Shanghai over 15 years ago and I sat in the Jazz Bar at the Peace Hotel and listened to the same musicians my grandmother heard, by then very old and famous. Credit:Getty Images The year is 1924 and this is my grandmother's story. For as long as I can remember she's been something of a legend in my family. When her father refused her requests to study medicine (she'd found a university in Edinburgh that accepted women) she escaped to Sydney on a stolen motorbike. When Sydney failed to provide enough opportunities, she boarded a ship for Hong Kong. Her future husband, my grandfather, was a member of the crew. An ex-naval officer who'd seen action in the First World War, he was on his way to a new job in Shanghai navigating boats along the Yangtze River. He stepped in as her protector from the unwanted advances of other men on the ship and they fell in love. Milan Urlich has been acquitted of murdering Andrew Carville. However, an ACT Supreme Court jury has found him guilty of manslaughter over Mr Carville's November 2015 death. Andrew Carville was last seen alive on November 4. Marc Urlich Milan Urlich's brother - was found not guilty of being an accessory after the fact. The jury deliberated for much of Thursday and Friday before handing down its decision before Justice John Burns about 2pm. For most of her life, Debbie Clark thought she had two sisters. But little to her knowledge, the ones she grew up with weren't her only siblings. Ms Clark was 25 when she went searching for her dad, Alan. "When I went to try and find my dad, there was no such thing as Facebook then," the now 43-year-old said. Investigators have returned to collect evidence and examine blood splatter after a 17-year-old boy was stabbed in the Sunshine Coast hinterland on Friday evening. The alleged victim was in a critical condition at Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane on Saturday and another teenager had been charged with attempted murder after being arrested at a local residence. The underpass was still cordoned off on Saturday as detectives returned to examine the Nambour crime scene. Credit:7 News Brisbane - Twitter Detective Senior Sergeant Phil Hurst said it will be alleged officers found the accused to be carrying a knife when he was taken into custody. While the cause of the initial argument near Nambour train station was not known, Senior Sergeant Hurst said several witnesses were assisting detectives with their inquiries. Three people have been arrested by the Australian Federal Police as part of a major operation cracking an alleged conspiracy to import $105 million worth of cocaine from Peru. A 34-year-old PNG woman was arrested in Brisbane and charged with money laundering. Two Australian men aged 57 and 63 were arrested in the Sydney suburbs of Maroubra and Rozelle and are being extradited to Queensland. Three people have been arrested over an alleged plot to import 300kg of cocaine into Australia. Credit:File The men were charged with conspiracy to import a commercial amount of cocaine. The solution to Victorias most toxic school disputes is hidden behind a door in a pokey Lonsdale Street office. Its here that Frank Handy, chair of the Independent Office for School Dispute Resolution, works as a circuit-breaker between warring state schools and parents. Frank Handy, chair of the Independent Office for School Dispute Resolution. Credit:Daniel Pockett We get people who are very angry and very frustrated and dont feel heard, he said. Since being established by the Andrews government almost 15 months ago, the Australian-first initiative has dealt with 56 complaints. A young Perth man who sold a synthetic drug to his mate just hours before he died has been jailed. Corey De Bie's body was found in a park in Aveley north of Perth in February 2017. Corey De Bie was found dead after taking the drug. Credit:Facebook He was about to embark on a career in the Navy. His friends told police he left them in the early hours of the morning after taking a synthetic drug called N-bomb. The Greens are likely to re-appoint Ms Waters, who stood down from the Senate in July 2017 after the Canadian-born Queensland senator discovered she was a dual citizen and ineligible to stand for the Australian Parliament as a result. If the Greens want to make a really significant change in direction for the country, weve got to win the House of Representatives seat, Senator Bartlett said. Senator Andrew Bartlett Senator Bartlett is leaving the Upper House to stand for the inner-city seat of Brisbane at the next federal election. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The Greens' Andrew Bartlett will resign from the Senate in August, paving the way for Larissa Waters' return after she was embroiled in the dual citizenship saga and stood down. "I am preselected as the party's lead Senate candidate for the next federal election and I am absolutely ready to go back to work," Ms Waters said. "I am also very excited for Andrew because I think with his experience he has a very good chance of winning Brisbane." Senator Bartlett, who represented Queensland in the Senate for more than a decade before losing his seat at the 2007 federal election, filled the vacancy created by Ms Waters' resignation. He would now stand down to campaign for the seat of Brisbane, believing the minor party had a chance of wresting the seat from the LNP after the Greens' Michael Berkman won the state seat of Maiwar in 2017 and Jonathan Sri was elected to the Brisbane City Council in 2016. Weve got the campaign office up and running at the top of the Chinatown Mall and Ive just begun some door-knocking, he said. The Reserve Bank of Australia has poured cold water on the idea that infrastructure spending will be the country's next engine of growth, picking up where the mining boom left off. Delivering a speech to Infrastructure Partnerships Australia in Sydney on Friday, Reserve Bank assistant governor Luci Ellis dismissed the notion that Australia was desperately short of infrastructure such as roads and railways, saying international research suggested Australia was fairly well served. But with a strongly growing population we face a challenge of ensuring that the stock of infrastructure keeps pace with expanding needs, she said. The RBA says Australia is relatively well served with infrastructure. Credit:Steven Siewert State governments were on track to spend more than ever before on new and upgraded infrastructure, as would the federal government during the final stages of building the National Broadband Network. It has not seemed obvious in the aftermath of the commissions report. The church was publicly scourged and forced to admit sometimes even volunteer its poor stewardship. There has been some movement in addressing recommendations about redress to victims. What has not been seen has been any evidence that a humbled and chastened episcopate is seriously addressing issues of its governance, accountability to its base, or the embarrassment, shame and disgust caused by the personal failings of individual bishops. The commission made some "impertinent" comments about how the church might reform itself, but there is very little evidence of any serious intention of considering them other than in the abstract. The Vatican has evinced no interest (and given no example); and most of the Catholic bishops are past masters at appearing to take everything on board without the slightest intention of doing a thing. That two of Australias most senior bishops were before the courts on criminal charges was hardly helping any attempt to retrieve an image. What ought to be giving them some pause is the result of the abortion referendum in Ireland, which has faced similar scandals of abuse over recent years. A few years ago, the church was shocked by a resounding yes vote to the question of same sex marriage, but, since marriage as opposed to matrimony is essentially a matter for the state, not the church, it might have been able to be dismissed as a mere sign of annoyance by the laity in one of the most Catholic nations of the world. But the formal position of the Catholic Church on abortion was unequivocal. ...how quickly moral authority can collapse The Irish Catholic bishops scarcely dared campaign, finally understanding that they were so much on the nose among the Irish that campaigning for a No was actually likely to increase the yes vote. Some observers now count Ireland as among the most secular in the world. Its a measure of how quickly moral authority can collapse.It would be a brave observer who could point to reasons why Australian Catholics were not as scathing about the stewards of the church in Australia -- still so much of Irish flavour. The bishops should also be contemplating the example of Chile, where all of the bishops have resigned, in part because their own poor stewardship (which, as in Australia was bolstered by the misjudgements of the Vaticans nuncio) caused major public scandal, and direct embarrassment to the Pope, who says that he was misled about the state of affairs. The Pope has so far accepted only a few resignations, but he has failed to confirm most in their positions. But one can hope that Catholics can ultimately be shamed into getting their house in order, as least as far as justice to victims of child sex abuse is concerned. By contrast, the Department of Home Affairs appears, as ever, without shame. And government, which has its own political reasons for reminding everyone how indifferent it is to the human rights or dignity of boat people, might be prepared to make justice a matter of only secondary importance. The initial response of government to the commission said that redress would be available only to Australian residents perhaps only to Australian citizens and only for abuse within Australia. Under some pressure it has seemed to allow for children abused in detention in Australia but has yet to provide for victims of abuse in its concentration camps in Nauru and Manus. This is contrary to the recommendations of the commission, but has been piously argued on the basis that it is necessary to prevent fraud by aliens, or on the quite spurious grounds that if any sexual abuse occurred, victims should look to either the governments of Nauru (where most of the children now are) or PNG (which at one stage had some of the children). It has also been argued that non-citizens, particularly boat people should be excluded, whether simply so as to save money, or as a part of the general policy of being as obviously cruel to uninvited visitors as possible, both so as to increase deterrence and to appease an anti-boat-people electorate. More recently, Mike Pezzullo, head of Home Affairs has insisted that his department made some provision for possible liability for children abused in Australia, but not for those in overseas detention centre. Not one cent of the money in his detention centre budget (which amounts to about $550,000 per detainee, man, woman and child) would go to redress, he said. It is not that the commission was very curious about the sexual abuse of asylum seekers, here or abroad. It was one thing on which virtually the only evidence taken was from Immigration bureaucrats, or independent consultants on its payroll. But it did not doubt that abuse in detention centres was rife. Vulnerability to child sexual abuse is likely to be accentuated for many children in immigration detention, its report said. "Reasons for this include that the children are likely to have experienced abuse and trauma previously, acquire trauma in the detention environment and experience high levels of social isolation. A further reason is the likelihood that the ability of parents to provide comfort and support to their children is compromised by the detention environment. Before their detention, some children have experienced extreme events, including war crimes and sexual violence. Relatively high numbers of children in immigration detention are also unaccompanied and lack parental or extended family support while in detention. Many of these children are suffering a profound sense of loss and grief following the death of their parents and other family members. This was a week which saw yet another report accusing the Australian government, and its bureaucrats, of being in breach of criminal provisions of international law in relation to its more general detention centre arrangements. Julian Burnside, QC a person automatically dismissed by government as a mere advocate, and thus to be entirely disbelieved, says our policy of mandatory indefinite detention on Nauru and Manus meets all of the elements of a crime against humanity, even under the Australian Criminal Coder. But, he says, there is no prospect of a prosecution; it has to be approved by the Attorney-General. His legal opinion adds to the view of Amnesty International, which believes that our processing of asylum seekers on Nauru is a deliberate and systematic regime for neglect and cruelty and amounts to torture under international law. Interestingly, a British High Court judge struck out the toughening by the British Home Office, of its regulations about detention, on the basis of failing to meet definitions of torture. The government continues to defend its deliberate cruelty to one group of people by claiming that it deters others from setting off by sea, and possibly drowning. And, even five years on, Australians are denied knowledge of how Australian repels boats and other such on-water matters, lest it give tactical help to people smugglers give. Just the same sort of compulsive secrecy, often from just the same people, has helped keep secret too long indications of serious war crimes by Australians in Afghanistan. Theres no doubt that the policies are popular, now. But history will not be kind. A day will come perhaps 20 years hence when the children of today will be repulsed by and ashamed of what their parents did and will be asking sharp questions of how it came to be. Even assuming the perpetrators destroy documents and seek to conceal their identities, it is likely that the full shameful and shabby story will ultimately emerge, and the reputations of most of Australias present political generation will be trashed. But hold on. Why now? Isn't this exactly the wrong time to be laying such plans? Doesn't this week demonstrate that the US can act to deal with a hostile nuclear state? Didn't Donald Trump's summit with Kim Jong-un just reduce a threat for the US allies in the region, including Australia, which falls within reach of Kim's long-range missiles? There are two key points here. First, the text of the brief document that the leaders signed does say that North Korea "commits to work toward complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula". But this is neither new nor convincing. A former US nuclear negotiator with the North Koreans, Republican David Asher, who led the North Korean activities group in the White House of George W. Bush, says: "For the President to say that the nuclear threat has been eliminated is, I think, unwise. If he's wrong, it'll be on him." Asher, a scholar at the Centre for New American Security, says: "I have hope, but after dealing with the North Koreans for 25 years, it's not a promise I personally can have great faith in." Asher has a litany of first-person examples of Kim Dynasty duplicity. Malcolm Turnbull and Donald Trump at the White House in February. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The consensus in Canberra is much the same. Although Turnbull has commended Trump for giving it "a red-hot go", he says that we need to see whether Kim actually delivers. The briefings that the security agencies gave Turnbull and other ministers this week were summarised by one participant as "it's complex, we need to wait and see". So the first point is that no one can yet know whether Trump has actually de-fanged a dangerous enemy. But the second point is what everyone does know now - that Trump is prepared to trade away the interests of an ally if he thinks it will help him get a deal with an enemy. Trump announced that he had promised Kim he would stop the big military exercises that the US conducts with South Korea twice a year. This is not necessarily a bad idea and may be a useful concession to show US goodwill. The joint exercises began in 1968 after Pyongyang sent a team of 31 commandos to assassinate South Korea's president in his official residence, the Blue House, in Seoul. They failed but got within 100 metres of their target. The military manoeuvres were designed to show US and South Korean unity, commitment and readiness. South Korea's Moon Jae-in with Kim Jong-un in North Korea last month. Credit:AP The problem? The cancellation was news to South Korea's President, Moon Jae-In. It was news to another keenly interested US ally, Japan's Shinzo Abe. And it was news to Trump's own military commanders, who were in the middle of preparations for the next exercises, two months away. And in announcing the end to the manoeuvres, Trump adopted the language of the North Korean propagandists. Pyongyang has long railed against the exercises as "provocative war games". The US has never called them war games nor described them as provocative; Trump did both. It seems that Kim put the demand to Trump in the negotiating room and Trump agreed on the spot. He agreed to a demand by an enemy without consulting his ally. "It is urgent to make bold decision," Kim told the US leader, in the words of the North Korean official news agency, and Trump bought it. This was greeted with delighted incredulity in Beijing. Because this is precisely what the Chinese Communist Party has sought for many years. Professor Shi Yinhong, of the People's University in Beijing, said that Trump's pledge to halt military manoeuvres was almost "too good to be true" from China's point of view. Illustration: Jim Pavlidis Credit: Why does China care? Because one of its greatest strategic aims is to separate the US from its allies. One of America's greatest assets is that it sits at the centre of a global alliance system embracing more than 40 nations, including most of the world's major economies. China, by contrast, has a only couple of rather unimpressive allies, Pakistan and North Korea. Shi drew the connection: If US troops in South Korea were to stop the military exercises, it could cause allies to lose confidence in Washington and undermine the entire US military presence in Asia, he told America's National Public Radio. For China, this is victory on every level. "We see a clear pattern of Donald Trump turning against his allies," says a close student of Trump foreign policy, Tom Wright, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington. "He's generally hung his allies out to dry." Loading Just in the last two weeks he has harmed US alliances with Britain, France, Germany and Canada, putting punitive tariffs on their exports and insulting Canada's Justin Trudeau on top, calling him weak and dishonest. He upset his allies at the annual G7 summit by proposing that Russia be restored to the group's meetings, when the G7 is supposed to be ostracising Putin for invading Ukraine. Trump has inflicted so much political damage to America's European and Canadian alliances that "the community of North American and European nations forming the nucleus of the alliance that won the Cold War for the West is closer to breaking up now than at any time since the 1940s" in the assessment of Walter Russell Mead, an American scholar. "And," says Wright, "he completely sidelined Japan" with this week's Kim summit. It seems that there was only one US ally who had been able to persuade Trump decisively to change US policy, and even that has turned sour, says Wright. South Korea's Moon was the one who persuaded Trump to try directly negotiating with Kim, yet in those very negotiations Trump ended up trading away a South Korean interest. "Moon thought he could ride the tiger, control where he went, but didn't realise the tiger goes where the tiger wants to go," as Wright puts it. "He brought Trump into this but then lost control." A photograph released by German Chancellor Angela Merkel's office captured the tense relations at the G7 summit. Credit:AP Why does Trump consistently act against the interests of his allies? Wright, who predicted just this pattern of behaviour before Trump was elected, explains: "In his 30-year history of talking and writing about this stuff, Trump has always been more aggravated by America's friends than its enemies. "He has been consistent about this for 30 years. It's not sophisticated or complex, but he is much more ideological than people think: interdependence is a bad deal for America." Trading partners will cheat America; allies will free ride on America's military budget. Australia has been unscathed so far; Wright says that this will likely change only if some disagreement emerges. Trump isn't so systematic to work down a list of allies he must alienate, but he will "react to what's in front of him. It's possible to sneak on by." The only time he will turn against a US rival is if he thinks that rival is directly threatening the US with attack, according to Wright. Otherwise, he's happy to deal with America's enemies: "He's open to deals, he worries about commitments." Which is how he manages to make concessions to North Korea while sidelining the interests of South Korea. Trump went further, saying that he wanted one day to withdraw the 28,000 US troops that provide an American "trip wire" across the Demilitarised Zone separating North from South. If the North should invade, the US forces will be engaged automatically, the wire tripped, guaranteeing America will come to Seoul's defence. Trump said this was a matter for the future; South Korea's Moon wishes he hadn't raised it at all. If Trump's North Korean gambit works, he will have a serious achievement. If it fails? Says Asher: "The irony of the North Korean denuclearisation deal could be that everybody else decides to go nuclear. If it fails and Kim remains in power and countries doubt our commitment, then what's to stop Japan or South Korea or Australia going nuclear?" It could lead to "mass nuclearisation - it's a very bad position, 20 countries in the region with nukes, like 20 people in a room all pointing guns at each other". These are, of course, imponderables, possible futures that no one hopes for but governments need to plan for. Hendy and White and Dibb and Brabim-Smith may be tending towards alarmism, but they want Australians to think about the world after the American-led alliance system has passed into history. An American journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg, writes in The Atlantic this week that he asked a number of unnamed White House officials whether there is a Trump doctrine in foreign policy. One, described as a senior official with direct access to the President and his thinking, replied that there is. And it is: "We're America, bitch." History is in the making. Washington: US President Donald Trump's triumphant assertions about the success of the unprecedented Singapore summit are being met with scepticism and outright derision from critics seizing on the contradiction between his withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and his willingness to accept vague pledges from North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. White House officials have repeatedly stressed that this week's meeting in Singapore is the beginning, not the end, of a process that Trump's team argues could have only been jump-started with the face-to-face meeting. The Singapore summit set out broad goals to be met in the coming months while the Iran deal, signed by US president Barack Obama in 2015 and approved by seven nations, was an imperfect end to 18 months of negotiations, they say. Criticism that Tuesday's commitment does not include specifics on denuclearisation and verification is premature, they argue. "While I am glad the President and Kim Jong-un were able to meet, it is difficult to determine what of concrete nature has occurred," said Tennessee senator Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He said he wanted Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who will lead the follow-on negotiations, to explain details of what the administration has in mind. Phnom Penh: The trial in Cambodia of Australian filmmaker James Ricketson was postponed on Friday following a request from his lawyer, who was not present at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. Ricketsons team requested a one-month delay, but Presiding Judge Seng Leang said a new trial date would be announced in due course. Ricketson, 69, was arrested just over a year ago after he was photographed flying a drone above an opposition party rally near the centre of Phnom Penh. He stands accused of espionage, a charge he has repeatedly denied. A North Korean woman reads newspapers fronting the news on US President Donald Trump's summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Credit:AP Reduced tension Trump faced criticism from a free press back home, who charged that the Singapore Summit had failed to produce concrete steps or even a path to verifiable denuclearisation by North Korea. But it was acknowledged by world leaders that the made-for-TV event and four hours of direct talks between Trump and Kim had significantly reduced tensions and the risk of nuclear conflict. Both leaders had shown a willingness for North Korea to denuclearise in exchange for security guarantees from the US. Loading South Korean President Moon Jae-in, whose nation has everything riding on North Korea relinquishing its nuclear weapons, said: "A clear direction is set, but specific ways to realise the goal still remain a question." The fine print in the letter signed at Singapore's Capella Hotel puts the onus on US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to continue negotiations, as soon as next week, to bring forth the details missing from Kim and Trump's joint declaration. Much will depend on whether Kim, having returned to the Hermit Kingdom with his propaganda coup and elevated standing on the world stage, maintains his apparent mood for change. Trump said Kim would start the process "as soon as he arrives", and a missile engine testing site would be dismantled soon. Last November, a worm-riddled North Korean soldier was shot in the back five times as he defected in dramatic fashion, running across the heavily fortified border at Panmunjom. But two days ago, generals from North Korea and South Korea sat down for the first high-level military talks in a decade, and discussed how they could demilitarise Panmunjom. They will also restore military communication lines. William Perry, the US defence secretary to Bill Clinton, pointed to the generals' meeting as "positive steps forward". But Perry, who oversaw the 1994 deal with Kim's father to lift trade sanctions and allow inspectors into North Korea, also cautioned: "We must not be lulled into complacency by nice words North Korea is ruthless and self-interested and the threat is real, the difficult work of denuclearisation is still ahead of us." Pyongyang more like Singapore? The world has been at this point twice before a pledge for denuclearisation from the North Korean regime that never makes it through the hard yards, and which instead saw the expulsion of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency. However, North Korea watchers say Kim is more interested in the economic benefits that could flow from a deal to modernise North Korea than his father or grandfather were. Kim's night tour on the eve of the summit took in premier tourism sites and the busy container freight port, showcasing the benefits of foreign investment if international sanctions on the cash-starved regime were lifted. Kim arrives at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, his face lit by a camera making a propaganda film about his visit. Credit:Kate Geraghty The dazzling night light display was duly transmitted back to the public of North Korea, where in much of the country the street lights turn off early to save power. North Koreans have already been officially told in recent weeks that the economy will become the prime national focus, because the nuclear weapons program is complete. Ponsei University's John Delury argues the North Korean video of the summit was also a propaganda win for the US. "It is propagating the message of making peace with the US and of making North Korea more like Singapore," he tweeted. The carrot of investment from US allies such as Japan and South Korea (Trump quipped that they, not the US, would be footing the bill for denuclearisation) was also highlighted in Trump's own propaganda video, shown on his iPad to Kim, of a future North Korea with gleaming skylines and fast trains. Trump even pitched the real estate potential of North Korea's beaches. But Kim has irrationally turned his back on investment in the past, including real estate deals. The bridge to nowhere The Chinese border town of Dandong is testament to this. Around 70 per cent of North Korea's trade with the world passed through Dandong before China clamped down, with strict enforcement of UN sanctions since November. And though apartment prices have soared there in recent months on the hope that sanctions will be lifted, a gleaming $US330 million suspension bridge across the Yalu River to North Korea stands as the white elephant in the room. Known as "the bridge to nowhere", it has been unused since it was completed in 2015, with not even an off-ramp on the North Korean side, just fields. North Korea spurned the bridge, and the potential to link North Korea's economy to the world's second-largest economy via free trade zones and business parks constructed on the Chinese side at great expense. Kim instead pursued his rogue nuclear program. The new Dandong-Sinuiju bridge, which has never been used since it was built in 2015. Credit:Sanghee Liu There remains strong scepticism that Kim will ever completely denuclearise under the terms demanded by the US. Both the 1994 Agreed Framework and the 2005 Six-Party Talks explored normalising economic relations as a carrot if Kim's father, Kim Jong-il, took detailed steps to dismantle a weapons program that was far smaller than it is today. Kim Jong-un has declared North Korea's nuclear weapons arsenal technologically completed and, having built a nuclear arsenal with the capability of reaching the United States, he will at the very least drive a hard bargain before relinquishing it. Kim is presumably backed by Beijing, having visited President Xi Jinping twice, and Moscow, where it was announced on Thursday that he will visit Russian President Vladimir Putin in September, a month that marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic People's Republic. Andrei Lankov of Seoul's Kookmin University said expectations had been dashed that the summit would result in an agreement for nuclear inspectors to enter the country, or a commitment from North Korea to disable a plutonium-producing nuclear reactor or get rid of centrifuges used to enrich uranium. "The North Koreans will never surrender their nuclear weapons, and it is strange that otherwise sane people have sometimes expressed doubts about this geopolitical fact," Lankov wrote. "The DPRK elite sincerely believes that without nuclear weapons it is doomed." Concessions and reciprocation Lankov says North Korea does seem prepared to talk about arms control and reduction, and had already made significant concessions by handing over US detainees and destroying a nuclear test tunnel. Donald Trump welcomes back three US prisoners released in May from detention in North Korea. Credit:AP The only major concession on the day of the summit came from Trump, who agreed to North Korea's demand that "war games" between the US and South Korea end. Moon told his National Security Council that South Korea would consider suspending military exercises in order to build trust with North Korea as long as sincere dialogue continued. The incoming US ambassador to South Korea, former Pacific fleet commander Harry Harris, says he supported a "pause" in military exercises to test whether Kim is serious about negotiations. Harris said denuclearisation had to include removal of equipment, equipment research and existing stockpiles. William McKinney, a visiting scholar at the US-Korea Institute of Johns Hopkins University and a former policy official on Korea in the US Pacific Command, said Trump's offer was a move to reciprocate North Korea's earlier freeze on its nuclear tests and missile launches. McKinney said the involvement of nuclear-capable B-1 bombers, F-22 fighters and ballistic missile submarines had indeed made the war games "highly provocative", so it was a reasonable measure to build trust with North Korea. But he warned a "big stick" needed to be retained as the US entered negotiations with North Korea with eyes wide open. Georgetown analyst Victor Cha, who was rejected by Trump as South Korea ambassador for not being hawkish enough, said meat needed to be put on the "flimsy bones" of the summit's declaration before the next scheduled military exercises, due in August. Loading Pompeo's first steps this week were to shore up support from South Korea, Japan and China for continued sanctions against North Korea until it "completely" denuclearises. Meeting Moon in Seoul, Pompeo said denuclearisation should be completed by 2020, putting it within Trump's first term as president. The speed of this timetable appears to be driven by pressure from North Korea and China for sanctions to be gradually lifted. A 'brand new peninsula' On Thursday in Beijing, where he met with Xi, Pompeo said China would honour UN Security Council resolutions on sanctions, which contain mechanisms for relief "at the appropriate time". Hours after meeting Kim, Trump had said that about 20 per cent of the way through the denuclearisation process, weapons cannot be used. Sanctions would come off when nukes were "no longer a factor", he said. True denuclearisation of North Korea's extensive arsenal would take more than a decade. Cai Jian, executive director of the Korean Study Centre at China's Fudan University, says that in the short term North Korea is likely to dismantle its missile test field, but other measures will need to be discussed by the other countries involved. He says any withdrawal of US troops from South Korea flagged by Trump as a possibility in the long-term would cause protests in South Korea. Four days later, in the second of two letters to Kennedy, Khrushchev proposed an end to the stand-off, verified and overseen by the United Nations. Then people would heave a sigh of relief, considering that the statesmen who bear the responsibility have sober minds, and awareness of their responsibility, and an ability to solve complicated problems and not allow matters to slide to the disaster of war, Khrushchev said in his letter. Khruschevs ships returned to the Soviet Union, Kennedy promised not to invade Cuba and secretly ordered US missiles removed from Turkey. The world breathed again. Everyone knew, or suspected, that a misstep or misunderstanding could have led to something approximating the end of the world. Both Kennedy and Khrushchev knew it best. They had no way of speaking directly to each other. It took at least six hours for a single message to be relayed, and hours more to decode it. The world could have blown up by then. And thats why, seven months after the crisis was averted, the two superpowers agreed to establish a hotline. We buried our anxieties in the hope of the hotline, pictured it linking two telephones, one in the White House, the other in the Kremlin. The most powerful men in the world could pick up the phone and talk each other down from the brink! French artist Tomi Ungerer's release poster for the 1964 film Dr Strangelove. The idea caught fire when the phone starred in two movies in 1964 - Dr Strangelove and Fail Safe (a black-and-white film, but which described the phone as red). Kennedy was assassinated within five months of the hotline being agreed. Khrushchev was removed from the Soviet leadership a year later, blamed for weakness during the Cuban crisis. Neither got to use the phone. Neither did any other leader. There was no phone, let alone a red one. The hotline was a clunky telegraph/teletype set-up, connected by a cable from Washington DC through London, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Helsinki to Moscow. The world, however, soothed itself for decades with the red phone fantasy. In 1984, a political advertisement for Democratic presidential aspirant Walter Mondale showed a red phone along with the words: "The most awesome, powerful responsibility in the world lies in the hand that picks up this phone." These days, the President of the United States has no use for a telephone at all. His use of Twitter to berate his enemies and to seduce the credulous is instant, regularly hair-raising and often irresponsible almost beyond belief. His political enablers in the Republican Party merrily go along with this bellicosity as if, somehow, Trump is a statesman. The Republicans have thus come full circle since the creation of the old hotline. In 1964, the Republican Partys official platform declared the Kennedy administration had "sought accommodations with Communism without adequate safeguards and compensating gains for freedom. It has alienated proven allies by opening a 'hot line' first with a sworn enemy rather than with a proven friend A photograph released by German Chancellor Angela Merkel's office captured the tense relations at the G7 summit. Credit:AP Its perfectly fine these days for the Republicans' Trump to alienate proven friends: Canada and virtually all of the major European nations in the past week alone. A Manhattan lawyer entered a cafe near his office recently and was offended that the cashier was talking to a fellow customer in Spanish. There are 41 million native Spanish speakers living in the US today, and another 11.6 million who are bilingual. Almost one-fifth of New Yorkers speak Spanish. Yet the lawyer was outraged: "Your staff is speaking Spanish to customers when they should be speaking English," he complained to the manager. "My guess is they're not documented" meaning, they are in the country without official papers. "So my next call is to ICE" Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, newly emboldened by the Trump Administration "to have each one of them kicked out of my country." Illustration by Simon Letch. We know all of this because the lawyer was filmed on another customer's phone. The lawyer was also filming what was happening on his own phone. The facts, therefore, are not in doubt nor is the lawyer's loathsome personality. But what happened next divided the internet, in particular the left-leaning corner of it. Some people on social media, particularly on Twitter, decided they needed to teach the man a lesson. The video uploaded by the customer has now been seen more than four million times. The lawyer and his office were quickly identified. If you look up his business on Google now, it has been reclassified as a one-star Spanish restaurant. There were calls to have his professional licence removed. The management of the building in which he rents office space announced it would terminate its agreement with him. His history as a generally unpleasant, Make America Great Again hat-wearing racist was revealed. (This was not the first time he had initiated a verbal altercation with someone who looked different from him.) And, as all these facts were uncovered, the lawyer became famous. Should we feel uncomfortable about this trial by Twitter? There's an argument that Trump has brought out the very worst in people who would previously have felt too ashamed to voice their ugly political beliefs. As the writer Dan Savage put it recently, the president is "the great disinhibitor", unleashing sentiments we had previously decided, as a society, not to sanction in the public arena. But Rogers told Comic Riffs last week that he had 19 cartoons or cartoon ideas spiked this year, under new supervisor Burris. And between May 25 and June 4, not a single one of his cartoons was deemed worthy of publishing in the paper. The Post-Gazette instead published cartoons by Kirk Walters of the sister paper Toledo Blade and syndicated cartoons. During his 34 years as a political cartoonist in Pittsburgh - including a career at the Post-Gazette spanning four supervising editors - Rogers had two to three cartoons a year, on average, killed by his editors. "I can't really talk about that aspect," said Rogers, who at that point was taking personal days off and awaiting a resolution with management. Cartoonist Rob Rogers Credit:robrogers.com Meanwhile, Block told the Post last week in a statement: "This is an internal, personnel matter we are working hard to resolve. It has little to do with politics, ideology or Donald Trump. It has mostly to do with working together and the editing process." The Pittsburgh Mayor spoke to the larger political backdrop of Rogers' firing, saying: "This is precisely the time when the constitutionally protected free press - including critics like Rob Rogers - should be celebrated and supported, and not fired for doing their jobs. This decision, just one day after the President of the United States said the news media is 'Our Country's biggest enemy', sets a low standard in the 232-year history of the newspaper. "I've known Rob a long time," Peduto's statement continued. "That has never stopped him from publishing cartoons that are critical of me, of my policy positions, or of my actions (or inactions) in office. He's even made fun of my weight. But he is one of the best in the world at his time-honoured craft, and I know people of all political persuasions stand with me in support of him, even if the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette regrettably does not." Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC They took a bite out of Bushwick! Rolled to perfection: Sahra Nguyen, a co-owner at Lucys Vietnamese Kitchen, poured some sauce over the summer spring rolls she dished out. Photo by Stefano Giovannini Hundreds of hungry Brooklynites chowed down on dishes from restaurants in the hip neighborhood at the Taste of Bushwick food fair on Tuesday, where one attendee said he finally got to sink his teeth into a vegan sandwich hes been dying to try and was not disappointed. Double fisting: Park Sloper John McLaughlin enjoyed a glass of beer with an IPA-infused popsicle. Photo by Stefano Giovannini I was really excited about the jackfruit pulled pork, Park Sloper John McLauhlin said of the fruit disguised as meat served by Bushwich Sandwich Lab, an eatery inside Troutman Street cocktail bar Precious Metal. It was spot on, and really hard to tell the difference. Fresh from the sea: Cape House owner Dana Gardner showed off his oysters on ice. Photo by Stefano Giovannini Fifty vendors from around the North Brooklyn enclave set up shop at the fifth-annual event, which, ironically, unfolded at Williamsburg venue Brooklyn Steel instead of in its namesake neighborhood. Why so blue?: Kevin Bonora and Tanner Borskey displayed their Blue Bottle Coffee. Photo by Stefano Giovannini Other Bushwick businesses that sampled their cuisine included Knickerbocker Avenue seafood shack Cape House, Bushwick Avenue vegan bakery Brooklyn Whiskers, and Irving Avenue Vietnamese joint Lucys Vietnamese Kitchen, whose co-owner said she handed out lemongrass-chicken-stuffed summer rolls topped with peanut sauce until the last guests left the building. Packed house: Guests packed Williamsburg venue Brooklyn Steel for the event. Photo by Stefano Giovannini It was really busy, said Sahra Nguyen, who lives in Bushwick. A lot of people came back for seconds, and thirds. That was a great sign. Guests shelled out as much as $60 for a ticket to the all-you-can-eat-and-drink bash, with proceeds going to local theater, the Bushwick Starr. But the cash earned came second to the joy of watching Kings Countians come from all over to savor the neighborhoods flavor, according to Nguyen. We love to be a part of anything that supports the Bushwick community, she said. Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC She wants to solve this deli-emma! The owner of a beloved Polish deli in Greenpoint may be forced to close the eatery this summer because her landlord upped the rent. But a fan of Park Delis fresh soups, pierogies, blintzes, and other fare is stepping in to save the old-fashioned delicatessen by helping to find it a new space in the neighborhood it has called home for nearly 90 years, she said. I believe mom-and-pop business are so important to our community, said good Samaritan Gina Argento. They are what makes it unique. Argento, who owns of film- and television-production company Broadway Stages, which has facilities in Greenpoint, described her affinity for the store at 209 Nassau Ave. and its 68-year-old proprietor Krystyna Godawa, who 11 years ago started running the deli that has changed ownership several times since it opened in the 1930s as love at first bite. Her food is delicious, she said. You cant argue with that. And when Godawas landlord, who declined a request for comment, allegedly increased the shops rent from $2,250 to $5,000 last April, Argento said she offered to help pay the difference to keep its doors open, but claimed the landlord rejected the cost-sharing scheme so she could boot the businesswoman out. Still, Godawa managed to keep the delicatessen in its long-time home by paying a month-to-month lease since the rent hike, but that arrangement could end any day now, according to Argento, who said she started scouting the area for a new space where Godawa can set up her kitchen, so she can keep dishing up the mouth-watering Eastern European grub her loyal customers cant live without. We offered to split the difference so Krystyna could pay what she was able to, but the landlord rejected that, Argento said. Were working to find a new spot in Greenpoint, because we want her to remain a staple in the community. And Argentos support means the world, Godawa said, because she puts her soul into cooking for patrons, whom she sees as her own extended family. It means the world that the clients are the ones who are fighting for us to stay alive. Godawa said through a translator. This store has been here for so long that the first shoppers now come with their grandchildren. Sixth Circuit panel struggles to figure out Tennessee law to assess Miller challenge in high-profile case | Main | Any predictions on sentencing day for Senator Rand Paul's attacker? UPDATE: Boucher got 30 days in jail and 100 hours community service June 14, 2018 Kentucky Supreme Court finds state's statute for assessing intellectually disability in capital cases does not comply with Eighth Amendment As reported in this local article, the "Kentucky Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the state's practice for determining if someone is intellectually disabled and not eligible to receive the death penalty is unconstitutional and has established new guidelines." Here is more about the ruling: The order changing Kentuckys rules on capital punishment came in the case of Robert Keith Woodall, who was sentenced to death for raping and killing a 16-year-old girl in Greenville two decades ago. The high court ordered a lower court to hold a hearing to determine if Woodall is intellectually disabled, preventing him from being executed. It is unconstitutional to sentence a mentally disabled person to death which has been defined in Kentucky as someone with an IQ below 70. However, Kentucky's high court ruled a person cannot be found intellectually disabled simply because they have an IQ of 71 or above. Instead, the justices determined defendants must undergo a totality of the circumstances test, including whether they have the ability to learn basic skills and adjust their behavior to circumstances, among other guidelines. Those standards are in line with guidelines established by the U.S. Supreme Court that take other factors into account, according to the ruling. The federal court, for example, bars states from using a single, strict IQ standard to determine a prisoner's death penalty status. In its ruling, the Kentucky high court found the state's current law to be an outdated test for ascertaining intellectually disability." Kentucky was one of only a few states still using the fixed score cutoff to determine mental disability. The full ruling from the Kentucky Supreme Court is available at this link, and here are few key paragraphs from the majority opinion: Admittedly, the U.S. Supreme-Court has not provided crystal-clear guidance as to what exactly constitutes a constitutional violation regarding the determination of whether a defendant is intellectually disabled to preclude the imposition of the death penalty. It is also true that the U.S. Supreme Court seems to suggest that a defendant's IQ score, after adjusting for statistical error, acts as the preliminary inquiry that could foreclose consideration of other evidence of intellectual disability, depending on the score. Two things are clear, however: 1) regardless of some of the statements the U.S. Supreme Court has made, the prevailing tone of the U.S. Supreme Court's examination of this issue suggests that a determination based solely on IQ score, even after proper statistical-error adjustments have been made, is highly suspect; and 2) prevailing medical standards should be the basis for a determination as to a defendant's intellectual disability to preclude the imposition of the death penalty. June 14, 2018 at 11:59 PM | Permalink Comments Intellectual disability is now assessed by function ability. Committing a crime shows high level function, no matter what number IQ is generated by formal testing. By definition, it means trouble learning. It implies less specific deterrence is possible. It should be an aggravating factor, not a mitigating factor. Here is the modern definition. It now relies on "Adaptive Behavior." http://aaidd.org/intellectual-disability/definition#.WyV53vZFzIU Posted by: David Behar | Jun 16, 2018 4:59:17 PM Post a comment The town to which she is referring is Muzaffarnagar, in western Uttar Pradesh, which shot to infamy in 2013 when Hindu-Muslim riots killed 62 people and rendered 50,000 homeless. Almost all the major characters in the book hail from this town; some of them have managed to escape its claustrophobic society, where communal tensions keeps the air taut, but they all keep coming back: Gunjan returns after 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 How do you deal with internal monologues? With the world-building that good writers do effortlessly, and in the background? Do you just give up on conveying the tone of the writers words, and focus on the narrative? Three lines from an essay titled A Poets Impressions of Nepal And Bhutan sum up life in the Himalayas: Steep climb in the Himalayas/ Mules and ... 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 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 "Kim Kardashian West pushes White House for more drug sentence commutations" | Main | Kentucky Supreme Court finds state's statute for assessing intellectually disability in capital cases does not comply with Eighth Amendment As reported in this local article, headlined "While considering Cyntoia Brown's case, appeals court scrutinizes conflicting sentencing laws," an interesting federal circuit panel struggled during oral argument today to sort through applicable state sentencing law in an interesting Eighth Amendment habeas case. Here are the details: A federal appeals court seems poised to consult the Tennessee Supreme Court before they rule on the case of Cyntoia Brown, a Nashville woman serving a life sentence in prison for a murder she committed at 16. Brown's attorneys this year appealed to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, arguing her life sentence was unconstitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that giving juveniles life sentences without parole was cruel and unusual in most cases. Brown, now 30, has been locked up since 2004, when she was convicted of shooting 43-year-old Nashville real estate agent Johnny Allen. Allen had picked her up at an East Nashville fast food restaurant and drove her to his home. Prosecutors said she committed a cold blooded murder, then robbed Allen before she fled with his car. Advocates for Brown say she was a victim of child sex trafficking who feared for her life, and that her age and fetal alcohol syndrome made it impossible for her to consider the full ramifications of her actions. Attorneys representing the state have argued the 2012 ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court does not apply in Brown's case because she is not serving a true life sentence. They cite parts of Tennessee law that suggest Brown could be eligible for release after 51 years behind bars. The three-judge panel in Cincinnati suggested at multiple points that if she was serving a 51-year sentence, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling might not apply. But Brown's attorneys pushed back, citing another section of the law that says "there shall be no release eligibility" for offenders convicted of first degree murder, like she was. Thorny questions on sentencing law in Tennessee dominated the debate on both sides of the oral arguments Thursday morning, which lasted less than an hour.... At multiple points, the judges read directly from contradictory passages in Tennessee code, as they tried to decipher what portions applied to Brown's case. They suggested that they might seek clarification from the Tennessee Supreme Court before moving forward. Judge Joan L. Larsen, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, asked multiple questions about the proper way to do so. Judge Amul Thapar, another Trump appointee, aggressively questioned the argument from state attorneys that case law had established a way to cherry pick parts of Tennessee sentencing law to apply to Brown while ignoring other parts. Thapar rubbed his face and shook his head while questioning attorneys on dueling sections of the law. "We're trying to guess what Tennessee is doing here," Thapar said, later adding, "The way I read this statute is that she's got life without the possibility of parole." The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals has already sided with the state on this issue, saying that Brown's sentence is not entirely for life. But Brown's attorneys say the Tennessee Court of Appeals issued a conflicting ruling. Judge Julia Smith Gibbons, who was appointed by former President George W. Bush, said she couldn't believe a Tennessee court hadn't issued a definitive ruling on the appropriate reading of the sentencing law. Gibbons said Brown's case "raises some interesting, tricky issues." If the panel does ask the Tennessee Supreme Court to clarify sentencing in this case, that court could decide whether or not it would offer an answer. The appeals court would then take the response into consideration while ruling on the broader case. "Can we certify that to the Tennessee Supreme Court and ask them?" Thapar said. "If they're ever going to answer one question that's the one to answer."... The judges did not address the argument from Brown's attorneys that she should not be held responsible for a premeditated murder at 16 because fetal alcohol syndrome had slowed her mental development. The pending federal appeal is one of multiple tracks Brown's attorneys are pursuing in their high-profile attempt to get her out of prison. Brown also is asking Gov. Bill Haslam for clemency; the state parole board made conflicting recommendations to the governor after a hearing in May. Brown's previous appeals have been denied. But a surge of interest from news outlets, celebrities and national legal groups has galvanized efforts that are unusual for a case like hers. Brown was featured in the documentary "Me Facing Life: Cyntoia's Story" by filmmaker Dan Birman. In 2016, a joint reporting project on juvenile sentencing laws by the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee, Dan H. Birman Productions and "Independent Lens" explored Brown's trial and conviction in depth. Then, in 2017, celebrities including Rihanna and Kim Kardashian West called for Brown's release, dramatically increasing the scrutiny of the case. On social media, the hashtag #FreeCyntoiaBrown went viral. Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's condition is improving and he is being monitored by a team of doctors round-the-clock, sources at the AIIMS said on Friday. The BJP stalwart continues to be in the ICU of the Cardio-thoracic Centre at the hospital. "Former Prime Minister is stable. He continues to show improvement and is being monitored by the team of doctors," the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) said in a statement. AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria had, on Wednesday, said the 93-year-old leader was showing significant improvement and the doctors were hopeful of his full recovery in the next few days. Vajpayee was admitted to the premier hospital on June 11 with a kidney tract infection, chest congestion and the urine output on the lower side. He was immediately evaluated by a team of doctors and put on injectable antibiotics. Vajpayee, a diabetic, has one functional kidney. He had suffered a stroke in 2009 that had weakened his cognitive abilities. Subsequently, he had developed dementia. Political leaders, including Union minister Anupriya Patel, met the ailing leader at the hospital on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, former prime ministers Manmohan Singh and H D Deve Gowda, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Congress president Rahul Gandhi have visited Vajpayee at the AIIMS over the past four days. Vajpayee was thrice elected the prime minister between 1996 and 1999 and is the only non-Congress prime minister to complete the full term of five years, from 1999 to 2004. As his health deteriorated, he had slowly withdrawn himself from public life and was confined to his residence for years. The on Friday gave its nod for a high-speed rail network between Sarai Kale Khan in to the Haryana-Rajasthan border near Shahjahanpur-Neemrana-Behrod. It was among the several other decisions taken in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister here. Union Minister of State for Planning, Rao Inderjit Singh was also present. The Regional Rapid Transit Systems (RRTS) project will provide a new impetus to the growth and investment in Gurgaon specifically and to south Haryana in general, Khattar said. The project will run along an elevated section on the Old road in Gurgaon to Lt Atul Katarya Chowk proceeding to Signature Tower Chowk and then along NH-48 up to Rajiv Chowk, an official release said. Thereafter, it moves underground beyond Kherki Daula where it would emerge above the ground up to IMT Manesar. The alignment would move along the highway up to Dharuhera, Rewari and Bawal before entering Rajasthan, it said. The average speed of the rail will be about 100 km. It will provide a convenient mode of travel for daily commuters from southern Haryana to The first phase, being built at a cost of approximately Rs 250 billion, will end at Shahjahanpur-Neemrana-Behrod. The project will be executed by NCR Transport Corporation (NCRTC), a joint venture of the Government of India and the States of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi. The NCRTC will prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) in three months and physical work is likely to start by March 31, 2019. Meanwhile, the project to provide connectivity from Huda City Centre up to Gurgaon railway station was also discussed in the meeting. It was decided that connectivity to Old Gurgaon will also be ensured by extending the connectivity along the Sheetla Mata Road up to Rezangla Chowk and towards Sector 21-Gurgaon completing the loop with the RRTS project coming up on the Old Delhi road. In addition, a metro project will also be planned along the Dwarka Expressway up to Sector 21, Dwarka. For this, a techno-feasibility study will be carried out by Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation Limited (HMRTC). The two lines will be connected along the new road proposed to be constructed by Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) along Sector 101/104 dividing road from Basai Chowk. A team of medical specialists on Friday examined Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendar Jain, who are on indefinite fast at the office of Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's for a few days. A senior official said Jain has lost some weight since he sat on fast on Tuesday, a day after AAP leaders, including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia, had gone to meet Baijal with their demands. "A regular team, consisting of a doctor, a nurse and a helper, has been visiting to check the health of the ministers thrice a day. This afternoon a team of specialists visited them," he told PTI. The specialist team consists of a cardiologist, nephrologist, endocrinologist and the medical head of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, the official said. "At 2:30 pm, his (Jain's) vitals were checked and his sugar level was 57 units (mg/dL). His blood pressure reading was 98/64, while the pulse reading was 70. "However, ketone level (more than 3 units) has been detected in his body. In a normal condition, ketone should not be found," the official said. Asked about Sisodia, he said the deputy chief minister "is doing fine." "There is no need to hospitalise them as of now." Jain's sugar level had dropped to nearly half of the normal yesterday but doctors were regularly monitoring his condition. Jain, who sat on fast demanding that Baijal direct IAS officers to end their "strike", was joined a day later by Sisodia. They also demand that the lt governor approve the proposal for doorstep delivery of ration. Kejriwal on Friday wrote a fresh letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention to end the IAS officers' "strike". He also hit out at his detractors, saying the sit-in was "not for personal gains" but for the greater good of the people of Delhi. "After meeting him on Monday evening, I had hoped that the L-G would say he had ordered end of the strike and ask us to go back home. I am surprised that it is the fifth day and he is not willing to have it ended," he alleged in a video. Twenty-four surviving passengers were admitted to hospital but dozens are believed still missing, said the local disaster agency. The packed traditional wooden boat left Makassar, provincial capital of South Sulawesi in the afternoon for a short journey to the resort island of Barrang Lompo, some 15 kilometres northwest of the city's coast. The boat reportedly hit a large wave amid bad weather and capsized. Makassar police said the boat was overloaded. The cause of the incident is still being investigated. According to statistics, almost 32 million Indonesians are on the move this week in the annual Eid Al-Fitr exodus. It was the latest deadly maritime accident in Indonesia, which relies heavily on boats to carry people around its 17,000 islands but has a patchy safety record. On New Year's Day, nine people died after a passenger boat capsized when travelling from the city of Tarakan to Tanjung Selor on Borneo island.-VNA It was the most carefully examined little square of newsprint in recent Indian history. Last week, a small job ad appeared on the inside pages of some newspapers looking for candidates for the post of "joint secretary" in the Indian government. Within a few hours, the ad had gone viral: Opposition politicians had weighed in, Twitter was agog and hundreds of thousands of 40ish Indians wondered if they had one last, unexpected opportunity to make their parents proud. Anyone unfamiliar with the Indian state would have been mystified by the uproar. After all, just 10 positions ... HSBC's push into credit cards and personal loans in the United States will be no easy task as the bank faces entrenched domestic rivals and the legacy of a previous disastrous foray into US lending. The move by HSBC to embrace a riskier but more lucrative slice of the US market, that it has largely shunned in recent years, is part of its broader strategy announced on Monday to improve profitability - eyeing a global return on equity of 11 per cent by 2020. The bank's US return on tangible equity, a key measure of profitability, is currently just 0.9 per ... Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Mullah Fazal Ullah has been reportedly killed in targeted drone strikes conducted by the United States, a US military official informed the Voice of America (VOA). Army lieutenant colonel Martin O'Donnell told VOA that counterterrorism strikes were carried out on June 13 in Kunar province which lies close to Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Further, officials refused to comment on whether the strike was successful. military official has confirmed to Voice of America (VOA) that an American drone strike targeted Mullah Fazal Ullah, the leader of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, in an Afghan province near the border with #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/INRGNHcxE9 ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2018 The officials further said that Mullah Fazal Ullah had directed numerous high-profile attacks against the US and Pakistan. He had also conducted many other deadly attacks including December 2014 attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar that claimed lives of 151 people, out of which 130 were children. The US further underscored that it was Mullah Fazal Ullah who had ordered the 2012 attempted assassination of Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai. The US Department for State offered a $5 million reward for Fazlullah in March soon after his son was killed in a US drone strike on TTP training facility. The official said the status of Fazlullah was unclear. Further, there was no confirmation, as of reporting time, from the TTP regarding the strike and reports of Fazlullah's death. US President Donald Trump announced hefty tariffs on $50 billion of Chinese imports on Friday as Beijing threatened to respond in kind, in a move that looks set to ignite a trade war between the world's two largest economies. Trump, whose hardline stance on trade has led him to wrangle with allies, said in a statement that a 25 per cent tariff would be imposed on a list of strategically important imports from China. He also vowed further measures if Beijing struck back. The United States will pursue additional tariffs if China engages in retaliatory measures, such as ... The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless. The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well. By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism. Fund houses have asked the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to consider changes in the existing system of incentives for bringing in customers from smaller cities and towns. Instead of the existing incentive for tapping investors beyond the top 30 (earlier beyond the top 15) locations, they want the markets regulator to allow them to charge extra for bringing in first-time investors, irrespective of whether they belong to top cities or smaller towns. It is unclear if the regulator will consider this. An email to Sebi did not elicit any response. We are ... Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday inspected the condition at Prakasam Barrage and other ghats on Krishna river where water accumulates in large amount. Prakasam Barrage, stretched across the Krishna river, connects Krishna and Guntur districts. The Chief Minister also expressed dissatisfaction over negligence of officials and warned them to clear the weed within four days. Naidu further said that he will continue similar virtual inspections of all irrigation canals in the state using drone cameras and warned the officials to be alert or be ready to face stern action. Later in the day, Naidu continued his virtual inspection on pension distribution system in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A person, who was identified as the fourth suspect in connection with the killing of journalist Shujaat Bukhari was taken into custody by the Jammu and Kashmir police on Friday hours after his photo was released. "The fourth suspect in the Shujaat Bukhari case has been identified. His role for the recovery of the pistol has been done. Investigation of the case is going on," said Inspector General (IG) of Kashmir police, SP Pani. "A suspect has been taken into custody," he added. While addressing the media here, SP Pani said as far as the case is concerned at this stage, "it is a terrorist-related crime." The police also formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case. "The first picture of the suspects were not in the public domain. The second picture was in public domain. It can be seen that he stood there, attempting to retrieve the weapon. A SIT has been formed, DIG central Kashmir is heading it," said SP Pani. Earlier in the day, the police had released the image of the fourth person, suspected to have killed the veteran journalist. The police also released the images of other three suspects, who are still on a run. Bukhari, the Rising Kashmir Editor was shot dead by terrorists in Srinagar's Press Colony area on Thursday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Home Ministry on Friday said the Centre will take a decision on the cessation of anti-terror operations, which it had announced on May 16, in Jammu and Kashmir. While addressing a press conference, Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said, "The result of suspension of operations in J-K during Ramzan has been good. Common people were satisfied with the decision. Whether to extend suspension of operations or not, will be decided by the government." Ahir's reaction came a day after Kashmiri journalist Syed Shujaat Bukhari was shot dead by terrorists in Press Colony in Srinagar. On the same day, the bullet-ridden body of Army jawan Aurangzeb, who was abducted by terrorists from Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama was recovered from Gusoo area. On June 13, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Ram Madhav had said the Home Ministry will review the Centre's decision to suspend anti-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir during the holy month of Ramzan. Last month, the Home Ministry announced that the security personnel would halt security operations against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir during the holy month of Ramzan. However, the Ministry clarified that the security forces retain the right to strike, if attacked or if civilians are found to be in danger. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chrissy Teigen and John Legend donated USD 288,000 to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on the occasion of US President Donald Trump's 72nd birthday. The model and TV host took to Twitter to share that they chose to donate to the non-profit organisation based on their work and values. "John and I are outraged to see and hear the horror stories of immigrant families seeking asylum and refuge in America being ripped apart due to the inhumane policies of the Trump administration. These actions are cruel, anti-family and go against everything we believe this country should represent," she wrote. "The ACLU is committed to defending the rights and humanity of these vulnerable families. In addition to fighting for immigrants' rights, they're advocating for reproductive rights, voting rights, criminal justice reform, LGBT rights, 1st amendment rights and holding the Trump administration accountable whenever possible." "On this auspicious occasion, in order to Make Trump's Birthday Great Again, each member of our family has donated $72,000 to the ACLU," added Teigen. The 32-year-old also encouraged others to donate to the ACLU "in honor of this blessed day." The US President turned 72 on June 14. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Inspector General Michael Horowitz of the United States Justice Department said former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey's actions in the Hillary Clinton email investigation case were "extraordinary and insubordinate. As per Horowitz, although Comey's actions disregarded the department's norms, he was not influenced by political bias. The inspector general released a report which claims that the top officials in charge of the investigation had damaged the FBI's reputation. "The damage caused by these employees' actions extends far beyond the scope of the Midyear (Clinton) investigation and goes to the heart of the FBI's reputation for neutral fact finding and political independence," CNN quoted the report. The United States Justice Department on Thursday issued a report with respect to the case of Hillary Clinton's mail server. As per the Fox news, the report drafted by Horowitz retrieved new text messages exchanged between agent Peter Strzok, and FBI lawyer Lisa Page who are considered to be in a relationship. The report mentioned the texts to be 'disappointing' and said it could lead to the questioning of the integrity of the 2016 Clinton probe. Further, a slew of anti-Trump messages were found to be exchanged between the two via government devices. One of them was about Strzok vowing to 'stop' Trump from being elected just months before the presidential election. On August 8, 2016, Page had sent a message to Strzok asking "[Trump's] not ever going to become president, right? Right?!" and Strzok replied "No. No he won't. We'll stop it." The report may give rise to the debate over the extent to which Comey's actions secured Trump's victory. FBI Director Christopher Wray said the department will "hold employees accountable for any potential misconduct" in response to the report. On May 31, Trump said he did not fire Comey due to the alleged Russian meddling probe, but because of his missteps on the Clinton email probe. In January last year, Horowitz had announced to launch a probe into the department and the FBI's handling of the investigation into Clinton's private email server. The investigation was about the former US Secretary of States use of a private email server and whether she mishandled classified information in doing so. The announcement came after criticism of the Justice Department's handling of the investigation, particularly on how the public was notified about the controversy, which was a major issue in the presidential election. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the culmination of the Muslim holy month of Ramzan, was observed in Kerala on Friday. Earlier, Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Ahmed Bukhari said Eid would be celebrated across the country on June 16, as there was no sight of the moon anywhere. However, hundreds of people offered prayers at Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium here to mark the end of the holy month. Along with devotees, Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor, was also present at the venue. Elsewhere in the country, locals thronged markets in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district for last-minute purchases. Meanwhile, an exhibition of rare Quranic manuscripts was organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages in Srinagar. The festival is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the 10th month of Islamic lunar calendar. It also symbolises peace and brotherhood. On Eid, people wear new clothes and visit holy shrines to seek blessings of the divine. The festival is marked with feasts and the meeting of families, relatives and friends, where they exchange greetings and gifts with each other. The date and time of Eid differ in various countries, depending upon the sighting of the crescent moon. While Australia and New Zealand will ring in the festival on Saturday, Singapore and Malaysia are observing it today. Eid is also being celebrated in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates today. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) EGK Foods, a Startup India-registered food processing organisation raised pre-seed funding of USD 300k from Pradyumna Kokil. The brainchild of 'OnionKnight' Satyajit Roy, the company focusses primarily on onions and its by-products, along with onion processing. "We were lucky enough to get investors involved who believed in the product and the company much before we had built it. In time we hope to attract FDI as per guidance by the Ministry of Food Processing of India (MoFPI) who we hope to work with in the near term as India positions itself to be the Food Bowl of the world," said Roy. The company CEO also stated that on the backend, EGK Foods is setting up a bigger factory and backward integrating with farmers to assure them guaranteed buyback of goods produced at a fair price irrespective of market fluctuations. EGK is also going through various market channels including wholesale, a small retail presence, e-commerce, modern retail. With funding, the distribution network will be accelerated. EGK Foods Pvt. Ltd. does not hold any patents although the process with which they fry and package the onions is proprietary. The company is looking to build out the infrastructure to supply the immense demand that exists for the product. There is immense growth potential in this market and being the first movers, EGK Foods has an advantage to capture the entire market. With upgraded infrastructure, wider distribution network and more retail/ wholesale presence, the company will be able to improve the margins. "I am from Nasik and every year we are in the news for reasons relating to the plight of the farmers. I thought instead of complaining I should become a part of the solution. And once we heard Satyajit speak about the we knew that we could really become big and solve the crisis that the farmers face. Hence we invested in this venture," said the investor, Pradyumna Kokil. Currently, EGK sells 30 metric tonnes of their finished product monthly which translates to about 150 Metric Tonnes of raw onions which are being processed every month. With the factory upgrade, production capacity will be close to 100 Metric Tonnes per month and there are plans to open up the domestic as well as international markets where the company has seen tremendous demand. EGK aims to create a positive impact in the society through onion processing by linking the farmers to the end users and helping in avoiding the 25 percent annual onion wastage (approximately 5 tons). Mainly catering to HORECA (currently USD 419.68 Billion) and the food and retail segment (currently USD 39.71 Billion) poised to grow at 16.1 percent and 11percent CAGR respectively. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) General Nirmal Chander Vij, former founder Vice Chairman, National Disaster Management Authority and Former Chief of the Army Staff, who took over as Chairperson of UNISDR ARISE FICCI Board, an all encompassing body on disaster risk management in FICCI, desired that ARISE FICCI approach to disaster risk reduction should be holistic with special emphasis on giving impetus to innovations, technology and new ideas in finding solutions to disaster risk management. He also stressed on taking up urban risk management and community based disaster management in addition to developing the capacity of the industries in managing perceived disasters. He further said that Sendai Framework for DRR as well as outcome of Global Platform 2017, held in Mexico recognized that the disaster risk reduction has to become an inherent part of sustainable development, a set of practices and approaches embedded in its DNA. Without effective and inclusive disaster and climate risk management and risk-sensitive socio economic upliftment, planning will not be sustainable. Nirankar Saxena, Deputy Secretary General, FICCI and Member Secretary of UNISDR ARISE FICCI said that, "We are trying to sensitize the private sector on best practices and also showcase opportunities in disaster risk reduction." The Board reviewed the activities of ARISE FICCI since its inception and also chalked out the strategy, themes and action plan for implementation towards Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in private sector in collaboration with public sector and other stakeholders. They also viewed that this forum can act as a think tank to the Government of India for disaster risk reduction activities for implementation of Sendai Framework and Sustainable Development Goals, especially in the private sector. While discussing on the status report of ARISE FICCI and way ahead presented by Brig B K Khanna, CEO UNISDR ARISE FICCI, the members suggested that ARISE FICCI should concentrate on innovations at the local level, fire safety, use of technology and new ideas and sharing of the knowledge, identifying the training institutions on disaster risk reduction and promoting them urban risk management and management of live stocks during and after disasters. During the Board Meeting, managing directors of the Integrated Institute of Rural Development, Shimla made presentation on the pilot project on smart panchayats - ruralizing India empowering villages (RIEV) and Operations Resilience, two initiatives under ARISE FICCI. The meeting was attended by Anil Sinha, Founder Vice Chairperson, Bihar State Disaster Management Authority, Lt Gen J R Bhardwaj, Founder Member, NDMA, KM Singh, Founder Member, NDMA, Prof. V K Sharma, Vice-Chairman, Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority, L Mansingh, Former Chairman, Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), Shri Rajeswara Rao, Adviser, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, Shri. Nirankar Saxena, Dy. Secretary General, FICCI & Co-Chair of UNISDR ROAP Advisory Working Group for Private Sector, Brig (Dr.) B K Khanna, Sr. Consultant, (DM) FICCI and CEO ARISE FICCI. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A group of scientists from the Northwestern University has identified a key enhancer of Sox9 - a gene critical for male sex development. The study has deepened understanding of sex determination in mammals. The findings, the scientists believe, have important implications for patients with differences in sex development (DSDs), in which reproductive organs don't develop as expected. This research was a collaboration between the laboratories of the late Danielle Maatouk and corresponding author Robin Lovell-Badge. Maatouk's research focused on sex determination, the process during which embryos develop either testes or ovaries. Her laboratory was specifically focused on exploring how non-coding elements - parts of DNA that don't encode for proteins - regulate gene expression and impact this process. The Sox9 gene is crucial for male differentiation and the proper formation of testes; if Sox9 is mutated or incorrectly expressed, an individual who is chromosomally male (XY) can develop ovaries instead of testes. Previously, it was known that some patients with DSDs have changes in their genome near the Sox9 gene that alter its expression and lead to sex reversal. But it was unclear exactly why. In the current study, the scientists identified an enhancer (a short region of DNA that can increase gene transcription) that is necessary to regulate expression of the Sox9 gene. When the scientists deleted the enhancer in mouse models, they discovered that Sox9 expression was decreased enough to cause complete sex reversal; mouse embryos that were chromosomally male (XY) developed as phenotypically normal females, with ovaries that were indistinguishable from those of XX females. This is the first time scientists have identified an enhancer of Sox9 that, when lost, causes sex reversal, according to Isabella Salamone, one of the co-authors. The findings could help improve the genetic diagnosis of patients with DSDs in the future; currently, only about 20 percent of such patients receive a genetic diagnosis. "We believe that many undiagnosed patients have mutations in regulatory regions - such as the one that we identified near Sox9 - and regulatory regions are usually not investigated by genetic testing," said Salamone. "Often genes important for sex determination are also crucial for other developmental processes, and a mutation in one gene or its regulatory region can impact a patient's in many ways. As we begin to understand the genetic underpinnings of these disorders, we can improve our care of these patients." Going forward, the team is investigating other enhancers involved in the regulation of Sox9 and other sex-determining genes and hopes to also understand how Sox9 expression is repressed in females, leading to the development of ovaries. "The datasets we've produced can be used as a roadmap to regulatory regions of other genes important for gonad development," said Christopher Futtner, one of the co-authors. The study appears in the journal Science. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar resumed office on Friday after returning from the United States, where he was undergoing treatment for a pancreatic ailment. Parrikar, who resumed office after two and a half months, sent out a video message thanking his well-wishers for their prayers. "As I resume my work, I thank all my well wishers for the prayers and blessings which gave me much needed support and strength to recover," he said. Parrikar also visited Mahalaxmi Temple in Panaji to offer prayers before resuming office in the state secretariat. Since March, the Goa Chief Minister was undergoing pancreatic treatment in the US. Last month, in a video message, Parrikar said that his treatment was yielding successful results. Before moving to the United States for further medical treatment, Parrikar was hospitalised at the Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai on February 15 following mild pancreatitis problems. He was discharged on February 22, following which he was referred for treatment in the United States. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Family members and friends bid a tearful adieu to Rising Kashmir Editor-in-Chief Shujaat Bukhari, who was shot dead by unidentified assailants yesterday. Bukhari and his personal security officer were killed outside his Press Colony residence in Srinagar on Thursday, leaving him in a pool of blood. The noted journalist was about to break his Ramzan fast with Iftar (evening meal), when the incident occurred. Mohammed Syed, a longtime friend of Bukhari described the latter as a "good human being". He also could not digest the fact that he was no more. He told ANI, "I have been associated with Mr. Bukhari for long. He joined Kashmir Times as a junior when I was there. In no time, he mastered the craft of writing and acted as a team man. He used to share his views with others. He has gone way ahead in his profession." The senior journalist went to say that he was dedicated and efficient in his profession. Recalling the invitation Bukhari had extended, Syed added, "He called me a few days back to attend a programme to mark the 10th anniversary of his newspaper (Rising Kashmir). I attended that ceremony. Little did I realise that it was my last meeting with him." Syed further said that Bukhari's death was a huge loss to his family, society and the media fraternity. Mohammad Rafiq, a former director at Doordarshan and another close friend of Bukhari, called the latter "the voice of the Kashmiris." Expressing shock, Rafiq said, "He was like my little brother. He was a good and a noted writer. It is a loss to the family and the country. He was an active and a diligent man." The news of Bukhari's death sent shockwaves across the political and media spectrum. Political leaders such as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Congress President Rahul Gandhi offered their condolences, calling the killing a "cowardice and a mindless act." The Editors Guild of India condemned the "dastardly attack" on Bukhari, calling it a "new low." Meanwhile, Omar is currently in Bukhari's residence in Baramulla to offer his condolences. In the past, Bukhari survived three assassination attempts and had been under police protection since 2000. The Jammu and Kashmir Police have released images of the men suspected to have killed Bukhari. In the two pictures released, three men can be seen riding a motorcycle with their faces covered. The state police have appealed to the public to identify the suspects. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hundreds of people from all walks of life bid tearful farewell to Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari, a day after he was shot dead by terrorists outside his Srinagar residence. Bukhari's mortal remains were first taken to his ancestral home in Baramulla from Srinagar, where a huge crowd gathered to pay their final respects. Bukhari's coffin was taken through the streets of Baramulla before his burial. Bukhari and his personal security officer were killed outside his Press Colony residence in Srinagar on Thursday, leaving him in a pool of blood. The noted journalist was going to break his Ramzan fast with Iftar (evening meal) when the incident occurred. Family members and friends mourned Bukhari's death at his Baramulla residence. Mohammed Syed, a longtime friend of Bukhari described the latter as a "good human being". He also could not digest the fact that he was no more. He told ANI, "I have been associated with Mr. Bukhari for long. He joined Kashmir Times as a junior when I was there. In no time, he mastered the craft of writing and acted as a team man. He used to share his views with others. He has gone way ahead in his profession." The senior journalist went to say that he was dedicated and efficient in his profession. Recalling the invitation Bukhari had extended, Syed added, "He called me a few days back to attend a programme to mark the 10th anniversary of his newspaper (Rising Kashmir). I attended that ceremony. Little did I realise that it was my last meeting with him." Syed further said that Bukhari's death was a huge loss to his family, society and the media fraternity. Mohammad Rafiq, a former director at Doordarshan and another close friend of Bukhari, called the latter "the voice of the Kashmiris." Expressing shock, Rafiq said, "He was like my little brother. He was a good and a noted writer. It is a loss to the family and the country. He was an active and a diligent man." Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah paid a visit to Bukhari's residence in Baramulla to offer his condolences. The news of Bukhari's death sent shockwaves across the political and media spectrum. Political leaders such as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Congress President Rahul Gandhi offered their condolences, calling the killing a "cowardice and a mindless act." The Editors Guild of India condemned the "dastardly attack" on Bukhari, calling it a "new low." In the past, Bukhari survived three assassination attempts and had been under police protection since 2000. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indo-Tibetan Border Police's (ITBP) 50th battalion reached Borasu Pass near Himachal Pradesh's Chitkul village to rescue those stranded due to heavy snowfall on Friday. Around 12 trekkers, 10 porters and a guide were stuck due to heavy snowfall for the past two days, following which an SOS call was made to the ITBP on June 11. One trekker died after falling ill while the group was on their way to Chitkul from Har Ki Dun (Uttarakhand) via Ranikanda. The ITBP battalion, who had established contact with the group, reached the spot with mountaineering equipment. They have also established a rescue base camp. On a related note, the ITBP's 17th Battalion rescued a person after a car carrying three fell into Sutlej River near Himachal Pradesh's Reckong Peo on Thursday night. The personnel retrieved a dead body and sent the injured person to a local hospital for treatment. The search operation for the missing person is currently underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 20-year- old French woman who reportedly went missing was found safe in Saarkela village of Alwar district. The foreign was missing since June 1. Gaelle Chouteau was traced by the Rajasthan Police in Saarkela village where she was learning organic farming. The French had reached Pushkar on May 30 and stayed in a hotel there, before leaving for Jaipur on June 1. She was not in touch with her family members and friends, as a result of which they started worrying and were trying to locate her by posting messages on social media. Earlier on Wednesday, French Ambassador in India Alexandre Ziegler tweeted about the disappearance of Chouteau and asked the information on her whereabouts. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also took cognizance of the matter, following which the Rajasthan police started the investigation. Chouteau said she went there on her own and intends to stay for a week more. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nine girls were arrested for protesting against Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The girls demanded relaxation in height criteria in the recently announced police constable recruitment exams. The girls were arrested on Thursday under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 151 (arrest to prevent the commission of cognisable offences) after they sneaked into a function being addressed by Chouhan at the Lal Parade ground. "They (police) took our pregnancy test. Male constables even peeped inside our changing rooms. We were made to sit with prisoners arrested for murder," one of those arrested told ANI while accusing the state police of misbehaving with them. The girl added: "Chief Minister himself had promised relaxation in height criteria (currently 158 cm). What's our crime?" Chouhan in October 2017 had announced to reduce the height criteria of 158 cm before next police recruitment for women. The girls have reportedly been protesting at the Yadgar-e-Shahjahani park for the last two days. This comes after the Madhya Pradesh government announced the recruitment of 15000 personnel at various posts in the police department last month. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court (SC) denied Pakistan's former President Pervez Musharraf, the right to file nomination papers after he failed to appear in court on Thursday. The SC had issued a directive, last week as per which Musharraf was permitted to file nomination papers for the July 25 general elections provided he appeared in person before the court on June 14. Musharraf had then filed his nomination papers from NA-1 Chitral but failed to appear in court by 2 pm on Thursday. Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Mian Saqib Nisar earlier said, if he fails to appear, he will have to face action according to the law. Musharraf's lawyer Qamar Afzal asked the court for him to appear before the court. The All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) Secretary-General Dr Amjad informed the CJP that the ex-president was trying to get new dates from the court. A four-member bench of the apex court heard Musharraf's review petition against his disqualification by the Peshawar High Court in 2013. Musharraf, who is in Dubai currently, has not returned to Pakistan since March 2016 on the pretext of medical treatment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The ailing wife of former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Kulsoom Nawaz, suffered a cardiac arrest in the intensive care unit of a London hospital on Thursday. As reported by Geo News, Kulsoom's health deteriorated late on Thursday as she collapsed in the ICU and has not regained consciousness since then. She has been kept on a ventilator, life-support machine, and emergency medicine. Kulsoom's daughter Maryam Nawaz, who is soon going to contest the upcoming general assembly elections on July 25, tweeted to inform about her mother's condition. "Ami had a sudden cardiac arrest this morning when we were on the flight and is in ICU and on the ventilator since," Maryam tweeted. She further requested people to wish for her speedy recovery. Geo News quoted sources as saying that Kulsoom's health was being closely monitored. Earlier on Thursday, Nawaz Sharif and his daughter left for London to visit Kulsoom, who has been undergoing treatment for throat cancer. In 2017, she underwent a surgery to remove diseased lymph nodes after she was diagnosed with throat cancer. Following that, she has become weaker following multiple treatments and therapies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Private firms from China and Nepal are expected to sign a joint venture (JV) pact to build hydroelectricity plants in the Himalayan Nation. As per a media report, the pact will be signed during Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's six-day official visit to China, starting June 19. "The Prime Minister's (Oli) visit will push ahead Trans-Himalayan multi-dimensional connectivity from China to Nepal and executing past accords," Kathmandu Post quoted Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali as saying. Oli has been invited to Beijing by the Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, HE Li Keqiang. Agreements will be signed on June 20 after delegation-level talks between both the leaders, including one on cross-border connectivity between the Nepal Electricity Authority and China's State Grid Company. Energy and railway agreements would be key gains for Nepal during this visit. The JV is planned in a way that it begins with the Lower Manang Marsyangdi Hydroelectric Project with an initial output of 100MW. In the next five years, the project is estimated to add upto 1,000MW to Nepal's electricity grid with an investment of around USD 3 billion. During Oli's previous visit to China, Nepal's Butwal Power Company Limited (BPC) had signed deals with three Chinese companies, including, Sichuan Provincial Investment Group (SCIG), Chengdu Xingcheng Investment Group (CXIG) (both state-owned) and Qing Yuan Consulting Co (QYEC) (private firm). The signing of deals was to develop Marsyangdi cascade 1,000MW hydropower project, Gyawali said. Other agreements to be signed during Oli's visit are survey of Kerung-Kathmandu railway and preparing its detailed project report (DPR) and construction of 'Nepal-China Friendly Bridge' at Tatopani, Sindhupalchok and Rasuwagadhi-Kerung, which was damaged by the 2015 earthquake. China said it would finish the construction of the bridge by May 2019, Gyawali added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said he will interact with the farmers across India via NaMo app on June 20. The Prime Minister said he will discuss all the topics related to the agriculture sector. "On June 20 at 9:30 AM, I will interact with the farmers of the country," Prime Minister Modi said while interacting with the beneficiaries of the Digital India campaign on his app. For the same, the Prime Minister asked all the Common Services Centers (CSC) to bring 50-100 farmers to their offices. "In this I need your support. I want you all to bring 50-100 farmers to each CSE centres across India. We will talk about all the topics related to the farmers. I want to listen to their experiences. I feel proud how we Indian altogether are developing the nation with the power of vote," he said. This comes in the wake of the 10-day farmers' strike, titled 'Kisan Avkash', across India that ended abruptly earlier this month without any clear gains for the agitators. The strike, led by Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh, witnessed the participation of more than 130 farmer organisations, who made three demands - complete loan waiver, 50 percent increase in C2 cost and fixing a Minimum Support Price (MSP). On a similar note, late week Congress President Rahul Gandhi also assured farmers of Madhya Pradesh that his party would waive aside all loans within 10 days of coming to power in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 10-month-old baby was allegedly burnt on the neck using a hot iron needle in Rajasthan's Banswara. The act was reportedly carried out with a superstitious belief of curing a disease the baby boy was suffering from. The baby's condition is critical and is being treated in a Udaipur hospital. Condemning the incident, the Chief Medical and Health Officer SL Ninama said the people from the tribal area do not take proper medical facility and often fall prey to such practices. "Till now the people from tribal area follows blind rituals in the name of treatment. They do not take proper medication but prefer these superstitious beliefs which are absolutely incorrect," Ninama told ANI. He further said strict action should be taken against the people practising such things. In a similar incident, a woman in Uttar Pradesh's Sonbhadra district suffered 25 percent injuries after being branded with a hot iron rod. The victim, a resident of Arangi village, was admitted to a hospital here with 25 percent burn injuries after two women branded her with a hot rod over suspicions of the victim being possessed. Although the victim's mother blamed her in-laws for the incident, the police said she started behaving strangely, after which the two women branded her to 'remove the ghost from her body. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Versatile actor Rajkummar Rao has bagged a new film in his kitty which will be 'Made In China', in both figurative and literal sense. The official announcement came on Friday from noted trade analyst, Taran Adarsh. "Rajkummar Rao in #MadeInChina... Produced by Dinesh Vijan... Directed by Mikhil Musale, who had directed the National Award winning Gujarati film #WrongSideRaju... #MadeInChina will be shot in Ahmedabad and across China... Starts Sept 2018... Official announcement," he tweeted. The 'Omerta' star will play a struggling Gujarati businessman, who sets on a journey to China in order to make his business flourish. The hilarious journey and several lessons leave Rajkummar a successful entrepreneur. As the title suggests, it will be majorly shot in China with parts being shot in Ahmedabad. The film will be directed by National Award-winner Mikhil Musale, who won a National Award for his 2016 drama-thriller 'Wrong Side Raju'. Meanwhile, Dinesh Vijan of 'Hindi Medium' fame will produce the flick. 'Made in China' is scheduled to go on floors in September this year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An estimated two-thirds of the 1.2 million Rohingya refugees are all set to celebrate their first Eid in Bangladesh. However, the 700,000 Rohingyas stuck in the world's biggest refugee camp in Bangladesh's Cox Bazar, have no means to celebrate the Muslim festival. Most of them are more concerned with day-to-day survival as they have been suffering due to heavy rains over the last few days. Some organisations are handing out new clothes and food to a number of Rohingyas for Eid, but the mood for celebration is very low in the camps, as per some Rohingya leaders. The Refugee Rehabilitation and Relief Commission office claimed that there are enough mosques at the camps for people to offer Eid prayers, but authorities have still not planned any form of Eid prayer congregation, Dhaka Tribune reported. Security has also been beefed up at all the camps ahead of the festival. Rohingyas are a Muslim minority ethnic group in Myanmar and are considered to be illegal immigrants. More than 700,000 Rohingya refugees are languishing in Bangladeshi refugee camps, after fleeing a brutal Myanmar army campaign launched in August last year. The United Nations had said the scorched-earth operation, which had left hundreds of villages burned to ash in Myanmar's Rakhine state, amounted to 'ethnic cleansing'. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On the last leg of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) 'Sampark for Samarthan' (Contact for Support) campaign, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday met six influential people in Lucknow. Talking to media, Adityanath said, "The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking India on the new path of development. I felt very delighted after meeting six influential personalities in the state as a part of drive. I hope these people will help us in making people aware about the achievements of the Modi government." Meanwhile, senior Samajwadi Party leader, Azam Khan took a jibe at the campaign and said, "Who were the six people, I don't know because I was not called nor invited. If a person like me was not there then what is the use of this Samarthan." The Chief Minister, accompanied by other dignitaries, firstly met Padma Shri awardee Mansoor Hasan at his residence in Lucknow. In 2011, Hasan was awarded the Padma Shri for his contribution in the development of cardiology. After meeting with Hassan, the Chief Minister reached posthumous Paramvir Chakra awardee Captain Manoj Pandey's residence in Gomtinagar, who lost his life in Kargil war. Adityanath met Pandeya's father and mother. The Chief Minister later met with renowned theatre personality and Padma Shri awardee Raj Bisaria, Justice (retired) H.N. Tilhari, Lieutenant General (retired) R.P. Shahiand, eminent educationist Bhumitra Dev. Aditynath also presented them a booklet listing achievements of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government in four years. Launched in May this year by BJP president Amit Shah, the 'Sampark for Samarthan' initiative was devised to generate awareness about the Prime Minister Modi-led government's achievements in the last four years. In the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Shah will reach out to 50 people personally with details of initiatives and achievements of the government, whereas each BJP worker is expected to contact at least 10 people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met eminent cardiologist Mansoor Hasan in Lucknow as a part of Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) 'Sampark se Samarthan' (Contact for Support) initiative. Hasan is known for helping establish the Lari Cardiology Centre at King George's Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow. Even after retiring from his services at KGMU, Hasan continued to be involved in clinical cardiology, besides having a keen interest to be updated with the recent advances occurring in this field. In 2011, Hasan was awarded the Padma Shri for his contribution in the development of cardiology. For those unversed, the 'Sampark se Samarthan' initiative was launched in May this year by BJP president Amit Shah to generate awareness about the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's achievements in the last four years. In the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Shah will reach out to 50 people personally with details of initiatives and achievements of the government, whereas each BJP worker is expected to contact at least 10 people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's defence counsel has been given a last chance to commence their final arguments in the Avenfield properties reference after Eid holidays, the accountability court said on Thursday. Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir informed the counsel that he had time till July 10 to conclude the trial in three references, as per Dawn. Nawaz Sharif and his family are facing trial in three corruption cases filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), which are Avenfield properties, Gulf Steel Mills and Al-Azizia Steel Mills. Barrister Jahangir Jadoon submitted the papers of attorney on Sharif's behalf. He also filed an exemption application explaining that Sharif and his daughter, Maryam Nawaz departed for London on Thursday and hence, could not appear before the court. The judge asked Jadoon to forward final arguments in the Avenfield. In response, the lawyer said his client had not instructed him to argue the case since he needed time to appoint another counsel. The court then asked the counsel for Maryam Nawaz and her spouse (R) Captain Mohammad Safdar to start his arguments since they were scheduled for the same date. Safdar's advocate informed the court that senior counsel Amjad Pervez was suffering from dehydration and was unwell. The additional deputy prosecutor general (ADPG) of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi, claimed that the defence counsel was on purpose using delaying tactics in an attempt to drag the trial proceedings. Sharif's lawyer Khwaja Haris on June 11, terminated his legal services to Nawaz and his family in corruption cases, citing an inability to appear before accountability court on weekends. Haris also stated that the Supreme Court had 'dictated on completing the trial within a month, which was not possible.' The judge fixed June 19 for the cross-examination of Wajid Zia in the Al-Azizia/Hill Metal Establishment reference. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The trustees of Tata Sons on Thursday extended their support to R Venkataramanan in connection with the ongoing bribery investigation against AirAsia Private Limited. A combined meeting of the trustees of Tata Trusts was held on Thursday. A statement released by the trust read that they "reaffirmed their complete trust and continued support to Venkataramanan under whose executive leadership as Managing Trustee, the Tata Trusts have done, and are continuing to do, outstanding work across India." "The office of R Venkataramanan, in his capacity as a Non-Executive Director and a nominee of Tata Sons on the Board of Air Asia India Limited, in the Trust office premises, was visited by the authorities and clarifications sought on some papers relating to Air Asia India, some of which were taken by the authorities," the statement added. The trustees further expressed concern that "inaccurate and mischievous reports were carried by some media entities to give an impression that the Tata Trusts' offices were raided by the investigating authorities, which did not take place." "The trustees categorically reiterated that the reported investigations have nothing whatsoever to do with the affairs of any of the Tata Trusts and noted that papers and documents relating to the Trusts were neither seen nor called for by the investigators," the statement further read. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday and discussed issues related to the state. A separate High Court for Telangana, speeding up state railway projects, allotment of defence land for construction of secretariat, Government of India funding support for Kaleshwaram Lift irrigation Project, were among the few things they discussed. KCR submitted separate letters for each issue-- a total of ten letters. He also requested for Rs. 20,000 crores from the Centre for the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, which would provide irrigation potential to 18 lakh acres, water for drinking and industrial purposes. A fresh Presidential Order adjusting zones, multi-zones, and state cadre have been requested to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Telangana State Government had reorganised the erstwhile 10 districts into 31 districts. A request for a state High Court has been made to the Law Ministry. The High Court at Hyderabad is contemplated to be common High Court for a short period in view of the lack of time to establish separate High Court for the residuary State of Andhra Pradesh at the time of Reorganisation of Andhra Pradesh. The railway network in Telangana is below average, the state government has requested the Indian Railways to accelerate the various projects and a new railway line connecting Kazipet and Karimnagar. The state government has requested the Ministry of Defence to transfer defence lands in Secunderabad / Hyderabad to the state government for constructing the Secretariat building. The State Government also submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Finance seeking assistance for the development of backward areas. An Indian Institute of Management for the state has also been requested. The Government of India recently issued an order to drop Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) scheme. Hyderabad also came under the scheme, the state government has requested the Central government to review the order and make amends, as some companies have already started setting up industries. A request to set up an Indian Institute of Information Technology in Karimnagar has been made to the Ministry of Human Resource Development. The state government has also requested Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) for 21 districts if the state to cover each district. Currently, the state has nine existing JNV, which were established before the bifurcation. The state of Telangana was formed on June 2, 2014. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings of thunderstorms in the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh for the next two days. Charan Singh, Scientist, India Meteorological Department said, "Dusty weather in north-west India will see an improvement from tomorrow. Thunderstorm activity will be seen in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana in the next one to two days." Meanwhile, 26 flights have been cancelled due to poor visibility in Chandigarh as a thick blanket of dust has covered the city. "Thick blanket of dust is there(Chandigarh). As of now, it seems that there'll be some respite from these conditions in next 48-72 hours. Monsoon is still in weak phase, however, there are chances of its revival by end of the month," said S. Paul, Director, India Meteorological Department. The cancelled flights included seven flights of IndiGo, eight Jet Airways flights, three GoAir flights, five Air India flights and one each flight of Vistara, AirAsia and SpiceJet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Its not a secret that African Americans in 2018 still face a particular scrutiny, oppression and racism that other minorities dont see as often. Among black men it is particularly the case whether police brutality, an uneven (to be kind) prison and judicial system, or simply the many institutionalized disadvantages all are debilitating by their nature. But what if you add being gay to the mix? The Pride Center at Equality Park has sought to address the issues faced by gay black men in a program it has run for about four years The Kiki Project. Kiki is a word that developed out of black and Latino gay social culture. Put simply, its a time when friends get together to chit-chat. We asked Lorenzo Robertson who manages the project with Jakari Roundtree (program specialist) and Ederick Johnson (project coordinator) about some of the issues gay black men face. How did the Kiki Project come about? From several conversations with the Florida Department of Health in Broward County. The Pride Center was approached to implement a program specifically for black gay men in Broward County. That was the catalyst. We wanted a program that would appeal to black, same-gender loving men, implemented by black, same-gender loving men. Whats the projects value? It gives voice to many men that have felt voiceless in the past, through our community conversations and Kiki sessions. [It] provides a forum [and] safe space to be homosexual, black, vulnerable, HIV positive, HIV negative, effeminate, masculine, top, bottom, safe or raw. The value is [also] education on a variety of topics around HIV prevention in a non-threatening environment from people that look like the audience. Another value is that the community at large has an opportunity to see black, same-gender loving men who are unapologetically same-gender loving men. Has it been easy to recruit participants? It has never been a huge struggle to get men to host. When we initially started we partnered with the BrothasSpeak group a network of black, same-gender loving men that meet weekly at the Pride Center. However, that source was exhausted within a few months. So, the recruitment effort to find hosts is ongoing and we are continuously reinventing ourselves to appeal to community members that we do not come in contact with frequently. [We] are always networking to assure that we are meeting new people and seeking hosts for our Kiki sessions and participants for our community conversations. What are the issues and challenges for gay black men? Black, same-gender loving men face a myriad of contradictions within the black community. We face the issues about being the angry black man when we voice opposing opinions; we are labeled lazy, criminals, and other negative stereotypes depicting black people and black men, more importantly. In the black community it is already determined that HIV is a gay disease, therefore we are destined to get it or [its] Gods punishment for being gay. HIV is a disease, but the issues of racism are abundant toward men that are gay and black. We get the discrimination and disrespect from the gay community and from our own black community. Many black, same-gender loving men do not have adequate access to health care and/or are fearful of being outed from community members, both in the gay and black communities. We face many concerns that we are a disgrace to our people because of our sexual orientation and doubly if we are HIV positive. Other challenges and issues are [that] we are a fetish for many white men and not [someone] they would want in a relationship outside of sex in the wee hours of the morning away from their friends. We also have the issue of internalized homophobia and self-hatred which impact our desire to seek treatment if we know our HIV status. But one of the greatest issues is living in a racist society that does not value black men or black people. Another is one of acceptance in all areas of life, where we work, play, live and worship. Another challenge is that when people, including blacks, think about gay people, they think white. Black, same-gender loving men are not at the table and are not a part of the conversation when it comes to issues in the LGBTQ-plus community. It is as though we do not exist. The project works with high school kids? Our work within the school system, our Kiki Culture project for Adolescent Sexual Minority Males, has gone well but the challenge has been gaining participation from that population because of transportation, and just the interest level of youth. However, for the ones that have participated, they have gained knowledge about HIV prevention, safer sex practices, and other valuable information about being black, same-gender loving men who live their lives authentically [and] openly. We have concluded work for this school term and we anticipate working with the Broward County Public Schools beginning this fall. How does the project dovetail with the Get Your Life program? [It] is a collaborative with Advocates for Youth out of D.C. The intervention is an adaptation of the Many Men, Many Voices intervention designed for black gay men to address social determinants surrounding being black and gay. The social determinants are religion, homophobia, internalized homophobia, racism, identity, acceptance, HIV, incarceration, poverty, institutional racism, systemic racism and violence that occur simply because you are a black man living in a racist society. We wanted there to be a great deal of dovetailing from the Kiki Project into Get Your Life, but the reverse has occurred on occasion. For more, go to PrideCenterFlorida.org. United States President Donald Trump on Friday slammed two Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials who exchanged text messages criticising him during the 2016 election. President Trump took to Twitter and mentioned an exchange of text messages, between FBI agent Peter Strzok and lawyer Lisa Page where they discussed to "stop" him (Trump) from becoming the President. "FBI Agent Peter Strzok, who headed the Clinton & Russia investigations, texted to his lover Lisa Page, in the IG Report, that "we'll stop" candidate Trump from becoming President. Doesn't get any lower than that!" Trump tweeted. In another tweet, he said, "The IG Report is a total disaster for Comey, his minions and sadly, the FBI. Comey will now officially go down as the worst leader, by far, in the history of the FBI. I did a great service to the people in firing him. Good Instincts. Christopher Wray will bring it proudly back!" The text was disclosed in a report issued by the United States Justice Department's inspector general on Thursday with respect to the case of former US Secretary of States Hillary Clinton's mail server. As per the Fox news, the report drafted by Horowitz retrieved new text messages exchanged between agent Peter Strzok, and FBI lawyer Lisa Page who are considered to be in a relationship. The report mentioned the texts to be 'disappointing' and said it could lead to the questioning of the integrity of the 2016 Clinton probe. Further, a slew of anti-Trump messages were found to be exchanged between the two via government devices. One of them was about Strzok vowing to 'stop' Trump from being elected just months before the presidential election. On August 8, 2016, Page had sent a message to Strzok asking "[Trump's] not ever going to become president, right? Right?!" and Strzok replied "No. No he won't. We'll stop it. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The British actor Robert Pattinson while talking about his blockbuster Twilight revealed that "it was a massive turning point in my life", adding that "I wasn't entirely sure I was going to be an actor until after that movie". Talking to E Online about his favourite memory from the sets of Twilight, Pattinson said "The whole thing" was his favourite memory, adding, "That first movie was great." It has been over a decade since the vampire love story 'Twilight' hit the theatres starring Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart. The movie turned out to be a blockbuster hit making the actors overnight sensation. The Remember Me actor also spoke about his latest flick 'Damsel' in which he plays Samuel, a hopeless romantic who travels around the world to be with his lover Penelope. Robert Pattinson will be seen next in 'Damsel', a western comedy period film, opposite Mia Wasikowska which is scheduled to release on June 22, 2018. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to India Dr. Ahmed Al Banna said Friday that his country's government will take all measures necessary to help neighbouring Yemen free itself from the grip of terrorist groups like the Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and Daesh. In a statement issued here, Dr. Al Banna said, "An Arab coalition has launched military and humanitarian operations in Western Yemen to facilitate uninterrupted supply of relief aid to the Yemeni people by liberating the Red Sea port city of Hodeida from terrorist control." "The coalition action is at the request of the legitimate government of Yemen. Yemeni President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi yesterday reiterated his call to the Arab coalition to liberate the port city of Hodeidah through military means after having exhausted all efforts to reach a political solution because of the intransigence of the Houthi rebels," Dr. Al Banna added. "The Arab coalition is spearheaded by the Yemeni National Army, aided by local Yemeni resistance fighters, many of whom are from the Hodeida area. It includes military forces from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and several Arab nations. The current operations to liberate Hodeida port are in line with UN Security Council Resolutions 2216, 2231 and 2286. The UAE and the rest of the Arab coalition continue to strongly support the efforts of the UN Special Envoy, Martin Griffiths, consistent with UN Security Council resolutions," he said. "The immediate aim of the liberation of Hodeida port is to alleviate the suffering of the civilian population in Yemen and create conditions favourable to achieving a negotiated settlement by cutting off supplies of illicit arms that have fueled an insurgency in that country. In the coalition's assessment, Iran has been linked to supplies of unmanned aerial vehicles, small weapons, drone boats and other arms in direct violations of UN Security Council Resolutions 2216 and 2231. Our assessment is that once Iranian arms supplies to the militias are stopped, the ballistic missile attacks by the Houthis against neighbouring countries will stop, marking a significant improvement in regional security," Ambassador Al Banna maintained through his statement. He claimed that Houthi rebels have misconstrued all goodwill gestures from the UAE as a sign of for weakness. "The Arab coalition has, therefore, come to the conclusion that liberating Hodeida port from terrorist control will block illegal Iranian weapons transfers...The larger context of the coalition operations in Yemen in general is to end the Iranian aggression and interference in the affairs of the Arab and the region. The liberation of the Hodeida port will provide a fillip to the revival of the peace process and a return to the negotiation table," the UAE envoy said. He added, "From April 2015 until May 2018, the UAE has provided USD 3.76 billion in assistance to Yemen, benefitting more than 13.8 million people from its 12 governorates. In response to the UN Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan 2018, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have together contributed USD 1 billion. "UAE and coalition operation to retake Hodeida will also improve the flow of humanitarian assistance to areas controlled by Houthi rebels and areas controlled by the legitimate government of Yemen," he said. "Liberating Hodeida and creating conditions favourable to achieving a negotiated settlement in Yemen will help to refocus full attention to the fight against AQAP (Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) and Daesh that present serious risks to other countries targeted by extremist groups. The Arab coalition urges other nations and interested parties to intensify efforts to facilitate the political transition process and to support humanitarian efforts to meet the urgent needs of the Yemeni people," he concluded. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is on a visit to Beijing, said on Friday the US is committed to a "results-oriented relationship" with China as both the countries are dedicated towards denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. Pompeo tweeted to inform that he had a "productive meeting" with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Politburo member Wang Yang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. "Productive meeting with President Xi, Politburo Member Yang, and Foreign Minister Wang. Talked about #DPRK, trade, South China Sea, and a range of other issues. We are committed to a constructive, results-oriented relationship with #China" Pompeo tweeted. Pompeo showed his willingness to enhance communication with China, properly handle outstanding issues including the movement in the South China Sea, deepen cooperation in various fields, and meet global and regional challenges. He further appreciated China's role in working towards denuclearisation of North Korea. "Thanks to President Xi for hosting me. US and #China are firmly committed to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and facilitating a lasting and stable peace in the region," he added. In response to this, Xi said that the issues concerning the Korean Peninsula were complex and needed to be resolved step by step, reports the Chinese state-owned Xinhua news agency. Further, Xi discussed the outcomes of the Singaporean summit with Pompeo. They also held talks on the on-going trade war between two countries. The US and China had undergone a bilateral trade war as the former issued an advisory to impose 25 percent of trade tariffs on steel and aluminum products and another set of taxes on Chinese tech goods worth US dollar 50 million. In retaliation, China threatened to impose 25 percent tariff on USD 50 billion worth of US exports. As reported by the Xinhua News agency, Xi called on both North Korea and the US to implement the consensus reached by North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and American president Donald Trump during the summit. He said that the two countries could help bring policies that could benefit the entire by strengthening communication, enhancing mutual trust, and expanding cooperation which in return would their bilateral ties. Xi suggested that the two countries needed to respect each other's strategic intentions and undertake actions that would facilitate their forty years old diplomatic ties. Focusing on the US-China relations, Xi said that they were committed to developing cooperative relations featuring mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, and win-win results. He called for further high-level meetings and institutional dialogues between with the US and enhancing people-people ties. While talking of inclusion of Taiwan in the country and the on-going trade conflicts with the US, Xi said that the latter was able to handle these issues in a prudent way. He further said the Singaporean summit was historic, fruitful, and was necessary for the denuclearisation and asked the US to provide a political solution for the current situation of both Korean countries. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said his government is working on the modalities of farm loan waivers. Taking to Twitter, the Chief Minister said the government is looking to develop a scientifically-procured process so that farmers can reap the maximum benefit from the loan waiver. "Dear farmers, Let there be no confusion on farm loan waiver. I am fully committed to the loan waiver. I want to ensure it is done scientifically benefitting maximum farmers. I am working on the modalities and will announce it shortly," he tweeted. Days after taking oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Kumaraswamy met representatives of farmers groups in Bengaluru and discussed the problems faced by them. During the meeting, he promised to honour his commitment towards the farming community on farm loans within 15 days of coming to power. Waiving farmers' loan was one of the main focuses of Kumaraswamy's campaign during the recently-concluded state assembly elections. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Moody's Investor Service Union Bank of India announced that Moody's Investor Service has assigned Counterparty Risk Ratings (CRRs) to the Bank as under - Local currency long term CRR - Baa3 Local currency short term CRR - P-3 Given the stable ratings outlook, Union Bank of India's ratings are unlikely to face upward pressure over the next 12-18 months. Nevertheless, Moody's could revise the ratings outlook to positive if the bank returns to profitability on a sustained basis, which will help in internal capital generation. Moody's could downgrade Union Bank's BCA and ratings if further credit losses worsen its capital position. Any indication that government support for the bank has diminished could also lead to a downgrade of the bank's ratings. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Wipro rose 0.36% to Rs 267.70 at 9:19 IST on BSE after the company announced that it signed two multi-year business deals. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 20.56 points, or 0.06% to 35,579.26. On the BSE, 6393 shares were traded in the counter so far compared with average daily volumes of 64,000 shares in the past two weeks. The stock had hit a high of Rs 272 and a low of Rs 266.75 so far during the day. The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 334.75 on 16 January 2018. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 252.10 on 21 June 2017. IT major Wipro announced that it signed two multi-year business deals one with Nokia for the design and digitalisation of Nokia's sales order operations and another with LATAM Cargo, a part of Latin America's LATAM Airlines Group, for cargo management. Wipro, however, did not provide any financial details about the two contracts. Both the announcements were made separately after market hours yesterday, 14 June 2018. In the perspective of new 5G and IOT business, Nokia aims to transform its supply chain and sales order management processes. In line with this objective, Wipro will help design, digitalize and run Nokia's sales order management operations from multiple centers, globally. Wipro will deploy its end-to-end cargo management system CROAMIS for LATAM Cargo as part of its engagement with LATAM Cargo, the leader group in air cargo transport to, from and within Latin America. Cargo Reservations, Operations, Accounting and Management Information System (CROAMIS) is Wipro's next generation "as a service" end-to-end cargo management system for the aviation industry. On a consolidated basis, Wipro's net profit fell 6.69% to Rs 1800.80 crore on 0.73% rise in net sales to Rs 13768.60 crore in Q4 March 2018 over Q3 December 2017. Wipro is a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More than 700 Canadian school employees committed or were alleged to have committed sexual offences against nearly 1,300 children over the past 20 years, according to a report released by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (CCCP). The report, a first-of-its kind study of child sexual abuse in the country, identified 750 cases of sexual offences (or alleged offences) against a minimum of 1,272 children between 1997 and 2017, reports Xinhua news agency. The offences were carried out or allegedly carried out by 714 employees or former employees working in kindergarten to Grade 12 schools across Canada. Eighty-six per cent of the offenders were certified teachers, while other school employees charged with crimes also included educational assistants, student teachers, lunch monitors, volunteers, secretaries, custodians and school bus drivers. Many of the offenders included in the study groomed their victims to build trust and spend time alone with them. Those offenders manipulated their victims to reduce the likelihood of the child reporting the abuse, the report said on Thursday. It also found that a lot of the grooming took place online or by electronic communication, such as texts and emails. According to the study, 87 per cent of the offenders were male and 75 per cent of the victims were female. In addition, 55 per cent of the victims were sexually abused on school property (including field trip locations and school buses, while 29 per cent of the victims were abused in the offender's car or residence. More than two-thirds of all victims were high school students and 73 per cent of offenders identified in the study were charged with at least one criminal offence. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The year 2018 is set to go down in history as a pivotal year from an information technology perspective, with the first commercial deployment of 5G expected this year that will dramatically boost data consumption, says a top official of Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson. "We believe that 20 per cent of all data traffic in 2023 will be on 5G, and 20 per cent in 2023 is potentially more than all kinds of traffic we have today -- about 1.5 times more than the total of 4G/3G/2G traffic today," Patrik Cerwall, Head of Strategic Marketing, Business Area Networks, Ericsson, told IANS in an interview. "We believe the usage in 5G will be higher than 4G. Users will be using more data -- not necessarily time -- as smartphones would have newer capabilities such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and 4k videos that will allow you to look around in a video," Cerwall, who is also the Executive Editor of the Ericsson Mobility Report released this week, added. North America is expected to lead the 5G uptake, with all major US operators planning to roll out 5G between late 2018 and mid-2019, said the 14th edition of the report that provides projections and analyses of the latest trends in the mobile industry. Ericsson predicts that the 5G subscriptions will become available in India from 2022, but even then, the total mobile data traffic per month in India is expected to grow five times by 2023 -- rising from 1.9 exabyte (EB) in 2017 to 10 EB by 2023. "I am not sure about the exact deployment timeline as it depends on market dynamics and spectrum availability and a lot of other factors. There are a lot of developments happening with regard to the devices and that's why we are looking at a broader scale and understanding when the devices are going to be available," Cerwall explained. Ericsson says that the first commercial smartphones supporting 5G are expected early next year. "The first smartphone we feel will be around the first half of 2019 on 2.6 GHz and we will see more smartphones coming in by the end of 2019," Cerwall said. "We see 5G adding capacity to networks, but at the same time we see enormous improvements in matters such as screen resolution, ability to enhance processing power of phones, etc.," Cerwall said, adding that 5G will later bring in changes on Industrial IoT (Internet of Things) use cases as well. "So, basically, 2018 will be pivotal year where things will start changing a lot even though we might not notice it," Cerwall said. "It's very similar to the period in 2007 when the smartphone first arrived and we did not realise its implications on the entire ecosystem till 10 years after," he added. The Ericsson Mobility Report predicts that there will be around 3.5 billion cellular IoT connected devices by 2023. "On IoT, we believe that India will see a growth from 19 million up to 72 million connected devices by 2023," Cerwall said. IoT cellular connectivity will mainly be provided by LTE/4G and 5G by 2023, with 5G supporting an increase in IoT applications, especially those requiring critical communications, according to Ericsson. In introduction of new IoT services too, 5G is set to play a critical role. "However, I feel it is very important for operators to not only look at 5G and IoT. They should also focus on improving their network performance by putting out advanced features on LTE and then conducting surveys with consumers to understand the change that has taken place," Cerwall said. The deployment of 5G, according to Ericsson, could help telecom operators reduce per gigabyte data cost by 10 times, compared to current 4G networks. But for 5G to be possible, 4G must attain a good level of maturity and India is on its way to achieve that, as, according to Cerwall, "by 2023, LTE is going to account for 80 per cent of total subscriptions in India". (Gokul Bhagabati can be contacted at gokul.b@ians.in) --IANS gb/vm/sac (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Is dark matter a source of a yet unknown force in addition to gravity? The mysterious dark matter is little understood and trying to understand its properties is an important challenge in modern physics and astrophysics. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, Germany, have proposed a new experiment that makes use of super-dense stars to learn more about the interaction of dark matter with standard matter. This experiment already provides some improvement in constraining dark matter properties, but even more progress is promised by explorations in the centre of our Milky Way that are under way. The findings are published in the journal Physical Review Letters (2018 June 15 issue). Around 1600, Galileo Galilei's experiments brought him to the conclusion that in the gravitational field of the Earth all bodies, independent of their mass and composition, feel the same acceleration. Isaac Newton performed pendulum experiments with different materials in order to verify the so-called universality of free fall and reached a precision of 1:1,000. More recently, the satellite experiment MICROSCOPE managed to confirm the universality of free fall in the gravitational field of the Earth with a precision of 1:100 trillion. These kind of experiments, however, could only test the universality of free fall towards ordinary matter, like the Earth itself, whose composition is dominated by iron (32%), oxygen (30%), silicon (15%) and magnesium (14%). On large scales, however, ordinary matter seems to be only a small fraction of matter and energy in the universe. It is believed that the so-called dark matter accounts for about 80% of the matter in our universe. Until today, dark matter has not been observed directly. Its presence is only indirectly inferred from various astronomical observations like the rotation of galaxies, the motion of galaxy clusters, and gravitational lenses. The actual nature of dark matter is one of the most prominent questions in modern science. Many physicists believe that dark matter consists of so far undiscovered subatomic particles. With the unknown nature of dark matter another important question arises: is gravity the only long-range interaction between normal matter and dark matter? In other words, does matter only feel the space-time curvature caused by dark matter, or is there another force that pulls matter towards dark matter, or maybe even pushes it away and thus reduces the overall attraction between normal matter and dark matter. That would imply a violation of the universality of free fall towards dark matter. This hypothetical force is sometimes labeled as "fifth force," besides the well-known four fundamental interactions in nature (gravitation, electromagnetic & weak interaction, strong interaction). At present, there are various experiments setting tight limits on such a fifth force originating from dark matter. One of the most stringent experiments uses the Earth-Moon orbit and tests for an anomalous acceleration towards the galactic center, i.e., the center of the spherical dark matter halo of our galaxy. The high precision of this experiment comes from lunar laser ranging, where the distance to the Moon is measured with centimeter precision by bouncing laser pulses of the retro reflectors installed on the Moon. Until today, nobody has conducted such a fifth force test with an exotic object like a neutron star. "There are two reasons that binary pulsars open up a completely new way of testing for such a fifth force between normal matter and dark matter," says Lijing Shao from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR) in Bonn, Germany, the first author of the publication in Physical Review Letters. "First, a neutron star consists of matter which cannot be constructed in a laboratory, many times denser than an atomic nucleus and consisting nearly entirely of neutrons. Moreover, the enormous gravitational fields inside a neutron star, billion times stronger than that of the Sun, could in principle greatly enhance the interaction with dark matter." The orbit of a binary pulsar can be obtained with high precision by measuring the arrival time of the radio signals of the pulsar with radio telescopes. For some pulsars, a precision of better than 100 nanoseconds can be achieved, corresponding to a determination of the pulsar orbit with a precision better than 30 meters. To test the universality of free fall towards dark matter, the research team identified a particularly suitable binary pulsar, named PSR J1713+0747, which is at a distance of about 3,800 light-years from the Earth. This is a millisecond pulsar with a rotational period of just 4.6 milliseconds and is one of the most stable rotators amongst the known pulsar population. Moreover, it is in a nearly circular 68-day orbit with a white dwarf companion. While pulsar astronomers usually are interested in tight binary pulsars with fast orbital motion when testing general relativity, the researchers were now looking for a slowly moving millisecond pulsar in a wide orbit. The wider the orbit, the more sensitive it reacts to a violation of the universality of free fall. If the pulsar feels a different acceleration towards dark matter than the white dwarf companion, one should see a deformation of the binary orbit over time, i.e., a change in its eccentricity. "More than 20 years of regular high precision timing with Effelsberg and other radio telescopes of the European Pulsar Timing Array and the North American NANOGrav pulsar timing projects showed with high precision that there is no change in the eccentricity of the orbit," explains Norbert Wex, also from MPIfR. "This means that to a high degree the neutron star feels the same kind of attraction towards dark matter as towards other forms of standard matter." "To make these tests even better, we are busily searching for suitable pulsars near large amounts of expected dark matter," says Michael Kramer, director at MPIfR and head of its "Fundamental Physics in Radio Astronomy" research group. "The ideal place is the galactic centre where we use Effelsberg and other telescopes in the world to have a look as part of our Black Hole Cam project. Once we will have the Square Kilometre Array, we can make those tests super-precise," he concludes. Reference: "Testing the Universality of Free Fall Towards Dark Matter with Radio Pulsars," Lijing Shao, Norbert Wex & Michael Kramer, 2018 Physical Review Letters [https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.241104, preprint: https://arxiv.org/abs/1805.08408]. BlackHoleCam is an ERC-funded Synergy project to finally image, measure and understand astrophysical black holes. Its principal investigators, Heino Falcke, Michael Kramer and Luciano Rezzolla, test fundamental predictions of Einstein's general theory of relativity. The BlackHoleCam team members are active partners of the global Event Horizon Telescope Consortium (EHTC). Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. As Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his ministerial colleagues continued to camping in the Raj Niwas, AAP workers continued to support them from on the capital's streets on Friday. Hundreds of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers gathered at Kejriwal's residence on Friday to continue their protest and send off packets of ration to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in protest against home delivery of ration not being implemented in Delhi. They were chanting slogans like "Prime Minister, Don't give speeches, Give ration!" "The Prime Minister is a resident of Delhi and there should be no scarcity of food in his house. Today we are providing rice to him, in future, we will deliver whatever will be required. We are requesting him to don't stop the supply of ration to the people of Delhi," AAP MP Sanjay Singh told media. Approval to Delhi government's proposal for doorstep delivery of ration to the poor is one of Kejriwal's demands. --IANS nks/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pity us poor reporters. This columnist covered a North Korean election in the 1990s. There was only one candidate! So for the first and only time in my life, I wrote a firm, confident prediction about who would win an election. I got it wrong. The North Korean Electoral College discussed the issue for hours and finally gave the presidency to the corpse of the candidate's father. I felt sorry for the loser. It must really hurt to be defeated by a decomposing pile of organic matter. (Ask Hillary Clinton.) Any way, in honour of the peace deal signed by the leader of North Korea a few days ago, we look back today on news items this columnist has featured about that country. Some years ago, my colleague Nate Thayer got into the Mausoleum of Kim Il-sung and found on the wall a framed PhD from Kensington University of California. This is not a real university, but a printer of fake degree certificates. When I want to inspire my children to think big, I remind them of this fact. A fake degree obtained through the Internet helped Kim Il-Sung get to be a world famous despot. You can achieve anything with ambition, cunning and luck. In 2011, Kim Jong-un became leader of North Korea and we started receiving announcements that he would destroy the United States, often accompanied by pictures of him looking through binoculars. We wondered when someone would tell him that a person on a beach in North Korea cannot see the US with binoculars. In 2012, he launched a missile designed to fly 2,000 kilometres over East Asia. But it blew up not far from the launch base. The following day, Kim Jong-un said any country which picked up debris would face "ruthless retaliation". In other words, they would launch another missile which would disintegrate above its launch pad. Take that! Also in 2012, Kim Jong-un did a photo-op visiting a gym. He said workers should "take exercise and receive medical treatment" so that they can "devote themselves to revolutionary work in good health". No one seemed to see the irony of the immense Mr Kim, a lover of pizza, giving out fitness tips. In 2013, Kim Jong-un released video taken in his missile launch centre. Eagle-eyed viewers noticed his monitors were running the Windows Vista programme. This was worrying. Picture the scene. Hackers send a virus to launch all the missiles at once. Kim's tech head reaches for his computer to stop them. But the screen freezes and up pops a message: "Keyboard not responding. Press any key to continue." In the following years, many claims were made that North Korean missiles could reach the United States. But I was doubtful. Their missiles could barely get out of North Korea. The only way they could get them to the US would have been to Fedex them. In late 2016, North Korean government officials banned sarcastic comments against them. I found their official Internet address and sent them a complimentary email: "Great idea, you bunch of geniuses!" I'm sure they were grateful. Now if you'll excuse me I need to buy a PhD from the Internet. You can achieve anything with ambition, cunning and luck. (Nury Vittachi is an Asia-based frequent traveller. Send ideas and comments via his Facebook page) --IANS nury/sac (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Ashish Chowdhury is missing his "Dev" co-star Sumona Chakravarty as she is not a part of the show's second season. The Colors show, set to premiere on June 25, will feature Ashish, Jigyasa Singh, Puja Banerjee and Amit Dolawat. "In this season, the other cast remains the same which includes Puja Bannerjee as Mehak, Amit Dolavat as inspector Narvekar, Joyshree Arora as Zohra Apa. But Sumona is not a part this time. All of us shared a wonderful rapport together on set," Ashish said in a statement. "We all miss her on the sets and I hope I can work with her again, soon. But Jigyasa Singh is the new addition to our family and she has bonded with all of us really well. She is really nice girl and all of us have a great time together," he added. Amit Dolavat says he loves to pull pranks on his co-actors just to lighten up their mood. Once the team was preparing for the shoot and Amit went around telling people that they will shoot in a foreign location for a few episodes. Everyone got excited and a few crew members decided to get their passports and documents ready. Finally, Amit broke out laughing as he couldn't hold his amusement any longer and confessed that he was joking. He feels it helps to have a fun environment. "We all shoot for long hours and it gets tiring for us. I always play such pranks to lighten the mood for everyone. The trick is to play such pranks with a straight face and everyone falls for it. But jokes apart, everyone on set is a great sport and it's good to mix some play with all the hard work that we put in making 'Dev 2' enthralling for viewers," Amit said in a statement. -*- Aakriti learns to play tabla for 'Kullfi Kumarr Bajewala' Child actress Aakriti Sharma has been taking tabla lessons for the upcoming episodes on the show "Kullfi Kumarr Bajewala". For one of the episodes of the Star Plus show, she was made to fake it, but she insisted on learning the tunes and then went for the take. She also requested the director to let her play the tabla in the upcoming episodes, said a source from the set. She enjoyed the process. Aakriti said: "I really liked it when my music sir taught me how to play the tabla. It was very interesting and I learned the basics within minutes." --IANS ks/rb/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Friday said senior Kashmiri journalist Shujaat Bukhari, who was shot dead by militants in Srinagar on Thursday, was "a victim of collective negligence". "Shujaat Bukhari was a victim of the collective negligence of all those who have the duty to find a political solution to the Kashmir issue," tweeted Chidambaram. "Both Islamic fundamentalism and hyper-nationalism are the obstacles to a solution. Meanwhile, numerous lives of jawans and citizens are lost," he added. --IANS sid/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Music composer Pinar Toprak is on board to work on superhero movie "Captain Marvel", scheduled to release in March 2019. Toprak, who penned additional music for the DC film "Justice League", is the first female composer to score a major comic-book movie, reports variety.com. "Captain Marvel" also happens to be about a female superhero (played by Brie Larson). Toprak said in a social media post: "It's an incredible honour to be a part of the Marvel Universe I have so many people to thank for helping me on this journey but first and foremost, my incredible agents Laura Engel and Richard Kraft for believing in me from day one." She also thanked directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck "for giving me this opportunity of a lifetime" and Marvel music supervisor Dave Jordan. --IANS ks/rb/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Most of the domestic and international flights from Chandigarh International Airport remained suspended on the second day on Friday owing to low visibility due to dust, officials said. The Met office said the situation is likely to improve late on Friday when there are chances of rainfall. "Most of the flights remained grounded due to poor visibility. However, late in the afternoon two flights, one bound for Bangkok, were operated," an official at the Chandigarh International Airport told IANS. He said all passengers bound for Dubai were transferred to Delhi via road. Local Met office director Surinder Paul said that western disturbances were approaching the region which will bring rain either on Friday night or Saturday morning and help improve the situation. The dust will settle down after the rainfall, he added. Air quality and visibility levels have been hit in the region by the dust haze. In view of dust pollution, the Haryana State Pollution Control Board has issued an advisory that no construction activity could be carried out till Saturday in districts falling under the National Capital Region. --IANS vg/him/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday targeted BJP for using the office of the Governor for the political benefits. "The trend of using the governor's office for Political benefits of the ruling party at the centre, goes against the spirit of the Constitution," he tweeted. The remarks by Naidu, also the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President, assume significance as it came on the eve of Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi. The Governor is expected to brief Modi about the latest political developments in Andhra Pradesh in the wake of ongoing fight for special status by the opposition YSR Congress and also the protests organised recently by the ruling TDP. Narasimhan, who is Governor of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, had returned to Hyderabad without meeting Modi and Rajnath Singh in April following similar remarks by Naidu. The TDP chief had then expressed his disapproval over the Governor's style of functioning, alleging that Narasimhan was playing a key role in uniting all opposition parties against the TDP. Interestingly, BJP's newly-appointed state chief Kanna Lakshminarayana is also in New Delhi to meet Modi. They are likely to discuss the strategy to be adopted by the party in the state. TDP leaders believe that the BJP is trying to join hands with YSR Congress and Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena to take on TDP. The TDP pulled out of the central government and BJP-led NDA in March over the issue of special status to the state. Naidu has since been targeting BJP and Modi for going back on their promise to accord special status. On several occasions, Naidu alleged that the BJP was hatching a "big conspiracy" against the TDP government and advised his party leaders to be ready to face any situation. --IANS ms/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The schoolmates of Dhivya Suryadevara, who has been appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of US automotive company General Motors, describe her as a calm and focused student who had all the fun. "Dhivya was very disciplined and focused. We all used to have fun together. She would not neglect her studies. She would finish her studies and yet have all the fun," Subha Srinivasan, a teacher in a Bengaluru school, told IANS on Friday. Srinivasan said Suryadevara was the youngest of the three girls in the family. On Wednesday, General Motors announced the appointment of Suryadevara as CFO, effective from September 1, 2018 reporting to Mary Barra, Chairman and CEO. "Dhivya's experience and leadership in several key roles throughout our financial operations positions her well to build on the strong business results we've delivered over the last several years," Barra was quoted as saying in a statement. G. Shyam Sunder, Corporate Legal Advisor, told IANS: "I feel very proud. Dhivya was generally a reserved and calm girl in school and one of the class toppers." Bharani Subramanian, Senior Manager at Wipro, said: "The elevation news of Dhivya as CFO of General Motors gives a good feeling and confidence that one can go to the top. "Dhivya was a calm girl. She used to move well with her circle of friends." The three were classmates of Suryadevara at St. John's Senior Secondary School here. They all passed their Class 12 exams in 1996. "She was brilliant and hard working. She had no airs about being one of the class toppers. Generally her batchmates were good and many of them are in good positions," S. Raja Ponnivelan, who taught accountancy at the school, told IANS. Suryadevara, 39, has been Vice President, Corporate Finance since July 2017. In this role, she has been responsible for corporate financial planning, investor relations and special projects. She played an integral role in the Opel divestiture, Cruise acquisition, Lyft investment and more recently, SoftBank's investment in GM Cruise, the statement said. From 2015 to 2017, Suryadevara served as Vice President, Finance and Treasurer. She helped achieve ratings upgrades from all three credit ratings agencies, completed $2 billion notes issuance to fund discretionary pension contributions and upsized and renewed GM's $14.5 billion revolver. She also served as CEO and Chief Investment Officer for GM Asset Management from 2013 to 2017. In this capacity, she was responsible for the management of business and investment activities of GM's $85 billion pension operations. Suryadevara joined GM in 2005. She received a bachelor's and master's degree in commerce from the University of Madras in Chennai and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a Chartered Accountant. --IANS vj/him/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has requested Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for fast processing of pending cases to grant citizenship rights to Hindus who migrated to India from Pakistan, Afghanistan or Bangladesh. According to information, Raje met and informed the Union Minister on Thursday that applications of several such migrants residing in different districts of Rajasthan were lying pending. The Union Home Minister has already authorised the district magistrates of Jaipur, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer to grant permanent resident and citizenship rights to such migrants. For the rest of the districts, the state Home Secretary has been authorised. These rights are, however, limited for a period extending up to two years since the notification to this effect has been published. The Chief Minister further suggested for extension of this time window for one more year. Also, she said that District Magistrates of Udaipur, Pali, Jalore, Alwar and Barmer should also be given the authority to grant citizenship rights. Besides, she suggested that the District Magistrates concerned should also be given the authority for extension of the long-term visa beyond 5 years for the migrants who are willing to have permanent citizenship in the country. Currently, the authority for visa-term extension is vested in the state government, said an official. --IANS arc/nir/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the awareness of environmental hazards and the need for sustainable eco friendly practices, the relevance of our age old techniques of handloom and heritage textiles has never been more pressingly relevant. Mix-n-match your western wear with Indian prints like air up an undyed cotton kurta with a flared yellow midi skirt, suggest experts. Manjula Tiwari, founder of Ancestry, and Siddhant Gupta, founder at Chique have listed few looks: * First, know your body type. Any selection of clothing and accessories must begin with knowing what suits your particular body type. * Tradition with a twist: Rev-up your cotton kurtas by giving it a fusion twist. Pair up an undyed cotton kurta with a flared yellow midi skirt, throw on a pair of sneakers or high-tops, pull up a backpack. Finish the look with some chunky metallic bangles. * Some of the popular prints in fusion wear include European botanical illustrations, chintz prints, to Indian geometric ikat or temple border motifs. * A boho maxi dress made in a zari booti Chanderi handloom, or a combination of the global ath-leisure trend with a bengal handloom taanth mulmul, or the sophisticated subtle elegance of a cape sleeve trench and tailored trousers in a gold zari Benarasi brocade are some of the outfits you could try out. * Muted natural earthy tones and saturated bright hues of red, rani pink, green and indigo would make for a good colour palette. * It's important to strike the right balance between the East and the West. Try a boho jumpsuit with nicely coordinated ethnic accessories. Play up with your shoes for more detail. Throw on your white sneakers or a pair of silver metallic Kohlapuris. * Pairing a designer Gujarati cold shouldered crop top with a plain bold coloured dhoti looks elegant and classy. Carry it with a stylish pair of jhumkas and matte lipstick which will absolutely complete your look. * Indian prints and fabric are more glamorous than they are perceived to be. An Indian indigo print top paired with white distressed jeans, metallic choker and sneakers would be a good example. * Instead of shimmery and glitters, wear muted colour prints either on a bold colour base or just some added embellishment on the floral. Layered organza tops in print outer layer and sequin under layers is the stress-free combination, whether you are wearing a high waist trouser, a full volume skirt or a typical lehenga or maybe even a sari. --IANS ks/dc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NASA astronauts Ricky Arnold and Drew Feustel are set to go on their third spacewalk together this year on Thursday at the International Space Station. Their new Expedition 56 crewmates Serena Aunon-Chancellor and Alexander Gerst are training today to support the two spacewalkers. Arnold and Feustel will begin Thursday's spacewalk at 8:10 a.m. to install new high definition cameras to support upcoming commercial crew missions from SpaceX and Boeing to the orbital laboratory. The first uncrewed test missions are planned to begin later this year. The cameras will provide improved views of the commercial crew vehicles as they approach and dock to the station. NASA TV will provide complete live coverage of the 211th space station spacewalk starting at 6:30 a.m. Aunon-Chancellor and Gerst, who just arrived at the station on Friday, will assist the spacewalkers on Thursday. Gerst will help the spacewalkers in and out of their spacesuits. Aunon-Chancellor will operate the Canadarm2 robotic arm. The duo practiced today on a computer the robotics procedures necessary to maneuver a spacewalker to and from the worksite on the starboard side of the station's truss structure. Arnold and Feustel had some extra time today to work on science and maintenance activities. Arnold worked with the Microgravity Science Glovebox to troubleshoot a semiconductor crystal growth experiment. Feustel performed some plumbing work in the Tranquility module before relocating a pair of incubator units to support new experiments being delivered on the next SpaceX Dragon cargo mission. Finally, the duo readied the Quest airlock and their spacesuits for Thursday morning's spacewalk. On-Orbit Status Report Solidification Using Baffles in Sealed Ampoules (SUBSA): Today, the crew troubleshot the SUBSA experiment that is currently located in the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG). The crew removed the sample ampoule, which was lodged inside the chamber bore. Additional troubleshooting is being discussed among the ground teams. The objective of the SUBSA investigation is to advance understanding of the processes involved in semiconductor crystal growth. It offers a gradient freeze furnace for materials science investigations that can reach 850C. Samples are contained in transparent quartz or ceramic ampoules with high definition video imaging available in real-time along with remote commanding of thermal control parameters. Grip: The crew completed the second of three dynamic seated GRIP operations. ESA's Grip investigation tests how the nervous system takes into account the forces due to gravity and inertia when manipulating objects. Results from this investigation may provide insight into potential hazards for astronauts as they manipulate objects in different gravitational environments, support design and control of haptic interfaces to be used in challenging environments such as space, and provide information about motor control that will be useful for the evaluation and rehabilitation of impaired upper limb control in patients with neurological diseases. Multi-Omics: Immediately upon awakening, a crewmember collected and processed saliva samples prior to inserting the samples into a Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI). The Multi-omics analysis of human microbial-metabolic cross-talk in the space ecosystem (Multi-Omics) investigation evaluates the impacts of space environment and prebiotics on astronauts' immune function, by combining the data obtained from the measurements of changes in the gut microbiological composition, metabolites profiles, and the immune system. Marrow: A crewmember collected blood samples for their Flight Day 5 session of CSA's Marrow today. Air samples were also collected to support the Marrow investigation. Marrow looks at the effect of microgravity on bone marrow. It is believed that microgravity, like long-duration bed rest on Earth, has a negative effect on the bone marrow and the blood cells that are produced in the bone marrow. External Wireless Communication System (EWC) Ethernet Cable Connection: This morning, the crew routed and installed an Ethernet cable in the US Lab needed to activate the EWC system scheduled for installation during Thursday's US Extravehicular Activity (EVA) #51 Node 2 External Wireless Communications (EWC). Mating this cable to the J14 Gore Panel allows for a checkout of the system while the crew are outside of ISS. EVA Robotics Onboard Trainer (ROBoT) Session: Today the crew tasked with providing Intravehicular (IV) Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) support during Thursday's US EVA #51 Node 2 EWC performed a robotics procedure review and an On-Board Training (OBT) session using ROBoT. ROBoT is an on-orbit version of the ground-based Dynamics Skills Trainer (DST) that simulates robotics operations with graphical feedback. Today's Planned Activities: All activities are complete unless otherwise noted. Multi Omics Saliva Operations Multi Omics Saliva sample MELFI Insertion Multi Omics Saliva Stow Multi Omics Question CSA Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection Photo TV Battery Charge Initiation CSA Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection Spin Conclude Solidification Using Baffles in Sealed Ampoules Sample Troubleshooting CSA Generic Sample MELFI Insertion CSA Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection Conclude And Stow COSMOCARD. Closeout Operations GRIP science performance in seated position Compound Specific Analyzer-Combustion Products (CSA-CP) Checkout Part 2 Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Inspection Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Pre-Treat Tank Remove & Replace Check the Results of [BKC] Laptops Antivirus Scanning and Report Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Cuff Checklist Print Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Waste Water Bag (WWB) Changeout Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Full Fill Rodent Research Locker Relocate Lab External Wireless Communication System (EWC) Ethernet Cable Connection Space Automated Bioproduct Lab 1 and 2 Unit Relocate Photo TV Battery Charge Swap Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis CALCIUM. Session 3 of the Experiment Casablanca 2 Server Ethernet Cable Move Rodent Research Locker Relocate Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Full Fill Photo/TV XF305 Camcorder Deploy and Trash ISS Crew Orientation maintenance Glacier Ice Brick and Cold Block Inserts Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Equipment Lock Preparation Part 1 CEVIS Handover Video Review PAO Preparation Photo TV Battery Charge Swap Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config Columbus Setup Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) in Columbus Respiratory Support Pack (RSP) - Checkout Robotics Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Procedure Review On-board Training (OBT) EVA Robotics Onboard Trainer (ROBoT) Session Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Sample Data Record MELFI Dewar Inventory COL1F2 Cargo Transfer Bag (CTB) Relocate MELF2 Dewar3 Cleanout Part 1 Photo TV Battery Charge Deactivation Completed Task List Activities: None Ground Activities: All activities are complete unless otherwise noted. MCC-H Step Up Lab MCA Zero Calibration Three-Day Look Ahead: Wednesday, 06/13: EVA Prep (Tool Config, Procedure Review/Conf, Equipment Lock Prep), RFID Tag, GRIP, EML Sample Chamber, Debrief, PROX activation Thursday, 06/14: EVA 51 (N2 EWC power and Ethernet cable routing from Lab to N2, Install WIF #16 and #17 Booms with HD Camera and EWC Connections, CP3 Light R&R, CP3 HD Camera R&R, CATS Door Closure) Friday, 06/15: Post EVA (EVA tool stow, EVA Debrief, EMU Water Recharge), GRASP, Acoustic Monitoring Survey QUICK ISS Status - Environmental Control Group: Component - Status Elektron - On Vozdukh - Manual [] 1 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV1") - On [] 2 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV2") - Off Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab - Operate Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 - Standby Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab - Operate Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 - Idle Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) - Process Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) - Standby Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab - Full Up Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 - Off Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. Within hours of releasing his picture for public help, police here on Friday arrested the fourth suspect in senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari's murder. Police earlier in the day released the video of a bearded man who was apparently trying to help the injured in Bukhari's car after militants fired a volley of automatic gunfire at him. This man was reportedly picking up a pistol from the murder site after which he escaped. Police sources said this fourth suspect was most likely part of the team of assassins. "He has been arrested and his interrogation is going on," a source said. Meanwhile, state police chief S.P. Vaid told reporters here that "rest assured, we will get the killers". CCTV footage had shown three masked assassins escaping with the murder weapon on a motorcycle. --IANS sq/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Although the percentage of women in leadership roles at Google has increased from 20.8 to 25.5 per cent in the last four years, women still make up only 30.9 per cent of its global workforce while men 69.1 per cent, the tech giant has revealed. In its annual diversity report released on Thursday, Google said it has made some progress in leadership ranks by gender and ethnicity. "The data in this report shows that despite significant effort, and some pockets of success, we need to do more to achieve our desired diversity and inclusion outcomes," said Danielle Brown, VP-Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. In 2017, women hires in tech positions rose to 24.5 per cent, although overall hiring of women dropped from 31.4 per cent to 31.2 per cent. "Since 2014, women hires in tech have increased from 20.8 per cent to 24.5 per cent, which shows that our focus on hiring more women into technical positions is having impact," said Brown. The diversity report came after a year when an employee named James Damore sent out a long anti-diversity memo and was later fired. Damore's memo, titled "Google's Ideological Echo Chamber", claims that when it comes to technology, there is a biological difference between men and women. In February this year, the US National Labour Relations Board (NLRB) said that Google did not violate labour laws when it fired Damore. According to the new diversity report, in terms of race and ethnicity (US data only), 2.5 per cent of Google's workforce is Black, 3.6 per cent is Hispanic/Latin, 36.3 per cent is Asian and 53.1 per cent is White. "Our gains in women's representation have largely been driven by White and Asian women. Representation of Asian women increased considerably to 12.5 per cent of Google's workforce, up from 10 per cent overall in 2014," the report noted. This is lower than the increase for Asian men who make up 25.7 per cent of Google, up from 21.4 per cent in 2014. Attrition rates in 2017 were highest for Black Googlers followed by Latin Googlers, and lowest for Asian Googlers. "Black Googler attrition rates, while improving in recent years, have offset some of our hiring gains, which has led to smaller increases in representation than we would have seen otherwise." "We're working hard to better understand what drives higher attrition and taking focused measures to improve it," Brown added. --IANS na/and/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Suresh Prabhu on Friday said that officials from India and the US are expected to meet soon "most likely within this month" to take forward the dialogue process to resolve trade issues between the two sides. According to the minister, who holds the charge of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, both sides have decided to resolve their pending issues on trade. The development comes after the minister visited the US on June 10-12, 2018 and held discussions with the US Trade Representative Robert E. Lighthizer, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur L. Ross and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. Recently, the US unilaterally imposed import duties on steel and aluminium products and raised concerns over India's import duties on dairy products among others. However, the minister said that India's concerns over "Visa" and other issues were also put forth to the US representatives. --IANS rv/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Katnataka's ruling JD-S-Congress has set a target of constructing 5 lakh houses across the state, including 2 lakh in Bengaluru, for poor families over the next five years, said an official on Friday. "The decision to build 5 lakh houses for the BPL (before poverty line) families was taken on Thursday at a meeting Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy held with top officials of the departments of Finance, Revenue and Urban and Rural Development," said the official of the CM's office. To be built in phases over the next five years with financial aid from the Central government, Kumaraswamy has directed the respective departments to identify the lands required in cities, towns and villages across the state for the houses. "As the Chief Minister also holds the Finance portfolio, he will spell out the fund allocation for the houses to be built in this fiscal in the budget he will present in mid-July," the official told IANS here. State Housing Minister U.T. Abdul Khader of the Congress and senior officials of the department will estimate funds required for land acquisition and building at least one lakh houses per year and submit it for the budgetary allocation. "The Chief Minister has also directed the officials to adopt corporate style of functioning for implementing the housing project for the poor as it has potential to generate hundreds of direct and indirect jobs," added the official. --IANS fb/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kerala policeman Gavaskar, hospitalized after alleging that he was beaten up by the daughter of a senior police officer, on Friday got the support of the police officers' body. The incident took place early on Thursday, according to Gavaskar, the official driver to Additional Director General of Police Sudesh Kumar. The wife and daughter of Kumar apparently got angry because Gavaskar came a little late to pick them up after their morning walk. Kumar's daughter Snigdha Kumar started abusing him as she got into the car and then hit him. Gavaskar approached a police station and a case was registered. Later, Snigdha Kumar also filed a case of harassment. From his bed in the Medical College Hospital here, Gavaskar told the media on Friday that he has done no wrong. "I have worked with other senior police officers and there has never been a complaint against me. I have done no wrong and I will prove my innocence in court," he said. Kerala Police Officers' Association Secretary C.R. Biju told the media: "These things should never ever happen again and we will be fully with Gavaskar, the victim." The police headquarters asked Deputy Superintendent of Police Pratapan Nair to conduct a detailed probe into the episode and file a report at the earliest. The senior police officer with whom Gavaskar was attached has not responded to the charges hurled at his daughter. Meanwhile, the office of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has asked the police headquarters to send a list of officers who have orderlies and also the number of official vehicles being used by the officers. --IANS sg/him/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir on Friday condemned the brutal killing of renowned journalist Shujaat Bukhari outside his office in Srinagar and said none of the accused involved in the murder will be spared. "It is a sad incident. We condemn the killing of such a prominent media person. The Chief Minister has initiated an inquiry into the matter. The accused will be punished. None of the accused in this case will be spared," he told media persons after conducting a review meeting on narcotics matters of eastern India. Bukhari, the editor-in-chief of Rising Kashmir, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside his office on Thursday evening. Terming the Kashmir situation as a "big issue" for the country for many years, Ahir claimed the ongoing suspension of anti-terror operations in the state have been appreciated by the locals there but Pakistan and the local terrorist forces are trying to instigate unrest in the Valley. The minister also said that following Home Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to border areas of Kashmir that has witnessed several incidents of violence in the recent past, the government is considering to withdraw cases against minors involved in stone pelting and attacks on security forces in the region. He said the government would take a call on continuing the suspension of anti-terror operations in Kashmir and extension of ceasefire after thoroughly reviewing the situation there. "It is the responsibility of the Central government to ensure the security of its people. So if the suspension of operation would continue if it is successful in bringing peace in the region. Otherwise, the government would take appropriate actions for the welfare and safety of its people," he said. The Centre unilaterally announced suspension of anti-terror operation during the month of Ramadan since May 16. Later at the state BJP headquarters, the minister reiterated that the Centre is committed to ensure that the people of Kashmir remain happy and safe and keep its borders secure. "We will do whatever is needed to achieve that goal. "Kashmir has been burning for decades due to terrorist activities. We have always given a befitting reply to the terror tactics of Pakistan," he said. --IANS bdc/vd (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.) Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday blamed the RSS and Bharatiya Janata Party' after three Dalit boys were paraded nude and assaulted for swimming in a village well in Wakadi village. "The sole crime of these Dalit children was they were taking a dip in a well. Humanity is struggling to save its dignity," Gandhi tweeted today. He said if we don't raise our voices against this of hate and poison of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and BJP, history would not forgive us. Gandhi's comments on the issue, which has snowballed into a major political controversy, came even as a high-level team of Maharashtra Congress visited the village to assess the situation. Strongly condemning the outrage on the Dalit boys, Union Minister for Social Welfare Ramdas Athawale said he will visit the village to meet the victims and their families. On June 10, three minor Dalit boys were stripped, beaten and paraded nude in Wakadi village here for allegedly swimming in a village well. The incident served as a major embarrassment for the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena combine even as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is on a tour of Dubai, Canada and the US to attract investment. When some locals learnt of it, a large number of people, including many from upper castes, gathered near the well and pulled out the boys. They were shouted at and subjected to abuses before some persons allegedly forced the boys to strip and paraded them nude around the village. On videos, the boys can be seen wearing only sandals and some patvelia leaves and they protested when at least one person was assaulting them on the legs and back with sticks and what appeared to be a leather belt. At least two persons have been arrested in connection with the incident, said Maharashtra Social Justice Minister Dilip Kamble. After much cajoling the boys and their families reluctantly lodged a complaint with the police. But as pressures increased on them to withdraw their plea, the family members attempted to blame their children (the three boys) for their indiscretion in the matter. Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil said on Thursday night that the well belonged to a Ishwar Joshi and his servant Sonu Lohar had assaulted the boys. Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan said two persons are booked under the provisions of Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Information Technology Act, besides other charges. --IANS qn/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday blamed the RSS and the Bharatiya Janata Party' after two Dalits and a tribal boy were paraded nude and assaulted for swimming in a well in Wakadi village here. "The sole crime of these Dalit children was they were taking a dip in a well. Humanity is struggling to save its dignity," Gandhi tweeted. He said "if we don't raise our voices against this of hate and poison" of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the BJP, "history would not forgive us". Around 3 p.m. on June 10, the three boys were stripped, beaten and paraded nude in Wakadi village allegedly for swimming in a village well. Gandhi's comments on the issue, which has snowballed into a major political controversy, came as a high-level team of the Maharashtra Congress led by MLA Abdul Sattar visited the village in the morning and expressed complete solidarity with the victims and their families. Strongly condemning the outrage on the boys - who police have identified as two Dalits and one tribal - Union Minister for Social Welfare Ramdas Athawale said he will visit the village on Saturday to meet the victims and their families. The incident came as a major embarrassment for the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena combine when Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is on a tour of Dubai, Canada and the US to attract investment. On June 10, a large number of locals, including many from the upper castes, gathered around the well when they learnt that the boys were swimming in it and pulled them out. They were shouted at and subjected to abuses before some persons forced the boys to strip and paraded them nude around the village. On videos, the boys, two Dalits aged 15 and 16 and a tribal aged 11, can be seen wearing only sandals and some patvelia leaves around their waist. They were seen in the videos vehemently protesting when at least one person was assaulting them on the legs and back with sticks and a leather belt, and another shooting the entire act, as confirmed by the police. Jalgaon Superintendent of Police Dattatreya Karale, who is personally heading the probe, said the Pahur police station has booked two accused - Ishwar Joshi, 30, and his helper Sonya alias Prahlad Lohar, 22 - under provisions of the Indian Penal Code, SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Information Technology Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offence Act. But it was only after much cajoling that the boys and their families had reluctantly agreed to lodge a complaint with the police. However, later they came under intense pressure to withdraw their complaint, and the families resorted to blaming their own children for their indiscretion in the matter. Nationalist Congress Party MP Supriya Sule-Pawar strongly decried the incident and said she felt extremely sad such incidents occur in 21st century India. Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh President Prakash Ambedkar described the incident as shocking. "We have seen incidents in Una, Jammu & Kashmir, Bhima Koregaon... and now in Wakadi. The parents of these children are also being pressurized," said Ambedkar, who is the grandson of Babasaheb Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution. Ruling BJP ally Shiv Sena senior leader Neelam Gorhe sought an impartial probe into the incident by high-ranking officers to ensure justice to the victims. In a memorandum to Minister of State for Home (Rural) Deepak Kesarkar, she pointed out that attempts are being made to mislead the probe by showing an empty well instead of the full well where the boys went for a swim. Gorhe demanded that the lower police officials who did not immediately inform their superiors about the matter should be suspended. --IANS qn/him/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rejecting the United Nations report on alleged human rights vioaltions in the Kashmir Valley, the MIM has said that the world body has no right to interfere in the internal matters of India, but also dubbed the report as "diplomatic failure" of the Centre. Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday said that his party fully supported the government of India on the issue since it dealt with the country's sovereignty. Owaisi however said that the report of the UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights was a "diplomatic failure" of the Modi government. Addressing a meeting at the historic Mecca Masjid, the Hyderabad MP said that the MIM stands with the government despite its differences with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I will oppose Modi till my last breath, but when it comes to the country we support the government, irrespective of the party in power," he said. The MP also condemned the killing of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari in Kashmir. He said those who killed the journalist and his security officers were the biggest agents of Satan. Owaisi also condemned the abduction and killing of Indian soldier Aurangzeb. The MIM chief alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party -- which is ruling in Jammu and Kashmir along with Mehbooba Mufti's PDP for four years -- had failed as the attacks by terrorist from Pakistan were continuing on Indian military installations while 10,000 people were forced to flee their homes in border areas due to firing by Pakistan. Owaisi ridiculed Modi's fitness challenges and advised him to instea take care of the health of India and Indians, especially the poor, youths and oppressed. He voiced concern over continuing attacks on Muslims in different parts of the country and said they were being targeted because of their faith. "Is there no rule of law in this country? Will the perpetrators continue to go unpunished," asked the Muslim leader. He predicted that the BJP will be defeated in the 2019 general elections. "A new government will come," said Owaisi but added that the Congress will not make a comeback. Owaisi slammed Congress President Rahul Gandhi for inviting former President Pranab Mukherjee to his Iftar party despite the latter's visit to the RSS headquarters and his praise of Sangh founder K.B. Hedgewar. He said that Pranab Mukherjee during his speech at the RSS meeting used the word 'invaders' while referring to the Muslim rulers. He alleged that the former President spoke like RSS leaders, who use the term to spread hatred in the country. --IANS ms/tsb (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hosted dinner for senior RSS functionaries which was attended, among others, by BJP President Amit Shah. The dinner comes on a day, RSS functionaries gathered at Haryana's Surajkund for a two-day brain storming session on strategy-building and stock-taking of the BJP-led NDA government as it has entered into its fifth year. The meeting is also likely to discuss coordination among BJP, the RSS and the organisations attached to it. Sources said that dinner hosted by the Prime Minister was attended by RSS General Secretary Suresh Bhaiyaji Joshi, Joint General Secretary Krishna Gopal and other functionaries. BJP General Secretary, Organisation, Ram Lal also attended the dinner. Amit Shah is likely to meeting at Surajkund on Saturday. Since formation of BJP-led NDA government under Modi, the RSS has been holding such meetings annually and reviews the works of government. Modi government has completed its four years in power recently and has launched various programmes including 'Sampark for Samarthan', where BJP leaders have been meeting prominent figures and briefing them about achievements of Modi government and seeking their support. --IANS bns/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "I've been in it a few times with a couple of longshots -- I had the 10 hole one time -- so to draw good and have a favourite or co-favourite, it's exciting." Stay Hungry came from third-over on the final turn to power by rivals in the lane and win his 2018 Pepsi North America Cup elimination in 1:50 for trainer Tony Alagna and driver Doug McNair. A son of Somebeachsomewhere, Stay Hungry was one of the winter-book favourites for this years Cup after having won six of nine starts and being named Canadas top two-year-old pacing colt at the OBrien Awards. His trainer Alagna won the 2013 Cup with Captaintreacherous, while reinsman McNair, last years driver of the year in Canada, will be seeking his first Cup in what will be his third attempt. At Tuesday's post draw for Saturday's lucrative N.A. Cup final, McNair and the connections selected post two, inside both elimination winners Wes Delight (PP3, Corey Callahan, 9-2) and favoured Lather Up (PP4, Montrell Teague, 2-1). "That was the post I was hoping to get," McNair told Trot Insider at Tuesday's draw. "Closest to the inside without having the rail, we can figure out a trip for him." Stay Hungry has won seven of 11 career starts and earned $588,760 for owners Brad Grant, Woodbines leading owner, and the late Irwin Samelman. The 35th edition of Canadas richest harness race, showcasing the finest three-year-old pacers on the continent, will head postward at 10:40 p.m. (EDT) and will be broadcast live on TSN2 from 10:00 11:00 p.m. (EDT). The winner of the Pepsi North America Cup earns $500,000. This years edition marks the 18th anniversary of Pepsis sponsorship of the race. 2018 Pepsi North America Cup (Post Horse Driver - Odds) 1 St Lads Neptune Jody Jamieson - 8/1 2 Stay Hungry Doug McNair - 5/2 3 Wes Delight Corey Callahan - 9/2 4 Lather Up Montrell Teague - 2/1 5 American History Yannick Gingras - 10/1 6 Lost In Time Scott Zeron - 12/1 7 Done Well Tim Tetrick - 4/1 8 Nutcracker Sweet David Miller - 15/1 9 Hayden Hanover Andy Miller - 20/1 10 Hitman Hill Brett Miller - 20/1 The Cup night card will offer three Pick-4 wagers, including an All Stakes Pick-4 with a $100,000 guaranteed pool, comprising of Races 9 through 12. There will also be a mandatory payout on the Jackpot Hi-5. The North America Cup undercard features some of harness racing's premier competitors in the $415,000 Fan Hanover for three-year-old pacing fillies, $370,000 Roses Are Red for pacing mares, $250,000 Armbro Flight for trotting mares, $266,000 Goodtimes for three-year-old trotters and the $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup Invitational for pacers. Post time for the first of 15 races on the Pepsi North America Cup card is 6:30 p.m. To view Saturday's entries, click on one of the following links: Woodbine Mohawk Park - Saturday Entries - Program Pages (courtesy TrackIT). The I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club has also organized an online handicapping contest for Saturday's card. If you are heading to Mohawk on Saturday, make sure to visit the I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club booth. The Fan Club be offering a trackside contest to select the winner of the Pepsi North America Cup and have some great new Fan Club swag for sale. Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's wife Kulsoom Nawaz has suffered a cardiac arrest in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a London hospital, her family said on social media. Kulsoom Nawaz is in the advanced stages of lymphoma (throat) cancer. Her health deteriorated late on Thursday and she collapsed in the ICU after the cardiac arrest. She has not regained consciousness since. She is being kept on the ventilator and emergency medicines, Geo News reported. Her daughter Maryam Nawaz and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif, confirmed the development on Twitter, with the former making an "earnest request for duas (prayers)". Former President Asif Ali Zardari expressed good wishes for Kulsoom Nawaz's recovery on Friday. He said the Bhutto family and Pakistan Peoples Party were praying for her health. On Wednesday, the wife of the former Prime Minister was readmitted to the hospital. She was taken to the emergency unit after her condition worsened. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan also tweeted his well wishes to Kulsoom Nawaz. Earlier on Thursday, Maryam Nawaz and Sharif left for London earlier to visit Kulsoom Nawaz. She underwent multiple surgeries in 2017 to remove diseased lymph nodes after she was diagnosed with throat cancer. In April, her medical reports indicated that her health had worsened as throat cancer began to spread to the rest of her body. --IANS soni/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In his first video address after returning to Goa, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has sought the blessings from the people and promised to work for the state's development and betterment. "When I was unwell, thanks to your support, blessings and prayers I have returned to work, after the treatment. I ask God for your blessing to remain and I want to assure you that for the development and good of Goa I will continue to serve you," Parrikar said in his video message after assuming work at the Secretariat. Parrikar returned to Goa after being treated in a New York hospital for advanced pancreatic cancer for nearly three months. Parrikar was shifted to the US in March this year after being diagnosed for advanced pancreatic cancer. He was first admitted to the Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai in February, after he complained of stomach pain. --IANS maya/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Know how adequate risk planning is the key in ensuring the future of the family; go through a collection of 19 short stories that breathe new life into the inner make-up of the people of northeast India, the Tangkhul Nagas in particular. Read of a tale based on the premise that "text is the new talk" -- and what happens to a virtual relationship when two who have been exchanging texts finally meet in the real world. Finally, flick through a book on women who are fierce and spit poison when provoked. These are the books on the IANS bookshelf for readers this weekend. 1. Book: Love Beyond Death; Author: C.S. Sudheer; Publisher: Suvision Holdings; Price: Rs 150; Pages: 140 We can safely claim that India as a culture is "risk averse". This nature has been ingrained in our ethos since time immemorial. As an extension of this characteristic, we as a society and even as a family, tend not to even mention various risks to our loved ones arising out of the uncertainties of life. Developments in science and technology have eliminated myriad risks that our forefathers faced but have brought in new challenges as well as risks. As a society, we are fast adopting contemporary innovations in the field of science and technology. At the same time, we lag big time when it comes to adopting various innovations meant for the financial well-being of ourselves and our families. Providing financial security to the family, which is the fundamental molecule of a nation, is the first step in nation-building. Adequate risk-planning is the key in ensuring the future of the family. There have been multiple efforts to convey this message; however, this work stands out -- conveying this simple and most important fact in an out-of-the box story-telling format. 2. Book: Homecoming and other stories; Author: Jim Wungramyao; Publisher: Promila; Price: Rs 350; Pages: 276 This is a collection of 19 short stories that breathe new life into the inner make-up of the people of northeast India, the Tangkhul Nagas in particular. The stories are bound together by a strong sense of attachment to the mountains, of a oneness with them. The Nagas have lived on the mountains for centuries. From the advent of Christianity in the latter part of the 19th century to the present times, the stories cover a span of 100 years and more. The arrival of the Japanese in a small village during the Second World War, a woman battling amnesia, a truck driver coping with loneliness, a man crossing over into Burma (now Myanmar), children visiting their mother for the last time as she lies on her death bed. These are stories of ordinary people and their lives, stories often left untold, stories swept away in the cross-currents of political upheavals. 3. Book: Great Textpectations; Author: Ruchi Vadehra; Publisher: Rupa; Price: Rs 295; Pages: 228 Amaya Kapoor is a Delhi-based intellectually inclined 35-year-old single, financially independent and sexually liberated woman, who wants to open a "boutique bookstore" and live life on her own terms -- single and content. What happens next? She comes across Rohan while playing "Scrabble" online, and they soon get chatting, enjoying each other's company without the usual baggage that face-to-face interactions bring. Using the premise "text is the new talk", the book highlights fun text conversations between them, that are instrumental in connecting their worlds. Amaya and Rohan become an integral part of each other's lives even before they realise it -- and decide to meet. What happens to the virtual relationship when they meet in the real world? 4. Book: Nagin; Author: Mayur Didolkar; Publisher: Juggernaut; Price: Rs 299; Pages: 277 Loving wife, obedient daughter, loyal friend. But if you provoke her, she will raise her hood and spit poison. A woman is stalked by a man she had once rejected. A housewife discovers a plot to kill her husband. A blond young girl is chased by an underworld gang. But these are no ordinary women. Some of them aren't even women. You have been warned. --IANS mg/vm/ky (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Heeding a PMO directive, Indian Railways has changed its earlier decision to provide escalators at a large number of stations. These will now only be provided at stations with minimum footfall of 100,000 passengers per day instead of 25,000 as previously envisaged. With this, not many new stations would be eligible for escalators as all major stations already have the facility. "We are reviewing the requirements as per the latest guidelines and accordingly new escalators would be installed," a senior Railway Ministry official told IANS. Aiming to provide better amenities, the Railways had earlier announced the installation of about 2,500 escalators across the country to facilitate smooth movement of passengers, including old and physically-challenged people. In fact, to install the escalators, Railways had revised the then criteria for making urban and suburban stations eligible for the facility from an earnings basis to footfalls. An escalator costs about Rs 1 crore and the Railways was expecting a cost reduction due to economies of scale in the massive installation. According to the earlier policy, stations with 25,000 footfalls or more were selected for such installations. Earlier, those stations that had annual revenue ranging between Rs 8 crore and Rs 60 crore were eligible for the facility. However, a review meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April did not find the idea of large-scale installation of escalators fruitful and favoured the facility only at the busiest major stations. In superseding its earlier order, the Railways last week started the new norm. Currently, all major stations with 100,000 footfalls are more or less equipped with escalators; so the new policy would not result in any proliferation of the facility in the rail network, the official said. However, the changed guidelines have made a few exemptions by allowing installation of escalators even if the latest criteria is not met. These include announcements made by the Prime Minister or the Railway Minister for the facility at any station, or if a Parliamentary Committee or elected representative makes a specific request, the installation would then take place. Exemptions can also be made for installations at stations in state capitals or at the zonal level. (Arun Kumar Das is a senior Delhi-based freelance journalist. He can be contacted at akdas2005@gmail.com) --IANS arundas/vm/tb (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A total of 430 persons have so far been evacuated from flood-affected areas of Manipur and more than 950 rescued in Tripura by Assam Rifles and Army personnel, a defence statement said here on. "So far, a total of 430 citizens have been evacuated from Irong, Maibam, Uchiwa, Arapati, Kiyamgei, Achanbigai and Mongjam villages of Thoubal, Imphal East and Imphal West Districts of Manipur by columns of Assam Rifles and Indian Army with operations still on," it said. More than 950 have been rescued from Kailashahar, Indiranagar, Fatikroy, Santail, Kumarghat in Tripura and as of now, more than 2,000 people are being sheltered at relief camps in the state's Kailashahar. "A total of six columns are operating in the state after responding to request from civil administration," an official spokesperson said. In addition to the relief and rescue operations, maximum possible assistance is being provided to the civil administration by Assam Rifles and the army in terms of establishing shelters, relief camps, distribution of emergency rations, drinking water supply and repair of embankments, the statement said. A large number of medical teams have been deployed to cater to the affected populace in these two states reeling under the effects of the flood, it added. --IANS bdc/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A US drone strike in Afghanistan has killed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader Mullah Fazlullah, the man in charge of the outfit operations in the Swat Valley when activist Malala Yousafzai was shot in 2012, the Afghan Foreign Ministry said on Friday. Ministry of Defence spokesman Mohammad Radmanish told CNN that Fazlullah, who led the TTP from 2013, was killed in the strike in Kunar province on Wednesday. Lt. Col. Martin O'Donnell, a spokesman for US Forces-Afghanistan, earlier told the Voice of America that US forces conducted a counter-terrorism strike on June 13 in Kunar which is close to the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan and targeted a senior leader of a designated terrorist organisation. Locals in the area confirmed the death. However, Pentagon officials declined to comment on the development. Fazlullah had been a major figure in the TTP even before he became "emir" of the group in late 2013 and led a Pakistan Taliban militia in the country's Swat Valley before his elevation to leadership of the group. US officials said Fazlullah directed numerous high-profile attacks against American and Pakistani targets, including the December 2014 attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar that killed 151 people. He is also accused of ordering the 2012 attempted assassination of Malala Yousafzai, who had been advocating for the right of girls to have access to an education. The US State Department offered a $5 million reward for Fazlullah in March, the same month Pakistani sources said his son was killed in an American drone strike on a TTP training facility. A statement from US Forces-Afghanistan claimed that the strike did not put at risk an ongoing, unilateral ceasefire initiated by the Afghan government. "US Forces-Afghanistan and NATO-led Resolute Support forces continue to adhere to the Afghanistan government's unilateral ceasefire with the Afghan Taliban, announced by President Ashraf Ghani. "As previously stated, the ceasefire does not include US counterterrorism efforts against... regional and international terrorist groups, or the inherent right of US and international forces to defend ourselves if attacked," read the statement. "We hope this pause leads to dialogue and progress on reconciliation and a lasting end to hostilities," it added. --IANS soni/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday said it had arrested a fourth suspect in the murder of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari, whose killing has sent shockwaves in the state and beyond. S.P. Pani, the Inspector General of Police of Kashmir zone, said Bukhari's killing here on Thursday evening -- two days before Eid -- along with his two security guards was a terror crime. "We have released the picture of three terrorists on a motorcycle who were involved in this terror crime. That picture is in public domain. "Based on another video, a bearded man is seen picking up a pistol from the site of the crime and vanishing. This video was released by us seeking public cooperation. "With the help of the public, this person has been arrested. We have also recovered the pistol which this person picked up from the crime site. "Based on his interrogation we recovered the clothes he was wearing at the site of the crime. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to investigate this crime." The police officer said the security guards of Bukhari had been issued two 9 mm pistols. The police had recovered one pistol after the terror attack while the second was missing. The missing pistol was recovered from the arrested fourth suspect. Pani called the killing of Bukhari, whose funeral in Baramulla on Friday was attended by hundreds amid a spontaneous general strike, was "a highly sensitive case". Jammu and Kashmir police chief S.P. Vaid earlier told reporters: "Rest assured, we will get the killers." Top sources said the police suspect Naveed Jat alias Abu Hanzullah, an LeT terrorist to have been among the three assassins seen escaping on a motorcycle after the murder. Abu Hanzullah had escaped from Srinagar's Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital with the help of LeT accomplices on February 6. Two policemen were killed in that incident. --IANS sq/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday expressed deep anguish over the killing of senior journalist and Editor-in-Chief of English daily "Rising Kashmir" Shujaat Bukhari. "I am shocked at the gruesome murder of Shujaat Bukhari. Such mindless violence does not have any place in our country. My deepest condolences to his family and friends. His voice will never be silenced," Mukherjee tweeted. Three motorcycle-borne militants killed Bukhari and two of his security guards on Thursday as he boarded his car in Srinagar's Press Enclave area to reach home. --IANS mgu/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) National Award-winning actor Rajkummar Rao is set to star in "Made in China", which will be directed by Mikhil Musale whose "Wrong Side Raju" bagged the National Award for Best Feature Film in Gujarati. Musale will make his Bollywood debut with the Maddock Films production which will be shot in Ahmedabad and across China. "My working experience with Rajkummar started on our film 'Stree'. I always knew he was a good actor, but his performance in the film really bowled me over," Dinesh Vijan of Maddock Films said in a statement. "It was on the sets of 'Stree' that I narrated the idea of 'Made in China' to Rajkummar and he was immediately on board," he added. The lead actress has not been finalised yet. The upcoming film is a hilarious take on a struggling Gujarati businessman and the bizarre journey he undertakes to become a successful entrepreneur. The film is expected to roll this September. --IANS nn/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Unidentified criminals looted Rs 54 lakh from ICICI staffers who were going to deposit the cash in an ATM in Jharkhand's Palamu district on Friday. According to police, two unidentified criminals came on a bike snatched the money bag from the bank employees. The cash van was parked more than 100 metres away from the ATM. As soon as the bank staff carrying the cash started walking towards it, the criminals snatched the bag. --IANS ns/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Every trainer's path to the Pepsi North America Cup is an interesting journey. Long hours, tough decisions, fast horses, slow horses and disappointing races is part of the business. But having a dream is what keeps many barns ticking. For most the dream is finding the horse thatll take them to the highest level. A field of 10 three-year-old pacers will line up this Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park seeking to fulfill that dream for their connections in the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup. Each horse in Saturdays million-dollar classic has different traits and a story behind them. Tony Alagna has been to the top of the North America Cup mountain. The Manalapan, New Jersey-based conditioner won the 2013 edition with Captaintreacherous and nearly captured his second-title with runner-up Racing Hill in 2016. Alagnas barn will send out a pair of starters, Stay Hungry and American History, in Saturdays main event. Stay Hungry (PP2, Doug McNair) was the pick of many during the winter months to win this years Cup. The son of Somebeachsomewhere had a fantastic two-year-old season that saw him win the $600,000 Breeders Crown and named the OBrien Award winner as Canadas top two-year-old pacing colt. Alagnas standout makes a ton of noise on the track, but is a calm, cool and collected character when the bright lights are off. (Stay Hungry) is a very laid-back horse, hes very easy to get along with, Alagna said. Hes very quiet, just a real pleasure to be around. No quirky habits. Walks out of the paddock hooked to the jog cart or walks out of the barn in the morning and stops every morning and just looks around. Stay Hungry could have an opportunity to stop and look at thousands of fans if all goes well in Saturdays North America Cup. The chill individual is coming in off a victory in his elimination. American History (PP5, Yannick Gingras) is the second representative from the Alagna barn and a perfect example that just like in any sport, every team has different characters. He is always on go and hes just the opposite of Stay Hungry, said Alagna about American History. Where Stay Hungry is very relaxed, (American History) goes to the track and is ready to work. Hes (got a) totally different mindset and mentality than the other horse but nothing out of the ordinary, he likes to work. A son of American Ideal, American History has shown big speed and holds a mark of 1:49.1, tied for the fastest in the field. Brian Brown realized his million-dollar classic dream last year when he won the Cup with Fear The Dragon. The Ohio-based trainer is back looking for a repeat with a talented son of Well Said named Done Well (PP7, Tim Tetrick), who suffered his first loss in six career starts last week, losing by a head to Stay Hungry. Done Well is a tough individual that battled back from injury last year, but grit doesnt make a horse exempt from having fears. He used to be really scared of tractors, Brown shared about his rising star. Hes gotten over that mainly, still looks at them but hes pretty good that way. Luckily for Done Well, there will be no tractors on the track when the field lines up at approximately 10:40 p.m. Saturday. Like Done Well, Hitman Hill (PP10, Brett Miller) knows a thing about winning streaks. The Chris Oakes trainee started his career by winning six-consecutive starts and dominating the New York Sires Stakes last season. Hitman Hill won his second-lifetime start in 1:50.4, showing incredible speed and superstar potential. However, the American Ideal colt became a little too charged up during his run of victories and big speed as a rookie. I drove him last year and raced him three starts where I thought he was the best colt in the country, driver Brett Miller said. But he got really hot where we couldnt control him and it kind of ruined the rest of his year. Settling down Hitman Hill became the focus for the Oakes team. The American Ideal gelding has been raced much differently in three starts this season with Miller admitting hes been hesitant to send him to the front. So far hes been very calm and I can do anything I want with him. Last year his game was he was best on the front, but Im afraid to put him there again. Hitman Hill unleashed a :26.2 final quarter to rally from eighth and finish third in his Cup elimination. Miller is hopeful the relaxed nature continues for the Oakes trainee. I just hope we can keep him calm because in my opinion, he can go with any horse in here. The field of ten for the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup is comprised of eight colts and two geldings. All ten are writing different stories, but only one will have a fairy-tale ending to their current chapter this Saturday. The 35th edition of Canadas richest harness race, showcasing the finest three-year-old pacers on the continent, will head postward at 10:40 p.m. (EDT) and will be broadcast live on TSN2 from 10:00 11:00 p.m. (EDT). The winner of the Pepsi North America Cup earns $500,000. This years edition marks the 18th anniversary of Pepsis sponsorship of the race. 2018 Pepsi North America Cup (Post Horse Driver - Odds) 1 St Lads Neptune Jody Jamieson - 8/1 2 Stay Hungry Doug McNair - 5/2 3 Wes Delight Corey Callahan - 9/2 4 Lather Up Montrell Teague - 2/1 5 American History Yannick Gingras - 10/1 6 Lost In Time Scott Zeron - 12/1 7 Done Well Tim Tetrick - 4/1 8 Nutcracker Sweet David Miller - 15/1 9 Hayden Hanover Andy Miller - 20/1 10 Hitman Hill Brett Miller - 20/1 The Cup night card will offer three Pick-4 wagers, including an All Stakes Pick-4 with a $100,000 guaranteed pool, comprising of Races 9 through 12. There will also be a mandatory payout on the Jackpot Hi-5. The North America Cup undercard features some of harness racing's premier competitors in the $415,000 Fan Hanover for three-year-old pacing fillies, $370,000 Roses Are Red for pacing mares, $250,000 Armbro Flight for trotting mares, $266,000 Goodtimes for three-year-old trotters and the $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup Invitational for pacers. Post time for the first of 15 races on the Pepsi North America Cup card is 6:30 p.m. To view Saturday's entries, click on one of the following links: Woodbine Mohawk Park - Saturday Entries - Program Pages (courtesy TrackIT). The I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club has also organized an online handicapping contest for Saturday's card. If you are heading to Mohawk on Saturday, make sure to visit the I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club booth. The Fan Club be offering a trackside contest to select the winner of the Pepsi North America Cup and have some great new Fan Club swag for sale. (with files from Woodbine) In a dramatic turn of events, the Sahitya Akademi was left embarrassed on its home turf as noted writer-poet Keki N. Daruwalla, on whose works the Akademi presented a documentary Friday evening, clarified that despite being present at the Akademi, his views and stance remain unchanged and the question of taking back his Sahitya Akademi award, which he returned in 2015, does not arise. "I must say that my views remain the same. And so does my stance. We still feel that enough was not done after the killings of rationalists and now (Gauri) Lankesh has been killed too," he said in response to an IANS question at the Sahitya Akademi event here. "The question of taking the award back never arose," he said. Daruwalla, one of India's foremost writers and poets and a recipient of several national and international accolades including the Padma Shri, was among the prominent faces -- along with writer Nayantara Sahgal -- leading the "award wapsi" (returning of awards) in 2015. The writers were protesting against what they called "rising intolerance and growing assault on free speech" in the country. The spontaneous series of giving up awards had unfolded in October 2015 after Sahitya Akademi's silence on the murder of leading scholar and rationalist Malleshappa Kalburgi and Govind Pansare. Amid widespread protests and return of the prestigious literary honour by at least 36 writers, the Sahitya Akademi, 54 days after the murder of Kalburgi, finally broke its silence on October 23, 2015, condemning "the murder of Prof M.M. Kalburgi and other intellectuals and thinkers" and urging the litterateurs to take back their awards. Daruwalla never took back his Sahitya Akademi award, which was awarded to him for his 1984 poetry collection, "The Keeper of the Dead". "I am returning my award not because of intolerance alone, but more for the fact that the Akademi kept silent and lacked the boldness to stand up for a murdered author," Daruwalla had earlier told this correspondent on the day he returned his award in 2015. What brought him back to the Akademi? "Unhone kaha ki sahab aapki film hum screen kar rahe hain aap aaiye, maine pranam kiya aur main aa gaya," Daruwalla responded from the Sahitya Akademi stage here. "Woh desh ka mamla hai. Woh ka mamla hai. Uske baare main mere kaafi solid views hain aur main uske baare main likhta rahta hoon," he reiterated, saying that his views have been consistent and that he has been writing about it. The Sahitya Akademi, India's national academy of letters, inaugurated a documentary film festival on June 11 and it reached its culmination Friday evening with Daruwalla's tete-e-tete with the audience. But what did the Akademi, which strives to promote literary excellence across languages in the country aim to achieve by playing a rather banal, mediocre and "at least 10 years old" documentary on the works of a writer who led the massive protest against the "autonomous institution" just three years ago? The representatives of Sahitya Akademi at the venue denied requests for comments. (Saket Suman can be contacted at saket.s@ians.in) --IANS ss/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Microsoft is reportedly planning to launch its "Swiftkey keyboard" to Windows 10 later this year and the software giant is already testing the keyboard in its public beta programme for Windows 10 testers. The latest Windows 10 preview, codenamed "Redstone 5", includes access to "SwiftKey" in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Brazilian and Russian, The Verge reported on Thursday. The keyboard includes auto corrections and predictions and is expected to power the touch keyboard when Windows 10 devices would be used in tablet mode. Microsoft acquired "SwiftKey" back in 2016 and issued its first major iOS and Android updates earlier this year. Microsoft is also reportedly tweaking the ability to make text in Windows based apps bigger with a new "settings slider" that will adjust the text size across Windows, desktop apps, and universal Windows apps, the report added. Additionally, the software giant is also working on the Windows 10 narrator option, game bar and more. --IANS rp/pgh/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and urged him to provide Rs 20,000 crore for the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project being built across the Godavari river. During the hour-long meeting, the Chief Minister brought to the notice of the Prime Minister various demands pending with the Central government since the formation of the state four years ago. Stating that Kaleshwaram is a lifeline for Telangana, Rao said the project being built at an estimated cost of Rs 80,000 crore aims to irrigate 18 lakh acres across 20 districts and provide water for drinking and industrial purposes. The Chief Minister told Modi that in addition to the Rs 25,000 crore budgetary provision for the project, the state government obtained Rs 22,000 crore loans from financial institutions. He urged Modi to extend financial help of Rs 20,000 crore. This was Rao's first meeting with Modi since the former floated the idea of a federal front as an alternative to both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief has met leaders of various regional parties in the past few months to mobilize support for the proposed front. KCR, as the TRS chief is popularly known, submitted 10 memorandums to Modi, listing various pending issues. According to the Chief Minister's Office, the Prime Minister responded positively to the issues raised by him. KCR told Modi that even four years after the formation of Telangana, the state is yet to have its own high court and requested one at the earliest. The TRS chief informed him that out of 29 judges of the common high court at Hyderabad for both the Telugu states, only six are from Telangana. "The Union Law Minister had given an assurance on the floor of Parliament to expedite the process to have a separate high court. The process may be expedited, and the Law Ministry may be directed to take immediate steps for establishment of separate high court for the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh without any further delay," he said. KCR sought adequate funds to the state to develop the Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) in Hyderabad, as per the already approved scheme. Expressing dismay over Union Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad's recent statement that the Central government has dropped the ITIR scheme, KCR said if the government does not implement the ITIR scheme even after launching it five years ago, it will dent the credibility of the government. He pointed out that the state government had submitted a Detailed Project Report (DPR) delineating land parcels to be covered under ITIR and identifying trunk Infrastructure Projects related to the land parcels. Some anchor companies have already started setting up industries. KCR urged Modi to issue a new Presidential Order, incorporating the new zonal system finalized by the state government. The zonal system is aimed at ensuring equitable opportunities to the people belonging to different parts of the state. Stating that the railway network in Telangana is below the national average, KCR called for early completion of various critical railway projects. The TRS chief also urged the Prime Minister to direct the Defence Ministry to expedite the proposal of transfer of defence lands for construction of new Secretariat building and for the Strategic Road Development project. KCR called for sanctioning an Indian Institute of Management for Telangana and for setting up an Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in Karimnagar. --IANS ms/him/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The case relating to the release of seven convicts in former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination case is in the and the state government will try to secure their release, said a Tamil Nadu minister. Queried about the rejection by President of Tamil Nadu's request to release the convicts, state Minister for Law, Courts and Prisons C.Ve. Shanmugam said the state government would place its arguments in the apex court strongly. While the state government and other political parties want the seven convicts release, the Central government is against it. Late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had also written in 2014 to the Central government to release the convicts. Meanwhile, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss has condemned the Central government for not releasing the convicts, saying that the decision is anti-Tamil. He said the Central government has decided against the release of the convicts after the had ordered in January 2018 to take a decision within three months. Ramadoss said the Tamil Nadu government should recommend to the state Governor under Article 161 of the Constitution to free the convicts. DMK leader termed the Central government's decision as inhuman. The seven convicts serving life sentence are: V Sriharan alias Murugan, A G Perarivlan alias Arivu, T Suthendraraja alias Santhan, Nalini, Robert Pius, Jayakumar and Ravichandran. The seven have been in prison since 1991, the year a woman Tamil Tiger suicide bomber blew herself up and killed Gandhi at an election rally near Chennai. The death toll in Nicaragua from protests against President Daniel Ortega's rule has increased to 155 after a 15-year-old boy was shot dead, authorities said. The Catholic Church on Thursday mourned the death of the young altar boy, who fell victim to a surprise attack by "paramilitaries" of the government, reports Efe news. "The message that has just arrived has made me cry, God has welcomed Sandor Dolmus, an altar boy murdered today by paramilitaries in Leon, to the altar of heaven," said Bishop Silvio Baez. The altar boy was with other children and neighbours, when the paramilitary group left the headquarters of the ruling Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) and sprayed bullets at them, priest Victor Morales of the diocese of Leon told reporters. The young man was shot in the chest with a high-caliber firearm and died a few minutes later, the priest said. Dolmus was an altar boy at the Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary in Leon, classified as a Unesco World Heritage Site. In addition to the deaths, some 1,000 people had been injured during the civil unrest which began on April 18. Ortega's government, which has ruled for the past 11 years, blames opposition political groups for the "criminal violence" and denied reports of "riot squads or paramilitary groups linked to the government" who protesters blame for the deaths. --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 given his approval for his administration to put tariffs on $50 billion of Chinese exports, a media report said. An official announcement is expected on Friday, an informed source told CNN on Thursday. Trump's approval came after a meeting on Thursday with top economic officials, including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, the source added. The move represents a serious escalation of trade tensions between the world's two largest economies - just as Trump has also picked fights with allies Canada, Mexico and the European Union over steel and aluminium. In response to the development, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang reiterated that Beijing would not honour its pledge to increase purchases of US goods if tariffs were imposed. Beijing previously said it would respond to American tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese exports with retaliatory tariffs on $50 billion of US products such as cars, planes and soybeans. For months, Trump has slow-walked threats of tariffs against China as punishment for intellectual property theft. He first announced that the US would impose trade penalties on about $50 billion of Chinese goods in March. After China warned it would retaliate, Trump threatened tariffs on a further $100 billion of Chinese products. In mid-May, both sides announced a ceasefire after two rounds of trade negotiations, CNN reported. The countries said in a joint statement that China would "significantly increase" purchases of US agricultural and energy products to reduce the trade imbalance, a top Trump administration demand. Mnuchin subsequently declared the trade war "on hold". Ten days later, the White House abruptly said it would proceed with the tariffs, along with new limits on Chinese investments in the US. A further round of trade talks in Beijing earlier this month failed to yield any breakthroughs. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Michael Cohen filed for a restraining order against Stormy Daniels' attorney to prevent him from speaking to the press about the porn star's lawsuit. "(Michael) Avenatti's actions are mainly driven by his seemingly unquenchable thirst for publicity," the filing said on Thursday night, alleging that the adult film star's lawyer "routinely denigrates" Cohen, CNN reported. Avenatti's "publicity tour", the filing said, was "likely to result in Cohen being deprived of his right to a fair trial, and threatens to turn what should be a solemn federal court proceeding into a media circus". Cohen paid Daniels $130,000 days before the 2016 election as part of a non-disclosure agreement to prevent the porn star from publicly discussing her alleged sexual encounter with Trump. Trump has also acknowledged that he personally reimbursed Cohen for that payment. Daniels is suing the two men as well as Essential Consultants, Cohen's shell company, to try to nullify the 2016 agreement. Avenatti is representing her in the case. --IANS ksk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two Bihar ministers on Friday said they supported encounters to get rid of criminals. Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Ramnarayan Mandal and Labour Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha expressed concern about checking the increasing number of crimes in the state. They said encounters were the best way to create a sense of fear in the criminals. "The government has directed the police to act against criminals," Sinha added. The ministers' statements came after a woman and her daughter were gang raped in Gaya district earlier this week. --IANS ik/ksk/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Suhaildev Bahujan Samaj Party (SBSP) president and state's Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar set the rumour mills working overtime here on Friday as he was closeted with Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Shivpal Singh Yadav in the Varanasi circuit house for over 15 minutes. While both leaders called the meeting a courtesy one, political overtones are being read as the Minister for Disability and Backward Classes Welfare is at daggers drawn with his alliance partner, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and has been targeting the state government every now and then. The meeting also assumed significance as the Minister earlier defended former Chief Minister and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav over the damage done to the residence that he vacated. "I do not think Akhilesh Yadav would do anything like this ... ripping off tiles and plucking off taps from bathrooms," he said adding that he has always spoken his mind without caring for anyone and was doing so in this matter as well. Rajbhar also said that in his view no politician of the stature of Akhilesh would do something like this. Asked to comment on Yadav's allegation that the Chief Minister's OSD and a senior IAS officer had visited the vacated house before it was thrown open to the media, the Minister said the question should be put to the current Chief Minister and the former Chief Minister. --IANS md/nir/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A US federal judge has revoked former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort's bail and ordered him to jail pending trial, citing newly filed obstruction of justice charges. The judge made the decision on Friday after special counsel Robert Mueller, who's leading the investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 US presidential election, alleged that Manafort and one of his associates had tried to tamper with witnesses in the case, Xinhua reported. According to reports, two witnesses reported to Mueller that Manafort had attempted to influence their testimony. Prosecutors argued on Friday that Manafort could continue to engage in alleged criminal activity if he is not jailed. Manafort entered a not guilty plea to charges for witness tampering and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Manafort is the first Trump campaign official to be jailed as part of Mueller's investigation. He was first indicted last fall and has remained on home confinement. His trial in Alexandria, the US state of Virginia, on bank fraud charges is set in July, and a separate one in Washington, DC, for him on charges of money laundering and fraud conspiracy is scheduled for September. He has also pleaded not guilty to those charges. Manafort will remain in jail while awaiting those trials in coming months. It's not clear when he could be taken into custody and where he could be held. Trump has sought to distance his campaign and himself from Manafort. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday, Trump insisted that Manafort only worked on the campaign "for a very short period of time." --IANS tsb (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thanks to a team of University of Guelph researchers, we are one step closer to having a welfare assessment tool tailored for horses in Canada. The research team, headed by Cordelie DuBois and Katrina Merkies, recently designed and tested an on-farm welfare assessment tool. The tool aimed to evaluate whether the National Farm Animal Care Councils (NFACC) Code of Practice standards are being met on equine farms in Canada, while helping farm managers learn about the current standards. The results were recently published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. Major advances in equine welfare in Canada were made when NFACC released the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Equines in 2013. In other countries, documents outlining welfare guidelines are often paired with the development of welfare assessment tools that can be used to determine whether guidelines are being followed on farm. In Europe, there are multiple tools that exist, like the Assessment Protocol for Horses and the Animal Welfare Indicators approach. Differences between industries in other countries and Canada, particularly related to welfare legislation, are part of the reason that developing a Canadian-specific tool was important. This, and ultimately, the tools ability to support the use of the NFACC Code of practice as Canadian welfare standards, is what makes DuBois work so monumental for Canadian equine welfare. Researchers tested the assessment tool on 26 farms in Southern Ontario. The farms had various primary uses including boarding facilities, riding schools, private farms and trail riding facilities. The farms had different numbers of horses and kept the horses under different management conditions. While the assessments conducted by DuBois and her team revealed dry stalls and well-stored feed, some of the typical findings not in compliance with the Code of Practice included: structural aspects, cleanliness of outdoor water troughs, provision of outdoor shelter, segregation of new arrivals and emergency preparedness. The assessments took an average of 144 +/- 15 minutes to complete. Researchers noted that differences in management practices between and within farms (such as some horses being on 24/7 turnout vs. other horses being on day time turnout) added challenges to the assessment procedure. Farm managers were also asked about their familiarity with several documents related to equine welfare. Interestingly, managers were most familiar with Equine Guelphs biosecurity handout (54%) followed by the NFACCs Equine Code of Practice (50%). The researchers conducted follow up interviews with assessors and participants to evaluate their experience with the tool. DuBois notes, These interviews helped to identify areas where a welfare assessment program would be useful to the Canadian industry and areas where implementing a program might be challenging. The feedback will be used to refine the tool for future work. DuBois provides a nice summary of the importance of their work, This study provides an initial look at the logistics of doing an on-farm welfare assessment in Canada, knowing the diversity of the industry. Our findings give us a foundation for future work investigating an on-farm assessment tool such as this. This study was funded in part by Equine Guelph. (with files from Equine Guelph) The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Friday demanded an apology from the CIA for classifying it along with Bajrang Dal as "militant religious outfits" and threatened global protests if the tag is not removed. In a statement, the VHP called the classification in the CIA's World Factbook "objectionable", "disrespectful" and "non-factual". It said the CIA, which was responsible for the creation of Osama Bin Laden, had no rights to comment on the saffron outfit that worked for India's welfare. VHP leader Surendra Jain said there were "vested interests" behind the move and the CIA's "anti-India mindset" could be seen from the fact that some parts of Jammu and Kashmir were shown in Pakistan in the maps used in the Factbook. He urged the Indian government to take up the matter with the US government in order to pressurise the CIA to "rectify the errors" in the Factbook. --IANS spk/mag/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Under the 'Sampark for Samarthan' campaign of the BJP to garner support for the 2019 general elections, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met six prominent persons here on Friday and apprised them of various initiatives taken by the Narendra Modi government. On his first stop, Adityanath met eminent doctor Mansoor Hasan and urged him to support the Bharatiya Janata Party as the party was for 'insaniyat aur vikas' (humanity and development), and both its governments, at the Centre and the state, were committed to improve the lot of the poor and the farmers. Hasan later told reporters that there was no political discussion but added that this was a good initiative by the ruling party. Later, the Chief Minister visited met Gopinath Pandey, the father of Kargil hero and posthumous Paramvir Chakra awardee Captain Manoj Pandey, and informed him of various schemes launched by the Modi government for the defence forces and the common people. Adityanath then went to the residence of eminent theatre artist Raj Bisaria and informed him that this campaign had been unveiled by party President Amit Shah, "so that we could reach out to our own and seek support for BJP in 2019 so that our development agenda gets further impetus". After this, Adityanath, along with cabinet colleagues - Medical Education Minister Ashutosh Tandon and Law Minister Brajesh Pathak - met Justice (retd.) H.N. Tilhari, Lt. Gen. R.P. Shahi (retd) and eminent educationist Bhumitra Dev and presented them a booklet listing achievements of the Modi government in four years. --IANS md/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Srinagar, June 15 (IANS " "We shall meet when you come her"," Shujaat Bukhari told me over phone some months ago. We could not. I only encountered his bullet-perforated body as I returned home for Eid. "He is dead. We will all be kille"," a journalist friend shouted over the phone, crying bitterly when I called to confirm that Bukhari, an iconic editor in Kashmir, was killed b" "unknown gunm"n" -- mysteriously faceless assassins who go around executing the death warrants of their monstrous masters. However I wished it were not true, the story of one of the best news storytellers in the Valley had come to an abrupt end. It was like a dagger had pierced my heart -- the man who helped me and many other struggling scribes through their formative years and troubled times will never be able to help any new entrant in the difficult world of journalism in I had planned to call and meet him after Eid. But two days before the festival, I saw pictures of his inert, blood-splattered body. It was collapsed on one side on the seat of his car, his shirt and his torso pierced by multiple gunshots. Some newspapers lay by his side, blood splattered across them. Bukhari lived for journalism and its values and he indeed died in the line of duty. He gave his blood to the profession -- literally. Even on the morning of the day he was killed, the editor o" "Rising Kashm"r" -- the Srinagar-based English daily Bukhari founded about a decade ago -- defended his journalistic integrity and that of other Kashmiri scribes after he was tagged in a video and accused o" "bias"d" reportage on Bukhari's tweet came in response to one from a Delhi-based TV scribe who had posted a video in which the author o" "Land of the Wilted Ro"e", Anand Ranganathan" "rips apart biased media reportage from the Kashmir Valley with one sample case of an editor who does not practice what he preach"s". Ranganathan, during an Observer Research Foundation (ORF) panel discussion, accused Bukhari of confessin" "open"y" how he wa" "proud to be intolera"t" when it came to Prophet Mohammed in the wake of Charile Hebdo attack and that there was no absolute freedom of speech when it comes to faith. Ranganathan, speaking at a seminar o" "Fourth Estate at the Frontlines -- Tackling Insurgent Ideologi"s", referred to a tweet from Bukhari, posting a snapshot of a paramilitary vehicle running over a Kashmiri youth during a stone-pelting protest in Srinagar. The editor had poste" "very disturbi"g" pictures, asking the government and the CRPF to explain if i" "is the new Standard Operating Procedur"?" A consulting editor wit" "Swaraj"a" magazine, Ranganathan argued tha" "when an editor of the publication... has taken this side, quasi-religious side, you are absolutley sure as to (his) covera"e" of Kashmir. Bukhari retweeted the video some seven hours before his killing, saying he was proud to be doing what he does and that there was nothing that would stop him from reporting whatever happens on the ground in the troubled Valley. " "It is unfortunate that a credible think tank like ORF should allow this diatribe in absence of the person referred to. In Kashmir, we have done journalism with pride and will continue to highlight what happens on grou"d," Bukhari tweeted. He was unbiased, fearless and true to his credentials. When he did not agree with your opinion, he would gift you a broad smile, encouraging you to speak your mind. Ever a news-hungry person, he would always greet you with a question "- "Kya haz khabar ch"a?" -- colloquial Kashmiri f"r "how are "ou" or, literall", "What is the n"ws"? Bukhari was the state correspondent with The Hindu before he set up his own publication in Srinagar. During one of my earlier meetings with him when I had just completed my journalism major form Kashmir University, he recommended me for quite a few jobs with Delhi-based media outfits, and personally spoke with some TV editors in Delhi. A deeply engaging, empathetic professional and a decent human being, Bukhari, a recipient of fellowships from the World Press Institute (WPI) in the US and the Asian Centre for Journalism in Singapore, would always discuss my last story whenever we met." "You should be care"ul," he once advised "e. "No story is worth the life of a journal"st." I laughed away the advice from a veteran who had braved many attempts on his life. He was, in 1996, abducted by the government-backed militant group Ikhwan ul Muslimeen along with 18 other local journalists. They were later set free. He was kidnapped and driven out of Srinagar on June 10, 2006, after he had been threatened several times over his coverage of the insurgency in Kashmir. That day, as he left his The Hindu office, two Kashmiri-speaking men forced him to board an auto-rickshaw at gunpoint and took him several kilometres out of the city before they pushed him out. One of them then tried to shoot him, but the gun jammed and Bukhari managed to flee. He told global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders that the instigators and perpetrators of such attacks are rarely caught in Kashmir. "It is virtually impossible to know who are our enemies and who are our friends," he said 12 years ago. Today, as he lies in his ancestral graveyard in north Kashmir, his killers remain unknown and nobody knows why he was killed. And maybe we will never. There will be narratives, counter-narratives, claims and counter-claims. The truth lies in between, buried along with the countless dead, killed"by "unknown gu"men". Rest in peace, Shujaat. You could have taken your own advice to me serious"y: "No story is worth the life of a journal"st." (Sarwar Kashani is IANS bureau chief in New Delhi. The views expressed are personal.) --IANS sar/tb/sac (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Srinagar, June 15 (IANS "We shall meet when you come here," Shujaat Bukhari told me over phone some months ago. We could not. I only encountered his bullet-perforated body as I returned home for Eid. "He is dead. We will all be killed," a journalist friend shouted over the phone, crying bitterly when I called to confirm that Bukhari, an iconic editor in Kashmir, was killed by "unknown gunmen" -- mysteriously faceless assassins who go around executing the death warrants of their monstrous masters. However I wished it were not true, the story of one of the best news storytellers in the Valley had come to an abrupt end. It was like a dagger had pierced my heart -- the man who helped me and many other struggling scribes through their formative years and troubled times will never be able to help any new entrant in the difficult world of journalism in I had planned to call and meet him after Eid. But two days before the festival, I saw pictures of his inert, blood-splattered body. It was collapsed on one side on the seat of his car, his shirt and his torso pierced by multiple gunshots. Some newspapers lay by his side, blood splattered across them. Bukhari lived for journalism and its values and he indeed died in the line of duty. He gave his blood to the profession -- literally. Even on the morning of the day he was killed, the editor of "Rising Kashmir" -- the Srinagar-based English daily Bukhari founded about a decade ago -- defended his journalistic integrity and that of other Kashmiri scribes after he was tagged in a video and accused of "biased" reportage on Bukhari's tweet came in response to one from a Delhi-based TV scribe who had posted a video in which the author of "Land of the Wilted Rose", Anand Ranganathan, "rips apart biased media reportage from the Kashmir Valley with one sample case of an editor who does not practice what he preaches". Ranganathan, during an Observer Research Foundation (ORF) panel discussion, accused Bukhari of confessing "openly" how he was "proud to be intolerant" when it came to Prophet Mohammed in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris and that there was no absolute freedom of speech when it comes to faith. Ranganathan, speaking at a seminar on "Fourth Estate at the Frontlines -- Tackling Insurgent Ideologies", referred to a tweet from Bukhari, posting a snapshot of a paramilitary vehicle running over a Kashmiri youth during a stone-pelting protest in Srinagar. The editor had posted "very disturbing" pictures, asking the government and the CRPF to explain if it is the new Standard Operating Procedure?" A consulting editor with "Swarajya" magazine, Ranganathan argued that "when an editor of the publication... has taken this side, quasi-religious side, you are absolutely sure as to (his) coverage" of Kashmir. Bukhari retweeted the video some seven hours before his killing, saying he was proud to be doing what he does and that there was nothing that would stop him from reporting whatever happens on the ground in the troubled Valley. "It is unfortunate that a credible think tank like the ORF should allow this diatribe in absence of the person referred to. In Kashmir, we have done journalism with pride and will continue to highlight what happens on ground," Bukhari tweeted. He was unbiased, fearless and true to his credentials. When he did not agree with your opinion, he would gift you a broad smile, encouraging you to speak your mind. Ever a news-hungry person, he would always greet you with a question -- "Kya haz khabar chaa?" -- colloquial Kashmiri for "how are you" or, literally, "What is the news?" Bukhari was the state correspondent with The Hindu before he set up his own publication in Srinagar. During one of my earlier meetings with him when I had just completed my journalism major from Kashmir University, he recommended me for quite a few jobs with Delhi-based media outfits and personally spoke with some TV editors in Delhi. A deeply engaging, empathetic professional and a decent human being, Bukhari, a recipient of fellowships from the World Press Institute (WPI) in the US and the Asian Centre for Journalism in Singapore, would always discuss my last story whenever we met." "You should be careful," he once advised me. "No story is worth the life of a journalist." I laughed away the advice from a veteran who had braved many attempts on his life. He was, in 1996, abducted by the government-backed militant group Ikhwan ul Muslimeen along with 18 other local journalists. They were later set free. He was kidnapped and driven out of Srinagar on June 10, 2006, after he had been threatened several times over his coverage of the insurgency in Kashmir. That day, as he left his The Hindu office, two Kashmiri-speaking men forced him to board an auto-rickshaw at gunpoint and took him several kilometres out of the city before they pushed him out. One of them then tried to shoot him, but the gun jammed and Bukhari managed to flee. He told global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders that the instigators and perpetrators of such attacks are rarely caught in Kashmir. "It is virtually impossible to know who are our enemies and who are our friends," he said 12 years ago. Today, as he lies in his ancestral graveyard in north Kashmir, his killers remain unknown and nobody knows why he was killed. And maybe we will never. There will be narratives, counter-narratives, claims and counter-claims. The truth lies in between, buried along with the countless dead, killed by "unknown gunmen". Rest in peace, Shujaat. You could have taken your own advice to me seriously: "No story is worth the life of a journalist." (Sarwar Kashani is IANS bureau chief in New Delhi. The views expressed are personal.) --IANS sar/tb/sac/ksk/pgh (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre has ordered security agencies to follow "zero error" policy and step up security for the ensuing annual Amarnath Yatra in which over three lakh pilgrims are expected to take part amid fears of possible terror attacks. On Union Home Ministry's direction, at least 238 companies -- nearly 24,000 personnel -- of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been deputed on the Amarnath Yatra route, an increase of around 17 per cent from last year, for the two-month event. The CRPF will be assisted by over 25,000 personnel of Army, Border Security Force (BSF) and Jammu and Kashmir Police, which have already been stationed at specific locations falling on the yatra route for the Hindu shrine that will start on June 28 and continue till August 26. Informed sources said the security forces were undergoing training in Srinagar to ensure that the upcoming Amarnath Yatra was conducted in a smooth manner. Senior Superintendent of Police and Superintendent of Police rank officials will supervise different companies of each force, an official in the Home Ministry said. This year, the Ministry has also decided to install radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags in vehicles used by pilgrims for better coordination and use drones for the surveillance of suspicious activities. The RFID device uses radio waves to read and capture information stored on a tag attached to an object, the official said, adding it will be installed onto the vehicles when an individual or tour operators register to travel to Kashmir for Amarnath Yatra. The forces, deployed in the Jammu and Kashmir by June 10, have been assigned with specific objectives and maximum number of security is scheduled to be deployed at the base camp for the pilgrims, said the official. A 24X7 helpline number 1364 will start two days before the yatra. The Ministry will use CCTV cameras, bullet proof bunkers, dog squads and quick reaction teams on the yatra route. Satellites are likely to track the movement of pilgrims. Other facilities like drinking water, toilets, clean halls for stay, inquiry counters, transport, communication and banking facilities have been set up at the Yatri Niwas in Jammu. Nearly 70 medical camps will be set up on the route. Taking note of last year's attack on Amarnath pilgrims and increased militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh decided to improve security for the pilgrimage during his visit to Jammu and Kashmir on June 7-8. On July 10 last year, at least nine Amarnath pilgrims were killed and 19 others injured in an attack on a bus in Anantnag district. Keeping that in mind, multi-tier security arrangements have been made this year, the official said. The Home Ministry on Thursday reviewed security arrangements for the Amarnath Yatra. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Army chief General Bipin Rawat, Intelligence Bureau Director Rajiv Jain, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police S.P. Vaid, Director General of BSF K.K. Sharma and CRPF chief R.R. Bhatnagar were present in the meetings. The sources said the two meetings discussed the loopholes last year and the measures to be taken this year keeping in mind the potential threats, including fidayeen attacks. Data available with the state administration shows that between January and May this year, as many as 68 terrorists were killed by the forces despite 30 days ceasefire against militants in Jammu and Kashmir during Ramadan declared on May 16. Of the 68, south Kashmir accounted for 53 deaths. During Ramadan, more than 10 were killed on the Line of Control. Last year's figure stood at 52 for the same time period. As far as terror-related incidents are concerned, during the last 30 days of Ramdan, over 30 terrorist incidents have been reported. (Rajnish Singh can be contacted at rajnish.s@ians.in) --IANS rak/vsc/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) When a childhood friend and I met Jan Morris just before a speaking engagement at a posh London club, Morris, then in her eighties, confessed she was tired. I used to edit her regularly and had never known the great Welsh writer, who was recently described in the Financial Times as possibly the best travelled Briton alive, to sneeze indeed to be anything other than impishly exuberant. Minutes later, Morris mischievously joked from the stage that the club presidents effusive introduction was straight off Wikipedia and explained she had been doing the only yoga ... Tension prevailed in Bhanderi village after a person was killed and two others injured in a clash over a piece of land, police said today. The gram pradhan and his men objected to two people working in their agricultural field last evening following a heated argument during which they opened fire, injuring three people, Circle Officer Sadar Baldev Singh Khandela said. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, where Ramzan (22) succumbed to injuries, the CO said, adding that the of his death triggered tension in the village. The irate villagers indulged in brick batting, he said, adding that PAC personnel were deployed in the village. An FIR was filed against the gram pradhan and nine others, Khandela said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A woman was killed and four members of the same family were injured when their car fell into a deep gorge in the district, an official said today. The car fell into an 80-feet deep gorge near Kulhad, killing a 57-year-old woman on the spot, SDRF in-charge Gabbar Singh Negi said. The family from Mayur Vihar area in Delhi was going in their own car to Mayalgaon to participate in a puja when the accident took place, he said. Four people, including a seven-year-old girl, were injured in the accident. They were rushed to a health centre in Satpuli from where they were referred to Kotdwar base hospital, Negi said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Evangelist Andrew Palau to Share Gospel in Sunbury, England at Outdoor Festival this Weekend Contact: Jay Fordice, 503-614-1572 SUNBURY, UK, June 15, 2018 / Standard Newswire / -- Evangelist Andrew Palau, son of Luis Palau, will share the Gospel at the upcoming "Joy @ Kempton Park" event on June 17 in Sunbury, England. "Church leaders came together and asked us for help in sharing the Good News of Jesus in their area," The Palau Association's UK Director Dave Plowman said, "of course we were thrilled." Organized by the local evangelical community and spearheaded by St. Saviour's Church in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, the event will feature performances by a variety of musical artists leading up to a clear Gospel message from Palau. The Bishop of Kensington, Graham Tomlin, will also attend to lead in a prayer. While England seems to be at an all-time low in Christian population and regular church attendance, this festival has seemed to catch fire in the local community. The planning committee is optimistic and expectant of a crowd of nearly 5,000 rare for an event of this kind. "We want to see people come to know Jesus," said Rowena Cross of St. Saviour's Church in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey. Cross is the church's director of mission, evangelism, and discipleship. "We also want to see people who already know Jesus have their faith fired up." The event is part of a larger plan for 2020. The Palau team is praying for a South West London festival in 2020 in partnership with God-willing, all of the churches in this area. To learn more about the Joy @ Kempton Park festival, visit www.stsaviourssunbury.org.uk/JoyAtKemptonPark Palau will head straight to Gaylord, Michigan after Sunbury to share the Gospel at the Big Ticket Festival. He will also travel throughout the United States and to Colombia, Argentina, and China later this year to lead outreaches in several additional cities. Learn more at www.palau.org About Andrew Palau: For nearly 25 years Andrew Palau has played a key role in the ministry of the Luis Palau Association. He has been instrumental in building the LPA model for citywide outreach as an evangelist, director, and key team leader. He has guided campaigns, led church relations efforts, trained thousands of believers in friendship evangelism, and proclaimed the Good News of Jesus Christ in person to hundreds of thousands of individuals throughout Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia, the Caribbean, and the United States. The flood situation in the Northeast deteriorated today, with four more people in Manipur and one in Tripura losing their lives, taking the death toll in the region to 12. The situation worsened in Assam, Tripura and Manipur as train services remained suspended on some routes and roads were washed away. Nearly four lakh people have been affected across seven districts of Assam. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), 3.87 lakh people have been affected in Hojai, Karbi Anglong East, Karbi Anglong West, Golaghat, Karimganj, Hailakandi and Cachar districts in the first wave of floods to have hit the state this year. So far, three persons have lost their lives in landslides and flood-related incidents in different parts of the state. According to the report issued today, Hailakandi has been the worst-hit with nearly 2.06 lakh people affected, followed by Karimganj with almost 1.33 lakh people. Due to fresh landslips between the Bandarkhal and Damchara stations, rail movement continues to remain suspended on the Lumding-Badarpur section. Currently, Dhansiri river at Numaligarh in Golaghat, Jia Bharali at NT Road crossing in Sonitpur, Kopili at Kampur in Nagaon, Barak at AP Ghat in Cachar and Badarpurghat in Karimganj, Katakhal at Matizuri in Hailakandi and Kushiyara at Karimganj town are flowing above the danger mark. In Manipur, over 1.5 lakh people were marooned in two flood-hit districts as the situation in the Imphal Valley worsened with the death toll rising to six. The Relief and Disaster Management in a report said the intensity of flooding has been increasing at Thoubal and Imphal West districts with 1.5 lakh people being marooned. About 12,500 houses have been damaged and 5,200 people moved out of the area, according to latest reports. Concerned over the devastating flood situation in the state, Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla today said she would donate a day's salary to the Governor's Relief Fund for the flood-affected people. Heptulla told reporters that the entire Raj Bhavan staff would contribute a day's salary and appealed to others to chip in. Acknowledging that the flood situation was bad, she said once the water recedes, there is a possibility of outbreak of fever and other diseases and she will discuss the matter with the health minister to take preventive measure. Officials said the water level continued to rise in Nambol and Thoubal rivers in Bishnupur and Thoubal districts. The situation in Tripura also deteriorated with the rain-fed Khowai river inundating fresh areas rendering thousands homeless and damaging roads and crops, officials said. Three people have so far died in flood-related incidents in the state. Around 2,000 flood-affected people have taken shelter in freshly opened relief camps this morning as water level of the Khowai has been swelling following continuous rain since last night, Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Uttam Mandal said. Currently, 6,000 people are marooned in Khowai district, he said, adding it has caused extensive damage to road connectivity as well as crops. The Kalilashshar sub-division of Unakoti district, which was badly affected by the flood, is yet to recover from the disaster with over 21,000 people still putting up in relief camps. Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb today visited the Kalilashshar sub-division. In Mizoram, at least 1,066 families have so far been evacuated to safer places due to floods, state disaster management and rehabilitation department officials today said. The worst-hit villages were south Mizoram Lunglei district's Tlabung town and its surrounding villages as their homes were inundated by the flooding Chhimtuipui river along the Mizoram-Bangladesh border. Heavy rainfall continued to lash the state again last night and this morning which triggered another massive landslide at Ramlaitui village in Lunglei district which blocked the Aizawl-Lunglei via Thenzawl highway. Public Works Department's Chief Engineer K Lalsawmvela said excavators were used to clear the debris while the National Highway No 54, which was swept away by landslide near central Mizoram's Serchhip town yesterday, was still not repaired. Lalsawmvela said that it would take days, if not months, to restore the National Highway as the whole hillock collapsed pulling down around 100 metres of the highway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The All India Kisan Sabha today demanded that the Jharkhand government set up a judicial commission to investigate the lynching of two Muslim men by a group of villagers on suspicion of cattle theft in Godda district. In a statement, the AIKS urged the Supreme Court to intervene and ensure protection to citizens from cow vigilantes. "AIKS strongly deplores the tragic incident of mob lynching of two youths - Murtaza Ansari and Charku Ansari - in Godda district of Jharkhand that exposed the cell rule of RSS. AIKS demands the Raghubar Das government led by BJP in Jharkhand to arrest immediately all the culprits and set up judicial commission to probe the mob lynching," it said. The organisation has said the state government should provide Rs one-crore compensation to the family of each victim. In the name of cow, it said, vigilante groups are killing people managing livelihood out of the "cattle economy". According to the state police, the two men were lynched allegedly by a group of enraged villagers early Wednesday. Four people were arrested in connection with the incident on Wednesday, the police are looking for other accused in the case. The AIKS, however, accused the police of working in connivance with the killers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Maharashtra government is aspiring to make the state the first trillion-dollar economy by 2025, five years early, by investing in infrastructure, agriculture and services and by leveraging foreign investments in various sectors, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said. Maharashtra's economy at present is USD 400 billion and at the current growth rate it is destined to become trillion-dollar economy by 2030, he said asserting that he wants to achieve that milestone five years early. "We want (Maharashtra) to become a trillion-dollar economy by 2025," Fadnavis told a Washington audience here at an event organised jointly by India Initiative of the Georgetown University and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Fadnavis gave a detailed presentation of the achievements of the state government in the last nearly four years, including efforts to achieve the goal of a drought-free state, massive investment in the infrastructure sector, including transportation and marching ahead in the new technology sector like artificial intelligence. "We are trying to grab those opportunities," he said. Ahead of the assembly elections in 2019, Fadnavis said he would come out with a new vision document for the state. The promises made in the last vision document are in implementation phase and most of them are likely to be completed in the next few years, he said. In recognition of his remarkable accomplishments, the India Initiative of the Georgetown University presented Fadnavis with its inaugural Outstanding Leadership In Development at the Sub-National Level to Fadnavis, which he dedicated to the people of Maharashtra. "I dedicate this award to the people of Maharashtra who put all their faith in me and my party and gave me this opportunity to govern the second largest state of India, which is also powerhouse of India," Fadnavis said. In his remarks, Fadnavis said in just three years, 11,000 villages of the state have been made drought-proof. The goal is to increase the number of such villages to 16,000 by end of this year. "The result is, those villages which required water supply by tankers for six months in a year are now tanker free," he said adding that as a result, the entire economy is changing. The chief minister also spoke on Mumbai infra projects, Nagpur-Mumbai Maharashtra Samruddhi corridor, which will create logistics and Agro processing hubs in 24 districts and many other initiatives like war room for coordinating all the projects. "Our key to growth is infrastructure-led development," he said, who yesterday visited the World Bank headquarters here to meet its CEO, Kristalina Georgieva. In their meeting, the World bank assured the chief Minister of more support for rural solar grid and drought mitigation. During the meeting, he sought assistance for MMR Multimodal Transport Corridor and Rural Livelihood Project to provide sustainable livelihood enhancements in 10,000 villages of Maharashtra. Fadnavis also met the Co-Chairs of the India Caucus George Holding and Tulsi Gabbard -- in the US Congress. Earlier, the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) kicked off the chief minister's roadshow with US investors at a roundtable in New York City, and hosted him the next day at an event with member companies in Washington. During the road shows, the chief minister reiterated his goals to make Maharashtra the first trillion-dollar economy across India. "We have focused on building infrastructure, which has subsequently opened up lot of opportunities for international investors in the state," he said. With an emphasis on further development of Mumbai and other townships, Fadnavis said his government has supported private-public partnerships to promote this growth. He insisted that his state's objective of job growth, along with economic development, will be fulfilled through investments across sectors. USISPF president Mukesh Aghi said Maharashtra is growing at a rapid pace and the state is the first choice for many of the US companies that manufacture in India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling was today conferred with a Doctorate degree by a private university. ICFAI University Chancellor Dr R P Kaushik and Vice-Chancellor Prof Jagannath Patnaik handed over the certificate of Doctorate of Literature (honoris causa) at a convocation function held at Chintan Bhawan auditorium. It was the fourth academic honour in the past 14 years for the Sikkim chief minister. Chamling was given the same honour by the SRM University late last year. Earlier, the Sikkim Manipal University had honoured him with Ph.D degree in 2003 and Sikkim University with Doctorate of Philosophy degree in July last year. Speaking on the occasion, Chamling said: "It is a great honour for me to receive Doctor of Literature from ICFAI University in recognition of my dedication and service to the people of Sikkim. Chamling said he has created the groundwork for the Sikkimese students to take up higher studies in their own state by setting up seven universities and 27 colleges. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Army today paid floral tribute to rifleman Aurangzeb who was abducted and later killed by militants in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir yesterday. A tribute was also paid to rifleman Manvendra Singh who lost his life during an operation in Panar forests in Bandipora district in which two militants were killed. Army today paid befitting tribute to two of its comrades, who made the supreme sacrifice on 14 June 2018 in the Kashmir Valley, an Army official said. In a solemn ceremony at Badamibagh Cantonment here, Lt Gen AK Bhatt, Chinar Corps Commander and all ranks, paid homage to the martyrs on behalf of a proud nation, the official added. Representatives from other security agencies also joined in paying their last respects to the jawans, the official said. "Aurangzeb sustained multiple bullet injuries in a dastardly act wherein he was kidnapped and killed by the terrorists in Gasu village of Pulwama enroute his home on leave to celebrate Eid with his family, the official said. Hailing from village Salani in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir, 24-year-old Aurangzeb joined the Army in 2012. He is survived by his wife, parents and three brothers, the official said. Singh (30) had joined the Army in 2008 and hailed from village Kabiltha in Rudraprayag, Uttrakhand. He is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son. The official said the mortal remains of the martyrs were flown for the last rites to their native places, where they would be laid to rest with full military honours. In this hour of grief, the Army stands in solidarity with the bereaved families of the martyrs and remains committed to their dignity and well being, the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 22-year-old aspiring architect was killed and her mother was injured after their scooter was hit by a truck in northwest Delhi, police said today. The incident was reported yesterday when the mother-daughter duo, identified as Anju Sharma and Khushbu, was returning from the Keshav Puram area when their scooter was hit by the truck from the backside, they said. Both the victims were rushed to the hospital where Khushbu was declared brought dead and her mother was being treated, police said. The truck driver was nabbed by the passerby and later handed over to the police, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Condemning the parading of two minor boys from a backward community naked in Maharashtra's Jalgaon district, Union minister Ramdas Athawale said he would visit the village, where the incident took place, tomorrow to ensure the victims get justice. Ahead of his visit, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Athawale demanded that strict action be taken against the perpetrators. Two minor boys from a backward community were allegedly beaten up and paraded naked in Wakadi village in Jalgaon's Jamner taluka for swimming in a well that belonged to a person of a different caste. The police have already arrested two men, identified as Ishwar Joshi - the well owner and his farm worker Prahlad Lohar, in connection with the incident. "We condemn the incident. Strict action should be taken action against the perpetrators. I will visit Wakadi village tomorrow to see the victims get justice," Athawale said in a statement. Athawale added he would also meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Jalgaon Superintendent of Police Dattatray Karale in connection with the incident. The Union minister urged parties against "politicising" cases of atrocities on people belonging to the Scheduled Castes. Such atrocities are a social concern and "not a political" issue, he stressed. Athawale, however, stated that all political parties should come together to resolve the issue of caste-based atrocities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A senior leader of Bangldesh's ruling Awami League was shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside a mosque in Dhaka's Badda area when he was returning home after Friday prayers. Farhad Ali, general secretary of the ruling Awami League's Badda Union wing, died on the spot as bullets pierced his chest and head. Two men opened fire on Farhad from their motorbike outside Baitus Salam Jame Mosque in Badda area, known for gangland violence and turf wars, a police officer told bdnews24.com. "Farhad was shot dead on the spot when he was leaving the mosque after Jumma (Friday) prayers," police said. The police did not immediately confirm the motive for the killing. The latest killing mirrors the murder of another Awami League activist in April over an internal conflict in the same area. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Consumer durables firm Bajaj Electricals today bought the non-stick cookware maker Nirlep Appliances for around Rs 80 crore, which includes equity and debt. Aurangabad-based Nirlep, launched in 1968, is among the pioneering brands to introduce non-stick technology and is also the first domestic firm to export to Europe. "We have proposed to acquire the entire shareholding of Nirlep for a consideration of Rs 42.50 crore, subject to adjustments of any additional liabilities for the period prior to acquisition," Bajaj Electricals said in a BSE filing. This will help Bajaj Electricals cement its position in the fast-growing Rs 12,000-crore kitchenware category. "We have agreed to sell the entire stake in Nirlep to Bajaj Electricals for around Rs 80 crore. The deal involves Rs 42.50 crore for 100 per cent equity and taking over around Rs 30 crore of debt. The rest is some deferred payment," Nirlep founder Mukund Bhogale said. The deal will be completed in two tranches. In the first tranche, 80 per cent of shares will be acquired within 60 days from today and in the second tranche, the company has a right to exercise call option to acquire remaining 20 per cent of shares any time after closing date, Bajaj said. Bajaj Electricals already has brands Bajaj and Morphy Richards in the electrical kitchen appliances under its belt, and this deal will give it a wider portfolio, according to Gaurav Agarwal, a director at i-banker Singhi Advisors that was the sole financial advisor to the deal. The publicly traded Bajaj had over Rs 4,700 crore in revenue last fiscal and is the largest small appliances player in the country. Following the acquisition, Nirlep will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bajaj Electricals, the company said in an exchange filing. The acquisition will give Bajaj exclusive access to Nirlep's manufacturing facility, people, distribution network and intellectual property rights. Nirlep employs around 500 and had turnover of around Rs 100 crore in FY18. Bajaj Electricals shares closed at Rs 537.30, up 0.82 per cent on the BSE, whose benchmark Sensex inched up 0.06 per cent today. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bajaj Electricals has entered into an agreement to fully acquire cookware brand Nirlep Appliances for a consideration of Rs 42.50 crore. Subsequent to the proposed acquisition, Nirlep will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Bajaj Electricals. "The company has proposed to acquire the entire shareholding (100 per cent) of Nirlep for a consideration of Rs 42.50 crore, subject to adjustments of any additional liabilities for the period prior to acquisition," Bajaj Electricals said in a BSE filing. The company said the proposed acquisition will provide portfolio of products which complements with the offerings of Bajaj Electricals and is a perfect synergic blend. "The proposed acquisition will make available a running business setup and other synergic benefits to the company. It shall also give the company an exclusive access to Nirlep brand, the state of art manufacturing facility, people, distribution network, intellectual property rights and goodwill of Nirlep," it added. Bajaj Electricals said it has agreed to complete the acquisition of entire shareholding of Nirlep in two tranches. In the first tranche, 80 per cent of shares will be acquired on closing date that is within 60 days from the date of agreement and in the second tranche, the company has a right to exercise call option to acquire remaining 20 per cent of shares any time after closing date. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Evangelist Alveda King: Remembering Our Fathers on Father's Day Contact: Leslie Palma, 732-757-9087 ATLANTA, June 15, 2018 / Standard Newswire / -- Evangelist Alveda King submits the following and is available for comment: Father's Day is Sunday and I miss my dad, Rev. AD King , who taught me to love everyone. When my uncle Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, in error, I tried to blame white people. Daddy said, "no, we are all one race, one blood human beings. White people didn't kill your uncle, the Devil did." Daddy was such a great father and a great family leader. I only wish I had gotten to spend more time with him. But I rejoice in the faith that he is resting in peace with our Heavenly Father. Father's Day also causes me to reflect on Joseph, the foster father of Jesus and husband of Mary. When faced with a new spouse, who was unexpectedly pregnant, unlike many fathers of today, Joseph embraced his new role of fatherhood and stepped up to the plate to take care of his family. He did not walk away from his responsibility, or worse, try to kill Jesus in Mary's womb; unlike occurrences in our society today. I'm blessed to know some other remarkable men who as role models are working to share the knowledge of what they have learned with other men around the country and the world. One such person is Bishop Harry Jackson of The Hope Connection. He works helping men who have been in prison to re-integrate into the family and society. He understands the importance of the family and the role a father plays to give them a better chance in life. He has mounted a Father's Day campaign to do just that. Please pray and fast with him beginning on June 17. Kevin Burke is also working to improve the lives of fathers through the healing after abortion ministry, Rachel's Vineyard and the Silent No More's The Shockwaves of Abortion campaign which focuses on a different group each month with June being focused on healing fathers On the heels of Father's Day we celebrate Juneteenth, a holiday in the United States that commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas on June 19, 1865, and more generally the emancipation of African-American slaves throughout the Confederate South. In celebration of Juneteenth we're continuing to cry out for justice for all Americans, born and unborn. Towards that goal, we ask you to join the movement by signing on to an open letter to Congressional members encouraging them to support The Prison Reform and Redemption Act (H.R. 3356). As we celebrate Father's Day let's remember the important role all fathers play in the family and pray that all fathers will take their responsibilities seriously and help make the world a better place for everyone. For those who are like me and your fathers have passed away, be encouraged. Our Father God still cares. And let's pray for all fathers everywhere from the White House, to the court house, to the battlefield, to the jail house, to God's house. Expressing concern over the killing of BJP activists during the recent panchayat polls in West Bengal, Union Minister Hansraj Gangaram Ahir today said there are "problems" with the law and order situation in the state. "We have seen how BJP activists were killed during the last panchayat elections in West Bengal. This is the only state in India where Opposition parties are not allowed to file nominations. Violence during the polls is a matter of challenge for smooth functioning of democracy. "As we have seen the media reports during the polls, the elections were marred with violence. This is not good for democracy. There are some problems with the law and order situation in the state," the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs told reporters here. Ahir also said that it is the duty of the West Bengal government to oversee the law and order situation, as it is a state subject. "Law and order is a state subject. But, when a incident happens, then we seek report. It is the duty of the state government to take care of the law and order situation," he said. The single-phase panchayat elections in the state in May saw widespread violence, which claimed at least 12 lives and injured 43 persons. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP legislators sitting on a 'dharna' at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's office at the Delhi Secretariat today converted their protest into a hunger strike to pressure the government in providing relief to the people hit by water shortage. The Delhi unit BJP leaders - Vijender Gupta, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Jagdish Pradhan and Parvesh Verma - and rebel Aam Aadmi Party MLA Kapil Mishra also wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind, seeking his intervention to end the five-day-old sit-in of Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues at Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's office. The BJP legislators and Mishra had launched the 'dharna' at Kejriwal's office on Wednesday, two days after Kejriwal and his party members began their protest at Baijal's office. Barring Pradhan, Mishra and the BJP leaders announced that they would remain on the hunger strike indefinitely. "Our hunger strike will continue till Chief Minister Kejriwal and his ministers resume work and provide water to the people," Gupta said. In the letter to the president, they alleged that Kejriwal and his colleagues were "sitting" at the L-G office while people were "braving a water crisis" and dust pollution. Demanding that Baijal direct IAS officers to end their "strike" and approve the Delhi government's doorstep ration delivery scheme, Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and ministers Satyendar Jain and Gopal Rai sat on the dharna on Monday evening. The BJP said the AAP's dharna is a "publicity stunt". "People are struggling for water and there is the worst kind of dust pollution. Instead of addressing these concerns, the CM has chosen this publicity stunt," they wrote to the president. Mishra, who was removed by Kejriwal from his cabinet last year, asserted that their hunger strike will go on till the chief minister resumes work. "Resolved to force the chief minister, who cheated Delhi and ran away from his responsibility, to resume work," he tweeted. Sirsa today filed a complaint at IP Estate police station against Delhi government minister Imran Hussain and AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, a day after Hussain alleged that Sirsa and his men tried to assault him at the Delhi Secretariat. Singh had reiterated the charge. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) TDP MP Jay Galla has accused the BJP government of misleading people on the issue of establishing a steel plant in Andhra Pradesh's Kadapa district and said his party would rake it up in Parliament. Galla's remarks came a day after the Centre, citing the Steel Authority of India Limited's (SAIL) feasibility report, told the Supreme Court that it was not "financially viable" to construct a steel plant at Kadapa. To protest the Centre's denial, TDP MP CM Ramesh has threatened to go on a fast-unto-death in Kadapa district from June 24. Galla said the BJP had been making contradictory statements at the Centre and in the state regarding the plant. "It is (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi and (BJP chief) Amit Shah's tactics of confusing people. They have been doing it for the last four years. The BJP's double standards have been exposed," he said here last evening. SAIL was asked to examine the feasibility of setting up a steel plant in Kadapa district according to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (APR) Act, 2014. In December 2014, it submitted that it was not feasible. Later, when the TDP resisted and demanded that the Centre fulfil the promise made in the Act, it constituted a task force on December 7, 2016, to re look into the issue," he said. The Centre, citing the old 2014 SAIL report, filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court, stating that a steel plant in Kadapa is not feasible. If it is genuinely interested in setting up the plant, it should have waited for the task force report, he added. On one hand, the Centre is citing the outdated report in the Supreme Court. On the other, BJP state president Kanna Lakshmi Narayana says the Andhra government is considering setting up a steel plant in Kadapa. He also included the Kadapa steel plant as one of the items in his request letter to Prime Minister Modi on June 12. This shows nothing but their double standards," the TDP lawmaker alleged. Galla said the TDP would confront the Modi government on the issue in the upcoming Parliament session. The proposed steel plant is emerging as another point of contention between the Centre and the TDP, which had in March pulled out of the NDA government over its refusal to grant special status to Andhra Pradesh. The party has also been accusing the Narendra Modi government of not releasing enough funds for the Polavaram irrigation project and Amravati, the under-construction ultra-modern state capital. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said today that the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre is likely to go for an early Lok Sabha election. Claiming that Rahul Gandhi will be the next prime minster, Sidhu said a grand alliance of Congress and other "secular" parties will be formed across the country to take on the BJP. The next general election is due by May next year. Sidhu was talking to reporters after inaugurating a Rs 10-crore multi-level car parking on Banga road in Phagwara and a Rs five-crore auditorium at the PWD rest house in the town. He said a state-wide drive against illegal colonies will be launched soon and stressed that he will convince Sushil Rinku, Congress MLA from Jalandhar, who publicly opposed the move against illegal colonies yesterday. Sidhu, who also hold the tourism portfolio, said Rs 590 crore was being spent on developing 30 tourist hubs in state. "After consulting the chief minister, I am going to invite international tour operators from the UK, the US and Canada in December...," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP MP from Godda Nishikant Dubey today said he will foot the legal expenses of the persons arrested in connection with the lynching of two Muslims here on suspicion of cattle theft on Wednesday Dubey alleged that the tribals were arrested in connection with the June 13 incident due to pressure from the Congress and demanded a CBI probe in the case. "The arrests were made under pressure from the opposition parties. The Congress on one hand says tribals can't murder and on the other it had got arrested the tribals. How four persons can be identified when a thousand people gathered (during the incident)?" Dubey told PTI. "I will foot the legal expenses of the arrested persons from lower court to the Supreme Court," he said, adding he wanted a CBI probe. Two Muslims were beaten to death in Bankati village by enraged residents of neighbouring tribal dominated Dullu village who suspected them and three others of stealing their buffaloes. After night-long search, the villagers had allegedly caught the two with the cattle and beat them to death. Three others alleged to be involved in cattle theft had managed to escape. The two deceased were residents of Taljhari in the district, about 200 km from Ranchi. Godda Superintendent of Police Rajiv Ranjan Singh maintained that the it was a case of cattle theft and strongly denied cow vigilantism as the reason. "From day one we have told all the media that it is a pure case of theft and not cow vigilantism," Singh said. He said all the four arrested, identified as Kameshwar Soren, Kishan Rai, Bhukul Kishku and Munsi Murmu, were sent to judicial custody today. Two FIRs were registered in connection with the lynching case. The first complaint was lodged by one of the arrested persons, Munsi Murmu, under IPC 379 (theft) and 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property). The other complaint was filed by Imran Ansari, the father of one of the deceased, Charuku, under IPC sections 147 (rioting), 148 (armed with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly guilty of offence), 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 302 (murder), police had said. Charuku had faced two cases of cattle theft in the neighbouring Dumka district, they said. The other deceased was identified as Murtaza Ansari. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The body of a former president of a Gram Panchayat, who jumped into backwaters here from a passenger boat, was found today on the coast at nearby Kannamali, police said. V K Krishnan, 74, a local CPI(M) leader, had gone missing following the alleged suicide bid during the boat journey on Wednesday. His body was found on the seashore in Kannamali this morning, police said. The former president of the Elamkunnappuzha gram panchayat allegedly handed over a note to a co-passenger before taking the extreme step. In the note, Krishnan reportedly accused the local leadership of the CPI(M) of harassing him over the issue of factionalism. The CPI(M) has rejected the allegations. Krishnan's body has been handed over to his family members after a post-mortem at the general hospital in Ernakulam, police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bombay High Court today quashed an FIR against actor Armaan Kohli after he submitted an affidavit from jail expressing "remorse and regret" for assaulting his girlfriend. The court observed that since the victim, Neeru Randhawa, had consented to the quashing of the FIR and did not desire to take the case forward, it was best to quash the FIR. In the affidavit that Kohli's lawyer brought to court in compliance with its previous order, the actor also assured the court that he will not repeat such behaviour. Randhawa, who was present in court, also filed an affidavit stating that she and Kohli had decided to amicably settle the matter following the intervention of Kohli's family and their mutual friends. She also told the court that she has already received some monetary compensation from Kohli's family and that she was to receive some other post-dated cheques from them. "If the conditions of settlement are met then I will be happy to take back the case," she told the court. At this the bench permitted that the FIR be quashed and directed Arthur Road prison authorities to release Kohli from custody. "We hope and trust the petitioner (Kohli) will abide by what is stated in the affidavit in its true spirit," the bench said. The court also directed Kohli to deposit, as costs, an amount of rupees one lakh each with the Tata Memorial Centre's children treatment centre and The National Association of the Blind within 6 months from today. Kohli's 90-year-old father and yesteryear film producer, Rajkumar Kohli, was in court but said that he was unaware of the settlement. The court then put Kohli's brother-in-law, Raman Bhandari, in the witness box, who told the court that the family was aware of the amicable settlement. Kohli was arrested by the police from Lonavala earlier this week and booked under section 326 of the IPC for voluntarily causing hurt after Randhawa complained to the police that she had been assaulted by the actor. The Metropolitan Magistrate, Mumbai, rejected his bail on Wednesday and Kohli was remanded to judicial custody. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Popular band Boyzone has decided to bow out after 25 years. The Irish band, which comprises of Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham and Shane Lynch, will release their final album "Thank You & Goodnight" on November 16. It features collaborations with artistes like Ed Sheeran ("Because") and Gary Barlow ("Love"). "Twenty-five years is a long time. We're certainly not boys anymore, and we all feel that we should now call time on our lives together as Boyzone and go out on a real high," band members said in a statement posted on their official website. Boyzone will kick off their 25th Anniversary and Farewell Arena Tour from Belfast's SSE Arena on January 23 and conclude in Bournemouth at International Centre on February 9. "When we started out as five young Dublin Northsiders, eager to face the world, we never imagined that we'd still have an army of fans some twenty-five years later... If you'd seen our famous first TV appearance on The Late Late Show, you'd probably be surprised too!" "But what followed was the stuff of dreams. We've played stadiums and arenas all over the world, released six albums, and had almost two-dozen hits. We really can't put into words just how much you, the fans, have supported us along the way. Without that support, we would have never achieved what we have, and for that we're eternally grateful," the band said. Boyzone also said that one of the songs of the album, "I Can Dream", is a tribute to their late bandmate, Stephen Gately, who died of a congenital heart defect in October 2009. It contains Gately's vocals. "We're especially excited to share a very special tribute to Stephen in the shape of a new song, 'I Can Dream.' We came across a demo that he originally recorded for his solo album in 2002 and we've had the opportunity to re-work the song and add our harmonies alongside his lead vocal. "It was a bittersweet experience to hear all our voices together again. It's the closest the five of us will ever get to being in a room together again making music," they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Jammu and Kashmir Police today arrested a suspect in connection with the killing of veteran journalist Shujaat Bukhari and two of his PSOs, Kashmir's top police officer announced today. The suspect has been identified as Zubair Qadri, Inspector General (IG) Kashmir Swayam Prakash Pani said at a hurriedly called press conference. He said Qadri was seen in the video stealing the pistol of the PSO who was shot dead along with Bukhari. "The pistol has since been recovered and he is being questioned about his presence at the scene of the crime. So far, he has not been able to give any convincing answers," he said. Pani added that the state police had formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under Deputy Inspector General (central Kashmir) V K Virdi to probe the killing of the editor of Rising Kashmir yesterday. Pani also described the killing of the journalist as a "terror attack". The identity of the other three attackers was being ascertained, the police official said. Bukhari, 50, was gunned down yesterday evening soon after he got into his car from his office at Press Enclave in the city centre, Lal Chowk. His two personal security officers were also killed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) People behind the killing of veteran journalist and Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari would not be able to escape the law, Minister of State (Mos) for Home Hansraj Ahir said today. Condemning the killing of Bukhari, the minister said exemplary action would be taken against those involved in the crime. "It's a very sad incident. The Jammu and Kashmir chief minister has already ordered a probe into the matter. The accused will not be able to escape. We will take strict action against the miscreants. Nobody will be spared," Ahir told reporters here. Ahir was in the city to preside over a review meeting of Eastern Zone of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). Other agencies like the CRPF, SSB, ED, Drugs Control, as well as police officials from West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha and Jharkhand also participated in the meeting. Veteran journalist and Rising Kashmir newspaper editor Shujaat Bukhari and his personal security officers were shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside the newspaper's office in the heart of Srinagar yesterday. Bukhari (50) was leaving his office in Press Enclave in Lal Chowk for an iftar party when he was shot at. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said in a message that she was shocked and saddened by Bukhari's "sudden demise". Bukhari had earlier worked with The Hindu newspaper as its Kashmir correspondent. He was instrumental in organising several conferences for peace in the Kashmir Valley. He was also part of the Track II process with Pakistan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Civil rights group People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) today denounced the killing of senior journalist and 'Rising Kashmir' editor Shujaat Bukhari, saying his "assassination was meant to derail the peace process". The rights group said that Bukhari, a fearless critic of militaristic solutions, had supported ceasefire in Kashmir. "He was against violence from all sides and advocated the need to bring peace through dialogue. He supported the ceasefire," a release issued by PUCL said. Human rights organisation Jan Hastakshep said it was "ironic" that Bukhari was "killed on a day when the United Nation's first ever report on human rights violations in Kashmir was released". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The on Friday agreed to examine whether a person suffering from disability of 'low vision', in which eyesight cannot be corrected or improved, can be allowed to pursue MBBS course and treat patients. This contentious issue came up before a vacation bench of justices U U Lalit and Deepak Gupta which wondered whether it would be feasible to allow a person with visual impairment to become a doctor and treat patients. The bench issued notices to the Centre and the Gujarat government on a plea filed by a student suffering from 'low vision', who has cleared the NEET 2018 undergraduate examination, seeking a direction for issuance of disability certificate as per law so that he could take admission in MBBS course. "If you talk about any other profession like legal or teaching, it can be understood that even a blind person can successfully pursue the career. As far as MBBS is concerned, we have to see, how much it is feasible and possible," the bench said. Recalling his personal experience with an intern who was blind, Justice Lalit said that he had difficulties in reading the documents and used to convert digital documents into brail form, for reading and understanding them. "After successfully completing his internship with me, he has now become a Rhodes scholar studying at the University of Oxford," Justice Lalit said. Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde and advocate Govind Jee, appearing for minor student Purswani Ashutosh through a doctor, said that there was already a provision for reservation of five per cent seats of total intake capacity in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. He said that a direction should be issued to the Centre and Gujarat government for implementing the reservation scheme for persons with benchmark disability as mandated by provisions of the Act and issuance of certificate of disability. To this, Justice Lalit said that he had studied law from a government law college and a professor who taught him Company law was blind but he remembered everything by heart. "So in teaching or legal profession, there is no problem but when it comes to medical education, can a person with a disability of low vision be allowed. This we have to see," the bench said. It directed the student to be present before the committee of B J Medical College, Ahmedabad within three days from today, with the copy of this order. "The petitioner shall be medically examined and the appropriate medical certification regarding the claim of the petitioner that he suffers from 'low vision' shall be transmitted to the Registry of this court within four days therefrom," the bench said and posted the matter for further hearing on July 3, before an appropriate bench. The student, in his petition, has claimed that he had appeared for NEET UG examination 2018 under physically handicapped category and has scored all India rank of 4,68,982 and category Physically Handicapped rank as 419 and said that he has fair chance of getting a seat in medical/dental colleges in All India Quota/ the State Government Medical Colleges under the special category. He said that on May 30, he had visited Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, Delhi for disability certificate as notified by the central government but they had refused to assess his disability. The students in his plea said that on June 6, though his father had even met the doctors concerned of the committee at the BJ Medical College at Ahmedabad for issuance of disability certificate, they received no response from the state government. He sought urgent disposal of his matter as the counselling process for admissions in MBBS course is going on. In a landmark move, the apex court had on September 24, 2017, opened the doors for colour-blind students to pursue MBBS course by ordering admission of two such candidates, who had scored high marks in the entrance examination. The apex court had said that peculiar facts and circumstances of the case required it to invoke special powers under Article 142 of the Constitution as it was a matter of "transcendental importance of justice",. The two students had secured high marks in the entrance examination conducted by the Tripura government in 2015 during the pre-NEET period. Without any statutory provision barring students from pursuing MBBS course, various colleges and Medical Council of India (MCI) were arbitrarily denying admissions to candidates suffering from Colour Vision Deficiency (CVD), popularly called colour blindness. The Centre today asked all its departments and the state governments to implement reservation in promotion for employees belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories. The move comes following a recent verdict by the Supreme Court in this regard. The Personnel Ministry, in an order, said, "The cadre controlling authorities of Central government ministries, departments and Union territories are to carry out promotions in accordance with the directions of the Supreme Court." Every promotion order must clearly mention the stipulation that the promotion shall be subject to further orders which may be passed by the Supreme Court, it said. According to the order, besides the Central government departments concerned, state governments are also advised to take necessary action in this matter. The personnel ministry order will be applicable to SC and ST category employees working with the Centre and the state governments, an officer said. The apex court had on June 5 allowed the Centre to go ahead with reservation in promotion for employees belonging to the SC and ST category in "accordance with law". The top court took into account the Centre's submissions that entire process of promotion has come to a "standstill" due to the orders passed by various high courts and the apex court had also ordered for "status quo" in a similar matter in 2015. "We will say you (Centre) can go ahead with promotion in accordance with law," a vacation bench comprising Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and Ashok Bhushan had told Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Maninder Singh, representing the Centre. During the hearing, the ASG cited the case laws on the issue of quota in promotion in government jobs and stated that the apex court's 2006 judgement in M Nagaraj case would be applicable. The M Nagaraj verdict had said that creamy layer concept cannot be applied to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for promotions in government jobs like two earlier verdicts of 1992 Indra Sawhney and others versus Union of India (popularly called Mandal Commission verdict) and 2005 E V Chinnaiah versus State of Andhra Pradesh, which dealt with creamy layer in Other Backward Classes category. On November 15 last year, a three-judge bench of the apex court had agreed to consider whether its 11-year-old judgement in M Nagaraj case was needed to be re-visited. The nine-judge bench of Supreme Court had, in the Indira Sawhney case in 1992, permitted reservation for the SCs and STs in promotion to continue for a period of five years from November 16, 1992. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) For the first time, filmmakers from China and Pakistan will jointly produce a movie showcasing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to highlight the "intimate friendship" of the people from the two countries, according to a media report. The USD 50 billion CPEC, a flagship project of Chinese President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has become a major issue as it traversed through the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), prompting strong protests from India. India has refused to endorse the BRI at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit held this month in Qingdao in China. The movie named "The Journey" will tell stories of Chinese businesses participating in the construction of the corridor in response to the BRI, Wang Haiping, director of the scriptwriting committee of the China Television Artists Association was quoted as saying by the state-run Xinhua agency. "The intimate friendship of the people from the two countries will be highlighted in the movie," he said at the ongoing first SCO film festival in Qingdao. Wang, also the scriptwriter of the film, said the movie will be based on real life stories. Chinese and Pakistani parties will cooperate in scriptwriting, shooting, post-production, and screening of the movie, he said, adding that shooting for the film is likley to start in early 2019. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It was an excruciating 24 hours for the 22 young crew members of container ship MV SSL Kolkata, which caught fire in the Bay of Bengal on Wednesday night, and they all saw it happen, inches from death, before being rescued by Coast Guard personnel. A fire was reported by the captain of the container vessel at 11 pm on Wednesday and after fighting the blaze through the night that engulfed 70 per cent of the ship, the crew members were picked up by 'RCGS Rajkiran' and were back an hour before midnight on Thursday at the Coast Guard's Haldia port base. A Coast Guard official today said SSL Kolkata is still burning and its ships are monitoring the container vessel which is adrift near the Sagar Islands. The Coast Guard rescued the crew of SSL Kolkata after they abandoned their ship amid very rough seas of the monsoon-charged Bay of Bengal in a courageous operation yesterday. "We were fighting the fire the full night and came back after travelling the whole day," a visibly exhausted Rajat Ranjan, the Master of SSL Kolkata said after a cheerful greeting by the Coast Guard personnel led by its West Bengal commandant DIG M A Warsi on their return. The SSL Kolkata crew members abandoned their ship and boarded life rafts on to the sea for close to four hours and were picked up from there by the Coast Guard personnel. "We are extremely tired owing to the events since yesterday," Ranjan told journalists waiting at the jetty to witness the return of RCGS Rajkiran with the rescued crew members at Haldia, about 130 km from the state capital Kolkata. "It is the will of God that we are alive and back to land again," said a crew member as his colleagues raised slogans of "Coast Guard zindabad". Rajkiran's captain T Ngamlien said that it was a challenge to rescue the distressed crew members of the container vessel amid very rough seas and inclement weather. SSL Kolkata reported the fire at around 11 pm on Wednesday and on being informed, the Coast Guard's commander of Northeast region inspector general K S Sheoran ordered a rescue operation. "We were informed there is a grave situation in Sandheads. We summoned the crew within 30 minutes and sailed from here for locating the ship and rescuing the crew," Ngamlien, a native of Manipur, said. "We overcame very rough seas and inclement weather to reach the ship as it was a call of humanity," said Ngamlien, who joined the Coast Guard in 2006 and took over the reins of Rajkiran just two months back. He said that despite the challenging weather, they sailed at a maximum speed of 30 knots per hour and reached the distressed ship at around 8 am yesterday. "The crew had decided to abandon the ship. It took four hours to complete the rescue of the 22 crew members, including the Master," he said. The 148-metre long MV SSL Kolkata had a total of 464 containers and 211 metric tonne (MT) of heavy fuel onboard, a Coast Guard spokesperson said. After having caught fire, the container vessel went adrift about 55 nautical miles from Sandheads anchorage near the confluence of the Bay of Bengal and the Hooghly river. According to the Kolkata Port Trust, the container vessel was carrying 10,683.51 MT of containerized cargo to Kolkata from Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. Sanjoy Mukherjee, a Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) spokesman, said "the ship reported fire on deck cargo containing chemicals". The Coast Guard NE IG Sheoran said that according to information from the owner of the vessel, fire occurred due to an explosion in the lower hold and thereafter spread to containers on the main upper deck. "The fire initially spread to 8 to 10 containers. However, due to inclement and strong wind conditions, it later developed into a major fire and rapidly spread to adjacent compartments," IG Sheoran said. The Rajkiran crew and a Dornier aircraft of the Coast Guard deployed for locating the ship found that about 70 per cent of the vessel was on fire and the Master of the vessel decided to abandon the ship, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The alleged kingpin of an inter-state drug-trafficking racket, has been arrested by the special team of the Delhi Police from Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, a senior police official said. Anish, a resident of Uttar Pradesh and carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 on him, was arrested on June 13 after laying a trap following a tip-off, the official was quoted as saying in a release. The accused and his three accomplices, who were earlier arrested, used to supply drugs in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi NCR region, Deputy Commissioner of Police Pramod Singh Kushwah said in a statement. Anish was apprehended when he went to Rohilkhand University in Bareilly to meet one of his associates, the police said. "He was involved in drug trafficking for several years. He used to supply heroin in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi NCR in large quantities. His other associates have already been arrested by the special cell in February," the release said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Opposition AIADMK today charged the NDA government at the Centre with deliberately delaying approval for the draft budget for the union territory for fiscal 2018-19 "to create a fiscal crisis" and cite this to dismiss the government. The draft budget, AIADMK legislature wing leader A Anbalagan said, was finalised by the Puducherry State Planning Board, headed by the Lt Governor Kiran Bedi, a few months ago and forwarded to the Home Ministry for approval. He alleged that the delay in giving the nod only showed that there was a clear and deliberate move to create fiscal crisis and that the Centre was also planning to dismiss the Puducherry government citing the fiscal crisis. The Lt Governor also has the responsibility to get the Centre's nod for the budget, he said and expressed dismay over the assembly not being able to adopt a full fledged budget. "Never before has such a situation arisen in Puducherry. The Narayanasamy headed government is also not showing resistance to the Centre's conspiracy to disturb his government, he said. Anbalagan asked all political parties to protest against the Centre and also the Lt Governor, who had 'failed' in her moral responsibility to get approval for the budget. He demanded that Narayanaswami quit office, owning moral responsbility for the 'piquant situation' arising out of want of a full fledged budget. The Assembly had a one day session on March 26 and passed a Vote on Account bill, earmarking funds for the first four months (April to July) of fiscal 2018-19 to enable various departments draw required money from Consolidated Fund of India to meet routine expenditure. The House was reconvened by the Speaker and had a two day session on June 4 and 5 and could not bring in the budget. The debate on motion of thanks to Lt Governor's address on March 26 was inconclusive and the House adjourned sine die on June 5. The Chief Minister had been meeting the Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry to try and get its approval for the budget, which has however not yet come about. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US Department of Justice in a report has slammed former FBI director James Comey and alleged that its investigations have found that there were FBI officials willing to take actions that would hurt the then candidate Donald Trump who is now the President of the United States. "We concluded that Comey's unilateral announcement was inconsistent with the department policy and violated long-standing Department practice and protocol by, among other things, criticising Clinton's uncharged conduct," the report said. "We also found that Comey usurped the authority of the attorney general, and inadequately and incompletely described the legal position of department prosecutors," it added. The over 500-page report, issued yesterday by the Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, said it had discovered text and instant messages between some FBI employees that expressed statements of hostility towards the then candidate Donald Trump and that of support for then candidate Clinton. "We also identified messages that expressed opinions that were critical of the conduct and quality of the investigation," said the report, which the White House said vindicates the consistent stand of Trump in this regard. "It reaffirmed the president's suspicions about Comey's conduct and the political bias amongst some of the members of the FBI. Director Wray, as you know, will be holding a press conference later this afternoon, and we'd encourage you to tune in for specific questions," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters at her daily conference. The report by Inspector General Michael Horowitz is highly critical of Comey for poor judgment during the 2016 election. However, the report has found no evidence to show his key decisions in the Clinton email investigation were improperly influenced by political bias. In a statement, Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin said the report made clear that Comey and FBI personnel failed to follow the rules, and in doing so, hurt Hillary Clinton's campaign and helped Donald Trump's. "In a frenzy of tweets since taking office, the President has claimed a vast conspiracy in his own government against his campaign and administration, but this report found no evidence that political bias affected the FBI investigations," he said. In the report, a paragraph summarising the factors that led the FBI to assess that it was possible that hostile actors accessed Clinton's server was added, and at one point referenced Clinton's use of her private email for an exchange with then President Obama while in the territory of a foreign adversary. This reference later was changed to "another senior government official," and ultimately was omitted, it said. Republican Congressman Darrell Issa said the report from the Department of Justice's Inspector General shed new light on the cumulative bias at some of the highest levels of the FBI during the lead-up to the 2016 election. "Time after time, high-ranking FBI officials put politics before country and usurped their leadership responsibilities to protect themselves and their political allies," he said, adding that the report showed how the FBI had become infected with politics and continuously disregarded rules and procedures to the detriment of Donald Trump and benefit of Hillary Clinton. "Furthermore, contrary to reports from the Clinton campaign and the Obama DOJ, we now know that Clinton's negligent e-mail security practices resulted in foreign actors attempting to breach high level information," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) today said it has arrested Shree Ganesh Jewellery House Ltd promoter Nilesh Parekh for fraud in diversion of over 1,700 kg of primary gold. "We have arrested Kolkata-based Shree Ganesh Jewellery House's promoter and was produced before court today. He has been remanded to judicial custody and will be produced again on June 22," a DRI spokesperson said. The DRI also listed other violations like non-realisation of remittance on account of export of gems and jewelleries to the tune of Rs 7,500 crore, and defrauding of a consortium of banks led by SBI, by way of non-payment of loans to the tune of Rs 2,672 crore. Parekh was last year arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with defrauding a consortium of banks. The ED is also investigating the gold diversion case under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 and Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Playwright-actor Mahesh Dattani has said the emergence of digital media has helped theatre and posed no threat to it. "The days of hoardings and press advertisements are over. One can make trailers for smart phones, which have the potential of going viral. This will only help bring more people to the theatre," the Sahitya Akademi Awardee told PTI. It is also possible these days to advertise one's play through social media, Dattani, whose critically acclaimed last stage production being 'Double Deal Reloaded', said in an e-mail interview. Besides, "the screen has proved to be an advantage. Theatre is dying because it is impossible for actors, designers and others attached to it to earn a living from it. Their migration to the screen gives them financial stability as also the experience of working in another artistic medium," the 68-year old thespian said. Those who are attracted to theatre will always remain, he said. The director of acclaimed stage plays like 'Final Solutions', 'Dance Like a Man', 'On a Muggy Night in Mumbai', 'Tara' said it was only a matter of time before more and more young people would come back "to the grass root experience of theatre." He said "just as khadi clothes, organic food, hand crafted items are making a comeback and at a premium, theatre too will command a premium as it has elsewhere in the world." Asked if theatre is facing any threat from the new age Bollywood cinema, Dattani, director of some films including 'Mango Souffle', said "not at all.""What the theatre offers is a completely different experience. It is like asking ... has the market price for a Picasso original gone down with the advent of printing technology," he said. Asked about the regional theatre movement in the country, particularly Marathi and Bengali theatres, Dattani recalled he was on the jury of a theatre festival some years ago in Delhi and "saw a wonderful Bengali play, based on the life of a famous theatre veteran....Some of my plays had been staged in Bengali too." "And living in Mumbai and working with theatre artistes of the Marathi stage, I appreciate its rich heritage. Like Bengali theatre, Marathi also has a strong theatre history of musical drama. Today you have cutting edge avante garde Marathi theatre," he said. Asked about his future productions, Dattani said, "I am going to New York to direct an adaptaion of Lorca's 'Blood Wedding' which will open at the South Asia Theatre Festival in New Brunswick. "After that, I'll come back to direct a new play on the Manipur civil rights movement against AFSPA and its charismatic leader Irom Chanu Sharmila. The play is written by Shanta Gokhale," he said. About his present production 'Double Deal Reloaded', Dattani said, "It has only begun its run. We premiered (the play) to an exclusive audience of European diplomats and some of them were ecstatic in their praise of the production, especially the acting. "The five shows we had so far staged has only seen our audience grow," he said expressing hope that the June 23 show of the play in the city will be liked by the Kolkata audience, "which is one of the most sophisticated ones in the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia today condemned the brutal killing of Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari and demanded an immediate probe into the dastardly crime. In a statement, the Delhi-based FCC urged authorities to punish the people behind the killing of the veteran journalist. Bukhari, 53, and his two PSOs were shot dead by gunmen outside the newspaper's office in the heart of Srinagar yesterday. He was shot dead soon after he boarded his car from his office in Press Enclave in Lal Chowk. "The Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia, New Delhi, condemns the brutal and senseless killing of senior Kashmiri journalist Shujat Bukhari in Srinagar on June 14. We demand an immediate probe into this dastardly crime, and appeal to the authorities to find the guilty and punish them," it said. Bukhari had worked for several years as state correspondent for 'The Hindu'. He was instrumental in organising conferences for peace in the valley and was also a part of the Track-II dialogue process with Pakistan. The FCC is a group of more than 500 journalists and photographers covering South Asia, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The gang involved in the murder of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh has a wide network spread across at least five states and comprised at least 60 people, a senior police official said today. The official belonging to the Special Investigation Team that is probing the sensational case, meanwhile, claimed that Parashuram Waghmare, the last of the six suspects arrested in connection with the killing, was her alleged assassin. The official also claimed that the same weapon was used to shoot Lankesh, and rationalists Govind Pansare and M M Kalburgi. He said the organised gang refrained from giving any specific name to their underground organisation. Claiming that the organisation was composed of people drawn from Hindu right groups, the official said it had around 60 members spread across at least five states but had no name. "We discovered that this gang has a network in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka," the official said. He said though the gang recruited people from hardline Hindutva organisations like Maharashtra-based Hindu Jagruti Samiti and Sanatan Sanstha, these outfits may not be directly responsible for the killings. Both the organisations had denied their role in the killing of Lankesh, Pansare and Kalburgi. Sujith Kumar alias Praveen used to recruit people for his gang in Karnataka, the official said, adding, it was through him that the entire network was busted including the alleged shooter Parashuram Waghmare from his home at Sindagi in Karnataka. "Waghmare had shot Lankesh and the forensic report has confirmed that (rationalists) Govind Pansare, M M Kalburgi and Lankesh were murdered with the same weapon," he claimed. He, however, said the weapon was yet to be traced. Forensic examination can lead to such a conclusion when the hammer of a gun has left identical marks at the rear of a bullet even if the weapon itself has not been found. Waghmare's family has denied his involvement in the crime. Police suspect the involvement of at least three more people in the murder. Hunt is on to find them. The investigators also found out that the suspects used to carry out their work in a phased manner. It involved recce, weaknesses of the person (target) and finally executing the plan, the official said. "The process of accomplishing the mission used to take six months to a year. The gang had almost reached the last phase of killing Prof K S Bhagawan (Kannada writer) when we nabbed them," he said. Bhagwan had often angered the right-wing outfits with his writings and utterances against Hindu Gods. Police had uncovered the plot to kill Bhagwan recently and arrested four men, whose suspected role in the Lankesh murder case is also being investigated. Jnanpith recipient Girish Karnad, who acted in multi-lingual movies too, was in the hit list. His surveillance was in the last phase, he said. The diary found from this gang revealed that other than Bhagavan and Karnad, former minister and literatteur B T Lalitha Naik, rationalist C S Dwarakanath and pontiff Veerabhadra Channamalla Swamy of Nidumamidi Mutt were also in the hit list for their anti-Hindutva stance. Lankesh, who was known for her anti-Hindutva voice, was shot dead on September 5 evening when she returned home in her car and was opening the gate of her house. The murder triggered a nationwide outrage. Government constituted the special investigation team to probe the murder. The team led by inspector general of police B K Singh has so far arrested six people, who are gun runner K T Naveen Kumar alias Hotte Manja, Sujith Kumar, Amol Kale, Manohar Edve, Amit Degvekar and Parashuram Waghmare. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Crime Branch team today visited the Chhatarpur ashram of self-styled godman Daati Maharaj, accused of raping a 25-year-old woman, police said. The Crime Branch had taken over the probe in the case from the district police earlier this week. The woman had filed a complaint against Daati Maharaj at the Fatehpur Beri police station in south Delhi on Sunday. The case was subsequently transferred to the Crime Branch. The police said they visited the ashram in Asola, Chhatarpur for "evidence collection". On June 13, the police had examined the victim and got her statement recorded before a magistrate. They have also issued a lookout circular against Daati Maharaj to ensure that he does not leave the country. The woman has told the police that she was a disciple of Daati Maharaj for a decade, but after she was raped by him and two of his disciples, she returned to her native place in Rajasthan. She has also alleged that a female disciple of the godman used to force her into his room and if she refused, would tell her that other disciples slept with him as well, the police said. The woman has also alleged that she was sexually abused at the godman's ashrams in Delhi and Rajasthan and named two male disciples of Daati Maharaj. She fled from one of the ashrams two years ago and had gone into depression. After she recovered from her trauma, she narrated her ordeal to her parents, who approached the police and a case was registered. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bihar Governor Satya Pal Mallik asking girls studying in state universities to report directly to the Raj Bhavan any complaints of molestation or sexual harassment on campuses today triggered political spat between opposition RJD and ruling JD(U) over prevailing law and order situation. Latching up the issue, leader of the opposition in the assembly Tejashwi Yadav today claimed that this was a reflection on shameful law and order situation in the state. At a function organized by office-bearers of students unions of various universities here yesterday, Mallik who is also the Chancellor of varsities in the state in his ex-officio capacity had said that officers have been deputed in Raj Bhavan and given special telephone numbers for attending such complaints and helping out the victims. Reacting sharply to the news, Yadav tweeted in Hindi Extremely Shameful! The Governor is aware that law and order is in a shameful mess under Chief Minister Nitish Kumars rule. The Chief Minister himself holds the home department which is mired in corruption. Now you can understand how bad must be the situation in Bihar which has compelled the Governor to intervene and take cognizance of womens harassment, the former Deputy Chief Minister said in a scathing attack at the state government. Janata Dal (United), which is headed by the Chief Minister, reacted angrily to the allegations levelled by the RJD heir apparent. RJD leaders are trying to act too smart. Entire Bihar remembers the terror and lawlessness they had to suffer while the party enjoyed power in the state for full 15 years. The Governor is not separate from the government and his utterance only underscored the governments sensitivity, JD(U) spokesman and MLC Neeraj Kumar said in a statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a federal court case deciding if Harvard University discriminates against Asian-American applicants, both parties say the evidence is firmly on their side. Harvard and the group Students for Fair Admissions filed dueling reports from outside economists Friday, each studying six years of Harvard admissions data and each reaching wildly different conclusions. The reports were filed in Boston's federal court as both parties attempted to persuade a judge to end the suit before it reaches trial, which has been scheduled to start in October. It marks a step forward in a lawsuit that has lasted nearly four years and raises implications for many other colleges that, like Harvard, say they consider race as one of many factors to gather a diverse mix of students. Edward Blum, a legal strategist who founded Students for Fair Admissions, issued a statement saying his group's filing "exposes the startling magnitude of Harvard's discrimination." Harvard countered with a statement calling the group's analysis "incomplete and misleading," saying it paints a "dangerously inaccurate picture" of the school's admissions process. Both sides built their cases on records detailing Harvard's admissions decisions for individual students who applied from 2010 through 2015. Students for Fair Admissions relied on an analysis from Peter Arcidiacono, a Duke University economist who says he found evidence of bias against Asian-Americans. Arcidiacono's study concluded that if Harvard relied only on the academic scores it assigns to each applicant, more than half of admitted students would have been Asian-American in the six years in question. Instead, they made up just 22 percent. To blame, he wrote, are subjective rating categories for which Asian-American applicants consistently received lower scores than their white peers. Asian-Americans, for example, received lower scores than any other racial group in a category for "personal qualities," and they fared worse than whites in an overall rating category that isn't based on any particular formula. Yet Harvard alumni who interview applicants and provide their own ratings generally scored Asian-Americans higher than whites, a contrast that Arcidiacono says suggests bias. The university attacked his analysis, saying it's flawed because it excludes applicants believed to have an advantage regardless of race, including relatives of alumni and athletes recruited by the school. Instead, Harvard sought its own study from David Card, an economist at the University of California, Berkeley, who found no evidence of discrimination against Asian-Americans. Looking at a wider pool of applicants and admissions factors, Card found that the effect of being Asian-American was "statistically indistinguishable from zero." Both sides also are sparring over a 2013 internal study at Harvard exploring the racial makeup of the admitted class. The inquiry, uncovered by Blum's group, was conducted amid earlier allegations of discrimination against Harvard. The study found that even considering factors like legacy status and extracurricular activities, 26 percent of the admitted class would have been expected to be Asian-American. Instead, 19 percent were. Blum's group says the report is proof of intentional discrimination and that Harvard "killed the study and quietly buried the reports." Harvard counters that the study was never intended to evaluate possible discrimination and that it was "incomplete, preliminary and based on limited inputs." University officials have painted the lawsuit as an attack on their ability to consider race in admissions, which they say is necessary to ensure diversity on campus. In 2016, the Supreme Court examined the topic and upheld race-conscious admissions at the University of Texas, but the justices warned that other colleges still must be able to prove affirmative action is the only way to meet diversity goals. Blum also was a driving force behind that case, helping Texas student Abigail Fisher sue the university. Fisher is also an executive in Students for Fair Admissions, according to the group's tax filings. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump on Friday said that he hated to see parents separated from their children due to his tough policy on immigration, but blamed it on the opposition Democrats. The children can be taken care of quickly, beautifully and immediately. The Democrats forced that law upon our nation. I hate it. I hate to see the separation of parents and children, Trump said at a White House press conference. The Democrats can come to us, as they actually are -- in all fairness, we are talking to them -- and they can change the whole border security. We need a wall. We need border security. We've got to get rid of 'catch and release'. You catch a criminal, you take his name, you release him and he never shows up again, he said. He goes into our society, and then we end up getting him in a different way, often after he's killed somebody. We've got to change our laws, he said. Trump said that the Democrats have control over this as the Republicans don't have the votes. We need more Republicans, frankly, and that's why I think we're going to do so well in the midterms (polls) because we have the strongest economy in the history of our nation. We have the best job numbers in the last 44 years, said the president. Earlier in an interview, Trump said he is looking at two immigration bills that are likely to come up for voting on the House floor next week. I'm looking at both of them. I certainly wouldn't sign the more moderate one, he said, thus indicating that he would oppose the Republican bill in this regard. I need a bill that gives this country tremendous border security. I have to have that, Trump said. Meanwhile on the sixth anniversary of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals initiative, established by President in 2012, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said young alien minors and their families in the US continue to live in constant fear and uncertainty of the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans' "hateful, discriminatory, anti-immigrant agenda that terrorises communities, condemns vulnerable women and children and tears families apart". On Thursday, House Republicans doubled down on their cruelty by releasing a heartless bill that codifies the president's anti-immigrant agenda, and fails to end the president's barbaric policy of separating parents from their children at the border, she said. Observing that the police did not conduct proper investigations in some criminal cases, the Calcutta High Court today asked the Home department of the West Bengal government to frame guidelines on such procedures. Justice Rajasekhar Mantha directed that the authorities should provide training to police officials in this regard. The court also said a departmental inquiry should be initiated if there were allegations of lacunae in a police probe. The order and observations came during the hearing of a petition filed by a man, who alleged that a proper probe into his daughter's death was not carried out by the police. Falguni Bhattacharya, the petitioner, had claimed foul play in his daughter's death after she fell from a motorbike while returning home with her friend on B T Road in North 24 Parganas district on March 8, 2016. Justice Joymalyo Bagchi had, in April last year, ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations. The police had filed a case against an unidentified taxi driver in connection with the death of the girl, the petitioner's lawyer Jayanta Narayan Chatterjee said. He claimed that the police had initiated a case of death due to negligence, while it should have been a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The prosecution today filed a status report of the SIT investigation. The court passed the directions after going through the report. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vacating its stay, the Madras High Court has directed the police to proceed with their probe and bring to book the brokers who allegedly played a role in the "illegal" admission of several Iranian students to a private dental college near here. Justice P N Prakash vacated the stay on the investigation, which was granted by the court on September 22 last year and extended in January this year, observing that though the police had zeroed in on one of the brokers, they were unable to proceed further because of the earlier interim order. In his June 11 order, the judge, after going through the case diary produced by the deputy superintendent of police, District Crime Branch, Kancheepuram, directed the police to proceed with the investigation in order to nab the brokers. Justice Prakash was hearing a petition filed by Nasser Hamidavi Zegheiri, an Iranian student, whose admission to the BDS course in the college was cancelled on the ground that he was enrolled without the mandatory NEET qualification. Submitting that he had given Rs 25 lakh to get the admission, the student had moved the court seeking a refund of the fees paid. The college had refunded Rs 5.50 lakh to Zegheiri during an earlier hearing. Subsequently, at least 15 other similarly affected Iranian students approached the court. The court was informed that the college had admitted the foreign students knowing that without clearing the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test, they could not join medical courses. The college cancelled the admissions following a directive from the Dr MGR Medical University, the affiliating institution. Complying with its undertaking given earlier, the college, during the hearing on June 11, handed over a demand draft for Rs 47.90 lakh -- the fees collected from the 15 students -- in favour of the Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Iran, who was present in the court. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump today claimed that he has "largely solved" the North Korean nuclear problem and has saved a lot of money by suspending "war games" with South Korea. Speaking to reporters outside the White House Trump defended his decision to unilaterally halt joint military exercises with South Korea after the summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un. "Military -- I call them war games. I hated them from the day I came in. I said, 'Why aren't we being reimbursed?" he said, responding to questions on the criticism he is facing on his decision to stop military exercises with South Korea. "We pay for it. We pay millions and millions of dollars for planes and all of this. It's my term. I said I'd like to halt it, because it's bad to be negotiating and doing it. It costs us a lot of money. I saved a lot of money. That's a good thing for us, Trump said. He claimed he has "largely solved" the North Korean nuclear problem following his summit with Kim. Trump said president Barack Obama told him before he took office that the "most dangerous problem" for the US was North Korea's nuclear weapons programme. "I have solved that problem...Now we're getting it memorialised and all but that problem is largely solved," Trump said. Trump said he does not want to see a nuclear weapon destroy the Americans. "I don't want to see a nuclear weapon destroy you and your family. I want to have a good relationship with North Korea. I want to have a good relationship with many other countries, he said. And what I've done, if you remember, if you're fair -- which most of you aren't -- but if you're fair, when I came in, people thought we were probably going to war with North Korea. If we did, millions of people would have been killed, he said. I don't mean like a -- people are saying 100,000. Seoul has 28 million people 30 miles off the border. You would have had 30, 40, 50 million people killed. Who knows what would have happened? I came in; that was what I inherited. I should have never inherited. That should have been solved long before I got there. I did a great job this weekend, Trump said. "We signed a very good document," he said. "But more importantly than the document, I have a good relationship with Kim Jong Un," he said, adding that they have "great chemistry together." "That's a very important thing," he said. "I can now call him. I gave him a very direct number. He can now call me if he has any difficulty. We have communication." The North Koreans, he said, are doing so much. Now we're well on our way to get denuclearization. And the agreement says there will be total denuclearization. Nobody wants to report that. So the only thing I did was I met. I got along with him great. He is great. We have a great chemistry together. That's the good thing, not a bad thing, said the US president. The US-N Korea agreement, he said, is going to be great for them too, because now, North Korea can develop, and North Korea can become a great country economically. It can become whatever they want. But there won't be nuclear weapons, and they won't be aimed at you and your family, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) American industry today opposed the decision of President Donald Trump to impose a 25 per cent tariff on import of goods worth USD 50 billion from China, arguing that it is not the right approach. "Imposing tariffs places the cost of China's unfair trade practices squarely on the shoulders of American consumers, manufacturers, farmers, and ranchers. This is not the right approach," US Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Thomas J Donohue said. The chamber of commerce he said, has vocally opposed using tariffs and promoted working with allies as a way to address China's trade and investment policies and practices. However, the opposition Democratic Party came out in support of the imposition of tariffs. The president's actions on China are on the money. China is our real trade enemy, and their theft of intellectual property and their refusal to let our companies compete fairly threatens millions of future American jobs, said Senator Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader. While we await further details on this trade action, President Trump is right on target, Schumer said. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch said tariffs will harm American and Chinese businesses and consumers, and will put economic growth in both countries at risk. China must take responsibility and act expeditiously to change its policies to avoid the damaging effects of tariffs and escalating retaliation. America's trade strategy must focus on combating China's discriminatory and market-distorting practices, he said. Ill-conceived trade actions that weaken the American economy, alienate allies, and invite retaliation against American businesses, farmers and ranchers, undermine our nation's ability to successfully confront China's unfair trade policies," Hatch said. On the other hand, the House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady, a Republican, rued that tariffs make it more difficult to sell more 'Made in America' products globally and expose many US industries particularly agriculture and chemicals to devastating retaliation. I urge the US Trade Representative to narrow these tariffs and implement an effective exclusion process that provides relief for American companies, unlike the problematic Commerce 232 exclusion process, Brady said. While it's encouraging that not all of the initially proposed tariffs will be implemented as a result of the comment period that Congress called for I am alarmed that additional products are now placed on the list for possible future action, he said. Republican Senator from Florida Marco Rubio described Trump's decision as an excellent move. He alleged that Chinese companies steal over USD 300 billion worth of technology a year. So these aren't tariffs they are a #TheftTax, he tweeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Over 120 Chinese industry and government representatives attended the India-China Investment Seminar organised on the sidelines of the fifth China-South Asia Expo in Kunming city. The Indian consulate in Guangzhou organised the seminar yesterday. The event was supported by the Yunnan International Expositions Bureau, a press release from the consulate said. Consul General Sailas Thangal, Hao Yishan, Deputy Director General, Yunnan International Expositions Bureau, Gao Shaoxun, Vice Governor, Yunnan People's provincial government, and Ajay Sahai, Director General, Federation of Indian Exporters Organisation, spoke at the event. China-South Asia Expo and the China Kunming Import and Export Fair, held annually in Kunming, is one of the more prominent gatherings of industry leaders and saw many forums hosted during this session, the release said. The seminar received very positive response and reviews from more than 120 representatives from industry and government who attended the event, it said. State-run Xinhua agency reported that a total of 266 contracts were signed during the China-South Asia Expo. Deals were concluded in sectors of green energy, green food and tourism, according to the provincial bureau of investment. International contracts were also signed, involving firms from Germany, Japan and the Netherlands, among other countries and regions. More than 3,800 companies from 87 countries and regions are attending the week-long exposition, with over 40 per cent of enterprises from overseas. Yunnan is a province in southwest China and a gateway to Southeast Asia and South Asia. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India has now submitted a revised list of 30 items -- including motorcycle, certain iron and steel goods, boric acid and lentils -- to the WTO on which it proposes to raise customs duty by up to 50 per cent. As duties hiked by the US on certain steel and aluminium products would have implications of about $241 million on India, the raise in tariffs proposed by New Delhi too would have an equal implication on America. "The US would be collecting $241 million worth of duties by hiking tariffs on certain steel and aluminium items from India, we also proposed to withdraw concessions of a similar amount from these 30 products imported by India from the US," a source said. Earlier in May, India proposed to raise duties by up to 100 per cent on 20 products such as almonds, apple and specific motorcycles imported from the US. The additional duty proposed to be hiked on these items ranges from 10 per cent to 100 per cent. "The revision is being provided to adjust the products and the tariff rates in accordance with India's rights reserved vide its notification to the Council for Trade in Goods contained in the WTO document...of 18 May 2018. "India hereby reiterates its decision to suspend concessions or other obligations notified to the Council for Trade in Goods on 18 May 2018...of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 and Article 8.2 of the Agreement on Safeguards, that are substantially equivalent to the amount of trade affected by the measures imposed by the United States," according to a communication by India to WTO. It said that the proposed suspension of concessions or other obligations takes the form of an increase in tariffs on selected products originating in the US, based on the measures of America. "India reserves its right to further suspend substantially equivalent concessions and other obligations based on the trade impact resulting from the application of the measures of the US," it added. The country has proposed this move under the WTO's Agreement on Safeguards. On March 9, US President Donald Trump imposed heavy tariffs on imported steel and aluminium items, a move that has sparked fears of a global trade war. Trump signed two proclamations that levied a 25 per cent tariff on steel and a 10 per cent tariff on aluminium imported from all countries except Canada and Mexico. Earlier India had stated that these suspensions will come into effect earlier than 21 June 2018, in case the US decides to continue the period of application of the measures. It said that the duty imposed by America has affected steel exports by $198.6 million, while the same on aluminium was $42.4 million. The other items include chickpeas, fresh apple, walnut, refined palmolein, motorcycle with engine capacity over 800 cc, diagnostic reagents and threaded nuts. India has also dragged the US to the World Trade Organisations dispute settlement mechanism over the imposition of import duties on steel and aluminium. India's exports of steel and aluminium products to America stood at about $1.5 billion every year. Its exports to the US in 2016-17 stood at $42.21 billion, while imports were $22.3 billion. Senior officials of India and the US will soon meet to address concerns of both the sides, including issues related with visa, continuation of certain concession for exports, duty on steel and aluminium, and prices of certain medical devices. Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu, who was in Washington earlier this week, said he held discussions with US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to find out ways to enhance trade and investments between the two countries. He said the meeting was significantly important in the backdrop of the fact that the US was not even ready to talk on trade related issues with its close trading partners like Canada. "On the day of (my) visit, US President Donald Trump made a statement about G7... In that backdrop the meeting took place. Meeting with the USTR went very well. We made substantive progress on trade and investment issues. "(Now) officers' meeting will take place very soon to discuss all pending issues. We have agreed to work on resolution of various issues and address the concerns of either side," Prabhu told reporters here. He said the meeting of the officers might take place by the end of this month. India has time and again raised concerns over negative impact of tightening of visa norms by the US on Indian IT sector. It has also asked America to continue extending duty free access under Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) to its products such as chemicals and engineering. India also wants exemption from the hike in import duty on certain steel and aluminium items. On the other hand, the US has raised concerns on issues, including high duties on dairy products and motor cycle Harley-Davidson. It has also flagged issues on prices of medical devices in India. When asked about the impact of possible US trade sanctions on Iran, Prabhu said: "UN sanctions we have to follow that but if some country imposes it, then we have to deal in a different way and that is what we are doing". India is one of the major importer of crude oil from Iran besides exporter of basmati rice. On the concerns being raised by the domestic industry on presence of China in the proposed mega trade deal RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership), the minister said that all these issues are raised by India from time to time. "We have not signed any agreement," he said, adding that RCEP will be a reality if all concerns of India are addressed. 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. India's trade deficit with China stands at USD 63.12 billion in 2017-18. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India will from November not be able to use European banks for making payments for crude oil it buys from Iran as US sanctions against the Persian Gulf nation take effect, senior officials said today. State Bank of India (SBI), the country's largest lender, has communicated to oil refiners that the euro payment route will be not available after November 3, Indian Oil Corp (IOC) Director (Finance) A K Sharma said. US President Donald Trump had last month pulled out of a landmark nuclear deal and said sanctions will be re-imposed on Iran within 180 days. However, it is not "doomsday" for Indian refiners and alternate crude oil sources in the Middle East, US and Russia can be tapped should Iranian supplies dry up due to payment problems, Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) Director (Finance) R Ramachandran said. "Once the current payment channel is blocked, supplier (Iran) has to decide if it wants to trade with us in rupee or sell oil on credit in anticipation of channels re-opening in future," Sharma said. India pays its third largest oil supplier in euros using European banking channels and imports can continue on alternate modes should it be blocked, he said. Currently, oil firms first transfer funds to SBI, which in turn uses Germany-based Europaeisch-Iranische Handelsbank AG (EIH) to pay in euros to Iran. During the first round of sanctions in 2012 when European Union joined the US in imposing financial restrictions, India initially used a Turkish bank to pay Iran for the oil it bought but beginning February 2013 paid nearly half of the oil import bill in rupees while keeping the remainder pending till opening of payment routes. It began clearing the dues in 2015 when the restrictions were eased. Besides, New Delhi sought to get around the restrictions by supplying goods including wheat, soybean meal and consumer products to Iran in exchange for oil. Back in 2012, EU put restrictions on insurance of Iranian oil and ships carrying them. To get around the problem, Iran supplied oil in its own tankers. Ramachandran said while Iran offers an economic advantage because of lower freight for shipping oil, alternatives are available. "Our refineries are flexible and a large number of options are available (to replace Iranian oil). We have suppliers, the Middle East, US and Russia," he said. "It is not doomsday for us." Sharma said Iran has to take a call on how supplies are to be made. On the issue of India seeking a waiver from sanctions, he said it is for the government to decide and he has no comments to offer. Like last time, India can seek a waiver from US sanctions on condition that it will cut down Iranian imports. Iran is India's third-largest oil supplier behind Iraq and Saudi Arabia. It supplied 18.4 million tonnes of crude oil during April 2017 and January 2018 (first 10 months of 2017-18 fiscal). Iran was India's second biggest supplier of crude oil after Saudi Arabia till 2010-11 but western sanctions over its suspected nuclear programme relegated it to the 7th spot in the subsequent years. In 2013-14 and 2014-15, India bought 11 MT and 10.95 MT, respectively from the country. Sourcing from Iran increased to 12.7 MT in 2015-16, giving it the sixth spot. In the following year, the Iranian supplies jumped to 27.2 MT to catapult it to the third spot. Iranian oil is a lucrative buy for refiners as the Persian Gulf nation provides 60 days of credit for purchases, double the amount of time given by other producers. Following Trump's announcement, companies are not allowed to strike new deals in the Iranian oil and energy sector. By August, transactions in Iranian government debt or currency and purchases involving the country's automobile sector or Iranian gold and other metals must end. In November, deals involving Iran's oil and energy sector, shipping and ports, and insurance services will be prohibited. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Crisis-hit group flagship firm (JAL) will submit an appropriate proposal before the to protect the interest of its stuck home buyers. Last month, JAL was directed by the apex court to deposit Rs 10 billion in Registry by Friday. This was in addition to Rs 7.5 billion that the company had already deposited with the court's registry for ensuring refund to home buyers. "Company will be submitting an appropriate arrangement before the in the interest of home buyers for direction," a source in the group said. On May 16, the apex court had said that the liquidation proceedings against JAL's debt-ridden subsidiary Infratech Ltd (JIL) shall remain stayed on submission of this amount. JAL is pleading that it should be allowed to revive JIL as its liquidation will neither be in the interest of creditors, nor in the interest of home buyers. The court had directed that in case of default in depositing the money by June 15, "the statutory proceedings against JIL shall proceed". Home buyers of JIL had moved the apex court seeking relief in view of significant delays in completion of housing projects. The plea had further said home buyers were left in the lurch after the NCLT, on August 10 last year, admitted Bank's plea to initiate insolvency proceedings against the JIL for defaulting on a Rs 5.26 billion loan. While admitting the plea of Bank, the Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) had appointed Anuj Jain as Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) to mange the company's business. Later, the IRP invited bids from investors interested in acquiring JIL and completing the stuck real estate projects in Noida and Greater Noida. Consequently, Lakshadweep -- a joint venture between the Sudhir Valia-led Suraksha Asset Reconstruction Company and Mumbai-based Dosti Realty -- emerged as a front-runner to acquire JIL with Rs 73.50 billion bid. However, JIL's lenders rejected the Lakshadweep's bid as they found it inadequate. The lenders did not consider the bid of Jaypee Group promoter Manoj Gaur who made an offer of over Rs 10,000 crore to revive JIL. It also offered 2,000 shares to every home buyers. JIL has an outstanding debt of nearly Rs 98 billion, of which Rs 43.34 billion pertains to Other lenders are -- IIFCL, LIC, SBI, Corporation Bank, Syndicate Bank, Bank Of Maharashtra, ICICI Bank, Union Bank, IFCI, J&K Bank, Axis Bank and Srei Equipment Finance Ltd. Jaypee Infratech, which is into road construction and real estate business, has constructed the Yamuna Expressway, connecting Delhi and Agra. In 2007, JIL had started the development of 32,000 flats and plots in its township, Wish Town, in Noida. It has so far delivered 9,500 apartments and applied for occupancy certificates for giving possession of another 4,500 flats. The company plans to deliver the remaining 18,000 flats by 2021. Actor Jeff Goldblum, the star of films such as "Jurassic Park" series, "Independence Day" and most recently "Thor: Ragnarok", has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The 65-year-old actor received the 2,638th star in a ceremony which was attended by his wife Emilie Livingston and their children -- River (1) and Charlie (2). In his speech at the ceremony, the actor invited all the attendees to his home for a party. "What is the appropriate way to celebrate Jeff Goldblum day?" Goldblum asked the crowd. "Get liquored up and then all go to my house for a pool party," he added. The actor also recognized other stars who will be getting their own star on the Walk of Fame this year, including Jack Black, Kirsten Dunst and Jennifer Lawrence. Goldblum said acting has always been his passion but he is reminded to keep his ego in check. "I was in the airport the other day and a woman was looking at me and walked up to me sort of in a trance and she said, 'May I ask you a question?' And I said, 'Yes, of course you can.' And she said, 'Are you Howie Mandel?'," Goldblum recalled. "That's true. A bitter pill, but a very good lesson, you can't get too full of yourself," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today wrote a fresh letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention to end the IAS officers' "strike" even as he hit out at his detractors, saying the sit-in was "not for personal gains" but for greater good of the people of Delhi. Kejriwal, in a video message today on the fifth day of the sit-in, he and his ministers are holding at the L-G office here, also attacked the BJP, alleging the bureaucrats' strike was to "throw roadblocks" in the working of the AAP government. "I have told the LG and (deputy chief minister) Manish Sisodia wrote a letter to him (Anil Baijal) yesterday and even sent a message on WhatsApp. But, no response from his side. We got no response to the letter I wrote to the PM. So, today again I wrote to the prime minister," he said. The latest letter by Kejriwal was in response to an invite to attend a meeting of NITI Aayog on Sunday. "I have asked the PM, if in his meetings officers don't show up, will he be able to run the government for a day? Then why have you allowed the strike of officers in Delhi. It is not good to bother people of Delhi," Kejriwal said. Kejriwal yesterday had written to Modi, seeking his intervention to end the strike, claiming that Lt Governor Anil Baijal was doing "nothing" to end the impasse. A team of doctors yesterday conducted a health check-up of Kejriwal's deputy Sisodia and health minister Satyendar Jain at the L-G office, who are on indefinite hunger strike to press for their demands. Kejriwal said in his fresh letter to Modi, he has reiterated the demands. The AAP government has sought that the L-G direct the IAS officers to end their "strike" and act against those who have struck work. They also want the L-G to approve the proposal for doorstep delivery of ration. "I have again asked him (PM) to do something. It is not alright to have this strike be allowed. So, on Sunday, will go to the PM's residence, lot of people of Delhi will go to his residence and appeal to him to have the strike cancelled," he said. Kejriwal hoped that the prime minister will ensure that the "strike" ends. "If not, then after Sunday we will be go to every household. Our workers will reach out to 10 lakh households in the city and collect signatures on a letter on this obstruction to Delhi government work and on the issue of full statehood to Delhi. These 10 lakh families will then agitate for full statehood and against this strike of IAS officers," he claimed. The AAP chief in his video appeal also asked if there was one person who would say that the strike by officers was legitimate. "After meeting him on Monday evening, I had hoped that the L-G would say he had ordered end of the strike and ask us to go back home. I am surprised that it is the fifth day an he (Baijal) is not wiling to have it ended," Kejriwal alleged. But, what is more astonishing is that some BJP leaders are sitting in protest to support the strike of officers, he said. "BJP has been ruling for 15 years in MP, in Gujarat for 25-30 years, in Chhattisgarh for 10 years. Since AAP governemnt had done so much work in education, health, power and water departments, people in those (BJP-ruled) states are now asking questions on development issue and they are finding it difficult to answer," Kejriwal said. "Since they can't do it in their states, so obstructions are being thrown in the working of the Kejriwal government, so the strike," he alleged. Hitting out at his detractors, who have questioned the motive behind the sit-in, he said, "I am not here for personal gains, and we are not having fun here." "Some TV channels are labelling our protest as 'AC-sofa ka dharna'. I want to ask, 'Am I here for myself or to get jobs for my children? Is it for my own work. Is it easy to sleep on sofas? "We are here so that problems in opening of new schools, moholla clinics and getting rations can be removed... People are asking about the pollution level. "Every 15 days, we used to have review meetings. The environment secretary has not been attending meeting of the environment minister in the last four months. If he doesn't come, how should we work," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The tug of war between the Lieutenant Governor and the AAP government showed no signs of easing as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues today continued their sit-in at the L-G office for the fifth day, amid intensified protests by the Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP which blamed each other for the impasse. Kejriwal, who along with his three cabinet colleagues have been staging a sit-in at the L-G office since Monday evening, wrote a second letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in as many days on the issue of alleged "strike" by IAS workers and challenged him to work without the officers attending his meetings. "How do we work like this? Can Modi ji try working like this even for a day? Can our critics kindly tell us how do we function like this? (sic)," Kejriwal tweeted after Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain alleged that environment secretary did not attend a meeting on pollution in the evening. In his fresh letter to Modi, Kejriwal urged him to end IAS officers' strike so that he can attend a meeting of NITI Aayog on Sunday. Kejriwal accompanied by his deputy Manish Sisodia and ministers Satyendar Jain and Gopal Rai started an indefinite sit-in at the office of Lt Governor Anil Baijal demanding that he direct IAS officers to end their "strike" and approve doorstep ration delivery scheme. However, the IAS officers' association has maintained that no officer is on "strike". A team of 20 doctors reached the Lt Governor Secretariat this morning to conduct health check up of Jain and Sisodia, who have been on hunger strike on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, after which Kejriwal expressed apprehension that the two ministers may be forced out of there. "Why r they planning to take them forcefully? It is just 4 days. Both of them r fit. They r fighting for the people of Delhi (sic)," Kejriwal tweeted. Also, Sisodia released a video warning that if they are forcibly removed from the L-G Secretariat, they will stop drinking water too. Sources said that the L-G, who has been working from his residence after the sit-in by AAP ministers, has constituted three teams of doctors to examine the health of ministers. "A regular team, consisting of a doctor, a nurse and and a helper, has been visiting to check on the health of the ministers. This afternoon a team of specialists visited them," an official said. A specialist team consists of a cardiologist, nephrologist, endocrinologist and the medical head of LNJP Hospital, he said. "At 2:30 pm, his (Jain's) vitals were checked and his sugar level was 57 units (mg/dL). His blood pressure reading was 98/64, while the pulse reading was 68," sources said. AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh today met the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and voiced hope that the L-G will find a "meaningful" solution in the interest of the Delhi people. In a symbolic protest, the AAP leaders from 70 Assembly constituencies sent ration packets to the prime minister residence. The AAP government has alleged that approval to the doorstep ration delivery scheme was pending with the L-G. The BJP legislators sitting on a 'dharna' at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's office at the Delhi Secretariat today launched a hunger strike "to pressure the government in providing relief to the people hit by water shortage". The Delhi unit BJP leaders - Vijender Gupta, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Jagdish Pradhan and Parvesh Verma - and rebel Aam Aadmi Party MLA Kapil Mishra also wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind, seeking his intervention to end the sit-in of Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues at Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's office. Hitting out at Kejriwal, Congress leader Sheila Dikshit said that he should first read the Constitution and then approach the prime minister and Parliament for full statehood to Delhi. Dikshit said the roles of the Delhi Lt Governor and the chief minister are defined in the Constitution and wondered why AAP leaders were protesting at Lt Governor Anil Baijal's office since Monday. "What is his (Kejriwal's) intention behind it?" she asked. Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ajay Maken said the AAP and the BJP are doing "dharna politics" as they are "not serious" about public issues such as water shortage. "The dharna by both the parties is a part of well-planned strategy. The script of this strategy had been written when the chief secretary was assaulted at the CM's residence... AAP is doing dharna to divert attention from its failure on public issues," Maken told reporters at the same press conference. Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court today agreed to hear on June 18 a plea seeking direction to the Lieutenant Governor (LG) to ensure that the alleged 'informal strike' by IAS officers of Delhi was called off and they perform their duties as public servants. The petition comes in the backdrop of another plea filed yesterday in the court seeking that the sit-in by Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues at the LG office against the "strike" by the IAS officers be declared unconstitutional and illegal. This plea against Kejriwal's sit-in was also listed for hearing for June 18. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister should first read the Constitution and then approach the prime minister and the Parliament for full statehood to Delhi, Congress leader said on Friday, criticising ministers for staging a sit-in at the lieutenant governor's office. Dikshit said the role of the Delhi L-G and the chief minister is defined in the Constitution and wondered why leaders were protesting at Lt Governor Anil Baijal's office since Monday. "What is his (Kejriwal's) intention behind it?" At a press conference, the three-time Delhi chief minister said she feels "ashamed" that a chief minister is releasing photos on the Internet sitting on a protest at the L-G's office. Contrasting her governance with that of the Aam Aadmi Party, she said the ruled at the Centre when she became the Delhi chief minister in 1998 and there was no conflict between them. She said the Congress party also demanded full statehood for Delhi, but it never politicised the issue. She said Kejriwal must understand that Delhi is a Union Territory and he is wrong if he thinks he can have a governance model like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. "He should first read the Constitution. If he thinks that there is a need to make amendments to the Constitution, he should approach Modi ji and Parliament," she said. The former Delhi chief minister, however, said people understand the behind dharnas "as they are not fools". Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ajay Maken said the and the are doing "dharna politics" as they are "not serious" about public issues such as water shortage. "The dharna by both the parties is a part of a well-planned strategy. The script of this strategy had been written when the chief secretary was assaulted at the CM's residence... AAP is doing dharna to divert attention from its failure on public issues," Maken told reporters at the same press conference. Kejriwal and AAP ministers Manish Sisodia, Gopal Rai and Satyendra Jain have been staying put at the waiting room of the L-G office over their demands, including a direction to IAS officers to end their "strike" and action against those who have struck work. In a counter-protest, MP Pravesh Sahib Singh Verma, three party MLAs and AAP's rebel legislator Kapil Mishra sat on a dharna outside the chief minister's office at the Delhi Secretariat. Press Club Kolkata today condemned the brutal killing of renowned journalist Shujaat Bukhari, who was shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside his office at Lal Chawk in Srinagar yesterday. Joining the media fraternity across the country in protesting against the killing of Bukhari, club President Snehasis Sur and Secretary Kingshuk Pramanik in a joint statement demanded immediate arrest of the killers. Bukhari was shot at while disembarking from his car near the 'Rising Kashmir' newspaper office yesterday. Bukhari, apart from being the editor-in-chief of Rising Kashmir, was a veteran journalist and contributed to various newspapers and magazines across the country. His independent views were highly visible in social media also. Bukhari was respected as a courageous journalist propagating his independent views from the disturbed areas of the valley. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) AAP leader Sanjay Singh today alleged that Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal wants the people of the national capital to suffer as neither he nor the prime minister is "concerned" to address the issue his party has raised. Singh's allegations came on the fifth day of the sit-in Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues are holding at Baijal's office. They demand that the L-G act to end the "strike" by IAS officers in Delhi and also approve the AAP government's ambitious plan to deliver ration at the doorstep. Health Minister Satyendar Jain is on an indefinite hunger-strike there since Tuesday and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia joined him in the fast on Wednesday in support of their demands. The L-G's office has criticised the AAP leaders' sit-in as one more "dharna without reason". "Delhi's people are facing so many problems and the L-G wants them to suffer," Singh said, a day after Kejriwal wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi citing instances when government work suffered because of the alleged strike by IAS officers. The officers have denied the allegations. Singh said the L-G, the Centre and Prime Minister Modi are "not concerned about the resolution of the issue". Other than Kejriwal, Sisodia and Jain, Delhi government minister Gopal Rai has been staying put at the waiting room of the L-G office for the sit-in. In a similar protest, BJP MP Pravesh Sahib Singh Verma, three party MLAs and AAP's rebel legislator Kapil Mishra sat on 'dharna' outside Kejriwal's office at the Delhi Secretariat. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Spiritual guru Bhaiyyu Maharaj used a foreign-made revolver to kill himself and the weapon's licence was first issued to him in 2002 in Washim district of Maharashtra, a senior police officer said today. Ten years later, he got an all-India licence for the revolver, made by Webley & Scott, from another district in Maharashtra, he said. "The first licence of the revolver (made by Webley & Scott) was issued in 2002 from Maharashtra's Washim district in the name of the spiritual guru. "In 2012, he applied for an all-India licence from Buldhana district, also in Maharashtra, and got the same in his name. "Probably he used the same (weapon) for committing suicide," Deputy Inspector General Harinarayan Chari Mishra told PTI. Bhaiyyu Maharaj, who was also into social work, used to often visit the two districts in Maharashtra as he had a number of relatives there, police said. The 50-year-old popular spiritual leader allegedly shot himself at his residence here on June 12 and a purported suicide note mentioned stress as the reason. His original name was Udaysingh Deshmukh, and he hailed from a family of landlords in Madhya Pradesh's Shujalpur. The police had seized the revolver and the bullet recovered from the spot and sent them for forensic examination. Meanwhile, police have recorded the statements of Kuhu (Bhaiyyu Maharaj's daughter from his first marriage), his second wife Ayushi, close aide Vinayak Dudhade, his driver and other persons considered close to him as part of investigation into the incident, an official said. The statements of some of them confirmed that the godman, whose followers included top politicians, was tense and under stress, he said. Initial investigations revealed there was a discord in the family of Bhaiyyu Maharaj after his second marriage last year, the official said. Reportedly, the suicide note also mentioned the godman's financial powers, property and bank accounts, among other things, would be entrusted with his close aide Vinayak Dudhade, who was with him for the last 15 years. The police are also collecting information related to Bhaiyyu Maharaj's properties in other states, he said. A trust was established by Bhaiyyu Maharaj on March 21, 1999, and it has 11 trustees. It runs various welfare programmes in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and other states in the areas of agriculture and water conservation, among others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After being blindsided by President Donald Trump's decision to shelve major US military exercises in South Korea, Seoul appears to be going along with it. A senior South Korean presidential official said today that Washington and Seoul have begun discussions on temporarily suspending massive "Ulchi Freedom Guardian" exercises that usually take place in August and possibly other joint drills while nuclear diplomacy with North Korea continues. Seoul's Defense Ministry says Defense Minister Song Young-moo held "deep" discussions about the drills with U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis in a telephone conversation Thursday evening. Experts are split on whether Washington and Seoul are making the right move in suspending the exercises, which North Korea has long condemned as rehearsals for an invasion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan today met Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis and said that the bilateral ties could be strengthened further through mutual high-level governmental, parliamentary and cultural exchanges. "India and Latvia share a broad convergence of views on issues such as United Nations reforms and other aspects of global order," a Lok Sabha Secretariat statement quoted Mahajan as saying. She also appreciated Latvian support to India for permanent membership of the reformed and expanded UN Security Council. Mahajan also extended her greetings to the people on the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. "Id-ul-Fitr symbolises the spirit of giving, sharing and enriches our lives with the eternal values of brotherhood and empathy for the deprived," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has sought assistance from the World Bank for a Multimodal Transport Corridor as well as a Rural Livelihood Project which aims to provide sustainable livelihood enhancements in 10,000 villages in the state. Fadnavis, who is on a three-nation tour, met World Bank CEO Kristalina Georgieva in Washington DC, United States of America, yesterday. During the meeting with the World Bank CEO, Fadnavis sought assistance for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Multimodal Transport Corridor and the Rural Livelihood Project, a statement from the Chief Minister's office said. The World Bank CEO assured Fadnavis of positive consideration to both the projects. The statement added that the World Bank had appreciated Maharashtras model of consent-driven land acquisition. The CMO statement said that Fadnavis was bestowed with the Outstanding Leadership in Development Award from Georgetown University and Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington DC. The Outstanding Leadership in Development Award is a global award given annually to a remarkable leader who could be either head of state or a sub national entity, the statement said. Fadnavis also attended a business discussion organised by US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) where he spoke on Maharashtras growth story and infra-led growth model. He informed the gathering that the state had attracted 47 per cent of FDI that had come into the country. He stated that Ford Motor Company had proposed a USD 50 million investment to set up a "Centre of Excellence" for integrated mobility in Maharashtra for commuters across multiple modes of transport such as buses, trains, taxis, autos and metro. The statement said that Fadnavis met Dave Sutton of Lockheed Martin who expressed a desire to set up the first manufacturing line for F16 jets outside the USA. Fadnavis said that he would invite Lockheed Martin to set it up in Nagpur. The statement added that Georgia Tech (Georgia Institute of Technology) will launch a pilot research project to understand consumer dynamics and responsiveness to adoption of new technologies in Maharashtra's electricity sector. (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 confirmed her participation in the Niti Aayog's rescheduled governing council meeting in New Delhi on June 17. The meeting, which will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was earlier scheduled on June 16, the day when Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated. Banerjee and a few other chief ministers, including Andhra Pradesh's N Chandrababu Naidu, had expressed unwillingness to attend the meeting in view of the Ramzan festivities, following which it was postponed by a day to June 17. "I was the one who had pointed out that Eid will be celebrated on June 16 when the Niti Aayog meeting was earlier scheduled. I had told that we have to participate in prayers and various programmes on Eid and the meeting was then postponed to June 17," Banerjee told reporters here. The CM said she would reach New Delhi by tomorrow night and return on Monday. "Though I had no wish to attend the meeting, I will still be there, as a few chief ministers have told me that they will attend the meeting to place their observations," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 32-year-old man was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor girl during a bus journey between Shirdi and Mumbai, police said today. An official said that Sopan Nivrutti Ugale, a resident of suburban Goregaon, was arrested yesterday by Crime Branch's Unit -12. The incident occurred when the victim and her family members were travelling by bus from Shirdi to Mumbai on the night of June 13, he said. The official said that the 6-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by the accused who had boarded the bus from Sangamner in Ahmednagar district. The accused assaulted the girl while her family members were asleep, the official added. The victim narrated the incident when she reached home, following which her family members filed a complaint with Kurar police station in northern Mumbai. A team of the Crime Branch's Unit 12 started investigations and managed to zero in on the accused with the help of private bus operators, the official informed. Ugale was arrested within 12 hours of the incident and charged under relevant sections of the IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The International Press Institute (IPI) today vehemently condemned the killing of editor Syed Shujaat Bukhari by unidentified gunmen in Kashmir. Bukhari, editor-in-chief of the daily 'Rising Kashmir', was shot dead outside his office in Srinagar yesterday. Two police officers provided to him as personal bodyguards were also killed in the attack. The government has blamed militants based in Kashmir for the killings. IPI Head of Advocacy Ravi R Prasad denounced Bukhari's murder, saying "The killing of Mr Bukhari, an upright and bold journalist, is an act of cowardice by elements of society who are unable to tolerate criticism". "Without swift state action, his murder will silence the many brave journalists in Kashmir. The government of India must thoroughly investigate this assassination and bring the killers to justice," he said. Vienna-based IPI is a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists working towards media freedom. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Meghalaya government will implement the Centre's Ayushman Bharat - National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM), state Health Minister A L Hek has said. Hek made this announcement at the Health Ministers conclave held in New Delhi yesterday, according to an official statement issued here. The state government also signed an MoU with Union Health Ministry yesterday and agreed to implement the AB-NHPM in Meghalaya, the statement said. Hek said the state would merge its own Meghalaya Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) with the AB-NHPM. Under MHIS the existing health insurance cover is Rs 2,80,000 while the AB-NHPM will provide a cover of Rs 5 lakh per family annually, Hek said. Meghalaya and seven more states yesterday signed MoUs with the Union Health Ministry, taking to 20, the number of states which have agreed to implement the Centre's ambitious national health protection mission. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : The 'Indo-German Cooperation on Seed Sector Development Project' team has invited Telangana Minister for IT and Industries, K T Rama Rao, for a study visit to Germany from June 25 to 27. The Minister is also expected to participate at the 'World Food Convention, 2018' in Berlin on June 26, an official release here said. "The German project implementation agency invited minister Rama Rao for a study visit on seed sector development to Germany, which will help in setting up a Seed Park, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court today granted two weeks time to the Centre to respond to a plea filed by the son of a person, who was mediating between the government and rebel group United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) since 1991 and allegedly went missing two months ago. Rebati Phukan's son claimed in the top court that his father went missing on April 22 and quoted ULFA (Independent) chief Paresh Baruah as saying that he may be in custody of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), Military Intelligence or the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as they "have a rivalry amongst them". A vacation bench comprising justices U U Lalit and Deepak Gupta allowed the request made by the Centre's counsel who said they have been recently served with the notice issued to them by the apex court and they would file an affidavit within two weeks. The counsel appearing for Assam told the bench that they would place certain "confidential documents" in the matter before the court for its perusal. "Union of India prays and is granted two weeks time to file affidavit. The counsel appearing for Assam submits that he would like to place certain confidential documents before the court for perusal. Let the matter be called on in the second week of July," the bench said. On June 1, the apex court had sought responses from the Centre as well as Assam and Meghalaya governments on the plea which claimed that a doctor reportedly treated Phukan in Meghalaya few days ago. The petitioner had earlier told the court the Assam chief minister has assured all possible help in finding Phukan but they do not know whether he was in captivity, as various central agencies were involved in the case. Phukan was working as a peace negotiator between the Centre and ULFA since 1991 to facilitate a dialogue and the plea filed by his son sought a direction to the authorities, including Assam government, to produce him before the court. He was appointed as a member of the erstwhile People's Consultative Group (PCG) formed by the ULFA in 2005 to mediate between the rebel group and the Centre. The petitioner has also urged the top court that the case be transferred to the CBI or any other independent agency or a special investigating team as there was "a loss of faith in the local police" due to its alleged lethargic conduct. "The petitioner's father has also been working directly with the Prime Minister's Office since 1991 for various peace missions between the Centre and ULFA to bring peace in Assam," the plea has said, adding that Phukan had also "worked in association and cooperated" with the IB till 2016 on various missions in India, Myanmar, Bangladesh and China. The petitioner claimed that they have come to know that on April 20, Phukan had attended a "secret meeting" with a retired bureaucrat and a lawyer practising in the Assam High Court, during which a "proposal memorandum to negotiate with Paresh Baruah was being discussed and the same was to be presented before Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon". The petitioner said that his father went for morning walk on April 22 but did not return to his rented house, after which a complaint was filed at a police station in Guwahati. He also claimed that on May 4, a CRPF doctor had sent a message to a journalist that Phukan was treated by him at a camp of the paramilitary force in Shillong and he was safe and sound. It referred to recent media reports in which Paresh Baruah had said that Phukan was negotiating a "fresh proposal for Baruah's faction with the Centre with help from the interlocutor with the Naga outfit National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), R N Ravi". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Motorcycle-borne miscreants today snatched Rs 54 lakh from a bank employee when he along with an armed guard was on his way to feed the bank ATM near Zilla School chowk under Medininagar police station of Palamau district, a senior police officer said. The employee of ICICI bank and guard were on their way to fill cash in the ATM when two miscreants riding on a motorcycle hit their vehicle. The miscreants snatched the cash stuffed in two bags after the bank employee and the guard lost their control over the two-wheeler and fell down, police said adding that they decamped with the booty. Superintendent of Police Indrajeet Mahatha said it was not a loot incident but, a case of snatching owing to sheer negligence on the part of the bank authorities. Unlike the other day, the cash van of the bank was stopped about 200 meter away from the bank ATM counter even though it was a motorable road and the armed guard has left behind his arm in the vehicle before they left for the ATM counter on a motorcycle when the incident occurred, the SP said. Besides, the duo did not even raise alarm when the cash was snatched by unarmed snatchers, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The historical Serai Lashkari Khan, a caravanserai built during the Mughal era, will be developed as a wedding destination, Punjab Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said today. As part of the state government's efforts to boost tourism, a total of Rs 20 crore will be spent on the complete revamping of the Serai, which came into limelight after some sequences of the Hindi film 'Rang De Basanti' were short here. A restaurant, tented accommodation along with adequate lighting, landscaping and other facilities like toilets and parking will be included in the renovation project, Sidhu said after he visited the site. After 18 months when the entire renovation will be completed, it will be one of the best tourist attraction centres and people will be stunned by its beauty, Sidhu added. The minister also said that the approach road to the Serai needed to be widened for visitors coming from GT Road (Ludhiana-Delhi National Highway). For this, land will be acquired and officials have been asked to prepare a detailed report, he said. The minister called the site a living example of Punjab's rich heritage which had remained neglected during the previous Akali Dal-BJP regime. The Serai near Doraha in Ludhiana district was built in 1667 AD by a Mughal General as a place for his army to rest along the GT Road. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Journalists in Mumbai today strongly condemned the killing of 'Rising Kashmir' editor Shujaat Bukhari and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits. Bukhari was gunned down by terrorists last evening soon after he got into his car from his office at Press Enclave in Srinagar. The 50-year-old scribe was the editor of 'Rising Kashmir', an English language daily, and the brother of Basharat Bukhari, a minister in the J&K government. The Mumbai Press Club, an organisation of journalists, said those behind the brutal killing should be immediately arrested and given the sternest punishment. In a statement, the Press Club demanded that all necessary steps be taken to ensure the safety and security of journalists across the country. Bukhari's killing came just two days before the Centre's "unilateral ceasefire" against militants was scheduled to end. Bukhari had been given police protection following an attack on him in 2000. The veteran journalist was instrumental in organising conferences for peace in Kashmir. He was also part of the Track II process with Pakistan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prof Shoma Sen, who was recently arrested for alleged Maoist links, was suspended today by Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU), where she was the head of English department. On June 6, the Pune police probing the January 1 Bhima Koregaon violence, had arrested five people, including Sen, for allegedly having Maoist links. Talking to PTI, Vice Chancellor of the university Dr S P Kane said Sen has been suspended from the service till further orders. "She was suspended on the basis of information received from Pune police that she has been detained under various IPC sections," Kane said while replying to a query. "Similarly, I had sought legal opinion on the issue and her suspension is also due to her remaining in police custody for more than 48 hours," he said. Besides Sen, Pune police had also arrested activist Mahesh Raut and lawyer Surendra Gadling from Nagpur, prominent Dalit activist Sudhir Dhawale from Mumbai and Rona Wilson from his flat in Delhi. Shoma Sen's husband Tushar Kranti Bhattacharya was arrested from Nagpur station for alleged Naxal links in 2010. According to police, Dhawale was one of the organisers of Elgar Parishad, which was held to commemorate 200 years of the Bhima Koregaon battle on December 31 at Shaniwarwada. Kabir Kala Manch activists had allegedly made provocative speeches at the wvent leading to violence at Bhima Koregaon in the district, according to an FIR registered at Vishrambaug police station after the event. One person was killed in the caste violence between two groups near Sanaswadi, adjacent to Bhima Koregaon. The violence led to a statewide Dalit agitation. The mobs had damaged and torched several vehicles and shops on New Year's day and the houses of local residents were also ransacked. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NASA's record-breaking astronaut, Peggy Whitson, retired today less than a year after returning from her last and longest spaceflight. She's spent more time off the planet than any other American: 665 days over three space station missions. She's also the world's most experienced female spacewalker, with 10 under her spacesuit belt. Whitson was the first woman to command the International Space Station, holding the position twice, and the oldest woman ever to fly in space. She was also the only woman to have served as chief of NASA's male-dominated astronaut corps. Fellow astronauts called her a "space ninja." "It's been the greatest honor to live out my lifelong dream of being a @NASA Astronaut," Whitson said via Twitter, thanking "all who have supported me along the way." "As I reminisce on my many treasured memories, it's safe to say my journey at NASA has been out of this world!" The 58-year-old biochemist, who grew up on a Iowa hog farm, joined NASA as a researcher in 1986 and became an astronaut in 1996. Her last spaceflight, spanning 2016 and 2017, lasted close to 10 months. Only Russian men have spent more time in space: Gennady Padalka holds the record with 879 days over five missions. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine called Whitson an inspiration, citing her determination and dedication to science, exploration and discovery. "She set the highest standards for human spaceflight operations," Brian Kelly, director of flight operations at Johnson Space Center in Houston, said in a statement, "as well as being an outstanding role model for women and men in America and across the globe." Before leaving the space station last September, Whitson said she would miss the orbiting outpost an "awe-inspiring creation" and the views from 250 miles up. "I will miss seeing the enchantingly peaceful limb of our Earth from this vantage point. Until the end of my days, my eyes will search the horizon to see that curve," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) State-owned construction firm NBCC plans to invest around Rs 500 crore to acquire majority stake in two loss-making public sector firms, a top company official said. "We are gradually moving towards consolidation in the construction business. As a part of the strategy, we acquired loss making HSCL. We will be completing the acquisition of two more PSUs by the second quarter of this fiscal," company's chairman-cum-managing director Anoop Kumar Mittal told reporters here today. He added that the company will invest around Rs 500 crore from internal accruals to acquire the other two loss-making firms. Last year the company acquired 51 per cent stake in Hindustan Steel Works Construction (HSCL), also a public sector company under the steel ministry, with an investment of Rs 35.70 crore. "Like HSCL, these two firms are also engaged in the construction business and therefore their acquisition will be strategic. Also, both these firms have a cumulative order book of around Rs 15,000 crore. So with the acquisition, these orders will be a part of our order book," Mittal added. Currently, the company's order book stands at around Rs 80,000 crore and it hopes to add around Rs 20,000 crore. "With the addition of orders from HSCL, which was around Rs 4,000 crore when we acquired it and the Rs 15,000 crore orders from the new acquisitions, we will cross Rs 1 trillion mark in order book this fiscal," he said. "We also hope our revenues will increase by 35 per cent to Rs 10,000 crore this fiscal," Mittal added. The company is looking at expanding its presence in 10 new geographies, he said, adding, "currently we are present in three countries and we are planning to expand in 10 other countries. Nine out of these will be in Africa and one either in Dubai or Abu Dhabi." NBCC is also considering developing real estate projects on lands of sick public sector undertaking (PSU) or loss making PSUs or that available with the government, mainly on self revenue generation model "We have quite a few land parcels and we are working on 4-5 of those. We plan to develop large townships, or mixed-used developments, or use it for creating affordable housing or high-end luxury residential with commercial space, among others. By the end of the calendar year, we will be finalising two projects with one in the NCR and the other either in Hyderabad or Kolkata," Mittal said. He said these land parcels are mostly around 80-100 acre, while a few are of 1,000 acres. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fortis Healthcare today said National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) bench in Chandigarh has approved the withdrawal of the scheme of amalgamation between Fortis Malar Hospitals and SRL. In a regulatory filing, Fortis Healthcare said: "We would like to inform that the NCLT, Chandigarh Bench has today approved the withdrawal of the said scheme." Yesterday, the healthcare chain had said that it is withdrawing the scheme due to delay in completion of the process and strong headwinds in the sector. "The entire process was expected to take 6-8 months, however, due to reasons beyond the company's control, the process has taken over 19 months and is still not complete," it had said. On August 19, 2016, the board of Fortis had approved a proposal to demerge its diagnostics business, including that housed in its subsidiary SRL Ltd into another majority-owned subsidiary, Fortis Malar Hospitals pursuant to a composite scheme of arrangement and amalgamation. As part of the process, Fortis Malar was to sell its hospital business to Fortis Healthcare by way of a slump sale for a lump sum cash consideration of Rs 43 crore. The cash-strapped healthcare provider in May-end decided to initiate a fresh, time-bound bidding process for the company. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The newly formed ruling Nepal Communist Party is facing a legal challenge after a group of lawyers moved the Supreme Court demanding quashing of its registration for failing to fulfil a constitutional provision of allocating 33 per cent seats to women in its central committee. Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli-led the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified MarxistLeninist) and Prachanda-led the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) were merged last month to form the Nepal Communist Party (NCP). According to local media reports last month, there were only 70 women in the 441-member NCP central committee, which is just 16 per cent, far behind the legal requirement of 33 per cent women's representation in all party committees. A group of 13 lawyers, including senior advocates Surendra Bhandari and Indu Tuladhar, yesterday filed a plea in the apex court demanding quashing of the NCP's registration with the Election Commission (EC). They argued that the EC's decision to register the NCP as a political party without fulfilling the legal provision of mandatory 33 per cent women representation in the party's central working committee was against the Constitution. Bhandari said they had also demanded the SC to issue a order of mandamus to all political parties to renew their registration as per the constitutional and legal provisions. On June 6, the EC had registered the NCP as a registered political party, even as it failed to fulfil the provision of 33 per cent women's representation in its central body. The petitioners have claimed that the decision of registering the party violates the Constitution and provisions of the Political Party Registration Act. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A memorial is being built, at the cost of Rs 9-billion, in western Nepal's Syangja district to commemorate the valour and the scarifice made by Gorkhas in the two world wars, an official said today. About 20 per cent work of the Gorkha Monument, a memorial of war veterans, has been completed, informed Monument Construction Committee chairperson Puran Dhoj Gurung. The monument, along with a museum, is being constructed at Salmedanda in Fedikhola Rural Municipality of Syangja district. Gorkha soldiers had fought the wars under the command of the British Army as per the decision of the then Rana government that ruled the country for 104 years. Additionally, a Gorkha View Tower and an ethnic cultural village would also be comstructed, he said, adding the monument is estimated to cost Rs nine billion. According to the official, so far, British Gorkhas have raised Rs 900 million and the Ministry of Urban Development of the Nepal Government has provided Rs 500 million for the construction. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As questions over the longevity of the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in lingered, Chief Minister H D on Friday said no one can 'touch' him at least till the are over. "This coalition government will function with stability. I know, no one can touch me for one year. I will be there at least for one year, until the Lok Sabha election is over. Until then, no one can do anything to me, he said. Addressing an event here, said he would not remain silent during the period that he has got and would focus on taking decisions for the benefit of the state. The Chief Minister said he would not waste his time and immerse himself in work as it was important that the state progresses in all spheres. "So in the opportunity that I have got, rather than going into what others have done, what I have done will be my message. in doing this, theenvironment is also in my favour (with good rains)," he added. Kumaraswamy's comments come even as his government is facing the birth pangs of coalition politics, following the disquiet among newly elected Congress lawmakers who were left out during the Cabinet expansion. As the May 12 assembly polls in the state threw up a hung assembly, Congress and JD(S) who had bitterly foughteach other, joined hands to form a post-poll alliance to keep out the BJP, which had emerged as the single largest party. The Chief Minister also reiterated that he was committed to waiving farm loans and would announce it shortly. "Dear farmers, Let there be no confusion on farm loan waiver. I am fully committed to the loan waiver. I want to ensure it is done scientifically benefiting maximum number of farmers. I am working on the modalities and will announce it shortly," said in a tweet on his official twitter handle @CMofKarnataka. Rubbishing reports that questioned his commitment on farm loan waiver, Kumaraswamy while speaking at the event, said he would "not escape" from his commitment. On May 30, as opposition and farmers' bodies stepped up pressure on him to fulfil his pre-poll promise, he had said that the government would arrive at a decision to implement a two-phase scheme for farm loan waiver within 15 days. The Chief Minister also hinted that the first budget of the coalition government is likely to be presented in the first week of July, even as he hit out at detractors who were questioning the need for the full term budget now. "Probably during July first week we have plans to present the state budget. A few people are asking why budget has to be presented as this is a coalition government and it has already been presented (by Congress government)." "It is not enough to just present supplementary budget, some are advising," he said, adding that "some people are worried that Kumaraswamy will get a name if he presents the budget." After a strong bargain with the coalition partner Congress, Kumaraswamy has retained the key finance portfolio. SAIF Partners-backed realty portal NoBroker.com achieved 1.05 lakh buy-sell and home renting transactions during last fiscal, helping customers save about Rs 650 crore in brokerage, a top company official said. Bengaluru-based NoBroker.com is a brokerage-free property search portal that connects house owners and seekers directly by eliminating the middleman. It also has presence in Mumbai, Gurugram, Chennai and Pune. Founded in 2014 by IIT and IIM alumni Akhil Gupta, Amit Kumar Agarwal and Saurabh Garg, the startup has raised USD 20 million fund so far from investors. It raised an initial round of funding from SAIF Partners of USD 3 million in 2015, followed by a Series B of USD 17 million from Japanese investor Beenext and Korean investor KTB Ventures in 2016. "Our portal makes it possible to buy-sell and rent houses without paying any brokerage. About 1.05 lakh transactions took place on our platform during 2017-18 fiscal which is a very encouraging number for us," Agarwal told PTI. Since inception, he said about 40 lakh customers have used the platform and every month 1.8 lakh customers are being added. Out of total transactions, he said about 97,000 deals were of renting while around 8,000 of buying-selling of housing properties, he said, adding that this led to a saving of about Rs 650 crore as brokerage, based on the average fees charged by the brokers for renting and buy-sale. Asked about the revenue-model, Agarwal said the company charges a minimal amount from its customers for some premium service, like access to more number of listings. NoBrokers.com also provides some other related services to generate revenue such as preparing rental agreements, movers and packers services, special packages for NRIs and relocation services for corporates, among others. Agarwal refused to share the revenue numbers for last fiscal, but expressed confidence that the company would soon break even. On future fund raising plan, Agarwal said the company has raised Rs 138 crore so far and the same is being deployed for expansion and technology upgradation. NoBrokers.com has plans to expand to more cities, including Delhi and Noida, he added. "Tenants have been paying brokerage year on year without seeing any advantage of the middleman. The only reason the intermediation existed was that there was a huge information asymmetry in the market," Agarwal said, adding that the portal works on the backbone of an algorithm that identifies and restricts brokers from its platform. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 93-year-old man today moved the Supreme Court challenging the life sentence awarded to him in a 40-year-old murder case. The matter was mentioned for urgent listing before a vacation bench of justices U U Lalit and Deepak Gupta. "You mention this matter before the next vacation bench (which would sit from June 18)," the bench told the counsel appearing for petitioner Rohtas. Advocates Yadunandan Bansal and Amit Kumar, who have filed the appeal against the Allahabad High Court's judgement, said that the petitioner was suffering from ailments due to which he was unable to move his right portion of body. The plea said that medical reports of the petitioner have showed that there was blockage in his brain due to which he could go into coma or paralysis in whole body. The high court, in its February 12 verdict, had dismissed the appeal filed by Rohtas and two others who were convicted and awarded life term by a trial court in 1983. According to the police, the incident took place in Bagpat district of Uttar Pradesh on September 29, 1978 when two parties had a scuffle over harvesting crop from a piece of land in which some persons were injured. The police had claimed that the incident had occurred due to land dispute between the parties and Rohtas along with others had assaulted the members of opposite party. One person died due to the injuries sustained in the incident. These accused had denied the allegations levelled against them and had told the high court that one of them had lodged a complaint with the police about the incident. They had pleaded 'right to self defence' before the high court and had contended that one of them had also sustained serious injuries during the scuffle. However, the high court had dismissed the appeal filed by the accused persons. In the appeal filed before the top court, the petitioner has alleged that the high court has erred in not considering several facts in the case, including that one of the accused was also grievously injured in the incident. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maulana Fazlullah, the dreaded chief of Pakistani Taliban, has been killed in a US drone strike in Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province, an Afghan defence ministry official confirmed today. Fazlullah, who has been designated as a global terrorist by the US and carried a bounty of USD 5 million, had been on the run since his loyalists were routed in a major military operation in Pakistan's Swat district in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in 2009. The US military said yesterday it carried out a strike targeting a senior militant leader in Afghanistan. It, however, did not identify the militant. "US forces conducted a counterterrorism strike, June 13, in Kunar province, close to the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which targeted a senior leader of a designated terrorist organization," Lieutenant Colonel Martin O'Donnell said in a statement. Afghan Ministry of Defense spokesman Mohammad Radmanish confirmed to CNN that Fazlullah, who is believed to be in his forties, was killed in the strike on Wednesday. The Express Tribune, citing sources, also said the drone strike that took place in the Nur Gul Kalay village of Dangam district killed Fazlullah and four other Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) commanders. Fazlullah, also known by the alias Radio Mullah or Maulana Radio due to his long sermons on a private radio channel, and his commanders were having an Iftar party at a compound when a remotely piloted US aircraft targeted them, reports said. The TTP, however, did not confirm the death of its chief in the drone strike. Fazlullah had directed numerous high-profile attacks against the US and Pakistani targets since he was appointed the group's leader in 2013, including the December 2014 attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar that killed 151 people, including more than 130 children. The US says Fazlullah ordered the 2012 attempted assassination of Malala Yousafzai, who became a global symbol of the fight for girls' rights to schooling. The US strike comes amid a ceasefire between the Afghan Taliban and Afghan security forces to mark the end of the Muslim's holy month of Ramazan. Gen John Nicholson, the commander of US Forces-Afghanistan and the NATO-led Resolute Support, said the United States would adhere to the ceasefire announced by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, which did not include US counterterrorism attacks on other terror groups. In 2014, there were reports that Fazlullah had been killed. However that information turned out to be false. In 2010, similar about his death had broken out but later proved false. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after the Madras High Court gave a split verdict on disqualification of 18 AIADMK MLAs, senior leader and Tamil Nadu Minister D Jayakumar today said it was for the party to take a decision on accepting them back. He, however, asserted that sidelined leader T T V Dhinakaran and his aides would not be admitted into the party. "Only the party has to take a decision on that. But in no case, Dhinakaran or his aides will be accepted," Jayakumar told reporters here. He was replying to a question whether the 18 disqualified MLAs loyal to Dhinkaran would be accepted into the party. There have been reports in a section of local media claiming that some of the supporters of Dhinakaran, who has recently formed his own party AMMK, were keen to come back to the AIADMK. The high court yesterday gave the split verdict with Chief Justice Indira Banerjee upholding the Assembly Speaker's order disqualifying the 18 MLAs loyal to Dhinakaran and Justice M Sundar setting it aside. In view of the differing judgements, a third will now hear the matter afresh. Jayakumar said the Chief Justice's verdict should be seriously looked at, because it conveys three key things. "One, the speaker did not have vested interest, he has powers to do what he has done, and his decision should not be subjected to review," he said. "Whatever it is, betrayals have never won in history, they have always lost," he added. The MLAs were disqualified in September last year after they met the state Governor and expressed lack of confidence in Chief Minister K Palaniswami. On Dhinakaran's remarks that the verdict was an "extension to anti-people government", Jayakumar said, "First they have to understand the way the government was formed. It is (due to) the hardwork of "Amma" (late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The postal department has held a postman responsible for not delivering 1,830 Aadhaar cards which were found with a scrap dealer in Jalupura area here, officials said today. "The postman, identified as Satish Kumar, had not been delivering posts properly and he kept the Aadhaar cards with him since January last year," said Ramavtar Sharam, senior post master - general post office - Jaipur. "The Aadhaar cards were found with a scrap dealer yesterday. The arrangements are being made to deliver them," he said, adding that Kumar was suspended on June 6 in some other matter. The scrap dealer yesterday found more 1,830 Aadhaar cards in a sack of old newspapers sold to him. It is most likely that the accused postman had dumped the cards with old newspapers, police said. SHO of Jalupura police station Likhma Ram said the Aadhaar cards were brought to the police station yesterday and were handed over to the officials of postal department. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress president Rahul Gandhi has expressed concern over a recent attack on the brother of Kafeel Khan, the Gorakhpur doctor who was jailed after the death of over 60 children at a government hospital last year. In a letter to the paediatrician, who is now on bail, Gandhi said the attack on his brother Kashif Jameel exemplified the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh. Jameel was shot at in Gorakhpur on Sunday night and is now admitted at the King George Medical University trauma centre in Lucknow. Gandhi demanded a probe into the laxity in the case, UP Congress spokesman Amarnath Agarwal said today. Agarwal said the Congress president has praised Kafeel Khan for not compromising on his self-respect despite the hardships caused by the state government's "vindictive attitude". Gandhi's letter said the doctor's patience was a source of inspiration for the common people. Kafeel Khan yesterday met UP's Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Anand Kumar and told him of the "laxity" of police officers in Gorakhpur. There were allegations that the police delayed Jameel's treatment. Jameel was shot at by three unidentified miscreants. Some reports suggested that the cause was a property dispute. Three bullets hit Jameel in the neck, chin and arm. Kafeel Khan was arrested after several children died at Gorakhpur's BRD Hospital allegedly due to a shortage of oxygen cylinders. His family had claimed that the doctor was being made a scapegoat in the case. On his release on bail, Khan offered to help out Kerala government to deal with an outbreak of the Nipah virus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A police head constable collapsed during a physical test for promotion to the rank of assistant sub-inspector here and died at a hospital. Sushil Kumar cleared the written exam and appeared for a two-km run near Amber. He completed the run but collapsed soon after. Kumar, who was posted with the crime branch in Jaipur, was rushed to the SMS hospital where he was declared dead, the police said. They said he apparently died of cardiac arrest. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Ranchi Press Club today held protest against the killing of journalist Sujaat Bukhari in Kashmir yesterday and demanded immediate arrest of the killers. The members of the Club held placards while protesting killing of the veteran journalist. The placards read stop attacking journalists, arrest killers of Bukhari and hang them, implement act on security of journalists and stop attacking the fourth pillar. The journalists observed two minutes silence. Ranchi Press Club secretary, Sambhu Nath Choudhary, Vice President Surendra Soren, Executive members Prakash Pathak, Jai Shankar, Pintu Dubey, Sanjay Ranjan, Saroj, Prasant Mitra, Bhuvan Jha, Amit Kumar and Rakesh Kumar participated in the protest among others, according to a press release of the Club. PTI PVR Click here to Reply, Reply to all or Forward 6. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore dubbed the reported killing of an Army jawan by militants as "frustration of coward terrorists", adding that "for each of our fallen soldier, a thousand more will rise". The bullet-ridden body of Aurangzeb was recovered from Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir yesterday, hours after he was abducted by militants on his way home for Eid celebrations. "Beginning of the end of terrorism in kashmir.It shows the frustration of coward terrorists when they abduct, torture and murder an unarmed 'Rifleman Aurangzeb' while he was on leave to celebrate Eid with his family," Rathore said in a tweet. "For each of our fallen soldier, a thousand more will rise'," he said. The slain jawan belonged to 4 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and was posted at the 44 Rashtriya Rifles camp at Shadimarg in Shopian. PTI MP . (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Reserve Bank union today requested Governor to monitor through a combination of risk-based supervision, off-site surveillance and on-site inspections of operational systems. In a letter written to the governor, the union suggested that the RBI should undertake random supervision of bank branches in all parts of the country periodically - possibly 10 per cent of bank branches comprising all regions on an annual basis. "We would request you that RBI monitoring of should be a triad - a combination of risk-based supervision, off-site surveillance and random on-site inspections of operational systems, which, we feel, will give the best result instead of RBI totally dispensing with on-site inspections," the union said in the letter. "We strongly feel that RBI must remain in the scene, not only as an off-site surveyor but an active and alert inspector," it added. The letter said that the RBI could train newly recruited computer-savvy assistants in for assisting this monitoring exercise, which will stand RBI in good stead without stretching its human resources too much. Earlier this week, the had appeared before a Parliamentary Panel, where he faced tough questions on bad loans, bank frauds and cash crunch, among others. Patel assured the members of the committee, headed by senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily, that steps were being taken to strengthen the system. "You (Patel) have stressed that it is not possible for RBI to inspect/audit about 1,20,000 branches of banks spread over the whole country. That is unexceptionable," the union wrote. It added that this should not mean that RBI totally withdraws itself from on-site supervision and relies on reports sent by the banks taking those as "sacrosanct". "If RBI believes that authorities are responsible enough to mind their operations and responsibilities, and RBI can safely rely on them then that will be definitely dereliction of duty," the RBI union said while pointing out the PNB fraud case. In the letter, the union thanked the governor for bringing to the fore regulatory impediments that the RBI is suffering from with regard to public sector banks. It also praised him for putting forward that regulation and supervision should be "ownership neutral". The Bombay High Court today said it was the Maharashtra government's obligation to rehabilitate people displaced after their houses located in the vicinity of the Tansa water pipeline here were demolished. If the government is unable to do so, it should pay the displaced people monthly monetary compensation till they are rehabilitated, it observed. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), in compliance with a previous high court order, has undertaken demolition of all encroachments, including unauthorised residential and commercial structures, along the Tansa water pipeline that runs across nine administrative wards of the city. The government had decided to accommodate the displaced people in Mahul village in the suburbs. However, they refused to move there citing high pollution levels due to presence of refineries in the area. The people also relied on observations (regarding air pollution in Mahul) made by the Mumbai bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in a related matter while expressing their reluctance to shift there. "We cannot force people to go stay in Mahul in the light of observations made by the NGT. The state government has two choices - either accommodate these persons elsewhere or give them monthly monetary compensation till they are rehabilitated," a division bench of Justices A S Oka and Riyaz Chagla said. By not rehabilitating the affected population, the government was ultimately stalling the demolition process that would then result in violation of court orders, it noted. "The state government does not seem to be concerned. It is your (the government's) obligation to rehabilitate every project-affected person," the court maintained. The high court is hearing a bunch of petitions filed by some of the displaced persons. The court had last week directed the government to name an expert agency which would carry out an inspection of the proposed rehabilitation site at Mahul and check if all basic amenities were available there. The government today informed the bench that it would approach the IIT-Bombay to do the job. The bench posted the matter for further hearing on June 22. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Robbers looted Rs. 70,000 in cash at gunpoint from a petrol pump in Dudu area of the district, police said today. The incident occurred late last night at the petrol pump located near Mokhampura village on the Jaipur-Ajmer Highway. The accused opened fire in the air and looted the cash from the cashier, SHO of Dudu Police Station Hari Singh said. A hunt is on for the robbers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Over 4,340 CCTV cameras are planned to be installed across 344 municipal-run schools in south Delhi to bolster the surveillance mechanism and build confidence among parents about safety of their wards, officials today said. Chairperson Standing Committee of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation Shikha Rai in a statement issued by the SDMC said the project would cost over Rs 5.53 crore. "The SDMC is committed to provide foolproof security to its the students and ensure a reliable surveillance system to prevent incidents of any security lapse," she said. This would also help in allaying any fear in the minds of students as there have been some unfortunate incidents in a few schools in Delhi-NCR, the civic body said. "Further it will also make parents of the students feel more satisfied about the safety of their children in SDMC schools," Rai said. She claimed that after the 4,348 cameras are installed, attendance of students "will improve substantially". Rai said the CCTV cameras will be installed in a total of 406 buildings across these schools, including double-shift schools. The principals of the schools have been authorised to monitor the recording and take an appropriate urgent action in case of any lapse. "They will be responsible for any glitch in the system. The agency given the work on this project is bound to complete installation within four months of awarding of the work," the SDMC said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari was today laid to rest in his ancestral village with thousands of friends and admirers braving heavy rain to mourn a veteran journalist, who had championed peace in times of conflict and may have been killed for it. As preparations were under way for the funeral procession of the journalist, shot dead two days ahead of Eid outside his office in Srinagar with two of his PSOs, readers of the Rising Kashmir woke up to a paper with its front page carrying a full-page black and white photograph of its editor-in-chief against a black background. The Rising Kashmir, which hit the stands as usual, also carried the message that it would not be cowed by cowards who had snatched him from them. You left all too sudden but you will always be our leading light with your professional conviction and exemplary courage. We won't be cowed down by the cowards who snatched you from us. We will uphold your principle of telling the truth howsoever unpleasant it may be...Rest in peace! the paper said. The message found wide echo as crowds of tearful mourners from across the Valley followed the cortege through the streets of this sleepy hamlet in Baramulla district, a short distance from Srinagar. Among those who took part in the last rites of Bukhari and visited his ancestral home to condole with the family were opposition leader Omar Abdullah and ministers from the PDP and the BJP. It was probably the biggest funeral procession the village had seen, observers said. There was a traffic jam in the area as the crowds of mourners swelled. Bukhari, 50, was gunned down yesterday evening soon after he got into his car from his office at Press Enclave in the city centre, Lal Chowk. The killing of the journalist, on his way to an iftar party, and that of an army jawan going home for Eid comes just before the Centre's Ramzan ceasefire ends, triggering debate on whether the Centre should resume operations against the militants. As outrage grew over the audacious killing during the holy month of Ramzan, police today sought help of the public in identifying the suspects. The police issued a screen grab from a video, recorded by a passerby following the attack, showing a bearded man surveying the inside the journalist's vehicle. Late last night, the police hadreleased two pictures of three bike-borne men, who were caught on a CCTV camera and are suspected to have killed Bukhari. Bukhari, who is survived by his wife and two children, was instrumental in organising several conferences for peace in the Kashmir Valley. He was also part of the Track II process with Pakistan. According to Omar Abdullah, the Rising Kashmir had published a fitting tribute to its editor. The show must go on. As Shujaat would have wanted it to," the former chief minister wrote on Twitter while sharing a picture of the front page of the paper. Expressing extreme sadness at Bukhari's death, BSP chief Mayawati said the time had come for the Narendra Modi government to "shun its stubborn attitude and immediately review its Kashmir policy in the interest of the country". N Ram, the chairperson of The Hindu group, where Bukhari worked between 1997 and 2012, said the late journalist was not a government man, he was not an establishment man, nor was he in sympathy with the extremist elements. "He believed, I think, he was voice for a just solution however difficult that is going to be in Jammu and Kashmir," Ram told NDTV in an interview. The noted editor said the killing had come as a shock because it was believed that journalists will not be killed in Jammu and Kashmir. "There have been such cases in the past but not many. You have to go back 15 years before you could recollect that a journalist was killed," he said. Bukhari is the fourth journalist to be killed by militants in the nearly three-decade violence in Kashmir. In 1991, the editor of Alsafa, Mohammed Shaban Vakil, was killed by militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen. Four years later, in 1995, former BBC correspondent Yussuf Jameel escaped with injuries when a bomb exploded in his office. ANI cameramen Mushtaq Ali lost his life in the incident. In 2003, Parvaz Mohammed Sultan, editor of NAFA, was shot dead by Hizbul Mujahideen at his Press Enclave office. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari was today laid to rest in his ancestral village with thousands of friends and admirers braving heavy rain to mourn a veteran journalist, who had championed peace in times of conflict and may have been killed for it. As preparations were under way for the funeral procession of the journalist, who was shot dead outside his office in Srinagar yesterday with two of his PSOs, readers of the Rising Kashmir woke up to a paper with its front page carrying a full-page black and white photograph of its editor-in-chief against a black background. The Rising Kashmir, which hit the stands as usual, also carried the message that it would not be cowed by cowards who had snatched him from them. You left all too sudden but you will always be our leading light with your professional conviction and exemplary courage. We won't be cowed down by the cowards who snatched you from us. We will uphold your principle of telling the truth howsoever unpleasant it may be...Rest in peace! the paper said. The message found wide echo as crowds of tearful mourners from across the Valley followed the cortege through the streets of this sleepy hamlet in Baramulla district, a short distance from Srinagar. Amongst those who took part in the last rites of the journalist and visited his ancestral home to condole with the family were opposition leader Omar Abdullah and ministers from the PDP and the BJP. It was probably the biggest funeral procession the village had seen, observers said. There was a traffic jam in the area as the crowds of mourners swelled. Bukhari, 50, was gunned down yesterday evening soon after he got into his car from his office at Press Enclave in the city centre, Lal Chowk, on his way to an iftar party. Bukhari, whose killing came just two days ahead of Eid, was instrumental in organising several conferences for peace in the Kashmir Valley. He was also part of the Track II process with Pakistan. He is survived by his wife and two children, a son and a daughter. According to Omar Abdullah, the Rising Kashmir had published a fitting tribute to its editor. The show must go on. As Shujaat would have wanted it to. This is today's @RisingKashmir issue. That Shujaat's colleagues were able to bring out the paper in the face of insurmountable grief is a testament to their professionalism & the most fitting tribute to their late boss, the former chief minister wrote on Twitter while sharing a picture of the front page of the paper. Bukhari is the fourth journalist to be killed by militants in the nearly three-decade violence in Kashmir. In 1991, the editor of Alsafa, Mohammed Shaban Vakil, was killed by militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen. Four years later, in 1995, former BBC correspondent Yussuf Jameel escaped with injuries when a bomb exploded in his office. ANI cameramen Mushtaq Ali lost his life in the incident. In 2003, Parvaz Mohammed Sultan, editor of NAFA, was shot dead by Hizbul Mujahideen at his Press Enclave office. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The "targeted assassination" of Shujaat Bukhari has closed a chapter in Jammu and Kashmir, one in which it was believed that journalists covering things in a proper way would not be killed, The Hindu Group chairperson N Ram said today. Ram, who was editor-in-chief of The Hindu where Bukhari worked between 1997 and 2012, remembered him as a "brave" and "resourceful" journalist who was "not reckless" and knew ways to negotiate through the "dangers and traps" in Jammu and Kashmir. "He was not a government's man. He was not an establishment's man. Nor was he in sympathy with the extremist elements...he was voice for a just solution however difficult that is going to be in Jammu and Kashmir," he told NDTV in an interview, a day after Bukhari was killed outside his Srinagar office. The noted editor said the killing had come as a shock because it was believed that journalists will not be killed in Jammu and Kashmir. "There have been such cases in the past but not many. You have to go back 15 years before you could recollect that a journalist was killed. There are other places in India which have seen more fatalities, but in this case, I think it was a targeted attack. They targeted him for his moderation, for his sanity and for his quest for justice," he said. Whenever there was an exchange of fire or an encounter between security forces and militants, there would be excitement in the newsroom because it was known that Shujaat and the photographer would be on the spot, being "bare witness" to the events and reporting vividly, Ram said. The Hindu Group chairperson said they knew how to protect themselves and that was very impressive. "...there was a belief that has been vindicated that journalists were not going to be targeted if they cover things in a proper way so they could go into areas where the extremists were active, but that chapter perhaps is over with this horrible assassination," he said. Ram noted that it was not some random killing or somebody who was a collateral in a terror activity. "It is a targeted assassination for his views, for the journalism he did and for the middle path that he trot with remarkable consistency," he said. Ram said Bukhari was remarkably consistent wherever he worked. "Throughout I found there was no departure from what he would have considered a middle path in Kashmir...," he added. Bukhari, 50, was gunned down yesterday evening soon after he got into his car from his office at Press Enclave in the city centre, Lal Chowk, on his way to an iftar party. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Singapore-based airline has refused to fly an Indian-origin couple travelling with their special needs child citing safety reasons, sparking an uproar online. Divya George, the mother of the five-year-old girl, posted online that the captain of budget-airline Scoot caused the commotion after he refused to allow the child to fly with an infant seat belt on a flight to Phuket from Singapore. Divya's daughter only weighs 8.5 kilograms and is the size of a 1-year-old child. George claimed that their request for a belt was rejected citing safety reasons. The captain refused to speak to the couple for an hour and told them they could either deboard or leave their daughter in her own seat. Divya garnered immense support online when she shared about her situation on social media earlier today. "Our flight that was to take off at 7:35am has been delayed by an hour so far because they refuse to fly with my special needs child. They want to deplane us because they refuse to take her," she wrote on her Facebook page. She also posted a video of the incident. Scoot airlines, which is owned by Singapore Airlines through its subsidiary Budget Aviation Holdings said it had reached out to the guest to explain the arrangements that have been made. Scoot said infant seat belts are available for guests up to two years old as part of safety regulations. "As the passenger is five years old, for her safety consideration, infant seat belts may not suffice. She has to be strapped to her own seat with the aircraft seatbelt for take-off and landing in accordance with established cabin safety procedures," said the airline in an email reply. "Scoot recognises, however, that the guest's physical condition may require additional consideration for comfort. Accordingly, we have made a one-time arrangement to provide a certified booster seat for the guest to ensure her return journey is more comfortable while still adhering to cabin safety procedures," it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Wednesday rejected a US motion against Hamas, but affirmed a Palestinian-led initiative against Israel that condemned the Jewish state for the actions it took to prevent thousands of Gazans from overrunning its border fence. The UNGA also criticized Israels counter-terror and policing actions against Palestinians in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem. The American amendment condemning Hamas was struck down, even though it had a slim majority, 62-58, and 42 abstentions. UNGA President Miroslav Lajcak of Slovakia ruled that a two-thirds majority was needed for an amendment to be added to a draft resolution. Haley appealed his decision, which led the session to be adjourned for several minutes. The appeal was rejected. Today the UN made the morally bankrupt judgment that the recent Gaza violence is all Israels fault. It is no wonder that no one takes the UN seriously as a force for Middle East peace, Haley said. Once again, the UN sides with the evil they practically allowed into their ranks But of course, it's nothing new at all. When you have so many racists and Islamofascists already littering their auditorium, it only figures it'd all come to this. What we need now is a resolution condemning the UN for their own evil. Labels: anti-americanism, anti-semitism, dhimmitude, islam, Israel, jihad, Moonbattery, political corruption, terrorism, UN corruption, United States A Swedish court today found a Chinese man guilty of espionage for gathering intelligence on Tibetan refugees in Sweden for China, sentencing him to 22 months in prison. Dorjee Gyantsan, 49, was found guilty of infiltrating the Tibetan community to pass on information about their personal and political activities to Chinese intelligence officers in exchange for money. The Sodertorn district court, near Stockholm, said in its verdict that Dorjee had "carried out an extensive operation that put people of Tibetan origin in Sweden and their families in Tibet at significant risk". Dorjee left China for political reasons and fled to Nepal in 1997, before being granted a permanent residency permit in Sweden in 2002 as a resettlement refugee, court documents showed. Born of a Tibetan mother and Chinese father, he posed in the Scandinavian country as a supporter of Tibetan independence. The court found Dorjee repeatedly met a Chinese intelligence officer in Poland, as well as having telephone contact, to pass on information about the Tibetan community. The espionage took place from July 2015 to February 2017, when he was arrested. At the time of his arrest, Dorjee had just returned from a trip to Warsaw and was carrying USD 6,000 in cash, which prosecutors argued was payment for his information. "This is a very serious crime. The espionage has affected very vulnerable people," prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist told AFP in April. "People who have fled to Sweden from totalitarian regimes must be able to feel safe and feel that they can exercise their constitutionally-protected freedom to protest against a regime without fear of persecution or attacks on themselves or their families." Some 130 Tibetans live in the Scandinavian country, according to the organisation Tibetan Community in Sweden. Dorjee had pleaded innocent and maintained he did not know the Chinese person was an intelligence officer. He said he planned to appeal the verdict. The prosecution's evidence included witness testimonies about Dorjee's contacts with the Tibetan community, as well as his phone and travel records. Beijing says it "peacefully liberated" Tibet in 1951 and considers it an inseparable part of China. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thailand's junta chief will secure the purchase of a USD 215 million observation satellite from Airbus during his trip to France this month, a diplomatic source said today, as Europe re-engages with the kingdom following a chill in relations after a 2014 coup. General Prayut Chan-O-Cha, who toppled an elected government four years ago, will stop in Britain and France next week for meetings with political and business leaders. The trip comes after the European Union agreed to resume official contacts with Thailand in December, ending a more than three-year suspension put in place after Prayut's May 2014 coup installed the country's most authoritarian government in a generation. European aviation giant Airbus is expected to announce the sale of the Theos-II satellite while Prayut pays a visit to French President Emmanuel Macron on June 25, according to a diplomatic source in Bangkok. "The negotiation for the contract of the satellite Theos-II has succeeded," the source told AFP. "It is not a military satellite, it was developed to check on agriculture and coastal erosion," the source added. Airbus, which built Thailand's first satellite Theos in 2008, could not be reached for comment. Prayut will also meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May in London on June 20, before he heads to France for a trip that includes a stop at Airbus assembly lines in Toulouse on June 22. France is the second largest exporter to Thailand behind Germany and Britain, with more than half of its exports in the "aircraft and spacecraft" sector. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A delegation from The Elders, a London-based organisation of independent global leaders, has sought to meet Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and also proposed to visit a mohalla clinic. In a letter, dated June 13, written to Kejriwal, Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General and the chair of The Elders, also said, a delegation from the organisation will visit India in September. A planning team from The Elders's Secretariat will visit Delhi in July, according to the letter, a copy of which was tweeted by Kejriwal today. "A delegation from The Elders will vist India from September 5-8. The delegation will be led by Gro Harlem Brundtland, deputy chair of The Elders and former prime minister of Norway and former director general of WHO," the letter said. "She will be accompanied by Ban Ki-moon, member of The Elders and former secretary general of the United Nations," it said. Annan, in the letter, said he hoped the planning team would be able to meet with Kejriwal's staff to discuss the September visit. "They (delegation) would be honoured to meet with you during their visit and would also propose to visit a mohalla clinic," he said. The Elders are an independent group of global leaders working together for peace and human rights. In January last year, Annan had also commended the city government's flagship mohalla clinic project, aimed at providing free primary healthcare to city residents closer to their home. Kejriwal, while tweeting the copy of the letter, also hit out at his detractors. "A very very proud moment for all Delhiites. It is this work that our opponents wish to stop," he tweeted. The letter from The Elders comes at a time when he and his colleagues are holding a sit-in at the LG office. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Observing that the world has seen more than enough conflict, US President said the people of America, the Koreas and the world deserve a future of security and of peace. "Our world has seen more than enough conflict. If there's a chance at peace, if there's a chance to end the horrible threat of nuclear conflict, then we must pursue it at all costs. The people of America, the people of the Koreas, the people of world deserve a future of security and of peace," Trump said in a video message on Friday. In his nearly thee minute video message, Trump talks about his recent summit meeting with North Korean leader in Singapore early this week. "Earlier this week, I returned from a historic summit in Singapore where I met with Chairman of North Korea. This summit marked a new beginning for relations between the United States and North Korea, and it opened the path to a future for all Koreans-- North and south," Trump said. The summit also made a clean break from the failed approaches of past administrations, he said, noting that their meeting was the first time a sitting American President has ever met with a leader of North Korea. "Our conversation was open, honest, direct, and very, very productive. We produce something that is beautiful. At the conclusion of the summit, we signed a joint statement in which chairman, Kim quote, reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula," he said. This is the beginning of the process toward the denuclearisation of North Korea. "I sometimes say the Denuking of North Korea, and those are beautiful words," Trump said. "During our conversation, I emphasize the tremendous new prosperity, security, and opportunity that awaits North Korea when they denuclearise. As I said in Singapore, Chairman Kim has the chance to seize an incredible future for his people," he said. "Anyone can make war, but only the most courageous can make peace. Our world has seen more than enough conflict. If there's a chance at peace, if there's a chance to end the horrible threat of nuclear conflict, then we must pursue it at all cost," the US president said. "The people of America, the people of Korea, the people of the world deserve a future of security and of peace, and that is why we signed this joint statement, Trump said. In the coming days, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be working directly with North Korea to implement the denuclearisation deal, he said, adding that in the meantime, sanctions will remain in place. "We know that there's a great deal of work ahead, but peace is always worth that effort. We have been working very hard. I made the trip. It was worth every second. It was an incredible event. The people of Asia feel safe and right now, the people from all over the world feel much safer than the days before I was president," Trump said. Three inter-state vehicle lifters were arrested and stolen vehicle of inspector general of the Intelligence Bureau was recovered from them, police said today. Praful Kumar, Additional Commissioner of the Jaipur Police, said that the Crime Branch had arrested five vehicle lifters on June 12 and during their interrogation, the names of the three accused cropped up. On the basis of information, the accused, identified asAteek Ahmed (35) was held in Mumbai while Rupesh Malviya (36) and Mobin Sheikh (33) were caught from Madhya Pradesh yesterday, police said. They were brought to Jaipur and were under police custody, they said. One of the robbers, arrested here on June 12, Rishiraj Meena, had stolen the vehicle from near central park on Tonk road in Jaipur last month. He sold the vehicle to Ateek Ahmed near Kishangarh in Ajmer and Ahmed further sold it to Sheikh. Malviya was also involved with them, police said. The stolen vehicle of the IG-IB was recovered from Madhya Pradesh, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three Pakistani soldiers were killed today when militants launched an attack on army posts along the border with Afghanistan from across the frontier, military officials said. The shootout, which also left five insurgents dead, occurred in the Shawal area of North Waziristan tribal district, part of a semi-autonomous region where the army has been battling Taliban and Al-Qaeda linked militants for years. A statement from the Pakistan army said "multiple" assaults were launched on bases along the border. "Security forces valiantly repulsed all attempts to overrun posts and inflict major damage," the statement said. North Waziristan is part of Pakistan's tribal belt -- a block of seven districts along the country's northwest border with Afghanistan which are home to an estimated five million people, mainly ethnic Pashtuns. Military operations to flush militants from the tribal districts, have pushed the insurgents across the border. Pakistan is building a fence along its 2400-kilometre border with Afghanistan, which it hopes will fortify the frontier. It believes militant attacks are meant to halt construction work on the fence. The US has repeatedly accused Pakistan of allowing the tribal areas to harbour militants fighting in Afghanistan -- an allegation Islamabad has consistently denied. The latest attack came hours after reports that a US drone strike had killed the Pakistani Taliban chief Mullah Fazlullah, who had established sanctuaries in Afghan areas. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Tamil Nadu government today urged the Centre to keep in abeyance its decision to enact a Dam Safety Bill, recalling it had earlier raised some objections and that it had not received any revised draft on the matter thereafter. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister K Palaniswami requested that the decision arrived at by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday to legislate the Act on the Dam Safety Bill, 2018, be kept in abeyance till all states were consulted and a consensus was evolved. He said late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had earlier raised objections to "certain clauses" of the draft Bill, 2016 "since they encroach upon powers of state governments and also rights conferred on the state by virtue of Inter-State Agreements on dams owned, operated and maintained by the Government of Tamil Nadu but located in other state." The state had earlier urged the Centre that the legislation should be re-examined and should not be "proceeded with in haste, without considering objections raised by Tamil Nadu threadbare.""The Government of India has not circulated any revised draft after 2016 and it is presumed that the Bill in its original form has been approved by the Union Cabinet.""This Bill would have wide ramifications on dams operated and maintained by (a) state government, especially those dams which are owned operated and maintained by the Government of Tamil Nadu, but are located in the neighbouring state," he said in an apparent reference to the Mullaperiar dam located in neighbouring Kerala. Mullaperiar dam located in Kerala's Idukki district is owned and operated by Tamil Nadu and the two states are at loggerheads over it's safety and storage level. The Supreme Court had in May 2014 held that the dam was safe, and allowed Tamil Nadu to raise the storage level to 142 ft initially and to 152 ft later after completing strengthening efforts on the reservoir. In his letter today, Palaniswami said he considered "it appropriate that consensus of all the states be obtained before bringing forward such a legislation on dam safety." "In the circumstances, I request you to kindly keep in abeyance the decision arrived at by the Government of India to legislate an Act on dam safety till such time all the states are consulted and consensus is evolved," he said. The Union Cabinet had on Wednesday approved a proposal for enacting the Dam Safety Bill 2018, which will help states and union territories to adopt uniform safety procedures to ensure safety of reservoirs. The Bill seeks to constitute a national committee on dam safety which shall evolve safety policies and recommend necessary regulations, Union Minister Piyush Goyal had said on Wednesday. The Bill provides for establishment of National Dam Safety Authority as a regulatory body which shall discharge functions to implement the policy, guidelines and standards for dam safety in the country. In certain cases, such as dams of one state falling under the territory of another, the authority shall also perform the role of State Dam Safety Organisation, thereby eliminating potential causes for inter-state conflicts. The legislation will address all issues concerning dam safety including regular inspection, emergency action plan, comprehensive safety review, adequate repair and maintenance funds for dam safety, instrumentation and safety manuals. The Bill also provides for constitution of a State Committee on Dam Safety by the state governments. The provisions of the Bill also lay onus of dam safety on the dam owner and provides for penal provisions for commission and omission of certain acts. The draft bill was finalised after wide consultation with leading experts and international experts, Goyal had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's widened to four-month high of $USD 14.62 billion in May as imports surged nearly 15 per cent, the government said Friday. Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu said exports in May rose by 28.18 per cent to $28.86 billion while imports were up 14.85 per cent to $43.48 billion. widened to $14.62 billion from $13.84 billion in May 2017. Oil imports were up 49.46 per cent to $11.5 billion on back of surge in international crude prices. US President today slapped a stiff 25 per cent tariff on $50 billion worth of Chinese goods, as he accused Beijing of intellectual property theft and unfair trade practices, triggering a trade war between the world's two largest economies. In a statement, Trump said 25 per cent tariffs will be applied to Chinese goods that "contain industrially significant technologies." Trade between the two countries "has been very unfair, for a very long time," Trump said, adding that "this situation is no longer sustainable." Trump warned China of more tariffs if Beijing retaliated on today's announcement. "In light of China's theft of intellectual property and technology and its other unfair trade practices, the United States will implement a 25 per cent tariff on $50 billion of goods from China that contain industrially significant technologies," he said. This includes goods related to China's 'Made in China 2025' strategic plan to dominate the emerging high-technology industries that will drive future economic growth for China, but hurt economic growth for the US and many other countries, he said. "America can no longer tolerate losing its technology and intellectual property through unfair economic practices," he said. "These tariffs are essential to preventing further unfair transfers of American technology and intellectual property to China, which will protect American jobs," Trump said. In addition, they will serve as an initial step toward bringing balance to the trade relationship between the US and China, he asserted. Currently, the US has a trade deficit of more than $370 billion per annum with China. Trump warned that the United States will pursue additional tariffs if China engages in retaliatory measures such as imposing new tariffs on US goods, services, or agricultural products, raising non-tariff barriers, or taking punitive actions against American exporters or American companies operating in China". He reiterated that his friendship with President and America's relationship with China are both very important to him. The US says its tariffs on Chinese goods are in response to what it categorises as theft of intellectual property. Reacting to Trump's latest announcement, China said it has imposed "equal" tariffs on US products. "We will immediately launch tax measures of equal scale and equal strength," China's Commerce Ministry said in a statement. "The United States has kept changing its mind and now launched a trade war," it said. "China does not want a trade war," it said, adding that it would "fight back vigorously" in defence of its national interests, globalisation and the world trade system. The Ministry statement gave no further details of the American products that would be hit. China has previously promised to respond with retaliatory tariffs on US products such as cars, planes and soybeans. It also called on other countries to "take collective action" against the US move, calling it "outdated and backwards behaviour". In Washington, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, defending the US move, said, "we must take strong defensive actions to protect America's leadership in technology and innovation against the unprecedented threat posed by China's theft of our intellectual property, the forced transfer of American technology, and its cyber attacks on our computer networks." "China's government is aggressively working to undermine America's high-tech industries and our economic leadership through unfair trade practices and industrial policies like 'Made in China 2025,'Lighthizer said. The list of products issued by USTR covers 1,102 separate US tariff lines valued at approximately $50 billion in 2018 trade values. Trump first announced that the US would impose trade penalties on about $50 billion worth of Chinese goods in March. After China warned it would retaliate, Trump threatened tariffs on a further $100 billion worth of Chinese products. In mid-May, both sides announced a cease-fire after two rounds of trade negotiations. The two sides had said in a joint statement that China would "significantly increase" purchases of US agricultural and energy products to reduce the trade imbalance, a top Trump demand. Ten days later, the White House abruptly said it would proceed with the tariffs. A further round of trade talks in Beijing earlier this month failed to yield any breakthroughs. Trump's decision to impose fresh tariffs on China follows his recent imposition of steep tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, Mexico and the on national security grounds. Those penalties have been met with consternation by world leaders, and led to a fraught G7 meeting with Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and the UK, last weekend. The EU and have said they will enact retaliatory tariffs starting in July. Mexico has already retaliated with its own tariffs on US goods. Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde yesterday warned that the Trump administration's trade policies were likely to hurt the US economy and undermine the world's trade system. She said a trade war would lead to "losers on both sides" and could have a "serious" impact. US President Donald Trump has approved tariffs worth USD 50 billion on import of goods from China, a move that could escalate trade tensions between the world's two largest economies. A formal announcement is expected to be made by the US Trade Representatives today with a notification in the Federal Register in the coming weeks. The move is likely to attract retaliatory action by China. Trump's approval to impose tariffs on Chinese exports followed a 90-minute meeting he had with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and US Trade Representatives Robert Lighthizer yesterday. The meeting also included representatives of the National Security Council. China had previously said it would respond to American tariffs on USD 50 billion worth of Chinese exports with retaliatory tariffs on USD 50 billion of US products such as cars, planes and soybeans. Trump's first announced that the US would impose trade penalties on about USD 50 billion of Chinese goods in March. After China warned it would retaliate, Trump threatened tariffs on a further USD 100 billion of Chinese products. In mid-May, both sides announced a ceasefire after two rounds of trade negotiations. The countries said in a joint statement that China would "significantly increase" purchases of US agricultural and energy products to reduce the trade imbalance, a top Trump administration demand. Ten days later, the White House abruptly said it would proceed with the tariffs. A further round of trade talks in Beijing earlier this month failed to yield any breakthroughs. Yesterday, China said it would not honor its pledge to increase purchases of US goods if tariffs were imposed. Following the latest decision by Trump, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro said tariffs must be seen as one tool among many the US could use to hold bad actors like China accountable and bring the Chinese government to the table to secure a more favourable balance of trade. "We cannot allow the recent chaos to continue and risk further damage to our standing in the world. That is why I am calling on President Trump to fight for American jobs with a comprehensive strategy that puts American economic interests front and centre," she said. DeLauro said the Trump Commerce Department's disorderly implementation of trade enforcement tools failed to inspire confidence in the President's ability to appropriately hold the trading partners accountable. Trump's decision to move forward with tariffs on China follows his recent imposition of steep tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, Mexico and the European Union on national security grounds. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) This Page has moved to a new address: Sorry for the inconvenience Redirection provided by Blogger to WordPress Migration Service US President Donald Trump has approved levying of new tariffs worth USD 50 billion on Chinese exports and China today vowed to quickly retaliate, raising the possibility of a trade war between the world's two largest economies and trading partners. The US says its tariffs on Chinese goods are in response to what it categorises as theft of intellectual property. A formal announcement is expected to be made by the US Trade Representative later today. Trump's approval to impose tariffs on Chinese exports followed a 90-minute meeting he had with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer yesterday. Reacting to Trump's latest move, China vowed to immediately retaliate. "If the US side adopts unilateral protectionist measures and damages China's interests, we will immediately react and take necessary measures to firmly safeguard our legitimate rights and interests," said China's foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang during a regular briefing in Beijing. China had previously said it would respond to American tariffs on USD 50 billion worth of Chinese exports with retaliatory tariffs on USD 50 billion of US products such as cars, aircraft and soybeans. Trump's first announced that the US would impose trade penalties on about USD 50 billion of Chinese goods in March. After China warned it would retaliate, Trump threatened tariffs on a further USD 100 billion of Chinese products. In mid-May, both sides announced a cease-fire after two rounds of trade negotiations. The countries said in a joint statement that China would "significantly increase" purchases of US agricultural and energy products to reduce the trade imbalance, a top Trump administration demand. Ten days later, the White House abruptly said it would proceed with the tariffs. A further round of trade talks in Beijing earlier this month failed to yield any breakthroughs. President Trump's decision to impose fresh tariffs on China follows his recent imposition of steep tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, Mexico and the European Union on national security grounds. Those penalties have been met with consternation by world leaders, and led to a fraught G7 meeting with Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom last weekend. The European Union and Canada have said they will enact retaliatory tariffs starting in July. Mexico has already retaliated with its own tariffs on US goods. International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde yesterday warned that the Trump administration's trade policies were likely to hurt the US economy and undermine the world's trade system. She said a trade war would lead to "losers on both sides" and could have a "serious" impact. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump has approved tariffs worth USD 50 billion on import of goods from China. A formal announcement in this regard is expected to be made by the US Trade Representatives today with a notification in the Federal Register in the coming weeks. The move is likely to attract retaliatory action by China. Trump's approval in this regard followed a 90-minute meeting he had with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and US Trade Representatives Robert Lighthizer yesterday. The meeting also included representatives of the National Security Council. Following the decision, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro said tariffs must be seen as one tool among many the US could use to hold bad actors like China accountable and bring the Chinese government to the table to secure a more favourable balance of trade. "We cannot allow the recent chaos to continue and risk further damage to our standing in the world. That is why I am calling on President Trump to fight for American jobs with a comprehensive strategy that puts American economic interests front and centre," she said. DeLauro said the Trump Commerce Department's disorderly implementation of trade enforcement tools failed to inspire confidence in the President's ability to appropriately hold the trading partners accountable. "That is why I will continue to call for a meaningful strategy to address our deep trade deficit with China that has led to outsourcing of well-paying American jobs," she said. "To make matters worse, President Trump rolled back sanctions on Chinese telecommunications firm ZTE after the company sold critical technology to Iran and North Korea, and lied to US security officials about it. President Trump should be focused on American jobs, not China's," the lawmaker said. A Wall Street Journal report warned that the US decision could become the start of a tit-for-tat series of retaliatory moves. If the US hits China with tariffs, China will immediately retaliate with tariffs, said a Chinese official. "We hate unilateral actions," the official was quoted as saying. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump today said the report of the Justice Department's internal watchdog exonerates him of any wrongdoing, even as he described the work of fired FBI director James Comey as "criminal behaviour". The report, the IG report was a horror show. I thought that one sentence of conclusion was ridiculous. The end result was wrong. There was total bias, Trump said in an interview. Later talking to reporters on the North Lawns of the White House, Trump said he did the right thing to fire Comey. I think I did the country a tremendous favour by firing him, he said. A day earlier, in a report the Inspector General (IG) of the Department of Justice (DOJ) slammed Comey and alleged that its investigations have found that there were FBI officials willing to take actions that could have hurt the then candidate Trump. The IG Report is a total disaster for Comey, his minions and sadly, the FBI. Comey will now officially go down as the worst leader, by far, in the history of the FBI. I did a great service to the people in firing him. Good Instincts. Christopher Wray will bring it proudly back! Trump tweeted. In his interview with Fox and Friends, Trump said Comey was the ringleader of this whole den of thieves." "If you took a poll at the FBI, (I would win). I mean the real FBI, not the scum on top, said the president. Trump also alleged that Comey gave a clean chit to Hillary Clinton, his rival in the presidential election. He totally exonerated her. And if anything you're saying is correct, what she did is they tried to pretend it didn't happen. I would have gone out there, and I would have had the greatest conference in history. They tried to pretend the exoneration didn't happen, he said. Now, the exoneration wasn't correct, because there's no way they could have checked that number of e-mails in just a few days. But if you remember, just before the election, he went out and he exonerated her, and they didn't even talk about it. That was the greatest political mistake, Trump said. Now, with all of that being said, I won Wisconsin, I won Michigan, I won states that, you know, a Republican hasn't won in many, many decades, years. She didn't do a good job, and you never gave me credit for doing a great job. But the fact is, I did a great job, he asserted. Trump said that he is not thinking about suspending the probe by Robert Mueller, the former FBI director, who is investigating into allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 general election. He asserted that he did nothing wrong. There was no collusion. There was no obstruction. The IG report yesterday went a long way to show that, and I think that the Mueller investigation has been totally discredited, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump today indicated that he could meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and said Russia should be allowed to rejoin the Group of Seven industrialised nations "It's possible that we'll meet, yeah," Trump told reporters when asked if he is planning to meet Putin this summer. He said Russia should be allowed to rejoin the Group of Seven industrialised nations. "This all started because somebody, one of you, asked, 'Should Putin be in the G-7?' I said, 'No, he should be in the G-8.' A few years ago, Putin was in what was called the G-8. I think it's better to have Russia in, than to have Russia out, because just like North Korea, just like somebody else, it's much better if we get along with them, than if we don't. So, it's possible," he said. Trump has repeatedly expressed a willingness to deal with Putin in spite of Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 elections. Trump blamed his predecessor Barack Obama for the Russian annexation of Crimea, claiming it was Obama's "fault" because "Putin didn't respect President Obama." "President Obama lost Crimea, just so you understand. This was long before I got there. I want to make it so the fake prints it properly: President Obama lost Crimea, he said. "So it's his fault? he was asked. Yeah, it's his fault," he answered. "President Obama lost Crimea because President Putin didn't respect President Obama, didn't respect our country, and didn't respect Ukraine, he said. "President Obama gave away -- now President Obama by not going across the red line in the sand that he drew -- I went across it with the 59 missile hits. But President Obama when he didn't go across the red line, what he gave away nobody even knows, he alleged. "One more time, President Obama gave away Crimea. That should have never happened," Trump said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania today wished Muslims across the world on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr. Melania and I wish Muslims across the United States and around the world a blessed Eid al-Fitr, Trump said in a presidential message. Eid, he said, marks the end of a month of reflection and a return to daily life with a renewed sense of joy and love for fellow men. It is a time to practice forgiveness and an opportunity to strengthen relationships within and among communities, he said. "Today, as we reflect on the important place religion has in the story of America and in the lives of those who are faithful, we hope that the spirit of peace and goodwill that surrounds and infuses this Eid celebration continues throughout the year and around the world. We wish all Muslims a very happy Eid al-Fitr," Trump said. Extending his best wishes to Muslim friends and partners celebrating Eid, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the holiday marks the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting, charity, compassion, and reflection. "Eid al-Fitr reminds all of us in the United States and abroad, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, to maintain the spirit and lessons of Ramadan throughout the year: to promote peace, to be of service to those who are suffering and displaced, to respect diversity, and to empathize with everyone around us," he said. The US, he said, is proud of the strong relationships it has built with Muslim nations and communities around the world. We are also proud of the contributions of the 3.4 million American Muslims who deeply enrich our social fabric on a daily basis. These contributions reflect the United States' bedrock principles of religious pluralism and public service, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Peers from Britain's House of Lords have backed Indian professionals caught up in a visa row over their right to live and work in the UK, terming the government's treatment of skilled workers from countries outside the European Union (EU) as a "national scandal". During a debate on 'Immigration: Hostile Environment' in the House of Lords yesterday, Lord Dick Taverne, a Liberal Democrat peer said, "This treatment is a national scandal every bit as outrageous as the treatment of the Windrush immigrants. A monstrous injustice is being perpetrated by our government in our name." "If it is not remedied, the Home Office will not only be breaking every canon of a civilised society, but ignoring one of the most basic tenets of the rule of law the golden rule that someone is assumed innocent until proved guilty," he said. Lord Taverne has been leading a parliamentary campaign in favour of professionals affected by the issue of their indefinite leave to remain (ILR) being denied as a result of an immigration clause aimed at terrorists and criminal convicts. "Their only error is one that half a million British taxpayers make every year. Native taxpayers amend their tax returns without facing any penalty not even a fine but the Home Office treats migrants who do as terrorists," he told the House. The Lords debate came just a day after a similar debate in the House of Commons, where MPs from across party lines in the UK highlighted the plight of hundreds of teachers, doctors, lawyers and engineers from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh being caught up by Paragraph 322(5) of the UK's immigration rules. Lord Taverne traced the history of the government's policy change over the issue. Originally errors in tax returns were dealt with under paragraph 322(1) of the UK Immigration Act, but then the onus was on the UK Home Office to prove dishonesty. "So in its determination to increase the number of deportations and intensify the hostile climate for immigrants, the Home Office switched to using another rule sub-paragraph (5)," he said. Some Indian-origin peers also added their voice of support during the debate, including Conservative party's Lord Ranbir Singh Suri who urged home secretary Sajid Javid to address the adverse impact of the government's "hostile environment" policy against migrants. "A serious rethink needs to happen at the highest levels of government about this policy and its future implications," he said. Lord Bhikhu Parekh, from the Labour party, said immigration scandals including that affecting Caribbean migrants from the so-called Windrush generation had "tarnished Britain's reputation". In response, UK government minister in the Home Office Baroness Williams stressed that the Tier 1 (General) visa applications being refused ILR were directly as a result of a "clear pattern of abuse". She said: "Where employment circumstances do not add up and applicants claim to have been working in a full-time low-paid manual job while simultaneously earning very high amounts from self-employed work for which the evidence is weak, we must consider Paragraph 322(5). "...and refuse the application where the evidence shows that the individual has not played by the rules and their character and conduct is such that they should not be granted settlement in the UK." The UK government is currently undertaking a review of the cases of permanent residency refused under Paragraph 322(5) of the UK Immigration Act. The crisis involves professionals from countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh entitled to apply for residency after a minimum of five years lawful residency in the UK. Legal experts have noted a pattern of many such applications being turned down by Home Office caseworkers citing the discretionary rule aimed at denying convicted criminals and terrorists the right to live in the UK. While the government maintains the refusal is a result of dishonesty on the part of applicants and claims of higher than actual earnings, the applicants have accused the government of heavy-handedness in not allowing them to explain lawful tax rectifications. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Slamming Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for the Ramzan peace initiative in Jammu and Kashmir, controversial BJP MLA Surindra Singh today said bullet for bullet was the way to deal with terrorrists. On May 16, the Union government directed security forces not to launch counter-terror operations during Ramzan but said they reserve the right to retaliate if attacked. "The ceasefire decision of Rajnath Singh is wrong... The befitting answer to a bullet is bullet not dialogue," the BJP MLA from Bairiya told newspersons here. Despite the peace initiative, militant attacks have continued in the valley. On Thursday, veteran journalist Shujaat Bukhari was shot dead by terrorists outside his office in Srinagar while, a rifleman of the Indian Army was abducted by terrorists and his dead body was found hours later in Pulwama. Singh took potshots at Congress president Rahul Gandhi and said that he had "inherited" the top post in his party but will never become the prime minister. "He has inherited the party president's post, but he will never be able to become the prime minister as people of the country will never give this post to him," Singh said. The BJP MLA has made many controversial statements in the past and even criticised his own party leaders and ministers. Following the recent Kairana Lok Sabha and Noorpur Assembly bypolls, he blamed ministers in the Yogi Adityanath government for the party's humiliating defeat in both the constituencies. He had gone to the extent of saying that if certain ministers were not removed from the state cabinet, the ruling party's downfall in UP was certain. Singh had said if the grievances of the poor people were not heard at police stations, tehsil offices and block offices, they will not vote for the BJP. "The BJP government has not been able to give a transparent government," the MLA had said leaving the party embarrassed. He had also endorsed the view of senior JD(U) leader KC Tyagi that the rising prices of petrol and diesel were responsible for the BJP's defeat in the bypolls. Singh has also said that the 2019 Lok Sabha elections will be an "Islam vs bhagwan" battle. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Members of the UN Human Rights Council will decide on the future course of action on the human rights chief's call for a high-level independent international probe into allegations of human rights violations in Kashmir and PoK, a spokesperson for UN chief Antonio Guterres has said. Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General Farhan Haq's remarks came following the launch of the first UN human rights report on Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). India rejected the UN report, terming it as "fallacious, tendentious and motivated and a selective compilation of largely unverified information. In a strong reaction, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the report is "overtly prejudiced" and seeks to build a "false narrative". "This, as you know, is a question for the member States of the Human Rights Council. The High Commissioner, High Commissioner Zeid, has made that proposal to the Human Rights Council. And we will see and evaluate what the response will be," Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General Farhan Haq told reporters here yesterday. He was responding to a question on whether the Secretary-General supports an independent international probe into the alleged violations in Kashmir and PoK. When asked again if the Secretary-General supports a probe into the situation in Kashmir, Haq said the UN Chief has long believed that the parties need to resolve the situation in Kashmir on their own. "We will have to see what the Human Rights Council determines as a result of this report that was carried out by the Human Rights Office.As with all questions regarding mandates by Member States, it's up to Member States to determine the sort of mandates that the United Nations will have. Haq said while the High Commissioner has called for an independent probe, it is up to the members of the Human Rights Council to see how they will respond to that recommendation. "What the High Commissioner has done and what the Human Rights Office has done is provide a report with the best information they have available, even though they lacked the sort of access that they needed to either of the areas of Kashmir. At this stage, now that they have the reports in their hands, the Member States of the Human Rights Council can determine whether any other steps are needed," Haq said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Britain plans to ban "upskirting" -- secretly taking pictures up women's skirts -- under a new law being debated in parliament today that would impose prison sentences of up to two years. "This behaviour is a hideous invasion of privacy which leaves victims feeling degraded and distressed," junior justice minister Lucy Frazer said, giving the government's backing to the draft law put forward by opposition lawmaker Wera Hobhouse. People convicted of "upskirting" would be placed on the sex offender register once the law is approved by parliament. Some instances of "upskirting" are currently prosecuted under existing public decency and voyeurism laws, but campaigners said not all instances were covered by existing criminal law. Campaigner Gina Martin started an online petition after police declined to prosecute a man she accused of taking a picture of her on his phone at a music festival as she had been wearing underwear and the photo was therefore not considered illegal. "This is obviously great news," Martin said today. "Now -- hopefully -- we can get access to justice for all victims because the politicians listened," she said. Katie Ghose, chief executive of Women's Aid, said: "We welcome the government taking decisive action to make upskirting a criminal offence. "This form of abuse is painful and humiliating for victims and often has a devastating impact on all aspects of their lives." Lisa Hallgarten, head of policy for Brook, a sexual health and wellbeing charity for young people, also welcomed the recognition of upskirting as a criminal offence. But she said that "the law alone is not enough". "Schools have a critical role in challenging harmful behaviours and practices by dealing with any issues promptly," she said. "In order to keep children and young people safe from harm we must teach them at the earliest opportunity to respect each other's privacy, to know their rights and to understand issues around consent, coercion and unwanted, unsafe touch. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maulana Fazlullah, the chief of Pakistani Taliban, has been killed in a US drone strike in Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province, according to media reports today. The US military said yesterday it carried out a strike targeting a senior militant leader in Afghanistan. It did not identify the militant. The Express Tribune, however, citing sources said the drone strike that took place in the Nur Gul Kalay village of Dangam district killed Fazlullah and four other Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) commanders. Unconfirmed reports from locals said Fazlullah has been killed, the Voice of America reported. Pentagon officials declined to comment on whether the strike was successful. Fazlullah and his commanders were having an Iftar party at a compound when a remotely piloted US aircraft targeted them, the report quoted a source as saying. The TTP, however, did not confirm the death of its chief in the drone strike. Fazlullah had directed numerous high-profile attacks against the US and Pakistani targets since he was appointed the group's leader in 2013, including the December 2014 attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar that killed 151 people, including more than 130 children. The US also said Fazlullah ordered the 2012 attempted assassination of Malala Yousafzai, who became a global symbol of the fight for girls' rights to schooling. The US strike comes amid a ceasefire between the Afghan Taliban and Afghna security forces to mark the end of the Muslim's holy month of Ramazan. Gen John Nicholson, the commander of US Forces-Afghanistan and the NATO-led Resolute Support, said the United States would adhere to the ceasefire announced by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, which did not include US counterterrorism attacks on other terror groups. Fazlullah, who has been designated as a global terrorist by the US and carried a bounty of USD 5 million, had been on the run since his loyalists were routed in a major military operation in Pakistan's Swat district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in 2009. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US military said yesterday it carried out a strike targeting a senior militant leader in Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province, where Pakistani Taliban chief Maulana Fazlullah is believed to be hiding. "US forces conducted a counterterrorism strike, June 13, in Kunar province, close to the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which targeted a senior leader of a designated terrorist organization," Lieutenant Colonel Martin O'Donnell said in a statement. It added that US forces were continuing to "adhere to a ceasefire" which Kabul has entered into with the Afghan Taliban, the country's main insurgents, seemingly ruling out that group, amid US media reports the attack had targeted Fazlullah. The US State Department in March announced a $5 million reward for help locating the militant leader, who has been linked to bloody attacks in Pakistan and the 2010 attempted Times Square car bombing in New York. It said the group, also known by its Urdu name Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) has "demonstrated a close alliance with Al-Qaeda" and said it had given explosives training to Faisal Shahzad, the would-be Times Square bomber. The group was behind the massacre of more than 150 people at a Peshawar school in December 2014, and nine dead in another attack in December 2017 in the same city. It was also responsible for the October 2012 shooting of Malala Yousafzai, who became a global symbol of the fight for girls' rights to schooling. According to Pakistani officials, Fazlullah, who is believed to be in his forties, took refuge in Afghanistan after the TTP was pushed out of Pakistan following multiple offensives by the military on its safe havens. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Gujarat IPS officer D G Vanzara's counsel today sought to pick holes in the CBI's theory about the movement of car ferrying Ishrat Jahan and others who were killed in an alleged fake encounter. Vanzara, an accused in the 2004 Ishrat Jahan encounter case, has filed a plea in a special CBI court here seeking his discharge in the matter. His lawyer V D Gajjar told the court the CBI's theory about the movement of Ishrat's car following tyre burst was wrong because a re-construction of the scene had proved the vehicle moved towards the same direction as claimed by the local police at the time of the encounter. After the conclusion of arguments from Vanzara's side today, special judge J K Pandya adjourned further hearing till June 30 when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) would commence its arguments in the case. Along with Vanzara, former Gujarat police officer N K Amin had approached the special court seeking discharge in the case. Arguments from both sides on Amin's plea have concluded and the court has reserved its order for June 30. During today's hearing, Vanzara's lawyer referred to the CBI theory about the way in which Ishrat's car halted after the Ahmedabad Police fired on it during the chase. The central agency has claimed the encounter in which Ishrat and three others were killed was "fake". "To prove that the encounter was fake, the CBI had mentioned in the charge-sheet that the car, in which Ishrat and three others were travelling, halted on the right side of the road after a police commando fired on the rear-left tyre during the car chase. The CBI said the car should have halted on the left side," Gajjar told the court. Citing a manual on vehicular movement, the CBI had concluded that the encounter was "fake" as it claimed the moving car should have drifted towards the left, not right, if gunshots were fired on it in a real gun-battle. "The CBI claimed that since the car was found halted near the divider, that is on the right side, it was a fake encounter. But, during the reconstruction, when shots were fired in a similar way, the demo car halted on the right side, the same way as Ishrat's car had halted," Gajjar argued. Vanzara's lawyer also sought parity with former in-charge DGP P P Pandey, who was an accused in the case, but his discharge application was allowed by the same court. The CBI has opposed the discharge pleas of both Vanzara and Amin, the latter recently retired as a superintendent of police (SP). Ishrat, a 19-year-old girl from Mumbai, along with three others - Javed Shaikh alias Pranesh Pillai, Amjadali Akbarali Rana and Zeeshan Johar - were killed by the police in an encounter on the outskirts of Ahmedabad on June 15, 2004. The Gujarat Police had claimed they had terror links and had plotted to kill the then chief minister Narendra Modi. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the Gujarat High Court, had concluded the encounter was "fake". Following this, the HC had transferred the case to the CBI. In the first charge-sheet filed by the CBI in 2013, seven Gujarat police officers, including IPS officers P P Pandey, Vanzara and G L Singhal - were named accused. All were booked for kidnapping, murder and conspiracy, among others. Vanzara was last year discharged in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh and Tulsiram Prajapati alleged fake encounter cases, which took place in 2005 and 2006 respectively, along with Rajasthan IPS officer Dinesh M N. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu's two-day Sikkim visit was cancelled today due to inclement weather, officials said. An ICFAI University spokesperson informed the audience at the convocation function that Naidu could not attend the function as permission could not be granted for the vice president's aircraft to take off for Gangtok from Bagdogra due to inclement weather. The vice president tweeted "Reached Bagdogra to proceed to Gangtok, Sikkim, today. Since the weather is not permitting us, I am planning to proceed to Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh." The vice president was scheduled to preside over convocation of the ICFAI University and visit the National Research Centre for Orchid at Pakyong, about 35 km from the state capital. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Parashuram Waghmare, the last of the six suspects arrested in connection with the killing of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, was her assassin, the SIT probing the sensational case said. A senior official in the Special Investigation Team also said the same weapon was used to shoot Lankesh, and rationalists Govind Pansare and M M Kalburgi. "Waghmare shot Lankesh and the forensic report has confirmed that (rationalists) Govind Pansare, M M Kalburgi and Lankesh were murdered with the same weapon," a senior officer in the SIT told PTI wishing not to be named. He, however, said the weapon was yet to be traced. Forensic examination can lead to such a conclusion when the hammer of a gun has left identical marks at the rear of a bullet even if the weapon itself has not been found. The official said the organisation, composed of people drawn from Hindu right groups, had around 60 members spread across at least five states but had no name. "We discovered that this gang has a network in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka. We did not find their Uttar Pradesh connection so far," the official said. He said though it recruited people from hardline Hindutva organisations like Maharashtra-based Hindu Jagruti Samiti and Sanatan Sanstha, these outfits may not be directly responsible for the killings. Both organisations had denied their role in the killing of the three. Sujith Kumar alias Praveen used to recruit people for the gang, the official said, adding it was following his interrogation that the network was busted. The SIT, he said, suspected three more people were present when Lankesh was shot dead at the entrance of her Bengaluru residence on September 5 last year. Speculation was rife that Waghmare, whose physical appearance matched that of the man whose image was caught on the CCTV camera at Lankesh's home on the day of the killing, was her assassin. The officer said the gang meticulously planned its operations before executing them. The entire process of reconnaissance, identifying the weaknesses of the targets and their elimination would take anywhere between 6 months and a year. "The gang had almost reached the last phase of killing Prof K S Bhagawan (Kannada writer) when we nabbed them," the officer said. The Karnataka police had uncovered the plot to kill Bhagwan recently, and it was during the interrogation of the four arrested accused that they grew suspicious about their involvement in Lankesh's killing. Bhagwan had often angered the right-wing outfits with his writing and utterances against Hindu Gods. The SIT had recently recovered a diary from the suspects which contained a hit list of targets. The name of film and theatre personality Girish Karnad figured in the list, the officer said, adding the Jnanpith awardee's surveillance was in the "last phase". Other than Bhagvan and Karnad, former minister and literatteur B T Lalitha Naik, rationalist C S Dwarakanath and pontiffVeerabhadra Channamalla Swamy of Nidumamidi Mutt were also on the hit list. All of them have been quite vocal in criticising the Hindu right. Kalburgi, a Sahitya Akademi Award winner and a doughty campaigner against superstition in Hinduism, was shot dead in August 2015 at his home in Karnataka's Dharwad district. In February the same year, Govind Pansare, a Left politician and rationalist, was shot at and fatally injured by unidentified assailants in Kolhapur in Maharashtra. US President Donald Trump today said he will lift current sanctions on North Korea only after making sure Pyongyang no longer has nuclear weapons. Trump said that they are very close to it when he was asked at what point would the sanctions come off of North Korea, in an interview. When we can be sure there will be no more nuclear, he responded. Very close. We're very close to getting it started. He (Kim) wants to do it, he wants to do something great with his country, he wants' to make his country great, Trump said when asked how close they are. Early this week, Trump had a historic meeting with Kim Jong-un in Singapore, wherein the North Korean leader agreed to denuclearise and give up nuclear weapons. Trump said he could also invite Kim to the White House. I think it's something that could happen. Yes. Hey, he's the head of a country. And I mean he is the strong head. Don't let anyone think anything different. He speaks and his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same, Trump said. Trump had said that he has shared his number with Kim. I can now call him. I can now say, "Well, we have a problem." I told him, I gave him a very direct number. He can now call me if he has any difficulty. I can call him. We have communication. It's a very good thing, Trump said. "People are shocked that this is the kind of -- you know, they thought Trump was going to get in. He was going to start throwing bombs all over the place. It's actually the opposite," he said. The US he said, is going to have a very strong verification process for North Korean denuclearisation. Now, if you read the agreement, which most of you didn't, point after point after point he gave, including getting back the remains of our great heroes, which made some people cry in the streets, they're so happy. Nobody thought we were going to get that. Point after point, he said. All they said about me is, 'You met. He met. It's terrible'. Of course, I met. Meeting is a good thing, not a bad thing. By the way, it was good for the United States. It was good for them, he said. Trump also said the Chinese are very happy with the North Korea summit. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 55-year-old woman died as two rival factions opened fire at each other in a village in Uttar Pradesh, a police official said today. Sushma Devi died while nine others, including six women were injured as the two groups clashed with each other following a heated argument during a religious event last night, they said. The incident took place in Parsauna village under Jaswantnagar police station. "A bhagwat katha was going on in the village when rival factions got involved in a verbal duel leading to firing in which Sushma Devi died," SSP Ashok Kumar Tripathi said. Those injured were taken to Saifai hospital. Further investigations are on, Tripathi added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Jessica Resnick-AultNEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices fell sharply Friday, with benchmark Brent crude dropping more than $2 a barrel ahead of an OPEC meeting in Vienna next week as two of the world's biggest producers, Saudi Arabia and Russia, indicated they were prepared to increase output.Brent crude oil fell $2.15 a barrel to $73.79 by 10:56 a.m. EDT. U.S. light crude was $1.77 lower at $65.12 a barrel. Brent crude is on track to end the week down more than 3 percent, while U.S. crude is heading to fall 0.7 percent. Both contracts hit 3-1/2-year highs in May, but have since drifted lower ... The deadline to submit Rs 1,000 crore crossed on Friday but crisis-hit Jaiprakash Associates Ltd has said it will submit an appropriate plan before the Supreme Court to protect the interest of the homebuyers in a case of liquidation proceedings against its beleaguered subsidiary Jaypee Infratech Ltd. The company has already submitted Rs 750 crore of total Rs 2,500 crore it needs to complete its housing projects in its much-hyped Noida township, Wish Town. On May 16, the Supreme Court had said that if JAL is able to submit the said amount by June 15, the liquidation proceedings against Jaypee Infra shall remain stayed but if it fails, the statutory proceedings shall be carried out. "Company will be submitting an appropriate arrangement before the Supreme Court in the interest of home buyers for direction," a source in the Jaypee group told PTI. JAL has pleaded in the apex court that it wants to revive the debt-ridden subsidiary Jaypee Infra, which will also be in the interest of homebuyers. Home buyers of JIL had moved the apex court seeking relief in view of significant delays in completion of housing projects. Jaypee Group promoter Gaur had last month offered a Rs 10,000-crore revival plan for Jaypee Infra, which comprises a combination of cash, land parcels and equity to lenders through instruments, totalling more than JIL's outstanding debt of Rs 9,800 crore. It was 25 per cent higher than the best bid Jaypee Infratech had received under the insolvency proceedings. The homebuyers had pleaded that they were left in the lurch after the NCLT, on August 10 last year, admitted IDBI Bank's plea to initiate insolvency proceedings against the JIL for defaulting on a Rs 526-crore loan. While admitting the plea of IDBI Bank, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) had appointed Anuj Jain as Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) to manage the company's business. Later, the IRP invited bids from investors interested in acquiring JIL and completing the stuck real estate projects in Noida and Greater Noida. Consequently, Lakshadweep -- a joint venture between the Sudhir Valia-led Suraksha Asset Reconstruction Company and Mumbai-based Dosti Realty -- emerged as a front-runner to acquire JIL with Rs 7,350 crore bid. However, JIL's lenders rejected the Lakshadweep's bid as they found it inadequate. The lenders did not consider the bid of Jaypee Group promoter Manoj Gaur who made an offer of over Rs 10,000 crore to revive JIL. It also offered 2,000 shares to every home buyers. JIL has an outstanding debt of nearly Rs 9,800 crore, of which Rs 4,334 crore pertains to IDBI. Other lenders are -- IIFCL, LIC, SBI, Corporation Bank, Syndicate Bank, Bank Of Maharashtra, ICICI Bank, Union Bank, IFCI, J&K Bank, Axis Bank and Srei Equipment Finance Ltd. Jaypee Infratech, which is into road construction and real estate business, has constructed the Yamuna Expressway, connecting Delhi and Agra. In 2007, JIL had started the development of 32,000 flats and plots in its township, Wish Town, in Noida. It has so far delivered 9,500 apartments and applied for occupancy certificates for giving possession of another 4,500 flats. The company plans to deliver the remaining 18,000 flats by 2021. With PTI inputs The government has decided not to go ahead with its think tank Niti Aayog's recommendation on reducing stake in non-strategic public sector companies below 50 per cent, a report published in the Economic Times said. The government officials are of the view that many of the PSUs are performing well, and diluting the stake can't be the only solution to improve their efficiency. Many officials also believe slashing shareholding to raise revenue could help the government without even reducing the stake below 50 per cent, which they claim is much more than that in some companies. Another big reason for the BJP-led central government to decline the Niti Aayog recommendation is believed to be its inability to take any decision that could have an impact on its polls prospects in the upcoming General Elections in 2019. The government think-tank had been preparing a list of sick PSUs that could be privatised since February after the Prime Minister's Office asked it to look into the viability of sick state-run companies. Earlier this month, Niti Aayog had suggested the government ways to revive these sick PSUs and reducing 50 per cent stake in all non-strategic companies was one of them. The measure would have helped the government raise revenue, besides making it easy for these companies to take strategic decisions for their growth. The government think tank also believes the move would enhance the value of the government's remaining stakes these PSUs. This year the government expects to raise Rs 80,000 crore from PSU disinvestment, notwithstanding the recent blow to its Air India disinvestment plan. Last year, the government had raised lesser than Rs 1-lakh crore through the divestment process. Reports suggest the government is confident that the Air India sale plan would not affect its divestment target as there are several other companies which could help it meet the target. In its earlier memorandum, the government had offered to sell 76 per cent stake in Air India - 100 per cent in its subsidiary Air India Express and 50 per cent in its ground handling staff. It also added a clause for Air India staffs that their jobs would be protected for at least a year from the date of final deal. However, now it plans to sell 100 per cent stake in the debt-stressed Air India as the government may consider revising the terms of sale for Air India after it failed to draw any response. Amazon's sellers from India are making use of the Estonian e-residency programme to access the European market as well as PayPal payments system. The e-residency launched by the Estonian government in 2014 gives a digital identity that allows entrepreneurs from across the world to run a business independent of where they are based. Riho Kruuv, Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia to India mentioned to The Economic Times that there are currently close to 1,600 applications from Indians as per the latest data. Most of these applications are from IT and Indian e-commerce sellers - especially from Amazon. Online vendors mostly offer returns policy but in case of returned goods sold in the international markets, refunding becomes an issue as it involves foreign exchange transaction charges. The way around this is to hold a bank account within Europe. Vendors can, in that manner, have transactions without incurring extra charges. "PayPal allows receiving overseas payments in India but is more restricted than in other countries, including Estonia (EU-member state). Also, it is more cost-efficient for a business to receive and make payments in Euros with PayPal Europe than with PayPal India where the amount needs to be converted to INR every time a payment is received. This can also be done with any other EU-business but with e-residency the e-commerce sellers have full control of the business (without the need for a local director, country manager, employee, etc.) and can manage the business completely online, sign legal agreements with their digital ID," said Varun Sharma, Head of Partnerships, e-Residency for Republic of Estonia. After its launch, Kruuv said the program met with success and had already received about 30,000 registrations. An Estonian official said profits are tax-free until it gets expatriated as dividends, and that is one of the major attractions for businesses to get registered under the program. "In India, it has been proved time and again that, good ideas spread the fastest by word of mouth. E-residency would be especially beneficial for companies which already have a base in Europe, but could save them time and money thanks to Estonia's business-friendly bureaucracy and tax environment," the Estonian government had said in a press statement then. Bilateral trade between India and Estonia stood at $199.96 million in 2016-17. (With PTI inputs) Bangladesh to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Saturday Muslims in Bangladesh are set to celebrate their largest festival, Eid-ul-Fitr, on Saturday. The National Moon-Sighting Committee announced the date on Friday evening after the Shawwal crescent was sighted, bringing an end to the Ramadan. Committee head Religious Affairs Minister Matior Rahman greeted the people, saying, Eid Mubarak! during the announcement from a meeting at the Islamic Foundation in Dhaka. The announcement added to the joy of the Eid shoppers and homebound people who are leaving Dhaka to celebrate the festival with their loved ones. Eid on Saturday means the Ramadan this year ends with 29 days and the Eid holidays will end on Sunday. Many villages in Bangladesh, however, celebrated the Eid on Friday in keeping with Saudi Arabia. --bdnews24.com 15 Jun 2018, 11:52 AM Trump administration intent on revoking H-4 rule for spouses of H-1B visa holders The Trump administration has reconfirmed its intent to rescind H-4 rule regarding employment authorisation to certain spouses of H-1B visas, popular among Indian IT professionals. The move will have a major impact on Indian-American women as they are the major beneficiary of the Obama-era rule. "Removing H-4 Dependent Spouses From the Class of Aliens Eligible for Employment Authorization," said the Department of Homeland Security's Unified Agenda in the federal register notification of its semi-annual regulatory agenda. India suffering worst water crisis in history, says Niti report India is suffering from 'the worst water crisis' in its history with about 60 crore people facing high to extreme water stress and about two lakh people dying every year due to inadequate access to safe water, Niti Aayog said in a report. The report, titled 'Composite Water Management Index' released by Minister for Water Resources Nitin Gadkari, further said the crisis is only going to get worse."By 2030, the country's water demand is projected to be twice the available supply, implying severe water scarcity for hundreds of millions of people and an eventual 6 per cent loss in the country's GDP," the report noted. India cleared to begin extradition process against Nirav Modi in UK India has been informed by the UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) that it can initiate extradition proceedings against Indian diamantaire Nirav Modi even though his exact whereabouts remain uncertain, a senior Indian official said today. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has begun the process of filing an extradition request for Modi, which will then have to be approved by the UK Home Office following which an extradition warrant can be issued. WhatsApp suffers outage across the globe, service stabilizes after complaints pop up WhatsApp outages are not a rare phenomenon. The instant messaging application, which is one of the most downloaded apps on both Play Store and App Store, suffered a major outage across the globe. According to Downdetector, the complaints regarding the outage spiked in a span of one hour. WhatsApp's application on Android phones, iOS phones, Windows Mobile and Blackberry suffered problems simultaneously. Majority (45 per cent) of the complaints were about connection issues. People were also finding it hard to send and receive texts during this hour-long outage. Trump approves USD 50 billion tariff on Chinese goods US President Donald Trump has approved tariffs worth USD 50 billion on import of goods from China. A formal announcement in this regard is expected to be made by the US Trade Representatives today with a notification in the Federal Register in the coming weeks. The move is likely to attract retaliatory action by China. Trump's approval in this regard followed a 90-minute meeting he had with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and US Trade Representatives Robert Lighthizer yesterday. A Wall Street Journal report warned that the US decision could become the start of a tit-for-tat series of retaliatory moves Govt committed to provide financial resources to Air India: Sinha The government is committed to provide appropriate liquidity and financial resources to Air India, Union Minister Jayant Sinha has said amid delay in payment of salaries at the airline and uncertainty over its divestment plans. In a major setback, the government's proposed 76 per cent strategic stake sale in the debt-laden carrier failed to elicit any initial bids as the deadline ended on May 31. Sinha said the group of ministers would meet soon to take appropriate decision on the future of the flag carrier. An investigation headed by former Supreme Court judge BN Srikrishna will look into allegations of quid pro quo levelled against ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochhar. On May 30, the ICICI Bank had said that it would initiate an inquiry into the allegations of 'conflict of interest' against its CEO. According to a report in The Economic Times, the ICICI Bank board felt that the former apex court judge BN Srikrishna would be the best person to conduct this inquiry. "Justice Srikrishna is an independent and credible name, who has a good understanding of the financial markets," the report quoted a source as saying. The probe headed by Srikrishna will investigate whether Kochhar violated the bank's code of conduct and was involved in quid pro quo transactions with certain bank borrowers. A whistleblower, Arvind Gupta, had accused Kochhar of having given out huge loans to certain business groups who in return extended benefits to companies run by her husband Deepak Kochhar and brother-in-law Rajeev Kochhar. In a regulatory filing, the bank had said the inquiry would be headed by an 'independent and credible person' to examine the complaint. "The scope of the enquiry would be comprehensive and would include all relevant matters arising out of and in the course of examination of the facts and, where ever warranted, the use of forensic or email reviews and recordal of statements of relevant personnel, etc," the bank statement said. The country's second-largest private lender has been embroiled in controversies ever since investor and the whistle-blower alleged a 'quid pro quo' in ICICI Bank's Rs 3,250 crore plus Rs 660 crore loans to Venugopal Dhoot-owned Videocon Industries. He had alleged that it was the time when an identical 10 per cent foreign funding (Rs 325 crore and Rs 66 crore) made its way to NuPower Renewables, a company co-founded by Chanda Kochhar's husband Deepak Kochhar. The ICICI Bank Board has consistently denied the allegations, saying the loans offered to Videocon were part of a consortium of lenders that extended the facility to Videocon. Gupta had first levelled allegations in 2016. At that time, ICICI Bank Chairman MK Sharma, in an internal inquiry, had cleared Chanda Kochhar of any wrongdoing charge. The report findings were also shared with the Prime Minister's Office and the CBI. In March, ICICI Bank Chairman MK Sharma had said the board has full confidence in Chanda Kochhar. The bank even clarified that none of the investors of NuPower Renewables is a borrower of ICICI Bank. Deepak Kochhar, during an interview with India Today TV, had said he had not disclosed his ties with Dhoot to Chanda Kochhar. "Chanda did not know when I set up NuPower. I knew Dhoot through social circles. I told her when Dhoot exited." Breaking silence on the controversy, Chanda Kochhar, during a press conference on ICICI Bank Q4 results on May 8, said she had nothing more to add as the bank board had made its stand clear on the issue. She added the bank had always co-operated with the regulatory and investigating agencies and would continue to do so. Last month, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) had sent a notice to ICICI Bank MD and CEO Chanda Kochhar, seeking her response on the alleged non-compliance with norms in dealings with the Videocon Group and Nupower Renewables, a company co-founded by her husband Deepak Kochhar. The year 2016 brought a revolution in the way Indians use mobile data with the launch of Reliance Jio 4G data network but the haydays of the superfast 4G would be over soon as the world moves towards the first commercial deployment of lightening fast 5G as early as this year. According to the Ericsson Mobility Report by the Swedish telecommunications company, 5G network service will likely go into the history books as the start of an even bigger societal change, which will enable enhanced mobile broadband services like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and 4k videos. "5G will kick off with enhanced mobile broadband as its first use case. By the end of 2023, there will be 1 billion 5G subscriptions, accounting for around 20 percent of mobile data traffic," says the report. The company believes by 2023, 20 per cent of all data traffic will be on 5G, which is more than the combined data traffic of today. "We believe that 20 per cent of all data traffic in 2023 will be on 5G, and 20 per cent in 2023 is potentially more than all kinds of traffic we have today - about 1.5 times more than the total of 4G/3G/2G traffic today," Patrik Cerwall, Head of Strategic Marketing, Business Area Networks, Ericsson, told IANS. The 5G network spectrum would not only give users a luxury to use internet like never before but it would generate huge revenue streams for network operators. "2018 may seem to be just another year for an industry that has become used to high growth in numbers for smartphone subscriptions and mobile traffic. However, with the developments in 5G and IoT, I believe it will be a pivotal year for our industry," says Fredrik Jejdling, Executive Vice President and Head of Business Area Networks, Ericsson. Operators in the United States will be among the first to launch 5G commercial services. The country's four major operators have publicly announced that they will begin providing 5G services between late 2018 and mid-2019. Other markets where significant 5G subscription volumes are expected early include South Korea, Japan and China. The company predicts India would fully adopt the 5G services by 2022. In India, the total monthly mobile data traffic was 1.9EB at the end of 2017, driven by the strong growth in the number of LTE subscriptions. In 2023, the total traffic is expected to have increased by 5 times to reach 10EB, says the report. The superfast 5G spectrum would also pave the way for smartphone innovation. The first commercial smartphone supporting 5G in the mid-bands are expected in early 2019, while support for very high spectrum bands is expected in early to mid-2019, says the report. Apple's new headquarters Apple Park will have standing desks for all its employees. Though everything inside the iPhone maker's office is mostly a secret, there is one detail which CEO Tim Cook revealed- every Apple employee will get a standing desk. Modern work spaces put a lot of emphasis on lifestyle and health nowadays and innovate in different ways to ensure the employees have the best of health. Apple office will also get the new change with the same aim - better lifestyle. According to a Gizmodo report, Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed in an interview with David Rubenstein that every Apple Park employee will now have an adjustable standing desk. The move might seem a bit extreme, as one goes straight from sitting on a chair from Vitra for eight hours to standing the entire day. The September issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology featured a study that involved over 7,000 participants and documented pro-longed standing over a period of 12 years. The study found people who stood for long hours were more vulnerable to get heart disease compared to those who sat. The move could also encourage people to take walks from time to time. Since you will be standing all the time, you might as well use your legs to roam around. According to Cook, Doctors have also said that 'sitting is the new cancer'. The new headquarter, rumours say, cost over $5 billion to construct. Apple Park is built to distinguish the large glass "spaceship" from the carefully landscaped campus outside. The campus includes fruit trees and on-campus "Cafe Macs" cafeterias which use the fruits of the fruit trees in its lunches and dinners. The campus also features a huge gym and a shuttle service to connect workers to satellite offices and the old company headquarters. The furniture inside the Apple Park has been meticulously handpicked. According to a report by Business Insider, the standing desk comes with chairs made by Vitra that cost $1200 (Roughly Rs 81,600) along with chairs in the common areas and cafes which are designed by Nauto Fukasawa that cost $2500(Roughly Rs 1.7 lakh). The interior also features tables that are 18-foot long oak slabs. By doing this, Apple might want to retain the high-paid software developers who have many other employment options and allure them to stay by giving them a great office to work in. In the interview with Rubenstein, Cook also said, "Steve(Jobs) had the vision that the workplace should facilitate people working together...having these common areas that people could work together and run into each other without planning on doing it... and that the level of ideas and creativity and innovation that would come out of that would be phenomenal and we're seeing that." The usage of Facebook to consume news has gone down significantly in the United States. People are now turning to messaging apps like WhatsApp to comment, share news or discuss events. Reuters Institute conducted a survey of 74,000 people in 37 markets and has found the world's largest social network Facebook usage drop down 9 percentage points from 2017 in the United States and down 20 points for young users. Research associate at the Retuers Institute for the study of Journalism said in the Digital News Report that the use of social media has declined in a number of key markets after years of continuous growth. He also said that a continuous rise has been seen in the messaging apps usage as more and more people look for more private spaces to communicate. One of the reasons for the apparent decline in Facebook usage is privacy concerns and the nature of debates and arguments that happen on the social networking platform. Abuses, vilifications and offensive language and harsh comments all add to people's declining interest in Facebook. The study found the average usage of WhatsApp double in four years. It has gone up to 16 percent as more discussions take place on WhatsApp. WhatsApp discussions are more likely to get about 24 per cent of respondents take part in a private discussion about news. Also 16 percent are likely to take part in a group created specifically to discuss a news topic. Many people have cited that they feel comfortable talking on WhatsApp about any news topic as it is more private and allows them to be themselves. However, on Facebook, which is a public platform, people feel apprehensive to indulge in discussions. Moreover, WhatsApp has a significant advantage over Facebook when it comes to conversation. WhatsApp has end-to-end encryption and does not show user ads. It keeps conversations private and safe. Antonis Kalogeropoulos, Research Fellow, Reuters Institute wrote, "Privacy is an important issue for users, and this partly explains the growth in use of messaging apps, as opposed to more open social networks." The concern over fake news also adds to Facebook's woes. The research found 54 percent of the people who polled say they were worried about fake news in countries like US, Brazil and Spain. Out of the people who were surveyed, only 23 per cent trusted news that they found on social media such as Facebook while 34 per cent said they rather looked at news through search. The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism is a research centre at the University of Oxford. The institute tracks media trends and is funded by the Thomas Reuters Foundation. Letter from the Minister of ISED to the Interim Commissioner of Competition Backgrounder I am writing regarding reports of high-pressure or misleading sales tactics in the retail telecommunications marketplace. On June 14, 2018, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, sent a letter to Mr. Matthew Boswell, Interim Commissioner of Competition, regarding the Government's direction to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to investigate and report on high-pressure telecom sales practices. In the letter, the Minister requests that the Interim Commissioner assist the CRTC as needed in its inquiry. Below is the full text of the letter: news, latest-news Its not that long ago that right wing politicians saw arts degrees as an expensive indulgence that distracted universities from the real task of training the next generation of accountants and marketing executives. But these days John Howard, Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull all think that an education in Western Civilisation, albeit a privately funded one, is the most important thing a university can provide. Amongst all of the fire and fury about the Australian National Universitys decision to decline an offer of private funding for a course in Western Civilisation, a couple of key questions are yet to be asked. The first is simply, what job would a student of Western Civilisation be qualified to do? After 20 years of neoliberalism, most universities now define themselves by their ability to design undergraduate courses that the employees of tomorrow will need. Course titles, curriculum content and even assessment tasks are all designed to signal to students and employers that graduates are job ready. But has anyone ever heard of a skills shortage for those well versed in Greek literature? Dont get me wrong, just as universities tried to argue throughout the nineties and early 2000s, I think a liberal arts education provides both high level cognitive and communication skills, along with an historical and intellectual context that can help see modern dilemmas more clearly. Having a large number of university graduates who can read critically, write clearly, and see through bullshit arguments is good for society. Its probably good for the economy too, but there is no need to lean on that crutch to win a democratic debate. But if Tony Abbott or John Howard, both of whom are board members of the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation that was trying to fund the degree at ANU, were passionate advocates of the importance of generalist arts degrees back the 1980s and 1990s, they did a great job of hiding it. So, again, what job will all these experts in Western Civilisation pursue when they finish their studies? Banking? Mining? IT? Tony Abbott was honest enough to suggest an answer to this question. Writing in Quadrant Magazine, Mr Abbott explained both the lengthy process he engaged in to persuade Paul Ramsay to bequeath billions of dollars to found the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation and the goals of that institution. Mr Abbott wrote about his confidence regarding the difference that could be made by small numbers of committed and capable people. But of course the only way a small number of people can make a big difference is if they work together, which, presumably is why Mr Abbott was at pains to point out his belief in what he calls OSullivans law that every organisation thats not explicitly right-wing, over time becomes left-wing. But again Mr Abbott informs us that This is a serious risk for the Ramsay Centre but Im confident that this fate will be avoided. No wonder the ANU was nervous. The second big question is about the Ramsay Centres judgement and self-awareness. Namely, how on earth can an organisation that mounts a lengthy national attack on our national university, pretend that it does not seek to have influence over that institution? After the ANU expressed concern that the Ramsay Centre might seek excessive influence that would impede academic freedom, the university was openly criticised by a prime minister, a former prime minister, a raft of front benchers and prominent national commentators. Put simply, the ferocity and power of the attack on the ANU is the clearest proof that they made the right decision. Having spent decades telling the public, and the leaders of public institutions, that GDP growth and the size of the budget deficit is all that matters, the political right in Australia is now coming to terms with consequences of building a society that values cash over culture. But rather than rebuilding our faith in the academic and cultural institutions that neoliberalism destroyed, Mr Abbott is determined to provide a subsidised education in the liberal arts to a small handful of students selected by a privately-funded institution as being worthy of such an education. There is no reason for Australian universities to feel so poor that they need to rely on philanthropic funding. The introduction of university fees was supposed to provide those institutions with the generous funding that neoliberalism told us could no longer be provided from our taxes. But after 27 years of economic growth, and after 30 years of fee-paying students, apparently our universities simply cant afford to provide the quality education they could provide before our country got so rich and before students were asked to pay so much. Of course it is not just universities that have failed to thrive despite their enthusiastic embrace of neoliberal ideas about user-pays and consumer choice. This week the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) concluded that competition in the Australian energy market is failing because consumers do not have access to the information they need to make good choices about which electricity plan they should be on. Who would have thought that multiple companies offering dozens of plans to provide exactly the same electrons to consumers would lead to confusion and price-gouging? Bizarrely, the neoliberal solution to this failure of competition is to create a new layer of bureaucracy and oversight for the free markets which, we were once told, wouldnt need regulation or oversight. Similarly, just a fortnight ago the Productivity Commission informed us that the neoliberal experiment in superannuation as not just failing dismally but draining billions of dollars per year out of the retirement savings of ordinary Australians and into the pockets of those who design complicated and expensive financial products. Its as if there is a pattern. Ironically if more students had gained critical thinking skills from liberal arts degreesand far less students had left university with simple checklists like markets good, regulation badto help them understand the world, then perhaps Australian governments wouldnt have rushed so quickly to implement simplistic reforms to our education, finance and energy sectors, that were based on ideology rather than evidence. But we are through the looking glass now. Tony Abbott and John Howard think we need more arts students. Our Resources Minister Matt Canavan used to work at the Productivity Commission and espouse the need for small government, but now wants to spend billions of dollars subsidising coal mines. Malcolm Turnbull, the former merchant banker, used to believe that market based mechanisms were the best way to tackle climate change, but now wants to spend billions of taxpayers dollars building big dams. And of course most of the free traders in parliament now support regulating the trade in live sheep. 27 years of continuous economic growth has done wonders for our national wealth but it has done enormous harm to our public debate and the critical thinking skills of many of our leaders. Mr Abbott and Mr Howard are right to believe that we need to invest heavily in a generalist education, but we need to think a lot bigger than they and Mr Ramsay were thinking. If we are to restore our democracy we dont just need to send a few dozen conservatives through a culture war course, we need to reinvest in all of our schools, universities and cultural institutions. It will cost more than the few billion Mr Ramsay left behind, but it will deliver far more than Mr Abbot could ever dream of. Richard Denniss is chief economist at The Australia Institute @RDNS_TAI. His Quarterly Essay, Dead Right: How Neoliberalism ate itself and what comes next, is available now. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/bc111ffc-b842-43ff-a309-c6a82640c299/r0_234_4500_2776_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news Canberra man Lionel Moore has bequeathed his Watson home to children's charity Camp Quality, a final generous act from a true gentleman, according to those who knew him. His home at 5 Harding Street, Watson will be auctioned on site at 11am on Saturday, June 23. There is no reserve on the original 1960s Canberra red brick home, which means it will simply sell under the hammer to the highest bidder. Mr Moore died on March 11 aged 87. He had lived in his Watson home for more than 50 years. Canberra man Phil King, a friend of Mr Moore's, said the unassuming bloke had only hinted that he would give his home to charity. Mr Moore and his late wife Mavis had two children, both with severe disabilities. Mr King assumed Mr Moore wanted to donate to a charity that helped children. Mr Moore's son William was deceased and his daughter Veronica, now 50, was in full-time care. Mr King became her guardian at Mr Moore's death. Mr King said Mr Moore was a wonderful man who was born in Sydney and grew up around Hall. "Very caring, very humble, very generous,'' Mr King said. "He was just a great fellow to be around, he had a great sense of humour. And his knowledge of Canberra was unbelievable.'' Camp Qualitys purpose is to give every Australian child impacted by cancer every opportunity to thrive. It does this by providing innovative programs and services for children (0-13 years) impacted by cancer, which help develop life skills and strengthen wellbeing, at every stage of the cancer experience. Camp Quality CEO Kylea Tink said Mr Moore's generous act would make a difference. Lionels incredible act of generosity and heart came as a complete surprise to us at Camp Quality, and we couldnt be more grateful, she said. His bequest will have a huge impact on kids and their families impacted by cancer. It will enable us to be there, free of charge, for even more Australian families; in hospital, at home, at school and away from it all. "What an amazing gift Lionel has left behind for the all kids of Australia facing cancer right now.'' Ray White Rural Canberra-Yass sales agent George Southwell knew Mr Moore well. "Lionel was a longstanding resident of the Canberra community and saw Canberra grow from a town to the modern city that it is, Mr Southwell said. He was one of the funniest blokes youd ever meet and just a hardworking Australian. He actually had a long association with my family, even working on our farm at Lyneham back in the day but no one knows what Lionels connection was to Camp Quality. Mr Southwell said the nature of a no-reserve auction means the property will sell under the hammer to the highest bidder. Unreserved auctions are a rarity and having the proceeds of the sale going to a charity is almost unheard of, he said. The executor of the estate, along with myself, decided that this is the best way to attract the level of interest this property deserves. "The property will be sold unreserved to the highest bidder without the use of a vendor bid. Another of Mr Moore's great loves was the Dickson Tradies Club. Cafe worker Bernadette Balmeo said Mr Moore would come into the club every morning for a cup of tea and a sandwich. "He was the sweetest man you'd ever meet,'' she said. "He always made you smile and was very generous.'' Mr Moore's donation is expected to be considerable. His three-bedroom, one-bathroom residence is in a cul de sac of a quiet neighbourhood, which is growing in popularity, according to the agent. Watson is having a new lease of life as theres been a large injection of enthusiasm into the established suburbs of the north due to their proximity to the CBD, Mr Southwell said. This original Canberra red brick home is within walking distance to Watson shops, the Australian Catholic University campus, Majura Primary School and parks. Its a home which would suit a variety of buyers ranging from a young couple starting a family, to an investor, to someone whos wanting to secure a rare original property.'' The median price for a three bedroom home in Watson is $760,000, according to PriceFinder. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/43da3f81-1df2-41c2-9179-2a647d45965a/r0_158_3681_2238_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news When Dr Peter Evans retired earlier than expected in 2015, the Canberra man says he "had a bit of a panic attack". Three years on, the 62-year-old thinks retirement is "the best thing ever" after writing himself into history as part of the first ever paramotor flight from the lowest point in Australia to the country's highest peak. Dr Evans and five other pilots and instructors took off from 49 feet below sea level at Lake Eyre to start their expedition on May 21, flying on all but one day for two weeks as they made their way to the Mt Kosciuszko summit, 7310 feet above sea level. Each of the pilots flew backpack motorised fan aircraft - paragliders combined with a small two-stroke engine that powers a propeller - as they ventured through Australia's harshest climates en route from the outback to the alps. The group spent a total of 18 hours in the air, reaching ground speaks of up to 100 km/h and persevering through unexpected problems like turbulence and strong winds that briefly forced them out of the sky in the Flinders Rangers. While Dr Evans had to land shy of the Mt Kosciuszko peak because of engine trouble on the final leg, he said he was still thrilled with his efforts and happy his fellow pilots got to experience the view from the top. "We flew over some amazingly diverse land," Dr Evans said. "Without doubt, the highlight for me was seeing the salt-encrusted shores of Lake Eyre, passing the Flinders Ranges and then seeing the agricultural land and the Snowy Mountains as we got closer to Kosciuszko." The changing scenery also brought ever-changing conditions, with the group experiencing both extremes of Australia's harsh climate after crossing the outback en route to the alps. "When we started, we typically wore a layer of thermals and various wind jackets," Dr Evans said. "We'd doubled most of our clothing by the time we reached 'Kozzie', and some of us even had on a down jacket." Dr Evans described the experience as an emotional rollercoaster, but he can't wait to do it all again. Next year, he and his fellow pilots plan to fly along the Murray River. "There's just nothing better," he said of flying. Dr Evans encouraged anyone interested in becoming a paramotor pilot to visit the Hang Gliding Federation of Australia website. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/3f0f77ef-daa4-429a-9465-602fc74612b5/r9_0_1636_919_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news Here are two oppositional forces at work: the governor of the Reserve Bank Philip Lowe with a reprise of the song he has been singing since last year; and the latest round of cut to penalty rates which begins on July 1. What's he singing? He's singing Pink Floyd's Another Brick in the Wall, an anthem about alienation. Not exactly. He is a bit too reserved (ahem) for that. But the themes are more or less the same. We need higher wage growth for a happier Australia (yeah, I'm paraphrasing but only a little). Lowe is a bloke with a renowned moral compass someone who always tries to do the right thing. But his campaign on stronger wage growth is not, at face value, about what is right morally. It is about how we can keep the economy growing. The more we earn, the more we have to spend. Same as it always was. Yet bigger wage growth also may have another benefit - it might be, indirectly, about how we can have a more harmonious society. We have seen what happens in both the UK and the US when inequality skyrockets. Perhaps Lowe is warning of what is to come. He is telling businesses we want a society where everyone can have a fair share otherwise we will have the chaos of elsewhere. On Wednesday, he spoke at an Australian Industry Group event and said that the lack of wage growth is chipping away at Australia's "sense of shared prosperity". What that really means is that the pressures we all have, to deal with bigger bills and a stagnant pool out of which to pay those bills, makes us resentful. As Lowe pointed out and has highlighted on a number of occasions - there are lots of reasons for slow or non-existent wage growth: a decline in the bargaining power of workers (read, shrinking union membership), an increase in the global supply of workers (which may mean they undercut costs because they work offshore) and businesses which haven't capitalised on technological change, focusing on controlling labour costs. As he said: "This cost-control mentality does not make for an environment where firms are willing to pay larger wage increases." These are all the reasons. But come Sunday fortnight, there will be another one: a further cut to penalty rates. Why are penalty rates being cut again? The decision last year by the Fair Work Commission meant that cuts to penalty rates would be rolled out slowly. Those cuts were really the result of heavy-duty campaigning by business, big and small; based on the concept that cuts to penalty rates would mean increased jobs. That turned out not to be true. There was zero increase in jobs, according to research conducted by the University of Wollongong and Macquarie University. In some cases, after the 2017 cuts, some workers actually experienced a drop in the number of penalty-rate hours they worked in the first two months after the cuts were introduced. That research is about to be published in Economic Papers, the journal of the Australian Society of Economists (this turns out to be a gentle reproach for University of Canberra professor Phil Lewis, who in January this year was critical of the research. Professor Lewis represented the retail industry in hearings that led to the cuts to penalty rates). Now bigger cuts to Sunday penalty rates are coming. And Martin O'Brien, the chief investigator in that research, says he is keeping an eye on the hospitality industry and the number of jobs is actually decreasing. He too points out that it's hard to spend money on eating out when wage growth is so sluggish. I always think about those first cuts as being a taste of what is to come - penalty rates cut for the industries we don't think are important, hospitality, retail. It's a way of desensitising the electorate so when it comes to the industries which are really important, we won't be able to argue. Nurses. Aged care workers. In the meantime, wages reduce. Whatever argument employers might make about an increase in jobs or at least in hours has been disproved by the research. But research doesn't usually make a big impact on the electorate. We have five by-elections coming up and now we have the knowledge that the ACTU is campaigning hard on the cuts to penalty rates in those electorates. I have no idea who will win those by-elections but it's a ground war and the unions have shown how good they are at rolling out the troops in the run up to any election. They will summon up everyone who has ever been in a union, whether they are members of the Labor Party or not, to get out and doorknock. And they will have one rather terrifying piece of evidence. Here's what a permanent retail worker on Level 1 wages who worked eight hours each day from last Saturday to Monday would have received $1,018 in her pay packet, according to ACTU calculations. The next pay after July 1 for the same hours on the same days? A reduction of $132. From the same date, Malcolm Turnbull will get a pay rise of more than $200 a week. Philip Lowe wants shared prosperity. Instead, business is backing its workers into shared poverty. Jenna Price is a Fairfax columnist and an academic at the University of Technology Sydney. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/56d1c05c-bc1c-4924-860a-3b6cf3c25128/r0_133_2000_1263_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, act-politics Canberra will get its first look at the city's new rehabilitation hospital on Saturday, but unions will be trying to ruin the government's party. The University of Canberra Rehabilitation Hospital will streamline the ACT's rehabilitation services in one new facility. It includes specially designed features to support recovery, including a hydrotherapy pool, rehabilitation courtyards, gymnasiums and kitchens. At full capacity, it will have 140 overnight inpatient beds, 75-day places and additional outpatient services The facility is hosting an open day for the public today in the lead-up to the first patients being admitted in mid-July. But worryingly for unions almost all non clinical roles - including cleaners, food services, wardspersons, security, administration and cleaners - will be filled by external contractors and not ACT Health staff. The hospital's bosses deny this will have any impact on patients' experiences but unions insist it will lead to poorer wages and conditions for staff and poorer provision of services for patients. United Voice secretary Lyndal Ryan accused the Labor government of being hypocritical for slamming conservative governments for wage freezes but allowing low paid workers to lose rights. United Voice will lead a protest at the open day today urging the government to properly fund workers' contracts. Ms Ryan said the use of contractors and the underfunding of the contacts by government meant workers would be paid less than their public counterparts at The Canberra Hospital. "Those wages are so low they cannot afford health care," she said. "They won't be able to afford dental care, get tests done, we've got members who aren't even able to get prescriptions filled. "[The government] wants to suck up the glory of opening up new hospital to attract positive meda without taking any responsibility for staff to deliver the service." Executive director of commissioning at the hospital Linda Kohlhagen said she hoped the unprecedented level of contractors would not affect patient care. "We have integrated and involved our service providers in our training programs," she said. "We are committed to working collaboratively together so patients won't feel any different." She said the hospital would lead to better and more convenient services for rehabilitation patients. "For example at the moment if you've had a stroke, you have occupational therapy in the community but then if you need to see a neuropsychologist those services are at Canberra Hospital," Ms Kohlhagen said. "By bringing them all together it will be a more comprehensive approach and hopefully less travelling." Director of Allied Health, Rehabilitation, Aged and Community Care Todd Kaye said brining all rehabilitation staff and services under one roof was exciting. "I think patients will be appreciate that it's been specifically designed for sub acute care," he said. "There's a noticeable difference between what's in the new facility and what's at Canberra Hospital." The new hospital will see mental health rehabilitation beds transferred from Brian Hennessy House to the campus. Operations director for specialty mental health David Jackson-Hope said the hospital would allow for more individualised care plans and access to more staff. It will include art therapy, the ability to teach life skills such as cooking and work towards integration back into the community. "Were very excited from a mental health point of view because we can provide targeted mental health intervention." /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/02fed052-c868-4e90-8a61-1266390061fa/r0_109_2000_1239_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news Arts Minister Mitch Fifield has backed the National Gallery of Australia after an audit report said it had cash flow issues and was in a "high risk" financial position. The report found that financial management at the gallery was negatively affecting the way it manages its collections, with urgent repairs required to protect works from water leaks that occur when it rains. The government "welcomed" the report, a spokeswoman for the Arts minister said, acknowledging that there were areas where change was needed at the gallery. "The NGA has accepted the findings of the report that there are improvements to be made in its management of the National Collection," the spokeswoman said. "The government is confident that the NGA Council and management will move quickly to address the issues raised by the report." The report shone a light on governance and finance issues at the gallery, revealing that solvency was added to the institution's risk register as a "major risk" in February this year. However the gallery denied the severity of this, with Assistant Director Adam Worrall saying "there has never been any issue with solvency in relation to the gallery". The spokeswoman for the minister said the gallery's financial position was in good shape. "The NGA has been working hard over a number of years to improve its financial position. It reported a solid financial position for the 2017-18 financial year, reporting an operational cash surplus." The minister's office did not respond to the audit's finding that government funding specifically for acquiring new works had instead been spent on operating costs at the gallery. The report had found that instances of damage had increased, and that during the heavy rain of February this year "major water leaks ... put over 30 works of arts at risk of damage," and that one piece was affected by water damage. The first instalment of the $21.5 million promised in the federal budget to repair the gallery's heritage-listed building is $5 million and will be paid in this financial year. The government is also confident that the gallery is working to ensure that all works are cared for and stored safely. "The NGAs responses to the reports recommendations outline numerous measures that are already underway at the Gallery to address the best possible care for the National Collection." Labor member for Canberra and deputy chair of the inquiry into Canberra's national institutions Gai Brodtmann said government funding cuts were affecting the way national institutions were conserving and preserving history. "It is only by properly funding our national institutions that we retain the skilled and expert people we need to maintain and collate our national collection," Ms Brodtmann said. Parliament is "well overdue" to take another look at the way national institutions are operating, Ms Brodtmann said, committing to ask both the National Gallery and the Australian War Memorial about the recommendations made in the audit report when the inquiry holds its first hearing next week. "Im particularly keen to pursue the governance issues around financial management, collection management, reporting and Key Performance Indicators." /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/7e222d55-0a07-4547-b59a-ee8c5a9aaaea/r0_622_1921_1707_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg Yes, the decision belongs on the local level No, no one should be able to dictate whether people wear masks Vote View Results Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has released an employment notification calling out for aspirants to apply for the post of Executive Director. 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 80000. The last date to apply for the government job is July 24, 2018. ISRO Recruitment 2018 For Consultants BSNL Recruitment 2018 Vacancy Details CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Post Executive Director Organisation Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) Educational Qualification Engineering graduate from a recognised university Age Limit Applicants should have at least 2 years of service left before superannuation Skills Required Managerial skills Salary Scale INR 62000 to INR 80000 Job Location India Job Responsibilities Co-ordination, monitoring and formulation of strategies for the company Industry Telecommunication Experience 5 years Contract Period 5 years Application Start Date June 7, 2018 Application End Date July 24, 2018 Also Read: Indian Railways Recruitment 2018: RVNL Is Hiring Managers How To Apply For BSNL Recruitment 2018 In order to apply for BSNL Recruitment 2018, follow these steps: Step 1: Log on to the BSNL official website. Step 2: Under HRD, click on the link that reads Jobs. Step 3: The list of recruitments will be displayed on the screen. Step 4: Click on the link to apply for Executive Director. Step 5: The detailed advertisement will be displayed on the screen. Read the details carefully. Step 6: Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the application form. Step 7: Save it to your computer and take a printout of the application form. Enter your details in the fields provided. Step 8: Send your applications to BSNL. BSNL Recruitment 2018 Application Format And Mailing Address Superscribe on the envelope, "Application for the post of Executive Director (*name of the department*) and send it to: Manoj Kumar Chawla, AGM (Rectt.- III), BSNLCorporate Office, Room No. 222, Eastern Court, Janpath, New Delhi-110001. Click here to read the detailed official notification. Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (RVUNL) has released an employment notification calling out for aspirants to apply for the post of Assistant Engineer in State Power Companies of Rajasthan. 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 56100. The last date to apply for the government job is July 2, 2018. Indian Railways Recruitment 2018: RVNL Is Hiring Managers RVUNL Recruitment 2018 Vacancy Details CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Post Assistant Engineer Organisation Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (RVUNL) Educational Qualification Graduate or postgraduate degree in engineering Age Limit 21 to 40 years Skills Required Engineering skills Salary Scale INR 39300 to INR 56100 Job Location Rajasthan Industry Engineering Experience Freshers can apply Application Start Date June 12, 2018 Application End Date July 2, 2018 Also Read: ISRO Recruitment 2018 For Consultants How To Apply For RVUNL Recruitment 2018 In order to apply for RVUNL Recruitment 2018, follow these steps: Step 1: Log on to RVUNL official website. Step 2: Click on the link that reads, Apply Online against Detailed Advertisement for the posts of Assistant Engineer. Step 3: You will be directed to IBPS page. Click on the button that reads, Click here for New Registration. Step 4: A pop-up about important instructions will be displayed on the screen. Read it carefully and click CONTINUE. Step 5: The registration form will be displayed on the screen. Enter your details in the fields provided. Step 6: Enter the captcha code. Step 7: Click Save & Next. Step 8: Upload your photo and signature. Step 9: Enter your details again and preview the form. Step 10: Pay the fees and complete the application process. Click here to read the detailed official notification. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released an employment notification calling out aspirants to apply for the post of Consultant. 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 31000. The last date to apply for the government job is June 30, 2018. UPSC Calendar 2019 Released: Check The Civil Services Exam Dates Now! UPSC Recruitment 2018 Vacancy Details CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Consultant Organisation Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Educational Qualification Graduate in any field Experience Must have worked as a section officer in government department Job Responsibilities Supervisory functions Skills Required Computer knowledge Job Location India Salary Scale INR 31000 Industry Civil services Application Start Date June 8, 2018 Application End Date June 30, 2018 Maximum Age Limit: 62 years Office Time: 9.30 am to 6 pm Also Read: UPSC Recruitment 2018 For 71 Vacancies: Apply Before June 28! How To Apply For UPSC Recruitment 2018 In order to apply for UPSC Recruitment 2018, follow these steps: Step 1: Log on to the UPSC official website. Step 2:Under the What's New section, click on the sideways scrolling link that reads, Engagement of Consultants at Section Officer Level in the Office of UPSC. Step 3: The detailed advertisement will be displayed on the screen. Read the details carefully. Step 4: Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the application form. Step 5: Save it to your computer and take a printout of it. Step 6: Enter your details in the fields provided. Step 7: Send the application to UPSC. UPSC Recruitment 2018 Application Process And Mailing Address Superscribe on the envelope, "Application for the post of Consultant" and send it to: Under Secretary (Admin), R.No. 216/ab, Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi - 110069. Click here to read the detailed official notification. It was many years before that all the data of a company would be stored in registers and notebooks which were kept in safe lockers. However, that never proved a reliable option since breaking a locker doesn't require a brilliant professional. However, breaking the security of a digital storage platform does. After years of research and coding techniques optimisation, humans have reached a level where they can store possibly anything in a digital safe. May it be digitised lockers or highly secured hard drives and online storage engines, you can place all your important files and multimedia data safe with a password and access restrictions. On contrary, the time we spend in securing information, the same time and efforts are invested by bluffs and hackers in learning different ways to break them. This security threat to digitised data gave relentless demand to cyber security engineers and professionals - people who look after keeping the online data defended. Scope For A Cyber Security Professional Since the world has already rapidly moved towards digital ecosystem, the threats which follow companies also exist in the digital form. The data of companies, media houses and government organisations are stored on their online hosting websites and people who are experts in hacking can easily fetch this data. In various sectors, the duties of lower and medium-level engineers are being carried out by computing systems which have lowered their demand. But, when it comes to cyber security, it is believed that no other artificial or computerised security set-up can replace the expertise of a human being. For the same reason, the demand of cyber security engineers and managers has grown to a certain level that they directly consult with the board members of the companies. There are countless openings for professionals with proficiency in cyber security but the lack of people with the required knowledge has still left many places vacant. Talking about the payouts of cyber security experts in reputed firms, the annual salary offered to a cyber security professional, in the early stages, is around Rs 4 to 5 lakhs as opposed to the Rs 2.5 to 4 lakhs per annum package of engineering graduates in other segments. The sector has seen around 25 to 35 % rise in the package schemes in the last few years of digitisation, which has made experienced people end up with an annual salary of Rs 2 to 4 crore. Courses In The Cyber Security Domain Once you have passed your 12th exams, you can pursue a bachelor's degree dedicated to cyber security which includes a BTech in cyber security and forensics, which could be followed by a postgraduate degree in the same field or a postgraduate diploma in cyber security, an MTech in cyber security or an ME/MTech in information security. If you pursue any other computer-oriented degree, may it be graduate or postgraduate programs, such as BE/BTech in information technology or ME/MTech in information technology, then you can do certifications related to the domain in question and they are: Certified Information Systems Manager (CISM) Certified Information Security Auditor (CISA) Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) CompTIA Security+ A career in cyber security could be one of the most promising professions as the demand is set to rise relentlessly. It is not limited to only a single sector, say IT, but every other industry requires its data to be protected and they are ready to pay costs as per demand. Some people have an affinity for the place they live in. These people are the ones who do not usually get noticed as they are very particular about where they go and are usually the ones who are conscious about human behaviour towards the atmosphere and leave no stone unturned to ensure utmost care is being taken of Mother Nature. However, these people are exceptionally smart and they have a natural affinity for science and maths. If you find the aforementioned paragraph relatable and are thinking about making a career choice at the moment, then being a meteorologist is something that you can consider. Most of us are well aware that the study of the atmosphere is known as meteorology. This is achieved by using maths and physics to predict the climate and the weather (of either a particular place or an entire area). The effect of these atmospheric conditions on us humans (and that of other living and nonliving beings on earth) is something that is studied by meteorologists. This article talks in details about how you can make a career out of meteorology. Educational Background This is clearly a subject of core science and students interested to pursue this must have a background in the same at their +2 level. Ideally, in order to become a meteorologist you need to have an undergraduate degree in fields related to that of atmospheric phenomena (like that of atmospheric science). Those with a degree in physics, geoscience or chemistry are also welcomed. In some places, people with a degree in mathematics or computer programming are eligible to apply for some meteorology-related positions. Following the bachelor's degree, one can opt to pursue a postgraduate degree and there are quite a number of universities across the country that offer such courses. There are quite a number of job opportunities in this field that are with respect to research-oriented positions. To be eligible for those, one needs to have a PhD in this field. Type Of Jobs There are a number of weather stations across the country, all of which require trained meteorologists for their day-to-day functioning. Most of the work of these people is restricted to the indoor environment wherein they work in closed laboratories and come up with results. Once in a while, they might have to do outdoor work as well. Other than this, there are government jobs wherein researchers are hired to collect data, infer that and then broadcast meteorological data either from the field or an indoor station. Talking of the private sector, it is possible for meteorologists to find jobs in television stations, airlines and in consulting firms. Forensic Meteorologists It is a well-established fact that weather can play a role in an accident, fire or any other form of natural mishap. The job role of a forensic meteorologist is to investigate the accident and give us information of the weather at specific points of time in the recent past. By having knowledge of this, it is easier to arrive at a logical conclusion for some criminal situations. That is why forensic meteorologists are capable of testifying in front of the law. Climatologists Unlike forensic meteorologists, the task of these people is to understand long-term weather patterns by studying the history of the climate. Study of things like global warming and greenhouse effect are under the jurisdiction of such people. Climatologists are the people who are most likely to land with jobs as teachers and professors in colleges and universities. Climatologists who study prehistoric climatic conditions are known as palaeoclimatologist. Much of what we know about our past may be attributed to the fieldwork and research of such people. Atmospheric Researchers These people study how the earth's waters are directly linked to that of the atmosphere and how preservation of one is necessary for safekeeping of the other resources. Thus, atmospheric researchers are often seen working with hydrologists, oceanographers, environmental scientists and physicists in order to interpret data. Once the data has been interpreted by the entire panel of experts, the outcome is collaborated and subsequently the same is applied in order to preserve the natural resources and ensure that minimal harm is caused to them. Thus, atmospheric researchers have a major role to play in order to make the earth a better place to live in. Weather Forecasters All of us have seen a weather forecaster telling the weather on TV at some point or the other. These people are meteorologists who have been trained for this particular purpose. Their job roles include using sophisticated computer models and collecting data from around the globe. The same is then tailored to predict the weather of a particular place. Other than the weather forecasters that we see on TV, there are hundreds of others who work behind the scenes and are employed in a number of agencies under the government of India. Job Demand As of now there is a shortage of professionals in this field and that is why people with proper educational qualifications are seen landing with jobs here. As per experts, the industry will be growing at an expected rate of 10% and by 2022 there will be an additional 1,100 jobs in this industry. Most of these jobs will be highly paid ones from the private sector. Work Schedule It is important to note that the weather is something that keeps on changing round the clock for the entire year. Thus, there is a need to monitor the same. That is why most entry-level jobs in this field find people working in shifts. These people often have to work on weekends and holidays as well. For senior-level jobs, the schedule is more regular and they are seen to work typical nine-hour shifts. Meteorological researchers often find themselves working long and extended shifts when the project so demands. Engineering aspirants might be busy at this moment with the registration and choice filling for JoSAA counselling . During the choice filling process, they might have come across with various bachelor's degrees though the course content looks similar. One of the most important questions that strikes the mind is the difference between BE and BTech. The better way to understand this question is with the difference between university and institute. The university which usually offers degrees in various fields such as arts, business and science along with engineering names the degree as BE (Bachelor of Engineering). While coming to BTech (Bachelor of Technology), institutes that offer only the professional courses in engineering name the program as BTech. Apart from the nomenclature, there are a few key differences between both the courses. Let's discuss them in detail. Top 10 Unique Engineering Courses You Can Pursue BE (Bachelor Of Engineering) This course talks about the basic concepts and fundamentals of theoretical knowledge. It focuses more on internships and industrial visits. The course will not be updated frequently. The universities that offer other degrees such as science and arts along with engineering name it as BE. Some of the popular universities are BITS Pilani and Anna University. BTech (Bachelor Of Technology) BTech is a skill-oriented course and students will witness the practical applications rather than theoretical aspects. As the course is focused on the practical application, it will be up to date. Institutes such as IITs and NITs that offer only degrees in engineering name the program as BTech. Similarities Between BE And BTech After going through the above discussion, aspirants might've found that there is a difference between both the courses. Frankly, the nomenclature and approach of the course will be a little bit different. Other than this, both the courses are equal in India. Both BE and BTech are for four years and follow the same semester pattern. A total of eight semesters are conducted in a duration of four years. However, there is a difference in practicals which varies from one institute to the other. Many students might raise a doubt regarding the recognition of the courses. All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), which was set up as a national-level Apex Advisory Body to conduct a survey on the facilities available for technical education, has clearly stated that it provides equal recognition to both BTech and BE. The approach of the courses are different as discussed above; however, the core-subject will be more or less same for both. And both have the equal career opportunities and future in the engineering market. For instance, both BE and BTech candidates can apply for the vacancies in the UPSC. When it comes to opportunities abroad, such as in Saudi Arabia and Australia, BE degree holders enjoy an added advantage under some categories. However, this will be vice versa in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom. On the whole, there is not a lot of difference between BE and BTech. Budding engineers are suggested to think more about the college and branch. As the JoSAA counselling is going on, students are advised to focus on the institutes' infrastructure and campus placement scene besides the faculty. How Engineering Students Should Take Advantage In The SBI PO Preparation Photo: CTV Two young girls were shot in a Scarborough housing complex Thursday. Two young girls, ages five and nine, were shot Thursday evening while on a playground in a residential area in Toronto's east end. Toronto paramedics said they received a call about a shooting around 5 p.m. and rushed the girls to a trauma centre. Deputy Cmdr. Steve Henderson said one of the girls had serious injuries that could be life-threatening, while the other suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders told reporters Thursday night that the five-year-old girl was in critical condition and undergoing surgery, and the nine-year-old would also require surgery. Saunders said some "cowards" came into the neighbourhood and opened fire on the playground, though it's not believed the girls were the intended targets. "I can tell you that we are putting every resource on this to make sure we apprehend the person who would be motivated to do something like this in the city of Toronto," he said. "We will be taking aggressive action toward resolving this particular investigation." Officers canvassed the area for a suspect and collected footage from security cameras, Saunders said. Police have not provided descriptions for any possible suspects or suspect vehicles wanted in connection with the incident. Meanwhile, Ontario premier-designate Doug Ford said on Twitter that he was aware of the incident. "My thoughts and prayers are with them and their families," Ford said. "I will be monitoring the situation closely." Anyone with further information is asked to contact police. Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. No evil shall befall you, nor shall affliction come near your tent, for to His Angels God has given command about you, that they guard you in all your ways. Upon their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. Psalm 91: 10-12 A heavenly spirit assigned by God to watch over each of us during our lives. The doctrine of angels is part of the Church's tradition. The role of the guardian angel is both to guide us to good thoughts, works and words, and to preserve us from evil. Since the 17th century the Church has celebrated a feast honoring them in October throughout the Universal Church. Since the last calendar revision this feast is Oct 2. He has charged His angels with the ministry of watching and safeguarding every one of His creatures that behold not His face. Kingdoms have their angels assigned to them, and men have their angels; these latter it is to whom religion designates the Holy Guardian Angels. Our Lord says in the Gospel, "Beware lest ye scandalize any of these little ones, for their angels in heaven see the face of My Father." The existence of Guardian Angels, is, hence a dogma of the Christian faith: this being so, what ought not our respect be for that sure and holy intelligence that is ever present at our side; and how great our solicitude be, lest, by any act of ours, we offend those eyes which are ever bent upon us in all our ways! Prayers to our Guardian Angels Sino-Zimbabwe Cement announces plan to build homes 15 June 2018 Sino-Zimbabwe Cement Co (SZCC) plans to construct 300 houses at its Indiva Farm facility, Gweru, Zimbabwe. The company stated that the housing project will depend on the completion of a brick and tile plant which is also being constructed near the plant, according to Nehanda Radio. "We want to construct staff houses for our employees but our focus is to ensure that we cut costs by taking advantage of the products we produce at the company. For instance, we want to ensure that we complete the brick and tile project and once we do that we use the bricks, tiles and cement we manufacture and channel it towards the housing projects," said Yong Wang, managing director, SZCC. Published under Council pulls out of Holcim Westport purchase 15 June 2018 The Buller District Council has reneged on a US$5m plan to buy Holcim cement assets and land on the West Coast. The assets include a water supply and treatment plant, a quarry, land, silos and a packing plant in Westport, Cape Foulwind and Tauranga Bay, New Zealand. Westport lost over 100 jobs when the company closed its cement works in 2016, after 58 years of operation. Mayor Garry Howard said the council had been in negotiations for more than a year on the more than US$5m deal. "We had agreed on a purchase price and put that into our long term plan, and which was consulted on," Mr Howard said. RNZ reported that Mr Howard said concern over the former cement manufacturing site at Cape Foulwind, and the potential for costly remediation works on the land, was a factor in the council's decision. "Being an industrial site it certainly had some challenges to be mitigated, and it was about making sure that the risks, in regard to potential contaminations, were not going to become the responsibility of the council and ratepayers." Nevertheless, Mr Howard said the council was keen to get the quarry as a source of rock for river and coastal protection and the council was continuing to work with Holcim on its exit strategy. Published under CRH receives approval to acquire Ash Grove Cement 15 June 2018 CRH Plc has received regulatory approval to acquire Ash Grove Cement Co. The US Federal Trade Commission has issued its consent order, with the US$3.5bn transaction expected to close in June 2018. CRH has agreed to divest assets to secure antitrust approval for the deal. As a result, the company will sell a cement plant and quarry in Montana, sand and gravel pits in Nebraska and four facilities (two limestone quarries and two asphalt plants) in Kansas, according to Reuters. Published under The 2018 G7 summit of world leaders in Canada was certainly packed with moments of drama from President Donald Trumps refusal to sign the groups joint statement to his angry tweets after leaving. Here are eight explosive G7 situations that left some reeling and others cheering. See a photo that captured a tense moment (page 5) and what Trump said about Justin Trudeau that got Canadians so mad (page 7). 1. Trump refused to sign the joint statement He cited Canadas massive tariffs to our US farmers. While he initially appeared to endorse the joint G7 statement signed by Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the U.K., Trump ultimately rejected the agreement. The groups communique vowed to fight back against protectionism and pledged to follow established trade rules. Trump said his decision was due to false statements from Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau. Why the about face? Trudeau referred to possible retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. in his post-summit news conference. Based on Justins false statements at his news conference, and the fact that Canada is charging massive tariffs to our US farmers, workers and companies, I have instructed our US reps not to endorse the communique, Trump tweeted. Next: Why Trump tweeted that change is coming 2. He tweeted more angry comments He referred to Americas unfair $800 billion trade deficit. Among Trumps statements on Twitter: Fair trade is now to be called fool trade if it is not reciprocal. Why should I, as president of the United State, allow countries to continue to make massive trade surpluses, as they have for decades, while our farmers, workers & taxpayers have such a big and unfair price to pay? The U.S. pays close to the entire cost of NATO protecting many of these same countries that rip us off on trade (they pay only a fraction of the cost and laugh!) Germany pays 1 percent (slowly) of GDP towards NATO, while we pay 4 percent of a much larger GDP. Does anybody believe that makes sense? We protect Europe (which is good) at great financial loss, and then get unfairly clobbered on trade. Change is coming! Next: Which summit meetings Trump skipped 3. He arrived late and left early He missed group meetings as a result. Trump arrived late to a morning G7 gathering focused on gender diversity. The meeting started without him. Later that same day, he left the Quebec summit four hours early, before the group discussed climate change and the health of oceans. In departing early, he also missed the other countries closing news conferences. The president boarded Air Force One and headed straight to Singapore, bound for his high-stakes summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Next: His controversial proposal regarding Russia 4. Trump tried to get Russia back in He told reporters he was open to reinstating Russias participation in the G7. Before Trump headed to the G7 summit, he suggested the possibility of Russia re-joining the G7 group of countries. Russia was suspended from the group after it invaded Ukraine and forcefully annexed Crimea in 2014. It was the first violation of European borders since world War II. Trudeau said he told Trump that asking Russia to rejoin the G7 is not something we are even remotely looking at. German Chancellor Angela Merkel also said the consensus was not to let Russia back into the G7. Next: See the photo that revealed drama. 5. The photo seen around the world German Chancellor Angela Merkels spokesman tweeted a much talked-about photo from the summit: Trump sits with his arms crossed while Merkel leans toward him, hands on a table. Macron engages Trump, while Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe looks resigned with arms folded. A diplomat who was present later told CNN the photo captured an argument on the trade section of the communique. Trump convinced the others to remove the World Trade Organizations name from the document and to include wording on reciprocal trade, the source said. Next: The rift with Macron 6. What he said about Macron Trump charged Macron with imposing massive tariffs and non-monetary barriers on America. The two shook hands roughly, leaving a pale thumbprint on Trumps hand. Prior to the summit, Trump accused Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron on Twitter of charging America massive tariffs and creating non-monetary barriers, adding, Looking forward to seeing them tomorrow. Trump arrived too late for a scheduled meeting with Macron the first day of the summit. The two met the following day. After the summit, without naming names, Macron said anyone who departed from the communiques commitments after leaving showed incoherence and inconsistency. He issued a statement that said, International cooperation cannot depend on fits of anger or little words. Let us be serious and worthy of our people. Next: See why Trump called Trudeau weak. 7. He called Trudeau dishonest and weak Trump make the remarks after Trudeau talked of the possibility of imposing retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. Trump tweeted incendiary remarks on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Justin acts hurt when called out! the president tweeted. On Saturday, he called the Canadian prime minister very dishonest and weak. The Toronto Star newspaper responded to Trumps remarks in an editorial: He sulked his way through the first part of the meeting, gave his delegation the OK to sign the summits pallid final communique, then threw a hissy fit and tore it up as soon as he was back on Air Force One It was both dishonest and amateurish. Next: How Trump surprisingly rated the summit 8. He rated the summit a 10 out of 10 He said the gig is up on unfair trade. At an impromptu press conference before he left Quebec, reporters asked the president about frustrations between him and the likes of Macron and Trudeau. He responded he would rate his personal relationship with fellow leaders a 10 out of 10, despite the disagreements. He called reports of rifts fake news. However, he said current leaders like Trudeau now know that the gig is up on unfair trade deficits with the U.S. Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! North Korean President Kim Jong Un keeps a close watch over the media in his country in fact, he actually controls a lot of what the citizens know about the outside world. As much as Kim tries to convince the world that North Korea is a bastion of nuclear power and military life, daily life for its citizens is nothing short of grim. Click through these photos to see how bad the population in North Korea fares under a government that controls most aspects of life. 1. Children are used for forced labor Childhood in North Korea can be difficult, according to Business Insider. Rural families typically put their children to work on farms, railway tracks, and construction and forestry sites. Children with parents who are being punished for their perceived crimes also take their children with them to work in brutal labor camps. In fact, forced labor drives much of the North Koreas economic output. Next: Hungry kids 2. Children are hungry A shocking number of North Korean children are malnourished, according to Business Insider. Sadly, around 28% of children in North Korea under five have stunted growth. According to Reuters, around 60,000 children in the country face potential starvation, and international sanctions are making matters worse by slowing aid deliveries. Diarrhoea related to poor sanitation and hygiene and acute malnutrition remains a leading cause of death among young children, stated UNICEF. Next: Begging in the streets 3. People in rural areas are begging for money on the streets Getty photographer Xiaolu Chu traveled through North Korea by train in 2015, where he noticed an inordinate number of people including children begging for money. Because they cant always get rice to eat or millet or potatoes those in rural areas are often forced to resort to begging for money to buy food. Although the situation isnt as bad as the famine that occurred in North Korea in the mid-1990s, there is still a serious shortage of food in North Korea, particularly for those who live in the country. Next: City living 4. Living in the city isnt so great, either You might think that North Korean city dwellers have a better quality of life, but not always. Although there is typically more food available in North Korean cities, the living conditions are often poor, according to Business Insider. Many live in densely packed, high-rise apartments, where electricity shortages and elevator breakdowns are everyday occurrences. Next: A mighty force 5. North Korean military Kim Jong Un is proud of his countrys military and often boasts about it. He also loves to stage flashy military parades, during which he distributes propaganda photos of huge armies. And, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, North Korea is a grave security threat worldwide. The country spends almost a quarter of its gross domestic product on its military, and it has an impressive stockpile of nuclear weapons. Next: The flip side of military life 5. North Korea soldiers are starving North Koreas military might be vast, but its soldiers are often malnourished. Rigorous training combined with a lack of food does not make for a mighty military. According to the Sunday Express, many of the 1.2 million troops are in very poor condition. When the communist regime ordered the military to acquire its own food supplies, soldiers began looting farms to feed themselves, raiding fields at night. Next: Proof positive 6. Proof that soldiers really are starving When a soldier defected to South Korea in 2017, he ran across the demilitarized zone while his fellow soldiers shot at him, according to the Sunday Express. He was shot five times but survived. The surgeon found he had hepatitis B and tuberculosis, in addition to parasites. Everything was stained with blood, but the parasite was basically a really white color and this thick, big, long and very, very hard, this kind of thing was getting out from his bowel system, said surgeon Lee Cook-jong. Next: No internet? 7. Internet access is scarce in North Korea North Koreans dont have much access to the internet, according to Business Insider. Closed-off computer network systems are the only kinds available, and they exist only in a few places, such as in major citys libraries. North Koreans are able to access only around 30 websites, many of which are filled with propaganda. Koreas main newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, has a website that includes a dedicated section called Supreme Leaders Activities, which details what Kim Jong Un is up to each day. Next: Horrifying conditions 8. North Korean prison camps are ghastly The prison camps in North Korea are notorious for being appalling, according the Independent. In fact, the conditions have been compared with Nazi camps. Inmates face beatings, executions, starvation, and rape. Perhaps the worst aspect of the prison camps is that citizens have been sent to them for minor infractions that wouldnt even be considered crimes in other countries. Next: Another successful defector 10. Ji Seong-ho managed to defect Ji Seong-ho, who attended President Donald Trumps State of the Union speech in January 2018, escaped from North Korea in 2006, crossing the freezing Tumen river at night to get to South Korea. When he was 13, he was searching for coal to exchange for food and lost his left hand and his left foot in a train accident. He went through a 4.5-hour surgery afterward with no anesthetic. Since then, he has been a fervent champion of human rights. Read more: The Terrifying Truth Behind What Its Really Like to Be an American Hostage in North Korea Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! Theres a reason the U.S. allocates so much money toward volcano monitoring. America is home to 169 hazardous volcanoes poised to erupt at any minute. When Hawaiis Kilauea volcano began spewing hot lava on the Big Island in May, the state sprung into response mode. Little did they know the volcano would continue to threaten resides with two months worth (so far) of relentless eruptions and devastating lava flows. This volcanic eruption is no small matter, as Kilauea is quickly becoming a very costly natural disaster. The money toll keeps climbing as hundreds of homes are destroyed and lives are put in danger. Follow along to see just how much money Hawaii has lost as a result of this volcano. Minor eruptions produce major losses The cost of volcanic eruptions usually amount to millions in lost revenue Volcanic eruptions may seem cool from a scientific perspective, or even from a tourist watch tower positioned a safe distance away from the crater. But, historically, eruptions cost the government and residents hundreds of millions in lost revenue and repair. The 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption cost Washington roughly $363 million in clean-up and almost $1 billion in lost revenue overall. When lava flows from Kilauea first obliterated 3,000 acres of land and crops in 1955, the state lost more than $1.8 million (1955 dollars) when considering the damage done to livestock, buildings, and the sugar and molasses crop. Now, in 2018, Kilauea has erupted again. Only this time, the disruption is much, much worse. Next: The situation in Hawaii just keeps getting worse. The scary situation happening in Hawaii Lava first began spewing in May, burning down homes and oozing through the jungle. Though scientists have had their eye on the Kilauea volcano for months, it finally erupted in May, gushing lava, ash, and toxic gas on residents. The aftermath has triggered countless earthquakes some reaching dangerous magnitudes of 5.5 opening deadly volcanic fissure cracks that have swallowed homes and vehicles. Since then, the Kilauea summit has erupted without warning, engulfing a big part of the eastern area of Big Island, Hawaiis largest island. Hundreds of people in Kilaueas path have been evacuated as their homes burned and they lost everything. Recently, the lava reached Hawaiis largest freshwater lake, Green Lake, and literally boiled away the water in a matter of hours. Next: Leaving a path of desolation and destruction Homes are leveled, and air quality is sinking Kilaueas has destroyed up to 700 homes and counting Kilaueas tirade through Big Island neighborhoods has covered more than 5,000 acres and demolished up to 700 homes. Among those destroyed is the home of HawaiI County Mayor Harry Kim. While total property damage cant be accurately assessed until lava stops flowing, its now making its way toward the ocean, where lava has covered and created nearly 200 acres of new land near Kapoho Bay. Of course, debris piles arent the only thing people fear. Kilaueas eruptions are also releasing dangerous gas fumes and volcanic glass harmful to humans respiratory health. Next: Residents running from toxic gas Theres a serious health threat, too The volcano is spewing toxic gas that can irritate skin and eyes and be dangerous to the lungs. An economic setback is likely, but officials worry about an emerging health threat, as well. Kilauea is blowing smoke containing lightweight volcanic glass and sulfur dioxide gas that can irritate skin and eyes and be dangerous to lungs. Paper face mask filters commonly available to residents dont stand a chance against the gas, so health officials are evacuating people most at risk while also banning journalists from areas where lava is most active. Next: Economic repercussions are worse Popular tourist traps are noticeably vacant Eruptions and evacuations are taking a toll on Hawaiis hospitality and tourism trade The hotels and authorities attempts at reassuring guest safety on the Big Island are failing. Continuing eruptions are forcing visitors and tour operators to go elsewhere with their high-paying tenants. Cruise lines are skipping their standard calls into Hilo and Kailua-Kona, opting either remain at sea for longer or send their passengers to neighboring islands like Maui instead. The Hawaii Visitors Bureau notes that lodging and tour bookings are down 50% for May to July, which is bound to have a lasting effect on the states economy. Analysts are already putting some loss estimates together, and the numbers arent pretty. Next: How much Hawaii money stands to lose Hawaii is losing billions in tourism revenue Hawaii has lost roughly $222 million in revenue thus far and the volcano has indirectly impacted 2,000 jobs Volcano threats have driven away millions of dollars in tourism and damaged the local economy. Lodging reservations have dropped along with profitable bookings for guided hikes and tour trips. The Big Island draws almost 9 million visitors annually, many of whom arrive with plans to visit the national park now closed thanks to Kilauea. The closure is estimated to cost the state $166 million, according to the National Park Service and even more jobs. Tourism is Hawaiis largest employer and accounts for roughly 30% of private sector jobs in 2017. Total revenue losses have reached $222 million thus far, but many believe that number will only rise as eruptions continue. Next: An economic bright spot A silver lining One major tourism bump: helicopter rides Given that the volcano continues to quake, its uncertain just how devastating Kilauea will be to Hawaiis economy. There is, however, one bright spot worth noting. Helicopter lava tours are running at max speed, USA Today reports. The choppers are hot-loading new groups of passengers eager for a bird-eye view of current lava flows without ever cutting their engines. National park closures mean visitors are more apt to pay $350 per person for a helicopter tour, which the business will gladly accept. Next: Is Hawaii the only state at risk of volcanic devastation? Other volcanoes currently doing damage Scientists are monitoring active volcanoes in Oregon, Alaska, and Washington The world is watching Kilauea, but scientists warn there are other active volcanos at risk of erupting sooner rather than later and cost the economy millions. Crater Lake is one volcano people are keeping their eye on, as is Mount Rainer in Washington and Lassen Volcanic Center in California. Pending eruptions here would be volatile and level highly populated areas with little warning. Guatemalas Fuego volcano also erupted in June 2018, killing at least 62 people along the way. Indonesias Mount Merapi volcano has also been erupting since mid-May, sending plumes of smoke nearly 4 miles into the air and putting some 660 people living within the exclusion zone at risk. Follow Lauren on Twitter @la_hamer. Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! In January 2016, Mollie Shichman, a liberal Jew from Fairfax, Va., celebrated the Israeli governments decision to create the first-ever government-funded pluralistic prayer space at the southern end of the Western Wall. To me, being egalitarian is extremely important, Shichman, a college student, said of the proposed mixed-gender prayer space. But excitement turned to disappointment when, in June 2017, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backtracked on the plan due to pressure from ultra-Orthodox lawmakers. In Israel this week (June 10-13) to attend the American Jewish Committees Global Forum, Shichman, who wears a kippah (yarmulke), a head covering traditionally worn by Jewish men, recalled being accosted by an Orthodox woman at the Western Wall for what the woman considered Shichmans immodest clothing at the Western Wall plaza, a plaza behind the mens and womens prayer sections that isnt used for prayer. I was at the far end of the plaza and took off my skirt after visiting the Western Wall. I had my shorts on underneath, but she called me a goy,' Shichman said of the Hebrew word for non-Jew, which the woman hurled as an insult. It was very hurtful to me. Im just as much of a Jew as she is, Shichman said. While most Israeli Jews recognize the Jewishness of their American counterparts, the majority do not share the Americans dreams to make Israel a more religiously pluralistic country. Lack of full equality for non-Orthodox Jews in Israel over time may weaken American Jewish support for Israel, said Harriet Schleifer, chair of AJCs Board of Governors. Two parallel AJC surveys released Sunday revealed sharp differences of opinion between Jews in Israel and the U.S., and between religious and liberal Jews in both countries. Significantly, for both communities, the main factor predicting how people will respond is how they identify religiously, said AJC CEO David Harris in a statement. The more religiously observant they are on the denominational spectrum, their Jewish identity and attachment to Israel is stronger; skepticism about prospects for peace with the Palestinians higher; and support for religious pluralism in Israel weaker. Religious pluralism is a cornerstone for Jews in the U.S., where some 85 percent of the Jewish population defines itself as non-Orthodox or religiously unaffiliated, according to a 2016 survey by the Pew Research Center. In Israel, where there is no separation between religion and state and where Orthodox Judaism is the only official, government-funded religious authority, 30 percent of Israeli Jews said that non-Orthodox Judaism strengthens Jewish life in the diaspora but is irrelevant in Israel, according to the AJC surveys. A mere 26 percent of Israeli Jews thought the growth of the non-Orthodox streams in Israel can improve the countrys quality of life, compared with 43 percent of American Jews. In another noteworthy gap, a strong majority of American Jews (73 percent) favored providing a space near the Western Wall for mixed-gender prayer, while 42 percent of Israeli Jews favored it and 48 percent opposed it. A whopping 80 percent of American Jews vs. 49 percent of Israeli Jews want to end the ultra-Orthodox chief rabbinates monopoly on weddings, divorces and conversions. Steven M. Cohen, a sociologist whose work focuses on the American Jewish community, attributes the widening gaps between the worlds two largest Jewish communities to both ethnic and cultural differences. They come from very different cultures, Cohen said. Whereas most American Jews are descended from Jews from Eastern Europe, at least half of Israeli Jews trace their roots directly to the Middle East and North Africa, among other places. They tend to be more religiously conservative. Cohen said Israelis are highly innovative and pluralistic when it comes to politics, but not religion. Israeli society has more than a dozen political parties that compete for parliamentary seats, but it continues to allow only the Orthodox establishment to decide on religious matters. In the U.S., where religion and state are separate, the Reform, Conservative and Orthodox streams are on equal footing. American Jews place a much greater premium on universalism and softening group boundaries, Cohen said. Thats one of the reasons many Jews feel comfortable marrying someone of a different faith. The high rate of American Jewish intermarriage is a concern to many Orthodox Jews both in the U.S. and Israel. In his speech before the AJC this week, Naftali Bennett, Israels minister of diaspora affairs, said the assimilation and potential loss of millions of American Jews into mainstream American society fill him with fear because eventually they might not consider themselves part of the Jewish people. If theres one thing that keeps me up at night, its not Iran but the future of the Jews in America, and we have to fix this together, said Bennett, the Orthodox son of American immigrants to Israel. Jewish continuity and unity were central themes of the AJCs closing ceremony, which took place in an archaeological park at the southern end of the Western Wall. Standing next to an Israeli flag and an American flag, Dan Shapiro, an Orthodox Jew and former U.S. ambassador to Israel, cited Korach, the Torah portion Jews will read this Sabbath morning. Recalling how Korach tried to wrest control of the Israelites from Moses as they made their way from Sinai to Canaan, Shapiro said the biblical villain tried to divide the people. Disunity can lead to tragedy, Shapiro said, referring to the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E., an event the Jewish sages attributed to hatred within the Jewish community. Let us reinvigorate our relationship, he said. Let us embrace our diversity. Let us express our unconditional love for all our people. Courtesy: Religion News Service Publication date: June 15, 2018 Not many things can bring all of America together these days, but one thing that did was the charming video of Marc Daniels, the dad who danced onstage with his two-year-old daughterall while holding his baby in his armswhen she got stage fright at her recital. Its no wonder the video quickly went viral. In the midst of our current cultural confusion on the subject of masculinity, Ballerina Dad was the hero we needed. Danielss sudden popularity isnt just another cute story to entertain us for a few minutes. It signals something about what were looking for in men. And for Christians who are paying attention, it hints at something we can do about falling rates of male attendance at church. The Scandal of Masculinity The problem, for Christians, is that our cultures current view of male characteristics seems to be completely at odds with the qualities that Jesus called upon us to demonstrate. When researchers recently asked participants how well various traits described the average man or woman, those participants tended to view men as being aggressive, forceful, selfish, greedy, conceited, unemotional, shallow, and egotistical. Furthermore, they viewed men as lacking many positive traits, such as being forgiving, generous, patient, supportive, gentle, considerate, devoted, clear thinking, and fair-minded. From the #MeToo movement that was sparked by horrific stories of sexual assault to the male loneliness epidemic, we can see evidence of the fallout from our conception of manhood. And the number of scandals in the church involving sexual abuse, abuse of power, and poor treatment of marginalized groups makes it clear that the church is not immune to these problems. How should churches respond to this crisis of masculinity? How can we make church man- enough to be appealing to men without encouraging poor behavior and perpetuating negative male stereotypes? How can we shift our view of what it means to be a man to one that more closely aligns with how Jesus desires us all to live? For years, many well-meaning Christians have argued that all thats needed is for church to be less feminine, as comedian Brad Stine put it when he founded the ministry GodMen to be a space in which men can be men; raw and uninhibited; completely free to express themselves in the uniquely male way that only men understand. But the trends weve just looked at suggest that this push for raw masculinity hasnt been getting the results we hoped for. Dads Hold the Key New research suggests that one group of men might play a key role in helping us positively redefine male stereotypes: dads. University of Colorado psychologists Bernadette Park and Sarah Banchefsky found that highlighting mens role as dads led to more positive views of men than highlighting their role in the workforce. While participants viewed the typical male as aggressive, forceful, selfish, greedy, conceited, unemotional, shallow, and egotistical, they didnt use any of these negative characteristics to describe the typical dad. They also viewed dads as having positive traits they didnt see in the typical man, such as being supportive, devoted, clear-thinking, and mature. Why do we view dads so differently from men, given that dads are men? The difference is that when we focus on the role men play as dads, it changes what comes to our minds when we think of men. It reminds us that men can also be nurturing, supportive, devoted, and generous. And, when we treat men as if they are nurturing, supportive, devoted, and generous rather than aggressive, selfish, and shallow, they are more likely to be nurturing, supportive, devoted, and generous. Negative stereotypeseven subtle onescan negatively affect peoples behavior. Article continues below Importantly, focusing on the role of dads gives us a way to encourage men to develop the kinds of traits Jesus desires us to have in a way that is still appealing to men. According to a recent study from the Pew Research Center, dads are just as likely as moms to say that being a parent is central to their identity. Men are playing a more active role in parenting than in previous decades. And the public is taking notice. From Ballerina Dad to the dad who got a tattoo on his head to match his sons brain surgery scar, we applaud dads who step up for their kids in creative and loving ways. Our expanding view of dads gives us reason to be optimistic. Banchefsky and Park found that although people viewed men as having changed relatively little over the past several decades, they viewed dads as having changed a lot. The researchers argue that as fathers get more involved, this should help change stereotypes of men that, for the most part, have remained fairly stable and inflexible. Right now, men who arent dads are probably thinking, What about me? Good news: Its not just the men who are dads who benefit. The researchers found that highlighting the social role of dads led to a broader, less restrictive, and more positive view of men as an entire group. Having greater flexibility in how to be a man can help us make room for all types of men, not just those who are dads or those who like to ride motorcycles and do CrossFit. Not only can celebrating and encouraging dads help us redefine negative stereotypes and expectations of men, but the researchers also found that it can also help us avoid the negative backlash when men feel their status is threatened. In particular, they found that highlighting the role of dads made men less likely to oppose policies that benefited marginalized groups when they experienced a threat to their own status. When we shift our views of what it means to be a man to something that more closely exemplifies how Jesus instructed us all to live, everyone stands to benefit. An Opportunity for the Church In our current climate of low expectations and confusion about what it means to be a man, reflecting on the role of dads can be a helpful way forward for the church. Its not enough to get men in the doors if their lives arent changed once theyre here. The church has a real opportunity to help shift our view of what it means to be a man to one that more closely aligns with how Jesus desires us all to live. One practical way to do this is to provide opportunities for men to carry out these roles. Coordinate events for dads and their kids and encourage them to participate actively in family and youth events. Beyond that, provide opportunities for all men to mentor, teach, and coach kids who might lack male role models. Just as we often say that women who arent mothers can still exercise motherly gifts in the church, the same is true of men and fatherhood. If you want to see the true power of masculinity, just look at what happened when a middle school in South Dallas asked men to volunteer to attend a Breakfast with Dads with students who didnt have a dad who was present in their lives. They were looking for 50 volunteers. Six hundred men showed up ready to invest in those kids. Second, we can encourage fatherly roles and traits by showing that we value them in men. Instead of just talking about men in stereotypical ways, highlight the other roles men play and stress the importance of their more relational roles in their families, in the church, and in becoming more like our heavenly Father. Rather than taking jabs at dads for their parenting failures, treating them as second-class parents, or putting pressure on them to be perfect in yet another area of their life, encourage them and support them in their role. With Fathers Day approaching, this is an ideal time to have these conversations. When doing so, we need to think about more than just what it means to be a dad; we need to think about how dads can help us understand what it means to be a man. Jen Zamzow has a PhD in philosophy and cognitive science from the University of Arizona and teaches undergraduate ethics online for UCLA and Concordia University Irvine. She writes about faith and doubt, meaning, morality, and motherhood at jenzamzow.com. In 2020, we were the church on our heels. A global pandemic shut down much of our world. But the church has been on the move since it was birthed; it will continue to be on the move until God makes all things new. Trinity Western University has lost a years-long legal fight to launch what would be the only Christian law school in Canada. The Supreme Court of Canada considered a pair of appeals cases involving regional law societies that refused to accredit the Trinity Western program due to the evangelical institutions student covenant, which prohibits sex outside of traditional marriage. In Trinity Western University v. Law Society of Upper Canada and Trinity Western University v. The Law Society of British Columbia, justices sided 7-2 against TWU, calling it proportionate and reasonable to favor the rights of LGBT students over the schools religious convictions. Some legal experts say Fridays decision has essentially gutted religious freedom protections. It also quashes the future of the school, which was slated to open as early as 2019 if the ruling had been in its favor, since Canadian law schools require the approval of provincial law societies to operate. Without question, the Trinity Western community is disappointed by this ruling, said Earl Phillips, executive director of TWUs proposed law school. However, all Canadians should be troubled by todays decision that sets a precedent for how the courts will interpret and apply Charter rights and equality rights going forward. According to CBC News: The majority judgment said the covenant would deter LGBT students from attending the proposed law school, and those who did attend would be at risk of significant harm. It found the public interest of the law profession includes promoting equality by ensuring equal access, supporting diversity within the bar and preventing harm to LGBT students. In our respectful view, the [law societies] decision not to accredit Trinity Western University's proposed law school represents a proportionate balance between the limitation on the Charter right at issue and the statutory objectives the [law societies] sought to pursue, it reads. The ruling has come as a blow to Trinity Western, one of 11 universities belonging to Christian Higher Education Canada, and fellow evangelicals in Canada. Its program would have been one of just three in the country to offer special training in charity law. While many have tried to frame this case as a clash between religious freedom and equality rights, it neednt be so. Charter rights are not competitors in a zero-sum game, stated the Christian Legal Fellowship of Canada. They can be fully exercised in co-existence, as the Supreme Court recognized in the first [Trinity Western] case in 2001, when the school went before the Supreme Court to defend its teaching college against similar concerns. This is a very disappointing outcome, the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) tweeted. Societies are stronger when all people and their beliefs and the institutions they form are respected. #ChristianHigherEd changes lives for the better. This is a loss for all people of goodwill. Christians have argued that the freedom to live out their convictions and beliefs actually benefits Canadian society as a whole. Institutions ought to have the right to define aspirations that come out of deeply held values and to live them consistently in community, said Ray Pennings, head of the Christian think tank Cardus. Thats what a pluralist society looks like. Carduss law program director Andrew Bennett released a statement saying: Image: Carl Court / Getty Images US Tells Iraqi Christians Help Is on Its Way (For Real This Time) Following mounting complaints from Iraqs beleaguered Christian minoritywho are desperate for security and a chance to rebuildthe United States has doubled-down on its pledge to channel funds to the persecuted religious groups who need such resources for their communities to survive. At the direction of the White House, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) will address holdups in the process to assist Christians and Yazidis threatened by ISIS genocide. Vice President Mike Pence announced last year that the US would shift its aid to support them directly rather through the United Nations, only to realize in recent weeks that many groups in the region were still waiting for the help they were promised. The Vice President will not tolerate bureaucratic delays in implementing the Administrations vision to deliver the assistance we promised to the people we pledged to help, spokeswoman Alyssa Farah said in a statement last week, announcing that USAID administrator Mark Green would travel to Iraq to meet with local leaders. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Green wrote that despite the Trump administrations efforts to prioritize Christians and other persecuted minorities, the bureaucracy in place over the past several months still leaned on earlier thinking, such as an overreliance on the UN and an inadequate appreciation for the work accomplished by faith-based organizations. The US stands with the persecuted religious and ethnic communities of the Middle East. And the federal government wont rest until these oppressed people receive the help they need to thrive again, Green said. Thats the message I will deliver personally to Christian and Yazidi leaders when I visit Iraq this month. On behalf of President Trump, I will assure them that American assistance will soon turn from an inconsistent trickle into a steady stream. The trickle of funding so far this year had left out some major humanitarian players in the Nineveh Plains region, including Christian groups that had been involved in relief and reconstruction efforts there for years. Grant proposals by the Nineveh Reconstruction Committee and the Catholic University in Erbil, for example, had been rejected outright, leaving religious freedom advocates and officials concerned about how US funds were being used in the region. While the Catholic Church in Iraq attempts to help thousands of families resettle in villages leveled by ISIS, Archbishop Bashar Warda, leader of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Erbil, said the US assistance they had hoped for never arrived. Worse, as he told Crux, private funding dropped because donors expected the groups to receive government aid as pledged by Pence. Because the vice presidents announcement was so widely celebrated among Christian leaders and advocates for the persecuted churchrepresentatives from Knights of Columbus, Open Doors USA, the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative, and morethe news that the US failed to follow through with the assistance came as a major disappointment. For the sake of Christianitys future in Iraq, and the security of the Middle East, USAID must use whatever creativity is necessary to complete its mission and keep Mr. Pences pledge to Iraqs religious minorities, wrote Representative Chris Smith, who chairs a congressional foreign affairs subcommittee on international organizations, and national security expert Robert McFarlane. Even as Green and the administration make efforts to improve the process, questions remain over the long-term stability and future for the region, where Christianity sits on the edge of extinction due to the unrest that forced as many as 90 percent of believers to flee their historic homeland. Given the various proposed cuts to USAID and the State Department, if large amounts of money are made available this year, how are the programs that they catalyze sustainable if the next fiscal year has no money to follow-up? asked Chris Seiple, president emeritus of the Institute for Global Engagement. Will the money given leave people with higher expectations, and less results? For years, Seiple has observed the tricky balance between the desire to single out religious minorities to give them the help they need and bringing together all groups in the region to work together on peacemaking efforts. It still remains true that statistically, Muslims suffered the most at the hands of ISIS. But Yazidis and Christians suffered existentially, he told CT. So how do you do break through an international legal norm and culture for all relief and development agencies, government and NGOsto render aid in a religion-blind manner, irrespective of their beliefsto help people based on their religion? After visiting Iraq in December, he shared some of the biggest needs and areas of progress among Christians and Yazidis. While funding can help address the physical hurdles they are working to overcome, the humanitarian crisis in Nineveh is also a geopolitical one that leaders need to address with better organizational structures and unifying narratives for Iraqs most vulnerable. In other words, there can be no meaningful relief/development without immediate security, he concluded. And assuming security, there can be no enduring relief/development without consciously and constantly integrating the narrative of common citizenship and reconciliation into each and every program. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment In the face of terror attacks about 60 miles north of her ministry headquarters, mission leader Heidi Baker stands resolute in her faith, believing God's love will overcome those inspired by hate. "There have been extremists, people from another faith that have been burning village after village," she declared in a Facebook video posted June 11th. "They have been raping and murdering people and it's a very very challenging time." Since May 27th, 37 civilians have been killed by extremists in northern Mozambique, with many beheaded or hacked to death, women raped, and hundreds of homes torched. The attacks have been linked to Ansar al-Sunna, an Islamist militant group also known as al-Shabaab locally. In May, the African Union also confirmed the presence of ISIS forces in northern Mozambique. The most recent attack one week ago left six dead in the village of Namaluco, Quissanga district, Cabo Delgado, where about 200 houses were burned down, according to the Lusa news agency. The terrorists entered the village of about 2,000 people at 9:00 p.m., provoking screams and uproar. The town has no electricity or infrastructure, is accessible only by dirt road, with houses constructed by the villagers. Residents said they heard the attackers speaking Swahili and "other languages they did not recognize," according to the Lusa news report. "We are calling for prayer. We are asking you to intercede for these beautiful people. We believe for peace; we're praying for shalom," Heidi stated on the video. Heidi is acquainted with many pastors in these villages that have been impacted by her ministry, Iris Global. MORE Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment My father was born on this day in 1924, one day after George H. W. Bush. While my father died in 1979, Mr. Bush is now the first US president to reach ninety-four years of age. I turned sixty earlier this year. When my father and Mr. Bush were my age, it's hard to imagine that they could have imagined a story like this one: A transgender man recently gave birth to a baby in the UK. British law states that those who give birth to children can only be noted as mothers on official documents. The parent has complained of discrimination. As a result, the baby could become the first person born in England and Wales not to have a legal mother. Two verses we need today The twenty-first century has brought remarkable advances for advancing the Great Commission. Christians can use digital technology to reach people previously inaccessible to our mission. We can use social media to win the lost and technology to disciple believers. But this generation is also facing an unprecedented moral crisis. Never before in American history has conventional wisdom been so unbiblical. From acceptance of homosexual behavior and marriage to advocacy for abortion and euthanasia to consumptionist materialism that marginalizes the soul, you and I are living in an age that desperately needs the very light it seeks to extinguish. In this challenging context, two verses have become a great source of encouragement to me. Writing to the Colossians, the smallest church Paul ever addressed, the apostle sought to offer support for their witness to their pagan culture. He testified, "Him [Jesus] we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me" (Colossians 1:28-29). Let's explore Paul's testimony so we can make it ours. "Him we proclaim" Scott Jurek recently ran the Appalachian Trail. All of it, the entire 2,189-mile journey. He finished in forty-six days, eight hours, and seven minutes. How did he do it? A veteran ultra-runner who accompanied Jurek on part of the trail explained their mantra: "This is who I am, and this is what I do." Cornell psychiatrist Ari Kiev: "In my practice as a psychiatrist, I have found that helping people to develop personal goals has proved to be the most effective way to help them cope with problems. Observing the lives of people who have mastered adversity, I have noted that they have established goals and sought with all their effort to achieve them. From the moment they decided to concentrate all their energies on a specific objective, they began to surmount the most difficult odds. . . . The establishment of a goal is the key to successful living." Paul's life goal was clear: "Him we proclaim." The Greek word translated "proclaim" means to announce or report. Paul's syntax indicates that this was a present-tense, ongoing lifestyle commitment. He sought to proclaim Jesus in every way he could to everyone he could. He did this by "warning" (admonishing people for their sins) and "teaching" (instructing in the right way to live) with all "wisdom" (applying biblical truth to life). His purpose was to "present" (to the Lord when he comes) everyone "mature" (complete and full-grown) "in Christ." Paul lived every day for the purpose of presenting everyone he knew one day to Jesus. He warned them about their sins and taught them how to live by applying biblical truth to their lives. Until everyone he knew was ready to meet Jesus, he had more to do. His example is our invitation. The more our culture moves from biblical truth, the more we must redouble our commitment to proclaiming our Lord, warning of sin, and growing believers. This is God's goal for us. In these perilous times, nothing less will do. "Struggling with all his energy" Chinedum Nzelu is Managing Director of Currencies and Emerging Markets at JPMorgan Chase & Co. He describes foreign exchange, his area of focus, as "the largest financial market, transacting up to $5 trillion daily." In a recent article for Ozy, he explained the surprising secret to his remarkable career: "Getting in over your head should be part of your job. At the core of career mobilityclimbing up the ladder, or maybe even jumping over to another ladder entirelyis the willingness to move to the unknown." Nzelu has learned to cultivate a "personal brand" that focuses on innovation and continuous learning. Rather than comparing himself to experts (which he calls "unnerving"), he has sought mentors along the way. Consider his example in light of Paul's testimony: "For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works in me" (Colossians 1:29). The apostle was "struggling" (fighting) with all "his energy" (God's strength) that he "powerfully" (from dunamis, "dynamite") "works in me" (continues to put to work in and through my life). Paul knew that he was "in over his head"he could not convict sinners of sin or save souls, so all he did was for nothing unless the power of God fulfilled the purpose of God through his life. Once again, Paul's example is our invitation. Oswald Chambers is right: "When we choose deliberately to obey Him, then He will tax the remotest star and the last grain of sand to assist us." Is God doing things only God can do through you? If not, check your life purpose. If you'll make God's goal your goal, God's power will be your power. Our culture has never needed Jesus-focused, Spirit-empowered Christians more than it does today. Originally posted at Denison Forum. Christian broadcaster Revelation TV fined 6,000 for 'homophobic' comments A British-based Christian broadcaster has been fined 6,000 for homophobic remarks made on a breakfast show last year. Revelation TV, which broadcasts in Spain via satellite, was handed the penalty by the Spanish National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC). The comments on the Rmornings discussion show 'could be considered as threatening to the dignity of the homosexual and transgender group, although there was no manifest incitation to hate against these groups by the channel that owns the programme', the official CNMC statement said. However Gordon Pettie, director of Revelation TV, told Christian Today an appeal against the decision had been lodged and he was disappointed the fine had been implemented before the appeal was heard. He told Christian Today the discussion was 'absolutely not' homophobic and instead were just expressing a biblical view. He added a lawyer had told him that if they were judged to be homophobic then the Spanish authorities would have to fine every Catholic Church in Spain on the same charge. 'We believe by the time the process is finished the fine won't apply and we won't be found to be homophobic,' he said. 'We would say as a television station that we seek to stand up for biblical views. All we did was say what the scripture had to say.' The particular remarks were made in a discussion over transgender children after a Christian family removed their child from school because one of his classmates identified as trans. The pastor said on the show: 'We are going to create a political party or join a party to change this madness. We are going to have to do this, because if we don't, we will have Sodom and Gomorrah at our doorsteps, where they are going to tell you: we want to get hold of those men in there and we want to sleep with them and there's nothing you can do about it. I have girls for you... No, we want those guys. And because it has become aggressive, it has become heavy, and if we don't confront this militancy it is going to get worse, it is going to get really bad.' He added: 'The problem is that these guys are carrying out what I call social engineering. Theyre coming with ideas of their own, in order to lead society in a particular direction. But we must not allow that to happen. Let the child grow up naturally and when they are old enough let them decide what they want to do. At 18, they will decide whatever they want to do, having the freedom to do so. But starting to teach an idea that is not natural at school... because all these ideas are not the natural way of things, it is not what the Bible says, it is not natural biologically. I don't know who encourages it and how we can stop it, it shouldn't happen. 'But we need to understand that the people behind this agenda are not foolish, they know exactly what they are doing, they know that, at that age, the child doesn't have a clue what is going on, so if they can manage to manipulate those kids to believe that this is what is natural, that will stick to the children. They like to get hold of a generation ahead of time, so that when they finally are 20 or 25, the whole world has changed to exactly where they want to be with that agenda.' Revelation TV is facing an ongoing Charity Commission investigation in the UK over allegations it was being used for private advantage. The Charity Commission appointed an interim manager in 2015 as 'a temporary and protective measure' following the complaints. Revelation TV is being investigated 'in relation to the production and broadcasting of television programmes from Spain as well as the trustees' decisions to transfer significant charitable assets and funds from the UK to Spain', the Commission said. Christian calligraphers cannot turn down orders for same-sex wedding invitations, Arizona court rules The Arizona Court of Appeals has upheld a city ordinance that requires two Christian business owners to provide services for same-sex weddings despite their religious objections. Joanna Duka and Breanna Koski, the owners of stationary and calligraphy company Brush and Nib, filed a lawsuit in 2016 to challenge a Phoenix ordinance that could subject them to steep fines if they refuse to create invitations for same-sex weddings. The business owners, who were represented in court by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), sought a preliminary injunction to prevent the ordinance from taking effect, but the request was dismissed by Judge Karen Mullins of the Maricopa County Superior Court in October. On June 7, Mullins' decision was upheld by the Arizona Court of Appeals, stating that Duka and Koski "cannot discriminate against potential patrons based on sexual orientation." In his ruling, Judge Lawrence Winthrop contended that the case was not about free speech, but about conduct. "While such a requirement may impact speech, such as prohibiting places of public accommodation from posting signs that discriminate against customers, this impact is incidental to properly regulated conduct," Winthrop wrote, as reported by Arizona Capitol Times. "Simply stated, if appellants, as an economic entity, want to operate their for-profit business as a public accommodation, they cannot discriminate against potential patrons based on sexual orientation," the judge continued. The appellate court decision came just days after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Christian baker, who refused to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding. The high court ruling, however, was only focused on the decision of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission when it found the baker guilty of violating the state's anti-discrimination law, and did not address whether businesses can refuse to provide services for gay weddings. Winthrop argued that the Arizona court ruling does not force the women to endorse same-sex marriage. He said that Duka and Koski are allowed to post a statement declaring their beliefs that marriage is between one man and one woman, but they are not allowed to post discriminatory messages that indicate their intention to refuse services for same-sex weddings. "Or they may post a disclaimer that the act of selling their goods and services to same-sex couples does not constitute an endorsement of their customers' exercise of their constitutional right to marry or any other activities," the judge stated, as reported by the Arizona Capitol Times. Jonathan Scruggs, an attorney for the ADF, decried the appellate court decision, saying it "contradicts basic freedoms our nation has always cherished." He has expressed intention to seek a review by the Arizona Supreme Court. Samsung Gear S4 release date rumors: upgraded smartwatch tipped to debut in August with more powerful battery Samsung is gearing up for the big release of the next device in its ever popular Galaxy Note series, with the Galaxy Note 9 supposedly set to debut in August. But that may not be the only hotly anticipated device coming out that month if the latest rumors are to be believed. The South Korean news site ETnews (via SamMobile) reports that the tech giant will also be bringing out the Samsung Gear S4 smartwatch in August too. The current rumors place the launch date of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 on August 9 so it's possible that the smartwatch will even share that launch date as well. But another possible reveal could happen at the IFA 2018 taking place in Berlin from August 31 to September 5, 2018. There are not just rumors doing the rounds about the possible launch date of the Samsung Gear S4 as there are the specs to consider too. Not too much has been officially confirmed about the gadget just yet. Rumors suggest that the successor to the Gear S3 will come with a new panel level package (PLP) chip that may make it a little thinner than its predecessor and maybe even shave a little off the price tag too. According to SamMobile, tipster 'Ice universe' posted on Chinese social media network Weibot that Samsung is scaling up the battery size for the Gear S4, which he claimed would clock in at 470mAh, making it more powerful than the battery in the Gear S3 and the Samsung Gear Sport. We can only hope that adds up to a longer lifespan for the device too. Ice Universe has a good track record in reliable tips but it remains to be seen what Samsung actually does with the next iteration of the smartwatch and whether it brings out a fashion variant and sport variant as it has done in previous iterations. SamMobile also reported that the Gear S4 would be releasing in three different color variations - silver, gold and black. If that's true, we would expect the fashion variant to offer the gold shade but it's possible Samsung would offer both variants in all three shades. Of course these are just rumors for now. We'll just have to wait to see what Samsung unveils, hopefully in just a couple of months. Sony Xperia XZ3 release date, specs rumors: Leaks suggest updated device will come with dual rear cameras The Sony Xperia XZ2 hasn't even been out all that long and yet tech fans are already wondering what Sony will offer next in its updated device. The latest leaks around the next in Sony's flagship Xperia XZ series suggest the tech giant is putting its faith in dual cameras. That's according to leaked photos from Japanese website Sumahoinfo (via GSMArena) that suggest Sony is adding them to the middle of the device, instead of the traditional top corner seen on other smartphones. The dual camera setup is something Sony actually already added to the Xperia XZ2 Premium handset. Some things look similar to the existing Xperia XZ2, like the curved back. And the leaks suggest a tall device with an 18:9 aspect ratio screen and slightly thicker bezels than seen in other rival smartphones. Little else is known about the rumored device but as Sony tends to make its updates every six months, it's possible we'll be getting confirmation from them very soon about it. According to GSM Arena, previous leaks have previously teased that Sony will add a bigger battery to the device as well as an increase in RAM and that the device will have a 5.7-inch display with a 1080 x 2160 IPS. Sony has struggled to get its head above the water in the crowded smartphone market and never quite managed to bring out a device that got people as excited as the Apple iPhone or the Samsung Galaxy and Galaxy Note series. Perhaps the high price tags have put people off. If these leaks are true, it looks like Sony might not be doing any spectacularly groundbreaking with the upgraded device but instead focus on bringing out a solid handset that's in keeping with the reputation its built over the years for expensive but reliable smartphones. Sony has a tendency to bring out new updates on its handsets during the IFA Berlin, which takes place in the German capital this year from August 31 to September 5, 2018 so it may be that we get an official update then. Stolen Christopher Columbus letter returned to the Vatican The Vatican Library will be given back a letter written by Christopher Columbus in 1493 announcing his discovery of the New World after it was stolen and replaced with a forgery. The Columbus Letter is an account of the explorer's first experiences in the New World and was addressed to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, who funded the expedition. 'I discovered many islands inhabited by numerous people,' he wrote. 'I took possession of all of them for our most fortunate King by making public proclamation and unfurling his standard, no one making any resistance. 'All these island are very beautiful, and of quite different shapes; easy to be traversed, and full of the greatest variety of trees reaching to the stars.' The letter was translated into Latin and copies were distributed around Europe, including one sent to the Vatican in 1921. But later it emerged the copy held by the Vatican was a fake and the original had been stolen. It was one of several other copies across Europe that had stolen and replaced with expert forgeries. Robert Parsons from Atlanta bought the letter from a rare book dealer in 2004, unaware that had been taken from the Vatican. His widow, Mary Parsons, agreed to relinquish her rights to it and give the letter back to the Vatican. It was presented to the chief Vatican archivist, Archbishop Jean-Louis Brugues, and the prefect of the library, Bishop Cesare Pasini, by Callista Gingrich, ambassador to the Holy See, in a special service on Thursday. Why The Handmaid's Tale is more Christian than you think Margaret Atwood's famous novel The Handmaid's Tale shocked and cattle-prodded its way onto our screens in 2017. Series two will air its fifth episode this Sunday, on Channel 4. Although a slight departure from Atwood's original, The Handmaid's Tale follows the journey of June Osbourne, or Offred as she is known to her 'commander', as she attempts to leave America and the forces of the Gilead regime. The God-fearing dystopia in which The Handmaid's Tale is set categorises women by their ability to bear children. The fertile 'handmaids' provide children for the wives of the commanders and leaders, who are often unable to have their own children. In return for this 'gift', the handmaids are offered a life without suffering. Or so they say. In December 2017, David Robertson asked Christian Today readers to avoid watching this 'ugly' and 'anti-Christian' drama. He has a point. The series, although compelling watching, is not representative of the Christianity that many of us know. It must be noted however, that despite the familiar language eg the greeting 'blessed be the fruit' and scripture references allusions to Jesus, the salvation or messianic ideas are minimal. It is, after all, a work of fiction. So, what is it exactly that draws readers back each week? And particularly, why do young women, including Christian ones, find it so captivating? A plotline so heavily focused on oppression has found itself nestled into the prime Channel 4 spot that also hosts My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding and Big Brother. One explanation can be found in the appropriation of the striking red 'habits' a word in itself used in appropriation of the handmaids. The Irish abortion referendum saw women from Belfast to Dublin donning the floor-length scarlet cloaks and white, winged bonnets as a demonstration of their beliefs. While a 'commander' is not forcing them to bear children in his name, they believe that the state, in its abortion ban, forced them to carry unwanted children to term. In the era of the 'Me Too' movement and the gender pay gap revelations, handmaids stand for the ever-continuing journey that women face as they strive for equality. Characters have stood out in this role. Of course June, in her many acts of defiance, demonstrates a resilience that stands up to oppression and injustice. Her care for the other women acts to strengthen the sisterhood. She does not let Janine kill herself out of desperation to keep her baby. Similarly, Ofglen, who ousts her commander for raping her, is seen as a defiant and resilient character. The witness of these women and their resistance to the regime is empowering for viewers. It is a demonstration of both kindness and resilience. On the other hand, while the striking imagery of The Handmaid's Tale has been used outside the Golden Globes and sexual harassment trials, the message that the plot promotes is otherwise aligned. The systematic abuse of the handmaids is not pro-women and it is not Christian. However, one could argue a sense of Christian messaging coming through. It is difficult to deny ideas of the gift and blessing of new lives. The wives yearn for children, doing all that they can (and using extremely questionable means) to do so. We see a marked change in wives who have children, including their treatment of the handmaids that bring this life into the world. In the first series we see Janine coddled (and possibly prayed over) as she goes through labour. After giving birth, Offred (June) declares that Janine has been given a level of safety and relief, as a woman who has borne a child can never be Unwoman. Similarly, although in more sinister circumstances, in the current series, Aunt Lydia (the Mother Superior of the handmaids, if you will) reminds June that regardless of her rebelliousness, she is immune from punishment while pregnant. As June escapes we see her cradle her bump and talk about wanting to care for the baby inside her. While this may involve a stretch of analysis, it could be argued that The Handmaid's Tale has a streak of the pro-life running through it. Is this the message the producers envisaged? The Handmaid's Tale, and particularly the current series, is an entertaining sequence of jump-scares and excitement. Most viewers are watching for this reason. However, we cannot ignore the difficult topics that are covered. The Christian perspective is a contentious one. To see familiar teaching displayed in repressive, dangerous and abusive ways is difficult, and we know it is unacceptable. However, Christians see these teachings in a different light, primarily through the prism of salvation a theme not covered in either the novel or television series. But along with everyone else, we tune in, waiting for the day of deliverance for these defiant, feminist handmaids. Nina Mattiello Azadeh studied music and philosophy and was a Faith in Politics media intern in 2016. She has a keen interest in interfaith relations, social action and is a classical ballet dancer. Follow her on Twitter @Ninamataz Established names and fresh new talent to look out for A look at seven artists whose reputations and markets are on the rise featuring works offered in our First Open | Online auction, 4-11 April Stefan Gierowski Who? Polish artist Stefan Gierowski (b. 1925) incorporates Op Arts formal conditions into mesmeric geometric compositions. Eliminating all trace of the real world, the artists richly textured canvases present an almost mathematical understanding of expression, and a meditation on chromatic and tonal possibility. If you like this artists work you might also enjoy: Imi Knoebel. Recent exhibitions: Gierowski was included in the 2017 group exhibition The Best Gallery New Works in the Collection at Warsaws Zacheta National Gallery of Art, as well as the 2016 exhibition Art in Europe 19451968 at ZKM, Karlsruhe. Collections: Muzeum Sztuki, Lodz; Arsenal Gallery Poland. Bodys Isek Kingelez Sanya Kantarovsky Mai-Thu Perret Who? Mai-Thu Perret (b. 1976) studied English at the University of Cambridge, and her multidisciplinary practice weaves together text, Eastern spirituality and art-historical references through the prism of radical feminist politics. Her speculative fictions, informed by a fascination with history, encourage multiple interpretations. If you like this artists work you might also enjoy: Latifa Echakhch. Recent exhibitions: Perrets solo exhibition, The Blazing World, is currently on view until March 24 at Spike Island in Bristol. Her work was included in the 2018 Glasgow International Biennial and the group exhibition Objects Like Us at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Connecticut; she had a solo exhibition at Musee dArt Moderne et Contemporain, Geneva. Collections: Rubell Family Collection, Miami; Marciano Art Foundation, Los Angeles; Aargauer Kunsthaus, Aargauer. Awards: Paul Boesche Award, 2018; the Zurich Art Prize, 2011, and the Prix Culturel Manor, 2011. Raymond Hains Kara Walker Sign up today Christie's Online Magazine delivers our best features, videos, and auction news to your inbox every week Subscribe The Woodlands-based Layne Christensen water management company is now a division of California's Granite Construction. The roughly $340 million acquisition, not counting the assumption of debt, was completed with overwhelming shareholder support despite some activist investors who sought to scuttle the deal. Granite, a construction contracting and building materials company, announced its plans to buy Layne Christensen in February to add to its growing water infrastructure business. Connecticut-based Cetus Capital and other Layne investors then questioned whether the company was getting enough for its value. The Layne Christensen leadership reiterated that a strategic review of all the company's financial and strategic options was conducted and that the Granite sale made the most sense for Layne shareholders. Layne President and Chief Executive Michael Caliel said he was pleased to see the deal finalized. "We wish our employees, whose work and dedication enabled this success, all the best as our businesses continue to evolve," he added. RELATED: Company to drill wells for hydraulic fracturing Layne Christensen typically develops water projects to serve municipalities and government agencies. However, it's recently branching out in a partnership with the Texas General Land Office to drill more than 100 wells in West Texas to sell water to oil companies that use it for hydraulic fracturing in the booming Permian Basin. Houston ISD trustees narrowly rejected the district's proposed budget on Thursday, citing concerns about using rainy-day funds to cover a projected $19 million deficit. The vote means HISD's administration has until June 30, when the district must legally pass its budget, to present a proposal that can receive majority support from board members. Trustees Diana Davila, Sue Deigaard, Holly Maria Flynn-Vilaseca, Elizabeth Santos and Anne Sung voted against the proposed budget. In recent months, as HISD administrators made several presentations about the projected budget, trustees did not publicly voice concern about using reserve funds to cover the district's deficit. The most common focus has been the district's plan for cutting spending, so that HISD didn't have to use significant reserve funds. The proposed budget included about $83 million in cuts, which were expected to result in hundreds of layoffs. HISD trustees voted 8-1 last year on a budget that plugged a $106-million shortfall last year with rainy-day funds. But trustees weren't willing to dip into reserves again, particularly after Hurricane Harvey showed the importance of keeping a healthy rainy-day fund. "Until we can start building on a balanced budget and stop rushing, we're not going to get things done," Santos said. "I believe we can do better as a board moving forward." As of Thursday evening, trustees hadn't yet addressed any consideration of making Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan the district's permanent leader or voted on approving a performance audit, two major items on the meeting agenda. Swipe through the photos above to see Houston Pride Parade photos through the years. For years, Houston's Pride Parade has brought thousands of people to the city from all over the world to celebrate the LGBT community. The city's first formal pride march was in 1976 with about 120 participants. The following year, the number ballooned to 3,000 thanks to anti-homosexual crusader Anita Bryant, who was in Houston in 1977 to sing at a local club, according to Pride Houston. As of last year, the number of participants has grown to tens of thousands. READ MORE: Houston takes the cake for LGBT Pride month This year's parade begins June 23 at 8:30 p.m. at Smith and Lamar. The parade will navigate down Smith Street to Walker where it will make a right turn, continue down Walker to Milam to Jefferson Street, according to Pride Houston. The parade is free, but VIP tickets that include open-bar access, private restrooms, invites to private parties and more can be purchased on the Pride Houston website. For more information on parking, visit Pride Houston Swipe through the photos above to see Houston Pride Parade photos through the years. Fernando Alfonso III is a digital reporter at Chron.com. Follow him on Twitter at @fernalfonso. Metal detectors on Clear Creek ISD campuses. Facility upgrades to thwart attackers. Use of trustee-appointed employees with concealed handgun licenses as school marshals. These are some of the ideas being discussed by a Clear Creek ISD advisory committee tasked with developing a plan to increase security on district campuses. Formed in the days following the May 18 Santa Fe High School shooting that killed 10 and injured 13 people, the new Clear Creek ISD Safety Committee is formulating a plan to present in July to the Clear Creek board for review and possible action. Superintendent Greg Smith, who participated in the discussions, has asked the committee to meet throughout the 2018-19 school year to help guide implementation of any safety measures that may be adopted, said Stephanie Brown, a parent in the group. on June 12, the 23-member committee which includes 15 district parents chosen through a lottery system as well as teachers, district staff and students, law enforcement representatives, mental health professionals and faith leaders discussed such matters as the law related to physical searches of students, lockers and vehicles and ideas regarding mandatory suspension and punishment for students who carry weapons on campus, bully others online or treaten a school. The group outlined scenarios that could warrant exceptions to harsh punishment, such as in cases involving very young children. Theres been conversation about what security is in place, things the district had in the works and things we can do for the future, Brown said. As for the school marshal idea under discussion by the committee, Clear Creek ISD board members have not voted to adopt that program or any measure that would arm teachers and other staff members, district spokeswoman Eva De Cardenas said. Through the 2013 Protection of Children Act, the Texas Legislature created the school marshal as a new subset of law enforcement officer to serve as the last line of defense should an armed attacker threaten a public school. More Information Upcoming CCISD Safety Meetings Safety Committee Meeting: 6 p.m. June 19 and 26 CCISD Education Support Center, 2425 East Main Street, League City The public is welcome to attend to observe the meetings. Presentation for public input 6 p.m. July 16 Clear Springs High School, 501 Palomino Lane Presentation of final recommendations to school board: July 23, 7 p.m. CCISD Education Support Center, 2425 East Main Street, League City See More Collapse The legislation stipulates that the marshals must be school district employees, have a current concealed handgun license and be appointed by a districts board, according to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. The program allows trained employees, including teachers, to act as general law enforcement or security officers on campus. The Texas Association of School Boards is aware of only one Texas school district that has adopted the marshal program, but the association declined to identify that district. We know of at least 218 districts that allow staff to carry firearms, association spokeswoman Theresa Gage said. Approximately 153 districts have their own police departments and around 244 use school resource officers, Gage said. Clear Creek ISD now partners with Galveston County Sheriffs Office liaison officers for its main security needs. The liaison officers are on each campus during the school day and provide on-site security for after-school events, according the districts website. District parent David Nunes Jr. would like the district to adopt a program to arm teachers and other school employees to be able to respond in case of a campus attack. That program, know as School Safety Certification or the Guardian Program, was approved by the Legislature in 2015 and allows authorized staff members to carry weapons and be trained to defend students and secure classrooms when an attack occurs. Unlike school marshals, employees in the Guardian Program would not provide day-to-day security. I believe the Guardian Program isn't just good for CCISD, I believe it is good for every district in Texas, said Nunes, who is not on the districts advisory committee. Anybody who is willing to go the extra mile to receive training so they can have a better chance at surviving a terrible situation should be able to carry a concealed handgun anywhere in the school district. In an active shooter situation, every teacher has now been turned unwittingly into a defender, Nunes said. It is up to the teacher on how much training they want and what tools they have at their disposal to defend those kids. If a teacher is capable, trained, and certified, they have a much better chance. A person's right to defense should not end when they enter a school. Nunes circulated a petition seeking Clear Creek ISD adoption of Guardian Program through a Facebook group with 4,500 members that is called CCISDs Parents Against School Violence. Created in May, the petition had garnered 168 signatures as of June 15. Total enrollment in Clear Creek ISD was 41,896 for the 2016-17 school year, according to a 2016 district report. A poll posted by the Facebook group on May 23 of what campus safety measures residents would support indicates that concealed carry for staff isnt the most popular idea. That option earned 77 votes in the poll, trailing ideas such as social interaction programs (287 votes), increased police presence on campus (232) and metal detectors (220). Other options in the poll were mental screenings/evaluations (212 votes) and security doors (131 votes). Brown said its too early to say what the group will end up recommending. These meetings are long, draining and theres so many different facets mental health, door locks, Brown said. Weve barely scratched the surface. Brown said some of her own views have changed since she started participating in the discussions. I thought I was on board with metal detectors; I had even signed a petition, Brown said. Now Im not sure. I just dont think it was as grand of an idea as I thought it was. She cited the logistics of sending thousands of kids through a handful of entry points every day, with the back-up caused by that possibly offering another opportunity for a would-be attacker. The committees initial meeting on June 5 outlined the need for consistent district procedures for student arrival and dismissal, campus visitors and for training and drills for crisis response, according to presentation documents. Meetings of the safety committee are scheduled for 6 p.m. June 19 and 26 at CCISD Education Support Center, 2425 East Main Street, League City. The public is welcome to attend and observe the meetings. The committee will present it recommendations for public input at 6 p.m. July 16 at Clear Springs High School, 501 Palomino Lane in a meeting that will be streamed live. The committee will present its formal recommendations to trustees during a board meeting at 7 p.m. July 23 at the CCISD Education Support Center, 2425 East Main Street, League City. Brown said she thinks the real solution is changing a culture that seems to be creating teen-shooters. Yet she acknowledges the necessity of security enhancements now and feels optimistic about the groups mission. I just know from the conversations that weve had, that this a very strong group that will be able to stand together for the same cause. That gives me confidence and faith, she said. jaimy.jones@chron.com A Houston police officer responding to a priority call was slightly injured when another motorist struck his cruiser Thursday night the Chinatown area, officials said. The Houston Police Department sergeant had his lights and sirens blaring, but another driver failed to see or hear the police car and struck him about 10 p.m. at Bellaire and South Sam Houston Parkway, said HPD Sgt. S. Maness. There are two traditional ways to get a job as a mariner: earn a four-year degree at a maritime academy or start as a deckhand and work up to the wheelhouse. San Jacinto College is looking to add a third path. It has created a two-year associates degree that provides entry-level mariners with Coast Guard certificates and training to kick start their careers. This education, as well as training for current mariners seeking to upskill, comes from the San Jacinto College Maritime Technology and Training Center that opened in March 2016. Programs at this building, which is shaped like a ship and located directly on the Houston Ship Channel, have received a hefty amount of support and funding from maritime companies seeking to address an aging workforce. Chief John Stauffer, a retired U.S. Army mariner who oversees the San Jacinto College Maritime Technology and Training Center, recently spoke with the Chronicle: Q: How do students earn an associates degree in maritime transportation? A: One of our industry partners, he coined the phrase that they wanted a better-educated, entry-level mariner. So for two years theyll come here. Theyll go through 15 different certificate-granted, Coast Guard-approved courses, and then a key component is theyll go out and do internships in the summer. We have students on everything from passenger vessels to towboats to the Boardwalk Beast down in Kemah to the Sam Houston down in the port. We do have a couple that are on large tankers. So we have them out there working. We bring them back, educate them for another year, then we put them back on one more internship. In many cases, that leads to employment right afterward at a higher rate than an entry-level mariner would get. Q: Why is it important to get two years of training rather than just working your way up? A: There are two things that are important to upskill yourself and to increase from the deck plates to the wheelhouse. One of them is sea time and the other is education. Everyone needs it. So what we are providing is a mariner that already has at least 960 hours, normally its about 120 days of sea time, and they also have the stuff that if you walked into a company, that companys going to have to pay to send you back to those trainings. So thats really the key to it. Theyre hiring somebody who already has that skillset. And theyre going to fast track to the wheelhouse. Q: How have maritime companies contributed to this facility? A: We can walk these grounds and youll see it. The one that jumps out is the Houston Pilots with the $1.3 million bridge simulator. Theres a dock that was built by G&H Towing and donated to us. It serves as a secure location for crew changes for G&H Towing, and then we also use it for those assessments that we just cant complete in a simulation. Theres a barge training pad underneath the building. We partnered with Marquette Transportation Co. A training barge is actually painted on the deck. It has all the components of what you would have on a barge. Theres four of them that are put together. And we just had a donation of two fast-rescue boats from Royal Caribbean. Q: What are some tangible goals youre trying to achieve? A: Online learning is one of the big things that I really am trying to bring to this campus. The maritime industry, youre going to work shift work. Youre going to work 14 days on then seven days off, or 28 days on and 14 days off. If youve got to spend a week of those 14 days off at a school,weve got to find a way to do a little bit better. There are definitely skillsets that you have to demonstrate through simulation or hands on, but I certainly think theres ways that we can minimize the time you have to spend in the classroom. Also, our industry is getting more automated, so Im really passionate about bringing that type of realism into the training. Q: How do you use simulators to teach cybersecurity and automated ships? A: A lot of it comes down to just situational awareness on the bridge. Do you recognize that the GPS is saying youre in Antarctica when youre sailing in the Houston Ship Channel? Your latitude and longitude that says youre supposed to be in this location, which as a mariner youre supposed to be doing paper plots as well, well change that. I want them to recognize that there is something thats not right. Autonomous shipping, the thought of a ship being out there with nobody onboard, its just new to everybody. So I simplify it. If Im on the radio and somebody is coming right at me in the simulator, and I call that person and no one is responding, that essentially means that no one is on the ship. When autonomous shipping becomes a reality, there will be some type of system that connects to somebody sitting in London who is going to respond and say, Hey yea, I see you off my starboard bow. These things are coming. Q: Anything I havent asked about that you want to discuss? A: The Domestic Maritime Centers of Excellence. It has been a push for the college since before I got here, and it was signed into legislation in December of last year. The legislation says that MARAD (Maritime Administration), which for as long as its been around has supported the six state academies and one federal academy, they will now support two-year technical and community colleges that are designated Maritime Centers of Excellence. Right now, were coming up with criteria for MARAD. So its huge because we will now have national recognition by MARAD. With tears in his eyes, Bill Wykoff expressed his gratitude for what his case manager from Hope Disaster Recovery has done for him and his wife in the past few months. Jeanie Borawski was concerned with more than just getting our walls finished and new carpet in. She was interested in rebuilding our lives, Wykoff said. Wykoffs home in Bear Creek flooded during Hurricane Harvey, and he said he suffered at least $45,000 in damages to his belongings. To make matters worse, he didnt have flood insurance. Nine months later, his house is still not fully restored. Wykoff, 73, also cares for his wife of 50 years, Jane, who at 72, has Alzheimers disease. Borawski, who works with the organization Hope Disaster Recovery as a community liaison, resource coordinator and case manager, said that the Wykoff family are sweet people who bless her with everything they do. Were trying to help people like them who really need help, and our goal is to get them back to 100 percent within a month, Borawski said. Through the organization, Borawski was able to secure funds and work teams to help the Wykoff family rebuild their home, replace their furniture and help pay their mortgage in the months following the flood. Borawski said that overall, they network has made a lot of progress: theyre seeing people get back in their homes. More Information Want to help? Get involved at http://www.hopedisasterrecovery.org/. Godfrey Hubert, president of Hope Disaster Recovery, is to be hiking 19 miles of the Waimea Canyon in Kauai, Hawaii, June 18 as a fundraiser for the organization. Give at https://give.classy.org/hikingforharveyrecovery. See More Collapse However, theres a lot of work that still needs done and not just in one community. Borawski said that there are hundreds of families living in partially completed houses, and hundreds of families who still havent been able to return. Godfrey Hubert is the president and executive director of Hope Disaster Recovery, and he echoed this statement. Were never going to get people back to normal, but its going to be a new normal. What we want is to get people in their homes with a semblance of normalcy: a safe, sanitary home where families can do life together, Hubert said. While Hubert stepped into the director role at Hope Disaster Recovery two weeks ago, he also founded the parent nonprofit organization Cy-Hope that aims to make life better for kids in the Cy-Fair area. Hope Disaster Recovery is a nonprofit group made up of a network of area churches and other organizations as a long-term solution for relief and recovery. So far, he estimated that the network has worked in over 750 homes and has raised over 750,000 for the rebuilding of those homes. Hubert said that the recovery work will take anywhere from six to 12 years. Now, with funding from a $7.5 million grant from the FEMA Disaster Case Management Program that the organization secured through the United Methodist Committee on Relief, or UMCOR, theyre planning to hire nearly 50 case managers in the next couple weeks. Currently, Hope Disaster Recovery works within a 10-ZIP code zone, but is to be expanding to five counties because of the added staff. Theyll take on cases in Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Galveston and Brazoria counties. Operations director Gail Murphy said that 29 of the newly hired case managers will be delegated to Harris County. Additionally, the network is bringing in Houston Volunteer Lawyers to run a free legal clinic from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 23 at Bear Creek United Methodist Church to meet with 30 families. Hubert said that the first-come-first-serve clinic is to help anyone who was affected by the flood, whether they lost their house or their job. Further, there are over 1300 volunteers scheduled to help this summer with the organizations work. However, Hubert said that the organization still needs skilled volunteers. Volunteers do incredible work, and theyre so caring while they do it. But without guidance, we can end up with disasters after the disaster. We are in need of skilled people to help volunteers do a good job. We want to do as good of a job in these peoples homes as we would in our own homes, Hubert said. Operations director Gail Murphy said that in addition to the skilled volunteerslike electricians and HVAC techniciansthe organization is also seeking financial donations for rebuilding costs and materials. jane.stueckemann@chron.com A Texas evangelist who lost a Congressional primary in Arkansas had his property tax exemption restored on Thursday after it was revoked during his campaign in April. The Rev. Randy Caldwell, the namesake of Randy Caldwell Ministries, filed a property tax appeal with officials in Galveston County, Texas, on May 23. During his appeal hearing at the Galveston Central Appraisal District on Thursday, Caldwell argued that despite the fact that his ministry has an office in Cabot, Ark., -- which is also noted on the ministry's website -- his daughter, Kyla Caldwell, the executive director of the ministry, lives in the house he owns in League City and therefore the tax break should be reinstated under Texas' clergy residence exemption. "Guys, I don't want to do anything illegal," Caldwell said at the hearing. "I don't want to break the law. I have spent my life trying my best to do what's right for people and helping people and the [Arkansas] constitutional law says you do not have to live in that state until the day of the election. That's what the law says. And that's not until this November." The appraisal district postponed a decision on the tax exemption until Caldwell could provide income tax documentation showing that his daughter was both employed by the ministry and claimed the League City property as her primary residence. Caldwell provided that documentation later on Thursday, and the appraisal district reinstated the tax exemption. "He provided documentations showing that her primary income came from the ministry, and we gave that to the board members and they made a decision and granted the exemption," said Tommy Watson, Galveston's chief appraiser. Under Texas Property Tax Code Section 11.20, a ministry can claim an exemption for a clergy residence it owns if it is "reasonably necessary for use as a residence." In order to qualify, it must be "used exclusively as a residence for those individuals whose principal occupation is to serve in the clergy of the religious organization." Officials with the Galveston Central Appraisal District canceled Caldwell's exemption in April after the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette inquired about the tax status. Caldwell's 4,405-square-foot house in League City was appraised at $403,480. Caldwell purchased the house in 2003 and donated it to his ministry in December 2007, enabling it to qualify for tax-exempt status. The Democrat-Gazette reported that in January 2011, Caldwell signed a warranty deed conveying the house from the ministry back to himself. Three months later, he signed a quitclaim deed returning the house to Randy Caldwell Ministries Inc. Without the property tax exemption, Caldwell's 2017 tax bill for the house would have been $10,155.19. Caldwell pointedly blamed the Democrat-Gazette reporter who broke the story about the property tax exemption, for causing this issue. "This newspaper reporter, he hates my guts for whatever reason," Caldwell said. Caldwell declined to comment on his appeal after the hearing on Thursday. Caldwell, a Republican, received 20.1 percent of the vote in Arkansas' 4th Congressional District primary on May 22. He was defeated in the primary by the incumbent, U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman. Nick Powell covers Galveston County for the Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter and send him tips at nick.powell@chron.com Comparing them to villains from a Charles Dickens novel who steal from the poor, a federal judge on Friday sentenced Varnett charter school founders Marian Annette Cluff and Alsie Cluff Jr. to 10 years and 3 years in prison, respectively, for running an embezzlement and tax scheme that bilked low-income parents. Following a nearly-five-hour hearing, during which victims lamented their financial losses and the Cluffs pleaded for mercy, U.S. District Judge Melinda Harmon sentenced the married couple to the maximum sentences outlined in their plea agreements and ordered $4.4 million in restitution. The Cluffs have admitted siphoning $2.6 million from the Houston charter network nearly half of which came from parents over several years, using the money to furnish their 7,000-square-foot south central Houston mansion, travel the world in a private jet and purchase high-end clothing and jewelry. They also failed to disclose the income to the Internal Revenue Service, ultimately racking up $1.8 million in unpaid taxes, interest and penalties. They both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit tax evasions, and Marian Cluff pleaded guilty to an added count of mail fraud. Harmon criticized the couple for grinding away and pinching and stealing from their victims, questioning how they could carry on a years-long scheme under the guise of helping impoverished students. Its just got to be giving in to pride and greed, Harmon said. In statements to Harmon, the Cluffs both voiced regret their actions and said they accepted responsibility. In asking for leniency, Marian Cluff said she didnt harm the children and exposed students to a strong education at a quality school. Ive been an embarrassment to my family, to my grandchildren, to my own children, to the community, Marian Cluff said. I regret the decisions that I made. My decisions were not reflective of my upbringing. Prosecutors, however, said the Cluffs scammed families that often scraped by financially, leading them to question whether children went without essential needs at home. How could they sleep at night knowing what they did to these people? If they do, its because they dont care, Assistant U.S. Attorney Quincy Ollison said. For years leading up to their indictment, the Cluffs profited handsomely off the school network they founded in 1984, which serves about 1,600 elementary-age students at three campuses. The couple made far-above-average salaries while working at Varnett Marian, 70, served as superintendent, while Alsie, 69, managed business operations and made millions off business dealings tied to the schools. During an eight-year period, they reported about $12 million in income related to Varnett. At the same time, the Cluffs were pocketing money given to the school by parents, who thought they were paying for field trips, fundraisers and other events. Witnesses Friday described how the Cluffs nickel-and-dimed them, charging a few dollars each Friday to allow their children to forgo wearing school uniforms. The couples former accountant, a close family friend, recalled his anguish upon learning the Cluffs had deposited a $4.18 money order into an off-the-books account. There was an expense, it seemed like, for everything, said Kynyatta Ford-Amofa, whose two children attended Varnett for one year. The arrangements, however, started to crumble in the early 2010s, as federal and state officials dug into allegations of widespread abuses at Varnett. Texas Education Agency hammered Varnett in a 2013 report, finding pervasive conflicts of interest and excess spending among the networks leadership. In 2015, the Cluffs were indicted on fraud and tax evasion charges after federal agents discovered thousands of small deposits into off-the-books accounts owned by the Cluffs. Prosecutors said Marian Cluffs plea agreement terms were less lenient because she led the scheme. The Cluffs have set aside $1.6 million for restitution, and they are hoping to sell their Houston estate in the coming weeks. Lawyer Dan Cogdell, whose firm represented both Marian and Alsie Cluff, said the couple has received a $1.4 million offer on the Riverside Terrace property, though they hope to receive a higher bid early next week. It is listed at $2.5 million. The couple has reported substantial assets beyond the Houston property, including a 73-acre ranch northeast of Houston, an annuity account totaling $642,000 and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of farm equipment. The Cluffs were allowed to remain free on bail in preparation for a voluntary surrender to prison in the coming weeks. jacob.carpenter@chron.com twitter.com/ChronJacob A Pearland teenager chose theater over Disneyland Park in California when it came to playing Scouts brother Jem in the June 22-July 8 production of To Kill a Mockingbird at Pearl Theatre. That is dedication, said the shows director, Renee van Nifterik, who taught Brooks Nami, 14, as a theater student at Berry Junior High School the past two years. I am impressed with him because he seemed so shy at first, and just unsure of himself, but slowly he blossomed and blossomed, van Nifterik said. Nami plans to audition for shows at Dawson High School in the fall, but van Nifterik, who is the artistic director of the Pearl, says he hes ready to branch out into productions beyond those through school. When rehearsals for To Kill a Mockingbird conflicted with his familys plans to take a summer vacation to Disneyland, Nami didnt mind skipping the trip. Doing this play is pretty snazzy, he said. Its cool to be able to portray a famous character from a famous book. Playwright Christopher Sergel based his script on Harper Lees 1960 novel , which won the Pulitzer Prize for literature in 1961. The late Texas writer Horton Foote won an Oscar for adapting the screenplay for the 1962 movie, in which Gregory Peck played Atticus Finch, a lawyer who defends a black man accused of raping a white woman in the South. Robyn LeGris narrates the play as the lawyers daughter, Jean Louise Finch, who was called Scout as a child. She returns to the setting some 40 or 50 years later, at the height of the civil rights movement in the 1960s, van Nifterik said. The nugget of the play is Dont judge a man until youve walked in his shoes, she said. Nami added, I like the political commentary the play has on racism in America. This spring, the son of Brian and Joanna Nami of Pearland was named to the honorable mention all-star cast when he played Pavel in Berry Millers production of Michael Slades And a Child Shall Lead, which won Pearland ISDs third annual University Interscholastic League one-act play competition for junior-high thespians. I am so impressed with Brooks work ethic, van Nifterik said. I think he should continue to get training and continue to perform. He has so much potential. The large cast of To Kill a Mockingbird includes: Sadie Ostrowicki, Richard Groseclose, Nkem Ajiodo, Mary Ann Janecka, Wendy Pandolfo, Theresa McLemore, Steve Harrison Nathan, Drew Rosetta, Dylan Pierce and David Schultz. Others in the cast are: Troy Martin, Rochell Faircloth, Jeff Merriman, Sam Rubbico, Jeff Dorman, Trey Morgan Lewis and Dr. Kimberly Roberts, who also serves as the stage manager. The lighting design is by Adam Wygant. Performances are at 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for students and seniors. There is a Buy One, Get One Free show at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 28, and a Pay What You Can performance at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 3. For further information, call 832-459-4674 or visit www.pearl-theater.com. Texas State Technical College Diesel Equipment Technology student Troy Ketchum will be graduating in the coming months, but not before traveling to Louisville, Ky., as the first student from TSTC in Fort Bend County to compete at the 54th annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. You can feel the excitement around campus building up about my travel to the upcoming event, said the 30-year-old. I hope I can make everyone proud. At the end of the month, the Rosenberg native will compete against thousands of other students from across the United States in hopes of bringing home a gold medal in his category: Job Skills Presentation. SkillsUSA is a professional organization teaching technical, academic and employability skills that help high school and college students pursue successful careers. Members build these skills through student-led team meetings, hands-on competitions, leadership conferences and other activities. TSTC in Fort Bend County Provost Randy Wooten said that the entire college benefits from having students like Ketchum compete in these events. The student body knows that they are being represented at these events and they are big supporters of Troy, said Wooten. All of us here are thrilled by having our first competitor at the SkillsUSA national level. Wooten also said that he has been involved in Ketchums dry-run presentations and practices since before the state competition and he knew immediately that he would be hard to beat. Its obvious that Troy has what it takes to win. Hes a strong contender, said Wooten. And having our college represented in Kentucky means that even though were the newest and one of the smallest right now, we can run with the big dogs. The United States Navy veteran has been preparing his presentation, The Importance of Proper Tread Depth and Safety of Truck Tires, and his delivery non-stop for this competition. Ketchum has taken two days out of the week since the beginning of the year to present in front of students, faculty and staff at the campus. I practice in front of anyone who is willing to listen, said Ketchum. And I welcome all feedback. Spencer Paige, lead instructor for Diesel Equipment Technology and SkillsUSA advisor, said Ketchum has told him that he even practices while driving, at work and at home in front his brother or a mirror. He has put in so much work and effort into SkillsUSA. We are proud him, said Paige. We are positive that he will do well and represent TSTC positively. Paige added, The fact that this is our campus first SkillsUSA chapter and were headed to nationals is remarkable and we hope that more students join us next year. This is a great organization that teaches lessons and skills that stay with you forever. Ketchum, who is also looking forward to graduating in August said that the skills he has learned in class and by competing in SkillsUSA have prepared him for a job in his field and for what he calls a leap from waiting tables full time. As soon as I return from SkillsUSA Ill start on job applications. I feel so accomplished and excited entering this next phase in my life, he said. But first, I want to bring home the gold for TSTC and Fort Bend County. Ketchum and at least 50 other TSTC students statewide will be competing at the week-long event, June 25-29. When job searching or thinking about changing careers, remind yourself that employers always seek the best candidates. The qualities that draw attention to hiring decision-makers have a combination of personality, skills and abilities to perform the duties outlined in the job descriptions. Those over 50 have a treasure trove of skills and experience that are more valuable than you might realize. Keep in mind, there are two sets of skills that every employer seeks: hard and soft skills. Hard skills basically sound like their description hands-on skills that are quantifiable, such as accounting, coding, supply chain, marketing or writing, to name a few. These types of skills are identified in the form of certifications, degrees or specialized training in a specific area. Soft skills can be difficult to identify because its not easy to quantify them with a number. For example, communication skills are crucial, but how do you measure the results? Yet soft skills can be described as the glue that makes things happen when results are produced. Taking it a step further to underscore the significance of soft skills, when employers look for a cultural fit, they are referring to a persons attitude and their ability to work well with others. Adaptability is a soft skill factor that will set you apart from others. When you stop to ponder your career, most will recall what mattered most to them people. Those who influenced you probably used soft skills such as listening, building rapport, problem solving, encouragement and leadership. Naturally employers seek to hire candidates who demonstrate both hard and soft skills. As a job candidate, the goal is to gather information about which skills a specific job opportunity calls for and then apply your background. When exploring job opportunities, identify areas where you have an advantage and where you need to strengthen your skills. Its easy to take for granted your soft skills when focusing on the required skills in the marketplace for instance, technology, social media and analyzing metrics. Examples of soft skill areas to consider when writing your resume are interviewing or describing your experience: collaboration, decisiveness, curiosity, communication, honesty, flexibility, confidence, leadership, time management, dependability, resourcefulness, attitude and empathy. Before you start a job search, there are several steps to take that will make you a stronger candidate. First, highlight your experiences and accomplishments in your career and circle the skills you used. Dont forget to include all your training courses, seminars and learning classes you attended or presentations you delivered. Second, look for gaps where you need to increase your knowledge and update your skills. Make note of them and list solutions that would strengthen those areas. As a senior candidate, another advantage you have is your transferable skills. The job market continues to change with technology, software and processes at a rapid pace, but there are core, basic soft skills that will be the same across industries. Use your skills to redeploy to another industry, take on a new title or try something different. If you discover that your technical skills need strengthening, reach out for help and take the initiative to stay current with the hard skills needed. Solve them by taking new training courses, certifications or short-term learning classes that will help you prepare for the right opportunity. Kimberly Thompson is a board-certified counselor. Send questions to kim@careerrescue.com or Houston Chronicle, P.O. Box 4260, Houston, TX 77210. Visit her blog at www.blogs.chron.com/careerrescue. Assume you find yourself in a situation in which you are seeking entry to a nursing home for your spouse. You have heard that there are restrictions on resources that one can own as well as how much income one can have when seeking help from Medicaid, but you are pretty sure you dont qualify. Lets consider a case study: Mr. Smith has been diagnosed with dementia and can no longer care for himself. Mr. and Mrs. Smith own a house valued at $375,000, have $250,000 in cash and one car. Mr. Smith receives Social Security in the amount of $1,500 gross a month and Mrs. Smith receives $1,250. Mrs. Smith decides to seek the opinions of four persons: a friend, an admission director of a nursing home in which Mr. Smith may be admitted, her family attorney and a financial advisor. Mrs. Smith describes the facts to her friend, Ms. Jones, knowing she had placed her widowed mother in a nursing home three years ago. Ms. Jones told Mrs. Smith that in order to get her mother on Medicaid, that she would have had to sell her mothers house and farm and spend all of the money. So that is what she did. Now Mrs. Smith is very upset. She knows that she will soon be unable to care for Mr. Smith at home because she is older, too, and is having trouble helping him out of bed. She speaks next with an admissions director of a nursing home, who tells her she can keep the house but will have to spend down her excess funds before her husband will qualify for Medicaid. Mrs. Smiths financial advisor suggests putting the money into an annuity and then applying for Medicaid. Her family attorney tells her that she will have to spend down half of her cash assets before she can get Mr. Smith on Medicaid. Unfortunately, the above advisors gave her incorrect or bad advice. There are several different methods or combination of methods available to help persons qualify for Medicaid. What works for one situation doesnt work for another. In the case study previously described, Mr. and Mrs. Smiths case fits the criteria for Medicaids spousal impoverishment rules. This law affords Mr. Smith to receive Medicaid to help keep Mrs. Smith from becoming impoverished while paying for Mr. Smiths long-term care costs in a nursing home. Medicaid provides that if Mrs. Smiths income, added together with Mr. Smiths income, minus the monthly personal needs allowance of $60 that Medicaid will allow for Mr. Smith, does not reach the Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA), which in 2018 is $3,090, then Mrs. Smith would be allowed to expand the protected resources amount so that she would have the assets necessary to theoretically provide her with additional income based on the one-year CD rate at a local bank. In most cases in which this is a viable opportunity, the community spouse is usually able to preserve all of the assets and the income of both spouses, minus $60 for Mr. Smiths personal needs allowance. You should be careful about who you get your advice from in this area of the law. You can easily burn up huge amounts of money unnecessarily. Email your questions to education@wrightabshire.com or visit the website at www.wrightabshire.com. Wesley E. Wright and Molly Dear Abshire are attorneys with the firm Wright Abshire, Attorneys, P.C., with offices in Bellaire, The Woodlands and Carmine. Both Wright and Abshire are board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in estate planning and probate law and are certified as Elder Law Attorneys by the National Elder Law Foundation. Nothing contained in this publication should be considered as the rendering of legal advice to any persons specific case, but should be considered general information. Florida authorities can be soooooo accommodating - so much so that when Douglas Peter Kelly phoned sheriff's deputies to tell them he'd been sold the wrong illicit drug, they offered to test it for him. Kelly, from Hawthorne, called the Putnam County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday to say that he had bought what he thought was methamphetamine; but, after smoking it and having a "violent reaction," he suspected that he'd been given the wrong substance - and he wanted to press charges against the person who sold it to him, deputies said in a Facebook post. Detectives told him they could certainly test the drug for him to ensure it was meth. And, the authorities said, he took them up on it. "In an effort to ensure the quality of the drug the suspect purchased, detectives told Kelly if he came to the sheriff's office they could test the narcotic he had purchased," said the post from the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. "Kelly drove to the sheriff's office and handed detectives a clear, crystal-like substance wrapped in aluminum foil. The substance field-tested positive for methamphetamine, the drug Kelly intended to purchase." Kelly was arrested. The 49-year-old was charged with possession of methamphetamine and was "walked" over to the jail, according to the Facebook post. His attorney could not be immediately reached for comment. Authorities in other states have made similar overtures. In May, the Gratis Police Department in Ohio posted a "warning" on Facebook about meth that could be contaminated with the Zika virus and offered to test it - gratis. The post read: "WARNING: If you have recently purchased Meth in Preble, Montgomery, Darke or Butler Counties it may be contaminated with the Zika Virus. Please bring it to the Gratis Police Department and we will test it for free. If you're not comfortable coming into our office, please contact us and we'll test your Meth in the privacy of your home." It included a disclaimer: "Methamphetamine can't be a host for the Zika virus." The Putnam County Sheriff's Office in Florida said in its Facebook post Wednesday that deputies will test any suspected "bad drugs" for free. "Remember," the post read, "our detectives are always ready to assist anyone who believes they were misled in their illegal drug purchase." Carol Loggins may be past the traditional retirement age, but shes not ready to give up the benefits that come from working. Theres the financial incentive, of course, said Loggins, an occupational health nurse who lives at Eagles Trace retirement community. But theres so much more. Working keeps me mentally sharp, engaged, and gives structure to my week. She is not alone when it comes to extending her career past 65. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, men and women working past the traditional retirement age are the fastest-growing segment in the workforce. Labor force participation among 65- to 74-year-olds is expected to reach 32 percent by 2022, up from 20 percent in 2002. If people love what theyre doing, they often want to continue doing it, said Dorian Mintzer, Ph.D., coauthor of The Couples Retirement Puzzle. Work can provide a sense of connection, engagement, purpose and meaning, all essential components of well-being. For Loggins, her current work situation is ideal. I work three days a week at Chevrons travel medicine clinic in downtown Houston, she said. We see Chevron employees who are planning to move or travel overseas to ensure they are in good health and up to date on all needed immunizations. Her three-day work schedule offers a pleasant work-life balance. In February 2017, Loggins moved to the Erickson Living community in west Houston. As a continuing care retirement community, Eagles Trace offers independent living, assisted living and long-term care. I had friends dealing with health concerns, and I realized I needed to be prepared should I ever require care, Loggins said. As I was doing my research and visiting communities around Houston, I heard from residents to move sooner rather than later so I could start enjoying all the benefits and amenities of a retirement community. When she returns home from work, she has just enough time to rest and watch a few minutes of television before heading to one of the communitys on-site restaurants for dinner. Not cooking is just fine with me, she said. After dinner there are clubs and activities right here on campus. The advice received from residents to move so she could enjoy all Eagles Trace has to offer was spot-on. I joined the computer club, the genealogy club, and the Great Decisions discussion group, which meet on different weeknights, she said. She also appreciates the on-site fitness center and medical center, staffed by full-time physicians. A few weeks ago, I was able to get a same-day appointment with a doctor right here at Eagles Trace, she said. Thats pretty rare in todays world. Giving up the chores associated with home maintenance was another benefit of the move. I lived in my Bellaire home for 43 years, she said. I did some remodeling 12 years ago, but it was starting to need more work. I dont have to worry about that anymore. Loggins two-bedroom apartment, which she shares with her cat Patience, is filled with natural light. Glass doors just off the living area lead to a covered patio. Having right-sized her living space, Loggins is free to focus on activities, including work, that bring fulfillment. Im grateful for my job, she said. I work with a wonderful team that is committed to operational excellence. Ill keep doing what Im doing for as long as I can. The impact of Alzheimers and dementia is affecting more than 47 million people worldwide with an estimated increase to 75 million by 2030. Gaining a deeper understanding is how caregivers and families can see how this overwhelming disease comes to change the life of the person living with it. Second Wind Dreams, an award-winning Dreams Program, came to shed the light on this particular aspect with their Virtual Dementia Tour at Belmont Village Hunters Creek. The 20-minute experience simulates the effects of aging and dementia, giving the viewer the opportunity to walk in the loved ones shoes. With this program, caregivers and family cannot only understand the physical and mental challenges, they can also be empowered to provide better care and support. Ashley Marcellus, executive director, Belmont Village Hunters Creek, said they hosted the Virtual Dementia Tour to provide an opportunity for their Senior Living and Memory Care staff and family as well as the Houston community to gain insight into the daily life of living with dementia. The experience is eye-opening, even for the most knowledgeable person, Marcellus said. I think our staff members came out with a new perspective on what our memory care residents go through. This tour could be of benefit for anyone who interacts with or provides care for someone with dementia. We look forward to bringing more educational opportunities such as this to our community. Dementia, which requires a medical diagnosis, has a wide variety of symptoms including forgetfulness, limited social skills and impaired thinking abilities, which can interfere with daily functioning. In addition, there are cognitive issues such as memory loss, mental decline, confusion in the evening hours, disorientation, inability to speak or understand language, making things up, mental confusion, or inability to recognize common things. It also can affect behavior and mood from personality changes to restlessness, irritability, anxiety, loneliness, and mood swings. Muscle movements and speech will also present signs of the illness. The seven stages of Alzheimers begin at Stage 1 with no impairment and progress to very severe cognitive decline at Stage 7. Dell Van Liew, son of memory care resident at Belmont Village Hunters Creek, participated in the Virtual Dementia Tour, and was surprised at what he saw. I honestly had no idea what to expect, but this experience gave me perspective on what my mom is going through. I didnt realize how hard it is for her to accomplish simple tasks that we do every day yet take for granted. I recommend everyone who has a loved one or cares for someone with dementia try this, so they can get a glimpse of what living with dementia is like, said Van Liew. Belmont Village Hunters Creek and VITAS Healthcare plan on hosting the event again later in the near future to provide another opportunity for people to go through the experience. Those interested can call Belmont Village Hunters Creek at 713-781-1505 to get more information. A College Station bar is celebrating more than 40 years of service, an accomplishment that's made it a staple in the Texas A&M University experience. "Today, we celebrate 44 years of serving Aggieland," The Dixie Chicken tweeted on Friday. "Don Ganter and Donnie Anz opened the doors to a little beer joint that has grown into an attraction. We are honored from all the love we've gotten from the people that've walked through our doors since June 15th, 1974." Check out the slideshow above for the answer to some of the most frequently-asked questions that tourists have about Houston... In case Houstonians needed even more validation that they made the right choice living in the Bayou City, a recent report named Houston among the 10 best big cities in the country. Houston was named in the 7th best city in the country in a write-up from consulting firm Resonance Consultancy. The city is called the "most ethnically diverse big city in the country" with "affordable housing" and a "food scene to rival any in the country." Killen's STQ, The Pit Room, and Xochi all get foodie shout-outs. SEE A NEW SIDE OF HOU: These tours of Houston show off the coolest parts of the Bayou City The cities were ranked by looking at a 28 factors across six categories, including infrastructure, arts and culture, dining, weather, crime rate, major attractions, diversity, education, employment opportunities, and a places overall online presence. With major attention paid to Houston during the Super Bowl LI, the Astros' World Series run, and the city's culinary scene over the past year, it's easy to see why Houston found itself nestled between two coastal hotspots. DON'T TELL A SOUL: Where we like to eat, drink and be seen in Houston Jill Karnicki/Houston Chronicle Houston lawyer, TV personality, and part-time talk radio host Charles Adams is one of the city's biggest champions, seemingly spreading the gospel of Houston whenever he can. A ranking like this isn't surprising to him. He just wishes we were ranked higher. During his travels across the country and the world Adams has noticed that the overwhelming majority of Houstonians embrace diversity unlike any other city he's seen. "We prefer to break bread and drink cold beer with people from all backgrounds in the grit and the grime that makes this flat sea of concrete so vibrant and beautiful," Adams added. HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Anthony Bourdain's history with Houston And it's not as if the secret isn't already out. It might just take a while for everyone else to get hip to us. The great thing is, some people have already taken notice. Houston's distinct personality was on display during the late Anthony Bourdain's episode of "Parts Unknown" from Houston which aired in October 2016. While in town, Bourdain shared some authentic Houston barbecue with local rapper Slim Thug; explored the city's unique Vietnamese/Southern Bayou crawfish scene; and reportedly sampled a purple-colored "local beverage" that made him "strangely sleepy". Unsurprisingly New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles took the top three spots on the list, with San Francisco, Las Vegas, San Diego, Houston, Miami, Seattle, and Boston rounding out the top ten. Cities with a population of over one million are deemed large cities. In a larger ranking of the top fifty big cities in the country Dallas was ranked 12th, Austin was ranked 14th, and San Antonio come in 20th. Craig Hlavaty is a reporter for Chron.com and HoustonChronicle.com. Houston ISD trustees narrowly rejected the districts proposed $2 billion budget, did not move forward with making Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan the districts permanent leader and voted to end the employment of acclaimed Furr High School Principal Bertie Simmons during an eventful meeting Thursday. In a surprising split, board members voted 5-4 to reject the budget proposal after several trustees expressed concern about using $19 million from HISDs rainy-day fund to cover a shortfall. Trustees had voiced little public opposition to the budget until Thursdays meeting. Trustees now have until June 30 to comply with state law and pass a budget for 2018-19. HISD administrators are expected to present a revised budget proposal in the coming days. A date has not been set for the next board meeting. HISDs budget has been subject to intense scrutiny since January, when district administrators forecasted a deficit of about $200 million. Administrators revised their projections after receiving a sunnier revenue outlook in recent months, cutting the expected deficit in half. They proposed slashing about $83 million in spending which would result in hundreds of layoffs and using $19 million from the rainy-day fund to cover the remaining shortfall. Until Thursday, much of the discussion surrounding HISDs proposed budget had centered on the distribution of cuts. At several public budget meetings in recent months, trustees gave no indication that they would reject the proposed budget because it used rainy-day funds. But several trustees on Thursday said HISD needs to stop using reserves to balance its budget. Last year, board members voted 8-1 to take $106 million from the districts rainy-day fund to cover its deficit. Until we can start building on a balanced budget and stop rushing, were not going to get things done, said Trustee Elizabeth Santos, who voted against the budget proposal. I believe we can do better as a board moving forward. Performance review If trustees want to pass a budget without using deficit reserves, district administrators will have to recommend additional cuts or scale back spending increases. HISD administrators had recommended cutting $34 million, or 3 percent, from campus-level spending and $49 million, or 10 percent, from administrative and school support departments. Their budget proposal also included spending $17 million more this year on dyslexia services, special education and the districts plan for chronically low-performing campuses. Trustees on Thursday also chose to forgo a vote or public discussion on whether to remove Lathans interim tag after that possibility was added to the meeting agenda. In recent days, several trustees said they would be reluctant to name Lathan as the districts permanent leader, questioning the timing and transparency of such a move. Board President Rhonda Skillern-Jones, who sets the agenda, said the item was added for discussion during closed session, noting that its the end of the school year, so it was natural. Trustees also agreed to seek a wide-ranging review of the districts performance and operations from the Legislative Budget Board, a nonpartisan state organization. Board members voted 6-3, with trustees Wanda Adams, Jolanda Jones and Skillern-Jones opposing. The Legislative Budget Board will dive deep into many corners of HISD, offering recommendations about how the district can improve operations and cut costs. Trustees voted last month to seek a performance audit and solicit bids from outside organizations, but on Thursday they reversed course by approving the Legislative Budget Board review. By choosing the Legislative Budget Board, HISD selected an experienced organization it conducted a performance review of the district two decades ago and likely saved more than $1 million. The Legislative Budget Board will cover 75 percent of the reviews cost. HISD originally budgeted up to $2.5 million for an outside audit. Principal fired Jones said she opposed allowing the Legislative Budget Board to conduct the review, citing its proximity to the Republican-led state Legislature. I dont trust them, and their whole purpose is to shut us down, Jones said. Furr High School Principal Bertie Simmons also learned her fate Thursday, as trustees voted 5-1 to terminate her employment amid an investigation into grade and attendance record manipulation. Three trustees abstained from the vote. HISD officials have said the investigation identified serious misconduct by Furr High School administrators, but they havent released a copy of the full investigation or underlying evidence. Simmons, who has been widely lauded for turning around the once-failing school, has denied the allegations and alleged age and racial discrimination. She is 84 and white. Trustees also voted Thursday to establish a districtwide holiday in honor of iconic labor activists Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, best known for helping farm workers gain additional rights across the country. The holiday, which will mirror the districts Martin Luther King Jr. Day, is expected to start in 2020. It will be held on the Monday that falls on or precedes March 31. jacob.carpenter@chron.com A 26-year-old Houston man already charged with capital murder in a March deadly shooting now faces another capital murder charge, this time in an attempted robbery and killing in the Lawndale area in December. Jacob Eli Garcia was already in jail when he was charged this week in the deadly shooting last year of Jose Guzman in the 7900 block of Hudson. A child brought a mother a gun that she used to shoot her ex-boyfriend Friday morning, Houston police said. Police were called to the Costa Vizcaya Apartments at 12020 North Gessner after midnight Thursday and found one man with a gunshot wound. He was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive, said Det. Jeff Hasley of the Houston Police Department. AP source: No one else in NFL cited with email violations 'The NFL did not identify any problems anywhere near what you saw with Jon Gruden,' the source... Where to find the best deals on bulk Halloween candy Halloween is right around the corner. Stock up on great deals on bulk candy before its too late! SAN ANTONIO Gov. Greg Abbott, in a call to arms for Republicans to turn back a Democratic blue-wave, pledged Friday to curb spiraling property taxes, protect gun rights and continue adding new jobs if reelected. ""We are dealing with a battle for the soul of Texas itself," Abbott said to cheers from the more than 8,000 delegates to the GOP state convention at a downtown, just blocks from the revered historic mission where blood was shed in Texas' fight for independence from Mexico more than 180 years ago. "The heroes of the Alamo are long gone. Now it's up to you, he added. This is a battle for the freedoms we inherited." Abbott drew repeated cheers when he pledged not to raise taxes, to push for stronger voter-fraud laws, keep in place a state ban on sanctuary cities, raise teachers' pay, end the so-called Robin Hood plan to equalize school spending and expand opportunities for education. Abbott also drew cheers when he noted that if Texas were its own country again it would have the 10th largest economy in the world. "That makes me more powerful than (Russian President Vladimir) Putin," Abbott said. Pointing to the delegates, he added: "You had a lot more to do with our last election than did Russia." Abbott also saluted the resilience of Texans after Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston and the Texas coast almost a year ago, especially the heroic efforts of first responders and average Texans who rescued thousands from flooding in their boats. Days ago, the governor had drawn criticism for not pushing back publicly when President Trump said that sightseers had gone out in their boats to see the approaching storm and required rescuing. Democratic gubernatorial nominee Lupe Valdez, the former Dallas County sheriff, drew expected boos from the GOP audience when Abbott noted that she had thousands of dollars in unpaid property taxes. "The Democrats want to raise taxes," Abbott said, pledging he will instead cut them "to allow you to keep more of your hard-earned money." Mike Ward covers the governor and executive branch, criminal justice, ethics and investigations as Austin Bureau Chief for the Houston Chronicle. He also hosts the state'sleading weekly podcast, Texas Take, with Scott Braddock, editor of the Quorum Report newsletter. Follow Mike on Facebook @ChronicleMike and send him news tips at mike.ward@chron.com. SAN ANTONIO Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick left no doubt that school safety will be the top priority of the Texas Senate when it next meets in 2019. At the Republican Party of Texas Convention, the Houston area Republican said after the shooting at Santa Fe High School, it is clear what the most important topic is. School security will be our number one issue, Patrick said as thousands of Republican activists applauded. Patrick said he doesnt know exactly what the Senate bill will look like in the end, but stressed topics like arming teachers in schools and limiting school entrances. We will do everything we can to secure our schools, Patrick said. Not on the table: gun control. Patrick emphasized that the shootings in Santa Fe and Sutherland Springs should not be an opening for taking away peoples right to carry a gun. The gun is not the problem, Patrick said. Patrick also said tax reform and better pay for teachers will be high on his list of priorities. Patrick did not talk about passing a bathroom bill, but vociferously defended previous efforts to pass the legislation. In 2017 during the regular session and a special session, the Texas Senate passed bills that would have barred people from using a bathroom that did not correspond to the gender listed on their birth certificate. Patrick and his supporters have called it an attempt to protect women and children in bathrooms and locker rooms from predators. Critics have countered that the legislation is discriminatory against people who are transgender. While it passed the Senate, it never made it to a vote in the Texas House, where House Speaker Joe Straus, a San Antonio Republican, opposed the legislation. Patrick said results from the Republican Party Primary shows the Senate was right to push the issue. In the primary, 90 percent of the 1.5 million voters in the primary supported barring men from womens bathrooms, he said. Jeremy.Wallace@chron.com Texas politicians often boast about the state's cheap real estate, but not much thought is given as to who can actually afford it. On Wednesday, the National Low Income Housing Coalition released new figures on the gap between renters' wages and the cost of rental housing in the U.S. In Texas, renters need to make roughly $19 an hour to afford a two-bedroom rental home, or an annual income slightly more than $40,000. If they were making minimum wage, or $7.25 in Texas, they would need to work 107 hours a week to afford the same home. Apple, Amazon, and now Googles parent company, Alphabet all tech giants whose employees and shareholders are demanding their companies make concrete plans to address the lack of diversity in their workforces. Google is already fighting multiple lawsuits from ex-employees accusing the tech giant of discriminating against women in pay and promotions. Then there was the highly publicized memo circulated by former Googler James Damore, who was fired for his anti-diversity screed. Reuters reported that in March 2018, several hundred employees formed an organized effort asking Google to adopt several measures, including HR guidelines that specify protections for anyone involved in an internal HR investigation, improving Googles code of conduct, stamping out malicious leaks, and improving the process of handling complaints. Google shareholders offer diversity proposals Last Wednesday, Reuters reported that shareholders and employees, led by software engineer Irene Knapp, made the case that a gender pay gap and a lack of diversity were obstacles to the companys ability to hire and retain talent, which posed a long-term risk to its ability to innovate. The shareholder proposals aim to address some of Googles biggest diversity and inclusion issues, including the persistent underrepresentation of women and racial minorities in the companys U.S. workforce relative to the national population, according to Reuters. The proposals would, among other actions, tie executive compensation to progress made towards greater diversity and inclusion. In response to a question about diversity and inclusion, Eileen Naughton, Googles vice president of people operations, said the company wants to increase its proportion of black, Latino, and female workers. "We are working hard against both hiring and also progression and development of talent and retention of talent. That is a firm leadership commitment," she said. It seems like adopting these proposals put forth by shareholders might be a great way to further prove theyre serious about these issues, right? I guess not. Ultimately, the proposal was voted down by investors. For Alphabet/Google, paying lip service to diversity and inclusion seems to be fine. Taking concrete action that could result in actual diversity, greater inclusion, and a sense of belonging? Not so much. Irene Knapps full statement about improving diversity at Google Heres Knapps statement, presented on behalf of investor Zevin Asset Management and "concerned employees": My name is Irene Knapp and I am an engineer at Google. On behalf of Zevin Asset Management and concerned employees of Alphabet and its subsidiaries, I hereby move Proposal Number 8. Integrating executive performance measures with diversity and inclusion metrics will further our company's values, address long-term human capital risks, and make it clear that diversity and inclusion are a business priority throughout the organization. Diversity and inclusion are key components of business sustainability and success. McKinsey & Company research shows that companies in the top quartiles for gender and racial/ethnic diversity were more likely to have above average financial returns. Yet, at Alphabet, diversity and inclusion activities by individual contributors and managers alike including mentorship, outreach, and community building have been met with a disorganized array of responses, including formal reprimand. The lack of clear, communicated policies and actions to advance diversity and inclusion, with concrete accountability and leadership from senior executives, has left many of us feeling unsafe and unable to do our work. The chilling effect of harassment and doxxing has impaired productivity and company culture. Responses from HR have been inadequate, leaving minority communities unprotected. Now we are forced to weigh the risks to ourselves before giving each other support. This backwards response is tied to immediate retention issues, as entire support networks shut down in fear. The proposed metrics will incentivize long-term progress on diversity and inclusion. However, Alphabet must also immediately address human capital risk by improving its code of conduct, by cracking down on malicious leaks that have intimidated individuals, by publishing to employees a manual formalizing the procedures for HR investigations, and by finding a solution for bad-faith HR complaints. We are hopeful that executives are finding ways to implement these solutions, as concerned employees requested two months ago. It is our belief as investors, as engineers, and as technical professionals, that a lack of executive leadership around sustainability, diversity and inclusion fundamentally hurts the quality of products Alphabet can deliver to users." Irene Knapp, Google engineer It is our belief as investors, as engineers, and as technical professionals, that a lack of executive leadership around sustainability, diversity and inclusion fundamentally hurts the quality of products Alphabet can deliver to users. As a company that aims to focus on the next billion internet users and bring the convenience and power of information access to them, Alphabet must credibly integrate diversity and inclusion into its strategy. Today, it is clear that Alphabet shareholders are listening to employees' experience, and standing with us as we all challenge our company to be better. Together, we are sending a strong message to Alphabet's leadership that they must prioritize diversity and inclusion in the interest of all employees and of long-term investor value. Until Alphabet and Google take concrete steps to address these issues (approving the shareholder proposals would be a good start), their "firm leadership commitment" will continue to ring hollow, leaving employees and shareholders out in the cold. Dont believe the hype that Amazon killed the Seattle head tax, the new levy that the city recently passed on businesses to fund an affordable-housing initiative. The truth behind the city councils stunning reversalrepealing the tax by a 7-2 vote, just four weeks after passing it 9-0is that Seattle citizens have erupted in frustration against the citys tax-and-spend political class that has failed to address the homelessness crisis, despite record new revenues. As recently as a few years ago, it seemed as if Seattle voters largely viewed our hyper-progressive city council as a harmless oddity in an otherwise tolerant, thriving, liberal city. But times have changed. Now, according to recent public polling, 83 percent of Seattle voters are dissatisfied with how the council has addressed homelessness, 65 percent believe that the local government hasnt used new tax revenues effectively, and 63 percent believe that the city has enough money to solve the problem but isnt pursuing the right policies. Progressives have tried to paint the anti-head tax campaign as corporate astroturfing, but beneath the surface, its being driven by this broader shift in public opinion. In just two weeks, the No Tax on Jobs campaign, led by local businesses, recruited 2,000 volunteer signature-gatherers and collected nearly 46,000 signaturesmore than double the amount required to qualify as a ballot measure. When I spoke with one of the volunteers in the liberal Fremont neighborhood, he told me: Im retired and I wanted to volunteer for the cause. I think the tax is a bad idea: if you tax something, you get less of it. Im going to collect two pages of signatures and then go home. While Amazon has grabbed all the headlines, this battle touches on an even deeper paradox of political life in Seattle: we have created one of the most dynamic, innovative, upwardly mobile cities in the nationa testament to the power of our unique brand of compassionate capitalismyet we have also spawned a hardcore socialist contingent that wants to tear it all down. Fortunately, the head tax fight has revealed that some of the core constituencies of the progressive coalitionaffluent liberal neighbors, labor unions, and blue-collar workersare starting to turn against the politics of the far Left. Over the past few months, members of the Iron Workers Local 86 shouted down Socialist Alternative councilwoman Kshama Sawant at a political rally in front of the Amazon Spheres, fed-up neighbors in the wealthy Green Lake neighborhood exploded against four councilmembers at a public town hall, and dockworkers in the Ballard neighborhood physically collared councilman Mike OBrien and threw him out of a party at the Pacific Fishermen Shipyard. After years of skyrocketing local taxes and failing public programs, Seattle voters have begun to understand that taxes alone dont solve problems; whats needed is strong leadership and sensible public policy. The evidence against the city councils approach to homelessness is piling up on every street corner and public sidewalk in the city: out-of-control street camping, thousands of discarded hypodermic needles, and property crime rates four times higher than New York City. While the socialists may continue to pack city council meetings waving their red Tax Amazon and Rent Freeze Now signs, they are losing the wider battle for public opinion. There is buzz around town that the Chamber of Commerce and a coalition of neighborhood organizations are recruiting candidates for all seven city council seats up for elections next year. To my astonishment, Ive heard at least a dozen neighbors, friends, and colleagues whisper that Seattle needs a Giulianithat is, the city needs to recognize that, in addition to public programs, we need to get tough on street homelessness and enforce the law. Theres a limit to progressivism, even in Americas most progressive city. The backlash is coming. Photo by John Moore/Getty Images Development charity Tearfund has launched a new arm in the USA, it has announced. The Christian charity, which specialises in relief and development, will be part of the wider Tearfund charity and will have close links with Tearfund in the UK. It will be led by Sonia Patterson who takes up the role of chief executive. She has 20 years experience in developing business, non-governmental and community relations in the United States, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Patterson will also sit on the charitys board. She said: The mission of Tearfund resonates with my lifelong sense of personal calling to bring hope and wholeness to people in need. I am excited to start this new chapter with Tearfund USA, building on the organisations global legacy of helping the most marginalised and vulnerable. Im looking forward to the process of setting up the organisation in the US, meeting supporters and partners and following Jesus where the need is greatest. Clive Mather will chair the new organisation, following ten years as chair of the UK charity. He said: Tearfund USA will be asking Christians to go deeper in thinking about how they live. A whole life response to poverty involves praying, giving, acting, volunteering and making lifestyle changes. Sometimes it will involve sacrifice and inconvenience, but it will be liberating and empowering in a way that defies worldly expectations. Other people joining the board include Laura Meitzner Yoder, a professor of Environmental Studies at Wheaton College, Illinois and Jeff Galley who works for the leading US church network Life Church, that has campuses in eight states and has oversight of more than 80 local and global partnerships. Alison McKenna, principal judge at the Charity Tribunal, lists the range of free legal advice available for charities and voluntary groups around the country. I was delighted when LawWorks invited me to be one of the judges of this years National Pro Bono Awards. During the course of the judging process, I was hugely impressed by the range of Pro Bono legal advice undertaken by the short-listed firms, and I was especially interested in the work undertaken for charities and other community groups. I learned a lot about the wide range of free legal advice available to charities though my involvement in the awards process, so I hope I can draw the charity sectors attention to some really great initiatives by writing a bit about them. By way of background, LawWorks is the working name of the Solicitors Pro Bono Group (registered charity number 1064274). LawWorks tell me that, based on feedback they received, in 2013 their volunteer lawyers dedicated approximately 4,846 hours to pro bono advice., with an estimated value of approximately 1,393,774. LawWorks for Community Groups is a dedicated scheme which offers free legal advice and guidance to small charities and other community organisations in England and Wales. The Community Groups project works by brokering specific pieces of legal advice for community groups on a wide range of legal areas including company and charity law, contract, employment, intellectual property, tax and VAT, property, insurance and insolvency. The advice is provided by LawWorks member firms, under the auspices of the Pro Bono Protocol, which sets the client care standard for the relationship regulating it much as if the charity were the paying customer of a law firm. LawWorks has also supported the development of dedicated legal advice clinics for community groups - you can find information about these on the LawWorks website. The clinics offer charities the opportunity to seek initial pro bono advice from a solicitor on either a drop in or appointment basis, either face-to-face or over the telephone. The Community Groups project also publishes factsheets to give general information to community groups on specific areas of law, to enable them to spot and avoid potential legal problems and is developing a range of legal training videos which will soon be available on YouTube. There is even one about the Charity Tribunal! Finally, for community organisations unlucky enough to be involved in a dispute, LawWorks can broker the services of an independent trained mediator, who can help settle situations to the satisfaction of both parties. The National Pro Bono Awards celebrate the best pro bono activities undertaken by organisations and individuals and the positive impact they have had on those helped. It was a really difficult task for the judges to single out just one of the short-listed firms or individuals for an award in each category, as there was so much to admire in the work undertaken by them all. To highlight but a few, I was really interested to learn that its not just the private practice law firms who undertake pro bono work for community groups but also in-house legal teams. The award for the best contribution by an in-house team went to Siemens this year, who, for example, had advised one charity through the process of taking a lease of new premises and another through the process of registration with the Charity Commission. The best contribution by an individual award went to Christine Ball from the legal advice clinic at Liverpool University, who had led an important project in which volunteer law students had reviewed many thousands of documents in connection with the Hillsborough inquiry, supporting bereaved families through the process of preparing their papers for the new inquest. And the best partnership in pro bono award went to a partnership between a Community Law Centre and the UEA Law Clinic, in which student volunteers had been trained and supported to represent clients in a variety of Tribunals. The national pro bono centre award went to Lawyers Volunteering for the Arts, which is a pro bono legal project set up by a group of London law firms, providing free legal advice to low income and not-for-profit arts and cultural organisations throughout the UK. Its difficult to know how any of these charities could have afforded to pay for legal advice and it has been truly heartening to see how their charitable work has been supported by lawyers volunteering their time and skills through pro bono initiatives such as these. You can find out more about LawWorks for Community Groups at www.lawworks.org.uk/community-groups. It was an impressive display of journalism: An in-depth look at Amazons marketing of a controversial facial recognition software product to US law enforcement. It involved record searches in multiple jurisdictions, along with the collection of other evidence about the campaign and its impact. But this tour-de-force didnt come from a media organization like The New York Times or The Washington Postit came from the American Civil Liberties Union. In many ways, the story was a perfect fit for an organization like the ACLU: Matt Cagle, a lawyer for the ACLU in Northern California, noticed online marketing materials posted by Amazon for its software, which listed several law-enforcement organizations as users. So Cagle and his team started a records search, got two other ACLU bureaus involved, and the groups national editorial team pulled the project together. In all, Cagle says, the project involved more than two dozen lawyers and advocates, as well as legal advisers at the national level, editors, and the ACLUs communications team, and it took several months to come to fruitionthe kind of resources many media companies would find hard to marshall for a single story. ICYMI: 11 images that show how the Trump administration is failing at photography As the media landscape continues to fragment and many outlets struggle to afford more ambitious reporting projects, non-governmental organizations and advocacy groups like the ACLU and Human Rights Watch are increasingly taking on the role of reporterbreaking stories and in some cases even helping to change policy. But even those leading the new NGO-as-muckraker efforts acknowledge that theyre no replacement for traditional news organizations. We can definitely bring some skills to bear on this kind of story, but thats by no means a substitute for the amazing work that journalists do around the country right now, says Cagle. But I think if we can help supplement that work and also do our part to educate the public and advocate for civil liberties, then we are doing something good. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Theres no question that work like that done by Human Rights Watch, Greenpeace, and Amnesty International around issues like immigration, the environment, and totalitarianism can help fill gaps in traditional media coverageespecially in foreign countries, where few media companies have the resources to invest in on-the-ground reporting. But these groups are not fundamentally journalistic in nature. Although they may look and behave like modern media organizations, they are advocacy groups, and have an explicit agenda; theyre looking for impact. That agenda may coincide with the news, and they may use traditional journalistic techniques to advance it, but in most cases the larger goal of this work is in service of some kind of policy change or other action, and not information or the public record per se. Can some of the losses in international journalism be offset by advocacy groups, to the extent that they can provide coverage from areas not getting attention? Clearly the answer is yes, says Matthew Powers, a professor of communications at the University of Washington and author of NGOs as Newsmakers: The Changing Landscape of International News. But at the same time its also easy to imagine a world where this causes problems, where journalism could become a platform for advocacy purposes and for fundraising. ICYMI: NY journalist handcuffed to railing over his head The line between advocacy groups and media organizations has been blurring for some time. As the internet enabled the democratization of information production and distribution, and social platforms have given everyone the ability to reach an audience, smart NGOs long ago realized they could use these tools to spread their own message, instead of having to rely on partnerships with traditional media. Journalism professor Dan Gillmor wrote a decade ago about the work the ACLU was doing around Guantanamo Bay, and the reporting Human Rights Watch did on issues such as domestic workers in Saudi Arabia. A number of academics have also written about the increasing overlap between NGOs and journalism. As traditional journalism companies are firing reporters and editors right and left, the almost-journalist organizations have both the deep pockets and staffing to fill in some of the gaps, Gillmor wrote. He also encouraged NGOs to concentrate on applying journalistic principles such as fact-checking and transparency. Powers says that most NGOs didnt get into reporting because they were interested in doing journalism or becoming media companiesthey did it in order to improve their standing with governments and other policy groups so their lobbying would be taken seriously. They started doing it primarily so they could look more legitimate to policy makers, says Powers. Most well-established advocacy organizations still work with media partners to get their message out, as the ACLU did with its face-recognition story: The group reached out to several writers at prominent outlets such as The New York Times and gave them an embargoed version of the research; stories were published by them and the ACLU simultaneously. But many groups have also become standalone media outlets in their own right, with websites and social-media accounts that are widely followed. The ACLUs newsroom of editors and reporters produce between 14 and 20 stories a week. The groups editorial director, Terry Tangwho worked as a senior editor at the Times for two decades before joining the ACLU last yeartells CJR she is hiring journalists and looking to expand the ACLU newsroom into new areas, including a podcast and more video production. We have the legal expertise and policy expertise for a lot of these kinds of storiespeople who have been plowing these fields for a long time and really know those issues, Tang says. So when something happens its not like theyre just reporting the news, they already understand the issues and so they are able to produce analysis as well. Its not terribly different than having a very seasoned beat reporter. Others have also been expanding in similar ways: Greenpeace, which has always been media savvy when it comes to getting coverage of its activities, launched an ambitious effort to do its own reporting in 2015, hiring experienced editors and reporters from the Times and the BBC to add to its existing in-house editorial operation, which is called Unearthed (formerly known as Energy Desk). At the ACLU, Tang says the organization is thinking about how to balance the need for longterm research and coverage with the demand to be on top of the news with something relevant to say, so that it will get picked up by social platforms. In other words, shes working her way through exactly the same kinds of considerations faced by traditional media outlets. Does the desire to promote a specific viewpoint on an issue or news story ever get in the way of producing this kind of journalistic content? Tang says it doesnt, and that the editorial group makes a point of sticking to a very traditional, fact-based approach. In the end, she says, its a matter of trustif the organization were to bend the rules, eventually people would stop trusting what it was saying. I came to work at Human Rights Watch because I was interested in figuring out what it looked like to have a different financial model and a different trust model for achieving the good that accountability journalism achieves, says communications director Nic Dawes, the former editor-in-chief of South Africas Mail & Guardian, who joined HRW in 2016. The whole model relies on the idea that our information is trustworthy, so we put a huge premium on accuracy. I would say in many ways it exceeds whats done in most journalism organizations. Some advocacy groups have blurred traditional journalistic lines. For example, Powers says, Greenpeaces Unearthed site did a report on climate change in 2015 and used journalists who pretended to be executives from the oil and gas industry and found several academics who were willing to be paid for their pro-industry opinions without saying where the money came from. While the organization argued that the outcome was worth it, the group did face some criticism that the tactic amounted to entrapment. In fairness to Greenpeace, their argument was they couldnt have gotten the story any other way and that it was important to do it, Powers says. But theres a definite risk that the advocacy element will outweigh the journalistic aspect. I think in the long run that could actually work to their detriment when it comes to trust. Damian Kahya, a former BBC reporter who runs Greenpeaces investigative unit, says the team are all professionally trained journalists and the agency only uses fake identities where we have a suspicion of wrongdoing, clear public interest, and where we believe the information cannot reasonably be obtained by other means. Kahya added that Greenpeaces team is separate from the environmental advocacy part of the organization, and that it adheres to the highest editing and reporting standards. Other incursions into journalism are less controversial, but still raise questions. In 2007, an intergovernmental body known as UNAIDS acknowledged that the organization had systematically overstated the spread of AIDS. Critics said the organization misstated the numbers in an attempt to create a sense of urgency around the issue to help with fundraising. And in 2015, a number of NGOs and advocacy groups reported that as many as 75 percent of the women in Liberia had been raped during the civil war in that country, but independent surveys put the number closer to between 10 percent and 20 percent. This kind of behavior can come into play not because NGOs are trying to deliberately mislead people, Powers says, but because they need to raise awareness of an issue for practical reasonsit shows that they are doing their jobs, that the organization is necessary, and it helps with fundraising. If the problem of civil rights or AIDS or sex trafficking isnt a big one, why donate to a group dedicated to addressing it? Of course, traditional media organizations often get accused of distorting the news in similar waysof selectively including certain facts or quoting certain individualsbecause those facts or views fit a certain worldview. In some cases its done in order to generate traffic and advertising revenue, but there can also be ideological elements at work (Fox News, or at least the version of it that exists in primetime, springs to mind). But the lines separating one kind of journalism from another are getting increasingly blurry. Some media organizations have become so dependent on advocacy groups for their reporting and coverage that they run their videos or other content without saying where it came fromin a new book about NGOs and the news, Kate Wright from Edinburgh University looked at a week of news about Africa from UK sources, and found nearly half of those that used material produced by NGOs didnt identify the source. Thats not good for transparency, and its not good for readers who think they are getting an independent view. Theres also a risk that journalistic organizations that become intertwined with NGOs or advocacy groups wont devote the same kind of scrutiny to those groups as they would otherwise. In the end, the world of journalism and the world as a whole are probably better off now that there are activist organizations that are trying to use the tools of modern media to tell stories. The more sources of information there are, especially from remote or developing nations, the better. In some ways, thats one of the biggest benefits of a democratized media environmentanyone anywhere can become a news source, and thats fundamentally a good thing, even if some take advantage of it for their own purposes. ICYMI: DOJ seizes New York Times reporters phone and email records Correction: An earlier version of this story suggested that a study by Kate Wright found half of all UK media reports about Africa used NGO content without crediting them. The study actually found that half of all reports about Africa that used NGO material did so without crediting them. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Mathew Ingram is CJRs chief digital writer. Previously, he was a senior writer with Fortune magazine. He has written about the intersection between media and technology since the earliest days of the commercial internet. His writing has been published in the Washington Post and the Financial Times as well as by Reuters and Bloomberg. JOURNALISM HAS A COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP with Facebook, which many view as a serious threat to the Fourth Estate. But for Amy Julia Harris and Shoshana Walter, reporters for the Center for Investigative Reportings Reveal, a trail of Facebook friends led to a groundbreaking, months-long investigation into abuses at rehab work camps. Harris and Walter were on a new beatstate courtsand searching for stories. They looked into drug courts, which handle cases involving substance abuse offenders and, according to Walter, receive scant critical coverage. Such courts are supposed to provide treatment-focused alternatives to incarceration. In Oklahoma, judges send nonviolent offenders to so-called rehab work camps to treat their addictions, teach them to lead more productive lives, and ease overcrowding in prisons and jails. ICYMI: The Dallas Morning News recreates a fatal standoff with special investigation In some cases, the Reveal reporters discovered a different realityone theyve continued to cover since their first story published in October. Through Facebook sleuthingalong with records mining and interviews with former work camp employees, judges, and court officialsHarris and Walter exposed some camps to be what one participant described to them as modern-day slave camps. Once they had a lead, Harris and Walter turned to reviews of the programs on Facebook and Google. Often, the first few comments were glowing, according to Harris. But as the reporters kept scrolling, the comments took a negative turn. In their first story, Harris and Walter zoomed in on an Oklahoma program called Christian Alcoholics & Addicts in Recovery (CAAIR), which forced participants to work at chicken plants. The hours were long, and the conditions at the plants were often dangerous. The plants had zero substance abuse treatment, and some employees pocketed their workers earnings. At its core, CAAIRand other programs like itcultivated a new form of indentured servitude. Harris and Walter stumbled upon CAAIR as they searched different keyword combinations related to treatment programs in the Oklahoma state court database. We basically learned the language these programs use to describe themselves, Walter says. Once they had a lead, Harris and Walter turned to reviews of the programs on Facebook and Google. Often, the first few comments were glowing, according to Harris. But as the reporters kept scrolling, the comments took a negative turn. You would start seeing things that describe with more specificity what the program was like, says Harris. Sign up for weekly emails from the United States Project The two reporters messaged users who had left reviews, or ones who had previously checked in at CAAIR on Facebook. Once we talked with a few people, says Walter, it opened up the door to so many peopleincluding program participants and supervisors at the chicken plant. One new Facebook friend led them to others; Harris and Walter combed through friend lists for hours on end, building a network of sources who eventually helped blow the story open. At some point, all of my Facebook friends were guys who went to the CAAIR program, Walter jokes. Harris and Walter located a breach-of-contract suit against CAAIRs founders that laid out critical information, including CAAIRs ties to chicken plants. After hearing anecdotes about participants getting hurt at the plants, they looked into workers compensation claims connected to CAAIR, and spoke with people named in those documents to verify their injuries and learn more about conditions at the camps. The compensation claims exposed another surprise: CAAIR was filing workers comp claims on behalf of the participants, then keeping the settlements. There was so much information in writing, says Harris. It was just about finding the documents. It took Harris and Walter nine months to report and write the first story about rehab work camps. Since then, they have amassed a list of other questionable work rehab programs across the country. Late last month, they published a story about a North Carolina rehab program, Recovery Connections Community, that funnels participants into nursing homes instead of poultry plants. Rehab participants were poorly trained, and often worked 100-plus hours each week. Some stole prescription drugs from the nursing facilities; a few were accused of sexually assaulting patients. Since that storys publication, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has ordered a crackdown on programs like Recovery Connections, and the state attorney general has launched a criminal investigation into the program. The states Department of Health and Human Services ordered Recovery Connections to stop sending participants to nursing homes. A similar wave of impact in Oklahoma followed the first Reveal story. The pair hopes to partner with local newsrooms to dig further into such rehab work programs. Its easy to think of them, Walter says, as little microcosms of hell and abuse. But its part of a larger pattern of a lack of affordable treatment options in the US. ICYMI: The Oregonians shocking teacher investigation Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Meg Dalton is a freelance journalist and audio producer based in Connecticut. She's reported and edited for CJR, PBS NewsHour, Energy News Network, Architectural Digest, MediaShift, Hearst Connecticut newspapers, and more. Follow her on Twitter: @megdalts. Find her on Twitter @megdalts. How many people died in Puerto Rico from Hurricane Maria? Its a question that has been debated since the powerful storm slammed into the island and devastated the U.S. territory last year. Its also raised questions about how officials go about the challenging task of counting deaths and deciding what criteria to use. Someone who is killed by a storm-toppled tree, yes. But someone electrocuted by downed power lines many days later? No government agency has a good handle on counting disaster deaths, said George Haddow, a former official with the Federal Emergency Management Agency who teaches disaster operations at Tulane University in New Orleans. Everybody counts it differently, Haddow said. Two bills were introduced in Congress this week in an attempt to establish a new standard for counting deaths after a natural disaster. Death tolls are important. They influence public perception about the scope of a disaster and often determine what federal resources are allocated for response, said U.S. Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, D-NY, in a statement. She introduced the House version of the bill. Some basics about counting disaster deaths and why its an issue now: HOW ARE HURRICANE-RELATED DEATHS COUNTED? Disaster deaths tend to be placed in two categories, direct and indirect. For a hurricane, direct deaths include people who drown in a storm surge or flooding, are hit by flying debris or crushed in a wind-toppled building. Indirect deaths include heart attacks, house fires, electrocutions from downed power lines, car accidents and others fatalities that are less clearly tied to the elements. The National Hurricane Center, when it gives hurricane tallies, only reports direct deaths. But some experts disagree with that. If youre looking at people who died from the fact that their dialysis equipment didnt work or their respirators didnt work because of power failures, and they wouldnt have died otherwise, I think those deaths could and should be counted, said Kathleen Tierney, former director of the University of Colorados Natural Hazards Center. WHERE DO DEATH REPORTS COME FROM? Death certificates are the primary source of official death statistics in the United States, but those can take time and dont always include the circumstances of a death. Reports from police and emergency managers can also count as official information. To try to get a broader picture, some researchers have surveyed storm survivors, funeral home directors, and hospitals or other health care facilities. Different methodologies are going to yield different numbers, said Tierney. WHAT HAPPENED IN PUERTO RICO? Hurricane Maria hit in September 2017 and caused extensive damage, leaving the entire island of 3.3 million people without power. The official death toll stands at 64 although authorities believe more died. In December, Puerto Ricos governor ordered a review, and in February he announced a team at George Washington University would lead the review and provide an estimated range of deaths. That estimate is still pending. A judge last week ordered Puerto Rico to release more information, including all death certificates issued after the hurricane. People still dont have a clear picture as to how many lives were lost due to a lack of food, medicine, health services or simply because of an ineffective response to an emergency, wrote Judge Lauracelis Roques. ARE THERE OTHER ESTIMATES? Since the storm, a number of academic researchers and news organizations have made their own attempts to estimate the toll. Doing an exact count is all but impossible. Instead, they tried to estimate how many deaths occurred beyond what is usually seen in the same time period in the past. They believe that these excess deaths reflect direct and indirect hurricane-related deaths. Several offered an estimate of around 1,000 more deaths than usual in the months after the storm, and a Harvard study published last month suggested the number could be as high as 4,600 or more. Last week, Puerto Ricos Health Department offered its own estimate: It said there were 1,397 more deaths from September to December in 2017 than in the same period in 2016. Tuesday, authorities released the death totals for 2013-2017. Taking into account the newly released data, there were 1,427 more deaths than the average for the same four-month period in the previous four years. Science Writer Seth Borenstein contributed from Washington. The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. California Auto Insurance Appraiser Gets 10 Years for Involvement in Staged Collision Ring Erwin Raul Mejia of Van Nuys, Calif., was sentenced to 10 years in state prison following his conviction on 10 felony counts of insurance fraud for his role in a staged auto collision ring that bilked insurers out of more than $700,000. Mejia was also ordered to pay $699,784 in restitution to six auto insurers, including over $420,000 to Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Mejia played an integral role in a staged auto collision ring involving hundreds of suspects. Since October 2017, 25 additional arrests were made in connection with this organized ring, which in total has resulted in $1.7 million in losses to insurers. The departments investigation is ongoing and more arrests are likely to follow. Mejia worked as a material damage appraiser for Nationwide where he inspected damaged vehicles, prepared repair estimates, and issued checks to claimants for their damaged cars. An investigation by the California Department of Insurance, which led to Mejia and additional suspects orchestrated an elaborate scheme to defraud insurers with paper collisions that never occurred or by intentionally damaging vehicles to submit fraudulent claims. Mejia often inflated the damages to the cars in his estimates and even wrote estimates for cars that were not actually damaged. He and a capper recruited people to insure vehicles and make fraudulent claims resulting in 70 fraudulent claims. After leaving Nationwide, Mejia worked as a claims adjuster at Mejia Insurance in Nevada where he continued his scheme adjusting known fraudulent claims. MetLife issued settlement checks to the claimants that were redirected to a friend in Los Angeles who was cashing the checks. After leaving Mejia, MetLife went to Fred Mejia Insurance and then on to Loya Insurance. Additional victim insurers include State Farm, Wawanesa, and Mercury who were affected by the fraudulent claims generally as the second party involved, for example the claimant party. The Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office prosecuted this case. California Doctor Indicted in $700,000 Insurance Fraud Scheme Dr. Gary Royce Wisner, of Lodi, was set to be arriained yesterday at the San Joaquin County Superior Court on 11 felony counts of insurance fraud for bilking insurers out of more than $700,000 for allegedly providing unnecessary and excessive medical treatment for orthopedic patients. Dr. Wisner violated his Hippocratic Oath when he allegedly abused his patients and the workers compensation system to line his pockets with illegal profits, said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. The California Department of Insurance, the San Joaquin County District Attorneys Office, the California Department of Justice Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse, and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services launched a multi-agency investigation, which revealed Dr. Wisner was providing unnecessary treatments, including exposing his patients to excessive X-raysall for the purpose of committing insurance fraud. Dr. Wisners fraud resulted in a loss of over $700,000 to four insurers including State Compensation Insurance Fund, Zenith Insurance, Hartford and Tristar, the federal insurance system. Health insurance fraud is a multi-billion dollar drain on Californias economy and results in higher insurance premiums for business and consumers. Over the last two years, the Department of Insurance has made arrests in health care fraud cases totaling more than $2 billion dollars. On May 30, 2018, a San Joaquin County criminal grand jury indicted Dr. Wisner on 11 felony counts of insurance fraud. The San Joaquin County District Attorneys Office is prosecuting this case. Source: California Department of Insurance A third-party vendor is being blamed for a mistaken tsunami alert broadcast on Alaska TV and radio stations last month. Dennis Bookey, co-chair of the Alaska State Emergency Communications Committee, said that this and similar incidents suggest the format of the National Weather Services internal testing system for tsunamis should be reviewed. Bookeys comments came in a written account dated 10 days after the errant alert was broadcast on May 11. It was provided this week to The Associated Press by Jeremy Zidek, a spokesman for Alaskas emergency management division. Zidek said improvements are being made to the Emergency Alert System, and in this case, updated codes were not recognized. According to Bookey, the vendors weather processing server failed to recognize the tsunami warning as a test. He said in an interview Tuesday that the software coding issue was corrected after it was discovered. The system is complex, but not perfect, he said. And incidents like this, while rare, can hurt the credibility of the system, he said. He cited three similar incidents this year, including an errant message received by users of the popular AccuWeather app along the East Coast, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. In those cases and in Alaska, the Tsunami Warning Center, which is part of the National Weather Service, sent out a message that says its the real thing and a test. The information identifying it as a test has to be read by software, he wrote. That doesnt take the vendor off the hook, he said. But it lends credence to calls to review the formatting used by the weather service, he said. Maybe there isnt any way to change it, but I think a review would be just in everybodys best interest, he said. Jonathan Porter, vice president of business services for AccuWeather, said his organization also has asked the weather service to review how test messages are encoded. Many of the tests may be OK, but if theres an issue with the encoding and the format of it, then it results in the product potentially being mischaracterized as a valid warning message and distributed, he said. Susan Buchanan, a spokeswoman for the National Weather Service, said in an email Tuesday that the agency conducts monthly tests to uncover potential coding problems and works with vendors to resolve any. Thousands of vendor systems appropriately decode tsunami tests each month, she said. Before the recent incidents, the last time there was an issue was in 2014, she added. Causes of the false alarms this year varied, she said. In one case, the agency inadvertently re-used a number that prompted a vendor to interpret the test as real, while in other cases, third-party software incorrectly processed the test message, she said. On the day of the Alaska incident, Buchanan said the test message was properly coded but somehow re-transmitted in an abbreviated format, which stripped the test coding and caused activation of the Emergency Alert System. She said Tuesday that the statement, based on an initial early review, was incorrect. She said the agency later found that wasnt the root cause when Alaska officials notified the agency that a vendor failed to recognize the test message as a test. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. More than 250 firefighters raced to the hills overlooking Los Angeles, Calif., to battle a blaze Tuesday afternoon they say was sparked by someone using a power tool to clear brush in a neighborhood of multimillion-dollar mansions. Helicopters repeatedly dropped water on the flames as teams of firefighters on the ground set up a perimeter around the houses. Firefighters aided by light winds and moderate temperatures quickly made progress against the blaze, which burned across 35 to 40 acres, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart. About 86 homes were evacuated from the steep hillside neighborhood above West Los Angeles and Beverly Hills but none burned. One of the evacuees, Bonnie Vogel, said she was tipped to the fire by the sounds of helicopters buzzing her neighborhood Tuesday afternoon. I thought either theyre looking for a murderer or theres a fire in the canyon, she said. Soon a neighbor from a home closest to the flames came to her door to tell her firefighters were asking people to leave. Stewart said firefighters quickly determined the blaze was ignited by someone using a brush-clearing power tool near a home. This serves as a strong reminder to residents to only use licensed contractors who follow the safety requirements to include no metal blades and an extinguishing agent at hand, Stewart said. She added that exhaust manifolds on such tools can quickly get hot enough to ignite dry brush like that found in the hills where the fire began at about 2:30 p.m. The flames quickly raced up Benedict Canyon, which is surrounded by homes on all sides. At its height, TV footage showed helicopters making water drop after water drop between brief pauses at a nearby lake to refill as a huge plume of gray smoke curled into the sky above Los Angeles. The homes surrounding Benedict Canyon include numerous multimillion-dollar mansions overlooking Beverly Hills and West Los Angeles. Stewart said her agency received help battling the blaze from the Los Angeles County, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Culver City fire departments. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. AKRON, Ohio -- A New Franklin woman was sentenced to six years in prison Friday for a crash that killed two 14-year-old girls last year in Coventry Township. Natasha R. Boggs, 25, pleaded guilty in March to two counts of involuntary manslaughter, one count of vehicular assault and one count of attempted tampering with evidence in the May 28, 2017 crash. Amber Thoma, of Coventry Township, and Taylor Galloway, of Akron, died in the crash. A 13-year-old boy also suffered several broken bones and severe head injuries, court records say. The girls were students at Coventry Middle School. Boggs was driving a 1999 Ford Escort when she drove into the shoulder and struck the children on South Main Street near Leicester Drive, the Summit County Sheriff's Office said. Boggs got out of her car and tried to help them, records say. She later went back to her car and started deleting text messages off her cellphone, prosecutors wrote in a court filing. Investigators determined she received and sent several text messages immediately prior to the first 911 call, prosecutors wrote. "Although the evidence did not show that the Defendant was texting at the time of the collision, the Defendant was clearly texting immediately prior to the crash," the filing says. Boggs told authorities she was not texting while driving, but was distracted by her son who was sitting in the back seat, the filing says. She later told her mother while she was in Summit County Jail that she doesn't remember what happened and believes she had "fallen asleep" because she remembered "popping my eyes open real fast when I heard the smash," the filing says. Boggs said she took prescribed methadone earlier in the day, but the Summit County Sheriff's office determined she was not under the influence at the time of the crash, the filing says. Boggs' attorney, Daniel Funk, could not be reached for comment. If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Friday's crime and courts comments section. BEREA, Ohio -- Disturbance, Lou Groza Boulevard: Police are trying to identify a male who threatened to drive his pickup truck through the closed gates of the Cleveland Browns training center, 76 Lou Groza Blvd. The center's director of security called police at about 8:55 a.m. June 11 and said the male drove a green Chevrolet pickup truck toward the closed gates to the practice area. The truck contained a dog and was filled with mulch and landscaping equipment. The male turned the truck around, then yelled at a center employee walking to work. The male asked the employee if the Browns practice there, and if practices are open to the public. The employee said yes, but added that the facility was not open to the public that day. The male said he would return in five minutes and crash through the gates. He told the employee that he knows who he is. The male drove away, but the security director gave police his license-plate number. The plate number traced back to a 63-year-old Olmsted Township man, but the male seen in the truck was much younger. Police were still trying to contact the Olmsted Township man earlier this week. The Browns organization told police that the male is no longer welcome on its Berea property. Operating a vehicle under the influence, West Bagley Road: An Olmsted Falls man, 27, was arrested at about 1:45 a.m. June 7 after police saw his vehicle traveling 45 mph in 25 mph and 35 mph zones on West Bagley between Barrett Road and Baker Street. When police told the man they had stopped him for speeding, the man asked how that could be possible, since the police cruiser wasn't stationary for the officer to clock him accurately. Police asked the man if he was a radar technician of some sort, and offered to explain how moving and stationary radar works. The man said he was not a technician, but argued that legally police had to be stationary to clock a vehicle. Police told the man he was wrong, but advised that he could argue his case before a judge. During the discussion, police smelled alcohol on the man. He denied drinking, but failed field sobriety tests. Driving under the influence of drugs, East Bagley Road: A Middleburg Heights man, 62, was arrested at about 5:15 a.m. May 28 after he passed out in a stopped vehicle. The man had stopped his Chevrolet Suburban at a red light on East Bagley at Eastland Road. Police noticed that when the light turned green, the vehicle didn't move. They pulled next to the Suburban and saw the man sleeping behind the steering wheel. Police yelled at the man and tapped him on the shoulder. He slowly began to wake up. The Suburban started to move forward, so police asked the man to put the vehicle in park, which he did. He denied drinking alcohol. Police found a small pouch containing marijuana and a marijuana pipe in the man's pocket. He failed field sobriety tests. Disorderly conduct, Sprague Road: A Berea woman, 57, was arrested at about 10:50 p.m. June 8 due to drunken behavior. A Lyft driver called police and said she had driven the woman to her apartment building on Sprague, but the woman was unable to walk from the car to the building. When police arrived, the woman was trying to rise from the ground, but could barely stand up. Her speech was slurred and she smelled like alcohol. Police and paramedics tried to escort the woman to a waiting ambulance, but she resisted. She said she just wanted to enter her apartment. Police and paramedics had to hold the woman up while speaking to her. She tried to pull away. Police placed the woman in handcuffs and carried her to the ambulance. An officer rode with her to a local hospital. Operating a vehicle under the influence, West Bagley Road: A Gilbert, Ariz., man, 26, was arrested at about 3:30 a.m. June 2 after police saw his car drive through a red light on West Bagley at Mulberry Street. When police asked the man if he knew why they had stopped his car, the man said, "Being an idiot." His speech was slurred, and he smelled like alcohol. The man failed field sobriety tests. To comment on this story, visit Thursday's crime and courts comments page. BROOK PARK, Ohio -- Robbery, Holland Road: A 62-year-old Brook Park man was robbed at gunpoint at about 3:10 a.m. May 25 while he was sitting in his car waiting for a train to pass. The victim said the robber, brandishing a rifle, approached him from behind his vehicle, ordered him to open his door and demanded his wallet. The victim complied. The robber grabbed the money from the wallet and threw the wallet on the ground. The robber then ran to a vehicle stopped behind the victim's vehicle and drove west. Improper discharge of firearm, Grosse Drive: Someone fired a single gunshot at about 11 p.m. June 3 from a passing vehicle on Grosse. Several people heard the shot and called police. Police said no bullet hit anyone or anything. They found no evidence at the scene. Disorderly conduct, Smith Road: A Brook Park man, 33, was arrested at about 6 p.m. June 3 after police determined that he was so intoxicated that he could not care for himself. It happened outside Brookgate Shopping Center on Smith at Snow Road. The man was stumbling and staggering on the sidewalk. Burglary, Rademaker Boulevard: Two pairs of diamond earrings, a gold chain and a blue sapphire, heart-shaped necklace were stolen between 9:30 a.m. May 23 and 7:10 a.m. May 24 from a house. Someone cut a first-floor window screen to get inside. Theft, West 149th Street: Four handguns, jewelry and $2,500 in cash were reported stolen at about 9:20 p.m. June 6 from a house. There were no signs of a break-in, and the house had not been left unlocked. Police suspect a friend of a friend of the victim. Suspicious person, Sylvia Drive-Fry Road: A Canton man, 24, was arrested and turned over to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security after police determined that he was an undocumented Mexican immigrant. Police had stopped the man's car after seeing him run a stop sign. Theft, Eavenson Boulevard: A window air conditioner was stolen between 7 p.m. March 13 and 11:40 a.m. March 14 from a rear porch. The unit had not yet been installed. Criminal damaging, Brookpark Road: A car was reported ransacked at about 6:45 a.m. May 31. It was parked outside Park Place Suites, 14011 Brookpark. Someone had smashed one of the car's windows to get inside. Nothing was reported missing from the car. Counterfeiting, Richard Drive: A Marco's Pizza delivery driver reported that someone in a Richard Drive house gave him a fake $20 bill to pay for a bacon-cheese pizza. It happened at about 8:30 p.m. June 3. When the driver pulled into the driveway, someone walked out and paid for the pizza. It was dark, so the driver didn't see the bill. The driver didn't realize the bill was fake until he arrived back at the restaurant. When police went to Richard Drive, they discovered the house was vacant. Operating a vehicle under the influence, Snow Road: A Brook Park man, 60, was arrested at about 8 p.m. May 24 after police caught him driving drunk outside McDonald's, 14841 Snow. Police had stopped the man's car because it had drifted out of its lane three times. To comment on this story, visit Thursday's crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio - Sherwin-Williams announced today that the Cleveland-based company plans to phase out the use of a chemical known as methylene chloride in its paint removal products by the end of this year. The company, after being under recent pressure from various national environmental and health advocacy groups, also confirmed it does not sell and does not plan to sell paint strippers containing another chemical, called N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP). Environmental health advocates asked Sherwin-Williams to give U.S. customers the gift of a ban on harmful paint strippers. No one from Sherwin-Williams could be immediately reached for comment. A company Tweet read: "Our customers are our #1 priority at Sherwin-Williams, so we are eliminating methylene chloride paint strippers from our stores. We have several effective alternatives available to serve your project needs." Lowe's first announced that it would remove paint strippers containing the chemicals methylene chloride and NMP from its store shelves by the end of year. Advocates called on paint industry leader Sherwin-Williams to do the same, releasing a letter sent to CEO John Morikis today making the case that the company should ban deadly paint strippers from its 4,200 retail locations in order to protect its consumers and to protect itself from litigation. Advocacy groups Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families and the Natural Resources Defense Council are leading a campaign to protect American consumers from these products. They gathered more than 200,000 signatures from Lowe's customers. "Dozens of families across the country are observing Father's Day this weekend without beloved sons, fathers, mothers, and daughters because these loved ones died using deadly paint strippers containing methylene chloride," Mike Schade, Mind the Store campaign director for Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, said in a statement. In 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed a ban on paint removers that contain methylene chloride and NMP. Methylene chloride has been linked to more than 60 deaths nationwide since 1980 and is also linked to lung and liver cancer, neurotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity. In turn, N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), which can be substituted for methylene chloride in paint removers, impacts fetal development and can cause miscarriage and stillbirth. According to the EPA, more than 60,000 U.S. workers and 2 million consumers are exposed to methylene chloride and NMP annually. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The suspected member of the Heartless Felons street gang on trial in five gang-related killings has orchestrated a campaign of intimidation and violence to sow fear in the people expected to testify against him, according to prosecutors. The efforts included putting out a $20,000 hit on a key witness who was later shot in the face, and sending threatening messages to witnesses and their family members, prosecutors say. Da'Montais "Monte" Banks reaped the benefits of that campaign this week, as three people who earlier told police that they witnessed him carry out some of the killings have indicated they would not testify at his aggravated murder trial, Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Chris Schroeder wrote in a motion filed Friday. Prosecutors are now arguing that Judge Kathleen Ann Sutula, who is overseeing the trial, should let them introduce the witnesses' earlier statements to police into trial without having them take the stand. They claim that Banks forfeited his right to confront his accusers by conspiring to ensure that his trial "is held in a courtroom emptied by fear." Banks is charged in four fatal shootings that resulted in five deaths. Prosecutors say he drove the car from which Brendon "BB" Watts shot and killed Gregory Norman in an August 2015. Banks is charged alone in the May 2016 ambush-style shooting of Dion Pratt. In January 2017, prosecutors say Banks, Julius Claxton and Darien Hayes shot Carlos Hurt during a failed carjacking, then carjacked a woman, drove to the Harvard Wine and Grille and tried to shoot a rival gang member. The intended target, Jesus Bey, returned fire in a shootout that would eventually leave Claxton and Hayes dead. The $20,000 hit One man who told police he watched Banks and Watts shoot and kill Norman in August 2015 was shot in December. The man was walking along a street on Dec. 22, about 1,000 feet from where Norman's drive-by killing took place when bullets came from a passing car. One bullet struck him in the face. Santana Doss Jr., is charged in the man's shooting. He pleaded not guilty and is set for trial in July. The man was subpoenaed to come to court and testify on Monday, but he never showed up because he was afraid of Banks and the Heartless Felons, prosecutors say. He told a Cleveland police gang detective on Monday that, as he was recovering from the December shooting, someone slipped a note underneath the door to his room in a nursing home. The note included a message threatening him if he testified against Banks, the filing says. He also received a text message from an unknown phone number with a photograph of his family walking into his home, and said he had heard that there was a $20,000 bounty on him, the filing said. A confidential informant told police that Banks boasted to him about putting out a hit on a witness in his case who got shot in the face, and said it was his work, the motion says. And in October, two months before he was shot in the face, prosecutors say Watts called a man from jail and told him to post a photograph of the witness to his Instagram account. Police and prosecutors have not heard from the witness since Monday and do not know where he is, the filing says. 'She would kill her son herself if he testified' Derrick Miller, who is a year into a two-year prison sentence on a robbery charge, told police last year that he saw Banks carry out a drive-by that killed Dion Pratt. But when Miller walked into court Wednesday in an orange jumpsuit and his hands and feet shackled, he refused to take the oath. "I ain't got nothin' to say," Miller said before Sutula dismissed him. Prosecutors said Miller told them days before the trial that he was in fear and that his family received threatening messages on social media. Miller made a phone call from Cuyahoga County Jail on June 4, and the man he called said someone had posted Miller's photograph online, the motion says. The man also said people had been asking about Miller in relation to Banks's case. "Man, oh my god, man," Miller replied, according to the motion. When Miller walked into the courtroom Wednesday, Banks and his brother, Denver Banks, both smiled at him and shook their heads, the motion says. Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Andrew Santoli called Miller's mother later that day with the hopes that she could convince him to testify. The mother told Santoli that there was no way she was going to let her son testify and, when Santoli asked if she was aware she was admitting to a prosecutor that she was attempting to obstruct justice, she said she wasn't attempting anything, the motion said. "She said that she was a 'bear' when it came to protecting her family," the motion says. "[Miller's mother] said that she would kill her son herself if he testified in this case." Denver Banks, was arrested Thursday on outstanding misdemeanor warrants after a police officer recognized him in the back of the courtroom. Calls from jail Banks further tried to tamper with his case in late May by having other inmates in the jail call witnesses and read messages to tell them to "be ready" and try to keep certain people from showing up, the motion says. One message said to "tell 'Fifty' to be there. "Fifty" is the nickname of Anthony Mitchell, who was shot alongside Pratt, according to prosecutors. Mitchell was arrested after he did not show up to court this week, and forced to testify on Friday. He said several times that he just wanted to go home, and said he didn't see who shot him. Mitchell said he knew Banks 15 years but said he didn't know Banks's nickname. In another call, a man said "Monte" told him to tell him to make sure a woman does show up for court, because another witness had mentioned her name. To comment on this story, please visit Friday's crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- President Trump's birthday was likely happier for Hillary Clinton than it was for him, with the release of the Department of Justices Inspector General's report on the Clinton email investigation, and the announcement that the State of New York had sued the Trump Foundation for corruption. Inspector General Michael Horowitz report is vindication for Hillary Clinton more than it is for President Trump. The I.G.'s investigation found that it was "extraordinary and insubordinate" for FBI Director James Comey to hold a press conference in which he took Clinton to task for her judgment in handling email, while at the same time announcing would not be bring charges. Comey also made a "serious error of judgement" in sending a letter to Congress announcing he was reopening the the Clinton investigation just prior to the election, according to the report. Hillary Clinton and her surrogates have long argued that Comey's letter to Congress and press conference are the reasons she lost to Trump. Not her failure to campaign hard in swing states in the closing days and her low poll numbers for being trustworthy and genuine. While Comey deviated from FBI policy, the report concluded he was correct in not bringing charges against Hillary Clinton and that decision was not motivated by political bias. In his press conference in announcing his decision not to prosecute Clinton, Comey had chastised her for reckless judgment in the handling of her email. Yet the I.G. report found that Comey himself had improperly used his personal email in conducting FBI business. Responding to the I.G. finding that Comey misused his personal email, Hillary Clinton tweeted: "But my emails" IG report provides new fodder for Trump. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the IG report "reaffirmed the suspicions about Comey's conduct and the political bias among some members of the FBI" There was indeed at least one birthday gift for Trump in the I.G. report. The report included a previously undisclosed exchange between FBI agent Peter Strzok and FBI lawyer Lisa Page in which Strzok said Trump would be stopped from being elected president. "[ Trump's] never going to become president, right? Right?! Page asked Strzok. "No. No he won't. We'll stop it," responded Strzok." While the I.G. found no bias in the Clinton investigation results on the whole, it did find five FBI officials expressed hostility towards Trump, including Strzok and Page. Horowitz "did not have confidence" that Strzok's decisions were "free from bias." The report says that the actions of some FBI officials mentioned were referred to the bureau for disciplinary action review. In his press conference responding to the I.G. report, FBI Director Christopher Wray confirmed that certain FBI officials in the report will be subjected to the bureaus disciplinary process and be held accountable if need be. Strzok was immediately removed from the Trump Russia investigation by conservative Republican Robert Mueller when he was informed of text exchanges between Strzok and Page. Page had already been reassigned, at the time. Trump Foundation corruption New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood blew out a candle on the Trump birthday cake by suing the Trump Foundation for "persistently illegal conduct." After Trump had routinely attacked the Clinton Foundation during the 2016 election, the State of New York suit claims the Trump Foundation was misused by his campaign. The suite alleges the foundation is a corrupt,self-dealing shell operation used as slush fund to settle legal claims and pay for stuff like a $10,000 portrait of Trump. "As our investigation reveals, the Trump Foundation was little more than a checkbook for payments from Mr. Trump or his business to nonprofits regardless of their purpose or legality. This is not how private foundations should function and my office intends to hold the foundation accountable for its misuse of the charitable assets," contends Underwood. The suit names President Trump, Dondald Jr, Ivanka and Erik Trump. It calls for over $2 million in restitution and for Trump and his children to barred from serving on the boards of any nonprofit organization for ten years. In a blistering twitter response Trump said he won't settle the case. "This sleazy New York Democrats, and there now disgraced (and run out of town) A.G. Eric Schneiderman, are doing everything they can sue me on a foundation that took in $18,800,000 and gave out to charity more money than it took in, $19,200,000. I won't settle this case!..." Trump also had claimed he would never settle the case brought against Trump University, but then he ended up doing so. Trump can't pardon himself and his kids in state case. Paying the $2 million restitution may not even settle the case. The suit also comes with multiple criminal referrals. Those criminal referral investigations could lead to charges. And because it's brought by the state, Trump will not be able to pardon himself or his kids. The way Trump runs his foundation is likely indicative of how Trump runs his entire business, which is why he won't release his tax returns and why what was uncovered in the FBI raid of Cohen's offices is such a potential powder keg. CLEVELAND, Ohio - Ohio Gov. John Kasich responded to Friday's monthly jobs report by tweeting that "Ohio is now creating jobs 48 percent faster than the national rate since the start of the year." On the major point, he's right. Ohio jobs have increased this year at a faster rate than the country as a whole, for the first time since Kasich took office in 2011, cleveland.com found in reviewing the data. Numbers behind the news In fact, Ohio is outpacing the nation more so (65 percent) than the tweet says if you use the year-end December report as the starting point; a little less (41 percent) than advertised by the tweet if January is the starting point. Why is neither number exactly as the governor states? In a video with the tweet, Kasich focuses on private sector job growth, a number a little different from the total for all non-farm jobs. But, of course, there are even more ways to look at the numbers. It could also be said that the advantage for Ohio over the U.S. is just under a half-percentage point, which doesn't sound as big. Ohio has picked up an estimated 64,300 jobs since December, an increase of 1.16 percent. The U.S. has added an estimated 1,037,000 jobs since December, an increase of 0.70 percent. So Ohio's increase of 1.16 percent is in fact 65 percent better than the U.S. increase of 0.7 percent - or as a percentage point change, less than a half-point. All this can make things a little fuzzy. What is clear, however, is that 2018 is marking the first year since Kasich became governor in 2011 that Ohio is outpacing the nation, based on the tentative numbers for May. Here are the year-by-year numbers, using December to December data each year from the BLS: 2011 - U.S. 1.6 percent; Ohio 1.56 percent. 2012 - U.S. 1.6 percent; Ohio 1.5 percent 2013 - U.S. 1.7 percent, Ohio 1.5 percent. 2014 - U.S. 2.2 percent, Ohio 1.8 percent. 2015 - U.S. 1.9 percent, Ohio 1.1 percent. 2016 - U.S. 1.6 percent, Ohio 0.8 percent 2017 - U.S. 1.5 percent, Ohio 0.6 percent. 2018 (through May) - U.S. 0.7 percent, Ohio 1.2 percent. Earlier, cleveland.com calculated that no Ohio governor since the four-year terms began 60 years ago has done better than the nation on jobs growth over a term in office. Rich Exner, data analysis editor for cleveland.com, writes about numbers on a variety of topics. Follow on Twitter @RichExner. LAKEWOOD, Ohio - Lakewood's LBM, which is tucked away in the city's Birdtown district at 12301 Madison Ave., was recently lauded by Men's Journal as one of the "best hidden cocktail bars in American." Not to worry, the June issue of the national mag isn't blowing the cover on any local secrets - we've known LBM was the best Viking-themed bar around since it opened late last year. "What happens when a bunch of bartenders who like camping and Norwegian death metal decide to open their own place?" asks Men's Journal scribe St. John Frizell. Though it's nestled along an increasingly bustling strip of Lakewood, "hidden" isn't an unfair descriptor. Blink and you might miss the snug bar, which opens into a gothic-meets-modern apothecary eatery where seasonal cocktails flow. (And they'll mix up some noteworthy non-alcoholic concoctions, too.) Inside, metal pipes out of the speakers as you gather around the bar, high-tops and tables and nosh on dishes like empanadas, burgers and poutine. In Beth Segal's Cleveland.com review, she cheered owner Eric Ho for assembling "a cracker-jack crew that has worked together before. They're charming and intuitive and the esprit de corps is contagious. It's not exactly 'Cheers,' but at LBM, you'll always have a warm Viking welcome, some mighty fine food and the unique opportunity to belly up to the bar and order an impeccably prepared, beautifully balanced Seaside Terror." No surprise there - LBM's tagline is "Your friendly neighborhood Viking cocktail bar." "There's no such thing as a pretentious Viking," Ho told Men's Journal. In addition to the day-to-day, LBM has been spicing up its repertoire with pop-ups bringing in local chefs and themed nights. Women chef takeover It may be Men's Journal praising LBM this month, but the next pop-up we recommend is a takeover by some talented women chefs. This Tuesday, June 19, LBM hosts Melissa Khoury and Penny Barend of Saucisson, Ange Lupica of Sweet Teeth and Annabelle Andricks of The Black Pig, along with their own bartenders, Merandia Adkins and Simone Perry. Expect dishes like squid ink pasta, chorizo burger and beef heart steak. Andricks and Lupica's desserts include "black metal forest" with chocolate and cherry flavors and coconut porter ice cream, among others. You can find more information here. "From the bar point-of-view at LBM, we love doing pop-ups," Ho tells cleveland.com. "It gives us a chance to be very creative in trying different techniques and styles for cocktails and food we normally wouldn't on our everyday menu. Sometimes it really acts as a live test to see if what we're trying to accomplish is too crazy or not. Also with bringing in guest chefs or bartenders, it's just a great way to learn from each other because we all have had experiences cooking or bartending in different restaurants or even different regions. It also helps that we tend to do these events with our friends in the industry, so it's always a blast." SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio -- In the 1920s as more Clevelanders were fleeing the city for the suburbs, the Van Sweringen Co. built a series of distinctive homes to lure people to their planned community known as Shaker Village. According to clevelandhistorical.org, these Van Sweringen demonstration homes, as they were called, were meant to be "a symbol of the dignified, enduring community that the Van Sweringen Co. desired to create and market. Such homes provided the foundation from which the cosmopolitan residential neighborhood grew." Nearly a century later, one of those homes is back on the market. Built in 1924, the colonial at 18524 Parkland has four bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms in more than 3,100 square feet. Listed in May, the asking price is $385,000. Howard Hanna agent Geoffrey Hoffman calls the home "a piece of Shaker Heights history" that "combines historic character and charm with modern style and amenities." Though the exterior retains that classic European-influenced facade, the interior might surprise you. The extensive renovations, completed in 2017, are evident as soon as you walk through the front door. The living room has been updated with hardwood floors and slate fireplace while preserving the original leaded glass windows. The kitchen has all the modern amenties including a center island with farmhouse sink and wine fridge, stainless steel appliances, granite counters and tile backsplash. Next, head to the sunroom where the wood accents take you back to that home from the 1920s. Upsairs, the master suite wows with a pair of walk-in closets and a spa bath with tiled floors, sleek tub, and glass enclosed shower with rainfall and jets. There's also a walk-out basement and detached two-car garage. Address: 18524 Parkland Dr. City: Shaker Heights Price: $385,000 Square footage: 3,133 Year built: 1924 No. bedrooms: 4 No. bathrooms: 4 1/2 Lot size: 0.23 acres School district: Shaker Heights City School District Other notable attributes: Real estate agent and contact info: Geoffrey Hoffman, Howard Hanna p: (216) 496-4212 e: geoffreyhoffman@howardhanna.com CLEVELAND, Ohio - Did you see MSB at one of his four sold-out performances in 1982 at Blossom Music Center? How about Janis Joplin in 1969? Judy Collins at the first pop show in 1968? Pink Floyd or Al Green in '73? Blossom Music Center is turning 50 this year. In honor of the milestone, I'm putting together a look back at some of the biggest shows of the last half-century. And, I'd love your input. The Plain Dealer is asking readers to share their favorite Blossom memories for a story to run Sunday, July 1. Maybe you saw the Beach Boys in 1979? Jimmy Buffett on one of his many stops? The Go-Go's in '82? BOC in '83? Depeche Mode in 1990? Whitney Houston in 1991? Or the first Lollapalooza in 1992? Or Phish the same year? David Bowie and NIN in 1995? Alanis Morissette in 1996? Were you there for Lilith Fair in 1997? Or Pearl Jam in '98? Were you a lucky one to see Radiohead in 2001? OzzFest in 2002? The Cure and Interpol in 2004? Brooks & Dunn in 2005 or '06? The James Gang in '06 too? Lil' Wayne in 2009? Toby Keith in 2010? Sugarland or Phish in 2011? The Vans Warped Tour in 2011 or another year? Jason Aldean in 2013? Or another significant concert that was memorable? Email your memories to ldemarco@plaind.com. Or, leave them in the comments section below. Be sure to include the year of the concert, and date if you recall it, along with your name and city of residence. And, If you have any photos you'd like to share, please send those, too. CLEVELAND, Ohio - More than 150 protesters rallied on Public Square and marched to the Carl B. Stokes Federal Courthouse on Thursday in a local show of support for Families Belong Together, a national movement against separating immigrant families at the U.S.-Mexico border. The crowd included families, immigrants, faith-based groups, Trump protesters and individuals seeking a more compassionate immigration policy. Protesters held homemade signs that said: "Children are NOT animals," "Stop tearing families apart," "I was a stranger, and you welcomed me," "Who would Jesus deport?" and "ICE water not people." In recent months, thousands of children have been separated from their parents at the border, including infants and toddlers, in a policy designed to deter other migrants from following. Chrissy Stonebraker-Martinez, co-director of the InterReligious Task Force on Central America, said the U.S. bears responsibility for contributing to the violence, turmoil and economic instability in the Latin American countries that immigrants are fleeing to come to the U.S. "Then we treat them like animals, lock them up and deport them back to the oppression they're fleeing," she said. Kelly Davis, director of Catholic Relief Services at Cleveland Catholic Charities, shared a statement from Cardinal Sean O'Malley, Archbishop of Boston, saying that "The United States is now openly before the world using children as pawns to enforce a hostile immigration policy. This strategy is morally unacceptable and denies the clear danger weighing upon those seeking our assistance." "I have always taught respect for the civil law and will continue to do so," he said. "But, I cannot be silent when our country's immigration policy destroys families, traumatizes parents, and terrorizes children." CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A former Orlando-area mobile phone store owner is accused of running multi-state credit card scam that the FBI began investigating after an employee of a Mentor gas station found a skimming device at one of their pumps. Silvio Leon -- who served prison time for a similar scheme in Florida -- is charged with conspiring to commit access device fraud. He is jailed awaiting his detention hearing on Thursday in U.S. District Court. North Olmsted police arrested Leon and the another man after FBI agents tracked their phones from New Jersey through Pennsylvania and back to Ohio, where they had rented a room at the Aloft hotel in North Olmsted, near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The other man has not yet been charged. The investigation began Feb. 27 after an employee of the BP gas station on Heisley Road in Mentor found the skimming device, according to court records. Mentor police took the device and found it stored about 1,000 people's credit card information and names, according to court records. Several people reported charges they didn't make on their bank cards and Mentor police noticed all of them bought gas at the same gas station, according to court filings. All of the fake charges were made at Sam's Clubs stores in Mentor, Oakwood and Sheffield Village. FBI agents found that the person who used that particular Sam's Club Membership card, later identified as Leon, had made more than $120,000 in purchases at the Mentor store alone, according to court records. Investigators also found the same membership card bought items with stolen credit card information elsewhere in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Minnesota. FBI agents looked at surveillance footage from the most recent use of the membership card, compared it to photos in police databases and found a match with Leon, according to court records. A Florida-based parole confirmed Leon's identity, the records say. The FBI tracked Leon's movements after obtaining his cellphone number from a rental car company at the Pittsburgh International Airport. They traced his movements through New Jersey to North Olmsted and found they were stopping at or near several Walmarts or Sam's Clubs on their four-day trip to Ohio, according to court records. In one case, a North Fayette police officer reported to the FBI the men stopped at a Walmart in that town and bought $400 worth of items with someone's stolen credit card information, court records say. When North Olmsted police and FBI agents arrested the duo, they found seven $100 gift cards and three USB data storage devices labeled "Cleveland," "Philli (sic)" and "Pittsburg (sic)," the filings say. An FBI agent wrote in an affidavit that the information stolen from skimming devices are often stored on USB devices. That data is then used to make fake credit cards that are often used within close proximity to where the information is stolen in order to avoid detection from banks. Gift cards are also typically purchased during skimming schemes because they are an easy way to launder the money they steal. The items they buy are then resold, the affidavit said. Agents then went to the Aloft hotel where the men stayed and found the room filled with recently bought items from Walmarts, Sam's Clubs and TJ Maxx. Leon served three years in federal prison for a similar scheme in the Orlando area and his federal probation ended in April, according to court records. In the previous case, Leon admitted to stealing some $327,000 in the credit-card skimming scheme in 2011. He made fake credit cards with stolen information that he made with an embosser and an encoding machine that he bought from China and had shipped to his home. He then bought different items at Target, Best Buy and other stores and re-sold the merchandise at the cellphone store that owned at the time of his arrest in 2011. Leon, according to the Orlando Sentinel, apologized to the victims at his sentencing hearing and promised he was a changed man. "When I get out of this, I am going to show society and my family that I am a hard-working individual and this will not happen again," he said, according to the newspaper. To comment on this story, please visit Friday's crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A man and woman are charged in connection with the slaying of a Cleveland State University janitor and his longtime girlfriend inside their apartment in the city's Tremont neighborhood. James Hill, 41, Barbara Wolford, 30, are both charged with aggravated murder in the June 6 double slaying. U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott said both were arrested early Friday in Mount Perry in Madison County. The duo is accused of breaking into the apartment of Harold Emery Jr., 63, and Rita Berish, 54, on the 3100 block of Scranton Road in order to rob the couple, court records say. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner has not yet ruled on how either died. Police said Emery was shot in the head and that Berish suffered "obvious signs of violence." Elliott said Berish was stabbed to death. Her body was found under a bed. Emery worked as a janitor at CSU. When he didn't show up for work, his boss asked Cleveland State police to check on him. CSU police found the door to the apartment forced open and saw Emery dead. Cleveland police homicide detectives later found Berish dead. Berish was battling cancer at the time of her death, family members previously said. Several neighbors said that stretch of Scranton Road is riddled with drugs and drug dealers, including some who approach people walking along the street. Hill has a history of felony convictions dating back to 1993. He was sentenced to one year probation in December after Parma police found a stolen gun inside his car during a traffic stop on Pearl Road and Fernhill Avenue. In 2010, he was sentenced to six years in prison for threatening to kill the mother of his children and attacking a Cuyahoga County Jail corrections officer after he was arrested. In that case, Hill went to the Parma home of a friend Feb. 24, 2010 looking for the mother of his children. Hill and the woman argued. Hill put a gun to the woman's head and threatened to kill her. The friend called police and Hill left. When the mother of his children went back to her home in Berea, Hill was waiting for her inside the home. She called police and he was arrested. During his stint at the county jail, Hill complained to a corrections officer about his broken hand, then became belligerent. Hill charged at the officer, tackled him to the ground and punched him in the head several times. The corrections officer suffered injuries to his head and knee. A jury found Hill guilty of aggravated burglary, felonious assault, carrying a concealed weapon, aggravated menacing and assault on the corrections officer. A Cleveland police officer who tried to stop his car March 15, 2003 nearly got run over by Hill as he sped off in traffic. He also narrowly missed hitting several people on Ridge Road. The chase happened four days after Hill broke into a home in Cleveland and the officer was the detective investigating the case. He was sentenced to eight months in prison in both cases. A month after the chase, Hill was charged in federal court with unlawfully transporting guns. He was sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison. He was convicted in 2001 of grand theft of a car, and in 2000 he was sentenced to 18 months in prison after he broke into Southwest General Hospital in Strongsville as it was being built and stole $22,500 worth of construction equipment and tools. Hill was also sentenced in 1993, when he was 16 years old, to five years in prison for stealing three cars and breaking into a couple's home. Those cases were transferred from juvenile to adult court. If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Friday's crime and courts comments section. WASHINGTON, D. C. - NASA Glenn Research Center Director Janet Kavandi may be up for a promotion. The new head of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Jim Bridenstine - is telling Washington, D. C., space industry gatherings that he wants Kavandi to be his deputy. The post has been vacant since President Donald Trump took office. A former astronaut, Kavandi has been NASA Glenn Research Director since 2016 after serving as its deputy director for a year. "While the President has not yet nominated a deputy administrator for the Agency, Dr. Kavandi is honored that the NASA Administrator expressed his confidence in her," said a Friday morning statement from NASA Glenn Research Center spokeswoman Jan Wittry. According to the trade publication Space News, Bridenstine told a June 12 Space Transportation Association Luncheon that he's "advocating" for Kavandi's appointment and said she'd be a "great" deputy administrator if she's nominated by the White House and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Bridenstine endorses Kavandi for NASA deputy administrator - https://t.co/LD05woE9Yh https://t.co/xLOZz0XqWE Capt. Mike Foreman (@foreman_mike) June 13, 2018 Kavandi was in the audience at the luncheon, but did not publicly discuss the possible promotion. Bridenstine, a former Republican congressman from Oklahoma, said he wants a deputy who has a "a lot of space experience" and is "a space professional," the publication reported. "It needs to be somebody who has run large organizations, who understands the technology," Bridenstine said. "A scientist would be great." Kavandi has a doctorate in analytical chemistry from the University of Washington in Seattle and is a veteran of three space flights. A White House spokeswoman said her office had no announcements "at this time" about the deputy administrator's post. A spokeswoman for Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown said he'd back Kavandi for the job if she's nominated. "We don't know who the President will ultimately nominate, but there's no question Janet Kavandi is a highly qualified professional who knows the value of NASA Glenn and the importance of aerospace to the state of Ohio," said a statement from Brown. Greater Cleveland Partnership senior vice president Marty McGann echoed Bridenstine's assessment that Kavandi would be an excellent pick as NASA's second-in-command. "Our loss in Northeast Ohio could be the nation's gain," said McGann, who has worked with Kavandi on regional economic development issues. "She really understands NASA from a variety of fronts, especially considering her former role as an astronaut. Having someone in that role who understands Northeast Ohio's assets can be good for us, and good for the nation." VILLA HILLS, Kentucky -- A man wanted on rape and sexual assault charges in Cincinnati is presumed dead after he jumped into the Ohio River while trying to escape from police. Robert Kasee, 34, has not been found since he disappeared under the water at about 1 p.m. Wednesday, WLWT Channel 5 reports. Kasee is wanted by Cincinnati police on three counts of rape and two counts of felonious assault, according to Fox 19. Police say he was found Wednesday morning with a work crew in Villa Hills. He managed to break away from police and went down a steep, heavily wooded hill, WKRC Channel 12 reports. He managed to elude police, but returned to the work site several hours later to retrieve his phone and water. The work crew notified police, who returned and again began chasing him, this time with a K9 unit and a helicopter. The K9 managed to bite Kasee and he jumped into the river to avoid the dog, police say. Kasee reportedly swam about 30 yards out into the river and ignored pleas to return before disappearing. Search crews spent the day Thursday looking for Kasee's body but it has not been found, reports say. Villa Hills is less than 10 miles southwest of Cincinnati. To comment on this story, visit the crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Police say two people were wounded in a shooting on the East Side. The shooting occurred at Harvard Deli, 14716 Harvard Ave., in the Lee-Harvard neighborhood. Police did not release any other details early Friday morning. This story will be updated if more information becomes available. To comment on this story, visit the crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority and one of its board members, Valarie McCall, are at odds over why McCall sought compensation from the RTA in 2014 after having declined the payments for eight years. McCall says RTA staff told her she needed to take the pay. The RTA said it did no such thing. The dispute is playing out days before the RTA board votes on a new president, and McCall is seeking the post. RTA's bylaws say board members are entitled to a $400 a month for their service. But when McCall, a longtime top aide to Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, was appointed to the board in 2006 by Jackson, the mayor stated in a letter to RTA that McCall "will not receive any compensation, including but not limited to PERS [Public Employees Retirement System]." In 2014, McCall asked to be compensated and requested back pay for the years she had declined the monthly stipend. The back pay amounted to $35,600 before taxes. And since then she has been receiving monthly payments along with other board members. Her total compensation to date is more than $56,400. The board and RTA agree that McCall is entitled to the money. RTA General Manager Joe Calabrese and then-board President George Dixon approved her request for the money in 2014. But RTA officials are questioning McCall's explanation for why she sought the compensation after eight years of declining it. After learning of the back pay from an anonymous letter recently sent to the board, board members raised the issue in executive session. McCall said the only reason she requested that she be paid is because staff at RTA repeatedly encouraged her to take the money to be consistent with other board members and to avoid a potential audit investigation. "The reason that I am being compensated as an RTA Board Member is because RTA staff told me that my non-compensated status was inconsistent with the by-laws," McCall said in an email to cleveland.com. "Beginning in 2012, RTA staff began to press me continuously, insisting that I had to be compensated. Their insistence continued for two years, primarily with them approaching me at board meetings, stating that my nonpayment could become an audit issue and was a violation of the by-laws. They had me request payment back to my original appointment at a board meeting to avoid what they stated would become an audit finding." The RTA disputed her assertion in statement to cleveland.com, reporting that RTA officials never told McCall that she had to take the money. RTA said McCall's decision to not take the pay would not trigger an audit investigation. And RTA cited a portion of its administrative code that states board members are allowed to decline compensation. "The board member's statement is not validated in any search of records," the RTA statement reads. "Specifically, we have no record of an audit issue raised, suspected or avoided, and no violation of the by-laws occurred. We have no record or memory of anyone telling Ms. McCall or insisting or pressing her that she must be compensated. We don't know with whom she may have spoken." McCall cited for cleveland.com the names of four people she says told her over the years that she has to take the money: Calabrese and Dixon, RTA general counsel Sheryl King Benford and former RTA finance official Loretta Kirk. (RTA spokeswoman Linda Krecic denied McCall's claims in a follow up call and said RTA stands by its original statement.) McCall, who has been appointed to the board four times by the mayor, also said that the pay issue has been raised as part of an orchestrated attack on her character because she is running for board president and has called for RTA to delay promoting a tax increase for the transit system until the agency completes a more thorough study of the system's needs. She also said that when RTA officials first approached her about taking the money, she asked Calabrese about diverting her salary to a special RTA fund. In 2012, McCall said in an email to Calabrese that she would like to continue deferring her salary. But she asked if RTA could redirect that money into an account to support RTA employee participation in "leadership" at the American Public Transportation Association and to make contributions to the association. She asked if such an account could be named the "Dr. Valarie J. McCall future leaders program/scholarship." McCall, who received an honorary doctorate degree from Cleveland State University, was the elected chair of APTA in 2015 and 2016 and remains an honorary member of its board. The special account was never established. RTA records don't say why -- nor do they show what initiated the discussion. RTA told cleveland.com in an email that the agency can't set up such accounts, but that board members are free to do so after they get paid. McCall has not established the fund on her own. Cleveland.com reached out to five board members to ask about McCall's claims that she was pressured to take the money by RTA officials. Two board members, the Rev. Charles Lucas and Leo Serrano, spoke to cleveland.com. Both were appointed to the board by Jackson. Serrano said he could not recall a specific time RTA officials told McCall she had to take the money, but he said he believed they did so. He said he's limited to what he can say because this issue was discussed in executive session. "My opinion is that this is a witch hunt," he said. Lucas, who has not been on the board long, said he couldn't speak to specifics of what may have been said to McCall. But he said he, too, believes the issue is being raised to hurt McCall. "We are in the midst of important things and this matter has popped up at a very unusual time," Lucas said. The board is expected to vote Tuesday on a new president to replace Dixon, who resigned in March after the RTA began investigating whether or not he paid his premiums for RTA's health-care insurance that board members can buy. The RTA investigation concluded that Dixon cheated the publicly funded RTA out of more than $1.1 million of unpaid health-care premiums, undeserved health benefits, and personal calls on his RTA phone. COLUMBUS, Ohio-- Vice President Mike Pence and prominent Ohio congressmen were in Columbus Friday for a pep rally to trumpet the benefits of the Republican tax overhaul. But the vice president's visit also attracted a number of protesters who interrupted the rally and held a dance party outside. Speaking at a forum at a downtown Columbus hotel, Pence praised the tax bill signed by President Donald Trump late last year, saying it's created more than 330,000 manufacturing jobs - including more than 10,000 in Ohio. He also noted that unemployment among blacks and Hispanics in the U.S. is at a record low. "We're living through a great American comeback," the vice president said before a cheering crowd of supporters. But not everyone in the audience was a supporter of Pence. The vice president's 35-minute speech was interrupted several times by protesters shouting at him from the audience on issues ranging from gay rights to the tax plan. "You gotta love Ohio," the vice president said as one protester was being escorted from the room. Meanwhile, outside the event, a few hundred activists opposed to Pence's push against gay rights staged a much-publicized outdoor "Big LGBTQ Dance Party" on - appropriately - Gay Street. Mario Lowery, who came to the party from suburban Dayton with his husband Mitch, said he wanted Pence to see that Ohioans are opposed to the Trump Administration's stance on LGBT issues, including failing to recognize June as LGBTQ Pride Month. "We just want him to know we're here, since we're being ignored and not acknowledged during this month," Lowery said. During his speech, Pence rallied support for Republican candidates on the Ohio ballot this November - including U.S. Senate nominee Jim Renacci, whom Pence called " a leader who's been standing shoulder-to-shoulder with President Trump." Pence also gave a shout-out to Troy Balderson, the Republican running in the Aug. 7 special election for Ohio's 12th Congressional District. The vice president is set to attend a New Albany fundraiser Friday evening on Balderson's behalf. Prior to Pence's speech, several Ohio Republican congressman - including U.S. Sen. Rob Portman and U.S. Reps. Warren Davidson and Mike Turner - also touted the Republicans' tax changes during a panel discussion. Portman, who voted for the tax plan, asserted it will help boost worker productivity and spur economic growth in Ohio and nationwide. The Cincinnati-area Republican made a point of addressing concerns that the tax changes will balloon the already-massive U.S. deficit. "We believe it's going to generate ...economic growth that results in more revenue coming in, so it will not have an economic impact on the deficit," Portman said. It's the second time this year the vice president has visited Ohio to promote the GOP tax plan. Friday's forum in Columbus, as well as a similar event in Cleveland held in March, were both organized by America First Policies, a non-profit with close ties to Trump. CLEVELAND, Ohio - International travelers landing at Cleveland Hopkins continue to complain about the airport's new arrivals process, saying it takes too long and is off-putting to visitors. Airport Director Robert Kennedy said he is working to speed up the process, but the airport's layout prevents an easy fix. The problem is this: Passengers disembarking at Cleveland's international arrivals area are required to go through both U.S. Customs and Transportation Security Administration screening before exiting the airport. The extra TSA screening, uncommon at most U.S. airports, is required because the international arrivals gate is far from the main terminal and passengers must walk through the "secure" side of the airport to exit. Several travelers on the new flights between Iceland and Cleveland, which began last month, have reached out to the Plain Dealer to complain about the new system. More about Cleveland Hopkins International Airport Road work this summer at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport likely to heighten traffic congestion Cleveland Hopkins International Airport willing to delay imposing new fee on limos, shuttles until 2019 Cleveland Hopkins welcomes first transatlantic route in nearly a decade, with inaugural Wow Air flight to Iceland Scott McDaniel of Olmsted Falls said the process was confusing and unwelcoming, particularly for non-English speakers. "If Cleveland really wants to be an international destination and a tourist-friendly city, the main portal for guests has to improve," he wrote. Kennedy said the airport looked into creating a secure path from the international arrivals, at the end of Concourse A, to baggage claim. The estimated cost was $17 million. The airport also looked at relocating the customs facility to an area adjacent to the main terminal, which would cost $44 million. "We don't have the money," Kennedy said. A new airport master plan is scheduled to begin later this year and may provide a long-term solution to the problem, he said. In the meantime, Kennedy said he is working with TSA, U.S. Customs and airline baggage handlers to shorten the time it takes from disembarking to exit. "We've been tracking it since day one," he said. Ideally, the process should take anywhere from 40 to 90 minutes, Kennedy said. Kennedy added that the airport is putting up electronic signs in the arrivals area to inform passengers about what to expect. The new set-up has been a hassle, in particular, for travelers who have purchased alcohol abroad. TSA prohibits bottles larger than 3.4 ounces at its passenger checkpoints. Kennedy said travelers with newly purchased bottles need to either put the bottles in their checked suitcases or leave them in sealed, duty-free bags. Related: Reader tips on traveling in Iceland, from must-see sights to saving money PUT-IN-BAY, Ohio -- Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial -- Put-in-Bay's iconic, 352-foot tall attraction -- has reopened for 2018, after being closed all of 2017 for maintenance work. Visitors may notice a price increase to travel to the top the National Park Service site: The fee is now $7, up from $5 in 2016 and $3 in 2015; children 15 and under remain free. The visitors center is free, as well. The observation deck atop the granite column reopened to visitors last month, following $2.4 million in maintenance work, which included repointing the exterior masonry, repairing water damage, replacing interior wall tiles and rehabilitating five exterior bronze doors. On a clear day, visitors can take an elevator to the top for terrific views of the Lake Erie islands, Ohio, Michigan and Ontario. The monument pays tribute to naval commander Oliver Hazard Perry, the Battle of Lake Erie, and the long-standing peace between the United States, Great Britain and Canada. Construction of the monument was completed in 1915. In recent years, the structure has been closed several times to repair structural issues. For information: nps.gov/pevi. Related stories: CLEVELAND, Ohio - Clevelanders have fallen in love with Iceland - that much is clear from the dozens of stories and recommendations forwarded by readers who recently journeyed to the land of fire and ice. Two weeks ago, we asked local travelers to tell us their tales of Iceland, the newest destination from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. We heard from dozens of readers, who shared their experiences and passed along these tips: *** As a college graduation gift to our twin boys, we booked a last minute, five-day trip to Iceland at the end of May. Despite the unseasonably cold and mostly rainy weather, we could not have been more happy exploring this scenic and friendly country. The Wow flight, even with a number of upgrades, was still quite inexpensive, got us to Reykjavik airport on time (10:30 a.m.) to catch a bus to the Blue Lagoon for a noon booking, a perfect transition to unwind from jet lag, immerse in the warm geothermic waters, and then arrive at our hotel at check-in time. In addition to the Golden Circle and South Coast glacier excursions, we did the "Game of Thrones" tour I promised one of my boys - who proclaims to be an expert on the series. It was actually one of the highlights of the trip due to the insights of our guide Theo, a medieval history scholar and a regular extra in battle scenes at various locations filmed in Iceland. (We booked through Viator.) The only downside of the trip was the arrival at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport at 1 a.m. in the morning. This airport is woefully unprepared to deal with international travel. With only three border agents handling over 150 passengers, we then had to endure an unnecessary screening by TSA. It took an excruciating hour and a half to get our baggage and leave the airport. --Terry Gilbert, University Heights Related: International travelers continue to gripe about Cleveland Hopkins' arrival process *** I have so many tips that I think made my trip to Iceland special, but I'll try to focus on the less likely to be repeated ones. For the record, I visited in October 2015. 1. Be willing to visit during the off-season: Mid/late fall can be a wonderful time to visit Iceland because not only is the aurora borealis starting to become visible in October, but there are less tourists clogging up the Ring Road and tourist sites (there will still be plenty). Finally, the weather in the bottom half of Iceland is still perfectly temperate (especially for Clevelanders). 2. Make a trip north: Everyone talks about Reykjavik and the Blue Lagoon, but two of the most memorable locations I visited were in the north: Akureyri, a city in the north at the base of a very long fjord with great whale watching trips and a fun hostel bar that fills up in the evening with all sorts of traveler, and Lake Myvatn, a volcanic lake with great hiking, and a geothermal bath like Blue Lagoon, but less busy. Worth the trip if you are considering a longer trip. 3. Don't order whale: The Icelandic whaling industry is at an impasse, with the younger generation moving away from it and the old guard standing behind it as a legitimate industry. As a tourist, you should do your part to support sustainability and ecotourism by avoiding whale. There are plenty of other food options in the country, so it should be easy enough to avoid whale meat altogether. --Christopher Tanski, Cleveland *** At Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon on Iceland's South Coast. (Photo courtesy Jeannie Fleming-Gifford) Our family spent eight days in Iceland at the end of May. The best way that I attempt to summarize our trip to others is that I believe we saw many of the best of the United States' national parks geological features in an eight-day adventure: geysers, waterfalls, glaciers, ocean, mountains and more! Expensive? True. We stayed in hostels, which proved to be economically efficient and a positive experience overall. We rented a car and drove the entire ring road but ran out of stamina to make it to the Westfjords. In addition to the amazing landscapes, we found economical family fun in playgrounds and swimming pools (in nearly every town). A couple of trips to the grocery stores reduced our spending, too, with a few hotdogs enjoyed by the family (and now I know why there are so many sheep roaming those glorious hillsides -- yikes!). And flights? Icelandair was fantastic experience topped off with a female captain flying us back to the states. --Jeannie Fleming-Gifford, Willoughby *** I teach once a year in Iceland, and can tell you a few things: 1. Reykjavik is a nice city to visit, maybe good for two nights. 2. You are going to be shocked at the costs of everything. 3. Restaurants are really amazing, food is great, service is professional and friendly. 4. You are going to be shocked at what every meal cost. 5. All of the seemingly Icelandic jackets and clothing are very expensive and made in China, although they don't require such labeling information. 6. Hotels are reasonably priced, rather simple, but pleasant. 7. A taxi to the city is $170, so find another way! --Alan Glazen, Cleveland *** The black sand beaches near Vik, on Iceland's South Coast. (Photo courtesy Donna Marchetti) My son and I flew Icelandair out of Boston in April and spent four nights based in Reykjavik. Here are some things travelers might find useful. Food is expensive but you can offset that somewhat by your choice of accommodations. I used booking.com to find a two-bedroom apartment in a quiet neighborhood with a spacious, fully equipped kitchen for about $700 total. We had breakfast and some lunches in our apartment, so we did not feel guilty about splurging for dinner each night. (Well worth it. We loved the food!) We used the Appy Hour app to find good happy hour deals near us. If you want to have wine in your room, buy it in the airport duty-free shop when you land. It is cheaper and easier than trying to find one of the government-run wine stores. Grocery stores and convenience store do not sell alcohol. Save receipts for large purchases - you can get the tax refunded to your credit card at the airport when you leave. Items must be in original packaging. Be prepared for all kinds of weather. It may be sunny and warm in Reykjavik but cold and rainy on excursions outside the city. A good waterproof jacket with hood and rain pants can make the difference between enjoyment and misery. I highly recommend a visit to the National Gallery of Iceland after spending some time in the interior of the country. The influence of the unique landscape on Icelandic art is dramatic. One of our favorite city experiences was the Kolaportio Flea Market near the waterfront. Locals shop here for everything from specialty food to crafts, jewelry, vintage clothing, old records, antiques and locally made products like soap. --Donna Marchetti, Cleveland Heights *** The Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavik. (Photo courtesy of Ron Werman) My wife and I went to Iceland for two weeks in September 2017. We went through Nordic Visitor, where you get a rental car, GPS, maps and travel information and emergency service and they make all of the accommodations. You can see what you want and just have to get to the next accommodation that evening. We went all the way around Iceland in a clockwise direction. In Reykjavik, we really enjoyed seeing Harpa Concert Hall. The architecture is stunning. We took a tour but you can wander in the public areas free of charge. The tour got us also into the concert hall and recital hall. We saw many waterfalls. My favorite was Dynjandi in the Westfjords region. It is a hike to get to it but there are a number of smaller waterfalls that you pass as you ascend, each accessible to view. The Witchcraft Museum in Holmavik was not worth seeing. One neat area was Reynisfjara near Vik on the South Coast. This was a cave in a cliff composed of hexagonal basalt columns right by the water. It was impressive. Every place we stayed at served a nice breakfast so we took advantage of that. For lunch, gas stations often would have restaurants attached, which were reasonable. Often, in the morning, we would stop at a grocery store and get sandwiches for lunch later. With gas stations, some of the more remote ones were not manned. While they took credit cards, you needed your credit card's PIN. Since I didn't know mine, I always had to find a manned station. Some remote areas did not have many gas stations so we filled up when we could. --Ron Werman, Cleveland Heights *** My wife and I traveled the entire ring road (Highway 1) of 830-plus miles, and added another 700 miles or so taking side trips. We stayed in guesthouses and apartments in small towns, one night in each except for two nights in a small hotel in a Reykjavik suburb, Hafnarfjordhur, only 4 miles from the heart of the capital. At the end of the trip, we stayed 2 nights in the small seaport town of Akranes, which was our base to explore the western peninsula of Snaefellsnes. We traveled the Ring Road counter-clockwise. After the first two nights near Reykjavik, we stayed overnight in Hvolsvollur, Hofn, Seydisfjordur, Akureyri (Iceland's second largest city, with a population of only 18,000), and finally the two nights in Akranes. We booked our lodgings in advance online; our chief criterion was having a private bath. Every place was clean and neat, some provided breakfast, and we spent between $120 and $160 per night. We especially loved visiting the town of Stykkisholmur - on the northern coast of the Snaefellsnes peninsula. It received a European award for cultural preservation, and it's easy to see why. Beautifully preserved buildings painted various colors, a gorgeous seaport, with stairs leading to the top of a cliff and lighthouse where the views in every direction are spectacular. There's a ferry and whale-watching tours and a few excellent restaurants specializing in seafood. We had a fine Saturday evening meal at Narfeyrarstofa on the main drive through town. Calling ahead for a reservation is advisable. The highway along the northern coastline leading to Stykkisholmur reminded me of the Pacific Coast Highway in California -- beautiful vistas, cliffs overlooking the water, including one reminiscent of Big Sur. We also loved the small community of Seydisfjordur on the eastern coast, about 25 miles east of Egilsstadir. The drive takes you over a mountain, with snow on both sides of the highway. A small herd of reindeer ran alongside us for part of the way. Seydisfjordur has a strong artists' community, with galleries and some outdoor displays next to homes. Very quaint buildings painted in pastel colors. The small powder-blue church is a standout. We arrived on Wednesday, the same day a ferry brings passengers in from Europe, making for a livelier evening in bars and restaurants. We also explored a lava cave, Vidgelmir, advertised as Iceland's largest and mightiest. Turn off Highway 1 just north of the town of Borganes and go east on Highway 518 until it turns into a gravel road and follow the signs through a lava field to the cave. It's a family-owned, well-run operation. We had an excellent guide through the cave. They take groups of about 20 or 25 at a time for a 90-minute exploration, part of which includes "the squeeze," so named for obvious reasons. A word about the Blue Lagoon: People shouldn't think that it's a tourist trap that might be avoided if you find yourself running out of time at the end of your trip. We found it to be perhaps our favorite experience. You arrive at Keflavik airport in the morning on both airlines. Our flight arrived around 6:30 a.m. After some breakfast and getting our rental car, we went straight to the Blue Lagoon because it's a short drive from the airport. It was raining at the time, with a cold wind blowing, and the thought of getting into a bathing suit and going outside didn't seem appealing but we had made reservations. After spending three luxurious hours paddling around the wonderfully warm lagoon until we turned into prunes, we decided that the cold wind and rain just enhanced the experience. I'd strongly recommend going there first, right after your arrival. It will relax you after your sleepless night on the plane. You might even want to back again at the end of your journey! An advisory: Before flying home, we bought several bottles of Icelandic liquor in the duty-free store at the airport. The salesperson put the bottles in a couple of plastic bags and said we could just carry them onto the plane. We did so and put them in the overhead bin. While going through customs in Cleveland, it was announced that anyone carrying bottled water or bottles of liquor would have to throw them away. We should have packed the bottles in our suitcases! My wife carried the liquor bags back to the end of the line and found someone who agreed to put them inside their suitcase. We picked them up on the other side of the customs inspection. --Mike Lewis, Avon *** I've been to Iceland four times, in 2008, 2010, 2016 and 2017. Some suggestions: In Iceland, when they say "Jeep" they usually mean any AWD or 4X4. AWD is not true four-wheel drive. Best restaurant meal ever, Fiskmarkadurinn (Fish Market) in Reykjavik. Expensive, but go! Off the beaten track but also recommended, especially for shellfish, is Vitinn. Look out the plane's windows -- my wife stayed awake most of the way on our winter trip due to the best-ever northern lights display. Don't expect much from the northern lights. The Keflavik hotel's desk clerk said a display we saw there was one of the best he had ever seen (mid-September, 2016). It was more like shape-shifting clouds without much color. A lot of the colorful pictures you see of the northern lights are time-lapse photography that brings out the color. Skip the Blue Lagoon, it has gotten crowded. Seek out an alternative. If you go north, the Myvatn Nature Baths are the best. Driving is easy in Iceland but don't rely solely on maps, the street names look like nonsense words. Use both but especially the map on your GPS. English is widely spoken in Iceland. A little less so in the less often visited areas. Biggest regret: not going to one of the public pools and interacting with the locals in the hot pots, especially on our most recent visit. Skip eating the whale and puffin but try horse, lamb, Icelandic meat soup and the fish! Go to church. We went to the Catholic church in Akureyri. The priest was Icelandic but the majority of parishioners were Filipino and Eastern European. They invited us to coffee and light snacks. I wish we had brought something to share. New Year's Eve is big in Iceland. Setting off fireworks is legal one week a year and sold by the search and rescue squads as a fundraiser. The fireworks are remarkable! We viewed the ones in Akureyri from the house across the fjord from the city. It was the highlight of all our trips. Note: In the future, they are restricting the size of the fireworks, so future displays may be a little less dramatic. If you stay in Reykjavik's city center on a Saturday night you may not get much sleep. If the weather is decent there will be lot of noise until about 4 or 5 am. A lot of loud conversation and breaking glass but it all seemed friendly and convivial. Then the street cleaners come. Iceland is not Disneyland or Cedar Point. There are places you can get hurt if you are not careful. It is not some "safe" version of the real world. They also don't have ADA there and you usually have to lug around your own suitcases. Iceland is best for the fit and healthy. Icelandair and Wow out of Cleveland: At first I thought no big deal, still not direct to Europe. But if you live in Cleveland, nothing is direct to Europe. You have to fly or get to Detroit, Washington or New York City, then get your direct flight. Twice we stayed in a hotel after our U.S. return since there was no CLE flight. With Icelandair and Wow, you leave directly from CLE and have a relatively short layover in Keflavik. It is actually more efficient, probably less expensive overall and one airline means less or no risk of a missed connection. --Jim and Sherryl Saccardi, Amherst *** Photo courtesy of Jon Frosti/Solstice Tours We traveled the first week in March to Iceland, obviously before the Cleveland flights. Our trip was planned months in advance and we wanted the winter months to hopefully experience the aurora borealis. We used a tour company for most of our trip: Jon Frosti of Solstice Tours. Our adventures were custom-made for us exclusively. Jon, who is very knowledgeable, has a four-wheel drive van, which includes wifi. Most days we were busy from morning to evening and late into the night for the northern lights. We ate at some wonderful out-of-the-way places (loved the arctic char) and saw sites some tourists might miss on their own. Temperatures were in the low 30s but we were prepared with snow boots, hiking shoes, warm clothing, etc. Upon our arrival, before the Blue Lagoon, our guide took us to the Viking World Museum in Reykjanesbaer where we had breakfast and learned a bit about the early Vikings. During our stay, we saw around 10 waterfalls. We went to Fridheimar in Reykholt, which is a tomato greenhouse and restaurant with the lunch menu including tomatoes for almost everything. We went to the Kerid crater lake and enjoyed the Lava Centre. We thought the museum was very well done. Our glacier walk was at the Syinafellsjokull glacier, a tongue of the Vatnajokull glacier. Our guide had said he had people complaining the walk he previously took people on was much too crowded so this walk was with a small group. Film location for "Interstellar," "Batman Begins" and "Game of Thrones." We saw Hofskirkja, the last turf roofed church built in 1882. The black sand beach with the basalt columns was where the film "Noah" with Russell Crowe was located along with "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story." We also went to the Reykjanes Nature Reserve, which is a geological wonder with high-temperature geothermal pools, springs, vents, etc., and stopped to see Eldey Island on the way to the airport. --Linda Sacash, Russell Township *** We (two 60ish parents, two college kids) returned June 1 from two weeks in Europe via Icelandair. We flew to London for a week and then spent a week based in Reykjavik. Icelandair was a dream - excellent fare of $477 pp (booked in September), easy booking, smooth check-in, new planes, soft blankets, legroom. The lack of food didn't bother us because what we bought in the airports was better than most airline food. Our only complaint was on the Cleveland end. To deplane after a long flight, clear immigration and customs, claim your checked baggage and then have to surrender the same checked baggage you just claimed and clear TSA with your carry-ons in order to exit the airport was a huge disappointment and easily added 45 minutes to an already long day. At that point, most of the good feelings about Icelandair had been forgotten. Experienced travelers expect this if they are on a connecting flight but not if their travel plans end in CLE. What added to the anger and confusion was that no one would answer questions or explain why. TSA employees kindly explained that we were exiting into the secure part of the airport. Several people ripped the baggage claim off their checked bags and acted like they were carry-ons. I felt badly for the TSA employees because they took the brunt of everyone's frustration. There was only one screener set up to process the entire plane (200+) and when we arrived in baggage claim, our flight wasn't listed on any of the monitors so no one knew which carousel to go to. These flights are great for CLE but I worry that the poorly designed exit strategy will eventually have a negative impact. --Deborah Hull, Pepper Pike Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) Brendan Smialowski | AFP | Getty Images Another Deep State conspiracy theory hyped by President Donald Trump and his Republican allies has withered under scrutiny. In February, it happened with the so-called "Nunes memo" that the White House had hoped would discredit the FBI investigation into connections between Trump campaign advisors and potential Russian agents. The memo, by failing to undermine the basis on which the FBI conducted surveillance, proved to be a dud. On Thursday, the Justice Department inspector general released his report reviewing the FBI's conduct in its 2016 investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of email. Here, too, Trump and his supporters had openly rooted that the findings would back up their claims that the president has been victimized by political bias from entrenched forces within the government that oppose his policies. The 568-page report by Inspector General Michael Horowitz did not back up their claims. In fact, it showed the opposite. Horowitz criticized, sometimes sharply, the conduct of multiple FBI officials. He said he was "deeply troubled" by text messages exchanged by Peter Strzok and Lisa Page that demonstrated hostility to Trump. With similar communications, three other officials also "brought discredit to themselves," the IG report concluded. The IG concluded that the private views of those officials "created the appearance" that bias had influenced their investigation of Clinton's email practices. He did not conclude that bias actually did influence their investigation. "We did not find documentary or testimonial evidence that improper considerations, including political bias, directly affected the specific investigation decisions," Horowitz wrote. He criticized former Attorney General Loretta Lynch for an "error in judgment" in failing to cut short an airport tarmac conversation with former President Bill Clinton before the Justice Department had concluded the email investigation. But he did not back up Trump's tweeted suggestion that Clinton dangled favors for Lynch in return for going easy on his wife. "We found no evidence that Lynch and former President Clinton discussed the (email) investigation or engaged in other inappropriate discussion during their tarmac meeting," the IG said. FBI Director James Comey. Getty Images Horowitz also had sharp words for former FBI Director James Comey, who Trump fired last year. He called it "extraordinary and insubordinate" for Comey to hold a July 2016 press conference explaining the decision not to seek charges against Clinton in the email case. That press conference "deviated from well-established (Justice) in a way intentionally designed to avoid supervision by department leadership," the IG report concluded. It also found Comey made a "serious error in judgment" by telling Congress in late October the FBI was investigating newly-discovered emails, which ultimately proved insignificant in the probe. But Horowitz did not attribute Comey's decision to political bias. Most significantly, he did not fault the decision not to prosecute. "We found no evidence that the conclusions by the prosecutors were affected by bias or other improper considerations," the IG report concluded. "Rather, we determined that they were based on the prosecutors' assessment of the facts, the law, and past Department practice." James Comey Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty Images The Justice Department's inspector general released its long-awaited report into the FBI's Clinton email investigation on Thursday, releasing a nearly 600 page report with eight attachments and two indices. Below are the five most important takeaways. Comey's actions were insubordinate The inspector general found that it was "extraordinary and insubordinate" for Comey to do his July 5 news conference without telling his bosses at the Department of Justice. That news conference was the one in which Comey announced that no reasonable prosecutor would charge Hillary Clinton with a crime but called Clinton's actions "extremely careless." The inspector general concluded that "we found none of [Comey's] reasons to be a persuasive basis for deviating from well-established Department policies in a way intentionally designed to avoid supervision by Department leadership over his actions." The FBI could have acted sooner Clinton has said that Comey's decision to announce that he was re-opening the investigation in the days before the 2016 election may have cost her the race. The inspector general called Comey's announcement "a serious error in judgement," and found that the FBI had no good explanation for not acting sooner. By the end of September, the FBI "had learned virtually every fact that was cited by the FBI in late October as justification for obtaining the search warrant" to access a laptop containing emails from Clinton, the inspector general wrote. Comey told the inspector general that when he first learned of the emails, they "didn't index" with him. He told the inspector general that if he had known the email review could have been completed before the election, he may not have notified Congress. An investigator may have shown bias While the inspector general largely found that the investigation into Clinton's emails was free from bias, there was one notable exception. As part of his investigation, the inspector general reviewed more than 40,000 text messages between Lisa Page and Peter Strzok, two senior Justice Department officials who were involved in both the Clinton email investigation and the investigation into Russian meddling. Some compromising text messages had already been made public, but one in which Strzok said that "We'll stop" Trump from becoming president is new. The inspector general found the messages "cast a cloud" over the FBI, and did not rule out that Strzok may have failed to aggressively pursue the Clinton investigation as a result of political bias. Multiple investigators used personal email accounts The investigation into Clinton's use of a private email server was conducted by a number of FBI investigators, including Comey, who were using personal email addresses, the inspector general found. Comey, Strzok and Page all at times used personal email addresses to conduct government business, according to the report. "We identified numerous instances in which Comey used a personal email account (a Gmail account) to conduct FBI business," the report found. The report noted that at a 2016 FBI conference in San Diego, Comey had said he had received "emails from some employees about this, who said, 'If I did what Hillary Clinton did I'd be in huge trouble.'" "My response is you bet your ass you'd be in huge trouble," Comey said. Everyone is claiming victory On Wednesday General Motors announced that 39-year-old vice president of corporate finance, Dhivya Suryadevara, would replace current CFO Chuck Stevens, who has been working at the auto company longer than Suryadevara has been alive. Suryadevara has quickly climbed GM's ladder since she began working there 14 years ago, and her appointment as CFO is significant: She is the first female CFO in the automaker's 110-year history and makes GM one of only two Fortune 500 companies that have both a female CEO and CFO. Hershey, led by CEO Michele Buck and CFO Patricia Little, is the other company holding that distinction. GM CEO Mary Barra, who has made significant strides to increase female leadership in the company, says Suryadevara is ready. "Dhivya's experience and leadership in several key roles throughout our financial operations positions her well to build on the strong business results we've delivered over the last several years," Barra said. Although Suryadevara never imagined going into the automotive industry, she told Real Simple that she's always enjoyed anything "challenging and complicated." That was the theme of her upbringing in Chennai, India. After her father passed away when Suryadevara was young, all parenting duties fell onto her mother. "My mom had to raise three children on her own, which is difficult to do anywhere, let alone in India," she said. "She wanted to make sure there were no corners cut when it came to our education and to prove that we could have the same resources as a two-parent household." Her mother's high expectations stayed with Suryadevara as she completed her bachelor's and master's degree in commerce at the University of Madras. When she was 22, Suryadevara traveled to the U.S. for the first time to attend Harvard Business School, where she got an MBA. A pump jack operates at a well site leased by Devon Energy Production Co. near Guthrie, Oklahoma. Nick Oxford | Reuters "We're going into an OPEC meeting where everyone is talking about raising production the only question is by how much," said Bob Yawger, director, energy at Mizuho in New York. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday after talks with Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih in Moscow that both nations "in principle" supported a gradual increase in production after restricting output for 18 months. "We in general support this ... but specifics we will discuss with the ministers in a week," Novak said, adding that one option would involve gradually raising output by 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd), possibly starting from July 1. Falih offered no specific guidance on what any deal in Vienna could look like, but said: "We will see where we go, but I think we'll come to an agreement that satisfies, most importantly, the market." Many analysts expect a rise in output from the meeting. "The switch has been turned on for a supply increase," Olivier Jakob at Swiss oil markets consultancy Petromatrix said. How much has the internet changed the way we shop? Nearly one in every ten dollars we spend on retail goods is now spent online, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. That percentage has nearly doubled in just the last five years. But even as we become more and more comfortable with the process, experts warn the internet is still fraught with risks. "Most online shopping scams are essentially ordering a product and never receiving the product, so you've paid money and you've received nothing in return," said Melissa Trumpower, Director of Programs and Operations at the BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust, the educational arm of the Council of Better Business Bureaus. She says some of the most common items involved in scams include pets and pet supplies, cosmetics, clothing and health care. Then there is the counterfeit eyewear sold online by New York businessman Vitaly Borker, who pleaded guilty in 2011 to running an $18 million scam, only to continue running the scam from prison, as well as after his release in 2015. Borker pleaded guilty to three additional fraud counts in March. But Borker went beyond just selling knockoff glasses. Some customers never received their orders even though their credit cards had been charged. Those who dared to complain or ask for a refund found themselves on the receiving end of exorbitant "restocking" or "cancellation" fees. And if they objected, things got even worse. "Right after I sent that last e-mail saying I didn't want to pay that cancellation fee, my cell phone rang," New York customer Maura Selneck told CNBC's "American Greed". "He started insulting me as soon as I answered the phone. He proceeded to call me a f**king valley girl, telling me that I was just a stupid bitch." In Boston, customer Shonnett Sisco became concerned when the designer glasses she ordered arrived without a promised certificate of authenticity. When she sought to return them, Borker demanded a $50 restocking fee, to which Sisco objected. "He stated in an e-mail to me that he was giving me the finger," she told American Greed. "I stated, 'God bless him," because in my mind he was just a miserable person. And then he just started calling me a Jesus freak." Sisco eventually paid the fee, but Borker would not let up, e-mailing her at all hours. "Then he started stating that he knew where I lived, and I was just terrified," she said. Maura Selneck tells a similar story. "He told me I shouldn't have f**ked with him because he has all my personal information and my credit card information. He said, 'You don't know who you screwed with. I'm going to get you.' By the time I got off the phone, I was in tears, shaking," she said. While most of us can look forward to perfectly uneventful online shopping experiences, experts say it is important to take precautions against the likes of Vitaly Borker. Check it out Just as you would not want to buy a designer watch from the back of a van in a dark alley, do not buy items online from a seller you have not checked out. One place to start is by searching the Better Business Bureau's online directory, which can tell you if the business is accredited, and whether the BBB has received complaints. "You can check to see if they're even in the database," Trumpower said. "If not, that's a concern. You can also do a general Google search which will pull up a lot of information about that company and that website." But take search results with a grain of salt. Borker initially benefitted from a loophole in Google's algorithmwhich the search company says it has since closedin which even negative reviews boosted a business' search results. The more trafficgood or badthe higher his company would show up on the page. Even though Google says it changed its algorithms after the New York Times exposed Borker in 2010, you still should not simply go with the first link that comes up in a search for a product category. Similarly, beware of online reviews, which can be gamed. "If there's all positive feedback and nothing negative, that may be a red flag," Trumpower said. In addition to checking the Better Business Bureau listings, the Federal Trade Commission says to make certain the web site includes a physical address and a phone number, and verify them. That way you have a place to contact should things go bad. "Anyone can set up shop online under almost any name," the agency says on its web site. And if you get a pop-up or e-mail while browsing asking for your financial information, stop right there, the FTC says. "Legitimate companies don't ask for information that way." Credit where credit is due Experts agree that one of the best ways to protect yourself when shopping online is to pay with a credit card. "It's traceable," Trumpower said. "If somebody comes to you and asks you to wire money or to use a prepaid gift card that's a huge red flag and I would not do that." Most credit card companies will protect you in a dispute with a seller. And the federal Fair Credit Billing Act protects you against things like unauthorized charges, or charges for items you did not receive. Under the law, your credit card company can generally only hold you responsible for the first $50 in charges you did not authorize. Many companies will not hold you responsible for any unauthorized charges, and most offer protections if you are not satisfied with your purchase. Sense of security Once you are satisfied that the business you are dealing with is legitimate, do not let your guard down. Be sure to protect your banking and credit card information when purchasing online. Never enter credit card information on a web site that does not have the letters "https" at the start of its URL or address. "That indicates that it's actually a secure transaction and they're protecting your information," Trumpower said And never provide payment information via e-mail, the FTC says. "E-mail is not a secure method of transmitting financial information like your credit card, checking account, or Social Security number," the agency's web site cautions. Not that you should be sharing your banking information, your Social Security number, or your birthday with any online merchant. "Those are things that are not typically needed by a business and you should be very wary if they ask for that," Trumpower said. It is the same reason you should avoid the temptation of posting on social media about your purchase. "A lot of scammers are going to several different sites and they're gathering information to understand who you are, who your friends are, what you like to do," she said. "The more that they understand about you, the more powerful it is later for them to come back and try to follow up and do a scam." Complaint department A Russian company indicted for allegedly funding attempts to meddle in the 2016 presidential election tore into special counsel Robert Mueller Thursday, calling him "unlawfully appointed" and accusing him of chasing a "make-believe electioneering case." The searing court document was filed in response to Mueller's request that a judge grant certain protections to the mountain of evidence in that case. A lawyer for Concord Management and Consulting urged the judge to deny Mueller's request and submitted a different proposal to be considered. Concord is one of three Russian entities and 13 Russian people accused by the special counsel of breaking the law in order to interfere with U.S. elections. That lawyer argued that Mueller's proposal was "unprecedented" in its breadth and was based on irrelevant legal precedent. "In short, fake law, which is much more dangerous than fake news," Concord's lawyer said. Mueller's plan would include barring any of the defendants from reviewing the evidence found until they appear before a U.S. court. In that request, Mueller also warned that "uncharged individuals and entities" are still engaging in election interference operations. In its response filed on Thursday, a lawyer for Concord described Mueller's position as a "hysterical dithyramb about the future of American elections." It's been a year since Amazon bought Whole Foods. At the time of the deal, which came as the grocer was under pressure from activist investor Jana Partners, Whole Foods was struggling. It had been first to the specialty and organic game, but as larger competitors also moved into the space, it was ceding ground. With scale and better infrastructure, these retailers could offer many of the same products at a better price. Whole Foods was behind its competitors in technology and developing a loyalty program. Its challenges showed through in its finances. In 2017, before its sale to Amazon, same-store sales were declining 1.5 percent, according to regulatory filings. The previous year, they were declining 2.5 percent. The deal between the two which was at one point known as Project Athena came together under intense secrecy, after Whole Foods CEO John Mackey reached out to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos through an industry consultant. Amazon told Whole Foods if word of the deal leaked, it would call it off. A year later, here's where we are. Whole Foods stores look different Whole Foods gave Amazon the brick-and-mortar platform that many internet retailers have begun to realize is essential to minimizing the costs of returns, delivery and marketing not that Amazon needs much of the latter. Already, Amazon has begun to sell its devices like Echo in stores and opened up lockers for delivery in certain Whole Foods locations. In some stores, there are now signs for special discounts for Amazon Prime members. Eventually, those discounts will be national. Whole Foods has also begun to offer free delivery for Prime members. As Amazon continues to centralize its merchandising (more on that later), there may be fewer employees in its stores. Retail consultant Matt Bailey (left) helps customer Geoff Witherspoon at the Amazon Pop-Up in the Union Station Whole Foods on Thursday, March 22, 2018. AAron Ontiveroz | The Denver Post | Getty Images It's going from regional to national One of Whole Foods' biggest challenges has been taking what set it apart lots of niche and often regional products and streamlining that into becoming a cost-efficient, national retailer. Many small brands point to Whole Foods as the birth ground for their new products. For Whole Foods though, devoting shelf space to small brands, especially those that aren't driving traffic, was not always good for the bottom line. Dealing with each brand on a regional basis could prove complex. Whole Foods has been trying to solve that challenge since before its sale to Amazon, hiring Target's Don Clark in 2015 to help with the efforts. The grocer's sale to Amazon though came with its own set of uncertainties, which resulted in those moves being viewed with a different level of scrutiny and tension. It has begun to centralize purchasing for its suppliers. That means many small brands need to go through WFM headquarters in Austin, Texas, to get placed in a store, not through their regional Whole Foods representative. That approach simplifies operations and makes it easier for a brand to scale without traveling region by region. The drawback is small brands with little plans to grow at such a scale might feel squeezed out. Whole Foods has also begun to centralize its merchandising, which means it's now taking care of in-store displays and setup rather than allowing brands to outsource the task to third-party services. An employee stocks yogurt for sale on the opening day of the 365 by Whole Foods Market store in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, California Patrick T. Fallon | Bloomberg | Getty Images Amazon has found a treasure trove of data It's beginning to become more clear why Amazon bought Whole Foods. For one, it's getting its hands on lots of shopping data, which will come in handy as Amazon expands its online grocery business and private label offerings. As Amazon combines its Prime service and Whole Foods shopping experience, it's getting even more insight into how the same person shops on and offline. That means a better ability to target ads and promotions than a grocer typically is able to. Because many shoppers still browse groceries online but shop in person, this combination threatens to be particularly powerful. Customers register for the 365 Rewards discount program during the grand opening of a Whole Foods Market 365 location in Santa Monica, California. Patrick T. Fallon | Bloomberg | Getty Images It's also begun to tackle the challenge of fresh food delivery ... again Through Whole Foods stores, Amazon has renewed efforts to deliver fresh food a service that has been a struggle for it in the past. Unlike shampoo or paper towels, fresh food can spoil quickly. It is costly and complicated to deliver. It is expensive to store. Those challenges plagued its efforts with prior delivery service, Amazon Fresh. Whole Foods' stores provide a more cost-effective way to take care of fresh food, while also providing a launching pad to transport those groceries. Shoppers are more likely to order and trust fresh food and meat from a retailer branded Whole Foods than they are from one named Amazon. An employee loads bags of groceries into a customer's vehicle at an AmazonFresh Pickup location in Seattle, Washington. David Ryder | Bloomberg | Getty Images The sleepy retail industry has woken up Things are changing outside of Whole Foods, too. The industry is not only scared by the marriage of Whole Foods and Amazon, it is also now facing the infiltration of European competitors Aldi and Lidl, discount grocers that are attacking traditional grocery stores on price. Kroger's stock dropped from $31 to $22 a share when the Whole Foods deal was announced. It now trades at $24, a level that many industry sources say represents a new normal. In the past year, grocery stores have slowed their new store growth and instead focused on acquisitions of technology or platforms. Walmart bought Indian e-commerce company Flipkart, Target bought delivery service Shipt, Kroger invested in British online supermarket Ocado and bought meal kit company Home Chef, and Albertsons also bought a meal kit company, Plated. Still, these retailers are at a disadvantage when it comes to technology investments. Unlike Amazon's shareholders, investors in retail companies punish retailers when their investments are unprofitable or take longer to pan out. Retailers are also increasingly focused on fresh food, prepared food and even restaurants to draw shoppers to their stores. There's a big push for private label brands, which are more profitable for the stores. Organic and specialty products, the space where Whole Foods made its name, remains a big focus for the industry. As they give those brands more and more shelf space, new companies no longer view Whole Foods as the singular place to launch. They are looking to other grocers like Target, Costco and Walmart. For smaller grocers, these changes could mean trouble and an uncertain future. Many don't have the funds to invest in technology and capabilities as their larger competitors. They also can't rely on those retailers as an escape clause anymore. It used to be when life as a grocery store got too hard or when control of a family-owned grocery store shifted to a new generation they would call up one of the main consolidators, Kroger or Albertsons. Now, those grocers have shifted focus elsewhere, and the price they are willing to pay for a deal is far less. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon (R) speaking next to Flipkart co-founder and CEO Binny Bansal at an event in Bangalore. AFP | Getty Images Big Food is getting crushed As the grocers react, food companies also have been affected. Emphasis on private label, fresh food and specialty food takes shelf-space away from the country's largest packaged foods companies. And the focus on price means margins are being squeezed. Meantime, if Amazon's acquisition of Whole Foods expedites the shift to online grocery shopping, that means a new frontier for consumer giants. They will need to fight for eyeballs and learn new tricks to prompt impulse purchases. Other factors are also challenging Big Food like rising costs, upstart competitors and a generation distrustful of all large brands. It's been a tough year for them. Many, including General Mills, Hershey and Campbell, are reacting by making large, expensive deals. It's too soon to say whether this strategy will save them, but the stakes are high. Customers shop near a display of General Mills Cheerios cereal at a Costco Wholesale store in Louisville, Kentucky. Luke Sharrett | Bloomberg | Getty Images Four things we still don't know The percentage of grocery shopping done online is small. How much larger will it get? Whole Foods relies on United Natural Foods for its distribution. Amazon could either renew that contract or attempt distribution on its own when it expires. If it doesn't renew the contract, UNFI would lose a significant portion of its business and scale. The broader food distribution industry is already under pressure, a reverberation from the pressures (and bankruptcies) within the grocery sector. Whole Foods used Instacart before the Amazon deal and continues to do so, what does this relationship mean now that Amazon is pushing its own delivery service? Instacart has been lining up retail partners left and right, implying it's preparing itself should Whole Foods cut ties. Whole Foods footprint is also far smaller than its largest grocery competitors, but is it big enough for Amazon to accomplish all it wants within the grocery space? There is often speculation about Amazon doing another large deal to augment its footprint. Observers note, though, that doing so would thrust Amazon into regulatory scrutiny, and there have already been dust-ups between President Donald Trump and the Seattle giant. AT&T Chairman and CEO told CNBC on Friday he feels "relief" at winning the company's court case against the government and completing its purchase of Time Warner. AT&T got its day in court and "the system worked," Stephenson said on "Squawk Box." "We live in an amazing country," he said. "We have three co-equal branches of government. The checks and balances in this situation worked exactly the way they were designed over 200 years ago." The $85.4 billion acquisition closed late Thursday, shortly after the Justice Department said it would not apply for a stay of federal judge Richard Leon's ruling that let the deal go forward. However, the DOJ could still appeal the decision even after the completion of the deal. Stephenson said he's not worried about government retribution, while noting it's been "600 days" since he came on "Squawk Box" to unveil the merger. He's always maintained it was not anti-competitive because it's a vertical integration, meaning the various businesses of both companies don't go head-to-head against each other. Time Warner's properties include Turner Broadcasting's CNN as well as HBO and the Warner Bros. movie and television studio. AT&T, the nation's second-largest wireless firm, also owns the DirecTV satellite service and offers broadband internet service. Stephenson said he feels he has all the right people in place to lead the various divisions, and that AT&T plans to invest in the new businesses being brought into the fold. "We're building a modern media company," he said, though stressing he wants to also preserve the Time Warner culture. "This business we're buying is all about creativity and talent and how can we ensure that we don't disrupt or interfere with that creative ability." Meanwhile, AT&T will be launching a "very, very skinny bundle" of television programming free to its mobile customers, Stephenson said. "We will be launching, and you're going to hear more about this next week, a product called 'AT&T Watch TV,'" he explained. "It will be the Turner content. It will not have sports. It'll be entertainment-centered." AT&T's unlimited wireless customers will get the service for free, he said, "or you can buy it for $15 a month on any platform." AT&T said in a letter to DOJ officials on Thursday that it plans a "firewall between Turner and AT&T Communications" to prevent improper sharing of information or pricing. Last year, the DOJ sued to block the merger, citing concerns that AT&T could charge rival distributors more for Time Warner content, resulting in higher prices for consumers. This week's green light for AT&T in federal court was seen as a mandate for other media mergers. And a day after Tuesday's ruling that cleared the way for the Time Warner deal, Comcast announced a $65 billion all-cash bid for the Twenty-First Century Fox assets currently under agreement to be acquired by Disney in a $52.4 billion stock deal. Stephenson told CNBC on Thursday he's unsure how or whether the AT&T situation should apply to other proposed deals in the media industry. "I don't know how transferable this is to next deal" because the AT&T case was adjudicated on the facts of this particular transaction, he added, echoing judge Leon's ruling. "The temptation by some to view this decision as being something more than a resolution of this specific case should be resisted by one and all!" Leon said. During the 2016 presidential campaign, then-candidate Donald Trump said he wouldn't support the AT&T-Time Warner deal. And when he got into the White House, his Justice Department followed through and tried to block it. Stephenson, an early supporter of Trump, maintained through the legal process that he never tried to curry favor with the president. The AT&T CEO reiterated on CNBC on Friday that he liked the corporate tax cut and the overhaul of the tax system for individuals that Trump and Republicans pushed through last year. He also said he does not support many of the trade actions by the White House. An investor obverses the screen at an exchange hall in Nanjing, China. The iShares China Large-Cap ETF (FXI) fell more than 1.5 percent in midday Friday trading, tracking for its first seven-day losing streak since December 2016. The ETF tracks major Chinese companies traded in Hong Kong. Friday's drop came as major U.S. stock indexes fell on fears of a trade war between the U.S. and China. For the week, the ETF was trading 3.9 percent lower, tracking for its worst week since March 23. In addition to worries about trade, Chinese data on retail sales and industrial activity missed expectations, raising concerns about economic slowdown. Just seven components are up for the week, led by Anhui Conch Cement. Chinese tech giant Tencent, the largest company by market capitalization in the ETF, fell 1.25 percent in the last week. Other major decliners included Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and PetroChina. ZTE was by far the worst performer, falling nearly 49 percent this week after ending a nearly two-month trading halt on Wednesday. The Chinese telecom equipment giant settled with the U.S. last week to pay up to $1.4 billion for violating a March 2017 agreement. Until it makes the payment, ZTE remains banned from buying from U.S. components. The second-worst performing stock, China Molybdenum, a chemicals company, fell 14 percent this week. CNBC's Gina Francolla contributed to this report. Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing is headed for Australia this month. The company said Friday that it plans to launch its ride-hailing service Didi Express in Melbourne on June 25. That would mark the firm's second direct expansion abroad, with the first being in Toluca, Mexico. Both Melbourne and Toluca are markets where the world's best-known ride-hailing firm, Uber, currently operates in. Didi has previously expanded abroad through investing in and partnering with local competitors. The company acquired Brazil's 99 Taxi earlier this year and has partnered with Estonia-based Taxify and United Arab Emirates-based Careem. The firm is the largest ride-hailing start-up in China with 550 million users across 400 Chinese cities. The company bought Uber's mainland business back in 2016, forcing the latter out of one of the world's biggest markets for technology. Uber has been facing increased consolidation this year, selling its Southeast Asia business to Singaporean rival Grab and merging with Russian internet giant Yandex's ride-hailing unit. Michael Cohen, center, leaves the US Courthouse in New York on April 26, 2018. President Donald Trump 's former longtime lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen had been letting family and friends know he is willing to cooperate with federal investigators in New York probing him, CNN reported Friday, citing a source. Cohen is angry with Trump and the president's current lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, the source told CNN. Cohen, who has worked closely with Trump for decades, has not yet reached out to prosecutors to strike a deal, according to CNN's source. He is currently seeking new attorneys, possibly to negotiate a plea deal with the government, multiple outlets reported this week. Cohen's current lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC. President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping chat as they walk along the front patio of the Mar-a-Lago estate after a bilateral meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., April 7, 2017. China's Commerce Ministry said Friday that it will respond immediately on the same scale to the Trump administration's new tariffs on Chinese goods worth up to $50 billion. "We will immediately introduce taxation measures of the same scale and the same strength," the ministry said in an English-language statement. "All the economic and trade achievements previously reached by the two parties will no longer be valid at the same time," the ministry said, calling the U.S. behavior "short-sighted." In May, Beijing and the U.S. agreed to "meaningful increases" in U.S. agriculture and energy exports to China. However, the White House subsequently said it would still pursue tariffs on Chinese goods that were proposed in April, causing trade relations to deteriorate. Comcast said Friday that the European Commission has cleared its bid for Britain's Sky. The commission approved the deal without any conditions and said it "would raise no competition concerns." The cable company submitted a $31 billion offer for Sky in April, prompting the European pay-TV group to drop its support for a lower offer from Rupert Murdoch's Twenty-First Century Fox. Earlier this week, Comcast announced a $65 billion bid for Fox assets that are currently in an agreement to be acquired by Disney in a move that could set off a bidding war. That includes Fox's movie studios, stakes in Hulu, Sky and Endemol Shine Group, as well as networks FX, Star TV and National Geographic. Comcast is also going after the 61 percent of Sky not already owned by Fox in an effort to boost its international footprint. The company, like other pay-TV distributors in the U.S., is facing more pressure in the video business as more consumers cut the cord, or drop big cable bundles in favor of cheaper streaming options like Netflix. Comcast said it expects to complete the Sky deal before the end of the year. Disclosure: Comcast is the owner of NBCUniversal, parent company of CNBC and CNBC.com, and is a co-owner of Hulu. The absence of President Donald Trump's business advisory councils is "dangerous" because businesses can no longer coordinate to provide the government with their input, the chief executive of auditing giant EY told CNBC. Mark Weinberger, who sat on one of the now-disbanded councils of CEOs advising Trump on economic issues, said Friday that the president was an "open" and "verbal" learner. Weinberger said Trump listened to executives' concerns even though they did not always see eye-to-eye. "I think (Trump) processed very carefully what he heard and you could see his policy prescriptions change," Weinberger told CNBC's Tania Bryer. "I think it's dangerous that we're no longer constantly there as a group because I think he needs that input." He added: "That being said of course we're still working with the government one-off and working with them on different policy initiatives." Two of Trump's advisory councils the Manufacturing Council and the Strategy and Policy Forum broke up last year after controversial comments made by the president about a white nationalist rally held in Charlottesville, Virginia. After various executives began resigning from the councils, Trump said on Twitter he had decided to dissolve both groups to avoid "putting pressure on the businesspeople." President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort is set to ask a federal judge on Friday not to revoke his bail and send him to jail pending trial after Special Counsel Robert Mueller filed new charges of witness tampering last week. Manafort, whose charges arise from Mueller's ongoing investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, is expected to plead not guilty to the charges in the latest indictment against him during an arraignment before U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson in Washington. Manafort has been indicted by Mueller in both Washington and Virginia on a raft of charges including conspiracy against the United States. Jackson could immediately revoke his bail conditions and send Manafort to jail awaiting his trial scheduled for September in the Washington case. His trial on the related charges in Virginia is set for July 25. Manafort has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Manafort is currently confined to his home in the Washington suburb of Alexandria, Virginia, and forced to wear a GPS monitoring device. Mueller, whose investigation could threaten Trump's presidency, is investigating whether the president's 2016 campaign colluded with Moscow and whether Trump has unlawfully sought to obstruct the Russia probe. Trump has called Mueller's investigation a witch hunt and has denied wrongdoing. Jackson has rebuffed Manafort's repeated requests to end his home confinement in exchange for pledging $10 million in real estate as collateral. A June 8 indictment charged Manafort and Konstantin Kilimnik, a Manafort aide and political operative with alleged ties to Russian intelligence, with tampering with witnesses about their past lobbying for Ukraine's former pro-Russian government. The indictment accused Manafort and Kilimnik of attempting to call, text and send encrypted messages in February to two people from a political discussion group the so-called Hapsburg Group that Manafort worked with to promote Ukraine's interests in a bid to sway their testimony. Mueller's team this month asked the judge to revoke Manafort's bail, saying his "obstructive" conduct "instills little confidence that restrictions short of detention will assure Manafort's compliance with the court's orders and prevent him from committing further crimes." Manafort has longstanding ties to a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine and a Russian oligarch close to the Kremlin. The charges against Manafort in Washington include conspiracy to launder money, conspiracy to defraud the United States and failing to register as a foreign agent for the pro-Russia Ukrainian government under former President Viktor Yanukovych. General Motors is considering listing shares of its Cruise autonomous driving technology unit, according to a report from Bloomberg that cites unnamed sources. The biggest American automaker is talking to banks about options for the unit, including listing a separate stock or spinning it off from GM, the report said. However, GM may not take any such steps for another two years, if at all, Bloomberg said. GM was not immediately available for comment. Shares of the automaker were up slightly on Friday afternoon. Cruise recently garnered attention when Japanese conglomerate Softbank said at the end of May it will invest $2.25 billion in the unit. GM first bought Cruise in 2016 when it was a startup with about 50 employees. Since then Cruise has been testing autonomous driving technology on Chevrolet Bolt electric cars in a few different U.S. cities, including San Francisco, Phoenix, Arizona, and the Detroit area. Read the full story at Bloomberg. Two employees of Google riding company bicycles. Smith Collection/Gado | Getty Images Google's annual diversity report reveals that the company's workforce is still largely white and male and that it made very little progress in the last year to change the ratios. The report's publication follows last week's annual shareholder meeting, where employees bucked the company to advocate for more diversity, and comes as Google faces multiple, ongoing lawsuits about discrimination. Nearly 70 percent of Google employees are male and 53 percent are white, the report shows, almost exactly the same proportions as in 2017. Asians represent 36 percent of the workforce, up 1.6 percent from a year earlier, while blacks make up 2.5 percent and Latinos account for 3.6 percent, each increasing by 0.1 percent. In leadership roles, the numbers are even more stark: 67 percent of company leaders are white and 75 percent are male For the first time, Google also included a weighted attrition index, which showed that black and Latino employees were leaving the company at the highest rates. A lack of diversity is a problem across the tech industry, but Google has recently been at the center of public attention. Late last year, a Google engineer wrote an internal memo claiming that biological differences were to blame for a lack of female engineers. The employee, James Damore, was subsequently fired after the memo went viral for "advancing harmful gender stereotypes." In the months since the incident, several reports have described internal turmoil and employee frustration about how the company handles diversity-related efforts, activities, hiring and retention. At Alphabet's annual shareholder meeting, a handful of Google employees showed up to present a proposal aimed at increasing diversity by tying executive compensation to gender, racial, and ethnic recruiting and retention metrics. The Google employee who presented the proposal, Irene Knapp, highlighted a "chilling effect" on diversity efforts within the company. Alphabet voted against the proposal and it failed. However, this week's diversity report did make a subtle shift towards executive accountability. Danielle Brown, a Google vice president, wrote in the report that its diversity and inclusion efforts would shift from a "primarily People Operations and grassroots-led model to one of shared ownership with Google's most senior leaders." A federal judge revoked the $10 million bail of ex-Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort and ordered him to jail Friday because of witness tampering charges lodged by special counsel Robert Mueller. Manafort's detention order at a U.S. District Court hearing in Washington came a week after he was charged in a new indictment filed by Mueller. The indictment accuses Manafort and a Russian associate, Konstantin Kilimnik, of conspiring to influence the possible testimony of two people. Manafort had been under house arrest since October when he was first hit with what became a series of criminal indictments related to his consulting work for pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine. "I cannot turn a blind eye" to the ways Manafort has "abused the trust" of the court, Judge Amy Berman Jackson said as she yanked his bail and ordered him locked up pending his upcoming two federal criminal trials. "This is not middle school. I can't take his cellphone," Jackson said as she rejected a suggestion by Manafort lawyer Richard Westling that she only modify his bail by barring him from contacting potential witnesses. Jackson said that although there is "no evidence of even a threat of harm to any person" by Manafort, the harm from new charges "is harm to the administration of justice" and "to the integrity of the system." Paul Manafort, former campaign manager for Donald Trump, arrives at federal court in Washington, D.C., on Friday, June 15, 2018. Aaron P. Bernstein | Bloomberg | Getty Images The judge said her "extraordinarily difficult decision" was "not about politics," but instead about Manafort's conduct. Prosecutors told Jackson during the hearing that Manafort and Kilimnik had made many attempts to contact potential witnesses during a five-week period earlier this year. Mueller's team in an earlier court filing said Manafort's "obstructive" conduct, which included reaching out to the potential witnesses by using encrypted message apps, "instills little confidence that restrictions short of detention will assure Manafort's compliance with the court's orders and prevent him from committing further crimes." Manafort was stone-faced as he left the courtroom headed to a jail cell, without having been handcuffed. He gave a quick wave in the direction of his defense team and his wife, Kathleen. Jackson denied a request by Westling to delay jailing Manafort so that he could appeal her decision. Kilimnik was not at the hearing. He is believed to be in Russia. President Donald Trump called Manafort's jailing "very unfair" in a tweet almost two hours after he was ordered detained. Tweet During the hearing, at which Manafort also pleaded not guilty to the witness tampering charges, Jackson pressed a prosecutor on whether Manafort currently represented a danger to the public. The prosecutor said Manafort is a threat because of the likelihood that he will commit new crimes. The prosecutor said Manafort, a day after being hit with a revised criminal indictment on Feb. 23, phoned a principal in a public relations firm who had worked on an effort to lobby for the nation of Ukraine. The effort involved a group of former European politicians known as the Hapsburg Group. Manafort called the PR man, identified only as D1, while that man was a passenger in a car driven by his wife in Italy, the prosecutor said. "This is Paul, Paul Manafort. I need to give you a heads up about the Hapsburg Group," Manafort said, according to the prosecutor. D1 immediately hung up, the prosecutor said. Mueller's team has said that two days later, Manafort sent D1 an encrypted message containing an article related to the Hapsburg Group, adding in the note: "We should talk. I have made it clear that they worked in Europe." German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks to the media after preliminary coalition talks collapsed on November 19, 2017 in Berlin, Germany. A split over immigration between Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its sister Christian Social Union (CSU) party is threatening to end her 12-year spell as Germany's leader. Germany's grand coalition government was formed in March after five months of political deadlock since an election the previous September. It resulted in Merkel's fourth term as German chancellor. That vote saw a big upswing in support for the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, who campaigned against Merkel's open-door policy to refugees and migrants arriving from the Middle East and Africa. Now the CSU, fearful of losing further support from its conservative base, is threatening to withdraw from the country's grand coalition unless Merkel hardens her immigration stance. "My sources in Berlin say the situation is on a knife-edge right now, some are even giving it an 80 percent probability that Merkel will step down in the next two weeks," said Nina Schick, director at political consultancy Rasmussen Global, in a telephone call to CNBC Friday. Schick, however, warned that writing Merkel off has long been a dangerous game. "The fundamental rule in German politics since 2006 is don't underestimate Merkel," she added. Khalid Bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, Saudi Arabia's energy minister and president of OPEC, speaks as Alexander Novak, Russia's energy minister, left, listens during a news conference following the 172nd Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meeting in Vienna, Austria, on Thursday, May 25, 2017. Akos Stiller | Bloomberg | Getty Images A meeting of the world's biggest oil producers is shaping up to be a contentious event, but analysts think the fractious group will reach consensus on their historic agreement to manage the crude market. OPEC and other exporters including Russia appear poised to ease voluntary production limits, which have helped shrink a global oil glut since they went into effect in January 2017. The deal isn't set to expire until the end of the year, but rising prices fueled largely by geopolitical risks have forced the producers to consider their exit strategy. The agreement calls on OPEC and other producers to keep 1.8 million barrels a day off the market, but they've actually been cutting deeper than that. OPEC meetings are closely watched because the producer group pumps about 40 percent of the world's oil, so its policy decisions can have major implications across the energy mix. President Donald Trump, perhaps wary of the average U.S. gasoline price hovering near $3 a gallon, has recently , which recently hit 3-year highs. @realDonaldTrump: Oil prices are too high, OPEC is at it again. Not good! Next week's meeting is also thornier than past gatherings because OPEC's current production cuts are not limited to the 14-nation cartel. Russia and several other producers have also been throttling back output, and top OPEC producer Saudi Arabia needs to keep the young alliance together, or its ability to manage the market would be diminished. The Saudis will have to consider their partnership with Russia, their relationship with the United States, and simmering tensions with Iran, OPEC's third-biggest producer and Riyadh's chief regional rival. "The decisions that are going to be made in Vienna are going to be more geopolitical this time than normal," said Dan Yergin, vice chairman of IHS Markit and a Pulitzer Prize-winning chronicler of the petroleum industry. OPEC tensions rise Heading into the meeting, a rift has opened among producers with competing interests, raising fears of a repeat of OPEC's June 2011 meeting, when members left Vienna without agreeing on a shared output policy. Saudi Arabia and Russia, in particular, have spare capacity and could capture market share by pumping more. Both have expressed support for hiking output. However, many producers are tapped out and would prefer to hold back supply, which supports prices. Those nations include Venezuela, where output has cratered amid a prolonged economic crisis, and Iran, which is facing renewed U.S. sanctions aimed at cutting off its oil exports. But they also include Iraq, OPEC's second-biggest producer. On Monday, the country's oil minister, Jabbar al-Luaibi, said hiking output could "damage the international markets" and warned unilateral efforts by some members to change the policy might violate the deal. Luaibi appeared to be responding to reports that Washington asked Saudi Arabia to fill the gap left by a drop in Iranian exports before Trump abandoned the Iran nuclear deal and slapped wide-ranging sanctions on the country. Yergin said he believes the Saudis would back a policy that keeps international benchmark oil prices in the $75-$85 per barrel range, which would support their objectives, including maintaining close ties with the Trump administration. "They really wanted to see the U.S. withdraw from the Iranian deal, and that means less Iranian oil ... so you have to put more oil into the market," he told CNBC on Wednesday. Deal remains likely The public bickering could continue as members aim to negotiate the best possible deal for their country. But despite the discord, analysts think the group will nevertheless reach a deal to begin easing the production caps and any increase will likely be relatively limited and gradual. Ed Morse, Citigroup's head of global commodities research, told CNBC that the Saudis, along with Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, will likely push for a 500,000 barrel per day hike, leaving another half a million barrel increase until a future review of the market, perhaps in September. That aligns with the view at RBC Capital Markets, where the firm's global head of commodity strategy, Helima Croft, also sees OPEC erring on the side of caution with a 500,000 bpd bump. She thinks the cartel will signal a strong willingness to take further action, but she remains wary of tensions ahead of the meeting. "Nonetheless, we could envision a scenario where the meeting proves to be so antagonistic because of deep divisions over production and sanctions that they fail to reach a consensus, leaving big producers like Saudi Arabia and Russia to act on their own," RBC said in a research note. Michael Cohen, head of energy markets research at Barclays, said that would push oil prices into the $80-$85 range, but he thinks the scenario is unlikely. He forecasts OPEC will increase output by 700,000 to 800,000 bpd through the end of the year. If that happens, Barclays would stick to its view that Brent will average $70 a barrel this year and $65 next year. Francisco Blanch, Bank of America Merrill Lynch's head of global commodities research, sees Russia, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait gradually increasing output by about 200,000 bpd each quarter, eventually adding 1.2 million bpd by the end of next year. In his view, the producers will make the adjustments based on oil market data to prevent a price spike. "If the cartel aggressively lifts output over the next six months, balances will quickly shift into a surplus, pushing prices lower," Merrill Lynch said in a research note. "Yet the uncertainty around Iran and Venezuela also creates a difficult path ahead, as it opens the door to multiple OPEC+ responses." WATCH: You could say Russia is now leading OPEC Check out the companies making headlines before the bell: Qualcomm Qualcomm's $44 billion takeover of NXP Semiconductors has not yet been approved by Chinese regulators, according to sources quoted by Reuters. That runs counter to a prior report that the deal had, in fact, been approved. AT&T AT&T completed its acquisition of Time Warner after the government decided not to seek a stay following a judge's ruling approving the deal. The Justice Department, however, is still considering an appeal. SandRidge Energy The company said it has signed confidentiality agreements with 17 potential bidders, as it continues a strategic review process. Apple Apple expects cheaper liquid crystal display models to make up the majority of iPhone sales in a lineup to be released this fall, according to The Wall Street Journal. This comes amid a slower than expected transition to newer OLED screens, which are featured in the iPhone X. 21st Century Fox The New York Yankees are considering buying back Fox's stake in the YES network if Fox completes a planned asset sale to either Walt Disney or Comcast, according to a Bloomberg report. Fox now owns 80 percent, but an agreement between the parties gives the Yankees the right to buy the stake back if Fox puts it up for sale. Adobe Systems Adobe reported adjusted quarterly profit of $1.66 per share, beating consensus estimates by 12 cents a share. The software maker's revenue also came in above forecasts, and Adobe also gave a strong current-quarter earnings outlook as its digital media business continues to strengthen. Jabil Circuit Jabil beat estimates by a penny a share, with adjusted quarterly profit of 46 cents. Revenue also exceeded forecasts. The electronics manufacturer also issued strong current-quarter revenue guidance and announced a $350 million stock buyback. Canada Goose The apparel maker reported a quarterly profit of 9 cents per share, compared to analysts' forecasts of a 10 cents per share loss (all figures are in Canadian currency). Revenue also topped forecasts, and the company also said it believes it is just "scratching the surface" of its global sales potential. Charter Communications The New York State Public Service Commission threatened to revoke its approval of Charter's takeover of Time Warner Cable. The regulator said Charter had failed to meet a condition of the approval requiring certain goals for expanding broadband service availability. Charter has also been hit with a $2 million penalty. Broadcom Broadcom is laying off 1,100 workers across various businesses in a move to cut costs after its purchase of rival chipmaker Brocade last November. In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, Broadcom said it may cut additional jobs in the future as it evaluates its resources. Kellogg Kellogg is recalling about 1.3 million cases of its Honey Smacks cereal due to potential salmonella contamination. The Food and Drug Administration said evidence points to more than 60 cases of illness linked to Honey Smacks, and Kellogg said it has launched an investigation of the third party manufacturer that makes Honey Smacks. Facebook Facebook top policy strategist Elliot Schrage is leaving that job after a decade. A company spokeswoman told The Wall Street Journal that Schrage initially discussed leaving before the 2016 election, but stayed on to help the company with heightened scrutiny involving misinformation and fabricated news stories. Schrage said in a Facebook post that he would still be an adviser to top executives. Finisar Finisar reported adjusted quarterly profit of 5 cents per share, falling short of the 12 cents a share consensus estimate, although the maker of fiber optic components reported revenue in line with forecasts. The company said it was disappointed with the results, pointing to a decline in its gross profit margins. Michael Avenatti, attorney for Stormy Daniels, speaks to reporters following a court proceeding. Michael Avenatti, the outspoken attorney for porn star Stormy Daniels, won't have to end his publicity tour quite yet, a federal judge said on Friday. Attorneys for Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former lawyer and fixer, filed a restraining order application Thursday seeking to bar Avenatti from speaking to the press, citing Avenatti's "seemingly unquenchable thirst for publicity." Cohen's attorneys cited more than 400 of Avenatti's tweets and a "minimum" of 121 television appearances in their restraining order application. Avenatti is representing Daniels in her suit against Cohen and Trump seeking to void a $130,000 hush agreement that was designed to prevent her from speaking about her alleged affair with Trump. In delaying the emergency request, U.S. District Judge James Otero said Cohen failed to show that Avenatti was causing "immediate, irreparable injury." Otero gave Avenatti another week to submit a response. "Mr. Avenatti either needs to respect and observe the Code of Professional Conduct or remove himself from this case," Cohen's attorney Brent Blakely said in a statement. Avenatti posted Otero's ruling on Twitter Friday afternoon after the ruling was filed. Tweet. Avenatti did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC. President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping leave after an opera performance at the Forbidden City in Beijing, China, November 8, 2017. The prospect of a full blown trade war between the United States and China the world's two biggest economies sounds scary for sure, but experts say there is little to fear so long as any tit-for-tat doesn't dramatically escalate. On Friday, the White House is expected to unveil a revised list of between 800 and 900 products from China it will impose tariffs on. It could be worth $50 billion worth of goods, according to Reuters. U.S. President Donald Trump is using the threat of a trade war to force concessions from Beijing, as the U.S. attempts to bring down its $375 billion trade deficit with China. China has tried to appease Trump with offers to increase purchases of American products and the two sides have exchanged multiple visits of high-ranking officials in attempts to find common ground through negotiations, so far with little effect. Economists and investors are watching developments closely but are mostly discounting the impact of the threat of tariffs, saying they will have a small impact as long as cool heads ultimately prevail. "I think it's so-called noise," Frank C.H. Lee, senior investment strategist at DBS Bank in Hong Kong, told CNBC on Friday, stressing that the tariffs are a small percentage of the global giants' overall annual bilateral trade volume of more than $5 trillion. China said its economy grew 6.8 percent in the three months to the end of March, beating economist expectations, and maintained the same rate of expansion for the third straight quarter. Lee said that tariffs, even bigger than those proposed so far, might slow China's growth to as low as 6.6 percent, hardly a major blow to the world's second-largest economy. "The figure is not important," he said of the tariffs, focusing instead on what he called the communication between the two sides and the frequent dialogue that has been carried out even amid the acrimony. The logo of SNCF is pictured on a train at the French state-owned railway company in Chantonnay, France, June 13, 2018. Few corporate deals can boast of being brought together with the help of a French president, or promoted as a vision of Europe's future by a German chancellor. But the proposed merger of the rail operations of Siemens and Alstom to create a European champion has always been about more than pure business sense. "If we want to be able to face competition with Chinese giants, we have to gather the European forces," Bruno Le Maire, French finance minister, told the Financial Times. "The best solution was this merger." That is if Brussels agrees. Potentially standing in the way of the formation of this European champion is one of the EU's purest examples of centralised power: the European Commission's antitrust enforcement arm, led by Margrethe Vestager. For more than 25 years it has vetted every big cross-border merger in Europe, empowered to block anti-competitive deals. It is institutionally suspicious if not allergic to the we-need-scale arguments of "champions". It prides itself on being the world's most rigorous and independent competition enforcer. And with Siemens-Alstom formally requesting EU approval for the deal last Friday, the merger police of Brussels know a defining test is hurtling towards them. Rarely if ever has the commission been asked to pass judgment on a big corporate tie-up blessed with such effusive Franco-German political support, nor one that further concentrates what is already an effective duopoly across some of Europe's rail markets the combined group has revenues of 16bn. But the new factor changing the calculus is the looming threat from China's CRRC, the world's biggest train maker. Indeed, the Siemens-Alstom deal comes at a time of deep soul-searching in western capitals about the competitive threat from China and its state-backed companies. The politics surrounding such deals are already shifting, softening the national reservations that long hindered cross-border deals like the Siemens-Alstom tie-up. The French government seems ready to take on opponents, from left and right, who depict the deal as a sell-off to Germany that puts jobs at risk. Advocates such as Mr Le Maire see the train merger opening a new era for Brussels too, where competition dogma gives way to industrial common sense and another successful Airbus would be created a pan-European "Railbus" able to go toe-to-toe with China's CRRC. A combined Siemens-Alstom group would control 9 per cent of the global railway market, second only to China's CRRC"This is the redline between those who believe in Europe, and those who believe in national forces," says Mr Le Maire. "It is only right that Europe's competition policy should help European champions emerge." Angela Merkel is also pressing for change. "We need global champions in various industries and our competition rules do not help us to build these champions," the German chancellor told a gathering in Munich last week. "We need to reflect." Veteran lawyers in Brussels see Ms Vestager caught in a political squeeze. "This deal should be a clear candidate for prohibition but given the political context, you have to bet it comes through," says one lawyer involved in the case, noting the importance of the conditions that are likely to be attached to the merger. "The question is how hard the axe falls on different parts of the business. Will it still be a champion then?," he asks. Telecoms, steel, stock exchanges, chipmakers, truckmakers: there is barely a sector that has not been touted, at some stage, as European champion material. In practice, though, few have emerged. As veteran French business journalist Jean-Michel Quatrepoint said: "European industrial policy is like a UFO, much discussed but impossible to describe." Successive French presidents have blamed Brussels' overly-strict competition regime. Yet as the history of Alstom shows, national reservations are also a factor. When the French group was close to a bankruptcy in 2003 and Siemens was ready to swoop, Paris blocked any asset sales to a German group, preferring a state bailout. The political calculation on a potential Siemens-Alstom deal changed after a different state-engineered champion emerged in Asia. In 2015, Beijing supported the merger of CNR Group and CSR Group, creating the world's biggest train maker, with nearly 180,000 employees, $33bn in revenue last year and 12 per cent of the global railway market for trains, services and signalling. If the deal goes through, a combined Siemens-Alstom would generate just half that turnover and account for 9 per cent of the market, with Bombardier, the Canadian group, holding a further 4 per cent, according to SCI Verkehr data. On the same day last September that the deal was announced, French president Emmanuel Macron gave a speech to a packed audience at the Sorbonne where he said Europe would find strength in "industrial power" and that more consolidation would make the region's companies competitive "on a global scale". Europe's most controversial deals drinks Brussels approved the 71bn tie-up between brewer AB InBev and its London-listed rival SABMiller in 2016, creating the world's largest brewer with a roughly one-third share of the global drinks market. The companies agreed to sell off nearly $7bn worth of assets including many household name beer brands to secure the EU's approval for the deal. Like other sectors, such as steel and solar panels, the prospect of an avaricious rival bankrolled by Beijing is posing a major challenge to Europe's incumbents. CRRC is the dominant supplier to the protected Chinese railway market, the largest in the world; the company is an integral part of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative; and it enjoys operational, policy and strategic support from the government. For an industry already facing a problem of "dramatic overcapacity", in the words of a 2016 McKinsey report, the danger is even more acute. Rolling stock factories in Asia are 60 per cent under-used, with their European and North American equivalents 40 per cent under capacity. The changing global picture and China's competitive challenge are giving the advocates of the Siemens-Alstom deal confidence that it will secure EU merger approval. "We have a global market and a global market follows global rules," says Joe Kaeser, chief executive of Siemens. Across corporate Europe, the argument about the need for more scale is being made forcefully, including from banks, media and defence companies and the telecoms sector, where four US operators compare with around 150 across the EU. Europe's most controversial deals telecoms Telefonica's 8.6bn takeover of E-Plus in 2014, creating Germany's biggest mobile operator in customer terms, became a test case for consolidation, which the industry argues is essential to revive profits. But a tougher approach under Margrethe Vestager led to the withdrawal of the Telenor and TeliaSonera tie-up in Denmark and a veto of CK Hutchison's 10.5bn attempt to buy O2 in Britain. Siemens and Alstom may be optimistic about the chances of winning approval. But Mrs Vestager's competition investigators have very rarely been convinced that markets are truly global, rather than national or regional. In the Brussels view, companies should not be allowed to dominate national markets at the expense of consumers, just so they can succeed abroad. The efficiencies that come from greater scale are taken into account, but have yet to prove decisive in swaying approvals. Many lawyers have tried to convince the commission to take a broader view of markets. But as Carles Esteva Mosso, the head of mergers at the commission's competition directorate, said in 2014: "We cannot choose market definitions as we please, any more than we can change the weather in Brussels." In previous railway mergers, for instance, EU officials looked at nine different markets for rolling stock alone. There were also three distinct markets for wayside equipment, two for signalling and nine for the other systems and services. Crucially, the commission analysis is typically done at national level, rather than regional or global. Europe's rail industry still carries the imprint of old state monopolies, which have made it hard for new entrants to break in and win contracts. Siemens and Alstom remain head-to-head competitors in many such markets in western Europe; China's CRRC, meanwhile, has yet to win a major contract in Europe. Advocates of the deal argue market share statistics are of limited use because they often turn on big, infrequent tenders for multiyear projects. But the Siemens-Alstom presence is unmistakably strong in some areas, with signalling posing one of the toughest competition challenges. The group has a 60 per cent share of the European market and a 55 per cent share in North America, according to SCI Verkehr. At a national level in Germany, Denmark and Austria, Siemens-Alstom would be a virtual monopoly. "The signalling division of the new Siemens-Alstom seems to be very strong," says Maria Leenen of SCI Verkehr, "it could be very likely that they have to sell parts from the signalling side." Rival trainmakers, such as Spain's Talgo, believe that the issue of "unfair competition" goes beyond signalling, with Siemens-Alstom cementing a protected position in its home markets. Europe's most controversial deals aerospace In 1991 the commission exercised its power to block a merger for the first time, preventing the takeover of De Havilland, a Canadian division of Boeing, by France's Aerospatiale and Italy's Alenia. Backers had hoped it would spur development of Europe's aerospace industry, but the commission feared it would create a dominant position in markets for medium-sized commuter aeroplanes. "As a European competitor, we are concerned that this long protectionist situation may be now exacerbated so that a single company may control all the high-speed rolling stock business opportunities in Germany and France," the company says. Other potential issues include the access of rivals to maintenance services and related data, and the question of whether the combined group would cut research and development spending to a level where it threatens innovation. Supporters of the deal see these arguments as losing sight of the bigger picture. Florent Laroche, a transport expert at the University of Lyon, accepts that the technological legacy of incumbents has seriously constrained access to rail markets. But he argues such fragmentation can only be overcome by a big player driving standardisation. "The European industry needs a European champion," he says. Competition officials bristle at the suggestion that overzealous competition rules have stunted corporate Europe. Many of Europe's biggest companies reached their size through commission approved mergers, from Vivendi and Daimler to BNP Paribas and Vodafone. Of almost 7,000 deals notified since 1990, just 27 were blocked. When faced with a potential deal harmful to competition, the usual approach is to seek specific remedies, such as asset sales or promises to restrict business practices. Such commitments have been required by Brussels in more than 120 deals, with varying degrees of severity. Rivals expect Siemens-Alstom to face such demands, particularly in the signalling business. "It will have to go, there is no question," says another lawyer working on the case. "One of the businesses will have to be sold." Europe's most controversial deals finance Ms Vestager blocked the merger of the London Stock Exchange Group and Deutsche Borse in 2017, after the groups refused to sell some fixed income clearing assets to address her concerns about the deal creating a de facto monopoly. The proposed merger was the third attempt in 17 years to create an Anglo-German exchange to rival US and Asian competitors. Asset sales, if required, create a separate dilemma. Any auction may give CRRC a long-sought opportunity to establish itself in Europe defeating the China-beating reasoning of the merger. "It does seem an own goal," the lawyer says. "In pure competition terms, why not? But it would look foolish to anyone with a brain." This highlights a broader challenge facing the commission. One of its roles is to police Europe's state aid curbs, which are the strictest in the world. Yet in vetting mergers it is unable to take account of the competitive threat posed by companies enjoying state-support from non-EU countries, such as China. With strong Franco-German support, the EU is examining reforms to allow for much tougher screening of foreign investments in strategic sectors. But while it may stop Beijing's encroachment into the EU market, it does not relax the competition regime that European champions must fit to their ambitions. "When the EU merger regulation was adopted in 1989, the main concern, about foreign takeovers, if any, was not about China but about Japan," says Sir Philip Lowe, the former head of the commission's competition department. "There is always some country out there which people think is about to invade the entire European market." More from the Financial Times: Equitable Life sold for 1.8bn to insurer LCCG US won't seek stay on AT&T-Time Warner ruling LyondellBasell in talks with Brazil's Braskem over potential deal The Trump administration will impose a 25 percent tariff on up to $50 billion in Chinese goods, a decision that brought swift retribution from Beijing as trade conflicts between the world's two largest economies escalate. In a statement Friday, President Donald Trump said the measures will affect Chinese goods "that contain industrially significant technologies." The action comes "in light of China's theft of intellectual property and technology and its other unfair trade practices," he added. Trump noted that the White House could impose additional tariffs if China retaliates with duties of its own on American crops or other products. Beijing did just that on Friday. China's Commerce Ministry responded quickly to Trump's statement. "We will immediately introduce taxation measures of the same scale and the same strength. All the economic and trade achievements previously reached by the two parties will no longer be valid at the same time," China said in a statement translated by CNBC. The United States Trade Representative said the U.S. will initially impose a set of tariffs on 818 items worth about $34 billion on July 6. Separate measures affecting 284 products worth about $16 billion could take effect following a review and public comment process. China's retribution, meanwhile, will take the form of tariffs on 545 U.S. goods worth $34 billion on July 6. Those items will include agriculture and automobiles politically sensitive sectors for Trump. Beijing's overall tariff plan will hit about $50 billion worth of 659 American goods. Several of President Donald Trump's advisors are pushing him to pardon Michael Milken, Bloomberg News reported Friday. Michael Milken, 71, was known as the "junk bond king" in the 1980s and was convicted for securities fraud. Bloomberg said former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, senior advisor Jared Kushner and attorney Rudy Giuliani support the pardon for Milken. Milken has a net worth of $3.7 billion, according to Forbes. The financier, who pioneered the market for high-yield bonds while at Drexel Burnham Lambert, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and permanently banned from the securities industry by the Securities and Exchange Commission. His prison term was reduced to two years. The White House and a spokesperson for the Milken Institute did not immediately respond to requests for comment. See the full Bloomberg News report here. President Donald Trump claimed Friday that former FBI Director James Comey's actions were "criminal." He also said the Justice Department inspector general report examining the Clinton email probe came to the wrong conclusion when it said the FBI acted without political bias against him. "The end result was wrong. I mean, there was total bias," he told "Fox and Friends" from the White House North Lawn. He said it "totally exonerates me," adding that it showed that Comey was the "ringleader" of a "den of thieves." Trump's remarks follow Thursday's release of the DOJ's internal review. The inspector general found that Comey was insubordinate in his handling of the Clinton email investigation during the 2016 presidential election. Trump fired Comey in May 2017. Friday's comments echo an April post on Twitter in which the president said that "McCabe was totally controlled by Comey - McCabe is Comey!! No collusion, all made up by this den of thieves and lowlifes!" Tweet Trump fired former Deputy Director of the FBI Andrew McCabe, who had worked in government for decades, hours before his planned retirement in March. McCabe is now suing the Justice Department over his termination. "They all work for Comey, and Comey knew what was going on," Trump said Friday. Trump's criticism of McCabe centered on McCabe's perceived ties to Hillary Clinton. McCabe's wife, Jill McCabe, received campaign contributions from Clinton ally Terry McAuliffe during her failed 2015 Virginia state senate bid. "The fact that McAuliffe supported Dr. McCabe's campaign, and was a known associate of Hillary Clinton, did not create any connection between the Clinton email investigation and Dr. McCabe's financial interests," the inspector general report concluded. Trump insisted the report's conclusion, that top FBI officials showed no political bias against him, was wrong. "The end result was wrong. I mean, there was total bias," he said. He pointed to text messages sent by investigators working on the Clinton email probe. One investigator texted that "We'll stop" Trump from becoming president, according to the inspector general report. "If you look at the head investigator saying 'we have to stop Trump from becoming president,' well Trump became president," Trump said Friday. Asked whether he would push for Comey's prosecution, the president demurred. He said he would "never want to get involved in that," but asserted that "what [Comey] did was criminal, what he did was a terrible thing to the people." "Should he be locked up? Let somebody make a determination," Trump said. In an op-ed in The New York Times on Thursday, Comey wrote that "even in hindsight I think we chose the course most consistent with institutional values." "[N]othing in the inspector general's report makes me think we did the wrong thing," he wrote. Federal investigators were able to piece together about 16 pages of shredded documents seized during a raid on President Donald Trump's former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, a court filing Friday revealed. Prosecutors also now have been able to read more than 700 pages of messages and call logs from the encrypted communication platforms WhatsApp and Signal. Authorities conducting a criminal probe of Cohen previously had said that they were unable to access the encrypted content. Investigators obtained two BlackBerry phones during the April 9 raid on Cohen's apartment, office and the hotel room where he had been staying with his family during renovations to their home. In Friday's court filing, prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York said that one of the devices contained approximately 315 megabytes of data. But the FBI has not yet been able to extract anything from the second device. Cohen, who has not been charged with a crime, in recent days has told friends and family that he is willing to cooperate with investigators, who are looking into his financial dealings, according to reports. Prosecutors also are eyeing the $130,000 payment Cohen made to porn star Stormy Daniels right before the 2016 presidential election. Daniels has said the money was in exchange for her silence about an affair with Trump. The White House has said Trump did not have sex with her. Cohen's lawyers did not immediately return a request for comment. President Donald Trump gave an impromptu interview to "Fox and Friends" on Friday, followed by an extended talk with a group of reporters. He addressed a slew of hot topics including a potential meeting with Russia ("we may") to the controversy surrounding his administration's immigration policy ("I hate the children being taken away"). Below are some of the most important moments. On meeting with Putin Trump told reporters that he "may" meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We may, and it started because a reporter shouted out to me, should Putin be in the G7? And I said, no he should be in the G8," Trump told reporters. His comments follow a report that Trump was planning a summit with Putin next month ahead of the annual NATO meeting in Belgium slated for July. Before the recent G-7 meeting of economic powers in Canada, Trump said Russia should be included in the talks. Moscow was booted from the G-8 following its annexation of Crimea in 2014. On immigration: 'I hate the children being taken away' The Trump administration has come under fire for its new "zero tolerance" policy on immigration, which seeks to criminally prosecute all adults illegally crossing the border and has led to children being separated from their parents. "I hate the children being taken away," Trump told reporters on Friday. " That's the Democrat's law. We can change it tonight. We can change it right now." There is no law that requires migrant families to be separated. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has repeatedly defended the administration policy. On the inspector general report on the Clinton email probe Trump claimed that the inspector general report released Thursday "totally exonerates me." But the president said he disagreed with the report's finding that the FBI was correct not to prosecute Clinton. "[The inspector general] goes point after point about how guilty Hillary is, but then he said, 'but we're not going to do anything about it.' The report, the IG report was a horror show," he said. The president also contended that Comey's actions were "criminal." "What he did was criminal," the president said. "What he did was a terrible thing to the people. What he did was so bad in terms of our Constitution, in terms of the well being of our country. What he did was horrible. Should he be locked up? Let somebody make a determination." The president said that Comey will go down "as the worst FBI director in history, by far, there's nobody close." On wanting Americans to 'sit up and pay attention' The president joked that he wanted Americans to treat him with the same deference that North Koreans show to Kim Jong Un, the authoritarian leader of North Korea. "He's the head of the country, and I mean he's the strong head," Trump said. "Don't let anyone think anything different. He speaks and his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same." Trump later said he was "kidding" and questioned whether reporters understood sarcasm. The president also talked up his personal relationship with Kim. "I got along with him very well, we have good chemistry," Trump said. The president said he couldn't speak to Kim's human rights record. On speaking with the special counsel President Donald Trump said Friday the Justice Department inspector general's report into the FBI's Clinton email inquiry "totally exonerates me." "There was no collusion. There was no obstruction. And if you read the report, you'll see that," Trump said on the White House North Lawn. That's not quite true. The report released on Thursday did not address any of the allegations of collusion or obstruction of justice related to special counsel Robert Mueller's probe of Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Instead, the report was focused solely on the FBI's investigation of Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while she was secretary of State. Trump also said Friday the Mueller investigation had been "discredited." The president seemed to be referring to anti-Trump text messages sent by former Mueller investigator Peter Strzok. Strzok was one of the FBI's top counterintelligence officials and helped lead the Russia probe. The inspector general's report uncovered new messages, including one in which Strzok said "We'll stop" Trump from becoming president. White House deputy press secretary Raj Shah, in a written statement, said the president would sign either bill. In an interview earlier in the day, Trump had expressed opposition to the compromise legislation. "I certainly wouldn't sign the more moderate one," the president said. President Donald Trump reversed course on Friday and threw his support behind a House Republican immigration bill. The House next week is expected to consider the measure, which offers a pathway to citizenship for young immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children, funds Trump's proposed border wall and ends the diversity visa "lottery" system. The chamber will also take up a separate bill that meets more conservative demands. The president later tweeted about his goals in an immigration bill, which appear to align with the Republican proposal. Trump said that "Any Immigration Bill MUST HAVE full funding for the Wall, end Catch & Release, Visa Lottery and Chain, and go to Merit Based Immigration." Still, he did not explicitly reverse course on whether he would back the GOP legislation. Some media reports had said the White House was telling Republicans in Congress Friday that the president misspoke earlier in the day. House Speaker Paul Ryan has previously said Trump would support the measure. Ryan believes it aligns with the "four pillars" the president seeks in an immigration bill. On Friday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called the GOP measure "unworthy of America." She contended the fact that Trump said he would not sign it shows how low his standards are. Even before the Trump's statement, it was unclear if the legislation could get enough support from House Republicans to pass the chamber. The proposal aims to assuage concerns of two flanks of the GOP, which controls the House. Centrist Republicans seek a solution for young undocumented immigrants stuck in legal limbo. Conservatives want to boost border security to crack down on illegal crossings. Read more about the legislation here. President Donald Trump supporters won't like the rulings in three cases on Friday that were favorable to special counsel Robert Mueller and porn star Stormy Daniels' camera-friendly attorney. Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, was sent to jail pending upcoming federal criminal trials after Mueller lodged witness tampering charges against him. Federal prosecutors argued that Manafort posed a threat to the integrity of the court by allegedly violating his bail conditions while under house arrest. Mueller got more good news in a separate case shortly after, when a Russian company's challenge to the special counsel was shot down by a federal judge. Concord Management and Consulting is one of three Russian firms and 13 individuals connected to a Russian troll farm that was accused of violating U.S. criminal laws in order to interfere with U.S. elections and political processes. The judge's ruling denied Concord's request to review certain materials in the case. Meanwhile, an attempt by lawyers for Trump's personal attorney, Michael Cohen, to muzzle Stormy Daniels' firebrand lawyer, Michael Avenatti, was delayed on Friday. Cohen filed an application for a restraining order in Daniels' case to void a hush deal negotiated with Cohen that barred her from discussing an alleged affair with Trump. The judge in that case said that Cohen's lawyers have not yet demonstrated that "immediate, irreparable injury" would occur without a gag order against Avenatti. Avenatti has been one of Trump and Cohen's loudest critics, and has become a regular fixture on cable news programs. The rulings demonstrate continued progress by the special counsel, which is in the midst of a probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 campaign, and increased pressure on the figures in Trump's orbit with deep ties to the president. "The bottom line on all of this is that [Trump's] certainly going to be feeling some pressure," said David Weinstein, a former federal prosecutor and current white-collar criminal defense lawyer. The court developments came a day after New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood sued Trump and his family, accusing them of breaking laws through a charitable foundation for "more than a decade." Trump has recently ramped up his verbal attacks on Mueller, calling his appointment as special counsel "totally UNCONSTITUTIONAL" in a tweet on June 4. Trump tweet 1 After Manafort was sent to jail, Trump distanced himself from his former campaign chief and appeared to say that it was "very unfair" that ex-FBI Director James Comey and Hillary Clinton had not been jailed. Trump tweet 2 Weinstein told CNBC Manafort is likely to think more seriously about cooperating with Mueller as a result of the judge's ruling on Friday. President Donald Trump joked Friday that he wants "[his] people" to listen to him the way North Koreans do to dictator Kim Jong Un. "He speaks and his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same," the president told the Fox News Channel program "Fox & Friends." It is unclear whether Trump referred to Americans broadly or executive branch staff. The president later said he was "kidding" and questioned whether reporters understood sarcasm. His comments came as he talked about his relationship with Kim after a summit between the pair on nuclear disarmament. At the meeting, they signed a loose commitment to denuclearization. Trump has faced backlash for his comments about Kim, whose regime has overseen prison camps, widespread malnutrition and violence against political opponents including family members. Since the summit, Trump has called Kim "tough" for the way he runs his country. He has labeled the dictator "talented" and "smart," saying Kim "loves his people." Trump also has said North Koreans "love" Kim. Critics of his comments have noted that people who oppose the North Korean regime face punishment. The president defended his flattering comments about Kim on Friday as part of his effort to get North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions. "You know why? Because I don't want to see a nuclear weapon destroy you and your family," the president told reporters when asked why he compliments Kim. Trump also said Friday that he will "be calling North Korea" on Sunday. Defense Secretary James Mattis tore into Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday for assaulting Western democracy and undermining one of the most powerful U.S. alliances, amid President Donald Trump's repeated calls for Russia's return to the Group of Seven industrialized nations. "Putin seeks to shatter NATO," Mattis said during his remarks at the U.S. Naval War College graduation. "He aims to diminish the appeal of the Western democratic model and attempts to undermine America's moral authority." Mattis singled out Putin's seizure of the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in early 2014. In response to Putin's actions, the United States, the European Union and a number of other nations imposed sanctions against Russia. And the G-8 nations kicked Russia out of the group, marking a return to the G-7 format, made up of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan. "For the first time since World War II, Russia has been the nation that has redrawn international borders by force of arms in Georgia and Ukraine, while pursuing veto authority over their neighbors' diplomatic, economic and security decisions," Mattis said. "His actions are designed not to challenge our arms, but to undercut and compromise our belief in our ideals," he added. Walgreens will move about 1,800 jobs into a new Chicago office. The company plans to open a 200,000-square-foot space in Chicago's Old Post Office Building in the fall of 2019. Walgreens expects about 1,300 employees will relocate from its Deerfield, Illinois, headquarters. Parent company Walgreens Boots Alliance will remain based out of Deerfield, where it expects about 3,200 employees to continue working. Walgreens is the latest of a slew of companies shifting operations out of the suburbs and into the city. Some companies, including food giants McDonald's and Kraft Heinz, have even relocated their headquarters to Chicago. It's one way to attract employees, particularly millennials, in a competitive labor market. In announcing the move, Walgreens said it will help the company "meet the needs of its current and future workforce while continuing to attract and retain the best talent." If you're going on vacation this summer, you've probably already booked some of the key elements, like your flight or cruise. But have you purchased travel insurance? Travel sites make it pretty easy these days to add trip protection to your purchase, but what does that fee get you, and when is the extra cost actually worth it? There are generally two kinds of trip insurance: Basic trip cancellation protection , which usually covers lost bags, reimbursements if you miss a connection and a refund if you can't travel because you're sick or hurt. , which usually covers lost bags, reimbursements if you miss a connection and a refund if you can't travel because you're sick or hurt. Comprehensive travel insurance, which typically covers all that, plus any expenses related to medical or dental emergencies, disaster evacuations and even costs associated with accidental deaths. Basically this is a combo of travel and medical costs. If you're going to get trip or travel insurance (the two terms are pretty much interchangeable), experts usually recommend the comprehensive kind. You can even purchase a policy that comes with a "cancel for any reason" safeguard, which is ideal if you're traveling to places that might experience political unrest. If you haven't paid extra for the "cancel for any reason" policy, you'll likely encounter strict guidelines for when you're eligible for reimbursement. For example, if you get sick before a trip, you'll need to get a doctor's note before cancelling if you want to be reimbursed. "Do a little bit of homework as to how much risk you're even taking on so you can make an informed decision," Maria Teresa Hart, executive editor of the hotel review site Oyster.com, tells CNBC Make It. All-in-one policies cost about 56 percent more than basic trip insurance, according to an analysis by finance research site ValuePenguin of the top 50 offerings on the market. You can expect to spend, on average, $164 for each. For those on a tight budget, that extra money can be the difference between being able to afford a fancy dinner or a nice hotel and not being able to splurge. So it pays to know when you really need to spend on extra protection. When You Don't Need It Consider your vacation an investment. Would you be OK losing that money? On a whole, if you're spending a relatively small sum on your trip, insuring that investment is probably not worth it. Skip It: For U.S. travel Traveling to Florida? Road-tripping around the American Southwest? You can probably skip any extra insurance. Travel within the U.S. is typically a less expensive investment and most people tend to plan only a few weeks in advance. ValuePenguin estimates the average domestic trip spans about four days and costs $576 per person. Plus, if you have medical insurance, you're typically covered for any emergencies that occur. As always, double check the fine print, but experts generally recommend opting out of trip insurance for short trips within the U.S. Skip It: If your card offers it Check your wallet before buying any travel insurance, since some credit cards actually offer it as a perk. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card offers built-in trip interruption insurance that reimburses up to $10,000 per person if your trip is cancelled or cut short because of situations such as an illness or severe weather. The Citi Prestige and Citi ThankYou Premier cards also offer baggage and trip cancellation protection. So even if you are traveling outside the U.S., if your credit card's coverage is thorough, you won't need to purchase anything extra. Skip It: For flights It can tempting to purchase trip cancellation insurance when a flight costs hundreds or thousands of dollars. But the basic policies are usually not worth your money to insure just your flight if you know your rights as a passenger. For example, if your flight is cancelled, you're generally entitled to have the next available seat on the next available flight going to your destination. Having insurance is not going to make much difference in getting you re-booked faster, Hart says. Depending on your destination, if you do experience significant delays or the flight is cancelled, you could be entitled to compensation no insurance needed. When you return from vacation, check with AirHelp. If you're eligible, the service will work to secure you a pay out (the company takes 25 percent of any compensation won). If you do need to get to your destination at a specific time, say, for a cruise departure, simply taking the next flight out may not work. Especially if you're on a budget airline that only offers a limited number of flights and routes. In that case, consider using a service like FreeBird. The service allows passengers to re-book cancelled or significantly delayed domestic flights on any airline starting at $19 per leg. Skip It: Just for flexibility Trip insurance should not be used to just so you can keep your options open. "Some people make that mistake; they think of it as kind of a cancellation policy," Hart says. That can be a waste of money, especially when it comes to your hotel. Instead of purchasing a whole comprehensive policy, opt for a hotel reservation with free cancellation right up until your stay. When You Do Need It There are two obvious ways to play this: (1) China could buy more U.S. goods and services, and/or (2) America could buy fewer Chinese goods and services. Both come with drawbacks for the U.S. economy and the American people. It is hard for U.S. companies to ramp up to export more to China when they are operating at full capacity and have close to no unemployment. But before evaluating the policy prescriptions for this problem, we must first consider the starting point, which is flawed. The current $370 billion deficit estimate does not account for value-added. When looking at the value-added content of Chinese exports, the U.S. deficit with China is actually only half of what it seems. And if we then add back the U.S. surplus in "invisibles" and how much money the United States brings back from investments in China, the U.S.China deficit shrinks from 2 percent of U.S. GDP to 0.8 percent, a report from Oxford Economics revealed. More from Global Investing Hot Spots: China determined to steal A.I. crown from US Trade war with US could be a tipping point for China In the case of the Apple iPhone, this means that China's exports balance accounts for the full $500 iPhone value, when China adds only approximately $15 to $30 of the value to the phone. Most of the iPhone value accretes to Samsung in Korea ($150) and to Apple the brand owner and engineer. This highlights how the normal accounting of trade flows is inherently distorted under the current trade-deficit estimates. So maybe the deck has only 25 not 52 cards. The iPhone example also points to an area of weakness in the president's policy prescription: If the United States introduces tariffs on China's high-tech goods, U.S. companies and consumers could indirectly end up footing part of the bill. This is because the high-tech industries that Trump's tariffs are focused on is where Chinese value-added has the lowest share. If Trump were really interested in impacting the true trade imbalance and not just the misleading headline estimate, he would introduce tariffs on those sectors where China's value-added is highest. This would include sectors like textiles, where 75 percent of value-added is really "made in China." This brings us back to the president's other objective, which is to gain political credit by addressing historical areas of imbalance in the U.S.China trade relationship. A key area of focus here is China's appropriation of the intellectual property (IP) of American businesses. This comes from three activities: corporate espionage, cybertheft and technology in exchange for market access. The latter results from a longstanding Chinese policy that requires any foreign company wishing to do business in China to first form a joint venture with a Chinese firm. A common complaint about these joint ventures is that they open the door for Chinese companies potentially to steal trade secrets and then use that IP to build and grow Chinese industries in everything from cars and phones to medicine. The U.S. government estimates that these alleged IP appropriations, along with direct corporate espionage, which go back as far as the 1990s, have cost the U.S. economy a lot, somewhere between $225 billion to $600 billion a year. China indeed appears to have been the better poker player. While these are valid concerns that should be addressed, it's too little too late. The truth is, China no longer needs these joint-venture rules in many industries, with several sectors and companies already competitive with their counterparts in the United States. In fact, in April 2018 China agreed to ease its rules on foreign auto companies operating in China, a clear signal that the quality of Chinese cars, including autonomous and electric vehicles, is rapidly increasing. It also just announced that foreigners would no longer need specific permissions to invest; they would just be prohibited from investing in a "negative list" of industries. A research team at Hong Kong Universitys AIDS Institute say s it may have found a "functional cure" to HIV , the virus that causes AIDS, in a major breakthrough that could see a new antibody be used for both prevention and treatment. The research by the team led by Professor Chen Zhiwei comes as China is facing a growing epidemic issue among high risk groups, including men who have sex with men and sex workers. There are about 850,000 people in China infected with HIV , according to the UN-supported AIDS Data Hub. The HIV virus disables the immune system and makes people far more vulnerable to infections and disease. Chens discovery, which has been tested on mice, shows that the new antibody can help control the virus and eliminate infected cells. The antibody would be able to treat all varieties of HIV a first, Chen said - as there is no one vaccine to treat the many different types of HIV viruses. "For our new ly discovered bispecific antibody, it works for all of them, so thats the major difference," Chen told Reuters. Chen said a functional cure means the virus level would be so low as to be undetectable in the body, as long as people continued taking injections of the antibody, perhaps on a quarterly basis, or less frequently. The findings by Chen's team have been published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, one of the world's leading biomedical journals. People infected with HIV can keep the virus under control with antiretroviral drugs, which stop the virus from infecting new cells. However, treatments must be taken daily and do not eliminate the infected cells from the body. The virus can, therefore, still exist and come back if patients stop taking their medication properly. The new antibody would have a significantly longer half-life than current treatments, and could, for example, be administered on a quarterly basis, Chen said. This would make it easier to administer than the daily treatment that most HIV infected patients must undergo. While the results are promising Andrew Chidgey, chief executive of the group AIDS Concern in Hong Kong , said it did not mean the treatment would be readily available very soon. "Governments are being very slow to implement programmes here. So just because a treatment becomes available, doesnt mean that people will get it, or that it will have an impact. Rice export p rice s rose this week in India on hopes for incr ease d buying from China, while rates in Vietnam ease d from a multi-year peak with the outlook for higher domestic s up ply. Rates for India 's 5 percent broken parboiled variety rose by $5 to $398-$402 per tonne this week, after hitting the lowest level for the year last week due to sluggish demand from neighbouring Bangladesh. India was the biggest s up plier of rice to Bangladesh in 2017. Imports by Bangladesh will likely slow as the government imposed a 28 percent tax on rice imports to s up port its farmers after local production revived. "Last year, Bangladesh was buying a lot of India n rice . With new duty, imports would fall," said M. Adishankar, executive director at Sri Lalitha, a leading rice exporter located in the southern India n state of Andhra Pradesh. "Chinese imports will boost demand but we don't know when it will happen." China last week agreed to amend a protocol on phytosanitary requirements, which will allow India n exporters to ship non-basmati rice to Beijing. The monsoon has not been progressing well and could delay planting of summer-sown rice , said another exporter based at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. In Vietnam , the world's third-largest exporter of the grain, p rice s of 5 percent broken rice fell to $450-$455 a tonne this week after climbing to the highest since January 2012 at $465-$475 the week before. "P rice s are expected to ease further in the coming weeks on rising domestic s up plies, as the spring-summer harvest will peak late this month," a Ho Chi Minh City-based trader said. Vietnam exported 763,707 tonnes of rice in May, up 5.9 percent from April, according to the government's official customs data. Meanwhile, Thailand's benchmark 5 percent broken rice was little changed between $430 and 435 per tonne this week, free on board (FOB) Bangkok, from $430-$432 last week. Traders in Bangkok said demand from abroad was still flat this week following sales to the Philippines earlier this month and last month. Slow logistics due to rain also meant slow trade, traders said. Thailand's rainy season starts in late May and lasts until mid-October. 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 Rebels blast May for backtracking on Grieves amendment Government faces dramatic clash with rebels over No Deal FT Grieve denies anti-Brexit plot Daily Express Two thirds of voters think May is making a mess of Brexit The Times Philp argues that Parliament cant negotiate with Europe Daily Express Remain rebels tonight rejected Theresa Mays sneaky attempt at a compromise over a meaningful vote on the final Brexit deal. The Government tabled a new draft moments before the 5pm deadline but failed to secure the support of ringleaders Dominic Grieve and Anna Soubry. Rebel Sarah Wollaston branded Mrs Mays draft sneaky because a last minute change meant the proposed meaningful vote would not be amendable by MPs. Ms Soubry branded the turnaround unforgivable and said the group of rebels thought to number around 15 feel badly let down by Mrs May following her personal assurances on Tuesday night. But tonight Tory minister Robert Buckland, the solicitor general, insisted the Government has not lied about the compromise being offered. He said rebel demands dancing on the head of a pin and said the priority should be getting Britain the best deal. Daily Mail More: Merkel coalition at risk as talks on refugee policy falter The Guardian EU fights to avoid post-Brexit security talks split Daily Telegraph Comment: Mays crunch moment was just the first of many Martin Kettle, The Guardian Meet the City spinner orchestrating the plot to reverse Brexit Andrew Pierce, Daily Mail Even as a Remainer, the politically-compromised Brexit were heading for is intolerable Jeremy Warner, Daily Telegraph How are the Tories polling so well, given what voters think of their negotiations? Daniel Finkelstein, The Times Editorial: Grieve and Soubry are holding the UK to ransom The Sun >Yesterday: Blow to Hammond as Prime Minister prepares to boost NHS spending Theresa May has agreed a bumper 20billion windfall for the NHS after overruling the Chancellor. Hospital chiefs will be handed up to an extra 5billion a year for the next four years in a 70th birthday present for the health service. The first details of the package are expected to be announced on Sunday. Insiders told The Sun that the 20billion will be paid for by a mixture of borrowing and higher taxes. In 2020 the Treasury intends to freeze the tax thresholds on basic and higher tax rates which means Brits pay more. But the Government has ruled out introducing a new hypothecated tax such as an extra 2p on National Insurance. The Sun 4 billion boost to be funded by Brexit, borrowing, and income tax Daily Telegraph Hunt sets out bold ambitions The Times Four in ten GPs quit, after five years of training Daily Mail Outcry over overstretched Health Service has forced a rethink The Times Comment: Foreign doctors wont solve the NHS shortages J Meirion Thomas, Daily Telegraph May woos bankers with visa changes Davidson increases pressure for migration target review The Scotsman as insiders describe how she held on to her post after Grenfell Theresa May on Thursday told an audience of European financial bosses that government plans to remove doctors and nurses from Britains restrictive visa regime would clear the way for banks to hire more professionals from outside the European Economic Area. However, business groups were lukewarm about the change, which they described as a welcome first step towards reform of the Tier 2 visa system for skilled professionals but short of the comprehensive changes needed. Demand to bring in skilled workers from outside the EEA has meant that every month since December applications for Tier 2 visas, which allow in only 20,700 applicants a year, have been oversubscribed. This has prevented thousands of medical staff from taking up positions in the UK, but also caused difficulties for other industries, including information technology and finance. FT Her new chief of staff, Gavin Barwell, had been in post for just five days when the fire broke out. And, as a former housing minister with responsibility for fire regulations, he seemed instantly hamstrung by his past. Paul Goodman, the former Tory MP who edits the ConservativeHome website, says the lack of a support network exposed May as never before. Downing Street was effectively rudderless at the time, he says. Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill had resigned only a few days previously. Without a new team in place to advise her, Theresa May seems to have fallen back on her instincts, which were: play safe. One insider goes further. People talk about peak Corbyn. But this was the moment of Peak Fear of Corbyn in No 10. Wed just had the election debacle and here was this unpopular Conservative council and this awful disaster. They were in a major panic. Huffington Post Prime Minister backs postmen in England flag row Daily Telegraph Universal Credit may never pay off for the taxpayer, watchdog warns Flagship reform costs four times as much as system it replaced The Sun The centrepiece of the sweeping Tory reforms to the benefit system is bad value for money and may never pay off for the taxpayer, the Whitehall spending watchdog said yesterday. The introduction of Universal Credit has taken years longer than it should have done, it may cost more than the old system of handouts it is replacing, and it has caused hardship among claimants, said the scathing National Audit Office report. It follows years of criticism of the payment developed by Iain Duncan Smith which was designed to simplify the benefits system and ensure people will be better off if they get a job. It aims to get an extra 200,000 people into work. NAO head Sir Amyas Morse said the Department for Work and Pensions showed a lack of regard for claimants and added: The benefits it set out to achieve, such as increased employment and lower administration costs, are unlikely to be achieved.' Daily Mail Comment: The problems with Universal Credit are unacceptable Gillian Guy, Times Red Box Fix this cruel, expensive fiasco The Guardian Ministers 1) Johnson meets Empey to discuss victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA Ulster Unionist chairman Lord Empey has said he is hopeful that the Government will take a more positive approach in support of victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA attacks. Speaking after a meeting with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson to discuss compensation for victims of weapons supplied by Colonel Gaddafis regime, the peer said he detected a change in Londons attitude. The meeting with the Foreign Secretary on Wednesday was the most business-like and positive so far, Lord Empey said. I think the Foreign Office finally get that the Parliamentary Libyan Support Group isnt going away. It has received strong support on the floor of the House of Commons and is intensifying its drive to right this great wrong. Belfast Telegraph Foreign Secretary meets Campbell in campaign to boost girls education The Sun Ministers 2) Perry announces energy discounts for poorest pensioners Ministers 3) Hancock warns SNP they are on track to miss broadband targets Thousands more of Britains poorest pensioners are to get 140 off their electricity bills in a huge victory for the Sun. Energy Minister Claire Perry will announce on Friday that the Government is lowering a threshold which exempts smaller suppliers from handing a crucial discount to vulnerable customers. Currently suppliers with fewer than 250,000 customers such as Octopus Energy and Ecotricity dont have to pay the Warm Home benefit to those who qualify for the payment. But the Government is lowering this threshold to 200,000 customers from next year and 150,000 in 2020-2021 Ms Perry added the threshold could be scrapped altogether in three years time. The Sun Matt Hancock has warned SNP ministers they are on course to miss their target of every Scottish home and business having superfast broadband by 2021 as he criticised an abysmal five-year delay to the roll-out. In a furious letter seen by the Telegraph, the UK Culture Secretary said an analysis by his officials showed that the deadline would be very difficult to achieve. He told Fergus Ewing, the SNPs Rural Economy Minister, that households will have been left waiting half a decade for the Scottish Government to spend 21 million provided by the UK taxpayer. Mr Hancock said that the SNPs unacceptably slow progress had prompted his department to start providing funding directly to people in Scotland. Daily Telegraph Nationalists phoney war is all about breaking up Britain Alan Cochrane, Daily Telegraph Tory ultras will fuel bid to break up the UK Brian Wilson, The Scotsman We should expect guerrilla tactics from the SNP henceforth Tom Harris, Daily Telegraph >Yesterday: Henry Hills Red, White, and Blue column: SNPs PMQs stunt prevented the very debate they claimed to want Ministers 4) Bradley scrutinised over failure to cut MLA pay Morgan boycotting unflattering BBC studios Secretary of State Karen Bradley has declined to explain what has caused months of delay in cutting the pay of MLAs while Stormont lies empty. Every one of the 90 MLAs has been paid at least 49,000 for more than a year despite spending just 46 minutes in the Assembly chamber since the last election 15 months ago and some MLAs are being paid much more Last December, a report commissioned by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) recommended a series of cuts to MLAs pay if Stormont did not return In an interview with the Press Association this week, Mrs Bradley said she is still minded to follow that advice even though she had not followed what Mr Reaney proposed. She blamed unspecified hitches, saying that I just need to make sure we have got all the technicalities and legalities sorted. News Letter The former cabinet minister Nicky Morgan has said that she refuses to be interviewed in regional BBC studios because the bright lights are unflattering and she has been insulted by social-media trolls as a result. Ms Morgan, 45, instead requests that broadcasters send a film crew to her if they want to conduct an interview. The former education secretary and prominent Remain campaigner was speaking at a diversity event in London after figures showed that news programmes still featured many more male than female talking heads. She suggested that many women were too humble to put themselves forward. The Times Opposition face fresh anti-Semitism scandal as they are accused of covering up a string of sex claims Labour bosses have been blasted for hiring a leftie lawyer who is friends with members accused of anti-Semitism to advise them. Gordon Nardell QC was last week announced as the partys new in-house legal counsel to help deal with the backlog of anti-Semitism cases and will oversee the partys disciplinary processes. But critics claim his links to grassroots members accused of anti-Semitic comments undermines his independence, and it could be a conflict of interest if he rules on their cases. It has been revealed that the former councillor and wannabe-MP has a long history of links to the hard left and is friends on Facebook with suspended members. Labour figures have demanded that the new General Secretary, Jennie Fornby, think again about her decision to hire him in the role. The Sun Labour has been accused of hiding an independent investigation into how the party has dealt with complaints of sexual assault and harassment. Karon Monaghan QC was brought in as an independent expert to assess its existing procedures. This followed allegations from a party activist that she was raped at a party event in 2011 and later advised by a party official not to make a formal complaint. The investigation has concluded, but the partys ruling National Executive Committee has yet to be shown the QCs conclusions Bex Bailey, a former member of the NEC, revealed in November that her assailant had been someone more senior than her in the party. Recommended FT Magazine Abuse of power: the truth about sexual harassment in Westminster When she decided to report the attack two years later, the person she contacted discouraged her from taking action.. FT Ministers reveal plan to make upskirting illegal Daily Telegraph Watson says McCluskey is coming for him nominate me, and I think he felt that I in some way was obligated to him personally. And my obligation was to the Labour Party. The Times Labour hold Lewisham East Tom Watson has accused Len McCluskey, head of the Unite union, of preparing to oust him as deputy Labour leader. Mr Watson, 51, said Mr McCluskey, 67, was coming for me, adding that he would not be bullied. The pair were briefly flatmates but fell out in 2016 after Labour MPs rebelled against Jeremy Corbyn. At the time Mr Watson told Mr Corbyn, who then won his second leadership poll, that he had lost his authority. On the BBCspodcast, Mr Watson, who was elected deputy in 2015, said: Sadly, we fell out over that week when Jeremy went into the second leadership election, and Ive not spoken to him since. I felt very difficult there, because Unite funded my campaign, they didnt Labour has held Lewisham East after winning over 50 per cent of the vote in a by-election. Janet Daby said she was humbled and delighted to be the London constituencys new MP. In her acceptance speech, Ms Daby said her victory meant we will not tolerate an extreme Brexit in Lewisham East. We refuse to stand by and let a Tory government devastate our schools, our health service and our housing, she added. The election was called after Heidi Alexander resigned so she could work for Mayor of London Sadiq Khan Lucy Salek for the Liberal Democrats came second with 25 per cent of the vote, a 20 per cent improvement on the partys performance in 2017. Tory Ross Archer came third with 14 per cent of the vote, doing eight per cent worse than the party did last year. Daily Mail Majority slashed in shock result Daily Express >Today: ToryDiary: A lesson from Lewisham East? News in Brief: Brandon Lewis: Our new moves to stamp out anti-Muslim abuse or discrimination within the Conservative Party Brandon Lewis is Chairman of the Conservative Party, and is MP for Great Yarmouth. As Muslim families gather today to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, they will be joined by neighbours of different faiths and none to celebrate this happy day. This is a wonderful reminder of how much Muslims contribute to the community and culture of British life. Britain would be a poorer place without British Muslims. We are lucky to have a rich tapestry of faiths and different communities in the United Kingdom. It is one of the things that makes this nation strong. As a Party we are strongest when we reflect the diversity of backgrounds and experience of wider society in our membership. That is why it is utterly unacceptable that anyone should suffer abuse because of their faith, race, gender, sexuality, disability or ethnicity. Such prejudice destroys society from within. That is why I believe discrimination of any kind has no place within the Conservative Party. A single case of abuse is one too many, and since becoming Chairman I have taken a zero-tolerance approach. We have a clear and fully transparent process for investigating complaints under the partys Code of Conduct. In response to the cases brought to us, we have immediately suspended members and launched investigations. Many of these have led to expulsions. Yesterday, I met with TellMAMA, an organisation doing tremendous work to support and protect Muslims in Britain. They recognise that the Conservative Party has acted swiftly in disciplining members who have expressed unacceptable attitudes towards Muslims, but we should always be looking to do more to stamp out anti-Muslim abuse or discrimination of any kind. So I am taking the following steps: First, the Conservative Party will work closely with TellMAMA to give local associations tailored advice, support and guidance to deal with abuse and bigotry robustly. Second, I will make diversity training available to all members and association officers to improve awareness of discrimination and promote inclusion. Third, I will be writing to local associations to remind them of the standards of behaviour expected from representatives of the Party and to stress the importance of promoting tolerance and inclusivity. Finally, I will ask all local associations to report back to CCHQ about how they have dealt with locally reported complaints. It is vital that we all work together to fight against an increasingly abusive public discourse wherever it may come from that coarsens public debate, and dissuades so many from playing an active role in public life. I am determined that our Party will take the lead in doing so, to build a country that gives voice to all communities in Britain. Iain Dale is Presenter of LBC Drive, a commentator with CNN and the author/editor of over 30 books. Phillip Lees resignation came as a bolt out of the blue, according to many learned commentators this week. Well, on this issue maybe but several people have told me of his unhappiness at being overlooked for promotion to the Cabinet. I think most politicians are only ever a couple of steps from resignation, but few have the balls to go through with it. If they do, they will have gone through utter contortions on the way to reaching the decision. I may not agree with Phillips resignation, but I respect his reasons, even if I think he has drawn the wrong conclusions. It has been disappointing to see some people trashing his reputation over the last few days. I suppose we all have to appreciate that all politics is tribal, and that, when someone does something to damage the tribe, others are going to react accordingly but even so, some of it has been pretty distasteful. One thing I would say, though. If an MP is going to make a major decision such as resignation, the first thing to do is ring your constituency chairman, and explain why youre doing it. He/she can then ring round the key officers and members and get them onside. The Daily Telegraphs Christopher Hope reported on Tuesday morning that the chairman of Bracknell Conservatives found out about his MPs resignation through social media. Understandably, he was a tad miffed. Older readers may remember that I was up against Phillip for the Bracknell selection in the autumn of 2009. There were seven of us in the final with Philip, Rory Stewart and I contesting the final three. At that point, I knew it was curtains for me. I realised that if they wanted a risky choice theyd go for Rory, and if they wanted a safe local choice theyd pick Philip. I knew that I couldnt come through the middle. I still get people who were at the selection meeting telling me that they voted for me! I often wonder what might have been I am a big fan of select committees. When they are well chaired and MPs are on top of their briefs, they do a superb job of holding the Executive to account, and they are capable of shining light into some very murky corners indeed. Sadly, the DCMS Select Committee displayed none of these attributes when they interviewed Arron Banks and Andy Wigmore from Leave.eu. It was a shambles of a hearing, and brought the whole select committee system into disrepute. Banks and Wigmore, who had legitimate questions to answer about all sorts of things, escaped not only totally unscathed but arguably with their reputations enhanced. It takes a particular brand of incompetence to allow that to happen. Of the 11 members of the committee, only seven turned up. Given that the MPs who were absent will have known this was a high-profile witness session, one wonders what other urgent business they had. One MP, Rebecca Pow (no, me neither), turned up late, and when she started asking her questions began talking about the Electoral Commission something the chairman had instructed his colleagues not to do due to ongoing legal cases. Not a single one of the MPs laid a glove on Banks or Wigmore. Indeed, it was the other way around. I hope Collins has watched back the entire three hours, ideally while he was sitting next to Nicky Morgan. She might have then given him a few tips about how to do it properly. Meanwhile, the rest of the committee should resign in embarrassment, and let someone else have a go. Their replacements couldnt possibly do a worse job. For the first time, I really fear that the government is about to deliver something they will call Brexit, but which, to any normal observer, it wont look like Brexit at all. Remainers in Parliament look as though they are to deliver an almost fatal blow to a clean Brexit by wresting control of the saga from the government. It looks to me as if we are going to head for the softest of soft Brexits, under which we abide by many of the most pernicious rules of the EU, pay into the coffers, but have no say in what happens. This seems to have been the agenda of Olly Robbins, the Prime Ministers chief Brexit adviser, all along. And when you hear a Remain supporting MP say: Of course we respect the result of the referendum, but we all know full well that their agenda is not to make a success of Brexit, but to frustrate it and ideally put a stop to it. At least Andrew Adonis has had the balls to admit it. The rest wont. But thats their agenda. And I now wonder whether they may succeed. Andrew Lilico wrote a superb article for CAPX on Wednesday, in which he essentially said that if were not going to get a Brexit worth the name, but instead a half way house which will be the worst of all worlds worse than remaining a member of the EU. I tend to agree. But were in this position for several reasons. Number 1 is that the Prime Minister didnt get a majority in the election, which totally undermined David Daviss negotiating position. It all went downhill from there, not that things had bene particularly impressive prior to that. But we are also in this position because all the leading Brexiteers seem to have given up on explaining why Brexit is a good idea and why Britain can make a success of it. They have been lamentable at countering the Remain propaganda about various issues, but in particular about Northern Ireland and the Customs Union. Boris Johnson has had a go on occasion, but usually messes it up, due his inability to make his case while retaining a semblance of loyalty. Where are the others? It cant all be left to Iain Duncan Smith and Jacob Rees Mogg. Every single Brexit-supporting minister and MP needs to get out there and sell the product The Remainers have their tails up. Theyre setting the agenda. If I sound frustrated, it is because I am. I have lost count of the number of people who have called into my radio show, texted, emailed or tweeted me to tell me that if Brexit isnt implemented they not only wont vote Conservative, but wont bother voting ever again. I really fear for our democracy. I dont want a Donald Trump figure to emerge here, but thats where we are heading. People will not forgive a whole class of politicians who betray them by not respecting the referendum result. There will be a fierce backlash if that happens. And if that happens, I know who to blame. And so do you. Last week, I wrote a piece about Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, and the fact that he has only recently started attending board meetings of Transport for the North. I said that he could have attended all the meetings since his election last May, but chose not to do so. While in theory this is true, Sir Richard Leese, Deputy Mayor, was the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) representative on the TfN board until late March. The GMCA meeting on 29 March agreed that Andy Burnham would in future be the GMCA representative and since then he has attended every meeting and teleconference. Im happy to clarify. 2018 by-election result Janet Daby (Labour) 11,033 (50 per cent, -18 per cent). Lucy Salek (Liberal Democrat) 5,404 (25 per cent, + 20 per cent). Ross Archer (Conservative) 3,161 (14 per cent, 9 per cent). Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah (Green) 788 (4 per cent, + 2 per cent). Turnout: 33 per cent (- 36 per cent). 2017 general election result Heidi Alexander (Labour) 30,072 (68 per cent). Peter Fortune (Conservative) 10,859 (23 per cent). Emily Frith (Liberal Democrat) 2,086 (4 per cent). Storm Poorun (Greem) 803 (2 per cent) Turnout: 69 per cent. Nothing can reliably be read from this result, on a turnout reduced by roughly half, to a general election in 2022. But as a snapshot of opinion in London it may just tell us a bit. A few parts of the capital voted Leave during the EU referendum, some by a very substantial margin 70 per cent backed that course in Havering; 63 per cent in Bexley; 62 per cent in Barking and Dagenham. But that view won out only on Londons western and eastern sides (plus Sutton). Overall, 60 per cent of those living in the capital voted Remain. The highest percentages taking that view were in Labour boroughs 79 per cent in Lambeth, 78 per cent in Hackney, 76 per cent in Haringey. Emphatic support for staying in the EU was not confined to Labour areas. Seventy-five per cent supported Remain in Wandsworth. There was undoubtedly a Brexit knock-on in last summers general election, with Battersea, Croydon Central, Enfield Southgate and Kensington & Chelsea falling to Labour, and the Liberal Democrats regaining Twickenham and Kingston & Surbiton. Todays result suggests that the EU issue is still a factor at least in parts of London lets put it no more strongly than that and that it is helping the only one of the main parties to be unambiguously pro-Remain. Turnout in a general election, whenever it comes, will be higher than 33 per cent. Conservative voters will go to the polls in larger numbers than they did in Lewisham yesterday. The economy and living standards should be a larger consideration in the minds of Labour ones. Jeremy Corbyn did very well out of that factor last June. All that will squeeze the Liberal Democrat vote, especially where the party isnt competitive. But Brexit is clearly posing a values problem for the two main parties in the capital. For the Tories, yesterdays result is a reminder of the challenge facing the party in the coming London mayoral election. Does the Party simply attempt to get its vote out, or make a pitch for the capitals pro-Brexit voters? Does it instead go where the numbers are and run a Cameroon-flavoured campaign designed to send a message that Conservatives in London are different? For Labour, the problem is even more severe. The Lewisham vote suggests that they are bleeding support to the Liberal Democrats in parts of the capital on a greater scale than the Tories. Furthermore, it highlights the difference between voters in Labour seats in London and voters in Labour seats in the provinces. Those different sorts of constituencies diverged on referendum day, and the party is still wrestling with the consequences, as was shown by this weeks three-way Labour Commons split over the EEA. All in all, the values challenge for Labour thrown up by Brexit itself part of the even bigger phenomenon of globalisation, large-scale migration, and downward pressure on wages may be even bigger than the values challenge for the Conservatives. Warnings about the dire risks of antibiotic resistance date back to 1945, when the scientist credited with discovering penicillin said that he feared an unknown day in the future when penicillin can be bought by anyone in the shops. As it turns out, antibiotics in the United States and other industrialized nations still require a doctors prescription, preventing the ignorant man as scientist Alexander Fleming described him, from picking up penicillin at the store and giving himself an incorrect dose. But for farm animals, thats been a different story At animal feed stores, meat and poultry producers for decades have been able to purchase antibiotics in bulk that humans could only access for themselves with a doctors visit and a prescription. That scenario led some humans to apparently medicate themselves by shopping at PetSmart rather than seeing a doctor. But more importantly, it allowed farmers to medicate their herds cheaply and efficiently. On massive farms, animals that spent much of their lives in close-confinement and unsanitary conditions were given a cocktail of antibiotics on a routine basis to prevent diseases. Being fed antibiotics routinely also proved to make animals grow fatter more quickly. These two factors have made mass antibiotic usage an enormously popular practice on the corporate mega-farms that have come to characterize the American meat industry. After decades of new and more frightening warnings from the public health community about the risks of antibiotic overuse -- namely, that wonder drugs like Penicillin could lose their effectiveness in the face of rare bacteria that have evolved to resist modern medicine -- the United States government finally decided to act. Under the Obama administration, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took what a former commissioner said was the first significant step in dealing with this important public health concern in 20 years. Rules that were introduced in 2013 and implemented in January 2017 required all farmers to obtain something like a prescription before dosing their herds with medically important antibiotic drugs, or antibiotics that are also used to treat illnesses in humans. Under the Obama administrations 2017 rules, a Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) signed by a licensed veterinarian must be presented at any feed store before a farmer can buy antibiotics for his livestock, ending the days of over-the-counter antibiotic sales at pet stores. Food safety groups at the time raised concerns that getting a VFD could turn out to be just as easy for major meat producers as buying antibiotics over-the-counter, but those concerns were waived away. Its a big shift from the current situation, in which animal producers can go to a local feed store and buy these medicines over the counter and there is no oversight at all, the FDAs then-commissioner Michael Taylor claimed at the time. Pork industry rejects findings Over a year later, however, a new report published by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) suggests that getting a VFD isnt so difficult after all. Analyzing sales data of antibiotics to pork producers, the group determined that medically important antibiotics continue to be sold in roughly the same amount to pigs as they are to humans. Strictly comparing antibiotic sales in different livestock, the pork industry constitutes a significant chunk of sales (37 percent), the report says. When livestock sales and human sales are factored together, the NRDC found that 27 percent of all medically important antibiotics sold in the United States go straight to pigs. The irresponsible use of antibiotics on pig farms has created ripe conditions for drug-resistant bacteria -- as well as the genes that foster resistance -- to multiply and spread from farms to people, the report says. The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), the lobbying arm of the pork industry, argues that the NRDCs report is misleading because it is analyzing antibiotic sales rather than actual antibiotic usage. While the 37 percent figure may be correct, sales arent uses; an NPPC spokesman tells ConsumerAffairs via email. But even if that is true, advocacy groups say they sales remain one of the only few reliable options to track antibiotic usage in the meat industry. The NRDC report says that government data on the issue is scare, and the lack of clear data unnecessarily hampers public and government efforts to reduce antibiotic overuse. The pork industry also argues that pig and cow producers are unfairly judged because their animals live longer and are larger than other livestock, which they say make them more likely to get sick and require antibiotics The US pork industry never has said it has no part to play in the efforts to combat the very real problem of antibiotic resistance, but food-animal producers seem to be the only segment being asked (mandated?) to address the problem, the NPPC spokesman complains. Regulatory loopholes While the pork industry seems to claim that it is being unfairly targeted in the antibiotic resistance crisis and burdened by regulations, research suggests that the opposite is true. The industry actually faces very few mandates or barriers in obtaining antibiotics, according to Dr. David Wallinga, a public health researcher at the NRDC who authored the antibiotics report. Part of the problem, Wallinga says, is that those feed directives that were supposed to function as something like prescriptions for the meat industry are poorly regulated and ripe with loopholes. For example, he says its unclear under the Obama-era legislation whether the veterinarians who write the directives are required to write a new prescription every time, or whether the same prescription can be reused repeatedly for an unknown duration of time on an unknown number of animals. He also points out that a veterinarian who is employed by a meat producer is likely going to do whatever that company wants, regardless of whether it is in the publics interest. "What constitutes veterinary oversight is a huge grey area, Wallinga tells ConsumerAffairs. Ultimately, his report suggests that reform lies at the feet of major pork producers rather than government regulations. Overuse of antibiotics occurs within a markedly changed U.S. pork industry dominated by larger, more specialized farms.these entities have the power to catalyze much-needed change in how antibiotics are used throughout the pork production chain, the report concludes. The growing superbug epidemic A prime example of one such entity with the power to catalyze much-needed change would be Smithfield foods. The Virginia-based company, which is technically a subsidiary of a massive pork corporation that is based in China, remains the largest pork company in the United States. Smithfield Foods employs staff veterinarians and utilizes contract veterinarians who prescribe any necessary medications, a public relations agency that represents Smithfield Foods sent ConsumerAffairs in a prepared statement. The agency spokesman directed other specific questions to the Antibiotics Policy page on Smithfields website, which claims that the company uses antibiotics safely and judiciously. But researchers continue to uncover growing evidence of superbugs at farms and on food. Several years ago, Ohio researchers discovered what they said was an extremely rare superbug on a pig farm, and they said they had no idea how it could have arrived there. While the researchers stressed at the time that there was no evidence the superbug actually reached the food chain, public health researchers also continue to uncover evidence that other superbugs are already appearing on raw meat sold in grocery stores. On Thursday, the Environmental Working Group said that their own analysis of federal government data uncovered that 71 percent of pork chops sold in American grocery stores are contaminated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The group said that was also true for 62 percent of beef samples, 79 percent of turkey samples, and 36 percent of chicken samples. Wallinga, the NRDC researcher, says that antibiotic usage on chicken farms has dropped in recent years because major producers like Perdue voluntarily decided to scale down its usage. "But the consumers have also stepped up and demanded chicken raised with fewer antibiotics, he adds, leading industry giants to reconsider their ways. "By contrast we haven't seen that kind of leadership by either companies producing pork, or, with a few exceptions, by restaurants serving pork. " The World Health Organization has identified antibiotic-resistance as a growing public health threat, and researchers in Europe predict that if no action is taken to address this, superbugs will kill 10 million people worldwide each year by 2050. 100% Website lampu-led.com uses latest and advanced technologies. It supports HTTPS and GZIP compression. The main html page has a size of 45811 bytes (44.74 kb uncompressed) and 11073 bytes (10.81 kb compressed). This CoolSocial report was updated on 2021-02-02, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. CORNWALL, Ontario The Nijmegen March is held annually in the Netherlands. It starts every year on the third Tuesday of July and is the largest multiple day marching event in the world. The 50 000 participants each year are mostly civilians, but militaries from around the world also enter teams into the march. The Canadian Armed Forces have been participating in the Nijmegen March since 1952. This year, they are sending 14 teams comprised of over 200 personnel. Each team consists of 11 personnel, including 1 medic and 1 person who has previously participated in the march. The SD&G Highlanders have been selected as one of those teams, to celebrate the units 150th anniversary. The SD&G Highlanders have already begun training for the Nijmegen March. The Canadian Armed Forces requires interested members to complete at least 500km of training marches, although typically the average soldier will complete over 700km of training prior to departing. The march itself will be 40km a day for 4 days for a total of 160km. Over the next several months the SD&G Highlanders will be training up to 4 times a week, working from 5km to 40km marches. The unit will be more and more visible in the community as we prepare for Nijmegen. The 4-day march in the Netherlands has been taking place since 1909, having started as a Dutch military training exercise. It has been permanently stationed in Nijmegen since 1916 and has taken place every year except during the two World Wars. Nijmegen is the oldest city in the Netherlands, and is characterized by a combination of Roman ruins, 14th century architecture and post-war additions which serve as a reminder of the destruction the city endured during WWII. Each day of the march starts in Nijmegen and is named after the biggest town that it goes through. Tuesday is the day of Elst, Wednesday the day of Wijchen, Thursday the day of Groesbeek and Friday the day of Cuijk. Successful participants receive a Dutch decoration (the Cross for the Four Day Marches) and gladioli, a sword shaped plant that is associated with ancient gladiators. As the SD&G Highlanders well know, Canada and the Netherlands have a very special friendship. Over a 9-month period during 1944 and 1945, a Canadian-led coalition made up of mostly Canadians, but also Polish, Belgian, American, British and Dutch resistance fighters liberated The Netherlands from the Germans. Dutch citizens, who were facing starvation, saw the Canadians not only as liberators but saviours. 7 600 Canadians died liberating The Netherlands, including 11 SD&G Highlanders who died liberating the town of Leesten. In 2005, the town of Leesten honoured their sacrifice by naming 11 streets after the fallen Glens. During the third day of the marches the SD&G Highlanders team will have the chance to go to a Canadian War cemetery in Groesbeek which houses 2 500 graves and pay tribute to our fallen soldiers. We are looking forward to renewing our friendship with the Dutch people during this years Nijmegen March. As the Dutch say, Death or gladioli! Valletta Cruise Port has welcomed MSC Cruises newest ship, the MSC Seaview, which called for the first time on Wednesday, June 13. The MSC Seaview, a ship bearing a Maltese flag registration, was named last week and was on its inaugural voyage, according to a statement. In honor of the maiden call, a special event was held onboard the ship in the presence of the Honourable Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, honourable members of the Cabinet of Malta, local authorities and dignitaries, as well as business and industry leaders. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat highlighted the significant collaboration between Malta and MSC. Thanks to MSC we will see more guests visiting our Islands, where in 2018, MSC ships will be entering port over 70 times with nearly 300,000 passengers," he said. We are proud to welcome MSC Seaview on her maiden call to Valletta Cruise Port, and to be welcoming her on 22 other occasions in our scenic historic port, throughout her inaugural season in the Mediterranean this summer. It is indeed a pleasure for Valletta Cruise Port to collaborate with MSC Cruises who entered the cruise industry 15 years ago. The company has left an indelible mark on an ever-evolving cruise industry. In the last five years we have hosted over 880,000 passenger movements in Valletta sailing on MSC vessels. We congratulate MSC Cruises on their achievements and look forward to many more years of fruitful joint cooperation," commented Valletta Cruise Ports CEO and Global Ports Holding COO, Stephen Xuereb. Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises Executive Chairman added: "Malta has always been important to us and we have been partners for many years. Our first cruise ship to call here was the Melody, back in the late nineties. Today, MSC Seaview, a next-generation cruise ship like no other, featuring some of the best and most innovative maritime and environmental technology at sea, will be calling Malta regularly in 2018. He added: "Moreover, MSC Seaview will be our third ship to fly the Maltese flag. And wherever we call, we proudly hoist the Maltese Cross. As such, the Maltese flag also stands for innovation, advanced technology, and maritime excellence. Today, MSC Seaview has for the first time arrived home, in her port of registry and many others ships will follow. All cruise ships that we have on order will also be registered here. In Malta we have found a home for our new fleet". On arrival the ship and its guests and crew were welcomed with the lively tunes of a traditional village band featuring a number of local favorites, along with international pieces. Prior to departure, guests were treated to a display of local folk dancing by dancers wearing Maltese traditional costumes, courtesy of the Malta Tourism Authority. Paul Sakuma / AP Pharmaceutical distribution giant McKesson is closing a Rocky Hill center at a cost of 105 jobs, according to a filing with the Connecticut Department of Labor. McKesson is based in San Francisco, with the company distributing a wide range of prescription drugs and other medical supplies, including opioids to alleviate pain. In April, the company announced a review of its operations to identify cost savings. The moment that changed Guillermina Coellos life could not have come at a more mundane time and place. Coello was at home, stirring beans and preparing to chop onions in her kitchen on the second floor of a house in West Haven on Oct. 16, 2014, a Thursday, just before 6 p.m. She had picked up her two sons, ages 8 and 11, from school. They were in other rooms. She sent her boyfriend out of the kitchen, preferring to cook alone. She had added oil to the pot from a can of Pam cooking spray, and set the can down. The can of Pam was over here, far away, she said in an interview through an interpreter, waving her left hand the uninjured one. Then, in a flash, mayhem. The can exploded. ... It burst in flames, I was screaming, there were flames everywhere on the counter, on my clothes, all over me, Coello recalled. I had a dress on, I took it off. She doesnt recall much beyond that. Her boyfriend called 911, her sons rushed in, a neighbor came in from next door and the fire department and ambulance arrived. Coello was transferred to the Bridgeport Hospital burn unit, where she stayed for a month with according to a lawsuit against the maker of Pam first-, second- and third-degree burns to her face, chest, right arm, right hand, right leg and right foot. She needed skin grafts, rebuilding of some of her knuckles and extensive therapy, and had to return to the hospital with infections. She could not work for nine months and even now, nearly four years later, working as a driver for Lyft and Uber, shes not at full strength and remains scarred physically and, she says, emotionally. Coello, 46, is seeking at least $12 million from Conagra Brands Inc. in a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport, through the law firm Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder of Bridgeport. (A different firm brought the suit originally). Its one of the first cases in the nation charging Conagra with civil violations of faulty product design and failure to warn users of dangers, according to a search of court records and her lawyer, J. Craig Smith, a partner at the Koskoff firm. The firm also represents plaintiffs in a parallel Connecticut case stemming from a 2013 incident involving two Yale students cooking at a house in Washington, Conn. At a time of debate about product liability amid loosening of government oversight, the Pam cases are testing a sensitive border between proper use and misuse, adequate and inadequate labeling and safe and unsafe product design. Coello, who also has an older daughter in her 20s, moved to Connecticut 15 years ago from Ecuador, where she worked for two affiliated import and export companies including modeling at trade shows for seafood and electronics. Guillermina Coellos ability to carry on and enjoy lifes activities has been impaired, the lawsuit says, and Coello tearfully bears that out. She instinctively hides her right hand and arm as we speak, and as I take a picture of her, and said she cant enjoy normal summertime activities like going to the beach. I would do anything to be the way I was before, she said. The question is whether Conagra is at fault for a Pam container that was, according to Smith, redesigned a few years ago in a way that might have contributed to the accident. The lawsuits claim Conagra knew about the dangers of bursting or venting cans even when the cans were used properly. Conagra, based in Chicago, then known as ConAgra Foods Inc. and based in Omaha, Neb., denies wrongdoing in an answer to the 2015 lawsuit complaint and in a statement issued this past week. Conagra expressly denies that the Pam aerosol canister was in a defective condition due to any act of omission, design or practice of Conagra, the company said in the lawsuit. The company said Coello and the other defendants failed to heed warnings on the can, which say the contents are flammable and must be kept away from a stove top or oven. The accident in question resulted from the misuse, abuse and/or failure to properly maintain the Pam cooking spray and the Pam cooking spray canister, the company said in the lawsuit. And in an emailed statement, Conagra spokesman Dan Hare said, Pam Cooking Sprays have been used safely by millions of Americans for more than 50 years for baking, grilling and cooking. This stands as a testament to both the effectiveness of the product and its safety with proper use. Conagra is sympathetic to the claims being made in the litigation, but Pam Cooking Spray is a product that has stood the test of time. We feel that it is being wrongly accused. Three and a half years after the Coello case was first filed, the parties agreed last month to a schedule in which lawyers on both sides will take expert opinions and depositions through this fall. One issue is the design of the can. Aerosol sprays necessarily have a propellant, and are pressurized making them subject to bulging, bursting or exploding. The question is when and under what circumstances. In order to reduce the risk of outright explosion, Conagra or a vendor company designed a pressurized tab on the bottom of some larger cans of Pam. The tab can open when pressure or temperature rises, sending the product out of the can rapidly as a safety valve. That can send the cooking oil, which is flammable, gushing across gas stove flames. Its burned down a number of kitchens but its also burning people, Smith said. They just didnt think it through. It seems like a really dumb move to put cooking spray into cans that can vent. Under court rules, Smith is barred from sharing much of the information the company provides about how it adheres to regulations including with plaintiffs in similar cases across the country. That ban, designed to protect trade secrets, also makes it harder for plaintiffs to bring lawsuits. It was the subject of one set of motions these last three years, along with Conagras motion to dismiss the cases, which Judge Stefan Underhill rejected. Accidents involving Pam have not led to recalls and in some instances, the users clearly have left the can too close to a stove. New York model Alexandria Morgan lived through a scare when she was cooking and shooting video for a YouTube segment. She had left a can of Pam between the burners. It burst loudly. I want to get on my hands and knees and thank God that I didnt get hurt, she said immediately afterward, still shaken. Let this be a lesson. Pay attention when youre cooking. Coello and the other Connecticut victims did use care and kept the cans at a reasonable distance, the lawsuits claim. I dont feel complete, Coello said. I went to a place where I didnt want anyone to visit me. dhaar@hearstmediact.com In recent years, the power in the hiring process has shifted to the job-seeker. From company career sites to employer-review platforms like Glassdoor, job-seekers have access to endless information about a company. As a result, theyre better informed and able to go about the job search in a new way. Employers? They have yet to adapt. Related: How to Hire Like a Pro A February 2017 survey of 616 HR professionals and 438 job seekers by CareerArc highlighted this gap. The report found that 55 percent of job-seekers surveyed said they'll lose interest in a company if they read a negative employer review. Yet, 55 percent of employers dont even monitor or respond to these reviews to mitigate the hiring consequences. Employers, then, are clinging to outdated hiring practices, and that's keeping them from landing top talent. So, which strategies need to go and what should be done instead? Cold emailing For years, one of the best hiring tactics was to send emails to potential candidates and then wait for a response. This did the trick because the job market wasnt as strong in the past. Today, however, talent receives so many cold emails about jobs, they dont even bother to open them. Between emails, texts, calls and other types of messages, its extremely difficult to convince someone to pay attention to a new career opportunity, Nick Cromydas, CEO and founder of Chicago-based recruiting platform Hunt Club, said in an email, adding: especially if they arent in the market for a new job. Rather than sending out countless emails and hoping for the best, companies should rely on referrals -- both from employees and trusted professionals. These ambassadors can reach out to talented people in their networks and build a bridge between job candidates and the company. The key is to make the referral process as simple as possible. People will be less willing to present candidates if they have to jump through a lot of hoops. Let them know what the company is looking for and have them provide the candidate's contact information. Then, take it from there. Related: Hiring Your First Employee? 5 Things You Need to Know. Focusing on GPA Employers often look at candidates' educational history as proof of their abilities. While a good GPA is an accomplishment, it doesnt necessarily correlate with a person's being the best employee. And if its been years since that candidate was in college, grade-point average doesnt indicate whether this person has the most up-to-date skills. We've found time and time again that past behavior is the best indicator of future success and actions, Amanda Bell, director of recruiting for San Francisco-based applicant tracking system Lever, said via email. A GPA measures many things, but least of all is past professional experience. Instead of limiting your potential talent pool to those with degrees, look for candidates within industry-related web forums. Social media groups and industry websites attract people who are interested in the latest skills and trends in their field. Pay close attention to comments and posts and look for members who have intelligent and insightful comments. This will provide a much better idea of whether a particular person would make a great candidate. Using scripted interview questions In theory, asking every job candidate the same interview questions seems like a great idea. The intent is to give everyone the same chance to shine. But, if there is no flexibility in the interview, hiring managers wont be able to truly get to know the candidate. Sticking to scripted questions is not natural, Molly Muir, chief of staff at Irvine, Calif.-based video IoT company Arcules, told me. Candidates often reveal what makes them most interesting when they dont realize it, and a skilled interviewer knows how to build a better conversation on those insights. Instead of giving hiring managers a script, give them a general structure to follow. Make sure they know what information they need to gain from each candidate. Then, trust they have the skills and knowledge to get that information. It can also help to have them track which questions led to which answers. This will help the hiring manager and other interviewers identify the questions that work best in which situations. For example, interviewers might discover that certain questions work better with shy candidates. This will create an arsenal of questions managers can pull from when hiring. Relying on "gut feeling" Many hiring professionals claim they just know when theyve found the right candidate. While experience and instinct do play a part in talent acquisition, there are more objective ways to assess candidates. Tracking and analyzing hiring data shows what led to mistakes and ways to avoid them in the future. The Chicago-based staffing and employment agency Addison Group is in the business of hiring. In addition to the work it does for its clients, the company has also brought on a large number of new team members. CEO Tom Moran credits Addison's success to its dedication to tracking hiring metrics. We continue to measure and adjust our sourcing methods and ways of attracting and retaining candidates, as they are critical for us to implement programs that allow us to cater to todays candidates career aspirations, Moran said by email. Related: Make More Sales by Hiring the Right People Be sure to collect data that aligns with your companys hiring goals. Nowadays, tools and platforms are available to measure everything imaginable. Of course, its easy to get buried in data. So, if your organization is trying to improve retention, for instance, focus on metrics related to that factor. This will help you, as the employer, make quick and informed decisions about your hiring process. Related: 4 Hiring Practices You Needed to Drop Yesterday (and What to Do Instead) Your Sales Team Cannot Miss These Qualities The Art of Knowing When to Hire and When to Contract Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media An election complaint alleging David Stemermans campaign violated the law by using out-of-state petition circulators was filed Friday with the State Election Enforcement Commission against the Republican gubernatorial candidate. Newington town attorney Benjamin Ancona, who served as a delegate for competing GOP candidate for governor Tim Herbst, filed the complaint, citing a Hearst Connecticut Media story that quoted a petition circulator for Stemerman who said he was flown in from California to help with the signature gathering effort. The circulator suggested that other campaign aides had also come from out of state to help. He did not specify his state of residence. Gatlin Roberts, Chief Statistician (left) and Laura Anthony-Browne, Director of Planning, making a case for support of the Poverty Assessment Survey. Persons assigned to collect information regarding living standards and conditions of residents here, are encountering some difficulty in pursuing their task. Gatlin Roberts, Chief Statistician in the Finance, Economic Planning, Sustainable Development, Information and Technology Ministry, highlighted the situation last week Wednesday, in a media briefing held at the Ministrys Conference Room. The undertaking, dubbed Enhanced Poverty Assessment, "is encountering difficulties. Some persons are not responding, others give wrong information and others delay, Roberts said. She disclosed that the survey began in March 2018 and will cover 1300 households in 113 Enumeration Districts and conducted in two phases. The first phase - relating to living conditions - is expected to be complete by September this year. Phase Two, which deals with Household Budgets, runs for one year. The findings are projected for release in April 2020. Laura Anthony-Browne, Director of Planning, recounted two previous surveys done by Kairi Consultants based in Trinidad and Tobago. She assured the media that her Ministry had the expertise to carry out this operation. EC$1.8M has been set aside by the Caribbean Development Bank, with support from the Organisation of Eastern States Secretariat in St. Lucia, for the undertaking. A committee has been set to oversee its implementation. Anthony-Browne urged the media to help with the publicity drive so that more persons will be aware of the importance of the survey to development. Information will help to "formulate and implement national policies and poverty reduction strategies that address the conditions of the poor, according to Planning Director. (WKA) The story, Views mixed on Korea summit, (Conn. Post, June 13, 2018) cited comments which were limited to Connecticut members of Congress. Except for Rep. Jim Himes, the comments were largely less than substantial knee-jerk partisan jibes. Democrat Himes, though, astutely noted, We have a long way to go, but I applaud the president for keeping the conversation going. Sen. Chris Murphy is quoted, No one should hold back from continuing to savage the directionless, counterproductive foreign policy of this administration. Sen. Richard Blumenthal adds his two cents that it was a symbolic spectacle. The Connecticut congressional delegation show, by their comments, a complete lack of understanding and appreciation for President Donald Trumps new, more effective and efficient method of diplomacy. Instead of the old traditional, largely wasteful and ineffective diplomacy which started with low-level diplomatic corps members meeting with their counterparts, working, over months and years, up to the ladder to to the top, which seldom reached agreements of lasting value. Trump diplomacy, as I see it, changed that order, starting at the top. If top leaders can reach accord in principle, then the professional under-staff can work out the details with their counterparts, accomplishing them quicker, at less cost and with greater success because both diplomatic staffs know what their boss wants. How can anyone say counterproductive to that? Paul G. Littlefield Shelton Deaths From Cyber Attacks The ability of cyber threats to compromise information systems is an ongoing danger to all organisations, however, an emerging threat presents a new challenge, cyber attacks that may cause physical harm to systems and persons. This threat has become acute for certain sectors such as critical infrastructure. Historically, cyber attacks seek to harm a target by either causing disruption of a system or covertly entering to commit espionage or data theft. Recently, a new cyber attack has evolved to harm targets by causing physical damage or corruption of a system. For example, in 2016 one piece of malware targeted Ukraines power grid and cut power to 20 percent of the capital. The attack occurred toward the end of winter and left residents without electricity, lights, and, in some cases, heat. It involved malware that could activate or deactivate controls, and, as the attack was unfolding, it became clear that it was engineered for maximum effect because it also took back-up power sources offline. Another significant event occurred in August 2018, when cyber-criminals breached the security of a petro-chemical plant in Saudi Arabia in an attempt to manipulate and sabotage the plants operations. Though unsuccessful at causing an explosion, investigators believe that the attack was intended to cause a catastrophic event. While the attack failed in this instance, investigators raised the alarm that the compromised system is utilised by thousands of critical infrastructure operators globally and is an ongoing vulnerability. Also in the case of the Saudi Arabia hack, investigators concluded that the hackers custom-built nearly all their tools, and could do so, because they were able to obtain a copy of the critical software from eBay. This suggests the hackers were funded and possibly affiliated with a state actor. Undoubtedly, this has generated concerns about the increased use of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software. Adding to this is a resurgence of cyber criminals specifically targeting the energy sector. One group, Dragonfly, has launched several high-profile and concerted attacks against the energy sector. To date the group has mostly been involved in cyber-espionage, but security firms believe that the group possesses the technical tools and capability to physically compromise a system. For many observers, these attacks marked a turning point for infrastructure companies; they show that hackers are not only motivated and bold enough to launch attacks on infrastructure that jeopardise the wellbeing of individuals, but sophisticated enough to be successful. Moreover, the technologies involved in these attacks are ubiquitous and many are integral to traffic control systems, waterworks systems, and electricity supply networks. And, as clear in the Saudi Arabia attack, COTS software opens the door for cyber-criminals to purchase identical software in order to learn how it works so as to discover and exploit vulnerabilities. Despite the advanced capabilities of hackers, organisations can take steps to protect themselves. For example, organisations can remediate vulnerabilities in COTS software through solutions designed to scan software and identify flaws. This attenuates concerns about hackers obtaining software and exploiting existing flaws because system glitches are routinely identified and remediated. Moreover, organisations need to recognise potentially malicious activity on their systems, such as repeat remote access requests, system activity at unusual times, and access request from harmful domains. Unfortunately, it is likely that attacks that aim to physically interfere with software or security systems will only increase in the future. To combat this growing threat, organisations can take several steps: Security By-Design: When developing smart infrastructure, organizations should design it not just with security to prevent intrusions, but to minimize damage in the event of a compromise. For example, should certain critical software be custom-designed to prevent easy analysis by hackers? Can physical, manual, and programmatic fail safes be included to prevent malicious events? Enhanced Training: Companies should also strongly consider training board members and staff, including employees in non-technical departments, and those trainings should be tailored to employees responsibilities. For instance, board training should focus on the importance of investing in cyber-security and keeping the board appraised of liability risks posed by cyber threats. Likewise, non-technical employees should receive training on how to detect cyber threats, recognise common attack tactics like phishing emails, and most importantly what to do in the event of a suspected attack. Cyber Insurance: Also a consideration for organisations is whether their insurance policies cover this type of harm. Cyber insurance typically contemplates coverage for unauthorised disclosure of personal or confidential data and does not necessarily factor in damage to persons or real property. Therefore, infrastructure and energy companies should confirm whether they are covered should they experience this type of attack Cyber-security is an evolving threat that requires companies to adapt. There is no question that cyber threats will continue to grow more sophisticated and potentially, more dangerous. Therefore, it is imperative that organisations begin taking preventative measures now, especially when it comes to protecting systems that can affect the physical safety of a system. Ultimately these conversations are better had before, rather than in the aftermath, of an attack. You Might Also Read: Two people were injured Thursday in an accident on Kingwood Road Dubai's JW Marriott Marquis Hotel issued a statement on June 13 informing the world about the termination of the contract of celebrity chef Atul Kochhar after his anti-Islam tweet went viral, creating a furore on social media. The Michelin-starred chef found himself steeped in controversy after he tweeted to actor Priyanka Chopra: It is sad to see that you have not respected the sentiments of Hindus who have been terrorised by Islam for over 2000 years. Shame on you. Hindu terrorist in Quantico Chopra stars in the popular US TV series Quantico broadcast on ABC. On June 1, it aired an episode titled The Blood of Romeo that got flak from several Hindus in India and abroad for showing a Hindu terrorist. In that episode, her character, Alex Parrish prevents a terror attack that was believed to have been planned by Pakistanis just before a summit on Kashmir. But she discovers later that it was the handiwork of right-wing Hindu nationalists who wanted to derail the peace talks between two countries by blaming the attack on Pakistanis. That explains why PM Modi makes it a point to address the diaspora in almost every country he visits. It was rather ironic that in a country where Muslims have been stereotyped and vilified in the most crass ways possible in popular films and TV series without much objection from any quarter, Indians suddenly became hypersensitive about the depiction of Hindus as alleged terrorists. Moreover, it is a matter of fact that several rightwing Hindutva terrorists, some of whom were members of the RSS at the time of the crime, have been prosecuted in the Ajmer blast case, and are also accused in several other terror cases, including the Samjhauta Express bombing, the Malegaon blast, et al (though some have been acquitted in the Mecca Masjid blast case). After the uproar, both ABC and Chopra issued mea culpa. Im extremely saddened and sorry that some sentiments have been hurt by a recent episode of Quantico. That was not and would never be my intention. I sincerely apologise. I'm a proud Indian and that will never change. PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) June 9, 2018 The Kochhar controversy Kochhars tweet that has since got flak from different quarters was in response to this tweet of Chopra. Many soon pointed to not only his bigotry, but also the factual error in the tweet. Former journalist and art curator Irena Akbar highlighted the irony that he does business in the deserts of Arabia where Islam emerged 1450 years ago, urging people to report him to Dubai police to shut his restaurant in the land of whom he calls terrorists. Writer and human rights activist Iyad el-Baghdadi joked that an Indian could have got the dates wrong since Hindus invented arithmetic. "Hindus were terrorized by Islam over 2000 years". Dude, Islam is only 1500 years old, and the Muslim Ghaznavids only invaded India in the 11th century. I mean, I thought Hindus invented arithmetic? https://t.co/CCuKFQoePq Iyad el-Baghdadi | (@iyad_elbaghdadi) June 11, 2018 Independent journalist Rana Ayyub had also pointed to the normalisation of hate which is letting this celebrity chef get away with using such vile, provocative language against a community. Kochhar runs several restaurants in the United Kingdom, Madrid and had one in Dubais JW Marriott too. He has since deleted the tweet, noting that there is no justification for my tweet, a major error made in the heat of the moment on Sunday. I fully recognise my inaccuracies that Islam was founded around 1,400 years ago and I sincerely apologise. I am not Islamophobic, I deeply regret my comments that have offended many. There is no justification for my tweet, a major error made in the heat of the moment on Sunday. I fully recognise my inaccuracies that Islam was founded around 1,400 years ago and I sincerely apologise. I am not Islamophobic, I deeply regret my comments that have offended many. Atul Kochhar (@atulkochhar) June 11, 2018 Kochhar later issued a more detailed statement to apologise unreservedly to my Muslim friends, the Islamic community and everyone he had offended. His contract with the award-winning restaurant has now been terminated after many people brought his bigoted tweet to the notice of the famous hotel chain, and also filed complaints with the Dubai Police. The hotel wrote in a statement: At the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai we pride ourselves on creating a culture of diversity and inclusion for our guests and associates across the hotel and our restaurants. We also remain committed to delivering the traditional culinary experience and high service standards that Rang Mahal is renowned for. Kochhar has, meanwhile, told the media that termination is deeply upsetting but he has accepted the hotels decision with great pain, adding that his friends and well-wishers in Dubai will forgive him and continue to support him. Not the first time Some Indian TV channels have already lapped up the issue, asking if he was targeted because he is an Indian (he is now a UK citizen) for a very legitimate tweet that questioned the Islamic terror that many do not want to openly talk about. These channels are further claiming that India has long been a victim of Islamist terror. What is important to highlight here is that although Kochhar has no qualms offering beef and other non-vegetarian dishes in his restaurants, neither is this the first time that he expressed his prejudices on the microblogging site nor is he the only one. For NRIs, the Modi magic never ends. Photo: Reuters He had earlier termed the reservation policy of India the single largest obstacle before the growth of the country, mocked Rohingya refugees in India while celebrating the World Refugee Day with a special menu in England, and objected to The Telegraph putting Indian Muslims on the front page. More importantly, his tweet is just another instance of the hatred spread on social media by Indian expatriates. What is surprising is that despite earning a living in Muslim-majority MENA countries, many of them carry visceral hatred for Islam and Muslims due to their prejudice and the vilification of Indian Muslims who they grow up with. They imbibe the hatred from a very young age. In April 2017, Alpha Paint, a Sharjah-based company, had fired an employee who hailed from Kerala after receiving complaints that he had abused journalist Rana Ayyub on Twitter. Only last week, Abu Dhabi-based Target Engineering terminated the contract of a worker for uploading a video in which he threatened to kill Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and rape his family members. The company had said, The action was taken in keeping with our company policy which has zero-tolerance for such behaviour. India tops the list of countries that receive remittances from abroad it earned nearly 65 billion USD in 2017, according to some estimates. The bulk of such remittances comes from gulf countries. About 8.9 million Indian migrants live and work in the middle-eastern gulf that is more than half of the total 16.59 million expatriates. The UAE has the largest number of Indian migrants at 3.31 million, followed by Saudi Arabia that hosts 2.27 million from the country. A substantial number also make up the population in Oman (1.2 million), Kuwait (1.16 million), and Qatar (6,91,000). Most of them are engaged in blue-collar jobs, but many Indians have made it big and are successful businesspeople in the countries. The Right tilt For decades, those from the Indian diaspora have acted as torchbearers of liberalism and presented themselves as champions of liberty and freedom. However, increasingly, there appears to be a role reversal and these are troubling signs. The influence of the Congress considered more centrist has dwindled over the years. The Overseas Friends of the BJP, the official international arm of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has simultaneously risen. The rightwing Hindutva brigades footprint has steadily grown abroad among the Indian diaspora. The parent organisation of the BJP, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), is reported to have spread its shakhas in more than 39 countries. The Non Residential Indians (NRI), as Indian expats are called in India, have become a major source of funding for political parties in the subcontinent. In its initial days, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) too had tried to tap into their potential but the BJP has gradually hijacked its agenda as Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains the singlemost popular leader for the diaspora. Many of them are also part of what is known as the social media troll army of political parties, most importantly of the BJP. The saffron party has smartly used them in moulding public opinion abroad as well as back home, although most of them are not directly associated with the election process. That explains why PM Modi makes it a point to address the diaspora in almost every country he visits. It is for this reason that Rahul Gandhi sought to revive his political fortunes by attempting to connect with the diaspora. Deep-seated prejudices against Muslims among educated Indians, including those living in gulf countries, is the manifestation of the very problematic national identity that Indian intelligentsia has pedalled for long, and was lapped up by political parties. Exposing them by using legitimate means can be a good way to challenge them, but unless political narratives vis-a-vis Muslims change, it will have little impact on the ground. Also read: Can non-resident Indians please shut up? True to a prediction made on Friday, May 18th, the final day of the CPEA written examination, by Grade 6 teacher of the Kingstown Preparatory School, Mrs. Suzette Hoyte-Holder, eleven-year-old Christian Gieowarsingh took the top spot in the exam from a field of 1,846 students. He placed 1st for boys and 1st overall. For the written segment, he achieved scores of: Math 68/75; Language 70/75; Science 74/75; and Social Studies 63/75. Mrs. Hoyte-Holder explained that she had first taught Christian at Grade Four and, even then, he produced excellent work. "His work was brilliant. He always did extra work. . Additionally, he would challenge his teachers, so we had no choice as teachers but to push and to work along with him. The Indian Bay resident sat with THE VINCENTIAN last Monday and was almost matter-of-fact in his responses. He shot down those who complained that the SBAs were challenging, by saying that he did not find that to be true, and that they served a purpose, i.e. , "They were preparing me for the future, teaching me how to work with people and giving me necessary information! Christian admitted, however, that the book reports took too long to complete, as they required reading an entire book then writing the report. As for two days of written tests, he believed that there should be one day instead with a combined Science and Social Studies paper, making it three papers instead of four. Christian is the son of Ian and Bronte Gieowarsingh, and his mom was on hand to express her pride in her sons accomplishment. "It was a lot of work, she said, "but he was up for the challenge! The future St. Vincent Grammar School student was ready to do "great things at the school. "I plan to get into Young Leaders, and also to speak to the Principal about the chess club and try to revive it, he announced with conviction. With his love for Science and two cardiologists in his family, he desires to take this number to three, and was adamant that he had made his final choice of career. William Lyon Homes (NYSE:WLH) announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November, 6th. The construction company reported $0.37 EPS for the quarter, beating the Thomson Reuters' consensus estimate of $0.30 by $0.07. The construction company had revenue of $466.90 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $487.15 million. William Lyon Homes had a net margin of 3.04% and a trailing twelve-month return on equity of 6.98%. The firm's revenue was down 12.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.68 earnings per share. View William Lyon Homes' earnings history. Versum Materials, Inc. develops, manufactures, transports, and handles specialty materials for the semiconductor and display industries in the United States, Taiwan, South Korea, China, Europe, and rest of Asia. The company operates through two segments, Materials, and Delivery Systems and Services (DS&S). The Materials segment provides specialty chemicals and materials used in semiconductors, as well as specialty gases used in the semiconductor manufacturing process, including high purity process materials for deposition, metallization, chamber cleaning, and etching; chemicals mechanical planarization slurries; organosilanes; organometallics and liquid dopants for thin film deposition; and formulated chemical products for post-etch cleaning primarily for the manufacture of silicon and compound semiconductors, and thin film transistor liquid crystal displays. The DS&S segment develops, designs, manufactures, and sells bulk gas, specialty gas, and specialty chemical cabinets and systems, which are used to manage the delivery of key materials into the semiconductor manufacturing process; and flow and temperature control systems and analytical systems to capture data. It is also involved in the project management for installation and startup of the gas and chemical delivery systems, and inventory management; and provision of spare parts, equipment upgrades, equipment maintenance, and training services. In addition, this segment offers on-site services to assist customers in managing the inventory of gases and chemicals comprising ordering, product changes and monitoring, quality assurance, operation of delivery systems, and managing the bulk gas and specialty gas operations. Versum Materials, Inc. was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona. Read More IMI plc, a specialist engineering company, designs, manufactures, and services engineered products worldwide. The company operates through three divisions: IMI Precision Engineering, IMI Critical Engineering, and IMI Hydronic Engineering. The IMI Precision Engineering division develops motion and fluid control technologies for industrial automation, commercial vehicle, life sciences, energy, and rail applications. This division offers actuators, air preparation products, pressure switches, and fittings; pneumatic, hydraulic, electric, and vacuum motion solutions; solenoid valves, angle-seat valves, motorized valves, NAMUR valves, and systems for dust filters; miniature fluid control solutions; precise and accurate syringes, syringe pumps, and rotary valves; and high-pressure control valves, nuclear valves, and pressure transmitters, as well as hydraulic solutions. It provides its products under the Norgren, Bimba, Buschjost, FAS, Herion, Kloehn, Maxseal, and Thompson Valves brands. The IMI Critical Engineering division offers flow control solutions, such as specialized valves and actuators to the fossil power, oil and gas, petrochemical, nuclear, marine, and pharmaceutical markets under the IMI Bopp & Reuther, IMI CCI, IMI Fluid Kinetics, IMI InterAtiva, IMI NH, IMI Orton, IMI PBM, IMI Remosa, IMI STI, IMI TH Jansen, IMI Truflo Marine, IMI Truflo Rona, IMI Truflo Italy IMI Z&J, and IMI Zikesch brands. The IMI Hydronic Engineering division provides products for hydronic distribution systems, which deliver heating and cooling systems to the residential and commercial building sectors. This segment offers balancing and control solutions, thermostatic control and pressurization systems, dirt and air separators, and pressure step degassers under the IMI Pneumatex, IMI TA, IMI Flow Design, IMI Heimeier, and IMI Aero-Dynamiek brands. The company was founded in 1862 and is headquartered in Birmingham, the United Kingdom. Read More Direct Line Insurance Group plc provides general insurance products and services in the United Kingdom. It operates through Motor, Home, Rescue and Other Personal Lines, and Commercial segments. The company offers motor, home, rescue, travel, creditor, and pet insurance products, as well as insurance for mid-to-high-net worth customers; and commercial insurance for small and medium-sized enterprises. It also provides management, motor vehicle repair, insurance intermediary, support and operational, legal, and breakdown recovery services. The company sells its insurance products directly through price comparison Websites and phone, as well as through partners and brokers under the Direct Line, Churchill, Green Flag, Direct Line for Business, DLG Partnerships, NIG, Privilege, Shotgun, DLG Legal Services, Darwin, and DLG Auto Services brands. The company was formerly known as RBS Insurance Group Limited and changed its name to Direct Line Insurance Group plc in February 2012. Direct Line Insurance Group plc was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Bromley, the United Kingdom. Read More Gildan Activewear Inc. manufactures and sells various apparel products in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It provides various activewear products, including T-shirts, fleece tops and bottoms, and sport shirts under the Gildan, Gildan Performance, Gildan Hammer, Comfort Colors, American Apparel, Anvil by Gildan, Alstyle, Prim + Preux, and GoldToe brands. The company also offers hosiery products comprising athletic; dress; and casual, liner, therapeutic, and workwear socks, as well as sheer panty hoses, tights, and leggings under the brands of Gildan, Under Armour, GoldToe, PowerSox, GT a GoldToe Brand, Silver Toe, Signature Gold by Goldtoe, Peds, MediPeds, Kushyfoot, Therapy Plus, All Pro, Secret, Silks, Secret Silky, and American Apparel. In addition, it provides men's and boys' underwear products, and ladies panties under the Gildan and Gildan Platinum brand names; and ladies' shapewear, intimates, and accessories under the Secret and Secret Silky brands. The company sells its products to wholesale distributors, screen printers, or embellishers, as well as to retailers and consumer brand companies. The company was formerly known as Textiles Gildan Inc. and changed its name to Gildan Activewear Inc. in March 1995. Gildan Activewear Inc. was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Read More Vivint Solar, Inc. provides distributed solar energy primarily to residential customers in the United States. It owns and installs solar energy systems through long-term customer contracts. The company also sells photovoltaic installation products, as well as solar renewable energy certificates. As of December 31, 2019, it had an aggregate capacity of 1,294.0 megawatts covering approximately 188,300 homes. The company was formerly known as V Solar Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to Vivint Solar, Inc. in April 2014. Vivint Solar, Inc. was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Lehi, Utah. Read More Manulife Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in Asia, Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Wealth and Asset Management Businesses; Insurance and Annuity Products; And Corporate and Other segments. The Wealth and Asset Management Businesses segment provides mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, group retirement and savings products, and institutional asset management services through agents and brokers affiliated with the company, securities brokerage firms, and financial advisors pension plan consultants and banks. The Insurance and Annuity Products segment offers deposit and credit products; individual life, and individual and group long-term care insurance; and guaranteed and partially guaranteed annuity products through insurance agents, brokers, banks, financial planners, and direct marketing. The Corporate and Other segment is involved in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance businesses; and run-off reinsurance operations, including variable annuities, and accident and health. It also manages timberland and agricultural portfolios; and engages in insurance agency, portfolio and mutual fund management, mutual fund dealer, life and financial reinsurance, and fund management businesses. Additionally, the company holds and manages oil and gas properties; holds oil and gas royalties, and foreign bonds and equities; and provides investment management, counseling, advisory, and dealer services. Manulife Financial Corporation was incorporated in 1887 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. engages in the exploration, development, and recovery of minerals and precious metals located primarily in Africa. It explores for platinum, palladium, nickel, copper, gold, rhodium, zinc, silver, germanium, and lead deposits. The company's projects include the Platreef project located in the Northern Limb of South Africa's Bushveld Complex; the Kipushi project located in Haut-Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of Congo; and the Kamoa-Kakula project located within the Central African Copperbelt. It also holds a 100% interest in the Western Foreland exploration project covering an area of approximately 2,550 square kilometers located in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It has a strategic partnership agreement with China Nonferrous Metal Mining (Group) Co., Ltd. to examine exploration, development, and acquisition of mineral projects, as well as production, smelting, and logistics opportunities in Africa. The company was formerly known as Ivanplats Limited and changed its name to Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. in August 2013. Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. was incorporated in 1993 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Read More Sanchez Energy Corporation, an independent exploration and production company, focuses on the acquisition and development of U.S. onshore unconventional oil and natural gas resources. It engages in the horizontal development of resources from the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas. It also holds an undeveloped acreage position in the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale (TMS) in Mississippi and Louisiana. As of December 31, 2017, the company had assembled approximately 285,000 net acres in the Eagle Ford Shale; and owned approximately 37,000 net acres in the TMS. Sanchez Energy Corporation was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Read More Hutcher Butes relative fear that there are persons who want to shut him up. A man who came to the assistance of a fellow villager after that villager, was shot multiple times, is now nursing gunshot injuries. Almost two weeks after Hutcher Bute came to the assistance of Kenette Jessie Bess who was shot multiple times about his body by two gunmen at his business place (Ital shop) in Hollywood, Redemption Sharpes, Bute was warded at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital nursing gunshot injuries he received last Tuesday. THE VINCENTIAN understands that gunmen (no number given), last Tuesday, entered a house belonging to Butes relatives and where he was staying, and opened fire, hitting him about his body, including his neck. There were, the report said, two distinct periods of gunfire. Bute was rushed to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital where he was treated and warded. He is said to be in stable condition. One of Butes close relatives, who requested anonymity, told THE VINCENTIAN that the family and persons in the area suspect the gunmen who targeted Bute were the same gunmen who attempted to take Bess life. "They feel that Hutcher know who try to kill Jessie so they trying to kill him, said the relative. Up to press time, Bute was awaiting a CT scan to ensure that his injuries were not life-threatening. Bess, on the other hand, remained in intensive care. Police are said to be investigating Butes shooting, but relatives and residents of the area say that they are not holding out much hope for anything fruitful to come out of that. (KH) Victoria Gold Corp. engages in the acquisition, evaluation, and exploration of mineral properties in Canada and the United States. The company primarily explores for gold deposits. Its principal property is 100% owned Dublin Gulch property, which hosts the Eagle Gold deposit covering an area of approximately 555 square kilometers located in central Yukon, Canada. The company was formerly known as Victoria Resource Corporation and changed its name to Victoria Gold Corp. in July 2008. Victoria Gold Corp. was founded in 1981 and is based in Toronto, Canada. Read More Cenovus Energy Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas in Canada, the United States and the Asia Pacific region. The company operates through Oil Sands, Conventional, and Refining and Marketing segments. The Oil Sands segment develops and produces bitumen in northeast Alberta. Its bitumen assets include Foster Creek, Christina Lake, and Narrows Lake, as well as other projects in the early stages of development. The Conventional segment holds assets primarily located in Elmworth-Wapiti, Kaybob-Edson, and Clearwater operating areas of British Columbia and Alberta, as well as various interests in natural gas processing facilities. The Refining and Marketing segment transports and sells crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs. This segment owns a 50% ownership in Wood River and Borger refineries located in the United States; and owns and operates a crude-by-rail terminal in Alberta. Cenovus Energy Inc. was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of BP: 200 PS Overseas Holdings Inc., 563916 Alberta Ltd., ACP (Malaysia) Inc., AE Cedar Creek Holdings LLC, AE Goshen II Holdings LLC, AE Goshen II Wind Farm LLC, AE Power Services LLC, AE Wind PartsCo LLC, AM/PM International Inc., ARCO, ARCO British International, ARCO British Limited, ARCO Coal Australia Inc., ARCO El-Djazair Holdings Inc., ARCO Environmental Remediation L.L.C., ARCO Exploration Inc., ARCO Gaviota Company, ARCO International Investments Inc., ARCO International Services Inc., ARCO Midcon LLC, ARCO Oil Company Nigeria Unlimited, ARCO Oman Inc, ARCO Resources Limited, ARCO Trinidad Exploration and Production Company Limited, ARCO Unimar Holdings LLC, Actomat B.V., Advance Petroleum Holdings Pty Ltd, Advance Petroleum Pty Ltd, Air BP Albania SHA, Air BP Brasil Ltda., Air BP Canada LLC, Air BP Croatia d.o.o., Air BP Finland Oy, Air BP Iceland, Air BP Limited, Air BP Norway AS, Air BP Sales Romania S.R.L., Air BP Sweden AB, Air Refuel Pty Ltd, Allgreen Pty Ltd, AmProp Finance Company, American Oil Company, Amoco (Fiddich) Limited, Amoco (U.K.) Exploration Company LLC., Amoco Bolivia Petroleum Company, Amoco Bolivia Services Company Inc., Amoco Canada International Holdings B.V., Amoco Capline Pipeline Company, Amoco Chemical (Europe) S.A., Amoco Chemicals (FSC) B.V., Amoco Cypress Pipeline Company, Amoco Destin Pipeline Company, Amoco Environmental Services Company, Amoco Exploration Holdings B.V., Amoco Guatemala Petroleum Company, Amoco International Finance Corporation, Amoco International Petroleum Company, Amoco Leasing Corporation, Amoco Louisiana Fractionator Company, Amoco MB Fractionation Company, Amoco MBF Company, Amoco Main Pass Gathering Company, Amoco Marketing Environmental Services Company, Amoco Netherlands Petroleum Company, Amoco Nigeria Exploration Company Limited, Amoco Nigeria Oil Company Limited, Amoco Nigeria Petroleum Company, Amoco Nigeria Petroleum Company Limited, Amoco Norway Oil Company, Amoco Oil Holding Company, Amoco Olefins Corporation, Amoco Overseas Exploration Company, Amoco Pipeline Asset Company, Amoco Pipeline Holding Company, Amoco Properties Incorporated, Amoco Remediation Management Services Corporation, Amoco Research Operating Company, Amoco Rio Grande Pipeline Company, Amoco Somalia Petroleum Company, Amoco Sulfur Recovery Company, Amoco Tri-States NGL Pipeline Company, Amoco Trinidad Gas B.V., Amoco U.K. Petroleum Limited, Amprop Illinois I Limited, Amprop Inc., Anaconda Arizona Inc., Arabian Production And Marketing Lubricants, Aral Aktiengesellschaft, Aral Luxembourg S.A., Aral Services Luxembourg Sarl, Aral Tankstellen Services Sarl, Arco Mediterraneo Inversiones S.L., Areas Noriega S.L., Areas Singulares Reyes S.L., Aspac Lubricants (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Atlantic 2/3 UK Holdings Limited, Atlantic Richfield Company, Atlantic Richfield Companyd, Autino Holdings Limited, Autino Limited, Auwahi Wind Energy Holdings LLC, B2Mobility GmbH, BASS Management Pty Ltd, BP (Abu Dhabi) Limited, BP (Barbados) Holding SRL, BP (Barbican) Limited, BP (China) Holdings Limited, BP (China) Industrial Lubricants Limited, BP (GTA Mauritania) Finance Limited, BP (GTA Senegal) Finance Limited, BP (Gibraltar) Limited, BP (Guangzhou) Advanced Mobility Limited, BP (Hunan) Petroleum Company Limited, BP (Indian Agencies) Limited, BP (Shandong) Petroleum Co. Ltd, BP (Shanghai) Trading Limited, BP - Castrol (Thailand) Limited, BP AMI Leasing Inc., BP Absheron Limited, BP Advanced Mobility Limited, BP Africa Limited, BP Africa Oil Limited, BP Akaryakit Ortakligi, BP Alaska LNG LLC, BP Alternative Energy Holdings Limited, BP Alternative Energy Investments Limited, BP Alternative Energy North America Inc., BP Alternative Energy Trinidad and Tobago Limited, BP America Chembel Holding LLC, BP America Chemicals Company, BP America Foreign Investments Inc., BP America Inc, BP America Inc., BP America Limited, BP America Production Company, BP Amoco Chemical Company, BP Amoco Chemical Holding Company, BP Amoco Chemical Indonesia Limited, BP Amoco Chemical Malaysia Holding Company, BP Amoco Exploration (Faroes) Limited, BP Amoco Exploration (In Amenas) Limited, BP Andaman II Ltd, BP Angola (Block 18) B.V., BP Argentina Exploration Company, BP Argentina Holdings LLC, BP Aromatics Holdings Limited, BP Aromatics Limited, BP Asia Limited, BP Asia Pacific (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., BP Asia Pacific Holdings Limited, BP Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, BP Australia Capital Markets Limited, BP Australia Employee Share Plan Proprietary Limited, BP Australia Group Pty Ltde, BP Australia Investments Pty Ltd, BP Australia Nominees Proprietary Limited, BP Australia Pty Ltd, BP Australia Shipping Pty Ltd, BP Australia Swaps Management Limited, BP Aviation A/S, BP Benevolent Fund Trustees Limited, BP Berau Ltd., BP Biocombustiveis S.A., BP Bioenergia Campina Verde Ltda., BP Bioenergia Ituiutaba Ltda., BP Bioenergia Itumbiara S.A., BP Bioenergia Tropical S.A., BP Biofuels Advanced Technology Inc., BP Biofuels Brazil Investments Limited, BP Biofuels Louisiana LLC, BP Biofuels North America LLC, BP Biofuels Trading Comercio Exportacao Ltda., BP Bomberai Ltd., BP Brasil Ltda., BP Brazil Tracking L.L.C., BP Bulwer Island Pty Ltd, BP Business Service Centre Asia Sdn Bhd, BP Business Service Centre KFT, BP CIV Pty Ltd, BP Canada Energy Development Company, BP Canada Energy Group ULC, BP Canada Energy Marketing Corp., BP Canada International Holdings B.V., BP Canada Investments Inc., BP Capellen Sarl, BP Capital Markets, BP Capital Markets America, BP Capital Markets America Inc., BP Capital Markets p.l.c., BP Car Fleet Limited, BP Caribbean Company, BP Castrol KK, BP Castrol Lubricants (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., BP Central Pipelines LLC, BP Chembel, BP Chemicals (Korea) Limited, BP Chemicals East China Investments Limited, BP Chemicals Investments Limited, BP Chemicals Limited, BP China Exploration and Production Company, BP Comercializadora de Energia Ltda., BP Commodities Trading Limited, BP Commodity Supply B.V., BP Company North America, BP Company North America Inc., BP Containment Response Limited, BP Containment Response System Holdings LLC, BP Continental Holdings Limited, BP Corporate Holdings, BP Corporate Holdings Limited, BP Corporation North America, BP Corporation North America Inc., BP D-B Pipeline Company LLC, BP D230 Limited, BP Danmark A/S, BP Developments Australia Pty. Ltd., BP Dogal Gaz Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, BP East Kalimantan CBM Limited, BP Eastern Mediterranean Limited, BP Egypt Company, BP Egypt East Delta Marine Corporation, BP Egypt East Tanka B.V., BP Egypt Production B.V., BP Egypt Ras El Barr B.V., BP Egypt West Mediterranean (Block B) B.V., BP Energy Asia Pte. Limited, BP Energy Colombia Limited, BP Energy Company, BP Energy Europe Limited, BP Energy Solutions B.V., BP Energy do Brasil Ltda., BP Energia Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., BP Espana S.A. Unipersonal, BP Estaciones y Servicios Energeticos Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, BP Europa SE, BP Exploracion de Venezuela S.A., BP Exploration & Production Inc., BP Exploration (Absheron) Limited, BP Exploration (Alaska), BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc., BP Exploration (Algeria) Limited, BP Exploration (Alpha), BP Exploration (Alpha) Limited, BP Exploration (Angola), BP Exploration (Angola) Limited, BP Exploration (Azerbaijan), BP Exploration (Azerbaijan) Limited, BP Exploration (Canada) Limited, BP Exploration (Caspian Sea), BP Exploration (Caspian Sea) Limited, BP Exploration (D230) Limited, BP Exploration (Delta), BP Exploration (Delta) Limited, BP Exploration (El Djazair) Limited, BP Exploration (Epsilon) Limited, BP Exploration (Gambia) Limited, BP Exploration (Greenland) Limited, BP Exploration (Madagascar) Limited, BP Exploration (Morocco) Limited, BP Exploration (Namibia) Limited, BP Exploration (Nigeria Finance) Limited, BP Exploration (Nigeria) Limited, BP Exploration (Psi) Limited, BP Exploration (STP) Limited, BP Exploration (Shafag-Asiman) Limited, BP Exploration (Shah Deniz) Limited, BP Exploration (South Atlantic) Limited, BP Exploration (Xazar) Pte. Ltd., BP Exploration Angola (Kwanza Benguela) Limited, BP Exploration Argentina Limited, BP Exploration Australia Pty Ltd Level 15, BP Exploration Beta Limited, BP Exploration China Limited, BP Exploration Company (Middle East) Limited, BP Exploration Company Limited, BP Exploration Indonesia Limited, BP Exploration Libya Limited, BP Exploration Mexico Limited, BP Exploration Mexico S.A. De C.V., BP Exploration North Africa Limited, BP Exploration Operating Company, BP Exploration Operating Company Limited, BP Exploration Orinoco Limited, BP Exploration Personnel Company Limited, BP Exploration Peru Limited, BP Express Shopping Limited, BP Finance Australia Pty Ltd, BP Finance p.l.c., BP Foundation Incorporated, BP France, BP Fuels & Lubricants AS, BP Fuels Deutschland GmbH, BP GOM Logistics LLC, BP Gas & Power Investments Limited, BP Gas Europe S.A.U., BP Gas Marketing Limited, BP Gas Supply (Angola) LLC, BP Ghana Limited, BP Global Investments, BP Global Investments Limited, BP Global Investments Salalah & Co LLC, BP Global West Africa Limited, BP Greece Limited, BP Guangdong Limited, BP High Density Polyethylene - France, BP Holdings (Thailand) Limited, BP Holdings B.V., BP Holdings Canada, BP Holdings Canada Limited, BP Holdings International B.V., BP Holdings North America, BP Holdings North America Limited, BP Hong Kong Limited, BP India Private Limited, BP Indonesia Investment Limited, BP International, BP International Limited, BP International Services Company, BP Investment Management Limited, BP Investments Asia Limited, BP Iran Limited, BP Iraq N.V., BP Italia SpA, BP Japan K.K., BP Korea Limited, BP Kuwait Limited, BP LNG Shipping Limited, BP Latin America LLC, BP Latin America Upstream Services Inc., BP Lubricants KK, BP Lubricants USA Inc., BP Luxembourg S.A., BP Malaysia Holdings Sdn. Bhd., BP Management International B.V., BP Management Netherlands B.V., BP Marine Limited, BP Mariner Holding Company LLC, BP Maritime Services (Singapore) Pte. Limited, BP Marketing Egypt LLC, BP Mauritania Investments Limited, BP Mauritius Limited (in liquidation), BP Middle East Enterprises Corporation, BP Middle East LLC, BP Middle East Limited, BP Midstream Partners GP LLC, BP Midstream Partners Holdings LLC, BP Midstream Partners LP, BP Midwest Product Pipelines Holdings LLC, BP Mocambique Limitada, BP Mocambique Limited, BP Muturi Holdings B.V., BP Nederland Holdings BV, BP Netherlands Upstream B.V., BP New Ventures Middle East Limited, BP New Zealand Holdings Limited, BP New Zealand Share Scheme Limited, BP Nutrition Inc., BP Offshore Gathering Systems Inc., BP Offshore Pipelines Company LLC, BP Offshore Response Company LLC, BP Oil (Thailand) Limited, BP Oil Australia Pty Ltd, BP Oil Espana S.A., BP Oil Hellenic S.A., BP Oil International, BP Oil International Limited, BP Oil Kent Refinery Limited (in liquidation), BP Oil Llandarcy Refinery Limited, BP Oil Logistics UK Limited, BP Oil New Zealand Limited, BP Oil Pipeline Company, BP Oil Senegal S.A., BP Oil Shipping Company, BP Oil UK Limited, BP Oil Venezuela Limited, BP Oil Vietnam Limited, BP Oil Yemen Limited, BP Olex Fanal Mineralol GmbH, BP One Pipeline Company LLC, BP Pacific Investments Ltd, BP Pakistan (Badin) Inc., BP Pakistan Exploration and Production Inc., BP Pension Escrow Limited, BP Pension Trustees Limited, BP Pensions (Overseas) Limited, BP Pensions Limited, BP Petrochemicals India Investments Limited, BP Petroleo y Gas S.A., BP Petrolleri Anonim Sirketi, BP Pipelines (Alaska) Inc., BP Pipelines (BTC) Limited, BP Pipelines (North America) Inc., BP Pipelines (SCP) Limited, BP Pipelines (TANAP) Limited, BP Pipelines TAP Limited, BP Polska Services Sp. z o.o. Ul., BP Portugal -Comercio de Combustiveis e Lubrificantes SA, BP Poseidon Limited, BP Products North America, BP Products North America Inc., BP Properties Limited, BP Raffinaderij Rotterdam B.V., BP Refinery (Kwinana) Proprietary Limited, BP Regional Australasia Holdings Pty Ltd, BP River Rouge Pipeline Company LLC, BP Russian Investments Limited, BP Russian Ventures Limited, BP SC Holdings LLC, BP Scale Up Factory Limited, BP Senegal Investments Limited, BP Services International Limited, BP Servicios de Combustibles S.A. de C.V., BP Servicios territoriales S.A., BP Shafag-Asiman Limited, BP Shipping Limited, BP Singapore Pte. Limited, BP Solar Energy North America LLC, BP Solar Espana S.A., BP Solar International Inc., BP Solar Pty Ltd, BP South America Holdings Ltd, BP Southern Africa Proprietary Limited, BP Southern Cone Company, BP Subsea Well Response (Brazil) Limited, BP Subsea Well Response Limited, BP Taiwan Marketing Limited, BP Technology Ventures Inc., BP Technology Ventures Limited, BP Train 2/3 Holding SRL, BP Transportation (Alaska) Inc., BP Trinidad Processing Limited, BP Trinidad and Tobago, BP Trinidad and Tobago LLC, BP Turkey Refining Limited, BP Two Pipeline Company LLC, BP UK Retained Holdings Limited, BP Venezuela Investments B.V., BP West Aru I Limited, BP West Aru II Limited, BP West Papua I Limited, BP West Papua III Limited, BP Wind Energy North America Inc., BP Wiriagar Ltd., BP World-Wide Technical Services Limited, BP Zhuhai Chemical Company Limited, BP+Amoco International Limited, BP-AIOC Exploration (TISA) LLC, BPA Investment Holding Company, BPNE International B.V., BPRY Caribbean Ventures LLC, BPX (Eagle Ford) Gathering LLC, BPX (KCS Resources) LLC, BPX (Karnes) Gathering LLC, BPX (Permian) Gathering LLC, BPX (WSF Operating) Inc., BPX Energy Inc., BPX Midstream LLC, BPX Operating Company, BPX Production Company, BPX Properties (GP) LLC, BPX Properties (LP) LLC, BPX Properties (NA) LP, BTC Pipeline Holding Company Limited, BXL Plastics Limitedv, Bahia de Bizkaia Electridad S.L., Baltimore Ennis Land Company Inc., Black Lake Pipe Line Company, Brian Jasper Nominees Pty Ltd, Britannic Energy Trading Limited, Britannic Investments Iraq Limited, Britannic Marketing Limited, Britannic Strategies Limited, Britannic Trading Limited, Britoil Limited, Burmah Castrol, Burmah Castrol Australia Pty Ltd, Burmah Castrol Holdings Inc., Burmah Castrol PLC, Burmah Castrol South Africa (Pty) Limited, Burmah Chile SpA, Butamax Advanced Biofuels, CASTROL Austria GmbHb, CH-Twenty Inc., CNAA, Cadman DBP Limited, Casitas Pipeline Company, Castrol (China) Limited, Castrol (Ireland) Limited, Castrol (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., Castrol (Shenzhen) Company Limited, Castrol (Tianjin) Lubricants Co. Ltd., Castrol (U.K.) Limited, Castrol Australia Pty. Limited, Castrol B.V., Castrol BP Petco Limited Liability Company, Castrol Brasil Ltda., Castrol Caribbean & Central America Inc., Castrol Colombia Ltda., Castrol Del Peru S.A., Castrol Egypt Lubricants S.A.E., Castrol India Limited, Castrol Industrie und Service GmbH, Castrol KK, Castrol Limited, Castrol Lubricants RO S.R.L, Castrol Mexico S.A., Castrol Namibia (Pty) Limited, Castrol Offshore Limited, Castrol Pakistan (Private) Limited, Castrol Philippines Inc., Castrol Servicos Ltda., Castrol Ukraine LLC, Castrol Zimbabwe (Private) Limited, Centrel Pty Ltd, Charge Your Car Limitedc, Chargemaster, Chargemaster (Europe) GmbH, Chargemaster Limited, Charging Solutions Limited, Clarisse Holdings Pty Ltd, Coastwise Trading Company Inc., Consolidada de Energia y Lubricantes (CENERLUB) C.A., Conti Cross Keys Inn Inc., Coro Trading NZ Limited, Cuyama Pipeline Company, DHC Solvent Chemie GmbH, Dermody Developments Pty Ltd, Dermody Holdings Pty Ltd, Dermody Investments Pty Ltd, Dermody Petroleum Pty. Ltd., Dome Beaufort Petroleum Limited, Dome Wallis (1980) Limited Partnership, ECM Markets SA (Pty) Ltd, Elektromotive Limited, Elite Customer Solutions Pty Ltd, Elm Holdings Inc., Energy Global Investments (USA) Inc., Enstar LLC, Estacion de Servicio Alto Campoo S.L., Estacion de Servicio Ganzo 10 S.L., Estacion de Servicio Reocin 9 S.L., Estacion de Servicio Santillana II S.L., Estacion de Servicio Sardinero S.L., Estonian Aviation Fuelling Services, Europa Oil NZ Limited, Exomet Inc., Expandite Contract Services Limited, Exploration (Luderitz Basin) Limited, Exploration Service Company Limited, FWK (2017) Limited, FWK Holdings (2017) LTD, Finite Carbon, Flat Ridge 2 Holdings LLC, Flat Ridge Wind Energy LLC, Foseco Holding Inc., Foseco Holding International B.V., Foseco Inc., Fosroc Expandite Limited, Fotech Solutions Ltd, Fowler Ridge Holdings LLC, Fowler Ridge I Land Investments LLC, Fowler Ridge II Holdings LLC, Fowler Ridge III Wind Farm LLC, FreeBees B.V., Fuel & Retail Aviat ion Sweden AB, Fuelplane- Sociedade Abastecedora De Aeronaves Unipessoal Lda, GOAM 1 C.I S. A .S, Gardena Holdings Inc., Gelsenkirchen Raffinerie Netz GmbH, Grampian Aviation Fuelling Services Limited, Guangdong Investments Limited, Highlands Ethanol LLC, Hosteleria Noriega S.L., IGI Resources Inc., Insight Analytics Solutions Holdings Limited, Insight Analytics Solutions Limited, Insight Analytics Solutions USA Inc., International Bunker Supplies Pty Ltd, Iraq Petroleum Company Limited, Jupiter Insurance Limited, Ken-Chas Reserve Company, Kenilworth Oil Company Limited, Kingbook Inversiones Socimi S.A., Latin Energy Argentina S.A., Lebanese Aviation Technical Services S.A.L., Limited Liability Company BP Toplivnaya Kompania, Limited liability company Setra Lubricants, Lubricants UK Limited, Lytt Limited, Manormaker (Nominee No. 1) Limited, Manormaker (Nominee No. 2) Limited, Manormaker GP Limited (99.90%) 11 Black Horse Lane, Mardi Gras Transportation System Company LLC, Markoil S.A., Masana Petroleum Solutions (Pty) Ltd, Mayaro Initiative for Private Enterprise Development, Mehoopany Holdings LLC, Mes Tecnologia En Servicios Y Energia S.A., Minza Pty. Ltd., Mountain City Remediation LLC, No. 1 Riverside Quay Proprietary Limited, Nordic Lubricants A/S, Nordic Lubricants AB, North America Funding Company, OMD87 Inc., OOO BP STL, Omega Oil Company, OnSight Analytics Solutions India Private Ltd., Orion Delaware Mountain Wind Farm LP, Orion Energy Holdings LLC, Orion Energy L.L.C.b, Orion Post Land Investments LLC, Oyambre 1 S.L., PRODUITS METALLURGIE DOITTAU, PT BP Petrochemicals, PT Castrol Indonesia, PT Castrol Manufacturing Indonesia, PT Jasatama Petroindo, Pacroy (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Peaks America Inc., Pearl River Delta Investments Limited, Petrocorner Retail S.L.U., Phoenix Petroleum Services Limited, Pozuelo 4 S.L., Prospect International C.A. (In liquidation), Puente Arce 4 S.L., Remediation Management Services Company, Richfield Oil Corporation, Rio Corvo 2 S.L., Rolling Thunder I Power Partners LLC, Romax Insight Korea Ltd., Ropemaker Deansgate Limited, Ropemaker Properties Limited, Ruhr Oel GmbH, Rusdene GSS Limited, SOFAST Limited, SRHP, Saturn Insurance Inc., Sherbino I Holdings LLC, Sherbino Mesa I Land Investments LLC, Sociedade de Promocao Imobiliaria Quinta do Loureiro SA, Societe de Gestion de Depots d'Hydrocarbures - GDH, South Texas Shale LLC, Southeast Texas Biofuels LLC, Southern Ridge Pipeline Holding Company, Southern Ridge Pipeline LP LLC, Sp/f Decision3 (GreenSteam) Company, Standard Oil Company, Standard Oil Company Inc., Standard Oil of Ohio, Stryde Limited, Sunrise Oil Sands Partnership, TISA Education Complex LLC, TJKK, Taradadis Pty. Ltd., Telcom General Corporation, Terre de Grace Partnership, The Anaconda Company, The BP Share Plans Trustees Limited, The Burmah Oil Company (Pakistan Trading) Limited, The Standard Oil Company, Toledo Refinery Holding Company LLC, Torrelavega 7 S.L., Union Texas International Corporation, Vastar Pipeline LLC, Veba Oel AG Veba Oel, Verenium, Viceroy Investments Limited, Villacarriedo 8 S.L., Warrenville Development Limited, Water Way Trading and Petroleum Services LLC, Welchem Inc., West Kimberley Fuels Pty Ltd, Westlake Houston Development LLC, Whiting Clean Energy Inc., Windpark Energy Nederland B.V., and Winwell Resources L.L.C. 1 Wall Street research analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for Premier Oil in the last year. There are currently 1 hold rating for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street research analysts is that investors should "hold" Premier Oil stock. A hold rating indicates that analysts believe investors should maintain any existing positions they have in PMO, but not buy additional shares or sell existing shares. View analyst ratings for Premier Oil or view top-rated stocks. Attorney-at-law Israel Bruce, the man selected as the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate to contest the South Central Windward (SCW) seat in the next General Elections, says that his primary focus is on providing quality jobs for the people of that constituency. { {more}} And the reason why he has chosen that as top priority is because he knows that the people of that constituency are hardworking and proud, he declared at his partys Convention Rally, held last Sunday at the Greiggs Government School, in the heart of the SCW constituency. "The NDP has led the way in democracy and improving the economic landscape of the constituency, Bruce said at last Sundays rally, dubbed Cut loose with Bruce. He urged the residents of SCW not to be hoodwinked. "I have a love for the people of this constituency, he said, "and once elected, I dont intend to be lazy. . I am not going to play second fiddle, I mean business. He assured those gathered, many from his constituency, that he already has a grip on things, which is causing issues for the ruling party. For example, he said that it was he who suggested that small quantities of marijuana be decriminalized, something which, he alluded to that the Antiguan government has since announced. In addition, he referred to an instance where he wrote to the state-owned electricity company, asking for the placement of street lights. This went ignored until it was picked up by the media, and the situation changed. "Electing me will bring great things to the community, Bruce told the gathering. "I have listened to the plight of the people, he continued, assuring that he is well aware of the farmers suffering due to the lack of proper roads and no markets for their products. He promised that he had a lot more issues to touch on at the appropriate time. BTG plc acquires, develops, manufactures, and commercializes pharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Interventional Medicine, Pharmaceuticals, and Licensing. The Interventional Medicine segment offers interventional oncology products and systems, such as beads and TheraSphere for treatment of liver cancer; and GALIL medical system, a cryoablation technology for use in kidney cancer and other indications. This segment also provides interventional vascular products consisting of EKOS system, an ultrasonic catheter drug delivery device used in the treatment of blood clots; Varithena for the treatment of varicose veins; and PneumRx Coil for the treatment of emphysema, a debilitating lung disease. The Pharmaceuticals segment offers antidote products, such as CroFab for the treatment of crotalid snake envenomations; DigiFab for the treatment of digoxin toxicity; and Voraxaze for high-dose methotrexate toxicity. The Licensing segment provides Zytiga for treatment of prostate cancer; Two-Part Hip Cup; and Lemtrada. The company also manufactures and commercializes therapeutic ultrasound devices, and roxwood systems, as well as develops venous thrombus management devices. The company was formerly known as British Technology Group International plc and changed its name to BTG plc in March 1995. BTG plc was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Bristol-Myers Squibb: 1096271 B.C. ULC, 345 Park LLC, A.G. Medical Services P.A., AHI Investment LLC, AbVitro LLC, Abraxis BioScience Australia Pty Ltd., Abraxis BioScience Inc., Abraxis BioScience International Holding Company Inc., Abraxis BioScience LLC, Abraxis BioScience Puerto Rico LLC, Acetylon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Adnexus, Adnexus a Bristol-Myers Squibb R&D Company, Allard Labs Acquisition G.P., Amira Pharmaceuticals, Amira Pharmaceuticals Inc., Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Apothecon LLC, B-MS Generx Unlimited Company, BMS Benelux Holdings B.V., BMS Bermuda Nominees L.L.C., BMS Data Acquisition Company LLC, BMS Forex Company, BMS Holdings Sarl, BMS Holdings Spain S.L., BMS International Insurance Designated Activity Company, BMS Investco SAS, BMS Korea Holdings L.L.C., BMS Latin American Nominees L.L.C., BMS Luxembourg Partners L.L.C., BMS Omega Bermuda Holdings Finance Ltd., BMS Pharmaceutical Korea Limited, BMS Pharmaceuticals Germany Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals International Holdings Netherlands B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Korea Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Mexico Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Netherlands Holdings B.V., BMS Real Estate LLC, BMS Spain Investments LLC, BMS Strategic Portfolio Investments Holdings Inc., Blisa Acquisition G.P., Bristol (Iran) S.A., Bristol Iran Private Company Limited, Bristol Laboratories Inc., Bristol Laboratories International S.A., Bristol Laboratories Medical Information Systems Inc., Bristol-Myers (Andes) L.L.C., Bristol-Myers (Private) Limited, Bristol-Myers Middle East S.A.L., Bristol-Myers Overseas Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Israel) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (NZ) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Proprietary) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Taiwan) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (West Indies) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb A.E., Bristol-Myers Squibb Aktiebolag, Bristol-Myers Squibb Argentina S. R. L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia Pty. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Axia Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb B.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Belgium S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Business Services Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada International Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Delta Company Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Denmark Filial of Bristol-Myers Squibb AB, Bristol-Myers Squibb EMEA Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Egypt LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Epsilon Holdings Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Ltda., Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Portuguesa S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb GesmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb GmbH & Co. KGaA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holding Germany GmbH & Co. KG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings 2002 Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Germany Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Ireland Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Pharma Ltd. Liability Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Ilaclari Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb India Pvt. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Company Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Investco L.L.C., Bristol-Myers Squibb K.K., Bristol-Myers Squibb Kft., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg International S.C.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb MEA GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Manufacturing Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Marketing Services S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Middle East & Africa FZ-LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Norway Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Nutricionales de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Peru S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (HK) Ltd, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (Thailand) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Holding Company LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Ventures Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Polska Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Products SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico/Sanofi Pharmaceutical Partnership Puerto Rico, Bristol-Myers Squibb Romania S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.A.U., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Holding Partnership, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Service Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Services Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Spol. s r.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Theta Finance Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Trustees Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Colombia S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Costa Rica Sociedad Anonima, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Guatemala S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb/Astrazeneca EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership, Bristol-Myers de Venezuela S.C.A., CHT I LLC, CHT II LLC, CHT III LLC, CHT IV LLC, CR Finance Company LLC, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals Inc., Celem LLC, Celem Ltd., Celgene, Celgene A.B., Celgene AS, Celgene Ab (Finland), Celgene Alpine Investment Co. II LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. III LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. LLC, Celgene ApS, Celgene B.V., Celgene BVBA, Celgene Brasil Produtos Farmaceuticos Ltda., Celgene CAR LLC, Celgene CAR Ltd., Celgene Chemicals Sarl, Celgene China Holdings LLC, Celgene Co., Celgene Corporation, Celgene Distribution B.V., Celgene EngMab GmbH, Celgene Europe B.V., Celgene Europe Limited, Celgene European Investment Company LLC, Celgene Financing Company LLC, Celgene Global Holdings Sarl, Celgene GmbH [Austria], Celgene GmbH [Germany], Celgene GmbH [Switzerland], Celgene Holdings East Corporation, Celgene Holdings II Sarl, Celgene Holdings III Sarl, Celgene Ilac Pazarlama ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Celgene Inc., Celgene International Holdings Corporation, Celgene International II Sarl, Celgene International III Sarl, Celgene International Inc., Celgene International Sarl, Celgene K.K., Celgene Kft., Celgene Limited [Hong Kong], Celgene Limited [Ireland], Celgene Limited [New Zealand], Celgene Limited [Taiwan], Celgene Limited [UK], Celgene Logistics Sarl, Celgene Ltd, Celgene Luxembourg Sarl, Celgene Management Sarl, Celgene NJ Investment Co, Celgene Netherlands B.V., Celgene Netherlands Investment B.V., Celgene Pharmaceutical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Celgene Pte. Ltd., Celgene Pty Ltd, Celgene Puerto Rico Distribution LLC, Celgene Quanticel Research Inc, Celgene R&D Sarl, Celgene RIVOT LLC, Celgene RIVOT Ltd., Celgene RIVOT SRL, Celgene Receptos Limited, Celgene Receptos Sarl, Celgene Research Incubator At Summit West LLC, Celgene Research S.L.U., Celgene Research and Development Company LLC, Celgene Research and Development I ULC, Celgene Research and Development II LLC, Celgene Research and Investment Company II LLC, Celgene S. de R.L. de C.V., Celgene S.L.U., Celgene S.R.L., Celgene SAS, Celgene Sarl AU, Celgene Sdn Bhd, Celgene Services Sarl, Celgene Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Celgene Sp. Z.o.o., Celgene Sro [Czech Republic], Celgene Summit Investment Co, Celgene Switzerland Holding Sarl, Celgene Switzerland II LLC, Celgene Switzerland Investment Sarl, Celgene Switzerland LLC, Celgene Switzerland Sarl, Celgene Tri A Holdings Ltd., Celgene Tri Sarl, Celgene UK Distribution Limited, Celgene UK Holdings Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing II Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing III Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing Limited, Celgene d.o.o., Celgene sro [Slovakia], Celmed LLC, Celmed Ltd., ConvaTec Divestiture, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals AB, Crosp Ltd., Delinia Inc., Deuteria Pharmaceuticals Inc., DuPont Pharmaceuticals, E. R. Squibb & Sons Inter-American Corporation, E. R. Squibb & Sons L.L.C., E. R. Squibb & Sons Limited, EWI Corporation, EngMab Sarl, F-star Alpha, FermaVir Pharmaceuticals L.L.C., FermaVir Research L.L.C., Flexus Biosciences, Flexus Biosciences Inc., Forbius, Galecto Biotech, GenPharm International L.L.C., Gloucester Pharmaceuticals LLC, Grove Insurance Company Ltd., Heyden Farmaceutica Portuguesa Limitada, IFM Therapeutics, Impact Biomedicines Inc., Inhibitex, Inhibitex L.L.C., Innate Tumor Immunity Inc., JuMP Holdings LLC, Juno Therapeutics GmbH, Juno Therapeutics Inc., Kosan Biosciences, Kosan Biosciences Incorporated, Linson Investments Limited, Mead Johnson (Manufacturing) Jamaica Limited, Mead Johnson Jamaica Ltd., Medarex, Morris Avenue Investment II LLC, Morris Avenue Investment LLC, MyoKardia, O.o.o. Bristol-Myers Squibb, Oy Bristol-Myers Squibb (Finland) AB, Padlock Therapeutics, Padlock Therapeutics Inc., Pharmion LLC, Princeton Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Receptos LLC, Receptos Services LLC, RedoxTherapies Inc., Route 22 Real Estate Holding Corporation, SPV A Holdings ULC, Seamair Insurance DAC, Signal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Sino-American Shanghai Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Societe Francaise de Complements Alimentaires(S.O.F.C.A.), Squibb Middle East S.A., Summit West Celgene LLC, Swords Laboratories, VentiRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Westwood-Intrafin SA, Westwood-Squibb Pharmaceuticals Inc., X-Body Inc., ZymoGenetics, ZymoGenetics Inc., ZymoGenetics LLC, ZymoGenetics Paymaster LLC, iPierian, and iPierian Inc.. Conagra Brands, Inc. engages in the manufacture and sale of processed and packaged foods. It operates through the following segments: Grocery and Snacks; Refrigerated and Frozen; International; and Foodservice. The Grocery and Snacks segment includes branded, shelf stable food products sold in various retail channels in the United States. The Refrigerated and Frozen segment comprises branded, temperature controlled food products sold in various retail channels in the United States. The International segment consists branded food products, in various temperature states, sold in various retail and foodservice channels outside of the United States. The Foodservice segment focuses in the branded and customized food products, including meals, entrees, sauces, and a variety of custom-manufactured culinary products packaged for sale to restaurants and other foodservice establishments in the United States. The company was founded by Alva Kinney and Frank Little in 1919 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Dover: ALMATEC Maschinenbau GmbH, Accelerated Production Systems, Advansor A/S, Advansor Dover International (Poland) sp. z o.o, Alfred Fueling Systems Holdco Ltd., Alfred Fueling Systems Inc., Alfred Fueling Systems Intermediate Holdco Ltd., All-Flo Pump Company Limited business, Anman LLC, Anthony Equity Holdings Inc., Anthony Holdings Inc., Anthony Inc., Anthony International Foreign Sales Corp., Anthony International Holding Company, Anthony Mexico Holdings LLC, Anthony North Holdco Inc., Anthony Specialty Glass LLC, Anthony TemperBent GP LLC, Automatik Grundstucksverwaltung GmbH & Co. KG, Automatik Plastics Machinery (Taiwan) Ltd., Automatik Plastics Machinery Sdn. Bhd., BSC Filters Limited, Background2 Limited, Belanger Inc., Belvac Middle East FZE, Belvac Production Machinery Inc., BlitzRotary GmbH, Butler Engineering and Marketing S.P.A., CEP Liquidation LLC, CP Formation LLC, CPC, CPC Europe Inc., CPI Products Inc., Caldera, Caldera Inc., Canada Organization & Development LLC, Chief Automotive Technologies (Shanghai) Trading Company Ltd., Chippewa Square Captive Insurance Company, Colder Products Company GmbH, Colder Products Company LTD, Cook Compression BV, Cook Compression LLC, Cook Compression Limited, Cook-MFS Inc., DD1 Inc., DDI Properties Inc., DE-STA-CO Benelux B.V., DE-STA-CO FRANCE, DE-STA-CO Shanghai Co. Ltd., DFH Corporation, DSR BZ Holdings LLC, De Sta Co (Asia) Company Limited, De-Sta-Co Cylinders Inc., DeStaCo Europe GmbH, Delaware Capital Formation Inc., Delaware Capital Holdings Inc., Destaco Ema Industria e Comercio Ltda., Dover (China) Investment Co. Ltd. , Dover (Schweiz) Holding GmbH, Dover (Shanghai) Industrial Co. Ltd., Dover (Shenzhen) Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Dover (Suzhou) Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Dover Asia Trading Private Ltd., Dover Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Dover Business Services EMEA Limited, Dover Business Services LLC, Dover Business Services Philippines Corporation, Dover CLP Formation Limited Partnership, Dover CR spol s r.o., Dover Canada Finance LP, Dover Canada Holdings ULC, Dover Canada Operations ULC, Dover Corporation Regional Headquarters, Dover DEI Services Inc., Dover Denmark Holdings ApS, Dover EMEA FZCO, Dover Energy, Dover Energy UK Ltd, Dover Engineered Systems Inc., Dover Engineered Systems UK Ltd, Dover Europe Inc., Dover Europe Sarl, Dover Fluids Inc., Dover Fluids UK Ltd, Dover France Holdings S.A.S., Dover France Participations SAS, Dover France Technologies, Dover Fueling Solutions UK Limited, Dover Germany GmbH, Dover Global Holdings LLC, Dover Global Trading Pte. Ltd., Dover Holdings de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Dover India Pvt. Ltd., Dover Intercompany Services UK Limited, Dover International B.V., Dover International Operations Inc., Dover International Ventures Inc., Dover International Ventures Tunisia S.a.r.l., Dover International ithalat ihracat ve Pazarlama Limited Sirketi, Dover Italy Holdings S.r.l., Dover Luxembourg Finance Sarl, Dover Luxembourg Participations Sarl, Dover Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Dover Luxembourg Services Sarl, Dover Operations South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Dover Overseas Ventures Inc., Dover Refrigeration & Food Equipment Inc., Dover Refrigeration & Food Equipment UK Ltd, Dover Resources International de Mexico S. de R.L. C.V., Dover Solutions Colombia SAS, Dover Southeast Asia (Thailand) Ltd., Dover Spain Holdings S.L., Dover UK Pensions Limited, Dover WSCR Holding LLC, Dover WSCR LLC, Dover do Brasil Ltda., Dow-Key Microwave Corporation, Dressor Wayne Data Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Dressor Wayne Fuel Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, EOA Systems Inc., Ebs-Ray Holdings Pty Ltd, Ebs-Ray Industries Pty. Ltd., Ebs-Ray Pumps Pty. Ltd., Em-tec GmbH, Ettlinger Kunststoffmaschinen GmbH, Ettlinger Management Inc., Ettlinger North America LP, Ettlinger Vertrieb und Service GmbH & Co. KG, Ettlinger Verwaltungs-GmbH, Fairbanks Environmental Limited, Ferguson CO. S.A., Fibrelite Composites Limited, Fibresec Holdings Limited, Fibresec Limited, Finder, Finder Oriental (Beijing) Trading Co. Ltd, Finder Pompe S.R.L., Finder United Saudi Arabia Company, GAL LLC, GIIER LLC, Gala Industries Asia Limited, Gala Industries Incorporated, Gala Kunststoff-und Kautschukmaschinen GmbH, Guangdong Tokheim LIYUAN Oil Industry Technology Limited Company, Highland Park Insurance Company, Hill PHOENIX Inc., Hill PHOENIX WIC LLC, Hill Phoenix Costa Rica Sociedad De Responsabilidad Limitada, Hill Phoenix El Salvador Limitada de Capital Variable, Hill Phoenix Guatemala Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix Honduras Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Hiltap Fittings Ltd., Hydro Systems, Hydro Systems Europe Ltd., Hydronova Australia-NZ Pty Ltd, Industrial Motion Control LLC, Inpro/Seal LLC, International Trade and Equipment B.V., JK Group SPA, JK Group USA Inc., K&L Microwave DR Inc., K&L Microwave Inc., K. S. Boca Inc., KPS (Beijing) Petroleum Equipment Trading Co Ltd., KPS Asia Sdn. Bhd., KPS Fueling Solutions Sdn. Bhd., KPS Hong Kong Holding Limited, KPS UK Limited, KS Formation Inc., KS Liquidation Inc., KSLP Liquidation L.P., Kiian Digital (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Knappco LLC, Lianyngang Jump Petroleum and Chemical Machinery Co. Ltd., Liquip, Liquip International Pty Limited, MARKEM FZ SA, MARKEM Holdings Inc., MARKEM International Inc., MARKEM S.A. de C.V., MARKEM Tag Inc., MARKEM UK Holdings 1 Unlimited, MARKEM UK Holdings 2 Limited, MIP Holdings Inc., MS Printing Solutions S.R.L., Maag Automatik GmbH, Maag Automatik Inc., Maag Automatik Plastics Machinery (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Maag Automatik Srl, Maag Pump Systems (US) Inc., Maag Pump Systems AG, Maag Pump Systems SAS, Marathon Equipment Company (Delaware), Markem Imaje Center of Competencies Spain S.L.U., Markem-Imaje, Markem-Imaje (China) Co. Limited, Markem-Imaje A/S, Markem-Imaje AB, Markem-Imaje AG, Markem-Imaje AS, Markem-Imaje Application Innovation Center Sarl, Markem-Imaje B.V., Markem-Imaje CSAT GmbH, Markem-Imaje Co. Ltd., Markem-Imaje GmbH, Markem-Imaje Holding, Markem-Imaje Identificacao de Produtos Ltda., Markem-Imaje Inc., Markem-Imaje India Private Limited, Markem-Imaje Industries, Markem-Imaje Industries Limited, Markem-Imaje KK, Markem-Imaje LLC, Markem-Imaje Limited, Markem-Imaje Ltd., Markem-Imaje N.V., Markem-Imaje Oy, Markem-Imaje Pty Ltd, Markem-Imaje S.A., Markem-Imaje S.A. de C.V., Markem-Imaje S.r.l. a socio unico, Markem-Imaje SAS, Markem-Imaje Sdn Bhd, Markem-Imaje Software Development Centre Pvt. Ltd., Markem-Imaje Spain S.A.U, Markem-Imaje Unipessoal Lda (Portugal), Markpoint Holding AB, Midland Manufacturing LLC, Mouvex, Neptune Chemical Pump Company, Northern Lights (Nevada) Inc., Northern Lights Funding LP, Northern Lights Investments LLC, Nova Controls Inc., OK International (UK) Ltd., OK International Holdings Inc., OK International Inc., OPW Engineered Systems Inc., OPW Fluid Transfer Group Europe B.V., OPW Fluids Group Inc., OPW France, OPW Fuel Management Systems Inc., OPW Fueling Components (SuZhou) Co. Ltd., OPW Fueling Components LLC, OPW Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OPW Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., OPW Slovakia s.r.o., OPW Sweden AB, Officine Meccaniche Sirio S.R.L., PDQ Manufacturing Inc., PISCES by OPW Inc., PSG (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, PSG (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., PSG Worldwide Inc., Petro Vend Sp. z o.o., Pike Machine Products Inc., Piston OPW Inc., Pole/Zero Acquisition Inc., Precision Brasil Equipamentos E Servicos Para Postos De Combustiveis Ltda., Precision Service - Servicos De Manutencao E Instalacao De Postos De Abastecimento De Combustivel Ltda., Pump Management Services Co. LLC, RAV Equipment U.S.A. Inc., RAV Equipos Espana S.L., RAV France, Rav Equipment UK Limited, Ravaglioli Deutschland GmbH, Ravaglioli S.P.A., Reduction Engineering GmbH, Revod Corporation, Revod Finance Ireland Limited, Revod Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Revod SAS, Revod Sweden AB, Robohand Inc., Rosario Handel B.V., Rotary Lift Consolidated (Haimen) Co. Ltd, SE Liquidation LLC, SWEP A.G., SWEP Germany GmbH, SWEP Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., SWEP North America Inc., SWEP Slovakia s.r.o., SWEP Technology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Scheer Pelletizing Systems & Machinery (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Scheer Taiwan Machinery Co. Ltd., Seabiscuit Motorsports Inc., Simmons Sirvey Corporation, So. Cal. Soft-Pak Incorporated, Solaris Laser S.A., Space S.R.L., Start Italiana Petrol Cihazlari Sanayi Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Start Italiana S.R.L., Swep Energy Oy, Swep International A.B., Swep Japan K.K., Sys-Tech Solutions Inc., TQC Quantium Quality S.A. de C.V., TTSI III Inc., TWG Canada Consolidated Inc., TXHI LLC, Tartan Textile Services Inc., The Curotto-Can LLC, The Heil Co., Tokheim Belgium, Tokheim China Company Limited, Tokheim GmbH, Tokheim Group, Tokheim Guardian Venture Sdn. Bhd, Tokheim Hengshan Technologies (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd., Tokheim Holding, Tokheim Holding B.V., Tokheim India Private Limited, Tokheim Netherlands B.V., Tokheim Sofitam Applications, Trans - Logistic Group S.R.L., Tulsa Winch Inc., Unified Brands Inc., Val TemperBent Glass L.P., Vectron Frequency Devices (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Vehicle Service Group LLC, Vos Food Store Equipment Ltd., Warn Automotive LLC, Waukesha Bearings, Waukesha Bearings Limited, Waukesha Bearings Russia LLC, Wayne Fuel Management UK Ltd., Wayne Fueling Systems (Rus) Limited Liability Company, Wayne Fueling Systems Australia Pty Ltd, Wayne Fueling Systems Canada ULC, Wayne Fueling Systems Deutschland GmbH, Wayne Fueling Systems Italia S.R.L., Wayne Fueling Systems LLC, Wayne Fueling Systems Ltd., Wayne Fueling Systems Pte. Ltd., Wayne Fueling Systems Sweden AB, Wayne Fueling Systems UK Holdco Ltd., Wayne Industria e Comercio Ltda., Wei Li Pump Shanghai Co. LTD., WellMark, and Wilden Pump and Engineering LLC. Wall Street analysts have given Enel Generacion Chile 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 Enel Generacion Chile wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. ONeil Sprott of the Kingstown Preparatory School aced the recent CPEA examination, placing 2nd for boys and 3rd overall with scores of: 66/75 in Math; 74/75 in Language; 74/75 in Science; and 56/75 in Social Studies. ONeil, described by his class teacher, Mrs. Suzette Hoyte-Holder - as very respectful and one who celebrates the successes of his classmates; proved to be very positive and outspoken when he sat down to talk with THE VINCENTIAN about exam issues. In examining the SBA component of the exam, ONeil opined, "To me, the SBAs were not really difficulty but challenging, especially the portfolio and the book reports. He felt that the quantity of work done was not totally necessary. "All the work done with the SBAs equips you with knowledge for future jobs, but maybe it should have been given a bit later, he said, "maybe in secondary school for when you are more knowledgeable about what you want to be as an adult. As for the two days of exams, ONeil could not see a student completing four tests in a single day and so, and welcomed the two-day testing. Had there been a one-day testing of Math, Language Arts and a General Paper combining Science and Social Studies, he felt that would have been more preferable as it would have certainly eliminated stress and caused students not to feel so pressured. The St. Vincent Grammar School will soon be welcoming ONeil as a student. His first order of the day there, he projected, will be to remain focused and get all of his work done. He also plans to meet and cultivate some true friends. As far as a career part is concerned, ONeil did not hesitate to say that he has not fixed his thoughts on any, and that he has a lot of time to make that decision. The Fountain resident is the son of Mr. ONeil Sprott of BDO Eastern Caribbean and Mrs. Tamara Job-Sprott of St. Vincent Electricity Services. Daimler AG, together its subsidiaries, develops and manufactures passenger cars, trucks, vans, and buses in Germany and internationally. It operates through Mercedes-Benz Cars & Vans, Daimler Trucks and Buses, and Daimler Mobility segments. The Mercedes-Benz Cars segment offers premium and luxury vehicles of the Mercedes-Benz brand, including the Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach, and Mercedes-EQ brands; small cars under the smart brand name; and ecosystem of Mercedes-Benz under the Mercedes me brand, as well as vans and related services under the Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner brands. Daimler Trucks and Buses segment offers its trucks and special vehicles under the Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, Western Star, FUSO, and BharatBenz brands; and buses under the Mercedes-Benz, Setra, Thomas Built Buses, and FU brands, as well as bus chassis. The Daimler Mobility segment provides financing and leasing packages for end-customers and dealers; and automotive insurance brokerage, banking, investment, and fleet management services under the Athlon brand. It also sells vehicle related spare parts and accessories. Daimler AG was founded in 1886 and is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany Read More Dairy Crest Group plc processes and markets branded dairy products in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company offers cheese products under the Cathedral City, Davidstow, and Chedds brands; butters, spreads, and oils under the Clover, Country Life, Utterly Butterly, Vitalite, Willow, and Frylight brands. It also provides soy sauces, salad dressings, mustards, and Worcester sauces; and produces and sells demineralized whey and galacto-oligosaccharide, as well as other dairy ingredients, including whey butter. The company was founded in 1933 and is headquartered in Esher, the United Kingdom. Read More HSBC Holdings plc provides banking and financial products and services worldwide. The company operates through Wealth and Personal Banking, Commercial Banking, and Global Banking and Markets segments. The Wealth and Personal Banking segment offers retail banking products and services, such as current and savings accounts, mortgages and personal loans, credit and debit cards, and local and international payment services for ultra high net worth individuals; and wealth management services, including insurance and investment products, global asset management services, investment management, and private wealth solutions. The Commercial Banking segment provides credit and lending, treasury management, payment, cash management, commercial insurance, and investment services, as well as commercial cards, and international trade and receivables finance services; and foreign exchange products, and capital raising and advisory services to small and medium sized enterprises, mid-market enterprises, and corporates. The Global Banking and Markets segment is involved in the provision of financing, advisory, and transaction services, including credit, rates, foreign exchange, equities, money markets, and securities services, as well as principal investment activities to government, corporate and institutional clients, and private investors. The Global Private Banking segment provides a range of services to high net worth individuals and families with complex and international needs. HSBC Holdings plc was founded in 1865 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Read More First BanCorp (Puerto Rico) is a holding company, which engages in the provision of personal, commercial, and corporate banking services through its subsidiaries. It operates through the following segments: Commercial and Corporate Banking, Consumer (Retail) Banking, Mortgage Banking, Treasury and Investments, United States Operations, and Virgin Islands Operations. The Commercial and Corporate Banking segment consists of the company's lending and other services for large customers represented by specialized and middle-market clients and the public sector. The Consumer (Retail) Banking segment includes consumer lending and deposit-taking activities conducted mainly through FirstBank's branch network in Puerto Rico. The Mortgage Banking segment focuses on the origination, sale, and servicing of a variety of residential mortgage loan products and related hedging activities. The Treasury and Investments segment deals with treasury and investment management functions. The United States Operations segment represents all banking activities conducted by FirstBank on the United States mainland. The Virgin Islands Operations segment includes all banking activities conducted by FirstBank in Read More Guyana Goldfields Inc. provides exploration and production of gold. It engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, production, and operation of gold mineral properties. The company also owns and operates gold drilling rights. The company was formerly known as Chiboug Copper Company Limited and changed its name to Guyana Goldfields Inc. in January 1995. Guyana Goldfields Inc. was incorporated in 1994 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. As of August 25, 2020, Guyana Goldfields Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Zijin Mining Group Company Limited. Read More H&R Block, Inc. engages in the provision of tax preparation and other services. The firm offers assisted income tax return preparation and related services through a system of retail offices operated directly by the company or by franchisees. It also develops and markets DIY income tax preparation software online, as well as through third-party retail stores and direct mail; and provides DIY tax services, including federal and state income tax returns, access to tax tips, advice and tax-related news, use of calculators for tax planning, and error checking and electronic filing. In addition, the company offers Refund Transfers and H&R Block Emerald Prepaid Mastercard, which enables clients to receive their tax refunds; Peace of Mind extended service plans; H&R Block Emerald Advance lines of credit; Tax Identity Shield that provides clients assistance in helping protect their tax identity and access to services to help restore their tax identity; refund advance loans; H&R Block Instant Refund; and H&R Block Pay With Refund services. The company was founded by Henry W. Bloch and Richard A. Bloch on January 25, 1955 and is headquartered in Kansas City, MO. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Thermo Fisher Scientific: 236 Perinton Parkway LLC, 27 Forge Parkway LLC, ABR--Affinity BioReagents, ACI Holdings Inc., ARG Services LLC, ASPEX Corporation, Abgene Inc., Abgene Limited, Acoustic Cytometry Systems Inc., AcroMetrix LLC, Acros Organics B.V.B.A., Advanced Biotechnologies Limited, Advanced Scientifics (ASI), Advanced Scientifics Inc., Advanced Scientifics International Inc., Affymetrix Biotech Participacoes Ltda., Affymetrix Biotech Shanghai Ltd, Affymetrix Inc, Affymetrix Japan K.K., Affymetrix Pte Ltd, Affymetrix UK Ltd, Afora S.A.U., Ahura Scientific, Alchematrix Inc., Alchematrix LLC, Alfa Aesar, Alfa Aesar (China) Chemical Co. Ltd., Alfa Aesar (Hong Kong) Limited, Allergon AB, Alphine Mountain Limited, Ambion Inc., Apogent Denmark ApS, Apogent Finance Company, Apogent Holding Company, Apogent Technologies Inc., Apogent Transition Corp., Apogent U.K. Limited, App-Tek International Pty Ltd, Applied Biosystems B.V., Applied Biosystems Finance B.V., Applied Biosystems International Inc., Applied Biosystems LLC, Applied Biosystems Taiwan LLC, Applied Biosystems Trading (Shanghai) Company Ltd., Applied Biosystems de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Applied Scientific Corporation, Avances Cientificos de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Avocado Research Chemicals Limited, B.R.A.H.M.S. Biotech GmbH, B.R.A.H.M.S. GmbH, B.R.A.H.M.S. UK Ltd, BAC BV, BAC IP BV, Barnstead Thermolyne LLC, Beijing Phadia Diagnostics Co Ltd, Bender MedSystems GmbH, BioTrove Corporation, BioTrove International Inc., Bioanalysis Labsystems S.A., Biochemical Sciences LLC, Biolab, BmT GmbH Laborprodukte, Bonsai Tecnologies - Sistemas para Biotecnologia e Industria Unipessoal Lda, Brammer Bio, Bumi-Sans Sendirian Berhad, CAC Limited, CB Diagnostics AB, CB Diagnostics Holding AB, CEPH International Corporation, CHK Holdings Inc., CRS Robotics, CTPS LLC, Capitol Scientific Products Inc., Capitol Vial Inc., Cellomics Inc., CellzDirect Inc., Cenduit GmbH, Cenduit LLC, Cezanne S.A.S., Chase Scientific Glass Inc., Chromacol Limited, Clintrak, Clintrak Clinical Labeling Services LLC, Clintrak Pharmaceutical Services LLC, Cohesive Technologies (UK) Limited, Cohesive Technologies Inc., Columbia Diagnostics Inc., Compendia Bioscience Inc., Comtest Limited, Consolidated Technologies Inc., Consultores Fisher Scientific Chile Ltd, Core Informatics, Core Informatics LLC, Core Informatics UK Ltd., D-finitive Technologies Inc., DCG Systems B.V., DCG Systems C.V., DCG Systems G.K., DCG Systems GmbH, DCG Systems Korea Ltd., DCG Systems LLC, DPI Newco LLC, DSM Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Dharmacon, Diagnostix Ltd., Dionex (China) Analytical Ltd, Dionex (Switzerland) AG, Dionex (UK) Limited, Dionex Austria GmbH, Dionex Benelux B.V., Dionex Brasil Instrumentos Cientificos Ltda, Dionex Canada Ltd., Dionex China Limited, Dionex Corporation, Dionex Denmark A/S, Dionex Holding GmbH, Dionex I LLC, Dionex Pty Ltd., Dionex S.A., Dionex S.p.A., Dionex Singapore Pte Ltd., Dionex Softron GmbH, Dionex Sweden AB, Distribution Solutions International Inc., Doe & Ingalls Investors Inc., Doe & Ingalls Limited, Doe & Ingalls Management LLC, Doe & Ingalls Properties II LLC, Doe & Ingalls Properties LLC, Doe & Ingalls of California Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Florida Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Maryland Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Massachusetts Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of North Carolina Operating LLC, Doublecape Holding Limited, Doublecape Limited, Drakeside Real Estate Holding Company LLC, Duke Scientific Corporation, Dynal Biotech Beijing Limited, EGS Gauging Ltd., EGS Gauging Technical Services Company, EP Scientific Products LLC, Ecochem N.V., EnviroEquip Pty Ltd, Epsom Glass Industries Limited, Equibio Limited, Erie Electroverre S.A., Erie Finance Limited, Erie LP Holding LLC, Erie Scientific Company of Puerto Rico, Erie Scientific Hungary Kft, Erie Scientific LLC, Erie U.K. Limited, Erie UK 1 Limited, Erie UK 2 Limited, Erie UK Holding Company, Erie UK Senior Holding Limited, European Laboratory Holdings Limited, Eutech Instruments Europe B.V., Eutech Instruments Pte Ltd., Eutech Instruments Sdn Bhd, Ever Ready Thermometer Co. Inc., FEI Asia Pacific Co. Ltd., FEI Australia Pty Ltd, FEI CPD B.V., FEI Company, FEI Company Japan Ltd., FEI Company of USA (S.E.A.) Pte Ltd., FEI Czech Republic s.r.o., FEI Deutschland GmbH, FEI EFA Inc., FEI EFA International Pte. Ltd., FEI Electron Optics B.V., FEI Electron Optics International B.V., FEI Europe B.V., FEI France SAS, FEI Global Holdings C.V., FEI Hong Kong Company Limited, FEI Houston Inc., FEI Italia Srl, FEI Korea Ltd., FEI Melbourne Pty Ltd., FEI Microscopy Solutions Ltd, FEI Munich GmbH, FEI Norway Holding AS, FEI SAS, FEI Saudi Arabia LLC, FEI Servicos de Nanotecnologia Ltda., FEI Technologies Inc., FEI Technology de Mexico S.A. de C.V., FEI Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., FEI Trondheim AS, FEI UK Ltd., FHP LLC, FRC Holding Inc. V, FS (Barbados) Capital Holdings Ltd., FS Casa Rocas Holdings LLC, FS Mexicana Holdings LLC, FSI Receivables Company LLC, FSII Sweden Holdings AB, FSII Sweden Holdings I AB, FSIR Holdings (UK) Limited, FSIR Holdings (US) Inc., FSUK Holdings Limited, FSWH Company LLC, FSWH II C.V., FSWH International Holdings LLC, Fermentas China Co. Ltd, Fermentas Inc., Fermentas International, Fermentas Sweden AB, Fermentas UK Limited, Fiberlite Centrifuge LLC, Finesse Scientific Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Finesse Solutions AG, Finesse Solutions Inc., Finnzymes Oy, Fisher Alder S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Asia Manufacturing Ventures Inc., Fisher Bermuda Holdings Limited, Fisher BioImage ApS, Fisher BioPharma Services (India) Private Limited, Fisher BioSciences Japan G.K., Fisher BioServices Inc., Fisher Bioblock Holding II SNC, Fisher CLP Holding Limited Partnership, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 1, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 2, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 3, Fisher Canada Limited Partnership, Fisher Chimica BVBA, Fisher Clinical Logistics LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services (Bristol) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Colombia) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Korea) Co. Ltd, Fisher Clinical Services (Mexico) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Peru) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services Colombia S.A.S., Fisher Clinical Services GmbH, Fisher Clinical Services Inc., Fisher Clinical Services Japan K.K., Fisher Clinical Services Latin America S.R.L., Fisher Clinical Services Limited Liability Company, Fisher Clinical Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Clinical Services Peru S.R.L, Fisher Clinical Services Pte Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services U.K. Limited, Fisher Emergo B.V., Fisher Germany Holdings GmbH, Fisher Hamilton China Inc., Fisher Hamilton Mexico LLC, Fisher Holdings ApS, Fisher Internet Minority Holdings L.L.C., Fisher Laboratory Products Manufacturing (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Fisher Luxembourg Danish Holdings SARL, Fisher Manufacturing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Maybridge Holdings Limited, Fisher Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Scientific (Austria) GmbH, Fisher Scientific (Hong Kong) Limited, Fisher Scientific (M) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Scientific (SEA) Pte. Ltd., Fisher Scientific A/S, Fisher Scientific AG, Fisher Scientific Australia Pty Limited, Fisher Scientific Biotech Line ApS, Fisher Scientific Brazil Inc., Fisher Scientific Central America Inc., Fisher Scientific Chile Inc., Fisher Scientific Colombia Inc., Fisher Scientific Company, Fisher Scientific Company L.L.C., Fisher Scientific Costa Rica Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Fisher Scientific Europe Holdings B.V., Fisher Scientific GTF AB, Fisher Scientific Germany Beteiligungs GmbH, Fisher Scientific GmbH, Fisher Scientific Holding Company LLC, Fisher Scientific Holding HK Limited, Fisher Scientific Holding U.K. Limited, Fisher Scientific Holdings (M) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Scientific Holdings (S) Pte Ltd, Fisher Scientific International LLC, Fisher Scientific Investments (Cayman) Ltd., Fisher Scientific Ireland Investments Unlimited, Fisher Scientific Ireland Limited, Fisher Scientific Japan Ltd., Fisher Scientific Jersey Island Limited, Fisher Scientific Korea Ltd, Fisher Scientific Latin America Inc., Fisher Scientific Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Fisher Scientific Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Scientific Mexico Inc., Fisher Scientific Middle East and Africa Inc., Fisher Scientific Norway AS, Fisher Scientific Operating Company, Fisher Scientific Oxoid Holdings Ltd., Fisher Scientific Oy, Fisher Scientific Pte. Ltd., Fisher Scientific S.A.S., Fisher Scientific S.L., Fisher Scientific SPRL, Fisher Scientific The Hague I B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague II B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague III B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague IV B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague V B.V., Fisher Scientific U.K. Limited, Fisher Scientific UK Holding Company 2, Fisher Scientific UK Holding Company Limited, Fisher Scientific Unipessoal Lda., Fisher Scientific Venezuela Inc., Fisher Scientific Worldwide (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Fisher Scientific Worldwide Holdings I C.V., Fisher Scientific Worldwide Inc., Fisher Scientific de Mexico S.A., Fisher Scientific of the Netherlands B.V., Fisher Scientific spol. S.r.o, Fisher Servicios Clinicos (Chile) LLC, Fisher Servicios Clinicos Chile Ltda, Fisher WWD Holding L.L.C., Fisher Worldwide Distribution SPV, Fisher Worldwide Gene Distribution SPV, Flux Instruments, Fuji Partnership, G & M Procter Limited, G V Instruments Limited, GV Instruments Canada Ltd., GV Instruments Inc, Gatan Inc, General Scientific Company Sdn Bhd (M), Genomed molekularbiologische und diagnostische Produkte GmbH, Gerhard Menzel B.V. & Co. KG, Gold Cattle Standard Testing Labs Inc., Golden West Indemnity Company Limited, Goring Kerr Detection Limited, Greenville Service Company Inc., HENO GmbH i.L., Hangar 215 Inc., Helmet Securities Limited, Henogen, HighChem, HyClone International Trade (Tianjin) Co. Ltd, Hybaid Limited, I.Q. (BIO) Limited, IDnostics AG, ILS Laboratories Scandinavia AB, Inel Inc., Inel SAS, InnaPhase Inc., InnaPhase Limited, IntegenX, Intrinsic BioProbes Inc., Intrinsic Bioprobes Inc., Invitrogen (Shanghai) Investment Co. Ltd., Invitrogen Argentina SA, Invitrogen BioServices India Private Limited, Invitrogen Europe Limited, Invitrogen Finance Corp., Invitrogen Holdings LLC, Invitrogen Holdings Ltd., Invitrogen Hong Kong Limited, Invitrogen IP Holdings Inc., Invitrogen Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ion Torrent Systems Inc., Ionalytics Corporation, JSC Thermo Fisher Scientific, Jouan LLC, Jouan Limited, Jouan SA, Kendro Containment & Services Limited, Kendro Laboratory Products Ltd, Kettlebrook Insurance Co. ltd., Keystone Scientific, KonTEM GmbH, Kyle Jordan Investments LLC, LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, LTC Tech South Africa PTY Ltd., La-Pha-Pack GmbH, Lab Vision (UK) Limited, Lab Vision Corporation, Lab-Chrom-Pack LLC, Lab-Line Instruments Inc., Labomex MBP S. de R. L. De C.V., Laboratoire Service International - L.S.I, Laboratory Management Systems Inc., Laboratory Specialties Proprietary Ltd., LambTrack Limited, Laser Analytical Systems Inc., Liberty Lane Investment LLC, Liberty Lane Real Estate Holding Company LLC, Life Sciences International (Poland) SP z O.O, Life Sciences International Holdings BV, Life Sciences International LLC, Life Sciences International Limited, Life Technologies AS, Life Technologies Australia PTY Ltd., Life Technologies BPD AB, Life Technologies BPD UK Limited, Life Technologies Brasil Comercio e Industria de Produtos para Biotecnologia Ltda, Life Technologies Chile SpA, Life Technologies Clinical Services Lab Inc., Life Technologies Co. Ltd., Life Technologies Czech Republic s.r.o., Life Technologies DaAn Diagnostic (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd., Life Technologies Europe B.V., Life Technologies Finance Ltd., Life Technologies Finland Oy, Life Technologies GmbH, Life Technologies Holdings PTE Ltd., Life Technologies Inc., Life Technologies International B.V., Life Technologies Japan Ltd., Life Technologies Korea LLC, Life Technologies Limited, Life Technologies Magyarorszag Kft, Life Technologies New Zealand Ltd., Life Technologies Norway Investments US LLC, Life Technologies Polska Sp z.o.o., Life Technologies SA, Life Technologies SAS, Life Technologies s.r.o, Linkage Biosciences Inc., Linkage Biosciences S.a.r.l., Loftus Furnace Company, Lomb Scientific, Lomb Scientific (Aust) Pty Limited, MTI-GlobalStem, Marketbase International Limited, Matrix MicroScience Inc., Matrix MicroScience Ltd., Matrix Technologies Corporation Limited, Matrix Technologies LLC, Maybridge Chemical Company Limited, Maybridge Chemical Holdings Limited, Maybridge Limited, Medical Analysis Systems Inc., Medical Analysis Systems International Inc., Medical Diagnostics Systems Inc., Metavac LLC, Microgenics Corporation, Microgenics Diagnostics Pty Limited, Microgenics GmbH, Microm International GmbH, Microm Laborgerate S.L.U, Molecular BioProducts Inc., Molecular Probes Inc., Molecular Transfer Inc., NAPCO Inc., NERL Diagnostics LLC, NOVODIRECT GmbH Labor- und Industrie- Megerate, Nalge (Europe) Limited, Nalge Nunc International (Monterrey) LLC, Nalge Nunc International Corporation, Nanjing WeiKangLe Trading Industrial Co Ltd, NanoDrop Technologies LLC, National Scientific Company, Navaho Acquisition Corp., Neomarkers Inc., New FS Holdings Inc., NewcoGen PE LLC, Nihon Dynal K.K., Niton Asia Limited, NovaWave Technologies Inc., Nunc A/S, ONIX Systems Inc., OXOID CZ s.r.o., Odyssey Holdings Corporation, Odyssey Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Odyssey Luxembourg IP Holdings 1 S.a r.l., Odyssey Luxembourg IP Holdings 2 S.a r.l., Odyssey Venture Corporation, Omega Data Systems, One Lambda Inc, Onix Holdings Limited, Orme Scientific Limited, Owl Separation Systems LLC, Oxoid (ELY) Limited, Oxoid 2000 Limited, Oxoid AS, Oxoid Australia Pty. Limited, Oxoid Company, Oxoid Deutschland GmbH, Oxoid Holding SAS, Oxoid Holdings Limited, Oxoid Inc., Oxoid International Limited, Oxoid Investments GmbH, Oxoid Limited, Oxoid N.V., Oxoid New Zealand Limited, Oxoid Pension Trustees Limited, Oxoid Senior Holdings Limited, Oxoid UKH LLC, PAX - DSI Acquisition LLC, PE AG, Pacific Rim Far East Industries LLC, Pacific Rim Investment LLC, Panomics L.L.C., Panomics S.R.L., Patheon, Patheon API Inc., Patheon API Manufacturing Inc., Patheon API Services Inc., Patheon Austria GmbH & Co KG, Patheon B.V., Patheon Banner U.S. Holdings Inc., Patheon Biologics (NJ) LLC, Patheon Biologics Australia Pty Ltd, Patheon Biologics B.V., Patheon Biologics LLC, Patheon Calculus Merger LLC, Patheon Cooperatief U.A., Patheon Development Services Inc., Patheon Finance LLC, Patheon France SAS, Patheon Holdings B.V., Patheon Holdings I B.V., Patheon Holdings II B.V., Patheon Holdings SAS, Patheon I B.V., Patheon I Holding GmbH, Patheon Inc., Patheon International AG, Patheon Italia S.p.A., Patheon KK, Patheon Life Science Products International GmbH, Patheon Manufacturing Services LLC, Patheon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Patheon Pharmaceuticals Services Inc., Patheon Puerto Rico Acquisitions Corporation, Patheon Puerto Rico Inc., Patheon Regensburg GmbH, Patheon Softgels B.V., Patheon Softgels Inc., Patheon U.S. Holdings Inc., Patheon U.S. Holdings LLC, Patheon UK Limited, Patheon UK Pension Trustees Limited, Pelican Acquisition Corporation, Perbio Science (Canada) Company, Perbio Science AB, Perbio Science BVBA, Perbio Science France SAS, Perbio Science Inc., Perbio Science International Netherlands B.V., Perbio Science Invest AB, Perbio Science Nederland B.V., Perbio Science Projekt AB, Perbio Science Sweden Holdings AB, Perbio Science Switzerland SA, Perbio Science UK Limited, Phadia AB, Phadia Diagnosticos Ltda, Phadia GmbH, Phadia Holding AB, Phadia International Holdings C.V., Phadia Korea Co. Ltd, Phadia Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l., Phadia Malta Holdings Limited, Phadia Oy, Phadia Real Property AB, Phadia Sweden AB, Phadia Taiwan Inc., Phadia US Inc., Phadia s.r.o., Pharmacaps Mexicana SA de CV, Phenom-World B.V., Phenom-World Holding B.V, Phenom-World Innovations B.V., Phinotex, Pierce Biotechnology Inc., Pierce Milwaukee Holding Corp., Pierce Milwaukee Inc., Polychromix, Power Sweden Holdings I AB, Power Sweden Holdings II AB, Power Sweden Holdings III Aktiebolag, Princeton Gamma-Tech Instruments LLC, Princeton Security Technologies, Prionics AG, Prionics Asia Ltd., Prionics Deutschland GmbH, Prionics France SAS, Prionics Italia S.r.l., Prionics Lelystad B.V., Prionics USA Inc., Priority Air Express LLC, Priority Air Express Pte. Ltd., Priority Air Express UK Limited, Priority Air Holdings Corp, Priority Solutions International, Promedica Pty Limited, Proxeon, Proxeon Biosystems ApS, Qiagen, REP GBP I-B Blocker Inc., Raymond A Lamb Limited, Remel Europe Limited, Remel Inc., Richard-Allan Scientific Company, Robbins Scientific LLC, Robocon Labor- und Industrieroboter Gesellschaft m.b.H, Rupprecht and Patashnick, Rupprecht and Patashnick (R&P), Russell pH Limited, S.C.I. du 10 rue Dugay Trouin, SCI Inno 92, STC Bio Manufacturing Inc., Samco Scientific (Monterrey) LLC, Samco Scientific LLC, Saroph Sweden AB, Schantz Road LLC, Seradyn Inc., Shanghai Life Technologies Biotechnology Co. Limited, Shanghai Thermo Fisher (C-I) Trading Co. Ltd, Shanghai Thermo Fisher (S) Trading Co. Ltd, Southern Trials (Pty) Ltd., Specialty (SMI) Inc., Spectra-Physics AB, Spectra-Physics Holdings Limited, Spectra-Physics Holdings USA LLC, Spectronex, Staten Island Cogeneration Corporation, Sterilin Limited, Stokes Bio Ltd., Sweden DIA (Sweden) AB, SwissAnalytic Group GmbH, Systems Manufacturing Corporation, TFLP LLC, TFS Breda B.V., TFS LLC, TFS Singapore HK Limited, TFSL Financing GP LLC, TFSL Senior GP Holdings 2 LLC, TK Partnership, TKA Wasseraufbereitungssysteme, TMOI Inc., TPI Real Estate Holdings LLC, TSP Holdings I LLC, TWX LLC, Technology Design Solutions Pty Ltd, Thermedics Detection de Argentina S.R.L, Thermo Allen Coding Limited, Thermo Asset Management Services Inc., Thermo BioAnalysis LLC, Thermo BioAnalysis Limited, Thermo BioSciences Holdings LLC, Thermo CIDTEC, Thermo CRS Holdings Ltd., Thermo CRS Ltd., Thermo Cambridge Limited, Thermo Cayman Holdings Ltd., Thermo Corporation, Thermo DMA Inc., Thermo Detection de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Dutch Holdings Limited Partnership, Thermo EGS Gauging LLC, Thermo Eberline Holdings I LLC, Thermo Eberline Holdings II LLC, Thermo Eberline LLC, Thermo Electron (Calgary) Limited, Thermo Electron (Chile) S.p.A., Thermo Electron (Karlsruhe) GmbH, Thermo Electron (Management Services) Limited, Thermo Electron (Proprietary) Limited, Thermo Electron A/S, Thermo Electron Australia Pty Limited, Thermo Electron Export Inc., Thermo Electron Holdings SAS, Thermo Electron Industries, Thermo Electron LED GmbH, Thermo Electron LED S.A.S., Thermo Electron Limited, Thermo Electron Manufacturing Limited, Thermo Electron Metallurgical Services Inc., Thermo Electron North America LLC, Thermo Electron Pension Trust GmbH, Thermo Electron Puerto Rico Inc., Thermo Electron SAS, Thermo Electron Scientific Instruments LLC, Thermo Electron Sweden AB, Thermo Electron Sweden Forvaltning AB, Thermo Electron Weighing & Inspection Limited, Thermo Elemental Limited, Thermo Environmental Instruments LLC, Thermo Fast U.K. Limited, Thermo Finland Holdings LLC, Thermo Finland Holdings MT1 B.V., Thermo Finland Holdings MT2 B.V., Thermo Finnigan LLC, Thermo Finnigan Limited, Thermo Fisher (CN) Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher (CN) Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher (CN) Malta Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher (CN-I) Luxembourg LLC, Thermo Fisher (CN-II) Luxembourg LLC, Thermo Fisher (Cayman) Holdings I Ltd., Thermo Fisher (Cayman) Holdings II Ltd., Thermo Fisher (Finland Holdings 2) LLC, Thermo Fisher (Finland Holdings) Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher (Gibraltar) II Limited, Thermo Fisher (Gibraltar) Limited, Thermo Fisher (Heysham) Limited, Thermo Fisher (Kandel) GmbH, Thermo Fisher CHK Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher China Business Trust, Thermo Fisher China Business Trust II, Thermo Fisher Costa Rica Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Thermo Fisher Cyprus Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Detection Mexico LLC, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics (Ireland) Limited, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AB, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AG, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AS, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Aps, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Austria GmbH, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics B.V., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics GmbH, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics K.K., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Limited, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics NV, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics S.L.U., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics S.p.A. , Thermo Fisher Diagnostics SAS, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Thermo Fisher Eurobonds Ltd., Thermo Fisher Financial Services Inc., Thermo Fisher GP LLC, Thermo Fisher German Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Germany B.V., Thermo Fisher India Divestco Private Limited, Thermo Fisher India Holding B.V., Thermo Fisher Insurance Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Insurance Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Investments (Cayman) Ltd., Thermo Fisher Israel Ltd., Thermo Fisher Production et Services SAS, Thermo Fisher Project Cyprus LLC, Thermo Fisher Re Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Asheville) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Australia) C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Barbados) Holdings Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Breda) Holding BV, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Bremen) GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific (CN) Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher Scientific (China) Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (China) Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (China-HK) Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (DE) Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Ecublens) SARL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance I) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance I) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance II) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance III) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance III) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Fuji) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Holding II) B.V. & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Hong Kong) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (IVGN) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (IVGN) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Johannesburg) (Proprietary) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Mexico City) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Milwaukee) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Mississauga) Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Monterrey) S. De R.L. De C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (NK) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) Austria Holding GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) UK LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) UK Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN-I) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN-II) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN1) UK Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Panama) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Panama) Dutch LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Praha) s.r.o., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Real Estate 1) GmbH & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Real Estate 1) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Schweiz) AG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Shanghai) Instruments Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Suzhou) Instruments Co. Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific AL-1 LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific AU II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Africa Proprietary Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Aquasensors LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Australia Pty Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific B.V.B.A., Thermo Fisher Scientific BHK (I) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific BHK (II) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Baltics UAB, Thermo Fisher Scientific Beteiligungsverwaltungs GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Biosciences Corp., Thermo Fisher Scientific Brahms LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Brasil Instrumentos de Processo Ltda., Thermo Fisher Scientific Brasil Servicos de Logistica Ltda, Thermo Fisher Scientific C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cayman Investments LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Chemicals Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific China (C-I) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific China (S) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings I B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings III B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings IV B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Chromatography Holdings Aps, Thermo Fisher Scientific Chromatography Holdings S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus I Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus II Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus III C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus III Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus IV C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus V C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Denmark Senior Holdings ApS, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie 1 Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie Financing S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Europe GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC Finance C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSIR Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSIR Financing S.a.r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSUKHCO Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Falcon Senior Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Finance Company BV, Thermo Fisher Scientific GENEART GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Germany BV & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific HR Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings (Cayman) I, Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings (Cayman) II , Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings Europe Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific IT Services GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific India Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific India Pvt Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Malta) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Sweden) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Sweden) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments Malta (Sweden Financing) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Invitrogen Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings I B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings III B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific K.K., Thermo Fisher Scientific Korea Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific LSI Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life CV GP Holdings II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life CV GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Enterprises C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Enterprises GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing (Cayman), Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings III C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International Holdings I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments I S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments III S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments IV S.a.r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta Holding I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta Holding II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments US Financing I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments US Financing II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life NL Holdings GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Netherlands Holding C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior GP Holdings II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Switzerland Holdings GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Tech Korea Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Enterprise Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment UK I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment UK II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investments Holding LP, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Israel Investment I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Israel Investment II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Luxembourg Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Enterprise Holdings S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg German Holdings S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Life Technologies UK Holding S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Sweden Holdings I S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Sweden Holdings II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Venture Holdings I S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Venture Holdings II S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Malta Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Messtechnik GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Mexico City S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Middle East Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Milano Srl, Thermo Fisher Scientific NHK Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific New Zealand Holdings, Thermo Fisher Scientific New Zealand Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Norway Holdings AS, Thermo Fisher Scientific Norway US Investments LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Odyssey Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Odyssey Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Operating Company LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Oy, Thermo Fisher Scientific PN2 C.V, Thermo Fisher Scientific PN2 LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Panama I Cayman Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Peru S.R.L., Thermo Fisher Scientific Pte. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Re Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific SL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Senior Financing LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Senior Holdings Australia LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific South Africa Proprietary Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific SpA, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Holdings Luxembourg I S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Holdings Luxembourg II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Investments Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Switzerland Holdings C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific TR Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Taiwan Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific West Palm Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Wissenschaftliche Gerate GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Worldwide Investments (Cayman), Thermo Fisher Scientific eCommerce Solutions LLC , Thermo Fisher Senior Canada Holdings LLC, Thermo Foundation Inc., Thermo Gamma-Metrics Holdings Pty Ltd., Thermo Gamma-Metrics LLC, Thermo Gamma-Metrics Pty Ltd, Thermo Holding European Operations LLC, Thermo Hypersil Ltd, Thermo Hypersil-Keystone LLC, Thermo Informatics Asia Pacific Pty Ltd., Thermo Instrument Controls de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Thermo Kevex X-Ray LLC, Thermo Keytek LLC, Thermo LabSystems Inc., Thermo LabSystems S.A., Thermo Life Science International Trading (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Thermo Life Sciences AB, Thermo Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Thermo MF Physics LLC, Thermo Measurement Ltd, Thermo Measuretech Canada Inc., Thermo Neslab LLC, Thermo Nicolet Limited, Thermo Onix Limited, Thermo Optek (Australia) Pty Ltd., Thermo Optek Limited, Thermo Optek S.A., Thermo Orion Inc., Thermo Portable Holdings LLC, Thermo Power Corporation, Thermo Process Instruments GP LLC, Thermo Process Instruments L.P., Thermo Projects Limited, Thermo Quest S.A., Thermo Radiometrie Limited, Thermo Ramsey Italia S.r.l., Thermo Ramsey LLC, Thermo Ramsey S.A., Thermo Re Ltd., Thermo Scientific Microbiology Pte Ltd., Thermo Scientific Microbiology Sdn Bhd, Thermo Scientific Portable Analytical Instruments Inc., Thermo Scientific Services Inc., Thermo Securities Corporation, Thermo Sentron Canada Inc., Thermo Sentron Limited, Thermo Shandon Inc., Thermo Shandon Limited, Thermo Suomi Holding B.V., Thermo TLH (UK) Limited, Thermo TLH L.P., Thermo Trace Pty Ltd., Thermo-Fisher Biochemical Product (Beijing) Co. Ltd., ThermoLase LLC, ThermoSpectra Limited, Trek Diagnostic Systems LLC, Trek Diagnostic Systems Ltd., Trek Holding Company II Ltd., Trek Holding Company Ltd., Trex Medical Corporation, USB Corporation, Union Lab Supplies Limited, United Diagnostics Inc., VG Systems Limited, Westover Scientific Inc., ZAO PE Biosystems, eBioscience GmbH, eBioscience Ltd, eBioscience SAS, and picoSpin LLC. DTE Energy Co. operates as a diversified energy company, which engages in the provision of electricity and natural gas sales, distribution and storage services. It operates through the following segments: Electric, Gas, Non-Utility Operations, and Corporate & Other. The Electric segment engages in the generation, purchase, distribution and sale of electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers in south-eastern Michigan. The Gas segment engages in the purchase, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers throughout Michigan and the sale of storage and transportation capacity. The Non-Utility Operations segment engages in gas storage and pipelines, power and industrial projects, and energy trading. The Corporate & Other includes various holding company activities, holds certain non-utility debt, and holds energy-related investments. The company was founded in January 1995 and is headquartered in Detroit, MI. Read More Wall Street analysts have given Revolution Bars Group 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 Revolution Bars Group wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. VeriFone Systems, Inc. provides payments and commerce solutions at the point of sale (POS) worldwide. It offers countertop solutions that accept payment options, including contactless, NFC, mobile wallets, and EMV; PIN pads that support credit and debit card, EBT, EMV, and other PIN-based transactions; and multilane consumer facing commerce devices. It also provides portable payment devices, including small, portable, and handheld devices that enable merchants to accept electronic payments wherever wireless connectivity is available; and mobile solutions that attach to and interface with iOS or Android based smartphones and tablets. In addition, it offers integrated electronic payment systems that combine electronic payment processing, fuel dispensing, and ECR functions, as well as secure payment systems for integration with petroleum pump controllers; unattended and self-service payment solutions designed to enable payment transactions in self-service, high-transaction volume, and public transportation environments; and network access solutions. Further, it provides installation, deployment, training, and application development and delivery solutions; project management, client education program, and consulting services; helpdesk support, equipment repair and maintenance, and software post-contract support services; and application libraries and development tools. Additionally, it offers omnichannel commerce, terminal management, and security solutions; and cloud-based managed, transaction payment, and other value added services. It sells its products directly; and through third party and channel partners. It serves financial institutions, payment processors, government organizations, and retailers; petroleum, transportation, and healthcare companies; and quick service restaurants. The company was formerly known as VeriFone Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to VeriFone Systems, Inc. in May 2010. VeriFone Systems, Inc. is headquartered in San Jose, California. Read More FactSet Research Systems Inc. (the ""Company"" or ""FactSet"") is a global provider of integrated financial information, analytical applications and services for the investment and corporate communities. Since inception, global financial professionals have utilized the Company's content and multi-asset class solutions across each stage of the investment process. FactSet's goal is to provide a seamless user experience spanning idea generation, research, portfolio construction, trade execution, performance measurement, risk management, reporting, and portfolio analysis, in which the Company serves the front, middle, and back offices to drive productivity and improved performance. FactSet's flexible, open data and technology solutions can be implemented both across the investment portfolio lifecycle or as standalone components serving different workflows in the organization. FactSet is focused on growing the business throughout each of its three segments, the Americas, EMEA (formerly known as Europe), and Asia Pacific. The Company primarily delivers insight and information through the workflow solutions of Research, Analytics and Trading, Content and Technology Solutions (""CTS"") and Wealt Read More The following companies are subsidiares of The Procter & Gamble: "Procter & Gamble Services" LLC, "Procter & Gamble" LLC, Agile Pursuits, Agile Pursuits Franchising, Arbora, Arbora & Ausonia, Arborinvest, Billie, Braun (Shanghai) Co., Braun GmbH, Braun-Gillette Immobilien GmbH & Co. KG, Celtic Insurance Company, Compania Procter & Gamble Mexico, Compania Quimica S.A., Corporativo Procter & Gamble, Cosmetic Products Pty. Ltd., Detergent Products B.V., Detergent Products SARL, Detergenti S.A., Eurocos Cosmetic GmbH, FPG Oleochemicals Sdn. Bhd., Fameccanica Data S.p.A., Fameccanica Industria e Comercio Do Brasil LTDA., Fameccanica Machinery (Shanghai) Co., Fater S.p.A., Fountain Square Music Publishing Co., Gillette (China) Ltd., Gillette (Shanghai) Ltd., Gillette Aesop Ltd., Gillette Australia Pty. Ltd., Gillette Canada Holdings, Gillette Commercial Operations North America, Gillette Diversified Operations Pvt. Ltd., Gillette Egypt S.A.E., Gillette Group UK Ltd, Gillette Gruppe Deutschland GmbH & Co. oHG, Gillette Holding Company LLC, Gillette Holding GmbH, Gillette India Limited, Gillette Industries Ltd., Gillette International B.V., Gillette Latin America Holding B.V., Gillette Management LLC, Gillette Nova Scotia Company, Gillette Pakistan Limited, Gillette Poland International Sp. z.o.o., Gillette Poland S.A., Gillette U.K. Limited, Gillette del Uruguay, Giorgio Beverly Hills Inc., Hyginett KFT, Industries Marocaines Modernes SA, LLC "Procter & Gamble Novomoskovsk", LLL "Procter & Gamble Distributorskaya Compania", Laboratorios Vicks, Liberty Street Music Publishing Company, Limited Liability Company 'Procter & Gamble Trading Ukraine', Limited Liability Company with foreign investments Procter & and Gamble Ukraine, MDVIP, MERCK KGAA NPV, Marcvenca Inversiones, Modern Industries Company - Dammam, Modern Products Company - Jeddah, New Chapter, New Chapter Canada Inc., Olay LLC, Oral-B Laboratories, P&G Distribution Morocco SAS, P&G Hair Care Holding, P&G Industrial Peru S.R.L., P&G Innovation Godo Kaisha, P&G Israel M.D.O. Ltd., P&G K.K., P&G Northeast Asia Pte. Ltd., P&G Prestige Godo Kaisha, P&G Prestige Service GmbH, P&G South African Trading (Pty.) Ltd., PGT Health Care (Zhejiang) Limited, PGT Healthcare LLP, PPI ZAO, PT Procter & Gamble Home Products Indonesia, PT Procter & Gamble Operations Indonesia, Phase II Holdings Corporation, Procter & Gamble (Chengdu) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (China) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (China) Sales Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble (East Africa) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Egypt) Manufacturing Company, Procter & Gamble (Enterprise Fund) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Consumer Products Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Enterprise Management Service Company Limited, Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Health & Beauty Care) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Jiangsu) Ltd. China, Procter & Gamble (L&CP) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Procter & Gamble (Manufacturing) Ireland Limited, Procter & Gamble (Shanghai) International Trade Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Acquisition GmbH, Procter & Gamble Administration GmbH, Procter & Gamble Algeria EURL, Procter & Gamble Amazon Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Amiens S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Argentina SRL, Procter & Gamble Asia Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Australia Proprietary Limited, Procter & Gamble Azerbaijan Services LLC, Procter & Gamble Bangladesh Private Ltd., Procter & Gamble Blois S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Brazil Holdings B.V., Procter & Gamble Bulgaria EOOD, Procter & Gamble Business Services Canada Company, Procter & Gamble Canada Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Chile , Procter & Gamble Chile Limitada, Procter & Gamble Colombia Ltda., Procter & Gamble Commercial LLC, Procter & Gamble Commercial de Cuba S.A., Procter & Gamble Czech Republic s.r.o., Procter & Gamble DS Polska Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Danmark ApS, Procter & Gamble Detergent (Beijing) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Deuttschland GmbH, Procter & Gamble Distributing (Philippines) Inc., Procter & Gamble Distributing New Zealand Limited, Procter & Gamble Distribution Company (Europe) BVBA, Procter & Gamble Distribution S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Eastern Europe, Procter & Gamble Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Procter & Gamble Egypt, Procter & Gamble Egypt Distribution, Procter & Gamble Egypt Holding, Procter & Gamble Egypt Supplies, Procter & Gamble Energy Company LLC, Procter & Gamble Espana, Procter & Gamble Europe SA, Procter & Gamble Export Operations SARL, Procter & Gamble Exportadora e Importadora Ltda., Procter & Gamble Exports, Procter & Gamble Fabricacao e Comercio Ltda., Procter & Gamble Far East, Procter & Gamble Finance (U.K.) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Finance Holding Ltd., Procter & Gamble Finance Management S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Financial Investments LLP, Procter & Gamble Financial Services Ltd., Procter & Gamble Financial Services S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Finland OY, Procter & Gamble France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Germany GmbH, Procter & Gamble Germany GmbH & Co. Operations oHG, Procter & Gamble GmbH, Procter & Gamble Grundstucks-und Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, Procter & Gamble Gulf FZE, Procter & Gamble Hair Care, Procter & Gamble Hellas Ltd., Procter & Gamble Holding (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Holding France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Holding GmbH, Procter & Gamble Holding S.r.l., Procter & Gamble Holdings (UK) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Home Products Private Limited, Procter & Gamble Hong Kong Limited, Procter & Gamble Hungary Wholesale Trading Partnership (KKT), Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care Limited, Procter & Gamble Inc., Procter & Gamble India Holdings, Procter & Gamble Indochina Limited Company, Procter & Gamble Industrial - 2012 C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial Colombia Ltda., Procter & Gamble Industrial S.C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Costa Rica, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Guatemala, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Panama, Procter & Gamble International Operations Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble International Operations SA, Procter & Gamble International Operations SA-ROHQ, Procter & Gamble International S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Investment Company (UK) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Investment GmbH, Procter & Gamble Italia, Procter & Gamble Japan K.K., Procter & Gamble Kazakhstan Distribution LLP, Procter & Gamble Kazakhstan LLP, Procter & Gamble Korea, Procter & Gamble Korea S&D Co., Procter & Gamble Lanka Private Ltd. Sri Lanka, Procter & Gamble Leasing LLC, Procter & Gamble Levant S.A.L., Procter & Gamble Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Belgium N.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Berlin GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing SA (Pty) Ltd, Procter & Gamble Marketing Romania SRL, Procter & Gamble Marketing and Services doo, Procter & Gamble Maroc SA, Procter & Gamble Mataro, Procter & Gamble Mexico Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Mexico Inc., Procter & Gamble Middle East FZE, Procter & Gamble Nederland B.V., Procter & Gamble Netherlands Investments B.V., Procter & Gamble Netherlands Services B.V., Procter & Gamble Nigeria Limited, Procter & Gamble Nordic, Procter & Gamble Norge AS, Procter & Gamble Operations Polska Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Overseas India B.V., Procter & Gamble Overseas Ltd., Procter & Gamble Pakistan (Private) Limited, Procter & Gamble Partnership LLP, Procter & Gamble Peru S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals France SAS, Procter & Gamble Philippines, Procter & Gamble Polska Sp. z o.o, Procter & Gamble Portugal - Produtos De Consumo, Procter & Gamble Product Supply (U.K.) Limited U.K., Procter & Gamble Production GmbH, Procter & Gamble Productions, Procter & Gamble Productos de Consumo, Procter & Gamble RHD, Procter & Gamble RSC Regional Service Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Retail Services BVBA, Procter & Gamble S.r.l., Procter & Gamble SA (Pty) Ltd, Procter & Gamble Satis ve Dagitim Ltd. Sti., Procter & Gamble Seine S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Service GmbH, Procter & Gamble Services (Switzerland) SA, Procter & Gamble Services Company N.V., Procter & Gamble Services Ltd., Procter & Gamble Share Incentive Plan Trustee Ltd., Procter & Gamble South America Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Spol. s.r.o. (Ltd.), Procter & Gamble Sports and Social Club Ltd., Procter & Gamble Sverige AB, Procter & Gamble Switzerland SARL, Procter & Gamble Taiwan Limited, Procter & Gamble Taiwan Sales Company Limited, Procter & Gamble Technical Centres Limited, Procter & Gamble Technology (Beijing) Co., Procter & Gamble Trading (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Tuketim Mallari Sanayii A.S., Procter & Gamble UK, Procter & Gamble UK Group Holdings Ltd, Procter & Gamble UK Parent Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Universal Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Verwaltungs GmbH, Procter & Gamble Vietnam, Procter & Gamble d.o.o. za trgovinu, Procter & Gamble de Venezuela S.C.A., Procter & Gamble de Venezuela S.R.L., Procter & Gamble do Brasil S/A, Procter & Gamble do Brazil, Procter & Gamble do Nordeste S/A, Procter & Gamble-Rakona s.r.o., Progam Realty & Development Corporation, Redmond Products, Richardson-Vicks Real Estate Inc., Richardson-Vicks do Brasil Quimica e Farmaceutica Ltda, Riverfront Music Publishing Co., Rosemount LLC, SPD Development Company Limited, SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbH, Scannon S.A.S., Series Acquisition B.V., Shulton, Surfac S.R.L., Sycamore Productions, TAOS - FL, TAOS Retail, Tambrands Inc., Temple Trees Impex & Investment Private Limited, The Art of Shaving - FL, The Dover Wipes Company, The Gillette Company, The Gillette Company LLC, The Gillette co., The Procter & Gamble Distributing LLC, The Procter & Gamble GBS Company, The Procter & Gamble Global Finance Company, The Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Company, The Procter & Gamble Paper Products Company, The Procter & Gamble U.S. Business Services Company, This is L., US CD LLC, Vidal Sassoon (Shanghai) Academy, Vidal Sassoon Co., WEBA Betriebsrenten-Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Walker & Company Brands, and iMFLUX Inc.. Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. is an international offshore energy company. It focuses on subsea construction, maintenance and salvage services to the offshore natural gas and oil industry. The firm also provides specialty services to the offshore energy industry, with a focus on well intervention and robotics operations. The company operates through three segments: Well Intervention, Robotics and Production Facilities. The Well Intervention segment offers vessels and related equipment that are used to perform well intervention services primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and North Sea regions. The Robotics segment involves four chartered vessels and also includes ROVs, trenchers and ROVDrills designed to complement offshore construction and well intervention services. The Production Facilities segment includes its investment in the Helix Producer I and Kommandor LLC. Helix Energy Solutions Group was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Houston, TX. Read More Suncor Energy Inc. operates as an integrated energy company. The company primarily focuses on developing petroleum resource basins in Canada's Athabasca oil sands; explores, acquires, develops, produces, transports, refines, and markets crude oil in Canada and internationally; markets petroleum and petrochemical products under the Petro-Canada name primarily in Canada. It operates in Oil Sands; Exploration and Production; Refining and Marketing; and Corporate and Eliminations segments. The Oil Sands segment recovers bitumen from mining and in situ operations, and upgrades it into refinery feedstock and diesel fuel, or blends the bitumen with diluent for direct sale to market. The Exploration and Production segment is involved in offshore operations off the east coast of Canada and in the North Sea; and operating onshore assets in Libya and Syria. The Refining and Marketing segment refines crude oil and intermediate feedstock into various petroleum and petrochemical products; and markets refined petroleum products to retail, commercial, and industrial customers through its other retail sellers. The Corporate and Eliminations segment operates four wind farm operations in Ontario and Western Canada. The company also markets and trades in crude oil, natural gas, byproducts, refined products, and power. The company was formerly known as Suncor Inc. and changed its name to Suncor Energy Inc. in April 1997. Suncor Energy Inc. was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More Tailored Brands, Inc. (NYSE:TLRD) released its earnings results on Wednesday, March, 18th. The company reported ($0.46) earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.54) by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $690.90 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $708.46 million. Tailored Brands had a negative trailing twelve-month return on equity of 138.49% and a negative net margin of 14.39%. The company's quarterly revenue was down 12.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted ($0.28) earnings per share. View Tailored Brands' earnings history. American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved. 326 E 8th St #105, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 | U.S. Based Support Team at contact@marketbeat.com | (844) 978-6257 MarketBeat does not provide personalized financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security. Our Accessibility Statement | Terms of Service | Do Not Sell My Information 2021 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and is delayed. To see all exchange delays and terms of use please see disclaimer. Fundamental company data provided by Zacks Investment Research. Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp. engages in the provision of equipment, systems, and value-added services for the rail industry. It operates through the following segments: Freight and Transit. The Freight segment involves in the manufacture and offers services components for new and existing locomotives and freight cars; supplies rail control and infrastructure products such as electronics, positive train control equipment, and signal design and engineering services; overhauls locomotives; and provides heat exchangers and cooling systems for rail and other industrial markets. The Transit segments includes the manufacture and providing services components for new and existing passenger transit vehicles, including regional trains, high speed trains, subway cars, light-rail vehicles, and buses; supplies rail control and infrastructure products such as electronics, positive train control equipment, and signal design and engineering services; builds new commuter locomotives; and renovate passenger transit vehicles. The company was founded in 1869 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA. Read More Gulf Islamic Investments (GII), a leading financial services company based in the UAE, said it has acquired a prime office property in Downtown Dubai, for $32 million through its Shariah-compliant real estate investment trust, GII Islamic REIT. The property, spread over two floors in the highly sought-after Emaar Square offices in Downtown Dubai, is expected with gross yields of eight per cent, said a statement from the company. The property has a remaining lease of three years and is let to a global professional services firm, which uses it as its regional head office. GII chairman Mohammed Alnasri said: "We are delighted at the progress achieved by GII Islamic REIT, considered the first shariah-compliant monthly dividend REIT and the first GCC-based REIT that will have some international real estate exposure as well (in UK and US), with blue-chip existing tenants and with Dh500 million ($136 million) seed investments already committed by GIIs investors group." A company regulated by the Emirates Securities and Commodities Authority (ESCA), GII enjoys a track record of managing $2.5 billion in assets and securing $5.5 billion in debt. Mohammed AlHassan, the chief executive for GCC region at GII, said this is a high quality acquisition for the REIT, and is consistent with GII REITs strategy to distribute eight per cent annual dividend to investors net of all costs. He reiterated GII REITs commitment to distribute dividends monthly and targets paying out the first monthly dividend from June/July 2018 onwards.-TradeArabia News Service The following companies are subsidiares of Sanofi: A. Nattermann & Cie. GmbH, AO Sanofi Russia, Ablynx, Ablynx N.V., Allston Landing Limited Partnership, Aventis Inc., Aventis Pharma (Manufacturing) Pte. Ltd, Aventis Pharma Limited, Aventis Pharma S.A., Aventis S.A., Aventisub LLC, Bioverativ, Bioverativ Inc., Bioverativ Therapeutics Inc., Bioverativ U.S.LLC, Carraig Insurance DAC, Chattem Inc., Chinoin Private Co. Ltd, Francopia, Genfar S.A., Genzyme Corporation, Genzyme Europe B.V., Genzyme Flanders BVBA, Genzyme Global Sarl, Genzyme Ireland Limited, Genzyme Limited, Genzyme Polyclonals SAS, Genzyme Therapeutic Products Limited Partnership, Genzyme Therapeutics Limited, Genzyme de Argentina S.A., Hoechst GmbH, Kiadis Pharma, Limited Liability Company Sanofi-Aventis Ukraine, PT Aventis Pharma, Principia BioPharma, SSP Co. Ltd, Sanofi (Beijing) Pharmaceuticals Co.Ltd, Sanofi (China) Investment Co. Ltd, Sanofi (Hangzhou) Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd, Sanofi A/S, Sanofi AB, Sanofi Arabia Trading Company Limited, Sanofi Aventis NA Holding Inc., Sanofi Belgium, Sanofi Biotechnology, Sanofi Chimie, Sanofi Egypt, Sanofi Finance Ireland limited, Sanofi Foreign Participations B.V., Sanofi Healthcare India Private Limited, Sanofi Ilac Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., Sanofi India Limited, Sanofi K.K., Sanofi Mature IP, Sanofi Medley Farmaceutica Ltda, Sanofi Nichi-Iko K.K., Sanofi Oy, Sanofi Pasteur, Sanofi Pasteur Asi Ticaret A.S., Sanofi Pasteur Biologies Co. Ltd, Sanofi Pasteur Europe, Sanofi Pasteur Inc., Sanofi Pasteur India Private Ltd, Sanofi Pasteur Limited, Sanofi Pasteur Ltd, Sanofi Pasteur NVL, Sanofi Pasteur S.A. de C.V., Sanofi Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda, Sanofi Romania SRL, Sanofi S.p.A., Sanofi Saglik Urunleri Limited Sirketi, Sanofi Taiwan Co. Ltd, Sanofi US Corporation, Sanofi US Services Inc., Sanofi Vaccine Technologies, Sanofi Winthrop Industrie, Sanofi-Aventis (Malaysia) SDN. BHD., Sanofi-Aventis (Suisse) SA, Sanofi-Aventis (Thailand) Ltd, Sanofi-Aventis A.E.B.E., Sanofi-Aventis Algerie, Sanofi-Aventis Argentina S.A., Sanofi-Aventis Australia Pty Ltd, Sanofi-Aventis Canada Inc., Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Sanofi-Aventis France, Sanofi-Aventis GmbH, Sanofi-Aventis Groupe, Sanofi-Aventis Gulf FZE, Sanofi-Aventis Healthcare Pty Ltd, Sanofi-Aventis Hong-Kong Limited, Sanofi-Aventis Ireland Ltd, Sanofi-Aventis Israel Ltd, Sanofi-Aventis Korea Co. Ltd, Sanofi-Aventis Liban s.a.l., Sanofi-Aventis Maroc, Sanofi-Aventis Netherlands B.V., Sanofi-Aventis Norge AS, Sanofi-Aventis Pakistan Limited, Sanofi-Aventis Participations, Sanofi-Aventis Philippines Inc., Sanofi-Aventis Private Co Ltd, Sanofi-Aventis Recherche & Developpement, Sanofi-Aventis S.A., Sanofi-Aventis Singapore Pte. Ltd, Sanofi-Aventis South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Sanofi-Aventis Sp. z.o.o., Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC, Sanofi-Aventis UK Holdings Limited, Sanofi-Aventis Winthrop S.A. de C.V., Sanofi-Aventis de Colombia S.A., Sanofi-Aventis de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Sanofi-Aventis de Panama S.A., Sanofi-Aventis de Venezuela S.A., Sanofi-Aventis del Ecuador S.A., Sanofi-Aventis del Peru S.A., Sanofi-Aventis s.r.o., Sanofi-Synthelabo (India) Private Ltd, Sanofi-aventis Vietnam Company Limited, Shenzhen Sanofi pasteur Biological Products Co Ltd, Synthorx, VaxServe Inc., sanofi-aventis Puerto Rico Inc, and sanofi-aventis Slovakia s.r.o.. The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has approved a Dh40 million ($10.8 million) concessionary loan for the development of a rural electrification project in Kalongo, Uganda, a media report said. Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, director-general of ADFD, and Ajedra Gabriel Gadison Aridru, Uganda's Minister of State for Finance Planning and Economic Development, signed the loan agreement at the ADFD headquarters in Abu Dhabi, UAE, reported Emirates news agency Wam. Aimed at electrifying homes, schools, healthcare centres, government offices and commercial, industrial and agricultural establishments, the project seeks to help the government achieve its objective of meeting the rural electricity demand that currently stands at less than seven percent to 26 per cent by 2022. Set to benefit 20,634 consumers over the next 10 years, the rural electrification project is anticipated to improve the living standards of the rural population and minimise migration to cities. Al Suwaidi said: "The UAE, through the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, pursues an active policy of supporting sectors that can accelerate economic development across emerging countries. Among these sectors, energy is of great significance, given its crucial role in poverty eradication and inclusive development. At ADFD, we are committed to supporting the government of Uganda in fulfilling its development objectives through ensuring timely and adequate funding for strategically important projects." The 33kV rural electrification project involves civil and electrical works for the installation of a 139-kilometre transmission line, as well as 88 distribution stations and 415 volts distribution lines on a 167-kilometre stretch that will bring electricity to about 2,000 consumers. The project supports the development of small industries, workshops and agricultural units in rural Uganda, while curbing the over-exploitation of vegetation as a source of energy. In turn, Aridru praised the UAE for its leading development efforts, and acknowledged the important role ADFD has played in advancing sustainable growth in key sectors in Uganda. He explained that this electrification project will go a long way in supporting the Ugandan government in achieving its development priorities. ADFDs engagement in the development of Uganda dates back to 1977. Since then, the fund has extended Dh79 million in loans and government grants towards the development of a number of projects that have positively transformed the livelihood of a sizable rural population and the local economy. Ebrahim K Kanoo, the sole distributor of Toyota vehicles in Bahrain, said it is extending its Ramadan Service promotion campaign for both the Toyota and Lexus customers following an overwhlming demand. Both these promotions will run until the extended date of June 22, said a statement from the company. Under the campaign, Toyota owners can avail a 25 per cent discount on labour and parts charges, 25 per cent discount on Michelin tyres, and up to 25 per cent discount on LLumar and Ziebart car care services, it said. In a similarl fashion, Ebrahim K Kanoo has extended its Ramadan service offer for Lexus vehicles as well. The campaign offers Lexus owners a 25 per cent discount on labour and parts charges; 25 per cent discount on Michelin tyres; and up to 25 per cent discount on LLumar and Ziebart car care services. Lexus owners will get to enjoy the luxury of being welcomed at the exclusive Lexus lounge at Toyota Plaza; where dedicated service advisors will provide customers with personalised service to ensure their utmost peace of mind. Announcing the promotion extension, Michael Goode, the senior general manager of service at Ebrahim K Kanoo, said: "We have had an extraordinarily positive response to our special offers during Ramadan, and we are happy to extend the offer period until June 22 to ensure that our loyal customers benefit from the special discounts and offers." Customers have been taking advantage of the discounts in light of the upcoming summer months when cars will need more regular maintenance check-ups to maintain factory quality, noted Goode. With us, they can also guarantee the genuine spare parts and factory approved service by our team of experts, he added. On the Lexus offer, Goode said: We have decided to extend our service offer for Lexus customers to ensure their peace of mind and guarantee the safety of their vehicles in the upcoming summer months. Our service offer has received positive feedback from our loyal customers and extending its period is the perfect way to reward them, he added.-TradeArabia News Service Abu Dhabi's Yas Waterworld is giving ladies across the UAE the perfect way to escape the heat with the return of Ladies Night on June 21. Set to an Emirati backdrop, Yas Waterworld draws inspiration from the UAEs pearl diving heritage to provide guests with a one-of-a-kind themed experience. Ladies will delve into aquatic adventures based on the parks unique story, The Legend of the Lost Pearl, and take part in over 40 rides, slides, and attractions. Aqua Zumba classes and live DJ sets make the experience the ultimate ladies night out. Yas Waterworld Ladies Night is available every Thursday between 6 and 11 pm. - TradeArabia News Service Kolkata (IANS): Accusing the Narendra Modi government of unleashing organised attack on the countrys economic, social and political institutions while promoting communal tension and divisiveness, a forum of social workers on Thursday urged the people to unite to save democracy in the country. Terming the BJP regime a fascist force, the members of the platform claimed that the government has throttled constitutional rights and destroyed the economy by implementing economic reforms like demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax. The Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unleashed unprecedented attacks, and has taken away constitutional rights of the working class and captured all the constitutional agencies during its four-year tenure. Support TwoCircles It is also encouraging attacks and killings of the minority community in the name of its pro-Hindutva ideology, said Shaktiman Ghosh, general secretary of the National Hawkers Federation. We are organising conventions in all the Bengal districts against this governments anti-people policies. We want all the democracy loving people to unite against these fascist attacks, he added. The forum said that it has started district conventions from June 8 and would look to organise a bigger mass movement against the Centres anti-people policies soon. There is an organised attack on our democracy, constitutional rights, society and banking system. Also the governments aggressive steps to promote Hindutva is destroying the countys age old tradition of communal harmony and co-existence. We want to assemble people from all spheres of the society to come together and transform our protest into a mass movement, said social activist Biswanath Chakraborty. The trustees of Tata Sons on Thursday extended their support to R Venkataramanan in connection with the ongoing bribery investigation against AirAsia Private Limited. Mumbai: The trustees of Tata Sons on Thursday extended their support to R Venkataramanan in connection with the ongoing bribery investigation against AirAsia Private Limited. A combined meeting of the trustees of Tata Trusts was held on Thursday. A statement released by the trust read that they "reaffirmed their complete trust and continued support to Venkataramanan under whose executive leadership as Managing Trustee, the Tata Trusts have done, and are continuing to do, outstanding work across India." "The office of R Venkataramanan, in his capacity as a Non-Executive Director and a nominee of Tata Sons on the Board of Air Asia India Limited, in the Trust office premises, was visited by the authorities and clarifications sought on some papers relating to Air Asia India, some of which were taken by the authorities," the statement added. The trustees further expressed concern that "inaccurate and mischievous reports were carried by some media entities to give an impression that the Tata Trusts' offices were raided by the investigating authorities, which did not take place." "The trustees categorically reiterated that the reported investigations have nothing whatsoever to do with the affairs of any of the Tata Trusts and noted that papers and documents relating to the Trusts were neither seen nor called for by the investigators," the statement further read. Senior officials of India and the US will soon meet to address concerns of both the sides, including issues related with visa, continuation of certain concession for exports, duty on steel and aluminium, and prices of certain medical devices. New Delhi: Senior officials of India and the US will soon meet to address concerns of both the sides, including issues related with visa, continuation of certain concession for exports, duty on steel and aluminium, and prices of certain medical devices. Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu, who was in Washington earlier this week, said he held discussions with US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to find out ways to enhance trade and investments between the two countries. He said the meeting was significantly important in the backdrop of the fact that the US was not even ready to talk on trade related issues with its close trading partners like Canada. "On the day of (my) visit, US President Donald Trump made a statement about G7... In that backdrop the meeting took place. Meeting with the USTR went very well. We made substantive progress on trade and investment issues. "(Now) officers' meeting will take place very soon to discuss all pending issues. We have agreed to work on resolution of various issues and address the concerns of either side," Prabhu told reporters here. He said the meeting of the officers might take place by the end of this month. India has time and again raised concerns over negative impact of tightening of visa norms by the US on Indian IT sector. It has also asked America to continue extending duty free access under Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) to its products such as chemicals and engineering. India also wants exemption from the hike in import duty on certain steel and aluminium items. On the other hand, the US has raised concerns on issues, including high duties on dairy products and motor cycle Harley-Davidson. It has also flagged issues on prices of medical devices in India. When asked about the impact of possible US trade sanctions on Iran, Prabhu said: "UN sanctions we have to follow that but if some country imposes it, then we have to deal in a different way and that is what we are doing". India is one of the major importer of crude oil from Iran besides exporter of basmati rice. On the concerns being raised by the domestic industry on presence of China in the proposed mega trade deal RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership), the minister said that all these issues are raised by India from time to time. "We have not signed any agreement," he said, adding that RCEP will be a reality if all concerns of India are addressed. 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. India's trade deficit with China stands at USD 63.12 billion in 2017-18. Mumbai: Kriti Kharbanda is surely making a impact. The actress, who was known only for her South films till a few years ago, is finally making it count in Bollywood. Starting off with Raaz Reboot, the actress had three films recently, 'Guest Iin London', 'Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana' and 'Veerey Ki Wedding.' But she has now surely joined the big league with two franchise films in her kitty. After bagging the solo female lead with the Deols, Dharmendra, Sunny and Bobby, in Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se', she has now been signed on for Housefull 4. Kriti says, Im truly excited to be a part of two successful franchises 'Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se' and now 'Housefull 4.' I think every movie that belongs to the franchise (Housefull) is simply hilarious and crazy in its own way. The success of all the three films is a testament to the series popularity. Im sure it will be a great experience. With some of the best actors in Bollywood in terms of acting timing like Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh, Kriti will also have to prep hard to keep up with the cast which also includes Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Pooja Hegde and Bobby Deol. But Kriti says, I am currently watching a lot of videos online to understand comic timing since shooting for a comedy isnt easy. The film is set in two eras as it is based on the theme of reincarnation. I am grateful to Sajid Nadiadwala for this opportunity to play two different characters in the film. Also read: Exclusive: Pulkit Samrat and Kriti Kharbanda get candid at Deccan Chronicle office The teaser of Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se was released on Thursday. Opening up on the film, she said, I play a Gujarati girl in the film, so when I had to start dubbing, we have called a Gujarati teacher during dubbing so we get the diction, attitude and pronunciation right. It was a big challenge because being a Punjabi to be able to grasp a certain kind of Gujarati accent without actually sounding like Im putting on the accent wasnt easy. I play a doctor who is quite ambitious and is quite eager to learn things and thats what I really enjoyed working on the character. Its a special film and close to my heart. Since its an ensemble, it was one of the most liberating experiences because I wasnt used to working with so many actors on one set. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with Dharmendraji, Sunny sir and Bobby Deol. Everyone was amazing with everyone. The songs in the movie are fantastic, massy and cool. Im actually looking forward to audiences reaction to it. Also read: Hyderabad is my second home, says Yamla Pagla Deewana 3 actress Kriti Kharbanda Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se releases on 15 August. By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net Srinagar: On Thursday, June 14 evening, Kashmir valley went into mourning after one of its senior journalist and editor of newspaper Rising Kashmir Shujaat Bukhari along with his two security guards were assassinated by three gunmen inside the press enclave. A hub of newspaper offices and meeting point for journalists in Srinagar district, the press enclave is located in the city centre near historic Lal Chowk. Support TwoCircles According to J&K police, Bukhari was travelling in a car near Press enclave where he was fired upon indiscriminately, which resulted in his instant death along with a Personal Security Officer (PSO) whereas another PSO succumbed to his injuries in a local hospital. Preliminary investigation finding indicates this as a militant attack, the police spokesman said. In last 28 years, 19 journalists including Bukhari have been killed in conflict-torn Jammu and Kashmir. The assassination of Bukhari has rattled Kashmiris in general and journalism fraternity in particular. He was the most active member of the fraternity and an activist journalist. He was always on the forefront regarding the issues concerning the fraternity, Sajjad Haider Ansari, founder and Editor-in-chief of newspaper Kashmir Observer told TwoCircles.net. His loss will be felt for a long time, he added. For those who have worked under him remember Bukhari as a peace seeker, guide and a mentor whose place can never be filled. He was a father figure for all those newcomers who wanted to enter this industry and was always accessible for everyone, recalls Irfan Rashid who worked with Rising Kashmir for more than a year. We are feeling as if our father has been snatched from us. We have been orphaned and the void created by him can never be filled, he adds. Widespread Condemnation Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has termed Bukharis brutal murder as a major blow for the Kashmiri media community. It comes just as the United Nations is calling for an investigation into human rights abuses in Kashmir, RSFs Asia-Pacific desk said. We urge the local and national authorities to shed all possible light on this horrific crime, which has silenced one of Kashmirs leading independent and moderate voices. It has further urged the authorities to do everything possible to find his killers. Committee to Protect Journalists termed attack on Bukhari as an attack on freedom of the press and a profound loss to the journalism community. Journalists working in Jammu and Kashmir have long been subject to a range of threats. Authorities must turn this rising tide of risks by thoroughly investigating this murder and holding the perpetrators to account, said Robert Mahoney, CPJs deputy executive director. Given the number of unsolved journalist murders and the political turmoil in Kashmir, we are concerned whether the Indian authorities will investigate this murder in a timely and effective manner, he further added. Doctors Association of Kashmir (DAK), a body of doctors in the valley while expressing their anguish has said, it is very hard and shocking to believe that we have lost the most thorough professional person of the journalist fraternity to the pangs of death. Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani in a statement issued to the press has said that the difference of opinion is no way a crime to kill a person. It is against the moral and human ethics to kill a person without any justification, he said. Demand for probe Kashmir Editors Guild (KEG), a body of editors in Kashmir while strongly condemning the dastardly attack on Bukhari termed it as another shameful attack on the media in Kashmir that has been surviving with such attacks since 1989. While warning the players of Kashmir turmoil that killing journalists will perpetuate the crisis further has asked for a speedy investigation into the brutal attack so that killers are identified and punished. The Editors Guild of India has also called upon the government of Jammu and Kashmir to take urgent steps to bring to book the culprits and ensure safety and security for the media in the state. The killing of Mr Bukhari is a new low in a rapidly deteriorating environment for media practitioners in Kashmir, in particular, and in the country in general, it said. This is a tragic, terrible and barbaric incident. It is the loss of whole Kashmiri nation. It is an attack on the people of Kashmir, said Rao Farman Ali a political commentator and author of the book History of Armed Struggles in Kashmir, who feels that the situation in the valley has become anarchic and directionless and that is the reason that non-combatants are becoming victims of the violence. This needs to be probed, locally and internationally by constituting a commission which should have neutral persons as its members, he further told TwoCircles.net. Meanwhile, the state police have released two CCTV grabs of suspects and have sought the help of the general public in solving the case. Ranveer Singh and Ranbir Kapoor fans might not like each other, but the two actors seem to gel along really well in real life. They were recently entertaining, and as one can remember, Ranveer had even picked up Ranbir amidst their dance. So will they do a movie together? "So, I want to do a film with him (Ranveer) but I guess it just has to be the right film. Something like Karan Arjun, Andaaz Apna Apna or Deewaar it could be anything, any genre but it has to be a genre that both of us really connect with," Ranbir told News 18. Meanwhile, Ranveer, who is shooting for Simmba in Hyderabad, might not know how superstar Ajith gave up his hotel room for the actor. Ajith, who was already staying in the hotel, had to extent his stay as the shoot got delayed too. This led to his room going to Ranveer, but not making much fuss out of it, Ajith, according to a report on Pinkvilla, asked his production team to give him a room with a bed and fan. Sohail Khan has rubbished a newspaper report claiming that comic virtuoso Kapil Sharma would be making a comeback through his next directorial venture. In response to the report, the actor has said, I know of no such project. A source close to Kapil says, Those who dont know Kapil well would presume hes planting these stories to stay in the news. However, Kapil wont be doing another feature film for a very long time. He is rightly convinced that his career reached a dead end suddenly because he was trying to keep up with the impossible schedules of his television show while shooting for a feature film. The source also says Kapils full attention would now be on recreating the magic of The Kapil Sharma Show all over again. He is working on it and there will be an announcement soon, the source reveals. Recent reports of the arrest of an NRI businessman operating a sex racket with Telugu actresses in the US has earned the Telugu Film Industry a bad name. In response, the Movie Artiste Association (MAA), has decided to henceforth oversee actors travels abroad, especially to the USA. Sivaji Raja, the president of the MAA, says that he is asking everyone to consult with the MAA before making travel plans. Whoever wants to go to the US to participate in private events, should inform the MAA before leaving. We will guide artistes and verify if the event being organised is real or fake, he says, adding that the association is in touch with the leaders of other organisations like TANA and ATA. Many event managers invite actresses for fake events and lure them with money. If actresses inform us of these invitations, we can consult with people there and look after their safety, Raja says. The MAA president says that everyone knows that some actresses participate in nefarious activities just for the money. But the entire Film Industry is being blamed for the actions of one or two people. Its good that the American government has arrested the people behind this dirty racket, he says. Adivi Seshs upcoming film Goodachari finally has a release date in sight August 3. Directed by Sasikaran Tikka and produced by Abhishek Nama, shooting for the film has been completed recently. It is now in the post-production stage. Goodachari is poised to be Supriya Yarlagaddas comeback film. According to a source, the actress, Nagarjunas niece, plays a cop in it. Senior actor Prakash Raj is also said to have an important role in the film. Adivi Sesh, apart from taking on the role of the male lead, has helped write the story and screenplay of the film. Sobhita Dhulipala who is making her Telugu debut, plays the female lead. Interestingly, the film has been shot in many locations in the US, Hyderabad, Himachal Pradesh, New Delhi, and Vizag. The bond shared between a father and his child can seldom be put into words. Celebrated each year on the third Sunday of June, the day is dedicated to expressing your love and gratitude to the superhero who has stood by you, all through your lives. From holding your hands while you took your first step, to standing outside your school gates on your very first day in the outside world, to always lending a shoulder when you are in trouble, dads are the absolute best. The one person who has always given you invaluable life lessons to take on the world, the day is specially marked for the one man in your life, you can always count on. In conversation with 4 successful entrepreneurs share stories about their dads and talk about the bonds they share with them. Happy Fathers Day! Dishant Pritamani, Founder at The Daily Bar & Kitchen, Mumbai and Daily All Day, Pune Dishant Pritamani For the young restaurateur his favourite memories with his father has always revolved around food. My father has always been a foodie and would enjoy occasionally experimenting in the kitchen. Definitely my fondest memory of him is when he used to get the time to cook a fabulous, innovative dish for us! As for what Fathers Day means to him, he says, Its great to see fathers get that extra importance one day of the year. He adds that it feels great to celebrate their generosity and wisdom. Ask him about what is so special in a father-child relationship, he says, Your dad is your first teacher; the more you listen to him, the quicker you grow! Divya Jain, Founder & CEO Safeducate Divya Jain For Jain, her favourite moment with her dad included sitting on his shoulder with his coat around her as it rained cats and dogs while they walked the streets of Rome She also reminisces, Our evening walks outside our house as we debated life and the world and he helped me make my lifes most important decisions. Another thing that I remember is him sitting in a car outside as he waited for me to come back from that one late night party I insisted I go for in college. Ask her what is the significance of the day according to her? She says, We get so lost in the hustle bustle of life and work, its a lovely day to just take a break and be my fathers little one. Jain however reminds everyone that despite everything the situation of women around the country is perhaps not that good. Fathers who should be protecting them, often end up being the bane in their lives. Women are far more empowered today than they were a decade ago but there is still miles to go. The girl child still lacks adequate nourishment and needs to drop out from school to meet the families needs, as a country we need to start looking after our girls. Beas Dev Ralhan, Co-founder and CEO, NextEducation India Private Limited Beas Dev Ralhan For Ralhan his fondest memories with his father are during his growing up years in Punjab. He is my biggest inspiration. He was also an entrepreneur, and I have learnt most of my business management lessons from him. He taught me that patience is the key to run a business, he says, adding that for him everyday is Fathers Day. I don't need a seperate day to be grateful to my father for being the person he is. As for his favourite quote on a father-daughter relationship (he himself has a little girl), he adds, Its a very special relationship. I pamper my little princess just like other fathers, but I also prepare her to grow up to be an independent and intelligent individual. Arushi Verma, Co-Founder, FITPASS Arushi Verma Verma says that to her, everyday is Fathers Day and one should always cherish the moments they have with their parents. Reminiscing upon memories she has with her father, Verma says hat growing up, her dad always emphasised on being positive through the course of life. Every instance when I felt low or out of control, he would always reassure me and tell me that when youre positive, everything moves towards positivity, she says. As for what she feels about the bond shared between a dad and her little girl, she adds that not only fathers, but daughters too have a really great influence on their fathers. Fathers can play a great role in speeding up the situation of women in our country, she concludes. Bengaluru: Parshuram Ashok Wagmare alias Parashu alias Builder alias Kohli (26) a communal rowdy sheeter from Sindhagi in Vijayapura district who has reportedly confessed to killing journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh on September 5 last year outside her house in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, using the country-made 7.65mm pistol, was part of a gang of killers that targeted rationalists and Hindutva critics. Wagmare was spotted and "tasked" for the ideological killing by 37-year-old Pune-based engineer Amol Kale, who has also been arrested for alleged involvement in the case. In fact, investigators are now on the hunt for the man, who drove the black Pulsar motorcycle on that fateful night when Gauri killer Wagmare rode pillion, as he is reportedly the killer of rationalist Prof M.M. Kalburgi, sources on condition of anonymity told Deccan Chronicle. Wagmare was riding pillion and the man, who drove the motorcycle that fateful night, is Prof Kalburgi's killer. He is on the run, but we should get him soon, said a source on condition of anonymity. Wagmare along with five other accused has been arrested for their alleged involvement in the Gauri murder case and conspiracy to eliminate noted writer Prof K.S. Bhagwan by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and is currently lodged in judicial custody at Bengaluru Central Prison. To confirm Wagmare's confession, the SIT had planned a "strategic" chance encounter between him and Amol Kale while they were in police custody on Wednesday night, a day before they were produced before the 1st ACMM court in the City. An unsuspecting Kale, who had been maintaining a stoic silence before the SIT, was reportedly taken aback when he saw Wagmare. "He shouted and banged his head on the wall when he saw Wagmare, who was also in police custody along with him and other accused at an undisclosed location. They were kept separately and the chance meeting was part of the interrogation strategy to surprise Kale. When he saw Wagmare, he knew that his game was up and that the latter would have spilled the beans to the SIT," said the source. Kale is a former convener of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS), which is an affiliate of Sanathan Sanstha in Ponda, South Goa. According to the SIT, Kale had strategically distanced himself from the right-wing after the 2008 Malegaon blast to keep away from any controversy, though he was reportedly involved in their activities, especially in "talent spotting". "Kale had allegedly recruited Wagmare to finish off Gauri and had trained him in sharpshooting for the job. This was Wagmare's first murder," said the officer. When Wagmare stunned Kale! To confirm Wagmare's confession, the SIT had planned a strategic chance encounter between him and Amol Kale while they were in custody on Wednesday night, a day before they were produced before a city court. An unsuspecting Kale, who had been maintaining silence before the SIT, was taken aback when he saw Wagmare. "He shouted and banged his head on the wall when he saw Wagmarre, the police said. PERSON OF INTEREST According to sources, Amit Degwekar - the 37-year-old alleged 'ashramite' from Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, is another person of interest in the Gauri murder case. He was arrested along with Kale and Manohar Edave of Vijayapura district in the third week of May for alleged involvement in the conspiracy to kill Bhagwan. "Degwekar was involved in the publication of the SS magazine, 'Sanatan Prabhat', and he used to live in the ashram. How and why did he get involved in an alleged ideological murder case need to be investigated," said the source. The arrest of K.T. Naveen alias Hotte Manja on March 2 for allegedly providing logistical support to Gauri killers was the first breakthrough in the rather "dead end" case, which has picked pace since then. Karimnagar: A stalker slit his former girlfriends throat in broad daylight on Friday, just three weeks after he reportedly wrote a note promising not to harass her. Their families reportedly broke up their relationship because they belonged to different castes. The incident occurred in front of the Karimnagar collectorate. The victim, V. Rasagna, 22, succumbed to her injuries on way to the hospital. She was undergoing training in online services at a Mee Seva Centre in front of the collectorate. The stalker, S. Vamshidhar, 30, who tried to cut his wrists, was detained by locals and beaten up before he was handed over to the police. They were both natives of Godavarikhani in Peddapalli district. Sources said they were in a relationship for three years. Because they belonged to different castes, their families told them to separate amicably. Rasagnas family members showed the media a letter allegedly written by Vamshidhar in which he purportedly stated that they were in love for the last three years. They had developed differences around six months ago, and he had promised in the letter that he would not harass her and would delete her photographs from his mobile phone. He wrote in the latter dated May 28 that he was ready to face any punishment if he was caught misbehaving with Rasagna or her family. The letter was reportedly written by Vamshidhar in front of the community elders and family members. According to a Mee Seva centre owner Raju, Rasagna was training for two months and has been staying at a private hostel. Vamshidhar came to the centre at about 10.30 am and Rasagna took permission to meet him outside. When she emerged from the centre, Vamshidhar caught hold of her and slit her throat while she was struggled to escape. She fell and was lying in a pool of blood. The staff at the Mee Seva centre and bystanders apprehended Vamshidhar who was trying to slit his wrist. He was shifted to the I-Town police station and later to Konaraopet police station. Karimnagar police commissioner V.B. Kamalasan Reddy visited the scene of offence and conducted an inquired about the incident. Rasagnas family members staged a protest in front of the government hospital, where her body was taken, demanding that the police kill Vamshidhar in an encounter to do justice to the victim. New Delhi: Four ambulances, driving a group of doctors and paramedics suddenly arrived at Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's office on Friday afternoon, fuelling speculation that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his three ministers would be forcibly removed from the guest room where they have been protesting for the last four days. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendar Jain are on an indefinite fast for the last three and four days respectively and have threatened to stop taking water as well in case of forceful eviction. A team of doctors examined Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain as well as Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Arvind Kejriwal and his ministers have not moved from the orange sofa of the room that is about two doors from where the L-G has been holding his meetings. One ambulance has made an occasional appearance each day to conduct medical tests so far. Arvind Kejriwal and the protesting Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ministers have been urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and L-G Anil Baijal to find a solution to end the impasse since the sit-in began on Monday evening. They are demanding an end of IAS "officers" strike and approval of doorstep delivery of ration scheme. On Friday morning, Arvind Kejriwal put out a video message attacking the BJP and alleging the bureaucrats' strike was to "throw roadblocks" before the AAP government. In the video, he says: "Tell me one person who can say the strike of IAS officers is justified. I am surprised that it is the 5th day and the L-G is not ready to get it done. I cannot believe it." Following it up with his second letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said: "I have told the LG and (deputy chief minister) Manish Sisodia wrote a letter to him (Anil Baijal) yesterday and even sent a message on WhatsApp. But, no response from his side. We got no response to the letter I wrote to the PM. So, today again I wrote to the Prime Minister." With his office "occupied", L-G Anil Baijal has been holding meetings with officers at the camp office at his home just behind the Delhi Secretariat. Jaipur: French national Gaelle Chouteau who was reportedly missing for last two weeks was found on Thursday evening. She was traced to an organic farmhouse at Sare-Khurd village under Bhiwadi, about 100 km from Alwar. Good News. French national Ms Gaelle Chouteau is safe and secure, the Rajasthan Police tweeted. The 20-year-old French tourist, who had left Pushkar for Jaipur on June 1, could not be traced since then was found at an organic farmhouse under Chaupanki police station by SHO Sunil Jangid, the police said in its tweet. Good news! French National Ms Gaelle Chouteau is safe & secure. @AlwarPolice SHO Sri Sunil Jangid traced her in a farmhouse in Chaupanki PS area in an intensified search operations after alerted by hon @FranceinIndia. We shall keep you posted.@VasundharaBJP @SushmaSwaraj pic.twitter.com/o5mkSQy0AJ Rajasthan Police (@PoliceRajasthan) June 14, 2018 The French Embassy was informed and she also spoke to them as well as her parents over the phone. She had come to Satya-Jyoti Organic farmhouse on June 1 afternoon by boarding a bus via Jaipur and alighted at Daruhera where a person from the farmhouse received her, Bhiwadi Additional SP Pushpendra Singh Solanki said. Also Read: 21-yr-old French woman missing from Rajasthan for nearly 2 weeks Through emails, she had come in contact with the organic farm which is linked to the World Organisation of Organic Farmers. She had also sent a text to her parents on WhatsApp informing about her visit, but they did not see it and informed the French Embassy. Earlier on Wednesday, French Ambassador in India Alexandre Ziegler tweeted about the disappearance of Chouteau and asked the information on her whereabouts. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also took cognizance of the matter, following which the Rajasthan police started the investigation. Hyderabad: The Falaknuma police issued a notice to Goshamahal BJP legislator T. Raja Singh on Thursday asking him to appear before it for investigation into a case registered against him for promoting enmity between groups. According to Falaknuma inspector, P. Yadagiri, a case was registered against the legislator after he made some remarks against the Quran earlier this week. The MLA had demanded that a ban be imposed on the green book as it is the cause of terrorism in the country and he would fight for it to be banned. He further said that only those begging for vote host Iftar parties, and declared he would neither host nor attend such events The legislator said that these days, many legislators are busy hosting Iftar parties and wearing skull caps. They think if they have to do vote bank politics, they will have to think of sabka saath, sabka vikas (together will all, development for all). Those attending Iftar are beggars for vote. My thinking is different, he said. DCP, (south) V. Satyanararyana said that the notice was issued under Section 41 of CrPC. Union minister of state for home affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir made it clear that ceasefire violations would be countered too. (Representational Image | PTI) Kolkata: Union minister of state for home affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir on Friday informed that the Centre would take a final call on the ceasefire extension as the holy month of Ramzan ends. He asserted that the people of Kashmir want the ceasefire to continue and the counter-terror operations to remain suspended. Ahir, however, made it clear that ceasefire violations would be countered too. Speaking to the media at the state BJP headquarters in Kolkata, Ahir said: "The people of Kashmir are satisfied. They demand the security operations to remain suspended. We have been staying determined to keep the people happy and safe and secure our country from any type of threat. We will do whatever is required to meet that aim." He pointed out that the Centre would take a decision about whether the ceasefire should be extended or not and if the operations in the Valley would continue to remain suspended or not. The Union minister observed, "The anti-terror operations have remained suspended in Kashmir as of now. The decision has been accepted by the people of Kashmir. But it did not satisfy Pakistan or the terrorist outfits which have unleashed violence and kept firing to renew the unrest in the valley." On the response to ceasefire violations, Ahir mentioned, "We want peace. Our priority is to keep our people happy and safe. We are not trigger-happy. But that does not imply we would not reply to ceasefire violations. Kashmir has been burning for decades due to terrorist activities. We have always given a befitting reply to the terror tactics of Pakistan." Underlining the Modi governments declaration of the ceasefire keeping the holy month of Ramzan in mind, Ahir accused Pakistan of violating the ceasefire repeatedly. Condemning the brutal killing of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari in Srinagar on Thursday, Ahir stressed that none of the accused would be spared. "We condemn the murder of such a famous journalist. The chief minister has ordered an investigation into it. The culprits will be punished. None of them will be spared," the Union minister said. Hundreds of people offered prayers at Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday to mark the end of the holy month. (Photo: ANI) Mumbai: Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the culmination of the Muslim holy month of Ramzan, was observed in Kerala on Friday. Earlier, Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Ahmed Bukhari said Eid would be celebrated across the country on June 16, as there was no sight of the moon anywhere. However, in Kerala, Eid will be celebrated on Friday as the moon was sighted in Kozhikode, a top cleric said. Hundreds of people offered prayers at Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram to mark the end of the holy month. Along with devotees, Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor, was also present at the venue. Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramzan, symbolises peace and brotherhood. The festival is marked with feasts and the faithful offers prayers at mosques and idgahs to seek blessings of the divine. People, especially children dress up in their traditional fineries to mark the festival that spreads the message of brotherhood and communal amity. The date and time of Eid differ in various countries, depending upon the sighting of the crescent moon. While Australia and New Zealand will ring in the festival on Saturday, Singapore and Malaysia are observing it on Friday. Eid is also being celebrated in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on Friday. (With inputs from agencies) The trio were returning home on a motorcycle on Wednesday evening when a group of 20 men, with firearms, waylaid the family. (Representational Image) Gaya: In a shocking and cruel act, a man was tied to a tree as his wife and 12-year-old daughter were gang-raped at gunpoint by around 20 men on Wednesday in Bihar's Gaya. The trio were returning home on a motorcycle on Wednesday evening when a group of 20 men, with firearms, waylaid the family. "The three were passing through Sondiha on a motorcycle when they were waylaid by the youths carrying firearms. They raped the mother and the daughter after tying the father to a tree," Inspector General of Police, Patna Zone, Naiyar Hasnain Khan, said. In his statement to the police, the man said he tried to fight the men but was overpowered. The police have detained 20 people, of which two have been identified by the mother, SSP Gaya informed. Local villagers reportedly helped the police catch the accused by putting up roadblocks to block their escape, reported NDTV. "It also came to light during investigation that before the gang-rape incident, the same group of youths snatched away mobile phones and cash from a couple of students passing through the village," Khan said. Efforts are on to arrest others involved in the crime, he said, adding that the station house officer (SHO) has been suspended with immediate effect for the lapse on his part, and a departmental action will follow. A bearded man, wearing a white kurta and skull cap, can be seen in the photo checking on the victims, right after terrorists shot Shujaat Bukhari about 15 times. (Photo: Twitter | @JmuKmrPolice) Srinagar: The fourth suspect in the killing of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari in Srinagar has been arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir police hours after his photo was released on Friday. "A suspect has been taken into custody," S P Pani, IG Kashmir told the media on Friday evening. The police officer said that the fourth suspect in the killing of editor of 'Rising Kashmir' newspaper has been identified. "His role for the recovery of the pistol has been done. Investigation of the case is underway," S P Pani said. Earlier on Friday, the Jammu and Kashmir police released the photo of the fourth suspect, a bearded man, in a white kurta and skull cap, checking on the bodies in the car, not long after Shujaat Bukhari was shot dead. Read: Police release photo of fourth suspect in journalist Shujaat Bukhari's killing As someone pulls out one of the bodies from the car, the suspect is seen picking up a pistol and leaving the crime spot. The gun has been recovered from him. The fourth man is suspected to be a local. "As far as the case (Shujaat Bukhari killing case) is concerned at this stage it is a terror incident. It is a terrorist-related crime. We are investigating into the case," IG Kashmir said. The Inspector General of Kashmir further said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted and DIG central Kashmir is heading the investigating team that will probe into the killing of veteran journalist Shujaat Bukhari. The Editor-in-Chief of 'Rising Kashmir' newspaper was killed at around 7:30 pm on Thursday when he had stepped out of his office in Press Enclave to attend an Iftar party. The police suspect the killers were working for the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Hours after senior journalist Shujaat Bhukari was shot dead on Thursday evening, the police released security footage of the terrorists on a bike. The faces of the rider and the third man are hidden by a helmet and a mask. The man between the rider and the one on pillion is seen holding what seems to be a sack of weapons. His face is shielded from the CCTV cameras by the third man. Shujaat Bukhari was given police protection after an attempt on his life in 2000. According to reports, the father of two, Shujaat Bukhari, was also said to be on a terrorist hit list. In 2006, Shujaat Bukhari was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen who then attempted to shoot him at close range. Miraculously, the gunman's pistol got locked and the senior journalist ran for his life. In recent weeks, he had strongly backed the internal ceasefire announced by the Centre for Ramzan. Just days ago, he tweeted on the killings of two policemen in Pulwama in south Kashmir. "It is heart wrenching to see these policemen getting killed during Shab e Qadr. May the families have courage to bear the loss. At the end two more Kashmiris lose lives. Violence must stop to create a space for dialogue," he posted. The police have put out a public appeal for help to identify the killers from the CCTV images. The police assured that the identity of the informant would be kept confidential. Days after swearing-in as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, H D Kumaraswamy met representatives of farmers groups in Bengaluru and discussed the problems faced by them. (Photo: File) Bengaluru: Committed towards waiving farm loans, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today said that his government is working on the modalities of farm loan waivers. Taking to Twitter, the Chief Minister said he wants to ensure that the loan waiver is developed from a scientifically-procured process so that it may benefit maximum number of farmers. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said he is working on the modalities and will announce it shortly. Dear farmers Let there be no confusion on farm loan waiver. I am fully committed to the loan waiver. I want to ensure it is done scientifically benefitting maximum farmers. I am working on the the modalities and will announce it shortly.#farmers #farmloanwaiver CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) June 15, 2018 Days after swearing-in as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, H D Kumaraswamy met representatives of farmers groups in Bengaluru and discussed the problems faced by them. This government is not in the sleeping mode. We are at the work of Karnataka citizens, Kumaraswamy said after the meeting of farmer leaders, top officials and the BJP to draw up the contours of the loan waiver. Also Read: Govt not in sleeping mode: H D Kumaraswamy after farmers' meet During the meeting, Kumaraswamy also promised to honour his commitment towards the farming community on farm loans within 15 days of coming to power. Waiving farmers' loan was one of the main focuses of Janata Dal (Secular) leader H D Kumaraswamy's campaign during the May 12 Karnataka Assembly elections. Chennai: The Madras high court on Thursday dismissed writ petitions seeking direction to authorities to collect the expenses incurred from the candidates, who indulged in corrupt practices in Aravakuruchi and Thanjavur Assembly elections resulting cancellation of these polls on May 27, 2016. Dismissing the PILs the First Bench Comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M. Sundar said may be the Election Commission of India with its wide powers to ensure free and fair elections might make a recommendation for suitable enactment and/or amendment of law. However, until such law is passed, this Court cannot pass orders as prayed for and these writ petitions are dismissed. In a country governed by a Constitution, of which separation of powers between the Legislatures, the Executive and the Judiciary is a basic feature, this Court cannot take over Legislative or Executive functions. It is for the Legislature to enact a law to provide for recovery of waste of public money caused by wrongful acts of contesting candidates, the bench said. Dismissing the PILs, the bench said there is no specific provision in the Constitution or in the Representation of Peoples Act 1951 Act for recovery of expenses incurred by the Election Commission and/or by the State for preparation for elections from a candidate whose alleged acts lead to deferment or cancellation of elections. It is true that unscrupulous candidates contesting elections should not be allowed to go scot-free when they disrupt elections and thereby cause huge wasteful expenditure to the State exchequer. However, this public interest litigation cannot be stretched to take over all acts of governance. The Bench said there are no international conventions with regard to realization of costs of postponement and/or cancellation of elections from the person responsible for postponement and/or cancellation. Non recovery from errant contesting candidates of the costs of postponement or cancellation of election, incurred by the state does not infringe any legal or fundamental right. Parashuram Waghmare, the last of the six suspects arrested in connection with the killing of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, was her assassin, the SIT probing the sensational case said today. (Photo: File) Bengaluru: Parashuram Waghmare, the last of the six suspects arrested in connection with the killing of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, was her assassin, the SIT probing the sensational case said today. A senior official in the Special Investigation Team also said the same weapon was used to shoot Gauri Lankesh, rationalists Govind Pansare and M M Kalburgi. "Waghmare shot Lankesh and the forensic report has confirmed that (rationalists) Govind Pansare, M M Kalburgi and Lankesh were murdered with the same weapon," a senior officer in the SIT told news agency PTI wishing not to be named. He, however, said the weapon was yet to be traced. Read: I pumped 3 bullets into Gauri Lankesh, says Parashuram Waghmare Forensic examination can lead to such a conclusion when the hammer of a gun has left identical marks at the rear of a bullet even if the weapon itself has not been found. The official said the organisation, composed of people drawn from Hindu right groups, had around 60 members spread across at least five states but had no name. "We discovered that this gang has a network in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka. We did not find their Uttar Pradesh connection so far," the official said. Also Read: Forensic report reveals Gauri Lankesh, MM Kalburgi killed using same gun He said though it recruited people from hardline Hindutva organisations like Maharashtra-based Hindu Jagruti Samiti and Sanatan Sanstha, these outfits may not be directly responsible for the killings. Both organisations had denied their role in the killing of the three. Also Read: Gauri Lankesh murder: Key accused says Hindutva outfit leader involved Sujith Kumar alias Praveen used to recruit people for the gang, the official said, adding it was following his interrogation that the network was busted. The SIT, he said, suspected three more people were present when Gauri Lankesh was shot dead at the entrance of her Bengaluru residence on September 5, 2017. Speculation was rife that Parshuram Waghmare, whose physical appearance matched that of the man whose image was caught on the CCTV camera at Gauri Lankesh's home on the day of the killing, was her assassin. The officer said the gang meticulously planned its operations before executing them. The entire process of reconnaissance, identifying the weaknesses of the targets and their elimination would take anywhere between six months and a year. "The gang had almost reached the last phase of killing Prof K S Bhagawan (Kannada writer) when we nabbed them," the officer said. The Karnataka police had uncovered the plot to kill Bhagwan recently, and it was during the interrogation of the four arrested accused that they grew suspicious about their involvement in Gauri Lankesh's killing. Bhagwan had often angered the right-wing outfits with his writing and utterances against Hindu Gods. The SIT had recently recovered a diary from the suspects which contained a hit list of targets. The name of film and theatre personality Girish Karnad figured in the list, the officer said, adding the Jnanpith awardee's surveillance was in the "last phase". Other than Bhagvan and Karnad, former minister and literatteur B T Lalitha Naik, rationalist C S Dwarakanath and pontiff Veerabhadra Channamalla Swamy of Nidumamidi Mutt were also onthe hit list. All of them have been quite vocal in criticising the Hindu right. Also Read: Gauri Lankesh murder: Girish Karnad too on the hit list, says SIT Kalburgi, a Sahitya Akademi Award winner and a doughty campaigner against superstition in Hinduism, was shot dead in August 2015 at his home in Karnataka's Dharwad district. In February the same year, Govind Pansare, a Left politician and rationalist, was shot at and fatally injured by unidentified assailants in Kolhapur in Maharashtra. A bearded man, wearing a white kurta and skull cap, can be seen in the photo checking on the victims, right after terrorists shot Shujaat Bukhari about 15 times. (Photo: Twitter | @JmuKmrPolice) Srinagar: A day after terrorists shot dead veteran journalist and editor-in-chief of Kashmir daily Rising Kashmir Shujaat Bukhari and his two personal security officers in the heart of Srinagar, the police today have released a photo of the fourth suspect in the case. A bearded man, wearing a white kurta and skull cap, can be seen in the photo checking on the victims, right after terrorists shot Shujaat Bukhari about 15 times. As a man pulls out the body of Shujaat Bukhari's guard from the car, the suspect is seen picking up his pistol and disappearing from the scene, reports news agency PTI. Shujaat Bukhari was killed by three bike-borne terrorists, seen on security footage carrying weapons in a sack. Read: Police seek help to identify journalist Shujaat Bukhari's killers seen on CCTV The killers were ready to strike as 52-year-old Shujaat Bukhari emerged from his office in Srinagar's Press Enclave and got into his car to drive to an Iftar party. Shujaat Bukhari was given police protection after an attempt on his life in 2000. Also Read: 'Rising Kashmir' editor Shujaat Bukhari shot dead by 3 bike-borne terrorists According to reports, the father of two, Shujaat Bukhari, was also said to be on a terrorist hit list. The police have put out a public appeal for help to identify the killers from the CCTV images. Also Read: Voice of veteran journalist Shujaat Bukhari silenced, here's who he was Hundreds of mourners in Kashmir joined the funeral procession of Shujaat Bukhari today. The senior journalist was shot dead by terrorists at around 7:30 pm yesterday. Also Read: 'Rising Kashmir' voice mourned by nation, Shujaat Bukhari laid to rest The funeral took place in Bukharis ancestral village, Kreeri in Baramulla. Pathankot: One of the witnesses in the Kathua gangrape and murder case has been threatened by the accused, the Jammu and Kashmir Police said on Thursday in an application before a court in Pathankot. SSP (Crime Branch) Jammu, Ramesh Kumar Jalla in the application before the District and Sessions Court, which is hearing the case, alleged that the witness, whose statement was being recorded, was threatened by the accused, defence lawyer AK Sawhney told reporters outside the court. However, the defence counsel objected to it and termed it as a sensational application moved to hype the matter in media. It could be motivated by the prosecution or someone else... this all is being done to get Z-grade security, the defence lawyer said. Also, District and Sessions Judge Tajwinder Singh ordered the superintendent of the Kathua Jail to ensure that the relatives can meet the accused in the prison immediately after reaching there and need not wait. The judge passed the order in response to an application moved by the lawyers of the family of one of the accused, Tilak Raj. The defence counsel had said since the accused are moved from Kathua Jail to the court on daily basis and have to leave at around 9 am, their families are unable to meet them. On a request of perjury by the defence counsel, the court asked the prosecution to again submit translated copies of statements of the case from Urdu to English to everybody. Also, the statement of a witness was recorded, the counsel said. An eight-year-old nomadic girl was gangr-aped and murdered in Kathua district in January. The district and sessions court framed charges under various sections of the Ranbir Penal Code (applicable in Jammu and Kashmir). These include Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder) and 376-D (gangrape). The court also framed charges for destruction of evidence and under section 328 (causing hurt by poisoning with an intent to hurt) of the RPC. According to the charge sheet, the victim was held in captivity at a small village temple in Kathua district where she was kept sedated and sexually assaulted before she was bludgeoned to death. On January 23, about a week after the body was discovered, the government handed over the case to the crime branch, which formed a Special Investigation Team. The trial in the case began on May 31 with the seven accused being produced before the district and sessions judge after the Supreme Court transferred the case from Jammu and Kashmir to Pathankot for a fair trial following a plea by the victims family. While transferring the case from Kathua to Pathankot, about 30 km away, the apex court directed day-to-day in-camera trial in the case. Three militants who killed journalist Shujaat Bukhari caught on CCTV camera. Pictures released by Jammu and Kashmir Police. (Photo: PTI) Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir police late on Thursday night released CCTV pictures of the bike-borne assailants who might have shot senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari outside his office in Srinagar. The photos show the assailants riding a motorcycle and a small sack which may have been used to carry the weapons for the shootout. While the assailant riding the motorcycle is seen wearing a helmet, the other two riding pillion are seen covering their faces using a mask. (Photo: PTI) The Kashmir Zone Police took to Twitter to release the pictures on Thursday night and appealed to the public to keep an eye out for the bike-borne assailants. Also Read: Voice of veteran journalist Shujaat Bukhari silenced, here's who he was Bukhari had stepped out of his office in Press Enclave in Srinagar city centre Lal Chowk for an Iftar party on Thursday evening. The journalist and two of his personal security officers were attacked and were rushed to hospital. The senior journalist died on his way to the hospital. Both the personal security officers also died of their injuries. This is the first attack on a journalist in a long time in Kashmir which has been facing severe attacks on civilians and security personnel in the recent past. Indian Army soldier Aurangzeb velonged to 4 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and was posted at the 44 Rashtriya Rifles camp at Shadimarg in Shopian. (Photo: ANI | Twitter) Srinagar: It's Eid, end of the holy month of Ramzan and people who stay in various corners of the world visit their respective homes to spend the festival with their family and loved ones. Indian Army Rifleman Aurangzeb was on his way home in Rajouri district to celebrate Eid when he was abducted by terrorists in Pulwana on Thursday and was later killed. The mother of Aurangzeb, who was waiting for her son's return, made appeals to the kidnappers for his release. She said, "Allah ke liye usey chhod do, uske saath Eid manana chahti hun main (please release my son for God's sake, I want to celebrate Eid with him)." The appeal of the mother fell on deaf ears as the abductors killed Aurangzeb. His body was found on Thursday evening from Pulwama's Gusoo. The Army jawan was shot in his head and neck. Also Read: J&K: Bullet-ridden body of abducted soldier recovered from Pulwama The kidnapped Army jawan was on his way home after completing his duty when he was intercepted by a group of heavily-armed terrorists who abducted him at the gunpoint. He belonged to 4 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and was posted at the 44 Rashtriya Rifles camp at Shadimarg in Shopian. At around 9 am, Army men from the unit stopped a car asking the driver to drop Aurangzeb in Shopian, officials said, recounting what had happened. Militants stopped the vehicle as it approached Kalampora and abducted the jawan. According to reports, Aurangzeb hailed from a family that has the history of serving Indian Armed forces. While his father retired from the Indian Army, his uncle had died in the line of duty fighting terrorists in 2004. The jawans brother is also an Indian Army soldier. Indian Army Rifleman Aurangzeb was honoured after death. His wreath-laying ceremony took place on Friday. SRINAGAR: Kashmiri separatists have welcomed the United Nations first ever human rights report on Kashmir saying it was long overdue and that the UN has a moral obligation towards the people of the state divided between India and Pakistan. They also termed as unfortunate the rejection of the report by the Indian government. Separatist leader and Kashmirs chief Muslim cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said, We welcome it although we do feel that the UN should have long ago. Independent MLA and leader of regional Awami Itehad Party Engineer Rashid while welcoming the report asked asked all the parties concerned to introspect and uphold the human rights of people of J&K. Hundreds of people from all walks of life bid goodbye to Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari, a day after he was shot dead by terrorists. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) Srinagar: Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari was Friday laid to rest in his ancestral village with thousands of friends and admirers braving heavy rain to mourn a veteran journalist, who had championed peace in times of conflict and may have been killed for it. English newspaper 'Rising Kashmir' published its daily edition on Friday even after losing its editor-in-chief on Thursday in an assassination which also left two of his two personal security officers (PSOs) dead. The last rites of the 52-year-old editor-in-chief were held on Friday morning. There was a steady stream of mourners visiting the senior journalist's home since the attack on Thursday evening. Jammu & Kashmir: Last rites ceremony of Rising Kashmir editor #ShujaatBhukhari, in Baramulla. He was shot dead by terrorists in Srinagar last night. pic.twitter.com/UldKVovVIs ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2018 National Conference leader Omar Abdullah also visited Bukhari's residence to offer his condolences to the grieving family. Bukhari is survived by his wife and one son and a daughter. He is the fourth journalist to be killed by militants in the nearly three-decade-long violence in Kashmir Bukhari and his two PSOs were shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside Rising Kashmir office in Press Enclave near the city centre Lal Chowk here in Srinagar shortly before the 'Iftaar' on Thursday evening. Also Read: 'Rising Kashmir' editor Shujaat Bukhari shot dead by 3 bike-borne terrorists Rising Kashmir hit the stands this morning with its front page carrying the full-page photograph of its late editor-in-chief in black background. The page also carried the message that the paper would not be cowed down. You left all too sudden but you will always be our leading light with your professional conviction and exemplary courage. We won't be cowed down by the cowards who snatched you from us. We will uphold your principle of telling the truth howsoever unpleasant it may be...Rest in peace! the paper said. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said publishing the daily despite Bukhari's killing is the most fitting tribute to him as it was what the late journalist would have wanted to. The show must go on. As Shujaat would have wanted it to. This is today's @RisingKashmir issue. That Shujaat's colleagues were able to bring out the paper in the face of insurmountable grief is a testament to their professionalism & the most fitting tribute to their late boss, Omar wrote on Twitter while sharing a picture of the front page of the paper. The show must go on. As Shujaat would have wanted it to. This is todays @RisingKashmir issue. That Shujaats colleagues were able to bring out the paper in the face of insurmountable grief is a testament to their professionalism & the most fitting tribute to their late boss. pic.twitter.com/ADP70D4F1q Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 14, 2018 Bukhari's killing has evoked widespread condemnations in Jammu and Kashmir and from across the country. Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra has conveyed shock and grief on the gruesome killing of Bukhari. Recalling Bukhari's standing as a veteran journalist, the Governor described his murder as a big loss to the media fraternity. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has also strongly condemned the killing of the veteran journalist. In a condolence message, the chief minister described the killing of Bukhari as highly barbaric, deplorable and condemnable. His killing has only established that violence cannot stand the scrutiny of logic and rationality. The whole state stands in unanimity in condemning this inhuman act of savagery, Mehbooba said in the statement. She said the role and contribution rendered by Bukhari in institutionalisation of the media here has become part of the journalistic history of the state. Also Read: Voice of veteran journalist Shujaat Bukhari silenced, here's who he was The chief minister visited the hospital where Bukhari was taken after the attack and paid her respects to the departed soul. She also conveyed her heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family particularly his parents, wife and two kids. The separatists have also condemned his killing terming it barbaric and unpardonable. The much awaited decision in the disqualification of 18 MLAs is out. The 18 MLAs are out, not in. But out, only until this split verdict of Thursday, 14 June, in P. Vetrivel case all of 327 pages - shall be decided by a third Judge, to be nominated within a day or two. Chief Justice Ms. Indira Banerjee has chosen to uphold the orders dated September 18, 2017 of the Tamil Nadu Speaker P. Dhanapal, disqualifying 18 MLAs, belonging to TTV Dhinakaran group. Her companion judge Mr. Justice M. Sundar has dissented to set aside the orders of the Speaker as being ultra vires and unconstitutional. Typically, even recently, we had a similar spectacle in the matter of Star Indias plea against TRAIs regulations of March 2017, where the same learned judges delivered a split verdict and it had to be referred to a third Judge Mr. Justice M.M. Sundresh, who chose to go with the learned Chief Justice. Likewise, in this matter also, there would be a reference to a third Judge. For now, status quo shall continue. There have now been three decisions from the Chief Justice Ms. Indira Banerjee led bench of the Madras High Court, in relation to the power of the Speaker of a Legislative Assembly. In the first, the decision of the Speaker to question the nomination of three MLAs, at the instance of the Lt. Governor of Puducherry, was set aside on March 22. That was in the context of the provisions of the Constitution, relating to a Union territory, as distinct from the Assembly of a State. In the second- in R. Sakkarapani- dated April 27, the judges declined to interfere in the discretion of the Speaker of the TN Assembly to not act on the application of some MLAs to disqualify 11 MLAs belonging to OPS group, despite the fact that the said 11 MLAs had voted against the confidence motion moved by EPS led Ministry, on the ground that the Court cannot usurp the role of the Speaker. In the third, dated June 14, we have a split verdict. Politically, the EPS led ministry may have got a huge breather, with no imminent challenge to its majority. It may be quite a while before a third Judge is nominated, which would be by the second in command by Mr. Justice Huluvadi G. Ramesh, since the Chief Justice is party to the judgment under reference. Counsel for each party may have to re-argue the entire case, and their availability and appearance, with Supreme Court on vacation, could necessarily lead to delay in disposal. For all practical purposes, the present pause or interregnum could be construed as an order of status quo, until the third Judge delivers his clinching verdict. Legally, the issue relating to disqualification of the 18 MLAs has its parallels with the B.S. Yeddyurappa case (2011 SC) (BSY). It too was a case of disgruntled MLAs issuing a letter to the Governor expressing no confidence in BSYs leadership but not in his Government. This act was construed by the Speaker of the Karnataka Assembly to constitute defection under Para 2 (1) (a) of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitu-tion of India, and the said MLAs were disqualified. On a challenge, there was a similar split verdict before the Karnataka High Court and which litigation reached the Supreme Court, after the third Judge agreed with the Chief Justice to uphold the orders of the Speaker. In BSYs case, it was argued that the scope of para 2 (1) (a) was complied with, once the member chose to withdraw his support to the Chief Minister, and he was not required to defect from the party, by an inference to disqualify him for his conduct. (Argument of Soli Sorabjee in para 100 of BSY Judgment relying on Ravi S. Naik, Jagjit Singh and Rajendra Singh Ranas cases). Interestingly, the Supreme Court, in BSYs judgment, did not answer this specific submission. Instead, it chose to interfere on the ground that the order of the Speaker disqualifying the MLAs did not meet the twin tests of natural justice and fair play, holding that Speaker was hurried and intended to protect the Government facing the confidence vote. In fact, if one carefully read the separate judgment of Justice N. Sankar, of the Karnataka High court, which went to Supreme Court, one can easily see that a similar dispute as in the case of these 18 MLAs was held in their favour, by the learned judge. This, on the ground that the disqualification under para 2 (1) (a) would come into play only upon the member defecting to another party and it cannot be a matter of inference. The distinction between para 2 (1) (a) - a case of defection and para 2 (1) (b) a case of a member voting against the whip or choosing to abstain etc., was also pointed out. Legally, however, the specific reasons and judgment of Justice N. Sankar, which could have been helpful to the 18 MLAs, cannot be said to be the law laid down in BSYs case. In the Vetrivel case, the High Court was dealing with virgin territory, hitherto unexplored, by the top Court. While the Chief Justice has chosen to take the safe route, her companion judge has made bold like Justice N. Sankar to conclude that there was no defection in the eye of law, since the 18 MLAs had only expressed their no confidence in the leadership of EPS and not in his Ministry. In effect, the split verdict has come in a territory, which remains undecided by the Supreme Court. The issue may ultimately have to be settled by the apex court alone. The BSYs verdict does not contain all the answers relating to the 18 MLAs disqualification. While the Chief Justice has chosen the placid route recognising the role of a constitutional authority in the Speaker, the younger judge has made bold to pick up the threads from the reasons given by Justice N. Sankar, to disqualify the disqualifications. Politicians may have a lot to say on this decision. Already, tongues are wagging that the Chief Justice has been inconsistent in her treatment of the orders of the Speaker of an Assembly, ignoring the subtleties and legal nuances, which may be beyond the ken of laymen. This constitutional impasse may even be for the political good in the State. One should not forget that there were reports in the well-informed news weekly Thuklaq that 12 of the 18 MLAs were ready to shift loyalties. At the end of the day, the EPS government has survived without any immediate challenge, while the legal fraternity engaged in the litigation, may be smiling all the way to the bank, for the rehearing they have been offered. Truth to tell, even the verdict of third Judge may yet not solve the imbroglio, for the Supreme Court yet again holds the key as to the correctness of the orders of the TN Speaker vis-a-vis the judgment in BSYs case of 2011 vintage. Back to the old adage that the more things change, the more they remain the same. (The writer is a practicing advocate in Madras High Court) The recent move by the government for Trade Margin Rationalisation will reduce costs and make the devices affordable, but there are fears that this will compromise the quality of the products. Hyderabad: Trade margins for medical devices have become a bone of contention between the government and manufacturers and importers of the devices, as the price capping strategy that the government wants to introduce will not work for all devices and can affect the quality of care in hospitals. The recent move by the government for Trade Margin Rationalisation will reduce costs and make the devices affordable, but there are fears that this will compromise the quality of the products. Medical devices include medical disposables and consumables; medical el-ectronics, hospital equipment, surgical instrume-nts, implants and diagnostic reagents. At present, only 23 de-vices are notified as dr-ugs and regulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Cardiac stents, cond-oms, intra uterine devic-es and a range of ortho-paedic knee implants are regulated by the government in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM). Of these cardiac stents and knee implants are subject to price ceilings. Dr K.K. Aggarwal, senior member of the Indian Medical Association, says, We now have two categories of drugs NLEM and non-NLEM. He believes the trade margins in medical devices need to be fixed to make healthcare more affordable. At present, the trade margins are fixed by the industry without any regulation. A senior drug control officer in TS said, The trade margins are fixed according to the whims and fancies of the manufacturers. They are dictating the price in the market. But the regulation is aimed at streamlining the sector and also ensuring that domestic manufacturers get a better chance. Quality checks have to be carried out by the government from time to time to ensure that there are no lapses. Also, those who are illegally operating have to be booked and brought into the legal net. All manufacturers co-me under the Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AIMED) and their demand is that domestic manufacturers must be given tax benefits and a level playing field so that they can co-mpete with the import-ers. Most medical devices in India are imported. There is quality assurance in imported products and they are largely used by private hospitals. A senior doctor pointed out that the domestically manufactured device must be of good quality. Its just like generic drugs. Maintain the quality and there will be takers. The trade margin must not be detrimental for the importer otherwise India will become a dumping ground for low-quality products which will have a reverse effect on healthcare. Rajiv Nath, forum coordinator of AIMED, said, The price of the imported product involves cost, insurance and freight which must be considered. With domestic manufacturers, the ex factory price must be taken into account. These two aspects must be considered by the government before fixing the trade margins. Investment in resources to improve standards Seventy to 90 per cent of medical devices are imported. To ensure that patients get the same quality of product it is important that the government gives domestic manufacturers a strategic advantage, says AIMED. If the dependency on imports is to be done away with, it is important to strive for quality in the domestic market. For this to happen we need transfer of technology, investment in human resources and also the standards that are presently being followed abroad. An importer of medical devices in the city who supplies to corporate hospitals pointed out that there is continuous research and development in this sector and that requires a lot of investment. For a domestic manufacturer to scale up to that level he will require financial and human resources. Healthcare is an evolving industry. Hence trade margins fixed today will also have to be revised from time to time. BENGALURU: Senior citizens in the city are finding themselves increasingly unsafe and in many cases the culprits happen to be their own family members. The number of complaints registered in elders' helpline increased to 468 in 2017-18 from 382 in 2016-17, out of which in 59 per cent of the cases the family members were involved. The most prevalent form of abuse was use of abusive language and emotional abuse. Some senior citizens are also victims of thefts, robberies and murder. A survey report, released by Nightingales Medical Trust (NMT), which is handling the elders' helpline (1090) with the city police, revealed that family members often harass or cheat their elderly relatives. Out of 468 complaints registered, 247 were solved. A senior police official said that property was the prime reason for harassment or even murder of senior citizens. "Old couples who live by themselves in big houses are often killed by the caretakers or relatives," he said. He further said that due to age-related disabilities, all senior citizens are an easy target for abuse and crimes. However, the number of calls received by the helpline has decreased to 15,514 in 2017-18, from 17,038 in 2016-2017. The police said that in many instances the abuses are not reported for fear of affecting family reputation or lack of awareness about redressal mechanisms. Two Dalit minors were allegedly beaten up and paraded naked in a village in Maharashtra for swimming in a well that belonged to a person of a different caste. (Photo: Agencies) New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday blamed the RSS and the BJP for spreading poisonous politics of hatred, which he blamed for an assault on two dalit boys who were paraded naked for swimming in a village well in Maharashtra. Mr Gandhi, in a tweet, tagged a video of the Dalit boys from Wakadi village in Jalgaon district and said, In Maharashtra, these dalit childrens mere offence was that they were bathing in an upper caste well. Today, even humanity is trying to save itself with the support of the last straw. History will never forgive us if we do not oppose the poisonous politics of hatred by RSS/BJP Manuwaad. BJP ally and Union minister Ramdas Athawle also condemned the incident and said he will visit the village to ensure that the victims get justice. The police has arrested two men, identified as Ishwar Joshi and Prahlad Lohar, in connection with the incident that took place on June 10. He also expressed concern over the recent attack in Uttar Pradesh on the brother of Gorakhpur doctor Kafeel Khan, who was jailed after the death of over 60 children at a government hospital last year. In a letter to the Dr Khan, who is now out on bail, Mr Gandhi said the attack on his brother Kashif Jameel exemplified the poor law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh. The Congress chief demanded a probe into the laxity by the administration and the alleged delay in Mr Jameels treatment after he was shot at thrice by three miscreants on June 10 in Gorakhpur. Dr Khan on Thursday had met additional director general of police Anand Kumar and complained about the alleged delay in Mr Jameels treatment. Chennai: The humane gesture of the city police helping a 72-year-old man see and embrace his 11-year-old grandson for the first time was lauded by the blissful septuagenarian. City police commissioner A.K. Viswanathan also appreciated the St Thomas Mount zone for their gesture. The police are not only good at enforcing law and order they have also shown their brilliance in solving the social and emotional issue of the public, Sathiyaseelan (72) of Choolaimedu complimented the city police in a message he posted on his Facebook wall. Sathiyaseelans son was married to a woman who is also their relative in 2006 and have a son, who is 11-year-old now. The marriage was dissolved soon after by the court of law and they got married again to different persons. As the woman was living with his son abroad, Sathiyaseelan never got a chance to meet his grandson except for the time when he was born, M.S. Muthusamy, Deputy Commissioner (St. Thomas Mount) told DC. The elderly man, who had been longing for another tryst with his grandson, came to know that his former daughter-in-law and grandson had returned to Chitlapakkam and he repeatedly tried to meet his grandson. As the mother did not let him meet her son, Sathiyaseelan approached A.K. Viswanathan to help him. Although police have nothing to do with the issue, Viswanat-han implored Muthusamy to try to help Sathiyaseelan. Muthusamy, in turn, sought the help of Chitlapakkam inspector Ramesh to meet the mother and make a request to her. The police had visited the mother several times and finally, she acceded to the request. The meeting was arranged in Chitlapakkam police station on Thursday evening. Sathiyaseelan and his wife had spent 25 minutes with their grandson. Although the boy was seeing them for the first time, he was also very cooperative. Our commissioner also appreciated us, Muthusamy said. Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Friday and handed him over a wish list of 10 issues including provision of a grant of Rs 20,000 crore for the Kaleshwaram project During their hour-long meeting, the Chief Minister also sought amendment to the Presidential Order to allow the new zonal system to be implemented, bifurcation of the High Court, completion of pending railway projects. Mr Rao also asked for handing over Bison Polo Ground in Secunderabad to build the new Secretariat, setting up an IIM, providing funds for the Hyderabad IT Investment Region, setting up IIIT in Karimnagar and opening Navodaya schools in all new district headquarters. Mr Rao claimed that the Prime Minister responded positively to all the issues. On Kaleshwaram, the CM stated in the representation submitted to the Prime Minister, The project will cost an estimated Rs 80,000 crore. For completion of this project, in addition to Rs 25,000 crore budgetary provision, we procured a loan from financial institutions of Rs 22,000 crore. We still need funds. I requested the PM to extend financial help of Rs 20,000 crore. Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Friday issued notices to the secretaries of the Assembly and the law and legislative dep-artment under the Contempt of Courts Act on a petition moved by expelled Congress MLAs Komatireddy Venkata Reddy and S.A. Sampath Kumar. Justice B. Siva Sankara Rao directed both the secretaries to explain why action must not be taken against them for their alleged failure to implement the court orders, before July 13. Counsel appearing for the MLAs told the court that a single judge had on April 17 all-owed the plea of the petitioners by setting aside the resolution of the Telangana Assembly expelling them from the House and the consequential notific-ations declaring the Alampur and Nalgonda Assembly constituencies vacant. He inform-ed the court that as per the procedure the respondents have to prefer the appeal within 30 days from the date of the order of the single judge. If they did not do so, the order of the single judge would become final. He submitted that both the secretaries had intentionally avoided the appeal and not restored the membership of the petitioners. While issuing the notices, the judge posted the case July 13. High Court modifies order on project-hit The Hyderabad High Court on Thursday modified an order granted by a single judge who had directed officials not to dispossess artisans and agriculture labourers of Etigadda Kistapur and its surrounding villages of Siddipet district. A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice J. Uma Devi while dealing with an appeal by the state government made it clear that the single judge order would be applicable only for Etigadda Kistapur. Mr J. Ramachandra Rao, additional advocate general, told the court that some agriculture labourers from Etiga-dda Kistapur had moved the High Court stating that they are affected by the construction of Mallannasagar reservoir, and sought a direction to the government to not dispossess them other affected families in surrounding villages without providing resettlement and rehabilitation. He contended that the single judge without verifying how the petitioners were aggrieved with eviction of the other villagers had granted the interim order. While modifying the single judge order, the bench said it was mandatory for the authorities to ensure resettlement and rehabilitation of the affected families under the Land Acquisition Act 2013. Chennai: The Madras high court has asked police to crack the whip on brokers who lure foreign students to medical colleges in the state without informing them about the eligibility norms. As many as 15 Iranian students joined the BDS course in a private college in the state without passing Neet, this being mandatory to pursue any medical course in the country. The court directed police to nab the brokers involved in the racket. In his petition, Nasser Hamidavi Zegheiri, an Iranian student, submitted that he had completed pre-university diploma in Iran in 2002. The diploma course is equivalent to higher secondary in India. With the help of his friends he enquired about pursuing BDS in India. His friends suggested that he take admission in a medical college in Tamil Nadu. He paid `5 lakh and provisionally got admitted to the BDS course in Asan Memorial Dental College and Hospital, Keerapakkam, Chengalpet in 2016-17. He reached the country on a student visa. After paying the remaining Rs 20 lakh, he started attending classes in the college. Meanwhile, Dr MGR Medical University sent him a letter stating that the institution was instructed to discharge all foreign students without Neet qualification admitted in the BDS course. Nasser and the Iranian Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran gave a complaint to Kancheepuram police against the management of Asan Memorial Dental College after he was removed from the college without paying him the `25 lakh collected from him for admission. Later other 15 Iranian students also filed similar complaints before police. When the matter came up earlier before Justice PN Prakash, the Asan Memorial Dental College and Hospital, issued a demand draft for `5.50 lakh to Naseer Hamidavi Zegheiri in the court on April 24. Subsequently, the college handed over a demand draft for Rs 47.90 lakh in favour of the Consulate General of Islamic Republic of Iran, to the Consul General. Assistant Solicitor General Karthikeyan, who appeared for the Central Government on April 24 assured the court that the Centre will extend all help to the Iranian students to get their money refunded. He also handed over a list of the Iranian students who had paid fees. Counsel for the institution gave an undertaking to the court that the amount paid by all the students would be refunded, except for Daniel Vazirzadh, who allegedly did not pay any amount. The counsel further submitted that the total amount comes to Rs 53,40,000 out of which Rs 5.50 lakh was already paid to Naseer and the balance amount of `47, 90,000 will be paid by demand drafts before June 11, 2018. The counsel appearing for Zegheiri and the Consul General of Iran disputed the amount payable by the college and submitted that students paid more than the amount referred in the list. Justice PN Prakash said that at this juncture, this court does not want to go into this aspect. This court is of the view that at the outset, students should get back at least the admitted amounts immediately. Vacating an interim stay on police to conduct a probe, the judge directed the institution to hand over all the demand drafts to the Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which had its account in Syndicate Bank, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, after giving a letter to the court as some of the students had returned to Iran. The court then posted matter for further hearing to July 2. HYDERABAD: MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi asked the United Nations not to interfere in the internal affairs of India, after it released a report on human rights violations in Kashmir. The United Nations does not have any rig-ht to interfere in the internal matters of India and it should not interfere. The report hurts the sovereignty of the country and we stand with the Indian government in condemning and denouncing it, he said. He said, Our relati-ons with the ruling party at the Centre might be not good. But when it comes to the nation, we stand unanimously with the government. The UN should first study and report the human rights violations in Palestine, he said. Mr Owaisi urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to work to improve the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. For the last four years, the BJP and the PDP are ruling the state. Yet there is no improvement in the situation, he said. The MIM president condemned the killing of noted journalist Shujaat Bukhari, chief editor of Rising Kashmir, and a soldier, Aurangzeb, by gunmen in Kashmir on Thursday. Who are these people who are killing innocents in the holy month of Ramzan. Are they humans, he asked. Taking a dig at the PMs health challenge, he said that the people were more interested in employment, food and health. The Prime Minister should be more worried about the Army personnel who are guarding the borders braving the enemy bullets and not about his health, he said. He said Mr Modi talks about sab ka saath, sab ka vikas,but fails to hold an iftar for Muslims. Minister for minority affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi holds the iftar and invites women who were divorced by their husbands. Unfortunately, the same women told mediapersons at the venue that the government should not interfere with the triple talaq issue. What more you want from the Muslim women on the issue, he asked. New Delhi: Fishing in troubled waters, Pakistan on Friday mischievously sought to link the murder of senior Kashmiri journalist Shujaat Bukhari with his tweet on a UN High Commission for Human Rights (UNHCHR) report on alleged human rights violation in in Kashmir that was released on Thursday. This is despite reports that three Pakistan-backed terrorists on a bike may have been behind the killing of Mr Bukhari who was shot dead in Kashmir on Thursday evening. Trying to point fingers at India, Islamabad termed it a terrible coincidenceand condescendingly asked New Delhi to investigate, adding that it raised serious questions. In a tweet, Pakistan foreign ministry spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said, Kashmiri journalist Shujaat Bukharis targeted killing within hours of his tweet on the OHCHR report on Jammu & Kashmir terrible coincidence, raises serious questions India should investigate and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. Union railway minister Piyush Goyal with Nizamabad MP K. Kavitha at an event held to flagg off the extension of Kacheguda-Nizambad passenger train to Karimnagar in Hyderabad on Friday. (Image: P. Surendra) Hyderabad: Union railways minister Piyush Goyal on Friday announced that a skywalk would soon connect Secunderabad railway station with the Hyderabad Metro Rail network. The minister was speaking after flagging off the extension of the Kache-guda-Nizambad passenger train to Karimnagar on Friday afternoon at the Secunderabad station. Secunderabad railway station would be connected to nearest Hyderabad Metro Rail point through a skywalk for the benefit of passengers, Mr Goyal said. Steps would be taken to facilitate provision of multi-level car parking at the Ganesh temple near the station. He said he would visit the area to find a suitable place for the parking facility after offering prayers at the Ganesh temple in Secunderabad; he said he was a Ganesh devotee. He said expansion of the Cherlapalli terminal would be taken up soon. Telangana state would witness the best period of rail development in the last four years with capital Investment for rail projects rising from Rs 258 crore in 2014 to Rs 1,813 cr in the current fiscal, an staggering increase of over 600 per cent, Mr Goyal said. The minister said the Mumbai LTT-Nizamabad Express would be extended to Karimnagar. The Peddapalli-Karimnagar-Nizamabad rail line project was sanctioned in 1994, but was completed in the last four years with budgetary allocations being increased in tune with its importance. He said other major projects like the Jaggayapet-Melacheruvu-Janpahad and Manoharabad- Kothapalli lines were accorded high priority. He said the provision to provide ffee Wi-Fi at 20 rural railway stations would bring about a communication revolution. He cited the example of the Gollapalli station where a government school adjacent to the railway station was able to access the free Wi-Fi signals, enabling teachers make use of the internet to augment student learning. TRS MP K. Kavitha requested the minister to increase job reservation quota for physically handicapped candidates to four per cent. She also sought amenities at Nizamabad as accorded to A-grade stations. Secunderabad MP and former minister Bandaru Dattatreya asked the Centre and the state take up Phase 2 of the Multi-Model Transit System (MMTS) in the city. Mr Goyal said the Indian Railways had optimised usage of trains which would otherwise lie idle during the layover period after they reached the destination. He said South Central Railway had become the first railway zone in the country to complete 100 per cent LED lighting at all 224 stations and 561 buildings, saving Rs 1.7 crore every year for the railways. He also stressed on the need to harness solar energy for a better environment. Protesters seek separate Rly zone for vizag A few men raised slogans in front of railway minister Piyush Goyal on Friday, demanding separate railway zone for Visakhapatnam. The coveted separate railway zone with Visakhapatnam as headquarters is a long pending demand since the bifurcation of the state. A five-member committee of the Railway Board and Railway Ministry is expected to visit Visakhapatnam recently. After the committee makes an assessment and submits the report, the government will announce the formation of the zone, reports said. BENGALURU: Friends and relatives are reluctant to visit my house. Even if they come they refuse to take a meal, rued local residents of Lingadheeranahalli at Banashankari 6th stage. Reason? These people stay close to waste processing plants established by the BBMP, which always emanates unbearable stench and attracts flies. As the garbage crisis is snowballing with garbage contractors refusing to clear the garbage as their bills have not been paid for five months, Bengaluru Development Minister G. Parameshwar took stock of the situation at the scientific solid waste management at Lingadheeranahalli. Ramesh, a resident of Banashankari 6th stage said, My friends are relatives make me feel that I committed a major blunder by having a house at Banashankari as they are reluctant to visit me. The BBMP has failed to maintain the waste plants, resulting in unbearable stench. Banashankari 6th state is supposed to have a good environment as it is near the lush green Turahalli forest. It is said that though the BBMP has been spending huge money on waste processing, it is unfortunate that these plants are working way below their capacity. Though they can process 2,300 tonnes of waste, they are processing just over 300 tonnes. Unless, these plants are put to use to optimum potential, garbage crisis will not be solved, said residents. During inspection Mr Parameshwar said that Bengaluru has been generating over 3,500 tonnes of waste on a daily basis and scientific processing is a challenge. The state government has set up seven waste processing plants at a cost of Rs 450 crore. In addition, the government plans to set up waste to energy plants to solve the crisis. The government and BBMP are also studying the amount of money spent by different bodies on solid waste management and the government would come out with a suitable solution to solve the crisis, as well as to reduce the money spent, Mr Parameshwar assured. Residents said it would be a big challenge for Mr Parameshwar as he is from Tumakuru and lacks local and grass root connect. However, he has been in Bengaluru for long holding key portfolios including that of chairmanship of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC). Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Friday. During the one-hour meeting, the Chief Minister submitted a long wish list to Mr Modi. On the new zonal system, he said, Against the backdrop of formation of the new state with 31 districts, there is a need to issue a fresh Presidential Order adj-usting zones, multi-zo-nes and state cadre etc., under section 371-D of the Constitution. I request that suitable direction may kindly be issued to the ministry of home affairs to amend the Presidential Order early. On the High Court issue Mr Rao said, After six decades of struggle, a new state of Telangana has been formed. However, this dream remains unfulfilled as Telan-gana State does not have its own separate High Court. I take this opportunity to request you to ensure that a separate High Court for Telangana is established at the earliest. On railway projects, the CM submitted: Railway network in TS is below the national average. The land acquisiti-on for Manoharabad-Kottapalli project is taken up. Akkannapet-Medak line land acquisition is almost complete. The Bhadrachalam-Sattu-palli railway project sh-ould be expedited. The Kazipet-Vijayawada third line of electrificat-ion, Raghavapuram-Ma-ndamarri patch tripl-ing, Armoor-Nirmal-Adilabad new broad-ga-uge line should be expedited. Doubling of track in Secunderabad-Mahb-ubnagar, Secunderabad-Zaheerabad, laying of new railway line connecting Kazipet and Karimnagar be completed early. On Bison Polo Grou-nds, the CM said, TS government has reques-ted the Ministry of Def-ence for transfer of de-fence lands (Bison Polo and Gymkhana grou-nds) in Secunderabad for construction of new Secretariat building, St-rategic Road Develop-ment Projects (NH 44 and SH 1) and also tr-ansfer of 7.58 acres de-fence land for construction of six lane alternative road proposed in lieu of Gough Road. Ministry of Defence has conveyed in principle approval for transfer of the defence lands subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions for which the state government has agreed. I requ-est you to kindly instr-uct the Ministry of Def-ence to expedite the proposal of transfer of def-ence lands to enable the TS government to take up construction of new Secretariat building and also widen and improve roads passing through Cantonment Areas. Referring to ITIR project, he said, "State government had submitted DPR delineating land parcels to be covered under ITIR and identifying trunk infrastructure projects related to the land parcels. Some anchor companies have already started setting up industries. However, to my dismay, I read news reports that the Centre has dropped the ITIR. If Centre does not implement the ITIR after launching it five years ago, it will dent the credibility of the Centre. I request Centre to provide adequate funds to the state to develop ITIR". Hyderabad: Congress legislator A. Revanth Reddy alleged that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and his nephew and major irrigation minister T. Harish Rao were looting public money in the name of projects. He claimed that the Congress governments had completed 90 per cent of project works while Mr Chandrasekhar Rao had not completed the remaining 10 per cent. He demanded that the government publish a White Paper on the construction of projects. He said that Mr Harish Rao had stated in the pa-st that the government would complete the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy lift Irrigation scheme within 30 months, but there was no progress after even 40 months. He said the state government had to pay Rs 40,000 crore bills for work completed on the project but it had released only Rs 5,000 crore. All these days, KCR criticised Andhra rulers but what is he doing now,: Mr Revanth Reddy asked, and alleged that the TRS government has failed in taking up of work on five projects in the Palamuru district. We Indians apparently come from a long line of scientists and technologists. Dinesh Sharma, Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, has reminded the nation that Sitas birth from an earthen pitcher in the epic Ramayan was evidence of an ancient test-tube baby project. The ruling BJP has reprimanded him and advised restraint in his public comments. But how many people is the BJP going to reprimand? Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb claims that the Internet existed during the Mahabharat period, Baba Ramdev promises an Ayurvedic cure for everything from AIDS to homosexuality, and PM Narendra Modi sees in the mythical birth of Karna outside his mothers womb and the grafting of an elephants head onto Ganeshs human torso proof that modern levels of science and technology were available in Indias ancient past. The glory of ancient Hindu science is an essential component of the Hindutva worldview. In this version of the public imaginary there is a persistent yearning for a modernity that was ancient and indigenous, but is now irretrievably lost. This loss is a blow to the collective Hindu psyche confronted with a modernity which is not only Western in origin but predatory and imperialist to boot. The people of this mythical land a Hindu Wakanda seem to have flourished within the confines of their geography without connecting with other civilisations. They masqueraded as underdeveloped, malnourished and poor while they successfully melded modern science and technology with the traditions of their ancestors. The glorious period of the Hindu Wakanda was predictably before the land which is known as India today was conquered and colonised. The conquerors from outside whether from Central Asia or colonialists from Europe obliterated its scientific and technological wisdom. The heroes of the Hindu Wakanda are therefore located in myth or in ancient history. Fundamental to the glory of Hindu Wakanda was something it possessed in abundance which the rest of the world didnt the strongest force in the world, spritualism. In the Marvel Comics fantasy, Wakandas source of wealth and power were its rare metal deposits of an imaginary mineral, Vibranium. These deposits were finite. Indian spritualism by contrast was infinite and renewable. The more one mined it, the stronger one became. Ancient Indians were thus spiritually rich while the rest of the world, without it, was destined to be poor. While the world struggled to find antibiotics and cures for diseases and epidemics, Hindu Wakanda had its own version of the heart-shaped herb which could revive people from near-death situations the Sanjeevani Booti, with which Lakshman was revived after he was fatally wounded by Ravans son Indrajit. What purpose does it serve the BJP leaders to resurrect this civilisational fantasy repeatedly? In the distorted mirror of the past, the poor and uneducated people of India are shown to have once lived in happier times. It provides a narrative through which the weak can appropriate the symbolically rich techno-scientific utopia by which the Western world legitimises itself and establishes its supremacy. The feeling of being left behind because of the asymmetries in scientific and technological knowledge is sought to be ameliorated by creating a fantasy about the past. It is not insignificant that this fantasy excludes political and social problems from its frame of reference. It does not tell us what society was like in this age of high science. What rights and access to services did ordinary citizens have in this utopia? Did everyone have access to test-tube births or only Raja Janak by virtue of being a king? Did Lord Ganesh manage to get a head transplant because he was the son of a powerful god, or did ordinary mortals also qualify for transplants? Could ordinary people travel in the vimanas designed by the amazing aeronautical engineers of their day? Could citizens vote not to pay taxes unless test-tube births were offered to ordinary women also? Such questions are not permitted in this phantasmagoria. As in the Marvel blockbuster film Black Panther, fantasising about Wakanda is not about real empowerment. In the Wakanda of Marvel Comics, the people of an African nation are empowered not because of their own achievements but because a mysterious and imaginary mineral, Vibranium, was accidentally gifted to them when a meteorite struck their land. The story is addressed primarily to an audience of African-Americans and in this simple retelling, the struggle of the American Black Movement is obliterated by the single accident of a meteorite striking the earth. In our real and flawed world, the social, political and economic empowerment of the dispossessed can never be an accident or a technological fix. It requires political awakening and masses of people struggling for it. These movements can and often do fail with tremendous human cost. The Indian equivalent of Vibranium that is, spritualism is not going to give anyone equal rights, equal access to justice or ensure equitable distribution of resources. Empowerment in the real world requires political, social and economic change which a class and caste-ridden obscurantist society will not voluntarily proffer. In grossly unequal societies, there is necessarily a conflict between those who are systematically denied equal opportunities and the dominant elite which concentrates power in itself. If even an iota of the mythical glory that is touted by the BJP leaders again and again is to be achieved in the real world, then those societal flaws will have to be recognised and addressed which prevent millions of Indians from getting basic rights, including access to world-class education, healthcare and social security. A society needs to be free of hunger and poverty before it can produce world-class mathematicians, scientists, astronomers, doctors, surgeons, geneticists, space scientists and social scientists in the here and now. Even when they have had the political opportunity, the Hindutva ideologues have demonstrated a complete lack of ability to address these objectives. Merely substituting fantasies for real action towards a just and equitable society is not going to provide us a blueprint for Indias future. It is perhaps not surprising given the many contradictions of Pakistani state and society that there are two distinct opinions circulating about the upcoming general election. On the one hand are those who argue that our political parties comprise opportunists seeking only power and money; there is thus little chance of elections signalling change in our establishment-dominated system and making it even slightly more democratic and responsive to the needs of the popular classes. The second camp is more defiant; it insists that regardless of how much pre-poll rigging and manipulation takes place, voters still have a say in determining the fate of the country moving forward. Neither view is entirely incorrect, but one does get the sense that the major contenders in the electoral exercise as well as the hidden hands are far more interested in wooing electables who ostensibly have captive voters under their proverbial thumbs, rather than directly appealing to voters who could act autonomously. So should we then just accept that the powers-that-be will once again determine our fates? I cant help but think back to the very first general election in this country. The Yahya Khan dictatorship apparently believed it had done more than enough to produce a hung Parliament and hence a weak coalition government which would do its bidding. Islam-pasand parties were being explicitly patronised to ward off the more threatening the taraqqi-pasand contenders. The preferred outcome never came to pass, and the taraqqi-pasand wave made a mockery of the establishments plans. The reason? Voters were mobilised by revolutionary ideologies, convinced that they could change the inegalitarian world they inhabited via the ballot box. Pakistani society is today at a very different juncture, class is no longer the major operative category around which ordinary working people make political alignments. But there is one fleeting similarity between the upcoming election and the 1970 ballot: young people. Back then, Pakistan was not experiencing a massive youth bulge, but young people especially students were extremely organised and politicised. Today the opposite is true; young people are neither particularly organised nor politicised. This election will see almost 18 million new voters between the ages of 18-25 go to the polls, while all voters between the ages of 18-35 constitute almost 44 per cent of the electorate. The new voters will surely not be under the magic spell of electables; other are likely to be moved by different considerations than the prototypical adult voter. A few mainstream parties invoke the youth card but there has been little to suggest that any of them really bothers relating to the experience of being young here as students, potential entrants into the job market, and simply as human beings seeking to make sense of a rapidly changing and insecure world. All big parties know that young people are on social media and seek to reach out to these potential voters accordingly, but the approach is generally instrumental and suggests no recognition of the real challenges facing them and this countrys future moving forward. None of our mainstream politicians, except a few, have sought to redress the retrogressive bans on student politics and the demonisation of politics more generally that have shaped the attitudes of most of our younger generation vis-a-vis politics and the public interest. This means many young people who are eligible to vote may not do so precisely because they have grown up being taught that politics is something to stay far away from. In fact, young people who will inherit this country and its problems have to concern themselves with major political questions, in large part because their own futures are at stake. Our economy does not produce jobs, our educational system does not produce critical minds and our rishwat-sifarish-based social order simply cannot accommodate all of our young peoples aspirations. And then there are questions of environment and sustainability, about which, except for the political Left, no one bothers about. Again these are questions which our young population will have to contend with because it is their children and their childrens children who will have to contend with acute water and energy shortages and the immense fallouts of global capitalism, climate change most of all. So will the establishment and its trusty electables rule the roost again? Or is there an X factor that will put a spanner in the works? I have a feeling that change will come, whether at the ballot box or otherwise, and it will be the youth that lead it. By arrangement with Dawn The shocking and very disturbing targeted assassination in Srinagar on Thursday of eminent Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari, who was a voice of reason, democracy, dialogue and protection of human rights, ironically took place on the same day as the release in Geneva of a report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that mistakenly sees its remit as including the making of political demands. This detracts from the UN bodys presumed impartiality as a neutral observer, and casts doubts on questions of human rights it talks about. Human rights violations in a disturbed area merit serious attention if we are serious about the most basic rights of citizens. But, for any remedy to be meaningful, the tribune must be unbiased and focus on the context. In Kashmir, many demand independence or azaadi, a term with layers of meaning, including separating from India. However, a determined and well-armed minority, fed and nurtured by terrorist intruders from Pakistan, aims to join Kashmir to Pakistan and in this endeavour receives the support of the Pakistani state. Every Kashmiri understands this and most hold this category fundamentally responsible for the violence that the Valley has suffered. The actions of the Indian security forces and the J&K Police have also been a source of continual violence and civic life is harshly disrupted from time to time, leading to further radicalisation, especially of young civilians. The ordinary people of Kashmir understand all of this and are still terrified at the thought of the Indian forces leaving. The gunning down of the distinguished editor happened on the same day that a Muslim soldier from the Jammu region, travelling home for Id-ul-Fitr, was kidnapped in south Kashmir. His bullet-ridden body was discovered hours later. From the look of things both killings were deliberate actions of Pakistani intruder-terrorists or their accomplices. The evident purpose was to sabotage the prospect of the government extending the Ramzan ceasefire, which closes at the end of Id on Saturday. The UN human rights body makes little room for the understanding that Kashmiris, in general, possess of the role of foreign-led, foreign-inspired terrorist violence linked to jihadism that has devastated Kashmir over the decades. This betrays its biases. Its lack of grasp of the situation in Kashmir is revealed in its sweeping language of denunciation, its political call for self-determination, and its demand for the withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, all of which place it on the same side as the Islamist partisans. The Modi governments dogged refusal to have political dialogue and pursue military means alone (until the recent Ramzan ceasefire) has caused the ceding of ground to violence. It has silenced the voices of sanity and democracy. It has emboldened the ignorant UN human rights outfit whose call for an international inquiry into Kashmir must be contemptuously rejected. The split verdict on a batch of petitions challenging the disqualification of 18 rebel AIADMK MLAs is a breather for the ruling party headed by Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami. While Chief Justice Indira Banerjee of the Madras High Court upheld Speaker Dhanapals decision to disqualify dissidents, her colleague Justice Sundar took the diametrically opposite view in deep condemnation of the process by which the disqualification was done selectively. The immediate implication of the split verdict is status quo in the Legislature of 234 members in which the ruling party has the support of around 116 and the Opposition DMK and Congress 97 plus one MLA of IUML, besides the leader of the 18 dissidents T.T.V. Dhinakaran who is the lone Independent. The farther away a trust vote is, the better it may be for the ruling party. The incongruities thrown up by even one-half of the judgment are aplenty. While the Chief Justice has been consistent in her view in two rulings on disqualified Tamil Nadu MLAs that the Speaker reigns supreme in the House provided his actions are not mala fide, her stand was different in Puducherry. The Lt Governor had nominated three MLAs to the House who the Speaker had refused to acknowledge, but the High Court bench led by the chief justice had set aside his objections. The inequities engendered by various rulings by the Speaker and the court in the matter are obvious. Eleven MLAs of the ruling party who had voted against the government in a trust vote on the floor continue to be members of the legislature while two of them, including the deputy chief minister, are in the Cabinet. Intense drama now awaits the verdict of the third judge to be nominated by the seniormost member of the Madras High Court. God nominates some chosen people And promises them a chunk of land He impregnates a Jewish virgin In ways well never understand. He sends us his commandments He even dictates books We dare not call it magic Though thats how it all looks. From Waat ee Dees? Komdi ka Pees by Bachchoo Some years ago, being in Toronto, I took the opportunity to visit a cousin who lives there. Toronto is a vast conurbation and I took a taxi back late at night. Less than a minute after we started, the driver, in friendly north- American fashion, asked me How was your day, bud? he had a thick accent which I tentatively placed. I said my day was good and he remarked that my accent was not American. I said it was Indian tinged with British and said why and remarked that his accent wasnt either. I am from Persia, he said. We were perhaps 10 miles into our journey, making idle chit chat when he asked me my name. When I told him he said So, you are Muslim? No, I said, Im not, trying to balance telling the truth against what I thought might give him offence. But that is a Muslim name, he said. Well, long before the Muslims adopted it, it was a Persian name pre the Arab conquest of Iran 641 AD or so, I said. He looked away from the road and at me very curiously. So you are not Muslim? I couldnt dodge any further. I said No, I was born a Zardushti, using the term he, as an Iranian, would recognise. He swerved the car to the curb and stopped suddenly. I was, to say the least, bewildered. You are Zardushti? So am I, he said. So whats your name? He said it was Abdul or Ahmed or something distinctly Muslim. But thats not a Zoroastrian name. No, no, no, I was born Muslim but I believe in Humata. Hukta, Huvareshta, he said, the Zoroastrian creed. What more religion do we need? He proceeded to tell me that the conversion of Persia (he insisted on that name though I pointed out that the ancient Zoroastrian Kings had named it Eran) to Islam was a tragedy and had to be reversed. I pointed out that apostasy was considered a capital offence in Islam. He said he didnt care as he believed that 80 per cent of the Persian population would embrace Zoroastrianism if they were given a free choice which I said was not likely. He agreed. When we got to where I was going, he wouldnt take the taxi fare. Years later, last week, I had my haircut at my neighbourhood barber. The establishment is run by Aftab, a young Persian hair-stylist. We make routine conversation. After the normal politeness, we discuss politics and this week, we naturally got on to Trump and his moves towards peace with North Korea. Thats all very well, said Aftab and proceeded to support Trumps pronounced aggressive policy towards Iran and the denuclearisation treaty from which the US has withdrawn. Aftab didnt seem perturbed as my white locks fell like snow upon the cloaking barber-sheet. He said its what the mullahs deserve. Surely, its dangerous for peace in the Middle East and the world? I said. He said he didnt care and went on to say that Iran had fought a Shia-Sunni war with Iraq in which he had lost relatives. Now Israel together with Sunni Saudi Arabia was threatening Shia Iran. The divisions between Shia and Sunni had been the cause of slaughter for hundreds of years. This was barber-shop conversation if a little elevated from descriptions of holidays or condemnation of recent local stabbings in our streets. Then he said something unexpected. Islam is an Arab religion, he said, and this Sunni-Shia business is something imported from an old Arab dispute. It shouldnt have anything to do with us Persians. If there was a survey today in Iran, 80 per cent of people would say they want to follow the Zardushti religion. I said that statistic seemed unlikely to me but he insisted the population was tired of the rule of mullahs. Suppose, just suppose, that the unlikely and pigs-will-fly contentions of my two informants, the conversations separated by years but both from the mouths of immigrants or exiles from their native Iran/ Persia, are accurate! And suppose, further, that some revolutionary upheaval in favour of converting whoever wishes to Zoroastrianism takes place in the old country... the hypothesis poses several burning questions. Will there then come about a secular state of Iran with freedom of religious belief, or even a religious Zoroastrian one as were the states of the Achaemenid (Hakamanyush, distorted by the Greeks) and Sassanian dynasties? And will such a new state end all enmity and activity such as the Iranian support for Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houtis? And that nuclear capability? And the final question: What will the bigots of the Parsi community of India who oppose any conversion to the religion say? Will they oppose the reconversion of Iran to the religion that invented the singular God? Or will they swallow hard, and in chewing their prejudices say that Zoroastrian blood still runs in the veins of the Iranian population, lending a racial justification to the conversion? Apart from the questions, these conversational observations lead me to a regret. I have, for some time now, wanted to visit or revisit Pasargade and Perseppolis. Perhaps reporting these conversations here will, through the tracking agencies of the current Iranian State, deny me a tourist visa to Persia. More inhibiting is the thought that theyd grant me a visa and arrest me when I reach Iran, try me and throw me in jail on charge of reporting conversations subversive of the Islamic status quo. Thats not fantasy. Its happened to one Nazneen Radcliffe. Look her up and sign the petition! A U.S. Senate Commerce Committee panel plans to call a former Cambridge Analytica contractor at the centre of a scandal involving the use of data from millions of Facebook users, a committee spokeswoman confirmed Thursday. The panels subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security will hold a hearing next Tuesday on data privacy risks focussing on Cambridge Analytica, a British political consultancy, and other Facebook Inc partners, the committee announced Wednesday. The session follows hearings in April with Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg and will focus on the collection and use of social media data, the privacy concerns raised in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica/Facebook scandal, and potential steps to protect consumers, the committee said in a statement. The committee will call Aleksandr Kogan, a contractor for Cambridge Analytica, to testify, the committee said. A lawyer for Kogan, Jonathan S. Sack, confirmed that Kogan will appear. Facebook said in April that the personal information of up to 87 million users, mostly in the United States, may have been improperly shared with Cambridge Analytica. The London-based consultancys clients included President Donald Trumps 2016 election campaign. Facebook says Kogan harvested the data by creating an app on the social media network that was downloaded by 270,000 people, providing access not only to their own personal data but also data from their friends. Facebook said Kogan then violated its policies by passing the data to Cambridge Analytica. Cambridge Analytica disputed Facebooks estimate of how many users were affected. Cambridge Analytica and its British parent, SCL Elections Ltd, said in May that they would shut down immediately and begin bankruptcy proceedings in both the United Kingdom and the United States after suffering a sharp drop in business. Cambridge Analytica filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in New York last month. In April, Kogan, who worked for the University of Cambridge, told British lawmakers that all the data he collected had, to the best of his knowledge, been deleted. He said he would double-check that none remained. This has been a very painful experience, because, when I entered into all of this, Facebook was a close ally, Kogan said. I was thinking this would be helpful to my academic career and my relationship with Facebook. It has very clearly done the complete opposite. Also set to appear at next weeks hearing are John Battelle, who helped found Wired Magazine and is a board member of database marketing company Acxiom Corp, and Ashkan Soltani, who was former chief technologist for the Federal Trade Commission during the administration of President Barack Obama. 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. Chinese telecommunications giant ZTE Corp has proposed a $10.7 billion financing plan and nominated eight board members in a drastic management overhaul, as it seeks to rebuild a business crippled by a U.S. supplier ban. The news, announced late on Wednesday, indicates Chinas No.2 telecom equipment maker is working towards meeting conditions laid out by the United States so it could resume business with American suppliers, who provide about 25-30 percent of the components used in ZTEs equipment. Investors cheered the development, driving up ZTEs Hong Kong-listed shares as much as 3.7 percent on Thursday morning. A day earlier, embattled ZTEs shares plunged a record 41 percent in Hong Kong and 10 percent in Shenzhen, wiping almost $3 billion off its market value, as it resumed trading after being suspended for almost two months due to the U.S. ban. The United States imposed the seven-year supplier ban on ZTE in April after it broke an agreement to discipline executives who conspired to evade U.S. sanctions on Iran and North Korea. ZTE last week agreed to pay a $1 billion fine to the U.S. government. The ban will, however, not be lifted until ZTE pays the fine and places another $400 million in an escrow account in a U.S.-approved bank for 10 years. ZTE was also ordered to radically overhaul its management and hire a U.S.-appointed special compliance coordinator. As part of its deal with the United States, ZTE needs to replace its 14-person board and fire all leadership members at or above the senior vice president level, along with any executives or officers tied to the wrongdoing. The U.S. commerce department can exercise discretion in granting exceptions. In filings late on Wednesday, ZTE said its controlling shareholder, Zhongxingxin, had nominated 8 new board members. That included 5 non-independent directors - Li Zixue, Li Buqing, Gu Junying, Zhu Weimin, and Fang Rong - all from state-linked firms that are shareholders of or have investment relationships with Zhongxingxin. Zhongxingxin has a 30.34 percent stake in ZTE. Cai Manli, Yuming Bao and Gordon Ng have been nominated as independent non-executive directors. Voting on this will take place at an AGM on June 29. According to a Reuters estimate based on company filings and a source with knowledge of the matter, ZTEs management overhaul could result in about 40 senior executives being replaced. The company can find most candidates internally, Jefferies analyst Edison Lee said. That is feasible, though it will, of course, cause confusion and slow down decision-making. ZTE also proposed to amend a company statute at the AGM to remove a clause that required the chairman to be elected from directors or members of the senior officers of the company who had served for three years or more. In addition, ZTE proposed to allow the board to apply for a $10.7 billion credit line, including a 30 billion yuan ($4.69 billion) from Bank of China and $6 billion from China Development Bank. ZTEs Shenzhen-listed shares dropped by the maximum daily permitted limit of 10 percent on mainland exchanges for a second day on Thursday, tracking recent losses in Hong Kong. Jefferies set a target price of HK$14.41 for the Hong Kong-listed ZTE stock, citing significant near-term selling pressure. The Hong Kong-listed ZTE stock gave up early gains to trade almost flat at around HK$14.90 ($1.90) by 0757 GMT, in a broader market that was down more than a percent. 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. There were reports earlier stating Google is already working on an alternate Fuchsia OS as well. Google Pixelbook is definitely one of the best laptops that the company has ever made. With the improved built-in Chrome OS, where now it is not completely web application-based, helps the laptop run full Android applications. No matter how improved the Chrome OS maybe it isnt still completely usable as a Linux OS or Windows. While Linux OS is still in development with Chromebooks a new report suggests that Google is trying to get its device certified for running Windows 10 OS. Earlier this year there were reports claiming Google is working on AltOS alternate operating system mode for Pixelbook, which is supposed to run alternate OS in addition to the built-in Chrome OS. Folks at XDA Developers have newly reported stating that the same AltOS is most likely the Windows 10 running on Pixelbook. The new report suggests that the Pixelbooks firmware is being updated to inscribe problems found in Microsofts hardware compatibility tests. The report reveals new mentions of Microsofts WHCK (Windows Hardware Certification Kit) and HLK (Hardware Lab Kit), which indicates that the company wants Pixelbooks hardware to get certified to run Windows 10 OS. The HLK is reportedly used as a part of Microsofts hardware compatibility program, which usually certifies hardware to run Windows 10. The HLK in this report has mentioned Eve in the code, which is a development code name of Pixelbook. However, this still doesnt mean the current Pixelbook can run Windows 10 or not, but this certification surely hints Google might release another variant with dual OS support in the future. There were reports earlier stating Google is already working on an alternate Fuchsia OS as well. Disclaimer: The above report is completely based on online rumours and leaks from the respective sources. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Deccan Chronicle and/or other staff and contributors to this website. 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. Kulsoom's health deteriorated late on Thursday as she collapsed in the ICU and has not regained consciousness since then. (Photo: ANI) London: The ailing wife of former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Kulsoom Nawaz, suffered a cardiac arrest in the intensive care unit of a London hospital on Thursday. As reported by Geo News, Kulsoom's health deteriorated late on Thursday as she collapsed in the ICU and has not regained consciousness since then. She has been kept on a ventilator, life-support machine, and emergency medicine. Kulsoom's daughter Maryam Nawaz, who is soon going to contest the upcoming general assembly elections on July 25, tweeted to inform about her mother's condition. Ami had a sudden cardiac arrest this morning when we were on the flight & is in ICU & on the ventilator since. Earnest request for duas. Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) June 14, 2018 "Ami had a sudden cardiac arrest this morning when we were on the flight and is in ICU and on the ventilator since," Maryam tweeted. She further requested people to wish for her speedy recovery. Geo News quoted sources as saying that Kulsoom's health was being closely monitored. Earlier on Thursday, Nawaz Sharif and his daughter left for London to visit Kulsoom, who has been undergoing treatment for throat cancer. In 2017, she underwent a surgery to remove diseased lymph nodes after she was diagnosed with throat cancer. Following that, she has become weaker following multiple treatments and therapies. Fazlullah, who has been designated as a global terrorist by the US and carried a bounty of USD 5 million, had been on the run since his loyalists were routed in a major military operation in 2009. Representational Image (Photo:File) Washington/Islamabad: Maulana Fazlullah, the dreaded chief of Pakistani Taliban, has been killed in a United States drone strike in Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province, an Afghan defence ministry official confirmed on Friday. Fazlullah, who has been designated as a global terrorist by the US and carried a bounty of USD 5 million, had been on the run since his loyalists were routed in a major military operation in Pakistan's Swat district in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in 2009. The US military said on Thursday that it carried out a strike targeting a senior militant leader in Afghanistan. It, however, did not identify the militant. "US forces conducted a counter-terrorism strike, June 13, in Kunar province, close to the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which targeted a senior leader of a designated terrorist organization," Lieutenant Colonel Martin O'Donnell said in a statement. Also Read: US military carries out strike in Afghanistan, targets senior militant leader Afghan Ministry of Defense spokesman Mohammad Radmanish confirmed to CNN that Fazlullah, who is believed to be in his forties, was killed in the strike on Wednesday. The Express Tribune, citing sources, also said the drone strike that took place in the Nur Gul Kalay village of Dangam district killed Fazlullah and four other Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) commanders. Fazlullah, also known by the alias Radio Mullah or Maulana Radio due to his long sermons on a private radio channel, and his commanders were having an Iftar party at a compound when a remotely piloted US aircraft targeted them, reports said. The TTP, however, did not confirm the death of its chief in the drone strike. Fazlullah had directed numerous high-profile attacks against the US and Pakistani targets since he was appointed the group's leader in 2013, including the December 2014 attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar that killed 151 people, including more than 130 children. The US says Fazlullah ordered the 2012 attempted assassination of Malala Yousafzai, who became a global symbol of the fight for girls' rights to schooling. The US strike comes amid a ceasefire between the Afghan Taliban and Afghan security forces to mark the end of the Muslim's holy month of Ramazan. Gen John Nicholson, the commander of US Forces-Afghanistan and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) led Resolute Support, said the United States would adhere to the ceasefire announced by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, which did not include US counter-terrorism attacks on other terror groups. In 2014, there were reports that Fazlullah had been killed. However that information turned out to be false. In 2010, similar news about his death had broken out but later proved false. People attend Eid al-Fitr prayers outside of Shah-e-Dushamshera mosque in Kabul. Taliban, an insurgent group who fight against NATO and Afghanistan's government, announced that they will start a 3-day ceasefire, starting in the first day of Eid al-Fitr. (Photo: AP) Kabul: Afghans greeted the beginning of Eid with prayers on Friday as the Muslim holiday dawned in peace for the first time since the 2001 United States led invasion, after the Taliban agreed to an unprecedented ceasefire. Flocking to mosques for special morning worship marking the first day of the festival, youngsters in the war-battered country expressed cautious optimism, following the suspension of fighting between Afghan security forces and the militants. "On almost every Eid we have had attacks -- this is a rare Eid without violence," Samiullah, 17, who is almost the same age as the conflict, told AFP after prayers at the Shah-e Do Shamshira mosque in central Kabul. "We are hopeful peace will come to Afghanistan." Fourteen-year-old Sohrab Ahmad, who earns money polishing shoes outside the mosque, said he could not remember an Eid without fighting. "I believe there will be peace between the Taliban and the Afghan government," he said. But not everyone was so hopeful. "I don't think there will be peace in Afghanistan. We are seeing an increase in attacks on a daily basis," Imran, 13, told AFP. Defence ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanesh told AFP there had been no reports of Taliban attacks on Afghan forces since the start of the holiday. President Ashraf Ghani announced last week that police and troops would cease operations against the Taliban for eight days, starting Tuesday -- though he warned that operations against other groups, including the Islamic State group, would continue. The Taliban said Saturday their fighters would stop attacking Afghan security forces for the first three days of Eid, the first time the Taliban had declared a nationwide ceasefire in the nearly 17-year conflict. They said they would continue attacking United States led North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) troops. Eid ul-Fitr is one of Islam's most significant holidays, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, and is typically celebrated by feasting and gift-giving by Muslims all over the world. In a shocking incident, three teenaged Dalit boys were paraded naked and beaten up for swimming and bathing in a well at a farm owned by another family at Wakadi village in the Jamner taluka of Jalgaon district of north Maharashtra. The incident took place on Sunday. However, on Thursday evening, after smartphone clips of the dastardly act went viral on the social media, there was a public outrage. People across party lines and from all sections of the society said that it is a matter of regret that it takes place in Maharashtra, which takes pride in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Jyotirao Phule and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. The incident comes as a major embarrassment to the Devendra Fadnavis government. A video that went viral reveals that the boys, who were from Matang caste, were naked but were covering themselves with tree branches and leaves. Abuses were hurled at them and they were being beaten up by a belt and a stick. Revenue, Relief & Rehabilitation Minister Chandrakant Patil said that action is being taken. "I have personally spoken to the Collector and Superintendent of Police," said Patil, who holds charge of the state as Fadnavis is on an official trip to Dubai, Canada and the United States. Two persons have been arrested in the connection and stringent action is being taken, he said, adding that the well is owned by one Ishwar Joshi, who is from the Nomadic Tribe community. "His servant Sonu Lohar mainly beat them up," he said. Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan said that two persons have been booked under the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and Information Technology Act. Minister of State for Social Justice and Special Assistance Dilip Kamble said that no one would be spared. However, both Mahajan and Kamble said that from the initial information that they had gathered, it appears that a group of boys used to come and bathe in the well at the farm, the water for which is being used for drinking purposes. "Strict action is being taken," Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale said. Meanwhile, senior BJP leader and chairman of the State Commission for Agriculture and Prices Pasha Patel said that such incident pains him. "Its horrible," he said. 'Kids at fault' The parents of the kids said that their children were at fault. "In fact, despite warnings they had gone there... they should not have gone there," the parents told local TV channels. However, to a query on whether they are under any kind of pressure, they replied in negative. Gujarat MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Mewani said that the incident has shaken him equating it with the 2016 Una incident. "How can we behave like this as humans," asked Mevani, adding that this is a repeat of the Una incident wherein seven members of a Dalit family were allegedly beaten up by a group of gau rakshaks for skinning a dead cow in Una town of Gir Somnath district in Gujarat, in July, 2016. He also said he does not expect justice from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India on Thursday denounced a UN report on Kashmir, describing the document as a fallacious and malicious one that did not take into account years of bleeding by cross-border terrorism. "India rejects the report. It is fallacious, tendentious and motivated. We question the intent in bringing out such a report. It is a selective compilation of largely unverified information. It is overtly prejudiced and seeks to build a false narrative, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. Brought out by the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner, the 49-page report makes an attempt to describe the situation in Jammu & Kashmir on both sides of the disputed boundary since July 2016, when Hizbul Mujahidin leader Burhan Wani was killed by Indian security agencies. The killing triggered protests on a very large and unprecedented scale throughout the Kashmir Valley and in districts of Jammu. Indian security forces responded with force, which led to casualties and a wide range of alleged related human rights violations throughout the summer of 2016 and into 2018. Accusing the UN body of showing prejudice, MEA charged the authors of the report of ignoring cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan and territories under its illegal control. Cross-border terror and incitement are aimed at suppressing the will of the people of Jammu & Kashmir, disrupting its political and social fabric and undermining Indias integrity, the foreign office said in a statement. Since the UN officials didn't get access to Jammu & Kashmir, the report is based on indirect sources and secondary information. Views of the government of India and Pakistan were also incorporated. While describing the right situation in India (consisting of Kashmir Valley, Jammu and Ladakh regions) and Pakistani side (Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan) of the conflict zone, the report underlines the need to address past and ongoing human rights violations and deliver justice for all people in Kashmir. But the Centre did not agree with the report's conclusion. Such malicious reports couldn't undermine the will of the people. India will take all measures necessary to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country from cross-border terrorism," MEA said. India conveyed its protest to the UN body. We are deeply concerned that individual prejudices are being allowed to undermine the credibility of a UN institution, it noted. "Also, the report violates Indias sovereignty and territorial integrity. Pakistan is illegally and forcibly occupying a part of the Indian state through aggression. The incorrect description of Indian territory is mischievous, misleading and unacceptable. There are no entities such as Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan," the MEA added. SALT LAKE CITY A new report has listed the Beehive States capital as one of the worst cities to live in across the U.S., though its still far from being the worst overall. Salt Lake City ranked No. 49 on a list of the top 50 least livable and worst cities to reside in, according to USA Today. The list comes from 24/7 Wall St. but was published on USA Todays website. Salt Lake City ranked just ahead of Fort Smith, Arkansas, on the list of 50 worst cities. The list identified Detroit as the worst city to live in across the U.S. Flint, Michigan; St. Louis, Missouri; Memphis, Tennessee, and Cleveland rounded out the five worst cities on the list. So what makes Salt Lake City so bad? According to the report, the city has a high violent crime rate, including 937 violent crimes in 2016 per 100,000 city residents. Housing prices may also be a factor. Housing prices in Salt Lake City also have been rising fast in recent years and have outpaced the area's income growth, making housing unaffordable for many low-income residents, according to USA Today. Indeed, the Deseret News reported Wednesday on a new report that found Utahs minimum wage workers cant keep up with rising housing costs. Low-income earners would need to work about 98 hours a week to afford a two-bedroom apartment in the Beehive State. Still, the USA Today list said Salt Lake Citys substantial economic growth in the last several years is a positive for the city since it outpaces the rest of the nation. Thats likely why Salt Lake City barely made the list of 50 worst cities. In 2017, 24/7 Wall St. ranked Salt Lake City as the 32nd worst city to reside in. While Salt Lake City has a growing economy, and is home to a large share of college graduates and low unemployment, the city struggles with frequent crime and unaffordable housing, the report said. Detroit also ranked as the worst city in the country in that years list. SALT LAKE CITY Theres a new accent growing in rural Kansas. Residents in a southwestern Kansas town have begun developing a new accent, thanks to the citys changing population, according to Kansas.com. The accent, called a Liberal accent or Liberal sound, derives from Liberal, Kansas, a small town in Seward County that has about 25,000 people. About 59 percent of the towns population is Hispanic (a jump from 20 percent decades ago), according to Kansas.com. Researcher Mary Kohn, a linguist, and her team at Kansas State University recently identified the Liberal accent after years of research. This doesnt mean the town is using new words or applying specific meanings to certain things. Rather, the phonetics of the speech are different than other areas, Kohn said. "A lot of these patterns are on the phonetic level, meaning that it deals with sounds," Kohn said in a statement. "So what we are dealing with here is a distinct accent. It's not so much that we have completely radical new ways of speaking in Liberal, as it is there is a distinctive Liberal sound that is emerging." Kohn told KMUW the new accent has a Latino-English sound and its more popular among young people. It started as the Kansas towns population became a mix of Hispanic and white people. It dispels the myth of the idea that Kansas in a monolingual state, she said. Thats never been the case." In fact, Kohn released a video where she demonstrates the new accent, which prominently appears when speaking with aaa or nnn sounds. Most English accents change when pronouncing the aaa sound in hat or hand. But for this language, the sound doesn't have a distinction in words like hat and hand. That's because the mouth is still in an open-jaw position, according to Kansas.com. Watch Kohn demonstrate the findings in the video below: Kohns research is a part of the Kansas Speaks Project, which she has used to identify changes in accents across Kansas. She and her team have focused specifically on southwestern Kansas, where there has been a significant amount of population changes, according to the press release. Kohn said in a press release that changes in accents happen all the time. For example, Minnesota developed after Europeans moved to the region, she said. "It's something that we see all over the U.S., and it's characteristic of what happens when you have large immigration patterns affect the demographic of the region," Kohn said. Correction: This article previously identified Mary Kohn's research team as a part of Kent State University. Her team is based out of Kansas State University. PROVO After an emotional, two-hour meeting between parade organizers and representatives from LGBT organizations, Americas Freedom Festival reversed itself and will let five previously denied groups join the July 4th parade. There were tears and sometimes raised voices and sometimes pointed fingers, Erika Munson, a co-founder of Mormons Building Bridges, said of the closed-door meeting, but this kind of discussion is what its all about. Generally, the five LGBT groups agreed they will display more red, white and blue and patriotic themes for the Grand Parade on the Fourth of July. We changed the color scheme of our entry to be more explicitly patriotic and we added some more patriotic verbiage just to hammer home that were all Americans and were all in this together, Brianna Cluck of Provo Pride said. And our feeling is that wasnt a compromise; that was always in the spirit of what we were trying to do, Roni Jo Draper, a representative for PFlag Provo, said. Munson said her organization which was previously denied entry will now have a float, with funding provided by committee member Steve Shallenberger. Thats a huge gesture that were honored to receive, Munson said. Shallenberger, the vice president of the trustees of Americas Freedom Festival, said he was happy to help to pitch in. The float will include Mormons Building Bridges and Encircle. QueerMeals, another LGBT group, did not send a representative to Thursday's meeting, but Shallenberger said it is welcome to be a part of the parade. Two other groups, Provo PFlag and Provo Pride, will now be a part of the parade's walking portion. Shallenberger said of the progress made in the meeting: Only in America. Consistently, both sides said communication was the greatest issue for reaching a compromise. We came in with a lot of hurt feelings, we came in confused as to why things happened in the order that they did, why were assured in meetings in May that the standards for being approved would be made clear to us and then they werent, Munson said, but substantial progress was made by the time they left Thursday afternoon. Before Thursday's compromise, in the wake of outcry over the LGBT groups being denied on Wednesday, the festival had announced that any of the 22 denied applications would be able to "adjust" their proposals by 5 p.m. Friday to follow more of the following: Applicants should be more clear about their contribution of the "celebration of the parade, America and the Fourth of July." The announcement used "carrying American flags, dressing in red, white, and blue, having a patriotic message" as examples. The parade does not want large groups of over 150 people. The group's signage and message should be about "celebrating America, not a group advertisement." Festival officials also announced they would meet with any of the denied applicants at 3 p.m. Thursday, a meeting that neither Munson nor Shallenberger expected to go as well as it did. "They're all going to be a part of it it's amazing," Shallenberger said. "If you had asked me that this morning, I wouldn't have thought how that might've been possible but that's what happens when people can come together." The claims of discrimination came the same day Provo officials announced they had signed a new contract with America's Freedom Festival that included a nondiscrimination clause. Draper and Cluck were cautious about saying whether or not discrimination against LGBT people was a deciding factor by the parade committee because they cant know their intentions. But from her point of view, Munson said it did. Thats what it looked like to us, she said. Thats what it felt like, thats what we experienced. In an interview with the Deseret News Thursday morning, Freedom Festival Director Paul Warner reaffirmed that no one on his committee based their decision from an anti-LGBT point of view. "We all have, in fact, just about everybody in the Freedom Festival, has some connection to somebody who's dealing with a gay issue," Warner said, "so it's not like we're all not impacted by this." Warner said they all have family members that are gay and he has a niece who is "very much in that lifestyle," and some board members have board members that are "involved with it." What he wanted to avoid, however, was divisive issues. "We don't want the parade to become an issue parade. We want it to be a parade where everybody's grateful for the flag and not have to announce a particular advertisement for a car company or for something they're trying to push," Warner said. A total of 22 groups were denied entry into the annual parade. Organizers said those proposals focused on "their special interests and agenda" instead of following the guidelines of the parade, which is dedicated to service members and local heroes. Warner said that other entries either had American flags and specifically American issues or "they're horses, they're floats that represent just general things, they're not issues that are dividing people." "We don't want the parade to be controversial, we don't want the people that are in the parade to be controversial to the best of our ability," Warner said. "And its tough every year to make it so it isn't that." Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi was among those who raised concerns about claims of discrimination early Thursday and released a statement following the two sides comprise in the afternoon: Im thrilled that the Freedom Festival and LGBT groups have been able to come to a compromise on parade entries. When I heard that they had been outright denied, I said that we can do better. This feels better, Kaufusi said. Thanks to all who helped this compromise come about, including Paul Warner from the festival and the leaders of the applicant groups. Utah County Commissioner Nathan Ivie tweeted Thursday that he intended to try to pull county funding from the festival because of the controversy. Following the two sides' compromise, Ivie tweeted again: "I was critical of them this morning glad they proved me wrong," he said. Provo and Utah County provide some funding for the festival run by a nonprofit organization. Utah County donated $100,000 earlier this year. HURRICANE, Washington County A 71-year-old Nevada man died in an accident at Sand Hollow State Park on Wednesday. Jimmie Hilton, of Las Vegas, was stepping from a dock to a boat when he "missed" and slipped into the water, said park spokesman Eugene Swalberg. Hilton was not in the water very long before he was pulled out, but he was unable to hold his head above the water, according to Swalberg. Bystanders performed CPR until medical personnel could arrive. Emergency crews were unable to revive Hilton and he was pronounced dead at the scene, Swalberg said. Drowning is presumed to be the cause of death, but officials were waiting Thursday for the final autopsy report to confirm. The park reminds all boaters to take appropriate safety measures when out recreating and to always wear a life jacket. SALT LAKE CITY Fresh incentives approved by the Governors Office of Economic Development could produce more than 1,400 new well-paying jobs for the state's economy, according to the agency. GOED announced Thursday that Lehi-based Canopy will expand in Utah, adding up to 538 high-paying jobs, $6.2 million in new state revenue and $7.5 million in capital investment. Founded in 2014, Canopy is a cloud-based practice management and tax resolution software firm. As part of its agreement with the state, the company will create up to 538 jobs over the next five years with total wages in aggregate required to exceed 110 percent of the Salt Lake County average wage, according to a news release. The projected new state wages over the life of the contract are estimated to be approximately $150 million. In addition, new state tax revenues are estimated to be $6.2 million over the five-year period. Canopy may earn up to 20 percent of the new state taxes it will pay over the life of the agreement in the form of a post-performance Economic Development Tax Increment Finance tax credit rebate not to exceed $1,240,654. Each year as the company meets the criteria in its contract, it will earn a portion of the total tax credit rebate. "As a company born and bred in Utah, we've enjoyed the resources and benefits the state provides for small and growing businesses such as Canopy," said founder and CEO Kurt Avarell. "We are committed to growing our employee base and further contributing to Utah's economy as we disrupt the tax software and services market from right here in Silicon Slopes." GOED also announced GoHealth will expand business operations into the Beehive State, adding over 500 jobs generating $3.2 million in new state revenue and $900,000 in capital investment. Headquartered in Chicago, the company provides affordable consumer coverage and partners with health care carriers to help them provide service, a news release stated. Salt Lake City was a natural choice for our next office from the citys growing business culture to its deep talent pool, we felt it was the right fit for our latest expansion, said Clint Jones, co-founder and CEO of GoHealth. This new office is an exciting indication of our companys growth, and we greatly look forward to becoming a part of the local business community. The Salt Lake City office will be focused on providing customer support for both consumers and partners across the U.S. The company will create up to 363 full-time jobs over the next five years, as well as 150 part-time and seasonal positions. Total wages in aggregate are required to exceed 110 percent of the Salt Lake County average wage and projected new state wages over the life of the agreement are expected to be approximately $84 million with projected new state tax revenues estimated to be $3,216,488. Like Canopy, GoHealth may earn up to 20 percent of the new state taxes the company will pay over the five-year life of the agreement in the form of a post-performance Economic Development Tax Increment Finance tax credit rebate, which cannot exceed $643,298. Meanwhile, the GOED board also approved five new projects for state film incentives that are expected to generate an estimated economic impact of $15.6 million and create nearly 400 local jobs. A Springville-based fantasy television series, "The Outpost," is expected to spend an estimated $5.5 million in the next year to produce its second season this summer, a news release stated. The first season is scheduled to premiere on the CW Network in July. "We are thrilled to be shooting our upcoming season of The Outpost' in Utah," said producer and creator Jason Faller. "The Utah TV crew are brilliant and highly proficient, the landscapes are breathtaking and the Utah Film Commission has been instrumental in our decision to stay in Utah. We hope to build, expand and employ here in Utah for years to come." Another television series, "Dwight in Shining Armor," has begun production in Salt Lake City and is scheduled to continue through the summer, the release stated. The childrens series will create almost 100 jobs and is expected to air on BYUtv. Additionally, two independent features "Green Olds" and "The Happy Worker" will each begin production later this summer. Combined the shows are expected to spend over $7 million and create close to 250 film industry jobs. Lastly, "Shoelaces for Christmas" has been approved under the Community Film Incentive Program that supports smaller, local projects. The film is estimated to spend $500,000 and also be in production this summer. 2018 is looking to give Utah another busy summer in film production," said Utah Film Commission Director Virginia Pearce. "Films made in Utah contribute to both the creative and economic economy and the artistry and professionalism of our crews are a big reason why production companies keep coming back. OGDEN A 23-year-old man was shot and killed here Wednesday in what police are describing as an isolated incident. Denero Lamar Snider, of Ogden, died at a local hospital after being shot in the 600 block of 23rd Street about 4:30 p.m. Ogden police said Wednesday it appeared "to be an isolated incident involving acquaintances." A possible motive for the shooting had not been released as of Thursday. On social media, friends posted tributes to Snider. "Heaven gained another angel tonight. Prayers go out to Nero family and friends. We weren't close but he always had everyone laughing. It's such a sad and hard time for someone to be taken away so quick. Prayers and comfort during this time," one woman posted on Facebook. "My heart hurts for you.. we had great times... I'll miss you dude... RIP," wrote another. By Thursday, two GoFundMe campaigns had been started to raise money for Snider. No one had been arrested as of Thursday. Anyone with information on the shooting can call police at 801-629-8221. BEAUMONT, Texas Prosecutors say two white supremacists from Utah serving time at a federal prison in Southeast Texas have been condemned for the 2014 slaying of a fellow gang member behind bars. A federal jury in Beaumont on Wednesday ordered the death penalty for Ricky Fackrell of Vernal and Christopher Cramer of Ogden. Both were convicted last month of murder. Investigators say Fackrell and Cramer conspired to kill Leo Johns, who was fatally stabbed on June 9, 2014, at the lockup in Beaumont. Records show Cramer and Fackrell were serving time for unrelated robberies in which firearms were used. Johns was imprisoned for being a felon in possession of a firearm. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, Davilyn Walston, says the slaying was likely because one gang member offended another. PARK CITY A Midway woman employed as a victim advocate for Summit County was charged Thursday with victimizing the county. Marsha Lynne Probst, 62, is charged with misusing public money, a second-degree felony. From June 2006 through October 2017, Probst was a victim advocate with the Summit County Attorneys Office. Her LinkedIn page lists her as the director of the Summit County Victim Assistance Program. While working as a victim advocate, Probst "would regularly receive donations on behalf of the county, and made to the Summit County Victim Assistance Program, in the form of checks from Wasatch Womenade," the charges state. Wasatch Womenade is a Park City-based nonprofit that helps victims prevail over the trauma of their victimization by assisting and advocating for safety, healing, justice and restitution," according to its website. From 2012 through 2017, Probst established a bank account using funds from donations made to Summit County, unknown to county employees, according to the charges. "County policy specifically states that public donations are to be deposited into county accounts. None of these individuals knew anything about the UCCU account," according to court documents. Probst used funds from the account without keeping record of the receipts or reporting it to the county, and "made personal purchases and expenditures using some of the funds. The total amount of the donation money made payable to Summit County that (she) misappropriated and deposited into the separate bank account is in excess of $5,000," the charges state. LEHI Two former Vivint Solar employees have filed lawsuits against the company this week and both men, one white and one African-American, have leveled allegations of a racist and hostile work environment, and failure of managers to act on the problems at a facility operated by the Lehi-based company in Sacramento, California. One complaint described what an attorney called a "white pride playhouse." In March of this year, a supervisor and other workers allegedly assembled a cardboard "fort" in the warehouse office on which was spray-painted "white only." On Monday, a former Vivint Solar employee who is African-American filed a civil suit against the company in a California Superior Court claiming he was subjected to a racially hostile workplace and included allegations detailing racist language and actions as well as a failure of management to respond when he brought the issues to their attention. Teshawn Solomon, 36, was a warehouse worker at a Vivint Solar facility in Sacramento until March 30, 2018. In the complaint, Solomon claims that, over the 13 months he was employed by the company, he "was consistently singled out for discrimination and harassment by his predominantly Caucasian co-workers and supervisor." Besides the fort, the complaint includes details of other alleged incidents including: Being referred to by the N-word by a non-African-American supervisor. Being told to "reach his black hands out" when being handed a box by another non-African-American supervisor. Being offered a banana by a supervisor who stated, "Monkeys like bananas." Bringing a complaint of racially offensive workplace conduct to a Vivint Solar regional manager who "did not take the complaint seriously and failed to report or investigate the incident." A Deseret News request for comment from Vivint Solar on Solomon's lawsuit was directed to a statement posted to a Vivint Solar web blog late Wednesday by company CEO David Bywater. In it, Bywater describes Solomon's allegations as "disturbing," but notes that he and others at the company "strongly believe this was an isolated incident." Bywater also claims, in the posting, that he was unaware of the issues until a Washington Post story on the first lawsuit was published on Monday. "I am deeply disturbed by these allegations, which our executive team first became aware of on Monday, June 10, 2018, when the lawsuit detailing his experiences was publicly filed," Bywater wrote. "The disturbing experience described by our former employee does not reflect the values or culture of Vivint Solar and stands in direct contradiction to our core values as a company." Solomon's attorney, employment law specialist Corey Bennett from the San Francisco office of Matern Law Group, said he found it hard to believe that Vivint's chief executive was unaware of the issues alleged in Solomon's suit, some of which go back months. "Ive heard the company before say this was an isolated incident but, tellingly, Mr. Bywater says he first became aware of this on Monday when the Washington Post ran the story," Bennett said. "That means a couple months went by when they were seemingly unaware of this. This is about more than just the "white pride" playhouse. These actions were going on for months." In his web posting, Bywater outlined actions taken by the company since becoming aware of Solomon's lawsuit. Those include conducting an internal investigation, disciplining "several" employees and terminating one employee, promising to "engage an independent third-party to review our company policies and procedures related to the issues raised by this incident," and pledging to conduct a companywide harassment and discrimination training, which he noted had been done before on a regular basis "but feel is important to do at this time as a reminder to our employees of the behavior we expect from everyone at Vivint Solar." Bywater also noted: "We also believe that some of the allegations in the lawsuit are inaccurate and are confident that the legal process will help bring clarity to the factual discrepancies between our internal findings and those described in the lawsuit." Bennett said Solomon described an interaction he had with a Vivint Solar regional manager before he made the decision to resign from his position with the company. "Mr. Solomon walked up to the regional manager, the highest level of employee below the executive office in Utah, and held up the photo of the white only fort and asked, 'Is this some kind of joke?" Bennett described to the Deseret News. "And, the manager said, 'What do you want me to do about it?" In the second legal action taken against Vivint Solar this week, former employee Jason Flick, who worked at the same Sacramento facility as Solomon and is also represented by Bennett, leveled allegations in his complaint, filed Thursday, supporting his claims of being subjected to a racist and hostile work environment that echoed those of Solomon. Those allegations include: Hearing his co-worker, Solomon, being referred to by the N-word. Overhearing racist jokes. As a warehouse leader, being instructed to give Solomon's time reports "extra scrutiny." Encountering the "white only" cardboard "fort" that had been constructed in the warehouse office after it had been up for several days. Flick also alleges in his complaint that, later in the same week when he saw the "white only" cardboard construction, "there was an all-hands warehouse meeting at which management could have addressed the issue. Instead of denouncing the fort and taking corrective action, management merely informed the employees that they would be required to work 21 consecutive days. There was no discussion of racism." A Vivint spokesman said Thursday the company was not aware of Flick's lawsuit and could not comment. Vivint Solar, a Lehi-based company that retails and installs photovoltaic power systems, was founded as an offshoot of Vivint, now Vivint Smart Home, in 2011 and became a publicly traded company in 2014. Both companies have their roots in APX Alarm Systems, a company co-founded in 1999 by former BYU student Todd Pedersen. MOAB As homeowners in Moab returned to their charred houses on Thursday, investigators were trying to figure out who sparked the brush fire that overtook 10 homes, and how. Janet Gay went home to find a black, scorched frame and soot-covered belongings, including pots and pans, her granddaughter's doll and a chest with mementos. Her calico cat was still missing. "We'll live," she said after surveying the damage. The blaze began in a wooded area near Pack Creek about 6 p.m. Tuesday and was "human caused," Moab Police Chief Jim Winder said Thursday, but further details on its origin eluded authorities. Officials have not put out a dollar estimate of the damage caused. Gay recalled five engines responding to her house Tuesday. At first, she believed crews would put out the fire, but it swallowed her home as she watched. Dry brush, hot weather and strong winds propelled the flames, authorities said. "We all got hoses out and watered and tried to stop what we could, but it was jumping so fast. By the time it got to our fence line, the police just said, 'Grab what you can and get out now," Gay said. "I'm just trying to recover anything I can." Rick Carrigan and his wife, Becky Carrigan, escaped their burning home with their dog, but their home is a total loss. The pair sifted through the rubble on Thursday to find Carrigan's mother's coffee mug and family photos. Before the fire, Carrigan said he "was really kind of enjoying life as it is. But now it'll be life as it was." Moab police are heartbroken for those affected by the fire and promised to aid in recovery efforts, the force wrote on its Facebook page. As crews fought the blaze, companies hauled in water, restaurants brought meals to first responders and hotels provided rooms to those displaced, the department noted. The police department encouraged residents "to reflect on how fortunate we all are to live in such a beautiful place filled with some of the finest human beings on this planet." Pam Lopez, a Moab preschool teacher whose home was not affected, did not need the reminder. Her grandchildren, ages 6, 8 and 9, set up a lemonade stand on Wednesday, raising about $100. The family was planning to deliver the money Thursday afternoon to the Grand County Credit Union, which is accepting donations to help families whose homes were damaged. "They're trying to do what they can to help," Lopez said of her grandkids. "They were so excited when they counted out the money and they got $100. I think they thought they could build everybody's houses back up." Lopez said several of her friends' homes were reduced to dust and ashes, and she could not recall a fire of such magnitude in the community since the former Doxol gas plant ignited more than four decades ago, when she was a teen. "It's a pretty unique community. Very diverse, and yet, things like this really bring us together," Lopez said. Tinderbox conditions across southeastern Utah have led federal and state land managers to tighten fire restrictions in southeastern Utah, in Carbon, Emery, Grand and San Juan counties, starting Friday. The new order prohibits wood or charcoal campfires, even in campgrounds. It also bans smoking outside of paved, barren areas; welding and metal cutting; and using fireworks. By the time the restrictions were announced on Thursday, Emery County's Trail Mountain Fire had grown to 9,500 acres, and was 10 percent contained. The fire has forced the evacuation of 22 people in Bear Creek Canyon, who all are staying with family or friends, said county sheriff's spokeswoman Janalee Luke. Flames were not yet threatening the canyon homes, but residents were asked to leave because smoke was hanging thick over the houses and crews closed the road. Two people chose to stay despite the order, Luke said. Homes belonging to the evacuees are without power after fire crews cut lines to battle the blaze. "The fire's still active in that area, and very spotty. It jumps from here to there, so it's still pretty dangerous," Luke said. It began as a prescribed burn but spread rapidly last week during a thunderstorm, overtaking a cabin and closing a portion of state Route 31. Power also was temporarily cut to the nearby Rhino coal mine, but has been restored. Crews are expected to return to work there Monday. Why do we seldom today hear about the Utah Compact as we are swept away in the avalanche of immigration issues? Build a bigger wall, break up families, stop the flow of drugs, the DACA kids, the caravans of refugees at the border, the 11 million illegal immigrants who keep our economy afloat but are accused of usurping our social services. Some groups focus on the constitutional mandate of self-protection and the rule of law; others focus on the families and the humanity that create a modern parable of the good Samaritan. Cmon folks. We have a balanced guide in the form of the Utah Compact which reconciles the extremes of the immigration issue. Am I affiliated with any organized religion in America today? If so, my faith leaders have probably endorsed the Utah Compact, yet the religiously pious at both ends of the political spectrum deny the beautiful balance in the Utah Compact that our faith leaders have endorsed. Why not look at it again? My own Republican Party platform ignores and abhors it. The Democratic Party equally but oppositely denies it. So Google it and ask if your faith leaders might have a valid opinion in their endorsement of the Utah Compact. When it was first issued, I hoped it might become the national template for discussion of immigration issues. Sadly, our own Utah politicians have either forgotten it or run from it. The light on the hill does not help the neighbors unless its owner keeps it burning. Kerry Soelberg West Jordan SALT LAKE CITY Throughout Salt Lake City's struggle with state leaders over control of a Utah inland port, Mayor Jackie Biskupski has had the threat of a lawsuit on the back burner as a last resort. But this week amid worries that a lawsuit with the state could come without buy-in from the city's budgetary body the Salt Lake City Council quietly took action to block Biskupski from litigation over the inland port on her own. Now, such a lawsuit would first need approval from the City Council, under the "contingent appropriation" within the city's budget, approved Tuesday night. "There are opportunities for litigation that are so significant in their potential impacts to both branches of the city's government that we wanted to ensure the council's inclusion in the decision-making process should that arise," Councilwoman Erin Mendenhall said. Thanks to the council's intent language included in the budget, funding for such a lawsuit would only be available to be spent if it's approved by the City Council. As the council made its way down a list of motions to approve the budget Tuesday night, Councilman James Rogers motioned to include the intent language. His motion drew no debate and was unanimously approved. A definition of the contingent appropriation, provided by city staff, defines the funding for "impact litigation" or litigation that "addresses constitutional or policy issues that affect both branches of city government, filed against another governmental or quasi-governmental entity, and the council finds that could potentially have long-lasting budgetary or reputational consequences for the city." A lawsuit against the state over the Utah Inland Port Authority which the city has loudly contested ever since it was created by SB234 passed by the Utah Legislature this year would clearly qualify. So does this mean the council had worried Biskupski would pull the trigger on a lawsuit prematurely? "I don't know if 'prematurely' is the right word," Mendenhall said. Rather, she said council members wanted to ensure they'd have decision-making power in the matter. "We recognized that potential litigation with the state around something like the port could have significant policy and budgetary impacts that the council would want to be a part of that consideration because of the impact to our branch," Mendenhall said. But Kitchen said there were rumblings that "the threat of litigation was heightened" after Sen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City, who opposed SB234, and House Speaker Greg Hughes, R-Draper, who led the charge to create the Utah Inland Port Authority, negotiated some proposed changes to SB234 and urged for negotiations to continue amid gridlock. "It kind of scared us," Kitchen said. "Not because we don't want to use litigation but it needs to be something where all leaders in the city are on board." It wasn't "to strong-arm the mayor or anything like that," Kitchen added. "But it was to make sure the City Council is included and not excluded." "If we're going to be spending city taxpayer dollars that could potentially be very expensive, like a piece of litigation of this magnitude, we wanted the budget-making body to have input," Kitchen said. Matthew Rojas, Biskupski's spokesman, said the mayor took no issue with the council's action, noting that the administration was aware of the contingent appropriation prior to the vote on the budget. "It reinforces that in the negotiations over the inland port, the city is speaking with one voice," Rojas said. Rojas reiterated that the city continues to work with Sen. Jerry Stevenson, R-Layton, who sponsored SB234 and negotiated with the city during the legislative session even though his versions of the bill were eventually trumped by a new version on the House floor. "The mayor has repeatedly said that litigation is not in anyone's best interest and it really is the last tool in the toolkit," Rojas said. Salt Lake City leaders were distraught when a new version of SB234 cleared the House and the Senate conceded to the changes without much debate on the second-to-last day of the 2018 session. The city called for changes to the legislation, worried that as currently written it sets a dangerous precedent by giving the Utah Inland Port Authority power to ultimately usurp city land use authority and to capture 100 percent of the project area's tax increment. But negotiations with Gov. Gary Hebert stalled prior to a potential special session after the draft compromise bill didn't adequately address Biskupski's concerns. WEST VALLEY CITY A man who police say rammed a police car and then refused to get out of his own vehicle as he finished drinking a beer has been charged. Christopher S. Ritter, who is also known by "Critter," 30, of Salt Lake City, was charged Thursday in 3rd District Court with assault against a police officer, a second-degree felony; failing to respond to an officer's signal to stop, a third-degree felony; DUI, a third-degree felony; driving without an interlock system in the car, a class B misdemeanor; reckless driving, a class B misdemeanor; and four other misdemeanor crimes. On Saturday, Ritter was spotted by West Valley police going 50 mph in a residential neighborhood, the charges state. Ritter refused to pull over and "ran several stop signs," according to charging documents. He then "intentionally" drove his vehicle head-on into a West Valley patrol car stopped at 6620 W. 3926 South, according to the charges. When police ordered Ritter out of his car, he "grabbed onto the steering wheel and began to chug a beer from an open beer can," according to court documents. Officers forcefully removed Ritter from the car and tazed him when he resisted arrest, the charges state. In addition to smelling strongly of alcohol, Ritter "had trouble remembering conversations that had just occurred, and had trouble maintaining his balance while standing and walking," according to court documents. Ritter has already been convicted of DUI twice in the past 10 years, the charges state. RIVERTON Come fall, the Jordan School District plans to have a full-time psychologist in each of its 36 elementary schools. Work is also underway on a districtwide mental health initiative, in part a response to a significant number of deaths by suicide among teens and young adults in the southwest quadrant of Salt Lake County this past year, seven alone in the Herriman High School community. "It's also because we have escalating emotional health problems that kids aren't getting attended to and they can't learn if they're not getting some kind of help," said Janice Voorhies, president of the Jordan School District Board of Education. The school district has 41 school psychologists, one in each middle and high school, and is working to move that number up to 56.5, Voorhies said. Jordan District has had school psychologists in each of its seven Title I schools, which are schools that have high numbers or percentages of children from low-income families. These schools receive additional federal funding to provide supports to help students reach academic benchmarks. Elsewhere in the district, school psychologists have been splitting their time between two, even three, elementary schools. These are just two of initiatives contained in the $710 million budget adopted earlier this week by the Jordan Board of Education. Superintendent Patrice Johnson said the budget reflects what patrons want and care about. The budget also includes raises for teachers and a new program that will offer grants to teachers for education-related activities outside of contracted time such as an agriculture teacher who accompanies students to state or national competitions, Voorhies said. The budget funds an increase in starting teacher pay to $42,800 annually in the 2018-19 school year, up from $40,000. The school district will invest some $19 million in educator pay raises in the next school year. Board member Bryce Dunford said the budget reflects "priorities" and "the times we live in." The school board made deliberate decisions to invest in the expertise of a mental health specialist, both to lead district-level efforts and make connections to community-based mental health resources, he said. "With all the suicides that occurred in the Herriman area, we felt like we are experts in education and we're not experts in mental health. We felt like we desperately needed an expert in mental health to say 'Here's how we deal with that or how we prevent that,' " Dunford said. During budget deliberations, board members also agreed that trauma kits are needed in each of the school district's 3,600 classrooms in the wake of numerous school shooting nationwide this past year, Dunford said. The board also would like to place larger kits adjacent to automated external defibrillators in schools and offices and train all teachers and administrators how to use them. The kits include first-aid supplies such as lightweight tourniquets, gauze coated with blood-clotting drugs and compression bandages that could be used to respond to a school shooting or other mass casualty events. The initiative is not specifically funded in the budget but the district's business administrator John Larsen assured school board members that he'll locate the money within the budget to purchase the kits. "We will find the money because that's a no-brainer for us," Dunford said. Board member Darrell Robinson, who represents the Herriman area, said the school board had discussed a districtwide mental health initiative prior to this past school year, examining trends and student needs in several areas. Hiring up more school psychologists in elementary schools will help ease the loads of principals who already wear many hats, he said. When I visit elementary schools and stuff and I see the role of the elementary school principal and what theyre doing in terms of counseling and psychologist work, this will be great relief to them being able to focus on running the school instead of tackling these problems that take so much of their time, Robinson said. He hopes a like amount of attention will be placed on relieving some responsibilities of middle and high school counselors and psychologists, many of whom are tasked with changing class schedules. "Do you have to have a someone with a masters degree change a school schedule?" Robinson said. Johnson said the budget attempts to address "what counts." After meeting with stakeholders including parents, students, patrons and community leaders, district administrators and the school board arrived at four priorities: student achievement; empowering employees; customer service; and safety and security. With respect to the latter, the budget also contemplates increased spending for secondary school hall monitors and safety training for all school personnel. HERRIMAN Emotions were high as a few hundred residents, many wearing red to show unity, nearly filled the auditorium at Herriman High School to discuss a controversial development with Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams. They gathered Thursday evening to voice their concerns over a proposed 8,800-unit housing project that would be planted near their city. The Olympia Hills development could bring more than 30,000 residents into a 930-acre area in unincorporated land west of Herriman, near 8500 West and 13100 South, according to Salt Lake County planning documents. "I'm appalled that the council would even approve zoning for over 30,000 people to live in just over 900 acres," said Max Jenkins of Riverton. McAdams, Salt Lake County Council members Jim Bradley, Ann Granato and Max Burdick and Herriman Mayor David Watts listened as dozens of residents aired their concerns for more than two hours. The dispute began when, worried about the impact it could bring to their neighborhoods and roads, mayors and residents of nearby cities protested the development just before the Salt Lake County Council approved on June 5 rezoning to make way for Olympia Hills. After widespread outcry against the project and the filing Monday of a referendum application to put the zoning change to a public vote, Salt Lake County leaders said Tuesday they might reverse their vote. The council voted to put the zoning change on its meeting agenda for next Tuesday. During that meeting, they could choose to reverse the zoning change or change specific portions of the ordinance, council staff said. McAdams also asked for the project to be put on hold. He was considering the possibility of vetoing the zoning change, which he has power to do by June 20. But he encouraged stakeholders to negotiate and possibly adjust Olympia Hills' planned density through changes to the development agreement. He "challenged" those involved to come to a new agreement by Friday. During Thursday's town hall meeting, McAdams told the crowd that he was there to listen to them and would take their comments into consideration as he made his decision whether or not to veto the council's decision. "The rapid growth that is happening along the Wasatch Front has hit home for every one of you right in this region," he said. With growth, the community is "struggling to keep pace for the demand of transportation infrastructure, houses, schools, parks, trails and other facilities," McAdams said. Despite the needs that come with growth, however, he said a thought he read in a recent newspapercolumn had an impact on him. "Sometimes slowing down makes sense," McAdams said, quoting Deseret News columnist Jay Evensen. "The proposal as it stands right now needs to change," he added, to applause. As residents explained why they oppose the project, many of them described the impact Olympia Hills would have on their roads and commute times, their water supply, their schools and increased crime rate that could come with high-density housing. Most said they want the project to be thrown out. "We're a mess out here, and this'll make us a massive mess," said Scott Alden of Herriman. His statement was met with loud applause. Jennifer Bangerter, also from Herriman, said "we have to look at what the future is holding. And if we don't look now, our kids, our grandkids are going to have to deal with so much more stuff than we can even imagine." She said she is concerned that the project will hurt the community's taxpayers, adding that Herriman already has "one of the highest taxes in the valley." Lisa Brown echoed Bangerter's statements and compared the development to stuffing a teenager's foot into a toddler's shoe. "This development is not a good fit for this area. We have beautiful mountains, we have wonderful topography, we want to protect our natural resources out here as best as we can," she explained. Darrell Robinson, a member of Jordan Board of Education, discussed how the project would impact the community's school system. "To be quite honest, for a long, long time, our schools have been overcrowded," he said, adding that the "tough" issues in schools can be dealt with better if schools are less crowded. Many said they are not opposed to growth but want it better-planned and want more single-family housing rather than high-density housing. Others, discussing the idea of growth from tech companies and their employees moving to the area to create "Silicon Slopes," said they don't want the area to turn into another California. Jane Rollins, of South Jordan, said she lives in Daybreak, a master-planned community that has been compared to the planned Olympia Hills but on a smaller scale. Her husband works in the tech industry. "(In Daybreak) there's a mix of family homes, there's a mix of townhomes, and there's a mix of apartments, and I love it," she said. However, she said, the Daybreak community was planned in "responsible ways and thoughtful ways," she said. "There's a feeling here that is special of Utah that I want to continue for my children. We need to plan for this growth," she said. Rollins said single-family homes cost too much for many of her generation of millennials. "If we're demanding single-family homes but you're supplying us with apartments, that doesn't fix the problem," she said. Justin Swain, a Herriman resident who championed the referendum to reverse the zoning change through a Change.org petition, said "hold this rezoning back, and let the citizens who actually will be affected by it have a voice." WEST JORDAN A man who served as a primary teacher in his LDS ward faces charges of abusing a young girl during sleepovers at his house. Sean David Sund, 45, of West Jordan, was charged Thursday in 3rd District Court with five counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony. Two girls, ages 7 and 8, often had sleepovers at Sund's house, according to charging documents. One of the girl's mothers described Sund as a close friend, almost like a father to the girls. "She and the defendant attend the same church where the defendant serves as a primary teacher involving children," according to the charges. In an interview with a West Jordan police detective, the mother of the victim said, "Sean was trusted by all of the parents to have the children left in his care and custody," according to a Salt Lake County Jail report. Between January and March, the 8-year-old girl was sexually abused at least five times while sleeping over at Sund's house, the charges state. The abuse happened when the girl was sleeping next to Sund's bed or on his bed with him, according to the charges. When questioned about it, Sund claimed the girl "inadvertently flipped on top of him during the night" and his "mind started being tempted," the charges state. "I confess I was stupid. It was horrible," he told investigators, according to court documents. "The defendant stated that many children have stayed in his home and have come to his home quite a few times," the charges state. Sund was arrested on June 7. Prosecutors have requested Sund be held without bail. SALT LAKE CITY A new report from CableTV.com identified Utahs favorite Pixar film, and its a rather interesting choice. The report, which cross-referenced each of Pixars films with Google Trends data for each state, found Utah had a seven-way tie for its favorite Pixar film. The report listed Utah as the most Pixar-loving state in the country. Utahs favorite Pixar films included: Cars 3 A Bugs Life Brave Inside Out Monsters Inc. The Incredibles Up" Utahns love Pixar movies, the report said. Interestingly, the report found Finding Dory to be the top Pixar film across all states, even though it didnt rank within the top seven for the Beehive State. The report found that all of Pixars films made the list of favorites, meaning not a single one was left off the list of frequently googled Pixar movies. Pixar sequels were as popular than the predecessors, if not more, according to the report. Regional culture may have played a factor, too. For example, Coco the film inspired by Mexicos Day of the Dead holiday topped the list in California, which has the largest Hispanic population in the country. Similarly, New Mexicos top film was Cars, which features a Radiator Springs town off Route 66, which, in real life, cuts through New Mexico. Its not surprising Utah has such a deep connection to Pixar. After all, Ed Catmull, president and co-founder of Pixar, grew up and attended college in the Beehive State. He specifically studied physics and computer science at the University of Utah. In fact, Catmull helped BYU and the University of Utah improve their animation departments over the years. In 2013, Brent Adams, a BYU professor and current director of the school's Center for Animation, told the Deseret News he consulted Catmull about how to improve the schools animation program. "I was embarrassed to take so much of his time, but he had the most amazing insight into what we should be doing and how we could do it," Adams said in an email. "He is a genius. I am sure that it helped that he was from Utah and understood the culture of BYU and our constraints, but he told me that he spent time with faculty from lots of schools because of his love for education." SALT LAKE CITY A man accused of firing two rounds outside the Grand America Hotel with one shot striking a room of another hotel is now facing felony charges. Miguel Angel Prado, 20, of Salt Lake City, was charged Friday in 3rd District Court with two counts of discharge of a firearm, a third-degree felony. On May 20, about 5 a.m., Prado was staying at the Grand America, 555 S. Main, when he yelled racial slurs from his balcony at two men walking down the street, according to charging documents. The men ignored Prado and continued walking. But Prado ran out of the hotel "holding a gun, and fired two shots toward them," the charges state. One of the shots went through a window of a room at the Little America Hotel across the street, according to court documents. No one was injured. Salt Lake City police say the gunman then ran back into the hotel. Staffers of the Grand America went into Prado's room where they found him hiding under a mattress, according to a Salt Lake County Jail report. Police found a handgun and "baggie with a white powder substance" in the room that was later confirmed to be cocaine. Prado is also awaiting a preliminary hearing in a separate case in which he is charged with three counts of aggravated assault. On June 15, 1850, Willard Richards and his staff printed 220 copies of the first edition of the Deseret News, the first news organization in Utah. Richards began the paper by listing the proposed purpose of the Deseret News, if it garnered the 300 subscribers it needed to get published. We propose to publish a small weekly sheet, as large as our local circumstances will permit, to be called Deseret News, designed originally to record the passing events of our State, and in connexion, refer to the arts and sciences, embracing general education, medicine, law, divinity, domestic and political economy, and everything that may fall under our observation, which may tend to promote the best interest, welfare, pleasure and amusement of our fellow citizens. Here are some things you might not know about that first edition of the Deseret News: 1. The newspaper was named the Deseret News after the State of Deseret, which was a provisional territory proposed by settlers but never recognized by the United States. The word deseret comes from the word for honeybee in The Book of Mormon. 2. The first Deseret News motto was, Truth and Liberty. Richards elaborates on this motto in the next paragraph: When we speak, we shall speak freely, without regard to men or party, and when, like other men, we err, let him who has his eyes open, correct us in meekness. 3. The first subscriptions were $2.50 for six months, or 15 cents a copy. 4. The first edition was published in pamphlet form, 7 inches by 9 inches. The staff believed that a paper that is worth printing, is worth preserving; if worth preserving, it is worth binding, so someday the subscribers childrens children may read the doings of their fathers, which otherwise might have been forgotten. 5. The first edition was printed on a hand-cranked Ramage press that W. W. Phelps had purchased in Boston and hauled across the plains by wagon. There is a replica of that press in the Deseret News office and in the Crandall Historical Printing Museum, with the original in the LDS Church History Museum. 6. Richards, the first editor of the Deseret News, was born in Massachusetts. He initially enjoyed a career practicing medicine. After he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he became Joseph Smiths private secretary and church historian, and was in Carthage, Illinois, when Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum Smith, were killed. He was also the secretary of Utah Territory, postmaster of Salt Lake City and the second counselor in the First Presidency of the LDS Church under Brigham Young. 7. One of the main issues covered in the first edition was the Senate debates about slavery and the union. One spectator was quoted, saying he was confident blood will be spilt on the floor of the House before the session closes. Other issues were discussed, somewhat briefly. Cholera has again appeared in the States. Hungary has fallen. General peace in Europe: and the present appearance is like a calm before a tornado, the paper reads. 8. The paper could also be purchased with flour, wheat, cornmeal, butter, cheese, tallow or pork. 9. The first edition also included the public announcement of the death of Oliver Cowdery, former scribe for Joseph Smith and an early church leader. 10. The Deseret News used to include a poetry section. The first poem was written under the name B and was more of a jingle promoting the paper than a work of literary mastery. To My Friends in the Valley Let all who would have a good paper, Their talents, and time neer abuse; Since tis said, by the wise and the humored, That the best in the world is the News. Then ye who so long have been thinking What paper this year you will choose, Come trip gaily up to the office, And subscribe for the Deseret News. And now, dearest friends, I will leave you; This counsel, I pray you, dont lose; The best of advice I can give you Is, pay in advance for the News. The editor added a note to this poem: This is the first poetic offering we have received, and, for aught we know, friend Bs first attempt. Try again. SALT LAKE CITY File this one in the bucket of phenomena you probably never thought youd see. Several Hawaiian residents tweeted out pictures this week of green crystals appearing in the area. And though social media users said the crystals fell from the sky in the wake of the Kilauea volcano explosion from the last month, scientists are unsure if that's the case. People tweeted images of the green crystals, which fell from the sky after the volcanos eruption. Scientists seem to be unsure about what the green crystals are, though. Janine Krippner, a volcanologist at Concord University, told USA Today Thursday that the gems are a form of olivine, which is "a common mineral in basaltic lava, which is what this eruption is producing. "Olivine is formed in hot and deep magmas and is brought up to the surface during an eruption, she said. However, geologists from both the University of Hawaii and U.S. Geological Survey said the green crystals aren't olivine, and that the eruption itself is "olivine poor," according to Popular Mechanics. "Trace amounts of olivine could be embedded within some of the volcanic rocks that spew out of the volcano, but these mineral specimens are tiny and would not rain down in the manner suggested," the report said. USGS scientist Wendy Stovall told Mashable Thursday a confirmed report would mean the gems fell out of the sky during the volcanos eruption. Stovall said there is nothing unique about olivine. "It's pretty common," Stovall told Mashable. "Theres often olivine in rocks all over Hawaii." Geologists from the University of Hawaii told Popular Mechanics the crystals are often carried out into the sky by an eruption. The air will cool down some of the lava, turning it into pumice. The gases inside the pumice escape, putting holes in the rocks. The crystals will then fall out of those rocks, according to Popular Mechanics. As far as silver linings go, getting littered with shiny, harmless green crystals is pretty good, according to Popular Mechanics. But the island of Hawaii, one of the five islands that make up the state, has been sent through the ringer with the explosion of Kilauea now stretching well into its second month. SALT LAKE CITY While schools in Utah and across the country struggle to incorporate current and relevant tech education curricula, some private companies are seeing the gap as a window of entrepreneurial opportunity. And while for-profit coding "boot camps" for adults have been riding a boom for several years now in response to vibrant employment opportunities for those with coding skills, a new tech education phenomena private coding schools aimed at kids are on the rise. One endeavor looking to help close the gap on building computer skills for youngsters ages 7-14, albeit for a fee, is Houston-based Code Ninjas. The company, which launched in 2016, appears to be on a turbo-charged expansion cycle with 25 current franchises in operation and another 225 in development, according to the company. Among the planned new stores are eight Utah locations, including Bountiful, Draper, Holladay, Kaysville, Lehi, Lindon, Sandy and South Jordan. Three of those new Utah franchises will be owned by Jazmin West, a San Diego mother of three with a graduate degree in tech education. She and her husband are working on opening 33 locations in cities across the country. Code Ninjas' curriculum was developed by company founder and CEO David Graham, who celebrated the Wests, and his company's stellar growth, in a statement. "Partners like the Wests validate for us that theres a massive, unmet demand across the country, and how vital it is for us to make learning to code accessible to more and more children, Graham said. Statistically, only about 18 percent of franchise concepts ever reach the 100-unit mark. Part of the reason Code Ninjas has been able to surpass this point so early on is our ability to combine learning with fun. This allows us to appeal to the needs of both parents and children, essentially doubling our market reach. Anthony Giefer, Code Ninjas' marketing director, said the company's approach is focused on giving their students useful and relevant coding skills but via a fun pathway that keeps kids engaged with the material. "Code Ninjas teaches kids ages 7-14 to code by building their own video games in a fun, safe, and inspiring environment," Giefer said. "Everything at Code Ninjas is built around fun, but it also provides the results that parents are looking for as their children gain the coding and problem-solving skills they'll need for the jobs of the future." The system is set up on tiers, consisting of "belts" as in martial arts training, and is self-paced, but not self-taught, according to Giefer. "Each belt builds on the last, with 'prove yourself' challenges throughout and a capstone project at the end of each level, where kids get to show what they've learned," Giefer said. "When they reach the next belt, Code Ninjas holds 'Belt-Up' celebrations with color-coded wristbands to mark the child's accomplishments." Giefer said the school's core program operates on a year-round, continuous cycle. The schools also offer summer coding camps, coding-themed birthday party events and "Parents' Night Out" programs. Each franchise creates two to three full-time jobs and 10 to 15 part-time positions. Instructors, according to the company, receive in-depth training and each must pass a national background check. While exact program costs have not been set for Code Ninjas' Utah locations, fees will be in the ballpark of $150/month for the year-round program (two, hourlong classes a week); around $200 for the weeklong summer camps; about $200 for a birthday party for 10; and about $40 a student for the Parents' Night opportunities. SALT LAKE CITY Backers of the Count My Vote initiative that Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox ruled failed to qualify for the November ballot asked the Utah Supreme Court Friday to throw out a provision in the law allowing for voter signatures to be removed. The petition spells out that if the provision is either declared unconstitutional or determined not to have been followed correctly, the Count My Vote initiative should be on the ballot. Nearly 3,000 people had their names removed from the initiative, intended to maintain the current candidate nomination process that offers an alternative to the traditional political party caucus and convention system. As a result, the initiative fell short of the required signatures in three state Senate districts where the required threshold had been exceeded, according to the lieutenant governor's office, which oversees elections. The lieutenant governor's chief of staff, Kirsten Rappleye, had little to say about the legal action taken just before Friday's deadline by former Gov. Mike Leavitt and Count My Vote Executive Chairman Rich McKeown in the Utah Supreme Court. "It's our policy not to comment on ongoing litigation, however, the attorney general's office has received the filing and will be reviewing it in the coming days," Rappleye said in a statement. The petition from the Count My Vote leaders, who had previously said they intended to challenge Cox's decision to keep the initiative off the ballot, argues that the signature removal process "stacks the deck" in favor of an initiative's opponents. The "relative ease" by which an opposition group can remove signatures, especially considering the difficulty of obtaining valid signatures, "imposes an undue burden on the people's constitutional right to initiative legislation," the petition states. It says voter names and other identifying information submitted to qualify for the ballot serve as a "treasure map" for opponents who can "prevent an initiative from reaching the ballot by aggressively targeting signers" in key districts. Adding to the unfairness, according to the petition, are requirements on initiative supporters, including holding public hearings before gathering signatures and filing campaign finance reports, that are not imposed on opponents. Although a prior version of the signature removal process has been upheld by the courts, the petition notes that was before a legislative revision in 2010 eliminated a requirement that the requests be notarized. The petition says the signature removal requests should have been personally submitted by the voters who signed the initiative, rather than by Count My Vote opponents. The suit was filed against Cox and the Davis, Utah and Washington county clerks. Just over 113,000 voters statewide must sign an initiative, and the threshold must be met in at least 26 of the 29 districts. Count My Vote backers said they submitted more than 131,000 validated signatures. Keep My Voice, a group that had initially intended to circulate a counterinitiative doing away with the 2014 legislative compromise known as SB54 that created the dual path to the primary ballot, targeted the initiative in specific Senate districts. Another initiative aiming to legalize medical marijuana that was also the subject of an organized effort to remove voter signatures did qualify for the ballot, along with initiatives creating an independent redistricting commission and expanding Medicaid. Brandon Beckham, Keep My Voice director and co-founder, said he doesn't believe Count My Vote will prevail. "It's going to be hard for them to make a dent on that," Beckham said of the signature-removal process. "We followed the law. We followed the statute. We abided by everything." He said the group had been told by the lieutenant governor's office it could collect signature removal forms rather than have voters mail or personally turn in the forms. Beckham said he believes Keep My Voice had the more difficult job. "I can tell you it's not easy," he said. The signatures gathered by Count My Vote first had to be analyzed to target voters, Beckham said, who were then contacted by canvassers that went door to door. Some people balked at filling out a portion of the signature removal form that required them to give the last four digits of their Social Security number and their driver's license information, he said. "For us, we would like to put more restrictions on the initiative process because there's no accountability," Beckham said. Friday's filing is the latest in a long series of skirmishes over SB54, which permits candidates to gather voter signatures for a place on the primary ballot, either in addition to or in place of the caucus and convention nomination process. The Utah Republican Party has sued the state over the law. Last week, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals denied the party's request for a rehearingby the full panel of judges, leaving in place a 2-1 ruling in favor of the state. The GOP is reviewing its options going forward, which include petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court. Apple is famous for its industry-first innovations; whether it is in its devices or its new spaceship-like headquarter called Apple Park that houses 9,000 native and drought-resistant trees and is powered by 100 percent renewable energy. Recently, the company CEO made an interesting revelation in an interview and said that all the employees in the campus have a standing desk as standing is much better for a human beings lifestyle. In an interview with the Carlyle Group's David Rubenstein, Cook said, "We have given all of our employees, 100%, standing desks. If you can stand for a while, then sit, and so on and so forth, it's much better for your lifestyle. If I sit for too long, it will actually tap me on the wrist to remind me to get up and move, because a lot of doctors think sitting is the new cancer. In 2015, Cook prioritised health as the key element while launching the Apple Watch that included hourly reminders of the users to move if they had been sitting for too long. Ten minutes before the hour, it will remind you to move. We have a lot of people using the Apple Watch at Apple, and ten minutes before the hour, suddenly they all get up and move. It took a little to get used to, but its great, he added. Along with the standing desks, workers have got their chairs made by Vitra and cafes are dotted with chairs designed by Nauto Fukasawa. There is not much information available regarding the which desks have a standing function, but 9to5mac reports that the desks that have a standing function have minimalist up/down controls and might be custom-made for Apple. Apart from the standing desks, Cook also talked about why he doesnt want to run for the Presidents post and what made him leave Compaq and join Apple when companys former CEO late Steve Jobs returned to the company. On running for President, he said, Im not political. I love focusing on the policy stuff, but in the dysfunction in Washington between the legislative branch and so forth, I think I can make a bigger difference in the world doing what Im doing. On his decision to switch job, the executive said, Steve had come back to the company and was essentially replacing the executive team that was there at the time. I thought, you know this is an opportunity to talk to a guy that started the whole industry. Steve met me on Saturday, and it was like just minutes into talking with him, I wanted to do it. I was totally shocked myself. There was a sparkle in his eye that Id never seen in a CEO before. He was turning left when everyone else was turning right. With almost everything he talked about, he was doing something different from conventional wisdom [] I thought it was brilliant, he added. Xiaomi could soon announce the Redmi 6 Pro, Mi Max 3 and the Mi Pad 4 in China. As per a MySmartPrice report, the companys website has references to the aforementioned devices, thus confirming their existence. It is also speculated that these products will be launched in China first, followed by other markets. Information on all the three gadgets, the Redmi 6 Pro, Mi Max 3 and the Mi Pad 4, have come up in reports and rumours, but there was no conclusive evidence that they exist. Also, the company recently announced the Redmi 6 and 6A smartphones in China and it was rumoured that the Pro variant will also make a debut, but obviously, that didnt happen. The Xiaomi Redmi 6 Pro was previously spotted on TENAA with the model number M1805D1SE. The listing tipped at the presence of a notch on the display and revealed some specs of the smartphone. As per the listing, the Redmi 6 Pro could be powered by an unknown 2.0GHz processor and feature a 5.84-inch Full HD+ display with a 19:9 aspect ratio. It could come with a 12MP + 5MP dual rear camera setup and be packed with a 4000mAh battery. It is expected to be announced in 2GB, 3GB and 4GB RAM models with options of selecting from 16GB, 32GB and 64GB internal storage options. The Mi Max 3 has already been confirmed previously by the companys top executives and it was recently spotted on the 3C certification website featuring model number M1807E8S. The smartphone is expected to feature a 6.99-inch Full HD+ 18:9 display and could be backed by a massive 5,500mAh battery that is speculated to come with Quick Charge 3.0 support. Furthermore, it could also support Qi-standard wireless charging, iris scanner for biometric authentication and run on Android 8.1 Oreo. As for the Mi Pad 4, the tablet could be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 octa-core processor and feature an 18:9 display aspect ratio. It could feature a 13MP single rear sensor and on the front, come with a 13MP camera. The handset will reportedly feature a 6000mAh battery. After several twists and turns, Xiaomi finally released Android Oreo 8.0 update through OTA for Mi A1 smartphones (Review) on December 31 last year. Now since the phone was launched under the Android One program, it will receive two more version updates, as promised by Google and Xiaomi. As a result, Xiaomi was aggressively working on Oreo 8.1 update but did not release any timeline for the rollout. A report claims that some Beta users have already got the 8.1 update. According to a report, several beta users received the Oreo 8.1 update with June security patch but without any treble support to the device. A stable version is expected to be rolled out in the coming months. He company had also announced that the device will also get and Android P update. The last stable Oreo update was over 1GB (1107.4MB) and gave users new notification management settings that allow users to snooze notifications to see later, notification dots, adaptive icons, picture-in-picture for apps like Google Maps and VLC, new emojis and some tweaks under the surface to make streamline performance. The update also brings support to fast charging on the Mi A1 which was missing all this while. Xiaomi recently announced its MIUI 10 at an event. The beta version of MIUI 10 will be rolled out mid-June onwards and stable versions will start rolling out in September. The company recently launched its Mi 6X smartphone in China, which was speculated to be launched globally as the Mi A2 -- a successor to the companys Mi A1 smartphone. As per a report by XDA Developers, there is a Mi A1 successor in the works, which is said to be based on the Mi 6X, along with another Android One smartphone. Samsung is expected to launch its rumoured smartwatch Gear S4 along with its second flagship of the year Galaxy Note 9 in August. If the reports are to be believed, Gear S4 (tentative name) will house a bigger battery than its predecessors. Also, Samsung is reported to have started the production of a panel level package (PLP) chip that will make the wearable thinner leaving more room for a bigger battery. According to Ice universe on Weibo, Gear S4 battery will have a 470mAh battery, which is bigger than Gear S3s is 380mAh. This might help Samsung, that launched Gear S3 in 2016, pit its new wearable against Apple Watch. With this launch, Samsung will be looking to regain the share it lost to other wearable manufacturing companies, including Xiaomi and Fitbit. Some reports have claimed that Samsung's next smartwatch will be a combination of features from Gear S3 smartwatch and the Gear Fit 2 fitness tracker. The South Korean giant had shared some details regarding the product as part of a survey it sent out to members of its SmartLab Plus program. Meanwhile, reports have suggested that launch of the Galaxy Note 9 has reportedly been delayed by a mere two weeks. This is because of a last-minute change that has been made to the design. The Samsung VP has asked for the front glass thickness to be reduced by 0.5mm. This means that the Galaxy Note 9 which was expected to have a 1.5 mm thick glass will now have slimmer glass on the front. It is also expected that Galaxy Note 9 will bring with it an in-display fingerprint sensor and may launch with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Currently, the Galaxy S9+ offers the most amount of memory with 6GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Recently, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 was spotted on Geekbench. According to the listing, it was noted that the Note 9 may offer 6GB of RAM. It is possible that the Note 9 may come in two variants 6GB and 8GB RAM variants. The GeekBench score of the Note 9 revealed scores of 2737 and 9064 on the single and multi-core tests respectively. Speaking of rumoured specifications, the Galaxy Note 9 is tipped to feature a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display with an aspect ratio of 18.5:9. It is expected to be powered by a 4000mAh battery, which is a lot more than the 3300mAh unit used in the Galaxy Note 8. SoftBank to invest up to $100 bn in India's solar power sector SoftBank Group Corp has decided to invest $60 billion-$100 billion in solar power generation in India as the company bets big on the market for clean energy in India, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported on Friday. The Japanese technology major plans to team up with Indian government and a final announcement is expected after final arrangements are made, the report quoting SoftBank sources said. Softbank is expected to make the investment through a fund backed by Saudi Arabias government, which is also the largest investor in Softbank. Saudi investment fund was the largest investor in SoftBank's Vision Fund, which raised over $93 billion last year. SoftBank, in April, also teamed up with China's GCL System Integration Technology Co Ltd for a $930 million solar energy venture in India. See: In 2015, SoftBank had teamed up with Indias Bharti Enterprises and Taiwans Foxcon to invest $20 billion in Indian solar projects to generate 20 GW of energy. Softbank was the majority partner in the joint venture ( SoftBank, Foxconn, Bharti in pact for $20-bn solar power investment ). India has set a target to achieve solar power capacity of 100 GW by 2022, five times current levels, under its renewable energy programme. SoftBank's Vision Fund has exposure to solar energy through its investment in the world's largest such project in Saudi Arabia announced in March. SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son wants to invest in the companies that will build the future. Earlier this year he banded together with Saudi Arabia on a $200 billion solar power project. SoftBank could also invest in the battery sector. But that may take a while as companies have been struggling to improve on the lithium-based technology that has been the norm for years. A 33-year-old man who assaulted a garda while he was being treated in the back of an ambulance outside Dundalk Garda Station, was sentenced to five months at the local district court last week. Ciaran Rodgers of Abbeyhall, The Loakers, Blackrock was also before the court accused of two further separate counts of assault. These incidents were alleged to have taken place on Church Street, Dundalk and at Park Avenue, Dundalk on the same date - December 12th last year. Judge John Coughlan noted that the offending had started with the defendant assaulting an ex-partner. It ended with him assaulting a garda in the back of an ambulance. The Defence said the accused had been clean of drugs for four years until the death of his brother two years ago and needs help. The court heard the defendant is currently serving a three-month sentence until next month. The court also heard he had also entered guilty pleas to the charges before the court, at Cloverhill District Court on May 23rd last. Judge Coughlan, in imposing the five-month jail term for the assault on the garda, said the gardai must be protected. The sentence was backdated to May 2nd when the defendant went into custody in Cloverhill Prison in Dublin. The other assault charges were marked taken into consideration by Judge Coughlan. Dundalk Dog Rescue are thrilled to be hosting their annual sponsored walk this June 24th, 2018 and they want your dog to come take part. Aiming for their biggest turn out to date, the sponsored walk is a fun filled event for dogs and their owners starting and ending at the Spirit Store. Early registration is available from 3.30pm with the walk beginning at 4pm sharp. The pooches can cool off along the way with some refreshments and will be kept company on their walk by the DDR mascot Dudley. Sponsorship cards are available from Dundalk Dog Rescue or participants can pay 20 to register on the day. The fun doesn't end with the walk, a BBQ will be held in the Spirit Store afterwards with drinks and refreshments available. For the second year running the dog photography sessions will also be taking place, where participants have the opportunity to have a photoshoot with renowned pet photographer Al Shelley. As this was a sell out last year, booking is available this year through by emailing events@dundalkdogrescue.ie. Sessions are 20. Finally, when the dogs are safely tucked up in bed, the humans are invited to a Latino night upstairs in the Spirit Store featuring an array of local DJ's for a salsa themed after party! Starting at 8p non participants are also welcome. This event is one of the biggest fundraisers for the local charity and your continued support is massively appreciated as they continue battling with costs of running the charity while beginning the build of their new rescue centre which will be the first of its kind in Ireland, right here in Dundalk. Inniskeen-based company McArdle Skeath, one of Irelands leading supply chain management providers, today opened its new 20million, 12,500m2 temperature controlled storage facility in Hollystown, Dublin 15. The supply chain facility represents an investment by McArdle Skeath and is strategically positioned to service the nutritional and bio-tech sectors. The company, 50 years in business this year, has added the Hollystown facility to its existing headquarters in Inniskeen, Dundalk. Attending the opening ceremony, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: The opening of this impressive new facility is great news for Dublin 15 and I would like to congratulate McArdle Skeath for the successful expansion of their business, now in its 50th year. This large scale warehouse will provide up to 100 jobs over the next 12 months here in Hollystown, serving the nutritional and bio-tech sectors. It is ideally located thanks to its proximity to the M50 and other major routes, as well as being very accessible to Dublin Airport. I know McArdle Skeath pride themselves on exceeding the highest standards, and I have no doubt they will take the same approach to success with this new facility. I wish all the staff and management the very best of luck. Speaking at the official opening Micheal McArdle, Managing Director and CEO of McArdle Skeath, marked the significance of the new facility and how the company has become: One of Irelands largest storage providers certified by the HPRA (Health Products Regulatory Authority). Our facility and the standards to which we operate are designed to not only meet, but exceed the specification required to service the nutritional and pharmaceutical sectors. This investment reaffirms McArdle Skeaths commitment to our core values in providing compliant solutions to Irelands export and import markets. With a workforce of 150 people, the new facility has created 20 new jobs initially. An additional 80 positions will come on stream as McArdle Skeath expands further into contract manufacturing to include - lean manufacturing operations, repackaging, rebranding, quality assurance inspections and sampling. Speaking at the event, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys TD stated: I am delighted to see McArdle Skeath expanding with the opening of their new facility in Dublin. Since setting up in Inniskeen in 1968, the company has set standards in the industry, by evolving and providing innovative solutions for customers, and this new facility is testament to that. I am confident that the new McArdle Skeath facility in Hollystown will flourish, and continue to grow, and I wish all the team the very best for the future. The new facility expands McArdle Skeaths portfolio by diversifying into temperature management storage solutions. The critical nature of pharmaceutical products demand temperature integrity between +2C to +8C and +15C to +25C. The building and equipment commissioned at the Hollystown site have been innovatively designed to meet these temperature ranges, while also ensuring full redundancy. McArdle Skeaths presence at Hollystown allows for efficient access to and from Irelands major transport network. This statement was echoed by Micheal McArdle when saying our location provides ease of access to the M50, N3 and M1 motorways, Dublin Airport and Dublin Port. Mr McArdle went on to say with the option of doubling the size of our Hollystown facility, we look forward to further investment and job creation in the future. Founded in 1968, McArdle Skeath has two facilities in Ireland, the first of which was set up in Inniskeen, Dundalk, Co. Louth. Visitwww.mcardleskeath.com for more information. Acacia Water is conducting a robust hydrologic study in Darfur, Western Sudan, and the outcome will be used for a water buffering masterplan. This plan will show the opportunities for sustainable water resources development of the individual hydrologic catchments (watersheds) where the involved communities are located. Acacia Water will develop the plan as part of the Taadoud project, a new project for Catholic Relief Services in Sudan funded by UKs Department for International Development (DFID). Drought in Dafur makes cattle herders to travel to areas with more water. Their cattle damages the crops of local farmers and this leads to conflicts between pastures (livestock) and farmers (agriculture). Conflict and displacements In Sudan, protracted conflict and displacement of communities are coupled with economic and political uncertainty, climatic variability, and environment degradation. The Taadoud project aims at simultaneously improving the productivity of livelihoods and strengthening community-level disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in Darfur. To do so, the project uses a holistic approach of natural resource management, necessary in such complex and fragile context. Water balance calculations Acacia Water is currently conducting a hydrologic study of the project area including map development, water balance calculations and an assessment of the current water infrastructure. Based on this water resources assessment, a Water Buffering Master Plan will be developed for the project areas. This news item was originally published on the website of Acacia Water. Read also on this website High level representatives sign The Hague Declaration for concerted action on climate security, 13 December 2017 Acacia Water participates in hydrogeological assessment for Darfur region, Sudan, 27 August 2017 Acacia Water and Wetlands International assess environmental risks in Kinneti river catchment, South Sudan, 8 May 2017 Expertise: Water for all More information Acacia Water Gouda, the Netherlands +31 182 686 424 www.acaciawater.com There are an increasing number of Aussie small businesses operating globally and therefore need to hire globally. This can be an incredibly tricky task. Indeeds SVP of Marketing and a former exec at Dell and Apple, Paul DArcy says that developing the ability to hire internationally is increasingly important for Australian small businesses because of the demand for tech and STEM skills. Dynamic Business had a chat with DArcy about the difference between hiring internationally and locally and top tips for hiring global talent. How is it a different ball game when youre hiring internationally vs. locally? For small businesses its hard enough to hire locally let alone recruit globally. For example, around the world, only one in four software developers actually work for software companies. This means that local organisations are now competing with large global organisations for talent. However, they may not have the resources, or the need to bring a full-time person in for it. Australian SMEs have still not fully embraced the internet. It has the power to make small business and big business absolutely equal in the world of search. If Im looking for a particular job, Im just as likely to see a small company right next to a big company. The art is how to attract global talent to apply to your roles once they find them, think of the job ad as a marketing document. Why have many SMEs traditionally posted job vacancies in shop windows etc.? A recent Indeed study in Australia has found more than half of small businesses still rely on reaching out to personal contacts and networks to fill job vacancies, with two thirds saying online recruitment advertising is just too expensive to justify spending cash on. In fact, only 8% of more than 500 local small business surveyed said they were sure they could accept job applications from mobile devices while nearly 70% of Aussies search for jobs on their mobile. Its time for Australian SMEs to fully embrace online recruitment. Posting your jobs online is free and making them easy to find through a search engine costs only the time you are willing to spend in making that happen. As the business landscape becomes increasingly global, local talent often isnt enough- why is this? As the world continues to become more connected, businesses are having to compete on a global scale. With companies becoming increasingly international and e-commerce driven, employers are tasked with having to hire for in-demand skills that may be locally scarce, and therefore also competitive to retain. This means businesses now need to draw from a talent pool that is extremely limited in scale if they restrict hiring to a single country a scarcity that only intensifies the more senior the role. Taking tech roles for example, Australia has a good supply of junior talent but not enough senior talent to build scalable teams. The latter is required to guide, mentor and develop the skills of juniors within businesses, however limited local supply of senior talent creates a cycle that exacerbates shortages in these roles. Unfilled technical positions are now a roadblock to growth for companies. Anything that increases the pool of technical talent allows businesses to hire more people, grow and continue to expand. A key part of this is widening the net to find talent internationally. International appetite for Australian jobs on the rise: foreign interest in Australian jobs remains high. Overseas job seekers accounted for 8.1% of job search activity for Australian positions in 2017, up from 6.4% a year earlier. What does this mean for the sector? As companies are competing for global talent, the countries that offer the most desirable lifestyle are those that come out on top. Talent shortages mean that employees with in demand skills and experience can choose to live and work pretty much anywhere they want. For Australia, the appeal starts at sunny beaches and diverse communities; the country has a lot to offer by way of culture, climate, standard of living, and natural beauty (in spades), which makes it an incredibly attractive place for those who can choose to live just about anywhere. In 2017, overseas searches of Australian job posts rose around a quarter compared with a year earlier. What does this mean for the small business/ start up sector? International interest in Australia means that all sizes of business can benefit from new skills and people with global experience. However, recruiting as a startup or SME comes with a lot of challenges. There often is not much budget to allocate to recruitment processes or put towards high salaries. SMEs have to lure candidates and capture their interest through a compelling offering as is the case when pitching investors. While Australia is an attractive destination, beyond the surf and sand, the rising cost of living is something that dampens Australias reputation as a great place to live, and therefore work. For SMEs, attracting global talent lies within the ability to articulate a vision that resonates with the candidate. Australian businesses have an advantage as worldwide leaders in workplace flexibility, something that is highly sought after among talented people. Instantly delete email threats for Office 365 With the free app, 365 Threat Monitor, scan all emails as they reach your users' mailboxes to detect ransomware, phishing and spam. Get real-time phone alerts + security breach updates and delete threats instantly with just one click. Download now! Several countries -- including the United States, France and Germany -- have pointed a finger at Russia for meddling in their elections. Part 1 of this two-part series covers how Russia used social media as a big part of that effort. Facebook has been scrambling to win back the public's trust since the Russia and Cambridge Analytica scandal. However, it's not clear what exactly hostile nation states have been up to on social media. For example, has Russia merely been making an opportunistic play on Facebook and capitalizing on users' gullibility? Or have we, the American public, been targeted as the virtual victims in a cyberwar? Defining 'Cyberwar' There are casualties and victims of election meddling. For example, the election of an anti-immigrant candidate in a conflict zone could result in refugees being turned away and left to die. A war hawk might spin up new wars or scale up existing ones, resulting in casualties in all affected countries. Conversely, meddling to get someone elected who would lift trade sanctions or otherwise favor the interfering country could reduce the number of people adversely affected by shortages. All of this is to say that yes, elections have consequences. They affect people in the real world, and often all around the world. That being the case, might Russia's meddling with the U.S. presidential and other elections constitute acts of war? Have we become pawns in a cyberwar, or even casualties of a sort? "Russian meddling in U.S. elections is a serious problem, and their fake news on Facebook may be illegal if it is intended to sway elections," said W. K. Kellogg Associate Professor at the University of Michigan School of Information. "However, I would hesitate to call it 'cyberwar.' If political messaging to influence another country's population is cyberwar, then America's 'Voice of America' radio programming overseas would be cyberwar," he told the E-Commerce Times. It appears that the U.S. government agrees that cyberattacks and social media manipulations do not in themselves constitute a state of war. The Department of Defense Law of War Manual defines the proper labeling of various aggressions and delivers guidance to the U.S. Armed Forces on such matters. This extensive tome addresses digital attacks with physical impacts, such as an attack on a dam or a power grid, but it doesn't consider theft of personal data or defacing websites as an act of war. Others agree there must be a physical element with the cyberattack to qualify as cyberwar. Some argue that Russia's attacks on voting machines could be that qualifying element. "To fully understand the risk to voting, one needs to understand the full lifecycle or cyber key terrain of elections," said Laura Lee, EVP for rapid prototyping at Circadence. "In the case of nation state election voting, key terrain includes the vendor who manufactures the system, the voting registration database and software system, the end-point voting machine, and the back-end infrastructure that tallies and hopefully audits the system." However, attacks on voting machines may not qualify as physical attacks either. "A cyberwar is determined when a nation-state carries out an offensive and aggressive attack on another nation; however, it is typically used to ensure that traditional weapons are more successful by taking out any defensive or intelligence capabilities," explained Joseph Carson, chief security scientist at Thycotic. "Cyber typically is used to weaken the target before carrying out other attacks," he told the E-Commerce Times. "We are currently in a cyberoffensive, and cyberweapons are being used; however, we are not quite yet in a full all out cyberwar," Carson said. "Cyber is typically only one element of war," he pointed out. When cyberweapons are "combined with traditional weapons, then we can confidently say yes -- we are in a cyberwar." Cause and Attribution Like most forms of nation-state sponsored aggressions, pinning the act to the right culprit is challenging -- and if you can't answer the whodunit question, it's hard to pinpoint a cause. "Misdirection is often used in cyberattacks to create conflict or wrong conclusions, so the victim of the cybercrime is continuously looking in the wrong direction and wasting resources chasing after another victim," Carson explained. "Attribution is actually one of the most difficult parts of cyberattacks. Without concrete and transparent evidence, we can only go on trust that the government has conducted effective digital forensics, and without doubt attribute those cyberattacks back to Russian government," he added. Given the well-documented mistrust between the Trump administration and the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC), it is unclear whether the administration would accept or act upon such digital forensics. Certainly, it has been loath to do so thus far. However, the IC is unlikely to base attribution on digital forensics alone. It has other methods of deducing who is behind what action. Thus, its attributions are likely to be more certain than those of a private sector security research firm that does not benefit from government resources. Unfortunately, the IC doesn't like to reveal its methods in court as part of discovery, which is why it is rare for formal criminal charges to be leveled against nation-state sponsored culprits. Special Counsel Robert Mueller's recent indictments of 13 Russians is one exception that proves the rule, but it is not the only exception. From time to time, the U.S. government has listed nation-sponsored cyberattackers on the FBI's Most Wanted List. In other words, nation-state sponsored cyberattacks and social media manipulations have been treated as crimes rather than as acts of war. "Russia's delivery of fake news is opportunistic. It applies Russian genius for propaganda to Western democracies' open, data-enhanced Internet delivery channels," said the University of Michigan's Toyama. Social Media Propaganda Several countries have attributed recent election meddling to Russia, and have identified social media as Russian President Vladimir Putin's biggest propaganda tools. "Technology's primary impact is to amplify underlying human forces. Facebook amplified the effect of Russian meddling, whose underlying causes are political," said Toyama. "There would be no Russian fake news scandal unless Russia were willing to fund the creation, dissemination, and targeted advertising of fake news abroad," he said. While several countries have agreed that social media was at the crux of recent Russian attacks on elections, their strategies for dealing with it have differed. The European Union has launched voter education programs and adopted the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to help protect elections there. However, the U.S. has made no comparable effort, and it has no national data privacy protections at all. Facebook had been working to appease the American public in the hope of avoiding stiff regulations. It recently suspended hundreds of apps in its effort to prevent another Cambridge Analytica user data abuse scheme. However, those steps appear to have had little effect on restoring user trust. Trust in Facebook has dropped by 66 percent since the Cambridge Analytica scandal and the downward trend has continued, a recent Ponemon Institute survey found. It appears that the U.S. may need to follow the EU's lead on voter education and regulations if elections are to be protected from malevolent foreign influences. "Regulations at least as strict as those that apply to broadcast media with respect to elections should apply to the Internet and social media," argued Toyama. "To begin with, there must be 'know your customer' rules for Internet advertising platforms -- it's not enough to accept ads from anyone with the money to pay for them." Pam Baker has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2007. Her main areas of focus are technology, business and finance. She has written hundreds of articles for leading publications including InformationWeek, Institutional Investor magazine, CIO.com and TechTarget. She has authored several analytical studies on technology, as well as eight books, the latest of which is Data Divination: Big Data Strategies. She also wrote and produced an award-winning documentary on paper-making. She is a member of the National Press Club, Society of Professional Journalists and the Internet Press Guild. Email Pam. Instantly delete email threats for Office 365 With the free app, 365 Threat Monitor, scan all emails as they reach your users' mailboxes to detect ransomware, phishing and spam. Get real-time phone alerts + security breach updates and delete threats instantly with just one click. Download now! Four trade groups representing 4,000 publishers on Monday blasted Google's approach to compliance with Europe's General Data Protection Rules. The new rules are set to take effect at the end of the month. Under its new GDPR-compliant policy, Google, as a provider of digital advertising services to publishers, will have sole control over data sent to it by publishers or collected from publishers' websites. What's more, Google's policy requires publishers to obtain legally valid consent, as required by the GDPR, for data sent to or collected by Google. If Google finds the consent mechanism "insufficient," it can stop serving ads on publishers' sites, the policy states. "Your proposal severely falls short on many levels and seems to lay out a framework more concerned with protecting your existing business model in a manner that would undermine the fundamental purposes of the GDPR and the efforts of publishers to comply with the letter and spirit of the law," the publishers wrote in Monday's letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai. The letter is signed by Jason Kint, CEO of Digital Content Next; Angela Mills Wade, executive director of the European Publishers Council; David Chavern, president and CEO of the News Media Alliance; and David Newell, CEO of the News Media Association. Consent Controversy The new policy could force publishers to obtain consent from data sources for Google that they wouldn't need to obtain for themselves, the letter states. "The act of requesting consent in the first place may not apply to us, but if we share that data with Google, then we would need consent," Danielle Coffee, vice president for public policy at the News Media Alliance, told the E-Commerce Times. "Google is essentially throwing all accountability to the publishers," said Amit Dar, U.S. general manager at Taptica. "This is another squeeze publishers are feeling between the end users and the revenue generators," he told the E-Commerce Times."As if they didn't have enough to take on, now publishers must decide how to implement a strategy that adheres to how they see GDPR and balance that with how Google views GDPR." Publishers should obtain consent from people whose data they're submitting to Google, maintained Josh Crandall, CEO of NetPop Research. "Google is simply stating that the publishers that submit works to Google, presumably for additional audience aggregation, are in compliance with the GDPR requirements," he told the E-Commerce Times. "Google is simply protecting its own business by requiring upstream publishers to comply with GDPR, where necessary." Compliance Caution The new policy shows that Google is trying to be careful about adhering to the GDPR, Crandall said. "Google and the EU already have a tense relationship around data privacy, search results, and other business practices," he said. "Google is following the requirements of the GDPR very closely to avoid any further issues that they can." It's likely that Google has other motives for its new policy, suggested Taptica's Dar. "You can be certain that Google is more concerned about its bottom line and business model than adhering to new regulations." Google always has asked publishers to get consent for the use of its ad tech on their sites, and now it's simply updating that requirement in line with the GDPR, according to spokesperson Suzanne Blackburn. "Because we make decisions on data processing to help publishers optimize ad revenue, we will operate as a controller across our publisher products in line with GDPR requirements, but this designation does not give us any additional rights to their data," she told the E-Commerce Times. "We're working closely with our publisher partners and are committed to providing a range of tools to help them gather user consent." [*Correction - May 2, 2018] In their letter to Pichai, the publishers questioned the timing of Google's new policy. "We find it especially troubling that you would wait until the last-minute before the GDPR comes into force to announce these terms," the publishers wrote, "as publishers have now little time to assess the legality or fairness of your proposal and how best to consider its impact on their own GDPR compliance plans which have been underway for a long time." However, nearly all advertising technology vendors are rolling out their GDPR solutions now, noted Eric Berry, CEO of TripleLift. "While one could view this negatively, the reality is that Google would have been the only ad tech vendor to have released a solution, had they done so much before 30 days prior to GDPR's effective date," he told the E-Commerce Times. Passing the Buck Facebook recently changed its terms of service so users in Asia, Africa and Latin America, which were considered part of Facebook Ireland, would be considered part of Facebook Inc. in Menlo Park, California, a move critics see as a way to remove users in those regions from GDPR protection. Google's policy change appears to bear some similarities to Facebook's approach, although Google has more to lose than Facebook. "The majority of Google's money comes from collecting data and distributing it for sale, so they have more at risk because of their business model than other social media platforms," noted Gary Southwell, general manager of CSPi. "With this policy Google is taking a hard stance and trying to pass the buck," he told the E-Commerce Times. "I believe the publishers are posturing themselves in an open letter so the EC will review this and come down with a decision in their favor." *ECT News Network editor's note - May 2, 2018: Our original published version of this story incorrectly stated that Google had not responded to our request to comment for this story. 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. iStock/Thinkstock(PHILADELPHIA) -- Authorities are investigating a string of suspicious explosions in Pennsylvania, according to ABC Philadelphia station WPVI-TV. The most recent explosion occurred Thursday afternoon, when a worker cutting grass hit the suspicious device with a lawnmower, WPVI-TV reported. It left a 2-foot crater in the ground, and both FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents are investigating. The worker was uninjured. Resident Melissa Pfinster was with her kids at home when she felt the explosion, which was so forceful it knocked over a bookcase, she told the station. "It's kind of scary when you got little guys," Pfinster said. There have been upwards of three dozen explosions over the past two months in upper Bucks County and Lehigh County, according to WPVI-TV. Richland Township Police Chief Richard Ficco said the reports about the devices have typically come in overnight before dawn. "The ground shifting, almost shaking," Ficco told WPVI-TV in a May interview, describing some of the calls his and other area departments have received in the last several weeks. "The buildings are shaking, ceiling tiles are moving, and windows are rattling," "Definitely disconcerting," he added. "I would say unnerving to some people." An explosion a couple of weeks ago left a 10-foot-wide crater that was a foot deep. No one has been injured, and no suspects have been named. Authorities warned those who live in the area not to walk on uncut grass on the side of the road and also not to mow the lawn in case there are other explosive devices. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. What Is Climate Change? Is It Different From Global Warming? Climate change is actually not a new phenomenon. Scientists have been studying the connection between human activity and the effect on the climate since the 1800s, although it took until the 1950s to find evidence suggesting a link. Since then, the amount of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases) in the atmosphere have steadily increased, taking a sharp jump in the late 1980s when the summer of 1988 became the warmest on record. (There have been many records broken since then.) But climate change is not a synonym for global warming. The term global warming entered the lexicon in the 1950s, but didn't become a common buzzword until a few decades later when more people started taking notice of a warming climate. Except climate change encompasses a greater realm than just rising temperatures. Trapped gases also affect sea-level rise, animal habitats, biodiversity and weather patterns. For example, Texas' severe winter storms in February 2021 demonstrate how the climate isn't merely warming. Why Is Climate Change Important? Why Does It Matter? Marc Guitard / Moment / Getty Images Despite efforts from forward thinkers such as SpaceX Founder Elon Musk to colonize Mars, Earth remains our home for the foreseeable future, and the more human activity negatively impacts the climate, the less habitable it will become. It's estimated that Earth has already warmed about one degree Celsius, or two degrees Fahrenheit, since the start of the Industrial Revolution around the 1750s, although climate change tracking didn't start until the late 1800s. That warming number may not sound like much, but this increase has already resulted in more frequent and severe wildfires, hurricanes, floods, droughts and winter storms, to name some examples. Environmental Impacts Then there's biodiversity loss, another fallout of climate change that's threatening rainforests and coral reefs and accelerating species extinction. Take rainforests, which act as natural carbon sinks by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. But as rampant deforestation is occurring everywhere from Brazil's Amazon to Borneo, fewer trees mean that rainforests are becoming carbon sources, emitting more carbon than they're absorbing. Meanwhile, coral reefs are dying as warming ocean temperatures trigger bleaching events, which cause corals to reject algae, their main food and life source. Fewer trees, coral reefs and other habitats also equate to fewer species. Known as the sixth mass extinction, a 2019 UN report revealed that up to a million plant and animal species could become extinct within decades. Human Impact It can be easy to overlook climate change in day-to-day life, or even realize that climate change is behind it. Notice there's yet another romaine lettuce recall due to E. Coli? Research suggests that E. Coli bacteria are becoming more common in our food sources as it adapts to climate change. Can't find your favorite brand of coffee beans anymore? Or that the price has doubled? Climate change is affecting that too. Climate change is also worsening air quality and seasonal allergies, along with polluting tap water. Not least, many preliminary studies have also drawn a line between climate change and the deadly COVID-19 pandemic that is still gripping much of the world. Future pandemics are likely to happen more frequently until the root causes, such as deforestation, are addressed. Speaking of larger-scale issues, global water scarcity is already happening more frequently. The Caribbean is facing water shortages due to rising temperatures and decreased rainfall; Australia's dams may run dry by 2022 as severe wildfires increase and Cape Town, South Africa has already faced running out of water. As touched upon earlier, it's one thing to be inconvenienced by a lack of romaine lettuce for a couple of weeks or higher coffee bean prices, but reports warn how climate change will continue to threaten global food security, to the point of triggering a worldwide food crisis if temperatures surpass two degrees Celsius. Many of these factors are already contributing to climate migration, forcing large numbers of people to relocate to other parts of the world in search of better living conditions. Unless more immediate, drastic action is taken to combat climate change, future generations will have to contend with worst-case scenario projections by the end of the 21st century, not limited to coastal cities going underwater, including Miami; lethal heat levels from South Asia to Central Africa; and more frequent extreme weather events involving hurricanes, wildfires, tsunamis, droughts, floods, blizzards and more. What's Happening and Why? Fiddlers Ferry power station in Warrington, UK. Chris Conway / Moment / Getty Images The Earth's temperature has largely remained stable until industrial times and the introduction of greenhouse gases. These gases have forced the atmosphere to retain heat, as evidenced by rising global temperatures. As the planet grows warmer, glaciers melt faster, sea levels rise, severe flooding increases and droughts and extreme weather events become more deadly. The Greenhouse Effect In the late 1800s, Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius studied the connection between the amount of atmospheric carbon and its ability to warm and cool the Earth, and while his initial calculations suggested extreme warming as carbon increased, researchers didn't start to take human-induced climate change seriously until the late 20th century. But proof of human-led climate change can be traced to the 1850s, and satellites are among the ways that scientists have been tracking increased greenhouse gases and their climate impact in more recent years. Climate researchers have also documented warmer oceans, ocean acidification, shrinking ice sheets, decreased snow amounts and extreme weather as among the events resulting from greenhouse gases heating the planet. Numerous factors contribute to the production of greenhouse gases, known as the greenhouse effect. One of the biggest causes involve burning fossil fuels, including coal, oil and natural gas, to power everything from cars to daily energy needs (electricity, heat). From 1970-2011, fossil fuels have comprised 78 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. Big Ag is another greenhouse contributor, particularly beef production, with the industry adding 10 percent in 2019. This is attributed to clearing land for crops and grazing and growing feed, along with methane produced by cows themselves. In the U.S. alone, Americans consumed 27.3 billion pounds of beef in 2019. Then there's rampant deforestation occurring everywhere from the Amazon to Borneo. A 2021 study from Rainforest Foundation Norway found that two-thirds of the world's rainforests have already been destroyed or degraded. In Brazil, deforestation reached a 12-year-high in 2020 under right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro. As it stands, reports predict that the Amazon rainforest will collapse by 2064. Rainforests are important carbon sinks, meaning the trees capture and remove carbon from the atmosphere. As rainforests collapse, the remaining trees will begin emitting more greenhouse gases than they're absorbing. Meanwhile, a recent study revealed that abandoned oil and gas wells are leaking more methane than previously believed, with U.S. wells contributing up to 20 percent of annual methane emissions. Not least is the cement industry. Cement is heavily used throughout the global construction industry, and accounts for around eight percent of carbon dioxide emissions. Natural Climate Change Granted, natural climate change exists as well, and can be traced throughout history, from solar radiation triggering the Ice Ages to the asteroid strike that rapidly raised global temperatures and eliminated dinosaurs and many other species in the process. Other sources of natural climate change impacts include volcano eruptions, ocean currents and orbital changes, but these sources generally have smaller and shorter-term environmental impacts. How We Can Combat Climate Change Participant holding a sign at the climate march on Sept. 20, 2020, in Manhattan. A coalition of climate, Indigenous and racial justice groups gathered at Columbus Circle to kick off Climate Week with the Climate Justice Through Racial Justice march. Erik McGregor / LightRocket / Getty Images While the latest studies and numbers can often feel discouraging about society's ability to prevent the worst-case climate scenarios from happening, there's still time to take action. As a Society In 2015 at COP 21 in Paris, 197 countries came together to sign the Paris Agreement, an international climate change treaty agreeing to limit global warming in this century to two degrees Celsius, and ideally 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels; it's believed that the planet has warmed one degree Celsius since 1750. Studies show that staying within the two-degree range will prevent the worst-case climate scenarios from happening. Achieving this goal requires participating parties to drastically slash greenhouse gas emissions sooner rather than later. However, there have already been numerous setbacks since then, from former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrawing from the Paris Agreement in 2020 to world leaders, such as China, the world's biggest polluter, failing to enact aggressive climate action plans. Yet many of the treaty participants have been slow to implement changes, putting the world on track to hit 3.2 degrees Celsius by the end of the 21st century even if the initial goals are met. However, it's worth noting that U.S. President Joe Biden rejoined the Paris Agreement in 2021, and pledged to cut greenhouse gases in half by 2030. Then there's the Montreal Protocol, a 1987 global agreement to phase out ozone-depleting substances such as chlorofluorocarbons, chemicals that were commonly used in air-conditioning, refrigeration and aerosols. Recent studies show that parts of the ozone are recovering, proving that a unified commitment to combatting climate change issues does make a difference. On a smaller scale, carbon offset initiatives allow companies and individuals to invest in environmental programs that offset the amount of carbon that's produced through work or lifestyle. For example, major companies (and carbon emitters) such as United Airlines and Shell have pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in part by participating in carbon offset programs that remove carbon from the atmosphere. The problem is that these companies are still producing high levels of fossil fuel emissions. While individuals can make a small impact through carbon offsets, the greater responsibility lies with carbon-emitting corporations to find and implement greener energy alternatives. This translates to car companies producing electric instead of gas vehicles or airlines exploring alternative fuel sources. It also requires major companies to rely more on solar and wind energy for their energy needs. In Our Own Lives While it's up to corporations to do the heavy lifting of carbon reduction, that doesn't mean individuals can't make a difference. Adopting a vegan lifestyle, using public transportation, switching to an electric car and becoming a more conscious consumer are all ways to help combat climate change. Veganism Consuming meat relies on clearing land for crops and animals, while raising and killing livestock contributes to about 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the UN's Food and Agricultural Organization. By comparison, choosing a plant-based diet could reduce greenhouse gas footprints by as much as 70 percent, especially when choosing local produce and products. Public Transportation Riding public trains, subways, buses, trams, ferries and other types of public transportation is another easy way to lower your carbon footprint, considering that gas-powered vehicles contribute 95 percent of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. Electric Vehicles Electric cars and trucks have come down in price as more manufacturers enter the field, and these produce far lower emissions than their gas counterparts. Hybrid vehicles are another good alternative for lowering individual emission contributions. Conscious Consumption Buying locally produced food and items is another way to maintain a lower carbon footprint, as the products aren't shipped or driven long distances. Supporting small companies that are committed to sustainability is another option, especially when it comes to clothes. Fast fashion has become a popular option thanks to its price point, but often comes at the expense of the environment and can involve unethical overseas labor practices. Not least, plastic saturates every corner of the consumer market, but it's possible to find non-plastic alternatives with a little research, from reusable produce bags to baby bottles. Climate Activism Those interested in becoming even more involved can join local climate action organizations. Popular groups include the Sunrise Movement, Fridays for Future, Greenpeace and the Sierra Club, to name a few. Voting, volunteering, calling local representatives and participating in climate marches are additional ways to raise your voice. Takeaway It's taken centuries to reach a climate tipping point, with just a matter of decades left to prevent the worst-case climate scenarios from happening. But there's still hope of controlling a warming climate as long as individuals, companies and nations make an immediate concerted effort to lower greenhouse gas emissions. As the world already experienced with the COVID-19 pandemic, a rapid unified response can make all the difference. Meredith Rosenberg is a senior editor at EcoWatch. She holds a Master's from the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism in NYC and a B.A. from Temple University in Philadelphia. Science-denying Republicansintent on derailing local, national and global attempts to avert a looming climate crisishave their priorities all wrong, presidential candidate Bernie Sanders said on Tuesday. Republicans may not want to admit it, but when it comes to climate change, "the evidence is overwhelming," Bernie Sanders declared on Tuesday. Photo credit: Erik J. Olson / Flickr "I find it unacceptable that many of my Republican colleagues are more worried about campaign contributions they're getting from the Koch brothers and others in the fossil fuel industry than they are about preserving the planet for our children and grandchildren," Sen. Sanders (I-Vt.) said in a statement urging the U.S. to take the lead in stopping global warming. The U.S. senator made his remarks just hours after President Barack Obama, upon leaving the COP21 climate summit taking place in Paris, called for certain aspects of a climate change agreement to be legally bindinga demand that is sure to raise the ire of Republicans in Congress and beyond. As the Guardian noted in its reporting on the president's press conference, "a majority of Republicans in Congress deny the existence of climate change or oppose action on it. In the run-up to Paris and while Obama has been at the summit, Republicans in Congress have repeatedly threatened to block climate aid to developing countries." Meanwhile, the newspaper reported separately on Tuesday, "Republican presidential candidates have poured scorn on Barack Obama for his comments at the Paris climate talks." Presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), for example, told a gathering in Iowa that Obama "apparently thinks having an SUV in your driveway is more dangerous than a bunch of terrorists trying to blow up the world." And Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas, tweeted along similar lines, calling Obama "clueless" and mocking him as "meteorologist-in-chief." Indeed, even Obama's call on Tuesday for the agreement to have some legally enforceable elements is a step back from what the European Union and developing countries have pushed for: a legally binding agreement, such as the Kyoto protocol. But such a treaty would be a non-starter in the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress. Obama decried Republican climate denial in his press conference, noting that "there's a reason why you have the largest gathering of world leaders probably in human history here in Paris. Everybody else is taking climate change really seriously. They think it's a really big problem." "It spans political parties," he continued. "I mean, you travel around Europe and you talk to leaders of governments and the opposition and they are arguing about a whole bunch of things. One thing they're not arguing about is whether the science of climate change is real and whether or not we're going to have to do something about it." Recent studies have shown how corporations, led by ExxonMobil and the Koch family foundations, drive such anti-science ideology through the creation of climate disinformation think tanks and dissemination of coordinated contrarian messaging in mainstream media and public discourse. Still, with a new poll showing that 63 percent of Americans support the U.S. signing onto a binding international agreement to curb greenhouse gas emissions, one can only hope the tide is shifting. "The evidence is overwhelming," Sanders declared. "Droughts, floods and severe storms already are impacting the planet and the situation will only become worse in years to come." YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Obama: We Must Create a World That is Worthy of Our Children U.S. Sen. Harry Reids Letter to the Future: You Deserve a Chance Michael Mann: This GOP Presidential Candidate Understands Less About Science Than the Average Kindergartner Filthy Corporate Sponsors Bankrolling COP21 Exposed in New Report This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience while browsing it. By clicking 'Got It' you're accepting these terms. What Is the Keystone Pipeline? The Keystone pipeline is an existing structure that carries oil from Alberta, Canada, down to Cushing, Oklahoma. The major controversy surrounds a proposed 1,200-mile extension, or shortcut, between Alberta and Nebraska. Dubbed the Keystone XL pipeline, this additional route would connect into the existing Keystone pipeline in Nebraska, which extends onward to Texas. It's worth noting that the proposed shortcut shouldn't be confused with an already existing Keystone XL extension between Oklahoma and Texas, called the Gulf Coast pipeline, which has been operating since 2014. The additional extension has been under consideration since 2008, when Canadian-based TC Energy (known as TransCanada at the time) decided this would be the best way to ramp up oil production as the route would allow 830,000 barrels a day to be transported to Texas. The current pipeline carries around 550,000 barrels a day from Canada. However, the proposed shortcut faced almost immediate objections from a varied contingency concerning the pipeline's environmental impact. For more than a decade the project has been caught in a tug of war between political administrations, environmentalists and oil lobbyists, alternating between having permits granted then revoked. The battle continues to this day. How Much of the Keystone Pipeline Is Completed? It's estimated that just eight percent of the Keystone XL pipeline has been built so far, although President Joe Biden canceled the project in January 2021. History Understanding the fuller picture of the pipeline's complicated history involves some patience. The pipeline first underwent environmental review by the U.S. State Department in 2009. Around this time, Nebraskans started raising concerns about the pipeline's potential impact on farmland and a major water system. The State Department approved the pipeline moving forward in 2010 after determining it would have a minimal effect on the environment, but this only increased opposition from state legislators and scientists. As a result, the State Department delayed the project for another year pending additional review, yet came to the same conclusion in 2011. Following increased protest activity that year surrounding environmental concerns in Nebraska, the department revised its decision and ordered the pipeline to be rerouted through the state, and TC Energy agreed. Yet this wasn't the end. Barack Obama, president at the time, blocked the Alberta to Nebraska extension based on insufficient time for officials to properly review the new proposed route. Meanwhile, TC Energy moved forward with the southern extension from Oklahoma to Texas in 2012 while re-submitting a new reroute application for the first leg. No sooner did Nebraska approve the new route in 2013 before opponents filed a lawsuit against the state government. In 2014 a Nebraska judge ruled in favor of the opposition, and the State Department once again suspended moving forward. After being laddered up to the Nebraska Supreme Court, the previous ruling was overturned in 2015 and the U.S. Senate greenlit Keystone XL to resume yet again. President Obama immediately vetoed the bill; later that year the administration rejected TC Energy's reroute application, putting a supposed end to the project. That is, until Donald Trump took office in 2016. One of President Trump's first orders revived the Keystone XL pipeline in 2017. A federal judge blocked that order in 2018, pending an environmental review. Not to be outdone, President Trump issued a presidential permit in 2019 allowing the pipeline to proceed, and construction began in 2020. Why Is There So Much Opposition? Members of the Cowboy and Indian Alliance, including Native Americans, farmers and ranchers from across the United States, begin a demonstration against the proposed Keystone XL pipeline in front of the U.S. Capitol April 22, 2014 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images The type of oil that TC Energy wants to transport from Alberta via the XL pipeline is known as tar sands, a thick-as-molasses oil due to a hydrocarbon substance called bitumen, which also contains a mixture of clay, sand and water. This type of oil is considered one of the dirtiest fossil fuels on the planet. Extracting it involves clearing large swaths of biodiverse boreal forest and using steam to liquefy the underground bitumen. All of this comes at a great cost to the environment and contributes to climate change, explaining why so many different groups are opposed to the project. Yet just as many groups have political and financial reasons to keep the Keystone XL pipeline alive. Financial Motivators For starters, the U.S. oil industry finds tar sands oil attractive because it means less of a reliance on oil from the Middle East, while the XL extension would prove cheaper than using rail transportation. Investors also want to protect their stake in the $8 billion pipeline. Then there are other industry supporters, including the National Association of Manufacturers and construction unions, who have vested reasons for supporting claims that the pipeline would rely on renewable energy and achieve net-zero emissions by 2023, according to TC Energy. However, fully offsetting pipeline emissions wouldn't help to reduce any of the emissions created by those using the actual tar sands oil. The Global Energy Institute within the U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports Keystone XL because it claims the pipeline's construction would provide more than 13,000 jobs to Americans and Canadians and generate $3.4 billion in U.S. GDP growth. That number also encompasses millions from state and local taxes. The Global Energy Institute has recently accused President Biden of making a politically motivated decision to cancel the pipeline, claiming that the pipeline would in fact protect the environment while boosting the domestic economy. Yet there are valid claims that the refined tar sands oil wouldn't even be sold in the U.S., but instead benefit the global market since Canada is free to sell the oil to anyone, all while the pipeline takes a toll on American land and water. Not only that, but the State Department estimated that Keystone XL would ultimately create just 35 full-time jobs to operate the pipeline so the thousands that are touted would be temporary jobs. Political Motivators The pipeline became caught in political crosshairs since it crosses the Canadian border, meaning TC Energy can't proceed without a permit from the U.S. State Department. Keystone XL has become highly politicized since its introduction in 2008, with democrats concerned about climate change (generally) opposing it and republicans who deny climate change (generally) supporting it. As mentioned in the timeline, former President Obama continually rejected the pipeline due to concerns about the rushed nature of environmental considerations. Later, former President Trump sought to immediately restore the Keystone XL project upon taking office: in part because his predecessor rejected it, and in part because of motivators that had more to do with maintaining economic reliance on the fossil fuel trade and less to do with worrying about climate change issues. Ultimately, the real issue comes down to the environment. How Does the Pipeline Impact the Environment and Society? Heavy oil seen mixed with water in a tailings pond in the Alberta Oilsands. dan_prat / iStock / Getty Images Tar Sands Oil As previously touched upon, tar sands is not your average oil. Accessing it requires two different methods, neither of which is environmentally friendly. Both require water from the nearby Athabasca River in Alberta, taxing its finite quantities. The first method, involving surface mining, creates gallons of wastewater in the process. This wastewater is stored in "tailings ponds," where the toxic water is more likely to leak into the environment. The other method involves pumping steam underground in order to access the needed bitumen through a well. This method also requires burning fossil fuels in the process. In fact, extracting tar sands oil produces more greenhouse gas emissions than extracting other natural resources. Extraction methods aren't the only environmental threat. Oil pipeline leaks and spills are very real dangers too. In 2010, a faulty pipeline carrying tar sands oil leaked 843,000 gallons into Michigan's Kalamazoo River. Owned by Canadian-based Enbridge, the company's slow response to stop the spill prompted area evacuations and permanently damaged the Talmadge Creek, the initial site of the spill. The incident is considered the largest inland oil spill to occur in the U.S. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimated that the oil damaged more than 1,560 acres of streams and rivers and negatively impacted at least 4,000 area animals that needed to be saved. Not only that, but removing bitumen from the environment is a far more costly and involved process than typical crude oil, itself a costly and involved process. Whereas crude oil floats on a surface, bitumen sinks. Then there's the matter of using tar sands oil itself as a fossil fuel. As it stands, burning the full amount that current technology is able to extract would contribute 22 billion metric tons of carbon to the atmosphere. The worst-case scenario predicts burning the maximum amount of tar sands oil that exists in Alberta would increase global warming by 0.4 degrees Celsius. Indigenous Tribes Parts of the proposed Keystone XL extension would run through or close to Indigenous territory, potentially threatening drinking water sources. There have already been oil leaks along existing parts of the Keystone pipeline, and the affected tribes, including the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota, have no reason to believe the extension would be any different. Besides the environmental dangers, the initial permits granted by the State Department ignored existing treaties between the government and Tribal Nations. Farmers and Ranchers Tribes aren't the only ones whose rights and land have been threatened by the pipeline. Farms and ranches along the route have faced eminent domain, which would allow the government to take control of private land for public use; i.e., handing it over to TC Energy regardless of opposition. Nebraska has been a battleground state, with an estimated 92 percent of its land belonging to family-owned farms and ranches. Also at stake would be the Ogallala aquifer, an underwater supply that provides water to most of the state. If that's contaminated by leaks, the ramifications would take a toll on public health, agriculture, livestock and wildlife. One study estimates that even a small leak could contaminate five billion gallons of water. It's not just the tar-like bitumen that poses this danger; transporting sludgy tar sands oil requires carcinogenic chemicals to dilute it enough for pipelines. Public Health Tar sands oil poses additional hazards, both to local Alberta residents and those who live along the proposed route. Numerous studies have already linked higher cancer rates from polluted air and water in areas where people live near tar sands oil production or tar sand spills. Wildlife It's not just the public who is at risk. For example, Nebraska is home to 20,000 acres of dunes and prairie hills known as Sandhills. It's a popular pitstop for migrating sandhill cranes in particular. TC Energy's proposed reroute would still cut straight through this region; a leak of any size could prove disastrous. When Did the Pipeline Leak and Why? Despite TC Energy touting an advanced leak detection system, the existing pipeline has leaked dozens of times since its inception in 2010, and locals have often been the first to notice and report many of them. There were 35 leaks in the pipeline's first year alone, including a 21,000-gallon spill impacting North Dakota. In 2016, about 16,800 gallons of oil leaked in South Dakota, but that was small compared to the following year, when 210,000 gallons spilled near the small town of Amherst, South Dakota. TC Energy later revised that number to 407,000 gallons of leaked oil. In 2019, an additional 378,000 gallons spilled in North Dakota. Tar sands oil is more likely to leak than crude oil due to its corrosive nature and the high temperatures needed to transport it, and leaks are also much harder to detect. Not only that, but cleaning it up has proven to be a Herculean task. An NRDC report found that tar sand leaks are three times more likely than conventional crude oil. On top of that, a 2012 report revealed that leak detection systems missed 19 out of 20 leaks during a 10-year period. TC Energy itself admitted in 2011 that the company could only detect leaks greater than 500,000 gallons of tar sands a day. As for what specifically caused all of the leaks to date? That depends, although variations of equipment failure is a recurring favorite. It's still unknown what caused the massive 2019 leak in North Dakota. What's Being Done About Keystone XL? After years of back and forth, President Biden, who ran on a more climate-friendly platform than his predecessor President Trump, canceled the pipeline on his first day in office on Jan. 21, 2021. But the case still isn't closed. In response, 21 Republican-led states have since filed a lawsuit against Biden questioning his authority to make such a decision. (Nevermind that Trump overstepped his authority by issuing a 2019 presidential permit allowing the pipeline to proceed, thereby bypassing the required environmental reviews.) Oil demand has also dropped since the pipeline's initial proposal back in 2008, due in part to an economic shift toward clean energy and then decreased oil usage during the 2020 COVID pandemic. Plus early investors, including Shell and the Koch Brothers, have since pulled out of the deal. Though Keystone XL appears to have reached the end of the line, opponents say the final step involves removing the existing pipeline infrastructure. Takeaway The canceled Keystone XL pipeline is a promising step toward a less oil-reliant future, but it's still a step. There remain other controversial pipelines caught up in legal battles, most notably the Dakota Access pipeline and Enbridge's Line 3 replacement project. Resolving the ongoing oil pipeline threat ultimately requires a continued push toward clean energy, thereby eliminating the need for pipelines in the first place. Meredith Rosenberg is a senior editor at EcoWatch. She holds a Master's from the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism in NYC and a B.A. from Temple University in Philadelphia. A study published in Science on Friday warned that climate change could spark global conflict over an unexpected resource: fish. As waters warm, fish and other animals are already moving into new territory at a rate of 70 kilometers (approximately 43.5 miles) per decade, and that pace could accelerate in the future. If we do not act to lower greenhouse gas emissions, new fish species will enter the waters of at least 70 countries by 2100, challenging the regulatory framework for managing fishing rights, according to a University of British Columbia (UBC) press release. This could lead both to overfishing and international conflict as countries compete for moving species. "I've got a three-year-old son, and sometimes it seems like he's better at sharing than countries are with fisheries," lead author and Rutgers University assistant biology professor Malin Pinsky told National Geographic. The research team included marine ecologists, fisheries scientists, social scientists and lawyers and used models to predict the movement of 892 different fish stocks, according to the UBC press release. Climate change tends to urge marine life towards the poles. By 2100, at least a third of many countries' national catch could come from species that didn't live in their waters decades before. In East Asia, where there are already tensions over fishing rights due to illegal fishing and disputed boundaries, some countries could find at least 10 new species in their waters that were managed by other countries before, National Geographic reported. "Marine fishes do not have passports and are not aware of political boundaries; they will follow their future optimal habitat," study co-author and UBC postdoctoral fellow Gabriel Reygondeau said in the press release. "Unfortunately, the potential change of distribution of highly-valuable species between two neighbouring countries will represent a challenge for fisheries management that will require new treaties to deal with transboundary fish stocks." The paper cited two examples of past disputes that hint at what's to come. In the 1990s, Pacific salmon moved from British Columbia to U.S. waters as the ocean warmed, igniting a "salmon war," according to the Huffington Post. The UBC release explained that U.S. fishermen caught fish heading to Canada, while Canadian fishermen caught fish migrating to the U.S. At one point, Canadian fishermen even blockaded an Alaskan ferry, and British Columbia sued the U.S. In 2000, the two countries finally came to a new agreement and the suit was dropped, the Huffington Post reported. In another example, conflict escalated in 2007 when mackerel migrated en masse into Iceland's waters, leading to a "mackerel war" between Iceland and the Faroe Islands and the EU over the two countries' rapidly increased mackerel takes. The war also escalated to a blockade when Scottish fisherman prevented a Faroese ship from unloading. Scientists said the dispute led to unsustainable fishing of the silvery fish, according to National Geographic, and the Huffington Post reported that the conflict scuttled Iceland's entry into the EU. "Even in the countries with the best of governments, those disputes are difficult to manage," study co-author and sustainability researcher with the Stockholm Resilience Center Jessica Spijkers told National Geographic. The paper urged governments to forestall future conflict by implementing policies that allow nations to trade fishing permits and quotas. "Examples of such flexible arrangements already exist, such as the agreement for U.S.-Canada Pacific salmon and Norway-Russia Atlantic herring," senior study author and UBC Institute for Oceans and Fisheries associate professor William Cheung said in the press release. "Fisheries management organizations can draw from these experiences to proactively make existing international fisheries arrangements adaptable to changing stock distributions." The Republican chairman of the Senate committee with oversight of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to call the agency's embattled chief Scott Pruitt to testify, specifically in response to multiple scandals and investigations surrounding the administrator. Through a spokesperson, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., informed Reuters of his decision to compel Pruitt to come before the Environment and Public Works Committee to answer questions about his alleged abuse of his office. Barrasso also formally requested Senate appropriators provide the EPA's inspector general with "sufficient funding" to carry out ongoing investigations into Pruitt's behavior. "Scott Pruitt's low-rent grifting has finally become an albatross for those who have supported and defended him even as the scandals and investigations mounted," said EWG President Ken Cook. "It's one thing when Pruitt's swamp stench lingers over only him, but it appears to be infiltrating the airspace around Republicans in Congress and President Trump." Sen. Barrasso is the latest Republican senator to demonstrate growing impatience with Pruitt. Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., and close friend and political mentor to Pruitt, blasted the administrator during an appearance on Fox News pundit Laura Ingraham's radio show and in an interview with The Washington Post this week. Ingraham called on President Trump to fire Pruitt after learning he tasked an aide with reaching out to conservative donors for help getting his wife a job. In her Tweet, Ingraham blasted Pruitt for damaging Trump. And the same day, the conservative magazine National Review published an editorial calling for Pruitt's dismissal. The South Dakota Supreme Court disappointed an attempt by Native American tribes and state activists to block the Keystone XL pipeline on Wednesday, ruling that the lower court lacked jurisdiction to hear their appeal, The Associated Press reported. The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Yankton Sioux Tribe and conservation and family agriculture group Dakota Rural Action had appealed a decision by a judge last year to uphold the Public Utilities Commission's decision to let the controversial pipeline cross the state. Dakota Rural Action attorney Robin Martinez called the decision "disappointing" on Thursday but affirmed that "fight is not over," The Associated Press reported further. Terry Cunha, the spokesperson for TransCanada Corp., the company behind the pipeline, told The Associated Press in an email that the company was pleased with the court's decision. TransCanada was in the news just last week when one of its natural gas pipelines exploded in West Virginia. Its Keystone XL pipeline would transport as many as 830,000 barrels of Canadian crude oil daily through Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska, where it would hook up with pipelines taking oil to refineries in the Gulf of Mexico. Activists thought they had defeated the pipeline when former president Barack Obama rejected it in 2015, partly over concerns about its contribution to climate change. But President Donald Trump resurrected it with an executive order days into his presidency. TransCanada now hopes to start construction in the beginning of 2019, according to The Associated Press. The South Dakota appeal wasn't the only play made by pipeline opponents to block Trump's decision. Environmental groups have sued the administration over the decision to approve the pipeline, and Nebraska land owners have also sued over their state's Public Service Commission's decision to sign-off on the pipeline's proposed path, The Associated Press reported. In an attempt to further frustrate the pipeline's progress, Nebraska land owners Art and Helen Tanderup signed over a 1.6 acre plot of their land to the Ponca Indian Tribe on Sunday, according to The Associated Press. The piece of land both sits on the pipeline's route and has been used by the tribe to plant sacred corn for the last five years. "What the impact will be, I don't know," Tanderup told The Associated Press. "But now, they'll have a voice in this issue. They will be a player at the table." Ponca Tribe of Nebraska attorney Brad Jolly told The Associated Press he was not sure if deeding the land to the tribe would provide a legal avenue to stop the pipeline. He said he was still focused on the ongoing Nebraska suit against the pipeline's approval. (David Shepardson | Reuters)Donald Trump shall grant naturalization for illegal immigrants if they join military forces U.S. Catholic bishops have upped their criticism of Donald Trump's administration's immigration policies, calling new asylum-limiting rules "immoral" and rhetorically comparing the crackdown to abortion by saying it is a "a right to life" issue. One bishop from the U.S.-Mexico border region reportedly suggested "canonical penalties," which could refer to withholding the sacrament of Communion, for Catholics involved in implementing the Trump policies, The Independent from London reported. More than 300 Catholic bishops from across the United States gathered have issued a strong political statement against several immigration policies of the administration of U.S. Donald Trump administration. Monsignor. J. Brian Bransfield read a statement on behalf of Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, saying the bishops take issue with Attorney General Jeff Sessions' decision to limit asylum seekers who are fleeing domestic abuse or gang violence from trying to stay in the U.S. CBS Miami reported. "These vulnerable women will now face return to the extreme dangers of domestic violence in their home country. This decision negates decades of precedence that have provided protection to women fleeing domestic violence," Blandsfield read. The bishops also said the Trump administration's policy of separating parents from their children at the U.S.-Mexico border needs to stop. "Our government has the discretion in our laws to ensure that young children are not separated from their parents and exposed to irreparable harm and trauma," he said. "Families are the foundational element of our society and they must be able to stay together. "Separating babies from their mothers is not the answer and is immoral," Blansfield said. After the statement was read, Cardinal DiNardo asked the crowd of bishops: "Brothers, do I have your support for this statement?" There was applause. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said in an interview several days ago that it's the law. "That's why they're separated," she said. "They're breaking the law. They're coming across the border and they're breaking the law. In the United States, if you break the law, you go to jail and you're separated from your family." The Archbishop of Miami, Thomas Wenski, said the church should urge Catholics to vote for candidates who want fair and humane immigration reform. "We have to tell our parishioners to call them out and hold them accountable," Wenski said. (Photo: Peter Williams / WCC)On 18-19 January 2016, some 80 leaders from governments, UN agencies, faith-related as well as non-religious civil society organizations from countries affected by the current refugee crisis in Europe, Middle East, and Africa met at a conference hosted by the World Council of Churches in partnership with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Fund for Population (UNFPA), and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to discern how they can proactively influence and shape coordinated collective practical responses. There are currently over 65 million people around the world who have been forced from their homes, according to the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, but all those who are displaced are not mere statistics. They are people, something that can be missed by the mass media in reporting on them. This observation was highlighted in a discussion at the World Council of Churches on Jan. 30 when representatives of church groups, the United Nations and a Christian media organization discussed media coverage of refugees at a presentation. The discussion was titled: "Changing the narrative: Media, Migrants and Refugees" under the moderation of WCC director of communications, Marianne Ejdersten. Participants discussed "Refugees Reporting", a research and advocacy project conducted in 2017 to support the communication rights of refugees seeking safe passage into and through Europe. The project seeks to challenge public attitudes of intolerance and discrimination against them. Peter Prove, director of the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, commended the "very important research project". "This report gives us empirical evidence that can be used in reengaging in a more constructive manner the public discourse on refugees," he said. "Migration has always been a feature of human society, but it is going to be even more of a feature in the future. "We have no choice but to manage these population movements and make migration work for us all," said Prove, citing a recent report by UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres. WORLD ASSOCIATION FOR CHRISTIAN COMMUNICATION The project coordinators are the WCC-backed World Association for Christian Communication - Europe Region (WACC Europe) and the ecumenical Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME). Sara Speicher, development manager for WACC and a WCC communication officer said, "We believe that the representation of refugees and migrants in the media plays a major role in the tone of the public debate and, ultimately, in the welcome and integration of refugees and migrants into their new countries." She noted that in Europe, while the number of arrivals in 2017 have dropped from its peak of more than 1 million in 2015, the welcome and integration of refugees and migrants remains a highly divisive political, economic, and cultural topic. Stephen Brown, President of WACC Europe said, "We want to spark debate and look at the global response to the research." He outlined how, "WACC believes that everyone has the right to communicate and to be in communication, in the same way that they have the right to food, shelter, and security. "In strategic alliances, we aim to be a catalyst for change for the common good, sharing information, knowledge, and experience in the field of communication. We call this 'communication rights'." Nigerian Archbishop David Fabusoro of the Church of the Lord, Aladura (Prayer Fellowship) provided concrete examples of people on the move and noted that since Boko Haram attacks intensified in 2013, hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced across the region around the north-east of Nigeria. NIGER DELTA CONFLICT He also cited decades-old conflicts in the Niger Delta in the southwest and the emergence of Fulani herdsmen's forceful occupation of farmlands and properties that have "resulted in massive killings and displacement of people". "Unfortunately, media representation is confusing and incomplete in all cases," said Fabusoro, noting "The insurgency of Boko Haram and the Niger Delta were reported as religious crises." But he said the plight of displaced people many of whom move to Europe "are not reported and thereby made the people die in silence." Leigh Foster, chief, Events, Campaigns and Goodwill Ambassadors, UNHCR said, "The WCC and LWF (Lutheran World Federation) have been amazing in mobilizing their membership," over refugees and migrants. 'SPEAKING FOR THEMSELVES' She praised the discussion on the report as encouraging UNHCR's #WithRefugees campaign which aims to reinforce the message that refugees can speak for themselves. Foster said it comes as there is "an increasingly toxic narrative, not only about refuges but anyone who is on the move." Cornelia Kastner, senior communications officer for the Lutheran World Federation spoke of how her experience as a journalist encouraged her in covering refugees in her work to, "let the people talk". She noted, "Refugees are not victims," but human beings and that in writing about them "how do we counter the numbing of society?" "How do we prevent having the same story over and over again?" asked Kastner. Only 21 percent of news items on asylum and migration reference a refugee or migrant: This points to a pattern of invisibility that creates a clear divide between the policies being discussed at the political level and the effects of those policies on people. Certain groups of people are even more invisible: Women and some other groups of people are disproportionately absent from news articles about refugees and migrants. Of the 21 percent of the news items that reference migrants or refugees, less than half (40%) of the articles quoted them directly: Direct quotes are the most accurate way to represent people, while inaccuracy of representation can easily lead to misunderstanding. Refugees and migrants are most often only identified by their "displacement": When media does not go beyond the refugee label, and when the public tacitly accepts refugee as an occupation, people are deprived of their humanity and dignity. The project was made possible with financial support from the Otto per Mille (OPM) fund of the Waldensian Church in Italy. Additional financial support came from the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland, Germany, the World Council of Churches, and CCME, in collaboration with the Conference of European Churches and WACC Global. (Photo: Wikipedia)Jim Wallis at the World Economic Forum Two evangelical Christian leaders, Jim Wallis and Hershael York, have told National Public Radio that there is a crisis of spirituality in the current political climate of the United States under the presidency of Donald Trump. NPR host Michael Martin noted in the interview he surmised from Wallis's writing that he believes that Christians' support for Donald Trump is something of an ethical challenge for Christians. Political activist and writer Rev. Wallis replied, "I think these issues are much deeper than politics. Many of us feel politically homeless these days, But the racial divide is of deep concern to me. "So, when white evangelicals say to black evangelicals, I didn't vote for Donald Trump because of his racial bigotry but because of other issues like the ones you mentioned, the response often back from black evangelicals is, so his racial bigotry wasn't a deal breaker for you, I guess? And we're really having to repair that divide." Martin asked York, if he agreed there is a crisis among American Christians, and he believes that plays some role in that? "Yes. I think we are in danger of, as evangelicals, losing influence for the gospel's sake really for a generation because of this uneasy alliance," he replied. York, a professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and senior pastor at Buck Run Baptist Church in Frankfort, Kentucky said there are two different narratives from the Bible, "And we want to be faithful even though we're serving someone who is not in agreement with us. But the other narrative we can put on it are the Pharisees conniving with Pontius Pilate. "The question is, is it collusion, complicity, connivance, or is it capitalization on a unique moment in history to shape the future through judicial appointments? It's a really difficult moment for evangelicals." EVANGELICAL SUPPORT FOR TRUMP AND MOORE York was asked why he thinks that so many white Christian evangelicals supported Donald Trump and Roy Moore who is standing as a Republic Party candidate in a Senate election contest in Alabama. This is despite calls from his GOP (Grand Old Party) office bearers for accused child molester Moore to stand down and his refusal to so while he is now getting full backing from accused molester of women, Trump. "Well, I think that in their minds, they've made a - basically a prioritization of issues. And for a lot of evangelicals, the abortion issue is the number-one issue. "And so, they are willing to make peace with any flawed politician who will fight abortion and stand for other things. "I think the rapid change on the gay-marriage issue and a lot of evangelicals felt like there was really an undue pressure to go beyond simply understanding that this is now in society to having to accommodate it and - against one's own personal convictions." When Wallis, the editor of Sojourners magazine, was asked why he thinks so many evangelicals, particularly white evangelicals, are supporting Donald Trump. He replied that the polling he had seen shows something different," that most white evangelicals are supporting Donald Trump because of immigration. "They're angry toward immigrants or guns or, as evangelical pastors often tell me, I've got them for three hours - two hours a week and Fox News has them every day. It's that agenda. It's a political agenda." Wallis added, however that Pastor York is right, that they care about things like abortion and marriage and family, "but even there, to have Donald Trump as a champion for those things is rather incredible. "This man as a defender of marriage is quite ridiculous. And, in fact, this president-supported-and-Republican-passed tax bill just now will hurt poor families, taking away food and education and health care. And the abortion rates will go up. I believe in a consistent ethic of life." When teachers are first hired, they have paperwork to fill out and meetings to attend. This fall, new hires in a growing number of states can add another to-do to their lists: meet with a teachers union representative. At a time when unions are bracing for a potential blow from the U.S. Supreme Court, Democratic lawmakers in about a half-dozen states have introduced or passed legislation that aims to give public-employee unions better access to potential members. The Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision in the Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council 31 case any day now. At stake are the so-called agency or fair share fees that public-employee unions in 22 states charge workers who are not union members but still reap the benefits of collective bargaining. The justices are widely expected by court watchers to rule against the unions and effectively make the public sector a right-to-work zone. That means teachers and other public employees could choose whether they want to belong to their unions with no strings attached. Currently, many who pay agency fees decide to simply kick in the extra dollars to become full members. Analysts and union officials themselves expect that unions will lose both members and revenue dollars if the justices rule the fees are unlawful. Pro-union legislation that has recently passed in several states, including California, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Washington state, could help mitigate the effects, union officials say. Unions have pushed for bills that, among other measures, would: put restrictions on the length of time teachers have to opt out of paying dues, limit the number of services unions have to provide to nonmembers, and give unions access to teachers contact information. Perhaps the most common tack in this wave of legislation is requiring new teachers to meet with their union representatives within a month of being hired. Other Labor-Friendly Bills Hawaii Union members now have a 30-day window before the anniversary of when they first authorized a payroll deduction to stop paying union dues. They must provide written notification to their union representative within that time period. The governor signed the bill into law in April. Another bill introduced this spring would have removed economic incentives for employees to free ridemeaning to benefit from the unions collective bargaining without paying. The bill would have required employers to deduct an amount equivalent to union fees and donate it to a charity specified by the employee. That bill died in committee. Vermont A bill would require employees who choose not to join a union and who do not pay an agency fee (assuming the Supreme Court decision knocks down those fees) to reimburse the union for the cost of representing them in a grievance proceeding. This bill has been stalled in a Senate committee since January. Washington Public employers must let unions meet with new employees for at least 30 minutes during orientation or at another time within 90 days of the employees start date. Unions can deduct dues and fees from public employees paychecks without their authorization. Instead, employees who dont want to join or pay dues to the union must opt out in writing. Both measures were signed into law by the governor this year. Source: Education Week [We expected that] over the course of the next several months and years, an onslaught of what we expect to be anti-union propaganda would be making its way into our state, said Sean Johnson, the director of legislative affairs for the Maryland State Education Association. The state legislature there passed a bill that requires new teachers to meet with a union representative at orientation and requires school districts to make sure the union has up-to-date contact information for all teachers on a regular basis. It became law in April without the signature of the governor, a Republican. Johnson said he hopes the new law will help stem membership losses that could come from an adverse Janus decision. We wanted to make sure we are in a place to really position ourselves to talk about collective action and the power of collective voice [to new teachers], he said. I think it is a position of strength. ... The best defense for us is a good offense. Vincent Vernuccio, a senior fellow with the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a free-market think tank, called those meetings with new employees captive-audience meetings. He said they are part of a broader strategy in which unions are trying to curtail worker choiceand some of those measures could be challenged in court, Vernuccio added. Unions are trying to do whatever they can to circumvent a case that hasnt even been decided yet in order to trap public employees into paying them, he asserted. Legislative Safeguards The bulk of the labor-friendly legislation was introduced this spring. While California unions were given mandatory access to new teacher orientations last year, legislation introduced this year would give teachers unions five days to review a teachers request to revoke the payroll-deduction authorization of union dues. That measure would give unions a chance to try to retain members. That bill has passed the state House and is awaiting a vote in the Senate. See Also: Janus, the Supreme Court, and Teachers Unions: Complete Coverage of the Landmark Case In New York, the governor worked with unions to enact measures that limit the number of services public-sector unions must provide to workers who choose not to join. Although unions still must include nonmembers in collective bargaining, they can provide certain legal and job-related services and benefits to members only. Another measure requires public employers to notify the union within 30 days of an employees hire and share the employees contact information, as well as give the union an opportunity to meet with the new employee. When Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the legislationwhich he deemed the Janus billin April, he said it was the first step of the resistance. The new law is an attempt at clarifying unions responsibilities if the Janus decision goes against them, said Michael Mulgrew, the president of the United Federation of Teachers, which represents New York City teachers. The same people who funded the Janus case would have funded a litany of litigation about every single one of the gray areas that needed to be cleared up, he said. Now, he said, the union has fewer responsibilities to represent nonmembers in legal proceedings and doesnt have to include nonmembers in the UFTs trainings and professional development. And having more access to new hires will help the UFT pitch their services to teachers before they are swayed by anti-union messaging, Mulgrew said. We put this in very simple arguments for our [teachers]: These folks are going to tell you everything in the world about why you shouldnt [join] unions, so they can destroy your livelihood and profession, he said. Meanwhile, in New Jersey, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill in May that enacted multiple protections for unions. The Workplace Democracy Enhancement Act gives unions the right to meet with new employees for at least a half hour within 30 days of being hired. Public employers are now required to give contact information for all employeesincluding home addresses and personal cellphone numbersto unions on a regular basis. Under the new law, if a public employer encourages employees to drop out of the union, it must reimburse the union for those lost dues. The new law also changes the time period in which employees who have decided to drop out of the union can revoke the authorization of the payroll deduction of union fees. Previously, there was a statutory opt-out window. Now, teachers must opt out of paying dues during the 10 days each year that follow the annual anniversary of their hire. Honestly, I see [this law as] helping public employees in New Jersey, said Steven Baker, a spokesman for the New Jersey Education Association. I think thats the important outcome of this: preserving the ability of the union to communicate with members, preserving the ability of the union to advocate for members. More Litigation Down the Road? Critics, however, say the New Jersey and New York laws are particularly egregious and could be challenged in court. The Supreme Court may have to take up another case ... on the New Jersey or New York laws to say, Yes, we really mean it; you cant force people to pay for politics they disagree with, and you cant trap them in [the union], said Vernuccio of the Mackinac Center. I think its ripe for litigation in the future. Already, a lawsuit is waiting in the wings of the Janus decision that would challenge opt-out windows. Yohn v. California Teachers Association argues that teachers should have to affirmatively opt into the union, not opt out. In California, teachers who dont want to be part of the union must send an annual letter to the CTA during a time-limited window. Terence Pell, the president of the Center for Individual Rights, the libertarian law firm that filed the Yohn case, said the Supreme Court justices may weigh in on the opt-out issue in Janus, which could reduce the need for future litigation. But if not, he said, Yohn would challenge rules that make it unduly cumbersome to leave the unionlike the new law in New Jersey. Its not a simple matter of resigning from the union, Pell said. You leave the union, lets say in March, and then you have to wait for a window in September to revoke the authorization of dues. If you miss that window, you have to pay for [another] year. As the Janus decision approaches, unions are facing a fork in the road, Pell said. They could make themselves more responsive and accountable to their members, which some analysts predict will happen. Or, he said, unions can rely on friendly legislators for protection. Running to the state legislature to get favorable legislation to make it easier for the unions to mandate membership is really doubling down on the root problem here, which is that unions are too close to the government and not close enough to the members they represent, Pell said. This is a further example of basic misalignment with the unions. Bad awakening for ZTE shareholders: After the share was long suspended from trading due to a company crisis, the price promptly plummeted by 40 percent on Wednesday after returning to trading. According to the stock exchange portal CNBC, the price in Hong Kong fell by more than 38 percent, and the Tradegate trading platform also fell by a good 30 percent to a price of 1.63 euros. By way of comparison: At the high at the end of last year, the share price was quoted at a good 3.50 euros. But then came the quarrel with the USA: Because ZTE made also business in Iran and in North Korea, US authorities forbade domestic companies to sell to ZTE. ZTE had defied applicable sanctions with its business, it was said at that time from the USA. In addition, US secret services suspected that ZTE was spying on US citizens with its devices. ZTE had to stop the operation, the share was suspended from trading in April. At the beginning of June, the US Department of Commerce announced that an agreement had now been reached with ZTE. The blockade, which was actually intended for seven years, would be lifted under certain conditions. For this ZTE has to pay a billion dollars in a settlement with the US government, and deposit an additional 400 million dollars in collateral. But that's not all. ZTE must also replace virtually all senior management by July 8 and establish a compliance team selected by the US. ZTE wants to resume operations "as quickly as possible". The Trump government earned a lot of mockery for its deal with the Chinese company. For example, Republican Senator Marc Rubio said that Trump was pursuing a "dangerous" trade policy. He was "one hundred percent sure that ZTE posed a much greater threat to national security" than "steel from Argentina or Europe". In his punitive duties on steel, Trump had argued for national security, among other things. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Verwandte Artikel ZTE Deutschland GmbH Body worn camera query for Chief Minister Manx police officers using body worn cameras will be discussed at this month's Tynwald sitting. The Isle of Man Constabulary previously carried out a trial of the equipment. Garff MHK Daphne Caine now wants to know whether there are any plans for other public service employees to use the cameras. Chief Minister Howard Quayle will provide an update when the Manx parliament meets on Tuesday. MMQSMace, Maces joint venture cost consultancy business in South Africa, has been appointed as quantity surveyors for three aviation projects worth more than $70m by Airports Company South Africa (ACSA). ACSA owns most of South Africas major airports, as well as a number of other aviation facilities across the globe, including in Sao Paolo and Mumbai. MMQSMace has been appointed to work on Johannesburgs O. R. Tambo International Airport, Africas largest airport for regional and intercontinental flights, and Cape Town International Airport, the second-busiest airport in South Africa and the third-busiest in Africa. MMQSMace was appointed to the ACSA three year quantity surveying framework earlier in 2018, and has now been awarded three separate projects. The three projects combined will see MMQSMace and the client work together with the rest of the project team to deliver more than $70m of improvements to the two airports. These improvements include refurbishment of part of the airside corridor and construction of five new passenger seating nodes at the airport at O. R. Tambo Airport. Mace is one of the worlds leading aviation project delivery experts, having worked on aviation construction and extension programmes across the globe. These have included projects in India, New Zealand, the Netherlands and the UK. Tshepiso Raletsemo, Group Manager Portfolio Management of ACSA said: First I would like to congratulate MMQSMace on its appointment to these three key airport upgrade projects. We welcome MMQSMace to the team and really look forward to building a great working relationship as these projects move forward. Mandla Mlangeni, Managing Director of MMQSMace said: We are thrilled to have been appointed by ACSA as quantity surveyors for this infrastructure upgrade programme. O. R. Tambo International and Cape Town International are two of the most strategically important African airports, so its a privilege to help improve them for the future. By combining Maces extensive international aviation experience and MMQSMaces local knowledge and expertise Im confident that our first projects with ACSA will be a huge success. Pakistans general elections are scheduled to be held in July 2018. Contrary to the popular argument that the Pakistani military has revived complete dominance and hegemony over civilian and electoral politics, fewer people are now buying into the opinion in Pakistan that the military is somehow better than democracy. Unlike 1958, 1977, or 1999, when an outright military coup was welcomed and embraced, the options for the military are fewer and limited in 2018. With the term of the most recent democratically elected government having come to an end a few days ago, we have also come to the end of the cycle, since 1977, where a decade of civilian government in Pakistan has been followed by a decade of military dictatorship. There are many who feel that democratic, electoral and civilian Pakistan, as it enters its 11th electoral cycle in a few weeks, has ceded power and control to a resurgent military in close alliance with the superior judiciary. The argument doing the rounds is that the democratic decade is over, and a soft military coup has already taken place. Murderers of Democratisation 2018-06-15 Maeci The Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Enzo Moavero Milanesi, met his Maltese counterpart, Carmelo Abela, at the Farnesina today. During the meeting, a common will to work together in close coordination was expressed, inter alia, especially at the European level, on issues such as migration and the revision of the Dublin Regulation. Moreover, the two Ministers reaffirmed their will to strengthen bilateral relations, including the enhancement of judicial cooperation and other bilateral issues. WASHINGTON -- A volcano in Ecuador with a deep cylindrical crater might be the largest musical instrument on Earth, producing unique sounds scientists could use to monitor its activity. New infrasound recordings of Cotopaxi volcano in central Ecuador show that after a sequence of eruptions in 2015, the volcano's crater changed shape. The deep narrow crater forced air to reverberate against the crater walls when the volcano rumbled. This created sound waves like those made by a pipe organ, where pressurized air is forced through metal pipes. "It's the largest organ pipe you've ever come across," said Jeff Johnson, a volcanologist at Boise State University in Idaho and lead author of a new study detailing the findings in Geophysical Research Letters, a journal of the American Geophysical Union. Listen to Cotopaxi's unique organ pipe sounds here. The new findings show the geometry of a volcano's crater has a major impact on the sounds a volcano can produce. Understanding each volcano's unique "voiceprint" can help scientists better monitor these natural hazards and alert scientists to changes going on inside the volcano that could signal an impending eruption, according to the study authors. "Understanding how each volcano speaks is vital to understanding what's going on," Johnson said. "Once you realize how a volcano sounds, if there are changes to that sound, that leads us to think there are changes going on in the crater, and that causes us to pay attention." The ongoing eruption of Kilauea in Hawaii could be a proving ground for studying how changes to a crater's shape influence the sounds it makes, according to Johnson. The lava lake at Kilauea's summit drained as the magma supplying it flowed downward, which should change the tones of the infrasounds emitted by the crater. Listening to Kilauea's infrasound could help scientists monitor the magma depth from afar and forecast its potential eruptive hazards, according to David Fee, a volcanologist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks who was not connected to the new study. When magma levels at Kilauea's summit drop, the magma can heat groundwater and cause explosive eruptions, which is believed to have happened at Kilauea over the past several weeks. This can change the infrasound emitted by the volcano. "It's really important for scientists to know how deep crater is, if the magma level is at the same depth and if it's interacting with the water table, which can create a significant hazard," Fee said. Detecting a new kind of sound Cotopaxi was dormant for most of the 20th century, but it erupted several times in August of 2015. The eruptions spewed ash and gas into the air, endangering the more than 300,000 people who live near the volcano. A massive eruption could melt Cotopaxi's immense snowcap, which would trigger massive floods and mudflows that could reach nearby cities and towns. The 2015 eruptions were relatively minor but triggered an explosion that caused the crater floor to drop out of sight. That was when Ecuadorian researchers monitoring the volcano noticed weird sounds coming from the crater. The frequency of the sound waves was too low for humans to hear, but they were recorded by the scientists' instruments. The researchers dubbed the sounds tornillos, the Spanish word for screws, because the sound waves looked like screw threads. They oscillated back and forth for about 90 seconds, getting smaller each time, before fading into the background. Johnson likens it to the "old Western bar door" that once opened, swings back and forth several times before coming to rest. But because of the crater's size - it's more than 100 meters (300 feet) wide and about 300 meters (1,000 feet) deep - it takes five seconds for the sound waves to go through one full oscillation. "It's like opening a bar door that goes back and forth for a minute and a half," Johnson said. "It's a beautiful signal and amazing that the natural world is able to produce this type of oscillation." Pipe organ players create sounds with similar characteristics by using a keyboard to force air through pipes of differing lengths. This is the first time volcanologists have recorded sounds of such low frequency and with this dramatic reverberation coming from a volcano, according to Johnson. The crater produced tornillo sounds about once a day for the first half of 2016, before they stopped. Johnson and his colleagues are unsure exactly what caused the sounds, but they know it had something to do with the volcano's activity and not just wind blowing across the top of the crater. Each tornillo was associated with gas coming out of the vent, Johnson said. The researchers suspect one of two things could have excited the volcano into producing the tornillos. Part of the crater floor could have been collapsing, as can happen when magma moves under a volcano, or an explosion was taking place at the bottom of the crater. Explosions are common in open-vent craters like Cotopaxi, where gas accumulates until it reaches a pressure high enough to explode. ### The American Geophysical Union is dedicated to advancing the Earth and space sciences for the benefit of humanity through its scholarly publications, conferences, and outreach programs. AGU is a not-for-profit, professional, scientific organization representing 60,000 members in 137 countries. Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and our other social media channels. Notes for Journalists This paper is freely available for 30 days. Journalists and public information officers (PIOs) can download a PDF copy of the article by clicking on this link: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/2018GL077766. Multimedia (images, audio, video) accompanying this press release can be downloaded here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/bt1bhuw442qbc4x/AAA9CzbgjJAusXxbOEc1pIzma?dl=0 Journalists and PIOs may also order a copy of the final paper by emailing a request to Lauren Lipuma at llipuma@agu.org. Please provide your name, the name of your publication, and your phone number. Neither the paper nor this press release is under embargo. Paper Title: "Infrasound Tornillos Produced by Volcan Cotopaxi's Deep Crater" Authors: Jeffrey B. Johnson: Department of Geosciences, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, U.S.A.; Mario Calixto Ruiz, Guillermo Viracucha, Patricio Ramon, Marco Almeida: Escuela Politecnica Nacional, Quito, Ecuador; Hugo D. Ortiz: Pontifica Universidad Catolica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador; Leighton M. Watson: Department of Geophysics, Stanford University, Stanford, California, U.S.A. Contact information for the authors: Jeffrey B. Johnson: jeffreybjohnson@boisestate.edu, +1 (208) 971-5832 The Dove Medical Press journal, Nature and Science of Sleep, has published a study that highlights the potential use of blood biomarkers as a diagnostic tool for obstructive sleep apnea. The article entitled Use of blood biomarkers to screen for obstructive sleep apnea demonstrates positive clinical trial results that suggest blood tests may be a useful screening tool and potentially superior to current diagnostic methods. The study, which used male participants, found that concurrent elevations of haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythropoietin (EPO) indicated that a patient may have obstructive sleep apnea. The study demonstrated that blood biomarkers proved superior to the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and other standard screening methods currently used for diagnosis, particularly in non-obese males. These tests were shown to correlate with disease severity and may assist in triaging patients for diagnosis and treatment. In a statement, the authors said that they anticipated that use of objective blood tests will improve screening accuracy and timely diagnosis, improve patient management, decrease the incidence of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and decrease healthcare costs. Professor Steven Shea, Editor-in-Chief for Nature and Science of Sleep and founder of one of the first clinical sleep laboratories in the UK commented, "Diagnosis for sleep apnea usually requires expensive overnight polysomnography. An accurate, simple, quick and cheap screening test would be ideal." He went on to add that "Signs of sleep apnea detected from a blood sample is an important step in that direction and is particularly relevant in this cohort of non-obese men with sleep apnea." ### Primates are fascinating. They are intelligent, live in complex societies and are a vital part of the ecosystem. Lemurs, lorises, galagos, tarsiers, monkeys and apes are our closest biological relatives and just like them, humans are also primates. However, while the human population spread to all corners of the earth, many of our closest relatives are under serious threat. An international team of leading primate researchers, including Christian Roos of the German Primate Center (DPZ) - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, has analyzed and evaluated the situation of many endangered non-human primate species in Brazil, Madagascar, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in a review article published today. In their study, the researchers investigated the influence of human activities on wild primate populations. The destruction of natural forests and their conversion into agricultural land, threatens many species who thereby lose their habitat. However, hunting and the bushmeat trade also lead to a massive and rapid decline of many populations. A simulation of agricultural land expansion by the end of the century showed a decline of up to 78 percent in the distribution areas of many primate species. In their study, the scientists ask for immediate measures to protect the endangered primate species and supply recommendations for the long-term conservation of primates and to avert primate extinction (Peer Journal 2018). Primates live in tropical and subtropical areas and are mainly found in regions of Africa, South America, Madagascar and Asia. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) currently lists 439 species. 65 percent (286) of these are located in the four countries Brazil, Indonesia, Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Around 60 percent of them are threatened by extinction. Particularly dire is the situation in Indonesia and Madagascar, where 90 percent of primate population declined and more than three-quarters of species are endangered. In a comprehensive literature review, the authors of the study analyzed the major threat factors for primates in four countries. In Brazil, Madagascar and Indonesia the increasing destruction of their habitats is a stressor for the animals. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the bushmeat trade is the biggest threat. In addition, primates are sold illegally as pets or used in traditional medicine. Poverty, the lack of education, food insecurity, political instability and corruption further encourage the depletion of natural resources in the countries concerned and make it more difficult to protect the animals. "The destruction of the natural environment through deforestation, the expansion of agricultural land and infrastructure development to transport goods has become a major problem," says Christian Roos, a scientist in the Primate Genetics Laboratory at the DPZ and co-author of the study. "The main contributors of this development are the industrial nations. There is a high demand for raw materials such as soy, palm oil, rubber, hardwood or fossil fuel. The four primate-rich countries cover 50 percent of these export goods to China, India, the US and Europe." The scientists combined data from the United Nations and World Bank databases to simulate the estimated spread of agricultural land in the four countries until the turn of the century. Assuming a worst-case scenario, the researchers were able to predict a decline in the geographical range of the primate populations. Accordingly, by the year 2100 78 percent of the primate habitats in Brazil, 72 percent in Indonesia, 62 percent in Madagascar and 32 percent in the Congo could have disappeared. At the same time, the authors investigated the size and distribution of protected areas. Their estimates show that Brazil and Madagascar have around 38 percent, Indonesia 17 percent, and The Democratic Republic of Congo 14 percent of primate habitats in protected areas. The majority of the distribution areas are without protection status and primates are therefore under threat. The authors call for the extension of protected areas, the reforestation of forests and the planting of corridors as important measures to preserve primate populations. In addition, the local population must be made aware of the precarious situation. Governments, scientists, conservation organizations and economists need to work together to promote sustainable, organic farming while preserving traditional lifestyles. In addition, the governments of the countries concerned should work harder to combat illegal hunting, forest destruction and primate trade. "Primates are like canaries in a coal mine", says Christian Roos. "They are invaluable for tropical biodiversity as they are vital for the regeneration of forests and stable ecosystems. Their extinction will serve as an alarm bell for humans and an indication that these habitats will become unusable in the long run". ### The results of a study presented today at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2018) demonstrate that canakinumab significantly reduced the rate of gout by more than half compared to placebo, regardless of baseline serum urate level.1 "These are significant results as they add to the evidence base demonstrating a potential preventative role for canakinumab in patients with gout," said Professor Robert Landewe, Chairperson of the Scientific Programme Committee, EULAR. "They will also contribute to our understanding of the interaction between gout, uric acid and cardiovascular disease." Gout is a very common condition. It is caused by deposits of crystals of a substance called uric acid (also known as urate) in the joints, which leads to inflammation. Periods of time when gout symptoms occur are called flares. Flares can be unpredictable and debilitating, developing over a few hours and causing severe pain in the joints. Canakinumab is a monoclonal antibody that blocks an inflammatory pathway mediated by interleukin-1. It is licenced for the treatment of several rare auto-inflammatory disorders although it can also be used to treat flares in certain patients with gout who have contraindications to standard therapies.2 There have been some reports to date of efficacy in preventing flares, however canakinumab is currently not approved for this indication. "Our results demonstrate a striking effect of canakinumab on reducing the risk of gout attacks in atherosclerosis patients," said Daniel Solomon, Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital. "Moreover, these data illustrate serum urate as a risk marker for both gout and cardiovascular events, though canakinumab has no effect on serum urate levels due to its mechanism of action." This report is a secondary analysis of the CANTOS (Canakinumab Anti-inflammatory Thrombosis Outcomes Study) trial which studied the impact of canakinumab in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular (CV) events.3 For this analysis,1 all participants were divided into three groups based on their serum urate level at baseline; low (<6.9mg/dl), medium (6.9-8.9mg/dl), and high (?9.0 mg/dL). Canakinumab (pooled doses) significantly reduced the rate of flares of gout by more than half compared to placebo, across all baseline serum urate groups. The hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) was 0.40 (0.22-0.73), 0.48 (0.31-0.74), and 0.45 (0.28-0.72) for the low, medium and high baseline serum urate groups respectively. The serum urate levels were not affected by canakinumab over time, although it did reduce high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP).1 By studying the rates of flares of gout and major CV events between the baseline serum urate groups, investigators demonstrated a correlation confirming it as a risk marker for both these conditions. Rates per 100-person years for the low, medium, and high baseline serum urate groups were 0.28, 1.36, and 5.94 respectively for gout-flares, and 4.1, 5.3, 5.6 respectively for major adverse CV events.1 The study included 10,061 patients with stable atherosclerosis (prior heart attack) and a hsCRP?2mg/L which indicates an increased risk of CV disease. Patients were randomly assigned to receive placebo or one of three doses of canakinumab (50mg, 150mg, or 300mg) once every three months. The groups were well balanced with respect to their baseline characteristics with a median follow-up time of 3.7 years. Median age was 61 years, 74% were male, median BMI was 29.8kg/m2, median serum urate level at baseline was 6.1 mg/dl.1 Serum urate and hsCRP were tested at baseline and every three months for the first year and then annually. A physician diagnosed history of gout was ascertained at baseline and subsequent attacks were assessed during follow-up as part of the systematic adverse event reporting. The rates of gout attacks and major adverse CV events (heart attack, stroke, re-vascularisation, and CV death) were compared across different baseline serum urate levels and by randomised treatment assignment.1 In the results from the original trial,3 neutropenia was more common among patients who were assigned to receive canakinumab than among those in the placebo group, and significantly more deaths were attributed to infection or sepsis in the pooled canakinumab groups than in the placebo group (incidence rate 0.31 vs. 0.18 events per 100 person-years; P=0.02). Thrombocytopenia was more common among patients who were assigned to receive canakinumab than among those in the placebo group, but no significant difference in the incidence of haemorrhage was observed. Abstract number: OP0014 ### NOTES TO EDITORS For further information on this study, or to request an interview with the study lead, please do not hesitate to contact the EULAR Press Office: Email: eularpressoffice@ruderfinn.co.uk Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7438 3084 Twitter: @EULAR_Press YouTube: Eular Press Office About Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) are a diverse group of diseases that commonly affect the joints but can affect any organ of the body. There are more than 200 different RMDs, affecting both children and adults. They are usually caused by problems of the immune system, inflammation, infections or gradual deterioration of joints, muscle and bones. Many of these diseases are long term and worsen over time. They are typically painful and Iimit function. In severe cases, RMDs can result in significant disability, having a major impact on both quality of life and life expectancy.4 About 'Don't Delay, Connect Today!' 'Don't Delay, Connect Today!' is a EULAR initiative that unites the voices of its three pillars, patient (PARE) organisations, scientific member societies and health professional associations - as well as its international network - with the goal of highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and access to treatment. In the European Union alone, over 120 million people are currently living with a rheumatic disease (RMD), with many cases undetected.5 The 'Don't Delay, Connect Today!' campaign aims to highlight that early diagnosis of RMDs and access to treatment can prevent further damage, and also reduce the burden on individual life and society as a whole. About EULAR The European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) is the European umbrella organisation representing scientific societies, health professional associations and organisations for people with RMDs. EULAR aims to reduce the burden of RMDs on individuals and society and to improve the treatment, prevention and rehabilitation of RMDs. To this end, EULAR fosters excellence in education and research in the field of rheumatology. It promotes the translation of research advances into daily care and fights for the recognition of the needs of people with RMDs by the EU institutions through advocacy action. To find out more about the activities of EULAR, visit: http://www.eular.org. References 1 Solomon DH, Glynn RJ, MacFadyen JG, et al. Serum urate, gout, and cardiovascular disease in a randomized controlled trial of canakinumab: A CANTOS secondary analysis. EULAR 2018; Amsterdam: Abstract OP0014. 2 Richette P, Doherty M, Pascual E, et al. 2016 updated EULAR evidence-based recommendations for the management of gout. Ann Rheum Dis. 2017;76:29-42. 3 Ridker PM, Everett BM, Thuren T, et al. Anti-inflammatory Therapy with Canakinumab for Atherosclerotic Disease. N Engl J Med. 2017;377(12):1119-1131. 4 van der Heijde D, et al. Common language description of the term rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) for use in communication with the lay public, healthcare providers and other stakeholders endorsed by the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2018;doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2017-212565. [Epub ahead of print]. 5 EULAR. 10 things you should know about rheumatic diseases fact sheet. Available at: https://www.eular.org/myUploadData/files/10%20things%20on%20RD.pdf [Last accessed April 2018]. The results of a 23-year, follow-up study presented today at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2018) suggest early, intensive treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has long-term benefits including the normalisation of mortality to levels consistent with the general population.1 "We know that the adverse effects of rheumatoid arthritis on the body only become truly apparent after more than a decade," said Professor Robert Landewe, Chairperson of the Scientific Programme Committee, EULAR. "Therefore, it is really interesting to see these data supporting early therapy after such a long period of follow-up." Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects a person's joints, causing pain and disability. It can also affect internal organs. Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in older people, but there is also a high prevalence in young adults, adolescents and even children, and it affects women more frequently than men. Mortality in patients with RA is higher than in the general population.2,3,4 There have been many advances in management which have demonstrated improved morbidity rates, however evidence of improved mortality rates has remained elusive.5 "Our results confirm that early, intensive treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, including use of glucocorticoids, has long-term benefits", said Professor Maarten Boers, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (study author). "Importantly, this study is one of the first to show a normalisation of RA mortality compared to the general population after 23 years of follow-up." This prospective study looked at the rate of mortality after 23 years follow-up of the COBRA (COmbinatietherapie Bij Rheumatoide Artritis) trial. In the original study,6 patients with early RA were treated with sulphalasazine (SSZ) monotherapy or a combination of SSZ, low-dose methotrexate and initially high, step-down prednisolone. Results demonstrated the combined therapy regimen offered additional disease control over SSZ alone. In 2010, after 11 years of follow up, another study showed numerically (but not significantly) lower mortality in patients on the combined therapy regimen compared to patients with SSZ monotherapy.7 The current study included data from 154 of the 155 original patients with a mean follow-up time of 23 years (in those that did not die). Using a reference sample matched for age and gender, investigators demonstrated numerically (but not significantly) lower mortality of the study participants (44/154, 28%) compared to the general population (55/154, 35%). Within the study population, 20/75 (27%) died who were randomised to the combined therapy regimen, and 24/79 (30%) on SSZ alone. The difference between the two therapeutic approaches was not significant and the positive trend for combined therapy over SSZ decreased over time.1 Abstract number: OP0015 ### NOTES TO EDITORS For further information on this study, or to request an interview with the study lead, please do not hesitate to contact the EULAR Press Office: Email: eularpressoffice@ruderfinn.co.uk Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7438 3084 Twitter: @EULAR_Press YouTube: Eular Press Office About Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) are a diverse group of diseases that commonly affect the joints but can affect any organ of the body. There are more than 200 different RMDs, affecting both children and adults. They are usually caused by problems of the immune system, inflammation, infections or gradual deterioration of joints, muscle and bones. Many of these diseases are long term and worsen over time. They are typically painful and Iimit function. In severe cases, RMDs can result in significant disability, having a major impact on both quality of life and life expectancy.8 About 'Don't Delay, Connect Today!' 'Don't Delay, Connect Today!' is a EULAR initiative that unites the voices of its three pillars, patient (PARE) organisations, scientific member societies and health professional associations - as well as its international network - with the goal of highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and access to treatment. In the European Union alone, over 120 million people are currently living with a rheumatic disease (RMD), with many cases undetected.9 The 'Don't Delay, Connect Today!' campaign aims to highlight that early diagnosis of RMDs and access to treatment can prevent further damage, and also reduce the burden on individual life and society as a whole. About EULAR The European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) is the European umbrella organisation representing scientific societies, health professional associations and organisations for people with RMDs. EULAR aims to reduce the burden of RMDs on individuals and society and to improve the treatment, prevention and rehabilitation of RMDs. To this end, EULAR fosters excellence in education and research in the field of rheumatology. It promotes the translation of research advances into daily care and fights for the recognition of the needs of people with RMDs by the EU institutions through advocacy action. To find out more about the activities of EULAR, visit: http://www.eular.org. References 1 Poppelaars PBM, van Tuyl LHD, and Boers M. Mortality of the COBRA early rheumatoid arthritis trial cohort after 23 years follow up. EULAR 2018; Amsterdam: Abstract OP0015. 2 Gabriel SE. The epidemiology of rheumatoid arthritis. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2001;27:269-81. 3 Guedes C, Dumont-Fischer D, Leichter-Nakache S, et al. Mortality in rheumatoid arthritis. Rev Rhum Engl Ed. 1999;66:492-8. 4 Pincus T, Callahan LF. Taking mortality in rheumatoid arthritis seriously: predictive markers, socioeconomic status and comorbidity. J Rheumatol. 1986;13:841-5. 5 Dadoun S, Zeboulon-Ktorza N, Combescure C, et al. Mortality in rheumatoid arthritis over the last fifty years: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Joint Bone Spine 2013;80:29-33. 6 Boers M, Verhoeven AC, Markusse HM, et al. Randomised comparison of combined step-down prednisolone, methotrexate and sulphasalazine with sulphasalazine alone in early rheumatoid arthritis. Lancet. 1997;350(9074):309-18. 7 van Tuyl LH1, Boers M, Lems WF, et al. Survival, comorbidities and joint damage 11 years after the COBRA combination therapy trial in early rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2010;69(5):807-12. 8 van der Heijde D, et al. Common language description of the term rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) for use in communication with the lay public, healthcare providers and other stakeholders endorsed by the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2018;doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2017-212565. [Epub ahead of print]. 9 EULAR. 10 things you should know about rheumatic diseases fact sheet. Available at: https://www.eular.org/myUploadData/files/10%20things%20on%20RD.pdf [Last accessed April 2018]. Milan, Italy: Giving personal genomic information to individuals can have a major, long-term effect on their lifestyle, researchers have found. The Finnish GeneRISK study, providing information on the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) based on their genome and traditional risk factors to 7,328 people inspired changes for the better in areas such as weight loss and smoking cessation. Nearly 90% of them said the information had made them take better care of their health, the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics will hear today (Saturday). Although there is plenty of evidence that genomic factors have an important impact on the risk of common diseases, to date there has been little use of this information in prevention. Elisabeth Widen, MD, a senior scientist at the Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland, and colleagues have developed a web-based tool that allows patients and doctors to see and manage genomic information based on 49,000 disease-associated genetic variants and lifestyle-associated risk factors. Delivering the results of the tool KardioKompassi directly to patients, they were able to see their 10-year risk for ischemic heart disease. The tool combines risk information based on traditional risk factors such as age, sex, cholesterol levels and blood pressure with a polygenic risk score. Where a patient's overall disease risk was elevated, KardioKompassi advised the participant to contact their doctor in order to discuss how best to reduce it, Dr Widen will say. When reassessed eighteen months later, the results were impressive. Compared with a 4% smoking cessation rate in the general population, 17% of smokers in the study had given up, and sustained weight loss had been achieved by 13.7% of participants. Overall, risk-reducing behaviour such as weight loss, giving up smoking, or visiting a doctor was 32.4% in those with a predicted CVD risk of more than 10% and 18.4% in those at lower risk. As many as 40% of participants with a high risk of CVD were smokers at the start of the study, so these results are encouraging. We believe that giving information on their genetic profile to individuals is particularly motivating, perhaps simply because it is new information. For example, many of the participants already knew that they had high levels of cholesterol. But it was receiving information on their personal genetic risk that triggered changes, Dr Widen says. GeneRISK participants will be recalled for follow-up studies over the next 20 years and their health status will be closely followed. The researchers believe that those who have already made lifestyle changes are likely to continue them. Since they have managed to maintain these changes for 1.5 years, we expect them to persist, says Dr Widen. The general trend towards patient participation is particularly important in disease prevention, say the researchers. Empowering individuals by giving information on their personal risk of disease, as opposed to something more generalised, is clearly effective in encouraging them to follow healthier lifestyles. Our results show that this approach to managing and interpreting genomic data for individuals is feasible and effective. We think that our study provides a model for the use of such data in healthcare that can be easily adapted to other diseases, where we believe that it is likely to be equally valuable, Dr Widen will conclude. Chair of the ESHG conference, Professor Joris Veltman, Director of the Institute of Genetic Medicine at Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom, said: "It is impressive to see how genomic information can be used successfully to promote a healthier lifestyle in people at higher risk of developing heart disease. Clearly in the population there will also be many people with a relatively lower genetic risk of developing common diseases, and I do wonder what would happen if these people are informed about this; would they start showing an unhealthier lifestyle? This field of predictive genomic medicine is only just emerging, with lots of opportunities for further research." ### Abstract no: C01.2 Returning cardiovascular disease risk prediction back to individuals motivates beneficial lifestyle changes : Preliminary results from the GeneRISK study The PIM-2 protein kinase negatively regulates T cell responses in transplantation and tumor immunity, while PIM-1 and PIM-3 are positive regulators, report Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) investigators in an article published online on May 21, 2018 by The Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI). Blocking PIM-2 in allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT) dramatically accelerated graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). In adoptive immunotherapy with autologous T cells, silencing PIM-2 on T cells produced robust tumor immunity, highlighting the importance of PIM-specific inhibition. The PIM family of protein kinases contains three isoforms, PIM-1, PIM-2, and PIM-3, with very similar structures. Because they are known to affect cell survival and proliferation, the group is considered a promising therapeutic target in cancer. Additionally, pan-PIM inhibition (blocking all three isoforms) is often used for cancer therapy. Because the isoforms are so similar, the assumption has been that they function in similar ways. However, in the JCI article, a team of MUSC researchers led by Xue-Zhong Yu, M.D., a professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and SmartState Endowed Chair in Cancer Stem Cell Biology and Therapy at Hollings Cancer Center, showed that PIM-2 kinase has unique activity in regulating T cells that is in opposition to PIM-1 and PIM-3. "This kinase family has been studied quite extensively in cancer biology. We know that tumors activate-or turn on--these kinases to survive better because all three isoforms help protect cancer cells from death by making them resistant to chemotherapy. That's why quite a few companies have developed pan-PIM inhibitors for cancer therapy," explains Yu. While most research has focused on the role of PIM kinases in cancer biology, little is known about how they influence primary T cells and the immune response. Yu and his team set out to try to understand how these kinases regulate T cell responses in BMT and solid tumors. Allogeneic BMT is an essential treatment for blood cancers such as leukemia, because, even after chemotherapy and radiation, a small number of cancer cells can remain in the bloodstream, allowing the malignancy to recur. Replacing a patient's bone marrow is the best way to prevent this, but an ideal, biologically matched donor is often not available. The less well-matched the donor, the higher the risk for developing GVHD, in which donor cells trigger an immune response that attacks the patient's normal tissues, causing high morbidity and mortality. Researchers have long sought ways to improve BMT success by reducing GVHD incidence while preserving the anti-tumor response of donor cells. Yu's team started by testing the hypothesis that inhibiting PIM kinases would work synergistically with rapamycin, an immunosuppressant drug, to control GVHD development. Using a preclinical mouse model, they looked at how knocking out each PIM isoform, individually and in various combinations, affected GVHD induction. "We thought that, if these kinases work in parallel, then blocking all three pathways at the same time would improve therapeutic effectiveness," explains Yu. "But when we tested each one, we saw that PIM-2 really stood out from the others and dominated the effect. We found that T cells which lacked PIM-2 had dramatically increased activation and pathogenicity to cause GVHD." In contrast, blocking PIM-2 created highly activated, aggressive T cells for attacking cancer. "Our results in the BMT model were very robust. When we transplanted the normal number of T cells (which lacked PIM-2), the mice developed severe GVHD and died super fast-within 10 days. We had to keep reducing the T cell dose," says Yu. The team eventually found that even a dose of only 50,000 PIM-2 deficient T cells led to GVHD, whereas this number of wild-type, control T cells was incapable of inducing GVHD. These results suggest that PIM-2 kinase plays a dominant role in regulating T cell pathogenicity in inducing GVHD and reveal a previously undefined role for PIM-2: potently inhibiting T cell alloresponses and GVHD induction. Results showed that, while PIM-2 negatively regulates T cells, PIM-1 and PIM-3 positively regulate T cell activation. "Imagine that the therapy is a car," explains Yu. "If you want it to go faster, you can either step on the gas by boosting molecules that positively regulate the T cells, or you can remove the brakes by blocking molecules that negatively regulate the T cells. Blocking PIM-2 is like removing the brakes from a car so it then has more power to eradicate the malignancy, although at a cost of GVHD as a side effect." Next, the team investigated PIM-2 blockade in a solid, syngeneic tumor model, transplanting cancer cells into mice that lacked PIM-2. Yu was astonished by the results. "When we injected tumor cell lines, the tumor could not grow in the PIM-2 blocked mice," says Yu. "In control mice, the tumors grew rapidly but mice without the PIM-2 molecule could completely reject the tumor. This was a big surprise. Very few molecules are so powerful." The finding highlights the potential of PIM-2 blockade as a cancer immunotherapy. This is the first time that the unique activity of PIM-2 kinase in T cells has been distinguished from its family members, PIM-1 and PIM-3. These findings raise concerns about pan-PIM inhibition, which may have disadvantages when the desired effect is immuno-suppression and T cell anergy. Furthermore, PIM-2 blockade may not be applicable in allogeneic BMT since it may exacerbate GVHD, whereas PIM-1 and PIM-3 blockade may alleviate GVHD. "This study highlights the need for specific inhibitors and to exercise caution using pan-PIM inhibitors," explains Yu. "The same family of kinases can play distinct roles, so we must be more careful and understand the context of which isoforms we want to block because they may not work in a synergistic way. The lesson is that when we do scientific research, we have to keep an open mind. This kinase family has been extensively studied but we saw something completely unexpected when we studied them in different cells and different systems." ### About MUSC Founded in 1824 in Charleston, The Medical University of South Carolina is the oldest medical school in the South. Today, MUSC continues the tradition of excellence in education, research, and patient care. MUSC educates and trains more than 3,000 students and residents, and has nearly 13,000 employees, including approximately 1,500 faculty members. As the largest non-federal employer in Charleston, the university and its affiliates have collective annual budgets in excess of $2.2 billion. MUSC operates a 750-bed medical center, which includes a nationally recognized Children's Hospital, the Ashley River Tower (cardiovascular, digestive disease, and surgical oncology), Hollings Cancer Center (a National Cancer Institute designated center) Level I Trauma Center, and Institute of Psychiatry. For more information on academic information or clinical services, visit musc.edu. For more information on hospital patient services, visit muschealth.org. About MUSC Hollings Cancer Center The Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina is a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center and the largest academic-based cancer research program in South Carolina. The cancer center comprises more than 120 faculty cancer scientists with an annual research funding portfolio of $44 million and a dedication to reducing the cancer burden in South Carolina. Hollings offers state-of-the-art diagnostic capabilities, therapies and surgical techniques within multidisciplinary clinics that include surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation therapists, radiologists, pathologists, psychologists and other specialists equipped for the full range of cancer care, including more than 200 clinical trials. For more information, visit http://www.hollingscancercenter.org Variability in El Nino cycles was long considered a reliable tool for predicting winter precipitation in the Southwest United States, but its forecasting power has diminished in recent years. In a study published today in Nature Communications, National Science Foundation (NSF)-supported scientists at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), have found a new method to project wet or dry conditions for the winter ahead. "Influences between the hemispheres promise earlier and more accurate prediction of winter precipitation in California and the Southwest U.S.," said study co-author Efi Foufoula-Georgiou of UCI. "Knowing how much rain to expect in the coming winter is crucial for the economy, water security, and ecosystem management of the region." Added Tom Torgersen, director of NSF's Water, Sustainability and Climate Program, which funded the research, "Predicting drought in the Southwest U.S. is a critical issue for food production and local economies. The discovery of an interhemispheric bridge that influences the U.S. winter jet stream holds the promise of improved precipitation predictability and drought forecasts." The researchers call the new 'teleconnection' the New Zealand Index (NZI) because the sea surface temperature anomaly that triggers it begins in July and August in the southwestern Pacific Ocean near New Zealand. The heating or cooling of the sea surface temperature there causes a change in the southern Hadley cell, a zone of atmospheric circulation from the equator to the 30-degree south parallel. In turn, the Hadley cell change causes an anomaly east of the Philippine Islands, resulting in a strengthening or weakening of the jet stream in the Northern Hemisphere. That directly influences the amount of rain that falls on California from November through March. In conducting the research, an interdisciplinary team from UCI's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Department of Earth System Science performed an analysis of sea surface temperatures and atmospheric pressures from 1950 to 2015 in 1- and 2-degree cells around the globe. "With the NZI, we can predict the likelihood of above- or below-normal winter precipitation in the Southwest U.S.," said lead author Antonios Mamalakis of UCI. "Our research also shows an amplification of this newly discovered "teleconnection" over the past four decades." Mamalakis said that the most unexpected result is the discovery of persistent sea surface temperature and atmospheric pressure patterns in the southwestern Pacific that show a strong correlation with precipitation in Southern California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah. Researchers have traditionally relied on a handful of globe-spanning oceanic and atmospheric conditions to help them forecast future precipitation. Gradual changes in sea surface temperatures in vast regions of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans influence the jet stream. Along with high pressure ridges over the Gulf of Alaska and El Nino, all are players in precipitation prediction. In recent years, however, El Nino conditions did not bring heavy rains to California as they have in the past. This usually arid region, however, did receive heavy precipitation in the winter of 2017, considered a neutral El Nino year. The answer may lie in the interhemispheric bridge. ### More than 500,000 years of life expectancy were lost in Ohio during a seven-year period, according to a study conducted by The Ohio Alliance for Innovation in Population Health ATHENS, Ohio (June 14, 2018) - More than 500,000 years of life expectancy were lost in Ohio during a seven-year period, according to a study conducted by The Ohio Alliance for Innovation in Population Health (OAIPH) -- a collaborative initiative formed by Ohio University's College of Health Sciences and Professions and the University of Toledo's College of Health and Human Services. As opioid overdose continues to increase as a cause of preventable mortality in the state, the OAIPH set out to examine how opioid overdose deaths contribute to increased mortality and to shine a light on the effect of the epidemic on the lifespan of Ohioans at the state and county level. "This data gives us a picture of the profound impact of opioid related deaths," said Rick Hodges, director of OIAPH. "These are people in the prime of life during their most productive years. The data also tells a story about families and communities." The years of life lost (YLL) was calculated from data abstracted from the Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Ohio Death Certificate File for the years 2010-2016. YLL due to premature death were calculated at the state and county level and patterns of opioid overdose mortality were mapped geographically and monitored over time. A number of key findings stand out in the study: 13,059 Ohioans died from opioid overdose during the 7-year period of study (2010 - 2016). Opioid overdose accounted for 519,471 YLL from 2010 - 2016. This figure represents over half a million years of life lost to Ohioans due to a preventable cause. Opioid overdose deaths continue to rise. 140,045 YLL were attributable to opioid overdose in 2016 alone. That year, opioid overdose had the effect of lowering the life expectancy of an average Ohioan by 1.1 years. Fentanyl related deaths have increased dramatically in recent years from 77 deaths in 2010 to 2,357 in 2016. Fentanyl was involved in 67 percent of fatal opioid poisonings in 2016 and fentanyl overdose accounted for 96,118 YLL that year alone. "One of the most heartbreaking aspects of the opioid epidemic is the incredible loss of life as so many young people die of overdoses," said Randy Leite, dean of the OHIO College of Health and Sciences and Professions. "The years of life lost data paint a picture of the greatest consequence of the epidemic -- the loss of so many individuals who could have been productive parents, spouses, workers, and citizens." "These numbers are staggering. Ohio University has made a commitment to provide resources to help reverse the rising tide of the opioid epidemic," added President M. Duane Nellis. "This study is one example of the work that we are accomplishing to meet this important priority." Nellis recently created the Opioid Task Force, comprised of both community members and University faculty, staff and administrators from the Athens and Regional Campuses, to collectively elevate the impact of the region's opioid-related initiatives. Of the Task Force, Nellis said, "We can make significant progress in combatting this epidemic in a concerted, coordinated manner and leverage our collective expertise to save lives and enact real change toward the betterment of our region." Brief Methodology Years of Life Lost (YLL) was determined for fatal opioid overdose decedents in Ohio from 2010 through 2016. This was accomplished via a standardized protocol employed by the World Health Organization Global Burden of Disease Study.2,3 The age at death for each decedent was subtracted from the standard life expectancy accounting for gender. Life expectancy was determined from the Social Security Administration Period Life Table.4 Data used for this analysis were provided by the Ohio Department of Health. The analysis demonstrates that opioid overdose is an increasing cause of preventable death in Ohio with a measurable impact on life expectancy and reveals temporal and geographic patterns in opioid overdose mortality across the state. Opioid overdose accounted for over half a million years of potential life lost to Ohioans during the seven-year period of study. Total YLL increased annually during this timeframe with fentanyl-involved poisonings accounting for a growing proportion of this premature mortality. Opioid overdose led to a decrement of 1.1 years in average life expectancy in Ohio in the year 2016. Opioid overdose mortality is not evenly distributed within the state. Significant regional variation exists with regard to premature death due to opioid poisoning. Our findings may be used to guide resource allocation with regard to preventative health measures and inform future research. Table One: Years of Life Lost Due to Opioid Overdoses from 2010 through 2016 Death Total Avg Years Avg Years Total Years Deaths Lost per Lost per Lost for DecedentDecedent All Decedents Mean Median 2010 980 39.51 38.66 38,720 2011 1,163 39.16 38.53 45,543 2012 1,272 39.88 39.46 50,727 2013 1,539 39.06 38.53 60,113 2014 2,020 39.59 40.38 79,972 2015 2,590 40.29 41.31 104,351 2016 3,495 40.07 41.31 140,045 Total 13,059 39.78 40.38 519,471 Table Two: Years of Life Lost Due to Fentanyl and Fentanyl Analog Overdoses from 2010 through 2016 Death Total Avg Years Avg Years Total Years Deaths Lost per Lost per Lost for Decedent Decedent All Decedents Mean Median 2010 77 37.63 38.53 2,898 2011 73 36.64 33.16 2,675 2012 75 36.81 33.98 2,761 2013 84 37.88 37.61 3,182 2014 503 41.84 43.17 21,046 2015 1,155 41.35 42.24 47,759 2016 2,357 40.78 42.24 96,118 Total 4,324 40.8 42.24 176,438 ### References: 1. Ohio Death Certificate File. In: Ohio Department of Health BoVS, ed2010 - 2016. 2. Murray CJ, Acharya AK. Understanding DALYs (disability-adjusted life years). Journal of health economics. 1997;16(6):703-730. 3. Struijk EA, May AM, Beulens JW, et al. Development of methodology for disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) calculation based on real-life data. PLoS One. 2013;8(9):e74294. 4. Administration USSS. Period Life Table, 2013. https://www.ssa.gov/oact/STATS/table4c6.html. Years of Life Lost Due to Opioid Overdose in Ohio O. Trent Hall, DO, University of Michigan Orman Hall, MA, Ohio University Ryan P. McGrath, PhD, North Dakota State University Sebastian Diaz, PhD, Ohio University Zelalem T. Haile, PhD, MPH, Ohio University John Hoag, PhD, Ohio University Optimizing economic welfare without constraints might put human well-being at risk, a new climate study argues. While being successful in bringing down costs of greenhouse gas reductions for instance, the concept of profit maximization alone does not suffice to avoid the tipping of critical elements in the Earth system which could lead to dramatic changes of our lifelihood. The scientists use mathematical experiments to compare economic optimization to the governance concepts of sustainability and the more recent approach of a safe operating space for humanity. All of these turn out to have their benefits and deficits, yet the profit-maximizing approach shows the greatest likelihood of producing outcomes that harm people or the environment. "We find that the concept of optimization of economic welfare might in some cases be neither sustainable nor safe for governing modern environmental change," says Wolfram Barfuss from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK, member of Leibniz Association) and Humboldt University Berlin, lead-author of the study published in Nature Communications. "Economic optimization can be quite effective in reducing current greenhouse-gas emissions, it certainly has its strengths. Yet under human-made global warming, we face a world full of complex non-linearities, namely the tipping elements in the Earth system. The ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica might collapse at some point if greenhouse-gas emissions do not get reduced, or the great circulation systems in ocean and atmosphere could fundamentally change. In such a setting, optimization can lead to dangerous side effects. Even for relatively high risks, and even if profit-maximizing agents in our calculations are far-sighted, they tend to accept the possibility of detrimental environmental and societal impacts." Mathematical experiments, climate policy and Sustainable Development Goals This is the result of mathematical experiments that the scientists performed. While governments worldwide agreed on ambitious targets such as the 17 UN Sustainability Goals and the Paris Agreement which aims at limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, there is no consensus on how to reach those targets. The scientists identified and then analysed three big concepts: economic optimization (act to maximize your expected profit, with discounted future), sustainability (act to always stay above a minimum standard of expected profit, with discounted future), and the safe operating space approach, relying on the Planetary Boundaries concept (act to always stay within the safe space for humanity to ensure the functioning of the Earth's life-supporting systems). "Take the Atlantic Overturning Circulation, better known as the Gulf Stream System, one of the great potential tipping elements in the Earth system," says co-author Jonathan Donges, from PIK and Stockholm Resilience Centre. "We know, both from our understanding of the physics and from observations, that it can be put at risk by global warming. But we cannot yet calculate the timing of a tipping as well as the potential damages arising from it." Hence it is clear that economic optimization of climate policy would normally not be able to count it in as future costs. "From the safe operating space perspective, we'd have to cut greenhouses gas emissions immediately to make sure the Gulf Stream does not get seriously disturbed," says Donges. "But you cannot say that 'safe' is always 'best'. Because from a sustainability point of view, poverty reduction is one main goal. If we ended fossil fuel use too abruptly, the costs of a transition to clean energy would be substantial and might, at least for a certain time, rise energy and food prices and consequently impede the poverty reduction goal." "Neither economic thinking nor good will alone will suffice" It hence depends on the circumstances whether a sustainable or safe approach is most suitable. The only thing clear is that in a no-policy scenario of unmitigated greenhouse-gas emissions, a Gulf Stream System collapse would also have negative impacts on poverty reduction. "It turns out that there is no master concept for countering environmental challenges," says co-author Jurgen Kurths, head of the PIK research department 'Transdisciplinary Concepts and Methods' and a pioneer of the complex non-linear systems analysis applied here. "Yet our analysis is a first step to provide decision-makers with better insights on which concept for achieving the climate and sustainability targets works how and under which circumstances. Neither economic thinking nor good will alone suffice to deal with a world full of complex non-linear dynamics." ### Article: W. Barfuss, J.F. Donges, S.J. Lade, J. Kurths (2018): When optimization for governing human-environment tipping elements is neither sustainable nor safe. Nature Communications [DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04738-z] Weblink to the article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-04738-z 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 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. BioMin Technologies Ltd was founded in 2014 to commercialise the award-winning research conducted between Queen Mary and Imperial College London since 2008. The bioactive glass material, which won the prestigious Armourers and Brasiers Venture Prize in 2013, can help reduce sensitivity, remineralise tooth surfaces and reduce the risk of early stage tooth decay. In 2016, BioMin met with Guangdong KanWan Cosmetics Co. Ltd, a major Chinese toothpaste manufacturer, as a result of a technology partnering mission between Science and Innovation Network (SIN) China and Innovation China UK. This meeting led to the establishment of a manufacturing and distribution license agreement under which the bioactive glass, manufactured in the UK, will be exported to China for use in toothpaste formulations developed by KanWan. KanWan, like many other BioMin trade partners, agreed to participate as a shareholder in the initial fundraising round to support the commercialisation of the technology, establish its distribution infrastructure, and to conduct further research. Professor Robert Hill from Queen Mary, one of the founders of BioMin, said: "We are delighted to have partnered with a well-established toothpaste manufacturer in China, the country with the largest demand for toothpaste in the world. He added: "Our former PhD student, Prof Xiaojing Chen, now Professor of Dental Materials at Central Southern University at Changsha, was a key member of our research team and has been instrumental in forging stronger links between Queen Mary and China. Working together with the BioMin business development team and Queen Mary Innovations has helped to secure this commercial success." Richard Whatley, CEO of BioMin Technologies, said: "This partnership with Guangdong Kanwan Cosmetics Co. Ltd opens up enormous potential for our start-up enterprise. The support provided by ICUK and SIN has been central to establishing this Chinese licence partner for our innovative technology." BioMin has also secured licensing deals with Group Pharmaceuticals Limited and Abbott Laboratories in India, Dr Collins in the USA, and distribution agreements in many European countries. Professor Xiaojing Chen, who completed her PhD at the Institute of Dentistry in 2015, said: "It has been very rewarding to be part of a team which has taken a scientific research project to become a commercial reality over a relatively short period. It is clear that bioglass technology has tremendous potential to improve oral care. I look forward to continuing my involvement with BioMin and to support its future scientific and commercial development." ### A new SLAS Discovery review article by GlaxoSmithKline researchers in the U.S. and U.K. offers an informative guide to the established and emerging tools available for early drug discovery and screening, and provides illustrative scenarios demonstrating considerations that drive decisions on choice of lead discovery tactics. While high-throughout screening (HTS) remains a mainstay in drug discovery, other approaches have emerged or evolved in the past decade that offer complementary strengths and weaknesses, and are increasingly applied in combination with, or in lieu of, HTS. Great success often can be achieved by combining different approaches in an integrated manner. Leveridge et al. survey the landscape of lead discovery tactics that researchers use today and explain how this toolbox of approaches is evolving as new science emerges, such as in the areas of complex cellular models and computational techniques. Case studies illustrate how integration of techniques like DNA-encoded library screening (ELT) and HTS, phenotypic and target-based screening, and virtual screening (VS) with experimental approaches can lead to successful outcomes and provide insights and synergies that would never have been obtained through one technique alone. ### "Integration of Lead Discovery Tactics and the Evolution of the Lead Discovery Toolbox" can be accessed for free for a limited time at http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2472555218778503. For more information about SLAS and its journals, visit http://www.slas.org/journals. About our Society and Journals SLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening) is an international community of nearly 20,000 professionals and students dedicated to life sciences discovery and technology. The SLAS mission is to bring together researchers in academia, industry and government to advance life sciences discovery and technology via education, knowledge exchange and global community building. SLAS DISCOVERY: 2016 Impact Factor 2.444. Editor-in-Chief Robert M. Campbell, Ph.D., Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN (USA). SLAS Discovery (Advancing Life Sciences R&D) was previously published (1996-2016) as the Journal of Biomolecular Screening (JBS). SLAS TECHNOLOGY: 2016 Impact Factor 2.850. Editor-in-Chief Edward Kai-Hua Chow, Ph.D., National University of Singapore (Singapore). SLAS Technology (Translating Life Sciences Innovation) was previously published (1996-2016) as the Journal of Laboratory Automation (JALA). Follow SLAS on Twitter at @SLAS_Org. Follow SLAS on Facebook at SocietyforLaboratoryAutomationandScreening. Follow SLAS on YouTube at SLASvideo. Follow SLAS Americas on LinkedIn at Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS Americas). Follow SLAS Europe on LinkedIn at Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening Europe (SLAS Europe). Changes in Arctic hydrology systems may lead to more flash flooding and landslides can lead to a significant increase in the amount of sediment carried in rivers and streams AMHERST, Mass. - Scientists know that the Arctic is warming faster than any other region, and this is associated with greatly reduced extent and seasonal persistence of sea-ice. Now a team of geoscientists has launched studies to investigate "a new hydrological regime" there, which means more rain than snow, especially in fall and spring, and possible increases in flash flooding, and earth moving over frozen ground on steep slopes with the risk of catastrophic slope failure. Climate scientists Raymond Bradley, Distinguished Professor and director of the Climate System Research Center at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Michael Retelle at Bates College, Lewiston, Maine, say they suspect that recent conditions in the Arctic are unique in the last 1,000 years. The two have received a three-year, $760,430 grant from the National Science Foundations' Office of Polar Programs to support their research into newly emerging conditions on the island of Svalbard in the Norwegian Arctic. UMass Amherst will receive about $502,000 and Bates' Retelle, an alumnus of the UMass Amherst geosciences program, will receive just over $258,000. The researchers point out that changes such as more flash flooding and landslides can lead to a significant increase in the amount of sediment carried in rivers and streams, plus a change in their characteristic grain size, changes that are recorded by sediments deposited in lakes. They will study lake sediments in western Svalbard to identify the sedimentary signature of recent changes. They will then use this to reconstruct the long-term history of rainfall-related sedimentary events to determine when similar conditions may have prevailed in the past. Bradley, an expert in using lake-bed sediment core samples to reconstruct past climate conditions, says, "We plan to use cores of lake sediments as a sort of tape recorder of how the climate and hydrology of the region have changed over time, to give us a long-term perspective on modern conditions. We expect future changes in climate will result in more rainfall and this may lead to additional flooding and landslides, creating dangerous conditions for communities in the Arctic. Svalbard has already started to see such changes, but other regions will likely be affected in the future as sea ice disappears and warmer conditions set in." As he explains, the type and amount of sediment transported to lakes carries with it information about weather and hydrological conditions in the lake watershed. The researchers plan to use sediment traps, micro-analytical techniques for high-resolution grain-size analysis, and to detect and measure single-year summer/winter deposits known as varves. They will also use scanning electron microscope image analysis to reconstruct rainfall-driven sedimentary events. They plan to obtain grain-size profiles using a laser particle-size analyzer to compare them with observed hydro-climatic events and other records. In this way, they will be able to directly link high-magnitude rainfall events to sedimentary characteristics and apply that understanding to the long-term varved records, Retelle points out. "This will provide a unique perspective on the nature of recent sedimentary changes and provide insight into the effects of contemporary changes in climate on the hydrological regime of this region." Their results should have implications for other parts of the Arctic where sea ice is rapidly receding, the researchers add. The research will include contributions from a postdoctoral researcher, undergraduates from UMass Amherst and Bates College and a teacher from the Arctic Research Consortium of the United States Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating (PolarTREC) program. It allows U.S. teachers to spend three to six weeks in hands-on field research in polar regions so they then may incorporate Arctic earth science activities into their classes. Retelle and Bradley say the work will also contribute to an important Arctic science initiative in Norway known as the Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing System, supported by that country's Research Council. ### With vector-borne diseases posing an increasing public health threat to communities in South Florida and elsewhere, a new study led by public health researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine has revealed that ornamental bromeliad plants contribute to breeding of the Aedes aegypti mosquito--a key culprit for the Zika outbreak that hit Miami-Dade County and other areas of Florida and the Americas in 2016. In addition to Zika, bites from the Aedes aegypti mosquito can cause dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya. Zika has been linked to microcephaly and other birth defects in unborn babies when pregnant women contract the disease. The family of diseases linked to the Aedes aegypti can cause other severe symptoms, and yellow fever can be fatal. The study, published in the journal Parasites & Vectors, showed that water retained in the bromeliads' leaf axils becomes breeding sites for mosquitoes. The study titled "Ornamental bromeliads of Miami-Dade County, Florida Are Important Breeding Sites for Aedes aegypti," also showed that the Aedes aegypti was the most dominant species of mosquito in the study's test sites. "In South Florida, there were older reports that bromeliads contributed to mosquito breeding, but supporting evidence was minimal," said the study's lead author John Beier, Sc.D., a world-renowned Miller School entomologist, professor of public health sciences and director of the Division of Environmental and Public Health. A variety of bromeliads are common throughout South Florida and are a popular choice for landscaping projects since they do not require much care. Beier urged against destroying the plants but said the new knowledge on the plant's role in mosquito breeding will help tailor mosquito control efforts. "People should be aware that bromeliads are producing mosquitos so that they can treat the plants," he said. In collaboration with Miami-Dade County Mosquito Control, the researchers surveyed ornamental bromeliads for the presence of immature mosquitoes at 51 locations across 11 neighborhoods in Miami-Dade, including three neighborhoods (South Beach, Little River and Wynwood) where the Zika virus was reportedly transmitted. The plants were surveyed during the summer of 2017. Researchers drained the reservoirs of the plants and screened the water for larvae. The plants yielded a total of 765 immature mosquitoes from five species: Aedes aegypti, Wyeomyia mitchellii, Wyeomyia vanduzeei, Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex biscaynensis. "Aedes aegypti was the most abundantly collected species, as well as the most present, contrasting with previous studies, which do not consider bromeliads as important potential breeding sites for Aedes aegypti, including for South Florida," said study co-author Andre Barretto Bruno Wilke, Ph.D. a post doctoral research associate with the Miller School's Department of Public Health Sciences. Beier added that the dominant presence of the Aedes aegypti mosquito was unexpected since the mosquito did not have as great a presence in bromeliads in prior years. As more diseases caused by the Aedes aegypti mosquito emerge, Beier said that more research and operational control should be focused on the highly-adaptive mosquito. "The larger problem is with the Aedes aegypti, not the disease," he said. The Miami-Dade County Mosquito Control and Habitat Management has greatly intensified vector-mosquito suppression efforts since the Zika outbreak in 2016. UM has been a major partner in research, including mosquito mapping, surveillance and trapping. The collaboration is supported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Similar to the sudden Zika outbreak in 2016, researchers said vector-borne diseases are spreading to new areas due to urbanization, human movement and global warming. "Changes in the environment made by humans have a substantial impact on the ecology of mosquitoes, mainly due to a decrease in the number of species and an increase in the abundance of Aedes aegypti," said Barretto Buno Wilke. "As a result, Aedes agypti becomes more present and can be found in greater numbers." ### HOUSTON - Using a targeted therapy to block a protein that suppresses T cell activity could improve cancer treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors, researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center report today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. The team showed that EZH2 is elevated in immune T cells in patients after treatment with ipilimumab, a drug that unleashes an immune response by blocking the activity of CTLA-4 on T cells, white blood cells that serve as the targeted warriors of the adaptive immune system. "Immune checkpoint therapy has led to significant clinical responses in some patients but in order to provide benefit to even more patients, we will need rationally designed combination therapies," said senior author Padmanee Sharma, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Genitourinary Medical Oncology and Immunology. "Our studies show that anti-CTLA-4 therapy can lead to increased EZH2 expression in T cells, which can act to diminish T cell responses," Sharma said. Preclinical research in mouse models showed that combination therapy using a drug that inhibits EZH2 and ipilimumab improved T cell responses, tumor rejection and extended survival. MD Anderson researchers have translated these findings into the clinic, with a phase I clinical trial of the combination open this spring. First clue in ipilimumab-treated patients The team's research began with an observation in Sharma's lab with experiments conducted by first author Sangeeta Goswami, M.D., Ph.D., who was studying patient samples from a clinical trial of ipilimumab. Sharma's team, working through MD Anderson's Immunotherapy platform, examined samples from bladder cancer, prostate cancer and melanoma patients taken before and after treatment to analyze changes in immune activity. Goswami found EZH2 levels in patients' T cells elevated after treatment with ipilimumab and that increase was correlated in prostate cancer patients with cancer progression as measured by prostate specific antigen levels. EZH2 is known to work epigenetically, repressing genes by regulating a histone protein to stabilize expression of a transcription factor in regulatory T cells that act to suppress immune response. To better understand the consequences of EZH2 elevation, Goswami, Sharma and colleagues conducted a series of lab experiments. They were the first to show that EZH2 inhibition enhances the function of effector T cells (CD8+ and CD4+ T cells). Goswami ran a series of tests on four different inhibitors and showed for the first time that CPI-1205 had the greatest effect suppressing T cell differentiation into regulatory T cells. Follow-up experiments showed that EZH2 inhibition forced regulatory T cells to lose their suppressive capacity, changing their phenotype to effector-like T cells. Additionally, mice genetically altered to lack EZH2 on their regulatory T cells had significant tumor regression compared to control mice after inoculation with a bladder cancer cell line. They also had elevated levels of CD8-positive T cells in and around their tumors Connection with anti-CTLA-4 T cells are activated by CD28, a co-stimulatory molecule that fires up the cells once their T cell receptor has connected with an antigen target. CD28 also turns on CTLA-4, an immune checkpoint. The team hypothesized that blocking CTLA-4 with ipilimumab results in exaggerated CD28 signaling that increases EZH2 in T cells. By examining T cells collected before and after treatment with ipilimumab for bladder, melanoma and prostate cancer patients, the team found increased EZH2 expression in effector T cells and regulatory T cells after treatment. Among prostate cancer patients, elevated EZH2 in those T cells was correlated with PSA-measured tumor progression. Combination thwarts tumor growth Treatment with the ipilimumab and CPI-1205 combination caused major reductions in tumor growth, significantly increased survival, reduced the percentage of regulatory T cells and increased tumor-penetrating effector cells compared to treatment with either drug alone in two types of mice, one that develops bladder cancer and one with melanoma. Treating mice that have EZH2 knocked out with ipilimumab resulted in complete tumor rejection by the immune system. No immune-related toxicities were observed in mice treated with the combination. The phase I clinical trial at MD Anderson is a safety and dosing trial that treats patients with advanced tumors with either combination of CPI-1205 and ipilimumab or CPI-1205 and pembrolizumab, which blocks PD1, a different immune checkpoint. ### Co-authors with Sharma and Goswami are Jan Zhang, Swetha Anandhan, Liangwen Xiong, Ph.D., Ana Aparicio, M.D., and Sumit Subudhi, M.D., Ph.D., of Genitourinary Medical Oncology; Irina Apostolou, Ph.D., Jill Skepner, and Patrick Trojer, Ph.D., of Constellation Pharmaceuticals; Xuejun Zhang, M.D., and Hao Zhao, Ph.D., of MD Anderson's Immunotherapy Platform; and Jim Allison, Ph.D., of Immunology. Anandhan is a graduate student in the MD Anderson/UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Sharma serves on the scientific advisory board of Constellation Pharmaceuticals, which makes CPI-1205. She has consulted for Bristol-Myers Squibb, which makes ipilimumab, known commercially as Yervoy. Funding for this research was provided by the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and a grant from the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health (RO1CA163793). this news is not available Former Democratic Republic of Congo vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba has arrived in Belgium after being acquitted on appeal of war crimes, the International Criminal Court said Friday. The one-time rebel leader, who had already spent a decade behind bars, was released provisionally under specific conditions, the Hague-based court said in a statement. In a surprise decision, judges last week overturned the 2016 verdict against Bemba and quashed his 18-year prison sentence, saying he could not be held criminally liable for crimes committed by his troops in the Central African Republic in 2002-2003. According to a source close to the case, Bemba left the ICC detention centre on Wednesday but remained under the supervision of the court pending approval from Belgian authorities for him to join his wife and children in Brussels. A lawyer for Bemba confirmed that he was in the country. Bembas wife and children are believed to be living in a villa in the suburb of Rhode-Saint-Genese, some 15 kilometres south of Brussels, where he was originally arrested in May 2008 at the ICCs request. Judges had initially found Bemba guilty on five counts of warcrimes and crimes against humanity committed by his private army during a five-month rampage in the neighbouring CAR where they committed murder, rape and looting. The 18-year sentence was the longest ever to be handed down by the court and was the first trial to determine whether a military commander bore responsibility for the conduct of troops under his control. Bembas interim release relates to a separate case in which he was handed a one-year jail sentence and fined 300,000 euros ($350,000) in 2017 for bribing witnesses during his main war crimes trial. He lost an appeal against that sentence and the ICC is yet to decide on a new jail term, which carries a maximum of five years. Hardly any countries are as well connected as Switzerland. That is why Christa Markwalder believes that an active foreign policy is so important. The 42-year-old politician has just taken over the presidency of the Swiss Society for Foreign Policy. swissinfo.ch: What are the main challenges for Switzerlands foreign policy? Christa Markwalder: The whole world is changing. After decades of establishing democracy in the countries of the former Eastern bloc, were now witnessing new autocratic tendencies. Under Donald Trump, the United States is experiencing a volatile, if not chaotic, presidency. An increasing number of non-state actors are getting involved in todays conflicts and wars, and proxy wars are being waged. Christa Markwalder Christa Markwalder has represented the centre-right Radical Party in the House of Representatives since 2003. She is a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, which she presided over in 2010/2011, and advocates for bilateral relations such as with the US Congress or the British and Ukrainian parliaments. She was president of the House of Representatives in 2015/2016 and held the presidency of the New European Movement Switzerland, which advocates for Switzerlands membership of the EU, from 2006 to 2014. In 2015 Markwalder was at the centre of a scandal involving Kazakhstan lobbying in the Swiss parliament. swissinfo.ch: So Switzerland needs to find its way and place in a pretty chaotic world? C.M.: Yes. Switzerland can play an active role by using Geneva as an international platform to bring conflict parties together. Not only do we advocate for peace, we also support economic development. Swiss companies are among the biggest direct investors abroad, which creates jobs in the respective countries. We have also achieved a lot with our dual education system, which is a sort of Swiss export commodity. swissinfo.ch: The best foreign policy is having no foreign policy at all. This has been the Swiss doctrine for generations. C.M.: This has never been true and does not represent the past and present reality. Switzerland is one of the most globalised countries in the world. For this reason, its important that Switzerland pursues an active foreign policy. swissinfo.ch: There is also a notion that foreign policy makers are few and far between in Switzerland. C.M.: This could be inherent in the system. Foreign policy covers a lot of different issues, which makes it more abstract than other policy areas. A foreign policy maker is perceived to be less useful to the voters than a parliamentarian devoted to education, environmental issues or a particular transport infrastructure. swissinfo.ch: Are the Swiss actually interested in foreign policy issues? C.M.: Very much so, and they are very well informed. Our system of direct democracy requires voters to regularly obtain information about legislative proposals that are somewhat related to foreign policy, which they decide on at the ballot box. swissinfo.ch: This suggests that the people have the final say when it comes to foreign policy issues in Switzerland. Could this be why the mantra of the new foreign affairs minister Ignazio Cassis is foreign policy is always domestic policy too? C.M.: Absolutely. On the one hand, domestic policy proposals are increasingly affected by foreign policy. Im thinking of the corporate tax reform III, which was rejected by voters in 2017, and the Federal Councils tax proposal 17. Its not simply a domestic issue. This proposal is directly linked to international and European fiscal tendencies. On the other hand, the publics support is crucial to achieve our foreign policy goals. Only if the voters reject initiatives which isolate Switzerland regarding its foreign affairs will we be able to make successful foreign, economic and regional policies. swissinfo.ch: But isnt there a risk that foreign policy could simply be viewed as a branch of domestic policy? C.M.: In our globalised world it is no longer possible to clearly separate domestic and foreign policies. Such a separation seems contrived. swissinfo.ch: Lets stay with globalisation. One of Switzerlands fortes in foreign policy seems to be its international network. C.M.: Switzerland is internationally well connected, which is reflected in our trade figures. Goods and services amounting to around CHF1 billion ($1 billion) pass through our borders every single day. Switzerland also organises the most multinational conferences per capita in the world and is active in multilateral forums. Recently, I was part of a Swiss parliamentary delegation at the UN headquarters in New York where I had the chance to talk to the Swiss representatives and discuss the issues Bern prioritises in the UN General Assembly. swissinfo.ch: Does Switzerland have any other strengths in foreign policy? C.M.: Another great asset is certainly its neutrality as we interpret it today. Neutrality no longer means passivity as it used to. Nowadays it is much more about playing an active role in mediation processes and peace negotiations as well as promoting and protecting human rights. Switzerland is also a well-respected protection force. This reflects the huge prestige and respect Switzerland enjoys, not least because it has never been a colonial power. It was pretty much unharmed during the world wars, it does not pursue an aggressive foreign policy and it has no hidden agenda. swissinfo.ch: Regarding Switzerlands relationship with the European Union, outsiders could think that the government lacks a coherent foreign policy strategy. C.M.: When it comes to the EU, we constantly adapt our strategy to the latest developments, whereby the focus is more on whats feasible rather than on whats desirable. Switzerland has a constitutional basis for its foreign policy which expresses our values and solidarity with people in poor countries. Ignazio Cassiss predecessor, Didier Burkhalter, also defined the Swiss foreign policy strategy for the period 2016-2019. swissinfo.ch: Today is the 50th anniversary of the Swiss Society for Foreign Policy and you are taking over its presidency. How would you like to see foreign policy develop, also in your position as a parliamentarian? C.M.: I think Switzerland should defend its values at home and abroad. It should play an active role, participate and realise its rights, opportunities and chances. Switzerland should come across as self-confident and use its Swiss charm. We have many strengths and qualities, and we should not hide them. When it comes to negotiations, we should never compromise right at the beginning of the talks. Only if its absolutely necessary, should we offer compromises at the end. The Swiss Society for Foreign Policy is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Since its formation in 1968, it has advocated for an open Switzerland. The cross-party and non-profit organisation seeks to promote interest in Swiss foreign policy and bring it closer to the broader public. it regularly organises public briefing events on current foreign policy issues. The stock market boom boosted personal financial wealth around the globe by 12% last year to the benefit of Switzerland. It is still the worlds biggest centre for managing offshore wealth at $2.3 trillion (CHF2.3 trillion). Figures revealed in a Boston Consulting Group report published on Thursday put the country ahead of Hong Kong ($1.1 trillion) and Singapore ($900 billion). The Swiss sum is the equivalent of almost one third of all global overseas wealth. The two Asian centres have grown at yearly rates of 11% and 10% respectively over the past five years, compared with the 3% rate of Switzerland. Over the next five years, offshore wealth seems likely to continue growing at a (compound annual growth rate) of roughly 5% per year, the report stated. Large wealth managers including Swiss banks UBS and Credit Suisse are increasingly looking into Asian market because Swiss banking secrecy has been weakened. Haven of stability Experts had expected that stronger transparency rules and the automatic exchange of information would harm offshore wealth in Switzerland more, according to Swiss public television, SRF. But the country appears to have profited from the current geopolitical uncertainty, Matthias Naumann from Boston Consulting told SRF. In these times, rich clients are looking for havens of stability for parts of their wealth, he explained. Switzerland offers financial and political stability as well as legal certainty, privacy protection and access to financial markets. Switzerland does well in all these criteria, Naumann said. The majority of the overseas wealth in Switzerland comes from Germans, the French and the Saudis. Reaction The flow of overseas wealth to Switzerland had come in for much criticism in past years, due to concerns over tax evasion. Andreas Missbach from the non-profit Public Eye is now less critical. Compared with earlier times, there is now a lot of money in Switzerland which has not been subject to tax evasion, he told SRF. This is because Switzerland has signed agreements for the automatic exchange of information with around 40 countries. This should be extended to other countries, especially developing nations, Missbach said. A Swiss court on Friday slapped a 20-month suspended sentence on an official of a prominent Islamic group for alleged production and distribution of jihadist propaganda but acquitted its leader. The three Islamic Central Council of Switzerland (ICCS) suspects included the groups head Nicolas Blancho and spokesman Qaasim Illi, who were both acquitted. But German national Naim Cherni, the head of the councils culture production department, was sentenced. He had travelled to Syria in 2015 and made films there with a known Islamist leader. Abdallah Al-Muhaysini of the jihad umbrella organisation Jaysh al-Fath (Army of Conquest). The films, which prosecutors say amounted to jihadist propaganda, were promoted via social media and at a public event by Blancho, Illi and Cherni, they had said. Blancho, who converted to Islam at age 16, has in the past denied being tied to extremism but has staked out positions considered more radical than other Muslim leaders in Switzerland. The ICCS has previously said that the videos Cherni made in Syria have nothing to do with Al-Qaeda and were intended to raise awareness among Muslims about the conflict in the country. In an email to AFP earlier, Illi said the attorney general was pushed by an Islamophobic social wave (and) is trying to defame Switzerlands largest Islamic grassroots organization by its fabricated claim. He said the ICCS had nearly 4,000 members, representing about one percent of Muslims in Switzerland. The Syrian conflict has claimed more than 350,000 lives and displaced millions since 2011. 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. US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis assailed Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, accusing him of attacking western democracy and trying to break up NATO. Mattiss remarks came just hours after President Donald Trump repeated his assertion that Russia should be invited back into the G7 group of industrialized nations, from which it was kicked out for annexing Crimea in 2014, an event he blamed on his predecessor Barack Obama. For the first time since World War II, Russia has been the nation that has redrawn international borders by force of arms in Georgia and Ukraine, while pursuing veto authority over their neighbors diplomatic, economic and security decisions, Mattis said at a US Naval War College graduation ceremony in Rhode Island. Putin seeks to shatter NATO. He aims to diminish the appeal of the western democratic model and attempts to undermine Americas moral authority. The Pentagon chief added that Putins actions were designed not to directly challenge Americas military prowess, but rather to undercut and compromise our belief in our ideals. Earlier Friday, Trump said Russia should be invited back to the negotiating table with other industrialized countries. A few years ago, Putin was in what was called the G8. I think its better to have Russia in, than to have Russia out, Trump told reporters. Because just like North Korea, just like somebody else, its much better if we get along with them than if we dont. So its possible. The voice recording of the late astrophysicist Stephen Hawking beamed towards a black hole Friday came from a speech imploring humanity to save Earth, according to the European Space Agency (ESA). It is a very emotional passage, ESA senior science advisor Mark McCaughrean told AFP. He was not talking about going out to the stars to save humankind, he was talking about saving the planet. The recorded excerpt of Hawkings familiar synthesised voice set to music from Greek composer Vangelis was dispatched from a 35-metre radio dish outside Madrid as the famed stargazer was laid to rest in Londons Westminster Abbey alongside science giants Issac Newton and Charles Darwin. We pointed the dish at the nearest black hole to Earth, known as 1A 0620-00, McCaughrean said. It will take about 3,500 light years for the signal to get there. Its a symbolic gesture, he added, noting that the signal will be very weak by the time it arrives. Hawking, whose bestsellers on the Universe made him a household name, died in March at the age of 76 after a lifetime of groundbreaking discovery. We are happy to play a small part in honouring his family. It has been a pleasure to work with them, McCaughrean said. As part of an ongoing effort to promote peace and freedom among nations and people, the Winds of Freedom Foundation Team has spanned the globe visiting hallowed ground from Jerusalem to Pearl Harbor; from Normandy, France to St. Petersburg, Russia; from Arlington National Cemetery to a Russian World War II Monument in Irkutsk, Siberia. Great commemorations such as the 50th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor and D-Day and the beautiful Basilicas and Churches of Nazareth and Jerusalem in the Holy Land stand as powerful guideposts in the struggle of peace, love, faith and freedom. In a series short videos created for the WOF Foundation by E.B. GO Vision Media, those events and places have been showcased to enhance the primary showpiece, the Winds of Freedom Symphonic Documentary Movie created by produced by Alex Azyin. Originally conceived as a full-length symphony, it was transformed in 2016 into movie format at the same Azyin established the foundation whose primary mission is to advocate for peace and freedom. "E.G. GO Vision Media hit the mark and did yeoman's service in creating these short and sharp videos that nicely compliment the overall program and vision of the Winds of Freedom Foundation, I mean, our team was rather surprised at how they combined message with music that caught the heart of our purpose on many different levels, all we could say was WOW and well done," says Alex Ayzin, founder of the Winds of Freedom Foundation. The first four videos are commemorative event and shrine videos, while below that are two new videos that detail the history of the Winds of Freedom Project and a new collaboration with IFERS, the Institute for Education, Research & Scholarships: Holy Land Pilgrimage with Winds of Freedom Team Documenting & Participating with 750 Christians from 61 Countries Led by TLIG's Vassula Ryden & 107 Clergy from 20 Different Denominations: Songs are Rain of Light by Sky Mubs, Lumina by Kkev Music Production, The Fire Within and Lachrimae 50th Anniversary of D-Day with Winds of Freedom Attending at Portsmouth, England & Normandy, France on June 5 & 6, 1994: Songs are Argonaut by Jo Blankenburg & Warlords by Paul Dinletir 50th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor with Winds of Freedom Team on Hand in Hawaii on December 6 & 7, 1991: Songs are Phoenix Rising (No Choir) by Paul Dinletir & Uprising by Kevin Rix Team Members of Winds of Freedom at Shrines of Sacrifice Arlington National Cemetery & Leningrad Memorial Cemetery: Song is The Gift of Love by Phil Rey Winds of Freedom & How & Why Alex Ayzin Created the Symphonic & the Documentary Symphonic Movie: Songs are Russian Sailor's Dance from The Red Poppy by Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy, & The Final Sacrifice, Kkev Music Production IFERS & Winds of Freedom Foundation Have Formed a Working Alliance to Create Fund Raising Events & Opportunities: Songs are 11 Days in Hell by Kevin Rix & Sands of Time by Paul Dinletir For more info go to http://www.IFERS.org or https://www.WindsofFreedom.org or contact E.B. GO Vision Media at EBGOVM@pm.me . About Winds of Freedom Foundation: WOF is a world peace initiative launched with symphonic multimedia presentations inspired and produced by Alex Ayzin in a quest to promote peace and harmony among nations. Originally conceived as a full-length symphony, it was later combined with video to create a media event that celebrates life, teaches history, inspires peace and hopes for a brighter future. Global Peace and Universal Love Among All Humanity is Our Highest Goal Winds of Freedom Foundation is a non-profit 501(c) (3) corporation dedicated to achieving world peace, including the presentation of a spectacular multi-media concert event celebrating man's struggle for peace and freedom over the last hundred years, with riveting images of the human quest against oppression set against a backdrop of music from one of Russia's finest composers, Emilian Sichkin. The WOF program is a dazzling symphony of music set against breathtaking historical footage of the defining moments of our century, and words from world leaders and celebrities of our times, together in a magnificent multimedia presentation dedicated to peace among all nations and peoples. It is a synthesis of music, vision, performance and humanity celebrating the spirit of hope, courage and cultural harmony. Alex Ayzin's has brought together a combination of efforts from a diverse group of international talents to communicate the shared goals of peace and freedom. Emilian Sichkin's brilliant eight-part symphony allows for numerous multimedia versions to be created depending on the news of the day. About IFERS: Established in 2004, the Institute for Education, Research, and Scholarships (IFERS) is an award-winning California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity organization dedicated to improving society by providing resources to high achieving students, scientific researchers, community nonprofit projects, and educational organizations. We believe in changing the world for the better through education, research, and scholarships. Our ultimate goal is to create a better world with lasting peace, prosperity, and universal rights for all. Exxon Mobil Corp. is joining the race to build pipelines across Texas to deliver crude from the booming Permian Basin to refining and port hubs near Houston. Exxon Mobil, headquartered in Irving, said it plans to create a joint venture with Houstons Plains All American Pipeline to construct a multibillion-dollar line that would stretch from west of Midland to the Houston and Beaumont areas and carry more than 1 million barrels of oil and condensate a day. Energy analysts said the project could easily carry a $2 billion price tag. Exxon Mobils expansion in the pipeline business illustrates the growing need for new pipeline capacity in West Texas as companies try to alleviate bottlenecks that are making it difficult to get the Permian record oil production to market. The Permian is churning out more than 30 percent of the nations 10.7 million barrels of daily output, but pipeline constraints are forcing companies to discount their oil by as much as $10 a barrel because they cant guarantee its delivery to the Gulf Coast and international buyers. Exxon Mobil last year doubled its Permian acreage by acquiring holdings of the Bass family of Fort Worth in a $6.6 billion deal. The company said it plans to triple its oil and gas production in the Permian by 2025, while also spending more than $2 billion on transportation and terminal upgrades in West Texas, including expanding its crude oil terminal in Wink. The joint venture pipeline with Plains would originate in Wink. It wasnt immediately clear whether this project will be funded from that $2 billion pool. Pipelines arent usually a primary focus for Exxon Mobil, but it has found an expert partner in Plains All American, said Brian Youngberg, a senior energy analyst at Edward Jones in St. Louis. The Permian is a big growth vehicle for them, so it makes sense to have a stake in the pipelines from there, Youngberg said of Exxon Mobil. They want to know they have their own capacity to get the oil out. Exxon Mobil, which has disappointed investors and analysts recently, is pushing to increase production, improve profits and diversify globally. It is investing billions in its petrochemical business and developing offshore oil and gas fields in the waters of the South American nation Guyana. Exxon Mobil said Tuesday it recently began drilling for its Liza Phase 1 off the coast of Guyana. In the Permian, the project with Plains could be completed in 2020 at the earliest. In the meantime, Houstons Enterprise Products Partners just finished its 416-mile Midland-to-Sealy crude pipeline into the Houston area. Most of the other major crude pipeline projects are directed toward Corpus Christi,, where the port is becoming a hub for exports. Plains, which currently owns the only major pipeline that runs from the Permian to Corpus Christi, also plans to complete an additional pipeline system - Cactus II - by late 2019. As for other projects, San Antonio-based EPIC Midstream Holdings is moving forward with the 730-mile EPIC Crude Oil Pipeline projects to carry oil and natural gas liquids from the Permian to Corpus. Likewise, Houstons Phillips 66 said it is moving forward with its planned Gray Oak Pipeline to carry crude from West Texas to Corpus Christi, Sweeny and Freeport. WASHINGTON Imagine this storyline: One of the largest oil companies in the world becomes the victim of a left-wing conspiracy, funded by wealthy liberals who convince Democratic attorneys general across the nation to sue the company to stop it from offering different views about climate change. What sounds like the stuff of a bad Hollywood thriller is, in fact, the narrative Exxon Mobils attorneys are telling as they seek to defend the company from mryiad lawsuits and investigations into what oil companies knew about climate change and when they knew it. With a surprising procedural victory in a Texas court recently, Exxon is attempting to gain greater latitude in what it and other oil companies can say or not say about climate change and the impact on their businesses, seeking to build on legal rulings that have expanded corporations rights of free speech in recent years, legal scholars say. The U.S. government has long limited First Amendment protections for corporations, prohibiting them from making false statements to further business interests a staple of U.S. consumer protection laws going back to the days of snake-oil salesmen peddling so-called magic elixirs. But Exxons case could test how far the courts are willing to go to uphold governments ability to regulate commercial speech. Exxon is arguing that the state and local governments suing the company have gone too far, trying to impose an Orwellian code of conduct to drown out those who call attention to uncertainties about how climate change will play out over the long term and affect the global economy. Exxon is framing (climate change) as a legitimate political debate in which they are a participant, rather than a for-profit company trying to make a buck, said Tamara Piety, a law professor at University of Tulsa. There has been a growing movement (among corporations) to raise the First Amendment. If something can be proven to be unconstitutional its completely off the table Over the past two decades, companies have successfully used the free speech strategy to challenge government regulations on everything from the placement of workplace signs explaining employee rights to the distribution of patients medical data. A key win for corporate America came in 2010 Citizens United case, when the Supreme Court ruled that limits on corporate spending in political campaigns violated companies free speech rights. Now Exxon is seeking to expand corporate rights one step further, arguing that the government legal action, based on the companys past statements, is little more than leverage to get oil companies to agree to a wide-arching climate change deal that would restrict what they can say about the issue in violation of of Exxon Mobils constitutional rights. That includes investigations launched by the New York and Massachusetts attorneys general into whether Exxon lied to shareholders and consumers about the risks of climate change to the environment and its business, and lawsuits filed by cities and counties in California and Colorado, which are seeking damages from Exxon and other oil companies for the costs of rising sea levels and increased wildfires. Exxon in January asked a state court in Fort Worth to order more than a dozen city and county officials from California to sit for depositions by Exxons attorneys to determine whether they are conspiring with plaintiffs attorneys and environmentalist activists to force Exxon into accepting a deal. A New York federal judge in March dismissed a similar request by Exxon to depose the New York and Massachusetts attorneys general, ruling it was based on extremely thin allegations and speculative inference, but the Texas judge, R.H. Wallace Jr., decided to give the company more room to prove its claim, ruling in April that Exxon could begin making requests to depose specific officials. Exxon declined to comment. But James Coleman, a law professor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and a contributor to the conservative Federalist Society, said Exxon, which has come out in support of the Paris climate accords and a national carbon tax, is simply protecting its First Amendment rights to communicate about climate change and the effects on its finances as it sees fit. Its an unusual claim (by Exxon) but it doesnt mean its wrong, he said. The government can make you give accurate information, but the government cant force you to say things you disagree with. For instance, the government couldnt make Exxon say climate change is the defining challenge of our time, even if they consider it a fact. San Francisco and other California communities are challenging Wallaces ruling in the Texas 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, potentially setting the case on a path to the Texas Supreme Court. And considering the political makeup of the states high court, Exxon stands a good chance of winning its argument, said Tom McGarity, a law professor at the University of Texas, who sits on an advisory board to the California plaintiffs. It presents a very sympathetic venue, he said. Its a pro-business Supreme Court. Conspiracy The case in Texas comes three years into a legal campaign against Exxon and other oil companies. In Exxons telling, it all stems from meeting of environmental activists in the beach town of La Jolla, California, in 2012. Activists and attorneys discussed a strategy for addressing climate change based on the tobacco lawsuits of the 1990s, which successfully argued tobacco companies were liable for smokers deaths because executives knew the risks but still claimed publicly they did not, according to an account of the meeting published by the Union of Concerned Scientists, an environmental group that helped organize the event If Exxon and other oil companies could be shown to have known the risks to health and safety of climate change but did nothing to warn the public and investors, then perhaps activists could create a groundswell of public outrage to change the political and economic landscape for oil companies, much as they had for tobacco companies. We wrote up a report so other lawyers and policymakers could pick up on those lessons (from tobacco) and use them, like you would any science you would hope is actionable, said Peter Frumhoff, head of policy and science at the Union of Concerned Scientists. The first tenet of good science is being transparent. But the activists also gave Exxon a potential weapon to counterattack. The companys lawyers have focused on one line in the Union of Concerned Scientists account, in which activists describe how they could could use litigation for maintaining pressure on the industry that could eventually lead to its support for legislative and regulatory responses to global warming. That game plan, Exxon lawyers said, was then adopted by government prosecutors, including former New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who recently resigned amid allegations of sexual abuse. Wallace, the Texas judge, agreed with the company lawyers, writing that environmentalists who attended the La Jolla meeting aimed to chill and suppress Exxon Mobils speech. California and Colorado officials dismiss Exxons legal maneuvers as little more than intimidation tactics aimed at frightening and bogging them down in paperwork. A spokesman for the New York Attorney Generals Office called Exxons strategy an attempt to distract and deflect from the facts at hand. Public opinion Within conservative circles, Exxons conspiracy message seems to be gaining traction. Earlier this year, David Bookbinder, an attorney with the libertarian Niskanen Center, filed suit against Exxon and the Canadian oil company Suncor, claiming they were responsible for the costs sustained by Colorado local governments in fighting wildfires and other effects of climate change. A few weeks later, he began seeing his name pop up on conservative websites, including the Daily Caller and one owned by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Articles suggested Bookbinder and his colleagues were part of a conspiracy funded by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, a New York charity with more than $800 million in assets that is overseen by the descendants of the late oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller, whose Standard Oil was the precursor to Exxon Mobil. The claim was based on a $200,000 grant the Niskanen Center received shortly before the Colorado lawsuit was filed. Bookbinder said the grant had nothing to do with the lawsuit and scoffed at the idea his plaintiffs were part of a conspiracy to damage Exxon. My clients dont want Exxon out of business, he said. Then they dont get paid. The Rockefeller Brothers Fund said in a statement that it does consider a willingness to take oil companies to court in awarding grants to climate activists. Litigation is one tool that can help to level the playing field by leaning into legal standards that are meant to serve the common good, the statement said. In its legal filings, Exxon maintains that the Rockefellers and the hedge fund billionaire Tom Steyer, who is funding a campaign to impeach President Donald Trump, are behind the wave of litigation. Exxon lawyers cited a $30,000 campaign donation Steyer made to a former mayor of San Francisco shortly before that city filed suit, as well as a Columbia Journalism School investigation into how Exxons past statements questioning climate science conflicted with what its scientists were saying internally. The Rockefeller Family Fund, another charity controlled by Rockefeller descendants, funded the Columbia investigation. Theres nothing illegal about using money to try to influence a companys behavior. But thats besides the point for Exxon. Just as climate activists succeeded in convincing more Americans that climate change is a large and growing threat, Exxon wants to promote the idea of a liberal conspiracy to undermine a fossil fuel industry that employs hundreds of thousands of people and literally fuels the U.S. and global economies. Exxon is now considering an appeal of a ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court that found the states attorney generals office had not violated the companys constitutional rights when it demanded the company turn over documents. Such an appeal would go to the U.S. Supreme Court, where Exxons success in convincing the public of its liberal conspiracy narrative could make the difference between winning and losing. I dont think the Supreme Court is completely oblivious to public opinion, said Piety, the Tulsa law professor, and the more Exxon can marshal public opinion, the better chance they have of convincing the courts. The so-called 'fight against radicalization' seen in Austria and across Europe in general, only encourages discrimination and alienates Muslims from society through a far more destructive form of radicalism, Daily Sabah writes in the article Austria emerges as Europe's leader in Islamophobia. Earlier this week, Austria's far-right prime minister, Sebastian Kurz, decided to shut down seven mosques and expel 40 imams from his country. The official reason given was that a play about the Battle of Gallipoli was staged at a mosque managed by the Turkish-Islamic Union for Cultural and Social Cooperation in Austria (ATIB) and Salafi control over the Arab Religious Community, which controlled the remaining six mosques. The imams, Austrian officials say, were expelled because they received financial support from abroad. It would appear that the Austrian government's controversial decision, which was based on the country's recently adopted "Islam Law," represents a beginning. In other words, there will be more of what just happened. Hailed as a step to "combat political Islam and radicalization," the decision was not surprising since Kurz has been calling for a fight against political Islam. Kurz is a known Islamophobe who pushed for a controversial headscarf ban at all levels of education, including universities, in April. Under his watch, his party, the Austrian People's Party (OVP), has moved away from its Christian Democrat roots and toward the far-right. Unsurprisingly, Kurz would like the European Union to terminate membership talks with Turkey. The fact that the government in Vienna dared to close mosques and deport dozens of imams without even paying lip service to their alleged "terror links" is a bad omen. First, however, let us talk about Austria's intentions. The controversial decision made by Kurz's government this week is part of a broader attempt to bring the Austrian Muslim community's religious life under state control. Officially, such efforts aim to prevent Muslim immigrants from coming under the influence of "radical Islam" in their native countries. In other words, this is an attempt to create an Austrian Islam in the name of "integration." The Austrian government wants to train imams at local universities and appoint them officially. As such, this is an attempt by the country with Europe's first "Islam Law" to take a concrete step toward the idea of "Euro-Islam." The problem with this approach, however, is that such decisions set in motion forces of exclusion rather than facilitate the integration of Muslims in Europe or Austria. It makes room for Islamophobia within the political mainstream in Europe, marginalizes politicians that stress the importance of multiculturalism and peaceful coexistence, and perpetuates a discriminatory and racist political atmosphere that excludes Muslims. As we all know, this "struggle" against "radicalism" leads to nothing but more "radicalism" in the end. Austria emerges as Europe's leader in the area of Islamophobia. European efforts to combat "radicalization" are misguided for a very obvious reason. Europeans seem to think that severing the Muslim community's links to their native countries is the answer. Immigrants from Tunisia or Turkey, however, won't become European, Germans or Austrians overnight because they have been deprived of their religious or national identity. Nor are Germans and Austrians eager to consider Muslims as Germans or Austrians. Quite the contrary, young people with no sense of belonging will be radicalized more easily. For example, the Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) has been an effective safeguard against radicalization among Turks in Europe. The Turkish community's frequent contacts with their native country prevent them especially conservative and religious individuals from isolating themselves from their host society in an attempt to protect their identity. The Austrian government, which is unsettled by a play about the Battle of Gallipoli today, might have to ask Turkey for help in the future when young people fall prey to radical movements. A policy that targets mosques, imams and the Islamic headscarf, in turn, won't just associate Islam with radicalism and terrorism. As this wave of far-right extremism and populism becomes stronger, cosmopolitan Europeans will be the next target and Europe will turn its back on its universal values. B&D Ice House haunts the corner of South Alamo and Cedar like its done for more than 50 years. But the barbecue part didnt happen until 2014, with brothers Jason and Jake Dady of Two Bros. BBQ Market and Friendly Spots Steve Newman joining forces to resuscitate the old guy. Lets be clear. B&Ds a dive. Small, sweaty, stained and smoky. Not the ironic kind of dive. For that, youd need some ironic detachment. And nothing detaches itself once you enter the sun-baked courtyard or the dim yellow lights of the bar, where the air conditioner strains loudly to keep up. On the other hand, what dive carries 15 beers on draft, cherry Kool-Aid and barbecue from a chef on a mission? Thats Jason Dady, who started with Two Bros., took on B&D and just last month turned his Bin Tapas Bar on Grayson Street into Alamo BBQ Co. Review: Brisket at Black Board Bar B Q makes 46-minute trip worth it More Information Location and hours: 1004 S. Alamo St., 210-225-9801, banddicehouse.com. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. Rating: A solid neighborhood option See More Collapse Grand champion: Were all piled on this crazy paper boat ride together, so we might as well enjoy it. The rides called Frito pie ($8). Take a pile of chips, a pile of sweet chopped brisket and a pile of cheese, then add sour cream and a ring of cherry tomatoes and just hang on. Great for inner child and outer adult alike. The trinity: Lean brisket runs the table here ($19.50 a pound), in part because it wasnt so lean that it turned to jerky. Fat weaved in and out like white lines on the brisket highway without driving right off the road, every bite lush and smoky without going over the top. I also ordered a half-pound of fatty brisket, unsliced. What I got was a half-pound burnt end. I like a burnt end. But a little goes a long way, and this one went too far. B&D sells sausage by the link for $2.75, a tightly wound link with a snap case and black pepper spice. After the Frito pie, its the best deal in the place. The Big Red pork baby back ribs ($15 a pound) seemed to have everything going for them: Good color, lustrous fat, solid lean, a glazed bark and good contact with the bone. But it was mostly for show, gilding for a rib that tasted as much like grilled pork loin as it did a specialty barbecued rib. More from the pit: Give B&D points for chicken and turkey, usually the unloved stepchildren of the pit. Turkey thrived beneath a salt and pepper bark, rising above the usual bleached-bland character of breast meat with moisture and light smoke ($15 a pound). The chicken worked because it worked with the best part, the thigh, hugged by a tight jacket of crispy golden skin to keep it juicy ($3 each). Sides: For $3 apiece, B&D puts out a few nice sides, including a sweet and crunchy mayo cole slaw, stewed beans with bacon and hardworking potato salad with the skins left on. What should have been the star green chile mac and cheese lost its sizzle beneath a sticky mass of mushy pasta. Sauce: B&Ds house sauce is barbecues answer to cocktail sauce in a squeeze bottle, with a lingering heat like horseradish, a heavy overlay of ketchup flavor and enough acidity to stand up to the sweetness. Its balanced, but its balancing on a high-wire of heat. Mavericks: Meet Bruno. Its a sandwich stuffed with half the sides, all the sauce and an avalanche of chopped brisket with floss, bark, fat and lean. Try to eat it like a sandwich. I dare you ($10; knife and fork free). msutter@express-news.net | Twitter: @fedmanwalking Very late one evening, Rachel Rubenstein stopped for gas on her way home from work. While she was pumping gas, a friendly German shepherd approached and jumped into her car when she opened the door. When she got home, the first thing she said to her husband, David, was, Youre going to be mad. I rescued a dog. But that comment was more of a running joke between husband and wife who have spent years helping stray dogs find their way home. Weve had lots of stray dogs come through our doors, and weve always gotten them back to their homes and not had to keep them long, either, David said. Its like we have hobo markings on our house that says were a safe place for lost dogs to come. I guess those markings are on their cars, too. Dogs just seem to know who they can ask for help. As for this dog, he was very sweet and knew several commands and waited for his leash, David said. Except for being a little skinny, you could tell this was a super-healthy, well-cared for dog. In fact, he looked better than my three dogs. David and Rachel share their home with an 11-year-old mastiff, an 8-year-old Labrador and a 7-year-old Catahoula leopard dog. David eventually drove the dog to a 24-animal hospital to get him scanned for a microchip and board him overnight while they searched for his owner. There was no microchip. The clinic required vaccinations and an exam costing $250 to board him. I was willing to pay it, but it meant staying there for another few hours, and I was already pretty tired, he says. So, he found another 24-hour animal hospital that agreed to board the dog without an examination or vaccinations, and suggested David post the dogs picture on the Facebook page Lost/Found Pets in San Antonio TX. David snapped a quick picture and posted it on Facebook and Nextdoor.com, the private social network for neighborhoods. Social media worked its magic overnight. The next morning, the owner was found. Apparently, 7-year-old Guni, who did have a collar and tag at one point, had been missing for a week. The owner, who could not be reached for comment, told David that he was getting Guni a microchip so he wouldnt have to go through the agony of missing him again. Microchips are a must, but I am also impressed with how social media is proving to be a valuable resource in helping lost pets find their way home. Every pet that makes it home is one less pet in need of a home. Send your pet questions, tips and stories to cathy@petpundit.com. You can read her Animals Matter blog at http://blog.mysanantonio.com/animals and follow her at @cathymrosenthal. Brianna Casiano skipped a lot of regular checkups as a kid growing up in the Harlandale Independent School District because her parents didnt have health insurance. Now a 19-year-old college student and aspiring pediatric nurse, she knows better than most that access to health care is limited in her part of town. Shell be a sophomore at the University of Texas at San Antonio in the fall, working on prerequisites for nursing school, and hopes to eventually work on the South Side. Youre supposed to help your people, Casiano said of the goals of a UTSA program that is helping her. Youre supposed to give back to where you came from. The South Side, like much of San Antonio, is a shortage area for health professions and its residents are medically underserved, said Roger Enriquez, director of policy studies center at UTSA. The center is using a $1.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to recruit high school students and train them for a health profession, in the hopes theyll return to their communities to practice. Now in its third year, the Pathway to Health Professions provides a summer enrichment program to students still in high school and counseling throughout college on the path to the degree required for their career choice. They also receive stipends and scholarships to offset the costs, Enriquez said. It has enrolled about 220 students so far. During the six-week summer program that started this week, students will study health problems that plague their own neighborhoods, such as obesity and drug use, Enriquez said. Casiano began the program in the summer before her first year of college and now works as a peer mentor to other beginners. San Antonio is rapidly growing but its demographics are stratified in a number of ways. Residents in the North and Northwest sides, where medical facilities and doctors are more plentiful, have a higher life expectancy, sometimes by about 20 years, than residents in the inner city and southern parts, the Bexar County Health Collaborative found. The collaborative noted county population projections that estimate one million more residents by 2050 compared to 2010, an increase of 56 percent. The growth rate is steepest among Hispanics, mirroring state and national trends. If we dont figure out how to move Latinos into the health professions, we will have a massive shortage of health professionals, Enriquez said. But kids in those same medically underserved areas are less likely to pursue a medical profession without help, studies show. The UTSA team found many area high school counselors dont understand the often long pathway for students pursuing such professions, and students in low-income households cant afford the admission process and might not have even thought about it, according to its grant proposal for the funding. Many of our students have little or no exposure to the multitude of health professions they could enter, the authors wrote. Casianos first exposure came when she was about 15 and her father was suddenly hospitalized for about a week with diverticulitis. She went from school to her fathers hospital room every day, she said, and would watch the nurses tend to him. I liked how the nurses comforted him and I wanted to do the same, Casiano said. Her parents have supported her career choice. Theyd always pushed her to go to college, as neither of them were able to, Casiano said. You dont want to be living how you do now, she recalls her mother and father saying. You dont have to live paycheck to paycheck. On Thursday, during the first week of the course, students took apart plastic hearts, lungs and other body parts from an anatomy model and studied tissue under microscopes. Casiano walked around, checking in on them. Kassandra Flores, 18, who just graduated from Judson High School, and Ana Aviles-Vargas, 17, who will be a senior at OConnor High School in the fall, gasped and their eyes widened when Flores squeezed the plastic heart, popping it open. This must be the superior vena cava, Flores said, pointing to the vein. Her professor, Dr. Jesus Garza Decanni, nodded approvingly as she described the four chambers and their functions. The program allows students access to tools he didnt have until he was in medical school, he said. Some of the summer classes even work with cadavers brought in sealed and kept moist in a body bag. They cost about $40,000. Closing the medical access gap in the city will improve health outcomes, Enriquez said. Long term, a single doctor in a disadvantaged area can have a $20 million impact on the economy, as residents are hired for jobs to fill the office, he said. We want to be part of creating solutions to these problems, Enriquez said. krista.torralva@express-news.net Two days after a human smuggling effort in North San Antonio was thwarted, federal officials remained tight-lipped about the status of the 54 undocumented immigrants found inside the air-conditioned tractor-trailer parked in an alleyway. On Thursday, Nina Pruneda, a spokeswoman for Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said Homeland Security Investigations was still working to determine which of the 54 immigrants would be considered as material witnesses in the criminal case against Gerardo Javier Carreon, 36, of Laredo, who authorities allege was driving the rig. Carreon was formally charged Wednesday with federal human smuggling violations. For those individuals not considered as material witnesses, their immigration cases will be determined on a case-by-case basis, Pruneda said. Related: Neighbors describe chaotic scene after more than 50 immigrants found in truck Carreon, who faces 10 years in prison if convicted, is scheduled to appear for a bond hearing Monday in federal court. He was arrested along with the immigrants Tuesday night near a neighborhood close to Loop 410 and Broadway. There were no fatalities, and only minor injuries were reported during a chaotic scene that included immigrants falling off rooftops in an attempt to escape and low-flying police helicopters scouring the area. Justin Tullius, an attorney and associate director of Refugee and Immigrant Center for Educational and Legal Services, said RAICES has heard from a number of U.S. citizens who are relatives of the tractor-trailer survivors, saying they do not know where their loved ones ended up. Weve communicated with two families in which survivors were already deported by ICE, he said. This shows the urgent need for access to counsel. Tullius said RAICES attorneys were not allowed access to any of the immigrants at the scene Tuesday. In most cases, he said, immigrants would have a right to speak with an immigration judge, unless they had a previous deportation. But he said every immigrant has the right to tell an officer if they are afraid to go back to their country. On Thursday, Shane Folden, Homeland Security Investigations special agent in charge, declined to discuss the case, citing the open criminal investigation. He did, however, reiterate comments he made at a Wednesday briefing, warning that human smuggling is a crime fueled by money and people, and the best way to stop the crime is to cut off the money. Last year, HSI seized $524 million in illicit currency and assets from criminals, he said. These are the incentives for this crime. Folden declined to discuss specifics regarding how the agency became aware of the tractor-trailer incident in San Antonio and referred all questions about the immigrants to the U.S. attorneys office. Human smuggling is a financially motivated crime that takes advantage of people and sometimes can kill them in the process, Folden said. Smugglers dont operate based on some national pride or any type of commitment to individuals, he said. They operate to make money. That is their sole purpose. They dont care about the commodity they are smuggling drugs, pencils or people. They are in it to take money. He said the way to stop human smuggling is not only to arrest people on the ground who are recruiting others to sneak people illegally into the United States, but to target the bigger fish. When you look at dismantling an organization, its not only one person, its identifying all of the people in the organizations, he said. We try not only to arrest, we try to work our way up the organizational level and disrupt the organization. The financial toll of human smuggling hits the individual the hardest, officials said, because they basically are at the mercy of what their smugglers tell them. The individual fees can vary, depending on where they are coming from, Folden said, adding that in general, people being smuggled into the United States might pay to be smuggled past Border Patrol checkpoints. But the farther they go, the more they pay. A Chinese person smuggled from somewhere in Europe will be a certain cost, compared with a Mexican national smuggled in from Tijuana, he said. Many times, a person being smuggled into the United States comes here to live with family. But that situation can spin into fraud or something worse, he said. You can have a human smuggling event turn into a human trafficking event, Folden said. Once across the border and into a stash house, Folden said the person could find the operator has decided that the money originally decided upon for the smuggling has changed. You can have the operator say instead of paying X, I need (more), and I wont release you until your family turns up with more money, he said. You also have instances where other organizations may go through and physically take the individuals and use them for their commodity. These organizations operate as if they were commodities and not people. Elizabeth Zavala is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of her stories here. | ezavala@express-news.net | @elizabeth2863 The morning after the historic meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, it was the talk of the steady stream of customers at the Korean Market on the Northeast Side. Most were surprised it actually took place; some said it was long overdue. Others couldnt believe the North Korean actually left the authoritarian confines of his country. It was really a shock that he came out, said Shin Soksun, owner of the well-stocked grocery story at 6210 Fairdale Dr. He probably realized Korea is the only country divided right now. He cant be like his daddy and granddaddy, he has to get out and see the world. Soksun, 59, grew up in Daejeon, South Korea, and has lived in the United States for 36 years. She opened the business to provide jobs for family members who immigrated to San Antonio. Among the aisles lined with all kinds of food, pressure cookers and even clothes, clerk Sung Jang was busy stocking shelves. He said negotiations between the the two nations was welcome news. We never imagined theyd meet, Jang, 40, said. We feel that were going to be reunited in a positive way. And maybe well have peace starting across the world. Over at All Nations Church, 1250 Holbrook, the Rev. Mickey Choi said church members prayed for that peace at their weekly prayer meeting Tuesday morning. Peace also was on the minds of the Korean community in Houston. Only two months ago, I was concerned that there was going to be a war with North Korea, said Hellen Chan, a businesswoman from Houston that just finished her mandate as president of the National Korean Women Association. But after the summit ended, Chang said her concerns turned into hope that this time there are going to be advancements and peace. I want peace for the Korean peninsula. She said she belongs to the first generation of immigrants from Korea who are old enough to have memories of the war that divided the peninsula into two countries. She was in her teens when the war began in 1950 and had now-deceased relatives who were separated and never saw each other again. Chang, who owns a trade business, said that Trump was great during the summit. He didnt act like he usually does; he was serious, so it gives me hope; I want to trust his judgment, she added. Her main concern, however, is that Kim may not keep his promise to denuclearize. Korean-American businessman John Cho, a senior vice president at Empire Tools in Houston, said he hadnt expected much to happen at the summit and that his expectations remained really low afterward. The fact that theyve met is a breakthrough, but well see how it goes from here, Cho said. Back in the Alamo City, Deukhee Gong, 49, director of the Korean American Cultural Center of San Antonio, said she was impressed to see Trump and Jong Un being cordial to one another. Maybe that was a good sign, Gong said. I was so happy and thrilled watching those two flags flying together. The cultural center, a nonprofit organization, shares Korean culture with the local community and offers help to agencies supporting North Korean refugees. Gong said that she hopes that the talks will help improve human rights in North Korea. Her foremost wish is that the agreement would stick and her husbands parents would get a chance to visit their birthplaces in North Korea before they die. We will keep praying, she said. Some were more cautious about expectations created by the conference. J.T. Kim, owner of Chas Market & Kitchen, 1431 Pine St., said he was also glad to hear about the summit, but wasnt keen on Trumps comment about possibly ending military maneuvers with South Korea. Kim, 62, said he served three years in the Korean Marines and took part in joint Team Spirit maneuvers with the U.S. military. Originally from Seoul, Kim said the denuclearization of North Korea is a great opportunity for the Korean peninsula, but pulling out the U.S. Army troops from South Korea is a bad idea. Dont stop the military exercises, said the owner of the East Side market, keep them going. Staff Writers Oliva P. Tallet and Alex Park contributed to this report. | vtdavis@express-news.net SAN ANTONIO - Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says the battle over the so-called bathroom bill is over, even though the legislation never became law in Texas. We won, Patrick told reporters Thursday at the Republican Party of Texas annual convention. This issue is settled. Patricks reasoning is that in the Republican Primary elections, 1.5 million people voted and about 90 percent of them supported a ballot question that asked whether they supported protecting the privacy of women and children when they go to the bathroom. There were dozens of non-binding questions on the Republican ballot. In 2017, the bathroom bill became a key point of contention during a special session of the Legislature. The Senate, which Patrick presides over, passed legislation that would have required people to use the bathroom that corresponds with the gender listed on their birth certificate. That would have prevented people who are transgender from using the bathrooms that they identify with. Critics said the legislation was a form of discrimination against people who are transgender, a charge Patrick, a Houston area Republican, repeatedly denied. "It does not discriminate against anyone," Patrick said back in August 2017 while defending the bill. "It's simply common sense, common decency and public safety to protect the women of the state of Texas." The bill never got very far in the Texas House, where Speaker Joe Straus opposed the legislation. In order for a bill to become law it has to pass both the House and the Senate and receive the governors support. Allen Blakemore, a chief strategist for Patricks campaign, said Republican primary support for the ballot items showed that there is a lot more Republican unity than critics want to believe on issues like the bathroom bill. He pointed out that 94 percent supported property tax reforms the Senate tried to pass and another 95 percent supported making ballot fraud a felony. Also, 85 percent believe the way the Texas Speaker of the House is picked should be changed. Far from hints of a civil war, in fact, there is strong agreement in the Republican Party of Texas on virtually every key issue, Blakemore said. Patricks comments on Thursday came during one of several brief appearances he made at the Republican Party of Texas convention, where he has a booth to greet party activists. The booth includes Patricks 1952 Chevy pickup truck that he uses in political ads. Patrick is scheduled to formally address the Republican Convention on Friday morning. jeremy.wallace@chron.com Twitter.com/JeremySWallace China will host Turkeys top diplomat in Beijing as part of an effort to advance their strategic relationship of cooperation, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced Wednesday. In recent years, the China-Turkey relations have been growing steadily, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said while announcing the trip. As Washington Examiner writes in the article China, Turkey to discuss strategic relationship of cooperation, Cavugsoglus trip comes amid Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans growing relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, while Russia and China are also mulling an expansion of their cooperation. In recent years, the China-Turkey relations have been growing steadily with frequent high-level exchanges, ever deeper economic and trade cooperation, colorful cultural and people-to-people exchanges and close communication and coordination on international and regional issues, Geng said. [The diplomats] will exchange views on bilateral ties, cooperation in various areas and international and regional issues. China stands ready to work with Turkey to move forward the China-Turkey strategic relationship of cooperation. Erdogan leads a key member of NATO, but disagreements with the U.S. over the counter-Islamic State strategy in Syria, combined with his authoritarian tilt and interest in purchasing Russian weapons systems, have strained the alliance. They have been an important NATO partner, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said of Turkey during a recent hearing. We need their behavior to reflect the objectives of NATO, and thats what were diligently working to do: to get them to rejoin NATO, in a way, with their actions, consistent with what were trying to achieve in NATO. And not take actions that undermine its efforts. Still, there are significant impediments to close partnership between Turkey and China, according to a former Turkish lawmaker and critic of Erdogan. While both parties look favorably toward increased economic relations, there are political tensions, especially concerning Beijings treatment of Uighurs and Ankaras role in recruiting Uighur jihadists as proxy fighters in Syria, Aykan Erdemir, a senior fellow at Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told the Washington Examiner. The Uighurs, as a Turkic and Muslim people, are a linguistic and religious minority in Communist China. They face severe repression in China, according to the latest State Department report on human rights. And Erdogans support for Uighur fighters in Syria has raised fears in Beijing of terrorist attacks upon their return to China. As long as Erdogans foreign policy is shaped by Islamism, there will be limits to Sino-Turkish cooperation, and economic and political relations will remain compartmentalized, Erdemir said. GREENWICH It looked like a high school graduation. About 300 people filled the student center, Greenwich High School Headmaster Chris Winters imparted advice, three seniors spoke and there were of course lots of pictures. Yet the ceremony celebrated just 44 seniors, ones who dont represent the majority of GHS students. Some are first-generation college students; others receive free or reduced-price lunches. All are members of AVID. The program, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, helps successful but disadvantaged students reach their potential and attend college. All 44 in this years class were accepted to college and together, earned more than $3 million in scholarships. One senior, Juan Fernandez, will go to Bostons Suffolk University and plans to study computer science. Fernandez said its important for rising seniors to not only understand AVID as a whole but also see how it can be a huge help their senior year, especially in securing financial aid. Were like underdogs in a town like Greenwich, he said. Not for much longer. It makes me proud to see him accepted to his top school and that hes going for the major he wants to in a career hes actually interested in, said his older sister, Monica, an AVID alumna also in attendance. For the students, teachers and members of AVIDs sponsoring group, Greenwich Alliance for Education, the celebration was marked by a sense of family. Dozens of AVID alumni home from college returned, including college graduate Orquidia Moreno, a member of the Greenwich High class of 2014. She said she feels proud to be one of the first AVID students to graduate because she can be an example. Now you can show them, Hey, I graduated, this is where Im at, she said. And to anybody whos younger, graduating now or still in high school in AVID, you can say to them, This is where youre going to be someday. Its possible for you. The alumni presence and their lasting friendships with other program members made an impression on rising high school senior Alison Colin. It opens up my eyes and shows me how joining this program was a really good decision, she said. AVID Site Counselor Mara Subach attributes the jump in AVID students, who must apply in eighth grade, to increased awareness, word of mouth and proof in results like Morenos. The program graduated 24 students last year. It has helped us further get the right students, now that theres more of an understanding, Subach said. Weve been trying to prove what AVID means and who it serves: its not an at-risk program for kids who dont do well. Rather, its for students who need an extra push, often into more rigorous classes. No one was pressuring me, either in my personal or home life, to do really well, Moreno said. AVID helped with that. It made me push myself so when I graduated I had something to show for it and people would pay for me to come to their university. Fernandez agreed. Since AVID pushed him to take harder classes, he feels more prepared for college. In college, however, students confront different problems, such as self-guided studying and building schedules. Thats where AVIDs mentors can jump in to help ensure post-high school success. Joanne Zammit, whos on the advisory board for the Greenwich Alliance for Education, picked up her second mentee Wednesday night. I dont get a lot of opportunities to associate with 19-20 year olds, she said, describing her relationship with her current mentee, Brian Tito. He has a different perspective on things than I do. Tito keeps her up to date and she helps him, encouraging him to seek financial aid, giving him advice on living at home in college, or just taking him to dinner. Still, the biggest barrier to graduation isnt academic, Subach said. Its financial. For Mirella Rojas, a rising senior at Pennsylvania State University, coming back for the celebration is her way of honoring what she owes to AVID and the Greenwich Alliance. Greenwich Alliance gives a lot of scholarships, she said. Theyre the reason Im still in school. The support system of alumni and mentors wouldnt be complete without the AVID teachers. You argue, you are a family, youre another parent to them, said Spanish and AVID teacher Pilar Rabassa. They will confide in us more than other teachers because we are together so much. But, like Tito updating Zammit about pop culture, Rabassas students have taught her something, too. It shows you a lot about who you are in good and bad ways, she said. Rabassa said she no longer takes herself as seriously, and can laugh at herself, something she wouldnt have done just a few years ago. During the ceremony, everyone mingled, ate at round tables and jumped up to hug familiar faces passing by, resembling not a graduation, but a family reunion. jo.kroeker@hearstmediact.com STAMFORD When Rabbi Joshua Hammerman joined Temple Beth El, his goal was to inspire the conservative congregation to be open and inclusive, more so than it already did. Fairfield County, more than 30 years ago, was seen as very stiff and formal, and not just among synagogues, but in the churches too, he said. And I think a loosening and a sort of democratization needed to happen. The expression thats used often is high church and with that was a feel of formality. And I think all religious institutions have realized over the years that they need to be more welcoming and more inclusive. Hammerman, a Boston native, came to Stamford and joined Temple Beth El as an assistant rabbi in 1987. Five years later, he was named the temples senior rabbi, a position he has held for about 25 years. This month, Temple Beth El is celebrating Hammermans 30th anniversary with the congregation. He said the past three decades have been filled with lessons and challenges. One thing I learned early on as a rabbi...is that anyone who tries to change people will never have success, he said. The only way to have an impact on peoples lives is to love them, and not manipulatively, but unconditionally. So, if a religious leader can love his or her congregation unconditionally, and stand there as an example to them, then they can succeed and maybe even influence change. Hammerman said he quickly adopted a fellow journeyman approach. My way of leadership has not been to be the priest, not to be the one who afflicts the comfortable, but to be the one who comforts the afflicted, he said. Ive always felt that was my role. But Hammerman said it was also his duty to call for change when he felt it was needed, something that came with a steep learning curve. One of my first sermons here, I stood up there on the high holidays, on our pulpit, and I addressed a situation where at that time Stew Leonards had been convicted of tax fraud, he said. And I said I felt uncomfortable shopping there and that I wouldnt be going in there for a while. That was not meant to be a call for a boycott, but somehow it was translated into that. So, I learned very quickly that my words matter, and that afflicting the comfortable is an important role but there also needs to be some understanding of the impact that words will have on people. So, I grew up, he said with a laugh. In todays climate, where people are faced with fierce political and ideological divides, and organized religions struggle to maintain influence and relevance, Hammerman said this is the time when people need faith. I think religion has never been more relevant, he said. At a time when basic values are being challenged and questioned by political leaders, this is where those values can be emphasized such values as truth and honesty and compassion are just fundamental to our faith. And when we proclaim that, as I do every week at services, I almost feel subversive, which is an incredibly strange feeling. But were here, advocating that people be nice and honest to each other and embrace facts, and thats what religion should do. Thats what religion looks like. So, I know that I am playing a very important role right now. During his tenure, Hammerman has worked to include people from all backgrounds and walks of life, championing inclusiveness and innovation and becoming heavily involved with the interfaith community. Hammerman said hes seen the congregation evolve to become more open and accepting of those who may have felt unwelcome decades ago. We are constantly reimagining our spirituality, our prayer, our role in education and community service, he said. Its really a gift to have gotten to be here for so long. Most clergy dont stay this long with one congregation any more. Really, most people dont stay this long at any job. So, its a blessing in so many ways, but its also a challenge because its so easy to stagnate. The years go by in a flash and it can be easy to fall back on old habits, but you can also move forward and re-invent yourself and try to seek new challenges. kat.russell@stamfordadvocate.com STAMFORD Veterinarians are advising pet parents to look for possible symptoms of canine flu in their dogs. Two strains of dog flu have recently popped up in the Northeast, with pockets of the viruses affecting dogs in parts of New York City. According to data from the Canine Influenza Virus Surveillance Network, operated by Cornell Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine, about 100 cases of canine flu have been diagnosed in New York. Additionally, a few cases have been detected in Kentucky and one in each New Jersey and California. There are two strains of canine influenza, H3N8, which is derived from equine flu, and H3N2, which is a newer strain that came over in 2006 from China and Korea, said Dr. Elisa Mazzaferro, staff criticalist at Cornell University Veterinary Specialists in Stamford. The strains are important only because of the potential for shedding, meaning the time period when the dog can transmit the virus, she said. So, dogs with H3N8 can potentially shed for about five days after showing clinical signs of infection, whereas the dogs with H3N2 can shed for almost a month 24 days. Both are transmitted through nasal secretions, Mazzaferro said, so similar to when a human sneezes or coughs, dogs could infect other animals by being in the immediate proximity of other dogs or in a place where they share water bowls or have common contact with other things in their environment. Dogs that are in close proximity to each other have the highest risk of getting sick, Mazzaferro said. The majority of dogs that come in contact with other dogs that have dog flu, youll never even see clinical signs, Mazzaferro said. Some dogs that do come in contact with dog flu and then come down with the virus can show signs of pretty high fever, coughing or general malaise not wanting to eat, not wanting to drink and/or lethargy. Some will develop discharge nasal or eye discharge. Though unusual, Mazzaferro said some cases can result in more serious conditions. About 10 percent of the dogs that actually develop influenza can get secondary bacterial infections, including pneumonia, which brings the potential for serious illness and even death, but that is extremely rare, she said. Mazzaferro said there have been no cases reported so far in Stamford. Mazzaferro said tracking the number of flu cases can be challenging because not all dogs that are showing clinical symptoms are tested. In the past 45 days, Mazzaferro said, there has been a cluster of about 100 cases detected in New York City, and theres another small cluster near the Illinois-Kentucky border. Mazzaferro said owners should keep their dogs away from other animals that appear sick. Minimizing time at dog parks, doggy day care or boarding facilities and avoiding shared water and food bowls would also lessen an animals likelihood of infection. Mazzaferro also recommended frequent hand washing and advised pet parents should be wary of their dogs behavior, keeping an eye out for signs of coughing, fever, loss of appetite or lethargy. I think people should take precautions, Mazzaferro said, but I dont think that theres going to be a giant outbreak here. kat.russell@stamfordadvocate.com FAIRFIELD The June 6, 2017 Board of Selectmen special election costs total $116,746, with the bulk of the money $75,060 going to attorney James Baldwin. But some Board of Finance members were more concerned with the $9,220 paid to Robert Morrin. Morrin, based in Berlin,was initially hired by First Selectman Mike Tetreau to represent the town and the Board of Selectmen in the court case that ensued when the GOP majority refused to set a date for a special election. A group of Democrats circulated a petition for a special election after Republican Selectman Laurie McArdle resigned in December, 2016, one year into a four-year term. Following the charter, Republican Edward Bateson was appointed to the seat, the petitioners cited state statutes in their quest. Ultimately, the state Supreme Court ruled last month that the special election was not allowed under the charter, and reinstated Bateson to the board. Bateson lost the special election to Democrat Kevin Kiley. From the beginning Tetreau questioned Baldwins representation, claiming the charter gives the first selectman the sole authority to appoint town attorneys. Bateson and fellow Republican Selectman Chris Tymniak held a special meeting and hired Baldwin, the former chairman of the Republican Town Committee. Tetreau said the meeting was not legal but Baldwin said a majority of a board can call a special meeting, without the chairmans approval. Tetreau sent two letters to Baldwin instructing him to cease representing the town but now says the Bateson-Tymniak meeting had no impact and he appointed Baldwin to represent those two on the advice of Lesser. Based on the advice from the town attorney, I appointed attorney Baldwin to represent Chris, Ed and the BOS, Tetreau said. This seemed simplest and allowed for Ed and Chris to have an attorney of their choosing. The matter was to be considered by the Appellate Court but that court never heard the case, instead forwarding it to the state Supreme Court. Unlike Bateson and Tymniak, Tetreau believed the special election should be held, and Mirron ended providing him with representation. Due to the differing positions and the BOS votes on the election issue, it seemed appropriate to have separate counsels to properly represent all parties, Tetreau said. We have a dangerous precedent that has been set by this whole thing, finance board member James Walsh said, during a recent review of the special election costs. The board was not being asked to approve any appropriations to cover the expenses. Walsh said Tetreau being represented by his own counsel could set a precedent whereby any member of a board or commission that votes in the minority can request and have the town pay for an attorney. More Information Special election costs Attorney Stanton Lesser $7,920 Attorney Robert Morrin $9,220 Coles Baldwin & Kaiser $75,060 Carmody Torrance Sandak Hennessey LLC (audit of Baldwin bill) $3,570 June 6, 2017 special election $20,975 Total $116,746 See More Collapse I think were going to have to take that into account, Walsh said, citing as a hypothetical a four to one vote by the Zoning Board of Appeals that becomes the subject of a court appeal. That lone member, he contended, could ask for the town to pay for an attorney. Chairman Thomas Flynn wanted to know who approved the payment of Morin. Flynn said the town turned around and hired their own lawyer to represent the majority, then we have this other lawyer in here that doesnt represent the town but represents Tetreau but we paid for him, too ... Im confused by it, it does set a strange precedent. Tetreau, however, said there was nothing unusual about the situation This is the typical procedure we follow, he said. In this case, the three selectmen were sued individually and each needed representation. There certainly isnt anything dangerous about this approach. Tetreau said since the majority on the board chose not to follow Town Attorney Stanton Lessers advice, it was necessary to look for outside counsel. I believe the fees my attorney charged with considerably less than Attorney Baldwins fees, the first selectman said, noting the vast majority of Baldwins fees were generated during the appeal period. As a town, we do owe our town officials defense coverage when they are sued when performing their normal duties, Tetreau said. For months, the legislature, state and city of Hartford have tussled over how to handle the capitol citys failing finances. In the latest episode of the saga, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy vetoed a bill Thursday that made changes to a state municipal aid board in order to try to avert a future Hartford bail-out situation. The bill, which overwhelmingly passed the House and Senate, would continue to make Hartfords debt payments for five years unless Hartfords budget situation changes dramatically. It would allow the state to reduce other municipal aid to Hartford in the sixth year if the city failed to meet its obligations, but it also includes other triggers along the way. It is clear that Substitute Senate Bill 528 is a reflection of indignation on the part of some lawmakers that MARB (Municipal Accountability Review Board) exercised its statutory authority in coming to the aid of our capital city, Malloy wrote in a letter explaining his decision. MARB does not need changes, he argued. It is workable, it is working, and it should be left alone, he said. The changes proposed in the bill were the result of bipartisan negotiations with lawmakers and the mayor of Hartford, said Senate Majority Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven. Those who negotiated this bill do not want to see Hartford go bankrupt, he said in a statement. We also recognize the state cannot blindly support the city with taxpayer funding without proper protections in place. This bill strikes the needed balance. The bill didnt change the debt assistance deal signed by state Treasurer Denise Nappier that requires the state to pay off the entire principal of Hartfords bonded debt over the next 20 to 30 years. The state will gradually make about $40 million in annual payments on the debt. The mayors of Bridgeport and New Haven vocally objected to the states significant aid to Hartford, saying their cities also deserved financial help. In a veto session on June 25, lawmakers could decide to override the governors veto. The rejection marked Malloys seventh veto of 2018, two more than last year. He also vetoed a bill that established an animal abuse offender registry Thursday. There is no conclusive evidence that online registries protect the public and in fact, such registries have unfortunately had the opposite effect, Malloy wrote. emunson@hearstmediact.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson Women played a variety of roles during the Revolutionary War, and some of their experiences will be explored at the Fairfield Museums next History Bites lunchtime lecture. Dr. Elizabeth Rose will discuss Women and the Revolution on Wednesday, June 27, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Back in the 1770s women in the colonies kept the home front together, but as the war progressed they also followed the army and even served as soldiers and spies. Women were typically excluded from political life, but many wanted to find a way to be active and to show their patriotism. One of the ways colonial women expressed their patriotism was through boycotts. The success of a boycott often depended on the support of women, as women typically made the decisions about what the household ate and drank and how they dressed. Another way women assisted in the war was at the military camps. Most were there to serve essential support roles such as cooking, washing and nursing, but some (like widows and others who faced poverty during the war) were there as a last resort so they could receive small rations and space in a tent. Peddlers and prostitutes also followed the camps. On the home front most women remained behind to defend and manage their homes. Mary Silliman, who is pictured here, held her household and farm together after her husband was kidnapped and held prisoner by the British for a year. On May 2, 1779 the Loyalists captured her husband, Gold Selleck Silliman. Mary was six months pregnant at the time. She worked hard to help secure her husbands return by writing letters to and entertaining important people like Connecticut Governor Trumbull. Women also served as a sort of auxiliary to militia units in small skirmishes, where much of the wars actual fighting took place. Sybil Ludington was just 16 years old when she volunteered to assist her father, Col. Henry Ludington. In April of 1777 he got word that he needed to gather his militia (located in Putnam and Duchess county, New York) for a march to Danbury, 25 miles away, where British forces were destroying Continental Army supplies. Sybil roused the militia, riding a circuit of 40 miles at night, knocking on farm doors and yelling that the British were in Danbury. They were too late to save Danbury, but the militia did harass British soldiers all the way back to Long Island Sound, including at the Battle of Ridgefield. Learn more about these colonial women and their roles in the Revolutionary War at the June 27 lecture. Dr. Rose will be joined by Catie White, a recent college graduate who wrote a prize-winning senior thesis called Homespun Heroes: How Women Fought the American Revolution with Textiles. The Fairfield Museum & History Center and Museum Shop, at 370 Beach Road, is open seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Members of the museum and children under 5 are admitted free. For information, call 203-259-1598 or visit Fairfieldhistory.org. The Fairfield Museum relies on funding from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The museum is especially grateful for support from the Department of Economic and Community Development, Connecticut Office of the Arts, the State of Connecticut, town of Fairfield and Fairfield Countys Community Foundation. Bavarian conservatives on Thursday rejected a compromise on migrant policy put forward by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to avert a crisis in her loveless coalition just three months after it took office. As Reuters writes in the article Bavarians confront Merkel in German migrant policy showdown, At stake are Merkels authority as well as the future of her alliance with the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) and Social Democrats at a time when European divisions over migrants are once more coming to a head. Merkel is at odds with Interior Minister Horst Seehofer of the CSU over his Masterplan for Migration, in which he wants to show voters a tough line before a Bavarian regional election in October. In particular, Merkel objects to a plan to allow migrants drawn by Germanys prosperity and stability to be rejected at the border if they have already registered in other European Union states to the south. Merkel said on Thursday that it was crucial to reduce illegal migration, but added: I personally think illegal migration is one of the big challenges for the European Union, so I dont believe we should act unilaterally, we should not act in an uncoordinated way and we should not act at the expense of third parties. At a four-hour meeting, lawmakers from the CSU backed Seehofer and said he might even defy Merkel by going ahead with his plan next week without her agreement. Such a challenge could force her to fire Seehofer, or lead her Christian Democrats (CDU) to split up the parliamentary bloc in which they have cooperated with the CSU since 1949. The CDU and the Social Democrats (SPD) alone lack a majority in parliament. It is serious, very serious, said CSU parliamentary group leader Alexander Dobrindt. Seehofers plan would represent a reversal of Merkels open-door policy, which has already been scaled back since Germany let in around a million migrants in 2015, mostly fleeing war in the Middle East. She argues that it could prompt other countries to follow suit, and that an EU-wide solution is needed. At the meeting, CSU lawmakers said they could not wait that long. The CSU will decide on further steps on Monday. Asylum tourism must end. Germany cannot wait endlessly for Europe, but must act independently, tweeted Bavarias hardline premier Markus Soeder. He told Bild newspaper: The fate of democracy in Germany depends on whether politicians and the government are able to deal with citizens serious concerns. In a highly unusual move, a session of the lower house, the Bundestag, was interrupted to allow the CDU and the CSU to meet separately on the issue. A compromise? Merkel has proposed that asylum seekers already rejected by Germany could be turned back at the border. She said it was very unlikely that all the steps for a joint EU asylum and migration policy would be adopted at an EU summit on June 28-29, but that bilateral agreements with EU states could play an important role in tackling illegal migration. Merkels refugee policy is widely blamed for a surge in support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which became the main opposition party after Septembers election. An ARD poll on Thursday found that 62 percent of Germans believe refugees without papers should not be allowed in. It also found that only 37 percent were satisfied with the work of Merkels government so far. Merkel can draw some comfort from the positive reception her compromise got among CDU lawmakers, many of whom had this week voiced at least some support for Seehofers plan. If Angela Merkel pushes for a European solution, then she has my support, the CDU premier of North Rhine-Westphalia state told German television, echoing other senior CDU voices. Party sources said a majority of CDU lawmakers backed her, but German media said Health Minister Jens Spahn, a longtime critic, did not fully support her idea. Merkel now faces intense pressure to get deals with EU partners by the summit. A CDU source said after the meeting that the chancellor had told lawmakers she was aware that two weeks was an ambitious timetable. In a rare convergence of views, the SPD and AfD both dismissed the row as an election maneuver. Staging such a drama to serve regional elections is not appropriate, said SPD leader Andrea Nahles. COLUMBUS, Ohio An Ohio farmer could lose more than half of his or her annual net income if China follows through with its own set of trade tariffs, which it vowed to do June 15, in response to $50 billion in tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. China has not said specifically what products will be targeted, but earlier this year suggested a 25 percent tariff on U.S. soybeans and other products. Researchers with Ohio State Universitys agriculture college have projected a 59 percent loss in annual net farm income based on historical trends in yields on corn and soybeans and projections for price drops in both commodities. The Chinese say they dont want a trade war but given no choice they will respond. The Chinese side doesnt want to fight a trade war, but facing the shortsightedness of the U.S. side, China has to fight back strongly, the Chinese Commerce Ministry said in a statement. We will immediately introduce the same scale and equal taxation measures, and all economic and trade achievements reached by the two sides will be invalidated. Losing money Across Ohio, the loss of soybean exports to China would be an estimated $241 million annually. There are farmers who are struggling across the state, said Ben Brown, manager of the ag colleges farm management program. If the proposed tariffs go into effect, were going to have farmers who will have to exit the industry. For the study, the researchers compiled data from six Ohio corn and soybean farms of similar size and created a representative Ohio farm comprised of 1,100 acres split evenly between corn and soybeans. They used the representative farm to determine the financial toll a tariff could take on an Ohio farm. Net annual income on that representative Ohio farm was projected to drop from $63,577 to $26,107 under the proposed tariff, according to the study, which was also conducted by OSU ag economist Ian Sheldon. Hurting farmers The Ohio Soybean Association denounced the White Houses action, predicting it would lead to signifcant losses to Ohios farmers. We should address our trade challenges by increasing our competitiveness, not creating new barriers, said Allen Armstrong, OSA president and Clark County soybean farmer. Exports have been one of the few bright spots for farmers in recent years, and we cant afford another hit to the bottom line. Trumps tariffs were imposed in response to complaints that Beijing steals or pressures foreign companies to hand over technology. American officials say they target products that might benefit from Chinese industrial policies they say violate Beijings free-trade commitments. The financial losses to farmers stem from an expected drop in Chinese demand for U.S. soybeans and corn and in the world price for both crops. The biggest impact will be on profits from soybeans, however, corn is affected too, Brown said. Soybeans are Ohios largest crop and the states top agricultural export. In April, China announced it would impose a 25 percent tariff on U.S. soybeans, corn and over 100 other American products, in response to the tariffs that the administration proposed on a range of Chinese imports valued at $50 billion Other countries Other international trading partners, including Canada, the European Union, and Mexico, have recently announced retaliatory tariffs in response to U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports as well, that could also dip into the profits of Ohio farmers. The losses from soybeans sales are projected to be far greater than for corn. Every year, 31 percent of the soybeans and 2 percent of the corn Ohio produces are exported to China. China is the largest buyer of soybeans in the world, and Brazil is its top supplier with the United States being second. The U.S. remains the largest producers of soybeans, but it is safe to say that Brazil could become the number one producer of soybeans in the world with increased demand for their products, said Brown. Reduced exports. A study by Purdue University economists predicts that soybean exports to China could drop by as much as 65 percent if China imposes a retaliatory 25 percent tariff on U.S. soybeans. Davie Stephens, Kentucky soybean grower and vice president of ASA, is among growers distraught over the newly-announced tariffs, and Chinas possible retaliation. Crop prices have dropped 40 percent in the last five years, and farm income is down 50 percent compared to 2013. As a soy grower, I depend on trade with China. China imports roughly 60 percent of total U.S. soybean exports, representing nearly 1 in 3 rows of harvested soybeans, Stephens said. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has released a revised list of Chinese goods subject to the additional 25 percent tariff stemming from concerns over intellectual property theft and technology transfers. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will begin collecting the additional duties on the bulk of that list beginning July 6. Scottish farmers have written to Aberdeenshire councillors asking them to back planning proposals for a new 20m meat production facility. NFU Scotland has written to councillors asking them to back planning proposals for the development at Thainstone, Inverurie. The farming union views the proposal from Scotbeef Inverurie to relocate its existing business and erect the 20m facility at Thainstone Business Park as a "huge opportunity" for investment in the north east of Scotland. It says the facility will will bring jobs and a "modern, state of the art", food processing site. In its letter to councillors, the union points out that cattle production and beef processing in the north east has a "clear downstream impact", supporting hundreds of allied businesses. In signing the letter, Charlie Adam, a beef producer at Leochel-Cushnie, near Alford, said: I firmly believe that the proposals to develop at this site are critical to the profitability and sustainability of cattle production, both in the North East and in Scotland more generally. NFUS support for this project has the backing of the whole Livestock committee. In a very competitive food market, in which margins are tight, its essential that firms invest in infrastructure to meet the needs of the market and to continue to support the jobs and rural economy to which they are inextricably linked. Mr Adam said the proposal will help provide "much-needed" processing capacity in the north east, without which could see "cattle processing move out of Scotland". This investment in the food and drink sector is also in line with the Scottish Governments food and drink target to double the food and drink industry turnover to 30 billion by 2013, he added. Scotlands iconic red meat industry is at the heart of that ambition, but targets will only be achieved if we build processing capacity that meets modern day requirements. Greater take up of min-till or no-till arable systems, found in countries like Finland, could help British farmers improve efficiency. Efficient systems have been developed to deal with Finland's short growing season, and their way of doing things could help stimulate UK arable efficiency. Vast expanses of the country are snow covered in winter months and Finland has an growing season which varies from 100 180 days. To cope, farmers have adopted simple, efficient techniques to ensure that their arable crop delivers, working with a no-till or min-till approach for environmental, cost and lifestyle purposes. Compared to the UK, the countrys growing season is at least 100 days shorter than the 280-day average reported by the Met Office in 2016. AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds visited Finnish agricultural institutions and farms. Strategy Director, Martin Grantley-Smith said Finland is driven by efficiency. The first snow starts to fall in Finland in September, with spring arriving as late as May. These conditions may at first seem challenging but its driven efficiency in the countrys farming systems, Mr Grantley-Smith said. Currently around 45 per cent of arable crop is grown using a min-till or no-till method. As part of that approach fertiliser is added below the seed with a covering of soil over it, to avoid the fertiliser burning the seed. He added: While lower machinery purchase, running and fuel costs are seen as a benefit of no-till or min-till systems, they dont ignore the time savings made. Most Finnish growers are part-time farmers, with no-till using less time to establish crops than conventional cultivations; this allows farmers more time to pursue their other jobs this approach could benefit UK farmers. 'Comes down to cost' British farmers also learned that Finnish farmers look beyond simply purchasing a seeding machine to it becoming part of a no-till farming system. AHDB Arable Knowledge Exchange Manager Harry Henderson, said: I was fascinated to understand why Finland was Europes biggest adopter of no-till cereal production perhaps unsurprisingly, it comes down to cost. The most pivotal element in the till systems success or failure is the choices farmers make on the ground. Considering and understanding a number of factors, from drainage, to soil conditions, having patience with ground temperature and making sure their machinery is smaller, with a system flexible to changes. He added: However, while these considerations are all important, farmers are not evangelical about no-till and will revert back to old methods meaning all farms will have a cultivator and use it as and when necessary they also own a plough. Currently the UKs adoption of no-till cereal production stands at 8 per cent, compared to 13 per cent in Finland. Mr Henderson added: For British farmers and agronomists considering the move to no-till, theres definitely a lot we can learn and share from the systems the Finns have adopted to cope with their climate. Finland has 51,000 farms with an average arable area of 44 hectares. Of these, 9.4 per cent are organic farms. Dairy farming is the largest agricultural sector in terms of turnover. The agricultural sales revenue total was EUR 2.2 billion, of which milk accounts for 40 per cent. Agriculture and horticulture in Finland provides employment for 151,000 people. The food sector employs 300,000 people, from production input industry to retailing. A Worcestershire farmer has received an award applauding his outstanding service to the Holstein cattle breed. The Holstein UK Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates an individual who has shown considerable passion and commitment to the Holstein breed. This year, Holstein UK awarded the accolade to 88-year-old Alan Shufflebotham, who farms in Childswickham, near Broadway, Worcestershire with his Avondale herd. To receive this award the nominee had to have at least 20 years service to the breed and has been nominated by a member of Holstein UK. Alan worked on numerous dairy farms throughout his career before taking tenancy of his first farm in 1955. This comprised of 5.5 acres, 4 jersey cows and a poultry unit. In 1961, Alan took tenancy of a 172-acre farm in Derbyshire before moving onto a 325-acre farm in Worcestershire in 1965. Here, he built up a 200-pedigree Jersey cow herd and followers. Alan was unsuccessful in his application for a Nuffield Farming Scholarship to study Holstein cattle and milk production in North America, so instead he organised his own trip with fourteen others. It was during this time that he became convinced by the superiority of the North America Holstein cow. In 1973 he borrowed 25,000 from his bank, and Alan made a trip to Canada to purchase 61 in-calf heifers and a bull to establish the Avondale Herd. After 2 years he dispersed the Jersey herd to concentrate on the Holstein breed. He joined the Holstein Society and started showing cattle, winning Supreme Champion at both the National Holstein Show and Royal Show. 'Holsteinisation' Mike Miller, past Chairman of the West Midland Club said Alan has been fundamental in developing a high production herd of highly classified cow families. Alan has made an outstanding contribution to the Holsteinisation of the black and white breed in the UK through the importation of cattle from Canada, Mr Miller said. Alan is in his eighty eighth year, so it is wonderful to be able to honour him with this prestigious recognition, which he so worthily deserves. When Alan changed to milking black and white cows, he had the foresight to import pure Holsteins from Canada. He has been a prominent member of the British Holstein Society and a very keen showman. Mr Miller added: He also bred many bulls and together with Don Rowntree set up the Transatlantic Breeders Sale held at Avondale House which gave breeders the opportunity to purchase Canadian genetics without having to travel. Over 300m in direct payments to be issued to NI farmers The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike. We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve. Veteran actor Robert De Niro, who appeared at the 72nd Annual Tony Awards to introduce Bruce Springsteen's performance of a contemplative, piano-accompanied version of 'My Hometown', lashed out at President Donald Trump during the event. According to a report, "I'm just going to say one thing... F**k Trump!" De Niro said at the gala recently. When the astonished audience broke into a mix of laughter and gasps, he paused for a few seconds and then followed with, "It's no longer 'down with Trump. It's f**k Trump!'" He then pumped both fists. A spokesperson issued a brief statement, "Mr. De Niro's comments were unscripted and unexpected. The offensive language was deleted from the broadcast." The network leaned on the bleep button, so none of its viewers heard the unexpurgated version of his remarks. But the live feed of the broadcasts being played in the press room was uncensored, leading to several Tony winners being asked about the head-snapping moment during their backstage press conferences. "He's Robert De Niro," joked 'Angels in America' playwright Tony Kushner. "Who's going to argue with him?" Later, he offered more serious thoughts, agreeing with De Niro and said, "This person should not be anywhere near the seat of power." De Niro now has Broadway bonafides as the co-director of the recent adaptation of his film 'A Bronx Tale', so it made sense that he would provide some star power as a lead-in to Springsteen. The veteran actor, who has traded for decades on his tight-lipped, once-press-shy image, has come out of his shell during the Trump era. The Tribeca Film Festival, which he co-founded, became a platform for several of his anti-Trump broadsides. The moment quickly made the social-media rounds. There were reports of an uncensored airing in Australia. Indian actor Ali Fazal supported the uncensored version of the event and tweeted, "Oh man the freedom. I am so jealous! Kudos Australia. Shake off them shackles. Let's breathe the new world order and remove the right wingers. It's when people like Bobby DeNiro (Robert De Niro) step up, we feel we all have a voice. We can. They owe us that ear. Or we shove it down your drums!" critic's rating: 3.0/5 A dysfunctional, ultra rich family, shady deals, fast cars, high speed chases, sassy women, macho men and enough plot twists to make Abbas Mustan go groggy with delight, Race 3 has all these and more. And apart from the razor sharp action, its also a Karan Johar film at heart, what with it's all about loving your family as it's primary motif. Plus it's all in 3D, what more can you ask for really? The films main plot revolves around Salman and family undertaking a mission to retrieve a hard drive containing videos of politicians indulging in sexual vices. And in the course of that everyone's core identity is revealed and a dozen skeletons stumble out of the closet... Remo D'Souza is known for his dance films and he has choreographed the film like a Tango fiesta. It has drama, rhythm, the players need to keep moving all the time and the climax ends on a twist. And given his passion for dance, the songs of the film are pretty slick as well. Being a choreographer has also helped Remo in making sure no one feels left out. He gives every player of his humongous cast their moment in the sun. Everyone has a mano-a-mano scene with another actor as well. The sequence which got the maximum catcalls of course involved the two girls, Jacqueline and Daisy fighting each other. And any choreographer worth his salt knows that the limelight ultimately belongs to the lead. So be prepared for pure Bhai bonanza. Salman is decked out as a one man army in the film. The way he takes out a whole squad of soldiers in Cambodia, kicking, punching and shooting with fury will make every Salman fan shed tears of joy. There are also shots of him firing a rocket launcher and theres the biggest money shot of them all as well of Bhai ripping apart his shirt. Must say his shirtless avatar works even at 50 years of age. The screams of women in the screening was proof enough. The other person who is having a gala time in the film is Anil Kapoor. He adopts a bhojpuri accent in some scenes and its a hoot. Anil is someone well suited for such films as he has the ability to shift expressions in the blink of an eye. He is Remo's joker in the pack, suitable for every hand the director deals him and doing everything required of him with conviction. Bobby Deol is on the comeback trail and he too has worked hard. He has lost weight and goes about his role with conviction. Jacqueline Fernandez looks pretty as hell and is part of a couple of nice action scenes as well. She shares decent chemistry with both Salman and Bobby and looks good romancing both. Daisy Shah is already famous thanks to the 'business dialogue and impresses in action scenes. Saqib Saleem is shown to have anger issues and channelises his angst properly enough. The 3D is okay but doesn't actually add anything to the film. A basic 2D version was all that was needed. In short, the film has something for everyone. An action film combined with family drama is the perfect Eid gift from Bhai to his fans worldwide. At close to 3 hours it does drag in places and tauter editing would really have added to the film. There is a ten minute long hint that there's going to be a sequel, so be prepared for another sensory assault next year as well. Trailer : Race 3 A dysfunctional, ultra rich family, shady deals, fast cars, high speed chases, sassy women, macho men and enough plot twists to make Abbas Mustan go groggy with delight, Race 3 has all these and more. And apart from the razor sharp action, its also a Karan Johar film at heart, what with it's all about loving your family as it's primary motif. Plus it's all in 3D, what more can you ask for really?The films main plot revolves around Salman and family undertaking a mission to retrieve a hard drive containing videos of politicians indulging in sexual vices. And in the course of that everyone's core identity is revealed and a dozen skeletons stumble out of the closet...Remo D'Souza is known for his dance films and he has choreographed the film like a Tango fiesta. It has drama, rhythm, the players need to keep moving all the time and the climax ends on a twist. And given his passion for dance, the songs of the film are pretty slick as well.Being a choreographer has also helped Remo in making sure no one feels left out. He gives every player of his humongous cast their moment in the sun. Everyone has a mano-a-mano scene with another actor as well. The sequence which got the maximum catcalls of course involved the two girls, Jacqueline and Daisy fighting each other. And any choreographer worth his salt knows that the limelight ultimately belongs to the lead. So be prepared for pure Bhai bonanza. Salman is decked out as a one man army in the film. The way he takes out a whole squad of soldiers in Cambodia, kicking, punching and shooting with fury will make every Salman fan shed tears of joy. There are also shots of him firing a rocket launcher and theres the biggest money shot of them all as well of Bhai ripping apart his shirt. Must say his shirtless avatar works even at 50 years of age. The screams of women in the screening was proof enough.The other person who is having a gala time in the film is Anil Kapoor. He adopts a bhojpuri accent in some scenes and its a hoot. Anil is someone well suited for such films as he has the ability to shift expressions in the blink of an eye. He is Remo's joker in the pack, suitable for every hand the director deals him and doing everything required of him with conviction. Bobby Deol is on the comeback trail and he too has worked hard. He has lost weight and goes about his role with conviction. Jacqueline Fernandez looks pretty as hell and is part of a couple of nice action scenes as well. She shares decent chemistry with both Salman and Bobby and looks good romancing both. Daisy Shah is already famous thanks to the 'business dialogue and impresses in action scenes. Saqib Saleem is shown to have anger issues and channelises his angst properly enough.The 3D is okay but doesn't actually add anything to the film. A basic 2D version was all that was needed.In short, the film has something for everyone. An action film combined with family drama is the perfect Eid gift from Bhai to his fans worldwide. At close to 3 hours it does drag in places and tauter editing would really have added to the film.There is a ten minute long hint that there's going to be a sequel, so be prepared for another sensory assault next year as well. Rachit Gupta, June 15, 2018, 5:05 PM IST critic's rating: 2/5 Race 3 Story: The Singh family comprises of Shamsher (Anil Kapoor) his step-son Sikandar (Salman Khan), twins Suraj (Saqib Saleem) and Sanjana (Daisy Shah). They run a business of illegal arms and trade with the help of their friend Yash (Bobby Deol). Things get dramatic when Jessica (Jacqueline Fernandez) meets Sikandar and the family ties are strained under each characters ulterior motives. Race 3 Review: The Race franchise is known for its excessively stylized characters and high-octane action. These films showcase expensive cars and fancy set pieces, they have everything to please the an action movie buff and James Bond fans. Race 3 puts the pedal to the metal when it comes to making stylish statements. But as it zooms ahead in style, the substance is left behind in a cloud of dust. This film is about a rich family dealing with a lot of double crossing and scheming, as youd expect from a film of this franchise. The Singh family is executing a high stake heist, where they have to steal a hard disk from a bank, so the setup looks like it's going to have a lot of thrills and action. But the generous dose of action never translates into any serious thrills because the story is so flimsy. To say that the film has a wafer thin plot is an understatement. Unlike the action, the script lacks any real punch as the story does not engage the viewer at all. Trailer of the film had sparked off a bevy of memes on social media and when you watch the film you realise there are more such dialogues like, Our business is our business, none of your business and that makes you wonder what the writers were thinking. What redeems the tissue-thin plot is the larger-than-life action sequences. You have it all - car crashes, explosions, combats, cat-fights and wingsuit diving stunts. Yes, there's lot of smoke and fire, but no real steam - in the story or the performances. Most of the action scenes are in slo-mo, meant to heighten the drama and thrill obviously, but it often ends up making the scene a tedious watch. The best directed parts of the film are the songs, which look like elaborately designed music videos. The movie is mounted on a lavish canvas, and shot on some beautiful locales, but none of that holds your attention for more than a few minutes. Its a visual delight to see a range of super cars in action, glamorous girls throwing kicks and punches, and of course, fans will relish the sight of Salman Khan and Bobby Deol ripping their shirts off to flaunt their well-greased and chiseled bodies. Theres a star studded cast on offer so the fans will have plenty of moments to cheer for their favourite stars. Salman Khan leads the pack with the main role, and while hes great with the action and the style, the character has very little depth. Anil Kapoor plays the father figure of the Singh family with ease. Bobby Deol and Daisy Shah are at their stylish best, too. Jacqueline Fernandez and Saqib Saleem look fantastic as well. Race 3 will work for Salman fans the most, as bhai kicks and punches with gusto. But for all its big moments, Race 3 just does not work up the feeling of suspense and intrigue that made the previous masala movies from the franchise a guilty pleasure. While the film wants to keep you guessing on who will finish the Race first, you are left wondering when you will cross the finish line. , June 15, 2018, 4:30 PM IST critic's rating: 2.5/5 '' , ! , , , ' 2' ' 3' - ' 3' ' 3' - ( ) , 25 ( ) , ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) , , - , , , , , , , , , , - , , - , , - , 3 - , Kunal Guha, June 15, 2018, 9:02 PM IST critic's rating: 1.5/5 The Race franchise is punctuated by a standard premise glitzy suits and tinted shades exiting from convertibles and sports cars in slow motion to accuse each other of frauds that stack up a gazillion dollars or casual adultery. And its always personal since these squabbles are amongst family members adopted and illegitimate included. But since this one swaps directorial duo Abbas Mustan, known for grand reveals and outlandish plots, with Remo Dsouza, the film swerves with a screech before crashing and burning. How gloriously wrong can a film about a backstabbing family that occasionally indulges in vituperative outbursts, go? Well, this one has a woman strumming to a romantic number in the company of her siblings, female bodyguards who slip out of matching shrugs before getting into a rumble and a prison that resembles a dusty strip club. And this is just the tip of the ice mountain that takes down this ship. In Austin Powers style, the film opens to a desert arms base, owned by a Shamsher Singh (Anil-wont-take-off-shades-Kapoor). The illegal arms dealer is being threatened by an ambitious aide. But it only takes a few clicks and a pen to ensure his unfaithful employee goes up in flames. A voiceover introduces the characters along with a string of adjectives. Singhs daughter- Sanjana (Daisy Shah) is bold, sharp and very ambitious, her twin Suraj (Saqib Saleem) karta pehle hai, sochta baadme hai. But the most adorable description is reserved for the familys sharpshooter, Yash (Bobby Deol), who is loyal and lovable, but extremely lethal. The films lead and perhaps its only selling point, Sikandar (Salman Khan) is Singhs illegitimate child an indestructible force who dodges bullets and flies over the cityscape in a diving suit. But Sikandar is a superhero we dont deserve. We deserve better. Read Also: Race 3 viral dialogue meme: Daisy Shah loves Mumbai Police's meme It would be a waste of space to delve into the story, so lets skip to what really counts. If you felt the previous Race films were cocky, this one resembles a poultry farm. This is a film where a lawyer informs a woman that hes about to execute her mothers will and she responds with, Nice!. When shes trying to prove a point, she says, Isse dil nahin, Dell kholke dikhaao, pointing to a laptop which contains telling evidence. Without offering spoilers, characters here also have concealed motives and identities. So dont be stumped when someone says, You hired me as a con woman, but Im a government agent. Badaboom! This is followed by a quick shot of her turning in the revolving chair of her workstation wearing a suit. To layer the story further, Sikandar rocks facial hair which is somewhere between Mr Miyagi and Langda Tyagi in the Beijing sequence. And just when youre about to crack, a dialogue even spells your state of mind: Itne saare jhatke, when is it going to end, man? Why would Khan take this up? Theres a dialogue for it too: When the money is that good, why ask questions? Lugging a few extra pounds, Khans Sikandar is a hark back to the invincible heroes hes played in multi-crore blockbusters a decade ago. While he packs in a punch and a paunch, he barely manages to elevate the proceedings. Bobby Deol internalises his layered Yash but is cast aside for a large part of the film. Daisy Shahs outlandish performance would make her playschool teacher proud and she whips her locks against the wind a few too many times to convey her muddled Sanjana. Anil Kapoor under a scruffy silver beard and round glasses completes the image of an international arms dealer but barely has enough room to deliver to his potential. Jacqueline Fernandez is predictably chirpy through the film, even while her character has shades of grey. In the second half, most characters spout a mouthful of Bhojpuri. If this is for comic relief or to cater to a diverse audience group, we cant tell. But then, if they shifted to Swahili or Hebrew, it wouldnt matter much either. Read Also: Kaala movie review: Rajinikanth is in commendable form in this Pa Ranjith directorial Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili announced his resignation at a special briefing, and his statement is puzzling for any observer unfamiliar with political realities of Georgia. For example, prime minister said that in 2.5 years he managed to increase the GDP growth from 2% to 6.5%, sign historical agreements on the Free Trade Zone with the EU and China, achieve liberalization of visa regime with the EU, improve relations with Russia, create safe atmosphere in the country, despite problems with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, raise number of tourists to 8 million people per year with a total population of 3.7 million, launch multibillion-dollar investment projects that will bring huge profits and create tens of thousands of jobs, improve relations with NATO, become "strategic partner of the United States." Prime Minister announced his resignation immediately after founder and chairman of the Georgian Dream party Bidzina Ivanishvili criticized Kvirikashvili rigth in front of his collegues for increase in number of poor and socially insecure families. Kvirikashvili admitted that he had disagreements with the party chairman, but previously Ivanishvili spoke in private. Nobody thought that Prime Minister, who managed to triple GDP growth, would resign. However, modern Georgia is nothing like most European countries, Prime Minister is not a real head of the government, the party's chairman - billionaire Ivanishvili - is. He criticized Kvirikashvili, and he immediately left his post, while MPs from the ruling party unanimously approved this decision. It is reported that Ivanishvili ordered to Kvirikashvili change his position on several fundamental areas of his policy. For example, he asked to abandon floating exchange rate of the national currency and use foreign exchange reserves to influence the lari. But now former Prime Minister said that he doesn't agree with this approach, because he has not just socialist, but right views. That's why he decided to leave, giving Ivanishvili an opportunity to "form his own team." The last statement sounds pretty ironic - in any European country with a parliamentary form of government, chairman of the ruling party determines economic and financial policy only if he himself is the head of the Cabinet of Ministers. Situation when the party chairman dictates financial policy to Prime Minister is impossible in any democratic system. Nevertheless, since 2013, when Ivanishvili left the post of Prime Minister, he started to believe that he can make any strategic decisions, then order Prime Minister to implement them, and Prime Minister must follow these decisions. This contradiction was pointed out by President Giorgi Margvelashvili, who, according to the constitution, is responsible only for ceremonial functions. According to him, Ivanishvili should take the post of Prime Minister, then there will be no "gap" between constitutional and real authority in the country, and Georgia will resemble parliamentary republics of Europe. The problem is that Ivanishvili hates publicity. He just say a word and both the ruling party and the parliamentary majority will elect him as new Prime Minister, but billionaire doesn't think about this possibility yet. Right now he will choose from three candidates: Finance Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze, Interior Minister Giorgi Gakhariya or Infrastructure Minister Maya Tskitishvili. New government must be formed within three weeks. If Ivanishvili decides to rule "indirectly," while remaining in shadows, situation won't improve significantly, and a crisis, similar to Kvirikashvili's resignation, will repeat itself. It's noteworthy that he resigned after he managed skillfully to deal with situation with rallies that began after murder of two teenagers. In response to crisis in the ruling circles, former President Mikhail Saakashvili, who lives in Netherlands, once again announced that he will return to the country and promised to "severely punish Ivanishvili" for creating a "marasmatic system, in which he has unlimited power". Love Makes You Do Wonders When asked about what does he like about being in love, Ranbir said, "I think every human being does extraordinary things only when they are in love." Ranbir Is Geniunely In Love This Time "So I believe that love is something which is a privilege if it comes in your life and to be in happy, beautiful positive place a relationship with it could be with a girl, a guy, with a friend your mother your father or anybody but when there is some genuine love, it's really beautiful," the actor further added. Alia Has Brought Positivity In His Life On being asked what influence Alia has on his life, Ranbir said, "It's only positive and more so because we are working in a film together and I really admire her as an actor." These Qualities Of Alia Amaze Him "To see her have so much of colour, so much of spontaneity, so much of hardwork, so much of discipline (extremely disciplined) is quite rare. It's amazing." What's It's Like To Be With Alia! Ranbir further added, " It's been 10 years for me in this industry, little lethargy, a little chalta hai type attitude comes in. So it's rejuvenating for me as an actor to be with Alia." What's Common Between Ranbir & Alia? While Ranbir Kapoor loves dog, his lady love Alia is a cat person. Speaking about it, he said, "I am an animal person and she is an animal person too." Ranbir On Working With Big B & Alia In Brahmastra Brahmastra is Ayan's life. He's putting every atom and molecule of his body in this film. I got an opportunity to work with Amitabh Bachchan and Alia Bhatt. We were just doing a scene three days back where I was working with Amitji and Alia. It's so amazing to work with these two actors. They were different energies flowing. Here's seeing this icon Amitabh Bachchan and saying lines with him and this new energy Alia who's so fresh and volatile and flowing. It was quite amazing." Salman Khan surprised everyone with his cameo in Shahrukh Khan's Zero teaser for Eid and it ended up winning a lot of hearts as not everyday do we see Salman and SRK together dancing and having a good time. If that was not enough, Salman carried a 'dwarf' Shahrukh in his arms too. When asked by Mumbai Mirror as to why he chose to star in SRK's Zero teaser for Eid, Salman Khan in his humorous style stated that he's in Zero because he's a zero. "I am in Zero because I am a zero and now, Shahrukh's in the race too," said the actor while further commenting, "I had enjoyed shooting with him. When we were discussing Zero and Race, I suggested we have a little bit of both on Eid. It would be double the dhamaal." So there you go, folks! It was indeed Salman Khan's idea to star in Zero teaser as he wanted to give a double dhamaal during Eid. Well, we have no complaints and are open for many such surprises in the future. What's In The Plot The film opens with the oldest member from the 'Race' franchise making his entry. This time, Anil Kapoor isn't your Inspector Robert D'Cousta who solved cases with fruit as his steady companion. Instead, you see him here as Shamsher Singh, a mafia big-shot who deals in illegal arms and ammunition. Mind you, he's sharp as his suit. Minutes later, a voice-over introduces us to the Singh family tree. Shamsher has twin kids, Suraj (Saqib Saleem) and Sanjana (Daisy Shah). When not hangin' around a bar, they spend most of the time referring each other as 'Bro' and sulking over their ill fate. What's Race without a step-sibling? So, there you have half-brother Sikander (Salman Khan) whose favourite past-time is donning a wingsuit and jumping from skyscapers putting even Superman to shame and breaking into random Bhojpuri. Sikander has a Man Friday Yash (Bobby Deol) who is ready to take even a bullet for him. Enter Jessica (Jacqueline Fernandez). She promises to rings in a twist. Meanwhile, Suraj and Sanjana are tired of 'Siku' Sikander and are busy plotting to pack him off. But hey folks, things ain't suppose to be that easy in this land! Remo D'Souza- The Man Calling The Shots Oh Abbas-Mastan! Where are you? That's the first thought which popped in my mind post the film. I craved for their signature twists and turns throughout. The men in white were missed terribly here. Remo is saddled here with a wafer-thin plot. No amount of direction can save a badly-written piece. Period. Shiraz Ahmed's dialogues are awful and make you laugh for all the wrong reasons. Salman Khan As Sikander Dropping his shirt to show off his chiselled bod. Check. Making a passing reference to marriage. Check. A caped superhero act. Check. Donning a ganji and his signature turquoise bracelet and serading his love interest amidst the snow-capped mountains and icy blue lakes. Check. Going all blazing guns. Check. Salman tries every trick from his book to make the film work. Unfortunately, he 'khan't do it alone here. Most of time, the actor struts around cluesless trying to make out sense of what's given to him to enact. Jacqueline Fernandez As Jessica A twist revolving around Jacqueline's character at the start is so lame that even a small kid can decipher it. The actress tries to make up for her limited acting skills with a hot bod and some pole-dancing. Anil Kapoor As Shamsher The man who turns out to be the only 'lambi race ka ghoda'. Anil stands tall even when the script fails him. How we wished, we could see more of him on screen! Bobby Deol As Yash Here's some not-so-good news for all Bobby Deol fans! It is only towards the climax that it looks that it dawned on the makers that Race 3 was supposed to be a kind of 'comeback' for him. So in, they make him and Bhai show off their bronzed bodies in the desert. Too late, we are already all 'yawns'. Daisy Shah As Sanjana Surprisingly, Daisy pulls off her desi Lara Croft quite convincingly. Unfortunately, the damage occurs when she's given to mouth some ridiculous dialogues that hardly make sense. Remember 'our business is our business, none of your business?' Trust me, Race 3 has a truck load of such gems that will make you want to sink your seats forever. Saqib Saleem As Suraj While the actor looks all dapper in his formal suits, he fails to score when it comes to the acting department. The Rest Of The Cast Freddy Daruwala gets very limited scope to perform. One of the finest talents, late actor Narendra Jha makes a fleeting appearance. Sharad Saxena pulls off whatever is offered to him. Technical Aspects Ayananka Bose's cinematography is the only saving grace. His frames brighten up things when there ain't sunshine. At a run-time of around 2 hours and 45 minutes, Race 3 is a tedious watch for a thriller. Steven Bernand should have done a bit more 'chop-chop' with his scissors. Tom Struther doesn't get enough material to load in some memorable action. Nevertheless, there are few scenes that mark a mark. A word of caution- do not expect a 'Tiger Zinda Hai' here! Music One of the biggest sore-point of Race 3 are its songs. 'Selfish' and 'I Found Love' are forgetable and simply add minutes to the run-time. Heeriye is foot-thumping. A wave of nostagia hits in when 'Allah Duhai Hai' plays. 'Party Chale On' is passable. Watch Out What's Yay: Action scenes, Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan when he finally gets to drop his shirt What's Nay: Dialogues, Plot Popcorn Refill: Interval Iconic Moment: Jacqueline Fernandez and Daisy Shah's fight sequence did grab our attention but sadly, the scene lasted only for few minutes. A twist in the end succeeded in taking us by surprise. Verdict In a nutshell, Race 3 lacks the edginess of its predecessors. The twists here ain't razor sharp to get you a thrilling kick. At one point, Jaqueline's Jessica says, "Itne saare jhatke, when is this going to end man!" There you said it, girl!" All glitz and brawns and no food for the grey cells break hearts. Salman Khan fails to take this star-driven vehicle safely to the finishing mark. A not-so-perfect Eidi! I am going with one and half stars. Armaan's GF Withdraws The Case Although, Neeru had withdrawn the case, the magistrate rejected Armaan's bail application and was sent to judicial custody till June 26, 2018. The actor had already filed a petition before Bombay High Court for quashing of the complaint by mutual consent'. HC Wants Armaan To Express Remorse! According to TOI report, "A bench of Justices R M Savant and Revati Mohite Dere asked Kohli's counsel Satish Maneshinde for Kohli's affidavit to be submitted on Friday. The bench want an affidavit expressing remorse and regret'. The Actor Had Paid Monetary Compensation To His GF It is being said that according to the plea, Armaan had paid a monetary compensation to her. Adjourning the matter, the HC asked Neeru to be present at the court too. Justice Savant was quoted by the leading daily as saying, "We have to record her statement. She has to be present. We are going to record what amount she has received. This is the second such incident." Armaan & Neeru For the uninitiated, before dating Neeru, Armaan was in a relationship with Bollywood actress, Tanisha Mukherjee, but they soon parted ways. Neeru and Armaan met in 2015, in Dubai. A common friend had introduced them. The couple was in a relationship since past three years. The Ex-Bigg Boss Contestant Had Assaulted Her Before As Well! Neeru had revealed that Armaan had assaulted her before as well. She also revealed that the actor had a string of relationships where the girls have often accused him of abuse. ISTANBUL, June 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Last week, GestBest successfully completed its 4-day debut expo in Turkey. Together with Xiaomi, GearBest exhibited smartphones, 3C products of self-owned brands, and excitingly, had Oguzhan Ugur as one of the guests to share his experience with GearBest on the set, receiving enthusiastic interaction and attention among the local market and audiences. Carnival for Tech-savvy 4-day Gamesweek is an enjoyable journey for most of the tech-savvy in Istanbul. All the phenomenal players, tourists, players of all ages and technology enthusiasts, game studios, universities and leading game companies gathered together to communicate, interact and share cooperation intentions. GearBest, as a leading e-commerce platform that gathers popular game and high-tech electronic products, debuted its close communication with Turkish audiences, attracting over 10k new users on website and mobile. The arrival of the popular Youtuber Oguzhan Ugur triggered a climax for the whole event. On stage, Oguzhan Ugur shared his experience on GearBest, and gave his appraisals about Alfawise 3D printers from GearBest. The robot vacuum from Xiaomi attracted the attention from most of the exhibitors, while Oguzhan Ugur and the fans had an interaction by trying out the vacuum. "It was really interesting. I think I will try to do some review videos for gadgets from GearBest afterwards." Oguzhan said. GearBest aims at Game market Tolga Gurleyen, representing CNR on the closing ceremony expressed his welcome of GearBest. " With the participation of GearBest, we lighted up the curiosity of those tech-enthusiasts. By exhibition of the latest tech products with coupons and giveaways, GearBest brought a lot of popularity. We are looking forward to have GearBest here in Gamesweek next year." Dora Wu, project manager of GearBest, experienced personally the passion from local people. "We had a closer and in-depth communication with Turkish customers this time, and they are all very interested in our new products, especially 3D printers, robot vacuums and smart wearable devices, and can not wait to take them home at the spot." For online purchase, please visit tr.gearbest.com According to Dora Wu, GearBest has sensed the potential market in game-related products in Turkey. "We have plans to increase the SKU specially in games and provide more options to optimize shopping experience online." The participation of global e-commerce platform GearBest in Gamesweek Istanbul is a further step for GearBest to localize its business and tailor the service in the upcoming future. About GearBest Founded in 2014, GearBest is a leading global cross-border e-commerce B2C website, committed to providing great value shopping experience for global consumers. Bringing global goods to Turkey and exporting Turkish products to the world, GearBest will continuously play as a communication bridge between Turkey and the world. Website: tr.gearbest.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/705889/oguzhan_ugur.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/705890/local_audiences.jpg Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - June 15, 2018) - Manganese X Energy Corp. (TSXV: MN) (FSE: 9SC2) (TRADEGATE: 9SC2) (OTC Pink: SNCGF) ( "Manganese X" ) Manganese X wishes to clarify its latest News Release dated June 14th 2018. Mountain Springs Oil and Gas Limited ("Mountain Springs") purchase price of their first oil and gas acquisition is $17.5 million dollars. Current annual positive cash flow from this project is estimated at $3,500,000. In addition Schlumberger's technology will also be utilized on this acquisition to increase the daily output of production. Mountain Springs is in the process of evaluating additional acquisitions About Manganese X Energy Manganese X Energy's mission is to acquire and advance high potential manganese prospects located in North America with the intent of supplying value added materials to the lithium ion battery and other alternative energy industries as well as the steel industry. In addition, our company is striving to achieve new methodologies emanating with environmentally friendly green/zero emissions processes and producing manganese at a lower competitive cost. For more information, visit the website at www.manganesexenergycorp.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Martin Kepman CEO and Director martin@kepman.com 1-514-802-1814 Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains "forward-looking information" including statements with respect to the future exploration performance of the Company. This forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements of the Company, expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, as well as others, are disclosed within the Company's filing on SEDAR, which investors are encouraged to review prior to any transaction involving the securities of the Company. Forward-looking information contained herein is provided as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation, other than as required by law, to update any forward-looking information for any reason. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking information MP0250 is evaluated in combination with Velcade/Dexamethasone (VelDex) in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM) patients Five of eight patients (62.5%) with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma showed an objective response to MP0250 plus VelDex Median duration on treatment for patients with response was 22.5 weeks Main adverse events were hypertension, thrombocytopenia and upper respiratory tract infection, consistent with the known side effect profiles of Velcade and VEGF-targeting agents, respectively. Study is currently recruiting patients at a higher 12mg/kg dose of MP0250 ZURICH-SCHLIEREN, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / June 15, 2018 / Molecular Partners AG (SIX: MOLN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of drugs known as DARPin therapies*, announced today that the company will present updated preliminary results from the ongoing Phase 2 study of its lead proprietary oncology drug MP0250 at the 23th Annual Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA) in Stockholm. The ongoing, open label Phase 2 clinical study[1] is examining the safety and efficacy of MP0250 in combination with bortezomib (Velcade) and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who have failed at least two lines of standard therapies, including bortezomib and an IMiD. The study is being performed at nine centers in Germany, Poland and Italy. In the first of two cohorts, patients received MP0250 at 8mg/kg every 3 weeks (corresponding to 66% of the recommended dose) in combination with standard doses of bortezomib and dexamethasone. All patients had been pretreated with at least two lines of therapy, including an IMiD and bortezomib. 50% of those patients were considered proteasome refractory. At the data cutoff on May 21, 2018, five of eight evaluable patients achieved an objective response (4 patients with PR/partial response; 1 patient with VGPR/very good partial response). Responses were durable, with median time on treatment for responding patients of 22.5 weeks and the longest response still ongoing at 41 weeks. Main adverse events were consistent with the known side effect profile of VEGF-targeting agents and of Velcade, respectively: thrombocytopenia (4 out of 8 patients), hypertension (3 out of 8 patients) and upper respiratory infection (3 out of 8 patients). "We are very encouraged by the initial activity and the safety profile of MP0250 in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone, even at the low dose of MP0250. We have started the treatment of the first two patients with the higher dose of 12 mg/kg which may be even more effective," said Andreas Harstrick, Chief Medical Officer of Molecular Partners. Patrick Amstutz, CEO of Molecular Partners added: "These results further substantiate our development plans in multiple myeloma as well as the launch of our additional phase 1b/2 study of MP0250 in combination with osimertinib in EGFR-mutated NSCLC." The ongoing Phase study of MP0250 in multiple myeloma is currently recruiting patients at the higher dose of 12mg/kg q3weeks. Overall, a total of at least 40 patients are planned to be treated. Additional safety and efficacy data are expected by the end of 2018. An additional phase 1b/2 study will evaluate MP0250 in combination with osimertinib in patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC pretreated with osimertinib (Tagrisso). The study is conducted in the US and is open for patient enrollment[2]. Full details on the Molecular Partners' poster presentation today, from 5.30 to 7.00pm CET, at EHA Stockholm can be found on the conference website. Following its presentation at EHA, the poster will also be available one the Molecular Partners website. [1] ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03136653 [2] ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03418532 Financial Calendar August 30, 2018 - Publication of 2018 Half-year Results November 01, 2018 - Q3 2018 Management Statement http://investors.molecularpartners.com/financial-calendar-and-events/ About MP0250 MP0250 is a multi-DARPin candidate targeting simultaneously VEGF and HGF, two prominent escape pathways, and has the potential to reverse resistance that has built to standard of care cancer therapies. Increases in VEGF and HGF are associated with disease progression in multiple myeloma and have been linked to poor prognosis. They are known to be able to stimulate neovascularization, bone destruction, and myeloma proliferation, migration, and adhesion in the bone marrow. About the DARPin Difference DARPin therapeutics are a new class of protein therapeutics opening an extra dimension of multi-specificity and multi-functionality. DARPin candidates are potent, specific, safe and very versatile. They can engage more than five targets at once, offering potential benefits over those offered by conventional monoclonal antibodies or other currently available protein therapeutics. The DARPin technology is a fast and cost-effective drug discovery engine, producing drug candidates with ideal properties for development and very high production yields. With their good safety profile, low immunogenicity and long half-life in the bloodstream and the eye, DARPin therapies have the potential to advance modern medicine and significantly improve the treatment of serious diseases, including cancer and sight-threatening disorders. Molecular Partners is partnering with Allergan to advance clinical programs in ophthalmology and is advancing a proprietary pipeline of DARPin drug candidates in oncology. The most advanced global product candidate is abicipar, a molecule currently in phase 3, in partnership with Allergan. Several DARPin molecules for various ophthalmic indications are also in development. The most advanced systemic DARPin molecule, MP0250, is in phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of solid tumors and hematological tumors. MP0274, the second-most advanced DARPin drug candidate in oncology, has broad anti-HER activity; it inhibits HER1, HER2, and HER3-mediated downstream signaling via Her2, leading to induction of apoptosis. MP0274 is currently in phase 1. Molecular Partners is also advancing a growing preclinical pipeline that features several immuno-oncological development programs. DARPin is a registered trademark owned by Molecular Partners AG. About Molecular Partners AG Molecular Partners AG is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that is developing a new class of therapies known as DARPin therapies. With a management team that includes many of the founding scientists, the company continues to attract talented individuals who share the passion to develop breakthrough medicines for serious diseases. Molecular Partners has compounds in various stages of clinical and preclinical development and several more in the research stage, with a current focus on ophthalmology and oncology. The company establishes research and development partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies and is backed by established biotech investors. For more information regarding Molecular Partners AG, go to www.molecularpartners.com. For further details, please contact: Dr. Patrick Amstutz, CEO patrick.amstutz@molecularpartners.com Tel: +41 (0) 44 755 77 00 Andreas.Emmenegger, CFO andreas.emmenegger@molecularpartners.com Tel: +41 (0) 44 755 77 00 Thomas Schneckenburger, IR Europe thomas.schneckenburger@molecularpartners.com Tel: +41 (0) 44 755 5728 Susan A. Noonan, IR USA susan@sanoonan.com Tel: +1 212 966 3650 *DARPin is a registered trademark owned by Molecular Partners AG Disclaimer This communication does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for or purchase any securities of Molecular Partners AG. This publication may contain certain forward-looking statements and assessments or intentions concerning the company and its business. Such statements involve certain risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Readers should therefore not place reliance on these statements, particularly not in connection with any contract or investment decision. The company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, assessments or intentions. SOURCE: Molecular Partners AG 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. Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in the United States, Canada, Japan or Australia Regulatory News: Europcar Mobility Group S.A. (Paris:EUCAR) ("Europcar Mobility Group"), a societe anonyme organized under the laws of France, announced today the launch of an offering of 2.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2022 by EC Finance Plc in an aggregate principal amount of 150 million (the "Notes The Notes will be issued as additional notes under the same indenture as the 350 million 2.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2022 issued by EC Finance Plc in November 2017. The gross proceeds from the issuance of the Notes, will be used to fund, through a financial intermediary, a loan to Securitifleet Holding under the Additional Securitifleet Proceeds Loan Agreement. Securitifleet Holding will apply such proceeds, together with an estimated 26.3 million to be drawn progressively under the Senior Asset Revolving Facility, to provide fleet financing through the securitization program so as to gradually integrate newly acquired Goldcar Opco fleet vehicles, thereby over time replacing the Goldcar Asset Backed Facility, which is scheduled to mature in 2019. The transaction will enable Europcar Mobility Group to proactively manage the financing of its fleet vehicles across all of its business units. Disclaimer The distribution of this press release may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. Persons into whose possession this document comes are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions. This announcement is an advertisement and not a prospectus within the meaning of Directive 2003/71/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of November 4th, 2003 and amendments thereto (the "Prospectus Directive"). No action is or will be taken in any member state of the European Economic Area to make an offer to the public of securities requiring the publication of a prospectus in any such member state. This press release does not, and shall not, in any circumstances constitute a public offering by Europcar Mobility Group of Notes nor an invitation to the public in connection with any offer. No action has been or will be taken in any country or jurisdiction that would permit a public offering of the Notes, or the possession or distribution of this press release or any other offering or publicity material relating to the Notes, in any country or jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The offering or subscription of the Notes may be subject to specific legal or regulatory restrictions in certain jurisdictions. Europcar Mobility Group does not take any responsibility for any violation of any such restrictions by any person. The Notes will be offered only to qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive. No action has been undertaken or will be undertaken to make an offer to the public of the Notes requiring a publication of a prospectus in any Member State. As a result, the Notes may only be offered in a Member State: (a) to qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive; (b) to fewer than 150, natural or legal persons (other than "qualified investors" as defined in the Prospectus Directive), in accordance with the Prospectus Directive; or (c) in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive. The Notes will not be offered or sold, and this press release or any other offering or publicity material relating to the Notes may not be distributed, in France, except to (i) providers of investment services of portfolio management for the account of third parties and/or (ii) qualified investors (Investisseurs Qualifies) acting for their own account, other than individuals, all as defined in, and in accordance with, Articles L.411-1, L.411-2 and D.411-1 of the French Code Monetaire et Financier This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of offers to purchase or subscribe for, securities in the United States. The Notes have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state or local securities laws. Europcar Mobility Group has no intention to register any portion of the planned offer in the United States or to conduct a public offering of securities in the United States. This announcement is directed only at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom; (ii) persons 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, as amended (the "Financial Promotion Order"); (iii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Financial Promotion Order and (iv) persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) in connection with the issue or sale of any Notes may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). Any person other than a Relevant Person may not act or rely on this document or any provision thereof. Persons distributing this document must satisfy themselves that it is lawful to do so. This press release may not be published, forwarded or distributed in the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. MiFID II Product governance According to the product governance requirements contained within: (a) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended ("MiFID II"); (b) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II; and (c) local implementing measures, the target market assessment in respect of the Notes offered in the global offering has led to the conclusion that: (i) the target market of the Notes is eligible counterparties and professional clients, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) all channels for distribution of the Notes to eligible counterparties and professional clients are appropriate (the "Target Market Assessment"). Any person subsequently offering, selling or recommending the Notes (a "distributor") should take into consideration the manufacturer's Target Market Assessment; however, a distributor subject to MiFID II is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Notes (by either adopting or refining the manufacturer's Target Market Assessment) and determining appropriate distribution channels. The Target Market Assessment is conducted solely for the purposes of the manufacturer's product approval process and neither constitutes an assessment for any particular client of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II nor a recommendation to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Notes. Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, the attention of distributors is drawn to the fact that: the price of the Notes may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Notes offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and that an investment in the Notes is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who are capable (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. This press release may include projections and other "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any such projections or statements reflect the current views of Europcar Mobility Group about further events and financial performance. No assurances can be given that such events or performance will occur as project and actual results may differ materially from these projections. About Europcar Mobility Group Europcar Mobility Group is a major player in mobility markets and listed on Euronext Paris. The mission of Europcar Mobility Group is to be the preferred "Mobility Service Company" by offering alternative attractive solutions to vehicle ownership, with a wide range of mobility-related services: car-rental, vans and trucks rental, chauffeur services, car-sharing and peer-to-peer. Customers' satisfaction is at the heart of the Group's mission and all of its employees and this commitment fuels the continuous development of new services. Europcar Mobility Group operates through multi brands meeting every customer specific needs; its 4 major brands being: Europcar the European leader in vehicle rental services, Goldcar the most important low-cost car-rental company in Europe, InterRent 'mid-tier' brand focused on leisure and Ubeeqo a European company specializing in fleet and mobility solutions for both the business and the end-customers market. Europcar Mobility Group delivers its mobility solutions worldwide solutions through an extensive network in 133 countries (including 16 wholly owned subsidiaries in Europe, 2 in Australia and New Zealand, franchises and partners). Further details on our website: europcar-group.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180614006430/en/ Contacts: Europcar Mobility Group Press relations Valerie Sauteret Marie-Anne Benardais +33 1 30 80 20 92 92 europcarpressoffice@europcar.com or Europcar Mobility Group Investor relations Olivier Gernandt +33 1 80 20 91 81 olivier.gernandt@europcar.com Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in the United States, Canada, Japan or Australia Regulatory News: In connection with the announcement today of the launch by Europcar Mobility Group S.A. ("Europcar Mobility Group") (Paris:EUCAR) of an offering of 150 million 2.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2022, Europcar Mobility Group provides the following additional information: S ummary Consolidated Financial Information and Other Data for Europcar Mobility Group S.A, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition Risks Related to the Acquisitions and the Group's Acquisition Strategy, Use of Proceeds, Capitalization of the Group, Principal Shareholders, Description of Certain Europcar Financing Arrangements, Guarantors, and and Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information. This information is available online on Europcar's finance website: https://finance.europcar-group.com/ (section "Financial Documentation", sub-section item "Debt"). Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in the United States, Canada, Japan or Australia Disclaimer The distribution of this press release may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. Persons into whose possession this document comes are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions. This announcement is an advertisement and not a prospectus within the meaning of Directive 2003/71/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of November 4th, 2003 and amendments thereto (the "Prospectus Directive"). No action is or will be taken in any member state of the European Economic Area to make an offer to the public of securities requiring the publication of a prospectus in any such member state. This press release does not, and shall not, in any circumstances constitute a public offering by Europcar Mobility Group of Notes nor an invitation to the public in connection with any offer. No action has been or will be taken in any country or jurisdiction that would permit a public offering of the Notes, or the possession or distribution of this press release or any other offering or publicity material relating to the Notes, in any country or jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The offering or subscription of the Notes may be subject to specific legal or regulatory restrictions in certain jurisdictions. Europcar Mobility Group does not take any responsibility for any violation of any such restrictions by any person. The Notes will be offered only to qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive. No action has been undertaken or will be undertaken to make an offer to the public of the Notes requiring a publication of a prospectus in any Member State. As a result, the Notes may only be offered in a Member State: (a) to qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive; (b) to fewer than 150, natural or legal persons (other than "qualified investors" as defined in the Prospectus Directive), in accordance with the Prospectus Directive; or (c) in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive. The Notes will not be offered or sold, and this press release or any other offering or publicity material relating to the Notes may not be distributed, in France, except to (i) providers of investment services of portfolio management for the account of third parties and/or (ii) qualified investors (Investisseurs Qualifies) acting for their own account, other than individuals, all as defined in, and in accordance with, Articles L.411-1, L.411-2 and D.411-1 of the French Code Monetaire et Financier This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of offers to purchase or subscribe for, securities in the United States. The Notes have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state or local securities laws. Europcar Mobility Group has no intention to register any portion of the planned offer in the United States or to conduct a public offering of securities in the United States. Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in the United States, Canada, Japan or Australia This announcement is directed only at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom; (ii) persons 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, as amended (the "Financial Promotion Order"); (iii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Financial Promotion Order and (iv) persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) in connection with the issue or sale of any Notes may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). Any person other than a Relevant Person may not act or rely on this document or any provision thereof. Persons distributing this document must satisfy themselves that it is lawful to do so. This press release may not be published, forwarded or distributed in the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. MiFID II Product governance According to the product governance requirements contained within: (a) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended ("MiFID II"); (b) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II; and (c) local implementing measures, the target market assessment in respect of the Notes offered in the global offering has led to the conclusion that: (i) the target market of the Notes is eligible counterparties and professional clients, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) all channels for distribution of the Notes to eligible counterparties and professional clients are appropriate (the "Target Market Assessment"). Any person subsequently offering, selling or recommending the Notes (a "distributor") should take into consideration the manufacturer's Target Market Assessment; however, a distributor subject to MiFID II is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Notes (by either adopting or refining the manufacturer's Target Market Assessment) and determining appropriate distribution channels. The Target Market Assessment is conducted solely for the purposes of the manufacturer's product approval process and neither constitutes an assessment for any particular client of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II nor a recommendation to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Notes. Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, the attention of distributors is drawn to the fact that: the price of the Notes may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Notes offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and that an investment in the Notes is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who are capable (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. This press release may include projections and other "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any such projections or statements reflect the current views of Europcar Mobility Group about further events and financial performance. No assurances can be given that such events or performance will occur as project and actual results may differ materially from these projections. About Europcar Mobility Group Europcar Mobility Group is a major player in mobility markets and listed on Euronext Paris. The mission of Europcar Mobility Group is to be the preferred "Mobility Service Company" by offering alternative attractive solutions to vehicle ownership, with a wide range of mobility-related services: car-rental, vans and trucks rental, chauffeur services, car-sharing and peer-to-peer. Customers' satisfaction is at the heart of the Group's mission and all of its employees and this commitment fuels the continuous development of new services. Europcar Mobility Group operates through multi brands meeting every customer specific needs; its 4 major brands being: Europcar the European leader in vehicle rental services, Goldcar the most important low-cost car-rental company in Europe, InterRent 'mid-tier' brand focused on leisure and Ubeeqo a European company specializing in fleet and mobility solutions for both the business and the end-customers market. Europcar Mobility Group delivers its mobility solutions worldwide solutions through an extensive network in 133 countries (including 16 wholly owned subsidiaries in Europe, 2 in Australia and New Zealand, franchises and partners). Further details on our website : europcar-group.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180614006434/en/ Contacts: Europcar Mobility Group Press relations Valerie Sauteret Marie-Anne Benardais +33 1 80 20 92 92 europcarpressoffice@europcar.com or Europcar Mobility Group Investor relations Olivier Gernandt +33 1 80 20 91 81 olivier.gernandt@europcar.com Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan plans to visit Brussels on a working visit in the near future. "There will be meetings with high-ranking officials of the European Union. In these events, which will be held in Brussels, I will also take part. In the near future there will be other visits," Pashinyan said. The prime minister assured that the government will conduct a very active foreign policy. "In foreign policy there will be no turns and reverses. Our foreign policy will develop as I said in the National Assembly, acting as a candidate for the post of prime minister. I also spoke about the foreign policy course during the discussion of the government program," News.am cited him as saying. Consumers can purchase Danalock V3 HomeKit for use With iPhone and iPad at Apple retail and online stores across Europe Danalock, a leading provider of smart lock solutions for smart homes and businesses, announced today that the HomeKit version of its Danalock V3 smart lock is now available for purchase in Apple retail and online stores in more than 20 countries across Europe. Danalock V3 is the first and only available retrofit smart lock compatible with Apple HomeKit and Home app on the European market, enabling European users to add a wireless smart lock to their HomeKit ecosystem and easily control access to their home with their iPhone and/or iPad. With its simple Danish design and advanced AES-256 encryption algorithm, Danalock offers a secure yet elegant door-locking experience. Danalock V3 HomeKit is a globally compatible retrofit smart lock that is mounted on the inside of the door, enabling users to use a regular key for locking and unlocking the door if needed. Unlike other smart lock solutions that store access keys in memory, Danalock uses a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip, which is the same encryption technology used by governments and military to secure data. Consumers using the HomeKit ecosystem need not worry about remembering their key when leaving home. They just bring along their iPhone or iPad and use Siri voice commands or Apple's Home app to unlock the door. Additionally, users can personalize and manage the Danalock smart lock via a single app, so as to give keyless access to family members. For added convenience, users can connect the Danalock with other HomeKit accessories such as cameras, lights, thermostats, switches and security systems. "The launch of Danalock V3 HomeKit across numerous Apple online and retail stores enables us to answer the strong European demand for a smart lock that is compatible with the HomeKit home automation ecosystem," said Henning Overgaard, CEO and co-founder of Danalock. "Our Danalock V3 is the first and only available retrofit smart lock compatible with HomeKit on the European market and will provide consumers an entry point for connecting other smart devices and granting secure home access to service providers." Availability and Pricing The Danalock V3 HomeKit version is available at more than 40 Apple retail stores in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, and the UK; online at more than 20 Apple stores; and from the Danalock web shop at http://shop.danalock.com/products/7-danalock-v3/. For pricing, please consult your local Apple online store at www.apple.com. For more information on Danalock V3, visit https://danalock.com/danalock-v3.html. About Danalock Danalock is a leader in smart, secure access control solutions for residential and business. With more than 10 years' experience in the smart lock industry, Danalock now provides a full family of elegantly designed and secure smart lock products compatible with any standard door throughout the world and supports an unrivaled array of home automation protocols. With headquarters in Denmark, Danalock is the preferred partner for service providers, a variety of home delivery and cleaning services, and rental and hospitality companies all over the world. For more information, visit www.danalock.com or follow @Danalockdk. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180615005075/en/ Contacts: Hughes Communications, Inc. Angie Hatfield, 425-941-2895 angie@hughescom.net Theresa May faces a confrontation with pro-EU Conservative rebels after abandoning a compromise over how parliament should be consulted at the end of Brexit negotiations. After two days of talks ministers said they would not accept demands from more than a dozen rebels that parliament should be able to influence the direction of Brexit in a case of no deal. Instead, the government published an amendment to its main legislation that critics said would give MPs less control. - The Times The lack ... Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. London stocks were set to edge up at the open on Friday as investors digest the latest developments between the US and China. The FTSE 100 was called to open 10 points higher at 7,775 amid reports that US President Trump has approved $50bn worth of tariffs on the import of goods from China. The approval followed a 90-minute meeting on Thursday of Senior White House officials, national security officials and senior representatives of the Treasury, Commerce Department, and US Trade ... 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. Public Affairs Division Global Communications Department Toyota Motor Corporation Tel: +81-3-3817-9926 TOKYO, June 15, 2018 - (JCN Newswire) - Full-scale implementation of the advanced automatic collision notification system D-Call Net is now underway at approximately 730 locations within Japan. A trial service has been ongoing since November 2015, whereby base hospitals and air ambulances have prepared systems to transmit fatal and serious injury probability data from vehicles to all fire departments within the trial area. The certified non-profit organization Emergency Medical Network of Helicopter and Hospital (HEM-Net), Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota), Honda Motor Co., Ltd., (Honda), and Japan Mayday Service Co., Ltd. (HELPNET) have cooperated on this project.At the start of the trial, there were 10 cooperating hospitals in 9 prefectures (with 9 air ambulances), and now, there are 42 hospitals in 31 prefectures (with 37 air ambulances). This is equivalent to approximately 70 percent of the total 61 base hospitals with air ambulances nationwide (including base/cooperating hospitals). In addition to planning further expansion of cooperating hospitals, the system will be made more effective by improving data transmission methods to hospitals.As new service providers, Bosch Service Solutions (Bosch) and Premier Aid Inc. (Premier Aid) will participate in D-Call Net to make preparations for the start of service. With vehicle connectivity rapidly progressing, the service will be expanded to more vehicles as a Japan-wide initiative, including customers with imported vehicles.Message from HEM-Net Chairman of the Board Nobuo Shinoda, D-Call Net representative organization"The key to emergency medical treatment for people seriously injured in traffic accidents is provision of the necessary treatment as quickly as possible. For that reason, to accurately and promptly implement a 'traffic accident--transportation--start of medical treatment' cycle, HEM-Net, Toyota, Honda, and Japan Mayday Service conducted a trial operation of D-Call Net for approximately two years starting in November 2015. With cooperation from the relevant agencies such as fire departments and hospitals, a system has now been put in place for the full-scale start of nationwide operation. Trial results show that D-Call Net can reduce air ambulance dispatch time by 17 minutes. With planned participation from Bosch and Premier Aid, we want to contribute to an improvement in the number of lives saved throughout Japan by introducing D-Call Net support into as many vehicles as possible."About D-Call NetD-Call Net, commonly referred to as an AACN (Advanced Automatic Collision Notification), is an advanced automatic collision notification system that uses vehicle connectivity technology. It estimates the probability of fatal and serious injuries by making an automatic analysis of data from both vehicles in an accident based on approximately 2.8 million accident data cases in Japan. The aim is to increase the number of lives saved after traffic accidents by making immediate dispatch decisions with air and ground ambulances through reporting to fire departments and cooperating hospitals.About ToyotaToyota Motor Corporation (TMC) is the global mobility company that introduced the Prius hybrid-electric car in 1997 and the first mass-produced fuel cell sedan, Mirai, in 2014. Headquartered in Toyota City, Japan, Toyota has been making cars since 1937. Today, Toyota proudly employs 370,000 employees in communities around the world. Together, they build around 10 million vehicles per year in 29 countries, from mainstream cars and premium vehicles to mini-vehicles and commercial trucks, and sell them in more than 170 countries under the brands Toyota, Lexus, Daihatsu and Hino. For more information, please visit www.toyota-global.com.Source: ToyotaContact:Copyright 2018 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Mitsubishi Corporation Telephone: +81 3 3210 2171 Facsimile: +81 3 5252 7705 TOKYO, June 15, 2018 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) is pleased to announce that it has agreed with Anglo American plc (AA) to acquire an additional 21.9% equity interest in Anglo American Quellaveco S.A. (AAQSA), which owns the Quellaveco copper mine project in Peru (Quellaveco). This investment will increase MC's total interest in AAQSA to 40%.MC acquired a 18.1% interest in AAQSA in 2012. Subject to required regulatory approvals and AA's board approval to develop the Quellaveco project, MC will acquire an additional 21.9% equity interest for a consideration of US$500 million(1). Closing of the Transaction is expected to be within the second quarter in FY2018, and development of the project will commence later this year, with estimated first copper production in 2022.Quellaveco is one of the world's largest undeveloped copper deposits, with high cost competitiveness and containing approximately 7.5 million tonnes (content metal basis) of copper in Ore Reserves. The Transaction is expected to increase MC's attributable copper production by approximately 120,000 tonnes per year.Copper is widely used in electrical networks, automobile parts, and consumer electronics, and has become a material critical in supporting modern lifestyles and infrastructure. Growth in global copper demand is expected to remain steady, fueled by infrastructure and electronic network development in emerging countries, as well as growth in the global electric vehicle market centered around China and Europe.MC's existing participation in world-class copper mining assets with high resource volumes, quality, and potential for further expansion, in light of such increasing global demand, makes copper one of the core areas in MC's resources business. Through the successful development of Quellaveco, MC will secure a highly competitive copper asset ensuring stable supply in order to respond to the long-term needs of society. MC is committed to meeting stakeholders' expectations, while achieving a balanced realization of economic, social, and environmental values for the sustainable growth of the company.(1) The consideration will be settled upon closing by way of a primary share subscription in AAQSA. An additional contingent consideration shall be made upon the successful achievement of two ore treatment expansions, total of US$100 million.About Mitsubishi CorporationMitsubishi Corporation (MC; TSE: 8058) is a global integrated business enterprise that develops and operates businesses across virtually every industry, including industrial finance, energy, metals, machinery, chemicals, and daily living essentials. MC's current activities have expanded far beyond its traditional trading operations to include investments and business management in diverse fields including natural resources development, manufacturing of industrial goods, retail, new energy, infrastructure, finance and new technology-related businesses.With over 200 offices and subsidiaries in 90 countries and regions worldwide and a network of approximately 1,300 group companies, MC employs a multinational workforce of over 70,000 people.For more information, visit https://www.mitsubishicorp.com/jp/en/Source: Mitsubishi CorporationContact:Copyright 2018 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Specialist healthcare group BTG received some bad news overnight from an advisory committee to the US drug regulator, which voted against the approval of its treatment for severe emphysema. The US Food & Drug Administration's anaesthesiology and respiratory therapy devices panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee did not give their backing to the approval of the Elevair endobronchial coil system for the treatment of people with severe emphysema, known as PneumRX Coils in Europe. The coils ... 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. ALBANY, New York, June 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The global fire resistant hydraulic fluid market was valued at around US$ 1.2 Bn in 2017 and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of nearly 4% from 2018 to 2026, according to a new report by Transparency Market Research (TMR) titled 'Fire Resistant Hydraulic Fluid Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2017-2026.' Fire resistant hydraulic fluids are hydraulic fluids with high fire resistance and much higher combustion temperatures vis-a-vis mineral oils. Mineral oils and petroleum-based hydraulic fluids are not used in applications where they can potentially come in contact with hot surfaces or open flames due to their high flammability. In such cases, fire resistant hydraulic fluids are preferred due to their inherently high fire resistance property. However, selection of the right fire resistant hydraulic fluid can often become a trade-off between hydraulic fluid performance characteristics and the system requirements in order to minimize costs and maximize health & safety benefits at the same time. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/664869/Transparency_Market_Research_Logo.jpg ) Request a Sample of Fire Resistant Hydraulic Fluid Market:https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=30020 Increase in Industrialization and Rise in Demand in Aviation Industry Projected to Drive Fire Resistant Hydraulic Fluid Market Rapid industrialization and growth in the aviation industry are expected to be key drivers of the fire resistant hydraulic fluid market. Industrialization is anticipated to boost the metal processing industry, which is a major application area of these fluids. Expansion in the aviation sector, especially in developing countries, is estimated to propel the demand for these fluids. Increase in concerns about worker safety and rise in awareness about industrial fires are also key drivers of the fire resistant hydraulic fluid market. Large number of industrial fires have occurred in the past due to the accidental spraying of mineral oil onto ignition sources. Therefore, the industry is now focusing on fluids that can help avoid these accidents, which are threat to not only industrial equipment but also pose grave danger to workers, operators, and the environment. However, high prices of fire resistant hydraulic fluids vis-a-vis petroleum-based hydraulic fluids is likely to restraint the market. View in-depth table of contents for this report @https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/30020 Bio-based fire resistant hydraulic fluids offer lucrative opportunities to the market due to the rise in environmental concerns and increase in awareness about pollution control. This is expected to encourage manufacturers to shift their focus toward bio-based fluids, as these are more environment-friendly and less polluting vis-a-vis other fire resistant hydraulic fluids. Water-based and Metal Processing Segments Expected to Lead Global Fire Resistant Hydraulic Fluid Market The fire resistant hydraulic fluid market can be segmented based on product type and application. In terms of product type, the fire resistant hydraulic fluid market can be classified into water-based and anhydrous-based. The water-based segment can be further sub-segmented into oil-in-water emulsions (ISO HFA), water-in-oil emulsions (ISO HFB), and water glycol fluids (ISO HFC), while anhydrous-based can be sub-segmented into phosphate esters (ISO HFDR), PAG, and polyol esters. Water-based was the dominant segment, accounting for more than 75% share in terms of value in 2017. It is expected to continue its dominance during the forecast period. The anhydrous-based segment is likely to expand at a fast pace during the forecast period. Request for Multiple Chapters on Fire Resistant Hydraulic Fluid Market:https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=MC&rep_id=30020 Growth in Steel Industry to Fuel Metal Processing Application Segment Based on application, the fire resistant hydraulic fluid market can be divided into metal processing, aviation, marine, mining, and others. The metal processing segment dominated the global fire resistant hydraulic fluid market with more than 40.0% share in 2017. This trend is projected to continue during the forecast period. The segment is anticipated to expand at a significant pace in the near future, primarily due to the increase in industrialization and expansion in the global steel industry and steel output. Get PDF Brochure for more Professional & Technical industry insights:https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=30020 Rise in Demand from Application Segments in Asia Pacific Anticipated to Drive Fire Resistant Hydraulic Fluid Market In terms of region, the fire resistant hydraulic fluid market can be split into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. Asia Pacific held the leading share of more than 35% of the global fire resistant hydraulic fluid market in 2017. This can be ascribed to the dominance of China across all major application segments of fire resistant hydraulic fluids. The market in Asia Pacific is likely to expand at a significant pace during the forecast period, primarily due to the presence of developing economies such as China, which is the global leader in major application areas; and India, whose economy is growing at a significant pace. Few Major Players Dominate Fire Resistant Hydraulic Fluid Market Key players covered in this report are Exxon Mobil Corporation, BASF SE, Castrol Limited, American Chemical Technologies, Inc., The Dow Chemical Company, Quaker Chemical Corporation, Southwestern Petroleum Corporation, Eastman Chemical Company, Total, Houghton International Inc., SINOPEC, MORESCO Corporation, and Idemitsu. Ask for Discount on Premium Research Report (US$ 5795) With Complete TOC:https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=30020 Fire Resistant Hydraulic Fluid Market, by Product Type Water-based Oil-in-water Emulsions (ISO HFA) Water-in-oil Emulsions (ISO HFB) Water Glycol Fluids (ISO HFC) Anhydrous-based Phosphate Esters (ISO HFDR) PAG Polyol Esters Fire Resistant Hydraulic Fluid Market, by Application Metal Processing Aviation Marine Mining Others Browse Popular Research Reports by TMR: Green Petroleum Coke Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/green-petroleum-coke-market.html Phosphoric Acid Market:https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/phosphoric-acid-market.html About Us Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. Contact State Tower, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany NY - 12207 United States Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA- Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email:sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Research Blog: https://cmfenews.com/ Specialist staffing business SThree posted an 11% jump in first-half gross profit on Friday thanks to strong growth in Continental Europe and a good performance in the US. In the six months to 31 May, gross profit rose to 148.4m from 134.4m in the same period a year ago, with profit in the contract business up 14% to 106.7m and profit in the permanent business up 4% to 41.7m. Continental Europe saw gross profits increase 18% to 83.9m, while profit in the USA was 9% higher at 29.5m, ... 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. HANNOVER, Germany, June 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- June 13, 2018, At CEBIT 2018, Huawei release the SAP HANA Tailored Datacenter Integration (TDI) solution. This elastic, reliable, and efficient solution fully satisfies the data center and business consolidation needs of large enterprises. Based on Huawei's high-end all-flash storage OceanStor Dorado18000 V3 and KunLun Mission Critical Server, the highly reliable high-performance HANA TDI solution is the most powerful SAP HANA infrastructure solution in the industry. It supports up to 200 SAP HANA nodes, and each node can be expanded to 32 TB, which is the highest among all SAP certified infrastructures. Utilizing the RAS2.0 technology, Huawei KunLun Mission Critical Server provides industry-leading reliability. Huawei OceanStor Dorado18000 V3 ensures end-to-end high availability of SAP services. Together, they lay the foundation for the most reliable high-performance SAP HANA TDI solution in the industry. Huawei's SAP HANA TDI solution adopts the OceanStor Dorado V3 and OceanStor 5000F V5 series all-flash storage systems, enables SAP HANA databases to be seamlessly integrated into existing data center architecture. This allows the databases to offer robust flexibility, unwavering reliability, and efficient management and maintenance. In addition, existing data center IT investments and processes can be reused to reduce the TCO. With superb elasticity, reliability, and efficiency, this newly released solution helps enterprises build converged data centers that support on-demand resource expansion. The solution provides shared storage resource pools for multiple services to improve resource utilization, and offers the industry's best scalability of up to 200 nodes for enterprise storage, certified by SAP, to support the rapid growth of enterprise business. In addition, the solution uses dedicated management plug-ins to work with the SAP Landscape Management (LaMa) management platform, automatically manages SAP applications, databases, networks, and IT infrastructures from end to end, and takes advantage of Huawei storage snapshots to increase the setup speed of the development and testing environment by 10 times compared with the traditional mode. Focusing on enterprise analysis applications, SAP HANA, launched by SAP in 2011, is a product based on in-memory computing, which supports real-time application and analysis operations. This speeds up both business intelligence and complex computing. To provide robust flexibility, SAP defines the TDI mode for HANA deployment. Therefore, enterprises can choose to run HANA hardware components based on their needs and deploy the SAP HANA system using the TDI solution. Meng Guangbin, President of Huawei's Storage Product Line, states, "Huawei is the storage vendor to put NVMe into commercial use. Specifically designed for the heavily-loaded critical applications, Huawei's all-flash storage meets the storage requirements of enterprise-class applications such as databases, virtual desktops, and server virtualization. This allows it to effectively meet solid-reliability and high-performance standards in SAP HANA scenarios. Huawei will work with SAP to build a high-performance data processing platform that helps enterprises accelerate core data processing." Marco Ciavarella, Director of SAP EMEA South Region says, "SAP HANA TDI solution seamlessly integrate HANA databases into current data center architecture. Huawei's SAP HANA TDI solution is an important infrastructure platform that hosts all SAP applications based on SAP-certified servers and storage products. Huawei's all-flash storage performed excellently during SAP certification, making it ideal for large-scale SAP service integration. We are pleased to work with Huawei to provide a comprehensive HANA TDI solution, which makes customer services more intelligent and efficient." Huawei together with its partners and customers is showcasing new digital transformation solutions to orchestrate a digital symphony at CEBIT from June 11-15 in Germany, the home of classical music. It is also hosting activities and sharing best practices around Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, Internet of Things (IoT) and Software-Defined Networking (SDN), all of which play a critical role in today's digital transformation. Huawei's booth is at Area C01 in Hall 13, Hannover Exhibition Center, Germany. For more information about Huawei at CEBIT, please visit http://e.huawei.com/topic/cebit2018-en/index.html. To learn more about Huawei's worldwide customer cases using "Leading New ICT", please visit http://e.huawei.com/topic/leading-new-ict-en/index.html. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/706397/Huawei_Releases_the_HANA_TDI_Solution.jpg Today Azerbaijan is celebrating the National Salvation Day. Azerbaijan gained independence in October 1991. The first years of the country's independence were characterized by the crisis within the country and in the government. Chaos occupied all the spheres of social life. The situation in the army worsened and the number of deserters increased. Armenian aggression was increasing day after day. The complicated socio-political situation created real threat of civil war in Azerbaijan in June 1993. Heydar Aliyev, who was the speaker of the Nakhchivan Supreme Majlis in that time, accepted the insistent invitation of the government and came to Baku on June 9. Taking the mission to shield the country from the civil war, Heydar Aliyev left for Ganja at the risk of his life and as a result of negotiations he prevented the extension of civil confrontation. On June 15, 1993, Heydar Aliyev was elected chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament. This was the beginning of a new successful phase in contemporary history of Azerbaijan. June 15 entered the history of Azerbaijan as the National Salvation Day. This day has been celebrated as the national holiday in Azerbaijan since 1997. HANNOVER, Germany, June 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- At CEBIT 2018, Huawei released its 4.5G-based, 5G-oriented eLTE Discrete Spectrum Aggregation (eLTE-DSA) solution. This solution provides energy companies with ubiquitous all-service Internet of Energy through fast wireless access, low latency, greater connectivity and reduced power consumption. At the event, Jerry Ji, President of the Energy Industry of Huawei Enterprise Business Group said: "Huawei has proposed the vision of 'Leading New ICT, Bits Drive Watts' in the electric industry. Huawei is committed to bringing digital technologies to every electric power company. At CEBIT 2018, Huawei debuted many smart grid innovations including the eLTE-DSA which is a killer technology to optimize power distribution and consumption." As energy consumption increases globally and we move towards renewable energy sources, the implementation of the Internet of Energy (IoE) will become an important way to advance the energy revolution, driving clean energy and sustainable energy development. The Internet of Things (IoT) is the foundation for the IoE, and with clear advantages in security, reliability, ubiquity, economy, and flexibility, private wireless networks have proven to be the ideal access solutions to develop the IoE. Spectrum is a critical component for building private wireless networks and poses challenges when deploying these networks. Traditional narrowband solutions based on VHF (30 MHz to 300 MHz) and UHF (300 MHz to 3000 MHz) bands are flawed with low data rates, long latency, small capacity, which means they are unable to meet the demand for sustaining IoE growth. Huawei has designed the eLTE-DSA solution to overcome the obstacles of traditional narrowband solutions and support IoE developments through leading advantages in Wireless Communications developed over the years. By aggregating discrete narrowband resources, this solution achieves access with an end-to-end delay as low as 20 ms and a huge capacity of up to 4,000 users in a single cell. The transmission rates reach kbit/s to Mbit/s and the module power consumption is as low as 0.15W. This solution noticeably improves spectrum efficiency, capacity and performance of the networks, enabling the energy industry to move seamlessly towards 5G-oriented IoE. Eric Sun, President of Huawei Enterprise Wireless Business, said: "Going wireless will provide the foundation for the Internet of Energy. 4.5G technology will enable the Internet of Things, and 5G will accelerate the connection of people and things. With leading technological advantages in 4.5G and 5G, Huawei has successfully developed the 4.5G-based, 5G-oriented eLTE-DSA solution." Looking to the future, as a leader in the ICT infrastructure industry, Huawei will continue to work with an open mind to help customers create greater value, to build a better connected world, and to inspire infinite opportunities and possibilities. Huawei together with its partners and customers is showcasing new digital transformation solutions to orchestrate a digital symphony at CEBIT from June 11-15 in Germany, the home of classical music. It is also hosting activities and sharing best practices around Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, Internet of Things (IoT) and Software-Defined Networking (SDN), all of which play a critical role in today's digital transformation. Huawei's booth is at Area C01 in Hall 13, Hannover Exhibition Center, Germany. For more information about Huawei at CEBIT, please visit http://e.huawei.com/topic/cebit2018-en/index.html. To learn more about Huawei's worldwide customer cases using "Leading New ICT", please visit http://e.huawei.com/topic/leading-new-ict-en/index.html. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/706399/HUAWEI_eLTE_DSA.jpg Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 15, 2018) - Global UAV Technologies Ltd. (CSE: UAV) (OTC: YRLLF) (FSE: YAB2) (the "Company" or "Global UAV"), wishes to provide a further update on the non-brokered private placement of units (the "Units") of the Company for gross proceeds of up to C$1,500,000 (the "Offering") previously disclosed in its news releases of June 5, 2018 and June 13, 2018. In connection with the Offering, Michael Burns, the Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company, has completed a further sale (the "Sale") on June 14, 2018 of an aggregate 2,000,000 common shares of the Company at C$0.09 per share in pre-arranged trades through the facilities of the Canadian Securities Exchange. The proceeds from the Sale will be used to subscribe for a corresponding number of Units under the Offering. Michael Burns had previously completed the sale of an aggregate 3,325,000 common shares on June 12, 2018 in connection with the Offering, as disclosed in the Company's June 13, 2018 news release. As noted in the prior news releases and in connection with the Sale, an insider of the Company will be subscribing for greater than 25% of the Offering. The issuance of securities to an insider pursuant to the Offering is considered to be a related party transaction subject to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Offering is exempt from the need to obtain minority shareholder approval and a formal valuation as required by MI 61-101 as the fair market value of any Units to insiders or the consideration paid by insiders of the Company will not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. Following completion of the Sale, Michael Burns' ownership of Common Shares has been reduced from 3,706,648 to 1,706,648 to and his percentage ownership of securities of the Company decreased from approximately 6.0% to 4.2% as a result of the Sale, calculated on a partially diluted basis. A material change report in connection with the Offering will be filed less than 21 days before the closing of the Offering. The Company believes this shorter period is reasonable and necessary in the circumstances as the Company wishes to complete the Offering in a timely manner. This news release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements. About Global UAV: Global UAV's goal is to be the leading solution provider in the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) sector for complex operations and advanced remote sensing requirements by utilizing its diverse group of companies. On behalf of the Board of Directors, "Michael Burns" Michael Burns CEO & Director For additional information please contact: Global UAV Technologies Ltd. Investor Information Telephone: 1-888-905-7011 Email: ir@globaluavtech.com www.globaluavtech.com Forward-Looking Statement Statements in this press release, other than purely historical information, including statements relating to the Offering, the Company's future plans and objectives or expected results, may include forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions and are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties inherent in public markets, service industries, manufacturing and the UAV Sector. As a result, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Canadian dollar slipped against its major counterparts in the European session on Friday, as oil prices declined on U.S-China trade war fears, as U.S. President Donald Trump is set to unveil tariffs on $50 billion in China goods later in the day. Crude for July delivery fell $0.23 to $66.66 per barrel. The Trump administration will release details of a revised list of 800 product categories today. Beijing vowed that it will retaliate 'appropriately' to any measures imposed by the US. Investors await a key meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries in Vienna on June 22, when the cartel is expected to make a decision on increasing output. Following a meeting with the Saudi Arabia energy minister on Thursday, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak remarked that both nations support a gradual increase in output, although specifics will be discussed next week. The currency dropped against its major rivals in the Asian session, with the exception of the aussie. The loonie declined to a weekly low of 84.01 against the yen, from a high of 84.47 seen at 5:45 pm ET. The next likely support for the loonie is seen around the 82.00 level. The Bank of Japan kept its monetary stimulus unchanged as widely expected. Governor Haruhiko Kuroda and his board members decided by an 8-1 majority vote to hold its target of raising the amount of outstanding JGB holdings at an annual pace of about JPY 80 trillion. The loonie weakened to 1.3160 against the greenback, its weakest since June 2017. The loonie is seen finding support around the 1.34 region. The loonie slipped to 1.5257 against the euro and 0.9822 against the aussie, reversing from its early high of 1.5151 and a 2-week high of 0.9782, respectively. The next possible support for the loonie is seen around 1.54 against the euro and 1.00 against the aussie. Looking ahead, Canada existing home sales for May and manufacturing sales for April, New York Fed's empire manufacturing survey for June, U.S. industrial production for May and University of Michigan's preliminary consumer sentiment index for June are scheduled for release in the New York session. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de BH Global Limited (the "Company") (a closed-ended investment scheme established as a company with limited liability under the laws of Guernsey with registered number 48555) LEI: 549300BIIO4DTKEMXV14 Director Dealing 15 June 2018 Pursuant to Disclosure Rule 3.1, the Company is obliged to notify the market of Director's holdings or interests of the Directors or their connected persons in shares of the Company. The Company was notified on 15 June 2018 that the following holding of Ordinary Shares was acquired and is beneficially held by Susie Farnon, a Director of the Company: Purchased: 1,700 Ordinary Shares of no par value in the Capital of the Company designated as Sterling Shares at a price of at GBP 14.59 per share. Following this purchase, Susie Farnon now holds a total of 1,700 GBP class Ordinary Shares in the Capital of the Company. Enquiries: The Company Secretary Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited Tel: 01481 745736 WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Crude oil futures were lower Friday morning amid expectations that Saudi Arabia and Russia will boost oil production next week. OPEC meets June 22 and analysts say that Saudi Arabia will endure complaints about rising prodcution from fellow cartel members like Iran. WTI light sweet oil was down 16 cents at $66.73 a barrel, having topped out above $70 earlier this Spring. In news effecting the markets, President Donald Trump approved a plan to impose punishing tariffs on tens of billions of dollars of Chinese goods. Baker-Hughes Rig Count for the week will be published at at 1.00 pm ET. In the prior week, the North American Rig Count was 1174, while U.S. rig count was 1062. The rig count has risen sharply this year. 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. CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / June 15, 2018 / Fortem Resources Inc. (OTCQB: FTMR) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") conditionally accepted the listing of the shares of the Company's common stock. The Exchange's conditional acceptance is provided based on the listing of the Company as a Tier 2 Oil and Gas Reserves Issuer. The listing of the shares of the Company's common stock is subject to the Company fulfilling all requirements of the Exchange, including the financing condition and the evidence of satisfactory public distribution. The Exchange's conditional acceptance is valid for a 90 day period from June 14, 2018. About Fortem Resources Fortem Resources Inc. is a publicly traded oil and gas production, development and exploration company, which holds properties in Western Canada and Utah and is seeking North American & International expansion through an acquisition strategy. The Company's shares of common stock are quoted on the OTCQB under the symbol FTMR. On behalf of the Board of Directors, FORTEM RESOURCES INC. "Michael Caetano" Michael Caetano Chief Operating Officer Phone: (403) 241-8912 Email: info@fortemresources.com This news release contains forward-looking information that involves various risks and uncertainties regarding future events. Such forward-looking information can include without limitation statements based on current expectations involving a number of risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance of the Company, such as statements related listing of common stock of the Company on the TSX Venture Exchange. There are numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and the Company's plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information, including: (i) adverse market conditions; (ii) risks inherent in the oil and gas industry in general; (iii) the inability of the company to finance the execution of its business plan and (iv) the Company's inability to satisfy all the requirements of the TSX Venture Exchange for the listing of the Company's common stock. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements. 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. SOURCE: Fortem Resources Inc. HONG KONG, June 15, 2018 - (Media OutReach) - Madame Tussauds Hong Kong brought Famous Fun to life as President Donald Trump made a surprise visit to The Peak. The exciting introduction of Trump LIVE in Hong Kong - a first across the brand's Asian estate - marks Madame Tussauds's ongoing commitment to bring a "real life experience" to visitors.Watch the video https://vimeo.com/275227996/086523b182During his surprise visit, President Trump tried his first ride on the Peak Tram. Amazed by the stunning Hong Kong skyline, President Trump also met the incredibly lifelike wax figure of himself at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong. After greeting his friends President Xi of China and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump also jumped at the opportunity to discuss "social media strategy" with American supermodel, Kendall Jenner.Jenny You, General Manager at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong said: "We're constantly looking for ways to bring truly immersive experiences to our visitors. The launch of President Trump LIVE allows our visitors to experience the unique brand of famous fun and become the STARS of the story. We will continuously create unforgettable moments for our guests with our lifelike figures."In welcoming the newly unveiled President Donald Trump figure, Madame Tussauds talented sculptors brought the figure to life using the latest technology, giving our visitors a truly extraordinary experience on their visit.The new President Trump figure is dressed in his recognisable Republican red silk-tie, navy power suit and Made in American flag lapel pin. Visitors to Madame Tussauds Hong Kong will have a chance to tweet support "him" back on the new interactive social media wall inside the famed attraction by hashtagging RealWaxDonaldTrump on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.BoBo YuMadame Tussauds Hong KongTel: (852) 2849 2183 / 6427 1212Email: bobo.yu@madame-tussauds.com.hkSource: Madame Tussauds Hong KongCopyright 2018 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. 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. DEERFIELD (dpa-AFX) - Walgreens said Friday that it plans to open a new office in Chicago where it anticipates 1,800 people will be based. The new office space will include about 200,000 square feet in The Old Post Office building, 433 W. Van Buren St. On Monday, Walgreens will unveil renderings of the future office at an onsite celebration with Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Walgreens employees. The Old Post Office building allows Walgreens to increase its presence in Chicago, where the company was founded in 1901, in order to meet the needs of its current and future workforce while continuing to attract and retain the best talent. The 1,800 people expected to work at the new space over time will include approximately 1,300 positions that will relocate to the City of Chicago. This will be the largest number of corporate employees Walgreens has ever had based in Chicago. Walgreens Boots Alliance will remain headquartered in north suburban Deerfield, Ill., where approximately 3,200 employees are expected to continue to work. When renovations are complete, the new office space in The Old Post Office building will serve as an additional office location for Walgreens. Digital and IT operations employees supporting the Walgreens business, as well as some Walgreens Boots Alliance global IT personnel, will be located in the new office space. As part of the new space, Walgreens will relocate its digital office currently in the Sullivan Center at 36 S. Wabash Ave. to The Old Post Office building. The new office at The Old Post Office is anticipated to open in fall 2019. Walgreens currently employs nearly 4,500 people in the City of Chicago, where it also operates 120 drugstores. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders refused to comment on the media report, which says that US President Donald Trump told that Crimea is part of Russia. Sanders said that she is not aware of any comment like that. "I know its been reported, but Im not going to comment on a private conversation I wasnt a part of that I dont have information on," Yesterday, Trump told G7 leaders that Crimea belongs to Russia because the peninsulas residents speak the Russian language, Buzzfeed reported, citing two diplomatic sources. During a G7 dinner on June 8, Trump also called Ukraine one of the most corrupted countries in the world and questioned why the Group of Seven leaders support it. It was unclear if Trump was joking or signaling a dramatic change in the US administrations policy, the media outlet said. The deputy dean of the Faculty of Global Economics and International Affairs of the Higher School of Economics of the National Research University, Andrei Suzdaltsev, speaking to Vestnik Kavkaza, noted that Trump's statements, cited by BuzzFeed, should not be taken seriously, since as a whole the politician is very inclined to resort to all sorts of rhetoric. "It should be taken into account that now Russia, as an international policy factor for Western countries, has turned into an instrument of pressure on each other. As if Trump warns: 'If you do not agree with me, I will use Russia against you'," the expert explained. The political scientist did not regard Trump's statement as a hint of a possible preparation for the future summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin against the backdrop of the recent summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. "Of course, the US will try to transfer this experience to its relations with Iran and Russia. But we understand that Europe and the US are famous for their powerful rhetoric, but when it comes to business, there can be completely different options. Modern America is a tough lobbyist of its own interests. So it is just a tough political game," the deputy dean of the Faculty of Global Economics and International Affairs of the Higher School of Economics of the National Research University said. According to him, Trump cannot take a tough stance on the issue of recognizing Crimea as part of Russia now. "It should be taken into account that if Trump recognizes Crimea, then he immediately slides to the level of one of the centers of power. After all, Crimea became part of Russia contrary to the West's desire, for Trump it would mean surrender," the political scientist noted. The expert added that, nevertheless, Washington's policy under Trump is changing in comparison with the one that existed under the Barack Obama administration. "It is becoming more rigid, more pragmatic. They do not like much of Ukraine's politics. The West needs a success story, the Ukrainian scenario should have be attractive for all other countries. But now it turns out that cooperation with the West leads the country into poverty. There fore, Washington is not satisfied with the politics of modern Kiev," Andrei Suzdaltsev concluded. The senior research fellow at the European Research Centre of the International Relations Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladimir Olenchenko, expressed opinion that expressed the opinion that Trump's phrase most likely took place. "But it seems to me that it consisted of two parts, and the second part was that it was Barack Obama who gave Crimea and part of Ukraine to Russia. That is, Trump actually blamed the previous president for it," he complained. According to the expert, the refusal of Sarah Sanders to comment on the pretext that it was a private conversation, and she does not comment on private conversations, is an indirect acknowledgment that such a phrase took place. "According to this statement, Trump has started preparations for the November midterm elections to the Congress. At the moment, according to public opinion polls, the population speaks in favor of the Democratic Party. And if this attitude of voters persists, then a democratic majority is possible in the chambers of the Congress, which will create difficulties for Trump. So it seems to me that he is pursuing a policy of criticism towards the Democratic Party, especially Obama," the senior research fellow at the European Research Centre of the International Relations Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences pointed out. "In any case, Trump's words testify to the growing awareness that Crimea is part of Russia. There is one more thing: the mood of Crimea's recognition as part of Russia is growing rapidly among European politicians. And I think that Trump also may be afraid that the Europeans will independently resolve this issue in order to normalize relations with Russia. Therefore, I think that the US president stresses that he is acting in unison with European leaders and leaders of other countries," Vladimir Olenchenko concluded. Regulatory News: Carrefour's (Paris:CA) Ordinary and Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting took place in Aubervilliers on June 15, 2018. The meeting was chaired by Alexandre Bompard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The Shareholders' meeting approved all the proposed resolutions, notably: The ratification of the appointment of Alexandre Bompard as member of the Board of Directors and the renewal of his term of office for a period of three years; The renewal as members of the Board of Directors of Patricia Moulin Lemoine, Mathilde Lemoine, Philippe Houze and Nicolas Bazire, for a period of three years; The appointment of four new members of the Board of Directors: Aurore Domont, Amelie Oudea-Castera, Stephane Courbit and Stephane Israel, for a period of three years. Furthermore, the Board of Directors decided to renew Alexandre Bompard as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and ruled on the reorganisation of the Board of Directors' specialised Committees. The new composition of the Board of Directors and its specialised Committees following the Shareholders' and Board of Directors Meetings of June 15, 2018 is set out in appendix. The outcome of the votes at the Shareholders Meeting is available on the Group's website, www.carrefour.com. New composition of the Board of Directors following the Shareholders Meeting of June 15, 2018: Members of the Board of Directors Alexandre Bompard, Chairman and Chief executive Officer Bernard Arnault Nicolas Bazire Jean-Laurent Bonnafe Thierry Breton* Flavia Buarque de Almeida Stephane Courbit* Abilio Diniz Aurore Domont* Charles Edelstenne* Thierry Faraut** Philippe Houze Stephane Israel* Mathilde Lemoine* Patricia Moulin Lemoine Amelie Oudea-Castera* Martine Saint-Cricq** Marie-Laure Sauty de Chalon* Lan Yan* *Independent Director ** Director representing employees New composition of the Board of Directors' specialised Committees following the Board of Directors' meeting of June 15, 2018: Audit Committee: Chairman: Stephane Israel Nicolas Bazire Philippe Houze Mathilde Lemoine Amelie Oudea-Castera Compensation Committee: Chairman: Thierry Breton Nicolas Bazire Charles Edelstenne Stephane Courbit Lan Yan Appointments Committee: Chairman Charles Edelstenne Flavia Buarque de Almeida Philippe Houze Aurore Domont Amelie Oudea-Castera Thierry Faraut ** CSR Committee: Chairwoman Aurore Domont Patricia Moulin Lemoine Marie Laure Sauty de Chalon Martine Saint-Cricq ** Strategic Committee: Chairman: Alexandre Bompard Vice-Chairman: Abilio Diniz Philipe Houze Nicolas Bazire Stephane Courbit Amelie Oudea-Castera ** * Independent Director ** Director representing employees View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180615005617/en/ Contacts: Carrefour Investor relations: Mathilde Rodie, Anne-Sophie Lanaute Tel: +33 (0)1 41 04 28 83 or Shareholder relations Tel: +33 (0)805 902 902 (toll-free in France) Andrew Coombs, chief executive of London-listed landlord Sirius Real Estate, acquired 400,000 ordinary shares in the Guernsey-based firm on Friday, upping his stake a total of 5.13m shares, representing 0.52% of the company's issued share capital. Coombs, who joined the Sirius Facilities Group in January 2010, purchased the shares at an average cost of 65p for a total of 259,999.99. The business park operator sold off its Bremen Hag business park in Germany for 3.8m earlier this month, in line ... Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort is headed to jail after his bail was revoked by a District Court Judge on Friday. Manafort will remain in jail as he awaits trial on criminal charges related to his lobbying work for a pro-Russia party in Ukraine. U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson's decision to revoke Manafort's bail comes after he was recently indicted on charges related to witness tampering. Jackson said she struggled with the decision but determined that Manafort had abused the trust the court placed in him when placing him under house arrest. 'The harm in this case is harm to the administration of justice and harm to the integrity of the court's system,' Jackson said. The judge denied that her decision was political or related to the conduct of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. 'This is not about politics,' Jackson said. 'It is not about the conduct of the Office of Special Counsel. It is about the defendant's alleged conduct.' Earlier in the hearing, Manafort pleaded not guilty to charges of obstructing justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice for knowingly and intentionally attempting to corruptly persuade another person. Trump was asked about Manafort's legal troubles during remarks to reporters ahead of the hearing and said he feels 'a little badly about it.' 'I feel badly for some people, because they've gone back 12 years to find things about somebody, and I don't think it's right,' Trump said. Trump declined to say whether he would consider pardoning Manafort but stressed that he wants to see people treated fairly. (Photo: Michael Vadon) Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. NEW YORK, June 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Unum Group ("Unum" or the "Company") (NYSE: UNM). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 9980. The investigation concerns whether Unum and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. [Click here to join a class action] On May 1, 2018, after the market closed, Unum issued a press release entitled "Unum Group Reports First Quarter 2018 Results," reporting in part that its first quarter 2018 loss ratio for its long-term care business was 96.6%, compared to only 88.6% for the first-quarter of 2017. On May 2, 2018, during a conference call discussing Unum's quarterly results, Unum's Chief Financial Officer John F. McGarry stated, in relevant part, that "[b]enefits experience this quarter was driven by new claim incidence that ran much higher than expected" and that "the higher loss ratio this quarter was negatively impacted by a lower level of policy terminations." McGarry further advised investors that "[w]e continue to experience a high level of volatility in this line and expect it will continue in the future." Following these disclosures, Unum's share price fell $8.12, or 16.95%, to close at $39.78 on May 2, 2018. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com. CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP rswilloughby@pomlaw.com 888-476-6529 ext. 9980 Regulatory News: Claranova (Paris:CLA): This press release may not be published, transmitted or distributed, either directly or indirectly, in the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. This press release does not constitute an offer for securities or any solicitation to buy or subscribe to securities in the United States of America or in any other country. Securities may only be offered, subscribed to or sold in the United States of America following registration under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("US Securities Act"), or as part of an exemption to this registration requirement. Claranova's securities have not, nor will be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act and Claranova has no intention of making a public offer for its securities. The Bonds (as defined below) shall be the subject of a private offering only with qualified investors. The Bonds may not be offered or sold or made available in any way to retail investors (as defined below). No key information document, as defined in the PRIIPs Regulation, has been, or will be, prepared. Claranova (the "Company") announces the success of its issue of net share settled bonds convertible into new shares and/or exchangeable for existing shares (ORNANE) (the "Bonds") to qualified investors with a par amount of EUR 28 999 999.60, representing 26 363 636 Bonds. Use of the proceeds from the Bond issue The net proceeds of the bond issue will be used to fund, on the one hand, the takeover by its Avanquest division of the Canadian companies Upclick, Lulu Software (SodaPDF) and Adaware, announced in March 20181 and which should be completed before 1 July 2018, for approximately EUR 13 million2 and the remainder for Claranova's general financing needs. Upclick, Lulu Software and Adaware make up an international group in the Internet sector, present in most countries of the world, and with positions in the following three activities: e-commerce transaction management through Upclick , one of the most modern platforms in the world; , one of the most modern platforms in the world; PDF applications and document management with Lulu Software , one of the world's major players for PDF solutions through its SODA PDF product line; , one of the world's major players for PDF solutions through its SODA PDF product line; Internet security with Adaware anti-virus and security solutions, known worldwide. Overall, the Group's activities represent consolidated revenue of around USD 34.7M, with EBITDA of USD 5.3M3 Avanquest and these companies have already been collaborating for many years and their employees have extensive experience in team projects and clients with similar profiles. This operation will make it possible to combine existing offers from both groups: Avanquest through its software, e-mail, cashback and product catalog, together with security solutions (Adaware), PDF tools (Lulu) and e-commerce (Upclick). The integration of these new entities should generate significant synergies in the future, leading to a dramatic improvement in Avanquest's margin ratio and represents the first step in the ambition to turn Avanquest into a European leader in monetising Internet traffic, with the aim of this division achieving medium-term revenue of EUR 100M with profitability of 15%-20% (in terms of EBITDA4), provided that market conditions are favourable. The acquisition of Upclick, Lulu Software and Adaware remains subject to certain conditions precedent being met before 1 July 2018, including the final approval by the Supervisory Board of Claranova. Main conditions of the Bonds The Bonds will bear interest at an annual par rate of 5.0%, payable annually at term on 1 July each year (or on the following business day if one of these dates is not a business day), and for the first time on 1 July 2019 (the first coupon will be calculated pro rata). The par value of the Bonds set at EUR 1.10 results in an issue premium of approximately 18% in relation to the reference5 Claranova share price on the regulated Euronext market in Paris ("Euronext Paris The Bonds will be issued at par value on 19 June 2018, the expected date of settlement and delivery of the Bonds, and will be redeemable at par value on 1 July 2023 (or the next business day if this date is not a business day). Early redemption of the Bonds by the Company's decision The Bonds may be redeemed early on the initiative of the Company under certain conditions, including in the following cases: at any time, for all or part of the Bonds, without limitation of price or quantity, by purchases on the stock exchange or off-exchange or by buyback or exchange offers; at any time up to the normal redemption date, for all Bonds remaining in circulation, subject to at least a 30 trading days' notice, per par value plus interest accrued since the last payment date until the date set for the early redemption, if the arithmetic average, calculated over 20 consecutive trading days among the 40 days preceding the publication of the notice of early redemption, of the proceeds of the first quoted prices of the Claranova shares observed on Euronext Paris and the conversion ratio in effect at each date exceeds 135% of the par value of the Bonds; at any time, for all outstanding Bonds, subject to at least a 30 trading days' notice, by par redemption plus accrued interest, if their outstanding number is less than 10% of the number of Bonds issued. Early redemption of Bonds at the option of Bondholders in the event of a change of control In the event of a change of control of the Company, any Bondholder may, at his or her sole discretion, request the early redemption in cash of all or part of the Bonds he or she owns, at a price equal to the par value plus accrued interest. Conversion Right Bondholders shall have a conversion right that they may exercise at any time from the date of issue to the twenty-ninth trading day (inclusive) preceding the normal or early redemption date. The conversion rate of the Bonds is one share for one Bond, subject to subsequent adjustments. In the event of the exercise of the conversion right, the Bondholders shall receive, at the Company's decision, either only an amount in cash, or the combination of an amount in cash and new and/or existing Claranova shares or only new and/or existing Claranova shares. The new and/or existing Claranova shares, if any, will bear current dividend rights. Dilution As an illustration, considering a Bonds issue in an amount of EUR 28 999 999.60, and a par value of the Bonds of EUR 1.10, the dilution would be 6.7% of the Company's current share capital if the Company decides to issue only new shares and 1.74% if the Company decides to settle the par value of the Bonds in cash, and in new shares the difference between the conversion value of the Bonds and their par value (assuming a conversion value of EUR 1.49 corresponding to 135% of the par value of the Bonds, the threshold at which the Company may exercise its early redemption option for the Bonds, corresponding to an approximately 60% increase in the share price). Intentions Commitments The members of the Company's Supervisory Board and Management Board have not subscribed to this issue. As part of the issue, the Company has made a commitment to abstain from market participation for 90 calendar days from the settlement date, subject to certain exceptions. Legal framework of the issue Offering Admission to trading on Euronext Access The issue of the Bonds was carried out without preferential subscription rights or shareholders' subscription priority periods pursuant to the Sixth Resolution of the Extraordinary General Shareholders' Meeting of 7 June 2017, in which the shareholders decided to waive their preferential subscription rights to the Bonds. The Bonds were only the subject of a private offering in the Member States of the European Economic Area (to the exclusion of any other country including the United States of America, Canada, Australia and Japan) to persons covered by Article L.411-2-II of the French Monetary and Financial Code (excluding any retail investor within the meaning of the PRIIPs Regulation). The Bonds are subject of an application for admission to trading on the Euronext Access market (ISIN: FR0013342425). The admission to trading of the Bonds is scheduled for 19 June 2018. Octo Finances acted as manager and bookrunner for the transaction. Public information The offer of the Bonds did not give rise to the preparation of a prospectus submitted for approval to the French Autorite des marches financiers (the "AMF"). Detailed information about Claranova, including information on its business, financial results, outlook and the related risk factors, can be found in the Company's registration document filed with the AMF on 3 October 2017 under number D.17-0964 (the "Registration Document") and in the Company's six month financial report at 31 December 2017, published on 28 March 2018, which may be consulted, together with the other regulated information and all the Company's press releases on the Claranova website (www.claranova.com). Claranova draws the public's attention to the risk factors presented on pages 15 to 19 of the Registration Document. Important information This press release does not constitute an offer to subscribe and the offering of the Bonds will not constitute an offer to the public in any country including France. About Claranova: A global Internet and mobile player, Claranova is one of the few French companies in this sector to post sales of over EUR 130 million, more than half of which is generated in the United States. Claranova focuses its strategy on three areas of business digital printing through the Group's PlanetArt division, management of the Internet of Things (IoT) via the myDevices division and e-commerce through the Avanquest division: PlanetArt: A world leader in mobile printing, specifically via the FreePrints offer the cheapest and simplest way to print photos from a smartphone FreePrints is already a must-have for several million customers, a figure that has grown every year since its launch; myDevices: A global platform for IoT (Internet of Things) management enabling major corporations from different business sectors to quickly develop and roll out IoT solutions for their customers; Avanquest: the Group's legacy activity covering the distribution ot third-party software, a business that is shifting towards the monetisation of Internet traffic. For more information on the Claranova group: www.claranova.com or www.twitter.com/claranova_group. CODES Ticker: CLA ISIN : FR0004026714 www.claranova.com WARNING This press release is not intended for distribution in the United States of America, Canada, Australia or Japan, either directly or indirectly. The information contained in this press release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States of America, Canada, Japan or Australia. No communication or other information in respect of the issue by Claranova of Bonds redeemable in cash and/or in new or existing shares (the "Bonds") may be released to the public in a country in which any approval or registration is required. No steps to such end have been taken or will be taken by the Company in any country in which such steps would be required other than France. The issue of or the subscription for Bonds may be subject to specific legal or regulatory restrictions in certain countries; Claranova takes no responsibility for any violation of any restrictions by any person. This press release has been issued for promotional purposes and not as a prospectus within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive (as defined below). This press release does not constitute and should not be considered as a public offering, an offer to subscribe, or as a means of soliciting public interest in a public offering. The Bonds will be the subject of a private placement only in the European Economic Area Member States (excluding any other countries, including the United States of America, Canada, Australia and Japan), with persons referred to in Article L. 411-2-II of the French Monetary and Financial Code (excluding any retail investors within the meaning of the PRIIPs Regulation), with no public offering in any country (including France). This press release does not constitute a recommendation on the Bond issue. The value of the Bonds and shares of Claranova may increase or decrease. Prospective investors should consult their financial advisor to determine if an investment in these Bonds is appropriate to their needs. Exclusion of any offering to retail investors within the European Economic Area No action has been undertaken or will be undertaken to make an offering of the Bonds to retail investors within the European Economic Area. For the purposes of this provision, the expression "retail investor" refers to a person falling within one or more of the categories below: (i) a retail customer as defined in Paragraph (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, "MiFID II"; or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive 2002/92/EC (as amended, the "Insurance Mediation Directive"), provided that the customer does not fall within the professional client category as defined in Paragraph (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; and the expression "offering" includes the communication in any form and by any means whatsoever of sufficient information on the terms of the offering and the Bonds subject to the offering so as to allow an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe to the Bonds. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No. 1286/2014 (as amended, the "PRIIPs Regulation" for the offering or the sale of Bonds or their availability to retail investors in the European Economic Area has been prepared and, as a result, the offering or sale of Bonds or their availability to retail investors in the European Economic Area could constitute a violation of the PRIIPs Regulation. France The Bonds have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold to the public in France, either directly or indirectly. Any offering or sale of Bonds or distribution of the offering document has only been made or will only be made in France, to (i) persons who provide investment portfolio management services on behalf of third parties or (ii) qualified investors, as defined in Articles L. 411-2-II, L. 533-16, L. 533-20, D. 533-11 et D. 533-11-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code. European Economic Area excluding France No action has been or will be undertaken in relation to European Economic Area Member States other than France (a "Member State") having implemented the Prospectus Directive to make an offering of the Bonds to the public requiring the publication of a prospectus in any of the Member States. As a result, the Bonds may only be offered in each Member State to qualified investors, as defined in the Prospectus Directive. For the purposes of this paragraph, (i) the expression "offer to the public of Bonds" in each Member State having implemented the Prospectus Directive (as defined below), means any communication directed to persons, in any form and by any means whatsoever, including sufficient information on conditions of the offering of the Bonds and the Bonds covered by the offering, to allow an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe to said Bonds, as per the amended version, where applicable, of the definition in the Member State implementing the Prospectus Directive, (ii) the expression "Prospectus Directive" means Directive 2003/71/EC of 4 November 2003, as implemented in the Member State (as amended, including by the Amending Prospectus Directive, if implemented, in each Member State), and (iii) the expression "Amending Prospectus Directive" means Directive 2010/73/EU as implemented in the relevant Member State. United States of America This press release is not intended for publication, distribution or transmission, either directly or indirectly, in the United States of America (including its territories and dependencies, any state of the United States of America and the District of Columbia). This press release does no constitute an offer or a solicitation to buy or subscribe to securities in the United States of America. The securities described in this press release have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933 as amended (the "Securities Act"), or with any regulatory authority in a Member State, or other jurisdiction in the United States and may only be offered or sold in the United States of America under an exemption regime provided for in the Securities Act and in accordance with the regulations in force in the various States. The Bonds will only be offered or sold outside the United States of America and as part of offshore transactions, in accordance with Regulation S of the Securities Act Claranova does not intend to register the offering, either in part or in full, in the United States of America, or carry out a public offering in the United States of America. United Kingdom This press release is exclusively intended for persons who are (i) outside the United Kingdom, (ii) are investment professionals (within the meaning of Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, hereinafter the Financial Promotion Order), (iii) fall within the scope of Article 49(2) (a) to (d) (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.) of the Financial Promotion Order or (iv) to any other person to whom this press release may be addressed in accordance with the law (the persons described in paragraphs (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) being together referred to as "Authorised Persons"). The Bonds are intended only for Authorised Persons and any inducement, offer or contact regarding the subscription to, purchase or acquisition of the Bonds (and new or existing shares issued or allotted when exercising a conversion right) may only be proposed or made to Authorised Persons. Any person other than an Authorised Person shall refrain from using or relying on this press release or any of its contents. This press release is not a prospectus and has not been approved by the Financial Services Authority or any other regulatory authority in the United Kingdom within the meaning of Section 85 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 Canada, Australia and Japan The Bonds may not be offered, sold or acquired in Canada, Australia or Japan. The information contained in this press release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in Canada, Australia or Japan. The disclosure, distribution and publication of this press release may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose possession any document or other information referred to herein may come should inform themselves about and comply with any such restrictions. 1 http://claranova.fr/?do=post&post_id=622 2 Should the acquisition of Upclick, Lulu Software (SodaPDF) and Adaware not occur, this portion of the net proceeds from the issue will be allocated to other external growth projects for the Avanquest division (subject to the approval of the Group management and in line with Group strategy). 3 Unaudited figures for the year 2017 4 EBITDA is the aggregate now used to evaluate the profitability of the businesses. It replaces the adjusted EBITDA previously used. It corresponds to earnings before the deduction of interest, taxes and duties, depreciation (but after provisions related to inventories and trade receivables), amortisation and share-based payments. 5 This reference price will be equal to the volume-weighted average trading price of the Company' shares on Euronext Paris from the opening of the market on 14 June 2018 until the moment the final terms and conditions of the Bonds are established. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180615005741/en/ Contacts: ANALYSTS INVESTORS +33 1 41 27 19 74 contact@claranova.com or FINANCIAL COMMUNICATION AELIUM +33 1 75 77 54 65 skennis@aelium.fr VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- GoverMedia Plus Canada Corp. (CSE: MPLS) (FWB: 48G) (WKN: A2JF6W) ("GoverMedia" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce today its wholly owned subsidiary, GoverMedia Plus LLC has signed a commercial partnership agreement with EXMO Finance LLP, one of the biggest cryptocurrency exchanges in Europe with an average 24-hour trading volume of currently over $40 million USD. According to CryptoCoinCharts, EXMO is in the top 15 largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. This strategic partnership represents the first step of the Company's previously announced plans to integrate cryptocurrency-related and blockchain-based services, as well as the first step of a broad strategic relationship with EXMO. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/648491/GoverMedia_Plus_Logo.jpg ) Under this partnership agreement, the Company will act as an exchange counterparty on the EXMO platform. The Company will open a corporate account on the EXMO exchange and provide its users with the possibility to trade cryptocurrencies via the GoverMedia online ecosystem, through a facilitated process. EXMO and GoverMedia are planning to integrate their technology infrastructures through an open API (Application Programming Interface). The Company's users will access their online crypto-trading accounts at any time without having to leave the GoverMedia ecosystem. Users will be able to actively trade crypto-currencies while logged into the Govermedia platform. Through this strategic partnership, GoverMedia will be entering into a separate profit-sharing agreement with EXMO. Every proceed generated by crypto-trading activity of GoverMedia's users into the EXMO exchange will be split between the two companies. Integration costs are minimal and the Company projects to incur very little cost of sales. In addition, the Company will benefit from the joint direct advertisement towards EXMO's active user base, comprised of greater than 1,400,000 active traders in more than 200 countries. This has the potential to drive further users to the Govermedia platform. CEO Roland J. Bopp commented "This strategic commercial partnership with EXMO is a critical step in incorporating blockchain and cryptocurrency related offerings in our ecosystem. GoverMedia's goal is to satisfy every online need through one single platform, and the successful integration of EXMO's trading platform is a key first step to achieve the company's strategic objectives. We are confident this offering will provide our community with an incredible user experience and positively impact user activity in our ecosystem. In addition, this partnership will generate a solid revenue stream and opens the way for additional future collaborations." About EXMO The EXMO platform has been operating since 2013 and there are over 1,400,000 registered users from all around the world. The Exchange has showcased fast growth over the years of its existence and an increased year-on-year performance (2017 has seen a 250% surge in clients). The online Exchange offers 48 currency trading pairs, and provides the opportunity to trade in FIAT currencies as well, notably USD, EUR, RUB, etc. There are currently +200,000 daily visitors on the EXMO platform and 10,000 new registrations per day. EXMO is planning to offer Margin Loans on their platform in 2018. About GoverMedia Plus Canada Corp. GoverMedia Plus Canada Corp. is a Canadian holding company with a fully owned Russian technology subsidiary. GoverMedia has developed a fully operational state of the art internet platform offering all-inclusive online services such as, e-commerce, social media, multimedia, corporate auctions, corporate database, messaging platform and crowdfunding services. We believe the GoverMedia platform is the first and only internet platform offering such a wide range of online services accessible via only one account. The Company's management and advisors have extensive expertise in the Telecommunications, High-Technology, Corporate Development and Finance fields.http://www.gm.plus and http://www.govermedia.plus. This press release is not an offer of securities of the Company for sale in the United States. The Common Shares of the Company may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act"), or an exemption from such registration. The Common Shares have not been and will not be publicly offered in the United States. The Common Shares have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any state securities laws. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements The statements made in this press release may contain certain forward-looking statements concerning potential developments affecting the business, prospects, financial condition and other aspects of GoverMedia. The words "will", "may", "anticipate", "intend", "plan" and similar words and expressions are used to identify forward-looking information. These statements include that the Company will resume trading on the CSE. The actual results of the specific items described in this release, and the Company's operations generally, may differ materially from what is projected in such forward-looking statements. Although such statements are based upon the best judgments of GoverMedia's management as of the date of this release, significant deviations in magnitude, timing and other factors may result from business risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, GoverMedia's dependence on third parties, general market and economic conditions, technical factors, the availability of outside capital, receipt of revenues and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of GoverMedia. GoverMedia disclaims any obligation to update information contained in any forward-looking statement unless required by applicable securities laws. The trustees of Tata Trusts reposed their faith in R Venkataramanan, who is non-executive director and a nominee of Tata Sons on the Board of AirAsia India Mumbai: The trustees of Tata Trusts on Thursday reposed their faith in R Venkataramanan, who is the non-executive director and a nominee of Tata Sons on the Board of AirAsia India. The development comes after AirAsia India Director Venkataramanan was accused among other things of violating FDI norms in giving effective management to a foreign entity through FIPB clearance in 2013. Venkataramanan has denied the charges. Tata Trusts hold a majority stake in Tata Sons. In turn, Tata Sons holds a 49 percent stake in AirAsia India which is a public limited company. According to a statement from Tata Trusts: "The trustees categorically reiterated that the reported investigations have nothing whatsoever to do with the affairs of any of the Tata Trusts and noted that papers and documents relating to the Trusts were neither seen nor called for by the investigators." The statement revealed that Venkataramanan's office in the Trust's office premises, was visited by the authorities and clarifications sought on some papers relating to AirAsia India, "some of which were taken by the authorities". As per the statement, the trustees expressed concern that "inaccurate and mischievous reports were carried by some media entities" to give an impression that the Tata Trusts' offices were raided by the investigating authorities, which did not take place. "The trustees reaffirmed their complete trust and continued support to Mr Venkataramanan under whose executive leadership as Managing Trustee, the Tata Trusts have done, and are continuing to do, outstanding work across India," the statement added. A detailed discussion was held on to chalk out coordination among the MEA and the investigating agencies to track the movement of the absconding defaulters New Delhi: In a bid to stop financial defaulters escaping from the country, officials of the Home and External Affairs Ministries held a high-level meeting with the investigating agencies officials to draw up a strategy for the purpose, informed sources said. According to the sources, the meeting, where officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) were also present, discussed strategies on how to stop financial defaulters slipling out of the country. The source also revealed that a detailed discussion was held on to chalk out the coordination among the MEA and the investigating agencies to track the movement of the absconding defaulters. The meeting comes against the backdrop of the diamond jeweller Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi of the Gitanjali Group, who are wanted in Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud slipping away from the country a month ago before the case was registered by the CBI. On 4 June, members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance asked banks to come out with a roadmap to deal with non-performing assets (NPA) and suggested their redefining and classification of the bad loans. Sources said the members asked the banking sector representatives about the challenges they faced and changes they require to prevent frauds. SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar and Punjab National Bank Chairman Sunil Mehta were among those who attended the meeting. On NPAs, some Committee members said that there cannot be one category and there should be classification in terms of willful defaulters and non-willful defaulters. In April, in a bid to bring back defaulters of huge bank loans who escape to refuges abroad, the Union Cabinet had approved an ordinance that would provide for attachment and confiscation of the properties of the economic offenders. The decision to issue The Fugitive Economic Offenders Ordinance, 2018 was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sources said the Ordinance aims at deterring economic offenders from evading the process of Indian law by remaining outside the jurisdiction of Indian courts. With inputs from IANS The draft balance sheet of Uttar Pradesh Co-operative Bank's Bareilly branch indicated Kesar Sugar Mills had NPAs of Rs.74 crore New Delhi: After Firstpost's expose on Uttar Pradesh Co-operative Bank Limited (UPCBL) for financing tainted Simbhaoli Group and converting the non performing assets (NPAs) of Kesar Sugar Mills into a long-term loan, a rattled top bank management manipulated the balance sheet to show that bank was running in profit and even paid Rs.27 crore as income tax. Firstpost on 13 March had also reported irregularities in the recruitment at UPCBL and it is learnt that the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has recently ordered a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT). Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Uttar Pradesh, NK Singh has also stepped in and has asked the UPCBL to cancel the Rs.60 crore loan sanctioned to Simbhaoli Group that is being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) for duping the Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) to the tune of Rs 109 crore. As per the rules, the cooperative banks are supervised by the Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCS) of state concerned. The most shocking part of the alleged cover-up is doctoring the balance sheet, which eventually made the hole in banks treasury and in the long run may pose serious threat for its survival. The Firstpost has accessed both the original and manipulated balance sheet of UPCBL that describes position of consolidation of NPAs till 31 March 2018. The draft balance sheet of its Bareilly branch indicated Kesar Sugar Mills had NPAs of Rs.74 crore. This was rejected by the bank's top management and the amount was surreptitiously moved to sub-standard loan category in a bid to show the profit in the final balance sheet prepared by the bank. Sources said a manager level officer of the Bareilly branch has been suspended by the top brass of UPCBL after she refused to sign the manipulated balance sheet. She had forwarded the genuine balance sheet to the UPCB headquarters. It was returned and she was asked to make changes to show profit and zero NPA. She refused to tinker with the facts and subsequently paid the price for being honest and upright, Sources added. Despite repeated attempts, UPCBL Managing Director RK Singh did not respond to calls and text message. Crackdown by CM and registrar It is learnt that after Firstpost's expose on 13 March 2018, the chief ministers office wrote to Registrar UP Cooperative Societies on 28 March 2018 to probe into the scandal. The preliminary investigation conducted by the RCS NK Singh revealed the massive irregularities. He dispatched the findings to the secretary, cooperative, UP government on 10 May 2018. The note accessed by the Firstpost shows that regulatory body of cooperative societies National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) had also objected to UCBL proposal of loans to Simbhaoli and restructuring of loans to Kesar Sugar Mills that was ignored by the UPCBLs chief RK Singh. NABARD officer in a confidential letter made it clear that the two proposals linked to Simbhaoli and Kesar were not discussed in the meeting attended by the representative of the regulator and entire decision was taken unilaterally by the Managing Director RK Singh. The Firstpost has reviewed the NABARD letter which makes it clear that UPCBL decision towards the two companies facing huge NPAs was approved by the banks chief. Restructuring of Rs.65.81 crore loan to Kesar Mills and sanctioning of Rs.60 crore to Simbhaoli Power was not discussed in the board meeting. We disagree with the decision taken by the UPCBL, the letter signed NABARDs BN Hembram said. The Registrar NK Singh has also examined the letter of NABARD. He said despite the NABARDs objection, UPCBL Managing Director RK Singh issued the sanction letter to Simbhaoli owners, which is considered as a colossal violation of banking rules. Registrar Office through a letter number 54 dated 27 March sought explanation from RK Singh. He replied through letter number 1416 dated 3 April 2018 saying that a letter was issued to Simbhaoli but since the objections were raised by the NABARD, the proposal has been put on hold through a letter dated 23 March 2018. This makes it clear that despite NABARDs objection, not only the loan to Simbhaoli was sanctioned but letter was also issued which was illegal, NK Singh wrote in his report. The probe further revealed that both Simbhaoli and Kesar Sugar Mills were not eligible for the loan and the proposal was illogical. It is important to note that Ashok Singh, Member of UP Cooperative Seva Mandal, who had earlier served as Managing Director of UPCBL, in a testimony has disclosed that he wrote a letter to RK Singh last year against the irregularities in loans sanctioned to Kesar Sugar Mills and how rules were flouted in the case but no action was taken. Ashok Singh had also advised the UPCBL to recover Rs.20.40 crore with interests from the company. Despite his warnings, UPCBL board meeting on 31 January cleared the proposal of Rs.65.81 crore for Kesar Sugar Mills. Prima facie the UPCBL move has been found to be irregular, Registrar NK Singh wrote in his report on 10 May, 2018 sent to the state government. NK Singh, on 28 March 2018, had forwarded a separate letter to the chief secretary of the state flagging massive irregularity in appointment at UPCBL. He was perplexed by the fact that a majority of candidates finally selected on various positions, were from the same district Etawah. The letter reviewed by the Firstpost shows that out of 30 candidates selected for the post of assistant cashier, 17 were from Etawah. Similarly, out of 33 selected for the post of cashier clerk, 17 were from the same district. For other positions too Etawah figures prominently in the list. It appears, qualification was not the criteria for the selection of candidates at UPCBL. We have found serious irregularities in the appointment and a thorough investigation either by vigilance or a Special Investigation Team is necessary, NK Singh wrote. Meanwhile, UP State Employees Confederations chief Ajay Singh has filed a complaint with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and chief ministers office alleging that RK Singh connived with Kesar Sugar Mills to extend undue benefit. The association has also requested the statutory auditor not to certify the manipulated balance sheet. They planted 25,000 bags of sugar on 9 April 2018 in the godown to show that the UPCBL has security against the money sanctioned to Kesar Mills. An officer of the bank handling Kesar Sugar Mills has reported that the company owes Rs.90 crore to farmers and the government may acquire the 25,000 bags of sugar worth Rs.6.5 Crore and proceed would go to the farmers. It is very clear that UPCBL doesnt have the exclusive rights over this sugar stock and the so called security against the loan is merely an eyewash, Singh wrote in his letter dated 8 June, 2018. Singh is making efforts that balance sheet should not be certified as it would cause huge loss to the UPCBL in the next financial year. He also wants that after correction in the manipulated document, the income tax should return Rs.27 crore to the bank. I have come to know that Managing Director RK Singh has admitted security against loans to Kesar Sugar Mills that has already been pledged to Allahabad Bank, UCO Bank and Punjab National Bank. They have first charge of the security pledged in 2011 while UPCBL is left with residual charge, which is legally not tenable. In order to show profit Rs.138 Crore that was part of additional funds of bank was used to hide NPA of Simbhaoli sugars. We are planning to move to Lokayukta in this matter, Singh further wrote in his complaint. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the fourth meeting of NITI Aayog's Governing Council on Sunday to discuss various issues, including measures taken to double farmers' income and progress of flagship schemes New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the fourth meeting of NITI Aayog's Governing Council on Sunday to discuss various issues, including measures taken to double farmers' income and progress of flagship schemes. Besides, development agenda for 'New India 2022' is expected to be approved in the meeting. The council, apex body of NITI Aayog, includes all chief ministers, lieutenant governors of union territories, several union ministers and senior government officials. The Governing Council, according to an official statement, is expected to discuss important subjects, including measures taken to double farmers' income; progress of flagship schemes such as Ayushman Bharat, National Nutrition Mission and Mission Indradhanush; development of aspirational districts; and celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. NITI Aayog has been working on the strategy document or development agenda for 'New India 2022' for a while. Earlier, it had planned to come out with three documents - a three-year action agenda, seven-year medium term strategy paper and a 15-year vision document. The Aayog, in a presentation last year, had said the foundation for freedom from six problems poverty, dirt, corruption, terrorism, casteism and communalism will be laid by 2022 when India celebrates 75 years of independence. At the Council's first meeting on 8 February, 2015, the prime minister had laid down the key mandates of NITI Aayog such as fostering cooperative federalism by addressing national issues through mutual cooperation and monitoring of important schemes and programmes. It was also decided that the Aayog will act as the "think tank" of the government and work as a bridge between the centre and the states. Later, sub-groups of chief ministers and two task forces, one on elimination of Poverty in India and other on Agriculture Development were set up. The second meeting of council on 15 July, 2015 reviewed the progress made by the three sub-groups of chief ministers and the two task forces. In the third meeting of council on 23 April, 2017, Modi had pitched for conducting simultaneous elections of the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies and shifting to a January-December fiscal year. President of Georgia will submit Mamuka Bakhtadze's candidacy to the parliament today, - president's parliamentary secretary Ana Natsvlishvili said. According to her, the Presidents opinion differs from the opinion of the ruling party about who should be candidate for the Prime Minister's post, but he will act within the constitutional obligation. "Yesterday the parliamentary majority chose and submitted a candidate for the Prime Minister's post to the President. Pursuant to the Constitution of Georgia, the President of Georgia shall submit this candidacy to the Parliament of Georgia. The Constitution of Georgia explicitly states that the President of Georgia shall submit a candidate elected by the majority to the Parliament of Georgia. The Constitution does not envisage any alternative action. Naturally, the President of Georgia will act exactly in accordance with the Constitution of Georgia," Natsvlishvili said. According to her, the President has expressed his political position in a public statement. "He made a statement that Bidzina Ivanishvili should have been named as a candidate, but the ruling team made a different choice, "said Ana Natsvlishvili. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) tweeted that Delhi Environment secretary (IAS) and DPCC Member Secretary (DANICS) didn't attend the meeting called by Hussain on pollution in Delhi. New Delhi: Amid an ongoing face-off between the AAP government in Delhi and IAS officers, the AAP said on Friday that Delhi Environment Secretary and its Pollution Control Committee Member Secretary skipped a meeting called by environment minster Imran Hussain. Hussain called the meeting to review the status of prevailing pollution in Delhi at 5 pm in his office at the Delhi Secretariat. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) tweeted that Delhi Environment secretary (IAS) and DPCC Member Secretary (DANICS) didn't attend the meeting called by Hussain on pollution in Delhi. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a tweet commented: "And they say there is no strike?" Kejriwal, along with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and cabinet ministers Satyendar Jain and Gopal Rai, has been camping in the Raj Niwas the official accommodation-cum-office of LG Anil Baijal since Monday evening. They have been demanding a direction to the IAS officers working in the Delhi government to end their undeclared strike and take action against officers who have struck work for "three months". On 20 February, the chief secretary alleged he was assaulted by two AAP MLAs Amanatullah Khan and Prakash Jarwal in the presence of Kejriwal at the chief minister's residence. Following this, the IAS officers in Delhi were not attending routine meetings called by the ministers. In a joint statement, the three mayors said, 'By not paying our dues, the Delhi government is trying to make the civic bodies financially crippled.' New Delhi: The three mayors of Delhi on Thursday said they would stage a protest at the doorstep of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's office if the AAP government did not release the funds "due to the civic bodies". The mayors Adesh Gupta (North Delhi), Narendra Chawla (South Delhi) and Bipin Bihari Singh (East Delhi) held a joint press conference at the civic centre, at a time when Kejriwal and his three ministers continued their sit-in at the lieutenant governor's office for the fourth day on Thursday. The AAP on Thursday attacked Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal, wondering whether he did not have even "four minutes" to meet them in the last four days. In a joint statement issued later, the three mayors said, "By not paying our dues, the Delhi government is trying to make the civic bodies financially crippled." They alleged that this shows the intention of the Kejriwal government, which is "only interested in politics and not in the welfare of the citizens". "If the AAP government does not release the funds due to the civic bodies, then we would stage a protest at the doorstep of Kejriwal," the statement read. They also claimed that if the demands are not met then the corporations would file "a contempt of court suit against the Delhi government". Giving details of the alleged due funds, Gupta said, "Rs 2,514 crore is pending under the plan head, and Rs 1,202 crore under the non-plan head, totalling Rs 3,716 crore." Mayor South Delhi Chawla said that he had written two letters to the chief minister, in which he has asked for the "pending dues of Rs 1,532 crore towards the SDMC". "Kejriwal is not paying the dues towards the corporation according to the recommendations of the Delhi Fourth Finance Commission, and his government has also not given funds for salaries and arrears of sanitation workers," he alleged. Singh said the problem of funds is biggest in the EDMC which is already reeling under a huge financial crunch. Both NDMC and EDMC are cash-strapped and only SDMC has managed to stay afloat financially. The recent lynching of two young Assamese men exposes a terrible trait Assam possesses its deep-set ethnic, linguistic and religious divide. Assam is in the news for an oft visible, terrible trait that it possesses the 'great divide'. This divide ethnic, linguistic, religious is visible once again with the blood-curdling lynching of two young Assamese men in a remote, tribal-dominated district, Karbi Anglong. In perpetrating merciless and senseless violence against men that are from the state, those that killed and maimed these two young men displayed a blood thirst that beats logic and rationality. They simply displayed hate and a complete lack of humanity. Abhijeet Nath, 30, a musician and Nilotpal Das, 29, a businessman from Guwahati drove to the lush village of Panjuri Kachari in this district. They decided to spend some time by the Kansi Langso waterfall, reportedly looking for an ornamental fish. Now, as the police have found, they ran into Alphajos Timung, a local who had a heated argument with them. Sensing trouble, as Timung began to call up others to put up a fight with them, both men decided to leave. Timung pelted stones at Nath and Das's SUV and arranged for them to be stopped by villagers. He lied to them, telling them that he had seen the two men drive away in a black SUV with an abducted child. Playing into the age-old Xopadhora myth (child kidnapper), often a folktale used to rein in children, he trumped up rumours circulating on WhatsApp about the same. Over 200 (a number not confirmed), gathered for over an hour, bludgeoning, beating and murdering these two young men. It is not yet clear if they asked their victims to clarify what they were doing, or if they ever really intended to stop the kidnappers. There was no child in the vehicle and no evidence of an abduction. Severely beaten, these young men must have repeatedly said that they were just tourists, not kidnappers. Their pleading and heart-wrenching pleas for mercy, with one stating that he is Assamese and giving names of his parents repeatedly, captured on a video, make this clear. But the violence continued, as more participated in the process of methodical murder. A video capturing the entire incident was shot on a mobile phone. It is not clear who shot this or put it up, but it went up on social media. This story continues to evolve, as Assam rises up in civil protest and many get polarised over the rights and wrongs. Over 35 have been arrested for spreading false rumours on social media, one has been held for impersonating the police, by creating a fake Facebook account of Guwahati Commissioner of Police Hiren Kumar Nath. Around 28 are being held as perpetrators. Appeals for peace and calm and to maintain civility while interacting with Karbi people has revealed the deep rifts that exist in Assam's social fabric. The author will not claim objectivity while writing this piece, for she belongs to Assam and is Assamese by origin. But it does argue, simply, that this incident appears orchestrated, organised and was, simply put a killing frenzy. With tribal communities, it is almost impossible to pin the blame for after a mob or large group commits a crime, the community opens up, absorbs their own and then shuts itself out. The Karbi Anglong District Council is an autonomous body in charge of civil administration and carrying forward development and government projects. Run by native people, its fealty remains with the local population. Karbi Anglong represents the distorted reality of a democratic process that has followed a consistent policy of ruling from a distance. It is beautiful, virginal, backward in all aspects of the development paradigm and dirt-poor. With a tribal population of 12.4 percent, Assam faces a consistent problem of uneven economic and social development. Tribes like the Karbis, with a sizeable population and bhoomiputras (sons of the soil), have always felt left behind. It is important to note that spends from both the central and state governments have not petered down to Karbi populations, despite it being run by an autonomous, native populated district council. It's not too difficult to read between the lines here. When city-bred young men spend time idling by a stylish vehicle like an SUV, they feel absolutely alien. They look and sound different. The reality of poverty, lack of opportunity and marginalisation becomes very evident. The history-sheeter that masterminded this lynching might not have been motivated by impulse. Allegedly, Timung has incited lynching of two youths in 2012, calling them militants and has also killed another person in a similar manner. His motive and involvement suggest pre-planning. But for those that formed the 'punishing' crowd, this became a case of 'no one's to blame'. Police say some villagers were drunk. So murdering two young urban men, one with dreadlocks, became sweet revenge. It turned into a frenzy, of de-humanising the victims by repeatedly hurting them. Weapons used while perpetrating the crime, as retired DGP Harekrishna Deks, a respected public figure whose opinion counts in shaping Assam's public opinion, points out in a Facebook post, were readily available. The person filming this blood fest had a mobile phone, but he didn't use it to call the police or inform anyone. While spears and daos (hacking knives) are kept in most tribal homes, the bamboo rods used to hit them were prepared beforehand. Their faces were slashed, the victim with dreadlocks was 'scalped' in a manner, with his hair being hacked off till he bled. But no one in this crowd stopped to consider that neither victim was a child abductor or ask why they had come visiting. They were partaking in a frenzy of bloodletting, somewhere reflecting the sense of alienation a deep divide that the urban Assamese and rural locals now face. Assam has faced a localised immigration of sorts in the past two decades. As the shadows of Presidents Rule, insurgency and insecurity pushed the state's industrial development behind, a large chunk of educated, the urban youth began to leave seeking employment or further education in Indian cities. Most have never had the scope or motivation to return home, for there is no work there. Musicians, artistes and cultural talents have been part of the exports from Assam to the rest of India. This youth, as opposed to those that live in villages, face poverty, lack of infrastructure and floods, feel a sense of being different from each other. The development and opportunity divide is vast. It leads to alienation. As some now begin to return home as entrepreneurs, dividing time between Assam and a metro city, they often face this sense of being unwelcome in remote areas. Taking a cigarette break outside a village, for instance, might lead locals to question the person irrespective of him/her being Assamese or not. This is in no way addressed here to justify the lynching. It is just a part of Assam's evolving reality. While scholars, academics and journalists have drawn reasonable linkages between the tension over this lynching and the ongoing debate around a citizenship bill, the bloodletting that Nilotpal and Abhijeet faced is nothing but an example of hatred and a mob seeking blood. The father of Nilotpal leads a chorus of voices in the state, appealing for calm and of seeking an inclusive, larger solution of mutual acceptance as well as assimilation. That's benevolent of him. This incident merits the harshest punishment possible within Indian law. It also urgently demands an answer why was a history-sheeter with a record of lynching roaming free in the first place? Presently, the Assam police has been very active and has been arresting perpetrators that they can determine. However, with clannish behaviour ruling courts, who goes to jail is an entirely different matter. For little else can explain how a man accused of lynching in the past roams around scot-free. While ethnic tensions are not welcome and will not help matters, one must pause to remember, those who killed two young Assamese men for no reason, and brutalised their bodies over time, had no political, social or ethnically progressive motive. Theirs is a sick, criminal act. And it must be viewed and addressed as that alone. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife alleged that the families of the ministers, who are staging a sit-in at the lieutenant governor Secretariat since Monday evening, were not being allowed to meet them. New Delhi: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife on Thursday alleged that the families of the ministers, who are staging a sit-in at the Lieutenant Governor's Secretariat since Monday evening, were not being allowed to meet them. Sunita Kejriwal said on Twitter that even prisoners are allowed to meet their family members. According to the chief minister's wife, she, her mother-in-law, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia wife and Health Minister Satyendar Jain's wife had gone to meet them at the Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal's office on Thursday, but were not allowed. "Respected lieutenant-governor sir, are we four ladies, mother and wife of chief minister, wife of deputy chief minister and wife of Satyendar Jain threat to your security that you are not allowing us to enter the road leading to your house? Kindly intervene. Please do not feel so threatened by everyone. Regards," she tweeted. In another tweet, she said, "Lieutenant-governor sir, we waited for long but denied any meeting with our family. Even the prisoners are allowed to meet their family members." Sources in the lieutenant-governor office said the ministers' family members can meet them outside the lieutenant governor office as no restriction has been imposed on such meetings. Kejriwal and AAP ministers Manish Sisodia, Gopal Rai and Satyendar Jain have been staying put at the waiting room of the lieutenant-governor office over their demands, including a direction to IAS officers to end their "strike" and action against those who have struck work. In counter-protest, BJP MP Pravesh Sahib Singh Verma, three party MLAs and AAP's rebel legislator Kapil Mishra sat on dharna outside the chief minister's office at Delhi Secretariat. The general administration department of the Delhi goverment on Thursday ordered removal of posters and banners put up by the BJP and Mishra following a complaint. Following a request of Opposition Leader Vijender Gupta, the department provided a television in the waiting room of the chief minister's office. Besides Verma and Mishra, BJP MLAs Gupta, Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Jagdish Pradhan have sat on dharna, saying they will not leave the chief minister's office till their demands are met. Persistently suffering 'severe' air quality for the third day in a row, Delhi's dusty situation is likely to improve from Saturday onwards, Met official said on Friday. New Delhi: Persistently suffering "severe" air quality for the third day in a row, the National Capital Region's (NCR) dusty situation is likely to improve from Saturday onwards, Met official said on Friday. Coarse particles in Delhi's air, due to dust-raising winds from Rajasthan and excessive construction activities around in the NCR, bought the air quality to severe on 13 June. Due to this, PM10 or particles with a diameter less than 10 microns became the major pollutant and PM2.5 or finer particles the secondary in NCR. At 3 pm on Friday, the PM10 averaged at 717 units, against 765.6 units at the same time on Thursday. However, by 5 pm on Friday, the levels dropped down by 656 units. While Delhi and the regions around it may start seeing some improvement from Saturday onwards due to change in winds, Rajasthan will get no respite till Tuesday. "The situation is set to improve in Delhi from Saturday and by Sunday, there will be considerable improvement in air quality as dust will begin settling down," India Meteorological Department scientist Kuldeep Srivastava told IANS. There are also slight chances of very light rains on Sunday around Delhi, which may improve the situation further, IMD said. According to private weather agency Skymet, winds are set to change from currently dust-raising westerly and south-westerly to north-westerly on Saturday which may slightly improve the situation. "Currently winds from Rajasthan and Balochistan are bringing in dust, which is set to change to north-westerly," Skymet director Mahesh Palawat told IANS. Meanwhile, the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi saw deteriorating trend, with AQI at 4 pm on Friday was 447 against 431 on Thursday, both severe, on a scale of 0 to 500. However, the prominent pollutant on Friday was PM10 while on Thursday it was both PM2.5 and PM10. Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Thursday also barred construction activities and stone crushers around Delhi for three days. "Dust and excessive construction activities around NCR are the primary reason of such a deterioration of air quality and giving rise to the coarser PM10 as the primary pollutant," a scientist at Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) told IANS. The scientist, however, added that there is also a considerable presence of finer particle or PM2.5, which arise from vehicles and diesel generator sets. However, neither the generator sets were barred in Delhi, nor the entry of trucks was stopped, as provisioned under Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority for NCR. These diapers will be a kind of bag that will have the capacity to hold at least 10 kg of faecal balls by ponies and mules on the route. Jammu: Although animals dont use toilets like human beings, ponies and mules carrying pilgrims to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath will now be able to do their business in full privacyusing a first-of-its-kind diaper made exclusively for them. The inimitable idea, a sort of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan for ponies, who are used to a life of open defecation, is intended to tackle the problem of stench, often unbearable for pilgrims, coming out from faecal balls of the animals who slog day and night in the picturesque meadows in between Baltal and the Amarnath shrine. During a recent meeting chaired by Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Forest Environment and Ecology, it was decided to make ponies carrying pilgrims wear diapers. Chief Executive Officer of Sonmarg Development Authority Shabir Ahmad Raina said 500 animal diapers have been ordered so that no pollution or environmental degradation is caused during the pilgrimage. If everything goes according to plans, it would become a permanent feature from next year. Procurement problems This is the first time in the history of Amarnath pilgrimage wherein the government has taken such an initiative. Five hundred diapers have been ordered in the first phase. We tried to search for these diapers on the internet but did not find many agencies selling them online. Those who are selling them are doing it at a very high cost that we could not afford, said Raina. The authorities then found some locals who could manufacture these diapers and ordered 500 of them at a cost of Rs 350 per diaper. The diapers will be delivered by next week. The authorities are yet to decide whether to distribute these diapers on a trial basis to the pony and mule owners or charge them a reasonable amount. These diapers will be a kind of bag that will have the capacity to hold at least 10 kg of faecal balls by ponies and mules on the route. One diaper is sufficient for a complete trip of a pony or mule and a new diaper would be provided to the owner after they return to the base at Baltal, Raina said. Mujeed Ahmad, 42, who carries pilgrims on his mule to Amarnath from Baltal every day, is happy that the government is thinking for them as mules and ponies are the breadwinners for many Muslim families in Kashmir region. People, especially youth, bring their mules and ponies to Baltal and Pahalgam routes every year during the tenure of pilgrimage to earn a living, said Ahmad. He said what pony owners earn during the pilgrimage in two months cannot be earned in other parts of Kashmir during rest of the year. Safe for animals? Arun Anand, assistant professor, department of veterinary surgery and radiology at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in Ludhiana, said mules and ponies can release 1-1.5 kg of droppings in two hours. Explaining that since the faecal balls released by mules contain fibre and undigested cellulose, the cause of stench. The expert warned that the diapers could cause infections to the animals. The Minister for Forests, Environment and Ecology Rajiv Jasrotia said registration of at least 2,000 ponies and mules that will carry pilgrims to the holy cave is expected this year, for which they are making arrangements. "These 500 diapers will be used to ensure cleanliness on the track from where pilgrims are carried. A large number of people prefer to walk on foot to the shrine and droppings of mules cause stench, besides being unhygienic," said Jasrotia. There are two routes for the annual pilgrimage, including the Pahalgam-Chandanwari and Sonamarg-Baltal. Baltal route is preferred by pilgrims as it is shorter. The diapers will be used on both routes. Yatra going green With the annual Amarnath pilgrimage scheduled to begin on 28 June, a series of meetings of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, which manages the pilgrimage and other infrastructure to ensure safety of pilgrims and stop degradation of the environment during the pilgrimage is taking place on a daily basis now. The cave shrine is situated at a height of nearly 4,000 meters from sea level. There has been controversy in the past as Kashmir-based social and environmental organisations had claimed that the pilgrimage was causing pollution in the area. However, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board is taking measures to ensure that no pollution is caused during the pilgrimage. Minimising the use of plastic is one such measure taken by the shrine board. Bio-degradable bags will also be distributed among shopkeepers to avoid the use of polythene, said Jasrotia. Orders have also been issued to environment department to set up joint awareness camp with the Pollution Control Board and put display screen in place with messages asking the pilgrims to avoid littering. Umang Narula, principal secretary to the governor and chief executive officer of the shrine board, informed that 1,91,073 pilgrims have secured advance registration through the designated branches of Punjab National Bank, J&K Bank and Yes Bank so far. This number includes 17,208 yatris who have obtained helicopter tickets till 12 June. Narula also informed that 529 new toilets and 100 baths for the pilgrimage have been installed. A total of 2,750 toilets and 516 baths shall be installed by the board. The shrine board is installing 80 bottle catchers at conspicuous locations along the yatra route. The plastic bottles are brought down and shredded in shredding machines at base camps of Nunwan and Baltal. The board shall also propagate the use of cloth bags as an alternative to plastic bags, said Narula. To keep the pilgrimage area clean and promote the segregation of wastes into bio-degradable and non-bio-degradable at source, the authorities will also install 1,465 colour-coded dustbins. The authors are freelance writer and members of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters. Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the culmination of the fasting month of Ramzan, will be celebrated across India except Kerala on Saturday as the moon was not sighted in New Delhi on Thursday. New Delhi: Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the culmination of the fasting month of Ramzan, will be celebrated across the country except Kerala on Saturday as the moon was not sighted in New Delhi on Thursday. Jama Masjid Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari made the announcement on Thursday night after a meeting of the moon-sighting committee, a senior official at the city's historic mosque said. "The moon was not sighted on Thursday. So, that means the Eid will be celebrated on Saturday in Delhi and several other parts of the country," he said. In Kerala, Eid will be celebrated on Friday as the moon was sighted in Kozhikode, a top cleric said. Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramzan, symbolises peace and brotherhood. The festival is marked with feasts and the faithful offers prayers at mosques and idgahs to seek blessings of the divine. People, especially children dress up in their traditional fineries to mark the festival that spreads the message of brotherhood and communal amity. Engineers India Limited (EIL) is hiring for over 100 positions and intereted candidates are required to apply before 20 June Engineers India Limited (EIL) has released a notification regarding job openings for interested, eligible individuals for the posts of engineer/ officer, deputy manager, DGM and junior accountant. According to a report in India Today, the interested candidates are to apply through the website- engineersindia.com How to apply: - Complete registration processes in engineersindia.com by clicking on the Careers link - Read the instructions - Fill the application form - Upload and submit required photographs, documents, and academic certificates - Print out a copy of the application form for future reference Eligibility criteria: All interested candidates are required to have a BE/BTech/BSc (Engg) degree in Civil/Electrical/Mechanical discipline with minimum 65 percent CGPA/CP Selection process: The selection process for the positions of engineer/officer, deputy manager, and DGM is done through an interview. Candidates applying for the post of junior accountant is done through a written test Pay package: Engineer/Officer: Rs 60,000 to 1,80,000 (CTC: 14.31) Deputy Manager: Rs 70,000 to 2,00,000 DGM: Rs 1,20,000 to 2,80,000 (28.93) Junior Accountant: Rs 13,800 to 38,500 (6.79) Vacancy details: Total number of posts available is 141. Engineer/officer: 59 Deputy manager: 71 DGM: 1 Junior accountant: 10 As per the official notifications, construction engineers/officers in all levels will be posted at construction sites or offices. The rest will be posted in company head office (New Delhi/Gurugram), regional offices (Chennai, Vadodara, and Kolkata), branch office in Mumbai, or inspection offices and construction sites. The last day for applying for the registered candidates is 20 June. An old tribal couple were axed to death while their teenaged children suffered injuries in an attack by unidentified miscreants in Dadgamma under Khunti police station under Khunti district, a senior police officer said on Friday. Khunti, Jharkhand: An old tribal couple were axed to death while their teenaged children suffered injuries in an attack by unidentified miscreants in Dadgamma under Khunti police station under Khunti district in Jharkhand, a senior police officer said on Friday. The victims Satri Munda (60) and his wife Jauni Devi (55) along with their son Ram Munda (14) and daughter Radha Hansa were in their sleep when the miscreants barged into the house past midnight last and axed the old couple to death, said Superintendent of Police Ashwini Kumar Sinha. Sinha said the victims children suffered minor injuries in the incident. After committing the crime, the killers escaped with the severed head of Satri, Sinha said adding that the bodies including Satris torso have been recovered and sent for post-mortem on Friday. Asked about the reason behind the incident, the SP did not rule out the possibility of 'witchcraft' and superstition being the motive behind murder. Meanwhile, a hunt was launched to apprehend the culprits and recover the severed head of Satri. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. He raised several issues for many projects Hyderabad: Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday met prime minister Narendra Modi in Delhi and raised several issues, including request for funds for the Kaleswaram irrigation project and handing over some defence land here to build a new state Secretariat complex. Other issues raised by Rao at the hour-long meeting were expediting construction of railway projects, special High Court for Telangana, releasing funds for certain backward districts, sanctioning an IIM, releasing funds for a proposed Information Technology Investment Region, assent to the new zonal system (vis--vis government employment) announced by the state government, the chief minister's office said in Hyderabad. Modi responded positively to the issues brought to his notice by Rao, it said. The chief minister submitted 10 memoranda. Thanking the Prime Minister for expeditiously giving clearance to the Kaleswaram irrigation project, Rao sought Rs 20,000 crore financial aid for it, the release said. The project cost is Rs 80,000 crore and the government has allocated Rs 25,000 crore in its budget. Another Rs 22,000 crore has been obtained as loan from financial institutions, it said. Rao requested amending the Presidential order on the zonal system concerning government employment, it said. He sought Modi's intervention to set up a special high court for Telangana as the High Court in Hyderabad continues to be common for both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Rao sought the transfer of Bison Polo ground in Hyderabad for construction of a new Secretariat complex, it said, adding the government has already requested the Defence Ministry, which currently holds the said land, for its transfer. The Chief Minister also sought expediting railway projects in the state and funds for the ITIR project in Hyderabad. Referring to media reports which quoted Union Electronics Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad as having said that the proposed ITIR project in Hyderabad stands withdrawn, Rao said the project should not be withdrawn, the release said. Russia will protect its sovereignty under any circumstances, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a meeting with representatives of Russias NGOs. "Attempts to influence our policy, stance, foreign and domestic, are futile," he stressed. "Our country can protect its sovereignty and citizens rights under any circumstances," TASS cited Lavrov as saying. Environmentalist C Jayakumar said that Karinchola had seen a spurt in construction activities in the recent past with many building new houses and some upgrading their old houses ignoring fragile nature of the land. When people at Karinchola in Keralas northern district of Kozhikode objected to the construction of an illegal check dam on the top of a hill in the village, they had never imagined that it will lead to a disaster. The unimaginable happened on 14 June, when a slope of the hill slipped and swept away nearly five acres of land, including five houses, in the small village, 40 kilometres away from the district headquarters. The landslip that erupted around 5:30 am claimed eight lives and left another six missing. Experts are not sure whether the landslip was triggered by the check dam or not but they are unanimous in their opinion that it has certainly intensified the impact of the disaster. Noted environmentalist C Jayakumar said that the water that gushed from the check dam, which reportedly has a capacity to hold four lakh litres of water, may have carried heavy stones and mud far downstream wreaking more havoc. He told Firstpost that the closure of a culvert by a private individual for construction of a house in the area may also have contributed to the intensity of the disaster. The green activist has, therefore, called the landslip that has thrown the lives of 50 families haywire at Karinchola as a man-made disaster. "We cannot blame a few individuals for the disaster. The people who have built concrete structures without considering the capacity of the land to withstand them and the officials and politicians who have permitted them are responsible for the loss of human lives and property," he said. The environmentalist said that the village had seen a spurt in construction activities in the recent past with many building new houses and some upgrading their old houses. They are now paying the price for ignoring fragile nature of the land, he said. Jayakumar told Firstpost that the Madhav Gadgil and Kasthuri Rangan commissions had identified Karinchola as an ecologically sensitive area and recommended restrictions on constructions activities in the village. The people opposed the reports tooth and nail with the backing of political parties and religious groups. The Catholic Church was in the forefront of the agitation against the implementation of the report of the Kasthuri Rangan Commission, which identified 123 villages across the state as ecologically sensitive. Thamraserry Bishop Remigius Inchaniyil, who led the protests, went to the extent of warning of even "bloodshed" and "another Jalianwala Bagh" if the Centre were to implement the Kasthuri Rangan Commission report. Bowing to the pressure, the government sought exclusion of inhabited areas from the list of ecologically fragile areas. Though the central government has rejected the proposal, the state government is in no mood to implement the report. Jayachandran said that the fate of several villages in Kerala will be the same if the state government does not learn a lesson from the current disaster. He said that drastic changes in the land use pattern following the surge in tourism and the opulent lifestyle supported by remittances from abroad in the last three decades were the main culprit for the ecological disasters that the state is facing now. According to KG Thara, former head of the state Disaster Management Authority (DMA), unscientific construction is the major reason for the increasing landslides in the state. She said construction of resorts and high rises has been increasing the landslide-prone areas in the state. Karinchola had not figured in the disaster management plan and map prepared by the DMA even two years ago. Landslide ravaged the village because of unscientific human intervention in nature in the last two years. The political class and the bureaucrats who permitted this intervention are accountable for the disaster," the geologist said. She said that politicians have been opposing suggestions to regulate environmentally harmful activities citing the development needs. Development is required but it should not be at the cost of the environment. "Bulk of land in the state is being used for construction activities. There is a tendency among the affluent people in the state to build multiple houses. If the government can fix a cap on houses on the lines of the ceiling on land holding, the problem can be solved to a great extent," Thara said. Atmospheric scientists view climatic variations as a major fallout of the unscientific human intervention in nature. The climatic variations have been affecting Kerala both ways -- flood during monsoon and drought during summer. Large swathes of the state came under unrelenting drought last year, forcing the government to resort to water rationing. Abhilash S, assistant professor of Atmospheric Studies at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), said that the two extremes are the result of climatic variations induced by global warming as well as local factors. He said that the global warming has been leading to floods during rainy season as it has reduced the capacity of the atmosphere to hold water. The local factors responsible for the current climatic variations, according to Abhilash are indiscriminate forest encroachment, tree felling, mindless quarrying, sand smuggling and poor water conservation. He considers the change in the rain pattern as a matter of serious concern in a state like Kerala with high population density. "Kerala was used to mostly two types of rains-short duration high-intensity rain and long duration low-intensity rains. What we are observing now is long duration high-intensity rains. This marks an abnormal change in the nature of rains in the state," said Abhilash. He told Firstpost that the northern region of the state, where the rain has wreaked huge havoc, had recorded 200 percent rise in rainfall in the last seven days. The normal rainfall during this period is 20 cm, but the region has witnessed 60 cm rainfall. If the rain continues at this rate it will have its impact in the rest of the state too, he said. The heavy rain is likely to continue till 18 June, according to the predictions of the Indian Meteorological Department. Abhilash said heavy rains in the northern region could lead to floods in low lying areas in the downstream districts like Idukki, Thrissur and Ernakulam since the watersheds that used to absorb the excess water have been destroyed in most of these areas. "If Ernakulam district witness long duration high-intensity rain as in the northern region it could even submerge the city of Kochi in water majority of the watersheds in the district has been replaced with concrete structures. The district has already recorded 100 percent increase in rainfall during the current season," he said. The city is also facing the prospect of getting sunk as a result of the global warming. The Goa-based National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) has predicted that the rising sea levels caused by global warming could submerge large swathes of coastal land in the city within 100 years. "Factors behind global warming are outside our control. But we can certainly check the local factors that aggravate the impact of the global warming. Kerala is sitting on a water bomb now. If urgent measures are not taken to check the environmental deterioration the bomb will explode and affect all of us," said Abhilash. We may celebrate the Kerala HC judgment on transgender identity, by saying that it is a victory for the LGBTQI community. But in reality, it is not. Last week, the Kerala High Court refused to allow a habeas corpus petition filed by the mother of a transperson, stating that all trans people have the "the right to wander about or associate with like-minded people, and cannot be compelled to be at his (sic) parental home". The bench, comprising Justices V Chitambaresh and KP Jyothindranath, asserted that the Constitution of India contains a very specific provision Article 19 (1) (a) that protects the freedom of speech and expression, and this subsumes "the right of a person to live as a transgender". The judgment also reiterates that the values that are essential to one's being privacy, self-identity, autonomy and personal integrity are guaranteed to all trans people and are protected by the Constitution. At the heart of this judgment, are principles from the National Legal Services Authority versus Union of India (2014), that the right to gender identity is at the core of one's personal identity, and that this right must be protected from the State's prohibitions, restrictions and interferences. Parts of the judgment are, however, disturbing. The petitioner mother of the trans person, Arundhati requested for an immediate medical/psychological evaluation, and such an invasive evaluation seemed to have taken place; thereby, violating the rights of the transperson in question. Moreover, the bench seems completely reluctant to examine or review the historical injustice that the trans community has been through, often citing the medical report of this evaluation that refers to gender dysphoria. Reports suggest that Arundhati was subjected to four days of psychological and medical testing and that she was devastated that self-identification was not sufficient for the bench. Arundhati questioned the high court's decision because the NALSA principles provide for the right to self-identification: "I had declared my gender earlier. But the court was not convinced. It took my mothers petition seriously and ignored my statement that I was a trans woman." The intolerance of the State, whether it be the legislature or the judiciary, continues in the form of blatant discrimination. In spite of the NALSA judgment, there hasn't been a lot of change in the environment the environment has not been made conducive for the realisation and enjoyment of the rights of trans people. Despite a flurry of landmark decisions that cite and borrow the NALSA principles, there is not really a clear trajectory to codifying the rights of the trans community. What the NALSA judgment did is that it gave the community formal legal recognition they were the third gender, thereby, breaking down the heteronormative, binary gender constructs of 'man' and 'woman' that are deeply ingrained in Indian law, and affirmed that the constitutional rights and freedoms of the transgender community are absolute. In doing so, the judiciary, in 2014, pulled open the Overton Window for the legislature to take the next steps it had already done its bit by stretching the legal landscape to be more inclusive. The legislature, however, grappled with two Bills the Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2014 passed by a unanimous voice vote in the Rajya Sabha, and the Transgender Persons (Protection Rights) Bill, 2016 passed by the central government, a diluted version of the Rajya Sabha's Bill. What happened to the Bills is out of the scope of this opinion piece, but it is important to note that there is just utter silence on the part of the government on the codification of the rights of the community. And as the community grapples to understand how they have fundamental rights if they cannot marry, adopt, stay free from violence, invoke redressal mechanisms, and exercise their right to self-identify, the issue of a law seems to be wedged between the legislature and the judiciary. Several cases made use of the NALSA principles and incorporated them in order to address the historical abuse and injustice that the community has faced. The Madras High Court's decision in the case of Jakuline Mary versus Superintendent of Police, Karur expanded the NALSA perspectives and scope to include female-to-male transpersons and intersex persons. In the decision, the judge wrote that "she is a female in the legal parlance and thus she is eligible for appointment as a woman police constable" and hence, upheld her right to self-identify. In Shivani Bhat versus State of NCT of Delhi, the Delhi High Court identified the historical disadvantage of the community and recognised the rights of a 19-year-old transman who was illegally detained and harassed by his family. In K Prithika Yashini versus The Chairman, Prithika, a transwoman, became the first transgender person to become sub-inspector of police in Dharmapuri in Tamil Nadu, after a long legal struggle. In this verdict, the court ordered that transpersons have an inherent human right to decide their self-identified gender and "the Centre and state governments were directed to grant legal recognition of their gender identity such as male, female or as the third gender". In Ganga Kumari versus State & Ors, the Court recognised the fundamental right of the trans community to be protected against inequality or discrimination. What is then holding the State back from legislating on the issues of the trans community? What is holding back the State from aligning other legislation with the NALSA principles? Even after four years, why haven't we been able to create a pathway for the community to self-identify without discrimination or violation? Is it because we missed the opportune moment around the NALSA judgment, and even two years later, when the Bills were being discussed and debated? By waiting incessantly to make a move on this matter, the State is, by its own hand, undoing and disregarding the years of activism and by extension, the NALSA principles. We may celebrate the Kerala High Court judgment, by saying that it is a victory for the LGBTQI community. But in reality, it is not. The trans-community will not benefit from isolated judgments like Arundhati's or Prithika's or Shivani's these are individual narratives that have reached the judiciary, and the courts, still unequipped by the lack of legislation, fail to weave a rights-discourse in these cases. What the community needs now is a framework, borrowed from the NALSA principles of course, that stitches together the promise of fundamental human rights and dignity, equality and inclusion, and affirmative action in the form of social welfare. Without this framework, the judiciary will continue to overreach into the lives of individuals, as it did in Arundhati's case, and violate more rights than it upholds. Press Club Kolkata on Friday condemned the brutal killing of renowned journalist Shujaat Bukhari, who was shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside his office at Lal Chawk in Srinagar. Kolkata: Press Club Kolkata on Friday condemned the brutal killing of renowned journalist Shujaat Bukhari, who was shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside his office at Lal Chawk in Srinagar on Thursday. Joining the media fraternity across the country in protesting against the killing of Bukhari, club president Snehasis Sur and secretary Kingshuk Pramanik in a joint statement demanded immediate arrest of the killers. Bukhari was shot at while disembarking from his car near the Rising Kashmir newspaper office. Bukhari, apart from being the editor-in-chief of Rising Kashmir, was a veteran journalist and contributed to various newspapers and magazines across the country. His independent views were highly visible in social media also. Bukhari was respected as a courageous journalist propagating his independent views from the disturbed areas of the valley. Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday resumed work at his office in the state secretariat, a day after returning from the United States, where he underwent treatment. Panaji: Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday resumed work at his office in the state secretariat, a day after returning from the United States, where he underwent treatment for a pancreatic ailment for three months. The chief minister started his day with a visit to the Devki Krishna temple at Khandola village in North Goa, 15 kilometres away from Panaji, to seek blessings of the deity, the chief minister's office (CMO) said. Devki Krishna is the family deity of Parrikar. The chief minister then drove back to Panaji, where he visited the Mahalaxmi temple. Thereafter, he went to his office in the state secretariat at Porvorim on the outskirts of Panaji, where he chaired a meeting of senior bureaucrats and police officers to take stock of the law and order situation in Goa. The meeting was attended by senior officials, including state chief secretary Dharmendra Sharma and Director General of Police (DGP) Muktesh Chandar. State Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai, of the Goa Forward Party, who met Parrikar on Friday said that the chief minister would be holding a cabinet meeting on Monday. "The chief minister told me that he would be holding a state cabinet meeting on Monday (18 June). A discussion was also held on having the monsoon session of the Legislative Assembly, tentatively, from 19 July onwards. The session would be for 12 days," Sardesai told reporters. Sardesai added that he had advised Parrikar to take care of his health and to not overwork. MGP legislator Dipak Pawaskar, who represents the iron ore rich Sanvordem constituency, said that Parrikar had told him that a meeting to discuss the state's mining woes would be held on Monday or Tuesday. "I met the CM at around 3.30 pm. Our discussions centred around mining, protection of miners and financial help to truck owners who are part of the mining sector," Pawaskar told reporters. "He (Parrikar) said that he will call for a meeting on Monday or Tuesday to discuss the issue. All MLAs from the mining belt, the Advocate General and Director of Mines and Geology would also be called," Pawaskar said. In a half-a-minute long video released later, Parrikar assured the people of Goa that he will "always be there for the welfare and development" of the state and will continue to serve them. He thanked the people for their prayers for his speedy recovery. "I am back from the USA after taking the treatment. When I was there, all of you prayed for my speedy recovery and health," he said. "With your blessings and prayers, I am back in Goa and resumed the work. I hope that your blessings will always continue with me...I would like to assure you that I will always be there for the welfare and development of Goa. I will continue serving the people," the CM said in the video. Parrikar, 62, returned from the US last evening after his three-month long treatment there. Parrikar had left for the US on 7 March. Before leaving Goa, Parrikar had formed a cabinet advisory committee to guide the state administration on governance and other issues, in his absence. Meghalaya will implement the Centre's Ayushman Bharat - National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM), according to the state health minister AL Hek Shillong: Meghalaya government will implement the Centre's Ayushman Bharat - National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM), state health minister AL Hek has said. Hek made this announcement at the health ministers conclave held in New Delhi on Thursday, according to an official statement issued here. The state government also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Union Health Ministry on Thursday and agreed to implement the AB-NHPM in Meghalaya, the statement said. Hek said the state would merge its own Meghalaya Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) with the AB-NHPM. Under MHIS the existing health insurance cover is Rs 2,80,000 while the AB-NHPM will provide a cover of Rs 5 lakh per family annually, Hek said. Meghalaya and seven more states on Thursday signed MoUs with the Union Health Ministry, taking to 20, the number of states which have agreed to implement the Centre's ambitious national health protection mission. Meanwhile, the development comes on a day when the central government is deliberating on whether to extend the month-long ceasefire in place during Ramzan in Kashmir. A day after senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari was shot dead, and an Indian Army jawan was abducted and murdered in Kashmir, militants have now attacked a police party in the state capital, Srinagar. According to reports, a group of armed militants opened fire at a police party in Srinagar, injuring two police personnel and three civilians. The security forces' party was carrying out random vehicle checking in Kak Sarai area of the city when the incident occurred. "During the checking of vehicles at Kak Sarai, militants opened fire on the cops, who also retaliated," a police official said. Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a manhunt for the assailants. More details on the attack are awaited. Meanwhile, the development comes on a day when the central government is deliberating on whether to extend the month-long ceasefire in place during Ramzan in Kashmir. Union home minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the security situation on Thursday and met the state authorities. Singh will also brief Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the security situation on Friday. Singh told reporters on Friday that he will make further announcements on the issue only after 17 June. Meanwhile, reports suggest that the Centre is not likely to extend the ceasefire but it may refrain from publicly announcing the resumption of operations, BJP sources told The Indian Express. However, officially, the Centre is yet to take a call on whether it will extend the ceasefire up till Amarnath Yatra which begins on 28 June, or let it lapse after Eid, which falls on 16 June. The move of the Centre is similar to the Non-Initiation of Combat Operations (NICO) announced by the first NDA government, headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, during Ramzan in 2000. Rise in militancy during ceasefire? Two incidents shook the Valley on Thursday. A senior journalist was gunned down outside his office, while he was leaving to attend an iftaar party, and Aurangzeb, an Indian Army sepoy was abducted and later murdered while he was proceeding for his Eid holidays. Both these incidents created outcry and furor, eliciting strong condemnation from all sections. These aside, one army personnel was killed while two terrorists were gunned down during an ongoing operation in Bandipora's Panar area on Thursday. However, reports suggest militants have been taking advantage of the Centre's ceasefire in the Valley. While incidents of stone-pelting have reduced during the period of Ramzan ceasefire, recruitment of local youths by militant groups and incidents of grenade lobbying have risen alarmingly, according to a report in The New Indian Express. According to the latest data compiled by the Centre, as many as 23 youths have been recruited by militant groups during the first 19 days of the ceasefire. The data also shows that of the total number of grenade lobbying incidents reported in the month of May, more than 80 percent took place during the ceasefire period alone. With inputs from PTI The bullet-riddled body of Aurangzeb was found at Gusoo in Pulwama on Friday Militants who abducted and murdered Indian Army jawan, Aurangzeb, have released his picture, reportedly taken minutes before he was killed, media reports said. Aurangzeb's bullet-riddled body was found at Gusoo in Pulwama on Friday after he was abducted, not too far away from Shadipur army camp, where he was posted. Aurangzeb, a native of Poonch area of Jammu and Kashmir, was picked up by the militants while he was heading home for Eid, officials said. #BREAKING - Terrorists release picture of soldier Aurangzeb before he was killed. @shreyadhoundial with more information. pic.twitter.com/hr4SDn3R7b The slain rifleman was laid to rest with full state honours on Friday. A large number of locals, who attended his funeral, were seen raising slogans of 'Shaheed Aurangzeb amar rahe', outside his house in Poonch's Mendhar, ANI reported. Aurangzeb belonged to the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and was posted with the 44 Rashtriya Rifles camp at Shadimarg in Shopian. The jawan, who was also a part of the team involved in the encounter of dreaded Hizbul Mujahideen militant Sameer Tiger, was abducted around 11:30 am on Friday when at least three heavily armed militants stopped the private vehicle in which the sepoy was travelling in Kalampora. "The incident occurred 1.5 kilometres away from the 44 RR camp in Rajpora area of Pulwama," said Pulwama senior superintendent of police Mohammad Aslam. According to another police official, a group of militants stopped the Santro vehicle in which Aurangzeb was travelling. The vehicle belonged to a health department employee, who was driving the car. The health department employee was asked by army men at the Shadimarg camp to drop Aurangzeb at Tukura area from where he was to head home. But only a little distance from the army camp, militants stopped the vehicle. They let off the driver while abducting Aurangzeb. The news of Aurangzeb's killing came on the same day veteran Kashmiri journalist Shujaat Bukhari was shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Valley. Union home minister Rajnath Singh is deliberating whether to extend or call off the Ramzan ceasefire that is due to end on Friday. With inputs from PTI Narendra Modi is chairing a high-level meeting on the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir in which a decision on extending the ceasefire could be taken. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is chairing a high-level meeting on the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir in which a decision on extending the ceasefire could be taken, officials said. The meeting is being attended by home minister Rajnath Singh, national security advisor Ajit Doval, and senior officials of intelligence and security agencies, they said. The meeting is crucial as a call on extending the unilateral ceasefire post Ramzan, which ends on Friday, can be taken during it, they said. It is expected that the issue of security for Amarnath Yatra, starting 28 June, and killings of Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari and Army jawan Aurangzeb is also on the agenda, they said. The fate of the Centre's one-month-old policy of suspension of operations against militants in Jammu and Kashmir hangs in the balance, with a few security agencies flagging its disadvantages, including regrouping of militants, and some in the Home Ministry being in favour of extending it with a rider that intelligence-based operations should be increased, officials had said. The valley has witnessed the killings of over 55 militants and the deaths of 27 locals this year. The situation in Kashmir is considered to be turbulent as nearly 80 incidents of violence occurred there in the last four months. Civilians were often seen thronging to encounter sites to stage protests with the intention of giving the militants an opportunity to escape. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hosted dinner for key functionaries of the BJP and the RSS, including party president Amit Shah and Sangh's executive head Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi, at his official residence. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hosted dinner for key functionaries of the BJP and the RSS, including party president Amit Shah and Sangh's executive head Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi, at his official residence, sources said. Around 60 functionaries of the BJP and the Sangh have gathered at Surajkund in Haryana for a three-day meeting, where various brainstorming sessions will be held to take stock of the work done across the country, to draft strategy for the future and how to further strengthen coordination among various saffron organisations. "Prime Minister Modiji has called all of us for a dinner tonight," a senior functionary who is attending the meeting said on condition of anonymity. The conclave in Surajkund, which began yesterday, is being attended by all organisational secretaries of the BJP, who are drawn from the Sangh, RSS' General Secretary Joshi and its two Joint General Secretaries Dattatreya Hosabale and Krishna Gopal. This gathering of Sangh and BJP is an annual affair, but this time is assumes significance as a blueprint for better and effective coordination between the party and its ideological mentor is expected to be drawn as the assembly polls in various states are around the corner and the Lok Sabha elections are due next year. The BJP has one organisational secretary for every state who will give details about their performance in their respective region. BJP president Amit Shah is expected to attend the meeting on Friday. The prime minister, a longtime RSS pracharak before he joined active politics, has often hosted Sangh leaders at his residence. Online abuse of women has become widespread in recent times. Women who face such abuse say having a community of supporters helps in such situations. Editor's Note: Data from the National Crime Records Bureau has indicated a sharp upsurge in the number of cyber-crime cases reported over the years. This, despite the fact that most victims, especially women, never speak out against online abuse. This is the first part of a multi-part series, where Firstpost attempts to look at ordeals of women who dared to speak out. Read the second part of the online abuse series here. Bengaluru: In May 2016, Sheena Dabholkar, 31, a writer and photographer in Pune, called out a customer of a popular local nightclub for a sexist comment on Facebook. She got trolled, nasty memes were created about her and the nightclubs owner redirected people to Sheenas page to watch her humiliation. In October 2017, while thinking of safe spaces for women and how the nightlife industry tends to exclude them, she started tweeting about this experience from a year ago, detailing the toxic, misogynistic culture at the nightclub that was humiliating for women. For example, it gave awards for best breasts. Customers were shamed if they visited other establishments and artistes were threatened with a ban if they performed anywhere else. The tweets went viral, possibly because what Sheena said resonated widely. I dont think this would have happened on Facebook, she says, with people protecting their friends. The abuse was varied. I got called a liar, an attention-seeker, she reveals. But Sheena says she wouldnt do anything differently. This conversation needed to be badly had, she adds. The nightclub continues to operate. Women who dare to speak Shrabonti Bagchi, 39, a journalist in Bengaluru, has suffered Twitter trolls too. Facebook is easier to control, she says, by not accepting friend requests of people she doesnt know, for instance. But in 2017, she commented against jauhar, the old practice of Rajput women burning themselves to protect their honour, in relation to an incident on the sets of a controversial Bollywood film. Shrabonti got called a rape apologist and a slut because, according to the trolls, she was okay with being raped and continuing to live. The most absurd and disturbing comment, however, was that because Shrabonti is married to a Muslim man in real life, she condones being raped by a Muslim. There were nearly 300-400 mentions a day and at least 100 tweets whose tone and content was so similar that Shrabonti thought there was some organised syndicate at work, preparing and distributing such comments systematically. Someone alerted me to a photo of me posted on Facebook with a caption in Hindi that twisted my tweet to imply that I was open to sex from anyone. It was taken down after I reported it to Facebook and asked friends to report it too, Shrabonti says. The abuse lasted at least a fortnight, until it slowed to two or three mentions. She deleted the Twitter app from her phone because it was causing her real stress. Its very traumatic, she adds. It can really disturb your mental peace. Shrabonti says she doesnt understand how something goes viral and what is interpreted as offensive. An episode like this affects the whole family. You wonder, what will these guys stop at? My husband was worried. She says that the feeling 'did I really say something wrong?' can undermine one's confidence. But Shrabonti has never regretted anything she wrote. Its a global problem Victim-blaming is real and vocal women have many critics. But what about when a woman isnt expressing an opinion and is still harassed online? Take the case of Rumana Nazarali, 28, a blogger in Bengaluru, who was nearly forced out of her own business. She was out at dinner one night when she got a call from a friend. Change your passwords, he said. Theyre stalking you. Rumanas friend, a tech blogger, received a phone to review. When he switched it on, it connected to Wi-Fi and a full conversation between two other fellow bloggers popped up, about Rumanas email and social media accounts with login details, including private chat transcripts. They had presumably forgotten to clear the exchange before parting with the phone. Rumana says these bloggers were jealous of how well she had been doing recently and were trying to sabotage her. Her friend took screenshots of the exchange and Rumana filed an FIR but the case was closed stating lack of proof. Emotionally, I was affected most, says Rumana. I was scared. Till date, I havent made new friends in the blogging industry. Like domestic abuse, which research has shown can affect anyone, regardless of educational and economic background, age, gender, ethnicity and other factors, online abuse can also affect anyone. Vocal women, especially from marginalised backgrounds like the LGBT or Muslim community, for example, get far more abuse, says Anja Kovacs, Director, Internet Democracy Project. Its a global problem. Sabbah Haji, 36, a Muslim woman who wears the headscarf and runs the not-for-profit Haji Public School in a mountain village outside Jammu, often gets negative comments about Islam online, which she says stem from ignorance. She refuses to keep quiet about it or about anything unkind said of her students. She also hits back when unknown men make personal remarks about her or women in her family, which often happens on Instagram. Her solution is to publicly name and shame. Snark is what I do. If its badly written, its amusement, she says. Sabbah explains: In Kashmir, people have got online fairly recently. So many boys and young men behave in a juvenile way. They act with a sense of entitlement and believe they can behave however they like on the internet. Harassment isnt limited to the world wide web what begins online can quickly escalate offline. Sabbah recalls an incident in 2011 when a man started sending her direct emails in response to every tweet she posted. She marked the mails as spam, but while visiting her sister in Ohio, she found the emails in her inbox. The mans social profile said he was a PhD student at an American university. Sabbah called the local police, who gave the man a warning and closed the case. The man claimed his email and social media account had been hacked. Sabbah also points to politics-related trolls, calling them way more harmful. Divya Spandana, a former actress also known by her screen name Ramya, and now chairperson of the social media department for the Indian National Congress, is familiar with this kind of abuse. Social media gives everyone the chance to voice themselves, regardless of factors like caste or religion, she explains, observing that when women get trolled, their first response may be to go offline. But thats not the answer, she says, because the agenda of the trolls is to keep women out of the conversation. So what can you do? How do you fight back? First off, having an online community of supporters is important in coping with such kind of abuse, says Anja. For Sheena, it is better to play cool and ignore the comments. You dont have to RSVP to every argument, she adds. (Ayesha Aleem is a Bengaluru-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters) Russia does not raise the issue of a return to G8, but is open for dialogue with it, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko said. "We havent raised the issue of returning to this format, as weve got enough space for work," she noted. "We dont have any conditions: if the Seven or Six-Plus-One invite us, we will work there," TASS cited the speaker as saying. US President Donald Trump, who earlier took part in the G7 summit in Canada, spoke in favor of Russias re-accession to the Group of Seven. In his opinion, Russia should be at the meeting and be its participant. Later, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte wrote on Twitter that everyone is interested in Russias return and the renewal of the G8. Soni held a meeting with representatives of the dyeing units and set a deadline of two months for them to adhere to the rules Chandigarh: Punjab environment minister Om Prakash Soni today said owners of industries not following environmental norms would face action. During a visit to the Buddha Nullah at Ludhiana, Soni alleged that dyeing units that had not installed water treatment plants or had not kept them in working condition were discharging toxic water into the drain. He claimed that it was causing serious health ailments. Soni held a meeting with representatives of the dyeing units and set a deadline of two months for them to adhere to the rules. "If industries are not fulfilling government norms, their owners should be ready for strict action," he said. Notably, molasses from a sugar factory near Amritsar had leaked into Beas river, recently, leaving a large number of fish dead. Soni said cleanliness of the Buddha Nullah under 'Mission Tandrust Punjab' is a dream project of chief minister Amarinder Singh. Presiding over a meeting with dyeing unit associations, Soni said that the industry is the backbone of development in the state, but the Punjab government will not tolerate any kind of environmental pollution for the sake of running industries. He instructed officials of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) to ensure all dyeing units follow norms. Soni directed them to tighten the noose around those units that are discharging their waste into the Buddha Nullah. The Punjab government is committed to starting three Common Effluent Treatment Plants in Ludhiana at the earliest, he said. The government has already provided its share of funds, but the union government is yet to contribute its share, the minister alleged. "However, with the Punjab government's share and industrialists financial assistance, the maximum part of installation work has been completed," he said, as per an official statement. The fate of the Centre's one-month-old policy of suspension of operations against militants in Jammu and Kashmir hangs in the balance, with a few security agencies flagging its disadvantages including regrouping of militants and some within the Home Ministry being in favour of extending it with a rider that intelligence-based operations should be increased. The Centre's month-long suspension of operations against militants in Jammu and Kashmir is about to come to an end on Friday, on the eve of Eid, and while a few security agencies say the ceasefire has helped militants regroup, some within the home ministry are in favour of an extension with a rider that intelligence-based operations should increase, officials said on Thursday. At a meeting called by Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday to review security for the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra, the pros and cons of the ceasefire during the holy month of Ramzan were discussed with officials from central and state governments, security agencies and paramilitary forces. At the meeting, the security agencies mentioned that the ceasefire gave militants the opportunity to regroup, move more freely and convince youngsters to join them. The increase in attacks on security forces, including Thursday's kidnapping of an army man from south Kashmir, may embolden them more, thereby creating a threat to the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra, since some militant groups, including JK-ISIS as well as Gazwat-ul-Hind, a group owing allegiance to Al-Qaeda, have rejected the Ramzan ceasefire, it was discussed. Policymakers in the home ministry, however, are still debating the gains and losses of the move and advocated extending it with a rider that the army and security personnel be allowed to carry out intelligence-based operations more frequently even in civilian areas, they said. The officials said a need for carrying out sanitisation of the route to the Amarnath Yatra was also discussed, so that the security forces gain an upper hand during the two-month long pilgrimage that begins on 28 June. The Centre's move is similar to the Non-Initiation of Combat Operations (NICO) announced by the NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, during Ramzan in 2000. During his Independence Day address in 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said bullets or abuses would not resolve the Kashmir issue and that it will be addressed only by embracing every Kashmiri. Modi had said his government was committed to restoring the lost glory of Kashmir and its status as "heaven on earth". The prime minister had said only a "handful of separatists" were resorting to different tactics to create problems in the state and asserted that there would be no soft approach towards terrorism. In 2000, the Vajpayee government had taken a similar initiative by announcing a unilateral suspension of operations for Jammu and Kashmir during the month of Ramzan. Back then, the ceasefire continued for five months, although almost all the terrorist groups operating in the Valley had rejected the government's offer. However, the NICO was discontinued after five months of sustained violence, including an attack at the Srinagar airport in which six militants belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba stormed the building, killing two security personnel and two civilians. All six militants were also killed in the retaliatory firing. The Valley has witnessed the killing of over 55 militants this year including at least 27 locals. Nearly 80 incidents of violence have occurred in the last four months and civilians are often seen coming out to encounter sites to stage protests with the intention of giving the militants an opportunity to escape. Union minister Jitendra Singh said on Thursday that a wrong message had gone out to the people that the BJP government was "going soft" on the Kashmir issue and asserted it would make no compromise "as far as terrorism and the sovereignty of the country is concerned". He added that the home ministry would take a final call on extending the Ramzan ceasefire after discussing it with the security agencies concerned. "Unfortunately, a message has gone out that the BJP (government) is soft (on Kashmir). In the days to come, you will realise that it has been undone. Certainly, there is going to be no compromise as far as terrorism and assault on the sovereignty of the country is concerned," he told reporters in Jammu. He added that it wasn't a ceasefire, but a "suspension of operations". Asked if the Centre would extend the suspension, he said the final decision would be taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs after a discussion with the security agencies concerned. "There will be no soft approach in dealing with terrorists. We have strategies in place," he said in response to another question. On a query regarding the UN report on alleged human rights violations in Kashmir, he said the issue ends with the 1994 resolution which was unanimously passed by Parliament and was also endorsed by all political parties. If there is any outstanding issue between India and Pakistan as far as Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, it is only about retrieving the part of Kashmir that is under the illegal occupation of Pakistan, he said. However, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval indicated that it will be status quo once Ramzan is over. "We wanted to give respite to the common man in the Valley during Ramzan, so they can observe the holy month peacefully. And during Ramzan, we stuck to our stance. The people there are happy and the purpose is served," Doval told NDTV. According to the NDTV report, the data collected by the home ministry indicates that terror-related incidents in the Kashmir Valley increased by more than 100 percent during Ramzan. Before the ceasefire was announced 19 April to 16 May only 25 terror-related cases were reported. But after the announcement, 66 cases were reported between 17 May and 13 June. Even attacks on civilians grew in number. Seven cases of attacks on civilians were reported during the 28 days of Ramzan. In the 28 days before the ceasefire, the figure was only six, the report stated. However, the state government remains in favour of an extension, while Chief of Army Staff Bipin Rawat too hinted at the same recently in an interview with The Economic Times. when he said, "Talks must happen. The issue is that a lot of locals are joining militancy. We kill them and more would join. Infiltration can be controlled, but this cycle of recruitment of local youth can go on and on. So let's give peace a chance and see." But he had added that if militant activities didn't stop, the initiative would come to a halt. With inputs from PTI The declining popularity of BJP in Jammu has set off alarm bells in the RSS. It responded by appointing a hardcore RSS man and BJP member of the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly, Ravinder Raina, as the state president of BJP. Faced with the rapidly eroding popularity of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Jammu and Kashmir, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has stepped in to help the party renew its message and recover its appeal. In the run-up to the state assembly polls in 2014, the BJP had made promises on a number of polarising issues including scrapping Article 370, that affords the state a degree of autonomy, and ending the hegemony of Muslim-dominated Kashmir over the Hindu-majority Jammu region. Youth in Jammu were also promised jobs, a particularly sensitive subject given the perception that the majority of jobs go to Kashmir. However, soon after winning a record 25 seats in the Jammu region, the BJP decided to form a coalition government with the People's Democratic Party (PDP). That came as a shock to the people of Jammu who consider the PDP a Kashmir-centric party. Several issues became flashpoints between the Jammu and Kashmir regions. The BJP was unable to resolve these flashpoints in Jammu's favour, and that undermined its credibility with its supporters. People in Jammu say the BJP has knelt before its alliance partner PDP and agreed to whatever it wanted for the sake of sharing power. The declining popularity of BJP in Jammu has set off alarm bells in the RSS. Ravinder Raina, a hardcore RSS man and BJP member of the Jammu and Kashmir legislative Assembly, was made the state president of BJP. His appointment is seen as an attempt by the RSS to take direct control of the BJP's party organisation in the state. Raina, in 2015, had famously slapped independent MLA, Sheikh Abdul Rasheed, inside the state Assembly for hosting a beef party at the MLA hostel in Srinagar. Hari Om, a professor and a Jammu-based political commentator, said the decline of the BJP began soon after it took over the reins of the government in alliance with PDP. "While the BJP won the elections on issues of discrimination of Jammu and its neglect by the Kashmir-dominated parties, it formed an alliance with PDP that talks of 'self-rule' and the involvement of separatists and Pakistan in resolving the Kashmir issue," he said. He added that the recent demand for a CBI investigation into the rape and murder case of a minor girl in Kathua district was another nail in the coffin for BJP. "The BJP did nothing to assuage the feelings of the people of Jammu, who believe that accused were framed in the case." The party sacked two ministers, Choudhary Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga, for taking part in a rally organised by the Hindu Ekta Manch, seeking a CBI probe into the rape and murder case. Online expression of anger Anger in Jammu was visible on the official Facebook page of the state unit of BJP where the party was lambasted for towing the line of the PDP and not allowing a CBI probe into the incident. It is learnt that PDP had instructed the BJP leadership to sack both the ministers ahead of the party's crucial meeting on 14 April. "People of Jammu region have sacrificed a lot for the sake of unity and integrity of the country," said Lal Singh. "We will continue making sacrifices, but we will not allow anyone to play with our sentiments, emotions, honour and dignity. We want a CBI probe in the Kathua case and nothing else. Those who are sitting silently and call themselves the leaders of Jammu region should bear in mind people will not forgive them as and when they get a chance." In a recent interaction with the media in Jammu, the RSS demanded the deportation of Rohingya refugees who are staying "illegally" in parts of Jammu and termed them as a threat to the integrity of the nation. The BJP had remained tight-lipped over the issue despite several political and social organisations demanding the same. A prant sanghchalak of the RSS, Brigadier (Retd.) Suchait Singhm said the Rohingya enter India illegally and they should be deported immediately. "Rohingya migrants are a threat not only to Jammu but also to the nation" said Singh. Commenting on the recently launched outreach programme of the RSS, he told this correspondent that RSS shakhas will be held in different parts of Jammu. "We are going to hold one such shakha in Bhasoli in Kathua district soon," he said. RSS' efforts Last July, the RSS had conducted an all-India conclave in Jammu to consolidate its support base. The conclave was attended by senior functionaries of the RSS and the BJP. It was conducted with the aim to consolidate Hindus in Jammu and to send a message across the region that the saffron party was taking up their issues at every level. This March, RSS sah-sarkaryavah Manmohan Vaidya visited Jammu and summoned BJP leaders and ministers for a meeting, where he is learnt to have berated them for their failure to take up issues concerning Jammu. "Issues including illegal Rohingya settlers, Kathua rape and murder case and discrimination against the Jammu region were discussed by the senior RSS leader. He took feedback to be discussed with other senior functionaries of RSS," said a senior BJP leader who did not want to be named. Recently, the BJP was back in the eye of a storm when its senior leader and speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Nirmal Singh accused the army of "harassing people" when it raised security concerns over the construction of his lavish bungalow on a 12-acre plot in Nagrota. Many political and social organisations criticised the BJP for accusing the army of wrongdoing. Nirmal denied he ever uttered a word against the army. Opposition parties have left no stone unturned to target the BJP over the continuous ceasefire violations across the international border in the Jammu region. Devender Singh Rana, provincial president of the Opposition National Conference said, "There is a continuous blood trail from Poonch to Kathua on the Line of Control and the international border with residents of the forward areas and soldiers falling like sitting ducks. The jingoism of the BJP won't insulate people from shelling and firing from across the border." The author is a Ludhiana-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters. Stanislav Govorukhin, a prominent Russian film director who made some of the nation's most iconic movies, has died at the age of 82. Moscow: Stanislav Govorukhin, a prominent Russian film director who made some of the nation's most iconic movies, has died. He was 82. President Vladimir Putin sent his condolences Thursday to Govorukhin's family, praising him as a "bright and extraordinary" talent. Govorukhin's early work included a 1967 film about romantic mountaineers that reflected the spirit of the 1960s political thaw. His most famous production was The Meeting Place Can't Be Changed, a 1979 police saga set in the late 1940s, full of strong characters and dark humor. Govorukhin also acted, famously playing a crime lord in the 1987 cult film Assa. He had a fruitful political career in the 2000s, serving as a lawmaker and directing Putin's successful presidential campaign in 2012. Other details about his death were not immediately available. Less than 24 hours after Bukhari sent out the tweet, he was gunned down in Srinagar. Anand Ranganathan, the man at the centre of the controversy, was slammed on Twitter for the stand he took two days earlier At an event titled 'Tackling Insurgent Ideologies' held in New Delhi from 11 to 13 June this year, the topic of Kashmir militancy came up. One of the speakers, Anand Ranganathan, pointed to the stand taken by Shujaat Bukhari, editor of the Rising Kashmir newspaper, when the Charlie Hebdo attacks had taken place. Freedom of expression must not be absolute when it comes to Faith. A line needs to be drawn. Lessons learnt #FrenchAttack Shujaat Bukhari (@bukharishujaat) January 7, 2015 It was an extension of the argument Bukhari had taken in the past, when he said he'd be "proud to be intolerant" when it comes to the Prophet Muhammad. We must join the protest against the film today...When it comes to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) am proud to be intolerant... Shujaat Bukhari (@bukharishujaat) September 18, 2012 Addressing the gathering in Delhi over how the press deals with insurgencies, Ranganathan brought this up. "It's a very violent insurgency brought about by a heady mix of religion and the defence of Pakistan. If you're an editor and want to send a reporter to cover it, it's essential for the editor to be careful as to what reporter he sends to this 'warzone'," Ranganathan said. He highlighted the coverage in Rising Kashmir given to the stone pelting protests that were taking place in this context. "Ten days ago, when a CRPF jeep was being heavily attacked by stone-pelters, he took a snapshot of a stone pelter who had come under the jeep and he tweeted asking if this is the standard operating procedure," he recalled. This is the tweet he was referring to: These pictures from #Srinagar downtown are very disturbing. This is horrible way to quell a protest. Government and #CRPF must explain. Is it the new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). Hope they survive. Pic courtesy #KashmirJournalistsHubpic.twitter.com/WrZ0ENgZbX Shujaat Bukhari (@bukharishujaat) June 1, 2018 He then added, "When an editor of a publication covering this violent insurgency has taken this quasi-religious side, then you can be sure as to the coverage you will get." Bukhari responded later the same evening, saying: It is unfortunate that a credible think tank like @orfonline should allow this diatribe in absence of the person referred to. In #Kashmir we have done Journalism with pride and will continue to highlight what happens on ground. @samirsaran https://t.co/bGjajFT9yb Shujaat Bukhari (@bukharishujaat) June 14, 2018 Less than 24 hours after Bukhari sent out the tweet, he was gunned down in Srinagar. Ranganathan, the man at the centre of the controversy, was slammed on Twitter for the stand he took two days earlier. He expressed his condolences at Bukhari's assassination and slammed his critics in a lengthy nine-part tweet: Finally, I am very thankful to so many - SO MANY - who noticed what these psychopaths were up to and countered their slander and propaganda while I wasn't on twitter to see their games for myself. Thank you SO very much. You give me strength. Indebted. n/n Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) June 14, 2018 So. Mediocre, feeding-on-crumbs, psychopathic, otherwise unemployable trash, run along now and try your childish games somewhere else or I may be accused of body-shaming if I commented on the pitiful size of your brain. 7/n Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) June 14, 2018 Not the done thing to revisit these facts at this terribly sad moment, but one must to counter the slander and falsification. When I spoke of the late Shujaat Bukhari in context of Kashmir, I quoted these three exact statements of his. These tweets still exist. 5/n pic.twitter.com/zHsfou18bE Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) June 14, 2018 I, of course, had an inkling that Indian journalism is full of third-raters and psychopaths but that they are all related came as a surprise. To use the terrible death of someone, a fellow journalist, for such a sick and demented childish game. Unbelievable. 3/n pic.twitter.com/6lBjeo54ad Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) June 14, 2018 Initial investigation revealed that the assailants were carrying two rifles in a burlap bag and after the killing, the third youth who was waiting for the senior journalist to step out from his office also rode with them and they fled from the place within minutes of the incident. Srinagar: Another youth was caught in a video snatching the pistol of one of the personal security officers (PSOs) of Shujat and he later fled from the spot. He has been taken into custody and the pistol was also recovered from him while the investigation was going on in the case. Police officials said that after the fourth youth took away the pistol, he disappeared in the crowd. Two pistols were issued to the PSOs of the journalist and one weapon was missing from the place. Police officials said that a special investigation team (SIT) headed by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Central Kashmir range would investigate the case. According to police officials investigating the case, of the four youth one was keeping watch and gestured to his associates as soon as the senior journalist stepped out of his office and boarded his vehicle to head home. In no time, the two others appeared on the motorcycle and fired indiscriminately on the vehicle leading to the death of the senior journalist and the cops accompanying him. The attack was pulled off within a few minutes on Thursday evening. After spraying the vehicle with bullets, the gunmen fired into the air to prevent people from taking the occupants of the car to the hospital. The gunmen soon left the place shouting Allahu Akbar (God is great). Although the three were taken to a medical facility at the police control room by the cops, later they were declared dead on arrival. Initial investigation revealed that the assailants were carrying two rifles in a burlap bag and after the killing, the third youth who was waiting for the senior journalist to step out from his office also rode with them and they fled from the place within minutes of the incident. "The gunmen took the route towards Regal Chowk and left from the Samandarbagh area and reached the Barbarshah bridge from where they escaped," said a police official. Police have released the CCTV footage of the three bike-borne youths, but they are also accessing the footage from the areas through which they fled from the spot. However, the investigation by the police has also discovered that the gunfire was mistaken as the sound of crackers and since the killing was carried out within minutes the security personnel who were deployed for duty at the Press Enclave didnt respond to the attack. Earlier in the afternoon, police circulated the image of a fourth suspect on Twitter and appealed to the people for any information on him. However, within hours, the police could nab the fourth suspect, making him the first arrest in the high-profile case. *Srinagar Police seeks help of the general public to identify one more suspect involved in terror attack at press enclave, Srinagar* : Srinagar: 15 June 2018:https://t.co/2Y1Oo1Ioge @spvaid @JmuKmrPolice @KashmirPolice @DIGCKRSGR pic.twitter.com/5CwDikaydq Srinagar Police. (@PoliceSgr) June 15, 2018 Moreover, the deployment of police from Kothibagh Police Station as well as the District Police Lines (DPL) at different places in the city centre Lal Chowk was withdrawn before the killing. "The deployment was withdrawn and people were preparing to break the fast," said a police official. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar, Imtiyaz Ismail Parray, said that the police have procured the CCTV footage and the role of militants in the killing was being investigated. However, both the United Jihad Council (UJC), a conglomerate of different militant outfits and the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) have condemned the killing. LeT chief, Mahmood Shah said that he "strongly condemned the martyrdom" of Shujaat adding that the killing, "is a conspiracy hatched to suppress the voice of indigenous freedom struggle". "Indian agencies have enmity towards every individual who is loyal to the freedom movement. The world must pay attention to India's vicious and ill-fated conspiracies," the LeT said in the statement. Shah said that India "is keen on killing every individual who is vocal about the indigenous freedom struggle and India's atrocities". "India's former army chiefs themselves are taking part in such conspiracies. India's motive behind such a vicious act is to blame Mujahideen for their own wrongdoings. But the freedom fighters have never targeted the civilians. The killing of Shujaat Bukhari is also a wrongdoing of India's secret agencies which is a highly condemnable act. India can never hide its terrorist face from the world," said Abdullah Ghazanwi, spokesperson of LeT. UJC chief and Hizbul Mujahideen commander Syed Salahuddin has demanded an international probe into his killing. "At a time when the UN Human Rights Commission released a report on the human rights abuses by Indian forces in Kashmir the killing of Shujaat Bukhari raises many questions," he said in a statement. He said that Shujaat was vocal about "highlighting the human rights abuses in Kashmir by the Indian forces at the international forum through his newspapers." He is the brother of PDP MLA and Law Minister Basharat Bukhari. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Governor NN Vohra have condemned the killing. Mehbooba broke down while expressing grief with the bereaved family. UJC chief said that they have a firm belief that "Indian agencies and their agents were behind the murder of Bukhari". Shujaats body was taken in an ambulance to his ancestral hometown of Kreeri where he was buried as thousands participated in his funeral prayers on Friday. Rising Kashmir editor-in-chief Syed Shujaat Bukhari who was killed on Thursday will be laid to rest in his ancestral village in Kreeri in north Kashmir's Baramulla district on Friday Auto refresh feeds Scourge of terror has reared its ugly head on the eve of Eid: Mehbooba Mufti "This is very shocking. What else can I say? Only a few days back, he had come to meet me," said an emotional Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. You left all too sudden but you will always be our leading light with your professional conviction and exemplary courage. We won't be cowed down by the cowards who snatched you from us. We will uphold your principle of telling the truth howsoever unpleasant it may be...Rest in peace! the paper said. Rising Kashmir hit the stands on Friday morning with its front page carrying the full-page photograph of its late editor-in-chief in black background. The page also carried the message that the paper would not be cowed down. Bukhari and his two PSOs were shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside Rising Kashmir office in Press Enclave near the city centre Lal Chowk here in Srinagar shortly before the iftaar on Thursday evening. Bukhari is survived by his wife and one son and a daughter. English newspaper 'Rising Kashmir' published its daily edition on Friday even after losing its editor-in-chief Shujaat Bukhari in an assassination which also left two of his two personal security officers (PSOs) dead. Several important individuals including top politicians, bureaucrats, officials of police and civil administration joined the funeral prayers of veteran journalist Syed Shujaat Bukhari at his ancestral village Kreeri. Funeral prayers in absentia will be held for slain journalist Shujaat Bukhari at Jamia Masjid after Friday prayers. Bukhari, who was editor-in-chief of Rising Kashmir was shot to death along with two police guards by unknown gunmen at Press Enclave in Srinagar on Thursday evening. Abdullah Ghazanwi, militant organizations spokesman in a statement issued quoting Mahmood Shah, Chief of Lashkar-e-Taiba, said: Killing of Shujaat Bukhari is a conspiracy hatched to suppress the voice of indigenous freedom struggle. Indian agencies have enmity towards every individual who is loyal to the freedom movement. The world must pay attention to Indias vicious and ill-fated conspiracies. Lashkar-e-Taiba on Friday strongly condemned the killing of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari even as it blamed Indian agencies enmity towards every individual who is loyal to the freedom movement. They have not killed a man but an idea, an idea about brining peace in Jammu and Kashmir. He was an institution who wanted to build brides between people of Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of India, and even Pakistan. His death has created a void that will not be easily fulfilled. How can anyone get anything out of by killings him," he said. Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, CPM leader and MLA from Kulgam told at the funeral of the Rising Kashmir editor that it was a cowardly act aimed at muzzling the voice of press in the state. Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said in a tweet: "The killing of renowned journalist Shujaat Bukhari Sahab & brave soldier Aurangzeb in the Holy month of Ramadan has once again proved that coward terrorists are the enemy of not only humanity but also the Islam." This was third assassination attempt on him. He is survived by two children, both in school, and wife and aged parents. His father was a school teacher who belonged to an influential family of Sayeeds of Kreeri in north Kashmir. In June 2006, when he was leaving his office from the same Press Enclave, three gunmen directed him to board an auto. After they travelled few hundred meters one of the kidnappers received a call. The driver changed the direction and travelled through the busy streets of old Srinagar city, when they demanded of Bukhari to get out. One of the attackers took a pistol out and aimed at him. But it got locked. Bukhari raised hue and cry, some passersby came to help, and freed him from their clutches. Thursday was not the first time Bukhari faced an assasination bid His loss is a huge set back to the entire press fraternity of the valley. The dastardly act amounts to attack on freedom of speech. Silencing a professional like him is absolutely unfortunate, KPC Vice President Shuja ul Haq said in a statement issued in Srinagar. "The club is pained at the loss of its senior member and considers the killing as an assault on the entire media fraternity in Kashmir. Unfortunately, journalists in Kashmir have been prone to assaults from all sides of the conflict and the brazen attack on Shujaat inside the Press Enclave again brings to fore the risks under which media works in Kashmir. Such attacks on media fraternity are entirely unacceptable and KPC would like to reiterate that such acts would never cow down the resilience of the Kashmir media." "The Kashmir Press Club (KPC)/Aiwan-e-Sahafat has strongly condemned the gruesome killing of senior journalist and editor of Rising Kashmir Shujaat Bukhari." The Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia (FCC), New Delhi, condemned the brutal and senseless killing of senior Kashmiri journalist Shujat Bukhari in Srinagar. "We demand an immediate probe into this dastardly crime, and appeal to the authorities to find the guilty and punish them," it said in a statement. In a tweet, US ambassador to India Kenneth Juster said that the US Mission in India strongly condemns the killing of Shujaat Bukhari, and security officers Hamid Chaudhary and Mumtaz Awan. "We offer our sincere condolences to their family, friends, and colleagues," he said. According to police officials investigating the case, the youth keeping watch gestured to his associates as soon as the senior journalist stepped out of his office and boarded his vehicle to head home. After spraying the vehicle with bullets, the gunmen fired into the air to prevent people from taking the occupants of the car to the hospital. The gunmen soon left the place shouting Allahu Akbar (God is great). The killing of senior journalist and editor-in-chief of Rising Kashmir, Shujaat Bukhari, was meticulously planned . One youth kept a watch on him and later alerted the two other gunmen who came to the Press Enclave and fired on his vehicle from all the sides leaving him and two policemen guarding him dead. The Jammu and Kashmir police said that one of the suspects, now in custody, was seen picking up a pistol from the crime scene. The police said that the pistol has now been recovered. They also said that the accused's coat he was wearing on the day of the crime has also been recovered. Police recovers one of the pistols removed from scene of crime "At this point in time, this is a terror related incident, and there is no doubt about it. An SIT, led by DIG Jammu and Kashmir, has been formed which will investigate the crime," Jammu and Kashmir police said. "At this stage we are investigating the role of the fourth suspect. He was was seen picking up a pistol from the spot and vanishing. He is in custody," the IG Kashmir SP Pani said. Describing how worrying the societal sanction for violence in Kashmir is becoming the new normal in the Valley, especially for the youth, and the State's response to it, Bukhari wrote , "They (Kashmiri youth) resist government attempts to take on the militants. When the army, the paramilitary forces, and the police cordon an area to search for a militant, it is a civilian who puts up resistance and, in the end, both the militant and the civilian dies... Who is pushing these youth to pay this price and why? A look into the last few writings of the Rising Kashmir, where he worked as the editor-in-chief, gives an idea of his stand over several issues be it condemning the social sanctioning of youth turning to violence in the Valley, asking the State to re-think on its methods or urging the Kashmiri society to reflect on the growing violence in the Valley. Besides, that in one of the last tweets, Bukhari was actually defending his journalism, makes his last articles important to understand just what that might be that he was eager to defend. The Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia (FCC), New Delhi, condemned the brutal and senseless killing of senior Kashmiri journalist Shujat Bukhari in Srinagar. "We demand an immediate probe into this dastardly crime, and appeal to the authorities to find the guilty and punish them," it said in a statement. The U.S. Mission in India strongly condemns the killing of #ShujaatBukhari , a highly-respected journalist and the Editor-in-Chief of @RisingKashmir , and security officers Hamid Chaudhary and Mumtaz Awan. We offer our sincere condolences to their family, friends, and colleagues. In a tweet, US ambassador to India Kenneth Juster said that the US Mission in India strongly condemns the killing of Shujaat Bukhari, and security officers Hamid Chaudhary and Mumtaz Awan. "We offer our sincere condolences to their family, friends, and colleagues," he said. Shujaat Bukhari started many initiatives for both sides of Kashmir, including a form for reporter from both sides of Kashmir, to exchange ideas and write stories together. He led a delegation of more than 20 journalists from valley to Pakistan few years ago. Protests in Pakistani side of Kashmir against the killing of Shujaat According to police officials investigating the case, the youth keeping watch gestured to his associates as soon as the senior journalist stepped out of his office and boarded his vehicle to head home. After spraying the vehicle with bullets, the gunmen fired into the air to prevent people from taking the occupants of the car to the hospital. The gunmen soon left the place shouting Allahu Akbar (God is great). The killing of senior journalist and editor-in-chief of Rising Kashmir, Shujaat Bukhari, was meticulously planned . One youth kept a watch on him and later alerted the two other gunmen who came to the Press Enclave and fired on his vehicle from all the sides leaving him and two policemen guarding him dead. *Srinagar Police seeks help of the general public to identify one more suspect involved in terror attack at press enclave, Srinagar* : Srinagar: 15 June 2018: https://t.co/2Y1Oo1Ioge @spvaid @JmuKmrPolice @KashmirPolice @DIGCKRSGR pic.twitter.com/5CwDikaydq However, later the police also the involvement of a fourth person. The man has been identified and arrested. Jammu and Kashmir Police, initially released the CCTV footage of three bike-borne youths. The investigation revealed that the assailants were carrying two rifles in a burlap bag and after the killing, the third youth who was waiting for the senior journalist to step out from his office also rode with them and they fled from the place within minutes of the incident. The Jammu and Kashmir police said that one of the suspects, now in custody, was seen picking up a pistol from the crime scene. The police said that the pistol has now been recovered. They also said that the accused's coat he was wearing on the day of the crime has also been recovered. Police recovers one of the pistols removed from scene of crime "At this point in time, this is a terror related incident, and there is no doubt about it. An SIT, led by DIG Jammu and Kashmir, has been formed which will investigate the crime," Jammu and Kashmir police said. "At this stage we are investigating the role of the fourth suspect. He was was seen picking up a pistol from the spot and vanishing. He is in custody," the IG Kashmir SP Pani said. Shujaat Bukhari funeral latest updates: Funeral prayers in absentia will be held for slain journalist Shujaat Bukhari at Srinagar's Jamia Masjid after Friday prayers. Bukhari, who was the editor-in-chief of Rising Kashmir was shot to death along with two police guards by unknown gunmen at Press Enclave in Srinagar on Thursday evening. The funeral procession of Bukhari started at 11 am on Friday. Bukhari will be laid to rest in his ancestral village in Kreeri in north Kashmir's Baramulla district today. The attack came at a time when discussions were being held on the extension of the ongoing ceasefire. Bukhari and his two PSOs were shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside Rising Kashmir office in Press Enclave near the city centre Lal Chowk in Srinagar shortly before the 'Iftaar' on Thursday evening. Bukhari is survived by his wife and one son and a daughter. Bukhari's killing has evoked widespread condemnations in Jammu and Kashmir and from across the country. Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra has conveyed shock and grief on the gruesome killing of Bukhari. Recalling Bukhari's standing as a veteran journalist, the governor described his murder as a big loss to the media fraternity. In a message, Vohra has prayed for peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss. The governor also called Bukhari's brother and Cabinet Minister Basharat Ahmed Bukhari to convey his heartfelt sympathy. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has also strongly condemned the killing of the veteran journalist. In a condolence message, the chief minister described the killing of Bukhari as highly barbaric, deplorable and condemnable. His killing has only established that violence cannot stand the scrutiny of logic and rationality. The whole state stands in unanimity in condemning this inhuman act of savagery, Mehbooba said in the statement. She said the role and contribution rendered by Bukhari in institutionalisation of the media here has become part of the journalistic history of the state. One would always see him raising issues of common cause concerning people. He would often fight for the issues of people through his columns and various discussions but alas this voice of people stands silenced today brutally, Mehbooba said. The chief minister visited the hospital where Bukhari was taken after the attack and paid her respects to the departed soul. She also conveyed her heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family particularly his parents, wife and two kids. The separatists have also condemned his killing terming it barbaric and unpardonable. English newspaper 'Rising Kashmir' published its daily edition on Friday, a day after losing its editor-in-chief Shujaat Bukhari in an assassination which also resulted in the death of his two personal security officers (PSOs). Rising Kashmir hit the stands this morning with a full-page photograph of its late editor-in-chief against a black background. The page also carried the message that the paper would not be cowed down. You left all too sudden but you will always be our leading light with your professional conviction and exemplary courage. We won't be cowed down by the cowards who snatched you from us. We will uphold your principle of telling the truth howsoever unpleasant it may be...Rest in peace! the paper said. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said publishing the daily despite Bukhari's killing is the most fitting tribute to him as it was what the late journalist would have wanted. The show must go on. As Shujaat would have wanted it to. This is todays @RisingKashmir issue. That Shujaats colleagues were able to bring out the paper in the face of insurmountable grief is a testament to their professionalism & the most fitting tribute to their late boss. pic.twitter.com/ADP70D4F1q Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 14, 2018 Bukhari is the fourth journalist to be killed by militants in the nearly three-decade-long violence in Kashmir. In 1991, the editor of 'Alsafa', Mohammed Shaban Vakil, was killed by militants of Hizbul Muahideen. Former BBC correspondent Yussuf Jameel escaped with injuries when a bomb exploded in his office in 1995, but ANI cameramen Mushtaq Ali lost his life in the incident. Later, on 31 January, 2003, Parvaz Mohammed Sultan, editor of NAFA, was shot dead by Hizbul Mujahideen at his Press Enclave office. Veteran Kashmiri journalist Shujaat Bukhari was shot dead outside his office in Srinagar on Thursday. If it's his work that led to his murder, Bukhari may become the 48th journalist who has been killed in India since 1992 for performing his job Editor's Note: This copy was originally published on 10 December 2016 on Human Rights Day which is celebrated every year on 10 December since 1950 to mark the adoption of Universal Declaration of Human Rights by United Nations. It's been replugged with fresh inputs after the murder of Rising Kashmir editor-in-chief Shujaat Bukhari, who was gunned down by three unknown gunmen outside his office. Over the years, several journalists have lost their lives while reporting about human rights violations, corruption and for doing their job. In 2018, three journalists have lost their lives, the latest of them being veteran Kashmiri journalist Shujaat Bukhari. This is one short of the four journalists who were killed in 2017. Last year, senior journalist Gauri Lankesh was murdered just outside her residence in Bengaluru. Bukhari, who was shot dead outside his office by three unidentified gunmen, on 14 June. If it's his work that led to the killing, Bukhari may become the 48th journalist who has been killed because of his work in India since 1992, the year when the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) started keeping records of journalist deaths. Though Bukhari's death is not part of the official records at CPJ, according to reports, his pro-peace talks views and believe in finding a political solution to the Kashmir conflict could be responsible for her death. In the past, Bukhari had managed to escape three attempts at his life, the latest one being in 2016. Bukhari's murder is the second high-profile killing in the last two years, the last one being Gauri Lankesh. In the latest edition of her weekly magazine in Kannada, Gauri Lankesh Patrike, before she died, Lankesh had criticised former Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa. Also, in several of her writings, she has accepted being under attack from Right-wing supporters for her anti-established views. Firstpost takes a look at the 48 journalists who were killed in India since 1992. CPJ has confirmed only 47 killings where the motives have been confirmed, the actual number of journalists killed could be higher. that in one of the last tweets, Kashmiri journalist Syed Shujaat Bukhari was actually defending his journalism, makes his last articles are important to understand just what that might been Kashmiri journalist Syed Shujaat Bukhari was shot dead right outside his office on Thursday. Uknown militants opened fire at his car when he was heading home. While Bukhari and a security officer died were declared brought dead, another security officer guarding the journalist succumbed to injuries later at Kashmir's SIMS Hospital. A look into the last few writings of the Rising Kashmir, where he worked as the editor-in-chief, gives an idea of his stand over several issues be it condemning the social sanctioning of youth turning to violence in the Valley, asking the State to re-think on its methods or urging the Kashmiri society to reflect on the growing violence in the Valley. Besides, that in one of the last tweets, Bukhari was actually defending his journalism, makes his last articles important to understand just what that might be that he was eager to defend. Describing how worrying the societal sanction for violence in Kashmir is becoming the new normal in the Valley, especially for the youth, and the State's response to it, Bukhari wrote, "They (Kashmiri youth) resist government attempts to take on the militants. When the army, the paramilitary forces, and the police cordon an area to search for a militant, it is a civilian who puts up resistance and, in the end, both the militant and the civilian dies... Who is pushing these youth to pay this price and why? "It is the failure of the current set-up to control despondency and frustration. At the same time, the Kashmiri society should also reflect on why the youth, who are not holding guns, ultimately become cannon fodder in this grind of violence. "Are there no alternatives? Or do we have to force ourselves to be content with the idea that when you throw a stone, stage a protest or pick up the gun, the response is same the bullet?" he asked. Though Bukhari championed the unilateral ceasefire that the Government of India announced at the start of the month of Ramadan (May) this year, he didn't resist from criticising New Delhi's for its "bullet-to-bullet, bullet-to-stone" policy. He believed in finding a political solution to the conflict, and once argued that even Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat has realised that "countering violence with more violence has not helped restore peace in Kashmir". "If killing militants brings about the so-called normalcy, then it should have all ended by now. The reality is that the involvement of society, the consolidated anger against India and repeated calls for a political resolution are resounding with much force. Every time Kashmir reaches the brink, the usual response from the state is that it is Pakistan-sponsored terror. Even the mass uprising that ran for over six months in 2016 was 'credited' to Pakistan having 'patronised' mischief-mongers. What we miss all this time is the realisation that an entire generation is at 'war', he wrote on 8 April, a week after 13 militants, three soldiers and four civilians were killed during an operation. "...Who will save our youth from this grind of violence that only takes their lives? The primary responsibility lies with New Delhi that must not push people to the wall and accept Jammu and Kashmir as a political reality," he wrote. Bukhari, however, was a staunch opponent of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emphasis on "development" as the only solution to the Kashmir crisis. In an article in May, just days after Modi's visit to the Valley, the Rising Kashmir editor-in-chief wrote, "He (Modi) said the only solution to Kashmirs problem is 'development, development, and development'. He is wrong given the history of the conflict and the resistance the people have shown since 1990 and before, besides the development that has taken place. If development alone were the answer, then Modi himself announced a mega package of Rs 80,000 crore on 7 November, 2015.... these sops have not diluted the political content of the resistance on the ground." But despite his anti-establishment views on the Kashmir conflict, Bukhari didn't stop himself from criticising the communalisation of the Kathua rape case and the Valley. "With the condemnation only coming from Muslim areas of Hindu-dominated Jammu division, and from the Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley, it is clear that the childs rape and murder has become the perfect example of the communalisation of rape. Only few voices from Jammu have called for justice into the case without looking at it as a Hindu versus Muslim affair," he wrote. Bukhari, however, blamed both BJP and Congres for the communalistaion of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. "The Congress perhaps sowed the seeds, which the BJP is now reaping, pushing its rival into oblivion," he wrote on 14 April. In his last opinion piece, Bukhari highlights the rise of fake news, and the need to put brakes on it. While emphasising the need for Google and Facebook to take greater responsibility, Bukhari seemed to be content with the fact that unlike in the West, print is still alive in India, and likely to be around for much longer. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Germany is committed to the NATO target of spending 2% of a country's gross domestic product on defense, but is realistic about reaching it. Merkel underlined Germany's plan to reach 1.5% by 2024. She said after meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that "sometimes this may seem too slow but things are going in the right direction." NATO members agreed in 2014 to "move toward the 2% guideline within a decade." Merkel said Berlin is complying with that, and added: "We accept this target, but we are also giving realistic information," Associated Press reported. NATO Secretary General said he's glad Germany's spending is rising but added: "I encourage Germany to do more, because Germany is the biggest economy in Europe."\ In addition, Merkel noted that the NATO summit would yield "firm results". "I think that in spite of existing differences in opinions, we will have a very constructive summit during which we will also make important decisions," she said. Right from the day Syed Shujaat Bukhari joined the field of journalism, he became a balanced voice, say former colleagues of the Rising Kashmir editor-in-chief, who was killed by unknown gunmen on Thursday Before the sundown of 14 June, when some regulars in Srinagars Press Enclave spotted three men prowling around the building, none had the faintest idea that they were waiting to kill Syed Shujaat Bukhari, one of the biggest names in Kashmiri journalism. When Bukhari, the editor-in-chief of Rising Kashmir walked out of his office along with his two personal security guards (PSOs), they didn't immediately flash their AK47s but waited till the three of them were inside the vehicle. Once they were seated, the small armed group of assassins lunged towards Bukhari's SUV and let loose a barrage of bullets. With Eid right around the corner, the City Centre Lal Chowk, which is close to the Press Enclave where the incident took place, was crowded with shoppers. They initially mistook the bullet sounds for firecrackers. But the moment, they spotted the assassins around the vehicle, they started screaming and running for cover. Minutes later, the unknown gunmen mounted their bikes and rode off, leaving behind their bodies in a pool of blood. Who were they? Nobody knows. The Jammu and Kashmir Police has so far released two blurred pictures of three bike-borne young men. Given the precision and accuracy of their target, many believe they were some kind of a hit squad tasked to eliminate the journalist, who was part of the peace talks on Kashmir between India and Pakistan. They shot the senior scribe, the main target, in execution style. For some 10 odd minutes, none could muster the courage to go near the targeted vehicle, as many believed that the assassins were still hiding around. But as soon as an uneasy calm returned, the shoppers and journalists thronged the Enclave square to glimpse the bloodbath inside. Bukhari was shot multiple times on his head and abdomen and had sunk to his right side. He was already dead. "Shujaat was lying face down on the seat, blood all around him. A young journalist checked for a pulse, but couldn't locate it," recalls Nisar A Dharma, a journalist working with Kashmir Monitor. The jaw of the dead PSO sitting next to the driver was literally dangling. He had exit wounds on his neck. He died on the spot. The driver, however, was still breathing, whispering something. His eyes were about to shut, he added. The police from the nearby Police Station Kothi Bagh took some time to show up at the crime scene. By then, the enraged people had already removed the driver from the vehicle and taken him to a nearby hospital in a critical stage. Amid the sobs and shock, the journalists who had gathered at the scene were unable to understand just how did the gunmen manage to reach the trade heartland and run away despite the presence of high-security around it. Nobody had an answer for that. Shortly afterward, a cop drove the damaged SUV to the hospital where Shujaat was declared brought dead. The attack happened so fast and sudden that it sent the entire Kashmir region on the cusp of breaking their fast into instant mourning. It was the first time since 2008 that any journalist was executed in Kashmir. And given the stature, seniority, and sway that Bukhari used to hold, his murder could become a watershed event for Kashmir media. His killing has shocked everyone. Both separatists and mainstream politicians have condemned the killing. When reporters quizzed Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, she couldn't speak because of a lump in her throat. She fleetingly mentioned her recent meeting with the departed editor and walked away from the cameras. But for the day when whos who in town were competing with each other in offering condolences to the fallen editor, his proteges and former workforce were condemning his killing at the forefront. Much of that raged reaction had to do with the editors ability to "always lead from the front". "His passing is painful," said Showkat Nanda, internationally famous Kashmiri photojournalist who worked with Bukhari, adding, "He was my boss for three years! I am sure his death has made everyone numb except the ones who celebrated Gauri Lankesh's killing!" But before becoming a cult in Srinagar media circles and a literal globetrotter, Bukhari had walked as a young reporter in Srinagar Press Conclave. The lanky young man came from Kreeri village in Baramulla. Being a studious and articulate son of a respected school teacher, it didnt take Bukhari much time to create a niche for himself. Bukhari started his journalism career with late editor Ved Bhasins daily Kashmir Times way back in the mid-90s. "Right from the day he joined the field of journalism, he became a balanced voice," said his former colleague, adding, "But he soon cut a shadowy image for himself, as times were such that even journalists were supposed to take a stand. But Bukhari upheld his journalistic ethics and tried to be objective. Perhaps this was the reason why in his last tweet, Bukhari said, "In Kashmir, we have done journalism with pride and will continue to highlight what happens on (the) ground." But the man suffered for upholding his conviction. In the past, he had escaped three assassination bids on his life. Those threats escalated after he joined The Hindu in the late 90s as Jammu and Kashmir bureau chief and wrote some hard-hitting stories. In 2006, Bukhari was abducted by a gunman and was nearly killed. To his good luck, the assassins handgun got locked, and he ran for his life. All these experiences would often make him state in his write-ups that the life of a journalist in Kashmir is a perilous endeavour. In 2008, he came up with his own newspaper Rising Kashmir. The publication is being credited for creating a sense of professionalism in Kashmir media. Many journalists who were part of Bukharis newsroom are today serving in many International publications, eg, Baba Umar, who is now working as an online journalist for TRT World. "Our fraternity is feeling orphaned today," said Baba of his late mentor. "What coward would kill a journalist? Rest in peace, my friend." Bukharis killing has added another name in the long list of journalists killed in Kashmir. In a somewhat similar manner, Al-Safa editor-in-chief Mohammad Shaban Wakil was murdered by unknown gunmen inside his Press Colony office on 23 April, 1991. On 10 September, 1995, Agence France-Presse photographer, Mushtaq Ali was killed when he opened a package at his office in Srinagars Press Enclave. It was the parcel bomb, which exploded, wounding him critically. He succumbed to his injuries three days later. Before Bukhari, journalist Javed Mir was shot dead while covering a demonstration near Bagh-e-Mehtab in Srinagar on 13 August, 2008. As Kashmir Editors Guild said, Bukharis killing is a 'new low in deteriorating environment for Jammu and Kashmir media persons. Updating the media on the discoveries made in Shujaat Bukhari murder case, IGP Kashmir SP Pani said, 'As far as the case is concerned at this stage it is a terror incident. It is a terrorist related crime. We are investigating into the case.' The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday said that the murder of veteran Kashmiri journalist Shujaat Bukhari was a 'terror-related killing.' Updating the media on the discoveries made so far, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir SP Pani said, "As far as the case is concerned at this stage it is a terror incident. It is a terrorist related crime. We are investigating into the case." The police, which was initially probing the role of three militants, had released a screen grab showing another fourth suspect in connection with the killing of Bukhari and his two personal guards, Hamid Chaudhary and Mumtaz Awan, in Srinagar on Thursday. The police issued the picture from a video, which was purportedly recorded by a passerby following the attack on Bukhari outside his office, showing a bearded man surveying the inside of the journalist's vehicle. *Srinagar Police seeks help of the general public to identify one more suspect involved in terror attack at press enclave, Srinagar* : Srinagar: 15 June 2018:https://t.co/2Y1Oo1Ioge @spvaid @JmuKmrPolice @KashmirPolice @DIGCKRSGR pic.twitter.com/5CwDikaydq Srinagar Police. (@PoliceSgr) June 15, 2018 As a man pulls out Bukhari's guard, the suspect is seen picking up a pistol and disappearing from the scene right under the nose of the policemen deployed there. Speaking to the press, Pani also said that the weapon removed by the fourth suspect has been recovered and the investigation to determine his role is underway. "The first picture of the suspects were not in the public domain. The second picture was in public domain. It can be seen that he stood there, attempting to retrieve the weapon... At this stage we are investigating the role of the fourth suspect, who was was seen picking up the weapon," Pani said. The fist picture that Pani was referring to was released late last night. The police had issued two photographs of three-motorcycle borne suspects that were taken from the CCTV footage. However, their faces were not visible. While the driver was wearing a helmet, one of the pillion riders had used a face mask to conceal his identity. The face of the third assailant, sitting in the middle, did not seem to be covered but he was leaning towards the other side so as not to be captured on the CCTV. The police has sought the help of the general public to arrest the remaining three accused in the case. They have formed a Special Investigation Team to lead the enquiry into the case. The SIT will be led by a DIG rank officer. Police say murder was meticulously planned Besides this, according to a Firstpost ground report, initial investigation revealed that two bike-borne assailants were carrying two rifles in a burlap bag and after the killing, the third youth who was waiting for the senior journalist to step out from his office also rode with them and they fled from the place within minutes of the incident. "The gunmen took the route towards Regal Chowk and left from the Samandarbagh area and reached the Barbarshah bridge from where they escaped," said a police official. After spraying the vehicle with bullets, the gunmen fired into the air to prevent people from taking the occupants of the car to the hospital. The gunmen soon left the place shouting Allahu Akbar (God is great). The police has also discovered that the gunfire was mistaken as the sound of crackers and since the killing was carried out within minutes the security personnel who were deployed for duty at the Press Enclave didnt respond to the attack. Moreover, the deployment of police from Kothibagh Police Station as well as the District Police Lines (DPL) at different places in the city centre Lal Chowk was withdrawn before the killing. "The deployment was withdrawn and people were preparing to break the fast," said a police official. Fifty-three-year-old Bukhari, who had worked as the state correspondent for national daily The Hindu for several years, and was the editor-in-chief of local newspaper The Rising Kashmir, was shot dead soon after he boarded his car from his office located at Press Enclave in the heart of the city centre Lal Chowk. With inputs from PTI The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday night released two pictures of three bike-borne men who are suspected to have killed Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari, and sought the public's help in identifying them. The three militants were caught on a CCTV camera The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday night released two pictures of three bike-borne men who are suspected to have killed Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari, and sought the public's help in identifying them. The three militants were caught on a CCTV camera, the police said. The two pictures showed the three men riding a motorcycle. The attackers had their faces covered. The police released the pictures late night and asked the public to help them identify the attackers. "In connection with today's terror attack at Srinagar, police requests general public to identify the suspects for the purpose of the police investigation," a statement read. The name of the person providing any clue or information regarding the suspects will be kept confidential, it said. Shujaat Bukhari and his two personal security officers (PSOs) were shot dead by terrorists outside the newspaper's office in the heart of Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital on Thursday, police officials said. Fifty-three-year-old Bukhari, who had worked as the state correspondent for national daily 'The Hindu' for several years, was shot dead soon after he boarded his car from his office located at Press Enclave in the heart of the city centre - Lal Chowk. That the Ramzan ceasefire would provide ample opportunity to terrorists in Kashmir to regroup was a foregone conclusion, cautioned but ignored. The Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari, has announced that Eid will be celebrated on 16 June. While the Centre is still mulling the decision to extend the Ramzan ceasefire, violence, it appears, is back with a vengeance in the Kashmir Valley. The bullet-riddled body of Sepoy Aurangzeb of Rashtriya Rifles, earlier abducted while travelling in a private vehicle near Shopian in south Kashmir, was found at Gusoo in Pulwama area. A native of Poonch area, Aurangzeb was headed home for Eid when his vehicle was intercepted by some three heavily armed militants. He was part of an encounter during May this year in which Hizbul Mujahideen's Sameer Tiger was killed. Then, on 14 June, Shujaat Bukhari, editor-in-chief of the newspaper Rising Kashmir, was shot dead at Srinagar Press Colony in Lal Chowk area along with his two personal security officers (PSOs). One PSO died on the spot while the other succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. The killing was done by three men who escaped on a motorcycle with a weapon of one of the PSOs. Meanwhile, Pakistan's ceasefire violations and infiltration bids are continuing unabated. Some 225 terrorists are reportedly looking for a chance to infiltrate into India. A BSF assistant commandant and another three BSF personnel were killed while five were injured in Pakistani shelling on 13 June in Ramgarh and Chambiyal sectors of Samba in Jammu region. Such firing is always replied to and figures of Pakistani casualties are often flashed in media, albeit such figures are probably guessed or partly ascertained through intercepts. Take it for what it is worth but one foreign estimate states that casualties inflicted on the Indian side remain higher, which could be true since Pakistan usually breaches the ceasefire first, catching personnel and civilians out in the open. Pakistan has even indulged in calling for a truce and later engaging multiple locations with heavy fire. That the Ramzan ceasefire would provide ample opportunity to terrorists to regroup was a foregone conclusion, cautioned but ignored. The irony is that even despite the above incidents, the 'devotees', including some military veterans, continue to script that overall violent incidents were not very many and that the Ramzan ceasefire was a good idea. In actual fact, the ceasefire or NICO (non-initiation of combat operations) wiped out the gains of having killed some 200 terrorists. On top of the amnesty to stone-pelters coupled with soaring radicalisation, it is providing motivation to the Valley's youths to pick up guns. Yes, the Ramzan ceasefire would have been good had Chief Minister Mehbooba Mehbooba, her MLAs and the administration reached out to the public. But nothing of the sort happened it was not expected either, given past history. Hence, the possible gains were out of the question. The People's Democratic Party (PDP) and National Conference (NC) are both fence sitters, enjoying the fruits of the insurgency. The PDP came up with Hizbul support and both are inexorably linked. And, proof already exists that Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Hizbul are jointly working to attack India. So, the circle is complete, with ISI masterminding the show and Hurriyat sold on Pakistan. The PDP has also lost no opportunity in cocking a snoot at the Centre. Union home minister Rajnath Singh's recent two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir has also been covered in these columns. While some Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) friends are euphoric at the prospect of nine more battalions being raised, the success model of BSF battalions raised from erstwhile Naga militants in the North East can hardly be transported to Kashmir, given the prevailing environment, radicalisation and level of militancy, in addition to ISI inroads into the Valley. Incidentally, while Rajnath talked a lot about a financial package for refugees etc, BJP's 2014 clarion call about Kashmiri Pandit's return appears lost in the din of elections. There is also a view proposing a pro-active role of the Ulema and religious heads on the pattern of the role played by the Baptist Church in restoring peace in Nagaland, which is a good suggestion. But the problem in Kashmir is that the Ulema following Sufi culture has been systematically replaced by hardcore Wahabis. It is by design and there are reports of some of them moving into Jammu region to radicalise the Bakarwals as well. Not that the Ulema cannot still be used, but will probably require the 'Mutt and Jeff' technique, which the state government will not do and the Centre appears incapable of doing. Mehbooba is quite happy with the current state of affairs. That is why she sacked her finance minister, Haseeb Drabu. She asked people to introspect over the nature and origins of the situation in the state and how it can be resolved, stressing Kashmir is "not a political issue" but a society which has social issues right now. The circle of violence can be expected to grow, though the security forces will as always prevail. On whose hands is the blood of Aurangzeb and Bukhari and whether such violence could have happened without NICO is for the readers to decide. But certainly, the Centre needs to rethink how to handle Kashmir and Pakistan. Given the current policy, the downward slide is likely to continue. The author is a veteran lieutenant-general of the Indian Army Peacemaker is the word that has come up spontaneously like an undulating chorus following Shujaat Bukharis death on Thursday. Peacemaker is the word that has come up spontaneously like an undulating chorus following Shujaat Bukharis death on Thursday. So much so that his name might almost be a metaphor for peacemaking. There has been an outpouring of grief, shock, and horror at the gruesome murder of this fine professional in the prime of his life. One would have expected a flood of messages from Kashmir, but it would appear that Shujaat had touched many, many people across the country. Without exception, people seem to have perceived him as one who strove hard to bring peace. Living and working as he did in one of the most conflict-ridden places, the image of peacemaker is perhaps the most creditable encomium anyone could have earned. Gentle engagement Many of those who knew him have focused on Shujaats soft-spoken, inclusive engagement. Many have noted that he reached out to even those whose opinions differed from his. His art of gentle persuasion was well-known to those who were familiar with him. It is striking that he was able to strike a chord with such a diverse range of people. Many have said publicly that they sought his opinions, and valued his views, even if they did not agree with him. His discourse was forthright, yet gentle. Authentic voice The other thing that has emerged in the wide range of remembrances is the impression of genuineness. Shujaats was an authentic voice of reason, sanity, and peace-making. He was taken seriously, and quite clearly made an impact across the board. In this light, it is a bitter irony that an apparently illogical tirade was launched against him at a conference in Delhi the day before he was assassinated. The speaker seemed to hold against Shujaat his commitment to his beliefsand seemed to take that as proof that all those working for his paper would take a certain sort of political line. Shujaat was deeply upset in the last few hours of his life. Amazing versatility What ought to be noted alongside all this is Shujaats versatility. As a journalist, he had established a reputation as a fine reporter over several years. He started his own paper, and edited it with such professionalism that the paper rose steadily in circulation and commanded credibility. His articles under his own byline were taken seriously, even while he mentored and oversaw the work of a large number of employees and contributors. Many writers have noted that he welcomed contributions. While he was a senior journalist with The Hindu about a decade ago, Shujaat also gave guest lectures at the highly regarded Asian School of Journalism in Chennai. Versatile talents Many journalists would feel satisfied, and with good reason, if they had not only reported but also edited a daily and taught journalism. But despite putting in such a range of work as a journalist, Shujaat was also an accomplished public speaker. Over the past few years, he had become a familiar face at seminars, conferences, and think tank deliberationsincluding some quiet `track two ones. What is remarkable is that Shujaat never appeared stressed despite juggling so many responsibilities. Not only did he remain calm, he exuded a comforting warmth to those with whom he interacted. A notable aspect of Shujaat was his understated demeanour. He did not flaunt his accomplishments, like others might who have accomplished a lot and are widely travelled. He focused on reaching out and building bridges, rather than basking in achieved glory. In fact, one could safely say that Shujaat was only midway through his journey of achievements. He had become a key figure in the politics and geopolitics surrounding Kashmir and the subcontinent, and would surely have moved to bigger things. Now that his life has been so ruthlessly cut short, however, it is more than obvious that he had already done himself very proud. He has etched a mark on this period, and has left a rich legacy. Such was Shujaat Bukhari's stature in Kashmir that his assassination will not only be remembered for a very long time, but will also have an extraordinary impact on the ground situation in the near future. Such was Shujaat Bukhari's stature in Kashmir that his assassination will not only be remembered for a very long time, but will also have an extraordinary impact on the ground situation in the near future. Bukhari, editor of the Rising Kashmir daily, had emerged over the past couple of years as Kashmir's best known journalist not only in the Valley, but also across the world. He had attended the Global Editors Network's conference at Lisbon just a fortnight ago. In addition to his work as a journalist, editor and publisher, Bukhari was very active at conferences and other interactions regarding Kashmir. His murder will therefore reverberate like an earthquake in journalists' circles, the world of Kashmiri politics, and the sometimes cloudy world of geo-politics. There will surely be speculation within Kashmir about which groups may have been behind this extremely bold attack. It is a long time since such a high-profile murder has been successfully carried out in the very heart of Srinagar. Bukhari had just emerged from his office on Thursday evening, and was accompanied by two armed policemen who were with him for security. The assassination will cause huge unease among a range of politicians and other high-profile persons in the Valley. Whoever is behind this assassination surely wants to boost the spiral of violence, which has already shown a sharp uptrend this year. Violence has continued to mount, notwithstanding the moratorium on initiating attacks which the Union government had undertaken during the month of Ramzan. Ironically, Bukhari was murdered two days before Eid, which is likely to be observed in Kashmir on Saturday. This not only brings Ramzan to an end but also marks the beginning of the peak summer season. Ceasefire under strain This condemnable assassination immediately puts the government's "ceasefire" initiative under severe strain. This is a poignant situation, especially since observers were hoping the government would extend the cessation of hostilities till the end of the Amarnath Yatra. The annual Yatra is to commence from 28 June, and will culminate on 26 August this year. It traditionally comes to an end on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, a full moon night. With less than a year to go for the next national general elections, an attack during the Yatra could prove extremely costly for the political prospects of the government at the Centre. A series of attacks in the recent past had already set the situation on edge within the Kashmir Valley. Two policemen on guard duty were murdered at the end of the night of Shab-e-qadr, considered the holiest night of the month of Ramzan, in Pulwama. Large numbers of people attend night-long prayers on this night. It was the very night during last year's Ramzan when DSP Ayub Pandith was brutally bludgeoned to death near the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar. There are many voices within the security forces complaining behind closed doors about the impunity with which militants have been acting despite a ceasefire being in force. A few days ago, foreign militants were seen openly loitering around a marketplace in north Kashmir, and had even fired in the air after the nightly Taraavi prayers which take place during Ramzan. Several observers and senior members of the forces were upset over this open defiance. In this light, Bukhari's murder on the eve of Eid celebrations is bound to force a serious rethink regarding the non-initiation of combat operations against militants. The cessation of hostilities for the month of Ramzan was announced by the Union home ministry. Some observers had expected that it would be extended until the end of the annual Amarnath Yatra. An earlier ceasefire had been announced by then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in November 2000, also for the month of Ramzan that year. Back then, the Lashkar-e-Taiba had taken over the militancy around 1997, and the militancy situation was extremely challenging, with a spate of suicide attacks taking place between 1999 and 2001. The news of Shujaat Bukharis untimely demise was received with moist eyes. Behind his killing were people who did not appreciate his middle path approach. The news of Shujaat Bukharis untimely demise was received with moist eyes, much regret and worry about the future of Kashmir. In my family, everyone knew that he was my friend and that I cared much for his opinion and advice. They also knew that we had huge differences in outlook on the handling of the complexities of Kashmir, but these actually helped in understanding the situation better. Although we knew each other for over 20 years, it was my tenure as commander of the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps that brought us closer together with more frequent interaction. In 2010, I had returned to the iconic Indian Army formation, the prize command and the most challenging one. Kashmir was burning and I had the experience of handling turbulence in Kashmirs violence-prone landscape many times. Knowing well that anything routine never works there, I immediately turned to taking advice, lots of it. Among the plethora of wonderful intellectuals that Kashmir possesses and many others with earthy knowledge, with whom I interacted over a month, I found Shujaat the most affable and the most acceptable. He told me on my face that anything I would try would fail unless it touched the core of the heart of the Kashmiris. He said upfront that Kashmiris do not trust Indians, so the first thing is all about establishing that trust. I was not looking at any solutions, just the cooling and calming of the environment. Once that was achieved, people would be able to speak with clearer minds. Shujaat strictly guarded the Kashmiri turf and always spoke of Kashmiri interests, but within an Indian system. He advised me to undertake those measures by which trust could be established. Through 2011, the Hearts Doctrine, partially drawn up on some of the advisories from Shujaat and many other well-meaning Kashmiris, played itself out. The Kashmir Premier League, change in convoy timings to allow free flow of civil vehicular traffic and the much appreciated awami sunwaii programmes, along with skill development, career counseling and youth interaction all formed part of the doctrine to restore in Kashmiris the required confidence about India. What was important about people like Shujaat was the frankness and complete belief in their line of thinking which was never radical. Although a much accomplished journalist, he represented and in fact epitomised the plight of the journalist community in Kashmir. Many in the rest of India are unaware of the very large number of newspapers which hit Srinagars streets every morning. Besides the inevitable stringers, there are many outstanding columnists. And then, you have the television correspondents of mainstream channels who are at trouble spots all the time, placing their lives at risk. Who knows which opinion will meet with a negative response? I marvel at their courage just as I appreciated Shujaats ability to hold an independent line at all times, not swayed by sentiments except the most genuine ones. When I was leaving Kashmir in 2012, we organised a huge seminar. I was sceptical about opening it to the media, and to overcome that guilt, invited Shujaat as the only representative of the media. He made a stirring speech at the end, and also wrote an entire piece as a farewell to me; something I shared on social media now. Obviously, Shujaats willingness to engage with us was not to the liking of many, not realising that what he was doing was for the interest of every Kashmiri. Lately, there were allegations that he took a huge sum of money to run my public relations programme which earned him the pleasure of dining with me at an iftaar, the photograph of which is doing the rounds on social media. In 2013, in one of my pieces that I wrote, I appreciated the work of many Kashmiri friends and thanked them for their advice. Shujaat was obviously one of them. He was quick to call me and chide me for putting him and others in danger by mentioning positives about our interactions. I never wrote about him again. We traveled together to Dubai in 2015 for a Track 2 conference on Pakistan and later attended many seminars in Delhi and one in Mumbai. He had now taken to being critical of my opinion that without commensurate military domination, no outreach to the population could be achieved; this was immediately after Burhan Wanis killing. It took some convincing to get him to understand that parallel soft power campaigns to restore the dignity of the people are rarely possible unless the army was first fully in control. We agreed that simultaneity was perhaps the answer. Shujaats death was an assassination and behind it were people who did not appreciate his middle path approach which favoured talks with all. Perhaps they found him the ideal target to convey the message that measures such as suspension of operations may not work in the context of Jammu and Kashmir. However, Kashmirs appreciation for a man who was a true representative of the peoples interests will be best exhibited if a thumbs down is shown to those who believe in the path of violence. Rest in peace Shujaat; you did your bit wonderfully and are going to be hugely missed by your large following of friends and admirers. The author is a retired lieutenant general and former general officer commanding 15 and 21 Corps Thursday's fatal terror attack on Shujaat Bukhari, that also killed his two personal security officers, is a cynical and a strategic move. Thursday's fatal attack on Shujaat Bukhari, that also killed his two personal security officers, is a cynical and a strategic move. CCTV footage reveals Bukhari and his PSOs were getting into a car on Thursday evening when three bike-borne men accosted them, sprayed bullets from a close range and reportedly fled, shouting 'Allahu Akbar (God is great)'. The targeted assassination reveals a degree of preemptive planning. Editor of Rising Kashmir, Bukhari was a veteran and a noted journalist and an active member of the Track 2 diplomatic circuit. He was also an independent and a respected voice. He stood for peace and a political solution to the Kashmir issue. In a column written on 25 May in the newspaper that he edited, Bukhari had welcomed Centre's move to announce ceasefire for the month of Ramzan. Bukhari's murder is doubtless an attack on freedom of speech and democratic values but it would be wrong to see it from this prism alone. Though journalists have been killed in Kashmir as in any other conflict zone, the number of killings have been relatively less. Also, this was the first assassination of a journalist in over a decade. As ORF senior fellow Manoj Joshi points out in The Wire, "Foreign reporters, particularly those belonging to the print media, have never been blocked from the Valley, and local and mainland journalists have been able to move around with relative freedom and talk to who they could (sic)." This points to a political motive. The timing of the assassination carried out just a day before Eid at a time when the Centre was mulling an extension of the ceasefire is no less significant. It should be seen in conjunction with a late spurt in terrorist violence that resulted, among other incidents, in the abduction of Rashtriya Rifles jawan Aurangzeb, whose bullet-ridden lifeless body was found later in Pulwama. In the same week, two cops were also murdered and 10 CRPF jawans were injured in separate terror attacks in Pulwama and Anantnag. Bukhari's murder and the increased violence, therefore, appears to be a desperate attempt to scuttle the peace process that was launched by the Centre to cool down the temperature and pave the way for a sense of calm in the Valley during the holy month of Ramzan. The ceasefire, which saw a temporary suspension of hot pursuit and search-and-combat operations in residential areas of Kashmir (but not retaliatory fire or acting on specific intelligence) was apparently getting reasonable response. The ceasefire was a strategic move. It wasn't meant to signal the end of terrorism in the Valley, wasn't an indication that the condition has vastly improved, much less was it intended to usher in total peace and zero violence. Rather the ceasefire was an attempt create an atmosphere of trust and goodwill to break the cycle of violence. In this very limited context, it appears that the ceasefire was working. Politicians and security forces in Kashmir were picking up vibes that tired Kashmiris were welcoming the modicum of respite. A report in Greater Kashmir points out that top officials from the state impressed upon Union home minister Rajnath Singh the importance of extending the ceasefire despite Bukhari's murder. In the meeting, attended by Jammu and Kashmir chief secretary BB Vyas and top cop SP Vaid, it was said that "people were happy with the prevailing peaceful atmosphere and that the law and order situation has considerably improved and extending the ceasefire can help in further improving the situation." Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti had recently expressed apprehension that terrorists are trying to sabotage the peace process. Even as we see the ceasefire bringing great relief to the people of J&K, militants seem to be continuing their violent activities & desperately trying to sabotage the process. I only hope that they realise the futility of their actions soon. Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) June 6, 2018 The ceasefire served another strategic purpose. The army was successfully flushing out terrorists through its hot pursuit but equally, the killings were motivating more and more college-going youth to abandon their books for guns. As Hindustan Times points out in a report, "Young Kashmiris have been leaving the comfort of their classrooms to disappear into the mountains and resurface with guns. April alone saw 28 locals joining militancy. The number is the highest in any given month, since the killing of militant poster boy Burhan Wani in 2016." By ordering a temporary moratorium on such operations, the Centre was trying to break this chain. Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (retd) writes in The Tribune, "There can be no doubt about the J&K CID report that successful counter-terror operations are paradoxically also fuelling greater militant response and helping in the recruitment of local youth whose sentiments are aroused at funerals of slain terrorists. Yet, the political leadership at the Centre had cross-currents to view. The J&K Chief Minister had a strong argument that her government could not adopt counter-narratives with passions continuing to flow due to offensive operations by the security forces." This is where the ceasefire also served a political cause, by creating an atmosphere for dialogue which the Centre had proposed to "all stakeholders", including, it seems, talking to the Hurriyat. It is a moot question whether talks with Hurriyat will serve any real purpose but the larger inevitability of dialogue and political process taking over from security measures wasn't lost on anyone. The Ramzan ceasefire did see a 100 percent rise in terror-related incidents in Kashmir but up until the late spike in big-ticket crimes, those were less serious in nature and not beyond the capacity of the Indian state to withstand for a greater cause of peace. Bukhari's murder achieves even more significance in this context. The terrorists deliberately targeted a high-profile journalist so that the bar is raised, enough public outrage is caused and the Centre is compelled to dismiss any thoughts of ceasefire extension during the period through to the Amarnath Yatra. It is essentially an act of grave provocation which seeks to disrupt the political process and throw Kashmir back into the vortex of violence. It is the throwing of a gauntlet and testing of the Centre's nerve to see if the Narendra Modi government has enough resolve to take the brutal murder of a well-meaning public figure on its chin and carry on with the political process, or call off peace overtures and set the dogs of war loose on the terrorists. The disruptors had yet another motive in their choice of the victim. In killing Bukhari, they have succeeded in silencing a strong voice in back-channel diplomacy circuit. The evidences and motives point to the involvement of Pakistani deep state that has never failed to impede any Indian overture for peace, either notional or substantive. The escalation lies in the fact that while bilateral relation was defined through this playbook, now Kashmir too has been brought within its ambit. It is for this, and this reason alone, that the Centre should grit its teeth and stay put on the peace process instead of playing into the hands of the disruptors. The ceasefire may not be the best solution but it is the only solution that we have in a very small window of opportunity. We cannot allow terror to dictate terms to us. The Tamil Nadu government urged the Centre to keep in abeyance its decision to enact a Dam Safety Bill, recalling it had earlier raised some objections and had not been revised Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government on Friday urged the Centre to keep in abeyance its decision to enact a Dam Safety Bill, recalling it had earlier raised some objections and that it had not received any revised draft on the matter thereafter. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chief minister K Palaniswami requested that the decision arrived at by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday to legislate the Act on the Dam Safety Bill, 2018, be kept in abeyance till all states were consulted and a consensus was evolved. He said late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had earlier raised objections to "certain clauses" of the draft Bill, 2016 "since they encroach upon powers of state governments and also rights conferred on the state by virtue of Inter-State Agreements on dams owned, operated and maintained by the Government of Tamil Nadu but located in other state." The state had earlier urged the Centre that the legislation should be re-examined and should not be "proceeded with in haste, without considering objections raised by Tamil Nadu threadbare." "The Government of India has not circulated any revised draft after 2016 and it is presumed that the Bill in its original form has been approved by the Union Cabinet." "This Bill would have wide ramifications on dams operated and maintained by (a) state government, especially those dams which are owned operated and maintained by the Government of Tamil Nadu, but are located in the neighbouring state," he said in an apparent reference to the Mullaperiyar dam located in neighbouring Kerala. Mullaperiyar dam located in Kerala's Idukki district is owned and operated by Tamil Nadu and the two states are at loggerheads over its safety and storage level. The Supreme Court had in May 2014 held that the dam was safe, and allowed Tamil Nadu to raise the storage level to 142 feet initially and to 152 feet later after completing strengthening efforts on the reservoir. In his letter on Friday, Palaniswami said he considered "it appropriate that consensus of all the states be obtained before bringing forward such a legislation on dam safety." "In the circumstances, I request you to kindly keep in abeyance the decision arrived at by the Government of India to legislate an Act on dam safety till such time all the states are consulted and consensus is evolved," he added. The Union Cabinet had on Wednesday approved a proposal for enacting the Dam Safety Bill 2018, which will help states and union territories to adopt uniform safety procedures to ensure safety of reservoirs. The Bill seeks to constitute a national committee on dam safety which shall evolve safety policies and recommend necessary regulations, Union Minister Piyush Goyal had said on Wednesday. The Bill provides for establishment of National Dam Safety Authority as a regulatory body which shall discharge functions to implement the policy, guidelines and standards for dam safety in the country. In certain cases, such as dams of one state falling under the territory of another, the authority shall also perform the role of State Dam Safety Organisation, thereby eliminating potential causes for inter-state conflicts. The legislation will address all issues concerning dam safety including regular inspection, emergency action plan, comprehensive safety review, and adequate repair and maintenance funds for dam safety, instrumentation and safety manuals. The Bill also provides for constitution of a State Committee on Dam Safety by the state governments. The provisions of the Bill also lay onus of dam safety on the dam owner and provides for penal provisions for commission and omission of certain acts. The draft bill was finalised after wide consultation with leading experts and international experts, Goyal had said. UNHCR Report on Kashmir, that was released recently, would be comical for its selective focus if it wasn't dealing with issues that are undoubtedly tragic. The United Nations Report on the Situation of Human Rights in Kashmir released recently, would be comical, if it wasn't dealing with issues that are undoubtedly tragic in the extreme. First and foremost, the ticklish issue of what constitutes "human rights" is puzzling. In the lexicon of the so-called "international community" that is, the 'rich kids' who dominate the Security Council it's absolutely all right to bomb, strafe and shoot a population from the air, on the grounds that the area is home to a random terrorist group. For instance, some 470,000 have been killed in Syria by one side or the other since the start of the war. Undoubtedly, the good people at the UN rights office have taken note of the issue. Their mandate, however, is interesting. It is to report "alleged" violations by everyone including the Syrian government, the Islamic State and sundry other groups who are busy killing each other. While the majority of reports warn and criticise the Syrian government which is no pattern of humanity not much is said on the aerial bombing of hapless citizens by the United States or Russia. A damning report by The New York Times estimated that the US was killing at least 31 times more civilians than it was estimating. Russia, of course, will never allow such reports. Here's another instance. Pakistan has used artillery and aircraft against its own citizens in the frontier in the last few years. The Pakistan Army justified this as a counterterrorism operation, which it undoubtedly was. But here's the thing. The Indian Army has been fighting terrorism for the last several decades. Never once has it ever resorted to aerial bombing of its own citizens. Instead, as the UN report points out, the Indian paramilitary forces have used pellet guns. The contrast in reaction by the Indian forces and just about everyone else cannot be starker. Indeed, it is worth examining whether any other country in the world has been as restrictive on the use of force as the Indian Army. Remember the British operations in Malaya? That is still cited as a classic counterinsurgency operation. It also involved the forced relocation of entire populations. If India does anything of the kind in Kashmir, the entire western (and Indian) media would be on our necks. Pakistan does it all the time in reverse. Since a 1988 revolt by the Shias of the present day Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistani authorities have made it a policy to bring in Sunnis mainly from Punjab into these areas. As a result, parts of Gilgit Baltistan, including its capital, is almost hundred percent Sunni. The result is a rising sectarian divide, all of which the Human Rights Council seems to be blissfully unaware of. None of this is an attempt at "Whataboutery". The killing or oppression of people anywhere by a state that is paid, and (in the case of India) elected to protect them, is a crime that needs to be accorded the most stringent punishment. The Indian Army has a relatively clean record of punishing those it sees as abusing their authority. A colonel and five others were sentenced to life in a fake encounter case. Equally, however, the army has sworn revenge for the killing and abduction of its Kashmiri officer Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz, who had come home on leave. The army doesn't differentiate between Kashmiris and "Indians". And reward and punishment are usually awarded without such divisions, but not without some exceptions. The award given to an officer who tied a Kashmiri to a jeep and drove around for hours was not simply wrong, it was stupid. The army's intelligence 'grid' depends heavily on a degree of goodwill from the people on the ground. When this fails, as it will when such incidents occur, it is the army itself which will suffer. Insurgencies are highly complicated affairs, especially at a time when social media is either reporting or misreporting incidents even as they happen. A large part of the casualties inflicted by the paramilitary forces has, therefore, occurred when civilians have got in the way of an operation to nab a terrorist. A video showing a security forces vehicle running over a stone pelter was horrific. But here's the reality that armchair analysts need to understand if you get in the way of operations, you are very likely to get killed. That's true the world over. The obverse side of the coin however also holds true. Self-declared armchair 'nationalists' have no business celebrating such deaths. That is shaming a country that has still a record of not resorting to the kind of force that most others have used. Finally, the most shameful aspect of the human rights report is the reference to terrorists as 'armed groups'. The fact that violence in Kashmir is openly stoked by a neighbouring state as apparent from the interviews with Lieutenant General Asad Durrani in the "Spy Chronicles" seems to have been completely overlooked. Worse still, by the Human Rights Council's own admission, the report is largely about India and not Pakistan. Why this focus on this side of the Line of Control is inexplicable. Which brings the whole thing back to the beginning of this essay. Callouts on human rights violations are highly selective. Now, it is the job of the Foreign Office to look out for just who is pushing this report and why. There's also a second aspect, however. UN bodies can be castigated to the hilt for good reason. However, also support and examine abuse of power by security forces everywhere, not just in Kashmir. They, and the judiciary that is supposed to prevent abuse, are the backbone of a functioning state. Both can do with not only scrutiny and criticism but also praise. When someone does a good job, talk about it. All of us could do with some good news. Syrian engineers trained by Russian specialists successfully fulfill their mine clearance mission in Syria's Eastern Ghouta and Homs, defusing more than 40 explosive devices, the head of the Russian Centre for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria, Major General Alexey Tsygankov told the briefing. "Over the last 24 hours, they have checked 19 buildings in Douma to defuse 6 mines, 4 projectiles, and 17 improvised explosive devices," he said. According to the Major General, situation in Hama and Homs provinces is being stabilized by the Russian side jointly with the Syrian government. Tsygakov added that an engineering unit detected and defused 13 mines and seven improvised explosive devices in the northern part of Umm-Sharshuh. Russian military police organizes observation posts to prevent provocations and register refugees returning to the settlements of Talbiseh, Kharet-Tukman and al-Rastan, RIA Novosti reported. India has also informed the UNHCR of its deep concern over individual prejudices being allowed to undermine the credibility of a UN institution The first report by UNHCR on Kashmir, although talking of both sides of the LoC, focusses mainly on serious violations in Jammu and Kashmir between July 2016 and April 2018, alleging some 145 civilians killed (without mentioning terrorists, including Pakistani ones) by security forces and up to 20 civilians killed by armed groups. UNHCR commissioner Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein called for maximum restraint and denounced the lack of prosecution of Indian forces in Jammu and Kashmir due to a 1990 law that gives them what he called "virtual immunity" (read: AFSPA). He went on to demand a commission of inquiry by the Human Rights Council, opening a three-week session in Geneva on 18 June, into all violations, and investigation of mass graves in the Kashmir Valley and the state. India has rejected the report terming it "fallacious, tendentious and motivated", questioning its intent in bringing out a selective compilation of largely unverified information to build a false narrative. The Ministry of External Affairs noted: "The report violates India's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. Pakistan is in illegal and forcible occupation of a part of the Indian state through aggression. We have repeatedly called upon Pakistan to vacate the occupied territories. The incorrect description of Indian territory in the report is mischievous, misleading and unacceptable. There are no entities such as 'Azad Jammu and Kashmir' and 'Gilgit-Baltistan'... The motivated report deliberately ignores that fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution to every Indian citizen, including in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, are protected also by an independent judiciary, human rights commissions, free and vibrant media and an active civil society." India has also informed the UNHCR of its deep concern over individual prejudices being allowed to undermine the credibility of a UN institution, that such malicious reports cannot undermine the will of India and that all measures necessary to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country from cross-border terrorism will be taken. That the report is malicious and mischievous is without doubt because the reference to Pakistan can best be described as 'in passing', mentioning no figures, as done in the case of India. There is no mention whatsoever of Balochistan where Pakistani genocide is unabated and the discovery of mass graves has been reported in the past. There is no mention of the Pakistani export of terror either. In the case of Afghanistan, the UN Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has been periodically mentioning (by name) Pakistan-based terrorist groups operating in the country. It stands to reason that a UN report on Kashmir should have mentioned Pakistan's proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir and named the terrorist groups responsible. But the report doesnt even mention the extrajudicial killings in Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan's military courts that are unconstitutional. The preamble to the 1949 UN Convention of Kashmir called upon Pakistan to withdraw its forces from PoK, thereby acknowledging Pakistani aggression. The UNHCR commissioner is known for his eccentric ways, even going beyond his charter. In September 2016, he attacked Donald Trumps presidential campaign, calling him a "bigot", which led Russia to lodge a formal complaint with the UN that Zeid was overstepping his limit and that he should stick to his file. In December that year, Zeid condemned Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte for the killings of the drug mafia, but Duterte responding saying he would burn down the UN. Despite the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), in August 2016, Zeid demanded India and Pakistan give "independent observers" access to Kashmir. There have been two recent instances where UN officials may have been bribed (see here and here). China has also been interfering in the UNHCR mechanism, with the agency ignoring treatment and protection of human rights activists critical of China, bending to the wishes of China thwarting UN scrutiny of its own human rights record. Whether or not UN officials are being bribed in this scenario is still unclear. It is quite possible that the UNHCR report has been initiated at the behest of Beijing and Islamabad, with Pakistan mentioned superfluously in the report to avoid suspicion. The timing has been matched with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary and working group meetings (24 to 29 June), where there is every possibility of Pakistan being 'greylisted', something China will find difficult to defend. This UNHCR report is likely to be used to deflect terrorism support by Pakistan. India has already responded to the report. It is time New Delhi takes up strongly for Pakistan to vacate PoK. The author is a veteran lieutenant-general of the Indian Army Under the 'Sampark for Samarthan' campaign of the BJP to garner support for the 2019 general elections, UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath met six prominent persons here on Friday and apprised them of various initiatives taken by the Narendra Modi government. Lucknow: Under the 'Sampark for Samarthan' campaign of the BJP to garner support for the 2019 general elections, UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath met six prominent persons here on Friday and apprised them of various initiatives taken by the Narendra Modi government. On his first stop, Adityanath met eminent doctor Mansoor Hasan and urged him to support the Bharatiya Janata Party as the party was for 'insaniyat aur vikas' (humanity and development), and both its governments, at the Centre and the state, were committed to improve the lot of the poor and the farmers. Hasan later told reporters that there was no political discussion but added that this was a good initiative by the ruling party. Later, the Chief Minister visited met Gopinath Pandey, the father of Kargil hero and posthumous Paramvir Chakra awardee Captain Manoj Pandey, and informed him of various schemes launched by the Modi government for the defence forces and the common people. Adityanath then went to the residence of eminent theatre artist Raj Bisaria and informed him that this campaign had been unveiled by party president Amit Shah, "so that we could reach out to our own and seek support for BJP in 2019 so that our development agenda gets further impetus". After this, Adityanath, along with cabinet colleagues - medical education minister Ashutosh Tandon and law minister Brajesh Pathak - met Justice (retd.) H.N. Tilhari, Lt. Gen. R.P. Shahi (retd) and eminent educationist Bhumitra Dev and presented them a booklet listing achievements of the Modi government in four years. While locals alleged that troops opened fire when locals resisted their attempt to vandalise the house of militant Saju Mir, police said the firing took place after a mob threw stones on army vehicles. A youth was killed and two others, including a girl, were injured on Friday when army troops opened fire on a mob in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said. While locals alleged that troops of 55 Rashtriya Rifles opened fire when locals resisted their attempt to vandalise the house of militant Saju Mir in Nowpora village of Pulwama, police said the firing took place after a mob threw stones on army vehicles in the area. The forces claimed that during a patrol by army personnel, a mob gathered there and started hurling stones, forcing them to resort to aerial firing after the crowd refused to yield despite a verbal warning. They then extricated themselves and continued with their patrol, he said. According to the police, a mob started throwing stones at army personnel in Nowpora of Pulwama district. As the stone-pelting became intense, army personnel allegedly opened fire in which two persons were injured, a police official said, adding Waqas Ahmad, 24, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital while Ruqaya Bano is undergoing treatment. One more civilian was reportedly injured, according to IANS. A defence spokesperson said, "The road at Nowpora was blocked due to three to four cars being parked on the wrong side. Army personnel got off their vehicle to request the drivers to move the cars." On seeing the army personnel, a huge crowd gathered at the site and started throwing stones at them, the spokesperson said. "The troops cautioned the crowd verbally. However, the crowd turned violent and tried to overpower the troops. Army personnel resorted to aerial firing, extricated themselves and continued with their patrol," he added. With inputs from agencies Shantanu Kamble, who was one of the founding members of the Kabir Kala Manch, died on 13 June "With your anklets clinking, you come through the path of equality (samata) Breaking shackles, you come, you come People are caged in the mansion of caste Such is the poison that destroys generations People with flesh and bones arent seen People become strangers to each other You come, while breaking and thrashing the walls of caste" - Shahir Shantanu Kamble When shahirs who fight for people through their songs die, it is music that weeps. Shantanu Kamble, who belonged to the tradition of vidrohi (rebellious) shahiri, was one such shahir who died on Wednesday, 13 June, only to be born again in our minds through his songs, poems, and notably, through his struggle. He was born in Satara, Maharashtra, but lived in Mumbai for many years, returning to Nashik after suffering from a stomach illness. During this journey, he became one of the founding members of the Kabir Kala Manch (KKM). "'Dalita re halla bol na Shramika re halla bol na' (Dalits, proclaim the attack Workers, proclaim the attack) was the song that changed the face of anti-caste protests in recent times such was the power of his music. Many people would often sing his songs, calling them their own. Often, his own musical creations were not credited to him," says Shiva Thorat, an independent researcher and the man behind Creator of Utopia - Wamandada. Speaking about Shantanu's contribution to the anti-caste movement, Thorat says, In the sphere of this movement, the shahir and his shahiri are two sides of the same coin. The shahir isnt just the medium through which thoughts are disseminated, he also lends an energy and enthusiasm to them. It isnt enough to be a shahir; it is necessary to observe the core of people and society. Shantanu was a shahir whose songs were part of almost all movements in and outside of Maharashtra after 2005. 'Dalita Re Halla Bol Na' was the song which was like the manifesto of the movement. His understanding of and relationship with people was such that once he had met them, they would not forget him. To accept people and make them a part of one's life is big deal; people would become fond of him over one or two meetings. Anyone who had met him could tell how rooted the sense of humanity was in his nature. In the battle against caste, his shahiri and genuine demeanour were sources of support to others, like the shade provided by a giant tree. He was akin to a pillar who stood against caste, class, and gender oppression, which has now collapsed. How will this sense of emptiness [caused by his death] be filled? It depends on the movement, and the honesty of the people working in and for the movement. He was honest, and that is why he went through such tragic situations at the end of his life." Shantanus journey as a shahir, however, wasnt as easy as it may seem. "If one reviews his work and life, it becomes evident that he is one of the most powerful and simultaneously one of the least discussed shahirs of our times," says Kunal Gaikwad, a writer and former sub-editor at the Maharashtra1 news channel, The songs of this rebellious (vidrohi) shahir have been sung at almost every program of the progressive movement. But most people do not know his name. Is it a failure on the part of society, which cannot recognise a person's work? Or is it an old castiest method to selectively dismiss and ignore shahirs like him, who sing of equality, love, fraternity and who use their music to effect change within and outside?" Samatechya waaten tu khankawat painjan yav, writes Shantanu, who seemed to have given a new meaning to love songs, such as in this one, where he skilfully and boldly tells us how the path to love passes through the castiest society. But a society, which is mentally fractured as a result of caste norms, seemed to have been scared of the profound meaning of love and freedom conveyed to us by his songs and poems. In 2005, he was accused of having links with Naxalites. He was put into police custody for almost a 100 days. It was a torturous time for him. Eventually, he was acquitted, innocent as he was. But this physically and mentally torturous period seemed to have left an effect on him which is not imaginable by many of us simply because many of us do not possess the profundity necessary to understand shahirs like him. But Shantanu wasnt the kind of person to ponder over such selfish trivialities. He was for the people and never sold his music. 'Dalita Re Halla Bol Na' wasnt just a song. It was an experiment to test ideologies, to expand them through combinations. However, it seemed to have unsettled those who couldnt think beyond a particular framework of convenience constructed by vested interests in the anti-caste movement. Shantanu dared to look beyond personal trivialities, to only focus on people and society. But he had to pay a huge price for this. Despite being accused by the police of having links with Naxalites, he always seemed bright, hopeful and optimistic in his music and writing. He dared to be a shahir at a time when shahirs like him were often looked at as threats to society, avoided by their own people, and forced into depressing isolation. Shantanu witnessed all of these circumstances. Nonetheless, he continued to fight and write, and most importantly, sing. Following the accusations of being a Naxalite and eventually being released from police custody, his health started to deteriorate. This also thrust him into isolation, both physical and mental, which went on till his death. He had been suffering from a stomach illness, and last week, he was admitted to a hospital in Nashik where he died on Wednesday. Shantanu may have died, but he certainly is not gone. He is right there in his songs, poems, music, and in the memories of people who will remember him and sing these songs again. Shahirs like him do not die, because their songs, which make us recognise the beauty and ugliness within us, continue to live on. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ministers including deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia who are staging a fast protest agains the IAS officers' strike at the Lieutenant Governor's office in Delhi warned the central government on Friday to not try and break their fast. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ministers including Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia who are staging a fast protest agains the IAS officers' strike at the lieutenant-governor's office in Delhi warned the Central government on Friday to not try and break their fast. "Do not force us to break our fast, listen to our demands," Sisodia said on the third day of his fast. While another AAP minister Satyendra Kumar Jain has been on a fast for the past four days now and is health was reported to be detrioting following which ambulances were called in outside the L-G's residence. However, AAP has alleged that the Narendra Modi government is trying to forcefully remove them from the L-G'office. "L-G office does not want to take responsibility of deteriorating health of AAP ministers," AAP leader Sanjay Singh said who later met Home Minister Rajnath Singh to brief him on the Delhi government's demands. Why r they planning to take them forcefully? It is just 4 days. Both of them r fit. They r fighting for the people of Delhi. https://t.co/ejg8mozb6X Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) June 15, 2018 Meanwhile, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday wrote a fresh letter to Modi, seeking his intervention to end the IAS officers' "strike" even as he hit out at his detractors, saying the sit-in was "not for personal gains" but for the greater good of the people of Delhi. Kejriwal, in a video message on the fifth day of the sit-in, he and his ministers are holding at the L-G's office in New Delhi, also attacked the BJP, alleging the bureaucrats' strike was to "throw roadblocks" in the working of the AAP government. "I have told the L-G and Sisodia wrote a letter to him (Anil Baijal) on Thursday and even sent a message on WhatsApp. But, no response from his side. We got no response to the letter I wrote to the prime minister. So, today again I wrote to the prime minister," he said. The latest letter by Kejriwal was in response to an invite to attend a meeting of NITI Aayog on Sunday. "I have asked the prime minister, if in his meetings officers don't show up, will he be able to run the government for a day? Then why have you allowed the strike of officers in Delhi. It is not good to bother people of Delhi," Kejriwal said. Kejriwal had on Thursday written to Modi, seeking his intervention to end the strike, claiming that Baijal was doing "nothing" to end the impasse. A team of doctors on Thursday conducted a health check-up of Sisodia and Jain at the L-G's office. Kejriwal said in his fresh letter to Modi, he has reiterated the demands. The AAP government has sought that the L-G direct the IAS officers to end their "strike" and act against those who have struck work. They also want the L-G to approve the proposal for doorstep delivery of ration. "I have again asked him (PM) to do something. It is not alright to have this strike be allowed. So, on Sunday, will go to the prime minister's residence, lots of people of Delhi will go to his residence and appeal to him to have the strike cancelled," he said. Kejriwal hoped that the prime minister will ensure that the "strike" ends. "If not, then after Sunday we will be going to every household. Our workers will reach out to 10 lakh households in the city and collect signatures on a letter on this obstruction to Delhi government work and on the issue of full statehood to Delhi. These 10 lakh families will then agitate for full statehood and against this strike of IAS officers," he claimed. The AAP convenor, in his video appeal, also asked if there was one person who would say that the strike by officers was legitimate. "After meeting him on Monday evening, I had hoped that the L-G would say he had ordered end of the strike and ask us to go back home. I am surprised that it is the fifth day and he (Baijal) is not willing to end it," Kejriwal alleged. Meanwhile, Baijal met Rajnath on Friday over the standoff that has brought the Capitals administration to a standstill. Baijal briefed the Union minister about the protest and also on ongoing police investigation into an alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash in February 2018. Baijal also informed the minister about his communication with the bureaucrats on the issue, a ministry official told The Hindustan Times. However, The IAS Officers Association denied they were on strike and released photographs that showed them working inside the Secretariat. Congress leader Ajay Maken too slammed Kejriwal for demanding full statehood and deviating attention from real issues plahuing Delhi. "Delhi government is demanding full statehood when he knows that Delhi cannot be granted the full statehood status. Kejriwal needs to focus on issues that concern his people right now. We also worked with the BJP government at the Centre while we were in power in Delhi," Maken told CNN-News18. But Kejriwal has found support from opposition leaders such as Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Sitaram Yechury, Sharad Yadav, Brinda Karat, Kamal Hassan and Shatrugan Sinha, who have all tweeted in favour of his protest. The Delhi Government Employees Association also announced that they would begin a protest in front of Prakashs office from Friday, demanding the restructuring of DASS (Delhi administrative subordinate services) and steno cadres of the government. Meanwhile, Delhis BJP leaders have started a similar sit-in protest outside the chief ministers office. Party leaders Vijender Gupta, Parvesh Verma, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Jagdish Pradhan along with former Aam Aadmi Party leader Kapil Mishra protested in a waiting room outside the chief minister's office. They put up banners inside and outside the building against Kejriwal for going on leave at a time when Delhi is grappling with severe air pollution, the Hindustan Times reported said. With inputs from PTI Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy on Friday said no one can 'touch' him at least till the 2019 Lok Sabha polls are over. Bengaluru: As questions over the longevity of the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka lingered, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Friday said no one can 'touch' him at least till the 2019 Lok Sabha polls are over. "This coalition government will function with stability. I know, no one can touch me for one year. I will be there at least for one year until the Lok Sabha election is over. Until then, no one can do anything to me," he said. Addressing an event, Kumaraswamy said he would not remain silent during the period that he has got and would focus on taking decisions for the benefit of the state. The chief minister said he would not waste his time and immerse himself in work as it was important that the state progresses in all spheres. "So in the opportunity that I have got, rather than going into what others have done, my message will be what I have done. In doing this, the environment is also in my favour (with good rains)," he added. Kumaraswamy's comments come even as his government is facing the birth pangs of coalition politics, following the disquiet among newly elected Congress lawmakers who were left out during the Cabinet expansion. As the 12 May Assembly polls in the state threw up a hung Assembly, Congress and JD(S) who had bitterly fought each other, joined hands to form a post-poll alliance to keep out the BJP, which had emerged as the single largest party. The chief minister also reiterated that he was committed to waiving farm loans and would announce it shortly. "Dear farmers, let there be no confusion on farm loan waiver. I am fully committed to the loan waiver. I want to ensure it is done scientifically benefiting maximum number of farmers. I am working on the modalities and will announce it shortly," Kumaraswamy said in a tweet on his official twitter handle @CMofKarnataka. Dear farmers Let there be no confusion on farm loan waiver. I am fully committed to the loan waiver. I want to ensure it is done scientifically benefitting maximum farmers. I am working on the the modalities and will announce it shortly.#farmers #farmloanwaiver CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) June 15, 2018 Rubbishing reports that questioned his commitment on farm loan waiver, Kumaraswamy while speaking at the event, said he would "not escape" from his commitment. On 30 May, as Opposition and farmers' bodies stepped up pressure on him to fulfil his pre-poll promise, he had said that the government would arrive at a decision to implement a two-phase scheme for farm loan waiver within 15 days. The chief minister also hinted that the first budget of the coalition government is likely to be presented in the first week of July, even as he hit out at detractors who were questioning the need for the full term budget now. "Probably during July first week we have plans to present the state budget. A few people are asking why the budget has to be presented as this is a coalition government and it has already been presented (by Congress government)." "Is is not enough to just present supplementary budget, some are advising," he said while adding that "some people are worried that Kumaraswamy will get a name if he presents the budget." After a strong bargain with the coalition partner Congress, Kumaraswamy has retained the key finance portfolio. Ahead of Narendra Modi's visit to Uttarakhand Congress asked him to announce a farm loan waiver scheme, saying it was time he repaid his debt to the farmers who voted the BJP to power in the state last year. Dehradun: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Uttarakhand next week, the opposition Congress on Friday asked him to announce a farm loan waiver scheme, saying it was time he repaid his debt to the farmers who voted the BJP to power in the state last year. The state unit of the Congress said it welcomes the Prime Minister, who is visiting Uttarakhand for the first time after the BJP's victory, "with a big mandate" in the assembly election. "It is time for him to repay the debt to the people of the state by at least offering a loan waiver to farmers and a financial package for the state," Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee president Pritam Singh. It will be a gift to the people of the state, he said. The BJP won 57 out of the total 70 assembly seats in 2017. Claiming that at least 10 debt-ridden farmers have committed suicide since the BJP came to power in the state in March last year, Singh said the saffron party had promised to waive farm loans in its "vision document" ahead of the assembly poll. "It is time the prime minister began to fulfill the promises he had made to the people of the state to give credence to his words," Singh said, referring to Modi's "much-publicised double engine" governance promise. He said all reconstruction work in Kedarnath after the 2013 natural disaster was carried out with the Rs 7,500 crore rehabilitation package announced by the previous UPA government, and that Modi should clear the remaining Rs 3,000 crore under the package. Reminding Modi of his statement in the aftermath of the 2013 disaster that the rehabilitation package was not enough, Singh said if the prime minister's heart bleeds for the people of Uttarakhand he would announce a fresh package without delay. More than 5,500 people were "presumed dead" by the Uttarakhand government a year after the natural disaster. Modi will preside over the main event on International Yoga Day on 21 June. The function will be held at the Forest Research Institute campus in Dehradun. Rahul's comments on the issue, which has snowballed into a major political controversy, came even as a high-level team of Maharashtra Congress visited the village to assess the situation. Jalgaon: Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday blamed the RSS and Bharatiya Janata Party's politics after three Dalit boys were paraded nude and assaulted for swimming in a village well in Wakadi village. "The sole crime of these Dalit children was they were taking a dip in a well. Humanity is struggling to save its dignity," Gandhi tweeted on Friday. He said if we don't raise our voices against this politics of hate and poison of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and BJP, history would not forgive us. Rahul's comments on the issue, which has snowballed into a major political controversy, came even as a high-level team of Maharashtra Congress visited the village to assess the situation. Strongly condemning the outrage on the Dalit boys, Union Minister for Social Welfare Ramdas Athawale said he will visit the village to meet the victims and their families. On 10 June, three minor Dalit boys were stripped, beaten and paraded nude in Wakadi village here for allegedly swimming in a village well. The incident served as a major embarrassment for the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena combine even as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is on a tour of Dubai, Canada and the US to attract investment. When some locals learnt of it, a large number of people, including many from upper castes, gathered near the well and pulled out the boys. They were shouted at and subjected to abuses before some persons allegedly forced the boys to strip and paraded them nude around the village. On videos, the boys can be seen wearing only sandals and some patvelia leaves and they protested when at least one person was assaulting them on the legs and back with sticks and what appeared to be a leather belt. At least two persons have been arrested in connection with the incident, said Maharashtra Social Justice Minister Dilip Kamble. After much cajoling the boys and their families reluctantly lodged a complaint with the police. But as pressures increased on them to withdraw their plea, the family members attempted to blame their children (the three boys) for their indiscretion in the matter. Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil said on Thursday night that the well belonged to a Ishwar Joshi and his servant Sonu Lohar had assaulted the boys. Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan said two persons are booked under the provisions of Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Information Technology Act, besides other charges. tech2 News Staff The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 went on sale last month. Since then, it's received a major update that's added a bunch of new features, including support for VoLTE and face unlock. The 14 June update includes VoLTE support for Vodafone, Airtel, Idea and Reliance Jio networks and incorporates the Google Security Patch for May 2018. The update also claims to speed up the response of the fingerprint sensor and the performance of the selfie camera. ASUS had already said that it is continuously improving camera performance and features as well as battery life and overall performance, improvements and optimization for its users. The Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1 has a 5.99-inch FHD+ display with an aspect ratio of 18:9. Under the hood, the phone is powered by the Snapdragon 636 SoC, which includes an Adreno 509 GPU. The phone is available in three variants which are 3 GB RAM + 32 GB storage for Rs 10,999, 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage for Rs 12,999 and finally, 6 GB RAM + 64 GB storage for Rs 14,999. In terms of software, the phone runs on Android 8.1 Oreo. tech2 News Staff Googles Chromebook platform has seen some success among students and a select group of brave souls whore willing to venture out with what is, essentially, a web-only device. While the cheaper end of the Chromebook spectrum is made up of $200 Chromebook from the likes of Dell, HP and Acer, the higher end of the spectrum only sees Google and its lovely Pixelbook hardware. Developers at XDA, whove been closely tracking developments, have noted that Pixelbook developers appear to be working on getting the Pixelbook certified hardware compatibility with Windows. Mentions of WHCK (Windows Hardware Certification Kit) and WHLK (Windows Hardware Lab Kit) hint at this. According to XDA, getting WHCK and WHLK certification means that the device will have support for signed drivers and other such perks, which guarantee a certain level of user experience. Earlier reports from XDA also suggested that developers were working on enabling native Windows 10 support on the device. The Pixelbook is certainly a lovely device, and its hardware will put many Ultrabooks to shame. Priced at $999 ($749 at its current, discounted price), the Pixelbook includes a 7th gen Intel Core i5 CPU, 8 GB RAM and 128 SSD storage. The device is just 10.3 mm thick and is convertible, which means it can be used as a laptop or a tablet in various combinations. It also supports a stylus and promises 10 hours of battery life. Such great hardware being limited by ChromeOS was always a point against the device. Why would anyone want to spend $999 on a web-only laptop when they could buy a more flexible Windows or macOS device for the same price? The Armenian government appointed Avetik Eloyan as the head of the State Committee for Urban Development today. The former head of the Committee, Narek Sargsyan, was dismissed from his post on June 8 by the government decision. It was noted that Avetik Eloyan is an architect by education, ARKA reported. Reuters Microsoft Corp is working on technology that would eliminate cashiers and checkout lines from stores, in a nascent challenge to Amazon Incs automated grocery shop, six people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The Redmond, Wash.-based software giant is developing systems that track what shoppers add to their carts, the people say. Microsoft has shown sample technology to retailers from around the world and has had talks with Walmart Inc about a potential collaboration, three of the people said. Microsofts technology aims to help retailers keep pace with Amazon Go, a highly automated store that opened to the public in Seattle in January. Amazon customers scan their smartphones at a turnstile to enter. Cameras and sensors identify what they remove from the shelves. When customers are finished shopping, they simply leave the store and Amazon bills their credit cards on file. Amazon Go, which will soon open in Chicago and San Francisco, has sent rivals scrambling to prepare for yet another disruption by the worlds biggest online retailer. Some have tested programs where customers scan and bag each item as they shop, with mixed results. For Microsoft, becoming a strategic ally to retailers has meant big business. In addition to developing retail technologies, it ranks No 2 behind Amazon in selling cloud services that are key to running e-commerce sites, for instance. It is not clear how soon Microsoft would bring an automated checkout service to market if at all, or whether its technology would be the answer retailers are looking for. But some see the technology as the next big innovation in the shopping, one that Amazons competitors cannot afford to ignore. This is the future of checking out for convenience and grocery stores, said Gene Munster, head of research at Loup Ventures in Minneapolis. The venture capital firm estimates the US market for automated checkout is worth $50 billion. Cashier is one of the most commonly held jobs in the United States. Microsoft said it does not comment on rumours or speculation. Walmart and Amazon declined to comment. Expensive equipment Microsofts effort to date has largely fallen under its Business AI, or artificial intelligence, team, one person said. A group consisting of 10 to 15 people has worked on a host of retail store technologies, and they have presented some of their efforts in front of CEO Satya Nadella, the person said. In a meeting with the team several months ago, Nadella recommended an intelligent edge device that could manage connected gadgets such as cameras on site with minimum data transfers to the cloud, which would cut down on costs, said the person. Making its technology cheap enough so it does not eviscerate grocers already thin profit margins is a major challenge for Microsoft, another person said. Microsoft already showcases the basics for automated checkout at its Retail Experience Center in Redmond. It has half a dozen partners, including Redmond-based AVA Retail, that are building their own checkout-free or related services atop Microsofts cloud, some of the people said. Sales of partners services result in cloud revenue for Microsoft, along with insight into the market for new retail technologies. Meanwhile, Microsofts internal team, including a computer vision specialist hired from Amazon Go, has worked on attaching cameras to shopping carts to track customers items. And it has studied novel ways for smartphones to play a role in the shopping experience, people said. Still, the industry is playing catch-up to Amazon. The company spent four years building Amazon Go in secret, before launching an employee-only pilot on its Seattle campus in 2016. It collected data for nearly 14 months more before opening the doors to its first Seattle store. Amazon has said it has no plans to introduce checkout-free technology to its Whole Foods Market grocery chain, which it acquired last year. The company is still hard at work improving the service. Amazon vice president Dilip Kumar told Reuters in an interview earlier this year that the company is training computers to identify items or activities with as little information as possible. Its a really hard problem, said Scott Jacobson, managing director of Madrona Venture Group, adding its one that Amazon is uniquely positioned to solve. tech2 News Staff Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with beneficiaries of the government's flagship 'Digital India' program via the NaMo app and on the BJP website at 9.30 am on 15 June. After similar interactions with beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana (PMJAY) and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) through video conferencing, this was the fourth such instance of Modi's interaction. Digital India was a programme that was launched by the current government on 1 July, 2015 to digitally empower the country. The major objectives of this programme include the development of a secure and stable digital infrastructure, digital literacy and delivering government services digitally, among other things. Modi spoke about the importance of the Common Service Centres which have given rise to many village-level entrepreneurs, the importance of setting up BPOs in small towns and villages and the relevance of the MyGov app and how it's helping citizens be part of government initiatives. Modi also touched upon the progress brought about by mobile manufacturing units and setting up of the National Knowledge Networks. While speaking about each of these Digital India initiatives, Modi also spoke to people from across the country via video-conferencing. Speaking about the importance of e-learning and online education, Modi said, "Students in villages and small towns are no longer limited to physical books. Using ebooks and digital libraries set up using Bharat Net or by accessing the WiFi Choupal services offered by the CSCs, students can benefit a lot. Also, a student no longer has to be dependent on the school for scholarship money, the money is directly sent to their bank accounts. This has become possible via the digital revolution." He even spoke of how the digital revolution has cut across class and caste barriers and has provided a level-playing field for everyone. "Couple of years ago, it was unthinkable for those living in villages to not leave their home for booking a railway ticket. But now, you can book long-distance train tickets from your mobile phone, sitting at your home. Even for things like paying electricity bills or water bills and other things, you do not need to visit a government office and wait in long queues." Common Service Centres Modi spoke at length with the entrepreneurs who are running over 3 lakh CSCs all over India. CSCs are meant to provide digital infrastructure as a utility to citizens, enable e-governance, provide services on demand and act as a digital empowerment hub for citizens. Jitendra Solanki from Gautam Buddha Nagar CSC in the state of Uttar Pradesh started his centre with just one computer and has now acquired 15 computers in three years. "Bharat Net via CSC Wi-Fi Choupal has addressed a lot of our woes. Girls in villages now have fibre to the home connection which helps them with their studies, so that they do not have to travel far and wide to access educational material. My village is now a Digital Village where the 4,000 villagers make ample use of the CSC for governmental and non-governmental services. We have digitally educated 250 citizens." Misbah Hashmi from the Yamuna Nagar CSC in Haryana was also thankful for the opportunity provided by the CSC scheme of the Digital India program. This helped her to set up her own centre in lieu of a stable government job. "CSC has given me a new identity. I have been invited to national and international events due to my CSC work. My CSC has also become a case study in management schools," said Hashmi. Hashmi has helped around 10,000 villagers get access to govt as well as non-govt related services to do with banking, insurance and even telemedicine. Around 1,000 people have been educated with the basics of computing and internet, she says. Modi commended Hashmi for the work she has been doing at her CSC, especially around the field of telemedicine. "I would advise all the CSC centres to make complete use of the telemedicine facility. It really helps young women in our society to address their health issues, which may not be always easily accessible. I am impressed with the work you are doing for social change and I congratulate you for that, Ms Hashmi." One of the beneficiaries of the CSC in Haryana, Veenu, works as a domestic help at three houses. But thanks to Digital Payments and the BHIM app, she no longer feels the need to carry any cash, which gives her a sense of freedom and security. In the Gondia CSC in Maharashtra, Shanta Galia, who is a daily wage labourer waxed eloquent about the digital payments initiative. "I am a daily wage labourer from a BPL family. I used to work for five days and to get my wages, I had to travel around 25 km to Gondia. Since CSC has come to my village, I work six days and in the evening I withdraw money from the CSC centre. This saves a lot of my time, and I can work one day extra and get paid for it. There is no money lost with the middlemen." In the CSC centre in the Bansur area of Rajasthan, which itself is run by a 12th-grade pass called Snehalata, Modi was impressed by the story of Poonam Sapera, who belongs to a nomadic tribe. Studying in her second year of Bachelor of Arts, Sapera used the CSC Wi-Fi Choupal to become digitally literate. She said she makes use of the internet to search for jobs around her village. Snehalata, who leads the CSC, said that the centre had managed to educate even people from nomadic tribes and get them into the mainstream system. "They have made their ration and Aadhaar cards as well. They are even making use of the benefits offered by government schemes. So in some cases, even though people don't have a roof over their head, they have a gas connection." On NaMo app and RuPay At a lot of CSC centres, people mentioned the NaMo app. At the Rajasthan CSC centre, Snehalata told the PM that most of the villagers are avid users of the app and follow Modi's every move there. They are impressed when Modi goes abroad and talks on issues of development. Modi thanked everyone for using the NaMo app and assured them that he goes through all the feedback posted on the app, which helps him with ideas. Modi urged citizens to start using RuPay as it has caused a "revolution" in the digital payments space, according to him. "Today we have 50 cr Rupay cards in use, not just in India but even abroad. Recently, I used a RuPay card in Singapore to purchase some things, and it worked fine. The benefit of using RuPay card is that all the transaction fees and money stays within India. And this can then be used for work which is socially beneficial. By using a RuPay card you can, in your own way, help in the progress of the nation." "When I spoke about digital payments, people made a lot of fun of me. They used to say nasty things behind my back. But today, when a domestic help is making digital payments, it's a slap across the faces of those who tried to pull me down. You have seen how technology has transformed lives. There is no need for a middleman to make payments. There is a lot of resistance still and a lot of people will continue to say negative things, as they have vested interests. But the progress shall not stop," said Modi. Taking Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) to villages Another sector that Modi touched upon was BPOs. The India BPO Promotion Scheme (IBPS) has been approved under Digital India Programme to incentivise BPO/ITES Operations across the country (excluding certain Cities and the States in North East Region (NER)), for the creation of employment opportunities for youths and growth of IT-ITES Industry. According to Modi, this scheme's objective was to ensure that citizens don't leave their home-towns to pursue similar jobs in other states. Investments to the tune of Rs 550 cr have already been sanctioned by the government and it is expected to add 2 lakh people to the workforce. Tenzin Loma, a BCA Diploma who hails from Kohima in Nagaland, worked at Adobe in Bengaluru. But due to his parents' health situation, he had to shift back to Kohima. He took up job as a school teacher, which wasn't really exciting him or doing any justice to his education. Thanks to the BPO Infinity Informatic centre, which was partly financed by the IBPS scheme, Loma is now working in Kohima as a technical staff member. He loves the work environment and the fact that he does not have to change cities for this job. This BPO serves clients in the US, UK and Australia and has around 113 employees in Kohima. In Patna, the Call2Connect BPO enables young women such as Khusbu Kumari, who is completing her graduation, to work as well. "This job has boosted my self-confidence and I take a train to work in Patna. The BPO addresses Indian clients in four languages Hindi, Maithili, Bhojpuri and English, and I am proficient with work involving the Hindi and Maithili languages," said Kumari. In Tamil Nadu, Suresh set up iMarque Solutions in Mayliduthurai, which is his hometown and has a population of 90,000. "There is a lot of talent available here, but people always went to Bengaluru and Chennai, as these major cities had all the job opportunities. The IBPS scheme gives a lot of incentives. There are 450 workers, around 90 percent are women who are from local communities. We employ graduates, postgraduates and even engineers. We handle domestic clients in languages such as Tamil, Hindi, English, Telugu and Kannada. For international clients, we only do data processing, healthcare data mining, digital processes," said Suresh. Importance of Electronics manufacturing Modi spoke about the importance of electronics manufacturing in the country. "In 2014, there were only two assembling plants in the country. Now we have over 120 of them and this has resulted in providing jobs to lakhs of Indians. Just like we need to develop human resources, we also need to worry about hardware. So let us speak to some people associated with the manufacturing sector as well," he said. Speaking to the PM, staff from a mobile manufacturing unit in Noida, UP, thanked Modi for putting the 'Make in India' program on a fast track. Avishek, hailing from the Mirpur district in Himachal Pradesh, had studied ITI in electronics and mechanics. "I have been working at this plant since the last three years. It has empowered me to earn enough to take care of my father, who is paralysed and bedridden. This initiative also gives a lot of youngsters like me to work in the core sectors, that they have studied in," said Avishek. "It's good to hear these success stories from you. But you should not limit yourself to just working for your companies. You should never let the hunger for innovation die. You have a lot to offer to the world and the competition is so high that only innovative products which add value to our lives win out. You may have seen how the pace of innovation is so quick, so you have to be aware of the tough competition and you should use that to your advantage," said Modi. Modi also spoke about the Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC) and the benefits that they will bring to many states. "We want to give more importance to electronic manufacturing and to that effect under the EMC scheme, we are establishing 23 EMCs in 15 states. This is expected to bring jobs to over 6 lakh people," said Modi. National Knowledge Network (NKN) The National Knowledge Network is a high-speed gigabit network and an important factor in the Digital India plan, which connects close to 1,700 educational and research institutes, said Modi. "NKN has empowered over 5,000 professionals and researchers by giving them this powerful platform. In addition to this, NKN is also connected to National Data Centre (NDC) and State Data Centre (SDC) as well as many government organisations," said Modi. The National Centre for Medium Range Forecast network has the ability to forecast weather for 10 days and it uses dynamic modelling for this purpose. Speaking to Modi, the centre thanked the government for providing the NKN to enable accurate results. The network also lets the organisation collect around 200 GB worth of data per day from international satellites to help in modelling and making accurate predictions. These insights are then shared with many other institutes such as the Indian Meterological Department (IMD), which helps them with their work as well. NKN has also improved our data speeds from 45 Mbps to 10 Gbps. Modi also urged the centre to connect with avenues where weather predictions are made based on intuition, such as by farmers or fishermen, who just know by looking at the skies or the seas how the weather will turn out. He said that combining both of these energies will prove to be beneficial. Closing points Modi finally spoke about the importance of the MyGov app and how it has become a means to get regular citizens to engage with the government. "The new generation is giving us new and fresh ideas which addresses a lot of our concerns. Over 60 lakh volunteers are associated with MyGov. It has become a citizen government of sorts. The crowdsourced model of taking into consideration inputs given by the citizens to the respective ministries and getting issues resolved is working really well. The central govt takes into consideration all the feedback and even taglines for a lot of the programs have been crowdsourced. Even the feedback on my radio program 'Mann Ki Baat' is given through this platform," said Modi. Modi ended on the note that Digital India is empowering the lives of crores of Indians and will continue to do so. He said that the 4E's Education, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Empowerment will always be addressed through Digital India initiatives. "I thank you for listening to me today, but I would like to say that I expect a lot from the CSC. On 20th June, at 9.30 am, I will speak to the farmers of our country. And I want each CSC to have at least 50-100 farmers in their centres to listen to this conversation. I will speak about the developments in the farming sector and I would also like to listen to their feedback. I am happy with the transformation in the country which is being brought about by technology, and I would congratulate all of you," said Modi. tech2 News Staff Xiaomi has updated its Xiaomi Ecosystem product list with few new launches in India. The new products launched in India includes Mi Rollerball Pen, Mi Pillow, I-Love-Mi T-shirt and a Mi Band 2 cable/charger. All the products launched are priced under Rs 1,000 and are available on the official website of the company. I-Love-Mi T-shirt is available in three colours including black, white and gray. The black, gray and white coloured t-shirts are available in sizes including small (S), medium (M), large (L) and extra large (XL). According to Xiaomi, the t-shirt is made up of 95 percent cotton and 5 percent spandex. All the t-shirts are priced at Rs 399. The next product launched is Mi Travel U-Shaped Pillow which is available at a price tag of Rs 999. It comes in two colour variants of Mixed Beige and Mixed Gray. According to the Xiaomi the pillow is made Indian cotton, natural latex and a fastener imported from Japan. The Mi Rollerball Pen launched by Xiaomi is priced at Rs 179 and is available in white and black colours. The pen comes with Japanese quick-dry black ink, 9.5 mm grip for comfort and 120 degree retractable twist. The refills of the pen can be purchased separately. The Mi Band 2 charger launched is priced at Rs 129. Digital wallet app Freecharge is offering a discount of up to Rs 100 (10 percent) on the purchase of the product. Family said that Will Nguyen was beaten over the head and dragged into the back of a police truck after police moved to break up the protest in Ho Chi Minh City. Hanoi: An American-Vietnamese citizen has been detained in Vietnam after joining a protest over a controversial draft law on special economic zones that protesters fear would favor Chinese investors. Family and friends said in a statement that Will Nguyen was beaten over the head and dragged into the back of a police truck after police moved to break up the protest on Sunday in Ho Chi Minh City. The statement issued on Thursday said Nguyen was taken to a police station, but his current health condition and whereabouts are unknown. Vietnams Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said that Nguyen was being held for disturbing public order. The US Embassy in Hanoi said in a statement that it was aware of media reports that a US citizen had been detained and said it would offer assistance. It declined further comment, citing privacy concerns. The statement from his friends and family said Nguyen was visiting Vietnam ahead of his graduation from a masters degree program at the University of Singapore. A video from the protests shows Nguyen with blood on his face and being dragged by a group of men. He is later shown standing on the bed of a police pick-up truck. Hang said that there was no use of force and that consular visits were being arranged. Demonstrations against the proposed law took place on Sunday throughout the country. State media have reported that police in the south-central province of Binh Thuan had initially detained more than 200 people for disturbing public order, most were released after committing not to repeat their actions, but 12 remain in police custody for questioning. The National Assembly on Monday voted to delay passage of the legislation until the next session in October to allow more research. Donald Trump was due to unveil a final list of Chinese imports that would face punishing tariffs, fanning fears of a trade war with Beijing Washington: US president Donald Trump on Friday was due to unveil a final list of Chinese imports that would face punishing tariffs, fanning fears of a trade war as Beijing warned that it could swiftly strike back. The threat of massive duties on billions of dollars of goods sent Shanghai stocks to their lowest level since September 2016, though it remained uncertain whether Trump would hold fire as part of a negotiating strategy. The deadline to release the list comes as Washington faces a dizzying array of parallel diplomatic horse trading, as Trump is increasingly dependent on Beijing to help advance efforts at North Korean denuclearisation, while also using aggressive trade tactics on all major US economic partners. The president's trade team, including senior officials from the Commerce and Treasury departments, were due to gather Thursday at the White House to finalise the list of Chinese goods on the hit list. A report in the The Wall Street Journal quoting sources close to the matter said Thursday evening the list had been approved and would affect about $50 billion worth of goods, the same figure that was first announced in March. China has pledged any tariffs will void progress made in recent trade talks between Beijing and Washington and has drawn up its own list of $50 billion in US goods to target. "If the US side adopts unilateral protectionist measures and damages China's interests, we will immediately react and take necessary measures to firmly safeguard our legitimate rights and interests," foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said in Beijing. "All the results from the negotiations will not go into effect," Geng repeated. Trump has frequently reversed course, threatening and then backing away, or vice versa, but he has appeared determined to take a hard line with Beijing. "What we're seeing here is a bargaining process in which the Trump team has found that by continuing to put pressure on China, the offers have become better and better," said Dennis Wilder, head of a Georgetown University program on US-China relations. "My guess is that the Trump administration will announce but not implement. They want to give the Chinese a little more time," the former senior CIA official for East Asia told AFP. The confrontation with China began in March when Trump announced 25 percent tariffs on about $50 billion in Chinese goods to punish the country against the theft and forced transfer of American technologies and know-how. China immediately threatened to retaliate on $50 billion in US goods, so Trump upped the ante, vowing to hit another $100 billion of goods. A preliminary list of about 1,300 Chinese export goods was released in April by US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, with about 70 percent of the goods coming from categories covering nuclear reactors, electrical machinery and optical equipment. A mystified Beijing However, the list was due to be trimmed after a public comment period to reduce the negative impact on US companies and consumers, so the final total is not confirmed. CNBC reported Thursday Trump officials planned to winnow that list to between 800 and 900 goods. It was also unclear when the tariffs would take effect. The White House said last month the final list would be unveiled on 15 June, with the duties to be imposed "shortly thereafter." Analysts say that repeated about-faces and turmoil among US officials during trade talks have left Chinese officials unsure of Trump's goals or which of the several senior emissaries from Trump's Cabinet actually has the power to seal a deal. "I think the Chinese have been mystified by what the administration wants," said Nicholas Lardy, an expert on the Chinese economy at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Trump has moved to save the Chinese telecommunications giant ZTE from US sanctions imposed in April that brought it the verge of collapse, sparking outrage from congressional Republicans. Last month the White House effectively declared a truce in the trade hostilities with China, before deciding weeks later to press ahead with tariffs. Analysts say the tariffs that Washington is preparing are a pittance when compared to the size of the world's two largest economies limiting their power to bend Beijing to Trump's will. But others worry about the sign it sends, and the potential to damage the world economy. Trump faces competing objectives in pursuing a North Korean deal while seeking comprehensive economic concessions from China, which might loosen the economic pressure on Pyongyang if Washington presses too far. "We're asking them to completely change who they are and we're shaking this little stick in front of them," said Derek Scissors, an expert on the Chinese economy at the American Enterprise Institute. "I'm a China-basher on trade," he told AFP, but added: "I don't see why we're imposing $50 billion worth of tariffs on China. It's not going to do any good." BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's interior minister has dismissed the head of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), which is mired in a scandal over irregularities in making asylum decisions, a spokesman said on Friday. BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's interior minister has dismissed the head of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), which is mired in a scandal over irregularities in making asylum decisions, a spokesman said on Friday. The decision by Horst Seehofer, leader of the Bavaria-based Christian Social Union (CSU), comes at the height of dispute over immigration that threatens to splinter Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative bloc. Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) and CSU sister party are at odds over how to tackle the issue of migrants, which is also causing strain among members of the European Union. BAMF chief Jutta Cordt had come under criticism after an internal review by BAMF of 4,568 asylum rulings had found that the Bremen branch knowingly and regularly disregarded legal regulations and internal rules. The Interior Ministry spokesman said Seehofer had informed Cordt on Wednesday of his decision to dismiss her. A replacement for the head of BAMF, which is overseen by the ministry, will be announced soon, he added. The BAMF press office could not be reached for comment. The decision was first reported by Spiegel magazine. The dispute between the CSU and CDU threatens the future of Merkel's government three months after it took office in a coalition with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD). Merkel wants to find a European solution to the migration issue in the two weeks ahead of a June 28-29 EU summit. But the CSU does not want to wait and is urging Germany to take unilateral action. Seehofer, whose party faces an election in Bavaria in October, wants Germany to refuse entry to migrants who have already registered in countries further south, a plan that Merkel opposes. As a compromise, the CDU proposes turning away at the border migrants who have already applied for asylum and been rejected. The CDU also suggests forging bilateral deals to make it possible to send back people who have already applied for asylum in another EU country. (Reporting by Thomas Seythal and Thorsten Severin; Writing by Joseph Nasr; Editing by Alison Williams) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A Turkish woman is under arrest in Israel on suspicion of security offences, an Israeli official said on Thursday. The 27-year-old is 'suspected of endangering national security and contacts with terrorist organisations,' the official told Reuters. The official declined to elaborate on the circumstances of the woman's arrest or whether she had been assigned a lawyer ahead of any court proceedings JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A Turkish woman is under arrest in Israel on suspicion of security offences, an Israeli official said on Thursday. The 27-year-old is "suspected of endangering national security and contacts with terrorist organisations," the official told Reuters. The official declined to elaborate on the circumstances of the woman's arrest or whether she had been assigned a lawyer ahead of any court proceedings. Turkish Anadolu Agency quoted a lawyer for the woman as saying she was suspected of affiliation with a terrorist organisation. The report said the woman was arrested by Israeli police at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Relations between Israel and Turkey have often been tense in the past few years. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has been a vocal critic of Israel's policy towards the Palestinians, an issue that resonates with many Turks, including the nationalist and religious voters who form the base of his support. Turkey holds an election on June 24. (Reporting by Dan Williams; Editing by Andrew Heavens) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Moscow criticised Norway's plans to ask Washington to double the number of US troops stationed in the country and deploy them nearer the border with Russia Oslo: Moscow on Friday criticised Norway's plans to ask Washington to double the number of US troops stationed in the Scandinavian country and deploy them nearer the border with Russia. The plans "cause us serious concern," Russia's embassy in Norway wrote on its Facebook page. Before joining NATO in 1949, Norway allayed Russian fears by pledging not to open its territory to foreign combat troops so long as it was not attacked or threatened with attack. The stationing of US troops in Norway "contravenes the Norwegian decision from 1949. This makes Norway less predictable, can stoke tensions, incite an arms race and lead to a destabilisation of the situation in northern Europe," the embassy wrote. But the Pentagon said Russia had no grounds for concern. "Norwegian and Allied forces are training to defend Norway's territory, and pose no threat to Russia," Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon said, adding that the US presence complied with Norway's policy on the stationing of foreign troops. The policy "does not preclude Allied exercises and training in Norway," he said in a statement. Oslo's announcement came after nine nations along NATO's eastern flank last week called for the alliance to bolster its presence in their region. Since 2017, 330 US Marines have been deployed on rotation at Vaernes in the centre of Norway, despite loud protests from Russia. Oslo now wants to boost the troop numbers to 700 and station them further north at Setermoen, 420 km from Russia. The US deployment agreement would also be extended from the current six-month renewable periods to five years. "The defence of Norway depends on the support of our NATO allies, as is the case in most other NATO countries," said defence minister Frank Bakke-Jensen in a statement. "For this support to work in times of crises and war, we are totally dependent on joint training and exercises in times of peace," he added. Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia on Friday had called for NATO to discuss an increased military presence in their region at next month's leaders' summit in Brussels. The group said it was necessary to supplement NATO's current ground forces "with aerial and naval components." NATO beefed up defences in central and eastern Europe in response to growing fears about Russia, following Moscow's annexation of Crimea in 2014. Norway has insisted that it is respecting its 1949 commitment, noting that the troop presence is not permanent but rotational. But Moscow rejected that argument "Even if the actual people are rotated, the stationing is continuous," it said. Russia also expressed "concern" that the "plans were agreed in Oslo without any real bilateral political dialogue." The strike comes amid a seven-day ceasefire between the Afghan Taliban and government security forces to allow Afghan citizens to observe the last days of Ramazan and Eid peacefully. Washington: Mullah Fazlullah, the leader of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has been apparently killed in a US drone strike in Afghanistan's Kunar province, according to an American military official. The official told the Voice of America on Thursday that the strike on Wednesday targeted Fazlullah. Locals in the area also confirmed the death. "US forces conducted a counter-terrorism strike on 13 June in Kunar province, close to the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which targeted a senior leader of a designated terrorist organisation," a spokesman for US Forces-Afghanistan, Army Lt. Col. Martin O'Donnell, also told the Voice of America, without specifying that Fazlullah was the target. Pentagon officials declined to comment on the development. US officials said Fazlullah directed numerous high-profile attacks against American and Pakistani targets since he was appointed the group's leader in 2013, including the December 2014 attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar that killed 151 people. Fazlullah is also accused of ordering the 2012 attempted assassination of Malala Yousafzai, who had been advocating for the right of girls to have access to an education. The US State Department offered a $5 million reward for Fazlullah in March, the same month Pakistani sources said his son was killed in an American drone strike on a TTP training facility. The strike comes amid a seven-day ceasefire between the Afghan Taliban and government security forces to allow Afghan citizens to observe the last days of Ramazan and Eid peacefully. By Rupam Jain and Jibran Ahmad KABUL/PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistani Taliban leader Mullah Fazlullah has been killed in a U.S.-Afghan air strike in Afghanistan, a senior Afghan Defence Ministry official said on Friday, a killing likely to ease tension between the United States and Pakistan. By Rupam Jain and Jibran Ahmad KABUL/PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistani Taliban leader Mullah Fazlullah has been killed in a U.S.-Afghan air strike in Afghanistan, a senior Afghan Defence Ministry official said on Friday, a killing likely to ease tension between the United States and Pakistan. An official at the NATO-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan confirmed Fazlullah was killed on Thursday. The U.S. military said earlier in Washington it had carried out a strike aimed at a senior militant figure in the eastern Afghan province of Kunar, which is on the Pakistani border, and one U.S. official said the target was believed to have been Fazlullah. Fazlullah was Pakistan's most-wanted militant, notorious for attacks including a 2014 school massacre that killed 132 children and the 2012 shooting of schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai, who was later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. "I confirm that Mullah Fazlullah, leader of the Pakistani Taliban, has been killed in an joint air operation in the border area of Marawera district of Kunar province," Mohammad Radmanish, spokesman for Afghan defence ministry, told Reuters, adding the air strike was carried out at about 9 a.m. on Thursday. U.S. Forces-Afghanistan spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Martin O'Donnell said U.S. forces conducted a "counterterrorism strike" which targeted "a senior leader of a designated terrorist organisation". "U.S. Forces-Afghanistan and NATO-led Resolute Support forces continue to adhere to ... Afghanistan's unilateral ceasefire with the Afghan Taliban," O'Donnell said. The government announced the ceasefire last week and it took effect this week. "...as previously stated, the ceasefire does not include U.S. counterterrorism efforts against (Islamic State and al Qaeda) and other regional and international terrorist groups, or the inherent right of U.S. and international forces to defend ourselves if attacked. "We hope this pause leads to dialogue and progress on reconciliation and a lasting end to hostilities." Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced a ceasefire lasting until June 20 but on Friday suggested it could be extended. 'MULLAH RADIO' Fazlullah's death could ease strained ties between Islamabad and Washington even as Afghanistan observes an unprecedented three-day ceasefire with the larger Afghan Taliban. Pakistan is considered key to persuading Afghan Taliban leaders, who Washington believes shelter on Pakistani soil, to open negotiations to end the 17-year-old war in Afghanistan. Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman did not reply to requests for comment on Friday, nor did the official military spokesman. A retired Pakistani Brigadier, Mehmood Shah, welcomed the drone killing. "This attack shows that there is now an inclination in U.S policy towards Pakistan, which could further improve the security situation," Shah said Pakistan's Hum News TV. In March, the United States offered a $5 million reward for information on Fazlullah. A member of the Pakistani Taliban told Reuters by telephone on Friday the group was trying to get word from Afghanistan, where most of the Pakistani Taliban fighters are now based. Fazlullah emerged as an Islamist leader in the Swat Valley, northwest of the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, more than a decade ago. He was known as "Mullah Radio" for his fiery sermons broadcast over a radio channel. He was reviled in Pakistan for the 2014 assault on an army-run school in the city of Peshawar in which Pakistani Taliban gunmen killed at least 132 children. He is also believed to have ordered the 2012 shooting of then-15-year-old Malala Yousafzai over her advocacy of girls' education. The Pakistani Taliban have waged a decade-long insurgency seeking to establish a harsh interpretation of Islamic rule but most of their fighters have now fled to Afghanistan. They are separate from the Afghan Taliban who ruled Afghanistan for five years before being ousted in a 2001 U.S.-led military action. Washington and Kabul accuse Pakistan of harbouring Afghan Taliban and the allied Haqqani network, which Islamabad denies. Islamabad says the Pakistani Taliban maintain sanctuaries in Afghanistan. (Additional reporting by Qadir Sediqi in Kabul and Ahmad Sultan in Jalalabad; Writing by Kay Johnson and Nick Macfie; Editing by Robert Birsel) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Armenian-Russian relations are developing faster than many could expect, Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said, commenting his recent trip to Moscow. According to the PM, there are no problems in relations between Yerevan and Moscow. "The visit to Russia was successful. Our relations today are developing dynamically and faster than many could expect. There are no problems in our relations, and we all together should do whatever is possible to use the untapped potential of Armenian-Russian relations," ARKA cited Pashinyan as saying. He said that Armenian products are highly demanded in Russia and they should make every effort to increase their exports to Russia. By Christine Kim and Michael Martina SEOUL/BEIJING (Reuters) - Tough sanctions will remain on North Korea until its complete denuclearisation, the U.S. By Christine Kim and Michael Martina SEOUL/BEIJING (Reuters) - Tough sanctions will remain on North Korea until its complete denuclearisation, the U.S. secretary of state said on Thursday, apparently contradicting the North's view that the process agreed at this week's summit would be phased and reciprocal. U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un issued a joint statement after their meeting in Singapore this week that reaffirmed the North's commitment to "work toward complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula", while Trump "committed to provide security guarantees". Trump later told a news conference he would end joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises. "President Trump has been incredibly clear about the sequencing of denuclearisation and relief from the sanctions," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters after meeting South Korea's president and Japan's foreign minister in Seoul. "We are going to get complete denuclearisation; only then will there be relief from the sanctions," he said. North Korean state media reported on Wednesday that Kim and Trump had recognised the principle of "step-by-step and simultaneous action" to achieve peace and denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula. The summit statement provided no details on when North Korea would give up its nuclear weapons programme or how the dismantling might be verified. Sceptics of how much the meeting achieved pointed to the North Korean leadership's long-held view that nuclear weapons are a bulwark against what it fears are U.S. plans to overthrow it and unite the Korean peninsula. However, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the world, through the summit, had escaped the threat of war, echoing Trump's upbeat assessment of his meeting with Kim. "What's most important was that the people of the world, including those in the United States, Japan and Koreans, have all been able to escape the threat of war, nuclear weapons and missiles," Moon told Pompeo. Pompeo insisted North Korea was committed to giving up its nuclear arsenal but said it would "be a process, not an easy one". Kim understood getting rid of his nuclear arsenal needed to be done quickly and there would only be relief from stringent U.N. sanctions on North Korea after its "complete denuclearisation", Pompeo said. Moon later said South Korea would be flexible when it comes to military pressure on North Korea if it is sincere about denuclearisation. Also on Thursday, North and South Korea held their first military talks in more than a decade. The talks followed on from an inter-Korean summit in April at which Moon and Kim agreed to defuse tension and cease "hostile acts". Speaking later in the day in Beijing, Pompeo said China, Japan and South Korea all acknowledged a corner had been turned on the Korean peninsula issue, but that all three had also acknowledged sanctions remain in place until denuclearisation is complete. "China has reaffirmed its commitment to honouring the U.N. Security Council resolutions. Those have mechanisms for relief contained in them, and we agreed that at the appropriate time that those would be considered," Pompeo said, standing next to the Chinese government's top diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi. "But we have made very clear that the sanctions and the economic relief that North Korea will receive will only happen after the full denuclearisation, the complete denuclearisation of North Korea." Wang said China had consistently supported the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula but that it was impossible to solve the issue overnight. "At the same time, we believe North Korea's reasonable security concerns should be resolved." Chinese President Xi Jinping told Pompeo that he hoped the United States and North Korea could keep making unremitting efforts for a political resolution, and that China was willing to keep playing a constructive role in this process, a foreign ministry statement said. 'EVERYBODY MUCH SAFER' The United States has long insisted on complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation by North Korea. But the summit statement reference to North Korea committing to work towards the complete denuclearisation of the peninsula has used been by North Korea in the past to include a U.S. nuclear umbrella in the region, and echoes promises it has failed to keep. "They made real commitments to denuclearise. Each of them. And President Trump made a commitment that he would provide security assurances that were commensurate with that," Pompeo said in Beijing. "Those are firm commitments that the two leaders made and an understanding of the programme is a piece of what will ultimately lead to our capacity to verify that full and complete denuclearisation has actually taken place." Trump returned to the United States on Wednesday and took to Twitter to hail the meeting, the first between a sitting U.S. president and a North Korean leader, as a major win for American security. "Everybody can now feel much safer than the day I took office," Trump tweeted. "There is no longer a nuclear threat from North Korea." Democratic critics in the United States said the agreement was short on detail and the Republican president had made too many concessions to Kim, whose country is under U.N. sanctions for its nuclear and weapons programmes and is widely condemned for human rights abuses. Pompeo said Trump's comments about the reduced threat from North Korea were made "with eyes wide open". "It could be the case that our effort wont ... work but we are determined to set the conditions so that we can right this failure of decades and reset the conditions for North Korea's participation in the community of nations," Pompeo said after a trilateral meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono. MAINTAIN READINESS Japan has reacted to Trump's plan to cancel military exercises with South Korea with concern, saying the drills are vital for East Asian security. Two North Korean missiles flew over Japan last year as North Korea made rapid advances in developing a missile capable of striking the U.S. mainland with a nuclear warhead. Tokyo is working on arranging a meeting between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Kim, with one possibility being an Abe visit to Pyongyang around August, the Yomiuri newspaper reported. A Japanese government source familiar with the matter told Reuters officials aimed to discuss a summit with North Korean officials at a regional security conference in Mongolia on Thursday and Friday. Kang said South Korea and the United States shared the same goals and approach to achieving denuclearisation. "The issue of South Korea-U.S. joint exercises is one that should be discussed," Kang said. "But the issues of the alliance should be dealt with under the premise we maintain a joint ironclad defence posture." The U.S. intelligence assessment of the nuclear and other military threat posed by North Korea to U.S. and allied forces remained unchanged despite Trump's and Moon's assertions about the North Korean nuclear threat being over, a senior U.S. official responsible for studying the North Korean military said. U.S. officials said it was unclear what types of training involving U.S. and South Korean troops might cross into Trump's now forbidden zone of "war games". But big, joint U.S.-South Korean exercises appeared off-limits under the new guidance. "Make no mistake, we are going to maintain the readiness of our forces in South Korea," said one U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official acknowledged, however, it was still not certain how that was going to happen. The Pentagon said U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis spoke with his South Korean counterpart on Thursday and in a phone call discussed how they would work together to meet Trump's guidance on joint military exercises. Mattis also spoke with his Japanese counterpart, Itsunori Onodera, and a Pentagon statement after the call said: The United States reaffirmed its ironclad defence commitments to Japan and its determination to maintain the readiness of its forces in the region. The United States maintains about 28,500 soldiers in South Korea, which remains in a technical state of war with the North after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom and Christine Kim in SEOUL; Additional by Josh Smith and Hyonhee Shin in SEOUL, Yoshifumi Takemoto and Chang-Ran Kim in TOKYO, Ben Blanchard in BEIJING and Phil Stewart in WASHINGTON; Editing by Robert Birsel and James Dalgleish) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The row heightens the chance of a stinging defeat for May over the EU Withdrawal Bill in the coming weeks ahead of a crunch summit of European leaders in Brussels on 28 June London: Pro-European lawmakers in Britain on Thursday branded as "unacceptable" a compromise amendment to prime minister Theresa May's flagship Brexit legislation, casting fresh doubt on her fraught EU exit strategy. May avoided a major blow Tuesday after MPs rejected a plan that would have given parliament a veto on any deal with Brussels and removed her power to leave the bloc without an agreement. She won over would-be rebels with a pledge that the government would address their concerns about having a "meaningful vote" in the event of a no-deal scenario. But an amendment issued Thursday detailing what must happen if the withdrawal agreement or future relationship with the EU is deadlocked on 21 January, 2019, failed to appease MPs. It would give them a vote on only a "neutral" motion confirming that they have considered an unamendable statement by a minister on the issue. The document drew instant rebuke from leading pro-Remain MPs from both May's ruling Conservative party and opposition ranks. "It is unacceptable in my view," leading pro-EU Tory Dominic Grieve told Britain's Press Association. "It totally negates the point of the amendment, which was to give MPs a say." He added that the final text of the amendment, which had been tabled in the House of Lords at the last possible moment, had been changed from wording which he believed had been earlier agreed. Shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer said the amendment was "not good enough". "Theresa May has gone back on her word and offered an amendment that takes the meaning out of the meaningful vote," he added. "Parliament cannot -- and should not -- accept it." But a spokesperson for the Department for Exiting the EU insisted it had "listened" to the rebels' concerns in the amendment and given MPs the chance to vote under several different scenarios. "But this remains hypothetical and the Government is confident we will agree to a good deal with the EU which Parliament will support," it added in a statement. The row heightens the chance of a stinging defeat for May over the EU Withdrawal Bill in the coming weeks ahead of a crunch summit of European leaders in Brussels on 28 June. The legislation would formally end Britain's membership of the bloc and transfer more than 40 years of European law on to the British statute books. By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's nominee to be ambassador to South Korea on Thursday backed the idea of a 'pause' in major military exercises between U.S. and South Korean forces, while talks on North Korea's nuclear program continue. 'The whole landscape has shifted, and I believe that we should give exercises, major exercises, a pause to see if (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Un is in fact serious about his part in negotiations,' retired Admiral Harry Harris, who just stepped down as head of the U.S. By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's nominee to be ambassador to South Korea on Thursday backed the idea of a "pause" in major military exercises between U.S. and South Korean forces, while talks on North Korea's nuclear program continue. "The whole landscape has shifted, and I believe that we should give exercises, major exercises, a pause to see if (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Un is in fact serious about his part in negotiations," retired Admiral Harry Harris, who just stepped down as head of the U.S. military's Pacific Command, told a Senate hearing. Immediately after his historic summit in Singapore with Kim on Tuesday, Trump announced he would halt U.S.-South Korea military exercises, a move long sought by North Korea. Harris said his understanding was that any suspension would involve only major military exercises and that regular training of U.S. forces in South Korea would continue, although final decisions were up to the Department of Defense. "I'm convinced that our alliance commitments to South Korea remain ironclad and have not changed," he told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. On Wednesday the U.S. military was looking at ways to ensure American forces in South Korea could still be fully trained and ready. U.S. officials said it was unclear what types of training involving U.S. and South Korean troops might constitute "war games" Trump wants halted. But big, joint U.S.-South Korean exercises appeared off-limits under the new guidance. [ Trump on Wednesday hailed his meeting with Kim as having removed the North Korean nuclear threat, but Harris told the panel "I think we must continue to worry about the nuclear threat." Harris also said he believed sanctions on North Korea should stay in place while denuclearisation talks continue, echoing comments earlier on Thursday by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Pompeo, speaking in Seoul, said tough sanctions would remain until North Korea's complete denuclearisation, apparently contradicting the North's view that the process agreed at the Trump-Kim summit would be phased and reciprocal. While some Democrats on the Senate committee in particular expressed concern about the lack of specifics from Trump about the North Korean talks, the hearing was largely positive. Harris was introduced by two Democratic senators, Mazie Hirono and Bill Nelson, and both Republican and Democratic senators said during his testimony that they expected he would be confirmed. The post of ambassador in Seoul has been empty since Trump became president in January 2017, but would likely become pivotal as the United States seeks to put flesh on its broad agreement with the North. (Thi story has been refiled to correct spelling of senator's first name to "Mazie," not "Maisie.") (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Frances Kerry) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. forces working in coordination with the Libyan government carried out an air strike against an al Qaeda affiliate group southeast of Bani Walid this week, killing one fighter, U.S. military said in a statement on Thursday. U.S. forces are still assessing the results of the strike, which was undertaken in an effort to disrupt al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and deny the organisation's fighters freedom of action, U.S. Africa Command said. It did not identify the slain fighter. It said no civilians were killed in the attack on Wednesday, which took place about 50 miles (80 km) southeast of Bani Walid, which is about 100 miles (160 km) southeast of Tripoli. The attack was the second against al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in recent months. A U.S. strike on March 24 killed Musa Abu Dawud, a high-ranking member of the group, the military said. (Reporting by David Alexander, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. LONDON (Reuters) - The United States has charged five Russians and three Syrians with breaking U.S. sanctions by sending jet fuel to Syria and with money laundering by making money transfers through the U.S. financial system to pay for the fuel deliveries LONDON (Reuters) - The United States has charged five Russians and three Syrians with breaking U.S. sanctions by sending jet fuel to Syria and with money laundering by making money transfers through the U.S. financial system to pay for the fuel deliveries. In an indictment handed up by a grand jury in the District Court for the District of Columbia, the United States said the defendants used petroleum tankers Mukhalatka and Yaz, owned by Transpetrochart, a Russia-based company, to ship jet fuel to Syria. Reuters was unable to immediately contact the defendants. "The U.S. sanctions on Syria and Crimea thwart Syrias support of terrorism and its pursuit and use of weapons of mass destruction," U.S. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers said in a statement. Reuters reported in November that Russian tankers had smuggled jet fuel to Syria through EU waters, bolstering military supplies to a war-torn country where Moscow was carrying out air strikes in support of the government. (https://reut.rs/2LPCPF7) In the November story, Reuters reported that the Yaz and Mukhalatka delivered jet fuel to Syria. The indictment, published on Tuesday, said Mukhalatka had unloaded thousands of metric tonnes of jet fuel in Syria's Port Banias. It also said the Yaz had delivered jet fuel to the Syrian port. The defendants engaged in U.S. dollar transactions to deliver jet fuel to Syria in violation of U.S. sanctions, the indictment said. The Russian defendants were employees of Sovfracht, a Russian shipping company, the indictment said. A spokesman for Sovfracht did not answer a request for comment but earlier told the Interfax news agency that the company denied any wrongdoing. "We expect that in the end, the accusations will be removed," the Interfax news agency quoted a spokesman for the company as saying. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Andrew Heavens) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - Talks with the United States over how to reform the main U.N. rights body have failed to meet Washington's demands, activists and diplomats say, suggesting that the Trump administration will quit the Geneva forum whose session opens on Monday. By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - Talks with the United States over how to reform the main U.N. rights body have failed to meet Washington's demands, activists and diplomats say, suggesting that the Trump administration will quit the Geneva forum whose session opens on Monday. A U.S. source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the withdrawal appeared to be "imminent" but had no details. Diplomatic sources said it was not a question of if but of when the United States retreats from the Human Rights Council, which is holding a three-week session through July 6. A separate U.S. official in Geneva had no information about a looming pull-out during the upcoming talks, saying: "We are still moving ahead with our engagement for the coming session." Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, publicly told the Council a year ago that Washington might leave the body unless a "chronic anti-Israel bias" were removed. The forum, set up in 2006, has a permanent standing agenda item on suspected violations committed by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories, which Washington wants removed. Washington says the Council is stacked with opponents of Israel and boycotted it for three years under President George W. Bush before rejoining under Barack Obama in 2009. The 47-member forum last month voted to set up a probe into killings in Gaza and accused Israel of excessive use of force. The United States and Australia cast the only "no" votes. Israel's ambassador in Geneva, Aviva Raz Shechter, castigated the Council for "spreading lies against Israel". LACK OF CONSENSUS Talks held in Geneva and in New York for months could not find consensus around a new agenda, according to activists and diplomats who have taken part. While the Trump administration has yet to announce a decision, any suspension or withdrawal would be the latest U.S. rejection of multilateral engagement after pulling out of the Paris climate agreement and the deal with world powers over Iran's nuclear programme. Diplomats said it could also lead to Israel being even more isolated in the Human Rights Council and could bolster countries such as Cuba, Egypt, Pakistan and Russia who resist what they see as U.N. interference in sovereign issues. The European Union failed to find a common position, mainly due to Belgium's wish to keep Israel firmly on the agenda of each session, they said. The United States also wants to make it easier to kick off member states with egregious rights records. Haley has cited Venezuela, China and Saudi Arabia as violating standards. The Council has ongoing investigations into violations in hotspots including Myanmar, South Sudan, and Syria, with a view to gathering evidence that could lead to future prosecutions. Marc Limon, executive director of the think tank Universal Rights Group, said there were "rumours and mutterings" of a "political decision" having been taken in Washington to disengage. "They could either leave the seat empty, which could happen in June, or if withdrawing, formally notify the (U.N.) General Assembly," he told Reuters. Swiss Ambassador Valentin Zellweger said: "The decision by the Americans will have a profound impact on the Council. If they withdraw, we can expect significant consequences." The United States had long played a "leadership role" in the Council, Zellweger said, adding: "Unfortunately I agree with them that not all members fulfil the (membership) criteria." (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Alison Williams) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein has called for establishing a commission of inqury while releasing the first-ever report on alleged human rights violations in both Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The United Nations on Thursday released the first-ever report on alleged human rights violations in both Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, as it demanded an international inquiry. The UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights also asked Pakistan to end its "misuse" of anti-terror legislation to persecute peaceful activists and quash dissent. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al-Hussein called for maximum restraint and for establishing a commission of inquiry. He said, "It is also why I will be urging the UN Human Rights Council to consider establishing a commission of inquiry to conduct a comprehensive independent international investigation into allegations of human rights violations in Kashmir." Even in September last year, Zeid, in his comments at the 36th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, had criticised India on the issue of deportation of Rohingya as well as on religious intolerance and threat to rights activists. New Delhi had reacted strongly to the statement saying, it was surprised that individual incidents are being "extrapolated" to suggest a broader societal situation. Zeid has "a strong rights record," according to Human Rights Watch's executive director Kenneth Roth. The positive reactions to Zeid since he was unanimously approved as the new High Commissioner for Human Rights are based on his role in advancing the International Criminal Court and seeking to hold UN peacekeeping personnel accountable for sexual violence, according to Foreign Policy. Zeid has served as President of the United Nations Security Council, Chair of the Security Council's 1533 and 1521 committees on the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Liberia, Jordan's "Sherpa" following the Washington Summit on Nuclear Security, and Chair of the Consultative Committee for the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). He is a member of the advisory committee to "The Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation", based in The Hague, and served as a member of the World Banks Advisory Council for the 2011 World Development Report. Zeid has also served as political affairs officer in UNPROFOR in the former Yugoslavia, from 1994 to 1996. He worked with peacekeeping issues for over nineteen years, notably as one of Ban Ki-moon's five eminent experts on his "Senior Advisory Group" on the reimbursements to countries contributing troops to peacekeeping. Following allegations of widespread abuse committed by United Nations peacekeepers in 2004, Zeid was appointed by Kofi Annan as Adviser to the Secretary-General on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. 'Most prolific slaughterhouses' Zeid accused the veto-wielding members of the UN Security Council of being second only to criminals who kill and maim when it comes to responsibility for some of the world's most egregious rights violations. Zeid, while speaking to the Human Rights Council in February this year, said that Syria and other conflict zones had "become some of the most prolific slaughterhouses of humans in recent times" He denounced the "minimal action" taken even though his office has repeatedly exposed human rights violations that "should have served as a trigger for preventive action." 'Not seeking a second term' Zeid, in December last year, announced his decision to not seek a second four-year term, saying it "might involve bending a knee in supplication." In a statement to his staff, he said, "After reflection, I have decided not to seek a second four-year term, he wrote. "To do so, in the current geopolitical context, might involve bending a knee in supplication; muting a statement of advocacy; lessening the independence and integrity of my voice which is your voice." The decision came shortly after Zeid described the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel as "dangerously provocative". According to The New York Times, he has been outspoken about the Russian-backed government of Syria. He has called out the Trump administration several times, most pointedly on the travel ban against citizens of Muslim-majority countries and after the demonstrations by white supremacists in Charlottesville, the report added. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had urged Zeid to ease off his public criticism of Trump over fears that it will put US support for the UN at risk, reported Foreign Policy, which obtained the Human Rights chiefs email to staff. With inputs from agencies HANOI (Reuters) - Police in Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City on Friday issued a prosecution order for an American man of Vietnamese descent for his alleged involvement in a protest over government plans for economic zones last week, state media reported. William Anh Nguyen, born in 1985, was one of thousands of people who protested on Sunday against a draft law to develop economic zones under which land leases of up to 99 years will be offered to investors. HANOI (Reuters) - Police in Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City on Friday issued a prosecution order for an American man of Vietnamese descent for his alleged involvement in a protest over government plans for economic zones last week, state media reported. William Anh Nguyen, born in 1985, was one of thousands of people who protested on Sunday against a draft law to develop economic zones under which land leases of up to 99 years will be offered to investors. The protesters fear the leases may be snapped up by investors from powerful neighbour China, with which Vietnam has a rocky history. Nguyen was "gathering and causing trouble" in Ho Chi Minh City and was filmed on camera urging others to climb over barricades, the state-run Vietnam News Agency reported. Ho Chi Minh police said on their website on Friday that they were dealing with 310 people over the protests and that seven of them were criminal cases. It was unclear if Nguyen was one of the seven. They said initial investigations showed there were signs of political opponents and reactionary groups having incited people to protest and destabilise the security and political situation. The protests have come at a time of rising tensions over the disputed South China Sea, nearly all of which is claimed by China. Vietnam is one of several countries in the region that have claims in the South China Sea, through which an estimated $5 trillion in trade passes each year. (Reporting by Mai Nguyen; Editing by Hugh Lawson) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The police chief of one of the villages of Kobuleti, in the Georgian Adjara region, has been killed late last night. According to the neighbors, the police chief was killed by a resident of the same village, APA reported citing InterPressNews. One person has been detained for premeditated murder. Other details of the incident have been yet unknown. What happened Shares of Braskem (NYSE:BAK) rose 22% today after Brazil's largest chemical manufacturer confirmed what investors had long suspected: Talks are under way for Dutch chemicals leader LyondellBasell Industries NV (NYSE:LYB) to acquire majority control of Braskem and gain a manufacturing footprint in South America. Rumors of such talks were first reported in October 2017, but both companies denied them. Any deal hinges on agreements with Braskem's largest shareholders -- Brazilian construction company Odebrecht and/or Brazilian state-owned petroleum company Petrobras, which combine to own approximately 74% of the chemical manufacturer. Recent economic turmoil in its home country -- and a furious race at each parent company to deleverage their balance sheets -- plays into the hands of LyondellBasell. As of 1:47 p.m. EDT Friday, the stock had settled to a 19.6% gain. So what As reported by Reuters, LyondellBasell is currently in talks to acquire Odebrecht's 38.3% stake in Braskem in a combined cash and stock transaction. That alone would give the Dutch group majority control of Braskem, although it expects to approach Petrobras next to discuss acquiring the oil major's 36.1% stake in the Brazilian chemical producer. The second deal is expected to be all cash. Both Odebrecht and Petrobras could use a healthy dose of financial aid right now, as they're both actively attempting to pay down enormous debt balances. It's pretty bad at the moment. The construction conglomerate actually pledged its stake in Braskem to secure a line of credit, so creditors might have to approve any acquisition. Meanwhile, Petrobras has also been unloading non-core assets in the last two years to reduce its debt balance by tens of billions of dollars. Selling its stake in Braskem might represent the last piece of low-hanging fruit at this stage. As for Braskem, linking up with LyondellBasell could be a phenomenal development. A combination would create the world's largest producer of polypropylene and polyethylene with operations in North America, South America, and Europe. Leaving the Brazilian chemical powerhouse as a stand-alone company would significantly de-risk its growth potential, as it would be better to have one financially secure Dutch majority shareholder than two cash-strapped Brazilian majority shareholders. Now what The talks are still preliminary and no deal is guaranteed to happen, although LyondellBasell and Odebrecht are reported to be looking to reach a potential deal within two months. Braskem shareholders should be rooting for the chemical manufacturer to trade in its financially struggling parents for the Dutch leader, as financial stability would remove a lot of pressure over its growth strategy, or even efforts to deleverage its own balance sheet. Until a deal is finalized, however, all investors can do is wait. The Chinese auto market represents an enormous opportunity for investors: The value of auto-related transactions in the country is expected to grow from $23 billion last year to $89 billion by 2021. An opportunity like that is bound to attract competition, which is why it's important for any company you invest in to have a defensible moat. Bitauto (NYSE:BITA), which offers online platforms for car-sellers in China as well as transaction services to make the car-buying process smoother, is spending a lot of money today in the hopes of building that moat and capturing this huge opportunity. Financial results released by the company on Wednesday show that, while the company is still very popular in the auto industry -- demonstrated by its strong sales growth -- it is also spending hand over fist to secure that long-term advantage. Bitauto earnings: The raw numbers Before we dive into the details of Bitatuo's quarter, it's important to review the headline figures. It's also important to note that because of an accounting change, some of the results might not appear -- on the surface -- to match what the company posted during the first quarter of 2017. Metric Q1 2018 Q1 2017 Growth Revenue 2.17 billion RMB 1.43 billion RMB 52% EPS 0.88 RMB 1.09 RMB (19%) At first blush, this appears like a mixed bag: everyone loves strong growth. But if that growth doesn't lead to sustainable profitability, it doesn't mean much. For the time being, however, investors shouldn't be too worried. Selling and Administrative costs outpaced sales growth, jumping 64%. This was due to increases in marketing spend (to grab market share), credit loss provisions (which mean that the company is making more loans), and an increase in headcount. These are important investments, as they are upfront costs related to building a moat around the company. The company's new and used-car websites already benefit from the network effect, with each additional car buyer who visits the site adding incentive for car dealers themselves to sign on. But with the advent of transaction services -- primarily offered through Bitauto's subsidiary Yixin, which it owns over 40% of -- the company is building an even more powerful network effect. Yixin's platform is becoming the platform that connects auto buyers, auto dealers, financiers, and insurance agents. As more people join Yixin, more are incentivized to join. Because it plays such a large role in Bitauto's future, management released preliminary results for Yixin as well. The company: Processed over 110,000 transaction in the first quarter, and Brought in $196 million in revenue. Because it was recently spun out, it's difficult to put that growth in perspective, but consider that during the entire 2016 fiscal year, Yixin: Processed a total of 260,000 transactions, or an average of 65,000 per quarter, and Brought in $233 million in revenue -- or an average of about $58 million per quarter. While this is far from an apples-to-apple comparison, it does a solid job of highlighting the type of growth that Yixin has experienced. What else happened during the quarter? There were lots of moving pieces for Bitauto investors to digest. We'll start with the company's three main divisions, and give the results in dollars to offer context. Division Q1 2018 Q1 2017 Growth Transaction Services $187 million $93 million 101% Advertising & Subscription $126 million $108 million 16% Digital Marketing $34 million $26 million 28% Unsurprisingly, transaction services is the most important piece of the puzzle. The company also announced a major strategic partnership with Yusheng, a company that helps finance and process used auto purchases. Speaking on the development, CEO Andy Zhang said: We believe that Yixin's cooperation with and investment in Yusheng, together with support from strategic investors such as Tencent and JD.com, will enable Yusheng to increase its competitiveness more quickly and be better positioned to benefit from the growth potential of China's used automobile market. At the same time, Yusheng will give Yixin preferred cooperation rights for used car financing, which will strengthen Yixin's core competency in financed auto transactions business. In other words, Yixin -- and de facto Bitauto -- is growing its sticky car buying ecosystem in China by adding an important used-car dealer into the process. And because major players like Tencent, JD, and Baidu, Yusheng will have access to capital to help scale at a much faster rate. Bitauto also announced Yixin's 30, 60, and 90-days past due ratios -- an important measure of the quality of loans Yixin is making -- were 1.45%, 0.93%, and 0.39%, respectively. Compared to the end of 2017, the 30-day ratio improved slightly, while the 60 and 90-day ratios expanded. This will be an important metric to watch moving forward so that investors know they aren't exposed to major downside losses from Yixin's financing arm. Looking ahead Management announced that it expects revenue to come in at a mid-point of $398 million. If it can hit this target, it would represent growth of 25%. After today's earnings release, Bitauto's market cap is roughly $2.15 billion, and it trades for 48 times trailing non-GAAP earnings. It's 44.4% stake in Yixin alone is worth $1.6 billion -- though this figure could grow when trading opens in Hong Kong. What happened Shares of Genco Shipping & Trading (NYSE:GNK) are down 9.3% in Friday trading as of 12:50 p.m. EDT, as investors sell the stock hand over fist. And can you blame them? This morning, Genco confirmed that it is selling 6.1 million new shares of common stock at $16.50 per share -- roughly a 9% discount from what existing shares of Genco were worth at close of trading yesterday. So what It makes sense that investors would be unwilling to value existing shares at $18 or more when new shares can be had for just $16.50. Hence the price drop. Worse, prior to this flotation, Genco had only 34.5 million shares outstanding, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. Now it has 40.6 million shares outstanding, so however many shares that stockholders owned before the new stock issuance, they now own a 15% smaller stake in the company. That has to be disheartening. Now what But it's not all bad news. Genco isn't giving these shares away. To the contrary, management says it will reap more than $100 million in "gross proceeds" from the stock offering -- and maybe more, as the offering included a 915,000-share overallotment option that could enable Genco to sell even more shares, and raise even more money. Meanwhile, Genco Shipping remains one of the more attractive stocks in dry bulk shipping (to my mind, at least). It has a modest debt load, which means management won't have to use all this new cash to retire debt. It can deploy its new cash to buy more ships, move more cargo, and earn more profit in the years ahead. That's small comfort to investors who are smarting from today's stock price downturn, to be sure. But it's worth keeping in mind the big picture: Genco's generating good free cash flow, carrying moderate debt, and expanding its operations. If today's news is cloudy, the forecast for Genco has more than a few silver linings to it. Office Evolution Executive Honored by Workspace Association of New York LOUISVILLE, Colo. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - June 15, 2018 - Office Evolution, the nations leading shared office franchisor offering co-working space, conference rooms, private office space, phone answering and business address solutions, announced today that William L. Edmundson, IV, its Chief Operating Officer, has been honored with the Beacon Award for Excellence bestowed by the Workspace Association of New York (WANY). The Beacon Award for Excellence is a symbol of recognition presented to individuals that have consistently demonstrated a commitment to the advancement of the industry by providing loyal service, guidance and generosity to it and its members. The Workspace Association of New York, now in its 13th year, bestows awards such as The Beacon, at its annual conference in June, as part of its effort to acknowledge the many partners in our beloved industry that have given so much, and laid the foundation for todays immense success. Such recognitions have resulted in over two dozen honors such as The Beacon being awarded as part of WANYs stewardship of our industrys Legion of Honor. I am delighted to receive this prestigious honor, said William Edmundson, Chief Operating Officer of Office Evolution. The Workspace Association of New York is a terrific organization that helps to advance our industry and provide professional development opportunities. Edmundson joined Office Evolution in January 2018 and is responsible for all aspects of day-to-day operations for both franchise and company-owned locations. He has deep experience in the shared workspace and hospitality industries, having served in both senior leadership and consulting roles with several national brands. Most recently he was President and CEO of Abby Executive Suites. He also served as President of Choice Hotels Cambria Suites brand, and Vice President of Brand Performance and Support for Hilton Hotels Hampton Inns brand. He is a Board Member and Treasurer of the Global Workspace Association. About Office Evolution Founded in 2003, Office Evolution is a Colorado-based national B2B shared office franchise offering co-working spaces, virtual office services and fully furnished offices and suites. The company now has 45 open locations, 36 under development and another 58 under franchise agreements to be developed. This unprecedented growth has led to several prestigious recognitions including: a top franchise for 2018 by Franchise Business Review; ranking on the 2017 Inc. 5000 list; Entrepreneurs Franchise 500 two years in a row (2017 and 2018) and #4 on their 2017 Top New Franchises list. Visit www.officeevolution.com for more company information. About WANY The Workspace Association of New York (WANY) is an industry trade organization comprised of unified, cooperating, independent office and serviced workspace providers based in the Tri-State New York area, representing over 2 million square feet of professionally managed workspaces. WANY is the only organization in the serviced workspace Industry worldwide requiring compliance to meet Certification standards. WANY is a proud member and 3-time award-winning International Local Member Network (LMN) of the Year of the Global Workspace Association (GWA). Contact: Melodye R. Demastus Office Evolution Media Inquiries 614-579-9192 mdemastus@melroseconsulting.com SOURCE Office Evolution ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed over the phone the situation in Syria and joint steps to ensure security on the Syrian-Israeli border, the Kremlin press service said. "The sides discussed the situation in Syria in the context of joint efforts on ensuring security in the area of the Syrian-Israeli border. The two sides expressed readiness to bolster coordination on Syria, including the issues of countering international terrorism," the statement says. It was noted that Putin and Netanyahu also agreed to hold contacts at various levels. Russia's Gazprom has resumed talks with the South Korean authorities on the construction of a gas pipeline through the territory of North Korea, Deputy CEO Vitaly Markelov said. "To date, the political situation has been somewhat different, and the South Korean side has asked Gazprom to resume the project, and a series of talks has been held on this issue, and these talks are continuing," TASS cited Markelov as saying. On March 30, speaking at the energy forum in Seoul, South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa said that the improvement of the security situation on the Korean peninsula will make it possible to start the construction of a gas pipeline from Russia to South Korea via North Korea. Deputy director of energy policy of the Institute of Energy and Finances, Alexey Belogoriev, speaking to Vestnik Kavkaza, noted that the construction of a gas pipeline to South Korea through the territory of North Korea is interesting to Russia primarily as a foreign policy project. "In general, the South Korean market is attractive for Russia, because it has high gas prices, high density of consumption with developed infrastructure and prospects for growing demand. Another thing is that there is absolutely no need to supply gas there via the gas pipeline. Russia's LNG deliveries are quite profitable, although, of course, currently Gazprom does not have its own LNG export capacities and will not have them in the next few years, which is why the company has to consider the pipeline option. In addition, there is a resource problem as well, because there is potential for production growth there, but it is constrained for some reason," he pointed out. The main problem of laying the pipeline is the risk of escalation of the Korean conflict. "The current settlement is not much different from what we have seen in the previous 30 years, and there is no reason to expect that it will be long-term. In this sense we are talking about a very risky project in political terms, since capacities can stand idle for many years. They should decide who invests in the capacities - if not Gazprom, then we will be happy to participate as suppliers, but if Seoul wants to lay the pipeline at Gazprom's expense, then it will be a project with a questionable pay-off period due to geopolitical problems," Alexei Belogoriev warned. A leading analyst of the National Energy Security Fund, a lecturer at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Igor Yushkov, suggested that Gazprom announced the preservation of this project, but not about its launch. "The meeting between Trump and Kim Jong-un and North Korea's certain denuclearization is just the first step. In order to build a gas pipeline, one must be sure that there will be no escalation of the conflict, but everyone understands that the Koreans will not close its nuclear program right away, the process of normalizing relations will be rather long. In addition, in terms of the gas industry, it is much more profitable for Gazprom to supply gas to South Korea in the form of LNG, because in this case the company may chose where to carry gas from the LNG plant - to South Korea, Japan or China," he said. "In addition, we do not have an excess of gas in the Far East, on the contrary, there is a deficit, as there are no new deposits. The US imposed sanctions against the South Kirinsky offshore field, which significantly delayed its commissioning. That is, it's a big question where to get gas for Seoul. The only plus of this project is the already existing Sakhalin-Khabarovsk-Vladivostok gas pipeline. That is, the pipeline should be built only from Vladivostok to the border with North Korea. But much depends on the South Korea, especially if they are willing to buy gas at the border between Russia and North Korea. If they did not agree to do it, Gazprom will not take the risk of gas transportation on the territory of North Korea," Igor Yushkov expects. US President Donald Trump on Friday once again blamed his predecessor, former President Barack Obama, for not reacting to return of Crimea to Russia in 2014. Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump insisted that Obama was ultimately responsible for Moscow's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, because Russian President Vladimir Putin did not respect Obama or the United States. President Obama lost Crimea, just so you understand This was before I got there, Trump said. President Obama lost Crimea. Asked by a reporter to explain his accusation, Trump said: Because Putin didnt respect President Obama. President Obama lost Crimea because President Putin didnt respect President Obama, didnt respect our country and didnt respect Ukraine. On Thursday evening, Galveston Progressive Connection with representatives from the League of United Latin American Citizens led a march to oppose the separation of children from their families at the U.S. Mexico border on the seawall. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has invoked a zero-tolerance policy mandating the separation of children from parents facing prosecution at the border. Dozens of children are being separated from their parents each day. Speakers at the march urged attendees to call their representatives as much as possible and to vote in the mid-term elections in November. Close The Turkish military said air strikes its forces carried out killed 26 Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants in northern Iraqs Qandil mountain region on June 12. Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said today that Turkish security forces discovered a huge ammunition cache belonged to the PKK group, Anadolu reported. Candidate for PMs position Mamuka Bakhtadze vows Georgia to become united, European country - GeorgianJournal Mozilla is working on releasing a Voice-controlled web browser named Scout News oi-Sandeep Sarkar Mozilla has introduced Scout' browser in its recently held all-hands meeting for employees in San Francisco. We all would agree to the fact the Google Chrome is one of the best available web browsers out there. Even though the browser has some rivals such as Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge it is still leading the market when it comes to web browsers. However, it seems that Mozilla is catching up slowly; the company has seen some success with its recently released Firefox Quantum browser. The Firefox Quantum give the Chrome a tough beat on certain parameters and with new improved features like enhanced privacy tools and downloading speeds the browser will surely have an increased user base. Now, it is being reported that Mozilla is working towards a new project name Scout. Scout is said to be a web browser for the future, as it makes use of voice commands for navigation, searching, and for even reading content instead of using the traditionally used mouse, keyboards, and mobile touch inputs. Mozilla has introduced 'Scout' browser in its recently held all-hands meeting for employees in San Francisco. In an internal circular Mozilla mentions that"With the Scout app, we start to explore browsing and consuming content with voice". The details related to the availability are not still clear as the Scout browser is still a 'pilot stage project'. Also, a Mozilla spokesperson quoted to CNET that "We use our internal All Hands conference to come together so we can plan and build for the future. We look forward to discussing these efforts publicly when they are further developed". The topics which were discussed during the all-hands conference included a circular which mentions 'architecture and key components needed for a voice platform, the required capabilities of those components and the challenges of working with the limitations and confines of existing platforms'. Mozilla Scout browser is speculated to set new benchmarks for accessibility with the introduction of an intuitive and reliable method for exploring the web instead of relying on virtual assistants. This is because even though the virtual-assistant is smart it still needs to catch up a lot to be as functional as the web browsers in terms of searching the content on the web. 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 Turkish jets "neutralized 26 PKK terrorists including a senior member as part of counterterrorism operations in northern Iraq, the military said Friday, Anadolu agency reported. Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured. In a statement, the Turkish General Staff said the fighter jets had conducted airstrikes targeting the terror group on June 12 in Qandil region. TCS Approves Share Buyback Of Rs. 16,000 crore At Rs. 2,100 Per Share Business oi-Roshni Agarwal TCS in its board meet today has approved a share buyback of up to 76.1 million shares or 1.99% of the total paid-up equity not exceeding Rs. 16,000 crore. The shares will be repurchased back by the IT bellwether at a price of Rs. 2,100 per share. Earlier, the leading IT major company with a market cap of Rs. 7.048 lakh crore said that it would pay up to 100% of its free cash to the company's shareholders. In the FY 2017-18 also the company announced a buyback plan of Rs. 16,000 crore. Some of the big investors that tendered their holdings in the stock include Government of Singapore, Copthall Mauritius Investments Ltd. and EuroPacific Growth Fund. Also of the total shares bought back by TCS during the buyback offer last year, Tata Sons tendered the largest share at 64.2%. After the approval of the buyback offer, the stock gained as much as 3.4% to trade at a record high of Rs. 1849 on the BSE. Goodreturns.in Washington's position on the status of Crimea has not changed, the U.S. embassy in Russia said. "As we have said many times before, Crimea is part of Ukraine and our Crimea-related sanctions will remain in place until Russia returns control of the peninsula to Ukraine," Interfax cited the embassy press officer as saying. Yesterday, US President Donald Trump told G7 leaders that Crimea belongs to Russia because the peninsulas residents speak the Russian language, Buzzfeed reported, citing two diplomatic sources. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders refused to comment this media report. Gary Thuerk, often hailed as the "Father of Spam," sent the first email blast in 1978. Four decades later, despite billions of people using several social media platforms, email still holds the same power. Related: 5 Strategies to Keep Your Email Marketing Out of Gmail's Promotions Tab Forty years ago, Thuerk understood that leveraging email was a pathway to generating sales. In his case, it led to producing more than $14 million for the company he was working for. Today, that potential is even greater, with more than half of the world's population having at least one email address. In fact, according to a study conducted by Radicati Group, by the end of this year, over 3.8 billion people will use email to communicate. In marketing, email outperforms any other channel, with a reported $44 return on investment for every $1 spent. While it seems that tweet traffic and social media traction leave little room for other methods of communication, email is still the best and oftentimes preferred way for businesses to communicate. It allows the recipient to read messages at their leisure and respond at their convenience. It keeps better record of conversations. It is free and international in scope, can be easily forwarded and can be used to communicate with masses of people simultaneously. Since email marketing has seen such a boom in the last several years, email deliverability is on every marketer's lips. There are several strategies that can help make sure an email message travels safely and lands in the inbox. Don't buy an email list. Purchasing a bulk email list significantly increases the probability of listing on many blacklists or building a reputation as a spammer. Most companies work hard to build a brand presence, including a web domain, and one poor quality list can destroy the reputation of the .com or internet domain address associated with the business. It is very tempting to get 50,000 subscribers overnight, but making the effort to grow an honestly and ethically sourced list of customers is going to pay off in the long run. Related: 3 Easy Steps to Grow Your Email List Use the double opt-in method. Double opt-in is one of the best mechanisms available within email marketing to keep invalid email addresses from signing up for a newsletter and double opt-in is also proven to boost open rates. Countries where the double opt-in method is most common -- the Netherlands, Germany and France -- have the highest open rates. It makes sense: When someone goes through the process of confirming their agreement to subscribe to an email, it signifies a legitimate interest in the content or product and subsequent opens and clicks. Be consistent. Whether email is a new channel of distribution or a marketing staple, consistency is key. Email marketing involves discipline and consistency. Sending campaigns predictably, often utilizing the same day of the week, whether weekly, biweekly or monthly, leads to the establishment of a positive digital relationship with clients. This will ensure maximum IP utilization and will prevent subscribers from forgetting that they subscribed and clicking the "spam" button. Related: How to Boost Deliverability and Win at Email Marketing Keep client email lists in top shape. There is no efficient email marketing without data quality. The customer and subscriber email list is a tremendous resource, and optimizing and maintaining the list is a surefire mechanism to maximize revenue. The most important question about list quality is how to keep the hygiene maintained while using the appropriate mechanism to keep the email list in top shape. First, use real-time email validation through a secure API. Once installed on the email distribution platform, this piece of software will prevent fake and invalid email addresses from signing up to the database. Next, run the list through an email verification system once a month. The bounce rate will decrease, sender reputation will improve and overall email performance will skyrocket. Email remains the most valuable tool for businesses of all sizes, from startups to Fortune 500 companies. By taking a few simple steps, audience reach can be guaranteed and stabilized, thereby improving return on marketing dollars spent. Related: Email Is Still Your Customers' Preferred Communication Tool. Here's How to Make Sure Your Email Marketing Gets Through. Earn 60 Percent More Engagement with These 9 Email List Segmentation Strategies 5 Ways You Can Earn a Better ROI with Your Email Marketing Campaigns Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved WASHINGTON A judge gave a harsh rebuke to New Britain native Paul Manafort on Friday, ordering him to jail on new charges of witness tampering. Manafort is charged with attempting to undermine the case against him involving political work for the Russia-friendly government of Ukraine. He and a Russian associate are alleged to have contacted two operatives to lie about lobbying work done in the U.S. You have abused the trust placed in you six months ago, U.S. District Court judge Amy Berman Jackson told Manafort, referring to the agreement through which Manafort avoided prison through house arrest at his Alexandria, Va., condo outside Washington. Jackson made it clear Manafort could no longer be trusted to not interfere in the prosecution of his case by special counsel Robert Mueller, who brought the charges as part of a wider investigation of the Trump campaigns contacts with Russian intelligence in the 2016 run for the presidency. Sending Manafort to prison was an extraordinarily difficult decision, Jackson said. But ultimately this hearing is not about politics, she said, according to The Washington Post. It is not about the conduct of the office of special counsel. It is about the defendants conduct. Im concerned you seem to treat these proceedings as another marketing exercise. Manafort, 69, scion of a powerful Republican family in New Britain his father was mayor from 1965 to 1971 has made millions as a behind-the-scenes GOP operative. He served as Donald Trumps campaign manager for four months until August 2016 when revelations about his Ukraine work forced him to resign. There are no clear links between Manafort and the substance of the Mueller investigation whether Russian agents mounted a campaign to help Trump win the election through release of denigrating information about his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. Manafort actually faces two separate trials in the Washington area. The primary one in Washington itself revolves around charges that he failed to register as a foreign agent, as required by law, for the work done to support Ukraines pro-Russia president, Viktor Yanukovych, who was driven from power in 2014. For Manafort, the statements of the two operatives were crucial. Had the lobbying work been confined to Europe, Manafort could escape the charge of failing to register as a foreign agent. The law kicks in only for work done inside the U.S. on behalf of a foreign power. Manafort is also charged with fraud and money laundering. Trial is expected to start in September, guaranteeing Manafort will spend at least three months in jail. The other case in Alexandria is primarily a tax case, charging Manafort with funneling money from foreign bank accounts to pay for expenses such as clothes, automobiles and home renovations. The trial in that case could begin next month. In an impromptu appearance before reporters Friday just outside the White House, Trump described his one-time campaign chairman as someone who worked for me for a very short period of time. He worked for me, what, for 49 days or something? Trump said. Asked about the possibility of pardons for political allies such as former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who is also in Muellers cross-hairs, Trump said: I dont want to talk about that But look, I do want to see people treated fairly. Thats what its all about. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said in an interview that he is very worried over the message of resistance Trump may be sending to Manafort and others by dangling the possibility of pardons before them. Its important that law enforcement crack down on witness tampering, Murphy said. Hopefully the president heard the message the judge sent to Manafort today. The Associated Press contributed to this report. dan@hearstdc.com It's a fact: Millennials and Gen-Zers now make up the largest consumer base in the United States. Related: 3 Essential Tips for Marketing to Millennials Millennials comprise some 71 million Americans, according to The Pew Research Center, and their age demographic is expected to overtake the baby boomer generation by 2019. According to data from Nielsen, Gen-Zers make up 26 percent of the American population; and, as any CMO knows, their habits are even more mysterious than those of the millennials who came before them. After all, so many of the rules of marketing were written to appeal to baby boomers, making it a challenge to appeal to younger demographics. However, there are some foolproof strategies that CMOs can use, strategies that don't require selling everything with avocado toast on the side, either. Understanding the behaviors and needs of these two demographics -- millennials and Gen-Zers -- will make a huge difference in your marketing strategy. Make it about mobile. When it comes to smartphones, no one knows the technology better than the youngest age cohorts, because no one uses them as much. Millennials were the first to embrace the smartphone, and Gen-Zers grew up with 3G access in their hands, first with their parents' tablets when they were children, and now with their own phones (which they're constantly checking). Some 98 percent of Gen Zers own a smartphone, in fact, which means that many of them are going to be introduced to your brand not via a desktop web browser or a television commercial, but through scrolling through Facebook or Instagram. All of the information you offer about your brand, then, has to be online. It's best to go with a mobile-first website and be active on your social media profiles. Snapchat may not be the easiest platform to use -- it's less business-friendly than Instagram and Facebook -- but the effort will pay off. To learn more about social media strategies, take a look at these tips from Business West. Related: Hitting the Marketing Email Sweet Spot With Millennials (Infographic) Engage as much as possible. Additionally, younger generations that are used to being catered to expect brands to reach out to them, not only on social media in a broad sense, but also through personal interactions and customized touchpoints. For example, the real estate company First Equity Funding recommends that realtors stay connected with millennial clients during every step of the house-buying process. "Millennials aren't the most patient generation," the company explains. "If you don't respond to them right away, they'll get bored and move on. After giving an open house, give interested buyers multiple ways to contact you and be on alert for text messages and emails. If prospective buyers have questions, be ready to answer them. Millennials want instant gratification." For Gen-Zers of the "always on and on-demand" generation, this is even truer. Two-thirds of Gen-Zers believe brands should help them achieve personal goals and aspirations, which is a 7 percent increase over millennials; so, in addition to constant engagement, tailor your content to suit their needs. Be authentic. Ironically, although younger generations want to be catered to, the last thing they want is to feel as though you're pandering to them. They can sense a sales pitch from a mile away, and when it's overdone, it comes off as disingenuous. Connor Blakely, an entrepreneur and Gen-Zer hired for his advice by big businesses, explained on his blog that, "A general misconception regarding Gen Z is that they commonly use acronyms like 'LOL,' ... or 'SMH' while texting. When brands use this type of language in an attempt to look trendy, it comes off as fake. Now more than ever, today's youth act and behave like adults. They want to be treated as such." If you truly want to be authentic, then, this is where you can use your CMO role to your advantage. All you need to do is complete your customer research, understand what these generations need by posting surveys or using analytics tools and then speak to them directly about what matters to them. To explore some brands that have done this successfully, take a look at this article. Gen-Zers aren't just a bunch of teenagers anymore; 61 million of them are about to enter the workforce. Understanding how to communicate with them is essential to your business's success. Finding the most important strategies CMOs are using to appeal to younger demographics Finally, it's critical to understand that you will have to separate your millennial buyer personas from those of Gen-Zers, as these two age cohorts are quite different despite their closeness in age. Ultimately, appealing to these groups is about being technologically savvy and engaging on a personal level. Related: 4 Marketing Tactics for Appealing to Generation Z What strategies is your brand using to market to Millennials and Gen Z? Related: How CMOs Can Appeal to the Consumer Base's 2 Largest Demographics The Case for Corporate Citizenship Millennials Want Transparency and Social Impact. What Are You Doing to Build a Millennial-Friendly Brand? Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Ive been part of and have mentored at a number of female-focused accelerators. The programs center around empowering women through networking opportunities, education curriculum, mentorship and access to customers. But Ive started to wonder if female-focused accelerators are the right choice for women? Among the biggest concerns are that women who network only with women leave out half the population and could limit themselves from interaction with male C-suite executives (who statisically hold more of these top roles.) Also, as we know, women receive less funding, many face issues scaling and experience isolation, among other challenges. Without male allies at the early stages of growth, it may be harder to get access to opportunities that male counterparts are receiving. Going with a gender-balance accelerator could potentially provide more short and long-term benefits than a gendered one. But there are also a lot of benefits. For one, in corporate America, women receive less advice on how to advance, and they have less frequent interactions with managers and senior leaders, yet both are linked to greater ambition. This is something that could be replicated in female-focused accelerators where both the members and, generally, the mentors are women. Related: The 5 Best To-Do List Apps to Boost Your Productivity This raises a question: How do you choose the right accelerator, as a female entrepreneur, to ensure that the time and money spent is valuable? Here are some things to consider: Understand your goals An accelerator cannot help you with everything. You need to have one or two specific goals that you are focused on achieving during your time with the accelerator. To set these goals, figure out where your company is weak, or needs some accelerant. Pick an area and the one or two things you need help with like networking, marketing, sales, product development, or technology. When choosing an accelerator, you need to find out if that accelerator is skilled enough to help you accomplish those goals. Some accelerators are better equipped at helping with marketing, while others might have the right tools to help you with technology or product development. Ask the accelerator about their particular skill areas and research the founding team and those who teach in the curriculum, including looking at bios, researching their network and asking past members. Think of accelerators like grad school Like grad school, a company needs to determine what they want to learn and how. Recent research from the Global Accelerator Learning Initiative (GALI) noted that time spent doing accelerator curriculum actually lowers performance of a company in the long term. The key is to take what you need from accelerators but not do everything, if it doesnt help your business, but instead bogs down processes. Youll need to look for a program that is flexible, encourages working time and specifically encourages networking among other companies, mentors and more. For females, youll want to feel comfortable knowing what you need to learn and when to say no to things that are redundant or less useful. Women are socially conditioned to be afraid to say no and while many believe its an immutable gene, its not. Being afraid to say no is a learned behavior that can infringe on your ability to succeed in an accelerator. Saying no will help you and your business stay on track in an accelerator program. Be ready to take it on Are you still struggling to manage your day-to-day operations? Between running digital marketing campaigns, setting up your accounting and processing customers, you might be too busy to get what you need out of an accelerator. You have to be able to take us on, said Vanessa Liu, who runs the SAP Foundry accelerator in New York Cit focused on female entrepreneurs in B2B technology companies. We are focused on getting companies their next million-dollar customer and ensuring that they can handle the help we are able to give. We want to bring our founders to our customers and our community, but we need to ensure they can handle the scale." Liu recommends that companies who have recently gone through or are about to go through their Series A may be in a good position to take on an accelerator. By then you have proven your concept, developed processes and are ready for the growth step that we, and others, can offer, she says. Related: 'You Can't Do Everything Well.' How This Advice Helped the Founder of TwoBirds and Hatch Focus Her Priorities. Ask about mentorship Research from GALI also illustrated that mentorship quality has a significant impact on the success of companies to succeed in accelerators. Dont take an accelerator at their word about mentorship programs. Push them to find out who the mentors are, what their commitments are and how they might be able to help you. Look for mentor networks that have valuable mentors for your specific company, and that have diverse (i.e. not only female) mentors. Women were more willing than men were to turn to external advisors (7.9 percent vs. 4.5 percent) to help them recover from failure experiences, said a recent Kauffman report and diverse mentorship is a proven key to business success, especially for female founders. Consider if youre just looking for community Female-forward workspaces and communities provide a strong alternative to an accelerator. You have access to professional resources to help grow your startup, daily programming to sharpen your skills and an amazing network of like-minded founders who are on the same path. We've had founders collect their first investment checks and hire team members within our walls, said Amy Nelson, CEO of the female-focused co-working space The Riveter. In the US and developed Europe women are 18 percent less likely to perceive they have the capability to start a business. While access to healthcare, education, land rights and affordable childcare are crucial, so too are role models, mentors and community. To determine your right approach, ask yourself if you are joining an accelerator because you want community or because you need a structured learning environment with curriculum that provides access to mentors, partners and customers. Ask about stats and references Find out how many cohorts have been part of the program and what has the resultant success been. Remember to ask for names of former members and make sure if you are looking for a gender-mixed accelerator that you also do you research on female vs. male-founded companies. If you see female-founded companies making big leaps from the accelerator, that could be a promising sign for you. Continue that questioning to find out if former cohort members go on to get funding, find new partners and make incremental success. Also, ask for references to graduates, in both femaled-only accelerators and mixed accelertors. Look to both male and female graduates to see if they have different experiences. Set up phone calls with the graduates and ask them about their experiences: Do males and females seem to have equal success, getting equal funding, have equal amounts of equity taken? While there are a lot of benefits of being part of a female-focused accelerator, there are also potential drawbacks. Just make sure you do your homework before you commit. Related: 11 Strategies to Lead and Succeed as a Minority Woman Related: Want to Join a Women-Only Accelerator? Read This First. Entrepreneurs in Puerto Rico Are Solving Problems in Hurricane Maria's Aftermath Oracle Startup Cloud Accelerator Driving Next-Gen Entrepreneurship Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved OnePlus has revealed that they managed to sell more than one million units of its latest OnePlus 6 flagship smartphone in less than a month. Specifically, the company achieved the feat in 22 days. Here's what CEO Pete Lau said: Since before OnePlus launched, we've always taken care to listen closely to our users and deliver smartphones which combine design and power. The OnePlus 6 is our most balanced handset yet, combining style and speed for a unique experience. Our approach has been rewarded by returning users and new customers alike, and we're grateful to the OnePlus community as the OnePlus 6 has become our fastest selling handset ever For comparison, both OnePlus 5 and 5T took around three months to cross the one million milestone. The company also revealed the 256GB OnePlus 6 has proven to be the most popular variant of the device, although sales figure for the model wasn't revealed. OnePlus also shared some other OnePlus 6-related tidbits, like over 15,000 people queued across 26 pop-ups in 11 countries across the world, and the OnePlus 6 launch event sold-out with over 1,000 tickets bought in under 10 hours. "This year, OnePlus has added a number of retail partners with major operators in Europe; Telia (Sweden), Three (Denmark), and Belsimpel (Netherlands), and most recently signing a deal with Bouygues (France). In addition, the OnePlus 6 is available on Amazon in Italy, Germany, France and Spain." Published on 2018/06/15 | Source Korean movie opening today 2018/06/15 in Korea: "Youthful Mother-in-law" (2018). Advertisement Directed by Choi Eun-jung With Jin Si-ah, Jin Joo, James, Yoon Sang-doo,... Synopsis Sun-young and Do-han have been married for 3 years. Do-han's failure in business loses his home and they move into Sun-young's dad's home where he lives alone. Sun-young starts going clubbing as she can't stand her incompetent husband and meets Jung-hyun there. She comes home drunk every night or spends the night out, but Do-han can't say anything to her. Then one day, Sun-young's father, who is away on work, calls to say a woman who is going to be her step-mother is stopping by. Kyung-mi comes along. Kyung-mi's father met her on his business trip and was going to return home with her, but his trip ended up taking longer so she came ahead of him. Sun-young wasn't happy with this sudden change but, Kyung-mi comforts Do-han who is completely ignored by his wife. Published on 2018/06/14 | Source Actor Kim Jung-hyun-I is starring in the drama "Vagabond". Advertisement "Vagabond" is about an ordinary man who comes across surprising circumstances that place him in the center of a huge corruption scandal. Kim Jung-hyun-I plays the role of Hong Seung-beom who rides along with lobbyist Jessica Lee (Moon Jung-hee) and despite his level-headedness, behaves unexpectedly. His real intentions are hidden, but his real goal can be seen through Jessica Lee. Kim Jung-hyun-I debuted in 1994 with a movie and appeared in several movies and dramas after that. He started as a young kid and has been in this career for over 20 years. "Vagabond" is written by Jang Yeong-cheol and Jeong Kyeong-soon-I while director Yoo In-sik is in charge as well as cinematographer Lee Gil-bok who is responsible for the great cinematography in "My Love from the Star" and "Dr. Romantic". The script reading took place on the 2nd and the drama is being filmed in Portugal, Morocco and others. Sony Pictures is in charge of distribution and it will be simultaneously broadcast in Korea, America and Japan. By Emily Mayer The Havre Plaindealer announced the U.S. government was organizing a National War Savings Day for June 28, 1918. A large advertisement from Gov. Sam Stewart front and center on its June 15, 1918, edition outlined the effort, encouraging Montanans to purchase either Liberty Bonds, War Certificates, or the humbler, but none the less effective Thrift Stamps. The newspaper also carried out more news of food conservation, especially flour and meat. Everyone was encouraged to participate in the various campaigns to raise money for the war effort and be thrifty at home. Even famed artist Charlie Russell was getting into the act, creating two food conservation paintings to Montana State Food Administrator Alfred Atkinson. One was titled Hooverizers, illustrating a cowboy cooking his meal on the prairie using oat and barley grains with his horse looking longingly at the cowboys dinner; and Meat Makes Fighters, depicting an aging cowboy on a cow pony. Both came with poems, in Russells true down-to-earth style: Hooverizers I hate to take your grub old hoss but then Im leavin meat and wheat to fightin men And by you handin in your oats to me The both of us are Hooverizin-see? Were squarin up with Uncle Sam Just kinder helpin hold the easy end. Meat Makes Fighters I aint a wearin khaki cause Im to old a stag But Im a handin beef and hide to them that holds the flag Pie and cake is good when folks just feed for fun But beef and leather plenty puts men behind the gun. In local news, 26 students graduated from Havre High School in 1918. They were: Marguerite Bickle, Eva Chestnut, Ida Dyer, Velma Britton, Rose Connolly, Harry Gallup, Ben Chestnut, Minnie Greiner, Fred Cruzen, John Nystrom, Minor Holliday, Mary Moore, Amy Hales, Esther LaValley, Walter Lamey, Anna Wilson, Lola Schwartz, Naomi Stead, Mary Ryan, Anna Skylstead, Nellie Stringfellow, June Dove, Mary Stranahan, Leonard Rhoades, Edward Hagen and Gladys Mathews. Some of the ladies in the Havre Womens Club attended convention, and one of the duties was to give out a scholarship. One of Havres own was on the list: LOCAL CLUB WOMEN ATTEND CONVENTION The Havre delegates to the Federation of Womens Clubs at Great Falls left here Thursday morning. They were: Mrs. F. F. Bossout, president of District No. 5; Mrs. Joseph Berthelote, Mrs. Earl Clack; Mrs. W. B. Rhoades; Mrs. Frank Jestrab and Miss Marie Yeon. The federation has offered a prize to girls in the state, of a scholarship in some school, which will be decided at the Great Falls meeting. There are five contestants from this part of the state: Miss Gladys Mathews of Havre; Miss Leafy Ronne of Chinook; Miss Ruth Serio of Glasgow; Mis Lulu Kemp of Harlem and Thelma West of Malta. Both the Rhoades and Mathews families were extremely busy this time 100 years ago, according to the Society column: Rhoades Maris. On Sunday evening one of the largest church weddings ever solemnized in the city of Havre occurred at the Methodist church, when L. E. Rhoades and Miss Jeanne Maris were united in wedlock. A short musical program proceeded the ceremony, which consisted of a solo by Miss Ling and several organ numbers by Dr. Williams. Promptly at seven oclock the vested choir began singing the Bridal chorus. The bride was dressed in white georgette crepe, and was attended by Miss Leafy Reigel, who wore a silk-striped voile dress. Both bride and maid carried a bouquet of white and pink carnations. The groom was attended by his brother, Leonard Rhoades. The beautiful ring ceremony was performed by Rev. E. J. Huston assisted by Rev. Van Orsdel. Mr. Rhoades is a popular young lawyer of the city. The bride has been connected with the teaching staff of the Havre schools for some time and has a host of friends in the city. The happy couple will begin housekeeping in their pretty home near the Devlin school. Mr. and Mrs. Mathews at Home. Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Mathews arrived in Havre Friday of last week and are now residing in their home on Third street. They were married at Sioux City, Iowa, on the 30th of May. En route home they stopped for a visit with friends and relatives in Minneapolis, the former home of Mrs. Mathews. Mr. Mathews has been a resident of Havre for a number of years, being employed in the establishment of Pat Yeon. Miss Bickle Given Surprise. The senior class of the high school gave a surprise party for Miss Marguerite Bickle Monday evening at her home on Third avenue. The rooms were decorated with the class colors, red and white. As Gladys Mathews and Leonard Rhoades were both members of the Class of 1918, no doubt they were both involved with surprising their fellow classmate. There was one bit of war-related news in the Society column: Nurses give Camp Fire Party. On Saturday evening the nurses of Sacred Heart hospital gave a camp fire party on the hill back of the hospital, in honor of Miss Nell Coad, one of their number, who is to leave for France in the near future. A very delightful evening was spent. Those present were: Misses Bonner, Mariette, Cannon, Leeds, Husted, Wall, Burkett, Susag and Coad. Press release GREAT FALLS Montana Farmers Union announced that Andrea Rutledge of Big Sandy was among this years scholarship recipients from the union. MFU offered eight scholarships totaling $4,000. This years winners were selected because of their outstanding contributions to the organization as youth leaders. These students are excellent role models in their communities, MFU President Alan Merrill said. We are proud to have played a role in their success and wish them all the best. The scholarships awarded are: Rutledge received the John Korsbeck Memorial Scholarship Alana Stephenson of Black Eagle received the John Korsbeck Memorial Scholarship and the Headquarters Local Scholarship. Lauren Arnst of Fort Benton received the Bud Daniels Memorial Scholarship. David Shane of Floweree received the Montana Farmers Union Scholarship. Victoria (Tori) Girard of Great Falls received the Cascade County Farmers Union Scholarship Violet Green of Great Falls received the Montana Farmers Union Scholarship Lilly Green of Fort Benton received the Chouteau County Farmers Union Scholarship. A South Korean exchange student says "Anyoung hee gyeseyo" as she prepares to return home SeRim Jeong spent the last year in Havre, far away from home. Jeong, who will turn 16 years old June 25, is from Seodaemun District in the South Korean capital city of Seoul, but she spent the school year living with a host family and studying at Havre High School. In Korea, Jeong is the only child of parents who are former English teachers and she lives with her parents as well as an aunt and cousin. Jeong, who arrived in Havre about a week before the 2017-18 school year started, said she didn't choose where she would study in the United States; it was the host family that chose her. Debi and Dave Rhines and their daughter Angela were the host family to Jeong during her time in the United States. The family offered to host Jeong through the student exchange program, ASSE International Exchange Program-Western Region. The ASSE, formerly known as the American Scandinavian Student Exchange, is a nonprofit organization that looks for host families, in cooperation with local high schools, for students aged 15-18 who want to live in and experience American culture. Rhines said they looked through a portfolio with girls around their daughter's age who were interested in studying in the U.S. They then looked for girls who had some common interests with their daughter and they saw on Jeong's file that she liked piano and shopping, just like their daughter. Rhines added that she thought it was important to find similarities between their potential exchange student and their daughter - a sort-of common ground. "It was also important to have a student who was Catholic," she said. Once they found Jeong, they thought she was definitely the right fit for them, so they reached out to the ASSE to set up the exchange. Adjusting to life and high school in a foreign country Jeong said she feels lucky to have been placed with the Rhines family, adding that they were always kind and patient with her and never expressed anger when she was struggling with English. They didn't know or understand a lot of things before SeRim arrived, Rhines said, adding that there were language as well as cultural challenges. To be exchange parents, it is important to "have an open mind and an open heart," she added. "There are cultural differences ... in America, we are big eaters," Rhines said, adding that it takes compromise. She said the family started eating smaller meals at night and realized it was actually a good thing not going to bed with such a full stomach. Jeong agreed with this sentiment, saying one of the hardest parts of adjusting to American culture was getting used to the larger portion sizes. Though she could have been placed in a larger city, she said she is glad she ended up in Havre. "It is very quiet and peaceful," Jeong said. "It has clean air." She was able to have the freedom to walk around by herself, Rhines added, because she was placed in a city like Havre. Jeong said she also felt more free when it came to going to school in Havre. "I don't like wearing school uniforms (in my South Korean middle school) ... we can't wear accessories or make-up," she said. "... There is a hair-length rule." Another difference she noticed between the two school systems is the role of teachers. "I like the teachers at Havre High School ... they are like friends. ... Mr. Haugen (the principal) even helped me study for government," Jeong said, adding she was appreciative that she could go and ask for help from teachers after school. In South Korea, she said, the students, instead of asking teachers, would be attending an afterschool Cram School or Hagwon. These kinds of private Cram Schools are common in Asian countries to supplement the education students receive in their schools and to help them improve their test scores or tutor them in subjects they may be having trouble in. During her time in Havre, Jeong said, she realized "I can just learn from teachers and textbooks." Jeong said she has half a year more of middle school to finish when she returns to Seoul and then after that, she has three years of high school. She added that she is nervous for high school because "it is going to be harder; you have to stay late." After high school, she said she is planning to go to university because if people don't go to university it is hard to get a job, she said, adding that she would like to possibly attend university in the United States. She doesn't know what she wants to study yet, but after taking a career-test in South Korea, she thinks an art-related job might be good, adding that she likes to play piano and draw. At Havre High School, she joined the swim team that her host sister belonged to. She said it was good because she learned how to swim, but she prefers art more. Jeong said she didn't join any other activities while attending Havre High because her focus was on studying English and improving in her government and history classes. When it comes to what she will miss when she leaves Havre, she said that the freedom she had while living here will be hard to leave, as well as living near so much nature. In South Korea, she said, she wasn't able to see a lot of animals and she also couldn't go swimming easily, which she really enjoyed doing with friends at Fresno Reservoir. "In Seoul, you have to leave the city to find a place like that," Jeong added. She misses South Korean food, but says she will also miss her host mom's soup and stir-fry. "I could also eat rice everyday because my host family had a rice-cooker," Jeong said, adding that her favorite restaurant foods in Havre were Pizza Hut pasta and the steak at Andy's Supper Club. Going Home Jeong's mother, Jinok Kang came to Havre to accompany her daughter to Los Angeles, where they have family, before they go home to Seoul. "She had so many experiences," Kang said, adding that she is happy her daughter was able to study in a small town like Havre, with a great host family like the Rhines. Kang said jokingly that having Jeong studying abroad for a year was like a "mom vacation" for her, but she couldn't wait to bring her home. She added that she hopes her daughter can help her with her English. Kang said she was worried that Jeong wouldn't be able to keep up with her piano skills while in Havre, but she was very happy that her daughter had the opportunity to play piano and that her host mother encouraged her to keep playing. When it comes to the daughter she was picking up, compared to the daughter she sent to America last year, Kang said that before Jeong was shy, "but now she can insist ... now she has a voice." "It will be hard to see her leave; we will miss her a lot," Rhines said, adding that the family would love to have the chance to visit her in South Korea some day. Cindy Keeney of the ASSE Student Exchange Program-Western Regional Office, said that the organization doesn't place a large number of students in Havre, but the ones they have placed, including Jeong and a student from Germany this year, have had positive reactions to living and studying here. Havre Daily News/Ryan Welch Keeney said the number of students they place depend on finding host families and also the number of students a high school program can take. "Students from certain places seem to like coming to smaller cities," she added. "In smaller schools they can make friends more easily ... and participate in activities." "Smaller cities embrace these students," Keeney added. "We are always looking for host families," she added. "We hope to have more (in Havre) in the future." Rhines, whose family has hosted two students including Jeong, said she would encourage families to consider hosting international students. There are challenges, she added, but there always comes "joy from the challenge." MILLS RIVER ENDORSES 5-LANE WIDENING OF 191 NCDOT Division 14 engineer Brian Burch describes N.C. 191 widening project. MILLS RIVER The Mills River Town Council on Thursday endorsed a 5-lane widening of N.C. 191 from N.C. 280 to Mountain Road, the first endorsement of a major road improvement in an anti-roadwork environment that has shot down or jeopardized other transportation improvement projects. The council voted 4-1 for the 5-lane after eight residents, sheered on by a room full of opponents, implored the town to tell the NCDOT that it did not want the 5-lane widening. The council's vote endorsed the five 12-foot lanes plus 5-foot bike paths on either side, although details of the bike paths have not been finalized. Council members had asked for a three-lane widening instead over the past several months but when DOT engineers came back and said that version was inadequate for the design year 2040 the council endorsed the wider project. The NCDOT made a concession to the council who said they worried about tractor trailers, farm tractors and emergency vehicles having to use bulb-outs for U-turns. Engineers preferred a four-lane project with a grass median; instead, the agency relented and agreed to a continuous center turn lane. Around 60 people left the meeting room in an angry mood. "You should be ashamed," one of them shouted at council members. The Balfour Parkway effect has emboldened opponents. Pointing out that the Henderson County Board of Commissioners effectively pulled the $160 million Hendersonville bypass from the State Transportation Improvement Plan, road project opponents are urging town boards across the county to follow that example and just say no to DOT projects that disrupt neighborhoods and take property. "I agree 191 needs improvement but not to extent you destroy the way of life of this part of the world," Mills River resident and Planning Board member Jim Foster said. "Youll be looking at another Four Seasons Boulevard in just a few short years. Someone said if we dont four lane 191 it will be a nightmare. Im here to tell you what a real nightmare would be if we start looking out across trhis valley and it starts looking like Asheville." "Everyone I have spoken to and I have spoken to hundreds and hundreds of people is against this project," said Georgia Hudson, who lives in Mills River Village on N.C. 191. "I see that you really want this project because it doesn't do anything to you. Maybe it gets yur kid out of school 5 minutes faster but thats all. You are destroying the lives of hundreds and hundreds of people and you dont care. There is solid opposition against this project. Listen to the people who voted you in and can change their vote." Only one resident, Ken Stephenson, spoke in favor of the project, reminding the council members what happened when opponents blocked the I-26 widening 15 years ago. "Several years ago it was recommended that we 6-lane I-26," he said. "A few people and a judge stopped it. Now everyones begging for it. Whats going to happen in the next 15 years? We cannot stop growth, regardless. Its going to happen. Councilman Roger Snyder, who cast the only no vote, said the public input process seemed to give insufficient weight to the opposition of affected property owners. He led the effort for a scaled-back three-lane widening and said he could not support a project more disruptive than that. Councilman Brian Caskey pointed out that many of the vocal opponents addressing the council, including those from Haywood Knolls and leaders of the campaign to stop the Balfour Parkway, are not Mills River residents. You cannot walk in here and simply tell us what to do," he said. "If you think you voted me into office, youre mistaken. Behind the scenes, negotiators seek compromise on HHS Although a wide gulf seems to separate the warring county commissioners and School Board over Hendersonville High School, a compromise design may be closer than appearances would suggest. Back-channel work by a small group of elected officials is making progress toward a potential plan that would renovate the historic Erle Stillwell-designed auditorium, connect the historic classroom building with a new HHS and possibly use part of the old building for band and the performing arts, those involved in or aware of the talks told the Hendersonville Lightning. Were hoping that we get some kind of estimate (of the cost), whether we connect the building, using the auditorium and first floor for Hendersonville High and stay in budget or not exceed it by $14 million, School Board Chair Amy Lynn Holt said Tuesday. The negotiators have asked ClarkNexsen architect Chad Roberson, who has worked on the HHS project from the start, to draw up the new design and come up with a cost projection, Holt said. Were not going to know anything until he gets that information back to us, whether its feasible or not, she said. When the history is written of the tortured path to a new Hendersonville High School, the writer might excavate an obscure meeting at a local bar. An impromptu summit at Southern Appalachian Brewing Co. laid the groundwork for a compromise. The elected officials spotted at the Locust Street brewery included Commissioner Bill Lapsley, City Councilman Jeff Miller and School Board member Blair Craven. Southern Appalachian Brewery summit, Craven said with a chuckle when asked about diplomacy over a beer. That has a nice ring to it. I think its my job as an elected official to meet with other elected officials to make things happen. We were just out having a beer after work. Were just trying to get something done. Trying to make sure costs are in line with what we thought, trying to build a high school I can be proud, that my kids are going to go through forever and that the community is going to be proud of. Im confident were going to get something done and Im confident all elected officials in Henderson County are going to be on the same page. Lapsley and Miller were less forthcoming about the Southern App summit or other negotiations, saying they didnt want to jinx an agreement on an issue fraught with politics and emotion. The parties are talking and I think thats good, Lapsley said. School Board members are talking with the commissioners informally. People are meeting one to one to about it and were trying to come come up with a solution. Im cautiously optimistic. Miller said he didnt want to talk about the negotiations because theyre sensitive and could always be derailed. The School Board did not talk about the Hendersonville High School project during its regular meeting on Monday night. But Holt and board members Rick Wood and Michael Absher all said the next morning that they were aware of the back-channel talks and expected drawings and cost projections soon. Nothing has been decided, Absher said. Were just still waiting to hear what ClarkNexsen comes back with after conversations. Keith Dalbec, a former Hendersonville High School principal, said he had a conversation with County Commission Chair Michael Edney about the controversy over the $11 million cost overrun. After he read coverage in hendersonvillelightning.com of the School Boards May 14 meeting, Dalbec posted a comment on line. This stirs the pot for the fall Commissioner race, Dalbec wrote. The firing range helped to defeat Sheriff McDonald. Will Mike Edney stick to his guns and continue to resist recommendations from other alums to incorporate the Stilwell building and save millions? Etowah, Dana and the Edneyville High School are good examples blending old and new. After the posting, Edney reached out to Dalbec. When the two met, the commission chair told Dalbec that the split was not as dire as it looked. Mike said that Lapsley and Jeff had met, Dalbec said. He did confirm that they had drawn up a plan for the high school. One reason to connect the old and new schools is security. School Board members and administrators have said theyre worried about students walking outdoors between the two buildings. I know that Grady (Hawkins) has said and Tommy (Thompson) has talked about it wont hurt them to walk, Holt said. Its not so much a walking issue as them not being where somebody can enter, Holt said. Obviously we cant build brick walls and never be able to do things outside. Were not in a prison but weve got to be smart about. Holt expressed optimism that the new plan could win support of both boards. I would think pretty much everybody would be on board with that and I hope the commissioners would be as well. Still to come, she added, is the architects presentation on what it would look like and what it would cost. Local attorney sent to prison for embezzling from clients Related Stories A 44-year-old Hendersonville attorney was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to embezzling from clients, U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray announced. Howard Trade Elkins was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court in Asheville on wire fraud charges for embezzling client funds from his law offices trust account. U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger also ordered Elkins to serve two years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. According to court filings, plea documents and court proceedings, Elkins was an attorney with a private practice in Hendersonville. From 2012 to 2017, Elkins engaged in a scheme to embezzle from his law offices trust account. During the relevant time period, Elkins served as an attorney for estates of deceased individuals. In his duties as the estate attorney, Elkins received funds from various sources into his law firms trust account, and was obligated to expend the money to pay various debts and inheritances as directed. According to court records, Elkins would, at times, deposit funds from estate clients into his law firms trust account, but did not use the funds as directed. Instead, Elkins embezzled the funds and used it to support his own lifestyle, to gamble, to make lulling payments to other victim clients and to satisfy potential debts and demands related to his legal work. Elkins clients trusted him and relied on him to carry out his duties as their attorney. Instead, Elkins used his law firms trust account as his personal piggy bank, Murray said. Elkins misconduct is reprehensible and, more importantly, it erodes the publics trust in our legal system." Elkins pleaded guilty in November 2017 to wire fraud. He will be ordered to report to the federal Bureau of Prisons to begin serving his sentence upon designation of a federal facility. The investigation was handled by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Gast of the federal prosecutor's Asheville office prosecuted the case. HCM CITY The Vietnamese rubber industry is targeting sustainable development in addition to trademarks development and higher-quality products, speakers said at a seminar held on June 14 in HCM City. Tran Thi Thuy Hoa, head of the rubber industry development board under the Viet Nam Rubber Association, noted that the industry and the association were working on sustainable development solutions. Rubber companies today are expected to not only make profits but also contribute to society and maintain sustainable growth, she said. International certificates on sustainable growth are available from the Sustainable Natural Rubber Initiative (SNR-I) and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Around 45 companies worldwide are part of the SNR-I. They include 31 manufacturers and exporters, and 14 rubber consumers and processors. As of January this year, 11 companies had joined WBCSD. Big companies and processors have committed to sustainable growth. They buy rubber from providers that have a sustainable development plan, so domestic companies should follow this trend, Hoa said. Bridgestone, for example, has elevated standards in its sustainable procurement practices by launching a new policy for supplier and partners, she noted. Bridgestone notes on its website that Minimum requirements strengthen existing guidance for respect of human rights, environmental standards and product quality, while including additional requirements for land conservation and rights, point of origin traceability and resilience. Hoa said that companies like Olam and Sri Trang Group also include information about sustainable development on their websites. In Viet Nam, the Viet Nam Rubber Group is the first rubber company to commit to sustainable development, according to Hoa. The rubber association will continue to develop a trademark for Vietnamese rubber and implement sustainable development programmes, she said. It is also working with organisations to improve members awareness about sustainable development, and will offer support to members to join sustainable development projects. Viet Nam is one of the biggest rubber exporters in the world, with products exported to 128 nations and territories. In May, the country exported 93,000 tonnes of rubber, worth US$133 million. For the first five months of this year, the total export yield was 424,000 tonnes, valued at $620 million, up by 17 per cent in volume. China, India and Malaysia are the three biggest importers of Viet Nams rubber. A report from the Viet Nam Rubber Association said that by the end of 2017, the country had 971,600ha of rubber trees, with a yield of over 1.08 million tonnes, accounting for 8.3 per cent of the total world yield. VNS UFC star Conor McGregor has revealed he "regrets" being involved in a brawl at a UFC media event which led to several other mixed martial arts fighters being injured. The 29-year-old Crumlin native appeared briefly before a New York court yesterday morning in relation to the incident at the Barclays Centre in the city on April 5. The court heard that McGregor, along with fellow MMA fighter Cian Cowley (25), had not yet been indicted by a grand jury and that plea negotiations are ongoing. The matter was adjourned until July 26, when the court proceedings are expected to be finalised. Serious Speaking outside the Kings County Courthouse in Brooklyn after the court sitting, McGregor spoke of his regret over the incident and that he was aware of the serious nature of what had happened. "I regret my actions that led me here today. I understand the seriousness of this matter, and I am hopeful that it gets resolved soon," McGregor told reporters. He arrived shortly before 10am with an entourage of security, along with Cian Cowley. The group then walked into the courthouse and into the courtroom, where the hearing lasted all of a minute. The prosecutor for Kings County, Janet Gleeson, told the court: "There are plea negotiations. The case is back on July 26." A number of orders of protection, issued against McGregor and Cowley in relation to interacting with injured parties or witnesses in the case, also remains in place. A source close to the case told the Herald that McGregor and Cowley are all but certain to escape a jail term, and will likely face community service as part of the plea deal. "He's looking good, jail time is unlikely. There may be a community service as part of it, but that's it. In terms of a fine, that will be a civil matter, and if the other fighters injured want to sue him, that's separate," the source said. The Herald can also reveal that McGregor is planning on staying in New York over the coming days in a luxury five-star hotel, before jetting back to Ireland next week. The UFC star is staying at the exclusive Mandarin Oriental Hotel, which overlooks Central Park and where suites cost in excess of $3,300 (2,844)a night. Last night, McGregor, his son Conor Jr and partner Dee Devlin, as well as Cowley, left the hotel with a film crew. They had a brief picnic and took a cycle ride around Central Park. A source also told the Herald that McGregor and his pals had planned to hold a private bash in New York after the court case, but that this had been cancelled. "They had a dinner planned for last night, but that was called off. It seems he doesn't want to be seen publicly celebrating while the case is still ongoing," the source said. The ongoing plea negotiations as well as a grand jury having not indicted McGregor and Cowley means that both men are all but certain to avoid serving jail time. Relieved Speaking outside the courtroom, McGregor's manager Audie Attar said: "Today we are focusing on the court and we are not going to focus on any future plans until we handle this matter." Ira Judelson, McGregor and Cowley's bail bondsman, said that the two-time UFC champion seems "more relieved" than when he first appeared in court. The two MMA athletes presented at the bond office near the court building immediately after their court appearance, where they sign on as part of their bond conditions. Court documents seen by the Herald show that McGregor is facing 22 counts including menacing with a weapon, criminal mischief and assault. A banned driver who crashed his girlfriend's Mercedes-Benz into a tractor with a trailer and another car before fleeing the scene was jailed for four months yesterday. Denis Doyle was also banned from driving for five years at Blanchardstown District Court. Jailing Doyle, Judge David McHugh told the court: "If a prison sentence was not deserving in this case, I don't know when it would be." Doyle's lawyer, Ciaran McLoughlin, asked the judge if he would consider suspending part of the sentence. Judge McHugh replied: "Not a hope this side of hell." Garda Seamus Dolan told the court that on June 26, 2017, a woman had been driving on the Newcastle Road behind a John Deere tractor, which was hauling a heavy load on a trailer. Gda Dolan said a Mercedes-Benz car was driving at speed in the opposite direction. He said the driver, Doyle, lost control of the car and it crashed into the tractor, the trailer and the woman's car. Fleeing He said Doyle spoke to the driver of the tractor and the woman before fleeing the scene. There were no injuries but the vehicles were extensively damaged. Doyle (31), of Castlegate Heath, Adamstown, Lucan, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving with no insurance and no driving licence and three hit-and-run offences at the Newcastle Road, Newcastle, Co Dublin, on June 26, 2017. He had 12 previous convictions. Mr McLoughlin said that no one had been injured in the incident and added that his client had no previous for no insurance. He said Doyle had borrowed his girlfriend's car when he shouldn't have. Judge McHugh said: "There is also the small matter of your client driving while disqualified." He sentenced Doyle to four months in jail, with a five-year ban for the dangerous driving, and fined him 300, with a two-year ban for no insurance. The other charges were taken into consideration. A man serving a 20-year sentence arising from the shooting of publican Charlie Chawke has claimed he is illegally detained in an "alien" county where the people are "GAA supporters to a child". Frank Ward has been detained since 2010 in the Midlands Prison, Portlaoise, Co Laois. He failed in a High Court challenge claiming his rights were breached due to being detained in "internal exile" in a county "culturally foreign and alien" outside the geographical jurisdiction of the original sentencing court in Dublin. In refusing an inquiry into the legality of his detention under Article 40 of the Constitution, Mr Justice David Barniville said the grounds advanced were "spurious" and "unmeritorious". There was "nothing unfair" or contrary to Ward's fundamental rights in an order transferring him from Mountjoy Prison to the Midlands Prison, notwithstanding the people of Co Laois may be "GAA supporters", the judge said. Nor was there any basis for complaints of unfair geographical distance from the applicant's family as there were "excellent road and rail links from Portlaoise". The claim Ward was internally exiled outside the geographical jurisdiction of the court that sentenced him has no merit, he ruled. There was also "no basis whatsoever" for claims the detention in the Midlands Prison breached the applicant's rights under the European Convention on Human Rights, including to liberty and security. Ward, aged in his 60s, of Knockmore Avenue, Tallaght, was sentenced in October 2007 for his role in an incident outside Mr Chawke's restaurant and bar, The Goat Grill, Goatstown, Dublin, on October 6, 2003. Mr Chawke was injured in the shooting and his right leg had to be amputated five days later. Quashed Ward was given two life sentences on charges of intentionally causing serious harm to Mr Chawke and robbery of 48,652 in cash and cheques. The Court of Criminal Appeal in January 2012 quashed the life sentences and replaced them with sentences of 20 years on each count, to run concurrently from October 2003. During his detention, Ward has made several applications seeking his release. In the latest he applied for an inquiry, under Article 40, on grounds the circumstances of his detention in the Portlaoise prison amounted to unlawful detention. A teenage girl who had her leg amputated following a horror crash that killed her father also tragically lost her mother just four years ago, her brother has revealed. Despite suffering life-changing injuries in the road accident, which also left her boyfriend in intensive care, Gerry McMullan has said that his sister Vanessa McMahon is "doing amazing" and has even said that she would love to compete in the Paralympics one day. Recovery The collision between the van Vanessa was travelling in and a tractor happened on the R522 at Ballincurrig, Co Cork, on the Buttevant to Liscarroll Road, shortly after 1pm on Monday, June 4. Patrick McMahon was killed in the incident. His daughter Vanessa (15) and her boyfriend, Thomas Crowley (17), were both critically injured. Vanessa's brother Gerry (27) gave an update on his sister's condition and said she has had a remarkable recovery so far. "Straight after the crash they said it was basically going to be either her leg or her life, so she ended up having it amputated," Gerry, who lives in south London, told the Herald. "Her other leg was also badly damaged but luckily the doctors managed to save it, other than that she just had smaller injuries, cuts and bruises really. "She's doing so well, she's still in Cork University Hospital but she managed to get out of intensive care pretty quickly, she was actually awake and trying to speak on the day of the crash, she was mouthing, 'I love you'. "When she was able to write, she wrote, 'I have no leg' and then she said, 'I have no dad' - that broke my heart," Gerry said. "She's doing good though, she had her first physio session yesterday and she will hopefully get to go outside in her wheelchair today, it's her first time out of her bed since it happened. "She might get to visit her boyfriend, he was in intensive care with swelling on his brain but thankfully they brought that down. He also broke his eye socket and jaw. "Thankfully now he's awake and fully compos mentis." Gerry explained that his mother had him and his two brothers in the UK. After she split from his father, Gerry's mother later met Patrick McMahon and they moved to Ireland. The couple had Vanessa and her brother in Cork and the family lived there for several years before returning to the UK. Angel "Vanessa grew up in England, unfortunately we lost our mum in 2008, she had a heart attack," Gerry said. "Patrick had to go back to Ireland to care for his own mother and we moved in with our nan, she's an absolute angel, she's in her 80s and she keeps us all together. "Vanessa moved to Ireland last summer to live with Patrick and in a way I'm glad she had that time to get to know him and spend more time with him." By Brian Spence * As I have highlighted several times in this column, Viet Nam now has the second fastest growing economy in the world, after China. Given its new position in the world, there is a growing confidence and entrepreneurial spirit in the air. Many are realising that investment does not just mean property, cash or the bank but have begun investing in the Vietnamese stock market, private equity and in their own businesses. You could call Viet Nam start up Viet Nam. We also see a growing interest in myriad of investment opportunities internationally. This outward investment trend is something I intend to write about later, but for today we are going to take a look at the interest that the global market has in this bustling, innovative and youthful Vietnamese economy and how you can benefit from this. Interest from the global economy in the Vietnamese growth story is huge, however the perception that Viet Nam has a history of corruption has been a major stumbling block for potential international investors. Before significant inward investment will flood into Viet Nam, and flood it will, if the Vietnamese Government continue their crackdown on corruption. The global economy has been impressed by the recently mounted a big anti-graft campaign. The objective of the extensive campaign was part of its bid to rid the banking sector of corruption, reform the public sector and improve its global image. It went after corrupt officials and took down some of the biggest offenders. This is a bold statement to the world that Viet Nam is open for business. S&P have recently invited senior leaders in the international business community to join their Viet Nam mergers and acquisition interest group with a view to inward investment into Viet Nam. There are already over 100 registered international CEOs and senior figures signed up to explore pre-IPO opportunities in Viet Nam. The formula of experienced international investors and Vietnamese business opportunity is a sure-fire recipe for success. So how can you take advantage of these new initiatives? Vietnam Silicon Valley (SVS) is a fantastic Ministry of Science and Technology and Vietnamese Governments initiative directed at stimulating the growth of technology start-ups in Viet Nam. It was launched in 2013 and seeks to create an ecosystem of innovations and technology commercialisation in Viet Nam by combining Vietnamese entrepreneurial spirit and innovative nature with the most successful practices that the US and Europe has to offer in start-up development and mentoring, accelerators, and venture capital funding and investing. Every year, VSV produce a Start-up Call from which they give investors access to more than 300 early stage start-ups in Viet Nam. From this pool, VSV go through a screening process and shortlist 30 start-ups that they feel have what it takes to succeed. They then invite potential investors to attend an Investor interview with the 30 start-ups to pick 10-20 teams. The teams will then be invited to participate in the VSV one month pre-boot camp programme. At the end of the month, VSV will make their final decision on which team will receive your investment and enter the VSV boot camp. If you are a potential investor then it is well worth checking out the VSV website at http://www.siliconvalley.com.vn/. VNS * Brian Spence is Managing Partner of S&P Investments. He has over 35 years of experience in the UK financial services industry as an investment manager, financial planner and M&A specialist. He is a regular contributor to the UK financial press and has a deep understanding of the financial services community. Brians column will reflect on all the challenges and opportunities within the Vietnamese market, bringing a fresh perspective to todays hottest issues. The columnists email address is brian@sandpinvestments.com. BEIJING Deputy Prime Minister Vu uc am attended the opening ceremony of the 5th China South Asia Expo (CAS Expo) and the 25th China Kunming Import and Export Commodities Fair in Kunming , the capital of China s Yunnan Province on Thursday. In his remarks at the event, am spoke highly of the role of the two fairs in fostering co-operation in economy output, trade and investment between businesses in Southeast Asia, South Asia and China . Viet Nam will continue creating favourable conditions for companies from the regional countries and around the world to do long-term business in the country, in a bid to expand friendship and win-win partnerships among nations in the pursuit of regional and global prosperity. The 190,000sq.m expo features around 8,500 booths run by more than 3,800 exhibitors from 53 countries and territories. This years event sees nearly 100 Vietnamese exhibitors at 200 booths showcasing products like seafood, cashew nuts, coffee, fruits, cassava, coconut products from Ben Tre Province , footwear, fragrance, timber and handicrafts. A series of events are scheduled to be held on the sidelines of the expos, including the first China South Asia Co-operation Forum, the 13th China South Asia Business Forum, the second China Southeast Asia Business Forum and the 10th Greater Mekong Sub-region Economic Corridor Week. Deputy PM am also held talks with Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua and received the Governor of Yunnan Ruan Chengfa. During the talk with Hu, the Vietnamese official gave an overview of Viet Nam s socio-economic achievements in recent years. He also praised the development of Viet Nam and China s friendship and co-operation and reaffirmed that Viet Nam always attaches importance to the enhancement of its stable and long-term relations with China . He asked China to continue facilitating key Vietnamese products better access to the Chinese market and to ensure the quality and progress of the two countries joint projects. At the same time, he suggested the two governments support the strengthened partnership between Vietnamese and Chinese localities along the shared border and maintain a stable environment for the promotion of the bilateral friendship. Speaking with Ruan, am said Viet Nam supports and is ready to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese localities to bolster ties with Yunnan . He also asked Yunnan to closely work with Vietnamese side to effectively implement the common perception agreed by the two countries leaders and further expand co-operation in the fields of economy and trade as well as tourism and education, contributing the economic development of both sides border areas. Program helps train certified nursing assistants amid pandemic shortage Finding health care workers quickly during the pandemic became a pressing need, so Ogden Regional Medical Center started a hire-and-train program for new certified nursing assistants. COVID created an undesirable circumstance where a lot of health care workers left to take other job opportunities, said David Perkins, chief nursing officer at Ogden Regional. A lot of people found it to be unsettling and they left the market to take on other jobs that had more of a known direction or outcome. The five-week program, entitled StarTech, includes three weeks in the classroom and ... AN GIANG The Mekong Delta province of An Giang plans to launch more than 50 projects to attract domestic and foreign investment. This was announced at a meeting held in the province on Thursday. The projects will be introduced at a conference to promote investment in the province, scheduled for September 10-12, 2018. They include 14 projects in agriculture, 22 in services and tourism, 14 in the industry and three in construction and urban development, along with others in transportation and healthcare. The event is expected to attract some 380 domestic and international delegates. Products of 27 local businesses and craft villages will also be on display. At the meeting, which was held to prepare for the conference, chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Vuong Binh Thanh instructed agencies to complete contents related to investment incentives, especially in the provinces two spearhead sectors of tourism and agriculture as well as policies to support investors. Through the conference, An Giang wants to provide investors with information on the provinces economic potential and investment opportunities and incentives, thus drawing more investment to the province and expanding co-operation with businesses and investors. The event aims to offer a platform to investors and international organisations to meet and enhance co-operation and exchange between local and foreign businesses. It will comprise two sessions on high-technology agriculture and An Giangs tourism potential. VNS HA NOI The Viet Nam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank) on Thursday held an extraordinary shareholders meeting to approve a plan to supplement its charter capital. The plan outlines an increase to nearly VN34.97 trillion (US$1.53 billion) from the banks equity. Techcombanks charter capital currently stands at nearly VN11.66 trillion, and the increase of over VN23.31 trillion corresponds to over 2.33 billion shares expected to be issued with a par value of VN10,000 per share. The total number of Techcombank shares after raising capital will be about 3.5 billion shares. As a result of the increase, shareholders will receive more shares at a ratio of 1:2 for each share, with each shareholder receiving two new shares. The charter capital increase procedure will be completed in July in accordance with the law. The issuance of shares will be implemented in the third quarter of this year. The plan is expected to help increase liquidity, facilitate trading on the floor by shareholders and investors, and provide the bank with more capital sources for growing reinvestment in the coming years. The purpose of the capital increase is to share benefits with shareholders by dividing retained earnings, equity surplus, and charter capital reserve. Nguyen Le Quoc Anh, general director of Techcombank, said this was a good time to increase charter capital as Techcombank had completed the sale of treasury shares to international investors and officially listed on the HCM Stock Exchange (HoSE). The bank has also used retained earnings for many years to implement its 2016-20 strategy, focusing on building a solid foundation to generate revenue and profits and reduce risks. Techcombank will continue to focus on banking development strategy in the near future to achieve business results consistent with sustainable growth goals approved by the Board of Directors and shareholders, Anh said. VNS Where to go to see this fall's foliage show in the Tri-State area local HA LONG CITY, Quang Ninh The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), has organised a programme to introduce the zero-waste concept to companies in the tourism and hospitality sectors. The event, called Action for a Green Ha Long: Towards Zero Waste, was held in collaboration with Bhaya Cruise, GreenHub, and Live & Learn and took place on June 14 in the tourism hub of Ha Long City, the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh. It attracted more than 100 participants from cruise companies and travel agencies, as well as tour guides, tourism and hospitality students, and their university lecturers. The participants also included environmental experts and campaigners from domestic and international organisations, the Ha Long Bay Management Board, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), NGO specialists, and the media. Additional contributions to the programme came from fashion company BOO and La Regina Cruise. As part of the Ha Long-Cat Ba Alliance, an initiative funded by USAID, the programme was held to support the World Environmental Day 2018 theme, Beat plastic pollution If you cannot reuse it, refuse it. USAID Viet Nams Mission Director, Michael Greene, said this was the fourth Action for a Green Ha Long programme since 2016. Previous events included training on solid waste collection and classification, student competitions, and beach clean-ups while focusing on business engagement, Greene said. Over the past three events, volunteers have collected a total of four tons of trash, mostly expanded polystyrenes and plastic bottles, he said. The deputy head of the Ha Long Bay Management Board, Nguyen Huyen Anh said Quang Ninh Province and the board were mobilising all resources to implement measures to boost the management, preservation, and development of Ha Long Bay. One of the key tasks is to boost investment in environmental protection, Huyen Anh said. Huyen Anh said various action plans have been deployed to serve such goals, including an environmental plan for Ha Long Bay for 2020 to 2030, a deployment plan for the national green growth strategy, and a project on improving Quang Ninhs general environment, including Ha Long Bay. With over 500 boats and four million tourists visiting every year, the bay is one of Viet Nams top tourist attractions. However, water pollution and poor solid waste management is damaging its reputation, as reflected by the number of negative comments on travel websites such as TripAdvisor, the IUCN said in a report. Immediate investments in wastewater treatment and solid waste management are needed to maintain Ha Long Bays environmental values and the jobs and revenue it generates, the report said. The fourth Action for a Green Ha Long encourages businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors to take targeted action towards zero waste. Zero waste is not only a good form of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) but will also benefit businesses through improved branding and marketing opportunities and by contributing to a cleaner, more attractive bay. With USAID support, the Ha Long-Cat Ba Alliance was established in 2014 as a partnership among government, business, and community leaders to catalyse action to preserve and protect Ha Long Bay and the Cat Ba Archipelago. In 2015, the Alliance formed a business-led Leadership Committee, which works to address environmental challenges caused by cruise boats and provides technical advice to UNESCO on the management of Ha Long Bay as well as the proposed addition of the Cat Ba Archipelago to the Ha Long Bay World Heritage Site. In 2017, USAID continued its funding to IUCN, to enhance business alliances that invest in actions to preserve and protect the bay and to advocate for the issuance of government regulations to enable these actions, as well as to reinforce the value of the World Heritage Site designation in providing a level of international scrutiny and influence over site management. VNS HA NOI About 40 Kim Hoang folk paintings will be shown at the Exhibition House on 93 inh Tien Hoang as a part of a series of cultural activities taking place at the weekend walking street around Hoan Kiem Lake from June 15. The event is co-held by the Viet Nam Ceramic Museum , Kim Hoang Village and the Viet Nam University of Fine Arts. It is aims to offer local people and foreign tourists a chance to get to know more about Kim Hoangs folk paintings. Kim Hoang is a famous genre of folk paintings in the northern Red River delta provinces dating back to the 18th century. Along with Hang Trong and ong Ho, Kim Hoang paintings were well received in the 19th century, but the tradition of making the paintings gradually declined and was ultimately lost in the middle of the 20th century. "Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities such as making Kim Hoang paintings and masks with artisans from Kim Hoang Village and students and lecturers from the fine arts university," said Nguyen Thi Thu Hoa, director of Viet Nam Ceramic Museum. "We are aiming the event towards children, and want to show them some of the restored paintings." Preservation: Artisan ao uc Trung, the only artist in Kim Hoang Village to successfully restore ancient paintings. Photo Ha Tung Long Hoa began the folk painting project in 2015. She invited ao uc Trung from Kim Hoang Village to restore the ancient paintings. But it was difficult to carry out the project because a flood in 1915 swept away most of the wood blocks there, and Kim Hoang paintings were not made from 1945 - 1975. Hoa had to ask for help from museums and the collectors in Viet Nam and abroad. "We had to ask about 30 artisans from ong Ho Village; Hang Trong Street and Sinh in central province of Thua Thien Hue to help restore the wood blocks," Hoa said. "We have restored about 30 per cent of the ancient Kim Hoang paintings." A few ancient models featuring pigs, chickens and Han script are copied from wood blocks which are stored in Viet Nam Fine Arts Museum. The other models are about daily life, business activities and farming. They were made based on paintings printed in Imagerie Populaire Vietnamienne by French artist Maurice Durand. The Kim Hoang folk paintings exhibition will open at 4.30pm on June 16 and run until June 18. The exhibition will introduce the history and techniques of Kim Hoang paintings through a documentary. About 100 exhibits related to Kim Hoang paintings will be displayed at the exhibition. A painting contest will be also launched to encourage children inspired by Kim Hoang folk paintings to create their own artworks. The best artworks will be announced on the Full Moon Festival in September. VNS In delivering a split verdict on a batch of petitions challenging the disqualification of 18 dissident AIADMK MLAs owing allegiance to AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran, the Madras High Court has given reprieve to the government led by AIADMKs E Palaniswamy. He must feel relieved but until a third judge is named and gives a verdict that will amount to a 2:1 order , the people of Tamil Nadu remain without a government in the full and true sense of the term. They are the victims of a political culture that valorises hero-worship, cults and deification. J Jayalalithaas MLAs 117 of them in the Tamil Nadu Assembly House of 234 had been trained and conditioned to treat her as precisely that ,a deity. With her gone, in the normal course, her MLAs had but to choose another leader and demonstrate their undiluted trust in that person for the governor of the day to swear him or her, into office. But when were they helped, allowed, to do things in the normal course ? Sasikala Natarajan, whose proximity to the late leader was as clear as the nature of that proximity was un-explained had, not so long ago, been thrown out by Jayalalithaa from the house which she shared with her, but then rehabilitated. Emerging from the funeral as the principal claimant to the crown, she managed to attract and repel MLAs. The emergence of TTV Dhinakaran, Sasikala kin and loyalist, through a dramatic by-election victory from Jayalalithaas R K Nagar seat in Chennai as an independent candidate, shows what needed no proof : The people of Tamil Nadu voted Amma into office; her MLAs came in her wake. Wherever an AIADMK candidate was fielded, they were proxies for Amma. Not they but Amma was the candidate. The state has had for the last one year a government with a residual legitimacy but without a voltage of its own. Its government has been whirring even as a ceiling fan does, for a while, after it has been switched off. The High Court, one hopes, will end the suspense on the petitions soon by either upholding the disqualification or setting it aside. But either way, for the people of Tamil Nadu, the suspense and the misfortune of not having an emphatically mandated government, is likely to continue. Thanks to the manipulations of current-day politics, the 18 members, if not disqualified, may not vote as a solid group against the government, defeating it. And if disqualified, the resultant by-elections may garble the picture even more. The picture will become clear only in another election, held, hopefully, very soon. Tamil Nadu faces serious problems. One might call them crises. A study by Athreya Mukundan in Swarajya (October, 2017) describes them as: 1. Its mounting debt, without a corresponding acceleration of productive economic activity. 2. The sluggishness of its industrial growth with investment falling below its own earlier example. 3. Its education parameters, a TN pride since the days of Kamaraj , slipping. To quote Mukundan in: When we consider arithmetic abilities, (in) Tamil Nadu almost 79 per cent of Class V kids (are) not able to solve a simple division problem. Most serious is the steep plummeting of its ground water reserves and the crisis in its agriculture which made Tamil Nadu farmers stage a dramatic protest in Delhi, drawing international attention. What has come to be known as the guthka scam obliged the Madras High Court to order a CBI enquiry into it. Tamil Nadu waits for an honest and people-oriented government with a clear majority, elected on the basis of programmes and policies explained in a manifesto, and a responsible opposition. It has had an efficient and more or less neutral bureaucracy, maintaining a tradition of honest administration not manipulated by ego-driven ministers. But, in recent years, an insatiable greed for money and supremacy, the two feeding each other, have made a mockery of that tradition. Eppo varuvaro ? When will He come ? is the title of a popular Tamil song by Gopalakrishna Bharati. It sums up the prevailing sentiment of the average man and woman in the state. He is not going to find it easy to enthan kalitheera solve his and her problems but if solving problems and not self-glorification is the ideal, then he or she will be called blessed. Gopalkrishna Gandhi is distinguished professor of history and politics, Ashoka University The views expressed are personal A transgender Hindu woman who loves covering her hands with mehendi every Eid and offers a prayer for peace on Chaand Raat, a Sikh artist who makes a unique unity rangoli on Eid at his home, inter-religious couples for whom the festival is a beautiful occasion to spread the message of love and harmony, a Sufi Muslim historian who throws open her kitchen to strangers to relish Eid delicacies no one celebrates Eid the way Indians do. The festival is a great occasion to salute the soul nourishing, unmatched diversity of India that wipes out all prejudices and makes us so proud. May this Eid be shubh for you! Eid and Diwali have the same essence For us, both are occasions to spread the message of love and harmony, says Husain. (Raajesh Kashyap/HT Photo) Every year, beauty maven Shahnaz Husains house in Delhis Greater Kailash is decorated with mogra and roses. There are vintage candlestands, golden upholstery and rare crockery passed on from generations at display. The dining table is covered with rose petals and scrumptious food that includes dum biryani, delicately flavoured kakori kababs, galauti kabab and shami kebab, khamiri roti and kesari kheer made by their khansama from Lucknow. As children, we looked forward most of all to the Eidithe gifts that children received! As a little girl, I would be so excited to receive beautiful dolls or cooking set. It was an open house and everyone was greeted traditionally, with flowers and sprinkling of rose water. The fragrance still lingers in my memory, reminisces Husain. Not much has changed since then, except that now her husband, entrepreneur Raj Puri also joins her in the celebrations. Eid and Diwali are based on common principles of love, harmony and charity. On both the festivals, the celebrations are similar in our home. For us, both are occasions to spread the message of love and harmony, says Husain. Mili-Juli Eid Abu Sufiyan, her friend, founder of the portal Purani Dilli Walo ki Baatein, recently organised an iftar at a Hindu familys haveli. (Manoj Verma/ HT Photo) There are no walls between homes and hearts in the Walled City. Pots and pans are exchanged, along with clothes and food. Plates toh ab hote hain. Pehle sab ek ghauri se khaate the (There was hardly a concept of plates before. Everyone used to eat from one platter), says Sadia Syed, a teacher by profession, and an Urdu aficionado at heart, whose house is thronged by her neighbours of all faiths to feast on her famous keema kachoris. She goes about laying the dastarkhan with great care, because each ghouri and each baadiyen (bowl) is meant for a particular dish or sherbet (drink). These customs are to be found in a places as old as Shahjahanabad. Abu Sufiyan, her friend, founder of the portal Purani Dilli Walo ki Baatein, recently organised an iftar at a Hindu familys haveli. It was very last moment, but Mathur Saab (Ashok Mathur, his friend) and his wife graciously opened their doors for us. Ours was a strictly non-vegetarian spread, and they are pure vegetarians. This is our Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb, he says. Eid is about making everyone your own Bonds are formed when you open your door, your heart to strangers. Thats the true essence of Eid, says Safvi. (Amal KS/ HT Photo) You dont get to choose your family but you can definitely pick your friends, says food historian Rana Safvi . Eid for her is all about opening her house to strangers and treating them to a scrumptious Eid meal. Bonds are formed when you open your door, your heart to strangers. Thats the true essence of Eid, says Safvi. Her Eid platter consists of murgh musallam, nargisi kofta, kheer, seviyan and more. Musallam means whole. The chicken is marinated in ginger-garlic paste and is stuffed with whole eggs and seasoned with various spices. Often, dry fruits are also stuffed inside the chicken. The word nargisi comes from the flower narcissus. Nargisi kofta is made by the mixture of two meats raw and cooked, which is wrapped around a boiled egg. This boiled egg is fried and then cut into half, explains Safvi, as she busies herself in preparing a hearty feast for her neighbours and their families and friends she has never met before. Chand raat and a prayer of hope Transgender activist Rudrani Chhetri has been celebrating Eid for many years now at her friends place, but this time she is hosting a feast at her house. Transgender activist Rudrani Chhetri has been celebrating Eid for many years now at her friends place, but this time she is hosting a feast at her house. She will keep a fast on Alvida Jumma, the last Friday of Ramzan. Born in a different faith, she enjoys taking part in customs of another religion. Our generation is above these differences. Festivals are about sharing joy, she says. She plans to dress up this Eid. I will decorate my hands with henna on Chand Raat. Kehte hain ki yeh chand khushiyaan le ke aata hai. I pray that peace and love prevails in our nation and our beautiful diversity keeps uplifting our souls, she says. Entwined in love Celebrations go beyond the barriers of religion. I see Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians warmly partake in Eid festivities. This makes us so proud of our multicultural identity, says Meera Ali. (Manoj Verma/ Ht Photo) Eid in India reminds us of our unique oneness. Our diverse culture is what makes us different, and Eid is a testimony to this, says designer Meera Ali, who celebrates the festival every year with her husband, designer Muzaffar Ali, and daughter Sama. Celebrations go beyond the barriers of religion. I see Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians warmly partake in Eid festivities. This makes us so proud of our multicultural identity, she says. This floral Eid rangoli is a visual delight This floral Eid rangoli has been made by artist Harinder Singh of Studio 1469. We must keep recalling Guru Nanak Jis message of universal harmony. Eid is one of the great occasions to do so, says Singh. Text by: Shara Ashraf, Prerna Gauba, Abhinav Verma, Akshay Kaushal and Etti Bali A single bench of the Madhya Pradesh high court on Friday allowed the termination of a rape survivors pregnancy and directed a medical board to oversee the procedure, to be carried out on June 18. The court directive came as a major relief for the 20-year-old petitioner, who had been trying to get the foetus aborted for nearly two months now. The woman, hailing from Khandwa, stated in her petition that she had sexual intercourse with a youth on March 30 after he allegedly promised to wed her. However, he abandoned her in the weeks that followed and married somebody else. She lodged a rape complaint with the police on April 27, and a sonography report released four days later revealed that she was almost seven weeks pregnant. The woman later approached the local police station and the district hospital for permission to conduct an abortion, but her pleas were rejected. Following this, she filed an application for abortion under Section 3 of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act-1971 with the district court on May 26 stating that having to raise a child while she was still unmarried would ruin her familys reputation. Her petition also said that she was suffering from mental and physical trauma. The district court rejected her plea on the grounds that she had not presented a medical report showing that she was undergoing mental and physical trauma due to the pregnancy. The rape survivor then appealed before the high court, and single-bench judge Justice Vandana Kasrekar asked the Khandwa chief medical and health officer to form a medical board to explore the possibility of ending the pregnancy without endangering the patients life. According to her counsel, advocate Anand Dutt Mishra, the board submitted on Thursday that the victim was 13 weeks into her pregnancy which was still seven weeks short of the ceiling set by the abortion law. Justice Kasrekar then directed that the procedure be conducted after three days. Nine women who were arrested in Bhopal for protesting an eligibility criteria to recruit police constables have alleged they were harassed and made to take pregnancy tests in custody. Police and jail authorities have rejected the allegations, saying due procedure was followed. Police had arrested the nine women under section 151 of IPC (gathering despite being told to disperse) during Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhans programme at Lal Parade ground in Bhopal on Wednesday evening. They had raised slogans demanding relaxation in the norm of minimum height in police constable recruitment test as announced by the chief minister last October when a test was conducted for recruiting around 14,000 police constables in the state. Although Chouhan did not specify any measure, the women, who are in the 1921 age group, claimed that he had assured that there would be relaxation of three centimetres. They said they were rejected because they were shorter than 158 cm, the height required to get selected, but would have made it if the 3-cm relaxation was made. After their release from jail on Thursday, the women went to the residence of state Congress leader Deepti Singh and later state Congress president Kamal Nath. They told media persons that they were subjected to harassment by police and jail personnel. In jail, they had to undergo a pregnancy test without their consent. One of the candidates, Anju Bhadoria said, We were treated like criminals. First, police lodged us in a van which drove for three hours in Bhopal. Our mobile phones were taken away. We were not allowed to talk to even our parents. We were taken to jail at night. Once in jail, we were taken into a room where we were asked to go for a simple urine test but we knew it was a pregnancy test. But most discomforting moments were when jails male personnel peeped into the room. Kamal Nath said the women had been staging a dharna in Bhopal for the past three days and they went to Lal Parade ground to meet the CM when they were arrested and sent to jail. In a terse remark, he derided chief minister Chouhan on the way the women were treated. State Congress campaign committee chief Jyotiraditya Scindia said police forcibly lodged the women in jail for wanting to meet the CM to raise their genuine demand for the relaxation of height criteria. Ladli Laxmi ki badi badi baaten karne waali sarkar ab apni hi ghoshnao se mukar kar dadagiri par utar aayi hai (The government which talked of welfare of girls has gone back on its promises and is now suppressing their voices with muscle power). Congress leader Deepti Singh said, The girls were treated as criminals and were subjected to inhuman treatment in jail. Since the girls were bachelors, there was no need for a pregnancy test and it should not have been carried out without their consent. Deputy inspector general (DIG) of police at Bhopal, Dharmendra Choudhary said, Charges against police are baseless. In fact, police treated them with sympathy. The police action like arrest and sending them to jail was taken in accordance with law. The jail superintendent Dinesh Nargawe said, The medical examination was done as per norms of the jail and there was no question of presence of any male staff during any test in the jail. There was no harassment to the girls. State BJP chief spokesperson Deepak Vijayavargiya said police acted as per its discretion during the CMs programme as it was the duty of police to see there were no lapses in security arrangements. As far as the candidates demand for relaxation in the height was concerned, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had already made it clear that his announcement would be implemented in the next recruitment drive. Hence, it could not be implemented with retrospective effect. Anurag Kashyap will keep fighting the establishment, even when he wins. On the eve of the release of Lust Stories, Netflixs new anthology film in which Kashyap along with three other prominent Hindi filmmakers - Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar and Dibakar Banerjee - continues going against the grain, he spoke to us on the phone about how he managed to create uncompromising films despite suppressive censorship laws. In his short film in Lust Stories - there are four, one by each filmmaker - he voices these ambitions through Kalindi, a college professor played by Radhika Apte who enters into a scandalous sexual relationship with her student. By giving the audience an alternative to aspire to and to learn from, he said, we could change how Indian cinema is perceived. Radhika Apte in a still from Lust Stories. He compared the sheer power of showing sexual freedom on screen to the impact Madhuri Dixits characters clothes had in the romantic drama, Hum Aapke Hain Koun - a deeply demure film by even Indian standards. When they watched Madhuris sari, they wanted to buy one, he said. But such outspokenness isnt rare for Kashyap, who opened his most recent film, this years Mukkabaaz, with a scene in which Hindu cow vigilantes executed innocent Muslim men. Obstacles, he said, are in your head. He doesnt let Indias tough censorship laws deflate his spirit, and has developed a co-dependent relationship with the CBFC after years of public tussles. I fight till the end, he said. When I have facts in my hand, they also know I wont give in. I wont back out. But after decades of being at odds with the system, doesnt Netflix offer a luxurious alternative? No censorship, complete freedom and a huge, 130 million potential audience. Online streaming is going to change everything, he said, adding that bringing change to the film industry isnt a priority for the powers that be. Censorship is a strong political tool in a country like India, he said. Itll take constitutional change to amend censorship laws. And with the worlds best filmmakers turning to online streaming - Martin Scorsese, Bong Joon-ho and Noah Baumbach all have films on Netflix - Kashyap suspects India isnt too far behind. In any case, most people, including his daughter and his driver, prefer watching movies on their phones or at home. My driver was watching Gangs of Wasseypur in front of me on his phone, he laughed, and I told him to at least do it behind my back. Certain films, Kashyap said, are more suitable for streaming, but I will keep making cinema. Lust Stories is his first collaboration with Netflix, a partnership that will continue in July when Kashyap and director Vikramaditya Motwanes adaptation of the crime novel Sacred Games is released in eight episodes. Watch it, watch it, he said, its turned out good. I did the Nawaz part and Vikramaditya did all the Saif scenes. Thats how we work. Follow @htshowbiz for more The author tweets at @RohanNaahar My mum makes the best sheer khurma, says an elated Gauahar Khan, all set to celebrate Eid with sister Nigaar Khan and her close friends. But this year, mum is in Dubai with my other sisters, so Ill be making my own biryani and sheer khurma. I hope it turns out to be good, laughs the actor. Eid means everything to her. Its the one day I look forward to because it comes after a whole month of testing yourself whether it comes to food, endurance, how much you can give in charity, how much you can behave yourself and abstain from the wrong things in life, so that you can continue that for the rest of the year. So, its actually a celebration of self worth and how much you can do to be a better version of you for the sake of Allah, says Gauahar. The excitement in the air around this time every year is very different from anything else. Its a good, happy time. We kind of stay awake almost the entire previous night cooking and applying mehendi. And then early morning, we clean the house, get ready and cook the delicacies, she says. Going down memory lane, back to her childhood, the actor recalls how Eid meant an elaborate celebration because hers was a big family five siblings and parents. Buying a new wallet on this day was a yearly ritual for Gauahar. Id only collect my Eidi (gifts/money received as blessings from the elders) in that, so whether it was 10 or 100 or 500, I needed to carry that in nothing but my new wallet. Asked how celebrations have changed over the years, the actor says, As I see whats happening in the world around, people are enjoying more of it as a social gathering, but for us, its just about ibadaat [prayers], its more about faith and then spreading joy. Talking about how her non-Muslim friends, too, enjoy Eid, she adds, Not just Eid, they are there for Ramzan also and they open iftars with us. Thats the beauty of this country that we get to celebrate all festivals together. Be it Diwali, Holi, Eid, Christmas or Baisakhi, we enjoy celebratory moments of every faith in India. Interact with Monika Rawal Kukreja at Twitter/@monikarawal Workaholics Kareena Kapoor Khan and husband Saif Ali Khan have decided to take a break from their break and shoot an ad on Thursday. Of course, we dont think they minded it all, considering they got to spend more time with each other. The Bollywood couple shot for a commercial during their vacation in London and pictures from the sets are going viral. Several of Kareenas Instagram fanpages have shared the pictures of the two at their lovey-dovey best. In the photos, Kareena and Saif are seen in a cosy-looking home, sipping coffee and strumming guitars. The pictures exude warmth and just might give you stronger #couplegoals than ever. Check them out: Kareena and Saif are on a vacation with their son, Taimur. They were seen together on a merry-go-round in another picture that went viral on Thursday. Kareena gave a big smile to the camera while Taimur looked nervous in his fathers lap. Kareena and Saif also enjoyed dinner with her sister Karishma, Sonam Kapoor and her sister Rhea on Wednesday. While Kareena is taking a break after her latest film Veere Di Wedding, which collected Rs 100 crore worldwide, Saif is eagerly waiting for the release o f his upcoming Netflix orginal series, Sacred Games that releases in July. Follow @htshowbiz for more We love books. But no matter how much we read, there are always dusty shelves and stories real or fictional that we still havent opened our eyes to. So every month, well write about a topic, an author or a series that catches our attention. Whether it is James Bond or Scandinavian noir, the idea is to celebrate bestsellers across the world and discover more about the unknown faces behind forgotten books. Bookworm or not, we promise therell be a little bit for everyone, because after all, books are forever. *********** Theres something strange in the after effect of reading a Haruki Murakami story. Its as if time stands still when the last line has run out, the last word read and the last letter comes to a stop with a sombre period. And then a feeling of utter helplessness washes over as the realisation of nostalgia, fate and tragedy come to the fore together. This is what a Murakami story does with some jazz, The Beatles or Bach and Beethoven tuning inside your mind. The Japanese authors masterstroke is his ease of prose and the way he, with all his literary awards to showcase, topples the notion of intellectual elite. The beauty of his work lies in fantastical stories that are embellished in reality and his lonely, nomadic characters that are left searching for the green light in the ruins of themselves. Also read: Four books by British author Sue Townsend that will leave you in splits Here are four books by Murakami you ought to read if you havent already: Sputnik Sweetheart Laika comes to mind when I first think of Sputnik, the Russian satellite that was carrying a rescue dog who was used for space research. The satellite was never found, and Laika lives immortalised in her sacrifice. The title says it all, doesnt it? A shot of melancholy and the impending sense of doom have been hinted before the story has even begun. In retrospective tones, the narrator known only as K tells the story of Sumire, the obsessively stubborn writer who falls in love with an older woman Miu. It sounds like an utterly normal story until a tale of divided soul and dream-like sequences where people vanish into worlds not their own. This is Murakami holding his reader hostage to a range of emotions, an act of Greek tragedy he seems to have perfected without the drama. Men Without Women If Murakamis novels are about the stolen moments of life, his short stories are like episodes from a Richard Linklater movie mere conversation connects people, reveals their flaws, and weaves them into memories. Rain platters down and the moon shines its imperfections into the night as companions to Murakamis solitary characters. The stories -- even within 10-20 pages -- are no short of magical adventures but they vary from the novels in one striking manner: Theres a flicker of hope for the lost souls finding themselves again. Norwegian Wood Its understandable why this is one of Murakamis most discussed novels. Theres love that is destined to fall and friendships meant to fail, and the survivors who are left with embers of irreplaceable loss. Toru Watanabe loses his great love to a depression but there are still people who save him; Midori the bizarre, chirpy characters who keep reappearing in Murakami novels -- among them. All of this occurs in the backdrop of the 1960s student movements in Japan. This is one of the most gripping Murkami novels, simply because the story takes you along in waves. It gives a glimpse of absolute happiness and then crushes it with pure sorrow. And in the end, it leaves a glint of hope for those who have fallen to lifes adversities. Heres a sample: Still leaning against the handrail, I studied the firefly. Neither I nor it made a move for a very long time. The wind continued sweeping past the two of us while the numberless leaves of the zelkova tree rustled in the darkness. I waited forever. Long after the firefly had disappeared, the trail of its light remained inside me, its pale, faint glow hovering on and on in the thick darkness behind my eyelids like a lost soul. More than once I tried stretching my hand out in the dark. My fingers touched nothing. The faint glow remained, just beyond my grasp. Kafka on the Shore Other Murakami novels may be uncanny, but Kafka on the Shore is utterly perplexing. Like Mikhail Bulgalovs The Master and Margarita or Alice in Wonderland series, Kafka on the Shore borders on the thin line between madness and reality. A runaway kid, talking cats, fishes falling from the sky, and dancing in the rain make up its surreal elements. But other times, the story retains its love for music as therapy and its lone characters looking for a place to call home. HA NOI The five star Sheraton Hanoi is presenting a food promotion featuring Japanese cuisine at its Oven Dor restaurant. During the 10-day event, executive chef Nguyen Cong Chung, who was named the Best Chef in Asia 2017 by Hotelier Awards, has delivered a life-time of culinary experience to connoisseurs in Ha Noi. Guests will have the chance to treat themselves to delicate dishes made from the finest ingredients such as sushi and sashimi, tempura, okonomi yaki pancakes, shabu shabu hotpot, ramen and soba noodles. The dishes are served in a buffet style so guests are free to taste all the unique flavours as if they were exploring a real street in Japan . For the first time at the hotel, guests will be experiencing the Japanese culinary journey through the impressive story of the hotels General Manager, Masahiro Taguchi. Born in Kobe , Kansai, Taguchi has brought with him all the traditional flavours of his hometown during his journeys around the world. These flavours bring back the memories of his childhood. Okonomi yaki pancake is undoubtedly my soul food. This dish is a nostalgic part of my childhood that can hardly be forgotten. The pancake originally comes from Kansai, where Kobe was born. Instead of making Okonomi yakithe the usual way like other regions in Japan with ingredients like flour, cabbage, and pork belly, in Kobe , we replace the pork with a special ingredient that is the signature of the city. We use suji kon-nyaku, or stewed beef tendon, said Taguchi. The Japanese cuisine will be served for lunch and dinner from now until June 24. VNS Airlines are likely to increase fares across the board by a few hundred rupees per ticket to offset a possible revenue hit from refunding customers for cancelled tickets, as proposed by the government in a draft new passenger rights charter last month. An executive with a private airline said the proposal for full refund if a customer cancels a ticket within 24 hours of booking will upset the pricing strategy that enables the industry to provide low airfare. If the provision is retained in the final version that is expected to be implemented in a couple of months, airfare will have to be adjusted to recover the revenue loss due to refunds, said the executive, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The government estimates that about 7% of all air tickets in India are cancelled. Assuming that the cancelled seats are not filled at the time of journey, airlines deciding to recover the loss from refunds may lead to an increase in fare in the range of Rs 200-400, a government official said on condition of anonymity. A 180-seat aircraft, which sells seats at about Rs 5,000, may take a revenue hit of Rs 63,000 per flight if 7% of the tickets are cancelled with full refund. This is not an issue of airline finances, but one of public policy, the government official said. Passengers may need to cancel tickets at times due to unforeseen circumstances. We have to decide whether a customer should solely bear the cost of cancelling her ticket or should it be borne equally by all passengers as a matter of public policy. The government is firm in its commitment to implement what it called the 24-hour lock-in option. Customers normally do not feel bad paying a bit more for booking a ticket, but would feel the pinch when they lose all the money due to cancellation, said the government official. Passenger allowed lock-in option for 24 hours (after booking ticket) in which the passenger can cancel or amend the ticket without any additional charges, said the draft charter, which was released on 22 May. An official with a second airline, who did not want to be named, said the lock-in option would unfairly deny some customers the opportunity to avail of seats at low rates as the airfare would have gone up by the time they eventually cancel the tickets. Emails seeking comments from Jet Airways, SpiceJet and industry body Federation of Indian Airlines remained unanswered at the time of going to press. Experts said the airline industry is already finding it hard to cope with the increase in jet fuel prices, which is eating into the companies margins. Increased competition in the aviation market has made it difficult for airlines to pass on the increased fuel cost to passengers and absorbing it has now reached unsustainable levels, said Kinjal Shah, vice-president, corporate ratings, at rating agency ICRA. One needs to see the final fine print of the passenger rights charter to assess its impact on the industry, said Shah. The assassination of Shujaat Bukhari -- a friend and colleague -- throws me back to a chilling personal memory of Kashmir. The year was 2000. Then, like now, there was a ceasefire in the valley -- this one called by the Hizbul Mujahideen as a faction of its militants began historic talks with the Vajpayee government. Obviously a gigantic amount of back-channel work had been conducted by intelligence agencies to enable the first-ever dialogue of its kind. Those days, the Vajpayee vision of peace allowed interlocutors to explore breakthroughs without fear of being labelled traitors. But, alas, those who have advocated dialogue in Kashmir have always paid with their lives. Within days of the talks the Hizbul called off its ceasefire because of Indias principled refusal to make space for Pakistan at the same table. I was in Srinagar reporting the story. Two days later, on August 10, I ran out of my hotel at the sound of a blast. Many other journalists from the press colony nearby (the same area where Shujaat was killed) were also running in the direction of the explosion. Within minutes, we would discover that this was a booby trap. A second more powerful bomb had been planted in a car; the first blast was a ploy to lure us to the spot. Pradeep Bhatia, photographer with the Hindustan Times, was the fastest on his feet. He was killed instantly. I remember cradling the blood-soaked body of Fayaz, another photographer, dragging him out of the melee, while simultaneously trying to remain cogent in my television report. Needless to say the talks with the Hizb collapsed after the terror strike on the media. Worse, the militants of the Majid Dar faction who had been willing to talk to the government were subsequently killed by Pakistan-backed groups. While we await the results of the investigation, the assault on Shujaat could be similarly motivated. As does the murder of Aurangzeb, a soldier of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, who was abducted and killed by terrorists while he was on his way home for Eid. The government was to take a decision on extending its unilateral ceasefire beyond Ramzan; now that seems impossible. But in the 18 years that tragically bookend the murders of Pradeep Bhatia and Shujaat Bukhari, Kashmir has changed perilously. Terrorist violence and Pakistans role in the valley is a constant. But the security forces had been vastly successful in containing militant activity. They had deftly brought the state to a situation where the onus was on political imagination to make the next move. That never came. And the vacuum grew alarmingly large. As the use of the anti-national label became inanely commonplace, the irony is that it is in fact politicians who have let down soldiers with an inconsistent, unthinking Kashmir policy. While all governments have made some mistakes, in the last four years especially, New Delhis Kashmir policy has been dangerously unsteady. It has lurched wildly between hardline jingoism and sheer denialism. Even the announcement of a ceasefire -- a gesture I otherwise welcomed -- seems to have been done without any ground work. It abruptly followed a phase of tough-fisted ground operations. Contradictions in the Kashmir policy mirror the ideological chaos of the Peoples Democratic Party-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance. The untenable coalition has fed the extremists on either side instead of being able to tame or moderate them. Supporters of the BJP -- and you will see this on social media -- are unwilling to confront the resurgence in local militancy that some of us have been warning about for three years. When I factually reported that Burhan Wanis father is a government school headmaster and Zakir Musa had studied engineering, I did so to make the point that generalised rhetoric about education and laptops vs stones wont change much. For stating mere facts rightwing supporters vilify and smear us as if we are militants. News channels have done immeasurable damage to prospects of peace by tarring all Kashmiris with the same brush. Our refusal to create and engage with moderate Kashmiri voices is fast leading us to a point where there will be no one sane to represent the other side. Meanwhile police officers in the valley say women and children have begun to snatch weapons from men on duty. The funerals of those killed by the forces have become recruiting grounds for new militants. And when Kashmiri policemen travel back to their village, they sometimes cloak their faces to avoid being recognised. India is absolutely right in rejecting the airy-fairy United Nations Human Rights Council report on violations in Kashmir. The report pretends terrorism does not exist. And of course we must damn Pakistan for its role in using terrorism as a weapon of asymmetric warfare. But some mistakes are our own. The governments Kashmir policy needs a reboot. And a start would be to restore the writ of the state and eliminate the inchoate paradoxes of the BJP and PDP partnership with governors rule. Else, as Shujaats assassination shows us, things could become entirely irretrievable. Barkha Dutt is an award-winning journalist and author The views expressed are personal The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is going to submit a feasibility project on Kandi Road that is proposed to pass through Corbett Tiger Reserve by September. During State Board for Wildlife meet on Friday, VB Mathur, director WII gave a presentation on the progress of the dream project of the BJP-led Uttarakhand government. The road was announced immediately after TS Rawat became chief minister last year. The road aims to connect Garhwal and Kumaon regions by minimising the distance by at least 82 km. Mathur informed how wildlife experts have already begun its survey on the ground. A patch of nearly 50 km inside Corbett is being studied intensively so that the institute could suggest options for development work without disturbing the wildlife. Due to the monsoon, the survey work is being delayed. We will be able to submit the report on the feasibility of the road within four months, Mathur told CM. Having put nearly 250 camera traps in the 50 km patch inside the reserve, Mathur pressed on the need of conscious decision on the project. He said how the identified route has reported heavy traffic of tigers and elephants. All these points have been closely identified. The 5-km north and south of the road have been studied. The ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) with the help of WII had released a detailed report on linear infrastructure management inside protected area. Experts are stressing on making this a Green Road. According to WII, the concept of green infrastructure involves, optimising road alignment based on multiple criteria decisions, use of structural and non-structural measures. A few years ago, the alignment of the road was done twice by the public works department (PWD) Dugadda and in both the alignments; the road passes from outside Corbett. The Supreme Court had also approved this alignment that passes outside the reserve. The government had also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) for construction of the road. National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently shot a show-cause notice to the government and others on their plan for the road. Delhi may get relief soon as strong winds from the west are expected to clear the dusty stagnant air that has enveloped the city for the past few days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday. Strong dust raising winds of the order of 25-35 kmph likely to continue over Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi and west Uttar Pradesh during next 24 hours, it said, adding that thunderstorms are expected too at isolated places over the city in the coming days. Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds and lightning very likely at isolated places over Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi , Rajasthan, east Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and north coastal Tamil Nadu, the IMD said. Delhis air quality remained severe for a fourth day with PM10 levels being recorded at more than seven times the permissible limit PM10 levels was recorded at 754 in Delhi-NCR and 801 in Delhi, leading to hazy conditions. PM10, or particulate matter 10, is a key measure of air toxicity that describes inhalable particles with diameters that are generally 10 micrometers or smaller. The air quality is expected to improve and clear the stagnated dusty air that has primarily led to the rise in the pollution level, said Gufran Beig, a scientist at the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research institute (SAFAR). The PM2.5 level (presence of particles with diameter less than 2.5 mm) that deteriorated from very poor to severe showed improvement on Friday at 184 in Delhi region and 175 in Delhi NCR, said the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. On Thursday, the PM2.5 level in Delhi-NCR was at 268 and Delhi at 277. According to the CPCB, the air quality index (AQI), a measurement of the concentration of toxic particulate matter in air, at several places in Delhi remained over 500. An AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor and 401-500 severe. As the national capital region struggles with the severe dust pollution, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal ordered stoppage of all civil construction activities across the city till Sunday as part of the emergency measures which also include intensifying mechanical road sweeping. Do you have a cough, cold, and a runny nose, or suffering from breathlessness? Blame it on the dust pollution. Doctors across Delhi reported an increase in the number of patients of respiratory ailments coming in with aggravated symptoms. The number of patients with existing respiratory conditions who come to the clinic with such symptoms has doubled in the last five days. In fact, some people not diagnosed with asthma also came in with symptoms, said Dr Brig. Ashok Rajput, director, department of pulmonology, Fortis, Shalimar Bagh. Dr SP Byotra, head of the department of medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, has seen a three-time rise in the number of patients coming in with dust allergies in the last couple of days. Stay healthy in the haze Avoid walking, jogging or exercising outdoors when the air is hazy Stay indoors in air-conditioned rooms, use air purifiers if available People with already diagnosed respiratory problems should use N95 masks when stepping out While travelling in cars, roll up the windows Avoid places with high-vehicular density People with asthma or COPD must take their medicines regularly, even in summer What should you do? Stay indoors as much as possible. The best precaution is to stay away from the dust. People should stay indoors as much as possible. And, if they have air purifiers, they must use them. However, if they step out, they must use masks, said Dr Rajput. Doctors also suggest travelling in cars with windows rolled up. The people who go out for walks or exercise in the open should avoid it at all costs. Heavy breathing during exercise results in people inhaling more of the pollutants, said Dr Rajput. For people who have already been exposed to the dust and have congestion or runny nose, doctors advise antihistamine. People can take an antihistamine or anti-allergic medicine if their symptoms are really bad. However, if the runny nose or the congestion does not go away in three to seven days, they should go to the doctor, said Dr Byotra. Another problem at this time is that people take antibiotics. Even though most of the cough is allergic, people self-administer antibiotics. This should be avoided. Doctors have to see if there is fever and if the white blood cell count is elevated to determine if it is an infection and prescribe antibiotics, said Dr Srikant Sharma, senior consulting physician at Moolchand hospital. In Delhis Sangam Vihar, one of the countrys largest unauthorised colonies where the government has failed to provide piped water connection to all houses, a local councillors brother was shot dead following a dispute over drawing water. The victim, Kishan Bhadana(45), brother of councillor Suresh Bhadana, who represents the CR Park ward, was shot dead on Thursday evening by his neighbours. Police have arrested five persons from the same family. The deceased Kishans son has also sustained a gunshot injury on his hand. Police have identified the main accused as Babli (38) and his father Rampat(54). Deputy commissioner of police (south), Romil Baaniya confirmed that at around 8pm on Thursday, there was a dispute between Kishan and the accused person in Sangam Vihars B block. DCP Baaniya said Kishan was laying a water connection from a Delhi Jal Board pipeline near his home to which Babli was objecting. This became the reason for murder, he said. In Sangam Vihar, there are over 15 lakh residents. Not all residents have Del Jal Board water pipes directly connected to their homes. A police officer said that at around 6pm when Kishan, his wife Suman and her two sons, Manish and Sagar were laying a pipeline to their house, Babli and his father objected. Rampat and his son Babli who live in the neighbourhood, objected to the laying of pipeline in front of their house. They wanted Kishan to lay the pipe away from their house. This led to an argument between the two families which was temporarily sorted. Around 7.40 pm, when Kishan, who works as a property dealer, returned from his office, Babli, Rampat and three other family members approached Kishan and had an argument which soon turned violent. During this, Babli took out a pistol and fired gunshots, one of which hit Kishan in his abdomen, the officer said. Kishan Bhadanas wife Suman, who said she is an eyewitness, said that as soon as she along with her two sons rushed down, the men shot at her son Manish, who sustained a gunshot injury in his right elbow. Babli was accompanied by a number of men most of them his tenants, who were throwing bricks at us. My mother-in-law and younger son Sagar both sustained severe injuries. It was a public killing. A lot of people were there, she alleged. The DCP said that accused Babli and his brother also got injuries during the scuffle. Based on the statement of victim Manish a case of murder, Arms Act and under other sections has been registered at Sangam Vihar police station, Baaniya said. Police said Kishan who had been admitted to the nearby Batra hospital succumbed to his injuries on Friday afternoon. Police said Babli who had fired the shot was also admitted to hospital with injuries during the scuffle. Police said they would formally arrest him once he is discharged. Bablis father Rampat, siblings Gagan, Kannu and Kaviraj have been arrested. A number of BJP MPs like Ramesh Bhiduri and Meenakshi Lekhi also were present at AIIMS Trauma centre along with the councillor Suresh Bhadana where Kishans body was handed over to the family after post mortem, for last rites. Delhi is a quasi-state riding on two systems: central rule through an unelected lieutenant-governor and an elected dispensation under a chief minister. The arrangement is inevitable, not ideal. Why? The city is simultaneously the seat of power of the central government bound by international treaties that make it responsible for the security and safety of visiting foreign dignitaries, embassies and hundreds of resident diplomats. For that, the police have to be under the Union home ministry through the lieutenant-governors office. In full statehood provinces, law and order is in the exclusive charge of the elected regime. The terms of engagement are different in Delhi because it houses two elected legislatures and governments. The state assembly indeed represents the will of the people but its remit isnt weightier than that of Parliament. The distinction is as big as it is between the Supreme Court and the Delhi high court. Their premises are at a walking distance from each other but a huge constitutional hierarchy separates them. Even geographically and by implication administratively, Delhi is part of the centrally coordinated National Capital Region (NCR) involving chunks of neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana. The NCR Planning Board created under the NCR Act is under the Union ministry of urban development. It is that kind of matrix that dictates the seemingly dichotomous jurisdictions or separation of powers between the L-G and the elected regime. The Delhi CM is a half CM who isnt the master of all that he surveys. The real power rests with Raj Niwas. The arrangement can work if the big brother is benign and his elected sibling, so to speak, deferential and reasonable. Or else, the outcome is the breakdown of the constitutional machinery as is evident from the protracted face-off between Anil Baijal and Arvind Kejriwal. The irony is that as former civil servants, they cannot be oblivious of the value of accommodation, of the give and take that creates meeting grounds in vexed situations. What they have ended up co-authoring is an unprecedented impasse that looks unresolvable. If wiser counsel doesnt dawn, Delhi would end up getting full central rule not the full statehood the AAP leadership is seeking. Lieutenant-governors and CMs with adversarial persuasions have had good working relationships in yesteryears. To cite one example: Vijai Kapoor, a BJP-appointed LG (1998-2004) got Sheila Dikshits Congress government the money it needed (from the urban development ministry) for constructing flyovers across the city. The Baijal-Kejriwal deadlock was the subject of an animated exchange at a luncheon meeting of retired chief secretaries of states the other day in Delhi. The consensus view there was that things spun out of control with Kejriwal failing to make peace with his chief secretary, Anshu Prakash, by regretting the incident that upset him. The L-G contributed to the stalemate by not reaching out to the CM for a modus vivendi. That fuelled speculation that the bureaucracys non-cooperation with AAP ministers had his blessings. The half-statehood, half-central rule streams arent, therefore, running parallel. Theyre flowing at cross purposes and the casualty could be the AAP regime. Its difficult to say whether Kejriwal wants to be ousted. That eventuality will make de jure the de facto central rule in Delhi. The AAP leaders could then hope for some sympathy as the schemes for which theyre fighting are people-centric. From the BJPs standpoint, the elected governments dismissal will bring into question its commitment to federalism at a time the big ticket 2019 battle is less than a year away. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his three cabinet colleagues continued their sit-in protest at Lt Governor Anil Baijals office on Friday, pitching the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders against the central governments representative for the fifth straight day. Kejriwal, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, public works department minister Satyender Jain and development minister Gopal Rai have camped at Raj Niwas since Monday, refusing to leave until Baijal orders Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers posted in the Delhi government to call off their alleged strike. Sisodia and Jain are on hunger strike and as four ambulances carrying medics drove in to the Raj Niwas, Kejriwal said in a tweet he suspected his ministers would be taken away forcibly. Kejriwal and the three ministers have been using Twitter to drum up support for their protest. Kejriwal on Friday retweeted a post that said AAP will collect 10 lakh letters from Delhis citizens requesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to end IAS officers strike. Jain, who is on a hunger strike since Tuesday, in a tweet urged Modi to look into the matter. Have been waiting in the LG office from last four nights, but he could not mange even four minutes time. I hope the Prime Minister will look into this, Jain tweeted. Echoing same sentiments, Rai also tweeted adding that he hopes Modi will be concerned about the fitness of the democracy in Delhi. On Thursday, Kejriwal in a letter sought Modis intervention to end the IAS officers strike, as there has been no communication from Baijals office. Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has launched a social media campaign with the hashtag #ModijiForgiveDelhi. Party members posted videos requesting Modi to let the elected government work by instructing the IAS officers to join back work. Since Monday, Baijal has been working from his residence, according to sources. More political leaders and parties have come forward to express their support to the sit-in, with former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, actor-turned-politician Kamal Hassan and Shatrughan Sinha, and parties like the CPI and the CPI(M) being the latest to join the list. Kejriwals protest has already been backed by West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, RJD MP Manoj Jha, former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha. (With inputs from IANS) The polices special cell has foiled a plan to murder and rob a well-to-do elderly couple in central Delhi . The elderly couple owns pharmaceutical firms and factories in Delhi and lives alone in a sprawling bungalow. The two arrested suspects and their associates saw them as easy targets and planned to rob cash and jewellery worth Rs 1 crore from them, said PS Kushwah, deputy commissioner of police (special cell). The robbery-cum-murder was to be executed in the early hours of Wednesday, but the Delhi Polices special cell managed to nab the two suspects on Tuesday evening. Two pistols, which they allegedly intended to use in the killing, have been recovered from the arrested men. The two men have been identified as Ombir Singh and Jagdish Kumar both 27 years of age. Singh was out on a week-long parole to attend to his hospitalised mother, but instead used the opportunity to plan the crime, said the DCP. Police said they had planned the murder in Tihar Jail where Singh was lodged in connection with other cases of robbery and murder. Singh befriended some criminals in jail and told them about his plan of targeting a wealthy elderly couple. He had spotted the couple while working as a driver in the same neighbourhood, said an investigator. For three decades now, Kashmir has experienced deep grief. Its residents have lived with terror attacks, targeted killings, disappearances, militarisation, curfews, and almost continuous disruptions to their livelihood. But even in this grim landscape, the killing of Shujaat Bukhari -- a well-known Kashmir editor and commentator -- and two security personnel guarding him in Srinagar has numbed both the state and the rest of the country. Bukhari was an important Kashmiri voice. He condemned the violence of terrorism and critiqued the Indian state for violations committed by it. He engaged, like journalists do, with diverse viewpoints within the Kashmiri political spectrum. He was a part of the Track II peace initiative that seeks a dialogue between India and Pakistan and a sustained conversation between the Indian government and Kashmiri representatives. He and the two security personnel with him were killed by three men on a motorcycle in a drive-by shooting just as he was leaving his office on Thursday evening for Iftar. The killing sparked outrage across the board -- from home minister Rajnath Singh to Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and opposition leader Omar Abdullah to the separatist leadership in Srinagar, everyone condemned it. Even Pakistan was forced to condemn the killing. But there is a larger message in Bukharis killing. For one, it highlights the deep vulnerability of journalists -- editors, reporters, photo journalists alike -- in conflict regions such as Kashmir. Since 1990, 19 journalists have been killed in the state for merely doing their job, speaking truth to power on all sides and bringing real stories and photographs to readers. Two, the killing speaks of the worrying security environment in the state. No formal investigation has taken place, but the home minister and chief minister Mehbooba have said that terrorists were responsible. Bukhari was killed on the day the body of an army jawan, who had been abducted by terrorists earlier, was found. And three, the fact that the killing happened almost on the eve of Eid, right before a final decision is to be taken on whether the Ramzan cessation of operations should be extended, indicates that there is a political subtext. The government has its task cut out. It has to build an environment of peace. At the same time, it must not lower its guard; it should step up security and bring Bukharis killers to justice. Otherwise, Kashmirs tragedy will continue. National Assembly (NA) deputies on June 14 approved the restructuring of the public security apparatus while discussing the draft revision of the Law on the Peoples Public Security Force. VNA/VNS Photo Phuong Hoa HA NOI National Assembly (NA) deputies on June 14 approved the restructuring of the public security apparatus while discussing the draft revision of the Law on the Peoples Public Security Force. Deputy To Van Tam from the Central Highland province of Kon Tum said that with the draft revision, the Public Security Ministry will be adding commune police into the peoples public security force. Thus, it was not necessary to develop another law for the commune police. On June 7, Minister of Public Security To Lam presented the draft law to the NAs plenary meeting, proposing that commune police no longer work part-time as regulated by current laws. Moreover, he said Government should now develop a regular commune police force. Lam said that regular commune police are available in 1,065 communes nationwide while 8,516 communes have none. He added that the ministry would send about 25,000 regular police to communes and the Government will reshuffle the head and vice head of the commune police. At the meeting, Deputy Tran Van Mao of Nghe An Province said that an improved commune police would help to better ensure social order and security at the grassroots level, while ensuring human rights and citizens rights are upheld. He said that at the grassroots level, Viet Nam faces many problems including complaints and conflicts relating to land use and management, and the negative impacts of urbanisation and industrialisaton. The current commune police force is insufficient both in numbers and expertise, resulting in an insufficient capacity to address such issues. Mao called for a roadmap to improve the commune police force to avoid sudden major changes to its current state. The Law on Peoples Public Security was approved by the National Assembly in 2014 and took effect in July, 2015. VNS The Calcutta Universitys BA second paper journalism examinations were cancelled on June 15 after it was found the questions were drawn from third paper curriculum, a varsity official said. The university has cancelled the examination after detecting the mix-up and would notify about another date later on, the official said. He said a report has been sought from the controller of examinations on an urgent basis about how this happened. Anwesha Banik, student of an affiliated college in north Kolkata said, as we sat down to write the BA second year second paper, we found the questions were related to the third paper curriculum even though the words Journalism second was printed on top of the question. As there was commotion inside the examination centre, the principal and other senior faculty came and contacted the university authorities. Soon afterwards we were informed that todays examinations were cancelled and we will be informed about the later date, she said. Similar incidents were reported from all CU-affiliated colleges across the city, the official said. The first day of preliminary trials for admission to undergraduate seats reserved at Delhi University for those who excel in extra-curricular activities began on Thursday. Though the process went without glitches at large, some students complained of a late notification of the trial schedule and clashes with trials for other activities, while others were unaware that trials were to be held in an alphabetical order, with students allotted specific dates and time. Gayathri Ravikumar, 18, an applicant from Trichy, attended the preliminary trials for Indian classical dance at Mata Sundri College on Thursday, and said that a late notification of the trial dates made it difficult for outstation students like her to make travel arrangements. While the online application procedure is very straightforward and smooth, the schedule wasnt friendly to outstation applicants. The rules for preliminary trials were announced two days ago, and there wasnt much time to prepare, she said. Some students also claimed that they were unaware that applicants were being called at specific times on specific dates. As a result they turned up for trials on the first day itself, even if it wasnt their turn. Thankfully they allowed us to give trials and did not send us away. In fact, if not, then my trials for theatre would have clashed with my music trials, said Himani Moulik, an 18-year-old sociology aspirant, who was at Ramjas College for theatre trials. According to the alphabetical time schedule released by the university, Moulik would have had to attend the theatre trials at 10.30 am at Ramjas College in north Delhi, and head over to Rajdhani College in west Delhi by 1 pm on the same day for the trials in Indian music. The data with the alphabetically ordered list of students, and the specific time and date slots to be given to them, was uploaded late on Wednesday afternoon, so I think a few students missed it. We allowed students who had emergencies, or clashes with other ECA to give trials on Thursday itself. Otherwise, we asked them to come back on their assigned date and time, said Taruna Joshi, the ECA convenor at Ramjas College. Joshi also said that for students who encounter clash between the times and dates allotted to them, DU advises them to give priority to the trial of the activity which is of a shorter duration. Theatre trials are being held from June 14 to June 21, so we can accommodate them on any one of these days, Joshi said. The body of a 40-year-old domestic help from Nepal was found hanging from a ceiling fan inside her room in DLF Aralias, an upscale condominium in DLF-5 late Wednesday. No suicide note was recovered from the room, the police said. The Sushant Lok police have initiated an inquest under Section 174 of the CrPc. Police said the deceased, identified as Kami Tanangi, of Sindhupalchok district in Nepal, had been working as a full-time help at one of the apartments in DLF Aralias. According to the police, she used to work for a Romanian couple and was hired seven months ago to do household chores. The wife of the employer had left for Romania for two months on June 1 along with her two children. The man has been staying alone in the apartment. The domestic help and the driver, Prem, lived in two rooms in the apartment, Anil Kumar, ACP (DLF), said. The police refused to share the name of the womans employer. She started living in the apartment last week. Earlier, she travelled from Shahpur Jat in Delhi, where she lived with her daughter, Kumar said. According to the police, the foreign national returned home around 8.40pm and asked Kami to fill a water bucket but found that it was not done. He then asked the driver to check on Kami but their knocks went unanswered. The driver broke open the door and found her hanging. A team from Sushant Lok police station rushed to the spot and took her to the civil hospital where she was declared dead, Kumar said. Her family members reached Gurugram on Thursday morning. We were informed that she was unwell as she suffered from low blood pressure. We told Prem we wouldnt be able to come but he said it was an emergency. We all rushed here and found her dead, Meera Lama, deceaseds mother-in-law, said. Lama also said Kami had been depressed for long as her son was suffering from throat cancer and she wanted to get him operated in Delhi but was unable to get money for the same. Sushila Syangba, the daughter of deceased, said a post-mortem examination has been conducted and they would conduct the last rites in Malviya Nagar. My father will reach Delhi on Thursday night. My brother is unwell and his condition worsened on Wednesday evening. My mother must have felt helpless and could have hanged herself, Syangba said. A 93-year-old man moved the Supreme Court on Friday against an Allahabad high court order, in which he was sentenced to life imprisonment in a 40-year-old murder case. Petitioner Rohtas counsel mentioned the matter for an urgent listing before a vacation bench of Justices UU Lalit and Deepak Gupta, arguing that his client who is currently behind bars was suffering from ailments due to which he was unable to move his right portion of the body. According to the plea, there is a blockage in the petitioners brain due to which he could go into coma or suffer paralysis. The bench told Rohtas lawyer to mention the appeal again on June 18 when a new set of judges would take over as the vacation bench. The case dates back to September 29, 1978 when a scuffle broke out between two sides over harvesting crop on a piece of land in Uttar Pradeshs Baghpat district. According to the police report in the case, few people suffered injuries in the brawl and one person who was assaulted by Rohtas and his associates later died. A trial court had sentenced Rohtas and two others to life imprisonment in 1983. Rohtas later moved the high court against his conviction, stating that the charges levelled against him were false and it was in fact his associates who had informed the police about the incident. He pleaded right to self defence before the court while highlighting the injuries suffered by him and his associates in the scuffle. The high court, however, dismissed his petition on February 12. In his appeal before the apex court, Rohtas claimed that the high court failed to consider several facts, including the injuries sustained by him during the scuffle. The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to examine a medical aspirants plea to let him pursue an MBBS course despite suffering from the disability of low vision in which the eyesight cannot be corrected or improved. The issue arose before a bench of justice UU Lalit and justice Deepak Gupta, which asked whether a person with visual disability could become a doctor to treat patients. If you talk about any other profession like legal or teaching, it can be understood that even a blind person can successfully pursue the career. As far as MBBS is concerned, we have to see how much it is feasible and possible, the bench said. The bench issued notices to the Centre and the Gujarat government on the plea of the student who has cleared the NEET 2018 undergraduate examination, seeking a direction for issuance of disability certificate as per law. Justice Lalit recalled his experience with a law intern who was blind and said he had difficulties in reading documents. After successfully completing his internship with me, he has now become a Rhodes scholar studying at the University of Oxford, said justice Lalit. Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde and advocate Govind Jee appeared for the student and said there was already a provision for reservation of 5% seats of total intake capacity in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. He said a direction should be issued to the Centre and Gujarat government for implementing the reservation scheme for persons with benchmark disability. The court asked the committee of BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad, to examine the student within three days and posted the matter for further hearing on July 3. The student, in his petition, has claimed he has scored all-India rank of 4,68,982 and rank 419 under the physically handicapped category and has a fair chance of getting a seat in medical/dental colleges in All India quota/state government medical colleges under special category. Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy on Friday said he had instructed officials to release 20,000 cusecs from Kabini dam while expressing hope that the state would be able to give Tamil Nadu its share of Cauvery water in June if the monsoon continues to deliver ample rainfall. Kumaraswamy, on a visit to Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple in Tamil Nadu, said by gods grace, reservoirs in Karnataka are receiving copious inflows over the past few days. I have instructed irrigation officials to release 20,000 cusecs from the Kabini dam. There is bright chance for good monsoon rains this year... If the monsoon continues like this, we can give Tamil Nadus share of 10 TMC (thousand Million Cubic feet) in June as per the Cauvery water sharing authoritys order, he said. The water to be released from Kabini would benefit both sides and farmers in both states would be happy, he said. Makkal Needhi Maiam founder and actor Kamal Haasan thanked Kumaraswamy for the Karnataka governments decision to release water from the Kabini dam. Expressed my pleasure on the opening of Kabini. Ultimately, even after the Cauvery water management authority starts functioning, only the goodwill between the two states will open many more shut doors, Kamal tweeted. A section of Tamil Nadu Congress workers and leaders has demanded that party president Rahul Gandhi sack state president S Thirunavukkarasar for his alleged inability to protect the partys interests. Thirunavukkarasar, a former union minister, took over as Tamil Nadu Pradesh Congress Comittee (TNPCC) president in 2016. Loyalists of EVKS Elangovan, the former TNPCC president, have said they have lost confidence in Thirunavukkarasar. R Sivaraman, former district president of the party in Kanchipuram, N Rengabasyam, former district president of Chennai Central, and L Vasanthraj, former Tiruvannamalai district president, Gandhi on Monday to complain about Thirunavukkarasar. Due to the poor TNPCC administration, the cadres of our party are losing hope. So, it is the need of the hour to make changes in the TNPCC administration, which we have pointed out to Rahulji, Rengabasyam told Hindustan Times. Rengabasyam said when Elangovan was TNPCC president in 2004, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance won 40 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. He said unless changes were made in TNPCC, it would not be able to achieve good results in 2019. Since Congress party has considerable electoral strength in the state, it should get ready for the LS [Lok Sabha] polls 2019 now. However, the PCC administration is neither active nor what they are doing is good. If things continue this way, DMK would allocate only just four LS seats. Also, the PCC administration is not having a good rapport with DMK high command as Thirunavukkarasars rapport is only with Stalin, said the three Congress leaders in a petition they gave to Gandhi. Thirunavukkarasar told Hindustan Times he has the support of his party in the state. On the same day when these three workers met Rahul Gandhi, a few other office bearers too met him and expressed their goodwill about my leadership in the state. Rahul Gandhi knows what is happening in Tamil Nadu and he is happy with that. Also, I want to ask people who are questioning my relationship with DMK working president M K Stalin, should explain about their knowledge of the alliance status, he told Hindustan Times. Two militant groups on Friday blamed Indian security agencies for the murder of journalist Shujaat Bukhari and demanded an independent probe of his death in Srinagar. The killing of Shujaat Bukhari at a time when the UN human rights Commission released a report on human rights abuses by Indian forces in Kashmir raises many questions, said Syed Salahuddin, head of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and the United Jehad Council. Salahuddin, who is based in Pakistan and issued a statement to media in Srinagar, was referring to a UN report that on Thursday accused Indian and Pakistani security forces of using excessive force in both sides of Kashmir and of killing and wounding civilians since 2016. It called for an international inquiry into alleged violations. India rejected the report. A spokesperson for the Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group quoted its chief Mahmood Shah as saying that Bukharis murder was a conspiracy as Indian agencies have enmity towards every individual who is loyal to the freedom movement. Shah alleged that India is keen to killing every individual who is vocal about the indigenous freedom struggle and Indias atrocities. The killing of Shujat Bukhari is also a wrongdoing of Indias secret agencies which is a highly condemnable act, said Shah. Bukhari, 48, was assassinated when three bike-borne youth opened fire on him just outside the office of Rising Kashmir, the newspaper he edited, on Thursday evening. BJP parliamentarian Nishikant Dubey has said he will pay for the legal expenses of four men who are under arrest in connection with the lynching of two Muslim men in Godda, Jharkhand, this week. A poor person has the constitutional right to get free legal assistance. It is the duty of the state to provide such person free legal aide. Since, I am the public representative of this area, I conceded to their request to help them out, said Dubey. The families of the arrested accused approached me seeking legal assistance for them. They are poor villagers and could not bear the expenses, Dubey said. A mob of some 100 people on June 13 beat to death Chiraguddin alias Charku Ansari, 35, and Murtaza Ansari, 30, after accusing them of stealing cattle in tribal-dominated Dullu village in Godda district, about 330 km north-east of the state capital Ranchi. The two men were accused of stealing 13 buffaloes from the cowshed of a man called Munshi Murmu on Tuesday night. The mob while searching for the buffaloes found five men towing the stolen cattle in Bankatti locality. They chased them and caught two while the other three fled. Following the incident, Godda police arrested Munshi, Kaleshwar Soren, Kishan Rai Tudu and Johan Kisku. It registered a FIR against the four and 100 unknown persons. Dubey has represented Godda twice in Parliament and he is a member of several parliamentary committees, including public accounts and finance. Asked if he will help families of the murdered men, Dubey said that none from their side had approached him. I would provide similar help to the victims if they want, he said. Thousands of mourners braved heavy rain on Friday to attend the funeral of senior Kashmiri journalist Shujaat Bukhari, who was killed the previous evening in a drive-by shooting by suspected terrorists that sparked outrage in the troubled valley and condemnation by political leaders across the party divide. Amid a pall of gloom, the funeral procession traversed the one-kilometre distance from Bukharis ancestral home in Kreeri, 37 kilometers from Srinagar in Baramulla district, to the graveyard where his body was laid to rest as young men chanted religious slogans. The body of Bukhari, editor-in-chief of Rising Kashmir and a popular commentator, was brought to Kreeri from Srinagar on Thursday night hours after he and two of his security guards were shot to death. Bukhari, who was 48 (can we check. some media putting age at 52), was in his car, having just left his Press Colony office just before Iftar, when he was targeted by three men on a motorcycle . Mourners from the valley assembled in his house through the night. The body of the senior journalist, who championed peace in the valley torn by almost three decades of separatist violence that India says is fomented by Pakistan, was taken at 11 a.m. to the funeral ground where journalists, politicians, social activists, prominent civilians and local villages were among the thousands in attendance. Senior ministers in the J&K government Abdul Rehman Veeri, Altaf Bukhari and Naem Akthar, several legislators and leaders of mainstream political parties attended the funeral. National Conference vice president and former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah also participated in Bukharis final journey. It is not a loss only to our family, but to entire Kashmir, especially the journalist fraternity, said Tariq Ahmad, a cousin of Bukhari. This death has left us devastated. We have no words to express our grief, said another relative, Shabir Ahmad. Not only for us, he was a ray of hope and light for the entire village and district. He used to help anyone who visited him or sought his assistance. Arif Ahmad, a neighbour of the slain journalist, said Bukhari had a special attachment towards his village and often used to visit his ancestral place. He loved to spend time with his neighbours and childhood friends. In a market of respect to the senior journalist, all shops in the Kreeri market remained closed and a large number of residents headed towards Bukharis ancestral house. Being the last Friday of Ramzan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, special prayers were held in the villages mosques. J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has described the killing as a new low for terrorism. Union home minister Rajnath Singh said there was no doubt that Bukhari had fallen victim to terrorists. Congress party president Rahul Gandhi described Bukhari as a braveheart who fought fearlessly for justice and peace in Jammu & Kashmir. Omar Abdullah said, He died in the line of duty doing what he did best & loved doing -- journalism. Police said four or five people were involved in the killing of Bukhari and have released closed circuit television pictures of some suspects. Bukhari is survived by his wife, two children and elderly parents. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will attend the eighth Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy Summit (ACMECS 8) and the ninth Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Viet Nam Summit (CLMV 9) in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday and Saturday. VNA/VNS Photo HA NOI A Vietnamese delegation led by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will attend the eighth Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy Summit (ACMECS 8) and the ninth Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Viet Nam Summit (CLMV 9) in Bangkok , Thailand on Friday and Saturday. The ACMECS, also known as the Economic Cooperation Strategy (ECS), was set up in November 2003, named after the three main rivers in the Mekong River basin . Viet Nam joined the framework at its first ministerial meeting in November 2004. It now consists of Cambodia , Laos , Myanmar , Thailand and Viet Nam , aiming to strengthen bilateral economic collaboration, tap comparative advantages of member regions and countries, and narrow development gaps. The ACMECS now covers eight cooperation fields including trade-investment, agriculture, industry-energy, transportation, tourism, human resources development, health care and environment. Each country coordinates at least one field. Thailand coordinates joint efforts in trade-investment and health care, Viet Nam directs workforce development, industry-energy, and co-coordinates with Cambodia in environment. Cambodia coordinates tourism collaboration while Laos and Myanmar direct transportation and agriculture, respectively. The biennial ACMECS Summit is held alternately in each country. During the ACMECS 2 in 2006, countries agreed to hold a mid-term review on the sidelines of ASEAN high-level meetings. Viet Nam hosted the ACMECS 3 in Ha Noi from November 4-7, 2008, which adopted a joint statement on trade, investment, tourism facilitation and prioritised economic connectivity, especially when promoting internal trade and investment to cope with challenges. It also established a working group on the environment. The Phnom Penh Declaration and ACMECS Plan of Action were adopted during the AMCECS 4 in the Cambodian capital city in 2010. During the ACMECS 5 in Vientiane , Laos in 2012, leaders adopted the Vientiane Declaration and ACMECS Plan of Action for 2013-15 which specifies plans for cooperation in industry-energy, tourism, trade-investment, agriculture, workforce development, transport connectivity, health care, social welfare and the environment. The ACMECS 6 in Myanmar in 2014 passed the Nay Pyi Taw Declaration and Action Plan for the 2016-18 period with a view to turning ACMECS into a top driver for investment and tourism. The ACMECS 7, held in Ha Noi in 2016, was themed Towards a Dynamic and Prosperous Mekong Sub-region. It adopted the Ha Noi Declaration and pledged to boost priority collaboration in transportation, trade-investment, industry, tourism, agriculture and environment. Promoting integration During the ASEAN-Japan Summit in December 2003 in Tokyo , leaders of Cambodia , Laos , Myanmar and Viet Nam agreed to hold the first CLMV ( Cambodia , Laos , Myanmar , Viet Nam ) Summit on the occasion of the 10th ASEAN Summit held in Vientiane in November 2004. The CLMV cooperation is based on the idea of narrowing the development gap between CMVL and other countries in the region, thus facilitating their integration into the regions development. It is also a channel to call for support from other ASEAN countries and development partners for CLMV countries as well as a forum for CLMV to coordinate stances, thus protecting their interests during the process of economic connectivity in ASEAN and between ASEAN and its partners. CLMV cooperation covers trade, investment, agriculture, industry, energy, transport, tourism and human resources development. The countries agreed to establish six working groups and Viet Nam coordinates three of them, namely trade-investment, information technology and human resources development. The CLMV 1 in 2004 ratified the Vientiane Declaration on enhancing economic partnership and integration within Mekong Sub-region, ASEAN and regional cooperation frameworks. The CLMV 2 in 2005 adopted the Action Plan that mentioned joint work with Thailand to consider the possibility of combining CLMV with ACMECS coordination to avoid overlapping and improve cooperation efficiency. The CLMV 3 in 2007 saw the signing of agreements on combining CLMV and ACMECS action plans. The CLMV 4 in 2008 set orientations for regional collaboration in trade, investment, transport, agriculture, industry, energy, tourism and human resources development. It committed to establishing favourable conditions for partnerships across processing industry, mining, hydropower, infrastructure, services and logistics. Viet Nam built the CLMV Scholarship Fund from which scholarships are offered to Cambodia , Laos and Myanmar each year, which will continue till 2020. The CLMV 5 in 2010 adopted a joint statement on enhancing cooperation to narrow the development gap with other ASEAN members. The CLMV 6 in 2015 pledged to improve cooperation efficiency and facilitate trade, investment and tourism, and strengthen connectivity via developing economic corridors and human resources. The CLMV 7 in 2016 vowed to reinforce trade-investment ties among the four countries, devise new policies to facilitate trade and signed bilateral and multilateral agreements. The CLMV 8 in Ha Noi in 2017 agreed to work to launch projects in transport, trade and investment facilitation, industry, tourism and human resources development. VNA/VNS Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday requested the Centre to extend financial assistance worth Rs 20,000 crore for the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation scheme, being regarded as politically crucial ahead of general elections next year. Rao met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday afternoon and submitted a wishlist comprising 10 major issues pertaining to the state. The chief minister submitted separate letters to the Prime Minister on every subject. Modi responded positively on all the issues that were brought to his notice, an official communique from the chief ministers office said. Describing the Kaleshwaram project as the lifeline of Telangana, Rao said the irrigation scheme, being built at an estimated cost of Rs 80,500 crore, promises to provide irrigation facility to one crore acres of land, besides supplying water for drinking and industrial purposes. The state government claims the project would provide irrigation to 18 lakh acres in 2018 alone, before the completion of the entire project. I thank the Prime Minister for according approvals from various ministries at an early date. We have made budgetary provision of Rs 25,000 crore (for all irrigation projects), besides procuring loan from financial institutions to the tune of Rs 22,000 crore. We still need funds and we request the Centre to release Rs 20,000 crore to complete the (Kaleshwaram) project, Rao said. The Telangana chief minister also requested the Centre to expedite formation of separate high courts for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. At present, out of 29 judges in (Hyderabad) high court, only six are from Telangana. Therefore, justice would be done to Telangana if a separate high court is formed for the state at the earliest, he said. A police driver working with Kerala additional director general of police (ADGP) Sudesh Kumar was admitted to a hospital after he was allegedly beaten up by his superiors daughter on Thursday. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan termed the incident as serious, and ordered a probe after the victims wife alleged that her husband was being ill-treated by the senior police officers family. The driver, Gavaskar, stated in his police complaint the incident occurred when he went to pick up the senior officials daughter from a morning walk. He said she verbally abused him because he had arrived slightly late, and demanded that he hand over the vehicle keys. When he refused, she took out her mobile phone and hit him on his neck and shoulder. Meanwhile, the officers daughter also filed a counter-complaint that the driver had outraged her modesty and abused her. Following this, the driver was booked for a non-bailable offence while minor charges were framed against her. This gave rise to a full-blown controversy. The drivers wife, Reshma Gavaskar, later met the chief minister and complained that he was treated like a bonded labourer and forced to do all sorts of odd jobs. The ADGP had ignored all his complaints in this regard, she added. Vijayan sought a report from the director general of police (DGP) in this regard, besides details of the official vehicles being used by the Kumar. It has come to our notice that some senior officers are forcing sub-ordinates to do their household jobs. It is highly unethical and unfair. I have sought a report from the DGP. We will put an end to this practice, he added. The ADGP was not available for comment. Editors and reporters are mourning the murder of Shujaat Bukhari, editor-in-chief of Rising Kashmir newspaper, calling the attack on him in Srinagar an example of the dangers of being a journalist in India. Bukhari, 48, was attacked by three gunmen on a motorcycle while he was in his car Thursday evening. Hailed as a fierce journalist with an independent voice, Bukhari spent nearly three decades championing a peaceful solution to the Kashmir conflict. Journalists have routinely been targeted across India. According to a report by International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), India witnessed death of five journalists in 2016. The country was placed 136th among 180 countries in the world press freedom rankings in 2017, by media watchdog Reporters without Borders. Tributes poured in over Twitter as journalists mourned the loss of a fellow scribe and friend. Here are some of the tweets: Still numb. Will always remember @bukharishujaat for his fearlessness, even if it meant calling out militant excesses. And the majority have the gall to club all Kashmiris as 'terror sympathisers' https://t.co/phoj2hJKwI Harinder Baweja (@shammybaweja) June 14, 2018 Heartbreaking the loss of Shujaat Bukhari, an incredibly brave editor & an invaluable voice of middle-ground moderation. This is a loss for all Kashmiris, India and the entire journalistic community Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) June 14, 2018 Its a loss to all of us as a profession too. Shujaat mentored so many young journalists and was the first stop for mist journalists visiting the Valley. Hes a true martyr to the cause of courageous journalism https://t.co/kPaOSBsTr6 Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) June 14, 2018 My friend @bukharishujaat was a rare voice of moderation in Kashmir who pandered to no extremes. May those who did this to him rot in hell. And may this be a moment for Kashmir to take note of the absolute insanity it is slipping into #ShujaatBukhari barkha dutt (@BDUTT) June 14, 2018 Shujaat Bukhari and I were colleagues at The Hindu. He was a formidable reporter, and, as editor of Rising Kashmir, a powerful voice for the embattled media fraternity, a true voice of sanity and reason. No words of condemnation are enough for the scum who have assassinated him. Siddharth (@svaradarajan) June 14, 2018 The Editors Guild of India unequivocally condemns the assassination of Rising Kashmir Editor Shujaat Bukhari. This is a grave attack on press freedom and democratic voices. We will be issuing a more detailed statement soon Editors Guild of India (@IndEditorsGuild) June 14, 2018 Unbelievable! Kashmiri editor Shujaat Bukhari has been killed. What madness. A terrible loss. https://t.co/HfHh8SAWA0 Basharat Peer (@BasharatPeer) June 14, 2018 It is a terrible day for us. I have known Shujaat for years. Agreed on so many things, had bitter disagreements as well, in last few years. Never thought he will go like this. Rahul Pandita (@rahulpandita) June 14, 2018 A man accused of raping his teenage daughter killed his wife outside a sessions court at Dibrugarh in Assam on Friday, police said. Purna Nahar Deka, 35, attacked his wife Ritu, in her late 20s, outside the district sessions judges court, with a sharp knife, moments prior to the latters deposition against her husband, police said. The accused, who was out on bail, slit his wifes throat with the knife. A severely bleeding Ritu was rushed to the Assam Medical College hospital, but she died before reaching there, said Sidheshwar Borah, in-charge of Dibrugarh police station. According to police, nearly 11 months ago Dekas wife registered a case against her husband, accusing him of raping the couples 13-year-old daughter. A carpenter by profession, Deka was arrested in August last year, following complaints from residents of his village and his wife. His wife had allegedly told villagers that he was abusing their daughter for some time, the police said. The couple has two other children, a daughter and a son, both younger to the rape victim. Based on the complaint and subsequent investigation, Deka, a resident of Joypore in Naharkatiya, was convicted and jailed for nine months. He managed to secure bail on June 6. But instead of going back to his home, Deka stayed at a hotel in Dibrugarh fearing opposition from fellow villagers. On Friday, Dekas wife was to depose before the judge against her husband in the same case. Both reached the court separately. But before the proceedings could begin, Deka attacked his wife, Borah said. Police have arrested the accused and are conducting further investigation. Talking to local media outlets after his arrest on Friday, Deka denied raping his daughter and blamed his wife for registering a false case against him as he was opposing her immoral activities. I never did any wrong to my daughter. But my wife was always away visiting hotels in different towns in Assam and also in Nagaland and spending time with other men, he said. I had brought a small knife along while coming to court but had no intention of hurting anyone. But I lost control of my senses when I saw her (wife) and attacked her, Deka added. Days after three Dalit boys were stripped, thrashed and paraded naked in Maharashtras Jalgaon district for swimming in a village well, a political tussle erupted with leaders from the community and the Congress holding the state government accountable for the incident. Targeting Maharashtras Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government accountable, Bharip Bahujan Mahasanghs (BBM) chief Prakash Ambedkar said, Ever since the BJP assumed power, casteist forces have gained importance. There has been a phenomenal increase in atrocities against Dalits. Calling the incident a blot on democracy, Peoples Republican Party chief Jogendra Kawade said, I will visit the families and offer all possible help, he said. Rajendra Gawai, who heads the Republican Party of India (Gawai), accused the government of being biased against members of the Dalit community. The government has not been able to arrest Sambhaji Bhide, the mastermind of the Bhima-Koregoan violence, despite irrefutable proof. In contrast, they acted against Dalits who were the victims. The same story will be repeated again, he said. However, union minister and Republican Party of India founder Ramdas Athawale said he had full confidence that the state government would ensure that the guilty receive the strictest punishment. Congress president Rahul Gandhi also tweeted a video of the incident, adding in Hindi, Their crime was that they went for bath in a well belonging to a person from upper caste community. History wont forgive us if we dont raise our voices against Manuvad and poisonous politics of the RSS and BJP. "" RSS/BJP pic.twitter.com/STeBSkI1q1 Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 15, 2018 Gandhis remarks drew sharp criticism from state revenue minister Chandrakant Patil, who said caste dynamics had nothing to do with the incident. Of the three victims, two were from scheduled caste and one from scheduled tribe. The well owner is from the nomadic tribe community and his help is from other backward class (OBC). Making such a statement without verifying facts is not in the interest of the country, the minister said. A committee formed by state Congress also visited the victims and their families on Friday. Congress legislator Abdul Sattar, who headed the committee, vowed to fight for the victims. The victims families are homeless and dont have a house. The Congress will take up the responsibility of their rehabilitation, he said. Prof Shoma Sen, who was recently arrested for alleged Maoist links, was suspended on Friday by Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU), where she was the head of English department. On June 6, the Pune police probing the January 1 Bhima Koregaon violence, had arrested five people, including Sen, for allegedly having Maoist links. Vice chancellor of the university, Dr SP Kane, said Sen has been suspended from the service till further orders. She was suspended on the basis of information received from Pune police that she has been detained under various IPC sections, Kane said while replying to a query. Similarly, I had sought legal opinion on the issue and her suspension is also due to her remaining in police custody for more than 48 hours, he said. Besides Sen, Pune police had also arrested activist Mahesh Raut and lawyer Surendra Gadling from Nagpur, prominent Dalit activist Sudhir Dhawale from Mumbai and Rona Wilson from his flat in Delhi. Shoma Sens husband Tushar Kranti Bhattacharya was arrested from Nagpur station for alleged Naxal links in 2010. According to police, Dhawale was one of the organisers of Elgar Parishad, which was held to commemorate 200 years of the Bhima Koregaon battle on December 31 at Shaniwarwada. Kabir Kala Manch activists had allegedly made provocative speeches at the wvent leading to violence at Bhima Koregaon in the district, according to an FIR registered at Vishrambaug police station after the event. One person was killed in the caste violence between two groups near Sanaswadi, adjacent to Bhima Koregaon. The violence led to a statewide Dalit agitation. The mobs had damaged and torched several vehicles and shops on New Years day and the houses of local residents were also ransacked. As questions over the longevity of the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka lingered, chief minister HD Kumaraswamy said on Friday that no body could touch him at least till the 2019 Lok Sabha polls are over. This coalition government will function with stability. I know, no one can touch me for one year. I will be there at least for one year, until the Lok Sabha election is over. Until then, no one can do anything to me, he said. Addressing an event in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy said he would not remain silent during the period that he has got and focus on taking decisions for the benefit of the state. The CM said he would not waste his time and immerse himself in work as it was important that the state progresses in all spheres. So in the opportunity that I have got, rather than going into what others have done, what I have done will be my message. In doing this, the environment is also in my favour (with good rains), he added. Kumaraswamys comments come even as his government is facing the birth pangs of coalition politics, following disquiet among newly elected Congress lawmakers who were left out during the Cabinet expansion. As the May 12 assembly polls in the state threw up a hung assembly, Congress and JD(S) who had bitterly fought each other, joined hands to form a post-poll alliance to keep out the BJP, which had emerged as the single largest party. The CM also reiterated that he is committed to waiving farm loans and would announce it shortly. Dear farmers, let there be no confusion on farm loan waiver. I am fully committed to the loan waiver. I want to ensure it is done scientifically benefiting maximum number of farmers. I am working on the modalities and will announce it shortly, Kumaraswamy said in a tweet on his official twitter handle @CMofKarnataka. Dear farmers Let there be no confusion on farm loan waiver. I am fully committed to the loan waiver. I want to ensure it is done scientifically benefitting maximum farmers. I am working on the the modalities and will announce it shortly.#farmers #farmloanwaiver CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) June 15, 2018 Rubbishing reports that questioned his commitment on farm loan waiver, Kumaraswamy while speaking at the event, said he would not escape from his commitment. On May 30, as opposition and farmers bodies stepped up pressure on him to fulfil his pre-poll promise, he had said that the government would arrive at a decision to implement a two-phase scheme for farm loan waiver within 15 days. The CM also hinted that the first budget of the coalition government is likely to be presented in the first week of July, even as he hit out at detractors who were questioning the need for the full term budget now. Probably during July first week, we have plans to present the state budget. A few people are asking why budget has to be presented as this is a coalition government and it has already been presented (by Congress government). Is is not enough to just present supplementary budget, some are advising, he said, adding that some people are worried that Kumaraswamy will get a name if he presents the budget. After a strong bargain with the coalition partner Congress, Kumaraswamy has retained the key finance portfolio. As many as 8,350 villages in seven states confronting a severe water crisis will soon have panchayats managing the use of water in their villages as part of a World Bank-backed project aimed at conserving deleting groundwater resources. According to officials, the scheme will soon be launched in Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, which together represent about 25% of the number of over-exploited, critical and semi-critical groundwater blocks in India. Under the Atal Bhujal Yojana, which aims to decentralise water management, the panchayats will monitor water levels and devise plans for its use and recharge. Villagers will make water usage plans according to available water level at each place, said UP Singh, secretary, water resources. Under the scheme, 8,300 gram panchayats in 78 districts and 193 blocks will have their own water management schemes. The objective of the scheme is to recharge groundwater sources and ensure efficient use of water by involving people at the local level, he said. The move follows a government report showing a 61% decline in water level in wells in India between 2007 and 2017. The Rs 6,000 crore groundwater conservation project, which was approved by the World Bank on June 6, involves bottom-up planning that will include formation of water user associations in each village. The associations will be involved in monitoring and disseminating ground water data and later planning water budgets, preparation and implementation of gram panchayat-specific water security plans and awareness activities related to sustainable groundwater management. According to Singh, each of the villages will be provided a peziometer, a device used to measure ground water at specific points. Village associations or a pani (water) panchayat will measure the water in each village and put in place a recharge system according to the kind of ground water system found in the area alluvial and hard rock aquifers. The Centre will support half of the total project cost and rest of the budgetary cost will be shared by the World Bank. The scheme is to be implemented over a period of five years from 2018-19 to 2022-23. It has been recommended by the expenditure finance committee and the water ministry will be seeking Cabinet approval for the project shortly. Officials from the ministry said ensuring active community participation in groundwater management is a key objective of the scheme. The implementation of the scheme is expected to have several positive outcomes -- a focused and integrated community-based approach for addressing issues related to groundwater depletion, and adoption of efficient practices to reduce use of groundwater for irrigations, among others. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a dinner meeting for key leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at his residence in Delhi on Friday, sources said. The meeting comes at a time when the BJP has begun preparing for assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and may need the help of RSS cadres to fight anti-incumbency to retain power. While details of the meeting were not known, Modi is learnt to have interacted with leaders gathered in Haryanas Surajkund for a three-day meeting that started on Thursday. The Surajkund meeting is an annual feature, where BJP and RSS leaders take stock of organisational issues and plan for the future. The PM had hosted the functionaries last year as well. He is part of the Sangh Parivaar and interacts with the leaders at regular intervals, said a person who did not wish to be identified. The meeting in Surajkund is being attended by RSS general secretary Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi, joint general secretaries Dattatreya Hosable and Krishna Gopal. BJP president Amit Shah is expected to be present on Saturday, sources said. It is learnt that emphasis was laid on achieving greater coordination between organisational secretaries and the full-time senior functionaries of the RSS for seamless communication and exchange of ideas. A senior functionary of the RSS said that the agenda of the meeting largely revolves around streamlining and strengthening the organisation. Electoral politics is not the mainstay of the meeting. Focus is on the organisation, how to run it better and effective coordination between the Sangh and the BJP. Kashmir police on Thursday released images of the alleged killers of Shujaat Bukhari, editor-in-chief of Rising Kashmir, and requested the publics help in identifying them. Bukhari, 48, was targeted by three gunmen on a motorcycle while he was in his car, having just left his Press Colony office just before Iftar. He was accompanied by two security guards, Abdul Hameed and Mumtaz Ahmad, who were also killed as multiple bullets were sprayed at them.. The photos released by the Jammu and Kashmir Police around midnight show three men riding a motorcycle with their faces covered. In an official statement, the police said, In connection with the todays attack at Srinagars Press enclave, police requests the general public to identify the suspects for the purpose of the police investigation. Any information pertaining to the suspects in the photographs should be submitted to Police Station Kothibagh on 9596770623 or PCR Srinagar on 9596222550, 9596222551, 01942477568 or Police Control Room Kashmir on 100, the statement added. The police said that the name of persons providing any clue or information regarding the suspects will be kept confidential, news agency ANI reported. Chief minister Mehbobba Mufti mourned the Bukharis death and described the attack as a new low for terrorism. Union home minister Rajnath Singh said there is no doubt that terrorists have killed Shujaat Bhukhari. An advocate of a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue, Bukhari survived assassination attempts in the past and was under police protection since 2000. He was instrumental in organising several conferences involving former diplomats and generals from India and Pakistan, and was also part of the Track-II diplomatic process with the neighbouring country. Truong Huu Loc. Photo plo.vn HCM CITY Police in HCM City yesterday issued decisions commencing criminal proceedings against and detaining two men for disturbing social order. One of the men was named as Nguyen William Anh, a US citizen born in 1985, who was staying in Ward 5, District 3. According to police and a statement by the accused, Nguyen William Anh entered Viet Nam on June 9 as a tourist. On June 10, Nguyen William Anh joined a crowd causing disorder on Nguyen Van Troi Nam Ky Khoi Nghia street. At the Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Ly Chinh Thang intersection in District 3, Nguyen William Anh asked authorised forces to remove specialised vehicles so that the crowd could pass. When his request was not granted, Nguyen William Anh climbed on top of a vehicle and called on the crowd to pass through. His acts were recorded on video by authorised forces, which were used as evidence for his disturbance of social order. The city police issued emergency arrest warrants on June 12 for Nguyen William Anh, followed by decisions on temporary custody and first-time extension of temporary custody on June 14. After consolidating files and evidence, on June 15, the municipal police issued decisions on commencing criminal proceedings against and temporary detention of Nguyen William Anh for disturbing social order. The other man detained was named as Truong Huu Loc, born in 1961 and residing in Tan Binh District. According to the investigative agency, Loc regularly livestreamed on his Facebook account, calling on people to stage and attend protests. Loc directly incited people to gather and cause disorder over recent days. Public security forces in HCM City determined that reactionary organisations in exile had played a role in inciting and providing funds for elements in the country to organise and incite people to take to the street and cause disorder. VNS The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) might be under fire from the Opposition parties, but RBI governor Urijit Patel got some respite from them when he appeared before the Parliaments finance panel last Wednesday. According to members of the panel, minutes before the meeting started, panel chairman and Congress MP Veerappa Moily requested the members not to be harsh on Patel. Accordingly, members didnt attack the RBI governor aggressively, even as they raised several issues, during the meeting, said a senior Opposition leader. Moily confirmed that he had asked the members not to be harsh on Patel. Before the meeting, I said that let us give him the honour and the respect that he deserves, the panel chairman said. An MP recalled that last year when Urjit Patel faced angry members over demonetisation, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told Patel that he can skip answers to questions he considers uncomfortable. Singh, who himself was a former RBI governor, was seen taking a lead to protect the dignity of the institution of RBI at a time when its role in scrutiny. This time too, the RBI is facing heat over the PNB fraud and its inability to check it. Former RBI chief Raghuram Rajan too, had claimed that the RBI had no clue about the scam. In its reply, the RBI had accused the PNB for giving misleading information about its audit. It also added that it is not possible for the RBI to keep a tab on every bank branch. It also sought more powers from the government to control the functioning of public sector banks. Parliamentarians like Bhartruhari Mahtab, Saugata Ray and the panels chairman Veerappa Moily asked several questions. Moily wanted to know why the RBI, as the regulator, had not intervened. Shujaat Bukhari, who was gunned down in Srinagar on Thursday, was one of Kashmirs best-known journalists who spent three decades championing a peaceful solution to the conflict. From his college days, he had a penchant for writing and was selected as student editor for Wular a magazine published by Degree College, Sopore. He had an acumen for writing in Urdu and English and loved both languages. Bukhari began his professional career in journalism at a reputed English newspaper Kashmir Times when militancy was at its peak in the mid-1990s. He worked as a reporter in various parts of the Valley. Bukhari mastered not only the art of conflict reporting but also political reportage. He survived one of the toughest phases in Kashmir in the 1990s, when journalists faced difficulties from both militants and security forces. In the early 2000s, he joined The Hindu as its state bureau chief and reported on subjects including politics, militancy and human rights, and remained associated with the newspaper until 2008. As a senior journalist, Bukhari shaped the careers of many young journalists and was loved in the fraternity. He also had a brief stint with Radio Deutsche Welle in Germany where he reported on Kashmir. A decade ago, Bukhari established his own newspaper, Rising Kashmir, from Srinagar, which quickly grew to become one of the most influential voices in the state. He was also a member of the Kashmir Initiative Group, sponsored by a UK-based non-governmental organisation (NGO). He recently attended a global conference of world editors in Australia. Bukhari was affiliated with several cultural institutions and as the general secretary of the Adabi Markaz Kamraz,comprising more than 1,100 writers in Kashmir, he turned the organisation into one of the most prominent cultural bodies of the state. Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti arrives at a police control room to meet family members of journalist Shujaat Bukhari in Srinagar. (AP Photo) Two guards killed The two personal security guards, who were also killed in the attack, hailed from north Kashmirs Kupwara district. Police identified them as Abdul Hameed and Mumtaz Ahmad. While Hameed succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital, Ahmad battled for life for an hour. Doctors battled to save Ahmad but he succumbed soon after surgery. Both Hameed and Ahmad were recruited in Jammu and Kashmir Police in early 2000 and hailed from the remote Tanghdar area of north Kashmir. Police officials said that they were selection grade constables and were deputed with the senior editor for the past many months. Police officials said both constables were in their late 20s and are survived by their parents. Their bodies will be sent to Tanghdar on Friday morning. A teenager was killed and a woman injured when the Army allegedly fired on protesters in south Kashmirs Pulwama district on Friday, police said. This is the first civilian death in Army firing since the security forces froze operations in Kashmir in the holy month of Ramzan. Police officers said that Vikas Ahmad,18, was hit by a bullet when the army opened fire in Noupora-Litter village of Pulwama. He died on the way to hospital. The injured woman was hit in the thigh, but her bone was spared, they added. The army told us that they came under stone pelting and they fired in the air, Pulwama Superintendent of Police Mohammad Aslam said. Army spokesman Rajesh Kalia said that troops were conducting an area domination patrol in a mineproof vehicle. He said that the road at Naupora was blocked by some cars were parked on the wrong side of the road prompting the armymen to request the owners to move the cars. The house reportedly belonged to Aabid Manzoor Magray. On seeing the Army personnel, a huge crowd gathered at the site and started pelting stones and closing in on to the troops, endangering their safety and government property.The troops cautioned the crowd verbally. However, the mob turned violent and tried to overpower the troops. Army personnel resorted to aerial firing, extricated themselves and continued with their patrol, Kalia said. Earlier in the day, two cops and three civilians were wounded when suspected militants opened fire on a security checkpoint in summer capital Srinagar on Friday afternoon. Security has been enhanced in Srinagar following the killing of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari on Thursday evening. Demanding fixed wages and job security, thousands of barbers working in various temples of Andhra Pradesh went on a sudden strike on Friday and put devotees into inconvenience. Barbers from the famed temple of Lord Venkateshwara in Tirumala did not join the protest. Tonsuring of heads and offering hair to the gods by devotees to fulfil their vow and get a wish granted is an age-old tradition in many temples across the country. The barbers strike has upset devotees, as they were forced to return without offering their hair, regardless of the grant of wishes. Prominent among the temples which witnessed barbers strike were: Sri Vara Siddhi Vinayaka temple at Kanipakam in Chittoor district, Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy temple at Srisailam in Kurnool district, Kanaka Durga temple in Vijayawada, Suryanarayana Swamy temple at Arasavalli in Srikakulam district, Dwaraka Tirumala temple in West Godavari district, Sri Satyanarayana Swamy temple at Annavaram of East Godavari district and Sri Varaha Narasimha Swamy temple at Simhachalam of Visakhapatnam. For the last few days, barbers have been demanding a fixed salary of Rs 15,000 with pension and provident fund facility. At present, the temples pay the barbers on piece rate basis, at the rate of Rs 13 for each tonsuring. We are not able to make both ends meet with this paltry wage. On some lean days, we end up earning less than Rs 100 a day. How can we run our families and give education to our children? We want implementation of minimum wages for barbers, a barber at Kanaka Durga temple demanded. In Tirumala temple, which witnesses maximum number of head tonsures daily, there are no reports of any strike by barbers. There are around 900 barbers working in Kalyana Katta (the temple saloon), of whom about 500 barbers are permanent and others work on contract. Permanent barbers are paid regular salaries, an average of Rs 25,000 per month while those on contract basis are paid Rs 20 per each tonsuring. Tonsuring of heads of pilgrims fetches huge income to all these temples every year. Every year, the TTD alone auctions human hair and earns Rs 150200 crore. The unprecedented increase in cotton price has made knitwear production industries in Tiruppur to raise the price of their products to 10% from June 15. Earlier, the exporters association from Tiruppur declared the rate of export had dipped to Rs 24,000 crore last year, which was about Rs 26,000 crore in the previous year allegedly because of demonetisation and the Goods and Service Tax (GST). Due to the export of textile-based products like knitwear, apparels and other fabric items, Tiruppur got the tag of Dollar city of Tamil Nadu. The textile units are operating with a capacity of 80 lakh spindles every year. But the recent hike in cotton price has put producers in distress. V Ponnusamy, general secretary, South Indian knitwear manufacturers association, said, As cotton price reached Rs 48,000 per candy (355kg) on Monday, we decided to increase our products price to 10%. Unless the Cotton Corporation tried to stock the cotton for domestic needs, the price would further increase. Already the mill owners had increased the price of yarn in terms of Rs 15 per kg. He said the annual requirement of cotton for Tiruppur and its adjacent districts is one and half crore bale (one bale is equal to 170kg). Prabhu Damodaran, coordinator, Indian Texpreneurs Federation based in Coimbatore, said, Last November, we paid Rs 38,500 per cotton candy (355kg). We purchased the same quantity for Rs 46,500 last week. As there is no adequate quantity of cotton available in Tamil Nadu, we are heading to Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra and Gujarat to purchase it. So, we have to spend Rs 1,500 per cotton candy for transportation. If we are achieving a turnover of Rs 100 crore, it means we are spending around 65% to 70% for raw materials. He further pointed out that the reason for the sudden rise is highly connected with the international market. As China avoided purchasing cotton outside their nation, the cotton price in New York (in United States) has increased, which is reflecting in our market, Prabhu added. India is set to introduce tariffs worth $240 million on a list of 30 imports from the United States as New Delhi plans retaliation over an increase on duties imposed by the Donald Trump administration on Indian steel and aluminium. India has notified to the World Trade Organization (WTO) the revised list including almonds, apples, phosphoric acid and motorcycles with engine capacity of more than 800 cc (including Harley Davidson motorbikes), on which it intends to impose retaliatory tariffs. On 18 May, India had given the WTO a list of 20 items imported from the US worth $166 million on which it proposed to increase tariffs. In the revised list, India has lowered the proposed maximum additional duties from 100% (on walnuts) to 50% (on Harley Davidsons). In Brussels, European Union countries on Thursday approved a raft of tariffs targeting US goods including whiskey, blue jeans and motorcycles in retaliation against duties imposed by Trump on European metals. The European countermeasures aimed at 2.8 billion euros ($3.3 billion) of American imports come after Trump on June 1 followed through on a threat to impose tariffs on European steel and aluminium exports. On Friday, Trump announced hefty tariffs on $50 billion of Chinese imports and Beijing threatened to respond with equal scale, equal intensity. The response from India, China and the European Union to unilateral tariff movies by the Trump administration signals an escalation of their trade disputes. Trump, whose hardline stance on trade has seen him wrangle with allies, vowed further measures if Beijing struck back. India had asked the US government to exempt it from its 25% levy on steel and 10% on aluminum imposed by Trump on grounds of national security. The US rejected the request by India, which has also dragged the US to the WTO dispute settlement mechanism over the matter. Asked whether the proposal to retaliate against the US is posturing by India ahead of the trade talks, a commerce ministry official said on condition of anonymity: The US goes ahead and does its own thing. Why should India be posturing only? When talks happen, we can use it as a bargaining chip. Trade minister Suresh Prabhu said on Friday after a two-day US visit that the talks he had with American officials were held in a positive atmosphere and that trade negotiators from both sides would soon meet to resolvel pending issues. Assistant US trade representative Mark Linscott is likely to visit India in the last week of June to negotiate a trade package, the official cited above said. The package is likely to involve negotiations granting an extension to India on generalised system of preferences (GSP) that the US is currently reviewing. India exports about 3,500 items worth $5.6 billion to the US at zero or low duties. India in exchange may facilitate more US imports in items such as dairy products and Harley Davidson bikes. Trump has often raised the issue of higher tariffs on Harley Davidson motorcycles imposed by India and threatened to slap reciprocal taxes on Indian bikes, which he has wrongly claimed India was selling in thousands in the US. Addressing the press on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canadas Quebec City last week, Trump particularly named India, accusing it of charging 100% tariff on some US goods. Were like the piggybank that everybody is robbing, Trump said. ( With inputs from agencies) Five people, including two policemen, were injured on Friday as militants opened fire on security forces carrying out vehicle checking in Kak Sarai area of Srinagar, police said. Security forces had established special check points in many parts of the city, a day after senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari and his two personal security guards were killed in a militant attack. During vehicle checking at Kak Sarai, militants opened fire on the cops, who also retaliated, a police official said. He said two cops and three civilians were injured in the exchange of fire. Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a manhunt for the assailants. The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Friday demanded an apology from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for classifying it along with Bajrang Dal as militant religious outfits and threatened global protests if the tag is not removed. In a statement, the VHP called the classification in the CIAs World Factbook objectionable, disrespectful and non-factual. It said the CIA, which was responsible for the creation of Osama Bin Laden, had no rights to comment on the saffron outfit that worked for Indias welfare. VHP leader Surendra Jain said there were vested interests behind the move and the CIAs anti-India mindset could be seen from the fact that some parts of Jammu and Kashmir were shown in Pakistan in the maps used in the Factbook. He urged the Indian government to take up the matter with the US government to pressurise the CIA to rectify the errors in the Factbook. The West Bengal government is in the process of setting up mega wedding venues in townships close to the Bihar border so that families from the western neighbour, which is a dry state, can shift functions and raise toasts. We came to know that many families in Bihar are shifting their wedding functions to places such as Benaras in UP and Koderma or Ranchi in Jharkhand, Bengal tourism minister Gautam Deb said, noting that some even moved their functions to Kolkata, at a high cost. If we can offer venues closer to east Bihar, families from that region can shift there at lower expenses and the state can also earn some revenues, he said. Six townships have been chosen for this purpose. These are Dalkhola, Karandighi and Raigunj in North Dinajpur district and Ranigunj, Asansol and Durgapur in West Burdwan district. These wedding venues will be managed and owned by the state tourism department. They would attract wedding parties from Bihar through private tourism agencies against a commission, an official said. Apart from bar licences, the wedding venues will have big wedding halls, guest rooms, lawns and other infrastructure. The cost will be worked out shortly depending on what kind of facilities most marriage parties would like to have, said a tourism department official. The USP of the move is alcohol, taxes of which contributed to 19% of Bengals revenues in 2017-18. Bengal profited from the prohibition in Bihar since April 2016. In 2017-18, Bengals excise revenue rose to Rs 8,700 crore in the revised estimate, a 50% jump over the budget estimate of Rs 5,710 crore. In 2018-19, the Bengal finance minister has projected 82% rise in excise collections compared to last year. Patna-based event manager Atul Kashyap said that it is quite natural that those who have money to spend on family occasions will prefer a destination without prohibition. The case is not only for wedding ceremonies but also applicable for corporate events and birthday parties, among others, he said. According to Manotosh Deb, Trinamool Congress MLA from Karandighi in North Dinajpur district that borders Bihar, such a project will provide employment to local people. Not just wedding venues, allied services such as decorators, flower suppliers and caterers will get a boost, the MLA said. Incidentally, liquor sales got a boost in North Dinajpur district since Bihar government imposed prohibition. Initially, the influx of tipplers from Bihar was during festive seasons such as Holi, Durga Puja, Christmas and New Year. These days, sales go up every weekend, and several new tourist lodges, bar-cum-restaurants have come up in the region in the past two years, Deb said. The Yavatmal collector has ordered that the accounts of all government offices at the State Bank of India (SBI) be closed over the slow pace of disbursal of crop loans to farmers in the district. Collector Rajesh Deshmukh alleged that SBI has been rigid about disbursing crop loans to farmers hit by drought and crop failure for the last three years. Although the bank was given a crop loan target of Rs 571 crore for the district, it has disbursed only Rs 51 crore so far, he added. Yavatmal has earned the ignominy of being the epicenter of farmer suicides in Maharashtra. The collector issued the order to all state-run offices in the district on June 13. This is a significant move, considering that most government accounts are associated with the SBI. Deshmukh said the district administration held joint meetings with bank officials on several occasions and even warned them against delaying the crop loans. However, when their efforts went in vain, he asked the government offices to transact with the Central Bank of India and the Union Bank of India instead. Deshmukh said crop loans are nothing short of a right for farmers, and adequate provisions have been made in the countrys annual budget for the same. He said the district was supposed to disburse loans amounting to Rs 2,078-crore among 43,280 eligible farmers in 2018 through various financial sources, of which the SBI is just one. However, only Rs 377 crore amounting to 10% of the target has been distributed till now. We have already closed state government accounts in six SBI branches across the district and instructed others to do so too. We have also asked for all the deposits to be withdrawn, said Deshmukh. Backing the move, state agriculture mission chairman Kishore Tiwari said the administration should also initiate criminal action against SBI officials for violating central directives. Senior SBI officials could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts. One farmer commits suicide every day in Yavatmal on an average. As many as 176 farmers have killed themselves in the Vidarbha region since January, 70 of them from this district alone. The death toll stood at 472 last year. HA NOI The Thang Long Project Management Board sent the fesibility study report of the 64km-highway connecting northern Ninh Binh province and central Thanh Hoa province to the transport ministry for approval. The highway is planned to have six lanes with a total width of 32.25m and a designed speed of 120kmph. In the first phase of the project, four lanes will be constructed with an investment of nearly VN14 trillion (US$616 million) in three years. The estimated payback time is some 18 years. The highway starts at km 274+111,86 in Mai Son Commune, Yen Mo District, Ninh Binh Province, and ends at km 337+478,11 in Tan Phuc commune, Nong Cong District, Thanh Hoa Province, crossing 10 districts of the two provinces. According to the Vietnam News Agency, the government recently delivered to the National Assembly the pre-feasibility study reports of some parts of the North-South Expressway for the 2017-20 period, with a total investment of VN120 trillion ($5.3 billion). According to the plan, from 2017 to 2020, highways connecting Cao Bo District (Nam inh Province) with Bai Bot District (Ha Tinh Province), Cam Lo District (Quang Tri Province) with La Son District (Thua Thien-Hue Province), Nha Trang City (Khanh Hoa Province) with Dau Giay Town (ong Nai Province) and My Thuan 2 Bridge will be prioritised for construction. These projects will be implemented under the public-private partnership (PPP) model with build-operate-transfer (BOT) contracts. The capital allocated from the State budget will be VN55 trillion ($2.42 billion), including some VN14.2 trillion ($625 million) for land clearance, VN27.7 trillion ($1.2 billion) for PPP projects and VN13.2 trillion ($580 million) for public-invested construction items. Investors will contribute some VN64 trillion ($2.8 billion), including VN12.7 trillion ($560 million) of owners equity and VN51 trillion ($2.2 billion) of loans. VNS Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), the union governments ambitious maternity benefit scheme, is moving at a snails pace in western part of Rajasthan due to apathy of the Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) department. The situation is that Barmer and Jaisalmer districts are placed at the bottom of the list, that is, at 32nd and 33rd position respectively, in implementation of the PMMVY in Rajasthan. Till June 10 this year, Jaisalmer achieved only 21 percent of the allotted target under the scheme, while Barmer achieved 26 percent. Similarly, among other western districts of Rajasthan, Jalore is at 31st position (30 percent achievement), Pali at 30th (37 percent,) Sirohi at 29th (39 percent), Jodhpur at 27th (42 percent) and Nagaur is at 26th position (42 percent). PMMVY is an extension of the Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY). In December 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced to extend IGMSY then an existing pilot scheme being implemented across 53 districts across the country. PMMVY was approved by the Union Cabinet in May 2017 and was rolled out the same year in September. The scheme aims to provide partial compensation to women against wage loss during their pregnancy. Under the scheme, pregnant women and lactating mothers are offered a cash incentive of Rs 5,000 after the birth of their first child to reduce maternal mortality and malnutrition among children. Of the total incentive, Rs 1,000 is provided on registration of the pregnant woman under 150 days of last menstrual period, followed by Rs 2,000 given after anti natal checkup of the woman and Rs 2,000 on delivery and completion of first round of immunisation of child. While the western districts in Rajasthan are struggling in implementation of PMMVY, Ganganagar and Hanumangarh districts of the state have shown big success. With 103 percent achievement against the allotted target Hanumangarh leads the tally, while Ganganagar stands at second position with 92 percent achievement. The state capital, Jaipur, is on 8th position with 66 percent achievement. ICDS departments negligence in Barmer district can be witnessed from the figures that out of the total 3,514 Anganwadi centres, 1,628 centres have not done a single registration under PMMVY. According to the expected target, an average of eight cases would have been registered at each Anganwadi centre in the district. Against the allotted target of 28,360 cases, the ICDS department in Barmer could able to register only 7,299 cases till June 10. Jaisalmer registered 1,216 cases against the target of 6,656. Similarly, Jalore registered 3,159 cases against 15,072, Pali 4,491 against 14,576, Sirohi 2,574 against 7,472 and Jodhpur registered 7,201 cases against the target of 20,264. Sati Choudhary, deputy director at ICDS department in Barmer, told HT that her office was not able to achieve the target on time due to remote areas and shortage of staff. Apart from this, in many cases we are facing problems of documents like Aadhaar card, bank details etc, she said, adding that she has taken note of the issue and directed the field staff and supervisors to speed up the process. Refuting ICDS departments version, Vijay Sharma, a health activist, said that out of total 3,514 Anganwadi centres, merely 5 percent centres are not working. With such a statement (from Sati Choudhary) the department is trying to hide its failure and negligence, he said. He claimed that situation of other schemes in the ICDS department were the same and corrupt practices in the department were the reasons behind that. Resident doctors at hospitals attached to Sawai Man Singh Medical College on Friday boycotted work for two hours (from 8-10 am) demanding the arrest of culprits, who allegedly manhandled resident doctors at JK Lone Hospital. The resident doctors threatened an indefinite boycott from Saturday if the culprits are not arrested within 24 hours. Jaipur Association of Resident Doctors (JARD) president Dr Ravi Jakhar said, We are demanding the arrest the culprits who misbehaved with resident doctors on duty on June 8 at JK Lone hospital after the death of a child. He said on June 10, around 50 relatives of the deceased once again entered the ward and misbehaved with the doctors. The hospital administration and police were informed about the incident on time, but till date, no action has been taken, due to which resident doctors are being forced to work in fear and there is resentment among them. JARD joint secretary Dr Mukesh Mahla said if the culprits are not arrested under medical protection act, residents doctors will be forced to go on indefinite boycott from Saturday. He said on Friday resident doctors remained on duty at the emergency and ICU so that patients do not suffer, but if demand is not met by Saturday, it will be hospital administrations responsibility. Dr Mahla said around 1300-1400 residents at various hospitals attached to the medical college boycotted work for two hours on Friday. He also said that FIR was not lodged against the culprits after the incident; it was lodged only on Thursday night at Moti Dungari police station. Dr Mahla said JK Lone hospital administration lodged the FIR on behalf of Dr Jakhar, whereas it should have been lodged by the superintendent of the hospital. After raising an objection, the office of the principal wrote to the JK Lone superintendent to make the correction in the FIR by removing the name of Dr Jakhar and lodge it on behalf of the superintendent, he added. Mesmerised by Darjeeling hills and local people, Tamil superstar Rajinikanth on Thursday said he hoped to see this region in north Bengal explored well by the film that is being shot since June 7. Yet to be titled, the film is being directed by Chennai-based filmmaker Karthik Subbaraj. On Thursday, the superstar talked to the media shortly after meeting state tourism minister Goutam Deb at the private resort in Kurseong where he is staying with his team. The land of Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore and Subash Chandra Bose has mesmerised me. I am really happy to meet such lovely people, good and kind hearted people. I am going to shoot here and Darjeeling for 30 days said Rajinikanth. There are so many beautiful locations here that have remained unexplored. Through this film, the whole country will know the place and explore the region, he said. He said that his recently released movie Kaala is doing well in India and aboard. However he remained mum on politics. When asked about the new party launched by superstar Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, who also plans a similar move, said, I have come here as an actor. Goutam Deb, who met Rajinikanth on behalf of chief minister Mamata Banerjee said, The shooting will promote the region. Rajinikanth and his team have booked all the 35 rooms in the resort which is located in a remote area. A resort employee, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, Rajinikanth is really a down-to-earth person. He looks old but is stronger than me. He goes to the gym every day. The shooting for the film assumes significance, given last years violence and killing of 13 people during the 104-day-long shutdown in demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland. The turmoil in the hills started on June 8, 2017. The shooting started exactly one year after that incident. The Bengal government has been rattled by governor Keshari Nath Tripathis letter to vice-chancellors of all state universities, asking them to observe International Yoga Day on June 21 on campus. A Bengal governor is the chancellor of all state-run universities. The universities received Tripathis letter on Wednesday. On Thursday, state education minister and Trinamool secretary general Partha Chatterjee said although a chancellor was free to write to the vice- chancellors, Tripathi should not have bypassed the education department. I do not feel that bypassing the state government in this manner meets the parameters of courtesy. The Mamata Banerjee government celebrates World Yoga Day every year but it does so in its unique style. The day will be celebrated this year as well, Chatterjee said. Read: Nothing in conversation for Mamata Banerjee to feel threatened or humiliated: West Bengal Raj Bhavan Incidentally, at the two- day conference of governors on June 4 and 5, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that all universities should celebrate International Yoga Day to make youths aware of the benefits of yoga. Interestingly, schools affiliated to Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) celebrated the day in 2017 but schools run by the Bengal government stayed away. The government conducted a yoga competition at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata a few days later. Read: Mamata-governor face-off intensifies, Trinamool writes to President, Rajnath This is not the first time the government and Trinamool leaders have spoken against Tripathi in public. In July last year chief minister Mamata Banerjee accused Tripathi of threatening and insulting her during a meeting. Hours after she said this, Raj Bhavan issued a statement saying there was nothing in the talks between them which might have led her to feel so. The Raj Bhavan press release said: Talks between the Honble Chief Minister and the Honble Governor were confidential in nature and none are expected to disclose it. However, there was nothing in the talks for which the Honble Chief Minister may have felt insulted, threatened or humiliated. Dr Kafeel on Thursday met ADG law and order Mohit Aggarwal in Lucknow and sought action against cops who made him run from one hospital to another for medico legal formalities which in turn had delayed the surgery of his brother Kashif Jameel, who was shot at by unidentified miscreants in Gorakhpur on June 10. Dr Kafeel said the surgery which had to be done immediately to save his brothers life was delayed by four hours in medico legal formalities, first at district hospital and then 15 km away at BRD medical college even as the bullet remained stuck in Kashifs neck. We had come here to meet DGP but we could only meet ADG Mohit Aggarwal. We had sought action against circle officer, Gorakhnath Praveen Singh and SP crime Vinay Singh, who, first conducted medico legal formalities at district hospital and then took us 15 km away to conduct second medico legal at BRD medical college, where doctor refused to do so saying medico legal had already been done at district hospital and it was not required now, said he said. My brother was yelling in pain but these cops were so insensitive due to which we lost four crucial hours. He was shot at around 10.30 but the bullet was removed from his neck only around 3 in the morning. My brother could have died, the doctor added. He said that four days have passed since the incident but no accused have been nabbed so far. SSP Shalabh Mathur, however, refused the charges of police apathy saying that they were referred to the district hospital for medico legal formalities and then to BRD medical college. We have the referral letter with us. He was then referred to KGMU by BRD doctors but they chose to get Kashif operated upon in Star hospital. Secondly, we are on the verge of working out the case. SSP said Most of us have grown up reading Munshi Premchands Eidgah, a touching tale of the emotional bond between four-year-old orphan Hamid and his grandmother Amina, but not many know that a fair at Gorakhpurs Eidgah inspired him to pen the story. Eidgah, written by Premchand during his days in Gorakhpur and published in 1938 after his death, narrates how the boy overcomes his craving for toys and sweets during a visit to an Eidgah fair on Eid and uses his pocket money (Idi) to buy a pair of tongs (chimta) as he had often seen his grandmother burn her fingers while making rotis. It is absolutely true that Premchand wrote Eidgah after conceiving the idea from Gorakhpurs Eidgah fair. The story is of a child who is small but his thoughts are big. It gives us an insight into child psychology in an interesting manner, said Prof Deepak Tyagi at the department of Hindi, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University. The story, written during the British era, hits out at the capitalist society and focuses on Indian society, farmers and labourers, he said. Besides Eidgah, Premchand also wrote Ramleela, Boodhi Kaki and Namak ka Daroga during his stay in Gorakhpur, Prof Tyagi said. Born on July 31, 1880, Premchand studied at Rawat Pathshala following the transfer of his father Ajayablal, a post office clerk, to Gorakhpur in 1892 from his ancestral village Lamhi in Varanasi. He stayed in Gorakhpur till 1896. From 1916 to 1921, Premchand served as a teacher at Normal High School in Gorakhpur. It was during this period that Premchand drew the idea of Eidgah from the fair held at the Mubarak Khan Shaheed Eidgah, located near the two-room quarter where he used to live with his wife. The looks of the shrine, a prominent centre of devotion for lakhs of Muslims and Hindus, along with Premchands residence, have changed with time. While the shrine is now a beautiful stone structure, the premises housing the writers house, Premchand Sadan, has been converted into Munshi Premchand Park. Syed Farhan, who is associated with the dargah and Eidgah, said: Even after so many decades, there is not much difference between the Eidgah fair that Premchand mentioned in his story and the present day celebrations. Shops of sweets, toys, bangles, utensils etc are still put up here on Eid and Bakrid. Thousands of Muslims gather here in their traditional attire to offer prayers. Several children come here in colourful dresses, some posing as Arab Sheikhs. Now, you can register your name with the KGMU blood bank to donate platelets instead of whole blood through a procedure called apheresis. KGMU started the registration process on World Blood Donors Day on Thursday. Apheresis is a medical technology in which the blood of a person is passed through an apparatus that separates out one particular constituent and returns the remaining. Apheresis of platelets is a procedure in which an individual donates platelets for a patient with the same blood group. The registration process is similar to the one for voluntary blood donation. The difference between usual blood donation and apheresis is that instead of the whole blood, only platelets are taken out from the donors blood. Whole blood donation takes a few minutes, but apheresis for platelets takes about two hours, said head of KGMUs transfusion medicine department and blood bank, Prof Tulika Chandra. She said that in apheresis the blood group of the donor and the recipient has to be the same. So if a patient with A positive needs platelet via apheresis, the donor has to be of the A positive blood group. Often patients have donors but it is difficult to have a donor of the same blood group. For registry an individual can come to our blood bank and submit the details. Though after donating whole blood, a person can donate blood again only after a gap of about three months, platelet can be donated via apheresis sooner. Any person who has donated blood can again donate platelet via apheresis after a gap of a week only, said Prof Tulika. During the day, the department took out an awareness rally and several organisations conducted blood donation camps including Airtel. A Railways employee was run over by a train while he was attending to it on platform number 6 at the Charbagh Railway Station in Lucknow on Thursday. The Government Railway Police (GRP) called it an accident while the deceaseds family members accused the Railways of negligence. According to the GRP, incident was reported around 12 noon when Ram Sagar, master craftsman, was attending to the Varanasi Intercity train. While attending to the train, he somehow lost his balance and came under the wheels, said Nitya Nand Singh, inspector, GRP Charbagh. But the family members refused to accept the GRPs theory and accused the Railways of negligence. My husband, whose retirement was scheduled this year, was not well. But still he was asked to join duty. Despite being a JE rank officer, he was asked to attend to the train without being allotted helpers or any security arrangements. There was a sudden jerk in the train he came under the wheels. The department had not even informed the train pilot and station master about the ongoing maintenance work, said Savitri Devi, wife of Ram Sagar. Congress president Rahul Gandhi has written to Dr Kafeel Khan and expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) spokesman Amarnath Agarwal said. Agarwal said Gandhi referred to the attempt on the life of Dr Kafeel Khans brother Kashif Jameel in Gorakhpur. Such an attack reflected on the law and order situation and was an issue of concern, Agarwal said, quoting Gandhis observations. Agarwal said Gandhi wanted the administrative laxity with respect to the incident be probed. The UPCC spokesman also targeted the Yogi government for the bouncing of cheques given to meritorious students. The students were feeling disheartened, he said. Kashif Jameel, an engineer, had sustained three bullet injuries in his upper arms, chin and neck after he was shot at by unidentified criminals in the Gorakhnath area on Sunday night. Kafeel is out on bail after serving eight months in jail in connection with BRD Medical College tragedy on August 10-11 last year in which several children died allegedly due to shortage of oxygen. There will be 350 less seats for undergraduate medical and dental courses in Maharashtra after the Medical Council of India (MCI) banned three medical institutes from admitting students for 2018-19 academic year. Two out of three institutes had faced similar trouble last year as well, but they had managed to make necessary structural changes to secure MCI permission before admissions this year. But this year too it looks difficult, so we are not including these institutes in common admissions at all, said Dr Pravin Shingare, director, directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER). One of the colleges barred from admitting students is Vedantaa Institute of Medical Sciences, Palghar, the states first private limited medical college. Not only has the institute been banned from admitting students in 2018-19, weve also heard that the institute is being de-recognised by the MCI. We are worried about the future of our children as they were admitted to the institute last year, said the father of one of the 147 students who are currently finishing first-year MBBS course at the institute. Vedantaa spokesperson refused to comment. The other institutes are ACPM Medical College in Dhule and MIMER in Talegaon; the capacity of MIMSR Medical College in Latur has been reduced by 50 seats. Information shared by the DMER reveals that there are 3,000 medical and 250 dental seats in government institutes and 1,500 medical and 850 dental seats in private medical institutes in the state. There will be 350 seats less in private medical institutes, leaving a little over 1,200 seats in private medical institutes in the state, said Shingare. He added MCI recently approved 100 seats in the state under government quota. Some private institutes have reduced their seats and these three institutes are not eligible to participate in admissions, so the total number of seats is lesser than last year, Shingare said. The HCM City Peoples Court on June14 sent a case related to fraud and irresponsible lending practices at the Central Sai Gon branch of the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank) back to the Peoples Procuracy for further investigation.Photo dantri.com.vn HCM CITY The HCM City Peoples Court on June14 sent a case related to fraud and irresponsible lending practices at the Central Sai Gon branch of the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank) back to the Peoples Procuracy for further investigation. In the case, Pham Van Chinh, former director of A Chau company; Hoang Van Cuong, former director of ADN company; and o Minh Quang, foundation member of the ADN company, were accused of swindling and appropriating property. Other defendants, including former branch directors Pham Thi Mai Toan and Phi Thi Ong; former branch deputy director o Thi Yen; and two bank officers, Nguyen Thi Thanh Van and Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang, were prosecuted on the charge of violating regulations on lending activities of credit institutes and lacking responsibility causing serious consequences. According to the indictment, American national Hoang Tien Dzung founded six companies based in HCM City and hired people to work as company directors in order to borrow money from the bank. The companies reportedly failed to pay the bank loan interest. Subsequently, in November 2009, Dzung falsified a project to get a loan of VN90 billion (US$4 million) to help the six companies pay the loan interest, the court said. Fake documents submitted to the bank branch claimed that one of the six companies A Chau Company had earned profits, but the company had actually incurred losses. Despite knowing the truth, Toan still approved the loan. Agribank lost VN21 billion from the loan. Earlier, in April 2009, the Central Sai Gon branch offered a loan of VN75 billion ($3.3 million) to ADN company, whose director was Hoang Van Cuong. Cuong falsified documents that claimed the company needed investment for a rubber-tree plantation project in southern Binh Thuan Province, according to the court. Former bank branch director Phi Thi Ong signed the papers authorising the loan, although she was aware that Cuongs company was unqualified to take it out. ADN company was not able to pay back the loan. Hoang Tien Dzung has fled Viet Nam, and police have issued a wanted notice for him. VNS After a spate of suicide attempts at Maharashtras administration headquarters in Mumbai, Mantralaya, over the past few months, the government has decided to install a CCTV network of 420 cameras, and a state-of-the art control and command room, at a cost of 12 crore, at the three-building complex. The surveillance system will go live after chief minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurates it next month. Between November 2017 and February this year, there have been at least three cases where people have entered Mantralaya and attempted or committed suicide. In Februaury, a 45-year old murder convict, Harsha Raote, who was out on furlough, committed suicide by jumping off the 5th floor of the building. Two weeks before that, an 83-year old Dharma Patil attempted suicide by consuming poison outside Mantralaya. He died at JJ hospital later. On November 11, 2017, a 28-year old farmer went up to the seventh floor of the building and threatened to jump off, protesting for several pending demands of farmers. After Raotes suicide, the Mantralaya administration installed safety nets in the atrium of the building. The CCTV cameras are another step to beef up vigilance and security. The police have also found other security lapses in Mantralaya, after a mob gheraoed the housing minister in 2017. In another instance, the government had to face flak after the police on duty at Mantralaya beat up a farmer who protested outside the chief ministers office in March 2017. The 420 CCTV camera set-up will be monitored through a command and control room at the ground floor of the main building, said an official from the home department. The network has various types of cameras, including pan-tilt-zoom cameras, fitted at prime locations in Mantralaya. The cameras will cover almost all the corners of the three buildings, the official added. The network has been almost completely installed and is expected to start functioning next month. Officals from the department said the 12-crore project will help the police prevent critical incidents at the building. The network will help us identify and monitor suspicious movements by visitors, or unwarranted gatherings inside the building. It would be an exaggeration to claim that the suicide attempts can be completely averted, but it will also help us better investigate such cases, said another official from the information and technology department. The official said the network will be integrated with Mumbai Polices surveillance system. At least 3,000 people from across the state visit the Mantralaya complex every day, and the number goes up to 5,000 poeple when the weekly cabinet meetings are held. As part of the phase of the security upgradation at Mantralaya, the home department has also invited bids for the intrusion detection system for the building. The sensor-enabled fencing around the building will help alert us in case of intrusion attempts. Recenly, central agencies had reviewed the security at Mantralaya after intelligence inputs, the home department official said. In an incident that raises serious concerns over womens safety, a 23-year-old woman was molested twice in an hour by an unidentified biker near Mary Immaculate Girls High School in Borivli (West). According to the MHB colony police, the incident took place at around 8.50pm on Monday when the woman had walked out of a pizza outlet along with a female friend. When the women reached Santvani Road near Mary Immaculate Girls High School, a man on a bike sped close to them, groped the complainants chest and fled even before the woman could shout for help. The bikers face was hidden as he was wearing a helmet. Shocked, the women decided to rush home. However, the complainant, a resident of a housing society in Borivli (West), had no idea that the accused had not fled, but was stalking her all the way. Around 20 minutes later, just as she was about to enter her building, the accused sped behind them, groped her from the back and fled. The woman then approached the MHB colony police station and a first information report (FIR) was registered under Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 (amended Indian Penal Code sections) for stalking and sexual harassment. An officer from MHB colony police station said, We are trying our best to trace the accused. We have checked the CCTV footage but have not been able to get the registration number of the bike. He seems to be of a crooked mentality. We will trace him before he targets other women, the officer added. Michael Bloomberg, CEO of global financial services and media company Bloomberg, and former mayor of New York City, plans to work with the Maharashtra government to boost fintech (financial technology) start-ups in the state, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in New York. After travelling to Dubai, he is currently in the US before he visits Canada. The state Cabinet this year unveiled a financial technology policy that would facilitate setting up of 300 fintech start ups in the coming three years. The CM and Bloomberg, who gifted a copy of his book Climate of Hope to Fadnavis, also discussed expanding the Mumbai road safety initiative supported by the latters foundation, through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2015. Mumbai was among the 10 cities selected by Bloomberg Philanthropies for a five-year programme to adopt best road safety practices worldwide. Fadnavis tweeted: Discussions were held on expansion of road safety initiative supported by Bloomberg ..Substantial progress is seen with this initiative and many achievements were reviewed. This initiative resulted in fewer road accidents. Later, Fadnavis also addressed a community reception, Mumbai Meets Manhattan, organised by the Consul General of India and Friends of Maharashtra. It was attended by more than 500 delegates. The CM will return to the city on June 16. Security forces carried out searches at Vitthalwadi railway station on Friday afternoon after an unidentified caller told the Mumbai Police control room that he had placed a bomb at the railway station and it may explode in a few hours. The call turned out to be a hoax. The police are trying to trace the caller and said the caller is from Mumbai. Upon receiving the call, police officers in the control room immediately alerted senior officials. The Thane police too was informed about the call along with the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF). A bomb squad and dog squad from Kalyan division rushed to the spot. They carried out checks at the station area and after almost two hours, found the call to be a hoax. A police officer from Thane commissionerate said, We traced the number from which the call was made and contacted it more than four times but there was no answer. Now the phone is switched off. We are also in process of tracking the location of the number. It was a fake call and the caller is from Mumbai. Railway services were not affected. For two hours, officers from GRP, RPF and police were at the spot keeping guard near Vitthalwadi railway station. They were also trying to maintain peace among the commuters. Upon seeing the police in such huge numbers a few of the commuters were taking pictures but we stopped them from circulating the same on social media as it might send the wrong message to others. Dinesh Savla, 28, a resident of Ulhasnagar, said, I had come to drop my relatives as they were heading towards Mumbai. The moment I heard about the bomb I got scared and asked my relatives at the railway station to leave the next day or some other day. A number of police personnel were at the station. But after I came home, I was told by my friend that it was a hoax call. The person who made the call must get severe punishment or else such calls will continue in the future. While Dalit leaders condemned the Jalgaon incident, where three Dalit boys were assaulted for swimming in a community well, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticised Congress president Rahul Gandhis tweet, saying it was not caste-related trouble. On June 10, three minor Dalit boys were allegedly stripped, beaten and paraded naked in a village in Maharashtras Jalgaon district for allegedly swimming in a village well. The incident came to light after the video went viral. Barring Union minister Ramdas Athawale, who is an ally of the BJP, all Dalit leaders blamed the ruling saffron party for the incident. Prakash Ambedkar, president, Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM), said, Even those who shot the video and stayed silent need to be booked. Jogendra Kawade, who heads the Peoples Republican Party, said, I will visit the families and offer all possible help. Rajendra Gawai, who heads the Republican Party of India (Gawai), said, The government has not been able to arrest Sambhaji Bhide, the mastermind of the Bhima-Koregoan violence, despite irrefutable proof. In contrast, they acted against Dalits who were the victims. The same story will be repeated again. Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted the video of the incident, adding in Hindi, Their crime was they went for bath in a well belonging to a person from upper caste community. Condemning Gandhis remarks, state revenue minister Chandrakant Patil said, Of the three victims, two were from scheduled caste and one from scheduled tribe. The well-owner is from nomadic tribe community and his help is from other backward class (OBC). Making such a statement without verifying facts is not in the interest of the country. The directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI) arrested a key player in a three-state drug manufacturing ring on Friday in Haryana. Jimmy Singh Sandhu was the 11th person to be arrested in the Ketamine drug syndicate. Sandhus arrest comes two days after the DRI, on Wednesday ended its three-day Operation Vitamin, and busted a factory in Panvel, Maharashtra. Officials found that impure Ketamine was made at this factory, sent to Goa and Gujarat, from where it was smuggled to the United Kingdom and Canada. Ketamine is an anaesthetic and works as a hallucinogen. The crackdown was one of the biggest this year, and saw the DRI raid 14 residential and industrial places, and seize 308kg of Ketamine, 2,000kg of the raw material, enough to make another 250kg of the drug, and drugs such as hashish, cocaine and opium, worth 35 crore. Among the 11 people arrested so far are two UK nationals and one from Vietnam. Sandhu owned the facility in Goa where the two British nationals processed the semi-done Ketamine brought in from Panvel, officials said on Friday. Sandhus interrogation could throw more light on how the narcotic cartel ran, said DRI additional director general Shravan Singh. Among the DRIs raids, three took place in Goa, including one at a factory called Vijay Industries in Sattari. The factory is located on a plot that belongs to Vasudev Parab, a local BJP leader. Sandhu owned the factory. He would get the Ketamine drugs prepared by the British nationals here, then smuggle them into Canada and Punjab, another senior DRI official said. A DRI source said Sandhu was big catch in the case, as he is known to have links with international drug cartels. He used to stay in Canada. But, four years ago, was deported to India after he was caught by authorities there. He has a plush apartment in Dubai, the source told HT. DRIs interrogation of one of the British nationals arrested in the case, Jonathan Thorn, revealed he was also a key player in the racket, and on a lookout list of the British government in more than 20 drug-related cases there. In most of those cases. Thorn was convicted. Meanwhile, the other 10 arrested in the case Rahul Shedge, Anthony Paul, Akshinder Sodhi, Ishrat Parmar, Purohit Jagdishbhai, Mayur Sadrani, Vietnam national Nyugeh Kuong, Sarpreet Singh, British nationals Jonathan Thorn and John Brecken were produced in a local court and remanded in police custody. The US-based Ford Motor Company has decided to make an investment of $50 million (around Rs340 crore) in Maharashtra for setting up a Centre of Excellence for integrated mobility in the state and explore smart urban mobility modes of transport. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is in the US as part of the last leg of his 8-day foreign tour, also sought assistance from the World Bank for multimodal transport corridor in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and rural livelihood project for providing sustainable livelihood enhancements in 10,000 villages of the state. The @Ford Motor Company submits a 50 million USD investment proposal for setting up Center of Excellence for integrated mobility in Maharashtra and to explore Smart Urban Mobility to implement integrated mobility solutions across the state, Fadnavis tweeted after a meeting with Marcy Klevorn, executive vice-president and president, Mobility and Brett Wheatley, vice-president, mobility and growth, Ford Motor Company at Washington DC. The company has, on November 24 last year, already signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for common mobility solution and scoping assessment for a common mobility solution for commuters across multiple modes of transport such as buses, trains, taxis, autos, metro and so on. In another meeting, Kristalina Georgieva, CEO, World Bank, also assured Fadnavis that the bank would consider the states demand for assistance to Multimodal Transport Corridor in MMR and Rural Livelihood Project positively. Kristalina Georgieva @KGeorgieva, CEO, @WorldBank assured us for positive consideration to both the projects and also assured more support for rural solar grid and drought mitigation. WorldBank also appreciated Maharashtras model of consent driven land acquisition, Fadnavis said in a series of tweets. The chief minister was also felicitated with Outstanding Leadership in Development Award by Georgetown University and Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) at Washington DC. It is a global award given annually to a remarkable leader who could be either head of state or a sub-national entity, said a statement released by the chief ministers office on Friday. The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) moved an urgent application before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Delhi, on Thursday, asking the environmental body to lift the stay order on the Metro 3 (Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ) work at Aarey Milk Colony, Goregaon (East). MMRCL said that the stay was affecting the work at the site. The NGT rejected MMRCLs application and has kept the matter for hearing in July, as originally decided. On May 14, NGT Delhi had upheld an August 2015 order by NGT Pune that called for a stay on the construction and restrained the MMRCL from carrying out any debris dumping, reclamation of land and cutting of trees at the area allotted for the Metro 3 car shed till July 10, the next date for hearing. The miscellaneous application called for an urgent hearing on Thursday itself and pleaded that MMRCL be permitted to carry out construction work at the 33-hectare car shed area allotted to it by the state government. It also pleaded that since the area fell outside the eco-sensitive zone of Sanjay Gandhi National Park, there was no need for permissions from statutory bodies such as Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Aarey authorities. When HT reached out to MMRCL, they refused to comment in the matter. However, MMRCLs counsel said the application was only made to expedite the procedure for tree cutting at Aarey. READ: Aarey: Now a forest, now not a forest NGTs last order stayed dumping, tree cutting and reclamation. Though MMRCL is not carrying out dumping or reclamation, we did make an application to BMCs tree authority for tree cutting. The tree authority is reluctant to process the application citing the stay from NGT. On that basis, we moved this application to vacate the stay. We are pressing for an earlier hearing so that the tree authority can process our application, said advocate Kiran Bhagalia, counsel for MMRCL. MMRCLs application read the Metro is a much-needed project to alleviate the severe traffic congestion in the city. It is submitted that the order dated May 14, 2018, is urgently required to be vacated. The union government and state government have equal stakes in the project. The project is funded partly with funds of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Delay in execution has far reaching effects on the viability of the project and severe adverse cost implications on public exchequer, read MMRCLs application. The application further referred to August 19, 2015 order from NGT Pune that issued the stay and stated the order was not applicable in the current scenario. The said order needs to be modified/clarified/vacated at least in its application to the metro construction activities, as the premises in which the order was passed has undergone substantial change. The applicant submits that the construction of the car shed and allied construction of Metro Line 3 is now imminent, the application read. NGO Vanashakti is an applicant in the matter. Stalin D, director of NGO Vanashakti said In a sub judice matter, which is being heard at NGT, these are arrogant and shocking statements. The three men Vietnamese national Nyugeh Kuong and British nationals Jonathan Thorn and John Brecken arrested in connection with the Ketamine smuggling racket paid a monthly rent of 70,000 to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vasudev Parab to use his plot in Goa, according to directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI). Although Parab claimed he was unaware of the chemicals being produced in the factory, DRI is likely to interrogate him. In the three-day Operation Vitamin earlier this week, DRI raided 14 residential and industrial places in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa and seized 308kg Ketamine, 2,000kg of raw material that could be used to manufacture 250kg of Ketamine, hashish, cocaine and opium worth nearly 35crores. Ten people, including four foreigners, were arrested. Three of the raided spots were in Goa, including Vijay Industries at Pissurlem IDC in Sattari that was set up on the plot of the head of BJP north Goa. Parab didnt have a lease licence, despite which he gave out the premises to the accused. He claims he didnt know they made chemicals there. Parab has been questioned and his statement will be recorded soon, said a DRI source. Targeting Parab on the DRI action, the local Congress leadership has put up an article on their website stating: Why is the BJP hiring, promoting & protecting individuals that possess highly dangerous & potentially lethal narcotics. Meanwhile, the probe indicated linkages of British nationals with the international drug mafias operating in the United Kingdom and Africa. The two had set up a small facility in various countries, including in Congo, Kenya and Nigeria, where they would process the semi-finished Ketamine (exported from India) into pure Ketamine. DRI will soon get in touch with officials in London, said a senior DRI official. The arrested foreigners were on Thursday brought to the city from Goa on transit remand. Schools and colleges in Maharashtra are likely to start yoga sessions once in every month. State education minister Vinod Tawde has directed officials to ensure students perform different asanas on the 21st of every month. International Yoga Day is celebrated on June 21 every year. He also said conducting yoga sessions once a year will have little impact of students health . He issued directives while he was addressing a preparatory meeting for International Yoga Day with senior officials from state school education, and higher and technical education departments on Thursday. In 2014, the United Nations declared June 21 as International Day of Yoga after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for the day to be adopted as a global celebration of yoga, an ancient practice that began in India more than 5,000 years ago. We celebrate International Yoga Day on June 21 every year. Now, we should start conducting yoga sessions in school and colleges on the 21st of every month which should not be less than half an hour. In case of holidays, the session can be conducted a day in advance or the next day, Tawde said. Yoga helps in overall personality development of the students. It will also help students in developing concentration and agility necessary in todays fast paced life. Celebrating Yoga Day only on June 21 in a year will serve no purpose. We also need to organise Yoga Mahotsav in every district and ensure participation of as many students as possible, he said. However, the idea of celebrating Yoga Day on the 21st of every month was first mooted by the minister in 2016. The education minister also directed the officials to set up an independent website and upload information and photos of celebration of International Yoga Day on it. HAI PHONG Thousands of containers containing recyclable and used materials are piling up at seaports in the localities of Hai Phong, HCM City and Ba RiaVung Tau, reducing the productivity and efficiency of ports operations and negatively affecting the import-export activities of Vietnamese enterprises. According to the report issued by the Viet Nam Maritime Administration, by the end of May, nearly 28,000 containers were stuck at seaports, including nearly 6,800 containers in Hai Phong City ports, 14,600 in HCM City and about 6,500 in Ba Ria Vung Tau Province . The main causes, the administration supposes, are changes in international trade policies which create uncertainties in the market forecast. China , for example, announced to stop importing 24 types of used and recyclable materials from January, 2018. The huge amount of those goods has to find its own way to other Asian countries including Viet Nam . Those containers usually contain wire cables, used machines, fertilisers, agricultural products, textile materials and used aluminum. The Vietnam News Agency cited logistics companies saying that a huge volume of used plastics and paper will continue pouring into Vietnamese seaports in the near future as shipping contracts have been signed and goods are already on their way to the country. This is predicted to create a severe threat to the environment as well as a huge financial burden on the State budget to destroy the waste. It will also cause congestion at seaports in Viet Nam . Enterprises will be forced to move containers from one place to another frequently, and in the worst scenario, they will have to move the containers to inland container depots (ICDs). If this occurs, it will cost more to port owners, customers and shipping companies, said Nguyen Xuan Sang, director general of the Viet Nam Maritime Administration. Recently, customs departments of cities and provinces have tasked their sub-agencies to tighten management over goods containers. Owners of those containers are responsible for presenting the necessary documents at the ports to receive their goods. Inspections are also being conducted to detect and handle any legal violations. "In case a container has been kept in the port for more than 90 days, the port authorities can have the container opened to destroy environmentally harmful goods, Sang added. To restrict the transport of used goods to Viet Nam s ports, Sang recommended enterprises adopt their own protective barriers, taking Tan Cang Sai Gon Port Company for example. The company announced to only unload goods when its customer could present valid and authorised import permits with the written commitment on specific time of receipt. From June 1 to September 30, 2018, the Tan Cang Sai Gon Port will not allow any used plastic goods to go through the port. Moreover, the administration asked for the collaboration of the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to come up with solutions to counter container stagnation. Responding to the demand, the MoT asked the MoF to help free containers stuck at seaports to prevent cargos from piling up as soon as possible. VNS It is getting worse for the countrys only Monorail. With Monorail services remaining suspended since November last year, a consortium led by Malaysia-based firm Scomi Engineering has decided to pull out from operations of the 19.5-km corridor. However, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) said the consortium cannot take the decision unilaterally. Services on the 8.9km stretch from Chembur to Wadala (phase 1) were suspended after two rakes caught fire in November last year. On the other hand, phase 2 (from Wadala-Jacob Circle) is yet to become operational. The 10.6-km has missed 15 deadlines. Larsen and Toubro is also part of the consortium. They (the consortium) has conveyed to us about pulling out of the operations. But they cannot do so unilaterally. First, they have to commission the entire corridor and acquire spare parts required for rakes, said Sanjay Khandare, additional metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA. A senior MMRDA official said the tussle between Scomi and MMRDA has been going on for some time now. According to an MMRDA official, Scomi argued that it could withdraw from operations as it had completed three years after commissioning of Monorail. It is a matter of interpretation. Phase 1 was commissioned in February 2014. However, the entire project is still not commissioned. They cannot leave work mid-way. It is still responsible for commissioning phase 2 of the project, the official said. HTs emails sent to Scomi and L&T seeking their comment remained unanswered at the time of going to print. Meanwhile, the MMRDA has started to the process to appoint an agency for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of Monorail. The agency is expected to take over once phase 2 becomes operational. It has also asked the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) to check if the latter can operate the Monorail corridor. A Mumbai state transport bus driver was arrested on Friday for allegedly sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl on board a luxury bus, which was returning to Mumbai from Shirdi. Crime Branch officials said the accused Sopan Ugale was a resident of Oshiwara area and was attached with Goregaon bus depot as a driver. According to police, the victim and her family had boarded a luxury bus from Shirdi on the night of May 13. The accused also boarded the same bus from Sangamner area at around 10:30pm. Police said the girls mother told her to sit on a vacant seat next to the accused. Around 3am, when the minor was asleep, the accused sexually abused her, a police official added. The minor shared her ordeal with her mother in the morning after she started experiencing pain in her private parts. The accused, however, had deboarded the bus by that time. The victims family then approached the Kurar police station and a case of sexual assault under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was registered against the accused. Meanwhile, the crime branch began its enquiry into the case and checked the passengers list, an official familiar with the investigation said. Once the accuseds seat number was confirmed, we got his details. Ugale had mentioned his mobile number while booking the ticket from an agency and so we got his number. His location and residential address were traced to Oshiwara, said police inspector Sunil Jadhav. A police team visited Ugales residence on Friday morning and he was brought to the police station and during interrogation, he confessed to the crime, a police official said. In a life-saving procedure, doctors from BJ Wadia Hospital, Parel, removed a two-inch metal earring from an infants throat last week. Khushi Soni had accidentally swallowed the earring while playing at her home in Kurla. The earring got stuck in her windpipe, causing cough and breathlessness. After infection led to fever, Khushis parents rushed her to a paediatrician who prescribed medicines for cough and fever. She was taken to Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, Sion, where an x-ray failed to spot a foreign object stuck in the windpipe. Khushis family, which had planned a grand party to celebrate her first birthday on Thursday, were worried that they may lose her. Khushi was kept on a ventilator for three days, but was shifted to a private hospital after her condition worsened. Here too she needed life-support system for three days. Eventually, the infant was shifted to Wadia hospital. It was here the x-ray showed an earring stuck in the windpipe. Her condition was critical because even an endotracheal tube [a form of catheter which is inserted in the windpipe to maintain adequate exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide] increases the chances of infection. There was a major worry of injuries and infection caused by the object itself, said Dr Divya Prabhat, head of ENT department, BJ Wadia Hospital. After pinpointing the location of the earring, a team of anaesthetists and surgeons was put together to extract the object. Within 30 minutes of her admission, Khushi was shifted to the operation theatre. The endotracheal tube was removed, a bronchoscopy was performed and the foreign body [earring] was removed. No surgery or tracheostomy was thus required for this life saving emergency procedure. The child is breathing on her own and consuming food as well, added Prabhat. Dr Minnie Bodhanwala, CEO of Wadia Hospitals, said such cases are critical in nature and at times need urgent attention. We took no time to address the situation and now the baby is out of danger. We are really happy that she celebrated her first birthday in our hospital on Thursday. Khushi is likely to be discharged on Saturday. The Mumbai police arrested a BEST bus driver on Friday for allegedly sexually assaulting a 6-year-old girl on a luxury bus from Shirdi to Mumbai. Sopan Ugale, 32, who worked with the Goregaon bus depot as a driver, was arrested by unit 12 of the Mumbai crime branch on Friday. The police said the girl, a resident of Malad, and had gone to Shirdi with her parents two days ago. The family boarded a luxury bus on the night of June 13. Ugale boarded the same bus, from the Sangamner area, around 10.30pm. As the seat next to Ugales was empty, the girls mother made her sit there. Around 3am, when the girl was asleep, Ugale allegedly abused her, a police official part of the investigation said. The girl complained about pain in her private parts after she woke up around 6am, which is when the abuse came to light. It is not yet clear if the girl was asleep while Ugale assaulted her, or if he suppressed her reaction. By the time the family realised what had happened, Ugale had alighted. The girls mother approached the Kurar police station and filed a case of sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The crime branch began a parallel inquiry, and contacted the travel agency to check their list of passengers. Once we found the mans seat number, we got all his details. Ugale had mentioned his mobile number while taking a ticket, and used it to trace him, said police inspector Sunil Jadhav. A police team visited at Ugales residence on Friday morning and he was brought to the police station. During interrogation, he confessed to the crime. Two days after the Shiv Sena criticised the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar for playing dangerous politics, the party asked the Sena to clarify its stand on the Emergency, imposed in 1975 by then Congress Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, considering that its founder late Bal Thackeray had supported it. The NCP has put the Sena in an awkward position as it is a partner in the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Maharashtra government, which has decided to give pension to those jailed during the Emergency. The NCP now wants to know whether the Sena thinks Bal Thackeray was wrong in supporting the Emergency, and if so, to admit it. The Shiv Sena must clarify its position on the pension decision as Balasaheb openly supported Emergency, saying that it was in the interest of the country. The party should clarify whether the decision taken by Balasaheb on Emergency was wrong, said Nawab Malik, the NCPs chief spokesperson. The NCP has also asked the Sena to disclose if, as part of the coalition government, it had opposed the decision to offer pension. Following the move in other BJP-ruled states, the Maharashtra government in January decided to accord freedom fighter status to all those jailed under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) during the Emergency and give them a monthly pension of up to Rs10,000. We also want the state government to clarify whether all those jailed during the Emergency will get pension, because people such as [underworld don] Haji Mastan and many other gangsters too were arrested during that period. Is the state government according freedom fighter status to all those arrested under MISA, Nalik asked. Lambasting the BJP, Malik said this appears to be a desperate attempt by the ruling party to show the young generation that the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have done something for the country, as they had played no role in the Independence movement. The Sena is yet to respond to the NCPs jibes. The Emergency, considered a dark chapter in Indian democracy, was declared on June 25, 1975, and prominent Opposition leaders and activists were arrested immediately after. Over the years, the BJP has evoked the Emergency frequently to counter attacks on its leadership and totalitarian approach. Though majority of Air India (AI) employees received their salaries for May on Tuesday, pilots and cabin crew members said they have received only 20% of their salaries so far. They said 80% of their salary comprises flying allowances, which is yet to be paid. Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) is planning to meet the airline management, which the pilots said has not given a date of paying remaining portion of the salary. An AI official said the national carrier paid salaries on June 12. While other employees received their full pay, more than 3,000 pilots and cabin crew members received only their basic pay. Pilots and cabin crew form a crucial part of an airline. However, we are less in numbers when compared to the entire staff of Air India, which seems to be the reason of delaying payment of allowances, said a senior pilot. For the past few months, AI has been inconsistent in crediting salaries. However, the delay has been longer this month. The salaries have never been delayed till 12 of a month. Pilots and cabin crew have been facing additional issues of being paid their flying allowances days after basic salary is credited, said a senior airline official. After reports featured in media about salary delay, the airline informed its employees on June 6 that their salaries were likely to be credited on June 15. In the past, ICPA had written to Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the airline chairperson and managing director Pradeep Singh Kharola about their grievances. A letter dated March 23, 2018, said payment of flying allowances were being delayed for the pat one year. The letter reads: Being in a sensitive industry where the pilots are responsible for hundreds of lives, high priority should be placed to ensure the pilots are not undergoing fatigue and stress related issues in any form which is detrimental in performing their duties. In another letter to Kharola, on June 9, ICPA said May was the fourth consecutive month that the salaries were delayed. AI spokesperson did not comment on the matter. Misuse of section 354 of the Indian Penal Code (punishment for outraging modesty of a woman or molestation)? Heres what the police believe is a perfect example. On May 3, a woman filed a complaint with the Amboli police station alleging developer twins Anees Chandiwala and Imran Chandiwala, 33, in their Fortuner car, followed the autorickshaw in which she was travelling from Abba residency near Ambar hotel in Jogeshwari West till Goregaon around 10.30pm. She claimed they managed to stop her, after which they molested her. The woman approached the Goregaon police, who filed a complaint and then shifted it to Amboli police station. A woman sub-inspector registered the case, while police officer Daya Nayak was told to investigate its veracity. This is what the police investigation found. The call data records of the woman and the brothers showed all of them were not present at the location mentioned in the complaint at the given time. The witness, who the woman claimed was travelling with her, too, was not near the location. After going through the CCTV footage and versions of several witnesses, the police concluded the complaint was concocted. The Amboli police have now filed a report with the Andheri court, stating the complaint is false. Police sources said the report has sought registration of a complaint against the woman and the witness. If the court orders, the police can file a complaint against the woman and witness. Nayak, who investigated the details of the case and submitted the report, said, The report has been submitted in the court. We are awaiting further orders. I cant share the details of the report as it is in court. During the investigation, police also found the woman and witness had filed a similar case in February. In the earlier case too, other witnesses said the complainant was not at the spot when she alleged the incident took place. It is being investigated by a different team, which is now suspicious of the allegations. If a complaint is registered, we can look into the motive behind filing such fake cases. We suspect a man to be the main conspirator, said another officer. A moneylender allegedly chained up a 12-year-old girl and tortured her for three months in Bihars Bhojpur district after her father failed to repay a loan of Rs 20,000. Bihiya police said they rescued the minor from the house of the accused identified as KP Kharwar on Thursday. They were tipped off about the girls plight by local residents. According to sources, Kharwar also wanted the victims father a labourer by profession to pay an interest of Rs 10,000 accrued on the principal amount. She had allegedly been in the moneylenders custody ever since her father left the village in March. Bihiya station house officer Kunwar Prasad Gupta said a police team found the girl with her legs chained together at Kharwars residence. The moneylender and his family managed to escape, he added. RB Sharma, the man who fashioned the metal chain for the moneylender, is being questioned with regard to the crime. A hunt is on to arrest the suspects, said Bhojpur superintendent of police Awakash Kumar. A pall of dust over the tricity grounded all flights from Chandigarh International Airport on Thursday, and pushed up pollution levels, with the air quality index (AQI) going up to 575, the highest ever since its data started being compiled in the city in 2017. All 33 flights, including three international flights, from Chandigarh International Airport were cancelled. Due to the disruption caused by bad weather at Chandigarh, all flight operations from Chandigarh were cancelled for June 14, a communique from the airport public relations officer Deepesh Joshi said. An Air India Express flight to Sharjah at 5:30 pm departed from Delhi instead. All Chandigarh passengers for Sharjah were shifted to Delhi by bus to board the flight on time, Joshi said. The remaining operators refunded tickets to their passengers. Some flights will remain suspended on Friday as well, a late-night release from the airport said. These include Indigos 6E 545/455 (Delhi-Chandigarh) and 6E 3512/491 (Bengaluru-Chandigarh); and Jet Airwayss 9W 641 (Delhi-Chandigarh), 9W 648 (Delhi-Chandigarh), 9W 665 (Delhi-Chandigarh) and 9W 656 (Delhi-Chandigarh). Passenger Furqan Wani, who was to fly to Srinagar to be home in time for Eid said he would have reach his destination via Delhi one day late on Friday. Officials from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Chandigarh, have said the dust was expected to settle down when light rain and strong surface winds caused by Western Disturbances hit the tricity on Friday evening. Air quality categorised as severe The air quality index (AQI) on Thursday went beyond the severe limit of 500 to 575. AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor, and 401-500 severe. The dust had been blown into the tricity by winds at relatively slow speeds of up to 46.3 Km/h on Wednesday, IMD officials said. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the air quality in the region deteriorated because of dust storms in western India, particularly Rajasthan. Shivinder Singh, a scientist with the IMD, said the phenomenon had been caused by the south Westerlies, usually typical to states like Rajasthan. An analysis of the last five days by Dr Ravinder Khaiwal, associate professor, environment, School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh, showed incoming flow of air from Afghanistan to Chandigarh. This had been intensified by local dust storms in Rajasthan, UP and Haryana, he said. Confirming a big drop in air quality since Wednesday, Vivek Pandey of Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee said, In this period air quality usually remains satisfactory, ranging from 51-100. Docs advise caution Doctors have advised caution in this phase for people venturing outdoors. Dr D Behera, professor, pulmonary medicine, PGIMER said, People suffering from asthma, lung fibrosis or any other respiratory infection must stay indoors or wear a face mask. Dr VK Maini, a pulmonary specialist in the city said, people with breathing problems should keep anti-allergy medication and inhalers handy. Small water features can also be put in rooms as the resultant humidity can control the dust. Strenuous physical exercise should also be avoided, he added. Inputs from Tanbir Dhaliwal Name: Sanjiv Kohli Age: 55 Designation: I am presently the High Commissioner of India to New Zealand. After brief stints with a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) in Mohali and the Indian Railways, I joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1988. Since then, I have served in Indian Missions in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Russia and Qatar. I have also worked in the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi in various positions. Before coming to Wellington, I was heading the West Africa Division in the Ministry. I joined my current assignment as High Commissioner of India to New Zealand in February 2016. Hometown I was born in Gurdaspur. My late father was a PCS officer. So my schooling was at different places as he moved every three years. My parents settled in Chandigarh after my fathers last stint in the city before his retirement. Education I topped my pre-engineering (Class 12) exams. Since I scored well, Punjab Engineering College (PEC) was the obvious choice. I pursued an engineering degree and enrolled for the Electronics and Communications course. I studied at PEC from 1979 to 1983. My Chandigarh connect I have always felt that Chandigarh is a great place to live in. Apart from the grace and comfort of this beautiful city, I have very fond memories of my days in PEC. Once you are part of the Indian Foreign Service, Delhi becomes your home in India. But I have still not decided where to settle after retirement. I still have a huge emotional attachment with Chandigarh, so that option is always on the table. What I owe to Chandigarh I owe my education to the city. It is here that I prepared for the civil services examination and cracked it. A person is always shaped by his environment. Living in Chandigarh was a blessing in terms of the facilities available, the easy pace of life, its culture and discipline. Besides it was inspiring to be surrounded by a large number of government officials. The turning point There was no turning point as such. I always wanted to join the civil services, perhaps inspired and motivated by my fathers career. I grew up in a family of civil servants. My mother was teaching in a government college in Chandigarh. Many close relatives also worked for the government. I was always fascinated by the wide range of opportunities and responsibilities that the civil services offered. IN REAL AND REEL LIFE: Career diplomat Sanjiv Kohli poses with posters of the movie Airlift where his role was essayed by Kumud Mishra. (File Photo) With reference to the Indians stranded in Kuwait as shown in the Bollywood movie Airlift and the portrayal of your character, what do you recall about the incident? I had just finished my training in Delhi and was sent to Kuwait to learn Arabic language. I had lived in Kuwait for barely five months when the Iraqi invasion took place. There was absolute chaos with no connection to the outside world. After a few days, I was asked by our government to move to Jordan to help in the evacuation of over 170,000 Indians living in Kuwait at that time. Moving to Jordan from Kuwait was itself a challenge because of lack of security and reliable transportation. I spent over two months at the Iraq-Jordan border to assist Indians coming from Kuwait. Providing services in a warzone was a huge challenge and there were no facilities at the border. My day would start very early and continue till late in the night. The instructions were very clear that we should conclude our mission only after all the Indians had been safely evacuated. The circumstances were very trying, but it was very satisfying to be part of what is still considered the largest evacuation ever from a warzone. Indian diaspora in New Zealand The Indian diaspora in New Zealand is about 200,000 strong. We have tried very hard to extend our outreach. How has the city changed? It has become more thickly populated. The roads are also getting very busy. It used to be a very quiet city with roomy roads when I was studying at PEC. Change I want to see in Chandigarh It should strive to retain its spirit. Its a beautiful, green city which should work towards becoming an educational hub of the nation. The secret sauce My parents were very simple, hardworking and god-fearing people. From them I learnt the virtues of honesty, dedication and hard work. There is no substitute for hard work. Working for the civil services is truly a blessing as it provides you an opportunity to be of service to others. My advice to civil services aspirants It is very important to work hard and be persistent. Never give up until you achieve success. It is also important to have clarity of thought and focus. You should try talking to those who have cleared the exam in the recent past so that you can select the right kind of reading material. Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang. VNA/VNS Photo Nguyen Khang HA NOI The Law on Cyber Security conforms with the Constitution and does not hamper the implementation of international treaties to which Viet Nam is a party, Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said on Thursday. She made the remark at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs press conference in response to reporters questions about the recently adopted Law on Cyber Security. She said the law was approved on Tuesday with the majority of votes after many rounds of discussions which took into account the opinions of National Assembly deputies and the public in a widespread and transparent manner. Cyber security is an important issue that greatly affects national security, Hang said, noting that it has become of special concern for many countries and international and regional organisations in recent years. Attacks on the cyber environment have grown fast in both form and scale and occurred across borders, seriously affecting the economic and political stability of each country, she said. Efforts to improve security on the cyber environment still face numerous difficulties, especially due to the shortage of legal regulations and the capacity of ensuring cyber security. This made the Law on Cyber Security critically necessary in the current context, the spokeswoman stressed. The National Assembly earlier passed the law with an 86.86 percent majority. New momentum Responding to a question about the purpose of the draft law on special administrative-economic zones, Hang said that it was designed to create breakthroughs and add development momentum for the economy by capitalising on advantages in different localities. She said over the past years, the State of Viet Nam has worked to perfect policies and laws and taken many measures to better ensure the legal rights and legitimate interests of the people, while promoting national development and protection and actively integrating into the world. Viet Nam plans to build special administrative-economic zones in northern Quang Ninh Province, central Khanh Hoa Province and southern Kien Giang Province. On Monday, the NA agreed to postpone the adoption of the bill until the sixth session of parliament later this year, instead of at the ongoing fifth session. Vietnamese fishermen The Vietnamese embassy in the Republic of Korea is working with local authorities to protect the legitimate rights and interests of two Vietnamese who were allegedly abused while working on a fishing vessel in Seogwipo City, Jeju Island, said spokeswoman Hang. She said that local police were investigating the case involving Le Hong Son and Nguyen Chi Thang who were working on the fishing vessel 2010 Naekho that operated near Seogwipo. The two are staying at a support centre for foreign workers in Jeju, she added. Vietnamese embassy staff visited the pair last Friday, and confirmed they were in a stable condition. VNS Dhanushs film Vada Chennai, directed by Vetrimaaran, is one of the most-anticipated Tamil films. On Friday, the filmmakers announced that the trailer of the film will be released on July 28. Actor Dhanush tweeted, #VadaChennai part 1 trailer will be launched on 28th July & the movie will be a September release. @VetriMaaran @wunderbar films @LycaProductions @Music_Santhosh. The actor-director duo has previously given us memorable films like Polladhavan and Aadukalam and co-produced Kaaka Muttai. The fact that Vada Chennai is set to release in three parts has already intrigued fans. Initially, it was speculated that Dhanush would play a gangster in the film and many expected it to be Tamil cinemas very own Godfather series. However, Vetrimaaran had refuted the rumours and revealed that Dhanush would be seen playing the role of a character who aspires to become a champion at playing carrom. The film is set in North Madras, and will have Andrea Jeremiah and Aishwarya Rajesh in pivotal roles. However, stills and posters also indicate that Dhanush might take to violence in the film, especially one poster that shows him holding a knife in his mouth as he climbs a rope. Produced by Dhanush under his home banner Wunderbar Films in association with Lyca, the makers also revealed that the film will be releasing in September. Other than Vada Chennai, Dhanush is also preparing for Maari 2 and his last production venture, Kaala is running successfully in the theatres. His international film, The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir, also released to positive response in Europe. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Sammohanam Cast: Aditi Rao Hydari, Sudheer Babu, VK Naresh Direction: Mohana Krishna Indraganti Rating: 3/5 What explains the fascination people have for film stars? Why audiences spend hard-earned money to watch a bunch of people sell a lie in a dark theatre? Sudheer Babu as Vijay understands cinema for the mirage it is and wants to stay away from the industry. After all, to him, cinema is a field where people lie to you and have you believe in a pipe dream. Then he meets Sameera Rathod (Aditi Rao Hydari), an actress who does not know Telugu trying her luck in the industry by working in a film with popular actor Kiran Babu. Their paths cross thanks to Vijays father (VK Naresh), who has given up his steady job to pursue his dream of acting. This character is the films highlight and bit of an anomaly in India where parents want their children to become engineers and doctors. He wholeheartedly supported Vijay when he wanted to pursue fine arts and is bemused now that his son wont support him and his dreams. The father gets his wish nonetheless. In return for waiving off rent for out-of-towner Sameera, he gets a role in her film. Vijay who hates cinema and has never heard of Sameera is shocked when he sees the actress trying to speak Telugu dialogues and failing fantastically. His mother now has a view on the film industry, his father has a role in the film and his sister wants to do the costumes and Vijay doesnt like any of it one bit. However, he cant help but fall in love with the beautiful woman in the middle of it. The film unfolds as a sweet love story of a man who has preconceived notions but still falls in love with a woman who wants to make it big in that profession. The misunderstandings are mellowed down, the romance is adorable and the shift in visuals every time Aditi comes on screen signifies her status as the star. With Sammohanam, Aditi has made a strong debut in Telugu. Her role reflects what working women go through every day. She is struggling to make a successful career in a place that is new to her, amidst people she doesnt know and in a language that is foreign to her. Even when she goes through personal conflicts, she brushes them aside to get on with work. She makes mistakes, falls in love and does everything that any girl her age would do. Sudheer Babu and VK Nareshs bond is extraordinary in the film and one of the best scenes is when the two of them head out to solve a problem that Aditis character faces in the film. The hilarity of what they are doing is not lost on them and that just makes it all the more charming. Another promising trend that this film exemplifies is the importance given to consent and why it is important to respect a womans no. When Vijay confesses his feelings and is rejected by Sameera, his mother sits him down and explains why rejections are okay and how the girl has a right to say no. This was also the case with Fidaa and Ninnu Kori earlier. A simple story told in a straightforward manner works primarily because of the performances of the lead cast members and in certain places, the stunning music. The background score in Sammohanam has to be mentioned for the sense of purity it adds to a scene. There is a specific semi-classical piece that plays out in the background when Vijay thinks of Sameera, and it is beautiful. Sammohanam is a great example of what happens when music, story, performance and visuals go hand-in-hand. This is a film which is worth your money. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop The United Arab Emirates has announced sweeping changes in its labour and visa rules that will ensure the better protection of workers rights and do away with bank guarantees for recruitment in the private sector. Indian workers are expected to be among the major beneficiaries of the measures, which were approved by the UAE cabinet on Wednesday. The measures will also stimulate and diversify the UAEs oil-dependent economies. Businesses will now pay an annual fee of 60 dirhams ($16.34) per worker for a low-cost insurance policy instead of a bank guarantee of 3,000 dirhams, state-run WAM news agency reported. The oil-rich emirates are also loosening visa rules for job-seekers, tourists and students to encourage people to come, stay longer and spend more. These will go a long way in easing the financial burden on Indian workers, professionals and entrepreneurs, Navdeep Singh Suri, Indias ambassador to the UAE, was quoted as saying regarding the measures by Gulf News. They also demonstrate the pragmatic and progressive approach of the UAEs leadershipThat is why the UAE remains a preferred destination for Indian investors and workers alike, he added. Analysts said the low-cost insurance policy which replaces the bank guarantees will cut costs for employers and offer greater protection to vulnerable low-income workers. The new rules, however, wont apply to domestic workers such as maids. The employee will have better protection as he or she can complain to the ministry of human resources and emiratisation in the event of non-payment of minimum entitlements and then the ministry can draw on the insurance to provide a pay out, Sara Khoja, a partner at the law firm Clyde & Co in Dubai, was quoted as saying by The National. The insurance policy will cover end of service benefits, holiday and overtime allowances, unpaid wages, return air ticket and cases of work injury, with the maximum pay out capped at 20,000 dirhams per person. The current system of bank guarantees doesnt cover entitlements such as gratuity and holiday allowances. A tribunal ruling directing the release of four classified government files related to the situation in Punjab in the mid-1980s has intensified calls to hold a public inquiry into Britains role in the 1984 Operation Bluestar at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The four files were to be released in 2014, but were held back by the Cabinet Office on the ground that they may adversely affect relations with India. Their release was sought by journalist-researcher Phil Miller under the Freedom of Information Act. The issue assumed significance after some papers declassified in January 2014 revealed that the Margaret Thatcher government had extended advice from a special forces officer to the Indira Gandhi government before the operation was launched in June 1984. The revelation led to members of Britains Sikh community seeking more details of the UKs involvement. The opposition Labour Party has promised an independent inquiry, while the ruling Conservative Party says it is against reopening the issue. After the 2014 revelations, the former David Cameron government conducted a review of the classified papers by cabinet secretary Jeremy Heywood, which disclosed the advice was limited and, in any case, was not followed by the Indian Army. The latest ruling by Judge Murray Shanks dismissed the contention that releasing the files would affect relations with India. Some evidence by top officials during the hearing was provided in closed sessions due to the sensitive nature of the subject. The Cabinet Office has until July 11 to appeal against the tribunals ruling, or to release the files related to UK-India relations from 1983 to 1985, meetings between Margaret Thatcher and Indira Gandhis advisor LK Jha, the situation in Punjab, activities of Sikh extremists, and the assassination of Indira Gandhi in October 1984. The ruling states: We recognise that the period we are concerned with was a highly sensitive one in Indias recent history and the strength of feeling it continues to evoke; in particular we note that the activities of Sikh separatists continue to be seen to represent a potential existential threat to the State of India. (It) should be remembered that the fact that 30 years has gone by is bound to have reduced any prejudice that may have resulted from release of the withheld materialIt is notable that the disclosures leading to the Heywood review and the review itself do not appear to have produced any adverse reaction on the part of India. The ruling accepted the public interest argument in transparency and accountability, and mentioned the strength of feeling of the Sikh community in the UK and beyond on the issue. The Cabinet Office said it was reviewing the ruling. Labour MPs reiterated the demand for an inquiry, and Amrik Singh of the Sikh Federation (UK) said: Theresa May should reflect on the judgement and accept the British Sikh community and the public deserve the truth nearly 35 years later with an independent public inquiry. She should not listen to those paranoid about relations with India. Pakistans ousted prime minister Nazwaz Sharifs ailing wife Kulsoom Nawazs health has further deteriorated following a cardiac arrest in the UK where she was undergoing treatment following throat cancer surgery. Kulsoom, 68, was shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the London hospital late last night after her condition deteriorated further, Maryam Nawaz, her daughter said. Ami had a sudden cardiac arrest when we were on the flight and is in ICU and on the ventilator since, Maryam tweeted. Maryam, who flew to London along with her father, requested well-wishers to pray for her mothers health. Kulsoom was readmitted to the hospital on Wednesday, where her health deteriorated and she was immediately taken to the emergency unit in the night and has not regained consciousness since, The Express Tribune reported. She was rushed to the ICU as she collapsed after suffering a cardiac arrest on Thursday and since then has been kept under intensive care. Hussain Nawaz, son of Nawaz Sharif, also appealed to the nation to pray for his mothers wellness. Shehbaz Sharif, Nawazs brother, requested the nation to join him in prayers for speedy recovery. As the Holy Month of Ramadan comes to an end, I ask my compatriots to join me in prayers for her speedy recovery. The power of prayer is paramount, he tweeted. Nawaz and his daughter Maryam left for London on Thursday to visit Kulsoom, who has been undergoing cancer treatment at the London hospital. Sharif could not travel to London in recent weeks as he has been facing trial since July, when the Supreme Court disqualified the thrice-elected premier from office over undisclosed assets. Sharif denies any wrongdoing and has blamed hidden hands for his dismissal. His case is adjourned until June 19. President Donald Trump got the history-making handshake he wanted with North Koreas Kim Jong Un. Now, with the smiling snapshot a part of history, new details are emerging about the bizarre behind-the-scenes negotiations that led up to the summit and about the presidents post-summit frustrations with how its being portrayed. Setting up the Singapore meeting was no easy feat for the technically still-warring heads of state, requiring planners to accommodate confounding requests and paranoia. But neither has it been easy for Trump to sell the plan to a doubting class of experts, allies and the media. Hes chafing at the scepticism swirling about the nuclear accord that he wants to define his legacy. Scenes from inside the summit: Alien territory? Like talking with aliens. Sitting at tables at the luxurious Capella Hotel in Singapore or in the sparse Demilitarized Zone on the Korean Peninsula, thats how US officials involved in negotiations with their North Korean counterparts described their conversations ahead of the summit. The North Koreans had never before participated in an event of the sort, were unfamiliar with notions of press access and deeply afraid about both espionage and assassination. The North Korean logistics teams struck the Americans as organized, detail-oriented and mission-focused, said one official involved in the planning. There were also a number of women involved in senior roles, surprising to the U.S. side. On the day before the summit, US and North Korean officials met throughout the day in Singapore to hash out areas of agreement for what became the joint statement issued by the two leaders on Tuesday. The US team wanted to send in an official photographer to capture the moment for history a manifestation of the White Houses desire to turn the summit into an international media event but the North Koreans balked. How do we know shes not a spy? protested the North Koreans. They eventually agreed the photographer could attend, said an official familiar with the discussions with the North Koreans who wasnt authorized to discuss it and insisted on anonymity. Similar worries had come up earlier in the talks when the Korean delegation voiced concerns that cameras belonging to the press could be concealed weapons. The trust gap There was hardly trust on the US side either. Kim, after all, is accused by the US of ordering the murder of his half-brother with a nerve agent last year. From the first logistical talks in Singapore, it was clear to US officials that overcoming the security trust gap was among the most significant hurdles to getting the two leaders into the same room. For every person the White House wanted to put in the room for the meetings, the North wanted to know how they would know the person was not there to spy on the proceedings or harm Kim. US officials credited the Singaporean government for helping to prevent the mistrust from sinking the summit. Checkpoints were jointly patrolled by US, North Korean, and Singaporean officials, with some journalists on site required to undergo separate security sweeps by each of the three parties. US officials agreed to cap the number of US government officials they allowed onto the luxury summit property to match the far smaller North Korean delegation. It left all but the most senior American negotiators, including many subject matter experts, monitoring the proceedings via television and emailed updates from the presidents hotel, a 20-minute drive away. Old habits die hard At a formal signing ceremony Tuesday afternoon, a gloved North Korean official inspected Kims chair and the black felt-tipped pen bearing Trumps signature in gold that was positioned for Kims use. At the last minute, Kims sister, Kim Yo-jong, who was standing to his side, provided a pen of her own for his use. The US-supplied pen was later retrieved, unused, by a White House staffer. Equal partners Throughout the summit preparations, US officials described the North Koreans as focused on ensuring they were not the junior partner in the talks. In a symbolic concession, the DPRK (Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea) was listed above the US in the official summit logo on credentials for the summit. The White House also agreed to limit the number of journalists allowed to cover some events to mirror the North Korean contingent of state-run media. Still, Trump appeared to be in the drivers seat, clapping Kim on the back and directing over to their interpreters to start their one-on-one meeting. The US president also signalled for reporters in the room to be escorted out after both took questions from the journalists. Frustration factor On the final day before the summit, officials at the White House National Security Council back in Washington grew incensed over a New York Times report suggesting that science is unwelcome in Trumps administration and that the US negotiating team was devoid of nuclear physicists. So the White House issued a directive to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo: He would go in front of cameras in Singapore and call out the newspaper by name, an official familiar with the instruction said. Pompeo complied. Before discussing the summit, I want to address a report in The New York Times, Pompeo opened. Any suggestion that the United States somehow lacks the technical expertise across government or lacks it on the ground here in Singapore is mistaken. Now that hes back home, Trump has been fuming privately and publicly over the sceptical news coverage about his signed agreement with Kim. Never steeped in details or history, the president feels he has made ground-breaking progress, as evidenced by his grand statements telling the world to sleep well. Back in DC, in a terrible mood, he is frustrated by all the questions about the fine print. Trump has been calling lawmakers to express enthusiasm for the agreement but also complaining that he has not had more robust support from GOP lawmakers, said a person with knowledge of the calls, who spoke on condition of anonymity to share internal conversations. While the president calls the summit a first step, with more meetings sure to come, he also has been arguing that he has already done more than his predecessor, President Barack Obama. A large number of Indian and other non-EU doctors and nurses will be allowed to take up jobs in the United Kingdom after the Theresa May government on Friday excluded them from a limit of 20,700 visas per year meant for skilled professionals. The cap was introduced as part of the Conservative governments plans to curb immigration, when May was the home secretary in 2011. Doctors and nurses have now been excluded from the cap given their major shortage in the National Health Service. At least 100 Indian doctors were recently denied visas to take up NHS jobs due to the visa limit of 20,700, which is divided monthly. Under the Tier 2 visa cap, UK-based employers need to apply for certificates of sponsorship to recruit Indian and other non-EU skilled workers. Before December 2017, the monthly cap was reached on only one occasion, but it was reached every month since December, mainly due to lack of applicants for jobs from within the EU due to anxieties over Brexit, which forced employers to hire from outside the EU. But when the monthly limit was reached, visas were refused. Indian doctors have long been the second largest group in the NHS, after those who qualified in the UK. The Home Office said the announcement means that there will be no restriction on the numbers of doctors and nurses who can be employed through the Tier 2 visa route. By excluding doctors and nurses from the limit, more visas will be available for other highly skilled occupations, such as engineers, IT professionals and teachers. Home secretary Sajid Javid, who promised to put in place a fairer immigration system instead of what is called the policy of hostile environment, said: I recognise the pressures faced by the NHS and other sectors in recent months. Doctors and nurses play a vital role in society and at this time we need more in the UK. That is why I have reviewed our skilled worker visa route. This is about finding a solution to increased demand and to support our essential national services. Health secretary Jeremy Hunt added: Overseas staff have been a vital part of our NHS since its creation 70 years ago. Todays news sends a clear message to nurses and doctors from around the world that the NHS welcomes and values their skills and dedication. A US court on Friday sent former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort to jail pending trial on charges of money laundering and bank and tax fraud brought against him by Special Counsel Robert Muellers team probing Russian meddling in 2016 presidential elections. Manafort, who had been out on bail but under house arrest, was led away from the court in Washington at the end of the hearing. Marshals returned briefly to hand over his wallet, belt and tie to his wife Kathleen Manafort. He had led President Donald Trumps campaign for a few months till he was fired for lobbying work for the Ukrainian government. Trump has tried to distance himself from Manafort saying his legal troubles referred to a period before his work for the campaign. Prosecutors for Mueller had approached the court earlier this month accusing him of witness tampering, working with a long-time associate who is said to have had links to Russian intelligence. Noting that the court cannot turn a blind eye to accusations of witness tampering, US district judge Amy Berman Jackson, said, You have abused the trust placed in you six months ago. This isnt middle school, she is reported to have told Manafort. I cant take your phone. Muellers prosecutor had alleged that Manafort and his associate had made contacts and attempted to influence witnesses, a public relations group in Europe between February and April this year, while under home arrest on a $10 million bond. Through phone calls and messages on WhatsApp, Manaffort and his associate tried to persuade the group who were former European officials to testify that their lobbying work on Manaforts behalf was confined to Europe and did not extend to the US. Prosecutors have said Manafort engaged the group in 2012 and paid it 2 million euros till 2013, and it was a part of a secret and undisclosed lobbying activity undertaken by Manafort on behalf of his Ukrainian clients in the US. He is arguing that they lobbied only the European Union. Muellers team charged Manafort in October 2017 and February 2018 with bank fraud, tax evasion, money laundering and for violating lobbying laws. A close associate Rick Gates, who had also served on the Trump campaign was also charged in the 2017 indictment but he has since pleaded guilty and is cooperating with the investigation under a deal. Manafort, however, is contesting the charges. Pakistani Taliban chief Mullah Fazlullah, who ordered the attack on Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, has been killed in a US drone strike in Afghanistan, senior Afghan officials said on Friday. Fazlullah, the head of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), was reportedly travelling in a vehicle with four commanders when they were targeted by a drone at 11 pm on June 13 in Kunar province, which borders Pakistan. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani called Pakistans caretake premier Nasir-ul-Mulk and army chief Gen Qamar Bajwa and shared the news about the killing of Fazlullah in the drone strike. A statement from the Pakistani military described it as a positive development that would bring relief to scores of Pakistani families who fell victims to TTP terror. The drone strike was also confirmed by Afghan defence ministry spokesperson Mohammad Radmanish. A US drone strike in Afghanistans northeastern Kunar province has killed the leader of the TTP, he told CNN. Local media quoted Lt Col Martin ODonnell, a spokesman for US forces in Afghanistan, as saying that a counterterrorism strike in Kunar on June 13 had targeted a senior leader of a designated terrorist organization. Fazlullah was named the TTP chief after commander Hakimullah Mehsud was killed in a drone strike in November 2013. He had a reputation as a ruthless commander prepared to do anything to enforce his uncompromising interpretation of Islamic law. Also known as Mullah Radio for his fiery sermons on an illegal FM network, Fazlullah rose to prominence when he set up a parallel administration in Swat Valley of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in 2007. His followers operated courts that sentenced dozens of people to death, and his opponents were publicly executed and their bodies left at Swats main square. He had been on the run since his fighters were routed in a military operation in Swat in 2009. Fazlullah had been designated a global terrorist by the US, which offered a bounty of $5 million for him in March. In 2012, the TTP under his command made an unsuccessful attempt to kill Malala Yousufzai, who had been writing a blog chronicling the horrors of life under the Taliban. Fazlullah was also blamed for ordering the 2014 assault on an army-run school in Peshawar that killed nearly 150 people, most of them children. The drone strike came amid a seven-day ceasefire between the Afghan Taliban and government forces to allow citizens to observe the last days of Ramzan and the Eid holidays peacefully. A statement from the US forces said the strike did not put the ceasefire at risk as the truce does not cover counter-terrorism efforts targeting other militant groups. Disregarding mounting bipartisan opposition, the Trump administration is pressing ahead with its plan to end a government regulation that allows work authorization to spouses of H-1B visa holders who have been cleared for permanent residency (Green Card), mostly from India. Removing H-4 Dependent Spouses From the Class of Aliens Eligible for Employment Authorization, said a recent notification in the semi-annual registry of the federal governments agenda. The plan is to launch the rule-making process sometime this month, according to the notification. The Trump administration had announced its intention to do away with the programme H-4 EAD (employment authorization document) in the fall version of the registry in 2017, and it had planned to start the process in February 2018. It didnt, but but it also did not change the decision, as was reiterated by officials multiple times. The matter is also under litigation in a Washington DC court. A large and bipartisan group of members of the US House of Representatives recently appealed to the secretary of Department of Homeland Security, which has oversight over the agency that runs immigration, to not kill the rule arguing beneficiaries help the US economy grow and they were mostly women. An Obama-era regulation issued in 2015 grants employment authorization to spouses of H-1B visa holders waiting for their Green Card (permanent residency), which for Indians is a long time because of a massive backlog that get worse every year. H-4EAD is not for all H-1B spouses, but only for those cleared for permanent residency. The intention, Obama administration officials have said was to continue to attract and retain highly skilled foreigners some of whom might otherwise have been forced to look at other destinations because of the long waiting period. By some estimates, it could take Indian H-1B visa holders between 70 to 100 years to get their Green Card even after being cleared. And because their spouses were allowed to work until the Obama-era regulation, families had to make do with single-incomes, which remained low because of strict H-1B conditions. The Trump administration wants to end this work authorization in order to prevent these spouses from competing for jobs that would otherwise have gone to Americans. AN GIANG A motor canoe carrying inspectors in southern An Giang Province collided yesterday with a barge anchored on the Hau River, leaving one dead, one missing, and three injured. Initial information showed the motor canoe carrying a team of interdisciplinary inspectors from the provincial Environmental Police, the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and other relevant units was traversing the river in Long Xuyen Citys My Long Ward when it suddenly crashed into the barge. The injured victims were rushed to a hospital for treatment. Police have restricted access to the scene to facilitate the search for the missing person and to carry out an investigation into the cause of the accident. VNS United States President Donald Trump on Friday said that he would lift sanctions on North Korea only after making sure Pyongyang no longer has nuclear weapons. Trump said they are very close to it when he was asked at what point would the sanctions come off on North Korea, in an interview. When we can be sure they will be no more nuclear, he responded. Very close. Were very close to getting it started. He (Kim) wants to do it, he wants to do something great with his country, he wants to make his country great, Trump said when asked how close they are. Earlier this week, Trump had a historic meeting with Kim Jong-un in Singapore, wherein the North Korean leader agreed to denuclearise and give up nuclear weapons. Trump said he could also invite Kim to the White House. I think its something that could happen. Yes. Hey, hes the head of a country. And I mean he is the strong head. Dont let anyone think anything different. He speaks and his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same, Trump said. Trump had said that he has shared his number with Kim. I can now call him. I can now say, Well, we have a problem. I told him, I gave him a very direct number. He can now call me if he has any difficulty. I can call him. We have communication. Its a very good thing, Trump said. People are shocked that this is the kind of you know, they thought Trump was going to get in. He was going to start throwing bombs all over the place. Its actually the opposite, he said. The US, he said, is going to have a very strong verification process for North Korean denuclearisation. Now, if you read the agreement, which most of you didnt, point after point after point he gave, including getting back the remains of our great heroes, which made some people cry in the streets, theyre so happy. Nobody thought we were going to get that. Point after point, he said. All they said about me is, You met. He met. Its terrible. Of course, I met. Meeting is a good thing, not a bad thing. By the way, it was good for the United States. It was good for them, he said. Trump also said the Chinese are very happy with the North Korea summit. HA NOI At least 4,000 ethnic minority children aged three to six have benefited from the pilot of the Emergent Literacy and Math (ELM) toolkit to build foundational reading and math skills. In addition to this, the capacity of 2,200 teachers and caregivers have been enhanced to support children in building early foundational skills to better equip them to enter Class 1. These are some of the achievements of the ELM toolkit announced at a conference in Ha Noi on Thursday. Hoang uc Minh, director of the Agency of Teacher and Education Administrators, said, The ELM toolkit has proven effective throughout its three-year pilot programme. This is a useful toolkit to support teachers in their execution of the early childhood education programme. We highly recommend pre-school teachers to integrate the toolkit into their existing curriculum. An assessment of the toolkits three-year pilot using the method of International Development and Early Learning Assessment (IDELA) has shown a considerable improvement in the IDELA scores in all domains of the benefitted children. Motion skills increased from 44 to 56 per cent, early literacy skills from 21 to 37 per cent, early math skills from 38 to 50 per cent and socio-emotional development from 27 to 32 per cent. Nguyen Anh Tuan, director of the Tay Giang Department of Education and Training, said, Our teachers started integrating the toolkit in the early education programme for ethnic Co Tu children and communities to develop learning and teaching materials. We have seen an increase in childrens interest and positive results in their emergent literacy and math skills in pre-school classes. Expressing happiness over the positive results of the ELM toolkit, Dragana Strinic, country director of Save the Children, said, We are glad that the Ministry of Education and Training had assigned the Agency of Teacher and Education Administrators to coordinate the review process of the ELM toolkit by acclaimed early childhood education experts to apply the toolkit at the national level. We hope the ELM toolkit will assist teachers, parents and caregivers and provide quality education in line with the early childhood education programme in Viet Nam, she added. The ELM toolkit is one of the key activities of the project, Emergent literacy and math skills in early childhood development, in Van Chan District, northern Yen Bai Province, and Tay Giang District, central Quang Nam Province, from 2015 to 2018. The project has received a grant of US$725,300. The projects overall objective is to improve school readiness and inclusive development of targeted ethnic minority children, including HMong, Dao, Thai and Co Tu children. There are three main components of the project: improving the learning environment in pre-schools, improving the learning environment at home and advocating recognition of the ELM approach by the Ministry of Education and Training. VNS Supplier News 15 June 2018 SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Angie Hospitality, developer of the world's first enterprise-class, cloud-managed interactive guest room assistant, built specifically for the hospitality environment, announces that its CEO, Ted Helvey, has been selected to present a "Tech Talk" session at HITEC Houston, taking place June 18-21 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. The presentation, entitled "Purpose-Built vs. Off-the-Shelf Technology for Hotels," will take place in HFTP's booth #1630 on the tradeshow floor on Wednesday, June 20 from 2:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m., and will educate hotelier attendees on the critical differences between purpose-built technologies and standard consumer devices that have been adapted for the hotel environment. "Advanced technologies such as voice and artificial intelligence have seen dramatic adoption trends in the consumer market in recent years," says Ted Helvey, CEO of Angie Hospitality. "While some of these consumer-grade devices can be a novelty for hotel guests, purpose-built technologies can provide a host of added benefits that are designed to optimize the guest room experience, as well as benefit the hotel staff and optimize operations. I look forward to sharing the specific differences between the two approaches with hoteliers and helping them decide which is best for their properties." The 15-minute presentation will cover an array of topics surrounding purpose-built technologies for the hospitality industry, including their differences, available integrations, business models, customer ownership, security, user-friendliness and best practices in choosing the best solutions. The session will also cover consumer electronics that are currently being used in some hotels, such as smart TVs, casting solutions and voice assistants. "HITEC is renowned for educating hoteliers on best practices, and we're proud to have been selected to address this important topic with which many have struggled," continued Helvey. "I look forward to discussing the multiple challenges that hoteliers have today in keeping up with consumer and guest expectations, and how purpose-built technologies can solve these challenges though a thorough understanding of the unique needs of the guest room and entire hotel environment." Angie Hospitality designs and develops Angie, a 24-hour purpose-built voice-activated solution that meets the needs of guests and hotel staff. Angie features personalized and secure in-room Wi-Fi connectivity, telephony, room controls and access to onsite amenities and information that guests and staff can access via voice or through the high-resolution touch screen, all of which will be demonstrated to HITEC Houston attendees at booth #2445. In addition to taking part in live demonstrations of Angie's diverse capabilities, HITEC Houston attendees will also have the opportunity to enter the 'Now You're Talking!' promotion for a chance to win a free Angie implementation at their own property for one full year. Running from June 19th - 21st, the promotion will allow the winning hotelier to gain firsthand experience with Angie's award-winning technology and learn how the solution can enhance guest satisfaction and operations. Those interested in participating can sign up for an Angie demo by clicking here or simply visit the booth for complete contest details. The winner will be announced on June 26th via email and social media. To learn more about Angie's full suite of capabilities and options, please visit angie.ai. Supplier News 15 June 2018 CHICAGO -- In the hospitality industry, current business dashboards provide little holistic value to decision makers and measure availability and performance from a limited, static perspective. Today, Cloud5 introduces a new concept that will provide the industry with access to real-time predictive insights by expanding the traditional dashboard to include all networked systems that affect the guest experience. Members of its now-forming HDX Advisory Board will have exclusive access to the first-in-market strategy as well as the opportunity to participate in the evolution of the HDX solution. A groundbreaking smart dashboard concept, the Hospitality Dashboard Experience (HDX), is built on Cloud5's open and unified voice and data platform and will merge standard network metrics with data analytics to streamline staff workflows and optimize the guest experience. By leveraging vast sources of device-based data, including inputs across the Internet of Things (IoT), the Cloud5 HDX will monitor and analyze performance, take proactive corrective actions based on network events and present opportunities to enhance guest service and operational efficiency. "Since 2006, our mission has been to partner with hotels in order to help them reduce costs, streamline operations and increase revenue through innovative cloud-based solutions and services. But at the end of the day, it all comes back to enhancing the guest experience," explained Mark Holzberg, EVP and chief commercial officer, Cloud5 Communications. "Cloud5's HDX will expand the traditional business dashboard to include all systems that affect the guest experience. In doing so, we will provide our partners with the ability to gain access to a guest-centric view of their systems, rather than a purely engineering view, and better enable them to increase guest satisfaction." Key highlights of the HDX Concept: Paradigm shift to a guest-centric dashboard - An open platform for data consolidation and integration across the property, HDX will empower managers, staff, and front desk employees by providing access to up-to-the-minute snapshots of every room and a new way to interact with the hotel's systems in real time, directly impacting guest satisfaction scores. - An open platform for data consolidation and integration across the property, HDX will empower managers, staff, and front desk employees by providing access to up-to-the-minute snapshots of every room and a new way to interact with the hotel's systems in real time, directly impacting guest satisfaction scores. Proactive, prescriptive action - HDX will provide the workflows that enable hoteliers to proactively resolve issues for guests and provide a corrective action that pre-empts bad reviews or negative comments on social media reviews. For example, if the general manager knows a guest's TV was down for several hours, he/she can automatically deposit 500 rewards points into their account as an apology for the inconvenience. - HDX will provide the workflows that enable hoteliers to proactively resolve issues for guests and provide a corrective action that pre-empts bad reviews or negative comments on social media reviews. For example, if the general manager knows a guest's TV was down for several hours, he/she can automatically deposit 500 rewards points into their account as an apology for the inconvenience. A "dashboard of dashboards" that connects the dots - HDX will pull together many of the different components from within a hotel's network. It essentially brings all those components together in a holistic view, providing the framework to power self-healing network structures and business intelligence. Cloud5 will continue to evolve the system to aggregate disparate hotel systems into one centralized, multi-level dashboard, addressing a range of user roles and experiences. - HDX will pull together many of the different components from within a hotel's network. It essentially brings all those components together in a holistic view, providing the framework to power self-healing network structures and business intelligence. Cloud5 will continue to evolve the system to aggregate disparate hotel systems into one centralized, multi-level dashboard, addressing a range of user roles and experiences. Unique global picture of properties - Management companies and corporate offices will be able to access a global picture of their properties in order to take action on important relational or brand group data. This allows them to compare their hotel properties quickly and easily and allocate resources more efficiently, a core functionality that is lacking in today's current hospitality platforms. "Cloud5 is looking forward to working with our HDX Advisory Board, which is currently forming and will be comprised of both hoteliers and industry experts, to evolve and refine the HDX as we advance its development during the year and into the future," stated Holzberg. During HITEC 2018 (Booth #2519) in Houston, Cloud5 will be conducting initial meetings with advisory board members. For information on the HDX Advisory Board, email [email protected]. Press Release 15 June 2018 PORTSMOUTH, NH -- Analysts at Lodging Econometrics (LE) report that according to the recent China Construction Pipeline, the Total Pipeline has 2,481 Projects/546,424 Rooms, up 2% Year-Over-Year (YOY). There are 1,725 Projects/368,927 Rooms Under Construction, up less than 1% by projects YOY. Projects Scheduled to Start Construction in the Next 12 Months are at 410 Projects/86,995 Rooms, up 27% by project YOY, while projects in Early Planning at 346 Projects/90,502 Rooms are down 13%. Cities in China with the largest pipelines are: Shanghai with 129 Projects/25,750 Rooms, Guangzhou with 106 Projects/25,481 Rooms, Chengdu with 89 Projects/19,723 Rooms, Hangzhou with 77 Projects/17,255 Rooms, Suzhou with 75 Projects/14,713 Rooms and Beijing with 68 Projects/11,551 Rooms. Press Release 15 June 2018 NEW YORK, NY -- The Greater New York Chapter of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has awarded the National September 11 Memorial & Museum with the 25th Annual Frank W. Berkman Tourism Achievement Award and named the 2018 honorees for the Annual HSMAIGNY Chapter Awards of Excellence. Advertisements Additionally, this year the inaugural ICON award was presented to Michael A. Leven, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Georgia Aquarium, in recognition of his exceptional career, support of the industry and immeasurable philanthropic accomplishments. The presentations took place at the annual black-tie dinner/dance at the JW Marriott Essex House on June 6, 2018. Each of the evening's awards were designed to recognize and honor individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to the tourism industry in New York City. The Frank W. Berkman Tourism Achievement Award was presented by HSMAIGNY Immediate Past President Consuela Hooblal, Business Development Manager, The Roosevelt Hotel (pictured left), to Michael Frazier, Executive Vice President & Deputy Director of External Affairs for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum (pictured right: Natalie Hernandez, the memorial's Director of Sales). "The National September 11 Memorial & Museum has become synonymous with New York," said Master of Ceremonies, Consuela Hooblal. "While the Greater New York Chapter of HSMAI is honored to recognize the National September 11 Memorial & Museum as the 2018 recipient of the Frank W. Berkman Tourism Achievement Award, we all understand it goes far beyond tourism achievement- it is about something so much greater," she added. HSMAIGNY Past President Frank Stapleton, President, The Monarch Group Ltd (pictured left) presented the HSMAIGNY inaugural ICON Award to Michael A. Leven, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Georgia Aquarium, former President and Chief Operating Officer of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. "Michael Leven is the definition of an industry icon - certainly one of the most extraordinary of our era," said Stapleton, adding: "Mike has an exemplary record of achievement in our industry. Each of us working in this arena is truly better because of his leadership." For 2018, the HSMAI Greater New York Chapter presented The President's Award for Outstanding Service to Consuela Hooblal, Business Development Manager, The Roosevelt Hotel, and the following six individuals who were honored for their outstanding work and dedication to the hospitality industry and the sales and marketing profession, including: General Manager of the Year: Karin Kopano, General Manager, Hotel 50 Bowery NYC Karin Kopano, General Manager, Hotel 50 Bowery NYC Revenue Management Executive of the Year: Antonietta Tardugno-Mazzola, Director of Revenue, Roger Smith Hotel Antonietta Tardugno-Mazzola, Director of Revenue, Roger Smith Hotel Sales Executive of the Year: Stan Kravitz, Director of Sales NY Region, Super Shuttle Stan Kravitz, Director of Sales NY Region, Super Shuttle Marketing Executive of the Year: Jessica Rothstein Berman, CMP, VP Sales & Marketing, Manhattan Center Jessica Rothstein Berman, CMP, VP Sales & Marketing, Manhattan Center Hospitality Professional of the Year: Yelena Pshennaya, Area Sourcing Manager, GTA Travel Frank W. Berkman, CHME, was a former Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of HSMAI for 16 years. This award was created in 1994 by the Past Presidents Council of the HSMAI Greater New York Chapter and was named after Berkman because of his dedication to building HSMAI into the highly-influential international hospitality industry organization it is today. BUENOS AIRES Argentine lawmakers Thursday backed a bill legalising abortion during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, a historic step for Pope Franciss Catholic homeland, although the measure must still pass through the Senate. Thousands of abortion rights activists cheered and hugged outside the Congress as the lower house Chamber of Deputies passed the bill by 129 votes to 125. The bill will now go before the Senate, where it was thought likely to face an uphill battle to become law. However, in the hours following Thursdays vote, former president and now senator Cristina Kirchners center-left Front for Victory bloc removed a major obstacle to the bill by saying it would vote in favor. The issue has divided Argentine society: while Argentina became the first Latin American country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2010, it remains strongly influenced by the Catholic Church and by the pope, who was formerly the archbishop of Buenos Aires. "Its the time of womens rights," said Silvia Lospennato, a member of President Mauricio Macris center-right Cambiemos (Lets Change) coalition. Argentinas bishops lamented the result, saying: "As Argentines, this decision hurts us." President Mauricio Macri, who made it clear from the outset that he was "in favor of life," described the debate as "historic" and said it showed "we have been able to resolve our differences with respect." Lawmakers wrangled through more than 22 hours of emotionally charged debate. Nearly all 257 members spoke before the vote was taken, as activists on both sides of the divide kept vigil in the streets outside. It was unclear up to the last minute if the measure would be approved or defeated. As many as 30 lawmakers were undecided before the debate began on Wednesday, and one lawmaker abstained from voting. When the result was announced, legislators who voted in favor leapt to their feet and hugged their neighbors, while opponents slumped in their seats. "A woman is not entitled to an abortion, she has the right to health. The unborn child is biologically and scientifically a human being," said Sebastian Bragagnolo, from the governing Cambiemos coalition who opposed the measure. Street celebrations In the streets outside the Congress abortion rights activists wildly cheered and danced, while many anti-abortion demonstrators hugged each other and wept. "The mobilization has been decisive and what happens in the Senate will depend a lot on continuing to mobilise public support," Teresa Giani, 48, told AFP. "I think it is very good that they are legislating for the problems of women," said Ines Rivas, 62. When women become lawmakers and enter Congress "they defend the rights of women," she said. "Argentines are religious, and they will continue to be," said Micaela Gonzalez, a 21-year old university student. "Catholics have abortions, but with this law now they will be able to so safely." As in most Latin American countries, abortion is illegal in Argentina, except in cases of rape or when the life or health of the woman is at risk. The bill, if passed by the Senate, would decriminalize abortion during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, and beyond that in cases where the infant would not survive after birth. Religious convictions Many lawmakers had said they would put their religious convictions aside to support the measure. The Catholic Church campaigned fiercely against the bill, and the pope sent a letter to Argentine bishops calling on them to "defend life and justice." Argentinas Episcopal Conference said the Senate would now have "an opportunity to look for new and creative solutions so that no woman has to go for an abortion." However, in the hours after the vote, both government and opposition blocs in the Senate predicted it would be approved. Miguel Angel Pichetto, a Peronist opposition leader in the Senate, said the vote had created "an unstoppable effect, and I am confident the law will be approved." "The Senate has to take into account citizens demand and legislate for realities, abortion is not a question of faith but of public health," said the head of the Senates ruling Cambrimos bloc, Luis Naidenoff. Analyst Sol Prieto described the vote as "a setback" for the Church. "Abortion has been decriminalized in Ireland, and now its the turn of Argentina," he said. "I would not be surprised if the Church focuses more on issues of poverty reduction and less on issues of morality." Argentina overcame strong Church opposition to legalise gay marriage eight years ago, but the issue of abortion had never before been discussed in Congress. According to official health ministry statistics, more than 17 percent of the 245 recorded deaths of pregnant women and girls in 2016 were due to abortion. AFP Supplier News 21 June 2018 BENTONVILLE, AR -- Softscribe Inc., the leading hotel tech PR agency, outlined 7 ways technology vendors and HITEC attendees can leverage their LinkedIn Profiles to close sales leads at the show. HITEC is the world's largest hospitality technology conference. HITEC 2018 takes place in Houston, Texas, June 18 to 21. #HITECTX. Softscribe Inc. provides B2B public relations to the hospitality technology market and related industries. It creates public relations content, search and social media to help technology companies achieve their business goals. "LinkedIn is the new knowledge center in the texting age," said Julie Keyser-Squires, CEO of Softscribe Inc. "Many colleagues now get their newsfeed via LinkedIn before going to individual websites. This makes it a powerful sales tool." Squires noted the LinkedIn platform constantly changes. Most recently, LinkedIn values discussions more than posts. Squires outlined these 7 tips to successfully close sales leads from HITEC 2018 with LinkedIn: Put the relationship first. Be genuinely interested in the other person and listen. Talk in terms of the other person's interests. This lays the foundation for a long-term and mutually beneficial relationship. "Like" their posts in your feed and make positive, business relevant comments when you know what you are talking about. Contact prospects on LinkedIn if you made face-to-face contact at HITEC and want to pursue the relationship. At HITEC, ask if you may reach out to them on LinkedIn. If so, customize your "May we connect" InMail follow up. Once connected, get in touch with prospects as often as you have valuable and relevant content to share. Make your communication organic and natural. Show that you listened to their conversation. Remember, LinkedIn is an indirect sales channel. Help prospects build their network. Suggest LinkedIn groups, an article or a white paper to help them strengthen their knowledge base. Be sure you are well-informed about what you suggest. Recommend editors, influencers and thought leaders to follow. Add a visual component to each post when possible. Offer resources on your personal LinkedIn page. Squires also advised attendees to update their personal LinkedIn privacy settings. Otherwise, "If you 'like' prospects, you may inadvertently leave bread crumbs for competitors to follow." Here is an easy way to tailor your Privacy settings: Click on your small photo icon at the very top right hand corner of your profile page. Under 'ACCOUNT' click on 'Settings & Privacy'. Click on the "Privacy" tab near the top of the page, centered between "Account" and "Communications." Click on "Edit your public profile." Then click the on/off button under 'Edit Visibility' in the right hand column. This provides a menu of options that allows you to control who sees each section of your profile. For maximum exposure, choose "Public". Public visibility displays your profile to everyone online. Other choices add degrees of privacy. The Softscribe Inc. team will be at HITEC with a group of its best-in-class tech company clients. HITEC is June 18 - 21, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Click here to contact Softscribe Inc. to discuss how to close sales leads from HITEC, or to brainstorm a few ideas to support your company's marketing and business goals. About Softscribe Inc. Achieves Significant Business Growth for B2B Tech Clients in the Hospitality Industry. Softscribe Inc. is an award-winning hotel tech public relations agency that specializes in B2B public relations, branding and market consulting. We are the best in the industry at achieving significant business growth for technology companies. Our clients deliver enterprise solutions to the hotel market and related industries. Generates the Right Client Messages 100% of the Time. Our PR services focus on marketing content, search, and social media. We generate the right messages for client audiences 100% of the time. This is essential to close sales. Tech companies, do you want to increase sales and influence? Call or email Michael Squires, president of Softscribe Inc., at 404-256-5512 or mbs(at)softscribeinc.com to set up a discovery meeting and brainstorm a few marketing and PR ideas. Please give us a shout now, or visit www.softscribeinc.com. CONTACT: Softscribe Inc. Julie Keyser-Squires, APR, CEO 609 SW 8th St. #600 Bentonville, AR 72712 Phone: 404-256-5512 Email: julie(at)softscribeinc.com Twitter: @Juliesquires Resources: How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie ISBN -0-671-02703-4 Dale Carnegie website https://www.dalecarnegie.com/en Opinion Article 15 June 2018 We live in the age of the customer, and the sooner we embrace this fact the higher our chances of succeeding. In this age, customer feedback is one of the most important (if not THE most!) factors that can fuel your business. While this is true to all industries, it is more relevant to the hospitality industry. And no, we don't expect you to take our word for it. Several studies conducted across the world vouch for the fact that hotel guest reviews are paramount to your business. Here's why you should improve your hotel review Consider this stat, for example from a study conducted by Cornell University in the year 2012. "A one-point increase in a hotel's average user rating on a 5-point scale (eg, 3.8 to 4.8) makes potential customers 13.5% more likely to book that hotel. (Source) If this stat took you by surprise, the same study also suggests that if a hotel increases its review scores by 1 point on a 5-point scale, the hotel can increase its price by 11.2 and still maintain the same occupancy! I take it that this has established the backdrop for the rest of the read. Now, this brings us to the question "How to encourage guest reviews?". While there are many ways to prompt guests to give you feedback, the bottom line is that unless you put in a 100% into building an impeccable guest experience, you really cannot expect miracles to happen! So, before you even start implementing these 5 ways to encourage hotel guest reviews, you need to make sure that they are happy with your services and offerings. Give them more than what they expect, and you are sure to please them. How to get more reviews for your hotel While creativity is the key to inspiring hotel reviews, here are some not-so-obvious but sure shot ways to encourage guests to give you feedback on their experience with your hotel. 1. Make the most of Review Widgets Most review sites these days allow you to add a widget to your hotel website. Why does this help? Because the only other place the prospective guests are likely to visit, apart from review sites, is your website. Adding a review widget, like TripAdvisor's, to your website opens a two-way connectivity between review sites and your website. Every time a guest leaves a review on your website, it reflects on TripAdvisor and vice versa. This addition helps you club reviews left on your website and those on the review sites. The more online reviews you have, the more credibility you build and the more your chances of online bookings. Here's a stat that will prove this statement: 53% of TripAdvisor users say they will not book a hotel if it has zero reviews. (Source) 2. Be present on the platform most-suited for your guest Diversify the touchpoints on which you reach out to your guests for feedback. But be smart in doing so, because you don't want to inundate them with feedback requests on all channels. Survey fatigue is a real thing and it can cost you dearly too! The clever way to approach this would be to get to know your guest better to know which platform they are most active on, or most comfortable with and then send them a feedback request. You can improve hotel reviews by sending guests feedback forms via emails, SMSs, or calling them shortly after their stay with you. You could also have guest books at your front desk and nudge guests to put in a good word or two. Having comment cards inside the hotel rooms can also help. This is interesting: 71% of consumers will leave a review for a business, if asked. (Source) Of course, these are ways to prompt them to leave a review, but in cases where customers have voluntarily left you a review, be sure to respond to them and thank them. Nobody wants to leave a review if they feel like it won't be looked into! 3. Promote a culture of guest-centricity within your team Sincere and genuine service is key to that will flatter your guests. Bring in people onboard and build a team of staff that are in tune with this philosophy. The hospitality industry is synonymous with service and this should really be the differentiator. Promote a guest-centric culture within your hotel, no matter how big or small. Be it housekeeping staff, restaurant staff, front desk staff or even you, for that matter- following a consistent culture across all departments will impress guests because it is so rare! It's simple, really. When you make your guests feel like you value them and their journey with you, there is no way they will not reciprocate the same emotion. Be it word-of-mouth marketing, or a nice online review about how lovely their experience was at your property, your guests will share their experience with others. Look at this: 70% of guests would be prompted to leave a positive review if hotel staff were friendly and helpful. (Source) 4. Deliver on what you promise, but exceed guest expectations The easiest way to get your hotel review management in a soup is to bite off more than you can chew. Simply put, always under promise and over deliver, not the other way around. Make sure the messaging on your website, the images you use to publicize your property online, your Hotel's profile on OTAs, and your general brand messaging is modest. Don't give in to exaggeration or try overselling your property. The effect you should ideally have on your guests is for them to be pleasantly surprised by your property and not be disappointed horribly! It may seem like a non-issue but think about it from the guests' perspective! Nobody likes to be cheated or played with. They like to get exactly what they pay for and if they've been promised 'x', it is but natural for anyone to expect no less than 'x'. This is why we say this is the easiest way to ruin your online reviews. An irate guest can cost you dearly. Don't believe us? Check it out: 89% of people say that reviews influence their purchasing decision. Adding to that, 70% of consumers trust the opinion of unknown users. (Source) 5. Do something special that will blow their minds A mind-blowing guest experience is half the job done, if you are constantly wondering "how to get guest reviews for your hotel". There is no other way around it, fortunately. And the better you get to know your guests the more the opportunities for you in store to explore. Pamper your return guests with unexpected gestures give them an add-on when they least expect it, send in a snail mail for their birthday and tell them you'd love to host them again by throwing in a voucher they can redeem the next time they stay with you, do something special occasionally, so they are constantly assured that you value them. Guest reviews will come flooding in when you focus more on making the customer feel like the proverbial king! We can prove to you that this is important. consider this: "70% of buying experiences are based on how customers feel they are treated" (Source) While there are other ways and hacks to increase your guest reviews, but these that we've discussed here are the ones that can truly bring about a transformation in the way your guests perceive you. Why treat the symptoms when you can get to the root of it and cure the illness, don't you agree? Before we call it a day, I'd like to leave you with this stat, which I think, will make your day! Performance 15 June 2018 HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee -- The U.S. hotel industry reported mixed year-over-year results in the three key performance metrics during the week of 3-9 June 2018, according to data from STR. In comparison with the week of 4-10 June 2017, the industry recorded the following: Occupancy: -0.2% to 72.9% Average daily rate (ADR): +2.5% to US$131.38 Revenue per available room (RevPAR): +2.3% to US$95.82 Among the Top 25 Markets, Orlando, Florida, registered the largest increases in each of the three key performance metrics: occupancy (+8.1% to 82.1%), ADR (+16.2% to US$131.28) and RevPAR (+25.7% to US$107.77). Boston, Massachusetts, posted the second-highest lift in ADR (+9.8% to US$240.63), which drove the second-largest jump in RevPAR (+11.3% to US$208.99). Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota-Wisconsin, reported the third-largest increase in RevPAR (+10.0% to US$97.18), due primarily to the second-highest rise in occupancy (+6.1% to 78.4%). Overall, 16 of the Top 25 Markets reported an increase in RevPAR. Denver, Colorado, reported the largest decreases in ADR (-5.2% to US$139.72) and RevPAR (-12.0% to US$117.03). Seattle, Washington, experienced the steepest decline in occupancy (-8.4% to 84.1%), which resulted in the only other double-digit decrease in RevPAR (-11.7% to US$163.94). The White House has announced that it would impose tariffs of 25% on $50 billion worth of Chinese imports; this decision came into fruition after senior economic and trade officials met with one another in the Nation's Capital on Thursday. China has vowed to retaliate, effectively commencing a trade war between China and the United States, the two largest economies in the world. President Donald Trump has already placed tariffs on the import of steel and aluminium from Canada, Mexico and the European Union, eliciting widespread criticism amongst the parties involved. This friction between China and the U.S. comes at a time when the latter must rely on the former in order to mend a longstanding strife with North Korea. A list of nearly 1,300 Chinese imports that will receive this new 25% tariff was formulated by officials back in April. The Wall Street Journal notes how a United States trade representative "is expected to cut some of the products from the list and add others, especially high-tech items," which means that the tariffs to be imposed on different products at separate times, enabling the public to comment on the additions. China has said that they would impose steep tariffs on American soybean and automotive exports, which would effect Trump-dominant states the most. Yesterday, A$AP Bari posted a video that seemed to hint at the potential release of a collaborative mixtape between Playboi Carti and Skepta. The dude is dealing with some legal issues, but he had time to serve us some tea. Say your homie sends you the text below. What's your reaction? One of mine got this text and got excited. Most of us missed out since the video was removed shortly after it was posted. The possibility of this kind of project doesn't come as much of a surprise since the two have worked together in the past. Skepta offered his London swag on Carti's last album Die Lit on "Lean 4 Real." The track gives us an idea of what a whole project featuring both artists might sound like. Plus, Skepta's link to Carti's homie, ASAP Rocky, adds to the plausibility of a joint effort. We also know what the pair look like together. Giovanni Corabi shot them for Wonderland Magazine last year. For now, we are left with rumors and speculations, but the idea is still exciting. Both artists have been putting in work lately. Skepta was credited as one of the writers on Kanye West's last release. He has also been working on some visuals for his track "Pure Water" and is embarking on a summer tour real soon. Carti announced tour dates of his own. The music video for "RIP" is already out too, so you can check it out here. Who's got their fingers crossed? Sound off. Danny Masterson's rape accusers are not happy with Netflix and how they managed to send-off his character in The Ranch in a decent fashion. Released on Friday, the first half of the latest hit original series depicts Masterson's exit from the episodic sitcom following widespread sexual assault and rape allegations pinned against the actor. Chrissie Carnell Bixler, a woman who has accused the That 70s Show star of wrongdoing, is not too pleased with the streaming giant. "We get it, Netflix. You dont believe us. You rub salt in our wounds, Bixler told the Daily Beast. "Is Danny Masterson still co-executive producer of The Ranch? You knew you had to fire him, but you do a bunch of reshoots so you can finish our rapists storyline up and give him a respectable send-off. And there he is on TV in the new season." Bixler believes that Masterson should have been fired on the spot, similar to how Kevin Spacey was immediately written out of House of Cards in the wake of his own scandal. "Kevin Spacey? Fired on the spot. Production halted. Ed Westwick? Louis C.K.? Are there active investigations into these accused men? Do you just not believe us? Do you agree with Jenni Weinman [Mastersons publicist] and the Church of Scientology when they say you cannot rape your wife or girlfriend? Are you afraid of Scientologys Fair Game?" Scientology's Fair Game is a controversial policy within the religion that grants them access to defame, stalk and perform other incriminating gestures towards perceived enemies. Bixler is calling out Netflix for their potential fear of becoming part of a slander campaign put on by the church. Bobette Riales, another of Masterson's alleged rape victims, questions why Netflix is continuing to show the actor "support in a half-ass way as a co-producer, meaning he still gets a check, and also airing shows after he was already fired?" Masterson has denied these claims, revealing how in this day in age "it seems as if you are presumed guilty the moment you are accused." Drake came out of hiding last night after being on the receiving end of Pusha T's scathing, "The Story Of Adidon" diss track. While many were hoping for a response, it's clear that J. Prince put that to a halt so Drake's simply back to rolling out his forthcoming album, Scorpion. Last night, he released the video for "I'm Upset." While the song itself received luke-warm reviews, Drake stans were excited on the fact that he brought the cast of Degrassi together for a "high school reunion." While some may have thought that this was done months prior to his back-and-forth with Push, it looks like he actually shot the video this last weekend. TMZ recently spoke to Shane Kippel, who played Spinner, and Ephraim Ellis, who played the role of Rick. The two of them revealed that the video shoot was only planned within a week. In addition, the video was only shot this past weekend. "We literally shot this video from the 8th to 10th," Kippel said. Ellis added, "Friday, Saturday, Sunday. I'm surprised the video came out this fast." Both of them revealed they only had a few days notice for the shoot as Drake's team only reached out the week prior. It's definitely a big moment for any Degrassi fans from back in the day. But it's also a big moment for both actors involved. Ellis admitted that he hadn't seen Drake since they shot the episode where he left Drizzy in a wheelchair. Kippel said that he and Drake talk on social media every once in a while but they haven't seen each other in five years. Drake didn't only confront the same topic that most critics try to hold against with the "I'm Upset" video but he also reunited with several people that watched him grow into the superstar he is today. Peep the video below. [VIA] Last Friday, the soundtrack to the SuperFly remake surfaced online which was curated by Future, who was featured on 10 of the 13 tracks. Other contributions to the project included Lil Wayne, Miguel, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Young Thug, Khalid, H.E.R. and more. However, it turns out we were only treated to about half the project last week as the Freebandz Gang rapper decided to quietly upload a bonus disc to the Spotify playlist today, featuring 10 brand new songs on it. Of these new records on the bonus disc, features include Rick Ross, G Herbo, 21 Savage, A. CHAL, Freeway and CyHi The Prynce, among others. But to close things out, Future decided to call on fellow ATLien Young Thug for the slow tempo outro Georgia. Take a listen to the new Super Slimey collab and let us know what you think. Superfly the movie hits theaters today. Quotable Lyrics: Went to the end of the road then I did a 360 Had a few of my hoes, textin saying they miss me Want a 300 lets go, we jump in out of it instantly Diamonds gon light up and glow, she wanna come and ski with me - Future The 2018 XXL Freshman Class has been revealed. Now, the artist profiles, freestyles, and cypher are set to follow suit. Today, XXL has shared some behind the scenes footage of the Freshman shoot, which features brief interviews from each artist, as well as hints toward who might be paired up with who. Still, the biggest question mark centers around the cypher, which has left like a bit of an underappreciated art since last year's session. Wifisfuneral teases that the cypher is going to "shock a lot of people," adding that it's going to get people "upset." Ski Mask is clearly taking the process serious, detailing his ritual of "mirror rapping" to himself, in order to prepare. There's little doubt that both rappers will use the opportunity to prove they can hold it down on the mic. And they'll have to, especially if they're spitting alongside J.I.D. Though he may seem like the odd man out on paper, J.I.D. has no problem with that. "I'm rapping better than everybody," he says, with a knowing smile. "They gon' hate it." For those who follow the Dreamville rapper, rest assured that he'll bring his A game to somewhat of a lyrically-lacking class. Still, that's not to say all hope is lost. London based Stefflon Don, Wifisfuneral, Trippie Redd, Ski Mask The Slump God are more than capable of holding it down; should they team up for a cypher, the results could lead to an upgrade from last year's attempt. Editor in chief Vanessa Satten proceeds to explain that Lil Skies was originally intended to be the tenth member, but decided to turn it down at the last minute. "We tried everything to get him there," she explains, before deciding against replacing him. Peep the behind the scenes footage below, and sound off. Do ya'll think these cyphers will amount to anything special? When 2017 opened it seemed an almost foregone conclusion that the Affordable Care Act was finished and the fall-out for patients, doctors and patients was full of unknowns. Then it turned out that the law known as Obamacare was not finished after all. So now in 2018 hospital administrators across the Houston region continue to endure the swirl of political hyperbole and the very real uncertainty of what the future holds for uninsured rates, patient access to care, reimbursement calculations to providers and the overall health care economy. But they are no longer holding their breath. They cant afford to. You cant plan around the politics, said Deborah Gordon, chief administrative officer for Memorial Hermann Health System, the largest not-for-profit health system in southeast Texas and a leader in the annual Chron 100 round-up of top businesses in the area. I cant change the politics, but what I can do is provide health services to the uninsured and under-insured in a community services, she said. Even though the ACA was not repealed outright, pieces were chipped away that has some worrying about a new spike in the uninsured rate. Houston has the highest uninsured rate in a state that has the highest uninsured rate in the nation. Sid Sanders, senior vice president for construction/facilities at Houston Methodist, another perennial occupant on the Chronicle 100 list of top hospitals, could not agree more. Strategic planning happens years in advance and must continue despite the whims and winds of current events. You maintain flexibility, you keep all of your options open but at the end of the day you are in the people business, Sanders said. Something coming out of Washington might make it a little better or might make it a little worse, but it doesnt change the fundamentals. In Houston. a few constants help provide an element of predictability: continued population growth and people getting older. That means, health experts say, that health care will continue to be needed, though perhaps in a slightly different form in the future. For instance, Gordon said, hospitals will have to be nimble and creative as they consider meeting the needs of both an aging population and also a younger one that is tech savvy. Virtual medicine and nurse helplines can help bridge a need that once was primarily met through large, new-build construction. Sanders, too, said that while ongoing Houston Methodist construction projects will be completed through 2018 and early 2019, there could come a time after that to hit the pause button to reassess demographics, patient needs and the political landscape. Another thing that is not changing is the demand for workers. Gordon said that Memorial Hermann currently has 800 job openings across its network of facilities. Economists have said that the regions health care industry chugs along as one of the most reliable employment opportunities. jenny.deam@chron.com twitter.com/jenny_deam The founding date for Par Pacific is listed as 1984, but President and CEO William Pate insists its true birth date is 2012. Its a completely different company, said Pate, who has helmed the growth-hungry Par Pacific since 2015 and currently oversees a workforce of about 1,200. Par Pacific emerged out of the 2012 restructuring of Delta Petroleum, an exploration and production company. The headquarters moved to Houston from Denver. With a single employee on the payroll, Par Pacific acquired a crude logistics and trading business as E&P operations became a footnote. The company assembled an entirely new employee base, board of directors and a management team that set the strategy to acquire the guts of what Par Pacific is today an energy and infrastructure business. Par Pacific now has a refinery in Wyoming and another in Hawaii that both feed gasoline and diesel into company-owned convenience stores as well as jet fuel and diesel to nearby military bases. The only asset left from its E&P days is a non-operating investment stake in Laramie Energy, a natural gas producer in Colorado. Now, Par Pacific ranks among the Chronicle 100 list of top public companies. Its record year in 2017 also resulted in its first appearance on the list of Fortune 1000. Adjusted earnings per share of $1.77 were more than four times the previous highest it ever recorded, in 2015. The strong year led to an increase in book value of more than 20 percent, while it was able to reduce its debt by $56 million. Par Pacifics strategy is to acquire and operate energy and infrastructure companies that tie geographically to its refineries in what it calls complex markets: those remote to fuel providers where competition is limited. In March, for example, the company acquired 33 Cenex Zip Trip convenience stores in Washington and northwestern Idaho, a bolt-on acquisition that extends its Rocky Mountain operations and provides an alternative outlet for its 18,000-barrel-per-day Wyoming refinery, which it purchased in 2016. Pate said the performance of Par Pacifics 94,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Kapolei, Hawaii, was another solid contributor to its 2017 success. The refinery was purchased by Par Pacific in 2013 from Tesoro and is the largest in the state. It produces diesel, gasoline and marine fuel, but its most successful product is the jet fuel it sells to nearby military bases, such as Pearl Harbor, and to commercial airlines. The company also owns a large retail business of 90 gas stations in Hawaii operating under the Hele and 76 brands that are served by the refinery. The U.S. military is also a big customer of Par Pacifics Wyoming refinery, which pipes jet fuel to nearby Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. In 2018 and beyond, growth will continue to be the main driver for Par Pacific, Pate said. John C. Roper is a freelance writer. WASHINGTON - An email popped up in my inbox. Donald Trump was tweeting again, demanding OPEC increase production so Americans wouldnt have to pay so much for gasoline. It seemed like an invitation to let people in the Texas oil patch rant, just as they had when Trump imposed tarrifs on the steel they use to build pipelines or when he threatened to tear up the North American Free Trade Agreement. After all, in asking the oil cartel to raise production Trump was effectively trying to reduce oil prices, and that wasnt going to do anyone in Midland or Abilene or Houston any good. Except when I started asking around the oil sector, Trumps actions drew little more than a collective shrug. Cactus Schroeder, owner of the Abilene oil company Chisholm Exploration, summed up the sentiment of most in the oil fields when he said he understood the inclination to keep gasoline prices down and money in peoples pockets. I think (Trump) wants the full effect of this tax law to be felt, Schroeder said. If I was in his position, I would probably do the same thing. Trump might be unique in the style of his communiques - his tweet Wednesday read "Oil prices are too high, OPEC is at it again. Not good! But he is not the first American president to meddle in OPECs affairs. During the 1980s oil crash, former president George H.W. Bush, who was then serving as vice president, flew to Saudi Arabia to warn the kingdom that unless they cut production, Congress was likely to put a tariff on foreign oil to try and prop up American oil companies, according to economist Dan Yergins book The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power. OPEC listened that time, but there is no indication yet that OPEC is planning to do the same now. And even if it did, the cartels ability to affect crude prices is not the same as it was in the 1980s, when the U.S. oil production was in decline and OPEC controlled a much larger share of the worlds oil supply. It would be a stretch (that Trump) can do much to bring oil prices down in an international market thats very free and competitive, said John Olson, a private energy investor in Houston. Im not sure what he can do but talk a good game. He has very little leverage. And for those drilling in West Texas - the epicenter of the U.S. oil boom - the consequences of OPEC actions are likely to be modest. They have other things to worry about, too. Pipeline capacity to move oil to Gulf Coast refineries and export hubs remains woefully short, driving the U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate to $10 below the international benchmark, Brent crude. Frederick Lawrence, vice president of economics and international affairs at the Independent Petroleum Association of America, said the two benchmarks were not moving in unison as they once did. If Brent slides, that doesnt mean WTI will. Its all way out of whack, he said. If Brent falls $10 there will probably be some effect, but we certaintly have our own situation going on right now. For all the logical reasons, the oil sector might not be too worried about Trump heckling OPEC, politics also come into play. Even with his move to upend global trade norms, Trump has largely been good for the U.S. oil industry. Between loosening environmental regulations, opening up federal lands and waters for drilling and reducing corporate tax rates, his presidency reads like the oil lobbys wish list. If oil prices creep down a few dollars ahead of the midterm elections, helping keep Trump in office, so be it. So far, I like the things hes done, said Schroeder. And you cant argue with the results. More than three-quarters of Americans (77 percent) say they will celebrate Fathers Day in 2018 and will spend on average $133 per person, according to data from the National Retail Federation. Its expected to be the second-highest year for Fathers Day spending in the past 15 years. What is everyone planning to buy for Dad? Special outings, clothing, gift cards, electronics and more. Read on for a few great ideas to celebrate the fathers in your life. Kammok Roo Double Hammock, $99 Give Dad a hammock and he can kick back on a camping trip or just hang out in the back yard. Our pick is the Roo Double camping hammock. It holds two and offers comfort wherever adventure beckons. Its also durable (with climbing-rated components), tear resistant and holds up to 500 pounds. Available at Whole Earth Provision stores in Houston and Tyler's in The Woodlands. Banana Republic silk and linen hoodie, $90 Dad will stay cool in this hoodie made with 55 percent silk and 45 percent flax linen, perfect for year-round wear. The hoodie features a drawstring hood, front pocket and rib-knit cuffs. Pair it with a favorite sport coat or wear it alone. Available at Banana Republic stores and bananarepublic.gap.com. Josh Cellars Dad Giftboxes from Giftagram, $99 Gifting is easy with Giftagram, which allows you to purchase gifts via the mobile app. For Fathers Day, Josh Cellars is offering three different gift boxes. For the traveling dad, theres a bottle of wine; a Shinola linen journal, dopp kit and toiletry travel bag; plus a Malin+Goetz grooming kit. The gourmet box includes Oaktown Spice Shop BBQ Master Spice Set with four spices, a grilling plank set and 70 recipes inspired by the Iron Chefs new restaurant, Mabels BBQ in Cleveland. Or you can put together your own for the wine-lover dad: Paso Robles Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, hand-blown stemless wine glasses and a wing corkscrew. Giftagram.com. Basic Outfitters Create-a-Drawer, $60: As seen on Shark Tank, this nonsubscription box will provide the man in your life with socks, boxers, tees, tanks, joggers and more to replace his worn-out basics. Create-a-Drawer includes up to 17 pieces of comfy and stylish basic wear delivered right to the door and ready to wear. Order online at basicoutfitters.com. Nest Copper Learning Thermostat, $250 Get two gifts in one when you purchase a Nest Thermostat from Lowes and receive a free Google Home Mini in Charcoal through Aug. 31. The new Nest Learning Thermostat has a sleeker design and sharper display. Sensors and algorithms create a custom temperature while the auto-away function adjusts the system when your home is empty to help save energy. Nedra Rhone writes for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Melissa Aguilar contributed to this report. The sun is just setting over Omo River when my boat glides to the fig-tree-shaded shore at Lales Camp. Im barely two steps onto the riverbank before four Karo children have latched onto my hands. They escort me to their village, where about 50 women and men are clustered in separate semi-circles, painting each other in ochre dots and charcoal stripes. The men wear clay caps studded with ostrich feathers, and the women are adorned in stacks of colorful beaded necklaces and bangles molded from bullet cartridges. Weve arrived ahead of a ceremony, says my guide, Graeme Lemon, excitedly. When I told well-traveled friends that Id be visiting the tribes of Ethiopias Omo Valley, they warned me that Id be surrounded by camera-wielding tourists and harassed by tribespeople demanding money for photos. But Im traveling with Wild Philanthropy, a new offshoot of Wild Expeditions that aims to build a tourism experience mutually benefiting visitors and the people and the land they visit. Most tourists take the same road into Omo villages, snap a few photos, exchange a few bills and go on their way. Wild Philanthropy is the only outfitter in the Omo Valley with a boat and a permanent tented camp, not far from the Karo village. This unique arrangement creates an incredibly intimate and rare cultural experience. More Information If you go Wild Expeditions: Seven days from $5,995 per person, based on two people sharing, including four nights in the Omo Valley on a full-board basis; one night in Addis Ababa on a bed-and-breakfast basis; return international flights from the U.S.; internal flights; all transfers and activities in the Omo Valley; and the services of a professional guide throughout; steppestravel.com. See More Collapse Other than the curious children, the Karo seem oblivious to my presence. I sit alongside the women, who balance cherubic babies on their laps, watching as they paint each others shoulders. Instinctively, I reach into my pocket for my iPhone but something makes me pause. In our Instagram-obsessed world, I feel a constant need to document every moment. But I know the minute I take out that phone, this moment will change. And so I remain an observer, which soon leads to me being a participant as women tie beads around my wrists. That experience is worth more than any photo I could have taken. Throughout the week, I find myself in similar predicaments. I overnight an hour upriver with the Mursi, a tribe known for scarification. The women wear enormous lip plates, something I thought Id only ever see in the pages of National Geographic. I sit back that evening and watch as the men and women circle a fire, chanting and dancing. A young woman notices me and drags me into the circle. The next thing I know, Im hopping around the center dancing with a tall tribesman carrying an AK-47. My dance moves are terrible, which makes me the dance partner of choice for the men. The next morning the women giggle and mimic my embarrassing moves. A barrier has been broken. I cautiously hand my iPhone to the woman who invited me to dance, setting it on selfie mode. She shrieks with shock and motions over her friends. We snap selfies and a photo of the two of us before I wave good-bye. Cultural interaction is at the heart of Wild Philanthropys mission. Guides dont prohibit cameras, but they strongly urge guests to keep cameras away until a rapport is built. This isnt a human safari, emphasizes Lemon: A photograph should be a pleasant memory with the villagers rather than a trophy to be displayed back home, he reasons. The result has been positive on both sides. Spontaneous jollity and genuine warmth is becoming the norm. And that, I learn, is something you could never share from behind a camera lens. Cultural photo etiquette from the pros 1. Always ask permission Even if you dont speak the language, you can communicate by simply holding up your camera and pointing at it and then pointing at the person, says Justin Gibson, a photo-expedition leader for Natural Habitat Adventures. 2. Follow your own cultural etiquette I remind clients that they wouldnt pull out a camera and start shooting strangers on the street in America, Gibson says. Remember how you like to be treated at home and carry that forward. 3. Be an active participant Ask the person if theyd like to share a photograph with you and have a friend snap the shot of the two of you and show it to them. This allows you to connect with the subject, Gibson says. They understand that you are really interested and engaged. 4. Dont gang up On a group tour, if a fellow traveler is photographing someone let them work one on one, photographer Mark Edward Harris says. Find your own person to shoot or wait your turn. Do not surround one person and start shooting as a group, or it ends up feeling like a rugby scrum and the subject is the ball, he says. 5. Learn the language Knowing even a few words of the local language can go a long way, says Harris, who always uses Pimsleur ahead of a trip to learn a few key phrases. If anything, my bad pronunciation is usually a great ice-breaker. 6. No paparazzi shots I think its incredibly disrespectful to hide from a distance with a long zoom lens and shoot people as objects, Harris says. The people know you are there. I prefer to use a wider lens and get up close and interface with people rather than treat them like an object. 7. Keep it real I am dead set against using local villagers to put seed pods or flowers in their hair just to capture a portrait of Wild Africa, says Graeme Lemon, general manager of Wild Expeditions. Avoid situations staged for tourists. Jen Murphy is a writer based in Boulder, Colo. She contributes regularly to the Chronicle's Luxe Life magazine, as well as writes the Wall Street Journal's "What's Your Workout?" column. She previously was travel editor at Food & Wine magazine. Less than a month after the shooting at Santa Fe High School, the Senate Select Committee on Violence in Schools and School Security met for two days of testimony and discussion in Austin. The committee, created by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, was charged to "examine the root cause of mass murder in schools." Nine Texas senators would go on to investigate factors in school shootings like "mental health, substance use disorders, anger management, social isolation, the impact of high intensity media coverage the so-called 'glorification' of school shooters to determine the effect on copycat shootings and the desensitization to violence resulting from video games, music, film, and social media" a long list of risk factors which does not explicitly include guns. Curious to behold how our senators would get at the "root cause" of this violence which impacts educators like me, I tuned in, watching from my home in Houston. News of the Santa Fe shooting crushed us at school as an already overwhelming year came to a close. After my students helped organized the massive Houston Youth Walkout, which brought Houston schools together to demand answers to this epidemic at the steps of City Hall, they were furious. Sad? Tears squeezed out between their angry words. "What do we do? What's going to stop this?" Jacqui and Maurielle sobbed outside my classroom, so I hugged them searching my teacher mental files for what to say this time. Paolo Martinez, our walkout leader and the backbone of the movement, stormed into my room. "I don't want to talk about this! I'm so sick of talking about this!" His friends had all turned to him, but Paolo was overwhelmed, disappointed, frustrated. Less than a month earlier, he was marching and singing and sharing words of strength with his fellow young Houstonians. But on May 18, Paolo was out of words. And so was I. For the first time in my 12-year career, I had no words for Paolo or Jacqui or Maurielle. So I wasn't going to miss the opportunity to see what words what answers our Texas legislature had for teachers and students like us. RELATED: Another school shooting. Thoughts and prayers are not enough. Michael Minasi, Staff Photographer / Houston Chronicle FROM ARCHITECTS to police chiefs of school districts to the Director of the Texas School Safety Center, the committee invited a list of experts. Most of the two days were dedicated to their testimonies, though each witness provided their counsel with a caveat: There is no one guaranteed solution. Again and again, this refrain rang out. The most overused words during the hearings were "preventative" and "mitigate." Each senator's attention wandered: Senator Joan Huffman obsessed over metal detectors, while Senator John Whitmire couldn't let go of frisking kids in trench coats. Senators Kelly Hancock and Don Huffines went to war with "gun-free zones" while Senator Eddie Lucio pondered whether schools could embrace changes like airports after 9/11. I can see it now: Middle schoolers taking off their shoes while they ruffle through their backpacks for their identification; TSA agents ushering second-graders into full-body scanners; parents kissing their children goodbye at the security checkpoint. My senator, Brandon Creighton, redirected every other comment back to the Marshal program. Passed by the 83rd Texas Legislature in response to the Sandy Hook school shooting, this voluntary program is approved by school boards to train school faculty or staff to act before law enforcement arrives to emergencies. Fewer than 10 percent of Texas schools use this program, though it became clear during the hearing that strict confidentiality might make it difficult for Texans to be aware of which schools and how many teachers are involved in the program in their area. Disturbingly, our senators seemed surprised to learn about the lax nature of the School Guardian Program which, unlike the Marshal Program, arms civilians through standards set exclusively by local school boards, not the state. There is no research to support that school marshal or guardian programs deter or stop school shootings. What Senator Creighton continually missed in his infatuation with these programs is that the Parkland and Santa Fe shooters both entered their schools knowing that armed guards were there. Armed police officers did not deter these angry boys. Maybe most shocking in its inappropriateness was Chairman Larry Taylor's suggestions that students just need to "walk up" to some of these disaffected students on their campus. He explained that it's just the right thing to do that if our students "see someone sitting by themselves ... walk up, invite them to come up to eat with your group." A sophomore from Austin High, Olivia, responded to his suggestion during the public testimonies. In a steady voice, Olivia explained that students like her "cannot be expected to befriend threatening students, much less those who are dangerous and bigoted, like the Parkland shooter." Out of the 20 witnesses and almost 11 hours of testimony, our nine senators called only one witness who represented the role of an educator. Mitzi McEwen, self-labeled a "retired and recycled" principal from Friendswood Independent School District, spoke about the importance of relationships in the classroom. She clarified for the senators that class-size restrictions exist only for classes K-4 and charged the senators to do better. "If you're gonna have one-on-one relationships with kids," she said, "you can't have 35 sixth-grade students and think you're gonna have a real close relationship with all of them." LISTEN: Houston architecture firm, former cop are designing safer schools Not a single student was invited to testify in the two days of hearings, but that didn't stop John, 18, from showing up to express their "deep disappointment in the lack of voice given to students during this process." John called out the senators for leaving during public testimony. At one point, only two of the nine senators were present to listen to the testimony of Texans. John also explained that even though Texas students hadn't been invited, "we will bring our chairs to the table from now on." When Chairman Taylor defensively shot back that student survivors were present at Gov. Abbott's roundtable, John clarified that student activist groups like March for Our Lives and Students Demand Action had not been invited. "Well, everyone's an activist for something," Taylor retorted and moved on. Indeed. Of the 137 minutes our senators allotted for public testimony, only two minutes total were filled with one pro-gun activist's testimony. The remaining 99 percent of the time was filled with a long line of public witnesses, predominantly mothers with extensive backgrounds in education. Easily identifiable in their red Moms Demand Action shirts, these mommas, who brought verifiable data, were given two minutes each to testify when our senators gave hours to discussions in support of the Marshal and Guardian programs based on nothing more than anecdotal and hypothetical evidence. Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is a nonpartisan grassroots movement created as a response to Sandy Hook. These mommas support the Second Amendment, but work to find common-sense solutions to "help decrease the escalating epidemic of gun violence." Like most good educators, Moms Demand Action works to promote data-based decisions grounded in sound research. Momma Rebecca, a fourth-generation professional educator with more 25 year experience, exposed that "there is no data showing more guns in school will make them safer." Momma Ilene continued by sharing that, in the last three years, the Associated Press "discovered 30 examples of news stories regarding guns found unattended in schools." Many mommas expressed that, while these programs might make some feel better, reactive measures like arming civilians and installing metal detectors are only addressing the symptom not "examining the root cause," as the committee was charged to do. RELATED: I'm tired of writing about school shootings THE TRUTH is, the patterns these school shooters have left are all too familiar. Throughout the hearing, multiple law enforcement representatives explained that shooters tend to be male, young "between 16 and early twenties" disaffected and "obsessed with previous shootings." The other glaring commonality from Columbine to Sandy Hook to Santa Fe is that these angry boys took guns from their parents. In the State of Texas, if a child grabs your gun and harms himself or others, that's a Class A misdemeanor the equivalent of stealing cable service. Because the Santa Fe shooter is 17 and can be tried as an adult, his parents were not even charged with failure to secure the guns which shot 23 people, killing 10. These "activist" moms, many of them gun owners some of them gun violence survivors all reiterated the same requests: require background checks for all gun purchases, enact "Red Flag Laws" which use due process to stop potential tragedies and revise the penalties for parents who fail to secure their weapons at home. These moms want answers more concrete than blaming all of American culture for the acts of a few depraved, angry young men. They refuse to allow Lt. Gov. Patrick to reduce shootings to doors and ungodliness. Like me, these moms have seen our schools work hard for more than 10 years to secure and upgrade campuses, and they've seen students praying with their friends around the flagpole. They refuse to allow the blanket "mental health" label to continuously divert focus from the role of guns. Like me, these moms know that America is not unique to mental health issues, but we are unique in this school shooting epidemic. Why does this only seem to happen here? Marie D. De Jesus, SANTA Fe returns / Marie D. De Jesus Momma Courtney was the last Mom to testify. She shyly admitted that she's not known for her public speaking skills and apologized that she might not be the best person to close out two days' worth of complex conversations. "I'm born and bred, a Texas daughter, and this is my home." Courtney takes a deep breath. When she speaks again it sounds like it's coming from her guts. "I went to school here. Went to UT. I met my English husband here during South by Southwest. We got married here, and we had our daughter here. She just finished first grade." By now, Momma Courtney can't keep her tears away, and she's sobbing as she describes how awesome her daughter is. "I'm here for her." More tears betray her. "I don't want to send her to a place that has more guns. So what do we do? Do I leave my home? I don't know what to do. I feel really powerless. So our options are leave Texas ... or move to England, where this isn't an issue." For now, Courtney will stay in Texas with her testimony ready, a sea of red shirts behind her. Gaby Diaz is an English teacher in Houston. Get the Gray Matters newsletter. It comes from our guts. The Montgomery County Sheriffs Office identified a man found dead in Peach Creek Thursday as the 26-year-old who had been missing since Monday. MCSO identified the male as Nael Romero who had attended a party near the 21000 block of Big Buck Lane north of Conroe in the Peach Creek subdivision between Cleveland and Conroe. Students pay big dollars for their education, and colleges know they expect responsive staff in financial aid, career services and advising. Without a feedback mechanism, students often take to social media when they feel like theyre hitting a wall creating public-relations hassles for colleges. Trying to speak with someone at Texas Southern over the phone is a waste of time, one student wrote on Twitter this week. All you get is a voicemail and unreturned calls. So TSU spent almost $90,000 to buy iPad-style kiosks from customer-service company Avius America LLC. The 26 kiosks will let students give real-time feedback to university officials, just like students do with their Uber drivers or Airbnb hosts. Sample surveys ask students about course quality and staff helpfulness. University officials plan to review the dashboards of responses each week in cabinet meetings. President Austin Lane, finishing his second year as TSU president, discussed the new program with regents on Thursday. Its another step toward the student-as-consumer model for higher education, as universities work to keep students happy and therefore maintain enrollment as tuition costs grow. The idea for TSU's kiosks, Avius CEO Ben Story said in an interview, came when a TSU staff member contacted the company after seeing one of its devices asking for feedback on cleanliness in a Houston airport restroom. After a competitive process, Avius won the bid and TSU spent $88,938 in May for purchase, delivery and installation of the kiosks. TSU is the companys first foray into the higher-education market and Story thinks the appetite for data on student feedback could be huge at college campuses around the country. Aviuss clients are largely airports, theme parks and restaurants. For the amount of data theyre going to get, Story said, the solution is relatively inexpensive. Would you recommend TSU? For at least two decades, colleges have installed kiosks for directory maps or staff listings. Drexel University in Philadelphia installed kiosks to screen for mental health issues in 2015. But direct customer service feedback functionality through kiosks isnt widely used in higher education, Story said. TSUs devices will ask about course quality and categories including staff courtesy and respect. How likely is it that you would recommend Texas Southern University to a friend? one preview of the software showed. The machines will be placed in areas of campus focused on course registration, financial aid, food services, health and advising, according to a presentation to regents. TSU anticipates that they will be installed by the end of June. In a student advising kiosk, for example, students may be asked how familiar their advisers were with the requirements necessary for their chosen degrees. Asking questions at a kiosk is more effective than sending an email survey because many inboxes are overwhelmed with messages, Story said. Often, online surveys see responses from customers with extremely positive or negative experiences, and response rates, he said, are low. Kiosks can capture a wider set of opinions, he said. Surveys through the company can also be sent to a students mobile phone. When TSU contacted the company after seeing the devices in an airport, Story said he realized that higher education could be a new market for the company. Real-time updates, he said, can flag an upset student within 30 seconds of his or her survey response for immediate resolution of the persons problem, Story said. Student affairs professionals could monitor responses day-by-day and week-by-week, overlaying information over a map of campus. Lane has said he wants the kiosks to improve the student experience at TSU. Well be looking at it every Monday in cabinet to get a good sense of whats going on, he said Thursday. Lindsay Ellis writes about higher education for the Houston Chronicle. You can follow her on Twitter and send her tips at lindsay.ellis@chron.com. On July 31, the Houston Chronicle published a front-page story with a provocative headline. "'We've moved on': Political anger after Harvey has eased," it declared, adding: "Experts believe disaster response is unlikely to be a factor in November." It was a significant story by veteran reporter and Austin bureau chief Mike Ward. It asserted that Houston residents initially fed up with the uneven government response to Hurricane Harvey actually weren't going to blame politicians after all. The story began with West Houston resident Betsy Scheer, whose anger had faded. She was going to vote Republican. "My friends are mostly the same way now," she was quoted as telling Ward. But in the weeks after the story ran, questions were raised about the sourcing in Ward's story. No one could find Betsy Scheer. And no one could find three others quoted in the story Tran Ng, Martina Racelli and Jack Nito. EDITOR'S NOTE: An update from the editor of the Houston Chronicle The Chronicle spot-checked several other stories written by Ward. A pattern began to emerge: Alongside quotes from easy-to-find political figures, his stories were spiced with sparkling quotes from ordinary Texans, including a software engineer from Dallas, a businesswoman from Williamson County, a tea party activist. Many of them could not be found, despite extensive searches in multiple databases by a newsroom researcher and more work by a private investigator. Ward was confronted by Chronicle Executive Editor Nancy Barnes. Ward insisted that every person in his stories did exist and that they eventually would be found; he spent a week looking for them, but turned up nothing. Asked for notes used for his stories, Ward said he had destroyed them. Barnes accepted Ward's offer to resign. Shortly after, Barnes asked me to examine all of Ward's stories and to make every effort to find and verify the people named in them. What follows is what I found: The review included 744 stories, from early August 2018 back to January 2014, when he was hired after a long career at the Austin American-Statesman. A team of three pulled out the names of 275 individuals who were presented as ordinary Texans and made every effort to find them. Of the 275 people quoted, 122, or 44 percent, could not be found. Those 122 people appeared in 72 stories. It's impossible to prove that these people do not exist, only that with extensive research and digging, the team could not find them. And in this age of online records, including property ownership and court filings, almost everyone can be found quickly. For comparison, the team checked the work of another reporter at a major out-of-state newspaper. Of eight people named in her stories, all eight were found easily. The Chronicle also spot-checked nine recent stories from three of its reporters. Of 48 people named in those stories, 39 (81 percent) were found easily using one database, LexisNexis; eight names were so common further search would be required; one was not found due to a possible misspelling of the name. Ward could not be reached to discuss the findings. He did not respond to numerous phone messages, emails or attempts to reach him through former colleagues. Barnes, the Chronicle's executive editor, had informed readers in September of concerns about sourcing in some of Ward's stories and had promised further investigation. Unfortunately, she said, the further work was done without Ward's cooperation and could not confirm the existence of more than 100 sources, despite extensive efforts to do so. "The relationship between a newspaper and its readers is one of trust," she said. "This investigation points to an egregious breach of that trust that is an offense to readers and journalists alike. We apologize to our readers, and to the Houston community. "We will be correcting or retracting all of the affected stories in order to set the record straight to the best of our ability, as I promised when this was first brought to my attention." John Bridges, managing editor for the Austin American-Statesman, said the paper had taken a limited look at Ward's work there, but would now go deeper. "After the initial allegations, we conducted a preliminary review of Ward's final years of work for the Statesman and did not find conclusive evidence of the kind of pattern uncovered by the Chronicle's investigation," he said. "But given the Chronicle's new findings and the seriousness of these allegations, we are enlisting outside journalists to conduct further investigation into work that appeared in the Statesman." A thorough review The Chronicle team ran each name in Ward's stories through a variety of search engines that comb through records of property ownership, voter registration, hunting and fishing licenses, phone numbers and criminal records. They queried Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram accounts, along with Google and several other commercial search engines. The research included calls to local police departments, chambers of commerce and local Democratic and Republican officials. At a karate studio in the town of a woman quoted as a karate enthusiast, no one knew her. The search included a woman said to be an Austin resident and mother of three; she didn't turn up on lists of registered voters and her name did not appear in any other database. At the bakery where she was quoted as being a customer, no one knew her. Sometimes, hard-to-find sources did turn up. In one case, an individual was not listed on various databases, had no known phone number and did not own property. Eventually, the team found someone who knew him. In all, the review found and verified 103 of the 275 names, just more than a third. For another 50 people named, Ward's stories provided insufficient information to conduct searches. And 122 could not be found. Some of the stories the Chronicle published under Ward's byline rested in large part on the quotes from people whose existence could not be verified, throwing the veracity of entire stories into question. For instance, the story the Chronicle published on July 31 depended heavily on the views of four people who weren't found. Did Houston Republicans who suffered in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey forgive GOP political leaders for lapses in government assistance? Others in the piece, particularly university political scientists, could easily be found. They were cited for their professional opinions, not personal experiences. It was not the only such story. A story published June 15 by Ward ("Outside Texas GOP convention, political parties are becoming less important") detailed changing GOP attitudes toward President Donald Trump, from negative to positive. The story featured quotes from two people that set the tone for the story. Neither person could be located. The previous day, June 14, the Chronicle ran a Ward story based on alleged interviews with three GOP and tea party activists; the team could find only one of them. On the 13th, the Chronicle featured a story by Ward that began and ended with meaningful quotes from two voters on the fate of the two parties in this fall's elections. Neither of the voters could be located. On May 4, the Chronicle ran a story by Ward about the upcoming convention of the National Rifle Association. The story was based on quotes from six people, none of whom could be found. In March, Ward turned in a story he had been working on for some time, seeking to demonstrate that changing demographics in West Houston meant the 7th Congressional District, long a Republican stronghold, was now "up for grabs." The story, published March 11, quoted 10 people; of those, six could not be verified. The Chronicle will retract eight stories that depended heavily on characters who can't be found and quotes that cannot be verified. It will correct other stories that included sources that can't be verified but whose premise was not reliant on those sources. Surprise in the newsroom Chronicle editors who had worked most directly with Ward expressed shock and disbelief that he or any reporter would fabricate people and quotes. "That's not the Mike Ward I knew," said John Gravois, a former editor in Austin for the Chronicle. "That Mike Ward was very meticulous, very careful, very old-school." Matt Schwartz, an assistant Metro editor, said that nothing in Ward's stories "ever gave me pause, and I'm still stunned. I have a hard time believing that this happened." Vernon Loeb, who was managing editor of the Chronicle from 2014 until early this summer and who worked closely with Ward, also expressed shock. "I don't believe Mike Ward was the kind of journalist who would make people up," he said. "I want to believe his assurances that he never made anybody up and that he, given time, can find these people." More safeguards? It's a lesson stressed to new journalism students at the University of Texas at Austin. In one of their first classes, they are told to verify and retain the name, phone number and email address of every person they interview for a story. "That's what we expect of a beginning reporter," said Kathleen McElroy, director of the UT School of Journalism. At the Chronicle and other newspapers, editors do not generally ask to see the phone numbers and email addresses of people quoted in a story. Trust between reporter and editor goes bone-deep, but it is earned, not assumed. Editors keep a skeptical eye on younger reporters, and over time reporters either prove themselves trustworthy or they lose their job. "I have to trust the reporter," Schwartz said. Bill Adair, Duke University journalism professor and director of the DeWitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy, said editors should not be expected to verify that a reporter's named sources are real. "Every editor has done what I have done, which is to Google someone quoted to make sure the name is spelled correctly," said Adair, who worked for 24 years as a reporter and editor and created the Pulitzer Prize-winning fact-check website PolitiFact. "But I don't think the responsibility for that basic thing rests with the editor; it is a basic responsibility of a reporter." Kelly McBride is senior vice president and ethicist at the Poynter Institute, a national media instructional and resource center. She said mid-level newspaper editors ought to know how reporters are getting their work done. It's less a matter of trust and more a matter of involvement in the process. "Where did you find this guy? Do you have any other quotes from him? Where do you go to get man-on-the-street quotes? Are you using social media? This is the editor's responsibility," McBride said. "Because when something's going great you can reinforce that good work that's how you can help reporters grow. And when something's going badly you can step in." *** About the reporter: David Wood, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist with four decades of experience, was hired by the Chronicle to conduct this investigation. He has spent most of his career covering war and the U.S. military, reporting from abroad and from the Pentagon, State Department and the White House. He does not know Mike Ward and has not worked as a journalist in Texas. He now lives in San Antonio. Imagine walking into the restroom at a neighborhood restaurant and seeing a new sign hung under the usual Employees must wash hands that reads: unless it violates personal beliefs. Youd probably head straight for the exit, and maybe even call the health inspector along the way. Yet since 2003, the state of Texas has slapped that unnecessary addendum onto required childhood immunizations. Its enough to make you sick literally. Texas is one of 18 states that allows waivers of school vaccine requirements based on parents conscience or personal beliefs. In the decade and a half since passage of the law, the number of unvaccinated Texans has grown by 20 fold, according to a new study by Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital. and others. When state lawmakers first created that exemption to basic public health law, fewer than 3,000 schoolkids were unvaccinated. Now, 50,000 of the states roughly 5.5 million schoolchildren lack vaccines, as reported by Chronicle reporter Todd Ackermann. That astounding number doesnt take into account the more than 300,000 home schooled children. Now Texas cities are among the nations top hotspots for a lack of vaccinations. Houston is seventh worst, according to the alarming list published Tuesday in the journal PLOS Medicine. Forth Worth is in eighth place, Plano is ninth and Austin is 13th. While the actual number of unvaccinated children remains small, the trend is disturbing, particularly in a state such as Texas with a low rate of access to insurance. There are private schools in Texas where up to 40 percent of the kids are unvaccinated according to the Texas Tribune. Clusters of anti-vaxxers could put people at risk for a measles outbreak. We already saw that happen last year in Minnesota. During the next session, the Texas Legislature must tighten the conscience or personal belief loophole that allows parents to opt out of this fundamental health safety measure. Medical reasons should be the only sufficient ground to avoid immunization. Opponents say they are simply doing what they think is best for their child by eschewing vaccines. This view flies in the face of the facts. Every mainstream scientific group, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, considers childhood vaccines crucial to public health. Those experts know the consequences of basic, preventable diseases like measles: high fever, blindness, severe diarrhea, pneumonia or infection of the brain. They know that pregnant women exposed to measles can suffer from miscarriage or preterm delivery. All across the globe, measles is still a leading cause of childhood death. Luckily, vaccines are so effective that weve essentially eliminated it here. It is ironic that the missing spectre of pain and suffering has allowed too many Americans to forget what were fighting and appreciation of vaccines has eroded. Texas cant wait for a measles outbreak to remind of us the importance of vaccinations. Lawmakers must limit exemptions to keep all of us safer. If we dont inoculate ourselves against this ongoing pandemic of unfounded skepticism, the real diseases will soon follow. Anytime veterans march through our streets, they deserve our attention. So we should listen to the message delivered by a group of vets who rallied in downtown Houston last weekend. They want us to know they served our country, some of them came home with disabilities, and theyre not getting the help they need now that theyre back in civilian life. The reason is simple: Unlike the majority of veterans, theyre women. I was raped, I survived, I have PTSD, read the sign carried by Army veteran BreAnn McLaughlin, who says the Department of Veterans Affairs denied her benefits claim. Other women attending the rally told stories of sexual harassment, of attending all-male PTSD support groups, of seeking help at VA facilities that dont have obstetric care. Texas proudly proclaims its support of the military. Our state boasts the nations largest population of women veterans, and on Tuesday Texas became the first state in the nation to celebrate a designated Women Veterans Day. But all too often, the way our veteran services systems treat women whove served in uniform is downright shameful. Its a national disgrace that must be banished into history. Veterans of both sexes face myriad problems readjusting to civilian life, such as finding affordable housing, jobs and health care. But women leaving the military face distinctive challenges, an undeniable truth documented in a 2014 report by Disabled American Veterans. Women vets returning to civilian life find less social support than their male counterparts, and when they seek services they encounter a system structured to help men. The DAV report found serious gaps in every aspect of programs serving women vets. For example, a 2016 Government Accountability Office study found that about 27 percent of VA medical centers and health care systems lack on-site gynecologists. The GAO report cited cases of pregnant veterans waiting almost three months to schedule their first prenatal appointment. More than half of all the womens restrooms at VA medical centers inspected for that report had no sanitary napkins or tampons. Meanwhile, women serving in the military face a shockingly high rate of sexual assaults. Almost 5 percent of women in the military reported they had been victims of sexual assault in a 2014 study prepared by the RAND Corporation. That compares to about 1 percent of men, who were more likely to classify what happened to them as hazing. The DAV study concluded sexual trauma is so common in the military, the problem requires what it describes as radical change in the culture of the armed forces. Women veterans are also twice as likely as non-veterans to be homeless, the DAV reported. And safe housing options for women vets, especially women with children, are scarce throughout the country. Women have patrolled the streets of Fallujah and Kandahar, they have driven in convoys on desert roads and mountain passes, they have deployed with Special Forces in Afghanistan on cultural support teams, they have climbed into the cockpits of fighter jets and out of the bloody rubble after IED explosions, the DAVs report said. Many have begun their long journey home. The question we ask is, Will they walk alone? They shouldnt have to. Our nation owes a debt to all of its veterans. As those vets who marched in downtown Houston last weekend reminded us, that includes an obligation to mind the specific needs of women whove served in uniform. Kim Jong Un is ready to denuclearize, so he can have the freedom to develop a thriving economy like his neighbors to the north and south and like so many other prosperous countries in the Far East. He knows that if North and South Korea are unified, economic development will spread rapidly from south to north, accelerating the transformation of North Korea as investment money from South Korea, China, Japan and the United States pour into the coffers of Kim Jong Uns poverty stricken dictatorship. Chinese and South Korean diplomacy probably had more to do with Kims decision than that of the United States, but President Trump deserves credit for reaching out and initiating the process. It is my opinion that it is Kims plan to bring his outdated Third World economy into the 21st century and provide his people with a quality of life similar to that of South Korea, China and Japan. This cannot be done unless economic sanctions are lifted and the two Koreas unite, similar to the two Germanys in the 80s, when President Reagan told Soviet Union president Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down that wall. Only time will tell just how serious Kim Jong Un is about giving up his nuclear weapons development and becoming a peaceful neighbor, but I suspect that he used his nuclear arsenal and strong arm tactics to force negotiations , lift sanctions, end the Korean War and develop a prosperous economy for his people. The timing is right, and he is using it to his advantage. He is ready for a change. G. Wayne Baggett, Friendswood Military exercises Regarding Trump pledge to halt war games surprises Pentagon, Seoul (A11, Wednesday), the president declared that the United States will no longer participate in military exercises with South Korea as part of his concessions to get North Korea to denuclearize. He stated that he did this in part to save us a tremendous amount of money. First, given that the North Koreans have taken no action to remove their nukes, this announcement seems premature at best. Second, the president should recognize that our troops need to practice using their weapons and coordinating tactics with allies in a simulated war before fighting in a real one. First responders like firefighters, police and medical professionals regularly perform disaster drills. Similarly, as the first responders who protect our country, our servicemen and women must be allowed to practice under the actual conditions and on the actual terrain where they might one day fight a war. Aletha Evert, Houston 2018-Jun-14 Did you know? You can share this story using the social media icons on the upper left. Use the hashtag #WeAreCisco. You can also rate or comment on the story below. How a Home Can Lift a Family Out of Poverty BY MATTHEW WRIGHT INSIDE CLIENT SERVICES MANAGER UNITED STATES Our Habitat Global Village Project built team! I have been with Cisco for over 11 years and currently I work as a Client Services Manager in the U.S. Commercial Territory. I'm a father of two and a U.S. Army veteran. I feel incredibly lucky to be part of an organization that puts so much focus on giving back. Our local office organizes many charitable giving events each year, but my favorite is the Team Build through Habitat for Humanity. Last year, I decided to expand my reach and I traveled to Zambia as part of Habit for Humanitys Global Village Project. Taking advantage of Ciscos Time2Give program helped me make a dream come trueI was able to combine my desire to serve with my love of travel and adventure. During this experience we built a home for strangers. Helping to improve the living conditions for even one family not only helps them, but has a massive impact on the entire community. My journey to Zambia took me through Washington D.C., to Addis Abba, Ethiopia, and on to Lusaka, Zambia. On arrival, I met the ten other members of my Habitat Build Team. They came from all walks of life, and I was impressed with their dedication to service. We set off on the long drive to the town of N'dola in northern Zambia. Once we left the metropolitan area of Lusaka we were able to see a great deal of the Zambian countryside, which reminded me of Indiana in the summertime. Everywhere I looked there were corn fields! This was a massive contradiction to my preconceived ideas of what Africa would look like. There were some notable differences, thoughthe 10-foot-tall termite mounds growing up out of the middle of cornfields! Thats not something youd see in the Midwest. Our arrival in the village was cause for great celebration, the local children came running from their homes, singing, laughing, and chasing our mini bus. We spent the next week working and living in the village, living in homes provided by two local familieshomes that had been built by previous Habitat volunteers. Several women from the village cooked our meals while we were there. The food was familiar: lots of chicken, rice, and potatoes, and absolutely delicious. Hard at work laying the upper levels of the walls. The build itself was labor intensive, homes are constructed primarily of bricks and mortar. The bricks made locally of red clay are very large, each weighing around 30 lbs or 13 kg. The floor was simply packed gravel with a layer of concrete and the roof was made of wooden beams and tin sheets. We worked closely with the Habitat construction managers and with local builders who ensured the quality of our work and guided us when needed. The home consisting of four rooms, one external door, five windows, and measured about 400 square feet took just a week to complete. I befriended a villager named Veronica who taught me Bembaone of the languages spoken in Zambia. I worked hard to learn as much as I could. The villagers, especially the children would laugh when I would unexpectedly use some of the Bemba I had learned. The children would call my name and I would reply, Nti pano, which means, I am here. It became a game and the kids would really laughI found it great fun too. Veronica, my Bemba instructor. Teaching kids from the village how to play Duck, Duck, Goose. The finished home on our last morning in the village. Most Zambian children attend public school a few days a week and those in our small village walk more than five miles to get there. The ground is rocky and unforgiving, but the kids ran and played with seemingly no problems. It wasnt unusual to see older siblings helping the younger ones by holding their hands or even carrying them on their backs. One of my favorite children was a 9-year-old girl named Blessed. I would often see her with her baby brother David on her back, who couldnt walk yet. The Mutapa family on move in day! Our last day was a frenzy of activity, we worked a full day and then cleaned up quickly for the Key Ceremony. This was exciting not just for the new homeowners, Mary Mutapa and her three children, but the entire villagewho came out and sang and danced in celebration of the completed home. The team presented Mary with the keys to her new house and a lemon tree, which signifies future health and happiness in the new home. As a sign of gratitude, Mary rolled back and forth on the ground several times as the villagers sang and sprinkled salt on her for good luck. We helped to make their world a better, safer place. From start to finish this was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. A safe and secure home can lift a family out of poverty, and a habitat home can change the course of lives for generations to come. I'm eternally grateful to Cisco for the opportunity to undertake such an amazing adventure. I'm looking forward to participating in another Time2Give week of service in November 2018, this time in Vietnam. I am planning return to Zambia in the Spring of 2020, if you would like to join me, then please reach out to me for more information. Related Links Connect everything. Innovate everywhere. 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Crimea would still be Ukrainian if not for the coup in Kiev which overruled and nullified Ukraines constitution, and disintegrated its territories, violating and ending the Budapest memorandum. Crimeas parliament announced that Ukraine no longer existed because of that. They were right, and Crimea had to choose their future identity 2. Crimeas 2014 referendum fully obeyed international and all laws. Those claiming it was not according to law are just inventing propaganda to be a naysayer because they dont like that it happened. But it was fully lawful. What wasnt lawful, however, is the coup in Kiev that nullified Ukraines constitution disintegrated its territories, and violated the Budapest memorandum 3. The USA is projecting its own offenses onto others. The US has invaded Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and many others in recent years, murdering many millions of innocent people and laying waste to otherwise peaceful countries. But RU has not invaded any country during Putins tenure as president I would like to know who sent them. They hid behind a proxy, but they are correct and accurate WtR Jun 15, 2018 | By Thomas Britain's road network will soon be repaired by robots capable of filling in a pothole in a minute, scientists have predicted. A fleet of autonomous road vehicles or drones will scan roads looking for cracks and fixing them before potholes develop. Upon spotting a crack in the road, a robot with an attached 3D printer will be able to spray asphalt into a crack in the road to repair it, all within a minute. Experts said that the autonomous vehicles or drones could operate at night, completing their work at night in order to avoid daily road closures that can severely disrupt traffic. Professor Mark Miodownik of University College London said Leeds City Council was working with a team of engineers and designers to pioneer the concept of "self-repairing cities. He told the Cheltenham Science Festival that Britain's road network was falling apart due the backlog of repairs and the authorities did not have the money or manpower to take preventative measures. He said, "Our idea is that when these small cracks happen we want to be able to see them - a drone flying around the road network would see them - and another drone would land and repair them." "You do it at night and we can do it in about a minute. You stop over the crack, you repair the crack and it's done. "You could stop the traffic at 4am, hold it up for a minute. "For motorways it is a different problem but for roads in Cheltenham and bigger cities, I think night-time autonomous vehicles would have almost no impact on traffic. This is going to be a big future for us all. What is immediately possible now for 'self-repairing cities' is an exciting prospect in all of our lives, the Professor adds. This is probably become a reality. There are all sorts of ethical and moral issues in putting robots in a city environment. Unless the public and policy-makers are involved right at the beginning of this technology, which is now, the chances of it advancing to the point where they feel excluded or we can see a future that no-one really wants is high. Professor Miodownik said the technology could also be used in the construction industry, with spot-welding machines attached to the robots. Professor Rob Richardson, Director of the National Facility for Innovative Robotic Systems at the University of Leeds added the technology could also be used to fix pipes before they burst and maintain street lights and other utilities without the need for highly disruptive road closures. Our aim is for robots to undertake precision repairs and avoid the need for large construction vehicles in the heart of our cities. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Kim Jong Un & Donald Trump Have Decided to Make This World More Peaceful & The Renowned Leather Desk & Conference Room Accessories Company Made Its Silent, Yet Historic Contribution on This Occasion June 15, 2018 Renowned manufacturing company for leather conference pads, Dacasso has proudly announced that it recently provided its items for the historic Singapore Summit between President Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un. The historic summit was witnessed by the entire world as the two leaders mutually agreed to work together to achieve world peace and the company proudly contributed in this historic summit by providing leather conference pads. We were very proud to be asked to outfit the meeting table with our Conference Table Pads and were honored to participate in such an historic moment, said Adam Stein, while talking about the items used at the historic Singapore Summit. Each pad was debossed with the commemorative logo, adding an elegant and custom look to those seated at the table, he added. According to Adam, the standard service runs five business days, but this order was processed within two days. In addition, Dacasso is known worldwide for producing top quality products and delivering them with reliable and professional service. Moreover, Dacassos complete line of Conference Room Accessories creates a cohesive look that enhances the beauty and sophistication of any boardroom and the company has built an internationally renowned reputation in this regard for its high quality equipment. Founded in Gainesville, FL in 2003 by its President John Farrell, Dacasso has been the premier manufacturer of executive leather desk sets and conference room accessories for more than 15 years now. The company offers the latest styles and products designed to fulfill the needs of the consumer. Moreover, the designers at Dacasso are on a passionate drive to create innovative products and these products have decorated conference rooms worldwide. This recent summit in Singapore was the most eagerly awaited event in the global politics and it was the first time when a sitting US President has met with a North Korean leader. For more information, please visit: www.dacasso.com or contact via email: sales@dacasso.com Media Contact Company Name: Dacasso Contact Person: Adam Stein Email: Send Email Phone: +1 (866) 322-2776 Country: United States Website: www.dacasso.com GWHost.com is newly launched web hosting company based in Romania with the vision of delivering premium web hosting services to local online businesses. GWHosts top service is their DDOS protected web hosting, which is known to be the safest hosting service out there against threats such as hackers and unscrupulous elements online. 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In comparison to incandescent and fluorescent lights, LED lights are associated with numerous advantages such as consumption of less energy, generation of minute heat output, serving a longer time-span and compact in size. Vietnam was first introduced to LED technology in the form of traffic light after which LED lights were used in the advertisement industry for availing adequate indoor shoot lighting. A new research report by IMARC Group, titled Vietnam LED Market (SMD LEDs, Modules and Fixtures): Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2018-2023 estimates that Vietnam LED market was worth US$ 190 Million in 2017. The report further anticipates the market to cross more than US$ 520 Million by 2023, with a CAGR of around 18% over the forecast period. Vietnam LED Market Drivers/Constraints: The government of Vietnam is constantly supporting and encouraging the use of LED lights. For instance, it currently launched programmes like Vietnam Energy Efficient Public Lighting Project (VEEPL) and Vietnam National Energy Efficiency Plan (VNEEP). In Vietnam, incandescent lights are increasing being replaced by LED lights, particularly in streets as they are eco-friendly in nature and help in reducing excess consumption of energy as well as emission of carbon footprints. Moreover, tourism in Vietnam is gaining immense popularity owing to which the LED light market is gaining a positive influence from the rising number of resorts and hotels. Some of the other factors include rising population, rapid urbanisation, increasing spending capacity, diverse applications of LEDs, etc. There are numerous factors that hamper the Vietnam LED market growth. The blue and cool-white LED surpasses the safety standards of the blue-light hazard which is set by the eye-safety specifications. Product Type Insights: On the basis of type, the market is segmented as bulb and tube light, panel light, street light, down light, flood light and others. Amongst these, bulb and tube light exhibits a clear dominance in the Vietnam LED market. Want more information about this market? Request a free report sample Application Insights: Based on application, commercial application enjoys a leading position, followed by residential, institutional, industrial and other applications. Installation Type: On the basis of installation, the market is segregated as new installation and retrofit installation. Currently, new installation exhibits a clear dominance in the Vietnam LED market. Competitive Landscape: The market is highly concentrated with the presence of few large manufacturers who compete in terms of prices and quality. There is a rigid competition in the market which makes it difficult for small players to enter. Some of the leading players operating in the market are: Dien Quang Rang Dong Philips Browse related reports: LED Street Light Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2018-2023 Xenon Lights Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2018-2023 About Us IMARC 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. Media Contact Company Name: IMARC Group Contact Person: Anand Ranjan Email: Send Email Phone: +1-631-791-1145 Country: United States Website: https://www.imarcgroup.com/ KPMG Appointed as Corporate Advisor for Strategic Partner Process --------------------------------------------------------------------- Case Pre-tax NPV8 Post-tax NPV8 IRR Payback 1.0 Mtpa A$1.43 billion A$1.04 billion 25 % 5.3 years 1.5 Mtpa A$1.93 billion A$1.40 billion 25 % 5.6 years --------------------------------------------------------------------- Perth, June 15, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Ardea Resources Limited ( ASX:ARL ) ( OTCMKTS:ARRRF ) ("Ardea" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of leading advisory firm KMPG as a Strategic Corporate Advisor to the Company.KPMG Australia Corporate Finance's Metals and Mining team ("KPMG") will run a competitive process to identify and attract one or more strategic financing partners ("Strategic Partner") to support the development of the flagship Goongarrie Nickel-Cobalt Project ("Goongarrie", or the "Project")Ardea has received a number of in-bound approaches from potential Strategic Partners interested in financing the development of Goongarrie following the successful Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS") released in March 2018.- PFS highlighted a strong base case for initial mining at Goongarrie. The PFS reviewed a base case of 1.0 Mtpa and a 1.5 Mtpa option.- A 2.25 Mtpa scoping study is underway to expand on the 1.0 and 1.5 Mtpa PFS options with increased scale expected to significantly enhance project economics and shareholder returns.The key interest from potential Strategic Partners is to secure a long term, reliable and ethical supply of key battery minerals including nickel and cobalt from Goongarrie through offtake and direct investment in the Project, which hosts the largest cobalt resource in the developed world.KPMG and Ardea will undertake a global competitive process and expects interest from industrial conglomerates, battery manufacturers, automakers, device manufacturers and other parties with requisite balance sheet support. This will allow the Company to fast-track the development of the Project.KPMG was the leading mid-market M&A advisor in 2017 in Australia and globally. It has a worldwide reach with offices in over 80 countries and extensive cross-border abilities.Managing Director Brett Clark said:"We are delighted to have a firm of the calibre of KMPG to assist Ardea. They have a dedicated professional team with a global reach and will be focussed on the best outcome for Ardea as it continues its transition towards becoming a developer of its substantial Goongarrie Nickel-Cobalt Project".About Ardea Resources Ltd Ardea Resources Ltd (ASX:ARL) (OTCMKTS:ARRRF) (FRA:A91) is an ASX listed resources company, with 100% controlled Australian based projects, prioritising a three-pronged value creation strategy which is: - development of the Goongarrie Nickel Cobalt Project, which is part of the Kalgoorlie Nickel Project, a globally significant series of nickel-cobalt deposits which host the largest nickel-cobalt resource in the developed world, coincidentally located as a cover sequence overlying fertile orogenic gold targets; - advanced-stage exploration at WA gold and nickel sulphide targets within the Eastern Goldfields world-class nickel-gold province; and - the demerger of the NSW gold and base metal assets with planned in-specie share distribution, with projects located within the Lachlan Fold Belt world-class gold-copper province. Fluence awarded EUR3.9M contract for innovative wastewater-to-energy system in Belgium Wins Major Contract with World Leading Steel Producer NYSE:MT Melbourne, June 15, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Fluence Corporation Limited ( ASX:FLC ) ( OTCMKTS:EMFGF ) announced today that it has received a EUR3.9M contract for a wastewater treatment and waste-to-energy system for its customer ArcelorMittal. Fluence will design and build these systems for ArcelorMittal's steel mill in Ghent, Belgium, using innovative anaerobic digestion technology to produce biogas from off-gas fermentation byproducts. The Fluence system is expected to be delivered, installed and operational onsite within 18 months. ArcelorMittal is the world's largest crude steel producer, accounting for 90 million tons of steel per year.- System to be designed and built for ArcelorMittal, the world's leader in steel production- Advanced system will produce biogas from steel mill byproducts- First wastewater-to-energy project in steel industry for FluenceThis will be Fluence's first wastewater and waste-to-energy system designed specifically for use in the steel industry. Steel mill byproducts are notoriously difficult to treat to a grade that meets government effluent requirements. Fluence's team was able to achieve the client's desired effluent using advanced anaerobic digestion technology. By adding waste-to-energy treatment to the system, the biogas produced will be used to power the steel mill's operations, which will in turn lower the overall operating costs.Fluence's Managing Director and CEO, Henry Charrabe said: "Our highly experienced team has adapted our advanced anaerobic digestion technology for this new application, bringing even more value to our customers. We hope this milestone project will be the beginning of introducing Fluence's capabilities for similar steel mill applications around the world. As part of our global product strategy, we have already sold a number of anaerobic systems developed by Fluence Italy in Europe and South America, including applications in the poultry and fish processing industries."Carl De Mare, Vice President of Technology Strategy at ArcelorMittal, said: "We are excited that after several years of research and engineering, we are now progressing with the largest project of its kind within the ArcelorMittal group. This is the first application of a viable new business case where re-use of carbon is possible at large scale. We will achieve significant carbon reduction and we hope that this will lead us to a lower carbon economy. This new Carbon Smart technology illustrates ArcelorMittal's commitment to transforming steel production and it will also further strengthen steel's standing in the circular economy, particularly compared to other higher carbon metals like aluminum."About ArcelorMittal (ArcelorMittal is the world's leading steel and mining company, with a presence in 60 countries and an industrial footprint in 18 countries. Guided by a philosophy to produce safe, sustainable steel, they are the leading supplier of quality steel in the major global steel markets including automotive, construction, household appliances and packaging, with world-class research and development and outstanding distribution networks.In 2017, ArcelorMittal had revenues of $68.7 billion and crude steel production of 93.1 million metric tons, while iron ore production reached 57.4 million metric tons.ArcelorMittal is listed on the stock exchanges of New York (MT), Amsterdam (MT), Paris (MT), Luxembourg (MT) and on the Spanish stock exchanges of Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and Valencia (MTS).See their press release for this project here: http://www.abnnewswire.net/lnk/96B8WD58 To view figures, please visit:About Fluence Corporation Ltd Fluence Corporation (ASX:FLC) (OTCMKTS:EMFGF) is a leader in the decentralized water, wastewater and reuse treatment markets, with its Smart Products Solutions, including Aspiral, NIROBOX, NIROFLEX and SUBRE. Fluence offers an integrated range of services across the complete water cycle, from early stage evaluation, through design and delivery to ongoing support and optimization of water related assets, as well as Build Own Operate Transfer (BOOT) and other recurring revenue solutions. With established operations in North America, South America, the Middle East, Europe and China, Fluence has experience operating in over 70 countries worldwide and enables businesses and communities worldwide to maximize their water resources. Further information can be found at http://www.fluencecorp.com/ Arcadia Mine Flyover Perth, June 15, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Prospect Resources Limited ( ASX:PSC ) ("Prospect" or "Company") is pleased to release to investors a link to the recently prepared flyover video on the proposed Arcadia Lithium Mine.About Prospect Resources Ltd Prospect Resources Limited (ASX:PSC) is based in Australasia with operations in Zimbabwe and is a publicly listed company. We are committed to creating value for Prospect's shareholders and the communities in which our company operates. Our vision is to build a Southern African based mining company of international scale. Haiti's government officially banned Oxfam Great Britain from operating in its country on Wednesday, following the sex scandal that rocked the British charity earlier this year. Oxfam's right to operate in Haiti had already been revoked in February following allegations that staff members, including the country director, hired prostitutes at Oxfam properties while working in Haiti after the devastating 2010 earthquake. Oxfam responded to the decision in a statement on Wednesday, apologizing again to the Haitian government and its people. "Oxfam is disappointed but understands the Haiti Government's decision to withdraw Oxfam Great Britain's permission to work in Haiti," the statement read. "The behavior of some former Oxfam staff working in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake was completely unacceptable." The statement also noted that since stronger measures have since been implemented to prevent abuse, including a hotline and safeguarding team. The allegations first emerged in 2011, prompting an internal investigation, but Oxfam didn't make the report public until this February. According to the report, four staff members were dismissed for "gross misconduct" and three others resigned after the investigation, including Haiti country director Roland van Hauwermeiren. The report also described three staff members who "physically threatened and intimidated" a witness during the investigation, leading to accusations that Oxfam had deliberately covered up the scandal. The report didn't address claims that van Hauwermeiren and his team had been previously reported for alleged sexual misconduct while working in the African nation of Chad, but no action was taken at the time. Global outrage ensued. 7,000 people canceled their regular donations in just 10 days, Oxfam chief executive Mark Goldring told British lawmakers in February. Several ambassadors and donors pulled their support. Oxfam's deputy chief stepped down, and in May, Goldring followed suit. "This is about abuse of power," Winnie Byanyima, the executive director of Oxfam International, told Parliament in February. "Whether they have given them some money from an Oxfam program or from their pocket as their salary, it's still abhorrent, and we are ashamed and upset about it, and we're going to root it out of our organization." The staff members were deployed to Haiti in response to the devastating earthquake in 2010, which killed between 200,000 and 300,000 people. Armed with tamales and a whole team of volunteers, renowned chef Jos- Andr-s traveled to Guatemala four days after the eruption of Fuego volcano, to feed the masses. Andr-s is most popular for his small delicate tapas, but throughout the years, these small plates have turned into big missions. In Guatemala, Andr-s and his team of 12 volunteers, have been preparing a total of 6,000 meals a day to feed those who have been affected by the volcano eruption. The eruption claimed more than 90 lives, thousands were displaced, and even though there are shelters, many are run by volunteers and don't have a feeding operation. With the help of local government, private sectors, and other non- governmental organizations, Andr-s along with his nonprofit, planned an effective feeding plan to deliver meals to 18 distribution points. Andr-s founded the nonprofit World Central Kitchen after the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010. The mission was simple, to make food an agent of change. After Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, Andr-s and his team served over 3.4 million meals since they arrived in September. They continue to help the island. The team also sent out volunteers during the California wildfires and to Hawaii after the Kilauea volcano eruption. Earlier this year he partnered up with various DC restaurants to put together Food For Our Lives, a collaboration that offered free and discounted food to students who marched in DC on March 24. In Guatemala, the team is running three kitchens and six food trucks. The logistics of working in another country is challenging, said Nate Mook, a spokesman for World Central Kitchen. "Although Puerto Rico was hit hard, it was ultimately still in the United States and had support from the US military and other organizations," he said. "The shelters here are far more informal, and evacuees are quite vulnerable here." Due to some of the road conditions and ongoing effects of the eruption, delivering the food has been quite dangerous. "The volcano still has potential to be very damaging without us knowing. We were in Ceil-n the other day and lava began coming down but we were not aware of it because the thunderstorms [got mixed up] with volcano noise," Andr-s told CNN. Andr-s and his team plan to stay in the country for about a month. COLUSA COUNTY, Calif.A boy in Colusa County is recovering after being trampled by a horse at a parade. Police say that the rider of the horse Armando Mertinez Ruiz was drunk at the time and is now facing DUI charges. Each year the parade down 10th Street in Colusa kicks off the County Fair. Beth Lohman a Colusa resident said, It's actually one of the best parades we've had in years. The spectacle sets the mood for the fun and festivities ahead. The main attraction towards the end of the parade is mariachi music. Dozens of horses dancing in the street. The spooked horse trampled an 8 year old boy in the crowd, breaking his leg. After crashing through the crowd, the horse cut back across the parade route and through this park. Several people on horseback tried to corral it as it ran away. Witnesses say the horse was finally caught well off the route. Beth Lohman a Colusa resident said Made sure my grandmother was safe and out of the way because I knew if the horse got loose it would run. Police say the rider, Armando Martinez Ruiz was drunk at the time. He's charged with DUI. While Lohman says its unfortunate someone was hurt. Beth Lohman a Colusa resident said, They're animals and they're going to react, so you as a bystander always need to be ready. Ruiz has bonded out of jail. As for the boy a family friend sent a message saying the boy had surgery and is doing fine. That was Drew Bollea reporting. The Colusa Police Department says that in California, the law is the same, whether you're riding a horse or driving a car. Stay with Action News Now for all of your local coverage. SIGN UP: Get our daily newsletter CHICO, Calif. For the past several weeks, Action News Now has been providing the community with information and tips on how to keep yourself and your family safe during wildfire season. Those safety measures are also recommended for your pets. Because emergency situations can happen at any moment, pet-owners are advised to pre-plan for an emergency. First response experts say homeowners should have a go-kit prepared in advance for family members and they say the same holds true for pets. For many North State residents, wildfires which took place in October, 2017 offered a glimpse of how important it can be to have a plan in place for pets. Animal rescue experts say there are several steps to take. First, it is recommended that your pet have proper and up-to-date identification. That means a current tag and even more secure is to have your animal microchipped. Pet owners are urged to keep a picture of the animal on your cell phone or in a wallet. That way should you become separated from your pet in an emergency, you can show others a photo to help in the search to be reunited. It is best to have a solid pet crate or carrier and have extra leashes or harnesses on hand. And perhaps most importantly, it is advised to have a three day supply of food, water and any medicines your animal may take. Patricia Mercer, the President and CEO of the Houston, Texas area SPCA, also has a reminder for pet owners. She says keep the pet go-kit right next to those for other members of the household and take an extra step by including some comfort items for your pet, such as blankets or your pets favorite toys. And last but not least, pet experts say it is best to learn in advance, which area shelters or emergency locations accept pets. Stay with Action News Now for Coverage you can Count on. SIGN UP: Get our daily newsletter OROVILLE, Calif. If you are looking for something to do this weekend, there will be a celebration taking place in Oroville which will mark a pivotal moment in American history. The African American Cultural Center is set to host the annual Juneteenth celebration. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration to mark the end of slavery in the United States. That moment came in December of 1865. Communities around the country traditionally celebrate the day. CBS Evening News took viewers to the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historic Park in Maryland for Juneteenth celebrations in 2017 to capture images and speak with children about the historical significance of the day as well as the history surrounding Harriet Tubman. Visitors to the location learn more about Tubman, who played a crucial role in assisting hundreds of enslaved Africans reach freedom via the Underground Railroad. In Oroville, the Saturday Juneteenth celebrations will take place at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, located at 2921 B Street, South Oroville. The event runs from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM. For more information, contact 530.532.1205. Stay with Action News Now for all of your local coverage. SIGN UP: Get our daily newsletter REDDING, Calif.In the month of June Action News Now has been covering Elder Abuse Awareness Month. In Redding one outstanding caregiver is recognized by the California Assisted Living Association as Caregiver of the year. This is Nicole Ellis and the California Assisted Living Association is honoring her as Caregiver of the Year. Nicole works at Veterans Home of California on Knighton Road in Redding. Nicole went to the CALA business conference in Sacramento and was showcased on stage and honored for her work she does with veterans. The California Assisted Living Association organization recognized Ellis for her ability to create a sense of safety and calm for residents living with post-traumatic stress disorder. They say that her enthusiasm for her work is so contagious her husband is now a volunteer. Action News Now would like to send a special congratulations to Nicole Ellis for her achievement. Stay with Action News Now for all of your local coverage. SIGN UP: Get our daily newsletter Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) saw the start of a new Flybe route direct to Belfast jetting off from today. Above: Steve Gill CEO presents cake to0 Belfast launch Flight Crew. Passengers can take one of the five scheduled flights per week and arrive in less than an hour, to enjoy the land of Norman castles, stunning valleys and impressive mountain ranges of Northern Ireland. Contemporary Belfast is enjoying a growing reputation as a food destination, where you can indulge in a wide breadth of quality dining or even an Ulster Fry Northern Irelands equivalent of a full English. Its also a popular destination for fans of the TV series, Game of Thrones as many famous scenes have been shot on the beautiful North Antrim Coast. Highlights for fans include the Dark Hedges where the Kings Road was filmed and the picturesque Harbour of Carnlough depicting the streets of Braavos. Belfast has a rich and immersive culture, including an important industrial heritage, popular sites include the Titanic quarter, where RMS Titanic was built. Visitors can also enjoy the bustling retail offering, bars and restaurants, important parts of the citys recent regeneration, and stroke the Salmon of Knowledge, on Donegall Quay. Doncaster Sheffield Airport continues to grow with over 55 destinations across Europe, and was named the UKs best small airport by Which? Consumer Group, and is proud to firmly claim its place as a stress-free traveling experience. Offering unrivalled customer experience from the moment of arrival, the airport scored almost 20% higher than any other small UK airport (under 10 million passengers) in customer satisfaction in the recent survey. Chris Harcombe, Aviation Development Director at DSA comments: We are really excited to start this Belfast route especially as we will see the Great Yorkshire Way motorway link road right to the airport fully open at the end of this week, making travelling for our passengers even more convenient. This new route to Belfast offers more choice for our passengers and we are thrilled to be working closely with Flybe to put on routes that our customers want to see. The opening of phase two of the Great Yorkshire Way will improve access, linking Doncaster Sheffield Airport directly to the M18. The site could be made further accessible by public transport from many UK towns and cities with the addition of the proposed East Coast Mainline link to the airport, which could be in place by 2024. Assyrian Arts Institute Awarded Grant From California Arts Council The California Arts Council announced plans to grant $14,000 to the Assyrian Arts Institute as part of its Cultural Pathways program. "Organizations like the Assyrian Arts Institute keep the heritage of the Assyrian community alive through interesting and exciting programs," said Michael Wingert, a sixth-generation Californian and scholar of the ancient Near East who serves on the institute's advisory board. "The Cultural Pathways program is a great resource partner for the Assyrian community. Programs like this will help my children connect with their heritage as both Assyrians and Californians." The Cultural Pathways program provides two years of operating support and a host of technical assistance and professional development activities to small, new, and emerging organizations rooted in communities of color, recent immigrant and refugee communities, and tribal or indigenous groups. The program is part of the California Arts Council's goal of serving "an increasingly demographically complex California and the belief that a healthy arts ecosystem reflects contributions from all of California's diverse populations." The Assyrian Arts Institute is one of 56 grantees chosen for the Cultural Pathways program. The award was featured as part of a larger announcement from the California Arts Council. Assyrian Art Institute LogoA Northern California based non-profit organization, the Assyrian Arts Institute serves as an educational resource and provider of exhibitions and performances of Assyrian arts. Their goal is to reflect the highest standards of excellence to the broadest possible global audience. According to the institute, arts are one of humanity's most profound means of understanding the world and its diverse cultures. "California's cultural diversity is its greatest creative asset," said Nashormeh Lindo, California Arts Council Chair. "We are proud to support the work of the Assyrian Arts Institute in celebration of that unique and cherished identity." Assyrians in SE Turkey Send Best Wishes on Muslim Holiday MARDIN, Turkey -- The priest of an Assyrian Christian church in the southeastern Turkish city of Mardin on Friday hailed the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. "Mardin has always been the crossroads of religions, languages, and cultures. In Mardin we have been celebrating four festivals, not just two," Father Gabriel Akyuz told a ceremony to mark Eid al-Fitr at the local Ataturk Culture Center. Marking the Muslim holiday, the priest expressed hope for peace. "Syriac society does not forsake [Muslims] in any Muslim events, and likewise, Muslims don't forsake [Syriacs] in any event of Syriac and Ezidi society. There is a good tradition, a good union," added Mustafa Yaman, the province's governor. Saying the city had enjoyed a peaceful environment for over a year, Yaman expressed hope that this "unity, fraternity and solidarity will continue forever." iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) -- The Florida man who allegedly killed four children and shot a police officer in an hours-long standoff with authorities this week was almost sent to prison just 19 days before. Gary Wayne Lindsey Jr., who had an extensive criminal history, was on felony probation when he barricaded himself inside an apartment in Orlando on Sunday night and held four children hostage. After a nearly 24-hour standoff with police, during which Lindsey shot and critically wounded an officer, the suspect and the children -- ages 1, 6, 10 and 11 -- were found dead inside the apartment Monday night. Authorities believe the 35-year-old Orlando resident shot the children before turning the gun on himself. Two of them were his with his girlfriend, and two were his hers with another man, according to the Orlando Police Department. A month before the deadly standoff, Lindsey violated his probation when he was arrested for theft at a Walmart in Seminole County. Lindsey owed over $20,000 in restitution at the time to his ex-girlfriend for burning down her home in Volusia County during a dispute in 2008. He had pleaded no contest to arson and other charges in late 2009, and he was ultimately sentenced to 10 years of supervised probation, according to court documents. An arrest warrant was issued for Lindsey for violating the terms of his probation on May 4, and a probation officer recommended he spend six months behind bars before his probation is reinstated. But court records show that Volusia County Circuit Judge James Clayton on May 23 ordered that Lindsey return to supervised probation after he agreed to pay $300 a month toward restitution and his sister agreed to pay $1,000 within 48 hours. According recordings of the court hearings in May, obtained by ABC affiliate WFTV in Orlando, prosecutors initially argued that Lindsey should be jailed. But Lindsey and his defense attorney asserted he was still making the restitution payments, and that he had a steady job at an auto repair center and was doing well. The judge recalled aloud why he never incarcerated Lindsey for previous probation violations. "I remember thinking that the restitution was why I didnt put him in prison," the judge said. The prosecutors on the case ultimately negotiated a deal with Lindsey's defense attorney that didn't include prison time, and the judge accepted the agreement, as shown in court documents. However, the judge warned Lindsey that he was "pushing the envelope" and should have received 73 months in prison. "Restitution is the key to this whole thing," the judge said. You're pushing the envelope. You score 73 months. A court spokesperson told ABC News that Clayton is not available for comment. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, Dr Josiah Idowu-Fearon, reflects on his recent travels and answers questions about membership of the Communion. Usually my ambassadorial role means I am travelling around the world, seeing far-flung parts of the Anglican Communion, meeting members of our incredible global family and hearing what God is doing among and through His people. However, for the next few weeks I will be staying in the UK. It is a moment to pause, reflect and pray. In May, I was in Kenya for a meeting of the Council of the Anglican Provinces in Africa (CAPA). The spirit was respectful and very positive. There was great anticipation about the Lambeth Conference in 2020. Primates were thinking how they could make sure that no-one is left behind for financial reasons. There are a plans afoot to work out how there can be scholarships for those in difficult situations because of war, famine, displacement or poverty. There was a great spirit of oneness and mutual support among the provinces. There was a refreshing openness too. The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby was also there and I think he had a taste of what the Primates want to discuss in 2020 when it comes to topics such as human sexuality. The Primates were honest and open and committed to holding on to Resolution I.10 (from Lambeth 1998) but were willing to listen to other members of the Communion who find that Resolution restrictive. So there was a sense of brotherhood and belonging. It is appropriate at this point to say more about the idea of belonging because I sometimes encounter confusion about who is and isnt in the Anglican Communion. This was something that Archbishop Justin spoke about during the CAPA meeting. Let me make this clear: there are 39 provinces around the world which are part of the Anglican Communion. The latest to be added to our global family was Sudan in July 2017. The Anglican Church of North America (ACNA) is not a province of the Communion. And nor is the newly-formed Anglican Church in Brazil (ACB). Why? The answer is very simple: it is necessary to be in communion with the See of Canterbury in order to be part of the Anglican Communion. And ACNA and the ACB are not in communion with the See of Canterbury. Technically, the Communion is in ecumenical relations with them. The question of human sexuality did not arise at all during my trip to Oceania. But I am interested in the way the Province of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia have approached the issue. They have made space for those on all sides of the debate. They have not changed their canon law on marriage it remains based on the traditional view of being between a man and a woman but they have made provision for those in New Zealand who want to bless same-sex relationships. And there is no compulsion on either side. So there is disagreement but there is not division. The family is for the most part staying together. It was also encouraging to see the great enthusiasm for the Lambeth Conference in 2020 among those I met in Oceania. I was in Melanesia for the re-launch of the Decade of Evangelism and Renewal. You could see the excitement: all the bishops were there, all the diocesan mission secretaries, all the rectors they all own it; they are all buying into it. It was wonderful. When I made a call for rededication I just could not believe the number of people who got up and some came to Christ for the first time. It was very special. I am a firm believer in renewal movements. I am product of one, EFAC the Evangelical Fellowship in the Anglican Communion in Nigeria. So I would encourage Anglicans to imbibe the spirit of renewal. The Anglican Church has always made room for various theological positions. As a family, we should be able to discuss issues together even the difficult ones. That is the way forwards, not to be separate and somehow try to operate in parallel. This creates confusion especially among some of the lay members and it can damage the work of renewal. Our God is not a God of confusion; he is a God of order. My travels in recent months have encouraged me that exciting things are happening right across our Anglican Communion. During my time with CAPA in Kenya, I had the privilege of visiting the site of a huge Children and Teens Centre currently being built at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi. What is happening there is simply extraordinary: the cathedral is packed every Sunday. There are 1,200 children and 800 teenagers there every week. Crucially, there is vision: the cathedral is planning for more growth. It is really inspiring. In August, I will be travelling to Chile with colleagues to assess whether it is ready to become our 40th Province. I look forward to seeing what God is doing there and reporting back to you in due course. Posted on: June 15, 2018 8:27 AM A new commercial office block which has been built by the Church of Uganda as part of an investment strategy has been handed over by contractors. Archbishop Stanley Ntagali, the Primate of the Church of Uganda, will official launch and inaugurate the building on 24 August during its provincial assembly. But yesterday, he was handed the keys to the completed Janani Luwum Church House, which will become the headquarters of Equity Bank and other tenants. The lease fees will support the mission and ministry of the Province in the years ahead. He who began this good work is the One who has brought it to completion, Archbishop Stanley said yesterday during the handover ceremony, in a quote from Philippians 1:6. The building has been named after Archbishop Janani Luwum who was martyred in 1977 and whose idea the project was, dating back to the early 1970s. The concept for Church House as a commercial real estate enterprise began in 1965 and was originally to be built on Shimoni Road, the Church of Uganda said on its website. When the Bank of Uganda proposed to take over the Shimoni Road site, that property was exchanged for Plot 34 on Kampala Road in 1972. The project was beset with a number of delays, but went ahead in partnership with Equity Bank. (ANSA) - Rome, June 14 - Italian mayors on Thursday filed a popular initiative with the Supreme Court of Cassation calling for citizenship education to be taught throughout the Italian state school system. The idea is to introduce an hour's teaching a week starting from the pre-school level, during which pupils and students will learn about environmental sustainability and waste reduction, legality, the Italian constitution and institutions and the European Union, among other things. The proposal is an initiative of the Mayor of Florence Dario Nardella and the national association of Italian municipalities (ANCI). Now the proponents must gather 50,000 signatures in order to present the initiative to parliament. "We are witnessing ever more frequent episodes of incivility, lack of care for the common good and problems of common living. It is a complex issue that is also the result of the breakdown of the social pact between schools, the family and the institutions," Nardella said. "A law is a new starting point," he added. (ANSA) - Paris, June 15 - French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte on Friday reached agreement on issues including migrants and the euro. The Paris talks sealed peace after friction over the Aquarius migrant ship. Conte told a press conference that that he had "cleared things up" with Macron and the two countries had "managed a difficult moment". "The exchange we had made it possible to agree on several issues," Macron. "Cooperation between our countries is indispensable, especially on immigration and the eurozone". Conte said they had agreed that "we must turn the page on migrants" after he proposed setting up hotspots in countries of origin and transit including Libya, Niger and other sub-Saharan nations. Conte said that "no one in Europe can wash their hands of the migrant crisis". An EU-wide rather than a national response to the migrant crisis is needed, Macron said. "France, as well as Italy, must manage this migrant crisis and we must give responses together," he said. "We must adopt European responses, there cannot be national responses". Macron said that "Italy has had massive migrant arrivals, but in the last year we have reduced them by 77%. "France does not benefit from this situation. "If Italy has had 18,000 asylum applications in the first four months of 2018, France has had 26,000". Macron said that "we hope to go forward with our European partners in the coming months on a deep reform of the Dublin rules for better responsibility and burden sharing" on migrants. He said "the system is not working today...we must find mechanisms that allow solidarity and we must make sure the geographical situation doesn't put us in unsustainable political situations". Conte, who announced an Italo-French summit in Rome this autumn, said that "the Dublin regulation must change: Italy is against and is preparing is own proposal that it looks forward to sharing with the other partners in view of formalising it at the next Austrian EU presidency". Macron said that "I don't trust these formulas that have never brought much luck in history" referring to the "axis of the willing" proposed by Austria with Germany and Italy to face the migrant crisis. Conte said that all the EU, not just the proposed axis between Austria, Germany and Italy, should be "willing" to tackle the migrant crisis. "I'd like an axis of the willing that spans the whole European arc, that's what we aspire to", he said. While Italy has signalled that other NGO ships may be rejected, Macron said that if a ship was in French waters "we will take charge of it". On the eurozone, the two leaders agreed that reforms are needed. Macron said that there was a "clear sharing of views" on the eurozone with Rome. He stressed the importance of completing banking union to fully stabilise the eurozone" and to have a eurozone budget "for greater investments." Conte said that Italy was favourable to sharing more risks in the eurozone. "We are favourable to a strengthening of the EU's economic governance. "Italy is favourable to reach advances on the mechanisms of risk sharing, we have remained behind on this, being focused above all on the reduction of risks". Finally, to seal the refound peace, Macron said that he "loved" Italy and "hoped for common success". CAIRO - A militia led by Ibrahim Jadhran has taken control of Libya's two main oil terminals, Sidra and Ras Lanuf, which were previously under the control of General Khalifa Haftar, according to a statement released by the Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC). It announced "force majeure on crude oil loadings from Ras Lanuf and Es Sider port terminals" and confirmed "an armed militia led by Ibrahim Jadhran attacked both terminals, resulting in their closure". NOC said it evacuated its employees "as a precautionary measure". The Libya Herald said the militants launched the attack on Thursday morning and that Jadhran, the former central region commander of the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG), "took control of the oil terminals of Sidra and Ras Lanuf". In the past, Jadhran had controlled the plants and put an embargo on exports before being ousted from the area by Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) in September 2016, the Libya Herald said. Subsequent attempts by anti-LNA militias to retake the terminals failed. NOC said that it "will work with local and governmental partners to restore order and full production capacity as soon as possible". On Thursday, the company said the loss in oil production "is around 240,000 barrels per day". Jadhran's attack was condemned by Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Al Sarraj and by the UN Mission in Libya. Italian Ambassador to Libya Giuseppe Perrone tweeted in English that the episode is "a negative step aggravating conflict and endangering precious resources belonging to the Libyan people". "The cycle of abuse & violence in Eastern #Libya only deepens a crisis which requires instead dialogue and reconciliation," Perrone tweeted. Anti-Haftar militants take oil terminals in Libya Sidra and Ras Lanuf in hands of Jadhran's militia (ANSAmed) - CAIRO, JUNE 15 - A militia led by Ibrahim Jadhran has taken control of Libya's two main oil terminals, Sidra and Ras Lanuf, which were previously under the control of General Khalifa Haftar, according to a statement released by the Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC). It announced "force majeure on crude oil loadings from Ras Lanuf and Es Sider port terminals" and confirmed "an armed militia led by Ibrahim Jadhran attacked both terminals, resulting in their closure". NOC said it evacuated its employees "as a precautionary measure". The Libya Herald said the militants launched the attack on Thursday morning and that Jadhran, the former central region commander of the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG), "took control of the oil terminals of Sidra and Ras Lanuf". In the past, Jadhran had controlled the plants and put an embargo on exports before being ousted from the area by Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) in September 2016, the Libya Herald said. Subsequent attempts by anti-LNA militias to retake the terminals failed. NOC said that it "will work with local and governmental partners to restore order and full production capacity as soon as possible". On Thursday, the company said the loss in oil production "is around 240,000 barrels per day". Jadhran's attack was condemned by Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Al Sarraj and by the UN Mission in Libya. Italian Ambassador to Libya Giuseppe Perrone tweeted in English that the episode is "a negative step aggravating conflict and endangering precious resources belonging to the Libyan people". "The cycle of abuse & violence in Eastern #Libya only deepens a crisis which requires instead dialogue and reconciliation," Perrone tweeted. (ANSAmed). VALENCIA - The convoy of three ships including the migrant rescue ship Aquarius operated by SOS Mediteranee and collectively carrying 629 migrants denied entry to Italy last Sunday sailed past the Italian island region of Sardinia on Friday and headed for open sea on its way to the Spanish port of Valencia, where it is expected to dock on Sunday morning. Sailing conditions improved during the night and the ship made a scheduled stop near Olbia to pick up additional food supplies and toys for the children on board. "The wind is blowing 15 knots and there are a metere-and-a-half waves," said Alessandro Porro from the ship. "The night was quiet, even if the migrants are now in their sixth day of travel and are exhaused," he added. Meanwhile preparations are underway in Valencia to receive the migrants near the cruise liner terminal. The convoy of three boats will be met on the seaward edge of Spanish territorial waters by Spanish motorboats and accompanied into port one at a time: first the Italian military vessels and then the Aquarius, at intervals of 3-4 hours. Enrolment opens for Summer School on Migration in Tunisia In Tunis from September 10-15 (ANSAmed) - TUNIS, JUNE 14 - Registration is now open for the fourth edition of the Summer School on Migration in Tunis from September 10-15, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Tunisia and the National institute for labour and social studies have said. This year the school takes the these 'Migration and the integration of migrants in host societies. Registration is free of charge and open until June 30 via the website www.ecole-ete-migration.tn. Applicants can come from within academia, the institutions, civil society and social partners and the 50 selected candidates will enjoy a multidisciplinary programme led by experts, researchers and representatives of public institutions and international organisations. The 'Summer School on Migration' falls under the RegionalDevelopmentandProtection Programmefor North Africa (RDDP NA)funded by the European Union and implemented by IOM in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia in order to further understanding of migration and strengthen cohesion amongst host communities and migrants. (ANSAmed). ANSAmed - Weekly diary from June 18 to June 24 (ANSAmed) - ROME, JUNE 15 - Weekly diary of the main events scheduled in the Euro-Mediterranean area from June 18 to June 24: MONDAY JUNE 18 BRUSSELS - EU, Annual EU-G5 Sahel meeting, with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini and EU Commissioner Neven Mimica. TUESDAY JUNE 19 TUNIS - First edition of the 'Making Cinema - Week of Italian Cinema in the World' to be held at the new Tunis new Cite de la Culture (until 22/6). WEDNESDAY JUNE 20 VARIOUS CITIES - World Refugee Day BRUSSELS - EU, Commissioner Marianne Thyssen meets representatives from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). BRUSSELS - EU, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker receives French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe. THURSDAY JUNE 21 KERKENNAH (TUNISIA) - First festival dedicated to photography, video, and digital arts kicks off (until 27/6). ROME - Rome Music Festival with two concerts by two Turkish groups. BRUSSELS - EU, High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini receives Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Qatar. BRUSSELS - EU, Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans receives Erik Solheim, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). BRUSSELS - EU, EU-Bosnia and Herzegovina Stabilisation and Association Council. FRIDAY JUNE 22 SID BOU SAID - International Poetry Festival kicks off, with the participation of Italian poet Davide Rondoni (until 24/6). LUXEMBOURG - EU, Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Ecofin). BRUSSELS - EU, event 'Climate, Peace and Security: The Time for Action' with High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini. SATURDAY JUNE 23 NO MAJOR EVENTS SCHEDULED SUNDAY JUNE 24 ISTANBUL - Parliamentary and presidential elections. (ANSAmed). PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte on Friday reached agreement on issues including migrants and the euro. The Paris talks sealed peace after friction over the Aquarius migrant ship. Conte told a press conference that that he had "cleared things up" with Macron and the two countries had "managed a difficult moment". "The exchange we had made it possible to agree on several issues," Macron. "Cooperation between our countries is indispensable, especially on immigration and the eurozone". Conte said they had agreed that "we must turn the page on migrants" after he proposed setting up hotspots in countries of origin and transit including Libya, Niger and other sub-Saharan nations. Conte said that "no one in Europe can wash their hands of the migrant crisis". An EU-wide rather than a national response to the migrant crisis is needed, Macron said. "France, as well as Italy, must manage this migrant crisis and we must give responses together," he said. "We must adopt European responses, there cannot be national responses". Macron said that "Italy has had massive migrant arrivals, but in the last year we have reduced them by 77%. "France does not benefit from this situation. "If Italy has had 18,000 asylum applications in the first four months of 2018, France has had 26,000". Macron said that "we hope to go forward with our European partners in the coming months on a deep reform of the Dublin rules for better responsibility and burden sharing" on migrants. He said "the system is not working today...we must find mechanisms that allow solidarity and we must make sure the geographical situation doesn't put us in unsustainable political situations". Conte, who announced an Italo-French summit in Rome this autumn, said that "the Dublin regulation must change: Italy is against and is preparing is own proposal that it looks forward to sharing with the other partners in view of formalising it at the next Austrian EU presidency". Macron said that "I don't trust these formulas that have never brought much luck in history" referring to the "axis of the willing" proposed by Austria with Germany and Italy to face the migrant crisis. Conte said that all the EU, not just the proposed axis between Austria, Germany and Italy, should be "willing" to tackle the migrant crisis. "I'd like an axis of the willing that spans the whole European arc, that's what we aspire to", he said. While Italy has signalled that other NGO ships may be rejected, Macron said that if a ship was in French waters "we will take charge of it". On the eurozone, the two leaders agreed that reforms are needed. Macron said that there was a "clear sharing of views" on the eurozone with Rome. He stressed the importance of completing banking union to fully stabilise the eurozone" and to have a eurozone budget "for greater investments." Conte said that Italy was favourable to sharing more risks in the eurozone. "We are favourable to a strengthening of the EU's economic governance. "Italy is favourable to reach advances on the mechanisms of risk sharing, we have remained behind on this, being focused above all on the reduction of risks". Finally, to seal the refound peace, Macron said that he "loved" Italy and "hoped for common success". State of emergency could end mid July, Turkish PM says Erdogan promises to lift regime after 24 June elections (ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, JUNE 15 - Turkish Premier Binali Yildirim said Friday the state of emergency could end on July 17 or 18. "I don't think it will be extented again," he added. He made the statement after president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a television interview that he wanted to make lifting the extraordinary measures introduced in the wake of the failed coup on July 15, 2016 his first official act following possible relection in early elections on June 24. The United Nations estimates that at least 160,000 people have been arrested and over 150,000 purged since the emergency measures were introduced almost two years ago. They could be extended for a further three months starting July 19. (ANSAmed). PODCAST 38: How one African airline is preparing for return of tourism PODCAST 39: Optimism as Africa and Middle East sees positive growth for 2021 PODCAST 37: How Qatar rode the storm and Dassaults new Falcon PODCAST 35: Change abounds at IATA and new cargo boost while ATM has a new approach PODCAST 34 : Why India is vital to Middle East aviation recovery Defense Material Organization (DMO) of the Netherlands announced theselection of Safran Vectronix AG, Switzerland (a subsidiary of Safran Electronics & Defense) aspart of the THIS (Thermal Handheld Imaging System) to deliver more than 1,000 units of the next-generation MOSKITO TI lightweight uncooled thermal imaging and targeting systems. MOSKITO TI lightweight uncooled thermal imaging and targeting systems. (Picture source Vectronix Safran) Selected as a result of an international competitive procedure, MOSKITO TI will equip variouscomponents of the Armed and Special Forces of the Netherlands MOSKITO TI is a lightweight (1.3 kg), handheld system combining several high performance sensorsand modules including an uncooled thermal imager, high grade direct view optics (DVO), Low LightTV (LLTV) channel, a laser rangefinder (LRF), a digital magnetic compass (DMC) and a GlobalPositioning System (GPS) receiver. MOSKITO TI will provide the Dutch Armed Forces with unprecedented operational capabilities andfulfill a broad range of operational needs, including day and night observation, target acquisition,artillery and fire correction, forward observer and Joint Tactical Air Controller, in all-weatherenvironments. Being recognized as the best of its class by several major international customers, MOSKITO TI is serially manufactured in Safran Vectronixcentre in Heerbrugg, Switzerland. They will also cooperate and collaborate further especially in the areas of vocational training on new-age technologies. New Delhi: The Singapore e-Government Leadership Centre (eGL) at the National University of Singapore's Institute of Systems Science (NUS-ISS) and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, government of India have come together to collaborate with each other on the skilling initiatives for India's workforce. The two parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance the skills in India's workforce during India Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Singapore from 31st May to 2nd June 2018. They will work together to develop and implement skill development programmes across emerging technology areas like Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. They will also cooperate and collaborate further especially in the areas of vocational training on new-age technologies, training of trainers and assessors, and promoting life-long learning. NUS-ISS through its e-Government Leadership Centre will provide advisory to NSDC and industry driven bodies known as Sector Skill Councils (SSCs), and develop strategies for incorporating emerging technologies into existing skill training programmes in India. For job roles in the area of emerging technologies where national occupational standards and courses have yet to be developed, eGL will guide NSDC and SSCs to develop standards, courses and certification opportunities for these job roles. The aim is to equip Indian workforce with Future Skills and secure employment in these emerging areas. Speaking on the partnership Mr. Manish Kumar, MD &CEO, NSDC said, "NSDC endeavours to work closely with leading institutions like NUS to identify the future of skills and develop the required competencies in India. Currently there is a large demand for new age skills, which serves as a huge opportunity for our youth. I am sure that through this collaboration with NUS-ISS, we would create training opportunities that could fulfill the aspirations of our youth and help us keep pace with the technological changes in the world." Championing the Skill India mission is the Government of India through the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship formed in November 2014. Over the next 3 years, it is estimated that more than 25 million youths will be skilled and certified through various programmes under the Ministry, training Indian youths and professionals on International Standards and develop quality assurance framework. The 75-year-old actor took to Twitter to share a number of source-based new articles reporting the news. Amitabh Bachchan will be seen in Thugs of Hindostan later this year. Mumbai: Megastar Amitabh Bachchan on Thursday confirmed reports that he would be donating Rs 2 crores for the welfare of Indian Army martyrs' widows and farmers. The 75-year-old actor took to Twitter where he shared a number of source-based new articles and captioned the tweet as: "Yes I can and I will..." According to reports, Bachchan had pledged to give away Rs 1 crore each to martyr families and to the cause of repayment of farmers loans. The articles also stated that the veteran actor had handpicked a team to list and locate authentic organisations that will ensure the money reaches to the designated people in need. The actor, however, did not mention anything about this. 'As far as the case is concerned, at this stage it is a terror incident. It is a terrorist-related crime,' IG Kashmir said. 2 photos of 4 suspects, involved in Shujaat Bukhari killing case, released by J&K police. IG says picture 1 (of 3 suspects) wasn't in public domain. In picture 2, the suspect was in public domain where he's seen attempting to retrieve weapon. (Photo: ANI) Srinagar: The fourth suspect in the killing of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari in Srinagar has been arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir police hours after his photo was released on Friday. "A suspect has been taken into custody," S P Pani, IG Kashmir told the media on Friday evening. The police officer said that the fourth suspect in the killing of editor of 'Rising Kashmir' newspaper in J&K has been identified. "His role for the recovery of the pistol has been done. Investigation of the case is underway," S P Pani said. Earlier on Friday, the Jammu and Kashmir police released the photo of the fourth suspect, a bearded man, in a white kurta and skull cap, checking on the bodies in the car, not long after Shujaat Bukhari was shot dead. Read: Cops issue photo of 4th suspect in journalist Shujaat Bukhari's killing As someone pulls out one of the bodies from the car, the suspect is seen picking up a pistol and leaving the crime spot. The gun has been recovered from him. The fourth man is suspected to be a local. "As far as the case (Shujaat Bukhari killing case) is concerned at this stage it is a terror incident. It is a terrorist-related crime. We are investigating into the case," IG Kashmir said. The Inspector General of Kashmir further said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted and DIG central Kashmir is heading the investigating team that will probe into the killing of veteran journalist Shujaat Bukhari. The Editor-in-Chief of 'Rising Kashmir' newspaper was killed at around 7:30 pm on Thursday when he had stepped out of his office in Press Enclave to attend an Iftar party. The police suspect the killers were working for the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Hours after senior journalist Shujaat Bhukari was shot dead on Thursday evening, the police released security footage of the terrorists on a bike. The faces of the rider and the third man are hidden by a helmet and a mask. The man between the rider and the one on pillion is seen holding what seems to be a sack of weapons. His face is shielded from the CCTV cameras by the third man. Shujaat Bukhari was given police protection after an attempt on his life in 2000. According to reports, the father of two, Shujaat Bukhari, was also said to be on a terrorist hit list. In 2006, Shujaat Bukhari was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen who then attempted to shoot him at close range. Miraculously, the gunman's pistol got locked and the senior journalist ran for his life. In recent weeks, he had strongly backed the internal ceasefire announced by the Centre for Ramzan. Just days ago, he tweeted on the killings of two policemen in Pulwama in south Kashmir. "It is heart wrenching to see these policemen getting killed during Shab e Qadr. May the families have courage to bear the loss. At the end two more Kashmiris lose lives. Violence must stop to create a space for dialogue," he posted. The police have put out a public appeal for help to identify the killers from the CCTV images. The police assured that the identity of the informant would be kept confidential. Khan added that he has handed over all the cards to postal department official Ashok Sharma who said that the matter would be investigated. Jaipur: Nearly 5,000 Aadhaar cards, along with their dispatch envelops and Rs 5 postal stamps, were found in a scrap dealers shop in Jaipur on Thursday, raising serious questions about the governments claims about security of the Aadhaar cards and their delivery system. The original Aadhaar cards, belonging to residents of Jalupura, reached the shop in a sack of old newspapers sold to scrap dealer Imran, the police said. It appears to be a parcel of Aadhaar cards which were to be delivered by post, said station house officer (SHO) of Jalupura police station Likhma Ram. A probe has bee launched into the matter, he said. Congress leader and ward councillor Ikramddin Khan, who filed a complaint with postal department, said that children brought to his notice the presence of such a large number Aadhar cards at the scrap dealers shop. He took possession of the cards and informed the police. Mr Khan said he filed complaint with the GPO and a copy of that was given to the police. The cards belong to area residents who have been waiting for them for months, he said. There are 4,000 to 5,000 Aadhar cards of people in my ward. Instead of reaching to the people they belong, they ended up at scrap dealers shop in a sack. Some alert children informed me about them, Mr Khan said. Mr Khan added that he has handed over all the cards to postal department official Ashok Sharma who said that the matter would be investigated. The Congress leader said it shows how careless and insensitive the government is. Imagine the mental torture and agony, the children and their parents went through because Aadhar card are mandatory for admission in schools. A large number of Aadhar cards found in the sack at the scrap dealers shop are in the name of school going children, he said, demanding action against those responsible. The bench issued notices to centre, Gujarat govt on plea filed by student suffering from 'low vision', who has cleared the NEET 2018 exam. The issue came up before a bench of justices U U Lalit and Deepak Gupta which wondered whether it would be feasible to allow a person with visual impairment to become a doctor and treat patients. (Photo: File) New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to examine whether a person suffering from disability of 'low vision', in which eyesight cannot be corrected or improved, can be allowed to pursue MBBS course and treat patients. This contentious issue came up before a vacation bench of justices U U Lalit and Deepak Gupta which wondered whether it would be feasible to allow a person with visual impairment to become a doctor and treat patients. The bench issued notices to the centre and the Gujarat government on a plea filed by a student suffering from 'low vision', who has cleared the NEET 2018 undergraduate examination, seeking a direction for issuance of disability certificate as per law so that he could take admission in MBBS course. "If you talk about any other profession like legal or teaching, it can be understood that even a blind person can successfully pursue the career. As far as MBBS is concerned, we have to see, how much it is feasible and possible," the bench said. Recalling his personal experience with an intern who was blind, Justice Lalit said that he had difficulties in reading the documents and used to convert digital documents into brail form, for reading and understanding them. "After successfully completing his internship with me, he has now become a Rhodes scholar studying at the University of Oxford," Justice Lalit said. Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde and advocate Govind Jee, appearing for minor student Purswani Ashutosh through a doctor, said that there was already a provision for reservation of five per cent seats of total intake capacity in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. He said that a direction should be issued to the centre and Gujarat government for implementing the reservation scheme for persons with benchmark disability as mandated by provisions of the Act and issuance of certificate of disability. To this, Justice Lalit said that he had studied law from a government law college and a professor who taught him Company law was blind but he remembered everything by heart. "So in teaching or legal profession, there is no problem but when it comes to medical education, can a person with a disability of low vision be allowed. This we have to see," the bench said. It directed the student to be present before the committee of B J Medical College, Ahmedabad within three days from Friday, with the copy of this order. "The petitioner shall be medically examined and the appropriate medical certification regarding the claim of the petitioner that he suffers from 'low vision' shall be transmitted to the Registry of this court within four days therefrom," the bench said and posted the matter for further hearing on July 3, before an appropriate bench. The student, in his petition, has claimed that he had appeared for NEET UG examination 2018 under physically handicapped category and has scored all India rank of 4,68,982 and category Physically Handicapped rank as 419 and said that he has fair chance of getting a seat in medical/dental colleges in All India Quota/ the State Government Medical Colleges under the special category. He said that on May 30, he had visited Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, Delhi, for disability certificate as notified by the central government but they had refused to assess his disability. The students in his plea said that on June 6, though his father had even met the doctors concerned of the committee at the BJ Medical College at Ahmedabad for issuance of disability certificate, they received no response from the state government. He sought urgent disposal of his matter as the counselling process for admissions in MBBS course is going on. In a landmark move, the top court had on September 24, 2017, opened the doors for colour-blind students to pursue MBBS course by ordering admission of two such candidates, who had scored high marks in the entrance examination. The top court had said that peculiar facts and circumstances of the case required it to invoke special powers under Article 142 of the Constitution as it was a matter of "transcendental importance of justice". The two students had secured high marks in the entrance examination conducted by the Tripura government in 2015 during the pre-NEET period. Without any statutory provision barring students from pursuing MBBS course, various colleges and Medical Council of India (MCI) were arbitrarily denying admissions to candidates suffering from Colour Vision Deficiency (CVD), popularly called colour blindness. Ahir said people of Kashmir want ceasefire to continue, counter-terror operations to remain suspended. Union minister of state for home affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir made it clear that ceasefire violations would be countered too. (Representational Image/PTI) Kolkata: Union minister of state for home affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir on Friday informed that the Centre would take a final call on the ceasefire extension as the holy month of Ramzan ends. He asserted that the people of Kashmir want the ceasefire to continue and the counter-terror operations to remain suspended. Ahir, however, made it clear that ceasefire violations would be countered too. Condemning the brutal killing of renowned journalist Shujaat Bukhari in Srinagar on Thursday, Ahir stressed that none of the accused would be spared. Speaking to the media at the state BJP headquarters in Kolkata, Ahir said: "The people of Kashmir are satisfied. They demand the security operations to remain suspended. We have been staying determined to keep the people happy and safe and secure our country from any type of threat. We will do whatever is required to meet that aim." He pointed out that the Centre would take a decision about whether the ceasefire should be extended or not and if the operations in the Valley would continue to remain suspended or not. The Union minister observed, "The anti-terror operations have remained suspended in Kashmir as of now. The decision has been accepted by the people of Kashmir. But it did not satisfy Pakistan or the terrorist outfits which have unleashed violence and kept firing to renew the unrest in the valley." On the response to ceasefire violations, Ahir mentioned, "We want peace. Our priority is to keep our people happy and safe. We are not trigger-happy. But that does not imply we would not reply to ceasefire violations. Kashmir has been burning for decades due to terrorist activities. We have always given a befitting reply to the terror tactics of Pakistan." Underlining the Modi governments declaration of the ceasefire keeping the holy month of Ramzan in mind, Ahir accused Pakistan of violating the ceasefire repeatedly. Describing Bukhari's murder as a 'sad incident', the Union minister added, "We condemn the murder of such a famous journalist. The chief minister has ordered an investigation into it. The culprits will be punished. None of them will be spared." Mr Jaitley, in his article, had accused the Congress of becoming ideologyless. New Delhi: Union finance minister Arun Jaitley and Congress leader Randeep Surjewala engaged in a verbal slugfest over the state of the economy on Thursday, with the Union minister advising the latter that abuse is not the answer in political discourse and the Opposition party leader accusing the government of economic mismanagement. It all started after Mr Jaitleys article on Wednesday where he took a dig at the Congress and its president Rahul Gandhi and claimed that India has emerged as the fastest growing economy from being among the fragile five during Congress led UPA regime. Mr Jaitley, in his article, had accused the Congress of becoming ideologyless and said it was because its only obsession is a person called Narendra Modi. Reacting to the Union ministers article, head of the Congresss communication department Randeep Surjewala said Mr Jaitleys wasteful blogs are a clear case of finding lost political relevance by churning unadulterated lies and accused the BJP and the Union minister of becoming agenda-less, achievement-less and argument-less. On Thursday, Mr Jaitley advised the Congress leader through a tweet: This is a political discourse. Abuse is not the answer. Please respond to the facts... surely the journey from India being part of the fragile five and policy paralysis to the worlds fastest growing economy could not be result of economic mismanagement - Another case of ignorance. To this, Mr Sujewala tweeted: When you abuse and berate the Congress leadership, even Supreme Court and many others by distorting facts, it is political discourse for you, but when you are shown the mirror of truth with hard facts, you get unner-ved & call it abuse? Politics of Convenience? To Mr Jaitleys tweet on India emerging as the fastest growing economy, the Congress leader reacted: Growth under Modi government is at four year low, Exports are in free fall, promise of 2 crore jobs is a Jumla, NPAs are soaring to ?10 Lakh crore, investment is down, banks are paralysed and loot scams a norm, GST flawed, Schemes failing! Isnt this Economic Mismanagement?. A senior SIT official said same weapon was used to shoot Gauri Lankesh, rationalists Govind Pansare and M M Kalburgi. Parashuram Waghmare, the last of the six suspects arrested in connection with the killing of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, was her assassin, the SIT probing the sensational case said today. (Photo: File) Bengaluru: Parashuram Waghmare, the last of the six suspects arrested in connection with the killing of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, was her assassin, the SIT probing the sensational case said today. A senior official in the Special Investigation Team also said the same weapon was used to shoot Gauri Lankesh, rationalists Govind Pansare and M M Kalburgi. "Waghmare shot Lankesh and the forensic report has confirmed that (rationalists) Govind Pansare, M M Kalburgi and Lankesh were murdered with the same weapon," a senior officer in the SIT told news agency PTI wishing not to be named. He, however, said the weapon was yet to be traced. Read: Another suspect held in Gauri Lankesh murder, suspect sent to 14-day custody Forensic examination can lead to such a conclusion when the hammer of a gun has left identical marks at the rear of a bullet even if the weapon itself has not been found. The official said the organisation, composed of people drawn from Hindu right groups, had around 60 members spread across at least five states but had no name. "We discovered that this gang has a network in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka. We did not find their Uttar Pradesh connection so far," the official said. Also Read: Forensic report reveals Gauri Lankesh, MM Kalburgi killed using same gun He said though it recruited people from hardline Hindutva organisations like Maharashtra-based Hindu Jagruti Samiti and Sanatan Sanstha, these outfits may not be directly responsible for the killings. Both organisations had denied their role in the killing of the three. Sujith Kumar alias Praveen used to recruit people for the gang, the official said, adding it was following his interrogation that the network was busted. The SIT, he said, suspected three more people were present when Gauri Lankesh was shot dead at the entrance of her Bengaluru residence on September 5, 2017. Speculation was rife that Parshuram Waghmare, whose physical appearance matched that of the man whose image was caught on the CCTV camera at Gauri Lankesh's home on the day of the killing, was her assassin. The officer said the gang meticulously planned its operations before executing them. The entire process of reconnaissance, identifying the weaknesses of the targets and their elimination would take anywhere between six months and a year. "The gang had almost reached the last phase of killing Prof K S Bhagawan (Kannada writer) when we nabbed them," the officer said. The Karnataka police had uncovered the plot to kill Bhagwan recently, and it was during the interrogation of the four arrested accused that they grew suspicious about their involvement in Gauri Lankesh's killing. Bhagwan had often angered the right-wing outfits with his writing and utterances against Hindu Gods. The SIT had recently recovered a diary from the suspects which contained a hit list of targets. The name of film and theatre personality Girish Karnad figured in the list, the officer said, adding the Jnanpith awardee's surveillance was in the "last phase". Other than Bhagvan and Karnad, former minister and literateur B T Lalitha Naik, rationalist C S Dwarakanath and pontiff Veerabhadra Channamalla Swamy of Nidumamidi Mutt were also on the hit list. All of them have been quite vocal in criticising the Hindu right. Kalburgi, a Sahitya Akademi Award winner and a doughty campaigner against superstition in Hinduism, was shot dead in August 2015 at his home in Karnataka's Dharwad district. In February the same year, Govind Pansare, a Left politician and rationalist, was shot at and fatally injured by unidentified assailants in Kolhapur in Maharashtra. They also termed as unfortunate the rejection of the report by the Indian government. Srinagar: Kashmiri separatists have welcomed the United Nations first ever human rights report on Kashmir saying it was long overdue and that UN has a moral obligation towards the people of the state divided between India and Pakistan. They also termed as unfortunate the rejection of the report by the Indian government. The report by the office of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights at Geneva published on Thursday says that there is an urgent need to address past and ongoing human rights violations and abuses and deliver justice for all people in Kashmir, who for seven decades have suffered a conflict that has claimed many lives. A Commission of Inquiry is one of the UNs highest-level probes, generally reserved for situations like the conflict in Syria. India is firmly opposed to any self-determination on the basis of a plebiscite - which is demanded by Kashmiri separatists and Pakistan - as it considers J&K to be an integral part of India. New Delhi/Srinagar: In a huge jolt to India, a UN body on Thursday released the first-ever report on alleged human rights violation in Kashmir and demanded an international probe into it, evoking a sharp reaction from India which termed the document as fallacious, tendentious, motivated and questioning the intent behind it. Releasing the controversial 49-page report in Geneva that alleges human rights violations and abuses on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC), and highlights a situation of chronic impunity for violations committed by security forces, Zeid Raad Al Hussein, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, said that he will be urging the UN Human Rights Council to consider establishing a commission of inquiry to conduct a comprehensive, independent, international investigation into allegations of human rights violations in Kashmir. A Commission of Inquiry is one of the UNs highest-level probes, generally reserved for situations like the conflict in Syria. More worryingly, the report released by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) calls upon India to fully respect the right of self-determination of the people of Kashmir as protected under international law. India is firmly opposed to any self-determination on the basis of a plebiscite - which is demanded by Kashmiri separatists and Pakistan - as it considers J&K to be an integral part of India. In a strong reaction, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said the report is overtly prejudiced and seeks to build a false narrative. It is a selective compilation of largely unverified information. The report violates Indias sovereignty and territorial integrity. The entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. Pakistan is in illegal and forcible occupation of a part of the Indian state through aggression, MEA said in its strongly-worded statement. The report says India must stop using pellet guns for crowd control, and repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (Afspa) that grants special powers to the Indian armed forces in disturbed areas. Afspa and the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978, (PSA) have created structures that obstruct the normal course of law, impede accountability and jeopardise the right to remedy for victims of human rights violations, the report states. Kashmiri separatists welcomed the report, saying it was long overdue and termed as unfortunate its rejection by the Indian government. The report, which focuses on both Jammu & Kashmir (consisting of the Kashmir Valley, the Jammu and Ladakh regions) and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan), describes internationally designated and UN-proscribed terrorist entities Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) as armed groups and terrorists as leaders. Taking objection to the UN using terms like Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan for PoK, the MEA said, The incorrect description of Indian territory in the report is mischievous, misleading and unacceptable. There are no entities such as Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Terming terrorism as the most egregious violation of human rights, India accused the reports authors as having conveniently ignored the pattern of cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. India said it was disturbing that those behind this report have chosen to describe internationally designated and UN-proscribed terrorist entities as armed groups and terrorists as leaders and that this undermines the UN-led consensus on zero tolerance to terrorism. New Delhi said Indias protest and views in the matter have been conveyed unequivocally to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and that it is deeply concerned that individual prejudices are being allowed to undermine the credibility of a UN institution. Neither India nor Pakistan allowed the UNHCHR access to Kashmir, so Mr Hussein said the report was a result of remote monitoring. The Report on the Situation of Human Rights in Kashmir: Developments in the Indian State of J-K from July 2016 to March 2018, and General Human Rights concerns in Azad J-K and Gilgit-Baltistan suggests establishing independent, impartial and credible investigations to probe all civilian killings since July 2016 (when the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani sparked massive protests) and abuses committed by armed groups. Referring to the use of pellet guns by Indian security forces in the Valley, the report cites civil society estimates to say that up to 145 civilians were killed by the security forces between mid-July 2016 and the end of March 2018, with up to 20 other civilians killed by armed groups in the same period. A gleeful Pakistan welcomed the proposal to establish a commission of inquiry for international investigation into human rights violations in Kashmir. Islamabad, however, chose to gloss over the fact that the report has also indicted the Pakistan Army for supporting militants at the LoC and has also criticised human rights violations in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The report says human rights violations in Pakistan-Administered Kashmir (PoK) are of a different calibre or magnitude and of a more structural nature. It notes that armed groups have committed a wide range of human rights abuses, including kidnappings and killings of civilians and sexual violence, going on to admit that despite the government of Pakistans denial of any support for these groups... a number of experts have concluded that Pakistans military continues to support their operations across the LoC. Several leaders from various opposition parties have extended support to AAP governments protest at the L-G office in Delhi. BJP leaders reportedly suspended a large banner from the roof of the Delhi Secretariat building saying: Delhi Secretariat, theres no strike here. People of Delhi are on duty. The Chief Minister of Delhi is on leave. (Photo: Twitter@ArvindKejriwal) New Delhi: On Thursday, which was the day 4 of the sit-in by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and three of his ministers at Lieutenant Governors house, several other leaders from various opposition parties have extended support to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) governments protest. Meanwhile, leaders of the local unit of the BJP are also staging a sit-in at the chief minister's office at the Delhi Secretariat. The sit-in which started on Wednesday continued on Thursday with five leaders including rebel AAP legislator Kapil Mishra asserting that it will go on till they "expose" the Kejriwal government. The party leaders also reportedly suspended a large banner from the roof of the Delhi Secretariat building bearing the message: Delhi Secretariat, theres no strike here. People of Delhi are on duty. The Chief Minister of Delhi is on leave. Expressing shock, Kejriwal alleged that the BJP has captured the Delhi Secretariat. Absolutely shocking. How was it allowed? Who allowed this to happen? Where was Police, Security, Bureaucracy? Kejriwal tweeted. Absolutely shocking. How was it allowed? Who allowed this to happen? Where was Police, Security, Bureaucracy? pic.twitter.com/Zj0IQKGLPE Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) June 14, 2018 Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, actors-turned-politicians Kamal Hassan and Shatrughan Sinha, the CPM, the CPI and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav have joined the issue and backed Delhi Chief Minister. In a tweet in Hindi, Akhilesh Yadav said the capturing of Secretariat of the national capital by the political party in power points towards a situation worse than the murder of democracy. Further targeting the BJP, Yadav said "those who have captured democracy by force will capture people's homes tomorrow". . . , . . Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) June 14, 2018 Disgruntled BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha, in a series of tweets, said the current situation is "not good or desirable for our Delhi government, Central government and the people of our country". Can you expect a swimmer to swim when we tie his arms & hands? That is what has been done with our young, dynamic & one of the country's popular gentleman politician Arvind Kejriwal . Time for a full fledged struggle for Delhi statehood, Sinha added. Can you expect a swimmer to swim when we tie his arms & hands? That is what has been done with our young, dynamic & one of the country's popular gentleman politician @ArvindKejriwal . Time for a full fledged struggle for Delhi statehood... Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) June 14, 2018 CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury accused the central government for what he called "using the office of the LG to obstruct" the Delhi government from discharging its constitutional duties. "This is despicable. The Centre must abandon this course of confrontation right away", Yechury tweeted. BJP central government is using the office of the LG to obstruct the elected state government in Delhi to discharge its constitutional duties. This is despicable. The Centre must abandon this course of confrontation right away. Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) June 14, 2018 Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav slammed the BJP and said the party was taking "revenge" as the people of Delhi have been rejecting it from past 20 years. "The people of Delhi have been rejecting the BJP from past 20 years and so the BJP in the centre is interrupting the works of the Kejriwal government to take revenge from the people of the Delhi. This is a beginning of an unhealthy tradition," he said. Kamal Haasan, who launched his political party Makkal Needhi Maiam earlier this year, said interference in the functioning of an elected government is unacceptable in a democracy. Interference in the functioning of an elected government is unacceptable in a democracy. In fact what is happening in Delhi and in TN/Pondicherry are not too different. It is frustrating for people who want a change for the better. @ArvindKejriwal Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) June 14, 2018 The CPI, in a letter written to Delhi Lieutenant Governor, said the L-G "cannot stop the functioning of the elected government of Delhi on the advice of any political party in power". Kejriwal and ministers Manish Sisodia, Gopal Rai and Satyendar Jain have been staying put at the waiting room of the L-G office over their demands, including a direction to IAS officers to end their "strike" and action against those who have struck work. They also want the L-G to approve the proposal for doorstep delivery of ration. On Thursday, Kejriwal also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention to end the IAS officers' "strike" claiming that Lt Governor Anil Baijal was doing "nothing" to break the impasse. Read: Kejriwal's sit-in protest enters day 4, urges PM to intervene to end IAS officers' strike Meanwhile, it was reportedly said that Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has been working from home as Kejriwal and his Cabinet colleagues continue their sit-in at his office. Also Read: L-G works from home as Kejriwal, ministers occupy his office in protest The sources said the L-G was going through files related to Delhi Police, Delhi Development Authority and other departments at his residence, but he did not receive any Delhi government files as the chief minister and his three ministers continued their protest. The woman lodged a complaint in which she said she came in contact with Tomar in May last year through a matrimonial site, police said. New Delhi: A 38-year-old man was arrested for marrying a woman by giving false information about his marital status, police said on June 15. The accused, Atul Kumar Tomar, had posted on a matrimonial website that he was a software engineer based in Gurgaon and earned Rs 30 lakh a year, they said. The woman on May 31 lodged a complaint in which she said she came in contact with Tomar in May last year through a matrimonial site, police said. She got married to Tomar in July 2016, according to the complaint. Later, she came to know that he was already married and had two children. Thereafter, the accused left her, police said. They said when a police team reached Gurgaon as told by the complainant, it was found that he was a resident of Ghaziabad. But, he was not found there. It was found that he had given his Ghaziabad house on rent and had shifted to Noida along with his family two years ago, they said. The woman said the accused once told her that he wanted to develop his own company called Buck Eye Soft Ltd, police said. The name of this company was searched and Tomar was one of the directors, they said. Further, a savings account was also found in the name of the company. Thereafter, the team visited the bank from where the police team got the details of the accused, they said. He was arrested from Nodia. In another case, an Iranian national was held after his arrival from Dubai on Tuesday for allegedly trying to smuggle in eight kg gold. New Delhi: Fourteen persons, including six Chinese nationals, have been arrested by customs officials at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport for allegedly smuggling gold worth about Rs 8 crore into the country. The accused also included five women, who had concealed gold in their rectum, a custom official said. The 14 people were arrested in five incidents that were reported in the past three days at the airport, said Anubha Sinha, Joint Commissioner (Customs) at the IGI Airport. It is one of the biggest seizures made by the customs in recent times, she said. Besides the five Chinese, the customs department arrested Iranian and Azerbaijan nationals. The officials on Wednesday and cut off two Chinese nationals after their arrival from Bangkok, Mr Sinha said A detailed examination of their baggage and personal search resulted in recovery of six kg of gold. They had concealed gold in the form of bangles worn by them. The goldworth Rs 1.8 crore has been recovered, she said. In another case, an Iranian national was held after his arrival from Dubai on Tuesday for allegedly trying to smuggle in eight kg gold. On the same day, five Azerbaijan nationals, including three women, were arrested for smuggling in 2.45 kg gold. On 11 June, four Chinese nationals, including two women, were arrested for smuggling six kg gold. Incidentally, around five kg was concealed by the women in their rectum.They were arrested on arrival from Hong Kong, said Anees Cherkunnath, deputy commissioner (Air Intelligence) at IGI. The Rs 8 lakh installment was accepted by Gharat himself and passed to the fourth accused. Mumbai: In the wake of the arrest of Sanjay Gharat, additional municipal commissioner of Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC), who allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 35 lakh, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has raided his residence in Dombivali and made a list of his assets. Sources in the ACB stated that Gharats arrest came a week after the Chief Ministers Office (CMO) had sent his name to the Centre for promotion to the IAS cadre. After hearing the news of Gharats arrest, several locals who were allegedly distressed due to rampant corruption in the civic body, assembled outside the KDMC headquarters in Kalyan and celebrated by distributing sweets. According to sources, the accused had never been caught for any indiscretion earlier. The promotion proposal was sent as per his experience and seniority, the sources said. The officials, meanwhile, have also arrested a fourth accused in the case, a private person and alleged right-hand man of the tainted KDMC officer, who was always present to stash the bribe money that Gharat would accept. The Rs 8 lakh installment was accepted by Gharat himself and passed to the fourth accused. Another shocking revelation has come to the fore: Gharat had been posted in KDMC since 1995, when he joined the government services starting with the same municipal corporation. It is obvious that such activities are thriving when an official is not shuffled for as many as 23 years. It is shameful as he was second-in-command in the KDMC. Gharat was keeping an eye on movement outside his cabin via CCTV. His lavish cabin was attached with rooms apart from an antechamber, said an ACB officer. While Gharat had allegedly turned into a bribe collector as per sources in the ACB, he had allegedly demanded Rs 49 lakh initially from the complainant in this case, ACB sources at Thane said. The incident took place on June 10, but the issue came to light only after a video of the childrens ordeal went viral on social media. Mumbai: Three minor dalit boys were allegedly stripped, beaten and paraded nude in Vakadi village in Maharashtras Jalgaon district for allegedly swimming in a village well, officials said on Thursday. The incident took place on June 10, but the issue came to light only after a video of the childrens ordeal went viral on social media. The incident was criticised by politicians and activists as a crime against humanity. Following public outcry, the police arrested two accused. According to sources, last Sunday, in a bid to beat the scorching heat, the boys, aged around 12-14, reportedly jumped into the well. However, as locals learned about this, some persons belonging to nomadic tribes gathered near the well and pulled out the boys. After giving the boys a verbal dressing down, some villagers allegedly forced them to strip and paraded them nude around the village. The video shows the whimpering boys covering their modesty with leaves while a person is striking their backs and legs with a stick or a leather belt. Talking to The Asian Age, SP Datta Karale said, We will keep you posted via a press release. He refused to divulge further information related to the case. Meanwhile, revenue minister Chandrakant Patil, who is holding charge in the absence of the chief minister, said that the police has taken stringent action against the culprits and they have been booked under the Atrocities Act and Juvenile Justice Act as well as other provisions. However, he denied that was any caste angle in the matter. The owner of the well, Balwant Joshi-Gosavi, belongs to a nomadic tribe. His servants who assaulted the boys are from the Lohar (blacksmith) community, which is also a reserved category. But as the accused are not members of the SC/ST community, the police has booked them under the Atrocities Act. The investigation is ongoing, and if the accused are pressurising the complainant into withdrawing the case, it will be dealt with; nobody will be let off without punishment. Reacting to the case, ex-minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Eknath Khadse said that the accused seemed to have a perverted mindset. The police should take appropriate and stringent action against them, he said. Union minister and Republican Party of India leader Ramdas Athawale said the accused should not go unpunished. Action should be taken against the accused, he said. The glory of ancient Hindu science is an essential component of the Hindutva worldview. We Indians apparently come from a long line of scientists and technologists. Dinesh Sharma, deputy chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, has reminded the nation that Sitas birth from an earthen pitcher in the epic Ramayan was evidence of an ancient test-tube baby project. The ruling BJP has reprimanded him and advised restraint in his public comments. But how many people is the BJP going to reprimand? Tripura chief minister Biplab Deb claims that the Internet existed during the Maha-bharat period, Baba Ramdev promises an Ayurvedic cure for everything from AIDS to homosexuality, and PM Narendra Modi sees in the mythical birth of Karna outside his mothers womb and the grafting of an elephants head onto Ganeshs human torso proof that modern levels of science and technology were available in Indias ancient past. The glory of ancient Hindu science is an essential component of the Hindutva worldview. In this version of the public imaginary there is a persistent yearning for a modernity that was ancient and indigenous, but is now irretrievably lost. This loss is a blow to the collective Hindu psyche confronted with a modernity which is not only Western in origin but predatory and imperialist to boot. The people of this mythical land a Hindu Wakanda seem to have flourished within the confines of their geography without connecting with other civilisations. They masqueraded as underdeveloped, malnourished and poor while they successfully melded modern science and technology with the traditions of their ancestors. The glorious period of the Hindu Wakanda was predictably before the land which is known as India today was conquered and colonised. The conquerors from outside whether from Central Asia or colonialists from Europe obliterated its scientific and technological wisdom. The heroes of the Hindu Wakanda are therefore located in myth or in ancient history. Fundamental to the glory of Hindu Wakanda was something it possessed in abundance which the rest of the world didnt the strongest force in the world, spritualism. In the Marvel Comics fantasy, Wakandas source of wealth and power were its rare metal deposits of an imaginary mineral, Vibranium. These deposits were finite. Indian spritualism by contrast was infinite and renewable. The more one mined it, the stronger one became. Ancient Indians were thus spiritually rich while the rest of the world, without it, was destined to be poor. While the world struggled to find antibiotics and cures for diseases and epidemics, Hindu Wakanda had its own version of the heart-shaped herb which could revive people from near-death situations the Sanjeevani Booti, with which Lakshman was revived after he was fatally wounded by Ravans son Indrajit. What purpose does it serve the BJP leaders to resurrect this civilisational fantasy repeatedly? In the distorted mirror of the past, the poor and uneducated people of India are shown to have once lived in happier times. It provides a narrative through which the weak can appropriate the symbolically rich techno-scientific utopia by which the Western world legitimises itself and establishes its supremacy. The feeling of being left behind because of the asymmetries in scientific and technological knowledge is sought to be ameliorated by creating a fantasy about the past. It is not insignificant that this fantasy excludes political and social problems from its frame of reference. It does not tell us what society was like in this age of high science. What rights and access to services did ordinary citizens have in this utopia? Did everyone have access to test-tube births or only Raja Janak by virtue of being a king? Did Lord Ganesh manage to get a head transplant because he was the son of a powerful god, or did ordinary mortals also qualify for transplants? Could ordinary people travel in the vimanas designed by the amazing aeronautical engineers of their day? Could citizens vote not to pay taxes unless test-tube births were offered to ordinary women also? Such questions are not permitted in this phantasmagoria. As in the Marvel blockbuster film Black Panther, fantasising about Wakanda is not about real empowerment. In the Wakanda of Marvel Comics, the people of an African nation are empowered not because of their own achievements but because a mysterious and imaginary mineral, Vibranium, was accidentally gifted to them when a meteorite struck their land. The story is addressed primarily to an audience of African-Americans and in this simple retelling, the struggle of the American Black Movement is obliterated by the single accident of a meteorite striking the earth. In our real and flawed world, the social, political and economic empowerment of the dispossessed can never be an accident or a technological fix. It requires political awakening and masses of people struggling for it. These movements can and often do fail with tremendous human cost. The Indian equivalent of Vibranium that is, spritualism is not going to give anyone equal rights, equal access to justice or ensure equitable distribution of resources. Empowerment in the real world requires political, social and economic change which a class and caste-ridden obscurantist society will not voluntarily proffer. In grossly unequal societies, there is necessarily a conflict between those who are systematically denied equal opportunities and the dominant elite which concentrates power in itself. If even an iota of the mythical glory that is touted by the BJP leaders again and again is to be achieved in the real world, then those societal flaws will have to be recognised and addressed which prevent millions of Indians from getting basic rights, including access to world-class education, healthcare and social security. A society needs to be free of hunger and poverty before it can produce world-class mathematicians, scientists, astronomers, doctors, surgeons, geneticists, space scientists and social scientists in the here and now. Even when they have had the political opportunity, the Hindutva ideologues have demonstrated a complete lack of ability to address these objectives. Merely substituting fantasies for real action towards a just and equitable society is not going to provide us a blueprint for Indias future. Pakistan continues with its old tricks for Kashmir is in its jugular veins. Its an old story, yet India seems to be losing the plot. This country seems to be unable to match Chinese guile. Despite the fact that China is facing flak from Australia, the United States and the European Union on this issue, India somehow seems very sure of Chinas goodwill in Kashmir. One only wonders why. All have woken up except India, which is acting as a benign Buddha. Cant India see the daylight robbery of its territory by the China-Pakistan combine in J&K? The plot has thickened so much that it appears to have become an irreversible forced occupation. From post-Independence accession of princely state (J&K) to India, to India-Pakistan hostile bilateral, to the present multilateral owing to the joint Sino-Pakistani illegal occupation of Indian territory, the map of J&K certainly isnt what India depicts it to be. Pakistan continues with its old tricks for Kashmir is in its jugular veins. The intermittent Indian reaction, in its own traditional style, is quite predictable too deep slumber followed by a sudden realisation to raise its voice, reiterating its stand and then lodging a strong diplomatic protest, which more often than not is ineffective. Why? Mainly because Indias own past actions, or lack of it, turned its internal affair (J&K) into an Indo-Pakistani bilateral issue, and later deeply entrenched a third party, China. The best or worst part in this bewildering multilateral game is the classic Chinese deception diplomacy We dont know what happened; Has it really happened? or Even if it has happened, dont worry, we are not in the picture. There is no change in Beijings policy relating to Kashmir which is a bilateral affair between India and Pakistan. Mark Chinese diplomat Hua Chunyings reference to the word bilateral and pose the counter-query: If you know that it is a bilateral issue, why are you there? Why this fake innocence, camouflaged under the Sino-Pakistan alliance, to capture Indian soil on the sly? At a press briefing on May 29 (after Pakistan, through its May 21 Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018, merged it with its fifth province Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa), Ms Hua says: Kashmir is a historical baggage between India and Pakistan and, therefore, shall be resolved between the two sides through dialogue and consultation. Indeed! Why then is China now a third party in this publicly-stated historical baggage between India and Pakistan? Doesnt it now become an overloaded illegal multi-lateral baggage? In reality, Ms Huas statement clearly exposes the long-term design of Chinas forced occupation of foreign territory, specially around Beijings make-belief world border/order/disorder! China is deliberately doing something extraordinarily wrong in its neighbourhood! If this isnt a diabolical act, what is? Is it an act of multilateral coexistence for health and harmony? Indian diplomats should have repeatedly harangued and harped on this point to make China quit, or at least play lie low in an area that under no stretch of imagination belongs to China! Did India ever get into an act of physical presence as a third party/player in the historical baggage between Tibet and China? Again, when Ms Hua says we have stressed many times that CPEC is an initiative for economic cooperation, and that this is a cooperation framework which serves the purpose of economic development and peoples livelihood, and does not affect our position on J&K issue; the message constitutes loud and jarring duplicity, akin to saying: We are here (in J&K) to stay. Come what may. Just get away. Let us make our own way even if its your own territorial highway. We are on a bigger canvas and we dont wish to get bogged down in your petty squabbling in J&K. If you cannot fight us, join us. Territory may be sacrosanct to you, but trade, money, profit and subjugation of the weak are more sanctimonious to us. We guard our territory wherein no outsider dare enter. However, we reserve the right to enter any external territory in accordance with our national calculation, wherein your problem can be reduced or resolved only by our entry and physical presence, like that of Western powers of the last century. Try, if you can, to stop us. My concern is that the 21st century chapter of J&K has already started to be written, not by legal and bona fide owner India but by two nations linked through an unholy alliance to fix India. My other regret is that successive Indian governments have not only failed to uphold their claimed territorial integrity, but also failed to uphold the Constitution, which empowers the State to protect its sovereignty. Unfortunately, India got carried away by the slogans of globalisation, liberalisation and privatisation and did irreparable damage to its indigenous industry, economy, polity, society, safety, security and sovereignty. The slogan 21st century is the century of Asia will not take India very far because if a country cant tackle chronic violation of its sovereignty by mala fide actions of two neighbours, there is little to go forward. Chinas OBOR, BRI, CPEC is to cut and transcend all barriers of other sovereign nations, with the sole aim of expanding its own military and economy, enhance its firepower and extend its influence by dividing the polity and destroying the economy of non-Chinese states. In this murky background, however, my congratulations to the external affairs ministry for making some effort in reiterating, and taking a public stand on its own territory without mincing words. By summoning Pakistans deputy high commissioner and lodging a strong protest over Gilgit-Baltistan, India rightly toughened its stand, though after a long delay. But better late than never! However, dangers are lurking to inflict a further loss on India on its possession and occupation. The former means control or use of real property; seizure and control of a territory by military force. For rather too long, Gilgit-Baltistan has remained beyond Indias possession. Although Pakistans action falls under possession mala fide (possession in bad faith), as by a thief, the fact remains that a long, wrong and de facto possession can turn de jure owing to invocation of the act of limitations, despite it being a municipal law. Todays the mala fide Sino-Pakistani presence in Gilgit-Baltistan reminds me of the famous 1840 definition of property by French thinker Proudhon. It says while property is not theft, a good amount of theft becomes property like the daylight Sino-Pakistani robbery of Gilgit-Baltistan, which forms a part of Indias J&K. India is clearly trapped by Pakistani terror and trampled upon its own territory by Beijing, and is thus losing its sovereignty for trade with China. The moral of the story? For Chinese trade and Pakistani terror, India is helplessly losing its own territory at the expense of its sovereignty. Hackers are increasingly using online platforms such as search engines to break into systems. The alleged cyber attacks come as Beijing increases diplomatic and economic pressure on the self-ruled island, which China claims as its own and considers a wayward province. Cyber attacks from China on Taiwans government computers are becoming more difficult to detect, a source close to government discussions said, as hackers increasingly use online platforms such as search engines to break into systems. While the frequency of attacks by Chinas cyber army has declined, the success rate of such incursions is rising, the source said. Taiwans official departments suffer from hundreds of successful internet attacks each year, more than half of which come from assaults by Chinas cyber army, the person, who is not authorised to speak to the media and declined to be identified, told Reuters. China has strongly denied accusations of engaging in cyber warfare or hacking and has said it is itself one of the worlds biggest victims of such incidents. Both Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office and the Cyberspace Administration of China did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The alleged cyber attacks come as Beijing increases diplomatic and economic pressure on the self-ruled island, which China claims as its own and considers a wayward province. The source said hackers are adopting new techniques to conceal their activities. They frequently go through online platforms like Google and blogs, to hide and give investigators the impression it is a normal platform or tool, and thus to ignore its background actions, the person said. Taiwans governmental departments face frequent cyber attacks and scanning of their vulnerabilities, with the attack volume reaching 10 million a month, the source said. The majority of attacks targeted non-core service systems were low-level in nature and included activities such as changing websites and tampering with information. However, there have also been more serious attacks on core systems. The source also said the Taiwan government had evidence that some of the attacks had targeted departments and their websites by intruding into servers and stealing account passwords. Taiwans foreign offices abroad have also been targeted through methods such as taking screen snapshots, keylogging, and unpacking related information, the source said. Many of the attacks were now routed through other countries, making it increasingly difficult to trace. Since Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen of the left-leaning Democratic Progressive Party took office in 2016, Chinas hostility to the island has increased. China fears Tsai wants to push for formal independence, although she says she wants to maintain the status quo and is committed to peace. Analysts expect the cyber attacks will continue to form a headache for the Taiwan government. Taiwan has very good cyber defence and investigation skills and capacity. However, under such a huge amount of attacks and the special relationship across the Strait, it is really hard to prevent 100 per cent, said Lennon Chang, a senior lecturer in criminology at Monash University in Melbourne. Taiwan is expected to release its information security and national security strategy later this year. Microsoft is working on automated checkout technology that could help retailers compete with Amazons new cashier-less stores. A customer scans his Amazon Go cellphone app at the entrance as he heads into an Amazon Go store in Seattle. One firm building automated checkout systems, AVA Retail, said Thursday, June 14 that it is working with Microsoft on the technology for physical stores. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File) Microsoft is working on automated checkout technology that could help retailers compete with Amazon's new cashier-less stores. One firm building automated checkout systems, Ava Retail, said on June 14 it is working with Microsoft on the technology for physical stores. Both companies have headquarters in Redmond, Washington. Ava Retail CEO Atul Hirpara said Microsoft could become a leader in the field because it has a strong cloud computing platform. That technology would power the retail system by pulling in data from in-store cameras or sensors. Microsoft declined to comment on June 14. Amazon opened its first cashier-less Amazon Go store in Seattle this year and plans more locations in Chicago and San Francisco. Overhead cameras and other technology help keep track of customers and what they're buying. Microsoft's interest in working with retailers on similar technology was reported earlier by Reuters. It remains unclear how far along Microsoft is in the project. The report of its involvement didn't surprise others in the fast-growing automated checkout industry. Michael Suswal, co-founder of San Francisco-based startup Standard Cognition, said Microsoft has the teams capable of developing the software and the infrastructure needed to deploy it broadly. Suswal said his firm is also working with retailers but not currently with Microsoft - on its own automated checkout system using overhead cameras. "Within five years, everyone in the country will have visited an autonomous checkout store," Suswal said. BFOUSA has taken eye care as top priority because of estimated 4.3 mn visually-impaired population in Bihar with more than 650,000 blind. The fundraiser was held during the annual gala of Bihar Foundation of USA (BFOUSA) wherein Bay Area Bihari community celebrated the 'Bihar Divas' in California. (Photo: File/AFP) Washington: The Indian community from Bihar living in America's California has raised USD 15,000 for a health project aimed at providing needy people in their home state free eye care treatments, including operations. The fundraiser was held during the annual gala of Bihar Foundation of USA (BFOUSA) wherein Bay Area Bihari community celebrated the 'Bihar Divas' in California. "Our objective is to raise funds towards eradication of blindness in Bihar," BFOUSA vice-chairman Rajiv Sinha said. The foundation has started collaborating with various eye care hospitals in Bihar to sponsor free eye surgery for the poor and needy. "This is commendable," Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said in a message to the foundation, which celebrated its annual gala on June 9. The central theme of this year's function was branding, bonding, and business development among North American Bihari community and people of Bihar. BFOUSA has signed its first memorandum of understanding with Sri Sai Lions Netralaya in Patna. Dr Jayant Kumar, director of BFOUSA, said that in 2018 their target is free 2,000 cataract surgeries to the needy, followed by 5,000 in 2019. The foundation has taken eye care as its top priority because of an estimated 4.3 million visually-impaired population in Bihar with more than 650,000 blind people, said Shyam Chaudhary, its project director. Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Shushil Modi and Assembly Speaker V K Chaudhary also sent in their message for the event. Santosh Jha, Deputy Chief Commission of the Indian Embassy in Washington DC, described them as "best ambassadors" of the state. If the US hits China with tariffs, China will immediately retaliate with tariffs, said a Chinese official. Trump has long promised to uphold his campaign pledge to clamp down on 'unfair Chinese trading practices'. (Photo:File/AP) Washington: United States President Donald Trump has approved tariffs worth USD 50 billion on import of goods from China. A formal announcement in this regard is expected to be made by the US Trade Representatives on Friday with a notification in the Federal Register in the coming weeks. The move is likely to attract retaliatory action by China. Trump's approval in this regard followed a 90-minute meeting he had with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Thursday. The meeting also included representatives of the National Security Council. Following the decision, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro said tariffs must be seen as one tool among many the US could use to hold bad actors like China accountable and bring the Chinese government to the table to secure a more favourable balance of trade. "We cannot allow the recent chaos to continue and risk further damage to our standing in the world. That is why I am calling on President Trump to fight for American jobs with a comprehensive strategy that puts American economic interests front and centre," she said. DeLauro said the Trump Commerce Department's disorderly implementation of trade enforcement tools failed to inspire confidence in the President's ability to appropriately hold the trading partners accountable. "That is why I will continue to call for a meaningful strategy to address our deep trade deficit with China that has led to outsourcing of well-paying American jobs," she said. "To make matters worse, President Trump rolled back sanctions on Chinese telecommunications firm ZTE after the company sold critical technology to Iran and North Korea, and lied to US security officials about it. President Trump should be focused on American jobs, not China's," the lawmaker said. A Wall Street Journal report warned that the US decision could become the start of a tit-for-tat series of retaliatory moves. If the US hits China with tariffs, China will immediately retaliate with tariffs, said a Chinese official. "We hate unilateral actions," the official was quoted as saying. India has rejected the UN report, terming it as 'overtly prejudiced' and seeking to build a 'false narrative'. The spokesperson said, '...the report has been made with the best information they had available, even though they lacked the sort of access that they needed to either of the areas of Kashmir. At this stage, now that they have the reports in their hands, the Member States of the Human Rights Council can determine whether any other steps are needed.' (Photo: UN logo) United Nations: Members of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) will decide on the future course of action on the human rights chief's call for a high-level independent international probe into allegations of human rights violations in Kashmir and PoK, a spokesperson for UN chief Antonio Guterres has said. Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General Farhan Haq's remarks came following the launch of the first UN human rights report on Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). India rejected the UN report, terming it as "fallacious, tendentious and motivated and a selective compilation of largely unverified information. In a strong reaction, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the report is "overtly prejudiced" and seeks to build a "false narrative". Also Read: UN report indicts India for rights violation in Kashmir "This, as you know, is a question for the member States of the Human Rights Council. The High Commissioner, High Commissioner Zeid, has made that proposal to the Human Rights Council. And we will see and evaluate what the response will be," Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General Farhan Haq told reporters on Thursday. He was responding to a question on whether the Secretary-General supports an independent international probe into the alleged violations in Kashmir and PoK. When asked again if the Secretary-General supports a probe into the situation in Kashmir, Haq said the UN Chief has long believed that the parties need to resolve the situation in Kashmir on their own. "We will have to see what the Human Rights Council determines as a result of this report that was carried out by the Human Rights Office.As with all questions regarding mandates by Member States, it's up to Member States to determine the sort of mandates that the United Nations will have he said. Haq said while the High Commissioner has called for an independent probe, it is up to the members of the Human Rights Council to see how they will respond to that recommendation. "What the High Commissioner has done and what the Human Rights Office has done is provide a report with the best information they have available, even though they lacked the sort of access that they needed to either of the areas of Kashmir. At this stage, now that they have the reports in their hands, the Member States of the Human Rights Council can determine whether any other steps are needed," Haq said. A statement added that US forces were continuing to 'adhere to a ceasefire' which Kabul has entered into with the Afghan Taliban. The strike was in Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province, where Pakistani Taliban chief Maulana Fazlullah is believed to be hiding. Representational Image (Photo: File/AP) Washington: The United States military said on Thursday that it carried out a strike targeting a senior militant leader in Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province, where Pakistani Taliban chief Maulana Fazlullah is believed to be hiding. "US forces conducted a counter-terrorism strike, June 13, in Kunar province, close to the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which targeted a senior leader of a designated terrorist organization," Lieutenant Colonel Martin O'Donnell said in a statement. It added that US forces were continuing to "adhere to a ceasefire" which Kabul has entered into with the Afghan Taliban, the country's main insurgents, seemingly ruling out that group, amid US media reports the attack had targeted Fazlullah. The US State Department in March announced a USD 5 million reward for help locating the militant leader, who has been linked to bloody attacks in Pakistan and the 2010 attempted Times Square car bombing in New York. It said the group, also known by its Urdu name Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) has "demonstrated a close alliance with Al-Qaeda" and said it had given explosives training to Faisal Shahzad, the would-be Times Square bomber. The group was behind the massacre of more than 150 people at a Peshawar school in December 2014, and nine dead in another attack in December 2017 in the same city. It was also responsible for the October 2012 shooting of Malala Yousafzai, who became a global symbol of the fight for girls' rights to schooling. According to Pakistani officials, Fazlullah, who is believed to be in his forties, took refuge in Afghanistan after the TTP was pushed out of Pakistan following multiple offensives by the military on its safe havens. A four-member bench of the SC heard the case pertaining to Musharrafs return. Islamabad: Former Pakistan military ruler Pervez Musharrafs hope of contesting the upcoming polls was dashed on Thursday after the Supreme Court withdrew the conditional permission given earlier to the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) chief. The apex court had earlier granted conditional permission to Mr Musharraf, allowing him to file his nomination papers and contest the polls scheduled for July 25, provided the former military ruler appeared in court. A four-member bench of the SC heard the case pertaining to Mr Musharrafs return. The former dictator requested more time to return to the country, however, the court refused to entertain his requests after granting a day-long extension in the June 13 deadline. Mr Musharrafs counsel, Qamar Afzal, appeared on his behalf. I have spoken to Mr Musharraf, he has asked for more time. He plans to come to Pakistan but due to Eid holidays and illness, he cant travel immediately, Mr Afzal said. Alright, well adjourn the court hearing till indefinite time period, will hold it on your wish, responded the chief justice. APML Secretary General Dr Mohammad Amjad Chaudhry confirmed that Mr Musharraf will not be appearing before the apex court. The apex court had set a deadline of 2 pm (June 14) for the former military ruler to appear before the three-member bench, hearing the disqualification petition. Norway had previously allayed Russian fears by pledging not to open its territory to foreign troops unless it was attacked or threatened. Oslo's announcement came after nine nations along NATO's eastern flank last week called for the alliance to bolster its presence in their region. Representational Image (Photo: File) Oslo: Moscow on Thursday criticised Norway's plans to ask Washington to double the number of US troops stationed in the Scandinavian country and deploy them nearer the border with Russia. The plans "cause us serious concern", Russia's embassy in Norway wrote on its Facebook page. Before joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949, Norway allayed Russian fears by pledging not to open its territory to foreign combat troops so long as it was not attacked or threatened with attack. The stationing of United States troops in Norway "contravenes the Norwegian decision from 1949... This makes Norway less predictable, can stoke tensions, incite an arms race and lead to a destabilisation of the situation in northern Europe," the embassy wrote. Oslo's announcement came after nine nations along NATO's eastern flank last week called for the alliance to bolster its presence in their region. Since 2017, 330 US Marines have been deployed on rotation at Vaernes in the centre of Norway, despite loud protests from Russia. Oslo now wants to boost the troop numbers to 700 and station them further north at Setermoen, 420 km from Russia. The US deployment agreement would also be extended from the current six-month renewable periods to five years. "The defence of Norway depends on the support of our NATO allies, as is the case in most other NATO countries," said Defence Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen in a statement. "For this support to work in times of crises and war, we are totally dependent on joint training and exercises in times of peace," he added. Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia had on Friday called for NATO to discuss an increased military presence in their region at July's leaders' summit in Brussels. The group said it was necessary to supplement NATO's current ground forces "with aerial and naval components." NATO beefed up defences in central and Eastern Europe in response to growing fears about Russia, following Moscow's annexation of Crimea in 2014. Norway has insisted that it is respecting its 1949 commitment, noting that the troop presence is not permanent but rotational. But Moscow rejected that argument. "Even if the actual people are rotated, the stationing is continuous," it said. Russia also expressed "concern" that the "plans were agreed in Oslo without any real bilateral political dialogue." 8 people were also wounded in the shooting at Suruc that broke out as MP Ibrahim Halil Yildiz visited small businesses in the town centre. There were conflicting reports about the circumstances of the killings, with pro-government media saying the MP and his supporters came under attack from opponents armed with knives and sticks. Representational Image (Photo: File) Istanbul: Three people were shot dead in southern Turkey on Thursday during an election campaign visit to a mainly Kuridish town near Syria by a Member of Parliament from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party, reports said. Eight people were also wounded in the shooting at Suruc in the Sanliurfa region that broke out as MP Ibrahim Halil Yildiz visited small businesses in the town centre, the Anadolu and Dogan news agencies said. He escaped unharmed, the reports said, but the identity of all the victims was not immediately clear. There were conflicting reports about the circumstances of the killings, with pro-government media saying Yildiz and his supporters came under attack from opponents armed with knives and sticks. The state-run Anadolu described it as an attack against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and added that among those killed was the brother of the MP. It claimed that supporters of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) were among those involved in the attack. But unconfirmed reports on pro-Kurdish media blamed bodyguards of the MP for the attack, after he was met with hostility during the visit to the shopkeepers. Suruc, a mainly Kurdish town, was the scene of a bombing on July 20, 2015, blamed on so-called Islamic State (IS) jihadists that killed 34 people and wounded about 100. That bombing sparked huge tensions in Turkey at the time, with many Kurdish activists taking to the streets and accusing the government of not doing enough in the fight against IS. Turkey is entering what is expected to be a tense final week of campaigning ahead of the polls. Analysts are forecasting that the parliamentary and presidential elections will be tight, with Erdogan possibly to be pushed into a run-off and with his ruling party at risk of losing its overall majority. by Mathias Hariyadi In addition to sharing iftar, the meal that breaks the fast during the Islamic holy month, with Muslims, Indonesian Catholics tried to show closeness and solidarity via seminars, youth meetings but also bazaars, selling basic necessities at very low prices to help less fortunate families. I pray the month of Ramadan may always generate love, peace and harmony in our society, said the archbishop of Palembang. Jakarta (AsiaNews) The celebrations for the end of Ramadan brought together Catholics and Muslims to promote through various initiatives the "spirit of interfaith harmony" envisaged by the Fathers of the nation. This ranged from shared meals to "special bazaars" where basic necessities were sold at discounted prices for less well-off families. Several Catholic communities came together to celebrate Eid al Fitr, the festival that marks the end of the holy month of Muslims. The Daughters of Mary and Joseph in Wonosobo (Central Java) organised a dinner at the Dena Upakara school attended by children affected by various disabilities. "We invited civil and religious authorities for a shared meal, said one of the nuns, Sister Alphonsa. This also allowed us to celebrate the 80 years of work of our congregation in Indonesia." In Pontianak (West Kalimantan), Passionist nuns worked with the Indonesian Catholic Women's Association (WKRI) to hand out free meals to passersby near the local cathedral. Some 15 volunteers, coordinated by the sisters, gave away about 300 "takjil". It is an initiative with a double meaning: on the one hand we help people; on the other we leave the routine of our daily life and immerse ourselves in society to do good," said one of the nuns. The parish of Gombong (Central Java) chose instead to celebrate the end of Ramadan by bringing together people from several religions. About 200 Muslims, Protestants, Buddhists and Catholics met in St Michaels Church to break the fast together and talk about tolerance and living together. "We have also received the praise of the civil authorities, said the parish priest, Fr Augustinus Handi Setyanto PR, speaking to AsiaNews. Talking about tolerance and pluralism cannot and must not remain an empty slogan but should become a practical activity." The Archbishop of Palembang, Mgr Aloysius Sudarso, turned instead his attention to young people. "Our kids, he said during an event on Wednesday, organised this beautiful initiative in which not only we eat together but we also show the joy of which the Gospel speaks. Living in harmony should always be the star of our dialogue. I pray the month of Ramadan may always generate love, peace and harmony in our society." Finally, the parish of St Teresa in Bongsari (Semarang) thought of the poorest families and organised a public bazaar open to everyone with basic necessities sold at a very special price. "This, said Fr Didik Cahyono, is the way we chose to show our happiness and solidarity." Photo Credit: Vincentius Dimas The expedition of the Eugene Bell Foundation to the North took place in a new "relaxed" atmosphere. In South Korea too, most people trust in peace. The tears of hope of separated families. Moons party in crushing victory at local and supplementary elections: "The people of the South want to take the opportunity to get closer to the North" Seoul (AsiaNews) - A new atmosphere of peace is being breathed in the Korean peninsula. US Maryknoll missionary in South Korea, Fr. Gerard Hammond, has worked for years in the North with the activities of the Eugene Bell Foundation a humanitarian organization. Every six months, the foundation sends aid to 1,500 North Korean patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis. Fr. Hammond, 84, accompanies the expedition for the distribution of medicines and food rations. The last one was held from April 30 to May 12, a few days after the historical inter-Korean summit in Panmjom. "People seemed more relaxed - the missionary comments - it was a more peaceful journey, with less tensions. The officials of the Ministry of Public Health met us and listened. I mentioned to them that the Korean peninsula needs three things: peace, reconciliation between the peoples of the South and the North, and dialogue. They agreed". The more peaceful atmosphere is "without a doubt a first sign of change. I hope there will be more openings, more dialogue between the parties, more opportunities for the Church to bring humanitarian aid ". The missionary's hopes are shared by the majority of the South Korean people: "They were really frightened of a war. There is much more trust in peace. The people who have separated families were crying, because they feel there is more hope now than before for them. In general, I believe there is a positive response, especially from the Church. People understand that it is no longer going towards war, but towards concrete acts of peace ". The confidence of the South Koreans appeared evident from the results of the local elections held on June13. The Democratic Party of President Moon Jae-in won an overwhelming victory, securing 78% of the seats in the provincial councils. The party also won 10 of the 12 parliamentary seats decided by the supplementary elections held in the margins. "It is a positive sign: the people of the South want to take the opportunity to get close to the North in many ways". The Christian community opens its doors to its Muslim brothers and sisters, offering an iftar meal. In Ramallah, parish priests welcome the marginalised. For Fr Shomali, There is an Arab saying, 'when there is bread and salt between us, we have the same blood'. Jerusalem (AsiaNews) - In Palestine, the month of Ramadan is an occasion to "witness a brotherly rapport between Christians and Muslims, in the name of charity, this according to Fr Ibrahim Shomali, a Palestinian priest and chancellor of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, the holy month for Islam ended today with a celebration at the crowded al-Aqsa mosque. "Ramadan, Fr Shomali said, is an important month for Muslims, a time to think about neighbours, family, loved ones lost in war or to natural causes. In this context, Christians also try to do something as a token of a brotherly rapport." For this reason, every year the parishes and the Custody of the Holy Land open their doors to their Muslim brothers and sisters, offering iftar, the dinner after sundown that marks the end of the fast. This tradition goes back a long way, to the meeting between Saint Francis of Assisi and the Sultan al-Malik al-Kamil in 1219. Iftar is also an opportunity to reach out to the downtrodden. "For example, for almost ten years all parish priests in Ramallah have invited the citys poorest, the street sweepers, who cannot offer iftar to anyone". "It's nice to experience such moments, Fr Shomali said. There is an Arab saying, 'when there is bread and salt between us, we have the same blood'. Thus, even if our faiths are different, we are close in human and physical terms because we have eaten the same food. "This is important for dialogue. When iftar dinners are held, we eat together, then there is a moment of prayer for them, to which we are spectators. Next, we talk about how to live together. We must understand how they live, what we must do and bear witness to, and work for the good of man in this land." by Melani Manel Perera Sandhaya Priyangani Eknaligoda was verbally attacked on 25 January 2016 in the Homagama courthouse. Her husband is a famous political cartoonist who disappeared in 2010. The court jails the culprit and imposes fines to compensate the plaintiff. Colombo (AsiaNews) A court sentenced a radical Buddhist monk to six months in prison and two fines worth 4,500 rupees (US$ 30) for intimidation and uttering threats. The accused, Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero, is the general secretary of the Bodhu Bala Sena organisation. He was convicted of verbally attacking Sandhaya Priyangani Eknaligoda, wife of Prageeth Eknaligoda, a journalist and political cartoonist who went missing on 24 January 2010, on the eve of elections that marked the triumph of Mahinda Rajapska over General Sarath Fonseka. Prageeth worked for an independent online newspaper that backed Fonseka. For this reason, the family has always accused supporters of Rajapaksa of organising the kidnapping. To get justice but also to know the truth about his fate, the wife has tried for years to raise awareness about the case. The attack against her dates back to 25 January 2016 when she was threatened in a courthouse in Homagama. The ruling by district judge Udesh Ranatunga came yesterday. He found the monk guilty on two counts. For the first (threats), he was sentenced to pay 3,000 (US$ 20); for the second (intimidation), he has to pay a fine of 1,500 rupees (US$ 10). The court also granted Sandhaya Eknaligoda 50,000 rupees (US$ 315) in compensation. In case the monk refuses to pay, his jail sentence would be increased by three months. "I am happy with this sentence, Sandhaya Eknaligoda told AsiaNews. With this decision we can still have confidence that justice will be granted to all victims in the future. I do not care how many months he will serve behind the bars, nor the amount of the fine. I am really satisfied that the court accepted my complaint." By Michael Douglas, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Western Australia It has been a huge week for defamation law. Last Thursday, the NSW Government announced a push to reform Australias uniform defamation laws. It is calling for a cyber-age reboot. That proposal was backed by a statutory review of the NSW Defamation Act. At a meeting of the Council of Attorneys-General, the states and territories agreed to reconvene a working party to consider reform of equivalent statutes around Australia. The following Wednesday, the High Court delivered its most important defamation judgment in years. In a case that fits perfectly with the theme of the NSW proposals, Milorad Michael Trkulja succeeded in his appeal against Google. The Court found that Trkulja could sue the American company for defamation in respect of search results which potentially indicated that he had ties to Melbournes criminal underworld. The next morning, the Victoria Court of Appeal allowed Bauer Medias appeal from the judgment that awarded Rebel Wilson A$4.5 million in damages. The Court held that Wilson was entitled to A$600,000, and not to millions extra for lost opportunity to earn from roles that she may have been offered had the defendant not defamed her in its gossip magazines. The previous assessment of damages depended on the spread of the defamatory allegations on the internet via the grapevine effect. The record for Australias largest defamation judgment is now barrister Lloyd Rayneys A$2.6 million defamation win against the State of Western Australia, litigated by Perth firm Bennett + Co. If Rayneys current appeal is successful, that figure may increase even further. Theres a lot to think about. The NSW proposal to allow large corporations to sue for defamation is particularly worrying. It would have a significant chilling effect on journalism. But the issue that the NSW government chose to highlight from its statutory review was that defamation law is ill-equipped for the digital era. I agree that the way we communicate has completely changed in the 13 years since our Uniform Defamation Acts were introduced. Read more: Defamation in the digital age has morphed into litigation between private individuals Trkulja v Google shows it is time for reform Trkulja was shot in the back in a Melbourne restaurant in 2004. As youd expect, people wrote about it on the internet. Google provided access to that content through its search engine: web crawlers discovered web pages relevant to Trkulja, indexed them, and ranked them via its Google Search algorithms. The result of those processes was that Trkulja was associated with some shady figures through Google search. A Google image search for his name would display Trkuljas picture with those of Melbourne criminals. The results pages contained keywords like melbourne criminals and melbourne underworld photos. Googles autocomplete results would also cast him in a poor light, returning terms like michael trkulja criminal or michael trkulja underworld. The results page linked to content which described Trkulja as a former hitman. Trkulja sued, claiming that this computer-generated material defamed him. Google argued that the claim was so weak that it should come to an end even before a trial. Victorias Supreme Court rejected Googles argument. Read more: Craig McLachlan, defamation and getting the balance right when sexual harassment goes to court But the Victorian Court of Appeal allowed Googles appeal, agreeing that the claim had no prospect of success. It found that the ordinary, reasonable person would not understand that the search results conveyed imputations which damaged Trkuljas reputation. In their view, ordinary people would understand that there may be a disconnect between the words you type into Google and the results that follow. On further appeal, the High Court unanimously decided that the Court of Appeal was wrong. At least some of the search results complained of had the capacity to convey the idea that Trkulja was associated with dodgy characters. Trkulja was given the green light to sue Google. Trkuljas claim can now proceed. Even before this case, you could sue Google for defamation Like other foreign companies, Google is not immune to litigation because it is based overseas. On old principles, Google can be responsible for third party content which it published by sharing. It might have a defence of innocent dissemination, but perhaps not if the defamed person drew the problem to the companys attention. People have won against Google before. A few years ago, Janice Duffy succeeded in her claim that Google should be responsible for linking to defamatory websites. So in a sense, yesterdays judgment is nothing really new. It does provide some clarity on whether something like search results has the capacity to convey defamatory meaning. It is likely that Google will continue to be sued by all sorts of people who are aggrieved by search results that cast them in a poor light. The case also demonstrates that our old laws are perhaps ill-suited to the digital era. We should stop shooting the messenger Reflecting on this case, it is worth considering whether we should cut internet intermediaries some slack when it comes to defamation law. We could do so by giving effect to the safe harbour proposal flagged in the NSW statutory review. It would provide internet intermediaries with a shield from liability for third parties content. Telcos already enjoy something like this in Australia, which protects them from liability for copyright infringement. Faced with cases like Trkulja, you would understand if Google simply acceded to every request to remove content from its search results. But what if Google did that for complaints by paedophiles, murderers or dictators? Read more: Before you write that scathing online review, beware of defamation Google provides a free public service which is indispensable to our way of life. Without Googles assistance, many of us would be lost online. When access to the functionality of Google and other intermediaries is limited, our substantive access to information is limited. Extending safe harbour to internet platforms is worth seriously considering other countries, like the United States, are already doing this. The NSW statutory review does not go into these difficult issues in enough depth. In light of the rapid developments in media and technology, the best way forward is for the Australian Law Reform Commission to consider this in detail. We need to make sure that we get the right balance between freedom of speech, free access to information, and protection of reputation. Michael Douglas is a Consultant at Bennett + Co, a litigation firm acting for Lloyd Rayney in his appeal. He is a member of the ALP and the Communications and Media Law Association, and editor of the Media and Arts Law Review. Originally published in The Conversation. California City officials harassed and retaliated against people who spoke to the Kern County grand jury for its scathing reports on the city Joseph Luiz can be reached at 395-7368 or by email at jluiz@bakersfield.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @JLuiz_TBC. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- NextGen America president Tom Steyer announced the groups "Blue Wave Volunteer Program" Thursday to organize and mobilize Americans to vote for Democratic candidates in this years midterm elections. The Blue Wave program is basically a way for people around the country to focus their energies on the congressional districts and the states that are going to make the difference in 2018, Steyer said during a Facebook Live announcement. Five years ago, Steyer founded NextGen America, a civic action group whose focus includes impeaching President Donald Trump -- a cause that more moderate Democrats arent so sure about. Now, the group seeks to take its efforts to the midterms with the Blue Wave program, which aims to help Democrats regain control of the House by engaging volunteers to call and text voters in swing districts from the comforts of [their] own home. Its really a chance for us to have a more effective democracy and to promote the kind of grassroots voter-to-voter conversation and contact thats driven American democracy since the very start of our country, Steyer said. Despite Steyers efforts to help Democratic candidates win this fall, he has clashed with party leaders over his pro-impeachment campaign, a cause that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi allegedly called a distraction. She urged Democrats to focus on policy issues instead, such as the partys Better Deal economic agenda. But as Steyer tours the country hosting town halls on behalf of Need to Impeach, an organization he founded last fall, the California billionaire did not appear to heed to Pelosis advice. Complete with big rallies, direct voter engagement, and a point-blank message, his campaign to fuel anti-Trump sentiment may, in itself, be downright Trumpian, according to the Christian Science Monitor. It could even symbolize a possible 2020 presidential bid by Steyer, who previously considered running for Senate or governor this year in California but decided against it. National Republican Congressional Committee Communications Director Matt Gorman mocked Steyers Blue Wave program on Twitter. Do we have to report this as an in-kind contribution? he tweeted Thursday morning, implying that the initiative could actually help Republicans this election season. During the Facebook Live announcement, Steyer spoke of saving the country from a radical right-wing conspiracy thats taken over our government. Republicans control Congress, Senate, White House, Supreme Court, two-thirds of governorships, and two-thirds of legislatures, so we are starting from the very bottom, he said. What we can do in November is take that first step back to start to get the peoples rights recognized again. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. For Immediate Release, June 15, 2018 Contact: Collette Adkins, (651) 955-3821, cadkins@biologicaldiversity.org Court: No More Permits for Cruel Killing of Washington's Black Bears on Timberlands SEATTLE A state court today stopped the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife from issuing any additional permits authorizing inhumane and unsporting methods like bait, traps and hounds outlawed by state voters to kill black bears on private timberlands. Todays ruling comes in a challenge to the illegal program filed by the Center for Biological Diversity last month. This ruling will save numerous bears from a cruel death, and thats a big relief, said Collette Adkins, a Center biologist and attorney who represents the environmental group in the lawsuit. The court is suspending this illegal program that allows a small group of hunters to shoot bears over bait, chase them with hounds and catch them in traps. After emerging from hibernation in the spring, hungry black bears sometimes peel the bark from trees to eat the calorie-dense sapwood. Even-aged stands of trees in industrial forests lack other natural food sources and are particularly vulnerable to damage from bears seeking to replenish their depleted fat stores. The Fish and Wildlife Department purportedly authorizes the killing of black bears to protect commercial timber stands from black bears. But without any evidence that the program targets tree-damaging bears, the department has created a private hunting season for a favored group of hunters, allowing them to kill bears using methods outlawed by the states voters. In 1996 and 2000, Washington voters approved Initiatives 655 and 713, which banned the killing of black bears using bait, dogs and traps. The initiatives contained limited exceptions for targeting animals that cause property damage. The lawsuit notes that the departments program does not fall within these narrow exceptions. On June 6, 2018, the Center filed a motion for temporary relief asking that the court prohibit any further killing of bears until the court issues its final decision later this year. While todays ruling does not suspend permits already issued by the department, it prevents the state agency from issuing any additional permits. Were disappointed the courts ruling still allows bear killing under permits already issued by the department, said Adkins. We think the court will ultimately decide that those permits should never have been issued, and we urge the department to immediately suspend all outstanding permits. Since 2010 the department has authorized the killing of approximately 900 black bears using bait, dogs and traps on private commercial timberland. In ruling against the department, the court recognized the risk to bears and the merits of our case against this inhumane bear-killing program, Adkins said. Now well focus on shutting down the program for good. Under state law the Center must post a bond, and then the courts suspension of the program will become effective, likely on Monday. Along with in-house counsel, attorneys at the law firm of Lane Powell are representing the Center in this litigation. Prince Zwane and Kaylee Germann of Publicis Johannesburg were selected as the winning team in Cinemark's Young Lions competition held earlier this year. As a result, they're now flying out to Cannes to represent the country in a week of creative inspiration. Publicis Johannesburg's Kaylee Germann and Prince Zwane, leaving for Cannes to take part in the global Young Lions film challege. Zwane and Germann teamed up for the Cinemark Young Lions '48-hour challenge', which is just that - 48 hours in total from brief to concept shooting, editing and the final production of a 60-second commercial.Their winning creative commercial, promoting the gift of sight, stood out from the 20 shortlisted entries. As a result, it will be flighted in Ster-Kinekor cinemas and used by Ster-Kinekors Vision Mission (CSI flagship programme) to continue to drive eye-care awareness:Even more exciting is that as a result of their win, Zwane and German are set to compete in the global Cannes Young Lions competition in the Film category this coming week, which follows the same 48-hour format as the Cinemark round.Keep your fingers crossed and an eye on our Cannes Lions special section for the latest updates! The Association for Communication and Advertising (ACA) elected its new board of directors for the 2018/2019 fiscal on Thursday, 25 May 2018, during its 71st Annual General Meeting at the AAA School of Advertising campus in Johannesburg. New ACA board. James Barty : Chair Group Managing Director King James (Regional Representative CT) Boniswa Pezisa : Vice-Chair Group CEO Net#work BBDO Thabang Skwambane : Vice-Chair Managing Director FCB Wayne Naidoo : Vice-Chair CEO Duke Advertising Gareth Leck : Exco Group CEO Joe Public Michael Gendel : Exco CEO Gendel Advertising Odette van der Haar :Exco Chief Executive Officer Association for Communication & Advertising Russell Cory : Exco Chief Financial Officer Association for Communication & Advertising Adeshia Singh Managing Director Singh & Sons Alison Deeb Group CEO MetropolitanRepublic Andrew Brand Managing Director Ninety9cents Cape Town Elouise Kelly Managing Director Ogilvy Jacques Burger Founding Partner/Group Exec M&C Saatchi Abel Jarred Cinman CEO VML South Africa Jim Faulds Group CEO J Walter Thompson Karabo Denalane CEO TBWA Hunt Lascaris Karabo Songo CEO House of Brave Lebogang Masilela HR Director Joe Public Louise Johnston Managing Director DDB SA Mxolisi Buthelezi CEO June 15 Advertising Paul Jackson CEO Grey SA Paul Middleton CEO Ebony and Ivory Sarah Dexter Managing Director MullenLowe SA Sharleen James Group MD : Business Develop King James Susan Napier Managing Director The Hardy Boys (Regional Representative Dbn) Xola Nouse Managing Director The Odd Number Rejuvenation, smart navigation tools and fearless leadership Industry transformation Robust, hardworking association They new board members are:At the meeting, outgoing chair of the ACA Board, Boniswa Pezisa reported on the ACAs activities during the preceding fiscal. The report began with a review of how the economy had affected the profession during the fiscal.In her report, she noted that the era of Business Unusual continues unabated, the climate of change, adapt or die continues to propel us forward. During the period under review, the business sector and the advertising and communications profession included continued to operate under challenging trading circumstances.The socio-political situation continues to be dynamic she added, noting that the profession has a choice of either joining the Doom Sayers or opt for Evolution and Reinvention.Pezisa went on to note that every crazy adventure requires rejuvenation, smart navigation tools and fearless leadership this is not the era for sissies she said. The new frontiers call for more brevity as there are no maps when you want to venture forth into new territories and dive into the unknown.The sale The AAA School of Advertising was top of the agenda on the morning. Pezisa announced that the ACA was in the process of selling its prized asset, one that the Association had owned for 30 years. The decision to sell was taken in order allow Professional educators to take over the baton and build a demonstrably-better institution of higher education, one accessible to the broader nation; a place where diversity can thrive. A place where technological advancement and the blended way of learning would bring a broader and much needed diverse population into our sector to enrich our craft and transform the culture and the tenor of our profession.On the matter of the highly successful APEX awards, the Chair thanked Odette van der Haar and Gareth Leck and their respective teams on building the awards into the credible and reputable programme that it is today. She went on to add that its time to change, to consider global dynamics. Over the past 3 years, the ACA has been engaging global players and the challenge to the incoming board is to relook, review and innovate the programme in a decisive, considerate and intentional manner. Failure to innovate will result in being swept away by the currents and winds of change.On matters of Self-Regulation, Pezisa noted that the ACA continues to play a positive and dominant role of harnessing and cuddling the ASA back to its powerful-self. Self-Regulation is a serious task and its preservation requires the commitment to the profession and the industry at large to play its part. She congratulated the ACA members who serve on the ASA board for a job well done and thanked them for their dedication.Industry transformation will continue to be a hot topic within the industry noted Pezisa. The challenge is to go beyond the scorecard and ensure that our industry and the individual businesses that make it up continue to be relevant for the markets we serve. She added that the industry is yet to fully unleash itself with respect to the MAC Charter. This is critical since it is the diversity that distinguishes South Africa from other markets and which enriches our creativity.Moving onto matters related to the Secretariat, the chair noted that as the winds of change sweep through the land, the Secretariat had not been left out, reinforcing that for the ACA, 2018 will continue being a period of Business Unusual. At the AGM, it was officially announced that after 11 years at the helm of the body, ACA CEO Odette van der Haar would be stepping down.In bidding a sad farewell to van der Haar, Pezisa highlighted a few of van der Haars major achievements.These include building the Apex Awards into the reputable brand it is today, championing the gazetting of the MAC Charter, entrenching it in the sector and instilling transformation values into agencies through the Vuselela Programme and building the ACA into one South Africas most respected, stable and reputable industry bodies, defined by constant and diverse membership growth.Pezisa noted that van der Haar led by example, with passion and admirable endurance and that her commitment to the industry is awe-striking. A special note of thanks went to Russel Cory and the rest of the ACA team for their unwavering support and dedication.Pezisa expressed her thanks to the hard-working outgoing board and particularly the Exco, noting that she could not have done it without them. A special note of thanks went to past Chair, Mike Gendel for his continued counsel and mentorship and also to Prof. Delport for his level-headedness and legal guardiancy.In concluding she wished the incoming board well, noting that they are inheriting a robust, hardworking association that is held in high esteem by the communities it serves. #Newswatch: Absa tweeted out a poll on 12 June asking its followers to vote on whether black tax is a source of anxiety, a source of pride, a financial burden or a responsibility. The simplicity ('too few' and 'conflicting' options) of this has offended and outraged numerous clients, many of whom have since threatened to leave the bank and move to competitors Nedbank and Capitec. We don't want to try tuck this under the carpet, by deleting the post. We dont make this go away The pushback from our community was the correct response. We've learnt from this and will try harder. Our sincere apologies for the offence we have caused. We apologise for any offence caused by the poll. Providing family members with financial assistance, is a reality for many South Africans. Our intent was to help our customers, by providing insights from a leading financial advisor https://t.co/qgUvWFXgRY Absa (@Absa) June 12, 2018 I suppose this is market research to explore opening up a Black Tax Loan service to get Black people even more in debt than they already are. Piss off, Absa. https://t.co/MJJsVmu6ZK Princess of Nkandla (@Sisi_Sasha) June 12, 2018 Black Tax is a result of you and many other companies being founded and funded by blood money from the apartheid Government at the expense of the Black poor South African majority https://t.co/CsbQIGjW5N Esethu Hasane (@EsethuHasane_) June 12, 2018 Dear @Nedbank and who ever is responsible for your Twitter account. You're Leadership!! pic.twitter.com/78Apr82fvy IG: @Siphesihlecele_ #Jojo (@Siphesihlecele_) June 13, 2018 HI kompule, you'll be needing a new account, why don't you come see the Greener side of things were you can see your money differently :) Nedbank (@Nedbank) June 13, 2018 @CapitecBankSA I need to join you hey Nkosinathi (@Moleane14) June 12, 2018 For more: In response, Absa apologised but refused to delete it, despite requests to do so.Heres what people are saying: by Kristina Knight Kristina: You've said that the industry, as a whole, hasn't done enough to explain what "Free" means. What do you mean by this? Paul Thompson, CRO, Blis: Personal data is actually a transactional free for services but the consumers haven't been made aware of this. Using terminology such as free to describe the service isn't truthful. Advertising is a $500 billion industry--brands need to be transparent on what the trade off is and how consumers contribute to it. Consumers should be told outright if you want this free content, you need to pay for it with your data. The industry as a whole needs to be more open in explaining what's going on in these transactions. Once we get there, some behaviors might change but we'll still see many people opt-in for convenience, similar to what we're seeing with GDPR. Kristina: How can publishers/brands better explain just how 'free' content works, in relation to customer data? Paul: Brands/publishers should be directly communicating to consumers that if they want free content, they will need to pay for it with their data. This seems to be pretty fair exchange and the added benefit I get to see adverts for products I might actually want to buy. This exchange shouldn't be buried in terms and conditions that consumers will not look at but instead be up front and center on the screen when signing up for an account (and in plain American / English). Additionally, it would behoove these brands and publishers to speak about the topic publicly. Explain that consumer data is valuable but there is an option to opt-out if you change your mind. Kristina: What impact do you think the Facebook paid option will have on social media? What about on publishing, in general? Paul: I don't believe that people will want to pay to use Facebook to avoid ads. It's too inconvenient. Perhaps they will for a while and then go back to the "free" version. I can't see it thou Sheryl Sandberg has floated the idea. But the exchange with Facebook if properly managed is fair. If we do see a larger number of users moving over to the paid version, it'll dramatically change the value of the platform for brands and publishers. Once this happens, Facebook will stop working for marketers. Behavioral experts and anthropologists will tell you most social media networks fade and go they are like a virus that grows quickly and then contracts. Therefore, I think we'll find that a few years time, Facebook won't be as relevant. In fact, Facebook might not be there in 20 years. Trends come and go and every generation is looking for something new. But for now Facebook will buy up any rival network that threatens its dominance. Tags: advertising, Blis, digital content, Facebook trends, free content trends, social media trends Reciba en su email: noticias de ultima hora, analisis tecnicos o el cierre de mercado Email no valido Nombre requerido Recibira las informaciones mas relevantes del dia en tiempo real Que informacion desea recibir? Noticias de Ultima hora Boletin Cierre de Mercado Boletin analisis tecnico Boletin Fundsnews Debe seleccionar un tipo de boletin Acepto la Politica de privacidad Debe aceptar la politica de privacidad Responsable EMPRESAS DEL GRUPO WEB FINANCIAL GROUP Finalidad La remision de informacion, novedades y promociones Establecimiento o mantenimiento de Relaciones Comerciales. 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